USA > Indiana > Lake County > Encyclopedia of genealogy and biography of Lake County, Indiana, with a compendium of history 1834-1904 > Part 47
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rents the remaining quarter section. His first purchase of land comprised sixty-five acres, for which he paid fifteen dollars per acre, and the greatest price which he ever paid was thirty-seven dollars per acre. He sold one hun- dred acres in October, 1903. for one hundred dollars per acre, a fact which indicates how well he had improved the property. He began life a poor man. but by his own energy and unflagging perseverance, supplemented by the assistance of his estimable wife, he has become the owner of a valuable farm and is to-day enjoying the fruits of his former toil in a comfortable home in Lowell, his competence being sufficient to enable him to surround himself and family with the necessities and many of the comforts and luxuries of life.
To Mr. and Mrs. Hayden have been born two children, Nellie, who is now the wife of Charles Beebe, who is living a half mile west of Lowell upon a farm in West Creek township: and Seigel, who resides in Lowell.
Mr. Hayden is numbered among the honored pioneer settlers of Lake county. The family was established here in 1837, and since that time has been closely identified with the improvement and upbuilding of the county. In the family were eight sons and five daughters, most of whom have remained residents of this county. When a boy Edgar Hayden drove ox teams to Chicago, taking grain and hogs to the city market in that way. There were no railroads at that time and he did teaming to the city even after his mar- riage. His political views have ever been in harmony with the principles of the Republican party, but he has never sought or desired the honors or emolu- ments of public office. He has endeavored to live peaceably with all men, and has himself been engaged in no lawsuit. He is now a member of the town council of Lowell and is deeply interested in everything pertaining to its progress and upbuilding.
JOSEPH HAYDEN.
Joseph Hayden, now deceased, was a prominent old settler of Lake county and a man whom to know was to respect and lionor. He lived here for many years and because of his upright life, his activity and reliability in business and his fidelity in matters of citizenship he won the respect. con- fidence and friendship of the large majority of those with whom he came in contact. He claimed Ohio as the state of his nativity, his birth having occurred in Knox county, July 7, 1832. He was a son of Nehemiah Hayden, who removed with his family to Lake county, Indiana, during the carly boy- 32
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hood of his son Joseph, who was reared in West Creek township upon the old homestead. He endured the hardships and trials incident to pioneer life and assisted in the arduous task of developing his father's farm. Outside of this no special event occurred to vary the routine of his life in his youth.
He remained at home with his parents up to the time of his marriage, which was celebrated on the Ioth of October, 1854, the lady of his choice being Miss Maria P. Green, who was born in Michigan, March 13, 1836, and is a daughter of John and Phebe Green. The mother died when Mrs. Ilayden was but a week old. and she was reared by her sister. Mrs. Michaels. She was brought to Lake county when but three years old and pursued her education in one of the old-time log schoolhouses common in all frontier settlements in the middle west. By her marriage she became the mother of nine children : Lester. who is living in Topeka, Indiana : Sidney, who follows farming in West Creek township: Wilbur, who carries on agricultural pur- suits near Momence, Illinois; Anna, the wife of Elias Bryant, of Lafayette, Indiana; Hilton, who makes his home in Chicago: Clarence, who follows farming near Momence, Illinois; Cass J., a banker of Grant Park, Illinois; Merritt, who follows farming on the old homestead; and Ralph, who is a physician of Chicago and a member of the firm of Fosmer & Hayden, dealers in farm lands and investments. All of the children are married.
Joseph Hayden was a life-long Republican and as a citizen was deeply interested in everything pertaining to public progress and improvement. He was honorable in all business transactions, faithful to his friends and family, and his death, which occurred in 1898, was therefore the occasion of deep and uniform regret throughout the community in which he had so long lived. After her husband's demise Mrs. Hayden came to live in Lowell in 1899. She attends the services of the Christian church, being a devout member, and is well known in Lake county, where almost her entire life has been passed.
GEORGE B. BAILEY.
