Category Archives: Porter County

Lola May Landfair

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Lola May Landfair
birth: 27 April 1891 in Black Creek Township, Mercer, Ohio to Francis “Frank” Marion and Emma Jane Kuhn Landfair
death: 30 January 1964 in Gary, Lake, Indiana
burial: Graceland Cemetery, Valparaiso, Porter, Indiana

marriage: 17 March 1914 in M.E. Church, Celina, Rockford, Ohio
Edwin Anton Leininger
birth: 14 August 1891 in Chattanooga, Mercer, Ohio to Theobald and Caroline Fredericka Kable Leininger
death: 7 August 1976 in Fort Wayne, Allen, Indiana
burial: Graceland Cemetery, Valparaiso, Indiana

Children of Lola May Landfair and Edwin Anton Leininger:

  • Orlo Guy Leininger (1917-1996) m. 1st Dorothy Elizabeth Leininger m 2nd Myrna Elizabeth Allgor Schavey
  • Mary Ellen Leininger (1918-2002) m. Theodore Norman Tronolone
  • Bonita Frances Leininger (1921-1997) m. Harold Mathes Cook

Ancestor here lived in:

  • Fort Wayne, Allen County, Indiana
  • Gary, Lake County, Indiana

Other Information:

The fourth of seven children born to Frank “Francis Marion and Emma Jane Kuhn Landfair, Lola May Landfair entered the world on 27 April 1891 in Black Creek Township, Mercer, Ohio. Her early years were difficult at home; although Lola never discussed her circumstances. Records show that her mother obtained a divorce from her physically abusive husband on 20 March 1908 in Mercer, County. As the courts noted, a woman being granted a divorce at the time was not common. The courts had to intervene again as Emma died on 21 February 1914 in Chattanooga, Mercer, Ohio; the children petitioned the courts on 19 June 1914 as Frank was not paying their support. It was during this difficult time, on 17 March 1914 that Lola married Edwin Anton Leininger, a former classmate, at the M.E. Church in Celina, Rockford, Mercer, Ohio. Family members report that Lola worked for a short time as a teacher in the local school, though no records have been found. This was possible as Lola had completed 8th grade and had an uncle that had been the town’s mayor. The couple resided in Mercer where Edwin farmed and their first two children were born. About 1920, the family moved to Blue Creek, Adams, Indiana so Edwin could manage a farm. In 1921 they are found in Pleasant Mills, Decatur, Indiana where their third child was born. By 1922 the family was residing in Fort Wayne, Allen, Indiana where Edwin found work as a car representative for the Penn Company. Lola tended their home on Nuttman Avenue. The family was members of the South Wayne Bethel United Brethren Church. In 1927 the family relocated to Hobart, Lake, Indiana and lived on Washington Street. They joined the Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church. Lola became an active member of the Prairie View Home Economics Club, often hosting the group at her home. Edwin and Lola purchased the Avilla Dairy in Hobart in 1951. She maintained a large kitchen garden while her husband and son farmed the surrounding acreage. On 30 January 1964 in Gary, Lake, Indiana, Lola died of carcinmatosis that had spread to her lungs and pancreas. She was buried in Graceland Cemetery, Valparaiso, Indiana.

Submitted by:
Lori Samuelson
Email: genealogyatheart@gmail.com

Thilda “Anna Matilda” Johansdotter

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Thilda “Anna Matilda” Johansdotter
birth: 26 October 1848 in Jönköping, Sweden to Johannes and Anna Lena Magnidotter Petersson
death: 20 November 1891 in Likely Porter County, Indiana
burial: Likely Blake Cemetery, Porter, Indiana

marriage: Before November 1869
Anders Ludvig “Gust” Johannesson Johnson
birth: 9 August 1839 in Norra Vi, Östergötland, Sweden to Johannes and Johanna Maria Danielsdotter Ingesson
death: 20 May 1906 in Miller, Lake, Indiana
burial: Blake Cemetery, Portage, Porter, Indiana

Children of Thilda “Anna Matilda” Johansdotter and Anders Ludvig “Gust” Johannesson Johnson:

  • Johan Andersson Jonasson (1869-?)
  • Carl Gottfrid Andersson Jonasson (1872-?)
  • Anna Lovisa “Anna Louise” Andersdotter Jonasson (1874-?)
  • Ida Kristina “Ida Christine” Andersdotter Jonasson (1877-1952) m. Charles Johnberg
  • Oskar Wilhelm “Oscar William” Andersson Jonasson (1879-Bef. 1886)
  • Selma Emilia “Selma Amelia” Andersdotter Jonasson (1881-1959) m. Otto William Chellberg
  • Charles “Charlie” Gotfried Johnsen (1883-1967)
  • Oskar Wilhelm “William” Johnson (1886-1929) m. Anna Blair
  • Nellie Matilda Johnson (1888-Bef 1900)
  • Anders “Andrew” Teodor Johnson (1889-1933)

