Allen R. Nickell was born in Monroe County, Va., March 8, 1830, and is a son of Andrew Nickell, a native of Virginia, a farmer and of Irish descent, who married Janette Cornwall in Virginia in about 1826, and in 1835 came with teams overland to Elkhart County, Ind. After living there one year, he came to Porter County, and entered 240 acres of land in Washington Township, near Morgan Prairie. Mr. Nickell erected a cabin and lived there one season; then moved to Scipio Township La Porte County. His wife died about 1846 leaving a family of four children, all of whom are yet living. Mr. Nickell afterward married Mary Ann Parker, and to this union were born six children. The mother is yet living, but the father died in 1869. Allen R. Nickell was reared in La Porte County, receiving a common school education. He lived at home until December 1849, when he went to California, and for one month after his arrival worked on a farm for $150, after which he engaged in mining. In 1851, he returned and engaged in farming in Washington Township. In 1870, he moved to Valparaiso, where he is yet living. He was married, in 1851, to Sarah Shinabarger, who died in 1871. They were the parents of three children - Paulina J. (deceased), Malinda E. and Sarah E. April 23, 1876, he was married to Mrs. Lillie (Carpenter) Best , and by her has one son - Allen Roy. Mrs. Nickell is a member of the M. E. Church, and Mr. Nickell is a member of the Masonic fraternity, being a Knight Templar of Valparaiso Commandery, No. 28. He is a Democrat, and has served one term as Trustee of Centre Township..

Source: "Counties of Porter and Lake - Historical and Biographical", Goodspeed and Blanchard 1882 page 263, 264 City of Valparaiso
Data entry volunteer - Suzan Schaeffing

David F. Jones , son of Richard and Margaret (Forsyth) Jones, was born in Fayette County July 12, 1821, and when two years old, moved with his parents to Wayne County Ohio where he was reared to manhood. He obtained his education from the common schools, and became a farmer. He came to Porter County, Ind., in 1846, but remained only four months. He then went back to his old home, and the next season returned to Porter County, clerking that summer in Valparaiso for Joseph Jones and J. Barker. He again went back the following fall, and there, February 11, 1848, married Eve Critchfield, and the succeeding August moved to Porter County for good. He bought and settled on a farm on Horse Prairie, in Porter Township, farming summers and teaching school winters, until December 1852, when he moved to Valparaiso, where he has ever since resided. He embarked in mercantile pursuits, at which he was actively engaged about two years, afterward dealing in live-stock and buying and selling wool. Mr. Jones is a Republican, formerly a Whig; is a member of both Masonic and Odd Fellows fraternities, and his wife is a member of the Christian Church. They are the parents of no children, but have one boy, Andrew J. Zimmerman, whom they have reared from three years old to fourteen. Mr. Jones and wife are among the well-known and respected families of Valparaiso and Porter County.

Source: “Counties of Porter and Lake - Historical and Biographical”, Goodspeed and Blanchard 1882 page 252 City of Valparaiso
Data entry volunteer - Suzan Schaeffing

Dr. J. H. Letherman was born in Washington County, Penn., March 4, 1819, the son of Dr. Joseph and Sarah (Mercer) Letherman, natives of Pennsylvania and the parents of two children, of whom the Doctor only is living. Daniel Letherman, his grandfather, was a native of Prussia, came to America when a child, with his parents, and was a preacher of the Dunkard Church. Our subject’s maternal ancestors were of Irish-Engligh descent, and his grandfather Mercer was a Presbyterian minister. Dr. J. H. Letherman was reared in Pennsylvania, where he received a good common-school education, afterward entering Jefferson College, where he remained four years. Having a liking for the study of medicine, and his father being a physician, as were a number of other near relatives, he began the study of that profession in about 1843, and attended medical school at Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, also from the last named and receiving his diploma as “M.D.” He began practicing in his native State, but in 1845 removed to Des Moines County, Iowa, remaining there until, in November 1853, he came to Valparaiso, and his remained here ever since, engaged in active practice, and in this time he has booked $100,000. In Porter County. In 1871, he admitted his son, Dr. A. P. Letherman, a graduate of Louisville Medical College of Kentucky, as a partner. Dr. J. H. Letherman was married March 2, 1848 to Miss Jane Mary Peirce, of Cumberland County, Penn., and to this union was born ten children - Joseph H., an attorney and engaged in the Internal Revenue Department of Texas; Andrew P., now his father’s partner; William C., druggist of Valparaiso; Rebecca, deceased; Elizabeth, deceased; Lawrence L., mail agent on the Michigan Central Railroad; John and Alice A., twins, the former deceased; Jane B. and Carrie M. The parents are members of the Presbyterian Church, and Dr. Letherman is a Republican. He has been County Coroner twelve years, and has served at different times in city official positions, and is one of the present Aldermen of Valparaiso.

