USA > Indiana > Lake County > Encyclopedia of genealogy and biography of Lake County, Indiana, with a compendium of history 1834-1904 > Part 48
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Dr. Miller was an exemplary member of the Masonic fraternity and at one time took a very active part in other fraternal organizations, but the demands of his practice left him little time for such work. He was a Demo- crat in his political views. He had a large patronage, which extended to Valparaiso. South Chicago and even to the city of Chicago. The resolution which he showed in acquiring an education was proof of the elemental strength of his character, and his latent resources and powers were developed as the years passed until he stood as one of the strongest representatives of his profession.
JOHN A. KIMMET.
One of the most prominent and energetic business men of Lowell and Lake county is John A. Kimmet, the vice president of the State National Bank at Lowell, a director of the First National Bank at Dyer, and a dealer in grain, lumber and building materials. His business career has been char- acterized by consecutive advancement along modern lines of progress, and his ready recognition and utilization of opportunity have formed the basis of his present success. His activity touches so many lines of business that he has become a most important factor in commercial and financial circles. and while promoting his individual success he has at the same time contrib- uted to the general prosperity. He is a self-made man, and one who deserves great credit for what he has accomplished, since he started out in life empty- handed, but, brooking no obstacles that could be overcome by determined purpose and honorable effort, has steadily worked his way upward.
Mr. Kimmet was born in a log stable in Seneca county, Ohio, on the 25th of April, 1856. His father. Jacob Kimmet, was born in Bavaria, Germany, near the river Rhine. After establishing his home in Seneca
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county, Ohio, he became prominent and influential there, and although he was in very limited financial circumstances during the period of his early residence in that portion of the Buckeye state, he improved his opportunities and through earnest labor won a comfortable competence. His ability and loy- alty to the general good made him a recognized leader in public affairs, and one who aided in shaping public thought and action. In political circles he was particularly influential, and he delivered campaign addresses through- out the state in connection with Charles Foster. He also held local positions in Seneca county. His wife bore the maiden name of Catherine Scheiber, and was born in France. She came to America when six years of age, and was reared among the Indians who lived in Seneca county, Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Scheiber, the maternal grandparents of Mr. Kimmet, lived for the first six months of their residence in this country in a house built with only four posts, and later used to shelter cattle. Mrs. Catherine Kimmet made all the clothes for her children from raw wool, which she spun and wove, and from the cloth she manufactured coats, pants and even hats and caps. Like her husband, she bravely met the conditions of pioneer life, but as the years advanced all the comforts of civilization were introduced and the family were enabled to enjoy better privileges and come into possession of many of the luxuries of life. Mr. John A. Kimmet has eight living brothers, all of whom voted for William Mckinley as the presidential can- didate of the Republican party. Seven of the number are residents of Ohio, and one. George Kimmet. is now a merchant of Lowell, Indiana. The only sister. Tillie, is the wife of Anthony Deponet, of Seneca county, Ohio.
John A. Kimmet was but seven years of age when his father removed from the log stable in which the son had been born into a house built after more modern plans. His early education was acquired in the common schools, but afterwards he enjoyed excellent school privileges, attending Heidelberg College at Tiffin, Ohio; St. Vincent College in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania ; and St. Francis College near Milwaukee, Wisconsin. It was his intention to prepare for the ministry of the Catholic church, and he studied Latin, English and German, devoting five years to the mastery of the first named language. When but sixteen years of age he began teaching. and followed that profession for five years in Ohio. He was also principal of the Dyer school in Lake county, Indiana, for three years. In the mean-
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time he abandoned his intention of becoming a member of the priesthood, and on the Ioth of July. 1881. he removed to Lowell, where he has since been an active business man. He assisted in building the elevator here, and is now well known as a grain merchant at this place. He was the business manager for the Du Breuil and Keilman firm from 1881 to 1892. When the senior partner of that firm died Mr. Kimmet purchased a half interest in the firm, which is now conducted under the firm style of L. Keilman & Company, the partners being L. Keilman and John A. Kimmet. Mr. Kim- met also owns a farm of twenty acres, on which he resides and which is located within the city limits of Lowell.
