Charles Hylander, of the firm of Hylander Bros., was born May 2, 1849, in Sweden. He is the youngest of nine children born to J. M. and Anna S. (Malmberg) Hylander, both natives of Sweden. Charles lived with his father until sixteen years of age; he then entered a store in Helsingborg for three years, when he came to the United States and settled in Porter County; here he worked at different things until 1874; he then ran a restaurant for some years. In June, 1881, he, with his brother, bought their present building and established a dry goods, grocery, hat, cap and queensware store, and built up one of the best trades in the city. He was elected Justice of the Peace, but did not qualify. He was a Republican until Grant’s second administration, when he joined the Democratic rants, but on the formation of the Greenback party he voted with that; he is now independent. The brothers are both excellent business men, and among our enterprising citizens. Charles was married in 1874, to Lina Swanson, a native of Sweden. They have had three children - Ida M., Matilda M., and Charles O., Jr.

Source: “Counties of Porter and Lake, Indiana, Historical and Biographical,” Goodspeed and Blanchard, 1882 page 300 Westchester Township
Data entry volunteer: Suzan Schaeffing

Source: “Counties of Porter and Lake, Indiana, Historical and Biographical,” Goodspeed and Blanchard, 1882 page 300 Westchester Township
Data entry volunteer: Suzan Schaeffing

Claus Johnson, one of Chesterton’s business men, was born March 29, 1850, in Sweden. He is one of three children living born to John S. and Mary (Swanson) Johnson, both natives of Sweden. When about twenty years old, Mr. Johnson came to America, and settled in Bailly Town, Porter County. With the exception of two summers in Michigan and three summers in Elkhart, Ind., he has been in Porter County ever since, working on the railroad until January, 1878, when he began his present business, where he has rooms equal to any of the kind in the place. He has been a member of the Swedish Lutheran Church and was a Republican until 1878, when he became a Democrat, and still believes in that party. Mr. Johnson is one of Chesterton’s property owners and a live business man. He was married, in 1879, to Sophia Linden, a native of Sweden. They have one child - Edgart T.

Source: “Counties of Porter and Lake, Indiana, Historical and Biographical,” Goodspeed and Blanchard, 1882 page 301 Westchester Township
Data entry volunteer: Suzan Schaeffing

Daniel P. Ingraham, lumberman, was born November 24, 1834, in Providence, New Brunswick. He is one of nine children born to Charles and Betsy (Couser) Ingraham, both natives of New Brunswick. The elder Ingraham was of English parentage and a member of the Christian Church. Young Ingraham lived in New Brunswick until about sixteen years of age, when the family came to Batavia, Ill., and engaged in farming and lumbering for about four years. The family there separated, and Daniel went to Margengo, Ill., where he engaged in railroading and farming for several years. After a journey to the West and back, lasting about a year, he engaged in lumbering for about a year in Michigan. In January, 1861, he came to Chesterton, where he has lived ever since, and has built up the most extensive lumbering trade in the norther part of the county, outside of Valparaiso. He buys, manufactures and ships lumber to the Chicago market. He has two portable saw-mills in Jackson and Westchester Townships. He has been a member of the Good Templars, Masonic and Odd Fellows fraternities, and also a member of the M. E. Church. He was Township Trustee for four years. He has always been a stanch Republican, and has been an Abolitionist, and now favors the Prohibition movement. He is Superintended of the M. E. Sunday School. He was married in June, 1859, to Lois A. Bulard, a native of Marengo, Ill. They have five children - Minnie, frank, Maud, Harriet and Charles.

Source: “Counties of Porter and Lake, Indiana, Historical and Biographical,” Goodspeed and Blanchard, 1882 page 300, 301 Westchester Township
Data entry volunteer: Suzan Schaeffing

David H. Hopkins (deceased) was born July 29, 1820, in New York, He was the elder son of David and Susan Hopkins, both natives of New York. Our subject lived at home until 1844, when he was married to Cynthia C. Barney, a native of Ohio. They went to Chicago and lived for three months. He had learned his trade of copper from his father and now began business extensively. They went to Michigan, but in a year went to Bailly Town and then to City West, Porter County, where he employed forty or fifty men. In about two years, he went to Chesterton, and lived there until his death, which occurred in 1870. Besides coppering he kept a general merchandise store. Mr. Hopkins was a member of the Odd Fellows order. He was a stanch Republican and took an active interest in politics, and an energetic, able business man and financier, and an enterprising public-spirited citizen. The Methodist Episcopal church was built mainly through his efforts. He was one of Chesterton’s earliest settlers, and built some of its first houses and owned much of its property. With the exception of two years in Valparaiso, the Widow Hopkins lived in Chesterton until the fall of 1881, when she went to Michigan City, where she resides at present in quiet retirement. She has four children living - Laura E. Pinney, Gordon H. Albert E. and Maud.

