USA > Indiana > Porter County > Counties of Porter and Lake, Indiana : historical and biographical > Part 80
USA > Indiana > Lake County > Counties of Porter and Lake, Indiana : historical and biographical > Part 80
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CHARLES A. KNOLL was born in Bradford, Upper Canada, July 17, 1838, and is a son of Peter M. and Margaret (Stockwell) Knoll ; the
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former born in New Jersey in 1814, the latter in Upper Canada in 1818, and were married at Bradford, Upper Canada, in 1835. Charles A. Knoll spent some time at school, and, when about eleven years old, his father moved to Ross Township, Lake County, Ind., where he went to school until he was fourteen years of age, and after worked at farming until the year 1861, when he enlisted in Company K, Eleventh Illinois Volunteer Infantry ; he was soon made a Sergeant, and at Fort Donel- son was shot in the right arm and left leg, where the ball still lies ; he rejoined his regiment after about two months, and was at Shiloh and the siege of Vicksburg, after which he was discharged, and soon re-enlisted as a veteran, and was transferred to the Eighth Illinois Regiment, with which he served till the close of the war ; he was discharged at New Or- leans in 1865. On his return, he bought a one-half interest in his father's farm; he married Mary E. Kernall, daughter of Henry and Zeniah (Frazer) Kernall, of New York. To this union was born one child, Gracie May (born November 15, 1868). In March, 1874, he pur- chased eighty acres in Section 26, Range 8. Mr. Knoll is a general farmer, and keeps a variety of stock ; he is a liberal Democrat.
SIMEON MARBLE was born in Sunderland, Vt., August 30, 1813, and is the fifth child of Simeon and Rebecca (Allen) Marble ; his father was a gunsmith and farmer. Simeon Marble attended a village school until he was about eighteen years of age, and afterward worked on his father's farm until he was twenty-five years of age. At this date, he mar- ried Louisa Imus, to which union were born three children-Horace, Ann L. (deceased), and Cyrus (deceased). Mrs. Marble died in 1845, and in 1847, Mr. Marble married Electia Warren, by whom he had two infants, both deceased, and shortly afterward Mrs. Marble died. In 1852, he went to Bunker Hill, Mich., where he married Betsey Booth, and re- mained in Michigan until the war broke out ; he then sold his place and removed to Ross Township, Lake County, Ind., where he purchased a farm in Section 17, Range 7, which he is now cultivating ; he also gives attention to stock-raising. In 1874, his third wife died without issue. On October 7, 1877, he was married to Amanda M. Niles, widow of W. Niles, of New York, she having seven children. Mr. Marble is a member of the Free Methodist Church, a rigid Republican and a much - esteemed citizen. In 1880, his son, Horace, was elected Sheriff of Lake County, and has been renominated by the Republicans for the same office.
JOHN P. MERRILL was born in Ross Township October 13, 1842, and is the second of five children born to Dudley and Julia A. (Peters) Merrill, who were married in Ross Township January 1, 1840 ; his father was a farmer, and also kept a country store. John P. Merrill attended school until he was about nineteen years old, and afterward clerked in his
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father's store until August, 1862, when he enlisted in Company A, Ninety- ninth Indiana Volunteer Infantry ; he served as Sergeant until October 31, 1864, when he was appointed First Lieutenant, a position he held with honor. He was at the siege of Vicksburg, at Jackson, Mission Ridge, Resaca, and went through to Raleigh ; he returned to his home at Merrillville, Ross Township, June 15, 1865; he relieved his sister of her place in his father's store, taken by her in his absence. In 1867, he and his brother Oliver were given the store by their father. On March 26, 1867, he married Martha T. Randolph, daughter of Josiah and Alla (Mead) Randolph, and to this union four children were born-Julia A. (September 11, 1868), Walter J. (October 18, 1871), Ralph D., deceased (August 17, 1875), and Alla C. (June 21, 1877). In 1878, he bought his brother Oliver's interest in the store, which he still continues ; he is also President and Treasurer of the Merrillville Cheese Factory. In 1869, he was elected Township Trustee, which he held until 1874; he was then put in nomination by the Independent and Democratic joint conventions, held at Crown Point, for the office of Treasurer of Lake County. In 1878, he was again elected Township Trustee, holding the office four years, re-elected in 1882 ; his many friends desire to see him Treasurer of the county, for which office he has been indorsed by the Greenback and Democratic Conventions, and it is thought his chances for election are good; he is a Master Mason and esteemed citizen.
