Lake County, Indiana - The whole text, 1884 (part 6 of 8)

It is situated five miles south and four miles east from Crown Point; the corner of sections one and two, and eleven and twelve, range eight, township thirtythree, is near the southern part of the grove, which covers an area of about one mile, and includes therefore parts of four sections. So far as has yet been ascertained Joseph Morris may be considered the first settler. Date of settlement is now uncertain. The place of this settlement was on the east side of the grove Avhere is now the home of George S. Doak, who came to this county and became a teacher in April, 1885. George Parkinson became a settler in 1836, and in 1837 Orrin Smith, O V. Servis, George Flint, and, probably, William Ketchum. The latter settled near the north of the grove, making, it appears, a claim which was entered by William Clark of Crown Point, known as Judge Clark, in 1839. Judge Clark afterward removed from Crown Point to this grove farm, about 1841, and afterward returned to a farm on the prairie, two miles east of Crown Point, where he re- sided during tlie remainder of his life. In 1850 he sohl that earlv settled o-rove place to J. N. Baldwin, and it was sold by his heirs in 1868, to John Nethery, the present occvipant. The Flint place was near the south, part of the oTove, and is now the residence of Thomas Georo-e.

local preacher, a Scotchman, A. F. Brown and .John Brown in 1840, the Wallace famil-v and William Brown in 1848, John A. Crawford in 1844, and in 1850 Thomas and William Fisher. In 1849 when occurred the death of Alexander F. Brown, this i^rove community found it needful to set apart a place for the burial of the dead. Their further intellio'ent and business like action in the matter wall appear from the following document copied directly from the original record.

" At a meeting of the inhabitants of South East Grove held at the. school house in said grove (notice having been given) for the purpose of forming a cemetery society, John Brown .Ir. w^as chosen chairman and Hiram Kingsbury secretary. It was resolved,

Resolved, 3d. It shall be the duty of the trustees to procure a deed for the lot now used as a burying ground; also to call meetings of the Society for the purpost of transacting any business they shall deem necessary. ' *

Resolved, 4th. Said Society shall embrace the following territory to- wit: sections one, two, three; ten eleven and twelve; thirteen, fourteen, and fifteen; in

John A. Oawford, F. C. Flint, and O. V. Servis were elected trustees by the followino- vote. Yeas, John Brown, John Cochran, Joseph Bray, T. C. Durland. J. E. Durland, F. C. Flint, William Post, E. E. Flint, Williasn Ketchuni. Nays, [none.]

A deed was obtained accordino- to the third of the above resolutions, and the Cemetery Society, organized in 1850, is still in ex-istence, and holds one of the most secure and best located burial ])laces in the comity. That the action indicated above was that of intelligent business men is farther evident from the fact that the original document copied a1:!Ove bears upon its back the following official record: ''Filed for record April 9, 1850 and recorded in Book D. page 583. Fee S0.50 Paid. M. Allman, Recorder."

Years before this date a school house had been found needful, and one was built of logs not far from the corner of the four sections mention.ed above. Here the children of the neighborhood gathered to receive instruction; here was held a debatino- society, where men met foemen worthy of their steel; and here was commenced, about 1846, the grove Sabbath-school. About 1850 the same enterprising men, who provided for a permanent burial place for the dead, l)uilt, by subscription, a frame school house, just south of where the present school house is standing; the latter having been built by the township about twenty years ago. As is the custom in other parts of the county, these houses have been

A literary society was held here in the winter of 1869 connected with which was a memorable discussion, on Saturday evening, Feb. 5, 1870. The Orchard Grove Literary Society met that evening with the South East Grove Society for a joint discussion of the question Ought women to exercise the right of suffrage? A reporter in the Castalian says: "Orchard Grove took the affirmative, represented on the floor by Messrs. Blakeman, Curtis, Jones, and Warner. South East Grove supported the negative, and was represented by Messrs. Benjamin, W. Brown, John Brown, and B. Brown. Each speaker was allowed ten minutes, the first on each side speaking twice. The house was densely packed, standing room being scarcely found for the crowds that assembled. Excellent order was observed nevertheless during the 'entire evening." The discussion was considered at that time one of the most interestingr ever held in the county. But at Crown Point, at Cedar Lake, at Hobart, and at other places, there have been, in these fifty years, some very interesting discussions; and no one person has heard them all, and no one is qualified to judge concerning them all. In the discussion referred to the South East Grove members gained the decision from the judges. The Orchard Grove members afterwards challenged the South East Grove disputants to debate in Orchard Grove the question Is a republican form of government a failure? The South East Grove members, in this form of the question, again had the negative, and again they bore away the palm of victory.

Another very interesting literary society was held at South East Grove in the winter of 1883, carried on by a younger generation of young people. Among these as active members were Charles Benjamin son of J. Q. Benjamin, Mat. Brown and Willian Brown, sons of William Brown, E. W. Dinwiddie, of Plum Grove, Thomas Netherv, John Wilson, James Turner and Thomas Turner, and K. Wilson; also Misses Amy and May Crawford, Miss May Doak, Miss Alice George, Miss Fanny Nethery, Miss Esther Donahua, Miss Jennie Stewart, and Miss Ruby Brown. Also taking part in this society were Monroe Temple, James Boyd, and Miss Mary Boyd.

The present inhabitants of what may be called the South East Grove neighborhood are the families, of William Turner, James Boyd, Hugh Boyd, George Doak, John Nethery, William and Henry Cochran; Mrs. Maggie Brown, Mrs. Crawford, with whom resides John Brown, F. R. Donahua; F. Rickenberger, Thomas George, Robert Ross, William Brown, Mrs. Briggs, Alexander Xethery; also the Garvy, Abramson, and Warnhoff families.

An excellent Sabbath-school is kept up in this grove every summer. An intelligent congregation meets here for Sabbath worship, comprising a group of very interesting, orderly, courteous young people. The writer of this paper has found nowhere in the county a more interesting group of listeners to literary lectures, and none that seem to appreciate more their Sabbath worship. Sabbath services are held here once each month by the Rev. J. N. Buchanan of Hebron, and once each month bv the Rev. T. H. Ball.

Cedar Lake As A Pleasure Resort By James Hekyey Ball

Whatever may be the conditions and qualities desired for personal enjoyments, recreations, and rest, each individual expects recreation and invariably finds it, m variety and change, and in relief from the increasing monotony of usual bushiess cares, and the ceaseless routine of daily avocations, and more especially as such cares and avocations may have been tiresome and arduous.

In the first days of Spring-time, when the zephyr w^inds float soft and balmy from the south, mellowing the air, and on every hand are the twittering, singing birds, while the frogs send up a musical chorus from every pond; in the lieated, sultry summer, when the feverish winds, drying and parching, wave the fields of grain and gras.s; in the milder autumn and even later to the Indian summer days, when the fire red leaves are dropping from the sumach, and the silver and golden hues of all the foliage flash and glisten in the soft gladsome sun rays; water has an alluring attraction and fascination, that to nearly, if not entirely all of the human race is irresistible. The captive Jews sat down by the rivers of Babylon to meditate; and the social gatherings in oriental lands were mostly, in ancient times, by the lakes and streams. As anciently, so modernly, during those seasons of the year, the ocean and the sea shore, the river side and the lake beach, are visited by all who are fortunately possessed of the opportunity, can afEord the expense, and can spare the time.

It is not at all strange then, that from the earliest settlement of Lake county by the white race until the present, Cedar Lake has been a popular pleasure resort. What it was to the aboriginees is not now known. Their traditions have disappeared with them, and past away forever.

The white man did not seem to care for, and if he sought to learn, did not preserve many, if any, of the tales of heroism and bravery, the deeds of chivalry and daring, of the dusky race, however eloquently and full their aged patriarchs might have related them.

But the many sepulchres and burying grounds, as one after another they are desecrated, if the term may prOperly apply, warrants the conclusion, and which cannot reasonably be otherwise, that their race must have loitered often and long about its shores, and, undoubtedly with delight, paddled their canoes over itswaters.

The many bayous about the lake of an earlier time, where the waters are now entirely abated, and which formed a deeply indented coast line, were favorable for hunting, and must have been rich hunting grounds, from the quantities of game of all varieties which the pioneer

As a sylvan lake, forest-girted, wood-hemmed, it was much more than now, and is now or until verv recently, heavily shaded with the white, black, and yellow oak, shell-bark hickory, Ijlack and slippery elm, birch, blackwalnut and cedar, and many of the trees leaning inward from the banks, with their projecting boughs sweeping its waters. Along their tops from branch to branch the wild grape vine profusely trailed and an undergrowth of plum and red haw, the thorn and crab apple, with the wild-gooseberry rankly growing from the sloping bluffs.

But whatever the lake was to them, as it then was, and in the hallowed associations of their traditions, they left it for their successors the white people who, - " Followed their trail - " left it, for the white race, to feast on the fish and the game, to row over its waters, and, o-Joatino- over the natural beauties, to rest by its quiet banks.

Nor have these sviccessors failed to avail themselves of the rich bequest and that too proportionate to the increase of population, the development of the country the march of civilization, in such mould and form as it has popularly assumed.

Similar to the first settlers of the New England States the pioneers of Lake county were inured to toil and scanty fare, and frugal living, and cjuite unlike the well provided for modern settlers of the farther west, who with abundant means and supplied with every needful agricultural implement now make their homes where the prairies grow dotted with residences in a single summer and villages and towns spring up like magic. Fishing and hunting, ^lowever much a pleasure, were pa,rtly matters of necessity.

So, commenced fishing excursions to the lake, and not only from throughout the county, but from Porter and La Porte counties to the east, and from over into the state of Illinois from the west, fishing parties would come to the lake and fish with seines and otherwise, camping sometimes for days, or a week or two at a time, salting down the larger fish and leaving smaller ones in piles on the beach, or throwmg them back into the lake.

years two thousand pounds was no unusual amount to take at one haul of a large seine, and at least one instance is vouched for by a most credible citizen now livino-, when one cord, or over three and a half tons was taken at one haul: and of such size too were some of these that it has been related, that a stick thrust through the gills and swung over a man's shoulder, the tails dragged on the ground.

