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YALE UNIVERSITY
LIBRARY

Purchased from the income
of the bequest of
WILLIAM ROBERTSON COE
Honorary M.A. 1949, for
material in the field
of American Studies.

.A

THE BL\KELY PRINTING COMPANY,
PRINTERS,
ISS & I 57 DEARBORN ST., CHICAGO.

DONOHUE * HENNEBERRY
BOOKBINDERS,
315-321; WABASH AVE., COR, CONGR] SS ST,
CHICAGO.

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PREFATORY.

It has been truly said that "all history is essentially local."
Within the comparatively narrow Hmits of a county, events of
seemingly little importance are constantly transpiring, which,
growing venerable through age and great through their more or
less direct results, become invested with a peculiar interest, and
are rightfully worthy of perpetual remembrance. A small com
munity has its place in history as well as a large one. Every
intelligent and public-spirited citizen feels a degree of pride in
the achievements, the industrial growth, the religious, social and
intellectual progress of his county. Thus it is that in almost
every section of the Union efforts are being put forth to perpetu
ate local history.
"We are confident that the Histoey of De Kalb County will be
kindly and cordially received by its subscribers. Time and money
have been lavishly expended to make it a complete and reliable
history, and any inaccuracies it may contain are due to the ina
bility of the compilers to obtain the necessary information. It
has been our intention to give at least the name, if not a more
extended notice, of every pioneer, living or dead; and if there are
any omissions they aie chargeable to the slight importance placed
on the preservation of records in the early days of the county's
history, and failure on the part of those having the knowledge td
impart it to the compiler. In the spelling of proper names we
have found in this, as in other counties, that members of a family
disagree; and where such is the case, who shall decide? Also,
members of a family often differ in regard to dates and places.
In county and township records, too, a surprising number of con
tradictions are found.
In the absence of any suitable history of the State of Indiana,
we conceived it a favor to our readers to compile a condensed his-

K-

PEEFATOBT.
tory which is inserted in this volume before the county portion.
This State history, short as it is, will be found the best published,
as the material has been drawn by competent hands from un
questionable sources.
In conclusion, our thanks are due to the editors of the Mepubli-
can, Courier, Press, Record and Review for many favors; to county
officers for innumerable courtesies; to public societies and churches
and their officers for data furnished ; and to the citizens generally for
their ready co-operation and interest taken in our work. "We hope
that our readers will consider the peculiar difficulties surrounding
snch an enterprise, and that after a careful perusal they will decide
that it is not a book to be read and then laid on the shelf to moulder,
neglected, in the dust, like a work of transient interest, but that it
will grow in interest and importance as the years go by. As other
sources of information diminish, let it stand as a monument to
tell to coming generations the noble part their forefathers took in
the settlement of the grand old State of Indiana and the beauti
ful county of De Kalb.
THE PUBLISHERS.
Chicago, September, 1885.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS.

H18TOBY OF IXDIANA.
FORMEE OCCUPANTS.
Pre-Historic Eacee— First Immigration— Second Immigration— The Tartars— Eellcs of the
Monnd Bnilders — The Indians— Manners and Caatoms  17-36
EXPLORATION BY THE WHITES.
Earliest Explorers— Onabache—Vinconnce— National Pollclee— The Great French Scheme—
Pontiae's War— British Policy— American Policy- Indian Savagery  37.51
EXPEDITION OF COL. GEORGE ROGERS CLARK.
Against Kaskaskia— Vlncennes— iDgenione Rase Against the Indians— Snbseqaent Career
of HamUton— Gibaalt— Vigo  52-67
GOVERNMENT OF THE NORTHWEST.
Ordinance of 17S7—Liq nor and Gaming Laws  67-74
MILITARY HISTORY, 17901800.
Expedition 01 Harmar, Scott and Wilkinson- Expeditions of St. Olalr and Wayne— Gen
eral Wayne's Great Victory  75-81
TERRITORIAL HISTORY.
Organization of Indiana Territory— First Territorial Legislature— The Western Sun— Indi
ana in 1810  82-86
GOVERNOR HARRISON AND THE INDIANS.
Treaties of Peace — Harrison's Campaign— Battle of Tippecanoe  87-100
WAR OF 1812 WITH GREAT BRITAIN.
Declaratlonof War— Siege of Fort Wayne— Expedition Against the Indians— Close of the
War  101-108
TECUMSEH.
The Most Noted Indian— A Shawnee Warrior— Desire to Confederate all the Tribes — Con
ference with Governor Harrison— His Arrangement with the Prophet, but Final Disap
pointment  111-116
CIVIL MATTERS OF 1813-1815.
Message of John Gibson— Message of Governor Posey— Hospitality Toward the Indians-
Population of 1815— General View— Close of Territorial History  116-120
ORGANIZATION OF THE STATE.
Ckmstltutional Convention— First General Assembly— Governor's Message— Rush of Immi
grants to the New State — General Prosperity  '  121-125
BLACK HA.WK WAR.
Removal of Indians West of the Mississippi- Umviliinjg to Leave Their Hunting Grounds—
An Attempt to Defy the Decrees of Government— The Militia Called Out- Capture of
Black Hawk  126-130
LAST EXODUS OF THE INDIANS.
Emigration under Command of Colonel Pepper and General Tipton- Indian Titles— 6,000,-
MO Acres Ceded to the United States  131-182

CONTENTS.
_LAND BALES.
First Land Sale— Settlers vs. Land Speculators— An Indian Scare- Harmony Com-
munity . i  loo-l w
MEXICAN WAR.
Cause of the War— Troops Called Out— Incidents of the War-Bravery of the Soldiers— The
Troops from Indiana— Cost of the War  136-143
SLAVERY, AND INDIANA IN THE WAR OP THE REBELLION.
Fifteenth Amendment— Indiana Patriots Among the First to Respond to the CaU for Troops
— Indiana's "War Governor" to the Front— 10,000 Men from Indiana— Three Months' Reg
iments — Three Years' Regiments — Minute Men — Six Months' Regiments— One Hundred
Days' Volunteers- The President's CaU of July, 1864— Call of December, 1864— Inde
pendent Cavalry Company — Colored Troops — Light Artillery — Battles in which Indiana
Soldiers Fought— After the War  144-193
FINANCIAL.
Early Taxes— State Bank— Wealth and Progress— Internal Improvements— Canals-Tum-
, pikes— RaUroads  194-205
GEOLOGY.
Developments of Mineral RoBouroes- Rich Iron Mines— Coal— Lime  205-209
AGRICULTURAL.
State Board of Agriculture— Exposition— Indiana Horticultural Society— Indiana Pomo-
logical Society  209-215
EDUCATION.
Public Schools — Indiana State University— Purdue University— Indiana State Normal
School — Northern Indiana Normal School and Business Institute, Valparaiso — ^Denom
inational and Private Institutions  215-232
BENEVOLENT AND PENAL INS'tlTUTIONS.
Institute for the Education of the Blind— Institute for the Deaf and Dumb— Hospital for the
Insane— The State Prison South— The State Prison North— Female Prison and Reforma
tory—Indiana House of Refuge  232-244

HISTORY OF DE KAL.B COUIKTY.
CHAPTER I.
Intboductort.
Changes of Fifty Years — Life in the Crowded East — Courage of the Pioneers — Their
Labors and Rewards — A pen picture  i;45-'^i9
CHAPTER II.
SOIBNTlFIO. GeoEraphy and Topography- Geological Structure of De Kalb County- Zoology  260-266
CHAPTER IIL
PlONBEB HlSTOKT AND RbMINISOENOES.
Early Settlement— Pioneers Before 1836- Locating the County Seat— Early Commis
sioners' Meetings— Early Incidents— Indian Sciros— The Nearest Mill— Provisions
Scarce— The Lop; Cablu— Hand Labor— Handspike Farming— Windrow Planting— First
Preacher— First Religious Meetings— Early Preachers and Religious Progress— .1 Back
woods Judge— More ot the Pioneers— The Flood- Navigating "tlie Desert with n Pockst
Compass— Gunpowder Tea— A Bridal Tour— AU Wellbut Fourteen I— Suflforlugs of Mr.
Osburn- Family Mills— Primitive School-houses- ARascally Parody  267-390
CHAPTER IV.
Pioneer Histout- Continued.
Wesley Park's Narrative— A1 ilk Diet- Hotel Crowded- Now Arrivals— County Organ
ized—Jail in the Loft of Park's Cabin— A Court Scone- Trying Times— Whire and
Palmer— Some Indian Customs— Better Times— John lldultou's Narrative- Escape
from Proezlng— Unwelcome Visitors— They Help Thouisoives- A Bloody Resolve— The
Curse of America- Trip to the Pratrles-Female Ox-driver— John Pee and his Bl" Track
—Incidents, by M. M.— A Spirited Pet— Bear Hunt— A Change in Plan— Btar Hunt Re
sumed— A Diversion  291309

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CONTENTS.
CHAPTER V.
Political. Political Complexion of Do Kalb County— First County Election and Officers Chosen-
Presidential t ampalgn of ISIO, Harrison and Van Biirou— Polls and Clay In 1844— Taylor
and Cass in lS-18-Piorco and Scott in IS.vj-New Consiitution— Risu of the Ropnbllcan
f '^L^rH",'^'""'"" "S"* l^'roraont in 185M-fiiai9 1860, Lincoln and Donglas-Closo Vote
In 1863— Lincoln and McOlellan in ISC I— Grant and Seymour in ISiiS-Dlonnlal Elections
.\doiuod— Grant and Gro.loy in 1872— Haye^ and Tilden In 187U-Uar lUld and Hancock
m 1N*1— Cloveland and Ulaiue in ISS-t- Summary of Elections from lS:i9 to 1884— Official
List for De KiUb County— Clerks— Recorders— Auditors— Troasurers-Shoriffs-Commls-
sioners— Other Officers  310-,')32
„ „ CHAPTER VI.
The War for the Union.
Devotion to Country— Qyddess of War— First Enlistments— De Kalb County Guards-
Munitions of \Var— De Kalb County not in the Background— But One Voice— Loyal
MeetinsB— Meeilng at Spencerville— Drafting— Roll of Honor— Ninth Regiment-
Eleventh— Twol 1th— Thirteenth— Seventeenth— Nlneleenth— Twentieth— T wenty-nrst-
Twenty-uinth-Thlrtieth-Thirty-fourthThirty-flnh-Thlrty-eighlh-Forty-second-Forty-
foiuih- Forly-eighth-Forty-ninth-Sevenly-fourlh— Eighty-seventh— ffiio-htyel'^hth--
Ninety-flrst— One Hundred and Eighteenth— One Hundred and NIneteentli- On ° Hun
dred and Twenty-seventh- One Hundred and Twentynlnth-One Hundred and For
tieth— One Hundred and Forty-second  833-400

The Press.

CHAPTER VII.

Attburn Observer— Democratic Messenger- Do Kalb Democrat— Auburn Republican-
De Kalb County Times— Waterloo Press— Sketch of P. W. Willis— The New Era— Ob
server and Reporter— De Kalb Democrat— The Democrat— The Air Line— Auburn
Coorier— Sketch of J. .\. Barns— Bntler Herald— Banner of Liberty— Auburn Times—
BuUer News— De Kalb County Republlcun— Sketch of C. P. Hoaser— Sketch of M H
Hoisinston- Garrett News— Garrett Herald- Sketch of Otho J. Powell— Bntler Record
—Sketch of W. F. Garrison— Batler Review— Sketch of Edmund Calkins— Sketch of J
J. Higgins  401-411

B-Ui AND Courts.

CHAPTER VIII.

Early Members of the Legal Profession— Others who have Come and Gone— Present
Bar— First Grand and Petit Jurors— First Circuit Court  412-416

Pioneer Association.

CHAPTER IX.

De Kalb County Backward in this Matter— Society Organized In 1878— First Meeting-
September Meeting, 1878— First Officers and Constitution— Second Annual Meeting-
Fourth Annual .Meeting— Address of Secretary Dills— Early Pioneer Families, arranged
by Townships— Early Incidents and Allosions- Contrasts— Fifth Annual Meeting— Ad
dress of James E. Rose— A Pioneer School-house, and How it Was Bailt— Text-books-
Apparatus- Religious Meetings— Pioneer Ministers- Merchants— "Old Jark"— Pioneer
Customs— Traveland Communication— Tribute to the Old Settlers- Seml-Centennial
Celebration of the Settlement of the County- Poem by Rev. A. H. Wldney, "The Woods
of the St. Joseph"— Meeting at Waterloo, in 1834  417-445
CHAPTER X.
AgEI CULTURE — RAILROADS — WAGON-RoADS.
Advantages of a Rural Life— FertUity of Soil in De Kalb County— Variety of Crops-
Crop Statistics— Live Stock— Agricnltnral Society— Before the War— Reorganization-
Annual Fairs from 1871 to 1834— Railroads— Lake Shore & Michigan Southern-Grand
Rapids & Indiana— Wabaah, St. Louis & Pacific- Biltimore & Onio— Wagon Roads—
Difficulties in Eirly Travel— Distant Markets— First Roads-First Bridges  446-462
CHAPTER XI.
Miscellaneous. Soldiers' Reunions — At Auburn- Reunion of Company D, Eighty-eighth Regiment-
Reunion of 1879- The Sham Battle— Reunion of 1880— Tri-State Reunion— Reunion
at Garrett— At Anbnm in 1883— At Waterloo in 1884— A New Way of Getting a Drink—
They Backed Down— Disastrous Storm— Fall of the Snyder Block at Aubum— Jail 
Court-house- SpellingMatch— Wild Game— Fox Hunts— Sink-hole— Daring Burglary—
An Expensive Coon  List of Early Weddings— Mannfactures—Statistics  463-487
CHAPTER XIL
Butler Township.
Situation- Geography and Topography— Organization— First Settlers— First Churches—
Early Justices, Constables and Trustees— Abraham Fair, a Pioneer— Population— Agri-
cnltural Statistics— Biographical  488-605

Concord Township.

CHAPTER XIII.

Situation — Geography and Topography— First Election— First Justice of the Peace In
the County — Early Settlers — Sketch of Nelson Ulm— List of Pioneers— Early Justices,
Constables, Trustees and Assessors— Spencerville— St. Joe— Population— Property and
Taxation — Crop Statistics- Biographical  606-552

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CONTENTS.
CHAPTER XIV.
Faibtield Township.
Situation- Geography and Topography- Organization as a Township— Pioneers— Early
BvenlB- Fairfield Center— Early Justices, Constables end Trustees- Population— Prop-
erty and Taxation- Agricultural Statistics— Biographical  asd-oaw
CHAPTER XV.
Franklin Township.
Situation— Geography and Topography— Organization-John Houlton, the First Settler
of the County- Other Pioneers— Roads, Mills and Markets— First Election— EarlylPreach-
ers. School-houses and Schools— Population— Property and Taxation— Agricultural
Statistics— Reminiscences of John Houlton- Anecdote of Beecher- John Driscal- Near-
est Neighbors— Biographical  600-637
CHAPTER XVI.
.Jackson Township.
Situation— Geography and Topography— Organization— First Comers— Population-
Property and 'Paxation- Agricultural Statistics— Early Justices, Constables, Trustees
and Assessors — Biographical  638-672
CHAPTER XVII.
Ketseb Township.
Youngest Township in the County— Situation— Geography and Topography— Organiza
tion— -Reminiscence of Harrison Rogers — Population— Property and Taxation— Agricnlt
nral StatistlcB-Qarrettr-Business— Present Business Directory— Professional— Paper-
Town Officers- Churches and Societies— Biographical  t  673-700
CHAPTER XVIII.
Newvillb Township.
Situation— Geography and Topography— Pioneers— NewvDle — Early Township Officials
—Population— Property and Taxation— Agricnltaral Statistics— Biographical  701-719
CHAPTER XIX.
Richland TowNSHrp.
Situation— Geography and Topography— Organization— Early Township Officers— First
Settlers— Other Pioneers— First Schools and Churches— Population-Property and Tax
ation—Crop Statistics— Sedan— Comnna— Biographical  730-754
CHAPTER XX.
Smtthfield Township.
Situation- Geography and Topography — First Settler, Isaac B. Smith — His Narrative —
Entering Land Under Unusual Difficalties- Other Pioneers— First Events— A Poem (?)
—Early Township Offlcials— Population — Property and Taxation— Agricoltoral Stattstics
—Biographical  755-778
CHAPTER XXI.
Stappord Township.
Situation— Geography and Topography— Early Settlers— Religion and Education in an
Early Day— First Township Offlclals—Population— Property and Taxation— Agricnltaral
Statistics- Biographical  779-796
CHAPTER XXII.
Tbot Township.
Situation— Geography and Topography— Early Settlers— Early Township Offlcials— Pop
ulation-Property and Taxation— Agricultural Statistics— Biographical  797-811
CHAPTER XXIII.
Union Township.
Position— Advantages— Geography and Topography— Early Settlers- Reminiscences-
Organizatibn of 'Township- Early Justices, Constables and Trustees— Population —
Property and Taxation— Agricultural Statistics— Auburn— Its Early History— First Mer
chants, Professional Men, Buildings, etc. — Progress — Business Directory — Manufactur-
ing— Professional- Newspapers- High School Building-Churches— Societies— Water
loo-Its Beginning and Growth- Business Directory— Professional— Banks — Religious —
Societies- Biographical  812-851
CHAPTER XXIV.
Wilmington Township.

Position— Geography and Topography— First Settlement— Early Incidents— Pioneers—
First Election— In the War- Pioneer Life of John N. Miller— First Marriage— Story of
Dan Coats- The "Hard Winter"— Organization as a Township — Early Township Offl.

cialB— Population— Property and Taxation— Agricultural Statistics— Batler— Early His
tory and Subsequent Progress— Business Directory— Profeealonal— Bank— Newspapers
— SchaolB-RellglouB—Societle B— Biographical  853-t

CONTENTS.

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BI04/iR.\PIII0Ali NKFTOHF8.

Cornell, WUllam  40-.'
Cornell, W. H. H  Ithi
Fair, D. W  lilS
Fair, Abraham  49S
Feagler, W. A  494
Finney, Rev. William  49B
Hou8el,J. P  495
Jackson, Jesse  496
Abel, Q. H  511
Abel, H. J  513
Abel, J. H  513
Baker, James  613
Bamey,G. W  514
Boy les, Jonathan  51 5
Buchanan, David  517
Buchanan, Florance  518
Butler, David  518
Batler, D. C  519
Bntler, D- W  519
Coburn, A. W  519
Cobum, C. M  630
Coburn, Ebenezer  521-1
Cobarn, J. F  521
Coburn, R. G  522
Culbertson, Robertson  .')22
Dragsoo, G. W  53:1
Draper, Amos  .52.3
Dermott. Jacob  524
Emanuel, Jonas, M. D  524
Fales, H. H  525
Ansley, D. C  556
Barkey, Christian  557
Beuchat, Francois  557
Billman, George  558
Boyer, Josiah  558
Boyer, Michael  668
Bramhack, J. M  559
Buchanan, David  659
Buchanan, G. M  561
Buchanan, John  562
Buchanan. Leander  563
Childs, Willard  563
Deitz, A. H  563
Deltz, Moses  564
Eckart, Sebastiao  564
Emerick, George  565
Frederick, George  565
Freed, Henry  566
Freed, John  566
Gardner, Henry  567
Gardner, John  568
Goodrich, David  568
Goodrich, PhUander  568
Gnshwa.J.A  569
Gushwa, Philip  670
Aldrich, J. D  606
Baxter, Andrew  606
Bontrager, Nicholas  608
Boyer, C. C  «08
Bratton, William  609
Casey, Benjamin  609
Casper, Capt. G. H  610
Clark, J. N  611
Grain, E. A  611
Grain, L. T  613
Dirrim, John  612
Dirrim, W. H  613
Firestone, George  614
Firestone, 8. K  615
Greenwood, Q. F  615
Hamman.Adam  616
Hamman, John  616
Helwig, Peter  617

BUTLER TOWNSHIP.
Jackson, Levi  496
Knott, Robert  497
Knott, S. M  497
Lung, Paul  497
Lung, PaUip  498
Noel, John  499
Noel.rhillp  499
Reever, Michael  500
CONCORD TOWNSHIP.
Gee, H. J  526
Hadsell, Rev. James  627
Hamilton, Benjamin  537
Hamilton, J. M  528
Hank, George  629
Henderson, William  529
Horn, Andrew  631
Horuberger, I.N  531
HaU, Henry  532
Jenkins, Henry  532
Kines, George  532
Koch, Joseph  533
lirise, Thomas  534
Lawhead, Samuel  534
Leighty, J. D  535
Lelghty, John  536
Lutz, Stephen  537
Malone, James  537
Maxwell, Henry  537
Murray, J. H  538
Murray, T. S  538
Nelson, Thomas  339
FAIRFIELD TOWNSHIP.
Gushwa, Philip, Jr  670
Haller, Daniel  ."j?!
HaUer, J. F  .571
Hartman, Leonard  573
Helwig, Hon. Jacob  573
Hemstreet, Alonzo  573
Hovater, John, Sr  573
Husselman, G. W  574
Hasselman, J. T  574
Jones, Harrison  575
Krahn, Frederick  676
Lehfhan. Martin  676
Ling, John L  576
Mclnturf, Blihu  577
McNabb, David  577
Metzger.J.J  578
Neidig, Emanuel  5T8
Pbelps, Daniel  679
Potts, John  579
Putt, George  580
Reinoehl, David  58 1
Reinoehl, Michael  581
Reinoehl, Peter  581
Reinoehl , Solomon  582
Ringler, C hauncey  582
FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP.
Houlton, Francis  618
Houlton, John  618
Houlton.M, K  620
Houlton, W. L  620
Hunt, Theodore  621
Hayek, J. T  621
Jackman, Cyrus  622
Jackman, Isaac  623
Jones, M . C  623
Kepler, Alfred  624
Kepler, Ellas  624
Kepler, Samuel  625
Kepler, Samuel  685
Knlsely, William  626
Lantzenheiser, E . E  636
Lautzenheieer, J. H  636
Lewis, Jere  637
Newcomer, G. W  627

Simon, Jonathan  501
Simon, George  601
Smith, Henry.  503
Stonestreet, David  B03
Straiib, Joseph  608
Timberlaln Brothers  504

Olds, S. N  540
Provines, J. A  540
Ricketts, Ira  542
Rommel, O. W  !.. .542
Scholes, Nelson  543
Sechler, Levi  543
ShiUing, J. R  544
Shilling, Solomon  B44
Showalter, Levi  B45
Shall, Jonathan  54S
Shutt, William  547
Smith, Levi  !.!547
St. Clair, J. H  ' '547
Walters, C. C  .¦!b48
Wasson, Samuel  548
White, Erastus  549
Wldney, C. W  550
Wldney, John  550
Widney, Samuel  551
Widney,S. L  551
Wilmot G. W  552
Wyatt, WUliam  552
Rowe,G. W  583
Hufner, George  684
Schmid, Andrew  585
Schmipfr, Charles  585
Seberts.Park  586
Seller, John  586
Shipe, Ephraim  587
Shook, Jonathan  589
Slayman, George  590
Smith, Harrison  590
Stonehraker, James  591
Stonebraker, J. M  591
Stomm, Henry  592
Urey, J. T  !!'.593
Watte, Samuel  593
Weirich, Adam  594
Weirich, Jacob  594
Wetzel, Martin  595
White, S. F  595
Wiley, W.P  596
Wilsey, W. H  597
Wiltrout, Jacob  597
Wright, Edward  598
Zenker, Anthony  599
Matson, John  628
McCurdy, Robert  629
Myers, J. C  639
Oberlin, David  630
Oberlin,N. D  631
Sawvel, I. D  631
Sawvel, Reuben  631
Shultz, Allen  632
Shultz, G. H  632
Smith, J. H  633
S toy, Levi  633
Teutsch, Peter  635
Waterman, Hon. Miles  686
Wllrard, Henry  636
WUson, M. H  637
Wolf, Michael  637

th

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CONTENTS.

Bishop, J. W  648
Boots, J. S  644
Brown, Burton  645
Brown, Henry  645
Cool, John  646
Cornell, Samuel  647
Dancer, W S  648
Ditmars, Isaac  649
Dltmars, Peter  660
Freeman, Edmund  660
Friend. Michael  661
Glazier, C. P  651
Hamilton, John  652
Hamilton, G.W  658
Askew,I. N  660
Bicknell, H. M  680
BickneU.T.P  681
BrechbUl, Jacob  681
Bruce, Devolzo  683
Clark, T. J  682
Cochran, Thomas  683
Cottell, Josiah  683
Cupp, Jacob  684
Depew.Abel  684
Fisher- Ellas  685
Fortne'r, Elihu  685
Fountain, WiUiam  685

Bartlett, S. H  705
Blair, B. F  706
Blood, O. S  706
Coburn, H. W  707
Faurot, Randal  707
Fuller, N. T  709
Fusselman, Henry  710
Bangs, Heman  723
Biowand, C. C  734
Buss, C. C  725
Calkins.P. N  726
Chaffie, B. A  736
Cox, A. F  727
Daily,T.D  737
Eldridge, T. J  728
Franks, Manoah  728
Franks, T. F  729
Pried,F. G  730
Frost, J. B  730
Goetschius, J. M  731
Griffith, Nelson  733
Grogg, Peter  733
Harter, J. F  733
Barker, M. P  763
Bowman, Cyrus  '764
Boyer, Adam  '764
Brsyer, B. H  766
Camp, O.J  765
CamBbell, Abel  766
Duncan, G. H  766
Duncan, R. T  767
Erwin, Edward  767
Feagler, David  768
Arford, Robert  782
Beha, Daniel  782
Blaker,D. W  783
Bradley, Joseph  783
Gather, Rev. James  784
DIehl, Isaac  785
Gaft, James  786
Qreenwalt, Daniel  787
Grube, Peter  787

JACKSON TOWNSHIP.
Henderson, James  653
Henderson, John  654
Henderson, Samuel  654
Hilkey, Amos  666
Hines, Henry  6">6
Johnson, Nathan  657
Johnson, WiUiam  657
Lawhead, J. G  658
McClellan, William  658
Means, J. W  659
MUler, W. D  660
Oaborne, Samuel  661
Owens, J. C  661
Owens, Marchall  662
KEYSBR TOWNSHIP.
Grub, Calvin  686
Grub, John  686
Hathaway, Albert  687
Hathaway. Lucian  687
Jackson, Amos  688
Kel ham, Edward  688
Kester, A. A  689
McClure, J. A  690
Moody, B.F  690
Moody, Harvey  691
Ocker, D.W  691
Ocker, B. U  692
Probst, Henry  693
NBWVILLE TOWNSHIP.
Gunsenhouser, Isaac  713
Headley, W.S  713
Hnll,H.H  713
Jewell, Rev. O. B  713
Mathews, John  714
Nelson, John  •  714
Platter, J. W  715
RICHLAND TOWNSHIP.
Haynes,S. S  733
Helmer, J- W  734
Hine.H.S  734
Kagey, C. B  735
Keen, George  ^  736
Kirkpatrick, Joseph  736
Knapp, C. H  .•737
Lawrence, David  737
Lthner, Jacob  738
Lockwood, Irwin  738
Linty, Daniel  739
McDowell, B. S  739
Mercer, Hon. W. M  740
Monroe, G. B  743
Moody, Peter  74:1
Ober, Henry  744
SMITHFIBLD TOWNSHIP.
Frick, Henry  768
Gramling, Richard  769
Hamman, Franklin  769
Hamman, Thomas  769
Hemstreet Jeremiah  770
Jackman, E. M  770
Jackman, Wesley  771
Jonkins, John  772
Kennedy, Samuel  772
KlmmoU, Daniel  773
STAFFORD TOWNSHIP.
Qrube, W. H  788
Gunsenhouser, J. J  788
HoUiiiger, John  789
Hull, Peleg  , .789
Lovoland, L. 0  790
McDaunel, David  785
MUler, Samuel  791
Soovllle, Edward  791
ScoviUe, W.H  791

ProBser, Adam  662
Prosser, J. C  663
ProBser, WiUiam  663
Provines, Alexander  664
Provines, James  665
Squiers, Nathan  666
Squiers,W. A  666
Stafford, J. K  667
Stafford, Samuel  667
Steward, J. M  668
Tamey,S. J  669
Wyatt, Daniel  670
Wyatt, John  671
Wyatt, Nathan  671
Rakestraw, Mahlon  694
Reyher, C  694
Rogers, Harris  695
Rammel, Jonathan  695
Swihart, Daniel  696
Teeters, Washington  697
Truelove, Robert  697
Wagner, J. W  698
Weaver, AJUen  698
Weaver, David  699
Weaver, Henry  699
Yarde, John, Sr  699
Yarde, John, Jr  700

Rhodes, Capt. M. L  715
Seeley, WiUiam  716
Smith.A. W  716
Smith, Philander  717
Strong, E.B  718
Wair, J. W  718
Mead, H. P  744
Palmer, ,1. S  745
Patterson, G. 1  746
Quince, Joseph  747
Ringer, Jacob  747
Showers, Gilbert  748
ShnU, H. A  749
Simons, George  749
Smith, J. L  750
Thomas, Daniel  751
Treeph, L. W  751
Treesh, Michael  752
Treesh, Peter  753
Treesh, WilUam  753
Wallace, W.J  754

Martin, John  773
McOscar, John  774
Porter, J. D  774
R-mpis, C. L., Jr  775
Sawvell, Jacob  776
Stolter,Eli  776
Stout, A. A  776
Walker, J. R  777
Waterman, P. C  778
ScovlUe, W. B  792
Shoub, John  .792
Smith, John  793
Soule, G. B  794
Tinstman, Henry  '794
Wartenbe^S. P  795
Webster, Hazzard  ] 795

CONTENTS.

iL

Aldrich, Roger  800
Aldrich, S. J  800
Brunner, Jacob  801
Burkhart, Henry  801
Casebeer, George  803
Casebeer, John  803
Casebeer, J.F  803
Everetts, G. Q  803

Abbey, G. T   836
Abrlght, Joseph  836
Ashleman, J. W  8-37
Bachtel, I. 0  838
Baird, Frank  839
Baseett. Charles  839
Baughman, Isaiah  840
Baxter, C. E  840
Beck, Jacob  841
Beck, Samuel  842
Beidler. John  812
Berry, Ephraim  842
Blair, Gen. L. J  843
Blodgett, J. A  844
Boland, Michael  844
Bongham, W. M  845
Boyle,J. W  846
Brandon J. 3  848
Brand, Capt., J. C  847
Brandon, MoseB  848
Brandon, S. J  S18
Braun, Henry  849
Butt, Mrs. Delia  849
Butt.John  850
Casebeer, J. B  850
Chamberlain, J. N  854
Chidsey, Lymat  855
Clark, O. C  855
Cool, I. N  856
Cooper.J. E  857
Cowan. J, A  858
Crooks, Mathew  858
Crooks, E- N  859
Cutter, Capt. E.B  8^0
Danks, Orris  861
Darby, A. B  862
Davis, John  863
Dickenson, Ezra  864
Dills, W.H  864
Dragoo, James  865
Dnnn, G. H  866
Eldridge, Edward  8fi6
ElBon, Richard  867
Ensley, Hon. Nicholas  868
Farrington, A S  869
Fluke, Philip  870
Froehllch, Herman  871
Gardner, Joseph  871
Ackley, E.C  967
Aldrich, W. C  967
Baxter, A. J  968
Baxter,J.H  969
Beechler, C. W  969
Bennett, J. B  970
Blair, W. L  970
Blaker, Achilles  971
Blaker, John  973
Bond Brothers  972
BrlggB, E. D  973
Brink, F. A  973
Bmndage, Hiram  974
BrnnBtetter, Morrison  974
Campbell, J. A...  975
Cannon,J. W  975
Cantleberry, J. E  976
Chambers, James  976
Chambers, JamesJIr  977
Cherry, Rev. H. W  ;..1028

TROY TOWNSHIP.
Fisher, Abraham  804
Heller, George  804
Jennings, Peter  806
Jennings, William  805
Kenistrick, John  806
Leason, Thomas  806
McCurdy, David  807
MUllgan, Dr. James  807
UNION TOWNSHIP.
Garwood, D. A  873
GiU, Prentiss  873
Goodwin, Samuel  874
Gordon, G. W  876
Griswold, Hiram  875
Grogg, Daniel  876
Grogg, Jacob  876
Groscop, J. F  877
Haqae, Isaac  877
Hartman, E. D  879
Headley, D. C  881
HeberUng, S. R  880
Henry, J. C  881
Hodge, C. P  883
Hollister, Sherman  885
Hoodelmlre, Leonard  885
Husselman, Calvin  886
Husselman, D. Y  886
Imhofl.T. E  887
Klblinger, W. H  887
Kimsey, J. M  888
Kimaey,T. B  889
KUne,Mlchael  889
Kntzner, Calvin  890
Kutzner.M. S  890
Kntzner, Sylvester  891
Leas, s  893
Leas, H. K  893
Leas, John  893
Leas, Obe  893
Lessig, WQUam  894
Littlefleld, J. J  895
Long, E. E  896
Lowman, Rev. I. W  896
Lntz, John  896
Matheny, T. G."  897
Maxaon, J. F  899
Maxwell, W. B  899
McBride, R. W  900
McCagne,J.P  901
McClellan, Hon. C. A. O.. .903
McEntaffer, Abram  904
McQulston, W. H  904
Merica, C. M  905
Miser, Peter  906
Mott, Hon. E. B  906
Mott, Mrs. Mary  908
Mott, Lieut. S.E  915
WILMINGTON TOWNSHIP.
Coats, C. J  977
Coats, Dr. Noyce  977
Coffinberry, H. N  978
Coflrin, Charles  979
Coggswell, P. K  979
Crane, C. H  980
DaUey,I. D  980
DemaranviUe, William  981
Diehl, D. D  981
Eakright, Abraham  982
Eakright,J. J  983
FosdIck,B.W  983
Fosdick, E. L  984
FraUck,T. C  984
Glnder, Frederick  985
Ginder, Jacob  985
Glnder, P. D  986
Griffin, E. A  986
Griffith, Lafayette  987
Gunsenhouser, Henry  987

Reese, George  808
Roblnett, John  808
Rummel.Talma  809
Smiley, Q. W  810
Smith, J. H  810
Souder,G. B  811

Ober, D. S  917
Otto, J. P  ".918
People, G.W  919
Pyle, J. H  920
Rainier, Joseph  920
Ralston, S. W.  921
Raub, E. D  933
Rant, Charles  922
Reed, R. S. S  923
Rhodenbaugh, Gilbert  934
Robbins, Albert  924
Rose, J. E  924
Rush, W. B  ..!..926
Saxton, T. J  927
Shepherd, Z. W  !!!i928
Shoner, George  929
Silver, P. W  930
Sinclair, A. J  931
Sinclair, J. W  932
Sink, David  932
Sink, George  932
Smith, A. 'T  933
Smith, D. T  934
Snyder, WUliam  934
Somers, Jacob  9:j5
Somers, J. M  935
Stafford, Josenh  936
St. Clair, J. C."  937
Stevens, Capt. A. R  937
Stroh, H. P  938
Stroh, WiUiam  939
Stongh, Solomon  940
Swarls,D. J  941
Swartz, WUliam  942
Taylor, E. H  942
Thomas, John  944
Tomlinson, T. H  945
Trout, Eugene  945
VanAuken, J. J  945
Veley.J. C  946
Walborn, Jacob  946
Walsworth, W. J  947
Ward, Rev. S. B  948
Widney, J. M  948
Wianey, O. H  961
Willis, M. B  949
Winslow, H. A  950.
Wolfe, George  950

Hablawetz, Anton  988
Hamilton, Gavin  988
Hamilton, J. G  990
Hamilton, S. L  990
Haskins, G. C  991
Hazlett, Jonathan  991
Hepp, C. F  992
Hirschler, Isaac  993
Hose, Isaac  993
Hose, Solomon  993
Hubbell, Jason  993
Hunt, L. C  994
ImhofE, Lewis  994
Johnson, David  995
Kellner,C. G  995
Kenestrick, J. D  995
Ke3ter,P. S  996
Kniaely, T. J  996
Knlsely, D. H  997
Knlsely, WiUiam  998

^a  »

4-

CONTENTS.

WILMINGTON TOWNSHIP— (Conoludbd.)

Krafft, Edward  998
Bjontz, WiUiam  998
Lannlng.J. R  999
Levy, Aaron  999
Madden, Hon. W.H  1000
Mason, A.J  1000
Masters, B. P  1001
MaxweU, David  1001
MaxweU, Hugh  1002
McNabb.D. T  1003
Mitchell,T. H  1003
Moore, A. D  1004
Newman, C. A  1005
Nimmons, P. B  1006
Obendorf, Augustus  1006
Oberlin, Benjamin  1006

OberUn.F. W  1007
Plnchin, A. P  1007
Porter, Augustus  1008
Proctor, Julius  1009
Pugsley, George  1010
Revett, James  1010
Reynolds, Frank  1011
Rose,J. W  1013
Rose, W. A  1013
Rudd, Thomas  1013
Sanders, T. J  1014
ScoviUe, J. M  1016
Smith, Andrew  1016
Stafford, S. B  1017
Stannard, H. B  1017
Strong, A. T  1018

Swartz, G.W  ICgO
Topper.J. H  1020
Topper, W. H  1021
Troutman, W. V  1031
Waters, A. A  1021
Weamer.R. H  1022
Weeks,- J. M  1023
Wheteel, Henry  1024
Whetsel, W. J  1024
WUson, John  1026
Woods, J. D  1025
Wooipert, Rev. D. C  1026
Wyckoff, P. Q  1026
Yoey, Jacob  1027
Young, O. L  1087

Bachtel, I. O  839
Bangs, Heman  722
Buchanan, John  563
Butt, John  436
Butt, Delia  437
Casebeer, J. B  851
Chamberlain, J. N  469
Clark, Geo. Rogers  53
Darby, A. B  501
EarlyExplorersof Ind.Ter. 25
Faurot, Randal  533
Fountain, William  . . 548
Fountain, Mrs. WiUiam.... 549
Grogg, Jacob  980
Gushwa, Philip  1000
Haller. J. F  581

Xlil^lTSTRATIOKS.
Hartman, Lenard  597
Hemstreet, -Jeremiah  613
Hemstreet, M. M  614
Hieroglyphics of the Mound
BnUders  29
Hunting Prairie Wolves  191
Indians Attacking Front
iersmen  43
Jones, Harrison  661
Kelham,B  677
Leighty, J. D  709
Matheny, T. G  896
Map of DeKalb County  245
Mercer, W. M  741
McBride, R.W  828
McCleUan, C. A. O  813

Mott, E.B  906
Mott, Mrs. E. B  907
Mott, Lieut. \S. E  914
Opening Ind. Forest  123
Pioneer Dwelling  179
Putts, George  277
Reinoehl, David  309
Scene on the Ohio  233
Scene on the Wabash  145
ShiUing, S  341
Tecumseh  109
The Shawnee Prophet  88
Timberlain, D  4(B
Vertical Section of the
Rocks  252

«»4

71

<\

1^

HISTORY OF INDIANA.

FOEMER OCCUPANTS.

PREHISTORIC RACES.
Scientists have ascribed to the -Mound Builders varied origins
and though their divergence of opinion may for a time seem incom
patible with a thorough investigation of the subject, and tend to
a confusion of ideas, no doubt whatever can exist as to the compar
ative accuracy of conclusions arrijred at by some of them. Like
the vexed question of the Pillar Towers of Ireland, it has caused
much speculation, and elicited the opinions of so many learned
antiqiiariaus, ethnologists and travelers, that it will not be found
beyond the range of possibility to make deductions that may
suflSce to solve the problem who were the prehistoric settlers of
America. To achieve this it will not be necessary to go beyond the
period over which Scripture history extends, or to indulge in those
airy flights of imagination so sadly identified with occasional
writers of even the Christian school, and all the accepted literary
exponents of modern paganism.
That this continent is co-existent with the world of the ancients
cannot be questioned. Every investigation, instituted under the
auspices of modern civilization, confirms the fact and leaves no
channel open through which the skeptic can escape the thorough
refutation of his opinions. China, with its numerous living testi
monials of antiquity, with its ancient, though limited literature
and its Babelish superstitions, claims a continuous history from
antediluvian times; but although its continuity may be denied
with every just reason, there is nothing to prevent the transmission
of a hieroglyphic record of its history prior to 1666 anino m/undi,
since many traces of its early settlement survived the Deluge, and
became sacred objects of the first historical epoch. This very sur
vival of a record, such as that of which the Chinese boast, is not
at variance with the designs of a God who made and ruled the
universe; but that an antediluvian people inhabited this continent,.

=S^r•

18 HISTORY OF INDIANA.
will not be claimed; because it is not probable, tliough it may be
possible, that a settlement in a land which may be considered a
portion of the Asiatic continent, was eifected by the immediate
followers of the first progenitors of the human race. Therefore, on
entering the study of the ancient people who raised these tumu
lus monuments over large tracts of the country, it will be just
sutiicient to wander back to that time when the flood-gates of
heaven were swung open k> hurl destruction on a wicked world ;
and in doing so the inquiry must be based on legendary, or rather
upon many circumstantial evidences ; for, so far as written narra
tive extends, there is nothing to show that a movement of people
too far east resulted in a Western settlement.
THE FIRST IMMIGRATION.
The first and most probable sources in which the origin of the
Builders must be sought, are thoSe countries lying along the east
ern coast of Asia, which doubtless at that time stretched far beyond
its present limits, and presented a continuous shore from Lopatka
to Point Cambodia, holding a population comparatively civilized,
and all professing some elementary form of the Boodhism of later
days. Those peoples, like the Chinese of the present, were bound
to live at home, and probably observed that law until after the con
fusion of languages and the dispersion of the builders of Babel in
1757, A. M.; but subsequently, within the following century, the
old Mongolians, like the new, crossed the great ocean in the very
paths taken by the present representatives of the race, arrived on
the same shores, which now extend a very questionable hospitality
to them, and entered at once upon the colonization of the country
south and east, while the Caucasian race engaged in a similar move
ment of exploration and colonization over what may be justly
termed the western extension of Asia, and both peoples growing
stalwart under the change, attained a moral and physical eminence
to which they never could lay claim under the tropical sun which
shed its beams upon the cradle of the human race.
That mysterious people who, like the Brahmins of to-day, wor
shiped some transitory deity, and in after years, evidently embraced
the idealization of Boodhism, as preached in Mongolia early in the
35t,h century of the world, together with acquiring the learning of
the Confucian and Pythagorean schools of the same period, spread
all over the land, and in their numerous settlements erected these
raths, or mounds, and sacrificial altars whereon they received their

T

±1^

HISTORY OF INDIANA.

19

periodical visiting gods, surrendered their bodies to natural absorp
tion or annihilation, and watched for the return of some transmi
grated soul, the while adoring the universe, which with all beings
they believed would be eternally existent. They possessed religious
orders corresponding in external show at least with the Essenes or
Theraputse of the pre-Christian and Christian epochs, and to the
reformed Theraputte or monks of the present. Every memento
of their coming and their stay which has descended to us is an evi
dence of their civilized condition. The free copper found within
the tumuli ; the open veins of the Superior and Iron Mountain
copper-mines, with all the modus operandi ot ancient mining, such
as ladders, levers, chisels, and hammer-heads, discovered by the
French explorers of the Northwest and the Mississippi, are conclu
sive proofs that those prehistoric people were highly civilized, and
that many flourishing colonies were spread throughout the Missis
sippi valley, while yet the mammoth, the mastodon, and a hundred
other animals, now only known by their gigantic fossil remains,
guarded the eastern shore of the continent as it were against sup
posed invasions of the Tower Builders who went west from Babel;
while yet the beautiful isles of the Antilles formed an integral
portion of this continent, long years before the European Northman
dreamed of setting forth to the discovery of Greenland and the
northern isles, and certainly at a time when all that portion of
America north of latitude 45° was an ice-incumbered waste.
Within the last few years great advances have been made toward
the discovery of antiquities whether pertaining to remains of organic
or inorganic nature. Together with many email, but telling
relics of the early inhabitants of the country, the fossils of pre
historic animals have been unearthed from end to end of the land,
and in districts, too, long pronounced by geologists of some repute
to be without even a vestige of vertebrate fossils. Among the
collected souvenirs of an age about which so very little is known,
are twenty-five vertebrae averaging thirteen inches in diameter,
and three vertebras ossified together measure nine cubical feet; a
thigh-bone five feet long by twenty-eight, by twelve inches in
diameter, and the shaft fourteen by eight inches thick, the entire
lot weighing 600 lbs. These fossils are presumed to belong to the
cretaceous period, when the Dinosaur roamed over the country from
East to West, desolating the villages of the people. This animal
is said to have been sixty feet long, and when feeding in cypress
and palm forests, to extend himself eighty-five feet, so that he may

-7-

l(^

20 HISTORY OF INDIANA.
devour the budding tops of those great trees. Other efforts in this
direction may lead to great results, and culminate probably in the
discovery of a tablet engraven by some learned Monnd Builder,
describing in the ancient hieroglyphics of China all these men and
beasts whose history excites so much speculation. The identity of
the Mound Builders with the Mongolians might lead us to hope
for such a consummation; nor is it beyond the range of probability,
particularly in this practical age, to find the future labors of some
industrious antiquarian requited by the upheaval of a tablet, written
in the Tartar characters of 1700 years ago, bearing on a subject
which can now be treated only on a purely circumstantial basis.
THE SECOND IMMIGRATION
may have begun a few centuries prior to the Christian era, and
unlike the former expedition or expeditions, to have traversed north
eastern Asia to its Arctic confines, and then east to the narrow
channel now known as Behring's Straits, which they crossed, and
sailing up the unchanging Yukon, settled under the shadow of
Mount St. Elias for many years, and pushing South commingled
with their countrymen, soon acquiring the characteristics of the
descendants of the first colonists. Chinese chronicles tell of snch
a people, who went North and were never heard of more. Circum
stances conspire to render that particular colony the carriers of a
new religious faith and of an alphabetic system of a representative
character to the old colonists, and they, doubtless, exercised a most
beneficial influence in other respects ; because the influx of immi
grants of such culture as were the Chinese, even of that remote
period, must necessarily bear very favorable results, not only in
bringing in reports of their travels, but also accounts from the
fatherland bearing on the latest events.
With the idea of a second and important exodus there are many
theorists united, one of whom says: "It is now the generally
received opinion that the first inhabitants of America passed over
from Asia through these straits. The number of small islands
lying between both continents renders this opinion still more
probable; and it is yet further confirmed by some remarkable traces
of similarity in the physical conformation of the northern natives
of both continents. The Esquimaux of North America, the
Samoieds of Asia, and the Laplanders of Europe, are supposed to
be of the same family; and this supposition is strengthened by the
affinity which exists in their languages. The researches of Hum-

J«  »-

t^

HISTORY OF INDIANA.

21

boldt have traced the Mexicans to the vicinity of Behring's Straits ;
whence it is conjectured that they, as well as the Peruvians and
other tribes, came originally from Asia, and were the Hiongnoos,
who are, in the Chinese annals, said to have emigrated under Puno,
and to have been lost in the North of Siberia."
Since this theory is accepted by most antiquaries, there is every
reason to believe that from the discovery of what may be called an
overland route to what was then considered an eastern extension of
that country which is now known as the " Celestial Empire," many
caravans of emigrants passed to their new homes in the land of
illimitable possibilities until the way became a well-marked trail
over which the Asiatic might travel forward, and having once
entered the Elysian fields never entertained an idea of returning.
Thus from generation to generation the tide of immigration poured
in until the slopes of the Pacific and the banks of the great inland
rivers became hives of busy industry. Magnificent cities and
monuments were raised at the bidding of the tribal leaders and
populous settlements centered with happy villages sprung up
everywhere in manifestation of the power and wealth and knowl-
edge of the people. The colonizing Caucasian of the historic
period walked over this great country on the very ruins of a civil
ization which a thousand years before eclipsed all that of which he
could boast. He walked through the wilderness of the West over
buried treasures hidden under the accumulated growth of nature,
nor rested until he saw, with great surprise, the remains of ancient
pyramids and temples and cities, larger and evidently more beauti
ful than ancient Egypt could bring forth after its long years of
uninterrupted history. The pyramids resemble those of Egypt in
exterior form, and in some instances are of larger dimensions. The
pyramid of Cholula is square, having each side of its base 1,335
feet in length, and its height about 172 feet. Another pyramid)
situated in the north of Vera Cruz, is formed of large blocks
of highly-polished porphyry, and bears upon its front hiero
glyphic inscriptions and curious sculpture. Each side of its
square base is 82 feet in length, and a flight of 57 steps conducts to
its summit, which is 65 feet in height. The ruins of Palenque are
said to extend 20 miles along the ridge of a mountain, and the
remains of an Aztec city, near the banks of the river Gila, are
spread over more than a square league. Their literature consisted
of hieroglyphics; but their arithmetical knowledge did not extend
farther than their calculations by the aid of grains of corn. Yet,

~-

dC

.\

k^

22 HISTORY OF INDIANA.
notwithstanding all their varied accomplishments, and they were
evidently many, their notions of religious duty led to a most demo
niac zeal at once barbarously savage and ferociously cruel. Each
visiting, god instead of bringing new life to the people, brought
death to thousands; and their grotesque idols, exposed to drown
the senses of the beholders in fear, wrought wretchedness rather
than spiritual happiness, until, as some learned and humane Monte-
zumian said, the people never approached these idols without fear,
and this fear was the great animating principle, the great religions
motive power which sustained the terrible religion. Their altars
were sprinkled with blood drawn from their own bodies in large
quantities, and on them thousands of human victims were sacri
ficed in honor of the demons whom they worshiped. The head
and heart of every captive taken in war were offered up as a bloody
sacrifice to the god of battles, while the victorious legions feasted
on the remaining portions of the dead bodies. It has been ascer
tained that during the ceremonies attendant on the consecration of
two of their temples, the number of prisoners offered up in sacri
fice was 12,210; while their own legions contributed voluntary
victims to the terrible belief in large numbers. Nor did this
horrible custom cease immediately after 1521, when Cortez entered
the imperial city of the Montezumas; for, on being driven from
it, all his troops who fell into the hands of the native eoldiera were
subjected to the most terrible and prolonged suffering that could be
experienced in this world, and when about to yield up that spirit
which is indestructible, were offered in sacrifice, their hearts and
heads consecrated, and the victors allowed to feast on the yet warm
flesh. A reference is made here to the period when the Montezumas
ruled over Mexico, simply to gain a better idea of the hideous
idolatry which took the place of the old Boodhism of the Mound
Builders, and doubtless helped in a great measure to give victory
to the new comers, even as the tenets of Mahometanism urged the
ignorant followers of the prophet to the conquest of great nations.
It was not the faith of the people who built the mounds and the
pyramids and the temples, and who, 200 years before the Christian
era, built the great wall of jealous China. No: rather was it that
terrible faith born of the Tartar victory, which carried the great
defenses of China at the point of the javelin and hatchet, who
afterward marched to the very walls of Rome, under Alaric, and

£.1^

HISTORY OF INDIANA.

'33

spread over the islands of Polynesia to the Pacific slopes of South
America. THE TARTARS
came there, and, like the pure Mongols of Mexico and the Missis
sippi valley, rose to a state of civilization bordering on that attained
by them. Here for centuries the sons of the fierce Tartar race con
tinued to dwell in comparative peace until the all-ruling ambition
of empire took in the whole country from the Pacific to the Atlan
tic, and peopled the vast territory watered by the Amazon with a
race that was destined to conquer all the peoples of the Orient,
and only to fall before the march of the arch-civilizing Caucasian.
In course of time those fierce Tartars pushed their settlements
northward, and ultimately entered the territories of the Mound
Bnilders, putting to death all who fell within their reach, and
causing the survivors of the death-dealing invasion to seek a refuge
from the hordes of this semi-barbarous people in the wilds and fast
nesses of the North and Northwest. The beautiful country of the
Mound Builders was now in the hands of savage invaders, the quiet,
industrious people who raised the temples and pyramids were gone;
and the wealth of intelligence and industry, accumulating for ages,
passed into the possession of a rapacious horde, who could admire
it only so far as it offered objects for plunder. Even in this the
invaders were satisfied, and then having arrived at the height of
their ambition, rested on their swords and entered upon the luxury
and ease in the enjoyment of which they were found when the van
guard of European civilization appeared upon the scene. Mean
time the southern countries which those adventurers abandoned .
after having completed their conquests in the North, were soon
peopled by hundreds of people, always moving from island to
island and ultimately halting amid the ruins of villages deserted
by those who, as legends tell, had passed eastward but never returned;
and it would scarcely be a matter for surprise if those emigrants
were found to be the progenitors of that race found by the Spaniards
in 1532, and identical with the Araucanians, Cuenches and Huil-
tiches of to-day. RELICS OF THE MOUND BUILDERS.
One of the most brilliant and impartial historians of the Republic
stated that the valley of the Mississippi contained no monuments.
So far as the word is entertained now, he was literally correct, but

IK^

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24 HISTORY OF INDIANA.
in some hasty effort neglected to qualify his sentence by a refer
ence to the numerous relics of antiquity to be found throughout
its length and breadth, and so exposed his chapters to criticism.
The valley of the Father of Waters, and indeed the country from
the trap rocks of the Great Lakes southeast to the Gulf and south
west to Mexico, abound in tell-tale monuments of a race of people
much farther advanced in civilization than the Montezumas of the
sixteenth century . The remains of walls and fortifications found
in Kentucky and Indiana, the earthworks of Vincennes and
throughout the valley of the Wabash, the mounds scattered over
Alabama, Florida, Georgia and Virginia, and those found in Illi
nois, Wisconsin and Minnesota, are all evidences of the univer
sality of the Chinese Mongols and of their advance toward a com
parative knowledge of man and cosmology. At the mouth of
Fourteen-Mile creek, in Clark county, Indiana, there stands one of
these old monuments known as the "Stone Fort." It is an
unmistakable heirloom of a great and ancient people, and must
have formed one of their most important posts. The State Geolo
gist's report, filed among the records of the State and furnished
by Prof. Cox, says: "At the mouth of Fourteen-Mile creek, and
about three miles from Charleston, the county-seat of Clark county,
there is one of the most remarkable stone fortifications which has
ever come under my notice. Accompanied by my assistant, Mr.
Borden, and a number of citizens of Charleston, I visited the ' Stone
Fort' for the purpose of making an examination of it. The locality
selected for this fort presents many natural advantages for making
it impregnable to the opposing forces of prehistoric times. It
• occupies the point of an elevated narrow I'idge which faces the
Ohio river on the east and is bordered by Fourteen-Mile creek on
the west side. This creek empties into the Ohio a short distance
below the fort. The top of the ridge is pear-shaped, with the
part answering to the neck at the north end. This part is not
over twenty feet wide, and is protected by precipitous natural walls
of stone. It is 280 feet above the level of the Ohio' river, and the
slope is very gradual to the south. At the upper field it is 240 feet
high and one hundred steps wide. At the lower timber it is 120
feet high. The bottom land at the foot of the south end is sixty
feet above the river. Along the greater part of the Ohio river
front there is an abrupt escarpment rock, entirely too steep to be
scaled, and a similar natural barrier exists along a portion of the
northwest side of the ridge, facing the creek. This natural wall

^

^1

 1 IS

"71

s V

^

HISTORY OF INDIANA.

27

is joined to the neck of an artificial wall, made by piling up, mason
fashion but without mortar, loose stone, which had evidently been
pried up from the carboniferous layers of rock. This made wall, at
this point, is about 150 feet long. It is built along the slope of the
hill and had an elevation of about 75 feet above its base, the upper
ten feet being vertical. The inside of the wall is protected by a
ditch. The remainder of the hill is protected by an artificial stone
wall, built in the same manner, but not more than ten feet high.
The elevation of the side wall above the creek bottom is 80 feet.
Within the artificial walls is a string of mounds which rise to the
height of the wall, and are protected from the washing of the hill
sides by a ditch 20 feet wide and four feet deep. The position of
the artificial walls, natural cliffs of bedded stone, as well as that of
the ditch and mounds, are well illustrated. The top of the enclosed
ridge embraces ten or twelve acres, and there are as many as five
mounds that can be recognized on the flat surface, while no doubt
many others existed which have been obliterated by time, and
though the agency of man in his efforts to cultivate a portion of
the ground. A trench was cut into one of these mounds in search
of relics. A few fragments of charcoal and decomposed bones, and
a large irregular, diamond-shaped boulder, with a small circular
indentation near the middle of the upper part, that was worn quite
smooth by the use to which it had been put, and the small pieces
of fossil coral, comprised all the articles of note which were revealed
by the excavation. The earth of which the mound is made resem
bles that seen on the hillside, and was probably in most part taken
from the ditch. The margin next to the ditch was protected by
slabs of stone set on edge, and leaning at an angle corresponding to
the slope of the mound. This stone shield was two and one-half
feet wide and one foot high. At intervals along the great ditch
there are channels formed between the mounds that probably served
to carry off the surplus water through openings in the outer wall.
On the top of the enclosed ridge, and near its narrowest part, there
is one mound much larger than any of the others, and so situated
as to command an extensive view up and down the Ohio river, as well
as affording an unobstructed view east and west. This is designated
as ' Look-out Mound.' There is near it a slight break in the cliff
of rock, which furnished a narrow passage way to the Ohio river.
Though the locality afforded many natural advantages for a fort or
stronghold, one is compelled to admit that much skill was displayed
and labor expended in making its defense as perfect as possible at

^i

28 HISTORY OF INDIANA.
all points. Stone axes, pestles, arrow-heads, spear-points, totums,
charms and flint flakes have been found in great abundance in
plowing the field at the foot of the old fort."
From the " Stone Fort " the Professor turns his steps to Posey
county, at a point on the Wabash, ten miles above the mouth,
called "Bone Bank," on account of the number of human bones
continually washed out from the river bank. " It is," he states
" situated in a bend on the left bank of the river; and the ground
is about ten feet above high- water mark, being tlie only land along
this portion of the river that is not submerged in seasons of high
water. The bank slopes gradually back from the river to a slough.
This slough now seldom contains water, but no doubt at one time
it was an arm of the Wabash river, which flowed around the Bone
Bank and afforded protection to the island home of the Mound
Builders. The Wabash has been changing its bed for many years,
leaving a broad extent of newly made land on the right shore, and
gradually making inroads on the left shore by cutting away the
Bone Bank. The stages of growth of land on the right bank of the
river are well defined by the cotton wood trees, which increase in size
as you go back from the river. Unless there is a change in the cur
rent of the river, all trace of the Bone Bank will be obliterated.
Already within the memory of the white inhabitants, the bank has
been removed to the width of several hundred yards. As the bank
is cut by the current of the river it loses its support, and when the
water sinks it tumbles over, carrying with it the bones of the
Mound Builders and the cherished articles buried with them. No
locality in the country furnishes a greater number and variety of
relics than this. It has proved especially rich in pottery of
quaint design and skillful workmanship. I have a number of jugs
and pots and a cup found at the Bone Bank. This kind of work
has been very abundant, and is still found in such quantities that
we are led to conclude that its manufacture formed a leading indus
try of the inhabitants of the Bone Bank. It is not in Europe
alone that we find a well-founded claim of high antiquity for the
art of making hard and durable stone by a mixture of clay, lime,
sand and stone; for I am convinced that this art was possessed by
a race of people who inhabited this continent at a period so remote
that neither tradition nor history can furnish any account of them.
They belonged to the Neolithic, or polished-stone, age. They lived
in towns and built mounds for sepulture and worship and pro
tected their homes by surrounding them with walls of earth and
"I   — ^.'"t

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HISTORY OF INDIANA.

29

stone. In some of these mounds specimens of various kinds of
pottery, in a perfect state of preservation, have from time to time
been found, and fragments are so common that every student of
archaeology can have a bountiful supply. Some of these fragments
indicate vessels of very great size. At the Saline springs of Gal
latin I picked up fragments that indicated, by their curvature, ves
sels five to six feet in diameter, and it is probable they are frag
ments of artificial stone pans used to hold brine that was manufac
tured into salt by solar evaporation.
" Xow, all the pottery belonging to the Mound Builders' age,
which I have seen, is composed of alluvial clay and sand, or a mix
ture of the former with pulverized fresh-water shells. A paste
made of such a mixture possesses, in high degree, the properties of
hydraulic Puzzuoland and Portland cement, so that vessels formed
of it hardened without being burned, as is customary with modern
pottery." The Professor deals very aptly with this industry of the aborig
ines, and concludes a very able disquisition on the Bone Bank in
its relation to the prehistoric builders.

niEROGLYPHICS OP THE MOUND-BUILDERS.
The great circular redoubt or earth-work found two miles west of
the village of New Washington, and the " Stone Fort," on a ridge
one mile west of the village of Deputy, offer a subject for the anti
quarian as deeply interesting as any of the monuments of a
decayed empire so far discovered.

.M'^

30 HISTORY OF INDIANA.
From end to end of Indiana there are to be found many other rel
ics of the obscure past. Some of them have been unearthed and now
appear among the collected antiquities at Indianapolis. The highly
finished sandstone pipe, the copper ax, stone axes, fiint arrow-heads
and magnetic plummets found a few years ago beneath, the soil of
Cut-Off Island near New Harmony, together with the pipes of rare
workmanship and undoubted age, unearthed near Covington, all
live as it were in testimony of their owner's and maker's excel
lence, and hold a share in the evidence of the partial annihilation
of a race, with the complete disruption of its manners, customs
and industries; and it is possible that when numbers of these relics
are placed together, a key to the phonetic or rather hieroglyphic
system of that remote period might be evolved.
It may be asked what these hieroglyphical characters really are.
Well, they are varied in form, so much so that the pipes found in
the mounds of Indians, each bearing a distinct representation of
some animal, may be taken for one species, used to represent the
abstract ideas of the Mound Builders. The second form consists
of pure hieroglyphics or phonetic characters, in which the sound is
represented instead of the object; and the third, or painted form of
the first, conveys to the mind that which is desired to be repre
sented. This form exists among the Oree Indians of the far North
west, at present. They, when departing from their permanent vil
lages for the distant hunting grounds, paint on the barked trees in
the neighborhood the figure of a snake or eagle, or perhaps huskey
dog; and this animal is supposed to guard the position until the
warrior's return, or welcome any friendly tribes that may arrive
there in the interim. In the case of the Mound Builders, it is un
likely that this latter extreme was resorted to, for the simple reason
that the relics of their occupation are too high in the ways of art to
tolerate such a barbarous science of language; but the sculptured
pipes and javelins and spear-heads of the Mound Builders may be
taken as a collection of graven images, each conveying a set of
ideas easily understood, and perhaps sometimes or more generally
used to designate the vocation, name or character of the owner.
That the builders possessed an alphabet of a phonetic form, and
purely hieroglyphic, can scarcely be questioned; but until one or
more of the unearthed tablets, which bore all or even a portion of
such characters, are raised from their centuried graves, the mystery
which surrounds this people must remain, while we must dwell in
a world of mere speculation.

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HISTORY OP INDIANA.

31

Vigo, Jasper, Sullivan, Switzerland and Ohio counties can boast
of a most liberal endowment in this relation; and when in other
days the people will direct a minute inquiry, and penetrate to the
very he«rt of the thousand cones which are scattered throughout
the land, they may possibly extract the blood in the shape of metal
lic and porcelain works, with hieroglyphic tablets, while .leaving
the form of heart and body complete to entertain and delight un
born generations, who in their time will wonder much when they
learn that an American people, living toward the close of the 59th
century, could possibly indulge in such an anachronism as is im
plied in the term "New World." THE INDIANS.
The origin of the Red Men, or American Indians, is a subject
which interests as well as instructs. It is a favorite with the eth
nologist, even as it is one of deep concern to the ordinary reader.
A review of two works lately published on the origin of the Indians
treats the matter in a peculiarly reasonable light. It says:
" Recently a German writer has put forward one theory on the
subject, and an English writer has put forward another and directly
opposite theory. The difference of opinion concerning our aborig
inals among authors who have made a profound study of races is at
once curious and interesting. Blumenbach treats, them in his
classifications as a distinct variety of the human family; but, in the
threefold division of Dr. Latham, they are ranked among the Mon-
golidae. Other writers on race regard them as a branch of the great
Mongolian family, which at a distant period found its way Irom
Asia to this continent, and remained here for centuries separate
from the rest of mankind, passing, meanwhile, through divers
phases of barbarism and civilization. Morton, our eminent eth
nologist, and his followers, Nott and Gliddon, claim for our native
Red Men an origin as distinct as the flora and fauna of this conti
nent. Prichard, whose views are apt to differ from Morton's, finds
reason to believe, on comparing the American tribes together, that
they rfiust have formed a separate department of nations from the
earliest period of the world. The era of their existence as a distinct
and insulated people must probably be dated back to the time
which separated into nations the inhabitants of the Old World, and
gave to each its individuality and primitive language. Dr. Robert
Brown, the latest authority, attributes, in his " Races of Mankind,"
an Asiatic origin to our aboriginals. He says that the Western In
dians not only personally resemble their nearest neighbors — the
Northeastern Asiatics — but they resemble them in language and
traditions. The Esquimaux on the American and the Tchuktchis
on the Asiatic side understand one another perfectly. Modern an-

T<

aK

82 HISTORY OF INDIANA.
thropologists, indeed, are disposed to think that Japan, the Kuriles,
and neighboring regions, may be regarded as the original home of
the greater part of the native American race. It is also admitted
by them that between the tribes scattered from the Arctic sea to
Cape Horn there is more uniformity of physical features than is
seen in any other quarter of the globe. The weight of evidence
and authority is altogether in favor of the opinion that our so-
called Indians are a branch of the Mongolian family, and all addi
tional researches strengthen the opinion. The tribes of both North
and South America are unquestionably homogeneous, and, in all
likelihood, had their origin in Asia, though they have been altered
and modified by thousands of years of total separation from the
parent stock."
The conclusions arrived at by the reviewer at that time, though
safe, are too general to lead the reader to form any definite idea on
the subject. No doubt whatever can exist, when the American In
dian is regarded as of an Asiatic origin; but there is nothing in the
works or even in the review, to which these works were subjected,
which might account for the vast difference in manner and form
between the Red Man, as he is now known, or even as he appeared
to Columbus and his successors in the field of discovery, and the
comparatively civilized inhabitants of Mexico, as seen in 1521 by
Cortez, and of Peru, as witnessed by Pizarro in 1532. The fact is
that the pure bred Indian of the present is descended directly
from the earliest inhabitants, or in other words from the survivors
of that people who, on being driven from their fair possessions, re
tired to the wilderness in sorrow and reared up their children under
the saddening influences of their unquenchable griefs, bequeathing
them only the habits of the wild, cloud-roofed home of their de
clining years, a sullen silence, and a rude moral code. In after
years these wild sons of the forest and prairie grew in numbers and
in strength. Some legend told them of their present sufferings, of
the station which their fathers once had known, and of the riotous
race which now reveled in wealth which should be theirs. The
fierce passions of the savage were aroused, and uniting their scat
tered bands marched in silence upon the villages of the Tartars,
driving them onward to the capital of their lucas, and consigning
their homes to the flames. Once in view of the great city, the
hurrying bands halted in surprise; but Tartar cunning took in the
situation and offered pledges of amity, which were sacredly ob
served. Henceforth Mexico was open to the Indians, bearing pre
cisely the same relation to them that the Hudson's Bay Company's

/F=== - — sk'

-. -,-:^.*b=:=^_

J-

HISTORY OF INDIANA.

33

villages do to the Northwestern Indians of the present; obtaining
all, and bestowing very little. The subjection of the Mongolian
race represented in North America by that branch of it to which
the Tartars belonged, represented ip the Southern portion of the con-
tinent, seems to have taken place some five centi^ries before the
advent of the European, while it may be concluded that the war of
the races which resulted in reducing the villages erected by the
Tartar hordes to ruin took place between one and two hundred
years later. These statements, though actually referring to events
which in point of time are comparatively modern, can only be sub
stantiated by the facts that, about the periods mentioned the dead
bodies of an unknown race of men were washed ashore on the Eu
ropean coasts, while previous to that time there is no account
whatever in European annals of even a vestige of trans-Atlantic hu
manity being transferred by ocean currents to the gaze of a won
dering people. Towards the latter half ot the 15th century two
dead bodies entirely free from decomposition, and corresponding
with the Red Men as they afterward appeared to Columbus, were
cast on the shores of the Azores, and confirmed Columbus in his be
lief in the existence of a western world and western people.
Storm and flood and disease have created sad havoc in the ranks
of the Indian since the occupation of the country by the white man.
These natural causes have conspired to decimate the race even more
than the advance of civilization, which seems not to aflect it to any
material extent. In its maintenance of the same number of rep
resentatives during three centuries, and its existence in the very
face of a most unceremonious, and, whenever necessary, cruel con
quest, the grand dispensations of the unseen Ruler of the universe
is demonstrated; for, without the aborigines, savage and treach
erous as they were, it is possible that the explorers of former times
would have so many natural difficulties to contend with, that their
work would be surrendered in despair, and the most fertile regions
of the continent saved for the plowshares of generations yet un
born. It is questionable whether we owe the discovery of this con
tinent to the unaided scientiflc knowledge of Columbus, or to the
dead bodies of the two Indians referred to above; nor can their ser
vices to the explorers of ancient and modern times be over-esti
mated. Their existence is embraced in the plan of the Divinity
for the government of the world, and it will not form subject for
surprise to learn that the same intelligence which sent a thrill of
liberty into every corner of the republic, will, in the near future,.

34 HISTORY OF INDIANA.
devise some method under which the remnant of a great and an
cient race may taste the sweets of public kindness, and feel that,
after centuries of turmoil and tyranny, they have at last found a
shelter amid a sympathizing people. Many have looked at the In
dian as the pessimist does at all things; they say that he was never
formidable until the white man supplied him with the weapons of
modern warfare; but there is no mention made of his eviction from
his retired home, and the little plot of cultivated garden which
formed the nucleus of a village that, if fostered instead of being
destroyed, might possibly 'hold an Indian population of some im
portance in the economy of the nation. There is no intention what
ever to maintain that the occupation of this country by the favored
races is wrong even in principle; for where any obstacle to advanc
ing civilization exists, it has to fall to the ground; but it may be
said, with some truth, that the white man, instead of a policy of
conciliation formed upon the power of kindness, indulged in bel
ligerency as impolitic as it was unjust. A modern writer says,
when.speaking of tiie Indian's character: "He did not exhibit that
steady valor and efficient discipline of the American soldier; and
to-day on the plains Sheridan's troopers would not hesitate to
attack the bravest band, though outnumbered three to one." This
piece of information applies to the European and African, as well
as to the. Indian. The American soldier, and particularly the
troopers referred to, would not fear or shrink from a very legion of
demons, even with odds against thein. This mode of warfare seems
strangely peculiar when compared with the military systems of
civilized countries; yet, since the main object of armed men is to
defend a country or a principle, and to destroy anything which may
oppose itself to them, the mode of warfare pursued by the savage
will be found admirably adapted to their requirements in this con
nection, and will doubtless compare favorably with the systems of
the Afghans and Persians of the present, and the Caucasian people
9f the first historic period, MANNERS AND CUSTOMS.
The art of hunting not only supplied the Indian with food, but,
like that of war, was a means of gratifying his love of distinction.
The male children, as soon as they acqiured sufficient age and
strength, were furnished with a bow and arrow and taught to shoot
birds and other small game. Success in killing a large quadruped
required years of careful study and practice, and the art was as

l^

HISTORY OF INDIANA.

35

sedulously inculcated in the minds of the rising generation as are
the elements of reading, writing and arithmetic in the common
schools of civilized communities. The mazes of the forest and the
dense, tall grass of the prairies were the best fields for the exercise
of the hunter's skill. No feet could be impressed in the yielding
soil but that the tracks were the objects of the most searching
scrutiny, and revealed at a glance the animal that made them, the
direction it was pursuing, and the time that had elapsed since it
had passed. In a forest country he selected the valleys, because
they were most frequently the resort of game. The most easily
taken, perhaps, of all the animals of the chase was the deer. It is
endowed with a curiosity which prompts it to stop in its flight and
look back at the approaching hunter, who always avails himself of
this opportunity to let fly the fatal arrow.
Their general councils were composed of the chiefs and old men.
When in council, they usually sat in concentric circles around the
speaker, and each individual, notwithstanding the fiery passions
that rankled within, preserved an exterior as immovable as if cast
in bronze. Before commencing business a person appeared with
the sacred pipe, and another with fire to kindle it. After being
lighted it was first presented to heaven, secondly to the earth,
thirdly to the presiding spirit, and lastly the several councilors,
each of whom took a whiff. These formalities were observed with
as close exactness as state etiquette in civilized courts.
The dwellings of the Indians were of the simplest and rudest
character. On some pleasant spot by the bank of a river, or near
an ever-running spring, they raised their groups of wigwams, con
structed of the bark of trees, and easily taken down and removed
to another spot. The dwelling-places of the chiefs were sometimes
more spacious, and constructed with greater care, but of the same
materials. Skins taken in the chase served them for repose.
Though principally dependent upon hunting and fishing, the
uncertain supply from those sources led them to cultivate small
patches of corn. Every family did everything necessary within
itself, commerce, or an interchange of articles, being almost unknown
to them. In cases of dispute and dissension, each Indian relied
upon himself for retaliation. Blood for blood was the rule, and
the relatives of the slain man were bound to obtain bloody revenge
for his death. This principle gave rise, as a matter of course, to
innumerable and bitter feuds, and wars of extermination where such
were possible. War, indeed, rather than peace, was the Indian's

^

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36 HISTORY OF INDIANA.
glory and delight, — war, not conducted as civilization, but war
where individual skill, endurance, gallantry and cruelty were prime
requisites. For such a purpose as revenge the Indian would make
great sacrifices, and display a patience and perseverance truly heroic;
but when the excitement was over, he sank back into a listless, un
occupied, well-nigh useless savage. During the intervals of his
more exciting pursuits, the Indian employed his time in decorating
his person with all the refinement of paint and feathers, and in the
manufacture of his arms and of canoes. These were constructed of
bark, and so light that they could easily be carried on the shoulder
from stream to stream. His amusements were the war-dance, ath
letic games, the narration of his exploits, and listening to the ora
tory of the chiefs; but during long periods of such existence he
remained in a state of torpor, gazing listlessly upon the trees of
the forests and the clouds that sailed above them ; and this vacancy
imprinted an habitual gravity, and even melancholy, upon his gen
eral deportment.
The main labor and drudgery of Indian communities fell upon
the women. The planting, tending and gathering of the crops,
making mats and baskets, carrying burdens, — in fact, all things of
the kind were performed by them, thus making their condition but
little better than that of slaves. Marriage was merely a matter of
bargain and sale, the husband giving presents to the father of the
bride. In general they had but few children. They were sub
jected to many and severe attacks of sickness, and at times famine
and pestilence swept away whole tribes.

^^

EXPLORATIONS BY THE WHITES.
EARLIEST EXPLORERS.
The State of Indiana is bounded on the east by the meridian line
which forms also the western boundary of Ohio, extending due
north from the mouth of the Great Miami river; on the south by
the Ohio river from the month of the Great Miami to the mouth
of the Wabash ; on the west by a line drawn along the middle of
the Wabash river from its mouth to a point where a due north
line from the town of Vincennes would last touch the shore of said
river, and thence directly north to Lake Michigan ; and on the north
by said lake and an east and west line ten miles north of the ex
treme south end of the lake, and extending to its intersection with
the aforesaid meridian, the west boundary of Ohio. These bound
aries include an area of 33,809 square miles, lying between 37°
47' and 41" 50' north latitude, and between 7" 45' and IP 1' west
longitude from Washington.
After the discovery of America by Columbus in 1492, more than
150 years passed away before any portion of the territory now com
prised within the above limits was explored by Europeans. Colo
nies were established in Florida, Virginia and Nova Scotia by the
principal rival governments of Europe, but not until about 1670-'2
did the first white travelers venture as far into the Northwest as
Indiana or Lake Michigan. These explorers were Frenchmen by
the names of Claude AUouez and Claude Dablon, who then visited
what is now the eastern part of Wisconsin, the northeastern portion
of Illinois and probably that portion of this State north of the Kan
kakee river. In the following year M. Joliet, an agent of the
French Colonial government, and James Marquette, a good and
simple-hearted missionary who had his station at Mackinaw, ex
plored the country about Green Bay, and along Fox and Wiscon
sin rivers as far westward as the Mississippi, the banks of which
they reached June 17, 1673. They descended this river to about
33° 40', but returned by way of the Illinois river and the route
they came in the Lake Region. At a village among the Illinois In
dians, Marquette and his small band of adventurers were received
(37)

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88 HISTORY OF INDIANA.
in a friendly manner and treated hospitably. They were made the
honored guests at a great feast, where hominy, fish, dog meat and
roast buffalo meat were spread before them in great abundance. In
1682 LaSalle explored the West, but it is not known that he entered
the region now embraced within the State of Indiana. He took
formal possession, however, of all the Mississippi region in the
name of the King of France, in whose honor he gave all this Mis
sissippi region, including what is now Indiana, the name " Louisi
ana." Spain at the same time laid claim to all the region about
the Gulf of Mexico, and thus these two great nations were brought
into collision. But the country was actually held and occupied by
the great Miami confederacy of Indians, the Miamis proper (an
ciently the Twightwees) being the eastern and most powerful tribe.
Their territory extended strictly from the Scioto river west to the
Illinois river. Their villages were few and scattering, and their
occupation was scarcely dense enough to maintain itself against in
vasion. Their settlements were occasionally visited by Christian
missionaries, fur traders and adventurers, but no body of white men
made any settlement sufficiently permanent for a title to national
possession. Christian zeal animated France and England in mis
sionary enterprise, the former in the interests of Catholicism and
the latter in the interests of Protestantism. Hence their haste to
preoccupy the land and proselyte the aborigines. No doubt this
ugly rivalry was often seen by Indians, and they refused to be
proselyted to either branch of Christianity.
The " Five Nations," farther east, comprised the Mohawks,
Oneidas, Cayugas, Onondaguas and Senecas. In 1677 the number
of warriors in this confederacy was 2,150. About 1711 the Tusca-
roras retired from Carolina and joined the Iroquois, or Five Na
tions, which, after that event, became known as the " Six Nations."
In 1689 hostilities broke out between the Five Nations and the
colonists of Canada, and the almost constant wars in which France
was engaged until the treaty of Ryswick in 1697 combined to
check the grasping policy of Louis XIV., and to retard the plant
ing of French colonies in the Mississippi valley. Missionary efforts,
however, continued with more failure than success, the Jesuits
allying themselves with the Indians in habits and customs, even
encouraging inter-marriage between them and their white fol
lowers.

;^

4.

HISTORY OF INDIANA.

39

OUABAOHB.
The Wabash was first named by the French, and spelled by them
Ouabache. This river was known even before the Ohio, and was
navigated as the Ouabache all the way to the Mississippi a long time
before it was discovered that it was a tributary of the Ohio (Belle
Riviere). In navigating the Mississippi they thought they passed
the mouth of the Ouabache instead of the Ohio. In traveling from
the Great Lakes to the south, the French always went by the way of
the Ouabache or Illinois. VINCENNES.
Francois Morgan de Vinsenne served in Canada as early as 1720
in the regiment of " De Carrignan " of the French service, and
again on the lakes in the vicinity of Sault Ste. Marie in the same
service under M. de Vaudriel, in 1725. It is possible that his ad
vent to Vincennes may have taken place in 1732 ; and in proof of
this the only record is an act of sale under the joint names of him
self and Madame Vinsenne, the daughter of M. Philip Longprie,
and dated Jan. 5, 1735. This document gives his military position
as commandant of the post of Ouabache in the service of the French
King. The will of Longprie, dated March 10, same year, bequeaths
him, among other things, 408 pounds of pork, which he ordered to
be kept safe until Vinsenne, who was then at Ouabache, returned
to Kaskaskia.
There are many other documents connected with its early settle
ment by Vinsenne, among which is a receipt for the 100 pistoles
granted him as his wife's marriage dowry. In 1736 this officer was
ordered to Charlevoix by D'Artagette, viceroy of the King at New
Orleans, and commandant of Illinois. Here M. St. Vinsenne re
ceived his mortal wounds. The event is chronicled as follows, in
the words of D'Artagette: " We have just received very bad news
from Louisiana, and our war with the Chickasaws. The French
have been defeated. Among the slain is M. de Vinsenne, who
ceased not until his last breath to exhort his men to behave worthy
of their faith and fatherland."
Thus closed the career of this gallant officer, leaving a name
which holds as a remembrancer the present beautiful town of Vin
cennes, changed from Vinsenne to its present orthography in 1749.
Post Vincennes was settled as early as 1710 or 1711. In a letter
from Father Marest to Father Germon, dated at Kaskaskia, Nov. 9,
1712, occurs this passage: "Zes Fra'ticois itoient itabli unfort sur

)^^

4

^

40 HISTORY OF INDIANA.
leflewee Ouabache y ils demam,d&rent un missionazre / et le Pere
Mermet leurfut envoy e. Ce Pere crut devoir travailler a la
conversion des Mascoutens qui avoient fait un village su/r les
bords dumeme Jleu/oe. Cest une nation Indians qui entend la
langue mi/noise." Translated: " The French have established a
fort upon the river Wabash, and want a missionary; and Father
Mermet has been sent to them. That Father believes he should
labor for the conversion of the Mascoutens, who have built a vil
lage on the banks of the same river. They are a nation of Indians
who understand the language of the Illinois."
Mermet was therefore the first preacher of Christianity in this
part of the world, and his mission was to convert the Mascoutens,
a branch of the Miamis. "The way I took," says he, " was to con
found, in the presence of the whole tribe, one of these charlatans
[medicine men], whose Manitou, or great spirit which he wor
shiped, was the buffalo. After leading him on insensibly to the
avowal that it was not the buffalo that he worshiped, but the Man
itou, or spirit, of the buffalo, which was under the earth and ani
mated all buffaloes, which heals the sick and has all power, I asked
him whether other beasts, the bear for instance, and wbicb one of
. his nation worshiped, was not equally inhabited by a Manitou,
which was under the earth. ' Without doubt,' said the grand medi
cine man. ' If this is so,' said I, ' men ought to have a Manitou
who inhabits them.' ' Nothing more certain,' said he. ' Ought
not that to convince you,' continued I, ' that you are not very
reasonable? For if man upon the earth is the master of all animals,
if he kills them, if he eats them, does it not follow that, the Mani
tou which inhabits him must have a mastery over all other Mani-
tous? Why then do you not invoke him instead of the Manitou
of the bear and the buffalo, when you are sick?' This reasoning
disconcerted the charlatan. But this was all the effect it
produced." The result of convincing these heathen by logic, as is generally
the case the world over, was only a temporary logical victory, and
no change whatever was produced in the professions and practices
of the Indians.
But the first Christian (Catholic) missionary at this place whose
name we find recorded in the Church annals, was Meurin, in 1849.
The church building used by these early missionaries at Vin
cennes is thus described by the " oldest inhabitants:" Fronting on
Water street and running back on Church street, it was a plain

•V Ut--

/¦.

HISTORY OF INDIANA.

41

building with a rough exterior, of upright posts, chinked and
daubed, with a rough coat of cement on the outside; about 20 feet
wide and 60 long; one story high, with a small belfry and an equally
small bell. It was dedicated to St. Francis Xavier. This spot is
now occupied by a splendid cathedral.
Vincennes has ever been a stronghold of Catholicism. The
Church there has educated and sent out many clergymen of her
faith, some of whom have become bishops, or attained other high
positions in ecclesiastical authority.
Almost contemporaneous with the progress of the Church at
Vincennes was a missionary work near the mouth of the Wea river,
among the Ouiatenons, but the settlement there was broken up in
early day. NATIONAL POLICIES.
THE GREAT FRENCH SCHEME.
Soon after the discovery of the mouth of the Mississippi by La
Salle in 1682, the government of France began to encourage the
policy of establishing a line of trading posts and missionary
stations extending through the West from Canada to Louisiana,
and this policy was maintained, with partial success, for about 75
years. The traders persisted in importing whisky, which cancelled
nearly every civilizing influence that could be brought to bear upon
the Indian, and the vast distances between posts prevented that
strength which can be enjoyed only by close and convenient inter
communication. Another characteristic of Indian nature was to
listen attentively to all the missionary said, pretending to believe
all he preached, and then offer in turn his theory of the world, of
religion, etc., and because he was not listened to with the same
degree of attention and pretense of belief, would go off disgusted.
This was his idea of the golden rule.
The river St. Joseph of Lake Michigan was called " the river
Miamis" in 1679, in which year LaSalle built a small fort on its
bank, near the lake shore. The principal station of the mission
for the instruction of the Miamis was established on the borders of
this river. The first French post within the territory of the
Miamis was at the mouth of the river Miamis, on an eminence
naturally fortified on two sides by the river, and on one side by a

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42 HISTORY OF INDIANA.
deep ditch made by a fall of water. It was of triangular form.
The missionary Hennepin gives a good description of it, as he was
one of the company who built it, in 1679. Says he: " We fell the
trees that were on the top of the hill; and having cleared the same
from bushes for about two musket shot, we began to build a
redoubt of 80 feet long and 40 feet broad, with great square pieces
of timber laid one upon another, and prepared a great number of
stakes of about 25 feet long to drive into the ground, to make our
fort more inaccessible on the river side. We employed the whole
month of November about that work, which was very hard, though
we had no other food but the bear's flesh our savage killed. These
beasts are very common in that place because of the great quantity
of grapes they flnd there; but their flesh being too fat and luscious,
our men began to be weary of it and desired leave to go a hunting
to kill some wild goats. M. LaSalle denied them that liberty,
which caused some murmurs among them ; and it was but unwill
ingly that they continued their work. This, together with the
approach of winter and the apprehension that M. LaSalle had that
his vessel (the Griffin) was lost, made him very melancholy, though
he concealed it as much as he could. We made a cabin wherein
we performed divine service every Sunday, and Father Gabriel and
I, who preached alternately, took care to take such texts as were
suitable to our present circumstances and fit to inspire us with
courage, concord and brotherly love. * * * The fort was at
last perfected, and called Fort Miamis."
In the year 1711 the missionary Chardon, who was said to be
very zealous and apt in the acquisition of languages, had a station
on the St. Joseph about 60 miles above the mouth. Charlevoix,
another distinguished missionary from France, visited a post on
this river in 1721. In a letter dated at the place, Aug. 16, he says:
" There is a commandant here, with a small garrison. His house,
which is but a very sorry one, is called the fort, from its being sur
rounded with an indifferent palisado, which is pretty near the case
in all the rest. We have here two villages of Indians, one of the
Miamis and the other of the Pottawatomies, both of them mostly
Christians; but as they have been for a long time without any pas
tors, the missionary who has been lately sent to tliem will have no
small difficulty in bringing them back to the exercise of their re
ligion." He speaks also of the main commodity for which the In.
dians would part with their goods, namely, spirituous liquors
which they drink and keep drunk upon as long as a supply lasted.

.^^ .^^^0!

INDIANS ATTACKING FRONTIERSMEN.

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HISTORY OF INDIANA. 45
More than a century and a half has now passed since Charlevoix
penned the above, without any change whatever in this trait of In
dian character.
In 1765 the Miami nation, or confederacy, was composed of four
tribes, whose total number of warriors was estimated at only 1,050
men. Of these about 250 were Twightwees, or Miamis proper,
300 Weas, or Ouiatenons, 300 Piankeshaws and 200 Sliockeys; and
at this time the principal villages of the Twightwees were situated
about the head of the Maumee river at and near the place where
Fort Wayne now is. The larger Wea villages were near the banks
of the Wabash river, in the vicinity of the Post Ouiatenon; and
the Shockeys and Piankeshaws dwelt on the banks of the Vermil
lion and on the borders of the Wabash between Vincennes and
Ouiatenon. Branches of the Pottawatomie, Shawnee, Delaware and
Kickapoo tribes were permitted at different times to enter within
the boundaries of the Miamis afid reside for a while.
The wars in which France and England were engaged, from 1688
to 1697, retarded the growth of the colonies of those nations in
North America, and the efforts made by France to connect Canada
and the Gulf of Mexico by a chain of trading posts and colonies
naturally excited the jealousy of England and gradually laid the
foundation for a struggle at arms. After several stations were estab
lished elsewhere in the West, trading posts were started at the
Miami villages, which stood at the head of the Maumee, at the Wea
villages about Ouiatenon on the Wabash, and at the Piankeshaw vil
lages about the present sight of Vincennes. It is probable that before
the close of the year 1719, temporary trading posts were erected at the
sites of Fort Wayne, Ouiatenon and Vincennes. These points were
probably often visited by French fur traders prior to 1700. In the
meanwhile the English people in this country commenced also to
establish military posts west of the Alleghanies, and thus matters
went on until they naturally culminated in a general war, which,
being waged by the French and Indians combined on one side, was
called " the French and Indian war." This war was terminated in
1763 by a treaty at Paris, by which France ceded to Great Britain
all of North America east of the Mississippi except New Orleans
and the island on which it is situated; and indeed, France had the
preceding autumn, by a secret convention, ceded to Spain all the
country west of that river.

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46 HISTORY OF INDIANA.

In 1762, after Canada and its dependencies had been surrendered
to the English, Pontiac and his partisans secretly organized a pow
erful confederacy in order to crush at one blow all English power
in the West. This great scheme was skillfully projected and cau
tiously matured.
The principal act in the programme was to gain admittance into
the fort at Detroit, on pretense of a friendly visit, with short
ened muskets concealed under their blankets, and on a given signal
suddenly break forth upon the garrison; but an inadvertent remark
of au Indian woman led to a discovery of the plot, which was con
sequently averted . Pontiac and his warriors afterward made many
attacks upon the English, some of which were successful, but the
Indians were flnally defeated in the general war.
BRITISH POLICY.
In 1765 the total number of French families within the limits of
the Northwestern Territory did not probably exceed 600. These
were in settlements about Detroit, along the river Wabash and the
neighborhood of Fort Chartres on the Mississippi. Of these fami
lies, about 80 or 90 resided at Post Vincennes, 14 at ^ort Ouiate
non, on the Wabash, and nine or ten at the confluence of the St.
Mary and St. Joseph rivers.
The colonial policy of'the British government opposed any meas
ures which might strengthen settlements in the interior of this
country, lest they become self-supporting and independent of the
mother country; hence the early and rapid settlement of the North
western territory was still further retarded by the short-sighted
selfishness of England. That fatal policy consisted mainly in hold
ing the land in the hands of the government and not allowing it to
be subdivided and sold to settlers. But in spite of all her efforts
in this direction, she constantly made just such efforts as provoked
the American people to rebel, and to rebel successfully, which was
within 15 years after the perfect close of the French and Indian
war. AMERICAN POLICY.
Thomas Jefferson, the shrewd statesman and wise Governor of
Virginia, saw from the first that actual occupation of Western lands
was the only way to keep them out of the hands of foreigners and

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HISTORY OF INDIANA. 47
Indians. Therefore, directly after the conquest of Vincennes by
Clark, he engaged a scientific corps to proceed under an escort to
the Mississippi, and ascertain by celestial observations the point
on that river intersected by latitude 36° 30', the southern limit of
the State, and to measure its distance to the Ohio. To Gen. Clark
was entrusted the conduct of the military operations in that quar
ter. He was instructed to select a strong position near that point
and establish there a fort and garrison ; thence to extend his conquests
northward to the lakes, erecting forts at different points, which
might serve as monuments of actual possession, besides affording
protection to that portion of the country. Fort " Jefferson " was
erected and garrisoned on the Mississippi a few miles above the
southern limit.
The result of these operations was the addition, to the chartered
limits of Virginia, of that immense region known as the " North
western Territory." The simple fact that such and such forts were
established by the Americans in this vast region convinced the Brit
ish Commissioners that we had entitled ourselves to the land. But
where are those " monuments " of our power now?
INDIAN SAVAGERY.
As a striking example of the inhuman treatment which the early
Indians were capable of giving white people, we quote the follow
ing blood-curdling story from Mr. Cox' " Recollections of the
Wabash Valley":
On the 11th of February, 1781, a wagoner named Irvin Hinton
was sent from the block-house at Louisville, Ky., to Harrodsburg
for a load of provisions for the fort. Two young men, Richard
Rue and George Holman, aged respectively 19 and 16 years, were
sent as guards to protect the wagon from the depredations of any
hostile Indians who might be lurking in the cane-brakes or ravines
through which they must pass. Soon after their start a severe
snow-storm set in which lasted until afternoon. Lest the melting
snow might dampen the powder in their rifies, the guards fired
them off, intending to reload them as soon as the storm ceased.
Hinton drove the horses while Rue walked a few rods ahead and
Holman about the same distance behind. As they ascended a hill
about eight miles from Louisville Hinton heard some one say Whoa
to the horses. Supposing that something was wrong about the
wagon, he stopped and asked Holman why he had called him to
halt. Holman said that he had not^ spoken ; Rue also denied it,

--7

I— — J—

1^"* ¦¦»'

48 HISTORY OP INDIANA.
but said that he had heard the voice distinctly. At this time a voice
cried out, " I will solve the mystery for you; it was Simon Girty that
cried Whoa, and he meant what he said," — at the same time emerg
ing from a sink-hole a few rods from the roadside, followed by 13
Indians, who immediately surrounded the three Kentuckians and
demanded them to surrender or die instantly. The little party,
making a virtue of necessity, surrendered to this renegade white
man and his Indian allies.
Being so near two forts, Girty made all possible speed in making
fast his prisoners, selecting the lines and other parts of the harness,
he prepared for an immediate flight across the Ohio. The panta
loons of the prisoners were cut off about four inches above the
knees, and thus they started through the deep snow as fast as the
horses could trot, leaving the wagon, containing a few empty bar
rels, standing in the road. They continued their march for sev
eral cold days, without fire at night, until they reached Wa-pnc-ca-
nat-ta, where they compelled their prisoners to run the gauntlet as
they entered the village. Hinton first ran the gauntlet and reached
the council-house after receiving several severe blows upon the head
and shoulders. Rue next ran between the lines, pursued by an
Indian with an uplifted tomahawk. He far outstripped his pursuer
and dodged most of the blows aimed at him. Holman complaining
that it was too severe a test for a worn-out stripling like himself,
was allowed to run between two lines of squaws and boy s, and was
followed by an Indian with a long switch.
The first council of the Indians did not dispose of these young
men; they were waiting for the presence of other chiefs and war
riors. Hinton escaped, but on the afternoon of the second day he
was re-captured. Now the Indians were glad that they had an
occasion to indulge in the infernal joy of burning him at once.
Soon after their supper, which they shared with their victim, they
drove the stake into the ground, piled up the fagots in a circle
around it, stripped and blackened the prisoner, tied him to the
stake, and applied the torch. It was a slow fire. The war-whoop
then thrilled through the dark surrounding forest like the chorus
of a band of infernal spirits escaped from pandemonium, and the
scalp dance was struck up by those demons in human shape, who
for hours encircled their victim, brandishing their tomahawks and
war clubs, and venting their execrations upon the helpless sufferer,
who died about midnight from the effects of the slow heat. As
soon as he fell upon the ground, the Indian who first discovered

sr-"

HISTORY OF INDIANA. 49'
him in the woods that evening sprang in, sunk his tomahawk into
his skull above the ear, and with his knife stripped off the scalp,
which he bore back with him to the town as a trophy, and which
was tauntingly thrust into the faces of Rue and Holman, with the
question, " Can you smell the fire on the scalp of your red-headed
friend? We cooked him and left him for the wolves to make a
breakfast upon; that is the way we serve runaway prisoners."
After a march of three days more, the prisoners. Rue and Hol
man, had to run the gauntlets again, and barely got through with
their lives. It was decided that they should both be burned at the
stake that night, though this decision was far from being unani
mous. The necessary preparations were made, dry sticks and
brush were gathered and piled around two stakes, the faces
and hands of the doomed men were blackened in the customary
manner, and as the evening approached the poor wretches sat look
ing upon the setting sun for the last time. An unusual excitement
was manifest in a number of chiefs who still lingered about the
council-house. At a pause in the contention, a noble-looking In
dian approached the prisoners, and after speaking a few words to
the guards, took Holman by the hand, lifted him to his feet, cut the
cords that bound him to his fellow prisoners, removed the black from
his face and hands, put his hand kindly upon his head and said: " I
adopt you as my son, to fill the place of the one I have lately buried ;
you are now a kinsman of Logan, the white man's friend, as he has
been called, but who has lately proven himself to be a terrible
avenger of the wrongs inflicted upon him by the bloody Cresap and
his men." With evident reluctance, Girty interpreted this to Hol
man, who was thus unexpectedly freed.
But the preparations for the burning of Rue went on. Holman
and Rue embraced each other most affectionately, with a sorrow too
deep for description. Rue was then tied to one of the stakes; but
the general contention among the Indians had not ceased. Just as
the lighted fagots were about to be applied to the dry brush piled
around the devoted youth, a tall, active young Shawnee, a son of
the victim's captor, sprang into the ring, and. cutting the cords
which bound him to the stake, led him out amidst the deafening
plaudits of a part of the crowd and the execrations of the rest. Re
gardless of threats, he caused water to be brought and the black to
be washed from the face and hands of the prisoner, whose clothes
were then returned to him, when the young brave said: " I take
this young man to be my brother, in the place of one I lately lost;

>>

50

HISTORY OP INDIANA.

I loved that brother well; I will love this one, too; my old mother
will be glad when I tell her that I have brought her a son, in place
of the dear departed one. We want no more victims. The burning
of Red-head [Hinton] ought to satisfy us. These innocent young
men do not merit such cruel fate; I would rather die myself than
see this adopted brother burned at the stake."
A loud shout of approbation showed that the young Shawnee had
triumphed, though dissension was manifest among the various
tribes afterward. Some of them abandoned their trip to Detroit,
others returded to Wa-puc-ca-nat-ta, a few turned toward the Mis-
sissinewa and the Wabash towns, while a portion continued to De
troit. Holman was taken back to Wa-puc-ca-nat ta, where he re
mained most of the time of his captivity. Rue was taken first to
the Mississinewa, then to the Wabash towns. Two years of his .
eventful captivity were spent in the region of the Wabash and Illi
nois rivers, but the last few months at Detroit; was in captivity
altogether about three years and a half.
Rue effected his escape in the following manner: During one of
the drunken revels of tlie Indians near Detroit one of them lost a
purse of $90; various tribes were suspected of feloniously keeping
the treasure, and much Ugly speculation was indulged in as to who
was the thief. At length a prophet of a tribe that was not suspected
was called to divine the mystery. He spread sand over a green
deer-skin, watched it awhile and performed various manipulations,
and professed to see that the money had been stolen and carried
away by a tribe entirely different from any that had been
suspicioned;' but he was shrewd enough not to announce who the
thief was or the tribe he belonged to, lest a war might arise. His
decision quieted the belligerent uprisings threatened by the excited
Indians. Rue and two other prisoners saw this display of the prophet's
skill and concluded to interrogate him soon concerning their fami
lies at home. The opportunity occurred in a few days, and the In
dian seer actually astonished Rue with the accuracy with which he
described his family, and added, " You all intend to make your
escape, and you will effect it soon. You will meet with many trials
and hardships in passing over so wild a district of country, inhabited
by so many hostile nations of Indians. You will almost starve to
death; but about the time you have given up all hope of finding
game to sustain you in your famished condition, succor will come
when you least expect it. The first game you will succeed in taking

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HISTORY OF INDIANA. 51
will be a male of some kind ; after that you will have plenty of
game and return home in safety."
The prophet kept this matter a secret for the prisoners, and the
latter in a few days set off upon their terrible journey, and had
just such experience as the Indian prophet had foretold; they
arrived home with their lives, but were pretty well worn out with the
exposures and privations of a three weeks' journey.
On the return of Holman's party of Indians to Wa-puc-ca-nat-ta,
much dissatisfaction existed in regard to the manner of his release
from the sentence of condemnation pronounced against him by the
council. Many were in favor of recalling the council and trying
him again, and this was finally agreed to. The young man was
again put upon trial for his life, with a strong probability of his
being condemned to the stake. Both parties worked hard for vic
tory in the final vote, which eventually proved to give a majority of
one for the prisoner's acquittal.
While with the Indians, Holman saw them burn at the stake a
Keutuckian named Richard Hogeland, who had been taken prisoner
at the defeat of Col. Crawford. They commenced burning him at
nine o'clock at night, and continued roasting him until ten o'clock
the next day, before he expired. During his excruciating tortures he
begged for some of them to end his life and sufferings with a gun
or tomahawk. Finally his cruel tormentors promised they would,
and cut several deep gashes in his flesh with their tomahawks, and
shoveled up hot ashes and embers and threw them into the gaping
wounds. When he was dead they stripped off his scalp, cut him
to pieces and burnt him to ashes, which they scattered through the
town to expel the evil spirits from it.
After a captivity of about three years and a half, Holman saw an
opportunity of going on amission for the destitute Indians, namely,
of going to Harrodsburg, Ky., where he had a rich uncle, from
whom they could get what supplies they wanted. They let him go
with a guard, but on arriving at Louisville, where Gen. Clark was
in command, he was ransomed, and he reached home only three
days after the arrival of Rue, Both these men lived to a good old
age, terminating their lives at their home about two miles south ot
Richmond, Ind.

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EXPEDITIONS OF COL. GEORGE ROGERS CLARK.
In the summer of 1778, Col. George Rogers Clark, a native of
Albemarle county, Va., led a memorable expedition against the
ancient French settlements about Kaskaskia and Post Vincennes.
With respect to the magnitude of its design, the valor and perse
verance with which it was carried on, and the memorable results
which were produced by it, this expedition stands without a parallel
in the early annals of the valley of the Mississippi. That portion
of the West called Kentucky was occupied by Henderson & Co.,
who pretended to own the land and who held it at a high price.
Col. Clark wished to test the validity of their claim and adjust the
government of the country so as to encourage immigration. He
accordingly called a meeting of the citizens at Harrodstown, to
assemble June 6, 1776, and consider the claims of the company and
consult with reference to the interest of the country. He did not
at first publish the exact aim of this movement, lest parties would
be formed in advance and block the enterprise; also, if the object
of the meeting were not announced beforehand, the curiosity of the
people to know what was to be proposed would bring out a much
greater attendance.
The meeting was held on the day appointed, and delegates were
elected to treat with the government of Virginia, to see whether
it would be best to become a county in that State and be protected
by it, etc. Various delays on account of the remoteness of the
white settlers from the older communities of Virginia and the hos
tility of Indians in every direction, prevented a consummation of
this object until some time in 1778. The government of Virginia
was ftiendly to Clark's enterprise to a certain extent, but claimed
that they had not authority to do much more than to lend a little
assistance for which payment should be made at some future time,
as it was not certain whether Kentucky would become a part of Vir
ginia or not. Gov. Henry and a few gentlemen were individually
BO hearty in favor of Clark's benevolent undertaking that they
assisted him all they could. Accordingly Mr. Clark organized his
expedition, keeping every particular secret lest powerful parties
would form in the West against him. He took in stores at Pitts-
(52)

^

sr

Q  .^

'-4^-

GEN. GEORGE ROGERS CLARK

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HISTORY OF INDIANA. 65
burg and Wheeling, proceeded down the Ohio to the " Falls,"
where he took possession of an island of a about seven acres, and
divided it among a small number of families, for whose protection
he constructed some light fortifications. At this time Post Vin
cennes comprised about 400 militia, and it was a daring undertak
ing for Col. Clark, with his small force, to go up against it and Kas
kaskia, as he had planned. Indeed, some of his men, on hearing of
his plan, deserted him. He conducted himself so as to gain the
sympathy of the French, and through them also that of the
Indians to some extent, as both these people were very bitter
against the British, who had possession of the Lake Region.
From the nature of the situation Clark concluded it was best to
take Kaskaskia first. The fact that the people .regarded him as a
savage rebel, he regarded as really a good thing in his favor; for
after the first victory he would show them so much unexpected
lenity that they would rally to his standard. In this policy he was
indeed successful. He arrested a few men and put them in irons.
The priest of the village, accompanied by five or six aged citizens,
waited on Clark and said that the inhabitants expected to be separ
ated, perhaps never to meet again, and they begged to be permitted
to assemble in their church to take leave of each other. Clark
mildly replied that he had nothing against their religion, that they
might continue to assemble in their church, but not venture out of
town, etc. Thus, by what has since been termed the "Rarey"
method of taming horses, Clark showed them he had power over
them but designed them no harm, and they readily took the oath
of allegiance to Virginia.
After Clark's arrival at Kaskaskia it was difficult to induce the
French settlers to accept the "Continental paper" introduced by
him and his troops. Nor until Col. Vigo arrived there and guar
anteed its redemption would they receive it. Peltries and piastres
formed the only currency, and Vigo found great difficulty in ex
plaining Clark's financial arrangements. "Their commandants
never made money," was the reply to Vigo's explanation of the
policy of the old Dominion. But notwithstanding the guarantees,
the Continental paper fell very low in the market. Vigo had a
trading establishment at Kaskaskia, where he sold coffee at one
dollar a pound, and all the other necessaries of life at an equally
reasonable price. The unsophisticated Frenchmen were generally
asked in what kind of money they would pay their little bills.

\'

56

HISTORY OF INDIANA.

"Douleur," was the general reply; and as an authority on the sub
ject says, "It took about twenty Continental dollars to purchase a
silver dollar's worth of coffee; and as the French word "douleur" sig
nifies grief or pain, perhaps no word either in the French or Eng
lish languages expressed the idea more correctly than the douleur
for a Continental dollar. At any rate it was truly douleur to the
Colonel, for he never received a single dollar in exchange for the
larsre amount taken from him in order to sustain Clark's credit.
Now, the post at Vincennes, defended by Fort Sackville, came
next. The priest just mentioned, Mr. Gibault, was really friendly
to " the American interest;" he had spiritual charge of the church
at Vincennes, and he with several others were deputed to assemble
the people there and authorize them to garrison their own fort like
a free and independent people, etc. This plan had its desired effect,
and the people took the oath of allegiance to the State of Virginia
and became citizens of the United States. Their style of language
and conduct changed to a better hue, and they surprised the numer
ous Indians in the vicinity by displaying anew flag and informing
them that their old father, the King of France, was come to life
again, and was mad at them for fighting the English; and they ad
vised them to make peace with the Americans as soon as they
could, otherwise they ftiight expect to make the land very bloody,
etc. The Indians, concluded they would have to fall in line, and
they offered no resistance. Capt. Leonard Helm, an American,
was left in charge of this post, and Clark began to turn his atten
tion to other points. But before leaving this section of the coun
try he made treaties of peace with the Indians ; this he did, how
ever, by a different method from what had always before been
followed. By indirect methods he caused them to come to him,
instead of going to them. He was convinced that inviting them to
treaties was considered by them in a different manner from what
the whites expected, and imputed them to fear, and that giving
them great* presents confirmed it. He accordingly established
treaties with the Piankeshaws, Ouiatenons, Kickapoos, Illinois,
Kaskaskias, Peorias and branches of some other tribes that inhab
ited the country between Lake Michigan and the Mississippi.'
Upon this the General Assembly of the State of Virginia declared
;all the citizens settled west of the Ohio organized into a county of
that State, to be known as "Illinois" county; but before the pro
visions of the law could be carried into effect, Henry Hamilton, the
British Lieutenant-Governor of Detroit, collected an army of about

^!

HISTORY OF INDIANA; 57
¦ 30 regulars, 50 French volunteers and 400 Indians, went down and
re-took the post Vincennes in December, 1778. No attempt was
made by the population to defend the town. Capt. Helm and a
man named Henry were the only Americans at the fort, the only
members of the garrison. Capt. Helm was taken prisoner and a
number of the French inhabitants disarmed.
Col. Clark, hearing of the situation, determined to re-capture the
place. He accordingly gathered together what force he could in
this distant land, 170 men, and on the 5th of February, started from
Kaskaskia and crossed the river of that name. The weather was
very wet, and the low lands were pretty well covered with water.
The march was difficult, and the Colonel had to work hard to keep
his men in spirits. He suffered them to shoot game whenever they
wished and eat it like Indian war-dancers, each company by turns
inviting the others to their feasts, which was the case every night.
Clark waded through water as much as any of them, and thus stimu
lated the men by his example. They reached the Little Wabash
on the 13th, after suffering many and great hardships. Here a camp
was formed, and without waiting to discuss plans for crossing the
river, Clark ordered the men to construct a vessel, and pretended
that crossing the stream would be only a piece of amusement, al
though inwardly he held a different opinion.
The second day afterward a reconnoitering party was sent across
the river, who returned and made an encouraging report. A scaf
folding was built on the opposite shore, upon which the baggage
was placed as it was tediously ferried over, and the new camping
ground was a nice half acre of dry land. There were many amuse
ments, indeed, in getting across the river, which put all the men in
high spirits. The succeeding two or three days they had to march
through a great deal of water, having on the night of the 17th to
encamp in the water, near the Big Wabash.
At daybreak on the 18th they heard the signal gun at Vincennes,
and at once commenced their march. Reaching the Wabash about
two o'clock, they constructed rafts to cross the river on a boat-steal
ing expedition, but labored all day and night to no purpose. On
the 19th they began to make a canoe, in which a second attempt to
steal boats was made, but this expedition returned, reporting that
there were two "large fires" within a mile of them. Clark sent a
canoe down the river to meet the vessel that was supposed to be on
her way up with the supplies, with orders to hasten forward day and
night. This was their last hope, as their provisions were entirely

V

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58

HISTORY OF INDIANA.

gone, and starvation seemed to be hovering about them. The next
day they commenced to make more canoes, when about noon the
sentinel on the river brought a boat with five Frenchmen from the
fort. From this party they learned that they were not as yet dis
covered. All the army crossed the river in two canoes the next
day, and as Clark had determined to reach the town that night, he
ordered his men to move forward. They plunged into the water
sometimes to the neck, for over three miles.
Without food, benumbed with cold, up to their waists in water,
covered with broken ice, the men at one time mutinied and refused
to march. All the persuasions of Clark had no effect upon the
half-starved and half-frozen soldiers. In one company was a small
drummer boy, and also a sergeant who stood six feet two inches in
socks, and stout and athletic. He was devoted to Clark. The Gen
eral mounted the little drummer on the shoulders of the stalwart
sergeant and ordered him to plunge into the water, half -frozen as it
was. He did so, the little boy beating the charge from his lofty
perch, while Clark, sword in hand, followed them, giving the com
mand as he threw aside the floating ice, "Forward." Elated and
amused with the scene, the men promptly obeyed, holding their
rifles above their heads, and in spite of all the obstacles they reached
the high land in perfect safety. But for this and the ensuing days
of this campaign we quote from Clark's account:
" This last day's march through the water was far superior to any
thing the Frenchmen had any idea of. They were backward in
speaking; said that the nearest land to us was a small league, a
sugar camp on the bank of the river. A canoe was sent off and re
turned without finding that we could pass. I went in her myself
and sounded the water and found it as deep as to my neck. I returned
with a design to have the men transported on board the canoes to
the sugar camp, which I knew would expend the whole day and en
suing night, as the vessels would pass slowly through the bushes.
The loss of so much time to men half starved was a matter of con
sequence. I would have given now a great deal for a da3''s provis
ion, or for one of our horses. I returned but slowly to the troops,
giving myself time to think. On our arrival all ran to hear what
was the report; every eye was fixed on me; I unfortunately spoke
in a serious manner to one of the officers. The whole were alarmed
without knowing what I said. I viewed their confusion for about
one minute; I whispered to those near me to do as I did, immedi
ately put some water in my hand, poured on powder, blackened my

3 >

!^>^ — "     ---"i".
HISTORY OF INDIANA. 59
face, gave the war-whoop, and marched into the water without say
ing a word. The party gazed and fell in, one after another without
saying a word, like a fiock of sheep. I ordered those near me to
begin a favorite song of theirs; it soon passed through the line, and
the whole went on cheerfully.
" I now intended to have them transported across the deepest
part of the water; but when about waist-deep, one of the men in
formed me that he thought he felt a path; we examined and found
it so, and concluded that it kept on the highest ground, which it did,
and by taking pains to follow it, we got to the sugar camp with no
difficulty, where there was about half an acre of dry ground, — at
least ground not under water, and there we took up our lodging.
******
" The night had been colder than any we had had, and the ice in
the morning was one-half or three-quarters of an inch thick in still
water; the morning was the finest. A little after sunrise I lectured
the whole; what I said to them I forget, but I concluded by in
forming them that passing the plain then in full view, and
reaching the opposite woods would put an end to their fatigue;
that in a few hours they would have a sight of their long wished-for
object; and immediately stepped into the water without waiting
for any reply. A huzza took place. As we generally marched
through the water in a line, before the third man entered, I called to
Major Bowman, ordering him to fall in the rear of the 25 men, and
put to death any man who refused to march. This met with a cry
of approbation, and on we went. Getting about the middle of the
plain, the water about mid-deep, I found myself sensibly failing;
and as there were no trees nor bushes for the men to support them
selves by, I feared that many of the weak would be drowned. I or
dered the canoes to make the land, discharge their loading, and play
backward and forward with all diligence and pick up the men ; and
to encourage the party, sent some of the strongest men forward,
with orders when they got to a certain distance, to pass the word
back that the water was getting shallow, and when getting near the
woods, to cry out land. This stratagem had its desired effect; the
men exerted themselves almost beyond their abilities, the weak
holding by the stronger. The water, however, did not become
shallower, but continued deepening. Getting to the woods where
the men expected land, the water was up to my shoulders; but
gaining the woods was of great consequence; all the low men and
weakly hung to the trees and floated on the old logs until they were
Ji • -- 

60 HISTORY OF INDIANA.
taken off by the canoes; the strong and tall got ashore and built
fires. Many would reach the shore and fall with their bodies half
in the water, not being able to support themselves without it.
"This was a dry and delightful spot of ground of about ten acres.
Fortunately, as if designed by Providence, a canoe of Indian squaws
and children was coming up to town, and took through this part of
the plain as a nigh way ; it was discovered by our canoe-men as they
were out after the other men. They gave chase and took the Indian
canoe, on board of which was nearly half a quarter of buffalo, some
corn, tallow, kettles, etc. This was an invaluable prize. Broth was
immediately made and served out, especially to the weakly; nearly
all of \is got a little; but a great many gave their part to the
weakly, saying something cheering to their comrades. By the
afternoon, this refreshment and fine weather had greatly invigor
ated the whole party.
" Crossing a narrow and deep lake in the canoes, and marching
some distance, we came to a copse of timber called ' Warrior's
Island.' We were now in full view of the fort and town; it was
about two miles distant, with not a shrub intervening. Every man
now feasted his eyes and forgot that he had suffered anything, say
ing that all which had passed was owing to good policy, and noth
ing but what a man could bear, and that a soldier had no right to
think, passing from one extreme to the other, — which is common in
such cases. And now stratagem was necessary. The plain between
us and the town was not a perfect level ; the sunken grounds were
covered with water full of ducks. We observed several men within
a half a mile of us shooting ducks, and sent out some of our active
young Frenchmen to take one of these men prisoners without
alarming the rest, which they did. The information we got from
this person was similar to that which we got from those taken on the
river, except that of the British having that evening completed the
wall of the fort, and that there were a great many Indians in town.
" Our situation was now critical. No possibility of retreat in
case of defeat, and in full view of a town containing at this time
more than 600 men, troops, inhabitants and Indians. The crew of the
galley, though not 60 men, would have been now a re-enforcement
of immense magnitude to our little army, if I may so call it, but
we would not think of them. We were now in the situation that I
had labored to get ourselves in. The idea of being made prisoner
was foreign to almost every man, as they expected nothing but tor
ture from the savages if they fell into their hands. Our fate was

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HISTORY OF INDIANA. 61
now to be determined, probably in a few hours; we knew that
nothing but the most daring conduct would insure success^ I knew
also that a number of the inhabitants wished us well. This was a
favorable circumstance; and as there was but little prooability of our
remaining until dark undiscovered, I determined to begin opera
tions immediately, and therefore wrote the following placard to the
inhabitants: To the Inhabitants of Post Vincennes:
Gentlemen: — Being now within two miles of your village with
my army, determined to take your fort this night, and not being
willing to surprise you, I take this method to request such of you
as are true citizens and willing to enjoy the liberty I bring you, to
remain still in your houses; and those, if any there be, that are
friends to the king, will instantly repair to the fort and join the
hair-buyer general and fight like men ; and if any such as do not go
to the fort shall be discovered afterward, they may depend on
severe punishment. On the contrary, those who are true friends
to liberty may depend on being well treated; and I once more
request them to keep out of the streets; for everyone I find in
arms on my arrival I shall treat as an enemy.
[Signed] G. R. Clark.
I had various ideab on the results of this letter. I knew it
could do us no damage, but that it would cause the lukewarm to
be decided, and encourage our friends and astonish our enemies.
We anxiously viewed this messenger until he entered the town, and
in a few minutes we discovered b}' our glasses some stir in every
street we could penetrate, and great numbers running or riding out
into the commons, we supposed to view us, which was the case.
But what surprised U6 was that nothing had yet happened that had
the appearance of the garrison being alarmed, — neither gun nor
drum. We began to suppose that the information we got from our
prisoners was false, and that the enemy had already knew of us and
were prepared- A little before sunset we displayed ourselves in
full view of the town, — crowds gazing at us. We were plunging
ourselves into certain destruction or success ; there was no midway
thought of. We had but little to say to our men, except inculcat
ing an idea of the necessity of obedience, etc. We moved on
slowly in full view of the town; but as it was a point of some con
sequence to us to make ourselves appear formidable, we, in leaving
the covert we were in, marched and counter- marched in such a
manner that we appeared numerous. Our colors were displayed to
the best advantage; %nd as the low plain we marched through was

•^1

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go HISTORY OF INDIANA.
not a perfect level, but had frequent risings in it, of 7 or 8
higher than the common level, which was covered with water; and
as these risings generally run in an oblique direction to the town,
we took the advantage of one of them, marching through the water
by it which completely prevented our being numbered. We gained
the hei-hts back of the town. As there were as yet no hostile
appearance, we were impatient to have the cause unriddled. Lieut.
Bayley was ordered with 14 men to march and fire on the fort;
the main body moved in a different direction and took possession
of the strongest part of the town."
Clark then sent a written order to Hamilton commanding
him to surrender immediately or he would be treated as a
murderer; Hamilton replied that he and his garrison were not
disposed to be awed into any action unworthy of British sub
jects. After one hour more of fighting, Hamilton proposed a
truce of three days for conference, on condition that each side
cease all defensive work; Clark rejoined that he would "not
agree to any terms other than Mr. Hamilton surrendering himself
and garrison prisoners at discretion," and added that if he, Hamil
ton, wished to talk with him he could meet him immediately at the
church with Capt. Helm. In less than an hour Clark dictated the
terms of surrender, Feb. 24, 1779. Hamilton agreed to the total
surrender because, as he there claimed in writing, he was too far
from aid from his own government, and because of the " unanimity"
of his officers in the surrender, and his "confidence in a generous
enemy." "Of this expedition, of its results, of its importance, of the merits of
those engaged in it, of their bravery, their skill,, of their prudence, of
their success, a volume would not more than suffice for the details.
Suffice it to say that in my opinion, and I have accurately and criti
cally weighed and examined all the results produced by the con
tests in which we were engaged during the Revolutionary war,
that for bravery, for hardships endured, for skill and consummate
tact and prudence on the part of the commander, obedience, dis
cipline and love of country on the part of his followers, for the
immense benefits acquired, and signal advantages obtained by it
for the whole union, it was second to no enterprise undertaken dur
ing that struggle. I might add, second to no undertaking in an
cient or modern warfare. The whole credit of this conquest be
longs to two men; Gen. George Rogers Clark and Col. Francis
Vigo. And when we consider that by it the whole territory now

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HISTORY OF INDIANA. 63
covered by the three great states of Indiana, Illinois and Michigan
Wiis added to the union, and so admitted to be by the British commis
sioners at the preliminaries to the treaty of peace in 1783; (and but
for this very conquest, the boundaries of our territories west would
have been the Ohio instead of the Mississippi, and so acknowledged
by both our commissioners and the British at that conference;) a
territory embracing upward of 2,000,000 people, the human mind
is lost in the contemplation of its effects; and we can but wonder
that a force of 170 men, the whole number of Clark's troops,
should by this single action have produced such important results."
[John Law.
The next day Clark sent a detachment of 60 men up the river
Wabash to intercept some boats which were laden with provisions
and goods from Detroit. This force was placed under command of
Capt. Helm, Major Bosseron and Major Legras, and they proceeded
up the river, in three armed boats, about 120 miles, when the
British boats, about seven in number, were surprised and captured
without firing a gun. These boats, which had on board about
$50,000 worth of goods and provisions, were manned by about
40 men, among whom was Philip Dejean, a magistrate of Detroit.
The provisions were taken for the public, and distributed among
the soldiery.
Having organized a military government at Vincennes and
appointed Capt. Helm commandant of the town. Col. Clark return
ed in the vessel to Kaskaskia, where he was joined by reinforce
ments from Kentucky under Capt. George. Meanwhile, a party of
traders who were going to the falls, were killed and plundered by
the Dela wares of White River; the news of this disaster having
reached Clark, he sent a dispatch to Capt. Helm ordering him to
make war on the Delawares and use every means in his power to
destroy them; to show no mercy to the men, but to save the
women and children. This order was executed without delay.
Their camps were attacked in every quarter where they could be
found. Many fell, and others were carried to Post Vincennes and
put to death. The surviving Delawares at once pleaded for mercy
and appeared anxious to make some atonement for their bad con
duct. To these overtures Capt. Helm replied that Col. Clark, the
" Big Knife," had ordered the war, and that he had no power to lay
down the hatchet, but that he would suspend hostilities until a
messenger could be sent to Kaskaskia. This was done, and the
crafty Colonel, well understanding the Indian character, sent a

"TH

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64

HISTORY OF INDIANA.

message to the Delawares, telling them that he would not accept
their friendship or treat with them for peace; but that if they
could get some of the neighboring tribes to become responsible for
their future conduct, he would discontinue the war and spare their
lives; otherwise they must all perish.
Accordingly a council was called of all the Indians in the neigh
borhood, and Clark's answer was read to the assembly.. After due
deliberation the Piankeshaws took on themselves to answer for the
future good conduct of the Delawares, and the " Grand Door " in a
long speech denounced their base conduct. This ended the war
with the Delawares and secured the respect of the neighboring
tribes Clark's attention was next turned to the British post at Detroit,
but being unable to obtain sufficient troops he abandoned the en
terprise. Clark's ingenious euse against the Indians.
Tradition says that when Clark captured Hamilton and his gar
rison at Fort Sackville, he took possession of the fort and kept ttie
British flag flying, dressed his sentinels with the uniform of the
British soldiery, and let everything about the premises remain as
they were, so that when the Indians sympathizing with the British
arrived they would walk right into the citadel, into the jaws of
death. His success was perfect. Sullen and silent, with the scalp-
lock of his victims hanging at his girdle, and in full expectatiou of
his reward from Hamilton, the unwary savage, unconscious of
danger and wholly ignorant of the change that had just been effected
in his absence, passed the supposed British sentry at the gate of the
fort unmolested and unchallenged; but as soon as in, a volley from
the rifles of a platoon of Clark's men, drawn up and awaiting his
coming, pierced their hearts and sent the unconscious savage, reek
ing with murder, to that tribunal to which he had so frequently,
by order of the hair- buyer general, sent his American captives,
from the infant in the cradle to the grandfather of the family, tot
tering with age and infirmity. It was a just retribution, and few
men but Clark would have planned such a ruse or carried it out
successfully. It is reported that fifty Indians met this fate within
the fort; and probably Hamilton, a prisoner there, witnessed it all.
SUBSEQUENT CAREER OF HAMILTON.
Henry Hamilton, who had acted as Lieutenant and Governor of
the British possessions under Sir George Carleton, was sent for-

^jli ^  <¦> J-
HISTORY OF INDIANA. 65
ward, with two other prisoners of war, Dejean and LaMothe, to
Williamsburg, Va., early in June following, 1779. Proclamations,
in his own handwriting, were found, in which he had offered a
specific sum for every American scalp brought into the camp, either
by his own troops or his allies, the Indians; and from this he was
denominated the "hair-buyer General." This and much other tes
timony of living witnesses at the time, all showed what a savage he
was. Thomas Jefferson, then Governor of Virginia, being made
aware of the inhumanity of this wretch, concluded to resort to a
little retaliation by way of closer confinement. Accordingly he
ordered that these three prisoners be put in irons, confined in a
dungeon, deprived of the use of pen, ink and paper, and be ex
cluded from all conversation except with their keeper. Major
General Phillips, a British officer out on parole in the vicinity of
Charlottesville, where the prisoners now were, in closer confine
ment, remonstrated, and President Washington, while approving
of Jefferson's course, requested a mitigation of the severe order,
lest the British be goaded to desperate measures.
Soon afterward Hamilton was released on parole, and he subse
quently appeared in Canada, still acting as if he had jurisdiction
in the United States. GIBAULT .
The faithful, self-sacrificing and patriotic services of Father
Pierre Gibault in behalf of the Americans require a special notice
of him in this connection. He was the parish priest at Vincennes,
as well as at Kaskaskia. He was, at an early period, a Jesuit mis
sionary to the Illinois. Had it not been for the influence of this man,
Clark could not have obtained the infiuence of the citizens at either
place. He gave all his property, to the value of 1,500 Spanish
milled dollars, to the support of Col. Clark's troops, and never re
ceived a single dollar in return. So far as the records inform us,
he was given 1,500 Continental paper dollars, which proved in the
end entirely valueless. He modestly petitioned from the Govern
ment a small allowance of land at Cahokia, but we find no account
of his ever receiving it. He was dependent upon the public in his
older days, and in 1790 Winthrop Sargent "conceded" to him a lot
of about "14 toises, one side to Mr. Millet, another to Mr. Vaudrey^
and to two streets," — a vague description of land.

¦i' i

j I 66 HISTORY OF INDIANA.

VIGO.

Col. Francis Vigo was born in Mondovi, in the kingdom of Sar
dinia, in 1747. He left his parents and guardians at a very early
age, and enlisted in a Spanish regiment as a soldier. The regiment
was ordered to Havana, and a detachment of it subsequently to
New Orleans, then a Spanish post ; Col. Vigo accompanied this de
tachment. But he left the army and engaged in trading with the
Indians on the Arkansas and its tributaries. Next he settled at St.
Louis, also a Spanish post, where he became closely connected, both
in friendship and business, with the Governor of Upper Louisiana,
then residing at the same place. This friendship he enjoyed, though
he could only write his name; and we have many circumstantial
evidences that he was a man of high intelligence, honor, purity of
heart, and ability. Here he was living when Clark captured Kas
kaskia, and was extensively engaged in trading up the Missouri.
A Spaniard by birth and allegiance, he was under no obligation
to assist the Americans. Spain was at peace with Great Britain,
and any interference by her citizens was a breach of neutrality, and
subjected an individual, especially one of the high character and
standing of Col. Vigo, to all the contumely, loss and vengeance
which British power could inflict. But Col. Vigo did not falter.
With an innate love of liberty, an attachment to Republican prin
ciples, and an ardent sympathy for an oppressed people struggling
for their rights, he overlooked all personal consequences, and as
soon as he learned of Clark's arrival at Kaskaskia, he crossed the
line and went to Clark and tendered him his means and infiuence,
both of which were joyfully accepted.
Knowing Col. Vigo's influence with the ancient inhabitants of
the country, and desirous of obtaining some information from
Vincennes, from which he had not heard for several months. Col.
Clark proposed to him that he might go to that place and learn the
actual state of affairs. Vigo went without hesitation, but on the
Embarrass river he was seized by a party of Indians, plundered of
all he possessed, and brought a prisoner before Hamilton, then in pos
session of the post, which he had a short time previously captured,
holding Capt. Helm a prisoner of war. Being a Spanish subject,
and consequently a non-combatant. Gov. Hamilton, although he
strongly suspected the motives of the visit, dared not confine him,
but admitted him to parole, on the single condition that he
should daily report himself at the fort. But Hamilton was embar-

^ i

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HISTORY OF INDIANA.

67

rassed by his detention, being besieged by the inhabitants of the
town, who loved Vigo and threatened to withdraw their support
from the garrison if he would not release him. Father Gibault was
the chiefpleader for Vigo's release. Hamilton finally yielded, on con
dition that he, Vigo, would do no injury to the British interests on
his way to St. Louis. He went to St. Louis, sure enough, doing no
injury to British interests, but immediately returned to Kaskaskia
and reported to Clark in detail all he had learned at Vincennes,
without which knowledge Clark would have been unable to ac
complish his famous expedition to that post with final triumph.
The redemption of this country from the British is due as much,
probably, to Col. Vigo as Col. Clark.
GOVERNMENT OF THE NORTHWEST.
Col. John Todd, Lieutenant for the county of Illinois, in the
spring of 1779 visited the old settlements at Vincennes and Kas
kaskia, and organized temporary civil governments in nearly all the
settlements west of the Ohio. Previous to this, however, Clark
had established a military government at Kaskaskia and Vincennes,
appointed commandants in both places and taken up his headquar
ters at the falls of the Ohio, where he could watch the operations
of the enemy and save the frontier settlements from the depreda
tions of Indian warfare. On reaching the settlements. Col. Todd
issued a proclamation regulating the settlement of unoccupied
lands and requiring the presentation of all claims to the lands set
tled, as the number of adventurers who would shortly overrun the
country would be serious. He also organized a Court of civil and
criminal jurisdiction at Vincennes, in the month of June, 1779.
This Court was composed of several magistrates and presided over
by Col. J. M. P. Legras, who had been appointed commandant at
Vincennes. Acting from the precedents established by the early
French commandants in the West, this Court began to grant tracts
of land to the French and American inhabitants; and to the year
1783, it had granted to different parties about 26,000 acres of land;
22,000 more was granted in this manner by 1787, when the practice
was prohibited by Gen. Harmer. These tracts varied in size from
a house lot to 500 acres. Besides this loose business, the Court
entered into a stupendous speculation, one not altogether creditable
to its honor and dignity. The commandant and the magistrates
under him suddenly adopted the opinion that they were invested

Is

jMs^

±k^

68 HISTORY OF INDIANA.
with the authority to dispose of the whole of that large region
which in 1842 had been granted by the Piankeshaws to the French
inhabitants of Vincennes. Accordingly a very convenient arrange
ment was entered into by which the whole tract of country men
tioned was to be divided between the members of the honorable
Court. A record was made to that effect, and in order to gloss over
the steal, each member took pains to be absent from Court on the
day that the order was made in his favor.
In the fall of 1780 La Balme, a Frenchman, made an attempt to
capture the British garrison of Detroit by leading au expedition
against it from Kaskaskia. At the head of 30 men he marched to
Vincennes, where his force was slightly increased. From this
place he proceeded to the British trading post at the head of the
Maumee, where Fort Wayne now stands, plundered the British
traders and Indians and then retired. While encamped on the
bank of a small stream on his retreat, he was attacked by a band
of Miamis, a number of his men were killed, and his expedition
against Detroit was ruined.
In this manner border war continued between Americans and
their enemies, with varying victory, until 1783, when the treaty of
Paris was concluded, resulting in the establishment of the inde
pendence of the United States. Up to this time the territory now
included in Indiana belonged by conquest to the State of Virginia;
but in January, 1783, the General Assembly of that State resolved
to cede to the Congress of the United States all the territory north
west of the Ohio. The conditions offered by Virginia were
accepted by Congress Dec. 20, that year, and early in 1784 the
transfer was completed. In 1783 Virginia had platted the town of
Clarksville, at the falls of the Ohio. The deed of cession provided
that the territory should be laid out into States, containing a suita
ble extent of territory not less than 100 nor more than 150 miles
square, or as near thereto as circumstances would permit; and that
the States so formed shall be distinct Republican States and
admitted members of the Federal Union, having the same rights of
sovereignty, freedom and independence as the other States. The
other conditions of the deed were as follows: That the necessary
and reasonable expenses incurred by Virginia in subduing any
British posts, or in maintaining forts and gai'risons within and for
the defense, or in acquiring any part of the territory so ceded or
relinquished, shall be fully reimbursed by the United States; that
the French and Canadian inhabitants and other settlers of the Kas-

^

M'^   - —
HISTORY OF INDIANA. 69
kaskia. Post Vincennes and the neighboring villages who have pro
fessed themselves citizens of Virginia, shall have their titles and
possessions confirmed to them, and be protected in the enjoyment
of their rights and privileges; that a quantity not exceeding 150,-
000 acres of land, promised by Virginia, shall be allowed and
granted to the then Colonel, now General, George Rogers Clark,
and to the officers and soldiers of his regiment, who marched with
him when the posts and of Kaskaskia and Vincennes were reduced,
and to the officers and soldiers that have been since incorporated
into the said regiment, to be laid off in one tract, the length of
which not to exceed double the breadth, in such a place on the
northwest side of the Ohio as a majority of the officers shall
choose, and to be afterward divided among the officers and soldiers
in due proportion according to the laws of Virginia; that in case
the quantity of good lands on the southeast side of the Ohio, upon
the waters of Cumberland river, and between Green river and Ten.
nessee river, which have been reserved by law for the Virginia
troops upon Continental establishment, should, from the North
Carolina line, bearing in further upon the Cumberland lands than
was expected, prove insufficient for their legal bounties, the defi
ciency shall be made up to the said troops in good lands to be laid
off between the rivers Scioto and Little Miami, on the northwest
side of the river Ohio, in such proportions as have been engaged
to them by the laws of Virginia; that all the lands within the ter
ritory so ceded to the United States, and not reserved for or appro
priated to any of the before-mentioned purposes, or disposed of in
, bounties to the officers and soldiers of the American army, shall be
considered as a common fund for the use and benefit of such of the
United States as have become, or shall become, members of the
confederation or federal alliance of the said States, Virginia included,
according to their usual respective proportions in the general
charge and expenditure, and shall be faithfully and bona fide dis
posed of for that purpose and for no other use or purpose whatever.
After the above deed of cession had been accepted by Congress,
in the spring of 1784, the matter of the future government of the
territory was referred to a committee consisting of Messrs. Jeffer
son of Virginia, Chase of Maryland and Howell of Rhode Island,
which committee reported an ordinance for its government, provid
ing, among other things, that slavery should not exist in said terri
tory after 1800, except as punishment of criminals ; but this article
of the ordinance was rejected, and an ordinance for the temporary
*^8  ~ ^  sfT

70 HISTORY OF INDIANA.
government of the county was adopted. In 1785 laws were passed
by Congress for the disposition of lands in the territory and pro
hibiting the settlement of unappropriated lands by reckless specu
lators. But human passion is ever strong enough to evade the law
to some extent, and large associations, representing considerable
means, were formed for the purpose of monopolizing the land busi
ness. Millions of acres were sold at one time by Congress to asso
ciations on the installment plan, and so far as the Indian titles
could be extinguished, the work of settling and improving the
lands was pushed rapidly forward.
ORDINANCE OF 1787.
This ordinance has a marvelous and interesting history. Con
siderable controversy has been indulged in as to who is entitled to
the credit for framing it. This belongs, undoubtedly, to Nathan
Dane; and to Rufus King and Timothy Pickering belong the
credit for suggesting the proviso contained in it against slavery,
and also for aids to religion and knowledge, and for assuring for
ever the common use, without charge, of the great national high
ways of the Mississippi, the St. Lawrence and their tributaries to
all the citizens of the United States. To Thomas Jefferson is also
due much credit, as some features of this ordinance were embraced
in his ordinance of 1784. But the part taken by each in the long,
laborious and eventful struggle which had so glorious a consum
mation in the ordinance, consecrating forever, by one imprescript
ible and unchangeable monument, the very heart of our country to
Freedom, Knowledge, and Union, will forever honor the names of
those illustrious statesmen.
Mr. Jefferson had vainly tried to secure a system of government
for the Northwestern territory. He was an emancipationist and
favored the exclusion of slavery from the territory, but the South
voted him down every time he proposed a measure of this nature.
In 1787, as late as July 10, an organizing act without the anti-
slavery clause was pending. This concession to the South was
expected to carry it. Congress was in session in New York. On
July 5, Rev. Manasseh Cutler, of Massachusetts, came into New
York to lobby on the Northwestern territory. Everything seemed
to fall into his hands. Events were ripe. The state of the public
credit, the growing of Southern prejudice, the basis of his mission,
his personal character, all combined to complete one of those sudden

¦J,

HISTORY OF INDIANA. 71
and marvelous revolutions of public sentiment that once in five or
ten centuries are seen to sweep over a country like the breath of the
Almighty. Cutler was a graduate of Yale. He had studied and taken de
grees in the three learned professions, medicine, law, and divinity.
He had published a scientific examination of the plants of New
England. As a scientist in America his name stood second only to
that of Franklin. He was a courtly gentleman of the old style, a
man of commanding presence and of inviting face. The Southern
members said they had never seen such a gentleman in the North.
He came representing a Massachusetts company that desired to
purchase a tract of land, now included in Ohio, for the purpose of
planting a colony. It was a speculation. Government money was
worth eighteen cents on the dollar. This company had collected
enough to purchase 1,500,000 acres of land. Other speculators in
New York made Dr. Cutler .their agent, which enabled him to
represent a demand for 5,500,000 acres. As this would reduce the
national debt, and Jefferson's policy was to provide for the public
credit, it presented a good opportunity to do something.
Massachusetts then owned the territory of Maine, which she was
crowding on the market. She was opposed to opening the North
western region. This fired the zeal of Virginia. The South caught
the inspiration, and all exalted Dr. Cutler. The entire South ral.
lied around him. Massachusetts could not vote against him, be
cause many of the constuitents of her members were interested
personally in the Western speculation. Thus Cutler, making
friends in the South, and doubtless using all the arts of the lobby,
was enabled to command the situation. True to deeper convic
tions, he dictated one of the most compact and finished documents
of wise statesmanship that has ever adorned any human law book.
He borrowed from Jefferson the term "Articles of Compact," which,
preceding the federal constitution, rose into the most sacred char
acter. He then followed very closely the constitution of Massa
chusetts, adopted three years before. Its most prominent points
were: 1. The exclusion of slavery from the territory forever.
2. Provision for public schools, giving one township for a semi
nary and every section numbered 16 in each township; that is, one
thirty-sixth of all the land for public schools.
3. A provision prohibiting the adoption of any constitution or
the enactment of any law that should nullify pre-existing contracts.

^

72

HISTORY OF INDIANA.

Be it forever remembered that this compact declared that " re
ligion, morality, and knowledge being necessary to good govern
ment and the happiness of mankind, schools and the means of edu
cation shall always be encouraged." Dr. Cutler planted himself
on this platform and would not yield. Giving his unqualified dec
laration that it was that or nothing,— that unless they could make
the land desirable they did not want it, — he took his horse and buggy
and started for the constitutional convention at Philadelphia. On
July 13, 1787, the bill was put upon its passage, and was unani
mously adopted. Thus the great States of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois,
Michigan and Wisconsin, a vast empire, were consecrated to free
dom, intelligence, and morality. Thus the great heart of the nation
was prepared to save the union of States, for it was this act that was
the salvation of the republic and the destruction of slavery. Soon
the South saw their great blunder and tried to have the compact
repealed. In 1803 Congress referred it to a committee, of which
John Randolph was chairman. He reported that this ordinance
was a compact and opposed repeal. Thus it stood, a rock in the
way of the on-rushing sea of slavery.
The " Northwestern Territory " included of course what is now
the State of Indiana; and Oct 5, 1787, Maj. Gen. Arthur St. Clair
was elected by Congress Governor of this territory. Upon
commencing the duties of his office he was instructed to ascertain
the real temper of the Indians and do all in his power to remove
the causes for controversy between them and the United States,
and to effect the extinguishment of Indian titles to all the land
possible. The Governor took up quarters in the new settlement of
Marietta, Ohio, where he immediately began the organization of
the government of the territory. The first session of the General
Court of the new territory was held at that place in 1788, the
Judges being Samuel H. Parsons, James M. Varnum and John C.
Symmes, but under the ordinance Gov. St. Clair was President of
the Court. After the first session, and after the necessary laws for
government were adopted. Gov. St. Clair, accompanied by the
Judges, visited Kaskaskia for the purpose of organizing a civil gov
ernment there. Full instructions had been sent to Maj. Hamtramck,
commandant at Vincennes, to ascertain the exact feeling and temper
of the Indian tribes of the Wabash. These instructions were ac
companied by speeches to each of the tribes. A Frenchman named
Antoine Gamelin was dispatched with these messages April 5, 1790,
who visited nearly all the tribes on the Wabash, St. Joseph and St.

f*-- t

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Lk-v

HISTORY OF INDIANA. 73
Mary's rivers, but was coldly received; most of the chiefs being
dissatisfied with the policy of the Americans toward them, and
prejudiced through English misrepresentation. Full accounts of
his adventures among the tribes reached Gov. St. Clair at Kaskas
kia in June, 1790. Being satisfied that there was no prospect of
effecting a general peace with the Indians of Indiana, he resolved
to visit Gen. Harmar at his headquarters at Fort Washington and
consult with him on the means of carrying an expedition against
the hostile Indians; but before leaving he intrusted Winthrop
Sargent, the Secretary of the Territory, with the execution of the
resolutions of Congress regarding the lands and settlers on the
Wabash. He directed that officer to proceed to Vincennes, lay
out a county there, establish the militia and appoint the necessary
civil and military officers. Accordingly Mr. Sargent went to Vin
cennes and organized Camp Knox, appointed the officers, and noti
fied the inhabitants to present their claims to lands. In establish
ing these claims the settlers found great difficulty, and concerning
this matter the Secretary in his report to the President wrote as
follows :
" Although the lands and lots which were awarded to the inhabi
tants appeared from very good oral testimony to belong to those
persons to whom they were awarded, either by original grants, pur
chase or inheritance, yet there was scarcely one case in twenty
where the title was complete, owing to the desultory manner in
which public business had been transacted and some other unfor
tunate causes. The original concessions by the French and British
commandants were generally made upon a small scrap of paper,
which it has been customary to lodge in the notary's office, who
has seldom kept any book of record, but committed the most im
portant land concerns to loose sheets, which in process of time
have come into possession of persons that have fraudulently de
stroyed them; or, unacquainted with their consequence, innocently
lost or trifled them away. By French usage they are considered
family inheritances, and often descend to women and children. In
one instance, and during the government of St. Ange here, a royal
notary ran off with all the public papers in his possession, as by a
certificate produced to me. And I am very sorry further to observe
that in the office of Mr. Le Grand, which continued from 1777 to
1787, and where should have been the vouchers for important land
transactions, the records have been so falsified, and there is such
gross fraud and forgery, as to invalidate all evidence and informa
tion which I might have otherwise acquired from his papers."

-^

4
¦v' i- —  ®l^
r-- '^ ~ -_.—_-   — ::r— ^r  r:: — '-  rr — iSr-»--
—
j 74 HISTORY OP INDIANA.
; Mr. Sargent says there were about 150 French families at Vin-
i cennes in 1790. The heads of all these families had been at some
i time vested with certain titles to a portion of the soil ; and while
i I the Secretary was busy in straightening out these claims, he re
ceived a petition signed by 80 Americans, asking for the confirma
tion of grants of land ceded by the Court organized by Col. John
Todd under the authority of Virginia. With reference to this
cause, Congress, March 3, 1791, empowered the Territorial Governor,
in cases where land had been actually improved and cultivated
under a supposed grant for the same, to confirm to the persons who
made such improvements the lands supposed to have been granted,
not, however, exceeding the quantity of 400 acres to any one per
son. LIQUOR AND GAMING LAWS.
The General Court in the summer of 1790, Acting Governor
Sargent presiding, passed the following laws with reference to
vending liquor among the Indians and others, and with reference
to games of chance:
1. An act to prohibit the giving or selling intoxicating liquors
to Indians residing in or coming into the Territory of the United
States northwest of the river Ohio, and for preventing foreigners
from trading with Indians therein.
2. An act prohibiting the sale of spirituous or other intoxicat
ing liquors to soldiers in the service of the United States, being
within ten miles of any military post in the territory; and to pre
vent the selling or pawning of arms, ammunition, clothing or
accoutrements. 3. An act prohibiting every species of gaming for money or
property, and for making void contracts and payments made in
consequence thereof, and for restraining the disorderly practice
of discharging arms at certain hours and places.
Winthrop Sargent's administration was highly eulogized by the
citizens at Vincennes, in a testimonial drawn up and signed by a
committee of officers. He had conducted the investigation and
settlement of land claims to the entire satisfaction of the residents,
had upheld the principles of free government in keeping with the
animus of the American Revolution, and had established in good
order the machinery of a good and wise government. In the same
address Major Hamtramck also received a fair share of praise for
his judicious management of affairs.

.4._^

MILITARY HISTORY 1790-1800.
BXPEDFTIONS OF HARMAR, SCOTT AND WILKINSON.
Gov. St. Clair, on his arrival at Fort Washington from Kas
kaskia, had a long conversation with Gen. Harmar, and concluded
to send a powerful force to chastise the savages about the head
waters of the Wabash. He had been empowered by the President
to call on Virginia for 1,000 troops and on Pennsylvania for 500,
and he immediately availed himself of this resource, ordering 300
of the Virginia militia to muster at Fort Steuben and march with
the garrison of that fort to Vincennes, and join Maj. Hamtramck,
who had orders to call for aid from the militia of Vincennes, march
up the Wabash, and attack any of the Indian villages which he
might think he could overcome. The remaining 1,200 of the mi
litia were ordered to rendezvous at Fort Washington, and to join
the regular troops at that post under command of Gen. Harmar.
At this time the United States troops in the West were estimated
by Gen. Harmar at 400 effective men. These, with the militia,
gave him a force of 1,450 men. With this army Gen. Harmar
marched from Fort Washington Sept. 30, and arrived at the Mau
mee Oct. 17. They commenced the work of punishing the Indians,
but were not very successful. The savages, it is true, received a
severe scourging, but the militia behaved so badly as to be of little
or no service. A detachment of 340 militia and 60 regulars, under
the command of Col. Hardin, were sorely defeated on the Maumee
Oct.. 22. The next day the a^:my took up the line of march for
Fort Washington, which place they reached Nov. 4, having lost in
the expedition 183 killed and 31 wounded; the Indians lost about
as many. During the progress of this expedition Maj. Hamtramck
marched up the WabaSh from Vincennes, as far as the Vermillion
river, and destroyed several deserted villages, but without finding
an enemy to oppose him.
Although the savages seem to have been severely punished by
these expeditions, yet they refused to sue for peace, and continued
their hostilities. Thereupon the inhabitants of the frontier settle
ments of Virginia took alarm, and the delegates of Ohio, Monon-
(75)

76 HISTORY OF INDIANA.
gahela, Harrison, Randolph, Greenbrier, Kanawha and Mont
gomery counties sent a joint memorial to the Governor of Vir
ginia, saying that the defenseless condition of the counties, form
ing a line of nearly 400 miles along the Ohio river, exposed to the
hostile invasion of their Indian enemies, destitute of every kind of
support, was truly alarming; for, notwithstanding all the regula
tions of the General Government in that country, they have reason
to lament that they have been up to that time ineffectual for their
protection; nor indeed could it be otherwise, for the garrisons kept
by the Continental troops on the Ohio river, if of any use at all,
must protect only the Kentucky settlements, as they immediately
covered that country. They further stated in their memorial: "We
beg leave to observe that we have reason to fear that the conse
quences of the defeat of our army by the Indians in the late expe
dition will be severely felt on our frontiers, as there is no doubt
that the Indians will, i^n their turn, being flushed with victory, in
vade our settlements and exercise all their horrid murder upon the
inhabitants thereof whenever the weather will permit them to
travel. Then is it not better to support us where we are, be the ex
pense what it may, than to oblige such a number of your brave
citizens, who have so long supported, and still continue to support,
a dangerous frontier (although thousands of their relatives in the
flesh have in the prosecution thereof fallen a sacriflce to savage in
ventions) to quit the country, after all they have done and suffered,
when you know that a frontier must be supported somewhere?"
This memorial caused the Legislature of Virginia to authorize
the Governor of that State to make any defensive operations neces
sary for the temporary defense of the frontiers, until the general
Government could adopt and carry out measures to suppress the
hostile Indians. The Governor at once called upon the military
commanding officers in the western counties of Virginia to raise by
the first of March, 1791, several small companies of rangers for this
purpose. At the same time Charles Scott was appointed Brigadier-
General of the Kentucky militia, with authority to raise 226 vol
unteers, to protect the most exposed portions of that district. A
full report of the proceedings of the Virginia Legislature being
transmitted to Congress, that body constituted a local Board of
War for the district of Kentucky, consisting of five men. March 9,
1791, Gen. Henry Knox, Secretary of War, sent a letter of instruc
tions to Gen. Scott, recommending an expedition of mounted men
not exceeding 760, against the Wea towns on the Wabash. With

A=^

HISTORY OF INDIANA. 77

this force Gen. Scott accordingly crossed the Ohio, May 23, 1791,
and reached the Wabash in about ten days. Many of the Indians,
having discovered his approach, fied, but he succeeded in destroy
ing all the villages around Ouiatenon, together with several Kick
apoo towns, killing 32 warriors and taking 58 prisoners. He
released a few of the most infirm prisoners, giving them a " talk,"
which they carried to the towns farther up the Wabash, and which
the wretched condition of his horses prevented him from reaching.
March 3, 1791, Congress provided for raising and equipping a
regiment for the protection of the frontiers, and Gov. St. Clair was
invested with the chief command of about 3,000 troops, to be raised
and employed against the hostile Indians in the territory over
which his jurisdiction extended. He was instructed by the Secre
tary of War to march to the Miami village and establish a strong
and permanent military post there ; also such posts elsewhere along
the Ohio as would be in communication with Fort Washington.
The post at Miami village was intended to keep the savages in that
vicinity in check, and was ordered to be strong enough in its gar
rison to afford a detachment of 500 or 600 men in case of emer
gency, either to chastise any of the Wabash or other hostile Indians
or capture convoys of the enemy's provisions. The Secretary of
War also urged Gov. St. Clair to establish that post as the first and
most important part of the campaign. In case of a previous
treaty the Indians were to be conciliated upon this point if possible;
and he presumed good arguments might be offered to induce their
acquiescence. Said he: "Having commenced your march upon the
main expedition, and the Indians continuing hostile, you will use
every possible exertion to make them feel the effects of your superi
ority; and-, after having arrived at the Miami village and put your
works in a defensible state, you will seek the enemy with the whole
of your remaining force, and endeavor by all possible means to
strike them with great severity. * * * *
In order to avoid future wars, it might be proper to make the Wa
bash and thence over to the Maumee, and down the same to its
mouth, at Lake Erie, the boundary between the people of the
United States and the Indians (excepting so far as the same should
relate to the Wyandots and Delawares), on the supposition of their
continuing faithful to the treaties ; but if they should join in the
war against the United States, and your army be victorious, the
said tribes ought to be removed without the boundary mentioned."
Previous to marching a strong force to the Miami town. Gov. St.

-7n

— V. > > I

78 HISTORY OF INDIANA.
Clair, June 25, 1791, authorized Gen Wilkinson to conduct a second
expedition, not exceeding 600 mounted men, against the Indian
villages on the Wabash. Accordingly Gen. Wilkinson mustered
his forces and was ready July 20, to march with 525 mounted vol
unteers, well armed, and provided with 30 days' provisions, and
with this force he reached the Ke-na-pa-com-a-qua village on the
north bank of Eel river about six miles above its mouth, Aug. 7,
where he killed six warriors and took 34 prisoners. This town,
which was scattered along the river for three miles, was totally de
stroyed. Wilkinson encamped on the ruins of the town that night,
and the next day he commenced his march for the Kickapoo town
on the prairie, which he was unable to reach owing to the impassa
ble condition of the route which he adopted and the failing condi
tion of his horses. He reported the estimated results of the expe
dition as follows: "I have destroyed the chief town of the Ouiate
non nation, and have made prisoners of the sons and sisters of the
king. I have burned a respectable Kickapoo village, and cut down
at least 400 acres of corn, chiefly in the milk."
EXPEDITIONS OF ST. CLAIR AND WAYNE.
The Indians were greatly damaged by the expeditions of Harmar,
Scott and Wilkinson, but were far from being subdued. They
regarded the policy of the United States as calculated to extermi
nate them from the land; and, goaded on by the English of Detroit,
enemies of the Americans, they were excited to desperation. At
this time the British Government still supported garrisons at
Niagara, Detroit and Michilimackinac, although it was declared by
the second article of the definitive treaty of peace of 17S3, that
the king of Great Britain would, " with all convenient speed, and
without causing any destruction or carrying away any negroes or
property of the American inhabitants, withdraw all his forces,
garrisons and fleets from the United States, and from every post,
place and harbor within the same." That treaty also provided that
the creditors on either side should meet with no lawful impedi
ments to the recovery of the full value, in sterimg money, of all
bona fide debts previously contracted. The British Government
claimed that the United States had broken faith in this particular
understanding of the treaty, and in consequence refused to with
draw its forces from the territory. The British garrisons in the
Lake Region were a source of much annoyance to the Americans,
as they afforded succor to hostile Indians, encouraging them to

sV

^

HISTOEY OF INDIANA. 79
make raids among the Americans. This state of affairs in the
Territory Northwest of the Ohio continued from the commence
ment of the Revolutionary war to 1796, when under a second
treaty all British soldiers were withdrawn from the country.
In September, 1791, St. Clair moved from Fort Washington
with about 2,000 men, and November 3, the main army, consisting
of about 1,400 effective troops, moved forward to the head-waters
of the Wabash, where Fort Recovery was afterward erected, and
here the army encamped. About 1,200 Indians were secreted a few
miles distant, awaiting a favorable opportunity to begin an attack,
wliich they improved on the morning of N ov. 4, about half an hour
before sunrise. The attack was flrst made upon the militia, which
immediately gave way. St. Clair was defeated and he returned to
Fort Washington with a broken and dispirited army, having lost
39 officers killed, and 539 men killed and missing; 22 officers and
232 men were wounded. Several pieces of artillery, and all the
baggage, ammunition and provisions were left on the field of bat
tle and fell into the hands of the victorious Indians. The stores
and other public property lost in the action were valued at $32,800.
There were also 100 or more American women with the army of
the whites, very few of whom escaped the cruel carnage of the sav
age Indians. The latter, characteristic of their brutal nature,
proceeded in the flush of victory to perpetrate the most horrible
acts of cruelty and brutality upon the bodies of the living and the
dead Americans who fell into their hands. Believing that the
whites had made war for many years merely to acquire land, the
Indians crammed clay and sand into the eyes and down the throats
of the dying and the dead!
GEN. Wayne's great victory.
Although no particular blame was attached to Gov. St. Clair for
the loss in this expedition, yet he resigned the office of Major-Gen-
eral, and was succeeded by Anthony Wayne, a distinguished
officer of the Revolutionary war. Early in 1792 provisions were
made by the general Government for re- organizing the army, so
that it should consist of an efficient degree of strength. Wayne
arrived at Pittsburg in June, where the army was to rendezvous.
Here he continued actively engaged in organizing and training his
forces until October, 1793, when with an army of about 3,600 men
he moved westward to Fort Washington.
While Wayne was preparing for an offensive campaign, every

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80 * HISTORY OF INDIANA.
possible means was employed to induce the hostile tribes of the
Northwest to enter into a general treaty of peace with the Ameri
can Government; speeches were sent among them, and agents to
make treaties were also sent, but little was accomplished. Major
Hamtramck, who still remained at Vincennes, succeeded in con
cluding a general peace with the Wabash and Illinois Indians ; but
the tribes more immediately under the influence of the British
refused to hear the sentiments of friendship that were sent among
them, and tomahawked several of the messengers. Their courage
had been aroused by St. Clair's defeat, as well as by the unsuccess
ful expeditions which had preceded it, and they now felt quite pre
pared to meet a superior force under Gen. Wayne. The Indians
insisted on the Ohio river as the boundary line between their lands
aud the lands of the United States, and felt certain that they could
maintain that boundary.
Maj. Gen. Scott, with about 1,600 mounted volunteers from
Kentucky, joined the regular troops under Gen. Wayne July 26,
1794, and on the 28tli the united forces began their march for the
Indian towns on the Maumee river. Arriving at the mouth of
the Auglaize, they erected Fort Deflance, and Aug. 15 the army
advanced toward the British fort at the foot of the rapids of the
Maumee, where, on the 20th, almost within reach of the British,
the American army gained a decisive victory over the combined
forces of the hostile Indians and a considerable number of the
Detroit militia. The number of the enemy was estimated at 2,000,
against about 900 American troops actually engaged. This horde
of savages, as soon as the action began, abandoned themselves to
flight and dispersed with terror and dismay, leaving Wayne's vic
torious army in full and quiet possession of the fleld. The Ameri
cans lost 33 killed and 100 wounded ; loss of the enemy more than
double this number.
The army remained three days and nights on the banks of the
Maumee, in front of the fleld of battle, during which time all the
houses and cornfields were consumed and destroyed for a considera
ble distance both above and below Fort Miami, as well as within
pistol shot of the British garrison, who were compelled to remain
idle spectators to this general devastation and conflagration, among
which were the houses, stores and property of Col. McKee, the
British Indian agent and " principal stimulator of the war then
existing between the United States and savages." On the return
inarch to Fort Deflance the villages and cornfields for about 50

HISTORY OF INDIANA. SI
miles on each side of the Maumee were destroyed, as well as those
for a considerable distance around that post.
Sept. 14, 1794, the army under Gen. Wayne commenced its
march toward the deserted Miami villages at the confluence of St.
Joseph's and St. Mary's rivers, arriving Oct. 17, and on the follow
ing day the site of Fort Wayne was selected. The fort was com
pleted Nov. 2-2, and garrisoned by a strong detachment of infantry
and artillery, under the command of Col. John F. Hamtramck, who
gave to the new fort the name of Fort Wayne. In 1814 a new fort
was built on the site of this structure. The Kentucky volunteers
returned to Fort Washington and were mustered out of service.
Gen. Wayne, with the Federal troops, marched to Greenville and
took up his headquarters during the winter. Here, in August,
1795, after several months of active negotiation, this gallant officer
succeeded in concluding a general treaty of peace with all the hos
tile tribes of the Northwestern Territory . This treaty opened the
way for the flood of immigration for many years, and ultimately
made the States and territories now constituting the mighty North
west. Up to the organization of the Indiana Territory there is but little
history to record aside from those events connected with military
affairs. In July, 1796, as before stated, after a treaty was con
cluded between the United States and Spain, the British garrisons,
with their arms, artillery and stores, were withdrawn from the
posts within the boundaries of the United States northwest of the
Ohio river, and a detachment of American troops, consisting of 65
men, under the command of Capt. Moses Porter, took possession
of the evacuated post of Detroit in the same month.
In the latter part of 1796 Winthrop Sargent went to Detroit and
organized the county of Wayne, forming a part of the Indiana
Territory until its division in 1805, when the Territory of Michigan
was organized.

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u

TERRITORIAL HISTORY.
ORGANIZATION OF INDIANA TERRITORY.
On the final success of American arms and diplomacy in 1796,
the principal town within the Territory, now the State, of Indiana
was Vincennes, which at this time comprised about 50 houses, all
presenting a thrifty and tidy appearance. Each house was sur
rounded by a garden fenced with poles, and peach and apple-trees
grew in most of the enclosures. Garden vegetables of all kinds
were cultivated with success, and corn, tobacco, wheat, barley and
cotton grew in the flelds around the village in abundance. During
the last few years of the 18th century the condition of society at
Vincennes improved wonderfully.
Besides Vincennes there was a sm^U settlement near where the
town of Lawrenceburg now stands, in Dearborn county, and in the
course of that year a small settlement was formed at " Armstrong's
Station," on the Ohio, within the present limits of Clark county.
There were of course several other smaller settlements and trading
posts in the present limits of Indiana, and the number of civilized
inhabitants comprised within the territory was estimated at 4,875.
The Territory of Indiana was organized by Act of Congress May
7, 1800, the material parts of the ordinance of 1787 remaining in
force ; and the inhabitants were invested with all the rights, privi
leges and advantages granted and secured to the people by that
ordinance. The seat of government was fixed at Vincennes. May
13, 1800, Wm. Henry Harrison, a native of Virginia, was appoint
ed Governor of this new territory, and on the next day John Gib
son, a native of Pennsylvania and a distinguished West;ern pioneer,
(to whom the Indian chief Logan delivered his celebrated speech in
1774), was appointed Secretary of the Territory. Soon afterward
Wm. Clark, Henry Vanderburgh and John Griffin were appointed
territorial Judges.
Secretary Gibson arrived at Vincennes in July, and commenced,
in the absence of Gov. Harrison, the administration of government.
Gov. Harrison did not arrive until Jan. 10, 1801, when he imme
diately called together the Judges of the Territory, who proceeded
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HISTORY OF INDIANA. 83
to pass such laws as they deemed necessary for the present govern
ment of the Territory. This session began March 3, 1801.
From this time to 1810 the principal subjects which attracted the
attention of the people of Indiana were land speculations, the
adjustment of land titles, the question of negro slavery, the purchase
of Indian lands by treaties, the organization of Territorial legis
latures, the extension of the right of suffrage, the division of
Indiana Territory, the movements of Aaron Burr, and the hostile
views and proceedings of the Shawanee chief, Tecumseh, and his
brother, the Prophet.
Up to this time the sixth article of the celebrated ordinance of
17S7, prohibiting slavery in the Northwestern Territor}', had been
somewhat neglected in the execution of the law, and many French
settlers still held slaves in a manner. In some instances, according
to rules prescribed by Territorial legislation, slaves agreed by
indentures to remain in servitude under their masters for a certain
number of years; but many slaves, with whom no such contracts
were made, were removed from the Indiana Territory either to the
west of the Mississippi or 'to some of the slaveholding States.
Gov. Harrison convoked a session of delegates of the Territory,
elected by a popular vote, who petitioned Congress to declare the
sixth article of the ordinance of 1787, prohibiting slavery, suspend
ed; but Congress never consented to grant that petition, and many
other petitions of a similar import. Soon afterward some of the
citizens began to take colored persons out of the Territory for the
purpose of selling them, and Gov. Harrison, by a proclamation
April 6, 1804, forbade it, and called upon the authorities of the
Territory to assist him in preventing such removal of persons
of color.
During the year 1804 all the country west of the Mississippi and
north of 33° was attached to Indiana Territory by Congress, but in
a few months was again detached and organized into a separate ter
ritory. When it appeared from the result of a popular vote in the Terri
tory that a majority of 138 freeholders were in favor of organizing
a General Assembly, Gov. Harrison, Sept. 11, 1804, issued a procla
mation declaring that the Territory had passed into the second grade
of government, as contemplated by the ordinance of 1787, and
fixed Thursday, Jan. 3, 1805, as the time for holding an election in
the several counties of the Territory ,to choose members of a House
of Representatives, who should meet at Vincennes Feb. 1 and

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84 HISTORY OF INDIANA.
adopt measures for the organization of a Territorial Council. These
delegates were elected, and met according to the proclamation, and
selected ten men from whom the President of the United States,
Mr. Jefferson, should appoint five to be and constitute the Legisla
tive Council of the Territory, but he declining, requested Mr. Har
rison to make the selection, which was accordingly done. Before
the first session of this Council, however, was held, Michigan Ter
ritory was set off, its south line being one drawn from the southern
end of Lake Michigan directly east to Lake Erie.
FIRST TERRITORIAL LEGISLATURE.
The first General Assembly, or Legislature, of Indiana Territory
met at Vincennes July 29, 1805, in pursuance of a gubernatorial
proclamation. The members of the House of Representatives were
Jesse B. Thomas, of Dearborn county ; Davis Floyd, of Clark county;
Benjamia Parke and John Johnson, of Knox county; Shadrach
Bond and William Biggs, of St. Clair county, and George Fisher,
of Randolph county. July 30 the Governor delivered his first mes
sage to "the Legislative Council and House of Representatives of
the Indiana Territory." Benjamin Parke was the first delegate
elected to Congress. He had emigrated from New Jersey to In
diana in 1801. THE "western sun"
was the first newspaper published in the Indiana Territory, now
comprising the four great States of Indiana, Illinois, Michigan and
Wisconsin, and the second in all that country once known as the
"Northwestern Territory." It was commenced at Vincennes in
1803, by Elihu Stout, of Kentucky, and first called the Indiana
Gazette, and July, 4, 1804, was changed to the Western Sun. Mr.
Stout continued the paper until 1845, amid many discouragements,
when he was appointed postmaster at the place, and he sold out
the office. INDIANA IN 1810.
The events which we have just been describing really constitute
the initiatory steps to the great military campaign of Gen. Harrison
which ended in the "battle of Tippecanoe;" but before proceeding
to an account of that brilliant affair, let us take a glance at the re
sources and strength of Indiana Territory at this time, 1810:
Total population, 24,520 ; 33 grist mills: 14 sawmills; 3 horse
mills; 18 tanneries; 28 distilleries; 3 powder mills; 1,256 looms;

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HISTORY OF INDIANA. 85
1,350 spinning wheels; value of manufactures — woolen, cotton
hempen and flaxen cloths, $159,052; of cotton and wool spun in
mills, $150,000; of nails, 30,000 pounds, $4,000; of leather tanned,
$9,300; of distillery products, 35,950 gallons, $16,230; of gun
powder, 3.600 pounds, $1,800; of wine from grapes, 96 barrels,
$6,000, and 5 0,000 pounds of maple sugar.
During the year 1810 a Board of Commissioners was established
to straighten out the confused condition into which the land-title
controversy had been carried by the various and conflicting admin
istrations that had previously exercised jurisdiction in this regard.
This work was attended with much labor on the part of the Commis
sioners and great dissatisfaction on the part of a few designing specu
lators, who thought no extreme of perjury too hazardous in their
mad attempts to obtain lands fraudulently. In closing their report
the Commissioners used the following expressive language: "We
close this melancholy picture of human depravity by rendering our
devout acknowledgment that, in the awful alternative in which we
have been placed, of either admitting perjured testimony in sup
port of the claims before us, or having it turned against our char
acters and lives, it has as yet pleased that divine providence which
rules over the affairs of men, to preserve us, both from legal mur
der and private assassination."
The question of dividing the Territory of Indiana was agitated
from 1806 to 1809, when Congress erected the Territory of Illinois,
to comprise all that part of Indiana Territory lying west of the
Wabash river and a direct line drawn from that river and Post
Vincennes due north to the territorial line between the United
States and Canada. This occasioned some confusion in the govern
ment of Indiana, but in due time the new elections were conflrmed,
and the new territory started off on a journey of prosperity which
this section of the United States has ever since enjoyed.
From the first settlement of Vincennes for nearly half a century
there occurred nothing of importance to relate, at least so far as
the records inform us. The place was too isolated to grow very
fast, and we suppose there was a succession of priests and com
mandants, who governed the little world around them with almost
infinite power and authority, from whose decisions there was no
appeal, if indeed any was ever desired. The character of society
in such a place would of course grow gradually different from the
parent society, assimilating more or less with that of neighboring
tribes. The whites lived in peace with the Indians, each under-

86

HISTORY OF INDIANA.

Standing the other's peculiarities, which remained fixed long
enough for both parties to study out and understand them. The
government was a mixture of the military and the civil. There
was little to incite to enterprise. Speculations in money and prop
erty, and their counterpart, beggary, were both unknown; the nec
essaries of life were easily procured, and beyond these there were
but few wants to be supplied; hospitality was exercised by all, as
there were no taverns; there seemed to be no use for law, judges
or prisons; each district had its commandant, and the proceedings
of a trial were singular. The complaining party obtained a notifi
cation from the commandant to his adversary, accompanied by a
command to render justice. If this had no effect he was notified
to appear before the commandant on a particular day and answer;
and if the last notice was neglected, a sergeant and file of men
were sent to bring hira, — no sheriff and no costs. The convicted
party would be fined and kept in prison until he rendered justice
according to the decree; when extremely refractory the cat-o'-nine
tails brought him to a sense of justice. In such a state of society
there was no demand for learning and science. Few could read,
and still fewer write. Their disposition was nearly always to deal
honestly, at least simply. Peltries were their standard of value.
A brotherly love generally prevailed. But they were devoid of
public spirit, enterprise or ingenuity.

^^

GOV. HARRISON AND THE INDIANS.
Immediately after the organization of Indiana Territory Governor
Harrison's attention was directed, by necessity as well as by in
structions from Congress, to settling affairs with those Indians who
still held claims to lands. He entered into several treaties, by
which at the close of 1805 the United States Government had ob
tained about 46,000 square miles of territory, including all the
lands lying on the borders of the Ohio river between the mouth of
the Wabash river and the State of Ohio.
The levying of a tax, especially a poll tax, by the General Assem
bly, created considerable dissatisfaction among many of the inhabit
ants. At a meeting held Sunday, August 16, 1807, a number of
Frenchmen resolved to " withdraw their confidence and support
forever from those men who advocated or in any manner promoted
the second grade of government."
In 1807 the territorial statutes were revised and under the new
code, treason, murder, arson and horse-stealing were each punish
able by death. The crime of manslaughter was punishable by the
common law. Burglary and robbery were punishable by whip
ping, fine and in some cases by imprisonment not exceeding forty
years. Hog stealing was punishable by fine and whipping. Bigamy
was punishable by fine, whipping and disfranchisement, etc.
In 1804 Congress established three land offices for the sale of
lands in Indiana territory ; one was located at Detroit, one al Vin
cennes and one at Kaskaskia. In 1807 a fourth one was opened at
Jeffersonville, Clark county; this town was first laid out in 1802,
agreeably to plans suggested by Mr. Jefferson then President of
the United States.
Governor Harrison, according to his message to the Legislature
in 1806, seemed to think that the peace then existing between the
whites and the Indians was permanent; but in the same document
he referred to a matter that might be a source of trouble, which in
deed it proved to be, namely, the execution of white laws among-
the Indians — ^laws to which the latter had not been a party in their
enactment. The trouble was aggravated by the partiality with
which the laws seem always to have been executed; the Indian
(87)

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HISTORY OF INDIANA.

was nearly always the sufferer. All along from 1805 to 1810 the
Indians complained bitterly against the encroachments of the white
people upon the lands that belonged to them. The invasion of their
hunting grounds and the unjustiflable killing of many of their peo
ple were the sources of their discontent. An old chief, in laying
the trouble of his people before Governor Harrison, said : " You
callus children; why do you not make us as happy as our fathers,
the French, did? They never took from us our lands; indeed, they
were common between us. They planted where they pleased, and
they cut wood where they pleased; and so did we; but now if a
poor Indian attempts to take a little bark from a tree to cover him
from the rain, up comes a white man and threatens to shoot him,
claiming the tree as his own."
The Indian truly had grounds for his complaint, and the state of
feeling existing among the tribes at this time was well calculate'd
to develop a patriotic leader who should carry them all forward to
victory at arms, if certain concessions were not made to them by the
whites. But this golden opportunity was seized by an unworthy
warrior. A brother of Tecumseh, a "prophet" named Law-le-was-i-
kaw, but who assumed the name of Pems-quat-a-wah (Open Door),
was the crafty Shawanee warrior who was enabled to work upon
both the superstitions and the rational judgment of his fellow In
dians. He was a good orator, somewhat peculiar in his appearance
and well calculated to win the attention and respect of the savages.
He began by denouncing witchcraft, the use of intoxicating liquors,
the custom of Indian women marrying white men, the dress of the
whites and the practice of selling Indian lands to the United States.
He also told the Indians that the commands of the Great Spirit re
quired them to punish with death those who practiced the arts of
witchcraft and magic; that the Great Spirit had given him power
to flnd out and expose such persons; that he had power to cure all
diseases, to confound his enemies and to stay the arm of death in
sickness and on the battle-field. His harangues aroused among
some bands of Indians a high degree of superstitious excitement.
An old Delaware chief named Ta-te-bock-o-she, through whose in
fluence a treaty had been made with the Delawares in 1804, was
accused of witchcraft, tried, condemned and tomahawked, and
his body consumed by flre. The old chief's wife, nephew
("Billy Patterson ") and an aged Indian named Joshua were next
accused of witchcraft and condemned to death. The two men were
burned at the stake, but the wife of Ta-te-bock-o-she was saved from

Jbi^

k

«-OS»UM
THE BHA-WNEB PKOPHBT.

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IllSTOKV OF INDIANA. 91
death by her brother, who suddenly approached her, took her by the
hand, and, without meeting any opposition from the Indians present,
led her outof the council- house. He then immediately returned and
checked the growing influence of the Prophet by exclaiming in a
strong, earnest voice, " The Evil Spirit has come among us and we
are killing each other." — [Dillon's History of Indiana.
When Gov. Harrison was made acquainted with these events he
sent a special messenger to the Indians, strongly entreating them to
renounce the Prophet and his works. This reallydestroyed to some
extent the Prophet's influence; but in the spring of 1808, having
aroused nearly all the tribes of the Lake Region, the Prophet with
a large number of followers settled near the mouth of the Tippe
canoe river, at a place which afterward had the name of "Prophet's-
Town." Taking advantage of his brother's influence, Tecumseh
actively engaged himself in forming the various tribes into a con
federacy. He announced publicly to all the Indians that the
treaties by which the United States had acquired lands northwest
of the Ohio were not made in fairness, and should be considered
void. He also said that no single tribe was invested with power to
sell lands without the consent of all the other tribes, and that he
and his brother, the Prophet, would oppose and resist all future
attempts which the white people might make to extend their set
tlements in the lands that belonged to the Indians.
Early in 1808, Gov. Harrison sent a speech to the Shawanees,
in which was this sentence: " My children, this business must be
stopped; I will no longer suffer it. You have called a number of
men from the most distant tribes to listen to a fool, who speaks
not the words of the Great Spirit but those of the devil and the
British agents. My children, your conduct has much alarmed the
white settlers near you. They desire that you will send away those
people; and if they wish to have the impostor with them they can
carry him along with them. Let him go to the lakes; he can hear
the British more distinctly.' ' This message wounded the pride of
the Prophet, and he prevailed on the messenger to inform Gov.
Harrison that he was not in league with the British, but was speak
ing truly the words of the Great Spirit,
In the latter part of the summer of 1808, the Prophet spent sev
eral weeks at Vincennes, for the purpose of holding interviews
with Gov. Harrison. At one time he told the Governor that he
was a Christian and endeavored to persuade his people also to
become Christians, abandon the use of liquor, be united in broth-
•i' 6 »" •'•  epv

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92 HISTORY OF INDIANA.
erly love, etc., making Mr. Harrison believe at least, that he was
honest; but before long it was demonstrated that the "Prophet"
was designing, cunning and unreliable; that both he and Tecumseh
were enemies of the United States, and friends of the English; and
that in case of a war between the Americans and English, they
would join the latter. The next year the Prophet again visited
Vincennes, with assurances that he was not in sympathy with the
English, but the Governor was not disposed to believe him ; and in
a letter to the Secretary of War, in July, 1809, he said that he
regarded the bands of Indians at Prophet's Town as a combination
which had been produced by British intrigue and influence, in antic
ipation of a war between them and the United States.
In direct opposition to Tecumseh and the prophet and in spite
of all these difficulties. Gov. Harrison continued the work of extin
guishing Indian titles to lands, with very good success. By the
close of 1809, the total amount of laud ceded to the United States,
under treaties which had been effected by Mr. Harrison, exceeded
30,000,000 acres.
From 1805 to 1807, the movements of Aaron Burr in the Ohio
valley created considerable excitement in Indiana. It seemed that
he intended to collect a force of men, invade Mexico and found a
republic there, comprising all the country west of the Alleghany
mountains. He gathered, however, but a few men, started south,
and was soon arrested by the Federal authorities. But before his
arrest he had abandoned his expedition and his followers had
dispersed. Harrison's campaign.
While the Indians were combining to prevent any further trans
fer of land to the whites, the British were using the advantage as a
groundwork for a successful war upon the Americans. In the
spring of 1810 the followers of the Prophet refused to receive their
annuity of salt, and the officials who offered it were denounced as
"American dogs," and otherwise treated in a disrespectful manner.
Gov. Harrison, in July, attempted to gain the friendship of the
Prophet by sending him a letter ,offering to treat with him person
ally in the matter of his grievances, or to furnish means to send
him, with three of his principal chiefs, to the President at Wash
ington; but the messenger was coldly received, and they returned
word that they would visit Vincennes in a few days and interview
the Governor. Accordingly, Aug. 12, 1810, the Shawanee chief
with 70 of his principal warriors, marched up to the door of the

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HISTORY OF INDIANA. 93

Governor's house, and from that day until the 22d held daily inter
views with His Excellency. In all of his speeches Tecumseh was
haughty, and sometimes arrogant. On the 20tli he delivered that
celebrated speech in which he gave the Governor the alternative of
returning their lands or meeting them in battle.
While the Governor was replying to this speech Tecumseh inter
rupted him with an angry exclamation, declaring that the United
States, through Gov. Harrison, had "cheated and imposed on the
Indians."' When Tecumseh flrst rose, a number of his party also
sprung to their feet, armed with clubs, tomahawks and spears, and
made some threatening demonstrations. The Governor's guards,
who stood a little way off, were marched up in haste, and the In
dians, awed by the presence of this small armed force, abandoned
what seemed to be an intention to make an open attack on the Gov
ernor and his attendants. As soon as Tecumseh's remarks were
interpreted, the Governor reproached him for his conduct, and com
manded him to depart instantly to his camp.
On the following day Tecumseh repented of his rash act and re
quested the Governor to grant him another interview, and pro
tested against any intention of offense. The Governor consented,
and the council was re-opened on the 21st, when the Shawanee
chief addressed him in a respectful and dignifled manner, but re
mained immovable in his policy. The Governor then requested
Tecumseh to state plainly whether or not the surveyors who might
be sent to survey the lands purchased at the treaty of Fort Wayne
in 1809, would be molested by Indians. Tecumseh replied:
"Brother, when you speak of annuities to me, I look at the land
and pity the women and children. I am authorized to say that they
will not receive them. Brother, we want to save that piece of land.
We do not wish you to take it. It is small enough for our purpose.
If you do take it, you must blame yourself as the cause of the
trouble between us and the tribes who sold it to you. I want the
present boundary line to continue. Should you cross it, I assure
you it will be productive of bad consequences."
The next day the Governor, attended only by his interpreter,
visited the camp of the great Shawanee, and in the course of a long
interview told him that the President of the United States would
not acknowledge his claims. "Well," replied the brave warrior,
"as the great chief is to determine the matter, I hope the Great
Spirit will put sense enough into his head to induce him to direct
you to give up this land. It is true, he is so far off he will not be

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94 HISTORY OF INDIANA.
injured by the war. He may sit still in his town and drink his
wine, while you and 1 will have to fight it out."
In his message to the new territorial Legislature in 1810 Gov.
Harrison called attention to the dangerous views held by Tecumseh
aud the Prophet, to the pernicious influence of alien enemies
among the Indians, to the unsettled condition of the Indian trade
and to the policy of extinguishing Indian titles to lands. The
eastern settlements were separated from the western by a consider
able extent of Indian lands, and the most fertile tracts within the
territory were still in the hands of the Indians. Almost entirely
divested of the game from which they had drawn their subsistence,
it had become of little use to them; and it was the intention of
the Government to substitute for the precarious and scanty sup
plies of the chase the more certain and plentiful support of agri
culture and stock-raising. The old habit of the Indians to hunt
so long as a deer could be found was so inveterate that they would
not break it and resort to intelligent agriculture unless they were
compelled to, and to this they would not be compelled unless they
were confined to a limited extent of territory. The earnest lan
guage of the Governor's appeal was like this: "Are then those
extinguishments of native title which are at once so beneficial to
the Indian and the territory of the United States, to be suspended on
account of the intrigues of a few individuals? Is one of the fair
est portions of the globe to remain in a state of nature, the haunt
of a few wretched savages, when it seems destined by the Creator
to give support to a large population, and to be the seat of civili
zation, of science and true religion?"
In the same message the Governor also urged the establishment
of a system of popular education.
Among the acts passed by this session of the Legislature, one
authorized the President and Directors of the Vincennes Public
Library to raise $1,000 by lottery. Also, a petition was sent to
Congress for a permanent seat of government for the Territory, and
commissioners were appointed to select the site.
With the beginning of the year 1811 the British agent for
Indian affairs adopted measures calculated to secure the support of
the savages in the war which at this time seemed almost inevitable.
Meanwhile Gov. Harrison did all in his power to destroy the influ
ence of Tecumseh and his brother and break up the Indian confed
eracy which was oeing organized in the interests of Great Britain.
Pioneer settlers and the Indians naturally grew more and more

slip — -

HlSruUY OF INDIANA. 95
aggressive and intolerant, committing depredations and murders,
until the Governor felt compelled to send the following speech,
substantially, to the two leaders of the Indian tribes: "This is the
thii-d year that all the white people in this country have been
alarmed at your proceedings; you threaten us with war; you invite
all the tribes north and west of you to join against us, while your
warriors who have lately been here deny this. The tribes on the
Mississippi have sent me word that you intended to murder me
and then commence a war upon my people, and your seizing the salt
I recently sent up the Wabash is also sufficient evidence of such
intentions on your part. My warriors are preparing themselves,
not to strike you, but to defend themselves and their women and
children. You shall not surprise us, as you expect to do. Your
intended act is a rash one: consider well of it. What can induce
you to undertake such a thing when there is so little prospect of
success? Do you really think that the handful of men you have
about you are able to contend with the seventeen 'fires?' or even
that the whole of the tribes united could contend against the Ken
tucky 'fire' alone? I am myself of the Long 'Knife fire.' As soon
as they hear my voice you will see them pouring forth their swarms
of hunting-shirt men as numerous as the musquitoes on the shores
of the Wabash. Take care of their stings. It is not our wish to
hurt you ; if we did, we certainly have power to do it.
" You have also insulted the Government of the United States,
by seizing the salt that was intended for other tribes. Satisfaction
must be given for that also. You talk of coming to see me, attend
ed by all of your young men; but this must not be. If your inten
tions are good, you have no need to bring but a few of your young
men with you. I must be plain with you. I will not suffer you
to come into our settlements with such a force. My advice is that
you visit the President of the United States and lay your griev
ances before him.
" With respect to the lands that were purchased last fall I can
enter into no negotiations with you; the affair is with the Presi
dent. If you wish to go and see him, I will supply you with the
means. " The person who delivers this is one of my war officers, and is a
man in whom I have entire confidence; whatever he says to you,
although it may not be contained in this paper, you may believe
comes from me. My friend Tecumseh, the bearer is a good man
and a brave warrior; I hope you will treat him well. You ar^
1\^=^ ~  ^:^

A

1

96 HISTORY OF INDIANA.
yourself a warrior, and all such should have esteem for each other."^
The bearer of this speech was politely received by Tecumseh,
who replied to the Governor briefly that he should visit Vincennes
in a few days. Accordingly he arrived July 27, 1811, bringing
with him a considerable force of Indians, which created much
alarm among the inhabitants. In view of an emergency Gov.
Harrison reviewed his militia — about 750 armed men — and station
ed two companies and a detachment of dragoons on the borders of
the town. At this interview Tecumseh held forth that he intended
no war against the United States; that he would send messengers
among the Indians to prevent murders and depredations on the
white settlements ; that the Indians, as well as the whites, who had
committed murders, ought to be forgiven ; that he had set the white
people an example of forgiveness, which they ought to follow;
that it was his wish to establish a union among all the Indian
tribes; that the northern tribes were united; that he was going to
visit the southern Indians, and then return to the Prophet's town.
He said also that he would visit the President the next spring and
settle all difficulties with him, and that he hoped no attempts would
be made to make settlements on the lands which had been sold to
the United States, at the treaty of Fort Wayne, because the Indians
wanted to keep those grounds for hunting.
Tecumseh then, with about 20 of his followers, left for the South,
to induce the tribes in that direction to join his confederacy.
By the way, a lawsuit was instituted by Gov. Harrison against a
certain Wm. Mcintosh, for asserting that the plaintiff had cheated
the Indians out of their lands, and that by so doing he had made
them enemies to the United States. The defendant was a wealthy
Scotch resident of Vincennes, well educated, and a man of influence
among the people opposed to Gov. Harrison's land policy. The
jury rendered a verdict in favor of Harrison, assessing the damages
at $4,000. In execution of the decree of Court a large quantity of
the defendant's land was sold in the absence of Gov. Harrison;
but some time afterward Harrison caused about two-thirds of the
land to be restored to Mr. Mcintosh, and the remainder was given
to some orphan children.
Harrison's first movement was to erect a new fort on the Wabash
river and to break up the assemblage of hostile Indians at the
Prophet's town. For this purpose he ordered Col. Boyd's regiment
of infantry to move from the falls of Ohio to Vincennes. When
the military expedition organized by Gov.' Harrison was nearly

. \ <^- —

HISTORY OF INDIANA. 97

ready to march to the Prophet's town,several Indian chiefs arrived
at Vincennes Sept. 25, 1811, and declared that the Indians
would comply with the demands of the Governor and disperse; but
this did not check the military proceedings. The armv under com
mand of Harrison moved from Vincennes Sept. 26, and Oct. 3, en
countering no opposition, from the enemy, encamped at the place
where Fort Harrison was afterward built, and near where the city
of Terre Haute now stands. On the night of the 11th a few hos
tile Indians approached the encampment and wounded one of the
sentinels, which caused considerable excitement. The army was
immediately drawn up in line of battle, and small detachments
were sent in all directions; but the enemy could not be found.
Then the Governor sent a message to Prophet's Town, requiring
the Shawanees, Winnebagoes, Pottawatomies and Kickapoos at
that place to return to their respective tribes; he also required the
Prophet to restore all the stolen horses in his possession, or to give
satisfactory proof that such persons were not there, nor had lately
been, under his control. To this message the Governor received
no auswer, unless that answer was delivered in the battle of Tip-
• pecanoe. The new fort on the Wabash was finished Oct. 28, and at the re
quest of all the subordinate officers it was called "Fort Harrison,"
near what is now Terre Haute. This fort was garrisoned with a
small number of men under Lieutenant-Colonel Miller. On the
29th the remainder of the army, consisting of 910 men, moved
toward the Prophet's town; about 270 of the troops were mounted.
The regular troops, 250 in number, were under the command of
Col. Boyd. With this army the Governor marched to within a
half mile of the Prophet's town, when a conference was opened
with a distinguished chief, in high esteem with the Prophet, and
he informed Harrison thali the Indians were much surprised at the
approach of the army, and had already dispatched a message to
him by another route. Harrison replied that he would not attack
them until he had satisfied himself that they would not comply
with his demands; that he would continue his encampment on the
Wabash, and on the following morning would have an interview
with the prophet. Harrison then resumed his march, and, after
some difficulty, selected a place to encamp — a spot not very desir
able. It was a piece of dry oak land rising about ten feet above
the marshy prairie in front toward the Indian town, and nearly
twice that height above a similar prairie in the rear, through which

te

98 HISTORY OF INDIANA.
and near this bank ran a small stream clothed with willow and
brush wood. Toward the left flank this highland widened consid
erably, but became gradually narrower in the opposite direction,
and at the distance of 150 yards terminated in an abrupt point.
The two columns of infantry occupied the front and rear of this
ground, about 150 yards from each other on the left, and a little
more tliau half that distance on the right, flank. One flank was
filled by two companies of mounted riflemen, 120 men, under com
mand of Major-General Wells, of the Kentucky militia, and one
by Spencer's company of mounted riflemen, numbering 80 men.
The front-line was composed of one battalion of United States in
fantry, under command of Major Floyd, flanked on the right by
two companies of militia, and on the left by one company. The
rear line was composed of a battalion of United States troops,
under command of Capt. Bean, acting as Major, and four companies
of militia infantry under Lieutenant-Colonel Decker. The regular
troops of this line joined the mounted riflemen under Gen. Wells,
on the left flank, and Col. Decker's battalion formed an angle with
Spencer's company on the left. Two troops of dragoons, about 60
men in all, were encamped in the rear of the left flank, and Capt. •
Parke's troop, which was larger than the other two, in rear of
the right line. For a night attack the order of encampment was
the order of battle, and each man slept opposite his post in the
line. In the formation of the troops single file was adopted, in
order to get as great an extension of the lines as possible.
BATTLE OF TIPPECANOE.
No attack was made by the enemy until about 4 o'clock on the
morning of Nov. 7, just after the Governor had arisen. The
attack was made on the left flank. Only a single gun was tired bv the
sentinels or by the guard in that direction, which made no resist
ance, abandoning their posts and fleeing into camp; and the first
notice which the troops of that line had of the danger was the yell
of the savages within a short distance of them. But the men
were courageous and preserved good discipline. Such of them as
were awake, or easily awakened, seized arms and took their stations;
others, who were more tardy, had to contend with the enemy in
the doors of their tents. The storm first fell upon Capt. Barton's
company of the Fourth United States Regiment, and Capt. Geiger's
company of mounted riflemen, which formed the left angle of the
rear line. The fire from the Indians was exceedingly severe, and

\JQ_

^.^

HISTORY OF INDIANA. 99
men in these companies suffered considerably before relief could be
brought to them. Some few Indians passed into the encampment
near the angle, and one or two penetrated to some distance before
they were killed. All the companies formed for action before they
were fired on. The morning was dark and cloudy, and the fires of
the Americans afforded only a partial light, which gave greater
advantage to the enemy than to the troops, and they were there
fore extinguished.
As soon as the Governor could mount his horse he rode to the
angle which was attacked, where he found that Barton's company had
suffered severely, and the left of Geiger's entirely broken. He
immediately ordered Cook's and Wentworth's companies to march
up to the center of the rear line, where were stationed a small com
pany of U. S. riflemen and the companies of Bean, Snelling and
Prescott. As the General rode up he found Maj. Daviess forming
the dragoons in the rear of these companies, and having ascertained
that the heaviest flre proceeded from some trees 15 or 20 paces in
front of these companies, he directed the Major to dislodge them
with a part of the dragoons ; but unfortunately the Major's gal
lantry caused him to undertake the execution of the order with a
smaller force than was required, which enabled the enemy to avoid
him in front and attack his flanks. He was mortally wounded and
his men driven back. Capt. Snelling, however, with his company
immediately dislodged those Indians. Capt. Spencer and his 1st
and 2nd Lieutenants were killed, and Capt. Warwick mortally
wounded. The soldiery remained brave. Spencer had too much
ground originally, and Harrison re-enforced him with a company
of riflemen which had been driven from their position on the left
flank. Gen. Harrison's aim was to keep the lines entire, to prevent the
enemy from breaking into the camp until daylight, which would
enable him to make a general and effectual charge. With this view
he had re-enforced every part of the line that had suffered much,
and -with the approach of morning he withdrew several companies
from the front and rear lines and re-enforced the right and left
flanks, foreseeing that at these points the enemy would make their
last effort. Maj. Wells, who had commanded the left flank, charged
upon the enemy and drove them at the point of the bayonet into
the marsh, where they could not be followed. Meanwhile Capt.
Cook and Lieut. Larrabee marched their companies to the right
flank and formed under fire of the enemy, and being there joined

\'

100 HISTORY OF INDIANA.
by the riflemen of that flank, charged upon the enemy, killing a
number and putting the rest to a precipitate flight.
Thus ended the famous battle of Tippecanoe, victoriously to the
whites and honorably to Gen. Harrison.
In this battle Mr. Harrison had about 700 efficient men, while
the Indians had probably more than that. The loss of the Ameri
cans was 37 killed and 25 mortally wounded, and 126 wounded; the
Indians lost 38 killed on the fleld of battle, and the number of the
wounded was never known. Among the whites killed were Daviess,
Spencer, Owen, Warwick, Randolph, Bean and White. Standing on
an eminence near by, the Prophet encouraged his warriors to battle
by singing a favorite war-song. He told them that they would gain
an easy victory, and that the bullets of their enemies would be made
harmless by the Great Spirit. Being informed duringthe engagement
that some of the Indians were killed, he said that his warriors must
flght on and they would soon be victorious. Immediately after
their defeat the surviving Indians lost faith in their great (?) Proph
et, returned to their respective tribes, and thus the confederacy
was destroyed. The Prophet, with a very few followers, then took
up his residence among a small band of Wyandots encamped on
Wild-Cat creek. His famous town, with all its possessions, was
destroyed the next day, Nov. 8.
On the 18th the American army returned to Vincennes, where
most of the troops were discharged. The Territorial Legislature, .
being in session, adopted resolutions complimentary to Gov. Harri
son and the officers and men under him, and made preparations for
a reception and celebration.
Capt. Logan, the eloquent Shawanee chief who assisted our
forces so materially, died in the latter part of November, 1812,
from the effects of a wound received in a skirmish with a recon
noitering party of hostile Indians accompanied by a white man in
the British service, Nov. 22. In that skirmish the white man was
killed, and Winamac, a Pottawatomie chief of some distinction,
fell by the rifle of Logan. The latter was mortally wounded, when
he retreated with two warriors of his tribe, Capt. Johnny and
Bright- Horn, to the camp of Gen. Winchester, where he soon after
ward died. He was buried with the honors of war.

^F s "" — ¦•  's\

^

^..-

WAR OF 1S12 WITH GREAT BRITAIN.
The victory recently gained by the Americans at the battle of
Tippecanoe insured perfect peace for a time, but only a short time
as the more extensive schemes of the British had so far ripened as
to. compel the United States again to declare war against them.
Tecumseh had fled to Maiden, Canada, where, counseled by the
English, he continued to excite the tribes against the Americans.
As soon as this war with Great Britain was declared (June 18,
IS 12), the Indians, as was expected, commenced again to commit
depredations. During the summer of 1812 several points along
the Lake Region succumbed to theBritish, as Detroit, under Gen.
Hull, Fort Dearborn (now Chicago), commanded by Capt. Heald
under Gen. Hull, the post at Mackinac, etc.
In the early part of September, 1812, parties of hostile Indians
began to assemble in considerable numbers in the vicinity of Forts
Wayne and Harrison, with a view to reducing them. Capt. Rhea,
at this time, had command of Fort Wayne, but his drinking pro
pensities rather disqualifled him for emergencies. For two weeks
the fort was in great jeopardy. An express had been sent to Gen.
Harrison for reinforcements, but many days passed without any
tidings of expected assistance. At length, one day, Maj. Wm.
Oliver and four friendly Indians arrived at the fort on horseback.
One of the Indians was the celebrated Logan. They had come in
defiance of " 600 Indians," had "broken their ranks" and reached
the fort in safety. Oliver reported that Harrison was aware of the
situation and was raising men for a re-enforcement. Ohio was also
raising volunteers ; 800 were then assembled at St. Mary's, Ohio,
60 miles south of Fort Wayne, and would march to the relief of
the fort in three or four days, or as soon as they were joined by re-
enforcements from Kentucky.
Oliver prepared a letter, announcing to Gen. Harrison his safe ar
rival at the besieged fort, and giving an account of its beleaguered
situation, which he dispatched by his friendly Shawanees, while he
concluded to take his chances at the fort. Brave Logan and his
companions started with the message, but had scarcely left the fort
when they were discovered and pursued by the hostile Indians, yet
passing the Indian lines in safety, they were soon out of reach.
The Indians now began a furious attack upon the fort; but the little
garrison, with Oliver to cheer them on, bravely met the assault, re
pelling the attack day after day, until the army approached to their
relief. During this siege the commanding officer, whose habits of
 "  (lOlJ 

102 HISTORY OF INDIANA.
intemperance rendered him unfit for the command, was confined in
the " black hole," while the junior officer assumed charge. This
course was approved by the General, on his arrival, but Capt. Rhea
received very little censure, probably on account of his valuable ser
vices in the Revolutionary war.
Sept. 6, 1812, Harrison moved forward with his army to the re
lief of Fort Wayne; the next day he reached a point within three
miles of St. Mary's river; the next day he reached the river and
was joined at evening by 200 mounted volunteers, under Col. Rich
ard M. Johnson; the next day at "Shane's Crossing" on the St.
Mary's they were joined by 800 men from Ohio, under Cols. Adams
and Hawkins. At this place Chief Logan and four other Indians
offered their services as spies to Gen. Harrison, and were accepted.
Logan was immediately disguised and sent forward. Passing
through the lines of the hostile Indians,he ascertained their number
to be about 1,500, and entering the fort, he-encouraged the solaiers
to hold out, as relief was at hand. Gen. Harrison's force at this
time was about 3,500.
After an early breakfast Friday morning they were under march
ing orders ; it had rained and the guns were damp ; they were dis
charged and reloaded ; but that day only one Indian was encount
ered ; preparations were made at night for an expected attack by
the Indians, but no attack came; the next day, Sept. 10, they ex
pected to fight their way to Fort Wayne, but in that they were hap
pily disappointed ; and " At the first grey of the morning," as Bryce
eloquently observes, " the distant halloos of the disappointed sav
ages revealed to the anxious inmates of the fort the glorious news
of the approach of the army. Great clouds of dust could be seen
from the fort, rolling up in the distance, as the valiant soldiery
under Gen. Harrison moved forward to the rescue of the garrison
and the brave boys of Kentucky and Ohio."
This siege of Fort Wayne of course occasioned great loss to the
few settlers who had gathered around the fort. At the time of its
commencement quite a little village had clustered around the mili
tary works, but during the siege most of their improvements and
crops were destroyed by the savages. Every building out of the reach
of the guns of the fort was leveled to the ground, and thus the in
fant settlement was destroyed.
During this siege the garrison lost but three men, while the
Indians lost 25. Gen. Harrison had all the Indian villages for 25
miles around destroyed. Fort Wayne was nothing but a military
post until about 1819.

^ipr

, -v|g — - _    ^ — ^1^,
HISTORY OF INDIANA. 103
Simultaneously with the attack on Fort Wayne the Indians also
besieged Fort Harrison, whicli was commanded by Zachary Taylor.
The Indians commenced firing upon the fort about 11 o'clock one
night, when tiie garrison was in a rather poor plight for receiving
them. The enemy succeeded in firing one of the block-houses,
which contained whisky, and the whites had great difficulty in pre
venting the burning of all the barracks. The word " fire " seemed
to have thrown all the men into confusion ; soldiers' and citizens'
wives, who had taken shelter within the fort, were crying; Indians
were yelling; many of the garrison were sick and unable to be on
duty; the men despaired and gave themselves up as lost; two of
the strongest and apparently most reliable men jumped the pickets
in the very midst of the emergency, etc., so that Capt. Taylor was
at his wit's end what to do; but he gave directions as to the many
details, rallied the men by a new scheme, and after about seven
hours succeeded in saving themselves. The Indians drove up the
horses belonging to the citizens, and as they could not catch th<^m
very readily, shot the whole of them in the sight of their owners,
and also killed a number of the hogs belonging to the whites.
They drove off all of the cattle, 65 in number, as well as the public
oxen. Among many other depredations committed by the savages dur
ing this period, was the massacre of the Pigeon Roost settlement,
consisting of one man, five women and 16 children; a few escaped.
An unsuccessful effort was made to capture these Indians, but
when the news of this massacre and the attack on Fort Harrison
reached Vincennes, about 1,200 men, under the command of Col.
Wm. Russell, of the 7th U. S. Infantry, marched forth for the re
lief of the fort and to punish the Indians. On reaching the fort
the Indians had retired from the vicinity; but on the 15th of Sep
tember a small detachment composed of 11 men, under Lieut. Rich
ardson, and acting as escort of provisions sent from Vincennes to
Fort Harrison, was attacked by a party of Indians within the pres
ent limits of Sullivan county. It was reported that seven of these
men were killed and one wounded. The provisions of course fell
into the hands of the Indians.
EXPEDITIONS AGAINST THE INDIANS.
By the middle of August, through the disgraceful surrender of
Gen. Hull, at Detroit, and the evacuation of Fort Dearborn and
massacre of its garrison, the British and Indians were in possession
of the whole Northwest. The savages, emboldened by their suc-

104 HISTORY OF INDIANA.
cesses, penetrated deeper into the settlements, committing great
depredations. The activity and success of the enemy aroused the
people to a realization of the great danger their homes and families
were in. Gov. Edwards collected a force of 360 men at Camp
Russell, and Capt. Russell came from Vincennes with about 50 more.
Being officered and equipped, they proceeded about the middle of
October on horseback, carrying with them 20 day's rations, to
Peoria. Capt. Craig was sent with two boats up the Illinois, with
provisions and tools to build a fort. The little army proceeded to
Peoria Lake, where was located a Pottawatomie village. They
arrived late at night, within a few miles of the village, without
their presence being known to the Indians. Four men were sent
out that night to reconnoiter the position of the village. The four
brave men who volunteered for this perilous service were Thomas
Carlin (afterward Governor), and Robert, Stephen and Davis White
side. They proceeded to the village, and explored it and the ap
proaches to it thoroughly, without starting an Indian or provoking
the bark of a dog. The low lands between the Indian -village and
the troops were covered with a rank growth of tall grass, so high
and dense as to readily conceal an Indian on horseback, until within
a few feet of him. The ground had become still more yielding by
recent rains, rendering it almost impassable by mounted men. To
prevent detection the soldiers had camped without lighting the
usual camp-fires. The men lay down in their cold and cheerless
camp, with many misgivings. They well remembered how the
skulking savages fell upon Harrison's men at Tippecanoe during
the night. To add to their fears, a gun in the hands of a soldier
was carelessly discharged, raising great consternation in the camp.
Through a dense fog which prevailed the following morning, the
army took up its line of march for the Indian town, Capt. Judy
with his corps of spies in advance. In the tall grass they came up
with an Indian and his squaw, both mounted. The Indian wanted
to surrender, but Judy observed that he " did not leave home to take
prisoners," and instantly shot one of them. With the blood
streaming from his mouth and nose, and in his agony " singing the
death song," the dying Indian raised his gun, shot and mortally
wounded a Mr. Wright, and in a few minutes expired! Many guns
were immediately discharged at the other Indian, not then known
to be a squaw, all of which missed her. Badly scared, and her hus
band killed by her side, the agonizing wails of the squaw were
heart-rending. She was taken prisoner, and afterward restored
to her nation.

AQ_

.>•

-^ ,  -. -  — ----- -".'
HISTORY OF INDIANA. 105
On nearing the town a general charge was made, the Indians
fleeing to the interior wilderness. Some of their warriors made a
stand, when a sharp engagement occurred, but the Indians were
routed. In their flight tliey left behind all their winter's store of
provisions, which was taken, and their town burned. Some Indian
children were found who had been left in the hurried flight, also
some disabled adults, one of whom was in a starving condition, and
with a voracious appetite partook of the bread given him. He is
said to have been killed by a cowardly trooper straggling behind,
after the main army had resumed its retrograde march, who wanted
to be able to boast that he had killed an Indian.
September 19, 1812, Gen. Harrison was put in command of the
Northwestern army, then estimated at 10,000 men, with these
orders: "Having provided for the protection of the western front
ier, you will retake Detroit; and, with a view to the conquest of
upper Canada, you will penetrate that country as far as the force
under your command will in your judgment justify."
Although surrounded by many difficulties, the General began
immediately to execute these instructions. In calling for volun
teers from Kentucky, however, more men offered than could be
received. At this time there were about 2,000 mounted volunteers
at Vincennes, under the command of Gen. Samuel Hopkins, of the
Revolutionary war, who was under instructions to operate against
the enemy along the Wabash and Illinois rivers. Accordingly,
early in October, Gen. Hopkins moved from Vincennes towards the
Kickapoo villages in the Illinois territory, with about 2,000 troops;
but after four or five days' march the men and officers raised a
mutiny which gradually succeeded in carrying all back to Vin
cennes. The cause of their discontent is not apparent.
About the same time Col. Russell, with two small companies of
U. S. rangers, commanded by Capts. Perry and Modrell, marched
from the neighborhood of Vincennes to unite with a small force of
mounted militia under the command of Gov. Edwards, of Illinois,
and afterward to march with the united troops from Cahokia
toward Lake Peoria, for the purpose of co-operating with Gen.
Hopkins against the Indian towns in that vicinity; but not find
ing the latter on the ground, was compelled to retire.
Immediately after the discharge of the mutinous volunteers.
Gen. Hopkins began to organize another force, mainly of infantry,
to reduce the Indians up the Wabash as far as the Prophet's town.
These troops consisted of three regiments of Kentucky militia.

1^^— -  ¦  - — *]iL
106 HISTORY OF INDIANA.
commanded by Cols. Barbour, Miller and Wilcox; a small company
of regulars commanded by Oapt. Zachary Taylor; a company of
rangers commanded by Capt. Beckes; and a company of scouts or
spies under the command of Capt. Washburn. The main body of
this army arrived at Fort Harrison Nov. 5; on the 11th it pro
ceeded up the east side of the Wabash into the heart of the Indian
country, but found the villages generally deserted. Winter set
ting in severely, and the troops poorly clad, they had to return to
Vincennes as rapidly as possible. With one exception the men
behaved nobly, and did much damage to the enemy. That
exception was the precipitate chase after an Indian by a detach
ment of men somewhat in liquor, until they found themselves sur
rounded by an overwhelming force of the enemy, and they had to
retreat in disorder.
At the close of this campaign Gen. Hopkins resigned his
command. In the fall of 1812 Gen. Harrison assigned to Lieut. Col. John
B. Campbell, of the 19th U. S. Inf., the duty of destroying the
Miami villages on the Mississinewa river, with a detachment of
about 600 men. Nov. 25, Lieut. Col. Campbell marched from
Franklinton, according to orders, toward the scene of action, cau
tiously avoiding falling in with the Delawares, who had been ordered
by Gen. Harrison to retire to the Shawanee establishment on the
Auglaize river, and arriving on the Mississinewa Dec. 17, when
they discovered an Indian town inhabited by Delawares and
Miamis This and three other villages were destroyed. Soon
after this, the supplies growing short and the troops in a suffering
condition, Campbell began to consider the propriety of returning
to Ohio; but just as he was calling together his officers early one
morning to deliberate on the proposition, an army of Indians
rushed upon them with fury. The engagement lasted an hour,
with a loss of eight killed and 42 wounded, besides about 150 horses
killed. The whites, however, succeeded in defending themselves
and taking a number of Indians prisoners, who proved to be Mun-
sies, of Silver Heel's band. Campbell, hearing that a lai-ge force
of Indians were assembled at Mississinewa village, under Tecum
seh, determined to return to Greenville. The privations of his
troops and the severity of the cold compelled him to send to that
place for re-enforcements aud supplies. Seventeen of the men had
to be carried on litters. They were met by the re-enforcement
about 40 miles from Greenville.

Vk=

¦V<s

HISTORY OF INDIANA. J 07
Lieut. Col. Campbell sent two messages to the Delawares, who
lived on White river and who had been previously directed and
requested to abandon their towns on that river and remove into
Ohio. In these messages he expressed his regret at unfortunately
killing some of their men, and urged them to move to the Shaw
anee settlement on the Auglaize nver. He assured them that their
people, in his power, would be compensated by the Government
for their losses, if not found to be hostile; and the friends of those
killed satisfied by presents, if such satisfaction would be received.
This advice was heeded by the main body of the Delawares and a
few Miamis. The Shawanee Prophet, and some of the principal
chiefs of the Miamis, retired from the country of the Wabash, and,
with their destitute and suffering bands, moved to Detroit, where
they were received as the friends and allies of Great Britain.
On the approach of Gen. Harrison with his army in September,
1813, the British evacuated Detroit, and the Ottawas, Chippewas,
Pottawatomies, Miamis and Kickapoos sued for peace with the
United States, which was granted temporarily by Brig. Gen. Mc-
-Ajthur, on condition of their becoming allies of the United States
in case of war.
In June, 1813, an expedition composed of 137 men, under com
mand of Col. Joseph Bartholomew, moved from Valonia toward
the Delaware towns on the west fork of White river, to surprise
and punish some hostile Indians who were supposed to be lurking
about those villages. Most of these places they found deserted ;
some of them burnt. They had been but temporarily occupied for
the purpose of collecting and carrying away corn. Col. Bartholo
mew's forces succeeded in killing one or two Indians and destroy
ing considerable corn, and they returned to Valonia on the 21st of
this month.
July 1, 1813, Col. William Russell, of the 7th U. S., organized
a force of 573 effective men at Valonia and marched to the Indian
villages about the mouth of the Mississinewa. His experience was
much like that of Col. Bartholomew, who had just preceded him.
He had rainy weather, suffered many losses, found the villages de
serted, destroyed stores of corn, etc. The Colonel reported that he
went to every place where he expected to find the enemy, but they
nearly always seemed to have fled the country. The march from
Valonia to the mouth of the Mississinewa and return was about
250 miles.
Several smaller expeditions helped to "checker" the surrounding

^FT

108 HISTORY OF INDIANA.
country, and find that the Indians were very careful to keep them
selves out of sight, and thus closed this series of campaigns,
CLOSE OF THE WAR.
The war with England closed on the 24th of December, 1814,
when a treaty of peace was signed at Ghent. The 9th article of
the treaty required the United States to put an end to hostilities
with all tribes or nations of Indians with whom they had been at
war; to restore to such tribes or nations respectively all the rights
and possessions to which they were entitled in 1811, before the
war, on condition that such Indians should agree todesist from all
hostilities against the United States. But in February, just before
the treaty was sanctioned by our Government, there were signs of
Indians accumulating arms and ammunition, and a cautionary
order was therefore issued to have all the white forces in readiness
for an attack by the Indians; but the attack was not made. During
the ensuing summer and fall the United States Government ac
quainted the Indians with the provisions of the treaty, and entered
into subordinate treaties of peace with the principal tribes.
Just before the treaty of Spring Wells (near Detroit) was signed,
the Shawanee Prophet retired to Canada, but declaring his resolu
tion to abide by any treaty which the chiefs might sign. Some
time afterward he returned to the Shawanee settlement in Ohio, and
lastly to the west of the Mississippi, where he died, in 1834. The
British Government allowed him a pension from 1813 until his
death. His brother Tecumseh was killed at the battle of the
Thames, Oct. 5, 1813, by a Mr. Wheatty, as we are positively in
formed by Mr. A. J. James, now a resident of La Harpe township,
Hancock county, 111., whose father-in-law, John Pigman, of Co
shocton county, Ohio, was an eye witness. Gen. Johnson has gener
ally had the credit of killing Tecumseh.

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TECUMSEH.
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TECUMSEH.
If one should inquire who has been the greatest Indian, the most
noted, the "principal Indian " in North America since' its discov
ery by Columbus, we would be obliged to answer, Tecumseh. For
all those qualities which elevate a man far above his race; for talent,
tact, skill and bravery as a warrior; for high-minded, honorable and
chivalrous bearing as a man; in a word, for all those elements of
greatness which place him a long way above his fellows in savage
life, the name and fame of Tecumseh will go down to posterity in
the West as one of the most celebrated of the aborigines of this
continent, — as one who had no equal among the tribes that dwelt
in the country drained by the Mississippi. Born to command him
self, he used all the appliances that would stimulate the courage
and nerve the valor of his followers. Always in the front rank of
battle, his followers blindly followed his lead, and as his war-cry
rang clear above the din and noise of the battle-field, the Shawnee
warriors, as they rushed on to victory or the grave, rallied around
him, foemen worthy of the steel of the most gallant commander
that ever entered the lists in defense of his altar or his home.
The tribe to which Tecumseh, or Tecumtha, as some write it, be
longed, was the Shawnee, or Shawanee. The tradition of the nation
held that they originally came from the Gulf of Mexico; that they
wended their way up the Mississippi and the Ohio, and settled at
or near the present site of Shawneetown, 111., whence they removed
to the upper Wabash. In the latter place, at any rate, they were
found early in the 18th century, and were known as the " bravest
of the brave." This tribe has uniformly been the bitter enemy of
the white man, and in every jjontest with our people has exhibited
a degree of skill and strategy that should characterize the most
dangerous foe.
Tecumseh's notoriety and that of his brother, the Prophet, mutu
ally served to establish and strengthen each other. While the
Prophet had unlimited poM-er, spiritual and temporal, he distributed
his greatness in all the departments of Indian life with a kind of
fanaticism that magnetically aroused the religious and superstitious
passions, not only of his own followers, but also of all the tribes in
(111)

^-,

112 HISTORY OF INDIANA.
this part of the country; but Tecumseh concentrated his greatness
upon the more practical and business affairs of military conquest.
It is doubted whether he was really a sincere believer in the preten
sions of his fanatic brother; if he did not believe in the pretentious
feature of them he had the shrewdness to keep his unbelief to him
self, knowing that religious fanaticism was one of the strongest im
pulses to reckless bravery.
During tis sojourn in the Northwestern Territory, it was Tecum
seh's uppermost desire of life to confederate all the Indian tribes of
the country together against the whites, to maintain their choice
hunting-grounds. All his public policy converged toward this sin
gle end. In his vast scheme he comprised even all the Indians in
the Gulf country, — all in America west of the Alleghany moun
tains. He held, as a subordinate principle, that the Great Spirit
had given the Indian race all these hunting-grounds to keep in
common, and that no Indian or tribe could cede any portion of the
land to the whites without the consent of all the tribes. Hence, in
all his councils with the whites he ever maintained that the treaties
were null and void.
When he met Harrison at Vincennes in council the last time,
and, as he was invited by that General to take a seat with him on
the platform, he hesitated; Harrison insisted, saying that it was the
"wish of their Great Father, the President of the United States,
that he should do so." The chief paused a moment, raised his tall
and commanding form to its greatest height, surveyed the troops
and crowd around him, fixed his keen eyes upon Gov. Harrison,
and then turning them to the sky above, and pointing toward
heaven with his sinewy arm in a manner indicative of supreme
contempt for the paternity assigned him, said in clarion tones: " My
father? The sun is my father, the earth is my mother, and on her
bosom I will recline." He then stretched himself, with his war
riors, on the green sward. The effect was electrical, and for some
moments there was perfect silence.
The Governor, then, through an interpreter, told him that he un
derstood he had some complaints to make and redress to ask, etc.,
and that he wished to investigate the matter and make restitution
wherever it might be decided it should be done. As soon as the
Governor was through witb this introductory speech, the stately
warrior arose, tall, athletic, manly, dignified and graceful, and with
a voice at first low, but distinct and musical, commenced a reply.
As he warmed up with his subject his clear tones might be heard.

JV'

HISTORY OF INDIANA.

113

as if " tru'mpet-tongued," to the utmost limits of the assembly.
The most perfect silence prevailed, except when his warriors gave
their guttural assent to some eloquent recital of the red man's
wrong and the white man's injustice. Tecumseh recited the wrongs
which his race had sufiered from che ti.ne of the massacre of the
Moravian Indians to the present; said he did not know how he
could ever again be the friend of the white man; that the Great
Spirit had given to the Indian all the land from the Miami to the
Mississippi, and from the lakes to the Ohio, as a common property
to all the tribes in these bordem, and that the land could not and
should not be sold without the consent of all; that all the tribes on
the continent formed but one aation; that if the United States
would not give up the lands they had bought of the Miamis and
the other tribes, those united with him were determined to annihi
late those tribes; that they were determined to have no more chiefs,
but in future to be governed by their warriors; that unless the
whites ceased their encroachments upon Indian lands, the fate of
the Indians was sealed ; they had been driven from the banks of
the Delaware across the Alleghanies, and their possessions on the
Wabash and the Illinois were now to be taken from them; that in
a few years they would not have ground enough to bury their war
riors on this side of the "Father of Waters;" that all would perish,
all their possessioas taken from them by fraud or force, unless they
stopped the progress of the white man westward; that it must be
a war of races in which one or the other must perish; that their
tribes had been driven toward the setting sun like a galloping
horse (ne-kat a-kush-e ka-top-o-lin-to).
The Shawnee language, in which this most eminent Indian states
man spoke, excelled all other aboriginal tongues in its musical ar
ticulation; and the effect of Tecumseh's oratory on this occasion
can be more easily imagined than described. Gov. Harrison,
although as brave a soldier and General as any American, was over
come by this speech. He well knew Tecumseh's power and influ
ence among all the tribes, knew his bravery, courage and determi
nation, and knew that he meant what he said. When Tecumseh
was done speaking there was a stillness throughout the assembly
which was really painful; not a whisper was heard, and all eyes were
turned from the speaker toward Gov. Harrison, who after a few
moments came to himself, and recollecting many of the absurd
statements of the great Indian orator, began a reply which was
more logical, if not so eloquent. The Shawnees were attentive un-

<\

,^^e-

114 HISTORY OF INDIANA.
til Harrison's interpreter began to translate his speech to the Mia
mis and Pottawatomies, when Tecumseh and his warriors sprang
to their feet, brandishing their war-clubs and tomahawks. "Tell
him," said Tecumseh, addressing the interpreter in Shawnee, " he
lies." The interpreter undertook to convey this message to the
Governor in smoother language, but Tecumseh noticed the effort
and remonstrated, " No, no; tell him belies." The warriors began
to grow more excited, when Secretary Gibson ordered the Ameri
can troops in arms to advance. This allayed the rising storm, and
as soon as Tecumseh's " He lies " was literally interpreted to the
Governor, the latter told Tecumseh through the interpreter to tell
Tecumseh he would hold no further council with him.
Thus the assembly was broken up, and one can hardly imagine a
more exciting scene. It would constitute the finest subject for a
historical painting to adorn the rotunda of the capitol. The next
day Tecumseh requested another interview with the Governor,
wliich was granted on condition that he should make an apology to
the Governor for his language the day before. This he made
through the interpreter. Measures for defense and protection were
taken, however, lest there should be another outbreak. Two com
panies of militia were ordered from the country, and the one in
town added to them, while the Governor and his friends went into
council fully armed and prepared for any contingency. On this oc
casion the conduct of Tecumseh was entirely different from that of
the day before. Firm and intrepid, showing not the slightest fear
or alarm, surrounded with a military force four times his own, he
preserved the utmost composure and equanimity. No one would
have supposed that he could have been the principal actor in the
thrilling scene of the previous day. He claimed that half the
Americans were in sympathy with him. He also said that whites
had informed him that Gov. Harrison had purchased land from the
Indians without any authority from the Government; that he,
Harrison, had but two years more to remain in office, and that if
he, Tecumseh, could prevail upon the Indians who sold the lands
not to receive their annuities for that time, and the present Gover
nor displaced by a good man as his successor, the latter would re
store to the Indians all the lands purchased from them.
The Wyandots, Kickapoos, Pottawatomies, Ottawas and the Win
nebagoes, through their respective spokesmen, declared their
adherence to the great Shawnee warrior and statesman. Gov. Harri
son then told them that he would send Tecumseh's speech to thePresi-

f

i

IIISTORYOF INDIANA. 115
dent of the United States and return the answer to the Indians as soon
as it was received. Tecumseh then declared that he and his allies were
determined that the old boundary line should continue; and that
if the whites crossed it, it would be at their peril. Gov. Harrison re
plied that he would be equally plain with him and state that the
President would never allow that the lands on the Wabash were the
property of any other tribes than those who had occupied them
since the white people flrst came to America; and as the title to
the lands lately purchased was derived from those tribes by a fair
purchase, he might rest assured that the right of the United States
would be supported by the sword. " So be it," was the stern and
haughty reply of the Shawnee chieftan, as he and his braves took
leave of the Governor and wended their way in Indian file to their
camping ground.
Thus ended the last conference on earth between the chivalrous
Tecumseh and the hero of the battle of Tippecanoe. The bones of
the first lie bleaching on the battle-field of the Thames, and those
of the last in a mausoleum on the banks of the Ohio; each strug
gled for the mastery of his race, apd each no doubt was equally
honest and patriotic in his purposes. The weak yielded to the
strong, the defenseless to the powerful, and the hunting-ground of
the Shawnee is all occupied by his enemy.
Tecumseh, with four of his braves, immediately embarked in a
birch canoe, descended the Wabash, and went on to the South to
unite the tribes of that country in a general system of self-defense
against the encroachment of the whites. His emblem was a dis
jointed snake, with the motto, "Join or die!" In union alone was
strength. Before Tecumseh left the Prophet's town at the mouth of the
Tippecanoe river, on his excursion to the South, he had a definite
understanding with his brother and the chieftains of the other tribes
in the Wabash country, that they should preserve perfect peace
with the whites until his arrangements were completed for a con
federacy of the tribes on both sides of the Ohio and on the Missis
sippi river; but it seems that while he was in the South engaged
in his work of uniting the tribes of that country some of t'tie North
ern tribes showed signs of fight and precipitated Harrison into that
campaign which ended in the battle of Tippecanoe and the total
route of the Indians. Tecumseh, on his return from the South,
learning what had happened, was overcome with chagrin, disappoint
ment and anger, and accused his brother of duplicity and coward-
. g ' 

116 HISTORY OF INDIANA.
ice; indeed, it is said that he never forgave him to the day of his
death. A short time afterward, on the breaking out of the war of
Great Britain, he joined Proctor, at Maiden, with a party of his
warriors, and finally suffered the fate mentioned on page 108.
CIVIL MATTERS 1812-'5.
Owing to the absence of Gov. Harrison on military duty, John
Gibson, the Secretary of the Territory, acted in the administration
of civil affairs. In his message to the Legislature convening on the
1st of February, 1813, he said, substantially:
" Did I possess the abilities of Cicero or Demosthenes, I could
not portray in more glowing colors our foreign and domestic politi
cal situation than it is already experienced within our own breasts.
The United States have been compelled, by frequent acts of injus
tice, to declare war against England. For a detail of the causes of
this war I would refer to the message of President Madison ; it
does honor to his head and heart. Although not an admirer of
war, I am glad to see our little but inimitable navy riding triumph
ant on the seas, but chagrined to find that our armies by land are
so little successful. The spirit of '76 appears to have fied from our
continent, or, if not fled, is at least asleep, for it appears not to
pervade our armies generally. At your last assemblage our politi
cal horizon seemed clear, and our infant Territory bid fair for rapid
and rising grandeur; but, alas, the scene has changed; and whether
this change, as respects our Territory, has been owing to an over
anxiety in us to extend our dominions, or to a wish for retaliation
by our foes, or to a foreign influence, I shall not say. The Indians,
our former neighbors and friends, have become our most inveterate
foes. Our former frontiers are now our wilds, and our inner settle
ments have become frontiers. Some of our best citizens, and old
men worn down with age, and helpless women and innocent
babes, have fallen victims to savage cruelty. I have done my duty
as well as I can, and hope that the interposition of Providence will
protect us."
The many complaints made about the Territorial Government
Mr. Gibson said, were caused more by default of officers than of the
law. Said he: "It is an old and, I believe, correct adage, that
' good officers make good soldiers.' This evil having taken root, I do
not know how it can be eradicated; but it may be remedied. In
place of men searching after and accepting commissions before they

k^_

HISTORY OF INDIANA. 117

are even tolerably qualified, thereby subjecting themselves to ridi
cule and their country to ruin, barely for the name of the thing, I
think may be remedied by a previous examination."
During this session of the Legislature the seat of the Territorial
Government was declared to be at Corydon, and immediately acting
Governor Gibson prorogued the Legislature to meet at that place,
the first Monday of December, 1S13. During this 3'ear the T-erri-
tory was almost defenseless; Indian outrages were of common
occurrence, but no general outbreak was made. The militia-men
were armed with rifles and long knives, and many of the rangers
carried tomahawks.
In 1813 Thomas Posey, who was at that time a Senator in Con
gress from Tennessee, and who had been officer of the army of the
Revolution, was appointed Governor of Indiana Territory, to suc
ceed Gen. Harrison. He arrived in Vincennes and entered upon
the discharge of his duties May 25, 1813. During this year several
expeditions against the Indian settlements were set on foot.
In his first message to the Legislature the following December,
at Corydon, Gov. Posey said.' " The present crisis is awful, and big
with great events. Our land and nation is involved in the common
calamity of war; but we are under the protecting care of the benefi
cent Being,who has on a former occasion brought us safely through
an arduous struggle and placed us on a foundation of independence,
freedom and happiness. He will not suffer to be taken from us
what He, in His great wisdom has thought proper to confer and
bless us with, if we make a wise and virtuous use of His good
gifts. * * * Although our affairs, at the commencement of
the war, wore a gloomy aspect, they have brightened, and promise
a certainty of success, if properly directed and conducted, of which
I have no doubt, as the President and heads of departments of the
general Government are men of undoubted patriotism, talents and
experience, and who have grown old in the service of their country.
* * * It must be obvious to every thinking man that we were
forced into the war. Every measure consistent with honor, both
before and since the declaration of war, has tried to be on amicable
terms with our enemy. * * * You who reside in various parts
of the Territory have it in your power to understand what will tend
to its local and general advantage. The judiciary system would
require a revisal and amendment. The militia law is very defective
and requires your immediate attention. It is necessary to have

hL

118 HISTORY OF INDIANA.
good roads and highways in as many directions through the Terri
tory as the circumstances and situation of the inhabitants will
admit; it would contribute very much to promote the settlement
and improvement of the Territory. Attention to education is highly
necessary. There is an appropriation made by Congress, in lands,
for the purpose of establishing public schools. It comes now with
in your province to carry into operation the design of the appro
priation." This Legislature passed several very necessary laws for the wel
fare of the settlements, and the following year, as Gen. Harrison
was generally successful in his military campaigns in the North
west, the settlements in Indiana began to increase and improve.
The fear of danger from Indians had in a great measure subsided,
and the tide of immigration began again to flow. In January,
1814, about a thousand Miamis assembled at Fort Wayne for the
purpose of obtaining food to prevent starvation. They met with
ample hospitality, and their example was speedily followed by
others. These, with other acts of kindness, won the lasting friend
ship of the Indians, many of whom had fought in the interests of
Great Britain. General treaties between the United States and the
Northwestern tribes were subsequently concluded, and the way
was fully opened for the improvement and settlement of the lands.
POPULATION IN 1815.
The population of the Territory of Indiana, as given in the
official returns to the Legislature of 1815, was as follows, by
counties:COUNTIES. White males of 21 and over. TOT-\L.
Wayne  1,225  (1,407
Franklin  1,430  7,370
Dearborn  902  4,424
Switzerland  377  ".".'.'.  i,832
Jefferson- • •  874  ' 4 270
Clark  1,387  .'...'.'...'.".!.'!".!!!'..!'. 7!l.50
Washington  1,420  7,317
Harrison  1,056  6^975
Knox  1,391  8,068
•Gibson  1,100  5,3o0
Posey  320  1,619
Warrick  280  l,41d
Perry  350  1,720

Grand Totals  12,113  63,897
GENERAL VIEW.
The well-known ordinance of 17S7 conferred many " rights and
privileges " upon the inhabitants of the Northwestern Territory, and

I'Ci

HISTORY OF INDIANA. Ill)
consequently upon the people of Indiana Territory, but after all it
came far short of conferring as many privileges as are enjoyed at
* the present day by our Territories. They did not have a full form
of Republican government. A freehold estate in 500 acres of land
was one of the necessary qualifications of each member of the legis
lative council of the Territory ; every member of the Territorial House
of Representatives was required to hold, in his own right, 200 acres
of land; and the privilege of voting for members of the House
of Representatives was restricted to those inhabitants who, in addi
tion to other qualifications, owned severally at least 50 acres of
land. The Governor of the the Territory was invested with the
power of appointing officers of the Territorial militia, Judges of the
inferior Courts, Clerks of the Courts, Justices of the Peace, Sheriffs,
Coroners, County Treasurers and County Surveyors. He was also
authorized to divide the Territory into districts; to apportion
among the several counties the members of the House of Represent
atives; to prevent the passage of any Territorial law; and to con
vene and dissolve the General Assembly whenever he thought best.
None of the Governors, however, ever exercised these extraordinary
powers arbitrarily. Nevertheless, the people were constantly agi
tating the question of extending the right of suffrage. Five years
after the organization of the Territory, the Legislative Council, in
reply to the Governor's Message, said: " Although we are not as
completely independent in our legislative capacity as we would
wish to be, yet we are sensible that we must wait with patience for
that period of time when our population will burst the trammels
of a Territorial government, and we shall assume the character more
consonant to Republicanism. * * * fhe confidence which our
fellow citizens have uniformly had in your administration has been
snch that they have hitherto had no reason to be jealous of the un
limited power which you possess over our legislative proceedings.
We, however, cannot help regretting that such powers have
been lodged in the hands of any one, especially when it is recol
lected to what dangerous lengths the exercise of those powers may .
be extended."
After repeated petitions the people of Indiana were empowered
by Congress to elect the members.of the Legislative Council by popu
lar vote. This act was passed in 1809, and defined what was known
as the property qualification of voters. These qualifications were
abolished by Congress in 1811, which extended the right of voting
for members of the General Assembly and for a Territorial delegate

^^

120 HISTORY OF INDIANA.
to Congress to every free white male person who had attained the
age of twenty -one years, and who, having paid a county or Terri
torial tax, was a resident of the Territory and had resided in it for
a year. In 1814 the voting qualification in Indiana was defined "by
Congress, " to every free white male person having a freehold in
the Territory, and being a resident of the same." The House of
Representatives was authorized by Congress to lay off the Territory
into five districts, in each of which the qualified voters were em
powered to elect a member of the Legislative Council. The division
was made, one to two counties in each district.
At the session in August, 1814, the Territory was also divided
into three judicial circuits, and provisions were made for holding
courts in the same. The Governor was empowered to appoint a
presiding Judge in each circuit, and two Associate Judges of the
circuit court in each county. Their compensation was fixed at
$700 per annum.
The same year the General Assembly granted charters to two
banking institutions, the Farmers' and Mechanics' Bank of Madi
son and the Bank of Vincennes. The first was authorized to raise
a capital of $750,000, and the other $500,000. On the organization
of the State these banks were merged into the State Bank and its
branches. Here we close the history of the Territory of Indiana.

^^M.^

^

ORGANIZATION OF THE STATE.
The last regular session of the Territorial Legislature was held at
Corydon, convening in December, 1815. The message of Governor
Posey congratulated the people of the Territory upon the general
success of the settlements and the great increase of immigration,
recommended light taxes and a careful attention to the promotion
of education and the improvement of the State roads and highways.
He also recommended a revision of the territorial laws and an
amendment of the militia system. Several laws were passed pre
paratory to a State Government, and December 14, 1815, a me
morial to Congress was adopted praying for the authority to adopt
a constitution and State Government. Mr. Jennings,the Territorial
delegate, laid this memorial before Congress on the 28th, and April
19, 1816, the President approved the bill creating the State of In
diana. Accordingly, May 30 following, a general election was held
for a constitutional convention, which met at Corydon June 10 to
29, Johathan Jennings presiding and Wm. Hendricks acting as
Secretary. "The convention that formed the first constitution of the State
of Indiana was composed mainly of clear-minded, unpretending
men of common sense, whose patriotism was unquestionable and
whose morals were fair. Their familiarity with the theories of the
Declaration of American Independence, their Territorial experience
under the provisions of the ordinance of 1787, and their knowledge of
the principles of the constitution of the United States were sufficient,
when combined, to lighten materially their labors in the great work
of forming a constitution for a new State. With such landmarks
in view, the labors of similar conventions in other States and Ter
ritories have been rendered comparatively light. In the clearness
and conciseness of its style, in the comprehensive and just pro
visions which it made for the maintainance of civil and religious
liberty, in its mandates, which were designed to protect the rights
of the people collectively and individually, and to provide for the
public welfare, the constitution that was formed for Indiana in 1816
was not inferior to any of the State constitutions which were in ex
istence at that time." — Dillon's History of Indiana.
(121)

122 HISTORY OF INDIANA.
The first State election took place on the first Monday of August,
1816, and Jonathan Jennings was elected Governor, and Christo
pher Harrison, Lieut. Governor. Wm. Hendricks was elected to
represent the new State in the House of Representatives of the
United States.
The first General Assembly elected under the new constitution
began its session at Corydon, Nov. 4, 1816. John Paul was called
to the chair of the Senate pro tem., and Isaac Blackford was elected
Speaker of the House of Representatives.
Among other things in the new Governor's message were the
following remarks : " The result of your deliberation will be con
sidered as indicative of its future character as well as of the future
happiness and prosperity of its citizens. In the commencement
of the State government the shackles of the colonial should be for
gotten in our exertions to prove, by happy experience, that a uni
form adherence to the first principles of our Government and a
virtuous exercise of its powers will best secure efficiency to its
measures and stability to its character. Without a frequent recur
rence to those principles, the administration of the Government
will imperceptibly become more and more arduous, until the sim
plicity of our Republican institutions may eventually be lost in
dangerous expedients and political design. Under every free gov
ernment the happiness of the citizens must be identified with their
morals; and while a constitutional exercise of their rights shall
continue to have its due weight in discharge of the duties required
of the constituted authorities of the State, too much attention can
not be bestowed to the encouragement and promotion of every
moral virtue, and to the enactment of laws calculated to restrain
the vicious, and prescribe punishment for every crime commensu
rate with its enormity. In measuring, however, to each crime its
adequate punishment, it will be well to recollect that the certainty
of punishment has generally the surest effect to prevent crime;
while punishments unnecessarily severe too often produce the ac
quittal of the guilty and disappoint one of the greatest objects of
legislation and good government, * * * The dissemination of
useful knowledge will be indispensably necessary as a support to
morals and as a restraint to vice; aud on this subject it will only
be necessary to direct your attention to the plan of education as
prescribed by the constitution. * * * I recommend to your
consideration the propriety of providing by law, to prevent more
effectually any unlawful attempts to seize and carry into bondage

i.

HISTORY OF INDIANA. 125
persons of color legally entitled to their freedom; and at the same
time, as far as practicable, to prevent those who rightfully owe ser
vice to the citizens of any other State or Territory from seeking
within the limits of this State a refuge from the possession of their
lawful owners. Such a measure will tend to secure those who are
free from any unlawful attempts (to enslave them) and secures the
rights of the citizens of the other States and Territories as far as
ought reasonably to be expected."
This session of the Legislature elected James Noble and Waller
Taylor to the Senate of the United States; Robert A. New was
elected Secretary of State; W. H. Lilley, Auditor of State; and
Daniel C. Lane, Treasurer of State. The session adjourned Janu
ary 3, 1817.
As the history of the State of Indiana from this time forward is
best given by topics, we will proceed to give them in the chronolog
ical order of their origin.
The happy close of the war with Great Britain in 1814 was fol
lowed by a great rush of immigrants to the great Territory of the
Northwest, including the new States, all now recently cleared of
the enemy; and by 1820 the State of Indiana had more than
doubled her population, having at this time 147,178, and by 1825
nearly doubled this again, that is to say, a round quarter of a mil
lion, — a growth more rapid probably than that of any other section
in this country since the days of Columbus.
The period 1825-30 was a prosperous time for the young State.
Immigration continued to be rapid, the crops were generally good
and the hopes of the people raised higher than they had ever been
before. Accompanying this immigration, however, were paupers
and indolent people, who threatened to be so numerous as to
become a serious burden. On this, subject Governor Ray called for
legislative action, but the Legislature scarcely knew what to do
and they deferred action.

¦v

BLACK HAWK WAR.
In 1830 there still lingered within the bounds of the State two
tribes of Indians, whose growing indolence, intemperate habits,
dependence upon their neighbors for the bread of life, diminished
prospects of living by the chase, continued perpetration of murders
and other outrages of dangerous precedent, primitive igno
rance and unrestrained exhibitions of savage customs before the
children of the settlers, combined to make them subjects for a more
rigid government. The removal of the Indians west of the Missis
sippi was a melancholy but necessary duty. The time having
arrived for the emigration of the Pottawatomies, according to the
stipulations contained in their treaty with the United States, they
evinced that reluctance common among aboriginal tribes on leav
ing the homes of their childhood and the graves of their ancestors.
Love of country is a principle planted in the bosoms of all man
kind. The Laplander and the Esquimaux of the frozen north,
who feed on seals, moose and the meat of the polar bear, would not
exchange their country for the sunny clime of "Araby the blest."
Color and shades of complexion have nothing to do with the
heart's best, warmest emotions. Then we should not wonder that the
Pottawatomie, on leaving his home on the Wabash, felt as sad as
^schines did when ostracised from his native land, laved by the
waters of the classic Scamander; and the noble and eloquent Nas-
waw-kay, on leaving the encampment on Crooked creek, felt his
banishment as keenly as Cicero when thrust from the bosom of his
beloved Rome, for which he had spent the best efforts of his life,
and for which he died.
On Sunday morning. May 18, 1832, the people on the west side
of the Wabash were thrown into a state of great consternation, on
account of a report that a large body of hostile Indians had
approached within 15 miles of Lafayette and killed two men. The
alarm soon spread throughout Tippecanoe, Warren, Vermillion,
Fountain, Montgomery, and adjoining counties. Several brave
commandants of companies on the west side of the Wabash in
Tippecanoe county, raised troops to go and meet the enemy, and
dispatched an express to Gen. Walker with a request that he should
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HISTORY OF INDIANA. 127
make a call upon the militia of the county to equip themselves
instantly and march to the aid of their bleeding countrymen.
Thereupon Gen. Walker, Col. Davis, Lieut-Col. Jenners, Capt.
Brown, of the artillery, and various other gallant spirits mounted
their war steeds and proceeded to the army, and thence upon a
scout to the Grand Prairie to discover, if possible, the number,
intention and situation of the Indians. Over 300 old men, women
and children flocked precipitately to Lafayette and the surrounding
country east of the Wabash. A remarkable event occurred in this
stampede, as follows:
A man, wife and seven children resided on the edge of the
Grand Prairie, west of Lafayette, in a locality considered particu
larly dangerous. On hearing of this alarm he made hurried
preparations to fly with his family to Lafayette for safety. Imag
ine his surprise and chagrin when his wife told him she would not
go one step; that she did not believe in being scared at trifles, and
in her opinion there was not an Indian within 100 miles of them.
Importunity proved unavailing, and the disconsolate and frightened
husband and father took all the children except the youngest, bade
his wife and babe a long and solemn farewell, never expecting to
see them again, unless perhaps he niight find their mangled re
mains, minus their scalps. On arriving at Lafayette, his acquaint
ances rallied and berated him for abandoning his wife and child in
that way, but he met their jibes with a stoical indifference, avowing
that he should not be held responsible for their obstinacy.
As the shades of the first evening drew on, the wife felt lonely;
and the chirping of the frogs and the notes of the whippoorwill only
intensified her loneliness, until she half wished she had accom
panied the rest of the family in their fiight. She remained in the
house a .ew hours without striking a light, and then concluded
that " discretion was the better part of valor," took her babe and
some bed-clothes, fastened the cabin door, and hastened to a sink
hole in the woods, in which she afterward said that she and her
babe slept soundly until sunrise next morning.
Lafayette literally boiled over with people and patriotism. A
meeting was held at the court-house, speeches were made by
patriotic individuals, and to allay the fears of the women an armed
police was immediately ordered, to be called the " Lafayette Guards."
•Thos. T. Benbridge was elected Captain, and John Cox, Lieutenant.
Capt. Benbridge yielded the active drill of his guards to the
Lieutenant, who had served two years in the war of 1812. After
^ VI —   . ¦¦ ¦  ¦¦ -^ ^

128 HISTORY OF INDIANA.
the meeting adjourned, the guards were paraded on the green
where Purdue's block now stands, and put through sundry evolu
tions by Lieut. Cox, who proved to be an expert drill officer, and
whose clear, shrill V9ice rung out on the night air as he marched
and counter-marched the troops from where the paper-mill stands
to Main street ferry, and over the suburbs, generally. Every old
gun and sword that could be found was brought into requisition,
with a new shine on them.
Gen. Walker, Colonels Davis and Jenners, and other officers
joined in a call of the people of Tippecanoe county for volunteers to
march to the frontier settlements. A large meeting of the citizens
assembled in the public square in the town, and over 300 volunteers
mostly mounted men, left for the scene of action, with an alacrity
that would have done credit to veterans.
The first night they camped nine miles west of Lafayette, near
Grand Prairie. They placed sentinels for the night and retired to
rest. A few of the subaltern officers very injudiciously concluded
to try what effect a false alarm would have upon the sleeping sol
diers, and a few of them withdrew to a neighboring thicket, and
thence made a charge upon the picket guards, who , after hailing
them and receiving no countersign, fired off their guns and ran for
the Colonel's marquee in the center of the encampment. The aroused
Colonels and staff sprang to their feet, shouting "To arms! to arms!"
and the obedient, though panic-stricken soldiers seized their gnns
and demanded to be led against the invading foe. A wild scene of
disorder ensued, and amid the din of arms and loud commands of
the officers the raw militia felt that they had already got into the
red jaws of battle. One of the alarm sentinels, in running to the
center of the encampment, leaped over a blazing camp fire, and
alighted full upon the breast and stomach of a sleeping lawyer, who
was, no doubt, at that moment dreaming of vested and contingent
remainders, rich clients and good fees, which in legal parlance was
suddenly estopped by the hob-nails in the stogas of the scared
sentinel. As soon as the counselor's vitality and consciousness
sufficiently returned, ho put in some strong demurrers to the con
duct of the affrighted picket men, averring that he would greatly
prefer being wounded by the enemy to being run over by a cowardly
booby. Next morning the organizers of the ruse were severely
reprimanded. •
May 28, 1832, Governor Noble ordered General Walker to call
out his whole command, if necessary, and supply arms, horses and

•V '^  •-  . _ -^  H'^ ^
HISTORY OF INDIANA. 129
provisions, even though it be necessary to seize them. The next
day four baggage wagons, loaded with camp equipments, stores,
provisions and other articles, were sent to the little army, who were
thus provided for a caippaign of five or six weeks. The following
Thursday a squad of cavalry, under Colonel Sigler, passed through
Lafayette on the way to the hostile region ; and on the 13tli of June
Colonel Russell, commandant of the 40th Regiment, Indiana Militia,
passed through Lafayette with 340 mounted volunteers from the
counties of Marion, Hendricks and Johnson. Also, several com
panies of volunteers from Montgomery, Fountain and Warren
counties, hastened to the relief of the frontier settlers. The troops
from Lafayette marched to Sugar creek, and after a short time,
there being no probability of finding any of the enemy, were
ordered to return, They all did so except about 45 horsemen, who
volunteered to cross Hickory creek, where the Indians had com
mitted their depredations. They organized a company by electing
Samuel McGeorge, a soldier of the war of 1812, Captain, and Amos
-Allen and Andrew W. Ingraham, Lieutenants.
Crossing Hickory creek, they marched as far as O'Plein river
without meeting with opposition. Finding no enemy here they
concluded to return. On the first night of their march home they
encamped on the open prairie, posting sentinels, as usual. About
ten o'clock it began to rain, and it was with difficulty that the sen
tinels kept their guns dry. Capt. I. H. Cox and a man named Fox
had been posted as sentinels within 15 or 20 paces of each other.
Cox drew the skirt of his overcoat over his gun-lock to keep it dry;
Fox, perceiving this motion, and in the darkness taking him for an
Indian, fired upon him and fractured his thigh-bone. Several sol
diers immediately ran toward the place where the fiash of the gun
had been seen ; but when they cocked and leveled their guns on the
figure which had fired at Cox, the wounded man caused them to
desist by crying, " Don't shoot him, it was a sentinel who shot me."
The next day the wounded man was left behind the company in
care of four men, who, as soon as possible, removed him on a litter
to Col. Moore's company of Illinois militia, then encamped on the
O'Plein, where Joliet now stands.
Although the main body returned to Lafayette in eight or nine
days, yet the alarm among the people was so great that they could
not be induced to return to their farms for some time. The pres
ence of the hostiles was hourly expected by the frontier settlements
of Indiana, from Vincennes to La Porte. In Clinton county the
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¦'f^*''

130 HISTORY OF INDIANA.
inhabitants gathered within the forts and prepared for a regular
siege, while our neighbors at Crawfordsville were suddenly
astounded by the arrival of a courier at full speed with the announce
ment that the Indians, more than a thousan4 in number, were then
crossing the Nine-Mile prairie about twelve miles north of town,
killing and scalping all. The strongest houses were immediately
put in a condition of defense, and sentinels were placed at theprin-
cipal points in the direction of the enemy. Scouts were sent out to
reconnoitre, and messengers were dispatched in different directions
to announce the danger to the farmers, and to urge them to hasten
with their families into town, and to assist in fighting the nioment-
arilj"^ expected savages. At night-fall the scouts brought in the
news that the Indians had not crossed the Wabash, but were hourly
expected at Lafayette. The citizens of Warren, Fountain and Ver
million counties were alike terrified by exaggerated stories of Indian
massacres, and immediately prepared for defense. It turned out
that the Indians were not within 100 miles of these temporary
forts ; but this by no means proved a want of courage in the citizens.
After some time had elapsed, a portion of the troops were
marched back into Tippecanoe county and honorably discharged ;
but the settlers were still loth for a long time to return to their
farms. Assured by published reports that the Miamis and Potta
watomies did not intend to join the hostiles, the people by degrees
recovered from the panic and began to attend to their neglected
crops. During this time there was actual war in Illinois. Black Hawk
and his warriors, well nigh surrounded by a well- disciplined foe,
attempted to cross to the west bank of the Mississippi, but after
being chased up into Wisconsin and to the Mississippi again, he
was in a final battle taken captive. A few years after his liberation,
about 1837 or 1838, he died, "on the banks of the Des Moines river,
in Iowa, in what is now the county of Davis, where his remains
were deposited above ground, in the usual Indian style. His re
mains were afterward stolen aud carried away, but they were re
covered by the Governor of Iowa and placed in the museum of the
Historical Society at Burlington, where they were finally destroyed
by fire.

LAST EXODUS OF THE INDIANS.
In July, 1837, Col. Abel C. Pepper convened the Pottawatomie
nation of Indians at Lake Ke-waw-nay for the purpose of remov
ing them west of the Mississippi. That fall a small party of some
SO or 90 Pottawatomies was conducted west of the Mississippi
river bv George Proffit, Esq. Among the number were Ke-waw-
nay, Nebash, Nas-waw-kay, Pash-po-ho and many other leading
men of the nation. The regular emigration of these poor Indians,
about 1,000 in number, took place under Col. Pepper and Gen. Tip
ton in the summer of 1838.
It was a sad and mournful spectacle to witness these children of
the forest slowly retiring from the home of their childhood, that
contained not only the graves of their revered ancestors, but also
many endearing scenes to which their memories would ever recur
as sunny spots along their pathway through the wilderness. They
felt that they were bidding farewell to the hills, valleys and streams
of their infancy; the more exciting hunting-grounds of their ad
vanced youth, as well as the stern and bloody battle-fields where
they had contended in riper manhood, on which they had received
wounds, and where many of their friends and loved relatives had
fallen covered with gore and with glory. All these they were leav
ing behind them, to be desecrated by the plowshare of the white
man. As they cast mournful glances back toward these loved
scenes that were rapidly fading in the distance, tears fell from the
cheek of the downcast warrior, old men trembled, matrons wept,
the swarthy maiden's cheek turned pale, and sighs and half-sup
pressed sobs escaped from the motley groups as they passed along,
some on foot, some on horseback, and others in wagons, — sad as a
funeral procession. Several of the aged warriors were seen to cast
glances toward the sky, as if they were imploring aid from the
spirits of their departed heroes, who were looking down upon them
from the clouds, or from the Great Spirit, who would ultimately
redress the wrongs of the red man, whose broken bow had fallen
from his hand, and whose sad heart was bleeding within him.
Ever and anon one of the party would start out into the brush and
break back to their old encampments on Eel river and on the Tippe-
(181)

nt

132 HISTORY OF INDIANA.
canoe, declaring that they would rather die than be banished from
their country. Thus, scores of discontented emigrants returned
from different points on their journey; and it was several years
before they could be induced to join their countrymen west of the
Mississippi. Several years after the removal of the Pottawatomies the Miami
nation was removed to their Western home, by coercive means, un
der an escort of United States troops. They were a proud and
once powerful nation, but at the time of their removal were far
inferior, in point of numbers, to the Pottawatomie guests whom
they had permitted to settle and hunt upon their lands, and fish in
their lakes and rivers after they had been driven southward by
powerful and warlike tribes who inhabited the shores of the North
ern lakes.
INDIAN TITLES.
In 1831 a joint resolution of the Legislature of Indiana, request
ing an appropriation by Congress for the extinguishment of the
Indian title to lands within the State, was forwarded to that body>
which granted the request. The Secretary of War, by authority,
appointed a committee of three citizens to carry into effect the pro
visions of the recent law. The Miamis were surrounded on all
sides by American settlers, and were situated almost in the heart
of the State on the line of the canal then being made. The chiefs
were called to a council for the purpose of making a treaty ; they
promptly came, but peremptorily refused to go westward or sell
the remainder of their land. The Pottawatomies sold about
6,000,000 acres in Indiana, Illinois and Michigan, including all
their claim in this State.
In 1838 a treaty was concluded with the Miami Indians through
the good offices of Col. A. C. Pepper, the Indian agent, by which
a considerable of the most desirable portion of their reserve was
ceded to the United States.

"71

J^l

LAND SALES.
As an example of the manner in which land speculators were
treated by the early Indianians, we cite the following instances
from Cox's " Recollections of the Wabash Valley."
At Crawfordsville, Dec. 24, 1824, many parties were present
from the eastern and southern portions of the State, as well as from
Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee and even Pennsylvania, to attend a
land sale. There was but little bidding against each other. The
settlers, or '• squatters," as they were called by the speculators, had
arranged matters among themselves to their general satisfaction.
If, upon comparing numbers, it appeared that two were after the
same tract of land, one would ask the other what he would take
not to bid against him ; if neither would consent to be bought off
they would retire and cast lots, and the lucky one would enter the
tract at Congress price, $1.25 an acre, and the other would enter the
second choice on his list. If a speculator made a bid, or showed a
disposition to take a settler's claim from him, he soon saw the
white of a score of eyes glaring at him, and he would " crawfish"
out of the crowd at the first opportunity.
The settlers made it definitely known to foreign capitalists that
they would enter the tracts of land they had settled upon before
allowing the latter to come in with their speculations. The land
was sold in tiers of townships, beginning at the southern part of
the district and continuing north until all had been offered at
public sale. This plan was persisted in, although it kept many on
the ground for several days waiting, who desired to purchase land
in the northern part of the district.
In 1827 a regular Indian scare was gotten up to keep specu
lators away for a short time. A man who owned a claim on Tippe
canoe river, near Pretty prairie, fearing that some one of the
numerous land hunters constantly scouring the country might
enter the land he had settled upon before he could raise the money
to buy it, and seeing one day a cavalcade of land hunters riding
toward where his land lay, mounted his horse and darted off at
full speed to meet them, swinging his hat and shouting at the top
of his voice, "Indians! Indians! the woods are full of Indians,
(133)

l\^

jvji

134 HISTORY OF INDIANA.
murdering and scalping all before them !" They paused a moment,
but as the terrified horseman still urged his jaded animal and cried,
"Help! Longlois, Cicots, help!" they turned and fled like a troop of
retreating cavalry, hastening to the thickest settlements and giving
the alarm, which spread like flre among stubble until the whole
frontier region was shocked with the startling cry. The squatter
who fabricated the story and started this false alarm took a cir
cuitous route home that evening, and while others were busy
building temporary block-houses and rubbing up their guns to
meet the Indians, he was quietly gathering up money and slipped
down to Crawfordsville and entered his land, chuckling to himself,
" There's a Yankee trick for you, done up by a Hoosier."
HARMONY COMMUNITY.
In 1814 a society of Germans under Frederick Rappe, who had
originally come from Wirtemberg, Germany, and more recently
from Pennsylvania, founded a settlement on the Wabash about 50
miles above its mouth. They were industrious, frugal and honest
Lutherans. They purchased a large quantity of land and laid off
a town, to which they gave the name of " Harmony," afterward
called "New Harmony." They erected a church and a public
school-house, opened farms, planted orchards and vineyards, built
flouring mills, established a house of public entertainment, a public
store, and carried on all the arts of peace with skill and regularity.
Their property was " in common," according to the custom of an
cient Christians at Jerusalem, but the governing power, both tem
poral and spiritual, was vested in Frederick Rappe, the elder, who
, was regarded as the founder of the society. By the year 1821 the
society numbered about 900. Every individual of proper age con
tributed his proper share of labor. There were neither spendthrifts,
idlers nor drtinkards, and during the whole 17 years of their sojourn
in America there was not a single lawsuit among them. Every "
controversy arising among them was settled by arbitration, expla
nation and compromise before sunset of the day, literally according
to the injunction of the apostle of the New Testament.
About 1825 the town of Harmony and a considerable quantity
of land adjoining was sold to Robert Owen, father of David Dale
Owen, the State Geologist, and of Robert Dale Owen, of later
notoriety. He was a radical philosopher from Scotland, who had
become distinguished for his philanthropy and opposition to

^iLu

HISTORY OF INDIANA. 135
Christianity. He charged the latter with teaching false notions
regarding human responsibility — notions which have since been
clothed in the language of physiology, mental philosophy, etc.
Said he:
"That which has hitherto been called wickedness in our fellow
men has proceeded from one of two distinct causes, or from some
combination of those causes. They are what are termed bad or
wicked, •'1. Because they are born with faculties or propensities which
render them more liable, under the same circumstances, than other
men, to commit such actions as are usually denominated wicked ;
or, " 2. Because they have been placed by birth or other events in
particular countries, — have been influenced from infancy by par
ents, playmates and others, and have been surrounded by those
circumstances which gradually and necessarily trained them in the
habits and sentiments called wicked; or,
" 3. They have become wicked in consequence of some particu
lar combination of these causes.
" If it should be asked. Whence then has wickedness pro
ceeded? I reply. Solely from the ignorance of our forefathers.
" Every society which exists at present, as well as every society
which history records, has been formed and governed on a belief
in the following notions, assumed as flrst principles :
" 1. That it is in the power of every individual to form his own
character. Hence the various systems called by the name of religion,
codes of law, and punishments; hence, also, the angry passions
entertained by individuals and nations toward each other.
" 2. That the affections are at the command of the individual.
Hence insincerity and degradation of character; hence the miseries
of domestic life, and more than one-half of all the crimes of man
kind. " 3. That it is necessary a large portion of mankind should ex
ist in ignorance and poverty in order to secure to the remaining part
such a degree of happiness as they now enjoy. Hence a system of
counteraction in the pursuits of men, a general opposition among
individuals to the interests of each other, and the necessary effects
of such a system, — ignorance, poverty and vice.

^ s ^ ¦• o\

- ¦->¦¦>"(

THE MEXICAN WAR.
During the administration of Gov. Whitcomb the war with
Mexico occurred, which resulted in annexing to the United States
vast tracts of land in the south and west. Indiana contributed her
full ratio to the troops in that war, and with a remarkable spirit of
promptness and patriotism adopted all measures to sustain the gen
eral Government. These new acquisitions of territory re-opened
the discussion of the slavery question, and Governor Whitcomb
expressed his opposition to a further extension of the " national
sin." The causes which led to a declaration of war against Mexico in
1846, must be sought for as far back as the year 1830, when the
present State of Texas formed a province of New and Independent
Mexico. During the years immediately preceding 1830, Moses
Austin, of Connecticut, obtained a liberal grant of lands from the
established Government, and on his death his son was treated in an
equally liberal manner. The glowing accounts rendered by Aus
tin, and the vivid picture of Elysian fields drawn by visiting jour
nalists, soon resulted in the infiux of a large tide of immigrants,
nor did the movement to the Southwest cease until 1S30. The
Mexican province held a prosperous population, comprising 10,OOC
American citizens. The rapacious Government of the Mexicans
looked with greed and jealousy upon their eastern province, and,
under the presidency of Gen. Santa Anna, enacted such measures,
both unjust and oppressive, as would meet their design of goading
the people of Texas on to revolution, and thus afford an opportu
nity for the infliction of punishment upon subjects whose only
crime was industry and its accompaniment, prosperity. Precisely
in keeping with the course pursued by the British toward the col
onists of the Eastern States in the last century, Santa Anna's
Government met the remonstrances of the colonists of Texas with
threats; and they, secure in their consciousness of right quietly
issued their declaration of independence, and proved its literal
meaning on the field of Gonzales in 1835, having with a force of
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HISTORY OF INDIANA. 137
500 men forced the Mexican army of 1,000 to fly for refuge to their
strongholds. Battle after battle followed, bringing victory always
to the Colonists, and ultimately resulting in the total rout of the
Mexican army and the evacuation of Texas. The routed army
after a short term of rest reorganized, and reappeared in the Terri
tory, 8,000 strong. On April 21, a division of this large force
under Santa Anna encountered the Texans under General Samuel
Houston on the banks of the San Jacinto, and though Houston
could only oppose 800 men to the Mexican legions, the latter were
driven from the field,nor could they reform their scattered ranks until
their General was captured next day and forced to sign the declaration
of 1S35. The signature of Santa Anna, though ignored by the
Congress of the Mexican Republic, and consequently left unratified
on the part of Mexico, was effected in so much, that after the sec
ond defeat of the army of that Republic all the hostilities of an
important nature ceased, the Republic of Texas was recognized by
the powers, and subsequently became an integral part of the United
States, July 4, 1846. At this period General Herrera was pres
ident of Mexico. He was a man of peace, of common sense, and
very patriotic; and he thus entertained, or pretended to enter
tain, the great neighboring Republic in high esteem. For this
reason he grew unpopular with his people, and General Paredes
was called to the presidential chair, which he continued to occupy
until the breaking out of actual hostilities with the United States,
when Gen. Santa Anna was elected thereto.
President Polk, aware of the state of feeling in Mexico, ordered
Gen. Zachary Taylor, in command of the troops in the Southwest, to
proceed to Texas, and post himself as near to the Mexican border
as he deemed prudent. At the same time an American squadron was
dispatched to the vicinity, in the Gulf of Mexico. In November,
Genera] Taylor had taken his position at Corpus Christi, a Texan
settlement on a bay of the same name, with about 4,000 men. On
the 13th of January, 1846, the President ordered him to advance
with his forces to the Rio Grande; accordingly he proceeded, and
in March stationed himself on the north bank of that river, with
in cannon-shot of the Mexican town of Matamoras. Here he
hastily erected a fortress, called Fort Brown. The territory ly
ing between the river Nueces and the Rio Grande river, about
120 miles in width, was claimed both by Texas and Mexico; ac
cording to the latter, therefore. General Taylor had actually
invaded her Territory, and had thus committed an open

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138 HISTORY OF INDIANA.
act of war. On the 26th of April, the Mexican General, Ampudia,
gave notice to this effect to General Taylor, and on the same day a
party of American dragoons, sixty-three in number, being on the
north side of the Rio Grande, were attacked, and, after the loss of
sixteen men killed and wounded, were forced to surrender. Their
commander. Captain Thornton, only escaped. The Mexican forces
had now crossed the river above Matamoras and were supposed to
meditate an attack on Point Isabel, where Taylor had established a
depot of supplies for his army. On the 1st of May, this officer left
a small number of troops at Fort Brown, and marched vrith his
chief forces, twenty-three hundred men, to the defense of Point
Isabel. Having garrisoned this place, he set out on his return.
On the 8th of May, about noon, he met the Mexican army, six
thousand strong, drawn up in battle array, on the prairie near Palo
Alto. The Americans at once advanced to the attack, and, after an
action of five hours, in which their artillery was very effective,
drove the enemy before them, and encamped upon the field. The
Mexican loss was about one hundred killed; that of the Americans,
four killed and forty wounded. Major Ringgold, of the artillery,
an officer of great merit, was mortally wounded. The next day, as
the Americans advanced, they again met the enemy in a strong
position near Resaca de la Palma, three miles from Fort Brown.
An action commenced, and was fiercely contested, the artillery on
both sides being served with great vigor. At last the Mexicans
gave way, and fled in confusion. General de la Vega having fallen
into the hands of the Americans. They also abandoned their guns
and a large quantity of ammunition to the victors. The remain
ing Mexican soldiers speedily crossed the Rio Grande, and the next
day the Americans took up their position at Fort Brown. This
little fort, in the absence of General Taylor, had gallantly sustained
an almost uninterrupted attack of several days from the Mexican
batteries of Matamoras.
When the news of the capture of Captain Thornton's party was
spread over the United States, it produced great excitement. The
President addressed a message to Congress, then in session, declar
ing " that war with Mexico existed by her own act;" and that body,
May, 1846, placed ten millions of dollars at the President's dispo
sal, and authorized him to accept the services of flfty thousand
volunteers. A great part of the summer of 1846 was spent in prep
aration for the war, it being resolved to invade Mexico at several
points. In pursuance of this plan. General Taylor, who had taken

HISTORY OF INDIANA.

