Lydia A. Shumake, BiographyPorter County biographical sketches . . . .
Transcribed biography of Lydia A. Shumake
MRS. LYDIA A. SHUMAKE. In the true record of the county and state the ladies play a prominent part, and we are pleased to present a brief review of the life of Mrs. Shumake, who is a scion of one of the old families of Porter township. She is a daughter of Jacob and Maria (Bear) Lantz. Her brother is county commissioner of Porter county. Mrs. Shumake was born in Morrow county, Ohio, July 5, 1853, and was reared in her native county. She was educated in the public schools and also took a course in the Valparaiso Normal School, fitting herself for the profession of a teacher. She successfully taught school in Union township for seven years.
On May 2, 1880, she wedded Richard Shumake. Two children, a son and a daughter, have come to this household. Nellie, the elder, died at the age of seven. The son, Frank Howard, is a practical agriculturist and superintends his mother's estate. He is also a natural mechanic. He received part of his education in the public schools at home, obtaining his diploma in the class of 1906, and then spent one year in the city schools of Valparaiso. Fraternally he is a member of the K. of P. at Hebron, Indiana, and the M. W. of A. at Boone Grove, Indiana. He wedded Miss Mary A. Pierson, June 23, 1911. His wife is a native of Benton county, Indiana, and received her diploma from the public schools and then spent two years in the city high schools of Chicago Heights. She is a professional nurse, having received her training in St. Bernard's Hospital of Chicago. She had marked success in her profession. She is possessed of that genial, cordial, cheerful nature which fitted her admirably for such work. She is a daughter of James A. and Susan M. (Helfrich) Pierson and her parents are residents of Englewood, Chicago. Her father is a contractor and builder. There were ten children, five sons and five daughters, in the Pierson family, and all are living. Politically her father is a Democrat, and fraternally he is an honored member of the I. O. O. F. He was a soldier in the Civil war and was wounded in the left arm. He received an honorable discharge. Mr. and Mrs. Pierson are members of the Christian church.
Mr. Richard Shumake was born in Porter county, Indiana, March 20, 1851, and was by trade a cabinetmaker. He received his education in the public schools. He learned his trade in Iowa, where he lived for three years. The remainder of his life was spent in Porter county. He was a Democrat, and in a fraternal way was a member of the I. O. O. F. Mr. Shumake was a member of the Christian church of Valparaiso, Indiana. He died March 20, 1898, and is interred in the Shurr cemetery, where his wife has erected a beautiful monument.
The Shumake estate comprises one hundred and forty acres of fine land in section 25, Porter township, and is known as "The Hickory Grove Dairy Farm." It is nine miles southwest of Valparaiso and six miles from Hebron.
Mrs. Shumake, her son Frank and his wife reside on the old homestead and their home is an abode of hospitality. In Porter county the friends are many, and are ever welcome beneath the portals of her home. It is with pleasure we present the text of this review of the life of this worthy lady, to be preserved in the history of her adopted county.
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: 634-635
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