USA > Indiana > Lake County > Encyclopedia of genealogy and biography of Lake County, Indiana, with a compendium of history 1834-1904 > Part 26
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HISTORY OF LAKE COUNTY.
John E. Luther, the eldest son, is now the only living representative of the family. He was but eight years of age when he came to Lake county. and here he attended the district schools, his first teacher being Martin Wood. When about nine years of age he went to Valparaiso, where he worked for five years in the printing office with his uncle, Judge W. C. Talcott. On the expiration of that period he came to Crown Point, and later he went to Min- nesota with a drove of cattle, walking all the way. He was eleven weeks on the road, receiving ten dollars for the trip. Mr. Luther remained in Minne- sota for about two years, driving a stage for a year and a half and during the remainder of the time working in a livery stable. On the expiration of that period he returned to Crown Point and accepted a clerkship in a store owned by John G. Hoffman. When a little more than a year had passed he offered his services to the government, enlisting April 19, 1861, under Mark L. Demotte, being the first man to enlist from Crown Point. He became a member of Company B. Twentieth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and after serving for two years as a private he was commissioned first lieutenant and adjutant, continuing in that rank until October 10, 1864, when he was mus- tered out as a supernumerary officer. He took part in twenty-seven important engagements and was three times wounded, but he has never applied for a pension. He was mustered out because of the consolidation of the Seventh. Fourteenth and Nineteenth regiments with the Twentieth Indiana Regiment. and as all of the officers could not be retained in their rank Mr. Luther was among those who was retired, for he had already served for three years and a half. He is life president of his regimental association.
In November, 1864, Mr. Luther returned to Crown Point, and on the 28th of December following he was united in marriage to Miss Addie Wells, a daughter of Henry Wells. She was born in Crown Point, was educated in the public schools there and was well known in the city. Her death occurred August 25, 1875, at Indianapolis, and she left one son, Harry W., who died in San Francisco of blood poisoning, July 15, 1896.
In 1868 Mr. Luther entered the employ of the McCormick Reaper Com- pany and went to Galesburg, Illinois, where he remained through that season. He afterward continued with the company as bookkeeper and traveling sales- man until 1879, when he removed from Indianapolis to Troy. Ohio, where he was engaged as bookkeeper for the firm of Beadle & Kelly. He spent
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several years in Ohio, and in 1882 went to California, where he remained for one year, and since 1886 he has resided continuously in Crown Point. He has been vice-president of the First National Bank since 1900 and is one of the oldest stockholders of that institution. He also owns a farm of about three hundred and twenty-five acres and has valuable city property. He is now living retired from active business, giving supervision merely to his invested interests.
Mr. Luther is a member of John Wheeler Post No. 161, G. A. R., of which he is a past commander. He is also a member of the Union Veteran Legion, Encampment No. 84, of Indianapolis. He did his duty to his coun- try willingly and with marked loyalty because of his love for the Union, and he does not ask to be reimbursed for the sacrifice which he made in behalf of the stars and stripes. In politics he has been a life-long Republican. He certainly deserves great credit for what he has accomplished, as he started out in life in early boyhood without capital. As a business man he has been conspicuous among his associates not only for his success but for his probity, fairness and honorable methods. In everything he has been eminently prac- tical, has discharged every public duty with ability and fairness.
WILLIAM F. BRIDGE.
William F. Bridge, city engineer of Hammond and county surveyor of Lake county, has lived in Hammond since 1890 and is a proficient member of the civil engineering profession and is popular in both business and social circles.
Mr. Bridge was born at Delphi, Indiana, April 11, 1864, being the only son and child of Jacob C. and Emma (Witherow) Bridge, both natives of Indiana. His paternal grandfather. Jolin Bridge, was a native of Ohio, was a farmer there, and afterwards came to Carroll county, Indiana, at an early clay, where he bought land of the government and improved it and added to his property until he had a large estate of five hundred acres. He was of Scotch descent. He died in Carroll county when about seventy years old. His wife, Rosanna Carr by maiden name, died at about the same age, and they had two children. Mr. Bridge's maternal grandfather, James Witherow. married a Miss Filson, and they were early settlers of Carroll county. He was an elder in the Presbyterian church. and died in middle age, having had
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four children. Jacob C. Bridge was a bookkeeper for many years. He lived in Delphi, Indiana, until 1886, was then in Colorado for four years, and since then he and his wife have been residents in Hammond. His wife is a member of the Presbyterian church.
