USA > Indiana > Porter County > Counties of Porter and Lake, Indiana : historical and biographical > Part 82
USA > Indiana > Lake County > Counties of Porter and Lake, Indiana : historical and biographical > Part 82
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M. KLEIN was born in Prussia in 1838, and is a son of Peter and. Magdalena Klein. In 1843, he was brought to the United States by his
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parents, who located in St. Johns Township, erected a home on the prai- rie, and reared a family of seven children. Mr. Klein was brought up a farmer, but procured an ordinary education from the common schools. In 1863, he commenced for himself as a farmer, and continued two years, when he removed to Lansing, Ill., where he engaged in keeping a farm- ers' hotel, continuing the same ten years ; his means were limited in the beginning, but success rewarded him. On January 31, 1861, he was married to Miss Eva Scholler, a native of France, born April 16, 1841, daughter of Joseph and Mary Scholler, both natives of France, who came to America in 1849. To this union were born ten children, six of whom are living-John J., Mary, Louisa M., Anna, August and Joseph J. In 1875, he returned to this township and purchased the State Line House of H. Scheidt, where he has since done business. By industry and perse- verance, he has acquired a property worth $9,000. In 1880, his house was burned, with its contents, entailing a loss of $4,000. He soon re- built, however, the new house costing $3,000, and he is now prepared to entertain the traveling public in a first-class manner. Mr. Klein remem- bers how abundant game was in this country, and how in one day he caught fifty prairie chickens.
JOSEPH NEUMANN was born in Prussia July 27, 1826, and is the eldest of the four children of Nicholas and Gertrude Neumann, both natives of Prussia, who emigrated to America in 1845, locating in Cli- cago for two months, whence they came to this township and located on Section 21, laying claim to forty acres, and where they erected a cabin, 12x14, in which they experienced the many privations of a new country. With the assistance of their eldest son, they obtained a good home of 120 acres. This was sold and the present home of Joseph Neumann purchased, containing 360 acres, well improved. Joseph Neumann lived with his parents until 1846, since which time he has made a home for them. His father died in 1868; his mother is still living with her eldest son (aged eighty-two). Mr. Neumann received a good education in German, and now speaks English fluently. In 1853, he was married to Miss Mary Clide, a native of Prussia, born in 1830, and daughter of John and Catherine Clide. She came to this country with her brother in 1852. By this union there have been born to them eleven children, eight of whom are living-Margaret, Mary, Anna, Catherine, Helen, Elizabeth, Anna and Teresa. Mr. Neumann cuts every year from 150 to 200 tons of hay, most of which is sold. In 1881, Mr. Neumann rented ten acres to a powder manufacturing company, they erecting large buildings and producing 1,500 pounds per day. Mr. and Mrs. Neumann are members of the Catholic Church. He is a liberal and enterprising citizen.
HENRY NONDORF was born in St. Johns Township June 1, 1848, and was the younger of the two sons of Barnard and Margaret
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Nondorf, both natives of Germany. In 1845, they emigrated from Ger- many, located in this township, and made a home of nearly 300 acres on the virgin prairie. Mr. Barnard Nondorf died in 1874. His widow survives and is now living with her son Henry, aged seventy-seven years. Henry Nondorf, when sixteen years of age, commenced to farm the home- stead in company with his brother, which continued until 1870, when he purchased 185 acres of the homestead farm, since which he has bought seventeen acres of timber in Will County, Ill., and is now worth $12,000, and is, too, one of the most humorous farmers in the vicinity. In 1871, Mr. Nondorf was married to Miss Ellen Ruh, a native of Germany, born in 1846, daughter of' George and Mary Ruh, both natives of Germany. Mr. and Mrs. Nondorf have had born to them five children, four of whom are living-Catherine, Joseph, George and Adeline. Mr. Nondorf and wife are members of the Catholic Church.
