Pleasant Township

Pleasant Township

JOHN ANDERSON was born in Ireland November 5, 1834. He was the eldest of two sons born to Robert and Margaret Anderson. The former was born October 16, 1807 ; was married to Margaret Adams, and after her death, in 1837, moved to Trumbull County, Ohio, and was again married, September, 1842, to Elizabeth Biggart, and about three years afterward moved to Porter County, Ind., purchased and moved on the farm on which he now lives in Pleasant Township. Our subject was also married, in Ireland, February 12, 1856, to Eliza Anderson, born September 21, 1838, and daughter of Robert and Mary Anderson, but no relation of our subject. He moved to Porter County, Ind., in 1868. He purchased the farm of 200 acres on which he now lives. There was born to him a family of nine children - Robert (deceased), William J., George B., Mary E., Margaret A., Anna, Robert (deceased), Newton (deceased) and Lillian.

BENJAMIN ASHER was born in Harrison County, Ohio, June 1, 1816. He was the youngest of a family of eight children born to Luke and Nancy Asher. He was married, in Guernsey County, Ohio, July, 1836, to Miss Sarah M. Hinline, and shortly afterward moved on a farm in that county, remaining until 1845. He then moved to Porter County, Ind., and has remained here since. His wife died October 28, 1866. He was next married, November 15, 1868, to Mahalah GriflBth, born in Porter County, Ind., June 2, 1846. He had a family of eleven children - Reading, Abraham (deceased), Edward, John, Paulina, Benjamin, Nancy, Caroline, by his first wife, and Lyman G., Carrie, Katie, by his present wife. He owns 200 acres of land, and is a member of the Masonic Order.

L. ATKINS, M. D., Kout's Station, Ind., was born at Westfield, Hampden Co., Mass., August 26, 1819. He was a son of Elisha Atkins, who was born in Connecticut October 8, 1792. His grandfather's name was Luther Atkins, and he was also a native of Connecticut, and was of English descent. In an early day, he moved to Hampden County, Mass., where he remained until his death. He served all through the Revolutionary war, and died in his eighty-fourth year. He was blessed with a family of six children, two of whom were sons, namely. Perry and Elisha, the father of the subject of our sketch. Elisha Atkins' occupation was that of a carpenter and joiner, which trade he pursued the principal part of his life. He married, at Westfield, Mass., in the year 1816. a Miss Polly Noble, who was born in Massachusetts, in the year 1796, and in the year 1832 moved to Ashtabula County, Ohio, and in 1846 moved to Porter County, Ind., where he now lives, at the advanced age of ninety years. His wife died in 1864. They had a family of nine children, of whom our subject was next to the eldest. He received his education in Ashtabula County, Ohio, and in 1844 came to Porter County, Ind., and the following winter began the study of medicine, being his own preceptor. He studied three years, and then began practice. February 27, 1845, he married Catharine Vandalsen, who was born in Franklin County, Ind., May 18, 1822. In 1865 and 1866, he attended lectures at Philadelphia, Penn., receiving a diploma. In the fall of 1880, he moved to Kout's Station, and opened up a drug store, and also resumed his practice. He has had born to him three children - Alzina (deceased). Adelaide and Blzina (deceased).

JOSEPH D. BARNES was born in Claremont, Sullivan Co., N. H., October 14, 1825 ; he was next to eldest of a family of five children born to Ira N. and Harriet (Eastman) Barnes. The former was born in Sullivan County, N. H., in the year 1800, and the latter in Vermont in 1802. They were married in the former county and State about the year 1822, and remained until his death in the year 1830, after which Mrs. Barnes was married to a Mr. C. B. Maynard. She died in 1863. Our subject, after his father's death, was taken by his grandfather to rear, and, when fourteen years of age, he began learning the tanner's trade, his uncle being his preceptor; he served an apprenticeship of seven years, when he came to Porter County, Ind., purchasing land in Boone Township. October 3, 1848, was married to Emily M. Price, who was born in Richland County, Ohio, October 24, 1827, and shortly afterward purchased a farm in Porter Township, on which he moved, and remained until 1855, then bought and moved on the farm where he now lives ; he owns 330 acres of land. He had born to him one daughter - Harriet E., deceased. Mr. Barnes is a member of the Masonic order.

