Jackson Township

Jackson Township

J. BARNARD was born in Surry County, N. C, March 2, 1806, and is a son of Uriah and Elizabeth (Massey) Barnard. Uriah's parents were born on the Island of Nantucket, and went with their parents to North Carolina when quite young. Our subject's parents came to Ohio in 1811; thence to Wayne County, Ind., in 1817, where they died, parents of ten children, two now living. J. Barnard lived with his parents until of age, and learned the trade of a carpenter. He was married in January, 1840, to Margaret McGonigle, of Wayne County, Ind., who died April 19, 1851, leaving a family of four - Caroline (now Mrs. S. Williams, of Labette County, Kan.), Sarah E. (now deceased), Allen and Leroy. Mr. Barnard came to Porter County in 1845, and has been mainly engaged in farming ; he is now somewhat engrossed by bee culture, having now thirty-seven swarms, after a loss of fifty swarms during the winter of 1880-81; he is a strong Republican. Allen J. Barnard was born in this county August 27, 1847, and is a carpenter and farmer. On August 12, 1871, he was married in La Porte County to Sarah E. Tatman, a native of Ohio. They have two children - Cassius H. and Ira J.

N. BARNARD was born in Wayne County, Ind., October 6, 1829, and is a son of William and Sallie (Williams) Barnard; his father was born in 1803, in Surry County, N. C, whence, in 1811, he removed with his parents to Wayne County, Ind., in 1817, where he married; he came to Porter County in 1835, and bought a claim of 160 acres for $50, on which a cabin was built and some clearing made. In 1836, he moved to Casa County, Mich, returning 'hither in 1838, and did a great deal toward improving Jackson Township. N. Barnard lived with his parents until manhood. At the age of seventeen, he began to learn carpentering, at which he labored intermittently for twenty years. On February 2, 1851, he was married to Mary J. Lumpkin, of Wayne County, born May 29, 1831 ; she is a daughter of James and Sarah (Thornburgh) Lumpkin ; her parents removed from Tennessee to Wayne County in 1819. Mr. and Mrs. Barnard have had born to them the following-named children : Orlando and Mary B., living, and Sarah L., John R., Ordelle and William E., deceased. Mr. Barnard is one of the pioneers of Jackson Township, coming hither in 1835 ; he has been engaged in farming twenty-seven years, and has now 467|- acres of good land, 350 of which are improved. Mr. Barnard has been and still is passionately fond of hunting. He is an unwavering Republican.

MILLER BAUM, son of James and Rebecca (Miller) Baum, was born in Richland County, Ohio, November 12, 1827. (A sketch of his parents appears in the biographical department of Washington Township.) Owing to the limited advantages for education in that day, he received but a moderate share of learning. In 1885, he came to this county with his parents, who settled on Morgan Prairie, and remained with them until he was past his majority. On June 29, 1852, he was married to Caroline Billings, born in Fayette County, Ind., February 11, 1832, a daughter of William and Elizabeth (Hammer) Billings, who came to Fayette County, Ind., at an early day, and to this county in 1834 ; her father died in 1853, but her mother is living in Carroll County, Ind. Mr. and Mrs. Baum have six children - Alice, wife of William Wood ; Marion, Laura, Josephine, Melinda and John. Mr. Baum has followed farming from boyhood, and now has 340 acres, with good improvements. In February, 1877, his house was destroyed by fire, which he replaced by a brick - one of the finest in the township. In politics, he is a liberal Republican.

W^ A. BLISS was born in Guilford, Windom Co., Vt., March 2, 1830, and is the eldest of the three children of William A. and Sopronia T. (Stimpson) Bliss, two of whom are living. His father was a native of Connecticut, born October 15, 1806, but moved to Massachusetts, where he lived until manhood and married. Both he and his wife were firm believers in Christianity, and belonged to the Methodist Episcopal Church. She died, October 15, 1863, and he January 11, 1882. W. A. Bliss lived with his parents until his manhood, and afterward took care of them. He is a natural engineer. He has been variously engaged, but has now 183 acres, 140 of which are improved. On October 29, 1856, he was married in St. Joseph County, Mich., to Hannah Gray, of La Grange County, daughter of Abram and Sarah Gray. To this union five children have succeeded, three of whom survive - Louise, wife of Monroe Hill; Minnie ; William J., deceased ; Cora L.; and Helen, deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Bliss are members of the Presbyterian Church. Thev have certain relics which have been in the family over two hundred year's. In politics, Mr. Bliss is a strong Republican.

