USA > Indiana > Lake County > Encyclopedia of genealogy and biography of Lake County, Indiana, with a compendium of history 1834-1904 > Part 49
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ELDON N. HAYHURST.
Eldon N. Hayhurst is representative of the best interests of western Lake county, whether in industrial, social, intellectual or moral affairs. Em- erson has said that the true history of a nation is best told in the lives of its progressive citizens, and in presenting the biographies of the foremost men of this county there is necessarily and at the same time a recording of the most authentic annals of Lake county's history.
Mr. Hayhurst was born May 16, 1867, in Momence township, Kankakee county, Illinois, being the fourth in a family of six children, four sons and
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two daughters, born to Benjamin Perry and Juliet ( Farrington ) Hayhurst. There are four of his brothers and sisters still living: Isadora is the wife of Ilubert C. Libheart, of Woodstock, Illinois: Alvin is a barber of Chicago; Ellsworth is a barber in Kankakee. Illinois, and is married : Alletha is the wife of John Hart, a carriage-maker of Connersville, Indiana.
Mr. Hayhurst's father was born in Yellowhead township. Kankakee county, Illinois, in December. 1838. and died in March, 1883. being of Eng- lish lineage. He was reared to farm pursuits and was educated in the public schools. He enlisted as a Union soldier in Company K. Seventy-sixth Illi- nois Infantry, and was at the siege of Vicksburg and with Sherman on the march to the sea. He served as a boy in blue for two years, and then received an honorable discharge. He was a Republican in politics. His wife survives him and is a resident of Attica, Indiana, being sixty years of age.
Mr. Eldon N. Hayhurst lived the first seventeen years of his life in Illi- nois. and received his education in the common schools. He has depended on his own energy and resources for success in life, and is truly a self-made man. At the age of sixteen he hired out for a wage of sixteen dollars a month, and when he began life on his own account at the age of majority he had a small capital.
On December 22, 1886. he was married to Miss Lizzie Hayden. and five children have been born to them, all but one living at the present time. Lyrrel. the eldest, received her diploma from the schools in 1902, and has also taken a year of high school work, being especially fond of the sciences ; she has taken about five years of piano instruction and is a lover of music and accomplished in the art beyond the average of young ladies. Kitchell, who is in the eighth grade of school, has also taken some music instruction. Eleanor is in the third grade, and the youngest of the family is Ruby. Mrs. Hayhurst was born December 30, 1866. in Kankakee county, and is a daugh- ter of John and Rachel ( Dodge) Hayden, whose histories are told on other pages of this volume. The Hayden family is one of the oldest and most progressive in Lake county, and its various members have taken a prominent part in developing its resources. The lineage of the family is English. Mrs. Hayhurst was reared in her native county until her marriage.
Mr. and Mrs. Hayhurst began domestic life as tenant farmers on eighty
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acres of land in West Creek township, and continued as renters until 1896. They then purchased one hundred and thirty-three acres of good land with modern improvements, and as they were continually prospered in their en- deavors. in 1901 they bought eighty acres just east of their original estate. On April 7. 1904, they purchased one hundred and sixty acres in Hand county. South Dakota, near Wessington, and they now have fine property holdings and are in comfortable circumstances as a reward of past industry and effect- ive management. Mr. Hayhurst takes much pride in his Percheron horses. and raises only good grades of live-stock. He is a Republican in politics, and his active participation in public affairs as a voter began with the campaign of Benjamin Harrison. He has served as a delegate to the county con- ventions at various times. Fraternally he affiliates with Lodge No. 300 of the Knights of Pythias at Lowell, and the choice of himself and wife as to churches has favored the Christian denomination.
ALBERT L. HAYDEN.
The student of history does not have to carry his investigations far into the annals of this section of the country without learning of the important part which the Hayden family have played in the agricultural development and progress of western Indiana and eastern Illinois. Mr. Hayden of this review was for many years closely identified with agricultural interests, and is now enjoying a well earned rest in Lowell. He was born in Kankakee county. Illinois, about seven rods from the boundary line of Lake county, Indiana, on the Ist of March, 1849. His father. Daniel Hayden, was a native of Knox county. Ohio, and was the eldest son in a family of thirteen children. He came to Lake county in 1837. locating in West Creek township near the state boundary line. Soon afterward, however, he crossed the boundary line into Kankakee county, Illinois, but he ever maintained his association with the public interests and with the people of Lake county. His death occurred when he was sixty-nine years of age. In early manhood he married Louisa Hill, a native of Connecticut and who lived to be sixty-five years of age. They were the parents of thirteen children, all of whom reached adult age and are still living. All are married and most of the number reside in Lake county.
