Joseph Durand, French Canadian, was born near Montreal, Canada, July 20, 1846. In February, 1861, he moved to Pine Township, Porter Co., Ind., from Kankakee County, whither he had gone in 1851, working on a farm and studying under the instruction of Charles Cinequi, the priest who converted so many Catholics to Protestantism. His father, Gilbert Durand, was also born near Montreal, in 1817. In 1851, he went to California and mined gold for two years; he is still living. Joseph’s parents were married July 29, 1847. On February 29, 1868, Joseph Durand was married to Mary Tatro, a native of New York, who came west in 1852. Mr. Durand made his home in Porter County in 1871, making brick in summer and chopping wood in winter; he had so great a capacity for hard work that he was called “the little iron man.” In 1871, he made bricks on three-fourths of an acre, and in 1880 bought a yard - thirteen and a half acres - for which he was to pay $2,500. In 1881, the New York Central & St. Louis Railroad cut through his land for which he received $3, 750; he then established another yard, and now has the largest in Valparaiso, employing twenty five hands and five teams, and turning out 30,000 bricks daily. He values his entire property at $5,000. In 1882, he made his brother, Nelson Durand, a partner. He has been wonderfully successful, though he was some time ago ridiculed for his supposed rashness and folly. He is a Republican, and also a member of the Presbyterian Church.

Source: Counties of Porter and Lake, Indiana, Historical and Biographical, Goodspeed and Blanchard, 1882 page 282 Centre Township
Data entry volunteer: Suzan Schaeffing

Joseph Galbreath was born in Butler County, Ohio, May 12, 1812, and is one of the ten children (two living) of John and Elizabeth (Aikman) Galbreath, who were natives of Pennsylvania. Joseph’s grandfather was a Scotchman, and came to this country during the last century. Joseph’s father served as a non-commissioned officer in the war of 1812, and his nephew was killed during the war with Mexico, at the battle of Monterey. Our subject was reared a farmer. In 1833, he married Eliza Bricker, a native of Virginia, by whom he had ten children - John C., Martin V., Samuel, La Fayette and Bryon, living; and Charlotte, Nancy, Elizabeth J., Benjamin F. and William, deceased. Benjamin, while in the west, was accidentally killed by a self-inflected gunshot wound, after serving in the late war, as did also John and Martin. In 1838, Mr. Galbreath and family removed to Kosciusko County, Ind., built a cabin and commenced clearing amid the usual vicissitudes of pioneers. In 1866, they came to Porter County, where Mrs. Galbreath died January 21, 1873. In August, 1873, Mr. Galbreath married his present wife, Mrs. Mary (Whitney) Clover, by whom he has had two children - Edgar P. and Nellie May. Mr. Galbreath is a Republican and an influential, energetic citizen.

Source: Counties of Porter and Lake, Indiana, Historical and Biographical, Goodspeed and Blanchard, 1882 page 283 Centre Township
Data entry volunteer: Suzan Schaeffing

Nelson Duran was born near Montreal, Canada, May 19, 1851. When six months old, his parents removed to St. Anne, Ill., remaining ten years, and thence to Furnessville, Ind., remaining eight years. Nelson acquired some learning at St. Anne, and at Furnessville just before the fire (1871), going to Michigan for about six months. He then returned to St. Ann, and worked on the Chicago, Danville & Vincennes Railroad about two years, and afterward on the Chicago & Pacific Railroad. On February 22, 1876, he was married to Lucy Faucher, at St. Anne. Her parents came from Quebec, and were Catholics until converted by Father Chineque, the reformer. After his marriage, he followed farming at St. Anne for six years. In December, 1881, he became a partner with his brother, Joseph, in the brick-making business; they now have the largest yard in Valparaiso. Mr. and Mrs. Durand have four children, the youngest of whom is dead. Both he and his wife are members of the Presbyterian Church.

Source: Counties of Porter and Lake, Indiana, Historical and Biographical, Goodspeed and Blanchard, 1882 page 282, 283 Centre Township
Data entry volunteer: Suzan Schaeffing

