USA > Indiana > Lake County > Encyclopedia of genealogy and biography of Lake County, Indiana, with a compendium of history 1834-1904 > Part 36
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63
Mr. Fred L. Sunderman was reared in his home township. After he had completed his training in the common schools, in the fall of 1885 he entered the Valparaiso Normal, where he took the teachers' course, and came home from there to engage in the teaching profession, which he fol- lowed in his home township with great success for eight years. Besides his work in the teachers' course at Valparaiso, he also graduated in the pharmacy, scientific and classical departments of this well-known school. He still
382
HISTORY OF LAKE COUNTY.
retains his enthusiasm for the education of the masses and the increasing and broadening of the individuality of every girl and boy in America.
May 12, 1898, Mr. Sunderman married Miss Angeline Fleming, and a son and a daughter have been born to them. named Ruth Bernice and Charles Fleming. Mrs. Sunderman was born in Tazewell county, Illinois, December 12, 1868. Her father, William Fleming, is still living, being a prosperous retired farmer residing in Delavan, Illinois. Mrs. Sunderman was reared in Illinois, and received a fine higher training at the Normal University of Illinois, also at a normal in Ohio, and finished the scientific course at the Valparaiso Normal in the class of 1896. She was a very suc- cessful teacher for ten years before her marriage, one year of the time being spent at Geneva, Indiana, and the other years in Illinois. Both Mr. and Mrs Sunderman are lovers of good literature, and in the busy activity of life have not forgotten how to study and apply their minds and thoughts to the things of the mental and the spiritual domains. They are both attendants of the Lake Prairie Presbyterian church, and contribute in accordance with their means to the benevolences. Mr. Sunderman by his uprightness in conduct and integrity in all of life's relations has gained the confidence of his fellow-citizens to an unusual degree, as is attested by the fact that he received the nomination for trustee of West Creek township and, at the present writing, is a candidate with absolute certainty of success at the hustings.
EDWARD BATTERMAN.
E. Batterman, proprietor of a blacksmith and machine shop at Hobart. was born in Will county, Illinois, March 5, 1858, and is a son of Charles and Johanna ( Dasher ) Batterman, both of whom were natives of Germany, the father having been born in Hanover and the mother in Hamburg. They came to America, establishing their home in Illinois, and there the subject of this review was reared. pursuing his education in the common schools of Will county. After putting aside his text-books he learned the trade of a blacksmith, serving a two years' apprenticeship in Hobart, Indiana. He began work in this line at the age of twenty-two years, and on the com- pletion of his apprenticeship was employed in the railroad shops of the Nickle Plate road for about six months. In ISSo he opened a shop of his own at Hobart, this establishment being only sixteen by twenty feet. Here
383
HISTORY OF LAKE COUNTY.
he has since remained, and has built one of the finest blacksmith and machine shops in the county. The building is forty by one hundred feet, two stories in height. and is constructed of brick. There is a wagon shop, twenty-four by forty feet, in addition to the other department. He is now recognized as one of the leading business men of the town, a prominent representative of its industrial interests. In his chosen field of labor he has become an excellent workman, and his capability and reliable business methods have formed the strong clements in his successful career.
In 1882 Mr. Batterman was united in marriage to Miss Carrie Richards, and they have one daughter, Lena, who is now the wife of Plin Trusdale, of Chicago. Mr. Batterman has been a life-long Republican, and upon the ticket of that party was elected town treasurer, which position he now holds. He belongs to the Independent Order of Foresters, Lodge No. 141, and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Lodge No. 144, and in the latter has taken the degrees of the encampment. He is well known in northwestern Indiana, his business extending largely over Lake and adjoining counties. His shop is one of the leading industries of the kind in this part of the state, and in addition to the work which he does as an artisan he handles all kinds of agricultural implements and sells directly to the farmers. As a citizen he has contributed in no small degree to the upbuilding and development of Hobart, and whatever tends to benefit the community receives his endorse- ment and co-operation.
CHARLES GRUEL.