In 1893 he became a director of the State Bank of Lowell, and later. upon the consolidation of the State Bank with the First National Bank, the name of State National Bank was chosen. Upon the death of A. A. Gerish, vice president, Mr. Kimmet was appointed vice president, and holds said position now. He is also a director of the First National Bank at Dyer, is engaged in the milling business, and is dealing in grain, lumber and building materials. His business interests have assumed extensive and profit- able proportions, and his activity has reached out to many lines of trade that affect general progress.
On the 24th of June. 1880, occurred the marriage of Mr. Kimmet and Miss Maggie Keilman, a daughter of Leonard and Magdalena (Austgen) Keilman. Mrs. Kimmet was born and reared at Dyer, and by her marriage has become the mother of eleven children, seven of whom are yet living : M. Tillie. M. Lena, Rose, Charles F., Ida V .. Celia M. and Hilda. Those who have passed away are Elizabeth, Rose, Leonard, and one that died in infancy.
Mr. Kimmet is a gold Democrat, and cast his ballot for William Mc- Kinley in order that he might support the gold standard, the money question being at that time the paramount issue before the people. He is a member of the Catholic church, and was active in the building of the house of wor- ship at Lowell in 1897. contributing more largely to this undertaking than any other resident of the community. In public affairs he is very prominent, and his aid and co-operation might be counted upon for all measures that have for their object the public welfare and general advancement. He is now treasurer of the Three Creek Monument Association, a monument
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being erected at Lowell in memory of the soldiers of the three townships of West Creek, Eagle Creek and Cedar Creek. He is also a trustee of the high school at Lowell. He possesses untiring energy, is quick of perception, forms his plans readily and is determined in their execution. His close application to business and his excellent management have brought to him the high degree of prosperity which is to-day his, but while he has gained wealth it has not been alone the goal for which he is striving, for he belongs to that class of representative American citizens who promote the general prosperity while advancing individual interests.
NICKOLAS SCHAFER.
Nickolas Schafer, of West Creek township, is a leading and prosperous farmer of this section of Lake county. He is of German birth and parentage, although he has spent all the years of his life since early boyhood in this country. It is to the lasting credit of the sterling ability and worth of the German-American citizens that such beautiful agricultural sections as that comprised in West Creek township have been largely developed and brought to their present value and richness through the painstaking efforts and intelligent direction of men of this nationality, among whom Mr. Schafer is one of the most influential and progressive.
His birthplace was along the beautiful and historic Rhine river, at the village of Alflen, in Prussia, where he first saw the light of day on January 12. 1846. He was the second in age of a family of ten children, six sons and four daughters, and he and his brother Edward are the only survivors, the latter being a resident of Chicago and an engineer on a lake steamer. His parents were Jacob and Anna Mary (Schoenerock) Schafer. His father was born in the same part of Germany, June 13, 1817, and died July 23, 1880. He was educated in Germany and reared to agricultural pursuits, and about 1855 embarked his family and sailed down the Rhine to the North sea, thience to London, where he set out for the new world in a sailing vessel which was seven weeks before reaching the port of New York. Storms and heavy seas beset the ship, and the passengers were compelled to cook their own meals and endure many other hardships before blessed land finally hove in sight. many times it seeming as if the craft would go to the bottom. From New York city the family went to Springfield Hollow, in New York,
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and remained there a year and a half, and thence made the once more stormy and perilous voyage by the great lakes to Milwaukee, Wisconsin. This German family landed in the new world with only two dollars in cash, and a friend afforded them free transportation to the village of Springfield Hol- low. From this state of poverty of material resources, when they were in a strange country and unable to speak the English tongue, handicapped in countless ways, their honest industry and persevering labors effected, in the end, a substantial and honorable place in the worldl's activity. The father Jacob got work in the erection of the custom house at Milwaukce, at a dollar and twelve cents a day, and was thus employed for three years. He then moved to Dodge county. Wisconsin, near Beaver Dam, and purchased forty acres of land and engaged in farming and stock-raising. He finally sold this and came to Chicago, where he was in the lumber yards for a year, and then arrived in West Creek township of Lake county. Here he purchased one hundred acres of land, going in debt nine hundred dollars for it, and by industry and good management paid off the entire indebtedness and resided on this good home until his death. He was entirely independent in political sentiments, and he and his wife were Catholics and members of the St. Martin's church at Hanover Center. His wife was also born near the river Rhine. August 1, 1821, and she died December 13, 1898. She was a kind and good mother, and a good disciplinarian in her home.
