USA > Indiana > Porter County > History of Porter County, Indiana : a narrative account of its historical progress, its people and its principal interests > Part 28
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A Young Men's Christian Association and a Young Women's Christ- ian Association have been established in the city or Valparaiso. The former is located at 603 College Place, and the latter at 554 College avenue The organization of these two associations is due in a great measure to the management of the Valparaiso University, in order theit the students may have some place to assemble where they will be brought under Christian influences. Takeu altogether, there are few counties in the state in which the spirit of true religion prevails to a greater degree than in the county of Porter. Although many of the citizens do not hold membership in any church, the influence of the law-abidin ", God-fearing people who compose the church membership is felt by all. As a result of this influence the moral status of the community has been kept upon a high plane, and the court records show very few arrests for serious violations of law or disrespect for the individual rights of the citizen.
CHAPTER XIV
MISCELLANEOUS HISTORY
ADVENTURES WITH THE INDIANS-REASON BELL-"UNCLE JOE" MARKS- PERSONAL MENTION OF PIONEER SETTLERS-CHARLES OSBORNE'S GRAVE- JERRY SIMPSON ONCE A RESIDENT OF PORTER COUNTY-"LUCKY" BALD- WIN-A SNIPING EXPEDITION -- A THIEVING PREACHER-STORMS-FIRES- RAILROAD. WRECKS- THE EXECUTION OF STAVES-OTHER NOTED MURDER CASES - ATTEMPTED ROBPERY OF THE COLLEGE SAFE - PROFITABLE PEACHES - A PAIR OF COUNTERFEITERS - MYSTERIES A HAUNTED HOUSE-AN ACT OF HEROISM.
When the actual settlement of Porter county began in 1833 there were still quite a number of Pottawatomie Indians living within the confines of the county. Although these Indians were generally friendly in their relations with the whites, the two races sometimes came danger- ously near a conflict. Among the carly settlers of Westchester township was Jacob Beck, who came to Porter county in 1835. He was fond of hunting, and on one of his visas to Michigan City purchased a new rifle. On his way home he passed by an Indian village or eneampment and a "big brave" asked to look at the new gun. As soon as he received it in his hands he hurried into his wigwam. Knowing he would hide the rifle if given a few minutes the, Beck jumped from his horse and started in pursuit. He was a powerful man physically and had no trouble in wresting the rifle from the hands of the savage, but other Indians immediately appeared mol Beck realized that his safety lay in
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getting away from there as soon as possible. Vaulting into his saddle, he attempted to start his horse, when the Indian from whom the gun had been taken grabbed bold of the reins and compelled the horse to stand still. Without stopping to consider what the consequences might be, Beck brought the heavy gun barrel down upon the Indian's head with sufficient force to "lay him out." Before the others could rally to the support of their fallen comrade Beck was under full gallop, and was soon out of immediate danger. Feeling certain that he would be pur- sued, upon reaching his home he told his wife what he had done, and that night they slept in the woods near their home, expecting every minute to hear the war-whoop or see the flames of their burning cabin, fired by the torch of the savages. The next morning Colonel John Whistler went to the Indian village and by some persuasion, and probably a few threats, induced the inhabitants to drop the matter. Beck was not further molested.
On another occasion Beck was lying down in his cabin, taking a nap, when a big Indian came and asked for something to eat. Not satisfied with Mrs. Beck's statement that she had nothing for him, he entered the house and began searching for food. Beck was aroused by the noise and lost no time in kicking the Indian out. The savage then counted upon his fingers to indicate that in a little while he would come back with ten men and wreak vengeance upon the pale face who had humili- ated him. The door of the cabin was barricaded and other defensive preparations made to reeieve the Indians in case they should appear. In a short time they came, and it so happened that Beck knew the leader. A parley ensued, in which it was decided to settle the dispute by a wrestling match. Beck allowed nine of the Indians to throw him; the tenth was the one he had ejected from his cabin but a short time before, and he refused to wrestle with the man whom he had kicked out, saying that he did not object to wrestling with men, but he would not wrestle with a dog. This turned the laugh on the defeated Indian and they went away in good spirits.
