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 land 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 two years, during which he worked at carpentering and black smithing; he enlisted in the Twentieth Indiana Battery, under Cap. Rose, and was at Franklin, Murfreesboro, Chattanooga, Fort Donelson and other engagements; he was, for a time, flag-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 Templar’s 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.

Source: “Counties of Porter and Lake, Indiana, Historical and Biographical,” Goodspeed and Blanchard, 1882 page 337 Washington Township
Data entry volunteer: Suzan Schaeffing

Samuel M. Phares was born in Porter County, August 23, 1843. He is the eldest of eight children born to Martin and Maria (Shafer) Phares, the former of Greene County, Ohio, and the latter of Luzerne County. Penn. Samuel lived with his father, with the exception of the time of service in the war, until about twenty-seven years of age. He received the usual early educational advantages. He enlisted December 8, 1863. In the Twelfth Cavalry, One hundred and Twenty-seventy Indiana Volunteers, and was in service in the South and West. January 1, 1871, Mr. Phares married Narcissa C. Beam, a native of this county. He had already bought his present farm, which consists of seventy-six acres of good land, well watered, and with good buildings. He has held the office of Township Trustee for about four years, and is at present Assessor, both of which offices he has filled creditably. He has always been a Republican, and a public-spirited citizen. He has one child - Charles W.

Source: “Counties of Porter and Lake, Indiana, Historical and Biographical,” Goodspeed and Blanchard, 1882 page 367 Liberty Township
Data entry volunteer: Suzan Schaeffing

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 E. 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.

Source: “Counties of Porter and Lake, Indiana, Historical and Biographical,” Goodspeed and Blanchard, 1882 page 338 Washington Township
Data entry volunteer: Suzan Schaeffing

James Purdy was born in Montgomery County, Ohio, March 1, 1818; he was one of a family of seven children born to Thomas and Elizabeth Purdy, the former a native of Virginia and the latter of Pennsylvania. They moved to Porter County in the year 1843, remaining until death. Our subject came the year previous and has remained since; he was married, August 2, 1846, to Elizabeth Adams, who was born in Ohio, June 13, 1829; his occupation, heretofore, was that of a blacksmith, which he pursued until 1854. Then bought and moved on the farm on which he now lives; he owns 100 acres of land and has a family of six children - Catharine, Mecilda (deceased), Lorinda M., Ralston W., Sarah L. (deceased) and John M. He and wife are members of the Christian Church.

Source: “Counties of Porter and Lake, Indiana, Historical and Biographical,” Goodspeed and Blanchard, 1882 page 351 Morgan Township
Data entry volunteer: Suzan Schaeffing

A. W. Reynolds was born in La Porte County, Ind., September 18, 1846; he is a son of A. W. and Harriet Reynolds, who were natives of New York. Our subject came with his mother to Valparaiso this county, in 1854, where he attended the Valparaiso Male and Female College. At the age of fifteen, he began to learn the trade of baker with his step-father, Mr. Cross, at which he continued until May, 1864, when he enlisted in Company C, One Hundred and thirty-eighth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and served until September 2, 1864; he afterward enlisted in Company B, One Hundred and Fifty-first Regiment Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and served until the close of the war. When he returned, he resumed his trade of baker, working for Wood Bros. On February 1, 1871, he was married to Avril L. Hayden, native of La Porte County, Ind., by whom he had three sons - Gordon L., Charlie A. and Garland J. Soon after his marriage, he moved on the farm on which he now resides, which embraces 266 acres of superior land.

