History of Porter County, 1882County history published by F. A. Battey and Company . . . .
Source Citation:
Goodspeed, Weston A., and Charles Blanchard. 1882.
Counties of Lake and
Porter, Indiana: Historical and Biographical. Chicago, Illinois: F. A.
Battey and Company. 771 p.
HISTORY OF PORTER COUNTY
v
PREFACE
THIS volume
goes forth to our patrons the result of months of arduous, unremitting and
conscientious labor. None so well know as those who have been associated with us
the almost insurmountable difficulties to be met with in the preparation of a
work of this character. Since the inauguration of the enterprise, a large force
has been employed - both local and others - in gathering material. During this
time, most of the citizens of both counties have been called upon to contribute
from their recollections, carefully preserved letters, scraps of manuscript,
printed fragments, memoranda, etc. Public records and semi-official documents
have been searched, the newspaper files of the counties have been overhauled,
and former citizens, now living out of the counties, have been corresponded
with, all for the purpose of making the record as complete as could be, and for
the verification of the information by a conference with many. In gathering from
these numerous sources, both for the historical and biographical departments,
the conflicting statements, the discrepancies and the fallible and incomplete
nature of public documents, were almost appalling to our historians and
biographers, who were expected to weave therefrom with any degree of accuracy,
in panoramic review, a record of events. Members of the same families disagree
as to the spelling of the family name, contradict each other's statements as to
dates of birth, of settlement in the counties, nativity and other matters of
fact. In this entangled condition, we have given preference to the preponderance
of authority, and while we acknowledge the existence of errors and our inability
to furnish a perfect history, we claim to have come up to the standard of
our promises, and given as complete and accurate a work as the nature of the
surroundings would permit. Whatever may be the verdict of those who do not and
will not comprehend the difficulties to be met with, we feel assured that
all just and thoughtful people will appreciate our efforts, and recognize the
importance of the undertaking and the great public benefit that has been
accomplished in preserving the valuable historical matter of the counties and
biographies of many of their citizens, that perhaps would otherwise have passed
into oblivion. To those who have given us their support and encouragement, and
they are many, we acknowledge our gratitude, and can assure them that as years
go by the book will grow in value as a repository not only of pleasing reading
matter, but of treasured information of the past that becomes a monument more
enduring than marble.
DECEMBER, 1882. THE PUBLISHERS.
NAVIGATION OF
1882 HISTORY OF PORTER COUNTY
PREFACE
CONTENTS
CHAPTER I. - EARLY HISTORY OF COUNTY
CHAPTER II. - EARLY HISTORY COUNTY (Continued)
CHAPTER III. - MILITARY HISTORY
CHAPTER IV. - VALPARAISO AND CENTRE TOWNSHIP
CHAPTER V. - WESTCHESTER TOWNSHIP
CHAPTER VI. - BOONE TOWNSHIP
CHAPTER VII. - WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP
CHAPTER VIII. - MORGAN TOWNSHIP
CHAPTER IX. - UNION TOWNSHIP
CHAPTER X. - JACKSON TOWNSHIP
CHAPTER XI. - LIBERTY TOWNSHIP
CHAPTER XII. - PORTAGE TOWNSHIP
CHAPTER XIII. - PLEASANT TOWNSHIP
CHAPTER XIV. - PORTER TOWNSHIP
CHAPTER XV. - PINE TOWNSHIP
Transcribed by Steven R. Shook, February 2012