Pine Township

Pine Township

CHARLES BATTYE was born in Yorkshire, England, January 3, 1821, and is the eldest of seven children born to William and Graco (Hobson) Battye ; his parents were born, reared and married in England ; his father was a weaver, at which he worked many years (also as a bookkeeper) before coming to this country, in the year 1854, and to Porter County in 1857, where he resided until his death, in 1872 ; he and his wife died within thirty hours of each other. Both are. buried in Michigan City. Charles Battye came to the United States in 1848, and worked in a carding establishment at Lowell, Mass., until 1857, when ho came to Porter County and purchased eighty acres of woodland. After building a cabin and clearing for a year, he returned to Lowell and resumed carding, continuing until 1867, when he again came to Porter County and remained, engaged in farming and stock-raising. , On October 9, 1842, he was married to Eleanor Harrison, born March 7, 1820,. in England, and died December 13, 1879, leaving one child - Uriah H., now in Massachusetts. In politics, Mr. Battye is a Democrat.

HENRY BRUMMITT, eldest son of Aaron and Ann (Wilbey) Brummitt, was born in Yorkshire, England, October 21, 1824, and he and his brother William are the only members of the family living in Indiana. Henry Brummitt, when but ten years old, commenced work at.

weaving, and continued until he was twenty-one ; he then entered the worsted-yarn establishment, leaving for the United States with the best recommendations, in 1857, and reaching Michigan City April 20 of that year, engaging in lumbering until 1861, when he made his first purchase of land, consisting of thirty-three acres, and afterward twelve more ; ho now owns 112 acres, eighty of which are improved. On February 6. 1848, while in England, he was married to Mary A. Oxley, daughter of John and Mary A. (Hampshire) Oxley. She was born March 10, 1826. They have a family of six - George, Anna (now Mrs. A. Mills), Elizabeth, Alfred W., Alice E. and John H. Mr. and Mrs. Brummitt arc members of the M. E. Church. Mr. Brummitt is a Republican, and served his adopted country in the army from 1864 until the late wav closed.

WILLIAM BRUMMITT, one of the early settlers of Pine Township, was born in Yorkshire, England, August 23, 1832, being one of twelve born to Aaron and Ann (Wilbey) Brummitt. Seven of this family are living, five in America, and two of these in this county ; his parents were natives of Yorkshire ; his father was born in 1800, his mother in 1802. The elder Brummitt was a spinner and .weaver, at which he worked until advanced age, and died March 14, 1882, aged eighty-one years ; his widow is living in England. William Brummitt -remained with his parents until manhood, learning the trade of weaving, at which he worked until 1856 ; his education is limited. In 1856, growing tired of his trade, he determined to come to America, procure land and become a farmer. In that year, he came to Porter County, and in 1858 made his first purchase of three acres. This he cleared, and in 1860 purchased forty more adjacent, and, by purchases since, now owns 325 acres, 275 of which arc improved, with good buildings. In 1864, he entered the army, and served until the close of the war ; he was married November 20, 1853, to Mary Lucas, a native of Yorkshire, England, born October 23, 1832. and daughter of Mark and Grace Lucas ; her parents lived and died in England. Mr. and Mrs. Brummitt have six children - Mark L. (born January 24, 1858), John W. (born September 12, 1859), Maria (born November 6, 1860), Jennie (January 15, 1863, now Mrs. W. P. Goodykoontz), Emily (born June 4, 1865) and Arthur (born August 7, 1870. All of these have literary tastes, four having been teachers. Mr. and Mrs. Brummitt, with four of the family, are members of the Christian Church, and he and his son Mark of Calumet Lodge, No. 379, A., F. & A. M. Mr. Brummitt is a Democrat, and now serving his fourth term as Justice of the Peace. His son is an Assessor of the township.

YOUNGER FRAME, son of John and Ufa (Peak) Frame, was born in Preble County, Ohio, January 1, 1832 ; his father was born in Kentucky in 1804, and came to Preble County when quite young; his mother was born in Ohio in 1810, and lived there till after her marriage. In 1835, they emigrated to Michigan City, La Porte County, where Mr. Frame followed the coopering business. In 1849, they came to Porter County, settling in Pine Township, when his mother died December 29, 1860, and his father February 29, 1872. Younger Frame lived with h\a parents until twenty-nine years old. After receiving an ordinary school education, he learned his father's trade, but has worked much more at farming, having now 212 acres in this and La Porte Counties. On February 28, 1861, he was married to Maria L. Weston, a daughter of Isaac and Louisa (Randall) Weston, and born March 7, 1839 ; her parents were early settlers of La Porte County. They have had three children - Hattie E., Cary J. and Chauncey B. During 1881-82, Mr. Frame has built a cheese factory, the only one in the township. When he first came hither, his farm was a wilderness, necessitating clearing and the building of a log cabin ; he has now good improvements and seventy-five acres under cultivation. Mr. Frame is a Democrat, but liberal in local government.

