USA > Indiana > Lake County > Encyclopedia of genealogy and biography of Lake County, Indiana, with a compendium of history 1834-1904 > Part 57
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May 22. 1895, Mr. Meyer married Miss Saralı L. Jennings. the daugh- ter of William and Adelaide ( Miller) Jennings. They have three children. Helen Margaret. Laura M., and LeGrand T., Jr. Through the maternal side Mr. Meyer traces his direct ancestry to the William Carrs of South Caro- lina, who took an active part in the Revolutionary war of American In- dependence.
OLIVER G. WHEELER.
Prominent among the energetic. enterprising and successful business men of Crown Point, Indiana, is numbered Oliver G. Whiceler, who is con- ducting a dry-goods store in that city. His business career will bear the light of strong investigation, and throughout the community where he makes his home he is held in high regard because of his active, useful and up- right life.
He was born in Florence, Erie county. Ohio, March 4, 1842, and in the paternal line comes of English ancestry, although the family was estab- lished in America at an early period in the development of this country. The paternal grandfather was a native of Connecticut. and it was in that state that Johnson Wheeler, the father, was born and reared. He removed to Ohio during the pioneer epoch in the history of that state, settling in Erie
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county, whence he came to Lake county, Indiana, in 1847, establishing his home in the southern part of the county. He was a civil engineer and sur- veyor by profession, and did work in that line throughout northwestern In- diana. For a long period he served as county surveyor, and he surveyed the larger part of Lake county. His activity, however, extended to other lines of business, and he carried on both farming and merchandising interests. his efforts contributing to the business development and substantial commercial growth of his portion of the state. He died when seventy-two years of age, honored and respected by all for what he had accomplished and for what he did in behalf of his fellow men. He gave his political allegiance to the Whig party in early manhood, and upon the organization of the Republican party joined its ranks. He held membership in the Universalist church. He mar- ried Sallie Burr, a native of Connecticut, who died in Crown Point when fifty-four years of age. They were the parents of ten children, four sons and six daughters, seven of whom reached years of maturity, while four are now living, three daughters and one son.
Oliver G. Wheeler, the ninth child of the family, was only five years of age when he came to Indiana. His education was acquired in the dis- trict schools until he reached the age of fifteen years, when the family re- moved to Crown Point, and he then continued his studies there. He entered upon his business career as a clerk in his father's mercantile establishment, and he was thus employed until after the inauguration of the Civil war, when he enlisted in Company A, Seventy-third Indiana Volunteer Infantry. in August, 1862. He joined the army as a private, but was promoted to the rank of orderly sergeant and afterward to second lieutenant. He served for about three years or until the cessation of hostilities in 1865. His first battles were at Perryville and Stone River. The command, known as Colonel Straight's Provisional Brigade, then consisting of fifteen hundred men, passing through North Alabama on the way to Rome in Georgia, overtaken by Forrest's men at dusk in the passes of Sand mountain and fighting there for three hours, April 30, 1863, repulsing an attack of three thousand cavalry, surrendered on the 2d of May, at Blount's Farm in Ala- bama. This expedition is known as Straight's raid. Brewer, a historian of Alabama, says of the three hours of night battle, "The scene of this pro- longed and desperate conflict on the barren mountain heights of north
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Alabama is remembered by participants as one of peculiar, weird grandeur, impossible to paint with words." The men of the Seventy- third were exchanged at Richmond, and Mr. Wheeler went home on fur- lough. He soon returned, joined his regiment at Indianapolis, and went south, again, to Nashville and to Decatur in Alabama, taking part in the battles at Athens, at Decatur, and at Nashville. At the close of the war he received an honorable discharge at Indianapolis in July, 1865. He never faltered in the performance of any task assigned to him, but did his full . duty as a soldier, his military career being a credit to the army.
Returning to Crown Point, Mr. Wheeler has since been identified with business interests here. In 1867 he opened a hardware store which he conducted successfully and continuously until 1896. In that year he sold his stock of hardware and opened his present store, dealing in dry-goods, boots and shoes and clothing. His business methods are in keeping with the mod- ern progressive spirit of the times, and his earnest desire to please his patrons, his honorable dealings and his reasonable prices have secured to him a trade that makes his enterprise a profitable one.