Near the old town of Prattville was an Indian village of about 100
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or more inhabitants. These Indians annoyed the white settlers in the neighborhood by petty thievery, but they never committed any serious depredations. In this village lived two Indians named Wap-muk (or Wak-nmek) and Cha-nin-a-win, who were not the best of friends. On one occasion, after these two had imbibed sufficient "fire water," each imagined himself to be the other's superior. A fight ensued in which Wap-muck was victorious, because his opponent was too drunk to put up a good fight. Fearing that he would be called upon to fight a second time when Cha-nin-a-win was sober, and being uncertain as to the result of such a conflict, Wap-muk took time by the forelock one day by shooting off the top of Cha-nin-a-win's head as he lay asleep under a tree. Some of the white men living in the vicinity were inclined to have Wap-muk arrested and tried by the white man's law. According to In ian cus- toms, the life of the murderer was subject to forfeit, but a cv: promise was finally effected, by which Wap-muk was made to give to the squaw of the victim a certain number of ponies and a quantity of valuable furs. As Cha-nin-a-win was well known to be a drunken, worthless Indian, the price fixed upon his life was placed sufficiently low that his slayer could pay it without serious inconvenience. The happy ending of the whole affair was celebrated by a banquet, to which G. W. Bartholo- mew was invited, and at which the "piece de resistance" was a fat dog. It is not known whether or not Mr. Bartholomew accepted the in- vitation.
About 1836 or 1837, Simeon Bryant, who settled near Bor Grove in 1835, had as a servant a young woman uamed Catherine Sadoris. One day, while the family was absent from home, the house woy visited by a party of Indians. While they were there Miss Sardoris returned, and as she came around the corner of the house was startled to discover an Indian pointing his gun at her. As a matter of fact, the Indian knew nothing of the girl's presence and was merely aiming hi. gun at some imaginary for or game animal. The girl did not know 21., how- ever, and fled for the woods near by. The Indians called to her to stop, intending to explain that they did not wish to harm her, but their eries
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only added to her speed and she kept on until she found the friendly shelter of the timber. When Mr. Bryant and his family returned, the Indians told them what had happened. A searching party was organ- ized, but the girl was not found until the next day, having passed the night in the woods under the impression that all the members of the Bryant family had been slain.
There were a number of such incidents occurred during the few years the Indians remained in the county after the coming of the first settlers, but the greatest annoyance on account of the Pottawatomies came through their begging propensities. They would come to a settlers cabin and ask for food. If it was given them, the housewife might prepare for a second visit, for it was sure to come. As the Indians became better acquainted they would look around and select some little trinket, perhaps of little value, and ask that it be given to them. The next request would be for something more valuable, their begging being conducted with diplomacy and always in an ascending ratio. The set- tlers soon found out that the best way to get along with them was to refuse all requests and send them about their business. Though the Indians pretended to be offended at such treatment, they rarely, if ever, showed their resentment by hostile actions, probably realizing that the arm of "Unele Sam" was long enough to protect his children upon the frontier.
Mention has been made in a former chapter of Reason Bell, Jr., who was the first white child born in Porter county. His birth occurred on January 11, 1834. At the age of fifteen years he lost one of his feet through an accident, and at thic age of eighteen became deputy county auditor. When the Republican party was organized, although not yet twenty-one years of age, he took a leading part in the management of that party's affairs. In 1857, at the age of twenty-three, he was elected county auditor and served for eight years. In 1870 he was again elected auditor and held the office for eight years, making sixteen years in all. He also served as justice of the peace in Center township. He died on July 15, 1899. Ilis father died in 1867 and his mother in 1881.
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HISTORY OF FARTER COUNTY
One of the most cecentric characters that over lived in Porter county was Joseph Marks-better known as "Uncle Joe." He was born in England, September 11, 1820, and came to America as a young man iu 1849. Soon after his arrival in this country he located h Valparaiso and built the house on the corner of Franklin and Chicago streets, in which he died. Hle established the first foun try in Valparais making iron kettles, plows, stoves, etc. ). also dealt in second-hand irniture, glass and tinware, bought serap iron, rags, etc. Unele Joc was twice married. His second wife was a half-breed Indian who was born about the time of the Pontiae war. He was fond of children and ox : Christ- mas distributed among his juvenile friends a barrel of eandy Although not. a believer in the tenets of the Christian religion, he wn . constant attendant at church, and did not hesitate to criticize thì i'mons to which he listened, sometimes speaking right out at the ie. Rev. Robert Beer told the writer of one instance of Unele Jo. criticism. One Sunday evening Mr. Beer touched upon the subje f eternal punishment in his sermon. The next morning he met Une :oe at the postoffice. "Robert," said Marks, "I did not like your mon last night."
"Well, I am sorry for that," replied the minister, " I always like to please my audience."
