Washington Township

Washington Township

WILLIAM J. BARNES was born in Somerset County, Penn., September 10, 1829. He is the third child of a family of thirteen born to Asahel and Amy (Watts) Barnes ; twelve of this family are yet living, our subject and a sister residing in this county. The parents of our subject moved from Pennsylvania to Canada he was very young, and there resided till 1860, -when the family scattered. His mother died in 1863, his father being alive in Michigan, and in his eighty-second year. Our subject began at fourteen years of age to work by the month, and so continued until eighteen years old, when he learned the carpenter trade. In 1851 and 1852, he traveled through the West, trading with the Indians, and working one season on the Mississippi River. He came to Porter County on December 29, 1854, settling in Prattville, where he worked as a carpenter five years, and then settled on his present farm of 133 acres. He was married November 25, 1855, to Margaret J. Babcock, who was born in Porter County November 7, 1836 ; she is a daughter of Clark Babcock, an early settler. To this union five children were born - Amy A., wife of William Stoner, of Washington Township ; Carrie J., wife of Lucian Crumpacker, of Butler County, Neb.; Martha S., Ira C. and Dale E. Mr. Barnes is a member of the Grand Temperance Council of Indiana, and one of the Porter County committee of workers for temperance reform. Politically, he is a Republican.

JAMES BAUM, one of the pioneers of Porter County, was born in Crawford County, Penn., February 4, 1799, and is a son of John and Catherine (Randolph) Baum. His mother died when he was an infant, and he was reared by his grandmother. His father remarried, and he resided with him until his majority ; his father had been an Indian spy during the war of 1812. Our subject also served as a wagoner in that war. He moved with his parents to Stark County, Ohio in 1814, and he heard the roar of Perry's battle in that year on Lake Erie. His father subsequently removed from Stark County, Ohio, to St. Joseph County, Mich., where he died. Our subject removed from Stark County to Richland County in 1823, residing there until 1835, when he came to Porter County. His land was purchased at the land sales of 1835, he now having 3l0 acres of excellent soil. He was married, in Stark County, to Rebecca Miller, of Huntingdon County, Penn., a daughter of Peter Miller. Mr. and Mrs. Baum have had nine children - John, Jesse, Peter M., Enoch ; Lavina, deceased ; Lucinda, wife of J. Bushore, of Iowa ; James W.; Rebecca J., wife of William Wick ell, of Kansas; and Sarah J., deceased. His children are all married, his eldest son having been in California and Oregon for thirty-five years. In politics, Mr. Baum is a stanch Democrat, his first vote having been cast for Gen. Jackson in 1824. Mrs. Baum is a member of the Christian Church.

JAMES W. BAUM is a son, of James and Rebecca (Miller) Baum, and was born in Porter County, Ind., September 21, 1837. Mr. Baum lived with his parents until after his majority, receiving the usual school education of the time. His business has been farming, and that alone, since boyhood, he not having learned any trade. On September 21, 1864, he was married to Marian Axe, a daughter of Jacob and Agnes C. (Cornell) Axe. She was born November 16, 1842 ; her parents were early settlers, taking up a home near the city of Valparaiso, in 1836, where they resided until her father's death ; her mother is now living in Delaware County, Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. Baum have had a family of seven children, four of whom are living - Fannie, Allen, Ross and Lollie. Mr. Baum has an attractive and valuable farm comprising forty acres of land. He is a Democrat, but liberal in his political views, and generally esteemed.

HARMON BEACH, one of the early settlers of Porter County, was born in Litchfield County, Conn., May 8, 1812. He is one of six children born to Ezra and Polly (Stoddard) Beach, all of whom are living in this county. His parents were born, reared and married in Connecticut. They moved to Canada about 1818, where they resided until 1840, when they came to Porter County, remaining until their death. Our subject came to Porter County in 1837 ; he received a fair education, and learned the occupation of carpenter and joiner, at which he worked about twelve years. On coming here, he purchased the farm he still occupies. He now owns 1,038 acres of land in this county, besides 120 acres in Montana. He was married, September 15, 1855, to Olive Crane, of New York, but at the time a resident of Porter County ; she is a daughter of Jesse and Joanna Crane, and was born in 1830. They have had a family of five cbildren - Mary, Eugene and Clara living, and Lester and Ella dead. At the time Mr. Beach came to this county, there were many Indians in the neighborhood, his farm being one of their hunting grounds. The prosperity of our subject, and his possessions, are to be attributed, mainly, with a good share of fortune, to his industry and economy. He is a Democrat in politics, but a very liberal one.

