USA > Indiana > Porter County > Counties of Porter and Lake, Indiana : historical and biographical > Part 74
USA > Indiana > Lake County > Counties of Porter and Lake, Indiana : historical and biographical > Part 74
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C. C. SANGER was born in Cedar Creek Township, Lake County, February, 1839, and is a son of James H. Sanger, deceased (a sketch of whom appears in this book). Mr. Sanger was reared in Lake County, which has always been his home. He received a good common school education in youth, and finished at the old Male and Female College at Valparaiso. His wife was Miss Caroline Childers, daughter of Joseph and Sarah Childers. Shortly after their union, Mr. Sanger engaged in
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farming in Cedar Creek Township, at which he continued until 1874, when they moved to Lowell, and rented their farm, and where they have since resided. In the same year, Mr. Sanger opened a hardware store, and has carried on said business since that time ; he carries a full line of hardware, tinware, stoves, agricultural implements and the like, in which he is having a good trade. Besides property in Lowell, Mr. Sanger has a farm of over 160 acres in Cedar Creek Township. He is a member of the Freemasons, and a Republican in politics. Mrs. Sanger is a mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
JAMES H. SANGER, JR., was born in Cedar Creek Township, Lake County, Ind., April 14, 1844, and is the sixth of the eight children of James H. and Martha B. (Cleveland) Sanger, both natives of Ontario County, N. Y. James H. Sanger, Sr., was married in New York in 1834, where he owned a farm and was engaged in agriculture. At an early day, he bought a farm in Michigan, sold the New York property, and came to Cedar Creek Township in the spring of 1837, where he entered eighty acres, on which he constructed a cabin, with clapboard roof and puncheon floor. To this domain he continued to add until he owned 1,000 acres of excellent land ; he was interested largely, also, in sheep and cattle, and one of the most extensive dealers in this line in the county. He died in Lowell, July 30, 1882, in his seventy-fifth year. He was a member of Lowell Lodge, No. 245, I. O. O. F., of Lowell Grange, a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and one of the old settlers of the county. In an early day, he was Postmaster, and afterward held various township offices. James H. Sanger, Jr., received a school and academic education, and worked with his father until he was twenty-one years old. On December 31, 1871, he married Charlotte Levering, of Knox County, Ohio, daughter of John S. and Elizabeth (Craft) Lever- ing. Two children followed their union-Leora Maud and Frederick J. In 1873, Mr. Sanger purchased and moved to a farm of 187 acres. Since 1881, he has resided on the home farm of his father. Mr. Sanger is a member of Lowell Lodge, No. 245, I. O. O. F., and is an enter- prising farmer and citizen.
JOSHUA P. SPALDING was born in Monroe County, Mich., No- vember 29, 1833, and is the eldest of the nine children born to Heman M. and Nancy (Parker) Spalding, the former a native of Oneida County and the latter of Genesee County, N. Y. Heman M. Spalding was a blacksmith. When a young man (about 1830 or 1831), he went to Chi- cago by the first steamer that navigated Lake Michigan, but returned by same steamer to Canada, where he was employed in the lumber business one winter. He then went to Monroe County, Mich., where he entered eighty acres, built a cabin and followed his trade in connection with farm-
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ing. In this county he was married. In 1837, he sold his farm and came to West Creek Township, entered 345 acres, built a log cabin and subsequently improved a farm. Here he resided until his death, July 17, 1857, aged forty-eight years. Joshua P. Spalding received such educa- tion as could be had in his day of youth, but has since acquired a fair business education, and is a man of extensive reading and information. He worked for his father until his majority, and afterward farmed on shares for one year. When his father died, he took charge of the home farm. On October 22, 1856, he married Cynthia Dodge, of West Creek Township, daughter of Henry and Lucretia (De Gaugh) Dodge, who were among the early settlers of West Creek Township, in 1838. Mr. and Mrs. Spalding have had eight children, seven of whom are living-Milo, Mary (now Mrs. A. L. Thompson, of Chicago), Levi, Helen, Isabel, Henry and Alice. On August 12, 1862, he enlisted in Company A, Ninety-ninth Indiana Volunteers, with which he served to the end, hav- ing been at Vicksburg, Atlanta and in the "march to the sea " as one of Gen. Sherman's famous "raiders." He was discharged with the regiment at Washington, D. C., June 5, 1865. After his return, he bought a portion of the old home, where he remained until 1869, when he sold same and bought ninety-four acres, known as the " Jackson farm," and was appointed Postmaster of West Creek Post Office, which he held thirteen years. He remained on this farm, which he still owns, until March, 1882, when he removed to Cedar Creek Township and pur- chased 240 acres, on which he now lives. Mr. Spalding is a strong Re- publican, and one of the oldest settlers and most prominent farmers in Lake County. Mrs. Spalding is a member of the Presbyterian Church.