Mr. Schafer was nine years old when the eventful journey was made to this country, and he was educated mainly in the English tongue, although he can read the German text. His life has been throughout devoted to farm- ing pursuits, and he was no more than twelve years old when he began adding his share of labor to the family establishment, and he remained with his parents until he was grown to manhood. At the age of twelve he began working for wages, four dollars and a quarter per month, and the first cow and the first pair of steers owned by the family were purchased from his wages. With the exception of one year in Chicago he has spent all his active life on the farm.
October 9, 1883. he was married to Miss Mary Massoth, and it is to their combined industry and management that their success has been mainly due. They have been the parents of nine children, and happily the family circle has never been broken by the hand of death. The children are as fol-
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lows: John Adam, who is in the eighth grade and already a practical farmer ; Henry, who is in the seventh grade: Cecelia M., who has passed the eighth grade; Katrina, in the seventh grade; and Ida E., John J., Marie, Mar- guerite and Frank Nicholas. The first three children have been confirmed, the two sons by Bishop Radamacher. and Cecelia by Bishop Allerding, of the North Bishopric of Indiana.
Mrs. Schafer was born in Hanover township, Lake county, May 5. 1863, and is the second and the only survivor of the three children, all daugh- ters, born to Adam and Johanna (Hack) Massoth. Her father was born in Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany, September 8, 1833, and died September 2, 1899. He came to America when a young man, and with his mother purchased forty acres of land just north of pretty Cedar Lake in Lake county. He was a Democrat in politics, and he and his wife Catholics. Mrs. Schafer's mother was a native of St. John township in this county, and was the first white child born in the township. She was educated in the German lan- guage. Mrs. Schafer was born and reared in this county, and was con- firmed at the age of thirteen by Bishop Twenger of St. Martin's.
After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Schafer began life on the farm where they still reside. Their first estate consisted of one hundred and twenty-nine acres, and most of the improvements have been placed there by their own efforts. Their home is a large and comfortable country resi- dence, and their farm, now comprising two hundred and forty-four acres in Center, Hanover and West Creek townships, is among the best land in the county. And they have especial reason to be proud that there is not a collar against the entire estate.
Mr. Schafer is, like his father, entirely independent as to politics, and casts his vote according to his best judgment and where he thinks it will do the most good. He and his wife are members of St. Martin's church, and Mrs. Schafer is a member of the Rosary sodality and Cecelia a member of the young ladies' sodality.
CHARLEY T. BAILEY.
Industry and enterprise coupled with a disposition of sagacity culminate in the sucessful man of the day. The truth of this aphorism is especially manifest in the case of Charley T. Bailey, who comes from one of the most
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prominent families in the west part of Lake county. He is a native of Illi- nois, was born in Kankakee county, April 12, 1862, being the second of a family of four children, three sons and one daughter, the oldest of whom is Levi E., the county treasurer of Lake county, who is represented elsewhere in this volume ; the daughter Grace is the wife of Fred T. Buse, a prosperous agriculturist of West Creek township (see their sketch) ; and George, an- other leading farmer of West Creek township. The father of this family is biographed in full on another page, and mother Bailey is deceased.
Mr. Charley T. Bailey was an infant when he became a resident of Lake county, and consequently he has been reared in this county. He is a practical agriculturist and stock farmer, and in the latter department of his business has gained more than ordinary reputation. He makes a specialty of Hereford cattle and coach horses. He has one of the finest Hereford bulls to be found in northern Indiana, having purchased it from the well known stockman, Tom Clarke. of Beecher. Illinois. He is making a great success in the breeding of this fine stock, and his long experience of sixteen years has given him a big leverage for causing a happy culmination of all his enterprises. He has devoted much time and money to raising the grade of cattle to a high standard in this county. He has also bred coach horses for a number of years.