Ancestor here lived in:

  • Porter County, Indiana

Other Information:

Thilda “Anna Matilda” Johansdotter was born on 26 October 1848 in Jönköping, Sweden to Johannes and Anna Lena Magnidotter Petersson. She was the fifth of eight children born to the couple. Little is known about her early life and a marriage record has not been found for her and Anders Ludvig “Gust” Johannesson Johnson. The couples name appear together on baptism records in Sweden for their first six children. The family is found together in emigration records as leaving Göteborg, Göteborg och Bohus, Sweden on 31 March 1882. The family settled in Porter County, Indiana, likely because many others from the Östergötland region of Sweden had emigrated there. After arriving in Indiana, the couple had four more children. Family records provide a death date for Anna Matilda as 20 November 1891 in Porter County, however, no document has been found to support that date. It is likely she is buried in Blake Cemetery, Porter, Indiana where her husband was also laid to rest in 1906. At the time of her death, her children’s ages ranged from children ranging in age from 3 to 22.

It is interesting to note that Louise, Gust’s second wife, was not buried in Blake Cemetery. Instead, she was buried in Ridgelawn Cemetery in Glen Park, Lake, Indiana. Although a record for Anna Matilda’s burial in Blake has not been found, it is likely she is buried there as is her husband. Anna Matilda’s youngest son was also interred in Blake. Daughter Selma was interred with her husband in Chesterton Cemetery. Son William was buried by his wife’s family in Garrett, DeKalb, Indiana. The location of the remains of the other children are unknown.

Submitted by:
Lori Samuelson
Email: genealogyatheart@gmail.com

Anders Ludvig “Gust” Johannesson Johnson

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Anders Ludvig “Gust” Johannesson Johnson
birth: 8 August 1839 in Norra Vi, Östergötland, Sweden to Johannes and Johanna Maria Danielsdotter Ingesson
death: 20 May 1906
burial: Blake Cemetery, Portage, Porter, Indiana

marriage: Before November 1869 Sweden
Thilda “Anna Matilda” Johansdotter
birth: 26 October 1848 in Jönköping, Sweden to Johannes and Anna Lena Magnidotter Petersson
death: 20 November 1891 in Porter, Indiana
burial: Likely Blake Cemetery, Portage, Porter, Indiana

Children of Thilda “Anna Matilda” Johansdotter and Anders Ludvig “Gust” Johannesson Johnson:

  • Johan Andersson Jonasson (1869-?)
  • Carl Gottfrid Andersson Jonasson (1872-?)
  • Anna Lovisa “Anna Louise” Andersdotter Jonasson (1874-?)
  • Ida Kristina “Ida Christine” Andersdotter Jonasson (1877-1952) m. Charles Johnberg
  • Oskar Wilhelm “Oscar William” Andersson Jonasson (1879-Bef. 1886)
  • Selma Emilia “Selma Amelia” Andersdotter Jonasson (1881-1959) m. Otto William Chellberg
  • Charles “Charlie” Gotfried Johnsen (1883-1967)
  • Oskar Wilhelm “William” Johnson (1886-1929) m. Anna Blair
  • Nellie Matilda Johnson (1888-Bef 1900)
  • Anders “Andrew” Teodor Johnson (1889-1933)

With Wife Lovisa “Louise” Carlson:
Ruth Elizabeth Johnson (1894-1980) m. Bert Garfield Thompson
Elsie Wilhelmina Johnson (1896-1968) m. George Bryant Harbaugh
Helena “Helen” Eleanora Johnson (1897-1986) m. Walter Fredrick Bernhard Chellberg

Ancestor here lived in:

  • Porter, Indiana

Other Information:

Anders Ludvig “Gust” Johannesson Johnson was born to Johannes and Johanna Maria Danielsdotter Ingeson on 8 August 1839 in Norra Vi, Östergötland, Sweden. The fourth of six children, it is likely his nickname of Gust came from his August birthday. There is not agreement on when Gust arrived in the U.S. A family consisting of the same names departed Östergötland, Sweden and arrived in Boston, Massachusetts on 2 July 1850. If this is the same family, there is no record of Gust returning to Sweden. Interestingly, the rest of his family have not been found in Swedish records after the 1850 departure; he is found in Sweden beginning with the baptism of his first child on 14 November 1869 and through the 1882 departure with his wife and children. No marriage record has been found for Gust and Thilda “Anna Matilda” Johansdotter, though baptismal records have been found in Byarum, Jönköping, Sweden naming them as parents for their first six children. The family left for North America on 14 March 1882. After settling in Porter County, Indiana, four more children were born. They were members of Augsburg Lutheran Church in Porter County, Indiana. Per family recollection, Anna Matilda died in 1891, leaving children ranging in age from 3 to 22. Gust married Lovisa “Louise” Carlson on 16 September 1893 in Miller, Lake, Indiana. The couple would go on to have three daughters together. Gust had been working as a laborer at the time of his death from carcinoma of the liver and stomach on 20 May 1906. He was buried in Blake Cemetery, Porter, Indiana. After Anders death, the children from his first marriage kept sporadic contact with their step-family. A letter from William’s wife, Anna, provided his location in Garrett, DeKalb, Indiana in 1912. A photo circa 1929 shows sibling Anna, Ida, Selma, Charlie, and Andrew visiting their step-sister Helen. Unfortunately, information on the oldest siblings has been scant.