Albert L. Hayden, the second child and eldest son, was but twelve years
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of age when his father built a home in West Creek township, Lake county, just across the border line from Illinois. He was reared in that township and began his education in a log schoolhouse, where he mastered the elemen- tary branches of English learning. He attended school only through the winter months, while in the summer seasons his time and energies were de- voted to farm work. He remained at home until he had attained his ma- jority, assisting in the development of his father's farm and thus gaining the practical knowledge and experience which enabled him to successfully carry on agricultural pursuits in later years.
On the 26th of January. 1872, Mr. Hayden was united in marriage to Miss Julia Clement, a daughter of HI. V. and Lydia (DeWitt) Clement, who became pioneer residents of Lake county and were here married. Mrs. Hayden was born in Fulton county, Ohio, and was only about a year old when brought to Lake county, her girlhood days being passed in Cedar Creek township. She attended the common schools and was also trained in the work of the household so that she was well qualified to take up the cares of her own home at the time of her marriage. By this union have been born three children: Amenzo, who is a resident farmer of Lake county ; Albert D., who follows agricultural pursuits in West Creek township; and Lydia, at home.
At the time of his marriage Albert L. Hayden located on a farm in West Creek township, where he remained for three years, at the end of which time he removed to Cass county, Iowa. where he spent about seven years. He then again took up his abode in West Creek township, where he carried on general farming until 1902, since which time he has lived retired. He owns, however, a farm of one hundred and sixty acres, which is well improved and is equipped with all modern conveniences. The improvements upon this property he made himself, and the farm is, therefore, a monument to his capable management, unflagging energy and business capacity. No one need remain in doubt as to his political views, for he is fearless and out- spoken in his advocacy of the principles of the Republican party. believing that its platform contains the best elements of good government. He is now enjoying a well earned rest at his pleasant home in Lowell. having won the competence that enables him to live retired.
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HISTORY OF LAKE COUNTY.
WILLIAM BUCKLEY.
William Buckley, who was formerly identified with agricultural inter- ests in Lake county, but has put aside business cares and is now resting in the enjoyment of the fruits of his former toil at his pleasant home in Lowell. is numbered among the worthy citizens that Ireland has furnished to Indiana. He was born in county Cork, Ireland, in 1831. His father, Dennis Buckley, was also a native of that county, and in the green isle of Erin carried on agricultural pursuits, making his home there until 1849, when he came to Lake county, Indiana. He settled in Cedar Creek township, about a half mile from the present site of Lowell, but he was not long permitted to enjoy his new home, his death occurring in 1851. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Catherine Fleming, was born in county Cork, Ireland, and died in Lake county, Indiana, in 1858. Their family numbered five children, four sons and a daughter. and William Buckley is the eldest. John is a resident of Lowell: and Patrick makes his home in Cedar Creek township, where he follows agricultural pursuits. The sister. Julia, is the wife of Patrick Feley, a leading farmer of Cedar Creek township. She is the only sister of Mr. Buckley.
The first eighteen years of his life William Buckley passed in Ireland, and then came to America. hoping that he might have better business oppor- tunities in the new world. He made his way direct to Lake county, where he began working by the month as a farm hand, and following any employ- ment that would yield him an honest living. He assisted in building the first brick house in Lowell and for some time worked for Mr. Halsted, the founder of the town. He was employed by the month for about five years, and then began buying small tracts of land. He soon located on one of these and improved the place. In partnership with his brothers. John and Patrick, he carried on agricultural pursuits for several years. He after- ward engaged in farming alone until about seven years ago, when he retired from active connection with agricultural pursuits and took up his abode in Lowell. His progress has been consecutive and enviable. He has worked on year after year, and as his financial resources have increased he has become the owner of valuable realty holdings. To-day he owns four hundred acres of good farming land in Lake county, all of which has been accumulated through his capable management.