GEORGE BIGGART was born in Ireland May 21, 1816, and is a son of Samuel and Margaret Biggart, also natives of Ireland ; the former born in 1791, the latter in 1795. In 1835, they came to America and went to Trumbull County, Ohio, thence to Porter County, Ind., and thence to California, where they died. George Biggart came, with his parents, to Trumbull County, Ohio, where he remained until 1837, when he came to Porter County ; he attended the land sales at La Porte, and purchased 220 acres of land. On July 27, 1842, he was married in Jennings County, Ind., to Parmelia Edmisfcer, who was born in the same county October, 1819. This union resulted in nine children - Marion (deceased), Jerome (deceased), Robert, Alfred (deceased), Sarah, Martha (deceased), Mary, Parmelia and Jane. After his marriage, Mr. Biggart removed to Porter County, and occupied the farm he had previously purchased, and on which he has since remained. He now owns, in all, 640 acres.

ROBERT E. BIGGART was born in Porter County, Ind., January 2, 1848 ; he was among a family of nine children born to George and Parmelia Biggart, of Pleasant Township, Porter County, Ind. He was married, December 24, 1874, to Jennie Birch, who was born in Porter County September 11, 1855, the daughter of William and Lizzie

Birch. After his marriage, he moved on the farm on which he now lives, and has remained since; he owns 210 acres of land, well improved. He has had a family of three children - Molly (deceased), Burtie and George. Mr. Blggart and wife are members of the Presbyterian Church.

MICHAEL HANNON was born in Ireland October, 1814; he was the youngest of a family of thirteen children born to Matthew and Mary Hannon. Our subject was married in Ireland, in the spring of 1842, to Ella Mulehon, who was born in the year 1812. In the year 1843, Mr. Hannon moved to La Porte County, Ind., remaining about four years ; he then moved to Porter County, Ind., and, in 1860, purchased the farm where he now lives ; he now owns 489 acres of land. Has a family of five children - Matthew, Mary, David, John and Thomas. He and wife are members of the Catholic Church.

JOHN H. HANNON was born in Porter County, Ind., January 27, 1852, and is a son of Michael Hannon, of Pleasant Township, Porter County. He was married, at Valparaiso, Ind., February 18, 1879, to Johanna, daughter of Edward and Bridget Hartnett; she was born at Valparaiso July 11, 1857. Shortly aftei- his m?irriage, he moved on the farm where he now lives. He has two children - Mary and James. He and wife are members of the Catholic Church.

S. D. JOHNSON was born at Perry, N. Y., May 13, 1829. He was fourth of a family of six children born to Moses and Eunice (Lyman) Johnson, who were natives of Connecticut, where they were married, and in an early day moved to Perry, N. Y., and in 1887 moved to Oakland County, Mich., where they remained until death. S. D. Johnson remained at home until after his father's death, and in 1849 went to California, engaging in mining some time, returning to Michigan, and in 1852 went on the Michigan Central Railroad as brakeman, and after one year was promoted to baggage-master, continuing that five years ; he then was promoted to conductor, which position he filled nineteen years. He was married, at Detroit, Mieh., May 3, 1859, to Mary M. Cooper. In 1850, Mr. Johnson moved to Porter County, Ind., and purchased and moved on the farm on which he now lives. He is one of the most energetic men of the township, and is respected by all with whom he is acquainted. He has a family of six children - Jessie E., Grace C, James H., Myra K., Hattie B. and Stephen D.

PRUDENCE MORRISON, widow of William Morrison (deceased). Mr. Morrison was born in Irsland July 5, 1800 ; he was married April 6, 1832, to Prudence Irvine, who was also born in Ireland May 15, 1809. Shortly afterward they moved to New York City, remaining until 1834, when they moved to Giles County, Va., where he purchased property and remained until 1852; then moved to Porter County, Ind., where he died January 11, 1876. Mrs. Morrison still remains on the old homestead on Section 24. She owns 400 acres of land and has had a family of ten children - Mary, Rebecca, Thomas (deceased), Lavinia, Catharine (deceased), Margaret, Victora, John E., George (deceased) and Sarah E. Mr. Morrison held the office of Justice of the Peace for some time ; he was a member of the M. E. Church, and died beloved and mourned by his fellowtownsmen.

HERMAN ROSENBAUM, merchant, Kout's Station, Ind., was born in Germany March 29, 1834 ; he was the youngest of a family of eight children, born to Martin and Elizabeth (Krenz) Rosenbaum, also natives of Germany. The former died when our subject was about six months old, succeeded by his wife about six months afterward. Our subject was then taken care of by his brother, whom he remained with until he was about fifteen years old ; he then went to Klotzmell, Germany, and began the miller's trade, with a Mr. Lewis Keil. In 1854, he started for America ; after a ten weeks' voyage he landed at New York City; shortly afterward he came to La Porte County, Ind., where he was married, November 13, 1861, to Ernestine Notezel, born in Germany October 20, 1841, and the following year purchased a farm in Cass Township, La Porte County, on which he remained one year. In 1874, he moved to where he now lives, and opened up a store which he has continued since. Mr. Rosenbaum has had a family of eleven children, nine of -whom they reared to be men and women, namely, Emma I., Mathilde C, Ada A., Frederick H., Gustav A., Albertine A., Paul W., Carl H., Ferdinand E. M.

