USA > Indiana > Porter County > Counties of Porter and Lake, Indiana : historical and biographical > Part 58
USA > Indiana > Lake County > Counties of Porter and Lake, Indiana : historical and biographical > Part 58
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HISTORY OF LAKE COUNTY.
decided against the Ames Iron Works. They appealed to the Supreme Court, and were again beaten. The creditors of Warren, Carter & Co. offered to compromise with the Ames Iron Works, but this company re- fused all such offers, and demanded dollar for dollar. They perhaps got a dollar of expense for every dollar of their claim. While this action was pending, the property was sold under an order of the court. G. W. Hanaley and J. M. Kenney bought the factory, and have run it since for seven or eight months a year.
The township is very largely agricultural, and there have been but few manufacturing establishments within its limits. Those have been started in Lowell, and will be spoken of farther on in the history of that place. The township contains a large proportion of excellent farming and good grazing land. Much attention has been given to stock, espe- cially to horses, and there are few towns of the size that can show as many good horses as Lowell, when they are gathered in on busy days. Much pains have been taken in breeding the best strains. One of the most en- terprising stock-breeders in this part of the State is C. K. Pratt, who now has seven fine stallions, six of which are Clydesdales, and the other, a Suffolk Punch. Many heavy horses are raised for the Chicago market, where they have always commanded a high price.
In 1839, Benjamin McCarty built a saw-mill on Cedar Creek, about two and a half miles northeast of Lowell. This was first run by Mr. Jackson. After a time, a "run of corn-stones " was added. About 1860, stones for grinding wheat were added. At this time, the mill was a small one-story structure, with a large under-shot wheel. On the 4th of July, 1873, dam and mill were washed away. In 1874, H. A. Car- son bought the site, and re-built the mill. This mill is very similar to the one above described. It was operated by Mr. Carson until February, 1882, when the dam was torn out and the mill abandoned.
Schools and Teachers .- The first school of the township was taught by a crippled man named Richard Canon, in a small hut built of poles or small logs, on what is now Thomas Dickinson's place, southeast of Lowell, on the east bank of Cedar Creek. The house was built for a dwelling by Thomas Childers. But one term was taught in this house. Among the patrons of this school were Thomas Childers, William Wells, Thomas Wells, and Mr. Cross. Miss P. J. Childers and Sarah Beadle were the only large pupils attending the school. The second school was proba- bly about one-fourth of a mile east of the corporate limits of Lowell on what is now Simeon Sanger's place. It was held in a small log dwell- ing of Ephraim Cleveland in 1839. John Robinson was the teacher. This was the only term taught in the building. The Bryants, Sangers, Fullers, Smiths and Laflers and perhaps others sent to this school.
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CEDAR CREEK TOWNSHIP.
The First District School was kept in 1842, during the summer, half a mile southeast of Lowell, in a house built by the neighbors, of peeled hickory logs. Emily Laflar was the first teacher here, Abraham Nichols the second, Miss Sabrina Flint the third and Philander Cross was the fourth ; then followed in order Calista Cross, Jabez Clarke, Miss Ward (from Crown Point), Mr. Parsons, Mrs. William Belshaw (who was the first lady to teach a winter term), Charity Clark (later Mrs. Church), and John Pashly, who taught the last term in the log house. Mr. Pashly taught the next term during the winter of 1850, in a dwelling of Hora- tio Starr, that stood near where Mr. Halstead's brick house now stands. Next, Mrs. Anthony Van Slyke taught a term in her home. After this, Harvey B. Austin taught in a room of a dwelling at the "Corner's" west of Lowell, in 1855. The building in this district was a brick of one room that stood where Mr. Shure's furniture store now stands. This was first occupied in the winter of 1855-56, with H. B. Austin as teacher. Austin taught for a year or two. Hattie Douglas taught here for a short term. William Williams and his daughter Hattie taught the school here for some time. During the winter of 1859-60, John W. Dwyer taught, and he taught again in 1865 and 1866. Mrs. Hale also taught here. The following is a list of the teachers for the several dis- tricts during the years named, so far as shown by the records : In 1875, District No. 1, John Love; No. 2, George Johnson ; No. 3, Thomas H. Albaugh ; No. 4, Robert O. Evans; No. 5, W. U. Northrop; No. 6, O. H. Spencer ; No. 7, P. A. Hopkins. 