of Connecticut, moving from that State to Canada at an early day, thence moving hither and settling on Morgan Prairie in 1838, where they resided until 1867, at that period moving to Jackson Township, their present residence. Mr. Willard Beach has obtained a reasonably fair educacation, and has followed the primitive life of a farmer since his boyhood. He came to the place on which he lives, and which he owns, in 1867 ; it comprises ninety acres, and is well improved. On January 1, 1861, he was married to Hannah Peoples, who died June 8, 1874, leaving a family of six children - Leva, Lyman, Ella, Wilden, Walter and Ralph. On December 23, 1874, he was married to Rosanna Adams, a native of this county, and born in 1835 ; she is a member of the Christian Church. By this second marriage he has had two children born to him - Mattie and Stella ; both of whojp, however, are dead. Mr. Beach is a Democrat, but one of the most liberal of that shade of political opinion.

JARED BLAKE, one of the early settlers of Porter County, was born in La Porte County, Ind., December 16, 1835 ; he is one of a family of seven children born to Jacob and Eleanor (Walton) Blake, four of whom are living - three in this county and one in Kansas. His parents were born, reared and married in what is now West Virginia, whence they emigrated to Jackson County, Ohio, stopping there a short time before going to La Porte County, Ind., and thence coming to Porter County in 1836, where his father died in 1844 ; his mother died in this township in 1870. Jared Blake lived at home until he was of age, having always followed the occupation of a farmer, and being now owner of 130 acres in this township, 100 of which are improved. He was married January 15, 1868, to Amelia Beach, of this county, born May 29, 1848 ; she is a daughter of Sheldon Beach. To this union five children have been given - Frank W., Alice A., Otto V., Harry S. and Laura P. Mr. Blake was a soldier in the war against the rebellion, having enlisted in Company H, One Hundred and Forty-sixth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, in 1864, under Capt. Sparks, remaining until the close of the war. He was one of the guards at the obsequies of the lamented President Lincoln, in 1865.

ISAAC V. BOND, born in Wayne County, Ind., is one of seven born to Jesse and Mary (Vore) Bond, three of whom live in this State and one in California. His father was a native of North Carolina, his mother of Pennsylvania ; they came to Indiana before its admission as a State, remaining until 1831, when they removed to Kalamazoo County, Mich.; thence to La Porte County, Ind., where they resided until their decease, his mother dying in 1878, and his father in 1882. Our subject received a fair education, and has taught several terms. When about twenty-five years old, he visited the . Southern States, and in 1850, the " land of gold" - California. In this adventure, he was three times shipwrecked and three times paid passage ; he engaged in mininc, and after in saw-milling, remaining two years, and returning by way of Central America, and reaching La Porte in 1853. Here he was married, on September 10, of the same year, to Mary E. Rogers, of La Porte County, when he settled to farming, but after eleven years made an overland trip to Idaho in 1864. He has visited nineteen States, nine Territories and Central and South America, having traveled over 33,000 miles, gaining much information and many curiosities. He came to Porter County, Ind., in December, 1864, settling on the land he now has - ninety-one acres. His wife died October 16, 1875, leaving two children - William A. and Frank A., both farmers. His second marriage was to Martha H. Underwood (O'Hara), and took place February 15, 1882 ; she is a daughter of John and Mary Underwood, old settlers of La Porte County. Mr. Bond is a stanch Republican, and has been Assessor of Washington Township ; he is a Quaker in religion, and a Freemason. Mrs. Bond belongs to the M. E. Church.

