Brief History of the Porter County Home

During the mid-nineteenth century, a movement was taking place in the United States and Western Europe recognizing the plight of the poor, indigent, and mentally unstable citizens. In the United States, many counties established what were often referred to as poor houses, poor farms, infirmaries, and asylums. Generally, individuals suffering from mental illness were also housed at these county-established residences, though most states also erected state mental institutions to house those citizens of the state that were deemed to be more problematic for the counties to handle and maintain in an adequate state of care. 

Prior to 1855, Porter County's indigent were placed in the care and oversight of responsible individuals who were compensated $1 to $2 a week per person. Overseers of the Poor in each township of the county were given the authority to appoint such caretakers, and it has been stated that "There was not a township that did not have, in its time, some pauper in the care of its citizens." Porter County also contracted with local physicians so that all paupers received appropriate medical care and treatments.

Eventually, county officials decided to consolidate care since it was becoming increasingly difficult to manage the situation when the poor and their caregivers were scattered widely across the county. William C. Pennock rented out his farm south of Valparaiso to the county to establish the Poor Farm of the Board. The contract between Pennock and the county stipulated that Pennock would retain two-thirds of all agricultural production on the farm, while the county would retain one-third. Pennock would also be compensated $1.50 per week to board each county pauper, exclusive of medical expenses.

The rental of Pennock's property soon evolved into a purchase. On June 7, 1855, Porter County Commissioners approved the purchase of 80 acres from Pennock for the sum of $3,000. This land comprised the east one-half of the southwest quarter of Section 26 in Center Township. Pennock was also appointed the first superintendent of the Porter County Poor Farm, accommodating individuals in the home already being used to care for the poor on the newly purchased property.

On September 1, 1856, a new dwelling constructed by George C. Buel was opened on the poor farm property to house the poor. This structure had a footprint of 32 feet by 45 feet and cost the county $2,482, being paid with a combination of cash and county-issued bond revenue. Residents were, for the most part, self-sufficient. Shelter and meals were provided to the residents in exchange for labor in farming and upkeep of the property.

An adjacent 80 acres directly east of the Porter County Poor Farm was purchased by the county for $3,200 in March 1866 to expand the farm to 160 acres. The farm was expanded again on June 16, 1875, when the county purchased all that part of the northeast quarter of Section 35 in Center Township which was lying north and east of Salt Creek and south of a line drawn parallel with the north line of the quarter for $1,200 from W. C. Hannah. On June 9, 1876, yet another purchase took place to expand the farm when the county purchased southeast quarter of the southwest quarter of Section 27 in Center Township for $1,200.

Postcard view of the Porter County Poor Farm, circa 1910.
Source: Collection of Steven R. Shook.

Postcard view of the Porter County Poor Farm, circa 1910.
Source: Collection of Steven R. Shook.

The third and final home to be located on the Porter County Poor Farm was a substantial brick structure. Designed by local architect Charles F. Lembke, ground was broken for this $25,000 building soon after the sale of county-issued bonds on August 7, 1905; construction was completed in 1906. Shortly after this building was completed, a barn was erected on the property at a cost of $4,000.

Postcard view of the Porter County Poor Farm, circa 1910.
Source: Collection of Steven R. Shook.

At some point in time before the construction of the imposing brick building, the Porter County Poor Farm was being more often referred to as the Porter County Asylum. This suggests that the county was transitioning from housing the poor and indigent to include individuals with real and perceived mental deficiencies and what were considered, at that time, socially undesirable characteristics.

There had always been some disagreement as to the official name of Porter County's facility, but that was to be corrected when Indiana passed legislation in 1947 that required every county in the state to refer to their respective facility for the indignant as their "County Home," each county's name preceding the words County Home.

The confusion over the name of Porter County's facility is illustrated in the plat maps below. The three plat maps, spanning 112 years, each refer to the Porter County Home with a different name. The last map shown, published in 1988, refers to the facility as the Porter County Infirmary, which is obviously inconsistent with the 1947 law.

Plat map showing the Porter County Farm and Poor House in Section 26 of Center Township, 1876.
Source: A. G. Hardesty's 1876 Illustrated Atlas of Porter County, Indiana.

Plat map showing the Porter County Poor Farm in Section 26 of Center Township, 1921.
Source: George A. Ogle and Company's 1921 Standard Atlas of Porter County, Indiana.

Plat map showing the Porter County Infirmary in Section 26 of Center Township, 1988.
Source: Town and Country, Inc.'s 1988 Porter County, Indiana: Official Plat Book.