It is a pity that it can, but perhaps need not be mentioned, that on such occasions, some carried a little brown jug, or a big brown jug, and while wading in the water all day believed that the more they drank the drier they were.

Spearing fish at night by hickory bark torchlight was a favorite pastime, and in dark warm spring nights various torches could be seen floating along the lake like ' Ignes Fatui,' one man at the stern of the boat poling it along and one standing at the prov/ with a spear on a ten or fifteen foot handle, and striking right or left far beneath the surface of the water would rapidly bring the fish into the boat. To strike a pickerel before it runs, as its motion when startled is very rapid, required caution and skill, and missing, to follow up and secure a second opportunity was very exciting. Many hundred pounds could be speared in a few hours. It is the most exciting method of fishing. Hook trolling has been very successful of late years, and while one person rows the boat another will find the time fully occupied in pulling in the line and removing the fish from the hook. It is mostly speckled or rock bass that seize the running hook. A hundred bass is a efood catch for one hook in a day's boating at the present time; yet occasionally more than that number have been caught in less than an hour, or as rapidly as they could be pulled from the hook. Still fishing is also found to be very successful.

The ' wade-in-and-catch-them-by-hand ' method has its peculiar interest, and the mud-cats or bull-heads are mostly the victims. The fisherman wades along cautiously in from three to four feet of water and when nearing the fish, they settle down into little holes in the grass and pond lily roots, and only the experienced can recognize the motion of the fish and its exact location which he profits by, in quickly pressing one foot down over the fish, which if skillfully done prevents it from escaping before he stoops and pulls it up with his hand, strings it on a long cord tied to his waist and dragging in the water behind, when he wades on for the next.

Besides the fishing parties to the lake, came occasionally pleasure parties for a ride, to see the lake and to row on it, if there was an opportunity; and so scarce were beats for a long time that from fifteen to twentyfive persons would often wait on the shore to take turns in riding in a single boat, carrying four or five, and that too so unseaworthy, that one person would be kept busy bailing with a tin basin or pail to keep it afloat. But a more unsatisfying condition of affiairs existed when such parties frequently found no boat for which to await their turns to row and ride in, and bail water from I

So while only a very few boats were on the lake, excursion parties to it continued to increase, and very many went away disappointed of a ride on its invitino- waters.

To meet such an apparent existing and increasing demand Mr. Adelbert D. Palmer, now of Creston, in the spring of 1859, contracted with Mr. Obadiah Taylor, a shipbuilder by trade and then on a visit in the county, to build a double masted schooner-style sail boat with cabin and upper decks and capable of carrying a hundred passengers. It was completed and launched the same summer, named the Young Ainerica, and cost four hundred and fifty dollars.

At its launching a gala day was observed and a large number of people assembled to assist. Speeches were made and a sumptuous dinner served. AYhen the underpinning and stays were knocked away and the great vessel glided successfully into the water it seemed to be, as indeed it was, the opening of a new era for pleasure seekers at the lake. During the remainder of this and the two succeeding summers many large parties visited the lake to sail in the Young America.

The vesel grew unseaworthy and finally stranded off the coast of Cedar Point, and for a long while afterward, when the winds blew strong, driving the waves into mad breakers over its hulk, the distant notes of a brass horn could be imagined to be heard, as if the wreck was haunted by the spirit of the horn that during a voyage once, fell or was thrown from its deck and still lies at the lake's bottom,

In 1872 Mr. Samuel Love, now of Le Roy, brought a smaller sail boat to the lake from Lake Michigan named the Lady of the Lake, a schooner, capable of carrying thirty passengers and costing a hundred and thirty-five dollars, which sailed on the lake much of the time with excursion parties during the succeeding five summers. About this time a club house was built at the outlet by some conductors on the P. C. & St. L. R. R. and supplied with ten or fifteen row boats, and Mr. Crip Binyon also opened a hotel at the same point which was well patronized.

All material things are subject to marked and rapid changes. Even the growth of vegetable and animal life is not uniform but at intervals acquires more vigorous and marked developments, the forces of nature producing new life and form and color largely disproportionate to the former conditions.

The discovery of a new continent transforms a world from a state of lassitude and inertness, to one of intense activity, awakeninor a spirit for wild adventure and daring exploits. The carrying out of an idea, the consummation of a plan or scheme, may revolutionize all the former relations of things, the agencies however simple in themselves producing radical variations and significant results, and occurring as upon a certain fulness of time.

So Cedar Lake as a pleasure resort reaches such a similar period of increased popularity in the memorable spring'and summer of 1881, when its sylvan shores became no lono-er secluded retreats and their former como

It was upon the completion of a railroad constructed close along its beach on almost the entire west shore and giving direct communication with the metropolitan city, Chicago, and also with other parts of the entire country.

Projected in 1867 as the Indianapolis, Delphi & Chicago R. R., it had been so slow in building that public confidence was not felt at times as to its being ever completed.

The location of the line had been secured through Lowell and at the lake by the enterprise of the citizens of the former place. Active work was not commenced until 1874 during which year much grading and some bridging was done through the county. The work was then suspended for a long while, causing many of the sub-contractors, and others, who had furnished supplies and materials, to suffer financially, and with no flattering prospects of compensation up to this present time. In the fall of 1879 Col. S. B. Yeoman, of Ohio, undertook the completion of the road. The President of the Company, Mr. John Lee, had been instrumental in the organization of a Company to construct a railroad from Brazil, Indiana, to South Chicago, Illinois, passing through Lake County, several miles east of Lowell and Cedar Lake, and a considerable amount of money was pledged by township aid and otherwise, to that enterprise, and the subject was canvassed by him whether it would not be good policy to consolidate the two interests, forming a junction at Rennselaer and having but one line north of that place, abandoning the Lowell and Cedar Lake route.

For a little while the interests of the conflicting lines hung in the balance, and there was uncertainty as to what would be the result, an unpleasant suspense resting in the minds of many.

Col. Yeoman's conclusions were finally expressed, " Whatever may be the interests elsewhere in the county as effected by the location. Cedar Lake is too beautiful to be left out, promising too much as a Pleasure Resort."

A survey and estimates were then made on another line from Lowell, passing on the east shore of the lake and making Crown Point, instead of St. Johns and Dyer, a point on the road; but not apparently meeting with the necessary encouragement from the citizens of West Creek and Cedar Creek Townships, that route was not adopted.

So as upon the organization of the county Cedar Lake failed to secure the location of the county seat, for which it was an applicant with weighty inducements, it can probably be safely stated as correct that upon its merits as a prospective popular pleasure resort it secured the permanent location of a railroad to the disadvantage commercially and otherwise of its former, rival for the county seat.

The ownership and control of the road had passed to the Louisville, New Albany, and Chicago Rail Road Company, who pushed it rapidly to completion, and regular trains commenced running past the lake early in the spring of 1881. Immediately much inquiry was made for land with lake front, and prices correspondingly advanced, until in a few months it became apparent that very little of the land could be bought at any price, owners evidently fearing that they might not realize all the benefits that the new situation of things seemed to offer.

A very favorable locality on Cedar Point however was purchased by Stanley Bros, of Chicago, twenty-seven hundred and fifty dollars being paid for twenty acres, and a fine private boat house and afterward a summer residence were built at an expense of two thousand dollars and more.

Some smaller tracts of land at the south end of the lake were sold at two hundred dollars per acre, but on the west side offers from five to eight hundred dollars per acre were refused and the land is still witheld from the market.

In April, 1881, Captain Harper, experienced in sailing on Lake Michigan, brought a sailing vessel to the lake, afterward christened the Night Harvvk by a Chicago camping party of the same name, and taking up a residence with his family in a cottage on Cedar Point he has since remained, sailing on the lake for the accommodation and to the delight of many parties.

During the latter part of the summer of 1881 excursion trains were run and pleasure seekers came from distant and various parts of the country.

The next spring Dr. Hunter built a hotel at Meyer's Park, on the west side of the lake, on leased ground, the land not beingf in the market, and put a steamboat into the lake, worth fifteen hundred dollars, capable of carrying forty passengers, and also a large number of row boats.

Mr. Charles Sigler built a hotel at the south end, and Mr. Boesleth another fine hotel on the west side. Large excursion trains ran with from six to twelve coaches.

During this same summer President Arthur, Secretary Lincoln, Postmaster-General Gresham, Lieut.-Governor Hanna, and others of national prouiineuce, passed the lake, tarrying a moment and saluting the multitudes assembled to greet them. A regiment of Chicao-o mi- litia went into camp, remaining seven weeks; and manytimes during the summer from three to five thousand or more were visiting the lake simultaneously.

In 1883 the Stanley Bros, put a steamer into the lake named the "Lady of the Lake," worth seven hundred dollars, carrying from ten to fifteen persons, and only for private use; and in 1884 Wardell and Hinkley, of Chicago, put in another steamer, the "Jesse," worth twelve hundred dollars, with capacity to carry twentyfive or more.

The number of new boats at Binyon's, Sigler's, and Hunter's docks, for public use, has increased to probably near two hundred up to the present time, while many other parties have boats for their exclusive use, among which are the Stanley Bros, five row boats elegant and costly, single boats ranging up to a hundred dollars apiece.

The manao-ement of the L. N. A. & C. R. R. Co. has been from the completion of the road favorable for the prospects of the lake as a resort, making commutation rates from Chicago, running extra and special excursion trains, and obliging and accommodating as far as possible, virtually, if not nominally, establishing three stations along the shore.

At this closing of the summer of 1884 and the half century of development; the outlook at the lake is bright and pleasant. Often through the day, trains of cars wind along the beach, the several steamers ply its waters; the sail boats appear like great birds with white spread wings; the many row boats dot the waves, and tents adorn the coast line.

To see this, and not so minute a world of pleasureseekers either, who have found a day, or a week, in which to steal away from the cares of life to rest, and the reflection all unbidden comes, that while toil is a necessity of existence, existence is not of necessity all toil; that while in the measure of human life there may be many tears even, yet it is not all tears that fills the complement of the measure.

yet that there are some, and so many, who are possessed of the time, the means, and the convenience with which to drop their toil and care, and wear, and rest in the deep, cool shades, or bask in the full, sweet, soft rays of sunlight as they gild the banks, and dance on the sparkling waters of Cedar Lake.