Source: “Counties of Porter and Lake, Indiana, Historical and Biographical,” Goodspeed and Blanchard, 1882 page 351 Morgan Township
Data entry volunteer: Suzan Schaeffing

Wheeler Rich was born in Rush County, Ind., October 17, 1830, and is the eldest of eleven children born to David and Margaret (Kolb) Rich; his father was a native of Ohio, born in 1811, and came to Indiana at an early day; his mother was born in George in 1807, and also come to Indiana at an early day; they were married in 1829; his father followed farming until his death, January 9, 1865, and his mother died in October, 1878. Wheeler Rich enjoyed a home with his parents until he reached manhood, and received in the meantime a fair education. On January 9, 1857, he was married to Rebecca Petro, a daughter of John and Mary (Sutton) Petro, born in Warren County, Ohio, in 1825. In 1851, Mr. Rich came to Porter County, and settled on the farm he now owns, at the time a woodland. By hard labor he has improved 130 of the 171 acres, besides erecting good buildings; he has a fine a stock farm as can be found in the township. Mr. and Mrs. Rich are members of the Christian Church. In politics, Mr. Rich is a liberal Democrat.

Source: “Counties of Porter and Lake, Indiana, Historical and Biographical,” Goodspeed and Blanchard, 1882 page 361 Jackson Township
Data entry volunteer: Suzan Schaeffing

William Rigg, the eldest of the six children of Robert and Mary (Newell) Rigg, was born near Wheeling, Va., in 1818; his father was a stone-mason, and in 1829 moved to Pittsburgh, Pa., and thence, in 1832, to Lawrence County, same State, where he bought a farm. On this farm William Rigg lived and worked until twenty-seven years of age, when he married Miss Mary, daughter of John and Rebecca Wallace. In 1859, he came to this township, bought a partially improved farm of 160 acres, began working it, and in 1861, brought on his family, who had been left behind on account of illness; his six children were born in Pennsylvania, and are named as follows: Robert N., John W., Sidney J., William B. and Mary, deceased. Mr. Rigg was a member of the New Castle ( Lawrence County, Penn.) Light Artillery for about thirteen years, and was under drill of Col. Scott, brother of Lieut. Gen. Scott. In this township he has served for six years as trustee; his farm is well improved, and a fine frame dwelling and all the requisite outbuildings, and is under as good cultivation as any in the township; he pays considerable attention to stock-raising, and has some imported Herefordshire cattle, he being the first to introduce them into the county. In politics, he is a Republican, and was formerly an Abolitionist, and a large stockholder in the Underground Railway.

Source: “Counties of Porter and Lake, Indiana, Historical and Biographical,” Goodspeed and Blanchard, 1882 page 388 Porter Township
Data entry volunteer: Suzan Schaeffing

Joseph Rinkel was born September 21, 1818, and is the eldest of the family of twelve children of Henry and Dorothy Rinkel, both of whom were born in 1796, and natives of Virginia. In 1824, they moved to Pickaway County, Ohio, where Mr. Rinkel purchased land and engaged in farming. In 1832, he moved to Carroll County, Ohio, and after one year to La Porte County, Ind., and remained until 1834, when he moved to Porter County. In 1840, he moved to Rock Island County, Ill., and in 1845 to Grundy County, Mo., where he died in 1865, followed by his wife in 1879. Joseph Rinkel remained with his parents until they reached Rock Island County. In 1842, he came to Porter county, Ind., and in 1848 purchased a farm in Pleasant Township near what is now Kout’s Station. This he sold after two years, and went to California to engage in mining, remaining two years. Returning to Porter County, he purchased his present home, in Section 29. On October 29, 1853, he married Mary Jones, of South Carolina. Soon after, he moved to his farm, where he has remained. Mr. and Mrs. Rinkel have had five children - Anna, Catherine, Ada, Joseph (deceased), and Martha (deceased).

Source: “Counties of Porter and Lake, Indiana, Historical and Biographical,” Goodspeed and Blanchard, 1882 page 351, 352 Morgan Township
Data entry volunteer: Suzan Schaeffing

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

Source: “Counties of Porter and Lake, Indiana, Historical and Biographical,” Goodspeed and Blanchard, 1882 page 377 Pleasant Township
Data entry volunteer: Suzan Schaeffing