Theron C. White, of the firm of White, McFetrich & Co., lumber dealers, was born near Goshen, Mass., December 10, 1815, son of Frebun and Betsey White, who were parents of three sons and one daughter, and the last now deceased. The family moved to Wayne County, Penn., in 1819, where they tilled a small farm, engaged in the lumber trade, operated a saw-mill, conducted a mill-wrighting business, and for a few years manufactured large numbers of umbrella handles. There the father died, August 9, 1844, and in January, 1855, Theron C. came to Valparaiso, to which place his brother Daniel had preceded him in 1850, a younger brother, Samuel, and his mother following in the spring of 1855. The mother died here in June, 1856, and Samuel returned to Pennsylvania the same year. Theron C. was married in Pennsylvania, to Salina A. Horton, December 15, 1837. They are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church and the parents of four children - Delia, wife of Reason Bell; Levi T; Freelove, now Mrs. John W. Elam, and Calista, the wife of F. M. Frasier. Mr. White is a Republican, he was County Surveyor for two years; owns ten acres adjoining the city limits, and a good house, and the firm of which he is a member is doing a very large trade. His grandfather, Ebenezer White, was a direct descendant from Peregrine White, of “Mayflower” renown, and the family line runs back to England as far as the fifteenth century.

Source: Counties of Porter and Lake, Indiana, Historical and Biographical, Goodspeed and Blanchard, 1882 page 276 City of Valparaiso
Data entry volunteer: Suzan Schaeffing

W. A. Yohn, M. D., was born in Porter County, Ind., March 29, 1850, and is the eldest of a family of five children, four yet living, born to Frederick and Margaret (Hewlings) Yohn, natives of Pennsylvania and Ohio respectively, and paternally of German descent, and maternally of French parentage. These parents were married in Champaign County, Ohio, in 1848, and the same year, emigrated to northern Porter County, and about four years after this returned to Champaign County, Ohio, not being able to undergo the malarial fevers of this section at that time. The remained in Ohio until March, 1882, when they returned to Porter Township, and are yet living there, engaged in farming. Dr. Yohn made his home with his parents until he reached his majority, during which time he received his early education from the common schools where he resided, afterward attending schools of higher grade and graduating from the Northern Indiana Normal School at Valparaiso in 1874. In that year he began the study of medicine with Dr. Hankinson, since deceased, afterward reading under his own option, having access to the library of Dr. Coats. The winter of 1878-79, he attended medical lectures at Columbus Medical College in Ohio, and the winter of 1879-80 attended and graduated from the Medical College of Indiana, the Medical Department of Butler University. The following year, he received the honorary degree of Doctor of Medicine, from the Kentucky School of Medicine, and the spring of 1880 he located in Valparaiso. Besides attending to his work as a physician, Dr. Yohn occupies the Chair of Natural Sciences in the Normal School of Valparaiso, and in July, 1881, was elected to the Chair of Chemistry in the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Chicago. Dr. Yohn is a Republican, a member of the Blue Lodge in Masonry, and was married in January, 1875 to Miss Mary E. Dunham, of Sandusky County, Ohio.

Source: Counties of Porter and Lake, Indiana, Historical and Biographical, Goodspeed and Blanchard, 1882 page 278, 279 City of Valparaiso
Data entry volunteer: Suzan Schaeffing

Aaron W. Lytle was born in Boone Township, Porter County, Ind., July 12, 1841; he is one of the nine children born to Aaron and Hannah (Jones) Lytle, three of whom are living, town of them in Porter County. Mr. Lytle lived in Boone Township until he was about eleven of twelve years old, when he moved with the family to Valparaiso. In 1853, Aaron’s father purchased a saw mill and some land on Flint Lake, where he did not long remain, but returned to Valparaiso. Aaron received most of his education at the Presbyterian institute at this place. In 1863, he entered the volunteer army, serving eighteen or twenty months; for nine months he was Captain. On February 21, 1866, he was married to Cordelia Denison, Wood County, Ohio; she was a native of Richland County, Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Lytle have had five children - George, Jesse, Carrie, Dick and James; the first is dead, the others live at home. In 1868, Mr. Lytle connected the ice business with farming, which he has continue. He moved to where he now lives, three miles north of Valparaiso, in March 1822.

Source: “Counties of Porter and Lake, Indiana, Historical and Biographical,” Goodspeed and Blanchard, 1882 page 286 Centre Township
Data entry volunteer: Suzan Schaeffing

A. W. Talbot was born in Lewis (now Barbour) County, Va., in 1821. He came to this State, and where he now lives, in 1847, but this was a reconnoitering trip, and his determination to improve his condition is illustrated by the fact that he traveled from Virginia - a distance of 600 miles - on horseback, and returned in like manner. He came back and settled, however, in the fall of the same year. In 1842, he was married to Ruth Baker, who died in 1854. His second marriage - to Hannah Stoner- occurred in December, 1856. She also died in October, 1879. Mr. Talbot was left with eight children, five by his first and three by his second wife. Those living (three by his first marriage and one by his second) are married and reside in Porter County. Mr. Talbot has always been a Democrat, his first vote for President being cast in 1844. At the time he came hither, he owned a mountain farm in Virginia of 200 acres. He now lives about two miles southeast of Valparaiso, on a homestead of sixty acres. He belongs to the Order of Odd Fellows. Mr. Talbot owes his success to untiring energy.