1876-No. 1, John E. Love, (Mrs. Nettie Dickey); No. 2, R. C. Wood; No. 3, Dora DeWitt ; No. 4, W. U. Northrop and E. D. Van Vleck ; No. 5, Marilla Allen ; No. 6, O. H. Spencer and wife, and Dora DeWitt; No. 7, Jennie Hill and L. E. Jones ; No. 8, H. H. Ragan. 1880-No. 1, Henry G. Ross and R. C. Wood ; No. 2, Linda Maxwell and Ellen E. Dunn ; No. 3, Martha Haste ; No. 4, R. W. Bacon ; No. 5, Dora DeWitt and C. F. Templeton ; No. 6, Ella Ashton, H. H. Ragan, H. C. Gordon, Dora DeWitt and F. E. Nelson ; No. 7, Libbie Kenney and Jennie Fuller ; No. 8, Jennie Fuller ; No. 9, Jennie Talcott and Allie Driscoll. 1881- No. 1, Bertha Bryant and John E. Love ; No. 2, Ella Clay, Emma Du- mond and W. U. Northrop ; No. 3, Martha Haste ; No. 4, Allie Driscoll and Jennie Fuller ; No. 5, Adelia Buckley and C. F. Templeton ; No. 6, Bertha Bryant, H. C. Gordon, Mrs. J. L. Hill, Helen A. Wins- low, William C. Belman and Dora DeWitt ; No. 7, Ellen E. Daum ; No. 8, Milton W. Peterson; No. 9, Alltha Dickinson. 1882-No. 1, Clara A. Bliss ; No. 2, Abbie M. Austin; No. 3, Alltha Dickinson ; No. 4, -; No. 5, Lulu Bryant ; No. 6, Bell Livingstone, Will- iam C. Belman, Bertha Bryant and Mrs. J. L. Hill; No. 7, Lois H.
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HISTORY OF LAKE COUNTY.
Foote ; No. 8, Jennie Dickinson. The old frame house in District No. 7 was burned in February, 1881, and rebuilt the same spring at a cost of $500. The new building is a frame. The house in District No. 9, on River Ridge, was built in the fall of 1880, at a cost of $300. The house in District No. 10, at Shelby Station, was built during the spring of 1882, at a cost of $400. This is a new district and the last one formed. Shelby is a station on the Louisville & Albany Railroad. There are no brick schoolhouses in the district except the one in the district of Lowell, No. 6. This is a fine two-story building that was for years the best schoolhouse in the county. It was through the enterprise and pub- lic spirit of M. A. Halsted that the town took the lead in education when it did. The house and furniture cost about $7,000. M. A. Halsted was Trustee at the time that the house was erected. In this building a large and excellent graded school has been kept up all of the time. A large amount of patronage has come in from the surrounding country, so that it has been a great benefit not only to the town but to this whole region of country.
Lowell .- The Claim Register shows that one John P. Hoff, of New York City, purchased "mill seat on Cedar Creek," on Section 23, Range 9, Township 33, October 7, 1836. This claim was registered October 8. On the same day, claims for four other New York men were registered. These were located on Sections 22, 23 and 24. None of these parties became actual settlers here. In August, 1835, a claim was made by Samuel Halstead, of " Timber and Mill-seat," on Section 23, Township 33, Range 9. This Mr. Halstead was not, so far as known, related to M. A. Halsted, the founder of Lowell. This claim was regis- tered November 26, 1836. Mr. Halstead cut and split some timber for the purpose of building a dam and mill at a point three-fourths of a mile northeast of where a mill was finally built, and where the present large brick mill now stands. The claim above mentioned was sold to J. P. Hoff, but he failed to comply with the conditions and forfeited the claim. November 29, 1836, this claim was transferred to James M. Whitney and Mark Burroughs for $212. The "mill-seat " remained unimproved until about 1850. The first building on the site of Lowell was the cabin of Samuel Halstead, and the second was the dwelling of Jabez Clarke. In 1848, a saw mill was built near where the mill now stands. This mill began running in January, 1849. In 1849, Mr. Halstead burned 400,- 000 brick and began building his dwelling, which was finished in the spring of 1850. This was the third structure in Lowell proper, for the place where Mr. Clarke's house stood was not considered a part of Lowell until a few years since. M. A. Halsted, in 1853, laid out sixteen lots and gave them to mechanics. The third house was built in lot five, near
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CEDAR CREEK TOWNSHIP.