139

possession of Matamoras, abandoned by the enemy in May, marched
northward in the enemy's country in August, and on the 19th of
September he appeared before Monterey, capital of the Mexican
State of New Leon. His army, aft6r having garrisoned several
places along his route, amounted to six thousand men. The attack
began on the 21st, and after a succession of assaults, during the
period of four days, the Mexicans capitulated, leaving the town
in possession of the Americans. In October, General Taylor
terminated an armistice into which he had entered with the
Mexican General, and again commenced offensive operations.
Various towns and fortresses of the enemy now rapidly fell into
our possession. In November, Saltillo, the capital of the State
of Coahuila was occupied by the division of General Worth;
in December, General Patterson took possession of Victoria,
the capital of Tamaulipas, and nearly at the same period.
Commodore Perry captured the fort of Tampico. Santa Fe,
the capital of New Mexico, with the whole territory of the State
had been subjugated by General Harney, after a march of one
thousand miles through the wilderness. Events of a startling char
acter had taken place at still earlier dates along the Pacific coast. On
the 4th of July, Captain Fremont, having repeatedly defeated su
perior Mexican forces with the small band under his command, de
clared California independent of Mexico. Othe# important places
in this region had yielded to the American naval force, and in Au
gust, 1846, the whole of California was in the undisputed occupa
tion of the Americans.
The year 1847 opened with still more brilliant victories on the
part of our armies. By the drawing off of a large part of
General Taylor's troops for a meditated attack on Vera Cruz, he
was left with a comparatively small force to meet the great b9dy of
Mexican troops, now marching upon him, under command of the
celebrated Santa Anna, who had again become President of Mexico.
Ascertaining the advance of this powerful army, twenty thou
sand strong, and consisting of the best of the Mexican soldiers.
General Taylor took up his position at Buena Vista, a valley a few
miles from Saltillo. His whole troops numbered only four thousand
seven hundred and fifty-nine, and here, on the 23d of February, he
was vigorously attacked by the Mexicans. The battle was very
severe, and continued nearly the whole day, when the Mexicans fled
from the fleld in disorder, with a loss of nearly two thousand men.
Santa Anna speedily withdrew, and thus abandoned the region of

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140 HISTORY OF INDIANA.
the Rio Grande to the complete occupation of our troops. This left
our forces at liberty to prosecute the grand enterprise of the cam
paign, the capture of the strong town of Vera Cruz, with its re
nowned castle of San Juan d'Ulloa. On the 9th of March, 1847,
General Scott landed near the city with an army of twelve thousand
men, and on the 18th commenced an attack. For four days and
nights an almost incessant shower of shot and shells was poured
upon the devoted town, while the batteries of the castle and the city
replied with terrible energy . At last, as the Americans were pre
paring for an assault, the Governor of the city offered to surrender,
and on the 26th the American flag floated triumphantly from the
walls of the castle and the city. General Scott now prepared to
march upon the city of Mexico, the capital of the country, situated
two hundred miles in the interior, and approached only through a
series of rugged passes and mountain fastnesses, rendered still more
formidable by several strong fortresses. On the 8th of April the
army commenced their march. At Cerro Gordo, Santa Anna had
posted himself with fifteen thousand men. On the 18th the Amer
icans began the daring attack, and by midday every intrenchment
of the enemy had been carried. The loss of the Mexicans in this
remarkable battle, besides one thousand killed and wounded, was
three thousand prisoners, forty-three pieces of cannon, five
thousand stand of arms, and all their amunitions and mate
rials of war. The loss of the Americans was four hundred
and thirty-one in killed and wounded. The next day our forces
advanced, and, capturing fortress after fortress, came on the
l'8th of August within ten miles of Mexico, a city of two hun
dred thousand inhabitants, and situated in one of the most
beautiful valleys in the world. On the 20th they attacked and
carried the strong batteries of Contreras, garrisoned by 7,000 men,
in an impetuous assault, which lasted but seventeen minutes. On
the same day an attack was made by the Americans on the fortified
post of Churubusco, four miles northeast of Contreras. Here
nearly the entire Mexican army— more than 20,000 in number-
were posted; but they were defeated at every point, and obliged to
seek a retreat in the city, or the still remaining fortress of Chapul-
tepec. While preparations were being made on the 21st by Gen
eral Scott, to level his batteries against the city, prior to summon
ing it fo surrender, he received propositions from the enemy, which
terminated in an armistice. This ceased on the 7th of September.
On the 8th the outer defense of Chapultepec was successfully

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HISTORY OF INDIANA.

141

stormed by General Worth, though he lost one-fourth of his men
in the desperate struggle. The castle of Chapultepec, situated on
an abrupt and rocky eminence, 150 feet above the surrounding
country, presented a most formidable object of attack. On the
12th, however, the batteries were opened against it, and on the
next day the citadel was carried by storm. The Mexicans still strug
gled along the great causeway leading to the city, as the Americans
advanced, but before nightfal a part of our army was within the
gates of the city. Santa Anna and the officers of the Government
fled, and the next morning, at seven o'cloclc, the flag of the Ameri
cans floated from the national palace of Mexico. This conquest of
the capital was the great and flnal achievement of the war. The
Mexican republic was in fact prostrate, her sea-coast and chief
cities being in the occupation of our troops. On the 2d of Feb
ruary, 1S4S, terms of peace were agreed upon by the American
commissioner and the Mexican Government, this treaty being rati
fied by the Mexican Congress on the 30th of May following, and
by the United States soon after. President Polk proclaimed peace
on the 4th of July, 1848. In the preceding sketch we have given
only a mere outline of the war with Mexico. We have necessarily
passed over many interesting events, and have not even named
many of our soldiers who performed gallant and important ser
vices. General Taylor's successful operations in the region of the
Rio Grande were duly honored by the people of the United States,
by bestowing upon him the Presidency. General Scott's campaign,
from the attack on Vera Cruz, to the surrender of the city of
Mexico, was far more remarkable, and, in a military point of view,
must be considered as one of the most brilliant of modern times. It
is true the Mexicans are not to be ranked with the great nations of
the earth; with a population of seven or eight millions, they have
little more than a million of the white race, the rest being half-civ
ilized Indians and mestizos, that is, those of mixed blood. Their
government is inefficient, and the people divided among them
selves. Their soldiers often fought bravely, but they were badly
officered. While, therefore, we may consider the conquest of so
extensive and populous a country, in so short a time, and attended
with such constant superiority even to the greater numbers of the
enemy, as highly gratifying evidence of the courage and capacity
of our army, still we must not, in judging of our achievements, fail
to consider the real weakness of the nation whom we vanquished.

142 HISTORY OF INDIANA.
One thing we may certainly dwell upon with satisfaction — the ad
mirable example, not only as a soldier, but as a man, set by our com
mander. Gen. Scott, who seems, in the midst of war and the ordinary
license of the camp, always to have preserved the virtue, kindness,
and humanity belonging to a state of peace. These qualities
secured to him the respect, confidence *and good-will even of the
enemy he had conquered. Among the Generals who effectually
aided General Scott in this remarkable campaign, we must not
omit to mention the names of Generals Wool, Twiggs, Shields,
Worth, Smith, and Quitman, who generally added to the high
qualities of soldiers the still more estimable characteristics of
good men. The treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo stipulated that the
disputed territory between the Nueces and the Rio Grande should
belong to the United States, and it now forms a part of Texas, as
has been already stated; that the United States should assume and
pay the debts due from Mexico to American citizens, to the amount
of $3,600,000; and that, in consideration of the sum of $15,000,000
to be paid by the United States to Mexico, the latter should
relinquish to the former the whole of New Mexico and Upper
California. The soldiers of Indiana who served in this war were formed into
five regiments of volunteers, numbered respectively, 1st, 2d, 3rd,
4th and 6th. The fact that companies of the three first-named reg
iments served at times with the men of Illinois, the New York
volunteers, the Palmettos of South Carolina, and United States
marines, under Gen. James Shields, makes for them a history; be
cause the campaigns of the Rio Grande and Chihuahua, the siege
of Vera Cruz, the desperate encounter at Cerro Gordo, the tragic
contests in the valley, at Contreras and Churubusco, the storming
of Chapultepec, and the planting of the stars and stripes upon
every turret and spire within the conquered city of Mexico, were
all carried out by the gallant troops under the favorite old General,
and consequently each of them shared with him in the glories at
tached to such exploits. The other regiments under Cols. Gorman
and Lane participated in the contests of the period under other com
manders. The 4th Regiment of Indiana Volunteers, comprising
ten companies, was formally organized at Jeffersonville, Indiana,
by Capt. R. C. Gatlin, June 15, 1S47, and on the 16th elected
Major Willis A. Gorman, of the 3rd Regiment, to the Colonelcy;
Ebenezer Dumont, Lieutenant-Colonel, and W. McCoy, Major. On
the 27th of June the regiment left Jeffersonville for the front, and

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HISTORY OF INDIANA. 143
subsequently was assigned to Brigadier-General Lane's command,
which then comprised a battery of five pieces from the 3rd Regi
ment U. S. Artillery; a battery of two pieces from the 2nd Regiment
U. S. Rrtillery, the 4th Regiment of Indiana Volunteers and the 4th
Regiment of Ohio, with a squadron of mounted Louisianians aud
detachments of recruits for the U. S. army. The troops of this
brigade won signal honors at Passo de Ovegas, August 10, 1847;
National Bridge, on the 12th; Cerro Gordo, on the 15th; Las Ani
mas, on the 19th, under Maj. F. T. Lally, of General Lane's staff,
and afterward under Lane, directly, took a very prominent part in
the siege of Puebla, which began on the 15th of September and
terminated on the 12th of October. At Atlixco, October 19th;
Tlascala, November 10th; Matamoras and Pass Galajara, Novem
ber 23rd and 24th; Guerrilla Ranche, December 5th; Napaloncan,
December 10th, the Indiana volunteers of the 4th Regiment per
formed gallant service, and carried the campaign into the following
year, representing their State at St. Martin's, February 27, 1848;
Cholula, March 26th; Matacordera, February 19th; Sequalteplan,
February 25th; and on the cessation of hostilities reported at
Madison, Indiana, for discharge, July 11, 1848; while the 5th In
diana Regiment, under Col. J. H. Lane, underwent a similar round
of duty during its service with other brigades, and gained some
celebrity at Vera Cruz, Churubusco and with the troops of Illinois
under Gen. Shields at Chapultepec.
This war cost the people of the United States sixty-six millions
of dollars. This very large amount was not paid away for the at
tainment of mere glory ; there was something else at stake, and
this something proved to be a country larger and more fertile than
the France of the Napoleons, and more steady and sensible than
the France of the Republic. It was the defense of the great Lone
Star State, the humiliation and chastisement of a quarrelsome
neighbor.

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SLAVERY.
We have already referred to the prohibition of slavery in the
Northwestern Territory, and Indiana Territory by the ordinance of
1787; to the imperfection in the execution of this ordinance and the
troubles which the authorities encountered; and the complete estab
lishment of the principles of freedom on the organization of the State.
The next item of significance in this connection is the follovring lan
guage in the message of Gov. Ray to the Legislature of 1828: "Since
our last separation, while we have witnessed with anxious solicitude
the belligerent operations of another hemisphere, the cross contend
ing against the crescent, and the prospect of a general rupture among
the legitimates of other quarters of the globe, our attention has
been arrested by proceedings in our own country truly dangerous
to liberty, seriously premeditated, and disgraceful to its authors
if agitated only to tamper with the American people. If snch ex
periments as we see attempted in certain deluded quarters do not
fall with a burst of thunder upon the heads of their seditious pro
jectors, then indeed the Republic has begun to experience the days
of its degeneracy. The union of these States is the people's only
sure charter for their liberties and independence. Dissolve it and
each State will soon be in a condition as deplorable as Alexander's
conquered countries after they were divided amongst his victorious
military captains."
In pursuance of a joint resolution of the Legislature of 1850, a
block of native marble was procured and forwarded to Washington,
to be placed in the monument then in the course of erection at the
National Capital in memory of George Washington. In the
absence of any legislative instruction concerning the inscription
upon this emblem of Indiana's loyalty, Gov. Wright ordered the
following words to be inscribed upon it: Indiana Knows Nq
North, No South, Nothing but the Union. Within a dozen
years thereafter this noble State demonstrated to the world her loy
alty to the Union and the principles of freedom by the sacrifice of
blood and treasure which she made. In keeping with this senti
ment Gov. Wright indorsed the compromise measures of Congress
on the slavery question, remarking in his message that " Indiana
takes her stand in the ranks, not of Southern destiny, nor yet of
(144)

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history of INDIANA. 147
Northern destiny: she plants herself on the basis of the Consti
tution and takes her stand in the ranks of American destiny."
fifteenth amendment.
At the session of the Legislature in January, 1869, the subject
of ratifying the fifteenth amendment to the Federal Constitution,
allowing negro suffrage, came up with such persistency that neither
party dared to undertake any other business lest it be checkmated
in some way, and being at a dead lock on this matter, they adjourn
ed in March without having done much important business. The
Democrats, as well as a portion of the conservative Republicans,
opposed its consideration strongly on the ground that it would be
unfair to vote on the question until the people of the State had had
an opportunity of expressing their views at the polls; but most of
the Republicans resolved to push the measure through, while the
Democrats resolved to resign in a body and leave the Legislature
without a quorum. Accordingly, on March 4, 17 Senators and 36
Representatives resigned, leaving both houses without a quorum.
As the early adjournment of the Legislature left the benevolent
institutions of the State unprovided for, the Governor convened
that body in extra session as soon as possible, and after the neces
sary appropriations were made, on the 19th of May the fifteenth
amendment came up ; but in anticipation of this the Democratic
members had all resigned and claimed that there was no quorum
present. There was a quorum, however, of Senators in office,
though some of them refused to vote, declaring that they were no
longer Senators; but the president of that body decided that as he
had not been informed of their resignation by the Governor, they
were still members. A vote was taken aud the ratifying resolution
was adopted. When the resolution came up in the House, the
chair decided that, although the Democratic members had resigned
there was a quorum of the defacto members present, and the
House proceeded to pass the resolution. This decision of the chair
was afterward sustained by the Supreme Court.
At the next regular session of the Legislature, in 1871, the
Democrats undertook to repeal the ratification, and the Republican
members resigned to prevent it. The Democrats, as the Republi
cans did on the previous occasion, proceeded to pass their resolu
tion of repeal; but while the process was under way, before the
House Committee had time to report on the matter, 34 Republican
members resigned, thereby preventing its passage and putting a
__stop to further legislation. 

INDIANA IN THE WAR.
The events of the earlier years of this State have been reviewed
down to that period in the nation's history when the Republic de
manded a first sacriflce from the newly erected States; to the time
when the very safety of the glorious heritage, bequeathed by the
fathers as a rich legacy, was threatened with a fate worse than death
— a life under laws that harbored the slave — a civil deflance of -,he
flrst principles of the Constitution.
Indiana was among the first to respond to the summons of patri
otism, and register itself on the national roll of honor, even as she
was among the first to join in that song of joy which greeted a Re
public made doubly glorious within a century by the dual victory
which won liberty for itself, and next bestowed the precious boon
upon the colored slave.
The fall of Fort Sumter was a signal for the uprising of the State.
The news of the calamity was flashed to Indianapolis on the 14th of
April, 1861, and early the next morning the electric wire brought
the welcome message to Washington : —
ExECDTivB Department of Indiana, )
Indianapolis, April 15, 1861. )
To Abraham LrNCoiiN, President of the United States: — On behalf of the State
of Indiana, I tender to you for the defense of the Nation, and to uphold the au
thority of the Government, ten thousand men. OLIVER P. MORTON,
Gtovemor of Indiana.
This may be considered the flrst official act of Governor Morton,
who had just entered on the duties of his exalted position. The
State was in an almost helpless condition, and yet the faith of the
" War Governor " was prophetic, when, after a short consultation
with the members of the Executive Council, he relied on the fidelity
of ten thousand men and promised their services to the Protectorate
at Washington. This will be more apparent when the military
condition of the State at the beginning of 1861 is considered. At
that time the armories contained less than five hundred stand of
serviceable small arms, eight pieces of cannon which might be use
ful in a museum of antiquities, with sundry weapons which would
merely do credit to the aborigines of one hundred years ago. The
financial condition of the State was even worse than the military.
(14.S}

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history of INDIANA.

149

The sum of $10,368.58 in trust funds was the amount of cash in the
hands of the Treasurer, and this was, to all intents and purpo ses
unavailable to meet the emergency, since it could not be devoted
to the military requirements of the day. This state of affairs was
dispiriting in the extreme, and would doubtless have militated
against the ultimate success of any other man than Morton; yet
he overleaped every difficulty, nor did the fearful realization of
Floyd's treason, discovered during his visit to Washington, damp
his indomitable courage and energy, but with rare persistence he
urged the claims of his State, and for his exertions was requited
with an order for five thousand muskets. The order was not exe
cuted until hostilities were actually entered upon, and consequently
for some days succeeding the publication of the President's procla
mation the people labored under a feeling of terrible anxiety min
gled with uncertainty, amid the confusion which followed the crim
inal negligence that permitted the disbandment of the magnificent
corps d' armee (51,000 men) of 1832 two years later in 1834, Great
numbers of the people maintained their equanamity with the result
of beholding within a brief space of time every square mile of their
State represented by soldiers prepared to fight to the bitter end is
defense of cherished institutions, and for the extension of the prin
ciple of human liberty to all States and classes within the limits of
the threatened Union. This, their zeal, was not animated by hos
tility to the slave holders of the Southern States, but rather by a
fraternal spirit, akin to that which urges the eldest brother to cor
rect the persistent follies of his juniors, and thus lead them from
crime to the maintenance of family honor; in this correction, to
draw them away from all that was cruel, diabolical and inhuman in
the Republic, to all that is gentle, holy and sublime therein. Many
of the raw troops were not only unimated by a patriotic feeling,
but also by that beautiful idealization of the poet, who in his un
conscious Republicanism, said:
" I would not have a slave to till my ground,
To carry me, to fan me while I sleep,
And tremble when I wake, for all the wealth
That sinews bought and sold have ever earned
No : dear as freedom is — and, in my heart's
Just estimation, prized above all price —
I had much rather be myself the slave.
And wear the bonds, than fasten them on him."
Thus animated, it is not a matter for surprise to find the first
call to arms issued by the President, and calling for 75,000 men,

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150 history of INDIANA.
answered nobly by the people of Indiana. The quota of troops to
be furnished by the State on the first call was 4,683 men for three
years' service from April 15, 1860. On the 16th of April, Gov
ernor Morton issued his proclamation calling on all citizens of the
State, who had the welfare of the Republic at heart, to organize
themselves into six regiments in defense of their rights, and in
opposition to the varied acts of rebellion, charged by him against
the Southern Confederates. To this end, the Hon. Lewis Wallace,
a soldier of the Mexican campaign was appointed Adjutant-General,
Col. Thomas A. Morris of the United States Military Academy,
Quartermaster-General, and Isaiah Mansur, a merchant of Indian
apolis, Commissary-General. These general officers converted the
grounds and buildings of the State Board of Agriculture into a
military headquarters , and designated the position Camp Morton,
as the beginning of the many honors which were to follow the pop
ular Governor throughout his future career. Now the people, im
bued with confidence in their Government and leaders, rose to the
grandeur of American freemen, and with an enthusiasm never
equaled hitherto, flocked to the standard of the nation ; so that
within a few days (19th April) 2,400 men were ranked beneath
their regimental banners, until as the official report testifies, the,
anxious question, passing from mouth to mouth, was, " Which of
us will be allowed to go? " It seemed as if Indiana was about to
monopolize the honors of the period, and place the 75,000 men
demanded of the Union by the President, at his disposition. Even
now under the genial sway of guaranteed peace, the features of
Indiana's veterans flush with righteous pride when these days— re
membrances of heroic sacrifice — are named, and freemen, still un
born, will read their history only to be blessed and glorified in the
possession of such truly, noble progenitors. Nor were the ladies
of the State unmindful of their duties. Everywhere they partook
of the general enthusiasm, and made it practical so far as in their
power, by embroidering and presenting standards and regimental
colors, organizing aid and relief societies, and by many other acts
of patriotism and humanity inherent in the high nature of woman.
During the days set apart by the military authorities for the or
ganization of the regiments, the financiers of the State were en
gaged in the reception of munificent grants of money from pri
vate citizens, while the money merchants within and without the
State offered large loans to the recognized Legislature without even
imposing a condition of payudent. This most practical generosity

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history of INDIANA. 161
strengthened the hands of the Executive, and within a very few days
Indiana had passed the crucial test, recovered some of her military
prestige lost in 1S34, and so was prepared to vie with the other
and wealthier States in making sacrifices for the puljlic welfare.
On the 20th of April, Messrs, I. S. Dobbs and Alvis D. Gall re
ceived their appointments as Medical Inspectors of the Division,
while Major T. J. Wood arrived at headquarters from Washington
to receive the newlj' organized regiments into the service of the
Union. At the moment this formal proceeding took place, Morton,
unable to restrain the patriotic ardor of the people, telegraphed to
the capitol that he could place six regiments of infantry at the dis
posal of the General Government within six days, if such a pro
ceeding were acceptable; but in consequence of the wires being cut
between the State and Federal capitols, no answer came. Taking
advantage of the little doubt which may have had existence in re
gard to future action in the matter and in the absence of general
orders, he gave expression to an intention of placing the volunteers
in camp, and in his message to the Legislature, who assembled three
days later, he clearly laid down the principle of immediate action
and strong measures, recommending a note of $1,000,000 for there-
organization of the volunteers, for the purchase of arms and supplies,
and for the punishment of treason. The message was received most
enthusiastically. The assembly recognized the great points made
by the Governor, and not only yielded to them in toto, but also made
the following grand appropriations:
General military purposes  $1,000,000
Purchase of arms  500,000
Contingent military expenses  100,000
Organization and support of militia for two years  140,000
These appropriations, together with the laws enacted during the
session of the Assembly, speak for the men of Indiana. The celerity
with which these laws were put in force, the diligince and economy
exercised by the officers, entrusted with their administration, and
that systematic genius, under which all the machinery of Govern
ment seemed to work in harmony, — all, all, tended to make for the
State a spring-time of noble deeds, when seeds might be cast along
her fertile fields and in the streets of he'r villages of industry to
grow up at once and blossom in the ray of fame, and after to bloom
throughout the ages. Within three days after the opening of the
extra session of the Legislature (27th April) six new regiments were
organized, and commissioned for three months' service. These reg-

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162 HISTORY OF INDIANA.
iments, notwithstanding the fact that the flrst six regiments were
already mustered into the general service, were known as "The
First Brigade, Indiana Volunteers," and with the simple object of
making the way of the future student of a brilliant history clear,
were numbered respectively
Sixth Regiment, commanded by Col. T. T. Crittenden.
Seventh " "

Eighth
Ninth
TenthEleventh

Ebenezer Dumont.
W. P. Benton.
R. H. Milroy.
T. T. Reynolds.
Lewis Wallace.

The idea of these numbers was suggested by the fact that the
military representation of Indiana in the Mexican Campaign was
one brigade of five regiments, and to observe consecutiveness the
regiments comprised in the first division of volunteers were thus
numbered, and the entire force placed under Brigadier General T.
A. Morris, with the following staff: John Love, Major; Cyrus C-
Hines, Aid-de-camp; and J. A. Stein, Assistant Adjutant General.
To follow the fortunes of these volunteers through all the vicissi
tudes of war would prove a special work; yet their valor and endur
ance during their first term of service deserved a notice of even more
value than that of the historian, since a commander's opinion has
to be taken as the basis upon which the chronicler may expatiate.
Therefore the following dispatch, dated from the headquarters of the
Army of Occupation, Beverly Camp, W. Virginia, July 21, 1861,
must be taken as one of the first evidences of their utility and
valor: —
"Governor O. P. Morton, Indianapolis, Indiana-
GoTBRNOR:— I have directed the three months' regiments from Indiana to
move to Indianapolis, there to be mustered out and reorganized for three years'
service. I cannot permit them to return to you without again expressing my high
appreciation of the distinguished valor and endurance of the Indiana troops, and
my hope that but a short time will elapse before I have the pleasure of knowing
that they are again ready for the fleld. *******
I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
George B. McClellan,
Ifiijor-Oeiu-nil, U.S.A.
On the return of the troops to Indianapolis, July 29, Brigadier
Morris issued a lengthy, logical and well-deserved congratulatory
address, from which one paragraph may be extracted to characterize

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history of INDIANA. 153
the whole. After passing a glowing eulogium on their military
qualities and on that unexcelled gallantry displayed at Laurel Hill,
Phillipi and Carrick's Ford, he says: —
"Soldiers! You have now returned to the friends whose prayers went with you
to the fleld of strife. They welcome you with pride and exultation. Your State
and country acknowledge the value of your labors. May your future career be as
your past has been, — honorable to yourselves and serviceable to your country."
The six regiments forming Morris' brigade, together with one
composed of the surplus volunteers, for whom there was no regi
ment in April, now formed a division of seven regiments, all reor
ganized for three years' service, between the 20th August and 20th
September, with the exception of the new or 12th, which was ac
cepted for one year's service from May 11th, under command of
Colonel John M. Wallace, and reorganized May 17, 1862, for three
years' service under Col. W. H, Link, who, with 172 officers and
men, received their mortal wounds during the Richmond (Ken
tucky) engagement, three months after its reorganization.
The 13th Regiment, under Col. Jeremiah Sullivan, was mus
tered into the United States in 1861 and joined Gen. McClellan's
command at Rich Mountain on the 10th July. The day following it
was present under Gen. Rosencrans and lost eight men killed; three
successive days it was engaged under Gen. I. I. Reynolds, and won
its laurels at Cheat Mountain summit, where it participated in the
decisive victory over Gen. Lee.
The 14th Regiment, organized in 1861 for one year's service, and
reorganized on the 7th of June at Terre Haute for three years' ser.
vice. Commanded by Col. Kimball and showing a muster roll of
1,134 men, it was one of the finest, as it was the first, three years'
regiment organized in the State, with varying fortunes attached to
its never ending round of duty from Cheat Mountain, September,
1861, to Morton's Ford in 1864, and during the movement South in
May of that year to the last of its labors, the battle of Cold Har
bor. The 15th Regiment, reorganized at La Fayette 14th June, 1861,
under Col. G. D. Wagner, moved on Rich Mountain on the 11th'
of July in time to participate in the complete rout of the enemy .
On the, promotion of Col. Wagner, Lieutenant-Col. G. A. Wood
became Colonel of the regiment, November, 1862, and during the
first days of January, 1863, took a distinguished part in the severe
action of Stone River. From this period down to the battle of Mis
sion Ridge it was in a series of destructive engagements, and was,

154 history of INDIANA.
after enduring terrible hardships, ordered to Chattanooga, and
thence to Indianapolis, where it was mustered out the 18th June,
1864, — four days after the expiration of its term of service.
The 16th Regiment, organized under Col. P. A. Hackleman at
Richmond for one year's service, after participating in many minor
military events, was mustered out at Washington, D.C., on the 14th
of May, 1862. Col. Hackleman was killed at the battle of luka,
and Lieutenant-Col. Thomas I. Lucas succeeded to the command.
It was reorganized at Indianapolis for three years' service. May 27,
1862, and took a conspicuous part in all the brilliant engagements
of the war down to June, 1866, when it was mustered out at New
Orleans. The survivors, numbering 366 rank and file, returned to
Indianapolis the 10th of July amid the rejoicing of the populace.
The 17th Regiment was mustered into service at Jndianapolis
the 12th of June, 1861, for three years, under Col. Hascall, who
on being promoted Brigadier General in March, 1862, left the
Colonelcy to devolve on Lieutenant Colonel John T. Wilder. This
regiment participated in the many exploits of Gen. Reynold's army
from Green Brier in 1862, to Macon in 1866, under G«n. Wilson.
Returning to Indianapolis the 16th of August, in possession of a
brilliant record, the regiment was disbanded.
The 18th Regiment, under Colonel Thomas Pattison, was organ
ized at Indianapolis, and mustered into service on the 16th of
August, 1861. Under Gen. Pope it gained some distinction at
Blackwater, and succeeded in retaining a reputation made there,
by its gallantry at Pea Ridge, February, 1862, down to the moment
when it planted the regimental flag on the arsenal of Augusta,
Georgia, where it was disbanded August 28, 1866.
The 19th Regiment, mustered into three years' service at the
State capital July 29, 1861, was ordered to join the army of the
Potomac, and reported its arrival at Washington, August 9. Two
days later it took part in the battle of Lewinsville, under Colonel
Solomon Meredith. Occupying Falls Church in September, 1861,
it continued to maintain a most enviable place of honor on the
military roll until its consolidation with the 20th Regiment, October,
1864, under Colonel William Orr, formerly its Lieutenant Colonel.
The 20th Regiment of La Fayette was organized in July, 1861,
mustered into three years' service at Indianapolis on the 22d of the
same month, and reached the front at Cockeysville, Maryland,
twelve days later. Throughout aijl its iirilliant actions from Hat-
teras Bank, on the 4th of October, to Clover Hill, 9th of April, 1866,

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HIItORY of INDIANA. 155
including the saving of the United States ship Congress, at New
port News, it added daily some new name to its escutcheon. This
regiment was mustered out at Louisville in July, 1865, and return
ing to Indianapolis was welcomed by the great war Governor of
their State.
The 21st Regiment was mustered into service under Colonel I.
W. McMillan, July 24, IStU, and reported at the front the third
day of August. It was the flrst regiment to enter New Orleans.
The fortunes of this regiment were as varied as its services, so that
its name and fame, grown from the blood shed by its members, are
destined to live and flourish. In December, 1863, the regiment
was reorganized, and on the 19th February, 1864, many of its
veterans returned to their State, where Morton received them with
that spirit of proud gratitude which he was capable of showing to
those who deserve honor for honors won.
The 22d Regiment, under Colonel Jeff. C. Davis, left Indian
apolis the 15th of August, and was attached to Fremont's Corps at
St. Louis on the 17th. From the day it moved to the support of
Colonel Mulligan at Lexington, to the last victory, won under
General Sherman at Bentonville, on the 19th of March, 1865, it
gained a high military reputation. After the fall of Johnston's
southern army, this regiment was mustered out, and arrived at
Indianapolis on the 16th June.
The 23d Battalion, commanded by Colonel W. L. Sanderson,
was mustered in at New Albany, the 29th July, 1861, and moved
to the front early in August. From its unfortunate marine ex
periences before Fort Henry to Bentonville it won unusual honors,
and after its disbandment at Louisville, returned to Indianapolis
July 24, 1865, where Governor Morton and General Sherman
reviewed and complimented the gallant survivors.
The 24th Battalion, under Colonel Alvin P. Hovey, was
mustered at Vincennes the 31st of July, 1861. Proceeding imme
diately to the front it joined Fremont's command, and participated
under many Generals in important affairs during the war. Three
hundred and ten men and officers returned to their State in August,
1865, and were received with marked honors by the people and
Executive. The 26th Regiment, of Evansville mustered into service there
for three years under Col. J. C. Veatch, arrived at St. Louis on the
26th of August, 1861. During the war this regiment was present
at 18 battles and skirmishes, sustaining therein a loss of 362 men
Via -¦ ¦ ¦» dK*"

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156 history of INDIANA.
and officers. Mustered out at Louisville, July 17, 1865, it returned
to Indianapolis on the 21st amid universal rejoicing.
The 26th Battalion, under W. M. Wheatley, left Indianapolis
for the front the 7th of September, 1861, and after a brilliant cam-
paio'u under Fremont, Grant, Heron and Smith, may be said to
disband the 18th of September, 1865, when the non-veterans and
recruits were reviewed by Morton at the State capital.
The 27th Regiment, under Col. Silas Colgrove, moved from
Indianapolis to Washington City, September 15th, 1861, and in
October was allied to Gen. Banks' army. From Winchester
Heights, the 9th of March 1862, through all the affairs of General
Sherman's campaign, it acted a gallant and faithful part, and was
disbanded immediately after returning to their State.
The 28th or 1st Cavalry was mustered into service at Evans
ville on the 20th of August, 1861, under Col. Conrad Baker. From
the skirmish at Ironton, on the 12th of September, wherein three
companies under Col. Gavin captured a position held by a
few rebels, to the battle of the Wilderness, the First Cavalry per
formed prodigies of valor. In June and July, 1866, the troops
were mustered out at Indianapolis.
The 29th Battalion of La Porte, under Col. J. F. Miller, left
on the 6th of October, 1861, and reaching Camp Nevin, Kentucky,
on the 9th, was allied to Rosseau's Brigade, serving with McCook's
division at Shiloh, with Buell's army in Alabama, Tennessee and
Kentucky, with Rosencrans at Murfreesboro, at Decatur, Alabama,
and at Dalton, Georgia. The Twenty-ninth won many laurels,
and had its Colonel promoted to the rank of Brigadier General.
This officer was succeeded in the command by Lieutenant-Col.
D.M.Dunn. The 30th Regiment of Fort Wayne, under Col. Sion S. Bass,
proceeded to the front via Indianapolis, and joined General Rosseau
at Camp Nevin on the 9th of October, 1861. At Shiloh, Col.
Bass received a mortal wound, and died a few days later at
Paducah, leaving the Colonelcy to devolve upon Lieuteuant-Ool. J.
B. Dodge. In October 1866, it formed a battalion of General Sheri
dan's army of observation in Texas.
The 31st Regiment, organized at Terre Haute, under Col. Charles
Cruft, in September 1861, was mustered in, and left in a few days
for Kentucky. Present at the reduction of Fort Douelson on the
13th, 14th, and 15th of February, 1862, its list of killed and
wounded proves its desperate fighting qualities. The organization

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history of INDIANA. 157

was subjected to many changes, but in all its phases maintained a
fair fame won on many battle fields. Like the former regiment,
it passed into Gen. Sheridan's Army of Observation, and held the
district of Green Lake, Texas.
The 32d Regiment of Geum.vx Infaxtry, under Col. August
Willich, organized at Indianapolis, mustered on the t^lth of August,
1861, served with distinction throughout the cam]iaign Col.
Willich was promoted to the rank of Brigadier-General, and Lieut. -
Col. Henry You Trebra commissioned to act, under whose com
mand the regiment passed into General Sheridan's Army, hold
ing the post of Salado Creek, until the withdrawal of the corps of
observation in Te.xas.
The 33d Regiment of Indianapolis possesses a military history
of no small proportions. The mere facts that it was mustered in
under Col. John Coburn, the 16th of September, won a series of
distinctions throughout the war district and was mustered out at
Louisville, July '21, 1865, taken with its name as one of the most
powerful regiments engaged in the war, are sufficient here.
The 34th Battalion, organized at Anderson on the 16th Sep
tember, 1S61, under Col. Ashbury Steele, appeared among the in
vesting battalions before New Madrid on the 30th of March, 1S62.
From the distinguished part it took in that siege, down to the
13th of May, 1865, when at Palmetto Ranche, near Palo Alto, it
fought for hours against fearful odds the last battle of the war for
the Union. Afterwards it marched 250 miles up the Rio Grande,
and was the first regiment to reoccupy the position, so long in
Southern hands, of Ringold barracks. In 1866 it garrisoned Bea-
consville as part of the Army of Observation.
The 36th or First Irish Regiment, was organized at Indian
apolis, and mustered into service on the 11th of December, 1861,
under Col. John C. Walker. At Nashville, on the 22d of May,
1862, it was joined by the organized portion of the Sixty-first or
Second Irish Regiment, and unassigned recruits. Col. Mullen now
became Lient.-Colonel of the 35th, and shortly after, its Colonel.
From the pursuit of Gen. Bragg through Kentucky and the affair
at Perryville on the 8th of October, 1862, to the terrible hand to
hand combat at Kenesaw mountain, on the night of the 20th of
June, 1864, and again from the conclusion of the Atlanta campaign
to September, 1865, with Gen. Sheridan's army, when it was mus
tered out, it won for itself a name of reckless daring and unsur
passed gallantry.

^F^

-^ — 1 — 

j^gg history of INDIANA.
The 36th Regiment, of Richmond, Ind., under Col. William
Grose, mustered into service for three years on the 16th of Sep
tember, 1861, went immediately to the front, and shared the for-
tunes of the Army of the Ohio until the 27th of February, 1862,
when a forward movement led to its presence on the battle-field of
Shiloh. Following up the honors won at Shiloh, it participated in
some of the most important actions of the war, and was, in October,
1865, transferred to Gen. Sheridan's army. CoL Grose was pro
moted in 1864 to the position of Brigadier-General, and the
Colonelcy devolved on Oliver H. P. Carey, formerly Lieut.-Colonel
of the regiment.
The 37th Battalion, of Lawrenceburg, commanded by Col.
Geo. W. Hazzard, organized the 18th of September, 1861, left for
the seat of war early in October. From the eventful battle of
Stone river, in December, 1862, to its participation in Sherman's
march through Georgia, it gained for itself a splendid reputation.
This regiment returned to, and was present at, Indianapolis, on the
30th of July, 1865, where a public reception was tendered to men
and officers on the grounds of the Capitol.
The 38th Regiment, under Col. Benjamin F. Scribner, was mus
tered in at New Albany, on the 18th of September, 1861, and
in a few days were en route for the front. To follow its continual
round of duty, is without the limits of this sketch; therefore, it
will suffice to say, that on every well-fought field, at least from
February, 1862, until its dissolution, on the 15th of July, 1865, it
earned an enviable renown, and drew from Gov. Morton, on return
ing to Indianapolis the 18th of the same month, a congratulatory
address couched in the highest terms of praise.
The 39th Regiment, or Eighth Cavalry, was mustered in as
an infantry regiment, under Col. T. J. Harrison, on the 28th of
August, 1861, at the State capital. Leaving immediately for the
front it took a conspicuous part in all the engagements up to April,
1863, when it was reorganized as a cavalry regiment. The record of
this organization sparkles with great deeds which men will extol
while language lives; its services to the Union cannot be over esti
mated, or the memory of its daring deeds be forgotten by the un
happy people who raised the tumult, which culminated in their
second shame.
The 40th Regiment, of Lafayette, under Col. W. C. Wilson,
subsequently commanded by Col. J. W. Blake, and again by Col.
Henry Leaming, was organized on the 30th of December, 1S61, and

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history of INDIANA. 159
at once proceeded to the front,where some time was necessarily spent
in the Camp of Instruction at Bardstown, Kentucky. In February,
1862, it joined in Buell's forward movement. During the war the
regiment shared in all its hardships, participated in all its honors,
and like many other brave commands took service under Gen.
Sheridan in his -Army of Occupation, holding the post of Port
Lavaca, Texas, until peace brooded over the land.
The 41st Regiment or Second Cavalry, the first complete regi
ment of horse ever raised in the State, was organized on the 3d of
September, 1861, at Indianapolis, under CoL John A. Bridgland,
and December 16 moved to the front. Its flrst war experience was
gained en route to Corinth on the 9th of April, 1862, and at Pea
Ridge on the loth. Gallatin, Vinegar Hill, and Perryville, and
Talbot Station followed in succession, each battle bringing to the
cavalry untold honors. In May, 1864, it entered upon a glorious
career under Gen. Sherman in his Atlanta campaign, and again
under Gen. Wilson in the raid through Alabama during April,
1865. On the 22d of July, after a brilliant career, the regiment vas
mustered out at Nashville, and returned at once to Indianapolis for
discharge. The 42d, under Col J. G. Jones, mustered into service at Evans
ville, October 9, 1861, and having participated in the principal
military affairs of the period, Wartrace, Mission Ridge, Altoona,
Kenesaw, Savannah, Charlestown and Bentonville, was discharged
at Indianapolis on the 26th of July, 1865.
The 43d Battalion was mustered in on the 27th of September,
1861, under Col. George K. Steele, and left Terre Haute en route to
the front within a few days. Later it was alUed to Gen. Pope's
corps, and afterwards served with Commodore Foote's marines in
the reduction of Fort Pillow. It was the flrst Union regiment to
enter Memphis. From that period until the close of the war it was
distinguished for its unexcelled qualifications as a military body,
and fully deserved the encomiums passed upon it on its return to
Indianapolis in March, 1865.
The 44th or the Regiment of the 10th Congressional District
was organized at Fort Wayne on the 24th of October, 1861, under
Col. Hugh B. Reed. Two months later it was ordered to the front,
and arriving in Kentucky, was attached to Gen. Cruft's Brigade,
then quartered at Calhoun. After years of faithful service it was
mustered out at Chattanooga, the 14th of September, 1865.
The 46th, or Third Cavalry, comprised ten companies

^\K

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160 history of INDIANA.

organized at different periods and for varied services in 1861-
'62, under Colonel Scott Carter and George H. Chapman. The
distinguished name won by the Third Cavalry is established in
every village within the State. Let it suffice to add that after its
brilliant participation in Gen. Sheridan's raid down the James'
river canal, it was mustered out at Indianapolis on the 7th of Au
gust, 1865.
The 46th Regiment, organized at Logansport under Colonel
Graham N. Fitch, arrived in Kentucky the 16th of February, 1862,
and a little later became attached to Gen. Pope's army, then quar
tered at Commerce. The capture of Fort Pillow, and its career
under Generals Curtis, Palmer, Hovey, Gorman, Grant, Sherman,
Banks and Burbridge are as truly worthy of applause as ever fell to
the lot of a regiment. The command was mustered out at Louis
ville on the 4th of September, 1865.
The 47th was organized at Anderson, under Col. I. R. Slack, early
in October, 1862. Arriving at Bardstown, Kentucky, on the 21st
of«December, it was attached to Gen. Buell's army; but within two
months was assigned to Gen. Pope, under whom it proved the first
regiment to enter Fort Thompson near New Madrid. In 1864 the
command visited Indianapolis on veteran furlough and was enthu
siastically received by Governor Morton and the people. Return
ing to the front it engaged heartily in Gen. Banks' company. In
December, Col. Slack received his commission as Brigadier-General,
and was succeeded on the regimental command by Col. J. A. Mc-
Laughton ; at Shreveport under General Heron it received the sub
mission of General Price and his army, and there also was it mus
tered out of service on the 23d of October, 1865.
The 48th Regiment, organized at Goshen the 6th of December,
1861, under Col. Norman Eddy, entered on its duties during the
siege of Corinth in May, and again in October, 1862. The record
of this battalion may be said to be unsurpassed in its every feature,
so that the grand ovation extended to the returned soldiers in
1865 at Indianapolis, is not a matter for surprise.
The 49th Regiment, organized at Jeffersonville, under Col. J. W,
Ray, and mustered in on the 21st of November, 1S61, for service,
left en route for the camp at Bardstown. A month later it arrived
at the unfortunate camp-ground of Cumberland Ford, where dis
ease carried off a number of gallant soldiers. The regiment, how
ever, survived the dreadful scourge and won its laurels on many

^5

history of INDIANA. 1(11
a well-fought field until September, 1865, when it was mustered out
at Louisville.
The 60th Regiment, under Col. Cyrus L. Dunham, organized'
during the month of September, 1861, at Seymour, left en route tO'
Bardstown for a course of military instruction. On the 20th of
August, lSl!2, a detachment of the 60th, under Capt. Atkinson, was
attacked by Morgan's Cavalry near Edgefield Junction ; but the
gallant few repulsed their oft-repeated onsets and finally drove
them from the field. The regiment underwent many changes in
organization, and may be said to muster out on the 10th of Septem
ber, 1865.
The 51sT Regiment, under Col. Abel. D. Streight, left Indianap
olis on the 14th of December, 1861, for the South. After a short
course of instruction at Bardstown, the regiment joined General
Buell's and acted with great effect during the campaign in Ken
tucky and Tennessee. Ultimately it became a participator in the
work of the Fourth Corps, or Army of Occupation, and held the post
of San Antonio until peace was doubly assured.
The 52d Regiment was partially raised at Rushville, and the
organization completed at Indianapolis, where it was consolidated
with the Railway Brigade, or 66th Regiment, on the 2d of Feb
ruary, 1862. Going to the front immediately after, it served with
marked distinction throughout the war, and was mustered out at
Montgomery on the 10th of September, 1865. Returning to Indian
apolis six days later, it was welcomed by Gov. Morton and a most
enthusiastic reception accorded to it.
The 53rd Battalion was raised at New Albany, and with the
addition of recruits raised at Rockport formed a standard regi
ment, under command of Col. W. Q. Gresham. Its first duty was
that of guarding the rebels confined on Camp Morton, but on
going to the front it made for itself an endurable name. It was mus
tered out in July, 1865, and returned to Indiananoplis on the 26tli
of the same month.
The 54th Regiment was raised at Indianapolis on the 10th of
June, 1862, for three months' service under Col. D. G. Rose. The
succeeding two months saw it in charge of the prisoners at Camp
Morton, and in August it was pushed forward to aid in the defense
of Kentucky against the Confederate General, Kirby Smith. The
remainder of its short term of service was given to the cause. On the
muster out of the three months' service regiment it was reorgan-

. 0

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1(52 HISTORY OF INDIANA.
ized for one year's service and gained some distinction, after which
it was mustered out in 1863 at New Orleans.
The 55th Regiment, organized for three months' service, retains
the brief history applicable to the first organization of the 54th.
It was mustered in on the 16th of June, 1862, under Col. J. R.
Mahon, disbanded on the expiration of its term and was not reor
ganized. The 56th Regiment, referred to in the sketch of the 52nd,was
designed to be composed of railroad men, marshalled under J. M.
Smith as Colonel, but owing to the fact that many railroaders had
already volunteered into other regiments. Col. Smith's volunteers
were incorporated with the 62nd, and this number left blank in the .
army list.
The 57th Battalion, actually organized by two ministers of the
gospel,— the Rev. I. W. T. McMullen and Rev. F. A. Hardin, of
Richmond, Ind., mustered into service on the 18th of Novem
ber, ).861, under the former named reverend gentleman as Colonel,
who was, however, succeeded by Col. Cyrus C. Haynes, and he in
turn by G. W. Leonard, Willis Blanch and John S. McGrath, the
latter holding command until the conclusion of the war. The
history of this battalion is extensive, and if participation in a num
ber of battles with the display of rare gallantry wins fame, the 67th
may rest assured of its possession of this fragile yet coveted prize.
Like many other regiments it concluded its military labors in the
service of General Sheridan, and held the post of Port Lavaca in
conjunction with another regiment until peace dwelt in the land.
The 68th Regiment, of Princeton, was organized there early in
October, 1861, and was mustered into service under the Colonelcy
of Henry M. Carr. In December it was ordered to join Gen
eral Buell's army, after which it took a share in the various
actions of the war, and was mustered out on the 26th of July, 1865,
at Louisville, having gained a place on the roll of honor.
The 69th Battalion was raised under a commission issued by
Gov. Morton to Jesse I. Alexander, creating him Colonel. Owing
to the peculiarities hampering its organization. Col. Alexander could
not succeed in having his regiment prepared to muster in before
the 17th of February, 1862. However, on that day the equipment
was complete, and on the 18th it left en route to Commerce, where
on its arrival, it was incorporated under Geueral Pope's command.
The list of its casualties speaks a history, — no less than 793 men
were lost during the campaign. The regiment, after a term char-

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history of INDIANA. 163
acterized by distinguished service, was mustered out at Louisville
on the 17th of July, 1865.
The 60th Regiment was partially organized under Lieut .-Col.
Richard Owen at Evansville during November 1861, and perfected
at Camp Morton during March, 1862. Its first experience was its
gallant resistance to Bragg's army investing Munfordsville, which
culminated in the unconditional surrender of its first seven com
panies on the 14th of September. An exchange of prisoners took
place in November, which enabled it to joine the remaining com
panies in the field. The subsequent record is excellent, and forms,
as it were, a monument to their fidelity and heroism. The main
portion of this battalion was mustered out at Indianapolis, on the
21st of March, 1865.
The 61sT was partially organized in December, 1861, under Col.
B. F. Mullen. The failure of thorough organization on the 22d of
May, 1862, led the men and officers to agree to incorporation with
the 35th Regiment of Volunteers.
The 62d Battalion, raised under a commission issued to Wil
liam Jones, of Rockport, authorizing him to organize this regiment
in the First Congressional District was so unsuccessful that consoli
dation with the 53d Regiment was resolved upon.
The 63d Regiment, of Covington, under James McManomy,
Commandantof Camp, and J. S. Williams, Adjutant, was partially
organized on the 31st of December, 1861, and may be considered
on duty from its very formation. After guarding prisoners at
Camp Morton and Lafayette, and engaging in battle on Manassas
Plains on the 30th of August following, the few companies sent
out in February, 1862, returned to Indianapolis to find six new
companies raised under the call of July, 1862, ready to embrace
the fortunes of the 63d. So strengthened, the regiment went forth
to battle, and continued to lead in the paths of honor and fidelity
until mustered out in May and June, 1866.
The 64th Regiment failed in organization as an artillery corps ;
but orders received from the War Department prohibiting the con-
Bohdation of independent batteries, put a stop to any further move
in the matter. However, an infantry regiment bearing the same
number was afterward organized.
The 65th was mustered in at Princeton and Evansville, in July
and August, 1862, under Col. J. W. Foster, and left at once en
route for the front. The record of this battalion is creditable, not
only to its members, but also to the State which claimed it. Its

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164 HISTORY OF INDIANA.
last action during the war was on the 18th and 20th of February,
1865, at Fort Anderson and Town creek, after which, on the 22d
June, it was disbanded at Greensboro.
The 66th Regiment partially organized at New Albany, under
Commandant Roger Martin, was ordered to leave for Kentucky on
the 19th of August, 1862, for the defense of that State against the
incursions of Kirby Smith. After a brilliant career it was mus
tered out at Washington on the 3d of June, 1865, after which it
returned to Indianapolis to receive the thanks of a grateful people.
The 67th Regiment was organized within the Third Congressional
District under Col. Frank Emerson, and was ordered to Louisville
on the 20th of August, 1862, whence it marched to Munfordville,
only to share the same fate with the other gallant regiments en
gaged against Gen. Bragg's advance. Its roll of honor extends
down the years of civil disturbance, — always adding garlands, un
til Peace called a truce in the fascinating race after fame, and insured
a term of rest, wherein its members could think on comrades forever
vanished, and temper the sad thought with the sublime mem
ories born of that chivalrous fight for the maintenance and integri
ty of a great Republic. At Galveston on the 19th of July, 1865, the
gallant 67th Regiment was mustered out, and returning within a
few days to its State received the enthusiastic ovations of her citi
zens. The 68th Regiment, organized at Greensburg under Major Ben
jamin C. Shaw, was accepted for general service the 19th of August,
1862, under Col. Edward A. King, with Major Shaw as Lieutenant
Colonel; on the 25th its arrival at Lebanon was reported and with
in a few days it appeared at the defense of Munfordville; but shar
ing in the fate of all the defenders, it surrendered unconditionally to
Gen. Bragg and did not participate further in the actions of that
year, nor until after the exchange of prisoners in 1863. From this
period it may lay claim to an enviable history extending to the end
of the war, when it was disembodied.
The 69th Regiment, of Richmond, Ind., under Col. A. Bickle,
left for the front on the 20th of August, 1862, and ten days later
made a very brilliant stand at Richmond, Kentucky, against
the advance of Gen. Kirby Smith, losing in the engagement two
hundred and eighteen men and officers together with its liberty.
.After an exchange of prisoners the regiment was reorganized under
Ool. T. W. Bennett and took the field in December, 1862, under

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HISTORY OF INDIANA. 165
Generals Sheldon, Morgan and Sherman of Grant's army. Chick
asaw, Vicksburg, Blakely aud many other names testify to the valor
of the 69th. The remnant of the regiment was in January, 1865,
formed into a battalion under Oran Perry, and was mustered out in
July following.
The 70th Regiment was organized at Indianapolis on the 12th of
August, 1862, under Col. B. Harrison, and leaving for Louisville on
the 13th, shared in the honors of Bruce's division at Franklin
and Russell ville. The record of the regiment is brimful of honor.
It was mustered out at Washington, June 8, 1865, and received at
Indianapolis with public honors.
The 71sT OR Sixth Cavalry was organized as an infantry regi
ment, at Terre Haute, and mustered into general service at Indian
apolis on the 18th of August, 1862, under Lieut. -Col. Melville D.
Topping. Twelve days later it was engaged outside Richmond,
Kentucky, losing two hundred and fifteen officers and men, includ
ing Col. Topping and Major Conklin, together with three hundred
and forty-seven prisoners, only 225 escaping death and capture.
After an exchange of prisoners the regiment was re-formed under
Col. I. Bittle, but on the 28th of December it surrendered to Gen.
J. H. Morgan, who attacked its position at Muldraugh's Hill with a
force of 1,000 Confederates. During September and October, 1863,
it was organized as a cavalry regiment, won distinction throughout
its career, and was mustered out the 15th of September, 1865, at
Murfreesboro. The 77th Regiment was organized at Lafayette, and left en route
to Lebanon, Kentucky, on the 17th of August, 1862. Under CoL
Miller it won a series of honors, and mustered 'out at Nashville on
the 26th of June, 1866.
The 73rd Regiment, under Col. Gilbert Hathaway, was mustered
in at South Bend on the 16th of August, 1862, and proceeded im
mediately to the front. Day's Gap, Crooked Creek, and the high
eulogies of Generals Rosencrans and Granger speak its long and
brilliant history, nor were the welcoming shouts of a great people
and the congratulations of Gov. Morton, tendered to the regiment
on its return home, in July, 1866, necessary to sustain its well won
reputation. , The 74th Regiment, partially organized at Fort Wayne and made
almost complete at Indianapolis, left for the seatof war on the 22d
of August, 1862, under Col. Charles W. Chapman. The desperate
opposition to Gen. Bragg, and the magnificent defeat of Morgan,

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166 HISTORY OF INDIANA.
together with the battles of Dallas, Chattahoochie river, Kenesaw
and Atlanta, where Lieut. Col. Myron Baker was killed, all bear evi
dence of its never surpassed gallantry. It was mustered out of ser
vice on the 9th of June, 1865, at Washington. On the return of the
regiment to Indianapolis, the war Governor and people tendered it
special honors, and gave expression to the admiration and regard
in which it was held.
The 76th Regiment was organized within the Eleventh Congress
ional District, and left Wabash, on the 21st of August, 1862, for the
front, under Col. I. W. Petit. It was the first regiment to enter
Tullahoma, and one of the last engaged in the battles of Ihe Repub
lic. After the submission of Gen. Johnson's army, it was mustered
out at Washington, on the 8th of June 1866.
The 76th Battalion was solely organized for thirty days' service
under Colonel James Gavin, for the purpose of pursuing the rebel
guerrilas, who plundered Newburg on the 13th July, 1862. It was
organized and equipped within forty-eight hours, and during its
term of service gained the name, " The Avengers of Newburg."
The 77th, or Fourth Cavalry, was organized at the State capi
tal in August, 1862, under Colonel Isaac P. Gray. It carved its
way to fame over twenty battlefields, and retired from service at
Edgefield, on the 29th June, 1865.
The 79th Regiment was mustered in at Indianapolis on the 2nd
September, 1862, under Colonel Fred Knefler. Its history may be
termed a record of battles, as the great numbers of battles, from
1862 to the conclusion of hostilities, were participated in by it.
The regiment received its discharge on the 11th June, 1865, at
Indianapolis. During its continued round of field duty it captured
eighteen guns and over one thousand prisoners.
The 80th Regiment was organized within the First Congress
ional District under Col. C. Denby, and equipped at Indianapolis,
when, on the 8th of September, 1862, it left for the front. During
its term it lost only two prisoners; but its list of casualties sums
up 325 men and officers killed and wounded. The regiment may
be said to muster out on the 22nd of June, 1865, at Saulsbury.
The 81sT Regiment, of New Albany, under Colonel W. W.
Caldwell, was organized on the 29th August, 1862, and proceeded
at once to join Buell's headquarters, and join in the pursuit of
General Bragg. Throughout the terrific actions of the war its
infiuence was felt, nor did its labors cease until it aided in driving
the rebels across the Tennessee. It was disembodied at Nashville

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history of INDIANA. 1(17
on the 13th June, 1S65, and returned to Indianapolis on the 16th,
to receive the well-merited congratulations of Governor Morton
and the people.
The S2nd Regiment, under Colonel Morton C. Hunter, was
mustered in at Madison, Ind., on the 30th August, 1862, and
leaving immediately for the seat of war, participated in many of
the great battles down to the return of peace. It was mustered out
at Washington on the 9th June, 1865, and soon returned to its
State to receive a grand recognition of its faithful service.
The 83rd Regiment, of Lawrenceburg, under Colonel Ben. J.
Spooner, was organized in September, 1S62, and soon left en route
to the Mississippi. Its subsequent history, the fact of its being
under fire for a total term of 4,800 hours, and its wanderings over
6,285 miles, leave nothing to be said in its defense. Master of a
thousand honors, it was mustered out at Louisville, on the 15th
July, 1S65, and returned home to enjoy a well-merited repose.
The 84th Regiment was mustered in at Richmond, Ind., on the
8th September, 1862, under Colonel Nelson Trusler. Its first
military duty was on the defenses of Covington, in Kentucky, and
Cincinnati; but after a short time its labors became more con
genial, and tended to the great disadvantage of the slaveholding
enemy on many well-contested fields. This, like the other State
•regiments, won many distinctions, and retired from the service on
the 14th of June, 1866, at Nashville.
The 85th Regiment was mustered at Terre Haute, under Colonel
John P. Bayard, on the 2d September, 1862. On the 4th March,
1863, it shared in the unfortunate affair at Thompson's Station,
when in common with the other regiments forming Coburn's Bri
gade, it surrendered to the overpowering forces of the- rebel
General, Forrest. In June, 1863, after an exchange, it again took
the field, and won a large portion of that renown accorded to
Indiana. It was mustered out on the 12th of June, 1865.
The 86th Regiment, of La Fayette, left for Kentucky on the 26th
August, 1862, under Colonel Orville S. Hamilton, and shared in the
duties assigned to the 84th. Its record is very creditable, particu
larly that portion dealing with the battles of Nashville on the 16th
and 16th December, 1864. It was mustered out on the 6th of June,
1865, and reported within a few days at Indianapolis for discharge.
The 87th Regiment, organized at South Bend, under Colonels
Kline G. Sherlock and N. Gleason, was accepted at Indianapolis
on the 31st of August, 1862, and left on the same day en route to

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168 HISTORY OF INDIANA.
the front. From Springfield and Perryville on the 6th and 8th of
October, 1862, to Mission Ridge, on the 25th of November, 1863,
thence through the Atlanta campaign to the surrender of the South
ern armies, it upheld a gallant name, and met with a true and en
thusiastic welcome- home on the 21st of June, 1865, with a list of
absent comrades aggregating 461.
The 88th Regiment, organized within the Fourth Congressional
District, under Col. Geo. Humphrey, entered the service on the
29th of August, 1862, and presently was found among the front
ranks in war. It passed through the campaign in brilliant form
down to the time of Gen. Johnson's surrender to Gen. Grant, after
which, on the 7th of June, 1865, it was mustered out at Washing
ton. The 89th Regiment, formed from the material of the
Eleventh Congressional District, was mustered in at Indianapolis,
on the 28th of August, 1862, under Col. Chas. D. Murray, and
after an exceedingly brilliant campaign was discharged by Gov.
Morton on the 4th of August, 1865.
The 90th Regiment, or Fifth Cavalry, was organized at
Indianapolis under the Colonelcy of Felix W. Graham, between
August and November, 1862. The different companies, joining
headquarters at Louisville on the 11th of March, 1863, engaged in
observing the movements of the enemy in the vicinity of Cumber--
land river until the 19th of April, when a first and successful
brush was had with the rebels. The regiment had been in 22 en
gagements during the term of service, captured 640 prisoners, and
claimed a list of casualties mounting up to the number of 829.
It was mustered out on the 16th of June, 1865, at Pulaski.
The 91sT Battalion, of seven companies, was mustered into
service at Evansville, the 1st of October, 1862, under Lieut.-Colonel
John Mehringer, and in ten days later left for the front. In
1863 the regiment was completed, and thenceforth took a very
prominent position in the prosecution of the war. During its ser
vice it lost 81 men, and retired from the field on the 26th of June,
1866. The 92d Regiment failed in organizing.
The 93d Regiment was mustered in at Madison, Ind., on the
20th of October, 1862, under Col. De Witt C. Thomas and Lieut.-
Col. Geo. W. Carr. On the 9th of November it began a move
ment south, and ultimately allied itself to Buckland's Brigade of

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HISTORY OF INDIANA. 169
Gen. Sherman 'a On the 14th of May it was among the first regi
ments to enter Jackson, the capital of Mississippi; was next pres
ent at the assault on Vicksburg, and made a stirring campaign
down to the storming of Fort Blakely on the 9th of April, 1865.
It was discharged on the lltli of August, that year, at Indianapo
lis, after receiving a public ovation.
The 94th and 95th Regiments, authorized to be formed within
the Fourth and Fifth Congressional Districts, respectively, were
only partially organized, and so the few companies that could be
mustered were incorporated with other regiments.
The 96th Regiment could only bring together three companies,
in the Sixth Congressional District, and these becoming incorpo
rated with the a9th then in process of formation at South Bend, the
number was left blank.
The 97th Regiment, raised in the Seventh Congressional Dis
trict, was mustered into service at Terre Haute, on the 20th of
September, 1861, under Col. Robert F. Catterson. Reaching the
front within a few days, it was assigned a position near Memphis,
and subsequently joined in Gen. Grant's movement on Vicksburg,
by overland route. After a succession of great exploits with the
several armies to which it was attached, it completed its list of
battles at Bentonville, on the 21st of March, 1865, and was dis
embodied at Washington on the 9th of June following. During its
term of service the regiment lost 341 men, including the three
Ensigns killed during the assaults on rebel positions along the
Augusta Railway, from the 15th to the 27th of June, 1864.
The 98th Regiment, authorized to be raised within the Eighth
Congressional District, failed in its organization, and the number
was left blank in the army list. The two companies answering to
the call of July, 1862, were consolidated with the 100th Regiment
then being organized at Fort Wayne.
The 99th Battalion, recruited within the Ninth Congressional
District, completed its muster on the 21st of October, 1862, under
Col. Alex. Fawler, and reported for service a few • days later at
Memphis, where it was assigned to the 16th Army Corps. The va
ried vicissitudes through which this regiment passed and it& remark
able gallantry upon all occasions, have gained for it a fair fame.
It was disembodied on the 5th of June, 1865, at Washington, and
returned to Indianapolis on the 11th of the same month.
The IOOth Regiment, recruited from the Eighth and Tenth
Congressional Districts, under Col. Sandford J. Stoughton, mustered

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170 HISTORY OF INDIANA.
into the service on the 10th of September, left for the front on the
11th of November, and became attached to the Army of Tennessee
on the 26th of that month, 1862. The regiment participated in
twenty -five battles, together with skirmishing during fully one-third
of its term of service, and claimed a list of casualties mounting up
to four hundred and sixty-four. It was mustered out of the ser
vice at Washington on the 9th of June, and reported at Indianapohs
for discharge on the 14th of June, 1865.
The lOlsT Regiment was mustered into service at Wabash on
the 7th of September, 1862, under Col. William Garver, and pro
ceeded immediately to Covington, Kentucky. Its early experiences
were gained in the pursuit of Bragg's army and John Morgan's
cavalry, and these experiences tendered to render the regiment one
of the most valua,ble in the war for the Republic. From the defeat
of John Morgan at Milton on the 18th of March, 1863, to the fall
of Savannah on the 23rd of September, 1863, the regiment won
many honors, and retired from the service on the 26th of June,
1865, at Indianapolis. the morgan RAID REGIMENTS — MINUTE MEN.
The 102d Regiment, organized under Col. Benjamin M. Gregory
from companies of the Indiana Legion, and numbering six hun
dred and twenty-three men and officers, left Indianapolis for the
front early in July, and reported at North Vernon on the 12th of
July, 1863, and having completed a round of duty, returned to In
dianapolis on the 17th to be discharged.
The 103d, comprising seven companies from Hendricks county,
two from Marion and one from Wayne counties, numbering 681
men and officers, under Col. Lawrence S. Shuler, was contemporary
with the 102d Regiment, varying only in its service by being mus
tered out one day before, or on the 16th of July, 1863.
The 104th Regiment of Minute Men was recruited from mem
bers of the Legion of Decatur, La Fayette, Madison, Marion and Rush
counties. It oomprised 714 men and officers under the command
of Col. James Gavin, and was organized within forty hours after the
issue of Governor Morton's call for minute men to protect Indiana
and Kentucky against the raids of Gen. John H, Morgan's rebel
forces. After Morgan's escape into Ohio the command returned
and was mustered out on the 18th of July, 1863.
The 106th Regiment consisted of seven companies of the Legion
and three of Minute Men, furnished by Hancock, Union, Randolph,

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history of INDIANA. 171
Putnam, Wayne, Clinton and Madison counties. The command
numbered seven hundred and thirteen men and officers, under Col.
Sherlock, and took a leading part in the pursuit of Morgan. Re
turning on the 18th of July to Indianapolis it was mustered out.
The 106th Regiment, under Col . Isaac P. Gray, consisted of
one company of the Legion and nine companies of Minute Men,
aggregating seven hundred and ninety-two men and officers. • The
counties of Wayne, Randolph, Hancock, Howard, and Marion were
represented in its rank and file. Like the other regiments organized
to repel Morgan, it was disembodied in July, 1863.
The 107th Regiment, under Col. De Witt C. Rugg, was organ
ized in the city of Indianapolis from the companies' Legion, or
Ward Guards. The successes of this promptly organized regiment
were unquestioned.
The 108th Regiment comprised five companies of Minute Men,
from Tippecanoe county, two from Hancock, and one from each of
the counties known as Carroll, Montgomery and Wayne, aggregat
ing 710 men and officers, and all under the command of Col. W. C.
Wilson. After performing the only duties presented, it returned
from Cincinnati on the 18th of July, and was mustered out.
The 109th Regiment, composed of Minute Men from Coles
county, m.. La Porte, Hamilton, Miami and Randolph counties,
Ind., showed a roster of 709 officers and men, under Col. J. R.
Mahon. Morgan having escaped from Ohio, its duties were at an
end, and returning to Indianapolis was mustered out on the 17th
of July, 1863, after seven days' service.
The 110th Regiment of Minute Men comprised volunteers from
Henry, Madison, Delaware, Cass, and Monroe counties. The men
v?ere ready and willing, if not really anxious to go to the front. But
happily the swift-winged Morgan was driven away, and conse
quently the regiment was not called to the field.
The 111th Regiment, furnished by Montgomery, Lafayette,
Rush, Miami, Monroe, Delaware and Hamilton counties, number
ing 733 men and officers, under Col. Robert Canover, was not
requisitioned. The 112th Regiment was formed from nine companies of Min
ute Men, and the Mitchell Light Infantry Company of the Legion.
Its strength was 703 men and officers, under Col. Hiram F. Brax
ton. Lawrence, Washington, Monroe and Orange counties were
represented on its roster, and the historic names of North Vernon
and Sunman's Station on its banner. Returning from the South

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172 history of INDIANA.
after seven days' service, it was mustered out on the 17th of
July, 1863.
The 113th Regiment, furnished by Daviess, Martin, Washington,
and Monroe counties, comprised 526 rank and file under Col. Geo.
W. Burge. Like the 112th, it was assigned to Gen. Hughes'
Brigade, and defended North Vernon against the repeated attacks
of John H. Morgan's forces.
The 114th Regiment was wholly organized in Johnson county,
under Col. Lambertson, and participated in the affair of North
Vernon. Returning on the 2l8t of July, 1863, with its brief but
faithful record, it was disembodied at Indianapolis, 11 days after
its organization.
All these regiments were brought into existence to meet an
emergency, and it must be confessed, that had not a sense of
duty, military instinct and love of country animated these regi
ments, the rebel General, John H. Morton, and his 6,000 cavalry^
would doubtless have carried destruction as far as the very capital
of their State. SIX months' regiments.
The 116th Regiment, organized at Indianapolis in answer to the
call of the President in June, 1863, was mustered into service on
the 17th of August, under Col. J. R. Mahon. Its service was short
but brilliant, and received its discharge at Indianapolis the 10th
of February, 1864.
The 116th Regiment, mustered in on the 17th of August, 1863,
moved to Detroit, Michigan, on the 30th, under Col. Charles Wise.
During October it was ordered to Nicholasville, Kentucky, where it
was assigned to Col. Mahon' s Brigade, and with Gen. Willcox's
entire command, joined in the forward movement to Cumberland
Gap. After a term on severe duty it returned to Lafayette and
there was disembodied on the 24th of February, 1864, whither Gov.
Morton hastened, to share in the ceremonies of welcome.
The 117th Regiment of Indianapolis was mustered into service
on the 17th of September, 1863, under Ool. Thomas J. Brady.
After surmounting every obstacle opposed to it, it returned on the
6th of February, 1864, and was treated to a public reception on
the 9th.
The 118th Regiment, whose organization was completed on the
3d of September, 1863, under Col. Geo. W. Jackson, joined the
116th at Nicholasville, and sharing in its fortunes, returned to the

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history of INDIANA. 173
State capital on the 14th of February, 1864. Its casualties were
comprised in a list of 15 killed and wounded.
The 119th, or Seventh Cavalry, was recruited under Col. John
P. C. Shanks, and its organization completed on the 1st of Octo
ber, 1863. The rank and file numbered 1,213, divided into twelve
companies. On the 7th of December its arrival at Louisville was
reported, and on the 14th it entered on active service. After the
well-fought battle of Guntown, Mississippi, on the lOtli of June,
1864, although it only brought defeat to our arms. General Grier
son addressed the Seventh Cavalry, saying: " Your General con
gratulates you upon your noble conduct during the late expedition.
Fighting against overwhelming numbers, under adverse circum
stances, your prompt obedience to orders and unfiinching courage
commanding the admiration of all, made even defeat almost a vic
tory. For hours on foot you repulsed the charges of the enemies' in
fantry, and again in the saddle you met his cavalry and turned his
assaults into confusion. Your heroic perseverance saved hundreds
of your fellow-soldiers from capture. You have been faithful to
your honorable reputation, and have fully justified the confidence,
and merited the high esteem of your commander."
Early in 1865, a number of these troops, returning from impris
onment in Southern bastiles, were lost on the steamer "Sultana."
The survivors of the campaign continued in the service for a long
period after the restoration of peace, and finally mustered out.
The 120th Regiment. In September, 1863, Gov. Morton re
ceived authority from the War Department to organize eleven regi
ments within the State for three years' service. By April, 1864,
this organization was complete, and being transferred to the com
mand of Brigadier General Alvin P. Hovey, were formed by him
into a division for service with the Army of Tennessee. Of those
regiments, the 120th occupied a very prominent place, both on ac
count of its numbers, its perfect discipline and high reputation.
It was mustered in at Columbus, and was in all the great battles
of the latter years of the war. It won high praise from friend
and foe, and retired with its bright roll of honor, after the success
of Right and Justice was accomplished.
The 121sT, OR Ninth Cavalry, was mustered in March 1, 1864,
under Col. George W. Jackson, at Indianapolis, and though not
numerically strong, was so well equipped and possessed such excel
lent material that on the 3rd of May it was ordered to the front.
The record of the 121st, though extending over a brief period, is

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174 history of INDIANA.
pregnant with deeds of war of a high character. On the 26th of
April, 1865, these troops, while returning from their labors in the
South, lost 55 men, owing to the explosion of the engines of the
steamer " Sultana." The return of the 386 survivors, on the 5th of
September, 1865, was hailed with joy, and proved how well and
dearly the citizens of Indiana loved their soldiers.
The 122d Regiment ordered to be raised in the Third Congres
sional District, owing to very few men being then at home, failed
in organization, and the regimental number became a blank.
The 123d Regiment was furnished by the Fourth and Seventh
Congressional Districts during the winter of 1863-'64, and mus
tered, March 9, 1864, at Greensburg, under Col. John C. McQuis-
ton. The command left for the front the same day, and after win
ning rare distinction during the last years of the campaign, par
ticularly in its gallantry at Atlanta, and its daring movement to
escape Forrest's 16,000 rebel horsemen near Franklin, this regi
ment was discharged on the 30th of August, 1865, at Indianapolis,
being mustered out on the 25th, at Raleigh, North Carolina.
The 124th Regiment completed its organization by assuming
three companies raised for the 125th Regiment (which was intended
to be cavalry), and was. mustered in at Richmond, on the 10th of
March, 1864, under Colonel James Burgess, and reported at Louis
ville within nine days. From Buzzard's Roost, on the 8th of May,
1864, under General Schofield, Lost Mountain in June, and the
capture of Decatur, on the 16th July, to the 21st March, 1865, in
its grand advance under General Sherman from Atlanta to the
coast, the regiment won many laurel wreaths, and after a brilliant
campaign, was mustered out at Greensboro on the 31st August,
1865. The 125th, or Tenth Cavalry, was partially organized during
November and December, 1862, at Vincennes, and in February,
1863, completed its numbers and equipment at Columbus, under
Colonel T. M. Pace. Early in May its arrival in Nashville was
reported, and presently assigned active service. During September
and October it engaged rebel contingents under Forrest and Hood,
and later in the battles of Nashville, Reynold's Hill and Sugar
Creek, and in 1866 Flint River, Courtland and Mount Hope. The
explosion of the Sultana occasioned the loss of thirty-five men with
Captain Gaffney and Lieutenants Twigg and Reeves, and in a
collision on the Nashville & Louisville railroad. May, 1864, lost
five rnen killed and several wounded. After a term of service un-

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history of INDIANA. 176
surpassed for its utility and character it was disembodied at Vicks
burg, Mississippi, on the 31st August, 1866, and returning to
Indianapolis early in September, was welcomed by the Executive
and people.
The 126th, or Eleventh Cavalry, was organized at Indian
apolis under Colonel Robert R. Stewart, on the 1st of March, 1864,
and left in May for Tennessee. It took a very conspicuous part in
the defeat of Hood near Nashville, joining in the pursuit as far as
Gravelly Springs, Alabama, where it was dismounted and assigned
infantry duty. In June, 1866, it was remounted at St. Louis, and
moved to Fort Riley, Kansas, and thence to Leavenworth, where it
was mustered out on the 19th September, 1866.
The 127th, or Twelfth Cavalry, was partially organized at
Kendallville, in December, 1863, and perfected at the same place,
under Colonel Edward Anderson, in April, 1864. Reaching the
front in May, it went into active service, took a prominent part in
the march through Alabama and Georgia, and after a service bril
liant in all its parts, retired from the field, after discharge, on the
22d of November, 1865.
The 128th Regiment was raised in the Tenth Congressional Dis
trict of the period, and mustered at Michigan City, under Colonel
R P. De Hart, on the 18th March, 1864. On the 26th it was
reported at the front, and assigned at once to Schofleld's Division.
The battles of Resaca, Dallas, New Hope Church, Lost Mountain,
Kenesaw, Atlanta, Jonesboro, Dalton, Brentwood Hills, Nashville.
and the six days' skirmish of Columbia, were all participated in by
the 128th, and it continued in service long after the termination
of hostilities, holding the post of Raleigh, North Carolina.
The 129th Regiment was, like the former, mustered in at
Michigan City about the same time, under Colonel Charles Case,
and moving to the front on the 7th April, 1864, shared in the for
tunes of the 128th until August 29, 1865, when it was disembodied
at Charlotte, Notrh Carolina.
The 130th Regiment, mustered at Kokomo on the 12th March,
1864, under Colonel C. S. Parrish, left en route to the seat of war
on the 16th, and was assigned to the Second Brigade, First Division,
Twenty-third Army Corps, at Nashville, on the 19th. During the
war it made for itself a brilliant history, and returned to Indian
apolis with its well-won honors on the 13th DecemDer, 1865.
The 131sT, OR Thirteenth Cavalry, under Colonel G. M L.
Johnson, was the last mounted regiment recruited within the State.

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176 history of INDIANA.
It left Indianapolis on the 30th of April, 1864, in infantry trim,
and gained its first honors on the 1st of October in its magnificent
defense of Huntsville, Alabama, against the rebel division of
General Buford, following a line of first-rate military conduct to
the end. In January, 1865, the regiment was remounted, won
some distinction in its modern form, and was mustered out at
Vicksburg on the 18th of November, 1865. The morale and
services of the regiment were such that its Colonel was promoted
Brevet Brigadier-General in consideration of its merited honors.
the one hundred-days volunteers.
Governor Morton, in obedience to the offer made under his auspices
to the general Government to raise volunteer regiments for one hun
dred days' service, issued his call on the 23rd of April, 1864. This
movement suggested itself to the inventive genius of the war Gov
ernor as a most important step toward the subjection or annihila
tion of the military supporters of slavery within a year, and thus
conclude a war, which, notwithstanding its holy claims to the name
of Battles for Freedom, was becoming too protracted, and proving
too detrimental to the best interests of the Union. In answer to
the esteemed Governor's call eight regiments came forward, and
formed The Grand Division of the Volunteers.
The 132d Regiment, under Col. S. C. Vance, was furnished by
Indianapolis, Shelbyville, Franklin and Danville, and leaving on
the 18th of May, 1864, reached the front where it joined the forces
acting in Tennessee.
The 133d Regiment, raised at Richmond on the 17th of May,
1864, under Col. R. N. Hudson, comprised nine companies, and
followed the 132d.
The 134th Regiment, comprising seven companies, was organ
ized at Indianapolis on the 25th of May, 1864, under Col. James
Gavin, and proceeded immediately to the front.
The 135th Regiment was raised from the volunteers of Bedford,
Noblesville and Goshen, with seven companies from the First Con
gressional District, under Col. W, 0. Wilson, on the 25th of May,
1864, and left at once en route to the South.
The 136th Regiment comprised ten companies, raised in the
same districts as those contributing to the 135th, under CoL J. W.
Foster, and left for Tennessee on the 24th of May, 1864.
The 137th Regiment, under CoL E. J. Robinson, comprising
volunteers from Kokomo, Zanesville, Medora, Sullivan, Rockville,

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history of INDIANA. 177
and Owen and Lawrence counties, left en route to Tennessee on the
28th of May, 1864, having completed organization the day previous.
The 138th Regiment was formed of seven companies from the
Ninth, with three from the Eleventh Congressional District (un-
j reformed), and mustered in at Indianapolis on the 27th of May,
1864, under Col. J. H. Shannon. This fine regiment was re
ported at the front within a few days.
The 139th Regiment, under Col. Geo. Humphrey, was raised from
volunteers furnished by Kendallville, Lawrenceburg, EHzaville,
Knightstown, Connors ville, Newcastle, Portland, Vevay, New
jilbany, Metamora, Columbia City, New Haven and New Phila
delphia. It was constituted a regiment on the 8th of June, 1864,.
and appeared among the defenders in Tennessee during that month.
All these regiments gained distinction, and won an enviable po
sition in the glorious history of the war and the no less glorious-
one of their own State in its relation thereto.
the president's call of JULY, 1864.
The I40th Regiment was organized with many others, in response
to the call of the nation. Under its Colonel, Thomas J. Brady, it pro
ceeded to the South on the 15th of November, 1864. Having taken
a most prominent part in all the desperate struggles, round Nash
ville and Murfreesboro in 1864, to Town Creek Bridge on the 20th
of February, 1865, and completed a continuous round of severe duty
to the end, arrived at Indianapolis for discharge on the 21st of July,
where Governor Morton received it with marked honors.
The 14 1 ST Regiment was only partially raised, and its few com
panies were incorporated with Col. Brady's command.
The 142d Regiment was recruited at Fort Wayne, under Col. I.
M. Comparet, and was mustered into service at Indianapolis on the
^ of November, 1864. After a steady and exceedingly effective
service, it returned to Indianapolis on the I6th of July, 1865.
the president's call of DECEMBER, 1864,
Was answered by Indiana in the most material terms. No less
than fourteen serviceable regiments were placed at the disposal of
the General Government.
The 143d Regiment was mustered in, under Col J. T. Grill, on "
the 2l6t February, 1865, reported at Nashville on the 24th, and af
ter a brief but brilliant service returned to the State on the 21st
October, 1865.
^ 4 t\  - L- I •
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178 HISTORY OF INDIANA.
Tlie 144th Regiment, under CoL G. W. Riddle, was mustered in
on the 6th March, 1866, left on the 9th for Harper's Ferry, took an
effective part in the close of the campaign aud reported at Indian
apolis for discharge on the 9th August, 1866.
The 145th Regiment, under CoL W, A, Adams, left Indianapolis
on the 18th of February, 1866, and joining Gen. Steadman's division
at Chattanooga on the 23d was sent on active service. Its duties
were discharged with rare fidelity until mustered out in January,
1866. The 146th Regiment, under Col. M. C. Welsh, left Indianapolis
on the 11th of March en route to Harper's Ferry, where it was ^.e-
signed to the army of the Shenandoah. The duties of this regiment
were severe and continuous, to the period of its muster out at Bal
timore on the 31st of August, 1866.
The 147th Regiment, comprised among other volunteers from
Benton, Lafayette and Henry counties, organized under Col. Milton
Peden on the 13th of March, 1865, at Indianapolis. It shared a
fortune similar to that of the 146th, and returned for discharge on
the 9th of August, 1866.
The 148th Regiment, under Col. N. R. Ruckle, left the State
capital on the 28th of February, 1865, and reporting at Nashville,
was sent on guard and garrison duty into the heart of Tennessee.
Returning to Indianapolis on the 8th of September, it received a
final discharge.
The 149th Regiment was organized at Indianapolis by Col. W.
H. Fairbanks, and left on the 3d of March, 1865, for Tennessee,
where it had the honor of receiving the surrender of the rebel
forces, and military stores of Generals Roddy and Polk. The reg
iment was welcomed home by Morton on the 29th of September.
The 150th Regiment, under Col. M. B. Taylor, mustered in on the
9th of March, 1866, left for the South on the 13th and reported at
Harper's Ferry on the 17th. This regiment did guard duty at
Charleston, Winchester, Stevenson Station, Gordon's Springs, and
after a service characterized by utility, returned on the 9th of
August to Indianapolis for discharge.
The 161sT Regiment, under Col. J. Healy, arrived at Nashville on
the 9th of March, 1865. On the 14th a movement on Tullahoma
was undertaken, and three months later returned to Nashville for
garrison duty to the close of the war. It was mustered out on the
22d of September, 1866.
The 162d Regiment was organized at Indianapolis, under Col.

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I

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history of INDIANA. 181
•
W. W Griswold, and left for Harper's Ferry on the 18th of March,
1865. It was attached to the provisional divisions of Shenandoah
Army, and engaged until the 1st of September, when it was dis
charged at Indianapolis.
The 153d Regiment was organized at Indianapolis on the 1st of
March, 1865, under Col. O. H. P. Carey. It reported at Louis
ville, and by order of Gen. Palmer, was held on service in Ken
tucky, where it was occupied in the exciting but very dangerous
pastime of fighting Southern guerrillas. Later it was posted at
Louisville, until mustered out on the 4th of September, 1865.
The 154th Regiment, organized under Col. Frank Wilcox, left
Indianapolis under Major Simpson, for Parkersburg, W. Virginia,
on the 28th of April, 1865. It was assigned to guard and garrison
duty until its discharge on the 4th of August, 1866.
The 155th Regiment, recruited throughout the State, left on the
26th of April for Washington, and was afterward assigned to a
provisional Brigade of the Ninth Army Corps at Alexandria. The
companies of this regiment were scattered over the country, — at
Dover, Centreville, Wilmington, and Salisbury, but becoming re
united on the 4th of August, 1865, it was mustered out at Dover,
Delaware. The 156th Battalion, under Lieut.-Colonel Charles M. Smith,
left en route to the Shenandoah Valley on the 27th of April, 1865,
where it continued doing guard duty to the period of its muster
out the 4th of August, 1865, at Winchester, Virginia.
On the return of these regiments to Indianapolis, Gov. Morton
and the people received them with all that characteristic cordiality
and enthusiasm peculiarly their own.
independent cavalry company of INDIANA VOLUNTEERS.
The people of Crawford county, animated with that inspiriting
patriotism which the war drew forth, organized this mounted com
pany on the 25tli of July, 1863, and placed it at the disposal of
the Government, and it was mustered into service by order of the
War Secretary, on the 13th of August, 1863, under Captain L.
Lamb. To the close of the year it engaged in the laudable pursuit
of arresting deserters and enforcing the draft; however, on the
18th of January, 1864, it was reconstituted and incorporated with
the Thirteenth Cavalry, with which it continued to serve until the
treason of Americans against America was conquered.

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182 HISTORY OF INDIANA.
OUR COLORED TROOPS.
The 28th Regiment of Colored Troops was recruited through-
out the State of Indiana, and under Lieut.-Colonel Charles S.
Russell, left Indianapolis for the front on the 24th of April, 1864.
The regiment acted very well in its first engagement with the
rebels at White House, Virginia, and again with Gen. Sheridan's
Cavalry, in the swamps of the Chickahominy. In the battle of
the " Crater," it lost half its roster; but their place was soon filled
by other colored recruits from the State, and Russell promoted to
the Colonelcy, and afterward to Brevet Brigadier-General, when he
was succeeded in the command by Major Thomas H. Logan.
.During the few months of its active service it accumulated quite a
history, and was ultimately discharged, on the 8th of January,
1866, at Indianapolis. BATTERIES OF LIGHT ARTILLERY.
First Battery, organized at Evansville, under Captain Martin
Klauss, and mustered in on the 16th of August, 1861, joined Gen.
Fremont's army immediately, and entering readily upon its salu
tary course, aided in the capture of 960 rebels and their position
at Blackwater creek. On March the 6th, 1862 at Elkhorn Tavern,
and on the 8th at Pea Ridge, the battery performed good service.
Port Gibson, Champion Hill, Jackson, the Teche country, Sabine
Cross Roads, Grand Encore, all tell of its efficacy. In 1864 it was
subjected to reorganization, when Lawrence Jacoby was raised to
the Captiancy, vice Klauss resigned. After a long term of useful
service, it was mustered out at Indianapolis on the 18th of August,
1865. Second Battery was organized, under Captain D. G. Rabb, at
Indianapolis on the 9th of August, 1861, and one month later pro
ceeded to the front. It participated in the campaign against Col.
Coffee's irregular troops and the rebellious Indians of the Cherokee
nation. From Lone Jack, Missouri, to Jenkin's Ferry and Fort
Smith it won signal honors until its reorganization in 1864, and
even after, to June, 1865, it maintained a very fair reputation.
The Third Battery, under Capt. W. W. Frybarger, was organ
ized and mustered in at Connersville on the 24th of August, 1861,
and proceeded immediately to join Fremont's Army of the Mis
souri. Moon's Mill, Kirksville, Meridian, Fort de Russy, Alex
andria, Round Lake, Tupelo, Clinton and Tallahatchie are names

sV

history of INDIANA, 1,S3
which may be engraven on its guns. It participated in the affairs
before Nashville on the 15th and 16th of December, 1864, when
General Hood's Army was put to route, and at Fort Blakely, out
side Mobile, after which it returned home to report for discharge,
August 21, 1865.
The Fourth Battery, recruited in La Porte, Porter and Lake
counties, reported at the front early in October, 1861, and at once
assumed a prominent place in the army of Gen. Buell. Again
under Rosencrans and McCook and under General Sheridan at
Stone River, the services of this battery were much praised, and it
retained its well-earned reputation to the very day of its muster out
— the 1st of August, 1865. Its first organization was completed
under Capt. A. K. Bush, and reorganized in Oct., 1864, under Capt
B. F. Johnson.
The Fifth Battery was furnished by La Porte, Allen, Whitley
and Noble counties, organized under Capt. Peter Simonson, and mus
tered into service on the 22d of November, 1861. It comprised
four six pounders, two being rifled cannon, and two twelve-pounder
! Howitzers with a force of 158 men. Reporting at Camp Gil
bert, Louisville, on the 29th, it was shortly after assigned to the
division of Gen . Mitchell, at Bacon Creek. During its term, it
served in twenty battles and numerous petty actions, losing its Cap
tain at Pine Mountain. The total loss accruing to the battery was
84 men and officers and four guns. It was mustered out on the
20th of July, 1864.
The Sixth Battery was recruited at Evansville, under Captain
Frederick Behr, and left, on the 2d of Oct., 1861, for the front,
reporting at Henderson, Kentucky, a few days after. Early in
1862 it joined Gen. Sherman's army at Paducah, and participated
in the battle of Shiloh, on the 6th of April. Its history grew in
brilliancy until the era of peace insured a cessation of its great
labors. The Seventh Battery comprised volunteers from Terre Haute,
Arcadia, Evansville, Salem, Lawrenceburg, Columbus, Vin
cennes and Indianapolis, under Samuel J. Harris as its flrst
Captain, who was succeeded by G. R. Shallow and O. H. Mor
gan after its reorganization. From the siege of Corinth to the
capture of Atlanta it performed vast services, and returned to
Indianapolis on the 11th of July, 1866, to be received by the peo
ple and hear its history from the lips of the veteran patriot and
Governor of the State.
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184 history of INDIANA.
The Eighth Battery, under Captain G. T. Cochran, arrived at
the front on the 26th of February, 1862, and subsequently entered
upon its real duties at the siege of Corinth. It served with dis
tinction throughout, and concluded a well-made campaign under
Will Stokes, who was appointed Captain of the companies with
which it was consolidated in March, 1865.
The Ninth Battery, The organization of this battery was
perfected at Indianapolis, on the Ist of January, 1862, under Capt.
N. S. Thompson. Moving to the front it participated in the affairs
of Shiloh, Corinth, Queen's Hill, Meridian, Fort Dick Taylor, Fort
de Russy, Henderson's Hill, Pleasant Hill, Cotile Landing, Bayou
Rapids, Mansura, Chicot, and many others, winning a name in
each engagement. The explosion of the steamer Eclipse at Johnson-
ville, above Paducah, on Jan. 27, 1865, resulted in the destruction of
58 men, leaving only ten to represent the battery. The survivors
reached Indianapolis on the 6th of Marqh, and were mustered out.
The Tenth Battery was recruited at Lafayette, and mustered in
under Capt. Jerome B. Cox, in January, 1861. Having passed
through the Kentucky campaign against Gen. Bragg, it partici
pated in many of the great engagements, and flnally returned to
report for discharge on the 6th of July, 1864, having, in the mean
time, won a very fair fame.
The Eleventh Battery was organized at Lafayette, and mus
tered in at Indianapolis under Capt. Arnold Sutermeister, on the
17th of December, 1861. On most of the principal battle-fields,
from Shiloh, in 1862, to the capture of Atlanta, it maintained a high
reputation for military excellence, and after consolidation with the
Eighteenth, mustered out on the 7th of June, 1865.
The Twelfth Battery was recruited at Jeffersonville and sub
sequently mustered in at Indianapolis. On the 6th of March, 1862,
it reached Nashville, having been previously assigned to Buell's
Army. In April its Captain, G. W. Sterling, resigned, and the
position devolved on Capt. James E. White, who, in turn, was suc
ceeded by James A. Dunwoody. The record of the battery holds
a first place in the history of the period, and enabled both men and
officers to look back with pride upon the battle-fields of the land.
It was ordered home in June, 1866, and on reaching Indianapolis,
on the 1st of July, was mustered out on the 7th of that month.
The Thirteenth Battery was organized under Captain Sewell
Ooulson, during the winter of 1861, at Indianapolis, and proceeded
to the front in February, 1862. During the subsequent months it

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history of INDIANA.

185

was occupied in the pursuit of John H. Morgan's raiders, and
aided effectively in driving them from Kentucky. This artillery
company returned from the South on the 4th of July, 1865, and
were discharged the day following.
The Fourteenth Battery, recruited in Wabash, Miami, Lafay
ette, and Huntington counties, under Captain M. H. Kidd, and
Lieutenant J. W. H. McGuire, left Indianapolis on the 11th of
April, 1862, and within a few months one portion of it was cap
tured at Lexington by Gen. Forrest's great cavalry command. The
main battery lost two guns and two men at Guntown, on the Mis
sissippi, but proved more successful at Nashville and Mobile. It
arrived home on the 29th of August, 1865, received a public wel
come, and its final discharge.
The Fifteenth Battery, under Captain I. C. H. Von Sehlin,
was retained on duty from the date of its organization, at Indian
apolis, until the 5th of July, 1862, when it was moved to Harper's
Ferry. Two months later the gallant defense of Maryland Heights
was set at naught by the rebel Stonewall Jackson, and the entire
garrison surrendered. Being paroled, it was reorganized at Indian
apolis, and appeared again in the field in March, 1863, where it
won a splendid renown on every well-fought field to the close of
the war. It was mustered out on the 24th of June, 1865.
The Sixteenth Battery was organized at Lafayette, under
Capt. Charles A. Naylor, and on the. Ist of June, 1862, left for
Washington. Moving to the front with Gen. Pope's command, it
participated in the battle of Slaughter Mountain, on the 9th of
August, and South Mountain, and Antietam, under Gen. McClel
lan. This battery was engaged in a large number of general en
gagements and fiying column affairs, won a very favorable record,
and returned on the 5th of July, 1865.
The Seventeenth Battery, under Capt. Milton L. Miner, was
mustered in at Indianapolis, on the 20th of May, 1862, left for the
front on the 5th of July, and subsequently engaged in the Gettys
burg expedition, was present at Harper's Ferry, July 6, 1863, and
at Opequan on the 19th of September. Fisher's Hill, New Mar
ket, and Cedar Creek brought it additional honors^ and won from
Gen. Sheridan a tribute of praise for its service on these battle
grounds. Ordered from Winchester to Indianapolis it was mus
tered out there on the 3d of July, 1865.
The Eighteenth Battery, under Capt. Eli Lilly, left for the

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186 history of INDIANA.
front in August, 1862, but did not take a leading part in the cam
paign until 1863, when, under Gen. Rosencrans, it appeared prom
inent at Hoover's Gap. From this period to the affairs of West
Point and Macon, it performed first-class service, and returned to
its State on the 25th of June, 1866.
The Nineteenth Battery was mustered into service at Indian
apolis, on the 6th of August, 1862, under Capt. S. J. Harris, and
proceeded immediately afterward to the front, where it participated
in the campaign against Gen. Bragg. It was present at every post
of danger to the end of the-war, when, after the surrender of John
son's army, it returned to Indianapdlis. Reaching that city on
the 6th of June, 1865, it was treated to a public reception and
received the congratulations of Gov. Morton. Four days later it
was discharged.
The Twentieth Battery, organized under Capt. Frank A. Rose,
left the State capital on the 17th of December, 1862, for the front,
and reported immediately at Henderson, Kentucky. Subsequently
Captain Rose resigned, and, in 1863, under Capt. Osborn, turned
over its guns to the 11th Indiana Battery, and was assigned to the
charge of siege guns at Nashville. Gov. Morton had the battery
supplied with new field pieces, and by the 5th of October, 1863, it
was again in the field, where it won many honors under Sherman,
and continued to exercise a great influence until its return- on the
23d of June, 1865.
The Twenty-first Battery recruited at Indianapolis, under the
direction of Captain W. W. Andrew, left on the 9th of September,
1862, for Covington, Kentucky, to aid in its defense against the
advancing forces of Gen. Kirby Smith. It was engaged in numerous
military affairs and may be said to acquire many honors, although
its record is stained with the names of seven deserters. The battery
was discharged on the 21st of June, 1865.
The Twenty-second Battery was mustered in at Indianapolis
on the 16th of December, 1862, under Capt. B. F. Denning, and
moved at once to the front. It took a very conspicuous part in the
pursuit of Morgan's Cavalry, and in many other affairs. It threw
the flrst shot into Atlanta, and lost its Captain, who was killed in
the skirmish line, on the 1st of July. While the list of casualties
numbers only 35, that of desertions numbers 37. This battery was
received with public honors on its return, the 25th of June, 1865,
and mustered out on the 7th of the same month.

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HISTORY OF INDIANA. 187
The Twenty-third Battery, recruited in October 1862, and
mustered in on the 8th of November, under Capt. I. H. Myers, pro
ceeded south, after having rendered very efficient services at home
in guarding the camps of rebel prisoners. In July, 1865, the battery
took an active part, under General Boyle's command, in routing
and capturing the raiders at Brandenburgh, and subsequently to
the close of the war performed very brilliant exploits, reaching
Indianapolis in June, 1S65. It was discharged on the 27th of that
month. The Twenty-fourth Battery, under Capt. I. A. Simms, was
enrolled for service on the 29th of November, 1862; remained
at Indianapolis on duty until the 13th of March, 1863, when
it left for the field. From its participation in the Cumberland
River campaign, to its last engagement at Columbia, Tennessee, it
aided materially in bringing victory to the Union ranks and made
for itself a widespread fame. Arriving at Indianapolis on the 28th
of July, it was publicly received, and in five days later disembodied.
The Twenty-fifth Battery was recruited in September and Oc
tober, 1864, and mustered into service for one year, under Capt.
Frederick C. Sturm. December 13th, it reported at Nashville, and
took a prominent part in the defeat of Gen. Hood's army. Its
duties until July, 1865, were continuous, when it returned to
report for final discharge.
The Twenty-sixth Battery, or "Wilder's Battery," was re
cruited under Capt. I. T. Wilder, of Greensburg, in May, 1861; but
was not mustered in as an artillery company. Incorporating itself
with a regiment then forming at Indianapolis it was mustered as
company "A," of the 17th Infantry, with Wilder as Lieutenant-
Colonel of the regiment. Subsequently, at Elk Water, Virginia,
it was converted into the "First Independent Battery," and became
known as " Rigby's Battery." The record of this battery is as
brilliant as any won during the war. On every field it has won a
distinct reputation; it was well worthy the enthusiastic reception
given to it on its return to Indianapolis on the 11th and 12th of
July, 1865. During its term of service it was subject to many
transmutations; but in every phase of its brief history, areputation
for gallantry and patriotism was maintained which now forms a
living testimonial to its services to the public.
The total number of battles in the " War of the Rebellion " in
which the patriotic citizens of the great and noble State of Indiana
were more or less engaged, was as follows:

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188 HISTORY OF INDIANA.
Locality. No. of Battles. Locality. No. of Battles.
Virginia  90 Maryland  7
Tennessee  51 Texas  3
Georgia  41 South Carolina  2
Mississippi  34 Indian Territory  2
Arkansas  19 Pennsylvania  1
Kentucky  16 Ohio  1
Louisana  15 Indiana  1
Missouri  9 
North Carolina  8 Total  308

The regiments sent forth to the defense of the Republic in th e
hour of its greatest peril, when a host of her own sons, blinded by
some unholy infatuation, leaped to arms that they might trample
upon the liberty-giving principles of the nation, have been passed
in very brief review. The authorities chosen for the dates, names,
and figures are the records of the State, and the main subject is
based upon the actions of those 267,000 gallant men of Indiana
who rushed to arms in defense of all for which their fathers bled,
leaving their wives and children and homes in the guardianship of
a truly paternal Government.
The relation of Indiana to the Republic was then established;
for when the population of the State, at the time her sons went
forth to participate in war for the maintenance of the Union, is
brought into comparison with all other States and countries, it will
be apparent that the sacrifices made by Indiana from 1861-'65
equal, if not actually exceed, the noblest of those recorded in the
history of ancient or modern times.
Unprepared for the terrible inundation of modern wickedness.
which threatened to deluge the country in a sea of blood and rob,
a people of their richest, their most prized inheritance, the State
rose above all precedent, and under the benign influence of patriot
ism, guided by the well-directed zeal of a wise Governor and
Government, sent into the field an army that in numbers was
gigantic, and" in moral and physical excellence never equaled
It is laid down in the official reports, furnished to the War De
partment, that over 200,000 troops were specially organized to aid
in crushing the legions of the slave-holder; that no less than 50,000
militia were armed to defend the State, and that the large, but abso
lutely necessary number of commissions issued was 17,114. All
this proves the scientific skill and military economy exercised by
the Governor, and brought to the aid of the people in a most terri
ble emergency ; for he, with some prophetic sense of the gravity of
the situation, saw that unless the greatest powers of the Union
were put forth to crush the least justifiable and most pernicious

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HISTORY OF INDIANA. 189
of all rebellions holding a place in the record of nations, the best
blood of the country would flow in a vain attempt to avert a catas
trophe which, if prolonged for many years, would result in at least
the moral and commercial ruin of the country.
The part whicli Indiana took in the war against the Rebellion is
one of which the citizens of the State may well be proud. In the
number of troops furnished, and in the amount of voluntary con
tributions rendered, Indiana, in proportion and wealth, stands
equal to any of her sister States. " It is also a subject of gratitude
and thankfulness," said Gov. Morton, in his message to the Legis
lature, " that, while the number of troops furnished by Indiana
alone in this great contest would have done credit to a first-class
nation, measured by the standard of previous wars, not a single
battery or battalion from this State has brought reproach upon the
national fiag, aud no disaster of the war can be traced to any want
of fidelity, courage or efficiency on the part of any Indiana officer.
The endurance, heroism, intelligence and skill of the officers and
soldiers sent forth by Indiana to do battle for the Union, have shed
a luster on our beloved State, of which any people might justly be
proud. Without claiming superiority over our loyal sister States,
it is but justice to the brave men who have represented us on
almost every battle-field of the war, to say that their deeds have
placed Indiana in the front rank of those heroic States which
rushed to the rescue of the imperiled Government of the nation.
The total number of troops furnished by the State for all terms of
service exceeds 200,000 men, much the greater portion of them
being for three years; and in addition thereto not less than 50,000
State militia have from time to time been called into active service
to repel rebel raids and defend our southern border from inva
sion." AFTER THE WAR.
In 1867 the Legislature comprised 91 Republicans and 59 Dem
ocrats. Soon after the commencement of the session, Gov. Morton
resigned his office in consequence of having been elected to the U.
S. Senate, and Lieut.-Gov. Conrad Baker assumed the Executive
chair during the remainder of Morton's term. This Legislature,
by a very decisive vote, ratified the 14th amendment to the Federal
Constitution, constituting all persons born in the country or sub
ject to its jurisdiction, citizens of the United States and of the
State wherein they reside, without regard to race or color; reduc-

"71

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190 HISTORY OF INDIANA.
ing the Congressional representation in any State in which there
should be a restriction of the exercise of the elective franchise on
account of race or color; disfranchising persons therein named
who shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the
United States; and declaring that the validity of the public debt
of the United States authorized by law, shall not be questioned.
This Legislature also passed an act providing for the registry of
votes, the punishment of fraudulent practices at elections, and for
the apportionment and compensation of a Board of Registration;
this Board to consist, in each township, of two freeholders appointed
by the County Commissioners, together with the trustee of such
township; in cities the freeholders are to be appointed in each
ward by the city council. The measures of this law are very strict,
and are faithfully executed. No cries of fraud in elections are
heard in connection with Indiana.
This Legislature also divided the State into eleven Congressional
Districts and apportioned their representation ; enacted a law for
the protection and indemnity of all officers and soldiers of the
United States and soldiers of the Indiana Legion, for acts done in
the military service of the United States, and in the military ser
vice of the State, and in enforcing the laws and preserving the
peace of the country; made definite appropriations to the several
benevolent institutions of the State, and adopted several measures
for the encouragement of education, etc.
In 1868, Indiana was the first in the field of national politics,
both the principal parties holding State conventions early in the
year. The Democrats nominated T. A. Hendricks for Governor,
and denounced in their platform the reconstruction policy of the
Republicans; recommended that United States treasury notes be
substituted for national bank currency; denied that the General
Government had a right to interfere with the question of suffrage
in any of the States, and opposed negro suffrage, etc. ; while the
Republicans nominated Conrad Baker for Governor, defended its
reconstruction policy, opposed a further contraction of the currency,
etc. The campaign was an exciting one, and Mr. Baker was
elected Governor by a majority of only 961. In the Presidential
election that soon followed the State gave Grant 9,572 more than
Seymour. During 1868 Indiana jjresented claims to the Government for
about three and a half millions dollars for expenses incurred in the
war, and $1,958,917.94 was allowed. Also, this year, a legislative

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HISTORY OF INDIANA. H).;
commission reported that $413,699.48 were allowed to parties suf-
fe.ring loss by the Morgan raid.
This year Governor Baker obtained a site for the House of
Refuge. (See a subsequent page.) The Soldiers' and Seamen's
Home, near Knightstown, originally established by private enter
prise and benevolence, and adopted by the Legislature of the
previous year, was in a good condition. Up to that date the insti
tution had afforded relief and temporary subsistence to 400 men
who had been disabled in the war. A substantial brick building
had been built for the home, while the old buildings were used for
an orphans' department, in which were gathered 86 children of
deceased soldiers.
DIVORCE LAWS.
By some mistake or liberal design, the early statute laws of
Indiana on the subject of divorce were rather more loose than those
of most other States in this Union; and this subject had been a
matter of so much jest among the public, that in 1870 the Governor
recommended to the Legislature a reform in this direction, which
was pretty effectually carried out. Since that time divorces can
be granted only for the following causes: 1. Adultery. 2. Impo-
tency existing at the time of marriage. 3. Abandonment for two
years. 4. Cruel and inhuman treatment of one party by the other.
5. Habitual drunkenness of either party, or the failure of the hus
band to make reasonable provision for the family. 6 The failure
of the husband to make reasonable provision for the family for a
period of two years. 7. The conviction of either party of an infamous
crime.

^.t^.

FINANCIAL.
Were it not for political government the pioneers would have got
along without money much longer than they did. The pressure of
governmental needs was somewhat in advance of the monetary
income of the first settlers, and the little taxation required to carry
on the government seemed great and even oppressive, especially at
certain periods.
In November, 1821, Gov. Jennings convened the Legislature in
extra session to provide for the payment of interest on the State
debt and a part of the principal, amounting to $20,000. It was
thousrht that a sufficient amount would be realized in the notes of
the State bank and its branches, although they were considerably
depreciated. Said the Governor: " It will be oppressive if the
State^ after the paper of this institution (State bank) was author
ized to be circulated in revenue, should be prevented by any assign
ment of the evidences of existing debt, from discharging at least
so much of that debt with the paper of the bank as will absorb the
collections of the present year; especially when their notes, after
being made receivable by the agents of the State, became greatly
depreciated by great mismanagement on the part of the bank
itself It ought not to be expected that a public loss to the State
should be avoided by resorting to any measures which would not
comport with correct views of public justice; nor should it be
anticipated that the treasury of the United States would ultimately
adopt measures to secure an uncertain debt which would inter
fere with arrangements calculated to adjust the demand against the
State without producing any additional embarrassment."
The state of the public debt was indeed embarrassing, as the
bonds which had been executed in its behalf had been assigned.
The exciting cause of this proceeding consisted in the machinations
of unprincipled speculators. Whatever disposition the principal
bank may have made of the funds deposited by the United States,
the connection of interest between the steaiii-mill company and the
bank, and the extraordinary accommodations, as well as their amount,
effected by arrangements of the steam-mill agency and some of
the officers of the bank, were among the principal causes which
  _II94J  "_ J_ 

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HISTORY OF INDIANA. 195
had prostrated the paper circulating medium of the State, so far as it
was dependent on the State bank and its branches. An abnormal
state of affairs like this very naturally produced a blind disburse
ment of the fund to some extent, and this disbursement would be
called by almost every one an " unwise administration."
During the first 16 years of this century, the belligerent condi
tion of Europe called for agricultural supplies from America, and
the consequent high price of grain justified even the remote pio
neers of Indiana in undertaking the tedious transportation of the
products of the soil which the times forced upon them. The large
disbursements made by the general Government among the peo
ple naturally engendered a rage for speculation; numerous banks
with fictitious capital were established; immense issues of paper
were made; and the circulating medium of the country was in
creased fourfold in the course of two or three years. This infla
tion produced the consequences which always follow such a scheme,
namely, unfounded visions of wealth and splendor and the wild
investments which result in ruin to the many and wealth to the
few. The year 1821 was consequently one of great financial panic,
and was the first experienced by the early settlers of the West.
In 1822 the new Governor, William Hendricks, took a hopeful
view of the situation, referring particularly to the "agricultural
and social happiness of the State." The crops were abundant this
year, immigration was setting in heavily and everything seemed to
have an upward look. But the customs of the white race still com
pelling them to patronize European industries, combined with the
remoteness of the surplus produce of Indiana from European mar
kets, constituted a serious drawback to the accumulation of wealth.
Snch a state of things naturally changed' the habits of the people
to some extent, at least for a short time, assimilating them to those
of more primitive tribes. This change of custom, however, was
not severe and protracted enough to change the intelligent and
social nature of the people, and they arose to their normal height
on the very first opportunity.
In 1822-'3, before speculation started up again, the surplus
money was invested mainly in domestic manufactories instead of
other and wilder commercial enterprises. Home manufactories
were what the people needed to make them more independent.
They not only gave employment to thousands whose services were
before that valueless, but also created a market for a great portion

77,

196 HISTORY OF INDIANA.
of the surplus produce of the farmers. A part of the surplus cap
ital, however, was also sunk in internal improvements, some of
which were unsuccessful for a time, but eventually proved remu
nerative. Noah Noble occupied the Executive chair of the State from 1831
to 1837, commencing his duties amid peculiar embarrassments.
The crops of 1832 were short, Asiatic cholera came sweeping along
the Ohio and into the interior of the State, and the Black Hawk war
raged in the Northwest, — all these at once, and yet the work of
internal improvements was actually begun.
STATE BANK.
The State bank of Indiana was established by law January 28,
1834. The act of the Legislature, by its own terms, ceased to be a
law, January 1, 1867. At the time of its organization in 1834, its
outstanding circulation was $4,208,726, with a debt d ue to the insti
tution, principally from citizens of the State, of $6,096,368. During
the years 1857-'58 the bank redeemed nearly its entire circulation,
providing for the redemption of all outstanding obligations; at this
time it had collected from most of its debtors the money which they
owed. The amounts of the State's interest in the stock of the bank
was $1,390,000, and the money thus invested was procured by the
issue of five per cent bonds, the last of which was payable July 1, 1866.
The nominal profits of the bank were $2,780,604.36. By the law
creating the sinking fund, that fund was appropriated, first, to pay
the principal and interest on the bonds; secondly, the expenses of
the Commissioners; and lastly the cause of common-school educa
tion. The stock in all the branches authorized was subscribed by indi
viduals, and the installment paid as required by the charter. The
loan authorized for the payment on the stock allotted to the State,
amounting to $600,000, was obtained at a premium of 1.06 per
per cent, on five per cent, stock, making the sum of over $5,000 on
the amount borrowed. In 1836 we find that the State bank wa&
doing good service; agricultural products were abundant, and the
market was good; consequently the people were in the full enjoy
ment of all the blessings of a free government.
By the year 1843 the State was experiencing the disasters and
embarassment consequent upon a system of over-banking, and its
natural progeny, over-trading and deceptive speculation. Such a
state of things tends to relax the hand of industry by creating false

HISTORY OF INDIANA. 197
notions of wealth, and tempt to sudden acquisitions by means as delu
sive in their results as they are contrary to a primary law of nature.
The people began more than ever to see the necessity of falling
back upon that branch of industry for which Indiana, especially
at that time, was particularly fitted, namely, agriculture, as the
true and lasting source of substantial wealth.
Gov. Whitcomb, 1843-'49, succeeded well in maintaining the
credit of the State. Measures of compromise between the State
and its creditors were adopted by which, ultimately, the public
works, although incomplete, were given in payment for the claims
against the Government.
At the close of his term. Gov. Whitcomb was elected to the
Senate of the United States, and from December, 1848, to Decem
ber, 1S49, Lieut-Gov. Paris C. Dunning was acting Governor.
In 1851 a general banking law was adopted which gave a new
impetus to the commerce of the State, and opened the way for a
broader volume of general trade; but this law was the source of
many abuses; currency was expanded, a delusive idea of wealth
again prevailed, and as a consequence, a great deal of damaging
speculation was indulged in.
In 1857 the charter of the State bank expired, and the large
gains to the State in that institution were directed to the promotion
of common-school education. WEALTH AND PROGRESS.
During the war of the Rebellion the financial condition of the
people was of course like that of the other Northern States generally.
1870 found the State in a very prosperous condition. October 31
of this year, the date of the fiscal report, there was a surplus of
8373,249 in the treasury. The receipts of the year amounted to
$3,606,639, and the disbursements to $2,943,600, leaving a balance
of $1,036,288. The total debt of the State in November, 1871, was
$3,937,821. At the present time the principal articles of export from the State
are flour and pork. Nearly all the wheat raised within the State
is manufactured into flour within its limits, especially in the north
ern part. The pork business is the leading one in the southern
part of the State.
When we take into consideration the vast extent of railroad lines
in this State, in connection with the agricultural and mineral
resources, both developed and undeveloped, as already noted, we can

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198 HISTORY OF INDIANA.
see what a substantial foundation exists for the future welfare of
this great commonwealth. Almost every portion of the State is
coming up equally. The disposition to monopolize does not exist
to a greater degree than is desirable or necessary for healthy compe
tition. Speculators in flour, pork and other commodities appeared
during the war, but generally came to ruin at their own game.
The agricultural community here is an independent one, under
standing its rights, and " knowing them will maintain them."
Indiana is more a manufacturing State, also, than many imagine.
It probably has the greatest wagon and carriage manufactory in the
world. In 1875 the total number of manufacturing establishments
in this State was 16,812; number of steam engines, 3,684, with a
total horse-power of 114,961; the total horse-power of water wheels,
38,614; number of hands employed in the manufactories, 86,402;
capital employed, is $117,462,161; wages paid, $35,461,987; cost of
material, $104,321,632; value of products, $301,304,271. These
flgures are on an average about twice what they were only Ave years
previously, at which time they were about double what they were
ten years before that. In ananufacturing enterprise, it is said that
Indiana, in proportion to her population, is considerably in advance
of Illinois and Michigan.
In 1870 the assessed valuation of the real estate in Indiana was
$460,120,974; of personal estate, $203,334,070; true valuation of
both, $1,268,180,543. According to the evidences of increase at
that time, the value of taxable property in this State must be double
the foregoing figures. This is utterly astonishing, especially when
we consider what a large matter it is to double the elements of a
large and wealthy State, compared with its increase in infancy.
The taxation for State purposes in 1870 amounted to $2,943,078;
for county purposes, $4,664,476; and for municipal purposes,
$3,193,677. The total county debt of Indiana in 1870 was $1,127,-
269, and the total debt of towns, cities, etc., was $2,523,934.
In the compilation of this statistical matter we have before us the
statistics of every element of progress in Indiana, in the U. S.
Census Reports; but as it would be really improper for us further
to burden these pages with tables or columns of large numbers, we
will conclude by remarking that if any one wishes further details in
these matters, he can readily find them in the Census Reports of
the Government in any city or village in the country. Besides,
almost any one can obtain, free of charge, from his representative in

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• HISTORY OF INDIANA. 199
Congress, all these and other public documents in which he may be
interested. INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS.
This subject began to be agitated as early as 1818, during the
administration of Governor Jennings, who, as well as all the
Governors succeeding him to 1843, made it a special point in their
messages to the Legislature to urge the adoption of measures for
the construction of highways and canals and the improvement of
the navigation of rivers. Gov. Hendricks in 1822 specified as the
most important improvement the navigation of the Falls of the
Ohio, the Wabash and White rivers, and other streams, and the •
construction of the National and other roads through the State.
In 1826 Governor Ray considered the construction of roads and
canals as a necessity to place the State on an equal financial footing
with the older States East, and in 1829 he added: "This subject
can never grow irksome, since it must be the source of the bless
ings of civilized life. To secure its benefits is a duty enjoined upon
the Legislature by the obligations of the social compact."
In 1830 the people became much excited over the project of con
necting the streams of the country by " The National New York
& Mississippi railroad." The National road and the Michigan
and Ohio turnpike were enterprises in which the people and Legis
lature of Indiana were interested. The latter had already been the
cause of much bitter controversy, and its location was then the
subject of contention.
In 1832 the work of internal improvements fairly commenced,
despite the partial failure of the crops, the Black Hawk war and
the Asiatic cholera. Several war parties invaded the Western
settlements, exciting great alarm and some suffering. This year
the canal commissioners completed the task assigned them and had
negotiated the canal bonds in New York city, to the amount of
$100,000, at a premium of 13J per cent., on terms honorable to the
State and advantageous to the work. Before the close of tnis year
$54,000 were spent for the improvement of the Michigan road, and
$52,000 were realized from the sale of lands appropriated for its
construction. In 1832, 32 miles of the Wabash and Erie canal was
placed under contract and work commenced. A communication
was addressed to the Governor of Ohio, requesting him to call the
attention of the Legislature of that State to the subject of the
extension of the canal from the Indiana line through Ohio to the

-^^ HISTORY OF INDIANA. *
Lake. In compliance with this request. Governor Lucas promptly
laid the subject before the Legislature of the State, and, in a spirit
of courtesy, resolutions were adopted by that body, stipulating that
if Ohio should ultimately decline to undertake the completion of
that portion of the work within her limits before the time fixed by
the act of Congress for the completion of the canal, she would, on
just and equitable terms, enable Indiana to avail herself of the bene
fit of the lands granted, by authorizing her to sell them aud invest
the proceeds in the stock of a company to be incorporated by Ohio;
and that she would give Indiana notice of her final determination
on or before January 1, 1838. The Legislature of Ohio also
authorized and invited the agent of the State of Indiana to select,
survey and set apart the lands lying within that State. In keeping
with this policy Governor Noble, in 1834, said: "With a view of
engaging in works of internal improvement, the propriety of
adopting a general plan or system, having reference to the several
portions of the State, and the connection of one with the other,
naturally suggests itself. No work should be commenced but such
as would be of acknowledged public utility, and when completed
would form a branch of some general system. In view of this
object, the policy of organizing a Board of Public Works is again
respectfully suggested." The Governor also called favorable atten
tion to the' Lawrenceburg & Indianapolis railway, for which a
charter had been granted.
In 1835 the Wabash & Erie canal was pushed rapidly forward.
The middle division, extending from the St. Joseph dam to the
forks of the Wabash, about 32 miles, was completed, for about
$232,000, including all repairs. Upon this portion of the line nav
igation was opened on July 4, which day the citizens assembled
" to witness the mingling of the waters of the St. Joseph with
those of the Wabash, uniting the waters of the northern chain of
lakes with those of the Gulf of Mexico in the South." On other
parts of the line the work progressed with speed, and the sale of
canal lands was unusually active
In 1836 the first meeting of the State Board of Internal Im
provement was convened and entered upon the discharge of its
numerous and responsible duties. Having assigned to each mem
ber the direction and superintendence of a portion of the work,
the next duty to be performed preparatory to the various spheres of
active service, was that of procuring the requisite number of
engineers. A delegation was sent to the Eastern cities, but returned

V

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history of INDIANA. ^01

without engaging an Engineer-in-Chiof for the roads and railways,
and without the desired number for the subordinate station; but
after considerable delay the Board was fully organized and put in
operation. Under their management work on public improve
ments was successful; the canal progressed steadily; the naviga
tion of the middle division, from Fort Wayne to Huntington, was
uninterrupted; 16 miles of the line between Huntington and La
Fontaine creek were filled with water this year and made ready for
navigation ; and the remaining 20 miles were completed, except a
portion of the locks; from La Fontaine creek to Logansport prog
ress was made; the line from Georgetown to Lafayette was placed
under contract ; about 30 miles of the Whitewater canal, extending
from Lawrenceburg through the beautiful valley of the White
water to BrookviUe, were also placed under contract, as also 23
miles of the Central canal, passing through Indianapolis, on whicli
work was commenced; also about 20 miles of the southern divis
ion of this work, extending from Evansville into the interior,
were also contracted for; and on the line of the Cross-Cut canal,
from Terre Haute to the intersection of the Central canal, near
the mouth of Eel river, a commencement was also made on all the
ieavy sections. All this in 1836.
Early in this year a party of engineers was organized, and
directed to examine into the practicability of the Michigan &
Erie canal line, then proposed. The report of their operations
favored its expediency. A party of engineers was also fitted out,
who entered upon the field of service of the Madison & Lafayette
railroad, and contracts were let for its construction from Madison
to Vernon, on which work was vigorously commenced. Also, con
tracts were let for grading and bridging the New Albany & Vin
cennes road from the former point to Paoli, about 40 miles.
Other roads were also undertaken and surveyed, so that indeed a
stupendous system of internal improvement was undertaken, and
as Gov. Noble truly remarked, upon the issue of that vast enter
prise the State of Indiana staked her fortune. She had gone too
far to retreat.
In 1837, when Gov. Wallace took the Executive chair, the
reaction consequent upon "over work" by the State in the internal
improvement scheme began to be felt by the people. They feared
a State debt was being incurred from which they could never be
extricated; but the Governor did all he could throughout the term
of his administration to keep up the courage of the citizens. He

, 4°— ^  ^  :^:=£ i^
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202 HISTORY OF INDIANA.
told them that the astonishing success so far, surpassed even the
hopes of the, most sanguine, and that the flattering auspices of the
future were sufficient to dispel every doubt and quiet every fear.
Notwithstanding all his efforts, however, the construction of pub
lic works continued to decline, and in his last message he exclaimed:
" Never before — I speak it advisedly — never before have you wit
nessed a period in our local history that more urgently called for
the exercise of all the soundest and best attributes of grave and
patriotic legislators than the present. * * * rpj^g
truth is — and it would be folly to conceal it — we have our hands
full — full to overflowing; and therefore, to sustain ourselves, to
preserve the credit and character of the State unimpaired, and to
continue her hitherto unexampled march to wealth and distinction,
we have not an hour of time, nor a dollar of money, nor a hand
employed in labor, to squander and dissipate upon mere objects of
idleness, or taste, or amusement."
The State had borrowed $3,827,000 for internal improvement pur
poses, of which $1,327,000 was for the Wabash & Erie canal and
the remainder for other works. The five per cent, interest on
debts — about $200,000 — which the State had to pay, had become
burdensome, as her resources for this purpose were only two,
besides direct taxation, and they were small, namely, the interest
on the balances due for canal lands, and the proceeds of the third
installment of the surplus revenue, both amounting, in 1838,
to about $45,000.
In August, 1839, all work ceased on these improvements, with
one or two exceptions, and most of the contracts were surrendered
to the State. This was done according to an act of the Legislature
providing for the compensation of contractors by the issue of
treasury notes. In addition to this state of affairs, the Legisla
ture of 1839 had made no provision for the payment of interest on
the State debt incurred for internal improvements. Concerning
this situation Gov. Bigger, in 1840, said that either to go ahead
with the works or to abandon them altogether would be equally
ruinous to the State, the implication being that the people should
wait a little while for a breathing spell and then take hold again.
Of course much individual indebtedness was created during the
progress of the work on internal improvement. When operations
ceased in 1839, and prices fell at the same time, the people were
left in a great measure without the means of commanding money
to pay their debts. This condition of private enterprise more than

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4-t—

HISTORY OF INDIANA. 203
ever rendered direct taxation inexpedient. Hence it became the
policy of Gov. Bigger to provide the means of paying the interest
on tlie State debt without increasing the rate of taxation, and to
continue that portion of the public works that could be immedi
ately completed, and from which the earliest returns could be
expected. In 1840 the system embraced ten different works, the most im
portant of which was the Wabash & Erie canal. The aggregate
length of the lines embraced in the system was 1,160 miles, and
of this only 140 miles had been completed. The amount expended
had reached the sum of $5,600,000, and it required at least $14,000,-
000 to complete them. Although the crops of 1841 were very
remunerative, this perquisite alone was not sufficient to raise the
State again up to the level of going ahead with her gigantic
works. We should here state in detail the amount of work completed and
of money expended on the various works up to this time, 1841,
which were as follows :
1. The Wabash & Erie canal, from the State line to Tippe
canoe, 129 miles in length, completed and navigable for the whole
length, at a cost of $2,041,012. This sum includes the cost of the
steamboat lock afterward completed at Delphi.
2. The extension of the Wabash & Erie canal from the mouth
of the Tippecanoe to Terre Haute, over 104 miles. The estimated
cost of this Work was $1,500,000; and the amount expended for the
same $408,855. The navigation was at this period opened as far
down as Lafayette, and a part of the work done in the neighbor
hood of Covington.
3. The cross-cut canal from Terre Haute to Central canal,
49 miles in length; estimated cost, $718,672; amount expended,
$420,679; and at this time no part of the course was navigable.
4. The White Water canal, from Lawrenceburg to the mouth
of Nettle creek, 76i miles; estimated cost, $1,676,738; amount
expended to that date, $1,099,867; and 31 miles of the work
was navigable, extending from the Ohio river to BrookviUe.
5. The Central canal, from the Wabash & Erie canal, to
Indianapolis, including the feeder bend at Muncietown, 124 miles
in length; total estimated cost, $2,299,853; amount expended,
$568,046 ; eight miles completed ^t that date, and other portions
nearly done.

;rv^

2U4 HISTORY OF INDIANA.
6. Central canal, from Indianapolis to Evansville on the Ohio
river, 194 miles in length ; total estimated cost, $3,532,394; amount
expended, $831,302, 19 miles of which was completed at that date,
at the southern end, and 16 miles, extending south from Indianao-
olis, were nearly completed.
7. Erie & Michigan canal, 182 miles in length ; estimated cost,
$2,624,823; amount expended, $156,394. No part of this work
finished. 8. The Madison & Indianapolis railroad, over 85 miles in
length; total estimated cost, $2,046,600; amount expended, $1,493,-
013. Road finished and in operation for about 28 miles; grad
ing nearly finished for 27 miles in addition, extending to Eden-
burg. 9. Indianapolis & Lafayette turnpike road, 73 miles in length;
total estimated cost, $693, 737; amount expended, $72,118. The
bridging and most of the grading was done on 27 miles, from
Crawfordsville to Lafayette.
10. New Albany & Vincennes turnpike road, 105 miles in
length; estimated cost, $1,127,295; amount expended, $664,411.
Forty-one miles graded and macadamized, extending from New
Albany to Paoli, and 27 miles in addition partly graded.
11. Jeffersonville & Crawfordsville road, over 164 miles long;
total estimated cost, $1,651,800; amount expended, $372,737.
Forty-five miles were partly graded and bridged, extending from
Jeffersonville to Salem, and from Greencastle north.
12. Improvement of the Wabash rapids, undertaken jointly by
Indiana and Illinois; estimated cost to Indiana, $102,500; amount
expended by Indiana, $9,639.
Grand totals: Length of roads and canals, 1,289 miles, only
281 of which have been finished; estimated cost of all the works,
$19,914,424; amount expended, $8,164,628. The State debt at
this time amounted to $18,469,146. The two principal causes
which aggravated the embarrassment of the State at this juncture
were, first, paying most of the interest out of the money borrowed,
and, secondly, selling bonds on credit. The first error subjected
the State to the payment of compound interest, and the people,
not feeling the pressure of taxes to discharge the interest, natu
rally became inattentive to the public policy pursued. Postpone
ment of the payment of interest is demoralizing in every way.
During this period the State was held up in an unpleasant manner
before the gaze of the world; but be it to the credit of this great

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HISTORY OF INDIANA. 206

and glorious State, she would not repudiate, as many other States
and municipalities have done.
By the year 1850, the so-called "internal improvement" system
having been abandoned, private capital and ambition pushed for
ward various "public works." During this year about 400 miles
of plank road were completed, at a cost of $1,200 to $1,600 per
mile, and about 1,200 miles more were surveyed and in progress.
There were in the State at this time 212 miles of railroad in suc
cessful operation, of which 124 were completed this year. More
than 1,000 miles of railroad were surveyed and in progress.
An attempt was made during the session of the Legislature in
1869 to re-burden the State with the old canal debt, and the matter
was considerably agitated in the canvass of 1870. The subject of the
Wabash & Erie canal was lightly touched in the Republican plat
form, occasioning considerable discussion, which probably had
some effect on the election in the fall. That election resulted in
an average majority in the State of about 2,864 for the Democracy.
It being claimed that the Legislature had no authority under the
constitution to tax the people for the purpose of aiding in the con
struction of railroads, the Supreme Court, in Anril, 1871, decided
adversely to such a claim. GEOLOGY. .
In 1869 the development of mineral resources in the State
attracted considerable attention. Rich mines of iron and coal were
discovered, as also fine quarries of building stone. The Vincennes
railroad passed through some of the richest portions of the mineral
region, the engineers of which had accurately determined the
quality of richness of the ores. Near Brooklyn, about 20 miles
from Indianapolis, is a fine formation of sandstone, yielding good
material for buildings in the city; indeed, it is considered the best
building stone in the State. The limestone formation at Gosport,
continuing 12 miles from that point, is of great variety, and
includes the finest and most durable building stone in the world.
Portions of it are susceptible only to the chisel ; other portions are
soft and can be worked with the ordinary tools. At the end of this
limestone formation there commences a sandstone series of strata
which extends seven miles farther, to a point about 60 miles from
Indianapolis. Here an extensive coal bed is reached consisting of
seven distinct veins. The first is about two feet thick, the next
three feet, another four feet, and the others of various thicknesses.

206 HISTORY OF INDIANA.
These beds are all easily worked, having a natural drain, and they
yield heavy profits. In the whole of the southwestern part of the
State and for 300 miles up the Wabash, coal exists in good quality
and abundance.
The scholars, statesmen and philanthropists of Indiana work
ed hard aud long for the appointment of a State Geologist, with
sufficient support to enable him to make a thorough geological
survey of the State. A partial survey was made as early as 1837-'8,
by David Dale Owen, State Geologist, but nothing more was done
until 1869, when Prof. Edward T. Cox was appointed State Geolo
gist. For 20 years previous to this date the Governors urged and
insisted in all their messages that a thorough survey should be
made, but almost, if not quite, in vain. In 1862, Dr. Ryland T.
Brown delivered an able address on this subject before the Legis
lature, showing how much coal, iron, building stone, etc., there
were probably ; iij the State, but the exact localities and qualities
not ascertained, and how millions of money could be saved to the
State by the expenditure of a few thousand dollars; but "they
answered the Doctor in the negative. It must have been because
they hadn't time to pass the bill. They were very busy. They had
to pass all sorts of regulations concerning the negro. They had to
protect a good many white people from marrying negroes. And as
they didn't need any labor in the State, if it was ' colored,' they
had to make regulations to shut out all of that kind of labor, and
to take steps to put out all that unfortunately got in, and they didn't
have time to consider the scheme proposed by the white people" —
W. W. Clayton.
In 1863, the State Board of Agriculture employed Dr. Brown to
make a partial examination of the geology of the State, at a salary
of $500 a year, and to this Board the credit is due for the final
success of the philanthropists, who in 1869 had the pleasure of
witnessing the passage of a Legislative act " to provide for a Depart-'
ment of Geology and Natural Science, in connection with the State
Board of Agriculture." Under this act Governor Baker immedi
ately appointed Prof. Edward T. Cox the State Geologist, who has
made an able and exhaustive report of the agricultural, mineral
and manufacturing resources of this State, world-wide in its celeb
rity, and a work of which the people of Indiana may be very
proud. We can scarcely give even the substance of his report in a
work like this, because it is of necessity deeply scientific and made
up entirely of local detail.

HISTORY OF INDIANA. 20'i

GOAL.

The coal measures, says Prof. E. T. Cox, cover an area of about
6,500 square miles, in the southwestern part of the State, and
extend from Warren county on the north to the Ohio river on the
south, a distance of about 160 miles. This area comprises the fol
lowing counties: Warren, Fountain, Parke, Vermillion, Vigo, Clay,
Sullivan, Greene, Knox, Daviess, Martin, Gibson, Pike, Dubois,
Yanderburg, Warrick, Spencer, Perry and a small part of Crawford,
Monroe, Putnam and Montgomery.
This coal is all bituminous, but is divisible into three well-marked
varieties: caking-coal, non-caking-coal or block coal and cannel
coal. The total depth of the seams or measures is from 600 to 800
feet, with 12 to 14 distinct seams of coal; but these are not all to
be found throughout the area; the seams range from one foot to
eleven feet in thickness. The caking coal prevails in the western
portion of the area described, and has from three to four workable
seams, ranging from three and a half to eleven feet in thickness.
At most of the places where these are worked the coal is mined by
adits driven in on the face of the ridges, and the deepest shafts in
the State are less than 300 feet, the average depth for successful
mining not being over 75 feet. This is a bright, black, sometimes
glossy, coal, makes good coke and contains a very large percentage
of pure illuminating gas. One pound will yield about 4|- cubic feet
of gas, with a power equal to 16 standard sperm candles. The
average calculated calorific power of the caking coals is 7,745 heat
units, pure carbon being 8,080. Both in the northern and southern
portions of the field, the caking coals present similar good qualities,
and are a great source of private and public wealth.
The block coal prevails in the eastern part of the field and has an
area of about 450 square miles. This is excellent, in its raw state,
for making pig iron. It is indeed peculiarly fitted for metal
lurgical purposes. It has a laminated structure with carbonaceous
matter, like charcoal, between the lamina, with slaty cleavage, and
it rings under the stroke of the hammer. It is " free-burning,"
makes an open fire, and without caking, swelling, scaffolding in the
furnace or changing form, burns like hickory wood until it is con
sumed to a white ash and leaves no clinkers. It is likewise valuable
for generating steam and for household uses. Many of the principal
railway lines in the State are using it in preference to any other
coal, as it does not burn out the fire-boxes, and gives as little trouble
as wood.

208 HISTORY OF INDIANA.
There are eight distinct seams of block coal in this zone, three of
which are workable, having an average thickness of four feet. In
some places this coal is mined by adits, but generally from shafts,
40 to 80 feet deep. The seams are crossed by cleavage lines, and
the coal is usually mined without powder, and may be taken out in
blocks weighing a ton or more. When entries or rooms are driven
angling across the cleavage lines, the walls of the mine present a
zigzag, notched appearance resembling a Virginia worm fence.
In 1871 there were about 24 block coal mines in operation, and
about 1,500 tons were mined daily. Since that time this industry
has vastly increased. This coal consists of 81^ to 83^ percent, of
carbon, and not quite three fourths of one per cent, of sulphur.
Calculated calorific power equal to 8,283 heat units. This coal also
is equally good both in the northern and southern parts of the field.
The great Indiana coal field is within 150 miles of Chicago or
Michigan City, by railroad, from which ports the Lake Superior
specular and red hematite ores are landed from vessels that are able
to run in a direct course from the ore banks. Considering the
proximity of the vast quantities of iron in Michigan and Missouri^
one can readily see what a glorious future awaits Indiana in respect
to manufactories.
Of the cannel coal, one of the finest seams to be found in the
country is in Daviess county, this State. Here it is three and a
half feet thick, underlaid by one and a half feet of a beautiful, jet-
black caking coal. There is no clay, shale or other foreign matter
intervening, and fragments of the caking coal are often found
adhering to the cannel. There is no gradual change from one to
the other, and the character of each is homogeneous throughout.
The cannel coal makes a delightful fire in open grates, and does
not pop and throw off scales into the room, as is usual with this
kind of coal. This coal is well adapted to the manufacture of
illuminating gas, in respect to both quantity and high illuminating
power. One ton of 2,000 pounds of this coal yields 10,400 feet of
gas, while the best Pennsylvania coal yields but 8,680 cubic feet.
This gas has an illuminating power of 25 candles, while the best
Pennsylvania coal gas has that of only 17 candles.
Cannel coal is also found in great abundance in Perry, Greene,
Parke and Fountain counties, where its commercial value has already
been demonstrated.
Numerous deposits of bog iron ore are found in the northern part
of the State, and clay iron-stones and impure carbonates and browiv

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HISTORY OF INDIANA. 20!)

oxides are found scattered in the vicinity of the coal field. In some
places the beds are quite thick and of considerable commercial
value. An abundance of excellent lime is also found in Indiana, espe
cially in Huntington county, where many large kilns are kept in
profitable operation.
AGRICULTURAL.
In 1S52 the Legislature passed an act authorizing the organization
of county and district agricultural societies, and also establishing a
State Board, the provisions of which act are substantially as follows:
1. Thirty or more persons in any one or two counties organizing
into a society for the improvement of agriculture, adopting a consti
tution and .by-laws agreeable to the regulations prescribed by the
State Board, and appointing the proper officers and raising a sum
of $60 for its own treasury, shall be entitled to the same amount
from the fund arising from show licenses in their respective
counties. 2. These societies shall offer annual premiums for improvement
of soils, tillage, crops, manures, productions, stock, articles of
domestic industry, and such other articles, productions and improve
ments as they may deem proper; they shall encourage, by grant
of rewards, agricultural andhousehold manufacturing interests, and
so regulate the premiums that small farmers will have equal
opportunity with the large; and they shall pay special attention to
cost and profit of the inventions and improvements, requiring an
exact, detailed statement of the processes competing for rewards.
3. They shall publish in a newspaper annually their list of
awards and an abstract of their treasurers' accounts, and they shall
report in full to the State Board their proceedings. Failing to do
the latter they shall receive no payment from their county funds.
STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE.
The act of Feb. 17, 1852, also established a State Board of Agri
culture, with perpetual succession; its annual meetings to be held
at Indianapolis on the first Thursday after the first Monday in
January, when the reports of the county societies are to be received
and agricultural interests discussed and determined upon ; it shall
make an annual report to the Legislature of receipts, expenses,
proceedings, etc., of its own meeting as well as of those of the local

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210 HISTORY OF INDIANA.
societies; it shall hold State fairs, at such times and places as they
may deem proper; may hold two meetings a year, certifying to the
State Auditor their expenses, who shall draw his warrant upon the
Treasurer for the same.
In 1861 tlie State Board adopted certain rules, embracing ten
sections, for the government of local societies, but in 1868 they
were found inexpedient and abandoned. It adopted a resolution
admitting delegates from the local societies.
THE EXPOSITION.
As the Board found great difficulty in doing justice to exhibitors
without an adequate building, the members went earnestly to work
in the fall of 1872 to get up an interest in the matter. They
appointed a committee of five to confer with the Councilor citizens
of Indianapolis as to the best mode to be devised for a more
thorough and complete exhibition of the industries of the State.
The result of the conference was that the time had arrived for a
regular " exposition," like that of the older States. At the Janu
ary meeting in 1873, Hon. Thomas Dowling, of Terre Haute,
reported for the committee that they found a general interest in
this enterprise, not only at the capital, but also throughout the
State. A sub-committee was appointed who devised plans and
specifications for the necessary structure, taking lessons mainly
from the Kentucky Exposition building at Louisville. All the
members of the State Board were in favor of proceeding with the
building except Mr. Poole, who feared that, as the interest of the
two enterprises were somewhat conflicting, and the Exposition being
the more exciting show, it would swallow up the State and county
fairs. The Exposition was opened Sept. 10, 1S73, when Hon. John
Sutherland, President of the Board, the Mayor of Indianapolis,
Senator Morton and Gov. Hendricks delivered addresses. Senator
Morton took the high ground that the money spent for au exposi
tion is spent as strictly for educational purposes as that which goes
directly into the common school. The exposition is not a mere
show, to be idly gazed upon, but an industrial school where one
should study and learn. He thought that Indiana had less untill-
able land than any other State in the LTniou; 'twas as rich as any
and yielded a greater variety of products; and that Indiana was
the most prosperous agricultural community in the United States.

HISTORY OF INDIANA. 211
The State had nearly 3,700 miles of railroad, not counting side
track, with 400 miles more under contract for building. In 16
or 18 months one can go from Indianapolis to every county in
the State by railroad. Indiana has 6,600 square miles of coal field,
450 of which contain block coal, the best in the United States for
manufacturing purposes.
On the subject of cheap transportation, he said: " By the census
of 1870, Pennsylvania had, of domestic animals of all kinds, 4,006,-
589, and Indiana, 4,511,094. Pennsylvania had grain to the amount
of 60,460,000 bushels, while Indiana had 79,350,454. The value of
the farm products of Pennsylvania was estimated to be $183,946,-
000; those of Indiana, $122,914,000. Thus you see that while
Indiana had 505,000 head of live stock more, and 19,000,000
bushels of grain more than Pennsylvania, yet the products of Penn
sylvania are estimated at $183,946,000, on account of her greater
proximity to market, while those of Indiana are estimated at only
$122,914,000. Thus you can understand the importance of cheap
transportation to Indiana.
'¦ Let us see how the question of transportation affects us on the
other hand, with reference to the manufacturer of Bessemer steel.
Of the 174,000 tons of iron ore used in the blast furnaces of Pitts
burg last year, 84,000 tons came from Lake Superior, 64,000 tons
from Iron Mountain, Missouri, 20,000 tons from Lake Champlain,
and less than 6,000 tons from the home mines of Pennsylvania.
They cannot manufacture their iron with the coal they have in
Pennsylvania without coking it. We have coal in Indiana with
which we can, in its raw state, make the best of iron; while we are
250 miles nearer Lake Superior than Pittsburg, and 430 miles
nearer to Iron Mountain. So that the question of transportation
determines the fact that Indiana must become the great center for
the manufacture of Bessemer steel."
"What we want in this country is diversified labor."
The grand hall of the Exposition buildings is on elevated ground
at the head of Alabama street, and commands a fine view of the
city. The structure is of brick, 308 feet long by 160 in width, and
two stories high. Its elevated galleries extend quite around the
building, under the roof, thus affording visitors an opportunity to
secure the most commanding view to be had in the city. The
lower fioor of the grand hall is occupied by the mechanical, geologi
cal and miscellaneous departments, and by the offices of the Board,
which extend along the entire front. The second fioor, which is

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212 HISTORY OF INDIANA.
approached by three wide stairways, accommodates the fine art,
musical and other departments of light mechanics, and is brilliantly
lighted by windows and skylights. But as we are here entering
the description of a subject magnificent to behold, we enter a
description too vast to complete, and we may as well stop here as
anywhere. The Presidents of the State Fairs have been: Gov. J. A. Wright,
1852-'4; Gen. Jos. Orr, 1856; Dr. A. C. Stevenson, 1856-'8; G. D.
Wagner; 1859-60; D. P. Holloway, 1861; Jas. D.Williams, 1862,
1870-'l; A. D. Hamrick, 1863, 1867-'9; Stearns Fisher, 1864-'6;
John Sutherland, 1872-'4; Wm. Crim, 1875. Secretaries: John B.
Dillon, 1852-'3, 1865, 1858-'9; Ignatius Brown, 1856-'7; W.T. Den
nis, 1854, 1860-'l; W.H. Loomis, 1862-'6; A. J. Holmes, 1867-'9;
Joseph Poole, 1870-'l ; Alex. Heron, 1872-'6. Place of fair, Indian
apolis every year except: Lafayette, 1863; Madison, 1854; New
Albany, 1869; Fort Wayne, 1865; and Terre Haute, 1867. In
1861 there was no fair. The gate and entry receipts increased from
$4,651 in 1852 to $45,330 in 1874.
On the opening of the Exposition, Oct. 7, 1874, addresses were
delivered by the President of the Board, Hon. John Sutherland,
and by Govs. Hendricks, Bigler and Pollock. Yvon's celebrated
painting, the " Great Republic," was unveiled with great ceremony,
and many distinguished guests were present to witness it.
The exhibition of 1875 showed that the plate glass from the
southern part of the State was equal to the finest French plate; that
the force-blowers made in the eastern part of the State was of a
world-wide reputation; that the State has within its bounds the
largest wagon manufactory in the world ; that in other parts of the
State there were all sorts and sizes of manufactories, including roll
ing mills and blast furnaces, and in the western part coal was mined
and shipped at the rate of 2,600 tons a day from one vicinity; and
many other facts, which " would astonish the citizens of Indiana
themselves even more than the rest of the world."
INDIANA HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.
This society was organized in 1842, thus taking the lead in the
West. At this time Henry Ward Beecher was a resident of Indian
apolis, engaged not anly as a minister but also as editor of the
Indiana Farmer and Gardener, and his influence was very exten
sive in the interests of horticulture, floriculture and fai-ming.
Prominent among his pioneer co-laborers were Judge Coburn,

HISTORY OF INDIANA. 213
Aaron Aldridge, Capt. James Sigai-son, D. V. Culley, Reuben
Ragan, Stephen Hampton, Cornelius Ratliff, Joshua Liudley,
Abner Pope and many others. In the autumn of this year the
society held an exhibition, probably the first in the State, if not-
in the West, in the hall of the new State house. The only pre
mium offered was a set of silver teaspoons for the best seedling
apple, which was won by Reuben Ragan, of Putnam county, for
an apple christened on this occasion the " Osceola."
The society gave great encouragement to the introduction of
new varieties of fruit, especially of the pear, as the soil and cli
mate of Indiana were well adapted to this fruit. But the bright
horizon which seemed to be at this time looming up all around the
field of the young society's operations was suddenly and thoroughly
darkened by the swarm of noxious insects, diseases, blasts of win
ter and the great distance to market. The prospects of the cause
scarcely justified a continuation of the expense of assembling from
remote parts of the State, and the meetings of the society therefore
soon dwindled away until the organization itself became quite
extinct. But when, in 1852 and afterward, railroads began to traverse the
State in all directions, the Legislature provided for the organization
of a State Board of Agriculture, whose scope was not only agri
culture but also horticulture and the mechanic and household arts.
The rapid growth of the State soon necessitated a differentiation of
this body, and in the autumn of 1860, at Indianapolis, there was
organized the INDIANA POMOLOGIOAL SOCIETY.
October 18, Reuben Ragan was elected President and Wm H.
Loomis, of Marion county. Secretary. The constitution adopted
provided for biennial meetings in January, at Indianapolis. At
the first regular meeting, Jan. 9, 1861, a committee-man for each
congressional district was appointed, all of them together to be
known as the " State Fruit Committee," and twentj^-five members
were enrolled during this session. At the regular meeting in 1863
the constitution was so amended as to provide for annual sessions,
and the address of the newly elected President, Hon. I. G. D. Nel
son, of Allen county, urged the establishment of an agricultural
college. He continued in the good cause until his work was
crowned with success.

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214 HISTORY OF INDIANA.
In 1864 there was but little done on account of the exhaust
ive demands of the great war; and the descent of mercury 60° in
eighteen hours did so much mischief as to increase the discourage
ment to the verge of despair. The title of the society was at this
meeting, Jan., 1864 changed to that of the Indiana Horticultural
Society. The first several meetings of the society were mostly devoted to
revision of fruit lists; and although the good work, from its vast-
ness and complication, became somewhat monotonous, it has been
no exception in this respect to the law that all the greatest and
most productive labors of mankind require perseverance and toil.
In 1866, George M. Beeler, who had so indefatigably served as
secretary for several years, saw himself hastening to his grave and
showed his love for the cause of fruit culture by bequeathing to
the society the sura of $1,000. This year also the State Superin
tendent of Public Instruction was induced to take a copy of the
Society's transactions for each of the township libraries in the State,
and this enabled the Society to bind its volume of proceedings in
a substantial manner.
At the meeting in 1867 many valuable and interesting papers
were presented, the office of corresponding secretary was created,
and the subject of Legislative aid was discussed. The State Board
of Agriculture placed the management of the horticultural depart
ment of the State fair in the care of the Society.
The report for 1868 shows for the first time a balance on hand,
after paying expenses, the balance being $61.55. Up to this time
the Society had to take care of itself, — meeting current expenses, do
ing its own printing and binding, " boarding and clothing itself,"
and diffusing annually an amount of knowledge utterly incalcu
lable. During the year called meetings were held at Salem, in the
peach and grape season, and evenings during the State fair, which
was held in Terre Haute the previous fall. The State now assumed
the cost of printing and binding, but the volume of transactions
was not quite so valuable as that of the former year.
In 1870 $160 was given to this Society by the State Board of
Agriculture, to be distributed as prizes for essays, which object
was faithfully carried out. The practice has since then been con
tinued. In 1871 the Horticultural Society brought out the best volume
of papers and proceedings it ever has had published.

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HISTORY OF INDIANA. 215

In 1872 the office of corresponding secretary was discontinued ;
the appropriation by the State Board of Agriculture diverted to
the payment of premiums on small fruits given at a show held the
previous summer; results of the exhibition not entirely satisfac
tory. In 1873 the State officials refused to publish the discussions of
the members of the Horticultural Society, and the Legislature
appropriated $500 for the purpose for each of the ensuing two
years. In 1876 the Legislature enacted a law requiring that one of the
trustees of Purdue University shall be selected by the Horticultu
ral Society.
The aggregate annual membership of this society from its organ
ization in 1860 to 1875 was 1,225.
EDUCATION.
The subject of education has been referred to in almost every
gnbernatoridl message from the organization of the Territory to
the present time. It is indeed the most favorite enterprise of the
Hoosier State. In the first survey of Western lands. Congress set
apart a section of land in every township, generally the 16th, for
school purposes, the disposition of the land to be in hands of the
residents of the respective townships. Besides this, to this State
were given two entire townships for the use of a State Seminary,
to be under the control of the Legislature. Also, the State con
stitution provides that all fines for the breach of law and all com
mutations for militia service be appropriated to the use of county
seminaries. In 1825 the common-school lands amounted to
680,207 acres, estimated at $2 an acre, and valued therefore at
$1,216,044. At this time the seminary at Bloomington, supported
in part by one of these township grants, was very fiourishing. The
common schools, however, were in rather a poor condition.
PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
In 1852 the free-school system was fully established, which has
resulted in placing Indiana in the lead of this great nation. Al-
thougli this is a pleasant subject, it is a very large one to treat in
a condensed notice, as this has to be.
The free-school system of Indiana first became practically oper
ative the first Monday of April, 1853, when the township trustees

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216 HISTORY OF INDIANA.
for school purposes were elected through the State. The law com
mitted to them the charge of all the educational affairs in their
respective townships. . As it was feared by the opponents of the
law that it would not be possible to select men in all the town
ships capable of executing the school laws satisfactorily, the
people were thereby awakened to the necessity of electing their
very best men ; and although, of course, many blunders have been
made by trustees, the operation of the law has tended to elevate the
adult population as well as the youth; and Indiana still adheres to
the policy of appointing its best men to educational positions.
The result is a grand surprise to all old fogies, who indeed scarcely
dare to appear such any longer.
To instruct the people in the new law and set the educational
machinery going, a pamphlet of over 60 pages, embracing the law,
with notes and explanations, was ¦ issued from the office of a super
intendent of public instruction, and distributed freely throughout
the State. The first duty of the Board of Trustees was to establish
and conveniently locate a sufficient number of schools for the edu
cation of all the children of their township. But where were the ,
school-houses, and what were they? Previously they had been
erected by single districts, but under this law districts were aboL
ished, their lines obliterated, and houses previously built by dis
tricts became the property of the township, and all the houses were
to be built at the expense of the township by an appropriation of
township funds by the trustees. In some townships there was not
a, single school-house of any kind, and in others there were a few
old, leaky, dilapidated log cabins, wholly unfit for use even in sum-
m.er, and in " winter worse than nothing." Before the people could
be tolerably accommodated with schools at least 3,500 school-houses
had to be erected in the State.
By a general law, enacted in conformity to the constitution of
1852, each township was made a municipal corporation, and every
voter in the township a member of the corporation; the Board of
Trustees constituted the township legislature as well as the execu
tive body, the whole body of voters, however, exercising direct con-
'trol through frequent meetings called by the trustees. Special
taxes and every other matter of importance were directly voted
.upon. Some tax-payers, who were opposed to special townships' taxes,
Tetarded the progress of schools by refusing to pay their assess
ment. Contracts for building school-houses were given up, houses

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HISTORY OF INDIANA. 217
half finished were abandoned, and in many townships all school
operations were suspended. In some of them, indeed, a rumor was
circulated by the enemies of the law that the entire school law from
beginning to end had been declared by the Supreme Court uncon
stitutional and void; and the Trustees, believing this, actually dis
missed their schools and considered themselves out of office. Hon.
W. C. Larrabee, the (first) Superintendent of Public Instruction,
corrected this error as soon as possible.
But while tlie voting of special taxes was doubted on a constitu
tional point, it became evident that it was weak in a practical point;
for in many townships the opponents of the system voted down every
proposition for the erection of school-houses.
Another serious obstacle was the great deficiency in the number
of qualified teachers. To meet the newly created want, the law
authorized the appointment of deputies in each county to examine
and license persons to teach, leaving it in their judgment to lower
the standard of qualification sufficiently to enable them to license
as many as were needed to supply all the schools. It was therefore
found necessary to employ many " unqualified " teachers, especially
in the remote rural districts. But the progress of the times
enabled the Legislature of 1853 to erect a standard of qualifica
tion and give to the county commissioners the authority to license
teachers; and in order to supply every school with a teacher, while
there might not be a sufficient number of properly qualified teach
ers, the commissioners were authorized to grant temporary licenses
to take charge of particular schools not needing a high grade of
teachers. In 1854 the available common-school fund consisted of the con
gressional township fund, the surplus revenue fund, the saline
fund, the bank tax fund and miscellaneous fund, amounting in all
to $2,460,600. This amount, from many sources, was subsequently
increased to a very great extent. The common-school fund was
intrusted to the several counties of the State, which were held
responsible for the preservation thereof and for the payment of the
annual interest thereon. The fund was managed by the auditors
and treasurers of the several counties, for which these officers were
allowed one-tenth of the income. It was loaned out to the citizens
of the county in sums not exceeding $300, on real estate security.
The common-school fund was thus consolidated and the proceeds
equally distributed each year to all the townships, cities and towns

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218 HISTORY OF INDIANA.
of the State, in proportion to the number of children. This phase
of the law met with considerable opposition in 1864.
The provisions of the law for the establishment of township
libraries was promptly carried into effect, and much time, labor
and thought were devoted to the selection of books, special atten
tion being paid to historical works.
The greatest need in 1864 was for qualified teachers; but never
theless the progress of public education during this and following
years was very great. School-houses were erected, many of them
being fine structures, well furnished, and the libraries were consid
erably enlarged.
The city school system of Indiana received a heavy set-back in
1858, by a decision of the Supreme Court of the State, that the
law authorizing cities aud townships to levy a tax additional to the
State tax was not in conformity with that clause in the Constitu
tion which required uniformity in taxation. The schools were
stopped for want of adequate funds. For a few weeks in each year
thereafter the feeble " uniform " supply from the State fund en
abled the people to open the schools, but considering the returns
the public realizes for so small an outlay in educational matters,
this proved more expensive than ever. Private schools increased,
but the attendance was small. Thus the interests of popular edu
cation languished for years. But since the revival of the free
schools, the State fund has grown to vast proportions, and the
schools of this intelligent and enterprising commonwealth compare
favorably with those of any other portion of the United States.
There is no occasion to present all the statistics of school prog
ress in this State from the first to the present time, but some
interest will be taken in the latest statistics, which we take from the
9th Biennial Report (for 1877- '8) by the State Superintendent of
Public Instruction, Hon. James H. Smart. This report, by the
way, is a volume of 480 octavo pages, and is free to all who desire
a copy. The rapid, substantia] and permanent increase which Indiana
enjoys in her school interests is thus set forth in the above report.
Length ttMH
Year "ir, ni"."' ny'^\°^ Attendance School Am'tPaid
18^K In Days. Teachers. at School. Enumeration. Teachers.
?°2n ^l 4,016 206,994 44.5.791 $ 289,924 .
}°o2 f. ''•^'^9 80S.744 495.019 481,020
J°»^ f„ 9,493 402,813 557,092 1,020,440
]°?^ 9^ 11,826 463,527 619,627 1,810,866
J^!;^ 1^2 ^^'"^^^ 502,362 667,736 2,830,747
^^^^ 129 13,676 512,535 699,153 8,065,968

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HISTORY OF INDIANA. 219
The increase of school population during the past ten years has
been as follows:
Total in 1868, 5!l':?,865.
Increase for year ending Increase for year ending
Sept.1,1869  17,699 May 1, 1874  13,923
" 1,1870  9,063 " 1,1875  13,372
" 1,1871  3,101 " 1,1870  11,494
" 1,1872  8,811 " 1,1877  15,476
May 1, 1873 (8 months)  8,903 " 1,1878  4,447
Total, 1878  699,153
No. of white males  354,271; females  333,033  687,304
" "colored"  5,937; "  5,912  11,849

699,153

Twenty-nine per cent, of the above are in the 49 cities and 212
incorporated towns, and 71 per cent, in the 1,011 townships.
The number of white males enrolled in the schools in 1878 was
267,316, and of white females, 237,739; total, 505,064; of colored
males, 3,794; females, 3,687; total, 7,481; grand total, 612,536.
The average number enrolled in each district varies from 61 to 56,
and the average daily attendance from 32 to 36; but many children
reported as absent attend parochial or private schools. Seventy-
three per cent, of the white children and 63 per cent, of the colored,
in the State, are enrolled in the schools.
The number of days taught vary materially in the different town
ships, and on this point State Superintendent Smart iterates: " As
long as the schools of some of our townships are kept open but 60
days and others 220 days, we do not have a uniform system, — such
as was contemplated by the constitution. The school law requires
the trustee of a township to maintain each of the schools in his
corporation an equal length of time. This provision cannot be so
easily applied to the various counties of the State, for the reason
that there is a variation in the density of the population, in the
wealth of the people, and the amount of the township funds. I
think, however, there is scarcely a township trustee in the State
who cannot, under the present law, if he chooses to do so, bring his
schools up to an average of six months. I think it would be wise
to require each township trustee to levy a sufficient local tax to
maintain the schools at least six months of the year, provided this
can be done without increasing the local tax beyond the amount
now permitted by law. This would tend to bring the poorer schools
up to the standard of the best, and would thus unify the system,
and make it indeed a common-school system."

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220 HISTORY OF INDIANA.
The State, however, averages six and a half months school per
year to each district.
The number of school districts in the State in 1878 was 9,380, in
all but 34 of which school was taught during that year. There are
396 district and 161 township graded schools. Number of white
male teachers, 7,977, and of female, 5,699; colored, male, 62, and
female, 43; grand total, 13,781. For the ten years ending with
1878 there was an increase of 409 male teachers and 811 female
teachers. All these teachers, except about 200, attend normal
institutes, — a showing which probably surpasses that of any other
State in this respect.
The average daily compensation of teachers throughout the
State in 1878 was as follows: In townships, males, $1.90; females,
$1.70; in towns, males, $3.09; females, $1.81; in cities, males,
$4.06; females, $2.29.
In 1878 there were 89 stone school-houses, 1,724 brick, 7,608
frame, and 124 log; total, 9,546, valued at $11,536,647.39.
And lastly, and best of all, we are happy to state that Indiana has
a larger school fund than any other State in the Union. In 1872,
according to the statistics before us, it was larger than that of any
other State by $2,000,000! the figures being as follows:
Indiana  $8,437,593.47 Michigan  $2,500,214.91
Ohio  6,614,816.50 Missouri  2,525,252.52
Illinois  6,348,538.32 Minnesota  3,471,199.31
New York  2,880,017.01 Wisconsin  2,237,414.37
Connecticut  2,809,770.70 Massachusetts  2,210,864.09
Iowa  4,274,581.93 Arkansas  2,000,000.00
Nearly all the rest of the States have less than a million dollars
in their school fund.
In 1872 the common-school fund of Indiana consisted of the
following:
Non-negotiable bonds  $3,591,316.15 Escheated estates  17,866.55
Common-school fund,  1,666,824.50 Sinking fund, last dlstrib-
Sinking fund, at 8 per cent 569,139.94 ution  67,068.72
Congressional township Sinking fund undistrib-
fund  2,381,076.69 uted  100,165.92
Value of unsold Congres- Bwamp land fund  43,418.40
sional township lands . . 94,245.00  —
Saline fund  5,727.66 $8,437,593,47
Bank tax fund  1,744.94
In 1878 the grand total was $8,974,455.55.
The origin of the respective school funds of Indiana is as follows:
1. The " Congressional township " fund is derived from the
proceeds of the 16th sections of tlie townships. Almost all of these

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HISTORY OF INDIANA. 221
have been sold and the money put out at interest. The amount of
this fund in 1S77 was $2,452,936.82.
2. The " saline " fund consists of the proceeds of the sale of
salt springs, and the land adjoining necessary for working them to
the amount of 36 entire sections, authorized by the original act of
Congress. By authority of the same act the Legislature has made
these proceeds a part of the permanent school fund.
3. The " surplus revenue " fund. Under the administration of
President Jackson, the national debt, contracted by the Revolutionary
war and the purchase of Louisiana, was entirely discharged, and a
large surplus remained in the treasury. In June, 1836, Congress
distributed this money amcng the States in the ratio of their repre
sentation in Congress, subject to recall, and Indiana's share was
$860,254. The Legislature subsequently set apart $573,502.96 of
this amount to be a part of the school fund. It is not probable that
the general Government will ever recall this money.
4. " Bank tax " fund. The Legislature of 1834 chartered a State
Bank, of which a part of the stock was owned by the State and a
part by individuals. Section 16 of the charter required an annual
deduction frOm the dividends, equal to 12^ cents on each share not
held by the State, to be set apart for common-school education.
This tax finally amounted to $80,000, which now bears interest in
favor of education.
5. " Sinking " fund. In order to set the State bank under
good headway, the State at first borrowed $1,300,000, and out of
the unapplied balances a fund was created, increased by unapplied
balances also of the principal, interest and dividends of the amount
lent to the individual holders of stock, for the purpose of sinking
the deht of the bank ; hence the name sinking fund. The 114th
section of the charter provided that after the full payment of the
bank's indebtedness, principal, interest and incidental expenses, the
residue of said fund should be a permanent fund, appropriated to
the cause of education. As the charter extended through a period
of 25 years, this fund ultimately reached the handsome amount of
$5,000,000. The foregoing are all interest- bearing funds; the following are
additional school funds, but not productive:
6. "Seminary" fund. By order of the Legislature in 1852, all
county seminaries were sold, and the net proceeds placed in the
common-school fund.

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222 HISTORY OF INDIANA.
7. All fines for the violation of the penal laws of the State are
placed to the credit of the common-school fund
8. All recognizances of witnesses and parties indicted for crime,
when forfeited, are collectible by law and made a part of the
school fund. These are reported to the office of the State Superin
tendent of Public Instruction annually. For the five years ending
with 1872, they averaged about $34,000 a year.
9. Escheats. These amount to $17,865.66, which was still in
the State treasury in 1872 and unapplied.
10. The "swamp-land" fund arises from the sale of certain
Congressional land grants, not devoted to any particular purpose
by the terms of the grant. In 1872 there was $42,418.40 of this
money, subject to call by the school interests.
11. Taxes on corporations are to some extent devoted by the
Constitution to school purposes, but the clause on this subject is
somewhat obscure, and no funds as yet have been realized from this
source. It is supposed that several large sums of money are due
the common-school fund from the corporations.
Constitutionally, any of the above funds may be increased, but
never diminished. INDIANA STATE UNIVERSITY.
So early as 1802 the U. S. Congress granted lands and a charter
to the people of that portion of the Northwestern Territory resid
ing at Vincennes, for the erection and maintenance of a seminary
of learning in that early settled district; and five years afterward
an act incorporating the Vincennes University asked the Legisla
ture to appoint a Board of Trustees for the institution and order the
sale of a single township in Gibson county, granted by Congress in
1802, so that the proceeds might be at once devoted to the objects
of education. On this Board the following gentlemen were ap
pointed to act in the interests of the institution: William H. Har
rison, John Gibson, Thomas H. Davis, Henry Vanderburgh, Wal
ler Taylor, Benjamin Parke, Peter Jones, James Johnson, John
Rice Jones, George Wallace, William Bullitt, Elias McNamee,
John Badolett, Henry Hurst, Gen. W. Johnston, Francis Vigo,
Jacob Kuykendall, Samuel McKee, Nathaniel Ewing, George
Leech, Luke Decker, Samuel Gwathmey and John Johnson.
The sale of this land was slow and the proceeds small. The
members of the Board, too, were apathetic, and failing to meet, the
institution fell out of existence and out of memory.

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HISTORY OF INDIANA. 223
In 1816 Congress granted another township in Monroe county,
located within its present limits, and the foundation of a university
was laid. Four years later, and after Indiana was erected into a
State, an act of the local Legislature appointing another Board of
Trustees and authorizing them to select a location for a university
and to enter into contracts for its construction, was passed. The
new Boai-d met at Bloomington and selected a site at that place for
the location of the present building, entered into a contract for the
erection of the same in 1822, and in 1825 had the satisfaction of beine
present at the inauguration of the university. The first session was
commenced under the Rev. Baynard R. Hall, with 20 students, and
when the learned professor could only boast of a salary of $150 a
year; yet, on this very limited sum the gentleman worked with
energy and soon brought the enterprise through all its elementary
stages to the position of an academic institution. Dividing the
year into two sessions of five months each, the Board acting under
his advice, changed the name to the " Indiana Academy," under
which title it was duly chartered. In 1827 Prof. John H. Harney
was raised to the chairs of mathematics, natural philosophy and
astronomy, at a salary of $300 a year; and the salary of Mr. Hall
raised to $400 a year. In 1828 the name was again changed by the
Legislature to the " Indiana College," and the following professors
appointed over the different jdepartments; Rev. Andrew Wylie,
D. D., Prof, of mental and moral philosophy and belles lettres;
John H. Harney, Prof of mathematics and natural philosophy ; and
Rev. Bayard R. Hall, Prof, of ancient languages. This year, also,
dispositions were made for the sale of Gibson county lands and for
the erection of a new college building. This action was opposed
by some legal difficulties, which after a time were overcome, and
the new college building was put under construction, and continued
to prosper until 1864, when it was destroyed by fire, and 9,000
volumes, with all the apparatus, were consumed The curriculum
was then carried out In a temporary building, while a new struct
ure was going up.
In 1873 the new college, with its additions, was completed, and
the routine of studies continued. A museum of natural history,
a laboratory and the Owen cabinet added, and the standard of the
studies and morale generally increased in excellence and in strict
ness. Bloomington is a fine, healthful locality, on the Louisville, New
Albany & Chicago railway. The University buildings are in the

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224 HISTORY OF INDIANA.
collegiate Gothic style, simply and truly carried out. The building,
fronting College avenue is 145 feet in front. It consists of a
central building 60 feet by 53, with wings each 38 feet by 26, and
the whole, three stories high. The new building, fronting the
west, is 130 feet by 60. Buildings lighted by gas.
The faculty numbers thirteen. Number of students in the col
legiate department in 1879-'80, 183; in preparatory, 169; total,
349, allowing for three counted twice.
The university may now be considered on a fixed founaation, car
rying out the intention of the President, who aimed at scholarship
rather than numbers, and demands the attention of eleven pro
fessors, together with the State Geologist, who is ex-officio member
of the faculty, and required to lecture at intervals and look after
the geological and mineralogical interests of the institution. The
faculty of medicine is represented by eleven leading physicians
of the neighborhood. The faculty of law requires two resident
professors, and the other chairs remarkably well represented.
The university received from the State annually about $16,000,
and promises with the aid of other public grants and private dona
tions to vie with any other State university within the Republic.
PURDUE UNIVERSITY.
This is a " college for the benefit of agricultural and the mechanic
arts," as provided for by act of Congress, July 2, 1862, donating
lands for this purpose to the extent of 30,000 acres of the public
domain to each Senator and Representative in the Federal assem
bly. Indiana having in Congress at that time thirteen members,
became entitled to 390,000 acres; but as there was no Congress
land in the State at this time, scrip had to be taken, and it was
upon the following condition (we quote the act):
" Section 4. That all moneys derived from the sale of land
scrip shall be invested in the stocks of the United States, or of
some other safe stocks, yielding no less than five per centum upon
the par value of said stocks; and that the moneys so invested shall
constitute a perpetual fund, the capital of which shall remain undi
minished, except so far as may be provided in section 5 of this act,
and the interest of which shall be inviolably appropriated by each
State, which may take and claim the benefit of this act, to the
endowment, support and maintenance of at least one college, where
the leading object shall be, without excluding other scientific and

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history of INDIANA. 225
classical studies, and including military tactics, to teach such
branches of learning as are related to agrlcultuve and the mechanic
arts, in such a manner as the Legislatures of the States may re
spectively prescribe, in order to promote the liberal and practical
education of the Industrial classes in the several pursuits and pro
fessions of life.
" Sec 5. That the grant of land and land scrip hereby author
ized shall be made on the following conditions, to which, as well as
the provision hereinbefore contained, the previous assent of the
several States shall be signified by Legislative act:
" First. If any portion of the funds invested as provided by the
foregoing section, or any portion of the interest thereon, shall by
any action or contingency be diminished or lost, it shall be replaced
by the State to which it belongs, so that the capital of the fund
shall remain forever undiminished, and the annual interest shall be
regularly applied, without diminution, to the purposes mentioned
in the fourth section of this act, except that a sum not exceeding ten
per centum upon the amount received by any State under the pro
visions of this act may be expended for the purchase of lands for
sites or experimental farms, whenever authorized by the respective
Legislatures of said States.
" Second. No portion of said fund, nor interest thereon, shall
be applied, directly or indirectly, under any pretence whatever, to
the purchase, erection, preservation or repair of any building or
buildings. " Third. Any State which may take and claim the benefit of
the provisions of this act, shall provide, within five years at least,
not less than one college, as provided in the fourth section of this
act, or the grant to such State shall cease and said State be bound
to pay the United States the amount received of any lands pre
viously sold,, and that the title to purchase under the States shall
be valid.
"Fourth. An annual report shall be made regarding the prog
ress of each college, recording any improvements and experiments
made, with their cost and result, and such other matter, including
State industrial and economical statistics, as may be supposed use
ful, one copy of which shall be transmitted by mail free, by each,
to all other colleges which may be endowed under the provisions
of this act, and also one copy to the Secretary of the Interior.
"Fifth. When lands shall be selected from those which have
been raised to double the minimum price in consequence of railroad

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226 history of INDIANA.
grants, that they shall be computed to the States at the maximum
price, and the number of acres proportionately diminished.
"¦Sixth. No State, while in a condition of rebellion or insur
rection against the Government of the United States, shall be
entitled to the benefits of this act.
"Seventh. No State shall be entitled to the benefits of this act
unless it shall express its acceptance thereof by its Legislature
within two years from the date of its approval by the President."
The foregoing act was approved by the President, July 2, 1862.
It seemed that this law, amid the din of arms with the great Rebel
lion, was about to pass altogether unnoticed by the next General
Assembly, January, 1863, had not Gov. Morton's attention been
called to it by a delegation of citizens from Tippecanoe county, who
visited him in the interest of Battle Ground. He thereupon sent
a special message to the Legislature, upon the subject, and then
public attention was excited to it everywhere, and several localities
competed for the institution ; indeed, the rivalry was so great that
this session failed to act in the matter at all, and would have failed
to accept of the grant within the two years prescribed in the last
clause quoted above, had not Congress, by a supplementary act,
extended the time two years longer.
March 6, 1865, the Legislature accepted the conditions ot the
national gift, and organized the Board of " Trustees of the Indiana
Agricultural College." This Board, by authority, sold the scrip
April 9, 1867, for $212,238.60, which sum, by compounding, has
increased to nearly $400,000, and is invested in U. S. bonds. Not
until the special session of May, 1869, was the locality for this col
lege selected, when John Purdue, of Lafayette, offered §150,000
and Tippecanoe county $50,000 more, and the title of the institution
changed to " Purdue University." Donations were also made by
the Battle Ground Institute and the Battle Ground Institute of the
Methodist Episcopal Church.
The building was located on a 100-acre tract near Chauncey,
which Purdue gave in addition to his magnificent donation, and to
which 86^ acres more have since been added on the north. The
boarding-house, dormitory, the laboratory, boiler and gas house,
a frame armory and gymnasium, stable with shed and work-shop
are all to the north of the gravel road, and form a group of build
ings within a circle of 600 feet. The boiler and gas house occupy
a rather central position, and supply steam and gas to the boarding-
house, dormitory and laboratory. A description of these buildings

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HISTORY OF INDIANA. 227
may be apropos. The boarding-house is a brick structure, in the
modern Italian style, planked by a turret at each of the front angles
and measuring 120 feet front by 68 feet deep. The dormitory is a
quadrangular edifice, in the plain Elizabethan style, four stories
high, arranged to accommodate 125 students. Like the other build
ings, it is heated by steam and lighted by gas. Bathing accommo
dations are in each end of all the stories. The laboratory is almost
a duplicate of a similar department in Brown University, R. I. It
is a much smaller building than the boarding-house, but yet suffi
ciently large to meet the requirements. A collection of minerals,
fossils and antiquities, purchased from Mr. Richard Owen, former
President of the institution, occupies the temporary cabinet or
museum, pending the construction of a new building. The military
hall and gymnasium is 100 feet frontage by 50 feet deep, and only
one story high. The uses to which this hall Is devoted are exer
cises in physical and military drill. The boiler and gas house is an
establishment replete in itself, possessing every facility for supply
ing the buildings of the university with adequate heat and light.
It is further provided with pumping works. Convenient to this
department is the retort and great meters of the gas house, capable
of holding 9,000 cubic feet of gas, and arranged upon the principles
of modem science. The barn and shed form a single building,
both useful, convenient and ornamental.
In connection with the agricultural department of the university,
a brick residence and barn were erected and placed at the disposal
of the farm superintendent, Maj. L. A. Burke.
The buildings enumerated above have been erected at a cost
approximating the following: boarding-house, $37,807.07; labora
tory, §15,000 ; dormitory, $32,000; military hall and gymnasium,
$6,410.47; boiler and gas house, $4,814; barn and shed, $1,500;
work-shop, $1,000; dwelling and barn, $2,600.
Besides the original donations. Legislative appropriations, vary
ing in amount, have been made from time to time, and Mr. Pierce,
the treasurer, has donated his official salary, $600 a year, for the time
he served, for decorating the grounds, — if neoessary.
The opening of the university was, owing to varied circumstan
ces, postponed from time to time, and not until March, 1874, was a
class formed, and this only to comply with the act of Congress in
that connection in its relation to the university. However, in
September following a curriculum was adopted, and the first regu
lar term of the Purdue University entered upon. This curriculum

228 HISTORY OF INDIANA.
comprises the varied subjects generally pertaining to a first-class
university course, namely: in the school of natural science —
physics and industrial mechanics, chemistry and natural history;
in the school of engineering — civil and mining, together with the
principles of architecture; in the school of agriculture — theoret
ical and practical agriculture, horticulture and veterinary science;
in the military school — the mathematical sciences, German and
French literature, free-hand and mechanical drawing, with all the
studies pertaining to the natural and military sciences. Modern
languages and natural history embrace their respective courses to
the fullest extent.
There are this year (1880) eleven members of the faculty, 86
students in the regular courses, and 117 other students. In respect
to attendance there has been a constant increase from the first.
The first year, 1874-'5, there were but 64 students.
INDIANA STATE NORMAL SCHOOL.
This institution was founded at Terre Haute in 1870, in accord
ance with the act of the Legislature of that year. The building is
a large brick edifice situated upon a commanding location and
possessing some architectural beauties. From its inauguration
many obstacles opposed its advance toward efficiency and success;
but the Board of Trustees, composed of men experienced in edu
cational matters, exercised their strength of mind and body to
overcome every difficulty, and secure for the State Normal School
every distinction and emolument that lay within their power.
their efforts to this end being very successful; and it is a fact that
the institution has arrived at, if not eclipsed, the standard of their
expectations. Not alone does the course of study embrace the
legal subjects known as reading, writing, spelling, arithmetic,
geography. United States history, English grammar, physiology,
manners and ethics, but it includes also universal history, the
mathematical sciences and many other subjects foreign to older
institutions. The first studies are prescribed by law and must be
inculcated; the second are optional with the professors, and in the
case of Indiana generally hold place in the curriculum of the nor
mal school.
The model, or training school, specially designed for the training
of teachers, forms a most important factor in State educational
matters, and prepares teachers of both sexes for one of the most
important positions in life; viz., that of educating the youth of the

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HISTORY OF INDIANA. 221 »

State. The advanced course of studies, together with the higher
studies of the normal school, embraces Latin and German, and pre
pares young men and women for entrance to the State University.
The efficiency of this school may be elicited from the following
facts, taken from the official reports: out of 41 persons who had
graduated from the elementary course, nine, after teaching success
fully in the public schools of this State from two terms to two
years, returned to the institution and sought admission to the
advanced classes. They were admitted; three of them were gentle
men and six ladies. After spending two years and two terms In the
elementary course, and then teaching in the schools during the
time already mentioned they returned to spend two and a half or
three years more, and for the avowed purpose of qualifying them
selves for teaching in the most responsible positions of the public
school service. In fact, no student is admitted to the school who
does not in good faith declare his intention to qualify himself for
teaching in the schools of the State. This the law requires, tod
the rule is adhered to literally.
The report further says, in speaking of the government of the
school, that the fundamental idea is rational freedom, or that free
dom which gives exemption from the power of control of one over
another, or, in other words, the self-limiting of themselves, in their
acts, by a recognition of the rights of others who are equally free.
The idea and origin of the school being laid down, and al6o the
means by which scholarship can be realized in the individual, the
student is left to form his own conduct, both during sessioii hours
and while away from school. The teacher merely stands between
this scholastic idea and the student's own partial conception of it,
as expositor or interpreter. The teacher is not legislator, executor
or police officer; he is expounder of the true idea of school law, so
that the only test of the student's conduct is obedience to, or
nonconformity with, that law as interpreted by the teacher. This
idea once inculcated in the minds of the students, insures industry,
punctuality and order.
NORTHERN INDIANA NORMAL SCHOOL AND BUSINESS INSTITUTE,
VALPARAISO.
This institution was organized Sept. 16, 1873, with 35 students
in attendance. The school occupied the building known as the
Valparaiso Male and Female College building. Four teachers

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230 HISTORY OF INDIANA.
were employed. The attendance, so small at first, increased rap
idly and steadily, until at the present writing, the seventh year
in the history of the school, the yearly enrollment is more than
three thousand. The number of instructors now employed is 23.
From time to time, additions have been made to the school
buildings, and numerous boarding halls have been erected, so that
now the value of the buildings and grounds owned by the school
is one hundred thousand dollars.
A large library has been collected, and a complete equipment of
philosophical and chemical apparatus has been purchased. The
department of physiology is supplied with skeletons, manikins,
and everything necessary to the demonstration of each branch of
the subject. A large cabinet is provided for the study of geology.
In fact, each department of the school is completely furnished
with the apparatus needed for the most approved presentation of
every subject.
There are 15 chartered departments in the institution. These
are in charge of thorough, energetic, and scholarly instructors, and
send forth each year as graduates, a large number of finely cultured
young ladies and gentlemen, living testimonials of the efficiency
of the course of study and the methods used.
The Commercial College in connection with the school Is in itself
a great institution. It is finely fitted up and furnished, and ranks
foremost among the business colleges of the United States.
The expenses for tuition, room and board, have been made so
low that an opportunity for obtaining a thorough education is
presented to the poor and the rich alike.
All of this work has been accomplished in the short space of
seven years. The school now holds a high place among educational
institutions, and is the largest normal school in the United States.
This wonderful growth and development is wholly due to the
energy and faithfulness of its teachers, and the unparalleled exec
utive ability of its proprietor and principal. The school is not
endowed. DENOMINATIONAL AND PRIVATE INSTITUTIONS.
Nor is Indiana behind in literary institutions under denomina
tional auspices. It is not to be understood, however, at the present
day, that sectarian doctrines are insisted upon at tlie so-called
" denominational" colleges, universities and seminaries; the youth at
these places are influenced only by Christian example.

•VI" *^   r-^^ — -z  — z  :   — "C, »
HISTORY OF INDIANA. 231
Notre Dam^ University, near South Bend, is a Catholic institu
tion, and is one of the most noted in the United States. It was
founded in 1842 by Father Sorin. The first building was erected
in 1843, and the university has continued to grow and prosper until
the present time, now having 36 professors, 26 instructors, 9 tutors,
213 students and 12,000 volumes in library. At present the main
i building has a frontage of 224 feet and a depth of 155. Thousands
of young people have received their education here, and a large
number have been graduated for the priesthood. A chapter was
held here in 1872, attended by delegates from allpartsof the world.
It is worthy of mention that this institution has a bell weighing
13,000 pounds, the largest in the United States and one of the finest
in the world.
The Indiana Asbury University, at Greencastle, is an old and
well-established institution under the auspices of the Methodist
Episcopal Church, named after its first bishop, Asbury. It was
founded in 1836, and in 1872 it had nine professors and 172
students. Howard College, not denominational, is located at Kokomo, and
was founded in 1869. In 1872 it had five professors, four instructors,
and 69 students.
Union Christian College, Christian, at Merom, was organized in
1858, and in 1872 had four resident professors, seven instructors
and 156 stiidents.
Moore's Mill College, Methodist Episcopal, is situated at Moore's
Hill, was founded in 1854, and in 1872 hadfive resident professors,
five-instructors, and 142 students.
Ea/rlharrCs College, at Richmond, is under the management of
the Orthodox Friends, and was founded in 1859. In 1872 they
had six resident professors and 167 students, and 3,300 volumes in
library. Wabash College, at Crawfordsville, was organized in 1834, and
had in 1872, eight professors and teachers, and 231 students, with
about 12,000 volumes in the library. It is under Presbyterian
management .
Concordia College, Lutheran, at Fort Wayne, was founded in
1850; In 1872 it had four professors and 148 students: 3,000 volumes
in library.
Hanover College, Presbyterian, was organized in 1833, at Han
over, and in 1872 had seven professors and 118 students, and 7,000
volumes in library.

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2 ;2 HISTORY OF INDIANA.
Hartsville University, United Brethren, at Hartsville, was
founded in 1854, and in 1872 had seven professors and 117 students.
Northwestern Christian University, Disciples, is located at
Irvington, near Indianapolis. It was founded in 1854, and by
1872 it had 16 resident professors, 181 students, and 5,000 volumes
in library.'
BENEVOLENT AND PENAL INSTITUTIONS.
By the year 1830, the influx of paupers and invalid persons was
60 great that the Governor called upon the Legislature to take
steps toward regulating the matter, and also to provide an asylum
for the poor, but that body was very slow to act on the matter.
At the present time, however, there is no State in the Union which
can boast a better system of benevolent institutions. The Benevo
lent Society of Indianapolis was organized in 1843. It was a
pioneer institution ; its field of work was small at first, but it has
grown into great usefulness.
institute FOR THE EDUCATION OF THE BLIND.
In behalf of the blind, the first effort was made by James M. Ray,
about 1846. Through his efforts William H. Churchman came
from Kentucky with blind pupils and gave exhibitions in Mr.
Beecher's church, in Indianapolis. These entertainments were
attended by members of the Legislature, for whom indeed they
were especially intended; and the effect upon them was so good,
that before they adjourned the session they adopted measures to es
tablish an asylum for the blind. The commission appointed to carry
out these measures, consisting of James M. Ray, Geo. W. Mears,
and the Secretary, Treasurer and Auditor of State, engaged Mr.
Churchman to make a lecturing tour through the State and collect
statistics of the blind population.
The " Institute for the Education of the Blind " was founded by
the Legislature of 1847. and first opened in a rented building Oct.
1, of that year. The permanent buildings were opened and occu
pied in February, 1863. The original cost of the buildings and
ground was $110,000, aud the present valuation of buildings and
grounds approximates $300,000. The main building is 90 feet
long by 61 deep, and with its right and left wings, each 30 feet in
front and 83 in depth, give an entire frontage of 150 feet. The
main bifilding is five stories in height, surmounted by a cupola of

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HISTORY OF INDIANA. 235
the Corinthian style, while each wing is similarly overcapped
The porticoes, cornices and verandahs are gotten up with exquisite
taste, and the former are molded after the principle of Ionic archi
tecture. The building is very favorably situated, and occupies a
space of eight acres.
The nucleus of a fund for supplying indigent graduates of the
institution with an outfit suitable to their trades, or with money In
lieu thereof, promises to meet with many additions. The fund is
the out-come of the benevolence of Mrs. Fitzpatrick, a resident of
Delaware, in this State, and appears to be suggested by the fact
that her daughter, who was smitten with blindness, studied as a
pupil in the institute, and became singularly attached to many of
its inmates. The following passage from the lady's will bears
testimony not only to her own sympathetic nature but also to the
efficiency of the establishment which so won her esteem. " I give
to each of the following persons, friends and associates of my blind
daughter, Margaret Louisa, the sum of $100 to each, to wit, viz:
Melissa and Phoebe Garrettson, Frances Cundiff, Dallas Newland,
Naomi Unthunk, and a girl whose name before marriage was
Rachel Martin, her husband's name not recollected. The balance
of my estate, after paying the expenses of administering, I give to
the superintendent of the blind asylum and his successor, in trust,
for the use and benefit of the indigent blind of Indiana who may
attend the Indiana blind asylum, to be given to them on leaving
in such sums as the superintendent may deem proper, but not more
than $50 to any one person. I direct that the amount above direct
ed be loaned at interest, and the interest and principal be distributed
as above, agreeably to the best judgment of the superintendent,
so as to do the greatest good to the greatest number of blind
persons." The following rules, regulating the institution, after laying down
in preamble that the institute is strictly an educational estab
lishment, having its main object the moral, intellectual and phys
ical training of the young blind of the State, and is not an asylum
for the aged and helpless, nor an hospital wherein the diseases of
the eye may be treated, proceed as follows :
1. The school year commences the first Wednesday after the
15th day of September, and closes on the last Wednesday in June,
showing a session of 40 weeks, and a vacation term of 84 days.
2. Applicants for admission must be from 9 to 21 years of age;
but the trustees have 'power to admit blind students under 9 or

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236 HISTORY OF INDIANA.
over 21 years of age; but this power is extended only in very
extreme cases.
3. Imbecile or unsound persons, or confirmed immoralists,
cannot be admitted knowingly; neither can admitted pupils who
prove disobedient or incompetent to receive instruction be retained
on the roll.
4. No charge is made for the instruction and board given to
pupils from the State of Indiana; and even those without the State
have only to pay $200 for board and education during the 40 weeks'
session. 6. An abundant and good supply of comfortable clothing for
both summer and winter wear, is an indispensable adjunct of the
pupil. 6. The owner's name must be distinctly marked on each article
of clothing.
7. In cases of extreme indigence the institution may provide
clothing and defray the traveling expenses of such pupil and levy the
amount so expended on the county wherein his or her home is
situated. 8. The pupil, or friends of the pupil, must remove him or her
from the institute during the annual vacation, and in case of their
failure to do so, a legal provision enables the superintendent to
forward such pupil to the trustee of the township where he or she
resides, and the expense of such transit and board to be charged to
the county.
9. Friends of the pupils accompanying them to the institution,
or visiting them thereat, cannot enter as boarders or lodgers.
10. Letters to the pupils should be addressed to the care of the
Superintendent of the Institute for the Education of the Blind, so as
the better to insure delivery.
11, Persons desirous of admission of pupils should apply to the
superintendent for a printed copy of instructions, and no pupil
should be sent thereto until the instructions have been complied
with. INSTITUTE FOR THE DEAF AND DUMB.
In 1843 the Governor was also instructed to obtain plans and
information respecting the care of mutes, and the Legislature also
levied a tax to provide for them. The first one to agitate the subject
was William Willard, himself a mute, who visited Indiana in 1843,
and opened a school for mutes on his own account, with 16 pupils.

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HISTORY OF INDIANA. -37
The next year the Legislature adopted this school as a State insti-
' tution, appointing a Board of Trustees for its management, consist
ing of the Governor and Secretary of State, ex-officio,and Revs. Henry
Ward Beecher, Phineas D. Gurley, L. 11. Jameson, Dr. Dunlap,
Hon. James Morrison and Rev. Matthew Simpson. They rented the
large building on the southeast corner of Illinois and Maryland
streets, and opened the first State asylum there in 1844; but In 1846,
a site for a permanent building just east of Indianapolis was selected,
consisting first of 30 acres, to which 100 more have been added.
On this site the two first structures were commenced in 1849, and
completed in the fall of 1850, at a cost of $30,000. The school
was immediately transferred to the new building, where It is still
flourishing, with enlarged buildings and ample facilities for instruc
tion in agriculture. In 1869-'70, another building was erected,
and the three together now constitute one of the most benefi
cent and beautiful institutions to be found on this continent, at
an aggregate cost of $220,000. The main building has a fagade of
260 feet. Here are the offices, study rooms, the quarters of officers
and teachers, the pupils' dormitories and the library. The center
of this building has a frontage of eighty feet, and is five stories high,
with wings on either side 60 feet in frontage. In this Central
structure are the store rooms, dinlng-hall, servants' rooms, hospital,
laundry, kitchen, bakery and several school-rooms. Another struct
ure known as the '' rear building " contains the chapel and another
set of school-rooms. It is two stories high, the center being 50 feet
square and the wings 40 by 20 feet. In addition to these there are
many detached buildings, containing the shops of the industrial
department, the engine-house aud wash-house.
The grounds comprise 105 acres, which in the immediate vicinity
of the buildings partake of the character of ornamental or pleasure
gardens, comprising a space devoted to fruits, flowers and veget
ables, while the greater part is devoted to pasture and agriculture.
The first instructor in the institution was Wm. Willard, a deaf
mute, who had up to 1844 conducted a small school for the instruc
tion of the deaf at Indianapolis, and now is employed by the State,
at a salary of $800 per annum, to follow a similar vocation in its
service. In X853 he was succeeded by J. S. Brown, and subse
quently by Thomas Mclntire, who continues principal of the
institution.

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•238 HISTORY OF INDIANA.
HOSPITAL FOE THE INSANE.
The Legislature of 1832-'3 adopted measures providing for a
State hospital for the insane. This good work would have been
done much earlier had it not been for the hard times of 1837,
intensified by the results of the gigantic scheme of internal improve
ment. In order to survey the situation and awaken public sympa
thy, the county assessors were ordered to make a return of the
insane in their respective counties. During the year 1842 the
Governor, acting under the direction of the Legislature, procured
considerable information in regard to hospitals for the insane in
other States; and Dr. John Evans lectured before the Legislature
on the subject of insanity and its treatment. As a result of these
efforts the authorities determined to take active steps for the estab
lishment of such a hospital. Plans and suggestions from the
superintendents and hospitals of other States were submitted to the
Legislature in 1844, which body ordered the levy of a tax of one
cent on the $100 for the purpose of establishing the hospital. In
1845 a commission was appointed to obtain a site not exceeding
200 acres. Mount Jackson, then the residence of Nathaniel Bolton,
was selected, and the Legislature in 1846 ordered the commissioners
to proceed with the erection of the building. Accordingly, in
1847, the central building was completed, at a cost of $75,000. It
has since been enlarged by the addition of wings, some of which
are larger than the old central building, until it has become an
immense structure, having cost over half a million dollars.
The wings of the main building are four stories high, and entirely
devoted to wards for patients, being capable of accommodating
500. The grounds of the institution comprise 160 acres, and, like
those of the institute for the deaf and dumb, are beautifully laid
out. This hospital was opened for the reception of patients in 1848.
The principal structure comprises what is known as the central
building and the right and left wings, and like the institute for the
deaf and dumb, erected at various times and probably under various
adverse circumstances, it certainly does not hold the appearance of
any one design, but seems fo be a combination of many. Not
withstanding these little defects in arrangement, it presents a very
imposing appearance, and shows what may be termed a frontage

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HISTORY OF INDIANA. 239

of 624 feet. The central building is five stories in height and con
tains the store-rooms, offices, reception parlors, medical dispensing
rooms, mess-rooms and the apartments of the superintendent and
other officers, with those of the female employes. Immediately
in the rear of the central building, and connected with it by a
corridor, is the chapel, a building 50 by 60 feet. This chapel
occupies the third floor, while the under stories hold the kitchen,
bakery, employes' dining-room, steward's office, employes' apart
ments and sewing rooms. In rear of this again is the engine-
house, 60 by 60 feet, containing all the paraphernalia for such an
establishment, such as boilers, pumping works, fire plugs, hose,
and above, on the second floor, the laundry and apartments of male
employes. THE STATE PRISON SOUTH.
The first penal institution of importance is known as the " State
Prison South," located at Jeffersonville, and was the only prison
until 1859. It was established in 1821. Before that time it was
customary to resort to the old-time punishment of the whipping
post. Later the manual labor system was inaugurated, and the
convicts were hired out to employers, among whom were Capt.
Westover, afterward killed at Alamo, Texas, with Crockett, James
Keigwin, who in an affray was fired at and severely wounded by a
convict named Williams, Messrs. Patterson Hensley, and Jos.
R. Pratt. During the rule of the latter of these lessees, the atten
tion of the authorities was turned to a more practical method of
utihzing convict labor; and instead of the prisoners being per
mitted to serve private entries, their work was turned in the direc
tion of their own prison, where for the next few years they were
employed in erecting the new buildings now known as the " State
Prison South." This structure, the result of prison labor, stands
on 16 acres of ground, and comprises the cell houses and work
shops, together with the prisoners' garden, or pleasure-ground.
It seems that in the erection of these buildings the aim of the
overseers was to create so many petty dungeons and unventilated
laboratories, into which disease in every form would be apt to
creep. This fact was evident from the high mortality character
izing hfe within the prison; and in the efforts made by the
Government to remedy a state of things which had been permitted
to exist far too long, the advance in prison reform has become a
reality. From 1867 to 1871 the labor of the prisoners was devoted

to

240 HISTORY OF INDIANA.
to the manufacture of wagons and farm implements; and again the
old policy of hiring the convicts was resorted to ; for in the latter
year, 1871, the Southwestern Car Company was organized, and
every prisoner capable of taking a part in the work of car-building
was leased out. This did very well until the panic of 1873, when
the company suffered irretrievable losses ; and previous to its final
down-fall in 1876 the warden withdrew convict labor a second time,
leaving the prisoners to enjoy a luxurious idleness around the
prison which themselves helped to raise.
In later years the State Prison South has gained some notoriety
from the desperate character of some of its inmates. During the
civil war a convict named Harding mutilated in a most horrible
manner and ultimately killed one of the jailors named Tesley. In
1874, two prisoners named Kennedy and Applegate, possessing
themselves of some arms, and joined by two other convicts named
Port and Stanley, made a break for freedom, swept past the guard,
Chamberlain, and gained the fields. Chamberlain went in pursuit
but had not gone very far when Kennedy turned on his pursuer,
fired and killed him instantly. Subsequently three of the prisoners
were captured alive and one of them paid the penalty of death,
while Kennedy, the murderer of Chamberlain, failing committal for
murder, was sent back to his old cell to spend the remainder of his
life. Bill Rodifer, better known as "The Hoosier Jack Sheppard,"
effected his escape in 1875, in the very presence of a large guard,
but was recaptured and has since been kept in irons.
This establishment, owing to former mismanagement, has fallen
very much behind, financially, and has asked for and received an
appropriation of $20,000 to meet its expenses, while the contrary
is the case at the Michigan City prison.
THE STATE PRISON NORTH.
In 1859 the first steps toward the erection of a prison in the
northern part of the State were taken, and by an act of the Legis
lature approved March 6, this year, authority was given to construct
prison buildings at some point north of the National road. For this
purpose $60,000 were appropriated, and a large number of convicts
from the Jeffersonville prison were transported northward to
Michigan City, which was just selected as the location for the new
penitentiary. The work was soon entered upon, and continued to
meet with additions and improvements down to a very recent
period. So late as 1875 the Legislature appropriated $20,000

niSTORY^ OF INDIANA. 241
toward the construction of new cells, and in other directions also
the work of improvement has been going on. The system of
government and discipline is similar to that enforced at the Jeffer
sonville prison; and, strange to say, by its economical working has
not only met the expenses of the administration, but very recently
had amassed over $11,000 in excess of current expenses, from its
annual savings. This is due almost entirely to the continual
employment of the convicts in the manufacture of cigars and
chairs, and in their great prison industry, cooperage. It differs
widely from the Southern, insomuch as its sanitary condition has
been above the average of similar institutions. The strictness of its
silent system is better enforced. The petty revolutions of its
inmates have been very few and insignificant, and the number of
punishments inflicted comparatively small. From whatever point
this northern prison may be looked at, it will bear a very favorable
comparison with the largest and best administered of like establish
ments throughout the world, and cannot fail to bring high credit to
its Board of Directors and its able warden.
FEMALE PRISON AND REFORMATORY.
The prison reform agitation which in this State attained telling
proportions in 1869, caused a Legislative measure to be brought
forward, which would have a tendency to ameliorate the condition
of female convicts. Gov. Baker recommended it to the General
Assembly, and the members of that body showed their appreciation
of the Governor's philanthropic desire by conferring upon the bill
the authority of a statute; and further, appropriated $60,000 to aid
in carrying out the objects of the act. The main provisions con
tained in the bill may be set forth in the following extracts from
the proclamation of the Governor:
"Whenever said institution shall have been proclaimed to be
open for the reception of girls in the reformatory department
thereof, it shall be lawful for said Board of Managers to receive
them into their care and management, and the said reformatory
department, girls under the age of 15 years who may be committed
to their custody, in either of the following modes, to- wit:
"1. When committed by any judge of a Circuit or Common
Pleas Court, either in term time or in vacation, on complaint and
due proof by the parent or guardian that by reason of her incorrig
ible or vicious conduct she has rendered her control beyond the
power of such parent or guardian, and made it manifestly requisite

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242 HISTORY OF INDIANA.
that from regard to the future welfare of such infant, and for the
protection of society, she should be placed under such guardianship.
" 2. When such infant has been committed by such judge, as
aforesaid, upon complaint by any citizen, and due proof of such
complaint that such infant is a proper subject of the guardianship
of such institution in consequence of her vagrancy or incorrigible
or vicious conduct, and that from the moral depravity or other
wise of her parent or guardian in whose custody she may be,
such parent or guardian is incapable or unwilling to exercise the
proper care or discipline over such incorrigible or vicious infant.
" 3. When such infant has been committed by such judge as
aforesaid, on complaint and due proof thereof by the township
trustee of the township where such infant resides, that such infant
is destitute of a suitable home and of adequate means of obtaining
an honest living, or that she is in danger of being brought up to
lead an idle and immoral life."
In addition to these articles of the bill, a formal section of
instruction to the wardens of State prisons was embodied in the
act, causing such wardens to report the number of all the female
convicts under their charge and prepare to have them transferred
to the female reformatory immediately after it was declared to be
ready for their reception. After the passage of the act the
Governor appointed a Board of Managers, and these gentlemen,
securing the services of Isaac Hodgson, caused him to draft a plan
of the proposed institution, and further, on his recommendation,
asked the people for an appropriation of another $50,000, which
the Legislature granted in February, 1873. The work of construc
tion was then entered upon and carried out so steadily, that on the
6th of September, 1873, the building was declared ready for the
reception of its future inmates. Gov. Baker lost no time in
proclaiming this fact, and October 4 he caused the wardens of the
State pvisons to be instructed to transfer all the female convicts in
their custody to the new institution which may be said to rest on
the n.dyanced intelligence of the age. It is now called the
" Indiana Reformatory Institution for Women and Girls."
This building is located immediately north of the deaf and
dumb asylum, near the arsenal, at Indianapolis. It is a three-
story brick structure in the French style, and shows a frontage of
174 feet, comprising a main building, with lateral and transverse
wings. In front of the central portion is the residence of the
superintendent and his associate reformatory officers, while in the

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HISTORY OF INDIANA. 243
rear is the engine house, with all the ways and means for heating
the buildings. Enlargements, additions and improvements are
still in progress. There is also a school and library In the main
building, which are sources of vast good.
October 31, 1S79, there were 66 convicts in the " penal " depart
ment and 147 in the " girls' reformatory " department. The
" ticket-of-leave " system has been adopted, with entire satisfaction,
and the conduct of the institution appears to be up with the
times. INDIANA HOUSE OF REFUGE.
In 1867 the Legislature appropriated $50,000 to aid in the
formation of an institution to be entitled a house for the correction
and reformation of juvenile defenders, and vested with full powers
in a Board of Control, the members of which were to be appointed
by the Governor, and with the advice and consent of the Senate.
This Board assembled at the Governor's house at Indianapolis,
April 3, 1867, and elected Charles F. Coffin, as president, and
visited Chicago, so that a visit to the reform school there might
lead to a fuller knowledge and guide their future proceedings.
The House of Refuge at Cincinnati, and the Ohio State Reform
school were also visited with this design; and after full consider
ation of the varied governments of these institutions, the Board
resolved to adopt the method known as the " family " system,
which divides the inmates into fraternal bodies, or small classes,
each class having a separate house, house father and family offices,
— all under the control of a general superintendent. The system
being adopted, the question of a suitable location next presented
itself, and proximity to a large city being considered rather
detrimental to the welfare of such an institution. Gov. Baker
selected the site three-fourths of a mile south of Plainfield, and
about fourteen miles from Indianapolis, which, in view of its
eligibility and convenience, was fully concurred in by the Board
of Control. Therefore, a farm of 226 acres, claiming a fertile soil
and a most picturesque situation, and possessing streams of running
water, was purchased, and on a plateau in its center a site for the
proposed house of refuge was fixed.
The next movement was to decide upon a plan, which ultimately
met the approval of the Governor. It favored the erection of one
pnncipal building, one house for a reading-room and hospital, two
large mechanical shops and eight family houses. January 1, 1868,

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244 HISTORY OF INDIANA.
three family houses and work-shop were completed ; in 1869 the
main building, and one additional family house were added; but
previous to this, in August, 1867, a Mr. Frank P. Ainsworth and
his wife were appointed by the Board, superintendent and matron
respectively, and temporary quarters placed at their disposal. In
1869 they of course removed to the new building. This is 64 by
128 feet, and three stories high. In its basement are kitchen,
laundry and vegetable cellar. The first floor is devoted to offices,
visitors' room, house father and family dining-room and store
rooms. The general superintendent's private apartments, private
offices and five dormitories for officers occupy the second floor;
while the third floor is given up to the assistant superintendent's
apartment, library, chapel and hospital.
The family houses are similar in style, forming rectangular build
ings 36 by 58 feet. The basement of each contains a furnace
room, a store-room and a large wash-room, which is converted into
a play-room during inclement weather. On the first floor of each
of these buildings are two rooms for the house father and his
family, and a school-room, which is also convertible into a sitting-
room for the boys. On the third floor is a family dormitory, a
clothes-room and a room for the " elder brother," who ranks next
to the house father. And since the reception of the first boy, from
Hendricks county, January 23, 1868, the house plan has proved
equally convenient, even as the management has proved efficient.
Other buildings have since been erected.

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HISTORY OF DEKALB COUNTY.

CHAPTER I.

IXTRODUCTOKY.

Chasges of Fifty Years. — Life in the Crowded East. — Cour
age OF the Pioneers. — ^Their Labors and Rewards. — A Pen
Picture.Within one brief generation a dense and unbroken wilderness
has been transformed into a cultivated region of thrift and pros
perity, by the untiring zeal and energy of an enterprising people.
The trails of hunters aud trappers have given place to railroads
and thoroughfares for vehicles of every description; the cabins and
garden patches of the pioneers have been succeeded by comfort
able houses and broad fields of waviui^ grain, with school-houses,
churches, mills, postoffices and other institutions of convenience
for each community. Add to these four towns from 1,000 to 2,000
inhabitants in size, and numerous thriving villages, with extensive
business and manufacturing interests, and the result is a work of
which all concerned may well be proud.
The record of this marvelous change is history, and the most
important that can be written. For fifty years the people of De
Kalb County have been making a history that for thrilling interest,
grand practical results, and lessons that may be perused with profit
by citizens of other regions, will compare favorably with the narra
tive of the history of any county in the great Northwest ; and,
considering the extent of territory involved. It is as worthy of the
pen of a Bancroft as even the story of our glorious Republic.
While our venerable ancestors may have said and believed,
" No pent-up Utica contracts our powers,
For the whole boundless continent is ours,"
tliey were nevertheless, for a long time content to occupy and
possess a very small corner of it; and the great West was not
16 (245;

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246 history of de kalb county.
opened to industry and civilization until a variety of causes had
combined to form, as it were, a great heart, whose animating prin
ciple was improvement, whose impulses annually sent westward
armies of noble men and women, and whose pulse is now felt
throughout the length and breadth of the best country the sun
ever shone upon — from the pineries of Maine to the vineyards ot
California, and from the sugar-canes of Louisiana to the wheat fields
of Minnesota. Long may this heart beat and push forward its
arteries and veins of commerce.
Not more from choice than from enforced necessity did the old
pioneers bid farewell to the play-grounds of their childhood and
the graves of their fathers. One generation after another had
worn themselves out in the service of their avaricious landlords.
From the first flashes of daylight in the morning until the last
glimmer of the setting sun, they had toiled unceasingly on, from
father to son, carrying home each day upon their aching shoulders
the precious proceeds of their daily labor. Money and pride and
power were handed down in the line of succession from the rich
sather to his son, while unceasing work and continuous poverty
and everlasting obscurity were the heritage of the working man
and his children.
Their society was graded and degraded. It was not manners,
nor industry, nor education, nor qualities of the head and heart
that established the grade. It was money and jewels, and silk and
satin, and broadcloth and imperious pride that triumphed over
honest poverty and trampled the poor man and his children under
the iron heel. The children of the rich and poor were not per
mitted to mingle with and to love each other. Courtship was
more the work of the parents than of the sons and daughters.
The golden calf was the key to matrimony. To perpetuate a self-
constituted aristocracy, without power of brain, or the rich blood
of royalty, purse was united to purse, and cousin with cousin, in
bonds of matrimony, until the virus boiling in their blood was
transmitted by the law of inheritance from one generation to
another, and until nerves powerless aud manhood dwarfed were on
exhibition everywhere, and everywhere abhorred. For the sons
and daughters of the poor man to remain there was to forever fol
low as our fathers had followed, and never to lead ; to submit, but
never to rule; to obey, but never to command.
Without money, or prestige, or influential friends, the old pio
neers drifted along one by one, from State to State, until in Indl-

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HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY. 247
ana — the garden of the Union — they have found inviting homes
for each, and room for all. To secure and adorn these homes more
than ordinary ambition was required, greater than ordinary endur
ance demanded, and unflinching determination was, by the force
of necessity, written over every brow. It was not pomp, or parade,
or glittering show that the pioneers were after. They sought for
homes which they could call their own, homes for themselves and
homes for their children. How well they have succeeded after a
struggle of many years against the adverse tides let the records
and tax-gatherers testify; let the broad cultivated fields and fruit-
bearing orchards, the flpcks and the herds, the palatial residences,
tlie places of business, the spacious halls, the clattering car-wheels
and ponderous engines all testify.
There was a time when pioneers waded through deep snows,
across bridgeless rivers, and through bottomless sloughs, a score of
miles to mill or market, and when more time was required to reach
and return from market than is now required to cross the conti
nent, or traverse the Atlantic. These were the times when our
palaces were constructed of logs and covered with "shakes" riven
from the forest trees. These were the times when our children
were stowed away for the night in the low, dark attics, amongst
the horns of the elk and the deer, and where through the chinks
in the " shakes" they could count the twinkling stars. These were
the times when our chairs and our bedsteads were hewn from the
forest trees, and tables and bureaus constructed from the boxes in
which their goods were brought. These were the times when the
workingman labored six and sometimes seven days in the week,
and all the hours there were in a day from sunrise to sunset.
Whether all succeeded in what they undertook is not a question
to be asked now. The proof that as a body they did succeed is all
around us. Many individuals were perhaps disappointed. Fortunes
and misfortunes belong to the human race. Not every man can
have a school-house on the corner of his farm; not every man can
have a bridge over a stream that flows by his dwelling ; not every
man can have a railroad depot on the borders of his plantation, or
a city in its center; and while these things are desirable in some
respects, their advantages are oftentimes outweighed by the almost
perpetual presence of the foreign beggar, the dreaded tramp, the
fear of fire and conflagration, and the insecurity from the presence
of the midnight burglar, and the bold, bad men and women who
hirk in ambush and infest the villages. The good things of this

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248 history of de kalb county.
earth are not all to be found in any one place; but if more is to be
found in one than another, that place is in our rural retreats, our
quiet homes outside of the clamor and turmoil of city life.
In viewing the blessings which surround us, then, we should
reverence those who have made them possible, and ever fondly
cherish in memory the sturdy old pioneer and his log cabin.
Let us turn our eyes and thoughts back to the log-cabin days of
a quarter of a century ago, and contrast those homes with com
fortable dwellings of to-day. Before us stands the old log cabin.
Let us enter. Instinctively the head is uncovered in token of
reverence to this relic of ancestral beginnings, early struggles and
final triumphs. To the left is the deep, wide fire-place, in whose
commodious space a group of children may sit by the fire and up
through the chimney may count the stars, while ghostly stories ot
witches and giants, and still more thrilling stories of Indians and
wild beasts, are whisper! ngly told and shudderingly heard. On
the great crane hang the old tea-kettle and the great iron pot. The
huge shovel and tongs stand sentinel in either corner, while the
great andirons patiently wait for the huge back-log. Over the fire.
place hangs the trusty rifle. To the right of the fire-place stands
the spinning wheel, while in the further end oi the room is seen
the old-fashioned loom. Strings of drying apples and poles of
drying pumpkins are overhead. Opposite the door in which you
enter stands a huge deal table, by its side the dresser whose pewter
plates and " shining delf " catch and reflect the fire-place flames as
shields of armies do the sunshine. From the corner of its shelves
coyly peep out the relics of former china. In a curtained corner
and hid from casual sight we find the mother's bed, and under it
the trundle-bed, while near them a ladder indicates the loft where
the older children sleep. To the left of the fire-place and in the
corner opposite the spinning-wheel is the mother's work stand.
Upon it lies the Bible, evidently much used, its family record tell
ing of parents and friends a long way off, aud telling, too, of
children " Scattered like roses in bloom,
Some at the bridal, some at the tomb."
Her spectacles, as if but just used, are Inserted between the leaves
of her Bible, and tell of her purpose to return to its comforts when
cares permit and duty is done. A stool, a bench, well notched
iind whittled and carved, and a few chairs complete the furniture
of the room, and all stand on a coarse but well-scoured floor.

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LLC

HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.

249

Let us for a moment watch the city visitors to this humble cabin.
The city bride, innocent but thouglitless, and ignorant i)f labor
and care, asks her city-bred husband, "Pray, what savages set
this up?" Honestly confessing his ignorance, he replies, " I do
not know." But see the pair upon whom age sits " frosty, but
kindly." First, as they enter, they give a rapid glance about the
cabin home, and then a mutual glance of eye to eye. Why do
tears start and flll their eyes? Why do lips quiver? There are
many who know why; but who that has not learned in the school
of experience the full meaning of all these symbols of trials and
privations, of loneliness and danger, can comprehend the story that
they tell to the pioneer? Within this chinked and mud-daubed
cabin we read the first pages of our history, and as we retire
through its low door-way, and note the heavy battened door, its
wooden hinges and its welcoming latch-string. Is it strange that
the scenes without should seem to be but a dream? But the cabin
and the palace, standing side by side in vivid contrast, tell their
own story of this people's progress. They are a history and a
prophecy in one.

.-^"v*^

.FT

CHAPTER II.

SCIENTIFIC.

Geography and Topography. — Geological Structure of De
Kalb County. — Zoology.
geography aud topography.
De Kalb is smaller than the "model" county which contains
sixteen townships. It comprises nine whole and three fractional
congressional townships, or rather more than ten townships alto
gether. The county lies just south of the northeastern corner
county of Indiana, and is bounded as follows: On the north by
Steuben County; on the east by Defiance County, Ohio; on the
south by Allen County, and on the west by Noble County. It is
situated on the " divide" between the tributaries of the Mississippi
and those of Lake Erie, and is drained by the St. Joseph of the
Maumee and its tributaries, including the Cedar. The county con
tains the usual physical characteristics of the Northwestern States,
having a gentle rolling surface, originally covered with hard-wood
timber. The best land, agriculturally, is in the northern and east
ern parts of the county.
GEOLOGICAL STRUCTURE OF DE KALB COUNTY.
BY T. J. S.USTDEKS, A. M.
Having in mind the thousands of pupils who receive instruction
in the excellent schools of De Kalb County, and conscious that the
greater part of those who have come to maturer years are unac
quainted with the subject of general geology, I desire, in the first
place, to describe the formation of the world as a whole and give
such an account of the great periods of the earth's history that
we may be able to find our place in that history, and thus, as in-
locating a place upon a map first, we may be the better able after
ward to study it more satisfactorily and understandingly. Indeed,
(250)

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A

HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY. 251
without this method of procedure, all our ideas are vague and the
entire work unsatisfactory aud unscientific.
Omitting the nebular hypothesis, which assumes the earth, to
gether with all other bodies of the solar system, to have been in
primeval times in the form of an incandescent gas of incompre
hensible dimensions, and the second step derived from the former,
through long cycles of whirling motion, radiation, and condensa
tion, the liquid or molten earth, with its wonderful processes of
crust formation, we begin our brief description with the process of
ROCK-FORMATION.
The first or original rock is what was first formed as a crust, igne
ous rock, rock without form or strata — a mere slag. The earth,
losing heat by radiation and becoming smaller, the crust, in ac
commodating itself to the smaller sphere, must necessarily rise in
some places and sink in others, just as by the shrinking of an
orange the rind becomes wrinkled. Then the water, having been
previously formed as the result of the great world formation, the
residue, the ash-heap of the great conflagration, obeying the law of
gravity, is gathered together into the depressed areas and thus the
dry land, or rather the dry rock, appears.
Now, by the action of wlnds,jrains, waves and the various chem
ical and mechanical agencies, the exposed rock is decomposed,
carried to the sea, and deposited in horizontal strata, which, in
process of time, becomes stratified rock, just as is being done at the
mouths of the rivers and the beach and bottom of the oceans of
to-day. BASEMENT ROOK.
From the preceding, we may conclude that there is everywhere
beneath the waters and soil of the earth's surface a basement of
rock, sometimes called bedrock. The outcropping of rock above
the surface, the rocky bluffs forming the sides of many valleys, the
ledges projecting from the sides of mountains, and the cliffs of the
sea-shore are portions of this rock exposed to view. Now, the
various strata which compose the stratified rocks of the globe,
with their included fossils, are the leaves of that great book which
unfolds to us the history of the earth through its Incomprehensibly
long periods of time. The lowest strata, of course, furnish us the
first chapter in that history. In no part of the earth's surface is
the record complete, but all have their long blanks — periods in
which no strata occur. This is caused by the elevating of the

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la

252 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
crust above the waters of the ocean, and, when this is continental,
iinis is appended to the chap ter and the history of the rocks is
finished forever.
In North America we have an excellent example of the unfold
ing and development of geological history, and as the continent
gradually emerged from the ocean, it left us the record almost
' complete. The following section Is a representation of the succes
sive geological ages, with the corresponding formations and periods
of the globe, by the side of which is placed that of De Kalb
County with its many and immensely long blanks between the
Devonian and Quaternery or Peychozolc Ages.
Thus a glance at the section will show us our place in the history
of the formation of the globe, not the least interesting part of
which is the long blank between the Devonian and Quaternery
Ages, showing us conclusively that our soil rests upon the Devo
nian. At the close of the above-named period, all Northern Indi
ana and a strip extending through the central part of the State to
the Ohio River emerged from beneath the sea and the 'history of
the rocks of De Kalb County was finished forever.

So named by Sedgwick and Murchison from Devonshire, Eng
land, where it occurs well developed and abounds in fossils, and its
age, the Age of Fishes, so called because in it the first known
fishes are found, is in no part of the county exposed to view,
neither has it been reached in the sinking of wells; hence all our
knowledge of it must be gained from exposed areas and sections in
other localities. Omitting the rock formation, because completely
hidden from view, we come to the study of that which is apparent
to all, that in which the farmer plows, upon which our wagon roads
and railroads are builded, and upon which we all depend for our
daily bread — the immense superincumbent mass of soil known as
DRIFT.
The farmer boy, as he walks over the meadow with its carpet ot
* For a description of the rocks of this age, and also of its Life-System, both
animal and vegetable, the reader is referred to the three excellent works of Prof.
Dana, the "Geological Story," the " Text-Book," and the " Manual," the masterly
work of Prof Le Conte, and to the many and valuable Geological Reports of
Ohio and Indiana.

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^^

<^ VERTICAL SECTION OF THE ROCKS >

OF THE GLOBE.
.4GES. ^(iCA'S.

P£K fODS.

OF DEKALB COUNT V.
Ji O CA'S.

HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY. 253
green and wanders beside the babbling brook, or, as with sturdy
hand he turns the grassy sward, uncultured though he be. askd
himself the question, "From whence came all this that Is spreas
out BO beautifully around me? These huge stones which I see ly-
in" upon the surface or imbedded within the soil, how came they
here? Do they growl 'The hills, rock-ribbed and ancient as the
sun,' how were they formed? and what is their history?" Ah !
If they could speak and tell us what scenes they have witnessed,
the story would be of far more interest than that of Belzoni's
mummy, for it could tell us of the world not merely as it was
"three thousand years ago," but stretching far back into the illim
itable past, they could tell much of the Creator's plans in fitting
up the earth as the abode of man.
Ml soil, with the trifling exception of the thin stratum of vege
table mold that covers the ground in many localities, is formed from
the disintegration of rocks. Now, there are two great classes of
soil, to one of which every kind of soil may be referred, that is,
soil formed in situ — in the place where found — and that vyhlch has
been transported, when formed, to places more or less remote from ^
the parent rock. It is to the latter of these that our soil belongs
and hence that which we wish to treat.
Strewed all over the northern part of North America, over hill
and dale, over field and plain, covering alike. In places, all the
country rock to a depth of thirty to three hundred feet, thus largely
concealing them from view, and extending in general from the
Rocky Mountains eastward, and southward to the fortieth parallel of
latitude, is found this peculiar surface soil or deposit. It consists of a
heterogeneous mixture of clay, sand, gravel, pebbles, sub-angular
stones of all sizes, unsorted, unsifted, unfosslliferous. The lowest
part lying in immediate contact with the subjacent rock Is often
a stiff clay including sub-angular stones; hence this is often
called the boulder clay or hard pan. "These included boulders," says
Prof Geikle, "are scattered higgledy-piggledy, pell-mell, through
the clay so as to give the whole deposit a highly confused and
tumultuous appearance." On examining many of these stones, they
will be found to be angular in shape, but the sharp corners and edges
are invariably smoothed away, their faces will be smoothed and
frequently grooved with parallel scratches. Indeed in concretionary
stones and others having an eerg shape, often one whole end has
been ground off, showing conclusively its history. On the other
hand, lying all over this drift soil, in clusters, in isolated rocks, and

w

li*.

254 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
in belts varying in width from a single line to. two or three miles,
are found many boulders of all sizes; in some localities they are of
huge dimensions and weigh hundreds of tons. These unscratched,
or erratic blocks, as they are sometimes called, have attracted the
attention and excited the wonder of those in the humblest walks
of life, and since they are composed of materials foreign to the local
geology, were regarded by them as foreigners which had been
brought from a distance and strewed over the surface or perched
upon declivities In some incomprehensible way. It is now very ap
propriate to investigate the causes for all this phenomena spread
out before us.
Whenever the underlying rock is of sufiicient hardness to retain
an impression, and ^or any cause is exposed to view, it is always
found to be plowed and planed and grooved with long parallel
strife and ruts. Thus, these scratches, with the superincumbent
drift, the boulder-clay, and the surface boulders, furnish for us phe
nomena, the exact counterpart of whioh is found on a smaller scale
in all the glaciated regions of the world to-day — Alaska, Greenland,
Switzerland, the Sierra Nevada Mountains, and the Antarctic con
tinent. Given identical phenomena, we must conclude there was
an identical cause. Given Identical phenomena in the one case on
a much larger and grander scale, we must conclude there was a
cause of far greater and grander proportions. There was, then, a
time In the past, when for hundreds of years the winters grew
steadily both longer and colder; the equatorial current, being
pressed southward at Cape St. Roque, was pouring more and more
of its waters into the South Atlantic. The moisture was all precip
itated as snow, and these all mutually reacting upon each other
so that each efiect strengthened the cause, brought about the period
known as the great Ice Age, and formed an immense continental
ice-sheet or Polar Ice Cap which extended In general to the fortieth
degree of latitude, with local extensions of its icy fingers down
river valleys far to the southward.
In the begi nning of the Archtean Age, at the time of the first
known continental emergence in the history of the world, there was
formed a high mountain range north of the great lakes, extending
from Labrador to the Lake of the Woods and thence northward to
the Arctic Ocean, the degradation of which has furnished the ma
terial for the stratified rocks that surround it, and, being especially
active in the glacial period, it also furnished the greater part of our
drift material. Thus through the lapse of countless ages down to

¦r

HISTORY OF DK KALB COUNTY. 255
the present time, all the mountain peaks and chains of this Lauren-
tian continent, as it is frequently called, have been removed and car
ried into the sea, and, as a result, there remain only the truncated
bases of the various arches and folds to testify to their former ex
istence and magnitude. Thus we see that these archsean mount
ains are the means, and the Ice Cap, together with what follows,
the melting of the ice, are the agents in performing the final work
in fitting up this part of our earth-ho me. For with its ponderous
mass of ice a mile in thickness and constantly increasing as It ap
proaches the pole, moving southward, it ground the softer rocks to
powder, brought hither our soil, scooped out the great lakes and the
multitude of smaller ones in their latitude, and by the retreating of
the glacier, the immense floods and the consequent hosts of Icebergs,
til e river valleys were hollowed out, the hills and the gravel beds
formed, and the surface boulders were dropped by the river's side
and over the fields and plains.
The glacier in forming the Erie basin, as is indicated by the fur
rows made at different points, moved from east to west along the
line of its way or axis. It plowed up the Huron and Erie sholes,
in the east end, to a great depth, but moving westward it came
upon the hard fioor of cornlferous limestone and but a shallow basin
was formed. Here the many beautiful and fertile islands particu
larly estify to the unyielding hardness of the rocks. Thence pass
ing southwest to New Haven and Fort Wayne, and from New
Haven on down the Wabash Valley, it determined the valleys of
two rivers which would, in turn, one day, through long periods of
time, drain the waters of Lake Erie to the gulf and convey to itself
all of the waters of the great Maume e basin. Now, by a process
the exact reverse of that which produced the glacial epoch, there
was brought about a period of much warmer climate known as
tiie CHAMPLAIN.
This was characterized by melting of ice and snow, a far more
extended and higher condition of the great lakes, by multitudes of
icebergs floating southward over these inland seas and dropping
their loads of earth, sand, gravel, and boulders, by numerous floods
which broadened and deepened the river valleys and the pell-mell
dumping of gravel and stones over hills and valleys, with the strat
ification of whatever was deposited by the water.
As proof of the greater extent a nd elevation of the lakes, we have.
for example, about Lake Erie five successive margins up to the

•S- Q_,

256 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
elevation of 250 feet above its present level. Of these, the first
and highest passes from Adrian, Mich., through Fayette, Ohio,
Hamar, West U nity, Pulaski, Bryan, and Farmer Center. From
the latter place it passes into Defiance County and is divided into
two nearly parallel lines west of Farmer Center, and continues its
course southwesterly through Hlcksville into the southeast corner
of DeKalb County, thence on to New Haven and Fort Wayne. Here
it forms parallel lines on the opposite sides of that old river which
never had a name and no man ever saw; thence it passes eastward
through Yan Wert, Delphos and Findley.
A higher and equally continuous ridge lies back of this, passing
from Hudson, Mich.,on the left bank of the St. Joseph River, through
Pioneer, Montpelier, and Edgerton to Fort Wayne, and on the
right bank of the St. Mary's running southeasterly to Lima and
Kenton. This is not usually regarded as an old lake beach, but rather as
a swell of the Erie clay determined by a burled moraine.*
This ridge, commonly called the St. Mary 's Ridge, though it seems
to me it would better be called the St. Joseph aud St. Mary's Ridge,
exerts a-very controlling influence over the drainage of the county;
for it determines the basin of the two noble rivers, the St. Joseph
and the St. Mary's.
These properly have tributaries flowing into them from one di
rection only, in the St. Joseph from the right, and in the St. Mary's
from the left, and by their confluence at Fort Wayne, the one flow
ing in a southwesterly course, the other, in a northwesterly course,
they form the Maumee, which flows back to Toledo, Ohio — not the
resultant of the two forces, but directly the opposite of it. Thus
this systemof drainage, of which De Kalb County furnishes an honor
able part, has two most interesting features, the like of which, except
the Tiffin and Auglaize and the second lake beach, so far as we know,
is not to be found elsewhere upon the globe. Now, if the reader will
refer to the section, he will be able to see our place more clearly.
Far beneath us is the original or crust rock. Superimposed upon
this we have formed chiefly by the degradation of the Laurentian
*The formation of the lake beaches and ridges constitute the last scenes
in the great geological drama; nor should we look upon them as taking place in
rapid succession, but slowly through long peroids of time, just as in the near fut
ure, geologically speaking, the present margins of Lake Erie will be left far
inlan^ by the weariug away of Niagara's rocky bed and the retreating of the
Falls.

j HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY. 257
I I mountains, the many and diverse strata that constitute the periods
of the Silurian and Devonian ages. At the close of the last-named
age, our county arose from beneath the ancient sea and Its rock
formation was at an end. It will also be observed, that simul
taneous with these formations there were formed in Scotland and
Wales the strata of the Old Red Sandstone, by the study of
which, with chisel and hammer, Hugh Miller rendered both them
and himself immortal. Thus, with the long blanks before us, it
would be idle to look for coal or any of the interesting and useful
formations of the Carboniferous, Reptilian and Tertiary ages; but
while these phenomena were taking place, our county, with its
head above the waves, like a silent and lonely sentinel, gazed upon
these wonderful transformations, including tlie emergence of the
continent southward and the gradual yet wonderful formation of
the Appalachian and Rocky Mountains. After all this was ac
complished, the ponderous and mighty glacier, moving southward
with grandeur and irresistible force, brought hither our 300
feet of drift-soil, rich in the elemeuts of the old granitic rockf ,
and consisting of alternate layers of yellow and blue cla} ,
sand and gravel of varying thickness. Thus there is formed for
us the best of conditions for obtaining good water. There are
three strata of sand with impervious clay on either side, having an
average depth of twelve, twenty-five, and forty-five feet. This Is
known by the many excellent wells all over the county, the
greater number and best of which are ge nerally obtained by
sinking the tube to the second stratum of sand, having an average
depth of twenty-five feet. On the retiring of the glacier, there
was left upon the surface in the northwestern part of the county
numerous boulders which may be traced northward through
Steuben County and the State of Michigan, increasing both in size
and number to the place of their origin, — the region beyond the
lakes. About this time, or just subsequent to it, was formed
the St. Joseph, and, for the first time in its history, the waters of
this phenomenal river are coursing southward, not yet to Lake
Erie, but through the channel of the Wabash on to the Gulf.
Following this began the deposition of the alluvial bottom lands
on either side of the river and its tributaries, of which are formed
onr most beautiful and fertile farms. Now, the margins of Lake
Erie crossiug the southeastern part of the county, through the
action of winds and waves, formed those beautiful ridges pre
viously described. These, " being composed chiefly of sand and

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258

HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.

fine gravel with sufficient clay to pack well, and yet sufiiciently
porous to drain well," have from the first afforded the people in
their vicinity the best of roads known here and wherever found
as the " Ridge Roads."
Proceeding from below upward in our investigations, we arrive
at last at the thin stratum of vegetable mold, covering the drift,
which has been formed by the annual coating of leaves for untold
years. This, together with the pulverized and partially decom
posed granitic rock, the enormous drift covering, furnishes for the
farmer a soil that is at once fertile and inexhaustible; for if he
will but " plow deep, while sluggards sleep, he will have plenty
. of corn to sell and keep."
Thus, though we are not blessed with mines of the precious
metals, nor coal, nor Iron, nor copper, yet we have in our soil an
inexhaustible mine of true wealth, the foundation of a nation's
true greatness, the basis, the hidden spring that sets in motion
the wheels of trade and commerce throughout the world. And
the farmer, in his high and time-honored calling, holds in his
hand the electric key, by means of which he sends the thrill of
life-giving pulsations throughout the whole world of human in
dustry and sets in motion its countless spindles and wheels the
sweet music of whose hum Is lieard in every clime.
ZOOLOGY.
Although no' large body of water exists within or near the bor
ders of De Kalb County it formerly had a respectable number of
both species and individuals of the animal kingdom. It afforded
the Indian and the pioneer an abundance of wholesome wild
meats, and in great variety, as well as a plentiful supply of use
less or mischievous animals. According to the rule the world
over, the larger animals disappeared first before the advancing tread
of human occupation, and then the next in size, and so on, down
to the raccoon, opossum, etc., which still exist, though in dimin
ishing numbers. The buffalo and elk were the largest, and they
disappeared on the very first approach of the white man, with his
deadly rifle and indefatigable hound.
ANIMALS.
The common deer, which was abundant In pioneer times, is now
very scarce in Indiana, being occasionally seen in some of the
wildest portions of the State. The last one known to be in De
Kalb County was killed as much as twenty years ago.

^ •Vl's 

HISTORY' OF DE KALB COUNTY. 269
The panther {Jielix concolov) and two species of wild cat {Lynx
Canadensis and rufus) used to infest the woods, and render trav
eling somewhat dangerous to the early settler, but the last seen in
the county were about a third of a century ago.
The black bear, porcupine and beaver have not been seen here
for a still longer period.
Minks, weasels and skunks, once common, are diminishing.
Twenty to thirty years ago there was a brisk trade here in their furs
and other peltry which perceptibly thinned out the fur-bearing
animals. Fox and gray squirrels keep up their proportion with the dimin
ishing forest. The gray species is the most numerous, among
which a black specimen is occasionally met with. Flying squirrels
are still here, but as they are entirely nocturnal in their habits they
are seldom seen. There are also ground squirrels in abundance.
Moles, rabbits and bats are of course still common.
No others have been seen for many years, though they were
frequent in early days. There are still a good many muskrats.
Occasionally there is a gray fox met with, but no red foxes have
been seen for a long time.
Wolves, of the large gray or "timber" species, were plentiful in
early times, and more annoying and mischievous than all other and
imals put together; but they are now, of course, extinct.
Ground hogs, or " woodchucks," were never plentiful, and are so
scarce now that seldom can one be found.
" Wild hogs," or domestic hogs escaped and running wild, were
abundant in pioneer times. In a few generations these animals
became as furious and dangerous as wolves.

BIRDS.

Of the 260 species of birds found in De Kalb County, either con
stantly or occasionally in emigration, the group of singers exceeds
in number all others, though the really excellent musicians among
them number but flfteen or twenty. The most numerously repre
sented division, the wood warblers (Tanagridce) are not fine sing
ers. The best songsters of the forest belong to the thrush and
mocking-bird family.
Thrush Family. — The superior singing bird of De Kalb County
is the superior singer of all the world, namely, the wood-thrush. It
is really more entertaining than the famous nightingale of Europe.
Its melodious, flute-like tones are altogether " too sweet" for de-

t^

260 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
scriptlon. They are grouped Into short tunes of eight, ten or
twelve notes each- and there are six or eight tunes sung by this
bird, with intervals of five to six or seven seconds between them.
Next to this prima donna of the forest are the olive-backed (or
Swalnson's) thrush, Wilson's thrush, the northern mocking-bird
(or cat-bird), the brown thrush and the robin. These are all migra
tory birds, spending the summer here but the winter in the South.
The robin sometimes remains all winter. The hermit and the
olive-backed thrushes are more common in the spring and fall
The robin and the cat-bird frequent the orchards and gardens, nest
ing about the door-yards, and prefer these places to the woods,
probably because of greater security irom birds or other animals of
prey. The brown thrush is found in the thickets of hazel-brush,
briers, etc., which skirt old fences and the edge of woods, and gen
erally nests in brush heaps. The remainder of this family is con
fined to the woodland. Their food consists of beetles, grasshoppers,
snails, spiders, caterpillars, etc. , together with small fruits and berries.
Bluebird Family. — The bluebird is the only representative of
this family in the county. It is common from spring to fall, nest
ing In bird-houses, fence-posts, decayed trees, and feeds on winged
insects, worms, grasshoppers, spiders and a scant proportion of
berries. Kinglets. — The ruby-crowned and the golden-crowned kinglets
and the blue-gray gnat-catcher are all common during the spring
and fall. The first-mentioned is frequently found in winter, and
the gnat-catcher is abundant during the summer. These are con
fined to the woods. The kinglets nest in the lake region, but the
gnat-catcher nests here, building a wonderful structure high up on
the oaks. It is somewhat purse-shaped, and often at the extrem
ity of a bough, so as to sway with the wind, secure from enemies.
It is placed in a concealed situation, and artistically, as well as
substantially, finished.
Chickadee. — The titmouse, or black-capped chickadee, the only
member of this family here, feeds upon insects, seeds, berries,
crumbs, meat, etc., and generally nests in the woods, where it
makes its home most of the year, but during the winter it is seen
near the house, feeding upon sweepings from the table.
Nuthatches. — The white-bellied and the red-bellied nuthatch ai-e
common, especially the former. These birds are found in wood.
lands and orchards. Their nests are built in holes in trees. Food
— ants, eggs of insects and seeds.

J-

HISTORY OK DE KALB OOUNTY. 261
Brown Creepir.—X common spring, fall and winter resident,
and a woodland bird, is to bo niontloncd in this connection.
Wren Family. — The Carolina wren is a very rare strai^;gler from
the South. The house wren is common locally. The winter wren
is a common spring and fall visitor, often remaining during the
open winters. The long-billed marsh wren is a common summer
resident of the marshes, building a large globular nest of coarse
sand-grass, suspended to reeds or flag stems. The short-billed
marsh wren Is a common summer resident, generally found on low
meadow lands. The wrens feed on insects only.
Lark Family. — The horned lark is a winter resident, but some
times breeds here. It frequents barren and gravelly fields, feeding
on seeds and insects. When the ground is covered with snow they
may be seen feeding upon the droppings of stock about the
farm. The Titlark is an abundant migrant in late fall and early spring,
frequenting the same localities and subsisting on the same food as
the preceding. There aro sometimes large flocks of this species
of bird. Warblers. — These are numerous. The black and white creeper
is a common summer resident, nesting on the ground, generally
beside a fallen log. The blue yellow-backed warbler, a rare mi
gratory bird. Is sometimes found in the tree-tops of the wild forest.
The blue-winged yellow warbler Is rare. The blue golden-winged
warbler is common in spring and fall. The Nashville and Tennes
see warblers are very common. The orange-crowned warbler is
rare. The yellow, the black-throated green, the black-throated
blue, the blue, the yellow-rumped, the blackburnian, the black-
poll, the yellow red-poll, and the chestnut-sided warblers are all
common — some of them abundant; all migrants. The bay-breasted,
the Cape May, the prairie, the yellow-throated and KIrtland's war
blers are rare. The golden-crowned thrush (Seiurus auricajnllus)
is a common summer resident, frequenting low, open woods. The
water thrush {S. naevius) is rare, but breeds here.. The large-
billed water thrush is common in swampy timber lands. The Con
necticut warbler is rare, but may become common. It is a fine
songster. The Maryland yellow-throat is found occasionally.
The black-capped fly-catching warbler is common during the spring
and autumn. Canada fly-catching warbler, common. Red start,
very common.
Tanagers. — The scarlet tanager is common, aud the summer red-

17

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f

262 HISTORY OF DE KALB OOUNTY.
bird (sometimes kept in cages) rare, accidentally straying from the
South. Swallow Family. — The barn, cliff or cave, white-bellied, and
the bank or sand swallows are common. The purple martin, for
merly common, is being driven out by the English sparrow. The
swallows feed exclusively upon winged insects.
Wax-wings. — The Carolina wax-wing or cherry bird is a com
mon resident, breeding in August and September, and feeding on
the cultivated fruits.
Vireos. — There are a half-dozen species of these in this section
of the country, inhabiting woodlands, some of them common, some
of them rare.
Shrikes or Butcher Birds. — The great Northern shrike is rare;
the logger-head shrike, two varieties, is common. These form a
small but Interesting family of bold and spirited birds, quarrel
some among themselves. They form a kind of connecting link be
tween insect-eating birds and birds of prey. Their food con
sists of large insects, mice and small birds and snakes. They are
noted for impaling their prey on thorns or sharp twigs and leaving
it there — for what purpose is not yet known.
Finchand Sparrow Family. — Numerous; pine grosbeak,an oc
casional winter visitor; purple finch, a common migrant; white-
winged and red cross-bills, rare winter visitors; red-poll linnet, an
irregular winter visitor; pine linnet, a rare winter visitor from the
North; goldfinch, or yellow bird, common and well-known; has the
appearance of a canary; snow-bunting, a common but irregular
winter visitor; Lapland long-spur, a common winter visitor; Savan
nah sparrow, a common migrant; bay-winged bunting, very com
mon from spring to fall; yellow-winged, Henslow's aud Lincoln's
sparrows, are summer residents; swamp and song sparrows,
common, the latter abundant all the warm season; snow-bird,
common in winter; mountain sparrow, common in winter; chip
ping and field sparrows, common in summer; white-throated
and white-crowned sparrows, common migrants; English sparrow,
abundant in the towns, driving out our native song-birds; fox
sparrow, a very common spring and fall visitor; black-throated
bunting, growing common; rose-breasted grosbeak, a common sum
mer resident; breeds along tlie water-courses in low trees and
shrubs; indigo bird, abundant in summer, frequenting low wood
lands overrun with briers; towhee bunting orchewink, abundant.
Birds of this family feed entirely upon seeds except during the

\W — ^  ^   -^ — ^1^^
HISTORY OF DE KALB OOUNTY. 263

breeding season. Those which aro residents all the year and those
which are summer residents only subsist during tlie breeding sea-
eon and feed their young almost exclusively upon insects. At
other times their food consists of the seeds of grass aud weeds.
The rose-breasted grosbeak Is the only bird known to feed on the po
tato bug and the white-crowned sparrow feeds on the grape-vine flea-
beetle. The common yellow bird, or goldfinch, prefers the seeds of
the thistle and lettuce. The fox sparrow and chewink scratch the
ground for hibernating insects and snails. The crossbills feed on
the seeds In pine cones, and the English sparrow feeds on the seeds
contained In the droppings of animals.
Blackbird Family. — Bobolink, common and well-known ; a fine
and cheerful songster; cow-bird, or cow blackbird, a summer visitor,
frequenting old pasture land and the edge of woods; like the Euro
pean cuckoo, it builds no nest, but lays its eggs In the nests of
smaller birds, such as warblers, vireos and sparrows. Red-winged
blackbird, abundant in summer; meadow lark, well known; orchard
and Baltimore orioles are very common; rusty blackbird, or grackle,
is common for a week or two In spring; crow blackbird, common
and well known.
With the exception of one or two species, this family is decidedly
gregarious. Insects and grains constitute their food. The cow-
bird destroys the eggs and young of other birds. The orioles feed
largely on hairy caterpillars aud also on some of the small fruits,
green peas, etc.
Crauj JBamily. — The raven was common, but Is now rare. The
common crow, well-known, emigrates southward during the cold
est weather. Blue jay is the gayest plumaged and harshest-voiced
bird of the American forests. Birds of this family are omnivorous.
Fly-catcher Family. — The king-bird is abundant in summer, fre
quenting orchards and the edge of the woods; great crested fly
catcher, abundant in the forest; uses snake skins as a part of its
nest material; pewee, or Phoebe bird, common; wood pewee, a
common bird of the orchard and woodland; least fly-catcher, com
mon in summer; yellow-bellied fly-catcher, a common migrant,
but rare summer resident. The king-bird and pewee frequent
open places; the others of this family dwell in the forest. They all
subsist upon winged insects.
Goatsucker Family. — Whippoorwill and night-hawk, well-known
and common. These birds are nocturnal in their habits and feed
upon insects.

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264 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
The Chimney Swallow is the only member of the family Cypse-
lidcB that is found in this latitude. It is sometimes seen in large
flocks, roosting in unused chimneys, barns and hollow trees.
Hujnming-bird Family.— The ruby-throated is the only species
found here. It feeds upon insects, which it captures within
flowers. King-fisher Funnily. — The belted king-fisher is a common sum
mer resident in suitable localities. It feeds upon small fish.
Cuckoo Family. — The black-billed species is common; has been
called "rain crow." The yellow-billed cuckoo is not common.
Omnivorous. Woodpecker Family. — There are half a dozen species of wood
pecker found In this locality, all common, viz.: The hairy, downy,
yellow-bellied, red-bellied, red-headed and golden-winged. Om
nivorous. Owl Family. — The great horned, the mottled, the screech, the
long-eared and the short-eared are abundant. The barn owl is a
rare straggler from the South. Possibly one or two other species
may occasionally be found here.
Hawk Family. — The marsh hawk, the sharp shinned. Cooper's,
the sparrow, the red-tailed, the red-shouldered, the broad-winged,
the rough-legged or black, and the fish hawks are all common. The
white-tailed kite, the goshawk, the pigeon hawk, Swalnson's hawk
and the bald eagle are more rare.
The Turkey Buzzard, belonging to a distinct family, is rare.
Pigeon Family. — The wild pigeon, an abundant migrant, some
times breeds here. The Carolina dove, a resident here most of
the year. Is common.
The Wild Turkey, once abundant, but now rare, is the only
member of its family native to this region.
Orouse Family. — Prairie chicken, once occasional, none now;
ruffed grouse, or partridge, occasional ; quail, common.
Plover Family. — The golden plover, the killdeer and the semi-
palmated are common about unfrequented ponds. The black-bel
lied plover is rare, if ever seen at all.
Sandpiper Family. — The most common species of this family
are the semi-palmated, least, pectoral, red-breasted, Willst, solitary,
spotted and upland sandpipers, the snipe and the woodcock. Less
common are the buff-breasted and red-backed sandpipers, long-
billed curlew and perhaps occasionally two or three other unim
portant species.

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HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY. 265
Heron Family. — The green and night herons, the bittern and
the least bittern are common rosidunts. Tho great blue heron is a
common migrant and the great white heron a rare summer visitor.
Cran<;s. — The whoopini^ and sand-hill cranes are sometimes seen
in migration.
Rail Family. — The Virginia and Carolina- rails and the coot are
often seen in the yiciiiity of the streams and in the margin of ponds;
the clapper, king, yellow and black rails, very rarely; the Florida
gallinule. occasional.
Duck Fa mil y. — The common species are the mallard, black,
big black-head, little black-head, ring-necked, red-head (or pochard)
golden-eye, butter ball, ruddy and fish (gosander) ducks, the brant
and Canada geese, widgeon, golden-winged and blue-winged teal
and the hooded merganser. Rarely are seen the pintail, gadwall,
shoveler, wood duck, canvas-back duck, long-tailed duck aud re,d.
breasted merganser. All the duck family are migratory.
Gull Family. — About ten species may rarely be seen in passing.
Loon. — One species sometimes strays into this locality from the
North. Gi'ebes. — The horned and the pied-bill grebes are occasional.
One or two other species very rare. FISHES.
As there are no large lakes or streams in De Kalb County, the
number and variety of fishes are limited, especially in these days
of mill-dams and city sewage.
Stickleback Family.— This furnishes the chief game fish, as bass
and sun fish. The local names of these fish are so various that we
scarcely know how to refer to them; but we may venture to name
the black bass, the green or Osage bass, the big black sun-fish or
rock bass, goggle-eye and the two common sun-fish, all of which
have materially diminished within the last five years.
Perch Family. — There are no perch, or "jack salmon," in the
county. They were once common throughout the State, but now
are only to be found occasionally in some of the most favored
places. They are among the finest fishes, and ought to be culti
vated. The salmon sometimes attains a weight of forty pounds.
Pike Tamily. — The larger pike, sometimes called " grass pike,"
used to be met with, especially in draining off the marshes. The
pickerel was also native here, but none are to be found at the pres-

\

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266 HISTORY OF DE KALB OOUNTY.
ent day. Nor have gar pike (" gars") existed here since the ad
vent of mill-dams.
Sucker Family. — To this family belong the buffalo (rare), red-
horse (occasional) and the white sucker (also occasional). Black
suckers and mullets still thrive in some parts of Indiana, but not
here. Catfish Family. — Fish of this family are still common, but are
small, weighing only a pound or two. We can scarcely name the
species in English. Perhaps we may say the channel, or mud cat
fish, the blue and the yellow, the bull-head and one or two other
small species are found here. The yellow are the most common.
Minor Sorts. — Besides the above, there are several varieties of
chubs, silver sides, and large numbers of other species denomi
nated minnows, which are found in the smallest spring branches
as well as the larger streams.
Fish planting has not yet been introduced into this county.
REPTILES.
Of the twenty-three species of Snakes that have existed in this
3tate, and probably in this county, several of the largest have been
about exterminated. Only two of them are venomous, namely,
the copperhead and the massanger. Very few of these are to be
found at the present day. The smaller species are useful animals,
like toads, in destroying mice, moles and other vermin, and are
preserved by Intelligent farmers on this account.
Of Lizards there are very few in this section. Those creatures
which resemble them are innocent salamanders, and are really as
useful as toads in the destruction of flies and other insects. There
are eighteen species of these animals in Indiana. The largest at
tains a length of eight inches, and is black, with large, irregular
yellow spots. Another large species is entirely yellow; another of
a brilliant vermilion haunts cold springs. The second in size is
the "mud alligator," or "water dog," a frequent annoj'ance to
fishermen. Still another species has external gills, for respiration
in water, thus resembling polly wogs.
Of Frogs there are five species, and of toads five. Four are tree
toads. One species of frog is subterranean, excavating Its burrows
backward with its hind feet, which are shovel formed. It comes to
the surface early to breed, after thunder showers in April, in the
evening, when it is easily recognized by its loud, discordant notes.

wr

CHAPTER III.

PIONEER HISTORY AND REMINISCENCES.

Early Settlement. — Pioneers before 1836. — Locating the
County Seat. — Early Commissioners' Meetings. — Early In
cidents. — ^ Indian Scares. — The Nearest Mill. — Provisions
Scarce. — The Log Cabin. — Hand Labor. — Handspike Farm
ing. — -'Windrow" Planting. — First Preacher. — First Reli
gious Meetings. — Early Preachers and Religious Progress.
— First Events. — A Backwoods Judge. — More of the Pio
neers. — The Flood. — Navigating the Desert with a Pocket
Compass. — Gunpowder Tea. — A Bridal Tour. — All Well but
Fourteen! — Sufferings of Mr. Osburn. — Family Mills. —
Primitive School-Houses. — A Rascally Parody.
EARLY SETTLEMENT.
The early history of this county, like that of many other counties,
has not been handed down to us with that degree of minuteness
that would prove interesting to the readers of the present day.
Authentic records of its early settlement do not appear, and the
few who participated in the scenes of that period have long since
been gathered to their fathers. Yet there is a lively interest still
manifested in the narration of the severe battles fought and vic
tories won over the huge obstacles presented by rude nature, and
if there is nothing new to offer the oft-repeated tale has a charm
about it that never wearies, and the thrilling adventure and humor
ous incident are sources of enjoyment that captivate and enchain
the most indifferent.
When we look over the beautiful fields and fertile valleys of the
present day and see the evidences of improvement and enterprise
on every hand, we are prone to ignore the terrible sufferings and
privations that fell to the lot of those who struck the first blows
and inaugurated the plans that brought those great achievements.
No cultivated fields nor happy homes greeted the eye; no civil
ized voices fell upon the ear to cheer the heart with joy ; but all
(367)

268 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
was desolation in the midst of nature's luxuriousness. It is a
matter worthy of remark that indomitable will and perseverance
must have entered more largely into the composition of these early
settlers than is observable in the various classes that now populate
our country. Be this as it may, it was their great stock in hand,
and to this we are indebted to-day for the pleasant homes they now
leave for the more glorious and peaceful one that shall last during
the ceaseless ages of eternlt}'.
Far removed from the influence and association of home and
friends, with nothing but the deep silence of the mighty forest as
their companion, they struck the first blows for civilization and
improvement, and by Herculean efforts carved out in the depth of
the wilderness the rude but comfortable homes as the first fruits
of their labor. pioneers before 1836.
Very few settlers were within the bounds now embraced by De
Kalb County in the early part of the year 1836. The following
list is believed to be complete : Homer Blake, who settled on the
tract of land for a long time afterward occupied by his son, Henry
Blake, below Spencerville; David Butler, one of the last of the
pioneers to "bid farewell to scenes of earth;" John Mathews, on a
tract of land afterward forming a part of the home fartn of Hon. R.
J, Dawson ; Mr. Yates, on another portion of said farm, and the
present site of Spencerville; old Mr. Rhodes and sons, on the
farm joining Spencerville on the west; Jeremiah Rhodes, on the
farm afterward owned by Mr. Melton, on Bear Creek; Daniel
Rhodes, on the farm occupied by his widow ; Mr. Brandt and
Crannel Rood, on the farm in the bend of the river east of Spencer
ville ; William Mathews, on the farm where Jacob Dills afterward
resided; George and David Mathews, on a tract on the opposite
side of the river from William; Mr. Lytle aud Jared Ball, on the
farm afterward owned by Gavin Hainiltou, one mile below Orange
ville; Washington Robinson, on the present site of Newville; and
William Rodgers and Jacob Platter, on the farm belonging to
Samuel Wyatt, near Newville.
De Kalb County was as yet unorganized, a portion of its terri
tory being attached to Lagrange, and a portion to Allen. Early
in the year 1836, John Blair, Esq., settled on the farm where he
died; Charies Wilber, on the farm owned later by old Mr. Hall,
near Orangeville; William Buriey, at the present site of the last

"Tc

HISTORY OF DE KALB OOUNTY. 269
named village; Joseph Ludwig, on the farm where he lived till his
death; Judge Walden, a little farther up the river, and Ariel
Rood, still further up. A little later In the season Judge Samuel
Widney settled on the farm where ho died, and John P. Wldney
on the farm owned afterward by Gardner Melendy, at Newville;
Benjamin Alton, on the farm since owned by Dr. Herrlngton; Dr.
Babcock, a little below, on the farm afterward occupied by Mr.
Scoles; and Asher Coburn and relatives, in the Coburn settlement.
During the same season Wesley Park settled on the site of Au
burn, and laid out the town. Settlers began to push through the
woods into various parts of the county, and the latter was given a
civil organization. LOCATING THE COUNTY SEAT.
In the winter of lS36-'7 the act organizing De Kalb County was
passed by the Legislature, and there seemed an active competition
for the county seat between Messrs. Rogers and Hamilton, and
Messrs. Park and Howe. The former parties bought land, laid
out a town plat, staked off lots and gave their site the name of
Centerville. The eligible site laid out by Park, in conjunction with
Judge John Howe (of Lima, Lagrange County), on the west bank of
Cedar Creek, two miles south and three miles west of the center of
the new county, was a formidable competitor for public favor, and
when Messrs. Littlefield, of Lagrange, Gilmore, of Steuben, and
Robert Work, of Allen, were appointed Commissioners to locate a
county seat. Auburn was duly selected. Centerville, like many
another such site, was never built up, and It now makes good farm
ing land.

The first meeting of the Board of Commissioners of De Kalb
County was held July 25, 1837, and the two members of that
board were Peter Fair and Samuel Widney. At this meeting,
which was in the house of Wesley Park, at Auburn, as also were
the succeeding sessions for a number of years, the first step taken
was to appoint Wesley Park their Clerk pro tem. The same man
was appointed County Treasurer for a year; Byron Bunnel was
named as County Agent; John Blair was given the office of
'Assessor; and Lanslot Ingman was made Collector of Taxes. The
first legislative act was then passed, prescribing the boundaries of
Franklin Township as follows: "Commencing at the northeast

"^

¦V *  »-  --— — -' ^
I \ - - tf~*'
270 HIS'TORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
corner of said county (DeKalb); thence west to the corners of
ranges 13 and 14 east, townships 35 and 36 north; then south six
miles to township 34 north, ranges 13 and 14 east; thence east on
the town line to the east line of said county; thence north to the
place of beginning ; the above shall constitute the first township
in De Kalb County." Provision was made for organizing this
township by an election to be held the first Monday in August fol
lowing, and Peter Boyer was appointed Inspector of Elections,
Isaac T. Aldrich, Constable, and John Holton, Supervisor.
The "second session but first regular" was held at the same
place, Sept. 4, 1837. There was present a full board : Peter Fair,
Samuel Widney and Isaac F. Beecher. John F. Coburn was Clerk,
and Wesley Park, Sheriff. "Being detained by unavoidable cir
cumstances from transacting business," they adjourned until the
following day. On reassembling according to appointment, Samuel
Eakright was chosen Road Commissioner for the county ; after
which an order was passed " that the congressional township 34
north, range 13 east, be organized as a township for judicial (civil)
purposes, to be known by the name of Union Township, and that
townships 34 and 35 north, range 12 east, and townships 33 and
35 north, range 13 east, be attached thereto." It was also " ordered
that Wesley Park be appointed Supervisor for the road district
No. 1, comprising the whole of Union Township, and all the lands
lying within said township are allotted to said district."
Further, it was " ordered that the congressional township 34
north, range 14 east, be, and It is hereby, organized as a civil town
ship, to be known by the name of Wilmington Township." Byron
Bunnel was appointed Supervisor.
And again, it was "ordered that the congressional township 33
north, range 12 east, be, and it is hereby, organized as a civil town
ship, to be known by the name of Butler Township." Andrew
Surface was appointed Supervisor.
It was at this meeting that money was first appropriated for
current expenses of the county. The first order drawn was for
$50.84, in favor of Wesley Park, and was to jiay for these items:
$8.00 for services as Sheriff previous to the first session of the
board, and as Clerk during that session; $16.69 for services as
Commissioner in laying out the Fort Wayne and Coldwater
State Road and $26.15 for services as Commissioner in laying
out the Goshen and Defiance State Road." Wesley McCan
was allowed $2.96 for services as axman In laying out road;

^

history of de KALB OOUNTY. 271
Martin Van Fleet, $2.96 for acting as chainman at -the same
time; Lanslot Ingman, 31^ cents for similar work; William Park,
31i cents as chainnian, and $4.75 for laying out the Goshen and
Defiance State Road ; Seth W. Murray, $7.23 for services as Com
missioner in laying out the Fort Wayne and Coldwater State
Road; and Joseph Miller, $26.21^ for surveying both the above
mentioned roads. Joseph Miller was appointed the first County
Surveyor. The only other business transacted at this first regular meeting
was the allowance of the commissioners' j9er diem, an item which
comes up as regularly as the board's meetings, several times each
year. While the present system seems to cost quite a sum in the
course of a year, it is nevertheless much less expensive than that in
practice in Michigan, Illinois and other States, where, instead of
three commissioners, there are from fifteen to twenty-five super
visors to draw mileage and pay.
The second regular session of the board was held In November,
and, the governmental machinery of the county being now fairly
set in motion, was pretty much like the sessions that have since
been held at the appointed times for the transaction of routine busi
ness. At this second meeting Wesley Park was appointed School
Commissioner for the county.
At the January session, 1838, Jackson Township was erected out
of township 33 north, range 13 east, and John Watson was named
as Inspector of Elections. An unique scale of licenses was adopted,
fixing a " tavern license at $20 ; each license to vend wooden clocks,
$60; each license to exhibit a caravan, menagerie or other collec
tion of animals, or show of wax figures, or circus, for each day,
$40." The license of $60 for selling wooden clocks seems strangely
large to us, who can go to any jewelry store and buy a clock for
$1.60, as far superior in value as inferior In price to the sort dis
tributed by the shrewd Taiikee peddler of a half a century ago.
During the latter part of 1837 De Kalb Township was organized,
including the present township of Concord, and the fractional town
ships of Stafford and Newville. In March, 1838, the fractional
township 34 north, range 15 east (now Stafford), was detached
from De Kalb and annexed to Wilmington for civil purposes, and
the name of De Kalb was changed to Concord, which application
it has now borne for nearly forty-seven years.
In those days nearly all business men were obliged to pay
licenses, of various amounts, in addition to their ordinary taxes.

7;

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¦ M'^-^p^_^  „,  .,  ..  ^^  - — "k.
272 HISTORY OF DE KALB OOUNTY.
Grocers, even, were laid under contribution, for March 7, 1838, in
the commissioners' record, an order was entered "that the tax
assessed to Thomas J. Freeman for a license to vend foreign mer
chandise and foreign and domestic groceries for the current year
be 85 cents, it appearing that the amount of his capital employed
therein is $170."
Wesley Park resigning the office of School Commissioner, Robert
Work was appointed his successor.
At the May session, 1838, the amount of bond for each constable
in the county ^ as fixed at $600. The sum of $2,000 was also
appropriated from the three per cent, fund for roads, as follows: SSOO
for the Goshen and Defiance State Road; $800 for the Fort Wayne <
and Coldwater State Road; and $400 for the State road on the
northwest side of the St. Joseph River. Several bridges were
also ordered built. At the same session the commissioners fixed
the poll tax for 1838 at 75 cents, and the property tax at 81-36 on
each $100 valuation. Of this $1.35, 85 cents was for county
revenue, and 50 cents for road purposes.
EARLY INCIDENTS.
On the following pages we give a collection of early incidents
and anecdotes, and reminiscences of old settlers, obtained from
various sources, but to a large extent extracted from a pamphlet
published twenty-five years ago by Rev. S. W. Widney, entitled
" Pioneer Sketches."
Many difficulties had to be encountered in getting into the
country in an early day. If the emigrant came with wagons, he had
to cut and make his own road. If he came by the river he some
times met with a shipwreck, an instance of which we will now
relate: Judge Widney was from Central Pennsylvania, and came by
canal to the Allegheny Mountains; over the mountains by steam,
ascending and descending those inclined planes; then again by
canal to Dayton, Ohio; thence by wagons through (not over) that
horrible, horriblehlack swamp to Fort Wayne. From thence he and
his wife passed up the Indian trail on horseback along the St. Joseph
River, while the family. In the care of John P. Widney and wife,
embarked in the pirogue of Judge Walden and Thomas Gorrell,
who were down for some provisions. The craft was " poled"
safely (though the load was heavy) until tliej' reached a ripple in
the river, near David Butler's place, when the bow of the boat

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HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY. 273
being turned by the rapid current, the water struck the side and
capsized the concern. Down went the pirogue, leaving crew and
passengers, great and small, floundering In water waist deep
to a common-sized man; and tho goods floated down the river in
sublime confusion. Some of the larger children succeeded in pad
dling ashore, while the wife of John P. Widney (now sleeping in
the Auburn graveyard) seized a child five years old (afterward
Mr. Widney's second wife) aud upheld her In the water until the
men succeeded in helping all ashore. The goods were then caught
at different points down the river. A trunk containing $800 in
bank bills fioated down perhaps half a mile, and when the runa
way was caught, the bills were completely saturated with the
water and had to be dried at the fire.
As another instance of diflficulties in getting into the country,
it is worth relating that Joseph Miller, the first County Surveyor
forDe Kalb County, and his father, brought a part of thelrgoods by
the way of Fort Wayne to Shryock's mill. And from thence to
the farm (afterward owned by Mr. DItmer), one mile below
Auburn, they had to cut their way through the dense forest.
Having left the balance of their goods and their families on the
Maumee, they struck through the woods, directly east, by means
of a pocket compass, to the St. Joseph, going around the worst
swamps, and then cut a road all the way back, some twelve miles,
for their wagons to pass, having to bridge a tamarack swamp on
the way. This road was known as " Miller's trace " for years
afterward, and served as a highway for many emigrants. It was
where the road now runs, westward from the St. Joseph River, at
Judge Widney's. INDIAN SCARES.
We quote from " Pioneer Sketches:"—" Many of the settlers had
never seen an Indian before coming here; but they had heard
and read much of their savage barbarity. During the years 1835
'6-'7-'8 many of these red men still lingered in their native forests,
generally in large companies or camps. They were an object of
terror to many of the settlers, especially to the women and children,
as singly or in caravans they passed from one camp to another.
To add to the terror, at first, the screams of a great owl, unknown
in the East but abounding in the Western woods, were taken for
the ' whoops ' of savftges .
" Well do I remember a night in the fall of 1837, spent in
terror of the Indians. I had been in the county six months, but

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274 HISTORY OP DE KALB COUNTY.

as yet had seen very few of them. My widowed mother, with
six children younger than myself (and I not yet seventeen years
of age), bought and settled on the farm spoken of on another
page as belonging to Dr. Babcock. Here an Indian trail crossed
the river, and on the other side was a house where liquor was sold.
Soon after nightfall the real whoops were heard away in the south
woods. The sound drew continually nearer, and increased in
volume, till our fears pictured a whole army of savages coming to
murder us. We put out all the lights, fastened the doors, and
concealed ourselves in different parts of the house. Soon the
Indians were tramping around the house, and their torches gleam
ing through the windows. We almost held our breath with fear.
Soon, however, they passed by, down to the river, and taking our
canoe, crossed over and their whoops died away, drowned In the
Indians' favorite beverage, 'good old rye.' But our rest was
spoiled for the night, as we continually dreaded their return.
"Afterward, however, we became better acquainted with the
' poor Indian ' as a camp of some forty men, squaws and
papooses, spent four or five weeks in their tents, within twenty
rods of the house, visiting us, or we them, daily. The men spent
their time hunting, dressing their game, gambling, or lying
around the fire like dogs. The women chopped the wood, made
the fires and waited on their lords and masters, while the children
shot birds with their bows and arrows. Joe Richardville, son of
the celebrated chief, was in the camp dressed partly like an Indian
and partly in the European costume. His college education
failed to make anything out of him but an Indian."

THE NEAREST MILL

and market was at Fort Wayne, about twenty-six miles from
the center of the river settlement, by land, and nearly as far
again by the winding river. There was no wagon road as yet,
and the river was the great thoroughfare. It was navigated by
means of pirogues — large canoes dug out of the huge towering
poplars abounding along the river. They were sometimes
three or four feet wide, and seventy or eighty feet long, and would
carry quite a burden. They were propelled by means of
poles and paddles. Coming up the river with a load when
the water was higli was very hard work, especially if the
river was too high to reach the bottom with poles of a convenient
length.

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HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.