George B. Bailey comes from one of the old families of Lake county, of which he is a representative agriculturist and a man whose standing as a stanch business man is unquestioned. He is a native of West Creek town- ship, of Lake county, and was born March 26. 1870, being the youngest of the four children, three sons and one daughter, born to Josiah and Nancy
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(Kyle) Bailey. All the children are living : Leroy is the efficient treasurer of Lake county, and whose biography appears on other pages of this volume ; Charles is a progressive farmer of West Creek township: Grace M. is the wife of F. T. Buse, also of West Creek township.
Mr. George B. Bailey was reared and educated in Lake county. His advanced training was acquired in the Valparaiso College, where he was a student during the years 1887-88-89 and took the teacher's course. His active career has been spent as an agriculturist and stockman, and his active, aggressive and business nature causes him never to stop short of real attain- ment in whatever he undertakes. After his return from college, being the youngest child, he remained at home and soon became a partner with his father. For the past thirteen years he has been engaged in the business of buying and feeding cattle, being with his father for seven years.
November 16, 1891, he married Miss Julia Foster, and one son has been born to them, Leon L., who is in the fourth grade of the public schools and thus early in life seems to be inclined to follow in the footsteps of his father. Mrs. Bailey was born in Parker, Kansas, November 16, 1872, and is the tenth and youngest of a family of ten children, five sons and five daughters. born to George Lyman and Lucy J. ( Hathaway) Foster. There are nine of her brothers and sisters living, and five are in Lake county. She was about four years old when the family came to Lake county. Her early education was obtained in the public schools, and then for two years she took the teacher's course in Valparaiso College.
Mr. Bailey is a strong Republican, and was a stanch supporter of the administration of Benjamin Harrison, for whom he cast his first presidential vote, and during every subsequent administration he has upheld Republican- ism in doctrine and practice. He has served as a delegate to the county con- ventions. Mr. and Mrs. Bailey are people who respect true Christian prin- ciples and the church institution, and they are attendants of the West Creek Methodist church. The Lowell National Bank, detailed mention of which is made on other pages, was organized on May 13, 1903, with a full roster of solid financial men at its head, and Mr. Bailey is vice-president of its official board.
Mr. and Mrs. Bailey's beautiful country seat, known as the "Diamond Farm," comprises five hundred and ninety acres, all in West Creek township.
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Their comfortable and cosy residence was erected in 1897, and during several subsequent years excellent improvements and outbuildings were constructed, so that as concerns general appearance and profitable usefulness there is hardly a place in the township more deserving of the reputation of "a model farm- stead." Cleanliness and order are cardinal points in the management of this farm, and the passer-by cannot but pause and admire the entire farm as one of the bright and high-class agricultural enterprises of Lake county. Mr. Bailey belongs to the young and substantial business men upon whom the responsibility for the welfare of a community will in the main always rest. While enthusiastic and aggressive, he possesses also a due amount of con- servatism and finely balanced judgment, and these excellent qualities are to determine his success in the future as they have in the past and give him his due meed of prominence in the substantial industrial enterprise of Lake county.
MRS. ELIZABETH HARRISON.
Mrs. Elizabeth Harrison, well known in Lowell, was born in Center township. Lake county, Indiana. on the 17th of August, 1840. Her father, Dr. James A. Wood, was a native of Medina county, Ohio, and when a young man came to Indiana. He was married in the former state to Miss Anna Jacobs, whose birth occurred in New York, on the 7th of January, 1818. It was in the year 1838 that they removed to this state, settling in Porter county, and soon afterward they came to Lake county, taking up their abode in Cen- ter Prairie. Dr. Wood was a well-known physician and practiced for many years in Lake county, carrying professional assistance and relief into many of the households, where his labors proved of great value in the alleviation of human suffering. At the time of the Civil war he served as assistant surgeon in the First Indiana Volunteer Cavalry, and then returned to his practice in Lake county. He followed his profession here in the early days when the work of a physician demanded that he take long rides across the country, for the homes were widely scattered. This involved many personal sacrifices and hardships, but Dr. Wood faithfully performed his duties as a physician and frequently responded to a professional call when he knew that he would re- ceive no remuneration for his services. He became very widely known through Lake and adjoining counties, and his professional skill, combined with his broad humanitarian principles and kindly spirit, won for him the
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respect and love of the great majority with whom he was associated. He died only twenty-six days before the eighty-fourth anniversary of his birth, and his wife passed away in her eightieth year. They were the parents of eleven children, of whom two died in infancy, while three died in childhood.