A. L. BROWN, son of Joseph and Susan (Carter) Brown, was born in Spencer County, Ind., February 4, 1830; the youngest of thirteen children, five of whom are living. Our subject and a brother in Valparaiso represent the family in this county ; his father was a native of Virginia, his mother of North Carolina ; his grandparents came from Kentucky to Spencer County, Ind., in company with Abraham Lincoln's parents, in 1816, living as neighbors many years. Mr. Brown's father came to this county about 1835, where he lived until his death, August 3, 1850 ; he was a farmer, a Democrat and an admirer of fine horses. Our subject, at the age of.thirteen, left Spencer County with an older brother and went to Missouri, where he remained seven years, returning to Porter County in 1849, and here h-e has since resided. In his youth, he learned the tobacco and cigar making trade, but has, by preference, followed farming ; he has now two farms, comprising 360 acres, about 250 of which are cultivated ; he has also good buildings and various improvements. On October 4, 1853, he was married to Catharine Malone, daughter of Wilson Malone ; they have a family of six children - Ella (wife of Benjamin Flood, of La Porte County), Cassius (married and living in this township), Frederick, William, Walter and Aaron. In politics, Mr. Brown is a Democrat, but an extremely liberal one.

WILLIAM T. BROWN was born in Mississippi County, Mo., September 11, 1848, and is the son of Prester and Mahala (Beckwith) Brown, who were natives of this State, and settled in this county in 1849, on Morgan Prairie. His occupation since boyhood has been mainly farming, although he has worked at the carpenter's trade. He has at the present time a very excellent farm of 190 acres, the greater part of which has been cleared and improved by himself. Not having the best opportunities for acquiring knowledge in his youth, his education is somewhat limited. For several years he has done considerable threshing, being the owner of a good steam threshing machine. On July 2, 1873, he was married to Indiana Shinabarger, a native of this county. To this union a family of two children have resulted - Nattie and Myron. Mr. Brown is a Democrat, but one of the liberal stamp. He is a fair business man, and in the aflFairs of life has been reasonably successful.

JAMES BUNDY was born in Fayette County, Ind., May 5, 1826, and is a son of James and Maria (Koffman) Bundy ; his parents were born and married in Northumberland County, Penn;, and came to Fayette County, Ind., about the year 1820, among the first settlers. In 1832, they took up eighty acres in Elkhart County, hewing a place in the wood for a cabin of logs, using greased paper for widow panes. They came to Porter County in 1841, settling on what is now the "Wilson farm;" his father died in 1858, his mother in 1855. James Bundy lived at home until of age, receiving a common school education ; he is a farmer, and has worked at carpentering, but never learned the trade. On December 7, 1851, he was married to Adaline Philips, daughter of John and Esther (Bachelor) Philips, born June 27, 1831. Mr. and Mrs. Bundy have had seven children, five of whom are living - John K., William, George W. (the last two are carpenters, and have built some fine buildings in this county), Frank and Mary. Mr. Bundy has a snug farm of forty acres, on which he now resides. In politics, he, together with his sons, is a Eepublican.

S. A. CAMPBELL, one of the pioneers of Porter County, was born in Chautauqua County, N. Y., February 8, 1821, and is the eldest of three sons born to Adam S. and Polly (Adams) Campbell, and the only one now living. His parents were born, brought up and married in the State of New York. They came Westward when our subject was twelve years of age, and settled on Morgan Prairie, in Porter County. Mr. Campbell was Justice of the Peace, School Commissioner, and served one term in the State Legislature as a Democrat ; he died in August, 1850, but Mrs. Campbell is still living with her son, and eightyfour years old. Our subject came to this county with his parents in 1833, and remained with them until of age ; he attended the first school taught in this county, on Section ^8 of this township, in 1834 and 1885. On March 13, 1847, he was married to Harriet Cornell of Wayne County, Ohio, but then residing here ; she died in June, 1864, leaving a family of four children - Myron and Marvin (twins), Otto and Helen, wife of D. Eastburn, of Benton County, Ohio ; his second marriage, to Elizabeth (Bartholomew) Finney, took place September 21, 1875 ; she is a daughter of Jeremiah Bartholomew, and was born March 11, 1822, her parents coming to the county in ] 834. In politics, Mr. Campbell is a Democrat, and has been Township Trustee for many years ; he is a member of the Blue and Chapter Lodges, also of the Commandery of Masons. Mrs. C. is a member of the Presbyterian Church. The Campbells are perhaps the second oldest family in Porter County, the oldest being the Morgans, of Westchester Township.