Source: “Counties of Porter and Lake, Indiana, Historical and Biographical,” Goodspeed and Blanchard, 1882 page 288, 289 Centre Township
Data entry volunteer: Suzan Schaeffing

Daniel Stoner was born in Montgomery County, Ohio, June 4, 1815. His father was a farmer, and he followed in his track. At that period, land being much higher in Ohio than in Indiana, Mr. Stoner came hither in 1840, in order to secure a farm and home in the “Hoosier” State. In common with all early settlers, he had an experience of trials and hardships. On June 15, 1835, he was married, in Ohio to Elizabeth Ludy, born May 23, 1813, from which union there descended eight children, two of whom are deceased. Those living are married and reside in this county. Mrs. Stoner died in November, 1880. Mr. Stoner now owns 255 acres of land, and lives two miles southeast of Valparaiso. In politics, Mr. Stoner is a Democrat. He has been a member of the Valparaiso Presbyterian Church for about twelve years.

Source: “Counties of Porter and Lake, Indiana, Historical and Biographical,” Goodspeed and Blanchard, 1882 page 288 Centre Township
Data entry volunteer: Suzan Schaeffing

Source: “Counties of Porter and Lake, Indiana, Historical and Biographical,” Goodspeed and Blanchard, 1882 page 284, 285 Centre Township
Data entry volunteer: Suzan Schaeffing

Frank Bergstrom was born in 1836, in Sweden. He is one of three children born to Swan and Mary E. (Millson) Bergstrom. When sixteen years of age, Frank began his trade, and in four years began business for himself. Two years later, he married Louise Johnson, a native of Sweden. They have four children living - Fena, Minnie, Frank J. and Albert. After his marriage, he came to America and settled at Bailly Town, and also worked at his trade in La Porte about two years. He enlisted in the Seventy-third Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and served nearly three years, through all the operations of the regiment. He then settled at Chesterton, and has carried on his present business of harness and shoe making here ever since. He has a fine trade, always supplying everything in his line; his is the only establishment of the kind in the northern part of the county. Mr. Bergstrom is a member of the Swedish Lutheran Church. He has always been a Republican, but has voted a few times with the Greenbackers. He is an industrious, thorough business man and first-class citizen. His first wife died in 1874. The following year he married Mrs. Ann E. Johnson, a native of Sweden. She has three children - Frank J., Gust, and Tilda.

Source: “Counties of Porter and Lake, Indiana, Historical and Biographical,” Goodspeed and Blanchard, 1882 page 290, 291 Westchester Township
Data entry volunteer: Suzan Schaeffing

George W. Merrill was born in Ashtabula County, Ohio, December 16, 1833; he is one of four children born to Nehemiah and Luna (Williams) Merrill; of this family, but two are living. When George was two and one-half years old, his father moved to Porter County and purchased 160 acres of land about three-fourths of a mile east of Flint Lake, where the family lived about three years; he afterward purchased land on the south shore of the lake, where they have since resided. On July 2, 1862, George W. Merrill was married to Ellen Crow, in Valparaiso. Three children were the result of this marriage - Rosa, Jennie and Lottie; the two first are dead. Mr. Merrill was brought up amid the primitive wilds and romantic scenery of this beautiful lake, then environed with timber, and a lurking place for Indians, deer, bears, and wild cats. Mr. Merrill has reduced fishing to an art; he has studied the nature and habits of black bass - the most valuable contained in the lake - to such an extent that he can catch tem when no one else can. He has been a member of the Methodist Church, and on all occasions an upright citizen.

Source: “Counties of Porter and Lake, Indiana, Historical and Biographical,” Goodspeed and Blanchard, 1882 page 287 Centre Township
Data entry volunteer: Suzan Schaeffing

Ira B. Keeler was born January 14, 1826, in Seneca County, Ohio, and is one of the nine children of Joseph and Olive (Brite) Keeler. His parents were married in Cayuga County, N. Y., in 1811. His father was born in Fairfield County, Conn., December 29, 1787; his mother in New Jersey, July 20, 1790. His father died February 14, 1868, in Marshall County, Iowa; his mother, February 26, 1858, in Centre Township, Porter Co., Ind. They came to Seneca County, Ohio in 1818. Ira labored for his father until they all moved to Porter County, in 1847. He had worked some time at shoemaking, and on coming to Porter County continued so to do for eight years in Valparaiso. On October 1, 1848, he married Mary Hughart, born September 17, 1828, in Centre Township, Porter Co., Ind.; her parents were Virginians. In 1855, Ira B. Keeler purchased the eighty acres on which he resides for $1,400; he also owns twenty acres of timber land in Liberty Township. Mr. and Mrs. Keeler have had six children - David, Joseph, Harriet, Schuyler, Henry and Susan; David alone is married. Mr. Keeler has been a Freemason since 1849.