GEORGE BROWN was born in Cumberland County, England, December 28, 1828, and is a son of George and Jane (Myers) Brown. His parents were born, reared and married in England, where they both died. George Brown came to America, in company with a sister and brother-in-law, in 1852. For awhile he remained in the State of New York, from where he came first to La Porte, and afterward to Porter County, Ind., and settled where he now resides, and where he is one of the largest land-owners, possessing about nine hundred acres. On July 17, 18o5, he was married to Charity A. Carter. The family of Mr. and Mrs. Brown consists of ten children - Mary J., wife of J. Brewer ; Josiah, John F., Jerome, George M., James, Elizabeth C, Charles W., Anna M. and Carrie. Mr. Brown is a member of Chesterton Lodge, No. 379, A., F. & A. M., also of Westville Lodge, No. 176, I. 0. 0. F. In politics, he is a stanch Democrat, but liberal in local affairs.

JAMES P. CAIN, one of the pioneers of Porter County, was born in Cayuga County, N. Y., January 1, 1820, and is the son of John and Miranda (Carter) Cain, being the eldest of their six children, four of whom are living. His father was born Cayuga County, N. Y., and his mother in Orange County, N. J.; they were married in Cayuga County. In 1820, they came West to Huron County, Ohio. His father died in Ashland County, and his mother at the home of our subject. May 14, 1879. James P. Cain came to this county intending to settle and improve land, but worked by the month until 1842, when he purchased land in La Porte County, which he improved and disposed of, and engaged in saw-milling. In 1851, he purchased a farm of eighty acres on Section 11, on which he now resides, containing a log cabin and some clearing ; it is now nearly all under cultivation. In November, 1842, at Michigan City, La Porte County, he was married to Rebecca Sparks, a native of this State. To them eight children were born, six of whom are living - William D., John M., Edwin L.; Jane, wife of Charles McCoy ; Viola and Florence. Mr. Cain is a Democrat and one of the old school of Jefferson.

JACOB CARTER, one of the pioneers of Porter County, was born in Mohawk County, N. Y., March 6, 1806, a son of Robert and Eve (House) Carter. The parents were natives of New York. During the Revolutionary war, his mother was taken prisoner, conveyed to Canada and sold, but returned to the States on reaching womanhood. His father assisted in surveying the State of New York, was for three months a soldier in the war of the Revolution, and narrowly escaped capture by crawling into a potato hole and filling it over him. Jacob Carter resided with his parents until of age, but received no education, as there were no schools in the neighborhood. On June 18, 1826, he was married to Chloe Doud, of Onondaga County, N. Y. She was born March 31, 1805, and died February 14, 1878 - a faithful wife for over fifty years. Their issue comprised eleven children, five of whom survive - Charles, Philo, Eleanor, Charity and Jerome F. Jacob Carter came fii-st to Horse Prairie, this county,- afterward coming to this township and purchasing some wild land on which a cabin had been erected. He at once began clearing, and has now 312 acres, on which he lives, retired. He has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church for more than forty years. He was formerly a Whig, but is now a stanch Republican.

PHILO CARTER, one of the pioneers of Porter County, is a son of Jacob and Chloe (Doud) Carter ; he was born in Onondaga County, N. Y., March 27, 1829. At the age of twenty he began the battle of life for himself by working by the month, and afterward at the carpenter's trade, but which he never learned in the usual way, as he was a natural mechanic. In August, 1849, he was married to Mary A. Johnson, of this county, who died in November, 1860, leaving a family of three - Henry (now in Kansas), George (now in Nebraska) and Chloe C. (wife of C. Doud, of this township). His second marriage, to Elizabeth A. Spears, took place October 29, 1865 ; she is a native of Upper Canada, but lived here at the time of her marriage. By this union there have been six children - Schuyler C, Delilah M., Riley E., HattieL., Alminaand Malvina (twins). In 1860, Mr. Carter crossed the plains to Colorado, for the purpose of mining, but soon returned. He is now a farmer, and has 200 acres. Mr. Carter is a Republican, having been such since the organization of the party.

