Lenzo E. Maxwell, BiographyPorter County biographical sketches . . . .
Transcribed biography of Lenzo E. Maxwell
LENZO E. MAXWELL. Among the citizens in the beautiful and productive farming regions of this county, one of the most representative and successful is Mr. Lenzo E. Maxwell. For more than twenty years he has been identified with the county as a practical agriculturist and stockman, he has won prosperity and established a good home for himself and family, and his is one of the names most appropriately mentioned in this history of the county.
A native of the adjoining county of Lake, he was born on a farm October 1, 1865. His parents were George and Maria A. (Strong) Maxwell, who had two children, both sons. The other is John W. Maxwell, who was educated in the common schools of Lake county and for the past twenty-one years has resided in Chicago, where he is in the employ of the Knickerbocker Ice Company. He married Miss Jane Crisman, and their three children are Earle, Ruth and Verna.
The father, George Maxwell, who died in Lake county during the childhood of his sons, was a native of Ireland, but his active career was spent in America and he was a farmer by occupation. During the Civil war he entered the Union army and carried a wound from his service in the cause of his adopted country. His wife, whose death occurred in 1883, was a native of Pennsylvania, and she was a member of the Christian church.
Reared to manhood in Lake county, Lenzo E. Maxwell because of the early death of his father had only meager advantages at the common schools and at the age of sixteen began making his own way in the world. By thrift and, independent effort he gained that position where men recognized his worth and where he could do more than merely support himself, and he then established a home of his own. His first marriage was with Miss Salome Hardesty, and they were the parents of two children. Harry, who received his education in the public schools, became a practical farmer and stockman. Isabelle, the daughter, attended the public schools, and is now a resident of Porter township.
On November 3, 1897, Mr. Maxwell married Miss Louisa J. Weiler, and their two children are: Ruby, who is now in the eighth grade of school and has also taken musical instruction; and Ruth, who is a sixth-grade scholar. Both children are being given good educations, as their parents are firm believers in the value of school and home training.
Mrs. Maxwell is a native of Porter township, where she was born May 18, 1864, and she was the fourth in a family of thirteen children, seven sons and six daughters, whose parents were John L. and Christina (Reicker) Weiler. Six of the family are still living, and besides Mrs. Maxwell they are: George E., who has a family and is one of the prosperous farmers of Porter township; Frank W., who is farming in Porter township; John L., who is married and is a farmer in Boone township; Christina, the wife of Emanuel Near, a farmer near Shelby, Michigan; and Adam, who is married and has a farm in Porter township.
One of the most esteemed and prosperous agricultural residents of Porter county during the last century was the late John L. Weiler, the father of Mrs. Maxwell. A native of Germany, where he was reared and educated, a wagon-maker by trade, as a young man he left his Fatherland, crossed the Atlantic on a sailing vessel, and finally arrived in Porter county, where, without capital, he began the winning of a generous prosperity. He went in debt to buy forty acres of land without a stick of timber cut, improved and cultivated it, and with the gradual and steady results of his industry added to his possessions until at last he was the possessor of an estate of three hundred and fifty-seven acres in this county, and he had made all the improvements upon the land through his own labor and management. He was one of the successful German-American citizens who have contributed so much to the development of this county, and his children and grandchildren live to honor his integrity and sturdiness of character. In politics he was a Republican, and he and his wife were members of the Mennonite church. His wife, who was born in Germany and is now seventy-six years of age, makes her home at Shelby, Michigan.
Mr. and Mrs. Maxwell began their wedded life on their present homestead, but sixty acres of it was burdened with debt, and so many changes have been made under their thrifty management that the entire farm has been practically remodeled. "Sunnyside Farm," as it is known, is nine miles from Valparaiso and seven from Hebron, but with two rural mail deliveries each day they are in close touch with the outside world, and there are few more attractive and comfortable homesteads in the vicinity. Mrs. Maxwell has been an able factor in the making of this home, and as a mother and the adviser and assistant of her husband she is one of the representative women of the county.
Mr. Maxwell voted for the first time when Blaine was a candidate and has consistently supported the Republican party ever since. He and his wife contributed means toward the erection of the new Salem Methodist Episcopal church, and have been public-spirited and helpful in any movements that concern the betterment of their community.
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: 600-601
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