The German-American element in our citizenship has long been recog- nized as an important one, for from an early age the Teutonic race has carried civilization into pioneer districts of the world and has introduced the progress made in the fatherland. Mr. Gruel is a worthy representative of the German people, and in his life record has shown many of the commendable traits of the men of his nationality. He was born in Pomerania, Germany, October 9, 1860, and when eleven years of age was brought to America, be- coming a resident of Chicago. He attended school there during the two years of his residence in that city, and in 1873 he came to Hobart. Here he worked in a brickyard for a time, and was afterward engaged in the saloon business there for about ten years. In 1893 he established a meat market and also began dealing in live-stock. He feeds, sells and ships stock, and
384
HISTORY OF LAKE COUNTY.
operates quite extensively in this line at the present date. He has also built some business blocks in Hobart and has thus contributed in appreciable manner to the substantial development of the town.
In 1884 Mr. Gruel was united in marriage with Miss Emma Krieger, a native of Porter county, whence she removed to Lake county, Indiana. Her father was Frederick Krieger, an early settler of Porter county and of German lineage. Mr. and Mrs. Gruel have one daughter, Matilda. Mr. Gruel is one of the leading business men of Hobart, and his private affairs are capably and successfully conducted, while his co-operation in public measures has been a factor in the development and improvement of the town. He is a most earnest and stalwart Republican, and he belongs to the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows and the Knights of Pythias fraternity. He was reared in the Lutheran faith, and at all times his life has been actuated by honorable principles, which have formed the basic element in his success.
ANDREW J. SMITH.
Andrew J. Smith, editor of the Hobart Gasette, at Hobart, Indiana, has been numbered among the enterprising citizens of this Lake county town for nearly twenty years, and for the past fifteen years has been identified with the Gazette. This is the only newspaper of the town, having always maintained its own against several ephemeral rivals that have for varying periods set up and then struck their editorial tents in this town. Like all newspapers, the Gazette has not traveled a continuous "primrose path," nor yet has it had many vicissitudes or crises in its existence, but under the con- servative and business-like management of its publishers, who have always given the people a sheet worth reading, it has enjoyed a continually increas- ing success, and is now numbered among the substantial, permanent and prosperous institutions of Hobart. The Gasette was founded in Hobart in August. 1889. by George Narpass and G. Bender, and under foreclosure sale and at the instance of a number of citizens was bought by Mr. Smith in the following December. The plant is up-to-date and complete for a town of the size, having a large power cylinder press, and in circulation and gen- eral patronage the paper ranks among the foremost of the county. The Gazette is conducted on independent lines, the two publishers being of opposite political tendencies, and thus their paper is unbiassed and practical
Sincerely yours, a.l. Smith
385
HISTORY OF LAKE COUNTY.
in treating all questions and problems of community and county concern. While their endeavors are most successfully directed toward making their publication a weathervane to indicate the direction of public opinion and a mirror of current events, their columns also always show a public-spirited interest in the welfare of town and county and their editorial influence is ever for the progress and upbuikling of the community's institutions and interests.
Mr. Smith, most of whose adult life has thus been identified with Hobart, was born at Mottville, St. Joseph county, Michigan, March 20, 1861, being one of five children, two boys and three girls, born to John A. and Emeline (Shellenberger) Smith. His father died in February, 1900. but his mother is still living on the home farm of three hundred acres in Elkhart county, Indiana.
Mr. Smithi had the wholesome rearing and training of a farmer boy, living from the age of five to eighteen on the farm in Elkhart county. He had taught one term of school before he was eighteen, and from the time he attained that age until he entered newspaper work in 1890 he was almost continuously engaged in that profession, the last four years of the time having been spent as principal of the Hobart schools, so that his residence in this town dates from August, 1886. In the interims of his teaching he studied at the Northern Indiana Normal School at Valparaiso, and in 1885 graduated in the scientific class of that institution. During three summers before 1890 he conducted normal classes in Elkhart county, and had a reputation in that county as one of the best instructors engaged in that line of work. By his purchase of the Gasette plant late in 1889 his energies were directed to newspaper work, and he has inade that his principal vocation to the present. He was sole owner of the plant until the fall of 1891, when he sold a half interest to Mr. Nevin B. White, and the firm has since been Smith & White. They also carry on a general real estate. loan and insur- ance business.