Cornelius D. Sawyer, son of James and Mary (Ellsworth) Sawyer, was born in Ohio January 6, 1836. His father was a native of New York, his mother of Ohio. When Cornelius was about five years old, his father came to this county and purchased the farm on which he still resides. Cornelius remained at home, working on the farm, which he managed successfully, during his father’s absence in California. On November 29, 1856, he was married to Eunice Shreves, widow of C. Shreves, and daughter of David Wells, of Porter County. Five children blessed the union - Ella M., Craig (deceased), Mary May, James Perry and Florence. In 1872, Mr. Sawyer bought 74 acres on Section 30, having a good frame house thereon, where he lived with his family. On June 2, 1878, after four years’ illness, Mrs. Sawyer died of consumption; she was a member of the Christian Church and a much esteemed lady. In 1882, Mr. Sawyer exchanged his place for the Wanders farm, where he now lives. Soon after Mrs. Sawyer’s decease, his son Craig succumbed to the same malady. On April 29, 1882, Mr. Sawyer married Mary Rady, of Valparaiso, who also died on June 29, from typhoid fever. The cares of the family had fallen upon his eldest daughter, Ella, who married E. Green, of Chicago; Mary May succeeded her, and is a good housekeeper. Mr. Sawyer has some fine imported sheep - the Cotswold - from Canada; also some Norman Horses.

Source: “Counties of Porter and Lake, Indiana, Historical and Biographical,” Goodspeed and Blanchard, 1882 page 389 Porter Township
Data entry volunteer: Suzan Schaeffing

James E. Sawyer, son of Nathan and Sally (Flint) Sawyer, was born in 1806; he learned the carpenter’s trade in Wayne County, Ohio, and for some time followed it for a livelihood. In 1832, he married Miss Alvina Ellsworth, who has borne him fourteen children - seven boys and seven girls - James C. (deceased), Cornelius D., Philip L., Orville J., Louisa, Sylvia R., William L., Fremont D., and the others died in infancy. In 1850, Mr. Sawyer came to Porter Township, and settled on land purchased for his wife by her father, put up a cabin and fences, and went to farming. Becoming discontented, he soon made a trip to California, returning in about eighteen months, a loser by the venture. A year later, he went to Idaho, where he remained three years, then returned home and recommenced farming; he has now a good farm of eighty acres, a good two-story frame house, and all things about him in comfortable shape; he is a member in good standing in the Christian Church, and in politics is a Republican.

Source: “Counties of Porter and Lake, Indiana, Historical and Biographical,” Goodspeed and Blanchard, 1882 page 389 Porter Township
Data entry volunteer: Suzan Schaeffing

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 second marriage was to Laura Tabor, June 1, 1852; by this union, he has had nine children - Martha E., Alta J., Ernest F., Bell, Nellie L., Edward S., March C. Walter O. and Ruther M. In politics, Mr. Shinabarger is a Liberal Republican; his first vote was cast for Gen. Harrison in 1840; he has represented his party for over twelve years as Justice of the Peace, still holding that office; his farm consists of 193 acres, 180 being under cultivation; he is a member of Westville Lodge, I. O. O. 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.

Source: “Counties of Porter and Lake, Indiana, Historical and Biographical,” Goodspeed and Blanchard, 1882 page 338 Washington Township
Data entry volunteer: Suzan Schaeffing

John Shults was born in Washington County, Ind., September 16, 1816. He came with his mother or Porter County, Ind., in 1836, where he has since remained. On July 2, 1840, in this county, he was married to Deborah Heser, and shortly after moved to the farm which is now his home, and which he had bought previously; she died January 3, 1867. On December 25, 1871, he was married to Tillie Brown, born June 31, 1839. He has a family of eight children - Augustus, Rachel, Elizabeth D., Mary L., Virginia, Deborah H., John W. (deceased), and Cyrus D. Mr. Shults now owns 1,300 acres of land, after giving to his children about 500 acres. He began life as a poor boy, yet with energy, industry, and economy, he can consider himself worth about $50,000, an example of emulation. He is a most excellent man, with a large and happy family.

