John C. Ball was born in Warren County, Ohio, July 2, 1815, the son of Luther and Elizabeth (Frey) Ball, natives, respectively, of New Jersey and Maryland, and the parents of four children, of whom only our subject and one sister are living. John C., like his father, was reared a farmer, but through the solicitation of a cousin, Dr. Ball, came to La Porte County, Indiana, in 1835, to act as clerk. On the laying out of Valparaiso, in 1836, Dr. Ball moved his stock of goods to the place, then containing about one hundred inhabitants, John C. coming with him. Dr. Ball erected a frame building on the lot where Wood’s grocery store now stands, and here John C. clerked until about 1841. In August, 1842, John C. Ball was elected Clerk of the Courts of Porter County, took his office in the March following, served seven years, and was then elected County Treasurer for three years, and the following fifteen years engaged in improving lands near the village, and since then has been employed in various pursuits. He is now living retired, and owns valuable property in and near the village. He was married in Valparaiso, in 1852, to Susan M. Marshall, who has borne him seven children, viz.; Wade D., who married Lizzie Eason, in 1878, and is the railroad agent at Columbia City; Ivan M.; Grace H.; Mary D., now Mrs. G. E. Stanton; Caryl C., Lizzie and Harry R. The mother was born July 8, 1832, in Dutchess County, New York, and is a member of the Presbyterian Church. Mr. Ball is now independent in his political views and does not confine himself to any creed or dogma, but votes in all cases for the competent man, and not for the party.

From “Counties of Porter and Lake Indiana, Historical and Biographical” by Goodspeed and Blanchard, published 1882 page 233 City of Valparaiso
Data Entry Volunteer - Suzan Schaeffing

M. B. Crosby, a native of Putnam County, N. Y., was born November 17, 1809, and is one of eight children, five of whom are yet living, born to Zenas and Sally (Chapman) Crosby, who were also natives of Putnam County. M. B. Crosby was reared on a farm; moved to Ontario County, N. Y., when a young man, and married Philura Freeman, in Connecticut, in October 1834. They resided in Ontario County, N. Y., farming until the spring of 1836, when they moved to Michigan City, and the next summer, went to Crown Point, Lake Co., Ind., where he farmed until June, 1839; thence moved to Porter County, locating in Washington Township, where he cleared and farmed until 1846, when he traded his farm for what was known as the Cheney Flouring Mill. He ran that seven years, then sold out; moved to Valparaiso, and for one year was in the dry good trade in partnership with J. N. Skinner. He and S. G. Hass then built a large brick steam saw and flouring mill, which they operated five years. In this venture Mr. Crosby lost $5,000, but nevertheless, he bought the mill he know owns. In connection with the mill, which is in charge of his son, Mr. Crosby runs a flour and feed store, and throughout his diversified business career, has been very successful. He and wife are members of the Presbyterian Church, and Mr. Crosby was one of two male members who helped organize that church in Valparaiso. He is a Republican in politics; is self-made, and he and wife were parents of five children - Harrietta, Enoch, Emma J., now wife of Hon. S. S. Skinner, Freeman and Edwin Van S. The two elders and the youngest of these are dead.

Source: “Counties of Porter and Lake Indiana, Historical and Biographical” Goodspeed and Blanchard, 1882 page 240 City of Valparaiso
Data Entry Volunteer - Suzan Schaeffing

Michael Barry, a blacksmith and carriage and wagon manufacturer, is a native of County Cary, Ireland, his birth occurring December 12, 1843. He is one of eleven children, eight yet living, born to James and Mary (Fitzgerald) Barry, the father of whom is dead, but the mother is yet living in the old country. Michael Barry received only a fair education in the old country, and at the age of twenty, in October 1863, came to New York City and was there fourteen months, working at his trade, which he learned of his father in Ireland. Having friends in Indiana, he came to Valparaiso, in December 1864, and began with his brother, and has remained a citizen of Valparaiso ever since. In 1875, he and brother dissolved partnership, and Michael then opened a blacksmith and a wagon and carriage shop on his own responsibility. He has three buildings where he carries on his business – two brick rooms 22x60. He gives employment to eleven men, and by hard work and economy he has made a comfortable fortune and an excellent business. In June, 1882, he received a patent for a spring wagon of entirely new design in reference to springs and reach, which for neatness and durability is unsurpassed, and is rapidly taking a front rank amount vehicles of its kind. Mr. Barry was married in New York City, in 1863, to Miss Mary Griffin, a native of Ireland, and by her had one son, since deceased. Mr. Barry has taken an interest in the public affairs of Valparaiso, and for six years represented the 3d Ward in its Council. He and wife are members of the Catholic Church.