July 7. 1884, Mr. Smith married Miss Elva L. Stiwald, of Lorain county, Ohio. There are no children of this marriage, and after twenty years of happy wedded life Mr. Smithi lost his wife on February 2, 1904.
Mr. Smith has never held office, but has been nominated for county auditor of Lake county in 1904 on the Democratic ticket. He has at various 25
386
HISTORY OF LAKE COUNTY.
times had nominations to local offices urged upon him. In his individual political beliefs he is a Democrat of the old-time, conservative, sound-money stamp, and as a private citizen is interested in the success and growth of his party. He has been a Mason for the past seventeen years, was master of his lodge for seven years, and has since been secretary. He affiliates with M. L. McClelland Lodge No. 357, F. & A. M., at Hobart; Valparaiso Chapter No. 79, R. A. M., at Valparaiso; Valparaiso Commandery No 28. K. T., at Valparaiso : is a member and past chancellor commander of Hobart Lodge No. 458, Knights of Pythias: a member of Hobart Tent No. 65, K. O. T. M. He is secretary and treasurer of the Hobart Gun Club, and is an active member of various social organizations. He was christened and reared in the faith of the Dutch Reformed church, of which his mother is still a member.
MRS. ELIZA L. MARVIN.
Mrs. Eliza L. Marvin, who passed from among the living July 31. 1904. was a foremost representative of the remarkable pioneer women so few of whom remain in Lake county from the days gone by. All history shows how conspicuous a part the wives and daughters have played in the national development and material, social and intellectual welfare of the country, and the pioneer class to which Mrs. Marvin belonged is especially worthy of honor when the annals of a section of country like Lake county are under consideration, as in this volume of historical and biographical narrative. The women were often no less forward than the men in blazing the way of civilization and making the wild country produce of the fruits necessary to mankind. Mrs. Marvin had been a resident of Lake county since 1847, and she could look back to the time when this part of Indiana was in its vir- ginity, and she had witnessed the wonderful development which has trans- formed a profitless section of country into as rich an agricultural and indus- trial community as can be found anywhere in the state. In her time the great trunk lines of railroad have been thrown across the county, the mann- facturing plants of colossal size and importance have been established in the Lake cities, and all the institutions of learning, religion and charity have grown up.
Mrs. Marvin was born in Wayne county, Michigan, August 13, 1827, so that her life has spanned, with its seventy-seven years, the gulf from the
387
HISTORY OF LAKE COUNTY.
most primitive times of the middle west to the present phenomenal develop- ment of civilization in the same territory. She was the eldest of seven chil- dren. four sons and three daughters, born to Hiram S. and Mary W. (Holley) Fuller, and of these she had just one brother living, Charles Fuller, who is married and resides at Salida, California. Hiram Fuller was born in the old Green Mountain state of Vermont in 1801, and died in July. 1878. He was reared in his native state till he had almost reached manhood, and his common school education was finished off at a seminary. His parents moved to Whitehall, New York, and he resided there for eight or ten years. From New York he came west to Michigan and settled at Northville, in the pioneer days, and purchased some timber land and began his career as a farmer. In those early days he often drove an ox team to Detroit for pro- visions. He sold his one hundred and sixty acres in the fruit belt of Michi- gan and in 1847 came to Lake county. Indiana, and located on a previous purchase of four hundred acres of wild land in West Creek township. Their settlement in the county was at an early enough date that the deer were still plentiful, and Mrs. Marvin remembers having seen as many as ninety at a time in the vicinity of the homestead. Mr. Fuller was for many years a Whig in politics, but from the birth of the Republican party espoused its principles till his death. He was a man of much decision of character, was a friend of education and all interests conducive to the welfare of his com- munity, was domestic in his tastes and a lover of home and children, and his beneficent influence continued to live in the noble womanhood of his daughter. He and his wife were members of the Presbyterian church, and he helped found the church in West Creek township and assisted in the building of the church edifice. Mrs. Marvin's mother was a native of York state, and was born in the Genesee valley in September. 1808. and died in 1878, having been reared and educated in New York state. She was a kind and affectionate mother, and the spirit of her teachings and her character is still potent in the world.
