USA > Indiana > Porter County > Counties of Porter and Lake, Indiana : historical and biographical > Part 63
USA > Indiana > Lake County > Counties of Porter and Lake, Indiana : historical and biographical > Part 63
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he remained between the horses amid the bitter cold, until a shrill sound, the distant crowing of a rooster before the morning dawned, indicated the direction of a human dwelling. Proceeding toward that cheering sound. he reached the house, and found shelter, warmth and rest. It was a night which he never forgot-the winter night spent on Twenty-Mile Prairie."
Henry Sasse, Sr., started once for Chicago, but near Dyer stuck fast in the mud. After hard labor in the mud and water, he managed to ex- tricate his wagon, but by that time night had set in, and he could proceed no further. On another occasion, he went to Chicago for a load of lum- ber. The roads were bad, and the creeks and swamps swollen. He reached, on his return, a rude bridge over a deep, rushing creek, and seeing that others had preceded him in safety, he attempted to cross. When on the middle, one of the horses broke through the pucheons, and the opposite end flying up and striking the other horse caused it to plunge against its mate and crowd it from the bridge, and both horses and the heavily loaded wagon went crashing into the creek below. Just as the wagon plunged over, Mr. Sasse, fortunately for him, had leaped on the bridge. He hastened below, and by rapid movements in cutting and un- buckling the harness, managed to get both animals out of the mud and water and up the slippery bank, where they were tied to trees and in- spected. The leg of one of the horses had been found thrust between the spokes of the hind wheel. The linch-pin was taken out, and the wheel removed before the animal could be released. Strange as it may appear, neither horse was seriously injured. The lumber was carried up the bank, piece by piece, and the wagon ditto, and after several hours the journey home was resumed. It took considerable currying of the horses, and washing of the man, before all traces of the accident were removed. Such incidents as the above could be multiplied without limit. Every family had a constant similar experience.
Erection of Township .- Prior to June 8, 1853, Hanover Township, as it now is, was part and parcel of Centre Township, but at that date the County Commissioners ordered that all of Centre commencing at the southeast corner of Section 34, Township 34, Range 9; thence north on on the section line to the northeast corner of Section 3, Township 34, Range 9; thence west on the line between townships 34 and 35 north, to the Illinois State line ; thence south along the State line to the south- west corner of Section 36, Township 34, Range 10; thence east along the line between Townships 33 and 34, Range 9, to the place of begin- ning, should constitute a new township to be known as Hanover. Her- man Doescher was appointed Constable, and George Willey, H. P. Rob- bins and Henry Van Hollen, Trustees. The Trustees met for the first at the house of George Willey on the 10th of June, 1853; George Willey
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was elected President of the Board, Seth O. Gardner, Clerk, and Her- man Doescher, Treasurer. The township was divided into the following road districts : No. 1-Sections 1, 12, 13 in Range 10, and Sections 6, 7 and 18 in Range 9. No. 2-Sections 3, 4, 5, 8, 9 and 10 in Range 9. No. 3-Sections 15, 16, 17, 20, 21 and 22, and parts of 18 and 19 in Range 9. No. 4-Sections 27, 28, 29, 32, 33, 34 and parts of 30 and 31. No. 5-Sections 19 and parts of 30 and 31 in Range 9, and 24, 25 and 36 in Range 10. Township elections were ordered held at the house of Mathias Gusen.
Schools, etc .- In 1838, quite a large hewed-log schoolhouse was erected at Cedar Lake through the influence, principally, of Hervey Ball, Aaron Cox and the Nordykes. Mr. Ball allowed the ground, and paid the greater portion of the expense of erecting the house. Who first taught in this building is not certainly known. In June, 1839, Mrs. J. A. H. Ball opened in this building the first boarding school in the county. In addition to the common branches there were taught elegant penmanship, drawing and painting, botany, natural philosophy, "polite learning," surveying, algebra, Latin and Greek, etc. The students who boarded and went to Mrs. Ball were Maria Bradley and John Selkirk, of La Porte County ; Ann Nickerson and Melissa Gosset, of Porter County, and Augustus Wood, Abby Wood and Sophia Cutler, of Lake County. There were some twenty or twenty-five scholars in attendance. Here, until 1849, was taught school, some winters and all summers, but after that date summer school alone was taught until 1855, when the old house was disused for school purposes. Hervey Ball was one of the winter teachers. The existence of this excellent school at Cedar Lake was the means of preventing the other schools of the township from starting up as soon as they would otherwise have done. Small children, in those days, were not sent to school, and it was no uncommon thing to see half- grown boys and girls going to Mrs. Ball from on the west side of Han- over Township, or from its extreme north. For some sixteen years the school continued under the management of Mrs. Ball, turning out many undergraduates, and creating a demand for universal learning that is felt throughout all that locality to this day. The existence of a school of that character in the wild county of Lake, its maintenance in the face of many difficulties, the excellent system and thoroughness of the learning furnished for a comparative pittance, speak in highest terms to the credit of Hervey Ball and Mrs. J. A. H. Ball, to whom it owed its commencement and long continuance. It sent six students to colleges and seminaries by the demand it created for a higher course of learning. In 1846, there was organized at this schoolhouse the " Cedar Lake Lyceum," by the young people of Cedar Lake, Prairie West and West Creek. This proved of
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the greatest literary advantage to the students of the school, and was con- tinued several years. The following year, in the same house, was organ- ized the " Cedar Lake Belles-lettres Society." Meetings were held once a month, young ladies were among the members, and the exercises were conducted in writing. Solon Robinson delivered a memorable address to the society, paying an eloquent complimentary notice to the educational interest of the society and the locality.