Mr. William F. Bridge was reared at Delphi, Indiana, graduating from the high school there in 1884, and later took a special course in Wabash College. He then took up the study of civil engineering, and has followed that profession ever since, having gained a most creditable position in its ranks. He spent the years from 1886 to 1890 in Colorado, and since then has been a resident of Hammond. He was elected city engineer of Ham- mond in 1893, and, with the exception of four years, has been in that office since. He was elected county surveyor of Lake county in 1902, and assumed the duties of that office in January, 1903. He has given entire satisfaction in both offices. In the spring of 1904 Mr. Bridge was nominated for a second time as surveyor of Lake county.
Mr. Bridge is a member of the Presbyterian church, and his wife is a Baptist. He affiliates with Garfield Lodge No. 569, F. & A. M., with Ham- mond Chapter. R. A. M., and with Hammond Commandery, K. T., and is also a member of the Knights of Pythias and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. He belongs to the Sigma Chi college fraternity. In politics he is a Republican, and is city chairman of the Republican committee.
December 23, 1885, Mr. Bridge married Miss Lillian Sharrer, a daugh- ter of Dr. Wilbur and Catharine (Moore) Sharrer. Four children were born of this union, Edgar, Grace, Norman and Helen. Mrs. Lillian Bridge died in January, 1900. She was a member of the Presbyterian church. On August 19, 1903. Mr. Bridge married Miss Bertha C. Watkins, a daughter of Rev. W. G. and Ruth (Evans) Watkins, the former a native of Wales and the latter of Pennsylvania.
Mrs. Bridge's paternal grandfather, William Watkins, was a native of Wales, whence he came to the United States and settled in Pennsylvania. He was a Baptist minister, and died in middle life. His wife was named Mary. The maternal grandparents of Mrs. Bridge were Robert and Susan (Todd) Evans : the former was a son of David Evans and was a native of Wales. and died when a young man : the latter lived to an advanced age. and was the mother of four children. Mrs. Bridge's father was a Baptist minis-
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ter, a graduate of Bucknell University, of which she is also a graduate, and he now lives in Scranton, Pennsylvania, in which state he has done most of his ministerial work. He has always been in public life, and for a nun- ber of years taught music. He and his wife were the parents of six children, one son and five daughters: Bertha C. ( Mrs. Bridge). Susie. Lillian. Ethel. Earl and Ruth.
HENRY CHESTER.
Henry Chester, of section 17, Ross township, is one of the well known old settlers and prominent agriculturists of Lake county, having spent over a half century in his one township. He spent his youthful days among the rather crude and primitive conditions of that time, and has ever since been identified with the progress and advancement that have raised Lake county from an unprofitable wilderness to one of the banner sections of the state. He recalls many of the interesting experiences of that early day. His oppor- tunities for literary accomplishment were meager, and as he had to work during the daylight hours he did his reading by the light of a rag dipped in a saucer of grease or by the flickering firelight of the old-fashioned hearth and chimney. AAnd when he clad himself in his best and went forth to attend one of the balls of the countryside, he and his best girl rode in a wagon drawn by an ox team. From this primitive conveyance to the modern automobile graphically represents the progress of Lake county and the world in general since Mr. Chester was a carefree boy on his father's Lake county farm.
Mr. Chester was born in Columbia county, Pennsylvania. October 15. 1834. His grandfather. John Chester, was a native of England. whence he came at an early day to Pennsylvania, and for seven years fought in the ranks of the patriots in the Revolutionary war. becoming an officer in the Con- tinental army .. He saw and talked with General Washington and was a prominent man. His son Charles, father of Henry, was born in Pennsyl- vania, and came out to Lake county, Indiana, as a pioneer in 1847. living here until his death in 1874. He married Mary E. Price, a native of Penn- sylvania and of German descent, and they were the parents of two daughters and one son that reached maturity.