275

Mr. Rhodes, of Newville, and Samuel Wason, of Spencerville,
had to pull a loaded pirogue nearly all the way from Fort Wayne
to where Spencerville now is, by laying lidd of the willows and
other bushes along the margin of the water. The entire voyage
occupied a week. John P. Widney and some others came up
with a load of provisions late in November, 1836, when the river
was swollen with the fall rains, and the " slush ice " was running,
and Ice froze on the poles whenever they drew them out of water.
These icy poles had to be used with bare hands, as gloves or
mittens could not be used. In this way it required a full week to
come up.
Provisions were very scarce and dear at Fort Wayne at the
time. Flour rose to $14 per barrel, and sometimes " wormy " at
that. Corn was $1.50 per bushel in the ear, and much of it rotten.
Salt was $2.25 per bushel, and other things in proportion.
PROVISIONS SCARCE.
Living thus distant from mill and market, and that market so
high, it may be readily imagined that the settlers would all some
times be reduced to straights in the provision line; and that those
scarce of cash must necessarily have seen very hard times in that
respect. Such was actually the case. There were but few
families in the settlement but that sometimes were pinched with
hunger, without the Immediate means on hand to satisfy it.
Several days together had nearly all of them sometimes to sub
sist upon potatoes instead of bread, and some would even have
been glad to get potatoes.
It was reported that one family, now in comfortable circum.
stances, had to live several weeks on vegetables gathered from the
woods, and cooked as "greens," with milk and beech bark.
Imagine to yourself the cabin of the settler visited in such
circumstances by severe fevers and agues, sometimes prostrating
the whole family for weeks, and one will not wonder that some
were discouraged, and wished themselves back again at their
comfortable Eastern homes. THE LOG CABIN.
We have log houses occasionally, in our day, but few of us
know much of the primitive forest home, and how it was made.
Here is a sketch of one. Say we have it sixteen feet by eighteen
Id size, and just high enough for the joists below the first rib, and

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276 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY .
then " cobbled off," as usual. One man cuts the logs in perhaps
half a day, or at most a day. Another, with a yoke of cattle and
a log chain, " snakes " them out, as fast as cut, to the little spot
cleared off for the cabin. The next day they cut a large white
oak that will "rive," and saw it into blocks four feet long.
These are split Into " bolts," aud these bolts riven into " shakes"
or clapboards. The next day the neighbors come in, from five or
six miles around, and throw up the logs, and notch them down in
their natural rough state, and one man, perhaps, " kutches down"
the inside of the logs as fast as they are pat down in their place,
while yet another cuts a straight-grained ash, and splits puncheons
two inches thick, for the floor, and dresses off one side with his ax.
Before night the house is •' cobbed off," the clapboards are laid on
the ribs, and the heavy " weight poles " laid on to keep them in
their place, and " knees " placed to keep these poles from rolling
down, these knees commencing against the "butting poles " at the
eave of the cabin, which butting pole Is laid on the "eave bearer"
(projecting some two feet on each side of the building), against
large pines driven into these eave bearers. The raising being now
over, the owner next builds a " back wall "of " nigger heads "
(as the rough stones were called), gathered perhaps from a half
mile around, as they are sparsely scattered over the surface, or
out of the bed of the creek or river; or, perhaps not taking the
trouble togather these niggerheads, he builds the wall of •' mud, "
made of clay dug from the inside of the cabin, just in front of
where he expects to have his hearth. The wall is, say, six feet
wide and four feet high, built against the end wall of the cabin,
equi-distant from the corners. Now he seeks a small tree, with
a crook similar to a sleigh runner, and cutting it of a proper length
splits it for the arms of his chimney.
These are placed on at each end of his back wall, with one end
of each arm in a crevice between the logs of the cabin, and the
other lodged against the rough joist, the crook being downward,
entering the crevice a little below the top of the back wall. Split
ting the sticks for his chimney, about the size of plastering lath, he
now commences building alternate layers of sticks and mud on the
arms above described, about three feet by six at flrst, but gradu_
ally drawing in until it is about two feet by four, and then run.
ningup, perpendicularly, until the top of his chimney peers above
the roof, out of the hole there left for it. Making his hearth of
clay, well beaten down, he next lays his puncheon floor, makes

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UISTORY OF DE KALB OOUNTY. 277
his clapboard door, or hangs up a quilt in place of it, puts in his
six light sash, with glass or greased paper to transmit the light,
lays the chamber floor with clapboard, and, behold, he has a house.
Now he must furnish it. Well, taking some puncheons left from
the floor, he cuts them into square pieces, dresses off one side with
his ax, bores holes for the legs, hews out rough sticks for those
legs, drives them in and his chairs are made. Cutting some
straight iron wood poles, of proper length, for rails and posts,
boring holes in those posts with a large augur, hewing off the ends
of the rails with his ax to the necessary size, and then driving all
together with the same tool, he soon has a bedstead. Stripping a
young basswood tree of its bark, and weaving It around and
between the rails — lo, the bedstead is corded! Boring holes In the
wall, he dresses rough wooden pins, and lays a broad clapboard
thereon, and behold his cupboard! To close this description, a
"lytle" anecdote is appropriate concerning the "awful abyss:"
John P. Wldney had just erected such a cabin as above de
scribed, save that it had as yet no floor. His chimney had just
been finished, and in building it he had dug a deep hole just be
tween the door and the hearth. He and his wife, seated on a
sleeper in front of the fire, were enjoying its genial warmth on a
cold December night. The earth was covered with a mantle of
snow, and the wind whistled without; but what cared they, in their
comfortable dwelling? Two land hunters, Mr. Lytle and another,
lost and benighted, were pushing through the snow and brush
when the light of the six-pane window, on the tall bluff of Twenty-
six Mile Creek, caught their delighted vision, and they waded
toward it and plunged waist deep in the swollen creek, thick
with snow and ice. Out again, on the other side, their eyes stead
fastly fixed on the beacon light. They soon rapped on tRe logs at
the side of the door, and were cordially bade " come in." Turning
aside the quilt, they entered; and stepping toward the cheerful
fire, they both plunged, together, into the "awful abyss " from
which the substance of the chimney had been drawn. And there
we will leave them to extricate themselves as best they can, and
warm and dry themselves by Mr. Widney's hospitable fire-
HAND LABOR.
In addition to the diflicultles and privations endured by the
river settlements, as mentioned above, was that of a scarcity of
teams. Having as yet raised nothing on which to feed teams
18

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278

HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.

in the winter, they were willing to make many shifts to get along
without. ' ' I know, " says Mr. Widney, "a highly respected citizen
of this county, who has filled several offices and is now considered
wealthy, that between the first of January, 1837, and the first day
of May following, chopped off five acres of heavy timber, taking it
nearly all down, burned the brush, rolled the logs and burned
them off, split the rails and carried them to their place on the
fence on his shoulders; and thus had his field cleared off and well
fenced by the time mentioned above, without having a team in
the clearing, except perhaps one day, to draw the remnants of the
log heaps together."
His wife was his sole help, he chopping and she often picking
the brush. Many nights he worked by moonlight until quite late.
He " yankeed " the largest logs together, as he expressed It, having
this in view in felling the trees, and carried the smaller logs, or
dragged them by one end, or rolled them with a handspike to the
heap, as best he could. "When I visited him on the sixth of
May, he and his wife were digging holes among the roots with
hoes, and putting in seed corn." The crop was tended entirely
with the hoe; and in this way he raised a good crop of corn and
potatoes, without having a plow in the field.
" HANDSPIKE " FARMING.
It was said that William Mathews raised a good crop of corn,
planted with a handspike, and tended with a hoe. His plan of
planting was to strike a sharp handspike into the rich soil diago
nally, draw it out, drop in the seed, and then press down the soil
by stepping on it as he passed on to plant the next hill.
"windrow" PLANTING.
The settler often found the season for planting on hand before
his clearing was "burned off, " and then sometimes the corn or
potatoes were planted between the log heaps; sometimes the timber
was thrown into " windrows," some three or four rods apart, and
the crop planted between the rows, the log being left to be burned
when the crop came off. FIRST PREACHER.
The first settlers were quite destitute of religious privileges.
Benjamin Alton, of the Disciples' or Campbellite church, preached
the first sermon in the county, as nearly as can be learned, in the

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HISTORY OF DE KALB OOUNTY. 279
fall of 1836. For some time, perhaps nearly a year, he was the
only preacher. He had settled in the woods and had to clear his
own land and get his provisions in the meantime, often by taking
jobs of chopping, yet he generally preached on Sunday.
•- Ho was a man of considerable talent," continues the author of
"Pioneer Sketches," "and died some years ago, much lamented. It
was said that he used to preach In the summer, in his rough tow-
pants, without acoat, and with a shoe on one foot and a boot
on the other. This is not strange, when I remember that shoes
and boots were so hard to be had that John P. Widney and I,
duringthe summer (1837)1 lived with him, could only get one
good pair of shoes between us, which we wore alternately on
Sunday, one going to meeting and one staying at home; and that
John and Hazzard Webster used to come down to Newville, even
to election, barefooted." FIRST MEETINGS.
The first Methodist two days meeting was Held near Orange
ville, in 1837, by N. L. Thomas and Joseph Miller, both then
residing on the Maumee. Prayer-meetings had been held pre
viously by religiously inclined persons of various denominations,
without any distinctions. The origin of the first one is thus
related by Judge Widney: " We had been in the country for 'some
time without knowing that there was a praying person in the
settlement besides ourselves, when one Sabbath R. R. Lounsbury
and another man returning from Fort Wayne stopped at my
house and informed me that Thomos L. Yates (afterward judge)
was under conviction, and wished me to come and pray with him.
I went, and found quite a mumber of persons in the house.
" I sang and prayed, and while praying noticed that old Father
Rhodes was fervently responding to my petitions. I then sang
again and called on him to pray, and while he prayed I noticed
that the old lady, his wife, was al#o praying. I next called on her
and found that old Mother Yates (mother of the penitent man)
was engaged, and so I called on her next, and this closed our
meeting. Afterward we held prayer-meeting nearly every
Sabbath, at Father Rhodes's, my house, Mr. Lounsbury's, Mr.
Eakright's, or some other."
EARLY PREACHERS AND MEETINGS.
" Revs. Coleman and Warner were the first circuit preachers of
the Methodist Episcopal church who visited the settlement. I
 to
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280 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
think it was some time in the year 1838. They organized several
classes at different points. Early in the year 1839 sixteen persons
who had been members of the Methodist Protestant church in
Ohio and Pennsylvania met at the house of Samuel Tarney, on
Bear Creek, and organized them into a Methodist Protestant class.
I was one of the members, and Samuel Wldney, Sr., was our
leader. He wrote to Rev. Joel Dalbey, then at Pittsburg, to try to
procure a preacher. He answered that we had better apply to
the Ohio Conference. Our leader then wrote to the celebrated
Nicholas Snethin, at Cincinnati.
"This letter was sent from the Ohio to the Indiana Conference,
then just organized and holding its session in Monroe County, and
Lewis Hickman came on as missionary and organized several
classes, and finally a circuit. He was the first Methodist Protes
tant preacher in Indiana, north of the Wabash, so far as I know.
For some time the Disciples, Methodist Episcopal and Methodist
Protestant churches were the only ones In the county.
' ' Jonathan Thomas and Bishop Kumler were the first United
Brethren preachers. They labored as missionaries through the
country in 1841 and 1842, if I am correct. S. B. Ward was the
first regular Baptist minister in the county. Elders Cherry and
Miner the first Free-Will Baptist, and James Gather the first
Lutheran. Mr. Gather commenced his labors early in the year
1844, and the others several years earlier."
FIRST EVENTS.
"The first man who was married while a resident of the settle
ment, we are informed, was Jared Ball to Miss Mellnda Slater.
The father of the bride resided in Williams County, Ohio, near the
present village of Edgerton, and there they were married, the ec
centric bridegroom paying the marriase fee to Mr. Alton, the
officiating minister, in pumpkins. And, to keep the story from
being lonesome here, I will state that in later years a certain Judge
performed a marriage, the bridegroom in which was the fortunate
possessor of a tract of 'oak opening' and a 'cranberry marsh.'
After the ceremony, the bland and courteous Judge was informed
by the happy bridegroom that for his Invaluable services he could
have the privilege of getting some cranberries in his marsh !"
The first marriage that took place in the settlement was that of
Nelson Ulm and Elvira Lockwood. It is remembered that the
bride was too weakly, or too much excited, to stand up during the

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HISTORY OF DE KALB OOUNTY. 281 ' I f

ceremony. It was in the summer of 1837. The first marriage
licenses taken out in the county were those of Francis Smith and
Maria Gunsenhouser, and of John Platter and Ann Emmeline
Walden. Both were issued on the 6th of September, 1837, and
both were performed by Washington Robinson, of Concord Town
ship, the first Justice of the Peace in De Kalb County.
The first funeral in the settlement was that of Mrs. Barker, who
died just above where Newville is now located. Judge Widney
was sent for to perform the funeral services, there being no min
ister then in the settlement. He sang, prayed and talked to the
people a few minutes on the subject of death.
The first store in the county was opened in what Is now Orange
ville in the spring of 1837. John Platter, William Rogers, a Mr.
Savage and some other person put in each $200, and brought on the
amount in such goods as the settlers most needed. John P. Wid
ney was employed to cut logs for the storehouse, receiving $2 for
the job, and performing it in half a day. The house was 16x18
feet in size, of round logs.
The first grist-mill, or " corn cracker," rather, in the county was
built by William Mathews, on Bear Creek, on the east part of the
school section of Concord Township, near George Johnston's. It
was a small affair, truly. The stones were about two feet in
diameter, and were turned by means of a "flutter-wheel," on an
upright post, set in a tub, through one side of which the water
passed. The whole machinery was set in a small rickety frame,
without weather-boarding. The corn dropped, a grain at -a time,
from the little hopper; so that perhaps in twenty-four hours, at a
good stage of water, eight bushels of corn might be "cracked."
Mr. Widney relates that he carried a half bushel of corn from his
brother's, at Newville, to this mill, a distance of four miles, on his
shoulder. He waited Ifalf a day to get it ground, and then carried
the meal back In the same way. Among the numerous tales told
of this mill, the following will do to repeat - James Widney, in
the fall of 1837, took a bushel of corn to be ground, and after it had
been grinding for some time went below to see how much meal
was in the little store box, used for a meal chest, and to his dismay
found a large yellow dog eating the meal as fast as it came from
the spout !
The first election in the county was held in July, 1837. The
settlers on the river all voted at the house of Washington Robinson,
Esq., at Vienna, or Newville, as It is now called. Three county

282 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
commissioners, two associate judges, and a clerk and recorder were
to be elected, and, perhaps, some other officers.
On counting out the votes, a ticket came up that sorely puzzled
the judges, as to whether it should be counted or not. A portion
of it ran thus: " For Commissioners,
I'll tell you, sirs;
The old Major—
Or Johnny Blair;
William Roger
And Peter Fair.
For Clerk and Recorder, too,
John F. Coburn, sure, will do ;
Arial Waldon for a Judge,
And James Bowman for a drudge."
Much merriineut was had over this ticket. The office of drudge
was supposed to be intended to accommodate the court with
whisky, as some judges, at that early day, took their drams. It
was not then known who put in this ticket, but it has been sup
posed that it was one who has since filled the office of judge him
self. Who brought his liquor, the records say not. The gentle
man voted for to fill the last office mentioned on the ticket was
not elected.
Samuel Widney, Peter Fair and Isaac F. Beecher were elected
County Commissioners; Arial Waldon and Thomas L. Yates,
Judges of the Court, and John F. Coburn, Clerk and Recorder.
"John P. Widney carried the returns of the election to Auburn
(as the cabins of Wesley Park and one or two others were then
collectively called), and I accompanied him.
"We went on foot and followed an Indian trail, as there was no
road, wading all the swamps on the route. On returning, not be
ing a very good Indian, I gave out, so as hardly to be able to drag
my limbs home. This was my first and last experiment in carry
ing election returns." A BAOKWOOD'S JUDGE.
Mr. Yates, one of the Judges elected, was rather an odd genius
of a backwoodsman. When he was elected he dryly remarked
that they were using up the buckeye timber first, and reserving
that of a superior quality. This, however, was only his opinion,
and as he had not yet taken his position on the bench it did not
amount to law.
It is said that when called to his seat beside the president Judge,

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HISI'ORY OF DE KALB OOUNTY. 283
Hon. Charles Ewing, he was dressed in his coarse huntlni^-shlrt
and fox-skin cap, and seemed much embarassed in his new position.
No doubt he would have felt more at home with a good rifle on his
shoulder, after a nice fat "buck." He made a good judge, how
ever, as did his associate, Judge Waldon.
MORE OF THE PIONEERS.
There are some additional names of early settlers along the St.
Joseph that should be recorded, many of whom afterward were
prominent in the county; as for instance, Solomon Delong and
Daniel Strong, of Newville, who have each filled the office of
County Commissioner ; H. Fusselman, one of the first Justices of
Stafford Township, and also a County Commissioner; Christian
and Samuel Wanemaker, who have also filled offices in Stafford
Township; Lott Herrick, of Concord, the first Probate Judge of
De Kalb County; Joseph E. Sawtell, the bland and polite sales
man, who was, no doubt, the second man to sell goods along the
river, and in the county; Rev. N. L. Thomas, the first one to open
store in Newville; George Barney, one of the first Justices for
Concord; James Hadsell, one of the earliest and most useful
pioneers of Concord, who has filled several responsible offices;
Cornelius Woodcox, one of the first Supervisors for De Kalb
Township, when it embraced three congressional townships, and
but two road districts; and especially R. J. Dawson, who has since
filled so prominent a place in public affairs. But it is impossible
to give a complete list of the worthy citizens who did the hard
work of opening up De Kalb County to settlement.
THE FLOOD.
" I remember," says Mr. Wldney, "I remember clear away
back beyond 'the fiood.' Shall I tell you something about that
memorable event? Well, I will. Many of the first settlers along
the river built their cabins on the bottoms, on account of the rich,
deep soil, so inviting for corn and potatoes. Now it happened
that St. Jo., notwithstanding his saintship, had a mighty trick of
' getting high ' occasionally, and on such occasions took a regular
'spree,' transcending all bounds of propriety, and scattering and
destroying things in general. It was in the winter of 1838, about
the first of January, when we were dwelling securely in the neigh
borhood of this mild-looking saint, tliat he unexpectedly ' Imbibed'

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284 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
too largely, 'got high,' and advanced upon us, raging and foam
ing terribly, without any provocation whatever,
" But, lest we should be guilty of what Dr. Clark calls 'making
a figure go on all fours,' we will drop it and say that the river rose
until it overflowed its banks, and surrounded the house. This
alarmed us some, but it seemed to be nearly at a stand, and we
hoped that it would soon retreat. But instead of falling, it con
tinued to rise, until the loose floor began to float. We then raised
the floor about six Inches, being sure that the water would rise no
more. We were doomed, however, to be again disappointed. The
water still rose. Being midwinter we had all our firewood to
' boat' in, with the canoe, which we kept cabled at the cabin, and
we managed still to keep a fire above the water.
"The night after raising the floor we retired to rest, and the
next morning found the floor all afloat again. So we concluded to
embark for safe quarters. Running the canoe into the door, we
took the passengers from the bed, and, packing everything that the
water could injure above its reach, we crossed the raging river, to
sojourn with friends till 'after the flood.' The water rose until it
was two and a half feet deep in the cabin, and then began to sub
side. Just then a severe freeze set in, leaving the entire bottoms
covered with a sheet of thick Ice. When the river got within its
banks again we returned, threw out the ice, and took up our resi
dence in the cabin. Other settlers besides us suffered from this
saintly freak, but we have not the particulars."
NAVIGATING THE DESERT WITH A POCKET-COMPASS.
Colin Robinson and his brother Henry came to their half brother
(Gavin Hamilton), on the Maumee, near Brunersburg, in the year
1833; and soon after their arrival they went up the Maumee to
where William Rogers then lived, a little below where the village
of Antwerp now, stands, and from thence struck across the woods,
by means of a pocket-compass, some fifteen or twenty miles, through
the unbroken forest, to the St. Joseph River. When in the midst of
the wilderness they lost their needle from their compass, and had to
hunt a considerable time among the leaves before they found it.
Following the direction pointed out by the slender finger of their
magnetic guide, about dark they struck the bluft'of -the St. Jo.,
about where Henry Robinson afterward lived, and from thence
made their way, amid the gathering shades of evening, down the
river, more than a mile, to within a few rods of where the cabin

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HISTORY OF DE KALB OOUNTY. 286

afterward stood, spoken of in the Indian story, and in that of "the
flood," above described.
Mr. Lytle then lived in a cabin over the river, and about forty
rods back from it, and their object was to get over for supper and
lodgings, as they had eaten nothing since early breakfast. It was
the 24th of December, and when they reached the river they found
it frozen in, about one-fourth of the breadth of the river, and there
was no way of crossing; so they were under the necessity of camp
ing for the night. A huge walnut, perhaps six feet in diameter,
had been cut down, probably by tlie Indians, and still lay with one
end on the stump, at the time of the "flood," four years after the
time of which we are speaking. Under this walnut they took
lodging for the night, having first struck up a fire.
The night was passed very uncomfortably, in acute suffering from
cold and hunger. The next morning (Christmas, 1833), they cut
down (for they had their axes with them) a dry stump of a tree,
which broke in its fall. Tying the two pieces together, side by
side, with basswood bark, they launched it, breaking the Ice at the
margin, and on it crossed the river with their imaginations filled
with visions of a plentiful warm breakfast. On arriving at Mr.
Lytle's they found no one at home but the children, and nothing to
eat but a rabbit, and while they were cooking this a cat ran away
with half of it!
The Messrs. Robinson had intended to enter land and make a
" beginning " on it, but they found provisions so scarce that they re
turned the next day. In the following spring Colin Robinson en
tered the excellent tract of land on which he afterward fixed his home
just across the river from Orangeville, in Concord Township. He
did not, however, settle on it till three years afterward.

GUNPOWDER TEA.

It was perhaps in the summer of 1834 or 1835 that John Platter
and Solomon Delong crossed the same wilderness, and getting be
wildered in the midst of it, almost famished for want of water,they
had to camp for the night. With their axes and hands they dug
a hole in a prickly ash swamp and found water, but it tasted so
much like the decoction of gunpowder that they could scarcely drink
it, though suffering with thirst.
The early settlers will all bear witness that in the summer mos
quitoes were no scarce article in that day of general scarcity, in
fact, they were as plentiful as we can imagine files to have been in

"71

286 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
the fourth Egyptian plague; one could not stop two minutes in the
woods without having them by myriads singing their unpleasant
song with treble voices about his ears, or poking into him their
tormenting bills, almost as much to be dreaded as the doctor bills
of the early day. Well, to protect themselves against these impu
dent serenaders, these unwilling lodgers of the wilderness men
tioned above (Platter and Delong) cut bushes, then covered with
green leaves, and covered themselves deeply in these until the
mosquitoes were utterly at a loss how to get at them, and thus they
passed the night. A BRIDAL TOUR.
In the winter of 1836-'7, in the month of January, the above-
named Colin Robinson, having lately married a wife, set out on a
bridal (or bridle, if you please) tour from the Maumee to the cabin
built on his land on the St. Jo., she on horseback and he on foot.
Coming to the " Mer-del-arm," a considerable creek between the
rivers running through broad cottonwood swamps, he found it
swollen by recent rains and melted snow, until it spread over the
swamps, about a mile on each side. Through this wide-spread
water he waded along the narrow trace, sometimes waist deep,
and she followed on her horse. Coming to the main channel of the
creek he found it covered with thick ice, raised up several
feet by the swollen waters, so that the ice was nearly on a
level with the horse's breast, as he waded up to it. Here Mr. Rob
inson got his wife off the horse, on a stump, and prevailed on the
horse to jump on the Ice, walk over it, and then jump down on tbe
other side of the channel. He then, by means of a pole placed from
the stump to the ice, got Mrs. Robinson on the ice, and from the
ice on the other side, on her saddle again, wading out as he had
waded in. The next summer Mr. Robinson and his brother went
down the St. Joseph to Fort Wayne, and then down the Maumee
to near where Defiance now is, for seed wheat, and corn to get
ground. They performed the voyage in a large-sized pirogue; load
ing it with sixty bushels of grain, they started back. They ex
perienced considerable difficulty in getting along, being both raw
hands at "piroguing," but they succeeded tolerably well until they
reached "Bull Rapids," near the State line, about eighteen miles
below Fort Wayne. Here the wind ruffling the surface, they
could not see bottom, and, running on the rocks, they stuck fast.
Getting out into tbe water, they shoved the pirogue over the

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HISTORY OF DE KALB OOUNTY. 287
rocks, and up the rapids, wading sometimes in water up to the
waist. Getting once more aboard, they got along till they reached
'¦ Cole's dam," one mile below Fort Wayne. Here they had to un
load and carry the grain on their shoulders up a steep bank about
thirty feet high, go more then half a mile after a rope, which they
tied to the bow of the boat, and thus pulled it over the dam, coming
very near sinking it in the operation. They then reloaded, and were
overtaken by darkness at the mouth of the St. Joseph. From there
to John's mill they had much difficulty in getting along in the dark
ness and shallow water. Getting to the mill they unloaded that
part of the grain they intended to be ground, and took their lodg
ings for the night, on the bare ground, and no covering but the blue
sky. In fact during the entire trip they had the same bed and
covering every night. From John's mill the rest of the way home
they got out nearly every ripple, and pushed the boat up, and
sometimes it was necessary to unload and reload, laying the bags
on rocks in the ripples until they got the boat over. Soon after
his return Colin Robinson was prostrated with a severe attack of
the pleurisy, brought on by exposure.
ALL WELL BUT FOURTEEN.
We again quote from " Pioneer Sketches:" " We spoke, just now,
of doctor bills as compared with mosquito bills; that you may have
some idea of the force of the comparison, we will give one Instance
of the sickness of the early settlement. Mr. Isaac Meeks, now of
Union Mills, Lagrange County, Is my informant.
" ' I came into the Coburn Settlement, Concord Township,' says
he, 'soon after Mr. Asher Coburn (who was the first settler) and
built a cabin fourteen feet square and moved therein. Some time
after this Mr. Coburn and John H. Coburn, the one my father-in-
law, moved into the settlement, and I offered them both the hospi
talities of my cabin. We were now fourteen In number, in a cabin
fourteen feet square, and one story high. In a little while every one
of us took down sick, and we had to swing up beds to the sides of
the cabin, one above the other, to accommodate all the sick. I was
sick four or five weeks, and the rest almost as many months!' "
SUFFERINGS OF MR. OSBURN.
We spoke on a previous page of the difficulties and hardships of
the settlers, in getting to mill and to market. We will now give
another instance, exceeding in painful interest any yet mentioned.

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288

HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.

The sufferer was a resident of Hlcksville, just over the State
line in Ohio, but the scene of his suffering was in this county;
hence we will relate the circumstances, so far as the facts can be
accurately obtained.
It was in the winter of 1837-'8 that Mr.Osburn started from where
Hicksville had just been laid out, with an ox team, to go to mill at
Fort Wayne. Returning to the east side of the St. Joseph River
he was overtaken by night above where Leo now is. Having had
to wade into the creeks, and break ice before his oxen, his clothes
were wet, and it was freezing severely. Onward, however, he made
his way, through the snow and darkness, on a stormy winter night,
until he began to feel that he w^ reezing.
Leaving his slow team in the road, he then started hoping
to reach Mr. Brant's, across the river from where Spencerville
now is, but soon found his legs becoming so stiff that he could
no longer walk. Knowing that his life was at stake, he then
crawled on his hands and knees about a mile, until he found that
his strength was too far gone to proceed in this way. He
now commenced crying for help, and Mr. Brant's dog hearing
his voice commenced barking ; and some of the family going
out to see what was the matter, were led by the dog to the poor
sufferer, about a mile off, and he was borne into the house.
Both his legs, however, had to be amputated just below the
knees. He remained several days at Mr. Brant's, and was drawn
home on his sled. FAMILY MILLS.
As mills were so scarce and distant, the pioneers had to tax their
inventive powers to provide a substitute. So, in process of time,
nearly every settler had a family hand-mill, made after the
following description: Take a round log of some hard wood,
such as beech or sugar, about twenty inches in diameter. Saw it
off, about three feet In length. Set on end, and with au inch
augur commence boring down diagonally into the upper end, from
near the circumference to the center of the log, and continue until
you have surrounded the end of the log, with augur holes meeting
in the center. Take a chisel and cut down between the holes until
you get the block loose that has thus been bored under, and it
comes out in the form of an inverted cone. Trim out the funnel-
shaped hole thus left with the chisel as well as you can, and then
to make entirely smooth and to harden it build a fire of coals
therein. When sufficiently burned for the purpose mentioned,

"71

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HISTORY OF DE KALB OOUNTY. 289
take out the fire and scrape the coals off cleanly as possible, and
you have a large mortar. Now take a stick as thick as your wrist
and two and a half feet long, and, splitting one end, insert an iron
wedge with its edge in the split. Put on an Iron ring and drive it
over the iron wedge, so as to hold it fast. Trim off the stick so as
to handle conveniently, and you have a pestle. Now you may
put a little corn in your mortar, and beat it with your pestle as
fine as you cin. Sift out the finest, and you have corn meal.
Blow the bran out of the balance, and you have "hominy."
PRIMITIVE SCHOOL-HOUSES.
It is much to the credit of the pioneers of our county that
amidst all the difficulties of the early settlements they did not
neglect the education of their children. There are settlements in
the south part of this State that existed twenty years without a
school-house. Not so in this county. No sooner had a few
settlers got their cabins raised and fixed so that they could live
in them, than they raised their school-house — rough and uncom
fortable, it is true, but on an equality with their residences.
They were of round logs, with clapboard roofs, chamber fioor and
door also of clapboards; ground fioor of puncheon; benches of the
same, or, rather, generally of small logs split in two and turned
with the flat side up, and with rough wooden pins driven into
augur holes for legs; chimney of sticks and mud built as described
before, but generally larger than the chimneys of private residences
so that twenty or twenty-five children might surround It in a
semicircle, while a burning "log heap"fiamed on the hearth in
the winter, or to get light from its ample throat in the summer.
The windows were generally made by cutting out a log nearly the
whole length of the house, leaving a hole say a foot wide and
eighteen or twenty feet long. Into this a long sash was inserted,
consisting of single panes joined together horizontally until the
long hole was filled . In some cases that came under my notice,
however, this long hole was filled with a kind of lattice work of
sticks, and upon this greased paper was pasted to transmit the
light. Under this long window large holes were bored into the
log, rough, wooden pins driven into these holes, and an unplaned
plank laid on these pins. This was the writing desk. The writers
sat on a long-legged bench, facing this plank and the window, and
if they were many in number they prevented the light of the
window, especially on a cloudy day, from reaching many scholars

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290 HISTORY OF DE KALB OOUNTY.
sitting back from it, but on such occasions they drew near to the
huge tunnel of the chimney, and were there " enlightened."
A RASCALLY PARODY.
"In just such school-houses," continues Mr. Widney, "I taught
several schools in an early day, and experienced the truth of
Thompson's couplet:
'" Delightfal task! to rear the tender thought,
And teach the young ideas how to shoot.'
"Will you allow me to enliven this prosy chapter with an
anecdote? "Well, a New York dandy, better acquainted with books and
pavements than with 'backwoods' life or character, concluded to
visit the West and see 'the natives.' As he was riding along on
a cold day in the winter, when sleighing was good, in his fine
sleigh, wrapped up in his 'buffalo,' with his great coat on, his
fur cap tied down over his ears, and his fur gloves up his elbows,
he passed one of these frontier school-houses. It was ' recess,'
and the teacher and some of the bigger boys were out at the
side of the house knocking some squirrels off a tall hickory
tree with a rifle. The dandy reined up his horse a few minutes
and as he saw the squirrek drop one after another, perpetrated
the following parody on the above oft quoted couplet of Thompson:
" ' Delightful task ! to reap the tender thought,
And teach the youthful Indian how to shoot T
"The rascal! It was well for him I was not there to hear
him."

Sr

^*=

CHAPTER IV.

PIONEER HISTORY— CONTINUED.

Wesley Park's Narrative. — Milk Diet. — Hotel Crowded. —
New Arrivals. — County Organized. — Jail in the Loft of
Park's Cabin. — A Court Scene. — Trying Times. — White and
Palmer. — Some Indian Customs. — BsTrER Totes. — -John Houl-
ton's Narrative. — Escape from Freezing. — Unwelcome Vis-
rroRS. — They Help Themselves. — A Bloody Resolve. — The
Curse of America. — Trip to the Prairies. — Female Ox-
Drtver. — John Fee and His Big Track. — Incidents by M. M. —
A Spirited Pet. — Bear Hunt. — A Change in Plan. — Bear
Hunt Resumed. — A Diversion.
WESLEY park's NARRATIVE.
Good fortune has preserved for us tbe personal narrative of
Wesley Park, the first settler and the founder of the town of Au
burn, the county seat. We will give the same entire, as it is full
of important and interesting details : " In the fall of 1835 George
Stone, Hiram Johnston and myself left Licking County, Ohio,
in a two-horse buggy, to seek a home in what was then called
the West. We went by way of Columbus, Sandusky, Maumee,
Defiance, Fish Creek and Lima, to South Bend. We then returned
to Lima, where Johnston and Stone settled, and started a tannery.
I returned to Fish Creek, and entered land adjoining John Houl-
ton's. I then returned to Ohio, and staid till February, 1836.
Started to Indiana, then, with a drove of cattle and a load of dried
fruits, got to Lima, sold out, and started, in company with John
B. Howe, Esq., to the center of the new county, afterward called
De Kalb, to locate a site for a county seat.
"We got to Pigeon River, and the canoe upsetting, I swam
over the stream. Howe came over in the canoe, swimming his
horse along side. Staid all night at Glover's. Started in the
morning on our journey, and that night reached section 13,
township 34 north, range 13 east (Union Township now), and
(391)

? V

292 history of de kalb county.
lay out In the woods. The snow was four inches deep. We
kindled a fire, and I peeled bark to lie down on, but Howe, be
ing tired or lazy, or both, lay down on the snow. In the morning
he had melted his whole length In the snow and was wet, but I
was dry. I lay all night with my rifle by my side, to be pre
pared for the wolves that howled around continually. After hunt
ing a day for the best site, decided on the piece of land where Au
burn now is. Entered the land and laid out the town. I then put
up a shanty 10x12 feet, and cut a road through to Pleasant Lake;
brought through a cart load of goods, with a yoke of oxen and a
milk cow. Afterward, Joseph Miller and I started from William
Miller's (where Mr. Ditmar now lives), I with my cart and oxen,
and he with me to help cut the road (the road spoken of in a
former chapter as being cut through from Blair's mill, afterward
Shryock's), being nothing but a trace with the logs still in and too
narrow for a cart, as will be hereafter noticed.
"My object was to get through by the way of Blair's mill to
Fort Wayne for a load of provisions. It was afternoon before we
started, and night overtook us near the little creek that crosses the
Fort Wayne road near Mr. John Grube's. We had no provisions
along, as we expected to get through to Blair's. The cow, how
ever, that I brought through from Pleasant Lake, being used to
following the team, was fortunately with us, and I milked her and
told Miller that milk was good enough for me. Miller did not like
to drink the new milk, but there was no alternative, so he took a
good draught. It did not lie well on his stomach, and he soon
threw it up. The next morning, after lying out through the night,
we cut through to the mill, and I went on to Fort Wayne, and
Miller returned to get his breakfast, no doubt with a good appetite.
" Getting back with my provisions, I set up tavern In my shanty.
I did my own cooking, and was crowded with travelers and land-
hunters, who came to have me show them land to enter. One
night I kept flfteen men, who very nearly filled my hotel. Some
lay on a shelf, and the rest on the ground under it; so there was
plenty of bed-room. After eating up the first load of provisions, I
went to Fort Wayne for another. On my return the Little Cedar
was so high that I had to swim my oxen, and carry the load and
cart by pieces over the creek on a log, as I had adopted as my
motto 'Go ahead.' Got back again, finally, to the hotel.
"I kept travelers, showed land, and erected a cabin 18x20 feet,
one and a half stories high, with a roof of rafters and clapboards.

I ..I —  —  1  . >
¦f s  ^ -•  is\

history of de K.\LB OOUNTY. 293
It stood on the lot close to the old water saw-mill. 1 then returned
to Ohio and brought out my wife, Sophia, and my son Amos, then
a child. Launcelot Jugraan and family also carae with me. We
all arrived at Auburn on the 6th day of August, 1836. We laid
down a few puncheons and went to housekeeping. A few days
work completed our cabin.
" In the winter of 1836 the act passed the Legislature to organize
De Kalb County. Littlefield, of Lagrange, Gilmore, of Steuben,
and Robert Work, of Allen, were appointed Commissioners to lo
cate the county seat. I was appointed by the Governor, Sheriff of
the new county, with authority to appoint the place for the elec
tions in the few precincts in the county, and to receive and forward
the returns. The result of the election is stated elsewhere.
" After the organization of the county, my house served as court
house, jail, hotel, church, cooking-room, sleeping apartment, etc.
"As Sheriff appointed, and afterward elected,l had no jail but
the upper chamber of my cabin. I used to put prisoners up, and
then take away the ladder and tell them to stay there, and they al
ways did so.
" The lower chamber was the court-house. During the sitting
of court it had to suspend until dinner was cooked. This gave
the Judge time for a nap, which was very desirable, as he was
generally fatigued, and sometimes rather ' boozy. ' Charles Ewing
was the president Judge. He was brother to the celebrated fur
traders, W. G. and G. W. Ewing. Judge Yates has been spoken
of as an odd genius of a backwoodsman. One day he got ' tight, '
and sentenced Jo. Bashford to receive a whipping, and swore that
as he was the court and had passed sentence he would infiict the
penalty. As the Judge was making toward the criminal, with
this avowed intention, I seized him, and giving him a whirl, told
him plainly that if the court persisted in inflicting the penalty
threatened, the Sheriff would put the court ' up the ladder.' Upon
this, the court acknowledged the authority of the Sheriff, and ad-
j'ourued peaceably. "trying times.
" Will you allow me now to go back to the winter of 1836-'7,
and relate some instances of that hard winter? There were now
about thirty families in the county, and many of them suffered
severely, having to bring all their provisions from Fort Wayne,or
the Northern prairies, with scarcely anything that could be called
19

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294 history of de kalb county.
roads. At one time our corn cost us $3.00 per bushel I I
saw teams that had to travel seventy-flve miles for provisions. I
never drove more than sixty miles for corn, beyond Fort Wayne up
the St. Mary's River. It was a trying time for me and my wife, but
she was always cheerful. I took the rheumatism and lay several
weeks. In December the snow fell two feet deep.
"Immigrants were still coming in. A man, woman and child left
Pleasant Lake with a wagon and a yoke of cattle, to go ten miles
south of Auburn. One of their oxen mired down, in Smithfield
Township, eight miles north of Auburn. There was then no house
between Steubenvllle and Auburn. The mired ox died, and they
turned the other loose and started for Auburn afoot, carrying the
child. The waters were then high, and they had to wade the small
streams. About nine o'clock at night they reached our cabin with
clothes frozen above the waist. We gave them dry clothes and a
warm supper, and kept them until the roads were broken.
"A few moments after the arrival of these sufferers a traveler
came in and told us that a man aud a boy were out in the trail
about six miles, in a suffering condition, not being able to strike
a fire, and the man so frozen as to be unable to travel. On receiv
ing this information Wesley White and William Palmer got up
the pony and started for the sufferers. They found the man
on section 9, township 34, range 13. (We always counted
by sections, as the trail was very crooked.) They got him on
the pony, and brought him in, about midnight, frozen to the
knees; yet ho contended that he was not cold. We got his legs into
a tub of spring water, and thus drew out the frost. But the boy
must be saved. The old man offered us 50 cents(I) to bring him in,
which led me to administer him a severe rebuke.
" I told him if the boy was not worth more than 60 cents he
was not worth bringing in. He was then ten miles out, in snow
two feet deep, among swamps filled with water, and swollen streams.
"No money, however, was needed to induce us to go onto his
rescue. He had kept traveling, and was thus saved from freezing.
"They proved to be Mr.Graden and son,of Noble County. They
had left home in pursuit of cattle. The snow commenced falling
and they traveled on through Fairfield Township, and until they
struck the trace, and knew not which way to turn. They were well
provided for at the cabin, and in a few weeks were able to return
home. " Wesley White, who was so active in the above rescue, was a

^

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history of de kalb county. 296
good man. He had come down from Lima to stake out some lots.
"He afterward went to Sparta, Noble County. He was Deputy
Clerk for Isaac Spencer, and afterward Clerk of Noble County.
"After thus saving the life of others, he was drowned in Elkhart
River, west of Albion. William Palmer was a rather mischievous
old bachelor, and loved to play pranks on the Indians, who used to
annoj' us considerably, though they furnished us with venison,
bear meat, turkeys, cranberries, etc., for money or such things as
we had to exchantje.
"They were honest, and some of them religious, before the
whites gave them fire-water, and stole their ponies and blankets.
"They used frequently to apply to me to take away 'bad Indian'
whenever any of their number misbehaved. After the whites had
created In them the unnatural appetite, they were very fond of
whisky. One day a poor squaw came to my house and begged
hard for whisky. Palmer took the pepper-sauce bottle and handed
it to her; she took a very hearty drink, but as soon as she had re
moved the bottle from her lips, she began to spit, sputter, slaver
and holler 'pizen! pizeni' while Bill Palmer, the perpetrator of
this joke, rolled and laughed to his heart's content. After her suf
ferings were over, I and my good Sophia took a little laugh at her
and she never troubled us again.
" SOME INDIAN CUSTOMS.
"The Pottawatomies and Mi amies were the principal tribes in
De Kalb County. Their manner of burying the dead was to dig a
grave eighteen Inches deep, put in the dead, cover with leaves, and
then build a tight pen of poles over the grave. Sometimes they
cut down a tree, split off a piece from the top of the log, dug out a
trough, put in the body, and then covered it up closely with poles.
They burnt the leaves around these burying places every fall, to
keep the fire in the woods from getting to them. They disliked
very much to have their dead interfered with, yet it was done by
unprincipled whites. It was not uncommon to see their graves
opened, the bones scattered around, and the skull of an Indian
set out in the log in full sight.
"The spring of 1837 was very gladly hailed by the settlers, after
stemming the storms and suffering the privations of a hard
winter. During this season immigrants began to come in more
plentifully, and several cabins went up in Auburn. I had given one-
thirdof the lots to the county, receiving no compensation but the as-

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296 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
surancethatit would be permanently the county seat. Inmostcases,
too, I gave alot toevery settler building thereon. This year (1837)
I and Mr. Ogden built the saw-mill. The town continued steadily
to improve, and has been blest with good inhabitants, with but
few exceptions. Much of the land in the county was taken up by
speculators. This hindered its settlement to a considerable degree
for some years. The crash of banks in 1837 and 1838 was severely
felt, and many suffered for want of food and raiment. The years
1836 and 1837 were healthy seasons; 1838 was more sickly; 1839
still more so, and from that time till 1850 there was more or less
of bilious complaints every season. Since 1850 both town and
country have been generally healthy."
Thus ends Mr. Parks's narrative. If other early pioneers had re
corded their experience, even thus briefly, the present generation
woul be the gainers thereby.
JOHN HOULTOn's NARRATIVE.
John Houlton, the flrst settler in Franklin Township, and
perhaps in the county, wrote a series of reminiscences for Mr.
Widney in 1859, of which we will give the most interesting
portion. He was more accustomed to handling the rifle, ax and
handspike, than the pen, and was also very old, at that time; yet
the interest contained in the circumstances themselves, together
with his blunt, honest way of relating them, cannot fail to repay
attention and perusal. He begins:
" Mr. Widney: Since you are writing sketches concerning the
early settlers of the various townships of this county, for the beneflt
of posterity, I feel it a duty to add my mite; so please have patience
as I must go out of the bounds of the county, and also note some
things that happened before any settlement of De Kalb, though
they are inseparably connected with its settlement.
" Samuel Houlton, my oldest brother, and Isaiah Hughes went
into copartnership to build a saw-mill, in the wilderness of Fish
Creek, in February, 1827. The firm hired David Williamson,
John Kilgore, Francis A. Blair and myself to work for them.
They gave us axes, a little provision, and fire-works, and started
us where Brunersburg now stands to cut a road through northwest
to the Indian village on the St. Joseph (the present site of Den
mark). We started, and the firm was to follow with the team the
next day. We cut on till dark; and when we stopped to build a
fire, behold the flint, which I had put in my pocket to strike fire,

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HISTORY of de kalb OOUNTY. 297
was not to be found. We were all wet to the knees, and, it being
very cold, we all expected to perish without tire.
" The boys threatened to whip me, as they said it was d — d
carelessness losing the flint. Said I, ' Boys, the night will be dark
as Egypt; we must make fire or perish. Let us all hunt, and if
possible find a stone to strike fire with.' They said I was a fool
to think of finding a flint in those swamps. We had worked hard
all day, and were tired aud hungry, but I well knew there was not
a moment to be lost; so I started to hunt for stone, while they
went to eating. It was growing dark rapidly.
" I struck a small ravine, followed it, and at last found a
little stone nearly round, with no sharp edge. Feeling along
awhile, and finding no other, I went back, got the ' spunk ' and
knife, and after a few strokes had the satisfaction to see it take
fire; and soon we had a good blazing fire. The boys, who cursed
me and were almost ready to kill me for losing the flint, now,
with tears rolling down their cheeks, asked my pardon. Such is
the instability of poor feeble man!
"We cut the road to the raouth of Fish Creek, and the team
came on. We then went to work and made a pirogue of about
two tons burden, and, crossing the river, built a cabin twenty feet
square. When our provisions began to fail Samuel Houlton took
Blair and went down the river In the pirogue. They started to
go east of the State line on the Maumee. Hughes, Williamson,
Kilgore and myself staid. The boat was to be back in eight days.
Twelve days pas&ed and no boat appeared. It had rained heavily;
the river rose high, the weather turned quite cold, and our pro
visions entirely failed, except a half bushel of dried peaches.
"Williamson and Kilgore concluded to leave for the settlement.
We all made a raft of logs for the boys to cross the river, and the
next morning they started with empty stomachs. Hughes and I
went to see them cross. They went aboard the raft, and started
across the river, the water being high, and the slush Ice running.
At first the raft bore them up; but before they got across they
were three feet deep in the freezing water. They had flint and
spunk, but the latter getting wet in their pockets was of course
useless. They scrambled up the other bank, and there they were,
their clothes freezing in two minutes, twenty-seven miles from
the settlement, without food in their stomachs, without any means
to strike fire, and the snow four inches deep. I shuddered for
their fate, and told them to start at a good ' turkey-trot,' so as not

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298 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
to freeze, and not too fast, lest they should tire out before
getting through; and, on the peril of their lives, not to sit down.
They got through, but so exhausted that Judge Perkins had to
help them into his door.
" Huo-hes and I stayed fourteen days after the boys left, during
which time we had nothing under the heavens to eat but a few
dried peaches. We had a gun, and went out often with It to try
to kill something; but there was neither animal nor bird to be
seen; no, not even so much as an Indian. On the morning of the
fourteenth day I told Hughes I would make a raft of logs that
day and leave the next morning. I did so. Next morning
Hughes accompanied ine to the river, to see me start. We both
felt sure that Houlton and Blair were coming up the river with
the pirogue, and I was in great hopes to meet them in two or
three hours. TIir river was yet high, and the slush Ice running
very thickly.
" I got some fire and wood on the raft, Hughes loosed the cable,
and was in the act of handing it to ine, when lo! my brother,
Samuel Houlton, called to us, about a hundred rods up the river.
He knew we must be starving, and came across from the Maumee
with a yoke of oxen and sled. He tried hard to reach us the day
before, but lacked five miles when darkness overtook him. He
drove on till he could follow the road no longer, and then struck
fire and camped for the night. It was fortunate indeed for me
that he came just when he did, for if I had got one hour's start,
I should as surely have lost my life as I now live, for there
was no human habitation till within four miles of Fort Wayne.
•The slush ice would have so adhered to the ratt as soon to render
it entirely unmanageable; so that it must have stove, and I would
have been compelled to swim, or drown. Had I swam out, I
must have frozen to death very soon.
''Now, kind reader, you would think it pretty hard fare to have
nothing to eat for fourteen days but dried peaches. I tell j'ou it
kept soul and body together, and that was all it did.
" Hughes, Samuel Houlton and myself staid about two weeks,
then Samuel took an Indian canoe and went down the river to get
his pirogue load of pork, flour, p)tatoes, corn and whisky (for
Hughes must have his dram). At Fort Wayne Samuel hired a
man by the name of Avery, and went a little below where Antwerp
now Is, where they loaded the pirogue and returned without any
thing happening worthy of note. We four workod on some tiufle,

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HISTORY OF DE KALB OOUNTY. 299
and in May got the mill readj' to raise. Without any further help
we went to putting it up, without ropes or tackle. The size was
IS X 45 feet. There were five swamp oak sills forty-five feet
long and thirteen inches square, and tsvo plates ten Inches
square; but the middle bent, with the fender beam fourteen inches
square, was the heaviest. "unwelcome visitors.
"At that time there was a large Indian village where Denmark
now is, and some traders came among there with whisky and
made them drunk, so tliey came to rob us. We had worked
hard all day until nearly sundown, when we went to the house
to eat supper. The Indians came yelling and soon filled the
house. They then drew their knives, bows and arrows and
tomahawks, stuck their hands into our supper pot, and our
supper was gone in a trice. Samuel Houlton drew a large
poker and was about to strike, when Avery exclaimed, 'Don't
strike, Sam, or they will kill us all!' Hughes also told him
not to strike, but let them take what they wanted, and he
would go to the Indian Agent at Fort Wayne and make them
pay for It. They then acted as true lords of the soil.
" They poured out the whisky Into their camp kettles, knocked
in the head of a fiour barrel and also of a pork barrel, and in fif
teen minutes flour, pork and whisky were gone. They crossed the
creek about twelve rods off and camped for the night. While
they were making their flres and drinking the whisky, we rolled
out our last barrel of flour and hid it in a brush heap. We had
also about thirty pounds of pork up in the chamber that they did
not get, and that was all that saved us frora starvation. The 200
Indians fought and screaraed all night. A better sample of the in
fernal regions never could be gotten up in this world.
'• As soon as we had secured our barrel of flour, we next re
solved that when they had generally got drunk we would alight on
them with a vengeance and kill the last one of them. So we
loaded our four guns with slugs and then got two tomahawks and
two hand axes, and waited until they would become more drunk.
In this, however, we were disappointed. They did not seem to
get more intoxicated. After drinking twenty gallons of whisky,
eating 230 pounds of pork, and using up 250 pounds of flour, with
several bushels of potatoes, they started off about eight in the
morning well satisfied with what they had done.

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300 HISTORY OF DE KALB OOUNTY.
"We made application to the Indian Agent, at Ft. AVayne, but
never got any compensation for the articles taken. Every time I
think of the Indian tragedy I feel thankful that we were prevented
from imbruing our hands in their life blood. It was the traders,
with their whisky, that made all this trouble.
" Whisky, whisky, bane of lif e,—
Spring of tumult,— source of strife ;—
Could I but half thy curses tell.
The wise would wish thee safe in hell.
" TRIP TO THE PRAIRIES.
" I will now give you a narrative of another danger that I and
three others passed through. The escape was almost miraculous;
and do not forget that all this has something to do with the settle
ment of De Kalb County.
"In the summer of 1831 Samuel Houlton sent me, and the
Widow Fee sent her son, John Fee, with me,out to the prairies with
two yoke of oxen and a large Pennsylvania wagon, to buy a load
of provision. They let Moses Fee, a boy seven or eight years old,
go with us. Before this Sarah aud Cynthia Fee were working on
the prairies to help support the family, and the old lady sent word
for the girls to come home. So we went out and got our load
ready to return, when John Fee got a good chance to work awhile
and accordingly staid, leaving me and the girls and little boy to
get home through the woods and swamps, with the teams and
wagon, as best we could.
" We were three days and a half getting home, ' miring down'
several times on the way. The road being narrow and very
crooked, I got fast frequently against the trees, and flnally told the
girls that one of them would have to drive the forward cattle, so
Sarah came and drove the team. As we were thus driving along,
we came to a dead cherry-tree that had partly fallen and lodged on
another tree. The wagon ran over one of the large roots of this
dead tree, and it broke suddenlj^ about fifty feet from the root.
The top part fell back on the wagon, within about six inches of
the heads of Cynthia and the boy, smashing the boy's hand se
verely. "The body of the tree fell along the road in the direction in
which we were driving. By suddenly throwing myself back, I got
barely out of its way, and having screamed to Sarah when I first
saw it coming, to run for life, she ran with all her speed, the top

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HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY. 301
of the broken tree just brushing her head and clothes. Cynthia
Fee married William Bender, and she and the little boy mentioned
above are living within a few miles of me, and are parents of large
families. I married Sarah, the girl that drove the oxen and out
ran the falling tree, on the 5th of February, 1833.
" In September of the same year I took three hired men, a yoke
of oxen, a cross-cut saw and fro, and came on to forty acres I had
entered , and in four days we four cut the logs for and raised and
covered the house where I yet live, in Franklin Township, De Kalb
County. I also hauled out and buried twenty bushels of potatoes
on my land and left them till we moved on, about a month after,
and, though the Indians were thick around, my potatoes were not
disturbed — proving that they were more honest than some of their
white brethren.
" And now I want to show how the Hughes and Houlton mill,
though in Williams County, Ohio, had a bearing on the settlement
of De Kalb County. When the mill had been in operation some
years, the people began to settle on the St. Joseph, and would
come and get lumber, often on credit, to build with, and thus the
mill aided greatly the settlement of this county, though a few miles
over the county and State line." Mr. Houlton here gives a de
tailed account of a trip through the wilderness to Highland County,
Ohio, in the summer of 1834, when the streams were all foaming
high, exposing him to death by drowning; and of a narrow escape
from being murdered for money it was thought he had, and frora
which untimely death a supposed pistol (which existed only In sup
position) saved him, etc., etc.
JOHN FEE AND HIS BIG TRACK.
Mr. H. goes on CO say: "In 1834 John Fee entered the large
and excellent farm of 600 or 600 acres on which he now lives, and
which lies on each side of the line between Steuben and De Kalb
counties. Indulge me in telling an anecdote of him. He had
been out to the prairies for grain, and froze his feet badly, so that
for a long time he could not wear boots or shoes. So he got the
Indians to make him a very large pair of moccasins which he wore.
One day, after his feet got better, he went out hunting, and after
sauntering through the woods awhile, he crossed the largest mocca
sin track he ever saw. He looked with astonishment at the mon
ster track, and said to himself: ' What an almighty big Indian has
been along here! It's the d — dest big Indian that has ever been In

Vis 

302 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
these woods.' About the time that his astonishment and curiosity
got to its highest, he chanced to look behind him, and lo! it was his
own track!" INCIDENTS BY M. M.
" We had a large fire-place In one end of our cabin, and the
main thing for us In the winter was to get in a big back-log every
evening to last all night and the next day, and then make a big fire.
After the rest of the folks had gone to bed I would stay up and
parch about a peck of corn in the big skillet for the next day. I
could live on it, honey and jerked venison, and call it ' high life in
America.' A hunter can live longer on parched corn, without
water, than on anything else. Sometimes when parching corn or
baking Johnnie-cakes on a smooth clapboard, I would play Daniel
Boone, and imagine myself camped out in the woods by a big fire
and living on roasted coon. We moved to this country in a cov
ered wagon and camped out and that is when I first fell in love with
camping out and running wild; and it is hard for me now to go
back on my first love and keep from following off every covered
wagon that comes along.
" We had a new comer who had moved so often that he declared
that whenever a covered wagon drove up or assed his cabin his
chickens would fall in line, march over the fence, lay down and
cross their legs ready to be tied, thinking that they were going to
move again.
"At night after we had gone to bed the ground squirrels would
come up through the puncheon fioor, and it was fun to see them
play hide-and-go-seek, blind man's buff', or whatever their innocent
games are, in their language. They were so plenty that we had to
watch our corn patch when it was first planted, or they would dig
it all up and eat it.
" One night I woke up and saw something lying on the floor by
the fire, that looked very bright and glistening. I thought, per
haps, I was dreaming about ' Aladdin and tbe Wonderful Lamp,
or ' Cinderella and the Glass Slippers;' but come to look closer it
was a huge rattlesnake that had come up through the floor to warm
himself The gun stood within reach and was always loaded, and
¦ I drew a bead on him, fired and shot his head off. A gun shot off
in a room makes an awful noise, and it scared the rest of the folks
almost to death. Father wanted to know what in the world was the
matter, and I told him that I had killed a boa constrictor or an an
aconda, and that I had saved the whole family. The snake was

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HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY. 303
very fit, and we saved the oil for rheumatism and weak back, and
always found it a sure cure.
'' One day Tom and George Ilollenback, father and myself were
out hunting, and the dogs made a big fuss in a thicket, and we
rushed iu to see what was the matter, and found that they had
come across a den of young wolves, and the old one was not at
home. There were six of them, about a quarter grown, but very
active and ferocious; and we had hard work to catch them as they
had such a careless way of feeling round for a fellow's fingers, and
would snap at you like steel traps. At last we got a forked stick
and held their necks down while we tied them. One of the boys
had a big pocket in his coat and concluded to carry one In It. We
got ready and started for home with our menagerie, when all at
once the wolf in the pocket grabbed the boy by the hind part of
his leg and held on like grim death. The poor fellow ran around
and howled. We tried to break the animal's hold, but it would not
let go. We could not beat or choke it off, and we had to cut its
head off.
"That made the boys so mad that they killed all the wolves but
one, which I took home and tied by a chain to a stake In the yard.
In five minutes he could dig a hole in the sand big enough to hide
himself, and then he would lay with his nose sticking out and let
on that he was asleep; and the chickens would come around to in
vestigate the subject, and woe unto the chickens that came within
the length of his chain. He could figure on it to an inch; and then,
when they got within reach, he went for them like lightning, and
would gobble them up, pick them and eat them before you could
say Jack Robinson.
"One morning he came up missing. He was out and gone,
chain and all. I did not care anything about him, as he had eaten up
most all our chickens except an old sitting hen that he did not
rehsh; but I did not like to lose my chain. In the fall, while out
hunting in the woods, and the wind was blowing very hard, I heard
a rattling noise like a horse-fiddle, and went to see what It was ;
and lo and behold, there was my chain hanging to the limb of a
tree with a bunch of bones to it, and the wind was making music
on them. It was the remains of my wolf; but I never could tell if
it was a case of intentional suicide, or he got fast and hung himself
accidentally. As. he was already dead, I cut him down, took my
chain, and left him for the wild winds to mourn his requiem.
" It was in the spring, the time to plow for corn, and In the dark
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304 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
of the moon, when you could not see your nose before you. One
evening some of our neighbor boys saw a big black bear going
north. They came down with dogs to stay all night with me, and
get an early start in the morning after the bear. We had camped
out on the floor, and in the night we heard a rattle at our clapboard
door, and I asked, 'Who comes there?' An answer in a musical
voice, said 'Mingo.' On opening the door, in stepped an Indian
boy well known to us. He said that a little girl seven or eight
years old, who belonged to Mr. Tobby, living about eight miles
north of us had got lost in the morning, and that they had hunted
for her all day and had not found her; and that they wanted us to
go over and help hunt for her.
"I told the boys that was our best hold, and that we would let
the bear go until we had found the little girl. We got up long
before day and made our breakfast off of a wild goose and a sand
hill crane that we had killed the day before, and barbecued them
by the fire. We were off early on a trail, and arrived at Tobby's
about nine o'clock in the morning; and oh, such a sight! There
was the mother crying and weeping, nearly heart-broken, and call
ing for Mary, the lost child.
"There were two or three women with her, trying to console
her. The men were all out. looking for her, and nothing had been
heard from the child up to this time, one day and one night out.
They had an old-fashioned dinner horn, four or five feet long, and
as big as a saucer at the lower end, and it could be heard for miles.
It was understood that when any one brought in any news or found
the child, the horn should be sounded. It appears that on the
morning little Mary was lost her father was plowing a piece of
ground for corn, and she started to go to him but never reached
him; and that Obbenobbe, an old Indian from the Tippecanoe, and
Mingo, his grandson, had come over to Mr. Tobby's, and while he
went out to hunt for the child, sent Mingo after us.
"Just then Obbenobbe came in with a little piece of yellow
calico that he said he had found on a bush about three miles east
of there. Mrs. Tobby said at once that it was a piece of the dress
that Mary had worn, and it had been torn off by the bush. That
gave her some hopes; but the terrible thought was, ' Was she still
alive?' The country was then full of wolves, and the chances were
against her, but we hoped and hoped ever. We then made the
woods and prairies ring with the old horn, and we then agreed
that not a gun should be fired until Mary was found, dead or alive.

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HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
and broke for the place where Obbenobbe had found the piece of
her dross. We made good time and soon reached the spot, and
began to look for more signs. After looking around for a long
time we found iier little foot prints in the sand, and also in the
mud, going from home. She was barefooted, and from that day to
this I have never forgotten those little tracks in the sand and mud.
We hunted all day and found no other trace, and our hearts had
begun to sink. We were tired and hungry, having had nothing to
eat all day. We could have killed deer, but had resolved not to
fire our guns off. We had a large greyhound that could catch a
deer any time, and two coon dogs. As night was coming on, we
prepared to cans p. While we were fixing our camp, the dogs
barked up a hollow tree, and we supposed there was a coon in it.
We made an Indian ladder, and Obbenobbe climbed up and put
some fire in the tree and came down. As the tree was dry it soon
! began to burn and made a bright light frora the top.
i "At last two coons rolled out, pretty well singed. We killed
j and skinned them, and were getting ready to roast them. It was
1 not dark yet, and we heard a noise; and looking up we found that
I something had scared two deer, and they carae running right to
camp. We put the dogs after them, and a short distance from us
was the creek. In jumping it one of the deer fell back in the
creek ; in a minute the dogs were on him, aud we ran in and pulled
him out and killed him, and in fifteen minutes from the time we
first drew blood, every one of us had a piece of it on a stick and
roasting it; and such a feast we did have ! The body wanted
more food than the soul did, and for the time being we forgot our
troubles. "Night carae on, and a dark one it was; and the wolves were
howling around us. The worst of all, it began to rain, and
our only thought was, 'Where was Mary Tobby?' We had
listened all day for the big horn or the report of a gun, but all
in vain. Remember, my dear friends, that this is a true story, and
some of the parties are still living in Pulaski County. Remem
ber, too, this was the second night and second day that she was
lost, and how could the heroine live so long among the wolves,
with nothing to eat and nothing to protect her from the weather
but a little calico dress. We did not sleep much that night, and
were up early and started on our search. We hunted all day up
and down, backward and forward, as the grasses and bushes
were very thick, hallooing and listening, but all in vain.

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306 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
¦" At last about three o'clock we gave it up and hope died within
us and we turned our faces homeward with heavy hearts. There
is something In man called the dormant or latent powers or ener
gies. For instance, I have been hunting all day and was returning
tired and weary, hardly able to lift one foot before the other, and
game would start up before me, and I could run for hours, and
forget that I was tired. Now hold your breath. We had given
up and started for home, and away off north of us we heard a gun's
discharge. So then our dormant powers and hope went up, and
we all broke and ran, and reaching the edge of a prairie we saw a
man on horseback in his shirt-sleeves with something wrapped up
in his coat before him. It was Bridge Ward, and he had found
Mary Tobby in this way: He too had given up and started home
in despair. As he was riding along he saw a grove north of him
in the bend of the creek, and something told him or influenced him
to take a last look there. He turned his horse to the right and
through the grove, and then on to the edge of the creek, and
there he found Mary Tobby, who had lain down for her last sleep;
but, thank God, she was still alive.
" Her little feet, limbs and hands were all torn and bleeding
from the briars and grass, and her golden hair was all matted to
gether. He picked her up gently and wrapped her in his coat and
started for home. But how had she lived and escaped so long trom
wild animals? (Here is special providence for you.) Although
Obbenobbe was the oldest, he was still the best runner, and we
started him on the wings of wind to carry the glorious news to
Mary's home, that she was found and still alive. It was not long
before we heard the guns flring and the horn blowing, as the rest
of the.m had all given up and retired to the house. As Mary was
weak we had to go slow, and as we neared the house they all came
out to meet us, and the mother was frantic with joy. 1 thought
she would kill the child by hugging and kissing it, and then I
could see the truth of the saying in the Bible that there is more
joy in Heaven over one sinner who repents and is saved than the
ninety and nine who went not astray; although Mary was not ex
actly a sinner. She was very weak, but after careful nursing soon got
strong again, grew up to womanhood, married and raised a family-
Her father, Mr. Tobby, and Mr. Ward, who found her, are still
living in Pulaski County. " BEAR HUNT RESUMED.
"Now for the, bear. After going north, he turned east and

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HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY. 307

killed a couple of hogs in the neighborhood of Brunk's, and then
turned northwest and killed a calf near Stephen Jons's, the bee-
hunter. We sounded the tocsin, called in our forces, and with the
Forrence and Hollenback boys started on the war path, resolved to
do or die for the rising generation. We were provided with guns
and five dogs, including the big greyhound given to my father by
Samual Matlock, of Lancaster, Ohio, which money could not buy.
We soon got on the bear's track, crossing the sand ridges and
soft places in the prairie. He was a smasher, and made a track
more like the human family than any animal we had ever seen.
We were almost led to believe in Darwin, who teaches that man
came up from the lower orders of animals, and this bear's track
did look as if he might be a connecting link between man and the
monkey. But I never liked Darwin's idea of running you out to a
tad-pole or a grease spot. The bear traveled fast and had a kind
of elephant trot, or engineer swing. The dogs would run way
ahead of him for miles, and then come back pretty well 'chawed
up.' They at last became frightened and would not follow him.
The greyhound was game and wanted to pitch in, but we kept
him back, as we did not want him to get hurt. Several times we got
sight of the old fellow crossing the prairie from one side ridge to
another. He made good time, and we had hard work to keep any
where near hi in. A DIVERSION.
"While crossing a ridge, we saw a deer coraing right toward us
with tongue out and very tired. One of the boys was going to
shoot, but I told him to hold on, that there was something the
matter with it. We kept the dogs in and it came right up to us.
Just then five or six big gray wolves (none of your little prairie
wolves) and one big black one, the only one we ever saw, came run
ning after it. We opened fire on them and killed the black and
one gray one, and wounded another, which got away with the rest.
As we had heard that a black wolf skin was very valuable, we
skinned them. While doing so we heard a noise, and looking around
saw an old she-wolf and four young ones coming in on the home
stretch, to be at the death and feast off the deer. We fired at them,
but without efiect, and they ran one way and the deer another,
without saying good-bye.
"We hung up the wolf skins in a safe place and followed up
Bruin, who had gotten the start of us and had come across bees in
an old hollow tree, and tore the honey out; he had made a mess of

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308 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
it, but had left enough for us. Bears are great for honey or any
thlno- sweet, and do not mind the sting of bees more than we would
a mosquito bite. Along toward night his tracks became most too
fresh, and we were afraid; so we concluded to camp on his track.
While preparing to camp a couple of the boys went out to get
sorae game for supper, and in about an hour carae in with a fine
fat buck, from which we had a fine feast. We sat by the camp fire
and 'chawed' roasted ribs and broiled venison, and thought
how the old fellows who dressed in purple and fine linen, and fared
sumptuously every day, but had lost their appetite and digestive
powers, and got the gout and dyspepsia, would give a million if
they could just eat such a meal as we did. There are sorae who
live only to eat, but in those days we ate to live and keep soul and
body together, and were happy. I long for those days again.
The night was dark and we raade two big fires, one on each side
of us, as we had heard that wild animals will not go through fire
for a meal of victuals. Several times we were badly frightened in
the night, and even our dogs were afraid. We kept out a picket
guard, but it was hard to get anyone to leave the fire very far, as we
were afraid that the bear would make a raid and gobble us up be
fore we could say our prayers.
"The morning came and found us with our scalps all right, and
we were soon off on the trail. He had turned east and gone north
of Fletcher's Lake, and by Mud Lake, and then west near the In
dian camp where Obbenobbe and Mingo were. Through the day
we found where he had raade a raeal off a dead or wounded deer,
' as bear cannot catch a sound deer. As it was nearly night we con
cluded to stay with the Indians, and they agreed to go with us in
the morning. After a good night's sleep we were off early, with
Indians, guns, and a new supply of dogs, and with their aid soon
found the trail. After following him till almost noon, we saw him
go into a swamp filled with thick etbow brush. The Indians said
he would make his last fight there. We prepared to give battle,
surrounded the swamp and then sent the dogs in.
" One of the Indians who had a rifle that carried an ounce ball
got sight of him, fired and broke one of his fore legs, and that
brought him to bay. He stood up on his hind legs and looked
like a gorilla, and I almost thought that Darwin was right. We
all closed in on him, but could not fire for fear of killing the dogs,
they were so close around him. After he had killed aud wounded
four or five dogs the greyhound broke loose and went in. The bear

7.

^2^^^^ {^^eyi^^ '^-^X^

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HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY. 309
grabbed him with his well fore leg, and was about to crush and
kill him, when Obbenobbe rushed in with a big knife and struck
the bear under the shoulder, and that settled his case. He let the
dog go aud gave up the ghost. He was an ugly old rascal and had
a bad breath. According to phrenology and physiology, and
judging from his head and countenance, which were bad, his moral
character had not been good iu the neighborhood and vicinity
where he had formerly resided.
"The Indians said he was the largest they had seen for many
years. They supposed that he was a wanderer from the far North,
on an exploring expedition. We skinned him and gave the hide to
Obbenobbe, as it was him who struck the fatal blow and saved my
father's dog. He was not very fat, and tasted like a mixture of
coon, pork, shad and codfish. We took a scout around and got
our wolf skins, and returned home well satisfied with our bear hunt,
which was the last and only one in my life."

HO

iiU

CHAPTER V.

POLITICAL.
Political Complexion of De Kalb County. — First County
Elkotion and Officers Chosen. — Presidential Campaign of
1840, Harrison and Van Buren. — Polk and Clay in 1844. —
Taylor and Cass in 1848.— Pierce and Scott in 1852. —
New Constitution. — Rise of the Republican Party. — Bu
chanan AND Fremont in 1856.— Crisis of 1860, Lincoln and
Douglas. — Close Vote in 1863. — Lincoln and McClellan m
1864. — Grant and Seymour in 1868. — Bienioal Elections
Adopted. — Grant and Greeley in 1872. — Hayes and Tilden
IN 1876. — Garfield and Hancock in 1880. — Cleveland and
Blaine in 1884. — Summary of Elections from 1839 to 1884. —
Official List for DeKalb County. — Clerks. — Recorders. —
Au DiTORS. — Treasurers. — Sheriffs. — Commissioners. — Other
Officers.
De Kalb County is considered safe for a Democratic majority of
from 200 to 300, in presidential years. Rather an unusual amount
of interest is taken here in politics, though a strict party division
takes place only at National or State elections. In choosing
county officers, the custom has been very popular to shake off
party fetters, and vote for the best men.
The first election after the organization of the county was held
Aug. 6, 1838, and resulted in the choice of Luther Keep for Com
missioner, Wesley Park for Sheriff, Loft Herrick for School Com
missioner, and Robert Work for Coroner. None of these had any
serious opposition. In addition to these, a Representative was
voted for, and a majority of fourteen given to David B. Herriman.
In 1837 coraraissioners were elected, but the county could hardly
be said to be organized at that time, and no record exists of that
election. Peter Fair, A. F. Beecher and Samual Widney were
chosen. The first presidential election in which De Kalb participated
was the exciting one of 1840, and some old pioneers yet remember
that" hard cider" campaign, when " Tippecanoe and Tyler too"
(310)

>V

¦»,|<5  .^

HISTORY OF DE KALB OOUNTY. 311

and other euphonious phrases were enthusiastically sung in cam
paign songs. Only 334 votes were cast by this county, of which
177 were for Harrison, and 167 for Van Buren — a Whig majority
of ten.
Four years later occurred the memorable campaign of 1844,
when Kentucky's favorite son, Henry Clay, had a good chance
for election, as the representative of the Whig party. A com
promising letter written by Clay before the election resulted In a
sufficient defection from the Whigs to the Free-Soilers to elect
James K. Polk. Polk's plurality in the State of New York
was barely 6,000. Had one-third of the votes given to James G.
BIrney in that State been given to Clay, the whole course of
history would have been changed; for New York would then have
given a Whig majority. Clay would have been elected, the annexa
tion of Texas defeated, and the Mexican war probably nev^r
have taken place. At this important election, De Kalb gave
Polk 327, Clay 269, and Birney six votes respectively — a Demo
cratic majority of sixty-eight. The total vote was nearly double
that cast at the previous election.
In 1848 the Democrats nominated Cass and Butler, the Whigs
Taylor and Fillmore, and the Free-Soil men, Van Buren and
Adams. This was a closely contested campaign, resulting in the
election of the Whig candidates. De Kalb gave 968 votes to Cass,
the son of Michigan, 547 to Taylor, and 347 to Van Buren — a
plurality for Cass of 391, and a majority of forty-four. The
strength of the Free-Soil movement in this county at that period
is noticeable.
The election of 1862 came just after the celebrated compromises
of 1850, and before the renewal of slavery agitation, caused by
the Kansas-Nebraska troubles. Both Whigs and Democrats
adopted plat orras endorsing the 1850 compromises, but General
Scott, the Whig candidate, though a popular military hero, was
distrusted by both the friends and the opponents of slavery restric
tion. The result was that he carried only the States of Massa
chusetts, Verraont, Kentucky and Tennessee — -four iu allj
choosing forty-two electors; while General Franklin Pierce, the
Democratic standard bearer, carried twenty-seven States, choosing
254 electors. Never before or since was there such an overwhelm
ing defeat of a party that had hoped for success. The vote in
De Kalb County was as follows: Pierce, 780; Scott, 391; Hale, 164;
Democratic majority for Pierce, 389.

;Fr

4s

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312 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
In 1852 a new State Coustitutlon was adopted, fixing the
general annual election in October. It had previously been held
in August. With the defeat of 1862 came the death of the Whig
partv, and on its ruins was erected the Republican party which
nominated for President John C. Fremont. The Democratic
party put in nomination James Buchanan, and the American
party Millard Fillmore. The result was the election of Buchanan
by a strong vote. In this county his majority was seventy-five,
and his plurality 150, out of a total vote of 2,419.
The most important presidential election in our whole century
of constitutional government was of course that of 1860, when
the struggle between parties became one between sections. The
Republican party, representing the North, nominated Abraham
Lincoln; the Democratic party of the South chose John C. Breck
inridge. These two parties represented the extreme views of the
slavery question and the regular Democratic nominee, Stephen A.
Douglas, represented a middle ground — that of popular sovereignty.
A fourth, or " Union" party, named John Bell as its candidate,
but its platform meant really nothing, and was of little importance
in the campaign. By running Breckinridge, the South gave the
presidency to Lincoln, when it might have had Douglas. In
De Kalb County, the natural opposition to the spirit of slavery
extension dominant at the South naturally strengthened the Re
publican vote, and it gave Lincoln a plurality of 101, and a
majority of seventy-five. Breckinridge received only two votes;
Bell, twenty-four; Douglas, 1,399; Lincoln, 1,500. The townships
giving Lincoln majority were eight in number, as follows: Butler,
eighteen; Concord, twenty-five; Newville, forty-four; Stafford,
fifty-two; Wilraington, fifty-two; Union, thirteen; Franklin, four
teen; Troy, thirty-nine. Those giving Douglas raajorities were
four in number: Jackson, thirty-six; Richland, forty-seven; Fair
field, fifty-two; Smithfield, twelve. The election of Oct. 13, 1863,
was remarkable for its being almost a tie between the two parties.
The vote for Recorder was a tie, John Butt and George R. Hoff
man each receiving 1,391 votes. George Barney was elected
Treasurer by a majority of two over Isaac Hague, and Moses
Gonser received an equally small majority over A. Dewitt Goetch-
ius for the office of Real Estate Appraiser. Spencer Dills was
defeated for Surveyor by David Eberlyby a majority of nine; and
the largest majority given any candidate was twenty-eight for
John Ralston for Clerk, over William M. Mercer. The Demo-

s> \

, -y w »..  ^  9 [J-
HISTORY OF DE KALB OOUNTY. 313
cratic townships this year were Butler, Jackson, Concord, Auburn
(village), Richland, Fairfield, Smithfield aud Franklin— eight out
of thirteen.
The war naturally strengthened the Republican party. In the
October election of 1864 the distinguished Oliver P. Morton was
chosen Governor of Indiana, receiving in De Kalb County a
majority of ninety-eight, ovgr Joseph E. McDonald. For Presi
dent the Democrats nominated this year General George B. Mc
Clellan, while the Republicans renominated Abraham Lincoln,
and re-elected hira. There was no third party in the field, as
emancipation had settled the slavery question forever, and iu the
presence of the momentous issues of the war, prohibition, paper
money, etc., had not yet become issues. The vote in this county
was very close, McClellan receiving 1,472 votes, and Lincoln
l,*^i — a majority of twelve. The DemocraKic townships (six in
number) and majorities were as follows: Butler, eight; Jackson,
sixty-three; Richland, forty-five; F.ilrfield, ninety-seven; Smith-
field, thirty; Franklin, ten. Five townships gave majorities for
Lincoln: Newville, forty-five; Stafford, ten; Wilmington, 121;
Union, fifty-eight; Troy, thirty-one. In Concord the vote was a
tie, each party polling 132 votes. Two years later, in 1866, the
Republican majority on the State ticket was about sixty.
In 1868 the Democracy chose as its leader the respected Governor
of New York, Horatio Seymour, while the Republicans gave in
their adhesion to the war hero, Ulysses S. Grant, who was elected
by a large majority. In this county Grant received the trifiing
majority of twenty-four, out of a total vote of 3,476. Five town
ships went Democratic by the following majorities: Butler,
nineteen; Jackson, seventy-four; Richland, sixty-nine; Fairfield,
seventy-three; Smithfield, fifty-four. Seven townships gave the
following Republican majorities: Concord, two; Newville, fifty-
one; Stafford, fifteen; Wilmington, 141; Union, seventy-one;
Franklin, five; Troy, twenty-eight. Up to this time annual elections
had been held for county officers but this was now changed by
law, so that since 1867 elections have been held biennially in the
even numbered years. They occurred in October until 1882, when
Indiana ceased to be an October State, and all fall elections are
now held the first Tuesday after the flrst Monday In November.
In 1870 the Democratic ticket was generally triumphant in
this county.
In 1872 Grant was renominated by the Republican party.

314 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
Sorae dissatisfied leaders, calling theraselves Liberal Republicans,
nominated Horace Greeley, who was also endorsed by the Demo
cratic convention. The result was a general stay at home
throughout the United States of a large number of Deraocrats,
who could not reconcile theraselves to voting for a Republican
like Horace Greeley, and General Grant was re-elected by a very
heavy majority. In this county he received 317 more votes
than Greeley. A third ticket ("straight Democratic ") headed by
Charles O'Conor, received ninety-four votes in De Kalb County.
The twelve townships were equally divided between Grant and
Greeley. The Democratic townships and majorities were: Butler,
four; Jackson, twenty-four; Richland, eighteen; Fairfield, eighty-
seven; Smithfield, fortj'-two; Franklin, four. Those giving Re
publican majorities were: Concord, sixty; Newville, eighty-six;
Staflord, ten; Wilmington, 155; Union, 136; Troy, forty-nine.
The following paragraph, written after the presidential election
of 1872, in the Courier, illustrates at once Mr. May's facile pen,
and his genial good temper:
" Frora a careful glance over the late battlefield, the probabilities
are that we have met the enemy and they have somewhat gobbled
us in. That's nothing. Twelve years' experience has taught us
that Salt River is a navigable streara. The air at its head waters
is pure, but not so very 'healthy.' The country is inhabited by
white men exclusively, and although many of these are barefooted
they submit with Christian fortitude. There Is not a postoffice in
the neighborhood. National banks are as scarce as hen teeth, and
there is not a very large number of Brigadier-Generals in the
country. A few army contractors are there, but they are as poor
to-day as they were ten years ago. Our boat on this occasion
started from the Ohio River and was propelled by Kentucky
darkies. When we shall leave the country Is not yet determined.
It is only a question of time. We shall return to plague our ene
mies who have contributed so freely to send us 'up the river.' "
And again :
"We have a mournful pleasure, or a pleasing mournfulness, we
don't know which, to perform. Greeley, you know Greeley. He
was for President. Now he ain't. Well, Greeley, he wore a run
ning for an orfice, and Grant, being on horseback, beat him. You
see there was a hole, or a chasm, as H. G. called it, in the way,
and he thought it was nothing, that he could reach across it just as
easy as falling off a log. But he reckoned without a host (of

llu

I HIS1X)RY OF DE KALB OOUNTY. 315
voters). When U. S. came to it he jumped it with his horse, but
Uncle Horace, in attempting to shake with a fellow on the side,
fell in, and that was the eend on him. The main reason why H.
G. was not elected was that he did not get enough States. If
Grant hadn't been round, Greeley would have been ahead, as he
beat O'Conor in every State. There was another reason, the
hor(ac)se disease was bad in New York, and it kept spreading un
til it was everywhere. Whenever a thing spreads, then you may
know it gets thin, aud thus you may account for H. G.'s vote.
We'll be opposed hereafter to having elections, when such things
are around."
lu 1874, although not a presidential year, a ranch fuller vote was
polled, 3,974 against 3,405 iu 1872; and John E. Neff, for Secretary
of State, received in De Kalb County a raajority of 1,862. The
Democrats have since carried the county with commendable uni
formity. Samuel J. Tilden, Governor of New York, and Rutherford B.
Hayes, Governor of Ohio, were nominated In 1876 by the Demo
cratic and Republican parties respectively, while Peter Cooper was
put forward by the Nationals, or Greenbackers. The result is fresh
in the memories of all. Tilden received a popular majority of a
quarter of a million, while Hayes received a majority of one of the
electoral votes. De Kalb County gave Tilden 172 votes more than
Hayes. The total vote was 4,962, of which thirty-eight were for
Cooper. Eight townships declared for Tilden, as follows : Butler,
twenty; Jackson, sixty-one; Concord, thirty ; Richland, thirty-one ;
Fairfield, 108; Smithfield, eighty; Franklin, five ; Keyser, forty-one.
Five townships gave the following majorities for Hayes : Newville,
thirty-eight; Stafford, six; Wilraington, 122; Union, six; Troy,
thirty-two. In 1878, Shanklin's (Deraocrat) plurality for Secretary of State,
was 240. The prominent feature this year was the Greenback
vote, which was 606, the largest they have ever polled in De Kalb
County. In the campaign of 1880, the contestants were the late James A.
Garfield, representing the Republican party, and Winfield S.
Hancock, nominated by the Democratic party. The Greenbackers
placed in the field General Jaines C. Weaver, of Iowa. Garfield
was elected, but De Kalb County gave a plurality of 141 for Han
cock. The eight townships giving Democratic raajorities were
Butler, twenty-seven; Jackson, sixty-one; Stafford, one; Union,
& •^- -^» —

jMa_

316

HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.

thirty-four; Richland, thirty-seven; Fairfield, 123; Smithfield,
thirty-seven; Keyser, fifty. The Republicans carried five : Con
cord, eight; Newville, forty-six; Wilmington, 102; Franklin,
thirty-three; Troy, forty.
In 1882 the Democratic plurality in this county for Myers,
Secretary of State, was 268.
The campaign of 1884 was a hotly contested one, but resulted in
an increased Democratic majority, Cleveland receiving in this
county a plurality of 348. The Democrats also elected their county
ticket throughout, although the Republicans had hoped to win one
or two offices. The majorities ranged frora 104 to 461. The six
townships giving pluralities for Cleveland and Hendricks were
Butler, seventy-two; Jackson, eighty-four; Richland, twenty-three;
Fairfield, 130; Smithfield, eighty-seven; Keyser, 113. Seven town
ships gave pluralities for Blaine and Logan : Concord, five; New
ville, twenty-five; Stafford, twenty-three; Wilraington, 136; Union,
seventy-seven; Franklin, twenty-three; Troy, twenty-seven.
Scanning the vote frora 1860 to the present time, it is found that
Jackson, Richland, Keyser, Fairfield and Smithfield have uniformly
given Democratic majorities, while Newville, Wilmington and
Troy have as steadily voted for Republican candidates. Butler
was Republican in 1860, but Democratic ever since. Concord was
Deraocratic in 1876, but Republican in other years, except 1864,
when the vote was a tie, 132 votes being given for each party.
Union has been Republican, except in 1880, Stafford the same, and
Franklin has been rather "on the fence."
Following is a summary of the votes cast at every election since
the orgartization of De Kalb County :

ELECTION OP AUG. 6, 1838.
Representative.
David B. HBrriman  44 14
Joshua T. Hobbs  .30
Joseph B. Allison  11
Oliver C. Ward  11
Drusus Nichols  3
Oommissioner.
Luther Keep  78 60
Elisha Sheldon  18
Isaac T. Aldrich  1
Sheriff.
Wesley Park  s8 84
Joseph A. Coats  4
School Oommissioner.
Lott Herrick  94 94

Coroner.
Robert Work  70 47
John Blair  23
ELECTION OF AUG. 5, 1839.
Congressman.
James Rariden  100 44
Wilson Thompson  56
Jonathan SlcCarty  4
Senator.
EliasBaker  86 19
E. M. Chamberlain  67
Bepresentatire.
Asa Brown  84 13
David B. Herriman  73
Commissioner; 1st Dist.
Isaac B. Smith  138 136
Willis O.Hyde  13

J^s

HISTORY' OF DE KALB OOUNTY.

317

Commissioner, 3d Dist.
Daniel Strong  128 113
Samuel Farney  16
William Rogers  3
Probate Judge.
Scott Herrick  87 83
Hannibal Frink  54
School Commissioner.
Robert Work  108 98
Thomas J. Freeman  10
Lot B. Coe  3
Coroner.
Byron Bunnell  128 128
ELECTION OF AUG. 3, 1840.
Oovemor.
Tightman A. Howard  133 26
Samuel Bigger  96
Lieutenant-Oovernor.
Benjamin S. Tuley  123 26
Samuel Hall  96
Bepresentative.
Madison Marsh  123 30
John B. Howe  93
Sheriff.
Thomas J. Freeman  181 128
William W. Buriey  53
Commissioner.
Daniel Moody  234 384
Coroner.
Wesley Park  167 167
ELECTION OF NOV. 3, 1840.
President and Vice-President.
Harrison and Tyler  177 10
Martin Van Buren  107
ELECTION OF AUG. 3, 1841.
Senator.
David B. Herriman  175 76
John B. Howe  99
Bepresentatiiie.
Madison Marsh  159 41
Seth W.Murray  118
Auditor.
Samuel W. Sprott  340 235
James S. Stanley  5
Wesley Park  1
O. A. Parsons  1
Treasurer.
Wesley Park  163 81
Aaron Hague  82
O. A. Parsons  1
Oommissioner.
Warren Spooner  153 19
Pharos Blake  133

Assessor.
William P. Means  329 328
R. J. Dawson  1
Coroner.
John O. P. Sherlock  173 171
Riley Jacobs  1
W.P. Means  1
Wesley Park  1
ELECTION OF AUG. 1, 1843.
Bepresentative.
Madison Marsh  186 97
EnosBeal  89
Oommissioner.
John Helwig  126 64
Lott Herrick  62
Samuel Henderson  59
John P. Widney  35
Sam. Todd  1
Sheriff.
Jonathan Puflfenbarger  205 137
O. A. Parsons  68
Clerk.
Samuel W. Sprott  273 373
Auditor.
Aaron Hague  243 342
John Rose  1
Peter Browsher  1
Sdiool Commissioner.
Robert Work  344 330
Henry Miller  14
Samuel Henderson  1
Coroner.
James Goetschius  80 59
Daniel Altenburg  21
A. F. Beecher  16
John Rose  8
Asa Shaw  3
Aaron Hague  1
ELECTION OF AUG. 7, 1843.
Oovemor.
James Whitcomb  290 78
Samuel Bigger  213
Lieutenant-Oovernor.
Jesse D. Bright  298 83
John H. Bradley  210
Scattering  9
Congressman.
Andrew Kennedy  291 75
L. G. Thompson  216
St^nator.
David B. Herriman  298 81
William Mitchell  213
Btpreaentative.
Jacob Helwig  264 33
Benjamin Alton  233

Tv*-

^.

318

HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.

Prosecutor.
Reuben J. Dawson  291 97
R. J. Douglass   194
Associate Judges.
Samuel Widney  363 137
Wm. R. McAnnally  136
Nelson Payne  339 55
Arial Walden  174
Rufus R. Lounsberry  70
Commissioner.
Daniel Moody  358 37
Riley Jacobs  231
Scattering  3
Clerk.
Samuel W. Sprott  353 33
Lanslot Ingman  130
Scattering  4
Uecorder-
Samuel W. Sprott  303 140
Thomas J. Freeman  163
James P. Plummer  39
O. A. Parsons  1
Assessor.
William P. Means  387 81
George Barney  306
Coroner.
O. A. Parsons  398 239
Joseph Sawtell   . . 59
Nelson Payne. . . .'"  39
ELECTION OF AUG. 5, 1844.
Bepresentative.
Jacob Helwig  304 50
Ariel Walden  254
Commissioner.
Oliver D. Keep.  319 135
Jason Hubbell  184
Sheriff.
Jonathan Pubbenbarger  346 45
Luther B. Weeks  301
Riley Jacobs  83
Treasurer.
Wesley Park  369 34
John P. Widney  335
ELECTION OF NOV. 4, 1844.
President and Vice-President.
Polk and Dallas  337 68
Clay and Frelinghuysen  289
James G. Birney  6
ELBt!TION OF AUG. 6, 1845.
Congressman.
Andrew Kennedy  316 79
L. G. Thompson  237
Daniel Worth  13

Clark Powers  317 81
EnosBeal  336
Samuel Barr  14
Prosecutor.
John W.Dawson  284 18
E. A. McMahon  266
Oommissioner.
Amzi Seely  327 115
8. B. Ward  313
Scattering  33
Auditor.
Miles Waterman  190 33
E. B. Mott  157
Aaron Hague  116
John Helwig  70
J. A. Coats  17
D. H. Rose  10
Assessor.
William P. Means  393 80
William Showers  263
Scattering  8
School Commissioner-
I.C.George  282 23
George Barney  260
D. B. Mead  13
Coroner.
David Weaver  330 135
John Carpenter  195
D.H.Mathews  14
ELECTION OF AUG. 5, 1846.
Oovemor.
James Whitcomb  366 147
Joseph G. Marshall  319
Scattering  6
Lieutenant-QovcDior.
Paris 0. Dunning  366 153
Alex. C Stevenson  313
Scattering  9
Senator.
Madison Marsh  367 165
Wm. H. Nimmons  303
Reuben Bement  11
Bepresentative.
David B. Wheeler  346 111
Wm. P. Means  335
Scattering  7
Commissioner.
James M. Goetschius  336 88
George Baker  348
Probate Judge.
John C Wade  398 66
Egbert B. Mott  333
Scattering  18

\^

^2

HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.

319

Sheriff.
Samuel W. Ralston  ;! 40 106
Lyman Chidsey'  3:U
Coroner.
David Weaver  306 306
ELECTION OF AUG. -t, 1847.
Congressman.
William Rockhill  400 65
WiUiam G. Ewing  341
Beprtsentalii'e.
JohnP. Wdney  376 25
William Hough  351
Wesley Park  1
Commissioner.
Andrew S. Casebeer  389 48
Jeremiah Hemstreet  341
Prosecutor.
Reuben J . Dawson  446 436
Scattering  10
Treasurer.
Wesley Park  481 308
John Helwig  373
Assessor.
Wm. P. Means  434 90
Wm. Showers  334
Coroner.
Joseph Nodine  170 135
Scattering  35
ELECTION OF AUG. 7, 1848.
Bepresentative.
Reuben J. Dawson  586 343
C. Luce  343
Associate Judge.
Robert Work  550 195
Nathaniel S. Thomas  355
County Commissioner.
AmziSeely  596 355
Henry Fusselman  341.
SJieriff.
Samuel W. Ralston  583 335
Daniel W. Altenburg  357
School Commissioner.
Orlo A. Parsons  568 229
Joel C. Hendricks  339
Coroner.
John McClellan  583 .583
ELECTION OF NOV. 7, 1848.
President and Vice-President.
Cass and Butler  968 391
Taylor and Fillmore  577
Vanburen and Adams  347

ELECTION OF AUG. 6, 1849.
Governor.
Joseph A. Wright  568 370
John A. Matson  398
Scattering  11
Lieutenant-Oovernor.
James H. Lane  563 -363
Thomas S. Stanfleld  301
Scattering  5
Congressman.
Andrew T. Harlan  565 363
David Kilgore  303
Senator.
Reuben J. Dawson  493 167
Dr.E. H.Drake  826
Bepresentative.
Edward R. May  564 306
John Tatman  258
Scattering  2
Prosecutor.
Timothy R. Dickinson  445 144
Daniel Hardsock   301
Scattering  5
Commi.isioner.
James M. Goetschius  539 215
James C. George  314
Scattering  3
Assessor.
John Baxter  534 348
Jeremiah Rhodes  286
Scattering  3
Coroner.
Charles 0. Knapp  557 557
ELECTION OF AUG. 5, 1850.
Senator.
Robert Work  665 561
Ephraim Walters  104
Scattering  23
Bepresentative.
Edward R. May  697 397
Wesley Park  300
Associate Judges.
Gilman C. Mudget  734 515
George E. Hartsuck  319
Abraham Cope  653 313
Henry Fusselman  340
Commissioner 1st Dist.
Oliver D. Keep  709 429
Andrew S. Casebeer  280
Commissioner, 2d Dist.
William Showers  997 997
Sheriff.
William K. Straight  583 200
Joseph Miller  383

y

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320

HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.

Prosecutor.
Egbert B. Mott  317 370
Scattering  47
Auditor.
Miles Waterman  748 508
Hiram W. Hatch  343
Treasurer.
Samuel W. Ralston  724 457
Bushrod Catlin  367
Becorder.
John McCune  710 454
John Butt  356
ELECTION OF AUG. 4, 1851.
Congressman.
Samuel Brenton  485 11
James W. Borden  474
Bepresentative.
Gilman C. Mudget  743 161
G. W. McConnell  583
Israel D. Morley  395
Commissioner, 1st Dist.
Jacob Helwig  .735 735
Commissioner, 3d Dist.
John Hursh  698 695
Scattering  3
Assessor.
Wm.P. Means  478 32
Joseph Woolsey  446
Coroner.
Lyman Chidsey  649 649
New Constitution.
For  710 615
Against  95
Colonization of Negroes.
For  461 46
Against  415
ELECTION OF OCT. 13, 1853.
Oovernor.
Joseph A. Wright  684 398
Nicholas McCarty  386
Andrew L. Robinson  95
Lieu tenant- Oovernor.
A. P. Willard  683 395
Wm. Williams  387
James P. Wilkin  98
Congressman.
E. M. Chamberlain  676 330
Samuel Brenton  456
D. W. Borough  11
Circuit Judge
's. A. McMahon. . ,  693 688
Scattering  4

Proscecutor.
J. M. McConnell  668 593
D. E. Palmer  76
Senator.
George W. McConnell  649 313
A. W. Hendry  437
Scattering  3
Bepresentatives.
E.F.Hammond  659 363
A. P.Clark  396
Robert Work  631 137
S.B.Ward  504
Judge of Common Pleas.
John Morris  616 143
R. J. Dawson  474
Common Pleas Prosecutor.
W. W. Griswold  731 433
p. E. Palmer  '389
Commissioners.
Solomon De Long  681 366
A. S. Bissell  415
Joseph Walter  674 231
Henry Fusselman  453
Jeremiah Hemstreet  594 135
Jason Hubbell  459
Sheriff.
William K. Straight  708 708
Treasurer.
Joel E. Hendricks  583 55
Noyce Coats  538
Surveyor.
Joseph Nodine  565 565
Coroner.
Lyman Chidsey  681 389
David Roger  393
Scattering  5
ELECTION OF NOV. 3, 1853.
President and Vice-President .
Pierce and King  780 889
Scott and Gruham  891
Hale and Juliaa  164
ELECTION OF OCT 11, 1853.
Commissioner.
Solomon De Long  331 37
Henry Fusselman  184
ELECTION OP OCT. 10, 1854.
Congressinan.
Samuel Brenton  675 159
E. M. Chamberlain  516
Circuit Prosecutor.
John W. Dawson  676 158
E. R. Wilson  518

^?r«~

»rv

^

HISTORY OF DE KALB OOUNTY.

321

Bepresentative.
A. P. Clark  669 189
Joshua J. Hoflman  530
James Hadsell  658 134
Clark Powers  534
Common Pleas Prosecutor -
Asa M. Tinker  653 117
W. I.Howard  535
Commissioner -
Joel E. Thompson  631 163
Henry Earnest  459
Sheriff.
Isaac Brandt  676 176
George W . Maxwell  500
Treasurer-
Edward Fosdick  608 37
John Ralston  581
Surveyor-
Joseph Nodine  556 86
Joseph Miller  470
Coroner-
Lyman H. Coe  651 130
John McClelland  531
ELECTION OF OCT. 14, 1856.
Oovernor.
Ashbell P. Willard  1,191 80
Oliver P. Morton  1,111
Lieutenant-Oovemor.
AbramA. Hammond  1,193 83
Conrad Baker  1,110
Congressman.
Robert Lowry  1,191 79
Samuel Brenton  1,113
Circuit Prosecutor.
Sanford J. Stoughton  1,194 87
Robert Parrott  1,107
Sen/itor.
Miles Waterman  1,300 97
Alanson W. Hendry  1,103
Bepresentatives.
Bushrod Catlin  1,195 87
Thomas B. Sloss  1,108
W. I. Howard:  1,193 77
Stephen B. Ward  1,116
Judge of Common Pleag.
Theron Storrs  1,186 76
Egbert B. Mott  1,110
Common Pleas Prosecutor.
Leland H. Blocker  1,198 95
Wm. H. Dills  1,098
Commissioner.
Jeremiah Hemstreet  1,190 85
Willard Childs  1,105

Samuel W. Ralston  1,177 52
Isaac Brandt  1,135
8urveym\
Daniel W . Altenburg  1,191 113
James Colgrove  1,079
Coroner.
Jeremiah Plum  1,170 51
William Vallou  1,119
ELECTION OF NOV. 4, 1856.
President.
James Buchanan  1,347 150
John C. Fremont  1,097
Millard Fillmore  75
ELECTION OF OCT. 13, 1857.
Congressman.
James S. Warden  975 3
Charles Case  973
Oommissioner.
AmziSeely  983 15
John Helwig  968
Treasurer.
Jacob Helwig  954 79
Edward H. Taylor  875
Valentine Weaver  138
ELECTION OF OCT. 13, 1858.
Congressman.
Reuben J. Dawson  1,157 no
Charles Case  1,047
Scattering  3
Circuit Judge.
Wm. W. Casson  1,147 no
Edward R. Wilson  1,037
Scattering  3
Oircuit Prosecutor.
James M. Schell  1,151 loi
James M . Defrees  1,050
Common Pleas Prosecutor.
Abner F. Pinchm  1,038 1,088
Bepresentative.
Miles Waterman  1,168 165
Jason Hubbell   1,003
Wm. C. Roberts  37

Samuel W. Ralston  1,124 89
Orrin C. Clark  1,085
J. B. Goldsmith  31
Thomas Weldin  17
Commissioner.
Christian Sheets  1,087 tie
Thomas F. Daily  1,087
George Wagoner.  36

-^;

I

"1^

322

HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.

Surveyor.
Daniel W. Altenburg  1,184 94
John McCune  1,040
H.C.Roberts  23
Coroner.
Jeremiah Plum  1,139 78
Joshua Stevens  1,051
E. R. Schoemaker  33
ELECTION OF OCT. 11, 1859.
Circuit Prosecutor.
George D. Copeland  1,169 55
Moses Jenkinson  1,114
Oommissioner 1st Dist.
David Buchana n  1,303 135
Jeremiah Hemstreet  1,068
Oommissioner 2d Dist.
Alexander Provines  1,171 69
James McClellan   1,103
Auditor.
Milton J. Pierce  1,136 tie
Albert J. Hunt  1,136
Clerk.
John Ralston  1,143 5
Edward H. Taylor  1,137
Treasurer.
Romeo B. Catlin  3,187 108
Christophers. Hare  1,079
Becorder.
Samuel W . Widney  1,144 68
John Butt  1,076
James B. Bishop  18
ELECTION OF OCT. 9, 1860.
Oovernor.
Henry S. Lane  1,517 145
Thomaa A. Hendricks  1,373
Lieutenant-Oovernor.
Oliver P.Morton  1,517 145
David P. Turpie  1,373
Congressman.
William Mitchell  1,513 138
Philip Henkle  1,374
Oircuit Prosecutor.
Augustus A. Chapin  1,514 139
Wm. S. Smith  1,375
Senator.
Timothy R. Dickinson  1,463 80
Robert Patterson  1,383
Bepresentative.
Henry Feagler  1,504 133
Bushrod Catlin  1,381
Judge of Common Pleas.
Wm. M. Clapp  1,509 184
Abram W. Myers  1,375

Common Pleas Prosecutor.
Joseph W . Cummings  1,516 143
Theodore Richmond  1,373
Oommissioner.
Henry Fusselman  1,533 303
Amzi Seely  1,339
Sheriff.
James M. Chamberlain  1,486 92
John Miller  1,894
Auditor.
Albert J. Hunt  1,529 176
Miles Waterman  1,353
Surveyor.
Marius Buchanan  1,484 93
Daniel W. Altenburg  1,391
Hannibal C. Roberts  12
Cm oner.
Henry Willis  1,518 164
Jeremiah Plum  1,854
J. M. Rex  11
ELECTION OF NOV. 6,1860.
President.
Abraham Lincoln  1,500 101
Stephen A. Douglas  1,399
John Bell  24
John C. Breckinridge  2
ELECTION OF OCT. 8, 1861.
Oommissioner.
John Brandon  1,171 335
Alexander Provines  .946
Treasurer.
George Barney  1,241 360
Romeo B. Catlin  881
ELECTION OF OCT. 14, 1862.
Congressman.
Joseph K. Edgerton  1,450 373
William Mitchell  1,178
Oircuit Prosecutor.
James H. Schell.  1,459 375
Augustus A. Chapin  1,184
Senator.
Wm. H. Dills  1,406 1,406
Bepresentative.
Miles Waterman  1,464 316
Joshua W. Winslow  1,148
Common Pleas Prosecutor.
Alexander B. Kennedy  1,458 270
LewisCovel  1,188
Oommissioner. '
Jesse M. Brumback  1,469 293
Andrew S. Casebeer  1,177
Sheriff.
John N. Miller  1,471 399
Samuel Headley  1,173

IV

\s

^

HISTORY OF DE KALB OOUNTY.

323

Auditor.
George Kuhl man  1 ,471 307
Joel E. Hendricks  1,164
Siii'veyor.
Daniel W. Altenburg  1,461 380
Herman P. Colegrove  1,181
Coroner.
Jeremiah Plum  1,446 356
Thomas Weldin  1,190
ELECTION OF OCT. 13, 1863.
Oommissionei:
Amzi Seely  1,401 18
Wm. Mathews  1,383
Clerk-
John Ralston  1,399 38
Wm. M, Mercer.  1,371
Treasurer-
George Barney  1,394 3
Isaac Hague  1,393
Becorder.
John Butt  1,391 tie
Geo. R. Hoffman  1,391
Beat Estate Appraiser.
Moses Gonser  1,396 3
A. Dewitt Goetscniua  1,394
Surveyor.
David Eb^rly  1,399 9
Spencer Dills  1,390
ELECTION OF OCT. 11, 1864.
Oovernor.
Oliver P. Morton  1,503 98
Joseph E. McDonald  1,405
Lieutenant-Ootemor.
Conrad Baker  1,533 45
Mahlon D. Manson  1,488
Congressman-
Joseph H. Defrees  1,538 45
Joseph K. Edgerton  1,488
Oircuit Judge.
James C. Collins  1,533 44
Robert Lowry  1,489
Oircuit Prosecutor.
Jos. W. Cunningham  1,533 41
James H. Schell  1,493
Senator.
Enos B. Noyes  1,531 40
Dewitt C. Denny  1,491
Bepresentative.
RobertM.Lockhart  1,536 41
Freeman Kelly  1,485
Judge of Common Pleas.
Wm.M. Clapp  1,530 38
Samuel Jacobs  1,492
Common Pleas Prosecutor.
Asa M. Tinker  1,528 36
Gay Plum  1,486

Shiriff.
Henrv Willis  1,534 36
Geo. W. Max well  1,488
Commissioner.
Alexander Provines  1,533 48
John Brandon  1,484
Becorder.
Geo. R. HofEman  1,518 38
John Butt  1,495
Swveyor.
Henry M. Stoner  1,530 38
Spencer Dills  1,492
Coroner.
Geo. W. A. Smith  1,533 42
Jeremiah Plum  1,490
ELECTION OF NOV. 8, 1864.
President.
Abraham Lincoln  1,484 12
Geo. B. McClellan  1,472
ELECTION OF OCT. 10, 1865.
Commissioner.
Reuben G. Daniels  1,313 47
Jesse W. Brumback  1,365
Treasurer.
Lewis J. Blair  1,389 39
Eli J. Sherlock  1,350
Surveyor.
Geo. W. Weeks  1,343 99
Oliver T. Learned  1,243
ELECTION OP OCT. 9, 1866.
Congretsman.
Wm. Williams  1,818 59
Robert Lowry  1,759
Oircuit Prosecutor.
Thomas Wilson  1,830 88
Moses J. Long  1,747
Bepresentative.
Ezra D. Hartman  1,817 57
Freeman Kelly  1,760
Common Pleas Prosecutor.
Joseph D. Perrall  1,817 1,817
Commissioner.
William Henderson  1,836 75
Aaron W. Allen  1,751
Sheriff.
Henry Willis  1,795 60
Geo. W. Maxwell  1,735
Auditor.
Geo.Kuhlman  1,778 4
Whedon W. Griswold  1,769
Coroner.
Henry Feagler  1,821 96
Jeremiah Plum  1,735

-71

^l

^.

324

HISTORY OF DE KALB OOUNTY.

ELECTION OP OCT. 8, 1867.
Circuit Judge.
Andrew Ellison  1,733 119
Hiram S. Tousley  1,614
Oircuit Prosecutor.
Thos. J. Smith  1,733 96
Ezra D. Hartman  1,636
Clerk.
Jos.R.LanniDg  1,758 197
John L. Kryder  1,561
Oommissioner.
William Mclntyre  1,773 196
Orrin C. Clark  1.577
Treasurer.
Francis D. Ryan  1,760 203
Solomon De Long  1,557
Surveyor.
Joseph W. McCasslin  1,735 139
Casper Altenburg  1,603
ELECTION OF OCT. 13, 1868.
Governor.
Thos. A. Hendricks  1,768 55
Conrad Baker  1,709
Lieutenant-Oovernor.
Alfred P. Edgerton  1,764 33
Will Cumback  1,709
Congressman.
Andrew Ellison  1,764 59
William Williams  1,705
Senator.
Geo. A. Milnes  1,764 3
Edward W. Fosdick  1,703
Bepresetitative.
Lewis D. BrittOQ  1,770 83
Henry Feagler  1,688
Judge of Common Pleas.
Alexander J. Douglass  1,764 55
Wm.M. Clapp  1,709
Common Pleas Prosecutor.
Wm. G. Croxton  1,753 45
Jos. L. Morlan  1,708
Oommissioner.
Daniel Gonser  1,794 117
Jeremiah Lewis  1,677
Sheriff.
Jeremiah Plum  1,783 113
Nathan H. Mathews  1,670
Recorder.
Daniel Z. Hoffman  1,759 69
Geo. R. Hoffman  1,690
Land Appraiser-
John Q. D.incer  1,785 30
Robert Culbertson  1,715
Coroner.
George Metcalf  1,768 57
Samuel D. Long  1,701

ELECTION OF NOV. 3, 1868.
President.
Ulysses 8. Grant  1,750 34
Horatio Seymour  1,736
ELECTION OP OCT. 11, 1870.
Congressman.
William Williams  1,597 766
Milo S.Hascall  831
Andrew Ellison  770
Oircuit Court Prosecutor.
Thos. Wilson  1,703 57
James McGrew  1,645
Bepresentative.
Lewis D. Br.tton  1,687 39
Horatio 8. Hine  1,658
Common Pleas Proseoutor.
Wm. G. Croxton  1,679 88
Jos. L. Morlan  1,646
Commissioner, 1st Dist-
Daniel Gonser  1,800 365
Cyrus Bowman  1,535
Oommissioner, 2d Dist.
George Ensley  1,777 340
Thos. D. Daily  1,587
Oommissioner, 3d Dist.
Wm. Richmond  1,697 74
Isaac B. Goldsmith  1,633
Sheriff.
Jeremiah Plum  1,714 88
Jno. A. McKay  1,636
Auditor.
Wm. Mclntyre  1,715 103
Geo. W. Gordon  1,613
Clerk.
Jos. R. Lanning  1,797 359
Hermon P. Colegrove  1,538
Treasurer.
F.D.Ryan  1,711 89
Elihu Ocker  1,633
Surveyor.
Isaac K. Shaffer  1,703 67
Abraham L. Rheinoehl .... 1,685
Coroner.
Q. D. Metcalf  1,700 53
Adam Kinney  1,647
ELECTION OF OCT. 8, 1873.
Oovernor.
Thos. A. Hendricks  1,918 88
Thos. M. Browne  1,886
Alfred P. Edgerton  13
Lieutenant-Oovernor.
Jno. B. Cravens  1,924 40
Leonidas Sexton  1,884
Green Durbin  15

=S^

l±.

HISTORY OF DE
Congressman.
E. Van Long  1,930 44
Henry B. Sayler  1,886
Circuit Judge.
James I. Best  1,890 1890
Circuit Prosecutor.
Leigh H. Haymond  1,868 1,868
Judge of Common Pleas.
L.H.Goodwin  1,934 37
Wm.M. Clapp  1,887
Common Pleas Prosecutor.
Daniel Y. Husselman  1,939 66
Jos. L. Morlan  1,878
Senator.
Wm. G. Croxton  1 934 51
"W. L Howard  1,888
Bepresentative-
Sam. S. Shutt  1,952 87
Jacob D. Leighty  1,865
Commissioners.
€has. R. Wanemaker  1,914 16
Wm. Richmond  1,898
Nelson Griffith  1,933 48
Lewis Britton  1,884
Sheriff-
Wm.L.Meese  1,909 30
Geo. W. Maxwell  1,889
Treasurer.
Nicholas Ensley  1,930 51
Freeman Kelley  1,869
Becorder.
Daniel Z. Hoffman  1,961 33
Geo. R. Hoffman  1,839
Beat Estate Appraiser.
Samuel Learned  1,943 61
John Buchanan  1,882
Surveyor.
Chauncey C. Clark  1,930 30
Henry C. Peterson  1,890
Ooron.er.
Jas. J. Latson  1,943 66
Adam Kinney  1,876
ELECTION OF NOV. 5, 1873.
President.
Ulysses S. Grant  1,861 317
Horace Greeley;  1,544
Chas. O'Conor  94
ELECTION OP OCT. 14, 1874.
Secretary of State.
Jno.E. Nefl  3,018 62
Wm.W.Curry  1,956
OongressmMi.
Freeman Kelly  2,018 101
Jno.H. Baker  1,913
31

KALB OOUNTY. 325
Circuit Prosecutor.
Wm. B. McConnell  3,035 130
Jos. L. Morlan  1,905
Bepresentative.
Miles Waterman  1,961 1
Edward H. Saylor  1,960
Commissioner.
Geo. H. Duncan  3,078 190
Henry Hood  1,886
Sheriff. '
Wm. L. Meese  2,283 671
John Freesh  1,613
Auditor.
Isaac Hague  3,089 276
Wm. Mclntyre  1,813
Clerk.
Geo. H. K. Moss  3,039 55
Lewis D. Britton  1,884
Treasurer.
Nicholas Ensley  3,046 160
David H. Marry.'.  1,886
Assessor.
Christian Stieets  3,006 58
Robert Culbertson  1,948
Surveyor.
Winfield S. Bangs  1 ,885 9
Jay J. Van Auken  1,876
Coroner.
Jas. J. Latson  3,042 126
Geo. M.Crane  1,916
ELECTION OF OCT. 10, 1876.
Oovernor.
Jas. D. Williams  2,597 188
Benjamin Harrison  2,409
Henry W. Harrington  18
Lieutenant-Oovernor.
Isaac Gray  2,593 186
Rob't S. Robertson  3,406
Richard Gregg  19
Secretary of State.
Jno.E.Neff  3,592 183
Isaiah P. Watts  3,409
Allen W. Monroe  30
Congressman.
Freeman Kelly  3,597 198
Jno. H. Baker  3,399
Oircuit Judge.
Hiram S. Tousley  3,558 111
Jas. E. Rose  3,447
Oircuit Prosecutor.
Daniel H. Moody  3,558 153
Jno. W. Bixler  2,406
Senator.
Samuel S. Shutt  2,610 330
Wm. M. Mercer  2,380

Vp

^'

-SU-.

326

Wm. H. Madden  ,  3,580
Orrin C.Clark  2,441
Commissioners.
Geo. H. Duncan  2,698
Wm. R. Emerson  , . . . 3,330
Benjamin F. Blair  3,503
Rob't N. Crooks  3,498
A. D. Goetschius  3,578
Wm. Cornell  3,409
Sheriff.
Jno. C. St. Clair  3,563
Elam B. Cutler  3,458
Treasurcr-
Daniel Gonser  3,631
Thos. J. Saxton  2,378
Becorder-
Michael Boland  2,633
Samuel H. Hathaway  3,389
Surveyor-
Jay J. Van Auken  2,648
Elbert M.Woodford  2,366
Cor oner.
James J. Latson  3,618
Reuben G. Bailey  3,399
ELECTION OP NOV. 7, 1876.
President.
Samuel J. Tilden  3,553
Rutherford B. Hayes  3,381
Peter Cooper  38
ELECTION OP OCT. 8, 1878
Secretary of State.
Jno. G. Shanklin  3,137
Isaac S. Moore. ...... 1,897
Henley James  606
Congressman.
Jno. B. Stoll  3,168
Jno.H. Baker  1,887
Wm. C Williams  570
Circuit Prosecutor.
Geo. B. Adams  3,163
Henry C. Peterson  8,096
Bepresentative.
Samuel S. Shutt  3,331
Wm. L. Meese,  1,894
Emanuel Neidig  504
Sheriff.
Augustus S. Leas..  1,871
Wesley I. Work  1,679
Robert N. Crooks  1,015
Commissioners.
Edward Kelham  3,313
Amos Britton  1,813
Rob't S. S. Reed.  608
John Shoub  2,094
Robert Arford  1,906
Henry M. Milliman,  608

HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.

189
468 5
169104348233 283 319 173340 381 67
337 193400 188

Auditor.
Albert Robbins  2,188 192
Cyrus C. Walter  1,941
Jno. J. Hoopengarner  518
Olerk-
Geo. H. K. Moss  3 172 366
Thos. C. Mayo  1,806
A. Byron Darby  619
Treasurer.
Daniel Gonser  3,194 358
Willis P. Andrews  1,841
Samuel M. Knott  564
Surveyor.
Jay J. Van Auken. . :  3,340 501
Geo. Buchanan  1,739
Allen Schultz  631
Coroner.
Jas. J. Latson  3,181 388
Henry Espy  1,839
Samuel Greenemeyer  595
ELECTION OF OCT. 13, 1880.
Governor.
Franklin Landers  3,533 79
Albert G. Porter  3,454
Richard Gregg  137
Lieutenant-Governor.
Isaac P. Gray  3,550 115
Thomas Hanna  3,435
Thos. P. De Bruler  140
Secretary of State.
John G. Shanklin  3,555 127
Ecnaouel R- Hawn  3,438
Francis J . Warring  143
Congressman.
Walpole G. Colerick  3,630 178
Robert S. Taylor  3,452
Oircuit Prosecutoi'.
Geo.B.Adams  3,553 60
Henry C Peterson  3,493
Senator.
Jesse H. Carpenter  2,703 380
Francis McCartney  2,423
Joint Bepresentative.
Samuel S. Shutt  3,708 353
Hiram Iddings  3,355
Bepresentative.
Daniel D. Moody  3,551 116
Wm. T. Hopkins. ....... . 2,435
Joshua M. Winslow  135
Commissioner.
F. D. Oberlin  3,483
Ephraim Shipe  3,475
Emanuel R. Shoemaker  153
Sheriff.
Augustus S. Leas  3,530 96
Jay J. Van Auken  3,434
Jno. W. Rowe  90

-J IS

¦y|o «^

J.  9

J- .

HISTORY OF DK KALB COUNTY.

327

Clerk.
J, o. W, Baxter  3,510 81
Jno. A. Provines  3,439
Hamilton H. Keep  143
Treasurer.
Lafayet'e J. Miller  3,51!:! 141
Wm. Henderson  3, 423
Orris Danks  130
Becorder.
Michael Boland  3,640 319
Charlps Hanes  3,331
Isaac B. Goldsmith  139
Sun-ryor.
Azam P. Foltz  3,523 66
Abel L. Hollopeter  3,456
Coroner.
Jas. J. Latson  3,566 146
Henry Espy  3,430
Daniel Zahner  ... 138
ELECTION OF NOV. 3,1880.
President-
Winfield S. Hancock  3,582 141
James A. Garfield  3,441
Jas. C. Weaver  110
ELECTION OP NOV. 7, 1883.
Secretary of State.
Wm. R.Myers  3.559 368
Emanuel R. Hawn  3,391
Leonaid  Ill
Congressman.
Robert Lowry  3,565 386
Wesley C.Glasgow  3,379
Butler  118
Circuit Judge.
Wm. H. Dills  3,470 118
R. Wes. McBride  3,353
Goodwin  ;  98
Prosecuting Attorney.
Harry Reynolds  3,588 341
Henry C. Peterson  3,347
Joint Bepresentative.
Eli B. Garber  3,553 339
0. Z. Hubbell  3,313
Bepresentative.
Danitl D. Moody  3,473 104
Jeremiah Lewis  3,368
Edge  76
Commissioners.
Joseph Sewell  3,493 138
Fred D. Oberlin  3,360
Shultz  103
Oliver H. Widney  3,603 355
Russell G. Coburn  3,347
Milliman  103
Briggs D. Thomas  3,545 356
Amos Rakestraw  2,289
Scattergood  103

Sheriff.
Jno. W. Boyle  2,650 339
Jonathan Hazlett  2,331
Murphy  81
Auditor.
Thos. H. Tomlinson  3,499 133
John A. ShuU  3,366
Cathcart  79
Clerk-
D. Y. Husselman  , 3,473 104
Ezra D. Hartman  3,368
Wallace  75
Treasure):
L. J. Miller  3,816 793
Chas. Bengno  3,019
Stoner  68
Becorder.
John BuU  3,570 375
Thaddeus D. Meese  3,395
Shaffer  74
Surveyor.
Jay J. Van Auken  3,628 343
Samuel G. Flint  2,286
Chapman  96
Coroner.
J. J. Latson  3,599 371
Jno. A. Cowan  3,338
ELECTION OF NOV. 4, 1884.
President-
Grover Cleveland  3,799 348
Jas. G Blaine  3,451
Benj. P. Butler  95
Jno. P. St. John  59
Governor.
Isaac P. Gray  3,798 355
Wm. H. Calkins  3,443
Hiram Z. Leonard  94
Rob't S. Dwigi^ins  70
Lieutenant-Oovernor.
Mahlon D. Manson  3,804 362
Eugene H. Bundy  3,443
Jno. B. Milroy  93
Elwood C. Siler  09
Secretary of State-
Wm. R. Mvers  3,804 361
Rob't Mitchell  3,441
Thompson Smith  93
Benj. P. Carter  68
Oongressman.
Robert Lowry   3,770 886
Theron P. Keator  3,484
Geo. D. Haitsuck  87
Jesse M. Gale    57
Circuit Prosecutor.
Francis M. Powers  3,889 438
Henry C. Peterson  3,456

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328 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.

Sheriff.
Jno. W. Boyle  3,756 334 ' Oaniel D. Moody  2,697 104
Elam B. Cutter  2,533 , Jqq g Jackman  2,593
Geo. Lautzenberger  80 | Wm. Wallace  83
Treasurer.
Silas J. Brandon  2,765 237
Jno. L.Davis  2,538
Charles Imas  77
Coroner.
Francis Picker  2,760 255
Richard Elson  2,505
Enos Vian  96
Surveyor.
Jay J. Van Auken  3,848 445
Augustus Obendorf  3,403
Wm. P. C. Francis 
Senator.
Lafayette J. Miller  2,913 461
Nicholas Ensley  3,453

Joint Bepresentative.
Wm. Barney  3,810 345
Jno. E. Thompson  3,465
Jas. D. McAnally  96
Oommissioner 2d Dist.
Henry Probst  3,810 345
Ephraim Farrington  3,465
Jno. A. Walker  96
Oommissioner, 3d Dist.
Oliver H. Widney  3,835 383
Otis S. Blood  3,452
Miles Chapman  86

OFFICIAL.
Both for the interest of the reader and for a permanent record
of value for reference the names are here given of tbose who have
filled the principal offices in DeKalb County.
CLERKS.
The following have held the office of County Clerk: John F.
Coburn, 1837-'41; S. W. Sprott, 1841-'51; J. P. Widney, 1851-'5;
S. "W. Sprott, 1855-'9; John Ealston, 1859-'67; J. K Lanning,
1867-'75; G. H. K. Moss, 1875-'80; John W. Baxter, 1880-'4; D.
Y. Husselman, 1884. RECORDERS.
The office of recorder was combined with that of clerk for the
first fourteen years of the county's existence, since which time it
has been a distinct office. The incumbents have been: John F.
Coburn, 1837-'41; S. W. Sprott, 1841-'61; John McCune, 1851-'5;
W. E. Griswold, 1855-'9; S. W. Widney, 1859-'64; G. K. Hoff
man, 1864-'8; D. Z. Hoffman, 1868-'76; M. Boland, 1876-'84;
Jolin Butt, 1884. AUDITORS.
The auditors have been: S. W. Sprott, 1841-'2; Aaron Hague,
1842-'9; Miles Waterman, 1849-'55; M. F. Pierce, 1855-'60; A. J.
Hunt, 1860-'2; George Kuhlman, 1862-'6; W. W. Griswold, 1866-
'70; W. Mclntyre, 1870-'4-, Isaac Hague, 1874-'8; Albert Eobbins,
1878-'82; Thomas H. Tomlinson, 1882.
TREASURERS.
Twelve men have been the custodians of De Kalb County's

i\

HISTORY OF DE KALB OOUNTY. 329
money, as follows: Wesley Park, 1837-'51; S. W. Ealston, 1851-
'3; J.E. Hendricks, 1853-'5; E. W. Fosdick, 1855-'7; Jacob Hel
wig, 1857-'9; E. B. Catlin, 1869-'61: George Barney, 1861-'5-, L. J.
Blair, 1865-'7; F. D. Eyan, 1867-'72; Nicholas Ensley, 1872-'6-,
Daniel Gonser, 1876-'80; L. J. Miller, 1880-'4.
SHERIFFS.
From 1837 to 1850 Wesley Park, Thomas J. Freeman, Jona
than Puffenbarger, and S. W. Ralston successively kept the county's
disorderly citizens under lock and key. Since 1850 the time has
been divided as follows: W. K. Straight, 1850-'4; Isaac Brandt,
1854-'6; S. W. Ealston, 1856-'60; J. N. Chamberlain, 1860-'2-, J.
N. Miller, 1862-'4; H. Willis, 1864-'8; J. Plum, 1868-'72; W. L.
Meese, 1872-'6; John St. Clair, 1876-'8; A. S. Leas,1878-'82; John
W. Boyle, 1882. COMMISSIONERS.
The Legislators of our county are three in number, and the
board for each year since the organization of the county has been
as follows:
1837 — Peter Fair (Chairman), Samuel Widney and Abram F.
Beecher. 1838 — Peter Fair (Chairman), David Strong and Isaac T. Al
drich. 1839 — Daniel Strong (Chairman), Peter Fair and Isaac B.
Smith. 1840 — Daniel Strong (Chairman), Isaac B. Smith and Daniel
Moody. 1841 — ^Daniel Strong (Chairman), Daniel Moody and Warner
Spooner. 1842 — Daniel Moody (Chairman), Warner Spooner and John
Helwig. 1843 — ^Warner Spooner (Chairman), John Helwig and Daniel
Moody. 1844 — Jobn Helwig (Chairman), Daniel Moody and Oliver D.
Keep. 1845 — Daniel Moody (Chairman), Oliver D. Keep and Amzi
Seely. 1846 — Oliver D. Keep (Chairman), Amzi Seely and James M.
Goetschius. 1847 — Amzi Seely (Chairman), Jaines M. Goetschius and An
drew S. Casebeer.

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330 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
1848 — Amzi Seely (Chairman), James M . Goetschius and Andrew
S. Casebeer.
1849 — Amzi Seely (Chairman), Andrew S. Casebeer and James
M. Goetschius.
1850 — Amzi Seely (Chairman), Oliver D. Keep and William
Showers. 1851 — William Showers (Chairman), Jacob Helwig and John
C. Hursh.
1852 — Jacob Helwig (Chairman), Solomon De Long and Joseph
Walter. 1853 — Solomon De Long (Chairman), Joseph Walter and Jere
miah Hemstreet.
1854 — Joseph W^alter (Chairman), Solomon De Long and Joel
E. Thompson.
1855 — Solomon De Long (Chairman), Joel E. Thompson and
James M. Goetschius.
1856 — Solomon De Long (Chairman), James M. Goetschius and
Jeremiah Hemstreet.
1857 — James M. Goetschius (Chairman), Jeremiah Hemstreet
and Amzi Seely.
1858 — Jeremiah Hemstreet (Chairman), Amzi Seely and James
M. Goetschius.
1859 — Amzi Seely (Chairman), David Buchanan and Alexander
Provines. 1860 — Alexander Provines (Chairman), David Buchanan aud
Henry Fusselman.
1861 — David Buchanan (Chairman), Henry Fusselman and John
Brandon. 1862 — Henry Fusselman (Chairman), John Brandon and J. M.
Brumback. 1863 — John Brandon (Chairman), J. M. Brumback and Amzi
Seely. 1864 — J. M. Brumback (Chairman), Amzi Seely and Alexander
Provines. 1865 — Amzi Seely (Chairman), Alexander Provines and E. G.
Daniels. 1866 — Alexander Provines (Chairman), E. G. Daniels and
William Henderson.
1867 — E. G. Daniels (Chairman), William Henderson and
William Mclntyre.
1868 — William Henderson (Chairman), William Mclntyre and
Daniel Gonser.

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HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY. 331
i 1869— William Mclntyre (Chairman), Daniel Gonser and Will-
! iain Henderson.
j lS7u — Daniel Gonser (Chairman), George Ensley and William
Eichmond. i
1871— William Eichmond (Chairman), George Ensley and
, Daniel Gonser.
1872 — George Ensley (Chairman), Daniel Gonser and William
1 Eichmond.
' 1873 — Daniel Gonser (Chairman), JSfelson Griffith and Charles
E. Wanemaker.
1874— Nelson Griffith (Chairman), Charles E. Wanemaker and
! George H. Duncan.
I 1S75 — Nelson Griffith (Chairman), Charles E. Wanemaker and
: George H. Duncan.
1876 — George H. Duncan (Chairman), Charles E. Wanemaker
and A. D. Goetschius.
1877 — A. D. Goetschius (Chairman), B. F. Blair and George
I H. Duncan.
1878 — B. F. Blair (Chairman), George H. Duncan and A. D.
Goetschius. 1879 — George H. Duncan (Chairman), Edward Kelham and B.
F. Blair.
1880 — Edward Kelham (Chairman), John Shoub and F. D.
Oberlin. 1881 — John Shoub (Chairman), F. D. Oberlin and Edward
Kelham. 1882— F. D. Oberlin (Chairman), B. D. Thomas and O. H-
Widney. 1883—0. H. Widney (Chairman), B. D. Thomas and Joseph
Sewell. (B. D. Thomas died In June, 1884, and Henry Probst was
appointed to complete the term.)
1884 — O. H. Widney (Chairman), Joseph Sewell and Henry
Pnibst. OTHER OFFICERS.
DeKalb County has furnished the following Circuit Judges: E.
J. Dawson, James I. Best, C. A. O. McClellan and E. Wes. Mc
Bride; Common Pleas Judges, John Morris and E. B. Mott; As
sociate Judges, A. Walden, T. L. Yates, Samuel Widney, Nelson
Payne, Eobert Work, David Martin, Abraham Cope and G. C.
Mudgett; Probate Judges, Lott Herrick and J. B. Wade; State
Senators, E. J. Dawson, T. E. Dickinson, E. W. Fosdick and

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332

HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.

William Mercer. The county has been represented in the lower
branch of the Legislature by Joseph Helwig, John P. Widney,
E. J. Dawson, G. C. Mudgett, Eobert Work, S. B. Ward, Miles
Waterman, Henry Feagler, E. M. Lockhart, E. D. Hartman, L.
b. Britton, S. S. Shutt and D. D. Moody. The County Surveyors
have been Joseph Miller, C. Probst, Joseph Nodine, Daniel Alten
burg, Marius Buchanan, David Eberly, G. W. Weeks, I. K. Sheffer,
Chauncey Clark, and J. J. Van Auken; School Examiners and
Superintendents, Edward Wright, Spencer Dills, W. H. Mcintosh
and James A. Barnes.

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CHAPTEE VI.

THE WAR FOR THE UNION.

Devotion to Country. — Sadness of War. — First Enlistments. —
De Kalb County Guards. — Munitions of War. — De Kalb
County Not in the Background. — But One Voice. — Loyal
Meetings. — Meeting at Spencerville. — Drafting. — Eoll of
Honor. — Ninth Eegiment. — Eleventh. — Twelfth. — Thir
teenth. — Seventeenth. — Nineteenth. — ^Twentieth. — Twenty-
first. — Twenty-ninth. — Thirtieth. — Thirty-fourth. — Thirty-
FUTH. — Thirty-eighth. — Forty-second. — Forty-fourth. —
Forty-eighth. — Forty-ninth. — Seventy-fourth. — Eighty-
seventh. — Eighty-eighth. — Ninety-first. — One Hundred and
Eighteenth. — One Hundred and Nineteenth. — One Hundred
AND Twenty-seventh. — One Hundred and Twenty-ninth. —
One Hundred and Fortieth. — One Hundred and Forty-second.
The brightest pages in the history of De Kalb County are those
which record her loyal support of the Government in its long
struggle to crush the slaveholders' rebellion. Various opinions of
public policy there might be, and were; and party lines were as
strongly drawn here as anywhere ; but when it came to deeds, all
differences were forgotten, and all joined in an emulous rivalry
in patriotism. The world will never forget that sublime devotion
to country which made fathers forsake their families, brothers their
sisters, lovers their betrothed, and enlist under the stars and stripes
for three years or the war. They marched all over the South,
through swamps and rivers, over mountains and plains; they ex
posed their bodies to every form of unhealthy surroundings; they
bared their breasts to the murderous bullets by thousands; they
died of disease by tens of thousands; and, worse than all, they
starved slowly by regiments in AndersonvIUe and other Southern
prison pens until 60,000 and more were relieved of their sufferings.
Many brave deeds, indeed, were performed that could only be
done in the intense excitement of battle. This excitement carried
men through orodigles of valor, and was followed by reaction of
(333)

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334 history of de kalb county.
languor and gloom after the battle. When a furnace is in blast,
the red fountain sparkles and plays like a mountain spring, and
the rude surroundings brighten to the peak of the rough rafters
with a strange beauty. When the fire is out, and the black and
ragged masses of dull iron lie dead upon the ground, with a dumb,
stubborn resistance, who would dream that they ever leaped with
life and light?
A battle and a furnace are alike. It Is wonderful how dull
natures brighten and grow costly in the glow of battle; how the
sterling worth and wealth there are in them shine out, and the
common man stands transfigured, his heart In his hand and his
hand and his foot in the realm of heroic grandeur. But ah, when
the fire is out, and the scarred earth is heaped with clay, the black
mouths of the guns speechless, mighty hammers and no hands, the
flags furled, the wild hurrah died away, and all the splendid action
of the charge vanished from the rugged field like a last flash of sun
shine, and you wander among the dull remainders, the dead em
bers of the intensest life and glow that swept your soul out. only
yesterday, and drifted it on with the skirmish line, you begin to
know what those words mean, "After the battle."
SADNESS OF WAR.
Not alone for the men were the horrors of war. It was in our
civil strife as in all wars of history, while the women shared the
suffering, the men received all the glory. What an Immense
amount of heroism among the wives of soldiers passed unnoticed,
or was taken as a matter of course 1 For the soldier, he had his
comrades about him, shoulder to shoulder; he had excitement; he
had praise, if he did well; he had honorable mentliin and pitying
tears, il he fell nobly striving. But alas for the soldier's wife!
Even an officer's wife, who had sympathizing friends; who had
the comforts and many of the luxuries of life; whose children's
future was provided for if their father fell, what hours of dreadful
su.'ipense must she pass, even under these favorable circumstances !
How hard for her! But for the wife of the poor soldier, who, in
giving her husband to her country, had given everything; who
knows not whether the meal she and her little ones are eating may
not be the last for many a hungry, desolate day; who has no
friend to say " well done" as the lagging weeks of suspense creep
on, and she stands bravely at her post, keeping want and starva
tion at bay; imagination busy among the heaps of dead and

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ILISTOKV OF Dh: KALB 0t)UNTV. a'd'^
wounded, or traversing the wretched prison pens, and shuddering
at the thought of their demoniac keepers ; keeping down her sobs,
as the little daughter trustingly offers up her nightly prayers " for
dear papa to come home;" or wIumi her little son, just old enough
to read, traces slowly with his forefinger the long list of killed and
wounded, "to see If papa's name is there;" shrouding her eyes
from the possible future of her children, should her strength give
out under the pressure of want and anxiety; no friend to turn to
when her hand is palsied by labor; there are no waving banners,
nor martial music, nor loui; processions to chronicle her valorous
deeds; none but God and her own brave heart the witnesses of her
own unaided struggle. When we think of these solitai-y women
scattered through the length and breadth of the land, our hearts
warm toward them; and we would fain hold them up in their silent
heroism for all the world to admire. When the history of the
Kebellion shall be properly written, and that cannot be in this gene
ration, let the historian, what eke soever he may omit, forget not
to chronicle this sublime valor of the hearthstone all over our
straggling land. first enlistments.
With the first call of the President, numerous volunteers from
De Kalb County offered their services, but as they were not organ
ized in a body by themselves, such as were accepted were assigned
to various commands, and in many cases credited to other counties.
Thus the county furnished men enough for two whole companies
before any company was raised and officered entirely in De Kalb.
The first company to receive a large representation from De Kalb
was Company G, Nineteenth Eegiment, in connection with which
the following incident occurred :
While the people of Waterloo were enthusiastically manifesting
their warlike spirit, there occurred in the village July 10, 1861, an
accident so fatal in its character and effect as to shock the entire
community. The sadness was much deeper than was felt at ten
times the loss of life in the field of war; for the latter was felt to
be necessary, and the former only a deplorable accident.
The cannon belonging to the citizens of the village was being
fired in honor of the volunteers belonging to Captain Clark's com
pany who were leaving on the express train at 3:55. Two rounds
had been fired, the third and fatal one was reserved for the de
parture of the train. It had been heavily charged, and was wad-

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336 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
ded with green leather shavings from the tannery, within a few
inches of the muzzle, and as the train started it was fired, resulting
in a most terrible explosion, bursting the gun to atoms and scatter
ing the pieces in all directions, over houses and tree tops, carry
ing several heavy pieces to a distance of over eighty rods, such was
the terrible force of the explosion.
J. H. Shoe.inaker, who had himself assisted in loading the gun
and who applied the fatal match, was hit by a piece which inflicted
a frightful incision In his right side, in the region of the lower ribs,
severing the spinal column, and causlug his instantaneous death.
About to fire the piece, he was heard to remark that "those boys
over there," pointing toward the crowd at the depot, "said they
would not touch it off for $500;" another instant, and
" Death had marked him for his own."
It seems almost incredible that in all the crowd that stood around
in the immediate range of the death-dealing fragments, that no one
else was injured. There were several who must certainly have had
a hair-breadth escape. The funeral of this upright, industrious
young man was held the following Friday, at the residence of F.
C. Francis, the services being conducted by Rev. Mr. Osmun.
DE KALB CODNTY GUARDS.
The first company raised entirely in this county, and officered by
men from the county, was Captain Hawley's, which entered the
Thirtieth Eegiment. This company was the pride of De Kalb County,
and numbered in its body some of the best citizens. When fully or
ganized, the ladles of Auburn presented the organization with a
splendid banner. It was enthusiastically received, and the follow
ing letter returned to the editor of the New Era, for publication.
It was the last farewell word received from raanj' brave hearts who
never returned to their friends :
"Camp Allen, Fort Wayne, Ind., Sept. 9, 1861.
"Editor Era : — At a meeting of the De Kalb County Guards,
while on duty in company drill, In Camp Allen, the following
preamble and resolutions were adopted :
"Whereas, The citizens of De Kalb County have, by their
energetic efforts, been Instrumental in effecting the organization of
the De Kalb County Guards, and in contributing to their aid and
comfort, in both physical and social wants, therefore be it resolved,
" 1. That we tender to the citizens of said count}', one and all^

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HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY. 337
who have so contributed to our wants, our heartfelt thanks, as a
testimonial on our part for their kind aid and sympathy.
"2. That words fail to give expression to the feelings we ex
perienced on receiving the warm and kind pressure of the hand, in
seeing the eyes of our friends dimmed with the tear of regret, and
in hearing the fervent ' God bless you,' at our departure from our
homes, to join in sustaining the Government from foes without
and traitors within.
"3. That the ladies of Auburn are particularly entitled to our
thanks for the bountiful collation prepared by them for us on the
day of our departure from that place; and we also owe our grate
ful thanks to those who accompanied us to this camp.
"4. That as it would be impossible to specify all the acts of
individual kindness which have helped to contribute to our relie
we will only say with true feeling, that they are all duly appreci
ated, and will never be forgotten.
" 5. That the flag we have received will not be disgraced by
any act of ours, but that in its defense we will imperil our lives,
and never bring reproach upon the name of De Kalb.
"6. That the foregoing preamble and resolutions be signed by
the commissioned officers of our company, a copy be forwarded to
the Era at Auburn and the Press at Waterloo, for publication.
"Captain Cyrus Hawley,
"First Lieutenant W. W. Griswold,
" Second Lieutenant J. C. Smith."
munitions of war.
Very early in the war the people had accustomed themselves to
the sight of soldiers and stores of war. The following is taken
from the Waterloo Press of Sept. 20, 1861 :
"Two special trains, laden with cannon, powder, balls, shells,
etc., have passed here this week. The cannon were of large size,
and destined for fortifying the Mississippi Valley. The following
is the 'bill of goods': Ten 64-ponnders; twenty 32-pounders; 2,467
32-pdund balls; 147 64-pound balls; and sixty-four 96-pound balls ;
an aggregate of 91,840 pounds of shot, shell and ball."
Among the most loyal supporters of the Government in this
county was the Waterloo Press, which kept up a never-faltering,
uncompromising Union spirit throughout the war. From the first
it called on the people of the county to furnish volunteers. The
following is taken from the issue of Oct. 4, 1861 :

338 HISTORY OF DE KALB OOUNTY.
" DE KALB COUNTY NOT IN THE BACKGROUND.
"The intrinsic value of virtue is measured by the effort made to
acquire and maintain it. Probably there is no county in the north
half of the State where so much opposition of various characters
has been met as in this goodly county of ours. From the first many
manly and brave hearts have been ready to respond to the call to
defend uur Government. Our citizens have gone forth in twos,
fives, tens, twenties and forties to fill up vacant places in othe
counties and States; then came one full company, Captain Hawley's,
and it is so written on the pages of history and tablets of many
observers. " Now two more companies are being formed, already in camp.
Captain Merrill's and Captain Parks's. The latter is too favorably
known in this county to add to his character by further notice here;
it commends itself; but the former is not so well known. But he has
recommendations from those who are acquainted and qualified to
judge, which command a favorable consideration. He has been a
military man for a number of years, and was once elected Captain ot
Company A, Toledo Guards, which post he resigned when he came
among us.
"Patriots, will you at once heed the call, and within four days
fill up these companies? You may still be further called upon to
place more men in the field. The prompt response to the calls
already made upon yon is a sure guarantee that your patriotism is
equal to the demand. These companies cannot fail of being filled
by the brave boys of old De Kalb. Do 1 overestimate your pa
triotism? Time will tell.
"Newville is thus far the banner township. The voters of that
town number 170, and forty of them are volunteers in the Govern
ment service. What township speaks for the banner next?
"Everything for the cause." BUT ONE VOIOE.
There were, it is true, many In this county, as elsewhere in the
North, who honestly thought that the strife could have -been
averted, and opposed a resort to the sword. But after the war was
begun, these proved themselves as loyal as anj-. The following,
frora the New Era of March, 1861, just before the breaking out of
hostllitres, shows the position of the peace advocates:
"Coercion stands boldly out in the Inaugural, and coercion car
ried into effect will no doubt lead to war. The Southern Confed-

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HISTORY OF DE KALB OOUNTY. 339
eracy has 30,000. troops encamped in the field ready to resist ccer,
cion. Virginia and Kentucky declare that if the President sends
an army South to take the forts, and compel submission to the laws,
that they will join the seceded States and resist such coercion; and
the remainder of the border slave States would In all probability
do the same, and then we will have war. ut ,Mr. Lincoln
would not be to blame; he Is bound by his official oath to sustain
the Constitution and execute the laws, and we would not give a
straw for a President who does not regard the sacred obligations
of his oath, and who will not do his duty. If we get into trouble,
simply by the Chief Magistrate discharging his duty, the fault will
not attach to him, but tt> those Eepublican and secession members
of Conofress who, in defiance of the will of the people, refuse to
vote for compromises that would have given peace to the country."
But the same paper, in August, 1861, said:
" What we most wish is the present and future sacred observ
ance of the Constitution. We are strong enough to maintain the
Union and the Constitution, too. What is past cannot be remedied,
and we need not stop at present to discuss. We are in the midst
of war — a war begun by reckless rebels at Charleston. The Presi
dent had lawful power to call out troops to serve until thirty days
after the meeting of Congress. He did so, and we urged the en
listment of troops. The capital was in danger, and its capture by
the Confederates would have curtailed on us everlasting disgrace
and incalculable evils.
"Since then other acts have been done by the Executive, which
we could not approve. But let them pass, and let us look at mat
ters as they now stand. Congress has authorized the raising of
troops, and the capital is probably at this moment in greater dan
ger than ever before. What is to be done? Why, troops must be
raised at once for its defense and for the preservation of the Union.
We hold it to be the duty of every loyal citizen to do all in his
power to aid the speedy enlistment of troops, and accordingly we
have exerted all our influence to this end, although bitterly de
nounced therefor by some misguided friend. But at the same
time that we would do all in our power to increase our power to
meet the present exigency — and while [we invoke all patriotic
young men who can possibly leave home to enlist at once in some
of the regiments now recuiting, and to rush to the rescue of our
country's flag, we also would extend the olive branch with one
hand, while keeping the sword firmly grasped in the other."

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310 HISTORY OF DE KALB OOUNTY.
And again:
" Our nation is now passing its fiery ordeal. It will come from
the contest a power among the nations, or it will sink to a disunited
conglommeratlon of petty States. Nothing so vital to every citizen
can be conceived as the decision of the question. Have we a Gov-
enment? Shall we maintain It intact despite domestic dissension
and foreign Intervention? To fail would be to sink millions of
property as well as to cover the face of each patriot with chagrin,
and to ruin the hope of a Government like ours ever becoming per
manent. "But we know no such word as fail. Sooner than this, the loyal
States would see twice 500,000 more brave men spring to the aid
of the gallant army who are now winning laurels upon the field,
and who are fast regaining our soil from the grasp of the traitors."
Aud in August, 1862:
"It is truly gratifying to know that this county can show so
proud a record — prouder than any other county of its size and
population in the State— In the cause of the Government. Her
page In the history of this rfevolutlon will shine bright among the
brightest, her name live forever. When the present companies
forming under the late calls go into camp, which they will have
done before this Item reaches our readers, De Kalb County will
have sent out six full companies, and enough men have gone out of
the county and enlisted to number at least two more, making in all
•eight companies, or 808 men. And yet if the Government had not
seen fit to stop enlistments she could have turned out more men.
The fact is, the people of little De Kalb are a Union, a loyal people.
They desire to see the rebellion put down, the Constitution preserved
and the glorious old Union restored. For this purpose they are
sacrificing their lives and their means, and for this object they will
toil, if necessary, to the bitter end."
LOYAL MEETINGS.
The enthusiastic spirit of loyalty did not die away in a few
weeks or months. Eecrni ting went on throughout the war with
out cessation, and the soldiers In the field were constantly sus
tained by the uncompromising supporters of the Union who were
obliged to stay at home. Frequent meetings of the people gave
expression to this sentiment. Even in 1863, the darkest year of
the war, when the rebels' chances of success seemed improving,
loyal meetings were held in nearly every village and district

m

HISTORY OF DE KALB OOUNTY.

341

school-house in De Kalb County. As a sample, we extract from
the proceedings of one held at the Methodist church Auburn
Feb. 20, 1S63:
The meeting was called to order by Eev. S. W. Wldney, and
Captain L. J. Blair, of the Eighty-eighth Indii\na Infantry, was
chosen President; Captain F. F. Smith, of the United States
Navy, was selected Secretary, and the following were named as
Vice-Presidents: Captain Cyrus Hawley, Corporal J. McMIUen
and Lieutenant James McKay, of the Thirtieth Indiana; Solomon
Delong, E. Lockwood, L. Hoodlemire, I. Ditmars, J. Hoffman
aud J. Link, of the Forty-fourth Indiana; C. Carr, of the Fort
eighth Indiana; A. McClellan, of the Fifty-second Illinois; and
William Fisher, of the Seventeenth Michigan.
Dr. J. N. Chamberlain, Eev. S. W. Widney and John McCune
were appointed a Committee on Eesolutions, and while they were
maturing a report W. S. Smith, of Fort Wayne, addressed the
meeting in an eloquent and argumentative manner, with telling
effect. The following spirited resolutions were then reported by
the committee, and enthusiastically adopted:
Whereas, Since the commencement of the present infamous
rebellion against the Government of the United States every
reasonable means of conciliation has been used by the Govern
ment, so far as national honor would at all admit; and
Whereas, The President of the United States thoroughly tried
the Border-State policy of non-interference with the institution of
slavery, which the rebels boast of as the corner-stone of their so-
called Confederacy, and found that the more than 3,000,000 slaves
of the rebels were continually used to furnish supplies for, and do
the hard work of the Eebellion; and even in some instances (so
far as they dare trust arms in their hands) to help murder our
gallant soldiers and the Union men in the rebellious States; and
Whereas, The Chief Magistrate of our Nation and the Congress
of these United States have found it necessary, at length, after
giving fair warning to the rebels, to take this weapon used
against us out of their hands; therefore
Resolved, 1st — That we cordially endorse the policy of the Ad
ministration in using every means consistent with civilized war
fare to crush out this wicked rebellion as speedily as possible.
Resolved, 2d — That we are willing to make every sacrifice,
personal and pecuniary, to sustain the armies in the field, so nobly
fighting for our national Government and its existence.
33

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.4^^—-

342 HISTORY OF DE KALB OOUNTY.
Resolved, 3d — That we feel a patriotic pride in contemplating
the achievements of the armies of the Union, in driving back the
rebels from Maryland, Western Virginia, Kentucky, Missouri
and Tennessee, and in taking possession of so many important
points on the sea-coast of the rebel States; and we are especially
proud of the gallant boys of our own State, who have never
failed on any battle-field.
Resolved, 4th — That while we render heartfelt thanks to our
surviving soldiery, and while we will honor them as long as they
live, we also mourn the many noble hearts, once beating with
high patriotism that are now still in death. Their memories
will always be hallowed.
Resolved, 5th — That we sincerely thank those heroes and
heroines among us who have given up husbands, sons, brothers
and friends at the call of our country; and especiaUy do we sym
pathize with those that mourn the loss of those loved ones, fallen
honorably in their country's cause.
These resolutions were published in the Chicago Tribune,
Indiana State Journal, and the Waterloo City Press; they were
also adopted In substance or verbatitn by meetings subsequently
held In several of the townships. Democrats joined with Ee-
publicans in supporting the Government; for the former felt no
sympathy with those professing the same party name at the South.
In De Kalb County there was but one party, the Union party.
MEETING AT SPENCERVILLE.
At a meeting of the citizens of Concord Township and its
vicinity, without respect to former party position, to take into
consideration the state of the country and to express opinion
thereon, George Barney was called to the chair, and John F.
Coburn chosen Secretary.
On motion, a committee of three, consisting of John P. Widney,
Newton Thomas, and Newton Arkew, were selected to draft
resolutions. After they had retired, "Yankee Doodle" was
played by the band, and then an address, thrilling and patriotic,
was delivered by Eobert Johnson, followed by music and other
proceedings, until the committee reappeared, and made their re
port by presenting the following preamble and resolutions:
Whereas, Insurrection and civil war now exist within our
borders. States hitherto loyal and patriotic have, with the most

wr

HISTORY OF DE KALB OOUNTY. 343
singular infatuation, raised the standard of rebellion against the
constitutional authorities of the Federal Government; and
Whereas, It is right and proper that not only States, but
neighborhoods, should, in unmistakable terms, define their
position, and with promptitude say whether they favor the cause
of traitors or whether they have sufficient patriotism to stand by
and defend the Constitution and the Union; therefore
Rei<ohvd, That we, throwing aside all party predilections, sym
pathize with the efforts of our Federal executive in putting down
the present rebellion, and that we will co-operate with and sustain
him in retaking and protecting the public property.
2. Resolved, That we feel called upon by every tie that can
bind a citizen to his country, and by every means within our
reach, not excepting our personal services in the battle-field, to
labor to transmit to our children the glorious fabric of civil
government bequeathed to us by our ancestors.
The report was accepted, and the resolutions adopted. After
discussion, the following additional resolution was adopted:
Resolved, That we distinctly repudiate the right of secession as
claimed by a portion of the States ; that our Federal Government
is a government of the whole people, and not a mere federation of
States, and that with the powers conferred by the Constitution
on the Federal Government, that Government is as full, ample,
and complete as the several State Governments; and that a State
can no more secede from the Federal than a county can from a
State Government.
After which proceedings, the roll of a company of minute-men
was presented, and the people called upon to enlist in their
country's cause. DRAFTING.
During the last two years of the war, voluntary enlistments
were not sufficient to fill the quota of the county, and drafts were
resorted to. These drafts were cheerfully submitted to, though
they often wrought hardship in families who could ill afford to
lose their working members. There was a humorous side to the
proceedings, too, and they generally brought to notice an un
expectedly large number of invalids and disabled men. The
following, from the New Era of August, 1861, portrays one of
the drafting scenes as follows:
"Last Tuesday was the day appointed by the Militia Enrolling

A'

34 HISTORY OF DE KALB OOUNTY.
Commissioner for this county ' to hear and determine the excuses
persons claiming to be exempt from military duty.' The morning
opened out brightly, and at an early hour in the day the debilitated
came pouring Into town in wagons, on horse-back, and by every
conceivable mode of conveyance, until the streets were literally
packed with the lame, the halt and the blind. To the eye of the
stranger it would seem that the Govern ment had located a military
hospital at this point, and that the battle-scarred veterans of the
present crisis had come here to receive the care and attention due
the brave soldier of the bloody field. The s ight was painful to be
hold, and the most hardened wretch could not do otherwise than
blow his nose and weep. We passed more than one philanthropic
' cuss ' on the street that day, with eyes swollen fro m excessive weep
ing, and out from beneath whose coat there plainly protruded the
neck of a bottle. It would not have taken long to have recruited
tnen enough for the Crutch Brigade out of the crowd, and officered
the same by Old Age and General Debility. The ' menagerie' will
be continued on next Monday."
Wilmington, Stafford, and Newville townships were never
brought under the draft, as they furnished their full quotas by vol
untary enlistment. The number drafted in Troy Township was
eight ; Franklin, twenty-two; Eichland, forty-one; Union, two; Jack
son, twelve; Butler, eight; Concord, one; Smithfield, twenty-five;
Fairfield, thirty; total in county, 149.
During the war the county paid in bo unties to volunteers §126,.
600.50, and the townships expended for the same purpose §12,600.
The county also gave in the way of relief to soldier's families
$22,481.63; and the townships, $2,000. Thus a total of $163,682.-
63 was officially expended in this county because of the war.
ROLL OF HONOR.
Nothing In the history of De Kalb County is more worthy of
preservation than the personal record of those who placed their
lives at the disposal of the Gcivernment. The following list, com
piled with some difficulty, is as nearly complete as it can be made
from the published reports of the Adjutant-General of the State.
It is Intended to give, under the appropriate regiments and com
panies, the name of every soldier from De Kalb County, rank,
date of muster in, promotion and date of muster out — above all,
what became of them; whether died, discharged, captured, or other
wise lost or disposed of.

4=^

HISTORY OF DE KALB CODNTY. 345
NINTH INFANTRY.
Company A.
Brownlee, James, mustered in Oct. 6, 1864, died of disease,
March 14, 1865.
Culver, David , mustered in Oct. 13, 1864, deserted at Nashville,
June 15, 1865.
Company E.
Dutcher, John W., mustered in Sept. 5, 1861, out Sept. 5, 1864.
Eenner, David H., mustered in Sept. 5, 1861, veteran, mustered
out Sept. 28 , 1865.
Stansbro, Orin, mustered in Sept. 5, 1861, out Sept. 5, 1864.
ELEVENTH INFANTRY.
Company E.
Knight, John B., mustered iu Aug. 31, 1861, discharged for
disability June 6, 1862.
Khodes, Elijah, mustered in Aug. 31, 1861, died July 3, 1863.
Zimmerman, Hiram, mustered in Feb. 22, 1864, discharged for
disability March 17, 1865. TWELFTH INFANTRY.
Company A.
Lock, Eobert, mustered in Sept. 28, 1864, transferred to Fifty-
ninth Infantry. THIRTEENTH INFANTRY.
Company A.
Alton, Benjamin, mustered in Nov. 10, 1864, out Sept. 5, 1865.-
Beggs, Alvin D., mustered in Nov. 12, 1864, discharged June
13, 1865.
Carr, Fredrick D., mustered in Nov. 10, 1864, out Sept. 5,1865.
Casebeer, Edward, mustered in Oct. 29, 1864, out Sept. 5, 1865.
Faunce, Daniel M., mustered in Oct. 3, 1864, out Sept. 5, 1865.
Hamilton, Benjamin, mustered in Nov. 7, 1864, out Sept. 5, 1865.
Hathaway, Harvey D., mustered in Nov. 10, 1864, out Sept. 5,
1865. Hoyt, Benjamin, mustered in Nov. 10, 1864, out Sept. 6, 1865.
Huffman, Geo. H., mustered in Oct. 25, 1864, out Sept. 5, 1865.
Johnson, Nathan, mustered in Oct. 18, 1864, out Sept. 5, 1866.

'¦ris 

346 HISTORY OF DE KALB OOUNTY.
Johnson, Thomas, mustered in Oct. 18, 1864, died May 27,
1865, from wounds received at Fort Fisher. >
Snively, Isaac N., mustered In Nov. 12, 1864, out Sept. .5, 1865.
Stafford, James, mustered in Oct. 18, 1864, out May 27, 1865.
Company B.
Hull, Henry, mustered in Nov. 1, 1864, out Sept. 5, 1865.
Noles, William, mustered in Oct. 25, 1864, out Sept. 5, 1865.
Overhalzer, Isaiah, mustered in Nov. 10, 1864, out Sept. 5, 1865.
Eeisner, Daniel, mustered in Nov. 10, 1864, out Sept. 5, 1865.
Eodensbaugh, Gilbert, mustered in Oct. 25, 1864, out Sept. 5,
1865. Shearer, Israel, mustered in Oct. 18, 1864, out Sept. 5, 1865.
Stewart, James L., mustered in Oct. 18, 1864, died Feb. 13, 1865,
in hospital.
Company G.
Smith, Oscar, mustered in Oct. 5, 1864, out Sept. 5, 1865.
Tousley, Charles, mustered in Oct. 27, 1864, out Sept. 5, 1865.
Wyatt, Nathan, mustered in Nov. 10, 1864, out Sept. 5, 1865.
Company D.
Homey, Frederick, musician, mustered in Oot. 25, 1864, out
Sept. 5, 1865.
Fergason, George C, mustered in Oct. IS, 1864, killed Jan. 16,
1865, by an explosion at Fort Fisher.
Company H.
Sthair, Luther, Corporal, mustered in Oct. 14, 1864, out Sept. 5.
1865. Unassigned:
Craw, Frederick, mustered in Sept. 17, 1864.
Hornie, Frederick, mustered in Oct. 25, 1864.
Inghum, George, mustered in Nov. 9, 1864.
SEVENTEENTH INFANTRY.
Unassigned.
Stout, Orville, mustered in Sept. 27, 1864, out June 12, 1865.
NINETEENTH INFANTRY.
Company G.
Baxter, Charles K., mustered in as First Sergeant July 29, 1861,

)\

w^  -^ 
HISTORY OF DE KALB OOUNTY. 347
commissioned Second Lieutenant April 7, 186-3, Lieutenant Jan.
9, 1S63, mustered out Oct. 35, IStU.
Curd, Johnston D., commissioned Second Lieutenant July 29,
1S61, mustered in same date, resigned April 1, 1862.
Fisk, Elias, mustered in Deo. 26, 1863, wounded at battle of
the Wilderness, transferred to Twentieth Indiana Infantry.
Fisk, Warren, mustered In Dec. 7, 1863, transferred to Twentieth
Indiana Infantry.
Serry. Alvin, mustered in Jan. 7, 1864, transferred to Twentieth
Indiana Infantry.
Shirts, Michael, mustered in April 20, 1864, transferred to
Twentieth Indiana Infantry.
Smith, Moses, mustered in Dec. 6, 1863, transferred to Twentieth
Indiana Infantry. TWENTIETH INFANTRY.
Company C.
Hague, Ithamar, veteran from Nineteenth Indiana Infantry,
transferred to Veteran Eeserve Corps, mustered In as Sergeant
Jan. 1, 1864, out July 14, 1865.
Balch, William L., veteran from Nineteenth Indiana Infantry,
mustered in Jan. 1, 1864, discharged Dec. 2, 1864, for disability.
Burn, John A., veteran from Nineteenth Indiana Infantry,
mustered in Nov. 28, 1863, captured at the battle of the Wilder
ness. Fisk, Elias, transferred from Nineteenth Indiana Infantry,
mustered in Dec. 26, 1863.
Fisk, Warren, transferred from Nineteenth Indiana Infantry,
mustered in Dec. 7, 1863, mustered out Feb. 28, 1865.
Gray, John, veteran from Nineteenth Indiana Infantry, mustered
in Jan. 1, 1864, out July 12, 1865.
Serry, Alvin, transferred from Nineteenth Indiana Infantry,
mustered In Jan. 7, 1864, out July 12, 1865.
Turner, Benjamin, transferred from Nineteenth Indiana Infantry,
mustered in Jan. 1, 1864, captured at North Anna, mustered out
June 28, 1865. TWENITT-FIRST INFANTRY.
Company A.
Smith, David, mustered in July 24, 1861, died at Corunna
March 14, 1864.
Altenburg, Caspar, mustered la March 20, 1864, out Jan. 13,1866.
7 ®  »- "-•  s '•V

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348 HISTORY OF DE KALB OOUNTY. <
Baughman, Isaiah, mustered in April 1, 1864, out Jan. 13, 1866.
Brown, Lewis, mustered in Sept. 17, 1864, out Aug. 5, 1865.
Culbertson, James K., mustered in March 21, 1864, out Jan. 13,
1866. Draggoo, James, mustered in March 28, 1864, out Jan. 13, 1866.
Dixon, Owen, mustered in Sept. 26, 1864, out Aug. 5, 1865.
Hay, George, mustered in March 26, 1864, out Jan. 13, 1866.
Jones, John, mustered in March 15, 1864, appointed Corporal,
mustered out Jan. 13, 1866.
Jones, John W., mustered in March 15, 186^, out Jan. 13, 1866.
Knight, Osborn, mustered in March 26, 1864, died on steamer
Olive Branch, Sept. 28, 1864.
Eeed, John C, mustered in March 27, 1864, out Jan. 13, 1866.
Smith, Burton, mustered in Feb. 26, 1862, died at New Orleans,
Sept. 12, 1862.
Company M.
Altenberg, Daniel W., mustered in Oct. 25, 1864, out Oct. 23,
1865. Altenberg, Isaac L., mustered in Oct. 25, 1864, out Oct. 23,
1865. UNASSIGNED.
Eush, John T., mustered in Oct. 25, 1864.
TWENTY-NINTH INFANTRY.
Company A.
Garrett, Eobert H., mustered in Oct 5, 1864, died at Chat
tanooga, April 11, 1865.
Healey, Stephen E., mustered in Oct. 16, 1862, died at Nash
ville, July 21, 1863.
High, Frederick, mustered iu Oct. 15, 1864, out June26, 1865-
McNabb, James, mustered in Oct. 15, 1864, out June 26, 1865.
Martorrf, Noah, mustered in Dec. 2, 1864, out Dec. 2, 1865.
Newhouse, Lewis Y., mustered in Oct. 5, 1864, out Juno
26, 1865.
Shook, Henry, mustered in Oct. 15, 1864, died at Nashville,
June 10, 1865.
Sweeney, Wm. C, mustered in Oct. 6, 1864, out June 26,1865.
Company H
Smith, David, mustered iu Aug. 27, 1861, discharged July 2,

¦f

A

HISTORY OF DE KALB OOUNTY.

349

Company I.
Watson, Nathan, mustered In Sept. 1, 1864, out June 26, 1865.
Walker, Jeremiah, mustered in Dec. S, 1864, out Dec. 2, 1866.
Company K.
Stone, Ed. A., mustered in Oct. 16, 1864, out June 26, 1866.
THIRTIETH INFANTRY.
Company H. ,
Hawley, Cyrus, commissioned Captain Sept. 15, 1861, resigned
Feb. 1, 1S63.
Griswold, Whedon W., commissioned First Lieutenant Sept. 15,
1861, Captain Feb. 2, 1863, transferred to Company C, Eesiduary
Battalion, commissioned Major Dec. 3, 1864, Colonel One Hundred
and Fifty-second Indiana Volunteer Infantry, March 9, 1866.
Eberly, Joshua, mustered in as First Sergeant Sept. 24, 1861,
commissioned Second Lieutenant April 6, 1862, First Lieutenant
Feb. 2, 1863, killed at Chickamauga, Sept. 19, 1863.
Welden, Leander F., mustered In as Sergeant Sept. 24, 1861,
commissioned Second Lieutenant, First Lieutenant Sept. 20,1863,
Captain Company D, Eesiduary Battalion, Dec. 19, 1864, Major
April 24, 1865.
Smith, Job C, commissioned Second Lieutenant Sept. 16, 1861,
resigned in January, 1862.
McKay, Joseph, mustered in as Sergeant Sept. 24, 1861, com
missioned Second Lieutenant Feb. 2, 1863, resigned Oct. 23, 1863.
Likens, Jeremiah D., mustered in as Sergeant Sept. 24, 1861,
promoted Second Lieutenant.
Hodges, Perry, mustered in as Sergeant Sept. 24, 1861,
discharged March 19, 1863, for disability.
Hodges, Cyrus C, mustered in as Corporal Sept. 24, 1861)
discharged July 16, 1862, for disability.
Phelps, William H., mustered in as Corporal Sept. 24, 1861,
transferred to Veteran Eeserve Corps Sept. 30, 1863.
Conner, Lorenzo D. , mustered in as Corporal Sept. 24, 1861.
Noel, Philip, mustered in as Corporal Sept. 24, 1861, out as
Sergeant Sept. 29, 1864.
Miller, William, mustered in as Corporal Sept. 24, 1861, killed
at Stone Eiver, Dec 31, 1862.
Stoner, Henry M., mustered in as Corporal Sept. 24, 1861.

Vis  -¦

'V

y^

350 HISTORY OF DE KALB OOUNTY.
Whysong, John C, mustered in as Corporal Sept. 24, 1861, out
as Sergeant Sept. 29, 1864.
Snyder, Martin V., mustered in as Corporal Sept. 24, 1861,
discharged July 6, 1862.
Feagler, William, mustered in as Musician Sept. 24, 1861,
captured at Chickamauga, mustered out Jan. 25, 1865.
Johnson, James F., mustered In as Musician Sept. 24, 1861,
out Sept. 29, 1864.
Murry, Joseph S., mustered In Sept. 24,1861, as Wagoner.
Arthur, David S., mustered in Sept. 24, 1861.
Altenburg, Caspar, mustered in Sept. 24, 1861, discharged
in 1862.
Boughman, Isaiah, mustered in Sept. 24, 1861, discharged
Feb. 23,1862, for disability.
Barnhart, Peter, mustered in Sept. 24, 1861, died Dec. 31,
1862, from wounds received at Stone Eiver.
Beard, William II. H., mustered in Sept. 24, 1861, discharged
May 8, 1863, for wounds received at Stone Eiver.
Brown, Adna, mustered in Sept. 24, 1861, died at Tuscumbia,
Ala., June 28, 1862.
Buchanan, Florence, mustered in Sept. 24, 1861.
Bolinger, Henry, mustered in Sept. 24, 1861.
Baltsley, George, mustered in Sept. 24, 1861, died at Mur
freesboro', Feb. 8, 1863.
Church, Israel, mustered in Sept. 24, 1861, discharged July 9,
1862, for disability.
Cole, George, mustered in Sept. 24, 1861, killed at Stone Eiver,
Dec. 31, 1862.
Collar, Alvin, mustered in Sept. 24, 1861, out Sept. 29, 1864.
Culbertson, Zephania B., mustered in Sept. 24, 1861, killed at
Shiloh, April 7, 1862.
Connoway, William, mustered in Sept. 24, 1861, died at home
March 7, 1862.
Crusan, William, mustered in Sept. 24, 1861, died at Stevenson,
Ala., Oct. 17, 1864, of wounds.
Crusan, Abel, mustered in Sept. 24, 1861, discharged June 30,
1862, for disability.
Cox, William H., mustered in Sept. 24, 1861, died at Nashville,
Sept. 4, 1862.
rooks, Mathew, mustered in Sept 24, 1861, killed at Shiloh,
April 7, 1862.

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HISTORY OF DE KALB OOUNTY. 351
Delong, Ebenezer, mustered in Sept. 24, 1861, discharged Juno
25, 1862, for disability.
Delong, Charles, mustered in Sept. 24, ISfil.
Dilno, Lester, mustered in Sept. 24, 1861, captured at Chick
amauga, mustered out May 22, 1S65.
Drury, ColvertJ., mustered in Sept. 24,1861, died at Nashville,
Dec. 11, 1862.
Eberly, John N., mustered in Sept. 24, 1861, died at Upton,
Ky., Dec. 31, 1861.
Feagler, Eobert, mustered in Sept. 24, 1861, died at Upton,
Ky., Dec. 31, 1861.
Fisher, Leslie, mustered in Sept. 24, 1861.
Fisher, Lewis, mustered in Sept. 24, 1861.
Furney, John, mustered in Sept. 24, 1861, died at Louisville,
April 17, 1862, of wounds.
Ford, Samuel, mustered in Sept. 24, 1861, out Sept. 29, 1864.
Ford, William C, mustered in Sept. 24, 1861, killed at Shiloh,
April 7, 1862.
Frederlckson, Nathan, mustered in Sept. 24, 1861.
Freeman, Wm., mustered in Sept. 24, 1861, out Sept. 29, 1864.
Franks, William, mustered in Sept. 24, 1861, died Jan. 27, 1863,
of wounds received at Stone Elver.
Fike, William, mustered in Sept. 24, 1861, killed at Stone
Eiver, Dec. 31, 1862.
Gingerick, Jesse, mustered in Sept. 24,1861, killed at Shiloh,
April 7, 1862.
George, Samuel, mustered in Sept. 24, 1861, discharged Feb.
23, 1863, for disability.
Hamilton, George W., mustered In Sept. 24, 1861.
Hoose, Marquis L., mustered in Sept. 24, 1861, discharged
June 4, 1862, for disability.
High, John, mustered in Sept. 24, 1861, out Sept. 29, 1864.
Healey, Henry, mustered in Sept. 24, 1861, discharged Nov. 8,
1862, for disability.
Hull, Peleg, mustered in Sept. 24, 1861, out Sept. 29, 1864.
Hull, Amos, mustered in Sept. 24, 1861, died Nov.. 18, 1863, of
wounds received at Chickamauga.
Homberger, Isaac, mustered in Sept. 4, 1861.
Hughey, James S., mustered in Sept. 24, 1861.
Highes, David, mustered in Sept. 24, 1861.
Hoover, Benton, mustered in Sept. 24, 1861.

4.

352 HISTORY OF DE KALB OOUNTY.
Johnson, Eobert H., mustered in Sept. 24, 1861.
Knowderer, David, mustered in Sept. 24, 1861, discharged June
30, 1862, for disability.
Kennedy, Philip, mustered in Sept. 24, 1861.
Lightner, St. George, mustered in Sept. 24, 1861, died at Mun
fordville, Ky., June 12, 1862.
Lawrence, John, mustered in Sept. 24, 1861, discharged July
24, 1862, for disability.
Long, Asbury J., mustered in Sept. 24, 1861.
Lockmire, Jos., mustered in Sept. 24, 1861, out Sept.29, 1864.
McMIUen, John P., mustered in Sept. 24, 1861, discharged
Feb. 28, 1863, for disability.
Mullen, Perry, mustered in Sept. 24, 1861.
Marcum, John, mustered in Sept. 24, 1861.
Myers, James C, mustered in Sept. 24, 1861, died at Louisville,
Dec. 30, 1861.
Munger, Dexter, mustered in Sept. 24, 1861, discharged May
5, 1862, for disability.
McCush, Eeason, mustered in Sept. 24, 1861, discharged July
27, 1863, for disability.
Musser, Samuel L., mustered in Sept. 24, 1861, died at Nash
ville, Dec. 18, 1862.
Osborn, Nathaniel, mustered in Sept. 4, 1861, killed at Stone
Eiver, Dec. 31, 1862.
Park, Henry J., mustered in Sept. 24, 1861, discharged July
16, 1862, for disability.
Plummer, Hezekiah, mustered in Sept. 24, 1861, discharged
March 10, 1862, for wounds.
Provines, John A., mustered in Sept. 24, 1861, captured t
Chickamauga, mustered out Jan. 25, 1865.
Eigby, David, mustered in Sept. 24, 1861.
Eigby, Eli, mustered in Sept. 24, 1861, out Se,. .29, 1864.
Eickles, Eiley, mustered in Sept. 24, 1861.
Eeed, Albert, mustered in Sept. 24, 1861, discharged May 1,
1863, for disability.
Eutan, Levi, mustered in Sept. 24, 1861.
Sponhower, Benjamin F., mustered in Sept. 24, 1861, trans
ferred to Veteran Eeserve Corps Aug. 1, 1863.
Showers, Alfred G., mustered in Sept. 24, 1861, died Dec. 10,
1863, from accidental wounds.
Showers, Nathan 'M., mustered in Sept. 24, 1861.

^k

'±L,

HISTORY OF DE KALB OOUNTY. 353
Shnll, Ephraim, mustered in Sept. 24, 1861, died at Camp
Nevin. Ky., Nov. 17, 1861.
Shaffstall, Ephraim, mustered in Sept. 24, 1861, killed at Camp
Nevin, Ky., Oct. 8, 1861, by mistake, while on picket.
Skinner, Alexander, mustered in Sept. 24, 1861.
Skinner, James, mustered in Sept. 24, 1861, died at Upton, Ky.,
Dec. 31, 1861.
Ulem, Samuel, mustered in Sept. 24, 1861, discharged March
26, 1863, for disability.
Watson, John W., mustered in Sept. 24, 1801.
Wallace, Jesse, mustered in Sept. 24, 1861, out Sept. 29, 1864.
Weeks, John C, mustered in Sept. 24, 1861, discharged Aug.
21, 1863, for disability.
Wagner, Henry, mustered in Sept. 24, 1861, discharged July
24, 1862, for disability.
Weir, James, mustered in Sept. 24, 1861, discharged.
Zimmerman, Jonas, mustered in Sept. 24, 1861.
THIRTIETH INFANTRY, REORGANIZED.
Company C.
Griswold, Whedon W., commissioned Captain Feb. 2, 1863, pro
moted Major and afterward Colonel One Hundred and Fifty-second
Indiana Volunteer Infantry.
Likens, Jeremiah D., commissioned First Lieutenant Dec. 19,
1864, Captain Feb. 4, 1865.
Hughey, James S., commissioned Second Lieutenant Dec. 10,
1864. First Lieutenant Feb. 4, 1865.
Homberger, Isaac, commissioned Second Lieutenant Feb. 4,
1865. Hamilton, George W., mustered in as First Sergeant Dec. 12,
1863, out Nov. 26, 1865.
Fisher, Lewis, mustered in as Sergeant Dec. 12, 1863, out Nov.
25, 1865.
Heiges, David, mustered in as Sergeant Dec. 12, 1863, out Nov.
26. 1865.
Dawson, William, mustered in as Sergeant Jan. 9, 1864, out
Nov. 25, 1866.
Beard, Solomon, mustered in as Sergeant Oct. 22, 1862, out Oct
21, 1865.
Delong, Charles, mustered in as Corporal Dec. 12, 1862, out as
Sergeant Nov. 25, 1865.

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f-

354 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
Fisher, Leslie, mustered in as Corporal Dec. 12, 1862, out Nov
25, 1865.
Stafford, William H., mustered in as Corporal April 30, 1864,
. out Nov. 25, 1865.
Delong, Ebenezer, mustered in Jan. 17, 1864, out Nov. 26, 1865.
Fisk, Washington, mustered in Jan. 7, 1864, out Oct. 27, 1865.
Frets, Samuel, mustered In April 4, 1864, out Oct. 27, 1866.
George, James, mustered in Sept. 19, 1862, out June 9, 1865.
Inks, William, mustered in Oct. 22, 1862, deserted June 5, 1865.
Johnson, James, mustered in Feb. 10, 1864, out Nov. 26, 1865.
Keesler, Harvey, mustered in Jan. 31, 1864, out June 1, 1865.
Lightner, John, mustered in April 19, 1864, out Oct. 21, 1865.
Lock, Martin, mustered in April 1, 1864, deserted July 20, 1865.
McCoy, A. J., mustered in Feb. 10, 1864, out Nov. 25, 1865.
Moore, Nathan B., mustered in Jan. 1, 1864.
Penicks, Samuel, mustered in Sept. 29, 1864, out June 26, 1866.
Eockwell, John H., mustered in Dec. 1, 1864, out Nov. 25, 1865.
Smith, Edwin, mustered in Oct. 8, 1864, out Oct. 21, 1865.
Thomas, Theo., mustered in April 28, 1862, out Nov. 25, 1866.
Williamson, Norrls, mustered in Sept. 30, 1864, out June 23,
1865.
Company D.
Tegarden, Joseph, mustered in Nov. 14, 1864, died at Jefferson
ville, April 8, 1865.
Company E.
Kyle, Jacob, mustered in Oct. 4, 1864, out June 13, 1865.
Weaver, Abraham, mustered In Sept. 28, 1864, out June 23, 1865.
Company F".
Eoberts, Charles, mustered in as Corporal March 8, 1864, de
serted June 19, 1865.
Company G.
Johnston, Eob. H., commissioned First Lieutenant Dec. 19, 1864.
THIRTY-FOURTH INFANTRY.
Company D.
Campbell, Chas. W., mustered in Oct. 27, 1864, out Oct. 26, 1865.
THIRTY-FIFTH INFANTRY.
Company C. ^
Abel, James, mustered In Oct. 6, 1864, out Sept. 30, 1866.

¦k^

HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY. 355
Blue, Uriah, mustered in Nov. 9, 1864, out Sept. 30, 1866.
Bloomfield, John, mustered in Oct. 25, 1864, deserted June 20,
1S65. Fai-ver, Isaac, mustered in Oct. 6, 1864, out Sept. 30, 1865.
Horn, Israel, mustered in Oct. 6, 1864, out Sept. 30, 1865.
Horner, Henry M., substitute, mustered in Dec. 9, 1864, out
Sept. 30, 1865.
Koch, Joseph, mustered in Oct. 6, 1864, out Sept. 30, 1865.
Kester, Eichard, mustered in Nov. 9, 1864, out Sept. 30, 1865.
Kimes, Daniel S., mustered in Oct. 6, 1864, out Sept. 30, 1866.
Kline, Henry J., mustered in Jan. 16, 1865, deserted June 23,
1865. Leighty, John, mustered in Oct. 6, 1864, died at Pulaski, Tenn.,
Nov. 23, 1864.
Monroe, William, mustered iu Nov. 9, 1864, discharged May 22,
1865, for disability.
Miller, David A., mustered in Oct. 6. 1864, out Sept. 30, 1865.
Miller, Judson S., mustered in Oct. 6, 1864, out Sept. 30, 1865.
Woodcock, Byron, mustered in Nov. 10, 1864, out Sept. 30, 1866.
Yarnell, Jacob, mustered in Oct. 6, 1864, died at Camp Stanley,
Texas, Sept. 7, 1865. THIRTY-EIGHTH INFANTRY.
Company D.
Burns, George H., mustered in March 9, 1864, out, as Corporal,
July 16, 1865.
Brown, Jacob, mustered in Jan. 8, 1864, out July 15, 1865.
Bruner, John, mustered in Jan. 8, 1864, out July 15, 1865.
Bryan, William, mustered in April 6, 1864, out July 16, 1866.
Carroll, James C, mustered in March 9, 1864, out, as Corporal,
July 15, 1865.
Delong, James C, mustered in Jan. 8, 1864, out July 15, 1865.
Fountain, Alex., mustered in Jan. 8, 1864, out July 16, 1865.
Miller, Noah, mustered in Jan. 8, 1864, out July 15, 1865.
Shanks, Alexander, mustered in Feb. 11, 1864, out July 15, 1865.
Company E.
Cochran, Eobert, mustered in April 8, 1864, out July 15, 1865.
Delano, George, mustered in March 27, 1864, out July 16, 1866.
Hammond, Daniel F., mustered in Jan. 8, 1864, out, as Corporal,
July 16, 1865.

.^

1^-^

HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
Hose, Joseph, mustered in April 8, 1864, out July 15, 1865.
Hose, Solomon, mustered in April 8, 1864, out July 16, 1866.
Imhotf, Elijah, mustered in April 28, 1864, out July 15, 1866.
Jones, Thomas J., mustered in March 26, 1864, out July 16,
1865. Jones, Adolphus G., mustered in April 7, 1864, out July 16,
1865. Larkens, Stephen, mustered in Dec. 31, 1863, out July 16, 1865.
Pennick, Joseph, mustered in April 8, 1864, out July 15, 1865.
Sandy, Frank B., mustered in March 1, 1864, out July 15, 1865.
Sandy, Henry J., mustered in March 26, 1864, out July 16, 1865.
Sinclair, Silas W., mustered in March 9, 1864, out July 15, 1866.
Company F.
Crooks, Henry, mustered in April 28, 1864, out July 15, 1865.
Concklin, Alonzo, mustered in April 8, 1864. out July 15, 1865.
Finney, Erastus, mustered in April 8, 1864, out, as Corporal,
July 15,1865.
Milleman, Henry, mustered in March 1, 1864, out July 15, 1865.
Stout, Francis M., mustered in April 8, 1864, out July 15, 1865.
Freeman, John, mustered in April 8, 1864, out July 15, 1865.
Wood, John W., mustered in April 8, 1864, out July 15, 1866.
FORTY-SECOND INFANTRY.
Company C.
Bungard, Henry, substitute, mustered in Oct. 14, 1864, out July
21, 1866.
Hart, Samuel, substitute, mustered in Oct. 7, 1864, out, as
Corporal, July 21, 1865. FORTY-FOURTH INFANTRY.
Company B.
Gobal, William, mustered in Nov. 22, 1861, discharged.
Goodrich, Ealph, mustered In Nov. 22, 1861, died April 9, 1862,
of wounds received at Shiloh.
Harrison, Isaac, mustered in Nov. 22, 1861, veteran, out, as
Corporal, Sept. 14, 1865.
Huffman, Peter, mustered in Nov. 22, 1861, discharged July 1,
1862. Scobey, Clinton, mustered In Nov. 22, 1861, veteran, mustered
out as Sergeant Sept. 14, 1865.

t'

M

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HISTORY OF DE KALB OOUNTY. 357
Barnes, John H., mustered in March 9, 1864, out Sept. 14,1866.
Briggs, James W., mustered in Feb. 6, 1865, out Sept. 14, 1865.
Ballenger, Joshua, mustered in Feb. 6, 1866, deserted Aug. 1,
1865. Cummins, Samuel, mustered in March 9, 1864, deserted Aug. 6,
1865. Corder, Joseph H., mustered in Feb. 6, 1866, out Sept. 18, 1865.
Cox, Francis M., mustered in Feb. 6, 1866, out Sept. 16, 1866-
Cary, Isaac E., mustered in Feb. 6, 1865, out Sept. 15, 1866.
Havens, Isaac C, mustered in March 9, 1864, out Sept. 14, 1865.
Walters, John L., mustered in April 14, 1864, deserted May 4,
1865.
Company D.
Lounsberry, Joshua, mustered in, as Wagoner, Nov. 22, 1861,
discharged Jan. 9, 1863, for disability.
Bartlett, Francis, mustered in Nov. 22, 1861, out Nov. 22, 1864.
Bruner, Frederick, mustered in Nov. 22, 1861, died at Evans
ville, Ind., March 16, 1862.
CoUier, Henry I., mustered in Nov. 22, 1861, died at Lavergne,
Sept. 28, 1862. '
McClellan, Jacob H., mustered in Nov. 22, 1861, killed at Shi
loh, April 6, 1862.
McCord, David, mustered in Nov. 22, 1861, died at Pittsburg
Landing, April 2, 1862.
Luce, Norman, mustered in April 5, 1864, out Sept. 14, 1865.
Luce, Henry, mustered in March 6, 1864, out Sept. 14, 1864.
Company F.
Merrill, George W., commissioned Captain Sept. 20, 1861, re
signed June 24, 1862.
Kinmont, Thomas C, commissioned Second Lieutenant Sept.
20, 1861, Captain March 20, 1862, resigned Feb. 25, 1863.
Gunsenhouser, John, mustered in as Sergeant Nov. 22, 1861,
commissioned First Lieutenant March 20, 1862, Captain Feb. 28,
1863, killed at Chickamauga Sept. 20, 1863.
Thomas, Irvin N., mustered in as Corporal Nov. 22, 1861, com
missioned Second Lieutenant Dec. 20, 1862, First Lieutenant Feb.
28, 1863, Captain Sept. 21, 1863, resigned as First Lieutenant Jan.
2, 1864.
Casper, George H., mustered in Nov. 22, 1861, commissioned
Second Lieutenant Feb. 28, 1863, First Lieutenant Sept. 21, 1863,
33

Li^

358 HISTORY OF DEKALB COUNTY.
Captain Jan. 3, 1864, mustered out with regiment Sept. 14, 1865.
Colgrove, James, commissioned First Lieutenant Sept. 20, 1861,
Adjutant Jan. 10, 1862, resigned May 27, 1862.
Kinmont, Alexander, mustered In as Corporal Nov. 22, 1861,
commissioned First Lieutenant May 1, 1864, Quartermaster Jan.
17, 1865, mustered out with regiment, Sept. 14, 1865.
Thomas, James M., mustered in Nov. 22, 1861, commissioned
Second Lieutenant March 20, 1865, First Lieutenant June 1, 1865,
mustered out with regiment Sept. 14, 1865.
Delong, Solomon, mustered in as First Sergeant Nov. 22, 1861,
commissioned Second Lieutenant March 20, 1862, resigned Dec. 19,
1862, re-entered service as Captain in One Hundred and Twenty-
ninth Indiana Infantry.
Eose, Alfred, mustered in Nov. 22, 1861, veteran, commissioned
Second Lieutenant June 1, 1866, mustered out with regiment Sept.
14, 1865.
Obeli, James H., mustered in as Sergeant Nov. 22, 1861, dis
charged Sept. 3, 1862, for disability.
Nichols, Wilson, mustered in as Sergeant Nov. 22, 1861, dis
charged Nov. 23, 1864.
Fuller, Nathan P., mustered in as Sergeant Nov. 22, 1861, out
Nov. 23, 1864.
Dirrim, James G., mustered in as Corporal Nov. 22, 1861, died
near Corinth, Miss., May 2, 1862.
Andrews, Willis, mustered in as Corporal Nov. 22, 1861, veteran,
commissioned Adjutant Feb. 6, 1865, mustered out with regiment
Sept. 14, 1865.
Chandler, Francis S., mustered in as Corporal Nov. 22, 1861, re
duced to ranks.
Strole, Andrew J., mustered iu as Corporal Nov. 22, 1861, out
Feb. 1, 1863.
Hadsell, Marshall, mustered in as Corporal Nov. 22, 1861, out
Nov. 23, 1864.
Williman, James M., mustered in as Corporal Nov. 22, 1861,
discharged in August, 1862, for disability.
Aldrick, Simeon, mustered in as Musician Nov. 22, 1861, veteran,
mustered out Sept. 14, 1865, as Principal Musician.
Totton, Trusterman B., mustered in as Musician Nov. 22, 1861,
veteran, mustered out as Corporal Sept. 14, 1865.
Matthews, Nathan, mustered in as Wagoner Nov. 22, 1861, dis
charged March 9, 1863, for disability.

)N-

\ a -^  -•  m ,^
HISTORY OF DE KALB OOUNTY. 369
Abell, Henry J., mustered in Nov. 22, 1861, discharged May 10,
1863, for disability.
Andrews, David, mustered in Nov. 22, 1861, out Nov. 22, 1864.
Aikins, Hollis B., mustered in Nov. 22, 1861, discharged April
2S, 1862, for disability.
Brubaker, Michael, mustered in Nov. 22, 1861, discharged Feb.
11, 1863.
Blood, Otis, mustered in Nov. 22, 1861, transferred to Invalid
Corps in August, 1863.
Baird, Lewis, mustered in Nov. 22, 1861, out Nov. 22, 1864.
Barden, Wilson S., mustered in Nov. 22, 1861, died at Hunts
ville, Ala., Aug. 23, 1862.
Brubaker, Isaac, mustered in Nov. 22, 1861, veteran, mustered
out as Sergeant Sept. 14, 1865.
Collier, William, mustered in Nov. 22, 1861, died April 7, 1862-
Craig, Joseph, mustered in Nov. 22, 1861, out Nov. 22, 1864.
Coburn, Edward E., mustered in Nov. 22, 1861, outNov. 22, 1864.
Cole, Daniel W., mustered in Nov. 22, 1861, discharged March
11, 1863.
Casebeer, Calvin, mustered in Nov. 22, 1861, out Nov. 22, 1864.
Casebeer, John G., mustered in Nov. 22, 1861, veteran, mustered
out as Sergeant Sept. 14, 1865.
Crain, Oscar I., mustered in Nov. 22, 1861, died at St. Louis
May 21, 1862.
Countryman, Peter, mustered in Nov. 22, 1861, out Nov. 22,
1864. Countryman, Ludwig, mustered in Nov. 22, 1861, veteran, mus
tered out Sept. 14, 1865.
Casper, George H., mustered in Nov. 22, 1861, promoted Second
Lieutenant. Cochran, William, mustered in Nov. 22, 1861, discharged Aug.
11, 1862, for disability
Deihil, William, mustered in Nov. 22, 1861, discharged Sept.
12, 1862.
Dickinson, Ezra, mustered in Nov. 22, 1861, discharged April 28,
1862, for disability.
Dirrim, Eichard, mustered in Nov. 22, 1861, out Nov. 22, 1864.
Ditmar, Isaac, mustered in Nov. 22, 1861, discharged June 28,
1862, for wounds received at Shiloh.
Danks, Charles O., mustered in Nov. 22, 1861, died at Battle
Cteek, Tenn., Aug. 1, 1862.
¦fe  -i  sf>V^

360 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
Flora, James, mustered in Nov. 22, 1861, died at Nashville,
Nov. 19, 1863.
Friend, William, mustered in Nov. 22, 1861, veteran, mustered
out Sept. 14, 1865.
Greenwalt, Daniel, mustered in Nov. 22, 1861, transferred to
Invalid Corps in August, 1863.
Gaff, Hiram, mustered in Nov. 22, 1861, died at Evansville, Ind.,
May 3, 1862.
Ginter, Frederick, mustered in Nov. 22, 1861, out Nov. 22, 1864.
Gunsenhouser, Henry, mustered in Nov. 22, 1861, out Nov. 22, ¦
1864. Greemyer, Chester D., mustered in Nov. 22, 1861, transferred
to Invalid Corps, May 10, 1863.
Hart, Alexander, mustered in Nov. 22, 1861, discharged April
28, 1862, for disability.
Hart, John H., mustered in Nov. 22, 1861, out Nov. 23, 1864.
Hart, David N., mustered in Nov. 22, 1861, discharged Sept. 7,
1863, for disability.
Hoffman, Jacob, mustered in Nov. 22, 1861, discharged May 7,
1863, for disability.
Headley, Allen S., mustered in Nov. 22, 1861, died at Henderson,
Ky., Jan. 4, 1862.
Humbarger, John, mustered in Nov. 22, 1861, died at new Al
bany, Ind., Oct. 7, 1862.
Jacques, Samuel, mustered in Nov. 22, 1861, veteran, mustered
out as First Sergeant Sept. 14, 1865.
Kirby, Leonard, mustered in Nov. 22, 1861, died at St. Louis,
Mo., May 16, 1862.
Myers, Jacob, mustered in Nov. 22, 1861, discharged Nov. 6,
1862, for disability.
Milliman, Henry, mustered in Nov. 22, 1861, discharged in June,
1862, for disability.
Milliman, Warren, mustered in Nov. 22, 1861, died at Evans
ville, Ind., April 1, 1862.
Monroe, Henry L., mustered in Nov. 22, 1861, died at St. Louis,
Mo., April 24, 1864.
Matthews, Eobert, mustered in Nov. 23, ISOl, discharged April
28, 1862, for disability.
Nichols, Harvey, mustered In Nov. 22, 1861, out Nov. 23, 1864.
Nichols, Alexander L., mustered in Nov. 22, 1861, out Nov.
23, 1864.

l^

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HISTORY OF DE KALB OOUNTY. 361

Oberlin, Orlando, mustered in Nov. 33, 1861, died at Pittsburg
Landing, March 33, 1862.
Palmer, Geo. W., mustered in Nov. 32, 1861, out Nov. 23, 1864.
Pryor, Henry C, mustered in Nov. 22, 1861, killed at Chicka
mauga, Sept. 19, 1863.
Eobe, Bennett S., mustered in Nov. 22, 1861, died at Chatta
nooga, Tenn., Dec. 12, 1863.
Eevett, James, mustered in Nov. 22, 1861, discharged June 24,
1862, for disability.
Eevett, George E., mustered in Nov. 22, 1 861, veteran, mustered
out Sept. 14, 1865.
Elckel, Samuel E., mustered in Nov. 22, 1861, discharged Aug.
1, 1862, for disability.
Smith, Wilham M., mustered in Nov. 22, 1861, died at Evans
ville, Ind., March 7, 1862.
Schamp, Eoberts., mustered in Nov. 22, 1861, out Nov. 23, 1864.
Sloan, Thomas O., mustered in Nov. 22, 1861, discharged June
25, 1862.
Scott, John M., mustered in Nov. 22, 1861, discharged July 14,
1862, for disability.
Stockwell, Nathan, mustered in Nov. 22, 1861, discharged July
5, 1862, for disability.
Tiffany, Lewis E., mustered in Nov. 22, 1861, died Dec. 31,
1862, from wounds received at Stone Eiver.
Totten, Albert P., mustered in Nov. 22, 1861, died at Evans
ville, Ind., March 7, 1862.
Wallace, Henry L., mustered in Nov. 22, 1861, veteran, mustered
out as Corporal, Sept. 14, 1863.
Webster, John H., mustered in Nov. 22, 1861, killed at Stone
Eiver, Jan. 2, 1863.
Williams, Hiram B., mustered in Nov. 22, 1861, veteran,
mustered out as Sergeant, Sept. 14, 1865.
Wallace, George W., mustered in Nov. 22, 1861, died Jan. 7, 1863.
Weeks, George W., mustered in Nov. 22, 1861, discharged Sept.
21, 1862, for disability.
Yarnell, David N., mustered in Nov. 22, 1861, veteran, mustered
out as Sergeant, Sept. 14, 1865.
Anderson, Samuel, mustered in Oct. 23, 1863, out Sept. 14, 1865.
Ashley, Mumford, mustered in Oct. 27, 1864, out July 25, 1865.
Ashley, James S., mustered in Oct. 27, 1864, out July 25, 1865.
Brown, John, mustered in April 12, 1864, out Sept. 14, 1864.

Y^S  —

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362 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
Brubaker, James, mustered in April 27, 1863, out Sept. 14, 1865.
Bowlan, Usury, mustered in Nov. 12, 1864, out July 25, 1866.
Baum, John C, mustered In March 3, 1864, out Sept. 14, 1865.
Bailey, Henry A., mustered in Dec. 26, 1863, out Sept. 14, 1865.
Bright; Hiram, mustered in Nov. 12, 1864, out Sept. 14, 1865.
Banta, Abr. T., mustered in Sept. 22, 1864, out June 13, 1865.
Banta, Andrew J., mustered in Sept. 22, 1864, out June 13, 1865.
Brown, Geo. W., mustered in Sept. 22, 1864, out May 18, 1865.
Burris, Seth C, mustered in Sept. 22, 1864, out June 13, 1865.
Carnahan, James, mustered in Oct. 19, 1864, out Sept. 14, 1865.
Carr, William J., mustered in Nov. 12, 1864, out Sept. 14, 1865.
Camfield, Amos, mustered in Jan. 6, 1864, out Sept. 14, 1865.
Cobell, Nelson, mustered in Nov. 29, 1864, out Sept. 14, 1865.
Carr, William H., mustered in Sept. 21, 1864, out June 13, 1865.
Delhi, Wm. A., mustered in April 12, 1864, out Sept. 14, 1865.
Ewbanks, Eobert W., mustered in March 3, 1864, out Sept. 14,
1865. Ford, Eawlin E., mustered in Nov. 12, 1862, out Sept. 14, 1865.
Fisher, William, mustered in April 2, 1864, out Sept. li. 1S65.
Forbes, John W., mustered in Nov. 3, 1864, out Sept. 14, 1865.
Goodman, Samuel, mustered in April 2, 1864, out Sept. 14, 1865.
Goff, David, mustered in April 12, 1864, out Sept. 14, 1865.
Goff, Alonzo E., mustered in Dec. 31, 1864, out Sept. 14, 1865.
Groves, Geo. W., mustered in March 10, 1865, out Sept. 14, 1865.
Goff, George W., mustered in April 24, 1864, out Sept. 14, 1865.
Goff, William E., mustered in Feb. 13, 1864, out Sept. 14, 1865.
Gilley, Benjamin, mustered in Oct. 22, 1864, out June 13, 1865.
Gilley, Eobert, mustered In Oct. 22, 1864, out June 13, 1865.
Goldsmith, John W., mustered in Oct. 23, 1864. out June 13,
1865. Gibson, John W., mustered in Oct. 20, 1864, out June 13, 1865.
Green, William F., discharged April 5, 1865.
Gibbons, Michael, never reported to company.
Hyatt, Wilson, mustered in Oct. 4, 1864, died at Chattanooga,
July 29, 1865.
Harwood, Asoph, mustered in Oct. 23, 186-2, discharged Nov.
22,.1864, for disability.
Harris, John, mustered in Oct. 18, 1SC>4, out June 13, 1866.
Hunter, Eoswell, mustered in Oct. 20, 1864, out June 13, 1865.
Hendrlcksou, Thomas, mustered in Oct. 20, 1864, out June 13,
1865.

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HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY. 363
Hamm, Anthony, mustered in Nov. 12, 1864, out July 35, 1865.
Huffman, Alexander C, mustered in April 12, 1864, out as Cor
poral, Sept. 14, 186,").
Hopkins, George G., mustered in April 12, 1864, out Sept. 14,
1865. Hicks, Jacob, mustered in Nov. 13, 1862, out Sept. 14, 1865.
Hyatt, Jaines W., mustered In Oct. 5, 1864, out Sept. 14, 1865.
Hall, Jei-ritt W., mustered in Dec. 3, 1862, out Sept. 14, 1865.
Hood, William A., mustered in Dec. 3, 1863, out Sept. 14, 1865.
Hall, John, mustered In Nov. 12, 1864, out Sept. 7, 1866.
Irwin, John, mustered in Dec. 15, 1863, out Sept. 14, 1865.
Joy, Wm. H. H., mustered in Sept. 21, 1864, out July 25, 1865.
Johann, Julius, mustered In Nov. 11, 1864, out July 25, 1865.
Jacques, David, mustered In April 3, 1864, out as Corporal, Sept.
14, 1865.
Kooster, Charles, mustered In Oct. 22, 1864, died at Chatta
nooga, July 3, 1865.
Knowles, Wm. B., mustered in Oct. 6, 1864, out July 26, 1865.
Lowry, Wesley W., mustered In Feb. 22, 1865, out June 17, 1865.
Ludwick, Samuel, mustered in April 2, 1S64, out May IS, 1865.
Lowry, Joseph D. K., mustered in April 2, 1864, out Sept. 14,
1865. Livingstone, John, mustered in Oct. 25, 1864, out Sept. 14, 1866.
Lucas, Covert, mustered in Oct. 7, 1862, out Sept. 14, 1866.
Lough, Joseph E., mustered in Dec. 26, 1863, out Sept. 14, 1865.
Lamb, Basil, mustered In Nov. 12, 1864, out Sept. 14, 1865.
McCurdy, Stephen, mustered In Oct. 22, 1862, out as Corporal,
Sept. 14, 1865.
Maples, Eesin, mustered in March 3, 1865, out Sept. 14, 1865.
McClintock, William W., mastered in March 9, 1864, out Sept.
14, 1865.
Morris, William, mustered in Dec. 11, 1863, out Sept. 14, 1865.
Mayers, George, mustered in Dec. 27, 1864, died at Chattanooga,
May 26, 1865.
Marquis, Ezekiel, mustered in Nov. 11, 1864, out July 25, 1865.
McFarlan, William E., never reported to company.
Noatestine, John, mustered in Oct. 2, 1862, out Sept. 14, 1865.
Oberlin, Samuel, mustered in Oct. 12, 1862, out as Corporal,
Sept. 14, 1865.
Oberlin, Adam, mustered in March 10, 1865, out Sept. 10, 1865.
Overton, Thomas, mustered in Nov. 10, 1864, out July 25, 1865.

>W^

L

364 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
Potts, William H., mustered in Oct. 6, 1864, out Sept. 14, 1866.
Eoblnson," David G., mustered in Nov. 12, 1862, out Sept. 14,
1866. Eitsell, Franklin J., mustered in Oct. 14, 1864, out Sept. 14,
1865. Eumble, Isaac, mustered in Nov. 2, 1864, died at Chattanooga,
May 6, 1865.
Eeid, Henry S., mustered in Nov. 12, 1862, drowned at Chatta
nooga, July 14, 1865.
Eobb, William P., mustered in Nov. 10, 1864, out July 26, 1866.
Sleutz, Jacob, mustered in Nov. 12, 1862, out Sept. 14, 1865.
Sleutz, Henry, mustered in Nov. 12, 1862, out Sept. 14, 1865 .
Schock, Frederick, mustered in Oct. 22, 1862, out Sept. 14, 1865.
Shick, George T., mustered in Nov. 12, 1862, out Sept. 14, 1866.
Smith, John H., mustered in April 22, 1863, out Sept. 14, 1865.
Stewart, Taylor, mustered in Oct. 28, 1864, out Sept. 14, 1865.
Stanke, Charles, mustered in Oct. 27, 1864, out Sept. 14, 1865.
Sloane, Alexander, mustered in Feb. 22, 1866, out Sept. 14, 1865.
Smith, John C, mustered in March 10, 1866, out Sept. 14, 1865.
Smith, John L., mustered in March 3, 1864, out Sept. 14, 1865.
Smith, John, mustered in Nov. 3, 1864, out Sept. 14, 1865.
Spaulding, William C, mustered in Dec. 26, 1863, out Sept. 14,
1865. Sharp, George P., mustered in March 1, 1865, out Sept. 14, 1866.
Stewart, William F., mustered in Dec. 11, 1863.
Syphert, Lorenzo, mustered in Oct. 13, 1864, died at Chatta
nooga, Feb. 23, 1866.
Stoy, William H., mustered in Dec. 21, 1864, out June 17, 1865.
Stewart, Simon H., mustered in Nov. 2, 1864, out July 26, 1865.
StaUings, George W., mustered in Nov. 28, 1864, out July 26,
1865. Straine, William, mustered In Oct. 26, 1864, out Aug. 14, 1865.
Shroder, John, mustered in Nov. 6, 1864, out July 26, 1865.
Thurston, Jason H., mustered in Oct. 2, 1862, out Sept. 14, 1865.
Thomas, Wm. H., mustered in April 18, 1864, out Sept. 14, 1865.
Tull, Isom, mustered in Jan. 7, 1864, out Sept. 14, 1866.
Townsend, George W., mustered in Dec. 8, 1862, out Sept. 14,
1865 Vale, Leander, mustered in March 6, 1865, out Sept. 14, 1865.
Welch, Sidney N., mustered in April 2, 1864, 6ut Sept. 14,
1865, as Corporal.

>\-^

JV2=

HISTORY OF DE KALB OOUNTY. 365
White, Henry C, mustered in Nov. 3, 1864, out Sept. 14, 1866.
Weatherford, David, mastered in Dec. 3, 1862, out Sept. 14,
1865. Wakeman, Thomas, mustered in Nov. 12, 1864, out Sept. 14,
1865. York, Caswell, mustered in Jan. 7, 1864, out Sept. 14, 1865.
Company K.
Park, Wesley, commissioned Captain Sept. 20, 1861, resigned
•Dec. 10, 1861.
Wilson, John H., commissioned Second Lieutenant Sept. 20,
1861, First Lieutenant Dec. 10, 1861, Captain Nov. 27, 1862,
mustered out Dec. 5, 1864.
Willis, Moses B., mustered in as Sergeant Nov. 22, 1861, com
missioned Second Lieutenant April 17, 1863, Captain Jan. 11,
1865, mustered out with regiment Sept. 14, 1865.
EnSley, Nicholas, mustered in Nov. 22, 1861, commissioned
Second Lieutenant Jan. 1, 1866, mustered out with regiment Sept.
14, 1865.
Smith, Hiram, mustered in as Corporal Nov. 22, 1861, died at
London, Tenn., April 25, 1864.
Cornell, W. H. H., mustered In as Corporal Nov. 22, 1861,
transferred to Veteran Eeserve Corps Aug. 1, 1863.
Clark, Cabb, mustered in as Corporal Nov. 22, 1861, discharged
April 1, 1863, for disability.
Kimsey, John M., mustered in as Musician Nov. 22, 1861, out
Nov. 22, 1864.
Kimsey, William T., mustered in as Musician Nov. 22, 1861,
veteran, mustered out Sept. 14, 1866, as Principal Musician.
Cornell, Benjamin F., mustered in Nov. 22, 1861, veteran,
mustered out, as First Sergeant, Sept. 14, 1865.
Chilcoat, John M., mustered In Nov. 22, 1861, killed at Chicka
mauga, Sept. 20, 1863.
Chilcoat, James M., mustered in Nov. 22, 1861, veteran, mustered
out, as Sergeant, Sept. 14, 1865.
Casebeer, Jacob, mustered in Nov. 22, 1861, discharged March
23, 1863, for disability.
Ensley, Samuel, mustered in Nov. 22, 1861, died at Henderson,
Ky., Dec. 25, 1861.
Frampton, John J., mustered in Nov. 22, 1861, transferred to
marine service Sept. 21, 1862.

^

366 HISTORY OF DE KALB OOUNTY.
Greenamyer, William, mustered in Nov. 22, 1861, discharged
March 19, 1863, for disability.
Housel, Jerad F., mustered in Nov. 22, 1861, discharged Dec.
11, 1862, for disability.
Hall, Eobert, mustered in Nov. 22, 1861, discharged Dec. 20,
1862, for disability.
Hoffman, John H. C, mustered in Nov. 22, 1861, discharged
July 15, 1862, for disability.
Hudlemyer, Leonard, mustered in Nov. 22, 1861, discharged
Sept. 20, 1863, for disability.
Lockwood, Keuben, mustered in Nov. 22, 1861, discharged April
28, 1862, for disability.
Lockwood, Charles, mustered in Nov. 22, 1861, veteran, mustered
out, as Corporal, Sept. 14, 1865.
Lock, Elijah, mustered in Nov. 22, 1861, died at Corinth, Miss.,
June 1, 1862.
Link, Jacob, mustered in Nov. 22, 1861, discharged Oct. 1, 1862,
for disability.
MIddletoD, William, mustered in Nov. 22, 1861, discharged Jan.
27, 1863, for disability.
Mease, Samuel E., mustered in Nov. 22, 1861, died at St. Louis,
June 15, 1862.
McDorman, George W., mustered in Nov. 22, 1861, veteran,
mustered out, as Corporal, Sept. 14, 1865.
Parnell, Philip, mustered in Nov. 22, 1861, out Nov. 22, 1S64.
Pearse, James E., mustered in Nov. 22, 1861, discharged Aug.
7, 1862, for wounds received at Shiloh.
Elckey, Lemuel, mustered in Nov. 22, 1861, discharged July 5,
1862, for disability.
Squier, Daniel W., mustered in Nov. 22, 1861, dischai-ged Aug.
26, 1862, for disability.
Smith, David, mustered in Nov. 22, 1861, veteran, mustered out,
as Corporal, Sept. l4, 1865.
Shatto, John L., mustered in Nov. 22, 1861, died at Evansville,
Ind., Dec. 11, 1861.
Surface, Colfenous, mustered In Nov. 22, 1861, veteran, mustered
out, as Corporal, Sept. 14, 1866.
Thompson, Joseph, mustered in Nov. 22, 1861, transferred to
Fourth United States Cavalry, Dec. 25, 1862.
Wilson, George F., mustered In Nov. 22, 1861, killed at Chicka
mauga, Sept. 20, 1863.

_J IS

HISTORY OF DE KALB OOUNTY. 367
Whipple, O. A., mustered in Nov. 32, 1861, died at Nashville,
Feb. 21, 1863.
Wood, Isaac M., mustered In Nov. 33, 1861, transferred to
Fourth United States Cavalry, Dec. 25, 1862.
Wiseman, James G., mustered In Nov. 33, 1861, discharged,
April 13, 1864, for disability.
Willis, Franklin W., mustered in Nov. 22, 1861, out Nov. 22,
1864. Wallack, Levi, mustered in Nov, 22, 1861, veteran, mustered
out Sept 14, 1865.
Arnold, James, mustered in Aug. 19, 1862, out Sept. 14, 1865.
Arnold, Fearless, mustered In Aug. 19, 1862, out Sept. 14, 1866.
Anderson, Samuel E., mustered in Dec. 23, 1863, out Sept. 14,
1865. Benson, James C, mustered in Dec. 23, 1863, out Sept. 2, 1865.
Bullard, Shurban, mustered in Jan. 9, 1863, veteran, mustered
out Sept. 14, 1866.
Barekman, Henry I., mustered in Oct. 27, 1864, died at Chatta
nooga, Tenn., June 28, 1865.
Boran, Wm. H., mustered in April 4, 1864, out May 16, 1865.
Barnes, John, mustered in Sept. 27, 1864, out July 25, 1865.
Chilcoat, John, mustered In March 9, 1864, out Sept. 14, 1866.
Cook, Daniel C, mustered in Dec. 23, 1863, out Sept. 14, 1865.
Connell, Joseph, mustered in Feb. 20, 1864, out Sept. 14, 1865.
Curry, Archibald, mustered in Jan. 9, 1864, out Sept. 14, 1866.
Chance, John W., mustered in Jan. 27, 1865, out Sept. 14, 1865.
Chamberlin, Francis M., mustered in Jan. 13, 1864, out Sept.
14, 1865.
Clark, Wm. H., mustered in Dec. 23, 1863, out Sept. 14,1865.
Cullison, Jer., mustered in Sept. 24, 1864, out July 25, 1866.
Cannon, Wm., mustered in Sept. 24, 1864, out July 25, 1865.
Clark, Wm., mustered in Dec. 23, 1863, captured June 9, 1864.
Catt, Fielding? mustered in Sept. 24, 1864, out July 25, 1865.
Diersch, John, mustered in Sept. 29, 1864, out July 25, 1865.
Dull, And. F., mustered in Feb. 24, 1864, out Sept. 14,1866.
Dunwiddie, Isaac, mustered in Feb. 29, 1864, out Aug. 24,
1865. Elliott, John D., mustered in Jan. 23, 1864, out Sept. 14, 1865.
Englebright, John, mustered in Sept. 29, 1864, out July 25,
1865. Erast, And., mustered in Sept. 29, 1864, out July 25, 1865.

\

.^2

368 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
Ebert, Isaac, mustered in March 11, 1864, out Sept. 14, 1865.
Fair, James A., mustered in March 15, 1864, out Sept. 14, 1866.
Frazer, David, mustered in Jan. 16, 1864, out July 29, 1866.
Foster, James, mustered in Sept. 29, 1864, out July 26, 1866.
Foster, Riahard, mustered in Dec. 23, 1863, out Aug. 22, 1865.
Fanning, Hiram L., mustered in Jan. 20, 1862, out Jan. 26,
1865. Guthrie, Levi, mustered In March 17, 1864, out Sept. 14, 1865.
Green, Alexander D., mustered in Oct. 25, 1864, out Sept.
14, 1865.
Glass, James, mustered In Sept. 24, 1864, out July 25, 1866.
Gerard, Simon, mustered in Dec. 23, 1863, deserted Dec. 23,
1864. Holcomb, Martin L., mustered in Jan. 9, 1864, out Sept. 14,
1865. Harkrader, James H., mustered in March 15, 1864, out Sept.
14, 1865.
Hay, John, mustered in Sept. 27, 1864, out July 25, 1865.
Harris, Wm. A., mustered in Sept. 29, 1864, out July 25, 1865.
Harroll, Irwin C, mustered in Sept. 29, 1864, out July 25,
1865. Hoodlemeyer, Leonard, mustered in April 14, 1864, out Sept.
14, 1865.
Hensler, Albert, mustered in Jan. 13, 1864, out Sept. 14, 1865.
Hickson, Charles, mustered in March 17, 1864, out Sept.
14, 1865.
Hodshire, Victor D., mustered in Dec. 26, 1863, out Sept. 14,
1865. Hooker, Abraham W., mustered in June 16, 1864, out Aug.
16, 1865.
Imboden, Henry J., mustered In Sept. 29, 1864, out July 25,
1865. Jones, James, mustered in Aug. 19, 1864, out Sept. 14, 1865.
Jordon, Wm. M., mustered in Sept. 34, 1864, out July 25, 1865.
Jackson, Milton, mustered in Nov. 12, 1864, out April 18,1866.
Javins, Wm. H., mustered in Sept. 30, 1864, out June 13,1866.
Killum, Jediah, mustered iu Aug. 9, 1862, out Sept. 14, 1865.
Keith, George W. H., mustered in , Sept. 27, 1864, out July
25, 1865.
Kynett, Wm. H., mustered in Nov. 22, 1861, out Jan. 11, 1865.
Koehler, August, mustered in Jan. 13, 1864, out July 2, 1865.

HISTORY OF DE KALB OOUNTY. 369
Lockwood, Lyman, mustered in April 2, 1864, out Sept.
14, 1S65.
Lynch, Wm., mustered in Sept. 29, 1864, out July 25, 1865.
Lorch, David C, mustered in Sept. 29, 1864, out July 26, 1866.
Morse, Jerome, mustered in March 11, 1864, out Sept. 6, 1864.
Michael, John A. J., mustered in Dec. 23, 1863, out Sept. 14,
1865. Montgomery, James, mustered in Dec. 23, 1863, out Sept. 14,
1865. Moffatt, Joab, mustered in Feb. 30, 1864, out Sept. 14, 1866.
Morehouse, Silas, mustered in Feb. 21, 1865, out Sept. 14, 1865.
Malott, William H. , mustered in Dec. 5, 1862, out as Sergeant
Sept. 14, 1866.
Moore, Samuel, substitute, mustered in Sept. 15, 1864, out Jane
13, 1866.
Moore, Thos. J., mustered in Sept. 12, 1864, out June 24, 1865.
Muckenstorm, Joseph, mustered in Sept. 24, 1864, out July
26, 1866.
Newman, Jacob, mustered in March 17, 1864, out Sept. 14.
1865. O'Byrne, George F., mustered in Jan. 13, 1864, out Sept. 14,
1865. Pepple, Albert, mustered In March 15, 1864, out Sept. 14, 1865.
Parker, De Forrest, mustered In Jan. 7, 1864, out Sept. 14,
1866. Purcell, Isaac F., mustered in Sept. 21, 1864, out July 25, 1865.
Eoss, William A., mustered in Oct. 26, 1864, out Jan. 5, 1865.
Eeynolds, Eeuben E., mustered in Sept. 24, 1864, out July 25,
1865.' Eustan, Matt., mustered in Sept. 27, 1864, out July 25, 1865.
Eust, Francis M., musfered in Dec. 26, 1863, out Sept. 14,
1865. Eyan, John M., mustered in Dec. 23, 1863, out Sept. 14, 1865.
Eosell, Zacharlah, mustered in Feb. 20, 1864, out Sept. 14.
1865. Rex, Emanuel, mustered in Nov. 21, 1862, out as Corporal Sept.
14, 1866.
Smith, Joel, mustered in March 15, 1864, discharged June 2,
1866, for disability.
Sodder, Benj., mustered in Sept. 23, 1864, out July 25, 1865.
Smith, Ambrose, mustered in April 2, 1864, out Sept. 14, 1865.
--^1 T7-H
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\\'? _ii^  —  :
 ^
370 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
Smith, Isaiah, mustered in April 2, 1864, out Sept. 14, 1865.
Simon, Christopher C, mustered in March 16, 1864, out Sept.
14, 1866.
Snyder, Isaac, mustered in Oct. 7, 1864, died at Chattanooga,
April 8, 1865.
Stacy, John L., mustered in March 16, 1864, out Sept. 14, 1865.
Segur, George, mustered in Oct. 20, 1864, out Sept. 14, 1865.
Smart, Wm. F., mustered in Jan. 31, 1864, out Sept. 14, 1865.
Stutsman, Adam, mustered in Aug. 2, 1862, out Sept. 14, 1865.
Thompson, David K., mustered In Oct. 26, 1864, out Sept. 14,
1866. Thomas, Samuel, mustered In Feb. 20, 1864, out Sept. 14, 1865.
White, Dillard, mustered in Oct. 26, 1864, out Jan. 15, 1865.
White, Eobert, mustered in Sept. 24, 1864, out July 25, 1865.
Westfali, Charles, mustered in Sept. 24, 1864, out July 25, 1865.
Welton, Andrew, mustered in Sept. 24, 1864, out July 26, 1866.
Witman, John, mustered in Sept. 24, 1864, out July 25, 1865.
Whittig, Martin, mustered in Jan. 7, 1864, transferred to Vet
eran Eeserve Corps May 11, 1865, mustered out Sept. 14, 1866.
Williams, David, mustered in Jan. 14, 1864, out Sept. 14, 1865.
Washington, James E., mustered in March 17, 1864, out Sept.
14, 1865.
Washington, Isaac, mustered in March 17, 1864, out Sept. 14,
1865. Webb, Eufus, mustered in April 17, 1864, deserted Dec. 30, 1864.
Willis, Moses B., mustered in Feb. ^, 1864, promoted.
FORTY-EIGHTH INFANTRY.
Company C.
Hacker, Joseph, mustered in Dec. 16, 1864, out July 15, 1865.
FORTY-NINTH INFANTRY.
Hamacher, John E., commissioned Major Sept. 6, 1866, mus
tered out as Captain Sept. 13, 1865.
Company B.
Ball, Isaac, mustered in as Corporal Nov. 21, .1861, died at
Memphis, April 11, 1863.
Mills, Henry, mustered in as Wagoner Nov. 21, 1861, deserted
Nov. 26, 1862,
Carter, Asa, mustered in Nov. 21, 1861, out Nov. 29, 1864.
¦f S ^ -o^  S \

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HISTORY OF DE KALB OOUNTY. 371
Cravens, Pleasant E., mustered in Nov. 21, 1861, died at Cum
berland Ford, May 21, 1S63.
Cravens. Pleasant A., mustered in Nov. 21, 1861, veteran, mus
tered out Sept. 13,1865.
Cravens, John A., mustered in Aug. 18, 1864, out Sept. 13, 1866.
Whitson, Wm. A. mustered in Aug. 1, 1864, out July 18, 1865.
Company D.
Hamacher, John E., mustered in as Sergeant Nov. 21, 1861,
commissioned Second Lieutenant June 19, 1863, Captain Nov. 30,
1864, Major Sept. 6, 1865, mustered out as Captain Sept. 13, 1866.
Cravens, William H., mustered In Nov. 21, 1861, died in Sep
tember, 1863, from wounds received at Jackson.
McColough, George F., mustered in Nov. 21, 1861, out as Com
missary Sergeant, Sept. 13, 1865.
Fitch, Wm. U., mustered in March 4, 1865, out Sept. 13, 1865.
SEVENTY-FOURTH INFANTRY.
Company D.
Lypsett, Thomas, mustered in July 12, 1862, as Corporal, out
June 9, 1865, as Sergeant.
Chacey. Joseph G., mustered in July 17, 1862, out June 9, 1865.
Seberts, William, mustered in July 20, 1862, out as Corporal
June 9, 1865.
Boren, Edward, mustered in Sept. 20, 1864, out June 9, 1865.
Cobler, Philip, mustered in Sept. 20, 1864, out June 9, 1865.
Link, John, mustered in Oct. 18, 1864, transferred to Twenty-
second Indiana Volunteer Infantry June 9, 1865.
Eawson, Preston, mustered iu July 19, 1863, transferred to Twen
ty-second Indiana Volnnteer Infantry June 9, 1866.
Tarny, Samuel J., mustered in Sept. 20, 1864, out June 9, 1865.
Company F.
Lochemeyer, Curtis, mustered in Nov. 12, 1864, transferred to
Twenty-second Indiana Volunteer Infantry June 9, 1865.
EIGH'rY-SEVENTH INFANTRY.
Company I.
Wernce, Wm., transferred to Forty-second Indiana Volunteer
Infantry June 9, 1865.

.NT

iv

372 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUN-rV.
Company K.
Baird, Marcus M., mustered in Oct. 13, 1864, transferred to For
ty-second Indiana Volunteer Infantry June 9, 1865.
Ensign, Benjamin, mustered in Oct, 7, 1864, discharged.
Presler, John, mustered in Oct. 13, 1864, transferred to Forty-
second Indiana Volunteer Infantry June 9, 1865.
EIGHTY-EIGHTH INFANTRY.
Myers, William D., commissioned Surgeon Aug. 30, 1862, re
signed Dec. 26, 1862.
Willard, Henry W., mustered iu as Hospital Steward Aug. 8,
1862, commissioned Assistant Surgeon May 1, 1866, mustered out
as Hospital Steward with regiment June 7, 1865.
Company A.
Beers, Jensen P., commissioned Captain Aug. 12, 1862, resigned
Jan. 27, 1863.
Steele, James H., commissioned Second Lieutenant Aug. 12,
1862, Captain Jan. 28, 1863, killed at Mission Eidge, Nov. 25,
1863. Cutter, Elam B., mustered in as Corporal Aug. 6, 1862, com
missioned Second Lieutenant Jan. 28, 1863, First Lieutenant April
22, 1863, Captain Nov. 26, 1863, mustered out with regiment June
7, 1865.
Stough, Samuel L., commissioned First Lieutenant Aug. 12,
1862, died April 20, 1863, of disease.
"Boley, Walter E., mustered In as Sergeant July 26, 1862, com
missioned First Lieutenant Nov. 26, 1863, killed at Eesaca, Ga. ,
May 15, 1864.
Edgerly, Eoyal H., mustered in as Sergeant Aug. 8. 1862,
commissioned First Lieutenant May 16, 1864, mustered out with
regiment June 7, 1865.
Fisher, William A., mustered in as Corporal Aug. 7, 1862,
promoted First Sergeant, commissioned Second Lieutenant May 1,
1865, mustered out as First Sergeant with regiment June 7, 1865.
Sharp, George, mustered in as First Sergeant July 20, 1862,
transferred to Veteran Eeserve Corps July 1, 1863.
Woods, David, mustered in as Sergeant July 27, 1862, dis
charged Jan. 27, 1863.
Smith, Josiah C, mustered in as Sergeant July 28, 1862, died
at Murfreesboro, Tenn., Feb. 12, 1863.

-^r

HISTORY OF DE KALB OOUNTY. 373
McQueen, Calvin W-i mustered in as Corporal July 26, 1861,
died at Nashville, Tenn., Jan. 35, 1863.
Jones, George, mustered in as Corporal July 20,1862, died at
Bowling Green, Ky., Nov. 6, 1863.
Eathbui-n, Matthew E., mustered in July 18, 1862, died at New-
bern, N. C, from wounds received, March 19, 1865.
Sanders, George W., mustered in as Corporal Aug. 8, 1862,
out as private June 7, 1865.
Baughman, Josiah, mustered in as Corporal Aug. 2, 1862, dis
charged April 30, 1863, for wounds.
Edinger, George W., mustered in as Musician Aug. 8, 1862,
out as Principal Musician June 7, 1866.
Beidler, Franklin N., mustered In as Musician July 25, 1862,
out June 7, 1865.
Eogers, Thomas H., mustered in as Wagoner July 18, 1862,
discharged Oct. 39, 1862.
Bowman, Charles, mustered in July 22, 1862, out June 7, 1865.
Bailey, Ira S., mustered in July 29, 1862, discharged Oct. 8,
1863. Brown, Lewis, mustered in July 31, 1862, discharged Dec. 6,
1862. Brown, Thomas, mustered in Aug. 2, 1862, discharged March 7,
1863. Baughman, Geo. W., mustered in Aug. 9, 1862, out June 7, 1865.
Bromley, John, mustered in July 20, 1862, discharged April 11,
1863. Blaker, George E., mustered in Aug. 6, 1862, died at Bowling
Green, Ky., Nov. 13, 1862.
Biglow, Harvey D., mustered in Aug. 5, 1862, out June 23,
1865. Bruner, John, mustered in Aug. 6,1862, discharged Jan. 27,
1863. Beck, Emanuel, mustered in Aug. 2, 1862, transferred to Vet
eran Eeserve Corps April 30, 1864.
Cotrill, John L., mustered In Aug. 1, 1862, out June 7, 1865.
Crain, Ezra, mustered In Aug. 9, 1862, discharged Jan. 16, 1863
Collins, John V., mustered in Aug. 8, 1862.
Chittenden, Charles H., mustered in July 30, 1862, transferred
to Veteran Eeserve Corps April 10, 1864,
Canon, Abram L., mustered in Aug. 2, 1862, out as Sergeant
June 7, 1865.
34
-—, — ~— " ""' " —.—^.-^:^z^ — :_^  '-^^^ ~ iC *
¦f (5 — -•  a V

Al

374 HISTORY OF DE KALB OOUNTY.
Daniels, George, mustered in July 30, 1862, killed at Chicka
mauga, Sept. 20, 1863.
Daniels, Archibald, mustered in Aug. 4, 1862, deserted Aug. 1,
1863. Duck, William, mustered iu Aug. 8, 1866, out June 7, 1862.
Daniels, Kinsey, mustered in July 20, 1862, died at Camp An
drew Johnson, Tenn., Dec. 16, 1862.
Day, Samuel, mustered in July 14, 1862, out June 7, 1865.
Everett, George W., mustered in July 7, 1862, transferred to
Veteran Reserve Corps Feb. 16,1864, mustered out Aug. 29, 1865.
Ferriman, John, mustered in Aug. 9, 1862, captured, paroled.
Frick, Henry, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862, discharged.
Fetters, Lawrence, mustered in Aug. 7, 1862, killed at Benton
ville, N. C, March 19, 1865.
Franks, John H., mustered in Aug. 1, 1862, discharged April
26, 1863.
Gonser, William H., mustered in July 19, 1862, died at Louis
ville, Ky., Jan. 23, 1863.
Gundrum, George, mustered In July 26, 1862, died at Mur
freesboro, Tenn., March 18, 1863.
Goodrich, David, mustered in Aug. 8, 1862, transferred to En
gineer Corps July 29, 1864.
Homberger, William, mustered in July 18, 1862, discharged
Feb. 22, 1863.
Hendricks, Franklin B., mustered in July 18, 1862, died at
Mitchellsvilie, Tenn., Dec. 15, 1862.
Humbarger, Jacob, mustered in Aug. 8, 1862, out June 7,1865.
Hively, Jesse, mustered in Aug. 8, 1862, transferred to Veteran
Eeserve Corps, mustered out June 5, 1865.
Hamon, Daniel F., mustered in Aug. 6, 1862, discharged April
16, 1863.
Hamman, Simeon F., mustered in Aug. 8, 1862, out as Corporal
June 7, 1865.
Hale, John P., mustered in July 18, 1862, deserted Aug. 1, 1864.
Johnson, Allen, mustered In July 30, 1862, died at Nashville,
Tenn., Jan. 2, 1863.
Ingle, Levi, mustered in July 20, 1862, discharged April 2, 1863.
Keller, Daniel B., mustered in July 18, 1862, out as Quarter
master-Sergeant June 7, 1865.
Kester, Alonzo A., mustered in Aug. 2, 1862, deserted Dec. 4,
1862.

1-

^__JU  .  _ ,^ ¦-_^— ¦ '¦ ¦  — i-.i- ¦ — ¦— .1.11. . .11 ,... ,. II
HISTORY OF DE KALB OOUNTY. 376
Krontz, William, mustered in Aug. 2, 1863, out June 7, 1866.
Kester, John P., mustered in Aug. 2, 1S63, out May 17, 1865.
Link, George J., mustered in Aug. 7, 1S62, died at Chattanooga,
Tenn., Jan. 5, 1864.
Lower, Ainos, mustered in Aug. 8,1862, discharged Jan. 18, 1863.
Lykins, Isaiah, mustered in July 24, 1862, out as Corporal
June 7, 1865.
Lidy, Daniel, mustered in Aug. 7, 1862, discharged March 18,
1865. Matthews, Eobert A., mustered in July 25, 1862, out June 7,
1865. Mott, Sheridan E., mustered in July 18, 1862, died March 18,
1865, of wounds.
Mudge, Elijah, mustered in July 22, 1862,de8erted Aug. 31, 1862.
Morrow, James G., mustered in Aug. 1, 1862, out as Sergeant
June 7, 1865.
McAdams, John T., mustered In Aug. 4, 1802, out June 7, 1865.
Mills, Francis, mustered in July 25, 1862, out June 30, 1865.
Martin, Joseph T., mustered in Aug. 2, 1S63, deserted June
15, 1866.
North, Jacob, mustered in July 21, 1862, discharged April 16,
1863. Nugen, Christopher, mustered In Aug. 4, 1862, died at Gallatin,
Tenn., Dec. 29, 1862.
Nodine, Seneca, mustered in Aug. 3, 1862,deserted March 1, 1863.
Needham, Truman J., mustered in Aug. 2, 1863, died at Chat
tanooga, Tenn., Nov. 16,1863.
Packer, John, mustered in Aug. 18, 1862, died at Tyree Springs,
Tenn., Dec. 6, 1862.
Eeynolds, Thomas J., mustered in July 30, 1863, ou'- May 29,
1865. Eailing, Frank W., mustered in Aug. 2, 1862, deserted March 1,
1863. Steward, Jonathan, mustered in July 30, 1862, died at Lebanon,
Ky., Nov. 10, 1862.
Steward, John M., mustered in Aug. 10, 1862, out as Corporal
June 7, 1866.
Smith, Uriah, mustered in Aug. 3, 1862, deserted in May, 1863.
Seberts, Park, mustered in Aug. 7, 1862, out May 26, 1865.
Smith, George E., mustered in July 25, 1862, discharged April
15, 1863.
' , a) -.  ^  Is
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"I* -

376 HISTORY OF DE KALB OOUNTY.
Showalter, Jacob, mustered in Aug. 2, 1862, out June 10, 1865.
Shoup, Wm., mustered in July 25, 1862, discharged May 18, 1863.
Sinn, John K., mustered in Aug. 8, 1862, discharged Feb.
6, 1863.
Tomlinson, Thomas, mustered in Aug. 2, 1862, out as Corporal
June 7, 1865.
Teutsch, George, mustered in Aug. 3, 1862, out June 7, 1865.
Willard, Lemonsky E., mustered in Aug. 16, 1862, out June 7,
1865. Williair.s, Henry L., mustered in Aug. 1, 1862, discharged Feb.
7, 1863.
Woods. James D., mustered in Aug. 9, 1862, out as Corporal
June 7, 1865.
Willard, Henry W., mustered in Aug. S, 1862, promoted Hos
pital Steward.
Yoh, Israel, mustered in Aug. 2, 1863, died at Murfreesboro,
Tenn., March 20, 1863.
Zimmerman, John A., mustered in Aug.6, 1862, out June 7, 1865.
Brown, Jacob, mustered in Jan. 8, 1864, transferred to Thirty-
eighth Indiana Infantry June 7, 1865.
Bruner, John, mustered in Jan. 8, 1864, transferred to Thirty-
eighth Indiana Infantry June 7, 1866.
Burns, George W., mustered in March 9, 1864, transferred to
Thirty-eighth Indiana Infantry June 7, 1865.
Bryan, William A., mustered in April 6, 1864, transferred to
Thirty-eighth Indiana Infantry June 7, 1865.
Carver, Oscar P., mustered in Jan. 8, 1864. transferred to Thir
ty-eighth Indiana Infantry June 7, 1865, as Sergeant.
Corill, Charles C, mustered in March 9, 1864, transferred to
Thirty-eighth Indiana Infantry June 7, 1865, as Corporal.
DeLong, James C, mustered in Jan. 8, 1864, transferred to
Thirty-eighth Indiana Infantry June 7, 1865.
Dickson, Joseph C, mustered in Jan. 8, 1864, transferred to
Veteran Eeserve Corps, Jan. 10, 1866.
Fountain, Alexander, mustered in Jan. 8, 1864, transferred to
Thirty-eighth Indiana Infantry June 7, 1865.
Hammond, Daniel F., mustered in Jan. S, 1864, transferred to
Thirty-eighth Indiana Infantry June 7, 1865, as Corporal.
Hoose, Marcus L., mustered in Jan. 8, 1864, died at Indianapolis,
Feb. 1, 1864.
Leasure, Benjamin F., mustered in Jan. 8, 1864, discharged.

¦f s-

HISTORY OF DE KALB OOUNTY. 377
Miller, Noah, mustered in Jan. S, 1864; transferred to Thirty-
eighth Indiana Infantry June 7, 1866.
Eeese, John H., mustered in March 11, 1864, transferred to
Thirty-eighth Indiana Infantry June 7, 1865.
Sholtze, Emile, mustered in Jan. 8, 1864, transferred to Thirty-
eighth Indiana Infantry June 7, 1S65.
Shirts, Albert B., mustered in Jan. 8, 1864, transferred to Thir
ty-eighth Indiana Infantry June 7, 1865.
Shanks, Andrew E. , mustered in Feb. 11, 1864, transferred to
Thirty-eighth Indiana Infantry June 7, 1865.
Sinclair, Silas K., mustered in March 9, 1864, transferred to
Thirty-eighth Indiana Infantry June 7, 1865.
Smith, John H., mustered in March 9, 1864, died at Indianapo
lis, Ind., March 26, 1864.
Woods, David, mustered In Jan. 8, 1864, killed at Bentonville,
N. C, March 19, 1866.
Company C .
Silver, Philip W., commissioned First Lieutenant Aug. 7, 1862,
Captain Feb. 18, 1863, resigned Oct. 23, 1863.
Company D.
Horn, Milton, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862, out as Corporal June
7, 1866.
Johnson. William, mustered in Aug. 9, 1862, out June 10, 1865.
Keith, George, mustered in Aug. 9, 1862, out June 7, 1865.
Stafford, John C, mustered in Aug. 9, 1862, out June 7, 1866.
Stafford, Joseph, mustered in Aug. 9, 1862, out as Corporal,
June 7, 1865.
Company E.
Lyon, John E-, mustered in Aug. 8, 1862, out June 7, 1866.
' Company G.
Goodrich, William A., mustered in Aug. 29, 1862, out June 7,
1866.
Company H.
Blair, Lewis J., commissioned Captain Aug. 16, 1862, promoted
Major, then Lieutenant-Colonel, and Breveted Brigadier-General.
Thomas, Dexter L., mustered in as First Sergeant Aug. 29, 1862,
commissioned First Lieuteuant Jan. 26, 1863, Captain Oct. 30, 1863,
mustered out with regiment June 7, 1866.

¦N'^ — - ^ — ^k.
378 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
Smith, Philander, commissioned First Lieutenant Aug. 16, 1862,
resigned Jan. 25, 1863.
Eainer, Joseph, mustered in as Sergeant Aug. 29, 1862, Sec
ond Lieutenant Jan. 26,1863, First Lieutenant Oct. 30, 1863, re
signed Dec. 15, 1864, because of disability.
Dillworth, William, mustered in Aug. 29, 1862, commissioned
First Lieutenant Jan. 27, 1865, mustered out with regimenii June
7, 1865.
Yeagley, Andrew, commissioned Second Lieutenant Aug. 16,
1862, resigned Jan. 25, 1863.
DeLong, George F., mustered in Aug. 29, 1862, promoted First
Sergeant, commissioned Second Lieutenant, May 1, 1865, mustered
out as First Sergeant June 7, 1865.
Hatch, Hiram W., mustered in as Sergeant Aug. 29, 1862, died
at Louisville, Ky., Dec. 16, 1862.
Headley, Samuel, mustered in as Sergeant Aug. 29, 1862, dis
charged Nov. 27, 1862.
Eex, William A., mustered in as Sergeant Aug. 29, 1862, dis
charged Jan. 26, 1863.
Bailey, Alexander, mustered in as Corporal Aug. 29, 1862, died
at home Aug. 4, 1864.
Testlson, Washington, mustered in as Corporal Aug. 29, 1862,
discharged Jan. 14, 1863.
Platter, Harvey C, mustered in as Corporal Aug. 29, 1862, died
at Nashville, Tenn., Dec. 30, 1862.
Coats, Joseph A., mustered in as Corporal Aug. 29, 1862, dis
charged Oct. 21, 1862.
Eobertson, William, mustered in as Corporal Aug. 29, 1862, out
as Sergeant June 7, 1865.
Conklin, Alonzo, mustered in as Corporal, Aug. 29, 1862, dis
charged Jan. 12, 1863.
Hull, John, mustered in as Corporal Aug. 29, 1 862, killed at
Stone Eiver, Ky., Jan. 3, 1863.
Thomas, Benjamin F., mustered in as Corporal Aug. 29, 1862,
died at Nashville, Tenn., Feb. 14, 1863, of wounds.
Smurr, Edwin M., mustered in as Musician Aug. 29, 1862, out
May 27, 1865.
Danor, Jacob, mustered in as Musician Aug. 29, 1862, deserted
March 15, 1862.
May, Henry, mustered in as Wagoner, Aug. 29, 1862, discharged
Jan. 23, 1863.
hOI — — _-(
¦<" s ^ ^'»  a \

v^

HISTORY OF DE KALB OOUNTY. 379

Armstrong, James, mustered in Aug. 29, 1862, died at Camp
Chase, Ohio, Feb. 21, 1863.
Akins, StiUman, mustered in Aug. 29, 1862, deserted from hos
pital. Boyer, Wm. A., mustered in Aug. 29, 1862, out June 7, 1865.
Beggs, Alvin D., mustered in Aug. 29, 1862, discharged Nov.
9, 1863,
Brownlee, Wm., mustered in Aug. 29, 1862, died at Louisville,
Ky., Dec. 6, 1S62.
Blood, Leroy, mustered in Aug. 29, 1862, discharged Feb. 3,
1863. Blood, Elias, mustered in Aug. 29,1862, died at Nashville, Tenn.,
Dec. 17, 1862.
Conklin, Austin, mustered in Aug. 29, 1862, out June 7, 1866.
Cosper, Wesley V., mustered In Aug. 29, 1862, died at Galli-
polis,Ohio, Jan. 19, 1863.
Cole, Andrew, mustered in Aug. 29, 1862, out June 7, 1865.
Crooks, William, mustered in Aug. 29, 1862, discharged Dec. 22,
1863. Deemes, William, mastered in Aug. 29, 1862, out as Corporal
June 7, 1865.
Deemes, George, mustered in Aug. 29, 1862, out June 7, 1866.
Diehl. Daniel D., mustered in Aug. 29, 1862, out June 7, 1865.
Duck, Samuel, mustered in Aug. 29, 1862, discharged Oct. 16,
1862. Emminger, Abraham, mustered in Aug. 29, 1862, out as Cor
poral June 7, 1865.
Evey, Wm., mustered in Aug. 29, 1862, out June 7, 1866.
Fusselman, Michael, mustered in Aug. 29, 1862, deserted from
hospital. Franks, David, mustered in Aug. 29, 1862, transferred to Vet
eran Eeserve Corps Sept. 30, 1863.
Goodwin, Eobert, mustered in Aug. 29, 1862, died at Louisville,
Ky., Jan. 6, 1863.
Gibson, Lawrence, mustered in Aug. 29, 1862, transferred to
Veteran Eeserve Corps Jan. 16, 1864.
Hamilton, John, mustered in Aug. 29, 1862, out June 7, 1866.
Hart, Joseph M., mustered in Aug. 29, 1862, discharged Feb. 3,
1863. Hart, Isaac, mustered in Aug. 29, 1862, out as Sergeant June 7,
1865.

^FT

380 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
Henry, Albert, mustered in Aug. 29, 1862, died at Murfreesboro,
Tenn., Feb. 3, 1863.
Henry, George, mustered in Aug. 29, 1862, discharged Sept.
17, 1863.
Johnson, Michael, mustered in Aug. 29, 1862, died at Nashville,
Tenn., Feb. 27, 1863.
Krise, Thomas, mustered in Aug. 29, 1862, out June 7, 1865.
Krise, Daniel, mustered in Aug. 29, 1862, died at Gallatin, Tenn.,
Jan. 19, 1863.
Lee, David, mustered in Aug. 29, 1862, discharged April 18,
1863. Lawrence, Henry K., mustered in Aug. 29,1862, supposed to
have been lost on the Sultana.
Meese, Isaac, mustered in Aug. 29, 1862, out June 7, 1865.
Melton, Albin, mustered in Aug. 29, 1862, discharged March 21,
1863. Mathews, Dyer E., mustered in Aug. 29, 1862, out as Sergeant,
June 7, 1865.
Meek, William, mustered In Aug. 29, 1862, out June 7, 1865.
Melton, John, mustered in Aug. 29, 1862, died at Chattanooga
Nov. 1, 1863, of wounds.
Osborn, Samuel C, mustered in Aug. 29, 1862, transferred to
Engineer Corps July 29, 1864.
Packer, John, mustered in Aug. 29, 1864, oat June 7, 1866.
Packer, William O., mustered in Aug. 29, 1862, transferred to
Veteran Eeserve Corps Dec. 29, 1864.
Pryor, Charles S., mustered in Aug. 29, 1862, out as Corporal,
June 7, 1865.
Pryor, Ira W., mustered in Aug. 29, 1861, killed at Stone Eiver,
Jan. 3, 1863.
Pressler, Jacob, mustered in Aug. 29, 1862, out June 7, 1866.
Eose, Simeon, mustered in Aug. 29, 1862, died at Chattanooga,
Tenn., Nov. 27, 1863.
Stanfer, Samuel E., mustered in Aug. 29, 1862, died at Nash
ville, Tenn., Jan. 17, 1863, of wounds.
Stout, Jacob S., mustered in Aug. 29, 1862, deserted Dec. 17,
1862. Suly, Benjamin, mustered in Aug. 29, 1862, died at Nashville,
Tenn., Feb. 20, 1863.
Sawyer, William, mustered in Aug. 29, 1862, died at Louisville,
Ky., in November, 1862.

J.,.-,-

HISTORY OF DE KALB OOUNTY. 381

Savior, Henry, mustered in Aug. 29, 1863. • i
Shrull, Francis, mustered in Aug. 39, 1862, out June 7, 1865. ;
Swangood, John, mustered In Aug. 29, 1862, discharged Feb.
22. 1863. :
Stoy, Levi, mustered in Aug. 29, 1862, discharged March 30, '
1863. Snively, Jonathan, mustered in Aug. 29, 1862, out as Corporal, i
June 10, 1865. • i
Seely, Isaac, mustered in Aug. 29, 1862, died at Chattanooga, |
Tenn., Nov. 21, 1863. i
Smith, Levi, mustered in Aug. 29, 1862, discharged March 8, 1863. !
Stout, Franklin, mustered In Aug. 29, 1862, discharged Dec. '
31, 1S62. :
Thomas, Chockly W., mustered in Aug. 29, 1862, killed at Nash- !
ville, Teun., Dec. 10, 1862.
Vestel. Henry S., mustered in Aug. 29, 1862, transferred to
! Veteran Eeserve Corps April 10, 1864.
Watkins, Walter T., mustered in Aug. 29, 1862, out June 7, 1866.
j Widney, Oliver H., mustered in Aug. 29, 1862, discharged Dec.
j 15, 1862.
' Wineland, Jacob, mustered in Aug. 29, 1862, discharged April
10, 1863.
Widney, Joseph, mustered in Aug. 29, 1862, died at Bowling
j Green, Ky., Nov. 25, 1862.
' White, Edwin D., mustered in Aug. 29, 1862, out June 7, 1865.
Welch, Eli M., mustered in Aug. 29, 1862, died at Nashville,
: Tenn., Feb. 16, 1863.
Wyatt, Elmore, mustered in Aug. 29, 1862, discharged Aug. 8,
1863. Yarnell, Philip, mustered In Aug. 29, 1862, transferred to Vet
eran Eeserve Corps Sept. 1, 1863.
I Yader, Christopher, mustered in Aug. 29, 1862, out June 7, 1865.
Yohe, John H., mustered in Aug. 29, 1862, died nt Bowling
Green, Ky., Jan. 12, 1863.
Yeagley, William, mustered in Aug. 29, 1862, discharged March
I 28, 1866.
Yocum, John, mustered in Aug. 29, 1862, out June 7, 1865.
Zigler, Benjamin F., mustered in Aug. 29, 1862, discharged
March 26, 1863.
Bills, John, mustered in March 29, 1864, trausferred to Thirty-
eighth Indiana Infantry June 7, 1865. ^
™ - - ----- - - 's
¦i' 1 a »- -^ g) 'y
t

-l^

382 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
Conklin, ALonzo, mustered in March 19, 1864, transferred to
Thirty-eighth Indiana Infantry June 7, 1866.
Cochran, Eobert, mustered in March 27, 1864, transferred to
Thirty-eighth Indiana Infantry June 7, 1865.
Crooks, Henry, mustered in March 26, 1864, transferred to
Thirty-eighth Indiana Infantry June 7, 1865.
Delano, George, mustered In March 22, 1864, transferred to
Thirty-eighth Indiana Infantry June 7, 1865.
Dohner, Isaac G., mustered in March 28, 1864, transferred to
Thirty-eighth Indiana Infantry June 7, 1865.
Erehart, mustered in Dec. 17, 1863, transferred to Thirty-eighth
Indiana Infantry June 7, 1865.
Hose, Joseph, mustered in March 19, 1864, transferred to Thirty-
eighth Indiana Infantry June 7, 1865.
Hose, Solomon, mustered In March 29, 1864, transferred to
Thirty-eighth Indiana Infantry June 7, 1865.
Headley, Dewitt C., mustered in March 17, 1864, transferred to
Thirty-eighth Indiana Infantry June 7, 1865.
Imhof, Elijah, mustered in March 28, 1864, transferred to Thirty-
eighth Indiana Infantry June 7, 1865.
Jones, Thomas I., naustered in March 22, 1864, transferred to
Thirty-eighth Indiana Infantry June 7, 1865.
Likens, Stephen, mustered in Dec. 4, 1863, transferred to Thirty-
eighth Indiana Infantry June 7, 1865.
Milliman, Henry, mustered in Feb. 26, 1864, transferred to
Thirty-eighth Indiana Infantry June 7, 1865.
McNabb, Daniel S., mustered In Aug. 10, 1862, discharged Feb.
22, 1863.
Eockwell, Henry M., mustered in Aug. 22, 1864, discharged
May 30, 1865.
Penicks, Joseph, mustered in March 28, 1864, transferred to
Thirty-eighth Indiana Infantry June 7, 1866.
Sandy, Frank B., mustered in Feb. 26, 1864, transferred to
Thirty-eighth Indiana Infantry June 7, 1865.
Sandy, Henry J., mustered in March 18, 1864, transferred to
Thirty-eighth Indiana Infantry June 7, 1865.
Stout, Francis M., mustered in March 28, 1864, transferred to
Thirty-eighth Indiana Infantry June 7, 1866.
Smith, Luther, mustered in March 30, 1864, transferred to
Thirty-eighth Indiana Infantry June 7, 1866.

iFT

A" — ^  ^zr 4-^
HISTORY OF DE KALB OOUNTY. 383
Stafford, Thomas, mustered in March 10, 1864, transferred to
Thirty-eighth Indiana Infantry June 7, 1866.
Treman, John, mustered in March 29, 1864, transferred to
Thirty-eighth Indiana Infantry June 7, 1866.
Woods, John W., mustered in March 29, 1864, transferred to
Thirty-eighth Indiana Infantry June 7, 1865.
NINETY-FIRST INFANTRY.
Company H
Conley, Zyra H., mustered in Nov. 11, 1864, out Aug. 31, 1865.
ONE HUNDRETH INFANTRY.
Munn, Charles A., commissioned Chaplain Nov. 8, 1862, re
signed Aug. 10, 1863.
Swartz, David J., commissioned Assistant Surgeon Oct. 3, 1862,
mustered out with regiment June 8, 1866.
Company A.
Ehodes, Marquis L.. commissioned Captain Aug. 13, 1862, died
Dec. 10, 1862, of disease.
Hartman, Ezra D., commissioned Second Lieutenant Aug. 13,
1862, First Lieutenant Oct. 4, 1862, Captain Dec. 11, 1862,
honorably discharged Nov. 6, 1863.
Barney, Lucius, mustered in as First Sergeant Aug. 10, 1862,
commissioned Second Lieutenant Oct. 4, 1862, First Lieutenant
Dec. 11, 1862, Captain Nov. 7, 1863, honorably discharged Aug.
12, 1864.
Moore, John H., mustered in as Sergeant Aug. 6, 1862, com
missioned Second Lieutenant Dec. 11, 1862, First Lieutenant Nov.
7, 1863, Captain Aug. 13, 1864, died as First Lieutenant Oct. 1,
1864, of wounds received in action.
Sherlock, Eli J., mustered in as Sergeant Aug. 6, 1862, com
missioned First Lieutenant Aug. 13, 1864, Captain Oct. 2, 1864,
mustered out with regiment June 8, 1865.
Swartz, David J., commissioned First Lieutenant Aug. 13, 1862,
promoted Assistant Surgeon.
Waters, Albert A., mustered in Aug. 13, 1862, commissioned
Second Lieutenant Nov. 22, 1864, mustered out as Sergeant with
regiment June 8, 1865.
Kindell, John S., mustered in as Sergeant Aug. 13, 1862, died
at LaGrange, Tenn., Jan. 11, 1863.

"^7=^

w

, : 384 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
i I Lockhart, William C, mustered in as Sergeant Aug. 13, 1862,
i discharged Oct. 23, 1863.
Klien, Cleveland A. , mustered in as Corporal Aug. 6, 1863, died at
CoUiersville, Tenn., April 2, 1863, as Sergeant.
DeWitt, Daniel, mustered in as Corporal Aug. 13, 1862, dis
charged as Sergeant Oct. 24, 1863.
Hall, John M., mustered in as Corporal Aug. 19, 1863, out June
8, 1865.
Eobbins, Albert, mustered in as Corporal Aug. 11, 1862, dis
charged Nov. 11, 1862.
Devllbiss, Allen, mustered in as Corporal Aug. 10, 1862, dis
charged Aug. 10, 1863.
Walker, James P., mustered in as Corporal Aug. 10, 1862, died
! : at Memphis, Tenn., Oct. 24, 1863.
|! Bodine, David C, mustered in as Musician Aug. 6, 1862, mus-
|! tered out as Sergeant June 8, 1865.
jj Shuman, George, mustered in as Musician Aug. 9, 1862, out
;! May 19, 1865.
',' Durbin, Joseph C, mustered in as Wagoner Aug. 13, 1862, out
il June 8, 1865.
s; Anthony, Abraham, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862, died at Holly
; Springs, Miss., Jan. 8, 1863,
Arthur, Martin, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862, out as Corporal June
-| 8,1865.
j Beams, George, mustered in Aug. 10, 1862, died at Memphis,
I Tenn., Nov. 24, 1862.
Boren, John W., mustered in Aug. 6, 1862, died at Atlanta, Ga.,
' i Oct. 24, 1864.
j Butler, Irving, mustered in Aug. 10, 1862, died at Snyder's Bluff,
'; Miss., July 24, 1863.
Boyles, Artemas, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862, died at Grand
I Junction, Tenn., Feb. 20, 1863.
Buchanan, Eeason, mustered in Aug. 9, 1862, died atNashville,
I Tenn., Jan. 24,1864.
'¦'' Buchanan, George, mustered in Aug. 13, 1863, out June
I 8, 1865.
Buchanan, John A., mustered in Aug. 13, 1862, out as Sergeant
June 8, 1865.
I Culver, Harrison, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862, died at Memphis,
,11 Tenn., Dec: 24, 1863.
'' Critchet, Jonathan, mustered in Aug. 9, 1862, out June 8, 1865.

^

HIS'l'ORY OF DE KALB OOUNTY. 385
Diniinitt, William H., mustered in Aug. 13, 1862, died at Abbe
ville, Tenn., Dec. 24, 1863.
Davis, James, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862, died at Jefferson Bar
racks, Mo., Dec. 32, 1864.
Davis, John, mustered in Aug. 10, 1862, out June 8, 1865.
Fair, William H., mustered in Aug. 10. 1862, out as Sergeant
June S, 1865.
Frees, Samuel, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862, out June 8, 1865.
Frees, Hammond, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862, out June 8, 1865.
Flant, John, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862, out June 8, 1866.
Friedt, Henry, mustered in Aug. 6, 1862, discharged Jan. 30,
1863. Farver, Lemuel, mustered in Aug. 12, 1802, out June 8, 1865.
Graham, William E., mustered in Aug. 7, 1862, out June 8, 1866.
Guthrie, SImeoIi, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862, out May 26, 1866.
Goodenough, Abel E., mustered in Aug. 13, 1862, discharged
Jan. 28, 1863.
Grubb, John, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862, died at CoUiersville,
Tenn., March 18, 1863.
Haines, Napoleon A., mustered in Aug. 8, 1862, transferred to
Veteran Eeserve Corps, mustered out July S, 1865.
Houser, Jonathan, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862, out as Corporal
June 8, 1865.
Houser, Gideon, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862,died at CoUiersville,
Tenn., May 1, 1863.
Hursh, John, mustered in Aug. 10, 1863, died at Memphis,
Tenn., Feb. 8, 1863.
Hursh, Benjamin, mustered in Aug. 9, 1862, transferred to Com
pany F.
Hammond, James, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862, died as Corporal
at Grand Junction, Tenn., Feb. 22, 1863.
Holden, Samuel, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862, transferred to Vet
eran Eeserve Corps, Nov. 25, 1862.
Jones, Wesley J., mustered In Aug. 13, 1862, discharged May
36, 1863.
Long, Harrison, mustered in Aug. 9, 1862, out June 8, 1866.
Likens, William, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862, discharged Aug.
21, 1863.
McNabb, John, mustered In Aug. 6, 1862, died at Holly Springs,
Miss., Jan. 6, 1863.
Maxwell,William B., mustered In Aug. 9, 1862, out May 13, 1865.

W

/.

386 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
Melvin, George W., mustered in Aug. 10, 1862, out June 8, 1865.
Melvin, Wallace J., mustered in Aug. 11, 1862, died at Holly
Springs, Miss., Dec. 2, 1862.
Mohler, John E., mustered in Aug. 13, 1862, discharged June
17, 1864.
McGoon, Benjamin P., mustered in Aug. 13, 1862, out June
8, 1865.
McConnell, John, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862, died at home Jan.
1, 1864.
Miller, Silas C, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862, transferred to Vet
eran Eeserve Corps, mustered out July 14, 1865.
Noel, George, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862, died at Memphis,
Tenn., Nov. 5, 1863.
Osburn, Enos, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862, died at Nashville,
Tenn., June 3, 1864.
dinger, John S., mustered in Aug. 6, 1862, discharged May 26,
1863. dinger, Anthony, mustered in Aug. 6, 1862, transferred to
Company F.
dinger, Daniel, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862, transferred to
Company F.
Penry, Lewis F., mustered in Aug. 7, 1862, died at Memphis,
Tenn., Nov. 24, 1864.
Piffer, Daniel, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862, discharged May
9, 1863.
Piffer, Joseph, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862, out as Corporal June
8, 1865.
Powell, Levi B., mustered in Aug. 13, 1862, out June 8, 1865.
Palmer, Hiram, mustered in Aug. 6, 1862, out as Corporal June
8, 1865.
Prosser, Joseph C, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862, out June 8, 1865.
Eogers, Charles T., mustered in Aug. 11,1862, out June 8, 1865.
Eaub, John B., mustered In Aug. 13, 1862, out June 10, 1865.
Symonds, John C, mustered In Aug.6, 1862, out July 7, 1865.
Sevander, John, mustered in Aug. 9,1862, discharged Nov. 11,
1862. Squires, Asher, mustered in Aug. 10,1862, died at Paducah, Ky.,
Aug. 17, 1863.
Squires, Nathan, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862, out June 8, 1865.
Shaw, Ansel M., mustered in Aug. 12, 1862, out as Corporal
June 8, 1865.

-•  B

FT

js

HISTORY OF DE KALB OOUNTY. 387
Smith, Isaac, mustered in Aug. 6, 1862, out June 8, 1865.
Skinner, Orlander, mustered in Aug. 6, 1862, died at Memphis,
Tenn., Nov. 17, 1803.
Ulm, Jeremiah, mustered in Aug. 9, 1862, out June 8, 1866.
Vanlier, John D., mustered in Aug. 13, 1862, out June 8, 1865.
Wiltrout, Benjamin S., mustered in Aug. 8,1862, out June 8,
1865. Wearley, Calvin J., mustered in Aug. 12, 1862, transferred to
Marine Brigade.
Wolf, Henry, mustered in Aug. 6, 1862, out as Corporal June
22, 1S65.
Wyatt, Eichard, mustered in Aug. 10, 1862, died at Memphis,
Tenn., Oct. 16, 1863.
Cordery, Walter, mustered in Oct. 29, 1862, discharged March
23, 1863.
iS'ickerson, Alden, mustered in May 6, 1863, died at Murfrees
boro, Tenn., Nov. 24, 1863.
Company E.
Whitcomb, Moses, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862, out June 8, 1865.
Company K.
Burdick, Louis B., mustered in Aug. 21, 1862, discharged May
16, 1865.
Haswell, George J., mustered in Aug. 13, 1862, out May 30, 1865.
Haynes, Andrew, mustered in Aug. 21, 1862, out as Corporal
June 29, 1865.
Haynes, Frank, mustered in Aug. 21, 1862, out June 29, 1865.
Jackson, Jacob D., mustered in Aug. 21, 1862, out June 29,
1865. Phillips, Benjamin, mustered in Aug. 22, 1862, died at home
Dec. 24, 1864.
Stouffer, John T., mustered in Aug. 22, 1862, out June 29,
1865. Vanwormer, William A., mustered in Aug. 20, 1862, out as Cor
poral June 29, 1865.
Barntrager, George, mustered in Oct. 22, 1862, transferred to
Forty-eighth Indiana Infantry, mustered out July 1 5, 1866.
Haswell, Lewis E., mustered In March 30, 1864, transferred to
Forty-eighth Indiana Volunteer Infantry June 27, 1865.
Simons, George, mustered in Nov. 5, 1862, discharged Oct. 29
1864.

71

388 HISTORY OF DE KALB COONTY.
ONE HUNDRED AND EIGHTEENTH INFANTRY.
Company F.
Buchanan, Manlus, commissioned Captain Sept. 5, 1863, mus
tered out March 1, 1864.
Mosier, Cyrus F., commissioned First Lieutenant Sept. 5, 1863,
mustered out March 1, 1864.
Farnum, George L., commissioned Second Lieutenant Sept. 6,
1863, mustered out March 1, 1864.
Cogswell, Chalon D., mustered in Sept. 5, 1863, as First Ser
geant, out March 1, 1864.
Widney, Oliver H., mustered in as Sergeant Sept. 5, 1863, out
March 1, 1864.
Cornell, George N., mustered in as Sergeant Sept. 5, 1863, out
March 1, 1864.
Hartley, Henry S. , mustered in as Sergeant Sept. 5, 1863. out
March 1, 1864.
Walters, Amos E., mustered in as Sergeant Sept. 6, 1863, out
March 1, 1864.
Pyle, Erastus, mustered in as Corporal Sept. 6, 1863, out as
jj Sergeant March 1, 1864.
]j FIckas, John T., mustered in as Corporal Sept. 6, 1863, out
1 1 March 1,1864.
i! Tanner, Samuel, mustered In as Corporal Sept. 6, 1863, out
jj March 1, 1864.
I Beckley, George, mustered in as Corporal Sept. 6, 1863, out
\ '\ as private March 1, 1864.
' Campbell, Alvin, mustered in as Corporal Sept. 5, 1863, out
March 1, 1864.
McNabb, Howard S., mustered in as Corporal Sept. 5, 1863, out
March 1, 1864.
Alton, Albert M., mustered in as Corporal Sept. 5, 1863, out
March 1, 1864.
Finney, Erastus, mustered in as Corporal Sept. 5, 1863, out
March 1,1864.
Diehl, Leander J., mustered in as Musician Sept. 5, 1863, out
March 1, 1864.
Woods, John W., mustered in as Wagoner Sept. 5, 1863, out
March 1, 1864.
Anderson, Ethan, mustered in Sept. 5, 1863, out March 1,
1864.

Ja-

J-

HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY. 389
Admire, Squire, mustered in Sept. 5, 1863, out as Corporal
March 1, 1864.
Atcheson, Jesse F., mustered in Sept. 6, 1863, transferred.
Andrews, Elzy, mustered in Sept. 5, 1863, died on Eock Castle
Eiver, Nov. 29, 1863.
Brown, William B., mustered in Aug. 13, 1863.
Bohn, Benjamin C, mustered in Sept. 5, 1863, out March 1,
1864. Bohn, Charles, mustered in Sept. 5, 1863, out March 1, 1864.
Baker, Thomas W., mustered in Sept. 5, 1863, out March 1, 1864.
Barmour, Jasper, mustered in Sept. 5, 1863, out March 1, 1864.
Castleman, Martin, mustered in Sept. 6, 1863, out March 1, 1864.
Cherry, Eobert E., mustered in Sept. 5, 1863, transferred to
Seventh Cavalry Sept. 7, 1863.
Cronk, Loudon, mustered in Sept. 5, 1863, out March 1, 1864.
Crain, William, mustered in Sept. 6, 1863, out March 1, 1864.
Campbell, Thomas, mustered in Sept. 5, 1863, out March 1, 1864.
Campbell, William, mustered in Sept. 6, 1863, out March 1, 1864.
Chilcoat, Humphrey E., mustered in Sept. 6, 1863, out March
1, 1864.
Crooks, Henry, mustered in Sept. 5, 1863, out March 1, 1864.
Chasey, John E., never mustered.
Cochran, Eobert, mustered in Sept. 6, 1863, out March 1, 1864.
Carver, Oscar P., mustered in Sept. 5, 1863, discharged Sept.
7, 1863, by civil authority.
Delong, James, mustered in Sept. 6, 1863, out March 1, 1864.
Emery, Philip E., mustered in Sept. 6, 1863, transferred.
Franklin, Joseph W., mustered in Sept. 5, 1863, out March 1,
1864. Fike, James, mustered in Sept. 5, 1863, out March 1, 1864.
Fike, Abraham, mustered in Sept. 6, 1863, out March 1, 1864.
Fisher, William, mustered In Sept. 6, 1863, out March 1, 1864.
Fisher, Augustus C, mustered in Sept. 5, 1863, transferred.
Finch, Franklin C, mustered in Sept. 5, 1863, out March 1, 1864.
Fry, David, mustered in Sept. 5, 1863, out March 1, 1864.
Goodwell, Jeremiah, mustered in Sept. 6, 1863, out March 1
1864. Guirer, William, mustered in Sept. 6, 1863, out March 1, 1864.
Grite, Anthony, enlisted.
Hardin, David E., mustered in Sept. 6, 1863, out March 1, 1864.
Hillis, John, mustered in Sept. 5, 1863, out March 1, 1864,
35

. 390 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
Higby, Ami, mustered in Sept. 5, 1863, out March 1, 1864.
Huffman, Jacob, mustered in Sept. 5, 1863, out March 1, 1864.
Heffilnger, Thomas, mustered in Sept. 5, '1863, out March 1, 1864.
Hughey, Stephen, mustered in Sept. 6, 1863, out March 1, 1864.
Hartman, Solomon, mustered in Sept. 5, 1863, out March 1, 1864.
Hart, Francis, mustered in Sept. 6, 1863, out March 1, 1864.
Imhof, Lewis, mustered in Sept. 5, 1863, out March 1, 1864.
Jacques, David, mustered in Sept. 6, 1863, out March 1, 1864.
Johnson, James, mustered in Sept. 6, 1863, transferred.
Jarvis, Alexander, mustered in Sept. 5, 1863, out March 1, 1864.
Kreger, George, mustered in Sept. 5, 1863, out March 1, 1864.
Kreger, John.
Kane, Augustus C, mustered in Sept. 5, 1863, died at Camp
Nelson, Ky., Dec. 7, 1863.
Kane, John W., mustered in Sept. 5, 1863, out March 1, 1864.
Louthan, James, mustered In Sept. 6, 1863, out March 1, 1864.
McCool, James, mustered in Sept. 5, 1863, out March 1, 1864.
McClure, William, mustered in Sept. 5, 1863^ out March 1, 1864.
Moore, Thomas, mustered in Sept. 6, 1863, out March 1, 1864.
Oliver, Josephus, mustered in Sept. 5, 1863, out March 1, 1864.
Ollnger, Cyrus, mustered in Sept. 6, 1863, out March 1, 1864.
Eawson, Thomas, mustered in Sept. 5, 1863, out March 1, 1864.
Eitch, Henry, mustered in Sept. 5, 1863, discharged Sept. 12,
1863, being a minor.
Eemlngton, Francis M., mustered in Sept. 6, 1863, out March
1, 1864.
Eobbins, Wallace, mustered in Sept. 5, 1863, out March 1, 1864.
Eichardson, William H., mustered in Sept. 6, 1863, out March
1, 1864.
Shull, Elias, mustered in Sept. 5, 1863, out March 1, 1864.
ShuU, Leonard, mustered in Sept. 5, 1863, out March 1, 1864.
Smith, Isaiah, mustered in Sept. 5, 1863, out March 1, 1864.
Stafford, William, mustered in Sept. 5, 1863, out March 1, 1864.
Sandy, James H., mustered in Sept. 6, 1863, out March 1, 1864.
Stone, David A.
Taylor, Eufus, mustered in Sept. 5, 1863, deserted Sept. 30, 1863.
Totten, Jonathan J., mustered in Aug. 13, 1863.
Walters, Amos E., mustered in Aug. 13, 1863, out March 1, 1864.
Williams, David K., mustered in Sept. 6, 1863, out March 1,
1864. Wright, Emanuel, mustered in Sept. 5, 1863, out March 1, 1864.