Mrs. Marvin was a young lady of about twenty-one years when she came to Lake county, and her education had already been completed in the common schools and an academy in Michigan. She was an assistant in the Northville public schools for about two years and also followed the profes- sion of teaching after she came to Indiana.
388
HISTORY OF LAKE COUNTY.
On December 6, 1851. she was united in marriage with Mr. Charles Marvin. He was born in the state of Connecticut, and died June 16, 1892. He was reared by his uncle and aunt and received a good education. His younger years were spent in the capacity of a salesman in the south, being in New Orleans for six months, after which he came north. Much of his life was spent as a merchant, but after his marriage he became an agriculturist. He was thrifty and a good financial manager, and at the time of his mar- riage he owned about six hundred acres of land in West Creek township. He was a strong anti-slavery advocate, and followed the banner of the Republican party until his death. He was a very successful stock-raiser and farmer. and was known and admired throughout Lake county for his firm integrity and prominence in the affairs of citizenship. He was reared in the Pres- byterian faith.
At her husband's . death Mrs. Marvin had to assume a large business responsibility in the management of the estate left her, and during the sub- sequent years she displayed an acumen and sagacity rarely found in those of the gentler sex. She was a genial and cordial lady, and had many friends. Her bright mind delighted to wander among the scenes of early days, and on the page of her memory was written a record of many events and scenes of the first half of the past century. She had seen the city of Chicago when teams were stalled along the business thoroughfares of Lake street on account of the mud and mire, and she also knew the city with its population of nearly two millions. She was a woman of charitable and generous instincts. and never failed to respond to benevolent causes worthy of her consideration.
Mr. and Mrs. Marvin had no children of their own, but in the goodness of their hearts they adopted a boy and a girl, named Edward Prosser and Ellen Rollins, and reared and educated them, surrounding them with the best of influences and comforts. The former died after reaching young manhood, and the latter married Philip Stuppy, a farmer of West Creek township. Mrs. Marvin retained until the last the active management and oversight of the estate of three hundred acres, part of which is located in Illinois, and she had a beautiful home in which to pass the final years of so useful and noble a career as had been vouchsafed to her.
N. P. BANKS.
N. P. Banks, one of the practical and progressive farmers of Hobart
389
HISTORY OF LAKE COUNTY.
township, resides on Section 6, and for many years has been a resident of the county. He was born in Lake county. Ohio, September 25. 1845, and in the paternal line is of Holland-Dutch lineage. His great-great-grandfather was born in Holland and, coming to America, served as a soldier in the Revolutionary war. Orin Banks, the father of N. P. Banks, was born in New York and was reared and married there, the lady of his choice being Miss Olive Brown, whose birth occurred in the Empire state and who was of English descent. He emigrated to Ohio in an early day, settling in Lake county, whence in 1845 he removed to LaPorte county, Indiana, establishing his home just within the boundary limits of LaPorte city. He afterward lived in Scipio township, that county, and in 1852 he came to Lake county. settling in Ross township, where he carried on farming. His last days, how- ever. were passed in Hobart township, where he died at the age of fifty- seven years. He was a very public-spirited man, and was justice of the peace for a number of years. He also belonged to the Baptist church, was very active and zealous in its work, filled the office of deacon and did every- thing in his power to advance the cause of Christianity in his community. His life was honorable, his actions manly and sincere and he left to his family the priceless heritage of an untarnished name. His wife, a most estimable lady, lived to be about seventy-two years of age. In their family were twelve children, of whom two died in infancy, while ten reached manhood or womanhood and eight are now living.
N. P. Banks is the youngest son and eleventh child of the family, and was but six weeks old when he landed in LaPorte county. Indiana, with his parents. Seven years later he came with them to Lake county, and was largely reared in Hobart township, acquiring his education in the public schools. He was but sixteen years of age when in 1862 he enlisted in Miller's Chicago Battery for three years' service. He was No. 4 on the gun, and was afterward corporal chief of the caisson and gunner. During the last year of his service he held the rank of sergeant and received an hon- orable discharge in 1865, after having been a member of the army for almost three years. He was the youngest man in his company, and he took part in seventeen important battles and thirty-four skirmishes, including many of the most hotly contested engagements of the war. Among the number were the battles of the Atlanta campaign, and though he was often in the thickest of
390
HISTORY OF LAKE COUNTY.
the fight he did not receive even a scratch in all of his service. When the country no longer needed his aid he was honorably discharged at Chicago in 1865, and returned to his home in Lake county with a most creditable military record.