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Mr. Buckley has been twice married. He first wedded Miss Elizabetl; Darst. who died leaving nine children, namely: Kate, Franklin D., Dennis P .. Addie. Julia M., John P., Joseph L., Fred W. and Raymond. John P. is a finely educated man. He graduated at Valparaiso College, and is a professor of chemistry in a college in Chicago. He received his education by his own ambition. On the 3d of June, 1901, Mir. Buckley was again married, his second union being with a Mrs. Louisa Comeford, who was born in Vermilion county, Illinois, June 11, 1851, but was reared in Dwight. Illi- mois. She is a daughter of Reuben and Lovina ( Kuntz) Comeford, bothi of whom are now deceased. Mrs. Buckley is the mother of nine children by a former marriage: John F., Fred W., Mary A .. Thomas P., Daniel A., Joseph E., Rosa E., Ella L. and Lizzie L. Comeford.
Mr. Buckley is a member of the Catholic church and in politics is a Democrat, where state and national issues are involved, but at local elections he votes independently. He has never had occasion to regret his determina- tion to seek a home in the new world. He found the opportunities he sought, -which, by the way, are always open to the ambitious, energetic man .- and. making the best of these, he has steadily worked his way upward. He possessed the resolution, perseverance and reliability so characteristic of peo- ple of his nation, and his name is now enrolled among the best citizens of Lake county.
LEWIS HAYDEN.
Lewis Hayden is numbered among the early settlers of Lake county and is a retired farmer now living in Lowell. In fact, he is one of the native sons of this portion of the state, his birth having occurred in West Creek township. March 12, 1838. He is the eleventh of a family of thirteen chil- dren whose parents were Nehemiah and Harriet ( Kitchell) Hayden, men- tion of whom is made on another page of this work in connection with the sketch of Jacob Hayden. Amid the wild scenes of frontier life Lewis Hay- den was reared upon the old family homestead in West Creek township. The settlements in northwestern Indiana were then widely scattered, and much of the land was still unimproved. Crude farm machinery was used in developing the fields, for the era of modern invention had not yet dawned resulting in the production of the modern agricultural implements that are to-day in use. Lewis Hayden performed his full share of the work on the
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home farm, clearing the fields, planting the seed and harvesting the crops. He hauled wheat to Chicago with ox teams before there was any railroad, and he remained upon the home farm until the death of his father, when he started out in life on his own account. His educational privileges were such as were afforded in a log schoolhouse of that period.
Mr. Hayden was united in marriage to Miss Lucinda Knisely, and to them were born two sons and a daughter, Sherman, Grant and Addie, but the last named is now deceased. The mother passed away January 5. 1867. and Mr. Hayden afterward wedded Almeda Knisely, a sister of his first wife. She was born in New Philadelphia, Tuscarawas county, Ohio, Oc- tober 16, 1846, and by her marriage she became the mother of ten children : Judson: Edward; Sylvia: Albert and Alma twins; and Carrie, Mark, Bruce, Rubie and Blanche, all of whom are now deceased. All were born in West Creek township and the living children are ail married with the exception of Albert.
Mr. Hayden has spent his entire life in Lake county and during the greater part of the time has engaged in farming. He now owns two valuable farms comprising rich and productive land, one of which is two hundred and seventy-two acres in extent and the other one hundred and twenty acres. This land he rents, and it brings to him a good annual income. He him- self was actively engaged in farming until 1899, when he retired from busi- ness life and removed to Lowell. He had been very successful as an agri- culturist, had placed his fields under a high state of cultivation, and had an- nually garnered rich crops which found a ready sale on the market. He improved his farm by building fences and erecting a large modern residence, substantial barns and other outbuildings: in fact he added all modern equip- ments and accessories to his place and his property is now very valuable. His political allegiance has ever been given to the Republican party, and upon that ticket he has been chosen for a number of local positions. He belongs to a family of nine brothers, who have contributed in large measure toward the improvement and progress of the southwestern part of Lake county. They own adjoining farming property in West Creek township, and contribute in large measure to the agricultural interests of this portion of the state. They always favor general progress and improvement touching the interests of society at large. and Mr. Hayden has given his hearty co-op-
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eration to many movements that have been of direct benefit to this portion of the state.