As reported in early Twentieth Century county newspapers, the institutionalized included the truly insane, sociopaths, psychopaths, and the delusional, as well as the poor and indigent, unemployed (bums and hobos), epileptics, adulterers, prostitutes and loose women, homosexuals, alcoholics, and drug addicts.

Oftentimes, the Porter County Asylum served as a temporary housing solution before an individual was committed to the Porter County Jail, Indiana State Prison, or one of the state-operated mental institutions.

When the Social Security Act of 1935 and subsequent welfare-related legislation was passed, the demand for the Porter County Home diminished considerably, though residents were still residing at the home as late as 2002 when the facility was permanently closed due to funding issues. 

Some deaths that occurred at the Porter County Home prior to 1900 included the following individuals:

• Bracher, August - 1898
• Blachly, Elizabeth - 1891
• Carlson, Emma - 1898
• Dalton, John - 1882
• Eastland, Albert - 1892
• Hallan, Stephen - 1888
• Harkins, William F. - 1882
• Hoder, Charley - 1894
• Kersey, Edward - 1882
• Porter, George P. - 1883
  
• Rouke, Peter - 1894
• Wheeler, Orson - 1897
• Yeoham, August - 1898

Not a single individual in the above list has a known marked burial location.

As is the case with death notices, some are often quite interesting and entertaining to read. To illustrate, here is the death notice published in the October 7, 1892, issue of The Tribune for Albert Eastland:

TALK OF THE TOWN

Albert Eastland, a well known character of Valparaiso died at the poor farm last Saturday. Albert was called an idiot, though at all times he was able and willing to work. He was harmless, faithful and honest. During centennial exhibition at Philadelphia, the people of Valparaiso had raised a purse and sent him to that place, where he attracted a great deal of attention. He was gifted with a tongue of abnormal size, and perhaps larger than that of any living man. When he wanted to prove his identity he would simply stick out his tongue, which would reach way below his chin. He was given a big funeral, and the funeral sermon, preached by Rev. Smith pastor of the M. E. church, is said to have been one of the best and most touching ever delivered in this town.

Other notices elicit sadness, as some individuals living at the facility appear to have been forgotten by relatives and friends, as evidenced in the death notice for Edward Kersey published March 9, 1882, in the Porter County Vidette:

Mrs. Ells, of Wheeler, one of the well-known Kersey family of Twenty-Mile Prairie, could not believe the statement of the death of Edward Kersey at the poor house recently could be correct, because she thought no person of that name had lived so long in Porter county. We accordingly inquired of Mr. Hesser, superintendent of the poor-asylum, and he gives assurance that our statement is correct both as to name and twenty years residence, yet he was a man whose name was not so public as to come to Mrs. Ells' notice. We are told a brother of the deceased man lives here now.

On November 11, 2005, the Porter County Home was heavily damaged by an arsonist using kerosene as an accelerant. The extent of the damage was so severe that it was decided to raze the building, which took place during late February and early March of 2006. Nobody was ever arrested and charged with this arson event. Thus ended the life of Porter County's facility for the indignant, a life that spanned slightly more than 150 years.

Source Material

Books
Board of State Charities of Indiana. 1892. Second Report of the Board of State Charities Made to the Legislature of Indiana. Indianapolis, Indiana: William B. Buford. 168 p. [see p. 64]

George A. Ogle and Company. 1921. Standard Atlas of Porter County, Indiana: Including a Plat Book of the Villages, Cities and Townships of the County. Chicago, Illinois: George A. Ogle and Company. 61 p. [see p. 27]

Goodspeed, Weston A., and Charles Blanchard. 1882. Counties of Lake and Porter, Indiana: Historical and Biographical. Chicago, Illinois: F. A. Battey and Company. 771 p. [see pp. 59-60]

Hardesty, A. G. 1876. Illustrated Atlas of Porter County, Indiana. Valparaiso, Indiana: A. G. Hardesty. 90 p. [see p. 55]

Hassett, Kayla. 2013. The County Home in Indiana: A Forgotten Response to Poverty and Disability. M.S. Thesis. Muncie, Indiana: Ball State University. 346 p.

The Lewis Publishing Company. 1912. History of Porter County, Indiana: A Narrative Account of its Historical Progress, its People and its Principal Interests. Volume I. Chicago, Illinois: The Lewis Publishing Company. 357 p. [see pp. 61-62]

Shults-Gay, Deborah H. 1923. One of the Earliest Authentic Histories of Porter County, Indiana: From 1832 to 1876. Publication location not provided: Deborah H. Shults-Gay. Unpaginated.

