DeForest Leslie Skinner was the son of John R. Skinner and Emily Ward (Reid) Skinner, both natives of Vermont. John was a successful attorney and Emily was a poet. The family left Vermont in 1846 and settled in Valparaiso, where John R. met an untimely death.
After his father's death, DeForest soon distinguished himself by excelling in business, first with a successful dry goods business, and later as a premiere banker. During his long banking career, he served as the president of the First National Bank of Valparaiso.
He also devoted significant energy to local and state politics, representing his community as a state senator from 1874 - 1878 and as a delegate to the Democratic National Conventions in Cincinnati (1880) and St. Louis (1888).
During his lifetime, his peers recognized him as a community leader, and he and his family was held in high esteem.
After DeForest's death, his son, Leslie Reid Skinner, donated land for Graceland Cemetery, and DeForest's remains were transferred from the Valparaiso Old City Cemetery to Graceland.
Note on the grave stone inscription: Although the inscription reads "Leslie DeForest Skinner," throughout his lifetime he used the name "DeForest Leslie Skinner," so he is identified as such here on Find A Grave.
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Valparaiso.
At noon Friday, Feb. 21, Hon. DeForest L. Skinner died at his home in Washington street, Valparaiso, after a comparatively brief illness of pneumonia. The funeral was held on Sunday following.
Mr. Skinner was born in Hardwick, Caledonia county, Vermont, in 1835. At the age of 11 years he finished his schooling and came to Valparaiso. At the age of 17 he started in business for himself, and from that beginning, resulted the large mercantile firm of Skinner & Harrold. He went to the gold fields in company with Cyrus Axe, Wm. Drago and others, and came back with some money. For six years he was station agent for the Fort Wayne railroad at Valparaiso. In 1874 he engaged in the banking business, and on Jan. 16, 1878, was selected president of the First National bank, which position he held to the day of his death. For many years Mr. Skinner was a political power in the democratic party. He was chosen delegate to the national conventions at Baltimore, Cincinnati and St. Louis, and he served in the state senate in 1875-77. He left the democratic party when it went off on the free silver craze, and since time has supported the republican party. Mr. Skinner was far sighed, and the best financier in northern Indiana. It has been said of him that he knew where every dollar in the county was at all times and who had the money. There is but one man in the whole county who can fill his place in the Porter county financial world, and that man is Judge Johnstone, who will in all probability do so.
Deceased leaves leaves [sic] a widow, one son and two daughters to mourn his demise. They are Leslie R. Skinner, of the Best; Mrs. H. M. Evans, of Chattanooga, Tenn., and Mrs. J. H. McGill, of Valparaiso.
Source: The Chesterton Tribune, Chesterton, Porter County, Indiana; February 28, 1902; Volume 18, Number 47, Page 4, Column 5.
After his father's death, DeForest soon distinguished himself by excelling in business, first with a successful dry goods business, and later as a premiere banker. During his long banking career, he served as the president of the First National Bank of Valparaiso.
He also devoted significant energy to local and state politics, representing his community as a state senator from 1874 - 1878 and as a delegate to the Democratic National Conventions in Cincinnati (1880) and St. Louis (1888).
During his lifetime, his peers recognized him as a community leader, and he and his family was held in high esteem.
After DeForest's death, his son, Leslie Reid Skinner, donated land for Graceland Cemetery, and DeForest's remains were transferred from the Valparaiso Old City Cemetery to Graceland.
Note on the grave stone inscription: Although the inscription reads "Leslie DeForest Skinner," throughout his lifetime he used the name "DeForest Leslie Skinner," so he is identified as such here on Find A Grave.
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Valparaiso.
At noon Friday, Feb. 21, Hon. DeForest L. Skinner died at his home in Washington street, Valparaiso, after a comparatively brief illness of pneumonia. The funeral was held on Sunday following.
Mr. Skinner was born in Hardwick, Caledonia county, Vermont, in 1835. At the age of 11 years he finished his schooling and came to Valparaiso. At the age of 17 he started in business for himself, and from that beginning, resulted the large mercantile firm of Skinner & Harrold. He went to the gold fields in company with Cyrus Axe, Wm. Drago and others, and came back with some money. For six years he was station agent for the Fort Wayne railroad at Valparaiso. In 1874 he engaged in the banking business, and on Jan. 16, 1878, was selected president of the First National bank, which position he held to the day of his death. For many years Mr. Skinner was a political power in the democratic party. He was chosen delegate to the national conventions at Baltimore, Cincinnati and St. Louis, and he served in the state senate in 1875-77. He left the democratic party when it went off on the free silver craze, and since time has supported the republican party. Mr. Skinner was far sighed, and the best financier in northern Indiana. It has been said of him that he knew where every dollar in the county was at all times and who had the money. There is but one man in the whole county who can fill his place in the Porter county financial world, and that man is Judge Johnstone, who will in all probability do so.
Deceased leaves leaves [sic] a widow, one son and two daughters to mourn his demise. They are Leslie R. Skinner, of the Best; Mrs. H. M. Evans, of Chattanooga, Tenn., and Mrs. J. H. McGill, of Valparaiso.
Source: The Chesterton Tribune, Chesterton, Porter County, Indiana; February 28, 1902; Volume 18, Number 47, Page 4, Column 5.
