Lovina Ludington, BiographyPorter County biographical sketches . . . .
Transcribed biography of Lovina Ludington
MRS. LOVINA LUDINGTON. The part taken by women in the development of the country and the creation of the splendid structure of modern civilization has been too often slighted in the historical accounts of communities. In Porter county as elsewhere the mothers and wives, from pioneer times to the present, bore fully an equal share of the responsibilities in the gradual evolution of the material and social prosperity of this vicinity. In this sketch occasion is taken to direct special attention to one of the noble women of the county, who is the head of a representative family, has faithfully discharged her duties to home and the community, and while not a pioneer has nevertheless been identified with this county for many years and through the period of its greatest development.
Mrs. Ludington was born in this county, August 17, 1860, and her maiden name was Lovina Sheffield. She was the seventh in a family of ten children, five sons and five daughters, born to Hazard and Elvira (Cunningham) Sheffield. The eight children who are still living are as follows: Henry, a resident of Colorado, who is married and is a Republican voter; Perry, who is married and lives in Hammond, Indiana, was formerly a farmer but is now following the trade of carpenter and joiner; George, who is married, is at the head of the Sheffield Land Company of Alvin, Texas; Hazard, married and engaged in the restaurant business at Valparaiso; Elvira, the wife of Mr. Williams, a dealer in fast horses at Wellsville, New York; Mrs. Ludington, the next in order in this family; Addie, the wife of Carleton Thatcher, a resident of Porter township; and Mary, wife of J. D. Hallet, of Valparaiso.
Hazard Sheffield, the father of this family, was born at Block Island, near Rhode Island, about 1821, was reared there, and when a young man came with his father and others, in a wagon drawn by oxen, to Athens county, Ohio. During this pioneer journey his father and one of his sisters died en route. After a few years in Ohio he came on to Porter county, Indiana, where during many years of a successful career he was engaged in farming. By his industry and good management he accumulated an estate of 700 acres, on which he resided for many years, but his death occurred in Valparaiso. As a Republican he had supported the party ticket in every campaign. The Christian church was his choice among the religious denominations. His wife, who was a native of Woodstock, Canada, was born December 1, 1824, and died in Porter county, March 1, 1869. She was a devout Presbyterian.
Mrs. Ludington was reared and educated in Porter county, attending the district schools, and when she was twenty years old, on March 25, 1880, was married to Mr. James E. Ludington. Seven children, four sons and three daughters, blessed their union, and three are now living, namely: Edna is the wife of James Rigg, a prosperous young farmer of Washington township; Ross F., the only surviving son, is his mother's capable assistant and superintendent of the home farm, being one of the progressive farmers and stockmen of Porter township. He graduated from the grade schools in 1901 and from the high school with the class of 1904. He was married October 12, 1910, to Miss Blanche E. Rigg, and they have one child, Russell Rigg Ludington. His wife is a daughter of J. W. Rigg. She was educated in the common schools and in instrumental music and is an accomplished and capable housewife. Martha Marie, the youngest of the family, and at home with her mother, took her diploma from the common schools in 1910 and also was a student one year in the Boone Grove high school. She is also trained in music, and is one of the favorites in the social circles of the township.
The late James E. Ludington, whose death occurred at his home in Porter township, December 14, 1905, was one of the able farmers of Porter county where he had resided more than half a century. He was horn at Woodstock, Canada, July 12, 1857, and when he was six years old his family settled in Porter county, where he received his education and spent the rest of his life. He and his young wife began their wedded career as renters on morgan prairie, and were tenant farmers for six years. Beginning with little capital except their industry and youthful enthusiasm, they nevertheless found the conquest of prosperity comparatively easy. The first land they bought was part of the present homestead, and they went heavily in debt for it, but they paid it all off, added another forty acres, and at his death the Ludington estate comprised two hundred acres and has long been considered one of the valuable farms of Porter township. All the buildings and improvements were placed here as the result of their combined efforts, and they took great and proper pride in their accomplishments. Mr. Ludington was a Democrat in politics, his son being of the same political faith. His last resting place is in the Ludington cemetery, where a beautiful monument marks the spot.
Since his death Mrs. Ludington has assumed the management of the homestead and with her son has directed its affairs with great success. The "Walnut Dell Farm," as the place is known, is six miles southwest of Valparaiso, and its pretty modern residence and fruitful surrounding acres are among the charming country seats of this beautiful agricultural region. Mrs. Ludington can review a career of varied and worthy effort, not only in assisting to establish the home and in rearing her children to useful and honorable lives, but also by bearing a helpful part in her community. She contributed to the erection of the Boone Grove and Salem churches, and has never failed in any benevolences that merited her aid. She has presided over a charming and hospitable home, and among a wide circle of friends she has a place of unbounded esteem.
Source: Lewis Publishing Company. 1912. History of Porter County, Indiana: A Narrative Account of its Historical Progress, its People and its Principal Interests. Chicago, Illinois: Lewis Publishing Company. 881 p.
Page(s) in Source: 442-445
This biography has been transcribed exactly as it was originally published in the source. Please note that we do not provide photocopies or digital scans of biographies appearing on this website.
Biography transcribed by Steven R. Shook