HENRY SURPRISE was born in Chesterfield, N. Y., December 1, 1832, and is one of ten children born to Peter and Rosanna (Taylor) Surprise, both natives of Canada. Peter Surprise was married in Can- ada, and soon after removed to New York, where he owned a farm, and was engaged in farming and burning charcoal. About 1830, he was burned out, and in 1834 or 1835 he moved to Cedar Creek Township, Lake Co., Ind., where he pre-empted 160 acres, on which he built a cabin, and afterward exchanged for a like claim of John Driscoll, which he improved. For several years, Mr. Surprise was engaged in burning charcoal. He also invested in boots and shoes to sell the settlers. These were stored in a cabin on his claim, which was destroyed by fire and the contents consumed. He is now living with his son Henry, over eighty years old. Henry Surprise is without educational advantages, but is a shrewd business man and well informed on general topics. He worked for his father until his majority, and afterward by the month for two years, and then purchased forty acres of unimproved land in Cedar
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Creek Township, which he cultivated and built a frame house. He also had a breaking team for three years. To this land he has added until he now owns 534 acres in Cedar Creek Township. He has been one of the most extensive and successful dealers in stock in this county. On April 15, 1860, he was married to Elizabeth Hill, a native of Decatur County, Ind., daughter of James and Mary (Skinner) Hill. To Mr. and Mrs. Surprise have been born four children, three of whom survive- William H., Albert J. and Jasper M. In politics, Mr. Surprise is a Re- publican, and he is one of the leading farmers and stock-raisers in the county ; he has also been engaged extensively in the broker business for several years.
C. L. TEMPLETON was born in Bucks County, Penn., December 2, 1816, and is the eldest of the eight children of Belshazzar and Mary M. (Rosenberger) Templeton, both natives of Pennsylvania. Belshazzar Templeton was by trade a stone-mason, but owned a farm. C. L. Tem- pleton received a common school education, and began life for himself at nineteen years of age. In 1835, in Rhode Island, he entered the serv- ice of Williams, Sprague, Beckwith & Co., railroad contractors, as su- perintendent of construction, remaining four years, and traveling over New England. In 1839, he moved to Peoria, where he was employed under a firm of contractors, the senior member being A. F. Brown, with whom, in 1840, he came to Lake County, Ind., and purchased 100 acres in Centre Township. In 1857, he married Julia Rockwell, sister of Will- iam B. Rockwell (a sketch of whom is in this work). To this union were born seven children-Adelia (deceased), Frances A. (now Mrs. John Lee), William I. (deceased), Charles F., James (deceased), Sarah A. (now Mrs. Michael Minninger) and Malinda. Mr. Templeton engaged in farming until 1849, when he sold and removed to Cedar Creek Township, his present residence, his farm embracing 200 acres. Mr. Templeton is one of the earliest settlers. He assisted to organize the vigilance committee during lawless times many years ago, and was two years Deputy Sheriff of the county. He is a Director and Treasurer of the Farmers' Mutual Fire Insurance Company of Lake County, and its present agent ; also one of the Directors of the County Agricultural Society. In politics. he was a Whig, then a Republican and is now a Greenbacker, and candidate of that party for the State Legislature. He also organized the State Grange of Indiana, and was Treasurer three years. He is the present Treasurer of Colfax Lodge, No. 378, A., F. & A. M., of Lowell. In 1852, he went to California, via Panama, engaged in mining for one year, and was two years in the lumbering business. In 1864, on the way home, he was shipwrecked off California, when 264 lives were lost. He returned in 1865.