RICHARD H. DODD was born in Amherst County, Va., February 3, 1828, and is the fourth of a family of twelve born to Joseph and Elizabeth (Hattan) Dodd ; eight of these are now living, he being the only one in this county. His parents were natives of Virginia, where they married, and where eight of their family were born. In 1842, they emigrated to Hamilton County, Ind., where they remained until their death - the father dying on November 20, 1845, and the mother, April 24, 1876. Richard Do^d received but little education in youth, but has acquired his limited knowledge since arriving at manhood. He was married to Annie M. Bales, March 21, 1850 ; she is a native of North Carolina, whence she came with her parents to Hamilton County, Ind., when four years old. This union produced eight children, six of whom are living - Nathan T., Alfred A., Asa A., Joseph L., Walter and Laura E. J. Mr. Dodd moved to Porter County in 1858, settling on the land he yet owns - 160 acres, 135 of which are improved. He is a member of Westville Lodge, No. 136, I. 0. 0. F., and his wife of Silver Star Lodge, No. 183. Mr. Dodd is a Republican.

J. T. FORBES was born in Madison County, N. Y., December 14, 1817, and is the eldest of seven children born to David and Martha (Sheridan) Forbes, all of whom are living ; his father is a farmer, living in Tama County, Iowa. Born in poverty, Mr. Forbes has had a fierce struggle with existence, and has been the support of his parents for many years, still assisting his father, his mother being dead. In youth, he received no education, never having passed more than twelve days in a schoolroom ; he has now, however, a fair education, self-obtained. In 1832, he moved from New York to Canada, and remained until 1854, when he came to Porter County, Ind., and settled on the land he now owns, 410 acres, about 290 of which are improved, with a fine brick house and good buildings. Mr. Forbes has been very industrious and very successful. He was married, April 2, 1841, to Martha Pettit, daughter of Robert and Abigail (Wilson) Pettit, born August 20, 1821. They have had seven children, with five living - Hamilton W., Thaddeus H., Hulda A., Matilda E. and Andrew Jackson, all living in Porter County. Mr. Forbes is a liberal Democrat.

East Hartford, Conn., his father May 31, 1785, and his mother March 23, 1787. After marriage they moved to Onondaga County, N. Y.; thence to Niagara County, and thence to Porter County, Ind., in 1856, settling in this township and living here until they died - the father in 1867, the mother in 1871. R. B. Hill received an ordinary education, and at the age of fourteen began work on the Erie Canal, and afterward worked at farming. On July 4, 1853, he was married, at Niagara Falls, to Lydia A. Taylor, daughter of Oliver and Samantha Taylor. She was born January 18, 1833 ; her father was a native of Virginia, her mother of Canada. Mr. and Mrs. Hill have had seven children, six of whom survive - Harriet, James M., Emma, Schuyler C, Edward C. and Frank. Mr. Hill came to this county in 1857, when, as he says, " it was a wildlooking place." His prospects were discouraging, and, but for the support and encouragement of J. P. Noble and others, he would have gone away ; his first crop, from cleared ground, was eighty-two bushels of wheat, and favorable ever after ; he now has a fine farm of 107 acres, being in comfortable circumstances. In the beginning, he was greatly assisted by his wife, who drove the ox (for they had no horse) while Mr. Hill held the plow.

J. KIMBLE was born in Hocking County, Ohio, February 19, 1828, and is one of a family of thirteen children born to Jonathan and Hannah (Runnels) Kimble. Mr. Kimble had no opportunity of attending school in his youth, and, as a consequence, is without book education. In 1854, he moved to Noble County, Ind., where he remained about five years, when he removed to Missouri and remained about one year, at which time he removed to La Porte County, Ind., and, in 1864, to Porter County, Ind., where he has since lived; he purchased 160 acres - the farm he now owns - in 1872. In 1849, he married Amanda Potter, who died in Missouri in 1859, leaving two children as issue - Wesley and Frank. In 1861, he took as his second wife Melinda Wolf, daughter of Levi Wolf, of La Porte County, by whom he has five children - Laura, Gerry, Alta, Corma and Myrtie. In politics, Mr. Kimble is a stanch Republican. One hundred and thirty acres of his farm are improved, and the buildings are excellent.