Source: “Counties of Porter and Lake, Indiana, Historical and Biographical,” Goodspeed and Blanchard, 1882 page 299 Westchester Township
Data entry volunteer: Suzan Schaeffing

Dr. Erasmus J. Jones, physician at New Porter, was born, in 1814, in Ohio; he is one of twelve children born to Erasmus and Mary (Sellers) Jones, both natives of Virginia. The elder Jones was one of the first settlers of Chillicothe, Ohio, in 1778. Dr. Jones’ mother was well educated, and, as there were few or no educational facilities in those days, she educated her son to nearly all he received, but, as the Doctor is a self-made man, he early became interested in the study of medicine before he had the least idea of making it a profession, and did so only because he was urged to. The Doctor lived, married, studied and practiced medicine in the house in which he was born until 1846; he had studied and reported progress to the physician near, but as M. D.’s were “few and far between,” and it was a sickly season, he was pressed into practice when sixteen years old. In 1840, he went to Philadelphia and attended the Jefferson Medical College. In 1846, he went in partnership with his brother-in-law, Dr. J. G. Kyle, an excellent physician in Southwestern Ohio, but on account of his wife’s health, he concluded to go West in 1851, and procured a “four-horse” team and driver and started, intending to go to Iowa. Upon arriving in Porter County, his family took sick, which caused him to stop, and on account of inducements offered by the people of Gosset settlement, he located there, intending to stay but a short, but remained until 1859, when he was elected County Clerk, and lived in Valparaiso for two terms. He then removed to Chesterton, where he resumed practice, and was in the drug business until 1881; then came to New Porter, where he still resides and practices. His robust constitution enables him to do more than the share of one physician. He has been a member of both F. & A. M., and Odd Fellows fraternities. He was elected Justice of the Peace before he was twenty-one, and had to wait till of age for his commission. He was married, in 1836, to Susan McCafferty, a native of Ohio. She died in 1839. In 1846, he married Elizabeth Bullard, a native of Xenia, Ohio. The Doctor has six children living - Laura Terry, Theo. C., Mary J. Sovereign, Joseph A., Schuyler C. and Willie.

Source: “Counties of Porter and Lake, Indiana, Historical and Biographical,” Goodspeed and Blanchard, 1882 page 301, 302 Westchester Township
Data entry volunteer: Suzan Schaeffing

Edwin L. Furness was born May 9, 1832, in Portland, Me. He is the youngest of three children born to Benjamin C. and Mary J. (Roberts) Furness, both natives of Maine. The elder Furness was a sea captain. His maternal great-grandfather was in the Revolutionary war, and donated a vessel for the Government war service, but refused a pension he was entitled to. His paternal great-grandfather was a Revolutionary soldier and one of the founders of South Berwick (Me.) Academy, a college well know in the East. Thomas Leigh, an uncle, was a Major in the war of 1812, and founded the town of Leigh’s Mills. Nearly all of Mr. Furness’ ancestors were sea-faring men. When our subject was about eight years old, the elder Furness was lost at sea, and his mother died a short time after. He then went to live with his grandmother at South Berwick. When thirteen, he was attacked by the prevalent ‘sea fever’ among boys, and ran away to sea, on board the ‘California,’ to the Carolinas, to London, to Wales and back to New York. He was now persuaded to go to school, to the above-mentioned academy, where he took a classical course. He then began teaching and farming for two years, when he came West to Kane County, Ill., where he taught two years. In 1853, he went East, and was married to Louise M. Graves, of Thomaston, Me. He then went to Batavil, Ill., where he bought a store and stone quarry. In 1856, he came to Furnessville, and engaged in lumbering in the firm of Morgan, Furness & Co., continuing until 1862, when the firm dissolved, and he has continued in the same business ever since, in connection with farming, and about three years in a stave factory, in which he lost considerable money. His attention is now devoted principally to farming his possessions, of between two and three thousand acres in Westchester and Pine Townships. Through the efforts of Mr. Furness, the station and post office of Furnessville was established, of which he was the first agent and Postmaster, and near which his residence is situated. He was a member of the Grange and Good Templar orders. He has always been a strong Republican, and was a candidate in 1874, for State Senator, but was in the then unpopular temperance movement and was defeated. He is the father of six children living - Clara N. Leigh, of St. Louis; Winnie F. Rose, of Valparaiso; Leigh, of St. Louis; Martha, Dwight, Mary.