Source: “Counties of Porter and Lake Indiana, Historical and Biographical” Goodspeed and Blanchard, 1882 page 233, 234 City of Valparaiso
Data Entry Volunteer - Suzan Schaeffing

Milan Cornell, farmer, was born December 13, 1827, in Crawford County, Ohio, and is one of eleven children, seven yet living, born to Isaac and Priscilla (Morgan) Cornell, a sketch of whom will appear in the biography of Ira Cornell, of Porter Township. Up to 1834, Milan Cornell lived with his parents in his native county, and in that year emigrated with them to what is now Porter County, Ind., locating in the southeastern part of the same, and becoming the first white settlers of Boone Township. The parents ever afterwards made Porter County their home, and died esteemed and respected citizens. Milan Cornell received his education from the common schools of that early day, and in 1849, he and three others received an attack of California fever, which induced them to start for the far-famed gold fields of the West. They went by the way of the Isthmus of Panama, and on their arrival at San Francisco, our subject had only one dollar. He found employment for short time chopping cord-wood, at the rate of about $16 per day, after which he engaged in mining near Sonora, and the most part of his stay there was in the souther part of the state. He participated in many of the hardships, etc., of a miner’s life, including fights with Indians, Mexicans and cut-throats of various kinds. In 1853, he returned to Indiana, and commenced farming and dealing stock, at which he has ever since continued, with the exception of about three years, while in the hardware trade at Valparaiso. February 25, 1854, he was united in marriage with Miss Cordelia Freeman, who was born in Onadago County, N.Y., February 22, 1834, and is a daughter of Azariah Freeman, appropriate mention of whom is made elsewhere in this volume. To this marriage were born two children - Genevieve, now Mrs. S. C. Williams, and Kate, the wife of Marion Baum. Mr. Cornell is a Democrat, a member of the I. O. O. F., and they O. F. Encampment. He and wife moved to Valparaiso the spring of 1882, and are among the best citizens of the place. They own, besides good town property, a valuable farm of 169 acres in Liberty Township.

Source: “Counties of Porter and Lake Indiana, Historical and Biographical” Goodspeed and Blanchard, 1882 page 237, 238 City of Valparaiso
Data Entry Volunteer - Suzan Schaeffing

T. A. E. Campbell (deceased), one of the first settlers of Porter County, was a native of Montgomery County, N.Y.; was born July 10, 1810, and was a son of Thomas and Mary Campbell, also natives of New York, and of Scotch ancestry. In 1834, he came to what is now Porter County with his uncle, Adam S. Campbell. He taught school for a time; was the first Postmaster of Valparaiso, and served as Deputy County Clerk, at which he was engaged in 1841, when he was elected County Treasurer and Collector. He filled this office with satisfaction for a number of years, and was afterward engaged for a long time in mercantile pursuits; he then employed himself at farming until his death, May 14, 1878. Mr. Campbell was largely identified with the construction of the Pittsburgh, Ft. Wayne & Chicago Railroad; he was a charter member of the Masonic Lodge of Valparaiso, and always took an active interest in the temperance cause. He was married, March 25, 1841 to Miss Margaret Parkinson, of Lake County, Ind. This lady was born in Wayne County, Penn., November 22, 1820, and is the daughter of Gibson and Mary (Rogers) Parkinson, who were of English descent, and came to Lake County in 1836, being among the first settlers. To the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Campbell were born nine children - Mary L. (deceased), Eliza J. (Mrs. A. E. Woodhull), Emmett, Robert S. (deceased), Hugh A., Theresa (Mrs. C. E. Bacon), Dora (Mrs. E. S. Jones), Thomas A. and Maud (deceased). Mrs. Campbell is still residing on the old homestead where she first began married life, together with her son-in-law and daughter (Mrs. Woodhull), and is a consistent member of the Presbyterian Church.

