USA > Indiana > Lake County > Encyclopedia of genealogy and biography of Lake County, Indiana, with a compendium of history 1834-1904 > Part 19
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he rent out to other parties. He pays out thousands of dollars for help and carries on all his extensive operations under his own direct supervision. He also has an extensive mercantile business at Hebron, in Porter county, and at one time lie was a merchant of Lowell. He has a general store of his own at Hebron and also a half interest in a store with his brother. He has spent nearly all of the years of his active career in the hay and grain and live-stock business, and in fact will deal in nearly everything subject to barter, exchange or purchase. He is also senior member of the Hebron Lumber and Coal Company, which has extensive trade in its lines. Mr. Brown, on his farm, makes a specialty of raising fine Hereford cattle, and keeps about one hun- dred head of this beautiful stock. He has been highly prospered in all his enterprises, and for about twenty years has been recognized as one of the men of power and ability in trade and agricultural circles of eastern Lake county. Besides the multifarious duties and business interests of Mr. Brown. we may add that he has been extensively engaged as a thresher for twenty- five years in Eagle Creek and adjacent territory, and has met with his usual degree of success. He introduced the first steam thresher in Eagle Creek township and even at the present time (1904) has two or three outfits at work.
He has been a stanch Republican since casting his first presidential ballot, and has not been content to sit idle while others performed the duties of citizenship. He was elected to the office of county commissioner in 1902. and is the nominee for a second term. He was serving as township trustee just before election to his present office. He is a member of the Masonic order at Hebron, Lodge No. 502, and also of the Knights of Pythias, Lodge No. 405. at the same place.
March 31, 1886, Mr. Brown married Miss Mary . Crawford, who was born in Eagle Creek township of Lake county, being a daughter of John and Adaline (Staley) Crawford. She was educated in the home schools and at the Female Seminary at Oxford, Ohio. There were eight children born of this union : Joseph E., who is attending the Crown Point high school : Harry also in the Crown Point high school: William Jay. John Crawford. Ruby A., Kenneth D., Bessie and Mary H.
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HISTORY OF LAKE COUNTY.
D. H. THOMPSON.
D. H. Thompson, of section 26, Center township, has been a prominent Lake county farmer for the past twenty-five years, has done his share in the work of progress and development of the county's material, social, intellectual and moral affairs, and in all the relations of a very busy and successful life has been found true to his best ideals and has retained the confidence and esteem of his fellow citizens.
Mr. Thompson was born in Mercer county, Pennsylvania, August 4. 1846. His father, Anthony Thompson, was a native of Ireland, but his grand- parents were born in Scotland. He came over to America when seventeen years old and followed the occupation of farming in Pennsylvania during the rest of his life. He was married in the same state to Rebecca McClure, whose father was one of the first school teachers in western Pennsylvania. She died at the age of sixty-seven, having been the mother of twelve children, of whom D. II. is the youngest, and his oldest brother is still living in Lawrence county, Pennsylvania, past the age of eighty.
Mr. D. H. Thompson was reared in his native county, and obtained his early literary training in the country schools, completing his education in the Iron City School at Pittsburg. In 1863, when seventeen years old, he enlisted in Company D. Fifty-fifth Pennsylvania Militia, and served as a private for sixty days during the invasion of the southern forces into the state. He then returned home and for a number of years followed the occupations of farm- ing. carpentering and bridge-building in Pennsylvania. In March, 1879. he came out to Lake county, Indiana, and entered upon his career as farmer in Center township. He has a fine farm of one hundred and sixty acres, and its well improved and highly cultivated acres are valuable in themselves and return large profits from their skilful culture under the direction of Mr. Thompson.
He is a firm adherent of the Republican party in matters of national importance, but pays little attention to the party tag affixed to the candidate for local office. He is a member of the United Presbyterian church and is serving as treasurer of the same.
March 25, 1879, Mr. Thompson married Miss Margaret A. McKnight, who was born December 11, 1847. in Porter county. Indiana. near the Lake
D. H. Thompson
Www. Reyhan
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county line, and was reared for the most part in Lake county. She had four brothers in the war of the Rebellion, one of whom was killed at the battle of Kenesaw Mountain and another died in the hospital. Mr. Thompson also had a brother John, who served in the Seventh Kansas Regiment during the war. Mr. and Mrs. Thompson have three children living : Samuel .A., James W. and William R. Samuel resides with his parents and is an agriculturist. James W., at Charlottsville, Indiana, and a telegrapher on the Pan Handle Railroad, was educated in the normal college at Valparaiso. William R., the youngest. is at home.