DR. J. M. GOODWIN, one of the oldest practitioners of medicine in Porter County, and born in Tompkins County, N. Y., June 12, 1812. His parents were Richard and Prudence (Hollister) Goodwin. He has a noted ancestry, many having taken part in the struggle for independence, his grandfather having served as commissary in Gen. Washington's army for seven years. His father was a Methodist minister for fifty years, and his mother one of the survivors of the Wyoming massacre in 1777, being saved almost providentially. They were among the pioneers of Tompkins County, N. Y., and built the first grist-mill in the lake region. Dr. Goodwin lived with his parents until his manhood, being the youngest of twelve children. His living brother was a minister, and for one term State Senator in New York. Dr. Goodwin began the study of medicine at his eighteenth year, and graduated from Geneva Medical College in 1836 ; he then managed his home affairs until 1842, when he moved to Aurora, 111., where he practiced four years, when he returned to New York and engaged in practice until 1856 ; thence he came to Porter County, where he has since lived and practiced, giving his services to soldiers' families during the late war. He was married, August 25, 1841, to Sarah Biggs, a daughter of Michael and Tobisa (Semans) Biggs, who were among the earliest settlers of Seneca County, N. Y. Mr. and Mrs. Goodwin have had four children - Louisa (now Mrs. H. Killmer), Clayton S. (of La Porte County), William H. and Elizabeth (now Mrs. M. Frame, of Chicago. In politics, Dr. Goodwin is a Democrat, and has represented the party as Justice of the Peace for thirteen years. His first vote was for Van Buren in 1836. His son Clayton was a soldier in the late war, and was severely wounded at the battle of Stone River.

S. C. HACKETT was born in Seneca County, Ohio, March 1. 1829, and is the eldest of a family of three children born to Henry and Sarah (Cotton) Hackett, the former having been born in Vermont, and the latter in New York February 28, 1809, where they resided until their maturity, when they removed to Seneca County, Ohio, in 1825, and were married the following year. Henry Hackett died when our subject was five years of age, from which time until he was seventeen he lived witli his mother and uncle. At this age, he encountered the world, and went to Lake County, 111., where he worked until twenty-one years old, when he was overtaken by the " gold fever," crossed the plains to California, and engaged in mining, with varied success, for two years, when, from failing health, he came to La Porte County, Ind., and after a year to Porter County, where he has since resided. Here he gave attention to lumbering and furnishing wood for the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern

Railroad and the Chicago markets, at which he continued until 1868, when he superintended a large tract of land for Loveland & Co., of Janeaville, Wis., thus continuing until 1879, when he purchased the major part of the company's land, and began manufacturing charcoal, as well as clearing the said land. He believes he has produced more charcoal than any man in Indiana. In 1881, he began farming. He was married while in La Porte County, January 1, 1855, to Ann J. Weston, born in La Porte County September 12, 1836, a daughter of Isaac and Louisa (Randall) Weston. They have had four children, three of whom are living - Emily, Mina and William C. Mr. Hackett is a member of Westville Lodge, No. 192, of Masons. Previous to 1872, he was a Republican, but has since affiliated with the Democratic party, to which he still adheres. He has held all the township offices, and is prominent in politics, and a most respected citizen. By hard work and good management, he has obtained over 1,100 acres in La Porte and Porter Counties. HENRY HACKETT, son of Henry and Sarah (Cotton) Hackett, was born in Seneca County, Ohio, January 22, 1832. His father dying during his childhood, he went to live with an uncle, with whom he remained until he was nineteen years old, when he went to Kent County, Mich., and engaged in farming ; there he remained until 1868, when he came to Porter County, Ind., and settled permanently. He enlisted during the war of the rebellion, at an early call, in the First U. S. Sharpshooters. The regiment was composed of companies from eleven States, accurate markmanship being a requisite for enrollment. They took part in the Peninsula campaign, and at White Oak Swamp Mr. Hackett was wounded by a piece of shell, incapacitating him for six months ; after this he had charge of the sanitary warehouse at Point Lookout, Md., where he remained until the end of his term, being discharged August 22, 1864, since which date he has been engaged in farming. On August 27, 1852, in Kent County, Mich., he was married to Matilda Fitch, daughter of Amasa and Jane (Tinkler) Fitch, and a native of Genesee County, N. Y. They have but one child - Alta A., now a young lady and a teacher. Previous to 1876, Mr. Hackett was a Republican; since that period, he has been a Greenbacker. He was Trustee of Pine Township from 1S74 to 1876.