PETER F. REEDER was born in Lake County, Ind., January 20, 1857, and is one of the ten children of Peter and Anna M. Reeder, both of Germany, who emigrated to America about 1842. Peter F. Reeder was reared a farmer, and received a common school education. At the age of twenty he began life for himself by working by the month, which he continued three years, after which he visited some of the Western States, and on his return in June, 1881, entered into co-partnership with Mich- ael Grimmer, and purchased a new stock of general merchandise ; they carry a stock of $3,500, and have a good trade. Both are energetic and enterprising men. On November 7, 1881, Mr. Reeder was married to Miss Lena Schaffer, born in Lake County in 1862, and daughter of John and Barbara Schaffer, both natives of Prussia. To this union was born one daughter-Anna Mary. Mr. and Mrs. Reeder are members of the Catholic Church. Michael Grimmer (Mr. Reeder's partner in business), was born in Lake County, Ind., July 18, 1853, and is a son of Michael and Susan Grimmer, both natives of France, whence they emigrated to America in 1848, and located in Chicago, remaining until 1853, when they removed to Ross Township, in this county. Soon after Mr. Grim- mer died, leaving four children. Mrs. Grimmer subsequently married John Reeder of this township, where Michael Grimmer was reared as a farmer. He received some education at the common schools, and after- ward attended the high school at Crown Point. At the age of eighteen, he began teaching, which he followed twelve years, teaching six and ten month terms, and during vacation being employed by the church. In 1880, he married Miss Lena Neumann, born in this township August 22, 1861, and daughter of Joseph and Mary Neumann, natives of Prussia. In 1881, he entered into copartnership with P. F. Reeder, with a fine stock of merchandise and good prospects, fully realized. In June, 1881,
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he received the appointment of Postmaster at Shererville. Mr. and Mrs. Grimmer have one child-Francis. They are members of the Catholic Church.
CHARLES J. SAUTER was born in Bloom, Ill., February 23, 1849, and is one of the five children of Charles B. and Marie E. Sauter, the former a native of Germany, the latter of France. Charles J. Sau- ter received a common school education, and was reared a farmer. He remained at home until 1874, when he came to Dyer to learn the tele- graphing, where he remained nine months, thence going to Hoopeston, Ill., as night operator, where, after nine months, he was made station agent and operator. Here he remained until August, 1878, where he purchased a stock of goods of August Klaas, and property for $6,000, since which time he has done a business of from $8,000 to $10,000 per year. In December, 1880, he was appointed Postmaster at this town. In 1873, he was married to Miss Barbara Koch, a native of Germany ; she died the year following, leaving one child-Charles Philip. In May, 1877, he was married to Anna L. Dolich, a native of Illinois, by which union were born three children-Albert, Maria H. and Elogeus. Mrs. Sauter is a member of the Catholic Church.
MATHEUS SCHAEFFER was born in Prussia January 20, 1820, and is a son of Paul and Margaret Schaeffer, natives of Prussia. Ma- theus Schaeffer received a good German education, and when sixteen years old began to learn shoe-making, paying $14 and serving two years thereat, after which he worked as a journeyman two years. Being then eligible to a draft, he came to America, locating in this township August 20, 1840, and during the first year traveled as a shoe-maker from house to house, taking provisions for pay. He then worked on the Illinois Canal, after which he engaged with a farmer for 18 cents per day. In 1846, he laid claim to eighty acres, on which he built a one and a half-story hewed- log cabin, now used as a granary. On February 24, 1847, he married, Miss Lizzie Kieffer, daughter of John I. Kieffer, born in Prussia in 1830. She died June, 1872, leaving nine children-Barbara, Ellen, Susan, Mary, Lizzie, John, Charles, Michael and Catherine, besides three de- ceased. After marriage Mr. Schaeffer lived eight years in his cabin, en- gaged in shoe-making and farming. Moving to Dyer, in this county, he followed his trade, keeping a saloon in connection therewith, for two years. He then entered mercantile life for two years, afterward keeping a grocery for fourteen months. Becoming weary of this, he worked two years for Mr. Biggs, on a hay-press patent, at $2 per day ; this being completed, he continued until 1869, when he, with Henry and Leonard Keilmann, purchased said press, which they ran for three years. Henry Keilmann then retired, and his brother and Mr. Schaeffer contin-
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ued the business, being now able to press from seven and a half to eight tons per day. Their barn and press were burned in 1872, after which they erected a larger barn and stronger press. Serving one year as road- boss, Mr. Schaeffer has since declined all offices. He has by hard work and good management accumulated $10,000 worth of property. Mr. Schaeffer can recall the times when game and Indians were numerous in this vicinity. Both he and wife are members of the Catholic Church.
ANTHONY SCHEIDT was born in Lorraine, France, April 27, 1831, and is a son of John and Agatha (Blattner) Scheidt, both natives of France. Anthony Scheidt received a common school education, and was reared a farmer. When he was thirteen years old, his parents came to America and located on the south edge of Cook County, Ill., where Anthony helped to farm until 1852, when he was married to Miss Mary Schaller, a native of France, born in 1832, and daughter of Joseph and Mary (Hummel) Schaller, also natives of France. In 1853, he com- menced farming, at which he continued seven years, afterward moving to Chicago, where he kept a grocery and saloon ; this he sold after eighteen months, and opened a boarding-house on the West Side. In 1864, he re- moved to Dyer, Lake Co., Ind., and became landlord of the State Line Hotel, which he continued until 1875, and soon after purchased one-half interest in the Dyer Mills, to which he now gives attention, as well as · superintending the farin and breeding swine with George F. Davis. Mr. Scheidt is an enterprising man, and has 124 acres, twenty-four acres near Dyer, besides the best residence in the town and property in Chicago, ag- gregating perhaps $25,000. Mr. and Mrs. Scheidt are parents of twelve children, five of whom are living-Mary (now Mrs. Philip Keilmann), Anthony, Barbara, Edmund and Matilda. Both himself and wife are members of the Catholic Church.