Mrs. Harrison, the third child of this family. was reared in Lake county and began her education in the common schools. She afterward continued her studies in Crown Point. Indiana, and in Valparaiso. She afterward en- gaged in teaching school in Indiana. Illinois and Kansas. In 1873 she went to Jewell county, Kansas, where she took up a claim on which she remained for about two years, and during that period she continued teaching. She then returned to Lake county to take care of her parents, and remained with them until their death.
On the IIth of November, 1878. Miss Elizabeth Wood gave her hand in marriage to John Harrison, who was born in Dorchester. England, and died on the Ist of January, 1884. Soon after her husband's death Mrs. Har- rison returned to Lowell, where she has since resided. With the exception of two years spent in the Sunflower state her entire life has been passed in Lake county, and she is numbered among the worthy pioneer women of this part of the state. She belongs to the Christian church, is a very active worker therein. has long been a teacher in the Sunday-school and is now a teacher of the old people's Bible class. She is well known throughout Lake county, and her Christian character. her many kindly traits and good deeds have won for her the love and good will of those with whom she has been associated.
JOSEPH H. CONROY.
Joseph H. Conroy, engaged in the practice of law at Hobart, Indiana. was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. January 20. 1872. a son of Thomas and Kate (Musser) Conroy, the former a native of New York and the latter of Sacramento, California. Thomas Conroy removed from the Empire state to Pennsylvania in early manhood, and at the time of the Civil war he re- sponded to the country's call for aid. enlisting in the Ninety-first Pennsyl- vania Infantry as a private. He served for four years, doing valiant duty as a defender of the Union cause. Removing westward he spent his last days in Allen county. Indiana, where he died in 1883. His wife was born in Sacramento, her parents having removed to California at an early period in
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the development of that state. She is a graduate of the Northern Indiana Normal School at Valparaiso, and is now a teacher in the public schools of Hobart.
Joseph H. Conroy, the only child born to his parents, was reared in Allen and in Adams counties of Indiana, having been brought to this state when only a year old. His education was acquired in Valparaiso, where he was graduated in 1890, completing the course in the scientific department of the Northern Indiana Normal School. In early life he had attended the common schools of Adams county. In August, 1890, he came to Hobart and was principal of the Miller public school for two years, while for three years he engaged in teaching in the high school at Hobart. During this time he took up the study of law, devoting all his leisure hours to the mastery of the principles of jurisprudence. He read alone for a time and afterward under the direction of George W. Musser, an uncle, who is now a prominent attorney of Colorado Springs, Colorado. In 1895 he retired from the field of educational labor and opened a law office at Hobart, where he has since engaged in practice. and during the nine years which have since elapsed he has secured a large and gratifying clientage, connecting him with much im- portant litigation tried in the courts of this district.
Mr. Conroy was married in 1895 to Miss Grace Rifenburg, a daughter of Hon. W. H. Rifenburg. There were born to Mr. and Mrs. Conroy three children, one son and two daughters: Elliott R., in the fifth grade; Kathryn S., who died at three years of age: Mary J., died in infancy. Mr. Conroy is quite prominent in fraternal circles, belonging to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Earl Lodge No. 333. the Knights of Pythias fraternity No. 458, the Knights of the Maccabees, Tent No. 65, the Modern Woodmen, Camp No. 5202, and the Independent Order of Foresters of Indiana, Court No. 3. He has been city attorney for five years. Since attaining his majority he has been recognized as a stanch advocate of the Democracy. He has taken a very active interest in public affairs in Hobart, and his labors and influence have been effective in promoting general progress and improve- ment He has made for himself an enviable reputation as a lawyer through earnest effort, close study and untiring devotion to his clients' interests.
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F. E. NELSON.
