USA > Indiana > Lake County > Reports of the historical secretary of the Old settlers' association of Lake County, Indiana, 1891 - 1895 > Part 4
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In North township some improvements go on. The law- yers of Hammond secured the passage of a bill by the last legislature giving to them what is called a Superior Court. The corporate boundaries of Hammond have been extended and Whiting has become an incorporated town. The city of Hammond obtains water from Lake Michigan, and citizens of Hammond have erected a public bath honse on the Lake. Efforts have this summer been made in Crown Point, Ham- moud, and Hobart for the improvement of public virtue. How successful they have been time will show. Following the ex- ample of larger places Crown Point has had a Civic Federa- tion organization, and for a few months a paper has been pub- lished called The Christian Citizen. A new Good Templar lodge has been formed with, now, about eighty members, and attention has been given anew to the observance of law and to Sabbath keeping. In the meantime the "Crown Brewing Company," I quote from the Register of 26, have a four story building about completed, "and the brewery, which is the second largest in the State, runs day and night with a capac- ity of 250 barrels of beer per day;" and Cedar Lake as a Sun- day pleasure resort is quite as lively as ever. And so the "irre- pressible conflict" goes on.
The paving iu Crown Point last summer was done on the following streets: Ridge, Clark, Railroad, East, Jackson, North, Court, Joliet, and South; and, including alleys, the ex. pense was $45,066.84; costing $1.43 per square yard, and for a "running foot" on each side of a 21 foot pavement $1.66, and for pavement 24 feet wide $1.90.
Improvements and changes have gone on in the villages and various parts of the county. The greatest road improve- ment outside of towns has been putting gravel on the deep sand between Ross and Tolleston.
In this summer, in June, a small division of the Tent Brig- ade of the great Salvation Army came to Crown Point. They had a tent that would accommodate two thousand people with good arrangements for lighting it in the evenings. The sold- jers were evidently under excellent discipline, a band of exem- plary young men; they beld meetings for two weeks; raised
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quite an amount of money; and made a good impression apon the community. The evening memorial service in memory of Mrs. Booth was peculiarly beautiful and impressive.
NECROLOGIC REPORT
1. Michael Wahl, a pioneer-of Winfield. township, died at his home in Crown Point, Ang. 24, 1894, nearly 68 years of age.
2. Wm. Gordon, an inhabitent for many years near Hick- ory Point, died of cancer, August 25, 1894, abont 70 years of age.
3. Edwin Joseph Smith, born Ang. 3, 1832, settling in this county in 1856, died at his home in Crown Point, Monday evening, Nov. 26, 1894.
4. Mrs. Mary M. Mason, who as Mary Farmer, daughter of Henry Farmer, became a resident here in 1836, then a young girl, and was married to. Cyrus M. Mason. July 25, 1843, har- ing spent quite a long life in this county, a member for many years of the Presbyterian church, died at her home east of Crown Point Dec. 30, 1894.
5. Jonathon L. Hipsley, whose golden wedding anniver- sary was celebrated in November 1893, who came to Eagle Creek Prairie in 1852, who was born March 4, 1820, died Jan. 2, 1895, not quite 75 years of age. He had been a member of the Methodist church since 1834, and was a well known and highly esteemed citizen.
6. Mrs. Martha Ann Sherman, born in Ohio, July 16, 1842, married to Mr. A. Sherman in Crown Point, Dec. 24, 1860, died Jan. 25, 1895.
7. John Underwood, a pioneer settler, an early county commissioner, a farmer for some years, fond of reading and writing, anthor of the poem El Muza, died at his Hobart home Feb. 17, 1895, 76 years of age.
8. Thomas Clark, the last survivor of the family of Judge Clark, a family whose unquestioned date of settlement here. was February, 1835, died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. (). G. Wheeler, Feb. 15, 1895, just sixty years at least within a
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day or two, after his father's family . from Jennings county joined Solon Robinson's lone household in this then vast soli- tude. He was born in Jennings county, Feb. 21, 1816, and was therefore almost 79 years of age. He died of old age. We may call him the first who has passed away after a residence here of full sixty years. After this year the number of such will increase.
6. John N. Schubert of Cedar Lake, an early settler, born in Saxony, married in 1849, died at his Cedar Lake home , on the evening of Feb. 15, 1895. He left to represent him in the coming years two'sons, five daughters, and thirty-six grandchildren.
