Porter County and the War of 1812Veterans of the War of 1812 in Porter County . . . .
Background Information
The War of 1812, between the United States and the British Empire, was fought
from 1812 to 1815. There were several immediate causes for the U.S.
declaration of war. First, Great Britain had put into place a series of trade
restrictions to impede American trade with France, a country with which Britain
was at war. Second, Britain had implemented forced recruitment of U.S. citizens
into the Royal Navy. Third, the British military was providing substantial
support to North American Indians who were offering armed resistance to the
expansion of the American frontier to the Northwest. American expansion into the
Northwest (Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, Illinois, and Wisconsin) was impeded by
Indian raids. Although the British made some concessions before the war on
neutral trade, they saw themselves as having the right to reclaim their
deserting sailors, and also as the protectors of the native Indians from
encroaching settlers. The British also had the long-standing goal of creating a
large "neutral" Indian state that would cover much of Ohio, Indiana, and
Michigan.
Porter County War of 1812 Veterans
Atkins, Elisha
Pirvate, Captain C. Ives and Captain D. T. Welch's Company, 37th United States
Infantry
Born: October 8, 1792
Death: after November 1883
Burial: Burial location unknown. Possible burial locations include Union Street
(Old City) Cemetery in Valparaiso and the Westville Cemetery located in LaPorte
County, Indiana.
Biographical Sketch: Elisha Atkins was born at Southington, Hartford County,
Connecticut, on October 18, 1792. Atkins, then a resident of Westfield, Hampden
County, Massachusetts, enlisted as a private into service on August 8, 1814,
serving in Captain C. Ives and Captain D. T. Welch's Company of the 37th United
States Infantry. He was discharged from service on May 10, 1815.
At Montgomery, Hampden County, Massachusetts, on November 27, 1816, Elisha married
Polly Noble, a union the resulted in the birth of eight sons and one
daughter. Atkins moved to Porter County, Indiana, between 1855 and 1860 and he
appears in the 1860 Federal Census enumeration as a resident of Tassinong
located in Porter County's
Morgan Township. The 1870 Federal Census data shows Atikins living in Porter
County's Pleasant Township, while the 1880 Federal Census enumeration has him
residing in Westville, LaPorte County, Indiana. By 1883, Atkins had moved back
to Porter County. Elisha's date and location of death, as well as his burial
location are unknown. What is known is that he was still receving a military
pension for his War of 1812 service in November 1883 and that he lived to be at
least 90 years of age.
Cornell, Isaac
Private, 135th Regiment (Christy's) Pennsylvania Militia
Born: April 17, 1792
Death: January 22, 1874
Burial: Cornell Cemetery in Boone Township
Biographical Sketch: Isaac Cornell was born on April 17, 1792, in Allegheny
County, Pennsylvania, the son of Joseph and Mary (Van Kirk) Cornell. He married
Priscilla Morgan and they were the parents of the following eleven children:
Alvin, Morgan, Ira, Harriet, Milan, Rebecca, Lucretia, Phebe, Van Kirk, Craig,
and Maria. At some point in time after his service in the War of 1812, Isaac
Cornell migrated to Crawford County, Ohio. From Crawford County the Cornell
family emigrated to Boone Township in Porter County during the spring of 1835,
being the first permanent white settlers in that township. A newspaper item
published on July 17, 1878, in the Porter County Vidette (p. 3, col. 7)
states that "we remember he was a man that was loved and respected by all who
knew him. He might truly be called the poor man's friend. It is said that
several times he has been known to refuse to sell wheat and other produce in
times of scarcity to men who had the money to pay for it, and let poor men have
it who had not the money to pay for it. He said to the men who had money, 'You
can buy elsewhere as you have the money to pay for it, and the poor man that is
without it can't do that.' He will live in the hearts of the people for years to
come." Cornell passed away on January 22, 1874, and was buried in the Cornell
Cemetery in Boone Township.
Curtis, Eliphalet David
Private, 1st Regiment (Bloom's), New York Militia
Born: August 2, 1781
Death: April 5, 1865
Burial: Sedley Cemetery in Union Township
Biographical Sketch: Eliphalet David Curtis was born on August 2, 1781, in
Brookfield, Fairfield County, Connecticut, the son of Ephraim and Rachel
(Bishop) Curtiss. Eliphalet served as a private in the 1st Regiment of the New
York Militia during the War of 1812. Curtis emigrated to Porter County in 1838
and settled near Porter Cross-Roads, where he died on April 5, 1865. He was
interred in the Sedley Cemetery in Union Township. The Sedley Cemetery is very
small; only three burials are recorded in the Northwest Indiana Genealogical
Society's (NWIGS) index for this cemetery. Eliphalet's burial record in the NWIGS
index incorrectly lists his given name as Elizabeth. According to county
records, Eliphalet's son, Seth Curtis, deeded a half-acre plot located in the
northeast corner of the southeast corner of Section 18 to Union Township for use
as a cemetery. The cemetery is located behind a farm between Sedley Road and
County Road 375 West and is difficult to find. Only one tombstone was found to
remain in the cemetery during its last reading on November 10, 1993.