DeForest Leslie Skinner was the son of John R. Skinner and Emily Ward (Reid) Skinner, both natives of Vermont. John was a successful attorney and Emily was a poet. The family left Vermont in 1846 and settled in Valparaiso, where John R. met an untimely death.
After his father's death, DeForest soon distinguished himself by excelling in business, first with a successful dry goods business, and later as a premiere banker. During his long banking career, he served as the president of the First National Bank of Valparaiso.
He also devoted significant energy to local and state politics, representing his community as a state senator from 1874 - 1878 and as a delegate to the Democratic National Conventions in Cincinnati (1880) and St. Louis (1888).
During his lifetime, his peers recognized him as a community leader, and he and his family was held in high esteem.
After DeForest's death, his son, Leslie Reid Skinner, donated land for Graceland Cemetery, and DeForest's remains were transferred from the Valparaiso Old City Cemetery to Graceland.
Note on the grave stone inscription: Although the inscription reads "Leslie DeForest Skinner," throughout his lifetime he used the name "DeForest Leslie Skinner," so he is identified as such here on Find A Grave.
----------
Valparaiso.
At noon Friday, Feb. 21, Hon. DeForest L. Skinner died at his home in Washington street, Valparaiso, after a comparatively brief illness of pneumonia. The funeral was held on Sunday following.
Mr. Skinner was born in Hardwick, Caledonia county, Vermont, in 1835. At the age of 11 years he finished his schooling and came to Valparaiso. At the age of 17 he started in business for himself, and from that beginning, resulted the large mercantile firm of Skinner & Harrold. He went to the gold fields in company with Cyrus Axe, Wm. Drago and others, and came back with some money. For six years he was station agent for the Fort Wayne railroad at Valparaiso. In 1874 he engaged in the banking business, and on Jan. 16, 1878, was selected president of the First National bank, which position he held to the day of his death. For many years Mr. Skinner was a political power in the democratic party. He was chosen delegate to the national conventions at Baltimore, Cincinnati and St. Louis, and he served in the state senate in 1875-77. He left the democratic party when it went off on the free silver craze, and since time has supported the republican party. Mr. Skinner was far sighed, and the best financier in northern Indiana. It has been said of him that he knew where every dollar in the county was at all times and who had the money. There is but one man in the whole county who can fill his place in the Porter county financial world, and that man is Judge Johnstone, who will in all probability do so.
Deceased leaves leaves [sic] a widow, one son and two daughters to mourn his demise. They are Leslie R. Skinner, of the Best; Mrs. H. M. Evans, of Chattanooga, Tenn., and Mrs. J. H. McGill, of Valparaiso.
Source: The Chesterton Tribune, Chesterton, Porter County, Indiana; February 28, 1902; Volume 18, Number 47, Page 4, Column 5.
After his father's death, DeForest soon distinguished himself by excelling in business, first with a successful dry goods business, and later as a premiere banker. During his long banking career, he served as the president of the First National Bank of Valparaiso.
He also devoted significant energy to local and state politics, representing his community as a state senator from 1874 - 1878 and as a delegate to the Democratic National Conventions in Cincinnati (1880) and St. Louis (1888).
During his lifetime, his peers recognized him as a community leader, and he and his family was held in high esteem.
After DeForest's death, his son, Leslie Reid Skinner, donated land for Graceland Cemetery, and DeForest's remains were transferred from the Valparaiso Old City Cemetery to Graceland.
Note on the grave stone inscription: Although the inscription reads "Leslie DeForest Skinner," throughout his lifetime he used the name "DeForest Leslie Skinner," so he is identified as such here on Find A Grave.
----------
Valparaiso.
At noon Friday, Feb. 21, Hon. DeForest L. Skinner died at his home in Washington street, Valparaiso, after a comparatively brief illness of pneumonia. The funeral was held on Sunday following.
Mr. Skinner was born in Hardwick, Caledonia county, Vermont, in 1835. At the age of 11 years he finished his schooling and came to Valparaiso. At the age of 17 he started in business for himself, and from that beginning, resulted the large mercantile firm of Skinner & Harrold. He went to the gold fields in company with Cyrus Axe, Wm. Drago and others, and came back with some money. For six years he was station agent for the Fort Wayne railroad at Valparaiso. In 1874 he engaged in the banking business, and on Jan. 16, 1878, was selected president of the First National bank, which position he held to the day of his death. For many years Mr. Skinner was a political power in the democratic party. He was chosen delegate to the national conventions at Baltimore, Cincinnati and St. Louis, and he served in the state senate in 1875-77. He left the democratic party when it went off on the free silver craze, and since time has supported the republican party. Mr. Skinner was far sighed, and the best financier in northern Indiana. It has been said of him that he knew where every dollar in the county was at all times and who had the money. There is but one man in the whole county who can fill his place in the Porter county financial world, and that man is Judge Johnstone, who will in all probability do so.
Deceased leaves leaves [sic] a widow, one son and two daughters to mourn his demise. They are Leslie R. Skinner, of the Best; Mrs. H. M. Evans, of Chattanooga, Tenn., and Mrs. J. H. McGill, of Valparaiso.
Source: The Chesterton Tribune, Chesterton, Porter County, Indiana; February 28, 1902; Volume 18, Number 47, Page 4, Column 5.
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