Mr. Henry Chester was about twelve years old when he came to Lake county with his parents, and his subsequent rearing and early training was in Ross township, where, indeed. he has spent the rest of his life. When the
Mary Chester
Abenry chester
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HISTORY OF LAKE COUNTY.
war came on he enlisted on September 10, 1861. in Company G, Ninth Illi- nois Cavalry, and served until his honorable discharge. October 31. 1865. after giving four years and three months of his youth and strength to the defense of the Union cause. From choice he remained a private through all this time. He was in many battles in Kentucky, Tennessee. Mississippi, and the various campaigns of the middle west. He returned home to engage in the farming pursuits which have ever since employed him so profitably. He operates over a thousand acres of as fine land as lies in Lake county, and his agricultural enterprises mark him as one of the most progressive and success- ful farmers of his vicinity. He has also taken part in local affairs. and is well known throughout the county as a representative and public-spirited citizen.
Mr. Chester was first married, in 1859. to Miss Harriet Perry, who was born in Porter county, Indiana, a daughter of Ezekiel Perry. They had one child. Mary, wife of Henry Merchant. Mr. Chester's second wife was Har- riet L. Hanks, of New York state, and at her death she left five children : Ella, wife of Charles Olson: Lovisa, wife of Charles Nelson ; Carrie, wife of William Raschka, a merchant of Ainsworth, Indiana; and Charles E. and James H. Mr. Chester married for his present wife Mary E. Baird, and they have three children : Jerome, John and Daisy. The children have received good and practical educations, and Miss Daisy has taken instruction in music. Mrs. Chester was born in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, November 8. 1854. being the eldest of the ten children, four sons and six daughters. born to Samuel and Jane (Oakes) Baird. When she was a girl of twelve years her parents moved west to Bureau county, Illinois, where she com- pleted the education begun in her native state.
Mr. Chester is a member of Earl Lodge No. 333. I. O. O. F., at Hobart. and his wife belongs to the Rebekahs at the same place. Mr. and Mrs. Chester are both church members, their respective denominations being the Methodist Episcopal and the Baptist.
From this brief review of the main facts of his career, is indicated the prominent position that Mr. Chester holds in his community and in Lake county. His individual enterprise and success and his strength of character are marked in still bolder outlines when it is remembered how he has been the architect of his own fortunes, and is a truly self-made man. . At the
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beginning of his active career he worked for wages, receiving only thirteen dollars a month. Yet with this seemingly scant hold on prosperity's coign of vantage he continued to climb higher to success, and during his useful career has accumulated a large estate and made his life a factor for good throughout Lake county.
ANDREW KAMMER.
Andrew Kammer, postmaster at St. John, has been a well known man of affairs in this town for a number of years. He has held his present office almost continuously for seventeen years, which in itself shows his popularity with the community and his prestige as a public-spirited and energetic citizen. The first few years of his life were passed in his native land of Germany, but he was practically reared and has been identified with Amer- ican institutions all his life. He has followed various lines of business, and during his connection with Lake county affairs has acquired property interests in several places. He is an influential citizen, and a hearty worker in any cause that he takes up and believes to be for the general welfare of the community.
Mr. Kammer was born in Hesse-Darnstadt, Germany, September 2, 1838, and at the age of eight years accompanied his parents to America, landing at Baltimore. He remained in that city until 1860, gaining his education and learning the tailor's trade. He followed that business in Cumberland. Maryland, until 1868, and then returned to Baltimore, where lie continued in business for a year. In 1869 he came out to Lake county, Indiana, locating at St. John, and for the first six years taught school during the winter seasons. For ten years he was traveling in the interests of the Catholic L'olksscitung, Baltimore, Maryland, and did much business for that paper. He was also on the road eight years as the representative of a liquor house. In December, 1887, he was appointed to the office of postmaster of St. John, and with the exception of eight months has held the office con- tinuously to the present time. Some years ago he built three tenant houses in Whiting, being one of the first to make that kind of investment in that town. and he still owns this property and rents it.
May 3, 1860, Mr. Kammer married Miss Katherine Wagner, who was born in Germany and came as a girl to America, having lived in this country
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since she was fourteen years old. Mr. and Mrs. Kammer have seven children living : Elizabeth: Mary; Nicholas; Michael; Theodore A., a teacher in the public schools of St. John; Andrew; and Catherine. The family are members of the St. John Catholic church.