Curtis, John
Born: May 14, 1788
Death: November 12, 1865; age 77y, 5m, 29d
Burial: Blake Cemetery in Portage Township
Biographical Sketch: John Curtis was born on May 14, 1788, and enlisted for
service in the War of 1812 at New York. Curtis emigrated to Porter County in
1836, settling near Wheeler. He died on November 12, 1865, and was interred in
the Blake Cemetery in Portage Township.
Folsom, Robert Peasley
Born: 1797
Death: July 30, 1882
Burial: Cornell Cemetery in Boone Township
Biographical Sketch: Robert Folsom was born in 1797. He served for five years in
the regular army and fought in the War of 1812. Sometime around 1842 Folsom
emigrated to Porter County where he settled in Yankeetown, located four miles
northeast of Hebron. At the time of his death at his residence on July 30, 1882,
he was the oldest man (84 years) living in Porter County. Folsom's remains were
interred in the Cornell Cemetery in Boone Township.
Hicks, Abram
Private, 3rd Regiment, New York State Militia
Born: September 12, 1797
Death: April 17, 1884; age
Burial: Union Street (Old City) Cemetery in Valparaiso
Biographical Sketch: Abram Hicks was born on September 12, 1797, in Dutchess
County, New York. Hicks served under Captain Israel Holmes Company of the Third
Regiment of New York Detached Military led by Lieutenant Colonel Commandant
Jacob Rutsen Van Rensselaer. Hicks' unit served from September 8 through
December 3, 1814, at Stuyvesant's Fields in New York City. Abram Hicks married
Jane Thompson, of Dutchess County, on April 3, 1820, a union that resulted in
three daughters and two sons. Evidence suggests that Hicks moved to Michigan
around 1844 and then to Porter County, Indiana, between 1848 and 1850. On April
17, 1884, after three years' illness, Hicks died at his home in Valparaiso and
was buried in the Union Street Cemetery in that community.
Kettle, Peleg
Private, Captain John Chapin's Company, New York State Militia
Born: Circa 1784
Death: 1870s
Burial: Burial location unknown. Possible burial location is Carter Cemetery
located in Jackson Township, Porter County, Indiana; Peleg's wife, Polly
(Hackett) Kettle, is buried in Carter Cemetery.
Biographical Sketch: Peleg Kettle was born circa 1874 in New York and enlisted
for military service on October 14, 1814, at Sackett's Harbor, Jefferson County,
New York. He married Polly Hackett in 1823, presumably in Onondaga County, New
York, given information provided in Polly's death notice published in the August
12, 1880, issue of the Porter County Vidette. A claim submitted by
Kettle on November 2, 1857, for reimbursement of personal costs incurred while
serving in the war indicates that he was a member of a company commanded by
Captain John Chapin and served for a one month term in the company. Kettle and
his wife settled in Porter County, Indiana, in 1857. The 1870 Federal Census
places Peleg's residence in Jackson Township, Porter County, Indiana, where he
is enumerated as an 86 year old farmer; he does appear in the 1880 Federal
Census. The 1876 plat map of Jackson Township published by A. G. Hardesty shows
that Kettle lived on forty acres situated in the northwest quarter of the
northeast quarter of Section 16, Township 36 North, Range 5 West, or about
five-eighths of a mile south of present day County Road 1050 North along the
east side of County Road 350 East. Thus, it believed that Peleg Kettle likely
passed away during the decade of the 1870s. No known burial location for Peleg's
remains is known, but since his wife is interred in Jackson Township's Carter
Cemetery, there is a strong likelihood Peleg in buried in this same cemetery,
located approximately three miles southeast of his home.
Powell, Myron
Corporal, 4th Regiment (Williams') Vermont Militia
Born: Circa 1793
Death: November 1, 1865; age 72
Burial: Union Street (Old City) Cemetery in Valparaiso
Biographical Sketch: Myron Powell was born circa 1793 and enlisted for service
in the War of 1812 at Vermont. Shortly after the war Powell moved to Western
Reserve Ohio, and then to Porter County. Powell died in Porter County on
November 1, 1865, and was interred in the Union Street (Old City) Cemetery in
Valparaiso.
