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
iii
PREFACE
In the study
of history, too much attention is often paid to great national or international
events, while those of local significance are neglected. Ninety years have
passed since the first white man built his cabin in what is now Porter county,
and seventy-six years since the county was organized by act of the Indiana
legislature. During this time the record of many incidents of historic interest
to the inhabitants has been preserved only by being handed down from sire to
son, and many other events have been allowed to pass into oblivion.
The chief object in presenting this history to the people of Porter county is to
give them an authentic record of much that has occurred since the first
settlement, particularly the educational and industrial development of the
county. This work represents months of research and patient labor, no source of
information having been overlooked in its preparation. Among the authorities
consulted, those most deserving of special mention are: The Reports of the
United States Bureau of Ethnology; the Reports of the State Geologist, the State
Bureau of Statistics and the State Board of Health; the Session Laws of Indiana,
the Official Records of the County, and the files of the Valparaiso and
Chesterton newspapers. A number of the personal sketches of the old physicians
and lawyers were compiled partly from recollections of old settlers, though
memory is not always reliable, and where it was possible this work has been
compiled from official sources.
The author desires to acknowledge his indebtedness to the people of the county
for the uniform courtesy shown him while engaged in his work, and the publishers
desire to express the belief that the patrons of the history will find it both
authentic and comprehensive. No effort has been spared to make it as perfect as
possible, both in the matter embodied and in its mechanical construction.
CHICAGO, September, 5, 1912.
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