The first volume of the history of this county, commeuciug after its introductory chapter, with the early settlement in 1834, closed with some of the more interesting events of 1872. In this volume some review has been presented of the events connected with our earliest settlement, and the story has been given of our growth for fifty years. Some events and facts presented in that former volume have in this found a new setting. They appear in other connections and in a new light. In this the account of our semi-centennial, or first jubilee celebration, is recorded; and in this are to be found many new, now garnered facts, as the journey of fifty years in length has l^een re-travelled. All that will now be needful in this paper will be, in the present circumstances, to state briefly some events already mentioned and such as may not be elsewhere recorded in chronological order.

To the year 1873 belongs the commencement of brick-block building in Crown Point, when our first three large halls were opened. In 1874 was organized the First National Bank of Crown Point. In these years also the State Line Slaughter House of 1872 grew into the town of Hammond, the first plot of that town having been recorded in the spring of 1875. Soon a growth there commenced which has made that town, now bearing the name of a city, the first in the county for shipments, for manufactures, and, probably, for population. In 1875 was organized the Old Settlers' Association. An abstract of its different meetings will be found elsewhere. In the centennial year of the nation, 1876, a number of the citizens of Lake county visited Philadel- phia. Among these was W. A. Clark, who spent twentyfour days viewing the great exposition, and who wrote for the Crown Point Register a series of interesting Centennial letters. At a meeting of citizens held at Cheshire Hall, Feb. 18, 1876, a county committee of seven persons - H.-G. Bliss, Amos Allman, J. C. Sauerman, Reuben Fancher, John H. Abrams, Peter H. Saylor, Z. F. Summers and J. M. McAfee - was appointed to collect and transmit to the proper committees at Indianapolis specimens of mineral, manufactured, and agricultural products for the centennial exhibit at Philadelphia. To this committee was added, as assistant members for each township, W. L. ToUe, North; P. A. -Banks, Ross; W. H. Rifenburg, Hobart; G. F. Gerlach, St. Johns; H. Wason, West Creek; O. W. Clark, Cedar Creek; O. Dinwiddie, Eagle Creek; Loren Hixon, Winfield; H. C. Beckman, Hanover; Z. F. Summers, Center. In 1876 there were votes cast in the county, for governor 3,187, for congressman 3,148. The candidate for county treasurer, J. C. Sauerman, received 3,069 votes, and John Fisher for surveyor 3,114. The Republican majorities were that year, in this county, from about six hundred to over eight hundred votes. In 1876 was erected in Crown Point the brick building by Geisen and Fancher. In 1877 the towns of Hobart and Hammond were advancing, and Lowell was waiting for a rail-road, grading having been commenced in 1874. In 1878 a brick block was erected in Crown Point by Hartupee, Griesel, and J. D-. Clark, costing about 115,000, and the new court house was commenced. This was completed and the occupation of the new building dates from Sept. 15, 1879. In this year and the next was built in this county the Grand Trunk road. Several barns were destroyed in 1880 by lightning and fire. At Crown Point was erected a $20,000 school house. Church buildings were completed and dedicated at Merrillville and at Deer Creek. In 1881 another brick "block" or part of a block on the east of the public square at Crown Point was built by John Griesel, Conrad Hoereth, and the Crown Point Bank; another was erected by J. H. Abrams in 1882; and still another by Warren Cole in 1883. The report of the " Historical Secretary" for Sept. 1881, says: "The past year has been noted for railroad building." After mentioning that the rail had been laid from the Kankakee river through Lowell to the Pan Handle road north of Dyer, and that "the engine every day passes along the western shore of Cedar Lake," that report continues: "Work has been going on this past summer on three other roads that are to cross the county. 1881 may thus far be called the year of railroads in Lake."

In common with the citizens of the whole country, the people of Lake county joined in these demonstrations of sympathy and grief, when our cities were draped in mourning, from the extreme north to the Gulf, at the time of the death of President Garfield in the fall of 1882. Memorial services were held in the large room of the court-house at Crown Point which was filled with a dense throng of sorrowing citizens. Memorial addresses were delivered by a number of our public men. As a part of the exercises an original hymn was sung, of which the following is a copy:

A Hymn On The Death Of President Garfield

7 s & 6 s. The Lord in heaven reigneth, Let all the earth rejoice ; The Lord is King forever, Praise Him with heart and voice ; But sad is now the burden Of this one song we raise ; Low is the mighty fallen! Sighs mingle with our praise.

Our cities draped in mourning ; What mean these signs of woe ? Why pales the cheek of manhood ? What mean the tears that flow? Low is the mighty fallen, Our nation's chosen chief, Ruler of fifty millions ! What words can tell our grief ?

Oh weep, Columbia's daughters. Lament the honored dead ; A sister sad, true-hearted, Laments her fallen head ; The head of one bright household, A husband, father, friend. In one of earth's high places. Has found of earth the end.

How came the mighty fallen ? By an assassin's hand ; And righteous indignation Has swept o'er this broad land ; God is the one Great Kuler Whose power will never end ; To Him we pay our homage, Before His throne we bend.

God reigns, he reigns forever, And He alone is great ; Since men by him are chosen For deeds of earthly fame. With Washington and Lincoln We now join Garfield's name.

Notes. - In the first stanza some words are taken from the 97 Psalm. The expression "the mighty fallen" is from David's lament over Jonathan and Saul. The expression in the third stanza, "her fallen head," alludes to the Scripture teaching "the head of the woman is the man." The last line of the third stanza alludes to the words of John Quincy Adams, when dying : "This is the last of earth, I am content." "He alone is great," in the fifth stanza alludes to the noted words of Massillon when as he stood before the altar and beside the remains of Louis XIV, pointing to the form of the dead monarch he slowly uttered "God only is Great," and that magnificent assembly, moved as by one impulse, rose and reverently bowed. T. H. B.

Decoration Day began to be publicly observed by the citizens of Crown Point in 1883, James H. Ball, Esq., delivering the oration. Judge E. C. Field delivered the oration in 1884.

The other events of note for 1883 and 1884 are already in this volume sufficiently mentioned. It remains only to be added that Thanksgiving services were held at Crown Point, Lowell, and at Lake Prairie; at Crown Point union services at the Main Street Baptist church, the Rev. B. E. S. Ely delivering the discourse, text, Ps. 116:12, "What shall I render unto the Lord for all his benefits toward me?": at Lowell union services in the Christian church, by the Rev. W. Crapp, Ps. 50:14^ "Offer unto God thanksgiving:" at Lake Prairie, (a

New England settlement) a New England thanksgiving sermon, by the Rev. T. H. Ball, text, Ps. 82:5, '"If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?"; that a large and interesting teachers' institute was held, opening on Monday, Dec. 15, one hundred and fourteen teachers having been in attendance and 1150 having been expended, the instructors from without the county being Prof. Ford, Miss Crocker, Prof. Brown, and W. H. Bell of the Indiana School Journal; and that the year closed with a cold and snowy winter.

Votes cast in 1884. - For Blaine, 2,214; for Cleveland, 1,901. Prohibition vote: Lowell 11, Eagle Creek 4, West Creek 3, Hobart 3, Winfield 2, Crown Point 1; in all 24. National 7. Whole number of voters about 4,200.

The Old Settlers' Association Abstract Of Meetings

A rainy morning. After dinner, exercises. Letters from Solon Robinson and Joseph Jackson. Speeches, reminiscences, and a song, " The Indian Captive," by Dr. Wood of Lowell.

4th Meeting 1878. On Thursday, September 10, after the ceremony of laying the corner-stone of the new court-house. Dinner and afternoon exercises at the Old Fair Ground.

Old Settlers Association The Meeting Of The Old Settlers

The early settlers of Lake county met at the Fair Ground on Saturday, September 25, 1875, for their first annual gathering. The morning was rainy, but the clouds soon broke away, the sun shone, and a fair day followed the early showers.

After partaking of a rich dinner in Floral Hall and recalling old memories in brisk conversation, the Association was called to order by the President, W. A.

Forty-two years ago to-day this county of Lake, - that for beauty of landscape, productiveness of soil, and commercial position is rapidly advancing toward the front rank of the counties of the State,^ - was a solitude, the stillness of primev^al nature resting over it. The setting sun gilded the smoke that rose from the Indian wigwam, and the simple but barbarous tenants were content with their squaws, their medicine men, and their wars with other tribes. Forty years ago the white man came and took possession of the soil. The Indians were not numerous, and they received their white brothers cordially, -introducing themselves under their Indian name, " Ishnawbies." The whites they called " Shmokomans." Five years later the Indians were removed to the Pottawatomie reservation in Kansas, where their descendants still reside in peace and comfort. I visited this tribe fifteen years ago, and when I told them my house was on their old hunting grounds in Indiana, near the great Lake Michigan, I was immediately surrounded by a numerous group of their old men, who expressed much wonder and interest. There are here to-day before me men who have seen this county in its original desolation, and, I am happy to say, they have also seen it blossom as the rose. In spring, summer, and autumn they have seen it a sea of flowers and of beauty; then scorched and blackened by the annual prairie fires; and again, in winter covered with ice and snow, a bleak, inhospitable, and trackless waste, with no sign of human habitation. It is to keep alive and fresh in our memories the incidents, difficulties, privations, joys, sorrows, hopes and fears of the early days of the settlement of this county, and to enjoy a friendly, social re-union, that we have organized ourselves into this society of " Old Settlers." May we have many pleasant and happy meetings together.

Old Settlers Associattox

I greet jon all, old pioneers, With pleasant words and hearty cheers, Where yon shall meet this summer day To celebrate your lengthened stay In that fair land which erst you chose For living homes and last repose.

Alas ! look round and count the faces, And then again the vacant places. Of those who are and those who were Partakers of our hardships share In our old band of pioneers, And give the absent ones our cheers.

I greet you all now once again, As brothers all and noble men, Beneath whose hands the wilderness Did blossom as the rose, and bless A thousand happy homes and dear. Which greet you e'er with pleasant cheer.

