Samuel Alyea, native of Butler County, Ohio, was born September 21, 1825, the fourth of the twelve children of Isaac and Keziah (Smith) Alyea. The father was born in Essex County, N. J., and the mother in Tennessee, and both were of German descent. The paternal grandfather and great-grandfather of Mr. Alyea were both soldiers in the war of the Revolution. Mr. Alyea was reared by his grandparents, and, in 1835, came with them to La Porte County; a year later they moved to Boone Township, this county, and the year following were joined by Isaac Alyea, who afterward, moved to La Porte County, and there died. March 15, 1845, Mr. Alyea married Deborah Alyea, of Franklin County, this State. In 1851, he returned to La Porte County, where he resided, with the exception of one year passed in Tazewell County, Ill., until 1869, when he came back to this township, where he has resided ever since. He has a fine farm of 640 acres, and gives much attention to dairying and stock raising. Of the ten children born to him there are six living, viz., Orlando E., Theodore, Washington, Marion, Mrs. Melissa J. Gundy, of Union Township, and Samuel E. Mr. Alyea is a member of the I. O. O. F., is a Republican, and is one of the earliest settlers in the township now living, and one of its most substantial citizens.

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

Note - researcher Wayne Gunder says the Gundy name should be Gunder.

Additional information received on Samuel from researcher Chuck Dowd:
After the death of his first wife Deborah and his son Theodore, Samuel married Mary E. Alyea on November 22, 1894 in Porter County and they moved to Center Township, Starke County, Indiana where they appeared in the 1900 census. Living with them were step grandson Harvey, step grandaughter Bessie and stepson Arthur Alexander according to the census taker. Later Samuel and Mary moved to Exeter, Missouri with Bessie and Harvey where they appeared in the 1910 census.

I lost track of Samuel and Mary after the 1910 census. Apparently Mary died in Exeter in 1925 and I'm trying to confirm that along with some other things. I found Samuel in both the 1900 census and 1910 census by accident. Afterward I did get a copy of the marriage liscense for Samuel and Mary.

Additional information received 10/21/02 from Wayne Gunder.
Earlier this week, I received a certified copy of the death certificate of Samuel Alyea from the state of Missouri. He passed away on September 10, 1910. The death certificate says he died without medical attention. His wife, Mary, was listed as the informant.

When Mr. Ritter was 17 years of age he went to Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, and joined General Harney in his expedition against the Mormons. Nothing came of the expedition as the Mormons became peaceable. Later, gold excitement broke out near Denver, and Mr. Ritter went to Pike's Peak, where he was engaged in gold prospecting with a comrade from Indiana, Dr. Hugh J. Needham. The two were making good wages in the mining camps, but on May 15, 1861 they decided to throw up their jobs and enlist in the army. They joined the command of the First New Mexican Cavalry, and proceeded to Fort Garland where they were mustered in service under Col. Kit Carson, the famous old Indian scout. After two months drilling they were sent against the Indians in New Mexico, Arizona, and Texas.

Their service was very severe, and in one hard fight the command was pitted against the Comanches and Kiowas in Texas. Between 3,000 and 4,000 Indians had surrounded 212 whites in old Fort Bent. The cavalry, reinforced by mountain howitzers, of which the Indians had a dread, succeeded in putting the Indians to rout after three days and nights fighting. Mr. Ritter took part in many skirmishes with the Indians and served four years and three months. Following his mustering out from the army he and others were attacked by Indians while buffalo hunting. Mr. Ritter was badly wounded.

In 1871 Mr. Ritter was united in marriage to Sarah J. Hesser, who died in 1884. On December 23, 1886, he was united in marriage to Lottie M. Bradley. Surviving are five sons, Merritt Ritter, of Porter Township, Dr. Maurice Ritter and Lyman Ritter, of Whiting, Jay Ritter, of Quincy Illinois, and Harry Ritter, a student at Purdue University, and two daughters, Mrs. Charles Lee, of Nashville, Tenn., and Mrs. Clarence Wilson, residing east of the city.

Mr. Ritter was prominent in political circles. He was a Republican and served two terms as County Treasurer, and also was Trustee of Morgan Township.

Internment will be in Graceland Cemetery.

