Caroline Baum, BiographyPorter County biographical sketches . . . .
Transcribed biography of Caroline Baum
MRS. MILLER BAUM.
This estimable lady has been a resident of Porter County for the greater part of her life, and is the wife of Miller Baum, who was born in Richland County, Ohio, in 1827, a son of James and Rebecca (Miller) Baum. James Baum went to Richland County, Indiana, from Pennsylvania, and located twelve miles north of Mansfield, near a small place called Rome. Here he bought a tract of timber land and put up a small house and barn and made his home for twelve years. From there he came to Morgan Prairie, where he made a purchase of 260 acres of land, on which a log cabin had been erected, and twenty acres cleared. Both parents died on this place, the father April 6, 1884, and the mother in 1889 at the age of eighty-four years. In the Miller family there were three brothers, two sisters and two half brothers, all of whom are now deceased with the exception of Mrs. Polly Coblen. Miller Baum was but seven years of age at the time of his parents' removal to this section, and was one of a family of nine children whose names are as follows: John who is an extensive farmer of California, is married and the father of seven children: Jesse lives south of Valparaiso, has been married twice, and is the father of eleven children; Enoch is a farmer of Kansas, is married, and has seven children; Lovina (Mrs. William Weeks) is deceased; Lucinda (Mrs. Joseph Bushaw) is a resident of Boone County, Iowa, and had nine children; James W. lives on the old home farm, is married, and had seven children, four of whom are living; Rebecca (Mrs. William Nickel) lives in Kansas and has Seven children, and Sarah (Mrs. Simon Drago, deceased) had five children. Miller Baum was married to Caroline Billings, a daughter of William and Elizabeth (Hammer) Billings, in 1852. The Billings family removed to Porter County, Indiana, about a year before the Baum family, and Mr. Billing's followed the occupation of farming, but taught the first school ever held in Morgan Township. In his family there were six children, Mary Caroline, Simon Hobson, Lydia Ann, Enoch, John, Caroline, the last mentioned and Lydia Ann being the only survivors. Mr. and Mrs. Baum have been blessed in the birth of nine children: Johanna, who died in infancy; Alice, who married William Wood in 1872, and lives on a farm adjoining the old home, has five sons and two daughters; Marion married to Katy Correll, had two children by her, and after her death married Annie Smith, by whom he had one son. The father died in 1888. Randolph died in 1879. Laura married Mr. Alsfesser, bore her husband one child, and died in 1893. Josephine married Benjamin Elliot, conductor on the Fort Wayne & Chicago Railroad; lives at Fort Wayne and has three children: Minnie, wife of John Alsfesser, had one child and died in 1889, and John, who died in 1892 at the age of twenty-two years. The Baums have now lived in their present home for twenty-six years. At the time of their purchase the land was heavily covered with timber, but this they cleared and improved by building one of the best brick country residences in the county. On the farm are four good barns, besides other necessary farm buildings, and, in addition, perhaps the finest horse barn in the county. The main part of the residence is 30x30 feet, and additions of kitchen, wash-house, etc. The farm in all respects is one of the best appointed in this section of the country, and is the result of the unaided efforts of this worthy couple. Their children have all left the "home nest," but they have under their care two little grandchildren whom they are rearing. Their fine farm of 255 acres keeps them in affluence, and they are thoroughly enjoying a serene old age. Mr. Baum is a Republican and is well-informed man on all subjects of interest.
Source: Goodspeed Brothers. 1894. Pictorial and Biographical Record of La Porte, Porter, Lake and Starke Counties, Indiana. Chicago, Illinois: Goodspeed Brothers. 569 p.
Page(s) in Source: 232-233
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