HENRY CASS MERRILL was born in Centreville (now Merrill- ville), Ross Township, Lake Co., Ind., February 29, 1852. Until he was twenty years of age, he divided his time between going to school and work- ing on his father's farm. In 1872, he went to California and worked in the mines for two years, where he accumulated some money. Returning to Merrillville, he commenced farming. In 1874, he was married to Cyn- thia Saxton, of this township, by which union were born three children- Everett C. (born January 30, 1879), Archie W. (born October 21, 1880), and Guy G. (born June 30, 1882). Mr. Merrill is a general farmer, but gives most attention to the breeding of stock, particularly hogs ; he is liberal in politics, a church attendant, and a widely esteemed citizen.
ORRIN PIERCE was born in New York September 7, 1813, and is the fourth of thirteen children born to Rowland and Nancy (Cottrell) Pierce. Rowland Pierce was a farmer, and born in Vermont November 20, 1779, and Mrs. Nancy Pierce in New York City April 2, 1788. They were married November 21, 1801. Orrin Pierce obtained but little schooling, working on his father's farm until twenty-two years of age. In January, 1836, he married Hester Hammond, to which union were born two boys-Marshall (deceased) and Edgar (deceased). He then moved to Canada, and bought up a farm ; after one year he sold said
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farm and returned to New York, where he rented land. In 1840, his wife died, and in 1842 he came to Ross Township, Lake Co., Ind., and purchased a small farm in Section 16; this he sold, and rented 160 acres in the same township. On June 24, 1845, he married Ruth Vincent, daughter of Richard and Margaret (Wilsie) Vincent. To this union were born five children-Onsemas (deceased), twin girls (deceased), Reuben F. and Esther M. Mr. Price became engaged in farming and stock-raising. In 1856, he sold his farm, and purchased 230 acres in Section 18, Range 7, with improvements ; he now has a fine house and outbuildings, the best in the county, and raises every kind of stock. During the war, he bought horses for the Government. In 1861, he became a Freemason at Crown Point, and took part at the laying of the corner-stone of the Doug- las monument at Chicago. In 1880, he gave his son Reuben (now mar- ried) full charge of the farm, that he might have the remainder of life easy. He and son are Democrats and members of the Unitarian Church. Mr. Pierce is in his seventieth year, but in active health.
JOSIAH RANDOLPH (deceased) was born in Warren County, N. J., and is youngest of the ten children of Josiah and Esther (Hegedorn) Ran- dolph, both natives of New Jersey ; his father was a farmer. Josiah Ran- dolph, our subject, attended school until about nineteen years of age, when he went to James Foote to learn the carpentering trade. In 1836, his par- ents moved to Michigan, where he followed his trade some time. On Debember 9, 1838, he was married to Alla Mead, daughter of John and Anna (Tenbrook) Mead, formerly of New York, then of Michigan. By this union Mr. and Mrs. Randolph are parents of eight children-John M., deceased (born September 25, 1839), Esther, deceased (born October 31, 1842), Anna M. (October 29, 1844), Martha T. (April 21, 1847), Margaret (October 12, 1849), George T. (February 12, 1852), Louis M. (November 4, 1854), and William J. (September 16, 1857). In the year of his marriage, Mr. Randolph purchased eighty acres, which he exchanged with his brother for a like number near by, and in 1856 he exchanged his farm for a tavern stand in Medina, Mich., which he kept for two years ; this he likewise sold, and bought a farm in St. Joseph, Mich., where he resided about six years. In 1865, he sold this farm and came to Ross Township, Lake Co., Ind., where he purchased eighty acres in Section 16, Range 8. He was in life a general farmer, a Master Mason, and a Democrat and valued citizen. He died January 27, 1877, of Bright's disease, and is buried at Merrillville ; his widow resides at the old home with her son, William J., recently married to Dora Kilbourn, of Crown Point. Another son, Louis M., was married to Ella F. Merrill ; they have one child-Mable A. Louis M. was started in the saddlery business by his father ; he has the only harness store in the village, and is doing well.