"Suppose you should take one of your children," . ued the eccentric old Englishman, "and hold him npon a hot ste. until he was burned to a erisp. What would the people do to you ?"
"They would probably lynch me," said Mr. Beer.
"Well, then, what must I think of your Heavenly Fati who con- signs his children to a fire that is never quenched and keep. em there through all eternity ?"
Mr. Beers admits that this criticism modified, to some d at least, his views upon the subject of eternal punishment.
At one time Uncle Joe had : bout a hundred pigeon ound his premises. They kept the place so littered up that the noi !!! A started
. the circulation of a petition to the city council to make the ener elean
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OLD JOE MARKS BUILDING
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up his place. Among those who signed the petition was Elias Axe, who for years had been one of Unele Joe's most intimate friends, but when the latter learned that Mr. Axe had signed the petition the friendship was broken off, never to be renewe.l. Joseph Marks died on July 26, 1905. His wife had died some time before, and in the meantime he had been taken care of by John Kuehl and his mother. He left a sister in Canada and several nieees. The site of the old Marks residence is now occupied by the Pioneer Flats.
Elias Axe, mentioned above, was born in Berkely county, Virginia, February 14, 1819. After the death of his father, his mother removed to Wayne county, Ohio, and in 1836 Elias came to Porter county, Indi- ana. In 1844 Mr Axe was elected county treasurer. He was one of the charter members of the Christian church and was active in promoting the general welfare of the community. He died at Valparaiso on April 21, 1894.
Among the early settlers of Porter county was John N. Skinner, who was a leading merchant of Valparaiso and one of the active sup- porters of the Valparaiso Male and Female College. Ile was also in- terested in the building of the Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne & Chicago rail- road and later the Grand Trunk In 1858 he was the Democratie candi- date for state senator; was elected mayor of Valparaiso in 1872, and was nominated by his party for Congress in 1880, but was defeated. Ile died in the spring of 1882.
Samuel S. Skinner, another early settler, was born in Cattarangus county, New York, July 16, 1824. When twelve years old he came to Porter county with his parents and upon reaching manhood became active and prominent in public affairs. He was one of the organizers of the old First National Bant And was president of that institution from 1869 0 1875. The first 1 k building in Valparaiso was erected by him for his use as a merchant. Hle represented Porter county in the state legislature for two years and was for six years a member of the city council. His death occurred on August 7, 1903.
Other old settlers or deceased citizens, who in their day were promi-
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HISTORY OF PORTER COUNTY
next in the business and public affairs of the county, were Theophilus Crumpacker, Artillas V. Bartholomew, Thomas A. E. Campbell, G. Z. Salyer, Jeremiah Hamel, Johni Hansford. Thomas T. Maulsby, Nelson Barnard, Henry Hageman, Thomas G. Lytle and John D. Wilson.
Theophilus Crumpacker was born in Montgomery county, Virginia, January 18, 1822. le came with his parents, Owen and Hannah Crum- packer, 10 Porter county in 1834. The family later removed to Laporte county, where the father died in 1848. After living for a while in Illinois, Theophilus Crumpacker returned to Porter county and followed farming in Washington township until 1888, when he became a resident of Valparaiso. ITis death occurred at his hour in that eity on November 27, 1908. One of his sons, Edgar D., is the present Congressman from the Tenth district, and another son, Grant, is one of the prominent members of the Porter county bar.
'Artillus V. Bartholomew, merchant, was born in Licking county, Ohio, November 26, 1818. He came with h's parents to Porter county in 1834 and about a year later they located on a farm in Center town- ship. In 1844 he married Miss Elizabeth Stephens, and in 1862 removed to the city of Valparaiso, where he engaged in merchandising. For more than twenty years he occupied the same building and built up a trade of something like $75,000 a year. Ile was a member of the Presbyterian church, one of the organizers of the Republican party in the county, served one term iti the state legislature, was at one time county commissioner, and was recognized as one of the publie spirited citizens. He died in August, 1896.
Thomas A. E. Campbell, who settled in the county in 1834, was at that time about twenty-four years of age. Alter teaching school for a short time he was appointed postmaster . Valparaiso, and upon retiring from that position agaged in mere, nole pursuits. Mr. Camp- bell was one of the promoters of the Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne & Chicago railroad; was a charter member of the Masonie lodge at. Valparaiso; served as deputy county clerk and county treasurer, and at the time of his death, May 14, 1878, was engaged in farming.