BARNHARD SCHEIDT was born in Alsace, France, March 4, 1844, and is the youngest of the ten children of John and Aggie Scheidt, both natives of France, whence they emigrated to America and located in Bloom, Cook Co., Ill. In 1844, John Scheidt purchased a farm of 334 acres, for which he paid 1,300 five-franc pieces, and on which he made a home and reared his family. He was a successful business man and an enterprising citizen ; he died July 14, 1858, aged sixty-six years, fol- lowed by his wife July 13, 1872, aged seventy-two years. Barnhard Scheidt received a fair education, and was reared a farmer; he began life on the homestead, on which he worked for two years, when he sold his stock, removed to Chicago and worked in a round-house as a laborer for eighteen months, after which he returned to the farm. In January, 1865, he married Miss Barbara Kloss, a native of Prussia, by which union were born six children, four of whom are living-Barbara, Louise,
.
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Mary and John. Mrs. Scheidt died in 1874, and Mr. Scheidt, seven months thereafter, married Mrs. Teresa (Justus) Sasse, daughter of Joseph and Helena Justus, natives of Germany, who came to America in 1858. To this second union were born two children-Teresa and Frank B. By her first husband, Mrs. Scheidt was mother of one child-John. In 1876, Mr. Scheidt sold his farm and purchased his present home in the village of St. Johns, where he keeps a farmers' tavern ; he has besides perhaps $7,000 worth of property. Mr. and Mrs. Scheidt are members of the Catholic Church.
NICHOLAS SCHERER was born in Prussia in 1833, and is one of the seven children of John and Mary Scherer, both natives of the Province of Rhine, Prussia. Nicholas Scherer attended school until he was fourteen years old, when his parents emigrated to the United States. They located in St. Johns, where they began the combined business of hotel and saloon, it being the first saloon established in Lake County. In 1853, Nicholas became contractor for digging State ditches in this county. In 1854, he removed to Dyer, where he managed a saloon and hotel, also having built the Joliet Railroad Cut-Off. In 1868, he sold his interest in Dyer, and located at what is now Schererville; he had purchased seventy acres in Sections 15 and 16, of which the village plat is a part. Soon after locating here, he took a contract to build a grade thirty miles be- tween here and Chicago. In order to have a station near by, he donated $24,000 to the railroad company ; this done, he laid out the town and named it Schererville; the plat contains nearly four hundred lots, and has thirty or forty houses. After completing his grading, he became foreman of the railroad construction train for nine years. He has just removed a sand-bar in the Calumet River. In 1862, he married Miss Frances Olenfrock, a native of Prussia, born in 1833, by which union have been born seven children-Anna, Mary (deceased), Margaret, Teresa, Nicholas, John and Joseph. In 1863 and 1864, he was appointed by Gov. Mor- ton Second Lieutenant for enlisting and recruiting service ; he was in- strumental in securing 140 recruits; he was also a Major of the State militia. He has been a valuable man in his township, having been Con- stable, Swamp-Land Commissioner, and is Road Superintendent. Not- withstanding a loss of $12,000 in 1877, his property aggregates $7,000. His parents resided with him during their last days, and died at the advanced ages of one hundred and three and ninety-nine and a half years. Mr. and Mrs. Scherer are Catholics, to which church Mr. Scherer has donated four and a half aeres for church-building purposes.
NICHOLAS SCHUTZ was born in Germany in 1826, and is the son of Matthias and Mary Schutz. He received in youth a good Ger- man education, and, his father being a miller, Nicholas was brought up
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to the business, and assisted his father until 1852, when he came to the United States and located in this township, where he worked as a car- penter until 1864, when he commenced his present business of keeping a saloon. In 1865, he was married to Miss Gertrude Hilbrick, a native of Germany, born in 1830. To this union were born four children-Susan, Margaret, Mary and Matthias (deceased). On arriving in America, Mr. Schütz was almost destitute of means, but by providence, industry and economy, he has succeeded in acquiring a good property, valued at $4,- 000. Mr. and Mrs. Schütz are members of the Catholic Church.
