History of Porter County, 1912County history published by The Lewis Publishing Company . . . .
Source Citation:
The Lewis Publishing Company. 1912.
History of Porter County, Indiana: A
Narrative Account of its Historical Progress, its People and its Principal
Interests.
Volume I. Chicago, Illinois: The Lewis Publishing Company. 357 p.
HISTORY OF PORTER COUNTY
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CONTENTS
LOCATION - BOUNDARIES - PHYSIOGRAPHY - THE GLACIAL EPOCH - THE VALPARAISO MORAINE - TOPOGRAPHY - LAKES - WATERSHED - THE CALUMET REGION - LAKE CHICAGO - THE BEACHES - SAND DUNES - THE CALUMET RIVER KANKAKEE BASIN - THE MARSH LANDS - SMALLER STREAMS - UNDERLYING ROCKS - ECONOMIC GEOLOGY - CLAY INDUSTRIES - ARTESIAN WELLS - ALTITUDES - FAUNA AND FLORA . . . . . . . . . . 1
CHAPTER II
ABORIGINAL INHABITANTS
THE MOUND BUILDERS - WHO WERE THEY - DIFFERENT THEORIES - DISTRICTS - EFFIGY MOUNDS - PURPOSES FOR WHICH THE MOUNDS WERE ERECTED - MOUNDS IN NORTHERN INDIANA - IN PORTER COUNTY - PREHISTORIC REMAINS - COLLECTIONS OF RELICS - THE MODERN INDIAN - POTTAWATOMIES - THEIR TRADITIONS AND CUSTOMS - THEIR ALLIANCES WITH THE FRENCH AND ENGLISH - TREATIES OF CESSION - INDIAN TRAILS . . . . . . . . . . 17
CHAPTER III
SETTLEMENT AND ORGANIZATION
EARLY EXPLORERS AND FUR TRADERS - CATHOLIC MISSIONARIES - FATHER MARQUETTE - LA SALLE - LOUISIANA - FRENCH, BRITISH AND SPANISH CLAIMS - TREATY OF 1783 - INDIANA TERRITORY - FORT DEARBORN - JOSEPH BAILLY - HIS POST ON THE CALUMET - FIRST STAGE LINE - THE MORGANS - OTHER EARLY SETTLERS - FIRST SALE OF PUBLIC LANDS - WAVERLY AND MORGAN TOWNSHIPS - PIONEER CUSTOMS - SPORTS AND AMUSEMENTS - ORGANIZATION OF PORTER COUNTY - EARLY ELECTIONS - FIRST CIVIL TOWNSHIPS - LOCATION OF THE COUNTY SEAT . . . . . . . . . . 30
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CHAPTER IV
INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS
COUNTY REVENUES - TREASURER'S FIRST REPORT - LAKE COUNTY CUT OFF - NEED OF HIGHWAYS - -OLD TRAILS USED FOR ROADS - TRADE WITH MICHIGAN CITY - FIRST ROADS ORDERED BY COUNTY COMMISSIONERS - STATE ROADS - THREE PER CENT FUND - MICHIGAN CITY PLANK ROAD - ITS BANK - VALPARAIS0 & LAPORTE PLANK ROAD - ACT OF 1877 - MACADAMIZED ROADS - FIRST SESSION OF THE CIRCUIT COURT - NO COURT HOUSE - SUBSCRIPTION TO BUILD ONE - SECOND COURT HOUSE - THE PRESENT BUILDING - JAIL - POOR FARM - THE COUNTY ASYLUM - DITCHES - DIFFERENT SYSTEMS DESCRIBED - RAILROADS - TRUNK LINES - RESOLUTIONS OF 1857 - ELECTRIC LINES - VALUE OF RAILROAD PROPERTY IN THE COUNTY . . . . . . . . . . 50
CHAPTER V
EDUCATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
