Porter County and the Black Hawk WarVeterans of the Black Hawk War in Porter County . . . .
Background Information
The Black Hawk War was fought in 1832 in the Midwestern United States. The war
was named for Black Hawk, a war chief of the Sauk, Fox, and Kickapoo Native
Americans, whose British Band fought against the United States Army and militia
from Illinois and the Michigan Territory (present-day Wisconsin) for possession
of lands in the area.
Porter County Black Hawk War Veterans
Adams, Henry S.
Born: April 10, 1805
Death: July 17, 1884
Burial: Adams Cemetery, Morgan Township, Porter County, Indiana
Biographical Sketch: Henry S. Adams was born April 10, 1805, in Bucyrus,
Crawford County, Ohio. Prior to settling in Morgan Township in Porter County,
Henry resided in St. Joseph County, Michigan. The Adam's Church in Morgan
Township was located on land donated by Henry and his wife Jane (Fleming) Adams.
Henry and Janes married in Jefferson County, Ohio, on June 7, 1826, and were the
parents of twelve children: Nancy A., Elizabeth Jane, Sophia B., Harriet J.,
Rachael B., Roseann, Edward, George Washington, Lucinda, Margaret J., Dursella,
and Henrietta. Henry was a farmer in Morgan Township, accumulating a significant
holding of productive land. He died on July 17, 1884, and was buried in the
Adams Cemetery in Morgan Township.
Buel, James M.
Born: September 15, 1808
Death: February 26, 1895
Burial: Union Street (Old City) Cemetery, Valparaiso, Porter County, Indiana
Biographical Sketch: Relatively little is known of James M. Buel and the details
of of his military service. It is known that he fought in the Black Hawk
War. The
1850 Federal Census record for Valparaiso, Porter County, Indiana, indicates
that Buel was born circa 1809 in Massachusetts and was a manufacturer of wagons.
The same record shows that James was married to Harriet M. and that he was the
father of Roana E., George S., and Mary B. The 1880 Federal Census for Chicago,
Cook County, Illinois, also shows that James was born circa 1809 in
Massachusetts. In Chicago, James' occupation was that of a merchant. The 1880
census record indicates that he was widowed and residing with his daughter Roana
Montague (age 44), also widowed, and her two children, Wallace (age 9) and Mary
B (age 3 1/2). His burial plot in the Union Street (Old City) Cemetery includes
the burials of ten other Buel family members.
Note: James M. Buel is mentioned as a veteran of the Black Hawk War in the
October 25, 1941, issue of The Vidette-Messenger, Valparaiso, Porter
County, Indiana, in an article titled "Plat Graves Of War Vets Over County"
[Volume 15, Page 1, Column 3].
Starr, Ruel
Born: December 22, 1803 or 1804
Death: April 19, 1875
Burial: Union Street (Old City) Cemetery, Valparaiso, Porter County, Indiana
Biographical Sketch: Ruel Starr was born on December 22, 1803 or 1804, in Oneida
County, New York, the son of Noah and Alfleda (Fuller) Starr. Noah Starr served
in the War of 1812 as a commander of a company from Buffalo, Erie County, New
York. Starr moved to Kalamazoo County, Michigan, in 1830, and married Phebe
Eldred in Comstock Township, Kalamazoo County, Michigan, on December 29, 1830.
Starr and his wife were the parents of Octavius, Phebe E., Noah W., Caleb E.,
and Augustus; it is believed that they also had a sixth child. Ruel and Phebe
moved from Michigan to Porter County in May 1834 and settled on a farm located
approximately two miles east of Valparaiso. The Starr family moved to Valparaiso
in the spring of 1859. Starr served several terms as county commissioner.
He died died in Valparaiso, Porter County, Indiana, on April 19, 1875, and was
interred in the Union Street (Old City) Cemetery.
Note: Ruel Starr is mentioned as a veteran of the Black Hawk War in the October
25, 1941, issue of The Vidette-Messenger, Valparaiso, Porter County,
Indiana, in an article titled "Plat Graves Of War Vets Over County" [Volume 15,
Page 1, Column 3].
Information abstracted by Steven R. Shook