In 1870 Mr. Wheeler was united in marriage to Miss Alice Clark, a granddaughter of Judge William Clark. She was born in Crown Point and was educated in the public schools. Four children have been born of this union, three daughters and a son: Maud, a very promising, talented and truly handsome girl, who lived to be fifteen years of age and died at Ash- ville, North Carolina; Myra, at home: Ned J., who is a teacher in Purdue University, giving instruction in the mechanical engineering department : and Gretchen Hope.
Mr. Wheeler is a member of John Wheeler Post No. 149. G. A. R., in which he has filled a number of positions. This post was named in honor of Colonel John Wheeler, a brother of Mr. Wheeler, who was killed at Get- tysburg. Mr. Wheeler is also identified with the Masonic fraternity at Crown Point, and he has been a life-long Republican. Almost his entire life has been passed here, and those who know him-and his acquaintance is wide-recognize in him a loyal citizen, a reliable business man and a faith- ful friend. His salient characteristics have ever been such as to commend him to the confidence and good will of all, and it is therefore with pleasure that we present the record of his career to our readers.
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Of the "English ancestry" of Mr. Wheeler there are only uncertain tra- ditions, as is the case with other old New England families, but it is certain that John Wheeler settled in Concord before 1640, and removed to Fair- field, Connecticut, in 1644 : also that a son of this early resident of New Eng- land. another John Wheeler, joined a colony for the settlement of Woodbury on the east of the Housatonic river, of which colony he was a prominent member and had a large family. He died in 1704. His youngest son, a third John Wheeler, was born in 1684. He had a son. Samuel Wheeler. horn in 1712, and a grandson, Johnson Wheeler, born in 1754. This grand- son of the third John Wheeler had a son. Johnson Wheeler, born in 1797. who was the father of O. G. Wheeler of this sketch, so that between him and the unknown English ancestry are six generations, two ancestors bearing the name of Johnson, one the name of Samuel, and three having the noted Eng- lish and also Bible name of John.
"The Wheelers of New England were a hardy, robust set of men." Members of the earlier and more aristocratic families often referred to their English family escutcheon. Evidently the Lake county Wheeler families came of a good English lineage.
Inheriting the benefits of such ancestry. descendants also through their gifted mother of the prominent Clark and Farwell families of pioneer days. Miss Myra Wheeler is justly prized for her excellent qualities in home life. in society and as assistant to her father in his business: and the now young school girl, Gretchen Hope, is a bright beam of life and joy within her father's home.
JAMES FRANCIS ROWINS.
James Francis Rowins, who is prominently identified with the printing business in Chicago, is a well known former resident of Lake county, where he has spent the greater part of the past thirty years.
Mr. Rowins was born in Easton, Talbot county, Maryland, August 7. 1850, being a son of John Rowins and Sarah Benson Rowins. His father was a manufacturing jeweler in Easton and owner of milling interests in that city, and also owned several large plantations in the neighboring counties. Mr. Rowins' genealogical tree runs back for seven or eight generations to Trish ancestry on the father's side and to English and Scotch stock on the mother's side. Near relatives were engaged on both sides during the late
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rebellion, the family interests being in close touch with both the north and the south.
Mr. Rowins was educated almost entirely in private schools, graduating from a Methodist classical institute near Annapolis, the capital of the state. In early manhood he began reading medicine, but never completed his prepa- ration for that profession since he became interested in the printing business. which he has followed almost his entire life. Mr. Rowins first became iden- tified with Crown Point as a resident and business man in 1873, and for the greater part of the subsequent period has called Lake county his home or been within close touch with this part of the state. For several years he was connected with the newspaper business in Crown Point, and is well re- membered in that city and in other communities of the county. although his business interests have for some time been centered in the city of Chicago.
In religious views Mr. Rowins is liberal and is identified actively with no church. He is a worker in the Masonic vineyard, and has held the high- est official positions in his blue lodge, chapter, council and commandery. At the present writing he is at the head of the oldest commandery of Knights Templar in the west, a body well and favorably known around the world. He is also a prominent officer in the largest Masonic body on the globe-the Oriental Consistory of Chicago.