Town and Country Publications. 1988. Porter County, Indiana: Official Plat Book 1988. LaPorte, Indiana: Town and Country Publications, Inc. 64 p. [see p. 23] 

Newspapers (listed by date of publication)
Porter County Vidette, Valparaiso, Porter County, Indiana; March 9, 1882; Volume 26, Number 10, Page 5, Column 1.

Porter County Vidette, Valparaiso, Porter County, Indiana; July 6, 1882; Volume 26, Number 27, Page 1, Column 5. Column titled "Harkin's Confession."

Porter County Vidette, Valparaiso, Porter County, Indiana; September 28, 1882; Volume 26, Number 39, Page 5, Column 4.

Porter County Vidette, Valparaiso, Porter County, Indiana; December 6, 1883; Volume 27, Number 49, Page 5, Column 5.

The Tribune, Chesterton, Porter County, Indiana; May 10, 1888; Volume 5, Number 4, Page 1, Column 7.

The Tribune, Chesterton, Porter County, Indiana; November 27, 1891; Volume 8, Number 33, Page 8, Column 5.

The Tribune, Chesterton, Porter County, Indiana; October 7, 1892; Volume 9, Number 26, Page 5, Column 4.

The Tribune, Chesterton, Porter County, Indiana; September 14, 1894; Volume 11, Number 23, Page 1, Column 5. Column titled "County Seat News. On Topics of General Interest. Especially Prepared For Tribune Readers."

The Tribune, Chesterton, Porter County, Indiana; September 14, 1894; Volume 11, Number 23, Page 8, Column 3. Column titled "Chesterton Chips. What the People are Doing and Saying."

The Westchester Tribune, Chesterton, Porter County, Indiana; November 13, 1897; Volume 14, Number 31, Page 8, Column 1.

The Chesterton Tribune, Chesterton, Porter County, Indiana; May 14, 1898; Volume 15, Number 5, Page 1, Column 1.

The Chesterton Tribune, Chesterton, Porter County, Indiana; November 5, 1898; Volume 15, Number 30, Page 1, Column 6.

The Chesterton Tribune, Chesterton, Porter County, Indiana; December 10, 1898; Volume 15, Number 35, Page 4, Column 3.

The Vidette-Messenger, Valparaiso, Porter County, Indiana; March 30, 1929; Volume 2, Page 1, Column 1 and Page 3, Column 7. Column titled "Grand Jury Scores Poor Farm, Jail. Conditions of Buildings at Both Institutions Come in for Condemnation Because of Inadequacies."

The Vidette-Messenger, Valparaiso, Porter County, Indiana; November 8, 1930; Volume 4, Page 1, Column 2-3. Column titled "County Council Head Lodges Protest Against Farm Bureau Activities Poor Farm Chief."

The Vidette-Messenger, Valparaiso, Porter County, Indiana; June 19, 1936; Volume 9, Page 1, Column 6 and Page 2, Column 5. Column titled "Head of Poor Farm Victim Fall Mishap."

The Vidette-Messenger, Valparaiso, Porter County, Indiana; April 8, 1947; Volume 20, Number 234, Page 1, Columns 2-3. Column titled "State Law Makes It 'The Porter County Home' Now."

The Vidette-Messenger, Valparaiso, Porter County, Indiana; July 25, 1949; Volume 23, Number 18, Page 4, Columns 1-8. Column titled "Porter County Home Plans Open House."

The Times, Muster, Lake County, Indiana; November 14, 2005. Column titled "Fires at Porter County Home Ruled Arson."

The Times, Muster, Lake County, Indiana; November 15, 2005. Column titled "Arson Destroys County Home. Porter County: Public Asked to Call Police with Any Information on Friday Blaze" by Matthew Van Dusen. 

The Times, Muster, Lake County, Indiana; November 17, 2005. Column titled "Reward Offered in County Home Fire. Arson at County Building is Crime of the Week" by Ken Kosky.

The Times, Muster, Lake County, Indiana; January 8, 2006. Column titled "Some Still Smoldering Over Arsonist's Work. County Home Blaze Remains Mystery, Tragedy to Former Tenants" by Matthew Van Dusen.

The Times, Muster, Lake County, Indiana; April 5, 2006. Column titled "Unbuilding the Porter County Home. 101-Year-Old Building Torn Apart but Bricks, Timber and Materials Salvaged" by Matthew Van Dusen.

Websites
Haniford, Jim. 2006. That Which Doesn't Kill Them...A Ghastly Historical & Supernatural Account of the Porter County Home. Paranormal Society of Indiana. Website: http://www.freewebs.com/paranormalsocietyofindiana/portercountyhometribute.htm [Accessed September 2016].