RUSSEL COHOON is a native of Yates County, N. Y.; he was born August 2, 1808, and is a son of Stuart and Charity (Culver) Cohoon ; he is the eldest of his family ; his father was a native of Connecticut, his mother of New Jersey ; his father was a Captain in the war of 1812 ; he lived in the State of New York until 1820, when he moved to Erie County, Penn., and there died in 1836 ; his grandfather served in the Revolution. Our subject lived at home until of age, and received a fair education for the time, having taught two terms of school ; he - learned the trade of a joiner, at which he worked iu connection with wagon-making for many years, and nine years at saw-milling ; he came to Porter County in February, 1851, settling on the farm which he now owns - a splendid one of eighty-five acres, besides good buildings. He was married October 1, 1829, to Anna Colver, of Yates County, N. Y.; by this union he had five children - Llewellyn J., Avery R., Elliott, Ceylon and Melross ; his wife died August 18, 1855 ; his second marriage was to Mrs. Nancy C. Hayner, who was born April 6, 1822 ; by this union Mr. Cohoon had born to him four children - Charles, Carrie C. (now wife of N. Dawson, of this county), Ellsworth and Grant : the boys are farmers ; by a former marriage Mrs. Cohoon had two children. She is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Cohoon is a Republican and a member of the Unitarian Church ; he has been Justice of the Peace twenty-one years.

NATHAN COOPER, son of Jacob and Elizabeth (Joseph) Cooper, was born in Putnam County, Ohio, January 10, 1841. Regarding his parents, Mr. Cooper knows but very little, inasmuch as they died when he was extremely young ; he lived with his grandparents until he was about nine years of age, afterward with a man named William Beard until his fifteenth year, when he began the battle of existence for himself; he came here in the autumn of 1855, in company with his uncle, M. Joseph. Mr. Cooper, despite his lack of opportunity for education, has informed himself sufficiently for the requirements of business ; he moved upon the place he now holds on the day of President Lincoln's inauguration, March 4, 1861. He was married, January 11, 1866, to Lydia A. Stoner, of Porter County, born July T, 1844, and a daughter of Abraham Stoner, one of the earliest settlers, coming hither in 1833. Mr. and Mrs. Cooper have had two children - Frankie, born July 13, 1870, and Lulu B., November 6, 1880. Mr. Cooper has followed farming from boyhood, and has 425 acres of land, as fine a stock farm as the county contains. In politics, he is independent or neutral, supporting, as he believes, the best man among all.

THEOPHILUS CRUMPACKER, son of Owen and Hannah (Woodford) Crumpacker, was born in Montgomery County, Va., January 18, 1822 ; he is one of a family of nine children, six of whom are living ; his parents were also Virginians ; his ancestry on his father's side were from Germany, and on his mother's from England. The subject of our sketch came with his parents from Virginia to Union County, Ind., in 1828, and in 1834 came to Porter County ; his father settled upon land purchased from the Government, afterward moving to La Porte County, where he died July 23, 1848. Mr. Crumbacker lived with his parents until he became of age, receiving a fair school education, and remained until 1863, when he removed to Kankakee County, 111., but returned to Porter County in 1865, and settled upon the farm he now owns, a fine one of 245 acres. Mr. Crumpacker has been a stanch Republican since the party was formed, having represented his county in the State Legislature three terms, from 1872 to 1878, and being the only man of his county who has served that number of terms. While in La"Porte County, he was four years Township Trustee ; he has now retired. On February 27, 1847, he was married to Harriet Emmons, a daughter of William and Elsie (Kirk) Emmons, and born November 17, 1823. Eight children, seven of whom are living, were born to them - John W., Edgar, Daniel, Eliza A. (deceased), Peter, Nettie, Charlie and Grant. The eldest, John W., was born in La Porte County March 19, 1849, where he received a good education and taught public school four terms. He was married, January 3, 1877, to Anna J. Smith, daughter- of Martin Smith ; she was born March 31, 1849, in Huron County, Ohio. In 1872, John W. Crumpacker entered the