So far as can be learned, no other schools were taught in Hanover Township until 1844 or 1845, at which time Henry Sasse, Sr., who had several children whom he wanted educated nearer than the Cedar Lake School, having occasion to go to Dunkard's Grove, Ill., met the young minister there, Rev. Francis A. Hoffman, and induced him to come to Hanover to teach school, guaranteeing him his board and reasonable wages. A log house owned by Mr. Robbins, and situated north of Bruns- wick about half a mile, was fitted up with rude seats and desks, and here Mr. Hoffman began teaching in German the few families of children re- siding in the neighborhood. Timothy H. Ball, then a young man, stu- dent at the Cedar Lake School, obtained permission upon the payment of a small tuition to attend the school and prosecute the study of German. Mr. Hoffman was a man of unusual natural talent, was finely educated, and taught a very prosperous and successful school; he taught but the one term; he preached several times in German to the citizens of the neighborhood. He was a Professor of the German Lutheran views ; he eventually removed to Chicago, finally became Lieutenant Governor of Illinois, and attained, by the force of his talents, a high political and so- cial position.
Immediately after this, quasi private schools were instituted in the cen- tral part of the township, the sessions being held in private residences, but the teachers being employed by the citizens of the neighborhood. Scattering schools were thus held, undergoing frequent removals, tempo- rary suspensions, and uncertain locations in improvised schoolhouses, until the common school law of 1852 came into effect, when the schools of the township underwent a pronounced change. In the summer of 1853, Mary Wood was employed to teach in District No. 3 (where 4 now is), a term of three months, for which she was to receive $10 cash at the end of the term, and the balance (at the rate of $1.50 per week), in an order to be paid as soon as the funds allowed. During the same summer, Mary Portz taught at Hanover Centre, or where the Centre now is, as that town had not yet started up. She was paid $18 for the term of three months. Twenty-one scholars were enrolled, and the average attendance was fif- teen. The branches taught were : Webster's spelling, Perkins' reading, Davies' arithmetic, Mitchell's geography, and writing. Miss Wood had
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HISTORY OF LAKE COUNTY.
only six enrolled, with an average attendance of four. Her school was discontinued at the end of seven weeks, and she was paid $10.50 for what she had done. At this time, Mary D. Tighe taught in District No. 2, where Brunswick now is. She was was paid $24 for twelve weeks. Twenty scholars were enrolled ; average attendance, sixteen. History, grammar and mental arithmetic, in addition to the common branches, were taught. In September, 1852, May Babee taught at Hanover Cen- tre. Charles Colvin was paid $175 for a house which he furnished for school purposes in District 2 (Brunswick), and which had been used for a dwelling. The school at Hanover Centre was not directly at the cen- ter ; it was held in Henry Van Hollen's house.
During the winter of 1853-54, O. W. Graves taught at what is now Brunswick, or near there, and Henry Sasse, at Van Hollen's. In Janu- ary, 1854, Calvin Hunt, Charles Hunt and Carlos Hunt, who had been attending the school taught by Mr. Graves, were turned out of school by the Trustees for bad conduct. The boys had been having fun at the master's expense. School was taught in Mr. Hoffman's house for several years. In 1854, there were four school districts. Francis Hoffman was Director in No. 1; Joseph Schmal, in No. 2; Athanasius Hepp, in No. 3, and Peter Sauerman, in No. 4. Caroline Cotes taught in No. 1 ;. Harriet A. Fowler, in No. 2; Abby C. Sanger, in No. 3 for $45, and Henry Sasse, Jr., in No. 4 for $45. Mrs. Pettibone taught in No. 3 in 1855, and Maria Fancher in No. 2, same time.