S. R. SPENCER was born in Perry County, Ohio, June 17, 1819; he was the eldest of a family of seven children born to Jesse and Sarah (Tait) Spencer, who were natives of Pennsylvania. In 1841, our subject came to Porter County, Ind., and purchased land in Morgan Township ; he was married in this county. October 25, 1847, to Elizabeth Janes, born in Washington County, Ind., January 31, 1827, daughter of Rev. John Janes, the old pioneer preacher of Porter County. Shortly after his marriage, he moved on his farm, which he had purchased previously, remaining until the spring of 1848, and then moved to Pleasant Township, where he has remained since ; he owns 160 acres of land ; he has had a family of four children - James F. (deceased), infant daughter who died when young, Erasmus M. (deceased) and John. Mr. Spencer has held the office of Township Assessor four years, Township Treasurer two years, and Township Trustee for eleven years.

GILLEANN (JONES) TRINKLE, wife of William Trinkle (deceased)- Mr. Trinkle was born in Tennessee May 12, 1804, and was a son of Henry Trinkle, who was also a native of Tennessee, and moved to Washington County, Ind., in an early day, where he remained until death ; his family consisted of twelve children, among them being five sons, namely : William, Stephen, Henry, Alfred and John. William, the eldest son, was married in Washington County, Ind., July 25, 1832. Mrs. Trinkle was born in Randolph County, N. C., July 5, 1815. In 1835, Mr. Trinkle moved to Porter County, Ind.; settled on the farm where his widow now lives, remaining until his death, which occurred October 13, 1867. The family consisted of ten children - Nancy (dead), Henry, Catharine, John, Lucinda, Lambert (deceased), Leander, Randolph (deceased), William and Ella. Mrs. Trinkle owns 160 acres of land, and she and husband were the second white settlers of Pleasant Township.

JOHN WELSH was born in County Meath, Ireland, December 23, 1827; he was one of a family of eight children born to Michael and Mary (Shaw) Welsh, who were natives of Ireland, where they remained until death. In the year 1850, our subject came to Herkimer County, N. Y., where he was married, October 9, 1853, to Margaret Burns, who was born in County Louth, Ireland, November 1, 1830. Shortly afterward, he moved to La Porte County, Ind., where he engaged in cheesemaking four years, after which he engaged in farming, remaining until 1859, when he moved to Porter County, where he has remained since. In 1863, he purchased and moved on the farm on which he now lives ; he owns 385 acres of land in this county, and 240 in Bourbon County, Kan.; he has a family of four children - John W., Henry C, Sarah A. and Joseph J.; he and wife are members of the Catholic Church.

H. A. WRIGHT was bom at Valparaiso, Ind., January 23, 1840 ; he is next to eldest of a family of five children and the only son bom to John W. and Elizabeth Wright. The former was bora in Fayette County, Ky., July 4, 1812, the latter in Botetourt County, Va., April 7, 1814. They were married in Fountain County, Ind., October, 1834. In the year 1838, they moved to Porter County, Ind., settling in Valparaiso. The year following, John W. was elected Sherifi" of the county, and served two terms in succession ; he then bought a farm in Pleasant Township, moved on and remained five years, and then, having learned the miller's trade previous to his marriage, bought what is known as the Bigelow Mills in La Porte County, Ind.; moved there, and engaged in the same for twelve years, after which he moved to Tassinong, Porter County, Ind., and began the practice of law, which he pursued the remainder of his life. In 1866, he moved to Kout's Station, Ind., where he died August 20, 1867 ; his widow is still living at Kout's Station. Our subject attended school at Valparaiso, and in 1861 completed his education at what was then known as the Valparaiso Male and Female College, after which he taught school for some time ; he was married, December 25, 1864, to Miss Susie Maxwell, and shortly afterward moved to Kout's Station, and in partnership with Bamhart Kouts opened a store, which they conducted until 1878. Kouts going out, he conducted the business himself until 1880 ; he then sold out his store and is now engaged in the sale of agricultural implements, grain, etc.; he also owns 200 acres of fine land, and fine property in the village ; he has a family of three children, namely": Shirley, Edna and Musa. Mr. Wright is one of the most enterprising, energetic, and prominent men of the township, and is respected by all who know him.