JACOB LINK was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, November 23, 1823. He is the eldest of a family of five children born to Jacob and Mary Link. His father was by trade a carpenter and joiner, and came to America in 1832, purposing to exempt his sons from military duty, as required by the German government, and also to better his own condition. He had been a soldier; was engaged in the battle of Waterloo, and assisted in the downfall of France. On arriving in this country, he came first to Columbiana County, Ohio, and thence to Seneca County, where he died August 20, 1840. Our subject learned the carpentering and wheelwright business. He also worked at farming and clearing. After working at his trade in several places, he came to Porter County in 1853. In 1856, he moved his family, and has since resided here, except for a short time. He first worked at saw-milling and then at farming, now owning a saw-mill, besides a farm of 382 acres. He was married in Wisconsin to Catharine Zimmerman, of Germany, and born in 1825. They have nine children - Ella J. (wife of L. J. Wolf, of La

Porte' County), William N., Michael, Frank, Mary, Emma, Charlie, EIvin and Edward. Mr. Link is a member of Westville Lodge, I. 0. 0. F., and'is a strong Republican.

WILLIAM McAllister, one of the early settlers of Porter County, was born in Pickaway County, Ohio, August 18, 1817, and is the eldest of ten children born to John and Mary A. (Graten) McAllister, and the only one of his family in this county. His father was a native of Scotland, and came to this country when very young, and resided in Kentucky, where our subject's mother was born and reared. They moved from Kentucky to Ohio in 1817. William McAllister moved with his parents into Union County, Ohio, where they were among the first settlers, and where he worked at farming until 1848, when he emigrated to Porter County, Ind., and settled near Valparaiso. In 1858, he came to Jackson Township and purchased eighty acres, on which he now lives, and which he cleared. He was married, while in Union County, Ohio, to Jane Tunkes, a resident of that county, who died in 1843, leaving two children - Diantha (deceased) and Mary. In 1846, he married Mary A. Scott, of Ohio, by whom he has five children - Frank, Melissa, Isabel, Elizabeth and Gertrude. Mr. McAllister is a stanch Republican ; he served as a private in the war of the rebellion in Company B, One Hundred and Fifty-first Indiana Infantry ; he was on duty in Indianapolis during his term of service ; was taken sick there, and remained there until the war closed ; he was discharged in May, 1865.

J. P. NOBLE was born in St. Lawrence County, N. Y., December 7, 1807, and is the eldest of eight children born to William and Sallie (Pickett) Noble. His parents were natives of Massachusetts, his mother a descendant of one of the oldest families. When young, his father removed to Vermont, where he graduated in medicine about 1800; thence he went to St. Lawrence County, N. Y., where he practiced medicine, and afterward engaged in farming and hotel-keeping. They moved to Ashtabula County, Ohio. His mother died when he was very young, and his father married his sister-in-law - Ruth Pickett - and died in 1870. J. P. Noble remained with his father until twenty-six years old, receiving a common school education. In 1833, he came to La Porte County, and worked for flO per month. In 1834, he came to Porter County and engaged with Mr. Paine, and purchased land at the land sale of 1835. He now owns 200 acres in this county, besides property elsewhere. On June 7, 1836, he was married to Mary A. Smith, a native of New York, born October 18, 1818. They have had six children, five of whom are living - Americus V., Julia, Celia, Hettie and Lois. In politics, Mr. Noble is a liberal Republican. He is one of the pioneers of Porter County, and has ever been a friend to the new settler.