Soloisi Robinson

The list of the orig-inal members of 1875 is not at hand and is probably lost. At the meeting in 1879 a list was made out and published in the Register - thirtysix " pioneers " and forty seven " old settlers " having been enrolled at that anniversary. From that list and the list of this year the following list of membership is compiled. After each date the names are given of members settling that year. 1835 - John B. Wilkinson,

Dates not given. - Mrs. W. A. Wiuslow, Mrs. M. J. Dinwiddle, F. C. Meyer, Mrs. M. C. C. Ball, Mrs. F. Foster, C. W. Wise, Moses Phillips, W. A. Winslow,

Mrs. J. J. Michael, Mrs. D. A. Chapman, J. W. Bates, Mrs. E. Clark, O. Dinwicldie, A. P. Thompson, Mrs. H. Surprise, Mrs. P. Kenney, L. D. Holmes, Mrs. C. C. Merrill, Mrs. L. Teeple, Mrs. Zeni Burnham, Mrs. J. W. Hughes, Mrs. H. Sasse, Junr., Mrs. Margaret Cilman, Mrs. AV. R. Nichols, Mrs. T. C. Rockwell, R. H. \Yells, Mrs. J. Fisher, Mrs. D. Turner, Mrs. A. Allman, Henry Pettibone, Alfred Winslow, E. P. Ames, Mrs. C. C. Allman, John Frazier, Mrs. D. C. Taylor, Mrs. Nathan Wood, John G. Hoffman, Joseph A. Little, Mrs. M. G. Little, Mrs. B. Williams, Mrs. Mary Edgerton, Mrs. J. Brown, Mrs. O. G. Wheeler, Mrs. L. V. Serjeant, Mrs. J. Doak, A. J. Pratt, Mrs. A. J. Pratt, Mrs. Smith, Charles Dolton, Mrs. C. Dolton, Mrs. A. Knowlton, Mrs. B. Judson, Mrs. R. H. Wells, B. Brown, Mrs. Brown. There are probably other members, but their names are not on these two lists of 1879 and 1884.

Extracts From Annual Reports

1879. - The death was reported of Mrs. Ann C. Wheeler, daughter of J. D. Jones, who came to Lake county in 1847, widow of Col. Wheeler. She died Jan. 10, 1879, being nearly forty-nine years of age. Also the death of Alexander Clark, son of Judge Clark, who came as a boy among the pioneers in February, 1835, who died of a lingering disease Feb. 22d, 1879, fifty-six years of age. Also of Rev. R. B. Young, a resident for about twenty-five years, who died April 24th, 1879, seventy-four years of age. Also of Mrs. Julia Merrill, wife of O. L. Merrill, daughter of Jesse Pierce, who died May 7th, 1869, twenty-six years of age. Also Mrs. Martha Parrish, widow of an old settler, who died at the residence of O. Pierce, March 3d, 1879, eighty-four years of age. Also Mrs. E. Benton, mother of Mrs. Parley A. Banks, and widow of a pioneer, who died at Englewood, Illinois, July 19th, 1879, eighty-two years of age. Also Zerah F. Summers, who had almost completed twentyfive years of residence, who died July 31st, 1879.

1880. - The death was reported of Mrs. Harriet W. Holton, the first teacher in our county, and for several years the oldest woman in our limits, who died October 17th, 1879, at the residence of her son, William A. W. Holton, being ninety-seven years of age. This report made Sept. 9th, 1880, says:

" A member of one of the pioneer families, Mrs. Annie Turner Morgan, in October last, left the home of her father and the home circle and the land of her birth, crossed the ocean, landed in Europe, and then sailed for Southern Asia, where she is now with her husband and daughter, the first representative from Lake county as a Christian missionary among the heathen."

1881. - From a lengthy report the following is taken. Mrs. J. A. H. Ball died Oct. 14th, 1880, seventy-six years of age. John Mereness died Feb. 1, 1881, nearly seventy-two years of age. In the same month died Ja-. cob Hurlburt, who was with the surveyors here in 1834, who guided Solon Robinson in October of that year to this spot which is now Crown Point, who, then a resident of Porter county, afterward removed into Lake, and at whose " home his fellow pioneers and settler friends were sure of finding the old-time hospitality." The deaths

Family Records

1883. - Several interesting items are found in this report given at some length. The deaths are: Hiram Post, a resident in South East Grove for thirty-three years, died Aug. 19th, age eighty-seven years. Mrs. George Fuller, aged sixty-seven years, died Aug. 20th. Asa E. Flint, who came to this county in childhood in 1836, died Aug. 25th, fifty-four years of age. Jacob Piatt died August 5th, age eighty-three. Lorenzo D. Holmes, a resident since about 1838, died at Ross in the spring of this year.

Among landmarks removed the following were reported: The first Methodist church building was taken down in the fall of 1882; the Crown Point bakery in July, 1883; and the First Baptist church building, completed in 1856, was taken down in August, 1883.

Some may inquire, What is the value of these family records? Not to name other considerations that may appear for themselves, this may be named in advance. It is granted that it is often desirable to know certain dates as to birth, marriage, and death; and these dates are kept, not in every one's memory, but in old family Bibles. Suppose a fire should consume a dwelling, and with it the family Bible. Then the record has perished. But if it is placed in such a volume as this there is no proba- bility that it will be soon destroyed. Already the authority for some of the dates that will be given is becoming in some of the family Bibles uncertain. A dim worn date cannot always be accurately made out. But nearly all of the dates given in these records may be relied upon as accurate.

The order in which these are arranged is largely one of convenience, not particularly of design or choice. The marginal numbers given mark the generation from the beginning of each recorded line.

Residing with us for a time, one of the citizens of Crown Point of the present year, is William E. Cartek, wd'io was born on the boundary line between North Carolina and Virginia, in 1809, his mother being a lady of North Carolina. His parents removed in the fall of that same year to Indiana Territory, settling in what was then Hanover county, which afterward became Washington, and then that portion was set off at length into Orange county. This family settled, the father, mother, and two little children, fifteen miles from any white family, five miles from an Indian village, Indians and wolves abundant about them; so that we had at our reunion a member of one of the true pioneer families of southern Indiana, one who has seen all the growth of the State and about half of our growth as a territory. The first cabin home of the Carter family was the first cabin built in that county. Five brothers of this family are now living; four still in Indiana, four of them Methodists, and one a Quaker, one of them a Methodist minister, of which group of brothers our fellowcitizen, W. E. Carter, is the oldest. Living for many years near Indianapolis, well acquainted in the central counties, one among the active and prominent men of years ago, in 1868 he came into the north part of the State, and is now residing here with the family of his son, J. R, Carter. This pleasant family, father, mother, two daughters, the younger bearing the name Evaxgie, and a young son, make one of the many additions to Crov/n Point society of these later years.

The Fowler Family

He spent in Crown Point the winter of 1834 and 1835 in the little hamlet, on sections five and eight, which afterwards became the town of Crown Point. He was married October 18, 1835, in Wayne county, Michigan, to Miss Eliza Cochran, who was born in Madison county. New York, October 27, 1816.

In December of 1835 these two, then quite young, and just starting out together on the ways of life, became residents in the growing hamlet which was first called Lake Court House. Here Mrs. Fowler, who is still living, has resided for all these years, except a short residence in Will county, Illinois, at Lockport, in 1840.

The account of family expenses here for the first year, which is still in the hands of I-,uman A. Fowler, of Crcwn Point, contains at the head of the list this item: " Amount of money paid out from the time of starting to the landing on Robinson's Prairie is 883.00."

The children are: Harriet Ann, born in Lake county, Ind., October 29, 1836. She died in 1863. The others are all living, three not residing in this county. They are: Rollin D., Josephine, A. Emmet, Wm. Stewart,

Lumaii A., Mary Jane, Alta, and Mabel. These are all married, and in these eight families there are, the grandchildren of Mrs. Fowler, now twenty-six children. The third of the nine children. Miss Josephine, now Mrs. Chester Peterson, was born in Lockport, Illinois, February 16, 1840. The others were born in Lake county.

Turner. - Five brothers and three sisters, children of Christopher Turner, who died in the old home beyond the sea, came with their mother, Mrs. Turner, across the Atlantic, and to Lake county, in 1865. The family home is on the prairie, a short distance from the Centre school house. Mrs. Turner died in 1880. The three sisters married and have pleasant homes in this county, two at South East Grove and one near Plum Grove. They are now Mrs. Nethery, Mrs. Brown, and Mrs. Pearce, three very estimable women, who manifest decided religious principles and are valuable neighbors and friends. Four of the brothers are also citizens of the county. William Turner married Miss Annie Boyd, and resides between the Grove and LeRoy. They have five sons and one daughter. The youngest are hearty looking twin boys, born last April. The oldest is nine years of age.

Alexander Turner married Miss Lizzie Beber. They are living on the Robinson Prairie. James M. Turner, who resides with his unmarried brother, Thomas, at the family homestead, has lately married Miss Cora Dunn, an interesting and lovely Christian young lady of the Plum Grove neighborhood. John C. Turner, the fifth brother, is in the West. Leaving this county he became a miner, then an assayer of ores, afterward an "expert" in judging- of the value of ores, and at length superintendent of mines. As such he travels in California, Montana, and Mexico, being superintendent of several mines for a wealthy company, having received a short time ago a salary of 8400 per month. The members of this family brought with them from the Old World the results of that strong religious training, known as Presbyterianism in Scotland and in the north of Ireland, and such, as is shown by thousands who have sought our shores, make excellent citizens in this New World.

Another family of similar principles, the family of Hi (iH Boyd, came into Lake in that same year of 1865. H. Boyd came with his wife, with one son, James Boyd, and two daughters, Miss Mary and Miss Annie. Remainining for a time at Crown Point, then occupying the Turner-Scofield butter factory and farm, they at length bought one of the old Grove places, which, obtained from the United States by "patent" in 1844, has passed through the hands of two of the Starr family, two of the Flint family, of Joseph Bray, and of Henry Pratt. James Boyd, having married, has built a house and resides on the same farm a short distance east of his father. Miss Mary Boyd still resides at home, one of the teachers of the county. All the family are interested in church and Sabbath school work.