Source: “Counties of Porter and Lake, Indiana, Historical and Biographical,” Goodspeed and Blanchard, 1882 page 295, 296 Westchester Township
Data entry volunteer: Suzan Schaeffing

Francis Brown was born in 1832 in Ireland. He is one of four children, living, born to David and Mary (McMann) Brown, both natives of Ireland. Francis lived with his father until eighteen years of age, when he came to the United States and settled in Chicago, engaging asa foreman in a lumber yard. He continued in this position for a number of years, when he came to Chesterton, and was engaged in business for twenty-four years, and has, as his present standing shows, been a successful financier. He retired from active life in the spring of 1881, and has since occupied his leisure in superintending his three farms. He has one of the finest residences in Chesterton, richly furnished. He held the office of Corporation Treasurer for two years. Mr. Brown has always been a Democrat, but of late years has concluded that men, not parties, should be the object of a citizen’s vote. He is one of Chesterton’s most successful financial men, and is of very active habits. He was married, May 14, 1857, to Catherine Young, a native of Ireland. They are both members of the Catholic Church. They have six children living - Samuel H., John W., Frank, Thomas, May and Lydia. The three later are living at home.

Source: “Counties of Porter and Lake, Indiana, Historical and Biographical,” Goodspeed and Blanchard, 1882 page 292, 293 Westchester Township
Data entry volunteer: Suzan Schaeffing

Frederick Burstrom was born June 17, 1826, in Sweden, and is the youngest of ten children born to Andrew and Caroline (Linburg) Burstrom. The elder Burstrom took the degree of M. D., but never practiced, which both were well educated. The grandfather, Burstrom, was a government ship-builder, but lost everything in one of the Russo-Swedish wars. When twenty-one years of age, Frederick Burstrom left home. He had received a collegiate education, but on account of his father’s old age, he was persuaded to superintend his father’s tannery for about four years; he then came to the United States and settled in Chicago, engaged at his trade, but he soon had to stop the work, and came to Bailly Town and lumbered for about two years. He bought about 100 acres of land and began farming; he has since lived on this land, with the exception of three years in Illinois, engaged in the grocery business with a brother-in-law. In 1879, he spent six months visiting in Europe. He enlisted in the Thirty-fifth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and served in ponton service and guarding in almost all the Souther State for eleven months. His farm is all improved and excellent land, and has been brought from its primitive state by himself. He is a member of the Swedish Lutheran church, and has been an active worker in temperance. He was Trustee for two years, and is now County Commissioner, He has always been a Republican. Mr. Burstrom was amount Westchester’s first settlers. He was married, in 1848, to Catherine Westrond, a native of Sweden.

Source: “Counties of Porter and Lake, Indiana, Historical and Biographical,” Goodspeed and Blanchard, 1882 page 293 Westchester Township
Data entry volunteer: Suzan Schaeffing

George E. Houser, photographer, was born May 16, 1863, in Wells County, Ind. He was one of ten children born to William and Nancy (Mygrants) Houser, both natives of the Buckeye State. The elder Houser was among the early settlers of Wells County, and at present owns 160 acres in Huntington and Wells Counties, where he still lives, on the county line. When about seventeen, George began learning his trade in Westville, La Porte Co., Ind., and after an apprenticeship of about four months he went to Michigan City, and there finished. In April, 1882, he came to Chesterton and established his present studio, where he prepared to do anything in his line, such as photos, India-ink, enlarging, etc. He is a first-class workman of good taste and ability, and a promising young man of refined habits. In politics, he has been under Democratic influences, but considers himself independent. He has been a member of the Albright Church.