AMERICUS V. NOBLE was born in Porter County June 13, 1837. His parents are J. P. and Mary A. (Smith) Noble. Americus. y. Noble resided with his parents until he was twenty years of age, during which time he attended a common school of the period. Then he went to Canton, N. Y., entering an academy there and remaining two years. Returning home, he turned his attention to farming, and now owns 66^ acres, besides having charge of 200 belonging to his father. On October 5, 1864, he was married to Hannah Jones, a native of Ohio, and daughter of John and Maria (Duck) Jones, who was born December 25, 1842, and came hither with her parents from Stark County, Ohio, when but four years of age. Mr. and Mrs. Noble have had five children - Clara B., born September 15, 1865; Colba E., born September 12, 1867; Louis H., born February 16, 1870; Frank L., born May 15, 1872, and John v., born September 10, 1878. Mr. Noble is a Republican of the liberal school.

HAMILTON A. K. PAINE was born in Painesville, Lake Co., Ohio, October 22, 1813, and is a son of Asahel K. and Frances (Jones) Paine ; his father was born in 1790, in Seneca County, N. Y., being the first white child born within a circuit of eighty miles ; his mother was a native of Berkshire County, Mass., born April 7, 1791, and came with her parents to what is now Lake County, Ohio, when but sixteen years old. They lived there until 1833; then came to Indiana, locating in what is now Jackson Township, and building the first cabin here, which still stands as a relic of the early times. Asahel K. Paine devoted his life to clearing and improving the land, and died in May, 1870 ; his wife died September 30, 1872. H. A. K. Paine after receiving a common school education, became a farmer - an occupation he has since followed, having now 115 acres. In politics, he is a firm Republican. His grandfathers, on both sides, were Revolutionary soldiers ; he is a pioneer of Porter County^ having come to the county in 1834, when the only neighbors were friendly Indians..

WHEELER RICH was born in Rush County, Ind., October 17, 1830, and is the eldest of eleven children born to Davis and Margaret (Kolb) Rich ; his father was a native of Ohio, born in 1811, and came to Indiana at an early day ; his mother was born in Georgia, in 1807, and also came to Indiana at an early day ; they were married in 1829 ; his father followed farming until his death, January 9, 1865, and his mother died in October, 1878. Wheeler Rich enjoyed a home with his parents nntil he reached manhood, and received in the meantime a fair education. On January 9, 1857, he was married to Rebecca Petro, a daughter of John and Mary (Sutton) Petro, born in Warren County, Ohio, in 1825. In 1851, Mr. Rich came to Porter County, and settled on the farm -he now owns, at that time a woodland. By hard labor he has improved 130 of the 171 acres, besides erecting good buildings ; he has as fine a stock farm as can be found in the township. Mr. and Mrs. Rich are members of the Christian Church. In politics, Mr. Rich is a liberal Democrat.

OLIVER STELL, one of the early settlers of Porter County, was born in Warren County, Ohio, December 30, 1816, and is the eldest of nine children born to Isaac and Sarah (Fox) Stell ; only four of this family are living ; his father was a native of New Jersey, his mother of Pennsylvania ; his grandparents came to the State of Ohio about the time of its admission into the Union. His parents came to Fayette County, Ind., in 1821, and were among ' the first settlers ; his father served in the war of 1812, enlisting from Pennsylvania, and died August 2, 1871, preceded by the mother in December, 1849 ; Oliver Stell lived with his parents until after his majority. On February 6, 1840, he was married to Iva Petro, of Warren County, Ohio born July 20, 1818, and daughter of John and Mary (Sutton) Petro ; she died March

26, 187(3, leaving six children - Albert, Sarah J., Marion, Horace, Martha and Rebecca. On October 12, 1879, he married Sarah J. Asher, of Guernsey County, Ohio. Mr. Stell has followed farming from boyhood, and owns 234 acres ; he is a liberal Democrat, and was elected Trustee of the township in 1882 by a large majority ; he came to Porter County in October, 1844, settling where he now resides. Mrs. Stell is a member of the M. E. Church.