OTTO C. BORMAN.
Otto C. Borman. active and energetic in business affairs, has until re- cently been engaged in general merchandising and in milling at Tolleston. He is a young man who possesses the enterprising spirit of the age, his birth having occurred in Tolleston on March 3, 1877. He is the fourth son of Christopher and Wilhelmina (Kurth) Borman, who were early residents of Lake county, coming here when this was largely a frontier district Otto C. Borman is indebted to the public school system for the educational advantages which he enjoyed, and he entered business life as a clerk in his father's store when a mere boy. He afterward went to Chicago, where he worked for one year, and spent a similar period in Hammond. In 1898 he was united in marriage to Mrs. H. F. Seegers, the widow of the late Henry F. Seegers, who was at that time engaged in business in Tolleston. Mr. Borman then conducted the business and developed this enterprise to good proportions, a large line of general merchandise being carried and a liberal patronage won through honorable methods and straightforward dealing. Mr. Borman was also engaged in conducting a flour and feed store, and was the leading real estate man of the town.
To Mr. and Mrs. Borman has been born a daughter. Caroline, and there are three children by Mrs. Borman's former marriage, Laura, Renata and Hertha. In his political views Mr. Borman is a Democrat and is deeply interested in the success and growth of his party. He belongs to the German Lutheran church, and does everything in his power to promote general progress and improvement along material. social, intellectual and moral lines. He has an intimate knowledge of the history of the county for a quarter of a century or during the entire period of his life, and he is widely and favorably known in Tolleston and the surrounding districts.
FRED T. BU'SE.
Energy and enterprise coupled with sagacity have made the successful business man Fred T. Buse and brought him to prominent rank among the citizens of Lake county as well as in the other places where his life of activity lias been passed. He is now classed among the progressive and prosperous
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agriculturists of West Creek township, and stands high in the estimation of all who know him.
He is a native of Dubuque. Iowa, where he was born September 13, 1863, being the fifth in a family of seven children, five sons and two daugh- ters. born to Christian and Hannah (Ponta) Buse. Five of these children are yet living : William, who is connected with the commercial activity of Dubuque, and is a man of family: Sena, wife of Henry Ehlers, who is con- nected with the police force in Washington, D. C .; Charles, a saleman in a hardware establishment at Dubuque, and also married: Fred T .; and Ida K .. wife of Robert Knoll, a machinist of Dubuque. The father and mother of this family were natives of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, Germany, and the former was born May 9, 1826, and died July 4. 1900. He learned the trade of mechanic, and remained in his fatherland until he was a grown man. He served for four years in the German army. He came across the Atlantic in a sailing vessel, and from New York went to Cleveland, and thence to Louis- ville, Kentucky, and then followed the Mississippi as far north as Dubuque, where he permanently established himself. He was a stanch Republican, and he and his wife were members of the German Lutheran church. His wife, Mrs. Hannah Buse, was born April 11. 1827, and at the age of seventy-seven enjoys fine health.
Mr. Fred T. Buse spent the carly years of his life in Dubuque, and received his education in the city schools. At the age of sixteen he began his career by working for wages, and from a beginning without any money capital nor with any subsequent material assistance. he has attained by his own efforts an honorable and comfortable position in the world of affairs. He was in Dubuque until 1886, and then for two years he was employed as a brakeman on the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad, his run being from Savannah, Illinois, to La Crosse. Wisconsin. He was next a baggage master and express messenger for the same road until 1893, running from McGregor, Iowa, to La Crosse. Then for a year he was baggage master from Savannah to La Crosse, and during 1894 he weighed United States mail on the Milwaukee & St. Paul road from McGregor to Chicago. He was then on a way-freight of the same road during a part of 1895-96.
October 2. 1895. he married Mrs. Grace M. (Bailey) Barhite. They have one son, Elliott E., born in Dubuque, October 20, 1896, and who is
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now in the second grade of school. Mrs. Buse was born June 5, 1867, being a daughter of Josiah B. and Nancy E. ( Kile) Bailey-one of the oldest and most prominent families of Lake county and whose history appears on other pages of this work. Mrs. Buse was educated in the common schools of this county, and on December 21, 1887, was married to Adelbert Bar- hite, from which union there was one son, Ceylon A., who was born October 18. 1888, and who recently graduated from the graded school of the town- ship and in 1904 entered the Lowell high school.