ADAM J. GERLACH.
Adam J. Gerlach, with residence and farm on section 30, Center town- ship, has been identified with the most important interests of Lake county for over forty years. He passed part of his boyhood in this county, after which he was one of the popular and leading workers along educational lines for many years, and the latter part of his career has been devoted most suc- cessfully to the life insurance business and to farming, so that his years have been both varied in their activity and prosperous in their fruits.
Mr. Gerlach was born at Harper's Ferry, Virginia, March 8, 1848, being a son of Michael and Catherine (Wirtheim) Gerlach, both natives of Bavaria, Germany. His father, on coming to America, located at Harper's Ferry, and in 1857 brought his family to Lake county, Indiana, settling in St. John township. He improved his first farm and also was the owner of two other farms, being during his lifetime one of the leading citizens. He taught school for some time and for many years was assessor of his township. He died at the age of seventy-five, and his wife in her seventy-sixth year. They were the parents of seven children, four sons and three daughters, and all but one are living and married at the present time.
Mr. Adam J. Gerlach, who is the third child and third son, was about nine years old when he came to Lake county, where he continued the educa- tion he had begun in Virginia. He graduated from the Crown Point high school, and from that time has made his own way in the world. He began by clerking in a store, but at the age of seventeen entered upon his career as school teacher, which he continued, altogether, for twenty-one years. One term was in Cook county, Illinois, but all the rest was in Lake county. He taught different branches. English and German being favorites, and he also made a specialty of musical instruction, both vocal and instrumental. He is an accomplished musician, and at the present time is organist in St. Mary's Catholic church at Crown Point.
He now resides on his farm of two hundred and forty-five acres situated
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three and a half miles south of Crown Point, where he owns one of the fine farmsteads of this part of the county. But he devotes most of liis time to soliciting life insurance for the Aetna Life of Hartford, having been agent in this business for twenty-one years. He has written many thousands of dollars in this time, and his work has extended to all parts of the county. One of his chief industries on the farm is a large dairy, and in this connec- tion he has become one of the directors of the Chicago Milk Shippers' Union. which comprises many thousand dairies of Indiana. Illinois and Wisconsin. He is also interested in a company organizing. at Crown Point, a jelly manu- facturing business. About eighteen farmers of the surrounding country will raise currents for this enterprise.
Mr. Gerlach is one of the well known Democrats of Lake county, and for some years served as justice of the peace. He is a member and a trustee of the Catholic church at Crown Point. He was married, August 10. 1874. to Miss Margaret Scherer. the daughter of Nicholas and Frances Scherer. who were among the early settlers of Lake county, where Mrs. Gerlach was born. Mr. and Mrs. Gerlach have had thirteen children, and all are living but one. who died in 1903, the others being as follows: Adam M. : Amelia. wife of Theodore Stech; George F .: Frances: Agnes: Michael; Joseph : Richard; Philip : Susan : Josephine : and Lillie. Adam and Agnes graduated in the Crown Point public schools, and the former and George F. are mem- bers of the Crown Point brass band. Mr. Gerlach, being so proficient in music, has given his children fine instruction in music, and at gatherings. assemblies and farm institutes they take a prominent part.
JUDGE GEORGE W. JONES.
Active in community affairs which have had important bearing upon public progress and improvement. Judge G. W. Jones is numbered among the leading and representative men of Whiting. Indiana, where he is now filling the office of justice of the peace. He has also been closely associated with educational affairs there and has done much for the upbuilding of the schools. In an official connection he has been largely instrumental in securing the attendance at school of a greater percent of pupils than had hitherto been enrolled. His labors have always been of a practical character, attended by results that are far-reaching and beneficial.
your Very Truly George Jones
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HISTORY OF LAKE COUNTY.