Source: “Counties of Porter and Lake - Historical and Biographical”, Goodspeed and Blanchard 1882 page 255, 256 City of Valparaiso
Data entry volunteer - Suzan Schaeffing

George Quatermass , retired farmer, first came to Porter County, Ind., with his family from Canada in 1860, and settled where he now resides and engaged in farming. He was a native of the State of New York, and was born February 19, 1813. Moved to Canada with his parents when but a small boy, and was reared there to manhood. Was twice married, first to Emily Harris, who died in Canada in 1860. He married his second wife, Sarah Janes, in Porter County, and he and she are yet living at Wheeler. The names of the children born to his first marriage were Eliza, Almira, Reuben, James (deceased), Martha, Emerson, George and Martin (deceased). The children are all married. In 1871, Reuben came to Valparaiso and opened a general store, and this led to the business that is now carried on by those of that name. At the end of four years, Emerson became a partner of Reuben, and the firm then became Quatermass Bros. Previous to their partnership being formed, the building now occupied by E. Quatermass & Co., was built, and into this they removed their stock in 1874. In 1878, Reuben Quatermass retired from the partnership, and in March, 1882, moved to Moline, Kan., where he yet resides, engaged in the stock business. Emerson then formed a partnership with a brother-in-law, F. W. Schenck, under the firm name of E. Quatermass & Co., Their stock comprises on the first floor dry goods, gents’ furnishing goods, house furnishing goods, and notions of every description; on the second floor is clothing, carpets and merchant tailoring. They carry a first-class stock of all kinds of dry goods, silks, and, in fact, everything that can be found in a city ten times the size of Valparaiso. Their force employed in this establishment is twenty-four persons, and they do an average annual business of $100,000. Emerson Quatermass, the senior member of the firm, was born in Canada in 1850; came to Porter County in 1872, and in November, 1878, married Miss Grace Schenck, daughter of Benjamin Schenck, deceased, one of the pioneers of Porter County. Mr. Q. is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and Mrs. Q. is a member of the Christian Church.

Source: “Counties of Porter and Lake - Historical and Biographical,” Goodspeed and Blanchard 1882 page 267, 268 City of Valparaiso
Data entry volunteer - Suzan Schaeffing

G. Z. Salyer, deceased was born in Tompkins County, N. Y., April 16, 1809. He went to White Pigeon, Mich., in about 1831, and there May 9, 1833, married Xenia Read, who was born in Susquelianna County, Penn., November 14, 1814, and was a daughter of Beldon Read, who moved to White Pigeon in 1830. Succeeding their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Salyer moved to La Porte, Ind., when Mr. Salyer worked at his trade (carpenter and joiner) until the land sales in Porter County in 1835, when they removed to Center Township, when Mr. Salyer purchased eight acres and bought out a grocery store, which he carried on in connection with his trade. He assisted in the erection of some of the first buildings of Valparaiso, and made this his home until his death, September 20, 1865. He was one of the prominent and influential men of his time, and for many years acted as Justice of the Peace. He was a Republican, formerly a Whig, and was a member of long standing in the Methodist Episcopal Church. He and wife began married life with but very little means, and they worked hard and economized, until at the time of Mr. S’s death they had considerable property. Mrs. Salyer owns valuable city property adjoining the public square, and it yet a resident of Valparaiso. To her marriage with Mr. Salyer there were born seven children - Don A., Mary E. (now Mrs. David Hamilton), Charlotte (now Mrs. Elijah Wood), Leon G. (deceased), Orvin (deceased), Robert E., married to Orpha Dennison and residing in Steuben County, Ind., and Winfield S., who married Edith Patrick, and resides in Valparaiso. G. Z. Salyer was for many years a merchant of the place, and his name is familiar to all old settlers of Porter County. He was one of the charter members of the Masonic order of Valparaiso, and was buried with Masonic rites. Don A. Salyer was born in La Porte, Ind., September 22, 1834, and came with his parents to Valparaiso in 1835, and has always made this his home. He received his education from the town schools, and was married in the fall of 1856 to Miss Amy Armstrong, daughter of Chauncy and Polly (Griswold) Armstrong, of Ogdensburg, N. Y., and succeeding his marriage Mr. Salyer engaged in merchandising in Valparaiso, which he continued until about 1876, when he purchased the paper mill he yet owns, which he had previously erected in partnership with T. G. Lytle in 1864. He has operated his mill ever since. He and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and the parents of two sons and one daughter - Doresy C., George C. and Fidelia. Mr. Salyer is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and has ascended to the Commandery, being Sir Knight of Valparaiso Commandery, No. 28. He is a Republican and a member of the City Council.