Andrew Heistderson, who was born in 1817, who lived twelve years in Philadelphia and two in the state of New York, came into this county in 1855.

His first wife had one son, Charles, and three daughters, Mary, Fanny, and Maggie .Jane, Henderson. He afterward married Mrs. Livingston, born in 1836, with whom he is now living in Eagle Creek township, on the Range Line road, some three miles south of LeRoy. Mrs. Henderson has one daughter, Mary Jane Livingston, and they have three sons, Joseph Samuel, Moses Hartwood, and William John Henderson. They are in good circumstances.

1. JoisTATHAisr L. HiPSLEY was born in Maryland, twenty miles from Baltimore, in 1820. He settled on Eacrle Creek Prairie, in this county, in 1853. One son, the oldest, is dead. One daughter is living in Ohio, Mrs. S. Stoffer. The other two sons, Reuben and Charles, live on the same small prairie.

2. Reubex Hipsley, the elder of these two, owns the farm just east of his father's, which was formerly owned by William Young. He has a well finished and well furnished house, a large horse and hay barn, and a well constructed house: building-s all, that with their conviences, comforts, and adaptation to a farmer's wants, might be taken as models for a pleasant farmer home and surroundings. Within this pleasant home the visitor will find the mother, an intelligent, refined woman, and two daughters, Miss Carrie, a courteous, thoughtful, gifted girl, now entering "the teens," and winsome, attractive little Ida, not yet three years of age, whose young sister and little brother took wings and went up to Paradise, but whose likenesses will be found upon the parlor wall. This little sister, Alice, was born on the twenty-ninth of February, and never had an anniversary of her birth-day, dying before the fourth year came round.

and part of the Humphrey place. He built in 1883 an excellent farmer residence, the whole coverincr an area of fifteen hundred and sixty-four feet. The main part is eighteen feet hig^h giving- two stories of nine feet each. The kitchen and wood house part is one story of nine feet. The rooms above and below are sufficiently large, well finished, and very pleasant for their respective uses. The cellar is large with walls of rock and perfect drainage. The cash outlay for this building was nearly two thousand dollars. Entire cost not reckoned up. The barn and other buildings are very much like those of his brother. Charles Hipsley was married about fourteen years ago to Miss Carrie Blakeman. They have four children: Emma, nine years of age, and little Bessie, two years old; and between these two daughters in age are the two sons, .John and Harry,

These three families, the father and the sons, have some excellent farming and grass lands, owning quite largely what were once the Young, the Humphrey, and the Woodbridge farms, with a part of the Hickson lands, the east side of Cedar Lake, where the father and grandfather, Obadiah Taylor, then an aged man, died in 1839, one of his sons-in-law, Dr. Calvin Lilley, dying the same year. As yet no monument marks the spot, in that lone mound or hill-top, where these and other members of the Taylor, Edgerton, and Warriner families are buried.

2. Adoxijah Taylor was born in the state of New York Feb. 11, ]792. He was married Sept. 17, 1813, to Miss Lucv Winchester, who was born Aug. 12, 1792, in Connecticut, but was brought up in Vermont.

Children of Adonijah and Lucy Taylor: Israel Taylor, born Jan. 6, 1816, Albert Taylor, Sept. 17, 1818, William A. Taylor, March 17, 1821, Almira and Alvira Taylor, twins, Nov. 4, 1823, (Alvira died Sept. 23, 1835,) DeWitt Clinton Taylor, May 1, 1826, Julia Ann Taylor, Nov. 29, 1828, Calvin L. Taylor, Sept. 9, 1831, Lucy A. Taylor, Sept. 1, 1835. Calvin L., a Cedar Lake boy, who grew up to manhood among us, and was baptized in December, 1850, becoming a member of the Cedar Lake Baptist church, died May 29, 1853. (His sister Lucy, then a girl fifteen years of age, and their cousin, the young Esther Edgerton, were baptized in that same December of 1850.)

x\donijah Taylor died September 21, 1843, and Mrs. Lucy Taylor, his wife, who also became a member of the Cedar Lake Baptist church in 1850, died December 10, 1869, being seventy-seven years of age, a highly respected and estimable Christian woman. It had been generally understood that Mrs. Taylor was born in Vermont, as stated in the " Lake of the Red Cedars," but of late it has been ascertained that she went there in childhood, having been born in Connecticut. It appears that, while many of the earliest settlers of East Cedar Lake were born in New York or Pennsylvania, the families were larofely of New Enoflancl orio-in.

3. Albert Taylor, the second son, removed many years ago to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where he acquired considerable property and married. He has no children. He was for a time a resident of Crown Point, coming here in the spring of 1876, but returned again to AVisconsin.

3. William A. Taylor, the third son, was married March 3, 1842, to Hannah Caroline Warriner, oldest daughter of Elder Norman Warriner, then Baptist pastor in Lake county. This marriage is the fifty-fifth recorded in the county record book, and the first marriage solemnized by a Baptist minister in this county. (For the earliest marriages in the county see "Lake County, 1834" page 173; and for the Baptist marriages see "Lake of the Red Cedars" page 345.)

Daughter, Sabra Marillia Taylor, named after the two Mrs. Warriners whose pioneer homes were in 1837 not far from Cedar Lake, the one her grandmother, the other her great aunt. She was born Jan. 12, 1846, and was married Dec. 28, 1864, to James Radley, of Earlville, Illinois, where she is now living. They have no children.

W. A. Taylor was ao-aia married, after the death of his first wife, to Laura Aiin Carl who was horn -^^\\y 1, J838. Children: Jane Ann, born Nov. 8, 1852. Married July 2, 1871, to B. Sheffield and now residincr near Poplar Bluff, Missouri, having one S'jn living.

Charles, 1)orn Jan. 8, 1854; died Feb. 18, 1855. Alphoretta x\., better kn.own as Allie A., born Aug. 22, 1858; married Oct. 0, 1877, to Edgar C. Wheeler, of Crown Point. They have two children. Burr Oliver and Annie T.

Hattie Tennessee, born Jan. 11, 1868; married Dec. 24, 1884, to Edward Stonex of Boone Grove, Porter (jounty, Indiana. Marcia L., born April 25, 1871.

8. Almira Taylor, the oldest of the daughters of Adonijah. and Lucy Taylor, was married to Lyman Mann. They had four children. Amy, Julia, Albert, and Matilda. After the death of L. Maim, Mrs. Almira Mann was married June 21, 1852, to James H. Stringham. A second time a widow, she is now residing in Iowa.

2. Horace Taylor, another son of Obadiah Taylor, was born in 1801, and was married in 1820 to Miss Sarah Ann Odell. Their children were, born in Pennsylvania, O. G. Taylor, June 10, 1821, George Taylor, Sept. 15, 1828, s/lvester Taylor, May 29, 1825, Polly M. Taylor, Nov. 4, 1829, Alvin Taylor, March 15, 1832, born in South Bend, Sarah J. Taylor, May 15, 1885, and born at Cedar Lake, Esther Ann Taylor, Jan. 9, 1837.

Family Eecoeds

Sixteen grand-children and two great-grand-children complete the list of the living descendonts of O. G. and J. A. Taylor, making twenty-eight in all, and furnishing for a family gathering an assembly of thirty-eight persons, of whom none are yet old.

Miss Jenjiie and Miss Alice, now in a promising girlhood, still grace the home of their parents, -which is now near the rail -road station, the post office, and the church, to which lately, from the farm, their parents have retired to pass the evening of their days.

A vix TaylOr, the youngest son of Horace Taylor, who became a member of the Cedar Lake Baptist church and was baptized Nov. 2, 1851, when nmeteen years of age, being exactly two months younger than Heman Ball, of Cedar I^ake, who was baptized in October of the same year, went soon afterward to California, and remained there as a resident. He there married a lady from near Richmond, Indiana, and had six children.

1. Lyman Thompson, who was the forty-third member of the Cedar Lake Baptist church, and whose death May 9, 1852, was a great loss to the interests of that church, came to what is now the vicinity of Creston, on Lake Prairie, with his wife and three children, in 1847. On the farm where he settled, now owned by one of his sons, is a prairie height from which one of the finest views of the lake and prairie to be had in this region, can on any pleasant day be enjoyed.

Family Records. Ooo

3. Children of Amos P. Thompson, who married Celestia Palmer, daughter of A. D. Palmer: Charles Franklin, Irvin James, Wilber Amos, Ella Alvina, Alice Laura.

residing for some years in Pennsylvania, settled in La Porte about 1833, where 'his first wife, Mrs. Betsey Taylor Edgerton died, leaving seven children, four sons and three daughters. Freedom, Amos, Alfred, Franklin, Amasa, Polly, and the young pet of the household, Esther. With these seven children, in a home without a mother, but having an excellent housekeeper in the person of the oldest daug-hter. Miss Freedom Edgferton, a fine specimen of Pennsylvania girlhood, Horace Edgerton became a resident on the east side of Cedar Lake in 1836. Three of the sons are yet living in the county, one a business man, a merchant at Crown Point, and two are substantial farmers near Creston on Lake Prairie.

Palmer

1. Ja:mes Palmer was born in Connecticut. He was a soldier in the w^ar of 1812. He married Almira Taylor, a daughter of Obadiah Taylor, and came to West Creek township, settling upon Lake Prairie, in 1846. He moved into Cedar Creek township in 1854, and died in August, 1863.

He left four sons, Sylvester, Adelbert D., George W., and William ; and two daughters now living, Mrs. D. C. Taylor and Mrs. Amasa Edgerton. Sylvester Palmer is in California and William Palmer in Nebraska. George W. Palmer married Miss M. A. Taylor. They live at 'Cedar Lake. Miss Sophia A. Palmer the youngest daughter was married February 9, 1857, to Henry J.

2. ' A. D. Palmer was married in 1849. He commenced business at the old school-house corner about 1868, as successor of Amos Edgerton, was burnt out and removed to his present location in 1875, w^here he has been postmaster, and dealer in general merchandise, and now a grain buyer. He has nine children, seven sons, Benjamin Franklin, James Calvin, John Dennis, Marcus Adelbert, Charles Fremont, Edward Grant, Jasper Packard; and two daughters, Celestia, now Mrs. A. P. Thompson, and Henrietta, a young "beam of light" now in her father's home.

