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 Edmister, 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.

Source: “Counties of Porter and Lake, Indiana, Historical and Biographical,” Goodspeed and Blanchard, 1882 page 375 Pleasant Township
Data entry volunteer: Suzan Schaeffing

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. Biggart and wife are members of the Presbyterian Church.

Source: “Counties of Porter and Lake, Indiana, Historical and Biographical,” Goodspeed and Blanchard, 1882 page 375, 376 Pleasant Township
Data entry volunteer: Suzan Schaeffing

Abraham L. Blachly, miller, was born July 2, 1860, in Union Centre, Porter County; he is the youngest of seven children living born to Cornelius and Christina (Laughlin) Blachly, both natives of Pennsylvania. The elder Blachly was a physician of the regular school. He has practiced in Porter County for forty-four years, and was among the first settlers in Porter County; had bought the old Gosset Mill in 1869. Abraham L. received a common school education, and lived with his father at the old home until the death of the latter, in April, 1876. In 1879, Abraham married Ida Wheeler, a native of this county. They live at the old place with his mother. They have one child, Clara E. Soon after his father’s death, he bought a quarter interest in the mill, he and his brother Miller owning one-half. They are both first-class millers; he has always been a Republican, and is an intelligent and promising young man. The other half-interest in the mill is owned by the Widow Blachly, and the whole is estimated at $10,000. The family have in their possession a “coat of arms,” descended from the Blachly side from an ancient family in Holland. Dr. E. Blachly, an uncle of the elder B., was a founder of Oberlin College.

Source: “Counties of Porter and Lake, Indiana, Historical and Biographical,” Goodspeed and Blanchard, 1882 page 364 Liberty Township
Data entry volunteer: Suzan Schaeffing

Miller C. Blachly, miller, was born May 8, 1853, in Porter County; he is one of seven children born to Cornelius and Christina (Laughlin) Blachly. The elder Blachly was a physician. They moved to Salt Creek in the spring of 1869. Young Blachly received the usual early education advantages, and about seventeen years of age, he began working for his father, then owner of the present mill, as a teamster for about three years; he now entered the mill, working there until the spring of 1875, when he bought a quarter interest, which he now owns. The mill is well known, and is probably the first one built in the county, and has been known by the name of the “Gosset Mill,” one of the best water-mills in the county; it has two runs of buhrs, and does an extensive amount of custom work. The dam includes about 160 acres, and furnishes excellent water-power, He is a member of the F. & A. M. Lodge, of Wheeler Porter County, Ind. In December, 1875, he married Frances Stafford, a native of Liberty Township. They have one child, Goldie M. In politics, Mr. Blachly is a Republican.

Source: “Counties of Porter and Lake, Indiana, Historical and Biographical,” Goodspeed and Blanchard, 1882 page 363 Liberty Township
Data entry volunteer: Suzan Schaeffing

W. A. Bliss was born in Guilford, Windom Co., Vt., March 2, 1830, and is the eldest of three children of William A. and Sopronia T. (Stimpson) Bliss, two of whom are living. His father was a native of Connecticut, born October 15, 1806, but moved to Massachusetts, where he lived until manhood and married. Both he and his wife were firm believers in Christianity, and belonged to the Methodist Episcopal Church. She died, October 15, 1863, and he January 11, 1882. W. A. Bliss lived with his parents until his manhood and afterward took care of them. He is a natural engineer. He has been variously engaged, but has now 183 acres, 140 of which are improved. On October 29, 1856, he was married in St. Joseph County, Mich., to Hanna Gray, of La Grange County, daughter of Abram and Sarah Gray. To this union five children have succeeded, three of whom survive - Louise, wife of Monroe Hill; Minnie; William J, deceased; Cora L.; and Helen, deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Bliss are members of the Presbyterian Church. They have certain relics which have been in the family over two hundred years. In politics, Mr. Bliss is a strong Republican.

Source: “Counties of Porter and Lake, Indiana, Historical and Biographical,” Goodspeed and Blanchard, 1882 page 356 Jackson Township
Data entry volunteer: Suzan Schaeffing

George Brown was born November 7, 1829, in Bavaria, Germany. He is the eldest of two children born to Jacob and Mary A. (Glaab) Brown, both natives of Bavaria. Young Brown lived with his father until sixteen years of age, when he began learning his trade of miller, which he completed in four years. According to the prevailing custom there, he then traveled two years. He now emigrated to American, settling in Chicago. Here he worked on the railroad as fireman for three years, when he came to Valparaiso and farmed for a short time, and then obtained a position in Sager’s Mill, where he was engaged for four years. He now bought a share in the Prattville Mills, continuing there seven years. After this he engaged in milling more or less, and at present he is engaged as miller in the Liberty Mill. He owns a residence in Valparaiso, where his family lives. He has been a member of the I. O. O. F. order. He has always been a strong Democrat, and is a well-known, enterprising citizen. He has five children living - Claudina, Ryneor, Elma, William and George, Jr.