Few men are more prominent or more widely known in the enter- prising city of Lowell than F. E. Nelson, the president of the Lowell Na- tional Bank. His success in all his undertakings has been so marked that his methods are of interest to the commercial world. He has based his business principles and actions upon strict adherence to the rules which govern industry, economy, and strict, unswerving integrity. His enterprise and progressive spirit have made him a typical American in every sense of the word, and he well deserves mention in history. What he is to-day he has made himself, for he began in the world with nothing but his own energy and willing hands to aid him. By constant exertion, associated with good judgment, he has raised himself to the prominent position which he now holds, having the friendship of many and the respect of all who know him.
Mr. Nelson is a native son of Lake county, his birth having occurred in West Creek township. February 4. 1855. His father, Truman Nelson, was born in Oswego county, New York, came to Lake county, Indiana, in 1850. and after about six years' residence here was called to his final rest, his death occurring in 1856. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Sena French, was a native of Ohio and died in Lake county, Indiana, in 1879. They were the parents of seven children, two daughters and five sons, of whom F. E. Nelson was the sixth child and fifth son.
Reared in his native township, Mr. Nelson acquired his education in the common schools and in Valparaiso, where he studied for two years. He also engaged in teaching, first having charge of a school when eighteen years of age. He continued in educational work until twenty-five years of age. spending two years as principal of the schools of Lowell. He was very capable in his work in the schoolroom, being an excellent disciplinarian and at the same time having the ability to impart clearly and readily to others the knowl- edge that he had acquired. When twenty-five years of age he began farm- ing in the southwestern part of West Creek township, where he remained for eleven years. On the expiration of that period he removed to Lowell and was chosen cashier of the State Bank in 1893, filling that position in an ac- ceptable manner until 1900, when the institution became the State National Bank of Lowell. He was retained as cashier until 1903, when he resigned his position, and in May of the same year joined other prominent business
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men in the organization of the Lowell National Bank, of which he was chosen president. He has since remained at the head of this institution. which is capitalized for twenty-five thousand dollars. The other officers are George B. Bailey, vice president, and P. A. Berg, cashier, and the directors are Frank E. Nelson, George B. Bailey, C. E. Nichols, George M. Death and Henry Suprise. In addition to his financial interests Mr. Nelson has farm- ing property in West Creek township, Lake county, and in Monroe county, Indiana.
In 1879 was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Nelson and Miss Emeline Foster, a daughter of Liman and Lucy Foster, early settlers of West Creek township, where Mrs. Nelson was born and reared. Six children graced this union, two sons and four daughters, namely, Raymond L., Bernice S., Ned E., Julia F., Emily and Marion, all of whom are natives of Lake county, Indiana.
Mr. Nelson has been a life-long Republican and for five years served as trustee of West Creek township. He is a member of Colfax Lodge, F. & A. M .. also of Lowell Lodge No. 300, K. of P., and is true and loyal to the teachings of these fraternities. He has been an important factor in educa- tional and financial circles in Lake county, and his popularity is well deserved, as in him are embraced the characteristics of an unbending integrity, unabat- ing energy and industry that never flags.
DANIEL LYNCH.
Daniel Lynch is an honored veteran of the Civil war and is now filling the position of postmaster at Lowell. He was born in Cedar Creek town- ship, Lake county, Indiana, on the 6th of July. 1843, and is a son of Daniel and Mary Lynch, both of whom were natives of Ireland and became resi- dents of Lake county during the pioneer epoch in its history. The father was identified with the early progress and development of this portion of the state. He died in the month of February, 1843, and it was not until July following that the birth of the son Daniel occurred. The mother afterward married again, and Daniel Lynch remained at home with his step-father until about fourteen years of age and during that period attended the common schools through the winter months. He afterward started out in life on his own account and worked by the month as a farm hand, thus earning his living
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until after the outbreak of the Civil war. He watched with interest the progress of events in the south, and in 1861 he enlisted as a member of Company H, Ninth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, of which he became a pri- vate. He served in this regiment for about a year and a half. He was wounded at the battle of Shiloh, after which he received an honorable dis- charge on account of his disability. Later, when he had recovered his health, lie once more offered his services to the government and this time became a member of Company A, One Hundred and Fifty-sixth Illinois Infantry, with which he served until the close of the war. He was promoted from the ranks to the position of orderly sergeant and was then discharged. He participated in a number of important engagements, and was always a loyal defender of the Union cause, faithfully performing his duty, whether it led him into the thickest of the fight or stationed him on the lonely picket line.