10. James Hildreth, grandfather of Mrs. S. C. Allen of Hammond, with whom Mr. and Mrs. Hildreth were living, died April 16 or 17, 1895, nearly 85 years of age.
11. Mrs. Fuller, Hannah Ferguson in childhood, born April 8, 1828 in Pennsylvania, Erie county, came with her par- ents to this county in 1840, was married to Frank Fuller, now called Senior, April 18, 1850, became the mother of nine child- ren, and died in Crown Point May 17, 1895.
12. 'Orrin Pierce, an early settler east of Merrillville, a citizen well known to the older inhabitants of the county, died at his home on the Joliet road June 21, 1895, about 83 years of age.
13. Amos Hornor, who for many yeare has been a regu- lar attendant of our anniversary meetings, we miss this year. He will come among us no more. He died at his home in Ross, Ang. 25, 1895, about 82 years of age. He was born May 19, 1813. He was an early settler west of Cedar Lake. His father, David Hornor, and an older, a married brother, Thomas, with one of the Brown's, probably Jacob L., visited the Cedar Lake region and made claims in October and November, 1834. In September of 1835, these with four others, among them Amos Hornor, came to Cedar Lake, put up hay and erected some cabins and returned to Tippicanoe county for their fam- ilies. The documentary evidence of the claim register is per- fect that David Hornor, Thomas Hornor, and Jacob L. Brown made their claims in October and November, 1834, and that they settled with their families in November of 1835, Amos
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Hornor being an unmarried young man in his father's large family, whose own claim was made in May and his brother Levi's in June of 1836. The "Amos Horner Point" was for years a landmark for the settlers near Cedar Lake. Mr. Hor- nor was married three times. His first wife was Miss Mary White, one of the young belles of Crown Point in those days, a daughter of Mis. Sally White who afterwards was Mrs. Wolf of Porter county. Amos Hornor and Mary White were mar- ried in Porter county, July 4, 1844.' She lived less than a year. He was next married to Mrs. Sarah R. Brown, a widow, June 24, 1849. His last marriage was to Mrs. Amanda M. Coburn, a widow, January 10, 1892. More fully than most others of the earlier settlers here Mr. Hornor retained through life the peculiarities which he brought from the Wabash region in the autumn of 1835. It is almost sixty years since he first looked upon our prairies and our woodland, and only a few are living now who trod this soil before him, and they were children, boys or young girls then. His voice we shall hear among us no more.
14. Thomas Hughes, a resident for many years in Eagle Creek township, having at one time the finest herd of improv. ed cattle in the county, noted for many years for his interest in the county fairs, having some months ago removed to Kan- sas, suddenly died in his Kansas home about midnight, on Monday, July 29, 1895. His age was nearly 59 years. His body was brought to Hebron for burial.
15. Died on Saturday, Ang. 3, 1895, quite suddenly. Jos. eph Hess, about 70 ysars of age. In 1850 he settled in the old North township, kept cattle, founded Hessville, one mile from Gibson Station, opened a store about 1858, became township trustee, and was for many years the leading man among the German inhabitants of the township. In 1872 Hessville was quite a thriving village with a public school of seventy scholars. But Gibson Station died, Hammond sprung up and grew, trade at Hessville declined, and the influence of Joseph Hess had almost ceased to be felt. Truly the old times are no more.
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Weather Report For 1894 and 1895.