Source: “Counties of Porter and Lake, Indiana, Historical and Biographical,” Goodspeed and Blanchard, 1882 page 299, 300 Westchester Township
Data entry volunteer: Suzan Schaeffing

Gustus Johnson was born November 4, 1836, in Sweden. He is one of nine children born to John P. and Johannah Johnson. When Gustus was twenty years of age, he came to the United States and settled in Porter County, and after teaming for about two years in Westchester Township, he came to Chesterton. In 1862, he enlisted in the Seventy-third Indiana Volunteer Infantry as teamster, but in a short time, enlisted in the One Hundred and Twenty-eighty Indiana, and served under Thomas, in the West; then was sent to North Carolina, where he served for a year, after the close of the war, on garrison duty. After a short time in Chesterton, he went to Kansas, but after about one and a half years he came back, and has been here ever since, engaged in different things until June, 1881, when he bought the “Indiana House” (now Johnson Hotel). Having taken it when badly out of repair, he has made a thorough cleaning, papering, painting, etc., and built an addition 16x32 feet with two-stories, at an expense of probably $500. Mr. Johnson is a member of the Swedish Lutheran Church. In politics, he has always been a Democrat; but voted a few times the Greenback ticket. He was married, in 1862, to Christina Swanson, a native of Sweden. They have three children living - Johannah C. E., Oscar W. L., and Ida C.

Source: “Counties of Porter and Lake, Indiana, Historical and Biographical,” Goodspeed and Blanchard, 1882 page 301 Westchester Township
Data entry volunteer: Suzan Schaeffing

Henry Dabbert, merchant and postmaster at Hageman, was born in 1841, in Mecklenberg Schwerin, German. He is the youngest of three children living born to Fred and Christina Dabbert, both natives of Germany. The elder Dabbert had charge of the Duke’s race-horses. When fifteen years of age, Henry worked for himself at different things, until he came to the United States in 1864. He settled in Chicago, and was engaged for eight years following in a chair factory. He then went into the wholesale grocery business in Chicago. At the end of five years, he came to Hageman, and bought his present store. He keeps a full line of groceries, dry goods, boots, and shoes, provisions, hardware, notions, etc. His stock at first was worth about $500. He has built the only brick store in the place, with his dwelling in the second story; now, his stock is increased to about $3,000, with an extensive trade. He is a member of the German Lutheran Church. In 1875, he was made Postmaster, and has held the office ever since. In political belief, he is a Republican and is an enterprising, industrious man and public-spirited citizen. He was married, in 1864, to Maria Zulke, a native of Germany; they have six children - Ida, Henry, Annie, Emma, Emilia, Frank.

Source: “Counties of Porter and Lake, Indiana, Historical and Biographical,” Goodspeed and Blanchard, 1882 page 295 Westchester Township
Data entry volunteer: Suzan Schaeffing

Henry Hageman was born November 21, 1816, in Union County, Ind., (then Indiana Territory). He is the youngest of two children living born to John and Hannah (Batton) Hageman, the former a native of Germany and the latter of Virginia. Henry Batton, grandfather of our subject, was a Revolutionary soldier, and the father served in the war of 1812 as Major. Grandfather Batton lived to the advanced age of nearly one hundred years. Mr. Hageman, our subject, lived but a short time in Union County, Ind.; went to Montgomery County; then to Fountain County, where he received the most of his education, in the town of Robroy, laid out by a brother-in-law. When about twelve years old, he came to La Porte County, and after a year came to Porter county, and the family soon followed. Mr. Hageman has farmed almost continuously since, with the exception of two winters at Indian trading, in which he spoke two Indian languages. He lived two years in Rock Island County, Ill., where he owned land. Before Mr. Hageman divided any of his property among his children, he had about six hundred acres, all in Westchester and portage Townships. In 1879, he laid out the town of Hageman, at the Michigan Central and L. S. & M. S. crossing. He has been a member of the M. E. Church for about forty years, and is now Recording Steward and District Steward. He has been Trustee and Assessor of the township and was a delegate to the Congressional conventions in 1880 and 1882. He has been a Republican since about 1854. He is a man of great energy and enthusiasm, and is one of our most public-spirited citizens and among out leaders in public affairs. He was married, in 1836, to Hannah J. Gosset, a native of Indiana. They have six children living - Sarah J., John, Mariah, Rosa, Lilan and Hannah F.