Source: “Counties of Porter and Lake - Historical and Biographical,” Goodspeed and Blanchard 1882 page 269, 270 City of Valparaiso
Data entry volunteer - Suzan Schaeffing

Homer W. Porter, County School Superintendent, was born in Onondaga County, N. Y., March 9, 1943, the only child of Hiram and Lucy (Ayres) Porter, natives of the same state and of English descent. Mr. Hiram Porter died when Homer W. was but two years old, his widow afterward marrying Abner Tillabaugh. Homer was reared by his grandmother Porter, and was educated chiefly by members of the family, and in his nineteenth year began teaching school at $8 per month; the next year he received $11. In the spring of 1863, he moved to Somonauk, Ill., where he engaged in the drug trade with an uncle for six months, taught another term of school, and in the spring of 1864 came to Valparaiso, and entered the Freshman year of the old Male and Female College. At the end of the summer he again taught school and clerked until the fall of 1868, when he married Miss Caroline Haste. He was next employed as first teacher in the grammar department of the high school; then farmed for some time, and continued farming and teaching until the spring of 1881, when he moved to Valparaiso, and was elected County School Superintendent in December of the same year, now filling the unexpired term of Reason Shinabarger, resigned. Mr. Porter is a Republican, and he and wife are parents of two children - Willie H. and Edith.

Source: “Counties of Porter and Lake - Historical and Biographical,” Goodspeed and Blanchard 1882 page 267 City of Valparaiso
Data entry volunteer - Suzan Schaeffing

James H. Newland, M. D., was born in Lawrence County, Ind., December 9, 1820. His father, John Newland, was a Virginian, and of Scotch-Irish descent. When a young man, he went to Burke County, N. C. where he married Miss Agnes Allen, a native of North Carolina, and of English descent. They resided in North Carolina until 1818, when to leave slavery behind, they came to Indiana, locating in Jackson County for a short time, removing to Lawrence County, where they ever afterward made their home. Mr. Newland was a farmer, and a very active politician in the souther part of the State, where he was quite widely known, and held several local positions of honor and trust. He and wife were members of long standing in the Methodist Episcopal Church, and their deaths occurred respectively in 1838 and 1868. Dr. Newland made his home with his parents until his seventeenth year, then engaged in school teaching, which he continued for five years. He began the study of medicine in 1842, in Salem, Ind., having access to the library of his uncle, Dr. Elija Newland. In 1852-53, he attended Rush Medical College at Chicago, of which he is a graduate. He began practicing in Thorntown, Boone County, where he also engaged in the drug trade. He was there burned out, and left completely in debt. He started anew, and for a time practiced medicine in Pleasant Hill, Montgomery Co., Inc., moving to Valparaiso in 1859. Here he was a wide and selected practice. He was married in 1844 to Eliza Davis, who bore him nine children, of whom only one, William H., is yet living. This lady died in 1871, and 1872 Dr. Newland married his present wife, Mary Ellen Reves. Dr. N. is a Republican, and he and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

Source: “Counties of Porter and Lake - Historical and Biographical”, Goodspeed and Blanchard 1882 page 263 City of Valparaiso
Data entry volunteer - Suzan Schaeffing

James McFetrich was born in Trumbull County, Ohio, March 4. 1840. He is the third in a family of ten children, seven of whom are yet living, born to John and Martha ( Anderson) McFetrich, both of whom were natives of the County Derry, Ireland, where they were reared and married. In 1831, soon after their marriage, they emigrated to America, locating first in New York, afterward moving to Ohio, in both States engaging in farming. These parents are yet living, and reside in Trumbull County, Ohio. James McFetrich was reared in Ohio, on a farm, to manhood, in youth attending the district school, afterward attending and in 1861 graduating from the Western Reserve College at West Farmington. He then began the study of law at Warren, Ohio, with Birchard & Moses, and for one year attended the Law Department of the Michigan State University at Ann Arbor. He then accepted a situation as teacher, at Valparaiso, in the Collegiate Institute, intending to return to law school and graduate, with his earnings. Instead of going back, however, he continued teaching steadily for five years. He then engaged in the drug trade for a time, and in 1871 was elected teacher of the High School, continuing as such eight years. During this time, he was elected County School Superintendent (1875), and served two years. In 1880, he became interested in the hardware trade, from which, in 1882, he changed to the lumber trade, at which he is yet engaged, under the firm name of White, McFetrich & Co. Mr. McFetrich was married, September 7, 1871 to Miss Martha J. White, daughter of Daniel S. White, born in Wayne County, Penn., December 17, 1846, and is a member of the Presbyterian Church of Valparaiso.