County Treasarer's oflSce as Deputy, and, in 1878, was elected Treasurer by the Republicans ; he is now serving his second term ; he belongs to the I. 0. 0. F., also the 0. F. Encampment ; his wife is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

H. W. FORBES is the eldest son of J. T. and Martha (Pettit) Forbes, parents of seven children, five still living; he was born near Hamilton, Upper Canada, January 6, 1843, and came with his parents to Porter County in 1854 ; he attended a common school until he was nineteen years old, when he attended three terms at the Valparaiso College ; he has worked mostly at farming, but at present owns a mill near Coburg; he has also dealt in grain and wood, shipping from Coburg, where he was the first agent for the B. & 0. R. R.; he was also appointed the first Postmaster, which position he now holds, it being largely due to his influence that said post office was established ; he has 195 acres of land, about 130 of which are cultivated, and has besides buildings and other improvements. In politics, Mr. Forbes is a liberal Democrat. He was married, January 26, 1868, to Helen Shinabarger, the daughter of Jacob Shinabarger, who was born in La Porte County December 1, 1845. To this marriage a family of five have been born, only two oi whom survive - Ross C. and Ruby J. The mother of Mrs. Forbes, now eighty-one years of age, residing with our subject. The first school attended by Mr. Forbes was a missionary school for the Indians : he attended here three years.

THADDEUS H. FORBES, son of J. T. and Martha (Pettit) Forbes, was born near Coburg, Upper Canada, August 20, 1851; he came with his parents to Porter County in 1854, and attended the common schools until about eighteen years old, thereby receiving a very fair education; he remained at home until past his majority, and was married, June 26, 1875', to Nora Pinney, of La Porte County, Ind., daughter of Horace Pinney, and born September 4, 1852, her parents being among the oldest settlers of that county. Since his marriage he has been engaged in farming, clearing land and stock raising ; he has a good farm of 150 acres, about eighty of which are improved, together with good, necessary buildings; he was for four years Deputy Postmaster of Coburg, and also kept a grocery for three years, but is now employed in farming. Like other members of his father's family, he is a Democrat, but exceedingly liberal in his political views.

JOHN HANSFORD was born in Somerset, England, January 8, 1813, and is third of a family of four children born to John and Sarah (Pickford) Hansford; Mr. Hansford thinks he is the only one of his family now living ; his parents were born and died* in England. Our subject received no school education, but is wholly self-instructed ; he left England for New York at fifteen years of age, where he stopped a short time, thence moved to New Jersey, where he lived until 1832, thence to New Orleans, Cuba, and finally landed in Chicago in 1836 ; he stayeil m Cook County, 111., until 1842, when he settled in Washington Town- Qon'^*^'^ C)o., Ind., upon the place of his present residence; he has now 920 acres of land, with important improvements. In November, lo^n' ^^ ^^^ married, in Cook County, 111., to Ann Moran; she died in 1840, leaving two children, one now living - Maria (wife of S. Lewis, of

Morgan Township). In 1843, he was again married, this time to Hannah Dillingham, who died January 1, 1875 ; by this union he had thirteen children, seven of whom are living - Eve (now in Kansas), EflSe (wife of Otis King, of La Porte County), Ella (wife of R. Reed, of Washington Territory), William, Emma (wife of J. Sulman, of this township), Jay and Jonah (twins). On April 4, 1876, he was married a third time, the bride being Mary Grundy, who died in April, 1877 ; on June 21, 1877, he married his present wife - Lizzie Street. In business, Mr. Hansford has been exceedingly successful; in politics, he is independent, voting for the best man. For two years he has had a position on the G. T. R. R., which he yet retains.

