The Vidette-Messenger Centennial EditionThe 1936 special edition celebrating Porter County's centennial year . . . .
The following article has been transcribed from the August 18, 1936, issue of The Vidette-Messenger, published in Valparaiso, Indiana. This particular special edition focuses on Porter County's centennial celebration and contains a 94-page compendium of Porter County history up to that time.
Return to the index of articles from The Vidette-Messenger's Porter County Centennial special edition.
Source: The Vidette-Messenger, Valparaiso,
Porter County, Indiana; August 18, 1936; Volume 10, Section 4, Page 9.
HOUSE BUILT BY COL. SUMAN STILL STANDING
(BY MABEL
BENNEY)
Out in Jackson township still stands the house erected by Colonel I. C. B. Suman
soon after his return from the Civil War. He had married Miss Kate Goss the day
before going to the front, April 21, 1861. He had been on a farm among the hills
of western Maryland and soon after his return from service bought a farm in
Jackson township. Later the station and postoffice received his name. The
location of the house is one of the most beautiful in Porter county. Hills rise
in all directions and the and dunes form a background to the north. Though he
had enlisted for the Mexican War when fifteen, and fought through the four years
of the Civil War, to till his fertile acres became his sole ambition.
A family tragedy caused him to leave the farm and move to Valparaiso. His wife's
sister, Emma Goss, had married a jeweler and ex-preacher named Page, from whose
drunkenness and uncontrollable temper she was obliged to seek the protection of
her mother's home on a farm at Pearce's Mill. Her husband went to the farm house
one night, broke down the door and killed both mother and daughter. He supposed
he had also killed Miss Ludolph, who was spending the night with the two women.
After he had set fire to the house, she escaped and was picked up by a
sleigh-ride party, of whom Champ Buel was one. Her testimony sent Page to a cell
in Michigan City prison for life. Colonel Suman had been active in his
prosecution. The criminal vowed he would find some way to escape and kill the
whole Suman family. This threat preyed upon Mrs. Suman's health and the family
moved into town. Page finally hanged himself in his cell.
The Sumans later bought the Forbes place our on the LaPorte Road. This they
maintained as their home until some thirteen years ago. When the last of the
family married and moved away, the house fell a prey to vandals and stands now
with windows gone and siding torn away. A beautiful location and the home of
good citizens, it could still become a pride to this city.
Article transcribed by Steven R. Shook