Mrs. Thompson's parents are both deceased : her father died aged eighty- three, and mother about seventy-five. They were members of the Reformed Presbyterian church. Mrs. Thompson is a member of the United Pres- byterian church. Mr. and Mrs. Thompson are citizens who are held in high esteein1.
WALTER L. ALLMAN.
Walter L. Allman, vice-president of the Commercial Bank and senior partner of the abstract firm of Allman Brothers, figures prominently in busi- ness circles in Crown Point, and while his life history contains no exciting chapters it yet demonstrates the force of consecutive endeavor, guided by sound business principles and supplemented by laudable ambition.
Mr. Allman is a native son of Crown Point, where his birth occurred on the 6th of October. 1861. He is the eldest son of Amos and Mary A. ( Luther ) Allman, and is of English lineage. His grandfather, Major Allman, was the first Methodist minister at Crown Point and was closely identified with the early development and moral advancement of the county. The name of Allman has since been closely associated with the history of Lake county, and its various representatives have been worthy and valuable citizens. Amos Allman was but an infant when brought to the county and he spent almost his entire life here. For a long period he was engaged in the abstract business.
In taking up the personal history of Walter L. Allman we present to our readers the life record of one who is widely and favorably known in Lake county. where his business activity has led to success and prominence. He has always lived in Lake county with the exception of about a year spent with his parents in Niles. Michigan. The greater part of his education was
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HISTORY OF LAKE COUNTY.
obtained in the select school taught by the Misses Knight. At the age of eleven years he began to learn the trade of typesetting in the office of the Crown Point Herald, and devoted about two years to that occupation. When about fifteen years of age he entered his father's abstract business, and when twenty-one years of age he was admitted to a partnership. Upon his father's death he became the senior partner in the business, in which he is associated with his brother, and they have a good clientage in this regard. Walter L. Allinan also became cashier of the Commercial Bank of Crown Point upon its organization in 1895 and served in that capacity until 1904, when he was elected vice-president of said bank. He is therefore well known in financial circles, and his business ability and executive force have contributed in large measure to the successful conduct of the bank, which has become recognized as one of the strong, safe and reliable financial institutions of the county.
Mr. Allman has been married twice. In 1892 he wedded Miss Arvilla E. Sings, who died in 1894, and in 1900 he was again married, his second union being with Miss Eva Dyer, a daughter of Thomas Henry and Alta (Smith) Dyer, of Kankakee, Illinois. Mrs. Allman was born in Kankakee county, Illinois, but acquired her preliminary education in the public schools of Crown Point and was graduated in the Chicago Female College, at Morgan Park. Illinois. She afterward engaged in teaching school for several years, and is a lady of superior culture and refinement, presiding with gracious hospitality over her pleasant home, which has been blessed with one son. Amos Dyer, born April 8, 1901.
In his fraternal relations Mr. Allman is a Knight of Pythias, and politi- cally is a Republican who keeps well informed on the questions and issues of the day and gives earnest support to the principles and candidates of the party. His life history is as an open book to his fellow-townsmen, who have had intimate knowledge of his career from his early boyhood. His has been an honorable career, in which he has been active in business, loyal in citizenship, faithful in friendship, and as a representative of one of the most prominent pioneer families of the county and as a business man whose record will bear the closest investigation. he well deserves mention in this volume.
HUGH F. MEIKLE.
Hugh F. Meikle, dealer in coal, brick, wood, lime and cement, at Ham-
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mond. has been well known in the business circles of this city for the past seven or eight years, and for the past five years has been established in his present business, which he conducts with satisfactory success, and with such fair and square dealing and enterprise that he enjoys a good patronage. He is a man of proved ability, having been a salesman and in business for him- self for a number of years, and has long since found his proper sphere of usefulness in the world.