Source: “Counties of Porter and Lake, Indiana, Historical and Biographical,” Goodspeed and Blanchard, 1882 page 352 Morgan Township
Data entry volunteer: Suzan Schaeffing

Samuel Sigler, merchant, is a native of Fort Cumberland, Md., and was born February 13, 1816; he is the third of eight children of Samuel and Nancy (Taylor) Sigler; his father was a merchant and later a reed maker, of Dutch descent, and a son of Adam Sigler, who, for fifty years, filled a pulpit in the Methodist Episcopal Church; his mother was a native of Alleghany County, Va. At the age of six years, Samuel came with his parents to Clarksville, W. Va., and in 1834, the family settled in Elkhart County, near Goshen and in 1837, they located on 160 acres in Hobart Township, Lake County. On March 21, 1837, Samuel Sigler was married to Nancy Stockdale, a native of Washington County, Penn., by whom he had four children - Mrs. Margaret A. Arnold, George, Mrs. Eliza Willey and John N. In 1859, Mr. Sigler located at Wheeler, where he is engaged in mercantile business. In 1866, he was appointed Postmaster, being preceded by his son George. Mr. Sigler has been successful in business. He is a firm Republican and temperance advocate, and during the war was a member of the Union League. Besides his town property, he owns sixty-five acres near Wheeler. Both he and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, with which he has been identified over forty years; his industry has brought him independence, and his character respect and honor. Samuel Sigler, Sr., departed this life in 1869; he was one of the pioneers of Lake County, and, with others of the family, experienced the trials and privations of that period; his life was quiet and uneventful, and he passed away greatly esteemed and lamented.

Source: “Counties of Porter and Lake, Indiana, Historical and Biographical,” Goodspeed and Blanchard, 1882 page 346 Union Township
Data entry volunteer: Suzan Schaeffing

Truman Skinner was born in November, 1825 in Wayne County, N. Y.; he is one of twelve children born to Asa and Electa J. (Mason) Skinner, both natives of New York. Truman lived with his parents in New York until 1834, when they went to Canada, remaining there four years, and then came to Porter County, and the father bought eighty acres of land. In 1839, his wife died and he went back to New York. Truman was bound out to Henry Dillingham, who reared him up to about his eighteenth year; he received the usual education advantages, and worked out for about three years, then about seven years at Gosset’s Mill. He now bought eighty acres, sold it and bought 140 acres of which his present farm is a part of, having sold forty acres living 100, his present possession. With the exception of two years in Nebraska, Missouri and Kansas, he has lived here ever since he first came. All he has he obtained by his own efforts; he has been a member of the United Brethren Church, and during its life was a member of the Grange; he was at one time a Whig, and is now a Douglas Democrat, though he voters for the man rather than the party; he has eight children living - Ellen, Electa J., Paulina, Mary, William, Truman H., Mahala and Melna.

Source: “Counties of Porter and Lake, Indiana, Historical and Biographical,” Goodspeed and Blanchard, 1882 page 367, 368 Liberty Township
Data entry volunteer: Suzan Schaeffing

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 twenty-four, 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.

Source: “Counties of Porter and Lake, Indiana, Historical and Biographical,” Goodspeed and Blanchard, 1882 page 338, 339 Washington Township
Data entry volunteer: Suzan Schaeffing

Christian Smith was born in Germany May 7, 1828. He was the youngest of a family of three children born to Joseph and Christina Smith, who were natives of Germany, and in that country died. In the year 1854, our subject came to Porter County, Ind., where he has remained since. He was married in the fall of 1855 to Lena Sticker, who was also born in Germany in the year 1828. In 1857, he bought and moved on the farm on which he now lives. He owns eighty acres of land, well improved by himself. He has a family of four children - Mary, Louisa, Emma and Frank.

Source: “Counties of Porter and Lake, Indiana, Historical and Biographical,” Goodspeed and Blanchard, 1882 page 353 Morgan Township
Data entry volunteer: Suzan Schaeffing

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

Source: “Counties of Porter and Lake, Indiana, Historical and Biographical,” Goodspeed and Blanchard, 1882 page 377 Pleasant Township
Data entry volunteer: Suzan Schaeffing