HISTORY OF DE KALB OOUNTY. 391
Woods, James, mustered in Sept. 5, 1863, out March 1, 1864.
Welch, Sidney, mustered in Sept. 5, 1863, out March 1, 1864.
Woodward, Alson, mustered in Sept. 5, 1863, out March 1, 1864.
Watei-s, Irvin, mustered in Sept. 5, 1863, out March 1, 1864.
Wallace, John, mustered in Sept. 5, 1863, transferred.
Wilkinson, Almond, mustered in Sept. 5, 1863, out March 1,
1864. Young, John T., mustered in Sept. 5, 1863, out March 1, 1864.
SEVENTH (one HUNDRED AND NINETEENTH REGIMENT) CAVALRY.
Company D.
Dahuff, Eli, mustered in Sept. 3, 1863, transferred to Seventh
Indiana Cavalry, reorganized.
Fostnancht, Moses, mustered in Sept. 3, 1863, deserted July
31, 1865.
Fitch, John, mustered in Sept. 3, 1863, transferred to Seventh
Indiana Cavalry, reorganized.
Guthrie, Eichard, mustered in Sept. 3, 1863, transferred to
Seventh Indiana Cavalry, reorganized.
Hoffman, Samuel D., mustered in Sept. 3, 1863, transferred to
Seventh Indiana Cavalry, reorganized.
Hamlin, George, mustered in Sept. 3, 1863, died May 14, 1864.
Company K.
Cherry, Eobert E., mustered in Sept. 11, 1863, transferred to
Company E, Seventh Indiana Cavalry, reorganized.
TWELFTH (one HUNDRED AND TWENTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT) CAVALRY.
Convpany B.
Austin, George, mustered in Dec. 16, 1863, out Nov. 6, 1865,
as Corporal.
Bailey, Alexander, mustered in Dec. 16, 1863, out June 6, 1865.
Boley, John H., mustered in Dec. 16, 1863, died at Louisville,
Ky., Dec. 19, 1864.
Church, Israel, mustered in Dec. 16, 1863, out Nov. 10, 1866.
Deetz, John, mustered in Dec. 16, 1863, out Nov. 10, 1866.
Griffith, John W., mustered in Dec. 16, 1863, out as First Ser
geant Nov. 10, 1866.
Jones, Sidney P., mastered in Dec. 16, 1863, out as Sergeant
Nov. 10, 1866.

1^

392 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
Johnson, Franklin T., mustered in Dec. 16, 1863, promoted
Second Lieutenant Oct. 16, 1864, First Lieutenant March 1, 1865,
mustered out Nov. 10, 1866.
Jones, Milton C, mustered in Dec. 16, 1863, out as Sergeant
Nov. 10, 1866.
Kirkendall, George, mustered in Dec. 16, 1863, out June 7, 1865.
Myers, Joseph, mustered in Dec. 16, 1863, died at home April
7, 1864.
Nounnem, David, mustered in Dec. 16, 1863, out Oct. 4, 1865.
Eoberts, Joseph, mustered in Dec. 16, 1863, out Nov. 10, 1865.
Shaw, John, mustered in Dec. 16, 1863, out Nov. 10, 1865.
Werrich, Joseph, mustered in Dec. 16, 1863, out Nov. 10, 1865.
Company C.
Cramer, Samuel, mustered in Dec. 16, 1863, transferred to Vet
eran Eeserve Corps, mustered out Nov. 1, 1866.
Dirrim, Isaac C, mustered in Jan. 10, 1864, out July 21, 1865.
Duck, Samuel, mustered in Dec. 16, 1863, out May 20, 1865 .
Gondy, Henry W., mustered in Dec. 16, 1863, out Nov. 10, 1865.
Gondy, Albert J., mastered in Dec. 16, 1863, out Nov. 27, 1865.
GiUespie, Clement, mustered in Dec. 16, 1863, died at Hunts
ville, Ala., July 20, 1864.
Wilkins, WiUiam, mustered in Dec. 16, 1863, out July 21, 1865.
Company I.
Britton, Alfred J., mustered in Jan. 10, 1864, deserted Feb. 12,
1864. Carpenter, Alva N., mustered in Jan. 10, 1864, discharged Aug.
31, 1864, as First Sergeant.
Finch, Jacob, mustered in Jan. 10, 1864, deserted Feb. 12,1864.
Haywood, Charles H., mustered in Jan. 10, 1864, deserted Nov.
16, 1864. ¦
McClellan, Hugh, mustered in Jan. 10, 1864, out May 28, 1865.
Pulver, Joseph, mustered in Jan. 10, 1864, out Nov. 10, 1866.
Swan, Charles, mustered in Jan. 10, 1864, died at Jefferson
ville, Ind., Feb. 12, 1865.
Story, Willard G., mustered in Jan. 10, 1864, out Aug. 2, 1865.
ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-NINTH INFANTRY.
DeLong, Solomon, commissioned Major March 1, 1864, Lieu
tenant-Colonel June 15, 1864, resigned Dec. 10, 1864.

HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY. 393
Company A.
Dunn, Lewis, mustered in as Corporal Jan. 10, 1864, com
missioned First Lieutenant June 1, 1866, mustered out as First
Sergeant Aug. 29, 1865.
Bonney, Thaddeus S., commissioned Second Lieutenant Jan. 5,
1864, discharged Dec. 24, 1864, for absence without leave.
Mason, John A., mustered in as Corporal Jan. 10, 1864, out
Aug. 29, 1865.
Brown, William, mustered in Jan. 10, 1864, out Aug. 29, 1865.
Casebeer, George, mustered in Jan. 10, 1864, out Aug. 29, 1865.
Enzer, Ephraim, mustered in Jan. 10, 1864, out Aug. 29, 1865.
Fisher, William, mustered in Dec. 16, 1863, died at Chattanooga,
Tenn., June 8, 1864.
Lower, Alonzo, mustered in Jan. 10, 1864, out Aug. 29, 1865.
Myers, James, mustered in Dec. 16, 1863, out Aug. 29, 1866.
Nelson, Ira, mustered in Jan. 10, 1864, out Aug. 29, 1866.
Nelson, Charles, mustered in Jan. 10, 1864, died at Newborn,
N. C, April 31, 1866.
Nelson, Daniel, mustered in Jan. 10, 1864, out Aug. 4, 1865.
Steeloy, John C, mustered in Dec. 16, 1863, out June 8, 1865.
Taylor, Wm. H., mustered in Dec. 16, 1863, out Aug. 29, 1865.
Veley, Josiah B., mustered in Doc. 16, 1863, out Aug. 29, 1865.
Company C.
Baer, Hiram, mustered in Dec. 16, 1863, out Aug. 29, 1865.
Cordry, John W., mustered in Dec. 16, 1863, died at Marietta,
Ga., July 8, 1864.
Hively, Noah, mustered in March 7, 1864, died at Marietta, Ga.,
July 27, 1864.
Martin, Cyrus, mustered in March 6, 1864, out Aug. 29, 1866.
Swartz, Jacob, mustered in Jan. 6, 1864, deserted March 12, 1864.
Swartz, Amos, mustered in March 6, 1864, deserted March 12,
1864.
Company F.
DeLong, Solomon, commissioned Captain Dec. 31, 1863, pro
moted Major and Lieutenant-Colonel.
Baer, Obadiah, commissioned First Lieutenant Dec. 31, 1863,
Captain March 2, 1864, resigned Dec. 26, 1864.
Smith, Philander, mustered in Jan. 11, 1864, commissioned
Second Lieutenant March 2, 1864, First Lieutenant Jan. 1, 1865,
mustered out Aug. 29, 1865.

^

'-^

394

HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.

Beckley, Henry C, mustered in as Sergeant Jan. 11, 1864, com
missioned Second Lieutenant Jan. 1, 1866, mustered out as First
Sergeant Aug. 29, 1865.
McNabb, John 0., mustered in as First Sergeant Jan. 11, 1864,
out as private Aug. 29, 1866.
CogsdiU, Gideon, mustered in as Sergeant Jan. 11, 1864, out Sept.
2, 1865.
Williams, Samuel, mustered in as Sergeant Jan. 11, 1864, out,
as First Sergeant, Aug. 29, 1865.
Brown, Alva, mustered in as Sergeant Jan. 11, 1864, killed at
Franklin, Tenn., Nov. 30, 1864.
Sloan, Thomas O., mustered in as Corporal Jan. 11, 1864, out
Aug. 29, 1865.
Clark, John, mustered in as Corporal Jan. 11, 1864, died at
Marietta, Ga., Sept. 20, 1864.
Shirts, Uriah J., mustered in as Corporal Jan. 11, 1864, out Aug.
29, 1865.
DoweU, Alexander B., mustered in as Corporal June 11, 1864,
died at Knoxville, Tenn., June 20, 1864.
Adams, Newton M., mustered in as Corporal June 11, 1864, out
May 19, 1865.
Eupert, Edward, mustered in as Corporal Jan. 11, 1864, killed at
Frankhn, Tenn., Nov. 30, 1864.
Calkins, Milo F., mustered in as Musician Jan. 11, 1864, out as
Fife-Major Aug. 29, 1865.
Knaff, Leslie, mustered in as Musician Jan. 11, 1864, out June
9, 1865.
Abel, Walter, mustered in March 7, 1864, out as Corporal Aug.
29, 1866.
Adams, David W., mustered in Jan, 11, 1864, disoharged May
8, 1865.
Amrine, John M., mustered in Jan. 11, 1864, out Sept. 14, 1865.
Bishop, George A., mustered in Jan. 11, 1864, out Aug. 29, 1865.
Beard, Cyrus, mustered in Jan. 11, 1864, died at Marietta, Ga.,
July 28, 1864.
Brubaker, John, mustered In March 7, 1864, out Aug. 29, 1865.
Crouse, John, mustered in March 7, 1864, out Aug. 29, 1866.
Chilson, Madison I., mustered in March 7, 1864, out Aug. 29,
1866. CogsdiU, Chalon D., mustered in March 19, 1864, out Aug.
29, 1865.

>— ^ 
(y\ p 
HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY. 395
Cole, George, mustered in Jan. 11, 1864, out Aug. 29, 1865.
Chilcoat, Daniel, mustered in Jan. 11, 1864, out Aug. 29, 1865.
Delong, David, mustered in Jan. 11, 1864, out as Hospital
Steward Aug. 29, 1865.
Delong, Henry, mustered In Jan. 11, 1864, out Aug. 29, 1865.
Delong, Alfred, mustered in Jan. 11, 1864, discharged Aug.
29, 1804.
Depew, Samuel, mustered In Jan. 11, 1864, out Aug. 29, 1865.
Dyke, Manlius E., mustered in Jan. 11, 1864, died at Nashville,
Tenn., May S, 1864.
Erl, Abraham, mustered in March 7, 1864, out Aug. 29, 1865.
Faurot, Wm. N., mustered in Jan. 11, 1864, out Sept. 16, 1865.
Fusselman, Nelson, mustered in Jan. 11, 1864, out June 21, 1866.
Fowler, Samuel A., mustered in March 7, 1864, died at Chatta
nooga, Tenn., June 1, 1864.
Flint, Gustin, mustered in March 7, 1864, out Aug. 29, 1866.
Griffith, Clark W., mustered in Jan. 11, 1864, out Aug. 29, 1865.
Haynes, Lorenzo, mustered in March 7, 1864, out Aug. 29, 1866.
Hively, David J., mustered in Jan. 1 1, 1864, out Aug. 29, 1866.
Herman, Henry, mustered in March 7, 1864, deserted May 20,
1865. Hawkins, John B., mustered in Jan. 11, 1864, out June 7, 1865.
Headley, Wilson S., mustered in Jan. 11,, 1864, out Aug. 29, 1865.
Hosier, Joseph, mustered in Jan! 11, 1864, discharged Dec. 26,
1864. Hosier, Daniel, mustered in Jan. 11, 1864, out Aug. 29, 1866.
Hosier, John, mustered in Jan. 11, 1864, out Aug. 29, 1865.
Hosier, Samuel, mustered in Jan. 11, 1864, deserted March 12,
1864. Hosier, Lewis D., mustered in Jan. 11, 1864, deserted March
12, 1864.
Hobnic, Henry W., mustered in Jan. 11, 1864, deserted March
31, 1864.
Hart, Alexander, mustered in March 7, 1864, out Aug. 29, 1866.
Hoaser, John H., mustered in March 19, 1864, out June 8, 1866.
Joray, Paul A., mustered in Jan. 11, 1864, out Aug. 29, 1865.
Kimes, Andrew I., mustered in Jan. 11, 1864, out Aug. 29, 1866.
Kroh, David, mastered in Jan. 11, 1S64, died at Madison, Ind.,
Aug. 14, 1864.
Loomis, Drayton, mustered in Jan. 11, 1864, out as Corporal
Aug. 29, 1865.
. g 1 1  ' I ^ .
" j' S "" "'I  S >y

Q  .^

^1^

396 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
Luttman, Martin, mustered in Jan. 11, 1864, deserted March
12, 1864.
McConnell, Henry P., mustered in Jan. 11, 1864, out Aug. 29,
1865. Moody, Judson S., mustered in Jan. 11, 1864, died at Camp
Dennison, Ohio, Nov. 30, 1864.
Morrow, Jacob S., mustered in Jan. 11, 1864, deserted May 21,
1865. Milliman, Joel A., mustered in March 7, 1864, out Aug. 29, 1865.
Mathews, Edward, mustered in Jan. 11, 1864, out as Corporal
Aug. 29, 1865.
Mathews, Volney F., mustered in Jan. 5, 1864, out Aug. 29, 1866.
Proctor, Charles, mustered in Jan. 5, 1864, deserted Nov. 18,
1864. Eawson, Edward, mustered in Jan. 5, 1864, out Aug. 29, 1865.
Eeed, Isaac, mustered in Jan. 5, 1864, killed at Atlanta, Ga.,
Aug. 6, 1864.
Eevert, Henry, mustered in Dec. 28, 1863, deserted Oct. 28, 1864.
Eevert, Jacob, mustered in Dec. 16, 1863, out Sept. 11, 1865.
Smith, George, mustered in Dec. 1, 1863, discharged June 15,
1865. Sloan, David A., mustered in Dec. 28, 1863, died at Marietta,
Ga., Aug. 10, 1864.
Staley, Abraham, mustered in Dec. 14, 1863, out Aug. 29, 1863.
Squires, John W., mustered in Dec. 19, 1863, out Aug. 29, 1863.
Shook, Samuel G., mustered in Dec. 19,1863, out Aug. 29, 1863.
Shoemaker, Horace, mustered in Jan. 5, 1864, discharged April
5, 1864.
Shirey, Peter, mustered In Jan. 8, 1864, deserted March 12, 1864.
Williams, David, mustered in Jan. 8, 1864, deserted May 21,
1866. Weir, James, mustered in Dec. 18, 1863, discharged March
18, 1865.
Wilson, John C, mustered in Jan. 6, 1864, died at Murfrees
boro, Tenn., April 26, 1864.
Whirley, Abraham H., mustered in March 7, 1864, out Aug.
29, 1866.
Wiley, David A., mustered in Jan. 11, 1864, out as Corporal
Aug. 29, 1866.
Wendell, John E., mustered in Jan. 11, 1864, died at Nashville,
Tenn., April 8, 1864.

HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY. 397
Wert, WiUiam, mustered in Jan. 11, 1864, out Aug. 29, 1865.
Willtrout, William E,, mustered in Jan. 11, 1864, died at Wash
ington, D. C, Feb. 6, 1866.
Whiffle, Newman, mustered in Jan. 11, 1864, discharged Jan.
27, 1865.
Yater, Moses, mustered in Jan. 11, 1864, died at Beauford, N. C,
April S, 1866.
Zubrook, Frederick, mustered in Jan. 6, 1864, died at Chatta
nooga, Tenn., June 8, 1864.
Company H.
North, Jacob, mustered in as Corporal March 19, 1864, out June
8, 1865.
Freeby, John H., mustered in March 7, 1864, out Sept. 2, 1865.
Sleutz, John K., mustered in March 7, 1864, out Aug. 29, 1866.
Company I.
Lockwood, Delos, mustered in March 7, 1864, died at Knoxville,
Tenn., June 12, 1864.
Shaver, Francis B., mustered in March 19, 1864, died in Ander-
sonville Prison Aug. 30, 1864.
Wellington, Harrison, mustered in as Wagoner March 7, 1864,
died at Andersonville, Ga., Sept. 21, 1864.
ONE HUNDRED AND FORTIETH INFANTRY.
Company C.
Wright, Isaac, mustered in Sept. 10, 1864, died at Cincinnati,
Ohio, Jan. 24, 1865.
ONE HUNDRED AND FORTY-SECOND INFANTRY.
Company A.
Frick, Henry, mustered in as Sergeant Sept. 17, 1864, out June
28, 1865.
Mills, James C, mustered in as Corporal Sept. 14, 1864, out
as private June 28, 1866.
Baxter, Emmett, mustered in Sept. 14, 1864, deserted Oct. 4,
1864. Baxter, George, mustered in Sept. 14, 1864, deserted Oct. 8, 1864.
Campbell, Wm., mustered in Sept. 14, 1864, out June 28, 1865.
Gindlesparger, Abraham, mustered in Sept. 14, 1864, out as
Corporal June 28, 1865.

i^

398 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
Gindlesparger, William, mustered in Sept. 14, 1864, out June
28, 1865.
Kreger, George, mustered in Sept. 13, 1864, out June 28, 1865.
Kreger, John, mustered in Sept. 13, 1864, out June 28, 1865.
Eigby, Aaron, mustered in Sept. 25, 1864, out July 14, 1865.
Eigby, David, mustered in Oct. 14, 1864, out July 14, 1865.
Eigby, Eli, mustered in Sept. 17, 1864, out June 28, 1866.
Speer, Elzie, mustered in Sept. 20, 1864, out as Corporal June
28, 1866.
Speer, Eoblnson E., mustered in Sept. 20, 1864, out June 28, 1865.
Treesh, Isaac, mustered in Sept. 13, 1864, out June 28, 1865.
Treesh, Levi, mustered in Sept. 13, 1864, out June 28, 1865.
Vail, Jacob, mustered in Sept. 13, 1864, out June 28, 1865.
WIdener, Albertus, mustered in Sept. 13, 1864, out June 28, 1865.
4
Company D.
Bowman, John W., mustered in Oct. 13, 1864, out July 12, 1865.
Balenline, James, mustered in Oct. 20, 1864, out July 14, 1865.
Debelbus, John, mustered in Oct. 28, 1864, oat July 14, 1865.
Funk, Benjamin H., mustered in Oct. 13, 1864, out July 12, 1866.
Palmer, Anthony, mustered in Sept. 28, 1864, out June 28, 1865.
Pifer, John, mustered in Oct. 13, 1864, out July 14, 1865.
Worden, John, mustered in Oct. 13, 1864, out July 14, 1865.
Company F.
Oberholtzer, Samuel, mustered in Nov. 10, 1864, out July
14, 1866.
Company G.
Hettinger, John, mustered in Oct. 22, 1864, out July 14, 1865.
Points, George H., mustered in Oct. 20, 1864, out July 4, 1866.
ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY-SECOND INFANTRY.
Griswold, Whedon W., commissioned Colonel March 9, 1865,
mustered out with regiment.
Chamberlain, James N., commissioned Surgeon April 17, 1866,
mustered out witli regiment.
Mercer, William M., commissioned Assistant Surgeon March 9,
1865, mustered out with regiment.
Company B.
Casebeer, J. O., mustered in Feb. 17, 1866, out Aug. 30, 1865.
Casebeer, Jacob W., mustered in Feb. 17, 1866, out Aug. 30, 1865.

~«p  B

r

-L^

HISTORY OF DE KALB OOUNTY. 399

Casebeer, Albert M., mustered in Feb. 17, 1866, died at Indian
apolis, Ind., March 10, 1865.
Fuller, Andrew C, mustered in Feb. 17, 1866, out May 25, 1866.
Fuller, William M., mustered in Feb. 17, 1865, discharged
March 16, 1865.
McClellan, John G., mustered in Feb. 17, 1865, out May 17, 1866.
Company C.
Lemasters, William, mustered in as Sergeant Feb. 22, 1864, out
Aug. 30, 1865.
Chilcoat, Humphrey E., mustered in Feb. 24, 1865, out Aug.
30, 1865.
Bair, Loami C, mustered in Feb. 19, 1865, out Aug. 30, 1865.
Coats, William H., mustered in Feb. 24, 1866, died at Columbus,
Ohio, March 24, 1866.
Drowley, Edward C, mustered In Feb. 24, 1865, out Aug. 30,
1866. Jennings, David, mustered in Feb. 20, 1865, out Aug. 30, 1866.
McGrady, David, mustered in Feb. 20, 1866, out Aug. 30, 1866.
Eheineohl, Henry H., mustered in Feb. 24, 1865, out Aug. 30,
1865. Swager, Uriah, mustered in Feb. 22, 1865, died at Indianapo
hs, Ind., March 6, 1866.
Wycoff, James W., mustered in Feb. 24, 1865, out Aug. 30, 1865.
Wycoff, William, mustered in Feb. 24, 1865, out Aug. 30, 1865.
Wanemaker, George, mustered in Feb, 22, 1866, out Aug. 30,
1865. Company H
Moss, Holland K., mustered in as Sergeant March 3, 1866, out
Aug. 30, 1866.
Bickets, Eiley, mustered in as Corporal March 7, 1865, out Aug.
30, 1865.
Boyles, Newton, mustered In March 7, 1865, out Sept. 29, 1865.
Bryan, James, mustered in March 7, 1865, out Aug. 30, 1865.
Crooks, Albert, mustered in March 3, 1865, out Aug. 30, 1865.
Fike, Abraham, mastered in March 2, 1865, out June 29, 1866.
Forney, Jacob, mustered in March 2, 1865, out Aug. 30, 1865.
Houser, Calvin P., mustered in March 3, 1866, out Aug. 30,
1866. Jones, Edward, mustered in March 7, 1866, out May 16, 1866.
Johnson, Uriah E., mustered in March 4, 1865, out July 31, 1865.

-^1

\>

400

HISTORY OF DE KALB OOUNTY.

Knight, James, mustered in March 7, 1865, out Aug. 30, 1865.
Michaels, George, mustered in March 2,1865, out Oct. 28, 1865.
Nussdorfer, Philip, mustered in March 3, 1865, out Aug. 30, 1865.
Eummell, Owen W., mustered In Feb. 17, 1866, out Aug. 30,
1866. Summerlot, Hiram, mustered in March 7, 1866, out Aug. 30, 1866.
Shore, John W., mustered in March 2, 1865, out Aug. 30, 1865.
Company K.
Squires, Orville, mustered in March 15, 1865, out May 21,jl865.

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CHAPTEE VII.

THE PRESS.

Auburn Observer. — Democratic Messenger. — De Kalb Demo
crat. — Auburn Eepublican. — De Kalb County Times. — Wa
terloo Press. — Sketch of Frank W. Willis. — The New
Era. — Observer and Eeporter. — De Kalb Democrat. — The
Democrat. — The Air Line. — Auburn Courier. — Sketch of
James A. Barns. — Butler Herald. — Banner of Liberty.
— Auburn Times. — Butler News. — De Kalb County Eepub
lican. — Sketch of C. P. Houser. — Sketch of Myron H.
Hoisington. — Garrett News. — Garrett Herald. — Sketch
of Otho J. Powell. — Butler Eeoord. — Sketch of W.F. Gar
rison. — Butler Eeview. — Sketch of Edmund Calkins. — Sketch
OF J. J. Higgins.
No agency is a more effective help to modern progress than that
of the press. Any county which possesses one or^ore newspapers
and sustains them will in due time show its superiority to less
favored localities. Prior to 1850 whatever legal printing was re
quired by De Kalb County was done at Fort Wayne. Later S. E.
Alvord established the Observer at Albion, and obtained some of
the local patronage from this direction. For a year or so his paper
received the limited legal printing trom De Kalb County, and early
in 1852 he announced by prospectus his intention to issue, at Au
bum, a paper to be styled the Auburn Observer. This was not ac
complished, however, for lack of encouragement. Later, the press
was sold to Messrs. Berry & Pierce, who at once removed it to Au
burn, and started the Democratic Messenger, the first paper in the
county. It had a precarious existence. Within a year Mr. Berry
retired, and Mr. Pierce was soon after elected Auditor. The office
was destroyed by fire in December, 1855. In 1856 two papers were
started at the county seat, the Be Kalb Democrat, by W. C. Mc
Gonigal, and the Auburn Republican, by J. M. Bromagem. At
the close of the exciting Presidential campaign of that year, the
latter removed his establishment to Angola and there began the
issue of the Steuben Republican. In 1859 Mr. McGonigal moved
his press to Wabash, and established the Wabash Plaindealer.
(401)

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402 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
Just before the faU election of 1858, W.T. & J. M. Kinney began
at Auburn the publication of the De Kalb County Times. Within
three months the proprietors found that to continue was to lose,
and sold out to T. Y. Dickinson, who removed the office to Water-
|l loo and on the first Thursday in February, 1859, issued the

WATERLOO PRESS,
the first paper printed in De Kalb County, outside of Auburn.
During the year 1860, Mr. C. K. Baxter was associated with him
as partner. Mr. Baxter was a printer in the office when the first
number of the Press was issued. Beginning with Jan. 1, 1861,
Mr. Dickinson was once more sole proprietor, and he owned the
paper until September, 1864, although during 1863 it was leased
by John F. Eadcliffe. Mr. Dickinson was commissioned Consul at
Leipsic by Abraham Lincoln April 13, 1865 (the day before his as
sassination), and this position he held for two years, after which he
returned to Waterloo. He was for a time a clerk in the P ension
Office at Washington, and then entered the railway mail service.
His health failed and he died in the State Asylum for the Insane
after an active useful life.
In September, 1864, Mr. Dickinson was bought out by Charles
K. Baxter, who retained control six months, and then sold to
Messrs. Eadcliffe & Long. After a time Henry J. Long sold his
interest to Benjamin F. Kennedy. He is now at Kendallville, the
publisher of The Coming Times. Mr. Kennedy is stiU living at
Waterloo, though broken down in health. In September, 1868,
Mr. Baxter purchased the half interest owned by Mr. Eadcliffe.
The latter gentleman is now publisher of the Hersey Outline, at
Hersey, Osceola Co., Mich. The firm of Baxter & Kennedy
subsisted until October, 1865, when tlie first named became sole
proprietor. Mr. Baxter remained in control until Jan. 1, 1884,
since when he has lived at Waterloo, not actively engaged in busi
ness. His successors are Dickinson & Willis, the present publish
ers. Edward P. Dickinson, the son of the founder of the Press, is
employed in the railway mail service. The Press is a staunch
Eepublican paper, issued Thursday of each week. In size, it a six-
column quarto; previous to 1880 it was an eight-column folio.
Sept. 1, 1884, began its twenty-seventh year, and it is accordingly
twice the age of any other paper in the county.
Frank W. Willis, editor and part proprietor of the Press, was
born in the city of Syracuse, N. Y., June 12, 1842, the son of

A^i:-

HISTORY OF DE KALB OOUNTY. 403

Henry andEmeline (Hewitt) Willis. Henry Willis followed canal-
boating and other occupations in New York State, and in 1844
came to De Kalb County, settling on a tract of land in Eichland
Township. Here he resided, engaged in farming, until 1864, when,
being elected Sheriff' of the county, he removed to Waterloo. He
held the office four years, or two terms, and then purchased the in
terest of C. K. Baxter in the book-store owned by that gentleman
and Frank W. Willis. He has since continued in partnership with
his son. His wife died at Waterloo, Aug. 10, 1876.
The subject of this sketch was reared on the farm and attended
the common schools. He also studied at Orland Seminary, and
at the Auburn and Waterloo High Schools. In 1861 he offered his
services to his country, enlisting in the Forty-fourth Indiana Vol
unteer Infantry, Company K, and remained in the army a little
over three years. Eeturning home after his discharge, he was ap
pointed Assistant Assessor and Deputy Collector for the Tenth Con
gressional iTistrict, by William Pitt Fessender, Secretary of the
Treasury under Andrew Johnson. He satisfactorily discharged
the duties thus assumed, for four years. In January, 1867, he
purchased the book-store of H. K. Davis, and C. K. Baxter pur
chasing that of T. Y. Dickinson, the two then consolidated their
business under the firm name of Baxter & Willis. In December,
1868, as before stated, his father purchased Mr. Baxter's interest.
He is now interested in both the paper and the store.
Sept. 27, 1868, at Waterloo, Mr. Willis was married to Josephine
Dickinson, daughter of T. Y. and Mary (Youngman) Dickinson.
Of the children given to Mr. and Mrs. Willis, Mary Gertrude was
born Oct. 31, 1869; Herbert Clyde, Dec. 16, 1871; Fred I., Sept. 27,
1873; Eaymond E., Aug. 11, 1875; Edward D., Nov. 9, 1877;
Dora E., Sept. 13, 1880; Frank B., Oct. 13, 1882. Mr. WUlis and
wife are members of the Presbyterian church, in which organiza
tion he is an Elder. He is politically a Eepublican, and he is a
member of the G. A. E. He is also a Notary Public, and a Claim
Agent. The New Era was founded in the fall of 1859, at Auburn, by
George Kuhlman. It passed into the hands of J. C. Loveland, by
whom it was continued until 1865, when Loveland removed the
office to Clyde, Ohio. He had entitled his paper the Observer and
Reporter, but on removal it was christened the Clyde Times. The
second, De Kalb Democrat, was started by William H. Dills, in
1864, at Auburn. Later, it was managed by Howard Coe. A fire

IFT"

404 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
destroyed the office during the winter of 1867. H. D. Carroll pub
lished a paper called the Democrat during 1867, and discontinued
it the year following.
The Air Line was started in December, 1868, at Waterloo, by
J. F. Eadcliffe. James A. Barns purchased the paper soon after,
and published the same for a time. In December, 1870, the Ai/r
Line was discontinued, and the press and material sold to Tom C.
Mays, who then removed it to Auburn and originated the
AUBURN COURIER.
The first number of this paper appeared in January, 1871, as a
seven-column folio. In a few months this was increased to an
eight-column folio, and Jan. 1, 1877, the present size, that of a six-
column quarto, was adopted. Mr. Mays was a genial, popular
editor, and, when he chose, could write an able article. He made
some enemies, however, during his seven years and a half at the
head of the Courier. He formerly came from Ohio, and previous
to locating at Auburn was connected with the Fort Wayne Senti
nel. July 1, 1878, he sold out to Theodore Eeed, and announced
himself a candidate for the office of County Clerk. He was de
feated by George H. K. Moss, Eepublican candidate, by 600
majority. Shortly after, Mr. Mays went to Silver Cliff, Col., for a
company of gentlemen interested in that mining town, and started
the Silver Cliff Miner. After a few months he left; and drifting
around in various places, he went to Hot Springs in 1881, where
he was for a time connected with the Hot Springs Daily Star. He
is now traveling.
Theodore Eeed, the next proprietor, came hither from Columbia
City, Whitley County, where he had been Deputy Auditor. He
shortly sold an interest in the paper to Eobert J. Lowry, son of
Judge Eobert Lowry, who is now in Congress from this district.
The firm of Reed & Lowry continued until the spring of 1880,
when Mr. Lowry purchased Mr. Eeed's interest. The latter went
into the employ of the Northern Pacific Eailroad Company as book
keeper ill the construction department, and in this capacity he is
now, residing at St. Paul, Minn. Mr. Lowry, who had followed
printing in various places, and was fully competent to carry on a
paper, conducted the Courier until his death, a few months later.
In December, 1880, the office was purchased by Jaines A. Barns
and D. Y. Husselman, who conducted the paper during ISSl. Jan.
1, 1882, F. B. Blair bought the interest of Mr. Husselman, who

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HISTORY OF DE KALB OOUNTY. 405
thereupon resumed the practice of the law. He was elected County
Clerk in tbe fall of 1882, and assumed the duties of that position
in November, 1SS4. For a biography of Mr. Husselman, see the
chapter devoted to the bar. Mr. Blair, a son of General Lewis J.
Blair, of Waterloo, remained with the Courier' but a short time,
disposing of his interest to Mr. Barns in March, 1882. He is now
day operator for the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern Railroad
Company, at La Porte.
James A. Barns, proprietor and editor of the Courier, was born
in Onondaga County, N. Y., near Memphis, June 7, 1832, the son
of Cyrus and Eliza (Elliott) Barns. He was reared to farm life, his
father removing to La Porte County, this State, and taking up a
tract of land there, in 1839. He profited by the advantages of the
district schools, and on arriving at years of maturity taught two
winters in Berrien County, Mich., but a few miles from his home.
He then, in 1855, entered Hillsdale College, where he for three
years attended the fall and winter terms, teaching in the winters
and working at whatever offered itself in the summers. He lacked
but two terms of graduation at the college, and during his contest
with stern problems of life he has found time to acquire vastly
more book knowledge than was comprised in the regular course of
study for those two terms. Adopting the vocation of a teacher,
Mr. Barns then conducted schools in Berrien and La Porte counties;
was for two years principal of the High School at Wolf Lake, Noble
County; two years principal at Pierceton, Kosciusko County; two
years principal at Ligonler, Noble County ; and coming to Water
loo, this county, in August, 1869, he taught there for one year.
Purchasing the Air Line, he conducted that paper for six months,
after which he was for another year principal of the school at
Waterloo. Commencing with 1871, he was School Examiner for
two years; and that office being changed by law to County Super
intendent, he held the latter position for the ensuing six years,
consecutively, and also from 1881 to 1883. From 1879 to 1883 he
was engaged in the ice business at Syracuse, Kosciusko County.
In December, 1880, he became interested in the Courier, as before
stated. Mr. Barns was married at Pierceton, Ind., Dec. 8, 1867,
to Miss Alicia H. Lamson, daughter of Lafayette and Phebe (Scott)
Lamson. One daughter has been born — Nellie L., Nov. 9, 1874.
Mr. Barns is politically a staunch Democrat. Mrs. Barns is a
member of the Presbyterian church.
The Herald was the first paper published at Butler. It began
36

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406 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
its brief but creditable career in 1866, under the management of
W. T. Kinney, who, a year after, removed his material to Ligonier,
and there started another paper. The Herald was succeeded at
Butler, in 1868, by the Banner of Liberty, published by Emory
Higley. He soon removed to Aubum, where he continued it
under the caption of the Auburn Times, for a brief period. The
Butler News was commenced in the town designated, in 1874, by
E. H. Weamer, who, after a few months, removed the office to
Auburn, and started the
DE KALB COUNTY REPUBLICAN.
Mr. Weamer afterward received, as a partner, George Weamer, a
nephew; and in March, 1878, E. H. Weamer's interest was pur
chased by C. P. Houser. This partnership continued until May
foUowing, when the latter disposed of his share to George Weamer,
who then became sole proprietor. In March, 1881, ihe Republican
office became the property of C. P. Houser and Joseph Eainier,
the latter of whom sold to Mr. Houser in November following. In
June, 1884, Mr. Houser received, as a partner, Myron H. Hois
ington. The Republican was a five-column quarto until Mr.
Houser came into the business, since which date it has been a six-
column quarto. It was printed on the co-operative plan until July
10, 1884, when the present policy was adopted of printing aU eight
pages at home. The new Potter press p urchased in September,
1883, was the first cylinder press in the county.
C P. Houser, the senior proprietor of the Republican, was born
in Holmes County, Ohio, Jan. 11, 1844, the son of Samuel and
Julia Ann (Wortsbaugh) Houser. Samuel Houser was for many
years a teacher, and he also followed agriculture a portion of his
life. In 1857 he removed with his family to Fairfield Township,
this county, where he cleared a tract of land, and carried on farm
ing for eight years. He then exchanged his farm for a stock of
dry-goods at Corunna, shortly afterward removing the same to Se
dan. He then sold- out and removed to Kendallville, in 1872.
From this time on he traveled for various school-furnishing com
panies, among them being A. H. Andrews & Co., of Chicago;
George H. Grant & Co., of Eichmond; the Noble School Furnish
ing Company, of Goshen; the Sidney School Furnishing Company,
of Sidney, Ohio, and one at Battle Creek, Mich. He was ac
cidentally run over Sept. 17, 1884, and died seven days later, on
the 24th. The subject of this sketch received a good common

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HISTORY OF DE KALB OOUNTY. 407
English education, and early in 1S65 enlisted in the army, serving
eight months. Eeturning home, he taught school several terms
in Fairfield Township, one year at Corunna, and several years at
Sedan. In 1870 he entered the Indiana State Normal School at
Terre Haute, remaining from spring to fall, after which he taught
a term one mile south of Corunna, in Eichland Township. In the
spring of 1S71 he entered the county auditor's office as deputy,
remaining the summer following. He then taught one year at
Auburn, and in 1873, just before his father commenced traveling
for school-supply companies, he engaged in the same business. He
was first in the employ of A. H. Andrews & Co., of Chicago, for
eight years. In the mean time, from 1874 to 1877, he conducted
the first bookstore in Auburn, selling the same in the latter year to
M. B. Willis. In May, 1878, he engaged on salary (having pre
viously worked on commission) with C. E. Dickinson & Co., branch
house of A. H. Andrews & Co., and in 1880 he made an engage
ment direct with the latter firm. Commencing in February, 1883,
he was for six months Gener al School-Book Agent for Indiana, for
D. Appleton & Co. In 1880 he became connected with the Repub
lican, as before related, and he still carries on the paper, besides
devoting a portion of his time to the school-supply trade. He was
married March 28, 1873, to Miss Amanda E. Hoisington, daughter
of H. H. and Malinda (Hart) Hoi sington, of Newville, this county.
Mr. Houser is a member of the Legion of Honor and the Grand
Army of the Eepublic, and he and Mrs. Houser are members of the
Presbyterian church.
Myron H. Hoisington, junior proprietor of the Republican, was
bom in Wyandotte County, Ohio, Feb. 3, 1860, the son of Albert
and EmUy (MulhoUand) Hoisington. The father followed agri
culture. He enlisted in the One Hundred and Forty-fourth Ohio,
was captured in August, 1864, aud starved in Danville, Va., in the
rebel prison, dying Nov. 19, 1864. His widow resides now at
Adrian, Mich. Myron H., the subject of this notice, Hved in Wy
andotte County, Ohio, till the fall of 1879, when he removed with
his mother to Adrian, Mich. Here he attended Adrian College for
four years, completing the Sophomore year of the course. In the
fall of 1883 he visited Illinois, and in January, 1884, he came to
Auburn. During April and May, 1884, he traveled in Ohio for
the Union School Furnishing Company, and June 1, 1884, he pur
chased a one-third interest in the Republican.
In October, 1875, C. W. Wing & Co. started the Garrett News,

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408 history of de kalb county.
with Thomas Malony as editor. This paper was of short duration,
and the town was for some time dependent upon Auburn for its
newspapers. In August, 1877, however, the
GARRETT HERALD
was established by Otho J. Powell. It was first a seven-column
folio, then an eight-column folio, and since Feb. 7, 1884, it has
appeared as a five-column quarto. The Herald is Eepublican in
politics, and is pronounced in its advocacy of temperance. Con
siderable space is also given to the religious department.
Otho J. Powell, editor and proprietor, was born in Washington
County, Md., Oct. 8, 1838, the son of Moses G. and Maria (Price)
Powell. The former was by occupation a cooper, but also followed
carpentering for some years. He died in his native county in 1859.
Otho was reared one mile west of the village of Boonesboro, where
he lived until twenty-two years old. He received but limited school
advantages, being early set at work at the cooper's trade. He first
worked at this when ten years old, and so small that he had to stand
on a box while putting the hoops on the flour barrels. At the age
of twenty-two he spent six months as a student under the instruc
tion of a Mr. James Brown. This gentleman was a skillful teacher,
and had taught for twenty-five years, Mr. Powell's father having
studied under him. He was next employed in the printing office
of Isaiah Wolfersberger, at Boonesboro, publisher of the Boones
boro Odd Fellow, a Whig newspaper. Wolfersberger selling to
Messrs. Irwin & Bruner, Mr. Powell worked for those gentlemen
as foreman about three months, at the expiration of which time he
followed coopering for a summer, with his father. On the approach
of troops toward Antietam, a few miles distant, he formed a part
nership with one Daniel Thomas, to act as sutler to the Union
soldiers. This he foUowed for two months. Nov. 13, 1862, he came
to Upper Sandusky, Ohio, and until May 2, 1864, he acted as fore
man in the office of the Wyandotte ^County Pioneer, published by
Lewis A. Bruner. He then enlisted in the One Hundred and
Forty-fourth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, Company A, and served
about four months, during which time he was stationed at the
Eelay House, nine miles below Baltimore. Eeturning to Upper
Sandusky In September, lie was offered an|Interest in the Pioneer,
by Mr. Bruner, aud the paper was published for nine months under
the name of Bruner & Powell. In August, 1866, Mr. Powell was
paid, by his partner, $50, to annul a three years' contract. He

^

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HISTORY OF DE KALB OOUNTY. 409
purchased an office at Bucyrus, Ohio, and moved it to Wapakoneta,
Auglaize County, where he started the Wapakoneta Union, Sept.
13, 1S65. This was the first Eepublican paper in that county, and
after many changes and vicissitudes, it has become a permanent
success, though under a changed name.
In June, 1870, he sold to E. B. Walkup, and with the proceeds
went into the sewing-machine business. This he followed for
nearly two years, dealing first in the Davis, and latterly in the
Elias Howe machine. Mr. Walkup having moved his office to
Marysville, in the same county, and started a neutral paper, leav
ing no Eepublican paper in the county, in September, 1872, Mr.
Powell started at Wapakoneta the Auglaize County RepvMican
which he published until December, 1875. Eemoving to Chicago
Junction, Ohio, he started the Chicago Herald. Here he did a
good business until a disastrous fire caused a decline in the town's
prosperity. He then, in August, 1877, moved his material to Gar
rett, as before mentioned, and commenced the publication of the
Garrett Herald.
Mr. Powell was married at Upper Sandusky, Ohio, Feb. 11,
1864, to Miss Sophia Smith, daughter of Samuel and Catherine
Smith, of that city. To Mr. and Mrs. Powell have been given five
children, four of whom survive — EUa M. was born July 6, 1866;
WiUis B., April 12, 1868; Clarence, Jan. 20, 1870 (died when ten
months old); Mary A., Nov. 23, 1872; and Florence L., Sept. 28,
1881. Mr. Powell and wife are members of the English Lutheran
church, but attend the Episcopal church, their own denomination
having no organization at Garrett.
BUTLER RECORD.
The Butler Record was established in March, 1877, by W. M.
Kist. Mr. Kist's home was in Warsaw, Kosciusko County, but for
a year previous to coming here he had conducted the Manchester
Journal, at Manchester, Ind. He published the Record until the
fall of 1880, when failing health compelled him to give up his work.
He leased the paper to E. H. Weamer for one year, and died six
months later, at Warsaw. In the fall of 1881, at the expiration of
Mr. Weamer's lease, Mrs. Kist sold the office to her brother, W. F.
Garrison, who has since conducted the Record with good success.
It is a Eepublican sheet published on Friday. In size, it is an
eight-column folio. Before Mr. Garrison's proprietorship it was a
six-column folio.
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410 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
W. F. Garrison, editor and proprietor, was born in Washing
ton Township, Elkhart County, Dec. 1, 1856, the son of Alfred and
Mary (Jaques) Garrison. The latter was a native of Ohio. The
father, a native of the Empire State, followed farming until the last
ten or twelve years of his life, when he retired from active work,
and made his home in the village of Bristol, Elkhart County. He
died In 1881, and his widow now lives at Butler with her son. The
grandfather of W. F. Garrison was a Baptist minister, was one of
the first settlers in Elkhart County, and preached the first funeral
sermon in the same. The subject of this notice lived on the pa
rental farm' until sixteen years old (except two years in Bristol),
and then made his home in Bristol. He attended the common
schools, and received a good English education. At the age of
seventeen he commenced teaching, which he foUowed for seven
winters, working during the summer seasons at whatever offered
itself. He was then married and managed his father's farm until
the fall of 1881, when he came to Butler. His marriage occurred
at Bristol, March 19, 1878, to Miss Emma Virgil, daughter of Jacob
and Fidelia (Wade) Virgil. Mr. Garrison is a zealous Eepublican.
Mrs. Garrison is connected with the Baptist church.
BUTLER REVIEW.
The Butler Review is the youngest newspaper in De Kalb County.
It was established In February, 1882, by E. H. Weamer, who was
formerly publisher of the Record, and before that, of the De Kalb
Republican. The Review Is Democratic in political aim. It is a
six-column quarto in size, though formerly much smaller. Oct. 1,
1884, Mr. Weamer disposed of the paper, aud it was edited by
Edmund Calkins until March, 1885. From March until May,
1885, the Review was edited by George Lantzenheiser, when it
was purchased by John J. Higgins, who is now editor and sole
proprietor. Edmund Calkins was born April 25, 1S36, in West Corn-
waUis, N. S., the son of Ellas and Hannah Calkins. The father
was a farmer the greater part of his life, but now resides in Hali
fax. Edmund was reared on his father's farm until the age of
eighteen, attending school winters, and then for three years attended
Arcadia CoUe ge. Attaining his majority, he worked for a sum
mer in New York State, and then for two years in Wisconsin suc
cessively on the La Crosse & Milwaukee, the Baraboo Valley, and
the Transit (of Minnesota) railroads. Coming next to Indiana, he

history of de kalb OOUNTY. 411
was for a time interested in contracts for the Pan Handle Eail
road. He then followed farming until 1882, when he purchased
the Eoann Clarion, and became publisher of the same. This he
sold on account of sickness. In the fall of 1SS4 he purchased his
interest iu the Revieio. He was married in 1860 to Hattie
Barron, by whom he had a son and a daughter.
John J. Higgins, editor of the Butler Review, was born in
the city of New York, April 9, 1853, a son of James Higgins, a
native of Blackburn, Lancashire, England, who was lost in a
shipwreck when our subject was eighteen months old. He at
tended the schools of New York till January, 1864, and then
accompanied his mother to St. Johns, Mich., where his education
was completed. In 1872 he went to Newport, Mich., and re
mained till the summer of 1875, when he returned to St. Johns.
The following fall he went to Windsor, Canada, and in the spring
of 1876 was ; employed on the lakes as Steward of the schooner
H. C. Winslow, J. H. Francis, Captain. From July till Novem
ber, 1876, he bought grain at Gaines, Mich., for C. Loranger &
Co., of Detroit, and from that time till the fall of 1882 bought
staves for the West India market. In January, 1882, he moved
to Butler, Ind. He engaged in the grocery business in Butler
about ten months, and then for a short time was employed as col
lector for J. H. Morrow, dealer in bankrupt stocks of boots and
shoes, leaving the latter position to take charge of the Review.
Mr. Higgins was married Nov. 25, 1877, to Lottie E. Barrett,
daughter of Henry J. Barrett, of Oakley, Mich. They have one
child — John C.

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CHAPTEE VIII.

BA.R AND COURTS.

Early Members of the Legal Profession. — Others Who have
Come and Gone. — Present Bar. — First Grand and Petit Ju
rors. — First Circuit Court.
Fast treading upon the heels of the first settlers in any commu
nity come the lawyers. They often become the leading men of the
county from their first arrival, whether they deserve it or not.
Whatever may be said against courts and litigation and lawyers,
we know that we have them, and cannot get rid of them; and after
all, we are probably better off with than without them. The De
Kalb County Bar embraces a number of gentlemen of respectabil
ity. Integrity and intellectual vigor, of whom any community might
well be proud. A few who have practiced law in years gone by
should be mentioned before giving a list of the present bar.
The first lawyer in the county was one W. Smith, who came to
Auburn in the early part of 1842, and remained about a year and
a half. But little is known of him, even by those who were then
residents. Judge Egbert B. Mott came in the summer of 1843, from Ohio.
He was then about forty years old, and had had considerable prac
tice. He held the office of Common Pleas Judge in this county
for four years, and died about the close of the war. His widow (a
sister of the well-known authoress, Mrs. Ann S. Stevens) yet lives
at Auburn. His son, Egbert B. Mott, Jr., was an attorney, en
tered the army during the late civil war, was wounded, and died
at Louisville. He was brought home and he lies buried beside
his father.
With regard to the early years of Judge Mott's life in Auburn,
Mr. Widney says in his " Pioneer Sketches:"
" At that early day clients were rather scarce. People generally
had little or nothing to go to law about, and still less to pay law
yers' fees, and very little time to spare from their strenuous efforts
to get the necessaries of life, to spend in court. A few of late
(413)

history op de kalb county. 413
years seem disposed to make ample amends for this neglect of the
members of the bar. Judge Mott informs me that his first winter
in town was spent in the honorable employment of village school
master. The following anecdote of Judge Morris comes second-
handed from the Judge himself He was at home, rather hard up
for funds, as was fashionable in that day, and his wife being in
rather poor health, he was scrubbing the house, with coat off,
sleeves and pants rolled up, and in a perfect deluge of sand and
suds, when up stepped a gentleman from the vicinity of Enter
prise and inquired where ' Lawyer Morris' was to be found? The
man with the mop modestly replied that Morris was his name,
when the stranger, eyeing him askance, told him that he had a
case before Esquire somebody, in which ' old Doc Ladue' was his
antagonist, and that he wanted to get two good lawyers on his side,
' being as the old Doc was rather crafty.' During this short speech,
Morris was a deeply interested auditor, and when it was finished.
he quickly laid aside his broom and mop, rolled down his sleeves
and pants, put on his ' fix-ups,' dressing his lower extremities with
one boot and one shoe, for want of mates, and in a very short time
he and Mott were on the trail for Esquire somebody's, away up in
Franklin Township. Ten dollars was the fee received and perhaps
never did an 'X' come more opportunely."
Judge John Morris came from Auglaize County, Ohio (born in
Columbiana County), in the fall of 1844. He was then about twen
ty-five years old and of Quaker parentage. He practiced at
Auburn until 1857, then removed to Fort Wayne. He was Com
mon Pleas Judge of this county for four years, from 1852 to 1856.
For the last few years he has been a member of the Supreme Court
Commission at Indianapolis, though his home is still at Fort
Wayne. He is justly regarded as one of the most prominent law
yers in Northern Indiana. He is a gentleman and a scholar. His
son, Samuel L. Morris, is a prominent young attorney at Fort
Wayne, a member of the firm of Coombs, Bell & Morris.
Hon. T. Y. Dickinson, another pioneer, came from Portage
County, Ohio, in the ^fall of 1845, being then about thirty years
old. He was a successful lawyer, and something of a politician.
Was in the State Senate four years. During the war he was the
first draft commissioner and enrolling officer appointed for DeKalb
County. The last few years of his life he was a pension and bounty
agent. His death occurred in 1880.
Eeuben J. Dawson, of Spencerville, resided in this county for

414 history of de kalb county.
twenty years before his death, which occurred in 1859, at the age
of forty-eight. He was as prominent a man as any that figures in
the history of Northeastern Indiana. He was prosecuting Attor
ney, served a term in each branch of the Legislature, was nomi
nated for Common Pleas Judge in 1852 against Judge Morris, was
appointed Circuit Judge in 1857 holding the position one year,
and was a candidate for Congress In 1858, but was defeated by C-
Case. At the time of his death he was worth $150,000, and was
the wealthiest man in the county. A man of limited early educa
tion, he was yet of decided ability. He had a wonderful power of
sarcasm which he wielded at times. As a lawyer he was not tech
nically learned, but he was distinguished for his great good sense
in applying the law to the business transactions of life. More is
said of Mr. Dawson in other chapters of this work. Of his three
sons, the second is now Prosecuting Attorney in Allen County.
J. B. Beers came to Waterloo in 1861, and practiced for two or
three years, then removing to Stanton, Mich. He was considered
as an able lawyer.
C. P. Hodge practiced at Auburn for about five years during
and after the war. He is a finely educated man and has taught
school since withdrawing from practice.
James B. Morrison resided at the county seat and practiced from
1858 to 1866. He was an able lawyer and accumulated a goodly
property and is now banking and farming in the State of Iowa.
Isaac E. Knisely was a successful attorney at Waterloo for some
years subsequent to 1862. He then resided at Ligonier until 1880,
when he removed to Toledo.
Joseph L. Morlan came from Columbiana County, Ohio, in
1864, settled at Waterloo and practiced until 1880. At the time
of his death he was a partner of Hon. E. Wes. McBride. He had
previously been connected with E. D. Hartman. He was a noted
wit, ver}'^ eccentric and sharp at repartee. He has been called the
John Kandolph of the bar.
Of the present bar, the oldest practitioner is L. Covell, of Gar
rett. Next in seniority come W. H. Dills and A. F. Plnchin, who
were admitted on the same day, in April, 1856< Others who have
seen long service are General L. J. Blair, C. A. O. McClellan,
E. D. Hartman, J. E. Eose and E. W. Fosdick. The following is
a complete list of the De Kalb County bar, arranged in the order of
their admission to practice: L. Covell, W. H. Dills, A. F. Pin-
chin, L. J. Blair, C. A. O. McClellan, E. D. Hartman, J. E. Eose,

^^

history of de kalb OOUNTY. 415
E. W. Fosdick, Guy Plum, D. D. Moody, P. J. Lockwood, D. Y.
Husselman, W. L. Ponfield, H. C. Peterson, A. J. Baxter, P. V.
Hoflman, E. D. Tefft, C. M. Phillips, W. H. Leas, C. Emanuel,
O. L. Young, J. B. Boyle, T. H. Sprott, J. M. Somers, C. J. Coats,
F. A. Brink, Frank S. Eoby, H.J .Shaffer, Don A. Garwood, F.
M. Bacon, B. Green, F. K. Blake.
The foUowing non-resident attorneys also practice here: A. A.
Chapin, J. A. WoodhuU, J. H. Baker. J. A. S. MitcheU, J. Strat
ton and H. Y. Zimmerman. first grand and petit jurors.
March 7, 1838, the Board of Commissioners selected the follow
ing list of grand jurors for service at the spring term of the Circuit
Court: John Eose, Daniel Ehodes, William Miller, John Watson,
Ira Allen, Jacob Platter, Cornelius Woodcock, John Smith, Benja
min Alton, John Holton, Solomon Showers, Henry Miller, Collin
Eobertson, John Blair, Nathan Wyatt, James Stanley, John F.
Ehodes and Samuel Eakright. The panel of petit jurors was: Will
iam Munroe, Jesse Jackson, John P. Widney, Francis A. Wilber,
Jeremiah Ehodes, Samuel Johnson, WiUiam Mathews, Dudley
Thorp, James Hadsel, Ezra Dickinson, John J. Gunsenhouser,
Henry Eobertson, George H. Abbott, Leonard Boice, Elmer French,
Peter Draggoo, Joseph Miller, Joseph Vandoler, Henry Bricker,
Levi Lockwood, Stephen W. Headley, Jacob Miller, Samuel Head-
ley and Christopher Hull.
At the same time a list of grand jurors for the fall term of court
was chosen, comprising Daniel Strong, Daniel Moody, Andrew
Surface, Samuel Henderson, Daniel Webber, Joseph Stroup, Charles
D. Hendy, Peter Boy§r, William Eogers, John Clemmer, George
DeLong, Jacob Weinid, Peter Day, Eufus E. Lounsbury, Kneeland
Abbott, John Webster, Luther Keep and Asher W. Coburn. The
petit jurors for the fall term were: Michael Boyer, William Means,
Alonzo HUl, Eli Welch, Eoger Aldrich, Hector Blake, Frazier
Bartlett, George W. Weeks, David Knight, John Miller, Henry
Dove, George Babcock, Eobert Work, Samuel Terney, Lot B. Coe,
Solomon Woodcock, James Means, William Day, Hazzard Web
ster, Michael Knight, Levinus Abell, Joshua Feagler, Willis Bishop
and David Butler. FIRST CIRCUIT COURT.
The first term of the DeKalb Circuit Court began May 9, 1838,
at the house of Wesley Park. Hon. Charles W. Ewing, of the

• \

416 history of de kalb county.
Eighth Indiana Circuit, was President Judge; and Arial Walden
and Thomas L. Yates were his associates. John F. Cobarn was
Clerk; Wesley Park, Sheriff, and Thomas Johnson, Prosecuting At
torney. Messrs. Woodcox, Alton, Houghton, Miller and Ehodes
not appearing, the panel of eighteen grand jurors was filled by se
lecting from the bystanders J. P. Widney, Levi Lockwood, Lot P.
Coe, Jacob Miller and Jeremiah Ehodes. The only business trans
acted after the organization of court was to order bail in the sum
of $300 from persons indicted for grand larceny; and $25 for illegal
retailing of liquor. Luther Keep was appointed County Commis
sioner in place of A. F. Beecher; Anthony Max was allowed $1.00
for services as bailiff of the grand jury, and T. J. Freeman, Joseph
Miller and L. Ingman were appointed School Examiners.

^

«  1.^

CHAPTER IX.

PIONEER ASSOCIATIONS.

De Kat.b County Backward in this Matter.' — Society Organized
IN 1878. — First Meeting. — September Meeting, 1878. — First
Officers and Constitution. —Second Annual Meeting.— Fourth
Annual Meeting. — Address of Secretary Dills. — Early Pio
neer Families Arranged by Townships. — Early Incidents and
Allusions. — Contrasts. — Fifth Annual Meetin't. —Address of
James E. Eose. — A Pioneer School-house ai^d How it Was
Built. — Text- books. — Appa ratus . — Eeligious Meetings. — Pio
neer Ministers. — Merchants. — " Old Jack." — Pioneer Cus
toms. — ^Travel and Communication. — Tribute to the Old
Settlers. — Semi-Centennial Celebration of the County. —
Poem by Eev. A. H. Widney, " The Woods of the St. Joseph."
— Meeting AT Waterloo, in 1884.
In most of the counties in the Northwestern States, the old set
tlers have effected organizations for the purpose of holding frequent
reunions, renewing the ties of friendship, coUecting historical
mementoes, and recording reminiscences, details of early history,
etc. There can be but one opinion as to the certain benefits inur
ing from such meetings. De Kalb County has been a little back
ward in this particular, but it is to be hoped that a growing interest
wiU be felt in the association which has been in existence for the
past few years. After frequent suggestions and occasional discus
sions the FIRST MEETING
was appointed for July 4, 1878, at the celebration of Independence
Day, at Auburn. The committee of arrangements for this day
comprised G. W. Gordon, E. H. Weamer, Henry Bashelier, John
Leasure, L. J. Hopkins and T. Mills. Dr. Ford was chosen Presi
dent; T. C. Mays, Officer of the Day; and the following committee
of old settlers was chosen to arouse the appropriate interest in their
respective localities : Batler, Peter Simmons; Jackson, Alexander
Provines and Henry Feagler; Concord, J. F. Coburn; Newville, B.
(417)

418 history of de kalb county.
F. Blair; Stafford, Henry Dickerhoof; Wilmington, Samuel Head-
ley; Union, John Butt, S. Bassett, S. W. Ealston, Major S. W.
Sprott, D. Altenburg, J. O. P. Sherlock and George Ensley; Eich
land, James Goetschius; Fairfield, George Emerick; Smithfield, E.
E. Shoemaker; Franklin, George P. Firestone; Troy, Samuel
Learned; Keyser, O. C. Clark. T. D. Gross was named as Super
intendent. A very good representation of the old settlers was present on the
appointed day, and after the celebration exercises, met in the grove
to organize. The meeting was called to order by T. D. Gross.
James E. Cosper was chosen President, and T. D. Gross, Secretary.
The following resolution was adopted:
^^ Resolved, That when' this meeting adjourn, it will adjourn to
meet at Auburn, Sept. 12, 1878; and that all who were citizens of
the county prior to Jan. 1, 1846, are cordially invited to attend and
participate in the meeting."
On motion, a committee of two from each township was ap
pointed, to ascertain the number of old settlers in their respective
townships, and notify and induce them to attend the next meeting,
and perform such other duties as in their judgment would be for
the best interests of the meeting. The following were appointed:
Butler, Peter Simmons and J. A. Miller; Jackson, A. D. Goet
schius aud Henry Brown; Newville, B. F. Blair and John Plattner;
Concord, Samuel Wasson and J. Ehodes; Stafford, C. B. Wane-
maker and C. L. Thomas; Wilmington, George Egnew and Nathan
Mathews; Union, T. D. Gross and Miles Waterman; Keyser, 0. C.
Clark and WiUiam Embra; Richland, G. Showers and Thomas
DaUey; Fairfield, W. ChUds and P. Gushwa; Smithfield, R. J.
Daniels and Jerry Hemstreet; Franklin, John N. Clark and John
Hammond; Troy, Wm. Emerson and John Stearns.
SEPTEMBER MEETING.
The adjourned meeting was duly held on the 12th of September,
at Auburn. Major S. W. Sprott was appointed Chairman, and T.
C. Mays, Secretary. Nelson Prentiss, Esq., of Noble County, being
present was called upon to suggest a vray to proceed to organize
an old settlers' association, which he did after the manner followed
in Noble County. He read a synopsis of the by-laws of the Noble
County Old Settlers' Association, which were amended and
adopted. The following persons were in attendance, and the dates
of their settlement are also given:

l\'

HISTORY OF DE KALB OOUNTY.

419

William Smith  May, 1836
Samuel Wasson  Dec, 1838
S. D. Long  March, 1845
J.E. Rose  Oct., 1836
Samuel Headly  Sept., 1836
Philip Gushwa  March, 1845
S. B. Ward  Jan., 1813
William Carr  Feb., 18:i9
J. D. McAnnally  Sept., 1840
N. H. Matthews  Oct., 1839
C. P. Coleman  Dec, 1843
R. Culbertson  Oct., 1843
R. G. Daniels  Jan., 1837
P. B. Nimmons  Aug., 1844
N. Griffith  April, 1839
James Draggoo  Oct., 1841
A. D. Goetschius  .June, 1836
Paul Long  Feb., 1841
John Hogue  June, 1843
D. McDaniel  June, 1843
Isaac Deihl  June, 1843
A. J. Ralston  Dec, 1843
James Johnson  Aug., 1844
N. Ensley  Oct., 1841
J. E. Shilling  April, 1845
G. W. Gordon  Oct., 1841
Heniy Clark  Oct., 1843
O. C. Clark  Oct., 1843
J. C. Wells  June, 1844
D. Altenburg  Nov., 1837
R. B. Showers  Feb., 1839
W. Jacques  Oct., 1845
Thomas D. Daily  March, 1841

Levi J. Walsworth  Nov., 1837
C. Bowman  Oct., 1839
Henry Feagler  Sept., 183(5
M. Whetsel  May, 1837
John McClellan  Oct., 1844
J. H. Ford  Nov., 1844
A. Blodgett  Aug., 1843
Peter Treesh  Oct., 1843
Henry A. Shull  Sept., 1844
David Weaver  Aug., 1838
A. S. Casebeer  Sept., 1837
G. W. Husselman  May, 1845
Abraham Eakright  Sept., 1836
D. Z. HoflFman  May, 1845
J. C. Somers  Aug., 1841
S. W. Sprott  July, 1840
T. D. Gross  March, 1841
Guy Plum  June, 1843
Henry Willis  Oct., 1843
Charles Gillett  Oct., 1843
Cornelia P. Cole  June, 1843
Sarah Bowman  Maroh, 1841
Eliza Wason  Sept., 1837
Caroline Whetsel  Sept.. 1841
M. J. Husselman  Oct., 1845
Anna McDaniel  May, 1843
Mary Siebert  Aug., 1836
Maria Ingman  Aug., 1836
Almira Martin  May, 1836
S. A. Griffith  Nov., 1839
Anna Kline  Aug., 1841
Mary McClellan  Aug., 1841
Rachel T.eesh  Oct., 1843

ORGANIZATION COMPLETED.
The following officers were elected for the ensuing year: Presi
dent, Elder S. B. Ward; Vice-President, P. B. Nimmons; Secre
tary, W. H. Dills; Treasurer, Cyrus Bowman; Biographer and Li
brarian, J. E. Eose. An executive committee was chosen consisting
of one from each township: Butler, John Hogue; Keyser, O. C.
Clark; Jackson, William Carr; Concord, E. Culbertson; Newville,
B. F. Blair; Wilmington, Samuel Headley; Auburn, T. D. Gross;
Waterloo, John Butt; Eichland, N. Griffith; Fairfield, PhUip
Gushwa; Smithfield, E. G. Daniels; Franklin, E. N. Keep; Troy,
WiUiam Emerson; Stafford, Henry Wanemaker.
The foUowing articles of association were adopted:
" I. This association shall be called the Pioneers' Association of
De Kalb County, Ind.
" II. The officers shaU be a President, Vice-President, Secretary,
Treasurer, Biographer and Librarian, and an executive committee,
consisting of one from each township, who shall hold their offices
for one year and until their successors are elected.
" III. It shall be the duty of the President to preside at all meet-

^c

"F*-

420 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
ings of the society, and in his absence the Vice-President shall
preside, and in the absence of both the society shall elect a Presi
dent pro tem.
"IV. The Secretary shall procure at the expense of the society a
substantial book in which he shall record these articles of associ
ation, and the proceedings of all meetings, annual and special, to
gether with all written and printed addresses, delivered before the
annual meetings, and all biographical sketches of such members as
shall die during each year, and shall conduct all correspondence of
the society, and perform such other duties appertaining to his office
as the society may direct.
"V. It shall be the duty of the Biographer to present to the
society at each annual meeting the names of all such members as
have died since the last annual meeting, together with sketches of
their lives.
" VI. The Librarian shall take charge of all relics and memen
toes of the early settlement of De Kalb County, and of all books and
papers deposited with him, and shall carefully preserve the same;
and shall record in a book kept for that purpose all such rehcs, the
name and residence of each donor and the date of the gift.
"VII. The executive committee shall have a general super
vision of the affairs of the society, se-\'en of whom shall constitute
a quorum. They shall have power to call special meetings when
in their opinion the interest of the society shall demand, and ar
range the programme of proceedings of regular meetings, procure
speakers, and see that a suitable place is provided for holding the
meetings; and in addition to their general duties it shall be the
duty of each member for his respective township to report to the
biographer the names of such members as shall die during each
year within ten days after each death; such information to give the
name, date and place of birth, time of settlement in Indiana, date
of death, and such other facts as he shall deem of importance.
"VIII. The annual meetings of the society shall be held on
the third Thursday in June in each year.
"IX. All persons who were residents of Northern Indiana
prior to Jan. 1, 1846, and who are residents of De Kalb County,
shall be considered members of this society.
"X. Amendments to these regulations may be made at any
regular or called meeting, by a vote of a majority of the members
present, provided that no change shall be made at a special meet
ing, unless notice of such proposed change be given in one or more

1^

-.il

k

HISTORY OF DE KALB OOUNTY. 421
of the newspapers of De Kalb County, not less than thirty days
before such meeting."
It was decided to hold the next meeting at Auburn; and each
member of the executive committee was requested to take the
names of all old settlers in their respective townships, who settled
in De Kalb County prior to January, 1846, and report them, with
the date of their arrival, to the secretary of this association.
SECOND ANNUAL MEETING.
The first regular meeting under the constitution was held on
Thursday, June 19, 1879, in the grove on Ensley avenue, between
Auburn and Auburn Junction. AU the officers of the association
were present, and there were between 3,000 and 4,000 citizens of
De Kalb and adjoining counties. After a call to order by President
S. B. Ward, and prayer by Eev. John McCurdy, of Troy Town
ship, Hon. John Morris, now of Fort Wayne, but formerly a resi
dent of this county, was introduced and addressed the meeting in
an eloquent, entertaining and pleasant manner for an hour. This
was followed by a recess until half past one, for refreshments, which
interval was most agreeably occupied by nearly all in social greet
ings, pleasant renewal of old acquaintances, the formation of new
ones, and in the partaking of the abundant supply of provisions
which nearly every family present brought with them, while a
large number retired to the village to partake of the hospitalities
of the citizens of Auburn.
After reassembling, Hon. Andrew Ellison, of Lagrange County,
agreeably entertained the meeting for half an hour. The reports
of the secretary were then read and approved. The biographer
then read the list of names of the old settlers who had died since
the meeting of September previous, as follows : Hannah Flint, born
Sept. 7, 1807, became a resident of De Kalb County iu March, 1839,
died Oct. 26, 1878. Lewis Tiffany, born in 1806, became a resident
Feb. 17, 1842, died Oct. 21, 1878. Charies H. Wanemaker, born
June 14, 1827, became a resident in October, 1844, died Jan. 1,
1879. Henry Brown, born in 1811, became a resident in Septem
ber, 1837, died March 18, 1879. Peter Simon became a resident
in March, 1835, died Nov. 3, 1878. Jane Jones, born May 26,
1839, became a resident in 1844, died Jan. 22, 1879. Hannah M.
Hathaway, born in 1802, became a resident in 1844, died Jan. 25,
1879. Eichard Parnell, born June 23, 1790, became a resident in
October, 1842, died Aug. 28, 1878. John PameU, born April 6,
37

^1

L

422 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
1826, became a resident in October, 1842, died Jan. 31, 1879.
James Campbell, born Oct. 2, 1810, became a resident in 1842,
died Feb. 28, 1879. Hannah CampbeU, born Sept. 23, 1814, be
came a resident In 1842, died Feb. 20, 1879. John F. Coburn (first
County Clerk), born July 26, 1806, became a resident in March
1836, died April 8, 1879. Jesse Hadley became a resident in 1837,
died in February, 1879. Jane Barney became a resident in 1840,
died April 22, 1879. Arial Eude, born Jan. 7, 1810, became a
resident in 1836, died May 3, 1879.
Short addresses were then listened to from Colonel I. B. Mc
Donald, of Whitley County; Major S. W. Sprott, of Auburn;
Samuel Wasson, of Concord, and J. W. Jeffords, of Waterloo.
For the ensuing year, the officers chosen were : President, S. B.
Ward ; Vice-President, P. B. Nimmons; Secretary, W. H. Dills;
Treasurer, Cyrus Bowman ; Biographer and Librarian, J. E. Eose.
As a part of the proceedings of the day, there were called to the
stand and introduced to the audience the following persons : Mrs.
Margaret Cummins (a daughter of the late John Houlton, first
settler of the county), the first white child born in the county,
April 7, 1836; Mrs. J. E. Moody (daughter of the late Abraham
Fair), the second white female child born in the county, AprU 17,
1836, and James Platter, the first white male child born in the
county, in October, 1836. There was also presented to view the
surveyor's compass and chain, used and owned by the late Hon. E.
J. Dawson, in the original survey of the public lands in North
eastern Indiana, which were recognized by Samuel Wasson, then a
chainman. Mr. Wasson Is the oldest living settler in the county
at present. J. W. Jeffords, in his remarks, exhibited the ax used
in chopping the timber for the first house erected in the county,
which was John Houlton's, of .Franklin Township. The ax now
weighs six and a half pounds, but originally its weight was between
eight and nine pounds. He also showed a field hoe which he made
forty-two years before, at Hamilton, Steuben County.
The association adjourned to meet at such place as the executive
committee might appoint, in 1880, but no meeting was held that
year. The presidential campaign and two soldiers' reunions seemed
to prevent sufficient interest on the part of the leading citizens.
FOURTH ANNUAL REUNION.
The association met June 16, 1881, in the private grove of Mrs.
O. C. Houghton, at Auburn. There was a reasonable attendance

^^

HISTORY OF DE KALB OOUNTY. 423
of old settlers, who, with others present, made a very respectable
meeting in point of numbers. Under General Blair, of Waterloo,
as Marshal, and headed by the Corunna Band, the old settlers
formed in line at 10:30 a. m., at the court-house square, and
marched to the grove, where, after vocal and Instrumental music,
an address was delivered by W. H. Dills, Secretary of the associ
ation, so replete with interest that certain portions are here given:
"Between thirty-five and forty years ago, the period in which
the people we recognize and designate as ' old settlers' first settled
in Northern Indiana, during that time when we met and became
acquainted, that meeting was had and acquaintances made almost
invariably, not as we meet to-day, under the beautiful trees set out
and cultivated by the hand of man for his profit, but it was be
neath the towering forms and broad branches of the giant trees of
the native forest, planted, nurtured and reared by the hand of God
for his Divine purpose. Instead of enjoying the sweet perfume of
domestic plants and flowers placed around us by hands of youth
and innocence, we met amid the aroma of the wild flowers of the
forest. Then we met by twos and threes; now by the thousand —
a fitting and beautiful contrast of this country to-day and as it was
then. * * *
" It is sad, very sad, my friends, to reflect that many of the noble
souls who have heretofore attended our meetings will not be pres
ent to-day or at any of our future meetings. Their bodies have
returned to mother earth. Their work and toil and labor is past.
They cleared away the heavy forests, they built for us homes,
planted orchards, built school-houses, churches, highways, bridges;
raised children and devised unto them honorable names; and per
formed every duty toward their country and their race. They
have passed away forever, and we know them now only by the
kindly remembrances that are placed upon the tablets of our
memories. * * *
''These persons to whom I have just called your attention, and
you who are here to-day, members of this society, are heroes in
the true sense of the teim. Not military chieftains, nor those who
from ambitious motives for place and power are overturning poli
cies and dynasties; but they and you sought and determined to
and did conquer and subdue a wilderness to found a colony which
to-day smiles with civilization and enterprise, peace and plenty,
nurtured and fostered by your and their hands, and those who fol
lowed in the track which you and they had broken.

IF^

424 HISTORY OF DE KALB OOUNTY.
" We can very well remember seeing these early settlers and
their families, with their white-covered wagons, the wife or daughter
driving, the father and boys following, and driving, witb the aid of
a dog, a cow or two, sometimes a few sheep — all wending their way
toward the setting sun or plunging Into the forest, and hauling up
or stopping upon a tract of land upon which not a tree had been
cut, and where for ages the rays of the orb of day had not pene
trated, amidst the chorus of the feathered songsters of the grove and
the silence of the night, disturbed only by the hootings of the owl,
or the indescribable bowlings of hungry wolves. There you, or
the fathers of you who came in early times, halted their wagons,
which contained all they had on earth; and there to-day you will
find comfort, luxury and ease.
"Before reaching that final resting pbce weeks and months had
passed in reaching the goal, following Indian trails scarcely wide
enough to admit of the passage of a wagon, no bridges, dangers to
be encompassed on every side, the early settler was of necessity
his own sentinel, and upon himself relied for protection and safety.
The trails would sometimes seem to run out — come to an end.
Sometimes they would divide and create doubt as to the course
that should be pursued. He had no compass and could not tell
the cardinal points, but by an examination of trees he could tell
the north side of them by the heaviest growth of moss or bark, and
thereby determine his course. When night came ere he reached
his destination, by the side of the trail, where water and grass were
sufficient, he would build a fire, without the aid of matches, by the
side of some huge log, and there prepare their meal, his wife and
little ones retiring to sleep in the wagon, and he, wrapped in a
blanket, on the leaves under it, with his faithful dog on one side
and his trusty rifie on the other, there seek repose and rest, with as
much confidence of safety and exemption from injury as you did
last evening upon your downy couches, within bolted doors.
"After reaching his land, purchased of the Government at
$1.25 per acre, or from some speculator for $2.00, $3.00 or $4.00
per acre, the pioneer finds for a time that his neighbors are few
and far between, like angels' visits. There he could not hear his
neighbors' chickens crow, their dogs bark, or their dinner bell or
horn. With difficulty he at last succeeds in building his rude little
cabin and In clearing off a few acres, by cutting down all the trees
eighteen Inches or less in diameter, and girdling all the others,
which will give him a short supply of corn and vegetables. As for

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HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY. 426
meats, he has none, except as he depends upon the chances of tak
ing game from the forest, and then eat It, very often, without even
salt or bread.
"The privations of the early settler were great, but often their
perils were still greater. Diseases, indigenous to a new country,
of which he had previously no knowledge or experience, and gener
ally malarial in their character, were certain to overtake him and
his family. The massive fojiage of the giant trees through which
the sun scarcely penetrated, and the black soil vegetatioi , and the
decayed vegetable matter everywhere abounding, generated vast
volumes, and columns of miasma. No physician or drug store was
probably within twenty miles, and himself aud family were racked
almost to death with the shakes, or scorched with raging fevers.
Until acclimated by a residence of from two to five years, and
sometimes longer, the early settler was yearly visited with attacks
of fever aud ague, and felt thankful, indeed, if in the fall seasons he
did not have an attack of bilious or intermittent fever. Snake
bites, broken or cut limbs, and rheumatism from his frequent ex
posure were of frequent occurrence, and no medical aid at hand.
Indeed the hearts of these men and women were brave.
"A man may stand unmoved at :,the mouth of a cannon, yet the
pitiful moans of a sick wife, the delirious tossing and crying of his
children with consuming fevers, without medicine or a doctor, or
even sympathizing friends or neighbors within miles, would, no
doubt, draw a tear, that would rush down the sunburned face, and
would fill his very soul with the deepest sorrow and solicitude. So,
too, it would be, if it were possible, tenfold more sorrowful to the
wife should the husband and protector be stricken down. Even in
health their privations seem almost incredible to us. Lumber was
not to be had at any price; mills were distant, and what roads there
were, were almost impassable. A journey of weeks, sometimes,
leaving the wife and children, was necessary to obtain the neces
saries of life. Families were almost driven to the verge of starva
tion, living for weeks on potatoes, wheat bran, and I have heard,
on beach-bark and milk. The private history of the sufferings,
privations and heroic endurance of many families in early times in
this county has not been, nor will it ever be, written. Many, nearly
all, of those who have suffered and endured as I have stated, have
gone where the weary are at rest, and there is no land to clear, no
cabins to raise, no sufferings, no solicitude; the grave has put its
seal on their history. Peace be to their ashes. * * *

al

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426 HISTORY OF DE KALB OOUNTY.
"In early days we asked not whether the new comer was a Whig
or a Democrat, Jew or Gentile, Methodist or Baptist, rich or poor;
all we wanted to know was that he was a neighbor and a man.
These inquiries as to a man's religious or political opinions were
not thought of. Was he a good fellow, truthful, honest and chari
table ? If he had not these qualities, he did not stay long enough
in our midst to become an old settler. Those who did not come up
to that standard either returned to their old homes or sought other
localities long years ago. * * *
"At the risk of wearying you, I will name a few of those vet
erans who were the foremost men of the county in 1845, but who
have gone to their long homes. Let us speak reverently of them.
Their faults were human, but their good qualities and manly virtues
will commend them to our consideration. I will give them by
townships in the usual order, leaving out Keyser, wliich was not
then formed :
'^Butler — The Brooks, Henry Clark and sons, George Delong,
the Embrys, Abraham and Charles Fair, Nathaniel Fitch, the
Greggs, the Bells, father and son, the Hoffmans, Hogues, Hol-
brooks, Jacksons, Lungs, Millers, Eodenbaughs, Eeeves, ShuUs,
Simons, Surfaces, Natts and Wellers.
^^ Jackson — The Bishops, Cools, Cobblers, Komeskys, Daves,
Draggoos, Essigs, Georges, Hurshes, Hendersons, Hartles, John
sons, Lawheads, Means, Moores, Mowries, Osburns, Sugars, Staf-
fords, Squiers, Stewards, Tarneys, Watsons, Wyatts, Williams and
Zimmermans. " Concord — The Aliens, Altons, Burleys, Blairs, Balls, Carrs,
Culbertsons, Coburns, Catlins, Draggoos, Dawsons, Fales, Head-
leys, Johnsons, Knights, McNabbs, Nichols, Owens, Eobinsons,
Ehodes, Sechlers, Widneys, Woodcoxes, Williams and Whites.
" Newville —The Bartletts, Dodges, Delongs, EUIses, Lewises,
Lawrences, Murphys, Eogers, Platters, Strongs, Steeles, Thomases
and Waldons.
" Stafford — The Barbers, Coats, Chrlstoffels, De Forrests, Deihls,
Headleys, McDaniels, Eoses, Strohls, Shoubs, Schofields, Websters
and Wanemakers.
'•'•Wilmington — The Armstrongs, Babcocks, Coes, Crooks, Eak-
rijghts, Egnews, Fosdicks, Finneys, Helwigs, Hackleys, Handys,
Imhofs, Jackmans, Kreutzes, Maxwells, MuUenixes, Meeses, Nor-
rises. Nelsons, Nodines, Packers, Eutledges, Eoberts, Eobes,

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HISTORY OF DE KALB OOUNTY. ' 427
Sawyers, Tremans, Tomlinsons, Tottens, Veeleys, Widneys, Woods
and Weeks.
" Union — The Ashelmans, Altenburgs, Abbotts, Bidlers, Baugh-
mans. Browns, Cospers, Clays, Fishers, Fulks, Gingriches, Hussel-
mans, Krums, Lutzes, Latsons, McEndefers, Misers, Summers,
Strohs, Weavers, Weeks, Walworths, Whetsels, Parks and Ing-
mans. " Richland — The Bangs, Cowleys, Clays, Calkins, Daileys, De-
witts, Feaglers, Greens, Hardys, Moodys, McMiUens, Pennells,
Eogers, ShuUs, Showers, Treshes and Weirlcks.
" Fairfield — The Chaffees, McNabbs, Powells, Storys, Gushwas
and Wells.
" Smithfield — The Baxters, Boyers, Blakers, Corwins, Danks,
Daniels, Hemstreets, Holmes, Krums, Kelleys, McCoshes, Smiths
and Walkers.
" Franklin — The Aldrlches, Balls, Bowmaus, Bucks, Beards,
Crains, Dirrims, Ducks, Firestones, Houltons, Holmes, Hammonds,
Jones, Jackmans, Jeffords, Keeps, Lewes, Manns, McQueens, Mc-
Curdys, McAllisters, Myers, Nidigs, Nelsons, Olds, Porters, Pack
ers, Eudes, Stambaughs, ShuUs, Snooks, Thurstons, Watermans
and Wilsons.
" Troy — The Burdicks, Gathers, Casebeers, Colls, Emersons,
Eddys, Helwigs, Jennings, Kniselys, Larneds, McClures, McClel-
lans, McDaniels, Stearns, Willards, Waydleichs and Zimmermans.
" Those still living I do not mention. They, or at least a great
many of them, are here to-day to speak for themselves. The men
I have named were actively identified with the material interests
of our county; their houses were ever the center of a liberal hospi
tality, and many brought to bear upon the difficulties and pri
vations of pioneer life more than ordinary good judgment and
natural ability. Many of them were thoroughly well educated,
and had the energy and perseverance so highly necessary in a
pioneer. Many led lives of devout Christianity, and the Sunday-
schools and churches they established are all over our county as
lasting monuments to their memories and the foundations of our
moral and social society to-day.
"The men whom I have named, who came here prior to Jan. 1,
1846, came before the period of railroads, before canals were dug,
and many of them before the roads were cut and bridges built. Just
think of it, that thirty-five years ago the residents of our county
had never seen a railroad car, and we have over a hundred miles of

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428 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
railroad track in the county to-day, and 200 trains daily through
it. There was not then in the county a steam engine; there was
not one cook-stove in a dozen families. What kind of a dinner do
you suppose the cooks of to-day would get up without a cook-stove?
They had never even heard of kerosene oil for illuminating pur
poses. Matches, do you recollect the name? luclfer matches, were
hard to obtain, and only a few could afford the luxury. Why, the
old-fashioned grain cradle, now out of use, was then just intro
duced. We had no such reapers and mowers and machinery for
threshing and agricultural purposes that is now stacked on almost
every forty-acre farm in the county.
" I recollect very distinctly the first threshing machine. It in
deed was a beauty. It did not even separate the grain from the
chaff and straw. It was brought into the county by John Zimmer
man, who then resided on the Honk farm, in Jackson Township.
He was the father of Mr. Elias Zimmerman, of this place. In
fact, it would now be a novelty, and, as it did then, would now
draw crowds when set to work; and, to use a homely expression, it
was the ' biggest thing out. ' Instead of being several weeks in
flailing, tramping and winnowing out a hundred bushels of wheat,
the farmer, with that threshing machine, could thresh out that
quantity in a day, and then take his time to run it through the
fanning mill. And when he had the wheat ready for market, then
he would have to take about three days to carry a load of twenty-
five or thirty bushels to Fort Wayne and sell it for 50 or 60 cents
a bushel. This, of course, was after they had been here ten or
twelve years. My friends, just think that to-day there is not a
farmer in the county but who can market from his farm a load of
forty bushels in an hour and a half's time in some railroad elevator.
Corn had a value then proportioned to wheat, the same as now.
Pork then ranged at $1.50 to $2.00 per hundred pounds. * *
" In about two months it will be thirty-seven years since I was
brought to this county by my parents, settling in Spencerville,
then the most wealthy and populous part of the county. Having
a grist and saw mill, postoffice, stores, ashery and other insignia of
a new town in a new country, Spencerville commanded the trade
of a large territory. In those times we knew all the people who
made their appearance in a town, and if we did not know their
names we soon found out by asking. Let us look at the citizens
of Spencerville to-day. I have carefully thought of and looked for
all I then knew so well, and to-day there are but two persons alive

HISTORY OF DE KALB OOUNTY. 429
and resldiug in that town who lived there In 1844, and they are
'Squire Bai-ney and Dr. Emanuel. Their wives, and noble wo
men they were, have long since been gathered to their rest.
" Now let us go among the farmers of Concord Township and
see if we can find some old, familiar faces who were on the same
farms thirty-seven years ago. Of those who then owned and still
reside on the same farms, I am able to find only eight men —
Eobert Culbertson, Sol. Woodcox, Henry Eoblnson, Jonathan
Boyle, Samuel Wasson, David Shull, John Shutt and William
Henderson. But there are some who still reside on the same farm
as then, having succeeded their parents. Some of these are John
Widney, Erastus White, Jackson Moody, Daniel and David Butler,
Mort. Milliman, Milas Ehodes and mother, and E. G. Coburn.
" Now, my friends, let me change the scene. Let the curtain
exhibit this village of Auburn in December, 1856, now nearly
twenty-five years ago, when I located here. Upon inquiry you
will find only ten families occupying the same homes as then, viz.:
Dr. Ford, Mrs. Leasure, Mrs. Mott, George Brandt, G. W. Stahl,
Major Sprott, James Brinkerhoff, Mrs. H. Jones and Mrs. Hough
ton, upon whose grounds we are now assembled — ten in all. Besides
those named, the following families still reside in town, as in
December, 1856 : S. W. Ealston, S. B. Ward, J. W. Case, Lewis
Bowers, James and Hiram Griswold, Mrs. Puffenberger, Mrs.
Stephen Latson, George Wagoner, Mrs. C. S. Hare and Mrs. W.
A. Sawrey, eleven; in all, twenty-one families. But of these
twenty-one families, death has entered and carried away a husband
or a wife in all but eight.
" Let us go out on the streets and ramble among the business
men and houses, about the mills, shops and in the professional
ranks; examine the faces of these active men and see if any are here
to-day still engaged in the same business as twenty-five years ago.
I look carefully and find but three. Not counting Dr. Ford, who
has retired from active practice, I find James W. Case, then and
now a mechanic. I see also G. W. Stahl still cutting out pants and
cooking the same old goose he did of yore, laughing just as joy
ously, but not so vigorously. The third, myself, an humble fol
lower of Blackstone and Kent. Those of my profession, where
are they? Judge Mott, good old soul, who never by word or action
intended a wrong, and his son Sheridan, bright, brilliant and
promising, father and son lie side by side and fill honored graves
at their old homestead. T. E. Dickinson, though eccentric, yet

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430

HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.

abounding in enterprise and integrity, as good a neighbor and citi
zen as ever lived, is buried in Waterloo. His son Timothy, of
many rare qualities, is now only a breathing corpse, dying a slow
death of softening of the brain, induced by over mental and physi
cal labor. A. S. Blake is in Denver, CoL; S. J. Stoughton and S.
W. Dickinson, I believe, are dead. James Brinkerhoff is and has
been an invalid for years, and out of practice. .Andlastof all.
Judge Morris, a name honored and spoken off with reverence by
all old settlers, resides at Fort Wayne, and is now the peer if not
the superior in legal lore, in varied and enlarged intellectual at
tainments, and in unsullied integrity, of any of his distinguished
associates upon our supreme bench. Indeed
" ' I feel like one who treads alone
Some banquet hall deserted,
Whose lights are fled, whose garlands dead,
And all but me departed.'
"Twenty-five years ago we thought we had a 'staving' nice
town here. There was not a steam or flouring mill in it; not a
wheel turned by steam-power; not a bakery, meat shop, family
grocery store, nor even a millinery or barber shop here. Of the
young men of our town on whom devolved the responsibility of
taking care of the social affairs, I now recall Philip Fluke, then
tanning leather, making money and gadding all over the country.
Judge McCleUan was shoving a pen in the auditor's office. Our
present good-looking sheriff, 'Gust. Leas, Ame Park, now of Ken
dallville, and Lewis Ochs, a brother of Simon and Isaac Ochs, were
all clerks in dry-goods stores. The two Weaver boys. Eh and
Enos, were running drug stores, and sometimes horses, but always
after the girls. Steve Ford, Whead. Griswold and Tom Gross,
who were born tired, were not permanently engaged at anything,
but were ready to snap up any good offer that presented itself. Ex-
Auditor Hague and Thad. Meese were taking their first lessons in
making boots and shoes, under the lynx eyes of Isaac Brandt.
John Somers was then, as now, temporarllj^ absent iu the Western
mountains, engaged in the pleasant pastime of killing Indians and
picking up nuggets of gold. At the same time, we claimed as be
longing to our crowd two others (still veterans in the cause). Uncles
Jacob Somers and Moses Brandon, then just as desirable 'catches'
as they are to-day. I do believe they are engaged in the fatal game
of wearing each other out by seeing which can outlive the other in
the state of ' single blessedness. '

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HISTORY OF DE KALB OOUNTY. 431
"We had a young class coming on, then just in their 'teens,'
who were neither man nor beast, the liveliest set of miscreants you
ever knew. If you would catch out at night Dick aud Guy Plumb,
i Jack and Coop. Ealston, Sam and Clark Ford, the Mott boys, Joe
Loveland, Bill Finney, Dry Houghton, Harry Ward, Sam Puff and
a few others I could mention, you would, next morning, find there
had been done more gilt-edged, clear-cut, mischievous devilment
than could have been accomplished in a week by a regiment of old
settlers, all of whom to-day are good business men and citizens,
and alive, except poor Clark Ford and Sheridan Mott, who sacri
ficed their young lives upon their country's altar. * * • *
" Even in early days, when the pioneers were undergoing the
privations I have spoken of, they had a very large amount of the
real - pleasures of life ; and when an opportunity afforded, it was
enjoyed with a relish equally as well as now. It certainly was
true enjoyment to help a neighbor raise a house or a barn, do his
logging, have quilting and sewing bees, dance on the puncheons
in the cabins, take your girl up behind you on horseback and carry
her through the woods six, eight or ten miles to some gathering;
and she would have to hold on awfully tight or she would be
brushed off the horse by the limbs or trunks of the trees. Think
of the making of sugar, hunting bee trees, gathering cranberries,
wild plums, cherries, grapes, crab-apples, all kinds of nuts and
ginseng. Think of the excellent hunting and fishing there was
here then ; ¦ all kinds and in large quantities were the fish, wild
fowls and wUd animals.
"They had other pleasures; and were as keen then to -devise
and play off some joke, prank or sport at each other's expense as
their sons and daughters are of to-day. For the purpose of show
ing by its sequel the good heart of one of its actors, of the many I
have heard I will mention only one. I take the now oldest settler
in the county; and because he Is such I take the liberty of using
his name, he feeling well assured that I would not set aught down
in malice. It seems that long years ago, at least forty, Samuel
Wasson unsuspectingly entered into a contract with that ever-prac
tical joker, shrewd lawyer and afterward honored judge, E. J.
Dawson, whereby Wasson agreed to let Dawson strike Wasson
three strokes with a raw-hide — then Wasson was to strike Dawson
five strokes with the same instrument, Wasson agreeing before
hand that he would hot touch Dawson until he had given him all
his three strokes. Dawson was a strong and powerful man, and

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432 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
probably struck harder than he intended; but after striking Was
son only twice he hurriedly put away the raw-hide and concluded
to postpone indefinitely the giving to Wasson of the last stroke.
He felt safe because he had Wasson's word, which then, as now,
was as good as a bond, that Wasson would not strike. Wasson
demanded the other lick and to have the contract fulfilled at once.
Dawson argued that by the contract he could take all the time he
wanted to finish up his work. Wasson begged and demanded, and
Dawson was equally stubborn and determined in his way. The
truth was that thereafter on that day it was not very quiet on the
St. Joseph. Dawson always thereafter kept postponing the exe
cution of his contract, and Wasson ever waiting, watching and wish
ing to have Dawson strike him. Wasson nursed his ire (and I
have heard him nurse it) because he was such a fool as to enter
into such a foolish scheme. They lived within a mile of each
other for twenty years, but were not as friendly as they ought to
have been and be neighbors.
" Twenty-two years ago the 15th of last month, a man at Spencer
ville, with his weeping wife and three little boys by his side, and
other mourning friends around, lay dying. Many of his neighbors
were there to take their last look and render assistance. A few
moments after midnight, after a few gasps, and Eeuben J. Dawson
was dead. Wasson was not present, but Dawson had not been
dead five minutes before the tall, bent form and shaggy beard of
Samuel Wasson came into that house of mourning from the dark
ness outside, where he had been silently and alone awaiting the
crisis.. As tenderly as a sister would, he gently carried the little
boys and weeping widow to their rooms, and with his own hands
shaved, dressed and fitted for sepulture the body of that neighbor.
The next day, solitary and alone, with his shovel and mattock,
Wasson wended his way to the village grave-yard, and, with his
own hands and strength, dug and prepared the grave of one whom
he Jiad thought had so grievously wronged him. And there in
that grave, that day, Samuel Wasson buried all the ill will, hatred
or malice he ever had against Dawson. My friends, such is only
one of many of the great big, noble hearts of the old settlers. And
when such men or women die, there are more bitter tears shed and
sadder hearts around their graves than there was around the bier of
that railroad magnate and millionaire, Thomas A. Scott, a few
days ago. * * *
" My address has been somewhat sombre and solemn; I cannot

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HISTORY' OF DE KALB OOUNTY. 433
leave you in that frame of mind. Excuse me a moment while I
bother you with a little more poetry. It is not old, nor Scottish,
nor Irish, as that which I have read. It is quite modern ; it is
American, too; and to make it still better and refine it down" it is
American, of African descent. It is an address to the members of
the Lime Kiln Club, and published in the Detroit Free Press.
•Here it is : ' ' ' THE LIME KILN GLEE OLUB CHORUS.
" ' Yes, we am passin' down de lane,
An' haltin' by de way,
Jist long 'nuff to rest our limbs,
An' fur de chil'en pray ;
Las' Sunday preacher Gordon sa.d :
" De march will soon be o'er.
An' all de ole folks safely cross
Upon dat shinin' shore.
Chorus.— But old folks am jolly folks,
An' while we wait to go.
Let's gin de fiddle lots of work,
An' rush de ole banjo.
" ' Dar 8 Uncle Daniel, he am lame,
An' Peter White am bald,
An' Diana Rock an' ole Aunt Chlo'
Am waitin' to be called;
An' Trustee Fullback says to me :
" De summons soon mus' come.
For you an' me an' us ole folks
To tote our baggage home.
Chobub. —
" ' Dar's Pickles Smith an' Daddy Toots
A-nearin' of dar end,
An' Deacon Spooner an' his wife
Am crutchin' round de bend ;
Aye ! us ole folks am hangin' on,
An' kinder waitin' round,
To let de chil'en grow a bit
Po' we go under ground.
Chobub. — But old folks am jolly folks,
An' while we wait to go,
Let's gin de fiddle lots o' work
An' rush de ole banjo.' "
At the conclusion of this address a recess of an hour and a half
was occupied in hand-shaking, hearing greetings, and in partaking
of dinner from well-filled baskets of the old settlers and others.
After some routine business, the following officers were chosen:
President, Dr. J. H. Ford; Vice-President, John Butt; Treasurer,

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434 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
Cyrus Bowman; Biographer, J. E. Eose; Secretary, W. H. Dills.
As Executive Committee: Butler, Philip Noel; Concord, E. Cul
bertson; Jackson, William Carr; Newville, S. H. Bartlett; Stafford,
C. K. Wanemaker; Wilmington, E. W. Fosdick; Keyser, 0. C.
Clark; Eichland, T. D. Daily; Fairfield, Josiah WeUs; Smithfield,
J. E. Thompson ; Franklin, Miles Waterman; Troy, W. E. Emerson;
Auburn Precinct, J.E. Cosper; Waterloo, H.Willis. Speeches
were made by S. B. Ward, S. H. Bartlett, S. W. Sprott, John Mc
Curdy and Lewis Holbrook. Eellcs were exhibited by Mrs. Bur
dick and WiUiam Smith ; after which Eev. Mr. McCurdy entertained
the assembly with an old-fashioned Methodist hymn. The Biog
rapher reported the following deaths of old settlers: Catharine
Jennings, born Jan. 14, 1806, became a resident in 1843, died Feb.
20, 1881. Enos Smith, born June 22, 1821, became a resident in
1842, died Aug. 8, 1880. Eebecca Coats, born Aug. 10, 1827, be
came a resident in 1845, died April 18, 1881. AUce Egnew, born
in 1815, became a resident of Lagrange County in 1832, of this
county in 1840, died March 6, 1879. James W. Jeffords, born
Aug. 22, 1809, came to Steuben County in 1837, to this county in
1842, died Oct. 3, 1880. FIFTH ANffUAL MEETING. I
In 1882, the association held its reunion in the grove at the north
end of Auburn, June 15, and over 3,000 people were estimated to
be present. After a call to order and the usual opening exercises,
an address of an hour's length was delivered by J. E. Eose. Por
tions of his interesting article are here given:
"The first school-house built in the county was, I think, in the
Handy settlement, three miles south of the place where the town
of Butler now is. It would be a curiosity now. Permit me to de
scribe it to-day as it stood more than forty years ago. It was built
of round logs, that is of unhewn logs, and sixteen feet wide and
twenty-four long, with a puncheon floor and a sled-runner chimney;
a fireplace extending across one end of the building, and a door
near the corner In the side. The chimney was made of mud and
sticks, and was so large at the top that much of the light that il
luminated the literary path of the students during the weeks, or
the spiritual path of the church-goer on Sunday, came down the
chimney through the smoke. At the end of the room- opposite the
fireplace, was the window which consisted of a row of ' seven by
nine' glass, occupying the place of a log that had been left out

HISTORY OF DE KALB OOUNTY. 435
when the building was raised. The window was nine inches high
and sixteen feet long, and when a snowball passing through the
air without the aid of human agency (for no boy ever threw a snow
ball that hit a window), and a pane of glass was broken, its place
was supplied by a piece of oiled paper.
"These were usually supplanted with glass at the commence
ment of a term; the number of accidents of that mysterious nature
that transpired during the term could be determined by the num
ber of greased papers in the window, and as these unprovided panes
of glass became numerous in the window and were not exceedingly
translucent during cold cloudy days, when the door must be kept
shut, the whole school literally groped In darkness. The writing
desk was a hewn puncheon placed against the wall, at an angle of
forty-five degrees, in front of the window, and a seat at the writing
desk was a post of honor enjoyed only by the large scholars, and
those who occupied it were envied as bitterly by the balance of
the school as the senior class in college is by the freshmen. The
cracks between the logs were chinked with pieces of wood and
daubed with mud outside and in. The celling was made of round
poles extending from one side of the room to the other, the ends
resting in cracks made large for that purpose in each side.
" Over the poles mud was spread in copious profusion, which,
when dried, formed a ceiling that bid defiance alike to piercing
winds of winter and scorching heat of the summer sun. The roof
was made of clapboards held to their place by logs laid on top of
them, called weight-poles. The seats were made of sassafras poles
about six inches in diameter, split in two, the heart side up, and
wooden pins or legs in the bottom or oval sides. These were
made to suit the comfort of fall-grown men, and hence were so
high from the floor that the aid of the teacher was necessary to
place the small scholars on the seat; and when there, no little care
was required on their part to avoid falling off.
"The text-books used were the Western spelling-book, the New
Testament, and for advanced scholars the old English reader. The
scholars who ciphered used such arithmetics as they could procure,
butDabold's predominated; and when an industrious and studious
scholar had reached the ' rule of three ' (now called proportion), the
teacher, to avoid an exposition of his ignorance of the mysteries
beyond, prudently required a review, and the mathematical ardor
of the ambitions youth was cooled by being turned back to notation
and compelled to memorize the fine print and foot-notes. As there

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436 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
was not a uniformity of books, there were no classes except spelling
and reading classes, and each student studied arithmetic ' on his
own hook.' The advent of such a man as my friend Houser or
Keeran into the neighborhood at that time, with their sample desks
and ink wells, slate blackboards and crayon pencils, terrestrial
and celestial globes, Spencerian copy-books, and a trunk full of
eclectic spellers, readers, mental and practical arithmetics, grammars.
geographies, histories, steel pens and pointers would have attracted
more attention and created more excitement among the pioneers
than did the Eev. Lewis Hickman, lecturing on Millerism, with
his illustrated map, as large as a bed blanket, on which were
pictures of the great dragon that John the revelator saw, with its
crowned heads and ten horns; with its glowing mouth and red-hot
fangs through which blue, sickening and sulphurous flames seeth-
ingly issued; with its serpentine caudal appendage drawing in its
train one-third of the stars of heaven.
" There, too, was the fair woman standing on the moon, clothed
with the sun and crowned with stars. There, too, was Michael and
his angels, chafing for a fight with his dragonship as soon as orders
could be obtained from headquarters to open out on the enemy.
And last but not least of the hideous things on that chart was the
devil with his cloven foot. There are many here to-day who heard
these lectures in the log-cabin school -houses, and yet remember
that horrid chart, and the blood-curdling harangue of the reverend
gentleman as he tried to terrify men, women and children into re
pentance, on the same principle that the bee-keeper scares an out
going swarm of bees into a new hive, by the hideous noise produced
by the united efforts of his entire family on tin pans, cow-bells and
dinner-horns. One could almost hear the approaching echoes of
Gabriel's trumpet while looking at that chart and listening to the
speaker's terrifying portraitures of the horrors of the 'last day.'
" None of the modern improvements and discoveries to aid in
the cause of a practical education were then known in this county.
No graded reading books or spellers, no blackboards, steel pens or
mathematical frames, no globes or varnished pointers. Then, we
had pointers, fresh hickories cut from the adjacent thicket with
the jack-knife of the teacher. But they were not used as the orna
mented pointers now are, to demonstrate mathematical problems on
the blackboard, and to trace out the course of rivers and mountains,
and the most practical and direct route across the continent, or
around the globe, upon an outline map suspended on the wall, but

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HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY. 437
they were applied to the backs of the wayward youth to demon
strate the propriety of searching for the most direct route to
obedience. "And these pointers were effective, too. Two of the qualifica
tions for teaching that were indispensable then are now entirely
obsolete; the applicant for the position of school teacher must then
be able to make a goose-quill pen, and possess the muscular power
to wield a hickory whip. But the educational facilities of this
country have changed since then. The old log-cabin school-house
has disappeared, and now beautiful structures of frame or brick
dot our country thickly over. The sassafras benches have given
place to easy and convenient seats and desks, and apparatus by
which the inteUigent teacher may illustrate the sciences adorn the
school-room in abundance. * * *
" A little of the rough-and-tumble life such as the pioneer ex
perienced is requisite to develop the courage, the moral back-bone,
the self-reliance and industry, the patience and perseverance neces
sary to usefulness in life. The meetings in the old log-cabin school-
house were conducted with a zeal;;and pathos that we do not wit
ness now in the fashionable church. The average congregation
then did not comprise more than twenty-five or thirty persons on
ordinary occasions, but their earnestness and zeal would exceed the
aggregate zeal of an ordinary congregation of 300 persons of the
present day. There is many a gray-haired and sun-browned pio
neer before me to-day who, near half a century ago, has assisted in
the singing of ' Old Hundred,' ' Lenox,' or the long-meter doxology
in those old-time meetings until the very atmosphere around them
was fiUed with such a spirit of goodness that every one who in
haled it was made to feel that it was good for him to be there.
"There was more real, solid, soul-stirring hallelujahs in one of
those log-cabin protracted meetings on a cold winter night, under
the management of some of the pioneer preachers, than Moody and
Sankey ever produced, when at the acme of their fame as revivalists.
The early preachers have nearly all gone to their reward. Gabriel
Williams, Lewis Hicklin, Henry Kunler, Ladd Thomas, Cyrus
Alton and James Hadsell are numbered with those who have passed
through the chilly waters of the mysterious river. Jonathan Thomas,
Elder Ward, John McCurdy and James Gather, who were among
the pioneer preachers, are yet with us, and continue their life work
in trying to better the condition of those around them by both
precept and example.
38

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,-vi'^ — -  — - — "1^
438 HISTORY OF DE KALB OOUNTY.
"The pioneer merchants (store-keepers we then called them)
were N. L. Thomas, of Newville, whom we familiarly called
'Uncle Ladd,' and Thomas J. Freeman, of Auburn; both men, of
some consequence in their time, have long since gone to that
country from which no traveler returns. * * * The pioneer
store in the eastern part of tbe county, the one kept by Ladd
Thomas, occupied a room about fifteen feet square, and $200 would
have purchased every article he had to sell. He made his regular
trips to Fort Wayne at stated periods, riding an old black horse,
familiarly known as ' old Jack' by all the early settlers, and carry
ing with him his purchases of produce, consisting of deer and coon
skins, beeswax and ginseng roots. These he exchanged for such
articles as he kept for sale, and freighted old Jack with his pur
chases on his return trip.
"I said old Jack was familiarly known to the settlers. Uncle
Ladd, as he was called, was a Methodist preacher, and, in addition
to his business as a merchant and his services in the pulpit, he
preached the funerals and solemnized the marriages for aU the
settlers in the east part of the county, and when he went from home
to attend to these duties old Jack was his only mode of convey
ance. The old horse seemed to have the ability to determine the
difference between a funeral and a wedding, and it is not strange
that he had, when we consider the fact that when Uncle Ladd at
tended a funeral he went alone ; but when called to officiate at a
wedding the whole family went with him, and old Jack's burden,
like Job's, was grievous to be borne; and like one of olden times,
he might have exclaimed : ' It is better to go to the house of
mourning than to the house of feasting.' I have often seen old
Jack, on Sunday mornings, passing my father's cabin home, on his
way to a wedding, with the whole family, consisting of Uncle Ladd,
his wife, two sons (David, who died at early manhood, and Newton,
now a prominent lawyer in a Western city), all perched upon his
back. Pardon this digression, but as the old horse will be remem
bered by so many persons, he deserves a passing notice.
" The storekeepers in the pioneer days were required to procure
a license from the county commissioners before •ommencing
business, and in their applications for the license they were re
quired to enumerate the articles they proposed to sell, and state
the amount of capital invested in the business. And in compli-
an«e with the law, Thomas J. Freeman, the first merchant of Au
burn, on March 7, 1838, applied for a licehse to sell foreign

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HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY. 439
merchandise and domestic groceries, with a capital of $176; and
was required to pay for that privilege the sum of $5.00; and his
traffic in time-pieces was restricted to one dozen for the year. The
opinions of the people have changed greatly since then, for at that
time Mr. Freeman was permitted to sell intoxicating liquor without
a license, but was not allowed to sell tea, coffee and sugar without
a permit. Now the dealer may sell the latter without a license,
but must pay for the privilege of engaging in the liquor traffic.
"Then the shoemaker, following the example of the itinerant
preacher, went from house to house with his kit of tools and made
th« shoes for the several families comprising his list of patrons.
The ladies had not then acquired the habit of crowding a number
four foot into a number three French kid shoe; but the shoes were
manufactured to fit the foot and not the eye, and were made of
substantial material, impervious to wet and cold. And equipped
with a pair of these shoes, the pioneer's wife could walk a mile
through the snow without being placed under the doctor's care for
weeks following. But these pioneer customs, together with the
log-cabin homes, and log school-houses, have passed away and now
hve only in the fond recollections of the few old settlers who sur
vive. The wilderness we then loved for its native grandeur has
disappeared, and in its stead the cultivated field with its waving
grain, the beautiful homes and pleasant little towns have sprung up.
"The winding wagon road, meandering around the swamps and
creeks through the woods, can no longer be traced by the ' oldest
inhabitant.' The old Indian trail can po longer be found, but the
commodious highways permeating every part of the county fur
nish a comfortable route for every man to travel upon. The mail
carrier, with his horn and saddle-bogs, bringing us the news of
important events, at the rate of three miles per hour, has been
supplanted by the elegantly equipped mail coach, carrying the
news of the world at the rate of sixty miles per hour. And not
oon(tented with even that rate of speed, science now supplies us
with the telegraph; and later with the telephone, by which we may
converse with our frienfds at a distance of what was, in pioneer
days, a four-days journey. * * *
"Yes, indeed, great changes have taken placa since the pioneer
days; ami we, too, who yet survive, of the early settlers, have
changed . I well remember these old men and women here to-day,
now with white hairs and trembling and uncertain step, when in
the vigor of early manhood and womanhood, with a courage

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440 HISTORY OF DE KALB OOUNTY.
scarcely exceled by the man who braves the cannon's mouth, they
left the tender associations of their early lives and came to this
county, then a wilderness, cheerfully and uncomplainingly, endur
ing its dangers and its privations for a grand and noble purpose.
A few of the old pioneers yet remain with us. They are the true
heroes of this country, more deserving of adulation and more
worthy of laudatory honors than the heroes of the battle-field. To
them we owe a debt of gratitude that we can never pay. As they
go down to the grave, one by one, we see the land-marks of the
civilization of this country disappear. The civilization remains
. for us to enjoy, but the motive power that planted it is fast reced
ing from our midst.
"Each year, as we meet, we notice the ranks are being thinned.
Here and there we see vacancies, where the year before sat a pio
neer. To-day we will, no doubt, for the last ti me take the hand of
some one of this noble band of heroes, and ere another annual re
union shall take place it may be said of some of these good old
people present to-day, ' Their life work is done, and they have gone
to their reward.' My friends, let us remember that we owe a duty
to these old pioneers; that to them, to their sacrifices, and patient
and unremitting industry, we are indebted for all there is of the
blessings of civilization that surround us. Let us spare no pains
to make the remainder of their paths through life pleasant and eu-
joyable. Let us imitate their industry and integrity, their virtue
and frugality, laboring to make our lives as worthy of imitation by
those who follow us when we are gone; and hoping that it may be
said of us, truthfully, when our life work has been finished, as it
can now be said of the pioneers, that the world has been made
better by our having lived in it."
After a recess and refreshments, officers were chosen as follows :
President, Dr. J. H. Ford; Vice-President, William Henderson;
Secretary, W. H. Dills; Treasurer, Cyrus Bowman; Biographer,
D. Z. Hoffman. As Executive Committee : Butler, P. Noel;
Jackson, William Carr; Concord, E. Culbertson; Newville, James
Platter ; Stafford, C E. Wanemaker ; Wilmington, south, P. B.
Nimmons ; Wilmington, north, W. L. Blair ; Auburn, J. E. Cos
per ; Waterloo, John Butt ; Keyser, B. F. Moody; Eichland, N.
Griffith; Fairfield, G. W. Husselman; Smithfield, J. E. Thompson;
Franklin, M. Waterman; Troy, W. E. Emerson.
Section 9 of the Constitution was amended so as to read as fol
lows: " All who were residents of Northern Indiana prior to any

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HISTORY OF DE KALB OOUNTY. 441
annual meeting of the society, aud who are residents of De Kalb
County, shall be considered members of the society." It was also
voted that the president and secretary b^ members of the executive
committee, and that the president be chairman, and the secretary,
clerk thereof.
The Biographer reported the following deaths of pioneers : Henry
Feagler, born May 24, 1816, died June 16, 1881 ; John Platter,
born Nov. 23, 1809, died Oct. 28, 1881 ; Aaron Osborn, born Feb.
12, 1793, died Feb. S, 1882 ; John Osborn, born April 19, 1817,
died Dec. 23, 1881; Daniel McClellan, born in 1816, died in 1881;
Louisa McClellan, born in 1831, died in 1881; Sarah Strohl, born
Sept. 5, 1810, died Sept. 30, 1881 ; D. Harding, born Sept. 12,
1802, died April 23, 1882; John N. MUler, born in 1819, died Jan.
31, 1882; Sarah Learned, born April 30, 1818, died Sept. 13, 1881;
Lemuel FUnt, born April 6, 1798, died March 14, 1882; Samuel
Headley, born Jan. 30, 1808, died July 22, 1881; D, Stambaugh ;
Eveline Houlton, born Feb. 28, 1807, died Oct. 13, 1881.
Among the notable ones present at this meeting were Mrs.
Maria Smith, widow of Francis Smith, who was the bride of the
first marriage, by virtue of a license issued in this county Sept. 7,
1836. She is the daughter of J. J. Gunsenhouser, of Stafford
Township. By a curious coincidence, the last marriage license
issued prior to this meeting was dated June 14, 1882, and issued
for A. B. Countrymkn and Mary Gunsenhouser, a niece of Mrs.
Smith. SEMI-CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION.
The most successful meeting the association has held was June
21, 1883, at St. Joe; and this was the fiftieth anniversary of the
settlement of De Kalb County. The meeting was held in a grove
of apple-trees adjoining the town, and was called to order by Dr.
J. H. Ford, President, who made some remarks appropriate to the
semi-centennial of the county's settlement. After the usual open
ing exercises, such as singing, etc., General Blair was introduced
as the orator of the day. It had been raining steadily all the fore
noon, and this now increased to a brisk shower. The crowd, how
ever, persisted in standing out in the rain and hearing, and the
orator did the best he could under the circumstances, speaking
most of the time with an umbrella held over his head.
After the speaking the audience adjourned to dinner. There
was plenty of provisions, but some difficulty was experienced in
finding a dry place to sit down and "set the table." All were

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442 HISTORY OP DE KALB COUNTY.
finally accommodated. Immediately after dinner a shooting match
and tub race were held, for those interested. On reassembling at
t\5ro o'clock, Eev. A. H. Widney, a pioneer of this county, though
now in the Illinois Conference, was introduced. After some re
marks, he read the following poetical sketch, which is so full of
pathos and humor, and allusions familiar to the pioneers, that it is
worthy a place here. It is entitled
"the woods of ST. JOSEPH."
" Forests and streams of my childhood hours,
Home in the depths of the wildwood bowers.
Paths that were trod in my boyish days,
Curious, crooked, winding ways.
Scenes of the cabin, the clearing, the camp,
Life in the forest shade, svmless and damp.
Such is the picture we paint to-day.
Such are the scenes we would fain portray.
Men of those good old honest times,
Worthy a place in these simple rhymes,
Building their cabins and taming the soil,
Brawny and bronzed were these sons of toil,
Letting in sunlight wherever they came.
Laying foundation for fortune and fame.
Women, the mothers and wives of old,
Weave we their deeds in ' Cloth of Gold.'
Patient and prayerful they plodded along.
Weeping at times and then singing a song ;
Gently they guided the stubborn will,
They have gone — but our mothers rule us still.
Boys in their blue drilling pantaloons,
Whistling their old-time rustic tunes,
Hunting the cows by the tingling beUs,
Stinging their feet in the nettley dells,
Perpetually moving their hands and their jaws,
In fighting mosquitoes and eating black haws.
Rosy cheeked girls in their home-spun gowns,
Sweeter than belles of the cities and towns,
Dropping corn in the furrowed flelds,
Gathering the fruits which the forest yields.
Plying the home-made hickory broom.
Or taking a turn at the old-time loom.
Baking a 'pone' on the broad clay hearth,
Half Is not told of their real worth.
But that broad clay hearth has moldered away
And her raven locks are thin and gray.
But, may I tell it, one winter night,
When the snow lay deep and the stars shone bright,
Our Nancy sat in a straight-backed chair
And somebody's boy in another chair ;

^Jq — ^  - — £ \l,-
history of de kalb oounty. 443
The flre burned low, he rose to go,
Murmuring, ' It's growing late you know.'
Then to his question she answered 'yea,' ,
And they wedded forty years ago to-day.
The river St. Joseph, untrammeled came down.
From the swales and swamps ; it came leisurely down,
By the leaves and grasses discolored and brown ;
On its banks there was neither clearing nor town.
But the settler came and the forest fell,
Little by little the great trees fell.
He was short of money but rich in trees.
And the lack of that was the fate of these.
He took a thirty-foot poplar log
And made him a thirty-foot pirogue.
And back and forth, again and again,
He rowed and he poled to famous Fort Wayne.
Poplar and walnut and cherry and ash
Fell by his ax with a roar and a crash.
And were drawn by the steers on the ' beautiful snow,'
To the blufifs of the river — the river St. Joe,
And were sold and rolled into the river St. Joe.
Poplar and walnut and cherry and ash
Were sold and rolled in his pocket as cash.
Meanwhile did the boys and the girls of St. Joe
Go forth to the forest with digger and hoe.
And gather the ginseng, the yellow puccoon,
And the bleeding roots of the red puccoon.
Thus they laid the foundation of thrift and wealth,
Not neglecting the simples that minister health.
Ah, we shook with the ' agur,' I tell you we shook;
And the bitters were made, and the bitters we took.
There was prickly ash berries, cohosh and snake roots.
And that which gives modern men ' snakes in the boots,'
And a villainous jug with a stopper of cob
That gives out its contents with a gurgle and sob.
It was fire, it was gall, oh, the horrible stufiF,
But we took it and lived, and I think that enough.
I have joined the Good Templars and rinsed out my mouth
In the cleanest of springs in the North and the South-
But I cannot forget it, the gurgle and sob,
Of that infamous jug with its stopper of cob.
But I mind me to-day of early schools,
With rigid masters and iron rules.
The low, log school-house with puncheon floor,
Its cob-and-clay chimney and clapboard door ;
Its teetering benches and sloping shelf
Where this trembling had learned to bend itself
To the marks and pot-hooks and curious art.
And the copies that spoke through the eye to the heart.
Ah, the cork inkstand and the gray goose quill.
And the maple-bark ink, I can see them still ;

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444 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
I can feel my awkward knuckles snap
'Neath the tutoring touch of the ferule's rap.
I seem to be writing with tongue and pen,
The same old words that were written then ;
I seem to stand as a boy once more.
Inside the open clapboard door;
I see the forms as I saw them then,
They are girls and boys, not women and men.
I hear their well-known voices shout
When the day is past and school is out.
I feel the touch of the ' tick a tag,'
I hear the merry victor's brag,
I am boy again for I breathe the air
Of my boyhood's home, and'from everywhere
I gather in with a happy song
The bits of my boyhood I've scattered along.
I have come again as a boy to find
The boys and girls that I left behind.
We've had our share of the bitter fare,
With flecks of sunshine here and there.
So thanking God for this festal day,
And chasing all cankering care away,
Let us drink a toast — in sassafras tea —
To the pioneer of thirty-three :
Here's to brave John Houlton's memory."
The Biographer reported the foUowing names of pioneers who
had died within the year: Abraham Eeaver, Christian Sheets,
Mary Dickinson, Isaac Cool, Caroline McGinnis, Lydia Hoffman,
Eli Welch, John Brandon, Mary Woodcox, Major S. W. Sprott,
Daniel Cool, Isaac Kntzner, James McCrum, Sophia Leas, William
McQueen, William Crooks, Minerva Wanemaker, Arlina Bartlett
and Samuel D. Long.
The following officers were chosen for the year 1883-'4: Presi
dent, William L. Blair; Vice-President, Orrin C. Clark; Secretary,
William H. Dills; Biographer, John Butt; Treasurer, Cyrus Bow
man. The following were elected as members of the Executive
Committee: Butler, Joseph Shryock; Jackson, William Carr;
Concord, Jacob D. Lieghty; Newville, James Platter;^ Stafford,
Henry E. Wanemaker; Wilmington, Nathan H. Mathews and
Charles Hanes; Auburn, Samuel W. Ealston; Waterloo, Henry
Willis; Keyser, Elias Fisher; Eichland, GUbert Showers ; Fairfield,
J. M. Brumbeck; Smithfield, Wellington M. Farrington ; Frankhn,
Miles Waterman; Troy, W. E. Emerson.
IVIBETING AT WATERLOO.
The seventh annual meeting was held at Waterloo, June 6, 1884,

HISTORY OF DE KALB OOUNTY. 445
and was attended by a fair number of the early settlers of De Kalb,
and a few of the pioneers of Steuben. Judge John Morris, of Fort
Wayne, had been selected as orator for the occasion, but was kept
away by the funeral of his old friend and former partner. Judge
Worden. This funeral also accounted for the absence of some
others, including the Secretary. After dinner short addresses were
made by General Blair, of Waterloo, E. D. Hartman, of Auburn,
and George Harding, of Orland, Steuben County. At this meeting,
gloves were presented by Edward Wright, to be awarded to the
oldest settlers present from the two counties. Samuel Wasson, of
DeKalb, and George Harding, of Steuben, were the recipients.
The officers elected for the year 1884-'6 are as foUows; Presi
dent, Orrin C. Clark; Vice-President, Nelson Griffith; Secretary,
WiUiam H. Dills; Treasurer, Cyrus Bowman; Biographer, John
Butt. The Executive Committee for the current year is as follows: But
ler, Philip Noel; Keyser, B. F. Moody; Jackson, William Carr; Con-
cord,E. G. Coburn, Dr. J.Emanuel; Newville, George F. DeLong;
Stafford, George Webster; Wilmington, N. H. Mathews, W. L.
Blafr; Union, S.W. Ealston, Henry WiUis; Eichland, T.D. Daily;
Fafrfield, WiUard Childs; Smithfield, Henry McCUsh; Franklin,
Miles Waterman; Troy, O. P. Learned.
It is to be hoped that this association will long maintain a use
ful and profitable existence.

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CHAPTEE X.

AGRICULTURE.— RAILROADS.— WAGON-ROADS.

Advantages of a Eural Life. — Fertility of Soil in De Kalb
County. — Variety of Crops. — Crop Statistics. — Live Stock.
— Agricultural Society. — Before the War. — Eeorganization.
— Annual Fairs from 1871 to 1884. — Eailroads. — Lake Shore
& Michigan Southern. — Grand Eapids & Indiana. — Wabash,
St.Louis & Pacific. — Baltimore & Ohio. — Wagon-roads. —
Difficulties in Early Travel. — Distant Markets. — First
EoADS. — First Bridges. AGRICULTURE.
The basis of a county's best prosperity is good soil and industri
ous skiUful cultivation of the same. Creditable agriculture is bet
ter for a locality than the vicinity of railroads, manufactures, public
institutions, mines, or a capital of a State. For it is upon tiUage
of the soil that all these ultimately depend. The farmer is the
only man alive who is really independent, though he does not al
ways appreciate his advantages. There is no more honorable, prof
itable, healthful free life than that which the scholars and wise
men of all ages have lauded and honored — and practiced, when
possible. How many of our bankers, judges, and professors lead a
semi-rural life? All who can. Cincinnatus, of ancient Eome,
Washington and Horace Greeley of national fame in America, and
hosts of others whose names crowd forward in quick succession in
our memory, bear testimony to the many advantages of a life " near
to nature's heart. "
The soil of DeKalb County averages full y as good as the re
mainder of our fertile Northwest, and all cereals and other staples
are profitably grown here. Agriculture in De Kalb County may
be said to date from 1834, as potatoes were that year raised from
seed brought in the year previous by John Houlton. Deprived of
access to store and shop, the pioneer drew from s oil and forest a
supply for every want. Step by step needs have been supplied,
till our intelligent farmers, in dwellings, fences, fields, machinery,
stock and crop stand forth in truth independent and progres-
(446)

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HISTORY OF DE KALB OOUNTY. 447

give. Log houses and rude log stables yet exist, but the tasteful
frame and enduring brick farm-houses are the rule.
From the forest trees for an unknown period, each autumn a
heavy coat of leaves had fallen, and these leaves and decaying
vegetation of all kinds enabled the settler, on removing the timber,
to find a soil of great fertility. Hence, large crops resulted from
the rudest sort of cultivation. One settler planted five bushels of
potatoes on the 8th and 9th of July, 1837, and in the fall dug
eighty-six bushels from the earth. This was before the days of
the Early Eose and kindred prolific varieties of this valuable tuber.
Corn was early introduced, and wheat soon became a staple crop.
Prior to 1849, the steady stream of immigration created a home
market which consumed the products of the county. Whatever
of surplus remained was exported by teams to Fort Wayne, Toledo
and Hillsdale.
The maximum yield of corn in De Kalb County is eighty bushels
per acre; the minimum, twenty. The maximum of wheat is forty
bushels; the minimum, ten. Hay ranges from one ton to two and
a half tons per acre. Potatoes are successfully and extensively cul
tivated; they are almost priceless from the quantity produced one
year, and are scarce and valuable the alternate year. The same
statement holds true regarding apples, of which, some years, thou
sands of bushels remain ungathered beneath the trees. Orchards
are found in village lots, and on almost everj' farm. Peaches,
once abundant, are now an exceptional crop. Cherries are reliable,
and return bountifully for labor in planting. Plums and pears are
partial failures. Grapes are cultivated more generaUy, but only
with a view of home consumption, and no vineyards have been
planted. Small fruits, strawberries, blackberries, raspberries and
currants are not cultivated by every one, but the return for labor
bestowed is very bountiful and highly remunerative.
The farmers of De Kalb County have steadily increased their sav
ings, until now they are a wealthy community. The average value
of a quarter-section is $6,000. On the organization of the " Gran
ger" movement, so wide-spread and so short-lived, a number of
granges were formed in this county, and upheld vigorously for a
time, but Jan. 1, 1880, the last meeting of the Auburn Grange was
held, to dispose of their effects, and the Patrons of Husbandry in
De Kalb County are a memory of the past.
Some statistics are herewith given for the crops of 1882 and

^4"- — ^  -z  - — ^t^
448 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
1883, which will give an approximate idea of the status of agricult
ure in the county:
In 1883, 28,524 acres (more than a square township) were planted
to wheat, yielding 418,662 bushels; in 1882, 27,227 acres yielded
293,595 bushels; In 1881 the crop was 265,838 bushels; in 1880,
566,746 bushels; in 1879, 644,723 bushels. In 1883, 22,894 acres
(nearly equal in area to a township) were planted to corn, but ow
ing to unfavorable weather the crop was only 365,994 bushels; in
1882, 20,211 acres produced 660,157 bushels; the crop in 1881 was
569,795 bushels; in 1880, 552,293 bushels; and in 1879, 762,918
bushels. In 1883, 13,547 acres were planted to oats, and 465,480
bushels of the grain were gathered; the crop of the preceding year
being 388,376 bushels. Barley was planted on thirty-five acres, and
670 bushels were harvested, while the previous year 3,623 bushels
was the yield. Eye was planted on 173 acres, yielding 2,364
bushels, against 2,652 bushels for the previous year. In buck
wheat, 107 acres in 1883 yielded 897 bushels. But one acre is re
ported as planted to tobacco, the yield being 600 pounds. In 1882
thirty-seven pounds were raised, and in 1881, 2,000 pounds,
In 1883, 1,063 acres of potatoes yielded 6 1,670 bushels, while in
1882 the total yield was 81,476 bushels. No sweet potatoes were
reported for 1883, but 2,032 bushels were raised in 1882. Timothy
was raised from 13,175 acres, amounting to 19,303 tons in 1883;
14,750 tons were cut in 1882; 15,547 acres of clover yielded 23,-
043 tons of clover, the previous year's cut being 12,812 tons. Seed
was reported saved for planting in the years named, as follows :
Timothy, 1883, 222 bushels, and 1882, 342 bushels ; clover, 1883,
2,780 bushels, and 1882, 8,598 bushels;Sblue grass, 1883, eighty
bushels, and 1882, sixty-nine bushels.
In 1883, thirteen acres of flax yielded sixty-seven bushels of
seed, while the previous year 9,822 bushels were reported ; and
seven tons of flax straw were raised also in 1883. In this latter
year, also, fifteen acres were devoted to castor beans, and thirteen
acres to navy, or bunch beans. Maple sugar is, something of a
product, as 8,119 gallons of syrup and 24,479 pounds of sugar were
produced in 1883, and 6,431 gallons of syrup and 25,444 pounds of
sugar the previous season. Sorghum molasses was reported to
amount to 3,819 gallons in 1882, and 2,848 gaUons in 1881; and
234 pounds of sugar are also given for 1 882. One acre only is re
ported for melons, each of the years 1883 and 1882; three acres
were in cabbage in 1883, and two the former year; and of

1^

HISTORY OF DE KALB OOUNTY. 449
onions, one acre was cultivated in 1882, and three acres In 1883.
Tile drain is extensively used, as it has been found a profitable
investment; 79,435 rods were reported in 1883, against 62,003 rods
the year previous.
Of cider, 21,826 gallons were produced in 1882, and 167,366
gaUons in ISSl; of vinegar, 1,936 gallons in 1883, and 8,603 gal
lons iu 1882. For the year ending April 1, 1883, 254 gallons of
wine were also manufactured, and for that ending April 1, 1882,
278 gallons. The milk product is placed at 2,060,344 gallons for
1883, and 1,752,230 gallons for 1882. There were 962 stands of
bees, producing 10,992 pounds of honey, in 1883, and 887 stands,
producing 5,861 pounds, in 1882; and 513 stands are stated to have
been killed during the year ending April 1, 1883.
The product of butter was in 1883, 670,426 pounds; and in 1882,
435,969; that of cheese, in 1883, was 22,828 pounds, and in 1882,
21,510 pounds. Of eggs in 1883, 255,026 dozen; in 1882, 298,714
dozen. In the former of these years 698 pounds of feathers, and
in the latter 901 pounds were reported. The wool-clip in 1882 was
114,594 pounds; in 1881, 76,237 pounds; in 1883, estimated, 101,-
435 pounds.
Of apples, 3,692 bushels were dried in 1881, and 303 bushels in
1882; five bushels of pears in 1883, and twenty-five bushels in
1882; twenty-one bushels of peaches in 1882; 338 gaUons of
cherries were canned in 1881, and 235 gaUons in 1882; 251 quarts
of peaches were canned in 1881, and 15,836 in 1882 ; other small
fruit, 12,320 quarts in 1881, and 19,146 quarts in 1882.
The live stock statistics are more interesting. There were in
1882, under one year old, horses, 435; one to two years, 297; two
to three years, 300 ; three to four years, 361 ; over four years, 3,-
891 ; total, 5,284. In 1883 there were, under one year old, 569;
one to two years, 413; two to three years, 274; three to four years,
329; over four years, 4,106; totah 5,690 — a gain of 406 in one year.
The reported as having died in the year 1883 was 132. The
mules in 1882 under one year old numbered thirteen ; one to two
years, five ; two to three years, five ; three to four years, thirteen ;
over four years, ninety-nine ; total, 135. For the foUowing year,
those under one year old were in number, four; one to two years,
nine ; two to three years, three ; three to four years, eight; over
four years, 103; total, 127; a loss of eight in one year. Nineteen
died during the year ending April 1, 1883.
The cattle under one year old were in 1882, 3,556 in number;

- V9

450 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
one to two years, 2,309 ; two to three years, 1,018 ; over three
years, 6,704; total, 13,597. For 1883, those under one year old
numbered 3,789 ; one to two years, 2,153 ; two to three years, 1,-
170; over three years, 4,734 ; total, 11,846 — a loss of 1,751. Of
the total number in 1883, 5,498 were milch cows. Those dying
during the year ending April 1, 1883, were 219.
In 1882 there were 17,358 stock hogs, and 18,875 fatted hogs,
the latter weighing 4:, 208,835 pounds, and 1,292 died during the
year. In 1883 there were 23,476 stock hogs, and 20,942 fatted
hogs. April 1, 1882, there were 21,680 sheep, and 7,751 lambs;
and one year later there were 28,502 sheep and 8,286 lambs; total,
36,788. During the year ending April 1, 1883, 266 were killed by
dogs, and 1,116 died.
In 1882,1,346 cattle, 7,890 hogs and 171 sheep were slaughteredfor
food; in the succeeding year, 1,121 cattle, 8,724 hogs and 369 sheep.
The poultry sold and used by the producers was reported as fol
lows : In 1882, 138 dozen geese, 261 dozen ducks, thirteen dozen
guinea fowls, 107 dozen pea fowls, 5,085 dozen chickens and 390
dozen turkeys; for the year after, eighty-four dozen geese, 132
dozen ducks, twenty dozen guinaa fowls, five dozen pea fowls, 3,-
252 dozen chickens, and 265 dozen turkeys.
The statistics of fruit show wonderful development. The apple
trees of bearing age in 1882 were, in number, 85,874; under bear
ing age, 16,936; in 1883, bearing age, 106,094; under bearing age,
17,952. Peach-trees, in 1882, bearing age, 16,239; under bearing
age, 10,131 ; in 1883, bearing age, 21,167; under bearing age, 9,-
887. Pear-trees, in 1882, bearing age, 3,030; under bearing age,
2,780; in 1883, bearing age, 3,980; under bearing age, 2,780. Plum-
trees, in 1882, bearing age, 330; under bearing age, 614; in 1883,
bearing age, 374; under bearing age, 463. Quince-trees, 1882,
bearing age, 207; under bearing age, 698; 1883, bearing age, 240;
under bearing age, 467. Cherry-trees, in 1882, bearing age, 20,-
087 ; under bearing age, 6,233 ; in 1883, bearing age, 23,283;
under bearing age, 4,688. Siberian crab-trees, 1882, bearing age,
934; under bearing age, 660; 1883, bearing age, 915; under bear
ing age, 577. Grape-vines, in 1882, bearing age, 8,629 ; under
bearing age, 4,047; 1883, bearing age, 11,621; under bearing age,
4,768. For the year ending April 1, 1883, 3,754 apple-trees died,
and 2,179 were planted, a loss of 1,576; 3,890 peach-trees died, and
3,698 were planted, a loss of 192; 286 pear-trees died, and 694 were
planted, a gain of 408.

4=^

HISTOBT OF DE KALB COUNTY. 451

Blue and other wild grasses occupied 4,636 acres in 1882, and
5,596 acres in 1883 ; the unused plow land amounted to 10,419
acres in 1882, and 19,049 acres in 1883 ; timber land, 54,167 acres
in 1882, and 56,618 acres in 1883 ; newly cleared land brought
under cultivation, 1,485 acres in 1882, and 2,046 acres in 1883.
AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.
So thoroughly has the system of holding fairs been identified
with the great progress made in the agricultural interests of our
country that they are now regarded as the true exponents of the
achievements made by each locality where they exist, and it is now
an index to the public mind that where they are not, there the
great interests of our farming and mechanical classes have not at
tained that perfection so surely arrived at under their auspices.
County fairs are now established not only in our best farming
districts, but also in many localities where the hardy pioneer has
had but a few years to develop the resources and cultivate the soil;
and so thoroughly are the citizens in such cases awake to their
interests, the annual return of the week that gives an opportunity
to compare in a spirit of emulation the varied products of the soil
and their own handiwork is hailed with the same anticipations of
joy as a festal occasion in the olden time, when the yeomanry were
wont to indulge in games and trials of skill and dexterity, and an
almost total abandonment, for a time, to pleasure and good cheer.
But the custom is not yet universal throughout our broad do
main, partly because of the great area of country that has to be
brought under cultivation and gradually advanced until the gen
eral prosperity would warrant the establishment of towns and cities,
and the manufactures and commerce forced to follow in their trains;
and partly, too, from the want of the necessary enterprise upon the
part of the citizens to inaugurate its usefulness in their midst. In
Indiana almost every county holds an annual fair.
Before the war an agricultural society was organized, which held
fairs at Aubum for several years prior to 1860. Successive Presi
dents were S. W. Sprott, J. N. Chamberlain and W. W. Griswold.
The lease for the land having expired, the war coming on, and
other matters intervening, for several years no fairs were held in
the county.
In 1871 leading citizens of Waterloo and else\^ere, prominent
among whom were Dr. J. N. Chamberlain, John and A. S. Leas,
E. J. Lent, S. J. Locke, C. A. O. McClellan, E. M. Lockhart, B.

-^ .^

452 HISTORY OF DE KALB OOUNTY.
B. Long and E. W. McBride, organized the " Northeastern Indi
ana Agricultural Association," on the stock plan. . A tract of land
comprising thirty-one and one quarter acres, adjoining Waterloo,
was bought and fitted up for holding fairs. Upon the grounds is
the best half-mile track in the State, and there are ample accom
modations for exhibitors, in the shape of buUdings, stalls and pens.
The fair is held annually in October. It has uniformly proved suc
cessful, both in giving satisfaction to patrons and in fulfilling the
financial expectations of the projectors. The stock of the associa
tion is fixed at $10,000, of which the greater part has been taken. '
The first annual fair, held Oct. 16, 16, 17 and 18, 1872, was one
of the best ever held in the county. As an experiment, it fully
justified the expectation of the leaders in the enterprise, and war
ranted them in making more permanent and exten sive expendi
tures. Of the immense number in attendance at this fair, there
were between 8,000 and 10,000 present on the third day. The at
tendance on the other days, while much less, was stUl good. The
number of animals and articles entered was nearly 600, and the
receipts from aU sources were $2,502.01. The premium list was a
very liberal one.
The show of pacing, running and trotting horses was a great
success, and was, at that time, rather a new feature at county fairs.
The carefully laid out and kept track attracted many favorable
notices from visitors.
The second fair, Oct. 7, 8, 9 and 10, 1873, was also a splendid
success, and an improvement, in most respect s, over the previous
year's attempt. The weather for all four days was as perfect as if
made to order. The number of entries was three times that of
1872, the increase being most noticeable in the agricultural depart
ment. There was a very fine exhibition of grain by the Burlington
& Missouri Eiver Eailroad Company, comprising hundreds of
specimens of wheat, corn, oats, rye, etc. There was a fair improve
ment in the stock department. The races were not considered as
good as those of the year previous. The attendance was greater,
as on the third day from 10,000 to 12,000 were present. Nearly
7,000 tickets were sold, while children, horsemen, exhibitors and
officers were admitted free. The receipts were about $3,200, or $700
more than the previous year. From the first fair a dividend of
twenty-five per cent, was declared upon the stock; but this second
year, although the receipts were greater, the surplus was used in
making a payment of $1,000 upQa. the grounds of the association.
¦C <i  "^ -•  S \

¦sJq

,k

HISTORY OF DE KALB OOUNTY. 453
The third fair, held Oct. 6, 7, 8 and 9, 1874, was a still further
advance, nearly every department being a sharer in the improve
ment. The weather was at first very threatening, but the long,
cold rain which so frequently comes at that season kindly refrained
fi-om visiting Waterloo. Thursday, the great day, opened dark and
forbidding, but the weather improved during the day. The people
were bound to have a good time anyway, and a constant stream of
carriages was kept up after nine o'clock, from the town to the fair
grounds. The attendance on that day was from 12,000 to 1 5,000,
children being admitted free. The stock department was so full
that many animals were turned out upon the grounds. The de
partment of farm and orchard products was also full. The receipts
of the fair were sufficiently large to warrant a dividend upon the
stock. The races were good on the last day, and, as an additional
attraction, there was a buffalo chase.
The fourth annual fair came off Oct. 6, 6, 7 and 8, 1875. Al
though Tuesday, the first day of the fair, was very rainy, yet a
number of people were on the ground, and a reasonable number of
entries made. The second day was better, and the third day brought
fine weather and a large attendance, 5,000 tickets being sold. The
fourth day was equal to the third. Agricultural Hall presented a
scene of astonishment to all. Samples of agricultural productions
of monstrous size aud superior quality filled the haU to its utmost
capacity. There were beets two feet long and five inches in diame
ter, others nine inches in diameter, though not so long; radishes
twenty inches in length and seven in diameter; carrots twenty
inches long and four inches in diameter; cabbages forty-five inches
in circumference; pumpkins two feet long, weighing over seventy
pounds; onions four inches in diameter; ruta bagas one foot in
diameter. Floral Hall was but moderately filled. The live-stock
department was well filled with a very fine lot of cattle, sheep and
hogs. The power operating the farm machinery was an especially
attractive feature, receiving much attention. The races were be
low the average. This fair was a pecuniary loss to the association.
The fifth annual fair was held Oct. 10, 11, 12 and 13, 1876. The
first of these dates, Tuesday, being general election day, but little
attention was given to the fair, although a goodly number of articles
were entered for exhibition. The next day was a busy one for the
officers of the society, the entries keeping the secretaries constantly
employed. The exhibition of live stock was fully up to that of
previous years; machinery was not so good as in 1876, and neither
29

JV'

'-^

454 HISTORY OF DE KALB CODNTY.
was the exhibition of vegetables and articles in Floral Hall. There
was a creditable display of wagons and buggies, and the fruit dis-
olay was simply magnificent. Apples were most plentiful, and it
must have been a tax upon the ingenuity of the committee to select
the best out of over 300 plates of this standard fruit. On Thurs
day, the third day, over 5,000 tickets were sold, but still the at
tendance was rather less than usual on the third day of a fair. The
weather during the week was fine. The receipts were $2,900.
While this did not enable the association to pay any of its interest-
bearing debt, it was sufficient to pay all current expenses and pre
miums, which was better than any other fair in the State did that
year. The races were very good.
The sixth fair occupied the dates Oct. 2, 3, 4 and 5, 1877, and
was a great success. The weather was propitious, the only rain
coming in the night time. The Thursday's attendance was very
large, as over 8,000 tickets were sold, while several thousand school
children and others were admitted free. The receipts exceeded
$3,600. The exhibition in the various departments was larger
than at any previous fair, especiaUy in live-stock, vegetables, and
in Floral Hall. There were 2,000 entries — 400 in excess of any
previous record. The races were rather below par.
In 1878 the fair was appointed for Oct. 8, 9, 10 and 11. The
attendance was respectable on Wednesday, and immense on Thurs
day. On the great day of the fair over 8,000 tickets were sold,
and it was estimated that a larger number attended than ever be
fore. The exhibition was good in quality and quantity. The races
were very good, except on Friday, when a rain made the track soft.
" Excelsior" seemed to be the motto of the managers of the asso
ciation; for from 16,000 to 18,000 people attended on the fourth
day of the fair in 1879, which was held Oct. 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10.
Nearly every department showed an improvement this year, the
best advance being noticeable in Floral and Agricultural Halls, the
machinery department, and in the horse, cattle and sheep depart
ment. The exhibition of swine was light, probably accounted for
by the cholera of several years preceding. Tuesday night and
Wednesday It rained, filling every one with the gravest forebod
ings of the success of the exhibition. At daylight, Thursday
morning, it was still raining ; but by sunrise the weather cleared
up, and then it seemed that every one for twenty miles around had
had their teams hitched up, waiting for the rain to stop falling;
and the moment it stopped all started for the fair, gladdening the
'¦"/I _ - 'i"»

4- ^

HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY. 465

hearts of the managers with by far the largest crowd ever assem
bled on the grounds. Over 10,000 tickets were sold on that one
day. Additional ground was bought and a new Floral HaU erected
before the fair, and the result showed that they were needed, and
justified the wisdom of the management. The races were as good
as could be expected, with heavy track from the previous rains.
One feature this year was a twenty-mile race, a man undertaking
to ride twenty miles on ten horses in fifty minutes. This distance
was completed in forty-eight minutes and forty-eight seconds, or
one minute and twelve seconds inside of the time agreed upon.
With the exception of three mile heats the horses were changed
every half mile, the rider dismounting and mounting each time.
As ten animals were used for the trial, the feat was not a very
severe one on the horses; but as an exhibition of endurance on the
part of the rider, who was on duty through the whole race, it
would be hard to find its equal anywhere.
This fair being such a success, an equally prosperous affair could
hardly follow in 1880, when the ninth fair was held, Sept. 28, 29,
30 and Oct. 1, but stUl it was a near approach, and in certain re
spects even an improvement. The best departments this year were
Floral Hall and the machinery department. The races were also
good. The tenth fair, Oct. 4, 5, 6 and 7, 1881, was the victim of un
favorable circumstances. The partial failure of crops throughout
the country made all county fairs poorer than usual. In addition,
the weather during fair week was bad. Heavy rains at the begin
ning of the week only ceased Tuesday night; Wednesday was
cold and the roads muddy, Thursday was chilly, and Friday was
the only pleasant day of the week. The sales of tickets were about
8,000. The exhibition was, in many classes, full, especially in
Floral Hall ; fruit, agricultural machinery and blooded horses, in
particular the heavy draft class; others were rather light. The
number of entries was over 1,600, and the receipts were $500 in
excess of the previous years.
Oct. 3, 4, 6 and 6, 1882, the association held its eleventh annual
fair, which was a most gratifying success. The total number of
admission tickets sold was over 16,600, which was 2,000 more than
in 1879, the highest previous year. Thursday the, " big day," was
also above any previous Thursday. The weather was all that could
be desired. At times it was too warm for comfort, but the entire
absence of^ain, in the day time, gave everybody, both far and near,

456 HISTORY OF DE KALB OOUNTY.
an opportunity to see the fair. The gross receipts were $6,400;
which paid all bills and left a surplus to apply on the indebtedness.
The exhibition of live-stock was lighter than usual, except in cattle
and horses. The other departments made an excellent showing.
The races were good. This year the best time ever made on the
track was accomplished, being 2:26J-.
The twelfth annual fair, Oct. 2, 3, 4 and 5, 1883, was on the
whole about an average one. The weather being cold and unfavor
able, the attendance was thereby considerably lessened. The ex
hibition was in most departments creditable. Swine and sheep
were better than ever before, and showed a great improvement in
the character of the stock bred in this county, as compared with a
few years ago. The Poland-China, Chester White and Berkshire
varieties were the principal ones shown of hogs, and in sheep, the
Merinos, or fine wools, largely exceeded all other breeds put to
gether. The exhibition in Floral Hall was very fine, particularly in
the ladies' department, such as needle-work and fancy articles. In
the agricultural hall the display of canned fruits and jellies, apples
and potatoes was very fine, while the other classes were neglected.
There was a large list of horses, and the race s were on the whole.
better than for many years previous. Governor Porter had been
advertised to be present, but failed to arrive, owing to sickness of a
near friend.
At the annual meeting held in December, 1883, it was reported
that the indebtedness was only $400. This is a most excellent
showing, the long series of fairs having thus paid all current ex
penses and also furnished the means for buying the association's
fine grounds, and erecting the buildings thereon. The stock held
was reported at the same meeting to be $9,025; and the land and
other property is valued at $10,500. The officers chosen for 1884
were as follows: President, E. N. Crooks; Vice-President, Dr. Mad
den; Secretary, Don A. Garwood ; Treasurer, J. C. Boyer; Directors,
John S. Boots, G. W. Draggoo, M. B. WUlis, J. A. Barns, A. D.
Moore, A. McCoy, Miles Waterman, J. N. Chamberlain, J. M.
Brumbeck, E. Y. Williamson, Henry Hood, S.'J. Locke, John Leas,
L. J. Blair, G. O. Denison, C. K. Baxter.
The thirteenth annual fair was held Sept. 23, 24, 25 and 26, 1884,
— two weeks earlier than usual. The weather was unfavorable the
first two days, leaving only two days in which to make it a success.
Under the circumstances, the enterprise was fairly well sustained.
The exhibition was very good, but the attendance was smaller

-71-

Js

HISTORY OF DE KALB OOUNTY. ' 457
than usual. Only 9,883 tickets were sold altogether. One of the
features this year was a balloon ascension.
RAILROADS.
DeKalb County is well supplied with means of traveL Five
railroads cross the territory of the county, affording ample facilities
for transportation and traffic, while developing industries and pro
moting the growth of the villages and towns. The first road to be
builtwas the Air-line Division of the Michigan Southern and North
ern Indiana, now known as the
LAKE SHORE & MICHIGAN SOUTHERN.
Surveys were made as early as 1852-3. Along its proposed
route the villages of Corunna and Lawrence, and the towns of
Waterloo and Butler sprang into life in 1855. May 27, 1856, the
inhabitants of Butler, forty-one in number, heard with pleasure the
whistle of the locomotive proclaiming the completion of the road to
that point, and by 1868, the work was finished in this county. Its
completion was the signal of progress. Markets were brought
home, prices were enhanced, and cash was paid for most articles
produced. Log cabins began to give way to frame and brick houses,
and comforts and conveniences heretofore unknown were enjoyed.
This has in the county 20.6 miles of main track and 5.37 miles
of side track, valued at $491,067. It enters the eastern side of the
county, passes west through the northern parts of Stafford, Wil
mington, Union and Eichland townships, striking the Noble
County line on nearly the border of Fairfield and Eichland town
ships. In the spring of 1870, the
GRAND rapids & INDIANA
Eailroad was opened. Its track crosses the extreme southwestern
comer of the county — section 31, of Butler Township. It has no
station within the limits of this county, but it is nevertheless a
benefit, as It is a favorite route for northern travel. This road has
ia the county 1.07 miles of main track, valued at $10,165. The
people, impressed by the necessity of having other outlets for trade
and a connection with the lumber and salt regions of Michigan,
subscribed heavily to insure the construction of the Fort Wayne,
Jackson & Saginaw Eailroad — the citizens of Auburn and Waterloo
and vicinity raising $112,000. Auburn, which had been hereto
fore an inland town, awoke to renewed life when, Oct. 5, 1870, the

^FT

¦v<

458 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
first train rolled along the road. It enters the county from the
south and passes through the townships of Butler, Keyser, Union
and Smithfield. This line has in the county 19.73 miles of main
track, valued at $143,516. The road has since become apart of the
gr^at Michigan Southern system.
The first railroad commenced in DeKalb County, but the fourth
to be completed, was the Detroit, Eel Eiver & Illinois, now a part
of the curious aggregation of roads operated by the
WABASH, ST. LOUIS & PACIFIC
It was projected early in the fifties, but lacked for a long time
the support of the requisite capital. Every year, and sometimes
every month, the news would come that the line was to be promptly
pushed through; and finally, by the close of 1872, it was com
pleted from Logansport to Auburn. At the latter point it stopped,
however, for another rest. It was feared by some that it would
stop here permanently ; for early in 1873 the report was spread that
the road was consolidated with the Fort Wayne, Jackson & Sagi
naw road. This consolidation was favored by the directors, but
when submitted to a vote of the stockholders, June 5, 1873, at a
meeting held at Columbia City, Whitley County, the measure was
overwhelmingly defeated, largely because of the efforts of the stock
holders in DeKalb County. The number of shares voted for the
sale were 909, and the number against, 10,698. To attain this end,
citizens' committees were sent oat from Butler and Aubum. The
people living along the line furnished the right of way and also
subscribed $4,000 to the mile. After the defeat of the consolidation
plan, the road was pushed eastward, reaching Butler Oct. 18, 1873.
It was a proud and happy day for Auburn and Butler when the
last rail was laid that reduced the time of travel between those
towns to half an hour. The editor of the Courier wrote as follows:
" Last Saturday was achieved that for which years ago the fondest
hopes were Indulged, and heads have grown gray in expectancy.
Decades have rolled their weary lengths along, since its inception,
and many of those who stood by the enterprise with wUling hearts
and ready hands have long since been gathered to their fathers,
but the firm purpose of Its projectors was caught up by those who
followed, until at last, notwithstanding tbe many obstaoles that
appeared and re-appeared at every step, the grand project has been
carried, through storm aud trial, over a period of more than twenty
years, to a successful completion.

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———-————-— — — — -  — —  —  — — k^— I
HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY. 469
" And to-day far down the beautiful valley, now rising, now dip
ping among its gently undulating plains, steaming and hissing,
plunges the locomotive, where once no civilized voice or hum of
happy indush-y fell upon the ear, to fill the heart with joy. where
all was desolation in the midst of nature's paradise; and the thun
dering train, bearing Its harvest of commerce and trade, dashes
past with the rapidity of the wind, leaving the curling smoke to
descend with gossamer wings upon those that fostered and cher
ished in its infancy this grand achievement."
The intended termini of this road were Detroit and Logansport;
the actual are Butler, on the Lake Shore, and Logansport. Its route
from the southwest part of the county is northeasterly, crossing the
B. & O. E. E. and the Fort Wayne Division of the L. S. & M. S.
E. E. at Auburn Junction. The road has 18.9 miles of track in De
Kalb County, valued at $96,244.
BALTIMORE & OHIO.
The last railroad built, but perhaps the most important, in the
county, was the Chicago Division of the Baltimore & Ohio. It
first projected soon after the war. Mr. Garrett's original plan was
that an independent company, called the Baltimore, Pittsburg &
Chicago, should build a road from Pittsburg to the Garden City,
on Lake Michigan; that this road should connect with and be a
part of the Baltimore & Ohio system; and that the latter corpo
ration should contribute $5,000,000 toward the enterprise.
Two lines were surveyed, the first running through Steuben
County, and the second, known as the Defiance line, through De
Kalb County. For a long time the people were kept in suspense
as to which route would be adopted. The line through this county,
being the most direct, was adopted in February, 1872, to the great
joy of De Kalb's prominent citizens. All the county was asked to
give was the right of way, sixty-six feet only, wide. Not a dollar
in money was asked . An enthusiastic meeting was held at Au
bum, and a committee of three was sent in either direction from
the town to secure the right of way. Fair progress was made, but
the panic of 1873, with other causes, so delayed the work that not
till Nov. 1, 1875, did the first train run through the county. It
passes through Garrett, Auburn Junction and St. Joe, running
east and west. Its 20.72 miles of main track Is assessed at $10,-
000 per mile, and its 5.5 miles of side track at $2,600 per mile.
EoUlng stock is assessed at $1,600 per mile, and the improvements
in the county at $43,490. Total valuation, $297,692.

460 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
WAGON ROADS.
Few of the present generation realize the difficulty of traveling
in an early day in a wooded country. Now, one can cross the
county in three or four hours, over a smooth, hard, level road, and
his horses can draw two or three tons with ease. The contrast is
as great as possible between this condition of things and that in
which the first settlers found the region included in De Kalb
County. A dense forest, with thick underbrush and swampy
ground, is impenetrable to any but the aborigines who spent
their lives in the study of forest craft.
The hardy immigrant, with his small wagon-load of necessary
furniture, followed a trail made by the Indians, when possible, and
for the last two or three miles cut his own road through the brush
and woods, with ax in hand. The road thus made was of the
rudest character when dry, and in the spring of the year was well-
nigh impassable. At times one's right fore wheel and left hind
wheel would be high in air, on stumps or logs; then the fore wheels
would plunge into a mud-hole, while the rear of the wagon seemed
to mount up toward the clouds. Again, he would side along in a
slough, with the mud over the hubs, and suddenly run over a
stump. To travel with safety in a wagon, he must brace himself
with both feet in the corners of the box, with every muscle in his
body in a state of tension, and use both hands to drive, leaving his
face, neck and hands entirely at the mercy of the hungry mosquitoes
swarming around. Wo to him whose horse mired ! Such an ac
cident, or the breaking of a wheel, was always liable to occur, per
haps far from home, on the approach of evening.
The extreme slowness of travel over a newly cut road through
the forest, in the wet spring time, is told without exaggeration by
a pioneer. He had been to a mill, with a wagon and yoke of oxen,
and arrived within one mile of home at seven o'clock in the even
ing; but that one mile required four hours to cover. On reaching
home at eleven o'clock, his wife told him that she had heard him
calling to his oxen ever since seven o'clock !
The time and expense consumed in taking a load of wheat or
corn to market frequently equaled the value of the produce sold;
and one man tells how he sold a load of corn for just enough to
pay for his own board in town, and for feeding his oxen.
No one thing is riiore essential to the farmer's prosperity than
good roads to market. He may have good soil, well cultivated,
_e

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HISTORY OF DE KALB OOUNTY. 461
good house and out-buildings, improved machinery and cheap
labor; but if he is cut off from a buying and selling point, he is
helpless, and can only maintain a meager existence, like the stunted
Oriental, or the degraded Mexican. The Indians, possessing no
wheeled vehicles, carrying on little trade, using no machinery,
found the trace or trail all-sufficient for their use. Between the
villages of the Pottawatomies and the trading-posts were well-
beaten trails. Two main trails traversed the land of De Kalb
County. One from AVhite Pigeon forked near Lima, one branch
terminating at Fort Wayne, the other leading southeast, and at St.
Joseph River intersecting a trail from the east. The other trail,
jfrom the direction of Toledo, following a southwesterly course,
crossed the Fort Wayne trail near the Lake of the Woods, south of
the Tamarack House, a pioneer tavern of Lagrange. The trail
was a path worn in places to a depth of six inches by moccasin and
pony hoof, and making wide detours for marsh and lake. Traces
remain of the White Pigeon trail in the Helwick wood-lot in Fair
field Township.
Pioneer roads followed the trails as far as practicable. Joseph
Miller (first County Surveyor) cut a narrow track from the river
through to Cedar Creek, below Auburn, and also from Auburn to
Blair's mill. Miller stated that the logs were left in the track, and
that articles were hauled by oxen attached to a sled constructed as
follows : A sapling was cut, having a fork at the top, consisting of
stout limbs several feet long; the limbs were used as runners, and
the body of the stick formed the tongue; a box was fixed on the
runners. Wesley Park and Mr. Miller afterward widened this
road to admit the passage of a cart.
In July, 1837, Wesley Park, Cornelius Gilmore and Seth W.
Murray were appointed Commissioners to lay out the Coldwater
and Fort Wayne State road, running nearly north and south
through the county. They did so, making their report Sept. 1.
Wesley Park and one Hostetter were to lay out the Goshen and
Defiance State road, nearly east and west through the county. The
work was performed by Park alone, and the Legislature afterward
legalized this. Joseph Miller was the surveyor, and Henry Feagler
and John Miller carried the chain. Other first roads were located
as follows : The State road from Auburn to Fort Wayne via Van-
doler's Mill, by T. L. Yates and Benjamin Miller; the State road
from Angola to Fort Wayne, west of Auburn, by Daniel Moody,
Solomon Showers and Henry Miller; a road on the southwest side

*/ls 

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462 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
of Fish Creek, by Simon Aldrich, Peter Boyer and Eoger Aldrich ;
a road on the northwest side of the St. Joseph Eiver was surveyed
by E. J. Dawson, and afterward corrected by John Blair, John
Webster and Hector Blake; and a road from Enterprise to Union-
town by Daniel Kepler, Michael Boyer and John Farlee.
At the May session of 1838, the commissioners appropriated
$2,000 from the three per cent, fund, as follows : $800 on the Fort
Wayne and Coldwater road; $800 on the Goshen and Defiance
road; and $400 on the State road on the northwest side of the St.
Joseph Elver. The commissioner of the three per cent, fund was
also directed to have constructed a bridge over the Big Cedar Creek
north of the village of Auburn, where It was crossed by the Fort
Wayne and Coldwater State road; another over the Little Cedar
Creek, near the house of Joseph Stroup, where it crossed the State
road; another over the Big Cedar Creek, at the crossing of Goshen
and Defiance State road, near Auburn; a bridge over each of the
three principal branches of the West Branch of Cedar Creek, where
it was crossed by the same road; and a bridge over the Twenty-six
Mile Creek, where it was crossed by the State road near the house
of Byron Bunnel.
These first bridges were poor affairs, and though built at little
expense, were more costly in the end than the bridges which have
since taken their places all over the county, particularly the fine
bridges at Newville, Waterloo, and Aubum. In 1842 Isaac Swart-
hout and J. E. Corper, while journeying to visit at Kendallville
crossed with a yoke of oxen and a two-horse wagon a bridge over
Cedar Creek, which Joseph Miller had built for $300. This wagon
was the first to cross the structure, and its weight broke a stringer.
Hiram Iddings had previously crossed It in a one-horse buggy.
But with increasing experience and growing wealth, more was done
each year on roads and bridges; aud now, after an expenditure of
hundreds of thousands of dollars, highways in a good state of re
pair reach into every portion of the county. Much remains to be
done yet, however, and the next ten years will doubtless witness
wondrous improvements.

^^

^S=±:

CHAPTEE XL
MISCELLANEOUS.

Soldiers' Eeunions. — At Auburn. — Eeunion of Company D,
Eighty-eighth Eegiment. — Eeunion of 1879. — The Sham Bat
tle. — Eeunion of 1880. — Tri-State Eeunion. — Eeunion at
Garrett. — At Auburn in 1883. — At Waterloo in 1884. — A
New Way of Getting a Drink. — They Backed Down. —
Disastrous Storm. — Fall of the Snyder Block at Auburn. —
Jail. — Court- House. — Spelling Match. — Wild Game. — Fox
Hunts. — Sink-Hole. — Daring Burglary. — An Expensive
'Coon. — List of Early AYeddings. — Manufacturers. — Economic
Statistics. — Census Statistics. — Vital Statistics. — Eeligious
Statistics. — Social Statistics. — Educational Statistics.

But few meetings of the old soldiers of De Kalb County have
been held. The pleasure and profit of such assemblages may be
made great by proper management, but the tendency to connect
them with politics, and some other reasons, have made these re
unions rare, here as well as elsewhere.
Sept. 28, 1876, at Auburn, the first attempt was made to hold a
reunion of soldiers. The soldiers of all Northeastern Indiana were
invited. The unfavorable weather in the morning kept hundreds
away who had intended to be present; but even with this draw
back the attendance was very large, being estimated at 5,000. The
number of soldiers enrolled at headquarters reached nearly 700.
At about 11 o'clock a. m. a procession was formed on Main
street, the detachment of the Defiance battery, with their gun,
taking the lead, followed by detachments from the Thirtieth, Forty-
fourth, Seventy-fourth, Eighty -eighth. One Hundredth and One
Hundred and Twenty-ninth regiments, as well as many individual
representatives of other commands. The most noticeable feature
of the procession was the two old, tattered flags, which had been
carried by the Forty-fourth and Eighty-eighth regiments. The
music, which was good, was furnished by the Angola and Auburn
(463)

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464 history of de kalb county.
cornet bands. They added very materially to the enjoyment of the
occasion. The procession moved to the Saginaw depot and r-e-
ceived General Logan, on his arrival from Fort Wayne, escorting
him to the hotel, when an adjournment for dinner took place. The
dinner was spread on improvised tables in the court-house square,
and was pronounced a substantial one by all who participated.
After the inner man was refreshed, those present gathered about
the speakers' stand north of the court-house, and were addressed
by Eev. Conway, of Wisconsin, an eloquent chaplain of one of
Logan's regiments, until the arrival of General Logan on the stand,
when the regular programme was commenced. The Lumbard Glee
Club sang a song suitable to the occasion, prayer was offered by the
chaplain, and Captain E. D. Hartman delivered the welcoming
address. The Glee Club then sang "Marching through Georgia,"
after which General Logan was introduced, and received a perfect
ovation. He essayed to speak to the multitude, but his voice was
in poor condition, and as a high wind was blowing he was soon
forced to retire. Some short speeches were made by citizens of the
county, and with a song by the club the reunion was adjourned
sine die. REUNION OP COMPANY D, EIGHTY-EIGHTH REGIMENT.
Oct. 19, 1877, about thirty surviving members of Company D,
Eighty-eighth Indiana. Volunteer Infantrj-, assembled in Ensley's
Hall, at Auburn. Scott Swan acted as President, and Allen H.
Dougal as Secretary. A very pleasant and profitable reunion was
had, and many reminiscences of former times were talked over,
letters received from many absent comrades were read, which
brought to remembrance their absent though once familiar faces.
A roll-call showed that seventy out of 115 members were either
present or accounted for. The same officers were elected for another
year. The next reunion was appointed to be held at Fort Wayne,
Dec. 29, 1877, the anniversary of the battle of Stone Eiver, in
which the regiment took an active part, and lost many brave men;
and an invitation was extended to all other companies of the Eighty-
eighth to assemble, to effect an organization of the entire regiment.
The old battle flags were present and were objects of considerable
attention. REUNION OF 1879.
Perhaps the most successful soldiers' reunion ever held in the
county, and certainly one of the most largely attended meetings ot

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HISTORY OF DE KALB OOUNTY. 465
any kind, was held at xVuburn, Sept. 19, 1879. Hundreds of teams
were parked upon cross-streets and alleys, every available nook was
made a depository for vehicles, and even adjoining fields were
lined with stamping steeds. Long lines of wagons and buggies
kept pouring in until the town was crowded. The honest old
farmer, with hardened hands, was there in the full tide of enjoy
ment. The good old dame, with her modest bow string and best
hat and tucker, was there. He with the heavy boots from the
fresh plowed fields, shoulder to shoulder with the gaudily dressed
dandy, checkered the scene with their various garbs. Every pro
fession and calling contributed to this sea of humanity, while in
and around all, ubiquitous and omnipresent, stood the soldier, with
his badge of honor fastened to his bosom, swelling with pride and
filled with the enthusiasm that comes of brave deeds and noble
actions. The occasion was his, the hour was his, and with a light
heart and gladsome face he entered into his enjoyment. A thou
sand fiags waving In the breeze attested the result of his bravery,
and the music-ladened air bore to him the honor accorded him.
Friday morning, the eventful day, opened with a few threaten
ing clouds, but in a short time the clear blue specks began to
brighten and broaden. Doubt was dispelled as the leaden canopy
disappeared and the clear sunlight fell upon the scene, and from
that time until the close the weather was all that could be desired.
During the forenoon the time was spent in receiving delegations
from various points by the soldiers present. In the afternoon a
grand parade was made upon the streets, under the command of
Colonel Zollinger, of Fort Wayne, after which the exercises at
the stand were held. Colonel I. B. McDonald called the meeting
to order, Eev. J. H. Norrls offered prayer, and Hon. J. H. Baker
delivered the welcoming address. The music was furnished by a
glee club.
During the exercises a beautiful fiag was presented to the
Soldiers' Association of Auburn, by the ladies, through Mrs. Enos
Casebeer, which was formally received by President Gordon. In
the evening an entertainment was given at which Eobert Hender-
shot, the drummer boy of the Eappahannock, appeared in an excel
lent performance on the snare drum, assisted by Major Coolidge
with the fife. Glee clubs from Fort Wayne and Auburn also
assisted. Short and jolly speeches were made by Captain Stratton,
Colonels Humphrey and Eobertson, Corporal Sweet and others,
after which all adjourned.

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466 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
The last day opened clear and beautiful, and as the last salute
was being given by Captain Hopkins's battery from Toledo, teams
began to arrive. So large was the attendance of soldiers that two
regiments had to be formed for the grand parade. At ten o'clock
the column started, marching throu-gh the principal streets, making
as fine a display as ever was seen in Northern Indiana. On the
arrival at the stand. Colonel Eobertson, of Fort Wayne, and others
delivered short addresses, mostly In response to toasts. After
singing and a social recess, came dinner.
THE SHAM BATTLE.
It was evident that this was expected to be the great event of
the reunion from the way all rushed to the " battle-field." The
grade on Ninth street and the bridge were literally alive with
people, while the woods and adjoining fields held their quota. At
half past one the rebel flag was run up in the fort, the artillery
was planted, and the force divided for the conflict. Captain Mc
Bride with his rifle company was in the advance of the Union
forces, while Captain Plnchin held the fort with his company,
assisted by a strong flanking force. During this time the batteries
opened flre and kept up their music until the end. In a few mo
ments a line of skirmishers from the Union army was seen ap
proaching, and the picket line of the " rebs" was driven in. The
skirmish line was rallied on a line with the advancing forces,
which moved out some distance in the open fleld, when they were
repulsed with considerable loss, to- judge from the number of
stretchers used on the occasion.
As yet but two had been wounded in the fort. Eetreating, the
Union line again formed in full view of the fort, and made another
rush, but were forced to fall back from a destructive tire which
greeted them In front. The Union battery now limbered up and
moved close up to the fort, and almost silenced their battery. The
General commanding, after a hasty consultation, determined to
make a flank movement, convinced that the fort could not be taken
by regular assault. Soon a large force of blue coats was seen
moving on the right of the fort through the smoke, with fixed
bayonets, at double quick, and as the long line came gleaming on,
a cheer rose from the immense throng that made the blood tingle.
Disappearing in the woods below for a few moments, their line
of skirmishers appeared, and pop, pop, here and there went a gun;*
faster and faster came the shots, and soon their movements were

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HISTORY OF DE KALB OOUNTY. 467
revealed. Captain Plnchin promptly disposed of his forces so as
to counteract this movement, and the battery in the fort was
brought to bear upon the line of blues. Advancing slowly but
surely to within a short distance of the works. Captain McBride's
company, armed with breech-loaders, opened a heavy fire upon the
exposed rebels, which was responded to in a gallant manner by the
Johnnies, until the roar of musketry was incessant. But above the
din was heard the voice of the Union commander, and "Forward,
double quick!" was no sooner given than tbe blues started forward;
and as that old, terrible yell broke from the line, striking dismay
to the rebs, they stormed the fort and carried the day. It was a
beautiful sight, and well repaid all who took the trouble to wit
ness it. REUNION OF 1880.
June 10 and 11 the soldiers of Northeastern Indiana met at
Waterloo, and the number of visitors to the sham battle on the
second day was over 6,000. This year the display of uniformed
and unufllformed soldiers was the largest ever seen in the county.
There were uniformed companies from Bryan and Waterloo, and
ununiformed companies from Butler, Auburn, Angola, Waterloo
and other points. Colonel A. D. Sleight, of Indianapolis, and
others made speeches. TRI-STATE REUNION.
Thursday and Friday, Aug. 18 and 19, 1881, a " tri-State" reunion
was held at Butler, which was a grand success in point of attend
ance. Probably 10,000 persons were present, and this crowd
was admirably well entertained, as far as food and lodging were
concerned. The sham battle on the second day was excellent; but
otherwise there was not much system in the reunion. There were
no speakers, and very little attempt at a programme. On the
evening of the second day a sad accident occurred. While the
Butler artUlery company were firing one of the guns it was pre
maturely discharged, lacerating the right hand of a member of the
company named Eevet in so shocking a manner that it was neces
sary to amputate it at the wrist. Pickpockets made a raid upon
the meeting, and harvested a number of pocket-books.
REUNION AT GARRETT.
A successful soldiers' reunion was held at Garrett, Aug. 24 and
25, 1882. Addresses were delivered by Judge Lowry and Hon. W.

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468

HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.

C. Glasgow, candidates for Congress from this district. A very
good sham battle was fought on the second day, lasting an hour.
AT AUBURN IN 1883.
Wednesday and Thursday, Sept. 19 and 20, 1883, a reunion was
held at Auburn, which was attended by soldiers and Grand Army
posts from Southern Michigan, Northwestern Ohio and North
eastern Indiana. The first day was rainy, and the attendance was
small. Late In the day some impromptu speeches were made,
none of the invited speakers being present. Thursday the weather
was more favorable, and the town was early fiUed with visitors. A
goodly parade was held, and speeches were made by Colonel
Eobertson and E. Stratton, of Fort Wayne, and W. H. Mcintosh,
of Aubum. Afterward the never-faUing sham battle was fought.
AT WATERLOO IN 1884.
The reunion at Waterloo, June 6, 1884, was not as weU attended
as usual, for several reasons. The old settlers met the day before,
and other meetings were held during the week that attracted more
or less attention. StUl 216 soldiers registered, and many more
were present. A few speeclies were made, and the usual sham
battle fought; and all present had a good time.
A NEW WAY OF GETTING A DRINK.
A good joke is told on a Waterloo saloon keeper; the incident
happened about two years after the war. A representative of the
Green Isle stepped into the saloon and, with a countenance full of
inquiry, said :
" An' have you got any good rye whisky?"
"Yes, very good; the best in town," said the liquor vender.
"An' have you got any half pint bottles, my good man?"
"Yes," was the reply.
"An' will you please to fill one with your best rye whisky for
me?" asked the man from the land of the shamrock and harp.
" Of course," said the obliging dealer; and after reaching the
required flask and spending a full half hour in cleansing it, re
paired to the cellar, drew half a pint of his Bourbon, aud presented
it to the thirsty gentleman in waiting.
Pat took the bottle, raised it to his lips, swallowed about half its
contents, and then, after making the appropriate face over it, said
in a very confidential tone :

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HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY. 469
"Will you please sit this to one side till I call for it ?"
The provider of liquid refreshments, " smelling a large-sized rat-
trap full of mice," carefully stowed away the half-filled bottle. The
son of Erin, of course, never called for it, but took this novel way
of obtaining a drink. THEY BACKED DOWN.
The following incident shows that " Young America" was,
thirteen years ago, pretty much the same as now, a little inclined
to do more talking than can be supported by actions. It took
place at a certain school-house but a few miles from Auburn.
It was announced that a Mr. Edgecomb would give a scientific
and historical entertainment at the school-house on a certain even
ing. Mr. E. generously extended complimentary invitations to
the teacher and director, for favors received at their hands. This
act so "rUed" certain pigmies of manhood in the district that to
prevent an explosion they were compelled to raise the safety valves
and let off a little of their bile by giving vent to threats of violence,
such as ''We will go in free, or we'll bust the shebang;" while
another boasted, " If he don't let me in he'll smell fresh pork,"' etc.
At an early hour the crowd began to gather in, and among thfe
number a gang of those small-souled specimens of humanity, whose
stamping on the porch outside sounded like the bombardment of a
fort in the distance, while the air resounded with their hideous
yells and jeers. At the appointed time the door was opened, and
all well-disposed persons paid their fees and passed in. But among
the number were four boys, much larger in stature than in principle,
who made a rush characteristic of all greenies and succeeded in
crowding their way in without paying any fees.
After all was in readiness, the proprietor went to each of these-
bold young men, and quietly demanded his fee. For a few mo
ments the "long-eared" principle appeared to predominate, but
finally one of them borrowed 26 cents of a friend, and after receiv
ing his change, 5 cents, demanded 25 cents more, averring that he
had given 50 cents; but this did not win. The other three then
paid their dues, and the exhibition commenced.
It would seem, by the interest the Professor manifested in his
subject, that, by himself at least, all past insults had been forgot
ten ; and the way he presented his subject, together with the fre
quent and hearty applause of the audience, and the last lingering
look at the " good night" piece, showed how sorry all were to have
30

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470 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
the spell broken, and fully justified the visitors in pronouncing the
affair a grand success, and a rich treat to all.
But when the Professor came to gather up his effects, he found,
to his surprise, that dishonorable warfare had been resorted to by
the unruly ones, and that they had swindled his little son, a lad of
eight years, in whose charge he had, placed some candies; and that
with buying a little, and stealing much more, the rogues had re
lieved the little fellow of two or three dollars worth of his stock,
and given him but 22 cents to show for the trade. The Professor's
polite firmness once more gained the victory, however, for the next
day he made some calls on the parties, who were very glad to,com-
promise for $10 damages. DISASTROUS STORM.
The years 1871 and 1872 saw many new buildings erected in
Aubum. Almost every square was blockaded by building material
piled up in the street and on the sidewalk. Among the finer
blocks constructed in 1872 was that known as Odd Fellows' HaU.
Sept. 29, 1872, between three and four o'clock in the morning, a
terrible gale sprang up from the southwest and struck the new
building with great fury. Its wall, which was then ready for the
roof, succumbed to the face of the tempest and fell to the ground
with a great crash, completely demolishing all the timber and
woodwork, and damaging the Methodist Episcopal church on the
east to the extent of several hundred dollars .
The scene the day after was most gloomy and desolate. For
several rods on either side great heaps of broken stone, brick and
cracked timbers lay in profusion, little of which indicated that it
could be used again. The middle walls of Ensley's block were also
badly damaged, especially the one next the hall. Had this block
been completed one story higher, the other building would have
been saved; but the brick work had been tardily prosecuted, and
the result was a great calamity .
The Methodist Episcopal church, ou the east side of the block, was
badly damaged, the whole of the west side being forced in by the
crushing weight of the wall, and there being nothing left of the
windows, sash, shutters, etc. The people had been at great ex
pense in getting this edifice in good shape, and repairing the par
sonage, and were illy prepared to meet this severe loss. The lodge of
Odd Fellows was left in a worse than bankrupt condition. They
had gathered together every means, both by contributions from

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HISTORY OF DE KALB OOUNTY. 471
their own membership and by borrowing, to create a fnnd to erect
this fine building.
Liberal friends were at hand, however, and in a few months
work was once more resumed on the building, which, on the north
side of the court-house square, has since been one of the most
prominent structures in Auburn.
FALL OF THE SNYDER BLOCK.
The Ensley block seemed connected with some strange fatality,
for Sunday evening, April 6, 1873, another building fell, on the
west side, entailing a greater pecuniary loss than the ruin of the
Odd Fellows' HaU.
The church-going people had scarcely passed the new brick
block on Seventh street known as Snyder's building, on their way
to their various residences, when a sullen roar fell upon the air
like the sound of a mighty wind, or the escape of steam from an
engine. There was little effort required to divine the cause. All
day, and the day before, the inner foundation wall of Snyder's
building, just completed, gave indication of giving way ; and though
no one prophesied that the fall would occur so soon, it was never
theless regarded as in a most dangerous condition.
This building adjoined the Ensley block, the first division ot
which contained a cellar, the west wall of which, next to the Sny
der building, was the one that gave way.
Not only was the fine building destroyed, but also a large amount
of machinery which the building contained, belonging to Mr. Sny
der. Eeapers, mowers, plows, hay-rakes, and other implements
were crushed to almost total destruction with the fall. Messrs.
Martin & Easely had occupied the second story front but a few
days, ana their whole stock, valued at $3,000, went down in this
crash. Mr. Ensley's west building, next to Snyder's, was also to
tally demolished. The lesson was a dear one, but was not in vain,
the fallen structures being soon replaced with more stable build
ings, which yet stand. JAIL.
A necessary adjunct to the administration of justice is a county
prison. May 9, 1838, the commissioners ordered the County
Agent, Byron Bunnel, to erect a jail, and pay for the same by the
sale of town lots in Aubum, deeded to the county by Wesley Park,
"said jail to consist of one ground room sixteen feetsquare inside of

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472 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
the walls. The upper soil on the spot where the jail stands shall be
removed, and three sticks of timber twelve inches square and
twenty feet long shall be bedded ten inches into the ground twenty
feet apart from the outside of the two extremes, upon which a floor
shall be laid of timbers twelve inches thick, and not less than eight
nor more than sixteen inches wide, and fastened to the timbers on
which they rest with one and one-quarter inch pins, making a floor
of twenty feet square; upon which said jail shall be built of double
walls on each side of timbers twelve inches square, except such
variations as may be necessary for leveling the walls at the top and
bottom. And it shall be so constructed that the outside wall shall
break joints with the inside wall, and shall be eight feet high be
tween the floors. The upper floor shall be made of timbers twelve
inches thick and crossed with other timbers of the same thickness,
and both tiers shall be laid close together. The first tier shall
rest upon the inner wall, making a floor eighteen feet square, and
the second or upper tier shall rest upon the first tier and outside
wall, making a floor twenty feet square, upon which the roof shall
be built, which shall be a good shingle roof and shall project at least
eighteen inches beyond the walls. Said jail shall be lighted with
one four-light window of 8x10 inch glass, and shall be se
cured by double iron grates of inch square bars and crossing
at right angles three inches apart, and shall enter the wall to the
distance of at least two inches and shall be firmly fixed therein.
Said gates shall be inside of said window."
Mr. Bunnel proceeded to erect a jail, but he did not please the
board by his methods. He was accused of selling the town lots at
merely nominal prices, and this was perhaps true, as he contracted
debts before having the money wherewith to pay the same, there
by forcing the sale of the lots. Accordingly, in March, 1839, Mr.
Bunnel was dismissed, Thomas J. Freeman was appointed County
Agent in his place, and Thomas J. Freeman, Nelson Payue and
Wesley Park were named as a buUding committee, who were
especially enjoined to get their money before they spent it.
The building as completed by them was occupied about twelve
years. The old jail now standing east of the south end of the pubhc
square, and bought by Auburn for a calaboose, and a place for
holding elections, was the second jail built, and occupied the site
of the present structure until 1874. It was contracted for by
Jefferson Wallace, Dec. 6, 1851, and accepted a year later. B. G.

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HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY. 473
Oosgrovo, architect, was allowed $30 for the plan. W. K. Straight
was Sheriff at that time.
The present fine jail was contracted for by Wm. Crane, .James
E. Duncan and Harmon Lydecker, Jan. 16, 1876. T. J. Tolan &
Son, of Toledo, were architects. This structure was completed
Nov. 1, 1S76, at a cost to the county of $28,647.78. The allow
ance for superintendent was $749.43, and the total expense was
$29,397.21, for which the bonds of the county bearing ten per
cent, interest, were issued to the amount of $29,000.
The Sheriff's residence is 34 x 42 feet In dimensions. The height
to the top of the tower is forty-five feet, and the building Is covered
by a mansard roof. The jail proper is a two-story structure, 34x45
feet, and is covered by aflat iron roof. It contains twelve cells,
each 7x9 and eight feet clear, bare, the ceiling and sides each of a
single stone. Scandinavian locks are attached to each cell, and a
combination lock to the main entrance. There are triple grates
between the cell inmates and liberty, the Inner grate of the win
dows being of steel. It has been supplied with all modern con
veniences for locking, feeding, heating, etc. It was occupied by
Sheriff Wm. L. Meese about Dec. 1, 1875. The building is one
of the flnest of its kind In the State, an honor to the builders, and
an object of pride to the citizens of the county. It is greatly ad
mired by visitors.
The man who first had the doubtful honor of being incarcerated
in the new jail was George Hobnich, then serving a term of ninety
days for larceny. The most notorious occupant of a cell was Lewis
Abbott, convicted of the murder of Francis Houlton, May 18,
1878, tried the following September, and sent to the penitentiary
for life. COURT-HOUSE.
The first court, as previously described, was held in Sheriff Wes
ley Park's cabin at Auburn, in 1838. On the erection of a school-
house, that became for a time the court-house. In this edifice,
heated by a dilapidated stove, whence issued smoke so freely as to
cause " eyes unused to weep, " a rough platform of boards was
built at the end and designated the " bench," and a space was
fenced in with rough boards and dignified by the name of the
"bar." Here the pioneer courts held their sessions and adminis
tered justice. Eeceiving an assurance that Auburn would remain
the permanent county seat, Park donated one-third of the lots in
the plat to the county.
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474 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
April 29, 1841, Thomas J. Freeman, Wesley Park and Nelson
Payue were appointed superintendents to build a court-house on
the public square. Bids were called for, and James E. Cosper bid
$1,450. This was thought too high, and James Hite, a carpenter
living southeast of Auburn, took the contract for $800. He was
assisted by Lyman Chidsey to put up the frame. The work seems
to have dragged, as Judge Mott said that when he came here, in
the summer of 1843, the public square around the court-house was
partiaUy logged, but burned off, and that the frame of the court
house was up but not inclosed. The building when completed was
adorned with a projection supported by four pUlars. The dimen
sions were 30 x 40 feet. The court-room was thirty feet square, and
fitted in style. The lawyers desks were arranged in the form of
two quarter circles, and the criminals' box was placed in front of
the bench. This building was paid for from the sale of town lots.
June 4, 1863, the contract for the present court-house was
awarded to A. Wheelock, Wm. Valleau and John A. McKay.
Ephraim Berry and S. W. Sprott had filed plans AprU 20, previ
ous. The consideration was $23,372, half in cash and the balance
in county orders, and it was to be completed Dec. 1, 1864. On the
first floor are the county offices, ranged on either side of the hall ex
tending east and west through the center of the building. Above
are the jury rooms and court-room. SPELLING MATCH.
All will remember the spelling-school fever that swept over the
country in 1874 and 1875. The epidemic struck this county in the
winter of 1874-'5, and every village, every district school, had its
matches. One of the most exciting was held at Auburn, Satur
day night, March 13, 1875. The affair came off at Ensley Hall,
and was presided over by W. L. Penfield, a large audience of citi
zens being present. Two captains chose sides, and spelled for an
hour, for amusement. Then after a recess the contest for prizes
began, with fifty participants. A few rounds brought down the
poor spellers, and then the interest deepened, and under excite
ment many good spellers dropped down under easy words.
At half-past eleven seven combatants were on the floor, deter
mination and victory stamped on every lineament of the counte
nances, and as the courteous pronouncer took in the situation, he
very properly suggested an adjournment, rather than violate the
Sabbath, and this was granted until Monday evening following.

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HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY. 475
The contest was duly renewed on Monday evening, and the un
daunted seven ranged themselves nearly facing each other, and
awaited with breathless interest the opening of the spelling book.
Gradually the battle narrowed down to two spellers. The one was
slow, careful and deliberate; the other more excitable, but profes.
sionally skilled in opposition, keen, resolute and fearless. At first
they eyed each other with savage fierceness, as if the contest was
to be decided by physical strength; but that expression soon gone,
gave place to timidity, aud it was evident that each was afraid of
the other. The hour becoming late, one of them purposely missed
a word. The first prize was awarded to C. D. Hare, second to H.
C. Peterson, and third to Mrs. Casebeer.
A spelling school is a good place to study human nature. The
person who rises to spell has his measure taken by his auditors-
He may be a pompous man in community, a sharp talker, and a
business man, but he dreads the exposure of bad spelling. A per
son may be polite, and move in society with that easy grace and re
finement that would convey the Idea of scholarship and lofty enter
tainments; but let him stand up to spell, and go down on an easy
word, and his prestige departs. All his easy manners desert him,
and he passes current at a much depreciated value. To pass
through the ordeal of a spelling school successfully requires that
nerve, calmness and self assurance that few possess.
The spelling-school excitement was of short duration, and it may
be many years ere we have another. But it left Its lesson with us,
to be studied and acted upon. The English language will never
attain its full measure of usefulness until a radical change is made
in our methods of spelling and pronouncing, so that two years of
a child's life shall not be wasted in acquiring useless knowledge.
Our scholars and thoughtful men of all classes are fast coming to
the conclusion that we have no right to leave as a legacy to pos
terity such an inexcusable orthography as we have had to contend
with. WILD GAME.
In the early days the forests of De Kalb County abounded in all
the varieties of wild game that were common throughout the West.
The large wild animals are now about extinct, a few solitary speci
mens Ungering among the remoter settlements. As late as Octo
ber, 1874, a bear was kiUed in Eichland Township. The following
account is from the Waterloo Press of Oct. 29, 1874 :

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476 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
"On Sunday last a black bear was seen coming out of the
Baughman marshes, southeast of town. It was fired upon by
several parties, but none of them seem to have injured it. Monday
morning early, large parties of men, with dogs and guns, turned
out to hunt the game. The animal was followed to the swamps
south of Sedan, where the dogs brought it to bay, and it was shot
to death bv Messrs. Charles Eempis, James Booth and others. It
is generally conceded that the dogs belonging to David Goodwin
and William Kennedy were the most effective in running down
the bear, and that these two men with A. Y. Eosenbury were the
principal ones in getting track of it, and making the chase Monday.
The hunters brought in the game in triumph, at about one o'clock
in the afternoon." FOX HUNTS.
Early in 1876 some Interest was taken in fox-hunting by the
athletic citizens of the county, and several circle hunts were held,
with all due formality. Marshals and other officers were chosen,
hunters were detailed on the different lines prescribed, no fire
arms were allowed, all dogs were led and loosed at command of the
marshals. One (the first) was held at Corunna on Saturday, Jan.
23, 1875, and six foxes were caught. An immense crowd was in
attendance, and all were delighted. February 6, following, between
2,000 and 3,000 people turned out to witness a hunt in Eichland
and Fairfield townships. Only three foxes were caught this time.
A number escaped from the lines, owing to the inexperience of the
managers. The game from both these hunts was sold at auction,
and the proceeds given to the poor. Other hunts in various parts
of the county met with varying degrees of success.
SINK HOLE.
When the Air Line road was first built through this county, a
portion of the track, three miles west of Waterloo, and some forty
rods in length, sunk through into a subterranean lake. It was
then for some time known as " the sink hole." Immediately after
the track fell through, a new track was constructed around the
edge of the marsh under which the lake lay, and efforts were made
to fill in the sunken track by carting earth from the surrounding
bluff. After laboring several months, however, the project was given
up, as the water was found to be from forty to sixty feet in depth.

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HISTORY OF DK KALB COUNTY. 477
Various plans were proposed for overcoming this ugly crook in the
Air Line, from time to time, until the latter part of 1865, when it
was proposed to place all the old ties that could be gathered along
the line, into the sunken space, and the work was commenced
early in the summer of 1866. The ties were put down in layers,
cobbled at right angles, and interlaced with long timbers, so
knit together as to form a continuous bridge, or net work. The
result was highly satisfactory, and in a few months a track was
laid across the old break, and the work, though slow in ac
complishment, was not so expensive as it was at one time feared
it would be. DARING BURGLARY.
Feb. 16, 1867, Saturday night, the county treasurer's office at
Aubum was broken open and robbed of about $18,000. The outer
door of the office, being iron, was drilled into and pried off, and
the wooden door was forced open. The outer door of the safe was
cut through the panels, above and below the lock, the inner bolts
withdrawn, and the door opened. The money chest was opened
by steel wedges and bars. It was evidently done by an expert.
Suspicion fell upon several parties, and different arrests were made,
but the perpetrators were never discovered. After some months
the matter was dropped.
General Lewis J. Blair, of Waterloo, was then County Treasurer,
but the greater part of the loss was finally borne by the county. A
majority of the counties in the United States have, at one time or
another, suffered similarly, either by robbery or defalcation, soDe
Kalb is no worse off than others. A great deal of litigation re
sulted from this robbery, but in 1875 the matter was settled by the
county accepting a judgment for $6,800.
AN EXPENSIVE 'COON.
The old-fashioned 'coon hunt is a time honored institution, but
the sport of late years sometimes involves the votaries In heavy
expenses. A crowd of young men near Newville found this out in
1876 to their complete satisfaction. While engaged in a hunt late
iu the fall, they cut down a dry oak-tree on- the premises of Dr.
Emanuel. To this proceeding the Doctor took exception, and
entered suit against the parties in the Circuit Court for satisfaction
and damages. The defendants, at the ensuing term of court, com
promised the case by the payment of $76 in the way of costs,

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478 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
lawyers' fees and damages. Had the suit come to trial, it is said,
their bill for that 'coon tree would have come to over $160. As it
was, the owner sold it for full value after it was felled; and it
would seem that the hunters were not only compelled to pay for
the tree, but to cut it down gratis.
EARLY WEDDINGS.
As a matter of interest, we give here a list of marriage licenses
issued during the first four years after the organization of the
county. 1837.
Sept. 5, Francis Smith to Maria Gunsenhouser.
Sept. 5, John Platte to Emeline Walden.
1838.
Jan. 18, Dan Coats to Mary Allan.
Feb. 28, Walter Slaughter to Mary Ackley.
March 12, William McClure to Eve Moody.
May 6, Aaron Vealey to Elinor Nelson.
June 9, Hawley Netterfield to Miranda A. Babcock.
June 26, Noah Brooks to Lydia Abbott.
June 26, Lemuel De Pew to Sarah Watson.
Aug. 7, William De Pew to Eunice Bell Moore.
Aug. 8, William Watson to Elizabeth Smith.
Aug. 8, John W. Eose to Elizabeth Coats.
Aug. 11, Adam Hartle to Prudence Boice.
Nov. 10, Eoland C. Hollister to Fanny Coleman.
Nov. 16, EUas Smith to Thursey Watson.
Dec. 25, Peter Simon to Louisa Fair.
1839.
Jan. 19, John Ehodes to Hannah Crouch.
Feb. 6, Michael Eoblnson to Eeason E. Spurrier.
Feb. 11, James Thomas to Eunice Strong.
March 8, James Means, Jr., to Isabel Watson.
April 29, William E. Hesbert to Wealthy Stearns.
May 3, Joseph Johnson to Betsey Nelson.
May 25, John Eotnoor to Abigail L. Eobe.
July 1, Peter S. Vester to Annabella Widney.
July 9, Cornelius WIdener to Elizabeth Bartlett.
Aug. 18, AsheU Chapell to Elizabeth Campbell.

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HISTORY OF DE KALB OOUNTY. 479
Aug. 26, Charles Watson to Eachel Wyatt.
Sept. 25, WiUiam Ehodes to Betsey Boyle.
Nov. 5, Lorenzo D. Alton to Orilla Netterfield.
Nov. 21, John Houlton to Nancy Lewis.
Nov. 28, William Tanner to Eliza Dickinson.
Dec. 9, Isaac Eakright to Emily Handy.
Dec. 23, Uri PhiUips to Phebe Abbott.
Dec. 24, Striper Hinkle to Olive Barker.
1840.
Jan. 7, Jacob Mc Clish to Leonora Chaffee.
Jan. 16, William S. Goodell to Catherine Herrick.
Jan. 19, Samuel Wasson to Eliza Means.
Jan. 30, Elias Gilpin to Susan Fetter.
March 28, John Moody to Mary Ann Patterson.
March 30, Isaac Lawhead to Jane M. Widney.
April 27, Asa Shaw to Elizabeth Allen.
Jane 10, Nathaniel Fitch to Sarah DeLong.
June 23, John Bates to Mary Jane Hanes.
May 21, Ephraim B. Strong to Mariette Eoblnson.
July 17, Edward Deeters to Mary Kinsley.
Aug. 31, Charles Eohrbough to Eebecca Nelson.
Sept. 10, Martin A. King to Hannah Houlton.
Nov. 12, Zacharlah Ackley to Catharine Hull.
Nov. 28, Jacob Sheets to Ellen Burdlne.
Dec. 15, Jeremiah Norrls to Anne Casebeer.
MANUFACTURES.
De Kalb is an agricultural county, generally speaking, and but
few manufacturing interests have sought a location within its bor
ders. The mills and more important enterprises are mentioned in
connection with the respective villages. The following figures re
late principally to interests that are found in every well-ordered
community, agricultural or otherwise.
There are in the county sixteen blacksmith shops, with an invested
capital of $6,500. These use raw material In a year to the value
of $6,400, and turn outwork to the value of $7,800; they employ
forty hands, at an average daily compensation of $1.60; while
their other expenses, including insurance, repairs and taxes,
amount to $1,086. There are fourteen boot and shoe shops, with
an invested capital of $12,000; these use $6,000 worth of raw ma-

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480 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
terial in a year, and turn out goods to the value of $10,000; they
employ twenty-two hands. There is one cigar manufactory with
an invested capital of $1,200, using $1,500 worth of raw material
in a year, turning out $3,000 worth of products, employing four
hands at $1.50 per day.
The cooper shops number four; they employ $10,000 of in
vested capital, use $15,800 worth of raw material, and turn out
product valued at $26,000; twenty-six hands are employed, at an
average daily compensation of $1.50 each. Two drain-tile manu
factories have $6,400 of invested capital, use $300 worth of ma
terial, turn out $5,000 worth of products, and employ ten hands, at
$1.00 per day. The items for repairs, taxes and insurance are re
ported at $300.
Flour and grist miUs number twelve, and use $38,000 of invested
capital; consume $45,000 worth of raw material, producing $80,-
000 of fiour and meal; employ thirty-six hands at $1.50 per day,
and pay $2,000 for taxes, repairs and insurance. The twelve fur
niture factories and cabinet shops have invested in them $24,000,
use $6,000 of raw material, and turn out $12,000 worth of products;
employ twenty-four hands at $1.50 per day, and pay $600 for in
surance, taxes and repairs. Eight harness and saddle establish
ments use $65,000 of invested capital, consume $9,500 worth of raw
material, produce $18,800 in products, employ eighteen hands at
$1.50 per day, and pay for insurance, repairs and taxes the sumot
$1,400. One marble establishment has $1,000 of invested capital,
consumes $2,000 worth of raw material, turns out $7,000 worth of
work, employs four hands at $1.75 per day, and pays $76 for re
pairs, taxes and insurance. Five photograph galleries have in
vested $2,500, use $300 of raw material, produce $5,000 worth of
work, and employ five hands, at an average compensation of $1.50
per day.
Eight planing and saw mills combined have $35,000 of invested
capital, use $18,000 worth of raw material, turn out $36,000 of
products, employ forty hands at $1.75 each per day, and pay
$1,200 for taxes, repairs and insurance. The saw-mills number
thirty-six, employ $66,000 of capital and give work to 110 hands at
$1.50 per day. The five stave and heading factories have $16,000
of capital invested, use $30,000 of raw material, produce $65,000
in manufactured articles, and employ thirty-eight hands at $1.50
per day. There are twelve wagon manufactories; and these, with
an investment of $14,500, use $42,000 of raw material, produce

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HISTORY OF DE KALB OOUNTY. 481
$65,000 worth of wagons, and employ fifty hands at $1.75 each per
day. There are thus in the county altogether 128 manufacturing es
tablishments. These have invested as capital $258,000, consume
raw material to the amount of $262,000, turn out $460,000 in value
of manufactured products, employ 460 hands, and pay for insur
ance, taxes and repairs $4,500.
This is no mean showing, but there will sometime be thrice the
number of similar enterprises, and those are now living who will
see that accomplished. ECONOMIC STATISTICS.
The county of De Kalb, comprisiug nine whole congressional
townships and three fractional ones, the latter caused by the bound
ary between the States of Ohio and Indiana, has an area officially
reported at 370 square miles, or 236,800 acres. The population of
the census of 1880 was 20,225; but the Fifth Annual Eeport of the
Bureau of Statistics for the State of Indiana estimates the popula
tion in 1883 to be 19,990, a faUing off of 236. The latter popula
tion is equal to fifty-four to the square mile, on an average. Taking
out the towns, and the agricultural population remaining av
erages about forty to the square mile.
The expenditures of the county for its county officials was in
1882, $3,969, and in 1883, $4,000; for grand and petit jurors and
bailiffs they were $4,650 and $3,190 in the respective years; for
coroners inquests, $135 and $54;for enumerating, assessing and ap
praising, $1,579 and $1,316; county superintendent and institutes,
$637 and $863; for prisoners and criminals, $1,347 and $849; for
poor, $6,78C and $62; for State benevolent and reformatory institu
tions, $106 and $528; for repairs on public buildings, $704 and
$525; for interest on county bonds, $918 and $600; for county or
ders, $3,789 and $4,479; for books, stationery, printing and adver
tising, $4,470 and $1,837; for new bridges and repairs, $7,541 and
$11,040; for redemption of county bonds, $6,600 and $2,000; for aU
other purposes, $10,352 and $2,372. Total, 1882, $53,477; and
1883, $38,704. ,
The following figures relate to court business: There were com
menced during the year ending June 30, 1883, 312 civil cases and
sixty-four criminal cases; forty-eight indictments were returned,
of which fifteen were pending at the end of the year ; forty-two convic
tions were obtained in criminal cases ; ten State cases were pending

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482 HISTORY OF DE KALB OOUNTY.
at the end of the year; 147 administrations were pending at begin
ning of year; forty-one letters ot administration were granted; 182
guardianships were pending at the beginning of the year; thirty-
nine guardianships were issued during the year; eighty-five execu
tions were Issued; twenty-two decrees of foreclosure were issued.
The following shows the number of owners of real estate for four
years, those owning both land and lots being classed as land own
ers, and those owning city or town lots only being classed as lot
owners: 1879, land owners, 2,923; lot owners, 1,432; 1880, land
owners 2,960; lot owners, 1,440; 1881, land owners, 3,033; lot own
ers, 1,565; 1882, land owners, 3,034; lot owners, 1,456.
The following statistics of mortgages are for the year ending
May 31, 1883: Twenty-one mortgages were issued to the school
fund, for $6,678; and twelve were satisfied, amounting to $2,515;
406 other real-estate mortgages were recorded, amounting to $329,-
767; and 200 were satisfied, amounting to $16,600; 103 chattel
mortgages were recorded for $31,470, and fifteen were satisfied for
$4;500. During the same year there were thirty-eight mechanic's liens
for $3,332; 786 voluntary transfers of land for $871,165; twenty-
seven administrator's, executor's and guardian's transfers, for
$38,840; fifteen sheriff's transfers for $11,620; thirteen tax-title
transfers, for $766; total transfers, 841 in number, amounting to
$922,241. For the same year, the taxation for all purposes was: State tax,
$25,566; county tax, $47,750; township tax, $1,286; special school
tax, $15,267; road tax, $17,561; all other taxes, $19,070; total,
$126,600; delinquent taxes, penalty, interest, etc., from former
years, $14,060.
Following is the abstract of taxable property in 1882: Value of
lands, $3,679,852; value of improvements, $603,224; value of lots,
$235,544; value of improvements, $416,601; value of personal
property, telegraphs and railroads, $2,413,232; total taxables,
$7,348, 453. "The numberof polls was 3,528; dogs, male, 1,678, fe
male, eighty-two. The debt of the county, June 30, 1883, was $47,-
255. At the same time, the debt of Auburn was $9,700; .Garrett,
$13,000; Butler, $4,750. CENSUS STATISTICS.
De Kalb County has experienced a moderate, steady, healthful
growth in population. In 1840 it had about 3,000 inhabitants.

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HISTORY OF DE KALB OOUNTY. 483
This number was increased to over 8,000 by 1860, and the census
of 1860 gives the total population as 13,880. In 1870 this county
had 17,167, while by the last census, 1880, the total is placed at
20,226. Some immigrants are received each year, but many also
leave for the promising new counties of the West, so that the in
crease of population is now very moderate. The number of souls
may now be estimated at 22,000. Following is the report for 1880
by townships:
Butler, 833; Concord, 1,630; Fairfield, 1,618; Frankhn, 1,311;
Jackson, 1,342; Keyser, 2,268; NewviUe, 744; Eichland, 1,350;
Smithfield, 1,423; Stafford, 509; Troy, 606; Union, 4,121: Wil
mington, 2,580.
In Union Township are included Auburn, with a population of
1,642, and Waterloo, with 1,376. Butler, in Wilmington Town
ship, had by this census 1,066; and Garrett City, 1,268.
Of the total population in 1880, 19,026 were born in the United
States, and 1,199 were of foreign birth. Of the former number,
10,940 were born in the State of Indiana, 5,321 in Ohio, 1,271 in
Pennsylvania, 588 in New York, fifty-five in Illinois, and sixteen in
Kentucky. Of the foreign population, 676 were natives of the
German Empire, 142 of England and Wales, eighty-two of British
America, seventy-four of France, sixty-four of Ireland, eighteen
of Scotland and four of Sweden and Norway.
The total number of males was 10,432; of females, 9,793; of
males fi-om five to seventeen years of age (school age), 2,147; of
females, same age, 3,039; of males from eighteen to forty-four
(military age), 4,265; of males over twenty-one (voting age),
6,357. VITAL STATISTICS.
The following figures are for the year ending Sept. 30, 1883:
The births during the year were, by months and sex: October, male,
eight; female, four; November, male, nine; female, five; Decem
ber, male, four; female, six; January, male, ten; female, six; Feb
ruary, male, nine; female, ten; March, male, five; female, ten;
April, male, six; female, four; May, male, five; female, two; June,
male, six; female, eight; July, male, ten; female, five; August,
male, four; female, four; September, male, three; female, one.
The total number of births was 144, of which seventy-nine were
male and sixty-five female. Of these, 109 were of both Ameri
can parents, eleven of both foreign, three father foreign and

^-

484 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
mother American, four mother foreign, father American, fourteen
father not reported, fifteen mother not reported.
There were 175 marriages, as follows: October, twelve ; No
vember, twenty-one; January, fourteen; February, nine; March,
nineteen; AprU, nineteen; May, sixteen; June, three; July, nine;
August, nine; September, forty-four. In 144 cases, both parties
were American born, eighteen both foreign, abd thirteen mixed.
The deaths were, in October, three males and three females;
November, five males and two females; December, four males and
three females; January, two males and two females; February,
three males and two females; March, five males and three females;
April, one female; May, four males and six females; June, three
males and five females; July, one male and eight females; August,.
two males and six females; September, six males and seven fe
males; total males, thirty-eight; females, forty-eight.
RELIGIOUS.
There are in the county forty-six religious organizations, having
forty-four church buildings. The forty-six include five United
Brethren, five Campbellite, four Evangelical Association, eight
Evangelical Lutheran, two Presbyterian, one German Lutheran,
four Catholic, one Baptist, four Eeformed churches, eleven Method
ist Episcopal and one Dunkard.
The five United Brethren churches have a membership of 600
— 245 male and 255 female. During the year forty-seven persons
were admitted to full membership. The church property is valued
at $12,000; $1,100 are paid ministers for 'salaries, and $600 for
other expenses; $76 are given for missionary and charitable pur
poses. There are thirty-eight Sunday-school teachers with 320
pupils. The regular church attendance Is 650.
The five Campbellite churches have 200 male and 250 female
members, or 450 in all. They have church property to the value of
$12,000, pay their ministers $2,500 in salaries, for other purposes
$450, and for missionary and charitable contributions, $75.
They have thirty Sunday-school teachers, with 250 pupils. The
usual attendance on church services is 650.
The four Evangelical Associations have three church buildings,
and a membership of 236, including ninety-five males and 140 fe
males. During the year, fifteen persons were admitted into full
membership. The church property is valued at $6,000; they pay
$476 to their ministers, $125 for missionary and charitable pui^

-i|'»^
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 - -    -   a*
HISTORY OF DE KALB OOUNTY. 485
poses, and $150 for miscellaneous items. There are sixteen Sun
day-school teachers, with 140 pupUs, and the attendance at church
each Sunday averages 200.
The eight Evangelical Lutheran churches have 198 male and 279
female members, 477 in all. During the year twenty-four persons
were admitted into full membership. The church property is
valued at $19,500; $1,684 pay the ministers; $214 are given for
charitable and missionary purposes, and $275 for other items. At
Sunday-school, sixty-two teachers have charge of 702 pupils.
The church attendance is about 1,200.
The two Presbyterian churches have fifty-seven male and 113 fe.
male members, or 170 in all. Ten persons were admitted to full mem
bership within a year. The church property is valued at $9,600; the
ministers are paid $900; charitable and missionary objects receive
$25; and $200 go for other purposes. Sunday-school teachers
number seventeen, and pupils 195. The church attendance aver
ages 200.
The German Lutheran church has ten male and twelve female
members, twenty-two in all. The church property is valued at
$600. The minister is paid $100, and $10 cover sundry expenses.
The four Catholic churches have 187 male and 263 female mem
bers, or 450 in all. Five persons were received into the church
during the year. The property is valued at $13,800; the priests
receive $1,026; $1,001 are used for charitable and missionary pur
poses; and $350 are used for sundry expenses. There are six
Sunday-school teachers, with 160 pupils, and the attendance at
church is 587-
The Baptist church reports forty male and fifty female members,
or ninety in all, and thirteen were admitted to membership within
one year. The church property is valued at $3,000; the minister
is paid $600; $139 are devoted to missionary and charitable pur
poses, aud $75 for other items. The ten Sunday-school teachers
have charge of ninety pupils, and eighty is the average attendance
at church.
The Eeformed churches, four in number, have a male member
ship of 121, a female membership of 168, a total of 289. Within
a year twelve were admitted to membership. The church property
is valued at $11,600; the amount paid ministers is $1,000; amount
given for charitable and missionary purposes, $75; paid for other
expenses, $150. At Sunday-school, twenty-eight teachers attend
to 226 pupils. The church attendance is about 326.
31

iiL

486 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
The Methodist Episcopal denomination has eleven organizations
and ten churches, and a total membership of 738, of whom 301
are males and 437 females. There were admitted to fuU mem
bership within a year 121 persons. The church property is esti
mated to be worth $26,000. The ministers are paid $4,360;
charitable and missionary objects receive $472; and other expenses
amount to $1,030. There are 100 Sunday-school teachers, with
976 pupils. The church attendance is 1,426.
The Dunkard church reports a membership of eighty-nine, of
whom forty-two are males and forty-seven females. Three were
admitted to membership within a year. The church property is
valued at $2,500. The amount given for missionary and chari
table purposes is $25, and [other expenses amount to $40. There
are eight Sunday-school teachers, with seventy pupils, and the
attendance is 100.
Summing up, we find the total church membership to be 3,510,
of whom 1,496 are males and 2,014 are females, a little over one-
sixth of the population. The number admitted to membership in
one year is 260. The church property Is valued at $116,300. The
ministers are paid $13,734. Charitable and missionary aims re
ceive $2,226, and other purposes $3,230. There are 315 Sunday-
school teachers, and 3,131 pupils. The church attendance is 6,317.
SOCIAL STATISTICS.
There are held in private libraries in this county 7,611 volumes,
and in public libraries 999 volumes. There'are fifty-five pianos, 641
organs, and 1,943 sewing machines.
Divorces were granted to the number of twenty-nine during the
year ending June 30, 1883. Of these, twenty-five were granted to
the wife and four to the husband. There were naturalized during
the year two persons from the British Empire, twenty-four from
the German Empire, three from Eussia and three from Switzer
land; total, thirty-two.
The number of inmates of the county asj'lum was twenty-six;
of these, thirteen males and eleven females were over sixteen
years of age, and two females were under that age. There are
242 acres In the poor fai-m. The poor-house was erected in 1865.
The sanitary condition of the poor-house is good.
The quota of the county in the State Hospital for the Insane is
thirteen. There are at present In that institution, charged to
this county, fifteen males and two females, seventeen in all. At

.Ji!

HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY. 4S7
the State Deaf and Dumb Asylum are four from De Kalb County.
EDUCATIONAL STATISTICS.
There are in De Kalb County, seventy brick and fifty-one frame
school-houses, or 121 in all. The estimated value of the school-
houses and grounds is $137,140; estimated value of apparatus,
maps, globes, etc., $3,260; total, $14,400. Three school-houses
were 'built during 1SS3, at a cost of $11,600. Township insti
tutes were held to the number of thirty-two. Of the 261 teachers
employed, ninety are male and 161 female. The average daily com
pensation of male teachers in the townships Is $1.45; of female
teachers, $1.14; of male teachers in the towns, $2.64; of female
teachers, $1.56.
The enumeration of children of school age gave 3,680 white
males, 3,310 white females, one colored male and one colored fe
male; total, 6,992, against 7,118 for 1882, a decrease of 126.
The children who cannot read or write are reported as four males
and five females, or nine in all.
There are 1,793 volumes in the township libraries, of which
fifteen were added in 1883. The number drawn by readers was
199. There are five private schools held In public school-houses,
employing five female teachers. To these, ninety-three pupUs
were admitted, and the average daily attendance was forty-four.
Average tuition, $1.12. The amount of common-school and con
gressional township funds held by De Kalb County is $45,351.60.
The amount derived from State school tax was $7,328.10;
amount coll ected as interest on school fund, $1,125.26; total col
lected, $8,453.36; amount apportioned to this county, $9,998.56.
The enumeration of children of school age in May, 1884, is as
follows, for the various townships and towns: Butler, 220, a loss
of ten in one year; Jackson, 505, a loss of two; Concord, 559, a
gain of sixty-four; NewviUe, 246, a gain of eight; Stafford, 176,
a loss of twenty- four; Wilmington, 522, a loss of three; Union,
386, a gain of one; Eichland, 612, a gain of seven; Fairfield, 462,
a loss of thirty-two; Smithfield, 431, a loss of seventeen; Frank
lin, 416, a loss of nine; Troy, 214, a gain of twenty-four; Keyser,
319, a loss of one; Auburn, 626, a gain of thirty-two; Waterloo,
522, a gain of twenty; Butler, 469, a gain of twenty-two; Garrett,
321, a loss of sixty-eight; total for the county, 7,004, a gain of
twelve.

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\ p >  ^  — ^'k.^
' ,<-ii  — - — —  . _.  ~  rrr^r^tr  — s,^-

CHAPTER XII.

BUTLER TOWNSHIP.

Situation. — Geography and Topography. — Organization.
 First Settlers. — First Churches. — Early Justices,
Constables and Trustees. — Something of Abr.\ham
Fair, a Pioneer. — Population. — Property and Taxa
tion. — Agricultural Statistics. — Biographical.
Lying in the extreme southwestern corner of De Kalb County
is Butler Township. It is bounded on the north by Keyser
Township, on the east by Jackson, on the south by Perry Town
ship, Allen County, and on the west by Swan Township, Noble
County. It is well watered by Cedar Creek in the eastern part
and the Little Cedar and the Black in the western part. Two
railroads traverse it, — the Wabash, St. Louis & Pacific, and the
Michigan Southern, — both running southwest and northeast.
Thus the farmers have three shipping points — Cedar Creek on
the Wabash, and New Era and St. John on the Michigan
Southern. Garrett, the nearest trading town, is onl)' two miles
from its north line. The soil is generally rich, and the town
ship is advancing to the front as an agricultural and stock rais
ing section.
The first regular meeting of the County Board of Commis
sioners was held Sept. 4, 5 and 6, 1837, attended bv the full board.
On the second day's session they " ordered that the congres
sional township 33 north, range 12 east, be and it is hereby
organized as a civil township, to be known bv the name of But
ler Township." It was also resolved " that Andrew Surface be
appointed Supervisor for the road district No. i, comprising
the whole of Butler Township, and all the hands in said town
ship shall be assigned to the same district." The first election
was afterward appointed for the first Monday in April. 1838, at
the house of Robert Work. .\s thus organized, Butler was six
miles square ; and it remained that large until 1876, when twelve
sections were taken Irom its northern side, tovvard the new
488
0 '    — '1^^

^^12

J-

history of de kalb county. 489
township of Keyser — thus reducing Butler to its present dimen
sions, four miles by six, or twenty-four sections.
The pioneers of Butler Township were Peter Fair and his
sons Charles and Abraham (Peter Fair was Chairman of the
first Board of Commissioners of De Kalb County, and held the
position for several years), Charles Crouse, George De Long,
and the Surface family, Andrew, and his sons Jacob and John.
The year 1835 witnessed their permanent settlement, although
they came in the fall previous with a wagon and two spans of
horses, and built their cabins. They had to cut their own road
from 'Squire Caswell's, in Allen County, beysnd Huntertewn,
five miles, to the place where they settled ; and also a consider
able part of the way from Fort Wayne, as the track was too
narrow and crooked for a four-horse team. Later in the same
year Lewis Holbrook, Lyman Holbrook, Joseph Stroup, Henry
MiUer and Michael Miller moved into the township. In the
spring of 1836 the population was increased by the arrival of
WiUiam Surface, John Gregg and James Bell. Sanford Bas
sett, now of Waterloo, came to tbe township in 1838, and John
Noel, John C. Clark, John Embry and Henry Fair came in
1839. George Ensley, of x\uburn, came to make his home in ¦
Butler in 1841. Among other families who are identified with
the progress of the township are the Moodys, Works, Ensleys
and Hoffmans.
The first Justice of the Peace, elected in April, 1838, was
William Day, and George Ensley was the next. In 1841 the
first church built in this county was erected on the farm of
Robert Work, and that relic of a former generation yet stands
on the hill. It was built by the Methodist Episcopal denomi
nation, — which is the pioneer religious organization in almost
every locality. A log church building was erected near the
same site af an early day by the Lutherans. The first Sabbath-
school was organized by O. C. Clark, then a young man.
The Justices of the Peace of Butler Township prior to i860
were William Day, Silas Hand, George Monroe, George En
sley, Wm. McAnnally, Job C. Smith, G. R. Hoffman, O. C.
Clark, E. S. Hanson.
Early Constables were Stephen Clark, Abram Brown, Wil
liam Young, Peter Simons, Uriah Wigent, David Trussell,
James Forbes, Jehu Bricker, James McAnnally, R. B. Showers,
John Noel, Martin Bilger.

,V

^'

4go history of de kalb county.
The Trustees for the first few years were Jacob Shull, C.
Probst, Henry Clark, I. N. Young, P. Simons, John Grube, J.
V. Keran, George Monroe, George Ensley, Uriah Wigent, S.
Hutchins, J. Clark, G. R. Hoffman, Daniel Hoffman, George
Gordon, James Goetschius.
" Pioneer Sketches " contains some reminiscences in regard
to Butler Township, from which we extract :
"Abraham Fair (one of the eight first settlers who came in Oc
tober, 1834) is our informant. ' Our plan,' says he, ' was to
come out, build cabins, make a little beginning, and then return
to our old homes in Montgomery County, Ohio, to winter, and
bring on the family in the spring. We brought provisions
enough with us to last until our return, excepting meat — calcu
lating to kill deer enough to supply that. In this, however, we
Avere mistaken. We found deer quite scarce in those woods
that fall. One day, Andrew Surface found a hollow tree (on
Black Creek, where Peter Simons' ashery now stands) filled
with honey, into which a bear had gnawed a hole and helped
himself to as much as he wanted. On cutting the tree we
found what was left of Bruin's dinner, six gaUons of honey.
The first fair day after this, we found two bee trees, cut them,
and took the honey. We eight had all the honey we wanted
for twenty days (and had little to eat except bread and honey),
and on returning to Montgomery County we had twenty -one
gallons of strained honey left.'
" We will interrupt ' Uncle Abraham ' in his narrative to re
mark that when it is remembered that it was in Butler Township
that Wesley Park and Joseph Miller lay out in the woods on a
rainy night with ' new milk fresh from the cow ' for their entire
bill of fare, surely it might be said that Butler was ' a land flow
ing with milk and honey.
" But let us hear Uncle Abraham's 'coon story' — wish I could
tell it on paper as he did orally — with his expressive jovial
countenance and an occasional interlude in the form of a hearty
laugh — wish 1 could, but 1 can't. ' After finding the bee trees,'
says he, ' Andrew Surface found a hollow tree with two
"coons "in, and cutting them out, he brought them to our
shanty. We took the hides off and hung the meat out in the
frost over night, and in the morning, Charlc)' Crouse, who was
our cook, prepared them for our breakfast. Being rather meat
hungry, we all ate heartily of them, except John Surface, who

' — — ^R

J^_

history of de K.VLB CI1UXTV. 491

declared he would starve first — though he ate some of the
gravy. After breakfast we all went at cutting and hewing logs
and making clapboards for William Surface's cabin. John and
I went to sawing a large oak for clapboards. John didn't pull
the saw very strongly. " Ah," said I to him, " you didn't eat
coon, or you could have sawed better."
" • Presently he thought the saw went too hard and that he
must have the iron wedge from the shanty to drive in the kerf.
My father, Peter Fair, was lying in the shanty, and John sup
posed he was asleep. So he went to the skillet where there
was a quarter of a coon left from breakfast, and taking off the
lid, he took up the meat ; and after smelling it awhile, applied
his teeth and-stripped the bone in short meter. All this time
my father lay pretending to be asleep, but struggling to keep
from laughing. When John returned and took hold of the saw
again, I remarked to him that he must have either been eating
coon or smelling of it, he pulled so much stronger. When
Crouse went in to cook dinner my father told the joke ; and It
was some time before John heard the last of the coon story.'
" ' I was twenty -two years of age,' continued Uncle Abraham,
'when I moved into the township, twenty-four 3'ears ago. I
then weighed 160 pounds, and my wife 140. Now (1859) I
weigh 210, and my wife 200. We have had eleven children
bom in the township, and nine are still living. In the twenty-
four years 1 have not lost as many hours by sickness. I am
now six feet four and a half inches high, and there never has
been cleared land enough in De Kalb County to throw me
down on. I still live on the farm where 1 first settled, and
have never moved but once — from one part of my farm to
another.' "
Butler has a population by the last census (1880) of 778, or
32.4 to the square mile. In 1870 it had 1,209, but it was then
fifty per cent, larger territorially. The rate of taxation for 1884
is $1.51 ; the poll tax, $1-25 ; number of acres of land assessed,
15,279.18; value of lands, $306,670; value of improvements,
850,395 ; value of lands and improvements, $357,065 ; value of
lots, $482 ; value of improvements, $2,260 ; value of lots and
improvements, $2,742 ; value of personal property, $70,840 ;
total value of taxables, $430,647 ; number of polls, 143 ; total
amount of taxes levied, $6,753.29. The valuation per capita is
$521.79. The number of children of school age is 234.

71

Li-

492 history of de kalb county.
In 1881 it bad 2,711 acres in wheat, producing 27,1 10 bushels,
or 10 bushels to the acre; 1,438 acres in corn, producing 57,360
bushels, an average of 40 bushels to the acre on upland, and
50 bushels on bottom land ; 430 acres in oats, producing 10,-
750 bushels, or 25 bushels to the acre ; 417 acres of meadow,
producing, at the rate of a ton an acre, approximately, 417
tons; 92 acres of potatoes, producing 2,576 bushels, or 28
bushels to the acre. biographical.
William Cornell, deceased, was born in Carroll County, Md.,
Jan. 14, 1813, a son of Smith and Mary Cornell. The former
died in Maryland, and the latter in Nebraska. He was reared
in his native State and there married. In 1850 he came with his
wife and five children to Indiana, making the trip with wagons.
He bought eighty acres of land in Butler Township, DeKalb
County, a part of which was cleared, and four years later bought
eighty acres more. Of this land he made a good farm, residing
on it till his death. When he came to Indiana he had $300 in
money, and his team, wagon and household goods. He and his
wife went bravely to work, and the farm is now one of the best
in the county. He was a man of firm, upright principles, and
won the confidence and respect of all who knew him. He was
an exemplary member of the Lutheran church. Mr. Cornell
died Feb. 16, 1882. Mrs. Cornell resides on the old homestead.
Of the seven children born to them, five are living — W. H. H.,
Benjamin F., Sebastian H., Winfield S. and Ellen V., wife of
Stephen Surfis. Two sons were soldiers in the war of the
Rebellion — W. H. H. and Benjamin F. Both enhsted in Com
pany K, Forty-fourth Indiana Infantry. At Shiloh Benjamin
received a slight wound, and at Mission Ridge a severe one.
He veteranized and served till the close of the war.
W. H. H. Cornell, son of William and Mary M. Cornell, was
born in Maryland in 1840, and was ten 3^ears of age when his
parents moved to Indiana, and has helped to bring Butler
Township to its present state of cultivated farms from a state
of timber and wild land. He now owns a good farm of forty
acres, aU well improved. In 1861 he enlisted in Company K,
Forty-fourth Indiana Infantry, and was soon sent to the front.
He participated in the battles of Shiloh and siege of Corinth,
Perryville, Stone River, and others of less note. He served
three years, receiving an honorable discharge. Mr. Cornell

¦fW — ^

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ill  -
history of de kalb county. 493
was married in 1S70 to Eliza Timberlain, daughter of Isaac
Timberlain, an old settler of Butler Township. They have two
children — Perry B. and Jesse O. In his political views Mr.
Cornell adheres to the faith of his father, and is a staunch Re
pubhcan. He has served as Constable of his township a year
and a half. He and his wife are members of the Methodist
Episcopal church.
D. W. Fair, the eldest son and second child of Abraham and
Christena (DeLong) Fair, was born in Butler Township, De Kalb
County. Ind., Aug. 9, 1S38. His boyhood was passed on the
farm, where he early learned the practical part of agriculture.
He obtained a good education in the district school, and after
leaving school assisted his father till twenty-three years of age,
when Nov. 20, 1861, he was married to Irene Perr3% who was
bom in Noble Count}-, Ind., Oct. 6, 1841, a daughter of Oliver
and Mary (Francis) Perry. After his marriage he settled on
the farm where he has since resided, which contains ninetj^-two
acres of choice land, the greater part of which he has cleared
and improved. He has been successful, and has won the con
fidence of his fellow-townsmen, and by them has been elected
to several offices of trust. Mr. and Mrs. Fair have eight chil
dren — Perry W., Carlton G., Aldrainie, Caroline, Vinnie M.,
Wells, Mary and Fay. Politically Mr. Fair is a Republican.
He and his wife are members of the United Brethren church,
and are earnest workers in all departments of their church.
Abraham Fair, second son of Peter Fair, was born in Fred
erick County, Md., in 1815. In 1827 his parents moved to ^Nlont-
gomery County, Ohio, and there he grew to manhood and was
married in the winter of 1835 to Christena De Long. Immedi
ately after his marriage he came to De Kalb County, Ind., and
settled on Section 33, Butler Township, where he had previous
ly entered 160 acres of land. He built a small cabin, and cleared
and improved his land, adding to his first entry till he owned
313 acres. He was an energetic and successful business man.
When he first came to the county his nearest neighbor was
three miles distant. He helped to build the first house in Au
burn, a dwelling for Wesley Park, in which the first court was
afterward held. Politically he was a Whig till the organiza
tion of the Republican party, with which he afterward affiliated.
He and his wife joined the Methodist church in their young
days, and have been among the most earnest workers in its
' ~f\ ~~ ^— ^ ^ V I

494

history of de kalb county.

ranks. Mr. Fair died in February, 1867. Mrs. Fair is living at
Auburn, aged sixty-eight years. To them were born twelve
children, nine of whom are living — Barbara, E. W., Matilda,
William, James, Calvin, Mary, Alice and Laura. The deceased
are — Charles Irwin, (twin brother of D.W.), Henrietta and Jane.
Mr. Fair's father came with his family to De Kalb County in
1835, and met with the first Board of County Commis
sioners July 28, 1837. He was widely known and was recog
nized as a man of good judgment and executive ability. He
was a successful farmer and accumulated a large property. He
and his wife were members of the German Reformed church.
William A. Feagler was born in Montgomery County, Ohio,
Feb. 13, 1840, a son of Henry and Rebecca (Wyrick) Feagler,
natives of Ohio, his father of Warren County and his mother of
Montgomery County. In the spring of 1837, Henry Feagler,
then, a single man, came with his brother Joshua and his
brother-in-law, Jacob W)'rick, to De Kalb County, Ind., and
entered land in Richland Township. Soon after entering his
land he returned to Ohio, where he was married and remained
till the fall of 1847, when he returned to Indiana and settled in
Jackson Township. He was a man of fair education and pos
sessed those strong forces of mind and character that made him
prominent among his fellow citizens. In i860 he was elected
to the Legislature on the Republican ticket, serving one term,
and also an extra session during the war. He took considera
ble interest in local affairs, and wrote an account of his recollec
tions of the early settlement of De Kalb County. To him and
his wife were born eight children — WiUiam A., Susanna, John,
EUzabeth, Rebecca, Lorena, Henry and Joshua. Mr. Feagler
died June 14, 1881, aged about sixt3'-five years. His wife died
April 13, 1882, aged sixty -seven years. William A. Feagler re
mained on the farm with his parents till manhood, receiving his
education in the district schools. In August, 1861, he enlisted
in Company H, Thirteenth Indiana Infantry, and was appointed
leader of the Regimental Band. They were soon sent to the
front, and assigned to the Army of the Cumberland. He par
ticipated in the battles of Shiloh, Stone River and Chicka
mauga. At the latter place, Sept. 21, 1863, he was captured,
and was confined in Libby Prison, Danyille, Va., Andersonville,
and Florence, S. C, tiU Dec. 8, 1864. Before his capture
he weighed 180 pounds, and when released, 100 pounds.

^  S(|\

4.

history of de k.vli! county. 495
He was discharged at Indianapolis, Jan. 26, 1865, and returned
to Indiana, and located on the home farm, remaining there till
1S71, when he moved to his present farm in Butler Township,
which contains sixty-three acres of good land, well cultivated,
and with good improvements. Mr. Feagler was married June
27, 1867, to Eliza Whetsel. They have five children — Ella,
James C, Le Ro}-, Orvie, and Ted. Politically, Mr. Feagler is
a Republican. Jiiv. William Fiinicy, pastor of the German Baptist church,
Butler Township, was born in Fort Wa3me, Ind., in 1847. His
parents died when he was a child, and he has no knowledge or
remembrance of them. His early life till fifteen years of age
was spent with kind friends in Fort Wayne, and he obtained a
good education in the public schools. In 1863 he enlisted in
Compau}- D, One Hundred and Twent3'-ninth Indiana Infantry,
and was actively engaged till the close of the war. He partici
pated in the engagements at Kenesaw Mountain, Resaca, Buz
zard's Roost, Atlanta, Jonesboro, Pulaski, Columbia, Franklin,
Nashville, Kingston, and others less noted. He was discharged
at Charlotte, N. C, in 1865. Returning to Fort Wayne, he at
tended school part of the next winter, and then went West, vis
iting Kansas, Colorado, Dakota, Wyoming and Utah ; was en
gaged in the survey of the Union Pacific Railroad a portion of
the time. In 1869 he returned to Indiana and followed agricult
ural pursuits near Hunterstown till 1875, when he was or
dained a minister in the German Baptist church, and has since
devoted his time to the churches of Allen and De Kalb coun
ties. Mr. Finney was married July 4, 1869, to Almira E.,
daughter of Jeremiah and Sarah Gump. They have seven
children — Lawrence, Delbert, Francis M., Jeremiah C, Henry,
Sarah and Mary (twins).
Jared F. Housel was born in Farmington, Trumbull Co., Ohio,
Sept. 6, 1836, a son of Absalom and Rhoda (Allen) Housel.
When he was eleven j'cars of age his parents moved to Wells
County, Ind., where he grew to manhood. In 1857 he removed
to De Kalb County, where he followed farming till after the
breaking out of tbe Rebellion. Sept. 25, 186 1, he enlisted in
Company K, Forty-fourth Indiana Infantry, and the following
December was sent to the front and assigned to the Army of
the Tennessee. At the battle of Shiloh he was wounded in the
right thigh, and lay in the hospital at Evansville, Ind., till Nov.

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496 history of de kalb county.
29, 1862, when he was discharged and returned home. After
his recovery he resumed agricultural pursuits, and has since
lived in Butler Township. He has been Postmaster of De Kalb
since 1882, and has held several minor offices of trust in the
to-vVnship. In 1864 he was married to Drucilla C, daughter of
Michael and Rebecca (Oft) Reever. They have one son, Elzie
E. Mr. and Mrs. Housel are members of the United Brethren
church. Politically, he is a Republican.
Jesse Jackson, deceased, was among the first setlers of Butler
Township. He was born in Monmouth, N. J., in 1795, a son
of Benjamin Jackson, of English descent. He was reared on a
farm, receiving a limited education in the common schools.
When a young man he went to New York, and was there mar
ried about 1815 to Edith Smith. In 1833 he moved to Hillsdale
County, Mich., and in 1837 to DeKalb County, Ind., and settled
in the southwest corner of Butler Township, entering 120 acres
of land from the Government. He built a small cabin, and
began clearing his farm, which he made his home the rest of
his life. He and his wife were members of the Society of
Hicksite Friends, and devout adherents to the faith. He was
successful in his business enterprises, and was widely known,
and had many friends who appreciated his manl}'^ character
and sterling integrity. To him and his wife were born eleven
children — Hiram S., SaUie G., Mercy, Mary, Harriet, Amos,
Levi, DrusiUa, Hannah, Walter and Myron W., the latter two
born in DeKalb County. Mrs. Jackson died in 1857, ^ged fifty-
eight years. Mr. Jackson died Aug. 25, 1868.
Levi Jackson, third son and seventh child of Jesse and Edith
(Smith) Jackson, was born in New York, Sept. 13, 1829. Before
he was eight 3'ears old his parents moved to the wilds of
Indiana, and his education was Umited to the primitive schools
of the early pioneer times, and he did not have free access to
even these, as his services \vere required on the farm. He re
mained with his parents till his majorit3% and then began to
work for himself, and for eleven years ran a threshing machine
in connection with farming. He now has a fine farm of 144
acres, which is well improved, and has a good residence and
farm buildings. He was married July 3, 1851, to Johanna M.,
daughter of Robert Knott, who was born March 16, 1828. She
died Nov. 13, 1872, leaving three children — Juliette, Gill, and
Levi M. Dec. 14, 1873, Mr. Jackson married Martha L.,

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history of de kalb county.

497

daughter of Jacob S. and Hannah S. (Weldon) Thomas. They
have one son, Delbert D. A twin brother of Delbert died in
infancy. In religious belief Mr. Jackson is a UniversaHst.
Pohtically he is a Democrat. He has served two years as As
sessor of Butler Township.
Rchcrt Knott, deceased, one of the old and well-known citi
zens of DeKalb County, was born in Pennsylvania June 22,
1801. He was married in Crawford County, Ohio, to Eliza
beth Gill. In the spring of 1845 he came to Indiana and bought
348 acres of land on section 23, Butler Township, DeKalb
County ; built a cabin, and the following fall moved his famil}-,
at that time consisting of his wife and six children, to his frontier
home. He was an energetic, enterprising man, and accumulated
considerable property. Public-spirited and liberal, he was often
called on to contribute to objects of public interest and charit}',
and ever}- worthy enterprise received his patronage. He and
his wife were exemplary members of the Protestant Methodist
church, and liberal supporters of all its interests. Mrs. Knott
died Ma}- 26, 1877, aged seventy years, and Mr. Knott Dec. 8,
1879. They had a family of eleven children — Joannah, Mary,
Henry H., Adams, Martha, Catherine, S. M,, Joseph, Sarah E.,
Cordelia W., and Francelia. Catherine and Joseph died in Ohio.
Politically Mr. Knott was a Republican.
5. M. Knott, son of Robert and Elizabeth (Gill) Knott, was
bom in Crawford County, Ohio, in 1841. He received his ele
mentary education in the district schools and later attended the
higher institutions of learning. He was reared on a farm in
DeKalb County, and since arriving at man's estate has given
his attention to agricultural pursuits. He owns a good farm of
157J^ acres in Butler Township, which is under a good state of
cultivation, and his buildings are commodious and in good re
pair. Mr. Knott was married in 1872 to Miss Roxanna Parker.
They have five children — Robert D., Fred. W., Flint D., Lena
M. and an infant. Mr. Knott is a member of DeKalb Lodge
No. 214, F. and A. M. Politically, he is a Democrat. He is an
influential man in his township, and is serving his second year
as Trustee.
Paul Lung, retired farmer, is the oldest living resident of But
ler Township. He was born in Champaign County, Ohio, in
December, 18 10, a son of John and Susanna (Pence) Lung, na
tives of Shenandoah County, Va. When he was about ten

•* •*4

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k

498 history of de kalb county.
years of age his father died, and he was bound out to serve till
he was twenty-one. Having to toil early and late for a hard
taskmaster, he had no educational advantages. He was mar
ried Jan. 12, 1832. In 1841 he came witb his wife and four chil
dren to De Kalb County, Ind., and settled where he now lives
in Butler Township. He bought 160 acres of wild land, pay
ing $4-33 an acre, on virhich he built a small cabin, and after
getting his family settled, went to work to improve his land,
which took years of patient toil. He now has a pleasant home
where he has lived forty-four years, and from a wilderness has
seen the country develop into farms and villages. He added
to his first purchase till he owned 230 acres, but has reduced
his farm to 150 acres. He is purely a self-made man, and has
made the greater part of his money in De Kalb County, having
but about $200 when he first came to Indiana. He was a
natural mechanic, and worked at the carpenter's trade a por
tion of the time after coming to the county. Deer and other
wild animals were plenty, and he was one of the best marks
men in the county. He has always been a Democrat, casting
his first vote for Andrew Jackson. He has held the office of
Supervisor several years, always discharging his duties in a
conscientious and impartial manner. His wife died June 20,
1884, aged seventy-three years, three months and thirteen days.
They had a family of seven children ; but four are living —
Serena, wife of O. C. Clark ; Elizabeth, Henry A., and George
W. Barbara, wife of George Ott, Anna, wife of Peter Fair,
and John, are deceased. Mr. Lung has been a member of the
Lutheran church forty years. His wife Avas a member from
her girlhood.
Philip Lung, farmer, was born in Champaign County, Ohio,
Aug. 15, 1819, a son of John and Susanna Lung, of Shenandoah
County, Va., who settled in Ohio in an early day. He was the
youngest of six children, four of whom are living — Paul, Noah,
David and Philip. The boyhood of our subject was spent in
his native county, where he attended school eighteen months,
which was the extent of his educational advantages. Before
he was eight years of age he was bound out to serve till of age.
He came to De Kalb County in 1S40, and entered 160 acres of
wild land in Butler Township ; returning to Ohio he remained
there ten years, and then came again to De Kalb County, sold
his land and entered the farm where he now lives, which he has

;C

4--

j-

HISTORY OF DE KALI! COUNTY. 499

cleared and improved. He has disposed of a part of his land,
but still owns eighty acres. Mr. Lung was married in Penn
sylvania, Nov. 3, 1S59, to Margaret S. Ott, who died March i,
1S72, aged thirty -four years. To them were born four children;
two are living — Nicholas and Daniel. Mr. Lung, as was his wife,
is a member of the Lutheran church. He has ahvays affiliated
with the Democratic party, casting his first vote for Van Buren
in 1S40. He is one of the representative citizens of De Kalb
County, having bv his integrity and honorable dealing won the
esteem of his fellow citizens.
John A'crA deceased, was one of the pioneers of DeKalb
County. He was born in Adams County, Pa., April 6, 1813, a
son of John Noel, who settled in Seneca County, Ohio, in an
early day, and there died in 1863. He was reared on a farm,
receiving a limited education, and after reaching manhood de
voted his attention to agricultural pursuits. He was married
Nov. 3, 1836, to Elizabeth Endsley, a native of Wayne County,
Ohio, born Nov. 20, 1816, a daughter of Michael Endsley, a
pioneer of DeKalb County. In 1839 they left their Ohio home
and emigrated to Indiana, locating on a farm on section 33,
Butler Township, DeKalb County, Oct. 27, which had been
bought by Mr. Noel in 1837, and on which was built a small
log cabin. He lived there till 1850, when he sold the farm and
bought 160 acres on section 15, seventeen acres of which had
been chopped, part of the brush burned, and a few rails made.
Here he lived the rest of his life, and by industry and judicious
management, assisted by his wife and children, was successful,
and at the time of his death had one of the best farms in the
township. In his political views he was first a Whig and then
a Republican. Although a strong supporter of his party he
had no aspirations for official honors. He was a member of no
church, but in faith was a Universalist. To Mr. and Mrs. Noel
were born eleven children, all but the eldest in DeKalb County
— Philip, born Feb. 25, 1838 ; Sarah E., April 27, 1840; George,
deceased, June 30, 1842; Mary S., deceased, Feb. 18, 1844;
Eliza L., April 2, 1846; Lucy J., April 2, 1846; William, de
ceased, Nov. 18, 1848; Solomon, Nov. 8, 1850; Silas, Jan. 14,
1853; Perry, May 21, 1855; Samuel, June 5, 1858. Mr Noel
died Oct. 27, 1858. Mrs. Noel subsequently married Henry
Bricker, and now resides in Auburn, DeKalb County, Ind.
Philip Noel, the eldest son of John and EUzabeth (Endsley)

^ 0  ^

500 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
Noel, was born in Seneca County, Ohio, Feb. 25, 1838. He
was reared and educated in DeKalb County, coming here when
an infant, with his parents. He received his rudimentary edu
cation in the district schools, and subsequently attended the
Auburn Academy two terms. Aug. 28, 1861, he enlisted in
Company H, Thirtieth Indiana Infantry, and Sept. 24 was mus
tered into the service of the United States. Oct. 9 he left In
diana for Camp Nevin, in Hardin County, Ky., and the next
month went to Murfreesville, Ky. From there went to Ten
nessee and joined Buell's army, and participated in the battles
of Shiloh, LaVergne, Stone River, Liberty Gap and Chicka-
inauga, where, after fighting two days, he was taken prisoner
Sept. 20, 1863, and for two months was confined in Richmond,
Va., and five months in Danville, Va. He was paroled and
sent to the Federal lines May 2, 1864, and May 7 was exchanged.
June 8 all Indiana soldiers were examined and those found unfit
for duty were ordered to Indianapolis for discharge. Among
this number was our subject. He arrived at Indianapolis June
16, and remained there till Sept. 29, 1864. His brutal treatment
in Southern prisons so undermined his health that he has never
recovered from its effects. When he enlisted he was appointed
Fourth Corporal, and when discharged he ranked Duty Ser
geant. Returning to civil life he resumed agricultural pursuits,
and now owns a good farm of 120 acres, eighty acres in Butler
and forty in Keyser Township, DeKalb Count}^ He is a wide
awake, progressive farmer, and his land shows the effect of
having a thrifty owner. He has nearly two miles of under
ground tiling. In 1874 he was Assessor of Butler Township.
He is a public-spirited, enterprising citizen, and has hosts of
friends and acquaintances. He was married June 29, 1865, to
Mary C. Stoner, a native of Cuyahoga County, Ohio, born Jan.
18, 1835, a daughter of John and Agnes Stoner, of Butler
Township. Mr. and Mrs. Noel have had three children — an
infant, deceased, born June 18, 1866; John C, born Jan. i,
1869; and Isaac, born Jan. 31, 1S72, died Sept. 15, 1S72. Mr.
and Mrs. Noel are members of the Methodist Protestant
church, and he has been Superintendent of the Sunday-school
for several years. He is a member of Mentor Lodge, No. 591,
1. O. O. F., Auburn and DeLong Post, No. 67, G. A. R. In
politics he is a Republican.
Micliacl Rccvcr, deceased, was born in Maryland Jan. 20, 1806.

HISTORY OF DEKALB COUNTY. 501 .{iIi' j
In his youth he learned the miUer's trade, at which he worked i j
whUe in his native State. He was married in Maryland to Re-
becca Ott, and about 1S44, with his wife and two children, ij
Thomas F. and Drucilla C, removed to Indiana and located in
Butler Township, DeKalb County. He purchased 160 acres of
wild land, built a small cabin and went to work to make a home.
His means were limited, and he was obhged to rel}- on his own
labor for the maintenance of his family. He was successful in
his pursuits, and accumulated a good property. His farm is
now owned by his daughter, Mrs. Housel. He and his wife
were members of the Lutheran church. In politics he was a
strict adherent to the principles of the Republican party. He
was a genial, social man, and had hosts of friends, and his ster
ling integrity won him the confidence of the entire community.
He died June 8, 1878. His wife died July 26, 1868, aged sixty-
five years and seven months.
Jonathan Simon, farmer, Butler Township, was born in Co
lumbiana County, Ohio, Aug. 6, 181 1 ; a son of George and
Elizabeth (Hewitt) Simon. He was reared and educated in his
native county, and in 1836 married Rachel Yarian. The same
year he came with his father's family to Indiana and entered
land, but returned to Ohio and remained a year and a half. In
1838, with his wife and one child, Polly, he came to DeKalb
County and settled on the place where he now lives. He built
a small log-cabin in which he lived three years. He has cleared
and improved his farm, and now has one of the best farms in
the township. He is a prominent man, and has held several of
the minor offices of trust, and has been appointed and acted as
guardian for several orphan children. He is a self-made man,
and now owns 240 acres of good land, besides settling homes on
several of his children. To Mr. and Mrs. Simon have been
born ten children, seven of whom are living — Polly, wife of
John Miller; Mary Ann, wife of Lycurgus Bowman; David,
Benjamin F., Jacob G., Jonas and Sarah O., wife of Charles
Ogden. The deceased are Alice M., wife of Samuel Dudley,
Sarah C, and Benjamin. Politically, Mr. Simon is a Repub
lican. He and his wife are members of the Lutheran church.
George Simon, deceased, was one of the first settlers of Perry
Township, Allen County, coming here in 1836. He was a na
tive of Pennsylvania, born about 1779, a son of Andrew
Simon. His father was captured by the Indians when a boy,
32

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^

502 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
and was kept by them nine months. George Simon was mar
ried in Pennsylvania to Elizabeth Hewitt, and moved to Co
lumbiana County, Ohio, where he Uved till his removal to Al
len County, Ind., where he entered land from the Government
which he improved and made his home. He and his wife were
exemplary members of the Lutheran church. He died in 1872.
His wife died in 1878, aged ninety -two years. They had a
family of twelve children, five of whom are Hving— Jonathan,
. Solomon, Sarah, Catherine, wife of Amos Jackson, and Rachel,
wife of Jacob Myers. The deceased are David, Peter, Samuel,
Elizabeth (wife of Frame Freeman), Lydia (wife of Henry
Bricker), Anna (wife of Levi Zinn), and Mary Ann. Mr. Si
mon served six months in the War of 1 812. In pohtics, he was
a Whig, and subsequently a staunch supporter of Repubhcan
principles. Henry Smith, farmer, Butler Township, was born in Bedford
County, Pa., Nov. 14, 1829, a son of Jacob and Margaret (Burk-
heimer) Smith, natives of Pennsylvania. His father was born
March 2, 1803, and his mother Dec. 24, 1805. In 1831 his parents
moved to Richland County, Ohio, where the father died July
16, 1863, and the mother in 1876. They had a family of nine
c'hildren — Fanny, Henry, Polly, Levi, Aaron, John, Frederick,
Susanna and Maria. They were prominent and consistent
members of the' German Baptist church. Henry Smith was
reared on a farm and received such education as the district
school of his day afforded. In i860 he moved to DeKalb
County, Ind., and bought 120 acres of land, on which he has
since resided. He has since bought another tract of 120 acres,
and now has one of the finest farms in the township. Mr.
Smith was married April 30, 1854, to Miss Susanna, daughter
of Jacob and Susanna Leedy, the former a native of Pennsylva
nia and the latter of Maryland. To Mr. and Mrs. Smith have
been born nine children — Margaret, Levi, Jacob, Mary, Lydia,
Mahala, Lodema, Amanda and John. Levi died Aug. 29, 1869.
Mr. Smith is one of the self-made men of the county. He and
his wife are members of the German Baptist church.
David Stonestreet, farmer, Butler Township, was born in Bath
County, Va., Oct. 7, 1825, a son of Ashford and Jemima (Ross)
Stonestreet, Virginians, who removed with their family to
Richland County, Ohio, in 1829. His boyhood was passed on
a farm, and he obtained a limited education in the common

HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY. 503
schools. In 1849 he came to DeKalb County, Ind. He bought
a tract of land near Albion, Noble County, which he afterward
traded for land in Butler Township, on which he settled and
has since lived. Like most early settlers he was a poor man
when he came to the county, but by his industry he accumu
lated a good property. He owns a fine farm of 250 acres, which
is well cultivated and improved with good farm buildings. He
was married Aug. 3, 1851, to Rebecca, daughter of David
Smith. To them have been born eight children, five of whom
are living — Margaret E., John, George, Anna and Rebecca.
The deceased are Ellison, Charity and Lydia. Mrs. Stonestreet
is a member of the German Baptist church. Politically, Mr.
Stonestreet is a Democrat. He is Trustee of Butler Township.
He is one of the self-made men of the county, having by his
own efforts, with the aid of his wife, made his property, and is
now one of the prominent men of the county. Mr. Stone-
street's parents had a family of nine children — Elitha, David,
Elhson, Mary, Jemima, Ashford, Lydia, Robert and Levina.
David is the only one living in DeKalb County. Mrs. Stone-
street's parents located in Butler Township in 1848. They
were exemplary members of the Baptist church. They had a
family of twelve children, eight of whom are living — Rebecca,
John, David, Anna, Josiah, Samuel, Henry, Franklin. The de
ceased are Susan, William, Nancy and Simon. Mr. Smith died
July 2, 1870, aged about sixty years. Mrs. Smith died July 10,
1868, aged fifty -seven years.
Joseph Straub is of German ancestry. He came from Marion
County, Ohio, in 1835, with his wife and three children and set
tled in Butler Township, De Kalb Co., Ind., where he bought a
half section of land from the Government, of which he cleared
about forty acres. In 1842 he sold his land and removed to
Carroll County, where he farmed five years, and in 1847 re
turned to this county, where he bought a quarter section, and
here he resided till his death, which occurred Dec. 25, i860, on
his fifty -ninth birthday. His wife survived till June, 1881, when
she died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. L. S. Bassett, which
adjoins the old homestead. Eight children were born to them
— Henry, farming in Dakota ; Susan (deceased) ; Simon Peter,
who lives on the homestead farm ; Jacob, a Universalist minis
ter; Margaret Ann, Maria, Barbara Elizabeth, wife of L. S. Bas
sett of Butler Township, and Solomon W., residing at Wood-

^ al 

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504 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
lawn Park, near Chicago. Rev. Jacob Straub entered the min
istry in i860 and has become a prominent minister of the Uni
versalist denomination. He has preached at Dowagiac, Mich.,
five years ; Lansing, Mich., seven years ; Muskegon, Mich., four
years. He then engaged in literary pursuits for two years, liv
ing in Chicago and preaching irregularly, and for the past seven
years he has been pastor at Marseilles, 111. He is the author of
" Consolations of Science," which has received favorable notice
from scientific and religious thinkers in Europe and America.
He intends to devote his future years to Uterary pursuits.
Marv Ann Straub has been in the Universalist ministry five
years, fiUing the pulpit at CastaUa, low-a, for three years. She
now resides at Woodlawn Park, III. She has composed many
Sunday-school hymns and has also written an unpublished
work for women. Maria Straub also resides at Woodlawn
Park- She has a volume of poems almost ready for publica
tion, and has also written much sacred music. She is the reg
ular correspondent of the " Religious Telescope," of Dayton,
Ohio. Prof. S. W. Straub has made music, vocal and instru
mental, his life's work. He has -conducted musical conventions
for many years, and has pubUshed a dozen or more musical
books, including several Sunday-school books which are exten
sively used. Those best known are " Morning Light " and
" Living Fountain,'' for Sabbath-schools. He has also published
"Convention, Choir and Anthem Treasures" for choir purposes,
and also some sheet music. He founded " Song Friend," a mu
sical periodical now in the sixth volume, which he still conducts
in connection with general music publishing in Chicago. His
son, Arthur M., is a pianist of promise. He Is now teaching
and studying music. Henry Straub, his eldest son, has been
Justice of the Peace for many years.
Timberlain Brothers. — Isaac and David Timberlain were na
tives of New Jersey, sons of Jonathan and Hannah Timberlain.
Their boyhood was spent in Columbiana Count}', Ohio, where
their parents located in the early settlement of the county.
There they grew to manhood, having only such educational
advantages as the early schools afforded. In 185 1 the3'- came
together to Indiana and settled in Butler Township, De Kalb
County, purchasing eighty acres of wild land. They erected
a log cabin and "began clearing their land. Here Isaac lived tiU
his death and David still lives. Isaac was married in Ohio to

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HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.

505

Ehzabeth Sheets, and to them were born eight children, seven
of whom are living — Hannah, Mary, Eliza, Silas, David, Eliza
beth and Rebecca. One died in infancy. Isaac died Dec. 11,
1879, ^ged nearly sixty-nine. David is aged about seventy-
eight years. In politics they were both staunch supporters of
the principles of the Democratic party. Like other early set
tlers when they came to De Kalb County they were in limited
circumstances, but their eagerness to procure a home inspired
them with energy and they went to work with a determination
to overcome all difficulties, and were rewarded with good
crops and a full larder, and finally by a competency for old age.

--7-

W^

CHAPTER Xlll.

CONCORD TOWNSHIP.

Situation. — Geography and Topography. — First Election-
— First Justice of the Peace in the County. — Early
Settlers. — Sketch of Nelson Ulm. — List of Pioneers. —
Early Justices, Constables, Trustees and Assessors, —
Spencerville. — St. Joe. — Population. — Property and
Taxation. — Crop Statistics. — Biographical.
This township, situated in the southeastern portion of De
Kalb County, is bounded on the north by Wilmington Town
ship, on the east by Newville Township, on the south by
Springfield Township, Allen County, and on the west by Jack
son Township. The St. Joseph River flows in a meandering
course from northeast to southwest, while Bear Creek, entering
in the northwest corner, flows through the center to the river.
Good mill sites were afforded by the river, upon which two
grist and two saw mills were erected. A saw mill was erected
near the center of the township on Bear Creek many years ago,
and also one on the stream known as the " Twenty-six Mile
Creek." In natural features, the township presented many ad
vantages to the early immigrant, and it has been claimed by
its people to be the best, agriculturally, in the count3^
DeKalb was the name first given to this township, in the faU
of 1837. It then included what is now Concord, Stafford and
Newville Townships, but in March following Stafford was de
tached and temporarily added to Wilmington, while the present
name Concord was substituted for DeKalb. An election was
ordered held the first Monday in April foUowing, at the house
of Jared BaU, and Cornelius Woodcock was appointed Inspec
tor of Elections. At this election Washington Robinson was
chosen Justice of the Peace. Newville was afterward made a
separate township, leaving Concord its present Hmits.
Under date of April 9, 1838, Mr. Robinson made the first re
port to the county that was rendered by any justice, as follows:
506

history of de kalb county. 507
- Plaintiff.