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Ruel Starr, son of Noah and Alffeda (Fuller) Starr, was born in Orli county, New York, December 22, 1804. In 1830 he went to Kalamazoo, Michigan, where he married P'hebe E. Eldred, and in 1834 eane to Porter county, locating in Washington township. He was a man of great energy and sound business ability, and through these traits of character he prospered until he was considered one of the wealthy men of the county at the time of his death, which occurred on April 19, 1875. IIe served one term as county commissioner and was active in everything pertaining to the general welfare of the county and its people.
G. Z. Salyer, one of the first carpenters in Valparaiso, was born in Tompkins county, New York, April 16, 1809, and died in Valparaiso on September 20, 1865. He married Miss Xenia Read at White Pigeon, Michigan. in May, 1833, and in 1835 settled in Porter county, where he bought eighty acres of land and a small grocery store. Ile assisted in building some of the first residences and business blocks in Valparaiso, and was four years a justice of the peace.
Jeremiah Ilamell, a native of Ohio, came to Valparaiso in 1836 and was one of the pioneer merchants of that city. Some idea of the eharae- ter of the of the mercantile establishments of that day may be gained from the following little story told on Mr. Hamell. A lady from the southern part of the county called at the store and purchased a few ar- ticles, when, with the customary politeness of the merchant, Mr. Hamell asked : "Is there anything else?". The young woman, who was fond of a joke, looked around the room for a few minutes and replied: "Mr. Ilamell, I believe I'll just take your stock home with me in my saddle- bags, select what I need and return the balance." Though the stock at that time might have been small, the aims and ambitions of the proprietor were large and he pursued his chosen calling, sure of ultimate success. Mr. HIamell was a fine public speaker and was frequently called upon to take part in political campaigns. In 1837 he represented Porter and Lake counties in the lower house of the state legislature.
John Hansford, who came to the county in 1842 and engaged in
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farming in Washington township, was born at Somerset, England, January 8, 1813. At the age of fifteen years he came to America and from that time to his settlement in Porter county was employed in various occupations in New Jersey, New Orleans, Cuba and Chicago. As a farmer he was successful and in his day was regarded as one of the influential citizens of the county. In later years he was in the employ of the Grand Trunk railway, and at one time he owned over 900 acres of fine farming land.
Thomas T. Maulsby, who died in Valparaiso, October 16, 1910, was neither a captain of industry nor a public character, but he represented a high type of American citizenship. He was born in Wayne county, Indiana in 1829 and came with his parents to Porter county when he was but four years old. About 1849 he engaged in the clothing business, from which he retired after some twenty-five years, and then for about twenty years he was "mine host" of the Merchants' Hotel on Indiana avenue. He then went to Chicago, where he remained but a short time, when he returned to Valparaiso and was in the employ of William Bruns, the tailor. He died in his room over Dudley's restaurant and was sur- vived by a son and three daughters.
Nelson Barnard, farmer and legislator, was born in Wayne county, Ohio, October 6, 1829, and eame to Porter county in 1835 with his parents, who settled in Jackson township. He was one of the founders of the Republican party in the county, and served two terms in the lower house of the state legislature. A few weeks before his death he fell and frae- tured his hip. Gangrene resulted and he died on March 6, 1904.
IIenry Hageman, for many years a prominent figure in the northern part of the county, was a native of Union county, Indiana. IIe eame to Porter county when about twenty years of age and settled in West- chester township. He was one of the leading Republicans in that end of the county, served as township trustee and assessor, and was the founder of the town of Hageman-now Porter. Mr. Hageman died on August 22, 1899, aged eighty-three years.
Thomas G. Lytle was born in Wayne county, Ohio, December 3, 1824.
HISTORY OF PORTER COUNTY
In 1840 he came to Porter county, his parents settling near Boone Grove, and in 1853 he located in Valparaiso, where he embarked in the drug business. He was captain of Company C, One Hundred and Thirty eighth Indiana infantry, in the Civil war; served as sheriff of the county for four years, and was three times elected mayor of Valparaiso. Cap- tain Lytle dropped dead in Frank Faley's store on January 1, Jags.