© 2016 Steven R. Shook. All Rights Reserved.

The Walter Bradt Shooting at Furnessville, 1883

Sensational stories published in newspapers prior to 1900 frequently provide entertaining reading material. Grandiose language, inferences based on either incomplete facts, distorted facts, or no facts altogether commonly appear in news items.

Oftentimes, the a newspaper would not "allege" that a person did something - they, in fact, did it. Individuals were often quickly found guilty in the court of public opinion long before the alleged perpetrator ever reached trial, largely based on reports published in the community newspaper. The Fourth Estate, the press, had profound impacts on legal cases. But a good story sold newspapers. The Walter Bradt Murder at Furnessville in 1883 is no exception.

Front page headline of the Walter Bradt death in Furnessville,
Porter County, Indiana, contained in the Michigan City Dispatch
published in Michigan City, LaPorte County, Indiana.
Source: Michigan City Dispatch, December 20, 1883.

On December 20, 1883, the Michigan City Dispatch published news of the death of Walter Bradt on its front page, citing it as "A FOUL MURDER." Under the subheading "THE FACTS, the article relates what supposedly occurred in Furnessville at approximately 9:00 pm on Saturday, December 15, 1883.

The day following the death of Walter Bradt, December 16, Dayton Clark was interviewed at the Porter County Jail in Valparaiso by a reporter from the Michigan City Dispatch. Clark stated that he was 36 years old and born at Grand Island, Erie County, New York. He indicated that he had been married, but his wife had died earlier in the year on June 14, leaving Dayton to raise an 18-month old daughter.

Dayton declared that Walter Bradt was his brother-in-law and that his sister, Sarah Anne Clark, and Walter had moved to Furnessville in 1855 soon after they had married in Canada. Dayton informed the reporter that he had resided in the home of Walter and Sarah since 1874. He also stated that "I never had any trouble with him [Walter Bradt] until last night [December 15, 1883]."

On the morning of December 15, Dayton and his brother-in-law ventured to nearby Michigan City. The two men spent most of the day drinking, Dayton admitting that they drank until they were very intoxicated.

At 5:30 pm the two men began their journey home and arrived at Bradt's Furnessville farm around 7:00 pm. Upon arrival, Walter requested that Dayton jump off the wagon and open the gate. Dayton did as he was requested and then got back onto the wagon. When Walter was about 30 feet from the house, he fell off the wagon, apparently due to his intoxication.

After falling from the wagon, Walter asked that Dayton drive the team of horses to the stable.  Thus, Dayton unhitched and stabled the horses while Walter proceeded to enter the house. Dayton told the reporter that:

After I put up the horses I went to the house and found he [Walter] and his wife [Sarah] having some words, and I tried to quiet them, but failed. Suddenly, he caught hold of her, throwing her upon the bed, breaking the slats, and completely pulled her hair out by the roots from one side of her head. I remonstrated, when he jumped for me swearing that he would massacre me. I knew him to be a dangerous man when in liquor, and fearing that he would take my life, I drew a revolver which I had taken to town to sell, but failed to do so, and fired, the ball entering the left eye. This was about 7:15 p. m. and he died at 8 p. m. He was never conscious after the ball entered his eye. Dr. Mullen was sent for but arrived too late to be of any service. Deputy Sheriff McNulty accompanied him and placed me under arrest, and brought me to this city [Valparaiso].

Sarah Bradt's statements concerning the circumstances and events of the evening were nearly identical to those made by her brother Dayton. Sarah said that she "noticed that her husband was out of temper, and suddenly he grasped her and threw her upon the bed in a most violent and rude manner, falling upon her with his whole weight."

Sarah recalled that Dayton was sitting behind the stove when she was thrown upon the bed and that he had told Walter that it was "not right to treat his wife in such a manner." According to Sarah, her husband scolded Dayton, telling him "Shut up you son of a bitch," whereupon Dayton went to his overcoat, withdrew a revolver from it, and sat back down behind the stove. Sarah reported that Walter then got up off the bed and moved in Dayton's direction telling him that "twenty men with revolvers couldn't scare him." It was at this point that Dayton shot Walter; Walter immediately dropped to the floor.

Soon after the shooting, Dr. Alexander J. Mullen, a Michigan City physician, was called for to assist in reviving Walter. LaPorte County Deputy Sheriff Patrick McNulty arrived with the physician at the Bradt's Furnessville home, but Walter was already dead.