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REV. HENRY M. ROTH was born in Philadelphia September 18, 1853, and is the fifth of eleven children born to Severin and Perpetua (Baker) Roth ; his father was born at Baden-Baden, Germany, in 1823 ; received some schooling in the old country, and in 1834 was brought to America and located in Philadelphia, where he finished learning the trade of a baker, and went into the business when eighteen years old ; his mother was born in Philadelphia in 1826, where she was married, in 1848, to Mr. Roth. Rev. Henry M. Roth, when six years of age, ex- pressed a desire to become a priest, which was opposed by his father ; he was sent to school until he was eleven years old, and then to Crittenden Commercial College, according to his father's designs, remaining one year; he still, however, had a predilection for the priesthood ; he then had private tuition at home in Latin, by way of preparation for college, and after three months he entered the Christian Brothers' College, where he remained two years, wishing to become a Redemptorist, which his father opposed, thinking him not strong enough for a life of privation. After traveling two years to improve his health, he went to the Redemp- torian Preparatory College in Maryland for one year. Owing to failing health, he returned home; traveled one year, and entered St. Bonavent- ure's College, Allegany, N. Y., remaining four years, and finishing in philosophy and theology. He was ordered by the Bishop Owenger to Fort Wayne, Ind., for ordination, and, on May 22, 1880, he was ordained for the diocese of Fort Wayne. On May 30, 1880, he went home to say his first mass and conciliate his father, which was done. He was then sent to take temporary charge of the church at Warsaw, Ind., the priest being ill, and on October 15 took charge of the church at Avilla, remain- ing until December 18, 1880, when he took charge as pastor of St. Peter and St. Paul's Church at Turkey Creek, and St. Bridget's at Hobart, re- lieving Rev. Father Baumgartner, who was sent to Kirtland, Newton County.
WILLIAM R. STRIEBIG was born near Hanover, Germany, March 13, 1827, and is a son of Phillip and Sophia (Lehman) Striebig, both of Germany. William went to school and helped his father, who was a weaver, until he was fourteen years of age; he then learned the trade of a butcher, and also that of a weaver. In 1851, he was married to Sophia Schapar, to which union, in 1852, was born one child. In 1854, they came to the United States, locating in Ross Township, Lake Co., Ind., where three children were born to them-Johanna, William and Charles (deceased). After living on a rented farm for seven years, Mr. Striebig purchased forty acres of wild land, built a frame house, broke some land and engaged in farming and stock-raising. In February, 1865, he en- listed in Company K, One Hundred and Fifty-first Indiana Volunteer
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Infantry, organized at La Porte, and was appointed a Corporal ; the reg- iment went to Nashville, Tenn., to guard the railroad ; he was afterward discharged at Indianapolis when quite ill. On his recovery, he returned to his family. He now owns 290 acres, with new frame house with ten rooms, outbuildings, horses, cattle and the like. He is a Republican ; can read and write English well, and is esteemed generally. Mr. and Mrs. Striebig are members of the German Lutheran Church.