the site of the Baptist Church, by a young blacksmith. The first store in Lowell was started by Jonah Thorne in 1852. Mr. Thorne kept a small general stock for four years, when J. W. Viant became a partner. They continued together about six months, when Mr. Thorne sold to Mr. Merton. Viant & Merton owned the store for two or three years, when Merton sold his interest to Viant, who managed the business alone until 1881, when he sold out. Mr. Viant is now engaged in the sale of wagons and buggies, and in the care of the prop- erty accumulated during a long and honorable business career. The second store was started by William Sigler, a brother to E. and D. T. Sigler, of Hebron, in 1854, at the Corners, half a mile east of Lowell, and was moved down to town the next year. Mr. Sigler kept here most of the time alone, until 1879, when he sold out and moved to Crown Point, where he kept the St. James Hotel for about two years. He is now in business in South Chicago. The third store was started by H. D. Mudge about 1855. This was at first a clothing store, but was soon turned into a general store. Theodore Burnham was the first black- smith ; Mr. Burnham sold to Hugh Gregg, who died in about three years after starting in the business. The first tavern was kept by Jonah Thorne. The house in which it was kept stood near the mill, but has since been moved, and is now occupied by Mr. Chapman, with a jewelry and confectionery store. The first regular hotel was built for a school house. It was used for school purposes about two years, since which time it has been used as a hotel. In the spring of 1861, it was bought by Jabez Clarke and rented to David Stringer, who kept it for two years. After this, it was rented and run by William Nichols for a time, and then by George Mee, who has since purchased the property, and who still owns and keeps the house. It has always been known as the " Union House," which name it received when it started, about the time the civil war began. The originial house was 18x36 feet, but several additions have been made to it. The next hotel was built about 1866, by Mr. Lloyd, and kept by him for a time. It has gone by the name of " The Exchange " and is now kept by a Mr. Collins. The first hardware store and tin-shop was kept by J. W. Viant, in connection with his store. Mr. Viant sold this branch of the business to Royal A. Haskins, who was the first to start a separate store in this line. J. W. Viant built the large storeroom that stands lengthwise on the main business street, and which is now occupied by Keller, Sherman & Co., in 1860-61. A flour mill built in 1853 was moved about three years ago, and is now used as a barn. The machinery that this old frame contained was moved into the large brick that was built for a woolen mill. This large brick was built by Halsted, Lapin & Co. in 1868. The intention was
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HISTORY OF LAKE COUNTY.
to make it one of the most extensive woolen mills in the State, but vari- ous causes, among which were the rise of wool and the decline in woolen goods, defeated the original plan. Some machinery for carding and working with wool on a small scale was put into the building, but not much business was done. In 1873, the " Home Manufacturing Com- pany " took charge of the building and occupied it as a factory for farm implements. This was a joint-stock company. For a time wagons, plows, cultivators, harrows, etc., were made, but the business did not pay and the company became involved, and the property was distributed to pay debts. During this time, the building was still owned by the mill company ; it was finally sold on mortgage. Lapin & Westman became full owners in 1869, and lost it on mortgage in four or five years. It then fell into the hands of the County Commissioners. The Commis- sioners took it in 1875, and in a short time sold it to Mr. 'Morgan, who owned it about two years and sold it to Mr. Specker, who is the present owner. It has a sixty-horse-power engine, but can be run by water- power during the greater part of the year. The cost of the building was $8,000. It is 80x50 feet and three stories high.