Source: “Counties of Porter and Lake Indiana, Historical and Biographical” Goodspeed and Blanchard, 1882 page 238 City of Valparaiso
Data Entry Volunteer - Suzan Schaeffing

William E. Brown, County Auditor. James Caldwell Brown, D. D., father of the subject of this sketch, and one of the pioneer preachers of Porter County, Ind., was the eldest child of William and Eleanor (Lyons) Brown, and was born at St. Clairsville, Belmont Co., Ohio, in October, 1815. He attended the preparatory department of Gambier College, and at the age of sixteen years entered Jefferson College of Pennsylvania. While in the Freshman class, he experienced religion, and united with the Presbyterian Church. He graduated with honors, and passed to the Western Theological Seminary at Allegheny, Penn., remained two years, and then spent one year teaching in Florida and Georgia. He then entered the Theological Seminary at Columbia, S. C., graduating a year later, and was licensed to preach by the Presbytery of Harmony, S. C., in 1838. On his way North, he married Miss Mary Emery, and in 1839 this couple came to the then village of Valparaiso, where Mr. Brown entered actively upon his ministerial labors. He was the founder of the Presbyterian Church of Valparaiso, and, for many years, was the leading representative of Christianity of Northern Indiana. Simultaneously, in 1859, he received the degree of Doctor of Divinity from Jefferson and Hanover Colleges. In 1860, he became the agent of the Theological Seminary of the Northwest, at Chicago, for which he resigned his pastorate. After a few months of fruitless work, on account of the war, he resigned and went to St. Louis, to fill the vacancy of Dr. McPheeter’s in the church there, after which he was elected Chaplain of the Forty-eighth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and participated in the different movements of the regiment until his death at Paducah, Ky., July 14, 1862, from overwork. His widow yet survives him, and resides in Valparaiso. They had born to them three children. Of the two yet living, one is William Emery Brown, the present Auditor of Porter County. He was born in Valparaiso March 14, 1842, and after attending the schools here, entered Jefferson College. At the end of one year, he returned and enlisted, in December 1861, in the Twentieth Illinois Volunteer Infantry. He was appointed Commissary Sergeant, and when his term of service was out, reenlisted in the same regiment. In the meantime, he was commissioned Captain on his uncle’s (Col. W. L. Brown’s) staff. He never served as Captain, however, for Col. Brown was killed at Second Bull Run the same day he received his commission as Brigadier General. William E. Brown remained with his regiment as Commissary, and part of the time as Acting Sergeant Major until April, 1865, when he was discharged. Owing to the irregularity of the mails, he did not receive his appointment as Quartermaster of the One Hundred and Fifty-fifty Illinois Volunteer Infantry until his retirement from the service. For a number of years after the war, he engaged in clerking. With the exception of six years, he has every since resided in Valparaiso. In politics he is a Republican, and, in 1878, was elected County Auditor, with a majority of 1,224 over two other candidates. He was re-nominated by acclamation in July, 1882. Mr. Brown was married, in October, 1866, to Miss Amanda A. Pershing, of Plymouth, Ind., and to them have been born six children; Fredrick J., Harry Van N., Ella L., Edith J., Grace M. E. and Jessie S. Mr. Brown is a member of the Masonic fraternity; has been Past Master of Porter Lodge No. 137; Past High Priest of Valparaiso Chapter, No. 79, R.A.M., and is the present Eminent Commander of Valparaiso Commandery, No.28, K.T.

Source: “Counties of Porter and Lake Indiana, Historical and Biographical” Goodspeed and Blanchard, 1882 page 237, 238 City of Valparaiso
Data Entry Volunteer - Suzan Schaeffing

Charles Fernekes was born in Germany February 10, 1834, the son of Antoine and Catharine (Schranck) Fernekes, who came to this country in 1856, and died in Milwaukee in 1872. Charles Fernekes learned to be a baker and candy-maker in the old country, and at the age of eighteen came to America, locating at Milwaukee, where for two years he worked at his trade; he then moved to Chicago, where he married Eve Griebel, September 19, 1855. In 1859, he came to Valparaiso, opened a confectionery and restaurant, and has secured a comfortable fortune. Besides his business place, he owns five dwellings and the business room occupied by Munger & Le Claire. His wife died April 13, 1880, leaving five children - Bertha, now Mrs. H. C. Schranck; George, Peter, Rosa and Charley. He married his present wife, Mrs. Kate (Dauber) Schwitzer, November 23, 1881, and by her has one son, not yet named. Mr. F. and family are members of the Catholic Church, and in politics, he is a Democrat. At present Mr. F. is engaged in the grocery and confectionery trade, but expects shortly to return to the confectionary and restaurant business, for which his large experience well qualifies him.