LaPorte Deputy Sheriff McNulty proceeded to deliver Dayton Clark to Porter County Sheriff Charles W. Dickover at the Porter County Jail. McNulty and Clark first traveled from Furnessville to Westville where they stopped for dinner. McNulty reported that Clark was silent the entire trip, uttering but one word. McNulty did not handcuff Clark until Clark became very nervous about one mile from entering Valparaiso.

A large crowd had congregated outside the jail to catch a glimpse of the alleged murderer. When Clark was jailed he "broke down completely, crying bitterly, and turning deathly pale." After regaining his composure, Clark asked to speak to Deputy Sheriff Elias N. Thomas, whom he had known for many years.

Deputy Sheriff Thomas later stated the he knew both Dayton Clark and Walter Bradt for a long time and that Clark was a "good and honest man in every respect," while Bradt had "always been regarded as a very bad man." Thomas' statement was likely to be very important as it pertained to Dayton's case. Elias N. Thomas' father, William Thomas, platted the town of Calumet (later renamed Chesterton) and Elias was held in very high regard in the northern portion of the county.

On Sunday, December 16, the day following the murder, an inquest was held at 3:00 pm by the Porter County Coroner, Dr. Andrew P. Letherman, at the scene of the incident in Furnessville. The inquest took little time to conduct. Evidence that was presented at the inquest was nearly identical to statements previously given by Sarah (Clark) Bradt and Dayton Clark. The verdict rendered at the inquest stated that Dayton Clark had shot and killed Walter Bradt after Bradt had become violent toward Sarah Bradt.

Walter Bradt was described as a "heavy, thick set man, not to exceed five feet six inches in height and weighing fully 180 pounds. His complexion was sandy, and his looks were far from being prepossessing." 

Dayton Clark was described by the reporter from the Michigan City Dispatch as being of "slight build, five feet five inches high, very dark complexion and possessing hardly ordinary intelligence. He is inoffensive looking, and one that would hardly be picked out for a murderer."

On December 24, Dayton Clark was arraigned for the murder of Walter Bradt. He was assigned "good counsel" by the court due to being penniless, and his sister reportedly promised to defend her brother against the charge of murder. Clark and his sister would maintain that he acted in self defense when he shot Walter Bradt.

On February 11, 1884, the following item appeared in The Indianapolis News:

STATE NEWS.
Dayton Clark, who committed a murder in Pine township, Porter county, early in January, and has been confined in the Valparaiso jail, has become insane, and will be sent to the asylum instead of standing trial for murder.

There is no evidence to suggest that Dayton was transferred to the state's insane asylum. 

Dayton's trial for the murder of his brother-in-law began at 2:00 pm on March 12, 1884, at the Porter County Courthouse.

The Porter County Vidette reported in its March 13, 1884, issue that the jury was quickly empaneled and that after the jury members were sworn that "the prosecution opened the case. The prosecution examined all the state's witnesses and rested. Johnson, attorney for defendant, has 2 more witnesses to examine. The defense is insanity. The case is expected to go to the jury sometime to-day."

A week later, the verdict of Dayton Clark's trial was published in the Porter County Vidette:

Sentenced.
The jury of the case of Dayton Clark for the murder of his brother-in-law, Walter Bradt, after being out 15 hours, returned the following verdict:

We the jury find the defendant guilty of manslaughter, and we fix his punishment at imprisonment in the state prison for the period of three years and six months.

R. W. JONES,
Foreman.

The council for the defense sought to prove the defendant insane, but this had no weight on the jury whatsoever. Clark took no interest in the proceedings against him, and was very sullen throughout the trial. When he received his sentence he showed no signs of emotion, not seeming to care whether it was acquittal or hanging. His sister, Mrs. Bradt, throughout her testimony, seemed trying to shield Clark, and tried to show that the shooting was done in self defense and that he got into the trouble on her behalf. Clark will be taken to the prison at Michigan City to-morrow. 

Immediately following Clark's conviction for manslaughter, there was banter traded between the editors of the Westville Indicator and the Porter County Vidette. The editor of the Indicator questioned why Clark's conviction was for manslaughter rather than murder and why Clark was sentenced to serve only three years in the state penitentiary. He kindly requested a response from the editor of the Vidette.

The genesis of these ribbing statements was due to remarks that the editor of the Vidette had published several months previous to Clark's conviction criticizing the apparently light justice taking place in LaPorte County courtrooms. Specifically, the Vidette editor was extremely critical of the two year sentence that Leo Martin received for murdering August Groehler (erroneously published in the Vidette as Gust Radke) in LaPorte County.

Unfortunately, the editors' comments published within the pages of their respective newspapers seems to have made a mockery of the Dayton Clark case, as well as failed to recognize that Dayton Clark was either suffering from mental illness or had an intellectual disability leading him to be cognitively deficient.