The following is a statement concerning the town, found in " Ball's History of Lake County," and refers to the year 1873: "Number of families, 106 ; dry goods stores, 4; drug stores, 2 ; hardware stores, 2; mil- linery establishments, 2; dress-makers, 2; jeweler, 1; shoe-maker shops, 2; barber shops, 2; harness shop, 1; blacksmith shops, 5; wagon shops, 3; cooper shop, 1; meat market, 1; bakery, 1; cabinet shop, 1; agri- cultural store, 1; saloons, 2; photograph gallery, 1; livery stable, 1; hotels, 2; Notaries Public, 2; attorney, 1; physicians, 4; cigar factory, 1; churches, 3."
The following is an enumeration of the business houses for 1882 :
General stores, John Lynch, who bought R. W. Price out, and Keller, Sherman & Co., who bought out J. W. Viant; groceries, W. A. Kenney & Co .; hardware, George Death and C. C. Sanger, who were together for a time, and Jonah Thorne ; drugs, G. W. Waters and C. P. Post, who keeps clothing and notions also ; implements, W. W. Ackerman, John Myers, while J. A. De Witt keeps carriages, and J. W. Viant keeps wagons and carriages ; shoe shops, Allen Gregg and John Shramm ; blacksmith shops, Frank Fields, Kline Bros., who make wagons and car- riages, Vincent Hepp, Samuel Nichols, Enoch Cox, who makes wagons and carriages, and John Harrison, who also makes wagons and carriages ; bakery, N. A. Schaffer ; harness shop, J. E. Hale; millinery, S. A. Kinney, who keeps ladies' furnishing goods also, Mrs. Barbary Craft, Mrs. Josephine King and Mrs. Jennie Cox; meat market, A. D. Chapman, and one is now being started by Mr. Skillman ; restaurant, Mrs. A. D.
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CEDAR CREEK TOWNSHIP.
Chapman ; furniture, Morgan Craft and Martin Sher; saloons, Mathew Borry, Charles Ruge and Edward Mee; hotel, Union House, George Mee ; lumber yards, Du Breuil & Keilman, and T. M. Smith.
The following is a sketch of the medical profession of Lowell : James A. Wood is the oldest living medical man of this region. He came in 1837, and located in the practice one mile east of the site of Lowell. He has practiced here continually up to the present time, except during the civil war, when he was a surgeon in the Union army. The Doctor has enjoyed an extensive practice and has ridden and driven over the prairies and through the swamps and streams of Northern Indiana for well-nigh half a century. For some years, he has sought to retire from the practice, but his many friends will not permit him to do so. Dr. John Hunt located at Lowell in 1855, where he remained three years. Dr. Crane came in 1858, for a stay of less than a year. Dr. S. B. Yeo- man came in 1855, became a partner of Dr. Wood, and continued to practice here until his death, which occurred during the war. About the same time, Dr. Sampson located here, and remained two years. Dr. A. A. Gerrish located in Lowell in 1865, and has since enjoyed a large and lucrative practice, and has gathered around him a host of friends. Dr. E. R. Bacon came in 1867, and is still here. Dr. J. E. Davis came in 1868, and still continues the practice here. Dr. Charles King has been here but a few months.
Several attempts have been made by different ones to become estab- lished here in the practice of the law, but so far the peaceful proclivities of the people have rendered such attempts unsuccessful.
About 1843, Outlet Post Office was established and located at a point about one mile east of the site of Lowell, with James H. Sanger, Sr., as Postmaster. He kept it for some years, when it was moved to a point half a mile west, and kept by Leonard Stringham. Dr. Hunt, H. D. Mudge, Mr. Foote and G. W. Lawrence each held the office for a time. J. W. Viant took the office in 1858, and held it until during Johnson's administration, when Sanford Barlow was appointed. He held it until 1870, when C. P. Post received the appointment. Mr. Post has dis- charged the duties of the office with general satisfaction since.