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JOHN W. VIANT was born in Canada West September 18, 1835, and is a son of Francis and Catharine (Bridgman) Viant, the former a native of Paris, France, the latter of Ireland. Francis Viant emigrated to Montreal when a young man, and engaged in lumbering. The mother of our subject was his second wife. John W. Viant is the only living child, his brother having been killed while building a bridge. His father died in 1840, and his mother in 1875, and he is now the only descendant bearing the family name. Mr. Viant received but a spare education in his native country. When about fifteen he began as a clerk at Castle- ton, Canada, where he lived until he was twenty years old. Realizing the poor opportunities for advancement in that country. he came to the United States. Accordingly, in 1856, he started for Minnesota, but on the way stopped in Indiana, and liking the territory, remained at Crown Point one year. In the spring of 1857, he went back to Canada, and on March 31 was married to Miss Ann Jones, a native of Canada. To this union were born five children-Frederick H., Cassius M. C., Clif- ford, John W. and Bessie (deceased). In the fall of 1857, Mr. Viant came to Lowell, and, in conjunction with Jonah Thorn, purchased a stock of dry goods and groceries, and began his career as a merchant. Thorn sold out to Mr. Merton, the original owner of the goods, in about one year, and two years later Mr. Viant purchased Mr. Merton's interest, continuing until 1881, when he sold out and returned to farming. In 1882, he took his eldest son, Frederick H., as a partner in his present business, and this has been successful. Mr. Viant is the oldest Lowell merchant living. When he came hither, the population numbered about 100, and he has been identified with its growth and prosperity ; he has supported churches, schools and other useful enterprises. In politics, Mr. Viant is a firm Republican ; he is an original member of Colfax Lodge, No. 378, A., F. & A. M. Besides owning valuable town property in Lowell, he has seventy acres of good land adjoining. Both he and his wife are members of the M. E. Church for thirty years.
DEFOREST WARNER, deceased, was born in New Haven County, Conn., February 27, 1814, and was one of the four children born to Augustus and Maria (Candee) Warner. He was reared to manhood on his father's farm, receiving only a common school education. His father having died when he was a boy, he was his mother's principal assistant in caring for the family. On February 25, 1838, he was married to Miss Lovicy Curtis, and in 1841, he, with his wife and mother, brother and sisters, moved to Otsego County, N. Y., where his mother died. There Mr. Warner was chiefly engaged in farming until 1850, when he sold out and came to Indiana. Being charmed with the richness of the soil in southern Lake County, he purchased 379 acres near what is known as
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Orchard Grove, Cedar Creek Township. Here he built a cabin and en- gaged in farming, peddling and retailing dry goods, notions, etc. Mr. Warner was very successful through life. By his influence, a post office was established at Orchard Grove, of which he was the first Postmaster. He was a Republican in politics, and for many years was Justice of the Peace in his township. He was a man of great energy and moral character, much esteemed by the community and lamented by his widow and family. His death occurred October 26, 1874. Mr. and Mrs. Warner had a family of four children-Theron (deceased), Myron (deceased), Anson (married and residing in Lowell), and Thena (wife of J. C. Kenney, of Orchard Grove). Mrs. Warner was born in Litchfield County, Conn., February 23, 1821, and only daughter of John and Sarah A. (Nettle- ton) Curtis. She lives on the homestead, comprising 379 acres, accumu- lated by the joint labors of herself and deceased husband.