The first schoolhouse proper in the township, except the one at Cedar Lake, was erected at Hanover Centre in 1857 by John E. Fraas, who was paid by the Trustees, $370. Soon after its construction it was inspected and found to be "unfaithfully and unsubstantially built," whereupon Hervey Ball was appointed to supervise its completion, but he was unable to do so, and Hermann C. Beckmann took his place and was paid $43.54 for such service. The first teacher in this house was Henry Sasse, Jr., who taught three months for $60. Miss Fancher taught at Brunswick in 1857-58, three months, for $25 per month, the highest wages that had been paid in the common schools of the township up to that time. In July, 1857, the following citizens, living in the school dis- trict north of Brunswick, petitioned for a schoolhouse on Section 12, Range 10, the building to be 20x24 feet : Athanasius Hepp, Frederick Hue, Christopher Wassman, Christopher Piepho, Henry Seehausen, Conrad Seegers, Henry Wassman, William Noehren, Frederick Ochler- king, Conrad Oldendorf, Gottlieb Burtle, William Bauermosser, George Leseman, Auton Griss, Fred Batterman and Charles Hitzeman. A small frame house was built in response to the prayer of the petitioners, but not immediately. The first schoolhouse in District No. 5 was built.
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by Charles Groman, Trustee, in 1862, at a cost of $220.96. The house, a small frame structure, was located on Section 32. School had been previously held in the neighborhood in private houses. In 1864, the house in District No. 6 was erected at a cost of $244.77. This was the first in that district, and is yet in use. The first real schoolhouse in Dis- trict No. 2 was erected in October, 1864, the cost amounting to $432.78. This house was afterward removed to Klassville, where it is yet used for school purposes. William Ahles erected the house in District No. 3 about this time, the cost amounting to $463.72. In 1869, Charles Gro- man, Trustee, erected the present two-storied frame schoolhouse at Bruns- wick at a cost of $1,279.53, the land upon which it was located costing an additional $25. This is much the best schoolhouse in the townships, and is highly complimentary of the educational interest manifested by the citizens of the small village of Brunswick. In 1858, Miss Ann Schillo taught sixty-five days in District No. 4 for $60, and Miss Henrietta Ball taught three months in District No. 1, three hours a day, for $30. Charles Ball taught in District No. 1 the winter of 1858-59, and George F. Gerlach in District No. 4. Charles A. Miller taught at the same time in District No. 2. Henry Sasse taught in 1859-60 in District No. 1, and E. Sprague at the same date in District No. 4. At the same time, Fred Leutheusser taught in District No. 3. Every district had schools before the first houses were built, but as no record of the same was kept, and recollection refuses to reveal the facts, but little authentic can be given. An additional schoolhouse was erected a few years ago in the northeastern corner to accommodate the families living there, but the house is now owned by private parties.
Villages, etc .- The first store in Hanover Centre was opened about fifteen years ago by Frank Massoth, who has remained in the mercantile business in the village ever since. At times he has had as high as $4,000 worth of a general assortment of goods in store. His trade yields him a comfortable profit. A few years after he began, C. C. Becker & Co. opened a store with about $1,500 worth of goods. After some six or seven years, this company closed out their goods at auction, and went to Chicago. Jacob Weis, the first blacksmith, began work some ten or twelve years ago. John Schillo took his place a few years later. Frank Schultz opened a blacksmithi shop some seven years ago. Nicholas Geisen began manufacturing sledge, ax, hammer, and other handles, on a small scale, many years ago. Last year an engine was purchased, since which time quite a heavy business in handles for the Chicago workshops is done. Stephen Meyers opened the first saloon about fifteen years since. He is yet in the same business, and also keeps hotel. John Winkler opened the second saloon about eleven years ago. He was succeeded by Mathias
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Scherer, and the latter by Nicholas Lorscheider, who is yet in the same business. The present schoolhouse at the Centre was built about six years since, and cost between $600 and $700. Peter Becker, an excel- lent sign painter and grainer, has been in the village some eighteen years. Mr. Massoth was appointed Postmaster about two years ago.