WILLIAM KEMPER, son of William and Elizabeth (Phol) Kem^ per, was born in La Porte County, Ind., January 25, 1857. His father was a native of Prussia, born in the province of Westphalia August 3, 1825. At the age of twenty-eight, he came to the United States, and settled in La Porte County, Ind.; he was a stonemason and bricklayer, and removed to Porter County in 1858; here he lived until his death, February 4, 1881. His mother was also a native of Westphalia, and born September 7, 1827; she came to America in 1855, and was married the following year, she now lives in Michigan City. Our subject was one of six children, and lived at home until manhood, receiving as a boy the education of the ordinary schools, and afterward working as a farmer in charge of the homestead. He was married, October 10, 1881, to Barbara Kasmatkey, a native of Prussia. Mr. and Mrs. Kemper are members of the Catholic Church of Michigan City. In polities, Mr. Kemper is a Democrat, but exceedingly liberal in all home affairs.

WILLIAM LEWRY, senior member of the firm of William Lewry & Son, manufacturers of wagons, buggies, etc., at Furnessville, was born in the county of Sussex, England, October 18, 1834. He is the eldest of the five children of David and Mary (Leopard) Lewry, and the only one in America ; his parents were natives of England, his father being a manufacturing blacksmith and wagon-maker in Brighton, where he resided until his death, in 1856. William Lewry remained with his parents until manhood. At the age of twelve, he began to learn his father's trade, and at nineteen he was master thereof. In 1855, he was offered a position at Niagara, in America ; here he was a partner in the shop and worked some time, afterward opening a shop at Sweden Center, N. Y. In 1858, he settled in Porter County, near his present residence. In 1864, he entered the army, in Company E, Ninth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and remained until discharged, June 20, 1865 ; he now opened a blacksmith and repairing shop, and later a manufacturing establishment at Furnessville ; he was married April 15, 1854, in England, to Sarah Lee. They have seven children - Elizabeth (born June 4, 1855), Henry (born January 29, 1858), Eugene (born February 8, 1861), William (born September 8, 1862), Carrie (born July 5, 1866), Annie M. (born October 20, 1874) and Richard D. (born January 27, 1879). In politics, Mr. Lewry is a Democrat, and represents his party as a Township Trustee.

ALBION L. MILES was born in Jefferson County, Va., May 1, 1830, and is a son of Henry C. and Martha (Rhoades) Miles ; his parents were born, reared and married in Montgomery County, Md. ; his ancestry were true patriots ; both his grandfathers served in the Revolutionary war, and his father in that of 1812 ; his parents moved to Jefferson County, Va., about 1823, and reared a family of nine children. They both died in said county. At the age of fifteen, Albion L. Miles began the struggle of life by learning the trade of a mason, and finished at the age of twenty, working as a mason at various times since then. In 1853, he went to La Porte County, and came to Porter County in 1865, dividing the time between masonry and farming. On December 24, 1851, he was married to Catharine Lewis, daughter of Lewis and Elizabeth (Hughes) Lewis, both natives of Wales. Mrs. Miles came to the United States in 1841. They have had five children, three of whom remain - Harry L., Thomas L. (both in New Mexico) and Albion P. Politically, Mr. Miles is a Democrat ; he has been Assessor of the township five years, and is now Justice of the Peace. Of his children, all are, or have been, telegraph operators.

GEORGE PORTER, one of the oldest settlers in Pine Township, was born in Northampton County, Mass., April 16, 1809. His parents, Elisha and Anna (Baker) Porter, were natives of Connecticut. They were of English descent. Our subject has always followed farming. He came West to Porter County in 1847, and has since lived there. He was married, in January, 1833. to Harriet Crandall, a native of New York, who departed this life in July, 1881. In politics, he is a Republican, but always liberal in local affairs.