Desirous of enjoying better school advantages Mr. Banks then attended high school for one term, and later he engaged in teaching school through four winter seasons, while in the summer months he worked for wages on the farm.
On the 14th of February, 1869, occurred the marriage of Mr. Bank? and Miss Clara E. Chandler, a daughter of T. P. and Betsey ( Woodmansee ) Chandler. The parents were natives of Vermont and in their family were four children, of whom Mrs. Banks is the youngest. Her birth occurred in the Green Mountain state January 1. 1850, and by her marriage she has become the mother of six children : Mary, the wife of J. M. Sholl : Carrie E., who is attending college at Oberlin. Ohio: Myrtle L., who is engaged in teaching in the schools of Hobart ; Bessie, the wife of Rev. Dunning Idle, a celebrated minister of the Methodist Episcopal church: Flora, who is attend- ing school in Hobart: and Marian, deceased.
After his marriage Mr. Banks located upon a farm in Hobart township and has since been engaged in general agricultural pursuits. He now has two hundred and forty acres of land, which is a well developed property. the fields being highly cultivated, while upon the farm are good buildings and all modern equipments. This constitutes one of the attractive features in the landscape, and a glance indicates to the passer-by the care and super- vision of an enterprising, progressive owner. Mr. Banks is a stockholder and also a director in the First State Bank of Hobart. Mi. Banks is a director of the Lake County Farmers' Mutual Insurance Company, organ- ized some years ago on a small scale, and now embracing the whole county. There are 1.310 policies and the insurance in force is about $2.150.000.00. which exists amongst the best farmers of the county. There are five direct- ors. four of them being N. P. Banks, Albert Foster. Star A. Brownell and John Borger. In public affairs he has also been prominent and influential, and his influence is always given on the side of right, reform and improve- ment. He was township trustee of Hobart for five years, and he has always been a stanch Republican, putting forth strenuous effort in behalf of the
391
HISTORY OF LAKE COUNTY.
party. He maintains pleasant relations with his old army comrades through his membership in Hobart Post No. 411, G. A. R., and he also belongs to the Odd Fellows society, No. 333, at that place. In matters of citizenship he is as true and loyal as when he followed the nation's starry banner upon the battlefields of the south.
AUGUST VOLTMER.
August Voltmer is a representative of that fine class of German-Ameri- can citizens who have been such an important factor in the development of the material resources and in the social and intellectual life of Lake county. He is himself still a young man in point of years and vigor, but for the past twenty or more years has been making his influence felt for good and ad- vancement in this county, and is also prosperous to an unusual degree in his own affairs.
He is a native of Will county, Illinois, where he was born October 28, 1861, being the fifth in a family of seven children, three sons and four daughters, born to Henry and Mary (Rabe) Voltmer. These children are all living, and there are three others who are residents of Lake county. namely : Henry, Lizzie, and Mary, who is the wife of William Neidert, a farmer of West Creek township. The father of the family was born in Germany, in the province of Hanover, and he is still living at the age of eighty years. He was a mechanic until he came to America, and since then he has given his attention to farming. He emigrated to this country when a young man, and from New York came to Will county, Illinois, being a poor but honest and industrious man, and in the course of his active career he accumulated one hundred and sixty acres in Will county, and also pur- chased two hundred and eighty acres in West Creek township of this county, where he still makes his home. He received his education in both the German and English tongues. He is a Republican, and is a member of the Lutheran church, as also was his good wife, who died about 1896.
Mr. August Voltmer was reared and educated in Will county, Illinois. and by early training is familiar with both the German and the English lan- guages. He was reared to farming life, and has given principal attention to stock-raising. He has a number of pure-blooded Chester White swine, and his cattle are of high-grade Durhams.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.