Source: “Counties of Porter and Lake Indiana, Historical and Biographical” Goodspeed and Blanchard, 1882 page 244 City of Valparaiso
Data Entry Volunteer - Suzan Schaeffing

Daniel H. Dillingham, grocer, was born in Liberty Townhsip, this county, April 27, 1849, and is the eldest of the four children of Olcott and Hannah (Hale) Dillingham. Olcott Dillingham was born in Huron County, Ohio, in 1827, and is the youngest of three living brothers born to John and Hannah (Hecox) Dillingham, natives respectively of Wales and Connecticut. At the age of ten he came with his parents to Porter County, than a part of La Porte County, where they purchased 600 acres of land. Their destination, on leaving Ohio, was south of Chicago, but a gale on the lake forced the vessel, on board of which they were bound for Chicago, to put into Michigan City, and this incident led to the making their home in this count. Mr. Dillingham remained with his father until he reached his majority, when in June, 1848, he married Miss Hannah A. Hale, a native of Maine. The December following, he built himself a house on some land belonging to his father’s estate, in which he lived until about 1858, when he moved to the old homestead, his present farm, which he managed for his father until the latter’‘s death in 1861. He is not the largest land owner in the township, his farm comprising 627 acres, well improved with first-class buildings, wind-pump, etc., and thoroughly cultivated. Mr. Dillingham is strongly Republican in politics, and, though he was unfortunate in having no early educational advantages, he is an intelligent, careful manager, naturally shrewd, and a progressive and enterprising citizen. There have been born to him four children, Daniel H., Carrie E., now Mrs. L. D. Wolf; Isaac, and Luella, now Mrs. Joseph Meade. His aged mother, Mrs. Hannah (Hecox) Dillingham, died at the homestead in 18–. Daniel H. Dillingham, as well as his brother and sisters was reared in this county, and his education was acquired in the common schools. He was married, March 28, 1870, to Miss Elma Bartholomew, daughter of Washington Bartholomew (deceased). In 1881, he came to Valparaiso, and January 1, 1882, he and his brother Isaac formed a copartnership in the grocery trade, and for beginners, are going remarkably well, and fully as much as some of the older houses, inasmuch as they carry a full line of everything belonging to the trade of a first-class grocery store, and are affable, obliging and attentive to their customers. Mr. D., besides his interest in the store, owns considerable town property and a farm of 360 acres in Liberty and Centre Townships. In politics he is a Republican, and he is by nature a man of energy and enterprise, and is always foremost in undertakings of a laudable character. There have been born to his marriage two children - Charles H. and Minnie E.

Source: “Counties of Porter and Lake Indiana, Historical and Biographical” Goodspeed and Blanchard, 1882 page 242, 243 City of Valparaiso
Data Entry Volunteer - Suzan Schaeffing

Dr. J. H. Edmonds, dentist, was born in Upper Canada December 26, 1848, and is one of the four children born to R. D. and Margaret (Ferguson) Edmonds. When the Doctor was about fifteen years of age, the family came to the United States, first settling at Detroit and then moving to Illinois, where the mother died in about 1870; the father now resides in Dacotah. The Doctor received an academical education in Canada, but the literary portion was finished at a college in Detroit. In 1866, he began the study of medicine and dentistry at Rock Island, under Dr. Buzette, and graduated from the Philadelphia Dental College the term of 1873-74; he also received a special diploma as surgeon, from Jefferson Medical College, qualifying him fully for the practice of dentistry. He was married July 28, 1870, to Miss Martha Pierce, who was born in Lake County, Ind., November 22, 1853, the daughter of Levi W. Pierce, and early settler. She had studied dentistry with the Doctor and is fully qualified in all its branches, making “filling” a speciality. They came to Valparaiso in 1872, and together do by far the greater part of the dental business of the town. They posses all the latest improvements, and their plate-work and filling cannot be surpassed. Dr. Edmonds is the only dental graduate in Valparaiso or porter County, and he ranks among the leading men of the profession in Northern Indiana. The Doctor is a Republican, a Mason and a Sir Knight of Valparaiso Commandery No. 28. His grandfather, Samuel Edmonds, was a native of England, and was for nine years in the British naval service, serving for a time as Commodore. The Doctor and Mrs. Edmonds are the parents of two children, Bruce Eugene (deceased) and Glenn.