Mr. Bailey is what may be termed a self-made man, having in a scholas- tic sense received only a common school education and one term in high school. He remained at home till the age of twenty-six. when he married for his first wife Miss Tillie E. Grimes, on April 23, 1888. Four children, two sons and two daughters, were born of this union, and all are living. The eldest is May, who graduated from the eighth grade as salutatorian of her class and has also taken instrumental music: Ray is in the seventh grade of school: and Earl and Hilda are both at the sixth grade in their school work. . All the children are bright and progressing rapidly in their prepara- tion for life's larger duties. Mrs. Bailey, the mother of this family, died on January 3. 1897. On September 4. 1899. Mr. Bailey was united in marriage to Miss Esther Starkweather, who was born in Michigan and was reared and educated in that state, graduating from the Romeo schools. She is a woman of more than ordinary business ability and acumen, and has been able to assist her husband in many ways.
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After his first marriage Mr. Bailey located on one hundred and forty acres in section 7 of West Creek township, and he has made his home here ever since. although his first tract of land was but the nucleus of his present fine large estate. He has erected a modern country residence and excellent barns and outbuildings, and now owns four hundrd and fifty-three acres of land in this township. ITis farm is known as the Lanthus stock farm, which name was given by the government when it established the postoffice which at one time existed on this farm. Mr. Bailey is classed among the young and successful and progressive farmers of this township, and coming from such a prominent family as the Baileys are in Lake county it is a pleasure to be able to record his biography in this handsome work.
Mr. Bailey is a stanch Republican, and cast his first presidential vote for James G. Blaine, the "plumed knight." He has ever since strenuously upheld the banner of Republicanism during each administration. He has been chosen as a delegate to the county and district conventions, but as to office-seeking has never had any aspirations at all. Mr. and Mrs. Bailey at- tend the West Creek Methodist Episcopal church, and contribute their share of the benevolences. Their beautiful estate lies entirely in West Creek town- ship, and they stand high in the estimation of all who know them. Mr. Bailey has traveled quite extensively in the Mississippi valley and also in the east, and is a well informed man both as to his business and concerning the outside world and its important happenings.
LEWIS G. LITTLE.
Among the many names known for integrity of character and honesty of purpose in West Creek township of Lake county we find that of Little to hold no inconspicuous place, and it is with modest courtesy that we present a review of Mr. Lewis G. Little, a scion of this well known family. He is a product of this locality of Lake county and was born February 21, 1861, being the eldest of the seven children, three sons and four daughters, born to Joseph A. and Mary (Gerrish) Little. Six of the children are still liv- ing, and in order of birth from Lewis they are: James H., who is a pros- perous agriculturist and stockman of West Creek township, and whose per- sonal sketch will be found in this work; Ellen, who is now the wife of the Rev. John C. Wilson, minister of the Presbyterian church at Willow City,
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North Dakota, by whom she has three children, was formerly a successful teacher in the schools of Lake county, and was educated at the Oxford Fe- male Seminary at Oxford, Ohio; Jesse, a prosperous farmer of West Creek township, resides on the old homestead with his mother, and his history will also be found elsewhere in this volume; Myra is the wife of Solomon Spry, of West Creek township; M. Emma, wife of Claire Landis, a resident of Montreal, Canada, and a mechanical draftsman for the Northern Pacific Railroad, has one son, Chester G. by name.
The father of this family was born in the Granite state of New Hamp- shire in 1830, and died February 19. 1892. By occupation he was a farmer. He was reared in his native state, and about 1856 he migrated to Lake county, Indiana, where he purchased some two hundred and forty acres of land in West Creek township. He traced his lineage to the English, and some of his ancestors figured as soldiers in the Revolutionary war. There was a Benjamin Little who bore arms against the British and who himself weighed by ninety-six pounds and carried an old flint-lock or Queen Ann's gun that itself weighed twelve pounds. The Little family are of most hon- orable birth and lineage. Joseph A. Little, the father, was an old-line Whig in politics, but at the birth of the Republican party he ardently espoused its political and moral principles, and continued so until his death. He repre- sented his district most worthily in the Indiana state legislature in 1886 and 1887. While residents of the east he and his good wife were members of the Congregational church, but in West Creek township they became members and devoted adherents of the Lake Prairie Presbyterian church. His wife was also a native of New Hampshire, and is still living.