The following papers have been published at Lowell, for an account of which see journalism in general county history : Lowell Star, Lowell Local News, Lowell Enterprise and The Tocsin, a temperance paper.
A large elevator, planing mill and molding factory was erected here during the summer of 1881, by Du Breuil & Keilman, who have a simi- lar establishment at Dyer. It is 32x60 feet and seventy-five feet high, and cost, with machinery and connected buildings, about $13,000. Its capacity is 60,000 bushels. The firm bought some grain before the
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HISTORY OF. LAKE COUNTY.
elevator was built, and loaded it directly into the cars. The firm have a lumber yard in which they carry a stock of 1,500,000 feet. John A. Kimmitt has charge of the books of the company. H. Dickinson has recently erected a factory in the east part of town, where, among other useful articles, "The Chicago Water Elevator and Purifier " is made.
A Railroad .- After many trials, tribulations and much weary waiting, Lowell rejoices in a railroad. August 15, 1874, a tax was voted for a railroad. This tax was canceled at a later date. It was voted to the In- dianapolis, Delphi & Chicago Railroad. A second tax was voted to the " Air Line," but it failed to complete the road, and the Louisville, New Albany & Chicago Company got control and put the road through to Lowell in 1880. Most of the grading was done in 1874. They did some freight and passenger business in 1880, but regular trains did not begin to run until January, 1881. About $80,000 was expended in grading, which laid unused for five years. Three companies failed in the course of its construction, and it is now in the hands of the fourth company and is doing a good business for a new road. Many of the enterprising citi- zens suffered financially from the failures of the companies that under- took the construction of the road. M. A. Halsted alone suffered a loss of $20,000, which seemed doubly hard, as it was through his enterprise and public spirit, to a great extent, that a road was obtained.
Creston .- About forty years ago, Cedar Lake Post Office was estab- lished half a mile east of the site of Creston. Lewis Warriner was the first Postmaster, and his successor was Alfred Edgerton, who was suc- ceeded by M. M. Estey, and he by Amos Edgerton, who resigned and A. D. Palmer was appointed as his successor. Mr. Palmer is the present Postmaster. The post office retained the name Cedar Lake until July 1, 1882, when it became Creston. It was moved to the site of Creston in September, 1875. It was kept for a time half a mile farther north, but has always been in Cedar Creek Township. The first store started in this vicinity was opened in 1863, by Amos Edgerton, half a mile east of where Creston now stands. He sold goods here for three or four years, when A. D. Palmer bought him out. Mr. Palmer was burned out Janu- ary 25, 1875 ; there was no insurance, and the whole investment was swept away. Mr. Palmer started at once to Chicago and had a new stock on hand the next day. Creston is situated a mile and a quarter south of Cedar Lake. The depot here was built during the winter of 1871-72. Taylor & Love started a store over the line in West Creek Township in 1877. It has changed hands several times, and is now owned by Cassius M. Taylor. Samuel Love & Sons built a hay barn here in 1881, at an expense of $2,000. A blacksmith shop was started in 1881 by the
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CEDAR CREEK TOWNSHIP.
Shelow Brothers. Taylor & Palmer are running a lumber yard. The railroad company are having a great deal of trouble on the marsh north of Creston. Some of the piling have been driven to the depth of 150 feet without striking solid ground.
Churches, etc .- In the summer of 1837, the Methodists organized a class in the vicinity where Lowell now stands. Rev. Colclasier, a young man, was the minister who first preached to this small band of brethren. Rev. Baxter Beers was probably the next minister, and he was followed by Rev. Young, and he by Rev. Forbes. During this time the services were held during the week and at the houses of the settlers. Wayne . Bryant and wife, Robert Hyde and wife, John Kitchel, B. Jennings, Mrs. Henry Sanger and Mrs. John Sanger were among the first members. The first meeting was held at Mr. Bryant's. The Clevelands came into the church in 1840. The church was a mission until 1841, when it be- came a circuit. Regular services have been kept up ever since. The so- ciety met in private houses and in schoolhouses until 1849, when they built a frame church a mile and three-quarters east of Lowell. H. San- ger gave the land, and a good-sized building was erected which is still standing, but has been used for a number of years as a barn. The society came next to Lowell, where they held services in the school house and in the Baptist Church. About 1858, some of the members drew off to at- tend services at Orchard Grove. In 1870, they completed the present brick church, at a cost of $4,000.