John D. Wilson, who in his day was no doubt the leading contract ; and builder of Valparaiso, was born in Luzerne county, Pennsylvania, October 2, 1829, one of eight children born to William and Rachel (Chuck) Wilson, both natives of New Jersey and of German descent. Lle w reared on his father's farm, received a good common school educathe and in 1853 came to Indiana, which was then a comparatively no state. After three years in Lake county he came to Valparaiso, wh he found employment as a carpenter. For fifteen years he was in tì: employ of the Pittsburg, Fort Wayne & Chicago Railroad Company as a bridge builder, and two years of that time made his home m Warsaw, Indiana. In 1872 he purchased the planing mill on Eaa Main street and began business as a contractor. Many of the best busi ness buildings and residences in the city were erected by him. He al o built the court-house, the Presbyterian church, and a number of public edifices. In 1855, while living in Lake county, he married Miss Nancy P'. Brown, who bore him six children-Edmund L., Rachel, John 11., Emma J., William and Frank S. Mr. Wilson was a Knight Templar Mason and a publie spirited citizen. He died at his home in Valparaiso November 13, 1895.
A score or more of the other pioneers might be mentioned as beit. . equally prominent with those above, but the foregoing will give the reader some knowledge of the character of the men who aided iu the development of Porter county. They were sturdy, courageous, indust. ous and honest men who overeame the obstacles and endured the hard ships of pioneer life that they might provide confortable homes for theto selves in their declining years and leave to their posterity a heritage un impaired by selfishness or wrong doing
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In the Barnard cemetery, in Jackson township, is the grave of Charles Osborne, who died on December 28, 1850, at the age of seventy-five years. Few people know, as they read the inseription npon the modest tomb- stone, that Mr. Osborne was a Quaker and one of the very earliest advo- cates of the abolition of cha tel slavery. It is said that he was the author of the first pamphlet demanding in no uncertain terms th. emancipation of the slaves in the United States. He visited North Carolina and Ten- nessee at an early date and organized in those states a number of eman- eipation societies. He also made several trips to Europe, on one of which he met William E. Gladstone, then a youth, but who afterward achieved a world-wide reputation as the "Grand Old Man." Mr. Osborne was well acquainted with Daniel Webster, HIcury Clay and other notables of that period, but he passed from the stage of action before Garrison, Phillips, and other champions of emancipation eame on. It is an honor to Porter county that this man's mortal remains sleep beneath her soil.
It may not be generally known that Jerry Simpson, the "sockless statesman " of Kansas, and " Lueky " Baldwin, the Colorado millionaire, both were at one time in their lives citizens of Porter county. Joseph Simpson, Jerry's father, settled about three miles east of Chesterton in 1866. Jerry lived there with his father for awhile and in 1870 married Miss Jane Cape, of Jackson Center. He was at that time a sailor on the Great Lakes and the marriage was solenmized at Buffalo, New York. Some years later he went to Kansas and in 1890 was nominated for Con- gress by the Farmer's Alliauce. Jerry was something of a politician, and in one of the joint debates with his opponent said: "My friend here (pointing to his opponent) wears silk soeks, while I am not able to afford even eotton," and pulling up his trousers a little way exposed his bare ankles. The sally was applauded, Simpson was elected, and became known all over the United States as the "sockless statesman." Baldwin ran a saloon on South Washington street, not far from the Valparaiso National Bank, before going to Colorado. When gold was struck in the Cripple creek distriet, he was fortunate enough to locate a elaim that made him wealthy and gave him the sobriquet of "Lucky" Baldwin.
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In July, 1851, Aaron Rogers, a pian with numerous peculiarities, came to Valparaiso and opened a jewelry store, which he ealled the " Mammoth Cave." It was not long until he became known as "Cave" Rogers. IIe was at that time about twenty-four years of age, and the young men of the town, notieing his eeeentrie ways, decided to play a triek on him. Taylor Hogan and one of the Skinner boys went to him and told him of large numbers of snipe in the vicinity of Round lake, on the Chesterton road about two miles north of town. They proposed to get up a sniping party and invited him to join. "Cave" was willing and at the appointed time in the evening met about twenty young fellows bent on catching suipe. A large sack had been provided and upon arriving at the place where one of the boys had seen "an acre and a half of snipe" that morn- ing the final preparations were made. Rogers was selected to hold the bag in the ditch while the others would drive the snipe into it, but he pleaded ignoranee of the method and promised to hold it the second time. An- other young man then volunteered to "hold the bag." Rogers joining the drivers on the first attempt. But "Cave" was of Irish extraetion and was not as green as he looked. In the darkness he easily managed to separate himself from the others and made a bee line for town, where he took up a position to overhear their comments when they returned. After that he was immune againts the pranks of the young men. In later years he engaged in building houses for rent and in loaning money, becoming well off before he died.
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