The original marriage certificate for Gust and Lovisa state she was from Chicago; his name is recorded as Gust. Perhaps Louise did not know his given name was Anders as she, as the informant on his death certificate, provided his first name as Gust.

Submitted by:
Lori Samuelson
Email: genealogyatheart@gmail.com

Lovisa “Louise” Carlson

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Lovisa “Louise” Carlson
birth: 21 April 1857 in Gränna, Jonkoping, Sweden to Carl Gustaf and Anna Stina Lindahl Johannesson
death: 14 May 1937 in Porter, Indiana
burial: Ridgelawn Cemetery, Gary, Lake, Indiana

marriage: 16 September 1893 in Miller, Lake, Indiana
Anders Ludvig “Gust” Johannesson/Johnson
birth: 8 August 1839 in Norra Vi, Östergötland, Sweden to Johannes and Johanna Maria Danielsdotter Ingesson
death: 20 May 1906 Miller, Lake, Indiana
burial: Blake Cemetery, Portage, Porter, Indiana

Children of Lovisa “Louise” Carlson and Anders Ludvig “Gust” Johannesson/Johnson:

  • Ruth Elizabeth Johnson (1894-1980) m. Bert Garfield Thompson
  • Elsie Wilhelmina Johnson (1896-1968) m. George Bryant Harbaugh
  • Helena “Helen” Eleanora Johnson (1897-1986) m. Walter Fredrick Bernhard Chellberg

Ancestor here lived in:

  • Porter, Indiana
  • Miller, Lake, Indiana

Other Information:

Lovisa “Louise” Carlson was born to Carl Gustaf Johannesson and Anna Stina Lindahl on 23 April 1823 in Gränna, Jonkoping, Sweden. She was the second of four children born to the couple. At age 27, Louise left Göteborg, Sweden on 16 May 1884 and sailed on the Orlando to Hull, England. Louise boarded in Liverpool, England, stopped in Queenstown, Ireland and arrived in New York via the ship City of Chicago on 13 October 1884. By the 27 May 1887 she had arrived in Chicago, Cook, Illinois. Interestingly, another Lovisa Carlson departed Sweden on the 27 May 1887 for Chicago; that Lovisa had the same birth year and place of origin. It is possible the Lovisa returned to Sweden after her initial voyage as both the 1900 and 1910 US federal census shows her emigration year was 1888. TYpically, the last year of entry was considered the year of emigration. How Louise came to Indiana is not known. She may have had a first marriage as a record was found for a marriage in Porter, Indiana on 4 January 1889 for a Lovisa Carlson to a Swan Hjalne. No records were found for a death or burial for Swan nor was he found in any subsequent records. Further research is needed.
On 16 September 1893 in Miller, Lake, Indiana, Louise married Anders Ludvig “Gust” Johannesson Johnson. The marriage certificate, in the possession of the submitter, states she was from Chicago and gives her name as “Miss Louise Johnson.” Perhaps the form completer erred and placed her married name as her maiden name. Maybe she had chosen to not use patronymics and instead of using the surname Carlson, took her father’s original last name as her own. Anders was previously married to Thilda “Anna Matilda” Johansdotter (1848-1891). The couple had 10 children. At the time Louise married Anders, his children from his previous marriage ranged in age from 4 to 24. Louise and Anders would go on to have three daughters together. In 1900, Louise, Anders, their daughters and four of Louise’s step-children lived in Hobart, Lake, Indiana. Although the couple would have been married 7 years, census records show the length of marriage was recorded as 19 years. Possibly that time was given as to make it appear that the oldest child in the household at the time was their daughter as a couple. Anders was working as a Section Hand on the railroad. He died on 20 May 1906 of carcinoma of the liver in Miller, Lake, Indiana. Louise was the informant on her husband’s death certificate and gave his given name as Agust. Possibly, Louise did not know her husband’s given name was Anders and assumed it was Augst as they were married with his name recorded as Gust. To make ends meet, Louise began to take in boarders to her home in Hobart. By 1920 she had moved to Michigan Avenue in Miller with her youngest daughter, Helen, likely to be closer to her two daughters who had married and resided in Miller. After Helen married in 1921, Louise moved in with her daughter Elsie’s family. She continued to live with them until shortly before her death on 14 May 1937 in Porter County where she had moved to reside with her daughter Helen’s family. Louise is buried in Ridgelawn Cemetery, Glen Park, Lake, Indiana, near her daughter Elsie and her son-in-law George Bryant Harbaugh.