JOSEPH KIMERER was born in Wayne County, Ohio, August 2, 1824 ; he is one of sixteen children born to Jacob and Catherine (Korn) Kimerer, only six of whom survive; his parents were born, reared and married in Cumberland County, Penn., removing to Wayne County, Ohio, in 1814, and being among the pioneers of that county, where his father died in 1837 ; his mother removed to Holmes County, where she resided until her death in 1859. Joseph Kimerer lived with his mother until his majority, when he was married, November 10, 1846, to Jane V. Silcott, a native of Fairfax County, Va., born in 1828; she died in 1862, leaving a family of five - Mary A. (wife of S. Thatcher), Marion, Lewis N., William A. and Jackson. In 1864, he married Nancy Hanna, who died in 1865, to which second marriage one child resulted - Nancy J. On March 20, 1866, he was married to Mary J. Lisle, of Holmes County, Ohio, by whom he has a family of three - James, Helen M. and Alice M. Mr. Kimerer moved from Wayne County to Holmes County in 1846, and engaged in farming until 1872, when he came to Porter County ; he has a fine farm of 246 acres. In politics, Mr. Kimerer is a liberal Democrat, and was County Commissioner of Holmes County, from 1860 to 1866 ; also, Trustee for three years, and Township Clerk for one year. In 1852, Mr. Kimerer traveled to California, but determining that farming was safer as a business tha,n gold mining, he returned the same year ; he was a Mason many years, and has not now abandoned the order. Mr. and Mrs. Kimerer are members of the Christian Church.

T. H. LEWIS was born in Butler County, Ohio, November 25, 1838; he is one of a family of eleven children born to Elmander and Mary (Dodge) Lewis, ten of whom are living ; his parents were natives of Massachusetts, and his grandparents came to Ohio with their family at a very early day. Our subject came to this county with his parents in 1849, and settled in Morgan Township. In the spring of 1862, he enlisted as a private in Company B, Sixty-third Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and took part in the second battle of Bull Run ; he was with Gen. Sherman in his " march to the sea," remaining in the service until the war had ended. Since that period, his occupation has been farming, having 200 acres of land ; he was married, January 25, 1866, to Caroline Austin^ a native of Porter County, and daughter of Cain and Mary (Bowker) Austin ; her parents were among the early settlers of this county. To this union there have born two children - Eddie and Florence. Mr. Lewis is a firm Republican, and as such represents his party as Trustee of Washington Township, and this for a second term ; he is a man of much executive a,bility and integrity, and has been quite successful in his affairs.

CHARLES R. LUTHER, one of the earliest settlers of Porter County, was born in New York August 26, 1828 ; he is the sixth of a family of nine children born to James and Irene (Ransom) Luther, seven of whom are living - our subject and one sister in this county; his father was a native of New Hampshire ; he died in 1849, and his mother in 1859. C. R. Luther came here with , his parents when eight years old. After receiving a fair education, and being engaged as teacher for several terms, he learned the trade of carpenter and joiner, at which he worked for five years ; he was married, December 22, 1853, to Esther M. Holton, a daughter of Ira Holton, and born in Upper Canada November 19, 1837. To Mr. and Mrs. Luther have been born four children - Luna L. (deceased), Iredell, Harry R. and Lula B. ; of these, Iredell is a farmer, and Harry R. a school teacher. Mr. Luther was one of the Directors of the Northern State Prison for two years, and Assessor of Washington Township for five years ; he is a Republican, having belonged to that party ever since its organization.

WILLIAM L. M ALONE, son of Wilson and Sarah (Swank) Malone, was born in this county October 3, 1847 ; he received his education from the ordinary schools and the Valparaiso High School, since which time he has been farming. On December 2, 1875, he was married to Matilda Forbes, daughter of J. T. Forbes, who was born June 30, 1853, a sketch of whose parents will be found in this work. To this union two children were born - Lawrence and Leon. In politics, Mr. Malone is a Democrat, and represents his party as Assessor of Washington Township ; he has 200 acres of land, 120 being improved. Wilson Malone, father of our subject, came to La Porte County in 1832, and was among the earliest settlers ; his only possessions were a few household goods and 50 cents. He contracted for the building of one mile of what is now known as the Michigan State road, and invested the proceeds in Porter County land. He spent his first winter in a cabin without floor or windows ; but he was industrious, and at his death owned over 1,100 acres ; he died December 22, 1876 ; he was father to nine children - Elizabeth (Mrs. Dr. Pagin), Caroline (Mrs. A. Stanton), Catherine (Mrs. A. Brown). Rebecca (Mrs. H. Slover), James R., William L., Martha (Mrs. E. Powell) and Harriet (Mrs. C. Talcott). Wilson Malone was the son of Lester Malone ; was born in Ross County, Ohio, June 18, 1805; he lived in that county until manhood; his parents died when he was quite young, when he was cast upon his resources for a livelihood ; he came West in 1826, stopping in Fountain and Montgomery Counties, Ind. On February 22, 1832, he was married to Sarah Swank, daughter of Jacob Swank, an early settler of Montgomery County ; she was born at Springfield, Ohio, October 15, 1811.