DR. ANTHONY SEIDLER was born in Germany in 1826 ; he at- tended the common schools until his fourteenth year, when he entered a graded school, and also finished his medical course, except one term, for which he received a certificate instead of a diploma, this being occasioned by the outbreak of national war, in which Mr. Seidler enlisted as Ser- geant. Being honorably discharged, he soon after emigrated to America, landing in New York in June, 1851 : he was located in Berks County, Penn., for two years, having a good practice; thence he removed to Ridgway, Elk Co., Penn., on the Alleghany Mountains, being one of the first settlers and the first physician in that section. He had a ride of forty miles in circumference, and frequently, when overtaken by night, would build a fire and rest until morning. After practicing there four years, he removed to Stark County, Ohio, where he obtained a fair prac- tice and remained two years, during which time he married Miss Frederica Schafer, born in St. Joseph County, Ind., in 1836. Shortly after, Dr. Seidler removed to Niles, Mich., remaining seven years, and thence to New Buffalo, Mich., for two years, and finally Dyer, Ind., where he has an ex- tensive practice of six or eight miles in circuit. Here Mrs. Seidler died in 1870, leaving four children. His second marriage, in 1872, was to Miss D. Schmit, a native of Prussia, by which union were born four children. Dr. Seidler is serving a third term as Justice of the Peace. He is a thoroughgoing man, and exemplary citizen.
AUGUST STOMMEL was born in Illinois March 27, 1855, and is one of the seven children of August and Alvina (Korf) Stommel, both natives of Prussia. Our subject was reared in Chicago until he was twelve years old, when his parents removed to Homewood, Ill., where he lived five years. He received a fair education in German and En- glish, and in 1869 began clerking in a general store, where he remained two years, and he continued clerking until 1872, when he came to Dyer, Lake Co., Ind., as a clerk to C. Rich. In 1877, he, in company with Mr. Neifing, formed a copartnership and purchased a new stock of gen- eral merchandise, and has since done a business of from $18,000 to $20,000 per year. In 1880, Mr. Stommel was married to Miss Cath-
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erine Young, a native of Cook County, Ill., born in 1856, a daughter of Bernard and Catherine Young, both natives of Alsace, France. To this union was born one child, Charles August. Mrs. Stommel is a member of the Lutheran Church. Mr. Stommel is a man of much business tact, energy and character; he would do well anywhere.
JAMES TANNER was born in England April 20, 1844. He had the advantages of the common schools until he was twelve years of age, when he began as an apprentice at the tailoring trade, serving four years, after which he worked as a journeyman for one year; he then became trimmer in a wholesale mercantile house, and two and one-half years later went into the cutting department for one year. In 1867, he came to America, and located at Dyer, Lake Co., Ind., where he opened a tailor shop, and soon attained a fair trade. On August 4, 1867, he was married to Miss Mary Robbins, of Bristol, England, born January 6, 1848, by which union were born five children-James D., William J., Louise M., John and Rose. Mr. Tanner retired from his trade, and began work in the railroad office at Dyer, as an assistant, October 1, 1871, where he remained until June, 1874, when he secured a position as agent and operator at Spencer, Ill., and in September, 1875, was given charge of the office at Dyer, which position he has since retained, except for nine months during 1880 and 1881; he has been doing busi- ness for the New Albany & Chicago and the Michigan Central. Mr. and Mrs. Tanner and family are members of the Catholic Church.
JOHN TRINEN was born in Prussia October, 1847, and is a son of Peter and Susan Trinen, who emigrated to America in 1852, located in this township, and from the prairie founded a home. John Trinen received the advantages of the common schools and was reared a farmer. When thirteen years of age, he began to work for himself-the first few years on the farm, and afterward as laborer on the Danville Railroad. In 1871, he commenced as fireman on a construction train, remaining six months. In June, 1875, he was married to Miss Mary Seberger, born in Lake County in 1857, and daughter of John and Catherine Seberger, both natives of Prussia. To this union were born four children-Susie, John, Lena and Joseph. Mr. Trinen was a foreman in the round-house, having charge of seven men, for two years, after which he was engineer on a freight train for three years ; he was with the same company five years, not having had an accident ; he resigned his position, then paying him $85 per month, and drew from the company, as back pay, $939, with which he came hither, purchased a lot and erected a large hay barn ; he pays the highest price for hay delivered to him and now runs two hay- presses, pressing ten tons per day. Mr. Trinen has been very successful, and is now worth probably $6,000; himself and wife are members of the Catholic Church.
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EAGLE CREEK TOWNSHIP.