GEORGE W. WATERS was born in Orleans County, N. Y., June 21, 1842, and is the younger of the two children of Ira and Francelia S. (Wilson) Waters, the former a native of Whitehall, N. Y., the latter of Rochester, N. Y. Ira Waters was a life-long farmer, and in 1855 located in St. Joseph County, Mich., where his eldest son and mother now reside. Mr. Waters was killed by the falling of a tree in Decem- ber, 1881. George W. Waters remained with his parents until manhood, receiving a fair school education. On August 7, 1862, he enlisted in Company D, Nineteenth Michigan Volunteers, assigned to the Twentieth Corps, Western Division, under Gen. Hooker. Mr. Waters was in ac- tive duty at Fort Donelson and Franklin, where he was made a prisoner, and in March, 1863, placed in Libby Prison, where he suffered indescriba- bly for three months. When captured, he weighed 190 pounds, and on his release, about 125 pounds. In June, 1863, he was paroled, and on account of wounds received in the service, was discharged. On returning to Michigan, he engaged in farming for one year, when he came to Lake County with a drove of sheep, and, liking the country, resolved to make it his home. In 1866, he taught school in West Creek Township, after which he came to Lowell and began as a clerk in the drug store, which he now owns. A year later, he purchased a new stock, his employer moved further down town, and he opened for trade, carrying a full line of pure drugs, tobacco, confectionery, toilet goods, etc., in which he is doing a good business. On January 6, 1869, he married Mary Sautter, an adopted daughter of Hiram P. and Louisa (Burns) Robbins. She was generally known as Mary Robbins. To this union were born two daugh- ters-Eva and Flonnie. Mrs. Waters was born in Germany June 5, 1844, and as a child was brought to America by her parents. Mr. Waters is a Mason, and has taken the Royal Arch degree; he is also an
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Odd Fellow, in which he has advanced to the Encampment. Mr. and Mrs. Waters are members of the M. E. Church, and highly regarded in their community.
JAMES A. WOOD, M. D., was born in Trumbull County, Ohio, February 27, 1814, and is one of the eight children of Francis and Rachel (Dodd) Wood, both natives of New Jersey. Francis Wood was a farmer and a soldier of the war of 1812. About 1812, he moved with his family to Trumbull County, Ohio, then a wilderness. After the war, in 1816, he changed to Richland County, where he entered 160 acres, erected a log cabin and cleared a farm, on which he lived until his death, in 1858; he was a member of the Presbyterian Church. James A. Wood attended school and worked on the farm until he was eighteen years of age, when he commenced the study of medicine with Dr. Abram Ecker, of Wayne County. In 1834, he attended Washington Medical College, at Cannonsburg, Penn., from which he graduated in 1836, and, on June 6 of that year, he married Anna Jacobs, of Saratoga, N. Y. The union was blessed by eight children, six of whom are living. In 1837, he came to Porter County, Ind., and settled near Valparaiso, being one of the first physicians in Northwestern Indiana. He followed the Indian trails on a hardy Indian pony, his practice extending from the Kankakee to Lake Michigan. In 1840, he moved to West Point, in 1842, to Centre Prairie, and, in 1847, to Lowell, Lake County, where he still resides. From 1863 to 1865, he was Assistant Regimental Surgeon to the Twelfth Indiana Regiment. During much of his service, he was stationed in hospitals and above his nominal rank. In 1875, from being thrown from his cutter, he sustained severe injury of the hip, from which he has not entirely recovered. Dr. Wood was Notary Public one year, Township Trustee two years, and has been Justice of the Peace for fourteen years. He is a member of Colfax Lodge, No. 378, and the oldest Mason in the county. He has also been a leading physician and citizen for more than forty years.