Source: “Counties of Porter and Lake, Indiana, Historical and Biographical,” Goodspeed and Blanchard, 1882 page 298 Westchester Township
Data entry volunteer: Suzan Schaeffing

Hiram Green, M. D. and druggist, was born July 19, 1829, in Oneida County, N.Y. He is the youngest of three brothers living, born to Tillinghast and Theodosia (Kellogg) Greene, the former a native of Connecticut and the latter of New York. The elder Green was a minister of the Baptist faith, and a regimental musician of the war of 1812. He died at the advanced age of ninety-one. The Doctor lived with his father until twelve years of age - six years in New York, and the following six in Ohio. In his twelfth year, he entered a normal school, hiring out for four months at $7 a month, at the end of which time his $28 was partly invested in clothes, books and tuition. He continued thus for two years, working for his board and tuition, and had 30 cents of the original $28 left at the end of the time; he immediately began the study of medicine with his brother in New Lisbon, Ohio; he had peculiar advantages with his brother that enabled him to begin practicing at the end of six years; he then went to Birmingham, opposite Pittsburgh, where the cholera was raging to the extent that half the town had died or left. He very fortunately received the practice of a well-established physician who was compelled to leave. Dr. Green soon went to Warren, Ohio, to take care of his bothers family, the brother having died. About one year later, he went to Somerset, Hillsdale Co., Mich., and after a residence of six months was attacked by the ‘California gold fever,’ a company offering inducements if he would go and give medical aid. He started, but on arriving at Michigan City, he was taken sick, ill health following for two years. As soon as able, he came to Chesterton and took a school, but soon gave it up to practice, living at Gosset’s Mill for about four years, when he came to Chesterton, the war having begun, and recruited a company, of which he was commissioned Lieutenant, and afterward Captain; about three months later, he was re-commissioned Assistant Surgeon on the medical staff at Nashville, serving under trying difficulties. After a time, on account of ill health, he resigned and returned to Porter County, locating in Wheeler, where he remained about three years, and then came to Chesterton. For about fifteen years, he answered every call, but his wife’s health compelled him to confine his practice, and he soon went into the drug business, though of late years he has done much riding. His drug store, one of the most tasteful in the county, is of his own design. Dr. Green is a member of the F. & A. M. Commandery, and of the I. O. O. F., and at present Township Trustee. He was formerly a Republican, but is now a Greenbacker. He was married, in the spring of 1854, to Elsie Corey, a native of Michigan City, and a niece of Jesse Harper, chairman of the National Greenback Central Committee. They have had three children - Florence A. (deceased), Cora B. and Aylmer E.

Source: “Counties of Porter and Lake, Indiana, Historical and Biographical,” Goodspeed and Blanchard, 1882 page 297, 298 Westchester Township
Data entry volunteer: Suzan Schaeffing

John C. Coulter was born June 28, 1824, in Berks County, Penn. He is the only child of Robert and Ann (Cooper) Coulter, the former a native of Ireland and the latter of Maryland. The elder Coulter was a teacher by occupation, and a self-made man. The Coulters mentioned in the early history of Oregon are said to be connected with the ancestors of our subject. Mr. Coulter’s maternal ancestors were Quakers, and early settlers of Maryland. When young Coulter was seven years of age, the parents moved to Crawford County, Ohio, and brought land; young Coulter, in 1850, came to Indiana, his parents having died. He engaged in farming in Lake County for about one year, when he came to Calumet (now Chesterton), teaching and working at other things until the war began. He enlisted in 1861 in the Forty-eighth Indiana Volunteers, participating in the battle of Corinth, the siege of Vicksburg, and afterward under Sherman on h is famous “march to the sea,” through to Washington, then on to Louisville, where he was discharged. On his return to Chesterton, he engaged in railroading at the station for three years, when he taught three terms. He now began working in the brick yards, burning the kiln. On the day the great Chicago fire began, he was installed as station agent at Chesterton, continuing in that occupation until April, 1882, when he resigned. He still holds the express office. He also engaged in manufacturing a vegetable root beer. Mr. Coulter is a member of the Masonic fraternity. He has held office of Justice of the Peace, etc., and is at present a strong Greenbacker. He was married, February 1, 1843, to Sarah McHenry, a native of Ohio. They had four children, all living - William, Artelissa J., Sarah and Lana. His wife died in October, 1874, and, about two years later, he married the present wife, Mary Cook, a native of Columbiana County, Ohio. His parents are living at Helena, near Toledo.

Source: “Counties of Porter and Lake, Indiana, Historical and Biographical,” Goodspeed and Blanchard, 1882 page 294, 295 Westchester Township
Data entry volunteer: Suzan Schaeffing