He was born in Louisville, Kentucky, October 17. 1863, being now the only survivor of two sons and one daughter born to Thomas and Mar- garet (Fulton) Meikle, both natives of Scotland. Mr. Meikle's forefathers have resided for generations in Scotland. His great-grandparents were James and Elizabeth Meikle. His grandfather, also James Meikle, was a contractor of Scotland and was also mayor of Muir Kirk. He died in Scotland when about seventy-two years old, and his wife, Mary ( Brown) Meikle, was also past seventy at the time of her death. They had a large family of children.
Thomas Meikle was a blacksmith, learning the trade in his native country. He came to America about 1858. locating in Louisville, Kentucky. where he began the manufacture of agricultural implements. He died in Chicago while on a visit to his son Hugh F .. in 1897, at the age of seventy. He and his wife were Presbyterians, and the latter still survives, making her home in Louisville. She was one of a large family of children born to Hugh and Agnes (Stuart) Fulton, both natives of Scotland, and the former a shoe merchant of Kilmarnock. Hugh Fulton was eighty-four years old when he died, and his wife lived to the patriarchal age of ninety-six, so it seems that all branches of the family have been very long-lived and endowed with Scotch hardihood and strength.
Hugh F. Meikle was reared in Louisville. He had a good public school course, graduating from the high school in 1880. He then began work in his father's plow factory and afterward was advanced to the superintendency of the factory. He held this position until 1888. and from then until 1896 was on the road as a plow expert. He was called to Hammond in the latter year in order to install the machinery for what was known as the Chicago Ax Company's plant. After that was accomplished he was on the road for eighteen months longer, and in May, 1899, engaged in the wood and coal
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business in Hammond, which enterprise he has continued, with enlarged facil- ities, to the present time.
July 22. 1885, Mr. Meikle married Miss Emma E. Korb, a daughter of Jacob and Caroline (Steinage) Korb. Two daughters have been born of this marriage, Agnes and Eunice. Mr. Meikle is a member of the Presby- terian church, and is also a Mason of high standing. He is master of Gar- field Lodge No. 569, F. & A. M., and a member of Hammond Chapter No. 117. R. A. M., and Hammond Commandery No 41, K. T. He also has fraternal membership with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. In politics he is a Republican. He is prominent and well known in the business and social circles of his city. He was elected president of the Hammond school board, February 26, 1904.
JERRY M. KENNEY.
For eighty-one years Jerry M. Kenney has traveled life's journey, and through a long period has been a resident of Lake county. He came here when this was a pioneer section, the work of progress and improvement hav- ing been scarcely begun. and through the intervening years he has watched with interest the advancement that has here been made and has given his co-operation to many movements for the public good. He is a native of the Pine Tree state, his birth having occurred in the town of Hollowell. Kennebec county, Maine, on the Toth of November, 1823.
The family is of Scotch lineage and was founded in America in colonial days. Charles Kenney, the father of our subject, was a native of Maine and was there reared and married. By occupation he was a lumberman in early life. In 1807 he removed to Ohio, where he remained for three years, and then returned to Maine, where he continued to reside until 1837, when he came to Lake county, Indiana, establishing his home in Eagle Creek township. He cast in his lot with its early settlers and bore his full share in the work of reclaiming the wild land for the purposes of civilization. There he made his home throughout his remaining days, passing away at the age of sixty-six years. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Deborah Rollins, was also a native of Maine and died in Lake county, Indiana, when more than seventy years of age. To this worthy couple were born four sons and a daughter, all of whom reached adult age, but Mr. Kenney, who was the fourth child, is now the only one living.
Theke Svennay
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HISTORY OF LAKE COUNTY.
Jerry M. Kenney spent the first fourteen years of his life in the state of his nativity and then accompanied his parents on their removal to Lake county, Indiana. He had previously attended the public schools of Maine and after coming to this state he assisted in opening up a new farm, the family being the first to settle on the prairie in Eagle Creek township. He performed much of the arduous tasks incident to the development of a new farm, and to his father gave the benefit of his services until twenty-one years of age. He then went to Door Prairie, where he worked for two years as a farm hand at ten dollars per month. On the expiration of that period he rented land of his father for two years, and then with the capital which he had acquired through his own energy. perseverance and economy he purchased eighty acres of land and began its improvement. He broke the sod, planted crops, set out an orchard and made other substantial improvements until his highly cultivated farm bore little resemblance to the wild tract which had come into his possession. He added to his land from time to time until he is now the owner of about five hundred acres, and he was successfully engaged in general farming until 1854, when he purchased a store at what is called Orchard Grove. There he carried on general merchandising for twenty-seven years in connection with agricultural pursuits. In 1900 he sold his store and retired from business, to enjoy a rest which he had truly earned and richly deserves.