Mr. Lewis G. Little was reared in his native county, and after finishing the common schools he took a course of study at Wabash College in Craw- fordsville. He is a gentleman of modest and unassuming disposition, avoid- ing aught that savors of display or ostentation. June 12, 1900, he was married to Miss Effie G Kearney, who was born in Will county, Illinois. She followed the profession of teacher before her marriage. Politically Mr. Little is a Republican, and began his active advocacy of the principles of that party by casting his first presidential vote for James G. Blaine, the Plumed Knight. He and his wife are member of the Lake Prairie Presby- terian church. He and his wife enjoy the comforts of a happy and cosy
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farm residence, where they meet and welcome their many friends from the community.
JACOB HAYDEN.
Jacob Hayden, a retired farmer and one of the early settlers of Lake county now living in Lowell, was born in Knox county, Ohio, March II, 1831. His parents were Nehemiah and Harriet (Kitchell) Hayden, both of whom were natives of New Jersey and became pioneer settlers of Knox county, Ohio, where they were married. In March. 1837. they removed to Lake county, Indiana, casting in their lot with its pioneer residents. They settled in West Creek township, where Nehemiah Hayden developed a new farm, continuing the work of improvement and cultivation there until his death, which occurred when he was but fifty-eight years of age. His wife died at the age of forty-two years. In their family were thirteen children, of whom Jacob Hayden was the sixth in order of birth, and he was but six years of age at the time of the removal to Lake county.
In a log schoolhouse near his father's home Jacob Hayden pursued his education. His training at farm labor was not as meager as his school privileges, for at an early age he began to assist in the cultivation and de- velopment of the home farm and continued to follow agricultural pursuits for many years. He was married December 10, 1854. to Miss Sarah M. Knisely, a daughter of Edwin and Barbara (Baughman) Knisely, both of whom were natives of Tuscarawas county, Ohio, where they were reared and married. They came to Lake county in 1837. and the father, who was born in 1814, passed away in 1886 when about seventy-two years of age. The mother, who was born in October, 1819, is still living, having reached the very venerable age of eighty-five years. In their family were eleven children. of whom Mrs. Hayden is the eldest, and she was a maiden of fourteen summers when she came to Lake county. Her birth occurred in Tuscarawas county, Ohio, August 7. 1837.
At the time of their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Hayden began their domes- tic life in West Creek township, where he was engaged in farming, and there they lived for more than forty-four years. He devoted his energies to the improvement and cultivation of his fields and annually gathered rich harvests as a reward for his labors. He now owns one hundred and sixty acres of land, but at one time the old family homestead comprised more
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than four hundred acres, but he has been very generous with his children, dividing his landed possessions with them. He was in very limited circum- stances when he started out in life on his own account, possessing only two steers. In the early days he hauled wheat to Chicago with an ox team, and sold the grain for thirty-five cents per bushel. He went through all the hardships and experiences of pioneer life, and carried on farming at a time when much of the work was done by hand, before the introduction of the modern machinery which is to-day in use and has rendered labor much less difficult than it was in former years. He is now living retired in the enjoy- ment of a well earned rest. his capital having been acquired entirely through his own labors.
To Mr. and Mrs. Hayden have been born nine children: Elmer, Leroy. Alice, Fred, Bertha, Martha. George. Jessie and Grace. George and Grace are now deceased, and the others are all married. One son now lives in Bloomington, Indiana, one daughter in Billings, Montana, while the others are residents of West Creek township, Lake county, and with the exception of the eldest son, who was born in Illinois, all are natives of Lake county, Indiana. Mr. Hayden has given his political allegiance to the Republican party since its organization, and prior to that time he was a Whig. He voted for Fremont in 1856 and for Lincoln in 1860 and 1864, and since that time he has supported each presidential candidate of the party. At one time he served as assessor of West Creek township, but has never sought or desired political preferment. On the contrary, he has felt that his business affairs claimed his entire time and attention, and in the careful conduct of his agricultural interests he has won the prosperity that now enables him to live a retired life.
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