Dayton Clark began serving his sentence in the state prison at Michigan City on March 15, 1884, less than three miles from the location of the incident. He was released from the prison on January 14, 1887. Upon his release, he began working as a laborer on various farms in the northern portion of Porter County. Tragically, Dayton died at the age of 52 as the result of heatstroke on July 9, 1897; his death was reported in the July 17, 1897, issue of The Westchester Tribune, as follows:

PORTER POINTERS
Dayton Clark, a farm hand in the employ of Robert Johnson, the milkman, was overcome by the intense heat on Friday of last week while working in a hay field, and died fifteen minutes after he first fell. Clark was 52 years old, and unmarried. He had been in the employ of Mr. Johnson for four and one-half years, and was a hardworking man. He was mentally deficient, his mind being affected, and was subject to dizzy spells. Notwithstanding, he was entrusted with duties of responsibility, and always proved trustworthy. The funeral was held Sunday.

The newspaper notice concerning Dayton's death makes no mention of the Walter Bradt incident. However, it repeats facts that were stated during Dayton's trial; namely, that Dayton was "mentally deficient" - perhaps insane. At the time of Dayton's imprisonment, the State of Indiana had not yet introduced psychiatric treatment into the state's penal system. Thus, during his incarceration, Dayton received no psychiatric care. It is very doubtful that the prison environment provided relief for Dayton's condition; rather, it likely exacerbated his inability to function normally.

It is assumed that when Dayton died that he was poor. No records can be found indicating his location of burial. It is likely, however, that he was interred in either the Chesterton Cemetery or the Furnessville Cemetery in an unmarked grave.

Bradt and Clark Genealogies
Walter Bradt was born in Canada about 1830, the son of Walter Andries Arentse Bradt and Elizabeth (Wemple) Bradt. Walter had at least two brothers, these being Butler Bradt (b. 1833 in Ontario, Canada) and Jacob Bradt (b. 1837). Walter married Sarah Anne Clark in 1855.

Walter and Sarah Bradt were residing in Pine Township in Porter County, Indiana, as early as June 3, 1863, as Walter appears of an enumeration of men "subject to military duty in the Ninth Congressional District of the Counties of Lake and others, State of Indiana."

Civil War draft registration record listing

Walter Bradt, enumerated June 1863.
Source: National Archives and Records Administration,
Record Group 110, Identifier 4213514.

Eventually, Walter was drafted into service during the Civil War. He served for a few months as a private in Company A of the 35th Indiana Regiment Infantry, commonly referred to as the "First Irish" and "Fighting Irish" due to the large number of Irish-Americans serving in the Regiment. Bradt mustered into the service on January 16, 1865, at LaPorte, LaPorte County, Indiana, and mustered out on June 2, 1865.

After he was killed by Dayton Clark in 1883, Walter was interred in the Furnessville Cemetery; a Civil War veteran tombstone marks his burial location. Walter's tombstone was ordered on July 8, 1887, and manufactured by Sheldon & Sons of West Rutland, Rutland County, Vermont.

Record card for Walter Bradt's headstone provided
for deceased Union Civil War veterans.
Source: National Archives and Records Administration,
Record Group 92, Microfilm M1845.

Interestingly, Walter Bradt had filed a claim for an invalid pension on October 27, 1883, seven weeks prior to being dispatched by Dayton Clark (Application No. 498609). Former Union veterans of the Civil War could obtain a pension from the federal government if they could prove that they were invalid due to circumstances related to their service during the war. Hence, at some point during Walter's 20 weeks of service as a private in the Civil War, he apparently suffered some form of injury that impaired his ability to earn a full living in 1883.

On March 26, 1884, soon after Dayton's conviction for manslaughter, his sister, Sarah Bradt, filed for a widow's pension from the federal government (Application No. 314022), which she was entitled to receive due to Walter's service in the Civil War.

Hattie Minnie Bradt was born to Walter and Sarah on September 27, 1867, presumably in or near Furnessville.

Walter Bradt appears in the 1870 Federal Census enumeration for Westchester Township in Porter County, Indiana, as a 37 year old born in Canada employed as a "saw mill hand." He was likely employed by Henry R. McDonald, who owned extensive timberland holdings in the Furnessville area and operated a sawmill there for many years. Sarah Bradt is described in the same census as a 30 year old born in Canada, while his daughter "Hetty" is described as being 3 years of age and born in Indiana.