PALMER SUMNER was born in the State of Vermont March 15, 1804, and is a son of Daniel and Delilah (Reynolds) Sumner, both na- tives of Vermont. Palmer Sumner attended school a short time before he was twelve years old, then worked for his father ; then attended school, and worked again for his father until his twentieth year. In No- vember, 1825, he was married to Betsey Russell, to which union one child, an infant (deceased), was born. Mrs. Sumner died in 1826. On June 5, 1831, he was married to Lucretia Calvin, and to them thirteen children were born-Calvin, Amos, Sarah, Elissie, Palmer, Harriet, Betsey and Maria, the others dying in infancy. In 1839, Mr. Sumner moved to Indiana, locating at Ross Station, where he purchased a farm. He has been twice elected Justice of the Peace, and twice a Constable. Mr. Sumner is a Republican, and a generally esteemed citizen.
JOHN WOOD was born in Massachusetts October 28, 1800, and is a son of Moses and Sarah (Baker) Wood ; the former was born May 25, 1748, and the latter July 14, 1756. John Wood's father died when he was quite young, and his mother placed him with a friend of the family, where he remained five years, after which he learned the trade of a tan- ner, in which vocation he began business for himself. On November 16, 1824, he married Hannah E. Pattee, to which union there were born eight children - Nathan, born August 24, 1825; Augustus, May 26, 1828; Abbie M., June 24, 1830; John W. (deceased), born December 18, 1832; George, March 10, 1835 ; John W., March 13, 1838; Mary, March 22, 1840; and Oliver S., April 15, 1842. In 1835, Mr. Wood came to this township, settled on a quarter section of land, built a log house and went for his family. On his return, an Indian had claimed his land, and he was compelled to pay $1,000 for it. He built the first saw- mill in the county, and in 1840 a grist-mill near by, at the same time farming and raising stock. He remained in the milling business until 1860, when he sold to his sons, Nathan and George; the saw-mill has gone to pieces, but the grist-mill was rebuilt, and is being run by Nathan Wood. Moses Wood was a soldier of the Revolution, and fought at Bunker Hill. John Wood, who is a Freemason, was present at the cor- ner-stone laying of Bunker Hill Monument. He has been instrumental in establishing several Masonic Lodges-one at Valparaiso, one at Crown
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Point, and was the first to aid one at Wheeler. He is a Master Mason in good standing, and a greatly respected citizen. His wife died Septem- ber 27, 1873, aged seventy years eleven months and fourteen days. His grand-daughter, Miss Abbie Shedd, is his housekeeper.
NATHAN WOOD was born in Peabody, N. H., August 24, 1825, and is the son of John and Hannah E. (Pattee) Wood. the former born in Massachusetts October 28, 1800, the later in New Salem, N. H., in 1802, where they were married November 16, 1822, and settled on a farm near the town of Peabody. Nathan Wood received some schooling in his native town, and when eleven years old his father moved to this township, locating on Section 21, Range 7. At that day there were no schools, and Nathan worked for his father, and when a school was built attended for six years. Afterward he worked in his father's grist mill-the first built in the county-until 1852, and on November 4, of that year, was married to Rebecca A. Rundle, daughter of John D. and Eliza Rundle. To this union were born eight children- Arthur F. (deceased), Edward E., Ella A., Eva M., Herbert, Nathan A. and George W. Prior to his marriage, in 1844. Mr. Wood was appointed Postmaster at Deep River, in this township, by President Polk, which position he held until 1881, having given general satisfaction. He had years before purchased and improved his father's grist mill, and he owns to-day one of the finest mills in the county. In 1849, he built a fine two- story brick house near the mill, where himself and family reside; he is a Republican, and was at one time a member of the Union League. Both himself and wife are members of the Unitarian Church, and greatly esteemed by the community.