" State of Indi.vna,
DeKalb County,
Concord Township,
March 30, 183S.
" This day personally appeared before me, Washington Rob
inson, a Justice of the Peace in and for the township aforesaid,
Lyman Benton and William Rhodes ; being found guilty of an
affray by the information of Thomas L. Yates, Judge of the
Circuit Court, and confessed themselves guilty, and the cause
being heard and inspected, it is therefore considered that the
said Lyman Benton and William Rhodes stand convicted in the
sum of one dollar fine for each one, making two dollars and
fifty cents their cost.
"Given under mj- hand this 30th da3- of March, 1838.
" Washington Robinson, J. P.
"I do hereby certify the above to be a true Hst of fines
assessed by me and recorded on my docket.
"Given under my hand this 9th day of April, 1838.
" Washington Robinson, J. P."
In 1835, of ten families settled in the county, nine were resi
dents of Concord. The St. Joseph of the Maumee was at an
early day the main channel for all commercial traffic, and on its
fertile borders were founded the earliest settlements. Ranging
from 1835 to 1839 the following named were located on the
river: Homer Blake, David Butler (who for many years en
joyed the distinction of being the oldest living settler of this
count}-), John Mathews, Thomas L. Yates (on the present site
of Spencerville), John T. Rhodes (pioneer hotel keeper of
Spencerville), Jerry Rhodes, Daniel Rhodes, Brandt Rood,
Cramwell Rood, WiUiam Mathews, Mr. Lytle, Jared Ball, and
others. In the spring of 1834, Washington Robinson entered an ex
cellent tract of land across the river from the present site of
Orangeville, built a cabin, and in January, 1837, moved in. In
November, 1836, he, as proprietor, platted a portion of section
12, and named the tract Orang^eville. Here, in the spring of
1837, Platter and others opened the first store in the county.
Other early settlers were Gavin Hamilton, long known as the
owner of the Orange Mills; Lott Herrick, the first Probate
Judge of DeKalb County ; George Barney, for four years
Treasurer of the county ; James Hadsell, Cornelius Woodcox,

;^:^

5o8 history of de kalb county.
R. J. Dawson, John Blair and sons, Charles Wilbur, WiUiam
Buriey, Joseph Ludwick, Judge Walden, Samuel Widney (one
of the first Board of Commissioners), John P. Widney, Rev.
Benjamin Alton and Dr. Babcock. James Hadsell was one of
the most useful pioneers of Concord, filled several responsible
offices, was a minister of the Disciples church, and was the
main builder of the brick structure in Waterloo, where he died
during the winter of 1877.
Nelson Ulm, one of the oldest residents of the county, moved
here in 1834 and settled on the present site of SpencerviUe. He
tells of helping drive from Fort Wayne in the fall of 1834 the
first hogs and cows ever brought to SpencerviUe, eight hogs
and one cow for David Butler, and two cows for Dan Rhodes,
both of whom are deceased. Dan Yates, then living at Spencer
ville, was the first white settler there, for whom Mr. Ulm
worked during the fall of 1834 and subsequent winter. Dur
ing that same winter Mr. Yates sent Mr. Ulm to Fort Wayne
to mill. He took two bushels of corn on a hand-sled, making
the distance in two days, camping on the bank of the river near
where the Feeder dam now is, drawing the sled on the ice, the
river being the only highway at that time.
In the fall of 1835 he had a big tramp after Yates' and Rhodes'
horses, which were allowed to roam the woods in quest of some
thing to eat. The horses failing to put in an appearance at the
usual time, he started to bring them in, striking their trail on
Bear Creek, foUowed them up the river where NewviUe now
stands, crossed the river where the United Brethren church
has since been erected, left the trail and returned to Daniel
Rhodes', where he staid all night. Early the following morn
ing he struck the trail and followed the same all day without
any success, camping that night near Maumee River. Awaken
ing in the night, he found that the horses in their wanderings
came up to where he was then camping. He got up, bridled
two of the horses and hitched them to some saplings and retired.
He started home, leading one horse, carrying gun and knap
sack, striking the St. Joseph River near where Hursh's mills
now are. In consequence of riding bareback, with heavy load,
and it raining all the time, the horse's back became surfeited,
and in time the hair all came off its back.
Starting for Houlton's mill on Fish Creek in the faU of 1834
after a raft of lumber, he arrived at the mill, and, with the assis-

— S>y

history of de kalb county. 509
tance of Mr. Houlton, succeeded in getting back with a raft
without accident. Stopping near the mouth of Buck Creek,
he found the skeletons of two deer, their horns so interlocked
that it was impossible to separate them. He supposed that they
had been fighting and had become so entangled that separation
was impossible, and had so died. From this incident Mr. Ulm
gave the creek the name of Buck Creek, the name it still bears.
The following catalogue of Concord's early settlers was pre
pared by J. D. Leighty, of St. Joe, and reported to the pioneers'
meeting in June, 1883. It is believed to be nearly complete.
Those who came in 1833 were Samuel Wasson and David
Butler; 1834, Nelson Ulm, Mrs. Polly Rhodes, Jeremiah Rhodes,
Mrs. Jeremiah Rhodes; 1835, Samuel Draggoo, Cynthia Engle,
William Knight, Aseneth Ricketts, Henry Robertson; 1836,
William Henderson, Mrs. William Henderson, Jane Lawhead,
j Charles W. Widney, Mrs. Nancy Wyatt, John Widney, Mrs.
Nancy Widney, Elvira Ulm, James H. Abel, Abigail L. Abel,
Electa Abel, Mary Hadsell ; 1837, Abraham Johnson, Charles
Widney, G. W. Woodcox, Solomon Woodcox, Erastus White,
i Jacob B. White, Ira Picketts, Hugh Wyatt, Jonathan Boyle,
j Henry J. Abel, Mrs. Samuel Wasson ; 1838, H. H. Fales, Mrs.
H. H. Fales, George Barney, Mrs. Sophia Moody, Milas
Rhodes, E. D. White, Susan White, J. M. Lonsberry, Martha
Lawhead, Charles M. Coburn; 1839, Isaac Lawhead, James M.
Hamilton, S. L. Widney, Nancy Culbertson, Samuel Lawhead;
1840, Eva Lonsberry, Elizabeth Wineland, Hugh Maxwell,
Mary Maxwell, Sarah A. Hull, Maria C. WiUiams, Harlow
Gee, Harmon Gee ; 1841, O. H. Widney, WilHam Draggoo,
Amand Meese, Rebecca Smith, George Maxwell, Betsey A.
Leighty, John Wyatt, S- E. Parsons ; 1 842, Daniel Butler, David
Butler, Mary A. Widney, Jane Jenkins, Mrs. Erastus White,
Elizabeth Widney, Jacob Dermott, Moses Perry ; 1843, Jack
Moody, Jonas Emanuel, Benjamin Hursh, Mrs. M. Widney;
Robert Culbertson, J. M. Milliman, Mary MiUiman ; 1844, Mar
garet Stewart, John Leighty, Mrs. John Leighty, Sol. Barney,
Henry Jenkins, WiUiam Leighty, J. D. Leighty, Levi Sechler,
Mary Sechler, Lizzie Chancy ; 1845, Catherine Silberg, Robert
Johnson, Sep. Hull, John W. Dills, George W. Draggoo, Mary
Ann Koch, Adeline Showalter, Catherine Jenkins.
The following are some of the early officials of Concord
Township :
^j '  ' ^
¦f s "^ ^»  s ^iv

^2

±>L

510 history of DEKALB COUNTY.
Justices of the Peace. — John Blair, Ebeneze;r Coburn, George
Barney, Jeremiah Rhodes, John Bates, Asher Coburn, James
Draggoo, Moses Perry, Lorenzo Dawson and Robert Cul
bertson. Constables.— Oaxdinix Mellindy, W. Monroe, Uriah Miller,
Henry Fales, Eben Smith, D. Harrington, James Smith, J. Z.
Henderson, Samuel FHnt, Moses Boyles, John Smith, D. An
drews, Michael Knight, W. R. Drake.
Trustees. — S. Widney, John Blair, Ebenezer Coburn, Asher
Coburn, J. P. Widney, J. E. ShUHng, James Hadsell, Asa
Fletcher, John F. Coburn, WilHam Monroe, Michael Silberg,
John Helmick, Moses Perry, Jonathan Boyles, Bushrod Catlin,
Romeo CatHn, W. Horner, James Draggoo, John Shutt, Jacob
Dills. Assessors. — -Jeremiah Rhodes, John A. Chillis.
Spencerville is a thriving village, though not on a railroad,
and though one of the oldest points in the county, shows no
signs of decay. Its business firms are as follows : Barney &
Eirick, dry goods and hardware ; Peter Bishop, dry goods ;
Olds & Carnes, general merchandise; J. A. Provines, drugs;
Dr. Jonas Emanuel, drugs ; George Wise, blacksmith ; Batz
«& Son, blacksmiths ; Smith & Son, blacksmiths ; Beems
Bros., undertaking goods and furniture ; Murray Bros.,
saw and grist mill; Moody, HoUobaugh & Steward, saw
mill and tile factory ; Stephen Silberg, barber ; Henr}' flyers,
cooper ; Mr. Chaney, wagon shop ; Chancy Bros., meat
market ; J. R. Nichols, hotel, insurance and notary public ;
George Barney, Justice of the Peace ; Mr. Shaubaugh, shoe
maker ; Luther Jones, shoemaker ; O. W. Rummel, harness
maker ; John Somers, harness maker ; Murray Bros., handle
factory ; J. A. Provines is Postmaster, and the medical profes
sion is here represented by Drs. J. E. Emanuel, Jacob Hull and
Houghton. Spencerville has two churches. The M. E. denomi
nation has a brick structure built in 1883, at a cost of $3,000.
Previous to this a frame church was used. The pulpit is filled
at present by a minister who resides at Leo. The Evangelical
Lutherans have a frame church, twenty years old, which cost
about $2,000. The pastor is Rev. E. K. Baker.
St. Joe is a station on the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad. Though
a small place, it has come to be an important business center,
and one of the best grain shipping points in the county. Its

K-

history of de KALB COUNTY. 5 1 1
business firms include the following enumerated : J. D. Leighty,
dry goods ; S. & T. Barney, dry goods ; Case & Olds, dry goods;
W. C. Patterson, drugs; M. Testeson, groceries; Augustus
Copp, blacksmith ; S. Wineland, handle and shingle factory ;
Filley ;& Lounsberry, saw-mill; Jos. Baker, barber; WiUiam
Curie, butcher; Chaney Bros., meat market; Harry Meek,
cooper; Mr. Meek, painter ; Wm. Bohls, wagon shop; David
GriU, machinist; Mr. Brooks, shoemaker; A. Zern, shoemaker;
L. A. Bartlett, milliner}- ; Ed. White, Hvery ; Aug. Kinsey, furni
ture ; Hart Bros., brick yard ; C. A. Washier, saloon ; Wm.
Stamen, timber dealer; M. T. Bishop, lumber dealer; J. H.
Conrad, tinner ; E. W. Boyles, stone mason and plasterer ; Arch.
Evans, stone mason and plasterer ; Wm. Leighty, hotel ; G. W.
Woodcox, Justice of the Peace ; James A. Reed, Constable ;
A. C. Donaldson, builder and carpenter ; James A. Reed, car
penter; B. S. Sheffer, physician ; H. W. Bowman, physician;
M. T. Bishop, Postmaster. The village has one church, the
EvangeHcal Lutheran, built in 1 881, at a cost of $1,500. The
present pastor is Rev. E. W. Baker ; he was preceded by Rev.
E. W. Eirick.
Concord had a population by the last census (1880) of 1,623,
or 45 to the square mile. This is a gain of 151 over the popu
lation in 1870. The rate of taxation in 1884 is $1.81 ; poll tax,
S1.25 ; acres of land, 22,591.47; value of lands, $399,595 ; value
of improvements, $43,915; value of lands and improvements,
$443,510; value of lots, $2,287; value of improvements, $16,670;
value of lots and improvements, $18,957 ; value of personal pro
perty, $126,990; total value of taxables, $589,457; number of
polls, 328 ; total amount of taxes, $11,244.02. The valuation
per capita is $368.10. The number of children of school age
enumerated is 399.
In 1881 this township had in wheat 3,366 acres, producing
seven bushels to the acre, or 23,562 bushels ; in corn, 2,134 acres,
producing 25 bushels to the acre on upland, and 40 bushels on
bottom land, in all, 49,100 bushels; in oats, 969 acres, producing
30 bushels to the acre, or 29,070 bushels; in meadow, 1,029
acres, producing a ton and a half per acre, or 1,543 tons; in
potatoes, 66 acres, producing 30 bushels to the acre, or 1,980
bushels. biographical.
George H. Abel, deceased, was born in Trumbull County,

'^T?:*-

512 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
Ohio, Feb. 21, 1808, a son of Damon and Sally (Root) Abel.
He was married April 21, 1828, to Electa HodseU, a native of
New York, daughter of John and Abigail (Bray) HodseU. Af
ter his marriage he settled on a farm in Ohio, and in September,
1836, came to Indiana and entered 160 acres of land in Concord
Township, De Kalb County. Here he cleared and improved a
farm, where he lived till his death. May 10, 1874. Mrs. Abel stiU
lives on the old homestead in the seventy-seventh year of her
age. They had a family of ten children, seven of whom are
living — James H., Cyrus W., Henry J., Melvinas, Mary Al
mira, Walter M. and AHce L. George D., Nancy and La-
vesta are deceased. In politics Mr. Abel was a Democrat.
Mrs. Abel is a member of tbe Disciples church.
Henry J. Abel, son of George H. and Electa (HodseU) Abel,
is a native of De Kalb County, Ind., born in Concord Town
ship Aug. 19, 1837. He remained with his parents assisting in
the care of the farm till his marriage, and then settled on a farm
adjoining the one where he now Hves, remaining there till 1875,
when he bought his present home. He owns 110 acres of im
proved land with a pleasant residence and good farm buildings.
Nov. 22, 1 861, he enhsted in Company F, Forty-fourth Indiana
Infantry. Soon after going South he was taken sick, and was
in the hospital the most of the time till discharged March 10,
1863. He was married Nov. 14, 1858, to Eliza ShuU, daughter
of Daniel and Susan (Newcome) Shull. To therri have been
born seven children — Jonathan E., George H., Merton, Her
bert E., Essie M., Marion C, and Grace S. iSlrs. Abel is a
member of the Disciples church. In politics he is a Republi
can. He is a member of John C. Cams Post, No. 144, G. A. R.
James H. Abel was born in Trumbull County, Ohio, Feb. 9,
1829, the eldest son of George H. and Electa Abel. ' He was
seven years of age when his parents moved to DeKalb County,
and was reared and educated in the wilds of Indiana. He and
his father cleared about seventy acres of the old homestead.
He attended school during the winter when his services were
not needed on the farm. He remained with his parents till May
14, 1848, when he was married to Abigail Robe, a native of Me
dina County, Ohio, daughter of Amherst and Abigail (Liswell)
Robe, her father a native of Connecticut, and her mother ot
Massachusetts. After his marriage Mr. Abel bought eighty
acres of wild land for which he gave his note. He was but

5p*

HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY. 513
twenty years of age but was possessed of a large degree of en
ergy and perseverance and went bravely to work to improve
his land. His wife assisted him by taking in sewing, and to
gether they worked and paid for their home. He cleared
eighty acres of heavily timbered land in three years. Sept. 23,
1S61, he enlisted in the defense of the Union in Company F,
Forty -fourth Indiana Infantry, and Nov. 23 they started for the
South. They participated in the battles of Fort Donelson and
Shiloh. At the latter battle his regiment went in with 480 men
and came out with 241. Soon after the battle of Shiloh he was
taken sick with typhoid fever, and not regaining his former
health was discharged Sept. 3, 1862. Oct. 6, 1864, he was
drafted, although still suffering from the effects of his illness,
and was assigned to Company C, Thirty-fifth Indiana ^"olun-
teers. Nov. 30 he participated in the battle of Franklin, Tenn.,
and Dec. 15 and 16 in the battle of Nashville. From there he
went to Huntsville, Ala., and the following March to BuU's
Gap, thence back to Nashville, and from there in June to Vic
toria, Tex., where they remained till discharged Sept. 30, 1865.
Since his return from the war he has engaged in agricultural
pursuits, although his army experience has unfitted him for any
hard work. He was elected Assessor of his township in the
fall of 1864, but appointed a deputy while he was in the ser
vice. He was re-elected in 1866 and again in 1872, and in 1880
he was appointed to take the census of his township. He has
been a Republican in politics since 1856, casting his first Presi
dential vote for Frank Pierce. To Mr. and Mrs. Abel have
been bom three children — Mary E., wife of John B. Taylor, of
Baltimore, Md.; Ida O., wife of Adelbert Andrews, of Hicks
ville, Ohio; and Freeman H., who married Ella Kelley and lives
on the old homestead. Mrs. Abel's parents came to De Kalb
County in 1837 and entered eighty acres of land in Wilmington
Township, where her mother died in 1840. They had a family
of four children. The eldest son also died in 1840. The other
son, Bennett S., died at Chattanooga while a soldier in the civil
war. The father afterward married Amilla Hayford, and of
their two children a son is Hving. Mr. Robe died in 1846.
James Baker, farmer and stock-raiser. Concord Township,
was bom in Bedford County, Pa., Sept. 28, 18 14, a son of
Joseph and Nancy (Smith) Baker. When he was seven years
of age his parents moved to Adams County, Pa., where his

¦»x'

5 14 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
mother died two years later. He then lived with relatives till
fifteen years of age, and then began to take care of himself,
working by the month till his majority. He was married Dec.
22, 1842, to Barbara Rummel, a native of Adams County, Pa.,
daughter of John and Barbara (Demer) Rummel. After his
marriage he lived four years in Franklin County, Pa., and in
the fall of 1847 moved to Ashland County, Ohio, and a year
later to DeKalb County, Ind., where he bought eighty acres of
unimproved land, now owned by William Short. He cleared
and improved this land, living on it till February, 1869, when
he sold it and bought the farm where he now lives, which con
tains 148 acres of land all under cultivation. Mr. and Mrs.
Baker have had nine children — Mary E., Daniel, Susan, Will
iam, Henry, Jacob, Sarah, Joseph, and John. In politics Mr.
Baker is a Repubhcan. He and his wife are members of the
Lutheran church.
George W. Barney, one of the pioneers of Concord Township,
is a native of Essex County, N. Y., born in Willsboro, Oct. 13,
181 5, the youngest son of Solomon and Charity (Horde), Bar
ney, his father a native of England, and his mother of New
York, of Scotch parentage. When he was a small boy his
father moved to Ashtabula County, Ohio, and built an iron
foundry, and as soon as old enough he began to assist him, con
tinuing till fifteen years of age, when his father died ; and three
years later he went to Canada and lived with an older brother
till 1836, when he returned to Ohio and lived with a brother-in-
law tiU the spring of 1838. He then came to DeKalb County,
Ind., and assisted in building one of the first mills in the county,
at Orange. He worked in this mill two years, and in the mean
time bought eighty acres of land in Wilmington Township,
which he rented for a time. In 1840 he moved to Spencerville
and was employed as manager of the miU, store and large farm
of Reuben J. Dawson, tiU the death of the latter. In 1861 he
was elected Treasurer of the county, and served four years.
Previous to this, in 1845, he was elected Magistrate, but after
serving a year resigned, but in 1849 '^^as again elected and
served twelve years. The first couple he married Hved in New
ville Township, and he walked five miles, without compensation,
to perform the ceremony. In 1865, after the expiration of his
term as Treasurer, he returned to Spencerville, and engaged in
the mercantile business with Henry Miller a short time. His

¦i*

HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY. 5 1 5
son Solomon then became his partner, and subsequently, as
they became old enough, his other sons were admitted to the
firm, the name being George W. Barney & Sons. In 1879 he
retired from active business, leaving the management of the store
to his sons. In 1880 he was elected Justice of the Peace and
served four years. Mr. Barney was married May 28, 1840, to
Jane Bratton, a native of Pennsylvania, born July 11, 1816, and
to them have been born eight children, but three of whom
are living — Solomon, born Sept. 22, 1844; Franklin, born Jan.
13, 1852; and Marquis, born Nov. 21, 185S. Lucius, born May
15, 1S41, was a soldier in the war of the RebeUion, enlisting as
Orderly Sergeant of Company A, One Hundredth Indiana In
fantry, and being mustered out as Captain. He died Oct. 5,
1869. John S., born Nov. 13, 1S42, enlisted in the Eleventh In
diana, and died while a prisoner in Texas, October, 1S64. Mary
C, born Jan. 25, 1848, died Dec. 23, 1869. George W., Jr., was
bom Dec. 20, 1849, and died July 23, 1853. Stephen, born Dec.
5, 1854, died March 15, 1S56. Mr. and Mrs. Barney have been
members of the Methodist Episcopal church since 1850. In
politics he has been a life-long Democrat.
Jonathan Boyles, one of the first settlers of Concord Town
ship, was born in Knox County, Ohio, Feb. 12, 1815, a son of
lohn and Nancy 1 Merritt) Boyles, the former a native of West
Virginia, son of Jonathan Boyles, of English and Irish descent,
and the latter a daughter of Moses Merritt, of Irish and Welsh
descent. In 1825 his parents moved to Morrow County, Ohio,
where he grew to manhood. His father being in feeble health,
he was obhged to take charge of the family, and before he was
twenty-one years old had cleared and fenced sixty acres of
land and built a good house. He was married Feb. 25, 1S36,
to Elizabeth Oliver, daughter of Samuel and Catherine (Alman)
Oliver. In the fall of 1S36 his house and all its contents were
destroyed by fire. Soon after he left home and canje to De.
Kalb County, Ind., and entered eighty acres of land on section
17, Concord Township, and again began to make a home. He
returned to Ohio, and in August, 1837, moved his family to
their new home. In company with Henry Brown and family,
Isaac Brown and family, his father and mother, grandmother
Knight, James Herrod and son James, in all sixteen in the com
pany, with two wagons with three horses to each, they were
eleven days on the way, camping out nights and cutting their

\<

516 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
roads through the unbroken forest. On arriving in the vicinity
of Brunersburg the company stopped at the cabin of a pioneer
to water their teams. There was no door to the cabin, a quilt
serving its purpose. His father and' James Herrod went to the
door and pulling aside the quilt found no one at home, but dis
covered a quantity of meat hanging from the walls. They con
cluded it to be venison, and thought they could not go on
without a supply. Securing what they thought sufficient for
their purpose, they deposited money to pay for it on the table.
After traveling a few miles they met a man and his wife, who,
upon inquiry, they learned were the owners of the cabin, who
informed them that it was part of an ox that had broken his
neck by turning the yoke. Pursuing their journey, they arrived
at their destination on Saturday, the first day of September,
1S37. Having no house, they stopped at the cabins of David
and Michael Knight, who had preceded them with their fami
lies. Within one week after they arrived twelve out of the six
teen were down sick with the ague, including the entire family
of Mr. Boyles. He had a chill each day for sixty-three days.
He had but $10, and sold forty acres of his land, and had built
a cabin about twelve feet square. His wife and her small
brother sawed timber and split it in shape, laid the floor, chink
ing and daubing the best they could ; they then carried him to
it, he being now afflicted with dropsy. Their only window was a
log sawed out with sticks crossed in it and greased paper pasted
over them. The door was made the same way, with a quilt
hung over it. During the winter his wife cleared five acres of
ground up to trees of one foot, the tender twigs serving as the
only feed by which he wintered two cows and one horse. By
the month of April, 1838, their scanty supplies were exhausted,
and he, in company with three others, secured a pirogue and
started for Fort Wayne down the St. Joe River, without a cent
of money, in quest of food for their starving families, leaving
them to subsist for four days upon one meal of thickened milk
and a few dried pumpkins. They applied to Thomas Swaney
for corn, who, upon finding they had no money, refused to sup
ply their wants. They then applied to Col. Spencer, who,
after inquiring their names, and where they were from, and the
amount of their probable wants, directed them to " go down
the Maumee River six miles, shell what they wanted, and pay
me seventy-five cents a bushel when you can. And if any of

i

HISTORY OF DEKALB COUNTY. 517
your neighbors are in need, they shall not starve while I have
anything to supply them with." They lived upon parched corn
while away from their families. During his absence on this
expedition, the wolves surrounded his house at night, fighting
his dog. Mrs. Boyles sallied forth armed with a fire shovel,
and with the assistance of the dog drove them away. He has
undergone all the hardships and privations of pioneer life, but
by persistent effort has accumulated a good property, having a
pleasant home where he has now lived forty-eight years. His
wife died Feb. 16, 1849. They had a family of seven children,
four of whom are living — Nancy C, Martha J., Newton, and
Emma. The three eldest are deceased — John and William
(twins) died in infancy, and Artemus, while a soldier in the war
of the Rebellion. June 30, 1S50, Mr. Boyles was married to
Susan Rummel, and to them have been born three children —
Maggie M., Anna Eliza, and Elnora M. Mrs. Boyles died Feb.
10, 1S70. In politics Mr. Boyles was formerly a Democrat, but
since the war has affiliated with the Republican party. He has
been an active member of the Methodist Episcopal church for
nearly half a century, and assisted in the organization of the
first Methodist church in the township.
David Buchanan, deceased, was born in Washington County,
Pa., in 1815, a son of John and Ann (Adams) Buchanan. He
was a wagon-maker by trade at which he worked in Brooke
County, W. Va., till 1846, when he moved to Ashland County,
Ohio, and engaged in agricultural pursuits till the spring of
1853, when he moved to DeKalb County, Ind., and bought
forty acres of partially-improved land. He died July 25, 1855,
leaving his wife with a family of small children to rear in a new
country, and among strangers. He was married March 21,
1839, to Elizabeth McGee, daughter of Alexander and Ruth
(Talbot) McGee, and to them were born four children — Reason,
Florence, Lucinda and Samantha. Reason and Lucinda are
deceased. The former enlisted in the defense of the Union in
September, 1862, in Company A, One Hundredth Indiana In
fantry, and died Jan. 30, 1864, from disease contracted in the
service. Mrs. Buchanan went bravely to work after the death
of her husband, and, with the help of her sons, improved her
farm and made a comfortable home for her family. She reared
her children to Hves of usefulness, and fitted them for honorable
positions in society.
33

¦-7T^

Ill

518 HISTORY OF DEKALB COUNTY.
Florance Buchanan, farmer and stock-raiser. Concord Town
ship, was born in Brooke County, W. Va., Dec. 24, 1841, the
second son of David and Ehzabeth (McGee) Buchanan. When
seventeen years of age he went to Auburn to learn the cabinet
maker's trade, at which he served an apprenticeship of two and
a half years. Sept. 5, 1861, he enhsted in Company H, Thir
teenth Indiana Infantry, and participated in many hard-fought
battles. He was wounded at the battle of Shiloh and was dis
abled for four months. Joining his regiment, he participated
in the battle of Chickamauga and the Atlanta campaign. He
was captured and was at Andersonville prison thirty days. He
was discharged Oct. 15, 1864, having served a Httle more than
three years. After his return home he worked at his trade a
short time, and then at the carpenter's trade four years. In the
fall of 1 871 he opened a cabinet-shop and furniture store in Au
burn, in company with Wm. E. Rush, but five years later sold
his interest and moved to a farm in Concord Township, where
he Hved till the fall of 1880, when he bought the farm where he
now Hves, which contains about eighty-five acres of improved
land. He was married March 21, 1870, to Mary D. Rush, daugh
ter of William E. Rush, of Auburn. They have three children —
Harry L., Martha E. and Florance J. Mr. Buchanan is a mem
ber of John C. Cams Post, No. 144, G. A. R. He and his wife
and one daughter, are members of the Protestant Methodist
church. In politics he is a Republican.
David Butler, deceased, one of the most influential and es
teemed of the pioneers of DeKalb County, was born in Cub
peper County, Va., June 28, 1805, and died in Concord Town
ship September 3, 1884. His father died in Virginia, and
when sixteen years of age he accompanied his mother to Pick
away County, Ohio, where he lived till manhood. In 1833 he
moved to DeKalb County, and bought sixty acres of land on
section 32, Concord Township, which he cleared and improved,
and to which he afterward added 160 acres. This farm is now
one of the finest in the county. He was one of the first settlers
of the county and became one of the most prominent citizens.
He held many local offices of trust and responsibility, and al
ways performed the duties of his office in an efficient and satis
factory manner. He had many friends, especially among the
early settlers, his upright, honorable life being acknowledged
by all who knew him. His family consisted of eight children

^

— -4-1

HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY. 519
— EUen, wife of Frederick Row, of Garrett ; Irvin, died while
a soldier during the war of the RebeUion ; Andrew resides in
Idaho ; Amos, in Kansas ; Christiana, wife of James Barber, of
Jasper County. Kan.; David and Daniel, twins, and Minerva,
wife of John Moody. His wife died March 4, 1877. They
were members of the Methodist Episcopal church in early life,
but later united with the United Brethren church. In politics^
he affiliated with the Republican party.
David C. Butler, farmer and stock-raiser, a son of David
and Elizabath (Yates) Butler, was born in Concord Township
on the farm where he now lives, Dec. 6, 1842. He was reared
a farmer, receiving a good education, attending the schools of
SpencerviUe. He was married Oct. 7, 1875, to Miss Sarah J.
Keyes, a native of Carroll County, Ohio, daughter of Zepha-
niah and Fanny Keyes. After his marriage he settled on a part
of the old homestead and has since successfully followed agri
cultural pursuits. He owns fifty acres of valuable land and his
residence and farm buildings are among the best in the town
ship. He is one of the enterprising farmers of Concord, and
assists liberally every enterprise of benefit to his native county.
He is a member of the Odd Fellows' order, Spencerville Lodge,
No. 432. In poHttcs he casts his suffrage with the Democratic
party. Mrs. Butler is a member of the Methodist Episcopal
church. Daniel W. Butler, son of David and Elizabeth (Yates) Butler,
and twin brother of David C. Butler, was born in Concord
Township, Dec. 6, 1842. He was reared on the old homestead
and Avas given a good education at Spencerville. He remained
with his parents till manhood, and after attaining his majority
took charge of the homestead. He was married Feb. 2, 1871,
to Miss Sarah Jane Boots, daughter of John Boots, of Jackson
Township, this county. After his marriage he settled on a part
of the old homestead where he has since Hved, successfully en
gaged in agricultural pursuits. He is one of the enterprising,
pubhc-spirited men of the township, a worthy representative of
one of the most esteemed men of the early days of De Kalb
County. To him and his wife have been born three children-
Frank L., Merritt A., and^Audrey Elizabeth. In politics Mr.
Butler is a Democrat.
Asher W: Coburn, deceased, was born in Ontario County, N.
Y., March 3, 1803, and died in De Kalb County, Ind., July 11,

:^l^

520 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
1874. He was a son of Asher and Esther (Whitney) Coburn,
who moved to TrumbuU County, Ohio, about 1818, where he
lived with them till manhood. He was by occupation a farmer,
following it in Ohio tUl his removal to De Kalb County, Ind.,
March i, 1S36. Here he entered 240 acres of Government land
on sections 23 and 24, Concord Township, which he cleared
and improved and made his home till his death. He was mar
ried June 13, 1823, to Hannah Headley, daughter of Samuel and
Rachel (James) Headley, who came from Pennsylvania to Ohio
in an early day. To them were born three children — Phoebe,
wife of Jacob Dermott ; Francis, deceased ; Roxanna, widow
of Harvey Ackley. His wife died Sept. 8, 1857, aged fifty-
three years. He afterward married Mrs. Susan Shull, now a
resident of Allen County. He was a member of the Disciples
church. In pohtics he was at first a Whig but after its organi
zation voted with the Repubhcan party.
Charles M. Coburn, farmer and stock-raiser, was born in Trum
buU County, Ohio, Nov. 21, 1827, a son of Ebenezer and Dehv-
erance (Wilson) Coburn. In August, 1S38, his parents moved
to De Kalb County, Ind., and settled in Concord Township,
where he was reared, his youth being spent in assisting his
father clear and cultivate a frontier farm. When seventeen
years of age he began to work for the farmers by the month,
and when nineteen years of age he was married, and then for
several years rented land in this township. In February, 1855,
he bought forty acres of timber land w-hich he cleared, and to
which he has since added thirty acres. This he has brought
under a good state of cultivation and now has a pleasant home
and is surrounded with all that makes life comfortable. He
was married Nov. 15, 1846, to Almira Milliman, a native of New
York, daughter of John and Mary (Warren) MiUiman. To them
were born eight children, five of whom are living — Helen A..
Emma A., William H. H., Charles Marcellus and Otis B. Har
riet E., Agnes B., and Rosalie F. are deceased. Mrs. Coburn
died Feb. 12, 1871, and Feb. 5, 1S74, Mr. Coburn married Jane E.
Allen, daughter of William and Elizabeth (Brownley) Allen.
They have five children — Allen E., Clarence A., Ella C, Caro
line B., and John H. Mr. Coburn is a member of the Disciples
church. Politically he is a Repubhcan.
Ebenezer Coburn, deceased, was one of the most esteemed
pioneers of De Kalb County. He was born in Vermont, Oct.

.^•

>>•

HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY. 521
S, 1794, a son of Ebenezer and Sybil (Robinson) Coburn, the
former born July 4, 1752, of Scotch parentage, and the latter
Sept. 14, 1755, of English descent. His parents were married
Nov, 22, 1777, and when he was a child moved to New York
State, where he grew to manhood. Sept. 13, 1813, he was mar
ried to Phoebe Henry, who died July i, 181 5. They had one
child — John H., deceased, Sept. 17, 1815, he married DeHver-
ance Wilson, and in the fall of 1827 moved to Trumbull County,
Ohio, where he engaged in farming, and also worked at the
shoemaker's trade. In 1835 he entered 160 acres of Govern
ment land in Concord Township, De Kalb Co., Ind., and in
August, 1838, moved his family to their new home in the
woods. He cleared and improved his land, remaining on it till
his death, Aug. 9, 1847. His wife survived him till May 14,
1864. They had a family of ten children, six of whom are liv
ing — Otis R., Russell G., Charles M., Henry VV., Chauncey,
and Caroline. Phoebe H., William W., Eliza J., and Ann A.,
are deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Coburn were members of the Disci
ples church. In politics he was an old line Whig. He served
his township as Justice of the Peace four years.
John F. Coburn, deceased, one of the most prominent of the
old pioneers, was born in Ontario County, N. Y., July 22, 1806,
a son of Asher Coburn, and died in De Kalb County, Ind.,
April 8, 1879. H!e was ten years of age when his parents
moved to Trumbull County, Ohio, and there he was reared
on a frontier farm, obtaining a practical education in the
district schools, and by studying in his leisure hours. He
learned the shoemaker's trade in his youth, and worked at it
till his removal to De Kalb County, Ind., March i, 1836. He
entered 120 acres of Government land, which he began to clear
and improve, and also worked at his trade. He was elected
County Clerk and Recorder, the first in the county, and made
an efficient officer. He was an active member of the Disciples
church, and took a great interest in the cause of Christianity.
Politically he was first a Whig and later a Republican. He
was married Nov. 25, 1830, to Minerva Twadell, who died Oct.
8, 1840. They had three children — Jacob O., Laura E., and
Edwin R. The sons were both soldiers in the war of the Re
bellion. Jacob O. died in a rebel prison. Edwin R. is now a
resident of DushviUe, Isabella Co., Mich. July 11, 1841, Mr.
Cobum married Alzada M. Gay, who died March 28, 1850.

4q  ^  — ^p
522 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
April 20, 1852, he married Betsey A. Wilmot, a native of Por
tage County, Ohio, born June 7, 18 12. They had one child —
Wilmot P. Mrs. Coburn and her son are living on the old
homestead, which contains 160 acres of valuable land, under a
good state of cultivation.
Russell G. Coburn, a son of Ebenezer and Deliverance (Wil
son) Coburn, was born in Ontario County, N. Y., Aug. 8, 1825,
and was two years of age when his parents moved to Trumbull
County, Ohio, and thirteen when they moved to De Kalb
County, Ind. He remained with his parents, assisting in the
cultivation of the farm, till his marriage, and then took charge
of the old homestead and cared for his parents the remainder of
their Hves. For forty-six years he has lived on his farm, and
has witnessed and materially assisted the development of the
county. For twenty years he worked at the carpenter and
joiner's trade in connection with farming. He was married
July 6, 1845, to Mary MiUiman, daughter of John and Mary
(Warren) Milliman. They have had a family of eleven chil
dren, nine of whom are living — Augustus B., Sarah J., Phoebe
Eve, Elsie Ann, Mary E., Alva S., Warren W., CaroHne E. and
Harriet A. Mr. and Mrs. Coburn have been members of the
Christian church forty-five years. Politically he has been a
member of the Republican party since its organization.
Robertson Culbertson, one of the prominent citizens of Concord
Township, was born in Coshocton County, Ohio, April 6, 181 5,
a son of Robert and Mary (Pepples) Culbertson, natives of
Pennsylvania ; his father of Westmoreland County, of Scotch
descent, and his mother of Adams County, of Irish descent. In
1 8 10 his parents moved to Coshocton County, Ohio, where the
father died six weeks before the birth of our subject. Four
years later the mother married John Henderson. When eight
years of age he went to Hve with his grandfather Culbertson in
Wayne County, and remained with him till nineteen years of
age. He then began to work for farmers by the month, and in
1838 came to De Kalb County, Ind., and entered 120 acres of
land in Concord Township. Returning to Ohio he remained
five years and then moved his family to the new home, which
he has since cleared and improved, and now has one of the best
farms in the township. He was married Nov. 10, 1836, to
Margaret Robinson, daughter of Hugh Robinson, and to them
were born seven children, but three of whom are living. One
a ^  —  -'"•_.

J- .

HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY. 523
son, Joseph, enlisted Sept. 5, i86i,in the first company that left
De Kalb County for the defense of the Union, and was killed
at the battle of Shiloh, April 7, 1862, aged twenty-one years. A
daughter, Mary J., was the wife of John C. Owens, and died at
the age of thirty years, leaving a family of children. Mrs. Cul
bertson died June 24, 1874, aged fifty -five years and twenty days.
August 28. 1883, Mr. Culbertson married  Brown, widow
of Samuel Brown, by whom she has three children — Calvin H.,
Willis B., and Herman L. In 1855 Mr. Culbertson was elected
Magistrate of his township and served eight years. He served
as Assessor and Land Appraiser seven years. In politics he is
a Republican. He and and his wife are members of the Prot
estant Methodist church.
George W. Draggoo, farmer and stock-raiser, Concord Town
ship, is a native of Richland (now Ashland) County, Ohio, born
March 22, 1826, the youngest of twelve children of Frederick
and Martha (Angel) Draggoo. His father died when he was
twelve years of age and he remained with his mother till man
hood, receiving a common school education. His mother died
when he was twenty-one years of age, and the following fall,
1847, he came to De Kalb County, Ind., and bought the land
which is now his valuable farm. To his first purchase he has
added till he now owns 155 acres, all under cultivation, and his
residence and farm buildings are pleasant and are built with all
the modern conveniences. Mr. Draggoo has accumulated his
property by hard work and frugality. He has been an influen
tial man in the township, and in i860 was elected Magistrate
and served eight years. He is a member of the Masonic fra
ternity and one of the most esteemed of the brotherhood. In
politics he is a Democrat. He was married April 26, 1849, to
Samantha Blair, daughter of John and Margaret (Douglas)
Blair, one of the first families in De Kalb County. They have
two children — Alice A. and Frankhn B. Mrs. Draggoo is a
member of the Presbyterian church.
Amos Draper is a native of Otsego County, N. Y., born April
5, 1804, a son of Bethuel and Polly (Vaughn) Draper, his father
a native of Massachusetts, son of Joshua Draper, of English
descent, and his mother a native of New York, of Holland de
scent. When he was ten years of age his father died, leaving
his mother, with six small children, in limited circumstances.
The children were scattered, and our subject found a home in

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524 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
the family of Stockwell in the city of Troy, where he Hved three
years, when his mother, having married again, he lived with her
a short time. When he was twenty-two years of age he began
teaching, his first school being near Hardwick. He then taught
several years in his native county. In 1840 he moved to
Huron County, Ohio, where he engaged in agricultural pur
suits tiU 1873, when he moved to De Kalb County, Ind., and
bought eighty acres of land in Concord Township, all under
cultivation. He is a self-made man, having made his property
solely by his own industry and frugal habits, accompanied by
his integrity and good business ability. He was married Jan.
22, 1837, to Sally Ann Doan, a native of the State of New York.
To them were born five children, but three of whom are living
— Horace, WilHam, and Miranda. Emily and Harriet are de
ceased. Mrs. Draper, born May 10, 1818, died Nov. 12, 1879,
aged sixty-one years, six months, and two days. In politics
he is a Republican.
Jacob Dermott, farmer and stock-raiser. Concord Township,
was born in Schuylkill County, Pa., May 16, 1824, a son of
Peter and Hannah (Williams) Dermott. His father, a native of
Ireland, came to the United States when a young man, and the
latter a native of one of the Southern States of Welsh descent.
When he was fifteen years of age his parents moved to Ohio,
and settled in Paulding County. Two years later he went to
Ft. Wayne, and for six years was engaged in the manufacture
of chairs. In 1847 he bought eighty acres of unimproved land
in Allen County, which he subsequently sold, and bought 160
acres of partially improved land in Concord Township, DeKalb
County, which he exchanged about five years later for the farm
where he now lives, which contains 120 acres of valuable land
all under cultivation, and has since engaged in agricultural
pursuits. He was married Oct. 23, 1845, to Phoebe Coburn,
daughter of Asher Coburn, one ol the first settlers of DeKalb
County. They have had five children, four of whom are Hv
ing — Asher M., John E., OHve C.,and J. M. Their eldest son,
Charles M., is deceased. Mrs. Dermott is a member of the
Disciples church. In politics Mr. Dermott is a Democrat.
Jonas Emanuel, M. D., is the oldest practising physician of
DeKalb County. He was born in Hardin County, 'Va., April
15, 1818, a son of Jacob and Mary (Kimball) Emanuel, the for
mer a native of Germany, and the latter of Virginia of German

HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY. 525
descent. When he was about ten years old his parents moved
to Fayette County, Ohio, where they died. In 1840 he began
the study of medicine with Dr. Thomas MacGorough, a prom
inent physician of old Chillicothe, and remained with him three
years. He took his first course of lectures at Cincinnati, and
graduated from the Ft. Wayne Medical College. He began
the practice of his profession at Franconia, Putnam Co., Ohio,
and Dec. 19, 1843, came to DeKalb County and located in Spen
cerville. Since his settlement in DeKalb County he has trav
eled about 1 50,000 miles, the greater part of it on horseback.
He was for several years the only physician of this part of the
county and his labors were necessarily very laborious, often
having to go miles through the dense forest, and being obliged
to carry a hickory torch to see his way. He has been success
ful in his practice, and not only has acquired a good property,
but has endeared himself to the hearts of the people, especially
of the old settlers, with whom he shared their privations and
difficulties, never refusing on any account to attend one who
needed his services. In February, 1880, Dr. Emanuel took his
honorary degree at Ft. Wayne College. He is a member of the
Allen County Medical Association. He was married Dec. 25,
1842, to Esther Hawley, daughter of Richard Hawley, and to
them three children were born — Mary E., wife of A. C. Taylor,
of Kansas; Charles E., an attorney, of Auburn, and Appelles
D., who was making a good record as a physician in Ohio, and
in 1876 died of typhoid fever, aged thirty-two years, leaving a
widow and three children. Mrs. Emanuel died Sept. 28, 1850,
and May 16, 1852, Dr. Emanuel married Laura E. Coburn, a
native of Trumbull County, Ohio, daughter of John Coburn.
They had a family of seven children — Angelina, deceased ;
Anoret and Henry are deceased ; Hamilton is a physician of
Ohio ; Marcus C, an attorney of this county ; Ella, wife of
Bruce L. Bogorte, an attorney of Dakota ; Gerry E., a phy
sician, the youngest man ever graduated from Rush Medical
College, Chicago, 111. D/. Emanuel lost his wife Nov. 28, 1871,
and was again married Jan. 21, 1877, to Lucinda Silsbee. He
has a fine farm of 200 acres in Concord Township, and one of
the pleasantest homes in the county. In politics he was first a
Whig, but now is a member of the Republican party.
Henry H. Fales is a native of New York, born Dec. 18, 1818,
a son of Peter and Judith Ann (Cole) Fales, the former a native

¦s..

526 HISTORY OK DE KALB COUNTY.
of Massachusetts, of Welsh descent, and the latter of Rhode
Island, of English descent. When he was fifteen years of age
his parents moved to TrumbuU County, Ohio, where his youth
was spent in assisting his father in the blacksmith's shop. May
10, 1838, he came to Indiana and helped build one of the first
mills on the St. Joseph River, at OrangeviUe, and ran it two
years. He then moved to Spencerville, Concord Township,
De Kalb County, engaged in different vocations till 1844, when
he settled on a farm and engaged in agricultural pursuits till
1871, and for twelve years was associated with his son in the
furniture and undertaker's business at Spencerville. Since 1883
he has Hved retired from the active business of Hfe. Mr. Fales
was married Feb. 9, 1838, to Rebecca White, a native of Trum
bull County, Ohio, daughter of Ephraim and Betsey (Bartholo
mew) White. To them have been born ten children, eight of
whom are living — Emily, wife of Joseph Spittler ; Betsey, wife
of WiUiam Leighty ; EH, of AUen County, Ind. ; WiUiam, on
the old homestead ; Orange, of Elkhart County, Ind. ; EUiot S.,
of St. Joe ; Thomas L., and WilHam L., of Concord Township.
Rosa Ann and Malcolm are deceased. In politics Mr. Fales is
a Repubhcan. He has served as Magistrate of his township
fourteen years. He and his wife are members of the Evangel
ical Lutheran church.
Harlow J. Gee, farmer and stock-raiser, Concord Township,
is a native of Ohio, born in Ashtabula County, April 19, 1827,
the second child of Anson and Amelia Gee. When he was four
years of age his father died, leaving his mother in limited cir
cumstances with three children to care for. As soon as they
were large enough, he and his elder brother were obliged to
follow the plow and clear the land. His mother subsequently
married Enoch Hayford, and in 1834 they moved to Bartholo
mew County, Ind., where his stepfather died. In 1840 they
came to DeKalb County and bought eighty acres, to
which he afterward added forty acres near Newville, pay
ing $3 an acre. He was married Ai^g. 25, 1850, to Lucinda
Loomis, daughter of Amos Loomis, and settled on the home
stead. In 185 1 he bought his present farm of fifty acres in Con
cord Township, all under cultivation. To Mr. and Mrs. Gee
have been born eight children — Harriet A., wife of James Sich-
ler ; Mary A., wife of James Lindermuth ; Elizabeth, wife of
George B. Wilson ; Marcellus D., married Carrie Coburn ; Jud-

¦f (T-

J B
r

A I—

HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY. 527
son O.; Caroline, deceased ; Burton A., and an infant, deceased.
In politics Mr. Gee is a Republican. His success in life is due
to his habits of industry and economy learned in youth from
the counsels of a wise mother.
Rev. James Hadsell, deceased, was the second minister of the
Disciples church in DeKalb County. He was born in Broome
County, N. Y., Feb. 28, 1S13, a son of John and Abigail Had
sell. When he was a boy his parents moved to Trumbull
County, Ohio, where he was reared on a farm, receiving his
education in the district school, and by studying in his leisure
hours when his services were not required on the farm. He
began teaching school when a young man, at a time when he
received $iq a month for his services. He was married March
12, 1835, to Mary A. Abel, who was born in Trumbull County,
Ohio, Aug. 21, 1813, a daughter of Daniel and Sally (Root)
Abel. In 1836 they moved to DeKalb County, Ind., and en
tered eighty acres of Government land in Concord Township,
where they lived thirty years. A short time after his settle
ment in the county he was licensed to preach in the Disciples
church, and the rest of his Hfe was an active worker in the
cause of Christianity, traveling over DeKalb and adjacent
counties for about forty years. He held many offices of trust
and responsibility, and at one time represented his county in
the Legislature. To him and his wife were born eight children
—Byron A., Orlina E., Marshall D., Austin A., Maria M.,
Carson C, Eveline S. and Camillus J. Mr. Hadsell died March
6, 1876.
Benjamin Hamilton was born in Franklin County, Pa., Dec. 6,
1845, a son of Edward and Rebecca (Bishop) Hamilton. His
father died before his birth, and he lived with his grandfather
Bishop, till eight years of age, when his mother moved to
Adams ounty, Pa., w'.isra he Hved till seventeen years of age.
When twelve years of age he began to assist his mother in the
maintenance of the family. In 1863 they moved to DeKalb
County, Ind., and settled in Concord Township. His mother
now Hves in Hicksville. November, 1864, he enlisted in Com
pany A, Thirteenth Indiana Infantry, and participated in the
battles of Fort Fisher and others of less importance. He was.
discharged in October, 1865, and returned to Allen County,
thence to DeKalb County, where he has since followed agricult
ural pursuits. In 1872 he sold his farm in Concord Township,
, e) J - —
Via '^ ^^  b"V

'^1

528 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
and bought one in Allen County where he lived till 1881, when
he sold it and returned to Concord Township and bought the
farm he now owns on section 14, containing 132 acres of valua
ble land. He was married Jan. 21, 1868, to Catherine Houk,
daughter of George and Mary (Shilling) Houk. To them have
been born six children — John A. (deceased), George F., Milli-
cent, William, Mary and Adelphia. Mr. Hamilton is a member
of John C. Cams Post, No. 144, G. A. R. In politics he is a
Democrat. James M. Hamilton. [By A. H. Bittinger, Esq.] — The subject
of this sketch was born near Defiance, Defiance Co., Ohio, Oct.
2, 1832. He was a son of Gavin W. and Anna B. Hamilton.
His parental ancestors were Scotch and his maternal ancestors
of German descent. His grandfather, William Hamilton, came
from Scotland, arriving in New York in 1796. In the early part
of the year 1839 his parents removed to DeKalb County, Ind.,
and he is therefore one of the old settlers of the county. He re
ceived his education in the local schools which did not at that
early day furnish the facilities for education for which in after
years that section of the county became noted, but he was an apt
scholar and acquired a good and substantial education for the
time spent in procuring it. He is a farmer from choice, and
has owned the farm upon which he now lives for thirty-three
years. He is also the sole proprietor of the Orangeville grist
mill, situated upon the same site on the St. Joseph River selected
by and upon which his father erected a grist and saw mill in
1839, being the pioneer miUs of that section of the country. Al
though domestic in his habits, he never married. In early life
he planned tours through his own and foreign countries which
he faithfully carried out in his maturer years. In 1864 he made
a tour of the Southern States with the assistance of the officers
of the Union Army, who furnished him with the proper passes
through their Hnes. In the year 1871 he made a tour of the
Pacific slope, spending fifteen months in Idaho, Oregon,
Nevada, California and Utah. In 1876 he journeyed through
the Eastern States and to the capital of the United States. In
1878 he took a voyage to Europe, visiting France, Germany,
Switzerland, Belgium, Holland, England, Ireland, and the home
of his ancestors in Scotland, where he found many of his kin
dred still occupying the ancestral homes. In 1885 he again
made a tour of the Southern States, this time without the re-

ip

HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY. 529
straint of army passes, the principal object of which was the
World's Exposition at New Orleans, La. He has acquired much
useful information in his extensive travels. In politics, he is a
Republican, his first vote being cast for John C. Fremont for
President in 1856, with which party he has ever since voted for
National and State officers — he never sought nor held an office.
He zealously advocates any cause he espouses, and is positive
in his likes and dislikes. He is quick and electrical in his move
ments, possessed of much strength and vigor, enjoys the com
forts of a pleasant home, and esteem of a large circle of friends
and acquaintances.
George Hauk, retired farmer, was born in Dauphin County,
Pa., Oct. 23, 1812, a son of Samuel and Catherine (Spraker)
Hauk, natives of Pennsylvania, of German descent. His father
died in Lebanon County, Pa., aged sixty years, and his mother
in Stark County, Ohio, aged eighty-six years. When he was
eighteen years of age he left his native State and went to Stark
County, Ohio, where he learned the miller's trade, serving an
apprenticeship and worked at it ten years. He then bought a
farm and followed agricultural pursuits in Stark County till
the fall of 1853, when he came to De Kalb County and bought
160 acres of land in Jackson Township. He subsequently
added to it from time to time, till he now owns a fine farm of
400 acres. In 1874 he retired from the care of his large farm,
relinquishing it to his children, and bought thirty-nine acres in
Spencerville, where he and his wife are now enjoying the ac
cumulations of their many years of toil. He was married June
27, 183S, to Mary Shilling, daughter of Adam and Mary (Roan)
Shilling. To them have been born seven children — Mary A.,
wife of George Shutt, of Allen County ; Hiram, of Allen
County ; Elizabeth, wife of William Shutt, of this township ;
Daniel married Rila Kiner and Hves on the old homestead ; Enie-
hne J. Bell, wife of Nicholas Goldsmith, on the old homestead ;
Amelia Catherine, wife of Benjamin Hamilton, of this township,
and Sarah Matilda, wife of Samuel Canard, of Allen County.
Mr. and Mrs. Hauk are members of the Lutheran church. In
politics he was originally a Whig, but now casts his suffrage
with the Democratic party.
William Henderson, one of the pioneers of De Kalb County,
is a native of Ashland County, Ohio, born April 26, 1824, the
eldest of thirteen children of Samuel and Lettie (Moody) Hen

¦fW-

530 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
derson, natives of Pennsylvania, of Irish parentage. They
were married in Harrison County, Ohio, and soon after settled
on rented land on the present site of HaysviUe, and afterward
bought a farm two mUes north, where they lived till the fall of
1836. In July of that year Mr. Henderson came to De Kalb
County and entered 320 acres of land, and returned to Ohio for
his family. Sept. 25 they left the latter State and Oct. 13 ar
rived at their frontier home. They built a fire by the side of a
log and made their wagon their house tiU a cabin could be
buUt. The next morning the father started for Fort Wayne to
miU, and was gone four days. When he returned the boys had
their cabin ready to raise, and in less than a week from the
time of their arrival they had a house to Hve in, the first in the
township. He afterward bought 120 acres more land, making
a large farm of 440 acres which he and his sons cleared and im
proved. He was elected the first Justice of the Peace in the
township but refused to qualify, having no aspirations for offi
cial honors. He Hved to see aU but three of his children mar
ried and settled on homes of their own, and died Feb. 15, 1863,
aged sixty-five years. His wife survived till December, 1880,
and died at the age of seventy-five years. WiUiam Henderson
was twelve years old when his parents moved to De Kalb
County, and although so young he was obliged to assist in
clearing and improving a frontier farm. His educational ad
vantages were Umited, never attending school but seven weeks.
He was married Jan. 9, 1845, to Matilda Watson, a native of
Ashland County, Ohio, daughter of WilHam and Susan (Keffer)
Watson, of Allen County, Ind. After his marriage he settled
on a tract of heavily timbered land, and began to make a farm
for himseU. He built a cabin 16x18, in which he commenced
housekeeping, aud went bravely to work to clear his land. He
has cleared 160 acres, and now has one of the finest farms in
the township, and has made it his home for forty years. To
him and his wife have been born four children, two of whom
are living— Margaret and John W. Their eldest died in in
fancy, and Ehzabeth was the wife of Milo F. Walker, and died
May 5, 1S83, aged twenty-eight years. Mr. and Mrs. Hender
son have been members of the Methodist Episcopal church
forty years. He is a member of Concord Lodge, No. 556, A. F. &
A. M. In politics he was originally a Democrat, but since its
organization has affiliated with the Republican party. He was

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HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY. 531
elected County Commissioner in 1866 and served four years,
and has also served as Township Trustee four terms.
Andrew Horn is a native of Adams County, Pa., born Aug.
II, 1S14, a son of George and Louisa (Cramer) Horn, natives of
Pennsylvania, the former of Adams County and the latter of
York County, of German parentage. He was reared on a farm,
residing with his parents till manhood. He was married Feb.
15. 1S3S, to Sydney Pilkington, daughter of Joseph and Jane
(Gettys") Pilkington. After his marriage he settled on the old
homestead, where he Hved a year and a half, and in September,
1S39, he and his father moved to Richland County, Ohio, where
he hved thirteen years. In 1848 he came to De Kalb County and
bought eighty acres of land in Newville Township, and four
years later moved his family to this county. He sold his land
in Newville Township and bought eighty acres of land in Con
cord Township, which is his present home. Sixty-five acres of
his land are under cultivation. His father died in the spring of
1S62, aged seventy-three years, and his mother in 1S64, aged
seventy-one years. To Mr. and Mrs. Horn have been born six
children — Israel, Mary J. (wife of George Lake, of Allen
County), John M., Caroline (deceased), Edwin and Lorena.
Their sons were all soldiers in the war of the Rebellion. In
politics Mr. Horn is a Republican. He and his wife are mem
bers of the Lutheran church.
Isaac N. Homberger is a native of Berks County, Pa., born
Feb. 25, 1824, a son of John and Leah (Remp) Homberger, na
tives of Pennsylvania, of German descent. When he was ten
years of age his parents moved to Stark County, Ohio, where
he lived with them till his majority. He was married Dec. 25,
1848, to Lucinda Lehman, daughter of David and Nancy (Zent)
Lehman. He lived in Ohio two years after his marriage, and
then moved to De Kalb County, Ind., and settled on the land
which is his present farm, containing 160 acres, about fifteen of
which were partially improved. He now has it all under culti
vation, and has a pleasant residence and good farm buildings.
Mr. Homberger is purely a self-made man, having acquired his
property by hard work and economical habits. He is in poli
tics a Repubhcan. Though not an aspirant for official honors
he has served his township two years as Constable. To him
and his wife have been born seven children — Nancy C, wife of
Francis Koeht, of Union Township ; Mary A., wife of Isaac

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5 32 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
Mann, of Wilmington ; Belle E., wife of George Swinford, of
Wilmington Township ; John P., of Union Township, married
Laura Weeks ; Susannah M., wife of James Sherwood, of Union
Township ; Anna A. and Myrtle J. Mrs. Homberger died
Nov. 30, 1 88 1. She was, as is also Mr. Homberger, an active
member of the United Brethren church.
Henry Hull, farmer and stock-raiser. Concord Township, was
born in Knox County, Ohio, March 24, 1834, the eldest son of
Hiram and Sarah (Sloan) Hull, natives of Ohio, German of de
scent. He was reared by his grandfather, Henry Huh,
living with him from his second till his twenty-sixth year.
When he was fifteen years of age his grandfather moved to De
Kalb County, Ind., and settled on a farm near Orangeville. He
was reared to agricultural pursuits, and by close attention to
business, and industrious and economical habits has acquired a
large property. In 1855 he bought eighty acres of wild land,
which he cleared, and to which he has added till he now has a
fine farm of 188 acres, all well improved with good buildings.
He was married Dec. 29, 1859, to Sarah A. Widney, daughter
of Samuel Widney. To them have been born three children —
Joseph A., Clarence H., and Delbert L. In his political affilia
tions Mr. Hull is a Democrat.
Henry Jenkins, farmer and stock-raiser. Concord Township,
was born in Knox County, Ohio, May i, 1834, the second son
of John and Margaret (Hull) Jenkins. When he was ten years
of age his parents moved to De Kalb County, Ind., and settled
on a tract of wild land where he was reared, his youth being
spent in assisting his father to clear and improve his land. He
received a common-school education attending the schools of his
district. He remained at home till his marriage, Feb. i, i860,
to Martha J. Johnson, daughter of Thomas and Lydia (Drag
goo) Johnson, and then bought 106 acres of land which is his
present home. He has been successful in his pursuits and now
has a pleasant home. To him and his wife have been born six
children, three of whom died in infancy. Those living are —
Emma, wife of C. Elson, of Fairfield Township ; Frederick A.,
and Clara B. In politics Mr. Jenkins is a Democrat. Mrs.
Jenkins is a member of the Methodist Protestant church.
George Kimes, deceased, was born in Lancaster County, Pa.,
and died in Concord Township, De Kalb Co., Ind., March 17,
1878. He was a son of Peter and Nancy Kimes, who, when he

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HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY. 533
was two years old moved to Dauphin County, Pa., where he
was reared and married May 17, 183 1, to Sarah Boyer, a native
of Maryland, daughter of David and Elizabeth (Kramb) Boyer.
In 1836 Mr. Kimes moved to Wayne County, Ohio, and in 1848
to De Kalb County, Ind., and bought eighty acres of unim
proved land in Concord Township, which he improved, and in
1 861 added eighty acres of heavily timbered land to it. He was
an enterprising citizen and a liberal supporter of all interests of
benefit to the community. In 1831 he and his wife united with
the Lutheran church, but in 1839 becoming dissatisfied with
that denomination, united with the Church of God, of which
they were ever active and consistent members. To them were
born thirteen children, twelve of whom Hved till maturity —
David, Elizabeth, Josiah H., Jacob C, Catherine A., Daniel M.,
George, Andrew, William H. Sarah J., Harvey and Amanda L.
Mrs. Kimes has rpared two grandchildren — Cora Barr and
Ellery Kimes. She still lives on the old homestead, and is loved
and esteemed by all who know her. In his political affiliations
Mr. Kimes was an old line Whig, but after its organization cast
his vote with the Republican party.
Joseph Koch, son of Ulrich and Barbara (Repman) Koch, was
born in Ashland County, Ohio, in July, 1832. His parents
were natives of Germany, his father coming to America when
sixteen and his mother when two years of age. Their family
consisted of nine children, but three of whom lived till matur
ity. In 1852 Joseph Koch came to De Kalb County, Ind., and
began clearing a tract of heavily timbered land which his father
had bought some time before. He Hved on and improved this
farm till after the breaking out of the Rebellion when, Nov. 4,
1864, he enlisted in Company C, Thirty-fifth Indiana Infantry,
and served till the close of the war. He participated in many
hard fought battles, among others Franklin and Nashville. His
health became impaired from exposure and as the result of an
accident at Nashville, and he has never recovered from its
effects. Since his return from the war he has followed agri
cultural pursuits, and now has one of the finest farms in the
township, containing 160 acres, all under cultivation. He was
married April 17, 1853, to Mary Ann Jenkins, daughter of John
and Margaret (Hull) Jenkins. They are the parents of eleven
children — Sarah L., John U., Reuben J., Wilson, Annie,
Margaret E., Ida, LiUie, Delia, Charley, and Amanda K. Mr.
84

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534 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
Koch is a member of John Cams Post, No. 144, G. A. R.
Pohtically he is a Democrat.
Thomas Krise was born in Center County, Pa., in 1840, the
sixth of seven children of Philip and Elizabeth (Smith) Krise.
When he was six weeks old his parents moved to Lorain
County, Ohio, and in 1854 his father came to De Kalb County,
Ind., and bought seventy-one acres of unimproved land, and re
turned to Ohio for his family. While making his arrangements
to move he was taken sick and died in July, 1854, leaving his
widow with five children. The following October the family
came to their frontier home, which the sons cleared and im
proved, and where the mother still lives, in the eightieth year
of her age. Thomas was in the fifteenth year of his age when
he came to De Kalb County. He remained with his mother
till after the breaking out of the RebeUion, and, Aug. 7, 1862,
enlisted in Company H, Eighty-eighth Indiana Infantry, and
participated in many hard fought battles, among others being
Perryville, and the Atlanta campaign. While on picket duty
at McMean's Mill, S. C, he, with WilHam Weeks, a member of
the same company, was, attacked by two rebels ,who placed
revolvers against their breasts and commanded them to sur
render. Mr. Krise wrenched the revolver from him, although
after a hand to hand struggle, and captured his opponent. The
other rebel was killed. As a reward for his bravery the Gov
ernment gave him the captured revolver, which is among his
most prized relics. He was discharged June 27, 1865. After
his return home he learned the carpenter's trade, at which he
worked nine years, at the same time having charge of the old
homestead. He has been successful in his pursuits, and now
owns 160 acres of valuable land under a good state of cultiva
tion. Mr. Krise was married Sept. 30, 1869, to Almira J.,
daughter of William Clark. To them have been born five
childreiiT^Gertrude May, WilHam H., Effie J. (deceased),
CharleslO., and Milton Thomas. Mr. Krise is a member of
William Hacker Lodge, No. 326, F. & A. M., and John Cams,
Post, No. 144, G. A. R. In politics he is a Republican.
Samuel Lawhead, one of the prominent pioneers of Concord
Township, was born in Fayette County, Pa., March 26, 1822,
the fifth of eleven children of James and Martha (McClelland)
Lawhead, natives of Pennsylvania, of Scotch and Irish parent
age. In 1824 his parents moved to Greene County, Pa., and in

via

^Ta. _— ..-   -^ ^j)]^
HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY. 535
1835 to Wayne County, Ohio, where they Hved four years, re
moving in May, 1839, to De Kalb County, Ind., where his
father entered 240 acres of Government land, which he cleared
and improved and made his home till his death in 1848, aged
sixty years. The mother lived till 1880 and died at the age of
eighty-seven years. Eight of their children are living. They
were active members of the Presbyterian church. Samuel was
seventeen years of age when his parents moved to De Kalb
County, and from that time till twenty-four years of age he as
sisted his father in clearing and improving his land. April 6,
1S46, he was married to Martha Draggoo, a daughter of Peter
and Nancy (Williams) Draggoo. In 1848 he bought eighty
acres of unimproved land which he has cleared and cultivated
and has now made his home for thirty-two years. He has been
an honest, upright citizen, and merits the respect of his fellow
townsmen and has been entrusted by them with several posi
tions of responsibility. He and his wife are members of the
Lutheran church. They have had three children ; but one is
hving — Nancy E. Mary E. and an infant are deceased. In poli
tics Mr. Lawhead is a Republican.
Jacob D. Leighty, merchant, St. Joe, Ind., was born in West
moreland County, Pa., Oct. 19, 1840, a son of John and Eliza
beth (So wash) Leighty. He was four years of age when his par
ents moved to De Kalb County in 1844, and here he was reared.
When he was sixteen years of age he began teaching school,
and subsequently taught and attended school till the breaking out
of the war of the Rebellion, being at that time in the sophomore
class at Wittenburg College, Springfield, Ohio. July 8, 1861,
he enlisted in Company E, Elpventh Indiana Infantry, and was
appointed a Sergeant of his company. His first engagement
was in the spring of 1862, at Fort Henry. Subsequently he
participated in the battles of Fort Donelson, Shiloh, Grand
Gulf, Port Gibson, Raymond, Champion Hills, and others. At
the last named battle he was wounded in the left hip and dis
abled from active service for sixty days. He joined his regi
ment at Baton Rouge, and from there went down the Missis
sippi to New Orleans and into West Louisiana as far as Opelou-
sas, his regiment being in several engagements on the way.
Then he returned to New Orleans, but as he was still suffering
from his wound he resigned in March, 1864, and returned
home. He was a gallant soldier, and for his bravery was com-

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536 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
missioned Second Lieutenant Jan. 24, 1862, and First Lieutenant
Dec. I following. After his return home he engaged in' the
mercantile business in Spencerville in company with Miller &
Myers a short time, and then he and Mr. Miller purchased Mr.
Myers' interest and the firm of Miller & Co. continued a year,
when his father bought Mr. Miller's interest, changing the firm
to John Leighty & Son. In 1872 he bought his father's interest
and in 1874 sold his stock to P- Bishop. In 1875 he and his
father laid out the village of St. Joe and the following year he
became established in the mercantile business at this place.
He was appointed Postmaster in 1875 and served till 1880,
when he was elected Township Trustee. He is a member
of the Masonic fraternity, Concord Lodge, No. 556; William
Hacker Chapter, No. 56 ; Angola Council, No. 27 ; Apollo
Commander}', No. 19. He is a member of John C. Cams
Post, No. 144, G. A. R. In March, 1866, Mr. Leighty was mar
ried to Kate A. Metzger, a native of Circleville, Ohio, daugh
ter of Judge Andrew Metzger, of Fort Wayne. To them
have been born three children, but one of whom is hving —
John R.
John Leighty, one of the prominent and successful early set
tlers of DeKalb County, is a native of Westmoreland County,
Pa., born Nov. 18, 1808, a son of John and Catherine (Welker)
Leighty, natives of Pennsylvania, of German descent. When
he was fifteen years of age he went to learn the shoemaker's
trade, serving an apprenticeship of three years. He then
worked as a journeyman till his marriage and then settled on a
farm in his native county, where he Hved till 1S44, when in the
early part of June he moved to DeKalb County, Ind., and set
tled on section 33, Concord Township, where he built a cabin
and began improving a farm. In 1859 he left the farm and
moved to the village of SpencerviUe,. where in 1865 he engaged
in the mercantile business with his son. In 1S75 he and his son
moved to section 15, Concord Township, where they bought
¦^ne hundred acres of land and laid out the town of St. Joe,
which is now a thriving village. Mr. Leighty was married
April 4, 1833, to Elizabeth Sowash, a native of Westmoreland
County, Pa., a daughter of Abraham and Susan (Weaver)
Sowash. To them have been born ten children, seven of whom
are Hving — Catherine, Alexander, Jacob D., Maria, -Wilham,
Charles B. and Mary. Susan, John and Elizabeth are deceased.

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HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY. 537
Mr. and jNlrs. Leighty are members of the Lutheran church.
Pohtically he is a Democrat.
Stephen Lutz, farmer and stock-raiser, was born in Knox
County, Ohio, Aug. n, 1S49, ^ son of John and Ehzabeth
(Woodruff) Lutz, natives of Ohio, of German descent. When
he was sixteen years old, in the spring of 1866 he came to De
Kalb County with his parents and settled in Concord Town
ship, and lived with them till manhood. He has ahvays given
his attention to agricultural pursuits and now owns a good farm
of eighty acres, all under cultivation, with good improvements.
He was married Feb. 9, 1871, to Catherine Moore, a native of
Ohio, daughter of Enoch and Rebecca (Johnston) Moore, who
came to DeKalb County when she was a child. They have
one child— Samuel J. W. In politics Mr. Lutz is a Democrat.
He and his wife are members of the Methodist Protestant
church. James Malone, farmer and stock-raiser, Concord Township,
was born in Holmes County, Ohio, in 1S20, a son of Elias and
Catharine (Steffey) Malone, natives of Maryland, who moved
to Ohio in an early day. He was reared a farmer, remaining
with his parents till manhood. He was married Jan. 6, 1842, to
Mary Ann Eller, a native of Maryland, daughter of Jacob and
Margaret (Grime) Eller, also early settlers of Ohio. After his
marriage he lived on the old homestead a short time, and then
went to Knox County, Ohio, and rented land till the fall of
1850, when he came to De Kalb County, and bought eighty
acres of wild land, which he has cleared of the timber and put
under a good state of cultivation. To this he has added till he
now owns a good farm of 1 54 acres of valuable land. He is a
self-made man, being in limited circumstances when he came to
De Kalb County, but by energy and industry has accumulated
a good property. In politics he is a Democrat. To him and
his wife have been born eight children, seven of whom are liv
ing — Henry, WilHam, Jacob, Margaret, Sarah J., Harriet, Mary
F., and Anna ; tbe latter is deceased.
Henry Maxwell, farmer and stock-raiser, Concord Township,
was born in Wayne County, Ohio, July 31, 1835, the fifth of ten
children of John and Polly (Thomas) Maxwell, natives of Ohio,
of Irish and English descent. John Maxwell was a millwright
by trade, and about 1840 built the first bridge across the St.
Joseph River. In the winter of i84i-'2 he moved to De Kalb

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538 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
County, and worked at his trade till 1849 in NewviUe Town
ship, when he bought the farm now owned by his son Hugh,
where he Hved till his death. Henry Maxwell remained with
his parents till fifteen years of age, and then went to Michigan
where he lived twelve years. He enlisted in the war of the
RebeUion in Company K, Second Michigan Infantry, and the
following June received a wound which disabled him for active
duty, and frora the effects of which he has never recovered.
Since his return from the war he has foUowed agricultural pur
suits, and now owns a fine farm of eighty acres all under culti
vation. He was married in 1859 to Mary Ann Brown, and to
them were born two children, Hugh and Rosa J. The former
died aged three years. His wife died in 1861, and in 1863 he
married Alvira Hull, who died Feb. 17, 1879. Oct. 8, 1879, he
married Lura L. Jackson. They have one child — Winiferd
Alene. Mr. Maxwell is a member of NewviUe Lodge, No. 326,
F. & A. M., and John C. Carns Post, No. 144, G. A. R. In poh
tics he is a Democrat.
J. H. Murray, of the firm Murray Brothers, millers, Spencer
ville, Ind., was born in Seneca County, Ohio, Nov. 7, 1839, the
youngest son of James and Nancy (Herrin) Murray. Before he
was a year old his father died, and he was reared by a widowed
mother. When he was about fifteen years old he accompanied
her to Allen County, Ind., where he lived till the fall of i860,
when he came to De Kalb County, and in company with John
Zimmerman bought a saw and grist mill, which they conducted
till the death of the latter, when he, with his brother Thomas,
bought the interest of the heirs, and they have since carried on
the business. Mr. Murray was married Jan. 30, 1S73, to Maggie
Langley, a native of Virginia, daughter of John and Elizabeth
Langley. To them have been born two children — Mabel and
Winifred. Mr. Murray is a member of Concord Lodge, No-
556, A. F. & A. M. His wife is a member of the Methodist Epis"
copal church. In politics he affiliates with the Democratic
party. Thomas S. Murray, of the firm Murray Brothers, proprietors
of the saw and grist mill, Spencerville, Ind., was born in Seneca
County, Ohio, Oct. 28, 1837, the third of four children of James
C. and Nancy R. (Herrin) Murray, natives of Pennsylvania and
early settlers of Ohio, where his father died when he was three
years old. In 1S54 his mother came with her family to Indiana

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HISTORY OF DE K.VLB COUNTY. 539

and settled in Allen County, where in 1S57 he began to work at
the carpenter's trade, and followed it ten years. In 1865 he
came to De Kalb County and settled on a farm in Concord
Township, and in 1S67 removed to Spencerville, and formed a
partnership with his brother in the milling business, which they
have since successfully conducted. He was married Dec. 20,
1S60, to Pauline Opdyke, a native of Allen County, Ind., daugh
ter of Henry C. and EHnor (Sunderland) Opdyke. • They are
the parents of four children, three of whom are living — Laura
A., wife of John Baltz, of Allen County ; Maud E. and Mary
E. Charles L. died at the age of sixteen months. Mr. Murray
is a member of Concord Lodge, No. 556, F. & A. M. In poli
tics he is a Democrat. In 1870 he was elected Trustee of his
township and served two years.
Thomas Nelson, one of the most successful farmers and stock-
raisers of Concord Township, was born in Tuscarawas County,
Ohio, Aug. 14, 1816, the eldest son of Hugh and Mary (Wilson)
Nelson, natives of Harrison County, Ohio, the former a son of
John Nelson, who came from Ireland with his parents when ten
years old, and settled in Pennsylvania, and when a young man
¦moved to Ohio, and the latter a daughter of Thomas Wilson, a
native of New Jersey, also an early settler of Ohio. Our sub
ject was born about the time the Indians left that part of Ohio,
and his youth was spent in helping to clear a frontier farm. He
was married in August, 1S34, when eighteen years of age. He
then entered eighty acres of land and built a pole-cabin in the
woods, where he commenced housekeeping. He had thirty-
five bushels of wheat and borrowed $15 with which he entered
forty acres more land. The first winter he taught a subscrip
tion school which furnished them with provisions. After get
ting his land under cultivation, he sold it for $1,200 and bought
200 acres of unimproved land and again began to clear a second
and larger farm. He afterward bought eighty-eight acres
which he sold a year later for $500 more than he gave for it. He
then bought 150 acres near New Philadelphia Landing, which he
kept four years and sold for $1 ,700 advance of the purchase price.
He then sold his 200 acres for $5,000, and in 1868 moved to De
Kalb County and bought 1 50 acres of land for $6,600, seventy
acres for $925, forty-six acres for $1,500, and three acres near
Newville for $400 ; now has a landed estate of 269 acres
ah under cultivation. He has some of the finest stock
"yi.  .  ,"i

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540 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
in the county, generally taking the first premium wherever it is
exhibited. His family has consisted of ten children — Mary A.
died at the age of twenty-two years ; Elizabeth J. is the wife of
Richard Crumb ; John T. died, aged thirteen years ; Rachel
married Samuel Armstrong, who died, and she is now the widow
of WilHam Sechler ; Levina is the wife of Job Worford ; Re
becca is the wife of John Deardorf; T. W. married Martha
Warner; Lennie is the wife of Chester Hoisington; Hugh
died, aged one year, and Sarah aged two years. Mr. and Mrs.
Nelson joined the Methodist Episcopal church in their youth,
but there being no church of their choice near them they are
now members of the United Brethren church. Mrs. Nelson
has for several years been afflicted with her eyes, and in 1884
entirely lost her sight. In politics Mr. Nelson was originally a
Whig, but now casts his suffrage with the Republican party.
Samuel N. Olds, one of the prominent business men of Spen
cerville, now retired, is a native of Franklin County, Vt., born
June 24, 1818, a son of EHas and Abigail (Alcott) Olds, the
former a native of Massachusetts, of Scotch descent, and the
latter a native of Vermont. When twenty years old he left his
native State and came to Indiana, locating in Fort Wayne,
where he engaged in the manufacture of hats and caps, re
maining there till 1866, when he moved to Spencer yille and
engaged in general merchandising, which he followed success
fully till 1883, when he retired from active business. He is a
shrewd business man, a good manager, and by close attention
to his business and strict integrity, has been successful, and has
surrounded himself with the comforts of life with which to
enjoy the remainder of his days in this world. He was mar
ried Oct. 30, 1844, to CaroHne Robinson, a native of Vermont,
daughter of Paul and Elizabeth Robinson. To them have been
born ten children, six of whom are living — Mary E., Mortimer
E., Lena, WilHam, NeUie, and Arthur. George H., Charles,
Harriet, and Sarah are deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Olds are mem
bers of the Methodist Episcopal church. In politics he casts
his suffrage with the Republican party.
John A. Provines, druggist and Postmaster, Spencerville,
Ind., was born in Wayne County, Ohio, July 22, 1843, the eld
est son of Alexander Provines. 'When he was ten years of
age, in the spring of 1S53, his parents moved to De Kalb
County, Ind., and settled in Jackson Township, where he was

HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY. 541
reared and educated, remaining with his parents till after the
breaking out of the Rebellion, when, Sept. 5, 1861, he enhsted
in Company H, Thirtieth Indiana Infantry. The following
October the regiment went to Munfordville, Ky., and in Feb-
mary, 1S62, to Shiloh, participating in the battle there, pro
ceeded to Corinth, thence to Lavergne, Stone River and Chick
amauga. At the latter place, Sept. 21, 1S63, he was captured
and taken to Richmond, and from there, Nov. 13, to Danville,
where he, with a comrade, L. C. Delano, made his escape the
next day. They made their way to West Virginia, where they
were recaptured the 25th of the month, having walked 240
miles in ten days. They were taken to Stanton, Va., and kept
in a guard-house over night, and then taken to Richmond and
confined in a dungeon three nights and two days. On the 29th
they were taken to Belle Isle and kept in the guard-house till
Christmas. March 10 they were taken to Richmond, and on the
1 2th were started for Andersonville. On the 21st he and two
others cut a hole in the bottom of the car and escaped, but the
22d were captured by five men and thirteen dogs, and the fol
lowing morning were taken to Barnwell Court-House and re
mained one night; then were sent to Augusta, Ga., where they
were kept in jail till April 12, thence to Macon, and the 14th
landed in Andersonville, where he was confined till Sept. 9 ;
thence to Charleston, where he was kept under fire of our own
gunboats three days, and then taken to the Fair Grounds, and
about three weeks later to Florence, and confined in the stock
ades tUl the 8th of December, and then taken to Charleston,
and on the loth was exchanged. He arrived at Annapolis, Md.,
Dec. 13, where, Dec. 25, he was given a thirty days' furlough,
and arrived at home the 30th, weighing ninety pounds. Jan.
25, 1865, he was discharged. He followed farming till Oc
tober, 1872, when he moved to Spencerville, and engaged
in the grocery business till the spring of 1873, and then became
estabhshed in the drug business. In 1874 he erected the only
brick building in Spencerville. He has built up a good busi
ness, and has gained the confidence of the residents of the vil
lage by his upright dealing and courteous manners. He has
been Postmaster since July 28, 1873. He was married March
28, 1867, to Elizabeth, daughter of WilHam Prosser. They have
had five children, four of whom are living — Minnie, Clauda,
Ella and Ethel. Their eldest child, Henry, is deceased. Mr.

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542 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
Provines is 'a member of SpencerviUe Lodge, No. 424, F. & A.
M., and John C. Carns Post, No. 144, G. A. R. In politics he
is a Repubhcan.
Ira Ricketts, farmer and stock-raiser, Concord Township, is a
native of De Kalb County, born May 20, 1838. His father,
Jonathan Ricketts, was a native of Kentucky, and when a
young man went to Morrow County, Ohio, where he married
a Miss Van Treese, who died, leaving five children. In 1835
he married Mary Runnels, and to them were born five children
— Jeremiah, Ira, Elza, Zerua, and Jacob I. In August, 1837,
he came to De Kalb County, Ind., and bought 240 acres of wild
land, to which he moved his family. Here he passed through
all the hardships of pioneer Hfe. He lived to get thirty acres
cleared and improved and died in September, 1846, aged forty-
two years. His widow still Hves in Illinois. Ira Ricketts re
mained with his mother till manhood. The care of the farm
and the maintenance of the family fell on him and his elder
brother after the death of his father, and although so young
they went bravely to work, and by the time they arrived at
man's estate had the farm cleared and under cultivation. He
was married Feb. 5, 1857, to Lydia Draggoo, daughter of Peter
and Nancy (Williams) Draggoo, who came to De Kalb County
from Ashland County, Ohio, in 1837. The father died in 1867
and the mother in 1872. After his marriage Mr. Ricketts lived
in Elkhart County, Ind., a few months, and then returned to the
old homestead, where he lived till the spring of 1872, when he
moved to Dallas County, Iowa, and two years later to Macomb
County, 111., where he lived three years. In 1878 he returned to
De Kalb County and bought eighty acres of the old homestead
where he has since lived. Mr. and Mrs. Ricketts have had
three children, but two of whom are living — Charles S. and
Nancy. Mary A. died in October, 1881. Pohtically Mr. Rick
etts is a Democrat. He and his wife are members of the Prot
estant Methodist church.
Owen W. Rummel, harness-maker, Spencerville, Ind., was
born in Beverly, Randolph Co., W. Va., Feb. 19, 1837, a son of
William and Martha (Williams) Rummel, the former a native
of Pennsylvania and the latter of Virginia, of Welsh descent.
In his youth he learned the printer's trade, serving an appren
ticeship of three years, and then worked two years as journey
man. He then began working with his father, who was a har-

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HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY. 543

ness-maker, remaining with him till January, 1S60, when he
came to De Kalb County, Ind., and established his business in
Spencerville. In February, 1S65, he enlisted in Company H,
One Hundred and Fifty-second Indiana Infantry, and served
till the close of the war. The following July after his enlist
ment he received a sunstroke, which disabled him for active
duty in the field and he was detailed as Regimental Postmaster,
and subsequently assigned to duty in the harness shop, where
he remained till the time of his discharge. Since his return to
Spencerville he has worked at his trade, at which he has been
successful and has built up a good business. He was married
Jan. 3, 1862, to Nancy C. Boyles, daughter of Jonathan Boyles.
They have five children — Martha E., wife of Lewis Shutt ; Lu-
cretia, Jonathan, Hulbert N., and Owen W. Mr. Rummel is a
member of Concord Lodge, No. 556, A. F. & A. M., John C.
Carns Post, No. 144, G. A. R., and Spencerville Lodge, No.
422, I. O. O. F. He and his wife are members of the Methodist
Episcopal church. In politics he is a Republican.
Nelson Scholes was bom in Belmont County, Ohio, Nov. 15,
1819, a son of John and Mary (McGee) Scholes, natives of
Maryland, and early settlers of Ohio. 'When he was four years
old his parents moved to Richland County, where he was
reared, and Hved till his removal to De Kalb County. When
he was sixteen years old his father died, and he remained with
his mother till his marriage. In November, 1852, he moved to
De Kalb County, and bought his present farm of 1 50 acres on
sections 14 and 23, Concord Township. A part of it was for
merly the Widney farm, and partially improved. He has been
successful in his pursuits, and now has his land under cultiva
tion, and his buildings are among the best in the county. He
was married in 1847 to Lydia, daughter of Peter and Sarah
(Buthnger) Wiltison. They had three children, but one of
whom is living — John, now of Dallas County, Iowa. His wife
died April 18, 185 1. Sept. 5, 1852, he married Mary Swaidner,
daughter of Jacob and Barbara (Goodbaker) Swaidner. To
them have been born six children — Emma J., wife of Charles
Abel, of Muskegon County, Mich. ; Franklin, of Allen County ;
Florence, wife of Charles Justison ; Joseph, Ida and Elida. The
latter died aged five years. Mr. and Mrs. Scholes are members
of the Disciples church. In politics he is a Democrat.
Levi Sechler, another of the prominent pioneers of Concord

544 HISTOKY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
Township, is a native of Lehigh County, Pa., born June 26,
1812, a son of Jacob and Mary (Fusselman) Sechler, natives of
Pennsylvania, of French and German descent. He was reared
on a farm, receiving a common school education, and remained
with his parents till after attaining his majority. In 1837 he
started for the West, and with the exception of crossing the
lakes made the entire journey to De Kalb County on foot,
being nearly four weeks on the way. He entered eighty acres
of land in the wilderness, and during the summer helped his
brother clear and improve a piece of land. The foUowing faU
he walked back to his native county and remained there till
1853, when he returned to De Kalb County and began to im
prove his land. He has added to his first entry, and now has a
fine farm of 100 acres all under cultivation. He was mar
ried in February, 1839, to Mary Kistler, a native of Lehigh
County, Pa., and to them have been born eleven children —
Catherine, William (deceased), James, Levi, Jacob, Mary, Emma,
Henry, Franklin, Susan, and Rosetta. Mr. and Mrs. Sechler
are members of the German Reformed church. In politics he
and his sons cast their suffrage with the Democratic party.
/. R. Shilling, farmer and stock-raiser, Concord Township, is
a native of this township, born Nov. 4, 1851, a son of Solomon
Shilling, one of the early settlers of De Kalb County. He was
reared a farmer but was given a good education, attending the
district schools and later the Auburn and Spencerville High
Schools. Before reaching his majority he began teaching, and
followed the vocation winters for eight years, working on the
farm in the summer. In February, 1880, he bought the farm
in Concord Township where he now Hves, which contains
eighty acres of choice land all under cultivation. He is indus
trious and enterprising, and is one of tbe representative young
farmers of the township. He was married 'March 4, 1S79, to
Alice J. Gill, a daughter of John Gill. They have one child,
Cecil Guy, born April 5, 1880. Mr. and Mrs. ShiUing are mem
bers of the Protestant Methodist church, and he has been
Superintendent of the Sabbath-school the past three years. In
politics he is a Republican.
Solomon Shilling, one of the most successful and enterprising
citizens of Concord Township, was born in Stark County, Ohio,
March 15, 1823, a son of Adam and Mary (Roan) ShiUing. He
was reared and educated in his native county, remaining on his

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HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY. 545

father's farm till 1850, when he came to DeKalb County, Ind,,
and settled on 160 acres of wild land which his father had pre
viously entered from the Government, on section 19, Concord
Township. He built a cabin into which he moved his family
and began to clear and improve his land. He has been an en
ergetic and hard working man, and has accumulated a large
property, adding to his land from time to time, and now has
400 acres all well improved. For the past thirty years in ad
dition to farming he has been engaged in buying and shipping
hve stock, being the oldest stock dealer in the county. In 1872
Mr. Shilling was elected Township Trustee and in 1874 was re
elected, serving four years. He and his wife are members of the
Methodist Protestant church. They have had a family of
twelve children, eleven of whom are living — Daniel J. R., Will
iam, Mary E., Sarah A., Adam, Francis, Hiram E., John, Vienna
L., and Dora. A daughter died in infancy. In politics Mr.
Shilling has affiliated with the Repubhcan party since its
organization. Levi Showalter was born in Wayne County, Ohio, Jan. 4, 1838,
ajson of Joseph and Barbara (Hoff) Showalter. The former died
in January, 1884, aged eighty years, and the latter still lives on
the old homestead, age eighty years. In 1859 Levi Showalter
came to Indiana and located in Steuben County. He had
learned the blacksmith's trade in his native county and worked
at it in Steuben County one winter. He then returned to Ohio,
walking from Angola to Ft. Wayne and carrying his baggage.
He remained in Wayne County till the fall of 1861 and then
came to De Kalb County, and the foUowing spring, March 27,
w-as married to Clarinda, daughter of Joseph ShiUing, an
old settler of Concord Township. After his marriage he went
to Huntington County, Ind., and lived a year on an unimproved
farm of his father's. He then returned to De Kalb County
and bought eighty acres of partially improved land in Wilming.
ton Township, and two years later moved to Steuben County,
and engaged in farming two years. Then moved to Angola
and worked at his trade two years, and then again engaged in
farming eight years. In the spring of 1876 he sold his property
and went to Ohio and carried on the old homestead for his
father a year. In 1877 he bought the old ShiUing homestead
which was entered by Mrs. Showalter's grandfather, Adam Shill
ing. This farm contains 160 acres of choice land and the im-
¦f • ^ —' — » v

546 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
provements are among the best in the township. To Mr. and
Mrs. Showalter have been born eleven children, seven of whom
are living — Joseph E., Anna Mary, Cora E., Flora J., Hortense
May, Myrtle J., and WUliam A. The deceased are, Leander
C, Barbara A., Catherine J. and Alice C. In politics Mr.
Showalter is a Republican. He and his wife are members of
the Methodist Episcopal church.
Jonathan Shull, farmer and stock-raiser, Concord Township,
was born in Fayette County, Pa., April 21, 1838, a son of Daniel
and Susan (Newcomer) Shull, the former a native of Maryland,
born in January, 1810, and the latter born in 1815. His parents
were married Sept. 3, 1831, and in 1837 moved to Wayne
County, Ohio, where they Hved till the fall of 1846, when they
came to De Kalb County, Ind., and bought eighty acres of wild
land, afterward adding to it 160 acres. Here the father died
Sept. 28, 1853. He was an old line Whig in politics, and a
member of the Disciples church, as was also his wife. They
had a family of nine children ; eight lived till maturity and
seven are now living — David, of Lansing, Mich. ; Jonathan ;
EHza, wife of H. J. Abel ; Henry C.,' of Alien County; Sarah,
deceased, was the wife of Abraham Cottrell, of Lansing, Mich. ;
Lydia, wife of M. D. Hadsell, of Nebraska ; Joseph ; Harriet,
wife of Lucius Palmer, of Allen County. Their eldest child,
Mary, died in September, 1843, aged twelve years. In 1857
the mother married Asher Coburn, who died Sept. 11, 1874.
She now resides in Alien County. Jonathan Shull was eight
years of age when his parents moved to De Kalb County. He
was reared on a farm, receiving a good education in the district
schools, completing it at the Newville Academy. When eigh
teen years of age he began teaching school, and taught winters
for fourteen years, farming during the summer. After his mar
riage he continued in the business of farming and teaching for
eleven years, and then moved to Lansing, Mich., where he en
gaged in the mercantile business two years. Then he returned
to De Kalb County, and added fifty acres to the old homestead
farm where he now Hves, which contains 130 acres, all under
cultivation. Mr. Shull was married Dec. 25, 1862, to Maria M.
Hadsell, a native of Trumbull County, Ohio, daughter of James
and Mary (Abel) Hadsell. They have had a family of seven
children— Clara C. (wife of Lewis Lake), Cadmus C.. Thurman
H., Rosa (died in infancy), Henry .C, Carl D., and Fred. N. Mrs.

HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY. 547
ShuU is a member of the Disciples church. In politics Mr.
ShuU is independent.
William Shutt, one of the most prominent and influential citi
zens of Concord Township, was born in Stark County, Ohio,
March 23, 1831, a son of Jacob and Nancy (Dickerhoof) Shutt.
He was a year and a half old when his parents moved to Sum
mit County, Ohio, and lived there till seventeen years of age.
In the spring of 1848 he accompanied the family to De Kalb
County, and settled on a tract of unimproved land. This he
assisted in clearing and improving, remaining with his mother
till manhood. His first purchase of land was 100 acres, but to
that he has added till he now owns 280 acres, including the
old homestead. He has been a successful agriculturist, and
since 1S69 has also dealt in agricultural implements and farm
machinery. He was married Feb. 13, 1862, to Elizabeth F.,
daughter of George Houck, of Concord Township. They are
the parents of five children — Laura A., Eva B., Alda A., Jennie
L., and Muriel A. In politics Mr. Shutt is a member of the
Democratic party. In 1868 he was elected Trustee of his
Township and served two terms. He is a member of Concord
Lodge, No. 556, F. & A. M. He and his wife are members of
the Evangelical Lutheran church.
Levi Smith, farmer and stock-raiser. Concord Township, was
born in what is now Mahoning County, Ohio, Feb. 22, 1828, a
son of Peter and Elizabeth Smith, early settlers of Ohio from
Pennsylvania. His early Hfe was spent on a farm, and when
seventeen years of age he began to work at the shoemaker's
trade, serving an apprenticeship. In 1849 he bought fifty acres
of land in Portage County, Ohio, where he lived till the spring
of 1854, when he came to De Kalb County, Ind., and bought
eighty acres of land, but very little being improved, and by close
attention to his pursuits and industry he has now a farm of 320
acres aU under cultivation. He is a self-made man, and can
now look back on a well spent life and enjoy the fruits of his
early years of toil and hardship. He was married April 24,
1849, to Harriet Robb, a native of Ohio, daughter of Jacob and
Ehzabeth Robb. They have two chUdren — Ira E. and Isaiah.
Mr. and Mrs. Smith are members of the Church of God. In
his political affiliations he is a Democrat.
John H. St. Clair, the second son and fourth child of John C.
St. Clair of Union Township, is a native of De Kalb County,

548 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
Ind., born April 5, 1858. He was reared on a farm, receiving a
common school education, and since leaving school has followed
teaching in the winter, at which he has been successful, being a
good disciplinarian, and thoroughly competent to fill the position
he has chosen for a livelihood. He has devoted the summer to
agricultural pursuits, and in 1882 settled on a farm of 120 acres in
Concord Township, which is under a good state of cultivation.
He was married Oct. 6, 1881, to Miss Ella S. Erehart, a native
of Wilmington Township, daughter of Adam and Mira (Kiner)
Erehart. She was a teacher in the public schools before her
marriage. To Mr. and Mrs. St. Clair have been bom two chil
dren — Roscoe R., and an infant, deceased. In politics Mr. St.
Clair affiliates with the Democratic party.
Cyrtts C. Walters, farmer and stock-raiser, Concord Township,
was born in Wayne County, Ohio, Nov. 26, 1840, the eldest son
of Joseph and Sarah (Nixon) Walters. In October, 1846, his
parents moved to De Kalb County, Ind., and settled on a tract
of unimproved land, moving into a cabin without doors or win
dows, and with the ground for a floor. Here he was reared,
his youth being spent in assisting his father. He attended the
district school a few weeks each winter when his services were
not required on the farm, and by application in his leisure
hours was qualified to teach when he was twenty years of age,
a vocation he followed five years during the winter. He was
married April 10, 1862, to Sarah Donaldson, a native of Wayne
County, Ohio, daughter of Henry and Jane Donaldson. After
his marriage he settled on a part of the old homestead, where
he lived a year and then bought a farm where he Hved till 1873,
when he began the study of law, but a year later he abandoned
it and engaged in the hardware business a year. In February,
1876, he bought the farm of 120 acres in Concord Township,
where he has since lived. He is a member of Hacker Lodge,
No. 326, A. F. & A. M. In pohtics he is a Democrat. To him
and his wife have be§n bom five children — C. B., of St. Joseph,
Ind., Joseph, M. L., Ford and Frank.
Samuel Wasson, one of the first settlers, and the first of those
now Hving, of De Kalb County, was bom in FunkstOAvn, Pa.,
July 9, 1809, a son of David and Flora (Graham) Wasson, na
tives of Ireland. When he was a child his parents moved to
Montgomery County, Ohio, and later to Darke County, where
he grew to manhood. After attaining his majority, in 1830, he

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HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY. 549
went down the Mississinnewa River and worked for the Indi
ans from spring till fall; then returned to Darke County, and
in the spring of 1S32 went to Ft. Wayne and worked on the
canal, and in the fall of 1833 came to De Kalb County in com
pany with six or seven families and worked for the settlers
till 1S37, when he entered eighty acres of land in Concord
Township, which he cleared and improved, and on which he
has lived nearly a half century. He has been a hard working
man and has probably assisted in building more log cabins and
houses than any other man in the county. He has cut and split
2,000 rails in seven days. He has lived to see De Kalb County
change from a country of Indians and wild animals to one of
cultivated farms and prosperous villages, and no one has done
more to bring about this change than he. Although seventy-
six years old he still retains considerable of his youthful vigor
and oversees the cultivation of his farm. He was married Jan.
16, 1840, to Eliza Means, a native of Pennsylvania, daughter of
James and Elizabeth Means, who came to De Kalb County in
1837. To them have been born twelve children, ten of whom
are hving — Sarah, Elizabeth, Lewis, David, Benjamin F., Nancy,
Jane, Matilda, Milton and Ann. James and John are deceased.
In his youthful days Mr. Wasson was a Whig in pohtics, but
since its organization has cast his suffrage with the Republican
party. Erastus White, a son of Ephraim and Betsey (Bartholomew)
White, was born in "Brumbull County, Ohio, Dec. 1, 1820, and
in April, 1838, came with his parents to De Kalb County, Ind.,
and settled in Concord Township, near where he now lives on
rented land. He afterward bought eighty acres of school land
in Concord Township, which he improved, and lived on till his
death, May 2, 1847. The mother afterward married Alexander
Crawford and moved to Ohio, and Hved till after the death of
her husband, and then returned to De Kalb County, where she
died Nov. 17, 1869. Our subject remained with his parents till
the death of the father and then took charge of the homestead,
subsequently buying the interests of the other heirs. To the
original purchase of his father he has added till he now owns
about 127 acres of valuable land, 100 under cultivation, and
twenty-seven timber land. He was married Jan. i, 1846, to
Clarissa Johnson, a native of Pennsylvania, daughter of Thomas
and Lydia (Draggoo) Johnson. To them were born four child-
85

71

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550 HISTORY OF DEKALB COUNTY.
ren, three of whom are living — Jacob I., Thomas E., and Frank
hn J. Their third son, Henry E., died at the age of twenty
years. Mrs. White died Nov. 6, 1883. Mr. White is a member
of the Lutheran church. In politics he is a Repubhcan.
Charles W. Widney, the eldest son and second child of seven
children of Samuel and Johannah (Brearley) Widney, was born
in Frankhn County, Pa., Dec. 18, 1825, and was ten years of
age when his parents moved to De Kalb County. His youth
was spent in assisting his father to clear and improve a frontier
farm. He remained with his parents till manhood, and then
bought 100 acres of unimproved land on section 10, Concord
Township, where he lived till 1880, when he retired from the
active labors of farm Hfe and moved to the village of St. Joe.
He has been successful in his pursuits, and now has a compe
tency for his declining years. Mr. Widney was married Oct.
5, 1854, to Nancy Cole, a native of Jefferson County, Ohio,
daughter of John Cole. To them were born three children,
but one of whom is Hving — Mary J., wife of Jacob Sechler.
Mrs. Widney died Sept. 30, 1872, and Nov. 10, 1874, Mr. Wid
ney married Mary Sechler, daughter of Levi Sechler. Mr.
and Mrs. Widney are members of the Lutheran church. In
pohtics he affiliates with the Repubhcan party.
John Widney, farmer and stock-raiser, Concord Township,
was born in Franklin County, Pa., Jan. 26, 1834, the fifth child
of Samuel Widney, one of the earliest settlers of De Kalb
County. He was reared and educated ""in this county, remain
ing with his parents till his marriage, and then settled on a part
of the old homestead, where he Hved six years. He then
bought ten acres in Concord Township, to which he has added
from time to time, till he now has 123 acres of the best land in
the township, all under cultivation. His improvements are
valuable, his residence and farm buildings being among the best-
in the county. He was married Jan. i, 1857, to Nancy Knight,
daughter of Jacob and Mary (Boyles) Knight. To them have
been bom eight children — Wilson D. (was killed while chopping
a tree at the age of twenty-three years), Sylvester S., Mary C.
(wife of Frankhn Sechler), Etta, Cyrus J., Addie S., Lulu J., and
Cora B. In 1884 Mr. Widney retired from the active labors of
farm life and moved to the village ot St. Joseph. He and his
wife are active members of the Evangelical Lutheran church.
In pohtics he is a Republican.

,rv"

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HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY. 551
Samuel Wid?iey, deceased, was one of the most esteemed citi
zens of De Kalb County. He was born in Franklin County,
Pa., July 21. 1796, the second son of Charles and Mary (Hen
derson) Widney, the former a native of Ireland, born in 1763,
and the latter a native of Cumberland County, Pa., of Irish
descent, bom in 1775. He was reared on a farm in his native
county, but was given a good education, and subsequently
taught school a number of terms in connection with farming.
He was married May 2, 1822, to Johannah Brearley, a daughter
of Joseph and Jane (Mitchel) Brearley, the former a native of
England, and the latter of Ireland. In May, 1836, Mr. Widnc}-
moved to De Kalb County, Ind., and settled on 200 acres of
Government land, entered the year before. A part of this was
on section 10, and the rest on section 11, Concord Township.
Here Mr. Widney cleared and improved a farm, making it his
home the remainder of his hfe. He was one of the most influ
ential men of the township, taking an interest in anything that
tended toward the advancement of its material and social wel
fare. He held various offices of trust and responsibility, among
others was Commissioner, Township Trustee, and Associate
Judge. He and his wife were in early life members of the
Methodist Protestant church, but in later life he united with
the Lutheran church. He died Feb. i, 1878, and his wife Sept.
3, 1875-
Samuel L. Widney, farmer and stock-raiser, Concord Town
ship, is the eldest son of John P. and Jane (Linn) Widney, and
was bom in DeKalb County, Ind., June 26, 1839. He received
a good education attending the^ schools of his native county,
and remained with his parents till manhood, assisting his father
in the work on the farm. He was married Jan. i, i860, to Mary
A. Moore, a native of Richland County, Ohio, daughter of
James and Ellen Moore, early settlers of Jackson Town
ship, DeKalb County. After his marriage jNlr. Widney lived
on his father's farm a year, and in 1861 settled on the farm
in Concord Township, where he now Hves, where he has 333
acres of choice land, under good cultivation. He has been
successful in his pursuits, which is the just reward of industry
and energy, and has one of the pleasantest homes in the town
ship. To him and his wife have been born five children,
four of whom are living — Byron E., Viola, Otto L., and Iva
May. Their eldest child, Marion, is deceased. Mr. Widney is

71

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552 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
a Republican in politics, and a strong supporter of the prin
ciples of his party.
George W. Wilmot, farmer and stock-raiser, was born in Port
age County, Ohio, Jan. 10, 1825, a son of Ella and Lucretia
(Blair) Wilmot. When tw'enty years of age he went to Wis
consin, and remained there a year and a half. He then returned
to Ohio, passing through DeKalb County, Ind., on the way. In
1849 he came to the county and bought the farm now owned by
B. A. HodseU, remaining through the winter and spring. He
returned to Ohio, and in 1854 came again to DeKalb County,
and settled on the farm in Concord Township, where he has
since lived. He owns eighty-one acres of valuable land which
he has brought under a good state of cultivation, it being all
heavily timbered when he first settled on it. He has always
taken an active interest in the public affairs of the township
and in 1859 '^^s elected Magistrate and served four years. He
has also held several minor offices of trust. He was maried Jan.
13, 1852, to Lucia Palmer, a native of Pennsylvania, daughter
of Roswell Palmer. To them have been born nine children —
Ella, Arthur, Pliny G., Leon, George Carroll, Vernon, Lucre
tia., Albert E., and Victor. Mr. and Mrs. Wilmot are members
of the Disciples church. In politics he was formerly a Whig,
but since its organization has affiliated with the Republican
party. William Wyatt, deceased, was born in the State of Pennsyl
vania, in 1819, and died in Concord Township, DeKalb County,
Ind., Jan. 22, 1870. He was a son of Nathan Wyatt, also a
native of Pennsylvania, who .moved to Ohio when our subject
was a child. He was reared a farmer and on arriving at man
hood came to Indiana that he might with his limited means pro
vide himself with a home, thinking a new country the best place
for a young man to gain a Hvelihood. He was married in this
county July 17, 1842, to Miss Nancy Strong, a native of
Geauga County, Ohio, daughter of Daniel Strong, also an early
settler of DeKalb County. He built a log cabin into which
they moved the first day of August following their marriage,
and began housekeeping on their farm, which, at that time, was
heavily timbered. "They were industrious and economical, and
by their united efforts soon had a good farm and a pleasant
home. To them were born fourteen children, eleven of whom
are living — Nathan, Daniel, Lydia, Ephraim, William H., Isaac
N., Marietta, George W., Israel, Laura J. and James A.

^Y

CHAPTER XIV.

FAIRFIELD TOWNSHIP.

Situ.\tion. — Geography and Topography. — Organization
as .\ Township. — Pioneers. — Early Events. — Fairfield
Center. — Early Justices, Constables and Trustees. —
Population.— Property and Taxation. — Agricultural
St.\tistics. — Biographical.
" Fair Fields," indeed, are those of the township to which
this chapter is devoted. Owing to its situation it was, the last
township settled in De Kalb County. It lies in the northwestern
comer of the county, and contains neither railroad nor town.
Its trade is drawn by the village along the line of the Michigan
Southern Railroad, which lies on its southern border. Fair
field is bounded on the north by Salem Township, Steuben
County, on the east by Smithfield Township, on the south by
Richland, and on the west by Wayne Township, Noble County.
It is drained by several small creeks, and the outlets of Stony
Lake, which is on section 3 and 4, and Indian Lake, on sections
20 and 29.
The surface is somewhat broken, and there are more hills
than in most of the townships. Its long slopes, rugged bluffs,
deep ravines, winding streams, and. limpid lakes present an
inviting view to the immigrant, although it was not brought
into notice until the other townships were settled, being off the
routes of travel, and remote from the county seat. Much of
the land was bought by speculators, in an early day, and this
contributed to retard actual settlement. One Dedrick, entered
1,100 acres; a bank in Pennsylvania held' a large tract; and
other parties owned various parcels of land, which were sold
through the agency of Wesley Park. Gradually the lands
came into the hands of immigrants, who have since received a
rich tribute from the soil, as is evinced by excellent residences,
bams, stock, and all the modem appliances of agriculture.
March 7, 1844, the Board of Commissioners received a peti-
553

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554 HISTORY OK DE KALB COUNTY.

tion, reading : " We, the undersigned, inhabitants of the un
organized township of De Kalb County, in consequence of the
distance we have to go to elections, and the inconvenience of
having to go to another township to do township business, do
most humbly pray your Honorable Body that you would organ
ize said township at your March session, and order an election
for a justice of the peace, and other officers for said township;
and your petitioners will ever pray." This was dated Feb. 27,
1844, and signed by Rufus R. Lounsberry, George W. Story,
A. Ball, Oran B. Story, Miles Allen, C. Allen, George PoweU,
Benjamin Hunt, and Nathan W. PoweU, who were all the
voters in the township.
This petition was received favorably, and the Board ordered
that township 35 north, range 12 east, be organized for civil
purposes as a separate township, to be known by the name of
Fairfield ; and the first election was ordered held on the first
Monday in April, 1844, at the house of Rufus R. Lounsberry,
to choose one justice of the peace. This man was also appointed
inspector of elections. An election was held on the last Satur
day in August for three trustees.
The Story family, five in number, were tbe pioneers of Fair
field, and Hved along the north line of the county. Willard
Childs, one of the prominent early settlers, set out on foot from
his home in Onondaga County, N. Y., and walked through to
Ft. Wayne, thence to Kendallville, where there were but two
cabins, and taking a guide came into De Kalb County, March 4,
1837, the day Martin Van Buren was inaugurated President
of the United States.
He selected 120 acres on section 27, paid for it, and then set
to work, at Ft. Wayne, to earn enough to take him home.
When the land was entered, the Storys, five in number, as above
mentioned, were the sole settlers. Mr. Childs returned in
October, 1844, to pay taxes, and to review his purchase, to de
termine whether he should make the place his home. The
result was satisfactory. Settlers had moved in, and in the
southeast was David McNabb and family. Farther east was
Wilbur Powell, and adjoining on the north was the clearing
and cabin of George Powell, the first Justice of the Peace, and
one or two others.
In 1846 Childs moved in, and temporarily lodged with Ben
jamin Chaffee, who sold his place to Childs, and made another

J

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HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY. 555
settlement in the north part of the township. He afteward be
came Postmaster at Corunna. Rufus R. Lounsberry, of Wil
mington, also became a settler in Fairfield. Other early settlers
were : The Wilseys, William and Isaac, D. Rager, Esq., Hiram
Thomas, Miles Allen, John Shook, and Henry Hartman. Al
though there were now about fourteen families settled in Fair
field, there were not to exceed eighty acres cleared, and all were
occupants of log cabins.
There now came a lull in settlement. About 1850 those who
had held lands for a rise began to sell them, and clearing and
building began in earnest. The tide of immigrants poured in,
and soon occupied all the land. Log rolling and raising, in
1851, took up much of the time. The first frame building was
a barn, 24x30 feet in size, on the premises of Mr. Childs. One
spring day in the year 1847, thirty men and three boys assembled
to put up the bents ; by noon of the same day the work was
completed, refreshments were served, and the settlers dispersed
homeward. One of the first marriages was that of David Gonser to Miss
Gushwa. The first religious organization was a Methodist class,
formed by P. Jones, since a resident of Lagrange. A frame
church was erected in 1855 ; Hiram Thomas was class-leader,
and there were a dozen members. The Lutherans also organ
ized at Fairfield Center. The first innovation of the period of
log school-houses was 1848, when a frame structure was erected
in district 10 ; Alvin Thompson was its first teacher. The first
road was laid out in a northerly direction from Sedan.
Fairfield Center is a hamlet located on the line between sec
tions 15 to 22. It is not destined to any remarkable degree of
prosperity, as trade is attracted naturally to Corunna, Waterloo,
etc. Messrs. Morrell and Hoover were early store-keepers at
the Center. Edward Wright, a most respected pioneer, located
at this point, built an ashery, and also kept a store.
It is said of Henry Hovater, the pioneer blacksmith, that he
was hard pressed for food for his family of eight or ten children.
He worked early and late, in the shop and on the clearing, and
finally became independent, living to see his sons comfortably
established. Mr. McNabb entered his tract of eighty acres, and paid for
it with money earned by himself and wiie. He had $50, she
an equal sum, and after paying for their land, they had a half a

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556 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
dollar left. A pole cabin was built, and the beginning of a
home made.
The Justices of the^Peace in Fairfield Township prior to i860
were : D. Rager, R. WorreU, Jesse Brumback, Job C. Smith,
S. Greenamyer, George PoweU and WilHam Harper. '
The Constables for the same period were : Samuel Story, J.
Hatch, George Rowe, D. D. Powless, J. Gushwa, D. C. Shipe,
W. Short, John Gonser, Daniel Gonser.
The Trustees were: R. Worrell, D. Rager, W. Childs, S.
Miser, J. C. Smith, G. W. Smith, D. Gonser, D. N. Nidick, B.
Hunt, John Long, E. Wright, J. Short, W. H. Wilsey, Moses
Gonser, D. Kimbell, B. A. Chaffee, H. Thomas.
The last census (1880) gives Fairfield Township a population
of 1,558, or 43 to the square mile. The rate of taxation in
1884 was $1.61; poU tax $1.75; number of acres of land,
22,794.09; value of lands, $349,255; value of improvements,
$79,755; value of lands and improvements, $429,010; value
of personal property, $136,005 ; total value of taxables, $565,-
015; number of polls, 233; number of children of school
age 547 ; valuation per capita, $356.19. The township had
in 1 88 1, 4,036 acres in wheat, producing 20,180 bushels, or 5
bushels per acre ; 2,343 acres in corn, producing 70,930 bush
els, about 30 bushels to the acre of upland, and 40 bushels
on bottom lands; 861 acres in oats, producing 21,525 bushels or
25 bushels per acre; 969 acres in meadow, producing 1,938 tons
of hay, at the rate of two tons per acre ; 113 acres in potatoes,
producing 2,260 bushels, or 20 bushels per acre.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
David C. Ansley, farmer and stock-raiser, was born in Gor-
ham, Ontario County, N. Y., June 27, 1S24, a son of Albert and
Prudence (Clark) Ansley, natives of New York, of Enghsh de
scent. He was reared on a farm, residing with his parents till
manhood. In 1844 he came West and Hved in De Kalb County,
Ind., one winter, and then went to Pennsylvania and located in
Potter County, where he engaged in the lumber business
eighteen years. In January, 1863, he was married to Elizabeth
Ames, daughter of Jacob and Jerusha (Bell) Ames, a native of
Steuben County, N. Y. In 1863 he again came to De Kalb
County, and settled in Fairfield Township, where he has since
been successfully engaged in agricultural pursuits. Mrs. Ans-

HISTORY OF DE K.\LB COUNTY. 557
ley is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. In poli
tics he affiliates with the Republican party.
Christian Barkey, farmer and stock-raiser, Fairfield Town
ship, is a native of Westmoreland County, Pa., born April 6,
1820, a son of John and Susannah (Bussard) Barkey, natives of
Northampton County, Pa., of German descent. When he was
five years of age his parents moved to Ohio and settled in
Holmes County, where he was reared and lived till 185 1, when
he came to De Kalb and settled on a tract of land which is now
his valuable farm in Fairfield Township. This land he had
entered about 1841, and at the time of his settlement it was
wholly unimproved and heavily timbered. He now has it
under a good state of cultivation, and his improvements are
among the best in the township. Mr. Barkey was married
March 13, 185 1, to Hannah Herrlngton, a daughter of Thomas
and Elizabeth (Long) Herrlngton, of Ohio. They are the pa
rents of nine children, eight of whom are living — Mary Ann,
John W., George A., Henry, Sarah E., Samuel, Thomas, and
James F. Calvin is deceased.. In politics Mr. Barkey affiliates
with the Democratic party.
Francois Beuchat, farmer and stock-raiser, is a native of Switz
erland, born Nov. 7, 1830, a son of Barnard and Mary Ann Beu
chat. His youth was spent on his father's small farm, and
when fifteen years of age he went to work in an iron foundry,
and was thus employed two years. He then engaged in farm
ing till the spring of 1851, when his father and five sons came
to the United States, his mother having died a short time
before. They located in Stark County, Ohio, where his father
bought a small farm, and made it his home the remainder of his
life. He was bom in 1792, and died in 1871. Francois Beu
chat remained in Stark County till the spring of 1866, when he
came to De Kalb County, Ind., and bought forty acres of land
in Fairfield Township, twenty acres of which was partially
cleared. He went to work to improve his farm, and has added
to it from time to time, till he now owns eighty-two acres of
improved land. He was married Sept. 26, 1854, to Mary Smith,
a native of Berks County, Pa., born Sept. i, 1825, daughter of
John and Maria Smith. To them have been born five children,
three of whom are Hving — Maria E., William Henry, and Lois
M. Peter John and Lewis E. are deceased. Politically Mr.
Beuchat affiliates with the Democratic party.

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558 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
George Billman, one of the prominent citizens of Fairfield
Township, is a native of Washington County, Pa., born Feb.
23, 1 80 1, a son of David and Catharine Billman, natives of Ger
many, who were sold by the ship company to pay their passage
to America. Our subject was reared in his native county, and
when eighteen years old began to work at the tanner's trade,
serving an apprenticeship of three years. He then worked as
a journeyman, dressing leather, for nine years, and then en
gaged in farming till Aug. 15, 1834, when he moved to Seneca
County, Ohio, and cleared and improved, a farm of ninety-four
acres. In 1864 he sold his farm and moved to De Kalb County,
Ind., and bought the farm where he now lives. He has been
successful in his pursuits and has a comfortable property for
use in his declining years. He was married Dec. 25, 1827, to
Mary Wansettler, and to them were born two children, both
deceased. His wife died April 5, 1830, and he was again mar
ried June 21, 1833, to Catherine Dencer, a native of Washing
ton County, Pa., daughter of George and Catherine Dencer, of
German descent. They have had five children, two of whom
are living — Mary Ann, wife of Henry Hecht, of Michigan, and
Matilda, wife of Daniel Cartret, of this township. Pohtically,
Mr. Billman is a Democrat.
Josiah Boyer, the youngest son of Michael and Christina
(Troutman) Boyer, was born in Somerset County, Pa., Jan. 22,
1834. When he was five years old his parents moved to Fay
ette County, Pa., and in 1841 to Holmes County, Ohio, where
they remained tin 185 1. He accompanied them to De Kalb
County, Ind., in the latter year and assisted his father in clear
ing and improving a frontier farm. When he was twenty-one
years old he bought a tract of unimproved land on the south
side of Story Lake, which he cleared and improved, at the same
time making his home with his father and assisting in the cul
tivation of the homestead, till after his marriage. He then
settled on his own farm, where he now has 120 acres of finelv
improved land, with a good residence and farm buildings. He
was married Dec. 27, 1 881, to Mrs. Margaret M. McCUsh, daugh
ter of Daniel and Elizabeth (Cole) Kimbel, and widow of Alexan
der McCUsh, by whom she has two children— AHce and Libbie.
Mr. and Mrs. Boyer are members of the German Reform
church. In politics he affiliates with the Democratic party.
Michael Boyer, farmer and stock-raiser, Fairfield Township, is

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HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY. 559
one of the most prominent citizens of De Kalb County. He is
a native of Somerset County, Pa., born Aug. 29, 1804, a son
of Benjamin and Christina (Duffman) Boyer, natives of Penn
sylvania, of German descent. He was reared on a farm in his
native county, and was there married in 1829 to Christina
Troutman, a native of Somerset County, a daughter of Peter
and Barbara Ann (Stanler) Troutman, natives of Philadelphia.
After his marriage he settled on the Troutman homestead,
where he lived ten years, and in 1839 moved to Holmes
County, Ohio, and twelve years later, in 1851, moved to De
Kalb County, Ind., and bought eighty acres of timber land in
Fairfield Township, which he has cleared and made one of the
finest farms in the township. He is a successful agriculturist
and has surrounded himself and family with all the comforts of
hfe. To him and his wife have been born four children — Solo
mon, of Noble County, Ind.; Josiah, of this township ; Maria,
wife of George Henney, and Ehzabeth, wife of Moses Deitz.
They are members of the Lutheran church. In politics he is
a Democrat.
Jesse M. Brumback, one of the successful pioneers of Fairfield
Township, is a native of Ohio, born in Huron County, April 2,
1823, a son of Daniel and Sarah (Culp) Brumback. He re
mained with his parents till his majority, and then engaged in
farming in his native county till October, 1846, when he came
to De Kalb County, Ind., and began clearing 160 acres of
heavily timbered land in Fairfield Township. His means were
limited, but by industry and frugality he was successful, and
has now 200 acres of fine land, and has given his son a farm of
123 acres. His residence and farm buildings are among the
best in the county. Mr. Brumback was married April 7, 1850,
to Melissa J. Showers, daughter of Solomon Showers, of Rich
land Township. They had a family of three children, but two
of whom are living — Celia R., wife of John E. Walters, and
Edward M. Cornelia J. is deceased. Mrs. Brumback died
March 9, 1855, and Nov. 2, 1856, Mr. Brumback married Lu
cinda Gloid, a native of Richland County, Ohio, daughter of
Samuel and Rebecca (Smith) Gloid. In politics Mr. Brumback
is a Democrat. He served his township as Magistrate a short
time, and in 1862 was elected County Clerk and served three
years. David Buchanan was born in Chester County, Pa., Nov. 6, 1800,
•f s ^- -•  a V

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560

HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.

the eldest of six children. When he was about one year old
his parents moved to Washington County, Pa., and four
years later removed across the State line into Brooke County,
W. Va., where they remained until the fall of 18 15. They then
moved to what was Wayne County, Ohio, now Holmes
County, which was at that time almost an unbroken wilderness.
Indians roamed the county and wild game was very plenty.
John Buchanan, the father of our subject, purchased and settled
on a tract of land on a small stream called Paint Creek and im
proved it, and other farms were opened up about the same
time or soon after. After residing there about four years they
built a small woolen factory and carded wool for their neigh
bors, and also scrutched flour by water-power in the same
building. David Buchanan learned to card wool, and followed
the business a few years. His means of gaining an education
were very limited. His father was a very good scholar for
that time, and taught school among the neighbors. Being very
apt he became well versed in orthography, penmanship, arith
metic and surveying. He taught school a few terms, and fol
lowed surveying in connection with his farming for twenty-five
years. He settled up a great many estates in his life time. He
was married to Lvdia Tribby Sept. 23, 1824, by Samuel' Spen
cer, a Justice' of the Peace, and soon after his marriage built a
log cabin in the woods on a title of 100 acres of heavily timbered
land in Monroe Township, Holmes County, Ohio, and some
fifteen years later bought the land of the original owner. They
Hved in the log cabin nearly twenty-eight years, and there their
children were all born. They had seven sons and one daugh
ter. Six of the children are living. James G. died June 11,
1852, aged twenty-three years, six months and five days ; Elmira
died Jan. 8, 1842, aged fourteen months and seven days. Mr.
Buchanan \yas elected to the office of Justice of the Peace in
1838 as a Whig in a strong Democratic township, and filled the
office with credit to himself and to the township, and carne
within a few votes of being re-elected. He visited Indiana
several times from 1847 to 1854 to sec the country and buy
land, and purchased six eighty-acre tracts in Fairfield Town
ship, De Kalb County. He moved to this land in October,
1854, and his surviving children all came with him or soon
after. Here he remained till death. He was a firm Republican
from the organization of the party till his death. He was elected

5p

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HISTORY OF DE K.\LB Ct^INTY. 56 1

to the office of County Commissioner in this county in October,
1859, and held the office one term or three years. Lydia
Tribby Buchanan was born in Loudoun County, Va., Ma}- 11,
1802, and is now in tbe eighty-fourth year of her age. She has
been a hard worker, a good manager, and a kind, indulgent
mother and an affectionate wife. Her many acts of neighborly
kindness have endeared her to the hearts of legions of friends.
Au earnest, active Christian, she has been identified with the
church fifty years. Her parents moved to Wayne County,
Ohio, in October, 18 16, with seven children. They each lived
to be about eighty years old, and their children all survived
them except one.
George M. Buchanan, farmer and stock-raiser, was born in
Holmes County, Ohio, March 19, 1838, the sixth son of David
and Lydia (Tribby) Buchanan. He received his early educa
tion in the schools of his native county, completing it at the
Auburn High School. He was sixteen years of age when his
parents came to De Kalb County, and the most of his time sub
sequent, till manhood, was spent in assisting his father. He
w^as Surveyor of De Kalb County from August, 1861, till Aug.
19, 1862, when he enlisted in Company A, One Hundredth In
diana Infantry, and participated in many hard fought battles,
among the more important being the siege of Vicksburg, At
lanta campaign, and those incident to Sherman's march to the
sea. At Griswoldville, Ga., Nov. 22, 1864, he was wounded in
the left shoulder and disabled for further field duty. He was
then assigned duty in the hospital, joining his regiment at Alex
andria at the close of the war and accompanying it to Wash
ington, where he was in the line at the grand review of the
army, and was discharged June 9, 1865, and mustered out at
Indianapolis June 19, 1865. Returning to De Kalb County he
engaged in farming, and the following spring bought the farm
he now owns. He was married April 19, 1866, to Margaret
Kreger, a native of Holmes County, Ohio, daughter of Thomas
Kreger. September, 1882, he went to Tennessee, and engaged
in the furniture and undertaking business successfully till No
vember, 1884. Aug. 8, 1884, his wife died, and he then sold out
his business and prepared to return to his old home in De Kalb
County. He has one daughter, Lydia I. Mr. Buchanan and his
daughter are members of the United Brethren church, as was
also his wife. He casts his suffrage with the Republican party.

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562 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
John Buchanan, farmer and stock-raiser, Fairfield Township,
was born in Holmes County, Ohio, July 14, 1826, the eldest of
seven children of David and Lydia (Tribby) Buchanan, the
former a native of Chester County, Pa., and the latter of Lou
doun County, Va., and early settlers of Holmes County. He was
reared in his native county, remaining with his parents till man
hood. He was married Sept. i, 1853, to Emily Burns, a native
of Holmes County, Ohio, daughter of James and Margaret
(Stuart) Burns. In November, 1855, Mr. Buchanan moved to
De Kalb County, Ind., where his parents had moved the year
before, and settled on 160 acres of wild land. In addition to
clearing and improving big farm, he worked at the carpenter's
trade, and also iaught school during the winter for six years. He
has been successful, and now has 312 acres of valuable land and
his improvements are among the best in the township. To JNlr.
and Mrs. Buchanan have been born three children, but two of
whom are Hving — Amina, wife of Dr. J. W. Squires, of Whitley
County, Ind., and James, who married Millie Tucker, and lives
in this township. In politics Mr. Buchanan is an uncompromis
ing Republican. He was one of the organizers of the County
Agricultural Society, and has always been one of its Directors.
Leander Buchanan, farmer and stock-raiser, Fairfield Town
ship, was born in Holmes County, Ohio, Oct. 3, 1831, the third
son of David and Lydia (Tribby) Buchanan. He remained
with his parents till manhood, and in 1854 went to Winchester,
Tenn., for health, but came to De Kalb County, Ind., the same
fall. When seventeen years of age he took a severe cold, which
settled on his lungs, and for several years he was unable to
work, and has never fully recovered from its effects. He was
married Oct. 18, i860, to Clara Chilcote, a native of Seneca
County, Ohio, daughter of Humphrc}^ and Christiana (Snivley)
Chilcote, early settlers of Ohio, who moved to De Kalb County
in 1847. After his marriage Mr. Buchanan settled on alarm in
Fairfield Township, where he lived two and a half years, and
then sold it and bought the one where he now lives, which
contains eighty acres of the choicest land in the township, all
well cultivated. In 1853 he began to learn the carpenter's trade
and followed it several years in connection with farming. He
has always taken an active interest in the public affairs of the
count3r, and has assisted materially in building up all enterprises
of benefit to the community. To Mr. and Mrs. Buchanan have

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HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.

563

been born three children, but one of whom is living — Elmira
EUen. Mary Vienna died at the age of fifteen years, and one
died in infancy. In pohtics Mr. Buchanan is a Republican. He
and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church.
Willard Childs is a native of New York, born in Oneida
County, Feb. 15, 181 1, the second son of Phineas and Theodosia
(^Evans) Childs, the former a native of Massachusetts, of English
descent, and the latter of Connecticut, of Welsh descent. In
1813 his parents moved to Jefferson County, N. Y., and thence
in 1826 to Onondaga County. When he was fifteen years of
age he began to work by the month for farmers. In 1837 he
came De Kalb County, Ind., and bought 120 acr^s of land, and
after paving for it had 73 cents left. He then went to Ft.
Wavne and earned the money with which to return to New
York. In 1846 he moved his family to De Kalb County, land
ing in Fairfield Township, Aug. 24. He moved into a log cabin,
belonging to B. A. Chaffee, and a short time after bought the
land on which it stood. There were but fourteen families in
the township when he settled here, and the land was mostly
heavily timbered. He has added to his first purchase till he has
286 acres of land, which comprises one of the best farms in the
township. 125 acres of this he has cleared and improved him
seff. He has seen De Kalb County change from a forest to one
of the most prosperous counties.
A. H. Deitz, farmer and stock-raiser, Fairfield Township, is a
native of Holmes County, Ohio, born Feb. 27, 1829. His
father, Henry E. Deitz, was a native of Pennsylvania. His
first wife, the mother of our subject, Elizabeth Coverlase, died,
leaving six children, five of whom are Hving. He afterward
married Barbara Weaver, and to them were born five children.
After her death he married Mary Ann McCasland, by whom he
had five children, four of whom are Hving. Henry Deitz ac
companied his parents to Tuscarawas County, Ohio, when a
child, and was there reared and married, remaining there and
in Holmes County tiU the faU of 1853, when he came to De
Kalb County, Ind., and settled on sections 10 and 15, Fairfield
Township, where he died in May, 1870. He was a successful
farmer and accumulated a good property. He was a member
of the German Reformed church, and in politics a Democrat.
A. H. Deitz was reared a farmer, residing with his father till
manhood. In 1851 he moved to Allen County, Ohio, and in

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564 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
the spring of 1854 to De Kalb County, Ind., and bought the
farm where he now lives. The land was mostly uncultivated
when he settled on it, but he has cleared it of timber and im-
pro\^d it, and now has one of the finest farms in the township.
In 1870 he built a large barn, which is the finest in the town
ship, and in 1879 built his fine brick residence, with all modern
improvements. He was married Sept. 5, 1850, to Maria Long,
a native of Ohio, daughter of John and Esther Long. To
them have been bom nine children, eight of whom are living —
Elizabeth, Sarah, Sophia, Louise, WilHam, Susan, Oliver P.,
and Elmer. Edward is deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Deitz are
members of the German Reformed church. Politically he is a
Democrat. Moses Deitz, farmer and stock-raiser, is a native of Holmes
County, Ohio, born Aug. 28, 1835, the fourth son of Henry E.
Deitz. He was reared on a farm in his native county, and
in the spring of 1853 came with his father to De Kalb County,
Ind., and settled in Fairfield Township. He assisted his father
in clearing and improving his farm, remaining with him till his
marriage, March 2, 1862, to Miss Ehzabeth Boyer, a daughter
of Michael Boyer, one of the early settlers of the county. After
his marriage he bought eighty acres of land on section 3, Fair
field Township, where he Hved till 1875, when he sold his farm
and bought a part of his father's old homestead. He owns
fifty acres of choice land, under a fine state of cultivation, and
his residence and farm buildings are comfortable and commo
dious. To him and his wife have been born two children ; both
died in infancy. They are members of the German Reformed
church. In politics he affiliates with the Democratic party.
Sebastian Eckart, a prominent farmer and stock-raiser of
Fairfield Township, is a native of Germany, born Nov. 9, 1822,
a son of Peter and Eve Eckart. His father died in March,
1830, and the following May his mother with her six children
came to the United States and settled in Franklin County, Pa.,
where he was reared. In 1S45 he emigrated to Wayne County,
Ohio, and in March, 1855, to De Kalb County, Ind., and bought
the land which is now his valuable farm. At that time there
were but fifteen acres partially cleared, but now he has 120
acres all under a fine state of cultivation. He was a poor man
when he came to De Kalb County, and his present prosperous
condition is due to his energy and industry, coupled with good

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HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY. 565
management and frugality. Mr. Eckart was married Dec. 14,
1S48. to Susan Cox, a native of Wayne County, Ohio, daughter
of Jacob and Jane (Denman) Cox. They have had a family of
twelve children, but three of whom are Hving — Jacob H., Will
iam O., and Spencer F. Elizabeth, Francis A., Margaret D.,
Amiel C, AHce C, Florence E., Luther S. L., Kate, and Eva
Bell are deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Eckart are members of the
Evangelical Lutheran church. In politics he is a Democrat.
George Emerick, one of the successful pioneers of Fairfield
Township, was born in Somerset County, Pa., May 3, 181S, the
seventh of nine children of John and Mary (Troutman) Eme
rick, and grandson of Andrew Emerick (who was a soldier un
der General Washington) and Peter Troutman, natives of Ger
many, who came to the United States prior to the war of the
Revolution. When our subject was four years old his parents
moved to Wayne County, Ohio, and there he grew to man
hood, residing with his parents tiU his majority. He then fol
lowed agricultural pursuits for himself till 185 1, when he came
to De Kalb County, Ind., and bought 280 acres of heavily tim
bered land. Here he and his wife commenced to make a home
for themselves, and though obliged to endure all the privations
and inconveniences of pioneer life, they were uncomplaining,
having the assurance that the future was one of prosperity.
They now have a landed estate of 400 acres and one of
the pleasantest homes in the county. ]Mr. Emerick was
married May 4, 1839, to Sarah Guthrie, a native of Richland
County, Ohio, daughter of Richard and Mary (Vanscoy) Guth
rie, natives of Pennsylvania, of Irish and German descent. To
them have been born six children, five of whom are living —
Mary J., wife of Solomon Boyer ; George W., Peter Alexan
der, Lucinda Catherine, wife of Benjamin Wilhoit, and Andrew
Jackson. Francis M. died, aged five years. In politics Mr.
Emerick is a Democrat.
George Frederick, farmer and stock-raiser, is a native of Ohio,
born in Stark County, AprU i, 1831, a son of John and Char-
lotta (Aultman) Frederick, natives of Pennsylvania, of German
and Enghsh descent. He was reared on a farm, residing with
his parents till his majority. In 1852 he bought a farm adjoin
ing the old homestead, where he Hved till 1864, when he sold
his farm and came to De Kalb County, Ind., and bought forty-
four acres of land in Fairfield Township, and eighty acres in
36

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566 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
Salem Township, Steuben County. But very Httle of his land
had been improved, the most of it being heavily timbered. He
has been a hard working man, and has cleared and cultivated
his land till he now has a fine farm with a good residence and
farm buildings. In addition to farming he has been engaged in
the marble business, which has been a successful enterprise. He
was married Oct. 12, 185 1, to Ann Maria Frybarger, daughter
of John and Hannah (Zerbe) Frybarger, the former a native of
Pennsylvania of German descent, and the latter of Vermont of
English descent. To them have been born fourteen children — .
Charlotta, David (deceased), John C, Franklin S., Henry, James
R., Rachel, DeUa, Joseph W. R., Lydia M., Mary Belle, WilHam
A., George T., and Amos A. In politics Mr. Frederick is a Re
publican. His wife is a member of the German Reform and he
of the EvangeHcal church.
Henry Freed, farmer and stock-raiser, Fairfield Township,
was born in Stark County, Ohio, June 28, 1842. His father,
Peter Freed, was born in Shenandoah County, Pa., and was a
son of John Freed, a native of York County, Pa., of German
descent. When Peter was nine years of age he accompanied
his parents to Columbiana County, Ohio, where he was reared,
and in 1819 married Hannah Miller, a native of that county,
daughter of Anthony and Susan MiUer. After their marriage
they settled in Stark County, where eleven children were born,
of whom our subject is the youngest, six of whom are living. His
wife died in 1861, and in 1864 he came to De Kalb County, and
has since made his home with his son Henry. Henry Freed
was reared and educated in his native county, and was there
married Aug. 2, 1863, to Barbara Haynes, a native of Stark
County, daughter of Jonathan and Mary (Heinum) Haynes.
The following fall he moved to De Kalb County and settled on
the farm where he now Hves, which contains seventy-eight
acres of improved land. He and his wife have had a family of
nine children, eight of whom are living — Peter L., Jonathan,
Samuel, Alvin, Mary, William H., Martha, and Emma E.
One died in infancy. Mr. and Mrs. Freed are members oi the
Mennonite church. In pohtics he is a Republican. His father
was originally a Whig, but has voted with the Republican
party since its organization.
John Freed, one of the prosperous farmers of Fairfield Town
ship, was born in Colu.'nbiana County, Ohio, Aug. 12, 1825, a

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HISTORY OF DE K.VLB COUNTY. 567
son of Peter and Hannah (Miller) Freed. When he was four
years of age his parents moved to Stark County, Ohio, where
he was reared and educated, attending the district schools. He
remained with his parents till nearly twenty-four years of age,
and Jan. 21, 1S49, married Analiza Huet, a daughter of Joseph
and Mary Huet. In 1S52 he moved to De Kalb County, Ind.,
and bought a tract of unimproved land in Fairfield Township,
which he has improved and is now a fine farm. He owns 120
acres all under cuUivation, except thirty acres of woods, and his
improvements are among the best in the county. Mr. Freed
has been a hard-working man, and has earned his property by
industry and frugality. He is a public spirited, benevolent
citizen, and assists with both time and money every laudable
enterprise. In politics he was originally a Whig, but now casts
his suffrage with the Republican party. He is, as was also his
wife, a member of the German Reform church. To them were
born nine children, seven of whom are living — Lucinda, wife of
Peter Gonser, of this township ; Elizabeth, wife of Byron Mc-
Endarfer; Lydia Ann, wife of Joseph Huet, of Smithfield
Township ; Alice, wife of Oliver Stoter, of Smithfield Town
ship ; John A., Mary Ada, and WilHam B. Peter and Joseph
are deceased. Mrs. Freed died May 27, 1885, aged fifty-five
years, seven months and thirteen days.
Henry Gardner, farmer and stock-raiser, Fairfield Township,
was born in Westmoreland County, Pa., Feb. 14, 1830, the
youngest son of John and Barbara (Camp) Gardner, and was
an infant when his parents moved to Holmes County, Ohio,
where he was reared and educated, remaining there till 1859,
when he came to De Kalb County, Ind., and settled on a tract
of land he had bought in 1850. He built a cabin for his family,
and began to clear and improve his land. He now has a valu
able farm of 160 acres, and thirty -eight acres a short distance
north of his homestead. Mr. Gardner has been an energetic,
frugal citizen, and one of the most public spirited and influen
tial men of his township. He was married April 27, 1855, to
Eliza Swihart, a native of Holmes County, Ohio, daughter of
George and Catherine (Snider) Swihart. They had a family
of five children— Sarah A., John Q., George W., WUliam H.,
and one that died in infancy. Mrs. Gardner died April 10,
1864. Oct. 5, 1866, Mr. Gardner married Mrs. Sarah Ann
(MiUer) Dunn, daughter of Jacob and Sarah (Ash) Miller. To

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568 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
them have been born five chUdren — David S., Clarence E.,
Harvey E., Cyrus A., and Irvin H. In pohtics Mr. Gardner is
a Democrat. He and his wife are members of the EvangeHcal
Lutheran church.
John Gardner, one of the most successful farmers of Fairfield
Township, is a native of Westmoreland County, Pa., born Jan.
25, 1824, a son of John and Barbara (Camp) Gardner, natives of
Pennsylvania, of German descent. In 1830 his parents moved
to Holmes County, Ohio, where he was reared on a farm, re
ceiving his education in the district schools. Soon after reach
ing his majority he came to De Kalb County, Ind., and re
mained two years, entering a tract of land in Fairfield Town
ship. He returned to Ohio and remained tiU June 15, 1854,
when he was married to Catherine Deitz, a native of Holmes
County, Ohio, daughter of Jacob and Mary (Noll) Deitz. Im
mediately after his marriage he moved to his frontier home,
and together they went to work to improve their land and
make a farm, and how well they succeeded is proved by a visit
to their beautiful home, where they have 160 acres of choice
land all under cultivation and a pleasant residence and good
farm buildings. They have a family of five children — Joseph
D., Lydia A., Sarah, WilHam A., and John H. Mr. and Mrs.
Gardner are members of the EvangeHcal Lutheran church. In
pohtics he affiliates with the Democratic party.
David Goodrich, son of Philander and Salmeda (Jewett) Good
rich, was born in Cayuga County, N. Y., Jan. 31, 1838. He re
mained with his father till his death, and then worked by the
month till after the breaking out of the war, and Aug. 8, 1862,
enlisted in Company A, Eighty-eighth Indiana Infantry. He
participated in the battles of Perryville and Stone River, and
was then placed on detached duty till the close of the war. He
was discharged June 26, 1865, and returned to De Kalb County,
and in 1866 bought his present farm, to which he has added till
now he owns ninety-four acres of land all under cultivation.
He was married Jan. 10, 1867, to Mary A. Phelps, daughter of
Chauncey and Mary (Chadwick) Phelps. They have had a
family of six children, but five of whom are living — Orrin G.,
Albert B., Laura B., Derward G., and Edna May. A son died
in infancy. Mrs. Goodrich is a member of the Disciples church.
In politics Mr. Goodrich is a Republican.
Philander Goodrich, deceased, was born in the State of New

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HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY. 569
York in 1809, a son of Zebulon and  Goodrich, his father
of Puritan and his mother of German descent. He was reared
on a farm, remaining with his parents till manhood. He was
married about 1836 to Salmeda Jewett, a native of Connecticut.
In the fall of 1S40 they moved to Lagrange County, Ind.,
where his wife died in 1841. Mr. Goodrich afterward moved
to Steuben County, and in 1846 to De Kalb County and settled
in Smithfield Township, but in less than a year moved to Fair
field Township and bought a tract of unimproved land, which
he began to improve, and on which he lived till his death in
1856. His family consisted of three children, two sons and a
daughter — David, William A. and Harriet. The latter is de
ceased. Jonathan A. Gushwa, a representative of one of the pioneer
families of De Kalb County, was born in Holmes County, Ohio,
Jan. 15, 1835, and was ten years of age when his parents moved
to this county. His youth was spent in assisting his father
clear and improve a frontier farm, and six months before his
majority, his father gave him his time and he then worked for
wages till the breaking out of the war of the Rebellion. Au
gust 10, 1861, he enlisted in Company B, Twenty -ninth Indiana
Infantry, and served thirty-seven months. The first half of
his service he was detailed teamster. He contracted the erysip
elas in his leg while in the army, and has never fully recovered
from its effects. After his return from the war he settled on the
old homestead and took charge of the farm for his father till
his marriage, Jan. 4, 1866, to Harriet Williams, daughter of
David and jNlary Williams. He then settled on a farm of his
father's in this township, where he Hved sixteen years, and then
bought forty acres of land, but three months later sold it and
rented a farm of his brother a year. Nov. i, 1883, he moved to
the farm where he now lives, where he owns eight}' acres of
choice land, with a pleasant residence and good farm buildings.
His wife died Jan. 18, 1883, leaving two sons — Charles and Ed
ward. Oct. 4, 1883, he was married to Mrs. Margaret Jane
Swinhart, a sister of his first wife. Mr. Gushwa has been a
prominent man in his township, and held several offices of trust
and responsibility; among others those of Supervisor, Con
stable, Road Supervisor; and in the fall of 1884 was elected
Justice of the Peace. In politics he is a Democrat. He and
his wife are members of the Albright church.

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570 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
Philip Gushwa, deceased, was one of the prominent pioneers
of Fairfield Township. He was born in Somerset County,
Pa., Sept. 7, 1802, a son of Jacob and Elizabeth (PhiUips)
Gushwa, natives of Pennsylvania, of German descent. His .
parents were in limited circumstances and he was early obliged
to assist his father in the maintenance of the family. When he
was four years of age his parents moved to Westmoreland
County, Pa., and when he was twenty -two, in 1823, to Holmes
County, Ohio. He was married Nov. 20, 1825, to Mary A.
Mahr, a native of Pennsylvania, born July 8, 1806, daughter of
Jacob and Ehzabeth Mahr, of German descent. Mr. Gushwa
bought eighty acres of wild land in Ohio, which he cleared and
improved, and then sold it and bought 160 acres. This he
cleared and improved, and subsequently met with reverses in
his business, and in 1845 came to De Kalb County, and the third
time settled in the woods. He bought 200 acres of land at
$2.50 an acre, which he went to work to improve. At his death
he had 226 acres of land all well cultivated. He died Dec. 16,
1884. His widow is still living, in the seventy-ninth year of her
age. They had a happy married Hfe of nearly sixty years, and
by their hospitality and kindness won many friends. To them
were born eleven children, all of whom grew to maturity and
ten of whom are living — Jacob, Elizabeth, Hannah, John, Su
san, Jonathan, William (deceased), Mary Ann, Philip, Jr., Sarah
and Benjamin. In politics Mr. Gushwa was a Democrat. Mrs.
Gushwa is a member of the Lutheran church.
Philip Gushwa, Jr., the fifth son and ninth child of Philip
and Mary A. (Mahr) Gushwa, was born in Holmes County,
Ohio, March 5, 1841, and was four years of age when his par
ents moved to De Kalb County. Here he was reared and edu
cated, remaining with his parents till the breaking out of the
RebeUion. Nov. 20, 1862, he enhsted in Company B, Twenty-
ninth Indiana Infantry, and participated in many hard-fought
battles, the more important being Chickamauga where he was
wounded in the right thigh, the ball passing out of his leg.
This disabled him from service for three months. He served
till the expiration of his term and was discharged Nov. 20,
1865. After his return home he worked on his father's farm
where he has since lived with the exception of three years,
when he lived on land of his own in the same township. He
was married Sept. 7, 1867, to Sarah WiUiams, a native of Holmes

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HISTORY OF DE K.VLB COUNTY. 57 1
County, Ohio, daughter of David and Mary WiUiams, who
came to De Kalb County in 1864. To Mr. and Mrs. Gushwa
have been born three children — James F., Alva W., and Nellie
M. In pohtics Mr. Gushwa affiliates with the Repubhcan
party. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episco
pal church.
Daniel Haller, farmer and stock-raiser, is a native of Germany,
born March 14, 1S24, the fourth son of Jacob Haller. He. was
three years of age when his parents came to the United States,
and eleven when they moved to Wayne County, Ohio. He was
reared and educated in Wayne County, and in 1845 accom
panied his parents to Noble County, Ind., and settled on the
line of DeKalb County. In 1857 he moved a mile north into
De Kalb County where he lived till April, 1878, when he bought
the farm where he now lives, which contains eighty-nine acres
of improved land. Mr. Haller was married in 1849 to Eliza
beth Bolenbaugh, a native of Seneca County, Ohio, but a resi
dent of Indiana at the time of her marriage. They are the
parents of ten children, but four of whom are living — William B.,
John W., Annie E. and Minnie M. Nancy A., Mary M.,
Hiram A., James N., Henry H. and Susan V. are deceased.
Mr. HaUer, in politics, affihates with the Republican party.
John F. Haller, farmer and stock-raiser, Fairfield Township,
is a native of Wurtemberg, Germany, born July 16, 1821, a son
of Jacob and Catherine (Weller) Haller. His father served
eight years in the French army under Napoleon Bonaparte,
and two years in the German army. In 1827 he came to the
United States, landing in New York, and settled in Lancaster
County, Pa., where he Hved tiU 1835, then moved to Wayne
County, Ohio, where our subject grew to manhood. In 1845
he moved to Noble County, Ind., where he died in 1853, aged
seventy-two years. His wife died in 1864, aged sixty-five years.
John F. Haller remained in Wayne County till 1851, and then
come to De Kalb County and settled on the farm where he now
hves, which contains 135 acres of valuable land. He also owns
a farm of 1 30 acres in Noble County. He was in Hmited cir
cumstances w^hen he commenced Hfe for himself, but by indus
try and good management he has accumulated a competency
for his declining years. He was married April 30, 1846, to
Joanna Childs, daughter of Janies and Ehzabeth (Cochran)
Childs, the former a native of England, and the latter of Mary

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572 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY,
land, of Irish parentage. Mr. Childs died in Wayne County,
Ohio, in 1850, aged seventy-five years, and his wife in 1876,
aged ninety-two years. To Mr. and and Mrs. HaUer have been
bom nine children, six of whom are Hving — Catherine E., Jacob,
Sarah Ann, Nannie E., Samuel M. and Wilber L. The de
ceased are James, John T. and James H. Mr. HaUer has al
ways taken an active interest in the welfare of his adopted
county and has assisted materially in its growth and develop
ment. In politics he is a Republican, and a ready supporter of
all the issues of his party. Mrs. HaUer is a member of the
Methodist Episcopal church.
Leonard Hartman, one of the most successful of the pioneers
of Fairfield Township, is a native of Hesse-Darmstadt, Ger
many, born Sept 27, 1819, a son of Leonard Hartman. When
he was about six years of age his parents moved to the United
States and settled in Franklin County, Pa., thence to Wayne
County, Ohio, where he grew to manhood, remaining there tiff
1845, when he came to De Kalb County, Ind., and bought 160
acres of wild land in Fairfield Township, which is a part of his
present farm. He had but $24 when he reached this county
and was obhged to buy his land on time. He cleared and im
proved his land, paid for it, and has added to it till he now
owns 450 acres, the greater part under cultivation. His suc
cess is due to his energy and industrious and economical
habits, aided by a most estimable wife. He has assisted materi
ally in the growth and development of the township, and gives
liberally of his means for the furtherance of every laudable en
terprise. Mr. Hartman was married June 24, 1841, to Mary
Martz, a native of Germany, who came to the United States
with her parents when seventeen years of age. They have had
twelve children, ten of whom are living — Cassie, John, Susan,
Sophia, Adam, Lydia, Joseph, Levi, Emma and Martha. The
deceased are Solomon and Libbie. Mrs. Hartman is a member
of the Lutheran church. In pohtics he is a Democrat.
Hon. Jacob Helwig, deceased, was born in Jefferson County,
Ohio, Sept. 10, 1804, a son of George Helwig. He, in his
youth, learned the cabinet-maker's trade of his father, and
worked at it several years in Ohio. He was a resident of Tus
carawas and Carroll counties, several years each, and was a
prominent man wherever he lived, holding several offices of
trust. In 1841 he came to De Kalb County, Ind., and settled in

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HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY. 573
Troy Township. He was elected twice to the Legislature from
this district, and also served two terms as County Commissioner
and one as Treasurer. He was a member of the Lutheran
church in early life, but after coming to De Kalb County united
with the Methodist Episcopal church. In politics he was a
strong Democrat. He was married to Jemima Jenkins, and to
them were born five children — George, Elizabeth, Peter, Isaac,
and John B. The latter was for eight years President of Wit
tenburg College, Springfield, Ohio, and is now pastor of the
Lutheran church at Akron, Ohio. His wife died and he after
ward married Sarah Gossage. They had a family of five chil
dren — Barbara A., Kezia, Mary, Rebecca, and Christina. Mr.
Helwig died Dec. 10, 1869.
Alonzo Hemstreet, deceased, was born in Ohio, Feb. 6, 1840, a
son of Jeremiah and Mariam (Smith) Hemstreet. When he
was a child his parents moved to De Kalb County, Ind., and
settled in Smithfield Township, where he was reared and edu
cated, attending the district schools. He remained with his
parents till his marriage, and then bought the farm in Fairfield
Township where his family now Hve, and where he died Feb.
22, 1870. The farm contains eighty acres of valuable land, but
when Mr. Hemstreet settled on it was some improved and
neavily timbered. He was an energetic, frugal man, and with
the assistance of a most estimable wife, cleared and improved
his land, and at his death left one of the best farms in the town
ship. He was married Dec. 5, 1865, to Julia Zwilling, a native
of New York, daughter of Henry and Julia (Howald) Zwilling,
who came from Germany and settled near Utica, N. Y., and
subsequently moved to Holmes County, Ohio, and in 1848 to
De Kalb County, and settled in Fairfield Township, and re
moved to Smithfield where the father died. The mother is
now Hving in Marshall County, Iowa, in the seventy -fourth
year of her age. To Mr. and Mrs. Hemstreet was born one
son — Clark A., who Hves on the old homestead with his mother.
Mr. Hemstreet in his political views was a Democrat.
John Hovater, Sr., one of the most esteemed of the old pio
neers, was born in Lebanon County, Pa., Nov. 3, 1809, a son of
Christopher and Julia Ann (Cormack) Hovater, natives of Lan
caster County, of German parentage. He was reared in his
native county, and in his boyhood worked in the shop of his
father, who was a blacksmith. When he was fifteen years old

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574 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
he was able to take the place of a journeyman, and worked for
his father till his majority. He then went to Ohio, and for four
years was in business for himself in Holmes County. Then
was associated with a Mr. Oten in Dalton a year, and from that
time on till 1850 lived in different places in Ohio, the last being
Sugar Creek, where he bought a home and remained seven
years. In 1850 he moved to De Kalb County, Ind., and bought
eighty acres of wild land in Fairfield Township, which he has
cleared, and now has a good farm. He has worked at his trade
in addition to caring for his farm, and wiU long be remembered
as the pioneer blacksmith of Fairfield Township. He has, by
his many years of upright and honorable dealing, won the con
fidence and respect of all who know him. He was married
Dec. 4, 1834, to Nancy, daughter of John and Betsey (Roop)
Wyers. To them have been born thirteen children, nine of
whom are Hving. They are members of the United Brethren
church. In politics he is a Democrat.
George W. Husselman, one of the successful farmers and stock-
raisers of Fairfield Township, was born in Wayne County,
Ohio, May 8, 1830, a son of Samuel and Susan (Trapp) Hussel
man, and when fourteen years of age came with his parents to
De Kalb County, Ind. They Hved in Fairfield Tow-nship two
years, and then moved to Union Township, where he assisted
his father in clearing and improving a farm, remaining with his
parents till manhood. He then began farming for himself, and
bought a farm of 200 acres, where he has since lived. At that
time his land was wholly unimproved, but now it is one of the
finest farms in the township. He was married April 5, 1853, to
Mary J. King, a daughter of John and Kate (Reaver) King,
who carae to De Kalb County, Ind., from Maryland in 1846.
Mr. and Mrs. Husselman have bad a family of four children —
Calvin H., John W., Emily, wife of Henry Neidig, and Susan
M., wife of John Kandel. Mr. Husselman is in politics a Re
publican. He and his wife are members of the Methodist
Episcopal church.
John T. Husselman was born in Wayne County, Ohio, April
13, 1827, the eldest son of Samuel and Susan (Trapp) Hussel
man. In May, 1S45, he accompanied his parents to DeKalb
County, Ind., and settled in Fairfield Township, where he
assisted his father in clearing and improving a farm. After
attaining his majority he bought a tract of land a mile and a

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HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY. 575
half north of Fairfield Center, and began to make a farm for
himself. In June, 1855, he sold his farm and bought the one
where he now lives, which at that time was unimproved.
Thus a third time he began to make a farm out of a tract
of timber land. He has been an energetic, industrious man
and succeeded in surrounding himself and family with a com
fortable home, and has a competency for his declining years.
His farm contains iSo acres of choice land under a good state
of cultivation. In September, 1864, Mr. Husselman enlisted in
Company C, Forty -second Indiana Infantry, and served till the
close of the war. He was married March n, 1852, to Elvina,
daughter of Abraham Hartman. They have eight children —
Wesley E., Amanda E., Melissa J., Emma A., Alma, Flora Ada,
Ida May and John A. Mr. and Mrs. Husselman are members
of the Evangelical Lutheran church. In politics Mr. Hussel
man is a Republican.
Harrison Jones, is a native of Kentucky, born in Maysville,
June 10, 1812, the second of three children of WilHam and
Lucy (Thompson) Jones, natives of Kentucky, of Welsh de
scent. When he was three years of age his parents moved to
Greene County, Ohio, and three years later to Lower Sandus
ky, now Fremont ; thence, when he was nine years old to
Canada, but a few months later returned to Ohio and located
in Miami County. W bile living in the latter county his father
went to New Orleans and died there of yellow fever. When
he was seventeen years of age his mother moved to Indiana
with his older brother, and he remained in Miami County till
attaining his majority. About 1839 he moved to Carroll County,
Ind., but returned to Ohio a year later and remained till 1845,
when he came to Allen County, and rented a farm about eight
years. In the meantime he bought 150 acres of land in Fair
field Township, De Kalb County, to which he has since added
till he now has 200 acres, all under a high state of cultivation.
Mr. Jones was married June 13, 1833, to Elizabeth Burkett, a
native of Ohio, daughter of Christian Burkett. They had two
children — Joseph and Lucy, and to Mr. Jones by his second
marriage was bom one daughter^ — Silvia. Mrs. Jones is a mem
ber of the German Methodist church. In politics Mr. Jones is
a Republican. Frederick Krahn, deceased, was a native of Prussia, Germany,
born Aug. 25, 1830, a son of Jacob Krahn. He was reared in

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576 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
his native country, and in his youth served an apprenticeship
at the rope-maker's trade, which he followed till he came to the
United States, when still a young man. He landed in New
York City and walked from there to Stark County, Ohio, where
he was employed at brick making by the month for five years.
He then went into business for himself, and in 1863 left Ohio
and came to De Kalb County, Ind., and bought eighty acres of
land in Fairfield Township, and engaged in agricultural pur
suits till October, 1864, when he was drafted in the defense of
his adopted country in Company E, Thirteenth Indiana Infan
try, and served till the spring of 1865, when, April 5, he died
and was buried at Newbern, N. C. He was married March 22,
1858, to Julia Arna, a native of Germany, where her parents,
George and Susan (Barley) Arna, died when she was a child,
and when nineteen years of age she came to the United States.
To Mr. and Mrs. Krahn were born four children — Wilham,
John (deceased), Amelia and Mary N. Mrs. Krahn is a mem
ber of the Evangelical Lutheran church.
Martin Lehman was born in the province of Baden, Germany,
Nov. 9, 1829, a son of Job and Mary (Klotz) Lehman. He was
reared and educated in his native country, working at various
occupations in his youth. He received a good education in
the schools of Germany, and in 1848 came to the United States
and located in Adams County, Ind., where he worked by the
month till his marriage. He then bought 100 acres of land in
Noble County, Ind., where he lived ten years, and in 1865 sold
his farm and moved to De Kalb County and bought the farm
in Fairfield Township where he now lives. He has 215 acres
of valuable land aU under cultivation, and is one of the most
prosperous and thrifty farmers of the township. He was mar
ried March 4, 1855, to INlary Martz, a native of Germany,
daughter of Bartle and Anna (Jauch) Martz. To them have
been born ten children, but three of whom are Hving — John P.,
Willy Bartley, and Christian. Mr. and Mrs. Lehman are mem
bers of the Lutheran church. In politics he is a Democrat.
John L. Ling, farmer and stock-raiser, Fairfield Township,
was bom in Coshocton County, Ohio. Jan. 13, 1S27, a son oi
Peter and Dorcas (Russel) Ling, natives of Bedford County,
Pa., of German and English descent. In 1S48 he came to De
Kalb County, Ind., and bought the land which is now his finely
cultivated farm, but at that time was a tract of heavily timbered
7 s~- — ^ ~»  Tl "r

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HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY. 577
land. He returned to Ohio, and in 1851 came again to this
county and began to clear and prepare his land for cultivation.
He was married April 8, 1852, to Susan Gonser, daughter of
David and Catherine (Miller) Gonser, early settlers of De
Kalb County, from Coshocton County, Ohio. To them have
been born five children — Emily, wife of A. W. Bair, of Smith-
field Township ; Ellen, wife of Eugene Krum, of Fairfield
Township ; Ida, wife of Joseph Gardner ; David, of Steuben
County, married Delia Frederick ; and Edward, of Kansas. In
politics Mr. Ling is a Republican. He has taken an active in
terest in all the public affairs, and has been elected by his fel
low townsmen to different offices of trust and responsibility.
Elihu Mclnturf, one of the prominent early settlers of De
Kalb County, was bom in Licking County, Ohio, June 17, 1816,
a son of John and Hannah (Parr) Mclnturf. When he was
twelve years of age he went to Hve with an uncle, and re
mained with him till nineteen years of age, when his uncle
died, leaving him enough to buy fifty acres of land. He was
sick for the next three years and needed the money, and upon
his recovery was obliged to go to work for wages. In 1840 he
went to Clark County, 111., but in less than a year returned
home and remained till October, 1844, when he came to Indi
ana, and bought eighty acres of Government land. He worked
for the settlers to obtain provisions to live on, and in the mean
time began to clear his land and get it ready to plant a crop.
He has been industrious and frugal, and to his first purchase
has added till he now has a fine farm of 132 acres, all under cul
tivation. He was married in 1841 to Rachel Brown, a native
of Knox County, Ohio, daughter of Silas and Sarah Ann (Mer-
riott) Brown. They have two children — Sarah Ann, wife of
Abraham Orr, of Kendallville, and Wilham M., who married
Emma Bronson, and hves on the old homestead. In politics
Mr. Mclnturf is a Democrat.
David McNabb is a native of Center County, Pa., born Dec.
9, 1819, a son of John and Mary (Young) McNabb, natives of
Pennsylvania, the former of Scotch and the latter of English
and Swiss descent. When he was thirteen years of age his
parents moved to Ashland County, Ohio, where he was reared,
receiving a common school education. In 1843 he came to De
Kalb County, Ind., and entered eighty acres of wild land in
Fairfield Township, on section 35, where he built a cabin and

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578 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
commenced to improve his land. He lived on this farm twenty
years, and in 1863 sold it and bought the one where he now
lives, on section 32. His farm contains 120 acres of choice land,
all under cultivation. Mr. McNabb was married Oct. 18, 1842,
to Sophie Dunfee, a daughter of James and Sophie (Hazlett)
Dunfee, who moved from Adams County, Pa., to Ohio in 1833.
Mr. and Mrs. McNabb have had eight children, seven of
whom are Hving — James, George, John, Francelia, Warren,
Martha and Frank. Ella is deceased. Mr. McNabb is a self-
made man, having no means when he started in Hfe for himself,
but by his own industry and good management, assisted by a
most estimable wife, he has accumulated a good property. In
politics he affiliates with the Democratic party.
John Jacob Metzger, farmer and stock-raiser, is a native of
Germany, born March 31, 1815, a son of Philip PoweU and
Margaretta (Gross) Metzger. He was reared on a farm, remain
ing with his father till his majority. His mother died when he
was three years old. When he was twenty-one years old he
was drafted into the German army and served three years. He
then on account of his good behavior was allowed to purchase
a substitute and was discharged. He followed farming five
years after leaving the army, and was then married, and soon
after came to the United States and settled in Lawrence County,
Ohio, buying fifty acres of land, where he lived nine years. In
1855 he came to De Kalb County and bought 100 acres of wild
land which he has cleared and improved, and now has one of
the finest farms in the township. He was married in March,
1846, to , who died April 26, 1857, leav
ing six children — Kate, Henry, John, Elizabeth, George and
Mary. In October, 1857, he married Mrs. Barbara (Stomm)
Miller, a native of Germany, who came to America in 1854.
She has four children — Margaretta, Jacob, Valentine and Henry.
Mr. and Mrs. Metzger are members of the Methodist Episcopal
church. In politics he is a Democrat.
Emanuel Neidig is a native of Columbiana County, Ohio,
born Aug. 3, 1824, a son of Joseph and Margaret (De Koff)
Neidig, natives of Pennsylvania. He was reared and educated
in his native county, spending his leisure time in his father's
blacksmith shop. When twenty years of age he began to
work at the carpenter's trade, serving an apprenticeship of two
months. He was a natural mechanic and his employer took

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HISTORY OF DE K.VLB COUNTY. 579

extra pains to explain the business to him. He worked at his
trade in his native county till 1854, and then came to De Kalb
County, Ind., and bought a tract of heavily timbered land in
Fairfield Township. He worked at his trade and hired his land
cleared, and then attended to the cultivation of his farm in con
nection with his other work. He has been successful in his
business and now has two farms, the one where he lives, con
taining eighty acres and another of forty acres. He was mar
ried July 27, 1848, to Susan Freed, a native of Columbiana
County, Ohio, daughter of Peter and Hannah (Miller) Freed.
To them have been born nine children, but three of whom are
living — Cornelia, wife of Benjamin Cline, of Steuben County ;
Henry, of Fairfield Township, and Joseph at home. Hannah,
Anthony, Angehne, Emanuel, Peter, and an infant are deceased.
Mr. and Mrs. Neidig are members of the German Reform
church. In politics he is a Democrat.
Daniel Phelps, farmer and stock-raiser, Fairfield Township,
was born in Stark County, Ohio, Feb. 28, 1830, a son of WilHam
and Magdeline (Marsh) Phelps, the former a native of Mary
land, of English descent, and the latter of Virginia, of German
descent. He attended the pubhc schools till ten years of age,
when his father died and he was then obliged to rely upon his
own resources, and from that time till his marriage worked for
farmers by the month. He was married Nov. 20, 1853, to Han
nah, daughter of Peter Freed. In the fall of 1854 they moved
to De Kalb County, Ind., where his wife died. Their only
child died in infancy. He was again married June 20, 1858, to
Dehlah Risely, a native of Stark County, Ohio, daughter of
Elias and Catherine (Livingston) Risely. They have had three
children; two are living — Amanda and Lovina. One child
died in infancy. Mr. Phelps has one of the best farms in the
township, which he has brought from a heavily timbered con
dition to a state of advanced cultivation. He and his wife are
members of the German Baptist church. He in politics casts
his suffrage with the Republican party.
John Potts is a native of Stark County, Ohio, bom Feb. 4,
1813, the eldest son of Jonathan and Elizabeth (Triplet) Potts,
natives of Virginia and of English ancestry, and grandson of
John Potts and Joseph Triplet, the former a soldier in the war
of the Revolution. When he was five years of age his parents
moved to Wayne County, Ohio, and there he was reared and

.^T

^M'

ego HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
educated. In 1837 they moved to Lawrence County, IU., and in
1855 while on a visit to our subject the father died. The mother
died in Lawrence County. John Potts lived in Wayne County
tiU 1846, when he moved to De Kalb County, Ind., and bought
forty acres of land which is a part of his present farm. To this
he has added forty acres, and now has a valuable farm with a
good residence and farm buildings. He has been an industrious
and enterprising citizen, and has gained the confidence and
esteem of the entire community. In 1864 he was elected Magis
trate of his township and served twenty years. He is a Demo
crat in politics. He was married Feb. 6, 1834, to Elinor Metcah,
daughter of Josiah and Hannah MetcaU. To them were born
two children— Almira L. died at the age of twenty years ; and
Hannah E. is the wife of Albert Buchanan. Mrs. Potts died
Aug. 25, 1866, and Aug. 18, 1867, Mr. Potts married Maria
Shaffer, a native of Westmoreland County, Pa. Mrs. Potts is
a member of the Lutheran church.
George Putt, one of the most prosperous and prominent of the
early settlers of De Kalb County, was born in Berks County,
Pa., Nov. 19, 1 8 14, the eldest son of Jacob and Catharine (Shaf
fer). Putt, natives of Pennsylvania, of Enghsh and German
descent. He was reared in his native State, and when fifteen
years of age began driving a freight team over the mountains,
a vocation he foUowed fifteen years. About 1835 he settled in
Lebanon County, Pa., and in 1841 moved to Stark County,
Ohio, and eleven months later, in 1842, came to Indiana and
entered forty acres of land, and bought forty more in De Kalb
County. It was located in the dense timber, but he went to
work and soon had enough cleared- to build a log cabin and
raise a crop. He has been successful and to his land has added
forty acres till now he has 120 acres of choice land, all well im
proved. He was married Nov. 15, 1835, to Sarah Ann, daugh
ter of Nicholas and Ehzabeth (Polm) Getz, natives of Pennsyl
vania, of German descent. To them were born two children
— Levi and Joanna Ehzabeth Catharine, wife of John Anstett.
Mrs. Putt died Sept. 9, 1884. She, as has also iNlr. Putt, had
been a member of the German Reform church from her youth.
Pohtically, Mr. Putt is a Democrat.
David Reinoehl, deceased, one of the most esteemed pioneers
of Fairfield Township, was born in Lebanon County, Pa., Feb.
22, 1809, the eldest of nine children of Michael and Catherine

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HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY. 58 1
(Fisher) Reinoehl. When he was nineteen years of age he ac
companied his parents to Stark County, Ohio, and was there
married Dec. 18, 1831, to Rebecca Weirich, who was born in
Lebanon County, Pa., Aug. 9, 18 12, a daughter of John and
Elizabeth (Rupe) Weirich, who moved to Wayne County,
Ohio, in 1830. After their marriage they Hved on the old
homestead nine years and then moved to Richland County,
Ohio, where they Hved tiU the fall of 1852, when they came to
DeKalb County, and bought 152 acres of land in Fairfield
Township, very Httle of which was improved. Mr. Reinoehl
was an industrious, energetic man, and soon had a good home
where he spent the rest of his Hfe. He died Feb. 16, 1869. He,
as is also his wife, was a member of the EvangeHcal Associa
tion. To them were born seven children, five of whom are
hving — John, Elizabeth, wife of Michael Eckart ; Louisa, wife
of C. Wert ; Mary, wife of William Shaffer ; and Solomon, on the
old homestead. Catherine, the eldest, and Amos, the young
est, are deceased.
Michael Reinoehl, farmer and stock-raiser, Fairfield Township,
is a native of Lebanon County, Pa., born Feb. 5, 1826, the
eighth of nine children of Michael and Catherine (Fisher) Rein
oehl, natives of Pennsylvania, of German parentage. When he
was two years of age his parents moved to Ohio and settled in
Stark County, where he was reared on a farm, remaining with
his parents till his majority. He was married Jan. 2, 1851, to
Catherine Weirich, daughter of John and Elizabeth (Rupe)
Weirich. After his marriage he carried on the old homestead
five and a half years, and in the fall of 1856 moved to De Kalb
County, Ind., and bought a tract of wild land in Fairfield
Township, which he has cleared and cultivated, and which is
now his valuable farm. He owns 160 acres of land, and his
residence and farm buildings are large and comfortable. To
Mr. and Mrs. Reinoehl have been born five children, but two
of whom are living — Adaline, wife of Alfred Weirich, and
George Mitchel. The deceased are — Malinda, John Henry and
Catherine. In politics Mr. Reinoehl is a Democrat. He and
his wife are members of the EvangeHcal Lutheran church.
Peter Reinoehl, farmer and stock-raiser, is a native of Stark
County, Ohio, born Feb. 23, 1831, the youngest son of Michael
and Catherine (Fisher) Reinoehl. He was reared a farmer,
receiving a good education in the common schools, remaining
37

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•vl's  ^  -^1 iff/
582 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
with his parents till twenty-five years of age, when, Sept. 18,
1856, he was married to Sarah Ann Sids. He remained on his
father's farm till November, 1863, when he came to De Kalb
County and bought forty acres of land in Fairfield Township,
twenty-five of which were partially cleared. He afterward
bought thirty-five acres adjoining it on the south, which he
subsequently sold and bought eighty acres adjoining his farm
on the north. He now owns 120 acres of valuable land, aU
well improved. His wife died in Ohio, Sept. 5, 1863, and he
was married in De Kalb County, Ind., Jan. 10, 1867, to Eliza
beth, daughter of John Hovater. They have had eleven chil
dren — David, born July 11, 1868; John Henry, born Sept. 8,
1869; Mary Ellen, born Feb. 16, 1871 ; Albert, bora May 13,
1872; Emma May, born May 21, 1873; Charley, bom Jul}- 11,
1874; Cora AHce, born Jan. 17, 1876; Elizabeth Ann, born July
8, 1878, died Feb. 4, 1881; Franklin, born April 8, 1881 ; Mel
vin, born May i, 1883; SUveines, born May 31, 1885. Politi
cally, Mr. Reinoehl is a Democrat.
Solomon Reinoehl, son of David and Rebecca (Weirich) Rein
oehl, was born in Richland County, Ohio, Aug. 6, 1843, and
was nine years of age when his parents moved to De Kalb
County, Ind., where he was reared on a frontier farm, receiv
ing his early education in the subscription schools. He re
mained with his parents till manhood, and since the death of
his father has had charge of the homestead, his mother making
her home with him. He is a practical farmer, and has made
many valuable improvements on the farm. He is one of the
prominent citizens of the township, and has served his towns
men in different offices of trust and responsibihty. He assessed
the township in 1877, and in 1878 was elected Trustee and
served two terras of two years each. In pohtics he is a Demo
crat. He was married Aug. 2, 1866, to Martha Eckart, daugh
ter of Henry and Barbara (Freilich) Eckart. They have had
seven children— Mary A., Job A., Cora R., Isaiah O., WiUiam
E., Charley M., and Rosa V. Mr. and Mrs. Reinoehl are mem
bers of the EvangeHcal Association.
Chauncey Ringler, farmer and stock-raiser, is one of the suc
cessful pioneers of Fairfield Township. He was born in Som
erset County, Pa., Jan. 6, 1822, a son of Henry and Martha
(Keller) Ringler, natives ot Pennsylvania, of Enghsh and
German descent. He was reared on a farm, residing with his

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HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY. 583
parents till twenty-one years of age, and in 1 843 he went to
Ohio and worked by the month two years. He then rented
land in Holmes County till 1849, when he came to De Kalb
County, Ind., and settled on forty acres of timber land. He
cleared a small spot and built a log cabin into which he moved
his family, and then went to work to improve his farm. He
hved on this land five years and then sold it and bought eighty
acres in Steuben County, just across the De Kalb County line,
where he lived five years. In 1859 he bought 120 acres of land
across the line from Steuben County, and in 1880 bought forty
acres adjoining, making a fine farm of 160 acres where he now
lives, which he has improved and has now under a fine state of
cultivation. He was married Nov. 27, 1845, to Elizabeth Al-
mendinger, a native of Holmes County, Ohio, daughter of
Frederick and Annie Almendinger. They had a family of four
children — Frankhn, Henry, Israel and AUen (deceased). His
wife died Sept. 4, 1854, and Jan. 25, 1855, he married Susan
Anstett, daughter of George and Susan (Stofer) Anstett, natives
of France, who came to the United States about 1833, and to
DeKalb County, Ind., about 1854, and thence to Steuben
County where the father died in 1878, aged eighty years, and
the mother in 188 1. To Mr. and Mrs. Ringler have been born
twelve children, eight of whom are living — John, Caroline,
Addie, Mary E., George A., Chauncy W., Susan M., and Nellie
May. Charley, Catherine Jane, Harriet Mahnda, and Edward
L. are deceased. Mr. Ringler's father died in 1883, aged ninety-
seven years, and his mother in 1884, aged ninety-three years.
In politics Mr. Ringler is a Republican.
George W. Row is a native of Holmes County, Ohio, born
Nov. 14, 1831, a son of Jacob Row, grandson of George Row
and great-grandson of Frederick Row, who was a soldier in the
war of the Revolution. Jacob Row was born in Union County,
Pa., Jan. i, 1802, and when fifteen years of age went with his
parents to Holmes County, Ohio, where he grew to manhood
and married Magdalene Guttery, a native of Harrison County,
Ohio, daughter of Samuel Guttery, who came from London
derry, Ireland, in an early day. In 1847 they moved to De
Kalb County, Ind., and entered forty acres of Government land
and bought forty acres, which he cleared and improved. He
died Aug. 17, 1873, and the mother is now Hving in Michigan
in the seventy-third year of her age. They had a family of

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584

HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.

eleven children, but five of whom are now Hving. George W.
Row was fifteen years of age when his parents moved to De
Kalb County, and his youth was spent in assisting his father to
clear and improve his farm. When twenty years of age he
learned the shoemaker's trade, at which he has worked at inter
vals since, in connection with farming and working at the
carpenter's trade. He saved his earnings and bought forty
acres of wild land which he improved, and in 1866 sold it and
bought the farm where he now lives, which contains nearly
forty-seyen acres of valuable land. When he settled on his
farm it was heavily timbered with the exception of eighteen
acres, and that was only partially improved. He has been an
energetic, economical man, and now has a pleasant home. He
has taken an interest in all the pubhc affairs of the town
ship, and has held the office of Constable four years, and Magis
trate twelve years. In politics he is a member of the Green
back party. He was married Jan. 1, i860, to Harriet F. Shook,
a native of Crawford County, Ohio, daughter of Samuel and
Ann (Shong) Shook. To them have been bom four children —
Albert E., Charles A., Emma Ann, and Bertha May. Mrs.
Row is a member of the German Reform church.
George Rtifner is a native of Stark County, Ohio, born Feb. 5,
1830, a son of John and Rachel (Smith) Rufner, natives of Penn
sylvania, the former of Berks County, of German descent, and
and the latter of Adams County, of German and Irish descent.
He remained with his parents till the spring of 1853, when he
moved to De Kalb County and settled in Richland Township
on land now owned by the Lintz estate. Three years later he
sold his farm and bought another tract of wild land in the same
township, where he lived nine years, and in the meantime got
his land cleared and under good cultivation. He then moved
to Smithfield Township, where he Hved thirteen years, and in
April, 1878, moved to Fairfield Township and bought the farm
of 138 acres where he now lives. His land is all under a good
state of cultivation, and his improvements are among the best
in the county. Mr. Rufner was married Nov. 27, 185 1, to
Nancy Boyer, daughter of John and Mary (Thomas) Boyer,
natives of Pennsylvania, of German descent. They have had
four children, but three of whom are living— Eliza Ann, Mary
Ann and Josiah. Jeremiah is deceased. Oct. 16, 1859, Mr.
Rufner united with the German Baptist church, and in June,

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HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY. 585
1861, he was elected Deacon. June 4, 1S74, he was appointed
minister in the first degree, and June 8, 1877, minister in the
second degree, and has since been pastor of the church at Cedar
Lake. His wife and daughters are members of the same or
ganization. Andrew Schmid, farmer and stock-raiser, is a native of Stark
County, Ohio, born June 12, 1830, a son of Frederick and Tho-
rida (Burch) Schmid, natives of Germany. The parents were
reared and married in their native country, and, with two chil
dren, came to the United States and settled in Columbiana
County, Ohio, removing later to Stark County. Four of their
seven children are living. Andrew was reared on a farm, re
maining with his parents till manhood. When seventeen years
of age he began to work at the carpenter's trade which he fol
lowed till 1854, when he came to DeKalb County, Ind., and
bought a tract of heavUy timbered land which he has cleared
and cultivated, and now has eighty acres of valuable land under
a good state of cultivation. He was married Aug. 26, 1852, to
Susanna Wolf, a native of Columbiana County, Ohio, daughter
of WiUiam and Catherine Wolf, early settlers of Ohio, from
Pennsylvania. To them have been born six children — William
X., John W., Henry B., Catherine Ann, Charles (deceased) and
Edward J. In politics Mr. Schmid is a Democrat. He and
his wife are members of the German Reform church.
Charles Schmipff, farmer and stock-raiser, is one of the promi
nent pioneers of Fairfield Township. He is a native of Ger
many, born Sept. 8, 1822, a son of Michael and Elizabeth
(Keller) Schmipff. When he was eleven years of age his par
ents came to the United Sates, and after a short stay in New
York City went to Albany, then to Buffalo, and from there to
Cleveland, Ohio, and thence to Stark County, locating in Aus-
tinburg, where his father bought a tannery. Charles spent his
youth in his father's tannery, and when seventeen years of age
went to Paris, Ohio, and began to learn the wagon-maker's
trade, serving an apprenticeship of three years. He then
worked at his trade till his marriage in 1846, and then moved
to Steuben County, Ind., and the following spring entered forty
acres of Government land in Smithfield Township, De Kalb
County, on which he lived four years, clearing a part of it. He
then sold his farm and bought the one on section 3, Fairfield
Township, where he now lives, and a second time began to

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586 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
make a farm out of the timber land of De Kalb County. In
connection with farming he has worked at his trade, and by his
industrious habits and frugality has accumulated a good prop
erty. He was married Jan. 18, 1846, to Eliza Ann Bair, daugh
ter of Daniel Bair, one of the early settlers of Stark County,
Ohio. To them have been bom thirteen children, eleven of
whom are hving — Alonzo, Melissa, Catherine, Susan, Amanda,
Elizabeth, Mary, Charles, Electa, Daniel H., Cora R. The de
ceased are Eliza and Martin. Mr. and Mrs. Schmipff are mem
bers of the German Reform church. In politics he is a
Deraocrat. Park Seberts, farmer and stock-raiser, Fairfield Township, was
born in Knox County, Ohio, July 4, 1840, a son of Henry and
J  (Park) Seberts, his father a native of Germany and his
mother of Virginia. In 1846 his parents moved to De Kalb
County, Ind., and settled in Union Township, where his father
died in 1850. His mother survived him twenty years and died
in Richland Township in August, 1870. .After the death of his
father Park found a home with his sister, Mrs. Talbot, of Rich
land Township, and remained with her till after the breaking
out of the Rebellion. Aug. 7, 1862, he enlisted in Company A,
Eighty-eighth Indiana Infantry, and participated in the battles
of PerryvUle, Stone River, Chickamauga, Lookout Mountain,
and Mission Ridge. He started on the Atlanta campaign, but
on account of ill health was sent back to Chattanooga, and was
in the hospital till his discharge May 26, 1865. Since his re
turn from the war he has followed agricultural pursuits. He
lived in Richland Township tiU 1868, and then bought the farm
in Fairfield Township where he now hves. He owns eighty
acres of valuable land, all well improved with large and com
fortable farm buildings. He was married Aug. 14, 1866, to
Mary J., daughter of Edward Wright. To them have been
born eight children, five of whom are living — Lila A., Edward
E., Albert J., Flora O. and Polly. Politically, Mr. Seberts is a
Repubhcan. John Seller, one of the most prominent farmers and stock-
raisers in Fairfield Township, was born in Lebanon County,
Pa., Oct. 15, 1815, a son of Mathias and Barbara (Curry) Seller,
natives of Pennsylvania, of German descent. In 1832 his par
ents moved to Wayne County, Ohio, where his mother died at
the age of fifty-three years, and his father aged ninety-three
. g/ 1 1 —  -  -

HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY. 587
vears. He was reared on a farm, but his father being a stone
mason he learned the trade in his youth, and upon reaching his
majority went into business with his father, continuing four
years. He subsequently followed his trade alone till 1864, when
he came to De Kalb County, Ind., and bought the farm of
eighty-five acres where he has since lived, in Fairfield Town
ship. His land is all well cultivated and his residence and farm
buildings are among the best in the township. He has always
been an industrious frugal man, and as a result has a good home
and is surrounded by all the comforts of Hfe. He was married
Oct. 4, 1838, to Lucetta, daughter of Michael and Catherine
(Fisher) Reinoehl, a native of Lebanon County, Pa. They are
the parents of five children — Caroline, wife of Samuel Gallatin,
of Clark County, 111. ; Cyrus, Treasurer of Elkhart County,
Ind. : Michael, Professor of mathematical, physical and poht-
ical geography in Indiana State Normal School, Terre Haute,
Ind., from which he graduated in 1876; Franklin, a graduate of
Eastman College, Poughkeepsie, N. Y., is by profession a book
keeper and teacher ; and John Henry, a graduate of the College
of Medicine in Michigan University, Ann Arbor, in the class
of 1885.
Ephraim Shipe, was born in Westmoreland County, Pa.,
March 31, 1823. His father was born in Lancaster County, Pa.,
Nov. 5, 1 801, and when quite a lad moved with his parents to
Westmoreland County, where he was married in May, 1822, to
Catharine Deedes. Both were of German descent. In the
fall of 1834, when our subject was in his twelfth year, they
moved to Holmes County, Ohio. His father was in feeble
health, and being in limited circumstances he was obliged to
assist in the maintenance of the family, and had no educational
advantages. When twenty-one years of age he commenced life
for himself, without even a good suit of clothes, his only capital
being good health and a determined will. He began to work
at the carpenter's trade for $8 a month and worked for the same
man four seasons. In the meantime he attended school four
and a half months. In the winter time when not otherwise ehi-
ployed he chopped and split rails and cut cord wood. In the
fall of 1847 he pursuaded his father to move to Indiana, and to
gether they located in Noble County. Feb. 8, 1848, he went to
Ft. Wayne and bought 160 acres of land in Fairfield Township,
DeKalb County, for $440, paying $110 in cash, and the rest to

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588 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
be paid in three annual installments. He then went to Holmes
County to take charge of two contracts he had made before
leaving Ohio. The following October, having finished his work
and paid his hands and for his tools, he started for Indiana.
After making the payment on his land and paying the interest
he had $2.50 left. He spent a few days with his parents and
then proceeded to De Kalb County, and began to improve his
land. Nov. 6, his father died leaving a large family with no
means for their support. This burden feU on our subject, who
built a cabin, and Dec. 31 moved his mother and nine children
into his home. The future indeed was dark, but he was strong
and went bravely to work. With the added expenses of his
father's sickness and funeral he was unable to pay for his land
as soon as he had hoped, but September, 1852, saw this accom-
pHshment. In the faU of 1850 his mother returned to her
native county, and during the summer his eldest sisters had left.
Thus he was without a housekeeper. Oct. 6, 1850, he married
Sarah, daughter of John Kreighbaum. His mother took her
youngest child, leaving five to his care. To Mr. and Mrs.
Shipe were bom seven children — A son born Dec. 12, 1851,
died, aged two weeks; Ellen, born Sept. 14, 1853, died at the
age of four weeks; Alma, born Dec. 21, 1854, is the wife of
Isaiah Meas ; John, born March 16, 1856, married Mary Eck-
hart; David, born July 27, 1857 '< Leonard, born Jan. 23, 1859,
married Amanda Heaney ; and a son born July 4, i860, died in
infancy. His wife died July 5, i860. Jan. 24, 1 861, he married
Elizabeth Krogin, a native of Tuscarawas County, Ohio, born
in 1834, a daughter of Daniel and Anna (Charlton) Krogin, the
former of German and the latter of Irish descent. The mother
died at the age of sixty -six years, and the father is still hving
in the eighty-ninth year of his age, Mrs. Shipe removed with
her brother-in-law, Samuel Teters, to Steuben County in her nine
teenth year, and worked for her own support till her marriage.
To Mr. and Mrs. Shipe have been born six children — Sarah A.,
born Dec. 29, 1861, is the wife of Emra Teal; Ida Jane, born
Feb. 20, 1863, died aged ten years and four months; Catharine
I., born Oct. 16, 1864, wife of John Norman; Frank, born Oct.
I, 1865, died in infancy; Elizabeth, born Oct. 25, 1867, died
aged two years and two months; Mary, born Dec. 16, 1871.
In his finances Mr. Shipe has overcome all difficulties and has
accumulated sufficient property to maintain him in comfort in

^''1^ — ^ - — "k .
HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY. 589
his declining years. In 1869 he built a brick kiln on his farm,
and in 1872 built the first brick house in Fairfield Township.
In January, 1866, he and his wife united with the Methodist
Episcopal church, and have since been faithful to its tenets and
earnest workers in the cause of Christianity. In all his business
transactions Mr. Shipe has endeavored to be honorable and
prompt to fill every obligation, and has thus gained an enviable
reputation among all with whom he has had any deal. In poli
tics he has been a life-long Democrat. Although he has never
aspired to official honors, he was elected Justice of the Peace in
i860, and served efficiently four years. He was drafted into
the service of the Union in 1864, but being in poor health and
having a family of small children, he sent a substitute, giving
him S825. Mr. Shipe's experience is a lesson to all young men
in limited circumstances, as his prosperity is but the result of a
hfe of hard work and economy, undaunted by trials, but with
determination overriding all obstacles, and coming off conqueror
at last.
Jonathan Shook, farmer and stock-raiser, is a native of Ohio,
bom in Jefferson Township, Stark County, Nov. 19, 1835, a son
of Jonathan and Mary (Strawser) Shook, natives of Pennsyl
vania, of German descent. When two years of age he was
bound to Frederick Strawser for his board and clothes till six
teen years old. He then worked for farmers for wages till
twenty-one years old, when he went to Pennsylvania to visit
his father, whom he had never seen. His father was a black
smith, and he went to his shop and asked for a night's lodging,
not thinking his father would know him. But his father immedi
ately recognized who he was, and they had a pleasant visit of
four days. He then returned to Ohio, and the next year began
to work at the carpenter's trade, which he followed fourteen
years. He was married Aug. 31, 1854, to Rebecca Conrad, a
native of Summit County, Ohio, a daughter of Jacob and Re
becca (Fisher) Conrad, natives of Pennyslvania. In 1862 he
rented a farm and followed agricultural pursuits till the fall
of 1865, when he came to De Kalb County, Ind., and settled on
his present farm in Fairfield Township. He owns eighty acres
of choice land, and his residence and farm buildings are large
and comfortable. To Mr. and Mrs. Shook have been born
eight children — Elma (deceased), Harriet, Nelson, David,
Emery, Benjamin, Mary and Frank. In pohtics Mr. Shook is

590 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
a Democrat. He and his wife are members of the Reform
church. George Slayman, deceased, was born in Cumberland County,
Pa., May 27, 1824, and died in De Kalb County, Ind., Feb. 2,
1 88 1. -He was a son of John and Susannah (Gross) Slayman,
natives of Pennsylvania, of German descent. His mother died
when he was an infant, and when he was three years old his
father moved to Wayne County, Ohio, where he was reared,
and was married Feb. 26, 1847, to Miss Barbara Bales, a native
of Wayne County, Ohio, daughter of David and Anna (Mor
gan) Bales, natives of Westmoreland County, Pa., of German
descent. The following fall they moved to De Kalb County,
Ind., and settled on forty acres of wHd land his father had en
tered from the Government. He bought forty acres adjoining
this, and at once went to work to clear and improve a farm.
He was successful in his agricultural pursuits, and added to his
first purchase till he had a landed estate of 455 acres, all under
cultivation. In politics he was a Democrat. Although he had
no aspiration for official honors, he took an active interest in all
public affairs and was ready with both time and means to assist
any enterprise of benefit to his town or county. In his death
Fairfield Township lost one of her most worthy and esteemed
citizens, and his family a kind husband and indulgent and affec
tionate father. To Mr. and Mrs. Slayman were bom eight chil
dren, but five of whom are Hving — Rebecca Ann, Sarah E.,
Maria J., Mary E. and Arwilda E. Ida Belle and an infant son
and daughter are deceased. Mrs. Slayman is a member of the
Methodist Episcopal church, and takes an active part in all the
work of the church of her choice. She is a benevolent, kind
woman, and is beloved by her neighbors and esteemed by all
who know her.
Harrison Smith, one of the most prominent of Fairfield's
pioneers, was born in Genesee County, N. Y., Oct. 23, 1S24, a
son of Enos and Clarissa (Jones) Smith, the former a native of
Rhode Island, and the latter of New Hampshire, of Enghsh de
scent. His mother died when he was a boy, and his father sub
sequently took his children to Crawford County, Pa., remain
ing there three years, thence to Huron County, Ohio, remain
ing there till 1844, when he came to De Kalb County, Ind., and
settled on a tract of wild land. He bought forty acres and at
once began to clear and improve it. Our subject was reared a

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^^

HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY. 591
farmer and by practicing the lessons taught him in his youth,
has been successful, and now owns 107 acres of land, eighty acres
under cultivation and the rest timber land. His farm buildings
are large and convenient. His father died at his home Oct. 10,
i860, aged eighty-five years, nine months and one day. Mr.
Smith was married Aug. 12, 1S52, to Elizabeth Rohrer, a native
of Holmes County, Ohio, daughter of David and Sarah (Wible)
Rohrer, who came from Pennsylvania to Holmes County in an
early day, and to De Kalb County in 1847. Mr. and Mrs. Smith
have had five children, but two of whom are Hving — David
Edward and Walter D. Sarah J., Martha E. and Rebecca Ann
are deceased. Mrs. Smith is a member of the Methodist Epis
copal church. Politicallyi'he is a Democrat.
Janies Stonebraker, a native of Holmes County, Ohio, born
Feb. 2, 1845, is the second son of Daniel and Eliza (Gilmore)
Stonebraker. He was but three years old when his mother
died, and but four when he lost his father. He was reared by
strangers, working for his board and attending school as soon
as he was old enough. July i, 1862, he enhsted in Company
D, Seventy-fourth Indiana Infantry, and participated in many
hard-fought battles, among others Chickamauga, Mission Ridge
and Altoona. At the latter he was wounded in the right hand,
and was in the hospital nine months, never again being able
to join his regiment. He was discharged May 25, 1865, and
returned to De Kalb County, where he has since followed ag
ricultural pursuits. In 1875 he settled on a part of his father's
old homestead, and now owns 145 acres of choice land. In
1881 his residence was destroyed by fire, but the following sum
mer he built his large two-story residence with all modern im
provements, which is one of the finest in the township. Mr.
Stonebraker was married April 7, 1871, to Rebecca A., daugh
ter of George and Barbara (Bales) Slayman. They have a
family of three children — Celia R., Minnie S., and Jesse H. In
politics Mr. Stonebraker affihates with the Repubhcan party.
John M. Stonebraker was born in Holmes County, Ohio, Jan.
27, 1842, the eldest of four children of Daniel and EHza (Gil
more) Stonebraker. His father was a native of Ohio, born
June 8, 1817, and lived in his native State till 1850, when he
moved to De Kalb County, Ind., and settled in Fairfield Town
ship, buying seventy acres of land and subsequently adding
eighty acres to it. His wife died in 1853, and the same year

¦<'

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592 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
he married again. He died Sept. 24, 1854. After the death of
his father John M. found a home in the family of his guardian,
J. M. Brumback, with whom he Hved most of the time till after
the breaking out of the Rebellion. Aug. 27, 1861, he enhsted
in Company B, Twenty-ninth Indiana Infantry, and partici
pated in the battles of Shiloh and Stone River. At the . latter
battle he was wounded in the right leg, and for six months was
unable to perform any active duty. Nov. 13, 1863, he was
transferred to the Veteran Reserve Corps, and was sent to
Chicago where he remained till the expiration of his term of
enlistment. He was discharged Aug. 27, 1864, and returned to
De Kalb County, and worked most of the time in a saw-miU
till 1867, when he began farming on the old homestead. He has
a fine farm of 100 acres, and his improvements are among the
best in the county. He was married March 12, 1867, to Har
riet, daughter of George and Almond (Page) Drowley. They
have had six children — Otelia May, George M., Mary Bessie,
John G., Louie, and Nellie (deceased). Mrs. Stonebraker is a
member of the United Brethren church. Politically he is a
Republican. Henry Stomm, farmer and stock-raiser, is a native of Baden,
Germany, born March 24, 1833, a son of George and Margaret
(Holtzworth) Stomm. When he was fifteen years of age he
began to learn the weaver's trade, serving an apprenticeship of
three years. He then worked as a journeyman two years,
when he was drafted into the German army, but before he was
mustered in he left the country and came with his parents to the
United States. They located in Stark County, Ohio, but in
the spring of 1854 he came to De Kalb County, Ind., and
bought a tract ot land in Fairfield Township, and the following
spring sent to Stark County for his parents. His father was
born in 1802 and died in 1874. His mother died April 3, 1884,
aged eighty-three years. His land was unimproved, but a very
little having been cleared of the timber, but he went bravely to
• work and now has about 160 acres of the best land in the town
ship, all under cultivation. His residence and farm buildings
are among the best in the county. He was married Jan. 9
1856, to Maria Getts, daughter of William and Eliza (Hosier)
Getts, early settlers of De Kalb County. To them were born
ten children, eight of whom are living — Daniel, Eliza E., Moses,
William, Mary L., Nore A. and Cora A. (twins), and Clara A.

J-

HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY. 593
Sarah C. and Amanda are deceased. INIrs. Stomm died Oct. i,
1882, and Jan. 22. 1885, Mr. Stomm married Mrs. Catherine
Bickle, a native of Berks County, Pa., born in 1838, daughter
of Conrad and Mary A. Schreber, and widow of Henry Bickle.
Mr. and Mrs. Stomm are members of the German Reform
church. In pohtics he affihates with the Democratic party.
John T. Urey. deceased, was a native of Coshocton County,
Ohio, born June 6, 1828, a son of George and Nancy (Thomp
son) Urey, natives of Jefferson County, Ohio. He was reared
on a farm, receiving a good common-school education. He re
mained with his parents till his marriage, and then engaged in
farming for himself. In the fall of 1864 he moved to De Kalb
County, Ind., and settled on a tract of wild land on section 23,
Fairfield Township, which he cleared and improved, making a
good farm, on which he lived till his death, Jan. 31, 1879. He
was a public spirited, energetic citizen, and was influential in
promoting many enterprises of benefit to his township. He
was a member of the German Baptist church, and most exem
plary Christian. He was married Dec. 29, 1859, to Elizabeth
Hostetter, daughter of Jacob and Esther (Arnold) Hostetter, of
German descent, who moved from Somerset County, Pa., to
Coshocton County, Ohio, when Mrs. Urey was fifteen years of
age, and thence to St. Joseph County, Ind., where the father
died and the mother still lives. To Mr. and Mrs. Urey were
born six children — George, John H., Samuel C, Nancy E.,
Rebecca E., and Etta May. The first three are school-teachers
in this county. Mrs. Urey is a member of the German Baptist
church. Samuel Watts, farmer and stock-raiser, Fairfield Township,
was bom in Lancaster County, Pa., March 30, 1821, a son of
George and Rachel (Zimmerman) Watts, natives of Pennsyl
vania. His grandfather, Thomas Watts, was a native of Ire
land and came to the United States prior to the war of the
Revolution. His maternal grandparents were natives of Ger
many. When he was twelve years of age his parents moved
to Holmes County, Ohio, where he lived with them till eighteen
years of age, working in the meantime to assist in the maintenance
of the family. In 1849 he came to De Kalb County, Ind., and
bought a wild tract of land in Fairfield Township. Returning
to Ohio he worked at the carpenter's trade till he had paid for
his land, and in 1859 came again to De Kalb County and began

'¥r

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594 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
to clear and improve his frontier farm. He has by industry
and economy been successful and now has 200 acres of valuable
land under a good state of cultivation. He was married June
16, 1853, to Barbara Gardner, daughter of John and Barbara
(Carap) Gardner. To them have been born four children, two
of whom are Hving— Josiah and WilHam H. John and Sarah
are deceased. In politics Mr. Watts is a Democrat. He is one
of the most enterprising and pubhc-spirited men of the town
ship, and is esteemed by aU who know him.
Adam Weirich, farmer and stock-raiser, is a native of Lebanon
County, Pa., born July 16, 1827, the youngest son of John and
Elizabeth (Rupe) Weirich. When he was four years of age his
parents moved to Wayne County, Ohio, and there he grew to
manhood, Hving with his parents tiU his maturity. He then
learned the blacksmith's trade, serving an apprenticeship of two
years. He worked as a journeyman two years and engaged in
business for himself two years in Stark County and then re
turned to Wayne County and followed his trade till 1858, when
he moved to De Kalb County, Ind., and settled on a tract of
second-handed land he had previously bought. This he has
cleared and improved and to his original purchase of ninety
acres has added thirty-five acres, having now a fine farm of 125
acres. He has also worked at his trade in connection with
farming and has been very successful, having acquired a com
petency for his old age. He was married Oct. 8, 1852, to Mar
tha Sidle, a native of York County, Pa., daughter of Jacob and
Catherine (Wise) Sidle. They have had seven children —
Martha E., wife of W. H. Gardner; Adam S., Jacob M., Sarah
J., Samuel M., James W. and Catherine E. Mr. and Mrs.
Weirich are members of the Lutheran church. Politically he
is a Democrat.
Jacob Weirich is a native of Lancaster County, Pa., bom May
8, 1823, the eighth of twelve children of John and Elizabeth
(Rupe) Weirich, natives of Pennsylvania, of German parent
age. When he was four years of age his parents moved to
Wayne County, and he lived with them on a farm till sixteen
years of age. He then began to learn the shoemaker's trade,
serving an apprenticeship of two and a half years. After work
ing some time as a journeyman he engaged in business for him
self, and in 1850 came to De Kalb County, Ind., and bought
forty acres of wild land on section 16, Fairfield Township. To

 I t}

HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY. 595
this he afterward added ten acres, and after getting it partially
improved sold it and bought the 120 acres which is now his fine
farm, which he has brought from a wild-timbered state to one
of advanced cultivation. He was married April 11, 1S44, to
Caroline Reinoehl, a native of Lebanon County, Pa., daughter
of John and Catherine (Johnson) Reinoehl, early settlers of
Wayne County. They have had a family of seven children, four
of whom are living — Joseph, Jesse, John and Alice, wife of
Samuel Smith. In politics Mr. Weirich is a Democrat.
Martin Wetzel, farmer and stock-raiser, is a native of Ger
many, born May 4, 1834, a son of Andrew and Caterlye (Smith)
Wetzel. When he was twenty years of age, in 1854, he came
to the United States, landing in New York Nov. 26, and from
there proceeded to Ohio, finally locating in Erie County, where
he worked three years by the month. He was married Nov. 22,
1857, to Elizabeth Hahn, a daughter of John and Barbara ( Men-
dell) Hahn, who came to America from Germany in July, 1857.
After his marriage he rented land in Erie County till the fall
of 1863, and Nov. i came to De Kalb County, Ind., and bought
forty acres of land in Fairfield Township, twenty of which
were partiaUy improved. To this he has added forty acres,
and now has a fine farm of eighty acres, with a pleasant resi
dence and good farm buildings. Sept. 27, 1864, he enhsted in
the Twenty-ninth Indiana Infantry and served till June 26, 1865.
While he was in the army, Feb. 22, 1865, his wife died, leaving
four children, three of whom are hving — Kate, Lucy and John.
Margaret died Oct. 8, 1865, aged eight months. Sept. 18, 1865,
Mr. Wetzel married Elizabeth Hommerhouse, widow of John
Hommerhouse, and sister of his first wife. She died April 15,
1873, leaving six children — Augustus, John, Margaret, Christo
pher, Martha and Lydia, the first two being children by her
first marriage. March 15, 1883, Mr. Wetzel married Mrs. Eliz
abeth Booran, daughter of Michael Treesh. She was first mar
ried to Frederick Rhom, who left three children. She then
married William Booran, by whom she has one child — Francis
Martin. Mr. and Mrs. Wetzel are members of the EvangeHcal
Lutheran church. Politically he is a Democrat.
Samuel F. White, farmer and stock-raiser, is one of the most
prominent and influential citizens of Fairfield Township. He
was born in Hamilton County, Ohio, Jan. 7, 1808, a son of
James and Jane (Mitchell) White, natives of Ireland, where they

liL

596 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
were married and subsequently came to the United States, and
settled first in Pennsylvania, moving to Hamilton County sev
eral years later, and when Samuel was a child, to Covington,
Ky., where his father died in 1814. His mother afterward re
turned to Hamilton County, and about 1824 moved to Guern
sey County, Ohio, where he grew to manhood. He was mar
ried Dec. 10, 1833 ,to Hannah Salt, daughter of Hugh and Eliz
abeth (Hively) Salt. They settled in Morrow County, Ohio,
where they lived tiU September, 1853, and then moved to De
Kalb County, Ind., and bought 132 acres of land, but a smaU
part of which had been cleared of timber. Of this land he has
made a fine farm, and is now one of the most prosperous citi
zens of the township. To Mr. and Mrs. White have been born
eight children, but three of whom are Hving — James M., John
O., and Albert M. The two eldest, James and John, were
soldiers in the war of the Rebellion. In politics Mr. White
was originally a Whig, but since its organization has affiliated
with the Republican party. He and his wife are members of
the Evangelical church.
William P. Wiley, farmer and stock-raiser, was born in Jun
iata County, Pa., May 22, 181 1, a son of Samuel and Nancy
(Porter) Wiley. His father was a native of Pennsylvania, of
Scotch descent, a son of Samuel Wiley, a soldier in the war of
the Revolution. In 1812 his parents moved to Ohio and settled
in Miami County where he grew to manhood. When sixteen
years of age he began to work at the blacksmith's trade, and
served an apprenticeship of four years. He then worked as a
journeyman eight years. In 1839 he moved to Pickaway, Ohio,
and engaged in business for himself four years ; thence to John
son's Mills, and two years later to Lockport. In 1848 he came
to De Kalb County, Ind., and settled on the farm where he now
lives in Fairfield Township. He bought 333 acres of wdld land
which he has cleared and improved, and now has one of the
finest farms in the township. He was married Sept. 18, 1834,
to Mary J. Winans, a native of INliami County, Ohio, daughter
of Anthony and Hannah (Freeman) Winans. They have had a
family of eight children, five of whom are living — Hannah,
Catherine, Mary, Harriet and David. The deceased are Nancy
E., Sarah Maria and CoUista. Mr. and Mrs. Wiley are mem
bers of the Disciples church. He cast his first vote for Presi
dent Jackson, and has since affiliated with the Democratic party.

to^t

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HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY. 597
William H. Wilsey, farmer and stock-raiser, was born in
Greene County, N. Y., July 10, 1821, a son of Isaac and Jane
(Carpenter) Wilsey, the former a native ol New York, of Hol
land descent, and the latter of Puritan ancestry. When he was
a child his parents moved to New Jersey, and in 1839 to Tomp
kins County, N. Y., where he lived till 1845, when he came to
Indiana and entered forty acres of Government land in De
Kalb County. He built a small cabin into which he moved his
family, and began to make a home out of a tract of timber land.
He cleared and cultivated his land, and by industry and good
management has been successful, and has added to his land till
he now owns 120 acres all well improved. He has erected
good buildings on his farm, and has one of the pleasantest and
most convenient homes in the township. He was married Jan.
25, 1843, to Ursula Jane Haskins, a native of Rutland County,
Vt., daughter of Arisand Sarah (Warner) Haskins. They have
had a family of eight children, but four of whom are living —
Mary Jane, wife of George W. Anstett ; Elizabeth Ann, wife of
Walter W. Crise; John W. and Henry E. Sarah M., Sarah
H., Charles L., and Frank E. are deceased. In politics Mr.
Wilsey is a Democrat. He has served his township two terms
as Trustee. Mrs. Wilsey is a member of the Evangelical
church. Jacob Wiltrout, deceased, was a native of Pennsylvania, born
in 1806. When a young man he emigrated to Summit County,
Ohio, and was there married to Sarah Kendall, a native of Penn
sylvania. In 1852 they moved to De Kalb County, Ind., and
settled in Richland Township, where the mother died in 1857,
aged forty-two years. In 1863 he moved to Fairfield Town
ship and settled on the farm now owned by his sons, where he
died in March, 1875. His family consisted of four children,
three sons and a daughter. The daughter, Alice, died before
the mother, aged two years. One son, William R., was a soldier
in the war of the RebeUion, and died at Washington from the
effects of his exposure and hardships, aged twenty years. The
remaining sons are Benjamin S., born in 1839, and Franklin W.,
born Dec. 22, 1849. The latter was about tnree years old when
his parents moved to De Kalb County. Here he was reared
and educated, and since attaining manhood has given his atten
tion to agricultural pursuits. He now owns a part of the old
homestead, his farm containing no acres of valuable land. He

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598 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
was married Oct. 9, 1878, to Maria Elizabeth, daughter of
Francis Beuchat. To them have been born four children, but
three of whom are living — Mary M., Essie May and Amos H.
William F. died aged three months and twelve days. In pol
itics Mr. Wiltrout is a Republican.
Edward Wright, retired farmer, is a native of New York, born
Jan. 30, 1 8 10, a son of Jephtha and Betsey (Gordon) Wright,
natives of New Hampshire, of Scotch and English descent. He
was married April 26, 1832, to Polly Barry, daughter of John
and Eve (Failing) Barry. Her grandfather and his sister were
captured by the French during the French and Indian war
and taken to Canada. The sister was soon after released, but
he was held and exchanged as a prisoner of war. Mrs. Wright
died Feb. 14, 1885, after sharing the hardships and privations
and the comforts and pleasures of married life with her hus
band nearly fifty-three years. Their family consisted of six
children, four of whom are living — Louisa, wife of Moses Gon
ser ; Elizabeth, wife of Jacob Ringer ; George J., of Osborn,
Kas., and Mary J., wife of Park Sebert. Hiram and Celestia
died in childhood. George J. was a soldier in the war of the
Rebellion, enlisting in the Seventy-fourth Indiana Infantry. In
December, 1863, on account of ill health, he was transferred to
the Veteran Reserve Corps, where he served till his discharge,
July 17, 1865. In 1837 Mr Wright left his native State and
located aaout twenty miles from Detroit, where he kept a hotel
during the building of the first railroad from Detroit to Chi
cago. In 1838 he moved to Steuben County, Ind., and settled
on eighty acres of land his father had entered the year before.
In the spring of 1839 he built a cabin into which he moved his
family and began making a farm. He added to his land tiU he
had 160 acres and made it his home till the winter of i847-'8,
when he moved to Fairfield Center and engaged in the mer
cantile business and in the manufacture of potash and pearlash,
shipping to New York, and thence to England. In i860 he
moved to Sedan where he ran an ashery three or four years. Sell
ing this, he bought about thirty acres of land and built a tan
nery, and also manufactured gloves and mittens a number ot
years. He then in company with his son-in-law. Park Sebert,
bought eighty acres of land, and subsequently added more to it
till they had a large farm. They afterward divided their land,
and Mr. Wright now has a good farm of 116 acres. He was

0

>7i _ _ -r**

HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY. 599
Postmaster at Fairfield Center three or four years, and was the
second Postmaster at Sedan. He has also served as Trustee of
Fairfield Township. In politics he is a RepubUcan.
Anthony Zonker, one of the successful and well-known pioneers
of DeKalb County, was born near Lancaster, Pa., Sept. 23, 1818,
a son of Joseph and Ehzabeth (Rode) Zonker, natives of Swit-
zeriand, who came to the United States after their marriage and
settled in Pennsylvania. In 1825 they moved to Stark County,
Ohio, where our subject grew to manhood. The father died in
Seneca County, Ohio, aged sixty-five years, and the mother
near AviUa, Ind., aged eighty-two years. In 1845 Mr. Zonker
came to De Kalb County, Ind., and bought 130 acres of unim
proved land, which he commenced to clear and improve. In
1855 he sold his land and bought a saw-mill on the outlet of In
dian Lake, which he ran ten years. He was successful, and in
the mean time bought a large tract of land, and subsequently
quit his mill and has since given his attention to agricultural
pursuits. He now owns 500 acres of choice land, the greater
part under cultivation. Mr. Zonker was married July 16, 1846,
to Elizabeth Hosier, a native of Stark County, Ohio, daughter
of Michael Hosier. They have had a family of nine children,
six of whom are living — Mary J., Margaret Ann, Wayne A.,
¦John Edward, WiUiam A. and Eliza Ellen. Samuel, Eli and
Emma are deceased. Mr. Zonker is one of the most practical
and thorough farmers of the township, and has always taken
an active interest in the growth and development of the county.
In politics he is a Democrat.

^ s  »- ^"  s V

..fs^

A^

CHAPTER XV.

FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP.

Situation. — Geography and Topography. — Organization.
 John Houlton, the First Settler of the County.—
Other Pioneers. — Roads, Mills and Markets.— First
Election. — Early Preachers, School-Houses and
schools. — Population.— Property and Taxation.— Ag
ricultural Statistics. — Reminiscences of John Houl
ton. — Anecdote of Beecher. — John Driscal. — Nearest
Neighbors. — Early Township Officials. — Biographical.
The township bearing this name is situated in the northeast
ern part of DeKalb County, in the northern tier. It is bounded
on the north by Steuben County (Otsego Township), on the
east by Troy Township, on the south by Wilmington Town
ship, and on the west by Smithfield Township. It is watered
by the tributary headwaters of Cedar Creek and Fish Creek,
and has two small lakes on its northern border. It contains
neither railroad nor village, the nearest trading point being
Butler, on the Michigan Southern Railroad, near the south line.
The land is generally very good, and is worth, on an average,
$40 an acre, while forty years ago it was selling at the Gov
ernment price of $1.25 per acre. It was originally heavily
timbered, but a good proportion has now been reduced to cul
tivation. Franklin is the oldest township in the county, both
in organized existence and in priority of settlement.
The first act of the first Board of Commissioners of De Kalb
County, July 25, 1837, was, after appointing necessary officers,
to provide for the organization of Franklin Township, with the
foUowing boundaries : " Commencing at the northeast corner
of said county (De Kalb), thence west to the corners of ranges
13 and 14 east, townships 35 and 36 north, thence south six
miles to township 34 north, ranges 13 and 14 east, thence east
on the town line to the east line of said county, thence north to
the place of beginning ; the above shall constitute the first town
ship in De Kalb County." 600
^s  ^ , ^— ^|v1^

A

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history of de kalb county. 6oi
The Board (Peter Fair and Samuel Widney) then appointed
" Peter Boyer for Inspector of Elections for township No. i in
said county of De Kalb, and do order a writ of election for one
Justice of the Peace for said township on the first Monday of
August next (1837), and do also appoint Isaac T. Aldrich for
Constable of said township, to serve until his successor is
chosen and quahfied, and do also appoint John Holton for Su
pervisor oi said township No. i, and district No. i, in said
county of De Kalb." The limits thus provided made Frankhn
to include what is now Troy Township, in addition to its pres
ent territory ; but some 3'ears afterward Troy was organized,
leaving Franklin of its present dimensions, six miles square.
John Houlton, the pioneer of De Kalb County, built his rude
log dwelling on the bank of Fish Creek in the northeastern
comer of the township in 1833. For a time he was the sole
resident of the woods. Two years elapsing, his loneliness was
then relieved by John Smith locating on section 4, where B.
F. Greenwood afterward lived and died.
In 1836 the first few arrivals of pioneers began to come in
and locate their future homes. Abner Smith entered part of
section 9 ; Abram Beecher settled on section 4, a near neigh
bor to John Smith ; Luther Keep settled on section 8 where
Orrin Keep afterward lived ; Charles Crain, a shoemaker by
trade, cleared and built where Isaac Loutzenleizer afterward
lived; and besides these there came Willis O. Hyde, Peter
Boyer, Jacob Myers, Michael Boyer and Messrs. Deming and
Corwright. In October of this year George Firestone and
family moved in, driving his stock, and hauling his goods in a
wagon by oxen, and on the 1 8th arrived on that part of section
23, which he cleared and made his life-long home. While build
ing his cabin he enjoyed the hospitahty of Michael Boyer, and
between these two an enduring friendship was then contracted.
Supplies of wheat and corn were obtained by these pioneers
on Jackson Prairie. The rifle was speedily brought into
service to provide venison, and intervals of rest from labor
were spent in making acquaintances ; among these being mem
bers of a roving band of Pottawatomie Indians. The land was
heavily timbered, yet the settlers speedily felled and cleared
small tracts and planted buckwheat, corn and potatoes. In the
spring of 1837 grists were taken to the Union MiUs in La-
grange, distant thirty miles, and several days were required to

^

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6o2 history of de kalb county.
make the journey. The pioneer roads were mere trails, bushed
and logged by the settler in advance of his team. The first
roads laid out in Franklin were the Defiance and Lima State
road and the Fort Wayne and Lima State road, forming a junc
tion a half mile east of Hamilton.
Among the arrivals in 1837 were Daniel Kepler, Samuel Kep
ler, Arial Rood, Cranel Rood, Grant Bowers, M. L. Wheeler,
John Matson, Elisha Waterman and John Farley. Later came
Jason Hubbell, Daniel McEntarfer, William Letz, Levi Nelson,
John and Edward Jackman, Preston Bowman, Cyrus Bowman,
and James Bowman.
The voters who attended the first township election, in Au
gust, 1837, were twelve in number, and they chose Abram F.
Beecher as Commissioner, and Luther Buck as Justice of the
Peace. At the next election, held at the house of George Fire
stone on the first Monday in April, 1838, thirty-five votes were
polled, and John Linsey was elected Justice. Irregularity in mak
ing the returns prevented the receipt of commissions. The first
legal election was held in the spring of 1839, at the house of M.
L. Wheeler, he being chosen Justice of the Peace, and George
Firestone, Constable.
Early preachers in the township were Addison Coleman, a
Methodist, and Elder Staley, a Baptist. The latter preached
his first sermon at the house of John Houlton in 1837. The
first church organization took place in 1843, ^^ Kepler's, now
Haverstock's Corners. Here the denomination, the EvangeH
cal Lutheran, under the pastoral care of Rev. James Gather,
flourished, meetings being held in the school-house. A church
building was erected in 185 1 by Elisha W. Beard. Reorganiza
tion was effected by Jacob Seidle, who, dying, the church was
completed during the pastorate of Rev. William Waltman.
Rev. John McCurdy was the first local minister. The fifteen
members who reorganized the church were : Samuel Haver-
stock and wife, George Firestone, wife and daughter, Elizabeth
King, WilHam Oberhn and wife, John Eckhart and wife, Elias
Kepler and wife, WilHam Ashley and wife, and a Mrs. Kene
strick. A wonderfully effective revival resulted in January,
1870, from the efforts of Revs. John McCurdy and James
Gather, and about seventy-five were converted, of whom about
thirty joined that class. The society enjoyed another remark
able revival in January and February, 1872, conducted by Rev.

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history of de kalb county. 6oj
Nathan Pedychord. In 1883 the place of worship was removed
to College Corners school-house, and the society again reorgan
ized as the College Corners M. E. Church. The membership
at this time was about twenty-five, and the pastor was Rev. C.
H. Wilkinson. For a year past the society has had no regular
services. C. M. Lewis is class-leader and superintendent of the
Sunday-school. At College Corners also is the Church of God,
whose members are called also Winebrennerians. This society
was organized with about twenty members, in March, 1885, by
Rev. Mr. Fuller. J. W. Shultz is class-leader.
Belle Fountain U. B. church, situated on section 2, on the
BeUe Fountain road, was organized in February, 1858, in the
Houlton school-house on section 11. The society was formed at
the close of a series of meetings held by Rev. Mr. Crosslin.
They worshiped for some time in the school-house, and then
in an unoccupied dwelling on section 2, opposite where Samuel
Kepler now lives. In 1862 they built their present commodious
house of worship, 30 x 40 feet, with a fine spire. There are
now forty-five communicants. Services are held on alternate
Sundays by Rev. George Robinet, and prayer-meetings on
Wednesday evenings and on alternate Sundays. The Sunday-
school is kept up six months in each year.
Jerusalem U. B. church was organized at Jerusalem school-
house on section 24, in March, 1882, by Rev. Alonzo Gaff, with
seven members. The next year Rev. Aaron Lilly was pastor,
and in 1884, the pulpit was filled by Rev. Mr. Brown. The
present minister. Rev. James Martin, commenced his labors in
January, 1885. There are now about forty communicants. Ser
vices are held every other Sunday, and prayer-meetings every
Thursday night and on alternate Sunday evenings. Sunday-
school is maintained six months in each year.
The first school-house was built on section 12, the present
site of No. 1, and was known in 1840 as the Houlton school-
house. The first' teacher was Miss Lucy Orton, of Angola,
Steuben County. The first physician was William Sheldon,
who resided for a year on section 2. At an early day a saw
mill was built at Taylor's Comers, and this was also the site of
a post-office. The latter has long since been discontinued. A
¦good grist-mill known as the Frankhn Mills is located on Fish
Creek in the northeastern part of the township. It was erected
in 1856, by Samuel Kepler.

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604 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
The population of Frankhn in 1880 was 1,231, or 34 to the
square mile. This is a decrease of 12 from the population in
1870. In 1884 the rate of taxation was $1.61 ; poU tax, $1.50;
number of acres of land, 22,493.14; value of lands, $320,298;
value of improvements, $46,377 ; value of lands and improve
ments, $366,675 ; value of personal property, $88,860 ; total
value of taxables, $455,535; number of polls, 204; number of
children of school age, 409 ; valuation per capita, $372.89.
In 1881 Frankhn had 3,706 acres in wheat, producing 25,942
bushels, or 7 bushels per acre ; 2,343 acres in corn, produc
ing 58,575 bushels, or 25 bushels per acre ; i, 491 acres in oats,
producing 52,185 bushels, or 35 bushels per acre; 680 acres in
meadow, producing 850 tons of hay, or a ton and a quarter per
acre ; 86 acres in potatoes, producing 4,300 bushels, or 50
bushels per acre. REMINISCENCES.
From John Houlton's narrative in " Pioneer Sketches," we
extract the following:
" When the county was organized. Sheriff Park came here,
put up notices for an election of county officers, and appointed
me Inspector. 1 chose Luther Keep and A. F. Beecher, Judges.
In organizing the township, Mr. Keep, being the oldest man
told me that as I was the first settler I should name the town
ship ; and we agreed together on the name of Franklin. This is a
good township ; though not so ' propitiously blest as Butler,
flowing with milk and honey.' True, honey was very plenty,
yet milk was tolerably scarce, till after a while we got some
cows in the township."
Anecdote of beecher.
" As Mr. Abram F. Beecher was one of the early settlers, and
of the first Board of County Commissioners, I feel it due to his
memory, as he has gone from earth, to relate an adventure of
his, and of another of our citizens in his company. Dr. Pink
was Hving in Hamilton, and the ' blacklegs ' of Noble County
stole his horse. Beecher and Willard Eddy started on horse
back for the Tamarack House to look for the horse. Although
they did not find the animal, yet they did find about a dozen of
the most noted blacklegs in a barn, distributing their counter
feit money to their runners. They had quite a pile of it.
" Beecher made a lunge among them and grabbed a lot of

J-

HISTORY OF DE K.\LB COUXTY. 605
their money, and started to run away ; but Latta, their Presi
dent, knocked him down, and they got all the paper back. It
was certainly lucky that the two did not get hurt. They went
to a Justice to take law, but the Justice was either one of the
gang or afraid of his life or property. It was about that time
that several barns were burned in Noble County by the black
legs. Pity Beecher's strength had not been equal to his noble
courage. Pink went out to look for his horse, but got nothing
but a severe raw-hiding from Latta for his trouble and his
horse. I myself have lost about $200 by the same gang of vil
lains. This Belle Fountain road was one of the principal routes
leading to their nest." JOHN DRISCAL.
-'About a week after moving on my place, in 1833, a stranger
rode up to my house. He was an awful looking man, but car
ried the prettiest rifle I ever saw. Said I, ' Stranger, you have
the nicest kind of a gun; will you let me look at it?" ' Yes,'
said he, and I took hold of it ; but he jerked it back, saying that
he would not trust his gun in the hands of strangers. He went
on, and passed the road several times afterward. About
twelve years ago the people of Northwestern IlHnois took the
same man out in the open prairie, formed a half-circle on one
side of him, and told him to run for his life, and they would all
shoot at him as he ran. He started and fell dead pierced by
twenty bullets! Such was the end of John Driscal."
NEAREST neighbors.
" When I first moved into Franklin my nearest neighbor was
at Denmark, ten miles off. My next neighbor on the west was
on Jackson Prairie, twenty-two miles away. I had to buy my
grain on the prairies, and take it to White Pigeon Prairie to
get it ground ; and with the many mire holes I had to struggle
through, and with the vast number of times I had to unload
and pry up the wagon, and take a bag at a time on my shoulder
through creeks and sloughs often breast deep in water, and fre
quently ice to break at that, it generally took me from two to
four days to make the trip. Often when away from home I
had fears lest some blackleg might murder my wife and child,
and little sister-in-law, ten years old, and rob the house. But
they were never disturbed.
" I came in with the very best of constitutions, but I am now
•i' 6  ^ --•  a \ *

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606 history of de kalb county.
very much broken, and afflicted with rheumatism so that I
have to get help to put on my clothes. Of the four of us robbed
by the Indians, I suppose I am the only one ahve. Avery died
in Fort Wayne ; Samuel Houlton died at the mill on Fish
Creek in May, 1839; Hughes left Wayne in 1839 for the West,
and he undoubtedly has filled a drunkard's grave ere now, for
1 heard him say in the presence of Samuel Houlton and Wil-
liara Rogers that he thought he was doing well when $500 a
year paid his grog bill."
Early Justices of the Peace for Frankhn were : M. Wheeler,
L. Buck, J. King, John McCurdy, George Beard, George Fire
stone, T. M. Mitchell. Early Constables were : G. W. Jeffords,
Miles Waterman, Cyrus Jackman, David Clark, John Shock,
Abner Slentz, John R. Ball, George Firestone, Wm. Oberlin.
The Trustees prior to i860 were: G. Beard, B. Smith, Jabez
Hubbell, Miles Waterman, G. Shultz, H. Slentz, A. Baxter, J.
T. Aldrich, J. Jackman, H. Smith, Joseph Boyer. A. Baxter
and E. H. Taylor were early Assessors.
biographical.
Jason D. Aldrich, deceased, was born in Franklin Township,
Sept. 17, 1839, ^iid died Nov. 27, 1877. He was a son of Isaac
Aldrich, a pioneer of Franklin Township, who died Feb. 1,
1883. He was reared and educated in his native township
where he won many friends by his genial, courteous manners,
and honest, upright dealings. He was married May 20, i860,
to Sarah Knisely, daughter of William Knisely. To them were
born four children, three of whom are Hving — Isaac N., Ada
D. and Wilham E. Isaac married Mary Rummel, and has one
child — Bertha. Ada married James Kannel, and has one child
— Flora. Mr. Aldrich was a sincere Christian, although at the
time of his death he was a member of no religious organization.
He was a member of the Odd Fellows' order.
Andrew Baxter, section 5, Franklin Township, was born in
Washington County, Pa., March 15, 1813. He is the youngest
of a family of ten children. His father, William Baxter, mar
ried Sarah Rogers in their native County Tyrone, Ireland, and,
after the birth of two children, Daniel and Jennette, they emi
grated to America in 1791 and settled in Washington County,
Pa., where was born to them other children as follows : Sarah,
Wilham, James, Moses, Mary, a daughter who died in infancy,

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IP *-  - <^ J-
_ _^ ________ _ ^  p
history of de kalb county. 607
John and Andrew. The subject of this sketch, William Bax
ter, died in January, 1832, after the marriage of all their chil
dren, except Sarah, John and Andrew, and with them, their
mother removed to Wayne County, Ohio, in March, 1835.
Here John married Sarah Kelley, and Andrew, in the spring
of 1838, married Nancy Brown, eldest child of Andrew Brown,
of Scottish birth ; whose wife, Ellenor Richey, was a native of
North Ireland. In June, 1S41, John and Andrew, accompanied
by their brother, James, and Simon Fegley, came to De Kalb
County, built rude cabins upon their land entered from the
Government in 1838; Andrew upon the farm where he stiU
resides, and John in Smithfield Township, and in October,
1 841, they moved with their families upon their farms, each
with a wife and two small children, and their mother and sister
Sarah, as members of the family with Andrew. Here, in the al
most unbroken forest, with privations and ague almost con
stantly with them, they " cleared " their farms, took their
quinine (when they could get it) and " raised " their families.
Andrew and Nancy Baxter had born to them children as fol
lows: Elvina, Ellen, William, a daughter who died in infancy,
Andrew J., Mary J., John W., Nancy E. and James B. Nancy
died January 18, 1858, leaving her husband and the eight chil
dren above named surviving her. May 4, 1859, Andrew was
again married this time to Elizabeth L. Brown, the youngest
sister of Nancy, his former wife, and to them were born six
sons — Orrin A., Charles O., Miles, Chauncy B., Cora L. and
George D. Ehzabeth L. died Jan. 3, 1877, leaving her husband
and the five last named sons surviving her. Andrew Baxter
has held the important offices of Township Trustee and Asses
sor, each for several terms and with credit to himself. Of his
thirteen living children, Elvina Baughman is a widow, and is
generally employed at keeping her father's house ; Ellen, wife
of David Carter, is living upon a farm in Nebraska ; William
is owner and manager of a good farm in Iowa, and the others
all live in De Kalb County. Andrew J. is practicing law in
Butler ; John W. in Auburn ; Mary J., after teaching more than
twenty-five terms of public school, has become the wife of
Frank A. Brink, an attorney and teacher, and lives in
Butler ; Nancy E. is the wife of William Fee, and Hves on a
farm adjoining the old home in Frankhn Township ; James B.
is the Deputy Clerk of De Kalb Circuit Court, and hves in Au-

v

^^ — - " — 'k.
608 HISTORY OF. DEKALB COUNTY.
burn, and the others still domicile under the paternal roof-tree.
Nine of the children of this family have taught in the public
schools of the county, and three others are expecting to do so
in the near future. Of the brothers and sisters of Andrew Bax
ter, all are now dead, except Moses, who lives in Smithfield
Township where he reared a large family of children, all
of whom have taught in the public schools of the county.
His sisters, Jane, daughter of William and his first wife (and
half-sister of Andrew) and Jennette married two brothers,
Joseph and William Scott respectively, and died, leaving fami
lies in Southern and Western Ohio. Daniel, his brother, died in
Harrison County, Ind., and WilHam but recently died in Wes
tern Pennsylvania, near the place of his birth. The family of
James survive him in Van Buren County, Mich. John died up
on his farm in Smithfield Township in 1853, leaving a large
family of small children who have grown, married and scat
tered, leaving only three who are still residents of De Kalb
County ; all are prosperous. Mary, a sister of Andrew, married
George J. Duncan and came to Smithfield Township where
they settled and reared a large and respectable family, nearly
all of whom still live and prosper in De Kalb County.
Nicholas Bontrager, farmer, section 36, Franklin Township,
was born in Tuscarawas County, Ohio, Nov. 19, 1838, a son of
Joseph Bontrager. In the fall of 1852 his father moved to De
Kalb County, Ind., and settled in Troy Township, where he
died in December, 1879. Nicholas Bontrager was reared a
farmer, and has always followed that vocation. He remained
at home till the breaking out of the war of RebeUion, when he
enhsted in Company F, Forty-fourth Indiana Infantry, under
Captain Gunsenhouser. He participated in seven battles, but
was on detached service the raost of the time. He now draws
a pension for injuries received. Mr. Bontrager was married
Dec. 30, 1877, to Elizabeth J. Hantz, daughter of Jesse Hantz,
of Steuben County, Ind. They have three children — Amy A.,
Joseph A. and Jesse H. Mr. Bontrager settled on the farm
where he now lives Feb. 5, 1884. He now owns forty acres of
good land, with a pleasant residence and comfortable farm
buildings. Mrs. Bontrager is a meraber of the Methodist Epis
copal church.
Cyrus C. Boyer, section 20, Franklin Township, is a native of
this township, born July 2, 1848, a son of Joseph and Sarah
7 b "^ " ' -» (si's.

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HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY. 609
(Jackman) Boyer. Joseph Boyer was born in Stark County,
Ohio, Sept. I, iS2i,and in 1836 came to DeKalb County with his
father, Peter Boyer, who entered 160 acres of land on section
17, Frankhn Township. He was a man of fine business quah
ties, and by good management and strict adherence to business,
he became one of the most wealthy and influential men of the
township. He died March 9, 1881. Cyrus C. Boyer is the
third of eight children. He received a fair education, such as
the schools of Auburn, Waterloo and Angola could afford.
With the exception of six years spent in study and in business,
in Waterloo, he has always devoted his attention to agriculture
and stock-raising. He has a large farm in a high state of culti
vation and fully stocked with improved breeds of cattle, sheep
and swine. Mr. Boyer was married June 9, 1881, to Mary E.
Walsworth, daughter of WilHam J. Walsworth, a pioneer of
De Kalb County, now a resident of Union Township. Mr. and
Mrs. Boyer have two children — Carey W. and Nellie W.
William Bratton, deceased, was born in Williams County,
Ohio, May 19, 1S38, a son of John Bratton, of Edgerton, Ohio.
He was a farmer by occupation, and an esteemed and honored
citizen. He was married Oct. 30, 1861, to Mary J. Houlton,
daughter of Francis and Evaline Houlton, of Franklin Town
ship, De Kalb County. He settled in Edgerton, Ohio, residing
there till his death, Oct. 2, 1865. Mrs. Bratton then returned to
her father's home where she has since lived. The homestead
contains 160 acres of valuable land, and is superintended by
George A. Young, a native of Atchison County, Vt., born Jan.
27, 1852, a son of Horace and Electa Young, who moved to
Michigan in 1863. He has had charge of the Houlton home
stead since August, 1878, soon after the death of Mr. Houlton.
Mrs. Bratton has had two children, but one of whom is living —
John. She has an adopted daughter, Sarah Sewell.
Benjamin Casey, farmer and stock-raiser, section 26, Franklin
Township, was born in Holmes County, Ohio, Sept. 4, 1835,
a son of Benjamin Casey. Benjamin Casey began to learn the
carpenter's trade of his father and worked at it eight years. In
1848 his parents moved to Steuben Cohnty, Ind., where he Hved
with them till the spring of 1864, when he came to De Kalb
County, and lived in Wilmington Township three years and a
half. He then moved to the farm he now owns, where he pays
special attention to stock-raising, having many fine grades. His

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6lO HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
Poland -China and Chester-white hogs are unexcelled in the
county. In addition to attending to his farm he also works at
his trade. Mr. Casey was married Feb. 22, 1858, to Sarah A-
Mathews, a native of Chester County, Pa., daughter of Noble
Mathews. Mr. Casey is a member of the Odd Fellow's order.
Captain George H. Casper, section 11, Franklin Township, was
born in Chemung County, N. Y., July 2, 1842, a son of Charles
Casper, a native of Pennsylvania, who settled in Chemung
County when a young man, arid in the spring of 1845 moved to
De Kalb County and settled on section 33, Wilmington Town
ship. His mother, Lucinda Casper, was a native of Vermont,
a daughter of WilHam Weeks. He was the seventh of a family
of twelve children. He remained at home till the breaking out
of the Rebellion, when he enlisted Sept. 21, 1861, in Company
F, Forty-fourth Indiana Infantry, as a private. He was pro
moted to Second and later to First Lieutenant, and for some
time was acting Captain of his company, and subsequently was
commissioned. He participated in the battles of Fort Donel
son, Shiloh, Corinth, Stone River, Chickamauga, Mission
Ridge, and many others of less importance. He was wounded
at Shiloh, and at Stone River he with a few others were cap
tured, but thinking he had a chance to escape he turned and
ran, with a rebel infantryman in pursuit. A ball from his
enemy's musket took off the fore finger of his left hand, in which
he was carrying his gun. He ran till he fell, when the enemy
gained on him, and he turned and surrendered, placing his gun
by his side with the stock on the ground. The rebel irritated
him by swearing at him, and he raised his gun and plunged the
bayonet into his breast, killing him instantly, then turned and
ran again and escaped from the fast approaching army. After
his return from the war, Sept. 14, 1865, he engaged in agricult
ural pursuits in Steuben County five years, then returned to
De Kalb County, and with the exception of the years 1880 and
1 88 1, again in Steuben County, he has made this his home.
He settled on the farm where he now lives April 4, 1882. He
owns nearly fifty-four acres of valuable land, with a good resi
dence and farm buildings. Mr. Casper was married Feb. 18,
1864, to Evaline, daughter of Isaac Dirrim, of Steuben County.
They have had five children — George M., Ada (deceased),
Renna, Mary, and Ona. Mr. Casper is a member of the Grand
Army of the Republic, and is Senior Vice-Commander of his

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HISTORY OF DEKALB COUNTY. 6ll

post. He and his wife are members of the United Brethren
church. John N. Clark, farmer and stock-raiser, section 16, Franklin
Township, was born in York County, Pa., May 26, 1822. His
father, David Clark, was born in Lancaster County, Pa., Dec.
13, 1799, and in the spring of 1846 moved to De Kalb County,
Ind., and settled on section 17, Franklin Township, where he
lived till 1875 ; then Hved with our subject tiU his death, Sept. 8,
1879. -lohn N. Clark moved to De Kalb County in the fall of
1846, and lived with his father till March, 1847, when he moved
to the farm where he now Hves. He was the first settler on
section 16. He has cleared 200 acres of land, 130 of which he
owns. In 1847, 48 and '49 he planted his corn without plow
ing the ground, chopping holes and dropping corn in them.
He was married December, 1843, i" Stark County, Ohio, to
Mary M. Hamman, daughter of Daniel Hamman, an early set
tler of De Kalb County. To them were born nine children,
six of whom are living — Levi, Martha A., Joanna, Olive, Fietta
and Phila. Mr. Clark owns 240 acres of valuable land, with a
good residence and farm buildings.
Ervin A . Crain, farmer and stock-raiser, section 1 1 , Franklin
Township, is the youngest of six children of Ervin J. and Nancy
(Gaylord) Crain, and a grandson of Charles Crain and Eleazer
Gaylord. Charles Crain was a native of Middlebury, Vt. He
was a soldier in the war of 1812, and after his return home, in
1816, emigrated to Chautauqua County, N. Y., and thence, in
1834, to Painesville, Ohio, and to De Kalb County, Ind., in
1836, settling on section 8, Frankhn Township, where he died
in March, 1866. Ervin J. Crain was born in Middlebury, Vt.,
Jan. 29, 1815, and remained with his father till manhood, com
ing with him to De Kalb County. He was married to Nancy
Gaylord April 5, 1840, and to them were born six children,
four of whom are Hving — Melissa L., Leander T., Horace
Greeley and Ervin A. A daughter, Phidelia J., died at the age
of thirty-two years. She was the wife of B. C. Lemon, and left
two children, Lucinda and Luther K. A son, Luther K., went
West when eighteen years of age, and was employed in the
mail service, and subsequently by Powell & Newbern, freight
ers across the plains. He has not been heard from for sixteen
years, his family being unable to find a trace of him. Ervin J.
' Crain was killed by a pet bull Oct. 28, 1874. Ervin A. Crain

.^•

, 4"^ — - " —
6i2 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
was bom in Franklin Township on the old homestead Dec. 6,
1852. He received a good education, completing it at the
Hamilton select school. He was married April 5, 1872, to De-
lana Dirrim, a native of Frankhn Township, born Jan. 10, 1852,
a daughter of James Dirrim. They have three children— Eva,
Luther J., and Delana. Mr. Crain owns eighty-eight acres of
valuable land, all weU improved, and is making a specialty of
stock-raising. Leander T. Crain, section i, Frankhn Township, is a native of
this township, born May 29, 1845, a son of Ervin J., a native of
Vermont, and an early settler of De Kalb County. He was
reared on a farm, and received a common-school education, re
maining with his parents tiU the breaking out of the RebeUion.
In 1863 he enlisted in Company A, One Hundred and Twenty-
ninth Indiana Infantry, and participated in the battles of
Resaca, Buzzard's Roost, Rocky Face, Kenesaw Mountain,
Atlanta campaign, Jonesboro, Frankhn, Nashville, Fort Ander
son, Fort Fisher, Wise's Forks, and others. Since his return
he has devoted his attention to agriculture and now has a good
farm, weU improved. In 1870 he went to the Rocky Mount
ains, visiting Montana, Idaho and Washington Territory, but
spent most of his time in Montana. He visited the Geysers of
YeUow Stone VaUey, and there saw the Devil's Mush Pot, a
large oval depression in the ground about eight or ten feet
deep, at the bottom of which is a quantity of boiling sulphur ;
also visited the hot springs, and saw parties catching fish in
Gardner's River, and without removing the fish from the hne
or changing their seats, swing them into the boiling water and
cook them. He returned to De Kalb County in December,
1875. March 22, 1876, he married Mary X. Fee, a native of
Steuben County, Ind., born May 10, 1848, daughter of John
Fee, a pioneer of Steuben County. They have had three chil
dren — Charles (deceased), Ervin J. and James. Mr. Crain is a
member of the Odd Fellows' order and the Grand Army of the
Republic. John Dirrim, farmer, section 11, Franklin Township, was born
in Chenango County, N. Y., Aug. 11, 1809, a son of Richard
Dirrim, a native of Delaware, and a pioneer of Chenango
County. After the war of 18 12, in which he was a soldier, in
September, 181 5, Richard Dirrim moved his family to Stark
County, Ohio, and settled in Brown Township, where our sub-
. <iv
-,-^_— _  __

_l IB

"^^^^ Pt^-u^tZcZ^

eA^.a^(^. ^e--^^fe€E:t

'-^

HISTORY OF DEKALB COUNTY. 6lJ
ject was reared and educated. In May, 1845, he moved to De
Kalb County, Ind., and settled where he now Hves, on what
was then a tract of heavily timbered land. He was married'
Jan. 20, 1831, to Sarah Harkless, daughter of Wilham Hark-
less. To them were bom two children, but one of whom is
living — William, who married Mary A. Barker, and has four
children — Hannah R., Viona, Florence and Maurice. Mrs.
Dirrim died in November, 1834, and April 15, 1835, Mr. Dirrim
married Hannah Gillespie. Of their eleven children, nine are
hving — Sarah, Hugh W., Leonard, Richard, Margaret, Isaac^
Delana, Milton and Elizabeth A. James G. died while in the
service of his country in the war of the Rebellion. Sarah
married Fred D. Oberlin. Hugh married Catherine Spease,
and has six children — Orlando, Lincoln, Clarence, Jordan, Net
tie and Emma. Leonard married Mary Gowdy, and has nine
children — Frederick, William, Mina, Etta, Samuel, Anna, Sarah,.
George and Delana. Richard married Alice Wilkins, and has
five children — Eugene, May, James, Pearl and an infant daughter.
Margaret married M. M. Barker and has five children — Clara,
Delana, Isaac, Charles and Chester. Isaac married Angeline
Wagoner and has two children — Phoebe and Mary. Delana
married Irvin Crane and has three children — Luther, Eva and
Delana. Milton married Minnie Turner and has two children
— Jennie and Lulu. Elizabeth married Stewart W. Houston
and has two children— James and May. Mr. Dirrim owns 100
acres of land in the homestead, which is now under the super
vision of his son Milton.
William H- Dirrim, section 11, Franklin Township, was born
in Carroll County, Ohio, July 8, 1820, a son of Richard Dirrim,
a native of Delaware, who died in this county in 1875, aged
ninety and a half years. At the time of his death his descend
ants numbered 142. In 1833 the family moved to Wayne County,
Ohio, and in 1844 our subject came to De Kalb County, and the
following fall settled on the farm where he now lives. He
bought 160 acres of wild land, 100 acres of which he improved.
He now owns 146 acres, and his residence and farm buildings
are convenient and comfortable. Mr. Dirrim was married Sept.
12, 1839, to Christiana Haughey, a native of Jefferson County,
Ohio, daughter of Robert Haughey. They have had a family
of nine children, seven of whom are living — Hannah J., Robert
R., William S., Mary E., Christiana, CaroHne and Timothy H.
39

-71

\'

614 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
Hannah married Isaac Firestone, of Williams County, Ohio,
and has seven children — Christiana, Dora, William, Sheridan,
Timothy, Mary and Cora. Robert R. married Amanda Fire
stone ; Mary married William Gowdy, of Steuben County, Ind.,
and has six children — Marion F., Francis, Charles, Mary, Rob
ert and Fannie. CaroHne married George E. Hammond, and
has two children — Timothy and Roy. Mr. Dirrim has served
his township as Trustee one term and as Assessor two years.
He and his wife and four of their children are members of the
Methodist Episcopal church at Hamilton.
George Firestone, section 23, Frankhn Township, was born in
Stark County, Ohio, June 30, 18 11, a son of George Firestone,
a native of Hagerstown, Va., and an early settler of Stark
County. Our subject received a Umited education, his services
being required on the farm as soon as he was old enough to
work. Oct. 18, 1836 he came to De Kalb County, Ind., and
settled on the land which is now his valuable farm. At that
time the chief inhabitants were Indians and wild animals, and
the land was all heavily timbered. He entered 160 acres from
the Government, which he improved and to which he has
added, owning now 192^ acres. His first house was a cabin
of round logs, and his furniture was of the most primitive sort.
He early learned the use of tools and made the most of his fur
niture. For two years a chest, which' he now uses to keep oats
in, was used as a table. Mr. Firestone was married Oct. 9,
1832, to Catherine Crura, and to them were born thirteen chil
dren, ten of whom are living — Samuel K., Isaac, Hattie, Cath
erine, Amanda, Daniel, Benjamin F., Sarah, George S., and
John L. One son, Josiah, died at the age of twenty-three
years and two died in infancy. Mrs. Firestone died April i,
1870, and the following faU he married Mrs. Mary Mclntyre. She
had a large family by her first husband, but three of whom are
living — Juha, Eliza and Ellen. Mr. Firestone is now hving
with his third wife, whom he married March 2, 1879. She was
the widow of Richard Cook and the daughter of Samuel Lar
rabee. Her four children by her first husband — Samuel S.,
Mary M., Polly M., and Russell W., are all deceased. Mrs.
Firestone came West with her father and settled in Adrian,
Mich., in 1835. She cooked by a fireplace many years, using a
cooking-stove for the first time in 1843. In 1840 she made the
largest johnny-cak^ ever heard of in the United States, for a
^?|(S  ^ -«•  ^\

^t

HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.

6is

Fourth of July celebration at Coldwater. It was drawn by a
six-horse team, in a canoe made of the largest whitewood tree
to be found in the country, and was known as the Tippecanoe
johnny-cake. A son of Mr. Firestone, Isaac, served over three
years in the war of the Rebellion as a member of Company F,
Forty-fourth Indiana Infantry. He participated in many hard-
fought battles, the more prominent being Fort Donelson, Stone
River, Shiloh, Chickamauga, Mission Ridge. He was wounded
at Shiloh. Mrs. Firestone's son, Samuel S. Cook, served over
four years as a member of Company C, Eighth Iowa Infantry,
participating in the battle at Vicksburg, Sherman's march to
the sea, and many others. He was killed by the accidental dis
charge of a gun in his own hands six years after his return
from the war.
Samuel K. Firestone, section 23, Franklin Township, was born
in Crawford County, Ohio, June 27, 1833, a son of George Fire
stone. In 1837 his father moved the family to De Kalb County
and settled in Franklin Township on a tract of heavily timbered
land. Here he was reared, receiving his education on the farm
and among the wild animals in the woods surrounding them,
but attending school very little, a few weeks in the winter
being all the time allotted for that purpose. He became an ex
pert with his gun, killing many deer and other animals native
to the county. He assisted his father till manhood, and when
he began life for himself had very little money, but having a
determined will and a strong arm he made up his mind to succeed,
and having put his hand to the plow he kept steadily on, and
his efforts have ever been crowned with success, and prosperity
is his reward. When he commenced housekeeping he made
the first bedstead of basswood poles, using the bark for a cord,
and his wife painted it with poke-berry juice. He nows owns
220 acres of valuable land, which is well cultivated, and his
residence and farm buildings are among the best in the town
ship. The first two years of his married life were spent in a
log house in what is now Butler, occupied at present by Tim
Otis. He was married Aug. 6, 1853, to CaroHne Nelson,
daughter of James Nelson, who settled in De Kalb County in
1847. They have had six children, five are living — George A.,
Hannah C, James E., Estelle, Maggie and Maude I. Mrs.
Firestone is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.
Gilbert F. Greenwood, farmer and stock-raiser, section 4, Frank-

-71

^^l

6x6 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
hn Township, was born in Stafford Township, De Kalb Co., Ind.,
Nov. 30, 1859. His father, Benjamin F. Greenwood, was a native
of Trumbull County, Ohio, a son of OHver P. Greenwood, a na
tive of Stockbridge, Mass., born Feb. 20, 1808, and grandson of
John Greenwood, a native Rehoboth, R. I., of Enghsh descent,
and a sailor on a man-of-war for the United States in the war of
1812. He settled in TrumbuU County, Ohio, in 1818. Benja
min F. Greenwood moved to De Kalb County, Ind., in 1858, and
settled in Stafford Township, and in 1873 removed to Frankhn
Township, and settled on the farm where our subject now lives.
He married Maria, daughter of John Henry, and their family
consisted of two sons — Gilbert F., and Eugene, of Steuben
County. Gilbert F. Greenwood remained at home till man
hood. He received a good education completing it at Purdue
University, Lafayette, Ind. He was married Sept. 4, 1879, to
Orilla Felger, daughter of David Felger, of Defiance, Ohio.
They have three children — Floyd, Ethel and Benjamin F. Mr.
Greenwood owns 236 acres of valuable land, and is among the
prosperous young farmers of Franklin Township.
Adam Hamman, farmer and stock-raiser, section 7, Frankhn
Township, was born in Stark County, Ohio, May 12, 1833, the
seventh of eight children of Daniel and Saloma (Thomas) Ham
man, natives of Virginia. In 1848 his parents moved to De Kalb
County and settled on the farm where our subject now lives.
At that time it was a tract of uncultivated land. The father
was in feeble health, and the greater part of the work fell on
Adam. He was a faithful, industrious young man, and was re
warded with good crops, and the consciousness of being a com- ,
fort and stay to his parents in their declining years. He now
owns eighty acres of valuable land, with good farm buildings.
He has many friends in the county, and, although not an as
pirant for official honors, has served two terms as Constable.
He was married in December, 1857, to Rebecca Curry, daugh
ter of John Curry. To them have been born ten children ;
seven are Hving — Ida JNI., Emma C, Ada M., Lydia, Jesse L.,
Rebecca and Miles.
John Hamman was born in Stark County, Ohio, May 18, 1817,
a son of David Hamman, a native of York County, Pa., who
emigrated to Stark County prior to the war of 1812. In 1837
our subject left home and explored the northern part of In
diana, visiting De Kalb County in his travels. In 1844 he again

tt.

HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY. 617
camfe to De Kalb County and remained two months, and while
here bought a tract of wild land on section 19, Franklin Town
ship. In 1847 he moved his family to their frontier home, and
began to make a farm out of a tract of timber land. How well
he has succeeded is proven by a visit to his pleasant home and
viewing his loi acres of cultivated, valuable land. Mr. Ham
man was married May 22, 1839, to Margaret Frick, daughter of
Henry Frick. Mrs. Hamraan died in September, 1850, leaving
five children — Simeon, Daniel, John, Franklin and Sarah. The
latter died at the age of thirty-three years. Nov. 25, 1852, Mr.
Hamman married Anna Clark, a native of Stark County, Ohio,
daughter of David Clark, an early settler of De Kalb County.
They have had eight children, five of whom are living — Susan,
Clara E., Freeman, Commodore P. and Harailton C. One
daughter, Francelia, died at the age of twenty-four years. Mr.
Hamman's sons, Simeon and Daniel, were soldiers in the war of
the Rebellion. Mr. Hamman is a member of the Piresbyterian,
and his wife of the Methodist Episcopal church.
Peter Helwig, farmer and stock-raiser, section 36, Franklin
Township, was born in Carroll County, Ohio, Jan. 31, 1830, a
son of Jacob Helwig, a native of Jefferson County, Ohio, and
grandson of George Helwig, a native of Germany. Nov. 3,
1841, his parents moved to De Kalb County, Ind., and settled
on a tract of timber land in Troy Township. All kinds of wild
animals common to Indiana were abundant. His father was
fond of hunting and furnished the family with plenty of meat.
He at one time kUled four deer, from one of which they pro
cured eighteen pounds of tallow. Our subject received a fair
education in the district schools, but was early in Hfe obliged to
assist his father on the farm. When he started in life for him
self he worked for fifty cents a day, and part of the time for $5
a month. In this way he earned the money to pay for thirty-
six acres of land, where he commenced his married life. In the
winter of i853-'54 he built a log cabin. He had a stove and
borrowed the rest of their furniture. Their only sauce was
dried elder-berries, and when cooked had to borrow a dish to
put it in. They made their own sugar, he carrying the water
night and morning, and his wife boihng it down during the day
while he worked at the carpenter's trade at fifty cents a day.
He was married Sept. 10, 1853, to Elizabeth Jadwin, daughter
of Andrew Jadwin. Of the five children born to them four are

^:

6l8 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
living — Phedima, Theodosia, Ann E., and Jacob R. Phedima
married Eli Bryan, and has one child — Luther Lee. In 1866
Mr. Helwig sold his first home and bought the farm in Franklin
Township where he has since lived. His father was a promi
nent man of the county, and in i843-'44 represented his district
in the Legislature. He died Nov. 10, 1869.
Francis Houlton, deceased, was born in Highland County,
Ohio, Feb. 3, 1807, a son of Samuel Houlton. He was reared
in his native county, receiving a common-school education. In
the spring of 1839 he came to De Kalb County, Ind., and set
tled on sections 5 and 8, Franklin Township. There were four
acres cleared on section 5, and here he built a cabin and hved
ten years, then moved across the line to section 8. He was a
hard working, energetic man, and cleared seventy-five acres ot
his land himself. He was married in January, 1838, to Mrs.
Evaline (Kellogg) Wood, widow of Abner Wood, by whom she
had four children, but one of whom is Hving — John K. To Mr.
and Mrs. Houlton were born four children ; two daughters are
living — Corrinna, wife of Isaac Lantzenheiser, of Edgerton,
Ohio, and Mary J., widow of WiUiam Bratton. Mr. Houlton
was murdered May 18, 1879, by a neighbor boy, Lewis Abbott,
who entered the house with the evident intention of murdering
the entire family and plundering the house. Mrs. Houlton
died Oct. 14, 1881. They were earnest, sincere Christians, Mr.
Houlton a member of the United Brethren and Mrs. Houlton
of the Methodist Episcopal church.
John Houlton, deceased, the first settler of De Kalb County,
Ind., was born in Highland County, Ohio, Sept. 21, 1804, a son
of Samuel Houlton, a pioneer of Highland County, and a
soldier in the war of 18 12. He was reared in the wilds of Ohio,
having Indian boys and wild animals for his playmates. In 1827
he came to Wilhams County, Ohio, and worked for his brother
Samuel in a saw-mill on Fish Creek, near its confluence with
the St. Joseph River. They rafted the lumber down the river
to the Fort Wayne market. He was married Feb. 5, 1833, to
Sarah Fee, who was born May 12, 1812. The foUowing Sep
tember they moved to De Kalb County, and Sept. 4, raised the
first house in the county. It was built of round logs, was one
and a half stories high, and twenty feet square. It remained
standing till i860, when it was torn down, and the DeKalb
County Pioneer Society had a number of canes made from its

>-^  •¦  , iv

^2

:hL

HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY. 619
logs, presenting a cane to each pioneer whose settlement dated
prior to 1S40. Mr. Houlton's wife died July 12, 1839, leaving
three children — Samuel, born at Lima, Ind., Feb. i, 1839, was a
member of Company B, First Michigan Infantry, in the war of
the Rebellion, and died in Libby prison ; Margaret, born April
8, 1836, was the first female white child born in De Kalb County;
Sarah, born July i, 1S39. All grew to maturity, and all are de
ceased. Margaret married William H. Sleutz, and had three
children, two of whom are living — Rinaldo Burnett and Nancy
Rosette. Sarah married Norman Nichols, and had six children,
five of whom are living — Orilla, William, Viola, Inez and
Mary. Nov. 21, 1839, Mr. Houlton married Nancy Lewis,
daughter of Samuel Lewis who settled in Williams County,
Ohio, in April, 1834, and was the seventh settler on the St.
Joseph River. Nine children were born to them, six of whom
are living — William L., Rebecca, John, Mathew K., Lewis N.,
and Roger R. One daughter, Mary Ann, died Aug. 3, 1869.
She was the wife of Jeremiah Gnagy, and left one child, John,
now a student at Valparaiso Normal School. Rebecca married
her brother-in-law, Jeremiah Gnagy, and has four sons — Guy,
George, Girt and Glen. John married Mary Getz, and has
two children — Bert and Mary. Lewis married Rhoda Martin,
and has one son — Verna S. Roger married Amanda Mills, and
has one son — Artemus L. Roger is leader of the Houlton
Orchestra. Mr. Houlton died on the old homestead, June 2,
1875. He was a consistent Christian, and a member of the
Disciples church. Mrs. Houlton has passed through many
hardships and relates many peculiar and interesting accounts
of the experiences of her early life. She was possessed of un.
usual courage and was often helpful in time of need, when it
was necessary to have a strong hand and a brave heart. One in
stance of her undaunted will and courage may interest our
readers, and especially the descendants of Mrs. Houlton : At
one time when about eighteen years of age her father and
brothers were away from home, and a man came to the house
and asked if any one could take him across the St. Joseph
River, then swollen even with the banks. She told him she
would take him over if he would obey her orders. He wanted
to place the horse above the canoe, but that was not her way,
and she refused to take him over. He finally came to her terms.
She then placed the horse below the canoe, and told him to hold

-71

IS

."Sl* — ^ - — ^t^
-620 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
the bridle bit, while she rowed the canoe across the river. The
man was forced to admit the soundness of her judgment, say
ing he never saw a girl of so much courage and good sense. At
the tirae Mr. Houlton settled in De Kalb County, the Indians
and wild aniraals roaraed the forest at will. The only thing he
ever hunted was squirrels ; deer was safe from his gun, al
though there were many at that time. One Sunday a flock of
thirty turkeys came into his orchard, just at the rear of the
house, and although acting contrary to the wish of Mrs.' Houl
ton his early Presbyterian training would not allow him to
shoot one on the Sabbath. He set out the first orchard in De
Kalb County, in the spring of 1834, obtaining the trees in Con-
stantine, Mich.
Mathew K. Houlton, farmer and stock-raiser, section 12,
Franklin Township, was born on the old homestead on section 1,
Oct. 4, 185 1, a son of John and Nancy (Lewis) Houlton. He
was reared and educated in his native township, and after
reaching manhood, engaged in agricultural pursuits. He now
owns forty-five acres of valuable land, with a good residence
and farm buildings. He makes a specialty of stock-raising, hav
ing a good grade of cattle and hogs. Mr. Houlton was married
in September, 1872, to Marietta Case, a native of Steuben
County, Ind., born Sept. 25, 1855, a daughter of William L.
Case. They have two children — Jink J. (named for the song,
"Captain Jink's"), born June 20, 1873, and Rinaldo R., born Nov.
7, 1874. Mr. and Mrs. Houlton are araong the representative
young people of De Kalb County, and are enterprising and in
dustrious, and have the prospect of a prosperous future.
William L. Houlton, section i, Franklin Township, is a son of
John Houlton,' the first settler of Franklin, and was born on the
old homestead Nov. 13, 1842. He remained at home tiU after
the breaking out of the Rebellion, and enhsted in Company K,
One Hundred and Eighty-second Ohio Infantry. He was as
signed to the engineer corps and never saw any active service.
In 1866 Mr. Houlton bought a saw-mill, which he ran two years,
and then sold it. In 1877 he bought a light portable mill and
threshing machine, which he sold two years later, and in 1881
bought the saw-mill he now owns. He has run a threshing
machine eight seasons, and in 1883 bought a new Massillon
Thresher. Mr. Houlton was married Sept. 19, 1863, to Mercy
N. Haddix, daughter of Stephen K. Haddix, of Defiance, Ohio.
V'l*  ^ -• —

HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY. 62 1
She died in October, 1865, leaving one child— Alice, now Mrs.
Lewis Shultz. Dec. 19, 1867, Mr. Houlton married Mrs. Ru-
hama McCurdy, widow of T. J. McCurdy and daughter of
William Knisely. They have had three children, but two of
whom are Hving — John M. and Nancy Maude. Mr. Houlton
is a member of the Odd Fellows' order, lodge and encampment,
and also the daughters of Rebecca, same order.
Theodore Hunt, section 2, Franklin Township, was born in
Seneca County, Ohio, May 20, 1826, a son of Obediah Hunt, a
pioneer of Seneca County, from Genesee County, N. Y. He
was reared and educated in his native county, and in his youth
learned the mason's trade which he followed forty years. He
came to De Kalb County, Ind., in the fall of 1877 and bought
130 acres of land where he has since lived. In addition to carry
ing on his farm, he is engaged in making concrete tiling and
sewer-pipes, and also laying down concrete sidewalks. He is "a
fine workman, and has made a success of his business. He en
listed in the war of the Rebellion, in Company G, Fifty-fifth
Ohio Infantry, and participated in the battles of Cedar Mount
ain, White Sulphur Springs, second Bull Run and many
others. He went out as Corporal and returned Second Lieu
tenant of his company. Mr. Hunt was married March 4, 1847,
to Harriet, daughter of Ebenezer Boughton. Of their eight
children, six are hving — Hoyt B., Emma, Theodore, Hattie,
Ebenezer and Jennie. Ellen and Mary are deceased. Mary
was the wife of Edward Hinkle. Hoyt B. is a minister of the
Methodist Episcopal church, and lives in St. Joseph County,
Mich. He married Ida Rockwood. Emma is the wife of John
Hinkle, of this township, and has four children — Olive, Theo
dore, Lora and John. Theodore married Belle Taylor, and
makes his home with his father. Mr. Hunt has been a member
of the Odd Fellows' order thirty-six years. He is a member of
the Grand Army of the Republic.
John T. Huyck, farmer and stock-raiser, was born March 4,
1840, in Huron County, Ohio, a son of John T. and Lucinda
(Britten) Huyck, his father a native of New York State, now
deceased. Our subject was reared to farm life and educated in
the common schools. In September, 1862, he enhsted in Com
pany E, Fourteenth Ohio Infantry, to serve three months, and
afterward served in Company C, One Hundredth Indiana Infan
try, tin the close of the war. He was taken prisoner at Lime-

l^

-^5

-14-

622 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
Stone Station Sept. 8, 1863, and was imprisoned at Belle Isle six
months. He was then removed to Andersonville Prison, and
after undergoing all the horrors of that den for seven months
he tried to escape, but was caught by blood hounds. He was
then removed to Savannah, but at the end of three weeks he
and another man escaped through a tunnel sixty-five feet under
ground. It was night when they found themselves in the city
of Savannah. A negro whom they met took them to the house
of a Union lady, who kept them over night and the foUowing
day secured a room near by, where they were secreted two
months when they made good their escape. Mr. Huyck came
to this county in the spring of 1S68, and in the spring of 1880
settled on his present farm on section 28, Franklin Township,
where he owns 150 acres of land. He is a member of the
Grand Army of the Republic. He was married March 23,
1870, to Mary J. Jeffords, born in this township in 1847, and
daughter of James W. Jeffords (deceased). To them have been
born eight children, six now Hving — Bertha J., Pearl, Charles
L., Mamie M., Earl M. and Eva E. Mr. Jeffords was a native
of New York. He lived in Toledo, Ohio, many years ago, and
from there moved to Steuben County, Ind., and in 1842 he
came to this county.
Cyrus Jackman, one of the pioneers of Franklin Township,
and an honored citizen of the county, was bom in Carroll
County, Ohio, Feb. 14, 1822, a son of Edward Jackman, a
native of Virginia. When a young man Edward Jackman, in
company with his brother Adam, settled in the wilds of Ohio,
remaining there till 1840, when he moved his family to De
Kalb County and settled where our subject was born, on section
18, Frankhn Township, and again prepared to make a farm in
the wilderness. They reached De Kalb County May 28, and
after building a rude cabin cleared a piece of land, and raised
the first year thirty bushels of potatoes, six or eight acres of
wheat, and got out enough logs by fall to build a hewed log
house and make a comfortable home for winter. There were
240 acres in the Jackman homestead, 140 of which Cyrus Jack-
man now owns. He remained at home assisting his father tiU
manhood. He was married Sept. 20, 1849, to Sarah Taylor,
daughter of John Taylor. They have one son, John Fletcher,
who was born July 8, 1850, and married Nora E. Gutridge.
They have two children — Burton and Bertha (twins), born May

-l^

HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY. 623
iS, 1876. Fletcher Jackman owns eighty acres of valuable land,
and is a successful agriculturist.
Isaac Jackman, deceased, was born in Carroll County, Ohio,
Oct. 20, 1818, and died in Franklin Township, April 12, 1872.
He was raised in his native county, and in his youth learned
the blacksmith's trade, but worked at it very little, preferring
the hfe of a farmer. He came with his father, Edward Jack-
man, to De Kalb County, Ind., in 1840, and settled in Franklin
Township. He was a successful agriculturist and stock-raiser,
and accumulated a large landed estate. He was married Nov.
II, 1847, to Maria Stoner, a native of Wayne County, Ohio,
bom in 1826, a daughter ot John and Agnes (Criter) Stoner,
who came to DeKalb County in 1846. But three of a family
of ten children are living — Mrs. Jackman, Henry and Mary C.
Two died in childhood, and five, David E., William, John, Hes
ter, and Margaret, had reached maturity. John was a minister
of the Methodist Episcopal church. Two brothers, David and
Henry, were soldiers of the war of the RebeUion. Mr^ and
Mrs. Jackman had a family of three children — John S., Norman
T. and Olive. The sons reside in Waterloo and the daughter
in Los Angeles, Cal.
Milton C. Jones, farmer and stock-raiser, section 19, Franklin
Township, was born on the farm where he now lives, Dec. 26,
1842, a son of Samuel and Jerusha (Chamberlin) Jones, natives
of Monkton, Vt., the former, born Sept. 15, 1806, is now a resi
dent of Waterloo. His mother was born in July, 1812; died
Sept. 22, 1884. He was reared a farmer and has always fol
lowed that vocation. He received a practical business educa
tion, attending a select school in Hamilton, Steuben County.
When the war of the Rebellion broke out he enlisted in Com
pany B, Thirtieth Indiana Infantry, and served a year. After
his return home, in 1862, he enlisted in Company B, Twelfth
Indiana Cavalry, and served three years as Orderly Sergeant.
He participated in many severe engagements, among them
Nashville, Chattanooga, Mobile and Murfreesboro. At the lat
ter place he was struck with a sabre and fell from his horse, the
blow dislocating his shoulder, and the fall breaking his arm.
He was a brave soldier, and won the respect of all his com
rades in arms. Mr. Jones has been Assessor of Franklin Town
ship six years. He is a member of the Odd Fellows' order.
Mr. Jones' parents moved to Seneca County, Ohio, in 1834; to

;rv^

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624 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
La Porte County, Ind., in 1837, and to De Kalb County in 1840.
They had a family of ten children, six of whom are hving —
Sarah A., Milton C, Sydney P., Henry M., William H. and
Harriet. Three sons served in the war of the Rebellion. Ju
lius died a short time after the close of the war with the camp
disease. Sydney is living in Beratus, Neb.' Samuel Jones was
hurt by a falling tree in 1863, from which he has never fully
recovered. In 1870 he lost his house by fire, which, owing to
his poor health, was a misfortune not easily remedied. He,
however, has since rebuilt, and has one of the pleasantest homes
in the township.
Alfred Kepler is a native of Franklin Township, born Nov. 8,
1839, a son of Daniel Kepler, a native of Pennsylvania, who
moved when a child with his parents to Stark County, Ohio,
and in the fall of 1837 to De Kalb County, Ind., and settled on
section 27, Franklin Township, subsequently removing to Smith-
field Township, wh6re he now lives. Alfred Kepler was reared
and educated in Franklin Township, attending the district
schools of his neighborhood. He remained with his parents
till eighteen years of age, and then went to Missouri and re
mained two years. After his return to Indiana he engaged in
farming and Aug. 18, i860, was married to Lovina Meese,
daughter of Isaac Meese. To them were born two children,
both now deceased. Mrs. Kepler died July 24, 1863. In Jan
uary, 1864, Mr. Kepler went to Montana and remained nearly
two years, working in the mines, returning to Indiana in De
cember, 1865. Since his return he has devoted his attention to
agriculture and stock-raising. He owns a valuable farm of 106
acres. In 1882 he built a large two-story brick house, the
main part 18x28 feet, with one wing 16x24, and another
16x30. His farm buildings are commodious and in good re
pair. Sept. 8, 1867, Mr. Kepler married Mary M. Headley,
daughter of Samuel Headley, a pioneer of De Kalb County.
They have five children — Maud M., Minnie M., Lola L., Cora
C, and Bertha B.
Elias Kepler, section 27, Franklin Township, was born in
Stark County, Ohio, Jan. 4, 1832, a son of Daniel Kepler, who
brought his family to De Kalb County March 6, 1837, and set
tled on section 27, Frankhn Township, entering 480 acres of
land from the Government. Elias w^s reared and educated in
De Kalb County, remaining with his parents till manhood. He
.",1'  ^— ^it^

1

HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY. 625
was married Feb. 5, 1854, to EHza Deems, daughter of George
Deems, an early settler of Wilmington Township, who was
killed by a falling tree many years ago. Seven children have
been born to them — Jay, Phedina A., Hannah E., Wilham S.,
Estella, Ida M. and Charles F. Hannah married James S. Lowe,
and has one child — Earl. Mr. Kepler owns a fine farm of 240
acres, and is engaged in general farming and stock-raising, mak-
a specialty of Spanish merino sheep. He and his wife are mem
bers of the Methodist Episcopal church.
Samuel Kepler, deceased, was born in Stark County, Ohio,
Oct. 30, 1814, a son of John Kepler. He came to De Kalb
County, Ind., in the fall of 1837, and settled on section 21,
Frankhn Township, entering land on sections 21 and 28. He
was a hard-working man and a successful farmer and stock-
raiser. In 1845 he built a large frame barn across the street
from his residence on section 28, which is still standing, and
across the gable end bears the inscription " S. K. 1845." About
1853 he built the first grist-mill in the township, on Fish Creek,
section 2, which is still doing good work. At his death he
owned 1,600 acres of land, all earned by his own industry, as
sisted by his estimable wife. He gave employment to many,
and thus assisted in building up and advancing the interests of
the county. The season he built his barn, in 1845, he killed
fourteen hogs and two beeves, all used by his hired help and
family. He owned a store in Hamilton, Ind., a year and then
moved it to his place in De Kalb County and sold it three
years later. He was married in 1834 to Mary Noragon, a native
of Pennsylvania. Six of their fourteen children are living —
Andrew, John, Samuel, Jane, Solomon and Jacob. One son, Ed
win, died in his nineteenth year, and a daughter, Caroline, aged
twenty-six years. Mr. Kepler died March 19, 1862. His widow
afterward married Elisha Beard, an early settler of this county.
Samuel Kepler, section 2, Franklin Township, was born on
the old homestead on section 21, this township, March 2, 1843,
a son of Samuel and Mary (Noragon) Kepler. He was reared
and educated in this township and has always followed agricult
ural pursuits. He was married Dec. 20, 1863, to Melinda
Rosenberry, daughter of Alex Rosenberry, of Waterloo. They
have five children— Nedia M., Alta B., Mary M., Vernon and
Jennie Pearl. Mr. and Mrs. Kepler are members of the United
Brethren church at Bellefontaine Chapel.

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626 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.

William Knisely, one of the most successful young farmers
and stock-raisers of Franklin Township, resides on section 26,
where he owns a fine farm well improved, with good farm
buildings. He was bom in Troy Township, De Kalb County,
Ind., Feb. 20, 1851, and was a son of William Knisely, a pio
neer of De Kalb County. He was reared and educated, and
has always lived in his native county. He was married June
2, 1872, to Malinda Pinchin, who died in April, 1873. Their
only child is also deceased. Dec. 10, 1874, he married Phcebe
J. Plank, daughter of Martin W. Plank. They have one son —
Loren David, born March 25, 1876. Mrs. Knisely is a member
of the Methodist Episcopal church.
Ezra E. Lautzenheiser, section 9, Franklin Township, was
born in Carroll County, Ohio, May 5, 1845. In 1862 his parents
moved to De Kalb County and settled in Franklin Township,
where they have since resided. He reraained at horae till man
hood, and then began farming for himself. He has been success
ful and owns a fine farm of 186 acres, with a good residence
and farm buildings. He was married March 23, 1871, to
Elizabeth Richmond, a native of Williams County, Ohio, born
Nov. 2, 1852, a daughter of Samuel Richmond, a native of
Tuscarawas County, Ohio, but a resident of Atchison, Kan.,
since 1871. Mr. and Mrs. Lautzenheiser ha've six children —
Minnie M., John, Frank, Ora, Effie and Edward. Mr'. Lautzen
heiser is one of the representative men of Franklin Township.
He is a courteous, free-hearted gentleman, a member of the
Methodist Episcopal church, and is universally respected by his
associates for his fine manly quahties, and strict business integ
rity. In January, 1881, while attempting to lead a horse across
a ditch the animal jumped on him, and broke a bone in his right
leg, spht the cap bone of his right ankle and badly injured his left
leg. Fear was entertained for some. time that he was crippled
for life, but he has now nearly recovered his former strength.
Jacob H. Lautzenheiser was born in Stark County, Ohio, Nov.
2, 1809, a son of Ezra Lautzenheiser. He came to De Kalb
County, Ind., and settled in Franklin Township. He was mar
ried in 1835, to Catherine Reese, daughter of John Reese. Of
their five children three are Hving — Isaac, Ezra and Hannah.
Mrs. Lautzenheiser died in November, 1874. Mr. Lautzenheiser
now makes his home with his daughter. He is an honored
member of the United Brethren church.