May 7. 1873, Mr. Rowins was married at Crown Point to Miss Jennie S. Holton, a daughter of Janna S. Holton and a granddaughter of Solon Robinson, the pioneer of Crown Point and Lake county, whose prominence in early affairs has often been noted in other portions of this volume. The following children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Rowins: Howard Holton, born January 21, 1875: James Edward, born May 17. 1877. and died Aug- ust 17. 1898: Josephine Sarah, born January 10. 1880. and died March 18, 1903: and Cora Belle, born June 10. 1883.
F. E. BROWNELL.
The business interests of Lowell find a worthy representative in F. E. Brownell, who is engaged in dealing in agricultural implements there and who in the careful management of his business affairs is winning creditable success. He was born in Schoharie county, New York, on the 24th of April, 1852, and comes of Scotch lineage. His paternal grandfather, a na-
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tive of Scotland and the founder of the family in America, crossed the At- lantic when a young man and established his home in Pennsylvania. Dr. Alva Brownell, the father, was born in Schoharie county, New York. He removed to Lake county, Indiana, settling at Crown Point, where he en- gaged in the practice of medicine for two years. He then removed to what is now Plum Grove in Eagle Creek township, where he carried on agricul- ural pursuits in connection with his professional duties up to the time of his death, which occurred in May. 1871, when he was in his sixty-eighth year. He was a life-long Republican and took an active interest in public affairs, being particularly loyal to the Union cause at the time of the Civil war. He held a number of local positions, including those of trustee and justice of the peace. He was also active in church work and conducted a Sunday- school at Plum Grove for many years. His acquaintance in the county was wide and favorable, his fellow townsmen recognizing his sterling worth and giving him their warm personal regard and friendship. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Margaret Sturnburg, was a native of Pennsylvania. where she made her home until about twelve years of age, when she ac- companied her parents on their removal to Schoharie county, New York. She was of German descent and parentage and could not speak a word of English until about the time of the removal to the Empire state. Her death occurred in Plum grove, Lake county, Indiana, in February, 1855. Dr. and Mrs. Brownell were the parents of eight children; five reached adult age. but only two are now living, the eldest and the youngest, the brother of F. E. being Ezra Brownell. who is a retired farmer living in Madison county, Iowa.
F. E. Brownell, the youngest of the family and the only representative left in Lake county, was but four years of age when he came with his parents to Crown Point. His education was obtained in Plum Grove, Eagle Creek township, and he remained at home through the period of his boyhood and youth, and in early manhood took charge of the home farm. continuing its cultivation up to the time of his marriage. It was on the second of February, 1871. when he was joined in wedlock to Miss Frances Dinwiddie. a daughter of John and Mary (Perkins) Dinwiddie, who were early set- tlers of Lake county. Mrs. Brownell was born in this county May 9, 1853. She was taken as a bride to the old Brownell homestead, and her husband
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continued to engage in general farming there until 1900, when he put aside the active work of the fields and took up his abode in Lowell, where he established an agricultural implement business. He still owns the old home- stead property, however, and it is operated under his direct supervision. It comprises two hundred and sixty acres of land in Eagle Creek township and is a valuable and productive property, which annually brings to him a good income. He now carries in Lowell a large and well-selected line of agricul- tural implements, and has built up a good patronage in his commercial venture.
To Mr. and Mrs. Brownell have been born ten children: Carl, who is living on the old homestead: Alice, the wife of Howard Slocum, of Lowell ; John, who is living in Brazil, Indiana : Claude, of Sandwich, Illinois: Kate. the wife of Harry Hill, of Joliet, Illinois: Guy and Edward, both of Lowell; Ruth, at home: Walter and Ralph, who are also under the parental roof. All of the children were born in Eagle Creek township. Mr. Brownell has ever been a stanch adherent of Republican principles and has taken an active part in promoting the welfare and growth of the Republican organization, yet has never sought or desired political preferment for himself. He be- longs to the Knights of Pythias fraternity at Lowell and is well known throughout Lake county, where he has spent almost his entire life. He has been true to every trust reposed in him, has been found honorable and straightforward in his business dealings, and because of his straightforward purpose and unflagging energy he has attained a very desirable measure of prosperity.
SEBASTIAN EINSELE.