Source: “Counties of Porter and Lake Indiana, Historical and Biographical” Goodspeed and Blanchard, 1882 page 243, 244 City of Valparaiso
Data Entry Volunteer - Suzan Schaeffing

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

Source: “Counties of Porter and Lake Indiana, Historical and Biographical” Goodspeed and Blanchard, 1882 page 398 Pine Township, Porter County
Data Entry Volunteer - Suzan Schaeffing

John Fitz Williams was born in Charing Cross, St. Peters Port, on the Island of Guernsey, off the coast of France, February 22, 1828. His parents, John and Mary Fitz Williams, were also natives of the island. The parents came to New York in 1818, and were there naturalized, that the father might do business for the Hudson Bay Company in the Northwestern Territory, and was located in and near the State of Wisconsin. Mr. Fitz Williams never returned to his native country, but after quitting the employ of hte H. B. Company, engaged in farming in Wisconsin, and died there in about 1839. In 1827, Mrs. Fitz Williams went back on a visit to her native land, and, there in 1828, the subject of this sketch was born. In 1829, the mother and son came to America, and the mother died during the time her son - the only one - was fighting for the preservation of his adopted country. John Fitz Williams, subject of this memoir, in the fall of 1840, was bound out as an apprentice on board the bark “Enterprise,” of St. Peters Port, Guernsey. After serving four and a half years he ran away, and found employment as cook on the lakes. In 1854, he came first to Valparaiso, but remained here only a short time, afterward going back to the lakes, where he remained till 1856, when he again came to Valparaiso and entered the employ of A. R. Gould, of the hotel “American Eagle.” In April, 1861, he enlisted in Company H, Ninth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and served with this company until 1862, when he became an orderly for Gen. Milroy, in West Virginia. In June 1863, he re-enlisted in Company E, One Hundred and Twenty-eighth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and promoted Orderly Sergeant, afterward being promoted to the Second Lieutenancy of his company. Owing to an accident which happened to him while on Hood’s campaign, he was unable to act in the capacity of Second Lieutenant, and accordingly was discharged. Mr. Fitz Williams was in a number of skirmishes, and engagements, among them being Second Bull Run, and was also through the Atlanta campaign with Gen. Sherman. After the war, he started a restaurant in Valparaiso, and has every since been in business in the place. As a business man, he had been very successful, and today is worth a comfortable fortune, which he has acquired by his own efforts. He was married, in December, 1863, just previous to going out in the One Hundred and Twenty-eighth, to Margaret McCarthy, and to their marriage were born five children - Annie, Fanny, Eliza, Fred and John. The parents are members of the Catholic Church.

Source: “Counties of Porter and Lake Indiana, Historical and Biographical” Goodspeed and Blanchard, 1882 page 245 City of Valparaiso
Data Entry Volunteer - Suzan Schaeffing

John M. Felton, County Clerk, was born in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, January 6, 1834. His father, William Felton, was a native of Pennsylvania, a railroad engineer by occupation, and married about 1825, Margery McCallister, who bore him two sons, both yet alive. The mother died there in 1829, and in 1831 Mr. Felton married Miss Margaret Mourer, and to this marriage were born eight children, six of whom are yet living. Mr. Felton continued the life of a railroad man until his death in May, 1862. His widow survived him until 1871, when she, too, died. Two of their sons served their country in the late ware - one Robert K., being killed before Petersburg. John M. Felton was reared in the “Keystone State,” receiving a common school education. He learned his father’s business of Civil Engineer, and the spring of 1857 was employed by the Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne & Chicago Railroad, on a new survey through northern Indiana. Previous to this time, he had been employed in Pennsylvania, and in Tennessee and Mississippi, as a railroad engineer. In 1860, he located permanently in Valparaiso - although he first came in 1857 - and since that time has always made porter County his home. He engaged as a salesman in a hardware store here until August, 1875, when he was elected on the Democratic ticket to the office of County Treasurer, and, two years later, was re-elected, serving all four years. In 1878, he was elected Clerk of Circuit Court of the county, and took his office November 1879. Although Porter County gives a Republican majority of about 500, Mr. Felton has, by personal popularity, been elected every time he has received a nomination. He was married, November 18, 1863, to Miss Mary Jane Marshall. This lady died April 24, 1873, leaving two children - Robert L. and Lizzie M. The mother was born April 15, 1841, in Wells County, Ind., and died a member of the Presbyterian Church.

Source: “Counties of Porter and Lake Indiana, Historical and Biographical” Goodspeed and Blanchard, 1882 page 244 City of Valparaiso
Data Entry Volunteer - Suzan Schaeffing

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

Source: “Counties of Porter and Lake Indiana, Historical and Biographical” Goodspeed and Blanchard, 1882 page 397 Pine Township, Porter County
Data Entry Volunteer - Suzan Schaeffing