JOHN L. WORLEY was born near Union City, Ind., April 28, 1820, and is a son of John and Elizabeth (Wood) Worley. The Worleys are of English descent, Caleb and Rebecca Worley-the first of the name -coming to America with William Penn on his second voyage, in 1699. They settled in Pennsylvania, and had two sons-Henry and Francis. Both had families, and John L. is a descendant of Francis. Nathan Worley, grandfather of our subject, was born in Virginia January 7, 1773; he married Rebecca Greer, in Kentucky, and they moved to Mont- gomery County, Ohio, in 1804, where they lived until death. Cincin- nati at that time contained three houses and a fort. Nathan was for more than forty years an old Christian or New-Light preacher. John Worley
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was born in Montgomery County, Ohio, June 1, 1794. In 1818, he was married to Elizabeth Wood, and began farming in Ohio ; they had two children, only one-John L .- being, now alive. Mr. Worley died De- cember 31, 1819, four months before our subject's birth ; John L. Worley was reared until his sixteenth year by his mother's relatives. He attended school but three months in his life, in a log house of the time. In 1839, he came to Lake County, Ind., whither his mother had preceded him, and purchased a claim to the land on which he yet resides, his capital being $100 and a rifle. On November 20, 1840, he was married to Sarah Beedle, after which he built a cabin and engaged in improving his land. Mrs. Worley died August 16, 1841, leaving a babe a few hours old; this child now resides in Iowa, the wife of Henry Latham. Mr. Worley's second marriage was to Naomi Hathaway, on December 20, 1843, to which marriage have been born six children-Nathan, Willis W., Perry, Benjamin F., Maria J. and Henry. Two of these, Nathan and Willis, were steadfast soldiers in the war. Mr. Worley is a worthy and substantial citizen ; in politics a Republican, and a self-made man and a pioneer. Mr. and Mrs. Worley are members of the Christian Church.
ALFRED A. GERRISH, M. D., is a descendant of an old, time- honored New England family of farmers, attorneys, clergymen and the like; but Dr. Gerrish is the single disciple of Esculapius. He was born on Independence Day, 1829, and is the seventh of the thirteen children of Joseph and Susan (Hancock) Gerrish, both natives of the Granite State, and of English descent. They were large land-owners, owning land about fifteen miles above Concord, on the Merrimac River, adjoining the Daniel Webster Homestead. On this site Dr. Gerrish was born, and his parents lived and died. Here he passed his youth and early man- hood. After attending the common schools, he entered Dartmouth Col- lege, where he had a thorough literary course. At the age of twenty, he began the study of medicine under Dr. Wight, of Gilmanton, and after- ward at Concord, under Prof. 'Parker. In 1851, he became a private pupil of Prof. Peaslee, of Dartmouth, until his graduation from the New York Medical College, March 3, 1853. He has enjoyed the instructions of some of the most eminent physicians our country has produced. After graduation Dr. Gerrish located at Mount Vernon, N. H., where he soon acquired a large and lucrative practice. In 1865, by reason of ill-health from overwork, he was compelled to seek another location, and he came to Lake County, Ind., where he had relatives ; he stopped at Lowell for a time, and, improving in health, resolved to make it his home. A good physician being then needed, he soon had a good practice, being esteemed the first physician in the place, which he has maintained until the pres- ent. Owing to an accident a few years ago, he does now a select prac-
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tice only. He has become influential and independent, and is highly esteemed by his fellow-laborers. Aside from professional prominence, he is a public-spirited citizen, always to be found on the side of temperance and education; he is, however, the only Democrat among the physicians of Lowell.
HOBART TOWNSHIP.
JOHN AHERN was born in the county of Limerick, Ireland, No- vember 10, 1828 ; he is one of six children born to John and Mary (Dunn) Ahern, viz .: Catharine, John, Patrick, Margaret, Michael and Mary. John was married, February 10, 1849, to Mary Glavvan, in Lim- erick County ; his wife has given birth to five children, three boys and two girls-John, Patrick, Michael, Mary and Ellen. Mary is the only one deceased. At about the age of twenty-one, Mr. Ahern emigrated to America, landing at New York. In 1860, he came to Lake County, and, with the exception of three years' residence in Porter County, he has ever since lived on his present place of 107 acres, one and a half miles north- west of Hobart.