¦<" 6-

HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY. 627
Jere Le-ivis. farmer, section 35, Frankhn Township, was
born in Carroll County, Ohio, Jan. 10, 1830, a son of Joseph
and Ehzabeth (Masters) Lewis, his father a native of West
moreland County, Pa., and his mother of Yorkshire, England.
His grandfather, Jonathan Lewis, was a native of Germany.
His father was an early settler of Carroll County, Ohio, and
later of Tuscarawas County. He died Jan. 6, 1873. Our sub
ject was reared and educated in Ohio, attending when a child,
a school taught by an Irishman named Peter Conoly. Their
school-house was a rude log structure and the black snakes,
which were abundant in that country, often stuck their heads
through the cracks of the floor and roof. The teacher kept his
gun by his side, and occasionally shot one, which if overhead
would drop to the floor, much to the discomfort of the terrified
pupils. March 10, 1855, Mr. Lewis came to Indiana and settled
on the farm in Franklin Township where he now lives. He
owns 200 acres of fine land with good improvements. Frora
1863 till 1866 he was employed by Russell & Co., of Massillon,
Ohio, manufacturers of agricultural implements, his farm being
carried on by hired help. Mr. Lewis was married March 16,
1S51, to Martha A. Henderson. To them were born four chil
dren, but three are living — Charles H. V., Calvin McM., and
Addie. Mrs. Lewis died Jan. 25, 1873. Jan. 22, 1874, Mr.
Lewis married Bell, daughter of Andrew Reed, who died Sept.
5, 1879. Their two children are also deceased. Mr. Lewis
then marrried Mrs. Jennie Graham, widow of John E. Graham,
by whom she had two children ; but one is living^John E. Mr.
and Mrs. Lewis are members ot the Methodist Episcopal church.
George W. Newcomer, section 29, Franklin Township, was
born in Columbiana County, Ohio, April 15, 1845, a son of
Christian Newcomer, a native of Pennsylvania and an early
settler of Columbiana County. In 1847 his parents moved to
De Kalb County, Ind., and settled on section 29, Franklin
Township, where he was reared. At the tirae of their settle
ment in the county it was heavily timbered, and the trees had
to be cut before a house could be built. A tree in front of
their cabin was cut into shingles, and the stump was used as a
table. They were in limited circumstances, but possessed a de
gree of ambition and energy which overcomes all obstacles and
wins the victory over every battle in life, being undaunted by
hardship, but seemingly strengthened with renewed vigor by

71

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628 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
each privation. Our subject was early inured to the Hfe of a
frontier farmer, and initiated into the mysteries of clearing and
breaking land. His education consisted mainly of the rules of
agriculture, as his services were required at home, and his at
tendance even at the early district school was limited to a few
weeks in the winter. After reaching manhood he began hfe
for himself, and by following the lessons of industry and appli
cation learned in his youth, has been successful and now owns
eighty acres of valuable land. Mr. Newcomer is one of the
representative men of the township, and has always contributed
of his time and means for the advancement of every laudable
enterprise. He was married Aug. 4, 1872, to Barbara Van
Horn, daughter of John Van Horn, of Greenville, Mich. They
have five children — Charles E., Mary M., Luna L., Arna O.,
and Elmer G. In rehgious faith Mr. and Mrs. Newcomer are
Mennonites. John Matson, a son of Elijah Matson, was born near Rutland,
Vt., Feb. 3, 1806, where he Hved until he was about twenty-one
years of age, when he went to Onondaga County, N. Y. In
1835 he came to Indiana and entered 160 acres of wild land in
De Kalb County, had a cabin built on section 30, Franklin
Township, and the following year with his family moved there,
reaching Hamilton Sept. 30, 1836. He was very energetic and
ambitious, working all day clearing his land of timber and pre
paring it for cultivation, after which he worked several hours
each night at the carpenter's trade, making doors and window-
frames for the new settlers, taking his pay in work on his land.
In this way he soon had 100 acres under cultivation. He be
came a successful farmer, and owned, at the time of his death,
a pleasant home and 213 acres of valuable land. He was high
ly esteemed by all who knew him. He was public spirited, and
contributed liberally toward the advancement of any laudable
enterprise. He was a kind and obliging neighbor, and a bene
volent and considerate friend of the poor. He was married
Sept. 10, 1833, to Margaret Waterman, daughter of Elijah Wa
terman, and sister of Hon. Miles Waterman. To them were
born ten children— Cordelia, Alvin, Chloe, James, Lewis, Lydia,
George and Ophelia. Two died in infancy. Cordeha married
Chester Taft, and lives at Waterloo, Iowa. Chloe married
Alonzo Collin, of Mt. Vernon, Iowa, and has two children —
Ruth and Margaret. James, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, married

•f V

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HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.

629

Frances Taylor, and has two children — Lillian and Abbie.
Lewis, of Pleasant Lake, Ind., married Orcelia Clarke, and has
four children — Clarke, James, Mabel and John. Lydia married
J. B. Albrook, of Iowa, and died in her twenty-seventh year,
leaving one child — Luella. George married Matilda Ridge, and
has one child — Merritt. Ophelia married Merritt A. Goodell, of
Iowa, and has four children — Willard, Alonzo, George and Ed
ward. Mr. Matson died Nov. 4, 1876. Mrs. Matson Hves with
George on the homestead, and is one of the few old settlers of
the county now living, and has witnessed all the varied changes
which have brought the country from a wild state to one of ad
vanced cultivation.
Robert McCurdy, section 25, Franklin Township, was born in
Holmes County, Ohio, Oct. 12, 1S38, a son of John McCurdy,
now of Butler Township, De Kalb County. His parents came
to this county in 1843, ^^id settled on a tract of heavily timbered
land, at a time when wild animals were their most familiar
neighbors. Our subject remained at home till the breaking
out of the war of the Rebellion, when he enlisted in Company
G, Fifty-third Indiana Infantry, and served ten months. He
participated in the battle of Kingston and several minor en
gagements. He was married Oct. 8, 1863, to Sarah A. Ken
nedy, who died three months later. July 20, 1865, he married
Cehnda Mumma, daughter of George Mumma, of Troy Town
ship. To them have been born five children ; but three are Hv
ing — Inez, Elsie and Sarah. Mr. McCurdy was reared a farmer,
and since attaining manhood has followed the vocation for him
self. He has been successful, and now owns eighty acres of
valuable land, with a Lf,,od residence and farm 'buildings. He
is a member of the Tvlasonic fraternity. He and his wife are
members of the Methodist Episcopal church.
James C. Myers, section 23, Franklin Township, was born in
Ashland County, Ohio, April 18, 1826, a son of Jacob and Susan
(Doughnut) Myers. In 1828 his parents moved to Crawford
County, Ohio, and in September, 1837, to De Kalb County, Ind.,
and settled on section 22, Franklin Township. Their nearest
neighbor was five miles distant. On account of the wild ani
mals, they built their log cabin without a door, and entered the
house by a hole in the roof. His father was a great hunter, be
ing very fond of the sport, and one morning before ten o'clock
killed six deer. James C's playmates were Indian boys. His
40

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630 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
father died in November, 1881. Of a family of ten children,
seven are living — George, Amos, James, Nancy, Jacob, Amzi,
and John C. John C. Myers was reared a farmer, and has al
ways followed that vocation. He now owns seventy acres of
land, well cultivated, with good buildings. He was married
Aug. 12, 1851, to Sarah Slentz, daughter of Henry Slentz.
They have four children — Nancy Jane, Hannah, Benjamin and
Ellen. Nancy married Charles Culbertson, of Otsego Town
ship, Steuben County, and has three children — James H., Ella
D. and Sarah E. Hannah married Peter Dirrim and has three
children — Cyrus B., Franklin E. and Berton. Benjamin mar
ried Martha Dirrim and has three children — Eva, Isaac and
Sarah E. Ellen married Robert C. Piatt and has one child —
Byron. Mr. Myers enlisted in the war of the RebeUion, In
Company A, One Hundred and Twenty-ninth Indiana Infantry,
and participated in the battles of Dalton, Buzzard's Roost,
Resaca, Atlanta, Franklin, Nashville, Kingston, and many
others. David Oberlin, farmer and stock-raiser, section 18, Franklin
Township, was born in Stark County, Ohio, April 5, 1818. His
father, Frederick Oberlin, was a pioneer of Stark County, mov
ing there from his native State, Pennsylvania, prior to the war
¦oi 18 12. He was reared on a frontier farm, and after reaching
manhood left his native county, then a thickly populated and
prosperous country, and started for the West, to again put in
practice the lessons learned in his youth. In October, 1847, he
arrived in De Kalb County, Ind., and entered a tract of Gov
ernment land in Franklin Township, at that time heavily tim
bered. He went bravely to work and by spring had enough
land cleared to plant a crop, and in due time by his own labor
had cleared sixty acres. In 1870 he moved to the farm where
he now Hves, and where he owns 106 acres of valuable land.
Mr. Oberlin was married March 10, 1841, to Mary Van Horn,
¦daughter of David Van Horn. They have four children —
Susan, Mary M., Elizabeth and Josephine. Susan married
Baless Boyer, of Smithfield Township, and has four children —
Warren, Allen, Minnie and Franklin. Mary married Charles
Kelly, of Union Township, and has three children — Alta, Ger
trude and Clyde. Elizabeth married Daniel Lockamire, of
Franklin, and has one child — Bertha May. Mr. and Mrs. Ober
lin are members of the Lutheran church.
*tx ' _  ^ -tr^

HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY. 63 1
Nathan D. Oberlin, farmer, section 15, Franklin Township,
was born in Stark County, Ohio, Feb. 5, 1830. In 1845 his
father, John Oberlin, moved his family to De Kalb County,
Ind., and settled on the northwest quarter of section 28, Frank
lin Township. Nathan D. worked for Samuel Kepler two
years at $8 per month, and in the meantirae cradled oats in the
summer at five shillings a day. In the winter of i85o-'5i he
bought forty acres of land, paying $300 for it. In 1850 he
began to work at the carpenter's trade with Ehsha W. Beard,
and remained with him five years, receiving $10 a month for
his services. He worked at his trade in connection with at
tending to his farm, and has been successful in all his pursuits.
He now owns 160 acres of well-improved land. In 1879 he
built a large brick house, the main building two stories 18 x 28
feet, with one two-story wing 17X 18 feet, and another one-story
16x26 feet. Mr. Oberlin was married Feb. 12, 1854, to Sarah
Dirrim, daughter of James Dirrim. To them have been born
six children, but three of whom are living — Kyrus C, John J.,
and Isaac C. Kyrus married Nancy Chard and hves in Otsego
Township, Steuben County ; has two children — Ora E. and
Mertie. John married Lenora Fifer, and resides in this town
ship. Mr. Oberlin has served two years as Township Trustee,
and three years as County Commissioner. In the war of the
Rebellion he was a meraber of Company G, Fiftj'-third Indiana
Infantry, and participated in the battle of Kingston or Wise's
Forks, N. C. He is a meraber of the Grand Array of the Re
public, Hamilton Post.
Isaac D. Sawvel, farmer and stock-raiser, section 33, Franklin
Township, was born in Stark County, Ohio, Oct. 18, 1836. In
1847 his father, Jacob Sawvel, moved to De Kalb County, Ind.,
and settled in Smithfield Township, where our subject grew to
manhood and was educated in the log-cabin schools. He was
reared a farmer and has made agriculture his vocation, also pay
ing considerable attention to stock-raising, having some of the
finest grades of cattle and hogs. He owns 105 acres of valuable
land, all well improved, with a pleasant residence and good farm
buildings. Mr. Sawvel was married Oct. 21, 1863, to Mary
Lutz, daughter of Michael Lu-tz, who settled in De Kalb County
in 1848. They have six children — John, Sadie, Mary, Sher
man, Laura and Sumner.
Reuben Sawvel, section 32, Franklin Township, is one of the

632 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
most successful teachers of De Kalb County. He devotes his
summers to tilling the soil and improving his farm, and during
the winter months spends his time in the school-room. He has
taught nineteen terras, and by his genial and courteous man
ner wins the confidence of his pupils, at the same time inspir
ing them to dihgent study and thoroughness in all their under
takings. Mr. Sawvel was born in Stark County, Ohio, Feb. 11,
1847, a son of Jacob Sawvel, who came to De Kalb County the
following summer. He was educated in the common school and
Auburn High School, where he was under the tuitorship of
Profs. Mcintosh and Dills. In the spring of 1880 he moved to
Frankhn Township and settled where he now lives. He owns
eighty acres of valuable land, all well improved. He was mar
ried Dec. 24, 1875, to Laura PhiUips, a native of Wayne County,
Ohio, daughter of John PhiUips. Mr. Sawvel served as As
sessor of Smithfield Township one term.
Allen Shultz, section 21, Franklin Township, was born in Ash
land County, Ohio, April 15, 1846. His father, George Shultz,
was a native of Union County, Pa., and settled in Ashland
County in 1835 ; thence in the fall of 1853 to De Kalb County.
Here our subject was reared and educated. He learned the
carpenter's trade in his youth and worked at it several years.
From 1869 till 1875 he ran a threshing-machine during harvest.
In the spring of 1876 he bought a portable steam saw-mill,
which he ran three years. He then sold the mill, keeping the
boiler and engine, and bought a new mill, which he ran, in com
pany with his brother, Frankhn, three years, when he sold it
and bought the Taylor's Corners' mill and moved it to his farm.
This mill is of forty-five horse-power, with a capacity of 10,000
feet in ten hours. He cuts 250,000 feet of lumber annually. He
owns sixty-four acres of valuable land and carries on farming in
addition to running his mill. He was married Jan. 20, 1867, to
Amanda Mann, daughter of Philip Mann, Sr., who was a sol
dier in the war of 1812 under General Harrison, and in 1842
settled in De Kalb County. To Mr. and Mrs. Shultz have been
born eight children, six of whom are living — Henry, Delia,
Loma, Burton, Rhoba and Junie. Mr. Shultz has been a mem
ber of the Knights ot Honor at Waterloo three years.
George H. Shidtz, deceased, was born in Union County, Pa.,
June 25, 1806, and died in Franklin Township, De Kalb County,
Ind., Oct. 26, 1873. He was reared and educated in his native

HISTORY OF DE K.\LB COUNTY. 633
county, and when fifteen years of age began to learn the ma
son's trade, at which he worked at intervals all his Hfe. He
was married April 9, 1S44, to Saloma Walter, a native of Union
County, Pa., daughter of Benjamin Walter, who moved to Ni
agara County. N. Y., in the spring of 1828, and to Ashland
County, Ohio, in the faU of 1838. To Mr. and Mrs. Shultz were
born ten children, eight of whom are living — Curtis, Allen,
Shannon, FrankUn, Rosanna, Arillie, Lewis and WiUiam. In
September, 1S53, they moved to De Kalb County, and settled
on section 21, Franklin Township. A small patch of land was
cleared on which was a small log cabin. Mr. Shultz was a
hard-working, energetic man, and accumulated a good prop
erty. He was a prominent, influential man, and held several
offices of trust and responsibiUty ; among others was Trustee
of the township two terms and Constable three terms. He was
a member of the Lutheran church as is also his wife.
John H. Synith, section 23, Franklin Township, was born in
Columbiana County, Ohio, Sept. 20, 1839. I" the fall of 1844
his father, Adam Smith, came with his parents to De Kalb
County and settled in Franklin Township where he still Hves.
John H. Sraith was reared and educated in this county, attend
ing the log-cabin schools in the winter, when his services were
not required on the farm. He early acquired a knowledge of
agriculture, and since attaining manhood has devoted his at
tention to that industry, and now owns a good farm of ninety
acres. He was married Oct. 7, 1859, to Margaret Slentz, daugh
ter of Henry Slentz, an early settler of Frankhn Township.
Their only child, AHce Ida, died in the second year of her age.
Mr. Smith enlisted in Company F, Forty-fourth Indiana In
fantry and served three years. He participated in the battle of
Chickamauga, but soon after was detailed to the Quartermaster's
department. Levi Stoy, farmer, section i, Frankhn Township, was born in
Tuscarawas County, Ohio, April 4, 1819, a son of John Stoy, a
native of Stoyestown, Pa., and one of a colony of five famiUes
who first settled in Tuscarawas County. Our subject was
reared in the wilds of Ohio, his only schooling being nine days
to one Hambright Reese. He afterward worked for Thomas
Bays, also a teacher, and received $8 a raonth and two hours
tuition every evening. In August, 1844, he raoved to Indiana
and settled in Stafford Township, De Kalb County. Mr. Stoy
-^_ _ . ..hr*-

¦ •Vlgi  «^ ** —
634 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
learned the shoemaker's trade in his early Hfe and worked at it
nineteen years, his wife assisting him after he came to De Kalb
County. Their means were limited, and after their settlement in
this county it was difficult many times to procure food. At one
time they lived three months on corn and corn-coffee, ground
in a coffee-mill. At another time his wife went to the store of
Mr. Cela and bought $1 1 worth of goods, paying $5 cash. Mr.
Cela told her he would trust her husband for the rest till he
could make it hunting mink and foxes. This was something he
had never done, but nothing daunted he tried, and the first day
caught two mink and one fox, for which he received $10.75.
In nine and a half days he 'made $44.33, and by this time con
cluded that hunting was more profitable than shoemaking. One
Sunday morning they arose late, and Mr. Stoy remarked, " If
we had any meat I would have been up long ago." His eldest
son, then just old enough to talk, replied, " Dad, if you get
meetin I'll jump on one leg." That was enough to make him
take his gun and go out, and before breakfast he shot a deer.
He then looked up and down the road to see if anyone saw
him, and hurried home, thinking the report from his gun had
never been so loud before. He took a shoulder to his pastor
who lived near by, and said, " Brother Olds, would you be of
fended if I presented you with a piece of veal?" "Not at all,
sir, not at aU." Mrs. Olds then said, " Brother Stoy, was that
you — " " Elmira," said the minister, "not a word, for we want
the meat," and Mrs. Olds never knew whether or not Mr. Stoy
was the man who shot on the Sabbath. Mr. Stoy lived in Staf
ford Township till 1870, when he moved to Frankhn Township
and settled on the farm where he now lives. He owns sixty
acres of valuable land, with good farm buildings, his farm being
now carried on by his son John. Mr. Stoy was married Sept.
7, 1842, to Rosanna Brown, daughter of Joseph Brown. They
have had five children, four ot whom are Hving — William H.,
Samantha, Susan and John. Williara H. married Mary Chard
and has two children — John and Nancy Rosella. Samantha
married Aaron Mills and has two children — Jerome C. and Pearl
Maude. Susan married James Ireland, and John married Lydia
Robertson and has one child — Ada Elnora. Mr. Stoy enlisted
in the war of the RebeUion in Company H, Eighty-eighth In
diana Infantry, and participated in the battles of Perryville,
Chickamauga and Mission Ridge. At the latter battle he re-

HISTORY OF DE K.VLB COUNTY. 635
ceived wounds from the effects of which he has never recov
ered, and is drawing a pension. He is a member of the Meth
odist Episcopal and his wife of the United Brethren church. He
is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic. In the
spring of 1845 Mr. Stoy built his first house, the house being
14 X 16 ; having no doors they used quilts hung over the
doorway until the cold winter forced him to build a door,
which he did himself, his only tools being an ax, a shaving-
knife and shoe-hamraer. The same spring Mr. Stoy began
work for John Webster, hewing the timber for a grist-mill
known as the Webster mills, the agreement being for Mr.
Stoy to work nine months for 40 cents per day and board,
he walking four miles to and from his work every night and
morning. He then proceeded to plant an orchard, and as he
did not have a foot of land cleared, he set out his apple trees
among the native trees of the forest. Two years after he
cleared the land between his little apple trees, and in time had
one of the best orchards in the county. Mr. Stoy soon be
came famous as a hunter, and many were the exciting chases
he had with the deer which abounded so plentifully in the (then)
unsettled portions of Indiana. On one occasion he had a fight
with a wounded buck that knocked him down and tore all the
clothes and part of the skin from his body. He was finally res
cued by some of his neighbors, after half an hour's hard fight, in
a rather bad state as his clothes were torn off, and the snow was
about eight inches deep. He afterward tanned the hide of the
deer, and with another one made himself a pair of pants which
he wore to church for some time.
Peter Teutsch, farmer, section 36, Frankhn Township, was
bom near Alsace, France, March 22, 1850, a son of Michael
Teutsch, who brought his family to America in i860, and set
tled in Frankhn Township, De Kalb Co., Ind., where he has
since hved. Our subject was reared a farmer, and has always
followed that vocation. He was educated in France and in the
common schools of Franklin Township, acquiring a practical
business education. He now has a good farm of seventy-three
acres, which is well cultivated, and his farm buildings are com
modious and in good repair. Mr. Teutsch was married Jan. 5,
1S73, to Artemisia Olds, daughter of Carhsle Olds, an early
settler of Frankhn Township. To them have been born three
children, two of whom are living — Frank B. and Leota E.

-bK"

636 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
Mr. and Mrs. Teutsch are merabers of the United Brethren
church. Hon. Miles Waterman, section 17, Franklin Township, was
born in Onondago County, N. Y., Dec. 22, 1818, a son of Elijah
and Sarah Waterman, natives of Massachusetts, the former of
Pittsfield and the latter of Salem. In the spring of 1837 he
accompanied his parents to Steuben County, Ind., and the fol
lowing fall to De Kalb County, and settled on section 19,
Frankhn Township. At that time there was no house between
their place of settlement and Auburn, a distance of eight miles.
The principal inhabitants were Indians, who often visited them
to exchange cranberries and game for corn meal and bread.
The father died in 1864, aged seventy -five years, the mother
having preceded hira several years. Our subject was reared
on a farm, receiving a comraon-school education. After com
ing to De Kalb County he assisted his father in clearing his
land and improving a farm, and since attaining manhood has
followed agricultural pursuits. He has been successful, and
now owns a good farm of 330 acres. He has always taken an
interest in the public affairs of the county, and in the fall of
I 45 was elected County Auditor, and served ten years. In
the fall of 1858 he was elected to the State Legislature, again
in 1862, and a third time in 1874, serving in the meantime in
two special sessions, aad while there introduced two important
bills, which were adopted. He was married in the fall of 1845
to Susan Beard, daughter of George Beard, an early settler of
the county. They have had five children — Jasper M., OHver
P. and Olive C. (twins), M. Jefferson and Emma A. OHver P.
is deceased.
Henry Willard, deceased, late of Frankhn Tow-nship, was
born in Tuscarawas County, Ohio, March 13, 181 2. He came
to this county in 1841, settling in Troy Township when it was
a heavily timbered forest, and after clearing land he built a
log cabin. He was quite a hunter, and in those days killed
hundreds of deer. He was married June 6, 1S3S, to Mary
Brown, a native of Tuscarawas County, and a daughter of
Joseph Brown, who is now deceased. To them were bom two
children— an infant deceased and Joseph died at the age of
thirty-nine years. The latter was twice married, the first time
to Miss Louisa Nichols, and his second wife was Mrs. CaroHne
Jackman, by whom he had two children — Mary and Henry.

r

HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY. 637
He was a member of the United Brethren church. Our sub
ject was also an earnest member of the United Brethren church.
His death occurred March 31, 1877, leaving a host of friends to
mourn his loss. Mrs. Willard moved to Butler Nov. 6, 1884,
having sold her farra in Franklin Township where she had
hved twenty -eight years. Mrs. Willard attended the first
United Brethren meeting held in Butler, which was held by
Bishop Henry Coomler and Rev. Jonathan Thoraas.
Mathez^' Henry IVilson, farmer and stock-raiser, section 36,
Franklin Township, was born in England, March 16, 1842. His,
father, George Wilson, was a merchant in England, but in 1851
moved his family to the United States and settled on a farm in
Wayne County, Ohio, and in i860 came to De Kalb County,
Ind., and settled in Stafford Township where he still lives.
Our subject was reared on a farm from his ninth year, receiving
a common-school education. Since attaining manhood he has
devoted his attention to agriculture and stock-raising, making
a specialty of fine horses ot the English draft and Norman
breeds. His stallion, Fred, is a fine black horse, sixteen hands
high and weighs 1,350 pounds. Mr. Wilson was married in the
faU of 1862 to Mary Ocker, daughter of Jacob and Keziah
Ocker. They have had three children ; but two are living —
Wilham and Clyde. Mr. and Mrs. Wilson are members of the
Methodist Episcopal church.
Michael Wolf, one of the most enterprising farmers and a
worthy and respected citizen of Franklin Township, resides on
section 31, where he owns eighty acres of valuable land, sixty-
five acres of which he has cleared of the timber. He was born
in Stark County, Ohio, Dec. 17, 1823, a son of John Wolf, a
native of Loudoun County, Va. He was reared and educated
in his native county, and 185 1 came to DeKalb County, Ind.,
and settled in the woods, having to clear away the trees before
he could build a cabin. Bringing with him Httle raoney, but an
abundance of energy and arabition, he went bravely to work
and from a heavily timbered tract of land has made one of the
finest farms in the township. Mr. Wolf was married Oct. 25,
1849, to Frances Willey, daughter of James WiUey. To them
have been born five children, but four of whom are Hving —
Hiram F., Edward H., AHce M., and Jennie S.

< S  »- "•" ' 6 \

CHAPTER XVI.

JACKSON TOWNSHIP.

Situation. — Geography and Topography. — Organization.
— First Comers — Recollections of a Pioneer by John
Wyatt. — Population. — Property and Taxation. — Agri
cultural Statistics. — Early Justices, Constables,
Trustees and Assessors.— Biographical.
Jackson Township is in the southern tier of the county, and
is bounded on the north by Union Township, on the east by
Concord Township, on the south by Cedar Creek Township,
AUen County, and on the west by Butler and Keyser town
ships. It is crossed in its northwestern part by Cedar Creek.
The township has a heavy clay soil and much swamp-land.
Successful efforts are now being made to drain these swamps
by means of ditches, and in time the character of the farms wiU
be much improved.
In the northwestern corner is Auburn Junction, where three
railroads raeet, raaking six iron roads in different directions.
These are-: The Wabash, St. Louis & Pacific, Baltimore & Ohio,
and Michigan Southern. Auburn Junction is a good place for
a town, were it not so close to the ancient and prosperous
county seat, whose prosperity seems firmly rooted.
Jan. I, 1838, the Board of Commissioners " ordered that town
ship 33 north, range 13 east, be organized as a civil township
to be known by the name ot Jackson Township, and that John
Watson be appointed Inspector of Elections for said township. •
The first election was afterward appointed for the first Monday
in April, 1838, at the house of John Watson.
Among the pioneers of Jackson Township was William Mil
ler, whose son, Joseph, was the first County Surve3^or. An
other son, Thomas, was killed by the overturning of a wagon
load of cross-ties for the Eel River (now Wabash) Railroad. An
early settler was Thomas L. Yates, the eccentric Judge, who
sold his farm on the river, and settled three miles down the
638

S^ I

»-?

history of de kalb county. 639
creek from Auburn on the land which was afterward the home
of Alonzo Lockwood. Others in that part of the township were :
Leonard Boice, Adam P. Hartle, the Phillips family and Ben
jamin Miller. In the southeast there were early to be found
James Steward, Samuel Henderson, John and David Moody,
John and Wilham Watson, Srs., and their families, Nathan
Wyatt and his sons, then forming three families, Jacob Maurer,
for a long time Justice of the Peace, and WiUis Bishop.
Northward of these on the east side of the township were
found Wilham Means, the first Justice of the Peace in Jackson
Township ; Samuel Farney, a prominent citizen ; Henry Dove,
Abraham Johnson, Amariah Johnson, Wilham R. Moore, Will
iam McClure, WilHam Squiers, Henry Brown, Matthew
George, William George, Samuel Geisinger and Nelson Grif
fith, for three years a County Commissioner. In the center of
the townships the first settlers were, Joseph Walters, the former
County Commissioner, Mr. Essig and William McNabb.
recollections of a pioneer.
BY JOHN WYATT.
In the fall of 1836 I came to this township from Richland
County, Ohio, in search of a location for my future home. I
procured the services of David Butler, then a resident of this
county, to pilot me in search of land. We started westward
from Spencerville, he following the section lines, while I trav
eled through the woods, which were full of a dense growth of
wild pea vine, prickly ash, etc. The knees of my pants soon gave
out — it was rough on the naked hide — binding myself up I
struggled on. Upon reaching the south line of section 34 (the
section where I now live), I selected my land and returned to
Ohio, and in the fall of 1837 returned here with my family,
following the trail made by Sarauel Henderson and the party
accompanying him the year before (October, 1836). That party
consisted of Mr. Henderson and his family, John Watson, WiU
iam Watson, Willis Bishop, John Hursh, James Means, Edward
Porter, and their families, with a few unmarried younger mem
bers of the different families. They made the first settlement in
the southern and eastern half of the township. The trail raade by
these settlers was followed by my father and his family relatives,
who came here in the spring following (1837). Their leaving
of Ohio was called the exodus of the " tribe of Wyatt." My
7 «  "- -•  e >y

640 PIISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
father, Nathan Wyatt, had with himself and wife, three sons
and one daughter in their iraraediate faraily, one married son,
Thomas and his family, four married daughters with their hus
bands; Amariah and Abraham Johnson, Wm. A. Squiers and
Samuel Tarney, raade the families of the party. Other rela
tives followed within the next few years. The Wyatt tribe
bore an honorable part in making De Kalb County.
Soon after I reached here 1 was taken sick. I hired my
brother-in-law, WilHam A. Squiers, to cut logs to make my
house ; we built this with a puncheon floor and an outside chim
ney made with clay and straw. The following spring I added
a hearth made of mud ; we were comfortable, and in better cir
cumstances than some of my neighbors. About holidays winter
set in. I had nothing of any kind to winter my seven head of
cattle brought with me. The poor animals would roara around
the house and moan so pitifully in the night, that I would cover
my head to keep out the sound. I bought some corn meal and
a barrel of salt (for which I paid $9) in Fort Wayne. A little
corn meal, one pint per day, salt and browsing of tree tops,
brought them out in good condition in the spring.
The season of 1838 brought, by the use of swamp water, which
we had to strain the " wigglers " out of, the fever and ague.
I had no money. I broke up my yoke of cattle, giving one ox
to two of my brothers-in-law for making me a well. After going
down thirty feet we ran out of provisions. I managed to get
two bushels of corn, and going nine miles to mill by a zigzag
road through the woods, could not get my grist until the next
day, and then not, because 1 would not buy a jug of whisky; as
1 " tasted not and handled not," I refused. I traveled that road
five times, and finally to keep from starving at home, gave
money to fill that jug, got my grist and finished my weh
and got good water, which we felt was Hke drinking water
frora the well of Salvation.
That year (1838) I hired a man to clear four acres of ground.
He brought his wife to help him, and their two children, one a
babe and the other thought to be old enough to keep the mos
quitoes from the infant, but the poor little thing looked as
though it had the chicken pox and itch combined before they
got through.
In February, 1845, on ray way to mill, nine miles away, in
going down a hill on which the road turned almost at a right

71

f

history OF DE K.\LB COUNTY. 641
angle, a Mr. Barnes coming up the hill with his team met me,
and being unable (^not seeing each other soon enough) to avoid
a collision, my team and myself were thrown down the preci
pice about twenty-five feet. 1, by landing in dense underbrush,
escaped without serious injury ; one of my horses was consid
erably hurt.
In the spring of 1S3S 1 gave $12 for a barrel of flour
and $16 a hundred for pork. I was out of provisions at
one time, and my father said he would pay for some corn
for both ot us if I could find any. He wanted twelve
bushels. I went out west of Fort Wayne and found a Mr.
Sweeney who had plenty of corn, three years old, musty and
covered with litters of rats. I could have some at $1 per
bushel. I complained of its condition as not being fit to
eat ; he said, " You take it or let it alone." We had to watch
that corn night and day on our way home to keep it from be
ing stolen. Coming up the St. Jo River with our boat loaded
was hard, laborious work. We landed and cut a road back
to the river for our oxen to haul the corn home ; for the
days of toil and nights of watching I got for ray share three
bushels of corn, which had to be washed and picked over ker
nel by kernel before I could take it to mill to lie ground at
28 cents per bushel.
In the fall of 1838 my father, Isaac De Pew, Samuel Tarney
and myself went to Fort Wayne to buy our winter's supply of
pork. None could be bought in town ; we went two miles be
low and bought out of a drove coming in, and helped butcher
them. The following day we started homeward with our boat
loaded. De Pew had found the attractions of the town too
powerful for him and we were obliged to leave him. The
river was flooded and rapidly rising from the heavy rains of the
few days previous, and what was worse the weather had
turned to freezing. We made against the current only six
miles that day, and that only by keeping out of the river and
working through the timbered-flooded bottoms. We were
nearly overcome by the cold, and many times barely escaped
being wrecked. We could not land to eat ; finally, when about
exhausted and unable to make any further progress, Mr. Nott-
stine and another man came to our relief, took charge of our
boat and cargo while we made our way to their hospitable
homes for rest and refreshment.

V^

642 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
The following day the bottoms were ten feet under water
and full of running ice. We left our pork and went home and
waited for the waters to run down.
Scores of pages I might fill with stories of pioneer hardships,
which, perhaps, would sound like fiction to the young of this
day. My brother Thomas was a great hunter of deer, bear, coon,
etc. One morning upon rising he spoke to his wife about bare
foot tracks on his porch in the new snow. She could not ex
plain them ; he, bound to find out the course, followed them
down to a deer crossing in the swamp and saw where the
breech of a gun had been resting in the snow, and followed the
tracks back to his own door, and thus became aware of the
reahties of his dream of midnight hunting.
Henry Dove was a great hunter — rarely in early days made
any other preparations for his support. I remember that in
1838 he was so hard pushed at one time for game as to shoot
and eat a hawk.
The first religious services ever held in this township within
my knowledge were in 1839, at Wm. Watson's house, by Rev.
James T. Robe, of the M. E. church.
Rev. Lewis Hicklan, missionary of the Methodist Protestant
church, came here in 1841 and organized a church ; to-day we
have several churches : The " Church of God " (Free church),
the Methodist Protestant church, " Rehoboth " and the " Hope
well " United Brethren church.
The first school was taught in a log cabin on section 23 by
my brother-in-law, James P. Plummer, I think in 1845 ; he
taught several years. Plummer was hot tempered and made it
warm for refractory scholars ; he came from Ohio two or three
years later than myself ; he was not popular ; had but few
friends ; was opinionated intolerant — full of passion. He died
of consumption. His last days were full of penitence and en
deavor to make his peace with all men ; dying full of Christian
faith, he was as one "snatched from the burning." Now we
have ten school districts. How little our school children of
this day realize the deprivations of their fathers, or in any great
degree appreciate their own advantages. If in any degree 1
have awakened appreciation of the blessings now enjoyed under
God by our youth of the present, by this brief sketch of the
past, 1 am content.
¦ 1— -f

HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY. 643
The population of Jackson Township in 1880 was 1,430, or
40 to the square mile. This is an increase of 289 over the
population in 1870. The. rate of taxation in 1S84 is- $1.61 ; the
poll tax, $1.25 ; the number of acres of land, 22,739.02; value
of lands, $389,001 ; value of improvements, $44,265 ; value of
lands and improvements, $433,266 ; value of lots, $3,045 ; value
of improvements, $1,480; value of lots and improvements,
$4,025; value of personal property, $95,299; total value of tax
ables, $533,090; number of polls, 241* total amount of taxes,
$9,028.12 ; number of children of school age, 493 ; valuation per
capita, $361.50.
In 188 1 the township had 3,445 acres in wheat, producing
27,560 bushels, or 8 bushels per acre ; 2,080 acres in corn,
producing 52,410 bushels, or 25 bushels per acre of upland
and 35 bushels for bottom-land; 958 acres in oats, producing
24,950 bushels, at 25 bushels per acre ; 662 acres in meadow, pro
ducing 496 tons of hay, at three-fourths of a ton per acre ; and
68 acres in potatoes, producing 1,904 bushels, or 28 bushels
per acre.
Following are some of the early township officials prior to
i860: Justices of the Peace — William Means, John C. Hursh, A. D.
Goetschius, Henry Brown and Jacob Mowrer.
Constables — William R. Moore, WilHam McNabb, Benjamin
Bailey, Frank Bailey, David Mathews, S. Geisinger, Thomas
Wyatt, WiUis Bishop, WiUiam Beatty, A. H. Flutter, John
Carper, Burton Brown, and John McClelland.
Trustees — Oliver Shroeder, Aaron Osborn, A. D. Goetschius,
James Moore, Israel Shearer, Christian Sheets, Samuel Tarney,
Joseph Walters, Isaac Fiandt, Peter Shafer, James Woolsey,
¦¦ David Henderson, Elias Zimmerraan, Abraham Johnson and
James McClelland.
Assessors — John G. Dancer, Joseph Walters and Alexander
Provines. BIOGRAPHICAL.
James W. Bishop was born in Jackson Township, July 10,
1842, and has always Hved on his father's old homestead. His
parents, Willis and Mary Bishop, with two children, came to
De Kalb County from Richland County, Ohio, in October,
1836, arriving here the 20th of the month. He located on sec-
tion|26, then a piece of wild land, and lived here till his death,

'-711

N

344

HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.

"Tp

Sept. 22, 1875. His widow is' stiU living on the old home
stead with her son James. They had a family of four sons, two
born in Ohio and two in De Kalb County— John W., Wilham
who died in May, i860; Willis and James W. Mr Bishop
was a useful, active citizen, and lived a Hfe of industry, making
a good home for his family and giving his children a start in
Hfe. John W. and James W. own the homestead jointly. The
former was born in Richland County, Ohio, Feb, 20, 1833, and
has never married, making his home in his brother's family.
James W. went West when a young man and spent four years,
and on his return settled down to a quiet, agricultural Hfe. He
was married July 7, 1878, to Mary Mullen, a native of Jackson
Township, born Sept. i, 1858, daughter of Daniel and Hester
MuUen. They have three children— Martha E., Ophia J. and
Charles C. Mr. Bishop is a good, practical farmer, and a citi
zen fully ahve to all the material interests of the township,
taking an especial interest in the cause of education, although
other causes are not neglected by him.
John S. Boots, one of the leading farmers and fruit-groweVs,
and a representative man of Jackson Township, resides on sec
tion 35. Of the 260 acres of land which his farm contains, 160
are under an advanced state of cultivation. He pays special
attention to the raising of fruit, having three orchards planted
by his own hands, and every variety of fruit grown in this
climate can be found in its season on Mr. Boots' farm. His
vineyard is without doubt the finest in the county. In 1881 he
received a diploma from the Indiana State Board of Agriculture
for the finest display of apples. His residence is commodious,
and is conveniently arranged with all the modern improve
ments. Mr. Boots was born in Smithfield Township, Jefferson
Co., Ohio, Oct. 5, 1822, a son of James and Sarah (Springer) '
Boots, his father of Scotch and Holland, and his mother of Eng
hsh and Irish descent. His father 4ied in 1855 and his mother
in 1877. In 1S27 his parents moved to Copeland County, Ohio.
He remained with them till manhood, and April 12, 1849, mar
ried Eliza Ambrose, a native of Bedford County, Pa., born
Feb. 22, 1823, a daughter of John and Barbara (Folck) Ambrose
May 6, following, Mr. Boots started for the West in search of
a place to locate. He entered his present farm and returned
to Ohio, and June 20, started with his wife for the wilds of
Indiana. To them were born six children — Sarah J., wife of

HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY. 645
Daniel Butler ; Amanda S. ; James A. ; Ida, wife of George
Balch; William R. and John T. Aug. 26, 1866, Mrs. Boots
died, and Feb. 22, 1868, Mr. Boots married Matilda Hall, a na
tive of Seneca County, Ohio, born March 18, 1835, a daughter
of John and Sophia (Harper) Hall. They have three children
— Perley, Elsie C. and Myrtle. Mr. Boots is one of the most
enterprising and progressive men of the township. He has
been Road Supervisor many years, and has made his district
famous for its good roads. The Northeastern Indiana Agri
cultural and Horticultural Societies each gave $25 to the dis
trict having the best roads, and Mr. Boots won both for his
district. No. 5. He is a very positive and decided man in his
opinions, and his outspoken manner often offends, but neverthe
less he is highly esteemed and respected for his upright charac
ter and honest integrity. As a School Director he has been a
very efficient worker, and in all his relations to the town and
county has been a public-spirited, philanthropic benefactor.
Burton Brown, son of Henry and Aseneth (Knight) Brown,
was bom in Marion County, Ohio, Aug. 23, 1832, and was
about five years of age when his parents moved to DeKalb
County. He was reared on the farm, receiving his education
in the district schools. He was married April 15, 1855, to
Harriet J. Squiers, a native of Sandusky County, Ohio, born
Oct. 4, 1836, a daughter of William A. and Susan (Wyatt)
Squiers, early settlers of the county. Her mother died Aug.
12, 1863, and her father now makes her house his home. He is
eighty-six years of age, and with the exception of sorae of the
infirmities of old age, is in the enjoyment of good health. Mr.
and Mrs. Brown have had a faraily of nine children — William
.H., Samuel R., Laban A., AdeUa (died at the age of fourteen
years), Sidney Susan, Phebe Dorcas, Stephen B., John (died at
the age of seven years), and Russell W. Mr. Brown has a
pleasant home on section 2. * He has been successful financially,
and by his upright dealing has gained the confidence of his fel
low-townsmen. In 188 1 he was obliged to have his left leg am
putated as the effects of a fever sore, and is now obliged to live
retired from active farm life, although he still superintends the
work. Henry Brown was born in Knox County, Ohio, and in 1837
came with his family, consisting of a wife and three children,
from Marion County, Ohio, to De Kalb County, Ind., and set-
41
•i' @  ^ * ' a \.

A

646 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
tied on section 11, Jackson Township. The next winter he was
obliged to go seventy railes for corn, for which he paid |i a
bushel. He improved a farm of eighty acres, residing here till
his death. He married Aseneth Knight in Ohio, and to them
were bom six children, three in Ohio — Burton ; Leander, died
Oct. 2, 1871; Mary Ann, died Sept. 22, 1840; two died in in
fancy, and Milas, born July 15, 1839. ^^^- Brown died July
23, 1844, in the thirfy -fourth year of her age. In 1847 Mr.
Brown married Agnes Cooper, and to them were born six chil
dren — Samaria, wife of P- C. Wyrick ; Samuel, Amaziah, Henry
C, Dinah and Levi. Mrs. Brown died Oct. 17, 1872, aged
forty years, and Mr. Brown March 18, 1879, aged sixty-nine
years. The tornado that swept over the country in 1841 en
tirely destroyed Mr. Brown's house. The little son, Milas, and
a little cousin, a child ot Williara Munroe, were the only occu
pants of the house at the time. A bread-trough made of half a
log scooped out stood on the end, and the door, which was torn
from its hinges, fell over and rested on the trough directly over
the children. This was covered with the debris. When this
was dug away and an opening made, the eldest one immedi
ately asked, " Can we come out now?"
John Cool, one of the prominent and reliable citizens of Jack
son Township, resides on section 17, where he has a comforta
ble home and is surrounded with a happy family and kind
friends. He was born in Yates County, N. Y., Aug. i, 1828,
and when five years of age his parents, Philip and Mary Cool,
moved to Sandusky County, Ohio, where his father soon after
died. His mother then returned to New York with her five
youngest children, her eldest, Daniel, remaining in Ohio. She
died about a year later. When eleven years of age John re
turned to Ohio and Hved with his brother Daniel, who was
married, till 1843, when he came to De Kalb County with his
brothers Christopher and Isaac, reaching the county Nov. 18.
Both brothers died in this county. Daniel Cool and his family
afterward moved to Jackson Township .and later to Union
Township, where he died in 1882. Another brother, Thomas
Cool, came still later and now resides in Auburn. A sister,
Mrs. Catherine Thrall, moved to Sandusky County, Ohio, and
died there. John Cool remained in De Kalb County tUl 1850
and then visited Ohio and New Jersey where he had a sister,
Mrs. Sarah D. Hunt, spending about a year, and while there,

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^1* — y^*
HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY. 647
Oct. 8, 1 85 1, was married to Sarah A. Wilson, a native of Sus
sex County, N. J., born April 5, 1831. They then came to his
forest home and commenced housekeeping in the log cabin.
Ten children have been born to them — James, Mary E., wife
of W. S. Dancer ; AHce, wife of Alpheus McClellan ; Thomas ;
Clara, wife of J. S. Weaver; John, Jr., Viola and George W.
Two are deceased. Perry and Charles P. Mr. Cool is a Dem
ocrat in political faith.
Samuel Cornell, one of the substantial citizens of Jackson
Township, was born in Carroll County, Md., June 29, 1821, a
son of Smith and Mary Cornell. His father was a well-educated
man and a teacher by profession, mathematics being his spe
cialty. Samuel was the eleventh of his father's family, seven of
whom grew to maturity and lived to an advanced age, the
youngest living to become sixty years of age. Mr. Cornell had
good educational advantages in his youth, which he well im
proved. He was taught mainly by his father, a most excellent
preceptor, and also had the benefit of several terms at Gettys
burg College. Mr. Cornell visited this county first in 1838 in
company with his older brothers, Benjamin and John. The
former settled in Wilhams County, Ohio, and the latter in But
ler Township, this county. Both are now deceased. Samuel
remained in this vicinity two years, then returning to Maryland
he taught the most of the time till 1848. Late in that year he
again visited this township and selected the place he now occu
pies, spending a year here. He then returned to Maryland
and taught two terms in Washington County, and March 26,
1850, was married to Mary A. Hawver, who was born in
Frederick County, Md., March 9, 1830. The foUowing June
found them in their new home, having made the journey in a
wagon, being three weeks on the road. Mr. Cornell com
menced hfe in De Kalb County with very limited means, but
industry combined with frugality has had its proper reward,
and he now has one of the finest farms in this part of the
county. His dweUing and farm buildings are unsurpassed, and
in his declining years he has promise of plenty of this world's
goods, which, combined with the love and esteem of his neigh
bors, insures him a peaceful old age. Mr. Cornell taught the
first school in his district. He and his wife are members ot
the Lutheran church. In 1859 he was sent as a delegate to the
General Synod convened at Pittsburg, Pa., to represent the

i-

« — ^

\vr

¦ •r-4   '.  kL-.
648 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
Northern Indiana Synod, going via Albany and New York
City that he raight visit his brother, Rev. Nathan H. CorneU,
then located at Ghent, ColumDia Co., N. Y. He loves to relate
the adventures his hoosier appearance led to. One in particu
lar which occurred in the streets of New York City. The Al
bany boat having reached the wharf at an early hour, he thought
he would stroll uninterrupted as the streets were quiet.
Walking up Cortland street, the only two men in sight seemed
to see something in him worth developing. After some prelim
inaries one approached him from the front and the other from
the rear. This to him meant robbery, but the dauntless bear
ing and unwavering course of Mr. Cornell caused a retreat of
the ruffians, who upon closer inspection found they were mis
taken in their man. Mr. Cornell served two terms of four
years each as Director of Wittenburg CoUege at Springfield,
Ohio. He, as was his father, was a strong anti-slavery man
prior to the war, and that in the slave State of Maryland. He
is now an ardent Republican. Mr. and Mrs. Cornell have had
a family of six children — Mary, deceased, wife of Alexander
Freeman ; Wesley Calvin, of Washington Territory ; Hester
v., wife of R. C. Provines; Martha E., wife of Thomas Elson;
Laura, at home, and George, who died at the age of thirteen
months. Mattie Freeman, the daughter of their daughter
Mary, has been adopted into the home of her grandparents.
Wilson S. Dancer, son of John G. and Margaret Dancer, was
born in Ashland County, Ohio, Oct. 9, 1842. In 1848 his parents
came to De Kalb County, and kept the old Parsons Hotel in
Aubum the first year ; then bought 240 acres of heavily tim
bered land in Jackson Township, on section 20. His father was
born in Washington County, Pa., April 26, 1802, and his wife,
Margaret Boyce, in New York, April 12 of the same year.
They were married in Ohio, July 10, 1823. Mr. Dancer was a
man of strict integrity, highly intellectual and a prominent citi
zen of the county. His wife died April 29, 1S69, and he July
20, 1873. They had a family of nine children — Elizabeth
married John Duncan, who died in Ohio, and is now the widow
of Williara Essig ; John, a physician of Lagrange County, Ind.;
William, a physician, who came to Indiana in 1846 and prac
ticed in Auburn till his death in 1854; Elias went to Vermillion
County, 111., and there married, and enlisted in Company 1, One
Hundred and Twenty-fifth lUinois Infantry, and died in 1863 ;
Tis  =^

HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY. 649
Mary, wife of George Moore, of Big Rapids, Mich.; isarah Ann,
wife of Theodore Shepard, of Lagrange, Ind.; Elijah died In
Ohio, Jan. 9, 1S4S, aged twenty-two years; Wilson S.; James
died in 1S50. Wilson S. Dancer was six years of age when
his parents came to De Kalb County. In his recollections of
early advantages he says he was nine years of age when he was
first enabled to attend school, which was taught by Samuel
Cornell. He made the best of his Hmited opportunities and ob
tained a good business education. He was married Jan. i, 1S65,
to Nora A., daughter of Thomas and Ellen Rowley. She died
July I, 1878, leaving six children — John, James, Jessie, Charles
R., Virdie and an infant, Harry D., who died the 24th of the
same month. All save James are living with their father. March
II, 1880, Mr. Dancer married Mary E. Cool, who was born
Aug. 18, 1855, a daughter of John and Sarah Cool. Mr. Dancer
is one of the most honored citizens of Jackson Township. In
pohtics he is a Democrat, and has been elected by his party to
several positions of trust. He owns 1 1 5 acres of land on sec
tion 20, which is a part of his father's homestead.
Isaac Ditmars, son of John A. and Eliza Ditmars, was born in
Wayne County, Ohio, Sept. 7, 1837. When he was sixteen
years of age he came to De Kalb County with his parents and,
with the exception of the time he was in the service of his
country, remained with them till twenty-five years of age. He
enhsted in September, 1861, in Company F, Forty -fourth In
diana Infantry, and participated in the battle of Fort Donelson
and at Shiloh, Tenn., on the 6th of April, 1862, where he was so
seriously wounded as to necessitate his discharge from ttie ser
vice, and is now receiving a pension on account of his injuries.
He was married Oct. 30, 1862, to Martha A. George, a native
of Ashland County, Ohio, born May 24, 1841, a daughter of
John T. and Nancy George, who came to Indiana in 1844.
Mr. and Mrs. Ditmars comraenced raarried life in Butler Town
ship where he bought 108 acres of land, which by industry and
frugality he has made into a good farm. His residence is now
on section 7, Jackson Township, and is one of the best in the
township. He owns sixty-nine acres in the home farra, all un
der good cultivation. Mr. a^d Mrs. Ditraars have had four
children, but three of whom are living — George M., Mary and
AnnaL. Ulysses M. E., the eldest son, died Oct. 2, 1873, in
his eleventh year. He was a robust, healthy boy and in his

650 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
love for adventure and out of door sports, had climbed a tree,
when in some way he lost his footing and fell to the ground, re
ceiving injuries which resulted in death in thirty minutes. Mr.
Ditmars is in politics a Republican, and is one of the represent
ative men of the county. Mrs. Ditmars' father was born in
Pennsylvania, Dec. 9, 181 1, and is still living in Jackson Town
ship, De Kalb County, Ind. Her mother was born in Pennsyl
vania, July 17, 1812, and died at her home in Jackson Township,
March 23, 1876.
Peter Ditmars, son of John A, and Eliza Ditmars, was born
in Wayne County, Ohio, Aug. 31, 1834, and was in his nine
teenth year when his parents moved to De Kalb County. He
remained at home assisting his father on the farm till after the
breaking out of the Rebellion. Jan. 25, 1865, he enlisted in
Company D, Fifty-ninth Indiana Infantry as a recruit and
served till the mustering out of the regiment in July, 1865. He
returned home and remained with his parents till his marriage,
Jan. 6, 1870, to Lois Grace West, a native of Onondaga County,
N. Y., born Aug. 6, 1840, a daughter of Joseph and Joanna
West, who settled in Butler Township, De Kalb County, Ind.,
in 1844. Both are now deceased. Mr. Ditmars' home is on
section 6 near the railroad junction, and is noticeable for its
fine location and beautiful buildings. His farm contains eighty
acres of valuable land. To Mr. and Mrs. Ditmars have been
born four children, but two of whora are living — Jessie May
and Aray Grace. The eldest, Ida Ivern, died in her third year,
and the second, WilHam D., aged fifteen months. Mr. Ditmars
is a Repubhcan in politics. He stands high in the estimation of
his fellow townsmen and is a representative citizen.
Edmund Freeman was born near Clarksburg, W. Va., Oct. 22,
18 1 3. His parents, Williara and Nancy Freeman, were early
settlers of Richland County, Ohio, locating there in 1820. His
father died Sept. 12, 1827. Mr. Freeman was reared a farmer,
but being a natural mechanic has given considerable attention
to carpentering and mill work. He was married Sept. 14,
1832, to Martha Dancer, a native ot Jefferson County, Ohio,
born June 5, 181 7, a daughter of John and Elizabeth Dancer.
In March, 1830, Mr. and Mrs. Freeman and Mr. and Mrs. Dan
cer came to De Kalb County. Mr. Freeman bought the farm
on section 30 known as the Miller farm where he has since
Hved. He owns fifty-nine acres of choice land, and his resi-
"

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HISTORY OF DEKALB COUNTY. . 65 1
dence and farm buildings are models of architecture. In addi
tion to the homestead Mr. Freeman has other land in different
parts of the county. To Mr. and Mrs. Freeman have been born
thirteen children, eleven of whom Hved till maturity — Nancy
Jane, deceased, married George Essig; Elizabeth, wife of Henry
Myers; Juha, wife of Owen Hensinger; Rosan, wife of Amos
Hilkey ; Louisa, widow of John Bowen ; John, married Eliza
beth Bailey ; Caroline S., wife of Madison De Pew ; Alexander,
married Marv Cornell; James, married Mary Hilkey; George,
married Miss Bowen; Edmund H., married Mary Ricklewall.
The eldest and youngest died in infancy. Mr. Freeman was
reared in the Methodist Episcopal church, and since 1830 has
been an active member of the society. In politics Mr. Free
man is a Republican, but in local elections sets aside political
differences and votes for the man he considers the most fitted
for the place. Mr. Freeman's grandfather, Sarauel Freeraan,
bore an honorable part in the war for the independence of the
colonies. Michael Friend was born in Richland County, Ohio, Feb. 7,
1819, a son of George and Barbara Friend, natives of Pennsyl
vania, and eArly settlers of Richland County, where the father
died in 1828. His raother afterward married Robert Alhson.
In 18 Mr. Friend came to Jackson Township, and bought a
tract of heavily timbered land, which is now his home, and in
1842 his mother and stepfather came to the county, and made
this farm their home till his mother's death in 1852. Mr. Alli
son then went to Michigan and died there. Michael Friend
was married July 23, 1844, to EHza Miller. In 1854 they settled
on their farm which is one of the best in the township. Mr.
Friend is one of the most practical farmers of the township,
and his home shows the care of a painstaking and thrifty owner.
His buildings are all in good order, and his residence is one of
the best in the township. To Mr. and Mrs. Friend have been
bom five chUdren — Mary Ellen, wife of Samuel Osborn ; James
M., with his father ; Nancy Jane, deceased ; Norrls and Amos ;
the two latter born in this county. July 9, 1883, Mrs. Friend
died, leaving her husband after thirty-nine years of happy mar
ried life, to finish the journey of life alone.
Charles P. Glazier, was born in Trumbull County, Ohio, Aug.
28, 1848, a son of Mosley and Alzina Glazier. When he was
four years of age his parents moved to De Kalb County, Ind.,

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652 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
and settled on section 27, Butler Township. His father died
in Ohio, Jan. 14, 1877, while visiting relatives, and his remains
were brought to Huntertown, Ind., where his eldest son now re
sides. His mother still Hves at the old homestead in Butler
Township. Their family consisted of four children — Ellen J.
born July 16, 1836; Nathan C, born March 25, 1846; Charles
P., born Aug. 28, 1848; Ann E., bom Oct. 8, 1855. Ellen L
raarried Samuel Clark frora Ohio, and subsequently raoved to
Wisconsin where Mr. Clark died, and she afterward married
M. F. Lunt. Nathan raarried a daughter of Samuel Lize.
C. P. married EHza E. Rowley, daughter of Thomas and Ellen
Rowley. Ann E. married M. A. Carnahan, and resides on the
old homestead. Their father was a very energetic and hard
laboring man. At the time of his death he had just completed
a nice residence. C. P Glazier remained with his parents tiU
his marriage, and then located on section 3 1 , Jackson Township,
where he has a fine farm of 113 acres. He is a great lover of
sports, especially the chase, and since the game has been driven
from this county he occasionally goes to Wisconsin for a few
weeks' deer hunting. In thq winter of 1884 he visited his sister
Mrs. Lunt, in Clark County, Wis., and brought home several
trophies of his expertness. In politics he is a Democrat.
John Hamilton was born in Medina County, Ohio, Nov. 2,
1840, a son of Dr. Nathan and Julia Hamilton. In 1842 Dr
Hamilton, with his wife and two children, John and George
W., came to De Kalb County and located in Concord with the
intention of making it his home, but his career of usefulness
was suddenly brought to a close. May 2, 1843, in company
with his brother-in-law, Lyman Chidsey, he attempted to cross
the swollen St. Joseph River in a skiff, but their boat was upset
and the Doctor was drowned. The raother soon after returned
with her children to Ohio, and in 1846 raarried Eden Hamilton,
a cousin of the Doctor's. He died in 1849, and in 1856 she
married WilHam Cahow, with whom in 1866 she came to De
Kalb County and settled on section 10, Jackson Township, on
the farra now owned and occupied by her son George W. One
son was born to Mr. and Mrs. Cahow, Leonard, now a resident
of Steuben County. Mrs. Cahow died Oct. 8, 1877. John
HamiUon made his home with his mother till the breaking out
of the war of the RebeUion, when, Aug. 24, 1 861, he enlisted in
Company H, Eighth Ohio Infantry. He was with General Mc

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HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.

653

Clellan in his campaign in West Virginia, and with General
Shields at Winchester, where, March 23, 1862, he was wounded
bv a minie ball, passing through his thighs. In May he was
furloughed from the hospital and July 19, 1862, was discharged.
In 1S64 he was employed in the transportation service of the
armv of the Cumberland, and while there was injured by the
dislocation of his left shoulder. Returning horae, in 1866 he
became identified with the interests of De Kalb County. Sept.
24, 1868, Mr. Hamilton was married to Elizabeth Welch, a na
tive of Medina County, Ohio, born Oct. 7, 1844, a daughter ot
Cornelius and SaUy Welch. They had two children — James
and Mary. In 1876 Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton settled on their
farm where they now reside. He receives a -pension for inju
ries received while in the service of his country. His father
was the first white child bom in Medina Township, Medina
Co., Ohio, and a wealthy man had promised the deed of
fifty acres to the first male child born in the township, but
owing to the enhanced value of the land settled by giving fifty
cents instead of the deed.
George IK Hamilton, the eldest son of Dr. Hamilton, was
born in Medina County, Ohio, Jan. 28, 1838. He lived with
his mother till manhood, and then came to De Kalb County,
and soon after, Sept. 5, 1861, enlisted in Company H, Thir
teenth Indiana Infantry. He participated in the battles ot
Shiloh, Stone River, Chickamauga, Atlanta, Franklin and Nash
ville. Dec. 12, 1863, he veteranized and served till Nov. 25,
1865, serving four years and two and a half months. He
returned to De Kalb County, and Jan. 25, 1866, in ^Medina
County, Ohio, was married to S. Elizabeth Phelps, a native of
that county, born Nov. 12, 1839, ^ daughter of George and
Sally Phelps. One child has lived to grace their home — Eva-
hne J. John R. died in infancy. Mr. Hamilton resides on the
old homestead of his mother on section 10.
James Henderson, son of Samuel and Letty (Moody) Hender
son, was born in Richland County, Ohio, June 2, 1831, and was
in his sixth year when his parents moved De Kalb County.
He lived with them till raanhood, receiving as good an educa
tion as could be obtained in the district schools. He was reared
a farmer, and has made that vocation his Hfe work. Oct. 5,
1856, he married Mary Jane Sanders, a native of Wayne County,
Ohio, born June 22, 1837, a daughter of Henry and Mary San-

W^

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654 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
ders. The first three years he worked his father's farm, and
then m.oved to the home where they now live, which is 160
acres of his father's old homestead on section 36. His land is weh
cultivated and his residence and farm buildings are araong the
best in the township. He pays special attention to sheep-grow
ing, having one of the finest flocks in the county. He and his wife
take a just pride in. their henery where they have about twenty
varieties of pure-bred fowls, Mrs. Henderson giving this indus
try her personal supervision. They have a faraily of three sons
— Newton, WilHam Franklin and George. Mr. Henderson is a
worthy representative of one of the leading pioneer families of
De Kalb County.
John Henderson, farmer and stock-raiser, section 36, Jackson
Township, was born on the old homestead of his father in this
township, July 3, 1844, a son of Samuel and Letty Henderson.
After his father's death he continued to make his home with
his mother till his marriage. He now has a' fine residence on
section 36, his farm of 160 acres being one-half of the home
stead. Mr. Henderson inherits his father's love of fine stock, and
the greater part of his attention is given to breeding blooded
stock. He was the first to introduce Devon thorough-bred
cattle and Shropshire-down sheep into Northeastern Indiana,
and in this enterprise has been a public benefactor. He is one
of the raost successful stock-raisers in the county, and his cattle
herds and flocks of sheep are unexcelled. Mr. Henderson is
one of the most influential and prominent men of the township.
He is now serving his third term as Magistrate. In politics he
adheres to the Democratic party. He was married March 30,
1870, to Adeline Keyes, a native of Carroll County, Ohio, born
Oct. 21, 1846. They have four living children — Josephine,
Mabel, Glengyle and Kitty. Their eldest child, WilHam R.,
died at the age of six years.
Samuel Henderson, one of the earliest and most prominent
settlers of Jackson Township, De Kalb County, Ind., was born
in the State of Pennsylvania, in the first year of the nineteenth
century. His father, William Henderson, moved a few years
later to Harrison County, Ohio, where our subject was reared
on a farm. He was married in Richland County, Ohio, in 1823,
to Letty Moody, a native of Westmoreland County, Pa., born
in 1805. In October, 1836, they moved to De Kalb County,
Ind., locating on section 36, Jackson Township. Mr. Henderson

^1

f

HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY. 655
built a log cabin, which was the first building in the north or
east part of the township. Of their ten children, six were born
in Ohio and four in Jackson Township — William resides in
Concord Township ; Jane married Henry Blake, and died in
1863 ; George resides in Allen County ; Sarah married Peter
High, of Auburn ; James is a prominent •farmer of Jackson
Township: David lives in Michigan; Rachel is the wife S. M.
Braden ; Joseph R. resides in Kosciusko County ; John and
Elizabeth, now Mrs. Samuel Stafford, reside in Jackson Town
ship. Mr. Henderson early turned his attention to raising
stock, and made that industry a successful and lucrative one.
He was a man of untiring energy, and is remembered by all
who knew him as a man of active and enterprising zeal in all
public affairs. His affection was largely centered in his family,
and he never let anything interfere with his giving them his
first and principal attention. He gave to each of his sons, ex
cept David, who preferred and received a college education,
160 acres of land, and to each of his daughters he gave an
equal amount in money. He was a devoted member of the
Masonic fraternity, squaring his life by its tenets. He died in
1863 and was buried by his beloved order with honors. His
wife survived him till Dec. 5, 1880. In her childhood she
joined the Methodist Episcopal church, but later joined the Lu
theran church, always living a devoted Christian life.
Amos Hilkey was born in Ashland County, Ohio, June 28,
1843, the third child of John and Susanna Hilkey. John Hil
key was born in Maryland, Oct. 16, 1816, and when a small boy
removed with his parents, George and Barbara Hilkey, to Ash
land County, Ohio, where he grew to manhood and was mar
ried Feb. 29, 1839, to Susanna Anthony. In March, 1846, he
became identified with De Kalb County, locating near Spencer
ville. Notwithstanding he had passed the age which required
him to perform military service, he enlisted in the war of the
Rebellion'in Company L, Second Indiana Cavalry, and served
fourteen months. He died at NashviUe, Tenn., Sept. 14, 1863.
His widow survived him till Oct. 16, 1875. Three of their sons
were also in the service of their country, viz.: George W., who
enlisted in the Eighty-eighth Infantry, but was discharged in
1863 for disability, and after his recovery enlisted in the One
Hundred and Fifty-second Infantry and served till the close of
the war. Daniel enhsted in the Thirtieth Infantry and served

? ^

656 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
till the close of the war ; now resides in Alabama. Amos
enhsted Aug. 11, 1862, in Company D, Eighty-eighth Infantry,
and participated in the battles of Perryville, Stone River,
[ Chickamauga, Atlanta, and all others of that gallant regiment,
with Sherman, and at Washington, D. C, in May, 1865, was one
of the proud heroes of the grand review ; was discharged June
7, 1S65. Of the other children of John Hilkey, Frances mar
ried George Thorp, of Allen County ; John E. and Abraham
(twins) died in infancy ; James A. resides in Nebraska; Benja
min and Samuel are residents of Jackson Township ; Mary, de
ceased, was the wife of J. D. Freeman; Charles Bennett died
at the age of fifteen years. Amos Hilkey entered the employ
of Edmundi-Freeraan after his return from the war, and soon
' after raarried his daughter, Rosan, who was born in Ohio, Sept.
13, 1842. He remained in the employ of Mr. Freeman six years
and then bought eighty acres of land on the same section (30),
where he has a comfortable and happy home. Mr. and Mrs.
Hilkey have eight living children — Edmund Norton, Martha
S., Elmer L., Mary J., Howard Hayes, Bessie A., Jesse O. and
Francis M. Daniel B. died at the age of four years; Amos A.,
aged two years, and Edith B., aged four months. ^Ir. and Mrs.
Hilkey are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. In
politics he is a Republican.
Henry Hines, Justice of the Peace, Jackson Township,
was born in Ashland County, Ohio, April i, 1839, ^ son of
Francis and Lovina (Culler) Hines. In 1844 his parents moved
to Kosciusko County, Ind., where the father died in 1877, and
the mother still lives on the old homestead. Our subject Hved
with his parents tiU his marriage to Sarah Abigail Sraith, Feb. 6,
1858. She was bom in Medina County. Ohio, April 8, 1838.
The year following their marriage they came to De Kalb
County and settled in Jackson Township, and began making
a farm out of a tract of heavily timbered land. They now
have a fine farm of 160 acres, eighty acres and their, residence
being on section 11, and eighty acres on section 10, aU cleared
by frugahty and good management. Mr. Hines is a man of
sterling character, and upright, independent action, and his
worth was soon recognized by his fellow-townsmen, who
placed him in the front in township affairs. He is now serving
his third term as Justice of the Peace. His honorable deahngs
coupled with a strong sense of right and justice to all, make

^-

HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY. 657
him especially fitted for this position. In politics he acts with
the Democratic party. Mrs. and Mrs. Hines have six children
— LUlie Louisa, wife of James H. Farver, of Kosciusko County,
Ind. ; Francis M., Wesley L., Leonard A., Lovina and Effie A.
Nathan Johnson was born in Richland County, Ohio, Feb. 19,
1835, a son of Amariah and Jane (Wyatt) Johnson, who came
to De Kalb County in 1S37. He remained with his father till
twenty-seven years of age, when, on Christmas day, 1862, he
was married to Hannah Hayward, a native of Lenawee
County, Mich., born Jan. 5, 1845, a daughter of S. R. and Polly
Hayward. She came to De Kalb County to take charge of the
district school. They commenced housekeeping on section 24,
Jackson Township, where they have since lived, rar. Johnson
enlisted in the late war of the Rebellion, as a recruit in Com
pany A, Thirteenth Indiana Infantry, joining the regiment in
front of Petersburg : was afterward in the expedition of Gen
eral Butler against Ft. Fisher, and in the expedition of General
Terry, participating in the severe battle culminating in the sur
render of the fort. He was discharged with the regiment at
Goldsboro, N. C, and returned to his peaceful life on the farm.
Mr. Johnson is one of the most enterprising men of the town
ship, and is an influential and prominent citizen. He has a fam
ily o"f two children — Dora A. and Clark Sylvester.
William Johnson, son of Amariah and Jane (Wyatt) Johnson,
was born in Jackson Township, May 17, 1842. His parents
came to the county from Richland County, Ohio, in corapany
with his grandfather, Nathan Wyatt, and settled on section 1 3.
His mother died Aug. 14, 1854, and his father, Sept. 14, 1877.
Aug. 9, 1862, Mr. Johnson enlisted in Corapany D, Eighty-
eighth Indiana Infantry, and participated in the battles of
Perryville, Stone River, Chattanooga, Chickamauga, Lookout
Mountain, Mission Ridge, Atlanta, Kenesaw Mountain, with
Sherman to the sea, and- through the Carolinas to Bentonville,
where he was wounded in the left side. He was taken to the
hospital at New York, from there to Madison, Ind., and there
discharged June 9, 1865, but has never recovered from the
effects of his wounds, and now receives a pension. After his
return home he was married Sept. 17, 1865, to Rachel Hayward,
a native of Lenawee County, Mich., born Dec. 14, 1842, daugh
ter of S. R. and Polly Hayward, and a teacher in the public
schools of this county. The first year after their marriage they

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658 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
lived on the homestead of his father, and after several changes,
in 1870, settled on section 13 where they now Hve. They have
a good farm of eighty acres, and a pleasant residence. Their
family consists of five children — Riley M., George, Lewis C,
Minnie and Hannah F. Politically, Mr. Johnson is a Republi
can. He is an upright, honorable business man and an esteemed
member of society.
James G. Lawhead, son of Benjamin and Mary Jane (Essig)
Lawhead, is a native of Jackson Township. His grandparents,
James and Martha Lawhead, came to De Kalb County from
Wayne County, Ohio, in 1839. Of their nine children all save
Ehzabeth, who married George Moore, are living — Johnson,
Isaac, Benjamin, Samuel, Nancy, widow of Isaac Culbertson;
Eleanor, wife of John Boyles ; John, and Eliza, wife of Henry
Nott. James Lawhead died in 1854, and his widow in March,
1880. Benjamin Lawhead was born in Fayette County, Pa.,
April I, 1820, and moved with his parents to Wayne County,
Ohio, in 1834, and to De Kalb County in 1839. H^ ^^
married in 1843 to Mary Jane Essig, a native of Stark County,
Ohio, born in 1821. He bought the farra where they now
reside on section 17 in 185 1. Two children have been born
to them — James G. and Caroline, wife of Charles L. Cool,
of Auburn. James G. Lawhead was married. April 17, 1870,
to Wealthy B. Nelson, who died AprU 27, 1877, leaving two
children — Williara B. and Queen Victoria. Sept. i, 1879,
Mr. Lawhead raarried Eliza Walter, a native of Jackson
Township, born Nov. 27, 185 1, a daughter of Joseph and
Sarah Walter. They have three children — Gertrude, Walter
and Frank. Mr. Lawhead has always made his home on the old
homestead with his parents. He is one of the most active and
energetic men of the township, always ready to assist any cause
of public benefit.
William McClellan was born Oct. 23, 1826, in Wayne County,
Ohio, his father being a pioneer of that county. He remained
at home till twenty years of age, and in October, 1846, came to
De Kalb County and worked for his brother John, who had
preceded him, clearing land. In October, 1847, he returned to
Ohio and remained till August, 1848, when his mother, Eliza
beth (Knapp) McClellan, died and he then came again to De
Kalb County and found employment clearing and chopping for
the settlers. He was married Sept. 2, 1849, to Permelia Os-

"71

-^

HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY. 659
borne, a native of Wayne County, Ohio, born May 29, 1829, a
daughter of Aaron and Susanna (Hueh) Osborne, who settled
in Jackson Township in 1841. Her mother died in 1862 and her
father in 18S2. In April, 1852, Mr. McClellan settied on section
3 w-here he has since resided. He has a pleasant home and is
surrounded with all material comforts. Mr. and Mrs. McClel
lan have never been blessed with children, but have reared to
man and womanhood several who were left to the mercies of
a cold world. Aaron Osborne, a nephew of Mrs. McClellan,
and now a resident of this township, found in them a father and
mother in place of those who were called to leave this world.
Susannah Watson, a child of Mrs. McClellan's sister, was given
a home from her ninth year till her marriage to Silas McGov-
ern. Harrison S. Wiser found a home with them frora his
third tiU his fourteenth year. William Arnold McGovern, a
son of Silas and Susannah McGovern, was born Sept. 12, 1869,
and is now an adopted child of Mr. and Mrs. McClellan. Their
home is the embodiment of hospitality, and their kindness and
liberality have won them many friends.
John W. Means was born in Jackson Township, Oct. 23, 1850,
a son of James and grandson of James Means. James Means,
Sr., came from Richland County, Ohio, 1838, and settled on
160 acres of land on section 23, Jackson Township. He and
his wife, Elizabeth Hall, were natives of Pennsylvania, but
moved to Ohio after their marriage. Two sons, William and
James, came to Indiana in 1836 in corapany with Samuel Hen
derson, and eight, EHza, Hugh, John, Peggy, Lewis, Mary
Ann, Isabella and Andrew, came with their parents. William
and Hugh lost their lives in a well from the foul gases. Eliza
Is the wife of Samuel Wasson, of Concord Township. John
hves in Cass County, Mich. ; Peggy married George Friend
and died in Ohio ; Lewis died in this county ; Mary Ann is the
wife of Frank Bailey, of Nebraska ; Isabella married Hiram
Petty, of Cass County, Iowa; Andrew Hves in Red Cloud,
Minn. James Means, Sr., died in 1852. His widow survived
him many years, and died at the home of Samuel Wasson.
James Means, Jr., was born in Pennsylvania in 181 1. He was
married in De Kalb County, March 14, 1839, to Isabella Wat
son, a native of Richland County, Ohio, born Feb. 15, 1821, a
daughter of John and Elizabeth Watson, who came to De Kalb
County in 1836. To them were born six children — WUliam;

66o HISTORY OF DE KALB 'COUNTY.
Ehzabeth, wife of WiUis Bishop ; Mary and Mary Jane, both
died in infancy ; James, an infant deceased. Mr. Means died
Sept. 22, 1868. Mrs. Means resides on the old homestead with
her son John W., on section 24. This farm contains 160 acres
of choice land, and is one of the best farms in the township.
John W. Means was raarried Aug. i, 1869, to Rebecca C. Far
ver, a native of Ashland County, Ohio, born May 21, 1852, a
daughter of Isaac and Mary Ann Farver. They have had
seven children; but four are Hving— Clara J., Ida Viola, Irene
May, and Nettie E. Mary BeUe, James W. and an infant un
named are deceased.
Wesley D. Miller, son of Thomas and Mary MiUer, was born
in Jackson Township, March 3, 1847. His grandfather, William
MiUer, came to the county about 1836, from Stark County, Ohio,
and settled on section 6, Jackson Township, his wife dying soon
after their arrival. Their children were seven in number, but
three of whom are living — Joseph, Benjamin and John, all of
whom Hve in Missouri. Lettice was the wife of Robert Will
iams ; Jane married Thomas Griffin and moved to Missouri,
where Mr. Griffin died, and she subsequently married a Mr.
Cowan ; WilHam died in Missouri. Thomas married Mary E.,
daughter of Daniel McCroy. Her mother was killed in Ohio
by a faihng tree, and her father afterward married again and
came to De Kalb County. He died in AUen County. Thomas
and Mary E. Miller had a family of eight children — Wesley D.,
John G., Lydia J., wife of Samuel Andrews ; Mary, died at the
age of ten years ; Emma, wife of Fremont Smith ; Celia, de
ceased, wife of Thomas Stafford ; WiUiam died in infancy ; and
Addie, now Hving with her widowed mother. Thomas MiUer
was kiUed in 1871 by the overturning of his wagon loaded with
railroad ties. Wesley D. Miller was raarried Jan. 21, 1875, to
Rebecca Coy, a native of Jackson Township, born April i,
1852, a daughter of John Coy, who came to De Kalb County
from Wayne County, Ohio, in 1845. After his marriage Mr.
Miller remained a year on the old homestead, and then moved
to his present home on section 9. In addition to cultivating his
small farm, he has for the past eleven years been engaged in
brickmaking, and by his skill and industry has made it a suc
cessful and lucrative business. Mr. and Mrs. Miller have had
three children— Ada, Minnie, who died at the age of three
years, and May. Mr. MiUer's uncle John has been a great

=»v

^::^ dch/^y^ ^:>-mJ <:::^^a-^Ledi

4 4 '¦

HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY. 66 1
hunter, enjoying the sport and making a good shot, which in
an early day wa'^ very useful to the old settlers.
Samuel Osborne, son of Elias and Mary Ann Osborne, was
born in Jackson Township, Aug. 5. 1844. His grandfather,
Aaron Osborne was a native of New Jersey, and subsequently
moved to Wayne County, Ohio, and thence in November,
1 841, to De Kalb County, Ind. He was one of the pioneers of
Jackson Township, locating on section 16. He gave each of his
sons, Moses, WiUiam, Elias and John, eighty acres of land.
Moses, now of Michigan, is the only one living. His two
daughters, Mrs. Permeha McClellan and Mrs. Jane Lige, reside
in Jackson Township. Aaron Osborne died in February, 1883 ;
his wife many years earlier. Elias, his son, raarried Mary Ann,
daughter of John Watson, a pioneer of 1836. They reared a
family of four children — Samuel, Aaron W. and John W. (twins)
and Elizabeth. Ehas Osborne died Nov. 24, 1S75. His widow
hves on the old homestead on section 16, with her daughter.
Samuel Osborne was married Nov. 10, 1869, to Mary Ellen
Friend, a native of Ohio, born May 18, 1845, a daughter of
Michael and Eliza Friend. They have two children — George
F. and an infant. Mr. Osborne has a pleasant home on section
16, Jackson Township.
John C. Owens, the youngest of six children, and the fourth
bom on New Year's day, of John and Phcebe Owens, was born
Jan. I, 1828, in Wayne County, Ohio. His father died when
he was an infant, and his mother was left to rear her family.
His educational advantages were limited, but he was ambitious,
and by private reading and observation has acquired a good
business education. He was reared on a farra, and has made
agricultural pursuits his life work. In the fall of 1849, with very
little money, he came with his brother, Marchall, to De Kalb
County, Ind., intending to enter land, but the next winter was
sick with typhoid fever and was unable to work. This ex
hausted the little money he had, and he was obliged as soon as
able, to work by the month to regain what he had lost. In 185 1
he bought forty acres of heavily timbered land on section i,
Jackson Township, and in 1852 began to clear it, working on
his own land when not employed by some one else. In August,
1852, he was married to Juha A., daughter offjohn and Anna
Thomas, who came to De Kalb County in 1840. The follow
ing May Mrs. Owens died, and Mr. Owens afterward married
42

-71

Tv^

662 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
Mary Jane, daughter of Robert and Margaret Culbertson, of
Concord Township. Five children were born to them — Robert
W. died in his fifth year ; Margaret E., wife of Henry McGin
nis ; James M. and Marchall, at horae, and John W. died in
infancy, Dec. 5, 1872. Mr. Owens' home was again left mother
less, and in December, 1873, he married Elizabeth Wilson, a
native of Holmes County, Ohio, born May 30, 1854. Mr
Owens' mother makes her home with him. She is now in her
eighty-fifth year, and enjoys good health. Mr. Owens' farm
contains sixty-five acres of good land, well cultivated, and he is
one of the most esteemed men of the township. He is in poli
tics a Republican.
Marchall Owens, farmer, section i, Jackson Township, was
born in Wayne County, Ohio, Jan. i, 1825, a son of John and
Phebe Owens. His father died when he was three years of
age. His mother is Hving with his brother John in Jackson
Township. Reared by a widowed mother he was early obliged
to learn the lesson of independence. He remained in his na
tive county till of age, and in the fall of 1846 came to Indiana
and Hved in Aubum the foUowing winter. The next year he
worked at anything that offered, and in the spring of 1848
bought the land which is now bis home and went to work to
clear the timber, in connection with a friend, WilHam Rey
nolds, who had land near him. In the faU of 184S he returned
to Ohio and remained a year. In the fall of 1849 he came again
to De Kalb County, but the following winter was sick and un
able to work, and on his recovery was obliged to work for
others to pay his indebtedness and to get the money to enable
him to resume work on his own land. He was married No
vember, 1854, to Nancy McDowell, a native of Ohio, born Feb.
20, 1829, a daughter of Abraham and Mary McDowell, pioneers
of Wells County, Ind. Together the young couple went to
work, and by energy and good management they made for
themselves a good home. Understanding by experience the
hardships having to be undergone by the poor they are always
ready to assist worthy applicants and help them to a more com
fortable way of living. They have had a family of six children,
but three are living — Julia Ann, Effie A. and Etta A. (twins).
The eldest died in infancy, Mary at the age of sixteen years and
Laura A. aged two years.
Adam Prosser, a son of Williara and Mary Prosser, was born

^

HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY. 663
in Ashland County, Ohio, Jan. 18, 1838, and was fifteen years of
age when his parents came to De Kalb County. He remained
with his parents till twenty-four years of age and then enlisted,
Aug.6, 1862, in Company C, Eighty-eighth Indiana Infantry.
He participated in the battle of Perryville, but the engagement
at Stone River found him sick in the hospital. He was again
in the ranks at Chickamauga, and he was with Sherman at At
lanta and in all the subsequent engagements till July, when he
was wounded in the right thigh, which ended his active service.
He then served on detached service till his discharge, July 15,
1865. He is now receiving a pension on account of injuries
received while in the service of his country. After his return
home he went West and was employed about ten years in the
building of railroads, the greater part of the time by the Kan
sas Pacific. July 14, 1876, he bought the farm which is now
his home, on section 3, Jackson Township. He was married
Oct. 8, 1882, to Barbara, daughter of Henry and Elizabeth
Stroh. She was born in Union Township, De Kalb County,
March 25, 1852. Mr. and Mrs. Prosser have one child — Ar-
hngton, born May 21, 1884.
Joseph C. Prosser, son of William and Mary Prosser, was born
in Ashland County, Ohio, April 25, 1841, and was twelve years
of age when his parents moved to De Kalb County. He
remained at home tiU Aug. 15, 1862, and then enlisted in Cora
pany A, One Hundredth Indiana Infantry. His first engage
ment was at Holly Springs, Miss., in the fall of 1862. Subse
quently he participated in the siege of Vicksburg, battle of
Mission Ridge, and aU the battles of his regiment in the cam
paign with Sherman to Atlanta and the sea, and thence to
Washington, D. C, where he participated in the grand review
of the army May 22, 1865. June 8, 1865, he was discharged
and returned home, where he has since been as faithful to the
duties of a citizen as he was to those of a soldier. He partici
pated in eighteen battles and many skirmishes. Mr. Prosser
was married April 24, 1879, to Louisa Baltz, a native of Frank
hn County, Pa., born Oct. 15, 1853, a daughter of Jacob and
Barbara Baltz, natives of Germany, coming to the United
States before their raarriage, locating in Pennsylvania, and
later in Indiana. Her raother died in Noveraber, 1877.
William Prosser was born in Erie County, Pa., Sept. 12, 1802,
and was there married in 1829 to Mary Lefler, who was born
s  »- -•  oPv

664 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
in Canton County, Sept. 26, 1808. Their early married life was
spent in Ohio, and in 1853 they came to De Kalb County, Ind.,
and settled on section 10, Jackson Township. He was one of
the most prominent citizens of the county, residing here till his
death. May 9, 1881. His widow is still hving on the old home
stead with her son, Joseph C. To them were born twelve chil
dren, nine of whom went to De Kalb County with their
parents — Nancy (wife of John Lawhead), Henry, Adam, Will
iam S., Joseph C, Sarah (wife of Daniel Stroh), Elizabeth (wife
of John A. Provines), Maria (wife of Jacob B. Coy), and Mary
(wife of Samuel Goodwin). Jaraes carae to the county in 1854
and now resides in Auburn. The eldest son, John, died in Oc
tober, 185 1, in his twenty-second year, and the youngest died
in infancy, March, 1853.
Alexander Provines was born in the village of Burgettstown,
Washington Co., Pa., Jan. 31', 1818, a son of Robert and Jane
(Smith) Provines, natives of Pennsylvania, of Irish descent. He
is the third of five children, and the only one now living. In
the fall of 18 1 8 his parents moved to Harrison County, Ohio,
where his mother died April 27, 1823. Sept. 11, 1823, his father
married Esther Jenkins. Two of their three children are hv
ing — Mrs. Lovina Dickason and Mrs. Esther Dickason. His
father entered 160 acres of land in Harrison County, and re
mained there seven years, when he moved to Tuscarawas
County. The second wife died Oct. 7, 1828. He then left the
farm and w-orked at the blacksmith's trade till taken with the
sickness which resulted in his death, Aug. 3, 1829. Alexander
Provines was thus left an orphan at the early age of eleven
years. He lived with a relative, William Moore, a short time,
and then went to Wayne County, Ohio, where he spent the
greater part of the time till his majority, working at the car
penter's trade and in grist-mills. He early learned the lesson
of independent action, and it has tended to make hira a self-
reliant, energetic and prosperous business man. His education
was mainly obtained by private reading and observation. He
is a close observer of passing events, a man of decided convic
tions, and one free to express his opinions on matters of public
interest. He is a ready and pleasing conversationalist, a genial,
social friend, and is esteemed by all with whom he comes in
contact. It has been his habit for many years to keep a daily
record of temperature and rain and snow fall, and in extremes

^

.HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY. 665
of heat or cold an hourly observation from sun to sun. He is
an ardent Repubhcan, and, although on the side of the minority
in his township, has held several positions of trust. He was
Assessor two years in an early day, and has been County Com
missioner five years. Mr. Provines was married Oct. 21, 1841,
to Dorcas Adams, a native of Ashland County, Ohio, born Jan.
16, 1821. In April, 1853, they came to De Kalb County, and
settled on section 9, Jackson Township, where they have a
pleasant home of 1 57 acres all well improved. But fifteen acres
had been cleared when he settled on it. The first year he
planted an orchard, which is now one of the best in the county.
Mr. and Mrs. Provines have had nine children, four of whom
were bom in De Kalb County. The eldest and youngest died
in infancy. Those living are — John A., Jaraes, Alexander H.,
Lucian, Robert C, Mrs. Jane Prosser and Mary. John A. is a
druggist of Spencerville, the rest all reside in Jackson Town
ship. James Provines, third child of Alexander and Dorcas Pro-
vines, was born in Wayne County, Ohio, Jan. 7, 1846, and was
in his eighth year when his parents moved to De Kalb County.
His early education was received in the schools of Jackson
Township, and but for his ambition would have ended there,
as his services were needed on the farm, but his studious habits
when not otherwise employed have made him one of the best
informed men in the township. April 30, 1864, he enlisted in
the war of the Rebellion in the loo-day service, in Company K,
One Hundr«d and Thirty-ninth Indiana Infantry, and served
till Sept. 29, 1864. Nov. II, 1869, he was married to Helen
Woolsey, a native of Delaware County, N. Y., born Nov. 10,
1844, a daughter of Joseph and Maria Woolsey. They have
three children— Frank A., Mary E. and Perry M. Mr. Pro-
vines is an active, successful business man. In connection with
carrying on his farm he deals extensively in stock, shipping to
the Buffalo market. Mrs. Provines' parents came to De Kalb
County in February, 1848, and settled on section 3, Jackson
Township, the west half of their horaestead of 160 acres being
the home of Mr. Provines. They had a family of eight chil
dren — Elizabeth, a prominent school teacher, died at the age
of twenty-six years ; Abigail, w-idow of William Stewart, who
died while in the war, a member of the Twenty-fourth Iowa
Infantry; Mary, wife of Henry Straub, of Sargent County,

:v*-

,-v|'^— :^^_ '*=:
666 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY..
Dak.; Jotham, of Smithfield Township ; Catherine, wife of
Charles Sherlock, died in Kansas in March, 1884; Frances, wife
of Athens Carr, died in Michigan in February, 1874; Helen,
wife of James Provines ; Charlotte, died in 1 85 1 , aged five years,
and Clarinda. Joseph Woolsey was a hberally educated man
for his time, a cousin of President Woolsey of Yale College,
and was born the same year, i8or. He was Township Super
intendent of Schools fourteen years in Delaware County, and
after coming to Indiana was prominent in all matters of educa
tional interest, and at the time of his death, Nov. 6, 1858, was
Township Clerk. His widow died March 10, 1880, at the home
of her daughter, MrS. Provines.
Nathan Squiers, son of William A. and Susan (Wyatt) Squiers,
was born in Richland County, Ohio, June 30, 1830. He re
mained with his parents till manhood, assisting in the work on
the farra and attending the district school. Nov. 15, 1853, he
was raarried to Anna S. Marshall, a native of Cornwall, Eng
land, born Jan. 17, 1826, a daughter of Jaraes and Anna S.
(Prout) Marshall. Her mother died when she was an infant,
and her father soon after came to the United States and set
tled in Ohio, where he died in i860. Mr. Squiers was married
in East Cleveland, Cuyahoga Co., Ohio, in 1853, and immedi
ately came to De Kalb County and bought the farm where he
now lives on section 22, Jackson Township. Aug. 9, 1862, Mr.
Squiers enlisted in Company A, One Hundredth Indiana In
fantry and participated in the siege of Vicksburg, Chattanooga,
and Mission Ridge where he was wounded, and was in the hos
pital two months. Joined his regiment and was then with
Sherman at Atlanta and on the march to the sea, and through
the Carolinas to Washington where, in May, 1865, he was in
the line at the grand review. He bore an honorable part in
fifteen battles and many skirmishes, and was discharged June
8, 1865. Mr. and Mrs. Squiers have had twelve children, ten
of whom are living — James W., of Whitley County, Ind.; Sam
uel A., Sydney N., Fillmore A., Susan A., wife of Frank Dancer ;
John S., Wyatt M., Horace C, Orange V. and Daisy. One
child died in infancy and one aged two years and three months.
William A. Squiers was born in New Milford, Conn., March
17, 1799, and when a young man emigrated to Ohio, where he
was married Jan. i, 1820, to Betsey Frisbee, who died April 12,
1824, leaving two children — Jonathan, of Allen County, Ind.,
"^7 s  "^ — • — '¦ s V

HISTORY OF DE K.VLB COUNTY. 667
and Elizabeth, wife of Lester Wright, of Geauga County, Ohio.
Aug. 12, 1826, Mr. Squiers married Susan, daughter of Nathan
and Marv Wyatt, and in 1837 came with the Wyatt family to
De Kalb County, and settled on section 13, Jackson Township,
on the farm now owned by WilHam Johnson. To this marriage
were born eight children, four of whom are living — Nathan ;
Rebecca, wife of Newton Askew ; Harriet, wife of Burton
Brown; and John W., of Kansas. Asher C. Squiers died Aug.
12, 1863. Mr. Squiers is making his home with his daughter,
Mrs. Burton Brown.
James K. Stafford, the third child of Jaraes and Ann Stafford,
was born in Jackson Township, April 23, 1846. He was reared
to the life of a farmer, remaining with his parents till raanhood.
He received a good education in the common schools. Sept.
19, 1872, he was married to Margaret Ann Duncan, a native of
Ohio, born March 6, 1848, a daughter of John and Elizabeth
Duncan. Her father having died in the faU of 1848, her mother
moved to De Kalb County with her father, John Dancer, and
settled in Jackson Township, and is now the widow of William
Essig. Mrs. Stafford is a very cultured woman and before her
marriage was a prominent teacher in the De Kalb County
schools. Soon after their marriage Mr. Stafford settled on sec
tion 14, Jackson Township, where they have since lived. They
are genial and hospitable, and have many friends, who always
find a welcome at their fireside. Their eldest child died in
infancy. Two children, Ida B. and Charles D., now make the
home a happy and lively one. In politics Mr. Stafford is a
Democrat. Samuel Stafford the eldest child of James and Ann Stafford,
was born in Richland County, Ohio, Feb. 11. 1840. In October,
1841, his parents came to DeKalb County, Ind., and settled on
section 23, Jackson Township, where they lived till their death.
The mother died in October, 1873, aged fifty-five years, and the
father the following February, aged sixty-seven years. They
had a family of twelve children, eleven born in De Kalb
County, nine of whom are living — Samuel, John, Jaraes K.,
Emanuel, Jane (wife of Samuel Morr), Rebecca Ann (wife of
Frederick Morr), Thomas, Sarah E. (wife of Joseph Williams),
Mahnda (wife of John Brown). Sarauel Hved with his parents
till his marriage, and then settled on section 1 5 where he has
since Hved. He has a good farm of eighty acres, well-improved

J IS

668 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
land. He is a practical farmer, and a representative man of the
township. He was married Sept. i, 1864, to Susan Saylor, a
native of Richland County, Ohio, born Dec. 10, 1846, a daugh
ter of William and Rose Ann Saylor, who came to De Kalb
County in 1847. Her mother died Nov. 27, 1855. Her father
is still living on the horaestead. Mr. and Mrs. Stafford have
had five children ; three are living — George W., James F., and
Perry A. Their second son, William W., and their youngest,
Herman, died in infancy. In politics Mr. Stafford is a Democrat.
John M. Steward, son of James P. and Fanny Steward, pio
neers of De Kalb County, Ind., was born in Jackson Township,
July 6, 1841. James P- was bom Sept. 12, 1792. He first mar
ried Salley Bidwell Nov. 17, 1816, to whom were born seven
children — Eliza, Horace, Mary, Irena, James L., Caroline and
Salley, of whom none are now living. Salley, his wife, died March
10, 1833. He again married, Oct. 23, 1833, Mrs. Fanny Pellet, a
daughter of Mr. and Mrs. McGown, born Nov. 25, 1802. She
was married to Richard Pellet Jan. 2, 1825, and to them were
born three children — Lucinda, Adelbert and Richard. Richard
and Lucinda are deceased. Richard Pellet died April 15, 1829.
To Mr. and Mrs. Steward were born four children — Harriet
N., now Mrs. Jonathan Ervin ; Dulcena, David W., and John
M. Dulcena is deceased. James P. Steward died Jan. 2, 1841,
and in 1844 or 1845 his widow married John Watson, an early
pioneer to Indiana, from the State of Maryland, and settled and
lived in Jackson Township. To them was bom one son —
James W., who is now dead. Mrs. Watson died Sept. 5 and
Mr. Watson Sept. 26, 1871. James P. and Fanny Steward emi
grated frora Pennsylvania to Indiana in 1836, entered and
bought eighty acres of land on section 36, Jackson Township,
which is now the property of John M., the youngest son. Nine
children, as follows, came with them to Indiana — EHza, Horace,
Irena, James L., CaroHne, Sally, Harriet N., and Dulcena Stew
ard and Lucinda Pellet. John M. has made this township his
horae a greater part of his life. In 1861 and 1862 he worked
with J. and R. Ettinger, in Auburn and Waterloo, at the cabi
net-maker's trade. With this exception, and the time he was
in the army, he has devoted his attention to agricultural pur
suits, but has also given his trade some attention. He has held
the agency fOr the sale of sewing-machines and agricultural
machinery. He enlisted in Company A, Eighty-eighth Indiana

.iL

HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY. 669
Infantry, Aug. 10, 1862, and served nearly three years, his dis
charge bearing date of June 7, 1865. He was in the campaign
with General Buell against General Bragg, and in the battles
of Perryville, Tullahoma and Stone River with General Rose-
crans, in battles ot Stevenson, Chickamauga, Chattanooga,
Lookout Mountain, Mission Ridge and Tunnell Hill and inter
mediate skirmishes with Generals Thomas and Sherman ;
in battles of Ringgold, Buzzard's Roost, Rocky-face, Resaca,
Kingston, Rome, Allatoona Pass, Kenesaw Mountain, Chatta
hoochie River, Decatur and Atlanta, and all intermediate skir
mishes ; with Sherman to the sea, through the Carolinas, via
Richmond to Washington City, D. C, and was in review at
Richmond, May 11, 1865, and also in grand review at Washing
ton, May 24, 1865. After his discharge he returned to Indiana.
March 3, 1866, he married Mrs. Lydia J. Steward, a daughter
of Samuel and Elizabeth Tarney, early pioneers to Indiana from
Ohio, and widow of his brother Jaraes L., who was a soldier in
Company B, Thirteenth Indiana Infantry, and died at Fort
Fisher, N. C, Feb. 14, 1865, leaving six children, Samuel T.,
Elizabeth T., now Mrs. Samuel George; Jasper N., Ida A., now
Mrs. James Furnish ; Lewis W., Eva J., now Mrs. Wm. C. Reed.
To Mr. and Mrs. John M. Steward have been born two chil
dren — Adelbert Sherman and Rosella Myrmetta. Mr. Steward
is of patriotic parentage, his father having served in the war of
1812. His brother, David W., served in Company E, Eleventh
Indiana Zouaves.
Samuel J. Tarney, youngest child of Samuel and Ehzabeth
(Wyatt) Tarney, is the oldest native resident of Jackson Town
ship. He was born on the old homestead, Feb. 4, 1841. His
father was born in Pennsylvania in 1 794, and was left an orphan
before his recollection. In his boyhood he went to Ohio, where
he was apprenticed to the miller's trade, and there grew to
manhood. He married Matsey Maloy Sept. 14, 1820. She
died April 14, 1822. Aug. 21, 1823, he married Catharine Horn,
who died Oct. i, 1826. Nov. 8, 1827, he married Elizabeth,
daughter of Nathan Wyatt, and in 1837 carae to De Kalb
County, Ind., with the Wyatt family and bought 160 acres of
land on section 24, Jackson Township. He was also engaged
in milling in the pioneer days, and was the first miller of Spen-
. cerville. To this last marriage were born six children, all of
whom are Hving — Mrs. Magdahna Henderson, of Allen County,

;^

670 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
Ind. ; Mrs. Lydia Jane Steward, John W., Nathan, Simeon N.,
and Samuel J. A daughter by the second marriage, Mrs. Mary
Ann Galloway, is Hving in Ashland County, Ohio. Mrs. Tar
ney died June 20, 1867, and Aug. 7, 1870, Mr. Tarney married
Mrs. Ann Berry, also a daughter of Nathan Wyatt. Mr. Tar
ney died Feb. 18, 1878. He was an energetic, public-spirited
man, and is remembered by the pioneers for his many good
qualities. He helped organize the township and was for eigh
teen years Town Clerk, in addition to holding other positions
of trust. Samuel J. Tarney Hved with his parents till man
hood. He was married May 22, 1862, to Nancy Walter, a na
tive of Wayne County, Ohio, born Aug. 27, 1842, and came
with her parents, Joseph and Sarah Walter, to De Kalb
County in 1846. She is the third of a family of fourteen chil
dren. Her father died Dec. 31, 1882, aged sixty-five years.
Her mother is living on the old homestead on section 16, Jack
son Township. Sept. 20, 1864, Mr. Tarney enlisted as a recruit
in Company D, Seventy-fourth Indiana Infantry, and served
till July 27, 1865. He participated with Sherman in the march
to the sea and through the Carolinas. After his return home
he reraained on his father's farm till the fall of 1868, when he
bought 100 acres on sections 15 and 22, where he has since re
sided. His farra is well cultivated, and his residence and farm
buildings are among the best in the township. Mr. Tarney is
a Democrat in pohtics. He is a very popular man with his
fellow townsmen, and has held several official relations. Six
children have been bom to Mr. and JNlrs. Tarney — Sarah E.,
a graduate of the Indiana State Normal School, now Principal
of the High School at Bourbon, Marshall Co., Ind. ; Walter
Marion died in 1871, aged four years ; Cora OHve, Estella May,
Joseph Byron, and Frank Marion are at home.
Daniel Wyatt, son of William and Nancy (Strong) Wyatt, and
grandson of Nathan Wyatt, was born in Concord Township,
De Kalb County, Ind., Dec. 8, 1845, where his parents settled
after their marriage. His father died in January, 1870. His
mother still lives on the homestead, four children, Isaac, Israel,
Jaraes and Lydia, living with her. Daniel Wyatt Hved with his
parents till his raarriage. In the spring of 1874 he raoved to his
present residence on section 13, where he has a finely improved
farm of fifty acres, with good farra buildings. He was married
Dec. 12, 1869, to Susan Beaty, a native of De Kalb County,

^.

'.^

HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY. 67 1
born Feb. 14, 1849, ^ daughter of Williara and Rebecca Beaty.
Mr. and Mrs. Wyatt have had four children, but two of whom
are hving — Charles W. and Blanch Pearl. Ida AHce and Will
iam Oscar died in infancy, the latter aged seventeen months.
Mr. Wyatt is a most worthy representative of the Wyatt
family, being an energetic, industrious, and liberal-minded
citizen. John Hyatt, son of Nathan and Mary Wyatt, was born in
Mercer County, Pa., April 4, 181 1, and came to De Kalb County,
Ind., in 1836. He was married April i, 1834, in Medina County,
Ohio, to Eva Kitchen, who died Feb. 12, 1839. Their only child,
Rachel, was born about sixteen months after they came to this
county, and died at the age ot four years and twelve days.
Sept. 12, 1839, J^I^- Wyatt married Sarah Jane Robe, a native
of Cumberland County, Pa., born in 1820. They have had a
large family of children, viz : — Mary Jane, wife of Jacob Hull,
M. D., of Spencerville ; Rebecca H. died in infancy ; Williara
T., of Allen County, Ind.; Rachel M., wife of Israel Horn ; Re
becca A., wife of E. J. Coder ; Matilda J., wife of S. T. Gallo
way ; Maggie M., at home; Samuel W. died Nov. 27, 1881,
aged twenty-eight years; Andrew R., a physician of Rome
City ; Euphemia E., at home, and John Edmund. Mr. and Mrs.
Wyatt are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. In
politics he adheres to the Republican party. Mr. Wyatt has
one of the finest farms in De Kalb County, consisting of 240
acres of improved land. His residence is large and comfort
able, and the host and hostess are hospitable to friend and
stranger alike. Their home is the home of the oppressed, peace
reigns supreme, and a happier home is not to be found. Frugal
ity and industry have gained them a competency for their de
clining years. [For a more extended account of Mr. Wyatt 's
coming and early life in De Kalb County, see his " Recollec
tions," page 639.]
Nathan Wyatt, the pioneer, settled on section 34, Jackson
Township in June, 1837, bringing with him from Richland
County, Ohio, his wife, Mary, and three sons and one daughter.
Of these children, WilHam afterward settled in Concord Town
ship and died several years ago ; S. Bostwick lives in Rome City,
Ind.; James hves in AUen County, and Rachel married Charles
Watson, of Jackson Township. The eldest son, Samuel, came
to the county in 1842, and hves in Newville Township, aged

\

672

HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.

eighty-four years. Another son, Thomas, came with his family,
in company with his father, and now lives in Allen County.
Two daughters, Jane and Mary, wives of two brothers, Amaziah
and Abraham Johnson ; Susan, wife of William A. Squiers,
and EUzabeth, wife of Samuel Tarney, with their families, com
pleted what was called the tribe of Wyatt, a most valuable ad
dition to the infant settlement of Jackson Township. About
two years later another daughter, Ann, came with her hus
band, James P. Plummer. After the death of Mr. Plummer
she married Mr. Berry, and after his death became the fourth
wife of Samuel Tarney, her sister, Elizabeth, Mr. Tarney's wife,
having died in 1867. She is now the widow of Mr. Tarney. In
1 847 Mr. Wyatt's daughter, Lydia, with her husband, Samuel
Watson, moved to the township. She died in 1849, ^"^ still
later another daughter, Rebecca and her husband, Jacob
Maurer, (now deceased) came and settled where she still lives.
Nathan Wyatt joined the Methodist Episcopal church in his
boyhood, but the last forty years of his lite was a member of
the Methodist Protestant church, the greater part of the time a
class-leader. His influence was felt on the side of right and
was a power for good in the new settlement. He was loved
and honored by all who knew him, and his death was a bereave
ment to many friends as well as his own family. He died Dec.
28, 1862, in his eighty-fourth year. His widow lived tiU Sept.
20, 1874, and died in her ninety-seventh year, retaining her
mental vigor till nearly the close of her Hfe journey.

71

^1

CHAPTER XVII.

KEYSER TO'WNSHIP.

Youngest Township in the County. — Situation. — Geo
graphy AND Topography. — Organization. — Reminis
cence OF Harrison Rogers. — Population. — Property
.\ND Taxation. — Agricultural Statistics.— Garrett. —
Business. — Present Business Directory. — Profes
sional. — Paper. — Town Officers. — Churches and Socie
ties. — Biographical.
The youngest township of the county is Keyser, in the west
ern tier. It is bounded on the north by Richland Township,
on the east by Union and Jackson, on the south by Butler, and
on the west by Allen and Swan Townships, Noble County. It
is drained by several small creeks, tributaries of Cedar Creek.
Its territory is crossed by three railroads. The Baltimore &
Ohio runs east and west through the center of the township,
and the Wabash and Michigan Southern lines run across the
southeastern corner.
Keyser owes its organization to the construction of the Bal
timore & Ohio Road, which led to the founding of the town of
Garrett on the line between Richland and Butler townships.
To avoid having the town on two townships, a new township
was formed by the Board of Coraraissioners at their June term,
1876, when it was " ordered, directed and decreed by the Board
that the territory bounded by a line coraraencing at the north
east corner of section 25, township 34 north, range 12 east, and
running from thence west on the north line of sections 25, 26,
27,28, 29 and 30, to the west Hne of said township of Richland ;
thence south on the west line of said township 33 north, range 12
east, to the southwest corner of section 7 in Butler Township ;
thence east on the south line of sections 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12, to
the east line of said township ; thence north along the east line
of said township to the place of beginning ; shall be known by
the name and style of Keyser Township." It thus includes
673
7 S*  »- -  a\\

-1 £?^^^^

674 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
twenty-four sections, or two-thirds of a Congressional township.
The following is the reminiscence of Harrison Rogers, ol
this township :
"In the fall of 1846 1 moved from Medina County, Ohio,
with my family, my wife and son Charles, then three years old.
1 hired Orrin Rogers, my cousin, to help me to remove to the
eighty acres previously bought and stiU my land. Orrin traded
his team for the piece of land on which John BeU now hves,
and gave me a job of chopping to enable me to pay a debt of
$6. We stopped for a few days with Henry Clark, where Jo
Strouse now Hves ; then moved into an old cabin which stood on
an eighty owned by O. C. Clark at the time, now the property
of Henry Probst, and situated a hundred rods west of Hope
well church. I was laid up by a cut in the knee during the
winter, yet managed in the spring to put out a truck patch and
some corn. The deer fed at night upon my corn, and watch
ing for thera, 1 was able to kiU sorae of thera. Oct. 16 we
raoved into the woods where we now live. My father moved
in and entered forty acres. Building a house for him, we aU
moved in together, and April i , foUowing, we raised a cabin
for ourselves. I bought a yoke of stags of Uriah Wigent on
time for $40, and mortgaged my land as security. Parties ad
vised me not to pay the note, and to let the land go, but I re
deemed the land, six acres of which 1 have since sold for $100
per acre.
" We had no road farther north than to the present site of
Hopewell church. 1 prepared a petition, obtained signers, and
presenting the same to the Commissioners, a road was located
as far north as the present site of Altoona ; and from that point
it ran a zigzag course until intersecting the State road near the
residence of Albert Hathaway. Later we had the route
changed north from Altoona, and intersecting the State road in
front of John Yaw's place. My team was the first to go
through the old road. I hauled a saw-log to Hight's mill, west
of Hathaway's. Robert Showers entered the land now owned
by James Downend. O. C. Clark, R. B. Showers and myseff
worked together to make ' black salts.' A tract of timber land
abounding in elm was chosen. Trees were felled, cut, hauled
by oxen, and piled, trunks and branches. When burned, the
ashes were leached, the lye boiled into the ' black salts,' and this
product sold at Fort Wayne for two to three dollars per hun-

* Vrrr

HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY. 675
dred pounds." Mr. Rogers has killed 330 deer since he moved
to Indiana.
The population of Keyser Township, exclusive of Garrett, is
estimated at 944, or about 40 to the square mile. The rate of
taxation in 1884 is $1.71 ; poll tax, $1.25. The number of acres
of land assessed is 14,589.27 ; value of same, $317,726 ; value of
improvements, $21,780 ; value of lands and improvements, $339,-
506; value of lots, $3,564; value of improvements, $4,311;
value of lots and improvements, $7,875 ; value of personal
property, $54,080; total value of taxables, $401,461 ; total
number of polls, 224: total amount of taxes levied, $7,267.11.
The foUowing crop statistics are for the year 1881 : Acres in
wheat, 1,956; product of sarae, 23,572 bushels, or 12 bushels
per acre ; acres in corn, 1,036; product of same, 31,845 bush
els, or 30 bushels per acre of upland, and 45 for lowland ;
acres in oats, 380 ; product of same, 11,400 bushels, or 30 bush
els per acre; acres in meadow, 420 ; product of same, 630 tons,
or a ton and a half per acre ; acres in Irish potatoes, 63 ; pro
duct of same, 1,260 bushels, or 20 bushels per acre.
GARRETT.
The town of Garrett, named in honor of the lately deceased
John W. Garrett, President of the Baltiraore & Ohio Railroad
Company, is indebted to that road for its very existence. It is
located four miles west and one mile south of Auburn, on sec
tions 34, 33, 4 and 3, of Keyser Township, and is a flourishing
town of varying population, which may now be fairly stated at
1,200. The Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Corapany has extensive
repair shops here, and Garrett is the home of many train men,
conductors, engineers and other employes. On the old town
ship line (which divided Butler and Richland, before the for
mation of Keyser) is located the round house, a semi-circle of
masonry 265 feet in diameter, and containing stalls for 32 loco
motives. A machine shop, 265 x 100 feet in dimensions, built of
brick, stone and iron, contains a number of lathes, drills, planes
and bolt-cutters and other machinery. These buildings have a
capacity to employ a thousand men.
Fifty acres were set apart by the railroad company for their
purposes, and several hundred acres were purchased by B. D.
Thomas, with a number of Ohio men. The tract was laid out
and desirable building lots placed on the market. The first

\^

Ji«

676 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
town lots were sold in April, 1875, and within a year 150 build
ings had been constructed, ranging in cost from $150 to $76,.
500. In the time named $125,000 worth of lots and land had
been sold to the enterprising men, and fully $300,000 has been
spent in improvements and valuable buildings. A large three-
story brick hotel (now the De Kalb House) was built, and
meantime, while this and other accommodations were being
prepared, not a few resorted to the expedients of pioneer
times. An incident worth recording is that a prize was offered to
the first child bom in the new city. The parents of two chil
dren claimed the honor and reward, and each child was duly
honored. WilHam Penfield, Esq., of Auburn, was the orator
on the felicitous occasion. BUSINESS.
There were as yet but five houses in Garrett when John L.
Davis, of Aubum, started the pioneer hardware store of the
place, and installed John Robbins (brother of Albert Robbins,
of Auburn) as raanager. In the same building, occupied in
part by the hardware, F. E. Davenport, also of Auburn, started
the first drug store, in company with Eli Kuhlman. Among
the hotels put up were the De Kalb House, owned by M. & G.
Ohmer, and operated by C. Kennecht ; City Restaurant, by J.
W. Wagner ; Tarney House, by N. Tarney ; and the Sargent
House, by W. E. Sargent.
Dry goods stores were started by Litman Bros. & Co., T. E.
& N. W. Lancaster, Joseph Wyman & Co., and L. CoveU. A
boot and shoe store was opened by H. Upmeyer, a wholesale
grocery by Samuel G. Lemmon, and a furniture store by Roons
& Rowe. E. Wing, H. Bicknell and Putt Bros, opened drug
stores. Charles Beckmeyer was the first jeweler; Messrs.
Clark & Erabry the first butchers, and W. G. Pierce was the
pioneer in the lumber trade. Saloons were soon under head
way. R. Beuniston, formerly of Auburn, was the first black
smith ; and E. F. Allen, A. Landers and S. O. Hinkley followed
painting. The pioneer carpenters were W. McMorgan, R. W.
McLean, M. Thomas and W. J. Frederick. At the present
writing, those following the trade of carpentry are, 'William
Sanders, Walter Vaughn, Newton Hall, Harry Vaughn, C. A.
Branch and Chris. Watz.

h ^^C^-^^^<A.Ci^-^^^^L.

HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY. 677
BUSINESS DIRECTORY.
The following are the business firms of Garrett :
E. B. Alsbaugh, jeweler and watchmaker ; Austin Bros., boots
and shoes ; Charles Bacon, blacksmith and wagon shop ; Asa
Bennett, grocery; R. Bloom, saloon; Miss Phemie Bender,
milliner; Boyd & Smith, jeweler and newsdealer; Fritz Behler,
shoemaker ; George Behler, saloon ; Albert W. Behler, barber ;
H. M. Bicknell, drug store ; C. W. Carap, drug store ; Miss J. Co-
mesky, jewelry and notions ; John Crow, saloon ; Isaiah Decker,
hvery stable; John L. Davis, hardware; Emil Duck, furni
ture ; P. K. David, grocery ; Mrs. Elizabeth Downend, Bowen
House ; W. J. Frederick, lumber ; Fyke & Gunnett, millers ;
E. Grover, broom factory ; Frank Gilmore, barber ; A. B.
Haynes, blacksraith and repair shop; B. Hunsel, tailor and
dealer in boots and shoes ; Haynes & Ray, dressmakers ; Will
iam Imler, bakery ; Jaques, barber ; C. B. Jones, saw-mill, plan-
ing-miU, wood and lumber ; N. Korniske, renovating establish
ment ; Mrs. C. Lindorfer, millinery and fancy goods ; G. JV.
Lackey, dry goods ; Charles Linkenhelt, saloon ; Mager &
Bevier, meat market ; B. W. Ocker, De Kalb House ; A. H.
PhiUips, postoffice ; Otho J. Powell, Herald; Mrs. Rice, dress
maker ; J. V. Reyher, sewing-machine ; C. Reyher, dry goods ;
George Reeves, saloon; Mrs. V. Schnitzer, grocery; R. L.
Simpson, repair shop ; Miss F. G. Stickney, millinery and fancy
goods; Joseph Single, grocery ; A. J. Stewart, grocery ; T. C.
Sargent, Sargent House ; Thomas Sulhvan, photographer ; N.
Tarney, Tarney House ; J. William Wagner, saloon.
PROFESSIONAL.
The first physician to locate and remain, was S. M. Sherman.
Others who came later were: A. S. Parker, C. E. Pratt, S.
Simpson and J. F. Thompson. Those practicing at present are :
A. A. Kester, J. F. Thorapson, D. B. Roether, T. H. Stewart
and Dr. Dunn. The legal profession is represented by L.
CoveU and F. M. Bacon (Justice of the Peace and Notary
Pubhc). PAPER.
The press was first represented by the Garrett News, pub-
hshed by C. W. Wing & Co., and edited by Thoraas Maloney,
It was started in October, 1875, but was of brief existence. In
August, 1877, the present Garrett Herald was started, for an ac
count of which see the Press chapter.
43

jJs

678 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTv
TOWN OFFICERS.
The first township officers, elected in the fall of 1875, were as
follows : Trustees, William A. Pratt, Jr. (3d district), Charles Lin
kenhelt (2d district), and Hiram M. Hodge (1st district) ; Clerk,
Thomas Maloney ; Marshal, James R. Skelling ; Treasurer,
Joseph Hyraan ; Assessor, A. Harvey Putt ; Attorney, Lewis
Covell. At present the Trustees are: Walter Vaughn (3d dis
trict), Joseph Singler (2d district), and John McLaughhn (ist
district) ; Clerk, W. H. Schnitzer ; Marshal, George Reeves ;
Treasurer, Barney Hunsel. RELIGIOUS.
The first sermon at Garrett was preached by Rev. William
Long, brother of Michael Long, Sr., so well known to the old
residents of the county. There are now three well-supported
religious organizations in the town.
The Protestant Episcopal church was built in 1876, and dedi
cated in July, 1877. The land was purchased, building erected,
furniture put in, and everything provided for use by John
Kirtg, Jr., and William Keyser, First and Second Vice-Presi
dents, respectively, of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Company,
and presented as a free gift to Bishop Talbot of the Indiana
Diocese. It cost $3,000, is of brick, and will seat 250 to 300
people. The first pastor was Rev. B. L. Trimble. After he
left, the pulpit was unfilled for a time, and then for some months
a Rev. Mr. Weatherby, ot Lagrange, came here to hold ser
vices once in two weeks. After another vacancy, R. H. Dennis
was here as pastor about one year. The church was then closed
once more. In the winter of i883-'4 Rev. S. M. C. Orpen came
frora Lima, Ind., and preached every two weeks. He was suc
ceeded by Rev. Benjamin R. Phelps, who resides now at Gar
rett and holds services on alternate Sundays. He is from East
Orange, N. Y. Mr. Phelps also acts as Superintendent of the
Sunday-school, The church is located at the corner of Ijms
and Houston streets.
The Methodist Episcopal people have built a neat brick edifice
on Cowan street, at a cost of $3,000. It was constructed in
1879. Araong the pastors who have served at Garrett are:
Revs. Adams, Sawyer, Diven, Hunter, Stout, Madden and Mc
Carthy. Rev. C. King, the present incumbent, came in the
spring of 1883. The well-attended Sunday-school is presided
over by C. B. Jones.

-i-

HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY. 679
The Catholic church is a neat white frame structure, built
under the direction of Father Young, of Auburn, who still min
isters to the Garrett Catholics. SOCIETIES.
The town is well supplied with benevolent and social orga
nizations, of which the leading are here enumerated :
Garrett City Lodge, No. 537, F. & A. M, was instituted in
1876 with D. Nichols as Worthy Master. It now has a mem
bership of sixty-five, and meets the first and third Tuesdays of
each month in the Duck building. The present officers are as
follows: G. W. Lackey, W. M.; W. GUI, S. W.; H. M. Bick
nell, J. W.; J. H. Kooken, Sec; W. J. Frederick, Treas.; Ed
ward Hilgardner, S. D.; James Kellum, J. D.; F. Behler, Tyler.
The lodge is in an excellent financial condition.
Garrett Lodge, No. 602, /. O. O. F., was instituted Aug. 29,
1883, with T. C. Sargent as N. G.; H. M. BickneU as V. G.;
Charles W. Camp as Sec; B. D. Thomas as Treas. At present
Charles W. Camp is N. G.; Lyman Lockwood, V. G.; Thomas
S. Merica, Sec, and H. F. Sembowen, Treas. The lodge is in
a flourishing condition, having thirty-five members in good
standing, and meets every Wednesday evening at Odd Fellows'
Hall. Charles Case Post, No. 233, G. A. R., was instituted in Sep
tember, 1883, with Williara E. Sargent as Comraander; W. J.
Frederick as Senior Vice-Commander; J. H. House as Junior
Vice-Commander, and William A. Shreve as Adjutant. The
present officers are : W. J. Frederick, Commander ; William A.
Shreve, Senior Vice-Comraander ; J. H. Houser, Junior Vice-
Commander; D. B. Rother, Adjutant; R. L. Simpson, Chap
lain; M. L. Duck, Quartermaster. The post has twenty-five
members, and meets the first and third Saturdays of each
month at the B. of L. E. hall.
The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers holds its meetings in
the Duck building on Randolph street. The brakeraen and
conductors have recently organized lodges. Garfield Lodge,
Brotherhood of Locoraotive Firemen, No. 203, meets Friday
evenings at the B. of L. E. haU.
The B. & O. reading room was established by the company
in 1882, and has a library of several hundred volumes, besides
keeping on file many standard papers and periodicals. The W.

u^  ¦ ¦ '- '¦'—¦' |7|'|, '''  '" • " ' ¦_ _^

680 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
C. T. U., estabhshed in the winter of i883-'4 by Misses Jennie
Smith and Addie Sherman, assisted by Mrs. C. B. Jones, of
Garrett, holds very interesting meetings Sunday afternoons at
the reading room. Mrs. C. B. Jones is President of the Union.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
Isaac N. Askew was born in Richland (now Ashland) County,
Ohio, Feb. 19, 1824, the son of Isaac T. and Mary (Harvout)
Askew, his father a native of Maryland, and his mother of Ohio,
and a grandson of Colonel Jonathan Harvout, of Revolutionary
fame. He was reared in his native county on a farm, remain
ing there till 1847, when he came to Indiana and bought an un
improved tract in Allen County, residing there about six years.
He then sold his land and moved to De Kalb County, buying a
farm east of SpencervUle, on the St. Joe River, which he im
proved. He subsequently sold this farm and bought one west
of SpencerviUe, where he hved tiU April, 1874. He then sold
out and moved to Keyser Township, buying the farm where he
has since resided. He owns eighty acres of finely-cultivated
land, and is surround^ with all that makes life pleasant. For
the past twenty years he has in connection with attending to
his own farm assisted his neighbors during harvest, running a
threshing-machine. Mr. Askew was married Nov. 27, 1853, to
Rebecca H. Squiers, daughter of William A. and Susanna
Squiers. They have had five children — W. T. M., born March
II, 1855 ; George W., born Sept. 16, 1858 ; Perry, born Dec. 16,
i860, died in infancy; Nettie, born Oct. 4, 1877, and Jennie,
born Aug. 29, 1871. Mrs. Askew is a member of the Methodist ¦
Episcopal church. Politically, Mr. Askew affihates with the
Democratic party.
H. M. Bicknell, druggist, Garrett, Ind., was born in Noble
County, Ind., June 16, 1848, the youngest son of Dr. T. P. and
Lydia (Myers) Bicknell. His youth was spent in assisting his
father in the drug store, and in attending school. He com
pleted his education at Notre Dame Academy, South Bend,
Ind., in 1866, and after his return home engaged in the drug
business at Kendallville, in partnership with Dr. Ericson. In
1875 he moved to Garrett and built what is known as the
Pioneer Drug Store, where he has since carried on a success
ful and lucrative trade. He was married Jan. i, 1869, to Jen
nie Dunn, a native of New York, who came with her parents
-7-

lU

HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY. 68 1
to Noble County when a child, and subsequently moved to St.
Joseph County where she Hved at the time of her marriage.
Mr. and Mrs. Bicknell have one daughter — Nellie. Mr. Bick
nell is politically a Republican. He is a member of Garrett
Lodge, No. 602, I. O. O. F., and Garrett Lodge, No. 537, F. &
A. M. He was the first Vice Grand, the second Noble Grand
and the first representative to the Grand Lodge from the Gar
rett Lodge, I. O. O. F.
T. P. Bicknell, M. D., deceased. — Although not a resident
of De Kalb County, there are few who will be longer remem
bered by the early settlers than Dr. Bicknell. He was a
native of Chenango County, N. Y., and received his education
in his native State. In 1846, reahzing the more favorable op
portunities offered a young man in the West, he moved to
Northern Indiana and settled in Lisbon, Noble County, at that
time httle more than a wilderness. Being a skillful physician,
he soon gained a wide reputation in Noble, De Kalb, Steuben
and surrounding counties, and he was obliged to ride night and
day in all kinds of weather. From consent exposure his health
became impaired and for several years he was unable to engage
in active practice. Such was the confidence reposed in hira
and his skiU that when he was unable to visit patients they were
brought to him from miles away on cots. In 1854 Dr. Bicknell
was elected to represent Noble County in the convention to
revise the Constitution of the State of Indiana, and was the
youngest member of the convention. In 1861 he was the first
Examining Surgeon appointed in his district, and was twice
appointed by Governor Morton as Surgeon (first of the Thirtieth
and second of the Forty-fourth Regiment), but was obliged to
decline on account of his health. Dr. Bicknell died in 1863, leav
ing a large circle of friends to mourn his loss. He was raarried
in New York to Lydia Myers, and to thera were born three
children— Hattie, Thorapson P. and H. M. Mrs. Bicknell re
sides in Fort Wayne.
Jacob Brechbill was born in Bedford County, Pa., Sept. 2,
1832, the second son of Martin and Barbara (Guyer) Brechbill,
natives of Pennsylvania, of German origin. In 1834 his parents
moved to Indiana County, Pa., where he was reared and edu
cated. In 1854 he moved with his parents to Stark County,
Ohio, where he assisted his father till his marriage, and then
rented land till 1862, when he moved to De Kalb County, Ind.,

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682 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
and bought the farm in Keyser Township, where he has since
lived. His first purchase was eighty acres, and that only par
tially improved. He went bravely to work and cleared his
land, and has from time to time made additions to it till he now
owns 370 acres. He was married Feb. 3, 1859, to Sarah Ober,
a native of Bedford County, Pa., who moved to Stark County,
Ohio, with her parents, John and Nancy (Becktel) Ober, when
fifteen years of age. They have had eight children ; but six are ,
living — Martin, John, Nancy, Lizzie, Sarah Ann, and Mary J.
Cora A. and Francis C. are deceased. Mr. and Mrs. BrechbiU
are members of the United Brethren church. Politically he is
a Republican. Devolzo Bruce, an honored and respected farmer of Keyser
Township, was born in Cayuga County, N. Y., May 9, 1824, a
son of Ezra and Anna (Glazier) Bruce, his father a native of
New York, and his mother of Massachusetts. When he was a
child his parents raoved to Erie County, Pa., and about 1 840 to
Noble County, Ind., where his father died in 1854. In his boy
hood Mr. Bruce learned the carpenter's trade, and foUowed it
till within a few years, although at the same time he devoted
the summer seasons to agricultural pursuits. In 1855 he moved
to De Kalb County and settled on section 8, Keyser Township,
where he owns ninety acres of choice land all under a high
state of cultivation. Mr. Bruce was married Oct. 3, 1850, to
Sarah M; Clark, daughter of Henry Clark, who came from New
York to De Kalb County, Ind., in 1841. They have three chil
dren — Charles E., Henry C. and Jennie. Pohtically, Mr. Bruce
affiliates with the Republican party.
Thomas Jefferson Clark was born in Richland County, Ohio,
Sept. 9, 1850, the eldest son and second child of George and
Dehlah (Schaffer) Clark. In 1851 his parents moved to De
Kalb County, Ind., and here he was reared and educated.
When he was ten years of age he began to assist his father in
running a threshing-machine, and since eighteen years of age
has had charge of a machine, working for the farmers in harvest.
He has been successful in his business transactions and is one
of the most prosperous young men in the county. He owns
110 acres of choice land, all well improved, with a pleasant
residence and good farm buildings. Mr. Clark was married in
1871 to Harriet Weaver, daughter of David Weaver, of Au
burn, Ind. To them were born two children — Mary M. and

T

sr

HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY. . 683
Aldie May. In 1876 Mrs. Clark was burned while Ughting a
fire with kerosene, and lived but a few hours. Feb. 27, 1879,
Mr. Clark married Dorothea Ann Cochran, daughter of Thomas
Cochran, of Keyser Township. They have two chUdren —
David E. and Walter S. Politically, Mr. Clark is a Repub
lican. Thomas Cochran, a son of John and Mary (Cubison) Cochran,
-was born in Perry County, Ohio, Aug. 24, 181 5. His father
was a native of Pennsylvania, and his mother of Ireland, com
ing to America in childhood. They were married in Pennsyl
vania, and soon after moved to Perry County, Ohio, being
among the earliest settlers. Thomas was reared in his native
county, making the old homestead his home for over forty
years. After attaining his majority he bought the interests of
the other heirs to his father's estate, and took care of his parents
tiU their death. In September, 1858, he raoved to Indiana,
purchasing land in Richland, now Keyser Township, where he
has since resided. He has been an industrious, energetic raan,
and prosperity has crowned his labors. He was married March
17, 1844, to Amanda Soine, bom Jan. 18, 1826, daughter of
Henry and Catherine Soine, natives of Maryland. They have
had thirteen children — Hannah C, born Dec. 26, 1844; Edward
T., bom July 9, 1846, died July 17, 1850; Mary A., born Jan.
8, 1848; Emily M., born Aug. 22, 1849; William H., born May
15, 1851 ; Joseph P., born Jan. 8, 1853 ; David S., born Feb. 21,
1855; Dorothea A., born March 28, 1857; EH T., born May 13,
1859; Benjamin F., born April 19, 1861 ; Ira A., born Dec. 25,
1862, died May 8, 1864; Ralph B., born Aug. 24, 1864; Charles
K., born Sept. 14, 1867. Mr. and Mrs. Cochran are merabers of
the Baptist church. Politically he casts his suffrage with the
Democratic party.
Josiah Cottell was born in Burlington, N. J., Aug. 22, 18 14, a
son of John and Sarah (Grant) Cottell. When he was fifteen
years of age his parents moved to Columbiana County, Ohio,
and there he grew to manhood. He was reared a farmer, but
after reaching his majority learned the carpenter's trade and
worked at it fifteen years. In 1852 he came to De Kalb County,
Ind., and bought a tract of wild land in Keyser Township,
which he cleared and improved, and which is now transformed
into one of the best farms in the county. He passed through
all the hardships and privations of pioneer Hfe, and surmount-

vr

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684 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
ing every difficulty, has gained the top of the ladder of pros
perity. His farm contains 160 acres of land, his farm buildings
are commodious, and his residence one of the best in the town
ship. He has by his uprightness and success gained the con
fidence of the people, and has been chosen to transact the busi
ness of the township in several of its offices. Mr. Cottell was
married in 1837 to Jane Chance, by whom he had one child,
Sarah Jane (deceased). His wife died in 1839, and in 1842 he
married Mary Teeters, of Stark County, Ohio. To them were
born five children— John, Jaraes, Elizabeth, Winfield H. and
George. The eldest and youngest only are living. Mrs. Cot-
teU died in 1853, and in 1855 Mr. CotteU married Mrs. Annie
Houser. They have three children— Theodore, Mary and Jon
athan. Mrs. Cottell has two children by her former marriage-
John Henry and David. Politically, Mr. CotteU is a Democrat.
Jacob Cupp, farmer, section 35, Keyser Township, was born
in Somerset County, Pa., Jan 19, 1808, a son of Frederick and
Mary (Sholtz) Cupp, of English and German descent. He re
mained in his native county with his parents tiU twenty years
of age, when he went to Stark County, Ohio, where he worked
by the day and raonth eight years. He then bought a farm
and followed agricuhural pursuits till 1842, when he came to
Indiana and settled in De Kalb County, where he has a good
home, and now in the seventy-eighth year of his age can look
back on a Hfe of industry and honesty, and can enjoy the fruits
of a well-spent life. Mr. Cupp was married Nov. 26, 1835, to
Elizabeth Hoover, a native of Stark County, Ohio, who died
in 1843, leaving three children— Mathias, Ethahnda (now Mrs.
W. Teeters), and Hiram. In i860 Mr. Cupp married Mrs. Bar
bara Smith. They have one child— Levi H. Pohtically, Mr.
Cupp is a Democrat.
Abel Depew, deceased, was bom in Marion County, Ohio,
S^Gc: 16, 1817. He was reared a farmer, receiving a practical
education in the district schools. In 1836 he left home and took
a prospecting tour in the Southern and Western States. In
1846 he settled on a farm iiv Noble County, Ind., remaining
there till 185 1 when he moved to De Kalb County, and bought
the farm in Keyser Township which has long been known as
the Depew homestead. He was married Feb. 27, 1841, to
Catherine Gifford, a native of Athens County, Ohio, who
moved with her parents, Alexander and Isabel (Cain) Gifford,

HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY. 685
to Noble County, Ind., when she was nine years old. To them
were born twelve children ; ten are living — Williara Henry,
Mary, Hannah, Lucy E., Catherine J., Minerva, Alice A., Mar
garet J., Almon O. and George F. Melissa and Phoebe are de
ceased. Mr. Depew died Oct. 29, 1871.
Elias Fisher, farraer, Keyser Township, was born in Stark
County, Ohio, in 1829, a son of Jacob and Rebecca (Hoover)
Fisher. In 1846 his parents moved to De Kalb County, Ind.,
and his father entered a tract of land in Wilmington Township.
His father died in 1851. He remained with his mother till
1870, superintending the farm. He was married in 1858 to
Matilda Freeman, a native of Allen County, Ind. Of their five
children, but two are hving — Lewis C. and Adelphia J. Will
iam F., Harvey L. and Catherine, are deceased. Mrs. Fisher
died in 1871. In 1872 Mr. Fisher married Mrs. Sarah R. But
ler, a native of New York, who died in 1876, leaving one child
— Lena R. March 16, 1879, Mi"- Fisher married Mrs. Cather
ine De Pew, widow of Abel De Pew, and since this last alli
ance has resided in Keyser Township. Mr. Fisher is a member
of the Methodist Episcopal church.
Elihu Fortner, farmer, section 7, Keyser Township, was born
in Franklin County, Mass., in 18 14, a son of Elihu and Sarah
(Bumington) Fortner, of Scotch and English descent. His
father died about a month before his birth, and his mother
when he was seven years of age. He Hved with his grandfather
Bumington till fourteen years of age and then carae West to
Lenawee County, Mich., and worked as a farm hand a number
of years. He then worked at the lime kilns four years, and in
the lumber business the same length of time. After his mar
riage he moved to De Kalb County, Ind., and bought 160 acres
of unimproved land in Keyser Township. He lived on this
land two years and then returned to Michigan and remained
four years. He then came again to his farm in De Kalb County
where he has since resided. He has brought his farm from the
wild state of nature to a high state of cultivation and has one
of the pleasantest homes in the township. He was married in
1853 in Michigan, to Urania Hoppema, a native of Wayne
County, N. Y. They have three children — Sarah, Ernest and
Clyde. Politically, Mr. Fortner is a Repubhcan.
William Fountain was born in Lincolnshire, England, in 181 1,
a son of Simon and Rebecca Fountain. His mother died when

l_£<   ¥-~t
686 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
he was three days old. He followed farming in his native
country till 1848, when he moved to the United States. He
lived a short time in Ohio, and then settled in De Kalb County,
Ind., on wild land, which he cleared and improved. He was
married Dec. 12, 1848, to Sarah, daughter of Thomas Truelove,
a native of England. Together they commenced life, and with
energy and an ambition to make life a success they have been
untiring in efforts, and as a result have triumphed over every
adverse circumstance and have accumulated a property that
enables them in their declining years to live with ease. They
have 400 acres of good land, 200 acres of which is under a good
state of cultivation. In performing the practical duties of life
they have not omitted the higher and more important. From
childhood they have been connected with the Episcopal church,
and have lived with strict conformity to all her tenets. They
have b:en at all times mindful of the needs of the poor, and are
ever ready to assist them. Hospitable, their home is always
open to friends and strangers, all feeling that they are welcome.
Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Fountain —
Sarah Ann, Elizabeth, wife of Joseph Tarlton, and Wilham
Richard. Politically Mr. Fountain casts his suffrage with the
Republican party.
Calvin Grub, farmer, section 12, Keyser Township, was born
in De Kalb County, Ind., July 23, 1853, the second son of John
and Catherine (Ketchum) Grub, prominent citizens of Keyser
Township. He was reared on his father's farm, and from him
learned the practical and hence successful mode of agriculture,
and since attaining manhood has utilized his knowledge for his
own benefit. Mr. Grub was raarried March 5, 1873, to Miss Mary
Rhodenbaugh. To them have been born two children — Allie
May and John. Politically Mr. Grub affihates with the Demo
cratic party.
John Grub was born in Stark County, Ohio, Sept. 22, 1822, a
son of Peter and Elizabeth (Rex) Grub, natives of Pennsylvania,
of German and French descent. When he was five years old
his father died leaving his mother with nine children to rear
and educate. He remained with his mother on the farm till
twenty-five years of age, and from his eighteenth tiU his twenty-
second year taught school in the winter, working on the farm
in the summer. In 1844 he began clerking in a store and re
mained there till 1851, when he came to Indiana and bought a

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HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY. 687
tract of unimproved land in what was then Butler Township,
De Kalb County. When he came to Indiana he had but $150;
this he paid for his land, and then commenced to improve and
make a home. He has by his indomitable will and persever
ance overcome the obstacles of settling in a new country, and
has by his continued additions to his first purchase a landed
estate of 424 acres, all under cultivation. Having no one but
himself to rely upon, he early in life learned the lesson of in
dependent action, and it has tended to make him through life
seh-rehant and sagacious. Mr. Grub was married May 7, 1847,
to Catherine Kutchner, a native of Stark County, Ohio. They
have had five children, but three of Avhom are living — Jeffer
son, Calvin and Clara. Politically, Mr. Grub is a Democrat.
He has served his township as Justice of the Peace eight years,
and as Trustee four years, and has proved himself to be an
efficient and worthy officer, attending to pubhc affairs with the
same fidelity as his own. Mrs. Grub is a member of the
Dunkard church.
Albert Hathaway was born in Lake County, Ohio, May 9,
1828, a son of Nathan and Hannah (Hamilton) Hathaway, na
tives of Massachusetts, who moved to Ohio in the early days
of that State's existence. He remained with his parents till
twenty-two years of age, and with them in 1842 came to
Indiana and settled in Richland Township, De Kalb County,
where his father died Dec. 16. He was reared a farmer and
has always made agricultural pursuits his occupation. He now
owns 156 acres of choice land, well improved. He was mar
ried Dec. 25, 1854, to Phcebe Haulk, a daughter of John Haulk,
who moved from Pennsylvania to Ohio in an early day, thence
to Adams County, Ind., where Mrs. Hathaway was born. Mr.
and Mrs. Hathaway have had thirteen children, eleven are liv
ing — Eunice EUen, Hannah, Mary Jane, Nathan, John, Anna,
Lydia, Silas, DoUie, Stella and Calvin. Pohtically, Mr. Hatha
way casts his suffrage with the Democratic party. He and his
wife are members of the German Baptist church.
Lucian Hathaway was bom in Lake County, Ohio, in 1836, a
son of Nathan and Hannah (Hamilton) Hathaway. He was
but six years of age when his parents moved to De Kalb County,
Ind., and his education was all obtained in the county of his
adoption. He remained on his father's farm till manhood. He
enhsted in the war of the Rebellion in Company H, Thirtieth

l"^

HISTORY OF DEKALB COUNTY.
Indiana Infantry. While in the service he had the measles, and
owing to exposure and lack of attention, took cold and has
never regained his former health. He was discharged Aug. 12,
1863. In 1866 he bought the farm where he resides, in Keyser
Township, which contains eighty acres of well-improved land.
Mr. Hathaway was married Sept. 27, 1866, to Elizabeth Swan-
ders, a daughter of Jonathan S wanders, who moved from Penn
sylvania to Carroll County, Ind., in an early day. Mr. and
Mrs. Hathaway have had eight children ; but seven are Hving
— Diana, Miles, Ellen, Pogie, Alton, Cyrus and Milton. Politi
cally Mr. Hathaway is a Democrat. He is a member of Charles
Case Post, No. 233, G. A. R.
Amos Jackson was born in Niagara County, N. Y., April 15,
1827, the second son and sixth of eleven children of Jesse and
and Edith (Smith) Jackson. In 1834 his parents moved to Mich
igan, and in 1837 to DeKalb County, Ind. His father entered
120 acres of Governraent land in Butler Township, which he
improved and made his horae the rest of his life. Amos was
but ten years of age when his parents raoved to DeKalb
County, and hence by far the greater part of his life has been
identified with her interests. Reared a farmer, he chose the
vocation as his life work, and is now one of the most prosperous
and enterprising agriculturists in the township. He owns 160
acres of land, all well improved. Mr. Jackson was married
March 24, 1863, to Catherine Simon, a native of Columbiana
County, Ohio, daughter of George Simon, an early settler of
Allen County, Ind. They are the parents of three children —
Charles A., Dora O. and Vesta L., the latter deceased. Politi
cally Mr. Jackson is a Democrat. He was reared in the society
of Friends, but he and his wife are now merabers of the Luth
eran church.
Edward Kelham, farmer, section 31, Keyser Township, was
born in Lincolnshire, England, Nov. 13, 1826, the tenth of thir
teen children of Thomas and Mary (Boothby) Kelham. He
was reared and educated in his native country, and in 1849
came to America and located in Richland County, Ohio. He
worked on the railroad and on lake steamers three years, and
by being economical saved enough to buy forty acres of land,
and began making a home. In 1857 he raoved to De Kalb
County, Ind., and bought eighty acres of uniraproved land, to
which, by good manageraent and industry, he has added tiU he

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HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY. 689
now owns 400 acres of the best land in the township, all well
cultivated. He is a pubhc-spirited and liberal man, and is held
in high esteem by all who know him. In 1878 he was elected
County Comraissioner and served three years; was again norai-
nated, but refused to serve on account of the demands of his
personal business. Mr. Kelham is a purely self-made man,
coming to this country as he did a poor man he has worked his
way from poverty to affluence, and now ranks with the best
business men of De Kalb County. He was raarried in Richland
County, Ohio, April 22, 1853, to Miss Sarah Downend, a native
of England, who came with her parents, James and J^Iary
l^Shaw) Downend, to America when she was eight years old.
They have had ten children — Thomas, Edward, Jr., Mary,
Joseph A., James, Martha, George, Charles T., Matilda and
Wilham F. Matilda, William and Martha are deceased. Polit-
icaUy Mr. Kelham is a Democrat.
A. A. Kester, M.D., Garrett, Ind., the second son of Peter S.
Kester, a pioneer of De Kalb County, was born in this county,
Oct. 5. 1844. His early'life was passed on the farm in a man
ner common to pioneer days, and he experienced a mixture of
hardship and pleasure incident to that day. In the schools
then in vogue he laid the foundation of his education. By
close apphcation, the difficulties of an imperfect school system
and the greater imperfections in the manner of imparting in
struction, were successfully overcome, and a practical under
standing of the fundamental principles was acquired. He was
married in January, 1864, to Miss Sarah Bassett, daughter of
Sanford Bassett, formerly of Madison County, Ohio, but later
of De Kalb County, Ind. For ten years after his marriage
nothing of importance took place in his life. In 1874 he began
the study of medicine under the direction of Dr. George Kes
ter, a skiUful physician of Richland County, Ohio, and subse
quently matriculated at Hahnneman Medical College, Chicago,
III. Afterward he returned to Ohio, and practiced in partner
ship with his preceptor till 1876, when he returned to his native
county and located at Cedar Creek, remaining there seven
years. During this time he built up a practice extending over
a large area of country, and in order to have his residence and
office near the geographical center, in 1883 he moved to Gar
rett. His success as a physician has been remarkable for the
short time he has devoted to the profession, and being ambi-

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r

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690 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
tious and a close student his prospects are bright for a future
of usefulness and prosperity. Pohtically Dr. Kester is a Re
publican. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Prot
estant church. They have six children — Cora A., Ida M.,
Orville, Estina, Roy and Mabel.
James A. McClure is among the prominent citizens of Keyser
Township, and no one is more worthy of extended notice in
the history of the township than he. He is a native of Indiana,
born near Fort Wayne, Allen County, Dec. 18, 1838, the only
son of Williara and Eve (Moody) McClure, of Ohio and Penn
sylvania birth, respectively. His mother died when he was
three months old and he was adopted into the faraily of his
Grandfather Moody, of De Kalb County, Ind. He remained
with his grandfather during his minority and attended the
common schools, subsequently taking a thorough course of
study at Fitch's Seminary, in Allen County, Ind. After leav
ing school he worked a year for $80, which he applied as part
payment for fifty-five acres of land, for which he was to pay
$575. Energetic and of unlimited perseverance, with a bright
and hopeful disposition, obstacles were overcome and hardships
endured. Adverse circumstances which would have discour
aged many, were endured by him with a cheerfulness and a
more determined will to succeed, and from poverty he has
reached a life of affluence and a position of usefulness and
prominence in the county. His farra, which contains 135 acres,
is one of the best in the township. He has served in different
official relations, araong them Assessor four years. Politically
he is an uncompromising Deraocrat. Mr. McClure was mar
ried Aug. 30, 1865, to Sarah J. Swihart, daughter of Samuel
and Harriet Swihart. They have three children — Clara A.,
William Warren and Samuel E.
Benjamin Franklin Moody was bom in Richland, now Morrow
County, Ohio, Jan. 26, 1826, the youngest son and tenth of thir
teen children of Daniel and Mary Ann (Davis) Moody. In
1836 his parents moved to De Kalb County, Ind., and settled in
a dense forest, and his youth was spent in assisting to clear and
improve the frontier farm. Being the youngest son he remained
on the horaestead till after the father's death, and then bought
the north half, and has now lived on the same farm over forty-
eight years. From a wilderness he has seen De Kalb County
grow into one of the best in the State, and has assisted materi-

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=^vl

HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY. 69 1
ally in promoting this growth. He was elected Township
Trustee in 1874 and served four years. He was married Jan. i,
1849, to Margaret, daughter of John and Susanna (Culler) Teagle,
who came from Montgomery County, Ohio, to De Kalb County.
They have four daughters— Rosanna, Mary Ann, Miranda and
Ahda. Mrs. Moody is a meraber of the Lutheran church. Mr.
Moody is a member of Auburn Lodge, No. 214, F. & A. M.
Pohtically he has been a life-long Democrat.
Harvey Moody, one of the most successful and prominent farm
ers, now retired, of De Kalb County, was born in Pennsyl
vania, Aug. 14, 1818, the fifth of thirteen children of Daniel
and Mary Ann (Davis) Moody, and grandson of Peter Moody
who came to the United States from Germany in an early day.
In 1824 Daniel Moody raoved with his faraily to Richland (now
Morrow) County, Ohio, and in 1836 to DeKalb County, Ind.,
and entered eighty acres and bought forty, which he improved
and made his home till his death at the age of eighty -four years.
He and his wife were members of the Presbyterian church in
early hfe, but after their removal to De Kalb County united
with the Methodist Episcopal church. Politically he affiliated
with the Democratic party. Harvey Moody remained with his
parents till twenty-four years of age. He entered from the
Government the land on which the village of Corunna, Rich
land Township, is now located, which he exchanged for eighty
acres in the same township, which he improved and subse
quently sold and bought the farm which he now owns in
Keyser Township. In 1877 he retired from active farm life
and moved to the city of Garrett. Mr. Moody was raarried
Oct. 10, 1843, to Elizabeth De Witt, who died in May, 1848.
They had three children, but one of whom is living — Marcus
H. Ann and Delilah are deceased. Mr. Moody was married
May 31, 1850, to Azuba Axtell, a native of Knox County, Ohio,
and to them were born four children — William A., Ann (de
ceased), Maria, and Lenora E. Mrs. Moody died in 1856. Feb.
25, 1858, Mr. Moody married Mary Melvin, of Sumrait County,
Ohio. They have three children — Daniel H., Phoebe A., and
Saloma T. Pohtically, Mr. Moody is a Democrat.
David W. Ocker was born in Wilmington Township, De Kalb
Co., Ind., Feb. 25, 1849, a son of Ehhu U. and Nancy A. (Ball)
Ocker. He received the advantages of the coraraon school, re
maining with his parents till fifteen years of age. In October,

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Ji5

692 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
1864, he enlisted in Corapany H, Eighty -eighth Indiana Infan
try, and was soon after transferred to Company H, One Hun
dred and Fifty-second Indiana Infantry. He served with the
Western Division of the army, and was discharged at Indianap
ohs in August, 1865. After his return home he attended school
in the winter three years. In 1869 he began working at the
plasterer's trade, and served an apprenticeship of two years.
He then worked at his trade in the summer and on the railroad
in the winter tiU 1873. From 1873 till 1879 he was employed
as brakeraan and conductor on the Lake Shore & Michigan
Southern Railroad. In 1880 he raoved to Garrett and took
charge of Sargeant's Hotel till August, 1881, when he went to
Butler and bought the Coraraercial House, which he sold in
February, 1882, and went West on a prospecting tour. Upon
his return he again assuraed the charge of Sargeant's Hotel,
and in January, 1883, took the De Kalb House. He is genial
and accommodating, and well calculated to succeed in the hotel
business. He was married April i, 1872, to Belle M., daughter
of W. E. and E. J. Sargeant, of Butler, Ind. They have two
children — Jessie D. and Edna M. Mr. Ocker is a member of
Garrett Lodge, No. 537, F. & A. M., Williara Hecker Chapter,
No. 65, R. A. M., and Butler Lodge, No. 182, I. O. O. F.
Elihu U. Ocker, deceased, was born in Tuscarawas County,
Ohio, May 25, 1825, a son of David and Elizabeth (Underwood)
Ocker, his father of German and his mother of English descent.
He received a practical education in the common schools, re
siding on the farm with his parents till manhood. In 1837 his
parents moved to De Kalb County, Ind., and settled in Wilming
ton Township. He worked as a farm hand in the summer and
taught school in the winter till after his marriage, and then settled
on a farm in Wilmington Township, remaining there three
years when he was burned out, and then moved to his own farm,
where he lived till 1864. In his early life he studied medicine
and acquired a thorough knowledge of the profession, although
he never put it to practical use. He was a township official
nearly eighteen years, serving as Assessor and Land Appraiser
He sold his farm in 1864 and moved to Butler, where he resided
till his death. In i867-'68 he was engaged in the mercantile
trade. He was married in 1845 to Nancy A. Ball, of De Kalb
County. To them were born seven children ; six lived till ma
turity—John WiUiam, David H., Abraham, Stephen L., James

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HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY. 693
M., Ollie M. One died in infancy. John W. enlisted in Com
pany H, Eighty-eighth Indiana Infantry, and died while in the
service in 1865. Mr. Ocker was a member of the Odd Fellows'
order, both subordinate lodge and encampment, and was
Deputy Grand Master of the latter. He represented Butler
Lodge, No. 2S2, in the Grand Lodge of Indiana five times, and
was well and favorably known by the Odd Fellows of the State.
His death was sudden and without warning, falling dead on the
street June 24, 1882. His wife died April 30, 1872. They were
exemplary members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and he
was for many vears a class-leader and Sunday-school Superin
tendent. In his political views he was an uncompromising Re
pubhcan. Henry Probst, Commissioner of De Kalb County, was born
in this county Aug. 12, 1846, a son of Charles and Lydia (Kemp)
Probst, his father a native of Lehigh County, Pa., born Feb. 20,
i8i9,and his mother a native of New Hampshire. Charles Probst
lost his father when he was eighteen years of age. He then went
to Newark, N. J., and three years later to Miarai County, Ohio,
where for a time he taught school, and while there was mar
ried to Lydia Kemp. In February, 1844, they raoved to De
Kalb County, Ind., and settled on section 8 of lyhat was then
Butler Township. He was a prosperous business raan and a
prominent citizen of the county. Among the official relations
sustained by him was that of County Surveyor four years and
Township Trustee several terms. He was an exemplary Chris
tian and a consistent meraber of the Lutheran church. Politi
cally he was a firm supporter of the principles of the Demo
cratic party. He died May 7, 1880. His wife survives hira.
She is a meraber of the Methodist Episcopal church. Their
family consisted of two sons, Henry being the only one living.
George died from the effects of a wound received by the acci
dental discharge of a gun. Henry Probst grew to man's es
tate on his father's farra, receiving a practical education in the
district schools. He has given his attention to agriculture and
now owns a fine farm of 500 acres. He was married April 21,
1867, to Almira E., daughter of Leonard E. Chase. They had
a family of five children — George W., Chloe E., Lydia A., Mar
garet A., Lophena M. Lydia A. died Aug. 7, 1877. Almira
E., wife of Henry Probst, died May 11, 1880. Henry Probst
was married to Myrtilla A., daughter of John and Elizabeth
44
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694 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
Grim, Aug. 18, 1881. They have two children, twins — Charles
B. and Christina B. Henry Probst was elected Trustee of
Keyser Township in 1882, and in June, 1884, was appointed to
fill out the unexpired term of one of the County Commission
ers, and in the fall of 1884 was elected to the same position for
a term of three years. Henry Probst is a member of the
German Baptist church. In pohtics he is a Democrat.
Mahlon Rakestraw, farmer, section 6, Keyser Township, was
born in Clark County, Ohio, Dec. 26, 1830, a son of Joseph and
Priscilla (Bates) Rakestraw. He was reared on a farm, assist
ing his father, and attending school the earlier part of his life.
After reaching manhood he engaged in the mercantile business,
which he foUowed successfully six years. In Septeraber, 1865, he
came to De Kalb County, Ind., and bought eighty acres of land
in Keyser Township, where he has since resided. He is an
enterprising and thrifty agriculturist, and has made a success of
this as of other vocations in which he has engaged. Politically
Mr. Rakestraw is a Republican, but has no aspiration for official
honors. He was married Dec. 26, 1869, to Ehzabeth Barber, a
native of De Kalb County, a daughter of Akahs and Rebecca
Barber, who came from Dayton, Ohio, to De Kalb County in
an early day. Mrs. Rakestraw died Dec. 27, 1874, leaving one
daughter — Melissa Estella.
C. Reyher, dealer in general merchandise, Garrett, Ind., is one
of the most prominent representatives of the retail mercantile
trade in De Kalb and adjoining counties. He carries a stock
valued at $10,000 or $15,000, comprising the best grades of all
goods in his line. Buying in large lots and always for cash, he
is able to compete with any of the large dealers and is recog
nized as a rival hard to be excelled. Mr. Reyher was born in
Beaver County, Pa., in 1835, the eldest child of John P. and
Susanna Reyher. When he was twelve years of age his par
ents moved to Ashland County, Ohio, where from that tirae till
twenty-one years of age he attended school, and assisted his
father, who was a blacksraith, in the shop. Upon attaining his
majority, he went to Williams County, Ohio, where he engaged
in the manufacture of wagons and buggies eleven years, con
ducting a successful business. Disposing of his stock, he em
barked in the general mercantile business, and for two years
was a successful merchant of Williams County. In 1872 he
moved to Kendallville, Ind., where he remained two years;

HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY. 695
then spent the same length of time in Goshen, Ind., and in 1876
located in Garrett, where he has had a constantly increasing
trade. Mr. Reyher was married Nov. 27, 1856, to Miss Helen
M. Vanminan, of Ashland County, Ohio. They have had five
children, but four are living — Blanche, wife of Addison Stew
art ; John V. married Lizzie Rowe ; Edward C. married Mary
Zimmerman ; and Eben E. The sons are associated with their
father in business, and are young men of promise and ability.
Mr. Reyher is one of the self-made men of the times, having by
his own industry worked his way through the many obstacles
that beset the life of mankind, and has reached the top of the
ladder of success. He is an enterprising, public-spirited man,
giving readily of his substance and influence to assist any laud
able undertaking. Politically he is a Republican. He and his
wife are members of the Christian church.
Harris Rogers, farmer, section 4, Keyser Township, was bom
in New York, Nov. 12, 1821, a son of Elisha and Hannah Rog
ers. When he was a child his parents moved to Pennsylvania,
and in 1836 moved to Medina County, Ohio, where he grew to
maturity. In 1846 he moved to De Kalb County, Ind., and
bought eighty acres of land in section 4, Butler (now Keyser)
Township. His land was unimproved, but he has put it under
good cultivation and erected good farm buildings, and has in
creased his farm to 100 acres. In addition to agriculture he
has engaged extensively in the manufacture of drain tile, being
the first man in the vicinity to engage in the enterprise. Mr.
Rogers was married Jan. 2, 1842, to Miss Paulina J. Vaughn, a
native of the State of New York. They have one son —
Charles F. They reared to young womanhood a daughter— Cor
nelia Ensley, now the wife of William Dove. ' Mr. Rogers is
not identified with any religious or secret organization. Politi
cally he is a Republican. He is a strict temperance man, and
that all may know his principles has a cabinet-size photograph
of each member of the family, ten in number, with the date of
birth inscribed on each, on the wall of the front room, and over
the door is the motto, "A Temperance Family." If one should
become a drunkard or tippler, his picture will be turned face
to the wall, that all may know who has caused the division on
this question.
Jonathan Rummel, Superintendent of County Poor Farm,
was born in Portage County, Ohio, Jan. 26, 1837. He is the
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696 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
second son of John and Sarah (Brown) Rummel, natives of
Ohio, of German descent. When he was eight years old his
father died. He remained with his mother till fourteen years
of age, the greater part of the time being devoted to study. At
the age of fourteen he began to work at the harness-maker's
trade, which he was obliged to abandon on account of ill health.
He then returned to the farra, but the next ye'ar (1852) came to
Indiana, locating in Wells County. He was variously employed
tiU 1858, when he began to work at the painter's trade, and fol
lowed that vocation till the breaking out of the RebeUion. •
May 19, 1 86 1, he enhsted in Company F, Thirteenth Indiana
Infantry, the first three years' regiment in the State. Among
the raore prominent battles in which he participated were :
Petersburg, Jones' Run, Winchester and Richmond. At Green
brier Creek, Oct. 3, 1861, he was wounded in the right leg, and
disabled for two months, and at Fort Fisher received four shght
fiesh wounds. A portion of his term of service he performed
the duties of Commissary Sergeant. He was discharged Sept.
5, 1865, after a service of four years and four months. Upon
his return to civil, life he resumed work at the painter's trade
in Fort Wayne. In 1870 he moved to Waterloo, Ind., and in -
1876 accepted the manageraent of the De Kalb County Poor
Farm. At that time the farm was in a deplorable condition, be
ing a source of expense to the taxpayers, but under Mr. Rum-
mel's wise administration, system has been adopted, chaos
changed to . order, and the farm is now self-supporting. Mr.
Rummel was married July 13, 1865, to Mary E., daughter of
Simon Acker, of Portage County, Ohio, and later of Wabash
County, Ind. To them have been born six children ; but one
is living — Cora E. The deceased are — Charles W., Bradford
E., Lillie G., Ada and Ida. Mr. and Mrs. Rummel are mem
bers of the Lutheran church. He is a member of Waterloo
Lodge, No. 420, K. of H. Politically he casts his suffrage with
the Republican party upon issues of national interest.
Daniel Swihart, one of the most prosperous farmers of De
Kalb County, was born in Stark County, Ohio, in 1826, a son
of John and Rebecca (Palmer) Swihart, his father being a na
tive of Pennsylvania and his raother of Maryland. He was
reared in his native county, remaining with his parents till
manhood. He received but a limited education, as early in
life he was obliged to rely on his own resources. In 1852 he

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HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY. 697
came to Indiana and bought some wild land in Richland Town
ship, De Kalb County. Although his early life was a struggle
with poverty, he was undaunted, and by perseverance he over
came all difficulties, and success ultimately crowned his labors.
He owns one of the best farms in the township, containing 100
acres of finely cultivated land, and his residence and farm build
ings are comfortable and commodious. Mr. Swihart was married
in 1S54 to Miss Elizabeth Bowman. To them were born seven
children — Jennie, WUson, Monroe, Clara, Sarah Jane, Martha
and Sylvester. Jennie and Sylvester are deceased. Mrs. Swihart
died in May, 1865. Oct. 11, 1866, Mr. Swihart married Sa
mantha Sherlock, who came with her parents to De Kalb
County in 1855. Pohtically, Mr. Swihart is a Democrat.
Washington Teeters was born in Stark 'County, Ohio, Oct. 6,
1827, the second son and fourth child of Jonathan and Elizabeth
(Roller) Teeters, his father a native of Pennsylvania and his
mother of Tennessee. When fifteen years of age he began learn
ing the carpenter's trade of his father. In 1850 he came to Indi
ana and worked at his trade in De Kalb County four years. In
1854 he bought the farm where he now lives. At that time the
land was heavily timbered, but he has cleared and improved and
now has 120 acres of the choicest land in the county. He has
been a prominent man of the township, and has held several
offices of trust, among others. Justice of the Peace eight years
and Township Trustee six years. Mr. Teeters has been twice
married. Lydia Ann Houser, a native of Pennsylvania, to
whom he was married Aug. 9, 1855, died July 12, 1856. April
9, 1858, he was married to Ethahnda, daughter of Jacob Cupp,
of De Kalb County. To thera have been born seven children
— Franklin M., Samuel S., Josiah C, Annie E., Isaac S., Lydia
B. R. and Mary S. Mrs. Teeters is a meraber of the Presbyte
rian church. Politically, Mr. Teeters is a Democrat. He is a
member of the Masonic fraternity.
Robert Truelove, deceased, was born in Lincolnshire, England,
in 1 818, a son of Thomas Truelove. When a young man he
came to the United States, and hved for a time in Marion
County, Ohio. In 1842 he moved to Indiana and bought (on
time) 145 acres of heavily timbered land in Keyser Township,
De Kalb County. During the summer he worked for the farm
ers and in the winter seasons applied himself to clearing his
land. He was married June i, 1852, to Mary, daughter of

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698 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
William Beverridge, who came with her parents to the United
States from England when four years of age, and settled in
Richland County, Ohio, where she grew to womanhood. The
September following their marriage they settled on the farm in
Keyser Township, where just as he was prepared to enjoy the
fruits of his early life of toil Mr. Truelove died, March 4, 1864.
He was a gentleman of true merit, respected by all who knew
him. Their only child, William R., was born on the homestead,
March 19, 1853. He was married Feb. 10, 1881, to Katie,
daughter of Thomas Malone. William R., hke his father, is a
strong adherent to the principles of the Republican party. His
wife is a member of the Evangelical church.
J. William Wagner was born in Germany Oct. i, 1835, ^-^d
was there reared and educated. In 1854 he came with his
father's family to the United States and settled in Mansfield,
Richland Co., Ohio. In 1872 he was appointed Deputy Clerk
of the Probate Court of Richland County, and held the posi
tion three years. Dec. i, 1875, he moved to Garrett, Ind., and
established the saloon and restaurant which he is stiU conduct
ing. Mr. Wagner has been a reliable citizen, and has been
honored with the most of the town offices. At present he is
serving as School Trustee. Politically he casts his suffrage
with the Democratic party. He is a member of the Odd
Fellow's order, Richland Lodge, No. 161, at Mansfield, Ohio.
Mr. Wagner was married May i, 1864, to Catherine Martin, a
native of Germany. To them have been born eight children;
but six are Hving — Fannie, Juha, Clara, Walter, Lizzie, and
Herman. Fanny and Adolph are deceased.
Allen Weaver, farmer and stock-raiser, is a native of De Kalb
County, Ind., and was born on the farm where he now lives
May 24, 1848, the eldest son of David and Kittie Ann (Swan)
Weaver. He was reared a farmer, receiving a good education,
attending first the district schools and then the Auburn Acad
emy. In 1870 he went to Kansas and was engaged in dealing in
stock in Brown County a year. Then returned home and re
mained two years, and then went again to Brown County and
for two years sold sewing-machines, meeting with good suc
cess. In 1875 he returned to De Kalb County, and has since
lived on the old homestead, having charge of the farm. He
was married Sept. 10, 1878, to Etta Garver, a native of DeKalb
County, daughter of Joseph and Mary Ann Garver, pioneers of

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HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY. 699
the county. To them have been born two children — Kittie and
Daisy May. In pohtics Mr. Weaver affiliates with the Demo
cratic party.
David Wea'zer, one of the old settlers of De Kalb County,
is a native of Stark County, Ohio, born Aug. 18, 1807. His
parents, Valentine and Martha Weaver, were natives of the
State of Virginia, and early settlers of Stark County, Ohio. He
was reared in his native county on a farm, receiving but
hmited educational advantages. He remained with his parents
till manhood, and in the spring of 1838 came to Indiana and set
tled in De Kalb County, where for several years he ran a saw
mill. He was married in 1847 to Kittie A. Swan, a native of
Stark County, Ohio, but a resident of De Kalb County at the
time of her marriage. After his marriage he settled on a tract
of heavily timbered land, and began to open and clear a farm.
On this farm he lived till 1875 and then removed to Auburn
where he has since lived retired from the active labors of life.
His farm contains 320 acres of choice land, and is now carried
on by his sons Allen and Henry. To Mr. and Mrs. Weaver
were born three children — Allen, Henry and Harriet. Their
daughter was the wife ot Jefferson Clark. She died in 1875,
from the effects of burns received by the explosion of a kero
sene lamp, and left two children.
Henry Weaver, farmer and stock-raiser, Keyser Township, was
bom on the old homestead where he now Hves, Aug. 19, 1850,
the youngest son of David and Kittie Ann (Swan) Weaver. He
was reared on the farm, receiving a common-school education
and remained with his parents till twenty-four years of age. He
then went to Missouri and engaged in, the sewing-machine busi
ness, traveling in different counties of the State three years.
Then went to Kansas and engaged in stock dealing two years.
In 1879 he returned to De Kalb County and located on a part
of the old homestead, and has since followed agricultural pur
suits. He was married Jan. i, 1879, to Delphia J. Secrest, a
native of Missouri, a daughter of Thomas and Mary Ann
(Sholtz) Secrest. To thera have been born two children — Orrea
Leona and Lura Leslie. In politics Mr. Weaver is a Democrat.
John Yarde, Sr., was born in Devonshire, England, March 12,
1812. His parents died when he was a child, and he was reared
by his mother's sister and given a collegiate education. When
seventeen years of age he began teaching school, and, with the
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700

HISTORY OF DE KA.LB COUNTY.

exception of a year and a half in the grocery business, foUowed
that vocation thirty-five years. He married Mary Symonds, a
native of Devonshire, and to them were'' born twelve children,
eleven daughters and one son ; but four are living — Mary J.,
Emma, Lucy and John, Jr. In August, 1852, Mr. Yarde came
with his family to the United States. He lived in Summit
County, Ohio, about one month, and then came to DeKalb
County, Ind., and bought fifty acres of unimproved land, and
after paying for his land had $75 left. Having the use of only
one hand, the burden of the work of clearing and improving
the land fell to his son, then only sixteen years of age. This
farm has since been the home of Mr. and Mrs. Yarde, and they
are among the most highly esteemed citizens of the township.
They are members ©f the Protestant Ei!)iscopal church. Polit
ically Mr. Yarde is a Republican.
John Yarde, Jr., was born in Devonshire, England, Nov. 17,
1836, the son of John and Mary (Symonds) Yarde. His early
life was spent in school, and before sixteen years of age he had
taught seventeen months. He came with his parents to De
Kalb County, Ind., and assisted in clearing and improving his
father's farm. He has been very successful in his business pur
suits, and now owns 280 acres of fine land. His residence and
farm buildings are among the best in the county. He was mar
ried Oct. 10, 1858, to Lydia Ann Houser, a native of- Wayne
County, Ohio, born July 22, 1840, a daughter of David and
Rebecca Houser. They have six children — Martha, Frank,
David, Nettie, Henry and Bertha.

CHAPTER XVIII.

NEWVILLE TOWNSHIP.

Situation. — Geography and Topography. — Pioneers. —
Newville. — Early Township Officials. — Population. —
Property and Tax.a.tion. — Agricultural Statistics. —
Biographical. Occupying the southeastern corner of De Kalb County, and
lying adjacent to the State of Ohio, is the fractional township
known as Newville, being six miles long and two and a half
wide, and containing twelve whole and six half sections. It is
bounded on the north by Stafford Township, on the east by the
State of Ohio, on the south by Scipio Township, AUen County,
and on the west by Concord Township. It is crossed by the
Baltimore & Ohio Railroad east and west, nearly midway, and
is drained by the St. Joseph of the Maumee, which flows
through the northwestern corner, from northeast to southwest.
The land is of much the same character as that in Concord,
and may be divided into three classes — the rich river bottom
lands, the oak-timbered wheat lands, and the beech and sugar
maple timbered lands at the south end of the township.
The pioneers of Newville Township were John Platter and
Solomon De Long, who, traveling through the woods in the
summer of 1834, became bewildered, and encamped at the bor
der of a prickly ash swamp. Here they dug a hole for water,
being almost perishing with thirst, and by using their axes and
h^nds succeeded in finding water ; but the fluid was so heavily
impregnated with the juices from the roots as to be scarcely
drinkable, though impelled by their natural cravings to make
the best of it. Their adventures are described at length in the
chapter on " early incidents."
John Platter settled on section 7, just north of his present
location, and there lived till within a few years, when he moved
upon his present farra. Marilla, his eldest daughter, was for
many years a teacher in common and graded schools, and was
 701

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702- HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
an honor to the profession. Solomon De Long settled on the
St. Joseph, across from Newville; was one of the early County
Commissioners; served during the war in the Forty-fourth and
One Hundred and Twenty-ninth Regiments, having the rank
of Lieutenant-Colonel in the latter, and died some years ago.
Daniel Strong was a pioneer, and settled on the farm after
ward owned by Jackson Andrew, deceased. Other old settlers
were : Dwight Moody, J. S. Peck, John Thompson, I. N.
Blood, Alva Lawrence and Ephraim Strong.: S. H. Bartlett,
his father, and altogether a family of eleven persons moved in
to the township in 1836. George Weeks, ex-surveyor, came in
at the same date.
" The Mound " is an elevation of ground on section 7, on the
Ashman farm. It is about ten rods from the " Little St. Joe,"
and on the south bank of a small creek that empties into the
St. Joe at this point. It was opened in the fall of 1837 by Silas
H. Bartlett, Daniel Strong, Jr., John Platter and Frasier Bart
lett. They found a large quantity of human bones about three
feet from the surface. The elevation was then ten feet, but is
now only about four. It is evident that this was a sepulcher of
the mound builders, and the rude earthworks indicate that
here was also at some time a fortification.
The village of Newville, formerly called Vienna, is situated
on the northwest bank of the river, on the southwest quarter
of section 6. It was surveyed and platted by George W.
Weeks, in March, 1837, for Washington Robinson, a pioneer
settler and owner of the land. The original plat contained
twenty-six and a half acres, exclusive of streets. Washington
Robinson was the first Justice of the Peace in the county, and
at his house the first election was held. N. L. Thomas, a
Methodist minister, was the first storekeeper in Newville. In
the chapter on "Pioneers' Association" is told how he trans
ported his merchandise on horseback from Fort Wayne. The
first church, a log house, was raised by the Methodists. One
Dodge was the host of the first tavern opened, and Dr. John
Lattman was the pioneer physician.. John Cary, the first shoe^
maker, and also an early Justice of the Peace, afterward
became a storekeeper at Salem Center, in Steuben County.
Several bridges have been built across the St. Joseph River at
Newville, at considerable expense to the county. Heavy
freshets convert the stream into a flood, deluging the low lands

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HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY. 703
and sweeping away all obstruction. Newville is a small place
off the railroad, but its people have always been known as an in
telligent, progressive community. There are now two general
stores, one drug and grocery store, two physicians, three
blacksmith shops, two wagon and carriage shops and one saw
and planing mill.
The NewviUe Christian church was organized in the fall of
1851 by James Hadsell, in a school-house where the Faulted
Brethren parsonage now stands, across the river and southeast
from Newville. Of the twenty-seven first merabers, three are
yet hving — Mrs. Henrietta Strong and Mrs. Julia A. Rex, of
Newville, and Sarah Coburn, of Hicksville. At the close of
1879 the church had a membership of 192. There are now^ 154
communicants. The present pastor is Elder Oscar B. Jewell.
Services are held on alternate Sundays, and on the other Sun
days social meetings are held.
The Newville United Brethren church was organized in 1842
by Rev. H. Kumler, with four members, of whom S. De Long
was Leader and M. Soper, Steward. Their house of worship
was erected in 1855. A new roof was put on and other repairs
made about 1880, and at the present writing (1885) ^ brick founda
tion is being constructed, which, with other changes, will cost
$500. The successive pastors have been : Revs. H. Kumler, J.
Thomas, J. Fink, — . Briggs, J. Geer, S. Linsey, E. Day, Will
iam Mathers, WilHam Butler, C. O. Lawrence, T. Osmund, J.
K. Alwood, D. Holmes, J. Lower, C. Crossland, — . Rhodes,
William O. Butler, J. Dixon, J. Brown, J. G. Bowersox, G.
Crawford, J. N. Martin, S. J. Colgen, and R. T. Martin, who
now fills the pulpit. The present membership is fifty-nine. The
Tmstees are : Messrs. Nichols, May and Tarney. A good par
sonage, near the church, is the property of the society. The
Sunday-school has an average attendance of about seventy-five.
The first school-house was built of round bass-wood logs,
about i6x 20 feet, with a " shake " roof held in place by weight
poles. There were two small windows, and the door of rough
lumber, was hung on wooden hinges ; a string raised its wooden
latch. The fireplace was surmounted by a stick and mud
chimney. A round piece of timber was split in two, and the
flat side of each turned up, and four or five pins inserted for
legs, to form the seats. A puncheon laid upon pins stuck in the
waU formed a writing desk. This house was built in the spring

l\^

704 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
of 1839, ^"*^ the following fall the first terra of school was
taught by Marietta E. Robinson, for $1.50 per week. A new
frame school-house was built about 1843, O"^ what is now the
site' of the United Brethren parsonage, and in 1850 a church and
school-building was erected, under the lead of R. Faurot. In
1852 a select school was opened by R. Faurot, which was
maintained until 1861. After Mr. Faurot, the principals were:
J. E. Hendrix, A. Hartness and L. Barr. Since 1861 it has
been a township school. It has now two departments, primary
and high. The latter is presided over by F. M. Merica, and has
an enrollment of eighty pupils. Mrs. Josie De Long teaches
ninety-six pupils in the primary department. William Seely is
Trustee. The first school in the township, however, and also the first
in De Kalb County, was taught in 1837, by Eunice Strong,
daughter of Daniel Strong, and now the wife of James Thomas,
of Kearney Junction, Neb. The house w^as a frame, sided up
with shaved clapboards, or whip shingles. It was the first
frame house biiilt in the county. It still stands, on section 7,
Newville Township, on the homestead of Ephraim B. Strong,
a brother of Eunice.
Araong the early Justices of the Peace in Newville Town
ship were, besides Washington Robinson already mentioned,
J. Helwig, John Cary, J. S. Peck and Dwight Moody. Early
Constables were : John P. Widney, John Thompson and Asa
Overacker ; and the first few Trustees were : D. Strong, A. B.
Fetterer, N. FuUer, John Newton, John ^Murphy, N. L. Thomas,
Newton Thomas, I. N. Blood, Alva Lawrence, S. De Long, D.
Moody, Ephraim Strong and John Platter.
The population of the township is now 760, or 5 1 to the
square mile, and the valuation per capita is $314.81. The num
ber of acres of land assessed is 8,813.25 ; value of same, $161,677;
value of improvements, $21,220; value of lands and improve
ments, $182,897; value of lots, $1,270; value of improvements,
$5>375; value of lots and improvements, $6,645 ; value of per
sonal property, $51,880; total value of taxables, $241,422; rate
of taxation, $1.71; number of poUs, 119; poU tax, $1.50; total
amount of taxation, $4,388.54.
The following crop reports are for 1881: There was in wheat,
1,518 acres, producing 10 bushels per acre, or 15,180 bushels;
in corn, 929 acres, producing 25 bushels per acre, or 23,255

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HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY. 705
bushels; in oats, 504 acres, producing 25 bushels per acre, or
12,600 bushels; in meadow, 595 acres, producing at one ton per
acre, 595 tons of hay ; in Irish potatoes, 26 acres, producing at
28 bushels per acre, 728 bushels.
biographical.
Silas H. Bartlett, proprietor of the Newville Hotel, and in
surance agent, was born in the town of Melbourne, County of
Sherbrooke, Lower Canada, Jan. 20, 1825, a son of Frazier and
Arolina (Brown) Bartlett, natives of Vermont. His grand
father, Joseph Bartlett, served seven and a haU years in the
Revolutionary war ; three years of the time was Washington's
body-guard. In July, 1836, his parents came to De Kalb
County, Ind., and settled in Concord Township, and the follow
ing October moved to section 7, Newville Township. The
country was inhabited mainly by Indians who often visited
them, trading venison and berries for supplies. One evening
in the fall of 1837 when the family were at supper, they were
startled by an Indian's voice, and on looking around saw an
Indian's head sticking through a hole in the wall, called a win
dow. After trading a ham of venison for some potatoes and a
pumpkin, he left in delight. The Bartlett cabin was made of
round hickory logs, 20 x 30 feet in size, with puncheon floor,
clapboard ceiling and roof. They cooked by fire-place. Wild
animals were numerous and very troublesome. Their home
was in the woods and they were obliged to undergo many
hardships. The father went to Maumee to buy corn, a distance
of fourteen miles. Six miles of the way he had to cut a road
through the woods, and two miles had to cut through the ice.
He took a part of the corn to Hughes Mill and took home a
box full of ears. His oxen gave out on the way, and he was
obhged to leave a part of his load. He hung some pork, which
he had bought, in the bushes to keep it from the wolves. For
five weeks the family lived on hulled corn. The father died in
May, i860, and the mother Dec. 27, 1882. They had a family
of eleven children, but four of whom are living — Mrs. Lucina
Woodcox, Silas H., Simon S. and Mrs. Delilah Ayers. Silas
H. Bartlett was married March 29, 1849, to Almira A. Weeks,
daughter of Luther Weeks. To them have been born seven
children; but five are living — Adelaide, Sarah, Charles, Eva
line and George. He engaged in farming till forty years of

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706 history of de kalb county.
age and then in saw-milling several years. He has been Just
ice of the Peace twelve years, and is now a Notary Public. He
is a member of the Disciples church.
Benjamin F. Blair, druggist and grocer, Newville, Ind., was
born in Lorain County, Ohio, Feb. 3, 1833, a son of John Blair,
who brought his family to De Kalb County in the fall of 1835
and settled in Concord Township. They made the journey by
teams, having two spans of horses and one yoke of oxen. They
often made but one mile in a day, the road being through the
black swamp, and the trip was a long and tedious one. At
that time the country was inhabited by Indians, but they were
friendly and rarely made them any trouble. Our subject was
reared in the woods of De Kalb County, and early learned the
duties of a pioneer Hfe. His educational advantages were lim
ited, as schools were few and his services were needed at home.
The land settled on by the Blair family has all been cleared,
and is the present site of the town of St. Joseph. Aug. 23,
1863, Mr. Blair was raarried to CaroHne A. Dodge, a native of
Newville, born Feb. 9, 1840, daughter of Anthony Dodge, a
pioneer of this township. They have two children — Belle and
Don Juan. In 1862 he moved to Newville and bought and
shipped stock from that tirae till 1876. In the spring of 1884
he engaged in his present business, and carries a full and com
plete stock of drugs, medicines, paints, oils, groceries, etc. He
has a good trade, which is constantly increasing, having by his
genial and accommodating manners won the confidence and
esteem of the entire community. He was elected County
Comraissioner in 1876, and made an efficient and rehable officer.
Otis S. Blood is a native of Ohio, born Jan. 15, 1842, and in
1846 accompanied his parents, Albert N. and Sophia Blood, to
De Kalb County, Ind., and settled in Newville Township. Here
he was reared and educated, remaining with his parents tiU the
breaking out of the Rebellion. In the fall of 1861 he enlisted
in Company F, Forty-fourth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and
served till Nov. 23, 1864. After his return home he engaged
in agricultural pursuits, locating on the old homestead where
he has since hved. He was married Dec. 13, 1867, to Leah
Culler, a native of Massillon, Ohio, daughter of Joseph CuUer.
His father, Albert N. Blood, was a local preacher of the United
Brethren church. He served his township as Trustee and As
sessor several terms. His three sons were all soldiers in the

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HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY. 707
war ; the eldest, Ehas, died in the hospital, and the youngest
died at home from the effects of disease contracted in the ser
vice. He died March i, 1863, and his wife is now living at
Hicksville. Henry JV. Coburn, merchant, Newville, Ind., was born in
TrumbuU County, Ohio, March, 15, 1830, a son of Ebenezer and
Deha (Wilson) Coburn, his father a native of Burlington, Vt.,
and his mother of Massachusetts. In 1838 his parents moved
to De Kalb County, Ind., and settled in the Coburn settlement
in Concord Township, where he was reared and educated. In
1857 he was married and moved to Newville, and located on
the lot where he has since lived. In 1864 he built his residence.
He worked at the carpenter's trade a few years, and in the
spring of 1863 bought a half interest in the Newville saw-raill,
which he ran four years. He then worked at his trade till the
spring of 1870, when he engaged in merchandising in company
with A. A. Fetterer, under the firm name of Fetterer & Coburn.
In 1876 he bought his partner's interest and has since carried
on the business alone. He carries a capital stock of $5,000,
consisting of dry goods, groceries, boots, shoes, hats, caps,
crockery, hardware, etc. He keeps constantly on hand a com
plete stock of everything in his line and has a good trade, doing
an annual business of $10,000. In 1881 he built a new store 24
X50 feet in size, which is one of the neatest and most conven
iently arranged in the town. Mr. Coburn was married Nov.
27. 1857, to Sophia Mathews, a native of Concord Township,
daughter of John Mathews, a pioneer of De Kalb County, now
deceased. Mr. Coburn is one of the representative business
men of Newville, but is quiet and unassuming in his manner,
and never seeks official honors, preferring to attend strictly to
his own affairs, and leaving the cares of office to others. He
and his wife are members of the Christian church.
Randal Faurot, A. M., was born in the town of Hopewell,
near Canandaigua, N. Y., in 1820. He was the seventh son of
Randal and Urana (Dohttle) Faurot, who moved to Royalton,
near Cleveland, Ohio, when he was twelve years of age. Hav
ing a desire for an education, he relinquished his share in the
prospective fine farms for a few terms in an academy and the
time to study. As soon as competent he taught school in the
winter and devoted his summers to study, and finally entered
Oberhn College where he remained several terms. He subse-

T

A?

708 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
quently graduated from Bethany College, Virginia. In early
life he took a decided stand with the Disciples of Christ and
worked earnestly with the people who built up so many^large
churches of devoted Christians on the Western Reserve, Ohio,
and soon became a successful preacher as well as teacher.
While on a visit to his father and brothers who had moved to
Michigan, he met the natural orator and revivalist, Benjamin
Alton, whose labors were so productive of good in Ohio, Mich
igan and Indiana, and engaged in holding meetings with him in
Stafford, NewviUe, Coburn's Corners, and other points. Feel
ing drawn toward this part of the vineyard, he decided to
remain in De Kalb County and became of great assistance in
building the churches at Newville, Waterloo, Kendallville,
Mishawaka, Edgerton, riding on horseback over the rough
roads, and in addition to holding meetings, visiting the sick and
afflicted, comforting the poor and needy, and leading many to
righteousness. He was largely instrumental in the building of
Newville Academy, which flourished and was a great source of
good for many years. His memory is held in grateful remem
brance by many in different States, because of his arduous
labors in the cause of education. He was a persistent and thor
ough worker. His work was never left half done. He was
strongly opposed to secret societies, and was a clear, shrewd
debater, carrying his audience with him more by the force of
his logic than by his persuasive powers. Kind and thoughtful,
his greatest desire was to be useful to his friends, finding his
greatest pleasure in seeing those he loved happy. WhUe preach
ing in Philadelphia, he wrote and had published, " Pilgrim's
Progress," a book written in imitation of John Bunyan, in which
he showed the advantages and joy of living a Christian life. It
was a work of great interest to a Christian, and of benefit to a
young convert, and he received many letters, acknowledging
the help derived from its perusal, and thanking him for giving
the public a work of the kind. At the breaking out of the
Rebellion raany of his students enlisted, and it was the wish of
some that he should go as their Chaplain, but one who knew
him well, said : " No ; Elder Faurot could not look on sin and
intrigue with sufficient allow-ance to work among those who so
misused each other." However, he and his wife went twice to
Tennessee during the war, first as volunteer nurses after the
battle of Murfreesboro, and again to look after wounded friends.

A^u>2-^

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<l ' —

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HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY. 709
While there they lent such valuable aid in starting schools for
the colored people that he was subsequently called South to
locate a school for the oppressed race, and after many months
of labor, during which he was engaged much of the time in
missionary work, he, with Dr. W. A. Belding, located the
Southern Christian Institute on an old plantation of 800 acres,
lying'on the railroad fourteen miles east of Vicksburg and
twenty -six miles west of Jackson, Miss. Here in the midst of
the work he builded, and which was as dear to him as his own
family, he died Oct. 10, 1882, the day before his sixty-second
birthday. He was married in May, 1847, to Letitia Hutchings,
in Cortland County, N. Y. She had preceded hira in the
pioneer educational work of De Kalb County, and there they
met in 1845. She proved a worthy help-meet for a noble man,
sympathizing with him in all his work, and aiding hira by her
counsel and prayers in all his varied vicissitudes. Her kindly
ministrations to the sick and oppressed endeared her to the
hearts of all who knew her. They had no children to gladden
their home, but reared from childhood a motherless nephew
and niece, Marvin Faurot Hall, of Hillsdale, Mich., where he
attended college, and subsequently located and is engaged
in the electric-light business ; and Mary L. Hutchings, now the
wife of Dr. W. P. Andrews, proprietor of the magnetic springs at
St. Louis, Mich. Their home was ever the home of the widow
and orphan, and the weary and oppressed were ever welcome,
and given a resting place. Truly, the deeds of the good live after
them and shine as bright stars in the crown of their rejoicing.
Nathan T. Fuller, section 9, Newville Township, was born in
Strongsville, Cuyahoga County, Ohio, Aug. 11, 1821, a son of
John Fuller, a native of Vermont who settled in Cuyahoga
County in 1818 and lived there till 1841, when he moved to
Henry County, Ohio. Nathan remained with his parents till
manhood, accompanying them to Henry County, and in 1844
began hfe for himself. He worked three years by the month
on farms and in saw-mills, and in the spring of 1847 went to
work on a lake steamer. The following fall he went to Cin
cinnati and enlisted in the Mexican war and served till August,
1848. In Septernber, 1848, he came to'' D'e Kalb County and
lived with Southard EUis four years, and in April, 185 1, bought
the farm where he now lives. He has 1 10 acres of good
land, sixty-five of which he cleared himself, it being all heavily
45
71g — ^ ^r-jsrv^

,4^

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710 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
timbered when he settled on it. He is engaged in general farm
ing and stock-raising, at which he is very successful. He en
listed in the war of the Rebellion Sept. 20, 1861, in Company
F, Forty-fourth Indiana Infantry, and served till Nov. 22, 1864.
He participated in the battles of Shiloh, Corinth, Battle Creek,
Perryville, Stone River, Chickamauga, and thence to Chatta
nooga where his regiment was on guard duty till their dis
charge. At Stone River he had four bullet holes shot in his
clothes, and his pocket-book was torn to pieces, but he was
unharmed. He is a member of the Grand Army of the Re
public, an organization in which he is much interested. He
was raarried July 4, 1854, to Lucinda Nichols, and to them
were born five children,. but three of whom are Hving — Fran-
cine, Flora and Logan. Francine married Benjamin F. Nelson,
of Hicksville, Ohio, and has three children — Inez L., Earl D.
and Ivah F. Mrs. Fuller died in September, 1873, and March
4, 1875, Mr. Fuller married Mrs. Mary Hull, daughter of Haz
ard Webster and widow of John Hull, who was killed at the
battle of Stone River. To them have been born two children,
but one of whora is living — Harry. She had three children by
her first marriage, but two of whom are living — Ellen and John.
Mr. Fuller has served his township three years as Trustee and
two terms as Assessor.
Henry Fusselman was born in Warren, Trumbull Co., Ohio,
May 6, 181 5. He was the youngest of fourteen children, and
his eldest sister had married and emigrated to a distant State
before he was born. Of all the influences which surrounded
his early life we know nothing, but they raust have been gra
cious to form a character so strong in its simplicity, purity and
integrity of purpose. If of the leaming of schools he was
taught Httle, he learned somewhere the better lessons of love
for God, obedience to His laws and enduring trust in His
mercy through Christ; of patience, charity and good wiU to
ward all his fellow beings ; of industry, perseverance and econ
omy as regards his own life and practice. These qualities,
added to strong good sense, made him an excellent business
man, a valuable citizen and a faithful friend. He was married
in Braceville, Portage Co., Ohio, Dec. 22, 1836, to Alraeda M.
Gay, who was born May 15, 1810. She was a woraan of strong
intellect, and distinguished among her acquaintances for her
bright, keen wit, whose shafts, to her credit be it said, were

^

HISTORY OF DEKALB COUNTY. 711
never poisoned by envy or malice. To her husband she was a
valuable and valued helper; to her neighbors a ready and sym
pathizing friend; in her family, energetic and untiring. Mr. and
Mrs. Fusselman arrived at the St. Joe River in Stafford Town
ship, April 15, 1838. On the nth of August after, their eldest
child, Barbara, was born. She is now Mrs. Geo. Garver, of
Des Moines, Iowa. Afterward were born to them Sarah (Mrs.
Henry Herrich), Harriet (Mrs. Charles Thomas, of Omaha,
Neb.), Lester, who died in the army; Henrietta and Quincy.
The following sketch of Mr. Fusselman was written to his eldest
daughter, Mrs. Garver, by John P. Widney, himself long an hon
ored citizen of De Kalb County, but now a resident of Belle
ville, Richland Co., Ohio. It is so just a characterization, and
so honorable to its author that we give it verbatim : " 1 became
acquainted with your father, Henry Fusselman, when he first
moved into the county. I went with him and Wm. ScoviUe to
Fort Wayne in a pirogue when he laid in his first supplies as
a settier. This was our first acquaintance, and it was a pleas
ant one. I found Mr. Fusselman to be one of the most genial
companions, of more than average intelligence and of the most
unswerving integrity. This first opinion of his character was
fully confirmed in after years, for his sterling qualities of head
and heart were soon appreciated by a wide circle of friends,
and he became a leader in every enterprise that tended to build
up good society. In him the widow and the orphan found a
fast and reliable friend, as he was frequently called upon to
manage the estates of decedents and minors. And such was the
confidence of his neighbors in his justice and his judgment that
he was, perhaps, more than any other man selected as referee
in personal disputes, and his decision was generaUy satisfactory.
For many years he held the office of Justice of the Peace in his
township (Stafford), and in after years was selected as one
of the County Coraraissioners. In all his public duties he fully
met the confidence of his friends. His religious instincts were
not less marked than his social. In the church of his choice,
the Disciples or Christian, he stood among the foremost.
Firm in his convictions, but tolerant and kind to those of oppo
site views, as a lay preacher he had but few equals. His pub
lic addresses were the overflowings of a sympathetic nature
guided by a clear head. As a business man he had many ex
cellent traits, and was specially useful as a dealer in farm pro-

71

712 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
duce. His energy and industry in this direction brought on,
by exposure, the disease that closed his life. In the accumula
tion of property he was fairly successful, but all through life
his generous nature made large draughts on his accumulations.
In his death the county lost a good and useful man ; one who
was respected by all, and highly esteemed for his many virtues."
Five or six years before he died, perhaps more, Mr. Fussel
man removed to Newville where he opened a store and carried
on an active business while he lived. He died Feb. 27, 1863,
of congestion of the lungs. When the news of his serious ill
ness went abroad his friends came from many miles distant,
anxious to see him, to help, if possible, but at least to testify in
some manner to their affectionate sympathy. The peace of
God which passeth all .understanding went with him through
the valley and shadow of death. For him it had no sting, and
a visible joy shone on his dead face, as if even the Hfeless clay
were witness to his happiness. His widow survived him
nearly twelve years, dying Jan. 29, "1875. To her whose hfe
had been maimed by the loss of her husband, to whom the in
tervening years had been a period of waiting, death came as a
welcome friend. Let us humbly hope that it reunited in para
dise those whora it had separated here.
Isaac Gunsenhouser, section 4, Newville Township, was born
in Stafford Township, De Kalb County, Ind., on the old home
stead, on the southeast quarter of section 6, March 8, 1838. In
1836 his father, John J. Gunsenhouser, came to this county and
settled in Stafford Township. At that tirae the county was aU
heavily tirabered and the inhabitants were principally Indians
and wild animals. Isaac Gunsenhouser was reared a farmer
and has followed that vocation the most of his life, with the ex
ception of the decade from 1872 to 1882, when he ran a steam
saw-mill on the St. Joseph River at Newville. He received a
common-school education, attending the schools of his native
township. He moved to Newville Township in 1872 and set
tled on section 4, where he owns seventy -six acres of choice
land, under a good state of cultivation. He served as Justice
of the Peace three years in Stafford Township, and has held
the same office eight years in Newville. He is a prominent
member of the Masonic fraternity. He was married in i860 to
¦ Rosanna, daughter of Jacob Dickerhoff. They have had two
children — Inez (deceased) and Mary E.

-711

A

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HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY. 713
H. H. Hull, M. D., was born in Coshocton County, Ohio, Feb.
4, 1815, ason of Henry and Christiana (Cox) Hull, natives of
Virginia and Pennsylvania. He lived on his father's farm till
twenty-one years of age, receiving his education in the public
schools of Knox County, Ohio. When nineteen years of age
he began the study of medicine, and when twenty-one began
his practice. In 185 1 he moved to De Kalb County, Ind., and
located at Newville, where he has built up a large and lucrative
practice. He-was married April 24, 1856, to MeHssa Rex, daugh
ter of Joshua and Martha (Watson) Rex, natives of Vermont
and New York. To them have been born six children, four of
whom^ are living — Lorinda, C. O., Inez and T. M. Dr. Hull
became a member of the Masonic fraternity in the fall of
1857, and is a member of William Hacker Lodge, No. 326,
Newville. Wilson S. Headley was born in Trumbull County, Ohio,
June 26, 1843, a son of James Headley, who was born Jan. 10,
1810, in Greene County, Pa., and a grandson of Maurice Head-
ley. In 1845 James Headley brought his family to De Kalb
County, Ind., and entered eighty acres of land on section 8,
Newville Township, where he has since lived. Wilson S. re
ceived a good common-school education, completing it at the
Newville select school. He remained at home till after the
breaking out of the Rebellion, and in 1863 enhsted in Company
F, One Hundred and Twenty-ninth Indiana Infantry, and served
nearly two years. He participated in the battles of Kenesaw
Mountain, Burnt Hickory, Atlanta, Franklin, Nashville, Ben
tonville, and others of less importance. After his return home
he worked on the homestead three years and then spent two
years on Bear Creek, Concord Township. In 1877 be moved
to Newville where he has since lived. He has been promi
nently identified with all the interests of the town since living
here, and in 1884 was elected Justice of the Peace, and makes
an efficient and reliable officer. He was raarried Jan. 5, 1867,
to Sarah E. Bradley, daughter of Joseph Bradley. To them
have been born six children — Vernon D., James, Maud, Lee,
Dott and an infant son.
Rev. Oscar B. Jewell, pastor of the Newville Christian church,
was born in Washington Township, Licking County, Ohio,
April 12, 1845, a son of WilHam JeweU, now of Ottawa Lake,
Mich., a native of Elizabeth City, N. J. He was reared on a

a

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714 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
farm but received a good education in the schools of Utica
Ohio, and after leaving school taught fourteen years. April
12, 1878, he was ordained a minister in the Disciples church,
and has since given his time to the pastoral work of the church.
He came to Newville in February, 1884, and now has charge
of the churches at NewviUe and Coburn Corners. He is a gen
tleman of pleasing address, a fine orator, and a ready expounder
of the doctrines of the Bible, and has many friends both in and
out of the church. He was married Nov. 14, 1867, to Melissa
Cullison, daughter of John M. CuUison. They have one child
— Frank, aged sixteen years.
John Mathews was born in one of the New England. States
Aug. 9, 1790, and died in Newville, Ind., Aug. 27, 1862. His
father, John Mathews, was one of the pioneers of Shelby Coun
ty, Ohio. He was married in the fall of 1832 to Priscilla H.
Clayton, daughter of Robert Clayton, and to them were born
twelve children, eight of whom are living — Mrs. Eliza McCosh,
Mrs. Elizabeth Fetterer, Mrs. Jane Stoughton, Mrs. Mary E.
Moody, Mrs. Sophia Colburn, Mrs. Melissa Briggs, Aaron and
Mrs. Alice McCabe. Wilham H. was a soldier in the war of
the RebeUion, and was killed in the battle at Vicksburg. Aaron
was also a soldier in the late war. Robert, Mrs. Rebecca Snook
and Mrs. Ettie Sanders are also deceased. Mr. Mathews came
to DeKalb County in December, 1833, and located on the
present site of Spencerville, and from that time till his death
was one of the prominent citizens of the county.
John Nelson, farraer and stock-raiser, section 28, Newville
Township, was born in Tuscarawas County, Ohio, Feb. 26,
1 8 19, son of Hugh and Mary (Wilson) Nelson, the former a
native of Pennsylvania and the latter of Virginia. He was
reared in his native county, and in the fall of 1853 came to De
Kalb County and settled on the farm where he now lives. The
first year he hved in a small pole cabin, but in the fall of 1S54
built a log house. He owns ninety-six acres of land, sixty acres
of which he has cleared with his own hands. He enhsted in
the war of the RebeUion in Company F, One Hundred and
Twenty-ninth Indiana Infantry, and served two years. He par
ticipated in the battles of Resaca, Nashville, Kingston, and
others. At the battle of Nashville he was shot through the
wind-pipe, when making a charge, the second day of the fight,
Dec. 15, 1864. He enlisted as a private and was discharged as

HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY. 715
a Duty Sergeant. He was married Sept. 22, 1842, to Eliza
Thornburg, daughter of Benjamin and Nancy (Underwood)
Thornburg. To them have been born eight children, seven of
whom are living — Benjamin F., Jennie, John W., William H.,
Hugh A., Samuel L., and Celia. All are married except Henry
and Celia. Benjamin married Francinia Fuller and has three
children — Inez L., Earl D., and Ivah F. Jennie married Edwin
O. Harris, of Antwerp, Ohio, and has six children — Frank,,
Mabel, Elva, Myrtle, Ross and Ethel. John W. married Matil
da Clark and has one child— Ray. Hugh, of Cole City, IU.,
married Dellia Pardee, of Grundy County, III., and has one
child — Ralph. Samuel married Carrie Lupton, and lives in
Springfield, III. Their eldest child, Thomas J., died at the age
of six years. Mr. and Mrs. Nelson are merabers of the Meth
odist Episcopal church. He is a member of the Grand Army
of the Republic. He has served his township as Constable two
terms, and as Justice of the Peace the past nine years.
James W. Platter, the first white male child born in De Kalb
County, Ind., was born in Concord Township, Oct 11, 1836, a
son of Jacob and Jane (Weeks) Platter, his father a native of
Miami County, Ohio, born Feb. 16, 1805, and his mother of
Rockbridge County, W. Va., born Aug. 18, 1809. He was edu
cated in the pioneer log school-houses, and in his youth learned
the blacksmith's trade, although the greater part of his Hfe has
been devoted to agricultural pursuits. He now owns a fine
farm of 100 acres on section 18, Newville Township. He lived
in Concord Township till twelve years of age, and then went
with his parents to Defiance County, Ohio, where he lived four
teen years. Then moved to Allen County, Ind., and seven years
later returned to De Kalb County, and in 1873 settled on the
farm where he now lives. He was married Dec. 23, 1859, to
Harriet Reaser, daughter of Daniel and Sarah Reaser, of Wayne
County, Ohio. They have had four children — ComeHus, born
Sept, 12, 1S61 ; Ulysses, born July 26, 1863, died April 2, 1884;
Arthur, born Aug. 13, 1866, and John, born March 21, 1873.
Mr. and Mrs. Platter are merabers of the United Brethren
church. Captain Marquis L. Rhodes, deceased, was born in Piqua, Ohio,
Feb, 15, 1835, a son of Jeremiah Rhodes, who settled in De Kalb
County in 1836, and is now a resident of Spencerville. He re
mained at home on the farm till fourteen years of age, and then
¦f <S  »- -»  5> \

716 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
went to Fort Wayne, and for six years was employed as clerk
in the store of Henry Orff. He then returned to Spencerville
and established a general store, which he conducted till the faff
of 1857, when he moved to Auburn and carried on his business
there till August, 1862, when he raised Company A of the One
Hundredth Indiana Infantry, and was appointed its Captain.
He was a valiant soldier, serving till the following December,
when he died at Memphis, Tenn., from the effects of measles.
He was married Dec. 4, 1856, to Sarah E. Harmony, daughter
of Jacob Harmony, of Decatur, Ind. To them were born three
sons, but one of whom is living — Cecil, who lives in one of the
Western States. One son, Leon, died in June, 1880, aged twen
ty-one years. Mrs. Rhodes is a resident of Newville, and one
of the most esteemed ladies of the place. Captain Rhodes was
a prominent member of the Masonic fraternity.
William Seeley is a native of New York State, bom in 1833,
the eldest of three sons and one daughter of Amzi and Mercy
Ann (Ray) Seeley. July 3, 1843, his parents moved to De Kalb
County, Ind., and the foUowing fall settled on the Richmond
farm where they lived two years. In the fall of 1845 they
moved to OrangeviUe where the father bought an interest in
the flouring mill. In 1858 he sold his mill and moved to New
ville where he died in the spring of 1877. He was one of the
prominent men of the county, and held the office of County
Commissioner four terms. William Seeley lived with his par
ents till eighteen years of age and then learned the cabinet
maker's trade, at w-hich he worked till the spring of 1872, when
he bought the saw-mill which he has since run. He has built
up a good trade, and is one of the prosperous citizens of the
township. He was married in 1863 to Ellen Stager, a native of
Ohio, bom in 1836. They have a family of five children, ah
living at horae. In 1882 Mr. Seeley was elected Township
Trustee, and re-elected in 1884.
Alpha Warren Smith, farmer and stock-raiser, section 4, New
viUe Township, was born in Erie County, Pa., March 17, 1827,
a son of Daniel Smith, a native of Saratoga County, N. Y., and
an early settler of Erie County. He was reared and educated
in his native county, and when sixteen years of age, in 1843, left
home and, after wandering in several States, in 1849 located in
Putnam County, Oliio, where he remained. tiU the fall of i860,
and then went to Lawrence County, IU., and spent the winter,

HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.

717

and the foUowing spring came to De'Kalb County, Ind., where
he has since hved. He owns seventy -six acres of choice land all
well improved, and in addition to his agricultural pursuits has
worked at the shoemaker's trade. He was married in the fall
of 1S49 to Sarah Miller, daughter of Jacob and Anna (Robers)
Miller. The father died about 1870, and the mother is living
with Mrs. Smith, aged seventy-five years. To Mr. and Mrs.
Smith have been born seven children ; but two are living —
Minerva and PauHna. Minerva married WilHs Aten, of New
ville Township, and Paulina married Wilham Countryman, and
has one child — Carl. One son, Oscar, died at the age of twenty-
two years. He married Dora Bailey, and left one child —
Blanch. Philander Smith, section 5, Newville Township, was born in
Morrow County, Ohio, Dec. 4, 1825, a son of Ehsha Smith, a
native of New York and a pioneer of Delaware County. He
was reared and educated in his native county, and in the early
part of 185 1 came to De Kalb County and spent several months
in Newville making fanning-mills. He then returned to Ohio,
but in 1852 came again to Newville, and in company with John
S. Peck established the first cabinet shop in the place. A year
later he sold his interest to Mr. Peck, who ran the shop till
i860, when he sold out to Williara Seeley, and in 1865 Mr.
Smith bought an interest in the business and they ran it together
five years. The latter then sold his interest, but in 1879 bought
the entire business and ran it alone till 1882, when he sold out
and moved to the farm where he now lives. He has forty acres
of good land on his farm, and also owns forty acres in Henry
County, Ohio. He enhsted in the war of the RebeUion in 1861
in Company E, Eleventh Indiana Infantry, and served a year,
when he was discharged on account of disability. In 1863 he
helped raise Company H, of the Eighty-eighth Indiana Infan
try, and was commissioned its First Lieutenant. The following
winter he was wounded at the battle of Murfreesboro and re
signed. In 1864 he helped raise and enlisted as private in Com
pany F, One Hundred and Twenty-ninth Indiana, but was soon
after appointed Second Lieutenant and subsequently First
Lieutenant. He participated in the battles of Pittsburg Land
ing. Burnt Hickory, Murfreesboro, Perryville, siege of Atlanta,
Franklin, Nashville, Kingston, and others of less importance.
He was married in the spring of 1846 to Lucy Lord, and to

71

W^

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718 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTV.
them were born two children — Elizabeth (deceased) and Philura.
Mrs. Smith died in the spring of 1850, and in December, 1851,
he married Caroline Griffith. To them have been born eight
children, six of whom are living — Loretta, Corlistia, Effie,
Alfred, Ellsworth, and Birdie. Mr. Smith is a member of the
Masonic fraternity. He and his wife are members of the Dis
ciples church.
Ephraim B. Strong, section 7, Newville Township, was born
in Geauga County, Ohio, Jan. 5, 181 5, a son of Daniel and
Eunice (Bundy) Strong, natives of Northampton, Hampshire
Co., Mass., a grandson of Daniel Strong, a hero of the Revolu
tion. His grandfather's brother John was a Colonel in that
war. His father was Captain of a military company in the
early days of Ohio. His parents moved to Geauga County,
Ohio, in 181 3, and in 1836 to De Kalb County, Ind., landing in
NewviUe Township, June 4. There were no roads through
from Defiance County, Ohio, and they were obliged to cut
their way through the woods. They settled on section 7, where
our subject now lives, which at that time was heavily timbered.
They cleared the timber from four acres that fall and sowed it
to wheat, without plowing the ground, dragging it in, and har
vested a crop of 102 bushels. There was a family of twelve
children, but five of whom are living— Ephraim B., Eunice,
Stephen W., Nancy and Albert B. Two died in childhood and
five, Daniel B., Lucy, Laura, Triphosa, and Israel, had reached
maturity. Albert B. was a soldier in the war of the RebeUion.
Ephraim B. Strong reraained with his parents till manhood,
assisting his father to clear and improve a frontier farm. He
was married May 28, 1840, to Marietta E., daughter of Ralph
F. Robison. To them have been born five children, three of
whom are living — Henry B., WilHam L., and Ida G. Lisbon
E., and an infant are deceased. Henry married Anna L. Leitch,
and has one child. He hves in Clay Center, Neb. Ida is the
wife of Andrew C. Harrod, of NewviUe Township.
James W. Wair, section 4, Newville Township, was born in
Paulding County, Ohio, Dec. 23, 1839, a son of J. M. Wair, a
native of New England, who moved West when our subject
was small and died there. James W. was reared and educated
in his native county. He was married June 22, 1 871, to Mrs.
Almeda S. Boland, widow of Edward Boland, and daughter of
Samuel Swetland. She was born in the State of New York,

7*

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HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.

719

January, 1834, and when eleven years old her parents moved
to Lorain County, Ohio, and she was married there when nine
teen years old to Edward Boland, and came directly to this
county. Mr. Wair has been a cripple since two and a half years
of age. He and his wife are members of the United Brethem
church.

:C

^i

CHAPTER XIX.

RICHLAND TOWNSHIP.

Situation. — Geography and Topography. — Organization.
— Early Township Officers. — First Settler. — Other
Pioneers. — First Schools and Churches. — Population.
—Property and Taxation. — Crop Statistics.— Sedan.—
Corunna.— Biographical.
The township known as Richland is situated in the western
tier, and is bounded on the north by f^airfield, on the east by
Union, on the south by Keyser, and on the west by Allen"
Township, Noble County. Through the northern part the air-
Hne of the Michigan Southern Railroad Company runs, having
two villages within the hmits of Richland, Corunna and Law
rence, or Sedan. It has several small streams, tributary to the
Cedar and Little Cedar, and one or two small lakes. The sur
face is uneven and somewhat hilly. The soil is sandy, with oc
casional tracts of clay. This latter is of beautiful color and
superior quality for the manufacture of tile or bricks. The
prevailing timber is beech and maple, but there is interspersed
a supply of ash, oak and poplar ; there is little walnut left.
Richland was organized as a civil township in September,
1837, as a whole Congressional township, and Jacob Weirick
was appointed its first Supervisor. At the first election held,
but six votes were cast, and Williara Showers was elected Jus
tice. On the formation of Keyser Township, in June, 1876,
12 sections were taken from its southen side, reducing it to 24
sections. Some of the early township officers were as fol
lows: Justices, besides WUliam Showers, already mentioned,
James Blake, D. Shaw and L. D. Britton; Constables, Lyman
Green, John Clay, Robert Wilhams, Leeman Fulson, J. Simons,
D. Mallery, A. P. Bristol, John Palmer, L. Thomas, B. Sanders,
David Swander and C. B. Kagey ; Trustees, Peter Treesh,
Joshua Brubaker, David Lawrence, A. J. Hunt, Jacob Palmer,
Jefferson Wallace, Christian Fretz, Solomon Showers, H. Wil-
720

=5rv

history of de KALB COUNTY. 72 1
lis, W. Connelly, J. C. Mead, Japhet Ingraham, James Blake,
Lyman Green, W. Showers, L. D. Britton, H. Sherlock, H.
Knapp and I. Kanaga ; Assessors, WilHam Welker, C. Knapp,
John Shaw and Henry Sherlock.
The first settler was Joseph Miller, who, during August, 1836,
cut his way in from his father's clearing in Jackson, and located
on the farm later sold to and occupied by George Olinger, two
miles west and one half mile south of Auburn. Previous
to moving his family he had chosen a site for a cabin; then
one day he cut logs ; the next he made the clapboards, having
to chop off the timber i^for want of a saw) two clapboard
lengths, then split it into bolts, and chop them in two before
riving. He and two others put up the house without any fur
ther assistance on the third day.
During October following, Jacob Weirick and Joshua Feag
ler moved in ; the former occupied a log house built for him by
Miller, Van Sickle and Obadiah Whitmore. Mr. Feagler passed
his life upon this place, and his name is perpetuated by the
name " Feagler's Corners " applied to the intersection of roads.
Weirick's entry was the land which later became the property
of Peter Raub. Calvin Calkins set out in the fall of 1839,
from Sandusky County, Ohio, on foot, with a knapsack upon
his back to carry his provisions, and arriving in this township,
selected a quarter-section, or two eighties, lying on the present
road south of Corunna. He learned that another land -hunter
had chosen part of the same lands, and made the best time pos
sible to the land office at Fort Wayne, and was scarcely half
an hour in advance of his competitor. The faraily moved in
during June, 1840. Neighbors were few and scattering ; Peter
Kronkite, who had come during the previous fall, had a cabin
in the woods on his entry of land, adjoining Calkins on the
west, and Peter Moody had located previously on land about a
mile east of Corunna, and had begun a small clearing about his
cabin. In the northeast part of the township was the Showers' set
tlement. Solomon Showers being the pioneer was called upon
to give lodging to those who were moving in to become his
neighbors. His cabin was small, but room was always found,
and his garden and truck patch of two or three acres indicated
to others the initial steps of early settlement. Lyraan Green,
for whom the corners south of Sedan were named, Daniel

^

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722 history of de kalb county.

Webber, William Beck, William Showers and Daniel Showers
were others who soon established themselves in this neighbor
hood. Japhet Ingraham settled where L. D. Britton afterward
Hved, having purchased it from Samuel Jones, by whom it
had been entered as early as 1836, and Peter Treesh made
the first clearing of the Amos Britton farm. Thomas Daily
moved in from Michigan and setttled in the western part of
Richland, and Dimick Harding came from Lima, Ind., and chose
a tract for his life-long home. Other early settlers were: The
Moodys, Peter, John and Harvey ; the Connellys, Ezra, Will
iam and John; Samuel Haynes, James Blake, Heman Bangs
and Jaraes McCrum. Henry Willis, afterward Sheriff, and
who subsequently settled in Waterloo, came at an early date
and located in the northeastern part of the township. He by
chance or choice located on a sugar-timbered tract, and there
he gathered the sap from the tall maple trees with neck-yoke
and pails, manufactured sugar, and this was exchanged for
breadstuffs, sometimes requiring a three-days' journey. This
was a very common expedient with the first settlers, and was
of invaluable service. Indeed, they would have fared very
poorly had it not been for sugar and saw logs. It was well,
indeed, that they had this means of " sweetening " their bitter
experiences of pioneer life.
The first school-house was erected at Green's Corners prior
to 1 841. In 1849 a frame was put up by Charles Knapp on the
old site. A year or two later L. D. Britton was a teacher in
this building. In 1842 a log school-house was built a half amUe
northeast of Calkin's Corners ; Loretta Rawson was teacher,
and she had fifteen pupils. Harvey Smith was the first male
teacher. The Baptists were the first religious organization,
and erected the pioneer log church on Calkin's Corners. Early
ministers were : Elders Town, Spear and Blanchard. The first
grist-miU was built at Corunna by Obadiah Bear, and the first
water saw-raill on section 16, by John Weaver. Burgess and
Green put up a steara saw-mill on the land belonging to Mr.
Green. The population of Richland Township is 1,598, or 66 to the
square mile. The valuation per capita is $337.96. In 1884 the
number of acres of land assessed was 14,787.70; value of same,
$383,334; value of improvements, $49,010; value of lands and
improvements, $432,344; value of lots, $6,999; value of im-

Q)

*A.—^ ^—^^,

• ^ ¦ VV - ¦*

^TO^/^^^^^f^^yL ^ /Sa^vi^

4-^2

history of de kalb county. 723
provements, $16,690: value of lots and improvements, $23,689;
value of personal property, $109,232; total taxables, $565,265 ;
rate of taxation, $1.56; number of polls, 214; poll tax, $1.50.
The foUowing figures of staple crops are for 1881 : Acres in
wheat, 1,834; product of same at 5 bushels per acre, 9,170 bush
els; acres in corn, 1,113; product of same at 25 bushels, 27,-
825 bushels ; in oats, 636 acres ; product of sarae at 30 bushels
per acre, 19,080; in meadow, 518 acres; product of same at two
tons per acre. 1,036 tons of hay; in Irish potatoes, 40 acres;
product of same at 1 5 bushels per acre, 600 bushels.
Sedan and Corunna are two stations on the Lake Shore &
Michigan Southern Railroad, the latter being far more import
ant as a business point. At Corunna the following are the busi
ness firms : F. G. Fried, general store ; Helmer & Metz, general
store; Mercer & Baughman, drugs; B. G. Cissle, drugs; John
Lipsett, grocery ; Wallace & Knapp, hardware ; W. B. Adams,
hardware; G. H. Miles, harness; J. Kirkpatrick, agricultural
implements; J. Lanning, grocery; John Baker, blacksmith; J.
Kirkpatrick, blacksmith; Al. H. Williamson, wagon and repair
shop; Dewitt Griffith, barber; James Gettings, saloon; John
Finch, repair shop; Mel. Reynolds, meat market; Osborn &
Khne, saw-miU ; Miles Calkins, saw-mill, brick and tile yard ;
Charles Imus, Union Hotel. The medical profession is rep
resented by Drs. F. Snyder, W. M. Mercer and W. H. Nus-
baum. Corunna has two churches, both brick. The M. E.
church was built about fifteen years ago, and that of the
United Brethren denomination was erected in 1875.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
Heman Bangs, iarmer, section 11, Richland Township, was
born in Bennington County, Vt., June 14, 181 3, a son of
Nathaniel and Judah (Elwell) Bangs, of English descent. His
great-grandmother went with her sixteen sons to the place of
enhstment and saw them all enrolled in the service of the
United States in the Revolutionary war. She died at the age
of 104 years. His father died at the age of ninety -seven, years.
His mother was drowned in the Erie Canal, at Lockport, N.Y.,
when on her way West to visit him. She was in the fifty-first
year of her age. When our subject was eleven years old he
went to live with Robert Madison, a neighboring farmer, and
remained with him till manhood, moving with him when fifteen

^1

_ IS

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724 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
years of age to Genesee County, N. Y. When he reached, his
raajority he had $100 as a nucleus upon which to build his
future. After working a time by the month he bought a farm
in Niagara County, N. Y., of the Holland Company, and hved
there two years. In 1839 he sold his farm and came West.
The first winter he spent in Kalamazoo, Mich., and March 13,
1840, came to De Kalb County, Ind., and settled on the farm
where he now lives. It was heavily timbered, and neighbors
were few, there being but twelve families in Richland and three
in Fairfield Township at the time. He was a young man ot
energy and ambition and went bravely to work to make a home.
He also for a time worked at the carpenter and joiner's trade
in connection with farming, there being a demand for that kind
of labor. In addition to his home farm, Mr. Bangs has had 320
acres of land which he has given to his children. He has been
prosperous in his business operations, and is now one of the
wealthiest farmers of Richland Township. He was married
Nov. 22, 1842, to Catherine E. Chaffy, bom in 1821, a daughter
of Joshua and Polly (Bowers) Chaffy, who came to De Kalb
County frora New York in 1838, and subsequently moved to
Lagrange County. They have had seven children — Eunice L.,
Nathaniel, John H., Winfield Scott, CaroHne L., Charles H.,
and Matilda (deceased). In 1841 Mr. Bangs united with the
Protestant Methodist church, but afterward transferred his
membership to the United Brethern church, which church his
wife joined later. He has always taken an interest in church
and Sabbath-school matters, and has for several years been a
Trustee and Steward, and Leader of the United Brethern
church for five or six years, and Superintendent of the Sab
bath-school. Politically he was formerly a Whig, and is now
one of the foremost workers in the Republican ranks. In the
spring of 1840 Mr. Bangs helped to build the first school-house
in Richland Township. He also made the first coffin for the
first person who died in the township, it being for a child of
Obadiah Smith. The first loom in the county was made by Mr.
Bangs in the spring of 1840.
Christian C. Browand was bom in Erie County, Pa., June 30,
1838, the fifth child of David M. and Catherine (Shank) Brow
and, na^tives of Lancaster County, Pa., of Swiss descent. When
our subject was five years old his parents settled in Fort Wayne,
Ind., where he hved tiU fourteen years of age when they settled

-4-

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HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.

725

on a farm. In 1S59 our subject went to Noble County, Ind.,
where he was employed as a clerk in a store till his enhstment,
Oct. 20, 1862, in Company G, One Hundredth Indiana Infantry.
His regiment was in the army of the Tennessee, and partici
pated in the battles of Resaca, Kenesaw Mountain, Big Shanty
Station, Dallas, New Hope, Hardy and AUentown ; was with
Sherman in his march to the sea, and at the close of the war he
participated in the grand review at Washington. July 15, 1865,
he was honorably discharged, after which he returned to Noble
County and found employment in the store he left at the time
of his enlistment where he worked two years. Jan. 7, 1867, he
married Miss Samantha Crogsley, a native of Ohio and a
daughter of Solomon and Susana (Gault) Crogsley, natives of
Lehigh County, Pa., of German and Irish descent, who settled
in this township in 1848. They have had four children, but
one hving — AHce. The deceased are Minnie J., Beatrice and
Gracie E. Mr. Browand lost his health in the army, and for
ten years he was unable to do any labor, but is now partially
recovered. In 1878 he settled in De Kalb County. Mr. Brow
and and wife are members of the Disciples church. He is a
member of F. & A. M. and I. O. O. F. fraternities. In politics
he is a Repubhcan. He had five brothers in the late war, three
in the Eighty-eighth, one in the One Hundredth, and one in
the Twenty-sixth Indiana Infantry. Two received wounds ; all
served three years.
Christian C. Buss, the eldest of twelve children of Christian
and Margaret (Staley) Buss, was born in De Kalb County, Ind.,
July 2, 1844. His father was a native of the canton Berne,
Switzerland, and after arriving at manhood carae to the United
States and located in Ohio, where he raarried Margaret Staley,
also a native of Switzerland. In 1843 he came to De Kalb
County and entered eighty acres of land, and then returned to
Ohio and moved his faraily to the new home, making the jour
ney with ox teams. He lived one season on the farm of John
Husselman, and then moved to his own land, which he had
been preparing in the meantime for his family, erecting a log
house and clearing a part of the timber. He made this place
his home tiU his death in 1867. His widow survived him a few
years. They had a family of six sons and six daughters, two
sons and five daughters are living. Mr. Buss was a graduate
of a high school in his native country, and was one of the finest
46

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726 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
German scholars in the county. He worked at the cooper's
trade in his early life, and later at the carpenter's trade. He
was a skillful mechanic, and many buildings are still standing
in De Kalb County as an evidence of his handiwork. C. C.
Buss, the subject of our sketch, was reared a farmer, and in his
youth learned the art of surveying. His father owned a saw-
raill, and when not in school he assisted on the farm and in the
mill. He subsequently went to Smithfield Township and ran
the Lockhart Mills three years ; then returned to Richland
Township, where he is now doing a good business, buying and
sawing hard wood lumber. His farm contains 120 acres of
choice land, all well improved, and is one of the most valuable
in the township. He was married March 14, 1866, to Eliza
beth, fourth daughter of William and Barbara Park. To them
have been born eight children, seyen of whom are living — Will
iam H., John H., Isaac H., George H., Charles L., Barbara M.,
and Belle. Eda May died in infancy.
Pollaus N. Calkin was born in Essex County, N. Y., Nov. 27,
1830, the sixth son and twelfth child of Calvin and Kezia (Kel
logg) Calkin. In 1833 his parents moved to Sandusky County,
Ohio, and in 1840 to De Kalb County, Ind., locating on 160
acres of wild land in Richland Township. Here our subject
grew to manhood and was early inured to the hardships and pri
vations of life on a frontier farm. He was married March 27, 1851,
to Matilda Brown, daughter of Levi and Jane (Peak) Brown,
who came to De Kalb County from Seneca County, Ohio, in
1850. After his marriage he settled on a part of his father's
farm where he still remains. In 1873 he engaged in the manu
facture of tile, brick and lumber, which he still continues, at
present, however, is also superintending his farm. He has no
acres of land all well improved, with a good residence and farm
buildings. Mr. and Mrs. Calkin have eight children — Horace
N., Milo L., Frank C, Lindal G., Adna W., Charies F., Mary
J., and Rosa May. Mr. Calkin in his political affihations is a
Repubhcan. He is a meraber of the Masonic fraternity.
Benjamin A. Chaffie, Postmaster, Corunna, was bom Oct. 11,
181 5, in Tompkins County, N. Y., a son of Benjamin and Clarissa
(Brefford) Chaffie, the, former a native of Massachusetts, the lat
ter of New York. In 1836 he removed to Medina County, Ohio,
and Nov. 25 of that year was married to Caroline, daughter of
George Story. In 1845 he settled in Fairfield Township this

^^

^

HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY. 727
county, on forty acres of land entered from the Government.
He changed locations several times, but continued farming pur
suits tiU 1858, when he engaged in the mercantile business at
Turkey Creek, which he followed till 1861, when he came to
Corunna, where he was similarly engaged till 1S69. In 1873 he
received the appointment of Postmaster and Express Agent,
positions he still holds. To him and his first wife, who died
Feb. 4, 1864, were born three children — Orlin, Lavisa (deceased),
and Albert O. April 30, 1865, he married Mrs. Mary Conway,
whose maiden name was Thompkins.. At the first election held
in Fairfield he was elected Trustee, and while Hving in Steuben
County, Ind., served as Magistrate two terras. He is a mem
ber of the L^nited Brethren church. He casts his suffrage with
the Republican party.
Andrew F. Cox was born in Wayne County, Ohio, Nov. 5,
1833, the fifth of nine children of Jacob and Jane (Denman)
Cox, natives of Pennsylvania, his father of German and his
mother of Scotch descent. Jacob Cox died March 15, 1885. His
golden wedding was celebrated Dec. 5, 1874, and the following
April his wife died. Our subject reraained with his father till
manhood. In 1854 he came to Indiana and taught school in
Miami County, one winter ; then returned home, and after a brief
stay came to De Kalb County, and March 18, 1856, was married
to B. A. Helwig, daughter of Jacob and Sarah (Garsnage) Hel
wig. The first year after their marriage they lived in Noble
County, Ind., then moved to Steuben County and bought
twenty acres of unimproved land, which he improved, and sub-
sequenty sold and bought fifty acres in the same township where
he lived tiU March 28, 1882, when he came to De Kalb County,
and bought eighty acres of improved land in Richland Town
ship. Mr. and Mrs. Cox have a family of three children — Sarah
L., Belle O., and George Elmer. Mr. Cox is a member of the
Baptist, and his wife of the EvangeHcal Lutheran church. In
politics he affiliates with the Democratic party.
Thomas D. Daily was bom in Ontario County, N. Y., Oct. 25,
1818, a son of William and Elizabeth (DiUinghara) Daily, the
former a native of Vermont and of Irish descent, and the lat
ter a-native of Massachusetts and of Welsh origin. In the fall
of 1827, our subject with his father's family removed to Oak
land County, Mich., where he was reared on a frontier farm re
ceiving a limited education in the early schools of that county.

^^^

728 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
When he was sixteen years old he purchased his time of his
father and began working for hiraself. In the spring of 1841
he came to De Kalb County, Ind., and purchased eighty acres
of wild land, which his brother had previously entered. He
cleared ten acres during the summer, and then returned to his
home in Michigan, where, Oct. 25, 1825, he was married to Miss
Susan Knapp, a daughter of Henry and Esther (Moses) Knapp.
She was bom in Livingston County, N. Y., and carae with her
parents to Michigan when ten years of age. After his raarriage
our subject removed to his new horae in De Kalb County,
where they passed through all the hardships and privations of
a pioneer life, but by close attention to his pursuits, and through
their good management he has accumulated a good property.
He has one son — William H., who married Mary L. McDonald,
and now resides on the old homestead. In 1882 Mr. Daily and
his wife removed to the village of Corunna, where they are en
joying the accumulation of many years of hard toil. Politi
cally Mr. Daily is a Repubhcan.
T. J. Eldridge was born in Sandusky County, Ohio, April 9,
1835, the only son of Benjamin and Ellen (Hite) Eldridge, na
tives of Ohio, of English and German descent. His mother
died when he was five months old. When he was fourteen
years old he began to work by the month for farmers, and
when eighteen years of age began to work at the carpenter's
trade, which he followed fourteen years. In the meantime the
Rebellion broke out, and May 2, 1864, he enlisted in Company
H, One Hundred and Sixty-ninth Ohio Infantry, and served till
Sept. 4, 1864. In 1866 he carae to De Kalb County, and settled
in Richland Township on land he had bought in 1858. Here
he has since resided, engaged in agricultural pursuits. Mr. El
dridge was married March 31, 1859, to Mahala Kenan, of San
dusky, Ohio. To them have been born six children, but three
of whom are Hving^ — Benjamin F., Ann M. and OHver P The
deceased are Henrietta, Ida M. and Emeline. Politically Mr.
Eldridge is a Republican.
Manoah Franks was born in Wayne County, Ohio, April 17,
1827, the third son and fifth child of Peter and Julia (Fletcher)
Franks, his father a native of Fayette County, Pa., born May
21, 1797, and his raother of Virginia, of English parentage.
Flis father was a son of Jacob and Sarah (Livengood) Franks, a
grandson of Jacob and Barbara (Bradbury) Franks, and a great

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A

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HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY. 729
grandson of Michael Franks, who with three sons came from
Alsace, Germany, to America in the early part of the eighteenth
century. A record of the Franks family for a period of
500 years is preserved by them, and is now extant in Ohio.
Our subject was reared on a farm, remaining with his parents
tin manhood. He received a fair education in the common
schools of his county. He was married Feb. 7, 1849, to Lu
cinda, daughter of William and Mar\' (Hackett) Mackey, the
former a native of Ireland and the latter of Pennsylvania, of
French descent. In the spring of 185 1 Mr. Franks, with his
wife and one child, moved to Indiana and bought 160 acres of
land on section 12, Allen Township, Noble County. It was
heavily timbered land, but after building a small cabin for his
family he went bravely to work to clear it and make a horae.
When he reached Indiana, after paying for his land, he had just
money enough to buy a cow, ten bushels of wheat and two
bushels of corn. Possessed of unhmited energy, he improved
his land, and for twelve years made Noble County his home.
In 1863 he bought the farm in Richland Township, De Kalb
County, where he resided for twenty-two years, moving back
to the old homestead in Noble County in the spring of 1885.
His farm in DeKalb County contains 131^ acres of fine land,
all well improved. Mr. and Mrs. Franks have had three chil
dren, but two of whom are living. John, the eldest, was born
in Wayne County, Ohio, Oct. 8, 1850, and died of consumption
at the homestead in DeKalb County, Ind., Sept. 8, 1872. Ma
rion and Mary (twins) were born at the homestead in Noble
County, Ind., June 8, 1854. Marion married Minnie Britton,
and lives on the 'old horaestead in De Kalb County. Mary
married Francis L. Britton, of Richland Township. Mr. and
Mrs. Franks are members of the Methodist Episcopal church.
In politics he is a Democrat.
Thomas F. Franks, fourth son of Peter and Julia (Fletcher)
Franks, was born in Wayne County, Ohio, Nov. 29, 1832. He
was reared on a farm till his marriage, receiving only a com
mon-school education. Feb. 27, 1855, he was married to Miss
Eliza Ann Millard, a native of Crawford County, Ohio, and a
daughter of Richard and Rebecca (Moore) Millard, who were
natives of Lancaster County, Pa., coming to Crawford County,
Ohio, among the early settlers. After his marriage Mr. Franks
resided in his native county till 1864, when he removed to De

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730 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
Kalb County, Ind., and purchased his present farm of eighty
acres of improved land on section 5, Richland Township. Mr.
Franks and his wife have been active members of the Metho
dist Episcopal church for thirty years. Of their eight children,
seven are living — Julia R., Mary Almeda, William J., Lucinda
A., Samantha Alma, Frank N. and Harvey Peter. Virgie O. is
deceased. Mr. Franks was appointed Township Trustee to fiU
a vacancy, June, 1881, and elected to the same office in 1882,
and has held the same position by re-election ever since. In
politics Mr. Franks is a Democrat.
F. G. Fried, merchant, Corunna, Ind., was born in Germany,
June II, 1840, a son of Gottlieb F. Fried. When our subject
was fourteen years of age he emigrated to America, landing in
Kendallville, Ind., Jan. 5, 1855, and in 1857 he went to Fort
Wayne, where he found employment in a store till the break
ing out of the Rebellion. July 12, 1862, he enlisted in Com
pany D, Seventy-fourth Indiana Infantry. He participated in
the battle of Chickamauga, the Atlanta campaign, and a num
ber of other engagements. He rose from the ranks to Orderly
Sergeant and subsequently to Sergeant-Major of the regiment.
Later he was detailed to the Comraissary Department, and while
in the discharge of his duty met with an accident, and was af
terward furloughed and went home to vote for Lincoln's second
term, after which he joined his regiment at Goldsboro, N. C.
He was discharged June 30, 1865. He returned to Kendall
ville, and soon after embarked in the mercantile business with
W. S. Northara, and after a short time sold his interest and
clerked till 1867, when he bought an interest in a store in Wa-
waka, Noble County, which he conducted two years, and in
1869 located at Corunna where he has since carried on a pros
perous business. Dec. 31, 1866, he married Orie R. Brown,
daughter of Rev. Wilham C. Brown. They have four chUdren
— F. Eugene, William C, Heber M. and Fletcher. Mr and
Mrs. Fried are merabers of the Methodist Episcopal church,
and he is an earnest and efficient worker in the Sunday-school.
James B. Frost was born in New Haven, Huron County, Ohio,
Oct. 24, 1842, the only son of Richard and Mary (Lewis) Frost,
his father a native of Waterbury, Conn., and his mother of the
State of New York. They moved to Ohio with their parents
when children, and there grew to maturity and were married.
In 1845 they moved to Noble County, Ind., where the mother

HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY. 73 1
died July 4, 1879, and the father June 13, 1883. Onr subject
grew to manhood in Noble County. He was raarried July 6,
1S62, to Margaret King, daughter of Christian and Christina
I Stark) King, natives of Germany, who moved with their family
to America and settled in Ohio where the mother died. Mr.
King moved to Indiana in 1851, and died in Wabash County
in 1S73, aged sixty-three years. Mrs. Frost was reared by
Tacob C. Miller, of Noble County. After his raarriage Mr.
Frost settled on a farra a mile from the old homestead where he
lived till March, 18S2, when he sold his property and bought a
farm in Richland Township, De Kalb County, where he now
lives. Mr. and Mrs. Frost have two children — Chloe B. and
Arthur D. In his political affiliations Mr. Frost is a Democrat.
James M. Goetschius, known by the early settlers as the noted
wolf hunter of De Kalb County, was born in Dutchess County,
N. Y., July 4, 1812, a son of Lewis and Helen (McMasters)
Goetschius. In 181 5 his parents raoved to Tioga County, N. Y.,
and there he grew to manhood and married, in 1833, Miss Bet
sey Waterman, a native of New York. The next spring he
m'^ved to Huron County, Ohio, where, in August, 1834, his
wife died, leaving a daughter — Catherine, now the wife of
Daniel Hoffman, of Auburn, Ind. In the spring of 1836 he
came to Indiana and entered 240 acres of land in Butler Town
ship, De Kalb County. He cleared and improved a part of the
land, built a log house, and May 22, 1839, raarried Miss Cath
erine Barnes, a native of Tioga County, N. Y. They had many
hardships to contend with, but were young and ambitious, and
succeeded In making the farm tillable, and in placing them
selves on an equal footing with their neighbors. In 1850 Mr.
Goetschius crossed the plains to California and remained there
a year and a half, successfully engaged in mining. He returned
home through Central America, via the Nicaraugua route. In
1856 he sold his farm in Butler Township and bought the one
in Richland Township, section 14, where he has since resided.
His farm contains 160 acres of land, and his residence and farm
buildings are among the best in the township. Mr. and Mrs.
Goetschius have had ten children, but six are living — Helen,
Elizabeth, Emily, Philander, Abraham and Ira. Mary and three
infants are deceased. Politically Mr. Goetschius is a Democrat.
He has held many offices of trust and responsibility in the town
ship, and served three terms as County Commissioner.

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732 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
Nelson Griffith was born in Fayette County, Pa., Jan. 24,
1 8 12, a son of Asa and Jane (Blair) Griffith, natives of York
County, Pa., of Welsh and Irish descent. In 1817 his parents
moved to Wayne County, Ohio. When he was eighteen years
of age he went into a woolen factory and served an apprentice
ship of three years. He then worked in the same factory four
years as a journeyman. In 1839 he moved to De Kalb County,
Ind., and entered eighty acres of land in Jackson Township,
where he lived fourteen years. In 1853 he sold his farm and'
purchased the one in Richland Township where he now lives.
At the time he bought his land it was mostly heavily timbered,
but he has cleared and improved it, and now has one of the
finest farms in the township. Mr. Griffith was married March
19, 1837, to Sarah Ann Cobbler, daughter of Philip and Char
lotte (Wolf) Cobbler, who moved from Lancaster County, Pa.,
to Ohio in 1822. Mr. and Mrs. Griffith have had ten children,
eight of whom are living — Lewis C, Annie, Clark W., Philip
A., Lottie, John and Aaron (twins), Dewitt. The deceased are
Harriet and David K. Politically, Mr. Griffith is a Democrat.
He has served as Assessor of his township six years and as
County Commissioner three years. He and his wife are mem
bers of the Disciples church.
Peter Grogg, a successful and enterprising farmer of Richland
Township, residing on section 22, was born March 2, 182 1, in
Stark County, Ohio, the youngest of seven sons of Solomon
and Mary (Snyder) Grogg. After attaining his majority he
worked for the neighboring farmers and rented land in Stark
County seven years. In 1849 he came to Indiana and bought
160 acres of his farm in Richland Township, De Kalb County.
His land was a wild, uncultivated tract, but he and his wife
were industrious, and came to a new country expecting to un
dergo hardships and privations, and looking ahead to the time
when they would have a home and the accompanying
comforts. They endured their hard life without a murmur
of complaint. He has been successful, and now has 320
acres of finely, cultivated land, a good residence and comfort
able farm buildings. He was married Sept. 3, 1846, to Eliza
Smith, a native of Stark County, Ohio, daughter of Benjamin
Smith. They have had a family of nine chUdren — Amy Ann,
Benjamin S., Lucinda, Jacob 'W., Jan;ies H., Mary, Daniel S.,
Ellen and Elmer Ellsworth. The eldest is deceased. Mr. and

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HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY. 733
Mrs. Grogg are members of the English Reformed church.
Pohtically he is a Republican.
John F. Harter was born in Stark County, Ohio, Oct. 24,
1S4S. He is the third son and fifth child of six children of
Emanuel and Mary Ann (Rasor) Harter. The former is a son
of Jacob Harter, a native of Pennsylvania and of German
parentage ; the latter was a daughter of William and Mary Ann
(Everhard) Rasor, formerly from Westmoreland County, Pa.,
and later of Medina County, Ohio. Our subject was reared on a
farm, the district schools affording him the means for an educa
tion. He lived with his parents till twenty-two years of age,
when he came to De Kalb County and remained one year, then
returned to his former Ohio home. A year later he returned
to DeKalb County, and Jan. 8, 1873, was married to Eliza,
daughter of William and Catherine Schoup, and again returned
to Ohio, where he remained till after the death of his fathen
which occurred June 24, 1873. His mother died July 14, 1882.
Returning to De Kalb County he rented land, and in 1881 pur
chased eighty acres, on which he now lives. He has two chil
dren — William E. and Rosetta. He is a meraber of the Lutheran
church. Samuel S. Haynes, farmer, section 20, Richland Township,
was born in Portage (now Summit) County, Ohio, Aug. i, 1813,
a son of Benjamin and Christiana Haynes, his father a native of
Maryland and his mother of Virginia. He was reared and edu
cated in his native county, of which his parents were early
settlers. In May, 1841, he moved to Indiana and purchased
forty acres of heavily timbered land north of Auburn, and
began making a frontier farm. He cleared the land which is
now the public square of Auburn. In 1844 he sold out and
bought eighty acres in Richland Township, and the second
time settled in the woods and cleared a farm in De Kalb Coun
ty. He has made this last purchase his home, and now has one
of the finest farms in the township. Mr. Haynes w-as married
Feb. 22, 1837, to Marian Meed, a native of Vermont, who came
with her parents, Julius and Marian (Bain) Meed, to Ohio when
she was sixteen years of age. Mr. and Mrs. Haynes have had
ten children — Julia L., George B., Charles S., Lorenzo D., Eg
bert M., Tryphena C, Freeman E. (deceased). Perry F., Alfred
G. and Chloe K. Politically Mr. Haynes is a Republican. He
and his wife are members of the German Baptist church.

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734 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
/. W. Helmer, dealer in general merchandise, grain and pro
duce, Corunna, Ind., was born in Allegany County, N. Y., Jan.
12, 1824, a son of Godfrey and Barbara Helraer, natives of New
York, of German descent. He was reared on a farm, attend
ing the district schools till sixteen years of age, when his par
ents moved to Ashtabula, Ohio, where he began to work at the
cabinet-maker's trade, and served an apprenticeship of three
years, receiving as a remuneration $30 a year, and was also to
have the privilege of attending school eleven months, which was
not given him. After corapleting his time he went to Buffalo
and worked as a journeyman two years. He then came west to
Conneaut, Ohio, and bought the shop that he formerly learned
his trade in and employed his old boss, and continued in busi
ness at that place for himself for the next three years, during
which time he raarried Miss A. Z. Spalding, and bought a
horae. He rented his property and moved to Pierrepont, where
he built a saw-miU ; after running it one year he sold it and
built another, three miles from the first, running that one year
and sold it, making $3,500 in two years. At this time his health
failed and he went to Sheboygan, Wis., where he engaged in
the livery business till 1852, when he went to California, re-
raaining there two years, then returned to Ohio and bought a
farra ; he remained ten years (till 1864) when he sold and moved
to Goshen, Ind., and engaged in the livery business and a stage
route from there to Warsaw, which he sold a month later, mak
ing $1,200. In 1864 he raoved to Kendallville, and the following
fall to Corunna, where he engaged in the general mercan
tile business till 1870. He then moved to a farm in Steuben
County, which he had traded for, and subsequently engaged In
the mercantile business in Kendallville till 1876, when he re
turned to Corunna, where he has since resided. Mr. Helmer
was raarried in April, 1847, to Anna, daughter of D. Spalding.
They have two children — Guilford S. and Hattie. Mr. Helmer
is a member ot the Presbyterian and his wife of the United
Brethren church. In politics he is a Repubhcan. Mr. Helmer's
life is a strong incentive to our young men, as by hard labor and
close economy and strict honesty in business he has succeeded
in accumulating a handsome fortune.
Horatio S. Hine, miller, farraer and stock-raiser, was born in
Erie County, Ohio, Aug. 10, 1822, the second son of Shelden
and Sally Hine, natives of Connecticut who settled in Ohio in

< 4

HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY. 735
1819, where the former spent the rest of his Hfe. Mrs. Hine
died in De Kalb County, at the age of eighty-three years. In
the district schools and at the academy at Norwalk, Ohio, our
subject obtained a good education. Nov. 15, 1847, he was mar
ried to Cynthia, daughter of Deacon Lonson Brooks, of Erie
County, Ohio. Mrs. Hine died Sept. 22, 1855, leaving three
children — Shelden, Charles and Frank. His second marriage
was celebrated with deceased wife's sister, Jane S. Brooks,
Nov. 10, 1S57. They have three children — Nellie, Brooke and
Lemon. In 1838 Mr. Hine's father bought 384 acres of land in
Richland and Fairfield townships, now the site of Sedan.
When nineteen years old our subject came to pay taxes on this
land, but considering it worthless after seeing it, he returned
home with the money in his pocket. In 1856 he returned and
began making improvements, cleared a site for a saw-mill, and
in six weeks tirae had a raill running, which for ten years he
operated successfully. In 1868 he bought a flouring-mill, and
run the two for about two years. In 1873 this business was left
in charge of his sons, and he went to WiUiams County, Ohio,
where he had interests, remaining there ten years, after which
he returned to De Kalb County where he has since lived. At
present he owns 280 acres of highly improved land. He and
wife are consistent merabers of the Lutheran church. Pohti
cally he is Republican.
Christian B. Kagey was born in what is now Ashland, then
Richland County, Ohio, Oct. 21, 1829, the second child of Isaac
and Ann (Brinker) Kagey, natives of Virginia, of English and
German descent. He was reared on a farm, attending school
till twelve years of age, when his father died, and being the
eldest son the care of the farm devolved on him. He reraained
with his raother till her death which occurred the day he at
tained his raajority. After the estate was settled, in 1852, he
came to De Kalb County, Ind., and bought eighty acres of his
present farm, six acres of which were partially cleared. He
has cleared his land, and to his first purchase has added twenty-
six acres, having now a good farm, and his buildings are among
the best in the township. Mr. Kagey was raarried March 23,
1854, to Mary Ann, daughter of Michael Treesh. They have
five children — John F., Sarah C, Daniel E., Eliza Ann, and
Nancy Bell. They have also taken a nephew, John Frederick
Rohn, now nine years old, to rear and educate. Mr. and Mrs.
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736 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
Kagey are members of the Lutheran church. Politically he is
a Democrat. He has held the office of Township Trustee one
term, and Assessor three terras.
George Keen, farraer, section 17, Richland Township, was
born in Soraersetshire, England, in 1825, a son of Sarauel and
Jane (Dorsetter) Keen. In 1835 his parents came to the United
States and settled in Onondaga County, N. Y., and three years
later moved to Huron County, Ohio, where he grew to man
hood. In 1849 he carae to Indiana and built a log house on
land he had previously purchased in De Kalb County ; then re
turned to Huron County and was raarried in the spring of
1850 to CaroHne Parker, a native of New York. The next fall
he moved to his frontier home, where the following spring his
wife died. Mr. Keen's first purchase was eighty acres of uncul
tivated land. To this he has added till he now owns 300 acres
of choice land, all well improved. He was married a second
time, in 1852, to Minerva Franklin, a daughter of George and
Esther (Loomis) Franklin, who moved from Sandusky County,
Ohio, to Steuben County, Ind., in 1840. Mr. and Mrs. Keen
have had twelve children — Mary J., Caroline (deceased), Al-
via, Millie Bell (deceased), Amos, Sarah, Henry, John, Ed
ward (deceased), Boyd, Wesley, and one who died in infancy.
Politically, Mr. Keen is a Republican. He and his wife are
members of the Methodist Episcopal church.
Joseph Kirkpatrick, farmer, section 7, Richland Township,
was born in Perry County, Pa., March 18, 1830, a son of Jo
seph and Matilda (Murphy) Kirkpatrick, natives of Pennsyl
vania, of Irish descent. When he was eighteen months old his
parents raoved to Richland County, Ohio. When he was thir
teen years old his father died. He reraained with and assisted
his mother on the farm till he was eighteen years of age, and
then went to learn the blacksmith's trade, but on account of
his health was obliged to abandon it after working a year, and
then learned the carpenter's trade at which he worked and was
successful till 1857, when he moved to De Kalb County, Ind.,
and settled on land he purchased in 1853. His original pur
chase was 160 acres. This he cleared and improved, and in 1872
bought eighty acres adjoining, and now has one of the best
farms in the township. Mr. Kirkpatrick was married Sept. 16,
1855, to Elizabeth Marks, a native of Richland County, Ohio.
They have had eight children — Francis M. (deceased), John R.,

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HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY. 737
George W., Matilda M. (deceased), William H. (deceased),
Charles L., Joseph E. and Sarah A. Mr. and Mrs. Kirkpatrick
are members of the Protestant Methodist church. Politically
he is a Democrat.
Charles H. Knapp, of the firm of Wallace & Knapp, hardware
dealers, Corunna, Ind., was born in Richland Township, De
Kalb Co., Ind., May 30, 185 1, the only son and child of Charles
and Sarah (Calkins) Knapp. The former was a native of Liv
ingston County, N. Y., and reraoved to Michigan in an early
day, thence to De Kalb County, Ind., where he was married to
Miss Sarah Calkins, a daughter of the late Coburn Calkins. Mr.
Knapp died while engaged in the Auditor's office in Auburn,
when our subject was ten months old, after which Mrs. Knapp
and her son resided with her father for about fourteen years,
when he went to work for himself, working with his uncle, P. N.
Calkins, for about ten years in the summer season and attending
school in the winter. After completing his education at J. B.
Jordan's Commercial CoUege, Toledo, Ohio, in 1876, he went
to Portland, Mich., and engaged as clerk in a general merchan
dise store for two years. In 1883 he engaged in his present
business, where he is meeting with flattering success. June 26,
1877, he was married to Miss Clara, daughter of John McCul-
logh, of Fairfield Township, De Kalb County. They have had
two children born to them — Inez M. and Karl C. Mr. Knapp
is a member of the Portland, Mich., Lodge, No. 22, A. F. & A,
M. Politically he affiliates with the Republican party.
David Lawrence, one of the earliest settlers of Richland Town
ship, was born in Philadelphia County, Pa., Nov. 30, 1821, a son
of John and Sarah (Ritzer) Lawrence, who were of English and
German descent. His mother died when he was ten years old.
He remained with his father till manhood, receiving a good
education in the district schools. In 1845 he came to Indiana
and went to work for Jacob Case. De Kalb County at that
time was heavily timbered. He was determined to have a
home, and worked by the month till he had paid for sixty acres
of wild land. He then began to clear and improve his land,
and has since added to it till he now owns 200 acres of highly
cultivated land. His farra buildings are among the best in the
county. His residence, which was built in 1884, is the finest
frai|P residence in the county. Mr. Lawrence was married
Nov. 30, 1848, to Mary Charlotte, daughter of James and Sarah

^-¦.

738 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
(Camp) Symonds, who came from Genesee County, N. Y., to
De Kalb County, Ind., in 1841. Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence have
had three children ; two are Hving — Emily and John. Politi-
caUy Mr. Lawrence is a Republican.
Jacob Lehner, retired farmer, was born in Germany, March
10, 1807, and is the youngest of twelve children born to Jacob
Lehner. His mother died when he was eighteen months old,
and his father when he was six years old. He lived with his
oldest brother till fourteen years of age, after which he worked
for one man till he was twenty-three years old, at which time
he was drafted into the array and for six years served as a sol
dier. In the spring of 1836 he emigrated to America, landing
in New York, where he wOrked for one month to get funds
to carry him farther west, and eventually landed in Stark
County, Ohio, where for eighteen months he worked for Will
iam Treesh. May 27, 1838, he was married to Mary A.,
daughter of his late employer. The Septeraber following he
removed to Knox County, Ohio, where he bought fifty acres of
land, on which he lived six years ; then removed to Richland
County, Ohio, where he bought land and lived for seven years.
In 1854 he came to De Kalb County and bought eighty acres of
timbered land which he cleared and improved, and has added
to it till he now owns 140 acres of good land. To him and wife
were born eleven children ; eight are Hving — Susan, Christian,
W. H., George, Washington, Michael, John and Rachel. The
deceased are WilHam, Catherine and Nancy. His wife died Oct.
24, 1877. Both were exemplary members of the Lutheran church.
Irwin Lockwood is one of the pioneer children of De Kalb
County. He was born in Jackson Township, April 12, 1844,
and is a son of Alonzo and Rosamond (Phelps) Lockwood. His
youth was spent with his parents, and he was early inured to
the duties devolving on a farmer. His education was limited
to the district school. Arriving at man's estate he began farm
ing for himself, and now owns a good home in Richland Town
ship. His land is well improved, and his residence and farm
buildings are pleasant and convenient. Mr. Lockwood was
married April 20, 1865, to Mary E. Lawhead, a native of Con
cord Township, born April 3, 1843, daughter of Isaac and Jane
M. (Widney) Lawhead, pioneers of De Kalb County. They
have had two children— Carrie and Emil, the latter decelfcd.
Politically Mr. Lockwood is a Repubhcan.

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HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY. 739
Daniel Linty, deceased, was a native of Germany, born Sept.
10, 1S16, a son of Daniel and Catherine Linty. In 1818 his
parents came to the United States and lived in New York City
seven years, then removed to Stark County, Ohio, where he
grew to manhood. He was married May 23, 1839, to Sarah
Shuman, a native of Center County, Pa., born March 28, 1820,
a daughter of George and Hannah (Arney) Shuman, natives of
Pennsylvania, of German descent. i\fter his raarriage Mr.
Linty settled on his father's farm, and cared for his, parents till
their death. In October, 1855, he moved to DeKalb County,
Ind., and bought the farm in Richland Township where his
family reside, and where he died Aug. 21, 1883. The farra con
tains 120 acres of choice land, well cultivated, with a good resi
dence and farm buildings. Mr. Linty was an honorable, upright
citizen, a kind husband and father, a good neighbor, and an
honored member of society. To hira and his wife were born
eight children, but four of whom are living — Catherine, Aman
da, Eli and Nettie. The deceased are — Hannah, George, Ella
and Artie. Politically Mr. Linty was a Democrat. He was, as
is his wife, a prominent member of the Lutheran church.
Elijah S. McDowell, farmer, section 24, Richland Township,
was born in Wayne County, Ohio, April 18, 1826, a son of John
and Mary A. (Marshall) McDowell, natives of Pennsylvania, of
Irish descent. He received a good education, completing it at
the high school in Dalton, Ohio. He remained on the farra
with his parents till 1850, when he went to California, and was
ninety days in making the trip from St. Joseph, Mo. He re
mained there four years, engaged in mining the greater part of
the time, and in July, 1854, returned to Ohio, where he followed
agricultural pursuits till 1862. In 1862 he moved to De Kalb
County, Ind., and located near Auburn. In 1864 he bought the
farm in Richland Township where he has since resided. He
owns I94J^ acres of choice land, all well improved. Mr. Mc
Dowell was married May 29, 1855, to Mary Ann George, a
native of Ashland County, Ohio, daughter of James George,
an early settler of De Kalb County. Mr. and Mrs. McDowell
have had eight children ; but six are living — Ida, James F., Min
nie, Mollie, Nannie and Roy. Jennie and an infant are deceased.
Politically Mr. McDowell is a Republican. He has served his
township two terms as Trustee. He and his wife are members
of the Presbyterian church.