Source: “Counties of Porter and Lake, Indiana, Historical and Biographical,” Goodspeed and Blanchard, 1882 page 364, 365 Liberty Township
Data entry volunteer: Suzan Schaeffing

George Brown was born in Cumberland County, England, December 28, 1828, and is a son of George and Jane (Myers) Brown. His parents were born, reared and married in England, where they both died. George Brown came to America, in company with a sister and brother-in-law, in 1852. For a while he remained in the State of New York, from where he came first to La Porte, and afterward to Porter County, Ind., and settled where he now resides, and where he is one of the largest land-owners, possessing about nine hundred acres. On July 17, 1855, he was married to Charity A. Carter. The family of Mr. and Mrs. Brown consists of ten children - Mary J., wife of J. Brewer; Josiah, John F., Jerome, George M., James, Elizabeth C., Charles W., Anna M. and Carrie. Mr. Brown is a member of Chesterton Lodge, No. 379, A. F. & A. M., also of Westville Lodge No. 176, I. O. O. F. In politics, he is a stanch Democrat, but liberal in local affairs.

Source: “Counties of Porter and Lake, Indiana, Historical and Biographical,” Goodspeed and Blanchard, 1882 page 357 Jackson Township
Data entry volunteer: Suzan Schaeffing

William O. Cadwell, farmer, was born in Onondaga County, N. Y., May 12, 1830, and was the fourth of eight children composing the family of Chester and Phila (Daniels) Cadwell; five of these are living. In 1838, the family settled in Union Township, where the father lived until his death, in 1867. William O. Cadwell remained at home until he became of age. On June 19, 1853, he married Margaret Frame, of this county. She died in 1860, leaving one child - Malphus F., a farmer of Union Township. After his marriage, he located on his present farm, now embracing 110 acres. His second marriage took place October 15, 1861, to Mary Gilbert, a native of Ohio. To this union three children were born - Ida M., Homer O. and Don Alonzo. Mr. and Mrs. Cadwell are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. In politics, Mr. Cadwell is Republican.

Source: “Counties of Porter and Lake, Indiana, Historical and Biographical,” Goodspeed and Blanchard, 1882 page 339 Union Township
Data entry volunteer: Suzan Schaeffing

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

Source: “Counties of Porter and Lake, Indiana, Historical and Biographical,” Goodspeed and Blanchard, 1882 page 357 Jackson Township
Data entry volunteer: Suzan Schaeffing

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

Source: “Counties of Porter and Lake, Indiana, Historical and Biographical,” Goodspeed and Blanchard, 1882 page 357 Jackson Township

Data entry volunteer: Suzan Schaeffing

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

Source: “Counties of Porter and Lake, Indiana, Historical and Biographical,” Goodspeed and Blanchard, 1882 page 358 Jackson Township
Data entry volunteer: Suzan Schaeffing

C. C. Cole was born in Porter county, Ind., March 9, 1849, and is a son of E. P. and Sally Cole. His parents moved to this county in the year 1837. C. C. Cole was married, September 6, 1869, to Nancy J. Brown, a native of Delaware County, Ohio, born February 7, 1853, daughter of S. H. and Lucy A. Brown, of Porter County, Ind. To this union six children were born - Anna B. (deceased), Hattie L., Gertrude M., Edward F. (deceased), James P. and Zelda V. In the year 1872, Mr. Cole purchased and occupied the farm on which he now resides, in Section 12; this farm comprises 100 acres of superior land, and with considerable improvements of value. Mr. Cole is pleasantly situated, and is a much respected citizen.

Source: “Counties of Porter and Lake, Indiana, Historical and Biographical,” Goodspeed and Blanchard, 1882 page 348 Morgan Township
Data entry volunteer: Suzan Schaeffing

John C. Cole was born June 27, 1836, in Huron County, Ohio. He is the third of nine children born to Edward P. and Sally (Dillingham) Cole, natives of New York and Ohio. John C. lived with his father in Huron County until his second year, when his father came to this county and bought somewhere near a half section, and at one time nearly a section and a half, and lived here until his death, in 1877. In this twentieth year, John C. Cole was married to Mary Osborn, a native of Huron County. Mr. Cole now settled on ninety acres from his father’s estate and his present farm, on which he has resided ever since, with the exception of about three years’ service. He enlisted in the Seventy-third Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and participated in the battles of Perryville, Chapel Hill and in a raid to Alabama, where they were captured and paroled and placed on guard duty, fort-building, etc. He was mustered out of service at Nashville July 10, 1865. Mr. Cole’s farm consists of 244 acres of well-improved land, with good buildings, wind pump, etc., most of it under cultivation. He is a member of the F. & A. M. order Calumet Lodge, No. 379, and during the time of it was a member of the Grange. He has been Trustee for three terms, and is an active Republican. It was through his influence that the station of Woodville, an extensive grain market, store and post office, was place in the township, on the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad. He built and owns the buildings. He has five children - Ada A. Freer, Carthaette S. Griswold, Daniel E., George J. and Frederick H.