Abel Farwell probably built the first house in Brunswick nearly forty years ago. Later than this Hiram P. Robbins built a dwelling in the village, which, at that time, was not thought of as a village. Joseph Schmal probably built the third house in about 1853. In about 1856, he sold a lot to Henry John, who erected a blacksmith shop and began work. The next year John H. Heins bought a lot of Abel Farwell, and put up a large building which is yet standing. In 1856, Heins & Lepin had opened a store north of town about eighty rods, with some $1,500 worth of goods ; but early in 1857 they had dissolved partnership, and Lepin had bought of Herman Doescher the lot where Hermann Beckmann is now located, and had erected thereon a large frame building, into which he placed the goods which fell to him from his business engagement with Heins. In June, 1859, the building was destroyed accidentally by fire, though the greater portion of the goods was saved. Charles Dutton had opened the first store in Brunswick in the autumn of 1855, having moved from Eagle Lake. His stock did not exceed $150 worth. After about a year he closed out his stock. As soon as Heins had erected his large building in 1857, he began the manufacture of vinegar, and also began rectifying spirits on quite an extensive scale. His house became quite a place of resort for a party of "swells " from Chicago, and for a few young men of the neighborhood, who had, with commendable skill, imi- tated the predominant habits of the plug-uglies from Chicago in the assumption of an air of charming coolness in the adoption of an easy grace in spending money, and in wearing fine clothes that had not been paid for, and in learnedly interlarding every expression with a grotesque com- mingling of quotations thrown in promiscuously, apparently from Vanity's pepper-box, and that, too, without salt, from the Latin, Greek and other languages that were dead and buried, or ought to have been, without hope of resurrection. Silk hats, tight-fitting gloves, fashionable and costly clothes, rectified alcohol, canes, hunting excursions, pleasure parties, Latin and Greek, mountainous bigotry and other similar characteristics made up the sum and substance of the group. The villagers were far too humble and obscure to be recognized. This made them rabid, at least they became so incensed that they began to retaliate by applying signifi- cant and euphonious titles to the "swells." "Stovepipe party," "Latin class," and similar designations were applied, but without relief. Among the group were two European lordlings, who were fondled and petted as
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only such effeminate apes could endure without suicide. The villagers were laughed at and ridiculed until, finally, so hostile became the prevail- ing sentiment against the " swells," that they left the neighborhood amid universal rejoicing and thanksgiving.
As soon as Pepin's store was burned down, he immediately erected another-the Beckmann building-and placed therein a respectable stock of goods, but sold out or traded out about three years later to Lewis and William Waterman. In 1866, Hermann Beckmann, an excellent man of great social power, purchased the store of the Watermans, and has remained in business since, with a stock varying from $2,000 to $3,500. Peter Maack sold liquor in Brunswick for several years. Hein sold out and went to Brooklyn, N. Y. Henry Brenker began the manufacture of wagons as early as 1858. He employed three men, and made as high as forty-four vehicles in one year. Henry Jahn was his blacksmith at first, and later Mr. Bencke. Valentine Einsele began the wagon-making business soon after Brenker, and employed Jacob Neis to do his ironing. August Buchholz manufactured butter tubs, etc., during the war. Messrs. Smith, Lake & Mahler, harness makers, were present during the war. The citizens of the village wanted the post office called Hanover, but as there was already a Hanover in Indiana, this was refused. They then sug- gested Schiller, in honor of the great German poet, but this was thought cumbersome by the authorities at Washington, who designated the place Brunswick, a name it yet retains.
The physicians of Brunswick have been : Hoffman, Charles Gro- man, Constantine Schlemme, Walmski and Volke. Dr. Groman, the present Township Trustee, an excellent citizen, and an experienced phy- sician, resides in the village and has all he cares to do in the line of his profession.
Klaasville was founded by August Klaas, after whom it was named. He opened a store there during the last war, and continued in business for several years, having various partners and a good country trade. Among those associated with him were Fred Lange, John Berg and others. Samuel Loebstein was in the mercantile business about a year. Other merchants have been Boedeker & Co., Lewis Berg and Lewis Berg & Co., at present ; Justis Brothers were in for a short time. Mr. Klaas built the first house in the village. William and John Haas were black- smiths there.
Reference should be made to the prominence to which Cedar Lake is growing as a pleasure resort. During the warmer months for the past few years, its banks have been covered with the white tents of pleasure seekers, and its waters filled with row-boats, sail-boats and a small steamer. Much of the land on the western shore is now held in small
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HISTORY OF LAKE COUNTY.
parcels by those who expect to derive a profit from the future sale of picnic stores and wares. Such land in some cases has sold for almost fabulous amounts. The ice interests of the railroad and other companies are very large, hundreds of tons being packed annually, and, when wanted, shipped to Chicago and other markets.