After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Buse were located in Dubuque for a time, and he was then engaged in the manufacture of harness at West Salem. Wisconsin, in the firm of Wakefield & Buse. He was also interested in the La Crosse Leather Company, and for a time was on the road for that concern, his territory being South Dakota, southern Minnesota and central Wisconsin. After about a year in this latter business he sold out his interests. and he and his wife then came to Lake county and located on the old Bailey homestead in West Creek township. This place is known as the Hickory Grove farm, and contains two hundred and eighty acres of as fine soil as can be found in Lake county. Not only the entire farmstead is a beautiful and profitable estate, but the home is one of comfort and cheer such as is not met with at every turn of the road. Mr. Buse is devoting much of his time and attention to the raising of Hereford cattle. He is an enthusiastic and pro- gressive agriculturist in the true sense of the word, and is interested not only in making his farm a source of profit but in causing it to be a property of beauty such as he or anyone might take pride to call his own. He has re- cently built a fine modern granary, forty by thirty-six feet. and twenty feet high. with concrete walls and floor, and also in the same style of construction is his tool shed, sixteen by forty feet.
Mr. Buse is a stanch Republican, and cast his first presidential vote for James G. Blaine. He fraternizes with Lodge No. 300 of the Knights of Pythias at Lowell.
JOSIAH B. BAILEY.
In the death of Josiah B. Bailey, on November 25, 1902, the community of West Creek township lost one of its most esteemed and worthy citizens, a man of unimpeachable character, of serious mind and worth, and with an
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influence emanating from his personality that affected not alone his own family and circle of friends but all with whom he came in contact throughout his career.
.At the time of his death he was sixty-seven years, one month and two days old. He was born at Door Village, LaPorte county, Indiana, October 23. 1835. When he was a child he lost his father, and then went to make his home with his grandfather in Pulaski county, and some time later he accompanied his grandfather to Lake county and made this his home through- out the rest of his life, with the exception of two years spent in Kankakee county, Illinois.
March 19, 1857, he was married to Miss Nancy E. Kile, who died April 18, 1876. There were four children born of this union, three sons and one daughter. as follows: Levi E., Charles T., George B., and Grace, who is the wife of Mr. Fred T. Buse, whose history is given above. In Feb- ruary, 1877, Mr. Bailey married Mrs. Amelia Sanger, who is still living. Mr. Bailey was also survived by a sister, Mrs. Mary E. Hamilton, of Minne- apolis, and by two brothers, S. T. Bailey, of Battle Grounds, Indiana, and O. L. Chapman of Coyville, Kansas.
Mr Bailey's life was of that sturdy, upright character such as stands as its own justification and is the mark of the career of a good citizen. He had an inquiring and adaptive mind, and his constant desire to progress made him more than ordinarily successful as a farmer. His advice and opinion in matters of practical concern were often sought, and freely given. He was public-spirited in everything that concerned the welfare of his com- munity of West Creek township, and his good citizenship here made him also a valuable unit and factor in the makeup of the state and nation. He served as supervisor of his township for some time, and during that time urged with all his power and official authority the building of gravel roads. He was of a sympathetic nature and was always ready to help those really in need. While not a member of any church, he was free and open-handed in his giving to the cause of Christianity. He was an attendant of the West Creek Methodist church, and the last rites were performed in that church. He was well known in the county and had many friends, and his death meant a personal loss to many outside the family circle that loved him so well.
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E. R. BACON, M. D.
During the years which marked the period of Dr. Bacon's professional career he has met with gratifying success, and while a resident of Lake county he has won the good will and patronage of many of the best citizens of Lowell and the surrounding districts. He is a thorough student, and endeavors to keep abreast of the times in everything relating to the discoveries in medical science. Progressive in his ideas and favoring modern methods as a whole, he does not, however, dispense with the time-tried systems whose value has stood the test of years. He has a large practice, which is indicative of the trust reposed in his professional skill, and so widely and favorably is he known that no history of the county would be complete without a record of his life.
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