This record was commenced at 6 P. M. Ang. 18, 1894 when the mercury was 72º F., and has been kept up for nearly every day until now. Such a record is, to some, of large interest, for reference in after years, but I have felt obliged to condense it very much. It appears from the daily record that dry weather prevailed, that, Sept. 3, the deep dust turned in five minutes to mud when rain came, and that a remarkably smoky atmosphere had prevailed for nine days. The sun could be seen but did not shine. September was generally warm with showers and some smoky days. 25, frost in low places. Oct. 1. Frost. 6, a light frost, but heavy on low lands. 10, anoth- er frost. 14, a heavy frost, some ice, cold all day. 15, a frost. 17, warm. Oct. 18. Mars is now the attractive planet in the sky. It is in opposition to the sun, 20th, is high up at mid- night, distant only 40,000,000 miles. Not such another favor- able view to be bad till 1906. Oct. 20 Portulaca in full blus- som, the bees working as though the mouth was May. Very little frost as yet on the central height of Crown Point, on Prospect Ridge. Oct. 23. The woods now beautiful in the autumnal hues. At noon 73º F. 27, strawberry vines grow- ing finely; pastures good. Showers quite abundant through the month. Nov. 5. Some robins seen. and flowers still bright at Crown Point. Nov. 6, the ground slightly frozen. 7, some snow, two inches. Nov. 12. Snow again. Reported a foot deep at Hobart A severe storm for the time of year and with a south wind. 16, snow gone. 22, for a few days Indian sum- mer. Dec. 1, at 4 P. M. very thick, dark mist. No wind. 12, men plowing and ditching. Pleasant weather continued, some frost, some rain, till Dec. 27. Then snow eight inches, 28.5 ° below zero. Jan. 1895, at first mild. 9, wild geese reported going south; 12, 14 below zero. Cold all day. Snow falls occasionally. 13, deep drifts. Jan. 18. A thaw. 34º Rain. 20. Snow disappeared rapidly. It went ny like a mist. 21. in the early morning lightning and thunder, rain in the night. Jan. 21. about 8:30 the wind suddenly changed. the thaw ended, the wind. W. or S. W. blew fearfully the rest of the day. Said to be in Chicago with a velocity of sixty miles an hour. Jan- uary ended with cold days, snow and deep drifts, mercury sev- eraltimes below zero. February came in with cold days, 89 12 - 14ª below zero, and snow and drifts. Feb. 7, about zero all day. Feb. 24, snow disappeared rapidly. March was ordi- marily pleasant. a little snow fell. 22, some rain, 25, robins and larks reported, 27, the warmest day so far of the spring, about
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76°. 29, at noon, 75 ° ; 12:45, 78° ; 1:30, 81 ° ; 2:30, 82 ° ; 3 P. M., 82° ; 4:30, 80 € ; air hot, 5:45, 76°. A. hot March day. Ground in good condition for gardening. March 31. A gentle, fine raiu. April 6, rainy, 8, 9, 11, some rain. Light. April 14. Flowers in the woods and cattle get quite a little grass in the marshes. 21, some showers, 24, 25, 83º 29, dandelions in blossom, children barefooted. April 30, 87º. Woods now full of flowers. Wild strawberries in blossom. The early spring flowers are now in their fullest bloom. Hickory leaves are ont of the buds. Cherries and pears almost in full blossom. May 1. At noon 84º. A glorious May day. Very dry. 4, at noon 87º. Apple trees in full bloom. 4, 5, light showers, some hail, May 7 Quite a little corn has been planted. A remarkable season for the growth of vegetation. Dry around Crown Point. 9, at 1 P. M. 94º F. 10 and 11, some rain. Cooler. So far a remarkable spring. Vegetation has grown rapidly and steadily until checked slightly by this change of temperature. 16, vegetation grows again. May 21. A quite heavy frost. Vegetation injured very much. 22, potatoe vines in some gardens black, killed into the ground. 27, white frost. "Dry. 31. 96°. June 3. Very hot, 100°. 4, showers in some parts of the county. 11, 99º. In the night a gentle rain. 12, some rain. 13, a light shower. 18, a heavy rain fall. 25, some rain; 30, a light rain. July 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, smoky air. July 16, at 1 P. M., 100°. 17, a delightful rain last night. 18. Showers. The dry time seems now to have ended. 22, 23, 24, smoky. 25, 26, showers. Latter part of July and early in Angust cool nights and some cool, quite cool days. Few sul- try nights all sinmer. The spring was unusually dry. Veg- etation came forward early and rapidly till checked in May by a killing frost. Ou account of dry weather the nay crop very light. Oats a medium crop. Prospect for corn and potatoes good, if showers continue, and if, as a young boy of Phim Grove said, the frost will only wait long enough. No severe storms here this summer. Showers, when they came, mostly gentle and pleasant. We have now had three gnite dry, and, for out-of-door enjoyment, very pleasant summers. The light- est hay crop this season that we have had for years. If a dry fall comes on, the pastures will give little food.
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HERVEY BALL 1837- 1868 First County Surveyor of Lake county, Elect- ed Probate Judge in 1844. First Master of Lake Lodge, 1853-1857.
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Through the courtesy of our Auditor, Mr. S. A. Barr, have obtained the following facts and figures forinsertion here. That they will prove to be of interest I am sure. T. H. B.