Ten years later, Walter Bradt appears in the 1880 Federal Census enumeration for Pine Township in Porter County, Indiana. In this census, he is listed as a 50 year old day laborer. He is residing with his 40 year old wife, Sarah A. Bradt, and his 13 year old daughter "Hettie." The census indicates that both Walter and Sarah were born in Canada and that their daughter was born in Indiana.

It is unknown when Sarah Ann (Clark) Bradt passed away. Some genealogists list her date of death as June 30 or July 1, 1915, as a death certificate issued by the state of Indiana exists for a Sarah Bratt who died in 1915 in LaPorte County. This Sarah Bratt from LaPorte County, however, is not Sarah Bradt from Furnessville, as the maiden name of LaPorte's Sarah Bratt was Goodwin.

Sarah Bradt may be buried in the Furnessville Cemetery; if she is, then her grave is currently unmarked.

Walter's daughter Hattie Minnie Bradt married Charles James Packer on September 20, 1887. Together, Charles and Hattie were the parents of five daughters and two sons. Their children were:

• William Packer - b. August 5, 1888, at Diller, Jefferson County, Nebraska; d. December 5, 1888
• Hettie May Packer - b. January 6, 1890, at Diller, Jefferson County, Nebraska; d. January 1, 1919, at Odell, Gage County, Nebraska
• John James Packer - b. March 1, 1893, at Diller, Jefferson County, Nebraska; married Etta Mae Pelton on September 7, 1920, at Lincoln, Lancaster County, Nebraska
• Margaret Ada Packer - b. November 29, 1896, at Diller, Jefferson County, Nebraska
• Nettie Ella Packer - b. January 20, 1899; married Fredrick Edward Iwohn on October 5, 1920
• Cora Ethel Packer - b. August 3, 1901, at Beloit, Mitchell County, Kansas
• Nellie Ann Packer - b. February 11, 1905, at Gage County, Nebraska; married Floyd Coons on February 11, 1926; d. June 22, 1991, at Belleville, Republic County, Kansas

In 1930, Charles and Hattie were residing at Midland, Mitchell County, Kansas.

Charles J. Packer died on November 22, 1932, at Belleville, Republic County, Kansas. Hattie Minnie (Bradt) Parker died shortly thereafter on December 9, 1934.

Very little genealogical information can be found concerning Dayton Clark. Various sources suggest that Dayton Clark was born between 1845 and 1850. Following the murder of Walter Bradt, Dayton informed a reporter that he was born in Grand Island, Erie County, New York. However, census data conflicts with Dayton's statement and suggests that he may have been born in Canada. Note that Erie County, New York, is situated along the Canadian border.

The 1880 Federal Census for Westchester Township, Porter County, Indiana, shows that Dayton Clark was living in the Edwin Leigh Furness household; the community of Furnessville was named after Edwin. This census lists Dayton as a 30 year old born in Canada and employed as a farm worker. Apparently, Dayton had not yet married when the 1880 census was taken.

Some newspaper reports concerning the death of Walter Bradt mention that Dayton Clark was a widower, his wife passing away on June 14, 1883, leaving him with a daughter born in 1882. An extensive search through a wide variety of genealogical records, however, fails to lead to an identification of Dayton's wife and child. It is conceivable that the newspaper reports were factually incorrect, a contention that is supported by the fact that Dayton's death notice states that "Clark was 52, and unmarried." The death notice also fails to mention a daughter or any prior marriage.

On the other hand, a death notice for a Lillie Clark of Chesterton appeared in the August 3, 1882, issue of the Porter County Vidette, as follows:

THE COUNTY.
FURNESSVILLE.
The sad intelligence reached us on last Sunday of the death of Mrs. Lillie Clark, of Chesterton. Her many friends of this place extend their heartfelt sympathies to the bereaved husband and relatives in this their hour of sorrow.

Another notice was published the following week in the Porter County Vidette (August 10, 1882), presumably for Lillie Clark. This death notice reads:

THE COUNTY.
CHESTERTON.
It becomes our painful duty to chronicle the death of one of our most esteemed and honored citizens. Mrs. Clark departed this live on Saturday, July 29th. She leaves a child, husband and many friends to mourn their loss. The funeral services were conducted by Rev. Knapp and the remains were conveyed to the Chesterton cemetery. 

No burial record exists for Lillie Clark in the Chesterton Cemetery. To add to the confusion, a Lillie Beck is buried in this cemetery who died on the exact date as Lillie Clark, as reported in the Porter County Vidette. Furthermore, a Lillie Beck married Oliver W. Clark on May 1, 1881, in Chesterton, with Reverend John Smith of the Methodist Episcopal Church officiating the marriage.