Religious Growth, etc .- In 1838, a Baptist society was organized in the old schoolhouse at Cedar Lake. The first members were Norman Warriner, Marilla Warriner, Lewis Warriner, Sabra Warriner, Richard Church, Sarah Church, Mrs. Valona Cutler, Hervey Ball and Jane Ball. Elder French, of Porter County, was present. At this time, though it was agreed to assemble for the worship of God, no regular church organi- zation was effected. Meetings were to be held alternately at Centre Prairie, Prairie West and at the Cutlers' or Churches', and at H. Ball's. The class was really organized in March, 1839, with the following first members. Richard Church, Anny Church, Leonard Cutler, Valona Cut- ler, Norman Warriner, Marilla Warriner, Hervey Ball, Jane Ball and Elizabeth Horton. At the next meeting, Azuba Leland and Sally Church were received by letter. Still later the following joined : Lewis Warriner, Hannah Warriner, Herman Waggoner and Angeline Wag- goner. Elder French continued to preach for the class. In July, 1839, Norman Warriner was licensed to preach, his ordination being the first in the county, July 27, 1840. On the 20th of July, Albert Taylor was baptized in Cedar Lake on the west side. At this time, the church num- bered fifteen members. W. T. Bly became pastor in 1845. He also held meetings in the western part of the township at the Farwells'. Elder Sawin preached for the class ; Elder Kennedy, from Twenty-Mile Prairie, also visited the class. Elder A. Hastings became the regular pas- tor in 1848. In 1846, there were thirty-six members, but in 1849, only twenty-one, two new churches having been formed from the old. Elder T. L. Hunt became the fourth pastor in 1850. Up to this time the class had met in the Cedar Lake Schoolhouse, at the house of H. Ball, and at other places, but now it was removed to the schoolhouse on the east side of the lake. About this time Hanover Township received large colonies of Germans from the old country, and soon all the township was densely populated with this hardy, industrious and humble class of peo- ple. As this church was from the commencement made up largely of members from Centre Township, the place of meeting was removed in 1850, to the schoolhouse on the east side. The next pastor was Uriah Mc- Kay. The class continued until 1856, when, as other localities seemed more favorable for the maintenance of classes, the society disbanded, and its members joined churches in other portions of the county. This was the oldest Baptist society in the county. It was the parent of one
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in the West Creek Township, one in Illinois, and the one at Crown Point. Notwithstanding its long continuance and pronounced success, it had no church building, but conducted its services in schoolhouses and private dwellings. The good it did throughout the county, cannot be told in words. Its wide-spread influence for good, deeply engraven in the hearts of all connected with it, is its own imperishable monument.
There have been two church structures in the northwestern part of the township, one succeeding the other, and both constructed by the same denomination and same society-German Lutheran. A few years prior to 1857 a small class had been formed in the neighborhood, and meet- ings were had at private dwellings, and at schoolhouses such as there then were. Rev. Peter Lehmann, a very able and worthy man, a brother of John Lehmann, editor of the Crow Point Freie Presse, was the leading spirit of the class; and it was through his influ- ence and under his excellent and well-remembered ministration that the society was organized and placed on a permanent foundation. As early as 1856 he began urging the necessity of having a permanent building in which the class could worship without molestation. A subscription paper to defray the expense of constructing a small frame church was circulated and signed by the following twenty-two men, each of whom agreed to give $25 : Charles Hitzeman, Fred Glade, Christopher Glade, Henry Glade, John Elting, Henry Suhausen, William Nehrer, Christopher Piepho, Fritz Batterman, Henry Batterman, Conrad Seegers, Christo- pher Seegers, William Hothan, William Mussman, George Leseman, Otto Buehre, Henry Schoenbeck, H. H. Heisterberg, Otto Russell, Christopher Russell, Fritz Ohlerking and Fritz Hue. A few others subscribed small amounts, the whole, including the above, footing up to about $650. The house was constructed in 1857, and used constantly until about ten years ago, when the class having became quite strong financially, though somewhat weak numerically, built a new frame church at a total cost of about $3,000. This building is yet in use. Rev. Mr. Lehmann remained with the class some thirteen years. He was followed by Rev. Jacob Furrer, who remained four years ; by Rev. Robert Ruegg, who remained nearly four years ; by Rev. August Kitterer, who served nearly four years, and by Rev. Wm. Wahl, the present pastor, a very sincere and excellent man. The members of the first were mostly made up of the families of the above-named men, there being a total of some thirty-two when the church was built in 1857. Perhaps the class has not, since it was first organized, exceeded forty members in good standing. The present membership is about twenty-three. Mr. Leh- mann, the founder of the class, organized a Sunday school soon after 1857. At first the class was large, numbering about sixty, though the
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