A marriage record for Louise’s parents prior to their children’s births has not been found. Anna Stina Lindahl is recorded on the children’s baptism records. A marriage for an Anna Stina Lindahl and Carl Gustaf Johannesson was found on 3 November 1866 in Öhr annex, Kronoberg, Sverige. The family, however, resided in Gränna, Jönköping, Sverige until Louise departed alone for America. It is not known if the 1866 marriage was for another couple in Sweden with the same names.

Submitted by:
Lori Samuelson
Email: genealogyatheart@gmail.com

William “Bill” Louis Samuelson

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William “Bill” Louis Samuelson
birth: 14 October 1919 in Baileytown, Porter, Indiana to Gustaf “Gust” Teodor and Lulu May Cook Samuelson
death: 5 May 1992 in Fremont, Steuben, Indiana
burial: Graceland Cemetery, Valparaiso, Porter, Indiana

marriage: 11 October 1942 in Gary, Lake, Indiana
Betty Jean Harbaugh
birth: 8 October 1922 in Gary, Lake, Indiana to George Bryant and Elsie Wilhelmina Johnson Harbaugh
death: 30 October 1988 in Angola, Steuben, Indiana
burial: Graceland Cemetery, Valparaiso, Indiana

Children of Betty Jean Harbaugh and William “Bill” Louis Samuelson:

  • William Lewis Samuelson (1944-1944)
  • Lynn Patrice Samuelson (1946-2005)
  • Living
  • Living

Ancestor here lived in:

  • Gary, Lake, Indiana
  • Steuben, Indiana

Other Information:

William “Bill” Louis Samuelson, born 14 October 1919 in Baileytown, Porter, Indiana was the sixth of seven children born to Gustaf “Gust” Teodor and Lulu May Cook Samuelson. Bill’s mother was a homemaker and his father worked for the railroad as a Steam Shovel Engineer. He was christened at his home on 15 October 1923 by Pastor Fredrick Nordquist. His sponsors were Mrs. Fred. Nordquist and Mrs. Bertha Berg. At the start of the Great Depression, Bill’s father began managing a feed store in Porter County. Bill recalled as an adult that he and his younger brother, Edwin, would be rewarded each Saturday with as much penny candy as they wanted if they had been good all week. Unfortunately, Bill’s dad lost his job and Bill and Edwin were sent to live with their oldest sister, Ruby, and her second husband, Carl Sederberg. Bill later recalled that he did not like farm life. On 11 June 1933 he was confirmed at the Augsburg Evangelical Lutheran Church in Porter, Indiana. By 1940, Bill resided with another older sister, Margaret, in Chicago, Illinois where he worked fulltime as a car washer for a cab company. By October 1940, Bill was unemployed and had moved back to his parent’s home in Chesterton, Porter, Indiana. Bill had completed two years of high school; he earned a General Equivalency Diploma from Chesterton High School on 25 May 1948. At 19 years of age, Bill was 5′ 11″, weighed 160 pounds, had blue eyes, blonde hair and a light complexion. Bill married Betty Jean Harbaugh on 5 October 1942 in Lake County, Indiana. The couple had met on a double date; Betty was dating Bill’s younger brother Edwin that evening. It is not known who Bill was dating. Bill enlisted in the Army Company A on 30 November 1942 and was assigned to Camp Chaffee, Arkansas. He was discharged on 12 October 1943 due to a medical issue. The couple resided with Betty’s parents in Miller, Indiana; Bill found work as a clerk with his sister Margaret’s husband’s family until October 1947. The couple’s first child died as an infant; their second child was born mentally handicapped.By 1950 the family had moved to Chesterton, Porter, Indiana. Bill was employed as a chemical clerk for Amoco Oil in Whiting, Lake, Indiana. Bill continued to work for Amoco until he retired. By 1955 the couple had returned to live in Miller; they rented an apartment from Bill’s sister, Margaret. Two more children were born to the couple. The family joined the Bethel Lutheran Church in Miller. In 1959, the family moved to Betty’s childhood home as her mother, a widow, wanted a smaller residence. The family continued to reside their until circa 1979 when Bill and Betty retired to a home on Snow Lake in Fremont, Steuben, Indiana. Betty died in Angola on 30 October 1988. Bill died at his home on Snow Lake in Fremont, Indiana on 5 May 1992. The couple are buried in Graceland Cemetery, Valparaiso, Porter, Indiana.