Stilson. The sons of Mrs. Miranda Stillson were Seymour, Lyman, Charles, Simon, Leonard, and Riley. Of these the oldest, Seymour Stillson, is dead. Lyman never came to this county. Riley came in his childhood with Dr. Lilley and his wife by whom he was brought up. He went into the army in the last war, and became a captain. He is now living with his family in Chicago. One only of the six brothers remains in the county, Charles Stillson. He has nine children, Seymour, who is in Kansas; Andrew; Mrs. Sarah Ann Burch; Charles, who married in this county; Edward C, who married Miss Ann Loyd; John; Mrs. Garrison; Warren; and Viola who married George Barber.

Hiram H. Scritchfield was born in 1811, and his wife was born near Lexington, Kentucky, January 4, 1812. They came to the Creston neighborhood in 1852, having then been married twenty years. They had seven sons and seven daughters, the youngest son being born in this county. H. H. Scritchfield died in 1868. One son has also died. Mrs. Scritchfield is now Mrs. Jonah Thorn of Lowell. The daughters are: Mrs. T. Cleveland, of Crown Point; Mrs. Alfred Edgerton; Mrs. M. F. McCarty, now Mrs. Snell; Mrs. Reuben Wood; Mrs. O. J. Thompson; Mrs. W. Garrison; and Mrs. W. Pixley; these six residing in or near Creston. The sons are: William, Jackson, Alexander who married Miss Dille and who lives in Creston, Oliver, James, and Richard.

The descendants of H. and Mrs. Hester A. Scritchfield are " thirteen living children, fifty-four grandchildren, and fifteen great-grandchildren, being in all eighty-two. Four sons and their families reside m Pottawatomie county, Kansas." The others are in this

One daughter is now living in the county, Mrs. Maggie Thompson, and three sons. About twenty years ago the family removed to the neighborhood of Le Roy, where the father and mother and three sons with their families now reside. Four of their sons went into the army and fought for the Union in the great Civil War. Two returned to their home.

2. The sons now livino- in the neig-hborhood of Le Roy are: James McKnight, who has seven children living, among them some intelligent, courteous young daugh- ters. Into this home no novels come. The readinor for the children is selected with care, and is designed to improve their minds and hearts: - Robert McKnight, who has a family of six children ; and William McKnight, who has two children. The other living brother, John McKnight, resides in Kansas, having left Lake county not long- agfo.

These families have been already named as members of the Reformed Presbyterian congregation. Exact number of communicants of that church, according to James McKnight is seventeen. They are to settle a pastor at LeRoy in the spring.

Spalding

1. Hemax Spalding was a native of New England. About 1785 he removed to Oneida county, New^ York. He afterwards removed to Michigan. He had seven sons and two daughters.

2. Hemax M. Spalding, one of the sons, was born in 1809. He became a resident in Lake county August 5, 1837. He had five sons and four daughters. Three of these daughters are, Mrs. J. T. Handley, Mrs. Isaac Handler, both having homes and families near Winfield station, and Mrs. George Sims.

3. Of the sons mentioned above, the youngest, Dr. Heman Spalding, is a physician in Cliicago. He married Miss Ida Burhans, w^ho died near the close of this year, December 9. James Spalding lives at Sherburnville. He has six children. Joshua P. Spaulding was married about 1856 to Miss Cynthia Dodge, a daughter of Henry Dodge, then of West Creek, and a niece of Mrs. Blowers, of Crown Point. They have three sons, Milo, Levi, and Henry, and four daughters, Mary, Helen

The other children, except Mrs. Thompson, are yet young and remain at home. Their father was in the Union army in the late war, he was for many years postmaster at West Creek, and now lives at Orchard Grove where he owns an excellent farm. He is well known in the county as a public spirited citizen, now about fifty years of age.

Craft

Thomas Craft came to this county soon after James Fuller. He has six sons and four daug-hters, three sons and one daughter, the latter about sixteen years of age, are now at home. He has a fine stock farm in Orchard Grove and in the marsh. Two of his sons were furnished with a breaking team of six good working horses. The plow at first cut a furrow thirtytwo inches wide; but it had been worn off or filed off at this time. The boys were breaking land where the furrows were ninety rods long, and not having a sulky invented then on which to ride, they adopted a different plan from that then generally followed. The horses were well trained, the plow, they found, needed no holding. So one boy took his station at one end, one at the other, to turn the team and plow at each end and send them across without a driver, the boys in the meantime lying down on the grass and watching the trusty horses. Thus they "broke prairie" for some time; but lying so much on the damp ground made the boys sick, and then their mode of "breaking''" was made known. The boys learned that it was better for their health for them to keep with the team. On this farm are some good springs near the stock barn.

Underwood

1. Hermax Underwood was born in Duchess county, New York, about 1793. He died twelve years ao-o at the age of eighty. Mrs. Underwood, who is still livinir, residing with Mrs. Palmer, was of the Mather family of Ccninecticut, was born in 1793, and was ninety-one years of age in September of this year. She retains quite well the use of her faculties. H. Underwood's father died when he was about four years old, and no family records of a former generation remain. Of this family, besides the father and mother, there came to this county in 1854 three sons and five daughters.

2. Sons: John Underwood, unmarried. Now jiving in Kansas. Daniel Underwood, living near Merrillville, having four daughters and one son. Harmon Underwood, who married Miss Esther Lathrop, and who died a few years ago, leaving two daughters. Miss Sylvia and Miss Ruby, and two sons, Herman and his older brother Norman. Mrs. Underwood and her family have resided for some time in Crown Point,

2. Daughters: Mrs. B. Harper, of Ainsworth, who died some months ago; Mrs. Burge, of Crown Point, who died a few years ago; Mrs. Harper, of Cedar Lake; Mrs. A. Joy; and Mrs. Palmer. The children of Dr. and Mrs. Palmer are: Miss Hattie, William, and Miss Alice. The first has been a teacher, the second is a medical student, and the third is the young story writ-

1. Henry Farmer, whose name is upon the list of the settlers of 1836, and from "Bartholomew county," spent here the winter of 1835, and entered here as a settler with his family, having then nine children, in 1836. He came with two wagons, one drawn by six yoke of oxen, the other by three, with two hired men driving a flock of sheep and a herd of cows.

2. Henry Farmer, now living on East and North streets in Crown Point, was one of those young children then; and Mrs. Mason, well known in Center township, and Mrs. E. Hewlick, now of Oregon, are two of the daughters who were in their young girlhood in the spring time of 1836. Another of these daughters, a half sister of H. Farmer, is Mrs. B. Williams, of Crown Point. One of the daughters is dead. Of the sons who came here in childhood, James died in California, Abram lives in Iowa, and Tunis Farmer and Thompson Farmer have removed to Nebraska. Henry Farmer was married in 1852, June 2, to Miss J. Nash. They have three children living.

Nethery. Three brothers of this family name have lived for some years in the county. John Nethery lives on the north side of South East Grove. He has two dauo-hters and one son livine-. His wife was one of the

Wise

1. John George Weise and Mrs. Eve Weise lived in New Goshenhoppern, in Philadelphia county, Pennsylvania, dates of birth not now known, where was born, December 23, 1751, a son, Adam Weise. The family soon after removed to Heidelberg township, in Berks county. This family were members of the Evangelical Lutheran church.

2. Adam Weise was married February 2, 1772, to Margaret Elizabeth Wingard, daughter of Lazarus and Catharine Elizabeth Wingard, born March 15, 1749, a member of the Evangelical Presbyterian (German Reformed) church. Names of children and dates of birth: Catharine Elizabeth, November 21, 1772, Ann Elizabeth, April 28, 1774, John, August, 13, 1776, Anna Mary, June 28, 1778, John Adam, January 24, 1780, all of these except the first having been born in Hagerstown, Maryland, to which place the Weise family removed in 1773, the father, Adam Weise enlisting at Hagerstown and serving as sergeant in the Maryland cavalry in the Revolutionary War, returning in 1782 to Lykens Valley, Upper Paxton township, Dauphin county, Pennsylvania, settling on Wiconiseo Creek, becoming owner there of some three hundred acres of land, where was born John George, January 7, 1786. The Indians becoming troublesome here the family removed to Bethel township, Berks county in 1788, vvhere were born Anna Margaret, February 14, 1789, and Anna Maria, July 21, 1791. The family returned to the old place in Lykens Valley in 1796, and in 1802, settled in Millersburg where were born, Abel, October 3, 1821, Hannah, February 13, 1823, and Frederick Neimon, August 25, 1825, these three being the children of Mrs. Catharine Neimon Weise, widow of James Patton, who was married to Adam Weise, then a widower, December 10, 1820.

" In the Name and by the Authority of the Commonwealth, of Pennsylvania, Thomas jlifflin Governor of the said Commonwealth, To Adam Wise, of the county of Dauphin, Esq., sends Greeting:" It is rather lengthy and peculiar. One sentence is, " To have and to hold this Commission, and the Ofhce hereby granted unto you the said Adam Wise so long as you shall behave yourself well." It thus appears that at this time, or before, the German form of the name was changed to. the Eno'lish form. That the said Adam Wise did "behave" himself well is evident from the fact that '* he remain.ed in office thirty-four years, or until his death in 1833." At the time of his death, October 5, in the eightysecond year of his age, there were eleven children, sixty-three grandchildren, and one hundred and thirtythree great grandchil.lren; and it is said by Frederick Neimon Wise of Lykens, tliat now, after fifty years, the

8. John George Wise, born in 1786, January 7, was married te Charlotte Mone in 1808, removed to Farfield county, then to Westmoreland, afterward to the state of Ohio, and died in Lake county, at the home of his son, in 1859, and Avas buried in the Deer Creek cemetery. He had six sons who reached manhood and two daughters who grew up to wamanhood.