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The total valuation of the taxable property in Lake coun- ty for 1895, without railroad and telegraph and telephone prop- erty, amounts to $15,224,740. Of this amount the personal property is $2,709,000; and the real estate property is $12,515,- 740. The railroad valnation for 1894 was abont $8,631,460. The telegraph and telephone etc., $95,425. The total tax as- sessed for 1894 was $305.931.74. Number of polls in 1895: North 360, Hammond 1264, East Chicago 305, making total in North 1929, (and as the number of men in North is 4309, very many must be foreigners or over fifty years of age), Calmmet 144, Hobart 146, Hobart town 230, total 376, Ross 228, St. Johns 260, Hanover 166, Center 160, Crown Point 319, total 479, Win- field 109, Eagle Creek 97, Cedar Creek 146, Lowell 117, total 263, West Creek 214. Total number of polls 1265, and of men 8216. Number of acres of land valned in the county 298,476. West Creek 39,451, Cedar Creek 37,931, Eagle Creek 31,878, Ross 31,085, St. Johns 25,424, North 25,283, Calumet 21,600, Center 23,895, Hobart 21,973, Hanover 18,177, and Winfield 15,771. Average valuation per acre, parts of dollars omitted, Of the whole county $23. Of North, excluding Hammond, $53. Of Calumet $43. Of Hobart $24. Of Eagle Creek $10. Of Cedar Creek $11. Of West Creek $13. Omitting frac- tions, in Hammond are 2,716 acres, and value per acre $222. In East Chicago are 3,241 acres, value $123. In Lowell are 475 acres, valued at $36. In Hobart 436 acres, valne $86. In Crown Point are 310 acres, valued at $91 per acre. Number of city and town lots in the county, 45,588. The contrast be- tween the valuation of land in the three northern townships and the three southern townships, as appears above, when its real value for agriculture is considered, is almost startling. In ten years or even in five from now the valuations in the south- ern townships are likely to be changed. if producing heavy crops of corn and oats and grass gives a value to land.
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TOWNSHIP.
MEN 21 YRS.
SCHOOL SCHOOL OF AGE 1895 CH'R'N 1895 CH'R'N 1890
POPULATION 1890
North
4309
4068
1945
9631
Calumet
314
351
301
944
Hobart
695
934
953
2197
Ross
286
477
501
1427
St. Johns
421
712
650
1686
Hanover
258
388
328
985
Center
812
1051
1051
2894
Winfield.
174
237
187
583
Eagle Creek
178
261
184
647
Cedar Creek
472
637
546
1691
West Creek.
297
466
401
1201
Total
8216
9380
6753
23886
The figures for the above table are taken, as to men over 21, from the trustees' report to the Auditor, July 1895; as to school children, from trustees' report to school superintendent; May 1895 and May 1890; as to population from U. S. Census. Some curions facts appear.
In North township there are 241 more men thau children, and in 1890 the population was about five times the children. In most of the townships the school children, those between six and twenty-one years of age, were about oue fourth of the population. Three times the children of 1890 will about equal the population. This proportion still being nearly the same, four times the children of North would give to that township a population now of about 16.000, aud three times the children of the other townships would give them a population of 16,- 000, thus making our present population 32,000. One half the present number of school children is 4,690 and North town- ship wants 600 more children to have one half; but estimating from the number of men, and also from the Census of 1890, it seems that North township now has one half of our entire population.
OUR PORTRAITS. I am glad to be able to present in this pamphlet the likenesses of ten pioneers or early citizens, The cuts were all made at the same house in Chicago, some from first class modern photographs, and some from likenesses of a much older style. The artist has done the best he could for each one considering the copy from which he had to work. The dates attached to each name are from time of settlement of each one here until his death. T. H. B.
VNORLOOK
CHARLES MARVIN, 1836-1892. See page 10 and Lake County, 1872, page 55.
JAMES HILL, 1834. 1853-1887. See Reports 1885 to 1890, page 12 and Lake County, ISS4, page 52.
LEWIS WARRINER, 1837-1869. First representative from Lake county, 1839. See Lake County, 1872, page 286.
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JOHN KROST, 1853-1890. See Reports 1885 to 1890 and Lake County, 1872, page 332.
HERMAN C. BECKMAN, 1855-1894. See page 30 and Lake County, IS72, page 194.
JOSEPH A. LITTLE, 1855 -- 1892. See page 9 and Lake County 1884, page 450.
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DAVID TURNER, 1838-1890. See Reports 1885 to 1890, page 30 and Lake County 1872, page 292.
JAMES H. LUTHER, 1833 Porter, Lake 1849 -- 1893. See page 29 and Lake County, 1872, page 333.
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