The Christian Church of Lowell was organized in 1841. J. L. Wor- ley is the only one of the charter members of the church now living. Simeon Beadle and Sarah Beadle, his wife ; William Wells and Sarah, his wife ; Thomas Childers and Sarah, his wife, and J. L. Worley were the first members. At first the society had no church building, but met in dwellings. The first meeting was held at the house of William Wells where the society was organized. Nathan Coffinbury now at Sherburn- ville, Ill., organized the society. Some of the early ministers are Rev. Lewis Comer, Rev. John Sargeant, Rev. Lemuel Shortridge, who was the first to preach in the present brick church. He had, however, preached for the congregation before this building was built. The pres- ent building was begun in 1869, and the first meeting was held in Febru- ary, 1870. The cost of the building was about $4,000. It stands on beautiful lots that were bought about the time that the war began. To this building Henry Dickinson gave $1,200 ; J. L. Worley, Ira Babcock and Orrin Beckwith gave liberally, while the community in general lent a helping hand. The first officers of the church were Simeon Beadle, Overseer ; and J. L. Worley, Deacon. The present officers are : Henry Dickinson and J. L. Worley, Overseers ; and Cyrus Dickinson, Deacon.
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HISTORY OF LAKE COUNTY.
At the time when the church was built, there was a membership of fifty- five. The present membership is forty. The society has probably had as many as twenty different ministers since the church was built. The last regular minister was Rev. Halloway, who was here a part of the year 1881. Before him the Rev. William Albertson served three years, at the end of which time he died. Rev. William Wheeler ministered to this people for two years before the time of Rev. Albertson. These three are about the only regular stationed ministers who have preached here except Rev. Shortridge, who was in charge at that time. On January 20, 1856, the ยท Baptist Church of Lowell was organized. The following entries are from the church book: " January 19, 1856, a meeting of the West Creek Baptist Church being called for this day, having met at the Lowell Schoolhouse, it was resolved that the clerk give letters to all the remain- ing members, and the church be hereby disbanded." " At a meeting held at Lowell Schoolhouse January 19, 1856, present, besides the brethren designing to organize a church, J. M. Whitehead, of Door Village Church, and T. H. Ball, of Crown Point Church, it was resolved to organize on the morrow a Baptist Church to be known at the First Baptist Church of Lowell, met on the Sabbath according to arrangement. Members go- ing into the organization ; by letter from West Creek Church, O. W. Graves, Achsah Graves, James A. Hunt, Fanny C. Hunt, Melvin A. Halsted, Martha C. Halsted, Rosana Barber ; by letter from Cedar Lake Church, Adeline Dumond, Mary Ann Blayney ; by letter from Rolling Prairie Church, John Hunt, Lucy Hunt; by letter from Napoleon Church, Michigan, Munson Church ; by experience, J. Dumond. The hand of fellowship was given by Elder J. M. Whitehead ; charge by T. H. Ball; Munson Church, was chosen Church Clerk. Rev. T. H. Ball, by vote of the church, became the first pastor. Meetings were held in the schoolhouse during the year 1856. During the same year, that gen- erous, public-spirited gentleman, M. A. Halsted, built and deeded to the Baptists a brick church, which still stands as a substantial monument to his open-handed generosity and practical Christianity. Mr. Halsted in- closed, but did not finish the building. When finished, it cost about $2,000. The Catholics held their first meeting in Lowell during the year 1865, at the house of John Hack. The second services were held in Sigler's Hall in 1868, when one of the bishops preached. At this time a church was organized, and held its meetings in the brick factory building for a year or more. In 1871, the present frame church was built. This was not finished until within the present year. It cost about $1,000. For two years after the church was built, services were held once a month ; then for three years they had no services. After this the church was re-organized, and supported services once a month
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