OViD OAKS, a pioneer of Porter County, was born in Allegany County, N. Y., February 9, 1821 ; he is the eldest of five children born to David and Mary (Howe) Oaks ; all are living - four in this county, the other in California ; his father was a native of New York, and his mother in Massachusetts. They came to this county in 1835, and here lived until the decease of both - in 1874. Our subject came to this county with his parents, and received a liberal education by attending the common schools, and afterward the State University about four years ; he kept a hotel for two years, and taught school for some time ; he then moved to Missouri, where he bought land, and followed farming and school teaching for eight years. Returning to Valparaiso, he kept a grocery about five years, and returned to farming in 1875, having now 130 acres, sixty of which are unimproved. He was married. May 31, 1849, to Phebe Rhorer, a native of Kentucky, but a resident of Monroe County, Ind.; she was born April 17, 1824. Their family consists of four children - Omar M., Emma J. (wife of M. Kimerer, of Valparaiso), Eva (wife of H. Taggart, of South Bend), and Lucian R. Mr. Oaks is a Republican of the liberal school. Mrs. Oaks is a member of the Christian Church.

JOSEPH PEOPLES was born in Carroll County, Ohio, June 27, 1842, and is one of fifteen children born to John and Mary (Davis) Peoples, nine of whom are surviving - three in this county ; his parents were natives of Pennsylvania ; they came to Ohio at an early day, where they married and lived until 1852, when they came to Porter County, Ind., settling in Washington Township. Mr. Peoples' father died in 1874, and his mother in 1852. Our subject lived at home until of age; then" followed farming until the present time, except for about two years, during which he worked at carpentering and blacksmithing ; he enlisted in the Twentieth Indiana Battery, under Capt. Rose, and was at Franklin, Murfreesboro, Chattanooga, Fort Donelson and other engagements ; he was, for a time, fiag-bearer for his battery, and was present at Gen. Lee's surrender, soon after which he was discharged. On February 14, 1868, he was married to Anna Babcock, born August 23, 1852. They have had four children - Jannet (deceased), Clark J., Frank B. and Nina M. Mr. and Mrs. Peoples are members of the Good Templars organization. He is a Republican, and was Justice of the Peace from 1878 to 1880 ; his farm comprises 105 acres, of which about fifty-five are under cultivation. Mr. Peoples is a total abstainer from strong drink and tobacco.

NICHOLAS PICKRELL, son of Nicholas and Margaret (McCoy) Pickrell, was born in Logan County, Ohio, March 3, 1828, and is the youngest of five children, two of whom only survive ; his father was a native of North Carolina, and his mother of Virginia ; his mother came to Elkhart County, Ind. (after his father's death), in 1835, where she remained until her death, in 1862. Mr. Pickrell, our subject, came to Porter County in 1849,- settling in Morgan Township, but afterward came to Washington Township, where he still resides. He has> 310 acres of land, 130 of which are improved ; he is a man of fair education, and he served in Company G, Thirty-third Regiment Indiana Volunteer Infantry, from November, 1864, until the close of the war ; he was in the battle of Nashville, and was with Gen. Sherman at the surrender of Gen. Johnston. Since his discharge, he has been engaged in farming. In politics, Mr. Pickrell is a firm Republican, having been one of the earliest adherents of that party. In 1874, he was Trustee of Washington Township, which office he held for six years. In 1880, he was elected County Commissioner, an office he now holds. He was married, in February, 1856, to Sarah Bell, one of the early settlers, who died December 26, 1873, leaving a family of six children, five of whom still live - Lizzie B. (wife of F. Concannon), Carrie E., Mary,