Source: “Counties of Porter and Lake - Historical and Biographical”, Goodspeed and Blanchard 1882 page 259 City of Valparaiso
Data entry volunteer - Suzan Schaeffing

James M. McGill was born in Erie, Penn., June 28, 1843, one of seven children, all yet living, born to Robert and Susan P. (Alexander) McGill, natives of Pennsylvania. The grandfather of James M, was a native of Ireland, and come to America shortly after the Revolutionary war. From Erie, Penn., the parents and family moved to La Porte, Ind., and after living about a year there, moved to South East Grove, Eagle Creek Township, Lake County. Shortly after the war, the parents moved to Hebron, Ind., where they lived the remainder of their days. Mrs. McGill died there in 1873, and Mr. McGill in 1878, and both are now sleeping in the village cemetery. James McGill lived with his parents until nineteen years old, during which time he attended the public schools of his neighborhood, afterward entering and for three years was a student of the male and Female College of Valparaiso. August 19, 1862, he enlisted as private in Company I, Fifth Indiana Cavalry. He was promoted Sergeant, and retained that position until the battle of Nashville, when he was advanced to the First Lieutenancy of Company G. of the Tenth Tennessee Cavalry. Shortly after this, he was promoted Captain of his company, retaining that position until the close of the war. Capt. McGill and his company were in active service during his entire army career, and he participated in a number of engagements, notably among which were those of Knoxville, Mission Ridge, Chattanooga, Franklin, Nashville and others. After the last named battle, they chased Hood across the river, then went to New Orleans, and from there to Natchez, where they did garrison duty for a number of months. Capt. McGill and company discharged at Nashville, Tenn., in August of 1865. Succeeding the ware, he came back home and has since resided in Porter County, engaged in various pursuits, chiefly farming. He was married, May 18, 1869, to Kittie L. Starr, daughter of the old pioneer, Ruel Star (deceased), and to their union have been born four children - Pearl, Phebe E., Ruel S. and Mary Edna (deceased). Mr. and Mrs. McGill are members of the Presbyterian church. Capt. McGill is a Republican, a member of the Masonic fraternity, and is a Sir Knight of Valparaiso Commandery No. 28.

Source: “Counties of Porter and Lake - Historical and Biographical”, Goodspeed and Blanchard 1882 page 260 City of Valparaiso
Data entry volunteer - Suzan Schaeffing

James R. Malone, grain-dealer and farmer, is the eldest son of Wilson Malone, deceased, one of the pioneers of Porter County. His birth, February 7, 1843, occurred in this county, and he was here reared to manhood. When twenty years old, he went to Montana Territory, where for five years he was engaged in mining. In 1867, returned, and January 1, 1868, married Miss Mary E. Smith, and settled down to farming, at which he continued until 1876. In that year, he was the choice of the Democratic party for County Sheriff, and, although Porter County usually gives a Republican majority of 500, he was elected, and re-elected with increased majority, serving in all for years. Since that time he has been dealing in grain and looking after his farm, which consists of 700 acres in Boone Township. To his union with Miss Smith there have been born eight children - Charley (dead), Kittie, Bessie, Wilson, Henry, Richard, James D. and Frank. One of the interesting epochs in his life occurred while a miner. On one expedition, while the country was yet excited over the “Gallatin massacre” by the Indians, he and seven others were followed by a score or more of red-skins for over two days, but by the vigilance of the whites they were not able to make an attack with any degree of safety to themselves. The Indians then gave up the pursuit, but a number of others followed, out of sight, and one night succeeded in capturing four horses belonging to the whites. They were pursued, and after a long chase, captured and on vote, it was decided to hang the thieves. While Mr. Malone was pinioning the legs of one, the Indian managed to draw a concealed knife, which he plunged into the side of Mr. Malone, inflicting a dangerous wound from which he was not able to leave his cot for four weeks. The red-skin was promptly shot, and the others were soon dangling at the ends of ropes from convenient trees.