GEORGE WOOD, the fifth child of John and Hannah E. (Pattee) Wood, was born in Peabody, N. H., March 10, 1834, in which year his father came to Ross Township, Ind. At his eleventh year, George Wood at- tended school in La Porte County, and while there lived with his grand- father Pattee, after which he worked on the farm and in the mills of his father until he was twenty-one years old. He then became clerk for Shedd & Wood, in a country store, for about two years ; then he and his brother Nathan purchased the mills from their father, and were in busi- ness together about four years. On October 8, 1857, he married Mary J. Dizard, daughter of James Dizard, of old Buffalo, N. Y., to which union there were born eight children-Eugene (born December 16, 1858), infant girl (deceased), Anna E. (born September 1, 1862), William H. (deceased, born August 16, 1864), William H. (born July 2, 1865), Sarah J. (born January 1, 1871), Frankie C. (deceased, born March 14, 1874) and an infant daughter (deceased). In 1860, he sold his interest in the mills to his brother Nathan and bought eighty acres
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in Section 16, Range 7. This he sold in 1865 and enlisted in the One Hundred and Sixty-first Regiment Indiana Volunteers ; after serving some time under Gens. Dudley and Milroy, he was discharged, returned home, and began a store, which he sold to his brother ; he then repur- chased part of his farm, and added thereto until he owned 230 acres, with good house and improvements. In 1872, he built the second cheese factory in the county, which he is now managing successfully. In 1881, his store was razed to the ground by a cyclone, his son Eugene being in the building, but escaping. He immediately rebuilt, he and his son Eugene being in partnership in the store, Mr. Wood giving his atten- tion to the cheese factory. It is his design to build a creamery and butter factory. Mr. Wood is a Republican and an esteemed citizen. Both he and wife are members of the Unitarian Church.
SAMUEL J. WOODBRIDGE, son of George A. and Jane M. (McConnell) Woodbridge, was born in this county October 13, 1849. He attended school at Crown Point until sixteen years of age, studied telegraphy, was then employed at the station at Hobart, and then at the Ross Station. He then moved to Frankfort, Ill., and while there was married, October 15, 1879, to Eliza M. Phillips. After remaining in Frankfort three years, he returned to Ross Station as general station agent, day operator, express agent and deputy Postmaster. In politics, Mr. Woodbridge is free from party trammels, and votes for the man best suited for office.
HANOVER TOWNSHIP.
HERMAN C. BECKMANN was born in the Province of Hanover, Germany, in 1822, and is the youngest of the eight children of John B. and G. (Luehrs) Beckmann, both natives of Germany. John B. Beck- mann was a tailor, and he and wife lived in Langwedel, Germany, where the former died in 1836, the latter in 1832. Hermann C. Beckmann re- ceived a good education in his native village, but, owing to the poverty of his parents, had many obstacles. At the age of sixteen, he commenced to learn the wheelwright trade, at which he served three years. Having worked as a journeyman until August, 1846, and with $100 he em- barked for America, and located at Beavertown, N. J., where he followed his trade six months ; he had but $50 on reaching New York, where he now went, and where he began work in a grocery store at small wages. After remaining two years and saving $800, he purchased a grocery stock, was successful, and the first six months cleared $500, but, owing to his trust business, lost, in 1853, $1,500. In November, 1855, he
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sailed for Germany, but returned in March, and on June 11, 1856, located in this township with a capital of $1,200. He purchased eleven acres, partly improved, and also began, in a small way, the purchase of butter, eggs and produce at Chicago; he continued his farm as well until 1866, when he sold part of his land. In October of that year, he moved to his present location, purchasing store, building and lot for $1,500. Mr. Beckmann was married, in 1852, to Miss Elizabeth Fink, born in Germany in 1835. By this union there were born nine children -John A., Margaret Z. (deceased), Gesina N., Elizabeth, Anna, Her_ mine, Maggie J., Harmon C. and Frederick B. Mrs. Beckmann died July 8, 1876, aged forty-four years. Mr. Beckmann has been very success- ful. He has now 232 acres of good land, besides village property in Crown Point and Brunswick, aggregating $25,000 or more; in addition, he has ten head of Jersey cattle and a good Norman horse. He has been Town- ship Trustee five terms, County Commissioner two, and is now School Director. In 1866, he was appointed Postmaster at Brunswick, which position he now holds; he has also been Notary Public for eighteen years.