Source: “Counties of Porter and Lake, Indiana, Historical and Biographical,” Goodspeed and Blanchard, 1882 page 365 Liberty Township
Data entry volunteer: Suzan Schaeffing

Rebecca (Steward) Cornish, wife of Jonas Cornish, was born in Clinton County, N. Y., August 29, 1811, and was a daughter of Ezra and Hannah Steward; the former a native of Vermont, the latter of New York. Mr. Steward was a soldier of the war of 1812. In 1839, he moved to Jasper County, Ind., and thence to Kansas, where he died in 1855. Rebecca Cornish was married to Jonas Cornish, April 15, 1840, in Jasper County, Ind. In the spring of 1847, they moved to Porter County, Ind., and settled in Washington Township, where they remained until 1850, and purchased the farm where Mrs. Cornish now resides. They were blessed with four children - William, Almira, Solomon and Sarah E. (deceased). Jonas Cornish was born in Delaware County, Ohio, September 8, 1815, where he remained until 1839, when he removed to Jasper County, Ind.; he died April 19, 1881. Mr. Cornish was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and a most excellent man, esteemed by all who knew him. Mrs. Cornish is also a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

Source: “Counties of Porter and Lake, Indiana, Historical and Biographical,” Goodspeed and Blanchard, 1882 page 371 Morgan Township
Data entry volunteer: Suzan Schaeffing

Addison Crisman was born in Carroll County, Ohio, October 27, 1837, and is a son of B. G. and Elizabeth Crisman. He came with his parents to this county in 1850, and worked at home until he attained his majority, when he began working for farmers in the neighborhood. In August, 1862, he enlisted in Company E, Seventy-third Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and served until the war was closed. After his return from field, he settled in Portage Township, where he has since farmed, excepting a little more than a year, which he spent in the mercantile business at Lake Station. On June 17, 1863, he was married to Jane E. Holmes, a native of this county, and daughter of William and Jane A. Rugar, who settled in Porter County about 1838. Four children were the fruit of this union - Addison M., William C., Thomas W., and Benjamin F. In 1873, Mr. Crisman made his home on his present farm of 253 acres. He was elected Justice of the Peace in 1866, and served six years. He is a Republican.

Source: “Counties of Porter and Lake, Indiana, Historical and Biographical,” Goodspeed and Blanchard, 1882 page 370 Portage Township
Data entry volunteer: Suzan Schaeffing

B. G. Crisman was born in Huntingdon County, Penn., June 14, 1814. He is one of the eight children of Benjamin and Mary (Yingling) Crisman, and the youngest. Both parents were natives of Maryland. When B. G. Crisman was four years old, his parents settled in Carroll County, Ohio, where he was reared, and where he lived until 1849, at which time he removed to De Kalb County, Ind., and in 1850 settled in Union Township, Porter County, Ind., after which he moved on his farm in Portage Township. On March 2, 1836, he was married to Elizabeth Baughman, of Carroll County, Ohio, a union which was blessed with twelve children, ten of whom are living - Addison, Isaac, Oliver (of Valparaiso), Nancy, Henry, Milton, Solomon F. (of Moore County, Minn.), Mrs. Eliza J. Cole (of Brainerd, Minn.), Mrs. Clara Bender and Washington W. Mr. Crisman owns a splendid farm, comprising 260 acres, with good improvements. In politics, he is a Republican.

Source: “Counties of Porter and Lake, Indiana, Historical and Biographical,” Goodspeed and Blanchard, 1882 page 370 Portage Township
Data entry volunteer: Suzan Schaeffing

Ephraim Crisman was born in Columbiana County, Ohio, and is one of the eleven children of Frederick and Eliza (Hardesty) Crisman. In 1848, he came with his parents to Union Township, where his father died January 4, 1877. The Crisman family is of Dutch descent. Ephraim lived at home until he was married, December 25, 1861. To Sarah Long, of Williamsville, N. Y. To this union there have been seven children - Benjamin F. (deceased), Emma (deceased), Ella D., George (deceased), A. B., A. D. and Frederick. Mr. Crisman came to this township, living three years, and after removed to the farm on which he now lives. This property is rich and well improved, containing some excellent buildings. Mr. Crisman has given considerable attention to raising blooded horses, and has one of the finest in the country. In politics, Mr. Crisman gives his support to the Republican party, and is esteemed as one of the most intelligent and enterprising citizens.