Source: “Counties of Porter and Lake - Historical and Biographical”, Goodspeed and Blanchard 1882 page 258 City of Valparaiso
Data entry volunteer - Suzan Schaeffing

J. A. Ryan, M. D., was born near South Bend, Ind., September 23, 1852, and is the third child of a family of seven children born to John L. and Eliza (Nixon) Ryan, who were natives of New York State. Dr. Ryan’s grandfather, Ryan, was a native of Ireland, and came to America, where he died very shortly after the birth of John L. Ryan. Our subject’s mother died December 24, 1879; his father is yet living on his farm near South Bend, where he has resided the past thirty-five years. Dr. Ryan was reared in St. Joseph County, Ind., and after attending the common country schools, went to South Bend, graduating from the high school of that city. He began the study of medicine in 1875, under Dr. Sweetland. He taught school three terms after coming out of high school, and the winters of 1876, 1877, and 1878 attended and graduated from the Bennett Eclectic Medical College of Chicago. The spring of 1878, he took a special course in the Eye and Ear college, receiving a special diploma. While then not knowing where he would located, he passed an examination before the State Board of Health, receiving a certificate from that institution. He came to Valparaiso in October, 1878, and in partnership with Dr. Vincent, embarked in the practice of his profession. In May, 1879, he purchased Dr. Vincent’s practice, and has met with excellent success. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and is a Knight Templar of Valparaiso Commandery, No. 28. He was married, May 20, 1879, to Miss Carrie Wood, daughter of Agustus Wood, one of the old settlers of Northwestern Indiana, and now a merchant of Hobart. He and wife are the parents of one son - Claude A., born August 26, 1881. The mother was born in Michigan City, in May 1853.

Source: “Counties of Porter and Lake - Historical and Biographical,” Goodspeed and Blanchard 1882 page 268, 269 City of Valparaiso
Data entry volunteer - Suzan Schaeffing

John B. Bradley was born in Essex County, Mass., May 28, 1831, and is the youngest of nine children of Joseph and Charlotte (Baker) Bradley, four of whom are still living. Mr. Bradley lived in Essex County Until he was eighteen years old, serving three years’ apprenticeship to a machinist. He then went to California in search of gold, and returning to Essex County, worked at his trade about one year; thence he moved to Dunkirk, N. Y., where he worked two years, and then to Sandusky, Ohio, where he remained five years. In November 1857, in Sandusky City, he was married to Mina Smith, by whom he has had eleven children - the names of those living being Lottie, Joseph, Herbert, Annie, Guy, Bessie, Hattie, Daisy and John. Mr. Bradley came to Porter County in 1863, and, excepting two years’ absence at Fort Wayne, has resided here ever since. Mr. Bradley’s grandfather was an ensign in the war of 1812. He resides three miles north of Valparaiso, on his farm of eighty acres, and is a generous-hearted and respected citizen.

Source: “Counties of Porter and Lake - Historical and Biographical,” Goodspeed and Blanchard 1882 page 280 Centre Township
Data entry volunteer - Suzan Schaeffing

John B. Clifford was born in Richland County, Ohio, January 14, 1852, being one of a family of seven, three of whom are dead. His parents were natives of Ireland, his mother being a relative of Curran, the great Irish Barrister. His father was a shoemaker, and remained in Ireland, following his business, until 1848; then he emigrated to America, landing at Quebec. Afterward, he went to Bucyrus, Ohio, and began business as a railroad contractor, which he also established, in about 1854, in Valparaiso, Ind., which he has since continued. John B. Clifford came to Valparaiso with his father and in February 1874, was married to Margaret La Force. Mr. and Mrs. Clifford have a family of four - Minnie, Joseph, John and Margaret, all of whom live at home. For a time after his marriage, Mr. Clifford followed farming; afterward, he began working for the Government at Fort Yates, D. T., which he continued about eighteen months; then returned to Valparaiso, where he now superintends the work-train on the Chicago & Grand Trunk Railroad.

Source: “Counties of Porter and Lake - Historical and Biographical”, Goodspeed and Blanchard 1882 page 281 Centre Township
Data entry volunteer - Suzan Schaeffing

John Carver was born in the County Cork, Ireland, March 22, 1832, and is one of eight children born to Thomas and Honora (McAuliffe) Carver, four of whom are living in Valparaiso. At the age of fifteen, John came to this country with his father, landing in Boston. After living there and in Vermont a short time, he came to Ohio, and to Porter County in 1856, which he has since made his home. He has done some farming, but has given more attention to railroading, acting as foreman and contractor; his father died in 1849, in Ohio, and his mother in 1872 in Valparaiso. John Carver was married October 26, 1860 to Sarah Dwan, in Valparaiso. Eight children have been born to them - Honora, Margaret, Catharine, Mary, Thomas, Julia Honora (second) and Sarah; three of these are deceased. Mr. Carver lives three-quarters of a mile west from town, on his farm of 100 acres. He is universally respected as a worthy man and a valuable citizen.

Source: “Counties of Porter and Lake - Historical and Biographical”, Goodspeed and Blanchard 1882 page 280 Centre Township
Data entry volunteer - Suzan Schaeffing