Sebastian Einsele, who has done much by his progressive efforts for the development and industrial welfare of Lake county, and who is a well known resident of Hanover township, was born in Baden, Germany, March 16, 1838, being the fourth of the children born to Michael and Barbara (Ferrold) Einsele. His father was born November 25. 1805. and died in 1899. and was a wagon-maker by trade. In 1847 he came with his family to America, starting from Havre, France, in a sailing vessel, and it was forty-three days before they reached New York. Thence he came to Lake county, where he purchased eighty acres of partially improved land in Han- over township, and his first home there was a log cabin. He was a prosper- ous man, and accumulated about two hundred and twenty acres of land in
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Hanover township. Politically he was independent. He aided in the erec- tion of St. Martins Catholic church at Hanover Center. His good wife was also born in the fatherland in 1805. and her death occurred in 1876.
Mr. Einsele was a boy of nine years when he became a resident of this county, and he has therefore passed most of his life in the county. He is a self-educated man, having gained most of his knowledge by personal ap- plication. He remained with his parents until twenty-eight years old, and when he married and began life for himself he had only two teams, and he started to farm on rented land. He continued as a renter for twenty-four years in one part of the township, so that it is evident that he began at the bottom of the ladder and advanced to his present prosperity by degrees and persistent efforts.
November 16, 1866, he married Miss Katharine Drinen, and ten chil- dren were born to them, nine of whom are living. Mary resides with her father. Tena is in Chicago, but her home is still with her father. Joseph is at home, as also are Michael, Lizzie. Sebastian, Anna, Jacob. Emil. MIrs. Einsele was born in Prussia in 1848, and when four years old came to America.
In 1899 Mr. Einsele began the erection of his excellent summer resort hotel at Cedar Lake, and since that time he has given his chief attention to its management. He has one of the most popular hotels and saloons in Cedar Lake, and each summer this resort with its efficient service is thrown open to the public, and he is a well known host to the many people who each year flock out to this delightful locality. The hotel is about sixty rods from the landing and from the Monon depot, so as to be most conveniently located for the reception of the crowds who, especially on Sunday, throng from the city to this pleasure and recreation spot. The Einsele Hotel is surrounded by a beautiful natural grove, and with all these charms of situa- tion and equipments its popularity each season increases among the Chi- cago excursionists. And Mr. Einsele is of the jovial and cordial nature which attracts people to him, and his business increases accordingly. He has telephone connection with all the towns of Lake county and with Chi- cago, and everything is at hand to make his guests comfortable and pleased. His property there is worth about ten thousand dollars. and within a few years the value of the trade and of his permanent investments will rapidly
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increase, as Cedar Lake becomes known as it should among the vast num- bers who seek such retired spots for rest and vacation.
Mr. Einsele is independent in political affairs, and supports whom he regards as the best man for the office. He and his family are members of St. Martins Catholic church at Hanover Certer.
HENRY SEEHAUSEN.
Henry Seehausen, a prosperous farmer and citizen of Hanover town- ship. Lake county, is a native son of the same locality. and was born April 2, 1858. being the eldest of the six children, four sons and two daughters, of Henry and Wilhelmina (Glade) Seehausen. The son William is mar- ried and a farmer of Hanover township. Fred is married and a farmer of Hanover township. Louisa is the wife of William Wille, a farmer of Will county, Illinois. August, married, is a motorman on the Wentworth avenue electric car line in Chicago.
Father Seehausen was born in Hanover. Germany. April 7. 1829, and died about 1874. He was about twenty-six years of age when he came to America, and he had little capital to begin on. He came out to Indiana and started as a wage earner. He purchased one hundred and sixteen acres of partially improved land, and his first home was a little frame structure. He went in debt for most of the property, but by diligence lifted the in- cumbrance and added to his estate until at his death he was possessed of two hundred and fifty-four acres, all in Hanover township. He was a Re- publican, and he and his wife were members of the Lutheran church. His wife was born in Hanover township. July 27. 1839, and she is still living at the age of sixty-five years.
Mr. Seehausen was born and reared in Hanover township. and was educated in both the German and English languages. March 9, 1884, he married Miss Anna Seegers, and seven children have been born, six of whom are living. August F., who completed the seventh grade of school. is farming at home. Rosa. at home, finished the seventh grade in school and in a German school took musical instruction. Ella, who was in the sixth grade, is now in the German school. Albert is in the fourth grade. Edna is in the second. and William is the baby of the family. August and Rosa have both received their confirmations.