In 1848 was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Kenney and Miss Phoebe Woodruff, a native of Ohio, who was brought to Lake county by her parents when a maiden of ten years, the family being early settlers of this portion of the state. They became the parents of six children, four sons and two daugh- ters : George W., Lucinda, J. C .. Joseph D., Schuyler C. and Effie L. All were born in Lake county and are yet living, with the exception of Joseph D. Kenney.
In early life Mr. Kenney was a stanch advocate of Whig principles and at the dissolution of that party he became a stalwart Republican, and has since voted the ticket of that party organization, where state and national ques- tions are involved. At local elections, however, he votes independently, sup- porting the candidate whom he thinks best qualified for office. He served for twenty-seven consecutive years as postmaster at Orchard Grove, and he has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal church since twenty-five years of age, while his wife united with the same denomination at the age of sixteen.
14
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HISTORY OF LAKE COUNTY.
They have taken a very active and helpful part in church work, and Mr. Kenney has served as class leader and as Sunday-school superintendent. As one of the pioneers of the county he has witnessed its development from an early day and has borne his full share in the work of progress and improve- ment. At the same time he has carved out a fortune for himself. He started out in life empty-handed, but he possessed strong determination and by his unfaltering labor and honorable dealing he has gained a handsome property and is justly accounted one of the self-made men of Lake county.
Mrs. Kenney was born June 26, 1830, and she was educated in the com- mon schools. For fifty-six years or over a half century have Mr. and Mrs. Kenney traveled the journey of life, sharing alike the joys and sorrows. She is the only survivor of the Woodruff family. Mr. and Mrs. Kenney attended the pioneer school of the early day when the window was of greased paper, and the house was heated by the old-fashioned fireplace. The roof was of "shakes." He has swung the old-fashioned cradle in the harvest field many a day. Mr. Kenney's grandfathers were both in the Revolutionary war and figured in different battles, and Mr. Kenney's grandfather's wife was killed by the Indians when in a block house, through the port hole; this was in the war of 1812.
Mr. and Mrs. Kenney have one of the old deeds which was executed April 10. 1843, and signed by President John Tyler, the eighth deed of the kind found in Lake county. They have three other of these documents dated June 25. 1841, and April 10, 1843. by President Tyler, and another dated April 10, 1848, and signed by President James K. Polk,-four of these deeds in this one household. It was as late as 1848 when Mr. Kenney's father went to Wabash, Indiana, to get supplies, such as meat and flour, and took two four-horse teams. He has seen Chicago when most all of the business was done on Lake street and the ox teams were turned loose in the common.
Mr. Kenney has always taken an active part in the old settlers' meeting, at Crown Point. When he first knew Lake county there was not a railroad in the entire county, where now fourteen or fifteen great trunk lines cross the county. The first railroad built in the county was the Michigan Central. Mr. and Mrs. Kenney have seen many of the Indians in their vicinity, and Mr. Kenney says he has played with the Indians, and at one time there were about five hundred camped near Shelby, in Cedar Creek township.
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HISTORY OF LAKE COUNTY.
LEVI HUTTON.
Levi Hutton, a prominent and successful farmer of Winfield township, is a business man and agriculturist of broad experience and training, and has done well at various occupations in the course of his fifty-eight years of life. He began early to achieve a place in the world, and from early years spent in an industrial establishment of the east he later branched out into farming and commercial pursuits in the middle west. He is held in high esteem throughout Winfield township and Lake county, and is reliable and sub- stantial in all his dealings.