Source: “Counties of Porter and Lake, Indiana, Historical and Biographical,” Goodspeed and Blanchard, 1882 page 285 Centre Township
Data entry volunteer: Suzan Schaeffing

James S. Bradly, a carpenter and retired farmer, was born September 1, 1827, in Hamilton County, Ohio, near Cincinnati. He is the younger of two children living, born to David and Currance (Platt) Bradly, the former a native of Vermont and the latter of Connecticut. They lived in Ohio until James was about sixteen, when they came to Clinton County, Ind. Two years later, the elder Bradly died. James and the family soon went to Chicago, where he remained about seven years, engaged in carpentering. He then came to Porter County and worked at his trade for about four years in Chesterton (then Calumet), and then moved on his farm in Liberty Township. He farmed there from 1856 to the fall of 1881, when he moved to Chesterton and again began his trade with his son, Charles D., who has worked at the trade for two years. They both have a lively run of business, and are first-class workmen. Mr. Bradly still owns his Liberty Township farm. In 1863, he entered service in the Twelfth Indiana Cavalry and served in Tennessee, Alabama and Mississippi, and was mustered out at Vicksburg at the close of the war. He has been a member of the Sons of Temperance, the Grange, etc. He has been Township Trustee for two years. He was a Free-Soil Democrat, but has been a stanch Republican since the formation of the party. He was married, June 3, 1853, to Elizabeth M. Jones, a native of Ohio. They have three children living - Charles D., Martha E. and Lavantia. Charles D. Bradly was born March 26, 1858, in Liberty Township. He was married, June 26, 1881, to Minnie D. Dettman, a native of Chicago. James Bradly’s first wife died in 1877, and in 1878 he married Mrs. Lavina Parker, a widow, and a native of New York.

Source: “Counties of Porter and Lake, Indiana, Historical and Biographical,” Goodspeed and Blanchard, 1882 page 292 Westchester Township
Data entry volunteer: Suzan Schaeffing

Jasper B. Bostwick, ex-Postmaster, and retired, was born March 27, 1810, in New York. He is the youngest of four children born to Joseph M. and Loraine (Wheaton) Bostwick, both natives of Connecticut. Mr. Bostwick, our subject, lived on a farm in New York with his parents until twenty-one years of age. He built a tannery, but in about two years, it burned, and he soon build another one on the same site, but in one year nearly it was also burned, both supposed to be the work of an incendiary. He then came to La Porte County, settling in Michigan City, when in about two years he went to Wisconsin with a company to found a town, and named it Washington. In about a year, he came back to La Porte County and farmed for about three years, when he returned to Michigan City; after a time went to Ohio, South Toledo, and engaged in merchandising for about ten years. He then came to Chesterton, and was associated with Mr. Hopkins as merchant for a time; then appointed as Postmaster of Chesterton, continuing about ten years. He has since retired from business on account of his deafness. While in Wisconsin, Mr. Bostwick was County Sheriff. He has always been a stanch Republican, but now favors the Greenback faith. He was married, January 19, 1834, to Elizabeth Eldridge, a native of Connecticut. She was educated at an academy in Pittsfield, Mass., and is a refined, affable lady. They have three children, all married - Ellen St. Clair, of Kansas City; Joseph W., of Central City, Colo., engaged in mining, and Samuel E., in Golden, Colo., conductor on the Colorado Central Railroad.

Source: “Counties of Porter and Lake, Indiana, Historical and Biographical,” Goodspeed and Blanchard, 1882 page 291, 292 Westchester Township
Data entry volunteer: Suzan Schaeffing

Jerome B. Wheeler was born in Hampden County, Mass., July 15, 1824, and is one of ten children born to William and Hannah (Crow) Wheeler, nine of whom are living. When Jerome was about seven years old, he moved with his father’s family to Medina County, Ohio, and then to near Terre Haute, where his father died. The family next moved to Clark County, Mo., after which Jerome, with three brothers, came to Porter County about the year 1844, where they purchased conjointly 160 acres. On December 25, 1855, Jerome was married to Elizabeth Crow, in Centre Township. As a result of this union, six children followed - Adelaid Smith, Octavia Kelley, Raymond, Emma, Minnie and Ida; excepting the second, all live in Porter County. Mr. Wheeler now resides about one and a half miles north of Valparaiso, on his farm of eighty acres, comfortable, and greatly esteemed as a liberal-spirited and enterprising citizen.