GEORGE "W". SHANER was born in Jefferson County, Va., June 10, 1820, and was the second of a family of four children born to John and Cassanda (Kidwell) Shaner; his ancestry on his father's side was from Germany ; on his mother's, from England ; his grandfather was a soldier of the Revolution, and his father of the war of 1812. The parents of George W. Shaner lived in Virginia until their death, and with them our subject remained until he reached manhood; he learned the trade of carpentering, at which he worked for fifteen years, and, never having an opportunity to attend school, is wholly self-educated. On coming West, he went to La Porte County, Ind., in 1849, and thence to Porter County, where he has since resided. On January 19, 1851, he was married to Lucinda Frame, of this county, but a native of Ohio. She died July 16, 1864, leaving four children - Malinda (now Mrs. A. McCarty), Priscilla (now Mrs. A. Cotton), Lyman and Younger. On June 13, 1867, he was married to Maria Augustine, of La Porte County, by whom he has three children - Laura V., Ida and Butler. Mrs. Shaner is a member of the Baptist Church, while Mr. Shaner is a Methodist, and has successfully organized a fine Sabbath school in his home district. In politics, he is a Democrat, but liberal in local government!

D. S. STEVES, only survivor of the four organizers of Pine Township, was born in Westmoreland County, N. Y., August 28, 1809, and is the eldest' of a family of nine born to Isaac and Lovina (Seeley) Steves. His father was of German descent, but born in the State of New York, as was also his mother; his father was a soldier of the war of 1812, and in many hard-fought battles on the Canadian frontier. D. S. Steves remained with his parents until of age, when he came to Detroit, but disliking the place, came to La Porte County, (where he worked some time) ; and thence to this county in 1835; here he worked in a saw-mill two years, and in 1837 purchased the land he now owns ; he remembers the "financial crash" of that year, when he began clearing, farming and stock-raising. On December 25, 1843, he was married to Almira Dutton, of Welsh parentage, but born in New Hampshire; she was well educated, and a teacher before her marriage. They had eight children, six of whom survive - Sarah L., Isaac L., Julia, Daniel S., Harriet (now Mrs. D. Crandall) and Nellie (now Mrs. R. Stienke). Mrs. Dutton died April 19, 1870. Mr. Steves, with three others, organized this township in 1854, naming it after the pine tree, found only in this township of the county. In politics, Mr. Steves is a stanch Republican ; he has been Trustee of the township and Election Inspector for more than twenty years.

JOHN STORMS is a native of Prussia, born March 23, 1820, being one of the three sons of Christian and Krate (Michael) Storms, who were bom, married, and who died in Prussia. John Storms lived with his parents until he reached his majority, and afterward worked as a laborer until he came to the United States, in the year 1857, when he came to Porter County, Ind., where he worked some time as a laborer ; he purchased his first land in 1865, and now has 155 acres. On October 9, 1843, he was married to Mary Shutt, also a native of Germany. To this union there have been born six children - August, Christian, Frank, Henry, Minnie (now Mrs Dr. Warren, of Otis) and Emma. Mr. and Mrs. Storms are members of the Lutheran Church of Otis. In politics, Mr. Storms is an earnest Democrat, with which party he has voted ever since he became a citizen of America.

EDWIN F. WAY, son of Hiram and Mary A. (Porter) Way, was born in Chemung County, N. Y., October 8, 1842, the second of a family of five, three of whom are in this county ; his father was a native of New York, and his mother of Massachusetts ; his father was engaged in lumbering before coming here ; he came to Porter County in 1855, where he resided until two months before his death, which occurred in Missouri, February, 1882. Edwin F. Way lived with his parents until he became of age, when he enlisted as private in the Fourth Indiana Artillery, attached to the Army of the Cumberland, taking part in the battles of Perryville and Stone River, after which he was discharged on account of disability. In 1865, he re-enlisted in the Ninth Illinois Cavalry, and served until the end of the war. On November 12, 1867, he was married to Jemima George, daughter of Henry and Elizabeth (Green) George, and born in St. Lawrence County, N. Y., August 21, 1851. To them have been born four children, three of whom are living - Clara L., Henry A. and Winfield M. Mr. and Mrs. Way are members of the M. E. Church. Mr. Way is a stanch Republican ; he is a farmer, and possesses ninety-five acres of land.