When the war was over and the preservation of the Union was assured Daniel Lynch located in Hebron, Porter county, Indiana, where he was en- gaged in the livery business for two years. On the expiration of that period he removed to Lowell, where he conducted a similar business for about twelve years, when he traded his livery stable for a farm in Center township. There he carried on agricultural pursuits for seven years, at the end of which time he sold his property and bought a farm in Cedar Creek township, one mile from Lowell. This he continued to cultivate and improve for about twelve years, when he again sold out and once more took up his abode in Lowell. He was appointed postmaster under President Mckinley in 1897 and was re- appointed in 1902 by President Roosevelt, so that he is now filling the posi- tion. As a public official he is capable and loyal, his administration being characterized by business-like manner, and the patrons of the office have for him high words of commendation. In politics he has ever been a stanch Republican, having firm faith in the principles of the party.
In 1869 was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Lynch and Miss Ada Starr, and to them have been born five children : Fred J., Alva, Daniel, Benjamin L. and Ruby. Mr. Lynch is a member of Burnham Post No. 256, at Lowell, in which he has filled some of the offices. He is likewise a member of Colfax Lodge No. 356, F. & A. M. Mr. Lynch is a self-made man. who without extraordinary family or pecuniary advantages at the commencement of life has labored earnestly and energetically and by indomitable courage and in-
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tegrity has achieved both character and a fair measure of success By sheer force of will and untiring effort he has worked his way upward and is num- bered among the respected and leading citizens of Lowell.
H. F. C. MILLER, M. D.
Dr. Miller, who recently passed away. was a native of New York city, born on the 15th of September. 1850. His father, Augustus Miller, was born in Westchester county, New York, and was a son of Daniel Miller, whose birth occurred in the eastern part of this country. The family is of German lineage and was established in America in colonial days. Augustus Miller was reared in the county of his nativity. He was reared by a carriage manufacturer of Bedford and he spent his entire life in Westchester county. residing upon a farm until called to his final rest at the age of sixty-four years. He married Miss Emily Baker, a native of Connecticut, or of New York. She is still living in the Empire state at the advanced age of eighty- five years, and she is of Scotch descent. By her marriage she became the mother of seven children, all of whom have passed away with the exception of one daughter and Horace B. Miller, of New York.
Dr. Miller, the fourth child of the family. was reared in New York, while his education was acquired in the public schools and in the academy at Bed- ford, that state. At the age of sixteen years he started out to make his own way in the world and secured a clerkship in the wholesale and retail jewelry store of Brown. Spalding & Company, of New York city. There he remained for about four years and was afterward for two years with the firm of Sco- ville. Gray & Company, also jewelry merchants of that city. Desiring. however, to leave mercantile circles and enter professional life. he took up the study of medicine, and from 1872 until 1877 was a student in Rush Medical College of Chicago, being graduated in the latter year. Most of the money needed to pay his college expenses was earned by him. and he certainly deserved great credit for thus acquiring his education as well as for the success which he gained since his graduation.
Dr. Miller located for practice at Salem Crossing in LaPorte county, Indiana, where he remained for about two years, and then came to Hobart in 1879. Here he was in active practice until 1890, when he removed to
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Chicago, where he remained for five years, but in 1895 returned to Hobart. He enjoyed a large and growing patronage.
In July. 1874. Dr. Miller was united in marriage to Miss Deetta Van Horn, who was born in Herkimer county, New York, and in childhood came to Indiana, where she was reared and educated. It was in 1857 that her parents, Jake and Elizabeth (Brown) Van Horn, came to this state. Mr. and Mrs. Miller had two sons and two daughters, Spencer A .: Jennie D., who is the wife of Ed Tibbits, of Urbana, Illinois; Hosea Mortimer; and Julia E., at home. They also lost one daughter. Emily E.
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