Bill’s middle name is shown in records as both Louis and Lewis. He told the submitter that it was a “family” name. There was a Lewis Warren Thompson on his maternal line but it appears his preferred spelling was Louis, as noted on his WW2 draft registration.

Submitted by:
Lori Samuelson
Email: genealogyatheart@gmail.com

Mary Thompson

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Mary Thompson
birth: 9 September 1861 in Chicago, Cook, Illinois to Thomas Coke and Drusilla DeWolf Thompson
death: 25 February 1942 in Phoenix, Maricopa, Arizona
burial: Burstrom Cemetery, Porter, Indiana

marriage: 11 May 1882 in Chicago, Cook, Illinois
Andrew Cook
birth: 27 July 1859 in Chicago, Cook, Illinois to John and Mary O’Brien Cook
death: 3 February 1944 in Chesterton, Porter, Indiana
burial: Burstrom Cemetery, Porter, Indiana

Children of Mary Thompson and Andrew Cook:

  • Lulu May Cook (1883-1968) m. Gustaf “Gust” Teodor Samuelson
  • Grace Gertrude Cook (1886-1962) m. John Henry Honaker
  • John Thompson “Jack” Cook (1887-1967) m. Hilda Albertina “Snooky” Gustafson
  • William DeWolf Cook (1890-1945) m. Helen Anna Curran
  • James Andrew Cook (1893-1906)
  • Drucilla E. Cook (1897-1897)
  • Whitney Calvin Cook (1902-1924)

Ancestor here lived in:

  • Chesterton, Porter, Indiana

Other Information:

Mary Thompson, born 9 September 1861 in Chicago, Cook, Illinois was the daughter of Thomas Coke and Drusilla Williams DeWolf Thompson. Both of Mary’s parents had been married previously. Thomas Coke, whose first wife’s name may have been Elizabeth, had six sons, four who died as infants and one within weeks after mustering out of the Civil War. Drusilla had one son, John Calvin DeWolf, from her first marriage to Calvin DeWolf. It is likely that both of Mary’s parents knew each other in Lansingburgh, Troy, New York where their first marriages occurred. Thomas and Drusilla married in Chicago on 15 July 1857; Mary was the third of possibly four children born to that union. Mary’s birth was recorded in the family Bible. Her birth date and location were confirmed when she was an adult and became a member of the Augsburg Lutheran Church in Porter County, Indiana. In 1870, Mary is found with her parents and two older brothers attending school in Chicago’s Ward 10. She continued to reside with her parents in Maywood, Illinois in 1880 but had completed her education, having attended school for 8 years. On 10 May 1882 at 261 Forquier Street in Chicago, Mary married Andrew Cook. The couple had three daughters and four sons. Youngest daughter Drucilla, likely named after Mary’s mother, died as an infant. Son James was killed as an 11 year old by a train on his way home from school. Youngest child Whitney, died at age 22 of hemmoraghe from a tantric ulcer. It is not known for certain when the family relocated to Porter County, Indiana, but Mary can be found there with the children in 1900. Andrew remained in Chicago as a boarder working as a blacksmith. Several records have been found that show Andrew selling lots in the Cook Waverly subdivision so it is possible that Mary maintained a household in Porter County to oversee the land purchases. There is no record of Mary being employed outside of the home. In 1910, the family is found reunited in Westchester, Porter, Indiana. By 1920, the family had moved closer to Andrew’s job in Gary, Lake, Indiana. The couple did not stay long in Gary; shortly after Whitney’s death there Andrew and Mary are found in Valparaiso, Indiana. By 1930 the couple had returned to live in Chesterton, Porter County. They remained in Westchester through 1940. After selling their home they traveled to Illinois and Ohio to visit relatives and to winter in Florida where they reported that they saw the president and the Duke and Duchess of Windsor. In December 1941, Mary and Andrew traveled to Phoenix, Maricopa, Arizona to visit their son John who had relocated there. She became ill from the flu and died of broncho pneumonia on 25 February 1942. Mary’s body was returned to Indiana for burial in Burstrom Cemetery in Porter County.