4. Jacob Wise, one of the six sons mentioned above, was born in Dauphin county, January 20, 1817, and was five years of age when the family removed to Fairfield. He came to Lake county in 1849. He was first married July 4, 1838, and again December 21, 1848.

Marriages. Cornelius W. Wise and Sarah Wilson September 1864. Laura J. and Phillip Teeple September 27, 1866. Henry W. AVise and Eliza C. Alyea Decend)er 25, 1867. Amanda F. and George W. Didie, January 9, 1873. James M. Wise and Ellen J. Murphy December 15, 1874. Margaret L. and David Wilson January 22, 1879, and Martha E. and James C. McNeal February 8, 1882.

Crown Point, to whicli town so many farmers have of late years retired. They have built a good brick house and are very pleasantly situated for home comforts.

1. JoNN H. Pattex, born January 10, 1801, came to Lake county in July, 1852, and died here November 14, 1865. He had nine sons^and seven daughters. Mrs. Patten, his wife, was born in 1799, and died May 16,1867.

Mrs. C. Colby has one son, John Colby, telegraph operator and real estate agent, now in Nebraska, a Crown Point boy; and five daughters, four married.

It appears from the above record that four of the brothers, substantial farmers, now live in the county, one having retired from his farm to Crown Point; and that four of the daughters still reside in the county.

It is the custom of these families to meet at some one, of their homes each year for a Christmas and a New Years' dinner, and these gatherings are large and pleasant.

Fuller

1. James Fuller came to this county about 1840. He had considerable means. He had nine sons and at least one daughter. This daughter married Abram Nichols.

Frank Fuller, who married a dauo-hter of Georo-e Feri^uson, who was an early settler in the Belshaw neighborhood, has for several years been living at Crown Point. He has two sons and seven daughters. Five of the daughters are married and one son.

John M. Fuller has five sons and three daughters. He now lives in the Kankakee lowland. One daughter, Miss Jennie, married Warren W. Dickinson; and one. Miss Alvaretta, married Charles Edwin McNay.

3. Of the third generation, the grandchildren of James Fuller, according to the above numbers, there are fifty-six; but not all now in this county.

Ewer And Wemple

Frederick Alexander Ewer, was married in Lake county, Jvme 17, 1871, to Mrs. Adelia Louisa Wemple. Their children are: Henrietta Edith, born 1872,

Freddio Colfax, 1874, Lillian Augusta, 1876, Bertrand Ernest, 1878, Harry Alexander, 1880, and V\^illiam Van Slyke, 1884. The genealogic line of these American children, traced back, shows a union of Scotch, English, and Holland blood, a union that ought to. show some sturdy characteristics.

The mother, wlio was Adelia L. Van Slyke, was Ijorn in tlie state of New York, March 8, 1837, a descendant of the Van Slyke and Lockwood families of Schenectady, N. Y. The date of the emigration of her forefather from Holland has not been ascertained. She married Peter V. Wemple September 6, 1854, and they settled on the Robinson Prairie in this county in 1855. He died November 4, 1870, leaving six children now living, one having died in infancy. Four of these were daughters, Melissa, Anna, Ida, Emma, and two were sons, Edwin and Jessie Wemple.

The father of the six Ewer Children named above, - Mrs. Ewer, it appears, is the mother of twelve living children - the father, F. A. Ewer, was born in Liverpool, England, February 27, 1843, spent some time in Australia as a traveller and sight-seer, and came to the Unied States in 1870. His line goes back, in the old family records, to 1640, and to Hugh Mc Alexander of Scotland, connected with whose family are many interestinof historical facts.

8. Harry Alexeander Ewer, an attorney at law of Liverpool married Henrietta Pipe of Southport, England. They had one daughter, Margaret Jane, and one son.

9. Frederick Alexander Ewer, with whom this record commenced, born in 1843, represents it thus appears, the ninth generation from Hugh McAlexander of Scotland, through the English families of Bradley, Pipe, and Ewer. He has been for some years one of the teachers of our county in our public schools, and is interested in Sunday-school and church work. He is an intelligent observer of men and things, and has gathered knowledge from travel and observation as well as from books. His home is still on the Weraple farm.

1. Geoege Belshaw came with his family from England in 1834, and settled at first on Rolling Prairie in LaPorte county. Afterward the family removed to Lake county occupying farms on the southern extremity of Lake Prairie near the grove. There were five sons: George, William, Henry, Charles, and Samuel; and two daughters, Mary and Ann. Mary married in LaPorte county and became Mrs. M. Seffens. Ann, a girl of more than ordinary loveliness, died when eighteen years of age, and a pine grove marks the place of her burial.

2. George Belshaw, of Oregon, a prosperous and ouite wealthy farmer, has, or has had, five children. He was married in this county to Miss Candace McGarty. He visited our county a few years ago. He raises e.xcellei^t wheat. He has three sons and two daughters.

2. William Belshaw, visiting England in 1846, was mairied here, in the winter of 1847, to Miss Harriet A. Jones, and died at his home in West Creek, November 23, 1884, being seventy-one years of age. He has left six children, Mrs. Mary Cathcart. Mrs. Liucy J. Hayden, three sons, Edward, Charles, and John, and Miss Florence, the daughter at home.

2. Henry Belshaw, who remained in this county, who has near his house a fine pine grove, has two sons, William H. and J. Charles, and five dauo-hters. Four of the daughters are now married. Elisabeth married Simeon Sanger, Ann married S. C. Beebe, Eunie married Dr. John Daum, and " Dace " or Candace was married October 22, 1884, to E. W. Dmwiddie of Plum Grove and Florida. Miss Jennie at this date remains at home.

1. Michael Pearce was born in Ohio, February 20, 1808. He was married November 19, 1840 to Miss Margaret Jane Dinwiddie, who was born June 5, 1818, and who was a sister of J. W. Dinwiddie of Plum Grove.

Marriages. Miss Harriet Pearce was married to Isaac Bryant December 1, 1863; John Pearce to Miss Lizzie V. Foster, September 9, 1867; Miss Nancy A. Pearce to Orlando Service, March 29, 1870; Miss M. J. Pearce to W. B. Buchanan, March 21, 1872; Miss Susie Pearce to George H. Stahl, January 27, 1878; Thomas Pearce to Miss Mary Turner, March 13, 1883.

3. Of the third generation, there are, children of John Pearce two. Miss. Florence and Jay; of Mrs. Bryant four, one son Edward and three daughters, Bertha, Jessie, and Blanche; children of Mrs. Buchanan three, Albert, Maggie, and Ina; Mrs. Servis' little daughter May; and Mrs. Stahl's young child. In all eleven grandchildren. M. Pearce died April 4, 1861. Mrs. Pearce, her children and grandchildren as named above, all live in six homes in the same neighborhood. Just west of this group of homes are the homes of the Dinwiddle family.

1. Solon Robinson, the founder of Crown Point, had two sons, Solon Oscar and Charles, both of whom died in quite early manhood, leaving no children. He had also two daughters, Josephine S. and Leila G., both of whom are still living. The younger of these. Miss Leila, was married to F. S. Bedell, for many years editor and proprietor of the Crown Point Register, and she is now Dr. L. G. Bedell of Chicago. She has no children.

It thus appears that there are now in Crown Point, descendants of Solon Robinson who died at Jacksonville, Florida, November 2, 1880, two granddaughters and seven great-grandchildren. His two daughters are living, one in Chicago, and one in Minnesota. His second wife, now a widow, still occupies their pleasant home at Jacksonville. She was here on a visit this fall *of 1884.

Richard Fancher, born in 1800, visiting this region, and making his claim in 1834 on the section seventeen where the little lake still bears his name, becoming a resident in 1835, and still living among us as the last of the earliest settlers at Crown Point, had one son, who died young, and five daughters. These daughters became Mrs. J. C. Nicholson, now dead, Mrs. Alton, also dead, Mrs. Sanford Clark, Mrs. J. Clingan, and Mrs. H. Church. Of the third generation, sons and daughters of Mrs. Nicholson, Mrs. Clark, and Mrs. Church, there are

1. Henry Wells, whose three sisters, Mrs. R. Eddy, Mrs. A. Sanford, and Mrs. L. Gilling-ham, died in Crown Point several years ago, had two sons, Rodinan H. and Homer, and two daughters now living, Mrs. Susan Clark, and Mrs. Pratt, wife of Dr. S. Pratt, of Hebron. The latter has no children.

2. R. H. Wells, elected sheriff of Lake county this fall, was married to Miss Emily Vanhouten and has one son and one daughter. His first wife, who was Miss Nancy J. Vanhouten, had no children.

- There are then living, the descendants of H. Wells, one of our earliest settlers at Crown Point, two sons and two daughters, five grandchildren, and two greatgrandchildren.

Clark

2. Alexander Clark married Miss Susan Wells. He died in 1879, leaving one daughter, now Mrs. J. Hack. 2. Miss Margaret Clark married W. R. Williams, a descendant, according to family traditions, of the noted Roger Williams, of Rhode Island, and who is still living in Crown Point. She died many years ago leaving no children.

2. MisL Mary M. Clark married Benjamin Kellogg. She is still living so far as is known, now not quite sixty years of age. Number of children unknown. The Kellogg family reside in Arizona.

The descendants of Judg-e Clark then are: one son living here and a daughter in Arizona; four grandchildren in this county, how many in Arizona not known; and eleven great-grandchildren in this county.

The Holton family, prominent among the pioneer families of Crown Point, has no representative now among us, but has quite a line precevding the settlement in this county.