Source: “Counties of Porter and Lake, Indiana, Historical and Biographical,” Goodspeed and Blanchard, 1882 page 289 Centre Township
Data entry volunteer: Suzan Schaeffing

Jerry Sullivan was born in the County of Kerry, Ireland, and is one of the six children born to John and Ellen (McCartey) Sullivan. Two of this number only are living. Mr. Sullivan came to this country in 1851, landing in New York City. In 1857, he came to Porter County, Ind., and has since resided here. In the year of 1856, he was married to Mary Bennett, in Northern Ohio. This union has been blessed by four children - Ellen, Margaret, Mary and Julia. They are all unmarried and live in Valparaiso. Mr. Sullivan now resides two miles northwest from Valparaiso, on his own land, comprising ninety-four acres. He is a most generous man and a liberal and esteemed citizen.

Source: “Counties of Porter and Lake, Indiana, Historical and Biographical,” Goodspeed and Blanchard, 1882 page 285 Centre Township
Data entry volunteer: Suzan Schaeffing

John J. Tafte was born in Holstein, Germany, December 17, 1831, and is one of the seven children of George B. and Anna (Peterson) Tafte. His father was born in Holstein in 1804. He was a cabinetmaker and contractor, and employed twenty-five men continuously. He died when thirty-five years old. His mother was born in Hamburg in 1806. Her father was a ship-builder, and met his death in a storm. She now resides with her son John. After his father’s death, John was adopted by one Claus Fasbinder, in Holstein, with whom he lived eleven years and learned masonry. He afterward hired out for forty-five Prussian dollars a year, and later he was employed in hauling rock to rebuild what the Danish gunners had demolished in the war against Denmark in 1848-49. In May, 1852, he arrived in New York, aged twenty-one years. He went directly to New Buffalo, Mich., where he worked on a railroad, then “struck through the country,” coming to the house of R. Starr, Centre Township, Porter County, where he hired for $8 per month. After learning some English, he worked at his trade, and in 1872 purchased his present place for $7,000. He was married September 26, 1858, to Anna Rathyeu, at Hebron, Ind. Six children were born to them, three boys and three girls, the latter being deceased - Albert, George, John, Anna, Emma and an infant unnamed. Mr. Tafte is a Freemason and a Democrat. He lives on 170 acres two miles northeast from Valparaiso. He also has 108 acres two miles north and 160 in Minnesota.

Source: “Counties of Porter and Lake, Indiana, Historical and Biographical,” Goodspeed and Blanchard, 1882 page 289 Centre Township
Data entry volunteer: Suzan Schaeffing

John Junker was born in Germany June 28, 1853, being one of seven children comprising the family of John and Sophia Junker, two of whom are deceased. The father of our subject was born in Germany, and came from New York to Chicago, after emigrating from the fatherland, where he remained about one year, thence moving to Lake County with his family, where he has been engaged in farming about seventeen years. In 1881, John Junker came to Valparaiso, where he purchased a half-interest in what is no know as Korn & Junker’s brewery. In regard to Mr. Junker, as a man and a citizen, he has always been foremost in every enterprise affecting the interests and welfare of his fellows.

Source: “Counties of Porter and Lake, Indiana, Historical and Biographical,” Goodspeed and Blanchard, 1882 page 285 Centre Township
Data entry volunteer: Suzan Schaeffing

John McAuliffe was born in the county of Cork, Ireland, and came to the United States in the year 1847. He resided first in Vermont, then in Ohio, and came to Valparaiso in 1857. Since he arrived in this country, he has been engaged for the most part as a foreman over the employees engaged in building railroads; and should this sketch come to the notice of any of the very many men who have served under the good-natured rule of “Uncle John,” they will no doubt remember the old man with kindness. He died December 14, 1876. He was a good father, an upright citizen, and an honest man, and was one of those rare men who never sacrifice their honest principles.

Source: “Counties of Porter and Lake, Indiana, Historical and Biographical,” Goodspeed and Blanchard, 1882 page 286, 287 Centre Township
Data entry volunteer: Suzan Schaeffing