Submitted by:
Lori Samuelson
Email: genealogyatheart@gmail.com

Andrew Cook

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Andrew Cook
birth: 27 July 1859 in Chicago, Cook, Illinois to John and Mary O’Brien Cook
death: 3 February 1944 in Chesterton, Porter, Indiana
burial: Burstrom Cemetery, Porter, Indiana

marriage: 11 May 1882 in Chicago, Cook, Illinois
Mary Thompson
birth: 9 September 1861 in Chicago, Cook, Illinois to Thomas Coke and Drusilla Williams DeWolf Thompson
death: 25 February 1942 in Phoenix, Maricopa, Arizona
burial: Burstrom Cemetery, Porter, Indiana

Children of Mary Thompson and Andrew Cook:

  • Lulu May Cook (1883-1968) m. Gustaf “Gust” Teodor Samuelson
  • Grace Gertrude Cook (1886-1962) m. John Henry Honaker
  • John Thompson “Jack” Cook (1887-1967) m. Hilda Albertina “Snooky” Gustafson
  • William DeWolf Cook (1890-1945) m. Helen Anna Curran
  • James Andrew Cook (1893-1906)
  • Drucilla E. Cook (1897-1897)
  • Whitney Calvin Cook (1902-1924)

Ancestor here lived in:

  • Chesterton, Porter, Indiana

Other Information:

There are only two records of Andrew Cook’s birth on 27 July 1859 in Chicago, Illinois. The first is a baptism record from Old St. Mary Church in Chicago, Illinois. The second was made by the Augsburg Lutheran Church in Porter County, Indiana when he and his wife, Mary, became parishioners. Andrew was likely the son of John Cook of Scotland, a Protestant, and Mary “Molly” O’Brien, an Irish Catholic, who had met in New York City after emigrating from their native countries. Andrew’s parents settled in Chicago in 1854 and had three children, Andrew being the youngest. Family legend states the couple agreed that any sons would be raised Protestant and any daughters, as Roman Catholics. Records have been found, however, that both sons and daughter were baptized as infants in the Roman Catholic Church. The sons and their lines did join Protestant denominations while the daughter’s line did follow the Roman Catholic faith. In 1860, Andrew was found living with his inferred parents and siblings in Chicago Ward 1. The family is not found in the 1870 US federal census but they were found in Chicago City Directories between 1870-1875. In 1880, Andrew was noted to be a single engineer living on West Congress Street in Chicago. On 11 May 1882 in Chicago he married Mary Thompson. The couple would go on to have three daughters and four sons. Tragically, they lost their youngest daughter, Drucilla, likely named after her maternal grandmother, as an infant. Son James was killed in a train accident on the way home from school as an 11 year old. Youngest son Whitney died at age 22 of a hemorrhage from a tantric ulcer. By 1900, Andrew and Mary had purchased a home in Westchester, Portage, Indiana. Andrew continued to live in Chicago where he was employed as a blacksmith. By 1910, Andrew had relocated to live with Mary in Westchester and was employed as an engineer. By 1920, Andrew, Mary and Whitney were living in Gary, Lake, Indiana where he was working as a machinist for the nearby steel mills. Andrew sold a lot in Cook’s Waverly subdivision in Porter County to David L. Atkinson on 28 September 1927 for $1.00 and a lot to Samuel Goldman on 13 October 1927 for $10.00. He continued working as a machinist in the mill in 1930 but had relocated back to Weschester, Porter County. The couple enjoyed a two week trip to Akron, Ohio in July 1931. Retired by 1940, Andrew and Mary sold their Westchester home and traveled to Illinois and Ohio to visit relatives and spend the winter in Florida where the saw the Duke and Duchess of Windsor and the President. Mary died in Phoenix, Arizona where she had been visiting for 3 months on 25 February 1942 of broncho pneumonia from influenza. The couple was likely visiting their son John who had relocated there. Andrew returned to Porter County and died at his daughter Lulu’s home on 3 February 1944. His obituary noted he was a 45 year resident of Chesterton. He is buried in Burstrom Cemetery, Porter, Indiana.

Submitted by:
Lori Samuelson
Email: genealogyatheart@gmail.com

Lulu May Cook

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Lulu May Cook
birth: 15 August 1883 in Melrose Park, Cook, Illinois to Andrew and Mary Thompson Cook
death: 14 October 1968 in Gary, Lake, Indiana
burial: Augsburg Lutheran Cemetery, Porter, Indiana

marriage: 3 December 1904 in Baileytown, Chesterton, Indiana
Gustaf “Gust” Teodor Samuelson
birth: 29 April 1879 in Baileytown, Chesterton, Porter, Indiana to Samuel August and Maria Svendsotter/Swanson Samuelson
death: 9 October 1947 in San Bernardino, California
burial: Augsburg Lutheran Cemetery, Porter, Indiana

Children of Lulu May Cook and Gustaf “Gust” Teodor Samuelson:

  • Ruby Mae Samuelson (1907-2003) m. 1st. Charles Kenneth Lindell m. 2nd Carl Mitchell Sederberg
  • Lester Gustaf Samuelson (1908-1978)
  • Arline Marie Samuelson (1910-1969) m. Milton Richard Danderson
  • Margaret Samuelson (1912-1982) m. Earle Charles Heritage
  • Carolyn “Loretta” Lucile Samuelson (1916-1932)
  • William Lewis Samuelson (1919-1992) m. Betty Jean Harbaugh
  • Edwin Donald Samuelson (1921-1993) m. Lorraine Maleski

Ancestor here lived in:

  • Gary, Lake, Indiana

Other Information:

Lulu May Cook Samuelson was the oldest of seven children born to Andrew and Mary Thompson Cook. Born on the 15 August 1883 in Melrose Park, Cook, Illinois, Lulu attended 8 years of schooling and was found in the 1900 US federal census as a 15 year old boarder living in Westchester, Porter, Indiana where she was employed a cord maker at the Warren Featherbone Factory, also known as Three Oaks. The plant was known for stripping turkey feathers of their quills to use in women’s garments of the era, such as corsets. Lulu’s mother, Mary, and her siblings were also residing in a home they owned in Porter County in 1900. Father Andrew remained in Chicago as a boarder, working as a blacksmith. It is not known why the family relocated to Porter County. On 3 December 1904, Lulu married in Baileytown, Chesterton, Porter, Indiana Gustaf “Gust” Teodor Samuelson. She was noted in all further records as being employed as a housewife. The couple would go on to have four daughters and three sons with daughter Loretta, a piano virtuoso, dying unexpectedly at age 16. Lulu’s husband also died unexpectedly, in 1947 on a visit the couple had made to San Bernardino, California to visit their married daughter Arlene. After Gust’s death, Lulu continued to live in Westchester, Indiana in the home she owned. After daughter Margaret’s husband died in 1954, Lulu spent the summers at a lake near Middlebury, Indiana where her daughter ran a grocery store. She enjoyed playing card games, such as pinochle, and Scrabble, after dinner with family and friends. During the winter months, she lived in an apartment building in Miller, Indiana next door to her daughter, Margaret. It was there that she died on 14 October 1968 of generalized arteriosclerosis. Edmonds Funeral Home provided the arrangments. She was buried next to her husband in Augsburg Lutheran Cemetery, Porter, Indiana.

Lulu’s death certificate noted that the informant was her son, William, who resided at 5242 Miller Avenue. That information is incorrect. William had once resided at that address but had moved with his family to 6209 Miller Avenue. In grief, he must have provided his old address instead of his then current one.
William had recalled to this bio submitter that his sister Loretta was a piano virtuoso who had planned on touring when she came of age.

Submitted by:
Lori Samuelson
Email: genealogyatheart@gmail.com

Gustaf Teodor “Gust” Samuelson

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Gustaf Teodor “Gust” Samuelson
birth: 29 April 1879 in Baileytown, Chesterton, Porter, Indiana to Samuel August and Maria Svensdotter/Swanson Samuelson
death: 9 October 1947 San Bernardino, California
burial: Augsburg Lutheran Cemetery, Porter, Indiana

marriage: 3 December 1904 in Baileytown, Chesterton, Indiana
Lulu May Cook
birth: 15 August 1883 in Melrose Park, Cook, Illinois to Andrew and Mary Thompson Cook
death: 14 October 1968 in Gary, Lake, Indiana
burial: Augsburg Lutheran Cemetery, Porter, Indiana

Children of Lulu May Cook and Gustaf Teodor “Gust” Samuelson:

  • Ruby Mae Samuelson (1907-2003) m. 1st Charles Kenneth Lindell m. 2nd Carl Mitchell Sederberg
  • Lester Gustaf Samuelson (1908-1978)
  • Arline Marie Samuelson (1910-1969) m. Milton Richard Danderson
  • Margaret Samuelson (1912-1982) m. Earle Charles Heritage
  • Carolyn Loretta Lucile Samuelson (1916-1932)
  • William Lewis Samuelson (1919-1992) m. Betty Jean Harbaugh
  • Edwin Donald Samuelson (1921-1993) m. Lorraine Maleski

Ancestor here lived in:

  • Baileytown, Chesterton, Porter, Indiana

Other Information:

The fourth son of six children born to Samuel August and Maria Svensdotter/Swanson Samuelson on 29 April 1879 in Baileytown, Chesterton, Porter, Indiana, Gustaf “Gust” Teodor Samuelson was only 11 months old when his mother died. In 1880, he was named August on the US Federal Census though no other records show him recorded with that name. In 1900, no occupation is listed for him; he was residing with an older sister Ida and his father, Samuel, who was a farmer. The categories for read/write/speak English were left blank though family and later records show he could perform all three and had attended school for at least 4 years. Gust was of medium height and build with blue eyes and light hair color. Gust married Lulu May Cook on 3 December 1904 in Baileytown. The couple would live in Baileytown throughout their lives and have four daughters and three sons. Although no records remain to show what career Gust had at the time of his marriage and first child, by December 1908 when his second child was born, Gust was a Fireman. He continued to work as a fireman in 1912, renting a house in Westchester, Porter, Indiana. By October 1912, Gust was employed as a Steam Shovel Engineer. In October 1916 he was a coal sampler. In 1918 he was known to be working as a Steam Shovel Engineer for the Michigan Central Railroad. By 1920, the family owned a home and in 1921 he continued to work as a Steam Shovel Engineer. At the start of the Great Depression in 1930, Gust managed a feed store. Daughter Loretta, a piano virtuoso, died unexpectedly in July 1932 of peri and endocarditis. Gust operated a gas crane for the railroad in 1940. On a vacation with his wife, Lulu, to San Bernardino, California, on 9 October 1947 to visit his married daughter Arlene, Gust died of a coronary embolism. At the time of his death he was employed by the Indiana State Highway Department as a fireman in Chesterton. Through the assistance of the Flynn-Lundbrg Funeral Home in Chesterton, Gust was buried in Augsburg Lutheran Cemetery, Porter, Indiana.

Submitted by:
Lori Samuelson
Email: genealogyatheart@gmail.com

Maria Svensdotter Swanson

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Maria Svensdotter Swanson
birth: 17 September 1849 in Svenarum, Jonkoping Sweden to Sven Gustaf and Stina Gundmundsdotter Johannesson
death: 19 March 1880 in Baileytown, Porter, Indiana
burial: Augsburg Lutheran Cemetery, Porter, Indiana

marriage: 10 January 1871 in Baileytown, Porter, Indiana
Samuel August Samuelson
birth: 3 January 1839 in Stora Haddebo, Västra Harg, Östergötland, Sweden to Samuel and Anna Elisabet “Lisa” Torstensdotter Erickson
death: 14 January 1908 in Chesterton, Porter, Indiana
burial: Augsburg Lutheran Cemetery, Porter, Indiana

Children of Maria Svensdotter Swanson and Samuel August Samuelson:

  • Johan Viktor “John Victor” Samuelson 1872-1921 Hilda Josefina Charlson
  • John Louis “Louie” Samuelson 1873-1919 Sophia Rebecca Swanson
  • Alfreda Frederika Samuelson 1874-1881
  • Ada Emilia Samuelson 1876-1955 Sven “Sam” Oscar Edward Charlson
  • August “Gust” Theodore Samuelson 1877-1879
  • Gustaf Theodore “Gust” Samuelson 1879-1947 Lulu May Cook

Ancestor here lived in:

  • Baileytown, Porter, Indiana

Other Information:

Maria was the youngest child of six children born to Sven Gustaf and Stina Gundmundsdotter Johannesson on 17 September 1849 in Svenarum, Jonkoping Sweden. The family emigrated to the US separately. Brothers Johannes, who changed his last name to Sandstedt when he left Sweden, and Anders departed Jönköping on 14 May 1869 for Chicago. Johannes left behind his pregnant wife and son who followed later. On 28 May 1869, Sven Gustaf emigrated from Göteborg, Göteborg Och Bohus, Sweden. The record is not clear as to who may have accompanied him to LaPorte, Indiana. The number 3 is listed on his line; it is possible he brought his wife and daughter Maria. Johanna, who had married Claus Peterson in 1866, emigrated with her husband and two children before 15 September 1870 when they are found in the federal census. Daughter Inga departed Rössby Mellangård, Sweden with her husband, Pehr Isaksson, and daughter Hulda on 11 September 1870. Carolina is shown emigrating on 2 August 1872 with her parents, who may have returned to Sweden to bring her to the US. Maria worked as a housekeeper for her future husband, Samuel August Samuelson, in 1870; also in the household was Matilda Sophia Johnson, who would soon wed Carl Gustaf Johnson, Samuel’s cousin. According to family stories, Maria and Samuel received a marriage license on 10 January 1871 and were wed at her parents’ home in Baileytown, Porter, Indiana on 17 February 1871 by J. P. Nyquist. Records confirm the dates but not that the wedding occurred at her parents’ home. The couple quickly started a family of six children, four boys and two girls. Maria died on 19 March 1880 in Bailytown at age 30, leaving behind a husband and children ranging in ages from 11 months to 10 years. She was buried in Augsburg Lutheran Cemetery, Porter, Indiana.

Since Porter County, Indiana death index was not begun until 1884 and vital records were not implemented in Indiana until 1882, no cause of death is known for Maria Swanson Samuelson.

Submitted by:
Lori Samuelson
Email: genealogyatheart@gmail.com