6. Alexander Holton was born in 1779. About 1804 he married Miss Harriet Warner, commenced the practice of law, settled in 1817 at Vevaj, Indiana, afterward at Vernon in Jennings county, where he died in 1823, and in 1835, in February, the remainder of the family settled at Crown Point. Mrs. Harriet W. Holton, who came here with a family of one daughter, two sons, a daughter-in-law, and two grandchildren, was, in some respects, the most remarkable woman that ever lived in Lake county. She was born in Hardwick, Massachusetts, January 15, 1783. She was a daughter of General Jonathan Warner. She had two brothers, William Augustus and Jonathan Warner, the latter a business man of Boston, the former a wealthy man for those days. She had seven sisters, and about 1840 the eight met at Enfield, at the death of their mother, who was then about ninety-four years of age. These eight were, Mrs. Robinson, wife of the governor of Vermont, a man of wealth as well as position; Mrs. Stuart, wife of Judge Stuart of Vermont, also wealthy; Mrs. Bradley, wife of a Vermont lawyer; Mrs. Brown, wife of a Massachusetts lawyer; Mrs. Hitchcock, wife of another Massachusetts lawyer; Mrs. Jones, wife of a copyist, a fine penman; Miss Warner, the one maiden sister; and Mrs. Holton, the widow of an Indiana lawyer. These eight sisters were all members of the Presbyterian church. They all died of old age, two of them while sitting in their chairs. Mrs. Holton was a teacher in Westminster, Vermont, before her marriage in 1804; she taught in Vernon, Indiana; and she was the first teacher in Lake county; a woman whose memory the teachers that have succeeded her ought to cherish. It is needless to say that she had a strong constitution, as she lived to be ninety-seven years of age. Her mental faculties were vio-orous. And she was a woman of devout, unassmuing piety; an earnest, humble Christian. We have had several quite remarkable women in our county, but in several respects no other like her.

These, whose names appear in our early annals, went with their children westward a few years ago, where some of the eighth and ninth generations are probably now living.

Of all these pioneer families of Crown Point, the Fowler family, mentioned on page 875, seems to be at present much the largest in number. The descendants of Solon Robinson number about twelve. Of Richard Fancher seventeen. Of Henry Wells eleven. Of Judge Clark the known descendants are seventeen, counting three also counted in the Wells family. Of Luman A. Fowler the descendants are, Mrs. Fowler also living, thirty-four.

W. W. Cheshire was born in Mocksville, N. C. October 22, 1830. In the spring of 1852, with only such education as the public schools of that state at that time provided, he came on foot to Indiana, leaving behind him the region of pitch, tar, and terpentine, and approaching the center of enterprise and rapid growth. He first went to work on a farm, then attended school, in 1854 was a student in Franklin College, and graduated at Miama University in June, 1858. He then be- came a teacher, was married, April 23, 1861, to Miss Bessie Boone, and came with her to Crown Point the next August. He opened a select school September 2, 1861, and soon became Superintendent of Crown Point public scho;)l, and then school examiner, and held that position for six years, being absent for seven months in thg Union army. In 1867 he was elected county clerk and held that office two terms. He then resumed the business of teaching, having charge of the public school, and was elected county Superintendent of education. That offiie he held till April, 1882, when he went to Washington, D. C, as an examiner in the pension office, where he remained one year. He was then appointed a special examiner of the pension office for the New England District. He has held that position nearly two years, and has travelled over in that time a large part of New England. Vv^hen the new administration goes into office he may be expected to resign and to return to CrovN^n Point. His wife, Mrs. B. B. Cheshire, has aided him largely in teaching, and has shared w4th him the enjoyment and opportunities for observation in travelling over New Engfland. Next to the name of Rev. William Townley in advancing the cause of education in Crown Point, may be placed the name of William W. Cheshire.

Wheeler

From a manuscript volume containing a " biography of Colonel John Wheeler," which has been kindly placed in my hands by Mrs. Alice Wheeler Cole, formerly of Crown Point, now of the state of Massachusetts, the following record is compiled.

sachusetts, and then back to England; but of the English family there are only uncertain traditions. Says the Biography which is mj authority, which was written by Johnson Wheeler, formerly of Crown Point, now dead, --' The Wheelers of New England were a hardy, robust set of men, much given to athletic sports and probably produced some of the best wrestlers of the age. Some of the early and more aristocratic families, tradition says, were proud of tracing their descent from the old English stock, and would often refer to the family escutcheon which has been preserved." This escutcheon, or coat of arms, contains upon it a bearded goat rampant, a closed dexter arm, in the hand a bouquet of flowers. The motto is " Live while you live." The following is the Lake county family line.

2. John Wheeler, son of the preceding, settled in Stratford and afterward joined a colony for the settlement of Woodbury en the east of the Housatonic river. He was a prominent member of this colony and had a large family. Two of his sons, Thomas and John, married sisters, the daughters of Betijamin Stiles, of which family was Dr. Stiles, a president of Yale College. John Wheeler of Woodbury died in 1704.

Thus far, after the second removal, that is after the founding of Woodbury, for three generations, the sons had married and settled near the homes of their fathers; but early in this nineteenth century a westward migration from New England began. And from his Connecticut home Johnson Wheeler and his wife removed to Huron county, Ohio, in 1824,

7. John Wheeler, son of these residents of Ohio, was born in Connecticut, in New Milford, Litchfield county, February 6, 1825, his parents being then on a visit to the old New England home. In the spring the parents returned, with the little Connecticut boy, to their Ohio home, where the next twenty-two years of life were spent, the son, John, proving to be healthy and athletic, becoming a leader among his associates, manifesting firmness and decision of character, gaining knowledge at the district schools, then attending an academy where he gave special attention to mathematics. In December, 1846, he was married to Miss Ann C. Jones, and in the summer of 1847 he removed with his father to this county. Here, for a few years, he was a farmer in the summer and a teacher in the winter. He succeeded well in teaching. In 1853 he commenced with his father the art of surveying and civil engineering on the swamp lands of Lake county, and was at length appomted county surveyor. In 1857 he commenced the publica' tion of the Crown Point Register, and, in the new position as editor, in connection with Z. F. Summers, as joint proprietor, he avowed strong Republican principles and " warred against the evil of intemperance," and as po- litical excitement waxed high and the war cloud grew (lark, his firmness and decision became the more marked. He soon raised a company of one hundred men in response to the call of the President for seventy-five thousand volunteers, was chosen captain, " and the company was mustered into the United States service as Company B, 20th Reg't. Indiana Volunteers." An elegant sword, the gift of friends in Lake county, was presented to Capt. Wheeler while his regiment was on parade in Indianapolis. Interesting as it would be, the limited space in this volume will not allow us to follow the 20th Regiment and Company B through all their war experiences. They passed through Baltimore with flying colors, were at Fortress Monroe, at Hatteras, at Camp Ham^ ilton; and so thoroughly had their captain performed the duties of a soldier that he was commissioned Major of the regiment, February 16, 1862. In March, 1863, he was commissioned Colonel. In July as Colonel of the Twentieth Indiana Regiment, he led his veteran troops on that bloody and decisive field of Gettysburg, and there fell on July 2d, in the slaughter of that terrible conflict. The body of the patriot soldier was brought to Crown Point for burial and now rests in our new cemetery. Colonel Wheeler left two sons and one daughter.

7. Oliver G. Wheeler, brother of Colonel Wheeler, was another son of Johnson Wheeler of Ohio, and the youngest of seven children. He was married to Miss Alice Clark in 1870. They have three children, Maud, Mira, and Ned Johnson.

8. John J. Wheeler, son of Colonel Wheeler, was born January 11, 184:8! He was married October 27, 1870, to Miss Belle Holton. They have three children.

9. The members of the ninth g^eneration of the Wheeler line, the tenth from England, the ninth from Concord, are: Harold Wheeler, Fred Wheeler, and Jennie Wheeler, children of John J. and Mrs. Belle Wheeler, and Burr Wheeler, and Annie Wheeler, children of Edgar C. and Mrs. Allie Wheeler; grandchildren all of Colonel John Wheeler, who fell on the battle field of Gettysburg fighting for the life of this American nation.

Dodge

Among our pioneers was a family whose name seems not to have been in the Claim Register, or at least was not found arid inserted among others taken from that authority. This was the family of L. P. Dodge. The family came from Canada about 1836, and settled on West Creek near the lower crossing. The father, Paul Dodge, a native of Vermont, living near the Connecticut, w;ith his wife, also came to live with their son. Also Henry Dodge with his family settled in the same neighborhood. These two pioneer settlers were brothers of Mrs. Blowers. L. P. Dodge now lives in Saginaw county, Michigan.

Sherman

1. William Sherman was married at Saratoga, N. Y., November 29, 1807, to Miss Calista Smith, who was born in Shrewsbury, Rutland county, Vermont, April 17, 1789. After residing for some time in Canada they settled in Lake county in 1837. They had thirteen children, two only of whom are now living, Michael Sherman of Milwaukee, Wisconsin; and Henry Sherman of Danville, Illinois. William Sherman, the father, died in 1843. Mrs. Sherman, remaining a widow, lived for a time with her daughter Mrs. Farrington, and afterwards with her daughter, Mrs. J. H. Luther, and died October, 1, 1884, in the ninety-sixth year of her age, sharing largely in the respect and esteem of the community.

2. The daughters of Mrs. Sherman, of whom none are now living were, in this county, the two just mentioned, Mrs. Dr. Farrington, whose one son, Stephen, and one daughter, Delia, died in early manhood and womanhood; and Mrs. Luther, the wife for many years of James H. Luther, of Crown Point. Mrs. Luther had no children of her. own, but was an excellent step-mother for the sons of J. H. Luther, a mother to some motherless girls, and one of our noblest women in relieving suffering humanity, in avoiding injurious gossip, in kindly deeds of friendship and neighborly regard.

2. The sons of Mrs. Sherman who have died in this county are John Sherman, William Sherman, and Willard Sherman. Dr. Nehemiah Sherman, another son, died at Plymouth, Indiana.

3. Descendants of John Sherman: Abel Sherman, the only son, who has five daughters and two sons; Mrs. J. Atkin, who has three daughters; Mrs. Jaqua, who now lives in Nevada, and has two sons; Mrs. Harkless, living in Illinois, who has two children; Mrs. Homer Wells, who has two children; and Mrs. Frank E. Cooper, who has one son, Eugene.

Descendants of Willard Sherman: two sons living in the West, Adolphus Sherman, who has three children, and William Sherman, who has two sons; also three daughters, Mrs. Frazier, who has eight children, and Mrs. Scritchfield, who has six children, and Mrs. Ella O. Roudebush, living at Crown Point.

The living descendants of Mrs; Sherman it thus appears, are: two children, fourteen grandchildren, .and thirty-six great-grandchildren, in all fifty-two descendants.