Is Lillie Beck the Lillie Clark mentioned in the newspaper death notice? Was Lillie Beck the wife of Dayton Clark? Was Dayton Clark also referred to as Oliver W. Clark? And who was the child of Dayton Clark?

Source Material

Books
Baldasty, Gerald J. 1992. The Commercialization of News in the Nineteenth Century. Madison, Wisconsin: University of Wisconsin Press. 240 p.

Dicken-Garcia, Hazel, 1989. Journalistic Standards in Nineteenth-Century America. Madison, Wisconsin: University of Wisconsin Press. 343 p.

Newspapers (listed by date of publication)
Porter County Vidette, Valparaiso, Porter County, Indiana; August 3, 1882; Volume 26, Number 31, Page 1, Column 5. Column titled "The County, Furnessville."

Porter County Vidette, Valparaiso, Porter County, Indiana; August 10, 1883; Volume 26, Number 32, Page 8, Column 1. Column titled "The County. Chesterton."

Porter County Vidette, Valparaiso, Porter County, Indiana; February 22, 1883; Volume 27, Number 8, Page 1, Column 4. Column titled "The County. Furnessville."

Porter County Vidette, Valparaiso, Porter County, Indiana; February 22, 1883; Volume 27, Number 8, Page 1, Column 6. Column titled "August Grockler."

The Chicago Daily Tribune, Chicago, Cook County, Illinois; December 17, 1883; Volume 43, Page 6, Column 3. Column titled "Indiana. Farm Murder."

The Cincinnati Enquirer, Cincinnati, Hamilton County, Ohio; December 17, 1883; Volume 41, Number 351, Page 4, Column 7. Column titled "Domestic Tragedy. An Indiana Farmer Killed by His Brother-in-law -- Self-Defense Alleged."

Harrisburg Telegraph, Harrisburg, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania; December 17, 1883; Volume 53, Number 34, Page 1, Column 8. Column titled "A Brutal Husband Killed."

Oshkosh Daily Northwestern, Oshkosh, Winnebago County, Wisconsin; December 17, 1883; Volume 16, Number 286, Page 1, Column 1. Column titled "Avenges His Sister."

Reno Evening Gazette, Reno, Washoe County, Nevada; December 17, 1883; Volume 16, Number 66, Page 2, Column 3. Column titled "Brotherly Attention."

Sacramento Daily Record-Union, Sacramento, Sacramento County, California; December 17, 1883; Volume 18, Number 100, Page 2, Column 3. Column titled "Brutal Husband Killed by His Wife's Brother."

The Indiana State Sentinel, Indianapolis, Porter County, Indiana; December 19, 1883; Volume 29, Number 46, Page 4, Column 4. Column titled "Killed His Brother-in-Law."

Michigan City Dispatch, Michigan City, LaPorte County, Indiana; December 20, 1883; Page 1, Column 5. Column titled "A Foul Murder. Killing of Walter Bratt by Dayton Clark, His Brother-in-Law. Pine Township, Porter County, the Scene of the Tragedy, and Saturday Night the Time."

Porter County Vidette, Valparaiso, Porter County, Indiana; December 20, 1883; Volume 27, Number 51, Page 2, Column 3. Column titled "Shot by His Brother-in-Law."

Westville Indicator, Westville, LaPorte County, Indiana; December 20, 1883; Volume 2 Number 32, Page 1, Column 4. Untitled column.

The Indianapolis News, Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana; February 11, 1884; Volume 4, Number 57, Page 3, Column 3. Column titled "State News."

Porter County Vidette, Valparaiso, Porter County, Indiana; March 13, 1884; Volume 28, Number 11, Page 5, Column 4. Untitled column.

Porter County Vidette, Valparaiso, Porter County, Indiana; March 13, 1884; Volume 28, Number 11, Page 5, Column 5. Column titled "Latest Local Items."

Porter County Vidette, Valparaiso, Porter County, Indiana; March 20, 1884; Volume 28, Number 12, Page 4, Column 1. Untitled column.

Westville Indicator, Westville, LaPorte County, Indiana; March 20, 1884; Volume 2, Number 45, Page 1, Column 6. Untitled column.

Porter County Vidette, Valparaiso, Porter County, Indiana; March 20, 1884; Volume 28, Number 12, Page 7, Columns 1-2. Column titled "Sentenced."

The Westchester Tribune, Chesterton, Porter County, Indiana; July 17, 1897; Volume 14, Number 14, Page 5, Column 5. Column titled "Porter Pointers."

© 2016 Steven R. Shook. All Rights Reserved.