Rice, James
Private, 2nd Regiment, Ohio Militia, Captain Isaac Butler's Company
Private, 1st Regiment Ohio Militia, Captain Joseph W. Ross' Company
Born: November 27, 1795
Death: August 6, 1874; age 74
Burial: Hebron Cemetery
Biographical Sketch: James Rice was in the area of Wythe and Russell Counties,
Virginia, which later became Tazewell County. James’ family moved from Virginia
to Gallia County, Ohio in the early 1800’s. James served as a private in the
Ohio Militia in Captain Isaac Butler’s Company (August 9, 1812, to October 9,
1812). He again enlisted in Captain Joseph W. Ross’ Company (September 1, 1813,
to March 1, 1814), serving in the Detroit, Michigan, area until discharged. In
1850, James filed a Land Bounty claim with the U.S. Government for this military
service and was awarded 160 acres of government land located in Iowa. He later
sold his interest in that land to another individual who took possession of the
land in Iowa. On February 21, 1815, James Rice married Violetta “Zeletty” Keeton
in Gallia County, Ohio. The marriage produced seven children: daughters Irena,
Fatima, and Esther, and sons Edward W., Taswell (T. S.), Elias M., and James V.
In late 1834, James Rice purchased land equating to approximately 120 acres in
Athens County, Ohio. The James Rice family lived at this location until
September 1856 when James and Violetta sold the family farm and moved to Eagle
Creek Township, Lake County, Indiana. All seven children and their families
moved with them to Indiana.
[Biographical sketch prepared by Ruth Rice Patterson]
Tidball, Thomas
Rank unknown, believed to have been a member of Captain Isaac Van Harris' Company, 27th United States Infantry
Born: 1793, Robinson Township, Washington County, Pennsylvania
Died: January 21, 1881, Chesterton, Porter County, Indiana
Burial: Most likely interred in either the Chesterton Cemetery located in
Chesterton, Porter County, Indiana. Enumerations of Porter County cemeteries do
not list either Thomas Tidball or his wife, Maria, both of whom died in
Chesterton.
Biographical Sketch: The following brief death notice was published in the
January 27, 1881, issue of the Porter County Vidette: "Thomas Tidball,
an old and respected citizen, and for a number of years a resident of Chesterton
died on Friday morning of last week [January 21]. He was a veteran of the war of
1812, and was in the Plattsburgh and many other hard fought battles. He was born
in 1793, being 88 years of age. He was to have been buried with military honors,
but as the funeral took place on Sunday their design was not carried out."
Thomas was the son of Abraham and Nancy (Cheney) Tidball. In 1815, Thomas
married Maria Elizabeth Cooley in Ohio. Maria passed away on June 12, 1867, in
Chesterton. At least two children were born to Thomas and Maria: Elizabeth
(Tidball) Wait (b. 1829 in Brown County, Ohio - d. 1917 in Hudson, Stafford
County, Kansas) and Jane (Tidball) Castle (b. 1841 - d. ????).
Williams, Raymond
Private, 2nd Regiment, New York Militia, Captain William E. Peck's Company
Born: July 17, 1796, Hampton, Windham County, Connecticut
Died: December 30, 1876, near Crown Point, Lake County, Indiana
Burial: Salem United Methodist Church Cemetery
Biographical Sketch: Raymond Williams was born in Hampton, Windham County,
Connecticut, on July 17, 1796. He enlisted to serve in Captain Peck's Company of
the 2nd New York Militia on November 14, 1814. At the time of his enlistment,
Raymond was described as having hazel eyes, brown hair, and a dark complexion; he
was a farmer who stood at five feet and eleven inches. On December 16, 1818, at
Windham, he would marry Eunice L. Eastman. In 1838 or 1839, Raymond and his
family moved to Salt Rock Township, Marion County, Ohio. Eunice would pass away
on May 2, 1845, at Sundusky, Wyandott County, Ohio, likely to due complications
related to the birth of a daughter, Jane Williams. Raymond remarried in 1847 to
Mary E. Kerr. At some point in the mid to late 1850s, Raymond and his family
would move to Winfield Township, Lake County, Indiana, living just over the
Lake-Porter county line. Raymond passed away in Lake County on December 30,
1876, and was interred in the nearby Salem United Methodist Church Cemetery in
Porter County. Between his two wives, Raymond fathered sixteen children.
Information abstracted by Steven R. Shook