"77=^

740 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
Hon. William M. Mercer, M. D. — In France, the home of the
paternal ancestry of this honorable gentleman, the name was
spelled M-e-r-c-i-e-n, which has been changed by the descend
ants of those who settled in this country to the present ortho
graphical mode, which has been universally adopted in
America by all of that name. The time of settlement and the
Christian names of the founders of the family in the New
World are unknown to the present generation, which prevents
the biographer from going farther back in the Doctor's ances
tral lineage than his worthy parents, who are Samuel and
Sarah (Cavender) Mercer, of the State of Ohio by birth and
education ; his mother being a descendant of English stock.
Samuel Mercer died in Ohio in 1834, leaving his wife with the
care of two children — Wilham M., born in Miami County,
Ohio, Oct. 30, 1830, and Samuel, who was two years his broth
er's junior. Mrs. Mercer subsequently married John B. Blue,
who still survives and is a resident of Newville, this county.
For six years following his father's death our subject was cared
for by his widowed mother, who to him proved a wise and
faithful counselor, and by her early teachings inculcated in him
principles that later in life have resplendently shown to his
credit and honor. At the age of ten years his mother's mar
riage with Mr. Blue was consummated, and from that time until
sixteen years of age he resided at home — having had only such
advantages for obtaining an education as the primitive schools
of that day offered. Upon leaving the home of his youth he
went to Fort Wayne, Ind., which was the opening of his career,
and from which time on he vigorously applied himself to the
irksome duties of a clerkship in the store of John Hamilton,
with whora he found eraployraent for three years, having de
voted a portion of that tirae to attending school. Leaving Fort
Wayne he returned to his former home and entered a store of
which his stepfather was proprietor, and labored assiduously
for two years in the capacity of clerk, after which he took up
the study of medicine with Dr. John Charaper, of Leo, Ind., a
pioneer physician of note, who was his preceptor for three
years, and during that time his leisure hours were spent in as
sisting his stepfather in the store. The Doctor was now twen
ty-four years of age, one-third of which tirae his existence had
been maintained by his own efforts, and only by the strictest
economy and greatest self-denial had he been able to save the

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HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY. 741
small sum he then possessed. Desiring to take medical lectures,
but hindered by the inadequacy of his means, he was in sore
perplexity to find a way out of the difficulty, which was event
ually accomplished by the generosity of his brother Samuel,
who contributed the " raite " he had saved (which was after
ward repaid^ and thus by " doubling teams " the Doctor ma
triculated at the Ann Arbor School of Medicine and Surgery
in the winter of 1854. The following spring he entered upon
the practice of his profession at Fairfield Centre, De Kalb
County. This section at that time was comparatively new and
sparsely settled by men of small means, who, nevertheless, to
the Doctor's advantage, were subject to the ills to which flesh
is heir, and he had an extensive practice during the summer
season, which upon settling the following winter he found to
exceed his most sanguine expectation. At Leo, Ind., on the 9th
day of November, 1856, he was united in marriage with Miss
Rachel Ann, daughter of Henry A. and Hannah McEwen,
pioneer settlers in Indiana. Always ambitious, the event of his
marriage spurred him to greater efforts and risks, and becom
ing infatuated by glowing accounts from Iowa, which was then
settling up, he and his young wife started for the Eldorado of
the West and selected a location at Penora, Guthrie County.
Here he found himself confronted by seven other physicians,
all competitors for a practice that two or three could easily
have attended to. Nothing daunted, however, by the array of
professional talent ahead of him, he entered the " lists " and
soon made his competition felt by the other disciples of Escula-
pius and built up a paying practice. At this juncture his for
mer friends and patrons at Fairfield Centre earnestly solicited
him to return to them, and after careful deliberation assented
to their request. After a stay of six months in Iowa he returned
and was installed in the practice he had previously vacated.
The labors of his practice were of the most arduous kind, his
calls, owing to the treacherous and at times almost impassable
roads, were raade mostly on horseback, and at times in inclem
ent weather the horse had to be dispensed with. After six
years of unremitting toil and incessant hardship, in which he
won laurels in his profession and put dollars in his pocket, he
went to Auburn where he purchased a stock of drugs. This
venture proved unfortunate, and after a year's operation it ter
minated in a failure, and the Doctor once more returned to his
47

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¦V|q  «-  ..- . «
742 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
iformer field of success, this time locating at Corunna, near
Fairfield Centre. In 1864 he was coraraissioned by the late
Oovernor, OHver P. Morton, Assistant Surgeon of the One
Hundred and Fifty-second Indiana Volunteer Infantry, in
which capacity he creditably served till the close of the war.
Upon his return to civil life he entered upon the duties of his
profession at Corunna, and the following year entered the
medical departraent of the University of Medicine and Surgery
at Buffalo, N. Y., from which he graduated with honors. In
1870 he entered the Rush Medical CoUege, Chicago, III, and
afterward the Indiana Medical CoUege at Indianapolis, and re
ceived diplomas froni both institutions. He has spared neither
time nor expense to acquire such skill in his profession as the
most learned could impart. His library comprises one of the
best private collections in the State, embracing both literary
and medical works of all best known authors. In his cabinet is
also to be found all the modem instruments used in the most
dehcate and difficult surgical operations. For nearly thirty
years the Doctor has gone in and out before the people of this
county in a professional way, and by his prompt and efficient
responses to the call of duty he has endeared himself to a host
of patrons and friends. In 1876 he received the nominatian of
State Senator in the Republican Senatorial Convention of this
district, to which office of responsibility and trust he was sub
sequently elected, and served his constituency ably and well
for one term. By his zeal and party devotion in the promulga
tion of Republican principles he evidenced the ability of an able
legislator. Of late years he has not been active in his practice,
having during his service in the army contracted inflammatory
rheuraatism, from which he at times suffers severely. Other
wise the Doctor is well preserved considering his age and the
amount of exposure he has endured. To him and his estimable
wife have been born six children, four of whora are living —
Charles E., Frank M., Arthur E. and WilHam M. The de
ceased were — Warren E., aged two years, and Katie, the only
daughter, aged ten years.
G. B. Monroe, farmer, section 11, Richland Township, was
born in Knox County, Ohio, Dec. 6, 1831. His father, "William
Monroe, was born in Fairfax County, Va., in 1803, and when a
boy moved with his uncle, William Harris, to Knox County.
His uncle was a distiller, and he worked with hira till thirty
el  I ¦»_._

HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY. 743
years of age. He was married in 1823 to Rachel Knight, a na
tive of Knox County, and in 1836 moved to De Kalb County,
and settled in Concord Township, paying $1.25 an acre for
eighty acres of heavily timbered land. He also engaged in the
manufacture of brick, and was the first to establish that industry
in the county. He was a man of influence in the township, and
held several offices of trust. He died July 14, 1867, and his
wife Sept. 20, 188 1. He was a member of the Disciples church,
and his wife of the Methodist Protestant church. They had a
family of thirteen children; but six are living — Greenberry,
Aseneth, Susannah, Rhoda, Missouri and Mary. The deceased
are: David, William, Elias and Elijah (twins), Sophronia and
Priscilla. G. B. Monroe was five years of age when his par
ents moved to De Kalb County. He was reared on a frontier
farra, his early education being obtained in the Sunday-schools.
After he had reached man's estate he helped build the first
school-house in his district. He was married May 20, 1855, to
Didamia, daughter of Jonathan and Mary (Van Gordon) Hall,
who came to De Kalb County frora Pennsylvania in 1842.
After his marriage Mr. Monroe settled on the farm in Richland
Township where he now lives. He has 130 acres of improved
land, and is one of the most successful agriculturists of the
township. He and his wife are members of the Evangelical
Lutheran church. They have had five children — Ella, William
(deceased), Nettie, Jonathan, Mary Belle. Politically he is a
Prohibitionist. Peter Moody was born in Guernsey County, Ohio, Sept. 11,
1824, the eldest of ten children of Peter and Nancy (White)
Moody. The former was a native of Waynesburg, Pa., and
when twenty years of age came to Ohio where he was subse
quently married to the above. She was a daughter of Jaraes
White who immigrated from Ireland to Ohio a short time
previous to the birth of Mrs. Moody, where he taught school
for many years. Mr. Moody foUowed farming in Ohio until
1840 when he removed his family to De Kalb County, Ind.,
where he entered seventy-two acres of Government land in
Richland Township, which he cleared and improved, and re
sided here until 1871, when he sold out and removed to Noble
County and purchased a farm where he passed the balance of
his days, and where his widow now resides at the age of eighty-
four years. When our subject was sixteen years of age he

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744 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
came with his parents to De Kalb County, remaining with them
untU he was twenty -six years of age. He was married Nov. 13,
1850, to Miss Matilda M. Barnes, a daughter of Edmund and
Susan H. (Beardsley) Barnes, who were natives of New York,
and came to Ohio when Mrs. Moody was three years old, and
to Lagrange County, Ind., in 1844. Mr. Moody has cleared
and improved several farms in Richland Township, and in 1869
he settled on the place where he now resides, which is one of
the finest in the township. To Mr and M'rs. Moody were bom
five chUdren; three are now living — Mary E., Ida I., and
Frank B. The deceased are : John R., and one died in infancy.
Henry Ober was born in Mifflin County, Pa., June 26, 1822,
the eldest son and second child of John and Nancy (Bechtel)
Ober, natives of Pennsylvania, of German descent. He re
mained with his parents tiU his marriage and then bought sixty
acres of heavily timbered land in his native county, which he
cleared and improved. In 1852 he moved to Stark County,
Ohio, and rented land four years. He then bought eighty acres
of land and made it his home till 1862, when he moved to De
Kalb County and bought the farm in Richland Township, now
Keyser, which he still owns, and where he lived till 1879. In
1879 he bought twenty acres in Richland Township and built a
fine residence, rented his farm and retired from the active
scenes of agricultural life. He was raarried March 31, 1846, to
Elizabeth Deihl, a native of Germany, who came with her par
ents, John and Margaret (Stilser) Deihl, to America when four
years of age. Mr. and Mrs. Ober have had five children — Isaac,
Margaret, John, Aaron and Nancy. The latter is deceased.
Politically, Mr. Ober is a Repubhcan. He and his wife are
members of the Brethren in Christ church.
Harlan Page Mead, deceased, was born in Auglaize County,
Ohio, Oct. 2, 1840, a son of Julius C. and Marium (Barr) Mead.
When he was an infant his parents moved to De Kalb County,
Ind., and settled in Richland Township, and here he was reared
and educated, receiving a common-school education. He was
married Sept. i, 1861, to Mary EUen Hathaway, a native of Rich-
raond. Lake Co., Ohio, third daughter of Nathan and Hannah
Hathaway, early settlers of De Kalb County. He reraained
on his father's farm five years, and then moved to Sraithfield
Township. In 1873 he moved to Keyser Township, where he
died, June 12, 1873. He was an industrious, energetic man, a

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HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY. 745
good manager, economical and enterprising, and although
but a young man when his life work was finished he had
accumulated a good property, and had the prospects of a
prosperous and useful future. During his last sickness he
said to his wife, " Mary, my time has come, prepare to
meet me in heaven." He was unable to speak above a
loud whisper, but conversed with all who visited him till the
last, urging them to prepare for death. He said he would
hke to see all his friends and neighbors, and told his wife to tell
them how he died in the triumph of a living faith, and urge
them to prepare to meet him with the blood-washed throng.
He talked constantly of his Savior, and at one time said, " I
suffer, Mary, but my sufferings are not to be compared with
those of my dear Savior's, for he sweat, as it were, great drops
of blood." At one time he called Mrs. Hathaway to his bed
side, and said : " Mother, I came here with good intentions to
care for you in your old age and make you comfortable, but
God has ordered it otherwise. My time is about to close on
earth, I will leave you in the hands of your Savior and my
Savior, and he will eventually take you home." At one time
he laughed, and said : " Mary, can't you laugh? If you could
see what I see you would laugh." His wife said : " Page, what
do you see ? " He said : " They are all there, and there is my
Savior spreading for me his precious hands. 1 have but one
thing to make me cling to earth and that is my dear wife, but
I will leave her in the hands of a just God and he will take
care of her." " Mary, prepare for death, and when the pale
horse comes mount on and I will meet you." He told his two
brothers-in-law and nephew to care for his wife, and never see
her trampled on or abused. He selected the hyrans to be sung
at his funeral and the text for the discourse. The latter was Job
xiv: 14, 16. He had no fear of death. " It is just a step and I
am on the other side where Jesus stands ready to receive me,"
he said. He was very anxious to make his will, that his wife
might have all the property, and after that was done was con
tent. Mrs. Mead is living on a farm in Richland Township,
which she superintends, and is a woman of unusual energy and
ability. She was a member of the Disciples church in early life,
but in 1875 transferred her allegiance to the German Baptist
church. In politics Mr. Mead was a Deraocrat.
Jacob S. Palmer, iarmer and gunsmith, section 15, Richland

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746 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
Township, was bornin Stark County, Ohio, Dec. 10, 1810, a
son of John and Margaret (Swihart) Palmer. In 1812 his father
took the family to Washington County, Pa., and left them with
the mother's father and enlisted in the war of 1812 ; was taken
ill and died five days later. Our subject was reared by his
grandfather, Peter Swihart, remaining with him till twenty-one
years of age. His grandfather was a gunsmith and also carried
on a farm, and he learned the trade and worked on the farm.
He received a good education in the subscription schools. Af
ter reaching his majority he worked as a journeyman till 1833,
when he moved to Ohio, and in 1836 opened a shop of his own.
In 1850 he moved to De Kalb County, arriving in Auburn, Sept.
6. He remained in Auburn till the foUowing spring, when he
bought a farm in Richland Township, which he has carried on
in connection with his trade. He was married April 5, 1831,
to Susan Tiger, a native of Pennsylvania, who died March 10,
1866, leaving five children — Margaret, John, Maria, Caroline
and EH. Sept. 12, 1867, Mr. Palmer married Mrs. AbigaU
(Walford) Baird. They have five children — Amos, Sabina,
Annie May, David L. and Marion Edwin. Politically Mr.
Palmer is a Democrat. He and his wife are members of the
German Baptist church.
Gilbert I. Patterson. — Among the prominent citizens of De
Kalb County, none are more worthy of notice than the gentle
man, whose name stands at the head of this sketch. He was
bom near Canandaigua, N. Y., April 5, 1834. He is a twin son
of WilHam and Rachel (Ireland) Patterson, natives of New
York, and probably of Irish descent. In 1836 they settled in
Steuben County, then a dense wilderness. In 1838 Mr. Patter
son died, leaving his wife with six chUdren to care for. After
this our subject lived with John R. Moody, his brother-in-law,
in De Kalb County, till of age, at which time he went on a pros
pecting tour through the Western States and purchased land
at Governraent price in Waupaca County, Wis. March 10,
1859, he was raarried to Mary Ann, daughter of George De
Long, an early settler of De Kalb County, and with his wife
moved to their new home in the West, remaining there about
three years. In the fall of 1861 they returned to this county
where his wife died March 28, 1862, leaving one son — John R.,
who died aged about three years. The following August he
sold his Wisconsin property and enhsted Oct. 12, 1862, in Com-
•f s »- —^ — »>

HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY. 747-
pany H, Thirtieth Indiana Infantry, serving ten months. He
was discharged July 31, 1863, and then took another trip
West, going through Texas and New Mexico, returning in
1864, and in November of that year enlisted in Company H,
Fifty-third Indiana Infantry, and served till the close of the war,
participating in the grand mihtary review in Washington, June,
1865 ; was discharged July 21, 1865, at Indianapolis and returned
to his home in De Kalb County. March i, 1866, he was mar
ried to Mrs. Eliza E., widow of Harry McClellan, and daugh
ter of John T. George. He lived on a farm west of Corunna
one summer, and then purchased where he now lives in Rich
land Township, owning at this time 140 acres of highly improved
land. Five children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Patterson
— Marv Ann, Clara Ellen, Amy EsteUa, Ida Irene and Rosa.
Mr. Patterson has held many local offices of trust and responsi
bility. PoliticaUy he is a Democrat. He and his wife are
members of the German Baptist church. Mr. Patterson is a
seh-made raan in every sense of the terra, and from his means,
which are ample, contributes with unstinted hand to every
laudable enterprise, calculated to benefit the public.
Joseph Quince, son of Ada and Mary (Rogers) Quince, was
born in Lincolnshire, England, May 17, 1825. He resided in
his native country till he was almost twenty-six years of age
when, in 185 1, he came to America, and worked on a farm two
years. He then came to Richland County, Ohio, and rented
land tiU 1864, and in the faU of 1864 he came to De Kalb
County, Ind., and purchased the farm where he has since re
sided, and which contains eighty'acres of well-cultivated land.
He was married Jan. i, 1857, to Miss Christina Liprett, a
daughter of Anthony and Mary Liprett, who came from Ire
land and settled in Richland County, Ohio, at an early day.
To Mr. and Mrs. Quince have been born five children, of whom
three are living — Emma J., Ida Bell and Thomas E. Those
deceased are: Henry L. and WiUie E. Mrs. Quince and her
daughter are members of the Protestant Methodist church.
Politically, Mr. Quince affiliates with the Republican party.
Jacob Ringer was born in Stark County, Ohio, Aug. 4, 1826,
and is the only son of George and Mary (Herbster) Ringer, his
father a native of Pennsylvania, of German descent, and his
mother of Maryland, of Gerraan and English descent. He grew
to manhood in his native county, receiving a common-school

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748 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
education. He learned the shoemaker's trade after his mar
riage and worked at it several years in Ohio. In September,
1853, he moved to De Kalb County, Ind., and settled on eighty
acres of timbered land which he had bought in the spring of
185 1. He now has a good farm, all well improved, with a
pleasant residence and farm buildings. Mr. Ringer was mar
ried Dec. 8, 1846, to Mary M., daughter of Peter Raub, of
Stark County, Ohio. She died Sept. 9, 1865, and March 25,
1866, he married Ehzabeth, daughter of Edward Wright, an
early settler of De Kalb County. They have three children —
Mary M., Sarah A. and Martha S. Mr. Ringer and his family
are members of the Evangelical Lutheran church. Politically
he is a Republican.
Gilbert Showers was born in Greene County, N. Y., March
II, 1828, a son of Solomon and Mahala (Greene) Showers.
When he was four years old his parents moved to Michigan,
and five years later to De Kalb County, Ind., where he was
reared and educated. He helped to build the first school-house
in Richland Township. With the exception of three years,
when he was engaged in the manufacture of lumber at Show
er's Corners, he has lived near the old homestead, and in 1864
settled on the home farm where he still lives. He was mar
ried Oct. 6, 1854, to Elizabeth, daughter of Charles and Bar
bara (Thomas) Chancy, who moved from Ashland County,
Ohio, to De Kalb County, Ind., in 1853. They have three
children — Ida, Gilbert M. and Almeta M. Mr. and Mrs. Show-
"ers are members of the United Brethren church. Mr. Showers
is the only surviving member of a faraily of eight children. His
father was born in New Vork in 1801, and was raarried to
Mahala Greene in 1827. They raoved to De Kalb County in
1837, there being at the tirae of their settlement but three other
settlers in Richland Township. Their deceased children were
— Catherine J., Jane M., Emily, Seth, Alfred, Rosetta and Solo
mon. Alfred died while in the defense of his country in the
war of the Rebellion. Mr. Showers was a member of the first
Board of Township Trustees of Richland, and a man univers
ally respected. He and his wife were members of the United
Brethren church. He died April 24, 1851, and his wife Sept.
I, 1884. The April following his settlement, his brother Will
iam, a bachelor, followed him to the township and became one
of the most prominent citizens. He was the first Justice of the

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HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY. 749
Peace of Richland, and a County Commissioner several terms.
He died Aug. 8, 1S61.
Henry A . Shull, farmer, section 24, Richland Township, was
born in Stark County, Ohio, April 3, 1817, the eleventh of thir
teen children of Henry and Catherine (Reed) Shull. His grand
father, Peter Scholl, came frora Germany to the United States
when seven years of age, being the only one of his father's fam
ily to reach America, the rest all dying on shipboard. At that
time the name was spelled S-c-h-o-l-l, but when our subject's
father moved to Ohio he spelled it Shull, and it has never been
changed by the family. Henry A. Shull received his education
in the German and English schools in his native county. He re
mained with his parents till his marriage Sept. 8, 1844, when he
moved to De Kalb County, Ind., and bought 160 acres of heav
ily timbered land in Richland Township. This land he cleared
and improved, and now has one of the best homes in the town
ship. He was raarried Feb. 4, 1841, to Ann Eliza Weaver, a
native of Stark County, Ohio, daughter of Henry and Susanna
(Bender) Weaver. But one of their five children is living —
Ehas. Levina, Ephraim, Isaac, and an infant are deceased.
Ephraim enlisted in the Rebellion in Company K, Thirty-third
Indiana .Infantry, and died while in the service, Nov. 15, i86i.
Mrs. ShuU died May 27, 1849. AprU 7, 1850, Mr. ShuU mar
ried Rebecca Bain, a native of Stark County, Ohio, daughter
of Daniel and Mary (Thomas) Bain. To them have been born
nine children, but four of whom are living — Daniel B., Peter,
Josiah and Rebecca Ann. The deceased are — Obadiah, Hen
rietta, Harvey, Mary C, and Edward. Mr. and Mrs. ShuU
are members of the Lutheran church. Politically he is a
Repubhcan. George Simons, farmer, section 21, Richland Township, was
born in Devonshire, England, Oct. 23, 1823, a son of Charles
and Sarah (Trout) Siraons. When he was thirteen years of age
his parents carae to the United States and located in Portage
(now Summit) County, Ohio, where his youth was spent in as
sisting his father clear and improve a farm, attending the sub
scription schools a portion of the time. He was married Dec.
31, 1846, to Mary A., daughter of Peter and Fanny (Saunders)
Pipher, natives of Pennsylvania, but early settlers of Ohio.
After his marriage he settled on a part of his father's farm, re
maining there till 185 1, when he moved to De Kalb County,

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750 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
Ind., and bought the farm in Richland Township where he has
since resided. He was actively engaged in agricultural pur
suits, and was very successful till the breaking out of the
Rebellion, when, Nov. 5, 1862, he enhsted in Company K, One
Hundredth Indiana Infantry. After serving about one year he
was taken sick with typhoid fever, and for weeks his life was
despaired of, but he finally recovered sufficiently to be taken
horae, after two years' service, where he partially regained his
health, but has never been able to endure raanual labor. He
was discharged from the service Oct. 29, 1864. Politically Mr.
Simons is a Republican. He has never aspired to official honors,
the only office he ever held being Constable two years in the
early part of his settlement in the county. He is a member
of Charles Case Post, No. 233, G. A. R. Mr. and Mrs. Simons
have had seven children ; but five are living — Lucinda, Charles,
Sevilla, Eliza Jane and Wesley. Alice and an infant are
deceased. James L. Smith, farmer, section 20, Richland Township, was
born in Dalton County, Pa., July 13, 1837, a son of Joseph and
Annie (Guist) Smith, natives of Pennsylvania, the father of
Enghsh and the mother of Scotch descent, his paternal ances
tors coming to America with WiUiam Penn. In 1839 his
parents raoved to Columbiana County, Ohio, where he was
reared and educated. When he was sixteen years of age he
went to Stark County, Ohio, and served a two years' appren
ticeship at the carpenter and joiner's trade. He then worked
as a journeyman till twenty-one years of age, when he engaged
in business for himseU. In 1865 he raoved to De Kalb County,
Ind., and bought 100 acres of land in Keyser Township, a part
of which is now the town site ot Garrett. He rented his farm
and worked at his trade till 1875, when he sold out and bought
the farra of 100 acres in Richland Township, where he has
since resided and has given his attention to agriculture. He
has been successful in his business transactions, and has a good
home, where he is surrounded with all the comforts of life.
Mr. Sraith was married Oct. 4, 1858, to Amanda, daughter of
Samuel and Leah (Baker) Shirk, who carae from Lancaster
County, Pa., to Stark County, Ohio, in 1846. To them were born
eight children— Isaiah J., Elmer (deceased), Harrison H., AHce
E., Ida W., Ella, Minnie, and Samuel (deceased). Mrs. Smith
died Sept. 6, 1877. Sept. 13, 1878, Mr. Smith married Priscilla

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HISTORY OF DEKALB COUNTY. 751
Wyant, a native of Champaign County, Ohio, born Dec. 20,
1847. They have had four children — Arta May, Cora (de
ceased), James M. and Frances B. Mr. Smith is a raeraber of
Garrett Lodge, No. 537, F. & A. M. Pohtically he is a Demo
crat. Daniel Thomas was born in Stark County, Ohio, Oct. 30, 1831,
and is the second son and third child of David and Anna
(Batchie) Thomas. The former was born in Washington Coun
ty, Pa., in 1805, and was a son of John and Mary Thomas, who
settied in Ohio in 18 10. John Thoraas was a soldier in the war of
1812. The mother of our subject was born in Switzerland, and
was twenty-one years of age when her parents came to America ;
her father dying at the age of 100 years and nine months. The
parents of our subject were married in Stark County, Ohio,
where they lived till 1846, removing then to Louisville, Ohio,
and in 1848 came to this county and township, where they lived
the remainder of their lives. Eight children were born to them,
five still survive. Mr. Thomas died March 3, 1862, and his
wife April 26, 1883. Daniel lived with his parents till twenty-
two years of age, and in his minority obtained a limited educa
tion in the district schools. He began life by working by the
month, and in this way earned eighty acres of land which he
yet owns. By close attention to his business and hard work he
has grown in wealth, and now owns 1 1 5 acres of good land and
a hving compensation, besides his improveraents being araong
the best in the county. Mr. Thoraas ranks among the self-made
men of the county, having hewn from the rough his fortune by
his own industry, and is now surrounded by all the comforts of
hfe. He is known by all as a man of much public spiritedness
and generosity of heart. He was married Oct. 14, 1858, to
Elizabeth, daughter of Jacob Rietenwald, an early settler of
DeKalb County. To them have been born two children —
Milo and Elmira. The latter died aged six weeks. The son
received a practical education at the State Normal School,
Valparaiso, Ind. They have reared two other children, Thoraas
and Martha Wiseman, now grown and in homes of their own ;
and have recently taken another little girl to raise, Minnie Ann,
aged fifteen years, daughter of J. J. Thomas. Mr. Thomas and
his wife are members of the Lutheran church. Politically he
has voted the Deraocratic ticket all his Hfe.
Levi W. Treesh was born Jan. 10, 1846, in Stark County, Ohio,
*-»4' -u:-fc-
•f •  <>r -<^  » >^

^'.

752 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
and is the third son and ninth child of Michael Treesh. When
seven years of age he removed with his parents to De Kalb
County, Ind., where he was reared on a farm, and educated in
the district schools. He remained at horae tilLSept. 10, 1854,
when he enlisted in Company A, One Hundred and Forty-
second Indiana Infantry, and served in the armies of the Poto
mac and Cumberland till the close of the war, when he was
honorably discharged June 28, 1.865, at Nashville, Tenn. After
the war he worked out during the summer and engaged in
teaching vocal music during the winter seasons till 1872, when
he settled on a part of his father's farm, and has since followed
agricultural pursuits. He was married April 3, 1873, to Miss
Margaret, daughter of Henry Ober, and to them have been
born four children — OHve May, Chester Lloyd, Jesse Eugene
and Earl Leroy. Mr. and Mrs. Treesh are members of the
Lutheran church. Pohtically he is a Democrat. He was
elected Justice of the Peace in the spring of 1884. He has been
Superintendent of the Sabbath-school for five years, and is
President of the De Kalb County Sunday-School Association.
Michael Treesh is another of the early settlers of this county.
He was born in Westmoreland County, Pa., March 28, 1811,
and is the second of eleven children of Williara and Christina
(Barlien) Treesh, natives of Pennsylvania, and of German
descent. His Grandfather Treesh was a Captain in the con
tinental service during the Revolutionary war, and his Grand
father Barlien was a soldier in the ranks during the same strug
gle. Both were brave and intrepid soldiers, and did their
country excellent service. When our subject was seven years
old his parents reraoved to Sfark County, Ohio, where his
youth was spent in assisting his father on the farm, with whom
he remained till twenty-two years of age. Nov. 15, 1832, he
was married to Catherine Wagner, a native of Pennsylvania.
In 1833 he and his bride settled in the woods and cleared up a
farm on which they Hved till 1853, when they reraoved to Indi
ana. Fifteen children were bom to this couple, nine now Hv
ing — John, Mary Ann, Eliza, Michael, Sarah, Levi W., Eliza
beth, Lydia and Silas. The deceased are Harriet, Daniel,
Williara A., Catherine and two infants. In 1853 Mr. Treesh
removed to this county and purchased 160 acres of land in De
Kalb County, which he has mostly cleared and improved. Mrs.
Treesh died Sept. 28, 1858. March 29, i860, he was married to

•i\

HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY. 753
Mrs. Nancy Vail, a native of New York, who has borne him
two children — Amy and Martin Luther. Mr. Treesh is a self-
made man, having by his own exertion acquired the wealth he
possesses, owning at this time 234 acres of excellent land. He
and his wife are exemplary members of the Lutheran church.
He is a Democrat in politics.
Peter Treesh, farmer, section 16, Richland Township, was
born in Westmoreland County, Pa., March 3, 18 15, a son of
Wilham and Christina (Barlien) Treesh. His father was a na
tive of Bedford County, Pa., a son of John Treesh, a native of
Holland, who was married on shipboard while en route to
America, and after his arrival enlisted in the war of the Revo
lution. His mother was a native of Westmoreland County,
Pa., a daughter of Jacob Barlien, who was a native of Holland.
In iSi9his parents moved to Stark County, Ohio, where he
was reared and educated. He was married Nov. 10, 1836, to
Rachel Hubler, a native of Stark County, Ohio, daughter of
Abram and Elizabeth (Darick) Hubler. After his marriage he
settled in Richland County, Ohio, and Oct. 28, 1842, moved to
De Kalb County, Ind. He purchased the northwest quarter
of section 10, Richland Township, which at that time was heav
ily timbered. He cleared and improved his land, residing on
it till 1865, when he sold it and bought the northeast quarter of
section 16, where he has since resided. When Mr. Treesh
came to De Kalb County, after paying for his land he had but
$1.50 in money and a sraall team of horses. He went to work
with a determined will and has outlived the hardships and pri
vations of his early Hfe, and can now enjoy the fruits of his
early life of toil. Mr. and Mrs. Treesh have had eleven chil
dren — Williara Philip, Jacob, Samuel, Caroline, Sarah, Henry,
Daniel, Mary M., Josiah, Almira and Joel. Samuel and Al
mira are deceased. Mr. Treesh is politically a Democrat. He
was the second Trustee of Richland Township. He and his
wife are members of the Lutheran church.
William Treesh, the youngest of eleven children of William
and Christina (Barlien) Treesh, was born in Stark County,
Ohio, Dec. 28, 1830. He was reared on a farm and resided
with his father until the death of the latter. He was first mar
ried Aug. 30, 1853, to Miss Christiana Hontz, of- Stark County,
Ohio, and to them were born three children — John H., Mary
M. and Anna R. He lost his wife by death Nov. 18, i860, and
*'^b:zz — , -^rr-^

754 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY. ,
was again married May i8, 1861, to Miss Lydia Horten, of
Stark County, Ohio, and to this union were born four children
— Jonathan H., Emanuel, Sarah C. and Lydia A. In 1863 Mr.
Treesh removed to De Kalb County, Ind., and settled on his
present farm of 100 acres of highly improved land. He and
his wife are members of the EvangeHcal Lutheran church. Po
liticaUy he affiliates with the Democratic party.
William J. Wallace, of the firm Wallace & Knapp, hardware
dealers, Corunna, was born in Auburn, De Kalb Co., Ind., Jan.
16, 1857, a son of Thoraas Wallace and a grandson of the late
Jefferson Wallace, who was a native of Pennsylvania, who
removed to Ohio, thence to De Kalb County, Ind., in an early
day. His mother, Fidiela (Strate) Wallace, was a daughter of
Williara Strate, who was one of De Kalb County's early
sheriffs. Thoraas Wallace, the father of our subject, died in
1 861, when our subject was but four years of age, after which
his mother, with her family, in company with her father's
family, removed to Marshall County, Iowa, where, after three
years' residence, she returned to De Kalb County on a visit,
when our subject was left with his Grandfather Wallace, with
whom he lived for two years. He then worked on a farm till
he was sixteen years of age, when he began learning the tin
ner's trade, serving three years as an apprentice to William B.
Adams, of Corunna, after which he worked as a journeyman
until 1883, when he engaged in his present business, which has
proved successful. He was married Oct. 9, 1880, to Miss
Amanda J. Reed, a native of Richland Township and a daugh
ter of Isaac Reed, of this county. To this union were born
two children — Effie May and Bessie Bell. Politically Mr. Wal
lace affihates with the Democratic party.

71

f

^>. ^-  —  » /•

CHAPTER XX.

SMITHFIELD TOWNSHIP.

Situation. — Geography. — Topography. — First Settler. —
Isaac B. Smith.— His Narrative. — Entering Land under
Unusual Difficulties.— Other Pioneers.— First Births
IN the Township. — First xMills. — First School. — First
Church. — First Election. — A Poem(?). — Early Township
Officials. — Population. — Property and Taxation. —
Agricultural Statistics. — Biographical.
The township of Smithfield occupies the north central part
of De Kalb County, and is bounded as follows : on the north
Steuben Township, Steuben County ; on the east, Franklin
Township ; on the south. Union Township ; and on the west,
Fairfield Township. The Fort Wayne, Jackson & Saginaw
division of the Michigan Southern Railroad runs due north and
south through the central part of the township, and has one
station within its liraits — Suramit. The township is drained by
tributaries of the Cedar, all very small streams. On section 30
is Cedar Lake, a very pretty body of water. This township
has an excellent soil, mostly raixed with sand and gravel, with
but very little of that flat clay land found in raany other parts
of the county.
The first settler in Sraithfield was Isaac B. Smith, after whora
the township was naraed. His own narrative is given in
" Pioneer Sketches," from which we quote :
"Mr. Smith carae to Mr. Murray's, at Pleasant Lake, Steuben
County, and frora thence explored the woods of Sraithfield
Township to find a piece of vacant land that would suit him for
a home. Three several times he had selected pieces, and he
went afoot each time to Fort Wayne (thirty-two or thirty-three
miles) ; and finding the pieces selected already entered, had to
return to Pleasant Lake, upward of forty miles, and renew his
search for a home. The fourth time he returned to the land
office, only to meet with another disappointment. Tired in
755

71

^1^- — ^ ^ -^^-^
756 history of de KALB COUNTY.
body and heart sick with hope deferred, he met a man at the
land office from Wells County, not far from where Bluffton now
is, who represented to hira that he was building a mill in that
region, and knew of a very good quarter section of land stiff
vacant ; and stated that although he had thought of entering it
himself, yet he would give way and let Mr. Smith have it.
" The Register of the Land Office told Mr Smith that he
might depend on the veracity of this man, and accordingly he
entered the tract and went afoot to where it lay. When he found
it, he discovered that he was badly imposed upon, as the entire
tract was an unbroken cottonwood swarap, boot-top deep with
water. He now returned to the land office, and told the Regis
ter the facts in regard to the land, and was told that by taking
a man with him as witness and examining the land, the man
making oath that it was unfit for cultivation, he could have
about a week to change his entry to another piece of land.
Meeting with Wilbur Powell, afterward of Fairfield Township,
at the land office, he prevailed on him to accorapany him as a
witness. On reaching the place they traced all the lines
around the quarter section, and passed through it twice diago
nally from corner to corner, and did not see a single tree ex
cept cottonwood on the entire tract. Returning to Fort
Wayne, now for the sixth time, he got a newly corrected plat
of Smithfield Township, and took the trail for the north again.
" Traversing the woods again, in company with two others,
he selected a suitable tract, but just as he was about striking
for the Auburn trace, to start again for Fort Wayne, he met
with three other men looking around the same lines. He in
quired of them if they were going to Fort Wayne to enter
land. They replied in the affirmative. He inquired when, and
they replied, ' not for two or three days ; ' but from the expres
sion of their eyes, he concluded that they were trying to
deceive him. So, when the two companies parted, he told his
companions that they would have a race for it. Both parties
struck for the shanty built by Park on Cedar Creek, where
Uniontown now is; but Smith and his friends got too far north,
and came out to the trace near the site of what was afterward
Mr. Smith's residence, and discovered their whereabouts by
means of the mired ox mentioned in Park's narrative. It was
now dusk and they were three miles north of the desired
shanty.
v*^ «  ^ -• — --%\

^2

HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY. 757
" Passing over these miles they reached their lodging place
sometime after dark. Their competitors were not there. The
next morning they were off before day, passing down the trail
at an Indian trot, and ate no breakfast until they reached
' Squire' Caswell's, some twenty miles from where they started
in the morning. All this distance was traversed in a con
tinual trot. Mr. Smith having gained on his companions
some, they told him to call at Caswell's and order something to
eat ' instanter.' He did so, and by the time the rear came up,
breakfast was on the table. Eating in great haste, they left
their coats, and trotted on, arriving at Fort Wayne, a distance
of thirty miles in all, at eleven o'clock, a. m. On going to the
land office, lo! the pieces of land selected were entered.
" After spending about an hour in resting and taking refresh
ments, Mr. Sraith started back to look again, and as he was
crossing the St. Mary's bridge close to town, he met his com
petitors, also afoot, puffing and sweating, en route for the land
office. He gave them the comfortable assurance that their race
was in vain, without intimating at all that he was in the same
row. He returned that night to Mr. Park's at Auburn, having
traveled that day over fifty miles on foot. There were two
men at Park's that night, Reuben J. Daniels and Ira Camburn.
The next morning Mr. Smith gathered from their conversation
that they were going up into the north regions to look for land,
and that Mr. Park was to go with them ; for which each was
to pay him one dollar. He proffered his dollar also for the
privilege of accompanying them, and having the assistance of
Park in finding vacant land.
" The proposal was accepted, and the result was that Park
showed them the tracts on which they afterward severally set
tled. It was agreed that each should privately mark for his
first choice of the lands, and providentially or accidentally as
you may please to consider it, each one marked the tract on
which they subsequently settled as their several choices, and
each without knowing anything about the choice of the others.
It was now Friday evemng, and Mr. Smith had but one more
day to change his entry. So he had another race to get to
Fort Wayne before the land office closed on Saturday. This
time he was successful, but was nearly worn down with fatigue
and anxiety. Eight times had he visited Fort Wayne before he
secured his future home.
48
. VTi'  '  ¦ -¦ .J. ~ ¦ ^ , .

¦v«  »-  «¦•  » >
758 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
" It was on Friday, the 27th of May, 1837, in the afternoon
of the day, that Isaac B. Smith, Cyrus Smith and Joseph
Delong, with their families, arrived on the hill where Mr.
Smith fixed his residence. There was not even a shanty or
wigwam then. To keep off the night dews, they cut forks, and
driving four of them in the ground, and laying poles on these
covered them with brush. Under these they lay on the ground
on Friday night, and on Saturday they put up a cabin (such as
the three men could raise) to the joist ; and again lay under the
brush that night.
" The next morning they discovered an unwelcome bedfel
low, in the form of a ' massasauga,' or black rattlesnake ; and
not being very much disposed to share their bed with these
- natives,' they went at it on Sunday morning and ' cobbed ' up
the cabin. They covered one side with black-ash bark peeled
frora the adjacent trees ; and, fixing poles in the crevices be
tween the logs, laid their beds some feet above the ground that
Mr. Massasauga might have the ground to himself. On Mon
day they covered the other side of the cabin and the joists
with bark, and carrying in sorae pole sleepers, laid a puncheon
floor. By the tirae the floor was laid, the joists were found
to be so low that even a woraan (Mrs. Camburn), w^ho after
ward settled in the neighborhood, could not walk straight un
der them. We will not say but that she may have been taller
than the majority of her sex.
" Whatever may be thought of cabin raising on Sunday, it
must be remembered that necessity knows no law-. It seemed
fortunate that the cabin was finished as soon as it was, for no
sooner was the bark roof laid than it began to rain; and for
twenty days there was scarcely one that was not more or less
rainy. In this cabin, 16 x 18 feet, the three farailies lodged to
gether for two months, and then Mr. Delong moved back to
Pleasant Lake, and Cyrus Smith put up a cabin for himself.
" On leaving Ohio, Mr. Sraith had boxed up five bushels of
potatoes, and among thera had packed his pots and kettles not
wanted on the road, and sent the box with other goods, by pub
lic conveyance to Adrian, Mich. He did not get them to his
cabin until about the first of July, and on opening the box
found them ' awfully ' smashed up by the ironware. He
thought it was now too late to plant them, but Mr. Park ad
vised him by all means to do so. He planted them on the 8th

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 I B

HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY. 759
and 9th of July, and in the fall dug eighty-six bushels from the
five bushels of mangled seed !
" In July following his settlement, Mr. Smith took the ague,
and had it with but little intermission till the June following.
In December, 1837, he had it so severely each alternate day that
he was unable to be about. On his well day he could be
around ; but, of course, was very weak. Getting out of bread
stuff, it became necessary that, sick as he was, he should go in
quest of some. So, yoking up his oxen, he started for the town
of Gilead, Mich., six miles beyond Orland, or the ' Vermont
settlement,' as it was then called. It had rained much, and the
streams were swollen. He made his way along, however, lying
by sick every other day, until he reached Gilead, where he got
eight bushels of corn and started back to the Vermont mills, in
the settlement of the sarae narae. It had now turned ' cold as
Greenland,' and the wind was blowing fiercely while the air
was filled with descending snow. It was yet early in the raorn-
ing, and he had gone but three-fourths of a mile o.n the road to
the miU when the wind blew a tree down across the road, al
most brushing the oxen's heads.
" To get around the tree, he turned out of the road, expect
ing to come right in again, but failed to do so ; and getting
bewildered amid the faihng snow, he drove on through the
openings as near as he could in the direction of the mills, on —
on — for hours after hours, and still no road or mill was found.
Mr. Smith had on his head a palm leaf hat that had been rather
a fine one, but was now rather the worse for wear. While
traveling, bewildered, through the openings, a whirling blast
whisked it from his head, and the last he saw of it, it was
mounting on the wings of the w-ind, rising higher and higher,
until it was lost to sight in a cloud of snow. Having a com
forter on his neck, he drew the end of it over his head and
traveled on.
" Thus the time passed in continual traveling through the
cold, stormy, dreary day, and the failing light told the lost man
that night was near. He began to picture to himself the long
cold night that would follow, in all probability the last that he
should see ; or if he should survive, a morning of distressing
sickness to follow the night of suffering, and he all alone in the
snow-clad forest. Just then the cloud broke in the West, and he
could see the place where the sun set. Striking out in that di-

-Tsk

,^5

760 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
rection, in about eighty rods he found the road he had left in
the morning, and the bridge across Crooked Creek about half
way frora Gilead to the raills ; so that he had not advanced
more than three mUes in all his hard day's travel. Place your
self in his circumstances, reader, and imagine, if you can, his
joyful feehngs in seeing 'the road again. In an hour he was
safely housed at the home of Deacon Stocker.
" Here he lay sick the next day, and on the day following left
his corn at the mill and started for TuU's mill near the White
Pigeon prairie. There he obtained fifteen bushels of very
smutty wheat, which he brought to the Vermont mUls also.
Here at Deacon Stocker s again he spent three days, two of
thera too sick to travel, and the third waiting for his grist.
FinaUy starting for Pleasant Lake, he lay there during a sick
day, and on the next day got a raan to go with him to break
ice in the streams. By dint of hard work aU day they got
within a half mile of home, where they had to leave the wagon,
the trail, turn. out the oxen in the woods and 'foot it' in. The
next day, being the eleventh since leaving home, he got his
wagon home. His grist, not counting the price of the corn,
which was paid as he moved in, cost him in all in cash, $45."
The second permanent settler in Smithfield Township was
Reuben J. Daniels. He emigrated frora Orleans County, N.
Y., and came by way of Michigan to this county. He was ac
companied by Ira Camburn, and they, having located and en
tered 200 acres, paid for it in silver which they had carried with
them. These two settlers together erected a cabin, into which
they moved on January 28, 1838. It was said of this cabin, that
it was doorless, without upper floor, and without daubing.
There were plenty of Indians and wolves at that tirae. The
next summer Mrs. Daniels went to the bed to move a chair,
when lo ! a massasauga lay coiled up thereon.
Pharez Blake, of Ohio, came next and located on section 27.
His son, Norton, married Huldah Holmes in 1839, and this cer
emony, performed by Squire Daniels, was the first in the
township. None of tbe family are now residents of this county.
Jacob McLeish and sons, Isaiah and Jacob, and Thomas Locke,
moved in during the spring of i8j8 and settled upon section 19.
Joseph Delong and family moved by way of Pleasant Lake
into this county in 1839, and took up a tract of land on section
22. He afterward became a resident of Waterloo. Solomon

-7|f=^

^ ' ' '*i V

^

HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY. 761
Brandeberry came during the sarae year and located upon a
part of section 23, which he still occupies. The McEntaffers,
John and his sons, Williara, Jacob and Abraham, were also set
tlers of 1839. The two last naraed afterward reraoved to
Union Township. Daniel Kepler, a pioneer of Franklin, moved
into Smithfield, and became known as an enterprising settler of
the township. The same may be said of Cyrus Bowman, a
well-known farmer and citizen. Other early settlers were :
Henry Shoeraaker, Thoraas Locke, David Martin, J. Haun,
John Baxter, Jereraiah Hemstreet, Isaac Grate, William Clark,
Hugh McOsker and George Seiner.
The first birth in Smithfield was that of Martha Smith, who
married Edward Richards and moved to Missouri. The sec
ond birth was that of Lucinda Daniels, since a well-known
teacher. Cedar Lake is situated on the west border, adjacent to Fair
field. At the foot of this sheet of water the first saw-mill was
raised about 1844. Daniel Martin, an early settler, built a saw
mill on the south branch of Cedar Creek, and one Fansler put
up a grist-mill on the west branch about a mile below the lake.
A part of the old frame of this latter was incorporated into the
Waterloo mill, and continues to do service. Isaac B. Smith
planted the first potatoes, Reuben J. Daniels the first wheat,
and Norton Blake introduced the use of the reaper in har
vesting. Education was not neglected by the pioneers; and Isaac B.
Smith and Reuben J. Daniels put up a log school-house on a
comer of the farm of the latter during 1839. Miss Murray was
the first teacher and Laura Phelps the second. The better
financial condition of the farmers in later years was apparent in
the erection of several frame school-houses at nearly the same
date. Among the more intelligent and skillful teachers were :
Albert Blake, afterward a lawyer; George Duncan, since
County Commissioner, and Peter Colgrove, at present a
County Superintendent in Kansas.
Organized Christianity was first introduced by the United
Brethren, who had regular services at the Smith school-house,
now known as " Nuraber Six." The pioneer minister was Rev.
Samuel ChapHn. The Methodists raet at Barker's and forraed
a class of which Mr. Barker was the leader, and they have held
steadily together to the present time. A frame church built at

r-

7^2 HISTROY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
a later day, now serves their purpose. The Disciples, organ
ized under the able and devoted leadership, of Revs. Bartlett
and HadseU, have a church at Cedar Lake.
The first township election was held at Smith's log-house in
the spring of 1839, and there were only five present, just enough
to form a board. Ferris Blake was chosen Township Clerk;
Isaac B. Smith, Isaiah McLeish and Pharez Blake, Trustees ;
N. Blake, Constable, and R. J. Daniels, Justice of the Peace.
Daniels had a large territory, with scant population, and on one
occasion, when called upon to join in wedlock Jake McLeish
and Miss Chaffee, he went on foot to Story Lake in Fairfield
Township, performed the ceremony, and consented to take his
fee in wild hogs, but failed to catch any of them.
Thursday evening, Feb. 19, 1863, by Rev. A. H. Widney, at
the residence of the bride's father, in Smithfield Township, Mr.
Henry A. ZwiUing and Miss Theodosia A. Childs, both of De
Kalb County, became one. Whereupon some graceless wit
perpetrated the following :
" He always was (Z)willing to take a wife;
She never was (Z)willing in all her life.
But now, strange to say, her objections are past,
And she vows she is (Z)willing, while life shall last.
The following are some of the early township officials of
Smithfield: Justices: R. G. Daniels, David Martin, Daniel
Gingrich, Jeremiah Hemstreet, R. McBride, J. E. Rutan and
Aaron Smith ; Constables : Daniel Shull, Henry Nevin, Henry
Treesh, Thomas Lock, Aaron Smith, Justus B. Howard and
Edward Richards ; Trustees : Pharez Blake, Isaac B. Smith, D.
Smith, I. Grate, Isaiah McLeish, Augustus Ball, H. Freeman,
Samuel Delong, John Leas, Thomas Lock, Harman MuUen,
John McOsker, John Homberger, George W. Front, George
J. Duncan, WiUiam Hoffman, R. Lockhart and WiUiam Cox ;
Assessors : John Baxter, H. Freeman, John Schrantz and Cyrus
Duncan. The population of Smithfield is 1,424, or 40 to the square
mile. The valuation per capita is $363.45. The number of
acres of land assessed in 1S84 is 22,272.08 ; value of same, $389,.
482; value of improvements, $40,1 15; value of lands and improve
ments, $429,597; value of lots, $334; value of improvements,
$413; value of lots and improvements, $747; value of personal

¦ g -
^1

HISTORY OF DE K.\LB COUNTY. jG^
property, §104,275; total value of taxables, $534,619; rate of
taxation, Si-5o: number of polls, 230; poll fax, $1.50.
The foUowing statistics of staple crops are for 1881 : Acres
in wheat, 3,236; product of same, at 6 bushels per acre, 19,416
bushels; acres in corn, 2,121 ; product of same, 65,430 bushels,
or 30 bushels per acre of upland, and 40 for lowland ; acres in
oats, 1,177: product of same, at 35 bushels per acre, 41,195
bushels ; acres in meadow land, 709 ; crop from same, at 2 tons
per acre, 1,418 tons of hay; acres in Irish potatoes, 75; crop
from same, 10 bushels per acre, or 750 bushels ; acres in tobacco,
II ; crop, at 500 pounds per acre, 5,500 pounds.
biographical.
Milton P. Barker, section 11, Smithfield Township, is a son of
Edward Barker, who settled on section 10, Smithfield Town
ship in 1852. Edward Barker was a native of Nottinghamshire,
England, born June, 1806, and came with his parents to the
United States in 1834. He lived two years in Detroit, Mich.,
and then moved to Branch County, Mich., where he lived till
1850. He then came to Indiana and lived two years in Steuben
County. He was by trade a railler, serving an apprenticeship
of seven years in England, and worked at his trade in connec
tion with farming prior to his settlement in De Kalb County.
He was a local preacher in the Methodist Episcopal church
and a zealous worker and liberal supporter of the church of his
choice. He was mainly instrumental in the building of Barker's
chapel on section 10; was the first to advocate the enterprise
and contributed freely of tirae and raoney to accoraplish the
object. He was much respected by all who knew him and was
often called upon to officiate at funerals and weddings. He was
married in England to Susanna Pitts, who died in September,
1840, leaving four children ; but two of whora are Hving — Mary
Ann, now Mrs. Dirrim, and Milton P. Edward and Emma are
deceased. Emma married Henry J. Salander, and died March
10, i860, leaving one son, who died in June, 1884. Mr. Barker
subsequently married Rebecca Oram, of Knox County, Ohio,
who died in 1876. Their only son, Edward O., resides in Pratt
County, Kas. Mr. Barker died Sept. 21, 1872. Milton P. was
bom in Branch County, Mich., in 1840. Forty acres of his
farm of 140 acres is a part of the homestead. He was
married to Margaret, daughter of Jaraes Dirrira, of Franklin

^

764 HISt6-RY of DE KALB COUNTY.
Township. They have five children — Clara, wife of Preston
Miller; Hannah D., wife of William Updegraph ; Isaac E.,
Charles M., and James C.
Cyrus Bowman, Postmaster, Waterloo, farmer and stock-raiser,
a son of John and Matilda Bowman, was born in Van Buren,
Onondaga Co., N. Y., Nov. 9, 18 18. His father was a native
of New Jersey, and his mother of Connecticut. Mr. Bowman
lived with his parents till he was twenty-one years old, and
worked on his father's farm. He then came to this county
where he spent three years a single life, clearing land, splitting
rails, by the job, etc., and in the meantime cleared twenty acres
of 160 given hira by his father, entered in the fall of 1838. He
then returned to his home in New York, where, June 15, 1843,
he married Miss Rachel Waterman, a native of Van Buren,
N. Y. In the fall of 1843 he and his wife raoved to this county,
built a cabin in the woods where they lived until her death,
Oct. 17, 1855. To thera were born two children — Harriet
Matilda, who died Oct. 8, 1855, aged nearly eleven years, and
Rosa G., born June 19, 185 1, now the wife of Phineas D.
Childs, of Fairfield Tow-nship. Sept. 4, 1858, Mr. Bowman
was married to Sarah Ann Sraith, his present wife, a native of
Stark County, Ohio, but an early settler in this county. They
have two children — Archie S., bom July 1, 1859, a farmer of
Cass County, Mich., and Fred C, born Nov. 1, 1866. Fred is
still at home, and superintends the work of the farra. Mr. and
Mrs. Bowman are now on the shady side of life very pleas
antly situated, both of them of strict integrity, and loved and
respected by all their acquaintances.
Adam Boyer, section 19, Franklin Township, came from Ohio
with his father, Peter Boyer, in 1836. The following fall, after
assi<;ting his father to build a log cabin and clear a small patch
of ground, he returned to Ohio, but in March, 1837, came again
to De Kalb County, accorapanied by his brother-in-law, Daniel
Kepler. He raade his home with his brother Michael, who
came in 1836, tiU his marriage, Jan. 11, 1S38, to Rebecca Hol
den, daughter of Sarauel Holden, a native of Highland County,
Ohio, born in 1813. She carae to DeKalb County with her
brothers, Mathew and Francis Holden, in 1837. He built a log
cabin, but notwithstanding their inconveniences they raade the
best of his circurastances, and with the energy of youth and the
hope and happiness of newly married life passed the winter in
.f «  »- -'i »pv
"

HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY. 765
comparative comfort. Their household effects were limited,
but in the spring of 1839 he returned to Southern Indiana for
furniture belonging to his wife. In 1S40 he returned to De
Kalb County and settled where he now lives. To Mr. and
Mrs. Boyer have been born five children ; but four are living —
Elimhia, wife of Andrew Duncan ; Balis H. ; Mary Ann, wife of
R. J. Fisk; Irene, wife of A. T. Smith. Their youngest son,
Ira, died Dec. 21, 1873, in the nineteenth year of his age.
Balis H. Boyer, section 10, Smithfield Township, bought his
farm in 1863 of Samuel Strugh. He is a son of Adam and Re
becca (Holden) Boyer, early settlers of Franklin Township. He
was bom in Highland County, Ohio, April 17, 1840. He was
reared on the old homestead, receiving a good education in the
common schools. He was married to Susan Oberlin, daughter
of David Oberlin, early residents of Franklin Township. She
was born in Stark County, Ohio, in 1843. ^Ir. and Mrs. Boyer
have four children — Warren J., Mary M., Adam D., and Francis
M., all living in Smithfield Township.
Oliver J. Camp was born in Stark County, Ohio, in 1852, a
son of John and Susanna (Sraith) Camp, natives of the same
. county. His parents came to De Kalb County, Ind., in April,
1855, and settled on section 6, Smithfield Township, on land
bought several years previous of Mrs. Camp's father, Benjamin
Smith. The first house on the place was built by Mr. Camp in
1855. The present residence, one of the best in the township,
was built in 1878. The farm is under a good state of cultiva
tion; there is a fine orchard of about 125 trees, and all the im
provements are in good order, and among the best in the town
ship. Mrs. Camp still resides on the homestead. They had a
family of four children, three of whom are living — Aaron W.,
Luther B. and OHver J. The latter still resides on and has
charge of the farm.
Abel Campbell, deceased, was one of the early settlers of
Smithfield Township, locating on the southwest quarter of sec
tion 28 in May, 1847. He was a native of Pennsylvania, born
Oct. 26, 1807, and when a boy moved witb his parents to Stark
County, Ohio, where he was reared and married June 16, 1831,
to Jane Taylor, a native of Washington County, Pa., born May
25, 1812. In 1836 they raoved to Suramit County, and thence
to De Kalb County, making the journey hither by teams, tak
ing two weeks to make the trip. Mr. Campbell bought his

766 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
farm of Andrew Houhn the previous fall. It had been entered
in 1836 by John Taylor, father of Mrs. Campbell, who sold it
to Mr. Houhn. Sixteen acres were cleared, and there was a
small round-log house on the land which the family moved
into. Mr. Carapbell cleared about seventy -five acres and erected
good buildings, making it his home till his death in November,
i860. Mrs. Campbell is still living on the homestead. They
had a family of eight children, four of whom they brought
with them to De Kalb County. Six are living — Margaret,
John, Edward H., Ruth (wiie of E. R. Leas), James D. and
Lewis P. Williara C. died in 1871, aged twenty -three years;
Benjarain F. died Sept. 4, 1855, aged three years. Mr. Camp
bell was one of the raost prominent men of the township. Po
htically he was a Whig, but after the organization of the
Republican party was a strong adherent of its principles. He
died the day following the election of Abraham Lincoln as
President of the United States. Edward H. resides on the
homestead, a part of which he owns. He was born in Summit
County, Ohio, in 1841. He has always lived with his parents,
and has assisted in clearing the farm. He was married to
Mariam E., daughter of Brickard Childs, who settled in Fair
field Township in the fall of 1847, and subsequently moved to
Smithfield Township, where he died in 1878 and his wife in
1883. Mr. and Mrs. Edward Campbell have five children —
Frank, Elnora, Albertis, Clark and "Thomas.
George H. Duncan, a prominent farmer of De Kalh County,
settled on section 16, Sraithfield Township, in 1858. He was
born in Washington County, Pa., in 1827. His parents moved
to Ashland County, Ohio, about 1838, and there he grew to
manhood and was educated. In the fall of 1849 he began teach
ing school in Holmes County, Ohio, and subsequently taught
twenty -six terras, his schools being in Ohio, Michigan and Indi
ana. His first school in De Kalb County was in the BeU dis
trict in the winter of i853-'4. He was very successful, and for
several years was one of the raost prominent teachers of De
Kalb County. Since 1862 he has devoted his attention exclu
sively to farming. He was married first to Mary Chapman, a
native of Ashland County, Ohio, who died in 1862, leaving one
daughter — Mina, now the wife of Wm. F. TiU. In 1863 he
married Jane Chapman, a sister of his first wife. They have
three children — Clementina, Benjamin F. and George B. Mr.

'1

.* -*

^

HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY. "jbj
Duncan has served six years, i874-'8o, as Commissioner of De
Kalb County. He is one of the representative men ot the
county, having been prorainently identified with her interests
since his first settleraent in 1853. His father, George J. Dun
can, was born in Washington County, Pa., Jan. 21, 1803, and
was married in March, 1825, to Mary Baxter, also a native of
Washington County. He moved to Ashland County, Ohio, in
1836, when that country was new, and in 1853 moved to De
Kalb County, Ind., and settled on section 10, Smithfield Town
ship, where he died Jan. 8, 1870. His wife died Dec. 10, 1877.
They had a family of eight sons and four daughters, all of whom
hved till maturity. Seven sons and two daughters are still liv
ing, all save one son in De Kalb County. William B. resides in
Kansas. Robert T. Duncan, son of George J. Duncan, was born in
Holmes County, Ohio, in 1848. He came with his parents to
De Kalb County and remained with them till their death. Since
his father's death in 1870 he has Hved on the old homestead, a
sister, Margaret Duncan, also making her home with him. He
has been twice raarried. His first wife, Florence Wilson, came
to DeKalb County from Ohio with her raother, Mrs. Mary
Jane Wilson, her father having died in Ohio. Mrs. Duncan
died Jan. 4, 1878, leaving one son — Andrew W Mr. Duncan
subsequently married Sarah Ann Freed, daughter of Peter
Freed, of Sraithfield Township.
Edward Erwin, farmer, section 16, Smithfield Township, was
bom in Stark County, Ohio, in 1838, a son of William Erwin, a
native of Pennsylvania, who went to Ohio when a boy, and in
1853 with his wife and five children moved to De Kalb County,
Ind., and settled in Union Township. He bought a partially
improved farm and lived in Union Township several years ;
then removed to Smithfield. Edward Erwin received a good
education. He remained on the farm, assisting his father till
manhood. In 1861 he enlisted in the Second Indiana Cavalry
and served three years. His regiment was assigned to the
Army of the Cumberland. He participated in the battles of
Shiloh, Stone River, Chickamauga, siege of Corinth, and other
important engagements. Since his return home he has engaged
in agricultural pursuits, and has a fine farm, with a pleasant
residence and good farm buildings. He was married to
Elizabeth McEntaffer, daughter of Michael McEntaffer. She
^^1*  ^ ^^^=^t^

^«

768 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
was born in Franklin Township, De'Kalb County, in 1844. Mr.
and Mrs. Erwin have five children — Mary C, Arthur H., Mina,
Delilah M. and an infant son.
David Feagler, son of Joshua Feagler, was born in Richland
Township, De Kalb County, Ind., June, 1847. His father was
a native of Maryland, and subsequently moved to Dayton,
Ohio, from whence he came to De Kalb County. He was one
of the first settlers of Richland Township, and made it his
horae till his death. May 30, 1875. The raother now resides in
Auburn. They have six children Hving in De Kalb County.
David Feagler was reared a farmer, and since attaining man
hood has given that industry his attention. He has been very
successful and now owns a fine farm on section 27, Smithfield
Township, which is well cultivated and improved, with a good
residence and farm buildings. He was married to Lucinda
Grogg, daughter of Peter Grogg, of Richland Township. They
have now two children — Elmer and Jesse.
Henry Frick was born in South Huntington Township, West
moreland Co., Pa., Nov. 23, 181 5, and in 1825 removed with his
father, Henry Frick, to Stark County, Ohio, where he was
reared and educated. He was married in 1838 to Christina
Smith, a native of Bedford County, Pa., and in 1854 they
moved to De Kalb County, Ind., and settled in Smithfield
Township, where he bought 160 acres, paying $8 an acre. He
has cleared and iraproved 100 acres of his land, and now has
one of the best f arras in the township. To Mr. and Mrs. Frick
have been born ten children, nine of whom are Hving, five sons
and four daughters — Henry, Jr., married Appy Davis; Abra
ham raarried Berna Weaver; John raarried Nettie Cool;
George married Silby Delond ; Daniel, at home, unmarried ;
Lovina, wife of George McEntaffer ; Mary, wife of John Reu-
pey ; Elizabeth, wife of Jacob Bathael ; and Sarah, wife of
Harman Whareham. Henry, Abraham and Lovina live iu
Branch County, Mich.; Mary in Steuben County, and the rest
in DeKalb County, Ind. Henry enlisted Aug. 12, 1862, in
Company A, Eighty-eighth Indiana Infantry, and served tiff
March 21, 1863, when he was discharged on account of disa
bility. After his recovery, in Septeraber, 1864, he enlisted in
Company A, One Hundred and Forty-second Indiana Infantry,
and served till June 28, 1865. He participated with General
Thomas in the battle of NashviUe.

"7n

^k

HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY. 769
Richard Gramling, section 10, Smithfield Township, was
born in Pennsylvania in 183 1, a son of Isaac and Mary (Hom
berger) Gramling. Isaac Gramling was a native of Bucks
County, Pa., born in 1S05. He was married in his native State
and subsequently moved to Stark County, Ohio, and from there
in 1849 to DeKalb County, Ind. He settled on a tract of un
improved land on the southwest quarter of section 4, Smithfield
Township, which he improved and made his horae till his death
July 2. 1883. His wife died in April, 1881. They had a family
of eleven children, eight of whom came with thera to De Kalb
County. The eldest was married, but tollowed his parents
to Indiana the next year. Six of their children are living, aU
in Smithfield Township, within a mile of the old horaestead 
Richard, Peter, John, WUliam, Frank and Amanda. Eliza,
Sarah, Henry, Susan and Mary are deceased. Richard Gram-
hug was raarried in 185S to Margaret Mortorff, daughter of
Moses Mortorff, who settled in De Kalb County in 1843. They
have one son, Williara Albert, born Sept. 24, 1859; married
Mary, daughter of Lewis Chapman, and has one son — Rollin.
Mr. GramUng has a fine farm, on which he settled in i860. His
residence and farm buildings are good, and he is one of the
most enterprising farraers of the township.
Franklin Hamman, section 22, Smithfield Township, was born
in Franklin Township July i, 1848, a son of John Hamman, an
early settler of that township, who died May 27, 18S5. When
two years of age he went to live with an uncle, Solomon Bran-
derburg, and remained with him till manhood. He was raa'r-
ried to Phoebe Martin, daughter of John Martin, of Smithfield
Township. They have two children — Francelia and Olive.
Mr. Hamman, in connection with his agricultural interests,
is extensively engaged in the manufacture of draining tile,
brick and luraber. He has a patent kiln for the manufacture
of the, and makes all sizes, having a capacity for majcing 400,000
annually.- Thomas Hamman, one of the most successful farraers and
stock-raisers of De Kalb County, bought his farra on section
16, Smithfield Township, in the faU of 1847. The next AprU
he began clearing his land which was heavily timbered, and
the sarae year began the erection of a dweUing which he fin
ished in the spring of 1849. This was the first frame house in
Smithfield Township. It is 18x30 feet in size, with 13-ft.

V

^

770 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
posts. Mr. Hamman has always been a hard working man.
The first six years he was in De Kalb County he cleared and
fenced sixty acres of heavily tirabered land, and since coming
to the county has chopped the timber from 140 acres. He now
has 312 acres of land, 135 of which is under cultivation. His
buildings are among the best in the township. His barn, which
is 85 X 42 feet in size, was built in 1864, and for a long time was
the best, and is not exceUed now by any in the township. Mr.
Hamraan was born in Stark County, Ohio, in 1823. His father
died when he was fifteen years old, and from that age he was
obhged to rely on himself for a Hvelihood. He was married in
1850 to Elizabeth Sayler, a native of York County, Pa., who
came with her stepfather, Adam Hood, to De Kalb County in
an early day. Mr. and Mrs. Hamraan have had nine children,
but five of whom are living — John, Henry, Caroline, Thomas
and Simon. Samuel died at the age of thirty years in 1883;
Eliza and two others died in infancy.
Jeremiah Hemstreet was born in Half Moon, Saratoga Co., N.
Y., in 1803. He was reared in Herkimer and Lewis counties,
N. Y. He married Sabrina Merchant, who died in New York.
Their four children are also all deceased. After the death of
his wife he went to Huron County, Ohio, and there raarried
Mariam M. Smith, a native of New York, who went with her
parents to Ohio when twelve years of age. In 1842 Mr. Hem
street loaded his household goods on a wagon and with his
family started for De Kalb County. He entered a tract of
wild land from the Government on what is now section 22,
Sraithfield Township. He has been a hard working, persever
ing man, and has cleared, broken and fenced over 100 acres of
land with his own hands, and at the age of eighty-two years is
still hale and hearty. To Mr. and Mrs. Hemstreet have been
born seven chUdren; but five are living — Cornelia, wife of
John CampbeU ; Sabrina, wife of Jotham Woolsey ; Mary, wife
of Orlando Seery; Ellen, wife of Adam Strow; Albert D., of
San Francisco, Cal. The latter is a native of Smithfield Town
ship, born Sept. 12, 1843. Melvina died at the age of nine
months, and Alonzo, aged thirty years.
Edward M. Jackman was born in Carroll County, Ohio, July
13, 1835, a son of Edward Jackman. His parents moved to De
Kalb County, Ind., in 1840, and here he was reared and edu
cated, and with the exception of four years residence in Iowa

-f-

HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY. 771
has since hved here. He was married in 1856 to Margaret A.
Taylor, a native of Stark County, Ohio, born in 1833, daughter
of John Taylor, who settled in De Kalb County in 1848, and in
1865 moved to Cedar County, Iowa, and subsequently raoved
to CarroU County where he died. Mr. and Mrs. Jackraan
have had six children ; but two are living — Margaret Ella and
Charles F. A daughter, Sarah F., died in July, 1879, aged
twenty-two years. The others died in early childhood. Mr.
Jackman has a pleasant home on section i, Smithfield Town
ship, which he purchased in 1878. He is one of the most suc
cessful and influential farmers in the township, and is a
public-spirited, Hberal citizen, doing all in his power toward the
promotion of enterprises of public benefit. His eldest sister,
Mrs. Sarah Boyer, is the widow of Joseph Boyer, who died in
1881. She has five children — Edward H. and OHver, in Kan
sas; Cyrus C, in Frankhn Township; Alma Celestia, wife of
Wilham Boyles, of Wilmington Township ; Electa L., wife of
Walter Thompson, of Steuben County. ^
Wesley Jackman was born in Carroll County, Ohio, in 1827,
a son of Edward Jackman. In 1837 Edward Jackman came to
De Kalb County, accorapanied by his brother Robert, and en
tered 440 acres of land on sections 17 and 18, Franklin Town
ship, and 160 acres on section 12, Smithfield Township. He
then returned to Ohio, and in 1840 moved with his wife and
nine children, and settled on the east half of his land on section
18, Franklin Township, where he lived till his death in 1848.
His wife died Jan. i, 1855. One son, John, was married in
Ohio, but followed the faraily to Indiana in the fall of 1840.
Five of the ten children are living — Sarah, widow of Joseph
Boyer ; Cyrus resides on the horaestead in Franklin Township ;
Wesley and Edward M. in Sraithfield ; and Adam C. in Grand
Rapids, Mich. Wesley Jackman settled on the land entered by
his father in Smithfield Township in April, 1853, and now
has one of the finest farms in the county. He was married
to Sarah M. Baxter, daughter of Moses Baxter, of this town
ship. They have had eight children ; but seven are living
— Edith L., a teacher in the normal school at Mitchell, Ind. ;
Mary E., a teacher ; Florence V., teaching in the State Normal
School of Alabama ; Charles S. and Harry E. (twins) ; Minnie
A. and Addie. Florida V., a twin sister of Florence, died
March 4, 1 881, at the age of twenty-two years. She was at that

\

772 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
time a student at the normal school at Danville. Mr. Jackman
has taken great pains to educate his children and fit them for
any position in Hfe to which they raay be called. Edith is a
graduate of the normal school at Lebanon, Ohio, and the
others, save Minnie, of Danville, Ind. He left the farm and re
sided in Danville several years, that his children might have
the advantage of the school of that place.
John Jenkins, section 26, Smithfield Township, was born in
the State of Maryland, near Washington, in 18 15, a son of John
Jenkins. His father was a slaveholder in Maryland. He died
when our subject was a child. In 1833 John Jenkins, Jr., went
to Knox County, Ohio, at that tirae sparsely settled, and re
raained there about twelve years. He was raarried in Ohio, to
Margaret Hull, a native of Pennsylvania, but a resident of
Knox County frora her infancy. July 17, 1845, he came to
De Kalb County, Ind., and bought a tract of heavily timbered
land on section 16, Concord Township. He cleared 120 acres,
erected good buildings and raade it his home till 1879, when he
bought his present farm of eighty acres, of Homer Henning.
He has made a specialty of stock-raising and for several years
has dealt extensively in horses, buying and shipping West.
Mr. and Mrs. Jenkins have had eight children ; but seven are
living — Martin, Mary Ann, Henry, Alvin, John, Sarah and
Orange. A daughter, Ellen, is deceased.
Sainuel Kennedy, section 23, Sraithfield Township. His father,
John Kennedy, was born in Tuscarawas County, Ohio, June
10, 1 8 10, and subsequently went with his parents to Stark
County, where he married Sarah Oberlin, and in 1844 removed
with his family to Wayne County. In 1852 he came to DeKalb
County, and bought a farm on section 23, Smithfield Township,
forty acres of which was improved, where he died Oct. 20,
1854. He had a family of ten children, seven of whom are
Hving — Samuel, WilHam, Benjamin F., and Philip are in
De Kalb County ; Josiah, of Kansas ; Joseph, also in the West,
and Mary J., wife of A. S. Blake, of Colorado. Five of the
sons were soldiers in the war of the Rebellion. Samuel en
listed in 1864 in the Ninth Illinois Cavalry, and served till the
close of the war. Josiah enlisted in 1S61, in the Forty-fourth
Indiana Infantry. Philip enlisted in the Thirtieth Indiana, and
was transferred to the Mississippi Marine Brigade. He was
severely wounded twice. Benjamin F. enlisted in 1863, in the

¦7-

HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.

773

Eighty -eighth Indiana Infantry and served till the close of the
war. Joseph served in the First Indiana Heavy Artillery, serv
ing in the Mississippi Marine service. Samuel, the only son
living in Smithfield Township, owns and occupies the old
homestead. He was born in Stark County, Ohio, in 1830, and
was therefore a young man when he came with his parents to
Indiana. He was raarried in De Kalb County, to Annette
Holraes, a native of Seneca County, Ohio, born in 1838, a
daughter of Benajmin and Nancy (Knapp) Holmes, natives of
New York. To Mr and Mrs. Kennedy have been born two
sons— Jay S., born March 14, 1863, and one that died in infancy.
Mrs. Kennedy s father moved to De Kalb County in 1843, and
in 1867 sold his farm and removed to Tiffin, Ohio, where he
died the following March. He was married three times, his
third wife is hving in Kansas. Five of his nine children are
hving, three in De Kalb County : Mrs. Flora McTaffin, Mrs.
Olive Kenned}'-, and Mrs. Annetta Kennedy.
Daniel Kimmell, section 5, Smithfield Township, was born in
Stark County, Ohio, in 1827, and was reared and educated in
his native county. In 1853 he came to De Kalb County and
bought the tract of land of Peter Grogg, where he has since
resided. Twenty-five acres were cleared and a log cabin had
been erected. He has cleared no acres, and now owns 135
acres of choice land under cultivation and about twenty acres
of woodland. He has built a good residence and farm build
ings, and has one of the best farms and pleasantest horaes in
Smithfield Township. Mr. Kimmell was married to Lucinda
Smith, a native of Stark County, Ohio, born in 1825. They
have six children, all save the youngest, born in Ohio — Orlando,
John, Benjamin, Martha, Alma and Jennie.
John Martin, section 23, Smithfield Township, was bom in
York County, Pa., in 1822. When he was fourteen years of
age his parents moved to Ohio, and in 1841 he came to De Kalb
County, Ind.- He was married in 1845 to Almira Cole, a native
of Erie County, Ohio, born in 1826. Mrs. Martin's father died
when she was a child, and her mother subsequently married
Isaac B. Smith, and May 27, 1836, they came to De Kalb
County, Ind. The family afterward raoved to Missouri,
where Mrs. Martin's raother died. Mr. Sraith and his two
eldest children, a son and a daughter, are living in Missouri.
His youngest son, Isaac B., Jn, died while a soldier in the war
49

¦»"¦'¦

:^

A

t

774

HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.

of the Rebellion. When Mrs. Martin came to De Kalb County,
forty -nine years ago, Indians were more nuraerous than white
men, and wild game of all kinds were in abundance. Mr. and
Mrs. Martin have had two children — Phcebe, wife of Frankhn
Hamraan, and a daughter deceased.
John McOscar, section 9, Sraithfield Township, was born in
Bedford County, Pa., in 1822. His father, Hugh McOscar, was
a native of Ireland, and carae to America when a young man,
and settled in Pennsylvania, where he was married, and in 1845
came with his family to De Kalb County, and located on sec
tion 9, Sraithfield Township, which he had bought the year
previous. The mother died in 1855 and the father July 3, 1857.
They had a family of four children — John ; Fergus, of Pratt
County, Kan. ; James died in Montana several years ago ; Jane,
wife of Ferdinand Fetters, of Smithfield. John McOscar re
sides on the farm adjoining the old horaestead of his father, and
has one of the best farras in the township. He was married in
1856 to Mary Skilling, daughter of Michael and Rosanna Skil-
hng, who located in De Kalb County in 1846. Mr. Skilling was
born in County Tyrone, Ireland, and came to America in 1829,
and settled in Philadelphia, Pa., where he married Rosanna
Riley, who was born in Philadelphia in 1808. Mr. Skilhngdied
in Notre Darae Hospital in June, 1879. Mr. and Mrs. Skilling
had a family of six children, five of whora are living, three sons
and two daughters. Mrs. McOscar was born in Philadelphia,
Dec. 29, 1834. Mr. and Mrs. McOscar have had seven sons, four
of whom are living — WilHam, Edward, Araos and Emory.
Their eldest son, James, died Jan. 4, 1879, at the age of twenty-
one years. Two died in early childhood. Edward J. graduated
from the Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, in 1884. The
rest of their family are at home.
John D. Porter, section 24, Smithfield Township, was bom in
Ripley, Huron County, Ohio, in 182 1, and when he was two
years of age his parents moved to Wyandotte County, Ohio.
W^hen-he was twelve years of age his father died, leaving a
widow and five sons. John D. and his youngest brother,
Mathew, of Ohio, are the only ones living. His mother died
in i860. When he was fifteen years of age he went to live
with a maternal uncle, but a year later began to work by the
month. In 1842 he carae to De Kalb County, Ind., with Hiram
Holmes, for whom he worked four years, remaining with him

-^

J IS

ll^

HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY. 775
till his marriage. Mr. Holmes settled in Franklin Township,
remaining there five years, when he moved to La Porte County
and laid out a town on the Michigan Southern Railroad, which
he named Holmesville. He subsequently left there and moved
to Iowa. Mr. Porter was married in 1846 to Catherine Mc-
Andaffer, daughter of David McAndaffer, and a native of Stark
County, Ohio, born January, 1829. He then settled on his
father-in-law's farm, in Smithfield Township, and after the lat
ter's death, in 1851, rented the farra five years. He then bought
the homestead of the heirs, at that time containing 1 54 acres,
seventy of which were improved. He now owns 196 acres,
1 50 improved. He has about 700 rods of tiling on his farm
and other valuable improveraents. Mr. and Mrs. Porter have
had four children, three sons and a daughter ; but two sons are
hving— David, born Aug. 6, 1849, married Martha, daughter of
Joseph Ballby, of Waterloo ; Franklin E., born September, 1859,
was married Feb. 7, 1884, to Emraa, daughter of John Lowe,
of Frankhn Township.
Charles L. Rempis, Jr., was born in Germany, March 21, 1831,
a son of Charles L. Rempis, who was born in Germany in 1801,
and came to America with his family in 1832 and settled in
Tuscarawas County, Ohio, and later in Massillon, Ohio, remain
ing there till 1853, when he removed to De Kalb County and
bought 120 acres of land on the southeast quarter of section 22,
Smithfield Township. Forty acres of the land were cleared
and under cultivation, and had a log cabin and barn. He went
to work to improve his farm, but lived only six years after com-
ingto the county, dying in December, 1859. His wife survived
him a number of years. They had a family of eight children,
six of whom are living, four in De Kalb County. Charles L.
Rempis, Jr., went to California in 185 1, and remained on the
Pacific coast three and a half years. In the fall of 1854 he re
turned East, and his father having in the meantime removed to
De Kalb County, settled in this county. He was married
to Elizabeth, daughter of William Middleton, who settled
in Adams County, Ind., in 1842, and in 1843 removed to De
Kalb County, and in 1845 settled on section 4, Union Town
ship, but sold out in 1864 and moved to Waterloo, where he
died in 1866. His wife died July 19, 1874. They had a family
of four children — Isaac, died in Idaho Territory ; Mrs. Rempis ;
Hester, wife of Jacob K. Norton, of Eaton County, Mich. ;

776 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
James. The latter born in De Kalb County. Mrs. Rempis is
the only member of the family Hving in De Kalb County. Mr.
and Mrs. Rempis have three childre n— WilHam H., Lewis F.
and Theodore. Mr. Rempis has a fine farm on the northeast
quarter of section 32, and is one of the raost enterprising and
influential farraers of the township.
Jacob Sawvell, section 24, Smithfield Township, bought his
farm in 1847 of John Anthony. At that time but very littie of
the land was improved ; now it is one of the best farms in the
township, sixty of the eighty acres being under cultivation.
Mr. SawveU was born in Adams County, Pa., near Gettysburg,
April 23, 1807, and Hved in his native county tiU twenty-one
years of age, when he raoved with his parents to Stark County,
Ohio, where he was married to Sarah Anthony, who accom
panied hira to De Kalb County. She was a native of Pennsyl
vania, but was reared in Stark County. They had a family of
ten children, but seven of whora are Hving, two in De Kalb
County. Mrs. SawveU died in July, 1862, and Mr. SawveU
subsequentiy married Mary Mortorff, a native of Adams
County, Pa., born in 1822. He has been a hard working,
economical man, and his efforts have been crowned with suc

cess.

Eli Stoffer was born in Columbiana County, Ohio, in 1836, a
son of Samuel Stoffer. In 1864 he moved to De Kalb County,
Ind., and settied in Fairfield Township, and in 1874 moved to
the southwest quarter of section 19, Smithfield Township, where
he has since resided. In 1884 a cheese factory was built on his
farm, and May 23 he began manufacturing, the firm name being
Smithfield Dairy Association. Mr. Stoffer is President of the
association. The factory has the capacity of manufacturing
500 pounds of cheese per day. Mr. Stoffer is one of the most
successful and enterprising business men of the township. He
was married in Ohio to Ehzabeth Weaver, a native of Colum
biana County. They have seven children — OHyer, Dehlah,
Amanda J., Edwin O., John F., Mary K. and EUa N.
Aaron A. Stout w-as born in Lenawee County, Mich., in 1829,
a son of George and Dehght W. (Bliss) Stout, his father a
native of New Jersey, born in 1799, and his mother a native of
Vermont, a daughter of Nelson Bliss; His father moved to
Western New York with his parents when about five years of
age, and when a young man moved to Lenawee County, Mich.,

^y — - ^ — 4^
HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTV. ^'/y
where he was married, and in November, 1836, moved to De
Kalb County, and settled in Fairfield Township. In 1834 he
had entered eighty acres of land in Steuben County just across
the line frora De Kalb, and in the spring of 1837 settled on this
land and improved it, making it his home several years. He
subsequently moved to section i, Smithfield Township, and
thence to Jackson Township, Steuben County, where he died
in the spring of 1866. His wife died in 1853. They had a
family of five sons and two daughters — Herbey B., the .eldest,
died of cancer, aged fifty-three years ; Aaron A.; George L.
died at the age of twenty-three years ; Orville L. died at the
age of forty years ; Nancy W., wife of Frederick Story ; Caro
line, now Mrs. Forst ; Edwin went West several years ago, and
is supposed to be dead. After the death of his first wife Mr.
Stout married Mrs. C. (Shotto) Clark, who is still living. To
them were born four children. Aaron A. Stout remained with
his parents till his marriage to Malinda Bower, who was bom
in New York, April 13, 1834, daughter of John Bower, who
settled in Fairfield Township in 185 1. Her father is now living
in Kent County, Mich.; her raother died in 1861. Mr. and Mrs.
Stout have had three children, but one is living — Frances A.,
wife of Archie W. Irwin. Lydia L. died Jan. 29, 1878, aged
twenty-two years, and one died in infancy. In 1861 Mr. Stout
enlisted in the Forty-second Indiana Infantry for three years,
but was discharged in January, 1862, on account of disability.
In April, 1863, he settled on his present farra on section 12,
Smithfield Township, where he has one of the pleasantest
homes in the county.
John R. Walker, section 35, Smithfield Township, bought his
farm of 160 acres of Wesley Parks in August, 1844. At that
time it was heavily tirabered, but he cleared and iraproved it,
and in i860 bought the quarter section adjoining. By hard
work and econoray he has acquired a corapentency, and is one
of the successful farraers and raost respected citizens of the
county. Mr. Walker was born in York County, Pa., in 1808,
and was there reared and married to Catherine Chrurarine, a
native of Maryland, born in 1810. In 1835 they settled in Co
lumbiana County, Ohio, and lived there till their removal to
De Kalb County in 1844. Mr. Walker's father, Nicholas
Walker, was a distiller, and in his youth he learned the
business and followed it a nuraber of years in Ohio. Mr.

,*A'^ — ^ '^^=1
y^S HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
and Mrs. Walker have had eight children ; but four are liv
ing — Sarah, Amanda, EH and George, the two latter born in
Indiana. Frederick C. Waterman, section 8, Smithfield Township, a son
of Othniel and grandson of Elijah Waterman. His grand
father settled on section 30, Franklin Township, De Kalb
County in 1837, and resided there till his death in 1863. His
father, Othniel Waterman, settled on section 9, Smithfield
Township in 1840, but about 1843 moved to Steuben County,
and from there two years later to Milwaukee, Wis.; thence to
Waukesha County, Wis., and from there to Fox Lake, Dodge
County, and thence to Tomah, Monroe County. He engaged
in the lumber business north of Tomah, till 1868, and then
bought a farm near town, where he lived till his death in the
fall of 1882. The mother, Mary (Garabia) Waterman, stiU re
sides on the horaestead. Of their six chUdren but three are
living- — Frederick; Alice, wife of Mervin Jones, of Monroe
County, Wis.; and Charles, a conductor on the Chicago, Mil
waukee & St. Paul Railroad. Frederick was born in New
York Mills, Oneida Co., N. Y., Aug. 26, 1841. He remained
with his parents till the breaking out of the Rebellion, when.
May II, 1861, he enlisted in the Second Wisconsin Infantry,
which was a part of the famous Iron Brigade of Wisconsin.
He participated in the first battle at Bull Run, July 21, 1861,
Gainesville, FredericksbuKg, Chancellorsville, and on the first
day of the battle of Gettysburg, was taken prisoner, but was
paroled by General Early the same evening. However, in
stead of being allowed to report immediately at parole camp,
he was required to assist in taking care of the wounded. He
rejoined his regiment at Bristow's Station, a few days later, and
subsequently participated in the battles of the Wilderness,
Cold Harbor, North Anna; was forty-two days in the trenches
before Petersburg ; was at Five Forks, and Appomattox at the
surrender of General Lee. After the close of the war he re
turned to Wisconsin, and worked at his trade (printer) in Mil
waukee a short tirae ; then returned horae and assisted his
father for sometime, and subsequently went to Walworth
County, Wis., where he engaged in farming till 1870, when he
moved to De Kalb County, Ind., where he has since lived. He
owns eighty acres of good land on section 8, which formerly
belonged to George Brunner. Mr. Waterman was married
to Ellen, daughter of Orris Danks. They have two sons —
Herbert and Orris O.
T

O* — ^ —  ^ — "JL^

CHAPTER XXI.

STAFFORD TOWNSHIP.

SiTU.\TiON. — Geography and Topography. — Early Set
tlers. — Religion and Education in an Early Day. —
First Township Officials. — Population. — Property
and Tax.\tion. — Agricultural Statistics.— Biograph
ical.
On the east line of the county, raidway north and south, lies
Stafford, one of the three small townships in the county. It is
bounded on the north by Troy Township, on the east by the
State of Ohio, on the south by Newville Township, and on the
west by Wilmington. The northern end is crossed by a rail
road used by both the Michigan Southern and the Wabash, St.
Louis & Pacific Railroad companies. The St. Joseph River
crosses the southeast corner, and Big Run has its course west
to east across the north end. On the river and creek the lands
are quite fertile ; between the two they are variable in quality,
but none too poor for wheat when properly cultivated. The
surface is generally level, with bluffs in the south on the river.
The township is six miles long, north and south, and nearly
two and a half wide east and west; thus containing twelve
whole and six fractional sections.
The earliest settler of this township was James Lytle, who
located during the sumraer of 1836, and after a short stay left
the county. The next and permanent settlers were John and
Hazzard Webster, Rufus Coats and John Rose, and their fami
lies, in all a colony of twenty-six persons. They emigrated
from Trumbull County, Ohio, and arrived at their destination
in this township on Oct. 4, 1836. John Webster bought some
hundreds of acres of very rich land on the river near the Ohio
State Une and settled on the same. He was a somewhat ec
centric man, an ardent devotee of wealth, careless on religious
subjects, and yet a good citizen and neighbor. He was very
useful in supplying the early settlers with corn, potatoes, etc.,
779

780 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
at very reasonable rates for the times, and, some years later, by
erecting a good saw and gristmill on his premises. He and all
his sons, three in number, have been in the spirit land for thirty
years or raore. His brother, Hazzard Webster, was also an
early settler, respected by those who knew him. He died in
Cahfornia a generation ago.
Other early settlers were : Jacob Gunsenhouser, John Rose,
Rufus Coats, James W. Rose,James E. Rose and Daniel Coats.
The first habitation was built by Lytle, and the next four were
raised about the sarae tirae by the famihes above named. During
the year following Edward ScoviUe and Ariel Walden (for years
an Associate Judge for this county) carae in. During the years
1838 and 1839 raany farailies raoved in, entered land and en
gaged heartily in the work of developing the country. Prominent
ones were : Christian Wanemaker, Henry Fusselman (a Justice
and County Commissioner) and Thomas Strote. John Barber
made his home in the northern part of the township, and C. R.
Wanemaker (since County Comraissioner), and Stephen W.
Hackley, were other early settlers in the sarae locality.
Though there was hard labor and few coraforts save as they
were won by industry, yet these settlers w^ere not unmindful of
the claims of religion and of education. Early preachers there
were, men unschooled, and appearing in their shirt sleeves,
who were full of zeal and awakened religious fervor in many a
cabin home. Lewis Hicklen was a Methodist Protestant min
ister, and preached in the settlers' cabins. Then there were
Byron Miner and Henry Kumler, the latter since known as
Bishop Kumler ; Jonathan Thomas, of the United Brethren
church, and Elder Josiah Cooper, a Methodist Episcopal. The
first school patronized by the people of Stafford was taught by
Miss Emily Handy. The building occupied for the purpose
was a cabin not in use, and owned by Walter Slaughter. It
stood near Coats' Corners. The first school-house, erected as
such, stood near the residence of Mrs. Joslin, in the Wane-
maker settlement, and has known many occupants, teachers
and pupils, now engaged in other duties. The youth of the
early days have grown to manhood ; and, in vivid contrast with
the husbandry of the present, memory recalls
" How we grasped the old sheepskin with feelings of scorn,
As we straddled the back of the old sorrel mare,
And rode up and down through the green rows of corn,
¦^ 9  ^^ -"•  »>

HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY. 78 1
Like a pin on a clothes-line that sways in the air;
We can hear our stern fathers reproving us still.
As the careless old creature comes down on a hill."
Some of the early Justices of the Peace in Stafford Township
were: Rufus Coats, Henry Fusselman, David McDaniel, Noyce
Coats, Samuel Wanemaker, F. Hoffman and J. J. Imhoff. Early
Constables were : I. Gaft, C. R. Waneraaker, H. Dickerhoof and
H. H. Wanemaker. The first Trustees were : J. J. Gunsen
houser, Isaac Deal, A. Fusselman, Joseph A. Coats, Noyce
Coats, J. J. Imhoff, F. Hoffman, Peter Walter, John Crouse,
Samuel Headley, John W. Rose, Jesse W. Rose, C. H. Wane-
maker, Wilham Brown, John Webster, AVilliam Webster and
Chris. Wanemaker. C. R. Wanemaker, James Gather and
Jacob Crise, were early Assessors.
The Big Run L'. B. church was organized in the spring
of 1S43 by Rev. Jonathan Thomas, who is stiU Hving in
Hamilton, Steuben County. The charter members were Jacob
Gunsenhouser and wife, Thoraas Olds and wife, David Flick-
inger and wife, Stephen Hackley and wife, and Mary Willard.
They organized in the house of Jacob Gunsenhouser, and wor
shiped there for about five years, afterward using the old log
school-house on Mr. Gunsenhouser's land. WhUe using this
house, they had a most successful revival, resulting in the con
version of sixty souls. Rev. Chester Briggs conducted the
meetings. Their present church building, 30x40 feet, was
begun in 1861, and completed during the war. Services are
held alternate Sundays by Rev. James Martin. The cemetery
by this church was the first in the township. The first person
buried there w-as Miss Abigail Hackley ; her death occurred
several years before the organization of the church.
The population of Stafford Township is 569, or 38 to the
square mile. The valuation per capita is $453.73. In 1884 the
number of acres of land was assessed 9,311.57; value of same,
$198,975 ; value of improvements, $26,240; value of lands and
improvements, $225,215 ; value of personal property, $48,465;
total value of taxables, $273,680 ; rate of taxation, $1.66; num
ber of polls, 93 ; poll tax, $1.00 ; total amount of taxation,
$4,698.31. The following statistics are of staple crops raised in 1881 :
there were 1,526 acres in wheat, producing 7 bushels per acre,
or 10,682 bushels; 879 acres in com, producing 15 bushels per

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J^«-

782 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
acre of upland and 25 per acre of lowland, or 13,460 bushels;
531 acres in oats, producing 35 bushels per acre, or 16,585 bush
els; 353 acres in raeadow land, producing a ton to an acre of hay,
or 353 tons; 44 acres in Irish potatoes, producing 15 bushels
per acre, or 660 bushels. BIOGRAPHICAL.
Robert Arford, section 4, Stafford Township, was born in Fay
ette County, Pa., March 27, 1828, a son of Jacob Arford, a na
tive of Maryland, who moved to Wayne County, Ohio, in the
spring of 1831, and to Tuscarawas County in 1839. Robert
Arford grew to manhood in the latter county, and in 1852 came
to De Kalb County, Ind., and settled on the land where he now
lives. He cleared a small patch of ground and built a hewed
log house 26 X 18 feet in size, a story and a half high. He was
in meager circumstances when he came to this county, and
after paying for part of his land and buying a few necessary
articles, had but $12 dollars left. He bought seventy-five acres
of land for $350, and paid $130 cash. He went to work for
others till he had paid the rest. He made all the furniture in
their house with the exception of two chairs and a bureau. He
had no team, and he and Jacob Crise bought a yoke of oxen
together. Although coraraencing life in what seeraed adverse
circurastances, he has toiled bravely on, assisted by a noble
wife, till he now has a fine farm of nearly 200 acres, all under
a good state of cultivation. He was raarried June 16, 1850, to
Margaret Weiraer, daughter of John Weiraer. They have had
a family of seven children, but three of whom are living — ]Mary
E., Maville C. and Charles S. Mr. and Mrs. Arford are mem
bers of the United Brethren church.
Daniel Beha, farmer and stock-raiser, section 9, Stafford
Township, is a native of Baden, Germany, bom Jan. 25, 1845.
He was reared in his native country, and when twenty-five
years of age, in 1870, carae to the United States, and in 1872
settled in Stafford Township, De Kalb Co., Ind. TUl within
the past three years he has worked for the railroad, but since
then has engaged in farraing. He owns forty-three acres of
land, thirty-eight acres being in Stafford Township and five
acres just across the Hne in Ohio. He was raarried in 1872 to
Caroline Barramaert, and to them have been born three chil
dren — Rosa, Katie and John. Mr. and Mrs. Beha are members
of the Catholic church at Edgerton, Ohio.

HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY. 783
David W. Blaker, section 18, Stafford Township, was born in
Lycoming County, Pa., May 19, 1830, a son of Jesse Blaker, a
native of Bucks County, Pa., and what was called a Hickory
Quaker. He enlisted in the war of 181 2, but the war closed
before he was called into service. David W. lost his mother
when he was seven years old, and before he was nine years old
began to take care of himself. Before he was fourteen years
old he found himself 200 miles from home without friends,
barefooted and with no shoes nor money. He worked on the
canal nearly a year and then at the blacksmith's trade fourteen
years. In 1853 he came to De Kalb County and located at But
ler, where he worked at his trade for the contractors of the
Lake Shore Railroad. He reraained in Butler till 1867, work
ing at his trade with the exception of one year, when he was
associated with his brother in a meat market and grocery. In
the spring of 1867 he settled on his farm, which at that time
contained eighty acres of land, partially run down, but by dili
gence and care he has made it equal to any farm in the town
ship. He now owns 120 acres of fine land, and his crops are
among the best in the county. He was married July 4, 1852,
to Ethihnda Fowler, of Flat Rock, Wayne Co., Mich., and to
them have been born ten children, but five of whom are living
—George W., Frederick D., Ella M. B., William L. and James
C. George raarried Emma Flickinger and lives in this town
ship. Mr. and Mrs. Blaker are merabers of the Methodist Epis
copal church.
Joseph Bradley, deceased, was born in New Lisbon, Ohio, Oct.
26, 18 1 5, a son of Williara Bradley, a native of Ireland. When
he was five years old he went with his raother to Maryland,
and soon after to Belleville, Washington Co., Pa. When nine
teen years of age he carae West as far as Ohio and located in
Wayne County, and a few years later raoved to Defiance
County. April 18, 1854, he carae to De Kalb County, Ind., and
settled on section 32, Stafford Township, where he opened a
farm and made for himself a horae, reraaining here till death,
Oct. 20, 1865. He was married Jan. 2, 1838, to Mary E. Tharp,
daughter of Isaac Tharp. To thera were born nine children,
seven of whom are living — Mary J., Melissa, William, Sarah,
Margaret, Mandana and Zelma. Elmer and Caroline are de
ceased. Elmer married Louisa Johnson and left a son, Franklin,
who lives with his Grandmother Bradley. Mary J. is the wife
-*^ It— I
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^!

784

HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.

of John McCoUough, of Bryan, Ohio, and has six children —
Scott, Bertha, Charles, Nelia, John and EsteUa. MeHssa is the
wife of Ryer McDonald, and has nine children — James A.,
Elmer, Laura, Bertha, Ida, Frank, Dea, Minnie, Hattie. Will
iam, of Butler County, Kas., married Mary E. Sraith, and has
two children — Frank L. and an infant son. Sarah is the wife
of Wilson Headley. Margaret is the wife of Ephraira Allen, of
Defiance County, Ohio, and has five children — Darius, Mary,
Gertrude, E. C. and an infant. Mandana is the wife of Sumner
Rose, and Zelma of David Ball, both of DeKalb County.
Rev. James Gather, section 6, Stafford Township, is a native of
Guernsey County, Ohio, born Aug. 25, 1819. His parents moved
to Frederick County, Pa., where he was educated, and subse
quently attended the Lutheran Literary and Theological Semi
nary at Gettysburg. He began preaching in the Allegheny
Mountains while there recruiting his health, and in 1842 came
West and preached a year in Stark and Tuscarawas counties,
Ohio. He came to DeKalb County in 1844 and settled near
Butler. He was employed as a missionary by the English
synod of Ohio, and to organize churches, and in September,
1844, organized the Kepler church. He also organized the
Wittenberg, Melbourne Station, Denmark, and Spencerville
churches. He was engaged in the work of the ministry thirty
years, and in 1872 retired to agricultural life, although he stiff
preaches occasionally to fill vacancies. He settled in Stafford
Township on a farm, where he owns 120 acres of choice land.
He was married Jan. i, 1847, to Lydia Norris. They com
menced married life with nothing but their clothes, a horse and
$3 in money. Mrs. Gather Hved at home tiU he could buy an
acre of land in. Frankhn Township. He then built a log house,
which at that time was the best one in the county. He taught
one winter and preached on the Sabbath and at night hunted
raccoons, at which he made more money than both his other
occupations. He has made his horae in De Kalb County since
1844, with the exception of three years spent in Elkhart. He
was Assessor of his township sixteen or seventeen years. He
has experienced all the trials and hardships of a pioneer
preacher, but has been rewarded for his toil by the conscious
ness that his labor has not been in vain. To hira and his wife
have been born nine children, but three of whom are Hving —
Isabella, now the wife of Rev. J. B. Hawkins, of Ashland, Ohio ;

V«

Jf^

.«  »

HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY. 785

Charles F. and Pitt. Elizabeth, William, Kate, Susannah, James
and Josephine are deceased. Mrs. Gather's father, Charles
Norris, was a pioneer of this county, and laid out the town of
Butler. He was a native of New England, a soldier in the war
of 181 2, and died at an advanced age.
David McDannel, section 5, Stafford Township, is a native of
Stark County, Ohio, born Feb. 11, 1816, a son of James Mc
Dannel, an early settler of that county. He was reared on a
farm, but when a young man learned the carpenter's trade, at
which he has worked the most of the tirae since. He came to
DeKalb County in June, 1843, and July 4 settled on the land
where he now lives. He lived in a board shanty till the follow
ing fall, when he finished his present residence, which was the
first frame house in the township. He owns seventy-five acres of
fine land, but the greater part of it is carried on by tenants. He
has been an influential citizen of the township, and has served
as Justice of the Peace thirteen or fourteen years, and several
years as Trustee. He was married Oct. 27, 1839, to Annie
Gunsenhouser, daughter of John Gunsenhouser. To them
have been born six children, but three of whom are living —
Emily, Mary, and Martha. Emily married Frederick Ginder,
and Martha married Philip Ginder, of Wilmington Township.
Sarah, Elizabeth and John are deceased. John lost his hearing
when five years of age from the effects of brain fever, and was
educated in the deaf and dumb institute at Indianapolis. He
was a very intelligent young raan, and especially skillful in
fine cabinet work. He was run over and killed by the fast
express train on the Lake Shore Road, May 11, 1882, when on
his way to Butler. Mr. and Mrs. McDannel are members of
the Lutheran church.
Isaac Diehl, farmer and stock-raiser, section 7, Stafford
Township, was born in Adams County, Pa., Nov. 25, 18 12, a
son of Jacob Diehl, a tanner and farmer. His father died when
he was eleven years of age, and he was early thrown on his
own resources. He learned the cooper's trade when a young
man, and followed it three years. He carae to De Kalb County,
Ind., in June, 1843, and settled where he now Hves, entering
eighty acres of land from the Government. He cleared away
enough of the timber to build a log cabin, and then went to
work to make a farm out of a tract of heavily timbered land,
working at his trade in the fall and winter months. He was in

^)^

786 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
limited circumstances when he came to the county, but he has
by industry and good management accumulated a competency
for his old age, owning i6o acres of finely cultivated land. He
was married in October, 1835, to Susannah Daily, and to them
have been born eleven children, seven of whora are Hving —
EHza, Ephraim, Daniel D., WilHam, Eunice, Leander J., and
Isaac M., all raarried but Ephraira. Mr Diehl and his wife are
members of the EvangeHcal Association.
James Gaff, section 6, Stafford Township, was born in Stark
County, Ohio, Dec. 24, 1818, a son of David and Ruth (Certes)
Gaff. When he was seventeen years of age his parents moved
to Wayne County, Ohio, and in 1848 he came to De Kalb
County, and settled in Troy Township on the land which is
now his farm. With the exception of five acres from which he
hired the trees chopped, he has cleared and brought under cul-
vation 105 acres of timber land. He owns 272 acres of valu
able land which is now carried on by his son Frank. He was
married Feb. 26, 1842, to Mary Haverstock, daughter of Tobias
and Peggy Haverstock. Her father was opposed to her mar
riage and they left home and were married in Mount Eaton,
Wayne Co., Ohio. Her father then refused to give her her
clothes and she was obliged to wear the ones she wore tiU she
could make raore. Their first years of married life were filled
with disappointments and adverse circumstances, but they
finally overcame all obstacles and secured for themselves a
good home. The days were spent in working for others and
the nights till midnight in clearing and improving his own farm,
his wife assisting in clearing away the brush. To Mr. and Mrs.
Gaff have been born nine children, but four of whom are living
— Margaret, David, Amanda and Frank. One son, Hiram, was
a soldier in the war of the Rebellion, and was wounded at the
battle of Shiloh, from the effects of which he died at Evans
ville, Ind., soon after. Another son, Orlando, died at the age
of nineteen years. Their children are all married and have
good homes of their own. Margaret married David Jennings,
of Indiana, and has two children — James and Zella. David
married Melvina Jennings, and has six children — Mary, Nellie,
James, Charles, Frank, and an infant. He lives in Elkhart, Ind.
Frank married Julia Christophle, and has one child — Dora.
Amanda married James Shull, of Butler, and has one child —
Milton. In rehgious faith, Mr. and Mrs. Gaff adhere to the

¦4

HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY. 787
United Brethren church. He has been Constable of his town
ship four years.
Daniel Greenwalt. section 31, Stafford Township, was born in
Berks County, Pa., June 26, 1837, a son of Jacob and Trafna
(Correll) Greenwalt, and grandson of John Correll. His par
ents came to De Kalb County in 1847, and settled in Concord
Township, and the next spring his father bought the farm now
owned by Catherine Greenwalt, where the father died in July,
1SS2, and the mother February, 1883. There was a family of
three children, but two of whom, Daniel and Catherine are liv
ing. Lovina is dead. Daniel and his sister are unmarried and
hve together on the old homestead, which contains forty acres
of good land. He recently sold a farm of forty-seven acres in
Wilmington Township. He enlisted in the war of the Rebell
ion in Company F, Forty-fourth Indiana Infantry, and served
three years and four months. He participated in the battles of
Stone River and Perryville. He was wounded at the battle of
Stone River and has never recovered from its effects, and
draws a pension of $15 a month. The greater part of his terra
of service he was detailed to duty in the hospital at Evansville.
Mr. and Mrs. Greenwalt are merabers of the Disciples cl^urch.
Mr. Greenwalt is a raeraber of the Masonic fraternity.
Peter Grube, section 16, Stafford Township, is a native of
Bavaria, Germany, born Dec. 26, 1804. He was married in
December, 1835, to Elizabeth May, also a native of Bavaria,
bom Nov. 23, 181 1. In the spring of 1836 they came to the
United States and lived the first two years in New York City,
and in August, 1838, raoved to Stark County, Ohio, and in
August, 1844, to De Kalb County, Ind. The second year after
coming here he left his wife with two small children and went
to Hicksville, where he worked at fifty cents a day to buy flour
for his family. When he reached New York he had but $11,
and at one time had but fifty cents, but by hard work and per
severance he has accumulated a competency for his old age,
owning at present 215 acres of choice land. When he bought
his first eighty acres he paid $50 cash, and the rest in eight
years at 6 per cent, interest, it being school land. His son
Peter now has charge of the farm, his health not perraitting
him to perform the duties necessary on so large a farm. His
wife died Dec. 22, 1868. To them were born five children, but
three of whora are living — Henry, Elizabeth, now Mrs. Can-
-H-^'  ,
V1<» -^> — \\\

788 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
non, and Peter. Kate and Jacob are deceased. Mr. Grube
has been a man of almost unlimited endurance. He has often
walked to Auburn and return, a distance of twenty-nine miles,
in one day, reaching horae by four o'clock in the afternoon.
He worked on his farm in the daytime and at weaving in the
evening. William Henry Grube, section 9, Stafford Township, was
born in MassiUon, Ohio, in October, 1843, a son of Peter Grube,
of this township. He was reared a farmer, having but hmited
educational advantages, and after reaching manhood worked at
farming by the month several years. He then bought a Can
ton, Ohio, thresher, and during the summer threshed seven
years, working in the pineries of Michigan in the winter. He
now owns a fine farm of in acres, and is a successful farmer
and stock-raiser. He was married May 20, 1881, to Mary Haas,
daughter of Michael Haas. They have one child — Charles,
aged three years, and one child died in infancy. Mr. Grube
has been a raeraber of the Odd Fellows' order fifteen years.
John Jacob Gunsenhouser, farraer and stock-raiser, section 6,
Stafford Township, is a native of Switzerland, born May 28,
1806, and in 1816 came with his father, John Gunsenhouser, to
the United States and settled in Lancaster County, Pa., and in
1823 raoved to Stark County, Ohio. In 1836 he came to De
Kalb County, Ind., and settled on the northeast quarter of sec
tion 7, Troy Township, in the woods, where they were sur
rounded by wild animals and Indians. He entered over 400
acres of land and went to work to clear and cultivate a farm,
having many hardships to endure and many obstacles to over-
corae. He has sold the greater part of his land, owning at
present but forty-nine acres in his home farm, but in addition
to this owns village property in NewviUe. He tells many
amusing incidents and many thrilling accounts of his Hfe in the
woods, of the hardships and privations to be undergone, and
the pleasures to be found in the chase. He was a true pioneer,
and has assisted in a large degree in developing and improving
De Kalb County. He was married June 14, 1827, to jNIary
Strole, daughter of Nicholas and Elizabeth Strole. To them
have been born eleven children — Olive, Elizabeth, Mary A.,
Henry, Jacob, Nancy, Isaac, Ursula, Sarah, George and Will
iam (twins). One son, John, enlisted in Company F, Forty-
fourth Indiana Infantry, and .was appointed its Captain. He,
' .1 _ ~  ' '''^  _- 1
V * — -^ -, — H^

A^

HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY. 789
was kiUed at the battle of Chickamauga, and left a widow and
four children.
John Holltnger, deceased, was a native of Huntingdon County,,
Pa., born Sept. 16, 1812. He received a comraon-school educa
tion, and was reared a farmer, a vocation he always followed.
In 1816 his parents moved to Stark County, Ohio, and there he
grew to manhood and raarried, March 26, 1835, Elizabeth Borg-
ner, and to thera were born eight children, six of whom are
living— George, Jacob, Mary, Isaac, Sarauel and Daniel. John
and Sarah are deceased. In 1846 they moved to DeKalb
County, Ind., and settled in Stafford Township where the father
died Oct. 7, 1883. The farra is now carried on by Samuel and
Daniel, enterprising and industrious young men. It contains
140 acres of choice land, and the residence and farra buildings
are large and commodious. Mr. HoUinger united with the
Evangelical Reforraed church Oct. 13, 1832, but after coraing
to De Kalb County he and his wife united with the Lutheran
church. /(f/<-^.^«//, farraer and stock-raiser, section 5, Stafford Town
ship, was born in TrurabuU County, Ohio, June 12, 1830, a son
of Christopher Hull, a native of Allegany County, N. Y., who
moved to Mercer County, Pa., in 1822, and thence to TrurabuU
County, Ohio, and in 1836 to De Kalb County, Ind., and settled
in WUmington Township where he died about 1844. Peleg is
the sixth of a family of eleven children, five of whora are living
—James, Hiram, Peleg, Benjamin F. and Phebe. James and
Benjamin Hve in Kosciusko County, Ind.; Hiram, in Muskegon
County, Mich., and Phebe, in Martin County, Minn. Six
brothers were in the war of the RebeUion. John was killed at
Stone River; Amos was killed at Chickamauga; Benjamin F.
was wounded and captured at Richraond, Ky., was paroled
and subsequently sent to Johnson's Island to guard rebel pris
oners. Hirara served in the Twenty-first Michigan Infantry,
and Peleg and Amos, in Company H, Thirtieth Indiana Infan
try. Peleg participated in the battles of Shiloh, Hoovers Gap,
Chickamauga, Big Shanty, Kenesaw Mountain, Fall's Church,
siege of Atlanta, Frankhn, FHnt River, and others of less im
portance. Since his return from the war he has engaged in
agricultural pursuits, and now owns a fine farm of sixty acres.
He was married April 18, 1865, to Maria Wannaraaker, daugh
ter of Samuel Wannamaker. To them have been born four
50

-^ ^""^-TT-

J IS
r

^

790 ' HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
children, but two of whora are Hving — Anna and George. Mr.
and Mrs. Hull and their daughter are members of the Disciples
church. Lucius C. Loveland, section 31, Stafford Township, postoffice,
Newville, is a native of Defiance County, Ohio, born June 3,
0:844, the eldest son of Luther and Mary M. (Clemmer) Love
land, the former a native of Connecticut, born in 18 16, and the
latter of Virginia, born in 181 5. He is a descendant of Thomas
Loveland who settled in Glastonbury, Conn., in 1670. His
great-grandfather, Pelatiah Loveland, was a blacksmith, and
made the nails with which to shingle the first frame barn in
that town. Two of his brothers were soldiers in the Revolu
tionary war. He was married Dec. 7, 1774, to Mollie Goodale,
-and the second time, Oct. 27, 1816, to Eunice Butler. He died
in 1823. He reared a family of thirteen children ; the youngest
son, the grandfather of our subject, Luther Loveland, was born
March 18, 1793, and was married May 15, 1814, to Lucy
Wickara, and in 1824 moved to Lorain County, Ohio. His
family consisted of nine children, six sons and three daughters.
Luther Loveland, our subject's father, came to the Maumee
River in 1834, and to Hicksville, Defiance Co., Ohio, in 1837,
where he bought 160 acres of land on section 7. He sowed the
first crop of wheat in the township, on unplowed ground, where
the town of Hicksville now is, for A. P. Edgerton, and made a
harrow with wooden teeth to harrow it. He was married in
1840, and had a family of seven children, three sons and four
daughters. Lucius C. Loveland learned the tinner's trade
when twenty-two years of age, and carried on that business
eleven years. In the fall of 1866 he carae to DeKalb County
and worked at his trade in Newville two years, and in 1868
removed to Hicksville. He was hurt by a falling tree when
about eighteen years of age, and was obliged to have the lower
part of his right leg amputated. In 1871 he was elected Treas
urer of Hicksville Township, and served five years, and in 1873
was elected Justice of the Peace, and served six years. During
this time he was Clerk of Hicksville corporation, and served
one year on the Village Council. In 1876 he, with his father
and John Growl, built the Anchor Mills at Hicksville. In 1879
he exchanged his interest in the mill for the farm where he now
lives, which was entered in 1836 by A. Walden. He was elected
Justice of the Peace of Stafford Township in 1880, and served

HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY. 791
three and a half years, when he resigned. He is a promihent
member of the Odd FeUows' order. He was raarried Dec. 22,
1864, to Margaret J. ShroU, of DeKalb County, Ind. To thera
have been born nine children ; eight are Hving — Frank S.,
Luther J., Cora and Ora (twins), Maud M., Ray P., Maggie,
Mary F. and George. Maggie fell in a ditch and was drowned
April 26, 1880, aged two years.
Samuel Miller, farmer and stock-raiser, section 16, Stafford
Township, was born on the old homestead, on the same section
where he now resides, Feb. 24, 1844, a son of Jacob F. Miller,
of Edgerton, Ohio, an early settler of De Kalb County. Ind.,
entering eighty acres of land where our subject now lives. He
is a baker by trade, but is now Hving a retired life, at the age
of eighty-four years. Samuel Miller was reared a farmer, a
vocation he has ahvays followed. He was educated in his na
tive county, attending the district schools. He has been suc
cessful in his business pursuits and now has a fine farm of 151
acres. He was married in January, 1867, to Elizabeth Eck, and
to them have been born five children — Joseph N., Ida E., Mary
L., Daniel D. and an infant daughter.
Edward ScoviUe, one of the old pioneers of Stafford Town
ship, resides on section 29, where he owns fifty-two acres of
valuable land. He was born in Ontario County, N. Y., Dec.
15, 1813, a son of Enoch ScoviUe, a native of Connecticut, and
grandson of Michael ScoviUe, a hero of the Revolution and the
French and Indian wars. In 1827 he accorapanied his parents
to Trumbull County, Ohio, and in February, 1838, came to De
Kalb County, Ind., and settled in Stafford Township, where he
rented land two years. He then moved to Newville Township,
where he had previously entered land on section 4, and in 1857
bought and moved to the farm where he now lives. He has
been one of the hardest working men in the county, and ha^
helped to clear and log over 100 acres of land. He has run a
threshing-machine several years, and run the first separator in
De Kalb County. He has never sought official honors, but has
served as Constable and Supervisor several terms. He was
married Oct. 15, 1835, to Lydia Culp, and to them were born
six children, but two of whora are living — Williara H. and
Warren E. They are members of the Disciples church.
William H. ScoviUe, section 20, Stafford Township, is a native
of this township, born May 10, 1840, a son of the pioneer, Ed-

7;

792 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
ward ScoviUe. He was educated in his native township and
reared a farmer, a vocation he has followed for a livelihood.
He owns ninety-eight acres of valuable land, and is engaged in
general farming and stock-raising. He, in addition to raising
stock, buys and ships it to the Western markets. For the past
twelve years he has been selling farm implements and ma
chinery, wagons, reapers and mowers, having a salesroom and
warehouse in Butler, but canvassing throughout the county.
He is agent for the Charapion Reaper and Binder, which is
considered the best in the market, and his sales of this machine
are more than any other. He has met with good success in
this branch of his business, being a good salesman and an hon
orable, upright gentleman. He was married Jan. 16, 1859,
to Mary Dickerhoff, daughter of Jacob Dickerhoff. To them
have been born seven children — L. Ellen, George E., William
E. (deceased), Ida D., Charles R., Letitia and Ross.
Warren E. ScoviUe, son of Edward and Lydia (Culp) ScoviUe,
resides on section 29, Stafford Township, where he has charge
of the old homestead of his parents. He was born in Stafford
Township, Sept. 10, 1850, and was reared and educated in his
native county, attending the common-schools of his district.
He is an enterprising and industrious young man, and one of
the representative farmers of his township. Reared a farmer,
he understands all the details of agricultural life and is making
a success of that vocation. He was married Oct. 9, 1877, to
Hattie Joslyn, a native of Cortland County, N. Y., born Feb.
3, 1858, daughter of Clark Joslyn, deceased. To Mr. and Mrs.
ScoviUe have been born two children, but one of whom is liv
ing — Frank. Mrs. ScoviUe is a member of the Disciples
church. John Shoub, section 7, Stafford Township, was born in Wayne
County, Ohio, Jan. 31, 1827. His father, Henry Shoub, was a
native of Switzerland, and came to the United States in 1816.
While on shipboard crossing the ocean, he made the acquaint
ance of Elizabeth Huffraan, and they were married soon after
reaching America. They settled in Wayne County, Ohio,
where they passed the remainder of their lives. John Shoub was
reared and educated in his native county, remaining with his
parents till manhood. In 1849 he came to De Kalb County and
remained till the spring of 1850, when he returned to Ohio, and
April 13, 1851, was married to Mary A. Strole, daughter of

l^

HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY. 793
Thomas Strole, an early settler of Stafford Township. The
First eighteen months after their marriage they lived in
Wayne County, Ohio, and then moved to De Kalb County in
the spring of 1853 and bought forty acres of the land where he
now lives, at that time regarded as swamp land, and sold by the
State to him as such. He now owns eighty acres of finely cul
tivated land, and is engaged in general farming and stock-rais
ing. He takes great interest in the public welfare of his county,
but never seeks official honors, although he served one term as
County Commissioner. To him and his wife have been born
three children^Thomas H., Sarah E. and Alice E. Sarah E.
married Hugh H. Maxwell, and has one child — May. Alice
' married Walter S. Maxwell, and has two children — Lloyd L.
and Mary D. Thomas is an intelligent, enterprising young
man, and is in the employ of D. Appleton & Co., Publishers.
Mr. and Mrs. Shoub are merabers of the Disciples church.
John Smith, section 30, Stafford Township, was born in Wayne
County, Ohio, May 9, 1830, a son of John and Susannah (Light-
foot) Smith, the former a native of Pennsylvania, of German
descent, and the latter a native of Maryland, of English descent.
When he was four years old his father died, and when seven
years old he began to take care of himself, working for his board
and clothes till fifteen years old. He then worked a year for
his guardian for $40 and three months schooling, and during
harvest overworked and for two years had the ague. When
twenty years of age he began to learn the carpenter's trade,
which he has followed the greater part of his life. In Decem
ber, 1859, he came to De Kalb County, Ind., and settled in Jack
son Township where he Hved till December, 1866, when he
moved to the farm where he now lives in Stafford Township.
He owns sixty acres of good land, all well iraproved. He was
married Sept. 2, 1862, to Frances Donaldson, daughter of Henry
and Jane (Laird) Donaldson, her mother a sister of the Laird
Brothers, tobacconists of Covington, Ky., frora whom she
heired quite a fortune, but owing to the dishonesty of the admin
istrators never received any of it. To Mr. and Mrs. Sraith
have been born eight children — Catherine I., Henry W.,
Jennie, Myrtle (deceased), Leora, Warden B., Albert P. and
Cassius C. Henry married Clara Swaysgood. Catherine
married Benjamin Seigler, and has one child — Leora. Jennie
married Daniel Bearer. Mr. Smith has been a member of the

Is

794 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
Methodist Episcopal church since twenty years of age. Mrs.
Sraith is a member of the Lutheran church. Their daughters
are members of the Methodist church.
George B. Soule, section 6, Stafford Township, is a native of
Schoharie County, N. Y., born AprU 15, 1831, son of George
Soule, of Frankhn Township. When he was five years of age
his parents moved to Lenawee County, Mich., and in 1847 to
Steuben County, Ind. In 1852 they moved to Kent County,
Mich., being the third family to settle in Solon Township, and
in 1857 came to De Kalb County, and settled in Franklin
Township. George B. Soule was reared a farmer, and also in
his youth learned the carpenter's trade of his father, at which
he has worked in connection with his agricultural pursuits-
He has assisted in the development of several counties, and has
experienced all the phases of pioneer life. He lived in Frank
lin Township tiU 1869, and then went to Montcalm County,
Mich., where he lived ten years, and in 1879 returned to ^^
Kalb County. He owns a good farra in Montcalm County and
one in Franklin Township, this county. In 18 he moved to
Stafford Township where he has since Hved. He was married
in the fall of 1851 to Matilda Lent, daughter of James Lent. To
them have been born four children, but two of whora are Hving
— Mary and Laura. A son, Frank, was drowned in Montcalm
County, Mich., aged fourteen years. Mary married Franklin
Hoy, and has three children — Daisy, Mertie, and Lillie. Laura
married Homer Maurice, and has three children — Wilmer,
Hattie and George. Both daughters reside in Montcalm
County. In politics Mr. Soule is a Republican. He served as
Justice of the Peace in Franklin Township one year and is
holding the same position in Stafford Township.
Henry Tinstman, farmer and stock-raiser, section 7, Stafford
Township, is a native of Beaver County, Pa., bom Aug. 26,
1826, son of Mark Tinstman. He worked with his father, who
was a railler, till eighteen years of age, and then learned the
wagon-raaker's trade at which he worked fifteen years, when he
began the manufacture of pumps which he followed fifteen
years. When he was quite small his parents raoved to CarroU
County, Ohio, and in the spring of 1855 he raoved to Elkhart
County, Ind., and in the fall of 1864 to Butler, De Kalb County,
where he lived till the fall of 1866, when he settled on the farm
where he has since lived. He owns 109 acres of valuable land
7 3  ^ —  ^"f

HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY. 795;
which he has iraproved and now has under a fine state of cul
tivation. He was married Jan. 2, 1848, to Leah Fisher, daughter
of Jonathan Fisher. To them have been born twelve chil
dren, but three of whom are Hving — John W., Adam H., and
Alonzo E. The eldest two are brick and stone masons and
plasterers of several years' experience, and are conversant with
every detail of their business. John Williara raarried Sarah K..
Gunsenhouser, and has one child — Warren Clyde. Adara H.
married Maville C. Arford, and has had three children, but one
of whom is living — Arthur Roy. Mr. and Mrs. Tinstman and
their sons, John and Alonzo, are members of the United
Brethren church.
Stewart Paterson Wartenbe, section 29, Stafford Township,.
was born in Muskingum County, Ohio, March 29, 1823, a son
of Joseph and Nancy (Smith) Wartenbe, and grandson of Will
iam Wartenbe, an early settler of Muskingum County. In
1834 his parents moved to Defiance County, Ohio, and later to-
De Kalb County, Ind. They experienced all the privations
and inconveniences of pioneer life, often being without food or
water, except what was found in the swamps. Since he was
seventeen years of age he has had charge of the family, and
although so young he nobly did his duty, and has the con
sciousness of having done his best to minister to the comfort of
those he loved. His father died in 1854, and his mother has
since made her home with him, and is now in the eighty-fourth
year of her age. He has been a good manager, industrious
and frugal, and has now a competency with which to enjoy life-
He owns 136 acres of choice land, all well iraproved, and is one
of the most successful stock-raisers in the township. He
learned the carpenter and joiner's trade in his youth and tol
lowed it several years in connection with farming. He was
married Feb. 3, 1859, to Mrs. Cordelia Webster, daughter of
Rev. Samuel Wanemaker, and widow of Mr. Webster. Ta
them have been born two children — Corwin G. and Charles S.
Corwin married Mary Ellen Joslyn and has one child — Clara.
Mrs. Wartenbe has one child by her first marriage — Wallace C.
Mr. and Mrs. Wartenbe are members of the Disciples church
at NewviUe.
Hazzard Webster, deceased, was a native of Rhode Island,
born Jan. 31, 1805, and when a small boy accorapanied his par
ents to Trumbull County, Ohio, where he lived till eighteerk

V9
IK*-

^:

796 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
years old, when he started for the West and traveled over
thirteen States and Territories, spending three years in the
Galena, III., lead mines. He was married March 18, 1831, to
Laura Ackley, and to them were born seven children, but three
of whom are living — Betsey, Mary and Lucretia. Sarah, Han
nah, Asel and John are deceased. The latter was killed at the
battle of Stone River when fighting in defense of his country.
Mr. Webster came to De Kalb County in the fall of 1836 with
a colony of fifteen wagons. His first house in the county was
made of poles covered with bark, with a puncheon floor, 14X 16
feet in size. The first night in the county fifteen persons staid
in his house. They were obliged to undergo many hardships,
as life in a new Country was not all sunshine ; neither was it all
:shade, and they had many hours of pleasure. Mrs. Webster
was a doctress, and was often called from horae and obliged to
•cross the St. Joseph River when her horse nearly swam.
Twice she has been carried across the river on a man's back.
In 1849 ^r. Webster crossed the plains to California, stopping
two days in Salt Lake City. He died in California Feb. 6,
1850. Mrs. Webster is living with her daughter, Mrs. N. T.
Fuller, and is in the seventy-sixth year of her age.

! ¦

Ji!

CHAPTER XXII.

TROY TOWNSHIP.

Situation. — Geography and Topography. — Early Set
tlers. — The Lost Child. — Church. — Postoffice. —
Early Township Officials. — Population. — Property
AND Taxation. — Agricultural Statistics.— Biographi
cal.In the extreme northeastern corner of the county, farthest
from the county seat, and without village or railroad, is the
httle township of Troy. It is six miles long north and
south, and two and a half miles wide east and west, thus con
taining twelve whole and six fractional sections. It is bounded
on the north by Richland Township, Steuben County, on the
east by the State of Ohio, on the south by the township of Staf
ford, and on the west by the township of Franklin. Fish Creek
enters the township from the northwest, passes through the
center, and crosses the State line a mile north of the southeast
corner. It is the largest creek in the county after Cedar. It
was on it, near its mouth, that Houlton & Hughes erected their
saw-miU in 1827, as narrated in another chapter. Troy is an
excellent township of land, agriculturally, considered as a whole.
The northern portion is generally of a clay soil. The central
and southeast sections are a rich, sandy loam, and to the south
west there is clay soil again.
The advantages of good water-power stimulated early and
rapid settlement. Besides the Houlton & Hughes mill, already
mentioned, the Hamilton raiUs were built on the outlet of Fish
Lake, on the borders of Steuben County. The earliest settler
in the township was Isaac T. Aldrich, who later becarae a resi
dent of Frankhn. In the year foUowing, Roger Aldrich, brother
of Isaac, became a settler ; and Simeon Aldrich subsequently
moved in. The old log house built by the pioneer Aldrich
stiU serves as a habitation, and the first frame building raised
by Simeon is also used as a residence. Other farailies moved
797
^f-  ^ " % ¦ ^^

^'.

798 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
in and settled on farms destined to remain their homes for Hfe ;
and araong these were : George Skinner, Asa Haynes, G. Will-
iaras, R. Reed, WiUard Eddy, fc>. Call, and the Casebeers, John
and A. S. The last named built a saw and grist mill on the
creek at an early day, to the great advantage of the settlers.
Amos Stearns settled early in the fall of 1838. He was soon
taken sick, and from then till Jan. 1, 1839, the women of his
family had the work to attend to, both indoor and without.
Peter Helwig, Jacob Helwig, Updegraff Clawson, I. Clawson
and W. R. Herbert, were well-known pioneers.
In May, 1850, Mr. and Mrs Samuel Learned took their little
four-year-old daughter, Sabrina, to visit a faraily by the name
of McDonald, in the northern part of Troy Township. This
family lived in a log cabin which had an addition that was used
for a school, taught by Mary Chase. Going with other chil
dren into the field to gather flowers, Sabrina climbed over the
fence into the woods. The children, instead of going after her,
ran to the house and told her mother, who ran out and called
her. The little one started, supposing she was going to the
house, in exactly the opposite direction, which led her off into
the big Tamarack swamp. She there stopped, took off her
shoes and stockings and bonnet, and tied thera up in her apron.
Swinging them over her neck, she crawled for a long distance
in the mud and mire, when seeing a black stump that she took
for " Nigger Jim " (the only colored man then in the commun
ity, and known all over the country), and being frightened, she
lay down on a grassy plat by a stump to hide — the first grass
spot she had come to in the swarap. Going to sleep, she re
mained in blissful unconsciousness the remainder of the after
noon and all night, the sun being high in the heavens when she
awoke. She heard the neighbors hunting for her, but was at
first afraid, and kept herself in hiding. As two men came
walking near her she crawled into some brush to conceal herself ;
but after they had passed by she recognized them as her father's
hired hands. She then spoke, saying, " John, won't you take
me home?" He took her up and began to blow the horn,
giving the signal that the child was found ahve. AU at once
assembled at her house where they had a regular feast. The
wolves had followed her trail for some distance, but were
frightened off by the searchers, who kept fires all night and also
made all the noise possible. The night was very cold, and ice

HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY. 799
formed on the water, yet the little girl was bareheaded and
barefooted, and was exposed for thirty hours. She was four
years old the day she was rescued. May 22, 1850. She is now
the wife of Simeon G. Aldrich, of Troy Township.
Artie postoffice was established in 1850, and was in charge of
Amos Stearns until his death, in i860. His son James was
Postmaster the following three years, and then John Stearns for
one year. Resigning, he was succeeded by James McDonald,
who held the office when it was discontinued, in 1865. It was
re-established in 1S84, with Joseph Bell as Postmaster.
The Lutheran church was organized by Rev. Jaraes Gather,
in 1843, in the house of John A. Zimmerraan, on section 30. It
flourished for many years, but by deaths and removals it has
become a small congregation. The house of worship is on sec
tion 28. Services are conducted twice a raonth by Rev. Mr.
Diefenbach. The first Justice of the Peace was A. S. Casebeer; other
early incumbents of that office were : S. Learned, Hambright
Reese, Jacob Helwig, G. C. Everetts, John McDonald and
George Srailey. Early Constables were : Willard Eddy, Peter
Helwig, R. R. Emmerson, H. Casebeer, and George Smiley.
Among the Trustees prior to i860 were : Amos Stearns, Jacob
Helwig, Roger Aldrich, Jacob Casebeer, John Robinet, Peter
Jennings, W. R. Eraraerson, Siraeon Aldrich, William Knisely,
B. Wise, B. Wallick, Timothy McClure and Daniel Knisely.
W. R. Herbert, A. F. Pinchin, F. G. Biddle and D. McCurdy,
were Clerks during the same period, while the office of Treas
urer was filled by S. Learned, D. W. Aldrich, J. A. Ziraraer-
man, Amos Stearns and G. C, Everetts.
The population of Troy Township is 646, or 44 to the square
mile. This is a gain of 46 over the population by the United
States census of 1870. The valuation per capita is $290.79. In
1884 the numberof acres of land assessed was 9,569.64 ; value of
same, §151,650; value of improvements, $17,360 ; value of lands
and improveraents, $169,010; value of personal property, $55,-
730; total value of taxables, $224,740 ; rate of taxation, $1.56;
number of polls, — ; poll tax, $1.50.
The following are statistics of the staple crops raised in 1881 :
Acres in wheat, 1,398 ; product of same, at 6 bushels per acre,
8,388 bushels ; acres in corn, 993 ; product of same, at 30
bushels per acre for upland and 35 bushels for lowland, 30,035

l\^

8oo HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
bushels ; acres in oats, 685 ; product of same, at 30 bushels per .
acre, 20,550 bushels; acres in meadow land, 424; product of
same, at a ton and a half per acre, 636 tons of hay ; acres in
Irish potatoes, 28 ; product of same, 28 bushels per acre, or 784
bushels. BIOGRAPHICAL.
Roger Aldrich, deceased, was bom in Guilford, Vt., in 1798.
He received but a limited education, being reared on a farm
in the early days. In 1836 he came to Indiana and entered 160
acres of land on section 18, Troy Township, DeKalb Co.,
and eighty acres in Franklin Township. At that time it was
heavily timbered and Indians were their neighbors. He cleared
a sraall patch and built a log cabin 20 x 24 feet in size, which at
that time was the best house in the county. The roof was
covered with shakes, and the luraber for the floor was brought
from Houlton's raill in Williaras County, Ohio. Mr. Aldrich
was one of the prorainent raen of the early days of the county,
and for several years was Trustee of his township. He died
on the horaestead in December, 1869. Mrs. Aldrich still lives
with her daughter, Mrs. Rumrael, on the old horaestead, and
although in the ninetieth year of her age is able to read, sew
and knit, and goes about the house without assistance. The
day she was seventy years old she spun her daily work of forty
knots of yarn. Her maiden name was Lucy Tubbs, a daugh
ter of Miah Tubbs. She was married to Mr. Aldrich in Sep
tember, 1820. To them were born six children, but one of
whom, Lucy M., wife of Talma Rurarael, is living. One daugh
ter, Mrs. Ameha Pijichin, died at the age of twenty-seven
years, and another, Elizabeth, aged fifteen years.
Simeon J. Aldrich, farmer and stock-raiser, Troy Township,
section 7, was born in this township, Aug. 4, 1842, a son of
Simeon Aldrich, one of the old pioneers, now deceased. He
was reared on the farm, reraaining at horae till after the break
ing out of the Rebellion, and then enlisted inCompany F, Forty-
fourth Indiana Infantry, and served nearly four years. Two
years of the time he was fife-major, and he has the fife used by
him while in the service, which was presented to him by his
comrades. He participated in the battles of Fort Donelson,
Shiloh, Stone River, Chickamauga, and many others of less
importance. Since his return frora the war he has engaged in
agricultural pursuits. He owns a fine farra of 170 acres where

7«

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HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY. 8oi

he has hved for the past eighteen years. He was married Feb.
24, 1867, to Sabrina, daughter of Samuel Learned, and to them
have been born seven children — Samuel, Oren, Seth, Asa,
Emily, Sarah and Leola. Mr. and Mrs. Aldrich are members
of the United Brethren church.
Jacob Brunner, farmer and stock-raiser, section 4, Troy Town
ship, is a native of Stark County, Ohio, born July 30, 1837, the
eldest of eight children of Ulrich and Mary M. (Durler) Brun
ner. His father was a native of Switzerland, and came to
America in 1832, settling in Stark County, and subsequently
moved to Tuscarawas County, and in the fall of 1852 to De
Kalb County, Ind., and died in Troy Township in 1861. He
was twice married, having four children by the first marriage,
three of whom are living — Ulrich, Christian and Peter. Ot
the eight children born to him by his second wife, but five are
living — Jacob, Caroline, David, Sarah A. and Susan, all resi
dents of De Kalb County except Caroline, who lives in Wyan
dotte County, Ohio. Jacob Brunner was reared a farmer, and
also learned the mason's trade which he has foUowed at inter
vals. In 1865 he settled on the farm where he now lives, which
was then heavily tirabered, the only improvements being a log
house and well. He now owns sixty acres of well-improved
land, with valuable and convenient farra buildings. He was
married Jan. 5, 1862, to Mary E, Reese, daughter of Ham
bright Reese, who settled in this township in 1846. She is the
second of five children, and the only daughter. Her brothers
are: Benjamin F., of Ionia County, Mich.; John, of Crawfords-
viUe, Ind.; George, of this township, and David, of Pleasant
Lake, Steuben County. To Mr. and Mr^. Brunner have been
bom five children — Ettie E., Ada S., J. Marian, Melvin H. and
Adda. They are active and influential members of the United
Brethren church.
Henry Burkhart, farmer and stock-raiser, section 5, Troy
Tow-nship, was born in Germany, April 25, 181 5, a son of Peter
Burkhart. He was reared in his native country and in 1837
came to the United States with his parents and settled in Tus
carawas County, Ohio, where his parents died. About 1844 he
moved to Williams County, Ohio, and early in 1859 to De Kalb
County, Ind., and settled on the farm where he now hves,
which is carried on by his sons. He owns 1 10 acres of valu
able land under a good state of cultivation. When he started
-^— — — — - ______i

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802 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
in Hfe for himself he was entirely without means, but went
bravely to work, and just as he was getting a good start was
laid up several months with a broken leg. This put him back
and it was some time before he finally got his land paid for. Al
though he has had many adverse circumstances to contend
with, he has overcorae all obstacles, and now has a competency
for his old age. He married Mary, daughter of George Nihart,
and to them have been born five chUdren — Jacob, Mary,
George, Lucinda and Daniel. Mr. Burkhart was reared in the
Episcopal church, but is a meraber of no religious denoraination.
George Casebeer, formerly of Troy Township, but now of St.
Joseph Township, WiUiams Co., Ohio, was born in Tusca
rawas County, Ohio, Oct. 5, 1831, a son of John Casebeer. His
parents came to DeKalb County, Ind., in 1840, and settled in
Troy Township on the Hne of Williams County, Ohio. His
education was Hmited to the district school of his township,
and this was two miles and a half distant. His services were
early required on the farm in assisting to clear and improve a
frontier home. He has made farming and stock-raising his hfe
work and now has a good farm on section 18, St. Joseph Town
ship, Williaras Co., Ohio, near the old homestead. He has run
a threshing-machine twenty-five seasons, helping to run the first
thresher in the county. He enlisted in the war of the Rebell
ion in the One Hundred and Twenty-ninth Indiana Infantry,
and participated in the battles of Kenesaw Mountain, Resaca,
Atlanta, and others of less iraportance. He was detailed in
charge of an arabulance train in February, 1865, serving till
discharged, Aug. 29, 1865. He is a member of the Odd Fellow's
order and the Grand Army of the Republic.
John Casebeer, deceased, was bom in Virginia, Dec. 24, 1799.
When he was sixteen years of age his father, John Casebeer,
moved with his family to Tuscarawas County, Ohio, and settled
near Canal Dover. When he was eighteen years of age he be
gan to learn the trade of a blacksraith at which he worked the
greater part of his Hfe. In 1840 he came to De Kalb County
and settled in Troy Township, on the Ohio line, his land at that
time being all heavily timbered. In addition to clearing his land
and raaking a farm, he made cow-bells and maple sugar and
traveled over the country with them, sometimes going forty and
fifty miles, selling thera to farmers for provisions. He cleared
a farm of 120 acres on which he lived till his death. In 1871 he

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Ji!

HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY. 803
moved his house just over the Hne into WiUiams County, Ohio,
where his son George now Hves. He was married Jan. 11, 1821,
to Nancy Smiley, a native of Washington County, Pa., daugh
ter of George Smiley. To them were born twelve children,
but nine are living — William, Ann, Jane, Sarah, George, Kate
A., Rachel, John F., and Nancy. One son, Jacob, was killed
when twenty-one years of age by a horse falling on him.
Robert died when twenty-four years of age. Mr. Casebeer and
his wife were members of the Methodist Episcopal church
from their childhood. Mrs. Casebeer died May 4, 1870, and he
subsequently made his home with his children till his death,
Sept. 4, 1881. They were among Troy's most esteemed citi
zens ; charitable and kind to all, and will long be remembered
by many for their many virtues and honorable, upright lives.
John F. Casebeer, section 21, Troy Township, was born in Tus
carawas County, Ohio, Sept. 11, 1839, a son of John Casebeer,
who settled where our subject now Hves in 1840. He
was reared a farmer, and received a good education in the dis
trict schools of his township. He remained at home till after
the breaking out of the war of the Rebellion, and in June, 1863,
enlisted in Company E, Eighty-sixth Ohio Infantry, and was
appointed Corporal, serving till discharged in February, 1864.
Since his return from the war he has engaged in agricultural
pursuits, and now owns a fine farm of seventy-two acres, all
well improved. He was married in August, 1866, to Harriet
Weitz, daughter of Adam Weitz, of Edgerton, Ohio. To thera
have been born six children — Lulu, Curtis, Frances, Howard,
Daniel and Hattie. Mr. and Mrs. Casebeer and their daughter
Lulu are members of the Methodist Episcopal church.
Gilbert G. Everetts, deceased, was born in the State of Penn
sylvania, Aug. 25, 1 8 16, a son of Cyrus M. Everetts. He
remained in his native State till the fall of 1851, and then came
to De Kalb County, Ind., and settled in Franklin Township, but
soon after moved to section 7, Troy Township, where he im
proved a farm and lived till his death, which occurred Nov. 2,
1874. He was a most estimable gentleman, and had many
friends in the township. He was a Justice of the Peace twenty
years, and always counseled dissenting parties to settle without
law, when it was possible to do so. He was a Trustee of his
township many years, and in all pubhc affairs used the same
thought and carefulness that characterized the management of

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^•vi^

804 HISTROY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
his personal affairs. He was a devoted member of the Disciples
church and was a Hberal supporter of the gospel, and also of
all charitable institutions, thereby laying up his treasures in
heaven. He was married in Pennsylvania to Adeline Enzor,
who died, leaving two children, but one of whom is living —
Frankhn. Nov. 24, 1853, he married Mary C. Haynes, daughter
of Asa P. Haynes, who brought his family to De Kalb County
and settled in Troy Township in the early part of 1837. To Mr.
and Mrs. Everetts were born ten children, seven of whom are
Hving— Martin C, Abraham L„ Andrew A., Joseph W., Reu
ben C, Mary A. and Gilbert C.
Abraham Fisher, farmer and stock-raiser, section 5, Troy
Township, was born in Stark County, Ohio, Oct. 9, 1822. His
father, Jacob Fisher, was a native of Westmoreland County,
Pa., and moved with his parents to Stark County before the
war of 1 812. Abraham Fisher learned the trade of a tanner
and currier in his boyhood and followed it twenty years. In
the faU of 1855 he carae to DeKalb County, Ind., and settled
in Troy Township, and in March, 1857, moved to Butler and
established a tannery, in partnership with John Oberlin. He
subsequently exchanged his tannery for eighty acres of land on
the northeast quarter of section 26, Franklin Township, where
he lived till 1864, when he returned to Troy Township. He
was married Jan. 11, 1844, to Elizabeth Shane, daughter of
Abrahara Shane, a General in the war of 1812. General Shane
was a Civil Engineer, and was employed by the Government
to survey a part of the State of Indiana, and subsequently
surveyed the country as far West as the Rocky Mountains.
To Mr. and Mrs. Fisher were born six children, three of whom
are living — Albert W., Jacob F. and Cullen R. Jacob married
Elizabeth Shoeraaker ; Albert married Eliza Leason, and Cullen
married Ella North. All are residents of Troy Township.
Mr. and Mrs. Fisher are members of the United Brethren
church. George Heller, blacksraith, Troy Township, was born in Lan
caster County, Pa., Sept. 23, 1822, a son of PhiUp Heller.
When he was six raonths old his parents raoved to Stark
County, Ohio, and frora there when he was eight years old to
Holmes County, where he grew to manhood. He learned the
trade of a blacksraith of his father, and has made that industry
his means of obtaining a livehhood. In 1854 he moved to

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HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY. 805
Steuben County, Ind., and lived in Richland Township till De
cember, 18S3, when he moved to De Kalb County and settled
in this township. He has a good trade and owns the place on
section 29, where he lives. He was married in Deceraber,
1842. to Barbara Tinstman, daughter of Mark Tinstman. To
them were born six children ; but two are Hving — Philip and
Dewitt. Mrs. HeUer died in i860, and in 1862 he married
AbigaU King, daughter of Peter King. To thera have been
bom six children, but three of whora are living — George, Edwin
and Edward, the two latter twins. Mr. Heller served two
years as Constable in Steuben County.
Peter Jennings, section 29, Troy Township, was born in Hun
terdon County, N. J., Sept. 13, 1802, a son of Peter Jennings, a
native of the sarae county, of English descent. He was reared
a farmer, receiving a common-school education, and in 1821
left his native county and with his parents moved to Tuscara
was County, Ohio. In 1843 he came to De Kalb County, Ind.,
and settled on the land which is now his valuable farra. At
that time it was all heavily timbered, and he was obliged to
clear away the trees before he could build his log cabin. He
now owns 209 acres of choice land, all well iraproved, which is
cultivated by his son Abrahara. He has been a hard working
man, and has Hved to reap the benefit of his many years of
hardship and toil. He has seen all the varied changes that
have converted the wilderness as it was when he came to the
county into the present prosperous county, with its populous
towns and villages and thrifty and valuable farms, and has the
consciousness of having done his part to bring about this
change. He was raarried April 29, 1829, to Catherine Rains-
berger, daughter of John Rainsberger. To thera have been
bom eight children, seven of whom are Hving — Elizabeth, John,
Isaac, WiUiam, George, Phoebe and Abraham, all married and
settled in homes of their own. Mrs. Jennings died Feb. 20,
1881. Mr. Jennings is in the enjoyment of good health, and
though eighty-three years of age can see to read without the
aid of glasses.
William Jennings, section 21, Troy Township, was born in
Carroll County, Ohio, Oct. 14, 1835, a son of Peter and Cath
erine (Rainsberger) Jennings, of this township. He came with
his parents to DeKalb County in 1843, and was here reared
and educated. He early was obhged to assist his father in the
51

-v|g — ^ — — *L^.
806 HISTORY OF ' DE KALB COUNTY.
woods, doing what he could as a child, and later helping to fell
the trees and cultivate the soil. In his youth he worked at the
carpenter's trade, serving an apprenticeship of two years, and
has since worked at it at intervals in connection with farming.
In i860 he settled on the farm where he now lives, where he
owns sixty acres of choice land, with a good residence and farm
buildings. He also owns ten acres on section 30, this township.
He is engaged in general farming and stock-raising, having a
fine grade of Spanish Merino sheep. In 1884 he got 102 pounds
of washed wool from ten of his fleeces. Mr. Jennings was mar
ried May 4, 1859, to Anna, daughter of David McCord, who
moved from Ohio to Steuben County, Ind., in 1840, where he
died. Her mother afterward married Amos Stearns, and in 1844
they moved to De Kalb County. Mr. and Mrs. Jennings have
had a faraily ot six children, five of whom are Hving — Hiram
S., OHve L., Eldora, Jesse M., and Jacob W.
John Kenistrick, farraer and stock-raiser, section 19, Troy
Township, was born in Tuscarawas County, Ohio, Dec. 7, 18 19,
a son of John Kenistrick, a native of Maryland, who settled in
Tuscarawas County in 1812. He was reared a farraer, receiv
ing his education in the old-fashioned log cabin schools of his
native county. In 1852 he moved to Crawford County, Ohio,
and in the spring of 1864 came to De Kalb County, Ind., and
settled on the farm where he now lives. He owns 120 acres of
valuable land, and his farm buildings are all commodious and
in good repair. He was married Nov. 6, 1845, to Martha
Lewis, daughter of Joseph Lewis (deceased), and sister of Jere
Lewis, of Franklin Township, this county. To them have been
born eight children, six of whom are living — Mary, Joseph,
Sarah, Ameha, John and Sherman. Sarah is the wife of J. H.
McCurdy, of Butler, and Ameha is the wife of William Moore,
also of Butler. Their two eldest children died in 1849 of chol
era. Seventeen of their relatives died of the same disease in
two weeks. Mr. and Mrs. Kenistrick and four of their chil
dren are merabers of the Methodist Episcopal church.
Thomas Leason, farraer and stock-raiser, section 8, Troy
Township, is a native of Derbyshire, England, bom in Decem
ber, 18 1 3, a son of Francis Leason. He was the twelfth of a
family of fifteen children, and his parents being in limited cir-
curastances^|he was early obliged to depend on his own re
sources for a livelihood, receiving but meager educational

r

HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY. 807
advantages. He remained in his native country till 1845, and
then came to the United States and settled in Sandusky, Ohio,
where he lived till 1863, when he came to De Kalb County,
Ind., and located on the farm where he has since lived. He
owns a good farra of ninety-eight acres, and his iraproveraents
are among the best in the county. He was married in Erie
County, Ohio, in 1850, to Mary Gillett, who died in June, 1855,
leaving three children, but two of whom are living — Martha
and Eliza. April 6, 1857, he married Mrs. Mary Abbott,
widow of Jarius W. Abbott, by whom she has one child — Dow.
Mr. and Mrs. Leason are members of the United Brethren
church. David McCurdy, deceased, was a native of Ohio, born July
27, 1830, a son of Rev. John McCurdy, of Butler, Ind. He
came to De Kalb County, Ind., with his parents in 1845, and
settied in Wilmington Township, where he grew to manhood.
He received a good education and taught several terms of
school in his early life, but the greater part of his Hfe was en
gaged in farming. He was married in October, 1853, to Jemima
Casebeer, daughter of Andrew Casebeer. She was bom in
Wayne County, Ohio, in 1834, and came to this county with
her parents in 1839, locating on section 30, Troy Township, and
later moving to section 29. Mr. and Mrs. McCurdy lived in
Stafford Township till 1876, and then moved to Troy Township
and settled on the old homestead of her father, on section 29,
where she has since lived, and where he died Jan. 14, 1885, of
cancer of the stomach, after an illness of two months. To
them were born seven children — James N., Ida L., Rosella, Ann
E., Ionia, Sadie and Mary M. James is a minister in the Meth
odist Episcopal church, and is now at Elkhart, Ind. He mar
ried Nettie Reynolds, and has one child — Roy. Ida married
Byron Gilmore, and lives near Little Sioux, Iowa. Mr. Mc
Curdy was a consistent Christian, and had been a member of
the Methodist church since nineteen years of age. He was a
kind, courteous gentleman, hospitable and generous, giving lib
erally of his means for the support of his church and the pro
motion of benevolent causes. In his death the community
lost a valuable member, and his family a kind husband and
father. Dr. James Milligan, section 32, Troy Township, was born in
Washington County, Pa., May 31, 1816, a son of James Milli-

•Am — ~

808 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
gan. He was reared on a farm and received his education,
attending a select school in his native county. He began the
study of medicine with Dr. James P. Scroggs, and in 1842
reraoved to Tuscarawas County, Ohio, and began his practice.
In the winter of i843-'44 he attended the Cleveland Medical
College, and then returned to Tuscarawas County and con
tinued his practice tiU 1853, when he came to De Kalb County
and located at Butler, residing there till the faU of 1865, when
he settled on his present farm. He continued his practice tiff
about 1879, and since then has given it into younger hands.
He owns a fine farm of 240 acres, which is carried on by
tenants. He also owns a house and lot in Butler. Dr. Milli
gan was married Oct. 17, 1848, to Margaret Browning, a native
of Jefferson County, Ohio, daughter of John F. Browning.
They have had a family of five children, all deceased. Four
died in childhood, and one daughter, Inez, died Oct. 10, 1877,
at the age of eighteen years.
George Reese, agent for the Wabash Railway at Troy Station,
Troy Township, was born in Tuscarawas County, Ohio, March
II, 1846, a son of Hambright Reese, a native of Greene County,
Pa. His parents moved to De Kalb County, Ind., in the faU
of 1840 and settled in Troy Township, where he was reared
and educated. When he was twelve years of age he began fir
ing a stationary engine, and subsequently partly learned his
trade in Butler. He has been in the employ of the railroad
since about 1880, and since 1884 has had charge of the office at
Troy Station. He was married Aug. 10, 1869, to Mrs. Matilda
J. (Long) Whitner, daughter of Rev. Frederick Long, a Meth
odist clergyman, for raany years a resident of this county, and
widow of J. J. Whitner. To them have been born five chil
dren — Charles H., Margaret E., jNlartin E., Leona A. and Harry
E. Mrs. Reese has two children by her former raarriage —
Lora E. and Arba W. Mr. Reese is an earnest worker^for the
teraperance cause, and is one of the prorainent citizens of the
township. John Robinett, section 17, Troy Township, is a native of Tus
carawas County, Ohio, bom Oct. 22, 181 5, a son of James
Robinett, who moved to Holraes County, Ohio, when our sub
ject was a child, where he was reared and educated. He re
mained in Holmes County till 1846, and then carae to De Kalb
County, Ind., and settled on the farm where he now lives. At

^-

HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY. 809
that time the land was heavily timbered, but he has cleared
and improved it, and now has ninety acres of the best land in
the township. He was married Oct. 19, 1837, to Mary Swick,
daughter of Peter Swick. She is a native of Pennsylvania, and
moved with her parents to Stark County, Ohio, when she was
a child. To them have been born nine children, but three of
whom are living — George, John W. and Theodore. George is
a minister of the United Brethren church, and lives at Metz,
Steuben County. He married Mary A. Geddis, and has three
children — Corintha, John and William. John W. married
Maria Anspaugh, and has two children — Mary L. and Hattie
B. Theodore married Sarah A. Brunner, and has two chil
dren — George and John R. John and Theodore reside on the
old homestead and have charge of the farm. Two of their
daughters were married and at their death left families. Han
nah was the wife of Conrad Rench, and left three children —
Ida, Etta and John. Harriet was the wife of Robert Geddis,
and left nine children — Lillie, Delia, John C, Arthur, Hattie,
Mary, Jane, Nye and Alice. Mr. and Mrs. Robinett are mem
bers of the United Brethren church. He has served his town
ship one year as Trustee. ,
Talma Rummel, farmer and stock-raiser, section 18, Troy
Township, was born in Columbiana County, Ohio, Sept. 5,
1833, and in 1844 raoved with his father, Henry Rummel, to
Steuben County, Ind., and settled in Otsego Township,
where the latter still Hves. He received his early education in
a small frame school-house, his teacher being Amos Letcher, a
cousin of President Garfield. He was also captain of the canal
boat on which Garfield worked when a boy. Talma remained
at home till manhood, and Jan. 2, 1859, married Lucy M., only
child of Roger and Lucy Aldrich. The day of their marriage
they settled on the farm in Troy Township where they now
live, and have since raade it their horae. He owns 160 acres of
choice land which he has brought under a good state of culti
vation, and has made valuable improvements, his residence and
farm buildings being among the best in the county. He takes
an active interest in all public affairs of his township, and has
served two terms as Assessor and one term as Trustee. To
Mr. and Mrs. Rummel have been born four children — Roger
A., Henry E., Ella E. A. and Chauncey S. Roger married Ada
C. Jennings, daughter of George Jennings of this township ~»  B V

'k

8 10 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
and has one child — Elsie A. Mr. and Mrs. Rummel and their
son Roger and his wife, are members of the Disciples church.
George W. Smiley was born in Tuscarawas County, Ohio, June
25, 1823, a son of George and Jane (Blake) Smiley, his father a
native of Somerset County, Pa., and his mother of Susque
hanna County, N. Y. He was reared on a frontier farm, and
was obliged to walk two or three miles to school, his brothers
carrying him a part of the way the first terra. He carae to De
Kalb County in 1842 and settled in Troy Township, and was
elected Constable of the township before he was twenty-one
years old. After living in the county four years he returned to
Ohio and cared for his parents the rest of their Hves, retuming
to this county six years later. In 1858 he raoved to English .
Prairie, Lagrange County, and from there to Orland, Steuben
County, in 1862, remaining there tiU 1867, and then bought a
farm four miles north of Angola and remained there till Sept. 6,
1878, and then ran a saw-miU tiU 1884; is now engaged in the
rail and wire-fence business. He was married Jan. 12, 1841, to
Catherine Deaner, a native of Baltimore, Md., daughter of Con
rad Deaner. To them were born eight children, seven of whom
ara Hving — Mary J., Artimesia, David W., Margaret, Shannon
O., Maria A. and Ernest E. Mrs. Smiley died Sept. 6, 1878,
and two years later Mr. Smiley broke up housekeeping. He
has been a member ot the Methodist Episcopal church since six
teen years of age. He served his township as Justice of the
Peace three years and four raonths. His daughter Mary
is an elocutionist and has been a temperance lecturer several
years. His Grandmother Smiley was taken a prisoner, with
three other children, by the Indians during the Revolutionary
war, and two of the children were killed. Her father was an
officer in the continental army. Although but seven years of
age, she remembered passing a stone against which Judge Wells
was leaning, scalped and dead.
Jacob H. Smith, farmer and stock-raiser, section 4, Troy
Township, is a native of Columbiana County, Ohio, born July
10, 1846. In 1847 his father, Adam Smith, raoved with his
family to De Kalb County, Ind., and settled in Franklin Town
ship where he was reared and educated, attending the common
schools of the district. He was reared on a farm and has always
followed agricultural pursuits, and by his industry and energy
has accumulated a good home, owning a farm of seventy-three

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HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.

8n

acres, with a comfortable residence and farm buildings. In 1870
Mr. Smith took a trip West, visiting Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska,
Kansas, Missouri, Wisconsin and Minnesota, returning to De
Kalb County in the winter of 1872. He was married Oct. 12,
1873, to Mary E. Olds, daughter of Carhsle Olds. Three
children have been born to thera — WiUiara E., Ettie E. and
John A.
George B. Souder, farraer and stock-raiser, section 19, Troy
Township, was born in Perry County, Ohio, June 30, 1846, a
son of John Souder, of Richland County, Ohio. His parents
moved to Richland County in 1859, and there he grew to raan
hood, receiving his education in the common schools. He was
reared a farmer, and since attaining raanhood has given his at
tention to agricultural pursuits and stock-raising. He came to
De Kalb County in the spring of 1874 and settled on section 24,
Frankhn Township, and in the spring of 1S79 moved across the
hne into Troy Township. He owns 160 acres of valuable land,
and his residence and farm buildings are among the best in the
county. He pays special attention to raising Durham cattle
and Clydesdale horses, and much credit is due him for his efforts
to improve the stock of horses in the county. His horse Cap
is five years old, a son of the celebrated Buck Allen, and weighs
1,600 pounds. He is one of the finest horses in the county. Mr.
Souder was the first man to introduce drain tiUng in his neigh
borhood. He is an enterprising, progressive citizen, and assists
any project and adopts any iraproveraents that promises benefit
to his county. He was married Feb. 27, 1868, to Sarah M.
Adams, daughter of Andrew Adams, of Richland County,
Ohio. To thera have been born six children, five of whora are
living— Charles M., George M., Ernest C, Jessie M. and
Harry L.

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HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY. 813

and Lyman Chidsey settled southeast of Auburn. In the north
east, Rockwell, Lightner and Morringston were the first
settlers. Two days were occupied in raising the heavy frame
of the Husselman barn, and most of the able-bodied settlers for
miles around were engaged in the work.
Union is one of the oldest townships in the county, being but
two months younger than Franklin. At the first regular meet
ing of the Board of Commissioners of De Kalb County, Sept.
5, 1837, present Peter Fair, Samuel Widney and A. F. Beecher,
it was " ordered that the congressional township 34 north,
range 13 east, be organized as a township for judicial (civil) pur
poses, to be known by the name of Union Township, and that
townships 34 and 35 north, range 12 east, and townships 33 and
35 north, range 13 east, be attached thereto." It was also
ordered " that Wesley Park be appointed Supervisor for the
road district No. i, comprising the whole of Union Township;
and all the lands residing within said township are allotted to
said district." The first election was appointed for the first
Monday in December following, and Lanslot Ingman w-as
named as Inspector of Elections.
Among the early Justices of the Peace of Union Township
were : Lanslot Ingman, David Altenburg, John Carpenter, W.
Griswold, John Davis, G. Woh, S. W. Russell, J. D. Davis,
J. W. Case and WiUiam Lessig. Early Constables were: J. O.
P. Sherlock, William Shirter, Lyman Chidsey, T. J. Freeraan,
Isaac Latson, Joseph Garver, John Drury, Z. Tanner, H.
Siberts, J. Powlas, H. Jones, L. Weaver, S. Bowraan, L. Leasure,
Jonathan HaU, A. O. Espy, J. Haun, Zopher Johnson, Jere
miah Plum, WilHam Valeau, Andrew Harsh, J. H. Piles,
Emanuel Miller, George Jones and J. B. Howard.
The Trustees prior to i860 were: J. B. Rockwell, David
- Altenburg, J. F. Coburn, John Husselman, N. Payne, Jaraes C.
George, C. Siraonds, S. W. Sprott, Aaron Hague, Jaraes R.
Cosper, T. J. Freeman, Kneeland Abbott, Williara Middleton,
Henry Clay, G. R. Baker, J. E. Hendricks, A. Watkins, T. R.
Dickinson, H. Moneysraith, D. Eldridge, J. Hawk, Dr. W.
Dancer, Jacob Cupp, J. J. Huffman, John Davis, O. A. Par
sons, O. C. Houghton, John Somers, John Lightner, W. W.
Griswold, Adam Stroh, J. K. Hare, John Ralston, S. Sanders,
and Jacob McEntaffer. Isaac Kutzner and John C. St. Clair
were early Assessors.

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^

814 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
The population of Union Township, exclusive of Auburn and
Waterloo, is 1,200, or 35 to the square mile. The assessed val
uation averages $624.44 per capita. In 1884 the acres of land
assessed numbered 20,985.12 ; value of same, $617,829 ; value of
improvements, $79,494; value of lands and improvements,
$697, 323 ; value of lots, $5,035 ; value of improvements, $9,015 ;
total, $14,050 ; value of personal property, $124,075 ; total tax
ables, $835,448; rate of taxation, $1.46; numberof polls, 226;
poll-tax, $1.00 ; total araount of taxation, $12,567.17.
The following statistics of staple crops are for the year 1881 :
Nuraber of acres in wheat, 2,845 ; product of same, at 8 bushels
per acre, 22,760 bushels; acres in corn, 1,757 ! product of same,
20 bushels per acre of upland, and 40 bushels per acre of low
land, or 37,000 bushels ; acres in oats, 946 ; product of same, 35
bushels per acre, or 33,110 bushels; acres in meadow land,
1,054; product of same, at a ton and a half per acre, 1,581 tons
of hay; acres in Irish potatoes, 104; product of same, 125
bushels per acre, or 13,000 bushels. AUBURN.
" Sweet Auburn, loveliest village of the plain."— Goldsmii/i.
In the chapter of " Early Incidents," Wesley Park's narra
tive describes the trip of that pioneer, and his purpose in
coming here. He had in view from the very first the founding
of a county seat. His selection was finally adopted in prefer
ence to the rival site of " Centerville," in the geographical
center of the county. Mr. Park doubtless had in view little
more than a central position, easy of access, and level in sur
face. He laid out two parallel streets north and south, known
as Main and Jackson streets, and these were intersected by
numerous cross streets. Many of these were for a long
time useful only as affording pasturage for the live stock
kept by the villagers. Park gave a lot to each settler who
would build thereon, and by this and other public-spirited
measures he hastened the growth of the village. He and a
man named Ogden built a saw-mill in 1837, and he had the sat
isfaction of seeing steady improvement take place. L. Ingman
built the second cabin in Auburn, and John F. Coburn, first
County Clerk, put up the third. He set out some fruit trees,
one of which, prominent for its size, still stands on the place.
Riley Jacobs and Thomas Freeman were also early settlers.

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^

HISTORY OF DEKALB COUNTY. 815
The first store was opened by a man named Comstock, whose
stock was valued at Si 70, and whose license to sell was 85
cents. Freeman opened a store in a frame building which
stood on the southwest corner of Fourth and Cedar streets, and
a source of profit was the revenue from the sale of liquor to the
Indian and settler. Nelson Payne formed a partnership with
Freeman. Then Payne and Jefferson Wallace kept a store in
the front room of a house just completed by Payne. Next the
firm was Payne & Ralston. Samuel Ralston is still in trade
here, and is the oldest merchant in the county. O. A. Parsons
had in the meantirae opened a store-tavern in what was called
the '• Parsons' Rookery," north of Rant's. Hart's saloon stood
near the site of Davis' hardware store. Following the lead of
those given, stores and groceries were opened and ran their
brief career — some long and others short — and there are but
few in business to-day of Auburn's merchants, even from 1865.
The first hotel, intended as such, was kept by Freeman, who
some years afterward built what has been variously known as
the Franklin, Griswold, and now the Auburn House. J. O.
P. Sherlock, Sr., opened a hotel in the house which was after
ward long the home of Sheriff Miller. Nelson Payne had an
ashery on Main street ; he was an early blacksmith, and later a
merchant and judge. Henry Moneysraith was also a pioneer
blacksmith. The first physician was Dr. Ross ; then foUowed
Drs. Haynes, Cooper, Pritchard, Oliver & Roe. Succeeding
these were Dr. Hendricks, prominent as a physician, raatheraa-
tician, farmer and teacher ; Dr. J. H. Ford, still a resident ; and
Dr. W. B. Dancer, who died in 1853, and was buried in the old
cemetery. Samuel Reed, a young, energetic and talented raan, was the
first minister in Auburn, and represented the Methodist Epis
copal denomination. The Presbyterians were supplied about
1845 by James T. Bliss, the first of that denomination to corae
here, and a pious, earnest preacher.
The first resident carpenter was James R. Cosper, now a
farmer in the township. Next came Samuel Ralston, Araos
Hutchinson and O. C. Houghton. The first cabinet-makers
were J. O. P. Sherlock and L. Ingman. The first gunsraith was
Isaac Savage; soon after came Charles Stimely. The first
wagon-raaker was Jonathan Hall, who occupied as a residence
the place afterward refitted by George H. K. Moss, on South

•  ^

^\\% — ^ ^«--
8l6 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
Main street. Philip Fluke was the first ^nd only tanner. He
continued the business until the demands of trade required his
lots for building sites, when he retired from business and con
verted his tannery into a harness shop, on the corner of Seventh
and Jackson streets. The first shoemakers, in order of time,
were Cyrus Smith, A. Forshe and S. Latson. Messrs. Bolinger
& Carpenter made fanning-mills. Williara Albright was the
first saddle and harness maker. Isaac Jones, Sr., introduced the
first tinshop, followed by Abram Bass. Harrison Jones, Tri-
dell and J. D. Davis, followed the business of hatters.
In October, 1841, Auburn had a population of 72, and almost
all the inhabitants were prostrated by sickness. Judge Mott,
the pioneer lawyer who came in 1843, found Main street full of
logs. He lived in a cabin put up by James Cooper, where A.
J. Ralston's dwelling stands, and could chop his firewood in the
forest but a few rods distant. In 1849 the town contained about
50 houses, all of wood, and 300 inhabitants. For years it gained
slowly, and, being without railroad communication, became
tributary to the rival and thriving town of Waterloo, and was
threatened with a loss of the county seat. An Auburn Repub
lican, of date Sept. 26, 1856, affords a glimpse of the time when
Wesley Park was receiving new goods ; S. W. Widney dealt in
books ; Ralston & Gross in ashes ; T. Boldock kept hotel ; G. W.
Stahl conducted the " Emporiura of Fashion ;" L. Bowers had a
grocery and variety store, and J. W. Rickel dealt in boots and
shoes. At the close of the civil war Auburn was a quiet, re
tired village of sorae six or seven hundred inhabitants, its prin
cipal features being two long, tree-lined, handsorae streets, the
court-house just completed, the woolen factory and the acad
emy. The last two have been destroyed by fire. The octag
onal brick building, then the home of A. Wheelock, but now
of Alonzo Lockwood, marked the western limit of dwellings.
Where now stands the Fort Wayne & Saginaw station, was
then the original forest. In the cool shade of the towering
beech and maple trees, the celebrations were held. There
speeches were made, glee clubs sang, flags waved, drums beat
and cannon roared; but the ax has done its work and the
grove exists no longer.
The vicinity of Cedar Creek and the clearing of heavy tim
ber from surrounding lands caused raiasraatic fogs, subjecting
residents to attacks of fever and ague, frora which there were
-?A''-.  ^ ' ' ^— -^iS'

HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY. 817 ,
few exemptions. The roads in an early day leading from town
were execrable. Hacks run to Waterloo and to Fort Wayne,
making a halt at Huntertown. Teamsters hauled grain and
goods over roads which for chuck-holes defied comparison.
An effort was made to change the location of the county seat
to Waterloo, but this proved unsuccessful on accout of rail
road privileges secured by the Fort Wayne & Jackson road,
constructed in the county by local aid. Again in 1874 an ef
fort was made in behalf of Waterloo as the county seat, and
this for a time bade fair to be successful. At this crisis Auburn
joined hands with Butler to complete the Eel River road, and
quashed the moveraent. BUSINESS DIRECTORY.
The following list of business firras in Auburn is believed
to be complete, and it shows that the town is second to few in
number and character of its business raen, while the diversity
of enterprise is conducive to the independence of the place :
Christopher Asherman, grocery ; Austin Bros., boots and
shoes ; John Aber, photographer ; Joseph Albright, jeweler ;
Englebert Ashlee, wagon shop; Fred Behringer, tailor;
Ephraim Berry, machine shop ; Fred Bass, tobacco and con
fectionery ; Brown & Culbertson, musical instruments and
sewing-machines; James A. Barnes, Courier -^a-^er ; I. O. Bah-
teU, Eagle mills; Beugnot & Ober, stave factory; John Burke,
blacksmith ; J. Beuret, hardware ; I. N. Cool, wagon shop ;
James O. Clifton, broom factory ; Casebeer & Matheny, livery
stable; Humphrey Chilcoat, Central House ; Casebeer & Ma
theny, drug store; Miss Cass, hair dresser; J. L. Davis, boots
and shoes ; F. E. Davenport, drug store ; Dickinson & McMil-
len, meat market; William Edgerton, barber; Edward El
dridge, saloon ; Ensley & Harter, dry goods and millinery ;
George Ensley, agricultural irapleraents; Farmers' Bank;
First National Bank ; Grush Bros., flouring-mill and hoop fac
tory; J. H. Gugerh, merchant taUor; G. W. Gordon, post-
office; Phineas Gibson, bakery and grocery; Ben. Goodraan,
hardware and tin shop ; Mitchell Hu'iton, saloon ; J. C. Henry,
drug store; F. A. Hoff, grocery; Sherman Hollister, restau
rant; HeberUng & Lewis, farm implements; Houser & Hoising
ton, Republican paper; Hebel Bros., grocery; Mrs. Jones &
Son, dry goods and millinery ; John Kreger, ashery ; John
*^  — - ^=^^^

,^1'* — - ^—
8l8 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
Knoder, blacksraith ; W. H. KibUnger, hardware; Peter Lotz-
enhizer, saloon ; Mrs. Little, miUinery ; Long & Trout, Hvery
stable ; Lewis & Widney, lumber ; Jacob MitcheU, saw-raill and
hoop factory; Morell Bros., foundry and machine shop; John
R. Moody, Aubum House; McQuiston & Long, dry goods
and groceries; M. Myers, general store; W. L. Meese, insur
ance; B. Miller, grocery and bakery; J. N. Myers, agricult
ural implements ; John Otto, grocery and shoe shop ; Charles
Pommart, barber; J. A. Potter, boots and shoes; S. Poramart
& Co., barbers; G. A. Porter, Auburn Woolen Mills; Sylvester
Rogers, brewery; Rodenbaugh & Coleraan, raiUinery and
dressraaking; Rainier & Headley, raeat market; C. Rant &
Sons, boots and shoes ; S. C. Ralston, grocery ; Harry Rush,
harness shop ; W. E. Rush, confectionery ; Charles Ressegee,
saloon; A. J. Ralston, grocery; C. C. Shafer, furniture;
Thomas Summers, saloon ; Smith & Madden, Auburn Marble
Works; Steele & Son, painters; Augustus Stutz, saloon;
Schaab & Beugnot, groceries, dry goods and clothing ; Frank
Slayball, grocery ; L. Spitler, grocery ; J. W. Shafer, wagon
shop; S. W. Swineford, Swineford House; George Stahl,
tailor ; WilHam Sheffer, harness shop ; WilHam Snyder, black
smith ; John Stondecker, scroll factory ; Sibely & Co., oar
factory; Snyder, McClellan & Best, Auburn Wagon Works;
Shearer & Wilson, church furnishing corapany ; S. U. Tarney,
meat market ; James Umber, grocery ; Veley & Husselman,
saw-mill ; George Wagner, blacksraith ; Joseph Williarason, sa
loon ; M. S. WUlis, books and stationery , Peter Young, mer
chant tailor; J. H. Yesbera, merchant tailor; Ziraraerraan &
Co., Monitor Windraill Corapany.
MANUFACTURING.
Auburn possesses several raanufacturing establishraents,
which, though unpretentious, yet do a very respectable busi
ness, and give employment to a goodly number of people.
Among them should be mentioned : The Auburn Marble Works
of Smith & Madden, wagon and carriage factory of I. N. Cool,
the broom factory of James A. Clifton, wagon shop of J. W.
Shafer, Eagle Mills of I. O. Bahtel, Auburn Woolen Mills of G.
A. Porter, saw-mill of Veley & Husselman, cooper shop of
George Wagner, Jr., stave factory of Beugnot & Ober, Moni
tor Windmill Company of Zimmerman & Co. (also manufact-

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HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY. 819
urers of shingles and other articles), wagon shop of Englebert
Ashlee, machine shop of Ephraim Berry, Church Furnishing
Company of Shearer & WUson, foundry and machine shop of
Morell Bros., saw-raill and hoop factory of Jacob Mitchell,
flour-raill of Grush Bros., Auburn Wagon Works of Synder,
McClellan & Best, oar factory of Sibely & Co. (one of the two
estabhshraents of the kind in the United States), and the brewery
and botthng works raanaged by Sylvester Rogers. Many of
these are described further in the personal sketches of the pro
prietors. BANKS.
Auburn supports three of these institutions, two being private
banks. The First National Bank of Auburn was organized
Dec. 19, 1874, and began doing business March 25, 1875. It
lost heavily by the well-reraerabered George Hazzard sorae
years ago, but is now in a prosperous condition, and does an
extensive business. In the suraraer of 1876 a brick building
was erected at a cost of $8,000, including fixtures, and this was
occupied in August of the sarae year. The present Cashier is
W. H. Mclntyre. The bank's statement for the year ending
Sept. 30, 1884, shows the capital stock, all paid in, to be $50,-
000; surplus, $3,600; deposits, $2,697.23; loans and discounts,
$59,139.49. The directors are: W. Mclntyre, Ephraim Berry
and C. A. O. McClellan. The Farraers' Bank began business
in February, 1883. The stockholders are: Jacob Walborn,
Nicholas Ensley, Albert Robbins, Guy Plumb and J. C. Henry.
Albert Robbins is Cashier. John L. Davis also does an exten
sive banking business. PROFESSIONAL.
The merabers of the De Kalb County bar, who reside in Au
burn, are as follows : W. L. Penfield, Henry J. Schaffer, W. H.
Dills, James E. Rose, F. K. Blake, R. D. Teft, Ezra D. Hart
man, B. Green, Thomas H. Sprott, P. J. Lockwood, C. Eman
uel, H. C. Peterson, D. D. Moody, P. V. Hoffman, D. Y.
Husselman, C. A. O. McClellan and John Baxter.
The medical profession is represented by Drs. J. H. Ford, J.
A. Cowan, Casebeer & Matheny, J. J. Littlefield, D. J. Swarts,
Mrs. Vesta Swarts, W. S. Allen, J. V. Lewis and David
Sebring.

IV

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820 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
NEWSPAPERS.
Auburn supports two weekly newspapers — the De Kalb Re
publican and the Auburn Courier. For fuU sketches of these,
see the Press chapter. EARLY SCHOOLS.
The first school-house in Auburn stood about a block west
of the Auburn House, built and kept in those early days by
Thomas J. Freeman, who also had a httle store in the north
west room, which then, as now, was the bar-room. This school-
house was also used as a general meeting-house for religious
purposes. It was a low, one-storied building, containing one
room, without closet or vestibule. Around three sides ran
sloping desks, with their backs against the wall. High benches
furnished uncomfortable seats for the larger scholars when they
were obliged to use the desks. They were, however, privileged
to sit upon other benches with backs to them, rows of which
faced toward the center of the school-room from three sides of
it; the lowest seats for the little ones, being nearest the big
black stove in the middle of the room. Here assembled in the
winter seventy-five or eighty pupils of all sizes, from the strap
ping six-footer who cast sheep's eyes at all the pretty girls,
down to the urchin proud of his first pair of boots, who said
his a-b-c with unvarying monotony through half the winter.
The three R's, " Reading, Riting and 'Rithmetic," were taught
with varying energy and success ; but spelling was the class in
which the ability of both teacher and pupils was expected to
assert itself pre-eminently. The hour for studying the lesson
was a serious time. Seated on the benches, with open books
in hand, each pupil conned the words in a loud whisper, while,
keeping tirae with the voice, each forra swayed back and forth.
The buzz became at times almost deafening. " Nat s« much
noise," the almost distracted teacher would enjoin, but neither
he nor his pupils seemed to imagine that the lessons could be
learned quietly. All honor to the old-fashioned schools, how
ever ! They did turn out some good spellers — but then "they
' gave their tirae to it."
Each pupil in arithraetic was taught by himself. Black
boards had not come into use in the backwoods, and each
scholar with his slate and book " went it alone." If a boy were
1 i ambitious, and his teacher attentive, remarkable progress would

HISTORY OF DEKALB COUNTY. 821
be made in the course of a winter term ; but some of the teach
ing was rather remarkable. One lady relates that when about
eleven years old she went to a summer school taught by a man.
She had a tolerably good knowledge of addition, multiplication
and subtraction, and could divide a Httle, but had not the most
remote idea what long division meant. Her arithraetic was
Pike's ; no answers to the problems were given. The teacher
asked her how far she had advanced in arithmetic. She told him.
He did not examine her, but told her to go on. She went on
solving each problera to the best of her ability. Some time
during each day the teacher would come around and inquire
how far she had gone, and if she had any trouble, but never
asked her to solve a problem for him to examine, and therefore
never discovered that his ingenious pupil divided the dividend
by each figure of the divisor in succession, and then added the
quotients for a final quotient — which was the longest division
she could invent. How long this might have gone on is uncer
tain, as the parents of the child becoming dissatisfied took her
out of school.
Of course there were some very good teachers among many
inferior ones.
Mr. Mott taught during the winter of i843-'4. He was an
unusually good scholar, and had been as a young man, a suc
cessful teacher in Pennsylvania.
Hendricks B. Wright, afterward distinguished as lawyer and
politician, was one of his pupils there, and so long as he lived,
Mr. Mott used to refer with pleasure to the energy, industry
and abihty, which young Wright manifested as a school boy.
Another good teacher was William Reynolds, a maternal
uncle of Mrs. A. J. Ralston, who taught the Auburn school dur
ing the winter of i84S-'9. This tribute to his energy, abihty,
and goodness is paid by one of his scholars who mourned his '
untimely death, and has always remembered him, as one of her
first teachers, with affectionate respect. He was a brother-in-
law of James George, who Hved about a raile east of town.
¦fhey were both men of excellent principles and agreeable man
ners. Mr. George had a reraarkably pleasant face, and when
he sniiled it lit up with sunshine. Both raen died toward the
close of 1849 '^'ith typhoid fever. A young raan by the narae of
Webb who Hved with Mr. George died of the same disease.
Miss Letitia Hutchings, who afterward with her husband, the
52

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822 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
Rev. Randal Faurot, was for many years identified with the
educational interest of the county, taught a summer school in
Auburn in 1845 and again in '46. She was an excellent teacher
and continues to be what she was then, a most admirable
Christian woman. Her good deeds will bring forth fruit, and
her good influence be felt, long after her eyes have closed in
their last slumber.
In the spring of 1849, a short terra of school was taught 'oy
Miss Sophia MerriU, a sister of Mrs. BHss, wife of the Pres
byterian rainister. Both sisters were woraen of ranch more
than ordinary InteUigence and culture. In urging her pupils to
faithful study, she used the argument that the mind must con
tinue developing through all eternity, and that all which is
gained here wiU help us there. During the winter of 1849 and
'50 the pubhc school was taught by Alexander McMinn, a tall,
slender young fellow, with an uncontrolled temper. He
governed, emphatically, by the rod. Not a day passed that
some one was not hauled over the benches and thrashed. The
school was kept in a constant ferment, and the best scholars
grew insubordinate under the constant provocation to anger.
One day Mr. McMinn saw WilHam Freeman with his head
down upon the desk apparently asleep. He approached him
cautiously with uplifted whip. It carae down with stinging
force upon the boy's shoulders. He raised his hand, stupidly,
to ward off the second blow, which descended only the more
heavUy. Again and again the master struck. William hfted
his head and fell over backward, frothing at the mouth. He
was in a convulsion. The terrified teacher sent for Mr. Freeman
and the doctor, while the children, all semblance of order
gone, huddled together like a flock ot frightened sheep.
As it transpired, the boy had been eating camphor gura and
borax, and was poisoned. It is possible that the teacher's
remedy, though severe, may have done no harm under the cir
cumstances. However, it is safe to say that no teacher ever
bore away the ill-will of a greater proportion of his scholars.
In the autumn of 1850 John B. Clark came from Lagrange
County and opened a select school. He was divorced frora his
wife, but had three children — Jane, Ezra and Mary. He was an
excellent teacher and enthusiast in his profession. He was the
first teacher who ever formed an arithmetic class. He made
his scholars learn the process of solution, and then followed
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HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY. 823
driU, drill, drill, until the most stupid among them had mastered
the necessary principles. So in reading ; he was the first
teacher who compelled his pupils to learn the rules for reading
in McGuffey's series, and then obliged them by precept and
example, and by the same constant drill to follow them. In the
spelling lesson the definition also was required. To awaken
ambition and inspire a worthy emulation, Mr. Clark offered
prizes to the head scholar in every class.
I would like to know how raany of these were carried horae
by a little, quiet, demure girl, who later grew up into a brill
iant woman, the daughter of Judge Morris, now Mrs. Jaraes
Woodworth, of Fort Wayne. She was one of Mr. Clark's
favorites because so faultless in deportraent and recitations.
There must be many in the county who look back thankfully
to Mr. Clark's thorough teaching. He loved to awaken
thought in his pupils. At one time he electrified the school by
demanding suddenly : " If I call a sheep's tail a leg, how many
legs has a sheep ?" "Five," responded the too eager voices.
He paused for a moraent waiting, then asked quietly : " Does
calhng a sheep's tail a leg make it one?" The lesson was worth
a volume of elaborate discourses.
Farewell, old teacher. Sorae, perhaps, would dwell upon
thy faults, but not I. Thou wast a kind master to me, and let
those who have no faults linger in recollection upon thine. It
is for thy good qualities I reraeraber thee.
The first Sunday-school was organized in the fall of 1844,
Wesley Park being Superintendent. It raet in the school-
house. There was very little teaching done at first. The chief
idea seeraed to be to have singing and prayer, and give an op
portunity to the scholars to recite all the verses of Scripture
which they had learned during the week previous. This edi
fying exercise left little time for lessons. The pupils were en
couraged by prizes to do the best they could.
There are preserved two sraall volumes, Nos. i and 2 of the
Evangelical Spectator, one of which contains the inscription :
" Egbert Mott—
" Merit book, July 4, 1845. He recited 1,169 verses last quarter. " ¦W. Park, Supt.'
The other :
" Julia Mott—
" Merit book. She recited 1,114 verses last quarter. " W. Park, Supt."

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824 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
The recipient had just completed her eighth year.
After an interval, question books were introduced, and the
custom of learning verses dropped into disuse, but not until
some of the scholars had learned aU of the four Gospels. Al
though the practice of offering prizes is to be deprecated as
affording an insufficient test of excellence, and tending to dis
courage the raany who could learn some, but not the greatest
number of Scripture texts ; yet on the whole I am inclined to
think much good was done, by forming in the children the
habit of attending some pubhc worship on the Lord's day.
HIGH SCHOOL BUILDING.
The old school-house that was most familiar to the citizens
of Auburn was burned in the winter of i875-'6, and in the
spring following the School Board commenced the erection of
a fine brick building, in a little park of five acres, that was in
tended to be an ornament to the town for a generation to come.
It was two stories in height, besides a roomy basement. The
dimensions were 61 x 75 feet, and the highest point was sixty
feet above the ground. The contract was let to J. W. Case for
$9,760, he having twelve competitors, bidding all the way up to
$13,000. The total cost of building, grounds, furniture, fur
naces, etc., was $14,300. The entire building was heated with
hot air furnished from the baseraent.
This beautiful building, the pride of Auburn, was destroyed
by fire on the evening of Tuesday, Nov. 30, 1880. The fire was
first seen near the heating apparatus in the basement, where it
undoubtedly originated. It was of very small proportions
when first seen, and with any sort of facilities it could have
been easily extinguished. Efforts were made, but they were
unavailing. The insurance on the building amounted to $7,000,
and the net loss was about an equal amount.
The disaster was a grievous one, but, not discouraged, the
authorities at once took measures for rebuilding the school-
house. The new structure is now in use its third year, and is
a credit to Auburn, though it is generally pronounced some
what inferior to its predecessor. The present Principal is M.
W. Harrison, who taught two years as assistant and is now in
his third year as Principal. His assistant is H. E. Coe, who
is teaching his first year here, having been at Waterloo the
four years previous. The other teachers are : Letitia A. Coats,

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HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY. 825
now teaching her fifth year ; Flora L. Hoffman, second year ;
Tilly McTighe, fourth year ; Violet Bowman, first year; Mrs.
Chfton, first year Altogether there are seven rooms and eight
teachers. CHURCHES.
The first Methodist Episcopal church was organized in 1839,
bv Rev. Sarauel Reed. He was a very brilliant young minis
ter, and died at a comparatively early age. This was first called
the St. Joseph Mission. Rev. Geo. M. Beswick was then the
Presiding Elder. To Wesley Park is given the credit of form
ing this first class, which comprised forty-two merabers. The
only two now living are Daniel Altenburg and Jaraes R. Cos
per. The church was built in 1843, at the northeast corner of
the square, on a lot still owned by the society. It was reraoved
about 1870 to its present site and refitted, a lecture room being
added. This was under the pastorate of Rev. J. N. Welch.
The church is in an admirable state of preservation, and few
would suspect that it is forty-one years old. The present
pastor is Rev. C. W. Church, who came from Fort Wayne in
the spring of 1883. The present membership is 245. M. F.
Long is Superintendent of the Sunday-school.
The Baptists have long held religious services in this county.
Their Cedar Creek church in Richland Township was organ
ized about 1842, among the prominent members being Dim-
mick Harding, T. D. Daily and Erastus Calkins. Their second
branch was the Wilmington church, started in the township of
that name in 1845. Araong its leading members were:
Richard Hicks, Dewitt Hicks, S. B. Ward and wife, and Mrs.
Haynes. This church had a merabership extending over half
of this then thinly settled county, and numbering at one time
seventy. Aug. 13, 1852, a number of the members, having
taken letters from the Wilmington church, organized the
Auburn church, and in two or three years the forraer society
disbanded. Among the first members here at Auburn were :
Elder S. B. Ward and wife, and Vesta M. Ward, Deacon J. R.
Bacon and wife, Emily Clark, Robert Culbertson and wife,
Darwin Eldridge and wife, Philo Sanford and wife, Jereraiah
Hemstreet and wife, and others. Elders J. M. Whitehead and
William N. Welker had conducted protracted meetings before
the organization. Elder Ward served as pastor several years,
and Elder A. Town preached for one year. The church dis-
• ¦ -^ -w —

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826 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
banded about 1859, o" account of removals, etc. The present
church was organized in October, 1870, with eleven members:
S. B. Ward and wife, John H. Ehlers and wife, Mrs. C. C.
Shafer, Mrs. John McKay, Mrs. Joseph McKay, Mrs. Maria
Woolsey, Mrs. Hannah Totten, Mrs. Anna Burlingame and
Addie Reed. The pastors since then have been successively:
S. B. Ward, R. P. Jones, W. Langdon Sanders, P. J. Ward and
H. J. Finch, the last named, who came in May, 1884, being the
present incumbent. The church building was erected in 1872,
at a cost of $3,000. It is on the corner of Jackson and Sixth
streets, and has a seating capacity of from 250 to 300. The
membership of the society is now about eighty. The Sunday-
school has been under the charge of Elder Ward ever since its
formation. The Presbyterian society was organized in the fall of 1846.
Auburn first belonged to the Logansport Presbytery ; but this
being divided, it was added to the Fort Wayne Presbytery.
Rev. Mr. Bliss, who was first assigned to this place, was stated
supply until the spring of 1856, at that time the raerabership num
bering forty-three. In the spring of 1857 Rev. Edward Wright
took charge ; in 1863 Rev. Charles A. Munn ; and from 1866 the
church was for a short interval without services. Then Rev.
C. A. Evans was here for two years. After another interval,
in the spring of 1872, Rev. J. Emory Fisher comraenced con
ducting services every other Sunday. Rev. Henry Johnson
came in the spring of 1874, and remained until the fall of 1880.
During his pastorate, in the fall of 1876, the brick structure
now occupied by the society, at the corner of Jackson and
Twelfth streets was erected, at a cost of $6,000. It was
dedicated in January, 1877. The Trustees were: E. D.
Hartman, S. B. Miller, Joseph Abright and Richard Elson.
These gentlemen are the present Trustees. Rev. Wm. F.
Mathews was here one year, frora the spring of 1881. Rev. H.
D. McCord carae in the fall of 1882 and remained through 1883.
The present pastor. Rev. G. W. Barr, came from Albion in
January, 1884. Recently the church has been nicely finished
off, the Ladies' Aid Society having expended $300 upon seat
ing, gas fixtures, etc. The membership of the church is about
150. The Elders are: E. D. Hartman, S. B. Miller, Richard
Elson, A. C. Wilson and Edward Baker. Richard Elson has
charge of the Sunday-school.

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HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY. 827
The English Evangelical Lutheran church was organized in
1876. They bought the old Presbyterian church and refitted
it, the total cost being Si. 000. Rev. Levi Rice, the first pas
tor, came from Wabash County, and is now in Lagrange. He
was succeeded by Revs. Samuel Kelso, Waltman and W. T.
Trover. The last named came from Monroeville in the faU of
1883. The society has a membership of thirty-eight. The
Sunday-school is in charge of George Ensley. The Catholic
church was built in 1874 at a cost of $3,000, by Father August
Young, who came from Fort Wayne in 1872. The church has
a congregation of 150, and is a frame structure on the corner of
Fourth and Railroad streets.
The Germans have three churches. The Reformed church
was organized here in 1868, and their building was erected in
1868, at a cost of S 1.500. The successive pastors have been:
Revs. Kiessel, I. Matzenger, W. P Sandoe, P. Ruhl, J. Rettig
and J. F. Winter, who carae in June, 1882. The church is on
Fourth street. The raerabership is 144. The Sunday-school is
in charge of John Lomm. The Gerraan Methodist Episcopal
church is a frame structure built in 1874, at a cost of $2,800.
The society is thirty-five years old. The church was built
under Rev. Andrew Myers. Other pastors since hira have
been: Revs. Charles Treischel, Charles Kunselman, Joseph
Cam, Hamp, Mesling and John Gummer. The Gerraan Luth
erans have a frarae church built in 1873, at a cost of $1,000.
The first preachers were: Revs. Steinbach and Boese. At
present Rev. Reichard, who lives near AviUa, coraes here every
three weeks. The raerabership of this church is twepty-five.
SOCIETIES.
De Kalb Lodge, No. 214, F. & A. M., was chartered May 28,
1857, and instituted and the officers installed June 6, 1857. The
Masters of the lodge have been successively : Milton F. Pierce,
Joseph H. Ford, John Butt, Guy Plumb, Joseph H. Ford, Guy
Plumb, Wm. A. Lowrey, Wm. E. Rush, J. E. Rose, F. E. Dav
enport, J. J. Van Auken and F. E. Davenport. The present
officers are: F. E. Davenport, W. M.; S. H. Rush, S. W.; T.
G. Matheny, J. W.; W. H. McQuiston, Treas.; J. E. Rose, Sec;
W. H. Keeran, S. D.; Joseph Abright, J. D.; H. A. Lesh,
Tyler. The present membership of the lodge is sixty-five,
Wm. Hacker Chapter, No. 63, R. A. M., was organized under

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828 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
dispensation Sept. 3, 1866, and chartered May 23, 1867. John
Butt was High Priest until 1878. George H. K. Moss held
that position in 1879; F- E. Davenport in 1880, and G. T. Ab
bey from 1881 to 1883. The officers elected for 1884 were:
Jay J. Van Auken, H. P.; John Butt, K.; George E. Boots, S.;
G. W. Lackey, C. of H.; S. H. Rush, P. S.; A. R. Stevens, R.
A. C; R. J. Fisk, T.; F. E. Davenport, Sec. The membership
of the chapter is now seventy-two. It meets the first Monday
of each month at Masonic hall. The chapter was moved to
Waterloo the year after it was started, and brought back to
Auburn November, 1883.
Mentor Lodge, No. 591, /. 0. O.F., was organized in February,
1882, and has now forty members. It meets every Tuesday.
The present officers are : B. F. Culbertson, N. G.; Thomas H.
Sprott, V. G.; W. Baker, Sec; G. W. Gordon, Treas.
Auburn Council, No. 511, Legion of Honor, is an insurance so
ciety, organized April 8, 1881. It has at present ten members,
but holds no meetings.
De Long Post, No. 6j, G. A. R., was mustered May 8, 1882,
with the foUowing officers : Ezra D. Hartman, Com.; John Otto,
S. V. C; Nicholas Ensley, Jr., J. V. C; H. C Peterson, Q. M.;
J. J. Littlefield, Surg.; P. W. Silver, Chap.; WilHam Snyder, O.
of the D.; George W. Gordon, Adj.; Fred April, O. of the G.;
H. E. Altenburg, Aid-de-Camp; B. F. Culbertson, Ass't Ins.
The present officers are as follows : John Otto, Com.; Nicholas
Ensley, S. V. C; J. R. Thomas, J. V. C; D. K. Houghton, Q.
M.; J. A. Cowan, Surgeon ; M. B. WilHs, Chap.; P. W. Silver,
O. of the p.; Robert Simpson, O. of the G.; George W. Gor
don, Adj.; George H. Hoffman, S. M.; Thomas Hallam, Q. M.
S.; H. E. Altenburg, Aid-de-Carap ; B. F. Culbertson,^ Ass't
Ins. The post is in good condition, financial and otherwise,
and has a raembership of seventy. It meets every alternate
Monday. THE ladies' literary SOCIETY.
In the afternoon of April 3, 1882, a few thoughtful, intelli
gent woraen met by previous appointment at the residence of
Mrs. Augustus Leas, and organized a Literary Society. The
prearable to the constitution declares that —
" We, the undersigned, feehng that horae and society deraand
of the woraen of to-day the broadest and fullest culture, and
being well assured that our usefulness and enjoyraent will be

¦*tr

Wl': '4' I

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*:;V5ff^-

-cf-.-,' ,s

history of de kalb COUNTV. 829
increased by such culture, believing, also, that the interchange
of thought and a unity of purpose will stiraulate our raental
growth, do hereby unite ourselves in a club for the sole pur
pose of study and mental improvement, and for the attainment
of our object do adopt the following Constitution," etc.
The Ladies' Literary Society, as the first clause of the
Constitution declares it shall be called, took up Taine's History
of English literature as the first text-book. A careful study of
its pages, and the subjects discussed therein, occupied raore
than two years. In October, 1884, the society selected Under
wood's American Literature from araong several works under
consideration, and its members are now engaged in studying
the authors of whora the work treats.
The society has three times celebrated its organization by
social and literary entertainments, each succeeding one giving
evidence of increasing power and intellectual advancement.
Its regular meetings are held every Saturday afternoon in
the parlor of some raeraber of the society, where the tirae frora
2 : 30 to 5 o'clock is spent in the recitation of a lesson assigned
the preceding week, and in a variety of literary exercises, as
orations, essays, discussions, recitations, songs and instruraental
music. The report of a critic, who censures or approves, as
the exercises may deserve, concludes the work.
A list of members is appended:
Mrs. J. A. Barns,* Mrs. F. K. Blake, Mrs. Willis Brown, Mrs.
F. E. Davenport, Mrs. Albert Dawson, Mrs. Mary A. Ehlers,*
Mrs. C. E. Emanuel, Mrs. Nicholas Ensley,* Mrs. G. H. Fork-
ner, Mrs. E. D. Hartman,* Mrs. M. W. Harrison, Mrs. Chester
P. Hodge, Mrs. C. P. Houser, Mrs. A. S. Leas,* Mrs. John L.
Leasure, Mrs. B. A. Lewis, Mrs. W. H. McQuiston,* Miss Lilly
McTighe,- Mrs. Lottie F. Osgood,* Mrs. A. J. Ralston,* Mrs.
Albert Robbins,* Mrs. James E. Rose, Mrs. George Schaab,
Mrs. Vesta M. Swartz, M. D.,* Mrs. M.Willis,* Mrs. Elias Zira-
merman. Miss Delia McClellan.
Removed from Auburn: Mrs. Theo. Reed,* Mrs. Louis
Johnson, Mrs. W. P. Myers,* Miss Laura Clark.
WATERLOO.
The town of Waterloo is four and a half railes frora Auburn,
six and a half miles frora Corunna, and eight railes frora Butler,
?Charter members.
¦f' 9 '^ •» »N.

830 history of de kalb county.
on sections 3 and 4, Union Township. It is at the junction
of two railroads, both belonging to the L. S. & M. S. system,
and thus, with railroads leading in each of the four points of
the compass, the place is destined to be of permanent impor
tance. The first improvement in this vicinity was made near
the Cedar Creek, northeast of Waterloo, and was called Union-
town. It is now a mere appendage, or " suburb " to the town.
Wesley Park, Sheriff of the county, put up a board shanty on
the site of Uniontown in 1838 as a shelter for two men em
ployed to build a bridge over the Cedar at this point. At this
small cabin, in November, 1838, D. Altenburg, L. Walsworth,
their famihes and the two bridge-builders, passed a night while
the settlers were on their journey from Steubenville to their
selections of land in Union Township. In a previous chapter a
full account of their trip is given. One who stands on the
present fine bridge and notices the high banks, cannot but
wonder how the streara was crossed by Messrs. Altenburg and
Walsworth. They ran poles under the wagon, between the
spokes, so as to block all the wheels ; then a yoke of oxen was
hitched to the tongue to hold back, and another yoke to the
rear of the wagon to pull back, and so the crossing was effected.
Being on the Hne of the State road frora Fort Wayne north
through Angola, and sufficiently reraote frora other settlements,
this was thought a good site for a town, and a plat was accord
ingly made by Frederick Krum. A store building was put up,
and a trading point estabhshed by George Trout. The firm of
M. & A. Hale was the next to engage in the mercantUe busi
ness at Uniontown. James Bowman erected a water-pow-er
saw-miU on the site of the Star Mills; and about 1856, after the
laying out of Waterloo, changed it to a steam-power mill.
School was started at an early day. Richard Burnistin was
the viUage blacksmith, and bodily infirmities were cared for by
Dr. Jones. Wareham was a gun-sraith, and Sraith kept a cabi
net-shop. The construction of the air Hne of the L. S. & M. S. R. R.
through the county was the signal for laying the foundation of
Waterloo City (as it was called for some years, while there was
another Waterloo in the State). Miles Waterman, a prominent
citizen of the county, and for several terms Representative in
the State Legislature, had purchased a tract of land south of
Uniontown, lying on both sides of the railroad track. On this
" •  ^- -<• —

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HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY. 83 1
land the town of Waterloo was laid out by Miles Waterman
and John Homberger, and the acknowledgement taken before
George Wolf, Justice of the Peace, March 14, 1856. The first
structure erected was a railroad office which stood near the
" Hale store," upon what is known as the Gillett lot. Eli Will
iamson, the pioneer carpenter, and yet a resident of the town,
built the first dwelling house. This old building was shifted
about, and finally owned and occupied by Wetmore, and was
destroyed by fire sorae years ago. Store buildings were raised
bv James Irving and John Wood ; the former rented to Willard
& Keller, and the latter kept a grocery and restaurant. Lots
sold rapidly, and building once begun continued briskly. At
tention became directed to this place ; business gathered hither,
and leading citizens of other localities became residents.
T. Y. Dickinson reraoved frora Auburn, and in 1858 began
the publication of the Waterloo Press, which is still published,
the oldest newspaper in the county. For a full history of the
same, see the Press Chapter. Dr. J. N. Chamberlain, Sheriff of
the county, from i860 to 1862; Henry Willis, who filled the
same office, from 1864 to 1868 ; Jacob Kahn, long a leading raer-
chant ; Gen. Lewis ; J. Blair and others located in the new town
and aided to give it that healthy and encouraging growth,
which not only raade it the raart of Northern De Kalb and
and Southern Steuben counties, but enabled it to present a
formidable claim to the county seat. John Shull opened the
first tavern, which was later known as the Central House. J.
P. Beers, from Auburn, was the first lawyer in the town, and
later was heard from as a proprietor of a stage Hne at Stanton,
Mich. The first grist-mill was built and run by Josiah and
Jonathan Weaver. It stood in Uniontown and was built in
1868. The next mill was built by George Thompson in Water
loo, and is now operated by Crane, Duncan & Co. The third
was the Star Mills, a fine brick building erected by Messrs.
Best, McClellan & Moody. It was more than a local loss when
this interest was destroyed by fire in 1876. The flouring-raill
now owned and run by Messrs. Bauer & Weirich, is one of the
finest in Northern Indiana.
Waterloo possesses a fire-engine, the only one in De Kalb
County, and a citizens' volunteer fire department. The engine-
house is centrally located by the railroad tracks. The fair
grounds of the Northeastern Indiana Agricultural Association
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832 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
(a full account of which is given in the Agricultural Chapter) are
located just north of town, and the annual fair draws large
crowds to Waterloo. The pioneer school-house stands in the
southeast part of the town. It is a little old frame building, a
striking relic of the poor educational advantages of the past.
Just before the incorporation of the town, the township trustee
caused the erection ot what afterward became Agricultural
hall near the Presbyterian church. In this ill-contrived struct
ure, Spencer Dills, Peter Colgrove and Prof. J. A. Barns, taught
as Principals, and the last naraed conducted several successful
normal schools in the upper room. Finally the fine high-
school building near the railroad in the western part of town
was erected. BUSINESS DIRECTORY.
Those now doing business at Waterloo are as follows:
L. Anderson, carriage and blacksraith shop ; Bauer & Wei
rich, flouring-mill ; Boyer & Beidler, dry goods ; Jacob Beck,
bakery ; Best & McCleUan, De Kalb Bank ; WilHam Bevier,
drug store; Maggie Bateson, millinery; H. E. Brown, meat
market ; William Bigler, livery ; Boozer & Smith, agricultural
irapleraents ; Bassett & Maxwell, jewelers ; Samuel Beck, gro
cery; J. S. Bowers, furniture; J. H. Clifford, saloon and restau
rant; J. D. Campbell, drugstore; Crane, Duncan & Co., plan-
ing-raill ; F. Deventer, wagon and blacksmith shop ; Duncan
Bros., grocery; Dickinson & WilHs, Waterloo Press; J. A.
Dennison, restaurant and confectionery ; Orris Danks, boots
and shoes; Sol. Fisher, clothing; R. J. Fisk, grocery; Her
man Froelich, marble works ; Prentice Gill, sewing-machines ;
Moritz Grueter, grocery; John Heighn, blacksraith; Louis
Henke, blacksraith ; E. Klatz, wagon shop ; Kennedy & Jack-
man, Long's Hotel; Koons & Son, Hvery; Loewenstein &
Rothschild, clothing, dry goods, grocery ; S. J. Locke, hotel
and saloon; R,. M. Lockhart, lumber; John Leas, Citizens'
Bank; James P. McCague, saw-miU; Peter Montavon, shoe
raaker; Philip Morell, shoemaker; McBride & Seller, hardware ;
H. R. Miller, saloon; H. H. Nutt, planing-miU; Frank Ryan,
Butts' Hotel ; A. V. Sinclair, grocery ; George Shoner, tan
nery ; Speer & Son, grocery ; R. Shull, millinery ; A. R. Stev
ens, tailor; Sinclair Bros., hardware; Richard Till, saloon;
Wareham & Harley, barber shop; J. N. Winslow, drug store;

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HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY. 833
Willis & Co., book store ; Williara Wallace harness shop ; Eli
WiUiamson, tanning-mill factory.
PROFESSIONAL.
The first physicians were: Drs. Jones & Homberger. Of
the following who are now practicing, sorae are old residents :
Drs. Solomon Stough, J. N. Chamberlain, A. Byron Darby, A.
S. Farrington, Z. W. Shepherd (Homeopathic), A. A. Ward,
Henry Lehman, (Homeopathic), C. M. Ewing and S. B. Johns
ton (dentist). The legal profession has always been creditably
represented at Waterloo. James I. Best is now a raeraber of
the Supreme Court Commission, and is consequently at Indian
apolis, but his home is really here. Other resident merabers
of the bar are : R. Wes. McBride (present Circuit Judge),
Somers & Roby, L. J. Blair, C. M. Phillips, William D. Leas
and John A. Garwood. BANKS.
The town supports two banking estabUshments. The De
Kalb Bank was organized June i, 1873. Its first Directors
were : Jaraes 1. Best, O. T. Clark and C. A. O. McClellan ; first
cashier, A. F. Best. It is now owned by Messrs. Best and
McCleUan, and Giles T. Abbey is cashier. The Citizens' Bank
was organized July 21, 1875, with John Leas, Joseph Roger, W.
C. Langan, Jacob Kahn and Artemas Corbett as directors, and
Mr. Langan as cashier. This position is now filled by H. K.
Leas. RELIGIOUS.
Waterloo is well supplied with churches.
The Presbyterian Church was organized June 5, 1863, by Rev.
C. Ford, with the following constituent members: P. B. Nim
mons, Mary Nimmons, Jaraes Lockhart, Robert M. Lockhart,
Elizabeth Lockhart, Abraham McCoy, Elizabeth McCoy,
Mahlon Nimmons, Louisa Niraraons, Edward Craft, J. E.
Rutan, Keziah Rutan, Joseph Mills, J. N. Mills, Jane Sraith,
Jane Madden, J. H. Boon, Mary Hines, Celestia Hutchison,
Laura Hutchison, A. A. Howard, Sarah A. Howard and Rachel
Moore. The first ruling Elders were : P. B. Nimmons, Robert
Lockhart and A. A. Howard. The church building itself, a
frame structure on Maple street, was erected in 1867, at a cost
of S3,ooo. The first pastor. Rev. Edward Wright, remained

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834 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
from 1863 to 1866. He died in 1878, in Bloomington, Ind.
Rev. C. A. Munn came frora Auburn, preached two years, and
is now in Michigan. Rev. L. C. Littell succeeded hira for two
years, and is now in Michigan. Rev. J. B. Fowler then carae from
Elkhart, whither he returned after a six years' stay at Waterloo.
After he left. Rev. Henry Johnson, of Auburn, carae here al
ternate Sundays for two years. He is now in Michigan. Then
Rev. W. F. Matthews, of Auburn, preached here alternate
Sundays, and after hira for one year the pulpit was filled in the
sarae manner by Rev. J. D. McCord, Hkewise of Auburn. The
present pastor is Rev. G. W. Barr, who commenced in the
spring of 1884. The church has a membership of forty. The
Sunday-school is under the superintendency of F. W. WUlis.
The Catholic Church was built in 1863 and 1864, at a cost of
$1,400, by Father Achtereng. The congregation is small, and
only monthly services are held. The priest is Father Max
Bensinger, who has recently come frora the serainary at Mil
waukee, Wis.
The German Reform Church is a frarae structure, just outside
the corporation. It is on the Angola road, in Smithfield Town
ship, and was built in 1876.
The Methodist Episcopal people bought a serainary building
in 1867, which they used until recently. In the fall of 1884
they erected a very fine brick church on the corner of Douglas
and Walnut streets, at a cost of $4,000. The society is in a
fiourishing condition, having a membership of sixty-five. The
present pastor, Rev. W. M. Slyke, came in the spring of 1883.
The Sunday-school is in charge of Henry E. Coe.
The United Brethren in Christ built a church in i860, and in
1879, at a cost of $1,200, they rebuilt. Services were held long
before the erection of the first mentioned building. The Revs.
Fink and Lamon were the first to officiate here. They have been
succeeded by Revs. Wm. Moffatt, Morthland, A. Lower, Leon
ard, T. Osmun, J. K. Swihart, C. O. Lawrence, J. G. Bowersox,
D. Bender, John Martin, Crawford B. Baldwin, C. H. Kiracofe,
Joseph Brown, W. O. Dinius, S. P. Klutz, James Snyder, W.
O. Butler, J. S. Jedrow, and J. W- Lilly. The last named, the
present incumbent, began his labors here in September, 1884.
The society has a membership of 113. Simpson Duck is super
intendent of the Sunday-school.
The Church of Christ, or Disciples, built a brick structure in

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HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTV. 835
1870, on Maple street, at a cost of $3, 500. Rev. N. N. Bartlett,
the first pastor, remained two years. He was a resident of this
county in early life, and finally died at Painesville, Ohio. Rev.
Jaraes HodseU was at Waterloo for the ensuing two years. He
was from KendaUville, though formerly a resident of this
county, and died at Waterloo after two years' service. Rev. F.
H. McCorraick then came from Ossian for one year. He is now
at Foe, Allen County, but is not preaching. Rev. M.'M. Glea
son, of Steuben County, was here for the ensuing year. Re\'.
M. L. Blaney succeeded him for one year. He came here frora
Kendallville, and is now at that place, though not preaching.
The church has no services at present. Its membership is 25.
A Sunday-school organization is maintained under Dr. A.
Byron Darby.
The English Reforined church is a fine brick structure
on the corner of Center and Union streets. It was built
in 1872, at a cost of $5. 500. The first pastor was Rev.
Henry Baer. The next was Rev. Mr. Fenniman. He was fol
lowed in 1880 by Rev. F. F.Christine, who now fills the pulpit.
The Evangelical Association built a church in 1877, at a cost of
over $4,000, though the society was organized before the war.
The church was built during the pastorate of Rev. Geist. The
pulpit is now filled by Rev. J. E. Stupps, who came from De
fiance in the spring of 1884. The merabership is about 100.
SOCIETIES.
Waterloo City Lodge, No. 307, F. & A. M, was organized in
1861. It has now a merabership of forty-two, and meets the Wed
nesday on, or preceding, each full moon. The present officers
are: Giles T. Abbey, W. M.; A. I. Sinclair, S. W.; W. H. Leas,
J. W.; Charles Bassett, Treasurer ; H. K. Leas, Secretary ; J. C.
Brand, S. D.; Ed. Campbell, J. D.; S. Z. Dickinson, Tyler ; A.
R. Stevens and R. J. Fisk, Stewards.
Waterloo Lodge, No. 221, /. O. O. F., was organized in i860. It
has now a membership of forty, and meets at Odd Fellows'
haU every Tuesday evening. The present officers are : Jacob G.
Brown, N. G.; John M. Somers, V. G.; S. B. Johnston, Sec;
Phil. MoreU, Treas.; C. K. Baxter, Perra. Sec.
Union Lodge, No. 1,436, K. of H., was organized about 1878;
has now thirty-eight raerabers, and raeets every Friday evening.
Dr. S. B. Johnston is P. D.; J. M. Waterraan, Die.; G.J. Beck,

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836 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
V. D.; J. R. Duncan, A. D.; F. E. Adam, Rep.; J. A. Shull, Fin.
Rep.; George Shoner, Treas. The lodge has paid one death
benefit of $2,000 to Jay B. Boyer's widow in 1882.
Waterloo Post, No. 52, G. A. R., was mustered in March, 1882.
Its membership is now sixty-one, and the time of meeting is the
first Wednesday of each month. Dr. S. B. Johnston is Cora.; J.
P. McCague, S. V. C; F. D. Waterman, J. V. C; Prentice Gill,
Adj.; S.J. Locke, Q. M.; A. R. Stevens, O. of the D.; J. N. Mc
Bride, O. of the G.; B. F. Kennedy, S. M.; C. K. Baxter, Q. M.S.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
G. T. Abbey, cashier of the De Kalb Bank, is a native of Clyde,
Sandusky Co., Ohio, born Nov. 24, 1827, a son of Alanson and
Lucy (Daggett) Abbey, natives of New York, who moved to
Ohio in 1819. Alanson Abbey was a soldier in the war of 1812
and received a pension for his services. His wife died in 1840,
and he afterward married again. To him and his first wife
were born ten children, six of whom Hved till maturity. They
were members of the Christian church. Mr. Abbey died in
1879, at the age of eighty-four years. Our subject, G. T.
Abbey, remained with his father till manhood. In 1838 his
parents removed to Steuben County, Ind., and there he grew
to manhood. He received a very limited education, but by
perseverance becarae fitted to enter the business world and
compete successfully for positions of honor and trust. In 1864
he moved to Waterloo, which has since been his home. He
was married in 1850 to Martha Long, a native of Ohio, daughter
of Jaraes and Martha Long. To them were born three children,
but two of whom are living — Ella J., wife of W. H. Holhster,
of Butler, Ind., and Carrie J. Mrs. Abbey died in Steuben
County in 1862. Mr. Abbey is a meraber of Waterloo City
Lodge, No. 307, F. & A. M., and has been Master of his lodge
three years ; Past High Priest and also Principal Conductor
of the work of his council. For many years he has been iden
tified with the educational and political interests of the town.
Politically he is a Republican.
Joseph Abright, watchmaker and jeweler, Auburn, Ind., is a
native of Ohio, born in West Rushville, Oct. 6, 1838, a son of
David and Jane (Thompson) Abright. When fourteen years of
age he went to Chillicothe and served four years as an appren
tice at the watchmaker's trade ; then worked In the same

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HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY. 837
estabhshment as foreman four years, and in i860 went to Green
castle, Ind., and in the spring of 1861 to Lancaster, Ohio, where
April 5, 1 861, he enlisted in the Seventeenth Ohio Infantry for
three months. After his term of service expired, Aug. 18, he
again enlisted in the Forty-sixth Ohio Infantry for three years,
and when the call was made by the President to re-enlist
veterans, responded Oct. 29, 1863. He was mustered in as
Orderly Sergeant. Jan. i, 1862, he was promoted to First
Lieutenant and soon after to Adjutant of the regiment. He
served four years, three months and fourteen days, and was
never away from his regiment for any cause. He participated
in some of the most important battles of the war, among them
Shiloh, siege of Corinth, Vicksburg, Jackson, Miss., Atlanta
campaign, and was with Sherman on his march to the sea,
being in twenty-eight engageraents. He was wounded twice,
but not severely. He was present at Johnston's surrender to
General Sherman in April, 1865. He was mustered out at
Camp Chase, Columbus, Ohio, Sept. 21, 1865. He soon after
went to St. Paul, Minn., and remained till 1867. Then returned
to Ohio and worked a year in Circleville, and in September,
1868, came to Auburn and established his present place of busi
ness, where he has built up a good trade. Mr. Abright was
married Oct. i, 1867,. to Louisa McFee, of West Rushville,
Ohio. They have one daughter — Maud. He is a raeraber of
DeKalb Lodge, No. 214, F. & A. M. He has served three
years as Treasurer of Auburn, and has given perfect satisfaction
to his constituents.
John W. Ashleman, the second son of John W. and Mary
Ashleman, was born in Wayne County, Ohio, March 27, 1844.
His parents were natives of Germany, and were married in
Switzerland about 1834 and came to the United States and lo
cated in Wayne County, Ohio. They subsequently moved to
De Kalb County, Ind., and settled on a farm just east of Au
burn, entering 160 acres. After getting ready to start for
America, Mr. Ashleman's trunk was robbed of its contents, in
cluding all his raoney. His friends assisted him, but he arrived
in a strange country with no means. He was possessed of a
large amount of energy, and went bravely to work and was
eminently successful, accumulating a large landed estate, own
ing at his death over 900 acres. His family consisted of nine
children — Elizabeth, wife of A. J. Carmer; Moses; Barbara,
53

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838 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
wife of Charles Eckart ; Mary, wife of Fred Raut ; Regina,
wife of Enos Weaver; Anna, wife of George Walker ; John W.;
Christian, and Rosa, wife of A. J. Saxton. John W. was reared
on a farm, receiving a comraon-school education. After his
raarriage he settled on his present farm, where he owns eighty
acres of land, with good buildings. He is a neat and thrifty
farmer, and also pays considerable attention to stock-raising.
He was raarried in 1868 to AureUa Chidsey, daughter of Ly
raan Chidsey. To them have been born three sons — Lyman,
Wilham and Frank.
Isaac O. Bachtel, proprietor of the Eagle MUls, Auburn, was
born in Canton, Stark Co., Ohio, April 7, 1844, a son of David
and Elizabeth Bachtel. When twelve years of age he began
to take care of hiraself, working in the mills of R. Elston at
Magnolia, Ohio. He educated himself by working for his
board during the winter and attending the public schools. His
first work being in a mill, he early acquired a taste for that
industry, and chose it for his Hfe-work. When nearly eigh
teen years of age he enlisted in Corapany E, Sixty-first Ohio
Infantry, and participated in the battle of BuU Run and
subsequent skirmishes during Pope's retreat. His health be
coming irapaired from exposure, he was sent to the hospitals at
Washington, D. C, and Alexandria, but after three months was
discharged for disability, in November, 1862. In 1864 he again
enlisted, in the One Hundred and Sixty-second Ohio Infantry,
lOO-day men, ^nd served four months, doing guard duty at
Covington, Ky. After his return to civil lite he was employed
in Magnolia Mills, where he learned his trade, a few months,
and in October, 1864, went to Canton, Ohio, and was employed
in the Union Mills till April, 1865, when he came to Indiana
and worked in the Grove Mills at Kendallville till November,
1868. He then moved to De Kalb County, and worked in the
mills at Sedan and Auburn till April, 1872, when he purchased
the mills at Corunna which he ran till May, 1880, when he ex
changed thera for the Eagle Mills at Auburn. Mr. Bachtel
thoroughly understands every detail of his business, which he
superintends, and makes a first grade flour. He was raarried
Oct. 16, 1870, to AmeUa, daughter of Francis Baird, of Union
Township, De Kalb County. They have three children — El
mer, Flora and Orris. Mr. Bachtel is a member of Mentor
I.odge, No. 591, I. O. O. F.

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HISTORY OF DE K.VLB COUNTY. 839
Frank Baird, a successful farmer of Union Township, was
born in Lancaster County, Pa., Sept. 17, 1817, the youngest of
four children of John and Agnes (Andrews) Baird. His par
ents moved to Wayne County, Ohio, in an early day, and in
the spring of 1846 to De Kalb County, Ind., and settled one
mile east of Auburn where the father died in 1851, and the
mother in 1869. Frank Baird was reared a farmer, remaining
with his parents till their death, and then inheriting the horae
stead. His father bought 160 acres of wild land when he came
to De Kalb County, and to this he has added twenty acres. He
now owns one of the finest farras in Union Township, all well
improved. In 1876 he built a large two-story brick residence,
with all modern improvements. He has two large barns, and
his farm buildings are in good repair. Mr. Baird was married
in Ohio, to Hester Stoner, who died in 1869, leaving six chil
dren — Amelia, wife of Isaac Beachlar ; John H., Calvin L.,
Thomas F., Zora M. and William L. In 1871 he married
Sophia Leas, daughter of John Leas, of De Kalb County. He
is one of the successful and representative farmers of De Kalb
County. Charles Bassett, of the firm Bassett & Maxson, jewelers, Wa
terloo, Ind., was born in Brownhelm, Lorain Co., Ohio, Jan. 8,
1838, a son of Thomas and Nancy Bassett. While yet a child
his parents died, and he was thus left to battle with the world
for himself. When eight years of age he went to Erie County,
Ohio, and remained four years; then went to Union City,
Mich., and frora there to Coldwater, where he began to learn
the jeweler's trade, serving an apprenticeship with C. H.
Thompson, remaining four years. In 1859 he carae to Water
loo, and in corapany with J. F. Maxson, established their pres
ent business. They have had a steadily increasing trade, and
rank among the most prominent and substantial business men
of Waterloo. Mr. Bassett was married in Jackson, Mich., Jan.
I, 1859, to CaroHne Maxson, a sister of his partner. They have
four children — Carrie, wife of Araos B. Walworth ; Charles
Lewis, Bessie and WiUiara. In politics Mr. Bassett adheres to
the Republican party. He has held several local offices of
trust in the township. He is a raeraber of the Masonic frater
nity, lodge, chapter and councU, and has been Treasurer of
Waterloo City Lodge, No. 307, twenty years. He and his wife
are raembers of the Christian church.

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840 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
Isaiah Baughman was born in Carroll County, Ohio, Jan. 5,
1843, a son of John and Nancy (Slentz) Baughman, natives of
Ohio. His grandparents were natives of Pennsylvania, and
early settlers of Ohio. In 1844 his parents moved to De Kalb
County, Ind., and entered a tract of 120 acres from the Govern
ment on section 23, Union Township, which he cleared, and to
which he subsequently added forty acres. He was one of the
sturdy pioneers, and endured many hardships and privations.
After paying for his land he had a little money left with which
he bought some salt and leather and a scanty supply of provi
sions. He was twice married. To him and his first wife were
born eight children — Addison, George W., Isaiah, Eliza (wife
of David Mizer), Nancy M. (wife of Charles W. Older), Sa
mantha (wife of Sheldon Crooks), Ermina(wife of Henry Smith),
and MatUda (wife of Jaraes Seibert). His second wife was
Elizabeth Weeks, and to them were bom four children — John
F., Idola, Ida and Carrie. Isaiah Baughman was reared and
educated in De Kalb County, attending the log cabin district
school. When seventeen years of age he enlisted in the defense
of the Union in Company H, Thirtieth Indiana Infantry, and
served from September, 1861, till February, 1862, when he was
discharged on account of ill health. The following August he
again enlisted, and was assigned to Corapany A, Eighty-eighth
Indiana Infantry. At the battle of Stone River, Jan. 2, 1863,
he was wounded in the right leg, and lay in the hospital till
April 20, when he was discharged. After his recovery he again
enlisted March 25, 1864, and served in Company A, First Indi
ana Heavy Artillery till the close of the war; was discharged
in January, 1866. He then worked on the farra for his 'father
till his marriage, when he settled on section 24, buying forty
acres of land. Three years later he sold this land and bought
eighty acres on section 1.4, where he now Hves, located on what
was known as the " Island." This land he has iraproved, and
has erected a fine two-story dwelling and a good barn and other
farm buildings. Mr. Baughman was married in 1868 to Sophia
Weeks, daughter of John and Mary A. Weeks, early settlers of
De Kalb County. To them have been born six children —
WilHs, Laura, Anna, Cora, Dora and Ward. Mr. and Mrs.
Baughman are members of the Methodist Episcopal church.
C. K. Baxter is a native of Wayne County, Ohio, bom Nov.
30, 1838, a son of John and Sarah (Kelley) Baxter, natives of

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HISTORY OF DEKALB COUNTY. 84I
Pennsylvania, the former of Washington County, and the latter
of Huntingdon County. In 1S41 his parents moved to De Kalb
County, Ind., and settled on section 25, Smithfield Township,
on a tract of heavily-timbered land. The father died in Sep
tember, 1S59, and the mother in 1879. They were among the
prominent pioneers of the county, and contributed largely
toward its development. C. K. Baxter was reared on a farm,
but when sixteen years of age entered the Messenger office at
Auburn and learned the printer s trade. When twenty-one
years of age he bought an interest in the Press office at Water
loo, but in 1 86 1 sold his interest to his partner, T. Y. Dickin
son, and enlisted in the Nineteenth Indiana Infantry, Company
G, as a private, but was promoted to First Lieutenant. He
participated in the second battle of Bull Run, South Mountain,
Antietam, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Wilderness and
Petersburg. He was discharged Sept. 8, 1864, after a service
of three years. After his return home he again embarked in
the newspaper business, editing the Press till 1884, when he sold
out, and is now living a retired life. Mr. Baxter was married
Nov. 10, 1863, to Mary A. Dickinson, a native of Portage
County, Ohio, daughter of T. R. Dickinson. Mrs. Baxter died
Feb. 26, 1866, leaving two children — WilHam S. and Maurice.
Oct. 7, 1869, Mr. Baxter married Harriet, daughter of David
Landis, of De Kalb County. But one of their three children is
hving — Mary. Mr. Baxter is a member of Waterloo Lodge,
No. 221, I. O. O. F., and Waterloo Post, No. 52, G. A. R.
Jacob Beck, baker and confectioner, Waterloo, Ind., was born
in Wittemburg, Germany, Dec. 24, 1824. When he was fifteen
years old he was apprenticed to a baker and served two years,
receiving his board, but was required to pay $20 for learning.
He was married in 1848 to Louisa Fousel, and in 1854 emigrated
with his family to the United States. He located in Buffalo,
N. Y., and worked at his trade a short time, but subsequently
moved to Toledo, Ohio, and was employed by M. C. Wortz
several years. In the spring of 1863 he raoved to Waterloo,
Ind., and began business on the corner of Wayne and Van
Vlick streets, but afterward bought the store where he is now
located. Mr. Beck was in moderate cii-cumstances when he
came to Waterloo, but being a thorough master of his trade he
has built up a good business, and is now one of the most suc
cessful men of the city. To Mr. and Mrs. Beck have been bom

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842 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
nine children, but five of whora are living — Augustus, Louisa,
Erama, Henry, and Ada.
Samuel Beck, one of the most enterprising and successful
business men of Waterloo, was born in Crawford County, Ohio,
Feb. 18, 1836, a son of Adam and Sarah (Gloyd) Beck, natives
of Pennsylvania, but early settlers of Crawford County, where
they were married in 1834. Four of their seven children are
living. The father died in 1870 and the mother in June, 1882,
both at the age of sixty-two years. Our subject received but a
limited education, his father being a poor man and he being the
eldest son, was early obliged to assist in the maintenance of the
faraily. He came to Waterloo in 1861, and the following year
became established in the general mercantile and produce busi
ness. He now has the largest trade in butter, eggs and poultry
in Northern Indiana. Mr. Beck was married in 1863 to Lillie
Staers, a native of Maryland, but a resident of De Kalb County
since her childhood. Mr. and Mrs. Beck have three daughters
— Dora, Mary and Alta. Mr. Beck is a member of Waterloo
City Lodge, No. 307, F. & A. M. He was drafted in the war
of the Rebellion, but paid $700 to a substitute.
John Beidler, the second son of Henry and Nancy (Ocherman)
Beidler, was born in Westmoreland County, Pa., May 15, 1818.
When he was two years of age his parents raoved to Ohio and
settled in Holraes County where they lived the remainder of
their lives. In that county he grew to manhood, and was mar
ried when twenty -two years of age to Miss Elizabeth Fresher, a
native of Holraes County. In the spring of 1847 they left Ohio
and raoved to De Kalb County, Ind., and settled on a tract of
wild, tiraber land in Union Township, which had been entered
by his father. At that time the county was mostly inhabited
by wUd animals and Indians. Now a part of the city of
Waterloo is located on his land. He has two good residence
houses on his farm, and his other buildings are large and con
venient. Although in meager circurastances when he com
menced life, he has now a competency for his old age. He has
a family of seven children— Frank M., Solomon, Catherine, wife
of J. B. Taylor, of Waterloo ; Henry, Hiram W., John C, and
WiUiam S. He and his wife are members of the United Breth
ren church, of which he has served several years as Class-leader.
Politically he is a Republican.
Ephraim Berry was born in Champaign County, Ohio,

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HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY. 845
March 19, 1823, a son of David and Catherine Berry. He was-
reared in his native county, receiving a good education. From
boyhood he was handy with tools and early began to work
with machinery, although he never learned a trade. In Octo
ber, 1848, he came to Indiana and worked two years in Solomon
Pence's saw-mill in Butler Township, De Kalb County, and in
the meantime built a new mill. The next two years he worked
in different parts of the State, but in the spring of 1852 per
manently located in Auburn. He worked at the carpenter's
trade and mill building five years, and then built an engine and
lathe and engaged in repairing machinery and turning broom
handles, etc., ten years, when he built an engine and machine
for making moldings, to which he soon after added a planing
machine, and carried on that business six years, when he sold
out and retired from active business. Jan. i, 1845, he was
married to Mary Jane Jenkins, ot Champaign County, Ohio.
He has always taken an interest in the public affairs of the city,
and has served as Justice of the Peace and City Trustee
several terms.
General L. J. Blair, one of the most prorainent attorneys of
De Kalb County, is a native of Franklin County, Ohio, and was
bom Dec. 29, 1829. When he was six years of age his parents
moved to De Kalb County, and here he was reared on a farm,
and in his early manhood was engaged in rafting. His early
education was limited to the country schools, but having an in
satiable thirst for knowledge, he bade defiance to all difficulties,
and in his youth determined to make the profession of law his
life-work. He devoted his leisure hours to such books as he
could procure, and when nineteen years of age was given the
use of Reuben J. Dawson's law library. He then became more
dihgent in his study, and in 1855 was admitted to the bar, and
from that tirae till after the breaking out of the civil war prac
ticed in DeKalb County. In July, 1862, he recruited a cora
pany, which was assigned as Corapany H to the Eighty-eighth
Indiana Infantry, and was coraraissioned its Captain. The
regiment was assigned to the Army of the Cumberland under
the command of General Thoraas and subsequently General
Rosecrans. He participated in raany of the raore iraportant
battles; at Chickaraauga had coramand of the regiraent. After
the battles of Lookout Mountain and Mission Ridge, in which
battles he was engaged, he was promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel.

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844 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
He participated in all the engagraents of the Atlanta cam
paign, and marched with Sherman to the sea. After the battle
at Savannah was promoted to Brigadier-General. He was
present when General Johnston surrendered, and at the grand
review of Sherman's array. After the close of the war he re
turned to , De Kalb County, where he has since pursued his
profession. He is one of the raost eloquent orators and most
powerful advocates before the bar in the State of Indiana, hold
ing his audience spellbound from the commencement to the close
of his argument. He is purely a self-made man, and has won
his place at the head of the fraternity by his indomitable wiU,
which allowed no obstacle to stand between him and success.
The General was raarried March 10, 1853, to Mary, daughter
of Manly Bruce, of Geauga County, Ohio. They have two
daughters and one son.
James Arnold Blodgett is a native of Wayne County, Ohio,
born March 30, 1836, the third son of James and Elizabeth
(Howard) Blodgett, natives of Lower Canada, and early set
tlers of Wayne County, Ohio ; later moved to Putnam County
where the father died about 1838. In 1842 the mother moved
with her family to De Kalb County, Ind., and located in Wil
mington Township near the present site of Butler. Six years
later she moved to the farm in Union Township, now owned
by our subject, where she lived till her death in 1872, aged
about seventy-six years. She was the mother of five children,
three of whom are living — Azuba, wife of Zopher Johnson ;
Perry and James A. Our subject was but six years of age
when his raother carae to Indiana, and was, therefore, reared
and educated in this county. He remained with his mother
till manhood and assisted in the cultivation of the farm. He
now owns the homestead, which contains eighty acres of fine
land, and his improvements are among the best in the county.
He is an energetic and enterprising farmer, and is also one of
the most successful stock-raisers in the township. He was mar
ried in 1868 to Lillian L., daughter of John and EHzabeth.Moser,
natives of Maryland and early settlers of De Kalb County. To
them have been born two children, but one of whom is living —
James W., born Jan. 4, 1871. S. E. died in infancy. Mr.
Blodgett has served as Constable of his township and as Road
Supervisor. Michael Boland, Auburn, Ind., was born in Toledo, Ohio, De-

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HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTy. 845
cember, 1853, a son of Patrick and Bridget (Owens) Boland.
By an accident he lost his left arm when an infant, by falling
asleep on the track of the M. S. c\: N. Ind. Railroad Company.
He was given a good education, attending the Toledo public
Schools, and later the Toledo Commercial College, from which
he graduated when sixteen years of age. In September, 1871,
he entered the office of the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern
Railroad at Archibald, Ohio, to learn telegraphy. In 1872 the
company gave him the charge of their office at Corunna, De
Kalb Co., Ind. He filled the position till the fall of 1876, when
he was elected on the Democratic ticket. Recorder of De Kalb
County, a position he held by re-election eight years. In the
faU of 1883 he becarae a stockholder in the First National Bank,
Auburn, and in January, 1884, was elected one of its Directors.
He was married Oct. 31, 1875, to Lottie, daughter of George
W. McMiller, of Corunna. They have two children — Jessie
B. and George C. Mr. Boland is entitled to much credit for
his official and business career in De Kalb County. By his in
tegrity and strict attention to business he has gained an excel
lent reputation, and his genial and pleasant intercourse with
his fellowmen has made him many friends throughout the
county. William M. Boughan, Justice of the Peace of Auburn, De
Kalb Co., Ind., moved to Auburn, De Kalb County, in Decem
ber, 1868, and became associated with Charles Klotz in the dry
goods and clothing business ; remained in that business until the
fall of 1 87 1, when he was appointed station and ticket agent
at Auburn Junction for the Eel River Railroad, now called the
Wabash; remained in that office until 1873, when he became
associated with V. A. Beard in the grocery business, under the
firm name of Beard & Co. In 1875 he retired from the firm
and the same fall was appointed ticket agent for the Baltimore
& Ohio Railroad at Auburn ; remained in that office until the
fall of 1876, when, upon the death of his wife, he resigned his
office _and went to St. Louis,. Mo. ; returned to Auburn in No
vember and married a second wife. He was in no particular
business until the summer of 1880, when he was appointed
target man at Auburn Junction for the Baltimore «& Ohio, Lake
Shore & Michigan Southern and Wabash railroads, w-hich
office he retained until the fall of 1883. Being elected to the
office of Justice of the Peace, he resigned his position with the
<'}¦' l."*-
•f •  ^ -»  a V

846 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
raUroads to attend to the duties of his office, in which he is stiU
engaged. Mr. Boughan was born in Ross County, Ohio, Nov.
12, 181 5. When four years old, he with his parents, moved to
Union County, Ohio, where, Nov. 29, 1835, he was married to
Nancy Dixon, frora Loudon County, Va. There, on the same
farm, he remained for forty years, having held several impor
tant offices of trust; served as Constable, Sheriff, Trustee,
School Director, and nine years as Justice of the Peace. He
was Captain of an Independent Rifle Company for fourteen
years, during which tirae the war between Mexico and the
United States came on, and he as Captain, with 100 men, fully
armed and equipped, volunteered to go to Mexico, but the
Governor would not let them go. He remained in Union
County, Ohio, tiU March, i860, when he moved to Richland
County, in Southern IlHnois, and carried on farming. Dec. i,
1 861, he volunteered in the service of the United States and
raised a company of 100 men, of which he was made Captain.
Dec. 10, 1861, he received a comraission from Governor Yates as
Captain of Company C, Sixty-third IlHnois Infantry, and served
in that capacity during the war ; was offered promotion quite a
number of times, which he refused, choosing rather to stay
with the men he had enhsted. He participated in twenty-six
battles, the names of which are all engraved on the sheath of
his saber, which he still retains. He was mustered out of the ser
vice at Goldsboro, N. C, April 9, 1865, after going the entire
route with Sherman through the interior of Georgia and other
States to the sea. After going to Washington City and set
tling up with the Government, he returned to his home in Illi
nois. He was wounded three tiraes, but none were very serious.
He came to Auburn, as before stated, in 1868, and in 1876 his
wife died. They had ten children, five of whom, two sons and
three daughters, are living. In the winter of the same year he
married Isabel F. Lanum. In 1880 she died, and he married
Jane L. Goldey, with whom he is now living.
John W. Boyle, Sheriff of De Kalb County, Ind., came to In
diana in 1848, and settled in Concord Township, De Kalb
County, where he followed farraing till 1868, when he moved
to Butler Township and resided there till his election to the
office of Sheriff, when he moved to Auburn. He was re-elected
for a second terra in 1884. Mr. Boyle was born near Mount
Gilead, Morrow Co., Ohio, July 24, 183 1. He was reared a

"7*

HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY. 847
farmer, remaining with his parents, John and Nancy Boyle, till
manhood. In March, 1852, he was married to Miss Elinor
Lawhead, of De Kalb County. To them have been born six
children; but three are Hving — James B., WiUiam D. and Jef
ferson N. Benjamin F. died in October, 1862, aged two years;
Lilian Samantha died in December, 1873, aged ten years;
Sarah Adella died in June, 1872, aged one year. Mr. Boyle is
politically a Democrat. He is a Master and Royal Arch Ma
son, and has filled all the stations in his lodge.
Captain J. C. Brand is a native of Ashland County, Ohio,
bom Jan. 8, 1844, a son of William and Matilda (Cline) Brand,
his father a native of New Jersey and his mother oi Pennsyl
vania. His parents were married in Ohio, and in 1849 raoved
to De Kalb County, Ind., and here he was reared and edu
cated. Occ. I, 1862, he enlisted in the Second Indiana Cavalry;
was in camp at Indianapolis about six weeks, and then started
for the South ; participated in the battles of Resaca, Lookout
Mountain, Mission Ridge, Buzzard's Roost, Chattanooga, At
lanta, march to the sea, and West Point, where he fired his last
shot at the rebels. The comraand was ordered to Macon, Ga.,
but before reaching there heard of Johnston's surrender. He
was on the raid to Tallahassie, Fla.; from there marched to
Nashville, where he was mustered out July 22, and was dis
charged July 28, 1865. He was in the service nearly three
years, and was always a brave, intrepid soldier, never shrink
ing from any duty imposed on him. His most trying experi
ence was while with General McCook on Stoneman's raid.
He, with five others, was sent to tear up a railroad, and while
crossing the Tallahatchie River he lost his horse and was cut
off by the raid. They took to the woods, and were eleven
days before they joined their comraand. The first five days
they did not have a thing to eat. On the morning of the fifth
day they got some corn bread and meat at a negro's shanty,
and from that time till they joined the command had very Httle
to eat. They were corapletely used up and nearly starved to
death. After the close of the war he returned to De Kalb
County, and has since been identified with her interests. He
is a Republican in politics, and for two years was Deputy
Sheriff under Sheriff Leas. He was raarried July 3, 1866, to
Ann Amstutz, a native of Wayne County, Ohio. They have
three children — Onie E., Gertrude M. and Frank D. He is

^:

848 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
Captain of Company A, Waterloo Rifles, Indiana Legion; is a
member of Waterloo City Lodge, No. 307, F. & A. M., and
Post No. 52, G. A. R., of which he is Junior Vice-Commander.
Isaac B. Brandon, farmer, was born near Canton, Stark Co.,
Ohio, May 12, 1836, a son of John and Mary (Beard) Brandon.
In June, 1849, his parents moved to De Kalb County, Ind., and
settled on what is now the Brandon farm, joining Auburn on
the west. With the exception of about six months that he was
clerking in Auburn he lived with his parents till 1862, assist
ing his father in the work on the farm. After his raarriage he
raoved to a farm he owned in Richland Township, and lived
there till the faU of 1873, when he raoved to the old horaestead.
In the fall Of 1874 he and his brother, Silas J., went to Ne
braska with the intention of buying land and locating, but in
their absence the father was taken sick, and upon his return he
settled perraanently on the old homestead. Mr. Brandon is a
good manager, a practical farraer and a successful business
man. He has never aspired to official honors, preferring a
quiet business Hfe. While in Richland Township he was
elected Justice of the Peace, but did not qualify. He was
married March 20, 1862, to Barbara A. Kutzner, a native of
Canton, Ohio, daughter of Isaac Kutzner. They have seven
children — Alva, a farmer of Union Township ; Ira, Orin, Asa,
Ulla, Myron and Artie, at home.
Moses Brandon is a native of Stark County, Ohio, born Oct.
25, 1824, the youngest of ten children of James and Sarah
(Campbell) Brandon, natives of Virginia. His father died in
Stark County, and the mother afterward moved with her fam
ily to Columbiana County, where she died. Moses Brandon
was engaged in contracting and manufacturing brick in Ohio.
In 1840 he bought 130 acres of land in De Kalb County, and in
1856 came to the county and began clearing the tiraber and
cultivating it. He has erected good buildings and cleared
ninety acres. For many years he and his brother Alexander
Hved together and kept bachelor's hall, but since the death of
his brother, in the summer of 1875, he has hired a family to
keep house for him. He has been a successful farmer, and has
accumulated a good property. In addition to his farm he owns
202 acres of land in Stark County, Ohio.
Silas J. Brandon, Treasurer of De Kalb County, Ind., was
born in Plain Township, Stark Co., Ohio, Dec. 29, 1840, a son

"7.

HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY. 849
of John and Mary Brandon. In 1849 he came with his parents
to Indiana and settled on a farm near Auburn, De Kalb County,
where he lived tiU manhood. In 1864 he was raarried to Miss
Maria Garver, of Auburn. He then carried on his father's
farm till 1869, when he purchased a tract of wild land which
he improved, and it is now his fine farm in Jackson Township.
In 1878 he was elected Trustee of his township; was re-elected
in 1880, serving four years. In the fall of 1884 he was elected
on the Democratic ticket, Treasurer of De Kalb County, a posi
tion he is filhng with efficiency. Mr. and Mrs. Brandon have
had five children; but four are Hving — Clement V., Clyde,
Bertha G. and John. Nora G. died July 2, 1876, aged nine
months. Henry E. Braun, proprietor of Braun's meat market, Water
loo, Ind., was born in Saxony, Gerraany, Feb. 28, 183 1. He
was reared and educated in his native country, and when eigh
teen years of age entered the German army and served two
years and seven months. In August, 1852, he came to the
United States; landed in New York, and thence proceeded to
Licking County, Ohio. He soon after settled in Fort Wayne,
Ind., where he remained tiU 1870, when he removed to Water
loo. He has been engaged in his present line of business since
coming to this country, and has met with a successful patron
age. He was married in Fort Wayne to Margaret Heath.
They have had four children ; but three are living — Katie,
Wilham and George. Mr. Braun is a member of the Knights
of Honor. In politics he has affiliated with the Deraocratic
party till the cara paign of 1884, when he voted for St. John,
the Prohibition candidate for President. His sons are also
strong advocates of^ temperance and prohibition. Mr. and
Mrs. Braun are members of the Methodist Episcopal church.
Mrs. Delia Butt, wife of John Butt, of Auburn, De Kalb
Co., Ind., was born Nov. 4, 1816, in County of Sussex, Eng
land. She was married to John Butt Nov. 16, 1840, and emi
grated to the United States in Septeraber, 1841, and settled
with her husband in De Kalb County the following November;
shared in the hardships and privations of frontier life without
repining, and now in the decline of hfe, contemplates with pleas
ing reflections, the vast improvements made in this country of
her adoption. She has witnessed its development from a vast
forest to its present splendid improvement in agriculture, com-

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850 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
merce and wealth ; where the wild deer, bear and wolf roamed,
now the iron horse of the railroads rushes through the county,
with its steam shriek and rumbling thunder.
John Butt, Recorder of De Kalb County, Ind., was bom in
London, England, Sept. 22, 18 16, a son of John and Ehzabeth
(Tranter) Butt. He was reared and educated in his native
country, and in November, 1840, was married to Delia Buss,
also of London. In 1841 they came to the United States and
settled imraediately in Jackson Township, De Kalb County,
Ind., where he found eraployraent as teacher in the pubhc
schools. In 1842 they moved to Auburn, and he was appointed
Deputy by Recorder Samuel W. Sprott. While acting in this
capacity he also wrote in the Steuben County office, for Re
corder Dr. James McConneU. In 1844 he engaged in mer
chandising in Auburn, a business he foUowed tiU 1856, when he
became proprietor of the Weaver Hotel that stood on the pres
ent site of the Swineford House. In 1865 he moved to Water
loo and was employed as bookkeeper for Jacob Kahn tiU 1868,
when he entered the employ of the Lake Shore & Michigan
Southern Railroad as freight clerk at Waterloo, serving in this
capacity tiU 1870. He then purchased the Butt's Hotel, Wa
terloo, and again engaged in the hotel business till 1882, when
he was elected Recorder of De Kalb County on the Demo
cratic ticket. Mr. Butt is the father of Freemasonry in De
Kalb County, and is also a prominent Odd Fellow. He has
held all the important offices in his lodge, chapter and com-
mandery, and also in the subordinate lodge and encampment ot
Odd Fellowship.
Jacob B. Casebeer, M. D., was born in Holmes County, Ohio,
April II, 1839; is the seventh child of thirteen chUdren born
to David and Rebecca (Kenestrick) Casebeer, natives of Penn
sylvania and Maryland, respectively, and of German descent.
The parents of David, John and Nancy (Best) Casebeer, settled
in Tuscarawas County, Ohio, when he was a child, in which the
greater portion of his after life was passed. He was married Oct.
26, 1826, to the above-mentioned lady. Nine of the thirteen
children born to them are living, viz.: Susana, Enos L., David
W., Rebecca M., Elizabeth N., Margaret C, Eliza E., Howard
M. and Jacob B. Sarah A,, Martha J., John and Joshua are
deceased. Mr. Casebeer possessed an exemplary character, in
which were harmoniously blended those admirable traits which

^r

^^^.6^/%. '2f.

jV'

HISTORY OF DE K.\LB COUNTY. 85 1
SO grandly embeUish the life and career of the honorable and
just. He was soundly converted at the age of six years, and
ever after every deed and act of his life was animated by a
pure Christian spirit. He lived nearly eighty years after his
conversion, during which time he was an active and consistent
member of the Methodist Episcopal church. His death oc
curred February 25, 1885, aged eighty-five years and four days.
Mrs. Casebeer was a daughter of John and Sarah (Hivner)
Kenestrick, and a most estimable woraan, who possessed those
sterhng qualities of mind and heart, which alone give grace
and beauty to the highest types of true womanhood. As a
wife and mother, no praise can comraensurate what the deeds
and acts of her life justly merit. Christianity was the illumin
ation which lighted her along life's pathway, and what she
professed in the Methodist Episcopal church of which she was
a useful member, she practiced in the daily walks of life. Her
death occurred at Fredericksburgh, Ohio, July 18, 1873, aged
sixty -four years, one month and seventeen days. The early life
of the subject of this sketch was passed In a manner common
with farmers' sons. He attended a district school during the
winter seasons, in which, by close application to study, he had
mastered the rudimentary branches when only thirteen years
of age. He then attended the Middleton High School, two
and a half miles from horae, — to and frora which he walked
night and morning during a few terms. He was successful in
passing a rigid examination by the County Board of Examin
ers, and the ensuing winter taught a country school ; subse
quently he attended the Fredericksburgh seminary for several
seasons, which was alternated by teaching winter schools, and
was eminently successful, having won by the faithful perform
ance of duty, the confidence and esteem of both patrons and
pupils. At the age of twenty he went to Kentucky and en
gaged in teaching, first in a district school and afterward in a
select school at Stephensburg, where he won an enviable repu
tation as an instructor. During the latter period of his terra
of school at the above place, the " war feehng " began to per
vade the minds and hearts of the " fire eating " Kentuckians,
who never lost an opportunity to personally annoy the "school-
teaching Yank" (a term derisively used by the unenhghtened,
and at that time unterrified ones), and numerous written im
perative comraands did he receive, ordering his prompt depart-

T

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852 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
ure from " Dixie's land." Despite the threats of violence trom
the more radical ones, as well as the milder requests from con
servative sources, he manfully stood his ground till his term of
school by virtue of contract had expired, at which time he
crossed the Ohio River into the patriotic atraosphere of the
loyal North. The presidential election of i860 came off sev
eral raonths previous to his departure, and on the morning of
said election he astonished the " natives " by presenting hiraself
at the polls. Abolition ticket in hand, and although violence was
threatened if he persisted in voting for Mr. Lincoln, he boldly
declared hiraself a citizen of the Governraent and a legal voter
of the State, and deraanded to be peaceably allowed to exercise
the right of suffrage as guaranteed to such in the Constitution
of the United States. His fearlessness and cool determination
so disconcerted the excited rabble opposed to hira that his Re
publican ticket was forraally entered on the election books (a
mode of voting then in vogue in Kentucky), and afterward re
ceived due credit in the count, as did that of his brother, L.
Casebeer, there being only two Republican ballots voted in
that precinct. For one year following his return to Ohio he
taught the Middleton school, and the subsequent year was
Principal of the Fredericksburgh graded school, in which he
won new honors as an educator and disciplinarian. During
this latter terra of school he began reading medicine under the
direction of Dr. Jaraes Martin, a skillful physician of more than
local note, who was his preceptor till the winter of 1863-64,
at which tirae he matriculated at tbe University of Ann Arbor
(Michigan) School of Medicine and Surgery. After taking a
course of lectures he returned to his former tutor's office, and
soon after the Government Medical Purveyor of Ohio ap
pointed and assigned him to duty in the Dennison U. S. A.
Hospital at Cincinnati, Ohio. In February, 1865, he was com
missioned by Governor Tod, of Ohio, Assistant Surgeon of the
One Hundred and Third Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry.
He immediately joined his regiment in North Carolina, with
which he served till after the war was over. He was honor
ably discharged from the United States' service, June 27, 1865,
in Cleveland, Ohio. Subsequent to his return to civil life he
entered the Bellevue Hospital Medical College, New York,
which institution conferred on him the degree of Doctor of
Medicine, March i, 1866. Immediately thereafter he located in

1>-P==^

HISTORY OF DE K.\LB C-()UNTY. 853
Auburn, where since he has devoted himself to the demands of
a large, constantly increasing and remunerative practice, in
which he has been eminently successful. He is devoted to his
profession — a hard student, sparing neither labor nor expense
to keep himself well abreast of the foremost in the rapid ad
vancement of the sciences of medicine and surgery. His library
of medical works is large and well chosen, embracing volumes
of all best known authors, and in his cabinet is to be found all
modern appliances and instruments which facilitate operations
in the most delicate cases, and give an approximation to safety
before unknown In the raore hazardous ones. His writings
have gained for hira considerable celebrity as an author ; two
of his papers, written at the request of the American Medical
Association, before which they were read, have been exten
sively copied by leading journals of the United States, receiv
ing favorable comment wherever they appeared. He has also
written numerous articles which have been read before the
County and Northeastern Indiana Medical associations, which
never failed to elicit meritorious praise for their conciseness
and logic. There is in all his productions a style peculiarly
laconic and terse, yet so comprehensible as to be entirely de
void of ambiguity. Of all the above societies he is a valued
member, and of the last mentioned he is ex-President. Socially
the Doctor is urbane and complaisant in speech and manner ;
never indulges in sophisra nor pedantic generalities ; is raethod-
ical and systematic in all his doings ; and his conclusions are al
ways founded on honest convictions, and if ever wrong he has
the moral courage and frankness to admit his error. He is an
uncompromising antagonist to imraorality of every kind. For
a quarter of a century he has been an acceptable, active and
consistent raeraber of the Methodist Episcopal church — a
greater portion of which time he has served on the official
board. In the religious, as in every other relation of life, the
Doctor is no laggard, shirking responsibilities and content with
the s.-naU " portion " passive inactivity always begets, but an
energetic worker, whose reward is always comraensurate with
the efforts made to secure it. He stands perfectly erect ; is of
medium height ; solidly or compactly built; his movements are
quick, and graced with a business-Hke air that gives weight to
his presence; is fluent and inteUigible in conversation, the
whole combining with an agreeability that makes hira justly
54

^>

854 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
popular with all. He has been twice married. To his first
wife, Hattie G., daughter of Eli B. and Fannie Smith, of Fred
ericksburgh, Ohio, he was united in marriage in 1863. One
child is the fruit of their union — Fannie R. Mrs. Casebeer de
parted this Hfe Jan. 28, 1869, aged twenty-seven years, nine
months and eleven days. His second marriage was celebrated
with Sarah E., daughter of William and Margaret (Carr) Ny-
cura, of Fort Wayne, Ind., June 4, 1873, by whora he has had
one child — Hattie E., an unusually sweet-tempered and intelli
gent, lovely little girl.
James N. Chamberlain, M. D., is a native of Cayuga County,
N. Y., born March 22, 1822. His father, Samuel Chamberlain,
was a native of Adams County, Pa., near Gettysburg, and when
a young man went to Cayuga CoUnty, where he met and mar
ried Mercy Cotton, a native of Vermont. To them were born
twelve children, nine of whom lived till maturity. The father
died in 1865, and the mother in 1881. James N. was educated
in the district school and the academy in Cayuga. In 1844 he
went to Ohio and taught school in Richland and Huron coun
ties several terms. In the spring of 1845 he began the study ot
medicine, and subsequently attended the Western Reserve
Medical CoUege at Cleveland, graduating with honors in Feb
ruary, 1849. f^s located in Seneca County, but soon after
returned to Plymouth, Richland County, where he remained
tiU 1852. Then Hved a year in Huron County, and in the faff
of 1853 came to Indiana and located at Auburn, and in 1865 re
moved to Waterloo where he has built up a large practice. He
is one of the raost prorainent physicians of the county, and is
held in high esteera, not only by the pubhc, but by his brethren
in the profession. He is a raeraber of the Northeastern and the
DeKalb County Medical societies. In i860 Dr. Chamberlain
was elected Sheriff of De Kalb County and served two years.
In the early part of 1865 he entered the United States army as
Surgeon of the One Hundred and Fifty-second Indiana Infantry
and served till the close of the war. Dr. Chamberlain has
always taken an interest in local affairs outside his profession,
and has been an active member of the Agricultural Society ;
was the first President of the society, and served nine consecu
tive years. He is a man of more than ordinary ability, and one
capable of fiUing acceptably any position to which he may be
called. Dr. Chamberlain was married March 29, 1849, to
'v'l® — - --— .K

HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY. 855
Catherine H. Brink, a native of Ohio. Two of their four chil
dren are hving — Ida, wife of Judge R. W. McBride, and Ella
E., wife of John W. Baxter, of Auburn. Laura married John
M. Somers, of Waterloo, and died Aug. 27, 1884. Mrs. Cham
berlain died March 26, 1861. She was an active raeraber of the
Presbyterian church, and was highly respected by all who
knew her. In 1862 Dr. Chamberlain married Sarah Thomas, a
native of Wayne County, Ohio. They have two children —
Harry D. and Nettie E. Politically Dr. Chamberlain is a Re
publican. Lyman Chidsey was born in the State of New York, and in his
youth removed with his parents to Medina County, Ohio
whence in 1841 he came to this county, where till his death, a
period of nearly forty years, he resided. Jan. 11, 1844, he was
married to a daughter of the late John Somers, Eliza, who sur
vives him. Shortly after their raarriage they moved upon the
farm adjoining Auburn, on which he breathed his last. Mr.
Chidsey was a quiet and retiring man, and because of his
early removal to new and unsettled portions of the country,
had not the advantages of early education as our youths now
have. He was a man of raany virtues in his character, of a
sound judgment, and of enlarged views of man and his obliga
tions. His mind was always open for information and to
reason, and when made up was firm and unswerving, as was
his attachment to family and friends. His neighbors and asso
ciates always knew his convictions, which he maintained with
reason and judgment, and always on the side of morality and in
the interest of and for the good of society. His neighbors and
friends realized these good qualities in our friend and neighbor,
as was evidenced by the large concourse who, regardless of the
severe inclemency of the weather, attended the funeral frora
the Presbyterian church, of which denomination he had been a
member for several years. Thus Hved and died a good raan
(God's noblest work), a pioneer of the county, leaving to mourn
his loss, a widow and one child, Mrs. William Ashleman, and
hosts of friends and neighbors.
Orrin C. Clark, a pioneer of De Kalb County, was born near
Beldingsville, Onondago Co., N. Y., May 6, 1825, a son of
Henry and Betsy (Tappen) Clark, with whom he lived at his
birthplace till seventeen years of age. In 1842 they came to
Indiana and settled in Butler Township, De Kalb County.

^•VK

 s't/

856 - HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.

had but limited educational advantages, but by private study
and observation he acquired a reasonable business education.
He remained at home till twenty years of age, but in the mean
tirae had worked for the neighboring farraers, and although a
part of the time he had been paid but $1 1 a month, he had been
economical and in 1845 had saved enough to buy eighty acres
of wild land in Butler Township. He continued to work out
for two years, mostly at chopping, and at odd times worked on
his own land, and by the time he was married, in 1847, had con
siderable of it cleared. He lived on different farms in Butler
Township till 1882, when he retired from agricultural pursuits
and moved to Aubum. He has served several terms as Justice
of the Peace and Assessor of Butler Township, and two terms
as Trustee of Keyser Township, and has been the nominee of
the Republican party for Sheriff, Commissioner, and Represent
ative to the State Legislature. Oct. 1 7, 1 847, he was married
to Serena, daughter of Paul and Susannah Long, of Butler
Township. She was born in Champaign County, Ohio, Oct.
14, 1832, and came to De Kalb County, Ind., in 1841. They
have eight children Hving at this date, and have buried three.
Those now living are — Harriet, wife of John Huston ; Harvey,
a farmer ; Frank, a dealer in live-stock and butcher at Garrett ;
Nettie, Elmer, Origin, Mary and Roxanna at home. Mr. and
Mrs. Clark are merabers of the Protestant Methodist church.
He is a raeraber of the Masonic lodge at Garrett; was one of
the charter raembers, and has served as Treasurer. For thirty
years he was a strong Abolitionist, and now an earnest, active
Prohibitionist. /. N. Cool, manufacturer of buggies and carriages. Auburn,
Ind., is a native of De Kalb County, Ind., born in Jackson
Township, Oct. 12, 1850. He is the second son and third child
•of Isaac and Catherine (Snyder) Cool, natives of New York and
early settlers of De Kalb County, coming here in 1843. He
was reared on a farm, receiving his early education in the dis
trict schools and completing it at the Auburn Academy. While
attending school he taught for a time. After reaching his
majority he began to clerk in a general store in Auburn, and a
year later became associated with his employer in the grocery
department. He subsequently bought his partner's interest
and carried on the business alone two years. Then sold out
and engaged in the livery business five years, and in 188 1 estab-

^1

HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY. 857
lished his present business. He manufactures all kinds of
buggies and carriages, and does a general repairing business.
Mr Cool was married July 16, 1877, to AUie Fair, daughter of
Abraham and Christina (Delong) Fair, early settlers of De Kalb
County from Dayton, Ohio. They have three children — Vina
F., Sidney M., and FrankUn C. Politically Mr. Cool is a Dem
ocrat. James R. Cosper, a pioneer of Union Township, was bom in
Tompkins County, N. Y., Feb. 20, 1813. His grandfather,
John Cosper, was a native. of Saxony; came to America in in
fancy; settled in New Jersey where he grew to manhood; mar
ried, and to hira were born three children. Early in the war for
Independence, his wife and two children were killed by Indians.
He then enlisted and served seven years. At the close of the
war, he again married and finally died in Pennsylvania. Of a
second faraily, the eldest, David Cosper, father of the subject
of our sketch, lived in New Jersey until eighteen, when he re
moved to Torapkins County, N. Y., where he raarried. In 1812
he entered the army; was engaged at Fort George, Chippewa,
Lundy's Lane and Niagara ; at the last-named place was severely
wounded. Returned home and subsequently moved to Penn
sylvania where he lived ten years, when he went to Ohio
and settled in Knox County. In February, 1841, he came to
De Kalb County, Ind., settled upon a sraall farm in Concord
Township where he died, Jan 27, 1868, aged eighty-five years.
James R. Cosper learned the carpenter's trade in his youth,
was married February, 1835, to Mary McKay, and in May fol
lowing migrated to Knox County, and settled in Chesterville,
where he worked at his trade until 1841, when he purchased
land in De Kalb County, Ind. He lived one year in Aubum
and then returned to the farm where he still resides. He
worked at carpentry and with the means thus provided, hired
the chopping of his land. He put up his own buildings. He
was burned out in 1850 and during the sarae year lost heavily in
stock. Not discouraged by these losses he again took up his
tools, and in tirae retrieved thera. His land is now under a
good state of cultivation. He has a good residence and capacious
barns. Of eight children four are living; two died in infancy.
The eldest son, Jaraes S., was a raost promising young man;
learned the trade of his father, and also taught school. At the
outbreak of the civil war he enlisted in Company E, Eleventh

T

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'858 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
Indiana Zouaves, and was killed at the battle of Champion
HUls, Mississippi, on May 16, 1863. A coraraission as Lieuten
ant reached the carap the day of his death. Mildred, second
daughter, was educated as a teacher; raarried, had two children,
and died in 1867. Anna Z. Cosper was born in Auburn, in
September, 1841; became a teacher; was a nurse in the hospitals
•of Murfreesboro, Tenn.; taught a colored school under the
auspices of the Christian Coraraission; married Wm, H.
Mcintosh, and resides in Auburn. Florence, third daughter,
married H. P Colgrove, and Hves in Kansas; Byron A. and
Frank B., sons, are married and live upon the farm.
John A. Cowan, M. D., was born in Decatur, Adams Co., Ind.,
March i, 1843, a son of Israel R. and Eliza A. Cowan. He re
mained with his parents till 1862, receiving a high school
education. In August, 1862, he enlisted in Company H,
Eighty-ninth Indiana Infantry, and served till the close of the
war; was discharged at Mobile, Ala., Aug. 19, 1865. He par
ticipated in thirty-seven battles; was shghtly wounded twice,
and was taken prisoner three times. He escaped from his
captors twice and was exchanged once. After his discharge he
returned home and taught during the winter, working on the
farm the rest of the year for three years. In the meantime he
commenced the study of medicine under the tutelage of Dr. T.
T. Dorwin, of Decatur. In the winter of i868-'69, he attended
lectures at Rush Medical College, Chicago, III.; subsequently
attended Detroit Medical College, from which he graduated
June 9, 1869. In February, 1870, he located in Auburn and
succeeded in building up a large practice. He was married
Sept. 9, 1869, to Lydia A. Teeple, of Decatur. To them were,
born two children— Jennie and Annis. Mr. Cowan was a mem
ber of the De Kalb Lodge, No. 214, F. & A. M., and DeLong
Post, No. 67, G. A. R., of Auburn. He died June 18, 1885, of
disease contracted while in the service of his country.
Mathew Crooks, one of the pioneers of De Kalb County, Ind.,
was born in TrumbuU County, Ohio, AprU 10, 18 16, a son of
WiUiam and Jane (Nixon) Crooks; his father a native of Penn
sylvania, and his mother of Maryland. When he was sixteen
years old his father died, leaving the care of eleven children to
the mother In 1833 he came to De Kalb County, but remained
only a short time, returning to Trumbull County in the spring
of 1834. In 1836 he came again to De Kalb County and worked

.^1' — ^ - — *k,
HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY. 859
by the dav for farmers and on the canal several \ ears. In 1850
he bought the farm in I'nion Township where he has since
lived. He owns eighty acres of good land, valued at $75 an
acre. He was married in July, 1844, to Nancy Bryan, a native
of Lancaster County, Ohio. To them were born twelve chil
dren, seven of whom are living — Marinda, Sheldon, Almond,
Barbara, Amanda, George and Alice. Mrs. Crooks died April
20, 1SS4. Politically, Mr. Crooks was originally a Whig, cast
ing his first Presidential vote for Harrison, but later has affili
ated with the Republican party. When he first came to the
county it was covered with timber and infested with wild ani
mals. He was a noted hunter, and was often hired by the set
tlers to hunt for them, as their only meat was game. He relates
many interesting anecdotes of his adventures in the early settle
ment of the county, incidents of thrilling interest, especially to
all lovers of the hunt, as he has had many hair-breadth escapes
from death by wild animals.
R. N. Crooks, farmer and stock-raiser, Union Township, was
bom in Trumbull County, Ohio, near Warren, Dec 9, 1830, a
son of William and Jane (Norris) Crooks, and grandson of Henry
Crooks, a native of Scotland, who eraigrated to America in an
early day. William Crooks was one of the first settlers of
Trumbull County, and was raarried there to Jane Norris, an
early settler of the county, of Irish descent. Eleven of their
thirteen children grew to maturity. Mr. Crooks, Sr., was a
very energetic man and an active worker in the interest of the
county. He was a very large man, he and two brothers being
known as the " great race." When our subject was two years
of age his father died, and the next year he went with his mother
to Cuyahoga County, Ohio, and was there reared and educated,
and there his mother died in July, 1850. He was married in
1850 to Melvina Reynolds, who only lived three months and
two days after her marriage. In November, 1852, he married
Mary Ann Burdick. Of the sixteen children born to them,
thirteen are hving — Martha L., wife of Christopher Newcomer;
Linna, wife of B. F. Frets; Hattie M., wife of George Crowd ;
Lucy H., Mary Rebecca, Eudora, Laura, Robert W., Fred
erick E., Victor H., Burton B., Clyde E. and James. Mr.
Crooks came to DeKalb County in July, 1859, and purchased
a farm on section 11, Union Township. He owns a fine farra
of 120 acres, valued at $75 an acre. In politics Mr. Crooks was

86o HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
originally a Republican, but later has affiliated with the Green
back party. He has held the office of Township Trustee six
years, and was also electd Sheriff on the Greenback ticket. He
is a meraber of Waterloo Lodge, No. 307, F. & A. M., and has
passed all the chairs in the Odd Fellows' order ; is also a mem
ber of the Knights of Honor.
Captain E. B. Cutter is a native of North Hadley, Hampshire
Co., Mass., born Oct. 12, 1831, a son of Elam and Mary (Gay
lord) Cutter. His great-grandfather, Jairus Cutter, came to
America with the Pilgriras in the Mayflower. His great-grand-
raother, Susan Bowraan, was living in Charlestown at the time
of the battle of Bunker Hill, and carried water to the gunners.
She died in Boston at the age of 100 years, two months and five
days. His Grandfather Cutter was a soldier in the Revolu
tion, and his father in the war of 1812. Our subject was
reared in his native county, and when sixteen years of age be
gan to learn the carpenter and joiner's trade of his father. In
the spring of 185 1 he went to Walworth County, Wis., and
raised the first crop of tobacco in that State for a man named
Isaiah Hibbard. In 1852 he went to Texas, where he helped to
build the first steam saw and grist raill in Bonhara, Fannin
County. He then built a cotton-gin and mill in Grayson County,
and in 1853 went to Santa Fe, New Mexico, for his health, but
soon after returned home. In the spring of 1856 he came to
Indiana and spent a year in Steuben County, and there
met Miss Eliza Vinton, to whora he was married May 19,
1856. May 3, 1857, he moved to Waterloo, where he foUowed
millwrighting and house building till Aug. 6, 1862, when he
enlisted in Company A, Eighty-eighth Indiana Infantry, as a
private. At his first battle, Perryville, he was promoted to Or
derly Sergeant ; at Stone River, to Sergeant, and soon after to
Second Lieutenant. He participated in the battles of Chicka
mauga, Lookout Mountain and Mission Ridge, and in Decem
ber, 1863, was coraraissioned Captain for his bravery, having
previously risen to the rank of First Lieutenant. • He was sub
sequently in the Atlanta carapaign and in all the engagements
of the Fourteenth Army Corps, comprising Dalton, Resaca,
Pumpkin Vine, New Hope Church, Kenesaw Mountain, Mari
etta, Chattahoochee River, Peach Tree Creek and siege of
Atlanta. After the battle of Atlanta he was given a leave of ab
sence, and subsequently was on detached service under General

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HISTORY OF DE KALB CCUTNTY. 86 1
Thomas, and engaged in the battle of Nashville and the pursuit
after Hood. He was then stationed at Whitesides a short
time ; soon after joined his former command at Goldsboro, and
with it participated in the battle at Raleigh where his cora
mand captured a rebel flag, a part of which is still in his posses
sion. At the time of Sherman's and Johnston's armistice and
Lincoln's assassination he was at Martha's Vineyard, N. C, and
marched from there with his command to Washington. He
participated in the grand review at Washington where he was
mustered out, and June i6, 1865, was discharged at Indianap
olis. He then returned to Waterloo where he has since
resided. He has followed the millwright's trade, and has built
mills in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Flori
da. He helped to erect the first grist-mill in Waterloo, De
Kalb Co. To Captain Cutter and wife have been born six chil
dren — Carrie, Fancy, Charles, George, Frederick and Earl. He
is a member of Waterloo City Lodge, No. 307, F. & A. M., and
Wm. Hacker Chapter, No. 63, R. A. M. In politics he is a
Republican, and has twice been nominated by his party as can
didate for Sheriff.
Orris Danks, dealer in boots and shoes, Waterloo, Ind., was
born in Onondaga County, N. Y., July 16, 1815, a son of Be-
noni and Phoebe (Earle) Danks, natives of New York. His
grandfather, Robert Earle, was a soldier in the war of the Rev
olution, and subsequently a very prominent man of his town.
Our subject was reared on a farm, but received a good educa
tion for an early day. In 1836 he left his native horae and
started for the West to buy a home, and liking the looks of the
country in De Kalb County, Ind., bought a tract of land on
section 13, Smithfield Township, on which he lived two years,
clearing the land of tiraber and preparing it for cultivation. In
1838 he returned to New York where, in 1840, he was married
to Euseba, daughter of WilHam Brown. In the fall of 1841 he
moved to De Kalb County and settled on his land, in a little
log cabin 16x20 feet in dimensions. The young couple were
poor in purse, but rich in arabition and perseverance, and with
a determination to make a horae for theraselves and their fara
ily, laughed at all difficulties and obstacles, and bravely en
dured privation that they raight gain the end for which they
toiled. After sharing his cares and participating in his joys
eleven years, the young wife died in 185 1, leaving two chil-

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862 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
dren — Charles O., who enlisted in the fall of 1861 in the Forty-
fourth Indiana Infantry, and died at Battle Creek, Tenn., in
August, 1862, and Ella, now the wife of Frederick Waterman,
of De Kalb County. In the spring of 1862 Mr. Danks moved
his faraily to Waterloo and forraed a partnership in the hard
ware business under the firm name of St. Clair & Co. In 1870
he sold his interest and engaged in the grocery and boot and
shoe business, but in 1874 disposed of his stock of groceries and
has since devoted his attention to the boot and shoe trade. He
was married in 1852 to Miss Estella Booge, who died in 1863,
leaving one child — Emma, now the wife of Wm. H. Leas, at
torney, of Waterloo. In 1864 Mr. Danks married Sarah A.
Jones. He has been a prominent man in the township, and
has served in raany official positions.
A. Byron Darby, M.D., is a native of Fulton County, Ohio,
born Nov. 18, 1839, a son of Samuel Bryant and Sephama
(Guilford) Darby, his father a native of Vermont and his
mother of Massachusetts. His parents were married in AUc-
gany County, State of New York, in 1826, and in 1836 emigrated
to what was then Henry, now Fulton County, Ohio, with two
yoke of oxen and lumber wagon (one of the yokes then used is
still in the possession of the Doctor). Being among the first
settlers of the county, Samuel B. Darby helped organize the
first township in the county ; kept the first postoffice; taught
the first school and opened the first store which he carried on
for several years. In early hfe he was a Democrat, but after
its organization affihated with the Repubhcan party, and was a
member of the Convention which nominated J. C. Fremont,
and also Abraham Lincoln to the Presidency. Samuel Bryant
Darby died July 15, 1884, aged seventy-seven years. Sepharna
Darby is yet living, aged seventy-four years. They had a fam
ily of nine children, four of whomare living. A. Byron Darby
attended Alfred CoUege in Allegany County, N. Y., and subse
quently Oberlin College, Ohio, where he paid his school ex
penses by teaching and working hours not required for study.
Having early in Hfe had the desire to study medicine, in 1862
and 1863 after reading the necessary textbooks, he attended the
Eclectic Medical CoUege at Cincinnati, Ohio, from which he
graduated in the spring of the latter year. After his graduation
he located at Flint, Ind., and practiced in partnership with Dr.
H. L. Smith a year, when Dr. Smith raoved from the place
jO'J'  't^
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HISTORY OF DE K.VI.l". COUNTY. 863
and left him the only physician tiicre. He built up a large
practice, but his health becoming impaired, in 1864 he moved to
Waterloo, De Kalb County, Ind., and has met with equally as
good success here as in his former location. He is a member of
the State Medical Socict\-, the Northeastern Indiana Med
ical Association and the De Kalb County Medical Society,
and enjoys the confidence and esteem of his colleagues in
the profession, as well as of the families who employ him.
He has been Secretary of the Board of Health of Waterloo
since the organization of the Board. Being of a genial,
but dignified and calm presence, he inspires the confidence
of his patients, and his syrapathetic and kindly nature wins
for him their love and esteem. Dr. Darby was married
April 28, 1864, to Linda M. Huyck, youngest daughter of
John T. and Lucinda ( Basil) Huyck, the former of whom
was born In the State of New York and the latter in the State
of Vermont. Dr. A. Byron and Mrs. Darby have three children
— Hadsell Byron, born June 3, 1865; Frank Wm.,born Feb. 11,
i868, and their daughter Verna, born Nov. 6, 1878. The Doc
tor and his wife are raembers of the Church of Christ and
workers in the Sunday-school. He is a member of Waterloo
Lodge, No. 307, F. & A. M., also No. 1,436, K. of IT. He is a
strong supporter of the teraperance cause, and lends his influ
ence at every opportunity in his practice to encourage raen to
be teraperate, that they raay not only preserve their health,
but their character also.
Joh7i Davis, deceased, was born in Onondago County, N.
Y., April 13, 1813, the son of Soloraon and M'argaret (Bally)
Davis, natives of Holland. When he was eighteen years of age
his parents moved to Ohio and settled in Huron County.
There he learned the ^rade of a carpenter and raarried Miss
Jane Messner, a native of Dauphin County, Pa. After their
marriage they raoved to Crawford County, Ohio, and in 1847
came to De Kalb County, Ind., and settled on a farm two miles
north of Auburn, which he cultivated and on which he put
good improvements. He was a prominent raan of his township
and served as Justice of the Peace tvs^o terms; also served his
township as Trustee. He was widely known and universally
respected. He was a member of Auburn Lodge, No. 221,
I. O. O. F. He died June 16, 1882. His widow lives on the
homestead. She was born Dec. 31, 1820. She is the mother

864 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
of five children ; two are living — Margaret, wife of E. D. Raub,
and Eda, wife of C. D. Reed. Ida, Jay and Ado are deceased.
Ezra Dickenson, a retired farmer of Auburn, was born in
Sharon, Litchfield Co., Conn., Aug. 26, 1798. He was reared
a farmer, Hving with his parents tiU his majority. In 1819
he went to Ohio and located in Johnson Township, Trum
bull County, where he bought a tract of wild land which
he cleared and cultivated, residing there till 1836, when he
carae to Indiana and entered 120 acres of Governraent land in
Concord Township, De Kalb County. In 1842, having three
children who were mutes, he sold his farm in Concord Town
ship and bought one near Hicksville, Ohio, that his children
might have the advantage of the deaf and dumb asylura. In
1852 he sold his farm, and returned to De Kalb County and
bought a farm in Wilmington Township where he Hved tiU
1880, when, feehng the infirmities of old age creeping on, he sold
his farra and bought a residence in Auburn that he might spend
the rest of his Hfe in a more quiet manner. When he came to
Indiana, De Kalb County was a dense wilderness. Indians were
plenty, but white people scarce. There were no roads, and
oxen were the only teams used. He was one of the first Petit
Jurymen of the first Circuit Court of De Kalb County. The
first court was held in a log house on the site of the present
court-house in Auburn. The jail was a loft over the court-room,
which was entered through a hole in the floor, and the ladder
taken away to prevent the escape of prisoners. The nearest
markets were Fort Wayne and Hicksville. While Hving in
Wilmington Township, Mr. Dickenson served four years as
Justice of the Peace. In 1861 when, in his sixty-third year, he
enlisted in Company F, Forty-fourth Indiana Infantry, barely
passing the examination of the mustering officer, who took him
to be about forty-five. April 3, 1862, he was discharged for
disability. He is living with his fifth Vife who was Mrs. Re
becca (Waldron) Sibert, to whom he was married April 22, 1882.
He is the father of twelve children, eight of whom are living.
He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and his
wife of the Lutheran church. He is a member of DeLong
Post, No. (>T, G. A. R. He has affiliated with the Republican
party since its organization.
William H. Dills, attorney at law. Auburn, Ind., was born in
Dearborn County, Ind., March 15, 1834, a son of Jacob and

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HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY. 865

Tena (Dawson) Dills. In 1S44 his parents moved to DeKalb
County and settled in Spencerville, where he grew to manhood.
He was educated in the pifblic schools and a select school in
Fort Wayne. When nineteen \ears of age he was employed
as civil engineer by the Pittsburg, Ft. Wayne & Chicago Rail
road, working in this capacity about a year when, in 1854, he
began the study of law under the preceptorship of his uncle-
Judge R. J. Dawson, of Spencerville, and in 1855 and 1856 at
tended the law school at Greencastle, Ind., and after his grad
uation was admitted to the bar. In October, 1856, he was
elected Prosecutor of the Coraraon Pleas District composed ol
De Kalb and Steuben counties, and the same year located in
Auburn where he has since pursued his practice. During his
residence in Auburn he has held various official positions,
among others Town Clerk, and attorney for the town and
county. He has been identified in the movements to secure
the various railroads through Auburn, and at tiraes has been
connected with the local press, editorially and otherwise. He
has always been identified with the Democratic party, and has
taken an active part in politics, as speaker and writer, in both
county and State. In 1882 he was a candidate for Circuit
Judge, but was defeated by a small majority. In 1884 he was
elected one of the Democratic electors, and took an active part
in the campaign. He has the distinction of being the only man
from De Kalb County that ever voted directly for the Presi
dent and Vice-President of the United States, and also of re
ceiving the largest number of votes from the people, of any
resident in his Congressional District, viz.: 244,992. He has
been Secretary of the De Kalb County Pioneer Association
since its organization in 1876. He has been twice raarried.
His first wife was Miss Emily A. Ralston, of Auburn, by whom
he has two children — Frank and Kittie. May 30, 1879, he mar
ried his second wife, Mrs. Julia May (Miner) Brandon.
James Dragoo, a pioneer of De Kalb County, Ind., was born
near Hayesville, Ohio, Aug. 5, 18 17. He was the sixth of
nine sons of Frederick and Martha (Angel) Dragoo. He came
to De Kalb County in 1837 and entered land in Jackson and
Concord townships. Then returned to Ohio and remained till
1841, engaged in farming. In 1841 he raoved to De Kalb
County and settled in Concord Township where he improved
a farm of 125 acres, on which he lived till 1874 when he rented

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866 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
his farm and moved to Auburn. While living in Concord
Township he served as Justice of the Peace nine years. He
has been variously engaged in vftrious branches of business
since coming to De Kalb County. At one time he was associ
ated with John P- Widney in the mercantile business. At
another he bought hogs and cattle and shipped to the Eastern
markets, and in an early day he bought cattle and horses which
he drove to raarkets in Illinois and Wisconsin. He has been
twice married. First, in August, 1838, he married Zerniah
Johnson, who died in Concord Township in March, 1873. In
September, 1874, he married Mrs. Hannah Ferrell, of New
castle, Pa. They have one son — Harry D. A son, Terry, died
March 4, 1877, and a daughter, Clarissa, died July 11, 1880.
Mr. Dragoo has three adopted daughters — Sarah H., now the
wife of E. Burke, of Monroe County, Ohio; Harriet, wife of
H. P. Culbertson, of Auburn, and Charlotte, wife of Jeremiah
Davis, of Jackson Township.
George H Dunn, the only son of George and Sarah A. (Miller)
Dunn, was born in DeKalb County, Ind., May 21, 1861. His
father was a native of De Kalb County and his mother of Ohio.
His father died before his birth and his mother found a home
with Joseph Gardner, by whora he was reared and educated.
He obtained a good common-school education, and was early
taught the rules of agriculture, which enabled him as he grew
older to become successful in that branch of business. He has
always raade Mr. Gardner's house his horae, and now has
charge of and superintends his farm. He has raade a specialty
of stock-raising, and has sorae of the finest grades of cattle and
sheep in the county. He is an energetic and industrious young
man, and is one of the progressive and enterprising young farm
ers of Union Township. He was married Feb. 12, 1885, to
Alraettie, daughter of Gilbert Showers, of this county. He
and his wife are raembers of the United Brethren church, and
he has been Superintendent of the Sunday-school. He is a Re
publican in politics, and an active worker in the ranks.
Edward Eldridge has been a resident of Auburn since 1852,
coraing here from Fort Wayne, Ind. He was born in Sussex,
England, March 24, 1826. "When fifteen years of age he left his
parents and emigrated to the United States. He landed in
New York City, where he remained and was variously em
ployed three years, when, in 1844, he came to Indiana and

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HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNIY. 867
located in Fort Wayne, aiid there worked at the carpenter and
cabinet-maker's trades till 1852. He then came to Auburn and
worked at the cabinet-maker's trade till 1861. Since 1861 he
has been engaged in either the grocery or saloon business. At
present he is running a saloon. He was married Jan. 15, 1861,
to Salinda McDowell, of Auburn. They have two children —
Jenkenson, a compositor in the Republican office, and James D.,
a tailor of Auburn.
Richard Elson, D. D. S., Auburn, Ind., was born in Stark
County, Ohio, Oct. 28, 1839, a son of Thoraas W. and Ann
(Baker) Elson. When he was about a year old his parents
moved to New Pittsburg, Wayne Co., Ohio, where he was
reared, remaining with them till manhood. In September,
1 861, he enlisted, at Wooster, Ohio, in Company C, Sixteenth
Ohio Infantry, and served till 1864. He participated in the
battle of Cumberland Gap, and at the charge raade at Chicka
saw Bayou, near Vicksburg, by General Sherraan, in Decera
ber, 1862, was seriously wounded, and was sent to the hospital
at Paducah, Ky. After his recovery he was detailed Hospital
Steward at St. Mark's Hospital, Paducah, and reraained there
till discharged at the expiration of his term of service. While
in the service he was commissioned Second Lieutenant of the
Eighth United States Heavy Artillery by General Thomas, but
declined to serve on account of poor health. After his dis
charge he returned to New Pittsburg, and the following winter
taught school. In the spring of 1865 he came to Auburn and
engaged in the drug business till 1868, when he began the
study of dentistry under Dr. W. K. Simpson, and practiced at
Auburn till 1883, when he took a course of lectures at the
Indiana Dental CoUege, Indianapolis, graduating as D. D. S.,
March 5, 1884. While there he was appointed Demonstrator
in the operative department. He is now perraanently located
in Auburn, where he is reaping the reward of a well-established
professional reputation. In April, 1867, he raarried Helen Alda
Ailing, of Auburn, a granddaughter of Wylys Griswold, one of
the oldest pioneers of De Kalb County, by whom she was
reared. They have one son — Francis Ailing, born June 21,
1870. Dr. Elson is a member of De Kalb Lodge, No. 214, F. &
A. M., and De Long Post, No. 6^, G. A. R. He and his wife
are merabers of the Presbyterian church, ot which he is one of
the Board of Trustees.