ANDREW B. PIERCE was born in Otsego County, N. Y., April 9, 1830, and is a son of Warner and Adelia (Beeman) Pierce ; his father was a native of New York, and his mother of Connecticut; they were married and lived in New York until coming westward in 1831 ; they stopped two years in Michigan and one year in La Porte County, Ind., reaching and settling in Porter County in 1834 ; his father followed farming until his death, on May 6, 1841 ; his mother is still living, now in her eighty-fifth year, vivacious and healthy. Our subject came with his parents in 1834 ; he received a fair education, and remained with his mother after his father's death, until twenty-eight years old, when he began farming for himself; he has now 420 acres of land. He was married April 1, 1858, to Mary E. Johnston, of this county, daughter of Jesse and Rebecca (Pickett) Johnston ; she was born May 1, 1838, and her parents were among the first to settle here, her father being the first Judge of Porter County. Mr. and Mrs. Pierce have had eight children, four of whom are living - Morosco L., William F., Helena B. and John G. In politics, Mr. Pierce holds with the Democracy, but is not an extreme man. Both he and Mrs. Pierce are members of the Baptist Church of Valparaiso ; he has been fairly successful in business ventures.

S. P. SHINABARGER, one of the pioneers of Porter County, was born in Jackson Township, Wayne Co., Ohio, January 6, 1820 ; he is one of a family of ten born to Jacob and Hannah (Heller) Shinabarger ; six of these are living. , The father of our subject came to Porter County in 1833, settling on Morgan Prairie, Washington Township. The county at that time was an unbroken forest and prairie, peopled by Indians ; the city of Valparaiso was unthought of; his father lived in this county for many years, but died in La Porte County. Our subject was fortunate to secure a good education, notwithstanding the meager advantages of that period ; he lived at home until his twenty-second year, and has since been farming, except one year, when he was in mercantile business at Buena Vista; he was married, October 20, 1844, to Esther Tabor, of Erie County, Penn., who died April 17, 1849, leaving two children, one. Burton J., now surviving; his seoond marriage was to Laura Tabor, June 1, 1852; bv this union, he has had nine children - Martha E., Alta J., Ernest F., Bell, Nellie L., Edward S., Mary C, Walter 0. and Rutber M. In politics, Mr. Shinabarger is a Liberal Republican ; his first vote was cast for Gen. Harrison in 1840 ; he has represented his party fof over twelve years as Justice of the Peace, still holding that ofiice ; his farm consists of 193 acres, 180 being under cultivation ; he is a member of Westville Lodge, I. 0. 0. F. The father of Mrs. Shinabarger (Mr. Tabor), resides with our subject; he settled in La Porte County in 1835, and is now past eighty-five years of age.

HENRY SLOVER, one of the early settlers of Washington Township, was born in Cayuga County, N. Y., April 24, 1828; he is the youngest of twelve children born to Isaac and Polly (Watts) Slover; of this family, only three survive, our subject being the only representative in this county ; his parents were both natives of New Jersey, removing to New York, thence to Erie County, Penn., and thence to Porter County,

Ind., in 1843, settling in Washington Township ; his father died while visiting Pennsylvania in 1852 and his mother in this county in 1849. Our subject came here with his parents in 1843. At the age of twentyfour, in company with some emigrants, he crossed the plains for California. Being overtaken by sickness, he gave up mining, and worked by the month ; he remained in California until 1858, when he returned to this township. On May 19, 1859, he was married to Rebecca J. Malone ; they have had a family of three children - Carrie B. (deceased), Charles W. and Hattie. Mr. Slover has been fairly successful in business affairs ; he has a farm of 232 acres of good land, about one hundred and fifty of which are improved, and containing excellent buildings, making a most desirable property. Mr. Slover is a Democrat, but exceedingly liberal.