WILLIAM H. ALLEN was born in 1842 in Glasgow, Scotland. He is the only child of George and Ann (Armstrong) Allen, both natives of Ireland. His father was killed a short time before the birth of our sub- ject, and his mother died soon after. He was reared by a Mr. Hammond up to ten years of age, when he was thrown on his own resources, and worked in a Glasgow brewery for four years; then he engaged in John Thompson's pottery for seven years ; then nearly four years in Messrs. Wilsons' pottery. He was then omnibus conductor for over eight years in Glasgow. About 1868, he came to America, and lived in Rye, near New York City, for three years as family coachman for a Mr. Grosbeck. He went to Glasgow, and remained a year visiting, and returned to New York, and was sexton and coachman for a Rev. Benjamin two years. He then came to Chicago, and was engaged as coachman for a Mr. Cornell, of the watch factory, for four years, and was then coachman for II. L. Davis for over four years, when he came to Hobart and engaged in the grocery business. He keeps a general confectionery, notion and tobacco store. He is a member of the F. & A. M. order, and a Repub- lican. He was married, in 1873, to Elizabeth Brighton, a native of Glasgow, Scotland. He has four children living-Harriet, George, James and Ellen.
ANTONY ARBOE was born in 1828 in Christiania, Norway. He is the youngest of three children born to Peter and Anna M. (Prouchler) Arboe, the former a native of London, England, and the latter of Norway.
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John Prouchler, grandfather of our subject, is noted in English history as being the first man who introduced the silk worm from India. The elder Arboe was an English soldier in our war of 1812, and was Captain on a merchantman at the time of his death in a wreck at sea when our subject was less than a year old. At twenty-five years of age, Antony Arboe came to the United States. He had served a five years' appren- ticeship as a mason, and worked in New York City and Jersey City for about a year. He then came to Chicago, and built for the Chicago, Galena, Union Railroad at Sterling for nine years. He then went to Decorah, Iowa, remaining the following nine years, and returned to Chi- cago and was engaged in contracting for about six years. He then em- barked in the mercantile business for two years. He then came to Ho- bart, and bought the stock of hardware of Mr. Koch, and now keeps a full line of hardware, stoves, etc. He has a tin-shop in connection with it, controlled by Mr. George Bissell, who is considered one of the best workmen in the county. Mr. Arboe is a member of the Odd Fellows fraternity and of the Lutheran Church. He has always been a Repub- lican, and is one of our most enterprising citizens. In 1859, he traveled through the Southern States and Mexico for six months, also in the Northwest. He was married, October 4, 1850, to Frederica Fredrick- son, a native of Norway. They have one child living-Hulda L. Snipe.
WILLIAM BALLANTYNE was born in 1828 in Scotland. He is the youngest of ten children born to Bertram and Margaret (Williamson) Ballantyne. The Ballantynes are descendants of the ancient Picts, as has been illustrated or proven by the fact that that people were noted for the length of their arms, as has been a characteristic of the Ballantynes also. The elder Ballantyne was a Captain in the volunteer service from 1800 to his death, during the Peninsular wars. The ancestors of Mr. Ballantyne were especially active on the popular side against landlordism and the priesthood. Our subject lived on his father's estate until his twentieth year ; he had been educated in the parochial schools at home, and afterward in the University of Glasgow ; he then went into business in Glasgow, establishing a cotton, linen and woolen goods manufactory, and continued nearly twenty-five years. At the threatened invasion of the French in 1859, he raised a volunteer company. It had been unsuc- cessfully attempted by one of the nobility, but with his zeal and earnest- ness, he was successful, and was promoted from Captain to Major, and finally to Colonel, and underwent an examination for Major General, and passed, but he now bought an estate near Glasgow, on which he lived ten years, and sold it on coming to the United States. Mr. B. was an extensive manufacturer, but having four sons, and with Republican ideas, he came to America, to find a larger field for them, and selected milling
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