Judge Jones is a native of Ohio, his birth having occurred in Butler county on the 23d of May. 1844. He is a son of Dr. Caleb H. and Beulah (Staggs) Jones, the former of Welsh descent and the latter of English lineage. His paternal grandfather. Jonas Jones, was a native of New Jersey, and was a civil engineer by profession. Removing westward he surveyed a large part of southern Ohio and was one of the promoters of pioneer devel- opment in that portion of Ohio. His son. Dr. Caleb H. Jones, was also a native of Butler county, Ohio, prepared for the practice of medicine in early life and continued active in the prosecution of his profession up to the time of his death, which occurred in 1848. His wife was a native of North Caro- lina. On her father's side she was of English lineage and on the maternal line her ancestry could be traced back to John Smith, whose life was saved by the Indian maiden Pocahontas.
Judge Jones was the seventh in a family of nine children born to Dr. and Mrs Jones. He spent his youth in the county of his nativity, and his early boyhood was a period of earnest and unremitting toil, for when he was only four years of age he was left an orphan. He earned his living during the greater part of the time until he had attained the age of sixteen years, but the elemental strength of his character was thereby developed and he be- came a self-reliant, courageous young man who bravely faced life's duties and made the most of his opportunities. In 1861 he offered his services to the government as a defender of the Union, enlisting in Company D, Fifth Regiment of Ohio Cavalry. He served for three years and seven months in the army as a private, but was promoted to the rank of sergeant. He took part in the battles of Shiloh, the siege of Corinth and the battle at that city, the siege of Vicksburg and the engagement at Lookout Mountain, where was displayed one of the most daring military feats of the great war. He was also with Sherman on the celebrated march to the sea.
When the war was over and he was mustered out of service. Judge Jones returned to his native county in Ohio and there served a term of apprenticeship as a machinist. In 1867 he made a business trip to Europe, being gone about six weeks, during which time he visited Liverpool and other points in England, beside going to France. After his return to his native land he removed to Middletown, Ohio, where he remained until 1869. and in the fall of that year he came to Indiana, locating at Kentland. He
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afterward removed to Sheldon, Illinois, where he engaged in the manufacture of carriages and wagons for a short time. He next went to California, afterward to Australia and subsequently to Japan and China, looking for a location and a better country than America. He remained in Australia for three months and visited Hongkong, China, and Yokohama, Japan. His travels. however, convinced him that there was no better country on the face of the globe than his own United States, and upon once more reaching this country he located in Sheldon, Illinois, where he remained for two years. During that time he was married and later he went to Nebraska, settling at Lone Tree. There he secured a homestead claim and continued its cultiva- tion and development until the grasshoppers entirely destroyed his crops. He next returned to Iroquois, Illinois, and afterward went to Sheldon, while in January, 1884. he located in Hammond, Indiana, where he entered the employ of the Tuthill Spring Company and the Chicago Carriage Company, being thus engaged until he entered the services of the Hammond Packing Com- pany as a machinist, filling that position until 1890, when he came to Whiting. Here Judge Jones entered the employ of the Standard Oil Company as a machinist and foreman of the compound press house, and later was sent to the round house in the switching department. During the last four years of his connection with the Standard Oil Company he had charge of the repairs on locomotives, and was regarded as one of the most capable and trusted representatives of the corporation in Whiting.
In the meantime Mr. Jones had become recognized as a prominent and influential factor in public life, exerting strong influence in behalf of measures for the general good. In 1898 he was elected justice of the peace of Whiting and has served in that capacity continuously since. discharging his duties in a prompt and able manner, his decisions being strictly fair and impartial. He was also elected city clerk of Whiting and is now filling that office. He is likewise engaged in the insurance business, having time to devote to thesc interests as well as his official duties. He is now vice-president of the board of children's guardians of Lake county, Indiana, and since taking his place as a member of the board he has made strenuous and effective efforts to keep children out of the saloons, and more children are now attending school than ever before in Whiting. He is the only Democrat that has been elected to public office in the town, and this fact is indicative of the confidence and trust
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reposed in him by his fellow citizens. He is not bitterly aggressive in politics, for while he believes in Democratic principles he casts his ballot indepen- dently at local elections where no issue is involved. Since 1867 Judge Jones has been an exemplary member of the Masonic fraternity and has filled all the chairs in the local lodge. He is also a Knight of Pythias, holds mem- bership relations with the Knights of the Maccabees and Colonel Robert Heath Post, G. A. R., of Hammond, in which he has filled all of the posi- tions with the exception of that of quartermaster.
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