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Mrs. Seehausen was born in Hanover township, March 20, 1866, being a daughter of Christopher and Dorothea ( Koehling) Seegers. There were eight children in the family. three sons and five daughters, and of the three living Mrs. Seehausen is the oldest. Her sister Mary is the wife of Fred Seehausen, a farmer of Hanover township. and Sophia is the wife of Fred Hitzeman, a farmer of Hanover township. Father Seegers was born in Han- over province, Germany, in 1821, and died in 1880. He was reared, edu- cated and married in Germany, and was a weaver by trade. He came to Lake county about 1847, and had about sixty acres of land in Hanover township. He and his wife were Lutherans, and he was a Republican. His wife was born in Hanover. Germany, about 1830, and is still living. Mrs. Seehausen was educated in both the English and German, and she has been a faithful wife and has aided her husband in the establishment of their pretty home.
Mr. and Mrs. Seehausen began their married life on the old homestead. he buying out the other heirs to the estates, and although he went in debt in the end he paid off all that he owed and now has one of the best farms and homesteads in Hanover township. He has one hundred acres of fine land, and it is well improved with buildings and all things necessary for its successful and profitable operation. He has a splendid lot of stock, and is particularly proud of his Poland China hogs, which he regards as the most profitable breed. He is a stockholder in the Inter-State Creamery, which is a prosperous enterprise.
Mr. Seehausen is a Republican, having cast his first presidential vote for James A. Garfield. He has not cared for office, and his full time has been devoted to his private business and domestic affairs. He and his good wife are members of the Lutheran church located in the northwestern part of the township, and their daughter is organist in the church, and all the children attend the Sunday school.
JOHN HENRY MEYER.
John Henry Meyer, who is one of the oldest and most prosperous farmers of Hanover township, was born in Hanover, Germany, September 21, 1833, being the oldest of four children, two sons and two daughters, born to John H. and Maggie (Beckman) Meyer. Only two survive, his brother John being a wealthy retired farmer of Crown Point.
JOHN H. MEYER
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The father of this family was born and reared in Hanover, Germany. being educated in the German schools and following the occupation of farmer. He married in Germany and all the children were born there. In 1851 he and his family sailed from Bremen, and forty-two days later ar- rived in New York. The parents and one of their children went to Savannah. Georgia, for the winter, but the other three remained in New York. In the spring of 1852 the parents started for the west with the intention of locating either at Fort Wayne, Indiana, or in Iowa, but on the death of a brother who had taken up land in Lake county they came to this county and pur- chased two hundred acres of land near the western corner of Cedar Lake. The father added to his possessions until at his death he owned three hun- dred acres of good land. The first home of the Meyers was a log cabin. and deer and wolves were still to be seen in the neighborhood. The father voted for Fremont, the first Republican nominee. and he and his wife, who was a native of the same locality in Germany as himself. were members of the Lutheran church.
Mr. Meyer was a young man when he became a resident of the United States, and during his first winter in this country he clerked in a store in New York. Coming to Lake county in the spring of 1852. he began on the farm and has remained a tiller of the soil all his life. He was educated in both the German and English languages.
He remained with his parents to the age of twenty-seven. when, on January 20, 1861, he was married to Miss Christena Doescher, by which union twelve children have been born, all of whom are living. Johanna is the wife of John E. Meyers, a merchant of Kinman. Jasper county, In- diana. Henry is married and is a contractor and builder at Mexico. Mis- souri. John is married and a resident of Kansas City. Kansas. August, married, is a dealer in and a manufacturer of harness at Mexico. Missouri. Emma is the wife of August Grabe, a professional horseshoer of Chicago. Lizzie is at home with her parents. Christena is in Chicago. Anna is in Chicago. Julius is a resident of Independence. Missouri. Edwin, a prac- tical farmer and stockman in Hanover township, had a common school edu- cation and then took a business course at Valparaiso, where he graduated in 1896: he is a Republican and cast his first vote for Mckinley. Adolph. who took the commercial and shorthand course at Valparaiso, graduating in
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