Mr. Hutton was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the part of the city now known as Fairmount Park, on July 26, 1846. His father, also named Levi, was born in Delaware, and began his career to success by work- ing as a driver on the Susequehanna canal, and also acted as cook on a passen- ger boat. He afterward worked in a mill in Philadelphia, and finally began the manufacture of carpets. He is supposed to have been the first man to suc- ceed in making a shoddy ingrain carpet. He was in the carpet manufactur- ing business at Philadelphia for some time, and then engaged in the same line and also in farming in Maryland, and in 1861 returned to Philadelphia, where he was superintendent of a woolen factory for four years. In March, 1865, he moved out to Lake county, Indiana, and began farming near Hobart. where he remained until his death, in March. 1872. at the age of forty-five. His wife was Maria Lord, a native of England. but who was reared in America, coming to this country at the age of seven years. She died in Lake county at the age of forty-five. She was of a Quaker family. She and her husband had six children that grew up, their son Levi being the eldest.
Mr. Levi Hutton was reared and educated in Philadelphia for the most part, and in 1865 came out to Lake county, where he remained with his parents until he was of age. He then returned to Philadelphia and became foreman in a bobbin room of a cotton factory, in the "Good Intent Mills." He had begun in this factory at an early age, at wages of six dollars a week, and had steadily advanced to a foremanship in another department, learning every detail of the business. He was receiving a salary of eighty-five dollars a month when he left. On his return to Lake county he began farming near Hobart, but in 1871 sold out and went to Chicago, where he was employed as
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HISTORY OF LAKE COUNTY.
a helper in the carpenter trade. At his father's death he returned to Hobart and was appointed administrator to settle up the estate, after the completion of which task he returned to Chicago and engaged in the saloon business. continuing it for eight months. His next enterprise was the buying of milch cows and disposing of them in Chicago, being thus engaged for two years. He then rented a farm near Hobart for two years, and in 1877 bought a small farm in Winfield township. In 1886 he bought the farm of one hundred and eighty acres where he still resides, and all the fine improvements and excellent features of this farmstead are the result of Mr. Hutton's own industry and management. From 1894 to 1901 he was engaged in the grocery business at East Chicago, in partnership with W. R. Diamond, and their monthly sales ran up to a high figure.
Mr. Hutton is one of the influential Republicans of his township, and is the present nominee for the trusteeship of Winfield township. He has served as road supervisor of this township. He was treasurer of the East Chicago Republican committee, and has been delegate to various Republican conven- tions.
Mr. Hutton married, in 1868, Miss Gertrude R. Fieler, a daughter of Jacob and Catherine (Schrage) Fieler. She was born in Germany and came to America when seven years old. Her brother. Christian Fieler, is sketched elsewhere in this work. Mr. and Mrs. Hutton lost three children in child- hood, and the three living are: Ida C., wife of L. A. Phillips, of Porter county. Indiana; Lydia M., wife of Albert Lewis, of East Chicago; and James P., at home.
WALTER H. HAMMOND.
Walter H. Hammond, who is one of the prominent real estate an ! insur- ance men of Hammond, has spent almost his entire life in this city, and has for several years been accounted one of its most progressive and enlightened business men. He is a son of one of the pioneers of this city, and is con- nected with the family which gave Hammond its name and its greatest in- dustry.
Mr. Hammond was born in Detroit, Michigan. October 26, 1873. being a son of Thomas and Helen ( Potter) Hammond. natives of Massachusetts. Ilis paternal grandfather was a native of Massachusetts, of English descent,
Mattof Blammond.
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HISTORY OF LAKE COUNTY.
and had a large family. His maternal grandfather was a native of the same state. Thomas Hammond was a carpenter by trade, and followed that pur- suit in the east. He came to Detroit, Michigan, when a young man, and was engaged in the meat business there until 1875. in which year he came to Hammond, Indiana, and became connected with George H. Hammond & Company. This well-known packing company at the beginning employed a force of about fifty men, but later increased it to nearly two thousand. The business was carried on in Hammond until May, 1903, when it was moved to Chicago. Thomas Hammond is now president of the Commercial Bank of Hammond, and is also engaged in the real estate business. He was con- gressman from this district for one term during the Cleveland regimen, and also served as mayor of Hammond for six years and as alderman for four years. He was originally a Methodist, and his wife is a Baptist. They had five children, two sons and three daughters : Elizabeth E., deceased: Carrie, wife of W. A. Hill, of Hammond : Walter H. ; Frank ; and Edith.
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