Source: “Counties of Porter and Lake, Indiana, Historical and Biographical,” Goodspeed and Blanchard, 1882 page 340 Union Township
Data entry volunteer: Suzan Schaeffing

Isaac Crisman, farmer, was born in Carroll County, Ohio, June 3, 1839, and is a son of B. G. and Elizabeth (Baughman) Crisman. He was brought to this county by his parents in 1850, where he remained excepting the time spent in the army. When he had reached his majority, he began to work among the farmers of his neighborhood. In August, 1862, he enlisted in Company E, Seventy-third Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and was discharged for disability in March, 1863, he re-enlisted, however, in November, 1864, in Company D, Twenty-third Indiana Volunteers, and served until the end of the war. After returning, he farmed on the homestead until his marriage, December 12, 1870, to Jane White, a native of Will County, Ill. Four children were the result of this union - Wilbur F. (deceased), Myrta M. (deceased), B. Allen, and Fannie E. (deceased). After his marriage, he located at Crisman, where he engaged in mercantile business and served three years as Postmaster. In 1875, he moved to his farm in Portage Township, where he now lives on seventy acres; he is a Republican, and is serving his second term as Township Trustee.

Source: “Counties of Porter and Lake, Indiana, Historical and Biographical,” Goodspeed and Blanchard, 1882 page 370, 371 Portage Township
Data entry volunteer: Suzan Schaeffing

Milton Crisman was born in Carroll County, Ohio, March 12, 1847, one of the twelve children of Benjamin and Elizabeth (Baughman) Crisman; was brought to this township by his parents in 1850, and was reared to manhood on a farm. In 1872 and 1873, he engaged as a contractor on the Michigan Central and the Baltimore & Ohio Railroads, and in the latter year, June 5, married Miss Sarah E. Finfield, of this county; he is now the father of three children - Raymond, Ross M. and Leonard. In 1874, he rented a farm in this township, and a year later bought the one on which he now resides. This consists of 145 acres of rich land, improved, with a good brick residence and other buildings. In politics, Mr. Crisman is a Republican, and for two years he filled the office of Township Assessor; he received a good common school education in his youth, and is an intelligent, enterprising and prosperous farmer and one of the substantial citizens of the township.

Source: “Counties of Porter and Lake, Indiana, Historical and Biographical,” Goodspeed and Blanchard, 1882 page 371 Portage Township
Data entry volunteer: Suzan Schaeffing

Thomas Crisman, farmer, was born in Huntingdon County, Penn., August 13, 1805. He was the sixth of eight children composing the family of Benjamin and Mary E. (Yingling) Crisman, both of whom were natives of Maryland. In 1818, the family removed to Carroll County, Ohio, where Thomas lived until 1850, when he settled on the farm in Union Township, on which he has since resided. On November 25, 1830, he was married to Nancy Ringle, of Westmoreland County, Penn. As a result of this union thirteen children were born, nine of whom survive - Mrs. Lavina Shearer, of Lake County; Mrs. Hannah Gunder, of Porter County; Mrs. Eliza Smith of La Porte County; Mrs. Mary Matthews of Hobart; Harrison, John, Thomas, Mrs. Louisa Scholl and Mrs. Alice Bentley. Mr. and Mrs. Crisman are members of the Lutheran Church. In politics, Mr. Crisman is a Republican. He has an excellent farm, with valuable improvements. He is a fair-minded and honored citizen.

Source: “Counties of Porter and Lake, Indiana, Historical and Biographical,” Goodspeed and Blanchard, 1882 page 339, 340 Union Township
Data entry volunteer: Suzan Schaeffing

Samuel C. Ross is the tenth child of Samuel and Ruth (Craft) Ross, who, respectively, were born in Virginia in 1792, and in Pennsylvania in 1802. After their marriage, they settled in Pennsylvania, moving thence to Knox County, Ohio, and thence to Licking County, where Samuel C. was born February 5, 1838. After attending school and working on his father’s arm until 1857, our subject came to Fulton County, this State, where he married, October 10, 1861, Miss Sarah A., daughter of Shadrach and Mary (Fairchild) Hiland, and, in 1865, came to this township and bought forty acres of land on Section 13. To this marriage have been born five children - Oslow H., May 19, 1863; Carrie V., November 20, 1864; Mary E., December 30, 1869; Alvah C., June 12, 1873, and Charles M., September 3, 1877. Mr. Ross attends church as circumstances permit, and in politics is a Republican.

Source: “Counties of Porter and Lake, Indiana, Historical and Biographical,” Goodspeed and Blanchard, 1882 page 388, 389 Porter Township

Data entry volunteer: Suzan Schaeffing