EARLY SCHOOLS IN THE SEVERAL TOWNSHIPS - FIRST TEACHERS - COMMISSIONER'S REPORT - DESCRIPTION OF THE EARLY SCHOOL HOUSE - COUNTY SEMINARY - UNION SCHOOL - METHODIST MALE AND FEMALE COLLEGE - VALPARAISO COLLEGIATE INSTITUTE - VALPARAISO UNIVERSITY - FIRST FACULTY - FINANCIAL AID --ITS PRESENT STATUS - COST TO STUDENTS - ITS LIBRARY - WHAT M'CLURE'S MAGAZINE SAYS OF IT - CATHOLIC PAROCHIAL SCHOOLS - LUTHERAN SCHOOLS - TEACHERS' INSTITUTES - COUNTY TEACHERS' ASSOCIATION - SCHOOL STATISTICS FOR 1911-12 - THE PRESS - EVOLUTION OF NEWSPAPER - THE NEWSPAPERS OF TO-DAY - PUBLIC LIBRARIES - LIBRARIES IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS . . . . . . . . . . 71
HISTORIC WARS OF THE NATION - REVOLUTIONARY VETERANS IN
PORTER COUNTY - WAR OF 1812 - BLACK HAWK WAR - WAR WITH MEXICO - CAPTAIN SMITH'S
COMPANY - POLITICAL CAMPAIGN OF 1860 - SECESSION - FALL OF FORT SUMTER - CALL
FOR TROOPS - PORTER COUNTY AROUSED - MEETINGS AT VALPARAISO - RESOLUTIONS
ADOPTED - FIRST COMPANY OFF
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FOR THE WAR - NINTH INFANTRY - ITS RECORD - PRIVATES' BATTLE OF BELINGTON -
FIFTEENTH INFANTRY - OTHER INFANTRY REGIMENTS IN WHICH PORTER COUNTY WAS
REPRESENTED - CAVALRY AND ARTILLERY ORGANIZATIONS - ROLL OF HONOR - WORK OF THE
CITIZENS WHO REMAINED AT HOME - TOTAL NUMBER OF PORTER COUNTY TROOPS - STATE
MILITIA - SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR - MEMORIAL HALL . . . . . . . . . . 97
FIRST TOWNSHIPS - CHANGES IN BOUNDARIES - NEW TOWNSHIPS CREATED AND OLD ONES DISORGANIZED - BOONE TOWNSHIP - SETTLEMENT OF - FIRST ELECTION - EARLY AND MODERN SCHOOLS - HEBRON - SETTLEMENT AND INCORPORATION OF - RAILROADS - HIGHWAYS - CENTER TOWNSHIP - PHYSICAL FEATURES- CHIQUA'S TOWN - FIRST SETTLERS - ELECTIONS - EARLY EVENTS - SCHOOLS - TRANSPORTATION FACILITIES - HIGHWAYS - JACKSON TOWNSHIP - OF GLACIAL ORIGIN -NAME - FIRST SETTLERS - EARLY ELECTIONS - MILLS - VILLAGES - SCHOOLS - RAILROADS - POPULATION - LIBERTY TOWNSHIP - LAND TROUBLES - SETTLEMENTS - DEATH OF MRS. HUGHART - EARLY WEDDING FESTIVITIES - ELECTIONS - HIGHWAYS - FIRST STEAMBOAT - RAILROADS AND VILLAGES - MORGAN TOWNSHIP - ORGANIZED, 1843 - FIRST SETTLERS - INDIAN TRADITION - GAME AND BEE TREES - PRAIRIE FIRES - AGNEW'S TRAGIC DEATH - TASSINONG - MBLDEN - LIBERTY VIEW - SCHOOLS - RAILROADS AND HIGHWAYS - CENSUS . . . . . . . . . . 126
CHAPTER VIII
TOWNSHIP HISTORY - Continued
PINE TOWNSHIP - HISTORICAL SKETCH OF IN COURT-HOUSE
CORNER-STONE - SCHOOLS - RAILROADS - POPULATION - PLEASS4NT TOWNSHIP - LOCATION
AND BOUNDSRIES - EARLY SETTLERS - SCHOOLS - RAILROADS - TOWN OF KOUTS - CRIMES
AND CASUALTIES - CENSUS REPORTS - PORTAGE TOWNSHIP - PHYSICAL FEATURES -
PIONEERS - SCHOOLS - POSTOFFICES AND VILLAGES - TRANSPORTATION FACILITIES -
HIGHWAYS - POPULATION - PORTER TOWNSHIP - LOCATION AND BOUNDARIES - FORMERLY
FISH LAKE - SETTLERS - PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS - SCHOOLS - POSTOFFICES AND VIL-
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LAGES - RAILROADS - HIGHWAYS - POPULATION - UNION TOWNSHIP - LOCATION AND
BOUNDARIES - PHYSICAL FEATURES - SETTLERS - EARLY ELECTIONS - PIONEER LIFE
-"HOOSIER'S NEST" - FINLEY'S POEM - SCHOOLS - HIGHWAYS - RAILROADS - TOWN OF