Submitted by: David E. Watters

HERBERT D. SCOFIELD. The ability which is developed in an active business life, in commercial transactions, and the rapid changes and fluctuations of trade, have proved in practice as valuable in the management of public affairs as that which comes from the exclusive study of law. The accomplished merchant is more likely to take a plain, common-sense view of matters of public importance, and to be unembarrassed by the superfine distinctions and definitions of the lawyer than the man who has been trained in the school of precedent and authorities. To this class of business men belongs Herbert D. Scofield, and the signal services he is rendering his city and county are due to the eminently practical and sensible constitution of his mend and to the thoroughness of his business training. Mr. Scofield, who is one of the leading merchants and the postmaster of Crisman, and a member of the council of Porter county, was born in Cook county, Illinois, February 22, 1860 , and is a son of John and Emma (Montrose) Scofield.

When he was only seven years of age Mr. Scofield was taken by Burrill Hall to a farm near Crisman, in Porter county, and there he was reared to agricultural pursuits and educated in the common schools. When he had reached his majority he was sent out to make his own way in the world, and for ten years was employed as a telegrapher and agent at Crisman for the Michigan Central Railroad. Seeing the need and opportunity for a merchandise business at this place, in 1892 he purchased a small stock of well-chosen goods and established himself as a merchant, and from time to time has added to his stock until he is now the proprietor of a large general store. In building up this enterprise Mr. Scofield has been kept busy, but he has not given his whole attention to the one line, as he is also the owner of a farm of seventy acres, from which he ships large quantities of sand to the steel works. Not withstanding his extensive business interests he has yet found time to devote to the public welfare of his country and city, and has well proven that not alone in business matters is he a pre-eminently capable man; but rather, as hinted in the commencement of this sketch, he has been all the better qualified for public office because of his consummate business proficiency. Since 1893 he has served as postmaster at Crisman, and he now acts in the capacity of county councilman of Porter county. In all matters of public enterprise and improvement he has ever taken an active part, contributing freely of his time to the advancement and building up of his community. As a Republican he is regarded as one of the strong men by the leaders of the organization here and has steadfastly worked in the interests of the "Grand Old Party." Fraternally he is a popular member of Calumet Lodge, No. 379, A.F.& A.M., of the I.O.F., No 11 and of the I.O.O.F. at Wheeler, and he and his family are highly esteemed as members of the McCool Methodist Episcopal church.

On May 30, 1883, Mr. Scofield was married to Miss Mattie Humphrey, who was born in Valparaiso, Indiana, there educated, and for a time was engaged in teaching school. They have had six children: Burl, who married Fannie Burbank; Lawrence, who married Effie Blake; Howard, who married Hattie Sadenwater; Bessie, who is attending high school; and Hartzell and Robert, who are students in graded schools.

Submitted by: Jim Scofield, Livermore, CA
From History of Porter County, Indiana; Lewis Publishing, Chicago (1912), pp 736-737

Ezra Bates Wedge, he died in the Civil War on 13 Jan 1864 at his fathers house, Cass township, Laporte County, Indiana. He married Mary Elizabeth Michael born 1835 Pa. Daughter of John Michael born 1800 Pa and Elizabeth Michael born abt 1796 Pa. ( Residents of Crawford County, Pa. and Lake County Indiana.)

Children of John and Elizabeth Michael.

1. Fanny Michael born 1824 Pa. died 1912 Wheeler, Porter County, Indiana. She married Matthew W. Wyeth, civil war soldier on 27 Jan 1850 at Springborough, Crawford County, Indiana.

2. Susannah Michael born 1827 Pa.

3. John Michael Jr born 28 Dec 1820 Crawford Co. Pa, and died 2 Jun 1903 at Lenora, Norton County, Kansas. He married Polly Geher on 28 Dec 1851.

4. Abraham Michael born 9 Jul 1832 Crawford Co. Pa. He died 15 Mar 1912 at Lincoln Center, Lincoln County, Kansas. He married Rosina Sanders.

5. Mary Elizabeth Michael born 1835 Pa. Married 1. Ezra Bates Wedge in Crawford Co. Pa.

2. Moses Cooper in Crawford Co. Pa.

Submitted by: Wanda Wedge Greathouse