JOHN BLACK was born in Saxony, Germany, July 24, 1832; he was left a half orphan when five years old, and attended school until he was thirteen, when he began life for himself; he came to the United States in 1854, being $52 in debt, and stopped a few weeks in old Buffalo, where he received 75 cents per day ; he then removed to Blue Island, Ill., and in 1855 came to Hebron, Ind., where he worked three months, and had a severe attack of ague. On October 1, following, he hired with John Dinwiddie as ditch hand, where he remained two years, for the first year receiving $10 per month ; he saved his wages, paid his debts, and in three years bought ten cows and a span of colts; nine of the cows he leased for $14 per head for the season, and afterward pur- chased an outfit for farming. In 1858, he rented a farm of eighty acres of Mr. Dinwiddie, where he remained three years, when he purchased eighty acres of his present farm, having but $200 with some cattle and other stock. So he continued, farming and raising stock, until he has become a leading farmer of his township; his second purchase was a quarter section for $7.50 per acre ; seven years after, he sold this for $27.50 per acre, and purchased 120 nearer home; he now owns 615 acres, 500 of which are well-improved, with a wind-engine on each farm, worth $30,000. In June, 1857, he married Miss Caroline Peters, a native of Germany, to which union were born eight children, seven of whom are living-Harry, William, Edward, Annie, Allie, Hannah and John. Mrs. Black came to America in 1855, and worked for Mr. Dinwiddie. She had saved $20, which she gave Mr. Black to pay the difference between a three-year-old colt and a balky horse.
HUGH BOYD was born in the North of Ireland July 8, 1819, and was married November 29, 1843, to Ann Brown, of Londonderry, born August 8, 1817, by which union three children were born-Mary, James Mc. and Sarah A. (now Mrs. William Turner). Mr. and Mrs. Boyd came to America in 1847, stopping in Upper Canada the first year, after which they moved to Morgan County, Ohio, and rented land, and after seventeen years were supplied with household goods and $1,100 in money. With this capital, Mr. Boyd came to Lake County, Ind., in 1865, and purchased land near Crown Point. In 1868, he became a partner with D. C. Scofield, of Elgin, Ill., in the dairy business, they averaging fifty milch cows, besides the young stock ; this continued six years. In 1874, having saved some $3.000, he, with his son, purchased 300 acres, now well improved, where they are keeping stock and milking
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from fifteen to twenty cows for making butter, which they ship to Chi- cago, their cows yielding $35 a head per year, the net profits being $1,500. Mr. Boyd's son, James Mc. Boyd, was married February 3, 1873, to Lucetta F. Devol, of Morgan County, Ohio. To this union were born four children-Elbert E., Loren D., Effie L. and an infant. Mr. Boyd has served as Township Trustee two terms, and in 1882 was elected Assessor. Mr. Boyd was at one time a Whig, but is now a Republican ; he is also a stanch temperance advocate. He cast his first vote for Gen. Scott. Mr. and Mrs. Boyd are members of the Presby- terian Church.
ISAAC BRYANT was born in Lake County, Ind., March 11, 1836, and is a son of Samuel D. and Joanna (Woodruff) Bryant, who removed to this county from Richland County, Ohio, in 1835, stopping on their way west at Wolf Lake, Noble County, Ind., for the summer. They were among the first white settlers in Eagle Creek Township, where Mr. Bryant erected a log cabin, in which he lived some years and reared a family of three children by his first and six by his second mar- riage. Mr. Bryant was a man of great endurance, whose word was as good as his note. Before coming hither, he assisted in clearing three large farms, and here he improved 120 acres. In 1850, he went back to Ohio, where he remained a few years, when he returned hither and died in 1875, aged eighty-three years. Isaac Bryant was left a half-orphan when five years old, and lived with friends till 1850, when he went to Ohio and attended school. When eleven years old. he undertook to learn the tailoring trade, which he soon abandoned. After his fourteenth year, he traveled through several Western States, and on August 14, 1861, · enlisted in Company H, Ninth Indiana Volunteers, and after a few skirmishes, and during the fight at Green Brier, Va., he was wounded in the left arm, which so disabled him as to cause his discharge in July, 1862. On December 1, 1863, he married Miss Harriet Pearce, born in this township March 27, 1843, daughter of Michael and Margaret Pearce. To this union were born six children, four of whom are living-S. Edwin, Bertha L., Jessie M. and Blanche E. Soon after his marriage, Mr. Bryant commenced farming on his land in this township. This he sold and located on land owned by his wife, this, together with some since purchased, aggregating 150 acres. He is a stanch Republican and Prohibitionist.
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