VALENTINE EINSELE was born in Germany February 13, 1842, and is one of the seven children of Michael and Barbara Einsele, both natives of Germany. They emigrated to America in 1847, and located in Hanover Township, Lake County, Ind., where they bought a partly improved farm, on which they reared their family. Mrs. Einsele died in 1878, aged seventy-one; but Mr. Einsele survives, aged seventy-five, and is well and active. Valentine Einsele received a limited education in English, and during youth was taught farming, also the use of tools and . wagon-making. consequently, when twenty-two years old, he began a shop in Brunswick, where he has since done a large business, having no com- petition. In 1867, he was married to Catherine Gard, born in Lake County in 1844, daughter of Peter and Angeline (Hack) Gard, both natives of Germany, emigrating to America in 1838, being the fourth German family in this county. Mr. and Mrs. Einsele had born to them two children-George N. and Elmer E. (deceased). Mr. Gard died in 1881, aged seventy-five years; his widow survives, aged seventy-two
years. From 1868 to 1874, he had a blacksmith-shon in connection with his wagon-shop, turning out nearly $5,000 worth of work per year. He has been successful notwithstanding many losses. He has a good home of sixty-four acres, worth $7,000. Mr. and Mrs. Einsele are members of the Catholic Church.
FREDERICK GERBING was born in Germany in 1825, and dur- ing youth worked on a farm, and, when twenty years old, was drafted into the army, in which he served five years. In 1854, he emigrated to
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America, locating in this township and county, where he has since lived, and has good property in Brunswick. In 1862, he enlisted in Company B, Twentieth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and served through the war. He was in every battle except Chancellorsville, being disabled by sore feet ; he received a flesh wound at Gettysburg, which caused him to lie in the hospital nearly two months. Soon after coming to America, he began to learn the mason's trade, which he has since followed; he has been a leading citizen of his township, serving six years as Township Trustee and six as Township Assessor ; he is an active Republican. In 1860, he was married to Mary Schmal, a native of St. Johns Township, born in 1843. By this union, Mr. and Mrs. Gerbing are parents to eight children-Rosa, Gustavus, George, Joseph, Olive, Alvina, William and Gesina.
DR. CHARLES GROMANN was born in Germany December 2, 1823, and is the eldest of three children born to Philip and Dora Gro- mann, both natives of Germany. When fourteen years of age, Dr. Gro- mann had acquired sufficient education to enter an academy, where he attended two years; then assisted his father in a brickyard for a few years, and afterward became clerk in a drug store for two years. In the spring of 1849, he came to America, and after reaching Chicago, on May 5, was married to Miss Caroline W. Kluckhohn, a native of Ger- many, born September 8, 1829, and to them were born eleven children. nine of whom are living-Minnie, Henry, August, Sophia, Caroline (wife of Rev. Henry Nierhein), Charles, Louisa, Frederick and Annie. Mrs. Gromann died November 17, 1869. On February 8, 1870, Dr. Gro- mann married Miss Sophia Ortmeyer, born in Germany November 2, 1842, by which union were born four children, two of whom are living- Paulina and Julia. Dr. Gromann's first enterprise in America was the purchase of fifty-three and one-third acres, which, after four years, he sold and purchased cighty acres in this township, on which he settled and farmed until 1858, when he rented his farm and went to Chicago, to study medicine with Dr. Ulrich, homoeopathist, for one year, and in 1859 commenced practice in his home vicinity, where he remained until 1862, at which time he removed to Crown Point, where he had an extensive practice for two years : he then returned to Hanover Centre and prac- ticed one year. In 1865, he purchased his present home of Dr. Volke, where he has since resided and acquired a large practice. Dr. Gromann has been a successful man in every way, having a home of forty-six acres of good land, and has bestowed upon each of his children a good educa- tion ; he has served as Township Trustee six terms. Both Dr. Gromann and wife are members of the German M. E. Church.
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