NICHOLAS THOBSEN, farmer and wood dealer at Burdick, was born in Prussia January 12, 1836, and is the youngest of the four children of Mathies and Anna M. (Jacobs) Thoesen, all of whom are in America ; his parents were born in Prussia, and died, his father in 1848, and his mother in 1854. Nicholas Thoesen came to the United States with his brothers in 1857. From then until the beginning of the late war, he was in many places in Indiana, Illinois and Mississippi. In May, 1861, he enlisted in Battery A, Illinois Light Artillery, seeing service at Pea Ridge and Vicksburg, thence to New Orleans and to Fort Morgan and Fort Gaines. While on the Gulf, he was sent to Springfield for discharge, his term having expired. He lived in La Porte County until 1869, and then came to Porter County. Returning to La Porte County, he lost |1,200 in trade, when he came again to Porter to engage in farming and chopping as a partner of A. Philipson. This season they will handle about two thousand cords. While in La Porte County, he was married to Verona Janney, November 25, 1872. They are members of the Catholic Church of Chesterton. Mr. Thoesen has both an English and German education. He formerly voted the Democratic ticket, but will hereafter support the Greenback cause.

FRANZ WIESEMANN was born in Westphalia, Prussia, June 28, 1828, and is the eldest of a family of three sons born to Adrian and Margaret (Grossmann) Wiesemann, all of whom are living in this county. His parents were born, reared, married and died in Prussia, his father November 1, 1853, and his mother in 1846. In 1852, Franz Wiesemann came to the United States for the purposes of living in a free country and procuring for himself a home ; he came to Indiana and stopped in La Porte County about two years, and later near Westville until 1869, when he came to Porter County and settled where he now resides. He is one of the most enterprising farmers in this county, owning 400 acres. While in Prussia, he married Regina Herr. To them seven children have been born - August, J. Peter, Franklin, Charles, William, Josephine and Dora. He and his family are Catholics. In politics, Mr. Wiesemann is a Democrat. His second son, J. Peter, is married, and a farmer in this township.

LEWIS WILLIAMS was born in Trumbull County, Ohio, May 4, 1826, and is one of the seven children of Stephen and Betsey (Medley) Williams ; his parents were natives of New England, and were among the first who emigrated to Trumbull County, where his father died and his mother is still residing. Lewis Williams lived with his parents until of age, receiving but very little education. In the autumn of 1848, he was married to Keziah Moore, of Trumbull County, a daughter of Joseph and Keziah (Springer) Moore, natives of Pennsylvania. Mr. Williams came to Porter County in 1865, and settled on 120 acres of land, 70 of which are improved. He served during the rebellion in Company C, One Hundred and Twenty-fifth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry. At the battle of Dalton, while lying behind a log with three others, firing at the enemy, who opened a cross fire, two of his comrades were killed, but he escaped with only a slight wound in the wrist ; he was honorably discharged when the war was ended, since which time he has been engaged in farming. Mr. and Mrs. Williams have had ten children - Charles (deceased), Lovina, Rogeltha, Flora, Roswell, Celia, Mary, Olive, Grant and Belle. Mr. Williams is a stanch Republican.

JOHN M. WILLIAMS, son of William and Lucretia (Starbuck) Williams, was born in Wayne County, Ind., December 13, 1888 ; his parents were natives of Tennessee and North Carolina, and came to Porter County, Ind., in 1845, where his father has since lived, his mother being dead ; his father was Justice of the Peace in Wayne County, and also Justice of the Peace and County Commissioner of this county. J. M. Williams is a thorough farmer ; he was a private in the war of the rebellion, in Company K, Seventy-third Indiana Volunteer Infantry, assigned to the Army of the Cumberland ; he was at the battle of Stone River, and on a raid through Kentucky, Tennessee and Alabama, under Col. Straight. During said raid the brigade was captured and sent to Richmond, where they were exchanged. At Indianapolis, Mr. Williams again entered the army, and was sent in pursuit of Gren. Morgan ; he served until the war closed. On January 1, 1866, he was married to Mary Morris, of Randolph County, Ind., daughter of David P. and Maria (Mann) Morris ; she died March 27, 1873, leaving two children - Charles L. and Nona. On April 3, 1878, he was married to Mary Herald, of Seneca County, Ohio. Mr. Williams is a member of Westville Lodge, No. 192, A., F. & A. M., and is a firm Republican.