WHEELER - CENSUS - WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP - LOCATION AND BOUNDARIES - FIRST
SETTLERS - SCHOOLS - RAILROADS AND VILLAGES - PRATTVILLE - WESTCHESTER TOWNSHIP
- CHANGES IN BOUNDARIES - RESOURCES - PIONEERS - SCHOOLS - TOWNS AND VILLAGES -
CHESTERTON - PORTER - RAILROADS - CENSUS REPORTS, ETC. . . . . . . . . . . 158
CHAPTER IX
THE CITY OF VALPARAISO
HOW THE CITY ORIGINATED - PORTERSVILLE LAND COMPANY -
COUNTY SEAT SITES OFFERED - PLAT OF PORTERSVILLE - ADDITIONS TO THE CITY - FIRST
HOUSE - POSTOFFICE - NAME CHANGED TO VALPARAISO - EARLY
BUSINESS ENTERPRISES - INCORPORATED AS A TOWN - POWERS CONFERRED ON THE TOWN
GOVERNMENT - MAIL AND STAGE ROUTES - INCORPORATED AS A CITY IN 1865 - EXCITEMENT
OVER PRESIDENT LINCOLN'S ASSASSINATION - FIRST CITY ELECTION - EARLY ORDINANCES
- MAYORS - THE TEMPERANCE CRUSADE - FIRE AND POLICE DEPARTMENTS - WATERWORKS -
GAS COMPANY - ELECTRIC LIGHTING COMPANY - MANUFACTURING INTERESTS - CHURCHES
-SCHOOLS - CHAMBER OF COMMERCE - STREET PAVING - RAILROADS - BANKS - CENSUS
REPORTS . . . . . . . . . .191
CHAPTER X
FINANCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL
PUBLIC REVENUES - BONDED DEBT - EARLY BANKING CONDITIONS -
FIRST BANK IN PORTER COUNTY - FIRST NATIONAL - ITS SUCCESSORS - FARMERS '
NATIONAL - STATE BANK OF VALPARAISO - TRUST COMPANIES - CHESTERTON BANK - BANKS
AT HEBRON - BANK OF KOUTS - PORTER COUNTY BANK - POSTAL SAVINGS BANKS -
VALPARAISO BUILDING ASSOCIATION - AGRICULTURE - VALUE OF FARM PRODUCTS - LIVE
STOCK - FARMERS' ALLIANCE - FARMERS ' INSTITUTES - FARMERS' INSURANCE COMPANY -
GAS AND OIL - MANUFACTURING- FOSTER'S AUGER FACTORY - WAGONS AND CARRIAGES -
FOUNDRIES - PLANING MILLS - VALPARAISO WOOLEN MILL - PIN FAC-
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TORY - PAPER MILL - PAINTS AND VARNISHES - EFFORTS TO SECURE NEW INDUSTRIES -
CLOCK FACTORY - MICA WORKS - CHAUTAUQUA MANUFACTURING COMPANY - MCGILL
MANUFACTURING COMPANY - ORGAN FACTORY - HYDRAULIC-PRESS BRICK COMPANY - GLASS
WORKS - "FEATHERBONE" - TILE MILLS - MINOR CONCERNS - GENERAL INDUSTRIAL
CONDITIONS . . . . . . . . . . 216
HARDSHIPS OF THE PIONEER DOCTOR - EARLY PHYSICIANS - PERSONAL SKETCHES OF NOTED PHYSICIANS - LIST OF DOCTORS IN 1912 - PORTER COUNTY MEDICAL SOCIETY - KANKAKEE VALLEY MEDICAL SOCIETY - HOSPITAL - SMALLPOX EPIDEMIC OF 1899 - JUDICIAL SYSTEM - FIRST JUDICIAL CIRCUIT - PROBATE COURT - COURT OF COMMON PLEAS - SUPERIOR COURT - CITY COURT OF VALPARAISO - LIST OF JUDGES - PROSECUTING ATTORNEYS - EARLY LAWYERS - PORTER COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION - LIST OF LAWYERS IN 1912 - ANECDOTE OF D. D. PRATT - ART - LITERATURE - JOURNALISM - PERSONAL SKETCHES OF AUTHORS, POETS AND JOURNALISTS . . . . . . . . . . 239
CHAPTER XII
SOCIETIES AND FRATERNITIES
AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY - ITS REORGANIZATION - EARLY COUNTY FAIRS - FAIR GROUNDS - NORTHWESTERN INDIANA FAIR CIRCUIT - ANTI HORSE THIEF ASSOCIATIONS - OLD SETTLER'S ASSOCIATIONS - MASONIC LODGES AND BODIES - ORDER OF THE EASTERN STAR - INDEPENDENT ORDER OF ODD FELLOWS - THE REBEKAHS - KNIGHTS OF PYTHIAS - PYTHIAN SISTERS - GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC - WOMEN'S RELIEF CORPS - SONS OF VETERANS - BENEVOLENT AND PROTECTIVE ORDER OF ELKS - KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS - MODERN WOODMEN OF AMERICA - FORESTERS OF AMERICA - KNIGHTS OF THE MACCABEES - FRATERNAL ORDER OF EAGLES - SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR VETERANS - KNIGHTS AND LADIES OF HONOR - CIVIC IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION - MUNICIPAL STUDY ASSOCIATION - SOCIAL CLUBS - DAUGHTERS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION - THE "THIRTEEN CLUB" . . . . . . . . . . 260
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CHAPTER XIII
RELIGIOUS HISTORY
FIRST MISSIONARIES - AN INTERESTING RELIC - CATHOLIC MISSIONS - INDIANA A MISSIONARY FIELD - FIRST MINISTERS IN PORTER COUNTY - THE BAPTISTS - THE METHODIST - THE PRESBYTERIAN - THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH - VARIOUS CHURCH SOCIETIES - ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH - FATHER O'REILLY - THE LUTHERANS - THE UNITARIANS - UNION MISSION CHURCH - CONGREGATIONALISTS - PLYMOUTH BRETHREN - PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCH - COUNTRY CHURCHES - YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION - YOUNG WOMEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION - INFLUENCE OF THE CHURCH . . . . . . . . . .292
CHAPTER XIV
MISCELLANEOUS HISTORY
ADVENTURES WITH THE INDIANS - REASON BELL - "UNCLE JOE" MARKS - PERSONAL MENTION OF PIONEER SETTLERS - CHARLES OSBORNE'S GRAVE - JERRY SIMPSON ONCE A RESIDENT OF PORTER COUNTY - "LUCKY" BALDWIN - A SNIPING EXPEDITION - A THIEVING PREACHER - STORMS - FIRES - RAILROAD WRECKS - THE EXECUTION OF STAVES - OTHER NOTED MURDER CASES - ATTEMPTED ROBBERY OF THE COLLEGE SAFE - PROFITABLE PEACHES - A PAIR OF COUNTERFEITERS - MYSTERIES - A HAUNTED HOUSE - AN ACT OF HEROISM . . . . . . . . . . 315
COMMODORE PORTER - SEAL OF PORTER CIRCUIT COURT - OLD MAP
OF 1810 - LIST OF COUNTY OFFICERS FROM 1836 TO 1910 - PRESIDENTIAL VOTE,
1836-1910 - GROWTH OF POPULATION - TABLES SHOWING VALUATION AND DISTRIBUTION OF
PROPERTY - A LARGE MORTGAGE - CONCLUSION . . . . . . . . . . 347
NAVIGATION OF
1912 HISTORY OF PORTER COUNTY
PREFACE
CONTENTS
CHAPTER I - General Features
CHAPTER II - Aboriginal Inhabitants
CHAPTER III - Settlement and Organization
CHAPTER IV - Internal Improvements
CHAPTER V - Educational Developments
CHAPTER VI - Military History
CHAPTER VII - Township History
CHAPTER VIII - Township History (continued)
CHAPTER IX - The City of Valparaiso
CHAPTER X - Financial and Industrial
CHAPTER XI - The Professions
CHAPTER XII - Societies and Fraternities
CHAPTER XIII - Religious History
CHAPTER XIV - Miscellaneous History
CHAPTER XV - Statistical Review
Transcribed by Steven R. Shook, November 2011