71

868 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
Hon. Nicholas Ensley, merchant and'banker. Auburn, Ind., was
born near Bellview, Seneca Co., Ohio, Feb. 28, 1841. His parents,
George and Lydia (Noel) Ensley, raoved to Indiana the follow
ing November and settled in Butler Township, De Kalb County,
where he was reared on a farm, helping his father cut down the
forest for three large farms, and received a good education.
Nov. I, 1861, he responded to the call for volunteers by the
President to defend the Union against rebel invasion, enlisting
in Company K, Forty-fourth Indiana Infantry. He served four
years, and was mustered out at Nashville, Tenn., Sept. 14, 1865.
For meritorious service he was detailed clerk of the military
court at McMinnville, Tenn. In the spring of 1864, after the
battle of Chickamauga, he was detailed chief clerk in the Pro
vost office at Chattanooga, and remained there six months.
Previous to being detailed provost clerk, he had been pro
moted to Second Sergeant of his company. In the fall of 1864
he was promoted to Quartermaster-Sergeant, and in the spring
of 1865 was commissioned Second Lieutenant of his Company
K, and frora that tirae till his discharge acted the raost of the
tirae as Regiraental Quarterraaster. After the war he returned
to De Kalb County and took charge of his father's farm, the
old homestead at Butler Center. In 1 872 he was nominated on
the Republican ticket as a candidate for Treasurer of De Kalb
County. Although his party was largely in the minority, he
was elected by a majority of fifty-two votes, and in 1874 was
re-elected by 160 votes. He became a resident of Auburn in
November, 1872, and has since been identified with her success
ful and enterprising business men. He has been a member of
the Auburn School Board three years, and takes a great interest
in educational matters. In the spring of 1877 he engaged in
the farm-implement business, discontinuing it in 1884. In Janu
ary, 1879, he embarked in the general mercantile business and
has raet with good success. In February, 1882, he assisted in
the organization of the Farmers' Bank of Auburn, and is still
one of its merabers. He was elected State Senator to represent
De Kalb and Steuben counties, Nov. 4, 1884, on the Repubhcan
ticket by a raajority of 348. Mr. Ensley was raarried to Helen,
daughter of John A. Ditmars, of De Kalb County. They have
five chUdren — OHver P., Eva Adel, Oscar J., Marion E. and
Amber L. He is a member of De Long Post, No. 67, G. A. R.,
Auburn, Ind., of which he is Senior Vice-Commander.

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HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY. 869
Dr. Almond S. Farrington, of Waterloo, was born in James
town, Chautauqua Co., N. Y., Dec. 4, 1832, a son of Keeler
and Aseneth (Southwick) Farrington,' of Scotch descent. His
ancestors were heroes of the Revolution, and his father was a
soldier in the war of 1812. When he was five years old his
parents moved to Peru, Huron Co., Ohio, and when, he was
seventeen to De Kalb County and located near Sedan. He re
ceived but a limited education in his early hfe. The county
being new and there being no public-school fund, the schools
were supported by private subscription, which was with diffi
culty made large enough to carry on a school during the win
ter months. In 1S49 his father bought a timbered farm in De
Kalb County, and for about a year and a half he assisted in
clearing and improving it, but wishing to have the benefit of a
good school he then returned to Ohio, and attended during the
winter for two years, working the remainder of the time to de
fray his expenses. In 1852 he entered Hiram College at Port
age County, Ohio, where he was a student under President
Garfield. He remained there five years, and in 1857 began the
study of medicine under the instruction of Dr. Ehsha Hall, of
Norwalk, and the next year entered the Eclectic Medical
CoUege, Cincinnati, where he remained until March i, i860.
The next month he located at Norwalk where he had a very
satisfactory practice, but in 1862 moved to De Kalb County,
and lived in Sedan seven years. In 1869 he sold his property
in Sedan, with a view of locating in Waterloo, but not being
able to suit himself in the village, bought a farm just outside
the Hraits, which he superintended, although the greater
part of his time was taken up with his practice. In 1871 he
purchased his home on Maple street, which is one of the most
valuable and desirable residences in town. For twenty-two
years he has been identified with the medical fraternity of De
Kalb County, with a constantly increasing popularity, and is
now in the enjoyment of an extensive practice which yields
him a good income. As a surgeon Dr. Farrington has always
met with good success, being a skillful and reliable operator,
but his greatest merit lies in his medical practice. A close
student and a constant determination to excel, places him at the
head of the profession, and to a marked degree he has the love
and confidence of his patients and their friends. Possessed of
a strong character, a cheerful and sympathetic presence, his
55

870 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
calmness impresses those about him of his ability and fidelity.
He is a worthy and earnest member of the Christian church. In
politics he is a Republican, and is firm and uncompromising in
the support of his political convictions, yet generous and toler
ant of others not in accord with hira, and is in no sense a poli
tician, as applied to an office seeker. He is an earnest and con
sistent temperance raan, and in his practice as a physician aids,
by his example, the cause. He is a genial, courteous. Christian
gentleman, and is as greatly admired by the medical fraternity
as by those outside the profession. Dr. Farrington was mar
ried Oct. 19, 1861, to Miss Ehzabeth Link, of Union Township,
a lady of rare intellect and pleasing manners ; a kind neighbor
and devoted Christian mother. They have eight children, five
sons and three daughters. Dr. Farrington is in the prime of
his manhood, notwithstanding he carries in his body sev
eral pieces of lead, received by the discharge of a gun in the
hands of a maniac in 1871. This disabled him for sometime,
but his strong constitution, aided by his correct habits, over
came all the evil effects, and he is to-day in the enjoyment of
robust health.
Philip Fluke, retired currier and tanner. Auburn, was bom
in Bedford County, Pa., June 27, 18 16, a son of Philip and
Mary (Summers) Fluke, who removed to Richland County,
Ohio, in the fall of 18 16. He was reared and educated in
Ohio, remaining there till 1844 when, in November, he moved
to Auburn, Ind. His education was received in the pubhc
schools, and when eighteen years of age he was apprenticed to
the currier and tanner's trade, serving three years. He then
worked as a journeyman six months at Ashland, Ohio, and
then returned home and attended school four months, and in
1838 began in business for hiraself. In 1842 he sold his busi
ness, and in 1844 carae to Aubum and opened a tannery which
he conducted till 1874 when he retired from active business
life. When he started in life his father gave him $500 and
forty acres of land ; this, added to a sraall amount he received
from his father's estate, has been his only assistance. Possessed
of good business management, he made the most of what he
had, and has amassed a fortune, having a large landed estate
adjacent to Auburn. He was married to Ruth, daughter of
Thomas Ford, of Auburn, who died March 25, 1853, leaving
one son — Wakeman C, a druggist of Clayton, Mich. Jan. 10,
y/ 1 •¦   —  —  --  -  "L^
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HISTORY OF DEKALB COUNTY. 87 I
1857, he married Sarah, daughter of David Thomas, of Rich
land Township, De Kalb County. She died in Auburn, Ian.
17, 1873. To them were born three children, two of whom
are Hving — Eliza J., wife ot S. L. Gibson, and Frank E., at
home. Ida May died in .Vpril, 1865, aged four raonths. In
politics Mr. Fluke has always been a Democrat. He has served
two terms as Trustee ot Auburn.
Herman Frochlich was born in Zdunv, Prussia, April i, 1841,
a son of Eduard and Ernstina (Langner) FroehUch. His mother
died in 1S45. In 1862 his father, a younger sister and himseU
came to the United States and located in Warsaw, Ind. Her
man Frochlich came to De Kalb County in 1865 and his father
followed him in 1869, where he died in 1875. Herman learned
in the old country in his father's shop the cabinet-making trade,
and during his stay in Warsaw, Ind., he learned the marble
monumental trade, and since has always followed this vocation.
He is an industrious, economical raan, and has accumulated a
good property, being to-day among the most substantial busi
ness men of Waterloo. He was married in Noveraber, 1865,
to Eva Eckhardt, daughter of George and Catherine (PuUraan)
Eckhardt. Her father carae with his family from Hessen
Darmstadt to America in 1847 and located in the State of New
York, from whence he was sent by the American Tract Soci
ety to DeKalb County in 185 1 to distribute tracts, and was
employed by them four years, and subsequently a portion of
his time for two years. Mr. Eckhardt died in Noveraber, 1874.
Mrs. Eckhardt is Hving now in Toledo, Ohio. They had a
family of four children, all of whom are Hying. Mr. and Mrs.
Froehhch have three children — Olive E., Frederick H. and
Edmund Carl. Mr. Froehhch cast his first presidential vote
for Abraham Lincoln and his last for B. F. Butler. He and his
wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church.
Joseph Gardner, one of the early settlers of De Kalb County,
was born in Westmoreland County, Pa., April 13, 18 19, the
eldest son of John and Barbara (Kampf) Gardner, his father a
native of Maryland and his raother of Westmoreland County,
Pa. In 1830 his parents moved to Holraes County, Ohio,
where they both died. Six of their nine children are living.
Joseph was reared on a larra and early became skilled in the
mysteries of agricultural Hfe. He has made that occupation
his work through life and has been uniformly successful. In

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872 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
the fall of 1845 he carae to De Kalb County and bought a tract
of 160 acres of wild land on time, paying for it with money he
had earned. After paying for his land he worked for others,
at clearing and farming, four years, and then married Catherine
Beidler, eldest daughter of David Ash, and widow of Jacob
Beidler. After his marriage he settled on his land and began
to clear and cultivate it. Possessed of energy and good man
agement, he has accumulated a competency for his declining
years. In July, 1884, his residence was destroyed by fire, and
he has since erected a neat and substantial two-story brick
dwelling. His farm buildings are all large and conveniently
arranged. In politics Mr. Gardner was in his early life a Whig,
but since its organization has affiliated with the Republican
party. His influence has always been on the side of temper
ance and good order. He has served his township acceptably
in various offices of trust.
Don A . Garwood, of the firm McClellan & Garwood, attorneys
at law, Waterloo, is a native of Cassopolis, Cass Co., Mich.,
born March 9, 1858, a son of Dr. Alonzo and EUen (Brown)
Garwood. His father is a prominent physician of Western
Michigan, and has also figured in State political circles, repre
senting his district in the State Senate in 1856. In 1876 Mr.
Garwood entered Michigan University, at Ann Arbor, and
after teaching one year graduated in 188 1. In September of
the same year he came to Waterloo and was employed in the
office of Best & McClellan, and at the same time began the
study of law. In 1883 he was admitted to the bar, and the fol
lowing September, Mr Best having retired from the firm, he
was given an interest in the business by Judge McClellan, the
firm name being McClellan & Garwood. In October, 1882, Mr.
Garwood was married to Jennie, daughter of Judge McCleUan.
They have one child — Aileen. Mr. Garwood is a member of
Waterloo City Lodge, No. 307, F. & A. M.; Wm. Hacker
Chapter, No. 63, R. A. M., and De Kalb CouncU, R. & S. M.,
of Auburn, and of Apollo Comraandery, K. T., of Kendallville.
Prentiss Gill, harness-raaker, Waterloo, Ind., was born in
Suramit County, Ohio, Dec. 29, 1839, a son of Thomas and
Sarah (Sapp) Gill, his father a native of Pennsylvania and his
mother of Maryland. They were ara'ong the early settlers of
Suramit County, locating a little before Akron was laid out.
Prentiss was reared and educated in his native county, and

HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY. 873
when thirteen years of age began working at the harness-mak
er's trade, serving an apprenticeship of four years. In April,
1861, he enlistted in the Nineteenth Ohio Infantry (three months
service) and was the first volunteer enrolled from Cuyahoga
Falls. He served four months, participating in all the engage
ments under General McClellan. He was mustered out, and
eleven days later enlisted in Company D, Fifteenth United
States Infantry, Second Division (General McCook) Army of
the Cumberland ; afterward First Division, Fourteenth Army
Corps. He participated in the battles ot Chattanooga, Resaca,
New Hope Church, Kenesaw Mountain, Peach Tree Creek,
Atlanta, and Jonesboro, Ga. He was mustered out as Ser
geant at Atlanta in 1864 and returned horae, but soon after
enlisted in Company — , One Hundred and Ninety-seventh
Ohio Infantry, and served a year. In July, 1865, he came to
Indiana and began working at his trade in Kendallville, Noble
Co. Remained there a few years, and then moved to Water
loo, where he now has a good trade. He was married Dec.
25, 1865, to Nancy Yant, to died in Waterloo in 1881, leaving
three children — Kate, Jessie and Lloyd. In 1883 Mr. Gill mar
ried Mary Warren. He is a member of Waterloo Post, No 52,
G. A. R.
Samuel Goodwin, one of the old ' settlers and representative
citizens of Union Township, was born in Center County, Pa.,
in October, 1816, the second son of seven children of David and
Catherine (Zimmerman) Goodwin, natives of Pennsylvania. In
1822 his parents moved to Wayne County, Ohio, and subse
quently to Ashland County, where the father died and where
Samuel grew to manhood. He was married in 1843 to Ehza
beth Good, and settled in Ashland County, Ohio, where they
hved till 1854, when they raoved to DeKalb County, Ind., and
settled on the farm where he now Hves. At that time it was a
tract of heavily timbered land, but by hard work and perse
verance he has cleared and reduced it to an advanced state of
cultivation. He owns 115 acres of choice land, and his resi
dence and farm buildings are large and comfortable. Although
his early years were full of toil and hardship, he has accumu
lated a good property, and his latter years can be spent in
comparative ease, free from care and labor, with a consciousness
that his life has not been Hved in vain. His wife died in 1865,
leaving five children — Mary E., now the wife of Alfred Keck ;

J ©

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.874 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
Leander S. raarried Rebecca Hively; Joseph W. married
Olivia M. Brown; Lucy, now Mrs. Stephen George; AHce,
now Mrs. William Atwood. Mr. Goodwin subsequently mar
ried Mrs. Mary J. (Prosser) Brubaker, and to them have been
bom three children — Ina, married, Frank Parnell and William
F. Mrs. Goodwin has three daughters by her forraer marriage
— Jennie, wife of Philemon Goodwin ; Catherine, wife of Oscar
Zimmerman ; and Emraa, wife of John Lilling. Mr. and Mrs.
Goodwin are merabers of the United Brethren church, and
take an active part in the proraotion of all objects of a religious
or charitable nature.
George W. Gordon, Postraaster, Auburn, Ind., was bom near
Republic, Seneca Co., Ohio, Dec. 7, 1834. In 1841, when he
was seven years of age, he came to Indiana with his mother and
stepfather, Lydia and George Ensley, and was reared in Butler
Township, De Kalb County. He received a good education,
attending the district and select schools, and afterward the
Methodist College at Fort Wayne. He assisted his stepfather
to clear and cultivate his farms, and endured all the hardships
and privations incident to pioneer life, reraaining on the farm,
and teaching school during winter months, till the breaking out
of the Rebellion. Sept. 25, 1861, he enlisted in Company K,
Forty-fourth Indiana Infantry, as a private, but was promoted
to Orderly Sergeant. He participated in the battles of Fort
Donelson, Shiloh, siege of Corinth. While on duty during the
siege of Corinth he was taken sick with typhus fever and rheu-
raatisra and was sent to the United States Hospital at Keokuk,
Iowa, where he reraained under treatment frora July till De
ceraber, returning to his regiraent on the battle-field at Stone
River. He participated in all the further engageraents of his
regiment, including battles of Chickamauga and Mission Ridge.
After the latter battle his regiment was detailed to provost duty
at Chattanooga, and reraained there till the end of their terra of
service. He was mustered out at Chattanooga, Tenn., Nov.
22, 1864, serving three years and nearly three months, and re
turned to Indiana. Soon after he went to Fort Wayne and
engaged in the art of photography, remaining there one year.
He then returned to the old home in Butler Township and
engaged in farming till 1871, when on account of failing health,
the result of army life, he located in Auburn and opened a
studio which he carried on till January, 1882, when he was ap-

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HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY. 875
pointed, by President Arthur, Postmaster of Auburn. In poli
tics Mr. Gordon is a Republican. In 1856 and i857-'S he served
as Clerk of Butler Township, and in 1870 was nominated
County Auditor, but was defeated by seventy-five votes, the
county going Democratic. He was married Nov. 22, 1856, to
Mary C, daughter of Charles F. Crouse. They have one
daughter — Minnie M. Mr. Gordon is a member of Mentor
Lodge, No. 591, I. O. O. F., and De Long Post, No. 67. G. A. R.
He is Past Grand of his lodge, and is Deputy Grand Master of
the 467th District of Indiana. He is Commander of his post.
He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal
church. Hiram Griswold, bridge contractor and builder, of Auburn,
Ind., was bom in Litchfield County, Conn., April 4, 1827. He
went with his parents when a child to Stark County, Ohio, and
later to Massillon. In 18.14 he began clerking for Freeman Mc
Millan, wholesale dealer in dry goods and groceries, Massillon, re
maining with him four years. In 1848 he went to Toledo, Ohib,
and for three seasons followed boating, and frora there to Day
ton, w-here he followed the sarae business till 1853. In the sum
mer of 1854 he came to Indiana and was associated with his
father, Willis Griswold, in a saw-raill, which subsequently was
burned. They then bought the old  Mills, which they car
ried on several years. He was then variously employed, being
for some tirae Marshal of Auburn and Deputy Sheriff several
terms, serving under S. W. Ralston, Jeremiah Plumb and John
McMillan. In 1861 he began bridge building, and has since
built the greater part of the bridges in De Kalb, Whitley and
Steuben counties. He was married in December, 1849, to
Mary Copsly, of Dayton, Ohio. She died in June, 1869, leav
ing three children — Grant, Alfred and Lilly, wife of Charles
McDonald, son of J. B. McDonald, of Whitley County.
Daniel Grogg, one of the early settlers of Union Township^
was born in Stark County, Ohio, Aug. 13, 1818, a son of Solo
mon and Mary (Snyder) Grogg, natives of Northampton
County, Pa., who emigrated to Stark County in an early day.
The father died in Ohio, and the mother afterward carae to
De Kalb County, Ind., with her children, and died here at the
age of ninety-five years. Daniel Grogg was reared on a farm,
receiving a coramon-school education. In May, 1849, he raoved
to De Kalb Counly, Ind., and settled on the farm where he still

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876 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
lives, at that time a tract of wild land. He first bought 120
acres, and to this has added till he now owns 380 acres. His
residence is a large, two-story brick building, and his farm
buildings are araong the best in the township. He has raade a
specialty of wheat, but has also paid considerable attention to
stock-raising. He was married in Ohio, in 1843, to Elizabeth
Hutz, and to thera have been bom five sons — John, Abraham,
George, Peter and Franklin. Their only daughter died in
young ladyhood. Mr. and Mrs. Grogg are members of the
Lutheran church. Mr. Grogg is one of the representative
farmers of Union Township, and has acquired his property by
his good judgment and strict attention to his business.
Jacob Grogg, retired farraer, is a native of Ohio, born in Can
ton, Stark County, Feb. 14, 18 14, a son of Solomon and Mary
(Snyder) Grogg. When twenty-one years of age he began to
learn the miller's trade in Rufner Mills, near Canton. In 1840
he took charge of the Roop Mills at Pekin, and remained one
year. The next ten years he took charge of the Hostetter and
Roop raills, and in 1851 carae to Indiana and prospected in De
Kalb County where he had two brothers, Peter and Daniel. He
purchased land in what is now Keyser Township, and in the
spring of 1852 raoved his faraily to the wilds of De Kalb County.
He cleared and cultivated his farra, residing on it till the fall of
1869, when he raoved to Auburn, although he still owns it.
He has never aspired to official honors, but has at different
tiraes been elected to positions of trust and responsibility. In
November, 1837, he was married to Sarah Becher, of Canton,
Ohio. They have had five children, but two of whom are liv
ing — Juha Ann, w-ife of Isaac W. Bard, of Dayton, Ohio, and
Melinda, widow of Frank N. Barclay. Solomon died at Ruf
ner Mills, Ohio, July 3, 1845, aged three years; Adam died
December, 1865, aged twenty-eight years; and Sadie, Feb.
II, 1876, aged twenty-three years. Mr. and Mrs. Grogg are
members of the Lutheran church.
John Frederick Groscop is a native of Germany, born June 12,
1821. His youth was spent on a farm in his native country, re
ceiving a common-school education. When he was twenty-one
years of age he enlisted in the regular army and served seven
years. At the expiration of his term of service he returned
home, and soon after married Christina Crennion. In 1852 he
started for the United States with his wife arid three children.

7o

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HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY. 877
His wife and one child died on shipboard and he arrived in
New York with his two children, without friends and with
very little money. He went to Buffalo and reraained one win
ter, and in 1853 came to Indiana and found employment on the
railroad in De Kalb County. From his earnings he saved
enough to pay for sixty-five acres of land, and to this has since
added tUl he now owns 100 acres. When he bought his land it
was mostly heavily timbered, but he went bravely to work and
soon had sufficient cleared to plant a crop. He has been indus-
trius and frugal, and now has one of the finest farras in the
township. He has a new two story brick house, and a new
barn 40 x 50 feet in size. His other farra buildings are large
and convenient. Mr. Groscop was married a second time to
Mary Myers, a native of Gerraany, cousin of his first wife. He
has a family of nine children — William, Charles, Frank and
Frederick (twins), Harmon, John, Caroline (wife of Charles
Rees), Emma and Sophia. Mr. Groscop and his wife are mem
bers of the German Reforraed church. When Mr. Groscop was
married the second tirae he had but fifty cents, and the first hay
he bought he paid for with $3 of his wife's money.
Isaac Hague, a pioneer of De Kalb County, Ind., was born in
Holmes County, Ohio, June 29, 1837, a son of Aaron and Ruth
(Culbertson) Hague. He came when a child to De Kalb
County with his parents, who settled in Concord Township
September, 1838. When he was sixteen years of age he was
apprenticed to Isaac Brandt, of Auburn, to learn the shoe
maker's trade. After serving four years he went to Newville,
where he worked at his trade and attended and taught school,
remaining there six years. In i860 he located in Waterloo and
worked at his trade. In 1869 he was appointed Postraaster of
Waterloo. In 1874 he was elected, on the Republican ticket.
Auditor of De Kalb County, and resigned the position of Post
master and moved to Auburn. After his term of office expired,
in the spring of 1 879, he became associated with Charles Rant
in the boot and shoe business in Auburn, but in February,
1883, sold his interest in the business. Mr. Hague was married
to Miss Julia, daughter of J. B. Hoover, of Waterloo. They
have two children — Stella M. and Charles E. He is a demitted
member of Waterloo Lodge, No. 307, F. & A. M. He and his
wife are members of the Disciples church.
Ezra D. Hartman, attorney at law. Auburn, was born in

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878 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
Lehigh County, Pa., May 16, 1841, a son of Abraham and Cath
erine Hartman, also natives of that State, his father of German,
and his raother of English descent. Abraham Hartman was a
minister in the Methodist Episcopal church. In 1847 he moved
to De Kalb County, Ind., and settled on a farra three miles
northeast of Auburn, where he lived several years and subse
quently raoved northwest of Auburn, where he died in the
spring of 1873, aged sixty-three years. He was an energetic,
progressive citizen, and was especially active in all matters of
interest to the church. His wife is still living on the homestead
with one of her sons, in the seventieth year of her age. Ezra
D. Hartman received a good education attending the district
school and the Aubum High School. He began teaching
when but seventeen years of age and taught several years, at
tending school in the meantime as he had opportunity and
means. While teaching he borrowed sorae law books of Judge
Mott and read during his leisure hours under his direction.
He afterward entered the office of J. B. Morrison, and re
mained with him till September, 1861, when he went to Ann
Arbor, Mich., and entered the law department of the Michigan
University, remaining there six months. Returning to Aubum
he continued his studies and in June, 1862, was admitted to the
bar. The following August he enlisted and helped to raise a
company and on its organization was elected and appointed its
Second Lieutenant ; in less than two raonths he was promoted
to First Lieutenant, and two months later to Captain, having
served in that capacity the greater part of the time from the
start.. He participated in the operations of the array in Ken
tucky and Tennessee and later in the siege of Vicksburg and
the capture of Jackson, Miss. While in the array he contracted
disease, especially of the eyes, which disabled him for active
service, and in the spring of 1864, having received an honora
ble discharge, he went to Cleveland, Ohio, for treatment and re
mained till July, 1866, attending in the meantime lectures at the
law school from which he graduated in the spring, his previous
knowledge of the law enabling him to pass the examination
with very little reading. In July, 1866, he located in Waterloo,
Ind., and began his practice. In the Republican Convention
of that year he received the nomination for Representative
in the State Legislature. His opponent was Hon. Freeman
Kelly. Mr. Hartman entered at once into the campaign)

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HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY. 879
speaking at every available point in the count^•, and though the
county was very close politically, was elected and served with
credit. In the spring of 1867 he again began to practice in
Waterloo, and the following fall was elected Prosecuting Attor
ney for the Fourteenth Judicial Circuit, composing the counties
of De Kalb, Steuben, Lagrange, Noble, Elkhart, and Kosciusko,
and served three years. In the meantime he had formed a part
nership with J. L. Morland, and the firm of Hartman lS: Morland
continued till the winter of 1871, when Mr. Hartman moved to
South Bend, engaging in practice there. In 1873 he re
turned to De Kalb County and located in Auburn, forming a
partnership with J. E. Rose. In Septeraber, 1881, this firm was
dissolved and Mr. Hartman has since practiced alone. He is a
popular and successful lawyer and has many friends both in and
out of the profession. He is an eloquent speaker and although
not a bitter partisan freely gives his services to the cause of the
Republican party. He is a Royal Arch Mason, and a member
of the Grand Army of the Republic, and was the first Com
mander of the Post at Auburn. He is a member of the Presby
terian church, and has served as Trustee and Elder since 1873.
He was married Oct. 15, 1868, to Mary, daughter of Levi Cun
ningham, a prorainent citizen of Bryan, Ohio. They have three
children — Mabel, born May 16, 1870; Walter C, bom Feb. 11,
1873, and Hubert Ezra, born Oct. 27, 1884.
Dewitt Clinton Headley was born in Concord Township, De
Kalb County, Oct. 25, 1839, a son of Samuel and Rebecca
(Woodcock) Headley. When fifteen years of age he began to
take care of himself by working at the mason's trade and for
farmers. His father was a merchant, and he assisted hira in
the store occasionally. In 1859 he went to California and
tearaed across the Sierra Nevada Mountains frora Sacraraento
to Virginia City till December, 1863, when he returned to
Newville and worked on a farm till March, 1864. Then he en
listed in Company H, Eighty-eighth Indiana Infantry, and
served till August, 1865, when he was discharged at Indianapo
lis. He participated in all the engageraents of Sherman's army
after Buzzard's Roost. After his discharge he returned to
Newville, and soon after went to Marshalltown, Iowa, return
ing to De Kalb County in 1868. The summer of 1869 he spent
in Iowa, and then was associated with Joseph Rainier in the
livery business tiU the faU of 1871. In the faU of 1872 he
^F==  ^  sK*

:^^

880 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
became associated with John Greenamyer in the boot and shoe
business in Butler, and in Deceraber, 1873, they raoved their
stock to North Benton, Steuben Co., reraaining there till June,
1874, when, his partner having previously retired frora the
firm, he moved his stock to Auburn, and the following Septem
ber sold it. Frora 1875 till 1881 he was variously eraployed,
and then was appointed by Joseph Rainier assistant Postmaster,
holding the position till Jan. 16, 1882, and since then has been
associated with Mr. Rainier in carrying on the City Meat Mar
ket, the firm narae being Rainier & Headley. April 10, 1873,
Mr. Headley was raarried to Corlanthia R., daughter ot John
H. Parks, of Marshall County, Ind. They are raerabers of the
Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Headley is a raeraber of De
Kalb Lodge, No. 214, F. & A. M.
Solomon R. HeberUng, dealer in agricultural implements, sew
ing-machines and musical instruments, Auburn, Ind., was born
near Soraerset, Perry Co., Ohio, Feb. 7, 1838, the third son of
Jacob and Susannah (Wyraer) HeberUng. His mother died
when he was about eight years old, and his father soon after
moved his faraily to Fremont, Ohio, where he was reared on a
farm, attending school only five raonths in his life. He assisted
his father till nearly twenty-two years of age, when, in the fall
of 1859, he left horae and with eight others went to Tennessee
as agents for Dr. Gunn's medical work. They divided the ter
ritory, and he and three others comraenced work in Obion
County. The John Brown trouble at Harper's Ferry had just
taken place, and there was a strong prejudice in the South
against Northerners, and when about to deliver the books they
had sold in Jacksonville, one raan raised a raob and demanded
their departure. Their gentlemanly bearing won them many
friends, and after some excitement they were allowed to remain
three weeks, and during that tirae raany who were bitterly op
posed to them, becarae their warmest friends. Their party dis
banded, and with one associate he returned to Indiana, arriving
at Evansville, March i, i860. While traveling through Ken
tucky, they paid their expenses by selling fluid lamps. Finding
no territory in Indiana, they went to Missouri, but here met
with the same opposition as in Tennessee, and, not wishing to
pass through the same trouble, returned to Indiana penniless.
He worked a month on a farra near Evansville, and then
engaged in book canvassing in Vanderburg and Posey counties

.^1^—  —^\^
HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY. 88 1
and in three months sold between $1,700 and $1,800 worth of
books, receiving half as his commission. In August he went to
Vernon, Ind., where he was taken with typhoid fever and was
sick ten months. He had but $100 left, when he started for his
father's house, and all but $1 5 of this was taken frora his pockets
while on the way. He was taken with a congestive chill on
the boat and was unable to proceed. Finally he reached his
uncle's at Lima and remained there three weeks, arriving at
home Jan. 21, 1861. Oct. 21, 1 861, he enlisted in Corapany I, Sev
enty-second Ohio Infantry, for three years, but was discharged
July, 1862, on account of disability. He participated in the
battie of Shiloh. He returned to Fremont, and after his recov
ery bought a farm and remained on it till 1871, when he began
traveling for J. I. Case lS: Co., of Racine, and was in their em
ploy till November, 1883, having charge of Ohio, Indiana and
Kentucky. He was then employed by the Snyder Wagon
Company till March, 1884, when he became established in his
present business in Auburn. Mr. Heberhng was married Dec.
4, 1881, to Mrs. Sophronia Alderman, of Van Wert County,
Ohio. He is a meraber of the City Council of Auburn. He is
a prominent Odd Fellow, a member of Helena Lodge, No. 592,
and Thompson Encampment, No. — , Helena, Ohio. He is also
member of De Long Post, No. 6j, G. A. R.
John C. Henry, banker and wholesale dealer in notions and
drugs. Auburn, came to De Kalb County, Ind., Nov. 28,
1862, and settled in Fairfield Township. He engaged in
farming till August, 1864. He reraoved to Steuben County
and engaged in farming until about 1871 when he removed to
the town of Hudson (same county), Ind., and engaged in mer
cantile business until 1877. He removed to Auburn and en
gaged in the wholesale notion business, and in August, 1882,
added to it the drug business and in February, 1882, he, with
Nicholas Ensley, Jacob Walborn, Guy Plumb and Albert Rob
bins, instituted the Farmers' Bank of Auburn. He has been
Treasurer of Auburn High School for two years, and is the
incumbent of that office at the present writing. Mr. Henry is a
native of Ohio; was born in Millersburg, Holmes County, Jan.
I, 1841. His father, Samuel S. Henry, died when he was about
the age of twelve years. He remained with his mother, Jane
C. (Allcook), until about the age of sixteen when, in the spring
of 1856, he, thinking Ohio a poor place for a poor boy to get a

s\ I  ^ 
882 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
start, went to try his fortune in the land of gold — California,
where he remained until the fall of i860, when he returned to
his home in Millersburg, Ohio. Not having an opportunity,
he received only a limited education, but by natural abihty and
energy he has acquired a good business education. Nov. 28,
1 861, he married Marian Baughman, of Millersburg, Ohio, by
whom he has two children — Helen Louisa and Harry Cook.
He is a Mason and a member of De Kalb Lodge, No. 214; was
formerly a raeraber and one of the founders of Hiawatha
Lodge, No. 528, Hudson, Ind., and was Master of the same as
long as he reraained a citizen of the place.
Chester P. Hodge, the second son of the Rev. Jaraes Hodge
and Keturah (Ransom), his wife, was born Dec. 16, 1834, in
Leroysville, Bradford Co., Pa. Many of his ancestors on both
sides were old settlers of Orange County, N. Y. Among them
were the Coleraans, Moffatts, Lamoreux, Tuttles and Daven
ports. In an old history of Orange County lists are given of
those who held any office between 1760 and '65, and of those
who in June, 1775, signed the pledge to support the Col
onial Congress. Among these are the names of three of Mr.
Hodge's great-grandfathers — Isaac Hodge, Thomas Lamoreux
and Jeremiah Coleraan. The fourth, Capt. Samuel Ransom, of
the Continental Army, feU at the head of his company, July 3,
1778, one of the victims of the massacre of Wyoming. On the
monument erected to commemorate tbe massacre his name
heads the list. His son, George Palmer, grandfather of Mr.
C. P. Hodge, who had enlisted in his father's corapany two
years before, when fourteen years old, helped to bury the
dead, araong whom was his own father. He afterward
served in the army until peace was declared. He married for
his second wife, Elizabeth, daughter of Thomas Lamoreux and
Keturah (Tuttle) his wife. March 25, 1830, the Rev. James
Hodge, youngest son of Williara and Sarah (Coleman) Hodge,
raarried a second wife, Keturah Ransom. He had a good
mind, unusual refinement and an excellent comraand of lan
guage. His earnest piety and pure life commended to all the
holy Gospel in which he believed, which he preached from
the pulpit and whose principles were his constant guide.
Those who knew him chiefly in the pulpit remembered always
the wonderful sweetness of his voice in singing and his" gift in
prayer." His wife was a fitting helpmeet for her husband ; a
.^JL, — " ' ' " — »—(
V' *^— ^-' —  • V

d« — - " — ^\L.
HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY. 883
woman of great force of character and unusually capable in
affairs. To them were born four children, of whom Chester P.
was second. He showc'd no unusual inclination to study until
when in his fifteenth year he began algebra. His enthusiasm
in the solution of problems was very great, and gave an im
petus to his mind in the prosecution of his other studies. He
prepared for college at Wyoraing Seminary, Kingston, Pa., but
taught much before entering Union College, Schenectady, N.
Y., in the spring of i860. His standing in his classes was always
high, and he paid ranch attention to work in the laboratory.
He was graduated in June, 1862, and received in course the
degrees of A. B. and A. M. On the 13th of the following Au
gust he enlisted in the One Hundred and Forty-first Regiraent
of Pennsylvania Volunteers, but was discharged on the 29th of
December, 1862, on account of disabilities existing before en
listment. He returned to a home made desolate by the death of
his beloved mother, who "fell asleep " Nov. 21, 1862, aged six
ty-one years, in full hope of a joyful resurrection. April 14,
1863, at 9:30 A. M., in the Methodist Episcopal church at Au
burn, Ind., by the Rev. Randal Faurot, Chester P. Hodge was
married to Julia E., only daughter of Hon. E. B. Mott. With
his wife he returned to Leroysville, Bradford Co., Pa., where
his father and sister lived in the old home. Frora that home
his revered father went to rest Nov. 5, 1863, at the age of sixty-
eight years. The following spring Mr. Hodge removed to
Auburn, Ind. He made thorough preparation for work at the
bar, and was admitted to practice, but he enjoyed more the
class-room and blackboard, and in 1868, having been elected
acting President of the Fort Wayne College, which was then
in a state of collapse, he took charge of it, and under the stim
ulating effect of his judicious management and thorough work,
it revived and began a raore prosperous era. At the close of
the acaderaic year Mr. Hodge was offered the Presidency of
the college, but declined as he preferred to teach mathematics.
At the conclusion of the second year, the institution having
passed into private hands, Mr. Hodge left Fort Wayne Col
lege and engaged in public school work. No State certifi
cates were given in Indiana until 1872. Mr. Hodge was one of
the first class examined and received a first grade certifi
cate, unlimited as to time, which entitles him to teach in
any school in the State without" further examination. Mr.

V

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884 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
Hodge has been a Superintendent of schools during raost
of the last fifteen years. There was one interval of three years
during raost of which he was part owner and business raanager
of the Warsaw Indianian. His long experience in teaching en
abled him to make the educational department of more than
usual interest. In November, 1882, in consequence of the death
of Mrs. Hodge's oldest brother, E. B. Mott, Jr., Mr. Hodge re
moved his family to De Kalb County, and they now live on
Green Hurst farm, a place which afforded Judge Mott much
pleasure and arauseraent during his later years. It lies about
a mile north of the court-house on the Waterloo road. Mr.
Hodge has always been a strong Republican, but his modera
tion of speech and his consideration for the opinions of others
have prevented poHtical enmities, and he has reckoned among
his staunchest friends many who are diametrically opposed
to hira in pohtics. He is a close reasoner, accurate and logical,
a ,,man honest in purpose and deed. This sketch of him was
gathered from the facts of his Hfe without his knowledge, and
judging from his habitual reserve would have been withheld
had he known that it was contemplated. He is a member of
the Protestant Episcopal church. Mr. and Mrs. Hodge have
been the parents of nine children, most of whom are not, for
God took them, in their early infancy. Egbert Mott, born Nov.
24, 1867 ; Julia Mott, Nov. 12, 1869, and Chester James, Jan. 21,
1872, alone remain to them. Perhaps the sorest grief, which
ever came to Mr. Hodge or his family, was the death on the
fourth Sunday in Advent, Dec. 21, 1884, of his youngest child,
and dearly beloved daughter, Teresa Morns, who was named
for a noble woman, Mrs. Judge Morris, of Fort Wayne. She
was almost five years old, a child of unusual promise in person,
mind and character. Long dark lashes shaded eyes of the deep
est blue, which looked out from a bright, sweet face upon a
world in which she found much happiness and made it for oth
ers. Most loving, raost truthful, most conscientious, she was a
perpetual joy, an increasing delight to those who loved her.
Her father was away from home when she was taken ill, and
almost her first thought was for hira. " Don't tell papa 1 have
diphtheria, he will be so sorry," she begged. During her ill
ness of ten days she showed courage, patience, unfailing trust
and raeek subraission, while through all shone the unfailing
sweetness of her nature. " I do not think I suffer so much,

isT"

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HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY. 885
mamma; I do not believe you will have to lose me," she said a
few hours before the end carae. As the eventide fell fast, she
said to her father who watched by her bed : " Please, light a
lamp, papa." He went to do so, and when he brought it she
was gone — so swift the transition— to the arras of everlasting
Love. Her's was a short life, but rounded and pure, and made
perfect through suffering.
Sherman Hollister, restaurateur, confectioner and baker. Au
burn, Ind., was born near Huron, Erie Co., Ohio, Jan. 25, 1834,
where he was reared a farmer, and hved with his parents, Ash
ley and Cecilia (Pattee) Holhster. After reaching raaturity he
took charge of the farm and cared for his parents till their
death. He left the homestead in the summer of 1876, and came
.0 Auburn, Ind., and the same year built his business house, a
rick structure on Main, between Seventh and Eighth streets,
and opened his restaurant and bakery where he has built up a
good trade. Mr. Holhster was married Dec. 21, 1859, to Miss
Velona Benedict, of Fort Wayne, Ind. They have one daugh
ter—Sarah E., now the wife of Prof. R. W. Cobb, professor of
penmanship in the Champaign (III.) Industrial College. While
residing in Huron Mr. Hollister served as Assessor of his town
ship five terms, and as Trustee two terms. He is a Master,
Royal Arch and Council Mason, and is a meraber of Marks
Lodge, No. 359, Huron, of which he was Worshipful Master
ten years. He is a deraitted raember of the Chapter at Milan,
Ohio, and of the Council at Sandusky, Ohio. Mr. Hollister is
of a warm, genial nature, and has a host of friends, both old
and young, who dehght to congregate at Sherm's as he is
familiarly called.
Leonard Hoodelmere was born in Wurtemburg, Germany,
May 23, 1813. When sixteen years of age he accompanied his
parents to the United States, and after forty-three days' voyage
landed at Baltimore, Md., where they hired a team and went to
Pittsburg, Pa., where our subject reraained eighteen raonths
and learned the weaver's trade. His parents proceeded to
Stark County, Ohio, and bought land, and after completing his
trade he followed them. In 1842 the family raoved to De Kalb
County, Ind., and located first on what is now John Pyle's farra.
Subsequently raoved to Auburn, and in 1844 returned to Ohio
and worked for one man in Carroll County ten years. He then
moved to Fort Wayne, and five years later returned to De Kalb

56

7F

^

886 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
County, and settled on what is now the West farm. In 1861 he
enlisted in Company K, Forty-fourth Indiana Infantry and
served ten months, when he was discharged on account of ill
health. In April, 1864, he again enlisted and was assigned to
his old regiraent, and served till the close of the war. He par
ticipated in many severe battles, and was wounded in the wrist.
After the war he returned to De Kalb County, and in 1867
settled on the farm where he now Hves. He owns forty acres
of fine land, and his buildings are all in good repair, and are
comfortable and commodious. Mr. Hoodelmere was married
in 1839, to PhiUipiana Napp. To them have been born five
children — EvaHne, Maria, George, Harriet, and Christina.
Calvin Husselman is the youngest son of Samuel and Maria
(Yager) Husselman, who were early settlers of De Kalb County,
coming in 1845, and in 1847 settled on the farm now owned by
Calvin. On this farm he was reared, receiving his education in
the pubhc school and later at the Auburn High School. When
eighteen years of age he began the study of law with his broth
er, D. Y. Husselman, and was admitted to the bar in Decem
ber, 1874. He was raarried in June, 1876, to Rosa E. Britton,
daughter of L. D. and Martha Britton, early settlers of Richland
Township, this county. After his marriage he settled on his
farm and has since devoted his attention to agricultural pursuits.
His farm contains 122 acres of choice land, all well iraproved, and
his buildings are large and corafortable. His barn, a bark struct
ure, 40x80 feet in size, built in 185 1, is one of the old land
marks. He makes a specialty of fruit culture, especially grapes,
of which he has a number of varieties. Mr. and Mrs. Hussel
man have had three sons, but two are living — Carl B. and
Leroy. Frank is deceased.
Daniel Y. Husselman, Clerk of the De Kalb Circuit Court, was
born in Union Township, De Kalb Co., Ind., Jan. 15, 1848, a son
of Sarauel and Maria Husselman. He was educated in the
county schools. When he was seventeen years of age his father
died, and he remained with his mother and superintended the
farm till twenty-one years of age. In 1870 he began the study
of law in the office of R. Wes McBride, at Waterloo, Ind., and
in August of the same year was admitted to the bar at Auburn.
In June, 1871, he began his practice at Waterloo, and remained
there till May, 1881, when he removed to Auburn and became
associated with James A. Barns in publishing and editing the
^ a  *- -•  e\

HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY. 887
Auburn Courier. On account of poor health he abandoned the
newspaper business the foUowing year and resumed the prac
tice of his profession in Auburn. In November, 1882, he was
elected on the Democratic ticket Clerk of the De Kalb Circuit
Court over Hon. E. D. Hartman, the Repubhcan nominee.
Nov. 23, 1S70, Mr. Husselman was married to Miss Mary J.
Smith. They have three children — Milo, Thoraas A. and Dolhe '
(twins). Theodore E. Imhoff is a native of Ashland County, Ohio, born
Aug. 26, 1848, a son of Josiah and MatUda (Fenner) Imhoff,
natives of Pennsylvania. His parents were married in Ohio,
remaining in that State till the fall of 1850, when they moved
to De Kalb County and settled on section 14, Union Township,
where they lived till 1884, and then moved to Waterloo where
they still live. Theodore was reared on the farm, being but
two years of age when his parents moved to this county. He
received a comraon-school education, and after attaining his
majority began to work at the carpenter's trade, following it
several years. In 1884 he settled on the old homestead where
he still lives. He is now engaged in the raanufacture of sor
ghum molasses, which he is making a successful business. In
addition to this and to working at his trade he attends to the
cultivation of the farm. He is an industrious and enterprising
man, and one of the most prosperous citizens of the township.
His farm contains eighty acres of finely cultivated land. He
was married in 1873 to Miss Viola M. Scattergood, of De Kalb
County. They have three children — Irvin S., Lula G. and
Effie P. Mr. Imhoff is a meraber of the Odd Fellow's Order,
Lodge, No. 221, Waterloo. .
W. H. Kiblinger, the genial and wholesouled hardware mer
chant of Auburn, De Kalb Co., Ind., has attained a prominence
in both business and social circles fully becoraing any raan.
He has been generous without stint or ostentation in all enter
prises pertaining to the growth and advancement of his resident
town. He is a model in his bestowments of charity, and as a
politician is firm, thoughtful, and has impressed his individu-
ahty upon the local politics of the county. No one man empha
sized so much earnestness in the election of presidential. State
and county officers as did Mr. Kiblinger. Strong but unpre
tentious, firm but magnanimous, he works diligently and suc
cessfully to make a given point in either business or political

e

.f «  w- -~* sfV'

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888 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
undertakings. Few business men tower to an equal height
with him for exactness, cleanliness and general good taste in
and about his business room. His beginning in younger years
marks out for hira a long and successful career as a raerchant,
and although not yet raatured to the turning point in life, he
has established a substantial trade and amassed considerable
.wealth. He was born at Fish Lake, Lagrange Co., Ind., May
24, 1848, a son of Peter F. and Henrietta (Hoffman) Kiblinger.
His preliminary education was received in the coraraon schools,
and at the age of fifteen was a pupil in the R. Patch Serainary,
located at Ontario, Ind., and subsequently took a coraraercial
course at Eastraan's College, Chicago, 111., frora which institu
tion he graduated in the fall of 1864. His first business vent
ure was as clerk in the wholesale tobacco house of Sarauel
Barbosia, Chicago, which position he held for one year, and
then as bookkeeper for Speakraan & Proctor, wholesale book-
seUers and stationers, Chicago, until 1867. In the spring of the
above year he becarae associated with his father in the hard
ware business at Williamsburg, Ind., under the firm name of
Kiblinger & Co. In the spring of 1877 he sold his interest at
Williamsburg and raoved to Auburn, where he opened a hard
ware store, to which he soon after added farra machinery. He
was very successful in his business pursuits, and in 1880 erected
a fine business building at the corner of Main and Seventh
streets. It is a brick structure two stories high and 22x130
feet in length. In the fall of 1877 he purchased the hardware
stock of D. D. Snyder, and again in 1883 he bought out Snyder
& Culbertson. From February, 1883, to February, 1884, he
was associated with S. J. M'cBride in a branch store at Water
loo, Ind., under the firm nartie o'f Kiblinger & Co. He was
married Aug. 23, 1873, to Miss Martha, daughter of John Mc
Bride, of Williarasburg, Ind. He is a member of Ligonier
Lodge, No. 186, F. & A. M. His wife is a member of the
Methodist Episcopal church, and Mr. Kiblinger, although not
united with any denoraination, is in accord with the Presbyte
rian creed.
John M. Kimsey, Postmaster, Waterloo, Ind., is a native of
Carrollton, Carroll Co., Ohio, born Oct. 9, 1833, a son of Dr.
Thomas B. and Sarah (Carr) Kimsey, his father a native of
Ohio and his raother of Ireland. He was the eldest of six
children, five of whora are living. July 28, 1861, he was raar-

01 -

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HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY. 889
ried to Harriet E., daughter of R.J. Lent, of New York, and
the following September enlisted in the Regimental Band of
the Forty-fourth Indiana Infantry. He was present at the bat
tle of Shiloh, first siege of Corinth and Perryville, serving till
November, 1862, when by an order from the Government all
regimental bands were discharged. After his discharge he re
turned to Indiana, and after remaining in Waterloo a short
time, went to Angola, where for two years he had charge of M.
& A. Hale's mercantile house, and in 1865 embarked in busi
ness for himself. In February, 1877, he was appointed Post
master at Waterloo. Mr. Kimsey is a member of Waterloo
City Lodge, No. 307, F. & A. M., and a charter member of
Waterloo Post, No. 52, G. A. R. He and his wife are mem
bers of the Methodist Episcopal church. Politically he is a
Republican. Mr, and Mrs. Kimsey have had a family of six
children^Lola, wife of Frank Broughton, M. D., of AviUa,
Ind.; Jessie A. died May 6, 1884; Sarah E., Reuben T., Rose
E. and Jay F. are at home.
Thomas B. Kimsey, M. D., was a native of Ohio, and one of
the early physicians of De Kalb County. He began the study
of his profession with Dr. Hunter, of Carrollton, Ohio, and
after completing his studies located in Carrollton, where he
practiced three years. He then went to Trenton, Tuscarawas
Co., Ohio, and in the fall of 1840 to Adams County, Ind., mak
ing the last trip by teams. He located at Monmouth, and re
mained there till 1852, when he removed to Auburn, DeKalb
County, where he was actively engaged in practice till his
death, in May, 1856. He was a physician of the old school, a
very successful practitioner, and was well and favorably known
in the northern counties of Indiana. He married Sarah Carr,
a native of Ireland, who came to America with her uncle, John
Morrison, when seven years of age. They had a family of six
children, but three of whom are living. Mrs. Kimsey died in
September, 1876. The Doctor and his wife were exemplary
members of, and active workers in, the Methodist Episcopal
church. Michael Kline, carpenter and builder, was born in Perry
County, Pa., May 23, 1822, a son of John and Sophia (Froun-
felt) Khne. When he was six months old his parents raoved to
Mansfield, Richland Co., Ohio, where he was reared. His
mother died in Ohio, and his father subsequently went with one

=i^

890 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
of his sons to Missouri, where he died. Michael Khne learned
the trade of a carpenter in his youth of his father. He came
to Indiana in January, 1850, and located in Auburn, De Kalb
County, where he Hved till the spring of 1855, when he bought
a tract of wild land in Richland Township, which he cultivated
and improved. He erected good buildings, including a fine
brick residence, residing there till 1873, when he moved again
to Auburn, and has since worked at his trade. In addition to
his farm he owns two residences in Auburn, the one in which
he is living being one of the finest in the town. Mr. Kline was
raarried in Crawford County, Ohio, in May, 1849, to Mary A.
Wallace, who died in March, 1850. In 185 1 he raarried Ann
M. Soraers, a native of Pennsylvania, daughter of John and
Elizabeth Somers, who carae to Indiana in 1841. To Mr. and
Mrs. Kline have been born six children, three of whora are liv
ing — John F., now of Butte City, Mont. ; Mary E., wife of
Araos Miller, of Ohio; Etta L., at home. Mr. and Mrs. Kline
are members of the Methodist Episcopal church.
Calvin Kutzner, the youngest son of Isaac and Mary Kutzner,
was bom in Stark County, Ohio, Dec. 6, 1835, and was fifteen
years of age when his parents moved De Kalb County, Ind.
He received his primary education in his native county, cora
pleting it after coraing to Indiana. He remained with his par
ents to maturity, assisting his father on the farm. In the fall ot
i860 he was married to Mary E. Rhodes, daughter of Elijah
and Priscilla Rhodes. After his marriage he settled on the farm
where he now lives, which at that time consisted of eighty
acres. To this he has added till he now owns 160 acres of valu
able land. His residence, which is a large two-story brick, was
built in 1873, and his farm buildings are large and substantial.
He is engaged in general farming and stock-raising, his stock
being of the finest grades. In politics Mr. Kutzner has been a
life-long Democrat. He is one of the representative and sub
stantial farmers of the township. To him and his wife have
been born four children — Isaac S., Mark, Evena and Ella.
Myron S. Kutzner, the only son of Augustus and Amanda
(Eberly) Kutzner, was born in De Kalb County, Ind., March 15,
1859. f^is parents were natives of Stark County, Ohio, his
father, born June, 1828, died in March, i860, and his mother,
born about 1838, died Jan. 4, 1870. They were the parents of
two children — Ellen F., wife of I. W. Lowman, and Myron.
V' <5  ^ ^«  6 >

HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY. 89 1
Myron Kutzner was reared by Samuel Willaraan, reraaining
with him till the latter's death in 1884. He received a good
education, attending the district school and later the Auburn
High School. After leaving school he engaged in agricultural
pursuits, which he has since followed with uniform success.
He owns a good farm of 112 acres on which his father settled
in 1S53, and his improvements are all good, his buildings be
ing among the best in the township. He is engaged in general
farming, paying special attention to stock-raising. He is an en
terprising young man and one of the representative farraers of
the township. He was raarried January, 1881, to Mary, third
daughter of John and Maria Coy, of this county. They have
one daughter — Winnie C.
Sylvester Kutzner, a raeraber of one of the pioneer families of
De Kalb County, is a native of Stark County, Ohio, born near
Canton, Dec. 15, 1832. He is the fourth of six children of Isaac
and Mary (Zuaers) Kutzner, his father a native of Cumberland
County, Pa., born in 1796, and his mother of Franklin County,
Pa., born in 1801. They were raarried in their native State
and raoved to Ohio with a family of two children, and in 1851
came to De Kalb County, and settled on land Mr. Kutzner
had located in 1836. The first entry was 200 acres, but to this
he added till he had 400 acres, all in one tract. He died Feb. 4,
1883, and his wife now makes her home with her children.
Their family consisted of six children — August (deceased),
Sylvester, David, Calvin, Catherine, wife of John Grube, and
Barbara A., wife of Isaac B. Brandon. Sylvester Kutzner was
reared in his native county, being in his nineteenth year when
he came to De Kalb County. He had a good education and
after coming to this county taught school several winter terras.
He also engaged in agricultural pursuits and subsequently be
came a stockholder in the woolen-mills at Auburn, which
proved an unsuccessful venture. He was superintendent of the
mills, but the confinement was injurious to his health, and he
was obliged to resign his position. Since his return to the
labors of the farm he has been successful, and his health has
steadily iraproved. He owns 154 acres of choice land, and his
buildings are substantial and convenient. He raakes a specialty
of stock-raising and has a fine grade of Durhara cattle. He
takes an active interest in township and county affairs, and has
served one terra as Trustee, and has also been a raember ot

•f e  ^

892 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
the Board of School Examiners of De Kalb County. He is
Secretary of the Farmers' Mutual Fire Insurance Company.
He was married in 1861, to  , of Stark County, Ohio. She
died while on a visit to her old home, leaving one child — Mag
gie. In 1863 he married Clara Williams, who came to De Kalb
County frora the southern part of Ohio.
H. K. Leas, Cashier of the Citizens' Bank, Waterloo, Ind., is
a native of Steuben County, Ind., where he was reared on a
farm, receiving his early education in the district schools. In
1875 he attended the Northern Indiana Normal School and
Business College at Valparaiso, after which he engaged in
the drug business, and during that tirae received an appoint
ment as Postraaster, and served as such while he was in the
business, when he resigned his position as Postmaster, in April,
1880. In 1880 he went to Poughkeepsie, N. Y., and graduated
from the college there the sarae year. After leaving school he
returned to the farra, but soon after was given the opportunity
to make a practical use of his education by his appointment to
his present position, in which he has served faithfully and well.
Mr. Leas was married in June, 1881, to Ida M. Taylor, daugh
ter of John Taylor, of De Kalb County. He is a raeraber of
the English Reformed church, and ot Waterloo City Lodge, No.
307, F. & A. M. ; and served three years as one of the Town
Board of Waterloo, Ind., the last year as President of said
Town Board. In 1885 was chosen as one of the Executive
Committee of the Northeastern Indiana Agricultural Fair As
sociation. John Leas, President of Citizens' Bank, Waterloo, Ind., was
bom in Adams County, Pa., near Gettysburg, July 12, 1815, a
son of Col. John, Jr., and Sophia (Spangler) Leas, natives of the
same State. Ten children lived to be adults, eight of whom
are now living. His grandfather was a soldier in the war of
the Revolution. Mr. Leas was a farmer. In 181 8 Mr. Leas
eraigrated to Stark County, Ohio, where he opened up a farm.
In 1838 he went to Guernsey County and opened up his second
farm in a wilderness. In the fall of 1852 he came to De Kalb
County, Ind., and located on section 8, Smithfield Township,
where he again made a farm. The Colonel was a man of more
than ordinary ability, and was highly respected in the county
where he resided. While in Stark County, Ohio, he was com
missioned as Colonel of a militia regiment by Wilson Shannon.

C

4

J-

HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY. 893
In politics he was an old Jackson Democrat, and held several
local offices. He died in De Kalb County in 1875. Mrs. Leas
died in 1882. They were members of the Reformed church. The
subject of this sketch was reared upon a farm. In early life his
education was sadly neglected, as his parents were poor, and all
the schooling he had was in the log cabin. He was married in
Stark County, Ohio, to Susan Schimpff, a native of Germany,
who emigrated to America when thirteen years of age. By
this union there was a family of twelve chUdren, nine of whom
are Hving — Martin. Jacob, John, Obadiah, William H., Heze
kiah K , Daniel, Elizabeth (wife of Oscar Taylor), Adeline (wife
of Miles J. Waterman). In 1842 Mr. Leas carae to Indiana,
and in 1S43 he raoved his faraily, purchasing 143 acres of land.
In 1867 he came to De Kalb County, where he has a fine farm
and houses. When Mr. Leas came to Steuben County he was
a poor man, with only $85 in money and a yoke of oxen, and a
wife and baby, but by hard work he has accumulated a corape-
tency, and to-day is among the wealthy citizens of the county.
For twenty-two years he has followed the shipping business,
riding night and day. June 15, 1881, Mrs. Leas died at her
home, leaving a husband and nine children to mourn her loss.
She was a true Christian, and highly respected by all. She
was a kind and thoroughly respected and loving wife. In De
cember, 1881, he was again raarried to Amanda Malory, widow
of Robt. Patterson, by whom she had five children; two living
— Williara and Frederick. In politics he is a strong Deraocrat,
and has held several local offices of trust in the gift of the peo
ple. He is a member of the Reformed church. Mr. Leas is a
Master Mason, and a member of Waterloo Lodge, No. 207.
Augustus S. Leas, ex-Sheriff of De Kalb County, was born in
Stark County, Ohio. In 1852 he came with his parents to De
Kalb County, Ind., where he married Nancy Fo^d, by whom
he had one child — Franklin. Mrs. Leas died, and he then mar
ried Electa Fay, of Bryan, Ohio, and to thera were born four
children, three of whom are living — Frederick, Nannie and
Agnes. Mrs. Leas died, and he was again married to Arrella
Amidon (better known by the name of Teems). In early hfe he
was a clerk in a store. In 1878 he was elected to the office of
Sheriff of the county, and filled the same for four years. He is
a Republican in politics.
Obe Leas is a native of Steuben County, Ind., born Nov. 5,

5^

894 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
1 85 1, the seventh of twelve children of John and Susan
(Schimpff) Leas, natives of Pennsylvania. In 1849 his parents
moved to Stark County, Ohio, and thence to Steuben County,
Ind., locating on the line of De Kalb County; now live in
Smithfield Township, De Kalb County. Obe Leas was reared
on a farra, receiving a good education, corapleting it at Water
loo. He reraained with his parents till manhood, and soon after
his twenty-first birthday was married to Lydia, third daughter
of Joseph and Nancy Plum. After his raarriage he settled on
the farm where he has since lived, known as the old Middleton
farm, near the city of Waterloo. It contains ninety-six acres
of choice land, the greater part under cultivation and the im
proveraents are all substantial and in good repair. He devotes
considerable attention to raising horses, having several of the
celebrated Clydesdale breed. He is one of the enterprising
young raen of the township and a prorainent and prosperous citi
zen. He has three children — Byron, Franklin O. and Lulu M.
William Lessig was born near Hancock, Md., Feb. 12, 1818,
a son of John and Elizabeth (Keifer) Lessig. His maternal
grandfather was a hero of the Revolutionary war, and his father
was a descendant of Peter Stuyvesant of Colonial fame. His
parents located soon after in Franklin County, Pa., where they
resided until his father's death which occurred when he was
seven years of age. Sept. 10, 1840, he married Miss Frances
Barclay, a native of Franklin County, and located in Bedford
County, Pa., where he engaged in the hatting business, then a
lucrative occupation. In 1842 they moved to Wayne County,.
Ohio, and in 1850 Mr. Lessig went to Cahfornia by the over
land route, through Salt Lake City. In the spring of 1851 he
returned home via Mexico. In Sept., 1853, they moved to
De Kalb County, Ind., and settled in the woods two miles east
of Auburn, clearing and opening up a fine farm on which
they Hved till the faU of 1878, when they moved to Auburn
where they have since lived retired, renting their farm. They
have endured many hardships and privations, and are now
reaping the benefits of their raany years of toil. In all the
struggles which fate heaps upon the pioneer his noble wife
has stood by his side, and has done her share toward making a
horae and a corapetency for their old age. They have had
four children, of whora all died in infancy, save one, a daugh
ter—Ella E., wife of B. F. Culbertson, of Auburn, Ind. Mr.

^1

HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY. 895
and Mrs. Lessig have been for many years members of the
Presbyterian church.
John J. Littlefield, M. D., was born in Verona, Oneida Co.,
N. Y., March 13, 1831, a son of Josiah and Rachel Littlefield.
He lived with his parents in Oneida County, N. Y., and Mon
roe County, Mich., till manhood, and was given a good English-
education, attending the district schools and Holley (N. Y.)
Academy. From 1854 till 1856 he superintended his father's
mills at Grafton, Mich. Having had frora his youth a desire to
be a physician, in 1856 he entered the office of Dr. John L. Near,
at Flat Rock, Mich., and began to study the profession. He
remained with Dr. Near till 1861, and then entered the medical
department of the Michigan State University and took two
courses, i86o-'6i and i86i-'62. Ill health prevented him from
finishing the last course. After his recovery, in May, 1862, he
enlisted in Company F, Twenty-fourth Michigan Infantry, as a
private. Soon after he was mustered into the service, while at
Fort Lyons, Va., he was detailed dispenser of drugs in the regi
ment hospital, and also acted as Assistant Surgeon till his
discharge for disability in August, 1863. He returned to Mich
igan and began the practice of medicine at Dundee, remaining
there till August, 1864, when he was appointed recruiting officer
and the following October was commissioned Assistant Surgeon
of the One Hundred and Eighty-eighth Michigan Infantry, and
served till the close of the war ; was mustered out July, 1865.
He returned to Dundee and resumed his practice. In 1868 he
removed to Petersburg, Mich. In March, 1870, he entered the
Philadelphia (Pa.) Eclectic Medical CoUege and graduated the
following June. He continued his practice in Petersburg till
March, 1871, when he raoved to Auburn, Ind., where he has
built up a fine practice. Dr. Littlefield has been twice raarried.
April 15, 1853, he married Mary A. Hawley, of Monroe County,
Mich., from whora he was divorced in 187 1. To them were
born four children — Francis, Daniel, Carrie (wife of J. H. Pilk
ington, of Parsons, Kan.) and Addie (wife of Dr. Frank Pratt,
of Jackson, Mich.). In June, 1872, Dr. Littlefield married EHza
E. Burdenow. They have one child — John. The doctor and
his wife are merabers ot the Methodist Episcopal church. He is
a member of Mentor Lodge, No. 591, I. O. O. F., and is agent
and Examining Surgeon for the Odd Fellows' Mutual Aid
Society of the State of Indiana.

i^

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896 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
Edgar E. Long, of the firm of Long & Trout, liverymen. Auburn,
Ind., was born in Pleasant Lake, Steuben Co., Ind., June 15,
1850, a son of Benajah B. Long, who settled at Pleasant Lake in
1836, thence to Waterloo in 1859, and was for a number of years
a leading merchant of that place. He was also engaged in the
livery business eighteen years, and ouV subject remained with
him all the time when not in school. He received a good educa
tion in the schools of Waterloo. He was married March 7,
1872, to Dora A. Dickinson, daughter of Timothy Dickinson, an
early settler of Auburn. They have one child — Mary O. Mr.
Long became proprietor of Long's Hotel in 1878 and carried it
on six years. He moved to Auburn in September, 1884, and in
company with Eugene Trout became established in the livery.
business. They have a good trade, their stock being valued at
$3,000. Mr. Long was Marshal of Waterloo in 1874 and 1875.
He is a member of the Knights of Honor, Union Lodge, No.
1,436, at Waterloo.
Rev. Isaac W. Lowman is a native of Indiana, born in Wabash
County, April 7, 185 1, the eldest son of Martin and Priscilla
(Pike) Lowman, natives of Ohio, and early settlers of Wabash
County, Ind., and latter moved to Kosciusko County where
they both died. Isaac was reared and educated in the last-
named county, receiving his early education in the district
schools. After teaching he subsequently began to studv for the
ministry, and in 1869 began preaching in the Church of God, his
first circuit extending over a part of Lagrange and De Kalb
counties. He continued preaching eight years, and since then
has given his" attention to agricultural pursuits. He was mar
ried in 1873 to Ellen F. Kutzner, only daughter of Augustus
and Araanda Kutzner. After his raarriage he lived on the
Willaraan farm till 1884, and then moved to the farm where he
now lives, where he has eighty acres of finely improved land.
Mr. and Mrs. Lowman have two children — Vernon W. and Mar
vin Bliss.
John Lutz, one of the early settlers of De Kalb County,
came to the county with his parents, Michael and MagdeHne
(Crawford) Lutz, in 1847, and located in Union Township. His
father died soon after their arrival, and the farra was cleared
and cultivated by Mrs. Lutz, assisted by her children. Mrs.
Lutz was an energetic, ambitious woman, and worked hard to
make a home and rear her children. She died in 1882 after a

k^

HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY. 897
long life of usefulness. Our subject was born in Stark County,
Ohio, in 1826, and was, therefore, about twenty -one years of age
when he came to De Kalb County. He assisted his mother as long
as his services were needed, and then commenced to work for
himself. He has been successful, and now owns 270 acres of
land, 100 acres under cultivation. He was married March 24,
1868, to Susannah Oberholtzer, a native of Union Township,
De Kalb County. To them were born six children, but four of
whom are living — Jennie, Ada, Martha and John. Mrs. Lutz
died April 24, 1880. She was a most estimable, cultured woman,
and her friends were legion. A devoted wife and mother, and
a kind, considerate neighbor, her loss cannot be estimated.
Timothy G. Matheny, M. D., a prominent physician of Auburn,
Ind., was bom in Morgan County, Ohio, April 20, 1830. He is
a son of Nathan and Anna (Sheckley) Matheny, natives of
Pennsylvania. His mother, who was a worthy raember of the
Baptist church, and a very estimable lady, was much beloved
by all who knew her, and although idolized at home she was
removed by death in 1837, when only thirty years old. After
his mother's death he was sent to live with an uncle, George
Daugherty, where he remained until eighteen years of age, re
siding in Washington and Hardin counties, Ohio. From 1848
to 185 1 he attended school at Kenton, Ohio, working between
sessions to defray expenses at school ; thus heroically battling
with poverty, determined to acquire as much of an education
as his surroundings would permit. In those youthful days of
hardships, without the sympathy and parental guidance which
the young heart so much craves, he developed powers of inde
pendent thought and self-reliance, that with the maturer judg
ment of later years, goes far to make hira the safe, careful,
conscientious and valuable counsel, which reputation now
crowns him with the desirable popularity he now enjoys with
his patrons. On the 17th day of August, 1851, he was married
to Miss Abi Hatch, daughter of Waterman and Mary (Young)
Hatch. He is the third of five children in his father's family.
Barbara A., Joseph E., Tiraothy G. and Martha J. yet living.
One brother, Wm. N., died in Fort Wayne, Ind., in the spring
of 1876, at the age of forty-four years. While at Kenton he
began the study of medicine in the office of Dr. Russell. In
the fall of 1854 he removed frora Kenton, Ohio, to Decatur,
Adams Co., Ind., where he continued the study of medicine

898 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
under the instruction of Dr. Pierce. Later he attended medi
cal lectures at Cincinnati, Ohio. While located at Decatur
and prosecuting his studies, he found it necessary to do some
thing to secure the necessary revenue to meet expenses in rais
ing a family, and being a practical millwright he engaged in the
milling business, where he had the reputation of turning out
more flour, and of as good quality, as any of his compeers. In
1862 he was appointed by Gov. O. P. Morton as enroUing offi
cer for Adams County. He enrolled the county during the
summer, made the draft in October that year, and his men
were mustered in the United States service in Noveraber at
Carap Sullivan, Ind. He also enlisted a company, and was
about to be commissioned as its Captain, when he was attacked
with typhoid fever, which so prostrated hira that for about one
year he was unable to do manual labor. He continued his
medical studies, and in 1863 removed to the north part of De
Kalb County, and began the practice of medicine at Barker's
Corners, and a few years later removed to Hudson, Ind., where
he purchased some land and continued his practice at that
place where he was blessed with a large and lucrative busi
ness. After moving to Hudson he opened a drug store, which
he managed till 1877, when he sold his drug stock to and ex
changed locations with Dr. J. J. Littlefield, and removed to
Auburn. In 1879 he formed a partnership with Dr. J. B. Case
beer in the practice of medicine and surgery, also in the drug
business. They are now proprietors of the Physicians' Drug
Store, located on Main street, next door to the First National
Bank, and are not only occupying a beautiful room, but are en
joying a nice drug trade as well as a very popular practice in
medicine and surgery. The Doctor is a graduate of the Fort
Wayne Medical College, and is an honor to his " Alraa Mater "
by the honorable and energetic manner in which he engages in
the profession of his choice. In politics he is a pronounced
Democrat, serving his party faithfully whenever opportunity
occurs. He is a Master Mason, a member of De Kalb Lodge,
No. 214; has also been a member of I. O. O. F. since 1851.
Has five children living — David B., Sarah A., Robison W.,
Mary L. and Brownell. A daughter, Emma Z., died June 3,
1853, aged three months. Dr. Matheny has been a student all
his life, keeping pace with the advancement of the raedical pro
fession. He comprehends his duties as a family physician, and

J IS

HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY. 899
conscientiously performs them, and thus has endeared himself
to the many families who have employed and thus become in
timately acquainted with him. He is heavily built, but at the
age of fifty-five his step is very firm and elastic. In conversa
tion he is genial ; in the social circle he is lively, and enjoys
dealing in innocent jokes with as much zest as those that are
younger. /. F. Maxson, of the firm of Bassett & Maxson, jewelers, Wa
terloo, Ind., is a native of Greenbush, near Albany, N. Y., born
April 4, 1832, a son of Jehu J. and Luna (Tompkins) Maxson,
his father of Irish and his mother of Scotch descent. In 1836
his parents moved to Jackson County, Mich., and entered a
farm from the Government. His mother died in August, 1839.
Ot her seven children six are living. His father afterward
married Harriet Eastman, and to them were bom eleven chil
dren, nine of whora are living. One son, Walter, was killed
while in the service of his country in the war of the Rebellion.
J. F. Maxson was reared on a pioneer farra, at a time when
Indians and wild animals infested the country. When twenty-
one years of age he went to Coldwater, Mich., and there
learned the jeweler's trade of C. H. Thompson. While there
he made the acquaintance of Charles Bassett, who was a fellow-
apprentice, and after completing their trade, in 1859, together
they came to Waterloo, Ind., and opened a store, at that tirae
the only one of the kind in the place. They have the largest
jewelry store in the county, and keep a complete stock of
everything in their line. Their shrewd business qualities, com
bined with their thorough knowledge of their trade, has gained
for them a high position among the business men of the county.
Mr. Maxson was married in 1863 to Martha J., daughter of
James and Mary Maybee, of Lockport, N. Y. They have four
children — Mattie, John C, Agnes and Earl H. Mr. Maxson
cast his first presidential vote for John C. Fremont, and has
since been a strong advocate of Republican principles. He
and his wife are raembers of the United Brethren church.
WiUiam B. Maxwell is a native of Ohio, born in Wayne
County, Aug. 9, 1841. His parents, Williara and Elizabeth
(Woods) Maxwell, were natives of Pennsylvania, the father
born March i, 1801, and the mother July 8, 1806. They were
married in Ohio, but in 1842 moved to De Kalb County, Ind.,
and settled in Wilmington Township. Of the twelve children

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900 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
bom to them seven are living. The father was an influential
man in his neighborhood, and held several offices of trust. The
raother died Oct. 25, 1855. Our subject received his early edu
cation in the district schools of his adopted county. When
sixteen years of age he began to learn the cabinet-maker's trade,
and served an apprenticeship of four years with J. & R. Ettin
ger, of Auburn, receiving $140 a year for his services. In
August, 1862, he enlisted in the One Hundredth Indiana Infan
try, Company A, and participated in the siege and battle of
Vicksburg and battle of Jackson. While at Belfort, Ala., he
was taken with rheumatisra and was sent to the convalescent
carap at Huntsville, where he reraained till October, 1864,
when he was given a furlough to go home and vote. After his
return to Huntsville he was assigned duty in the light artillery
service. He was mustered out at Nashville, Tenn., May 13,
1865. His health being impaired he was unable to work, and
therefore attended school till the spring of 1866, when he went
to Bureau County, IU., and the following fall to Peru, LaSalle
County. In 1867 he went to Omaha, and was in the employ of the
Union Pacific Railroad till 1870, when he returned to De Kalb
County and located in Waterloo. He was married in 1873 to
Emeline Stroh, a native of DeKalb County, born Oct. 13, 1846,
a daughter of William and Sarah Stroh. To them have been
born three chUdren ; but two are living — Albert E., born Jan.
25, 1875, and Arthur A., born July 26, 1884. Frank W., born
May 9, 1878, died Dec 28, 1880. Mr. and Mrs. Maxwell are
members of the Methodist Episcopal church. He is a member
of Waterloo Lodge, No. 221, I. O. O. F., and Waterloo Post,
No. 52, G. A. R.
Robert Wes McBride, Judge of the Thirty-fifth Judicial Cir
cuit, was born near Mansfield, Richland Co., Ohio, Jan. 25,
1842, a son of Augustus and Martha A. (Barnes) McBride.
His father was a volunteer soldier in the Mexican Avar, and
died in the City of Mexico in February, 1848. His mother,
now the widow of Jaraes Sirpless, resides at the old home, five
and a half miles southeast of Mansfield. When thirteen years
of age Mr. McBride went to Iowa and remained seven years.
He acquired a good education in the common and high schools,
and when seventeen began teaching in Mahaska County, Iowa.
He taught three years, and in 1862 returned to Ohio and
clerked in the hardware store of B. S. Runyan a year. In 1863

__ ______ -^ 4)PV

• — --

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HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.

901

he entered the service of the United States as a meraber of
Union Light Guards, Ohio Volunteer Cavalry, an independent
squadron of cavalry of picked raen organized by Governor
David Tod, and reraained a raember of this organization till
it was mustered out, Sept. 14, 1865. After about eight months
of active service he became disabled and was assigned to de
tached service as clerk, and served successively frora clerk to
a mihtary commission at the central guard-house, Washington,
and in the Adjutant-General's office till mustered out. He was
then appointed to a citizen's clerkship in the Ouarterraaster-
General's office, which he resigned the following November
and returned to Mansfield. He taught school at his old home
in the winter of i865-'6, and devoted his leisure time to
the study of law. In the spring of 1866 he came to Waterloo,
Ind., and obtained employment as clerk and bookkeeper for
R. M. & W. C. Lockhart, still continuing his law studies. Dur
ing the session of 1867 he acted as one of the clerks of the Indi
ana State Senate, and at the, April, 1867, term of De Kalb
Circuit Court was admitted to the bar. In Septeraber, 1867, a
partnership was formed with Hon. James 1. Best for the prac
tice of law, but in July, 1868, this partnership was dissolved
and he practiced alone till December, 1870, when he formed a
partnership with Joseph L. Morlan, the firm being McBride &
Morlan. In 1876 WiUiara H. Leas was admitted to the firm
which was dissolved by the death of Mr. Morlan, Aug. 23, 1878.
After Mr. Morlan's death, Mr. McBride practiced alone till
November, 1882, when he was elected Judge of the Thirty-fifth
Judicial Circuit, composed of Noble, De Kalb and Steuben
counties. Judge McBride was for several years Captain of
Waterloo Rifles, Company A, Third Regiment, Indiana Legion,
and is now Lieutenant-Colonel of the regiment. He was raar
ried Sept. 27, 1868, to Miss Ida S., eldest daughter of Dr. J. N.
Chamberlain, of Waterloo. They have four children — Daisy
I., born Sept. 25, 1869; Charles H., born Nov. 11, 1871 ; Her
bert W., born Oct. 15, 1873, and Martha C, born Feb. 13,
1876. /. P. McCague, lumber dealer, Waterloo, Ind., is a native of
Holmes County, Ohio, born July 12, 1846. His parents, Sam
uel C. and Eliza J. (Barfoot) McCague, were natives of Penn
sylvania, but in early life went to Ohio, where they were
married. Of their three children, two were born in Ohio and
57

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¦"•T

902

HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.

one in DeKalb County, Ind. His father died in 1852, and in
1855 his mother married Aaron B. Smith, of Stark County,
Ohio, and to them was born one son, Sanford S. The mother
died in August, 1880. J. P. McCague was early in hfe thrown
on his own resources, and therefore early learned the lesson of
self-reliance. In 1861 he went to Winnesheik County, Iowa,
and in July, 1862, enlisted in the Twelfth Iowa Infantry, but
was discharged on account of his youth. He subsequently
served in the Indian campaign in an independent company,
and Avas present at the capture of 600 Sioux, who were sent to
Davenport. While on a skirmish he was captured, and was
tied to a guard, but while the guard was sleeping he loosed
himseU. In so doing he disturbed a dog, which he killed with
the guard's knife. By this tirae the guard awoke and he then
kUled him and made his escape. He carries the scars of this
combat on his hands to this day. He returned to Winnesheik
County and attended school till the spring of 1864, when he
enlisted in Company F, Forty-sixth Iowa Infantry, Sixteenth
Army Corps, and participated in the battles of Tupelo and
Guntown ; was mustered out in August, 1864. After his dis
charge he came to De Kalb County where he has since resided.
He is one of the raost enterprising and influential business raen
of Waterloo. He is First Lieutenant of Company A, Third
Indiana National Rifles (Waterloo Rifles), and is a member of
the Grand Army of the Republic. He was raarried in 1872 to
Nancy A., daughter of Jaraes Bowraan. They have six chil
dren—Charles A., Nellie, Eddie, Blanche, Eston and Eugene.
Hon. Charles A. 0. McClellan, attorney at law, and President
of the First National Bank, Auburn, Ind., was bom May 25,
1835, in Ashland, Ashland Co., Ohio. His parents, WiUiam and
Eliza (Wiggins) McClellan, were natives of New Jersey, his
father of Scotch-Irish, and his mother of German descent. In
his boyhood and youth Mr. McClellan had but Hmited educa
tional advantages, only attending the district school in the win
ter months, assisting his father in his business the rest of the
year, until reaching the nineteenth year when, having become
a fine penman, he gave instruction in penmanship and pen-draw
ing for two years. Notwithstanding his meager opportunities
he, by extra personal efforts, acquired an excellent Enghsh
education. In 1856 he came to Indiana, settiingin Auburn, De
Kalb County, where he was employed as deputy in the County

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HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTV. 903
Auditor's office under M. F. Pierce, serving in that position
five years. In early life his inclinations were for the profession
of the law, and while in the Auditor's office at Auburn he de
voted his leisure time to its study, and at the same time made a
complete abstract of the county records. In the spring of i860
he was appointed one of the two United States Marshals to take
the census of DeKalb County. In the fall of 1861 he went to
Waterloo and engaged in the real-estate business, although he
StiU pursued his law studies, and in 1862 was admitted to the
bar. In January, 1863, he became associated with Judge J. I.
Best in the practice of his profession and reraained with him
till February, 1879, when he accepted the appointment of Judge
of the Fortieth Judicial Circuit of Indiana, and filled this re
sponsible position with ability and honor. As a lawyer he oc
cupies a distinguished position araong his professional brethren.
He has always been a leader in public iraproveraents in De Kalb
County, and was one of the original stockholders and a director
of the Fort Wayne, Jackson & Saginaw Railroad, and exerted
his influence to have it brought through the county, and is now
Trustee of the Nickel Plate Railroad. In 1868, in corapany
with Judge Best, he built the Star Mills at Waterloo, at a cost
of $18,000, which were operated only a short tirae, when they
were destroyed by fire without insurance. In 1873 he was one
of the incorporators- of the De Kalb Bank of Waterloo in which
he still retains an interest. He is also a stockholder of the First
National Bank of Auburn, and was its Vice-President from 1878
to 1882, and since the latter year has been President of the cor
poration. He removed from Waterloo to Auburn in 1883. In
1884 he purchased the Snyder Wagon Works and organized
the Snyder Wagon Corapany, the largest manufacturing estab
lishment in the county. Mr. McClellan is a pronounced Demo
crat in his political views, and was a meraber of the Democratic
State Central Comraittee of Indiana in 1878. He is a prorai
nent Mason, having taken the Blue Lodge, Chapter and Knights
Templar degrees, and has served as Worshipful Master and
Eminent Commander. He was married Nov. 10, 1859, to Eliza
beth, daughter of Samuel D. Long, one of the pioneers of De
Kalb County. They have three children — Jennie L., wife of
Don A. Garwood, an Attorney at Waterloo, associated with
Mr. McClellan in practice at that place ; Charles, a meraber of
Governor Gray's military staff, and a graduate of Michigan
, QtJ  ' l>^

.A^

904

HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.

State University, Ann Arbor, and Delia. All are graduates of
the Waterloo High School, and the eldest, Jennie, is a superior
musician, both vocal and instrumental, and graduated from the
Musical Conservatory at Fort Wayne, Ind., in 1879.
Abram McEntaffer is one of the earliest settlers of De Kalb
County, and has seen this country grow frora a wild tract of
heavily timbered land to its present state of advanced civiliza
tion. He has been an energetic, progressive citizen, and has
assisted liberally In both time and money all projects that
promise advancement to his adopted county. He came to the
county with his parents, John and Catherine McEntaffer, and
located in Sraithfield Township. At that tira6 there were but
four or five white farailies in the township. Indians and wild
animals were the principal inhabitants, and Mr. McEntaffer
often visited the Indians and attended their dances in the early
days. Our subject was born in Stark County, Ohio, April 20,
1 82 1, and was, therefore, eighteen years of age when he came
to Indiana. His education was received in his native county,
and after coming to De Kalb County his time was devoted to
clearing his farra. He was married July 4, 1842, to Margaret
Crawford, a native of Stark County, Ohio. To them were
born four children — Susan, wife of Samuel Rodenbaugh ; Da
vid, now of Ohio; Hannah, wife of Lafayette Miser; Louisa,
wife of Oliver Wharton, of Waterloo. Mrs. McEntaffer died in
June, 1882. She was a devoted mother, a faithful wife, a kind
neighbor and a consistent Christian, a meraber of the old Luth
eran church.
William H. McQuiston, dealer in dry goods, groceries and
queensware. Auburn, Ind., is a native of Indiana, born in Allen
County, June 28, 1840, a son of John and Eliza (Rodgers) Mc
Quiston, his father a native of Pennsylvania and his mother
of West Virginia. His parents moved to .Alien County in 1837,
and are still residents of Washington Township. He received
a good education, completing it at the Francisco Commercial
College, Fort Wayne. He was employed as bookkeeper for C.
Orff & Co. six years, and in 1871 located in Auburn and began
business on his own account. In 1875 he became associated
with I. N. Cool in the grocery business, carrying on dry goods
and clothing by himself in a separate room. At the end of a
year Mr. Cool purchased his interest in grocery stock. In 1878
he forraed a partnership w-ith G. C. Ralston, under the firm

l^"

¦^

HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY. 905
name of McQuiston & Ralston. In 1882 Mr. Long bought Mr.
Ralston's interest and the firm was changed to McQuiston &
Long. Mr. McQuiston bought Mr. Long's interest in April,
1885, and he carries a complete stock of everything in his line,
and has one of the best stores in Auburn. Mr. McQuiston was
married in 1870 to Malvina R. Mahurin, daughter of Isaac Ma-
hurin, of Fort Wayne. He is a member of De Kalb Lodge,
No. 214, F. & A. M. He has been a meraber of the City Coun
cil since 1882.
Christian Monroe Merica. Superintendent of Schools of DeKalb
County, is a native of Ohio, born in Champaign County, Feb.
10, 1S53. He was the next youngest of fourteen children of
Henry and Diana (Bodey) ^lerica, natives of Rockingham
County, Va., of German descent. His father died in 1859, and
in the faU of 1864 his mother married David Houser, of this
county, and moved here with her family, ^'oung Merica Hved
with his parents till fourteen years of age, when he hired to his
brother William, with whom he remained four years, working
upon the farm in the summer and attending the district school
in the winter. He then attended the Auburn High School two
terms, and in the winter of 1872-3 he taught his first term of
school in District No. 6 (now No. i) of Butler Township. He
subsequently attended school at Auburn two raore terms and
then taught in the winter, and attended the Northern Indiana
Normal School at Valparaiso in the suraraer until the spring of
1876, preparing hiraself for teaching. Frora this tirae until
the fall of 1879 he taught school in the winter, and in the
suraraer worked upon the farra and went with a threshing-
machine. He was raarried March 2, 1876, to Minerva
Wiant, daughter of J. P Wiant, Esq., of Butler Township.
They have one daughter, EsteUa, bom Dec. 12, 1876. In
the fall of 1879 -^I^- ^f erica taught a successful ten-week nor
mal school at Cedar Creek, and again in 1880. At the close of
the latter he moved with his family to ^"alparaiso, and attended
the Normal until the following June. He then returned to this
county and accepted the Superintendency of the Garrett public
schools, which position he held until elected County Superin
tendent in 1883. As Superintendent, he labored earnestly to
establish more uniform and systematic work, to grade the
schools, and to elevate the standard of both school and teacher,
his work being attended with marked success. In the sumraer

¦Jl^ 
•f e  »•

-4-

906 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
of 1884, assisted by Mrs. Lida Leasure, he conducted an eight-
week normal at Auburn, enrolling eighty students. He has
made a specialty of the science and theory of teaching, and is
conversant with all the new and approved normal methods. In
June, 1885, he was again unanimously elected Superintendent,
which position he still holds.
Peter Miser, the third son of Samuel and Catherine (Barkey)
Miser, is a native of Coshocton County, Ohio, born Jan. 16,
1836. His father was born in Jefferson County, Ohio, May 6,
1809, and died Oct. 30, 1883. His mother was born in Penn
sylvania Feb. 9, 1 8 14. She was a schoolmate of Joseph Gard
ner, of this township. In 1848 they came to De Kalb County,
Ind., where he bought 160 acres of timber-land for which he
paid $650. He built a log house into which he moved his
faraily, which consisted at that tirae of six children. They were
merabers of the German Reformed church, and he was one of
the elders for over thirty years, and a friend and associate of
Rev. J. G. Kissel], the first preacher of the denomination in this
part of the State. The mother is still Hving, aged seventy-two
years. She is the mother of ten children, eight of whom are
Hving — John, Peter, Christian, Susannah, wife of Christian
Rohm ; Mary, wife of Josiah McTifl'er ; Catherine, Avife of
John Treach; Anna, wife of Albert Fickes; Ehzabeth A., wife
of George Bowser. Mrs. Miser has forty-six grandchildren and
four great-grandchildren. Peter Miser Avas fourteen years of
age Avhen his parents came to this county. He received a
good education in the common schools, remaining Avith his
parents till maturity. He Avas married in 1857 to Elizabeth
Kissell, a native of Ohio, daughter of J. G. and Susannah, na
tives of Pennsylvania. To them have been born nine children,
eight of whom are Hving — Mary E., Avife of Joseph Cochran;
Sylvester A., John G., Samuel A., Causa A., Henry W., WUl
iam O. and Susannah C. Edward is deceased. Mr. and Mrs.
Miser are merabers of the German Reformed church.
Hon. Egbert Benson Mott Avas born on his father's farm of
Tuckett Hill, Dutchess County, N. Y., July 23, 1795, being the
third son of his parents. He was of English descent on both sides
but of families Avho came to America in early colonial days.
His lather, Jaraes Mott, an officer in the Ncav York militia dur
ing the Revolutionary Avar, was fourth in direct descent, bearing
the same Christian name, from Captain James Mott, of Mama-

-71

U//r//rr^rJ/^/^'MkA^ ,jA)wr7r^r'U r/QrJr/^-'/SJ

G^. /^^/^^ /ik/.

-7^

HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY. 907
ronek, Westchester Co., N. V., who Avas born in Braintree,
County of Essex, England, Avhere the family Avas an ancient
and honorable one. He came to .\nierica in 1865-6 and chose
the newly acquired province of New York for a residence,
Avhere he engaged in agricultural pursuits. Each one of E. B.
Mott's ancestors followed the same pursuit, he being the first
to deviate from their course. Mr. Mott's mother Avas Mary,
daughter of James Denton, of Newburg, N. Y., a Revolution
ary soldier throughout the war, having begun his eight years of
service under the Continental Congress, Aug. 22, 1775, as a
First Lieutenant in a company of foot. He was fourth in de
scent from the Rev. Richard Denton, a puritan divine of Hali
fax, Yorkshire, England, Avho came to America in 1630 in the
ship Arbella Avith GoA'ernor Winthrop and the company Avho
founded Boston. When E. B. Mott Avas about twelve years
old his father died, leaving a family of five sons and three
daughters to the care of their mother. After a few years' resi
dence in Saragota County, N. V., the whole family removed to
Lehman, Luzerne Co., Pa., about the year 1824. Mr. Mott Avas
married Dec. 30, 1830, in Abingdon, Luzerne Co., Pa., to Mary,
daughter of John Winterbotham, of Ashton, Lancashire, Eng
land. She Avas born Feb. 4, 1806. Her father emigrated to
America in the summer of 181 1 with his wife and three young
daughters, Mary, Sarah and Ann, aU of whom are yet living.
Mrs. Mott is a sister of Hon. J. H. Winterbotham, of Michigan
City, Ind. In 1836 Mr. Mott removed with his wife and two
sons from Pennsylvania to FredericktOAvn, Knox Co., Ohio,
where Mrs. Mott's faraily then resided. After living several
years in Knox and Richland counties, Mr. Mott removed in
May, 1843, to KaHda, Putnam County. At the tavern in that
swamp-environed village he made the acquaintance of Judge
Morris, then a young lawyer, who, with his wife and child, had
arrived in Kalida the evening before. The acquaintance thus
begun grew into a friendship between the tAvo families very
strong and as enduring as life. Not finding Kalida a proraising
place for the practice of their profession, Mr. Mott and Mr
Morris carae during the sumraer in search of a location in
Indiana. Mr. Mott reraoved to Auburn the sarae autumn, ar
riving here Oct. 16, but Mr. Morris remained in Kalida until
the ensuing year. Mr. Mott was the first lawyer who settled
in Auburn. His first property was the place now owned by

^\r

908 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
A. J. Ralston, which he sold in 1846 to Miles Waterman. In
1849 he buih a house on Cedar street, which was the family
residence while he Hved. In 1856 he was elected Judge of the
Court of Common PleaS for the district comprising the coun
ties of De Kalb and Steuben. In politics Judge Mott was first
Federalist, then Whig and finaUy Republican. He had a re
markable memory, excellent judgment, and the utmost firmness
of principle. His opinions were formed by varied reading and
after mature consideration. Once adopted, however, he held
them with tenacity, and could defend them warmly if necessary,
although, as his nature was not aggressive, he never attacked
the opinions of another. Through his Avhole life he was a faith
ful servant of God, exemplifying his faith by a life of practical
righteousness. No man was ever more inchned by nature and
grace to exercise charity in word and thought and deed. He
died Sept. 30, 1865, after an acute illness of three weeks. Two
sons died before hira — Reginald Heber, an infant, and Sheridan
Edward, who, wounded at Chickamauga, Sept. 20, 1873, died
in the hospital at NashviUe, May 15, 1864. Judge Mott's wife
and three children survived him. Of these, E. B. jNlott, Jr., a
man of unusual ability and reraarkable social qualities, died in
Sacramento, Cahfornia, April 4, 1882, deeply lamented by all
who knew him. He left a widow and five children. John
GrenvUle lives in Michigan City, Indiana. He married a
daughter of Hon. J. H. Winterbotham, and is one of the firm
of J. H. Winterbotham & Sons. He has two children. Julia,
the only daughter of E. B. Mott, is the wife of Chester P.
Hodge. They have three children, and Hve a mile north of
Auburn on Greenhurst farm, a place Avhich gave Judge Mott
pleasant occupation during many hours of his later Hfe. Mrs.
Mott is still living, having entered her eightieth year, Feb. 4,
1885. She is in full possession of all her mental faculties.
Mrs. Mary ( Winterbottom) Mott, one of the oldest residents of
the county seat, as well as one of the oldest inhabitants in point
of years, is the subject of our next sketch — Mrs. Mary (or
Mally) Winterbottom Mott, Avidow of the late Judge E. B.
Mott. Mrs. Mott is noAv in her eightieth year and in full pos
session of all her faculties, although her physical strength does
not admit of her often leaving her house. Her raeraory is un-
irapaired, and she relates Avith evident interest and enjoyment
many entertaining reminiscences of her earlier life. A bio-

\^

 — — — — — —  -ffl-^
HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY. 909
graphical notice of one Avhose interests have for over forty
years been identified Avith Auburn, cannot find a more appro
priate place than in these pages. Mrs. Mott was born in the vil
lage of Mossley, Lancashire, England, Feb. 4, 1806, the eldest of
three sisters, children of John Winterbottom, a woolen manufact
urer of that place, and his wife, Anne (Wrigley). Her father was
a man of unblemished reputation, one of those Avhose word is as
good as his bond : reserved and quick-tempered, a strict dis
ciplinarian Avith his family and employes ; an affectionate hus
band and kind father, but not an indulgent one. In referring
to her father, Mrs. Mott remarked that she believed " there
Avere no indulgent fathers in those days. As a firm hand had
guided thera in youth, so they expected unquestioning obedi
ence frora their children Avhen their turn carae to govern."
Mr. Winterbottom having read of the advantages of Kentucky
as a permanent horae, deterrained early in the present century
to sell his property in England and reraove thither. He ac
cordingly made his arrangements and took passage in the sum
raer of 181 1 Avith his wife and three children and his Avife's
sister. Miss Rachel Wrigley, on board the ship " Herald," of
New Bedford, Captain Price coraraander, frora Liverpool for
Ncav York. The voyage lasted eight Aveeks, as Avas frequently
the case in those times before the use of steam had made the
mariner almost independent of winds and Avaves. At one time
during the passage, as Mrs. Mott well reraerabers, they were
stopped by an English man-of-Avar and their vessel searched for
deserters from the array or navy ; there happened to be a de
serter frora the army on board, a certain Jack Buckley from
Mr. Winterbottom's native town, but he Avas so Avell concealed
that his presence Avas not discovered, and the Avar-ship saUed
away after purchasing sorae supplies of Avhich the crcAv were
ranch in need, and getting the latest news from England, hav
ing heard nothing for three months. It was this claim of a
right to search vessels sailing under the American flag, Avhich
soon afterward led to the Avar of 1812. After arriving at New
York Mr. Winterbottom was induced to forego his plan of set
tling in Kentucky, and instead decided to enter into partner
ship Avith Colonel David Humphreys, Judge John Humphreys
and his younger brother, WiUiam, for the manufacturing of
fine woolen goods, broadcloths, etc, at what is now the village
of Seymour, Conn., then called Humphreysville. This was the

9IO HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
first successful attempt to manufacture that class of goods in
the United States. Shortly after locating at their new home
Mrs. Mott's raother died, and the foUoAving year her father
married his sister-in-law.
By this marriage Mr. Winterbottom had several children, of
Avhom the eldest is Hon. John H. Winterbotham, of Michigan
City, Ind., for eight years State Senator frora La Porte County.
[As will be noticed, the spelling of the surname has been
changed since the family came to America]. The Senator and
his tw^o sons have been for many years contractors of conA'ict
labor at the Northern Indiana State Prison at Michigan City,
and also at the Illinois State Prison at Joliet ; at both of Avhich
places large numbers of conAdcts are eraployed. Mr. J. Gren
ville Mott, Mrs. Mott's youngest son, is also a partner in the
business at both places. He married the Senator's youngest
daughter, thus connecting the families by a double tie. During
her earlier years Mrs. Mott had many advantages, in a literary
and social point of view, from her father's business associations
with the Humphreys. Colonel Humphreys, the senior mem
ber of the firm, had been one of Washington's aides-de-camp
during the Revolutionary war, and subsequently the United
States Minister to Portugal and Spain, from which latter coun
try he brought the first Merino sheep to America. He Avas a
cultured gentleman of the old school, fond of Hterature, and
the possessor of a considerable collection of books by the best
authors, Avhich were at all times at the disposal of jNIr. Winter-
bottom or any of his family. At an early age INlrs. Mott was
placed at a school in Derby, near Huraphreysville, Avith her
horae in the family of Mrs. Edward Blakeslee, the AvidoAV of an
Episcopal rainister of that place, Avhere her schooling Avas care
fully attended to and her social training particularly watched.
Under the circumstances it is needless to say her associations
were of the very best ; her closest friend for several }-ears Avas
Miss Jeanette, daughter of Judge Humphreys, an intimacy
only terminated by what seemed such a breaking doAvn in Mrs.
Mott's health as prevented her attending school for a long time,
but not until she had acquired a thoroughly good English edu
cation. In the meantime the family had reraoved to South
Brittain, and here she passed the years until she was tAventy.
At this tirae the condition of her health suggested a protracted
visit to an uncle, Mr. Abram Wrigley, of Luzerne County, Pa.,

7p

^il2=

HISTORY OK DE KALB COUNTY. 9II
Avhere she rapidly improved, and not long after began teaching
school. At Providence, a fcAv miles from her uncle's residence,
Avhile teaching, she first became acquainted with her future hus
band, to whom she Avas united in marriage Dec. 30, 1830. A
similarity of taste and mental bias made the marriage eminently
suitable ; Mr. Mott found in his wife one Avho could sympathize
Avith him in his preference for substantial Hterature, history,
biography, science, etc., as Avell as in a Avholesome liking for
such Avorks of standard fiction as had been given to the Avorld
fiftA- or sixty years ago. That Avas not the age of newspapers,
and those who cared for reading made their pursuits a mental
discipline as Avell as a pastime. Three or four years after their
marriage Mr. Mott became involved in business troubles, and
determined to make a new start. An opportunity offered of
going to Cuba to enter the service of a ncAv railway company
as surveyor and ciA'il engineer, a position for Avhich he was well
qualified, but not deeming the climate desirable for Avife and
children, he determined to go to Ohio instead.
From there the family, now nurabering parents and four chil
dren, the second child, Reginald Heber, having died in infancy,
removed to Auburn, arriving Oct. 16, 1843. The road frora
the east into toAvn then carae in by Sixth street, Avhere the only
bridge crossing Cedar Creek at that tirae stood. A short dis
tance east of town the teams nearly mired, and Mr. Mott,
carrying his youngest in his arms, brought his family on foot
to a point Avhence he could direct them to Mr. Parson's tavern,
while he went back to assist in getting the horses out of the
mire. To the tavern on the northeast corner of Fourth and
Cedar streets the family betook theraselves, crossing by a cow-
path the corner where Mrs. Mott noAv lives, and the lot just
above on Avhich stands the old residence of the Mott faraily,
built in 1849 and noAV (1885) occupied as a boarding and lodg
ing house by Mrs. Roether. At that tirae Auburn was not
much of a place, and Mrs. Mott has little difficulty in recalling
its main features. Wesley Park lived Avhere Charles Rant now
does ; John Butt just across the street west. Thoraas Freeman
had opened a tavern where the Auburn House, Avhich he built,
now stands. Mr. Launcelot Ingman lived on the site of Dr.
Swartz's residence ; Mr. Hague lived in a house which looked
old even then, probably frora never having been painted. It
stood on the corner occupied by John Baxter's residence, and

Iti

A«

912 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
was built by J. O. P- Sherlock. Samuel Ralston lived on the
site of the Swineford house ; Mr. Poffenberger across the main
street from him, and a little south, in a log cabin. Nelson
Payne's house was on the corner where James Culbertson's
residence now stands, and Mr. John Garver lived in a little
house on Edward Eldridge's lot. Mr. Houghton had a log
house on the lot where his widow still lives. Mr. Hall lived
farther down the street. The old jail Avas on Jackson street,
west of the public square. In 1842 the court-house was built.
It stood for twenty-three years, and was given by Daniet Alten
burg, Sr., to be burned as a bonfire on the night of April 4,
1865, in celebration of the surrender of Richmond. Mr. Molt
bought of James Cosper a log cabin and the lots on Avhich
now live A. J. Ralston and Jaraes Barclay. The next
spring he walked one blustering day to the farra of
Robert Worh, eight miles south of town, and back again
for currant-slips. Auburn has been greatly indebted both for
fruit and flowers to the efforts of Mr. and Mrs. Mott. The
black Morello cherries and fragrant flowering currants noAv so
common everywhere in the village sprang from those Avhich
they planted thirty -five or more years ago. In 1847 ^Ir. Mott
sold his property to Miles Waterraan, intending to go back to
Ohio for the benefit of Mrs. Mott's health, but before their
arrangements were completed, she began to improve, and he
finally bought vacant lots on Sixth and Cedar streets.
After living for two years, on the corner Avest of James Brink-
erhoof's property, in what Avas afterward knoAvn as the Tinney
House, until its destruction by fire in April, 1865, Mr. Mott
removed in November, 1849, to his OAvn house, the first one
built in the county by Wallace & Kline, Avhere the family con
tinued to reside for raany years, AvhIch Avitnessed only the nat
ural gradual changes Avhich tirae brings to all. The oldest son
Egbert, '' always a good boy," as his father said, Avith dving lips,
having spent some years in the store of Baldwin & Pride at
Tiffin, Ohio, went to California in 1852. MeanAvhile the floAvers
blossomed, the fruits ripened, the trees grew umbrageous year
by year, the old house filled itself Avith fragrant memories, and
changes came. Hence Avent Sheridan, noAV a young laAA^yer, in
August, 1862, to battle for his country. April 14, 1863, friends
gathered here for the marriage of the only daughter Julia. In
July, 1863, the youngest son Grenville, who had been out dur-

'-^

HISTORY OF DE K.\.LB COUNTY.

913

ing a three months' term of service in an Ohio regiment, bade
a final adieu to his childhood's home before sailing: for Call-
fornia. Hither came Sheridan horae from Avar, no longer alert,
eager, hopeful, but Avith sealed eyes, mute Hps and folded
hands. Hence he Avas borne, May 27, 1864, to be laid to rest,
as the sun Avas setting within sound of the faraUiar home voices.
Here on the evening of April 4, 1S65, while the bells Avere ring
ing over the capture of Richmond, the first grandchild began
her brief life. July 20, 1865, Egbert, the oldest son, married
Eleanor, daughter of A. C. Baldwin, of Tiffin, Ohio, and hither
he brought his bride, Sept. 23d, summoned home from happy
journeying, to soothe his father's last hours, and lighten his
mother's heavy burden. Here Judge Mott died Sept. 30, and
hence, also, a Aveek later Avent his grandchild, little Mary, the
oldest and the youngest, united again in some one of the Fath
er's many mansions. Here or in the ncAver house adjacent
where she now resides, Mrs. Mott has lived during most of the
years intervening since the death of Judge Mott, and for the
greater part of the time no other member of the family has
resided in the county, but tAvo or three years ago her daughter
and son-in-law, Professor C. P Hodge, Avith their family, re
moved to this place frorii Lagrange, and are now living upon
the farm just north of town, Avhich Judge Mott bought in 1854
and named "Greenhurst." Mrs. Mott Avas never a strong
Avoman, physically, and as her years haA^e increased, it is not to
be wondered at that her life has become a secluded one. It is
very noticeable, howcA-er, that she retains her interest in the
affairs of the Avorld quite as much as those Avho are thirty or
forty years younger.
A very Httle conversation Avith her, especially if the poHtical
affairs of foreign countries are referred to, is sufficient to disclose
the fact that the land of her birth, the little island across the sea
Avhich is tbe cradle of the Anglo-Saxon race throughout the
world, has a larger share in her affections than any other. The
Soudan and Afghanistan have at this tirae more interest for her
than anything on this side of the Atlantic Ocean, for at each of
those remote points England is face to face with her enemies,
and that is enough to dwarf other matters for the present. To
quote nearly her own language: "I can hardly find Avords to
express the love and admiration I feel for the land of my birth.
My high opinion of her excellence has been formed upon good

i.fr

914 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
and sufficient evidence. My husband and I read much together,
and I beheve I raay say we did not differ much in our conclu
sions. Such authors as Allison, Hume, Hallam, Macauly, Vat-
tel, Blackstone and Kent, with biographies of Nelson, Welling
ton, Marlborough, 'The Lord Chancellors' and 'Queens of
England,' give one an accurate idea of the Nation whose laws
and history they elucidate, and furnish me Avhat I deem ample
re'asons for placing my mother country first araong Nations."
Some of the venerable lady's reminiscences illustrate forcibly
the changes of a lifetime. Imprisonraent for debt Avas coraraon
in New England sixty or seventy years ago, and Mrs. Mott
remembers one man of Berkshire County, Mass., who had been
in the prison at Lenox for eight years for debt, and Avho, for all
she knows to the contrary, died there. On one occasion Avhen
a meraber of the prisoner's faraily died, the body was brought
to the jail that the unfortunate debtor might have one last look
at the beloved features before they were consigned to the
grave. It was not necessarily fraud Avhich Avas punished in
this manner, but inability to pay, hoAvever honest the intention.
Probably in every day affairs the greatest change has been in
letter writing and postal service. Envelopes have been invented
and come into use within the last fifty years ; the custom until
comparatively recent tiraes having been to fold the sheet of
paper in a pecuHar way, seal Avith a wafer or Avax, and write
the address upon the back. When the letter Avas dispatched
twenty-five cents was paid at one or the other end of its jour
ney, as the case might be. The postage on periodicals and
other printed matter was high and very uncertain. Mr. John
Pride, a friend of the family in Ohio, had been taking
" Blackwoods Magazine," which, after reading, he usually for
warded to her. In 1845 it ceased to come, and he explains in
a letter of that year that he had been paying $1.25 per year
postage on the Magazine, but there had "recently been a
" change of Postmasters, and Avith the change of officers ncAV
"rules and regulations are almost ahvays adopted. So in this
-' case ; the Magazine came to the office, and I Avas told that
" the former Postmaster had not charged rae as much postage
" as the law required him to do, and instead of accepting the
" former rate, the present Postmaster considers it his bounden
" duty to tax me two dollars and eighty cents per year. I at
" once came to the conclusion that it was an outrageous post-

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\^

HISTORY OF DEKALB COUNTY. 915

" age, and ordered the Magazine discontinued." It is hard to
realize the changes in Avays of life and manners, which Mrs.,
Mott's memory can recall, extending as it does over three
quarters of a century. Much of the national growth in morals
and in social matters, so graphically depicted in McMaster's
" History of the American People," has been accomplished
Avithin her recollection, and she re views the past Avith the con
viction that the result, taking it all together, is an improvement
mentally, morally and physically. In religious matters Mrs.
Mott is an orthodox member of the church of England, into
which she was baptized, and of the American Episcopal church
with Avhich she is in communion. She is cheerful and brie-ht,
taking no gloomy views of old age, but preserving her serenity
of mind, enjoying her books, Avhether novels or more substan
tial works, Avith the sarae zest as formerly, undisturbed by fears
of the future. The Bible she reverences as the word of God,
and delights in it as the master-piece of English prose, having
read it again and again, both in English and French, in which
latter tongue she is somewhat proficient. As she comes of a
long-lived family we hope and believe she has length of days
yet before her.
Lieut ejiant Sheridan E. Mott. Hit
" Speak -with a tender reverence, oh, friends !
Of those old comrades, bravest of the brave;
That silent army on the other side,
Of whom we say : 'They sleep within the grave.' "
In 185-, thirty years ago or more, four little boys were playing
together. They were Sheridan Mott, his brother Grenville,
with Samuel and Clark Ford. Said Sheridan : " My father says
he believes there Avill be a war before raany years, and if I am
a man when it begins, I am going." " And so Avill I," " and I,"
" and I," echoed the others. Years passed. The lads grcAv
toward manhood. The war carae. They all went into it, and
three out of the four sleep in soldiers' graves. Clark Ford was
killed instantly at the battle of Shiloh. Samuel, Avounded again
and again, lingered on, suffering for more than twenty years
before his spirit was released frora its ruined teneraent. Lieu
tenant Sheridan Edward Mott, the subject of the present
sketch, and third son of Egbert B. and Mary (Winterbotham)
Mott, was born in Belleville, Richland Co., Ohio, on Sunday,
March 15, 1840. He was rather a delicate child, though not

Vs-

V

iM^ — - ^ — "kn.
916 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
sickly, but, in coraraon with most others, suffered much from
ague after the removal of his father's family to Auburn. It is
still reraerabered how, one morning, standing before the fire in
an ague chill, he turned hiraself around, exclairaing : " I can
get hot, but I cannot get warra." During his boyhood he at
tended such schools as the village afforded, and developed
quite early great fondness for reading, especially for historical
studies. Aug. 12, 1857, Sheridan E. Mott began the school
year at Wyoming Seminary, Kingston, Pa. His nature was
very reserved, and his attachment to home so deep and strong
that he suffered greatly from homesickness, but he pursued his
studies with great earnestness. A schoolmate writing of him
at the time, said : " There are many students who do well, but
I never saw another like Sheridan. He is always perfect." " I
was marked 100 in all my studies," he wrote at the conclusion
ol an examination. He returned home in the sumraer of 1858,
and soon entered his father's law office, where he pursued his
studies during nearly three years. After passing an exaraina-
tion he was adraitted to the bar April 15, 1861, just one month
after he attained his majority. July 14, 1862, he enlisted in
Company A, Eighty-eighth Regiraent, Indiana Volunteers. He
was very slight and delicate in appearance, but endured the
long marches much better than raany Avho Avere apparently
much stronger. Always ready to assist a comrade, he earned
the title ot " The double knapsack man," because he so often
relieved others of sorae part of their burden. SurAdA'ing sol
diers ot the Eighty-eighth Avill reraeraber that Avhen the regi
ment presented a SAvord to Colonel Humphreys, Sergeant INIott
was chosen to make, and did make, the address. In battle he
did not seem to knoAv what fear Avas, and he fought as if that
were the business of his life. He was shot in the battle of
Chickaraauga, Sunday, Sept. 20, 1863. The ball shattered the
neck of the femur. A comrade, M. E. Rathbun, though not
AVOunded, remained beside him until taken prisoner with him.
After about a week, during A\-hich time he recelA'ed as kind
treatment as was possible under the circumstances, young
Mott, A\dth other AVOunded, was exchanged for Avounded pris
oners held by the Federal army. He lay in the hospital at Chat
tanooga, suffering at tiraes in common Avith other Avounded
trom the intense cold and a lack of proper food, until Jan. 24,
1864, when he was removed to better quarters in Nashville. A

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HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY. 917
commission as Second Lieutenant in the Seventy-eighth New
York Avas given to him by Governor Seymour, Oct. 21, 1863,
but the nature of his Avound was such that had he recovered he
could never have served in the infantry corps again. Brave in
doing, he Avas equally patient in suffering. " I never heard a
complaining Avord from his lips," said the hospital nurse,
" everything Avas always Avell with him." It will be reraem-
bered that the Government took possession of ihe railroads for
military purposes, and that it was almost impossible for civil
ians to obtain passes to the seat of war, but again and again,
through one and another Avho was coming up. Lieutenant
Mott'<i parents raade arrangements to have hira brought home.
Each time his judgment decided against the attempt. " When
I am able to Avalk on crutches I will come," he said, but that
was never to be. Saturday morning. May 14, erysipelas having
appeared in the Avound, the surgeon told hira that death was
near. He remained for a few moraents in silent thought, and
then asked a comrade, whose face was turned toward life as his
to the grave, to write a telegram for him. Having dictated it,
he quietly awaited the inevitable suraraons. Growing weaker
with every hour the end carae at last, Sunday evening. May
15, 1864, when Sheridan Edward Mott, aged twenty-four years
and two months, " fell on sleep " to awake in eternity. Mean
while in his Indiana home his parents were hoping soon to see
him. The restrictions on travel were somewhat relaxed, and
they expected to go the next week to Indianapolis, where they
hoped to obtain passes to the South. Thursday morning. May
19, Judge Mott carae from his office with hurried steps. With
quivering lips and tremulous tones he said : " I must go to
NashYille." The fatal message had come. " I am at hospital
No. three (3), NashviUe ; shall soon die." Father, mother, the
only sister and her husband went to him. The sad urgency of
their mission opened the way to thera. They reached Nash
ville Saturday evening; he had been buried the Monday before.
His body was brought horae and laid to rest Friday evening,
May 27, where he has ever since slept, almost under the shadow
of the paternal roof-tree. There one after another of those
nearest to him have lain down in a like dreamless sleep. Re-
quiescat in pace.
David S. Ober, of the firm Ober & Beugnot, raanufacturers of
staves, headings and luraber. Auburn, Ind., is a native of Bed-
58

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91 8 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
ford County, Pa., born March i, 1844, a son of Joseph and Anna
(Smith) Ober. He was reared a farmer, reraaining at home
till after the breaking out of the RebeUion. In the spring of
1864 he enlisted in Company A, One Hundred and Eighty-
fourth Pennsylvania Infantry. He was captured at Petersburg
and taken to Libby prison, thence to BeUe Isle and from there
to Andersonville, where he reraained eight raonths. Then was
taken to Millen, Ga., and a short time later returned to Ander
sonvIUe. In April, 1865, he was taken to Florida Swamps, and
was exchanged the 28th of the month. He was then discharged
and returned to his home in Pennsylvania, and in the faU of 1866
carae to Indiana and located in Butler, De Kalb County, where
he engaged in the luraber business, furnishing ties, bridge til
ing, etc., to the Baltimore & Ohio, Grand Rapids, Fort Wayne
& Michigan Southern railroad corapanies. In 1873 he moved
to Auburn and bought the interest of Mr. Girardot in the firm
known as C. Beugnot & Girardot. This business Avas estab
lished in 1871, and is noAv doing a good business, having a
large trade, being the leading manufactory of the kind in Au
burn. He was married March 22, 1 871, to Harriet Ditmars,
daughter of John A. Ditmars. They have three children, two
daughters and one son, viz: Laura E., Archie J. and Nellie M.
Mrs. Ober has been a resident of the county for thirty-two
years, having moved here with her father from Wayne County,
Ohio, when a child five years old. She was educated in the
town of Auburn, and taught a number of schools in the county,
principally in Butler and Jackson townships.
John F. Otto, dealer in boots and shoes and groceries. Auburn,
Ind., is a native of Prussia, born in Erfurt, Dec. 10, 1826. When
fourteen years of age he was apprenticed by his parents to
learn the trade of a glove maker, serving till he Avas eighteen.
He then worked as a journeyman till nearly twenty-one, Avhen
he enlisted in the Prussian artillery service, and assisted in
crushing the rebellion in the South German States, and partici
pated in two battles and the siege of the fortified city of
Rastadt in 1848 and 1849. I" 185 1 he Avas honorably discharged
as a non-commissioned officer, and immediately after eraigrated
to the United States, landing in Ncav York in May. He found
employment as a farm hand near Albany, but was defrauded
out of his wages, and the following winter Avas the hardest he
ever saw, being in a strange land without money or friends.
^>-  .  ^ v*

14*

HISTORY OF DE KALB COUXTY.

919

His parents came to America in the summer of 1851 and settled
in Buffalo, N. Y., but he did not find them till the spring of
1S52. He rem.iined with them till the fall of 1853, Avhen they
all came to Indiana and located in Fort Wayne, and he was em
ployed in the shops of the Pittsburg cV Ft. Wavne Railroad till
October, 1861, Avhen he enlisted in the Eleventh Indiana Bat
tery; was mustered into service Dec 17 and served till Jan. 7,
1S05. At the organization of the battery he Avas commissioned
Junior First Lieutenant, and Aug. 12, 1863, at Bridgeport,
Tenn., was promoted to First Lieutenant. Nov. 17, 1863, he
Avas placed in command of the TAventieth Ohio Battery, but
was relieved Dec i by an order from headquarters to return
to Indiana on recruiting service, joining his battery again in
the spring of 1S64. He participated in the battles of Shiloh,
Corinth, Nashville, Murfreesboro, ^fanchester, Chickamauga,
Chattanooga, Mission Ridge, Buzzard's Roost, Dalton, Resaca,
Kingston, New Hope Church, Burnt Hickory, Kenesaw Mount
ain (Avhere he was Avounded), Chattahoochee River and Atlan
ta. After his return from the Avar he located in Aubum, and,
in company Avith Ernest Myers, engaged in the boot and shoe
business under the firm name of Mvers ik Otto. In 1867 Mr.
Myers retired from the firm, and Mr. Otto has since carried on
the business alone. In 1870 he added a stock of groceries, and
noAv has a large and increasing trade. He Avas married Jan.
26, 1865, to Mariah C. Reehling, of Fort Wayne. They have
six children — Kate, Francis, Lucy, Clara, Lizzie and Alpha
Blaine. Mr. and Mrs. Otto are raembers of the Presbyterian
church. He is a member of DeLong Post, No. 67, G. A. R.
George W. Pepple, the eldest son of John and Ann (Baker)
Pepple, was born in Perry County, Ohio, Aug. 18, 1840. When
he Avas fourteen years of age, in 1854, his parents moved to De
Kalb County, Ind. He remained at home till tAventy-tAvo years
of age, and then began his career as a farmer. He is one of the
successful agriculturist of the township, and OAvns 188 acres
of choice land, 120 acres being under cultivation. His stock is
of the finest grades, and he is one of the most successful Avbeat
raisers in the county. Mr. Pepple Avas married in 1872 to Miss
Catherine Husselman, the eldest daughter of John and Eliza
beth (Dunn) Husselman, one of the first families in this part of
the toAvnship. To them have been born five chUdren, three
sons and tAvo daughters — Jennie, Laura, Jesse, John and Iraay.

^d

^ A •

1

920 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
John H. Pyle, farmer, section 25, postoffice Auburn, is a native
of Wayne County, Ohio, born March i, 1827, the only son of
Michael and Isabel (Dysart) Pyle, natives of Pennsylvania, his
father of Westmoreland County, and his mother of Franklin
County. In the spring of 1849 they moved to De Kalb County
and settled on the farm now owned by our subject, four miles
east of Auburn. Their faraily consisted of four children —
Elizabeth, wife of Ezekiel D. Wagar ; Margaret D., wife of A.
C. Brown, of Kansas ; Isabel, deceased, was the wife of Thomas
Weldin: and John H. Our subject was reared in his native
county, and when sixteen years of age began to Avork at the
cabinet-maker's trade, serving an apprenticeship of four years.
He came to De Kalb County with his parents, remaining with
them as long as they H-/ed. He has given his attention to' the
farm since coming to this county, and now has 167 acres of
choice land, w-ith a large orchard of assorted fruits, a large
brick residence and substantial farra buildings. He Avas mar
ried in 1852 to Jane Moore, daughter of James Moore, one of
the early settlers of DeKalb County. She died in 1874, leav
ing four children — ^James S., of Crawford County, Kan., mar
ried to Hattie E., daughter of S. W. Emery, a farmer and
stock-raiser of Kansas ; Ella, wife of John Wingard, of Kansas ;
Mary, wife of Simon Miser; and Frank. In 1875 Mr. Pyle
married Mrs. Mary J. Hoffman, widow of Williara Hoffman,
by whom she has three children — William, Ori E., and Jennie.
Joseph Rainier is a native of Ohio, born at North Georgetown,
Columbiana County, Oct. 14, 1841, a son of Levi D. and Chris
tina (Goodbroke) Rainier, his father of French, and his mother
of German descent. In 1850 his parents moved to De Kalb
County, Ind., and settled in Newville where he lived Avith them
till fifteen years of age, obtaining a fair education in the public
school. He then began to work at the mason's trade Avhich he
followed till Aug. 9, 1862, when he enlisted in Company H,
Eighty-eighth Indiana Infantry, to serve three years. He Avas
promoted from the ranks through the various grades to First
Lieutenant of his company. He participated in all the battles of
his regiment, including Perryville, Stone River, Chickamauga,
Lookout Mountain, Resaca, Buzzard's Roost, KenesaAv Mount
ain and Atlanta. In July, 1864, while on a skirmish line on the
Chattahoochee River he was severely wounded by a rifle ball,
and did not fully recover while in the service. After a partial

r??=^  — iqpsaE^i^

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HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.

921

recovery he was detailed on detached service in East Tennes
see as Quartermaster and Adjutant in a provisional brigade
commanded by Colonel Dillsworth, and served in that capacity
till March, 1865, when he resigned his comraission on account
of disability and returned to NeAvville. He soon after went to
CHnton, 111., to work at his trade, and while there, Sept 19,
1865. was married to Malinda, daughter of Thurston and Eli
nor (Beatty) Cundiff. Soon after his marriage he returned to
Indiana and engaged in the Hvery business tUl 1874. He then
carried on a grocery and provision store till 1876, when he was
appointed Postmaster at Auburn, and served till January, 1882.
He then became associated Avith D. C. Headley and opened the
City Meat Market AvhIch he still carries on. Politically he is a
Repubhcan, and in i88o-'8i was associated with C. P. Houser
in the publication of the De Kalb County Republican, selling his
interest to Mr. Houser in December, 1881. Mrs. Rainier died
Dec. 17, 1878, leaving four sons — Harry Carlin, Edwin North,
Charles Elliott and James Bradford. Sept. 7, 1880, Mr. Rainier
married Amanda Cundiff, a sister of his first Avife. They have
one child — Anna A. Mr. and Mrs. Rainier are raerabers of the
Methodist Episcopal church. He is a raember of De Kalb
Lodge, No. 214, F. & A. M.
Samuel Woodburn Ralston, retired merchant, Auburn, is a na
tive of Washington County, Pa., born Dec. 12, 1807, the fourth
of ten children of Robert and Jane (Woodburn) Ralston. In
i8i4his parents removed to Richland County, Ohio, now Ash
land County, where he was reared and educated. When six
teen years of age he began to learn the carpenter's trade at
which he worked twenty-five years. In the fall of 1842 he
moved to Auburn, Ind. In 1846 he was elected Sheriff of De
Kalb County, and in 1848 was re-elected. In 1849 he was elected
Treasurer, and resigned the office of Sheriff. In 1856 he was
again elected Sheriff and served till 1859. Iri 1862 he embarked
in the raercantile business which he continued till 1880, when
he retired from active business. He has been an energetic man,
and has accumulated a good property. He owns one of the
finest residences in Auburn where he is surrounded with all
that makes life a pleasure. He was married in 1834 to EHza
J. Brink, of Plymouth, Ohio. To thera have been born four
children, but three of whom are living — Emily A., Andrew J.,
and George C. Mr. Ralston is a regular attendant at the
Presbyterian church, of which his wife is a raeraber.

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g22

HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.

Ephraim D. Raub was born in Stark County, Ohio, Sept. 13,
1846, the eleventh of thirteen children of' Peter and Sophia
(Grim) Raub. His father was a native of Pennsylvania, born
near Delaware,' York County, Feb. 22, 1801, and his raother of
Maryland, born Jan. 18, 1806. They were raarried in Stark
County, April 19, 1825, and remained there till 1854, when they
moved to De Kalb County, Ind., and settled on what is known
as the Weirich farm, living there till the spring of 1880. The
father is now living with a son in Steuben County, and the
mother with our subject. Of their family of nine sons and four
daughters, five are living. Tavo of the sons were soldiers in
the war of the Rebellion, one, Solomon, dying Avhile in the ser
vice. He Avas a member of the One Hundredth Ohio Infantry,
and was taken prisoner at Chickamauga and taken to Belle
Island, thence to Richraond where he died Dec. 28, 1863. John
B. served three years and returned home uninjured. Ephraim
D. Raub Avas eight years of age Avhen his parents removed to
De Kalb County. Here he received the most of his education,
completing it at Roanoke Seminary, Huntington County. Af
ter leaving school he taught school about three years, and then
began the study of medicine with Dr. J. A. Cowan, of Aubum,
and took his first course of lectures at Detroit, Mich. He be
gan his practice in the fall of 1874 at Salem Center, Steuben
County, and later raoved to Wells County where he reraained
several years. In the winter of 1882 he gave up his practice
for a time, and removed to the farra Avhere he has since lived.
He was raarried in 187410 Margaret E., eldest daughter of John
and Jane DaAds, of this county. They have four children —
Maude E., Jay D., Eda F. and Cl^arles Dudley.
Charles Raut, senior raeraber of the firra Charles Raut & Son,
dealers in boots and shoes. Auburn, was born in the northern
part of Prussia at Rothmanshagan, July 31, 1837, a son of
Charles and Charlotte Raut. In 1854 his parents came to
America, and soon after landing in New Y'ork City, started
for Indiana, arriving in De Kalb County, June 10. They
located in Union Township on the present site of the
City of Waterloo, Avhere they built a shanty. They after
ward bought land two miles from Waterloo, of which
they made a farm. Our subject's first Avork in this coun
try was on the Lake Shore Railroad, then being built.
The foUoAving- October he came to Auburn and Avorked as

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HISTORY OF DE KAl.B COUNTY. 923
journeyman at the shoemaker's trade, which he had learned in
his native country. He Avas employed by John Rickle seven
years, and then Avorked a time on his father's farm. In the fall
of 1861 he returned to Auburn and worked at his trade, and
the next spring forraed a partnership with his brother Freder
ick in the boot and shoe business, the firra name being F. & C.
Raut. In February, 1865, they sold out their store, and in the
latter part of the year opened a harness-making establishment
under the same name, selling their business in 1867. He then
engaged in farming till 1S72, Avhen he again came to Auburn
and Avorked at his trade, and in 1878 formed a partnership with
Isaac Hague under the firra narae of Hague & Raut. In Feb
ruary, 18S4, his son, Clarence H., becarae the successor of Mr.
Hague, and the firra narae was changed to Charles Raut & Son.
Mr. Raut was raarried Aug. 27, i860, to Eraeline Hoover, of
Waterloo. They have had five children, tAvo of whora are
living — Clarence H. and Ulysses S. Three died in infancy.
Mr. and ^Irs. Raut are members of the Methodist Episcopal
church. Robert S. S. Reed is a native of Wayne County, Ohio, born
March 12, 1837, a son of Robert and Anna (Fast) Reed, his
father a native of Pennsylvania and his mother of Ohio. In
the fall of 1853 his parents moved to De Kalb County and
his father bought a claim of 120 acres of timber land on
section 20, Union Township, which he began to clear and pre
pare for cultivation. He remained on this farm till 1859 and
then moved to Waterloo where he died in August, 1870. His
widow survived till 1873. They were the parents of nine chil
dren, four sons and five daughters, four of Avhom are living.
Robert reraained with his parents till i860 Avhen he was raar
ried to Emily Ditraars, daughter of John A. Ditmars, of Jack
son Township. After his marriage he settled on the old
homestead of his father, buying the interests of the rest of the
heirs. He has improved his farra and has added to it till he
now owns 200 acres located on sections 17, 20 and 21. His
fine brick residence is on section 20, on the land of his father.
His farm buildings are all in good repair. For several seasons
Mr. Reed has run a threshing-machine for the accommodation
of the neighboring farmers. Fie has served his township as
Appraiser and Deputy Assessor. He was one of the organizers
and is now President of the Farmers' Mutual Fire Insurance

924 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
Company. To Mr. and Mrs. Reed have been born two sons —
Curtiss D. and J. H.
Gilbert Rhodenbaugh was born in Summit County, Ohio, Sept.
24, 1834, the eldest son of Peter and Maria (Young) Rhoden
baugh, natives of Pennsylvania. In the fall of 1835 his parents
moved to De Kalb County, Ind., and settled in Butler Township
where the mother died in 1855. His father is now a resident of
Noble County. Our subject was reared and educated in De
Kalb County, remaining on the farm till his raajority when he
took an extended trip through the Western States. On his re
turn to Indiana he engaged in agricultural pursuits. He im
proved a farm of eighty acres near the town of Garrett,
remaining there till 1874 when he moved to Auburn and
opened a harness shop, which he carried on two years. His
fine two-story resid'ence on Fifth street he bought of D. Z.
Hoffman. Mr. Rhodenbaugh was raarried in 1857 to Mary E.
HaUopeten, daughter of Rev. Hallopeten, a minister of the
Methodist Episcopal church. They have two children — Maria
C. and James L. Mrs. Rhodenbaugh is a member of the Meth
odist Episcopal church.
Albert Robbins, cashier of the Farmers' Bank, Auburn, Ind.,
was born near Amsterdam, Jefferson Co., Ohio, July 8, 1843, a
son of Joseph and Elizabeth (Knox) Robbins. When he was
eight years of age his parents moved to De Kalb County, set
tling in Butler Township three miles southwest of Auburn,
where he Hved with them till nineteen years of age. He Avas
educated in the district schools of the township and the graded
school at Auburn. After leaving horae he clerked in Auburn
and was in the grocery, dry goods and hardAvare business till
1878, when he was elected on the Republican ticket. Auditor
of De Kalb County. In February, 1883, he, with Jacob Wat
son, Nicholas Ensley, Guy Plumb and J. C. Henry, organized
the Farmers' Bank, and he Avas elected cashier. Mr. Robbins
was married Jan. 5, 1865, to Anna, daughter of Russel Burapus,
of Auburn. They have two children — Albert C. and EdAvard.
Mr. Robbins is a meraber of Mentor Lodge, No. 591, 1. O. O. F.,
and of the Grand Lodge of Indiana. He and his Avife are
merabers of the Methodist Episcopal church of Auburn.
James E. Rose, attorney at laAv, of Auburn, Ind., Avas born
Dec. 22, 1832, in Mecca, TrurabuU Co., Ohio. His father, John
Rose, was a native of Maryland, and his raother, Sarah (Coats)

:C"

•*J\  : —fir
HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY. 925
Rose, was a native of New York. The ancestors of both the
Rose and the Coats families came from England. On Sept. 2,
1836, John Rose, with his family, consisting of his Avife and four
sons, of Avhora James Avas the youngest, and two daughters,
started from their home in Mecca, Ohio, on a journey to a new
home in the West, arriving in this county, in what is now Staf
ford ToAvnship, on the 3d day of October, having spent thirty-
one days in performing a journey that can now be accom
plished in six hours. De Kalb County Avas then a Avilderness,
there being but a fcAv " settlers " and not twenty acres
of improved land in the county. It was several years be
fore the settlement became large enough to enable the
neighborhood to organize a school, and in the meantime
James was instructed by his raother and an older brother, im
proving the evenings in receiving instruction by the light gen
erously reflected by the cabin fire-place. At the age of sixteen
he had acquired sufficient education to teach a coraraon school.
He taught school during the winter months and worked on his
father's farm during the summers until he had reached his
twentieth year, when, being desirous of obtaining a better edu
cation than the schools of the county afforded, he went to
Leoni, Mich., and entered the preparatory departraent of the
Michigan Wesleyan University. After one year spent in that
department he entered upon the scientific course in the univer
sity proper, and continued in the university until May, 1858,
Avith the exception of a few terms spent in teaching to raise
funds to enable him to pay his expenses. In May, 1858, at the
close of the junior year, he left the university and married
Miss Mary J. Moss, of Leoni, Mich. He then returned to his
old home in this county and worked on a farm until October,
1862, when he moved to Auburn and accepted the principal-
ship of the Auburn schools. At the cl^se of the Avinter term
of school he entered the law office of James B. Morrison, Esq.,
as a student, where he remained until Deceraber, 1863, and then
removed to Butler, in this county, and formed a partnership for
the practice of law with Hon. E. W. Fosdick, devoting his time
assiduously to his studies ; the business of the firm not being
sufficiently large to interfere materially with his study for two
years. This partnership continued until the firm of Rose &
Fosdick had estabhshed a good business, when by mutual
agreement the firm dissolved, Mr. Rose continuing in the prac-

4

926 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
tice at Butler until October, 1872, when he removed to Auburn
and continued the practice of his profession alone until July,
1873, when he formed a partnership Avith Hon. E. D. Hartman,
Avhich continued under the firra narae of Rose & Hartraan un
tU July, 1881, when they dissolved the partnership, Mr. Rose
continuing in the practice alone. Mr. Rose's wife died Feb. 5,
1872, leaving three chUdren, two sons, Frank E. and James H.,
and one daughter, Ella J. He was again married during the
summer of 1872 to Miss Ellen D. Aldrich, of Butler, who died
March 22, 1873, leaving one child, who died soon afterward. He
was again raarried in September, 1873, to Miss Mary F. Nim
mons, of Butler. They have three children — May E., Ines P.
and Laura A. Mr. Rose has been actively identified with the
Republican party since arriving at his raajority, contributing
HberaUy of his time and money for its success ; not for the per
sonal reward that it may bring him, but in the zealous discharge
of a duty. He Is a raember of the Presbyterian church of
Auburn, and is a meraber of the Masonic fraternity, having
attained to the degree of Knight Templar. He is a zealous ad
vocate of teraperance and a practical teraperance man.
William E. Rush is a native of Royalton, Fairfield Co., Ohio,
born Nov. 17, 18 14, a son of Jacob and Rachael (Bull) Rush.
When he was fifteen years of age his father died, and he Avas
thus early thrown on his own resources. He had obtained a good
education in the Lancaster schools. After the death of his fath
er he began to learn the cabinet-maker's trade, working by the
month for WilHam Busby, of Royalton, remaining there five
years. He then went to Washington, Ky., and a year later to
Cincinnati, Ohio, where he reraained a year ; then returned to
Royalton and became associated with his brother in the mer
cantile business. Four years later his brother retired from the
firm, and he continued the business alone three years. In 1843
he built a hotel in Royalton, Avhich he kept a short time. In
1845 he ran a peddler's cart i" Fairfield, Franklin, PickaAvay,
Fayette and Ross counties, Ohio, for Wm. L. Clemraent, and
then entered his store and clerked for hira till 1849, Avhen he
carae to Indiana and engaged in the grocery business in Auburn
with John L. Butt. In 1850 he withdrcAV frora the firm and
went to California which proved a disastrous adventure, as he
lost all his former accumulations. He then returned to Royal
ton and was employed by Wm. L. Clemraent to take charge of

¦f r

HISTORY OF DE KAl.H COUNTY. 927
a Store in Greencastle, Ohio. He soon after becarae associated
with Michael BoAvraan iS: Jacob Joseph in the mercantile busi
ness, the firm name being Bowman, Joseph tV Rush. In 1854
he retired from the firm and returned to Auburn. In 1858 he
engaged in the furniture business with John Cannon, the firm
name being Cannon i.\: Rush. The next year Daniel Altenburg
succeeded Mr. Cannon and the name was changed to Rush &
Altenburg. About this time he was attacked with sciatic rheu
raatism and Avas unable to attend to business for three years.
During this time, hoAvever, he was appointed Assistant Post
master at Angola, and Avas elected Assessor of Union Township,
serving two years. In 1862 he obtained employment in the
cabinet shop of Christopher Shafer at Auburn, and in the win
ter of 1S64 Avas appointed Postmaster at Auburn and served
eighteen months. In 1868 he becarae associated Avith A. Hall
in the furniture business. F. Buchanan succeeded Mr. Hall,
but the business Avas closed out in 1870. He then engaged in
the manufacture of brackets and picture-frames till October,
1873, Avhen he added the grocery business, and from that time
till 1883 Avas engaged in either the grocery or feed business. In
December, 1883, he opened his present confectionery and sta
tionery store where he is doing a good business. He Avas mar
ried Feb. 16, 1843, to Jerairaa A. Rigby, of Royalton, Ohio.
They have seven children. Mr. Rush is a raeraber of De Kalb
Lodge, No. 214, F. & A. M. He and his Avife are members of
the Methodist Episcopal church.
Thomas J. Saxton, one of the oldest teachers of De Kalb
County, is a natiye of New York, born in Baldwinsville, Onon
daga County, Oct. 15, 1837. When he was sixteen years old
his parents, Russell and Dorinda (Tappen) Saxton, moved to
Lorain County, Ohio, and settled near Oberlin, where he lived
with them on a farm most of the time till raanhood. He re
ceived a good education, attending the Oberlin College and
the High School at Fort Wayne, Ind., and in 1859 began teach
ing. He taught ten terms in Ohio, and tAventy-six or raore
terms in De Kalb County, Ind. ; four years of this time in the
graded schools of Auburn. In 1873 he was appointed Deputy
County Treasurer under N. Ensley and served four years, and
has also at different times been eraployed as deputy in the
offices of the Clerk of the Court and Auditor of De Kalb
County. In 1876 he was nominated by the Repubhcan party

¦71

928 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
for County Treasurer, but was defeated by 248 votes. In the
spring of 1884 his health became impaired, and he left the
school-room and has since been engaged in the insurance busi
ness. He was married Dec. 25, 1871, to Ruth, daughter of
John U. and Mary Ashleman. They have three children — Erie
S., Nora D., and Hugh J. He and his wife are merabers of the
Presbyterian church, of which he is Treasurer. He is also
Treasurer and Secretary of the " Twelfth Congressional Dis
trict Christian Temperance Union," and has for several years
past been Secretary of the " De Kalb County Sabbath-School
Association." With many disadvantages to overcome and
poor health, thus far through life it has been with a great de
gree of energy and perseverance that much has been accom
plished by him in the direction of this world's goods and an
education, the latter of which he strove eagerly for, but was
not able to accomplish much until after launching out upon the
great ocean of life for himself.
Z. W. Shepherd, M.D., is a native of Wayne County, Ohio,
born May 17, 1838, a son of Rev. Robert C. and Catharine
(Jewell) Shepherd, his father a native of Virginia, born April
28, 1808, and his mother of Pennsylvania, born March 8, 1813.
Robert C. Shepherd was by trade a shoeraaker, and foUoAved
that vocation for sixty years, and fifty years of this tirae
preached on Sunday. He is a self-made and self-educated
man, and is well posted on all the public affairs of the country.
A strong anti-slavery man, he has helped many a poor negro to
escape frora the land of bondage across the borders of the
United States to Canada. His Avife died in 1870. He is still
living in Ohio. But three of their seven children are living.
Z. W. Shepherd received a fair education in his early life,
never attending any institution above the common district
school. He also learned the shoemaker's trade, his father
thinking every boy should have a trade. When seventeen years
of age he commenced teaching school and taught four years,
during which time he learned to read and speak the German lan
guage fluently, and studied higher mathematics Avithout a
teacher. In the summer of 1858 (July 4), Avhen tAventy years
old, he preached his first sermon in the Disciples church, and
since then has preached in different localities, a part of the time
being engaged as an evangelist. During his ministerial life he
studied and becarae familiar with Greek and Latin, especially

HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY. 929
Ncav Testament Greek. He commenced reading medicine in
1866 Avith I. J. Whitfield, of Big Rapids, Mich., and in the win
ter of i876-'77 graduated from the Hahnneraan Medical Col
lege, of Chicago, 111. He comraenced the practice of his
profession in 1868 in Michigan, and subsequently went to
Scranton, Pa., and practiced under the supervision of Dr. A. J.
Clark. In the faU of 1873 he located at Quincy, Mich., and
practiced tiU the fall of 1S76. In July, 1877, after his gradua
tion, he located in Waterloo, Avhere he has built up a good
practice. Dr. Shepherd Avas raarried Avhen twenty-two years
of age to ^fary Ann, daughter of Rev. Stephen H. Heath (a
Baptist clergyraan) and Catherine (Everett) Heath, of Trum
bull County, Ohio. They have four children Hving. One (the
youngest) died in 1882. Mrs. Kate A. Kircher, Principal of
the musical department of the American Normal College, Lo
gansport, Ind.; Mellie M., wife of H. L. Hutson, Deputy Clerk
of Steuben County, Ind. ; Robert P. and William E. PoUti-
cally Dr. Shepherd is an Independent Republican and Prohibi
tionist. George Shoner, tanner, Waterloo, Ind., is a native of Ger
raany, born Sept. 28, 1838, a son of John and Catherine Shoner.
When he Avas thirteen years of age he came to America with
acquaintances and located in Defiance, Ohio, Avhere he worked
at the cooper's trade two years. When eighteen years of age
he began to learn the trade of a tanner, to Avhich he has since
devoted the greater part of his attention. In the spring of
1867 he moved to Waterloo, where he now has one of'the
largest tanneries in the county, doing an annual business of
$15,000. He also superintends his farm of 150 acres in Smith-
field Township. He has a pleasant residence and five acres of
land adjoining Waterloo. Mr. Shoner was married May 27,
1865, to Adehne Harris, widow of Peter Herraer, who was a
member of the Sixty-eighth Ohio Infantry and died at BoHvar,
Tenn., of disease contracted in the service. Mr. and Mrs.
Shoner have three children — Lillie, Eraraa and Charles. Mrs.
Shoner has one daughter by her former marriage — Mary.
In politics Mr. Shoner is a Republican. He is a straightforward
business man, and has the confidence of his fellow citizens. He
has held several offices of trust in the township. He and his
wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. • He is a
member ot Union Lodge, No. 1,436, K. of H.
 ,  — .to

M . f< ^

930 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.

Philip W. Silver, dealer in lumber, lath, shingles and building
material. Auburn, Ind., was born near Dayton, Ohio, May 13,
1834, a son of Joseph C. and Margaret (MUls) Silver, natives of
New Jersey. When he was six months old his parents moved
to Fort Wayne, Ind., and in 1839 to a farm in Allen County,
where he Hved tiU nearly twenty years of age. His first at
tendance at school was in a rude log house, erected by a few
neighbors ; but his school days were rare, as he was permitted
to go only when his services were not required on the farm.
He was an expert hunter and enjoyed the sport, and as their
only meat was garae, his rifle was often put to use. His father
was a large landowner, but raoney was scarce and he often
helped his mother spin and weave flax and wool into cloth for
the large faraily. Before leaving horae he had helped his father
clear 200 acres of land. He worked by the raonth three months-,
saving his wages that he might see something of the world.
His first stopping place was Cincinnati. Frora there, in the
faU of 1853, he started down the Ohio River for New Orleans,
but it being a sickly season, when he reached Memphis re
turned to Cincinnati, where he worked the next Avinter chop
ping wood, and the next spring started across the country for
the South. At a smaU town in Kentucky he got a job of
bridgebuilding on the Licking River VaUey Railroad, receiv
ing $1.50 per day. He worked till the following October, and
while in Covington, Ky., where he went to draAv his Avages,
learned of a colony forming to go to Kansas Avhich he joined,
but- his parents wishing him to visit them before going West,
he returned to Indiana and, Avhile visiting a brother in Lima,
was persuaded by him to remain and engage Avith him in
blacksraithing. In the spring of 1857 they closed out their
business and went to Manhattan, Kan., near Avhere he pre
empted 160 acres of land which he partially improved. In i860
he and his brother went to the plains on a buffalo hunt, and in
about a month had 4,000 pounds of dried buffalo meat, 700
pounds of tallow and a large number of tongues. They re
turned to Leavenworth, Kas., expecting to dispose of their
stock, but found no market and so peddled from house to house
till they reached the C. B. & Q. Railroad in loAva, Avhere they
left their team and shipped their meat to Chicago Avhere they
sold a part of it at a good price. The rest they shipped to
Fort Wayne. April 7, 1861, on the first call for troops, he en-
^Vjl  - 

^

k*

HISTORY OF DEKALB COUNTY. 931
listed in Company G, Twelfth Indiana Infantry, and was as
signed guard duty. After being out two raonths the regiraent
became restless and Avanted to be sent to the front, but the
President refused to alloAv them to do so unless they re-en
listed for a longer period, and the 15th of June they enlisted
for one year. They were then ordered to Baltimore and from
there to Harper's Ferry, and Avere on guard duty on the Po
tomac River till February, 1S62, when they Avere assigned to
General Shields Fourth Brigade, under General Abercrombie,
and went to Winchester and from there to Bull Run, and had
charge of building the railroad frora Washington to Richmond.
May 21, 1862, he Avas discharged, and after his return to Indi
ana assisted in raising Corapany C, Eighty-eighth Indiana In
fantry and enlisted as a private, but on its organization Avas
coraraissioned First Lieutenant and subsequently proraoted to
Captain. In December, 1863, he resigned on account of poor
health and returned horae. He participated in the battles of
Perryville, Stone River, and all the skirraishes frora there to
Chattanooga, Chickamauga and Mission Ridge. After his re
turn home he engaged in the lumber business in Sedan, Ind.,
till April. 1867. Then moved to Bluffton, Ind., Avhere he
bought a saAv-mill, and in 1876 sold it and moved to Auburn.
He Avas married June 24, 1862, to Angehne, daughter of Will
iam Park, of Allen County, Ind. They have four children —
Alice, wife of Jefferson Boyles; Maggie B., Desderaona and
Ray Charles. Mr. and Mrs. Silver are raerabers of the Meth
odist Episcopal church. He is a raeraber of De Kalb Lodge,
No. 214, F. & A. M., and De Long Post, No. 67, G. A. R.
A.J. Sinclair, of the firra, Sinclair Brothers, hardware mer
chants, Waterloo, Ind., was born in Oneida County, N. Y.,
Sept. 9, 1833, a son of John and Elizabeth Sinclair. He was
three years of age when his parents moved to Jonesville, Mich.,
and there he grew to manhood, receiving his education in the
coraraon schools. He was married in Coldwater, Mich., in 1858,
to Ellen M., daughter of Emerson Marsh. They have four
children — Arthur V., Agnes E., George G. and Harry M. In
1862 Mr. Sinclair raoved to Effingham County, IU., and re
mained two years. In 1864 he came to Indiana and located in
Waterloo, and became estabUshed in the hardware business. In
1867 his brother John W. carae to Waterloo and bought an in
terest in the business which they have built up, and are now

IK^

^

932 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
numbered among the most enterprising and successful citizens
of the city. Mr. Sinclair has held several local offices of trust
in the township and has been a meraber of the City Council.
He is a raeraber of Waterloo City Lodge, No. 307, F. & A. M.
John W. Sinclair, of the firra, Sinclair Brothers, hardware
merchants, Waterloo, Ind., was born in Monroe City, Mich, Sept.
6, 1 83 1 , a son of John and Elizabeth Sinclair. John Sinclair, Sr.,
was a native of Glasgow, Scotland, bom in 18 10, and when
twelve years of age came to the United States and lived for a
short tirae in New York City ; then raoved to Oneida County,
and was there married. In 1830 he moved to Monroe City,
Mich. Subsequently he returned to New York, but in 1836
again moved to Michigan and settled in Jonesville ; is now liv
ing in Hillsdale, Mich. In politics he is a Republican, and in
religious faith a Unitarian. His family consisted of four sons
and three daughters. John W. Sinclair received a good educa
tion, remaining with his parents till twenty years of age, when
he went to California and reraained sixteen years. In 1867 he
returned East and located in Waterloo, and the same fall was
married to Florence L. Arnett. To thera were bOrn five chil
dren, four of whom are living — Abbie E., Robert W., Florence
L. and Tannic. Mr. Sinclair is a member of Waterloo City
Lodge, No. 307, F. & A. M. In 1868 he was appointed Agent
of the United States Express Company, and also for five years
was agent for the American. In politics he is a Republican,
and is well posted in all county. State and National affairs.
David Sink, son of George and Polly (Linkenfelter) Sink, was
born m Mahoning County, Ohio, in July, 1845, and was an in
fant Avhen his parents moved to De Kalb County. In this county
he grew to raanhood, receiving his education in the schools of
Union Township. He Avas early inured to the duties of farm-
life, and since the death of his father has had charge of the
homestead. He is an industrious, frugal young man, and a
worthy successor of a worthy father. His ability has been
manifest in the raanagement of the estate and care of the
younger children. He was raarried in 1870 to Louisa M. Wherly,
daughter of Randolph and Mary Wherly, of De Kalb County.
To them have been born three chUdren — Tillie S., Ada E. and
Adolphus H. Mr. and Mrs. Sink are members of the German
Reformed church.
George Sink, deceased, was a native of Hesse, Germany, born

=;=r

^

HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.

933

in 1800. He remained in his native country till after his mar
riage, coming to the United States with his wife and three chil
dren. He settled in Columbiana County, Ohio, where his wife
died, leaving four children, one of whom was killed in one of
the old-fashioned tread-mills. In 1844 Mr. Sink married Polly
Linkenfelter, and in 1S46 they moved to DeKalb County, Ind.,
and settled on the farm now OAvned by Mrs. Sink. It contains
sixty acres of choice land in a high state of cultivation. Here
Mr Sink hved till his death, of heart disease, in October, 1868.
To his second marriage Avere born six children — David and
Solomon (twins), Henry, Samuel, Elizabeth, wife of Dr. Fagton,
of Waterloo, and Sophia, wife of Benjarain Fagton, brother of
the doctor. Mr. Sink Avas an energetic, enterprising citizen,
and was influential in the advancement of many interests of
public benefit, both to the town and county.
Archibald T. Smith, of the firm A. T. Smith & Co., agricult
ural implements, Waterloo, Ind., was born in Medina County,
Ohio, May 3, 1836, a son of Archibald and Mary (Thorapson)
Smith, his father a native of Teregles, Scotland, born Dec 27,
1788, and his mother of Curaberland County, England, born
Oct. 29, 1794. The parents were married in Liverpool, Aug.
II, 18 1 8, and imraediately started for America, and were ten
weeks crossing the ocean. They lived in New York a short
time and then moved to Stark and Medina counties, Ohio, and
there followed agricultural pursuits till 1841, when they re
moved to De Kalb County, Ind. The father died April 27,
1861, aged seventy-two years, and the mother Dec. 4, 1876, aged
eighty-two years. Eight of their ten children hved till ma
turity. A. T. Smith remained on the farm with his parents till
manhood, receiving a good comraon-school education. In 1880
he was raarried to Bona Boyer, and to thera has been born one
son — Lisle Archibald. Mr. and Mrs. Sraith are raembers of
the Presbyterian church. In November, 1845, a cyclone passed
over Franklin Township, De Kalb County, and daraaged con
siderable property. Mr. Smith, Sr., had just erected a frame
house, and the carpenters were at work inside. Archibald and
two sisters started for the new house for shavings, and the
black clouds and wind frightened thera. As soon as they
opened the door in the back of the building, the men who were
at work saw what was coming and jumped through a trap-door
into the cellar. One of thera was caught by soraething in the
59

934 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
wall, but was uninjured. In a second's time the front part of
the house was torn to atoms, and at the same time the timbers
and joice came down with a rush and struck his sister Agnes,
crushing her head and kilhng her instantly. The other sister
and Archibald escaped with a few bruises.
David T. Smith, the fourth of twelve chUdren of David H.
and Margaret (Treash) Smith, was born in Indiana County, Pa.,
April 5, 1837. His parents were married Dec. 27, 1831, and in
1848 moved with their family to De Kalb County, Ind., and
settled in Butler Township, where the mother died July 10,
1868, andthe father July 2, 1870. David H. Smith was a weU
known and much respected citizen of the county, and was in
fluential in advancing many of its pubhc interests. Of a family
of twelve children eight are Hving, aU, save two, in De Kalb
County. David T. Sraith received the greater part of his edu
cation in Butler, completing it at the seminary. He remained
on the old horaestead till manhood, a part of which he once
owned. In 1864 he went to Idaho, but remained only a few
months. Returning to De Kalb County he Avorked at the car
penter's trade tiU 1877, when he settled on his farm and has
since given his attention to agriculture and stock-raising. He
owns eighty acres of good land a mile east of Auburn, which
is well improved and on which is a good residence and farm
buildings. He was raarried May 4, 1875, to Julia A. Plum,
daughter of Jeremiah Plum, ex-Sheriff of De Kalb County.
They have one son — Marion. One son died in infancy. Mr.
Smith is an active politician of the old Jeffersonian school, al
though he never seeks nor desires office for himself.
William Snyder, one of the leading blacksmiths of Auburn,
Ind., was born in Morrow County, Ohio, June 17, 1841, the
eldest son of John and Mary (Helt) Snyder ; the former a native
of Pennsylvania, and the latter of Germany. They Avere early
settlers of Morrow County, and in 1844 moved to De Kalb
County, Ind., and a year later to Allen County where the fath
er died in 1849, and the mother still Hves. Their family con
sisted of eleven children, six sons and five daughters, ten of
whom are living, one son having died in the defense of his
country. William Snyder was reared in Allen County, and
when seventeen years of age came to De Kalb County and
learned the trade of a blacksmith. After the breaking out of
the RebeUion he enlisted in Corapany E, Eighty-eighth Indiana

^4-

HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY. 935
Infantry, and served three years, participating in eleven active
engagements, the more important being Perryville, Stone River
and Chickamauga. He Avas discharged June, 1865, and re
turned to Allen County Avhere he remained till Feb. 8, 1866;
then he Avas married, and moved to De Kalb County and lived
four years at Spencerville. In 1873 he removed to Auburn
Avhere he has since liA'cd and has built up a large trade. He is
a skillful Avorkman and does a general business in repairing.
His shop is located on Eighth street and is convenient to the
business center of the tOAvn. He has a pleasant residence and a
good farm of forty acres of choice land in De Kalb ¦ County,
Ind. His property he has earned by industry and frugality, his
father dying Avhen he was but eight years of age. He Avas
married Feb. 4, 1866, to Elizabeth Garland, a native of Zanes
ville, Ohio, born May 20, 1847 ! and to them have been born five
children — EdAvard, born Nov. 14, 1866, and died July 12, 1873;
James, born July 19, 1868; Maggy, born June 21, 1870; Lilly,
born May 20, 1874; Sarah, born Feb. 10, 1876.
Jacob Somers is the eldest son of John and Elizabeth Soraers,
natives of Chester County, Pa. In 1830 they eraigrated to
Shelby County, Ohio, and in 1841 to De Kalb County, Ind., and
settled on the farm noAv owned by our subject, entering a tract
of 200 acres. The father died July 5, 1873, and the mother
July 19, 1877. They had a family of eight children, seven of
whom are hving. Jacob Somers received but limited educa
tional advantages, his services being required on the farm. Af
ter the death of his parents he bought the homestead of the
heirs, and to it has added till he noAV OAvns 185 acres in the
home farm and 244 acres in another tract. He has made his
property by his OAvn industry, starting out in life with no means
and receiving very little assistance.
John M. Somers, attorney at laAV, of the firm Somers & Roby,
Waterloo, is a native of Steuben County, Ind., born Dec. 13,
185 1, a son of John Y. and Betty (Pearson) Somers. His father
was a native of New Hampshire, and in 1845 settled in Steu
ben County Avhere he died in 1854. He was a soldier in the
war of 1812, and was wounded at Ncav Orleans. The mother is
living in Steuben County. After his father's death John M.
hved with his guardian, Dennis Hamlin. When eleven years
of age he entered the office of the Waterloo City Press, and
with the exception of teaching two terras of school in Illinois,

1-2, .111 ¦ ¦ \ »
^ «  »- ~»  s V

936 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
remained there till tAventy-three years of age. While in the
office he began the study of law. He had access to Judge Mc
Bride's library and devoted his evenings to reading. He after
ward was in the office of Jaraes I. Best, one of the Supreme
Court Commissioners and one of the leading attorneys of the
State, two years, and Avhile there was admitted to the bar. June
4, 1880, he coraraenced practice in Waterloo. Nov. 15, 1882,
he formed his present partnership. He is a close student, and
has been a successful practitioner, and promises to be one of
the brightest Hghts of the profession. He is the City Attorney
of Waterloo, and has held the office of Town Clerk. March 2,
1880, he Avas married to Laura N. Chamberlain, a daughter of
J. N. Chamberlain, M. D. She died Aug. 27, 1884. Mr Som
ers is a member of Waterloo Lodge, No. 221, I. O. O. F., and
is Noble Grand of his lodge.
Joseph Stafford was born near Hayesville, Richland Co., Ohio,
Oct. 2, 1843, a son of John and Maria (Enos) Stafford. When
two years old his parents moved to a farm in Highland County,
Ohio, and in 1849 to De Kalb County, Ind., and settled in
Jackson Township. His father died in 1855, and in 1859 he
began working for farmers by the month. Aug. 9, 1862, he en
listed as a private in Company D, Eighty-eighth Indiana Infan
try, and in Deceraber, 1863, was promoted to Corporal. He
served till June 15, 1865, when he was discharged at Indianapo
lis. He participated in the battles of Perryville, Crab Orchard,
Stone River, Chickamauga, Chattanooga, Lookout Mountain,
Mission Ridge, Ringgold, White Oak Ridge, Buzzard's Roost,
Resaca, Pumpkin Vine Creek, DaltOn, Peach Tree Creek, siege
of Atlanta, Sherman's march to the sea, siege of Savannah and
Bentonville. While at Goldsboro, N. C, March, 1865, he Avas
taken with smallpox, and was in the hospital six weeks, joining
his regiment near Alexandria. He Avas present at the grand
review of the array at Washington in May, 1865. During the
year 1866 he worked on the old horaestead, and in the spring
of 1867 began to work at the mason's trade at Kendallville.
The following August he came to Aubum, Avhere he has since
followed the trade. He was married Dec. 25, 1874, to AHce,
daughter ot George Ensley, of Auburn. They have tAvo chil
dren — Flora May and Clara Edith. Mr. Stafford is a member
of Mentor Lodge, No. 591, 1. O. O. F., and DeLong Post, No.
dj, G. A. R. In 1879 he was elected Marshal of Auburn, but
resigned after holding the office a short time.
^ s  ^  »|\"*'

k*

HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY. 937
John C. St. Clair Avas born in Union County, Pa., March 3,
1823, the eldest son of Sarauel and Susannah (CHne) St. Clair.
He remained in his native county tiU maturity, learning in his
youth the trade of a carpenter. In 1850 he came to De Kalb
County a single man and worked at his trade two years. In
1852 he Avas married to Caroline McEntarffer, daughter of
George and Catherine McEntarffer, early settlers of this county.
After his marriage he settled on a farm near Waterloo, where
he cleared and improved sixty acres of land. He lived on that
farm tiU 1862, and then sold it and bought a tract of 160 acres
of heavily timbered land on section 15, Union Township. To
this he has added till he noAv owns 380 acres of valuable land.
Cedar Creek floAvs across the farm, thus affording good water
lor his stock. His residence, Avhich was built in 1874, is a large
tAvo story brick, situated on a knoll and commands a fine view
of the surrounding country. His barn and other farra buildings
are coraraodious and comfortable. Mr St. Clair comraenced life
for himself a poor young man, but by industry and frugahty
he has accumulated a competency. He has a faraily of five
children— Catherine, wife of H. P. Stroh ; A. M. ; J. H. ; Susan,
wife of Charles H. Poraort ; and George W. In politics he is
a Democrat. He has filled the offices of Assessor and has been
three times elected Trustee of Union ToAvnship, and in 1876
was elected Sheriff of the county, serving two years.
Captain Almon R. Stevens, merchant tailor, Waterloo, Ind.,
was born in Brookfield, Fairfield Co., Conn., April 8, 1830, a
son of Amos and Flora (Warner) Stevens, natives of Connecti
cut. His paternal grandfather was a soldier in the Avar of the
Revolution. His maternal grandfather, Benj. R. Warner, held
a comraission in the war of 1812. His father was by trade a
a carriage raaker. He died in 1874. The raother died in 1878.
Their family consisted of one son and two daughters. Our
subject learned the tailor's trade in his youth. In 1850 he went
to Troy, N. Y., and worked there and in other towns as a
journeyman till after the breaking out of the RebeUion, at
that time living in Utica, N. Y. In the spring of 1862 he
raised a company of volunteers and Avas coraraissioned Captain
of Corapany H, One Hundred and Seventeenth New York
Infantry. They were stationed near Washington till April,
1863, when they were sent to Norfolk, thence to Suffolk to meet
Longstreet, and participated in several skirmishes ; were then

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938 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
ordered to FoUey and Morris Islands under General Gilmore,
and participated in the capture of Fort Wagner. The com
mand was then ordered North, and arrived in time to engage
in the battle of Cold Harbor, where their loss was heavy.
They were also in front of Petersburg, and when on the first
advance Captain Stevens was wounded in the right arm, the
ball burying itself in the bone. He Avas sent to the hospital at
Fort Monroe, a three day's journey, and the fatigue and dis
comfort of the journey nearly cost him his life. As soon as he
recovered sufficiently to travel he was sent to Utica, N. Y.,
and thence to the Officers Convalescent Hospital, Annapolis,
Md. While there he received a letter frora Roscoe Conklin,
requesting him to come imraediately to Washington, but re
plied that there was an order prohibiting officers from coming
to Washington without an order from the Secretary of War.
He soon after received a telegram from Dana to report in
Washington at once, and another from Conklin that it was all
right. He was appointed one of the Election Commissioners and
was sent to the armies of the James and Potomac and to North
Carolina where troops from his own county were stationed,
and in November returned horae to vote, taking his docu
ments with him. Soon after he was ordered back to Fort
Monroe, where he again had his arm exarained, thinking the
bone had become diseased. In the meantime he received per
mission to visit his company on the James, and soon after Avas
appointed by General Curtis, Inspector General of the First
Brigade, Tenth Army Corps, and served as such until the win
ter of i863-'64 when his brigade was sent to Fort Fisher.
WhUe on the second expedition and soon after the Fort was
taken, he Avas (though the youngest Inspector in the Division)
promoted to Inspector General of the First Division, Tenth
Array Corps, which position he held till mustered out of serAdce
at the close of the war, when he again commenced working at
his trade. In July, 1869, he removed to Waterloo, Ind., and
becarae established in the tailoring business, and has built up a
prosperous business and is considered one of the best tailors
in the county.
Henry P. Stroh, son of William and Sarah (Husselman)
Stroh, was born on the old horaestead in Union Township,
May 9, 1849. He was reared on the farm, reciving a common-
school education, completing it at the Northwestern College,

\\^

^

HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.

939

Plainfield, 111. After leaving school he assisted his father on
the farm one season, and then was employed as brakeraan on
the Toledo, Wabash & Western Railroad four months. He
Avas then transferred to the Lafayette, Muncie & Bloomington
Road and ran a construction train nine months, when he re
turned to the Wabash Road and remained till the following
summer. Typhoid fever then claimed hira as its victim, and
for several Aveeks he Avas unable to work. After his recovery
he Avent to Texas and thence to Montana. He subsequently
returned to Indiana, and April 12, 1883, was raarried to Cath
erine St. Clair, daughter of John and Catherine St. Clair.
After his marriage he settled on a farm of forty acres in Union
ToAvnship, Avhere he has a pleasant home and is successfully
engaged in agricultural pursuits and stock-raising, making a
specialty of Norman and Clydesdale horses.
WiUiam Stroh, one of the early settlers of Union Township,
was born in Dauphin County, Pa., Jan. 22, 1815, the third son
of Henry and Catherine (Ulrich) Stroh, natives of Pennsylva
nia. His parents were early settlers in Wayne County, Ohio,
where he was reared and educated. In 1843 he came to De
Kalb County, Ind., and bought 160 acres of timber land, but
httle of which had been cleared. Two years later his parents
followed him to the county and made his house their home
the remainder of their Hves. His father died in 1846, and his
mother in January, 1874, aged eighty-six years. Their family
consisted of eight children, four of whom are living. William
Stroh came to this county a poor man, but by perseverance
outlived all his difficulties and came off conqueror. At one
time he had but three cents in money, but soon after col
lected $100 from a man in Ohio, and that was the beginning of
better times. He has been a successful stock-raiser, having
some of the finest grades in the county. He has been a promi
nent man in the county, and has held several positions of trust
and responsibility, among others those of Supervisor and
School Trustee. He was married in Ohio to Sarah Hussel
man. To thera were born nine children, six of whom are
hving — Adam, Catherine, Henry, EmeUne (wife of WilHam
MaxweU), Mary (wife of Alvin St. Clair), and Fanny. Mrs.
Stroh died in i860, and in 1868 Mr. Stroh married Mary A.
Roby, widow of Daniel Roby, by whom she has four children
—Joel, Andrew, Salome, wife of Carl Rish, and Amos. The

l"^

940 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
latter is a minister in the EvangeHcal church, stationed at
Rochester, Ind. Mr. and Mrs. Stroh are members of the
Evangelical church, of which he has been Class-leader fifteen
years. Solomon Stough, M. D., the oldest practicing physician of De
Kalb County, is a native of Tuscarawas County, Ohio, born
Feb. 14, 1820, a son of Dr. Sarauel and Susan (Kinsley) Stough,
his father a native of Virginia and his mother of Pennsylvania.
Rev. John Stough, his grandfather, was the first Lutheran
minister to cross the Allegheny Mountains. His father, now a
resident of Kansas, in the ninety-sixth year of his age, was a prac
ticing physician over sixty years. He is a graduate of the old
Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, and was one of the
most prominent and able physicians of his day. He was twice
married. His first wife, the mother of our subject, died in
1836. She was a true Christian, an affectionate Avife, loving
and devoted mother, and was universally loved by all who
knew her. She was the mother of eight children. The
second wife, Elizabeth Colepenny, died in 1845. Five of
her seven children are living. Our subject in his early Hfe
attended Kenyon College. He early began the study of
medicine in his father's office, and in i843-'44 attended
lectures at Rush Medical College, Chicago. He Avas subse
quently appointed Censor at Fort Wayne Medical College,
frora which he graduated in 1847. The Doctor has been in
active practice over fifty years, and has Avon the reputation he
now has by close study and hard work. The opinion of no
physician is respected more highly than his, and many of the
younger practitioners consult with hira when they are called
to any difficult or coraplicated case. The medical fraternity as
well as those whora he has treated have the utmost confidence
in his judgment, and it will be difficult to fill his place in many
of the hearts and homes of De Kalb County. Dr. Stough left
Ohio in 1845 and came on horseback to Indiana. His first
night in the county was spent Avith Judge Parker, and in the
morning when it Avas proposed to divide the expense, the Doc
tor gave Mr Parker 6%^ cents, all the raoney he had. The
country was then a vast wilderness. The people Avere poor,
the greater part of their money being frora the sales of corn
and deer skins. Roads Avere few, and the few Avere rough and
seldora traveled, and the doctor of the pioneer period was

;rv

^ — A ^^

HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY. 941
forced to undergo hardships and privations unknown to the
young practitioners of to-day. Dr. Stough is a member of the
De Kalb and Steuben County Medical Society. He Avas mar
ried Aug. 26, 1846, to Elizabeth, daughter of Hugh Wood, of
New York. Of their six children five are Hving — Martha, wife
of Silas St. Clair, of Chicago, III. ; Morgiana, wife of Thoraas
Ward, of Birmingham, Mich. ; Alphonso, a comraission mer
chant of Chicago ; Belle, wife of S. H. Schmuck, of Cleveland,
Ohio ; J. H., a physician of Louisburg, Kan. Mrs. Stough died
Jan. 22,. 1862, and Dr Stough subsequently married Elizabeth
S. Corkner. They have three children — Ernest S., Edith May
and Solomon. Pohtically Dr. Stough affiliates with the Re
publican party.
David J. Swarts, M. D., Avas born near Jeroraeville, Ashland
Co., Ohio, June 30, 1832, a son of David and Catherine (Smith)
Swarts. He remained on the farm with his parents till nineteen
years of age, when he Avas sent by them to Verraillion Acaderay,
Hayesville, Ohio, and reraained there two and a half years. In
1856 he began the study of raedicine with Drs. Robinson & Fire
stone, of Wooster, Ohio, reraaining Avith thera till the fall of
1858, when he entered the Ohio Medical College, at Cincinnati,
from Avhich he graduated in March, i860. He located at
Reedsburg, Ohio, but in November, i860, removed to Auburn,
Ind., where he has built up a large and lucrative practice. In June,
1862, he enlisted as a private in Company A, One Hundredth
Indiana Infantry, and at the organization of the company was
commissioned First Lieutenant. The following October he re
signed his commission and was commissioned Assistant Surgeon
of the regiment, and served till mustered out in June, 1865.
He participated in raost of the battles of the Fifteenth Army
Corps, under General John A. Logan, including Pigeon Roost,
Resaca, Kenesaw Mountain, siege of Atlanta, siege of Vicks
burg, Mission Ridge, Black River, siege of Jackson, Lovejoy
Station, Bentonville and many others. In 1862, before his en
listment, while associated Avith Dr. J. N. Chamberlain, was
with him employed as one of the county physicians. In 1880
he was again appointed, and is still serving in that capacity.
He is also the present Secretary of the County Board of Health.
Dr. Swarts was married Aug. 28, 1862, to Vesta M., daughter of
Rev. Stephen B. Ward, of Auburn. She was born in Lorain
County, Ohio, April 26, 1841, and came with her parents to De

942 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
Kalb County in 1842. She received her early education in
Auburn, completing it at Northeastern Indiana Academy,
Orland, Steuben County, in 1858, and from that time till her
marriage was identified with the teachers of De Kalb County,
and for sorae time was Superintendent of the Auburn schools.
In 1863 and 1864 she was connected with the general hospitals
at Louisville, Ky. In 1878 she hegan the study of medicine
with her husband, and in August, 1880, upon examination she
was admitted to the junior class of the medical department of
the University of Michigan, and attended and completed that
course for the session of i88o-'8i,and March i, 1882, graduated
from the Fort Wayne College of Medicine. Since then she has
been engaged in practice with her husband. They have two
sons — Harris J., born Aug. 24, 1866; Williard Ward, born July
14, 1872.
William Swartz, one of the pioneers of De Kalb County, was
born in Sugar Creek Township, Wayne Co., Ohio, March 1 1,
1830, a son of David and Catherine (Ishler) Swartz. His par
ents emigrated from Lebanon County, Pa., in an early day, and
crossing the Allegheny Mountains with teams, located in Wayne
County, Ohio, where they lived till 1848, when they moved to
De Kalb County, Ind., and located on sections 9 and 10, Union
Township, and made a fine farm out of a tract of heavily tim
bered land where they lived the rest of their lives. The
mother died in 1865 and the father in 1866. They were mem
bers of the United Brethren church, and were loved and
esteemed by all who knew them. WiUiam Swartz was eighteen
years of age when his parents moved to De Kalb County, and
from that time till his raarriage assisted his father in clearing
his frontier farm. Although he commenced life with limited
means, he has been successful, and now has eighty acres of fine
land, valued at $75 an acre. Mr. Swartz was married in Stark
County, Ohio, in 1853, to EUzabeth, daughter of WiUiam and
Rebecca Welch. Her father was drowned in Lake Erie, when
she was two years old. Mr. and Mrs. Swartz have had ten
children, seven of whom are living — Adeline, wife of Josiah
Kosht ; Angelia, Isora, Tarring, Lulu Bell, Melvin and Jennie.
In politics Mr. Swartz affiliates with the Democratic party.
E. H. Taylor, one of the most prominent men of Union Town
ship, was born in Stark County, Ohio, Dec. 19, 1818. His father,
John Taylor, was a native of England, and came to America
"7 s  "-*  V)\'

HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY. 943
Avith his parents Avhen a child, and Avas reared and_ educated in
Somerset County, Pa. He married Margaret Shaffer, of Ger
man descent, and soon after moved to Stark County, Ohio,
where he Avorked at his trade (carpenter), and opened a farm in
the ncAv country. He subsequently sold his farm in Stark
County, Avith the intention of moving West, but, not liking the
country, bought land in Summit County, Ohio, where he lived
ten years, and in 1S47 raoved to De Kalb County, Ind. He was
a local preacher in the Methodist Episcopal church, and a raan
Avhose opinion Avas always valued on matters of interest to the
public. He was a Justice of the Peace twenty consecutive
years, and his advice Avas always to have " peace " with as httle
strife as possible. The Avife of his youth died in Stark County,
Ohio, in 1833. They had a family of ten chUdren, nine of whom
are living. In 1835 Mr. Taylor raarried Elizabeth Stokely,
widoAV of Joseph Stokely. She had a family of three children.
Mr. Taylor died in 1870, and Mrs. Taylor in 1861. The subject
of our sketch was reared on a pioneer farra and received his
education in the primitive log-cabin school-house. As soon as
old enough his services were required on the farm, and he was
able to attend school only at intervals. In the spring of 1847
he left Ohio and started with teams for De Kalb County, Ind.
There were no bridges, and the mud raade the roads almost
impassable the greater part of the way. He bought eighty
acres of heavily timbered land in Franklin Township, and after
getting it to a state of cultivation bought 192 acres raore, mak
ing one of the best farms in the township. He foUowed agri
cultural pursuits, and also dealt extensively in stock, selling to
the Government from the time of the war till 1877. In 1870 he
built a residence in Waterloo, and is now living a quiet life, en
joying the fruits of his many years of hard labor. In politics
Mr. Taylor was first an old-line Whig and subsequently a mera
ber of the Republican party. He has held several local offices
of trust, such as Assessor, Collector, etc., and in the fall of 1858
was norainated County Treasurer, but was defeated by sixty-
nine votes, his opponent being a Republican, running on an In
dependent ticket. In 1859 he was norainated County Clerk,
but was defeated by only four votes. In 1874 he was nomi
nated by the Repubhcan party as Representative to the Legis
lature and was elected by four votes, but was defeated by fraud
of one of the Board. Mr. Taylor was married in the spring of
¦*4 L  * -..^

M* »> -^ —
944 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
1843 to Elizabeth Smith, a native of Akron, Ohio. They had a
family of six children, but two of whom are living — Frances,
wife of James A. Matson, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and Florence
E., wife of Jasper Waterman, of Waterloo. Mrs. Taylor died
Feb. 2, 1882. She was a meraber of the Methodist Episcopal
church, and a most estimable woman.
John Thomas was born in Brown Township, Columbiana Co.,
Ohio, Nov. 4, 1806. Of a family of eight chUdren, compris
ing five sons and three daughters, he was the third from the
eldest. His father died when he was but sixteen years old,
and consequently it became his duty to take charge of the fara
ily, which he did for a number of years. In 1832 he became
acquainted with Miss Anna Hoover, to whom he was married
November 4, 1832, she being the fourth daughter of the late
Judge John Hoover, of Stark County, Ohio. From Stark
County he and his estimable wife moved to Carroll County,
where they resided till September, 1843, when they made their
final removal, to De Kalb County, Ind., arriving here the 3d
of October. The country then was nearly an unbroken forest,
but with hard labor and a firm determination, large fields were
put under cultivation from which ample harvests were gath
ered. They Hved together in peace and harmony till 1861,
when his amiable partner was called away to the immortalities
of the spirit world from which no traveler returns. Dec. 13,
1863, he was married to Mrs. Rebecca Fisher, the second
daughter of John Hoover, living with her till his death, Feb.
28, 1883, aged seventy-six years, three months and tAventy-four
days. He left a widow and six children. He Avas a kind
father and a provident husband. Never at variance, but al
ways at peace with his neighbors, his enemies were fcAV, but
his friends were many. In his early years he belonged to the
Baptist church, but later joined the Dunkard church. The
funeral services were held in Auburn in the Baptist church,
and were conducted by Rev. Barden and Elder Ward.
" Time did not pause in its onward flight,
Welcome the day or welcome the night.
Take the eye's vision, as well as its hue.
Wrinkles for dimples more plentifully strew.
Take from the cheek the last of its bloom,
Only the faded belong to the tomb.
Withered and sere like the autumn leaf.
Ripe, full of grain, like the harvest sheaf.
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HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY. 945
Lord, I'm gathered safe into the fold,
Welcome be silver instead of gold."
Thomas H. Tomlinson, Auditor of De Kalb County, Ind., is a
native of Ireland, and Avas born at Arklow, Wicklow County,
Sept. 14, 1837, a son of James and Mary TomUnson. Before
he Avas three years of age his father died, and thus at a very
early age he Avas obliged to battle with the world. When he
Avas ten years of age, in 1847, he came Avith his mother to the
United States and settled in Wilmington ToAvnship, De Kalb
Co., Ind., near the present site of Butler. When a mere bov
he Avorked out as a day laborer, and thus maintained and edu
cated himself. In 1862, at Butler, he enhsted in the Union
array as a private in Company A, Eighty-eighth Indiana In
fantry, and served till the close of the Avar. He was mustered
out in 1865. After his return home he taught school during
the Avinter and Avorked as a farm hand the rest of the year. In
November, 1882, he Avas elected, on the Deraocratic ticket.
Auditor of De Kalb County for a term of four years. He is
AveU qualified for the position, and makes an efficient officer.
In the spring of 1866 Mr. Tomlinson was married to Mary E.
Freman, who died in September, 1877, leaving three children
— Martha I., Laura A. and George. In Noveraber, 1879, he
was married to Mary Teutsch. They have one daughter —
Dette Leola.
Eugene Trout, of the firm Long & Trout, liverymen. Auburn,
was born in Union Township, De Kalb County, Ind., Sept. 16,
1858. He was the adopted son of George W. Trout, deceased,
a pioneer of De Kalb County, and one of the first business men
of Waterloo. He was reared and educated in Waterloo. -He
engaged in the livery business two years before coming to
Auburn in 1882, and here was employed two years to superin
tend Casebeer & Matheny 's livery stable. He then clerked a
few nfonths, and in September, 1884, forraed a partnership with
Edgar E. Long in the livery business. Mr. Trout was mar
ried May 12, 1 88 1, to Frankie Buss, daughter of William Buss,
of Smithfield Township. They have two children — George W.,
aged three years, and Cyrus B., aged one year. He is a
member of the Knights of Honor.
Jay J. Van Auken, Surveyor of De Kalb County, Ind., was
born at Chagrin Falls, Ohio, Feb. 8, 1852. He came to Indiana
with his parents, Jacob and Nancy Van Auken, in the autumn

"T

%-,

946 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
of i860, they settling near Pleasant Lake, Steuben County.
When he was eighteen years of age he came to De Kalb County
and taught in the district schools. He obtained a scientific
education by attending the Union High School at Angola, and
the Wesleyan College at Hillsdale, Mich., defraying his ex
penses by teaching. In December, 1873, he was appointed by
the Commissioners of De Kalb County, Surveyor, to fiU a
vacancy, and in 1874 was elected on the Democratic ticket to
the same office, and re-elected in 1876 and 1878. In 1880 he
was the nominee of the Democratic party for Sheriff of De
Kalb County, but being so young, and running against an older
and very popular man was defeated by a majority of ninety-
six votes. In 1882 he was again nominated Surveyor and was
elected by a majority of 451, and re-elected in 1884 by about
the same majority. In May, 1873, Mr Van Auken was raar
ried to Maggie Wilhams, of Auburn. They have had six chil
dren, but five are -hving — Ray, Roy, Maud, Frank B. and Jay
J., Jr A daughter. May, died May i, 1880. Mr. Van Auken
is a prominent Mason, and is a raeraber of De Kalb Lodge, No.
214, WUliara Hacker Chapter, No. 63, Angola CouncU, No. 27,
and ApoUo Comraandery, No. 19, at Kendallville. He has
been Master of his lodge, was tAvice elected High Priest of his
chapter, and has fiUed the office of Warder in his coraraandery.
J. C. Veley, manufacturer and dealer in lumber. Auburn, Ind.,
was born near Butler, De Kalb Co., Ind., Feb. 27, 1840, a son
of Aaron and Eleanor (Nelson) Veley, the former a native of
New York and the latter of Ohio. His raother carae to In
diana in 1835 and his father In 1836, and here they were mar
ried and settled on a farm. J. C. remained on the farm Avith
his parents till twenty-one years of age, Avhen he becarae en
gaged in riving staves in Butler, having in his eraploy a large
number of men. He carried on this business till 1874, Avhen
he came to Auburn and purchased a saAv-raill and has. since
manufactured both hard and soft wood luraber, shipping it to
horae and foreign raarkets. July 26, 1864, he Avas raarried to
Nancy J., daughter of Rev. John McCurdy, an old settler of
Butler. They have one daughter — Meta. Mr. and Mrs. Veley
are raerabers of the Methodist Episcopal church. He is a de
raitted member of Forest Lodge, No. 229, F. & A. M.
Jacob Walborn is the eldest son of Jacob and Mary (Apple)
Walborn, natives of Pennsylvania, who removed in early life

"T

jV®-

HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.

947

to Ohio, and in the spring of 1864 to De Kalb County, Ind.,
and settied in Keyser Township, where the father died Dec. 4,
1868, and the mother still Hves. Of a family of thirteen chil
dren, all lived till maturity and nine are still living. When
twenty years of age our subject began to learn the carpenter's
trade, at Avhich he worked about tAventy years. He came with
his parents to De Kalb County and located in Auburn, where
he engaged in contracting and building, putting up some of the
finest stores and dweUings in the place. He has a farra in
Keyser ToAvnship, to Avhich he has given considerable atten
tion. On the retirement of George Hazard as President of the
First National Bank of Auburn, he was elected to fill the va
cancy and served two years, bringing the bank from its preca
rious condition to a substantial footing. After disposing of his
stock in the First National Bank he assisted in organizing and
is one of the stockholders of the Farmers' Bank of Auburn.
He is a member of the School Board, and is noAv serving as its
Secretary. He was married in Champaign County, Ohio, to
Lettitia Briggs, a native of Pennsylvania. They have two
daughters— Amanda R., wife of L. T. Rice, and Clara R. Mr.
and Mrs. Walborn are merabers of the Lutheran church.
William J. Walsworth is a native of New York, born in Gene
see County, Jan. 12, 1827. When he was eight years old his par
ents, Levi and Mary (Latson) Walsworth, raoved to Sandusky
County, Ohio, where they reraained four years, and in the fall
of 1838 moved to De Kalb County, Ind., and the following Jan
uary settled on a tract of wild land four miles east of Auburn.
They made a home and resided there tiU their death. The
mother died June- 14, 1849, and the father July 16, 1880. They
had a family of seven children ; five are living — Sarah E., Avife
of Charles Piatt ; George J., Wesley P., Matilda E., wife of
Jerry D. Likens, of Nebraska ; and WilHam J. Our subject
remained at home till twenty-four years of age, when he was
married and settled on the farm where he now lives. At that
time it was a heavily timbered tract of land, and by his own in
dustry and good management he has brought it to its present
advanced state of cultivation. His residence and farra build
ings are all in good repair, and are large and commodious. He
has been an enterprising, public-spirited citizen, and has assisted
liberally all projects of public interest. He was elected Assessor
of Union Township, and served one terra. H,e was married Jan.

948 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
15, 1850, to Ehzabeth, daughter of Jacob Fiesher. They have
two children — Mary E., wife of C. C. Boyer, and Amos B.
Mr. and Mrs. Walsworth are members of the Methodist Epis
copal church, of which he has been Class-leader and Trustee.
In pohtics he is a Republican.
Rev. Stephen Brown Ward, one of the early settlers of De
Kalb County, Ind., was born in Randolph, Portage Co., Ohio,
July 22, 1 8 16, a son of Josiah and Mindwell (Harris) Ward.
His parents died before he was four years of age and he was
bound to WilHam Jones of Randolph, with whora he lived till
his nineteenth year, and had acquired a fair education in the
public schools, and by private study, having followed a system
atic course of reading. In 1839 he married Miss Laura Ather-
ton Brooks, a daughter of Dr. G. Brooks, of Bath, Ohio.
After his marriage he lived in Randolph and Columbia, Ohio,
till 1842, when Jan. 22, he removed to De Kalb County, Ind.,
and settled on a tract of land he had previously purchased in
Wilmington Township. He was converted at the age of six
teen years and joined the Congregational church, but in 1841,
while living in Columbia became a raeraber of the Baptist
church, and was licensed to preach. After coming to De Kalb
County, while engaged in improving his land, he had appoint
ments in different parts of the county, traveling through the
woods on foot or horseback, often riding twenty and thirty
miles a day. In the summer of 1847 he Avas regularly ordained
a rainister and since that time has given the greater portion of
his attention to preaching the Gospel and pastoral Avork, till
within the last five years Avhen his age has obliged him to re
tire to a more quiet Hfe. He raoved to Auburn in 1852. He
has probably pertorraed more marriage ceremonies and at
tended more funerals than any other minister in De Kalb
County. In the winter of 1857-8 he represented his district
in the Indiana State Legislature. To Mr. and Mrs. Ward have
been born three children — Vesta M., wife of Dr. D. J. Swarts;
Harris D., a merchant of Kendallville, Ind., and Mary A.,
widow of John H. Ehlers, late a druggist of Auburn.
John Morris Widney, of the firm of Lewis & Widney, Au
burn, Ind., was born in Concord Township, De Kalb County,
Nov. 6, 1855, a son of John P. and Mary H. Widney. He
Hved Avith his parents till his majority, when he began farming
for himself in Union Township. He received a good educa-

¦^'^— ^ — ^^

HISTORY OF DE KALli COUNTY.

949

tion, finishing it at the Auburn High School. He foUoAved ag
ricultural pursuits five years and in the fall of 1880 carae to
Auburn and became associated with Abner LcAvis in the lum
ber business ; firm name Lewis iK: Widney. They carry a com
plete stock of lumber, lath, shingles, lime, tiling and building
material. Mr Widney Avas raarried May 15, 1884, to Lulu M.
Carpenter, of AntAverp, Ohio.
Moses B. ffV/Z/i-, dealer in books, stationery and notions, Au
burn, Avas born in Salina, Oneida Co., N. Y., Nov. 8, 1839, a
son of Henry and Emeline (Hewitt) WilHs. In 1843 his par
ents moved to Indiana and settled in Richland Township, De
Kalb County, Avhere he Avas reared on a farm, receiving his ed
ucation in the district schools, Avith the exception of tAvo terms
at the high school at Orland, Steuben County, and two at
Auburn, De Kalb County. In the winters of 1859 and i860 he
taught two terms in Jackson and Fairfield townships. In Sep
tember, 1 86 1, he enlisted in Company K, Forty-fourth Indiana
Infantry for three years, and served a fcAv days over four years,
having veteranized in February, 1864. He enlisted as a private,
but Avas appointed Third Sergeant, and April 17, 1863, Avas
promoted to Second Lieutenant. Owing to the depleted con
dition of his regiment he Avas not mustered in as Lieutenant,
but Jan. 16, 1865, he Avas commissioned Captain, the regiraent
having been filled up Avith recruits. He was mustered out in
September, 1865. He participated in the battle of Shiloh,
where he Avas slightly Avounded, siege of Corinth, in the march
from Corinth to Battle Creek, Tenn., Avhere they reraained
about a month, and then joined the race betAveen Generals
Buell and Bragg to Louisville. Afterward participated in the
battles of Stone River, Chickaraauga, Mission Ridge and
others. After the battle at Mission Ridge his regiraent Avas
stationed at Chattanooga on guard duty, Avhere they reraained
till their discharge, and during their stay at Chattanooga, on
June 17, 1865, he Avas detailed as a meraber of a general court-
raartial for the trial of several cases, and served as president of
the court until detailed by order of General Thoraas, on June
26, 1865, to act as Inspector of the Second Brigade, First Sep
arate Division, Army of the Curaberland, Avhich position he
filled until the brigade was broken up, when he again returned
to and took charge of his company, with which he remained
until they were mustered out. After his return home he fol-
60

•Jq

950 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
loAved agricultural pursuits in Richland ToAvnship till the
spring of 1875, when he went to Waterloo and engaged Avith
his father and brother in the notions business, retiring from the
firm in the fall of 1877, when he came to Auburn and becarae
estabhshed in his present business. He was raarried Nov. 9,
1865, to Miss E. J., daughter of L. D. Britton, of Corunna.
They have three children — Marion B., Lewis H. and Nettie B.
Pohtically he is a Republican. He and his wife and daughter
are merabers of the Methodist Episcopal church.
Henry A. Winslow, a native of Stark County, Ohio, Avas born
Aug. 10, 1847. In 1852 he came with his raother to DeKalb
County, Ind., and settled in Richland Township, living with
her about one year. He Avas then taken and reared by his
Uncle, Urias Thomas, with Avhom he hved till he was twenty-
one years of age. He received a common-school education,
attending the Auburn and Waterloo high schools. He began
teaching in 1 867, and taught about twelve years during the winter
season, but worked on the farm in the suraraer. He was an
efficient and successful teacher, and always popular Avith his
pupils. Abandoning teaching, he turned his attention Avholh' to
agricultural pursuits, at which he has been very successful. His
farm contains sixty acres of choice land. Aug. 20, 1868, he
was married to Cynthia M. Thomas, the sixth daughter of John
and Anna Thomas, early settlers of De Kalb County, settling in
Union ToAvnship in 1843. To Mr. and Mrs. Winslow has been
born one son — Justus A.
George Wolfe was born in Stark County, Ohio, Sept. 9, 1821,
a son of John and Elizabeth (Zahner) Wolfe, his father a na
tive of Maryland and his mother of Pennsylvania. They Avere
among the first settlers of Columbiana County, Ohio, where
they Avere married. They subsequently moved to Stark
County, and there spent the remainder of their lives. Nine
children Avere born to them ; all lived till maturity. George
Wolfe was reared and educated in his native county, and was
there married March 16, 1843, to Eliza Fisk, a native of New
York. In 1847 they moved to De Kalb County, Ind., Avhere
Mrs. Wolfe died in August, 1855. Two of their five children
are living. He Avas again married Jan. 18, 1857, to Sarah Lutz,
a native of Stark County, Ohio. One of their tAvo children is
living. Mr. Wolfe was a prosperous man, and accumulated a
fine farm of 100 acres, valued at $75 an acre. He Avasa prorai-

Jtt.

;^

HISTORY OF OK KALI! CHUNIA'. 95 1
nent and influential man in the township, and served as Justice
of the Peace tAventv-nine consecutive years, besides holdinsr
other local offices of trust. In politics he was a strong sup
porter of Democratic principles. Mr. Wolfe died Feb. z-j, 1885,
at the age of sixty-three years, five months and eighteen daA s.
Oliver H. Widney. son oi John P. and Jane (Linn) Widney,
was born Nov. 12, 1841, near Newville, De Kalb Co., Ind. He
Avas reared on a farm, and in early life attended the district
school at Orangeville. After moving to Auburn he attended
school at that place, corapleting his education at the Newville
Academy, after which he taught school for some time. When
a young man he cleared a farra of seventA' acres, bringing it
from a swampy state to be one of the best farras in his neigh
borhood. This farm he traded in 1877 to his father for the old
homestead on the St. Joe River, near the tOAvn of St. Joe. He
has been raoderatelv successful in his farraing pursuits, noAv
OAvning a good farm of 134 acres Avhich he has gained by his
OAA-n perssverance and industry. He was married Nov. 3, 1S64,
to Emily F. MaxAvell, a resident of Concord Township. Thev
haA-e tAvo children — H. Mervin, born March 24, 1866, and
Lenore, born May 18, 1881. Aug. 7, 1862, Mr. Widney enhsted
as a private in Corapany H, Eighty-eighth Indiana Infantry.
He Avas at Fort Wayne, Indianapolis, Louisville, Ky., thence
after General Bragg, through Kentucky, and participated in
the battle of Perryville, Oct. 8, 1862. He was discharged at
Nashville, Dec. 15, 1862, having been sick the greater part of
the time Avhile in the army, and returned horae almost a living
skeleton. He remained at home till he recovered, Avhen he
again enlisted, July 18, 1863, as First Duty Sergeant of Com
pany D, One Hundred and Eighteenth Indiana Infantry, and
Avas'in the battles of Walker's Ford, Dec. 2, 1863, Bull's Gap,
in October, 1863, and TazcAvell, East Tenn., in January,
1864, and was discharged March 4, 1864. Mr. Widney is serv
ing his first term as County Commissioner. He has been
re-elected to serve a second term. He is a member of John C.
Carnes Post, No. 144, G. A. R., and has served as Junior or
Senior Vice-Commander since the organization of the post,
being at the present time Senior Vice-Commander. In politics
he Avas reared a Republican, but since 1870 has affiliated Avith
the Democratic party. His parents Avere married in Pennsyl
vania in the Avinter of i835-'36, and in 1836 came to this county,
locating near Newville. They settled on the farm Avhere our
subject noAv resides in 1843. The father is at present living at
BeUevUle, Ohio. The mother died at Auburn in October, 185 1,
Avhile John P. Widney Avas Clerk of the De Kalb County
Circuit Court.

^\

CHAPTER XXIV.

WILMINGTON TOWNSHIP.

Position. — Geography and Topography. — First Settle
ment. — Early Incidents. — Pioneers. — First Election.—
In the War.— Pioneer Life of John N. Miller.— First
Marriage. — Story of Dan Coats.— The "Hard Win
ter." — Organization as a Township. — Early Toavnship
Officials. — Population. — Property and Taxation. —
Agricultural Statistics. — Butler. — Early History
AND Subsequent Progress. — Business Directory. — Pro
fessional. — Bank. — Newspapers. — Schools. — Religious.
— Societies. — Biographical.
Wilmington ToAvnship lies in the east central portion of the
county, and is bounded as follows: on the north by Franklin
Township, on the east by Stafford, on the south by Concord,
and on the west by Union. It is crossed east and Avest by the
air-line of the Michigan Southern Railroad, and northeast and
southwest by the Wabash, St. Louis & Pacific, the tAvo roads
meeting at Butler in the northeastern part. Agriculturally it
is about second-class land, yet portions are excellent, especially
along Big Run, a considerable stream running through the
township. Wilmington is said to be the best tOAvnship in De
Kalb County for fine oak timber, and second only to Jackson
for grass groAving,
In 1835 no white man had yet invaded the soil ot Wilming
ton Township. The following year the first log cabin was
erected by Byron Bunnell ; Mr. Lonsberry's house Avas next,
and George Egnew's next. In 1837 the county was organized
and township Hnes were established, these three cabins falling
within the borders of Wilmington. Tavo of these cabins Avere
located on Avhat is now called the Newville and Auburn road, and
one was called at an early day the Bunnell place ; the Lonsberry
place adjoined it on the north. In the early part of 1837 Ira
Allen came in and pitched a cloth tent on an oak hill on the east
side of the township. In that t6nt he remained perhaps a
1152

±k.

history of de KALI! COUNTY. 953
month or two until he put up what Avas in those times a corarao
dious house, composed of oak logs hcAvecl square and notched
doAvn closely. When he carae in he Avas a very large, stout,
muscular man, apparently Avith an iron constitution. He finally
became broken down with rheumatism. As an instance of the
hardships and exposures that probably brought on this afflic
tion, Ave Avill relate an incident.
Sometime in October, 1837, Mr. Allen Avent out to hunt his
cattle of Avhich he had a number, and after finding them far out
in the apparently interminable woods and swamps to the north
and Avest, he started home Avith them. On the Avay one of his
Avork oxen mired doAvn. After laboring hard in the mud and
Avater for some time (the other cattle in the mean tirae getting
scattered in the woods again) he started for his tent, but failed
in reaching it and lay out through the cold and frosty night,
Avet and rauddy as he Avas. The next day John N. MiUer, an
early settler of the sarae township, while making his Avay
through the Avilderness to the land he had entered, heard
some one hail him away out Avhere he Avas not looking for a
human being, and on going Avhere the voice came from, he
found Mr. Allen and his boys laboring to get the ox out of the
mire, it having lain there all night and until the afternoon ot
the next day. They had forgotten to bring an ax, and had to
cut a pry by bending doAvn a sapling and cutting it off with a
pocket-knife, Avhile the fibers of the Avood Avere thus strained.
Getting this pry under the beast, they finally raised him frora
his sunken condition, but had to roll hira several tiraes over be
fore he could find firra footing.
The coraraodious block-house erected by Mr. Allen Avas long
used as a raeeting-house as Avell as a dwelling, and here in an
early day Avas held raany a prayer-meeting, or Sunday Avorship.
Others Avho came in 1837 were: Lot B. Coe, William P.
Means, Charles Handy, Dr. SaAvyer and several more. By this
time the ncAvcomers began to feel pretty good ; they were get
ting neighbors Avithin two or three miles of each other, and
could hear their dogs bark, as avcU as hear the wolves hoAvl
every night. The sturdy yeomen battled their Avay through
thick and thin to get a living for their families, and had to en
dure all the privations of a frontier life. Charles Handy Avas
the first blacksmith in the tOAvnship, and settled at Avhat is now
called Handy's corners. He rendered the pioneers ranch ser-

t, >y

954 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
vice by making shoes and shoeing a horse all round for 50
cents. Think of this, ye blacksmiths of the present day, and
Aveep !
Amos Lonsberry was the first white child born in the town
ship. At the close of 1837 tAventy-two famihes were settled
within the borders of Wilmington.
The first election was held at Ira Allen's, on the farm since
OAvned by WilHam Crooks. Says a pioneer: "As our tOAvn-
ship was in Hmited circumstances as to population, and raost ot
them had the ague, and it took two of them to raake a shadoAV,
and even then they could not go to the polls, we had to apply
to Stafford Township to help us fill up the board, and both
tOAvnships held their elections together at the above place and
elected the several officers. Among them were: Wilham P.
Means, for County Assessor, and Mr. Lonsberry, for School
Comraissioner. I don't recollect the balance of the officers
that Avere elected in those days ; we had not much use for
'squires or constables, but 1 think Ariel Walden Avas elected
Associate Judge of the court for this county. The first Justice
of the Peace elected was a Mr. Pearsons. Constables Avere not
needed. There was nothing to quarrel, about, and nobody to
quarrel Avith ; everything moved off nicely, and all Avere as
happy as clams. Year by year emigration kept pouring in
until we soon became a populous township, second. to none in
the county." Concord, the first settled, had the largest popu
lation until 1842.
In 1856 the township had quite a " boora" on account of the
construction of the air Hne of the Michigan Southern Railroad,
and the consequent growth of Butler, at first called NorristOAvn.
This railroad being corapleted opened up a market for surplus
agricultural products. This brought in grain and produce
buyers, and the farraers began to realize prices better than they
had ever obtained at Fort Wayne. The consequent prosperity
enabled Wilmington's farraers generally to improve their farms,
build frame houses and barns, and drain their fields.
During the Avar Wilmington was an eminently loyal town
ship, being among the first to respond to the call for three
months' men, and every call that Avas made by the Government
was promptly raet by her quota. The draft Avas never resorted
to in this township.
The construction of the second railroad across its territory

^- — *y

HISTORY OF DEKALB COUNTY. 955
in 1872 gave a new and lasting impulse to the prosperity of the
people ; and witii the substantial growth of the toAvn of Butler,
the township has attained an enviable position among its sisters
in DeKalb CountA'.
As before stated, John N. Miller, afterward of Auburn, Avas
one of the very first settlers in Wilraington. We give a fcAv
incidents of his pioneer Hfe, quoting from Mr. Widney's narra
five :
-'In the Avinter of i836-'7 1 took a job of chopping of Mr.
LA'tle, Avho had sold out Avhere he first settled and had entered
the tract of land since OAvned by the late WilHam Pryor in Staf
ford ToAvnship. The job Avas on the river bottoms, Avhere the
timber Avas very heavy — huge oaks and elms, Avith enormous
tops, being rather too plenty to get along fast; and as 1 had to
take doAvn all the timber and cut it up ready for logging. 1
received only four or five dollars ( I do not now remember dis
tinctly the wages), and Avas to take my pay in potatoes, pork,
beans, etc For potatoes 1 paid $1 per bushel; for pork 16
cents per pound ; and other things in proportion. The price
of chopping Avas Ioav, and that of the articles of pay high ;
yet I could not do better, as provisions must be had.
" While 1 kept busy at ray job 1 could just about get provis
ions enough to keep us in the bare necessaries of Hfe, so far as
eating Avas concerned ; but I had no tirae to be sick, and ho
rest but the Sabbath. One cold March evening, after chopping
hard all day, I took a bushel of potatoes and seventeen or eight
een pounds of pork on my shoulder and started for home
about dusk. The distance 1 had to travel along a bhnd trail,
through the darkness and brush, Avas about six miles. Coming
to Buck Creek, over which a smaU limber log Avas placed, I
undertook to Avalk it Avith my load, but fell off into the Avater,
which Avas high. I then Avaded through the balance of the
creek, getting very Avet. Cold, Avet and tired, I pursued my
journey Avith my heavy load, until the long miles Avere passed,
and I set down my pork and potatoes in my cabin.
" The Avorst part of the tale is that Lytle Avas not satisfied
Avith my doing the job so cheap, and taking ray pay in high-
priced trade, but he actually moved the stakes first set so that
the Hnes might take in several large elms that were just outside
of the job ; and besides, Avanted me to chop up to a curving
brush fence which ran frora stake to stake on one side of my

BpV

— '^ ^ — 'k
956 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
square job, including about a quarter of an acre raore than the
straight Hne agreed upon. My job being finished, as agreed
upon, including, too, the elms fraudulently brought in, I Avent to
Lytle in his house to demand a settlement and the balance of
my pay ; but he refused to pay unless I chopped up to the
brush fence. This, under the circumstances, Avith ray hands
covered with blisters frora hard and incessant chopping (a kind
of labor 1 was not accustoraed to) — this, 1 say, provoked me
almost beyond endurance, and I told hira I should take it out
of his hide right then and there. I was making tOAvard hira.
His wife screamed, and Lytle turned it off Avith a laugh, saying
he would pay me, and thus the matter ended."
" We will here interrupt friend Miller," says Mr. Widney,
" by stating that this Lytle, as all the old settlers know, Avas a
hard customer. He seems early to have exchanged his con
science (if he ever owned such an article) for a gizzard, with
which to grind new comers. He was a very profane raan,
although Bill Mathews declared that Lytle didn't know hoAv to
SAvear, he strung his oaths together in such an aAvkAvard Avay.
And surely Bill was a competent judge of the matter ! "
" I used," continued Mr. Miller, " to go doAvn to Lytle's some
times on Sunday afternoon to be there on MondaA- morning to
commence my job. Well, one afternoon Lytle, being an excel
lent boatman, asked me to take a little ride on the rlA-er in his
canoe. I consented, and tried to help him naAngate the craft,
but Avas very aAvkAvard at the business. This provoked him,
and he let out such a volley of angry oaths at rae as I had not
been accustomed to listen to tamely. In the midst of his im
precations he set down his pole Avith raore than usual energy,
and smack it Avent into two pieces, Avhile he Avas leaning on it
with all his weight. Plunge went Lytle, head foremost, into
the deep, cold river. I laughed, of course, and he turned in
the water and threatened to upset the canoe. I seized a paddle
and told him if he undertook it I Avould split his head. Be
ing in a cold eleraent he soon cooled doAvn and came out
peaceably. " In the spring of 1837 I had lent WUliam Rogers half a
barrel of flour ; for, though six miles apart, we Avere neigh
bors, as was usual at that time. I expected that it Avould be re
turned before needed ; but the bottom of the flour sack stared
me in the face before it arrived. Getting up one morning I

\

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HISTORY OF DE KAl.l! COUNTY. 957

found only flour enough for one small cake. 1 told my folks to
bake and eat it Avhile I Avent for the lent flour. It Avas six miles to
Rogers', and there was but a ' trace ' for a road. 1 set out early
afoot, and barefoot at that, and made good speed, thoughts of
breakfast spurring me on, until I came to a SAvarap, round
which the trace Avinind. Thinking to gain tirae 1 struck across,
expecting to find the place Avhere the trace came round ; but,
the morning beinij cloudy, I missed the course and the trail. I
traveled on rapidly, however, in Avhat I supposed to be the
right direction, until the sun broke out and I found that it Avas
about noon, and I Avas only about a mile from home ! I quickh'
sought the trace again, and passed doAvn it at a rapid rate until
I reached Rogers', Avhere I got something to eat. Rogers pro
posed that if I left the flour he Avould bring it up on a horse the
next day, but I kncAv this Avould not ansAver our Avants. So I
told him I could carry it ; and taking the hundredAveight of
flour on ray shoulder I trudged back the Avhole six miles Avith-
out once laying it doAvn.
" On one occasion the Coats and Rose farailies and myself
being out of breadstuff, avc held a consultation as to where avc
should go to get corn. I Avas for going to Fort Wayne, but
they thought best to go to the northAvestcrn prairies. They
started to the prairies and I sent $10 along. They Avere gone
ten days and ray raoney brought me ten bushels of corn, the
miUing and hauling of Avhich cost rae $10 more. So my meal
cost me S- per bushel, Avith much of it rotten, as there had
been frost on the 29th of the preceding August, killing the
corn on these prairies, leaving it too green to keep Avithout
rotting." The first raarriage in Wilraington was that of Dan Coats and
Mary Allen. The knot Avas tied by Justice Washington Rob
inson, in January, 1836. The bridegroora AA'as one of the larg
est and stoutest men in the county. Dan used to be SAvift of
foot, and on one occasion this gift of nature served hira a very
good purpose. It was that year that hydrophobia prevailed to
such an alarraing extent that cattle, hogs, and even wild foxes
" Avent mad." It Avas said that as Dan was Avalking through
the Avoods a mad fox attacked him. Rightly considering that
retreat Avas his best policy, Dan started at full speed, with the
fox after him. They had a pretty even race until Dan jumped
a large log, and seeing on the other side a good club, seized it

^'.

958 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
and let the fox have the Aveight of it, and of both his hands, as
it came OA^er the log in hot pursuit. This ended Reynard's
mad career. A drop of his blood alighting on Coats' cheek as
it flcAv warm from the head of the fox, burned like fire.
The following description of the Avell knoAvn "hard winter "
is frora the pen of the Rev. S. B. Ward :
"The winter of i842-'3 will long be remembered by the early
settlers of the county, and especially those of Wilmington
Township. In 1841 and 1842 quite a number of settlers of
small means came in, and they had raised but little to Hve on
Avhen the ' hard winter ' set in. The fall had been fine, but
about the first of Noveraber a light snow fell, Avhich raostly
went off soon after. On the 17th of the month it set in cold,
AAHth high winds and some snoAv. The snow continued to in
crease from time to time, until it was nearly tAVO feet deep on
the level, with occasional showers and hard freezes, so that it
Avas almost impossible to get about. It snowed a Httle every
day but one through February, and March came in Avith the
severity almost of a polar Avinter. By this tirae most of the
hay and grain was consumed, and hogs and cattie Avere daily
dying all over the country from starvation. Sorae settlers lost
all their hogs and raost of their cattle before feed came in the
spring. Very many had to depend on the browse of the tree
tops as feed for their cattle for the last two months of cold
weather. For the last fcAv days of March, hoAvcA^er, even this
provision of nature was cut off. When all Avere anxiously
looking for the opening of spring, heart-sick in view of the suf
ferings of the poor dumb animals, the sleeper in his lone cabin
in the midst of the forest was aAvakened on the night of the
27th of March by the continual crashing of the tree tops, AVhich
did not cease until day dawned, Avlien to the dispirited im
migrant was revealed the cause of all the commotion of the
night. " It had been raining, freezing as it fell, until the tree tops
were broken under their load of ice. That day and for several
days it seemed that the cattle must all die ; for Avhen the trees
were cut down for browse, the small twigs, encased in a hard
coat of ice, would break off, Avith the ice adhering, and mingle
with the snow. Besides this, the crust on the snow Avas so
thick and hard that the cattle could hardly get about. The
Avild animals also suffered almost as much, seemingly, as the

^-

— ¦- -^  ^\^r
HISTORY OF DE K.U.I! COUNTY. 959
domestic ones. It Avas nothing unusual to see squirrels so re
duced as to be easih- caught b}' hand. On election day (first Mon
day in April) snow Avas one foot deep in the thick Avoods, and
it Avas good sleighing on most of the roads. That Aveek, how
ever, sent the snoAv in another form to Lake Erie or the Gulf
of Mexico, and in a few weeks herbage began to appear, and
hope sprang up again in the settler's heart. Shame on that
man that noAv complains of hardships, or that does not thank
and reverence the hardy pioneer of those forests."
Wilraington Avas organized Sept. 5, 1837, at the first regular
raeeting of the Board of Commissioners. The board then con
sisted of Peter Fair, Samuel Widney and A. F. Beecher, Avho
'• ordered that the congressional toAvnship 34 north, range 14
east be, and it is hereby, organized as a civil tOAvnship to be
knoAvn by the name of ^Vill-^ington ToAvnship." They also
directed " that Byron Bunnel be appointed Supervisor for the
road district No. i, coraprising the Avhole of Wilmington ToAvn-
ship, and all the hands residing in said tOAvnship shall be allotted
to the same district." In March, 1838, fractional tOAvnship 34
north, range 15 east (noAv Stafford), Avas added to Wilraington
for judicial and civil purposes, and a ncAv election Avas ordered
held the first Monday in April foUoAving, at the house of Ira
Allen, Avith Milton A. Hull as Inspector.
Early Justices of the Peace in Wilraington ToAvnship Avere :
Charles D. Handy, Moses L. Pierson, Daniel B. Mead, P. B.
Niraraons, John Moore, Dr. Madden, Ezra Dickinson, Richard
Worth, L. A. Benedict and H. C. Colgrove. Early Constables
Avere : Daniel Coats, N. H. MathcAvs, Jesse Wood, William K.
Straight, WiUiam MathcAvs, William CampbeU, Edsall Cherry,
Noble Cherry, Peter Kester, A. F. Packer, Hiram Freeman,
N. W. Delano, Isaac Eakright, W. D. Armstrong, Joseph Norris
and John Weaver.
The Trustees, prior to i860, were: John Hehvig, M. L.
Pierson, Collins Roberts, Joseph Nodine, Joseph Totten, Asa
SaAvyer, S. B. Ward, Thoraas Fosdick, E. W. Fosdick, Edgar
Treman, William MaxAvell, Nelson Sraurr, Andrew Sraith,
Williara H. Thoraas, Dr. Madden, Lot B. Coe, N. G. ScAvall,
G. :\IaxweU, W. K. Straight, P- B. Nimmons, W. D. Arm
strong and A. Cochran.
The population of Wilmington Township is noAV 1,529, besides
Butler (1,117). This is about forty-three to the square mile. The

H^:

960 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
valuation per capita is $369.28. The nuraber of acres of land as
sessed in 1884 was 21,817.07; value of sarae, $472,894; value of
improvements, $46,91 5 ; value of lands and improveraents, $5 19,-
809; value of personal property, $87,415 ; total value of taxables,
$607,224; rate of taxation, $1.41 ; number of polls, 241 ; poU tax,
$1.00; total amount of taxation, $8,953.59.
The following statistics of staple crops are for the year 1881 :
Number of acres in wheat, 3,188; product of same, at 7 bushels
per acre, 22,316 bushels ; acres in com, 2,104; product of same,
at 25 bushels per acre, 52,600 bushels; acres in oats, 1,154; prod
uct of same, at 30 bushels per acre, 34,620 bushels ; acres in
meadow land, 1,012 ; product of same, a ton and a quarter per
acre, 1,265 tons of hay ; acres in potatoes, 27; product of same,
20 bushels per acre, or 540 bushels.
Mount Pleasant U. B. Church is over thirty years old. In 1854
meetings were held in the house of Abraham Eakright, on sec
tion 20, by Revs. Benton and Avife, both preachers. About this
time, or soon after, a class was organized in Mr. Eakright's
house, either by Revs. Benton and Avife or Rev. Mr. Moffitt,
Avho succeeded thera in 1855. The constituent raerabers Avere :
WiUiara McBride, Mr. Dirrim, Abraham Eakright and their
Avives, and Mrs. Levi McBride. Services Avere held in Mr.
Eakright's house -until 1861, Avhen they commenced to use the
old log school-house on section 19. Here a remarkable reviA'al
Avas held in March of that year, over seventy persons being
converted. Five of these afterward became ministers. An
other of the number went to church one night, laughing and
scoffing, but was converted then and there, with a Avhisk}- bot
tle in his pocket. The society was knoAvn as the Eakright class
until the place of worship was removed to the present Mt.
Pleasant chapel Avhich was erected in the fall of 1870. This is
a frame structure, 30x40 feet, on section 22. The present pas
tor is Rev. James Martin. Services are held every other Sun
day. Sunday-school and prayer-raeetings are raaintained the
year round. There are about 100 coraraunicants.
A class was organized as early as 1850 at Wilraington Center
by the United Brethren, but this Avas dropped in a fcAV years.
The Methodists also had a class in an early day at the Center.'
The Lilly U. B. Church at Moore Station Avas organized by
Rev. Aaron Lilly in Deceraber, 1882, Avith lAventy-seven mem
bers. Services Avere held in the Mooresville school-house until

HISTORY OF DE K.ALl! C(*UNTY. 961
the next summer, Avhen they built a fine large frame church,
32x44 feet, costing §1,400, at x^^oore Station. Services are
held every alternate Sunday, and Sunday-school and prayer-
meeting are raaintained Aveekly the year around. The present
pastor is Rev. Richard Martin, of NcAvville. The Class-leader
is Isaac Shaffer, and the Trustees are Henry BroAvn, J. E. Miller
and John Cook. BUTLER.
One of the brightest tOAvns in Northeastern Indiana is that
bearing the name of Butler, from an early settler of Wilming
ton Township. It is situated in the northeast corner of Wil
mington, on sections i, 2, 11 and 12. Here the air Hne of the
Lake Shore & Michigan Southern meets the Wabash, St. Louis
& Pacific Railroad. Of the latter road Butier is a division
terminus. The population of Butier is not far from 1,300.
As early as the year 1844 the settiers in the vicinity of Avhat
is now a prosperous tOAvn had enjoyed postal facilities at a
point tAVO miles south of the incorporation at Oak HiU, the
office being conducted by Thoraas Fosdick, father of E. W.
Fosdick, of Butler In 1842 Messrs. EgncAv, Hanes, Cherry,
.Morris, ToraUnson and others, erected a school-house on the
land of George EgncAv, near Avhere noAv stands the blacksraith
shop of John A. Moore ; and this proved to be the first house
in Butler. The first teacher therein Avas L. Harding, succeeded
by Ehhu Ocker, Andre av Cochran and E. W. Fosdick. In
1844 a dAvelhng house Avas erected by a Mr. Brainard. Rehg
ious serAdces Avere held at the school-house by Rev. Mr. Spell-
man in 1843, Rev. Mr. Jones in 1845, and Rev. Mr Forbes in
1846. In 185 1 a smaU stock of merchandise Avas estabhshed in a log
hut on the southAvest corner of the land of Charles Norris.
The business Avas conducted by " Ladd " Thomas and Osburn
Coburn. The first frame building Avas raised on the subsequent
site of Haverstock's block, in 1855. It was destroyed by fire
in 1870. The second frame structure Avas erected by Noble &
Madden and used as a general store for all kinds of merchan
dise. A dozen other business men followed in rapid succes
sion and made the nucleus of a tOAvn. The postoffice Avas now
reraoved to the village, and was naraed NorristOAvn, after
Charles Norris, who Avas then selling lots and energetically ad
vancing the interests of the place. Later it Avas knoAvn as Jar-

1^

962 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
vis, and about the time of the Avar the narae of Butler Avas
adopted. Among the early Postmasters were : E. W. Fosdick, George
Noble, A. H. Howard, Solomon Rose, J. J. Hoopingardner
and U. P. Carpenter. The Michigan Southern Railroad Com
pany laid out plats July 31, 1856; Amasa Smith surveyed
another March 9, 1855 ; George EgneAv and I. C. Danforth one
April 16, 1855, and later additions have been made from time
to time. Butler's first railroad, the air Hne, Avas corapleted
May 26, 1856, and in October, 1873, the Eel River road (noAv
the Wabash) arrived. The first tavern was kept by John Shull,
and July 4, 1857, A. A. Kennedy first opened the Waverly
House for the entertainraent of the public. The first saAv-raill
was erected by Messrs. Danforth, Carpender and a third party,
during the Avinter of i853-'4, and was operated until very re
cently, the last owner being C. S. Stoy. It was destroyed by
fire in 1884. The first brick building Avas put up by Henry
Linderfer in 1856. The first death occurred in 1848, and Avas
that of A. Robe Avho lived on the later site of Dr. Madden's
residence. Henry C. Cheriy, born in December, 1841, Avas
the fi'-st birth in the town, and the first marriage Avas that of
Amasa Smith to Miss Amelia Morris, the ceremony being per
formed by Elder Cherry. The tOAvn Avas incorporated in 1866,
with W. P. Carpender, J. A. Campbell and Elihu Ocker as
Trustees; A. A. HoAvard as Clerk and Williara Thomas as
Marshal. BUSINESS DIRECTORY.
The foUoAving list includes all doing business at the present
tirae: Aldrich & Son, Hotel Aldrich ; J. J. Ayers, bakery and gro
cery ; L. Burgett, Avagon and carriage shop ; Joseph Beck,
restaurant; John Baker, liyery; Ed. C. Crane, Boots House;
C. H. Crane, grocery; Mrs. J. E. Clark, ladies' fancy
goods; I. Daily, Avagon and blacksmith shop; L. J. Diehl, jew
elry ; Fosdick & Wilkinson, drug store ; Fink & Son, grocery ;
W. F. Garrison, Butler 7v(Y(?;7/; S. L. Hamlin, furniture: Isaac
Hirschler, saloon; Harley & Co., hardware; W. Hartung, shoe
shop; L. Harris, saloon; IT. Haskins, liyery; Isaac Hose, sa
loon ; E. Hopkins, brick and tile factory ; G. T. Johns, boots
and shoes; Knisely, Boots & Co., bank; Kehrer & Stone, drug
store ; Knisely Bros., dry goods and clothing ; J. N. Lingen-

HlSHARy OF DE KALB COUNTY. 963
lelter, grocery : Latson iS: Mills, barbers ; A. Levy, dry goods
and clothing; John A. Moore, blacksraith and wagon shop;
EdAvard May, tailor; D. T. McNabb, hotel and boarding-house;
Masters l^ ScoviUe, butter and egg packers; W. M. Mutsfeld,
harness; W. A. Miltenberger, bakery; F. L. Nixon, news depot
and cigar stand ; Otis & Son, furniture and undertaking ; T.
Rudd, meat market; J. J. Sise, agricultural implements; F. J.
Seed, dry goods; Stiefel c^ Strauss, grocery; Mrs. E. Seed,
millinery; S. G. Sea Avright, tinshop ; Mrs. J. A. Stoner, milli
nery and fancy goods; Joseph Strauss, sale stable; Isaac
Springer, saloon; Tyson & Son, raeat market; C. L. Thomp
son, barber; F. Vanconsant, saloon; A. Watson, blacksmith
and wagon shop; Frank Walker, tailor; Miss Sudie Worth,
millinery. PROFESSIONAL.
The first physician Avas Dr. W. IT. Madden. The present
practitioners are: Drs. F. W. Fanning, J. B. Bennett, J. D.
Kenestrick, J. S. Barnett and H. Lilly. The last naraed is of
the homeopathic school; the others are " regular." The first
laAv firm Avas that of Messrs. Rose & Fosdick. J. E. Rose now
resides at Auburn, his quondam partner still practicing at But
ler. The present resident raembers of the legal profession are :
E. W. Fosdick, O. L. Young, C. J. Coats, A. F. Pigeon and A.
J. Baxter BANK.
Butler has no National but one private bank, that of Knisely,
Boots & Co. The cashier is E. T. Brysland.
NEAYSPAPERS.
Each of the tAvo political parties has an organ. The Record,
the Republican paper, was started in 1877, and is now pub
lished by W. F. Garrison. The Review, a Democratic paper,
was started by R. H. Weamer in 1882. For sketches of these
papers see the Press chapter. SCHOOLS.
The primitive log school-house Avas supplanted by a frame
structure in 1855; among the teachers in this being Hamlin
Fay, Mrs. Wood, Miss Stoy, Mrs. Butler and J. A. Campbell.
The present fine three-story brick building Avas erected in 1867,
at a cost ot §12,000. The first teacher in it Avas Deck. Thomas.

964 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
The first regular school was conducted by Rev. G. W. Bower
sox as Principal. He was succeeded by William H. Mcintosh,
L. L. Hamhn, James Burrier, Leavitt, J. P. Rouse, D. D. Luke,
C. A. Fyke (three years), O. Z. HubbeU (one year) and Prof.
T. J. Sanders, the present incurabent, who carae here in the
faU of 1882. There are in the building six rooms, with seven
teachers. The present attendance is 350, and the annual enroll
ment 440. RELIGIOUS.
The Methodist Episcopal society was organized about 1839 at
"the corners," before any town had started. Four years later
the society commenced holding its meetings one raile north of
the present site of Butler, at the house of John McCurdy.
After eighteen raonths another reraoval was raade, to the
school-house at the corners, and the raembership at once in
creased from fifteen to ninety. Mr. McCurdy, Avho is still
living at Butler, was then Hving on the farm noAV OAvned by
Jereraiah LcavIs. The frame church noAv used Avas built in
1855 and 1856, at a cost of $1,000. As much more has since
been expended on a new roof, new stoves, new furniture, etc.
The church is now very nicely fitted up. It is 34 x 46 feet in
dimensions. Mr. McCurdy is the only survivor of the first
Board of Trustees. The first pastor of the society Avas Rev.
Jesse Sparks. Araong his successors have been : Revs. John
Paul Jones, Metz, Larab, J. J. Cooper (stiU in the Northern In
diana Conference), Lynch (noAV Presiding Elder), Cooper,
Lamport (noAv at Ligonier), Wilkinson and D. C. Wolfert. The
last named, the present incumbent, came in the spring of 1883.
He was preceded by Mr. Wilkinson for three years, and Mr.
Lamport was here for the three years immediately preceding
Mr. Wilkinson. The church has npAV about 175 members.
The Sunday-school is in a prosperous condition, under the
superintendency of J. N. Lingenfelter.
St. Mark's Lutheran Evangelical Clmrch Avas built about 1867,
under the pastorate of Rev. Mr. Henderson. It is of brick,
70x45 feet in size, and originally cost betAveen §4,000 and §5,-
000. It has been refitted twice at a cost of §3,000. It is very
nicely arranged, and Avill seat in the neighborhood of 500 per
sons. Mr. Henderson was foUoAved for tAvo and a half years
by Rev. W. C. Barnett, brother of Dr. J. S. Barnett, Avho is
now practicing in Butler. Mr. Barnett came here from Au-
_4_t _— — — —  — r- ¦*
V* *r - —  »\.

-^5

HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY. 965
glaize County, Ohio, and is now in Dixon County, Tenn. The
next to fill the pulpit Avas Rev. Jabez Shafer, who came from
Monroeville, and remained two and a half years. He is now
at Albion. His successor, at Butler, Rev. S. P. Snyder, came
from Indiana County, Pa., and remained one year, going then
to IlHnois. He Avas followed in this pulpit by Rev. J. M. Mor
ris, Avho came from Berrien, Berrien Co., Mich., served two and
a half years, and is uoav in Center Brunswick, Rensselaer Co.,
N. Y. Next, Rev. A. W. Burns came from MonroevUie and
officiated for three years. He is noAv in Michigan, and a mem
ber the M. E. church. D. F. Kain then came from Monmouth
and remained tAvo years. He is now in Williams County, Ohio.
The present pastor, W. Dieffenbach, carae frora Dongola, III.,
in the spring of 1884. The raembership of the church is about
forty. The Sunday-school is under charge of Phihp Plumb.
The Church of Christ was organized about 1870, and the church
edifice erected about 1874. The latter is a frame structure on
Oak street, and cost $3,500. Rev. James Harris, the first pas
tor, came from Licking County, Ohio, and remained one year.
He is now in Nebraska. He was followed by Rev. Jaraes
Hadsell, Avho carae from Trumbull County, Ohio, and officiated
one year. He died in 1878. The pulpit was next filled by Rev.
Thomas Sutton, who came from Michigan, and died at Butler
after three years of effective ministry. Under his leadership
the church was built. For some time after his decease the society
was without a pastor, but finally the services were secured of
O. Q. Oviatt, who was then at Newville, but Avhose horae was
at Kendallville. After a year and a half at Butler he returned
to his home where he now is. The present pastor, Rev. E. C.
Faunce, carae from Michigan (originally from Trumbull County,
Ohio) in the spring of 1882. The church is in excellent condi
tion and has a membership of seventy. Mr. O. L. Young is
Superintendent of the Sunday-school.
The Church of United Brethren in Christ was organized in Janu
ary, 1884, with a merabership of forty, which at the present
tirae has been increased to fifty. Their frarae church building
was erected in the fall of 1883, at a cost of $2,300, and dedicated
in December, 1883. It is located on West North street. Rev.
Joseph, of Pleasant Lake, Steuben County, served as their pas
tor until Septeraber, 1884, when the services were secured of
Rev. W. O. Butier, of Waterioo.
61

.V

:£k-

966 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
SOCIETIES.
Forest Lodge, No. 239, F. & A.M., was organized in 1858, with
the foUoAving as the first officers: H. S. Madden, W. M.; W.
W. Straight, S. W.; W. R. Chilson, J. W.; Jason HubbeU, Sec;
J. H. Boon, Treas.; W. H. Madden, S. D.; A. Lampson, J. D.;
Z. Handy, Tyler The present officers are : F. W. Fanning,
W. M.; S. W. Otis, S. W.; G. T. Johns, J. W.; F. A. Brink,
Sec; G. Wolff, Treas.; James Chambers.S. D.; C. S. Stoy, J.
D.; John Bretzius, Tyler The lodge is in splendid condition,
having forty-five members, and meets the first and third Fridays
of each raonth at Masonic HaU.
Forest Chapter, No. 44, 0. E. S., was organized April 15, 1880,
with about thirty raembers, and is a branch of Masonry in
which ladies participate. The present officers are : Mrs. Kittie
Johns, W. M.; Mrs. Susan Moore, A. M.; Mrs. Carrie Fanning,
Con.; Mrs. Kate Eldridge, Asst. Con.; Mrs. R. A. Faunce, Sec;
M.rs. Jennie Wolf, Treas.; Mrs. Rachel' Bennett, Warder; Mr
John A. Moore, Sent. The chapter is in a flourishing con
dition, has fifty merabers, and raeets the second and fourth
Tuesday in each raonth, at Masonic Hall.
Butler Lodge, No. 282, /. 0. O. F., was instituted May 22, 1867.
The five charter members were : Leonard P. Waterhouse,
Jacob Apple, John T. Champion, Williara Macartney and War
ren Closson. The only one of these who is now Hving, is
John T. Champion. The present officers are : W. L. Holton,
N. G.; J. W. Cannon, V. G.; John Swaysgood, Sec; RusseU
Stevens, Fin. Sec; H. Lilly, Treas. This lodge has a large
raembership — nearly sixty-five, and raeets at their hall every
Wednesday evening.
Butler Encampment, No. 160, /. O. O. F., was estabhshed March
17, 1884, with seven charter raembers. It now has thirty-two
members, and meets the second and fourth Monday evenings of
each month, at Odd FelloAvs HaU. The officers for 1884 are as
follows : Charles Hanes, C. P.; H. C. Haley, S. W.; C. W.
Beechler, J. W.; H. Lilly, H. P.; S. G. Stone, Scribe ; G. Wolf,
Treas.; W. C. Ditton, Fin. Scribe.
Unity Lodge, No. 2 1 , Daughters of Rebecca, is a branch of the
Odd FeUows fraternity to which ladies are admitted. It was
estabhshed June 8, 1869, with the foUoAving charter members:
J. M. Norford, Ehzabeth Norford, E. H. Morehouse, Sarah
C. Morehouse, L. P. Waterhouse, Margaret A. Waterhouse,

;^"

iu

HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY. 967
William P. Carpenter, Catherine Carpenter, James F. Fisher,
Saloma M. Fisher and Kittie Carr. The lodge has forty raem
bers, and meets the second and fourth Fridays of every raonth.
Mrs. Carrie Fanning is N. G.; Mrs. Elva Stone, V. G.; Miss
Ollie Ocker, Sec; Mrs. Dora Wyckoff, Treas.; Mrs. Russell
Stevens, Fin. Sec; Mrs. Mary Hanes, P. G.
Meade Post, No. .^4, G. A.R., Avas raustered in February, 1882,
with C. S. Stoy as Coraraander ; G. T. Johns as Senior Vice-
Commander ; R. H. Weamer as Junior Vice-Commander, and
A. G. Jones as Adjutant. The present officers are : G. D.
Diehl, Com.; A. G. Jones, S. V. C; J. S. Roberson, J. V. C;
John S. Ocker, Adj.; I. D. Daily, Q. M.; John M. Young, O. of
D.; Gabriel Miller, S. at A.; Henry Crooks, Q. M. S. and I. G.;
C. S. Stoy, O. G. The post has forty comrades on its rolls,
and meets the second and fourth Fridays of each month, at
Otis' Hall. BIOGRAPHICAL.
Eugene C. Ackley, engineer on the Wabash Railroad, Butler,
Ind., was born in Manchester, Ontario Co., N. Y., July 19, 1848,
a son of Revilo (the reverse of his father's narae). He was
reared and educated in the State of New York and in 1869
went to Detroit, Mich., and was employed as fireman on the
Michigan Central Railroad two years. In 1871 he came to
Columbia City, Ind., and was employed on a construction
train three months, and in October of the same year was pro
moted to engineer, and since 1881 has run between Detroit and
Butler. He moved to Butler in 1881, where he has a pleasant
home. He was married May 16, 1869, to EUa Lyon, a daugh
ter of Charles Lyon. She is a native of Ontario County, N.
Y. Mr. and Mrs. Ackley have three children — Charles E.,
Emma M. and Clark M. Mr. Ackley is a member of the Odd
Fellows order, lodge and encampment, and of the Brother
hood of Locomotive Engineers, being First Engineer of the
latter society.
WiUiam C. Aldrich, of the firm Aldrich & Son, proprietors of
Hotel Aldrich, Butler, Ind., was born in Worcester, Mass.,
April 18, 1822, a son of Amos Aldrich, a native of Rhode Isl
and. When he was quite small his parents moved to Connect
icut, and in 1832 to Lenawee County, Mich., setthng in Adrian,
there being at that time but two frame houses in the town.
When a boy he learned the wool-carding and cloth-dressing

iTv^

«  ^

^^

968 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
trade, that being his father's trade, and worked at it several
years in Adrian. In 1852 he crossed the plains to California
and worked in the mines till 1854, when he returned to Michi
gan and worked for the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern
Railroad five years. In 1869 he went to Pleasant HiU, Mo.,
and reraained six years ; three years of the tirae was Deputy
Sheriff and City Marshal. He then traveled through the
¦ Western Territories and Texas, visited Chili, South America,
and the Sandwich Islands. In 1873 he came to Indiana and
Hved in Butler four years ; thence to Bryan, Ohio, and engaged
in the Hvery business four years, and in Noveraber, 1881, re
turned to Butier and bought the Boots House at the Lake
Shore & Michigan Southern depot, and changed the narae to
Hotel Aldrich. His son, Arthur N., is a partner with him, and
is a steady, thoroughgoing business man. They have a good
patronage and keep a first-class hotel. Their house contains
twenty-five rooms, well furnished. The dining-room, a large
rectangle, is furnished with four tables and a handsome side
board. In connection with the hotel they run a lunch-room
for the benefit of travelers over the road. Their clerk, C. L.
Craraer, has been with thera three years, and is admirably
adapted to the position he occupies. Mr. Aldrich was mar
ried in the fall of 1844 to Helen Force. They have had two
chUdren ; but one, Arthur N., is Hving. Mr. Aldrich is a mem
ber of the Masonic fraternity, and has taken the Knight Tem
plar degrees.
Andrew J. Baxter, attorney at law, Butler, Ind., was born in
Franklin Township, De Kalb County, Feb. 19, 1846, a son of
Andrew Baxter, a native of Armstrong County, Pa., Avho lo
cated on the farm where he still resides March 5, 1840. Our
subject is a self-made raan; having few advantages he educated
hiraself, and subsequently taught tAventy-three terms, stiU keep
ing up his studies. In the spring and summer of 1867 he
studied medicine with Dr. Hoopingarner, but not Hking the
profession, abandoned it. He taught in Elkhart County, Ind.,
and was so well Hked that his services were engaged for a
second year at an increased salary. He was assisted by his
wife, who also taught the following summer at Jefferson Cen
ter, and with her earnings bought the books that her husband
might further pursue the study of law, which he had already
begun. When his eyes were tired from reading she read to
V •  ^ ¦'•  s\-

LLi-

HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTV. 969
him, proving herself to be, in the full acceptation of the term,
a "helpmeet." In June, 1872, he opened an office in Hamilton
and remained there till 1879, when he removed to Butler,
Avhere he has built up a lucrative practice. He is an active
member of the De Kalb County Bar Association. In politics a
staunch Democrat. Mr. Baxter Avas married Nov. 26, 1867, to
Helen Latson, daughter of James J. Latson, the well-knoAvn
ex-Coroner of Auburn. To them have been born four chil
dren, but three of Avhora are Hving — Naorai, Aurilla and Ot-
mar V.
John H. Baxter, contractor and builder, Butler, Ind., Avas
born in Smithfield ToAvnship, De Kalb County, a son of John
Baxter, and brother of C. K. Baxter, of Waterloo. He was
reared and educated in his native township, and when eighteen
years of age began Avorking at the carpenter's trade, Avhich he
has since folloAved with the exception of one year, frora the
spring of 1876 to the spring of 1877, Avhen he was Marshal of
Butler. He located in Butler in 1872, and is now engaged in
building. He does a paying business by building houses for
himself, which he either rents or sells. He sold his farra in
December, 1S83, and now owns six houses and lots in Butler.
He was married April 10, 1872, to Emily J. Whetsel, a daugh
ter of Henry Whetsel, an early settler of Wilmington Town
ship. But one of their three children is living — Worthy Ernest.
Clark R. and Howard L. are deceased. Mr. Baxter is a gener
ous, Avhole-souled man ; his home is the synonyra for hospitality.
No Avorthy object is ever rejected when presented to hira for
assistance, and the needy always find in him a friend. He is an
upright, honorable business man, always true to his word, and
has never given any man cause to go to law against hira.
Curtis W. Beechler, D. D. S., Butler, Ind., was born in Will
iams County, Ohio, Feb. 4, 185 1, a son of George Beechler, a
native of Lancaster County, Pa., but an early settler of Will
iams County. He was reared a farmer but received a good
education, and in 1869 went to Virginia City, Nov., where
he worked in a dental office till 1875. He then came to Indiana
and with his brother opened an office in Butler. His brother
died in 1876, and he has since carried on the business alone.
Dr. Beechler is a good dentist, understanding all the iraproved
methods of his profession, and has built up, as he deserves, a
good practice in Butler. He was married June 24, 1876, to

A" — - ^ — 'k^
970 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
Mary W. Phillis. They have three children — Achasa, Glenn
C. and Dale Xenophen. Dr. Beechler is a member of the In
dependent Order of Odd Fellows.
Joseph B. Bennett, M. D., was born in Syracuse, N. Y., March
25, 184a His father, Malcolm Bennett, was a native of Onon
daga County, N. Y., and in 1836 moved to Branch County,
Mich., and a year later to Steuben County, Ind., where he
Hved three years. Then returned to New York and Hved in
Syracuse till 1844, when he again raoved to Steuben County,
where he died in 1862. He was a meraber of Corapany H,
Forty-fourth Indiana Infantry, and participated in the battles
of Fort Donelson and Shiloh, but was soon after discharged for
disabihty, and died a short tirae after reaching horae. He
married Catherine Beach in New York, and to them were born
seven chUdren, but two of whora are living — Joseph B., and
Marietta C, widow of Birge Sraith. Alexander C. and George
H. lost their lives in the defense of the Union. George was
shot through the head at Malvern HiU. Alexander was
wounded in the same battle, and at Gettysburg was taken
prisoner and died at Belle Isle. Birge Sraith was Lieutenant
of Corapany A, Forty-fourth Indiana Infantry, and resigned on
account of faihng health. He was afterward Lieutenant of
Company A, One Hundred and Twenty-ninth Indiana Infantry,
and was promoted to Captain, but died in the hospital at New
York. Joseph B. Bennett was educated in the Angola schools
and began reading raedicine with Dr. C. D. Rice. He attended
the Eclectic Medical Institute at Cincinnati, Ohio, graduating
in the spring of 1869. In March, 1869, he located in Troy ToAvn-
ship, De Kalb County, and in January, 1872, located in Butler,
where he has built up a good practice. Dr. Bennett was mar
ried in January, 1871, to Rachel Casebeer, a daughter of John
Casebeer, a pioneer of Troy Township. To thera have been
born two children ; but one is living — Josephine. Katie died
of diphtheria at the age of four years. Dr. Bennett is a mera
ber of the Masonic and Odd Fellows' fraternities. He and
his wife are merabers of the Disciples church.
William L. Blair, farmer, section i, Wilmington ToAvnship,
was bom in Lorain County, Ohio, Nov. 27, 1832, a son of John
and Margaret (Douglas) Blair. His parents moved to De Kalb
County in the fall of 1835 and settled in Concord ToAvnship.
At that time there were but eight famihes in the present limits

- — ^^

HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY. 971
of De Kalb County, seven of them in Concord Township. The
Indians Avere frequent visitors at the Blair house, and at one
time our subject's sister turned an empty barrel over hira while
she ran to the field to tell the men of their approach. He Avas
reared to the life of a pioneer, and early began assisting to clear
the land, having but Hmited educational privileges. The first
school he attended was taught by Benjarain Alton in a log
house on land uoav pwned by Chris. Crusa. Mr. Blair was
married Oct. 19, 1859, to Amy Aldrich. They have two chil
dren — Corwin, and Lena, wife of George Corcoran, now of
Dennison, Tex. Mr. Blair is a member of no religious denom
ination, but is a firm believer in trying to benefit and upbuild
humanity. He has several relics of the olden time. One, a
cane cut from an apple-tree in the first orchard in De Kalb
County. It was set out by his father in the spring of 1836 on
the old homestead, on the southwest quarter of the southeast
quarter of section 15. Another is a Mexican dollar bearing
date 1826, Avhich his father obtained while keeping tavern in
Ohio ; and still a third is a red cedar cane cut from Mt. Vernon
near the tomb of Washington, in 1876. There are the same
number of knots in this cane as there are States In the Union.
Mr. Blair has had it mounted Avith gold.
Achilles Blaker, deceased, was born in Pennsylvania about
1803, a son of Jesse Blaker. In 1834 he moved to Maumee
County, Ohio, where he followed blacksraithing several years.
He built one raile of the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern
Railroad in 1852, and the sarae fall took a three-raile contract
on the same road three and a half miles east ot Butler at the
State line. He moved his family to Butler in the spring of 1855,
and the following spring bought the Butler House of John
Rose. This building had four rooms, two below and two above,
separated by board partitions. It was used for hotel, church,
dancing-hall and public meetings for some years. Mr. Blaker
was a public-spirited, energetic man, and was influential in ad
vancing many of the iraproveraents of the town of Butler. He
Avas married three times ; first to Susan Meers, by. whom he
had one child — Susan, who married J. M. Howard, and died in
LaSalle County, 111., in December, 1884, leaving a family. Mrs.
Blaker died in Pennsylvania, and he then married Mary Wal
ton, who at her death left three children — George, of Maumee,
Ohio ; William, of Lafayette, Ind., and Arabelle, wife of Col. J.

972 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
D. McKain, of Marseilles, III. His third marriage was to Mrs.
Eliza Scottow, a native of Gloucestershire, England, born in
1817, widow of John Scottow. She came to America in June,
1832. Mr. Blaker died Feb. 6, 1868, aged sixty-two years.
John Blaker, proprietor livery stable, Butler, Ind., was born
in Lycoming County, Pa., Jan. 10, 1825, a son of Jesse Blaker,
a native of Bucks County, Pa., of German descent, his ances
tors coming to America with WiUiara Pqnn. The father died
in February, 1872, in the ninety-fifth year of his age. John
Blaker was reared on a farm ; his parents being in Hmited cir
cumstances, he had very Hmited educational advantages. He
earned his own living after fourteen years of age. He came to
Indiana in the year 1855, settled in Wilmington Township on
what is now known as the Colgrove farra. The following year he
moved to Butler where he has since resided. J. A. Moore and
Eli Strauss are the only men now living in Butler who were here
when he came. For several years Mr. Blaker dealt largely in
stock, also carried on a livery stable, bought and shipped prod
uce, wool, etc.; in 1877 he abandoned all other branches of busi
ness, and has since given his entire attention to livery. He has
a good business, having constantly horses suitable for ladies or
gentlemen to drive, also suitable for horseback riding ; he has
buggies and carriages of all descriptions, and is ready at any
time to fill an order for single or double harness. Mr. Blaker
was married July 20, 1848, to Mercy, daughter of Jonathan and
Mary Hall. Eleven of their twelve children are living — Mary
E , Sarah A., Lucy J., AchiUes, Christiann, Chester, Jesse, John,
Ella, Frank and Hattie. Frank is the only boy remaining at
home, and assists his father in the livery.
Bond Brothers, proprietors of the Butler bakery and restau
rant. — John W. and Charles O. Bond are natives of Perry
County, Ohio, the former born May 23, 1858, and the latter
Aug. 10, 1863. They were reared on a farm, receiving a com
mon-school education. In 1881 John Avent to Grundy County,
Iowa, but in 1882 returned to his native county. Charles was
for some tirae a cook on a Baltiraore & Ohio dining-car. In
January, 1884, they carae to Butler and bought the Butler ba
kery which they have enlarged, and have now a constantly in
creasing business. They make the famous cream bread and the
finest coffee-rolls in the country, the latter by a new process in
vented by Charles Bond. Their father, David Bond, is also a
"7 tt ^ - a\

A=

'-4*

HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY. 973
native of Perry County, a son of Peter Bond, of Baltimore, Md.
Peter Bond Avas born in 1800, the youngest of thirteen children,
and in 18 13 accompanied his parents to Ohio and subsequently
made his home in Perry County.
Edwin D. Briggs, of the firm Briggs & Co., grocers, Butler
Ind., Avas born in Jefferson County, N. Y.. Dec. 4, 1854, a son
of Clark Briggs, a native of the same county. He was reared
and educated in his native county, receiving a good education
in the comraon schools. He Avorked at cheese-raaking several
years, and in 1878 left his native county and removed to Wood
County, Ohio, Avhere he Avas employed in the general store of
C. E. Palmer & Co., of BairdstOAvn, about four years. He then,
in company Avith his brother, Myron C, bought out his em
ployers and carried on the business successfully three years.
He then sold his interest to his brother and William A. Jones,
Avho still carry on the business. He formed a partnership with
Morrison Brunstetter, and bought a stock of groceries, confec
tionery, etc., and in April, 1885, removed to Butler, Avhere they
are building up a large and constantly increasing trade. They
are enterprising young men, and keep a full line of everything
found in a grocery and provision store. Genial and courteous
in their manner, their fair deahng and attentive treatment of
customers has won for them raany friends.
Prof. Frank A. Brink, teacher in the grararaar school, Butler,
Ind., was born in Richland County. Ohio, March 2, 1855, a son
of Peter S. Brink, of Lorain County, Ohio. He was reared on
a farm, but received a good education, and graduated from the
college at Plymouth, Ohio, in 1876, with high honors, being the
valedictorian of his class. He began teaching in 1870 in the
district schools of Richland County, and with the exception of
the year he was in college has devoted his attention to that
calling. He commenced the study of law in Ohio, and in 1879
was admitted to the bar. He came to Butler in 1879, and has
been employed in the schools of the place. He uses many of
the latest and best approved normal methods, and is a very suc
cessful instructor and discipHnarian. In addition to his school
duties he has given some attention to his profession, practicing
in Whitley and De Kalb counties. He was married Jan. 26,
1882, to Jennie, daughter of Andrew Baxter, of Franklin
Township. They have two children — John and George. Mr.
Brink is a member of the Masonic fraternity.

974 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
Hiram Brundage, deceased, was born in Ontario County, N.
Y., Nov. 15, 1822, and died at his home near Butler, Ind., March
10, 1880. He removed with his parents to Erie County, Ohio,
in 1833, and there grew to raanhood. In 1845 he came to In
diana and located in Allen County, and in 1848 came to De Kalb
County. He learned the carpenter's trade when in Ohio, and
made that his principal vocation through life. He was married
Jan. 21, 1847, to Louisa A. Roberts, a native of Ontario County,
N. Y., daughter of CoUins Roberts, who came to Indiana in
1838, and located in Wilmington Township, De Kalb County.
At that tirae the howl of the wolf was heard in the forest, and
a few Indians reraained here and there who frequently visited
the homes of the white settlers. Mrs. Brundage was one of
the early school teachers of the county. To Mr. and Mrs.
Brundage were bom six children ; four are Hving — Mary, Lot
tie, and Calista and Celesta (twins). Mary is teacher of the A,
Primary Department, of the Butler schools ; Lottie is also a
well-known teacher of the county ; CaUsta is the wife of Hiram
McCoUough, and Celesta remains at home with her mother.
Mr. Brundage had been a member of some branch of the Chris
tian church for thirty-seven years, the last twenty-five years ot
his life being a member of the United Brethren church. Mrs.
Brundage and her daughters are also merabers of the United
Brethren church. She has been a Christian for many years,
and was a teacher in the first Sunday-school organized in New
ville, where she resided for several years.
Morrison Brunstetter, of the firm Briggs & Co., grocers and
provision- dealers, Butler, Ind., was born in Mahoning County,
Ohio, Sept. 9, 1855, a son of Levi Brunstetter, deceased. He
was reared and educated in his native county, and when eight
een years of age began to learn the carpenter's trade, at Avhich
he worked till the fall of 1884, with the exception of tAvo years,
when he was engaged in cabinet-making and undertaking in
Bairdstown, Ohio, having moved to that place in 1873. In
April, 1885, he came to Butler, Ind., in company Avith EdAvin
D. Briggs, they having previously bought a stock of groceries
and confectionery. They have paid strict attention to their
business since coming to Butler, and have built up a good
trade. Mr. Brunstetter was married in March, 1879, to Miss,
Ollie E. Bailey, daughter of Jacob Bailey, of Wood County,
Ohio. They have one child — Jessie Ionia. Mr. Brunstetter is

01
¦71

i^

HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY. 975
a member of the Odd FcUoavs' order, an organization in which
he takes a great interest.
John A. CampbeU, insurance and collecting agent, Butler, Ind.,
Avas born in Wayne County, Ohio, Dec 25, 1836, a son of John
Campbell, a native of West Virginia. He was reared a farmer,
but received a good education, attending the schools of his native
county, and later the High School at Fredericksburg, Ohio. In
the fall of 1856 he began teaching school in Summit County,
Ohio, and taught tiU 1875, tAventy-four terms in aU. In the sum
mer of 1870 he was engaged in the insurance business, and since
1875 has given it his entire attention, with the exception of four
years, during which he was serving as Justice of the Peace.
He represents sixteen corapanies, including both fire and Hfe
insurance, and has built up a good paying business. He Avas
married June 15, i86i,to Mary A. Jadwin, daughter of Andrew
Jadwin. To thera were born seven children, six of whom are
living — Irene M., Mervale F., Orla I., Roraaine C, Eralin V.,
and Charles W. Arvilla B. is deceased. Mrs. Carapbell died
Aug. 22, 1882, aged forty-one years. July 31, 1883, Mr. Camp
bell married Grace Charapion, a native of Lorain County, Ohio.
They have one daughter — Stella. Mr. Campbell is a meraber
of the Methodist Episcopal church and the Odd Fellows'
fraternity. He has always taken an active interest in all causes
of public benefit. During the past few years he has written
the biographies of raany of the old settlers, and the county
press has been enlivened from time to time with interesting
letters when he has been frora horae.
J. W. Cannon, of the firra of Johnson & Cannon, grocers, But
ler, Ind., was born in Seville, Medina Co., Ohio, June 15, 1849,
a son of Isaac and Margaret (Bordner) Cannon. His father
was a native of Pennsylvania, but moved to Ohio when a child
Avith his parents, and lived there the greater part of the
time till his death. His mother still [hves in Seville. J. W.
was reared on a farm, receiving a coraraon-school education.
When he was a child his parents moved to Eaton County,
Mich., but five years later returned to Ohio. In 1869 he carae
to Indiana and followed agricultural pursuits till 1880, when he
embarked in the lumber business, and three years later com
menced running a saw-mill. He abandoned this in 1884 and
formed a partnership in the grocery business Avith David John
son, under the firm name of Johnson & Cannon. Mr. Cannon

976 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
was married September, 1870, to Libbie Grube, daughter of
Peter Grube, a pioneer of Stafford Township, now in the eight
ieth year of his age. Mr. and Mrs. Cannon have one daugh
ter — Adella. He is a meraber of the Odd Fellows' fraternity,
lodge and encampraent.
James E. Cantleberry, railway conductor, was born at Wau
seon, Fulton Co., Ohio, Aug. 12, 1851, son of David Cantle
berry, a retired farmer of Wauseon. James E. was reared to
farra-Hfe and received a liraited education in the public schools
of Wauseon. At the age of sixteen years, in 1867, he began
working for the Lake Shore Railway Company as brakeraan,
and was in the eraploy of that corapany twelve years and seven
months, and during that time was conductor almost six years.
He then dealt in agricultural implements in Wauseon over three
years, after which he went to Delphas and ran an engine on
the Toledo, Cincinnati & St. Louis Narrow-Gauge Railway for
nine months. In the spring of 1882 he carae to Butler and en
tered the employ of the Wabash Railway. He acted as brake-
man for twenty-one days since which he has held the position
of conductor He was married Nov. 28, 1878, to AHce Ober
lin, daughter of Benjamin Oberhn, of Butler. To them have
been born two children — Freddie and Norie.
James Chambers, deceased, was born in Loudoun County, Va.,
near Harper's Ferry, Sept. 3, 1787, a son of WiUiara Charabers,
also a native of Virginia, of English descent. He was raarried
in 1 8 1 1 to Sarah Barrack, and soon after moved to Jefferson
County, Ohio, and settled in the woods with Indians and wild
animals for neighbors. Subsequently he moved to Carroll
County, Ohio, where he followed farming till the fall of 1844,
when he carae to DeKalb County and settled on section 15,
Wilmington Township, making another home in the Avoods,
where he Hved till Sept. 15, i860. His wife died July 2, 1881.
They were members of the Methodist Episcopal church. They
had a family of eleven children, seven of whora are living —
Lucinda, Catherine, Melinda, Robert, Mary, James and WilHam.
Lucinda is the widow of Samuel Hankins, and has had four chil
dren, three living. Melinda raarried A. T. Packer, and has had
seven children ; five are living. James married Sarah Griffith.
One daughter, Delilah, who died in 1864, was the wife of T. T.
McCurdy. Another daughter, Elizabeth, died Jan. 27, 1885.
She was the wife of Nicholas Minich, of Massillon, Ohio, and

V«

HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY. 977
had six children, four of whom are living. Robert, William,
Catherine and Mary live on the old homestead Avhich contains
105 acres of valuable land.
James Chambers, Jr., was born in Carroll County, Ohio, May
2, 1830, a son of James and Sarah (Barrack) Chambers, and in
1844 came Avith his parents to De Kalb County, Ind., and set-
tied on section 15, Wilmington Township, Avhere he grew to
manhood. He in early life learned the mason's trade which
has been his occupation since arriving at man's estate. He was
married Oct. 12, 1851, to Sarah Griffith, daughter of Hezekiah
Griffith, Avho settled in De Kalb County in 1850. Mr. and Mrs.
Chambers haA-e had five children, but tAvo of Avhom are living
—Calvin D. and Flora. A son, Walter W., died Dec. 8, 1880,
in the twenty-first year of his age. Mr. Chambers has been
Constable of Wilmington Township four years. He is a mera
ber of the Masonic fraternity.
Cassius J. Coats, attorney, Butler, Ind., coraraenced the prac
tice of laAv at this place Sept. 6, 1880.
Dr. Noyce Coats was born in Warren, Pa., in 1822, and died
in Wilmington, Ind., in 1877. He had no educational advant
ages beyond a few terms in a district school in Green, Trum
bull Co., Ohio, and the home instructions of his father and
mother, Rufus and Mercy Coats, Avho, when their son Avas in
his fifteenth year, in 1837, migrated to the woods of Indiana.
Here Noyce grew to manhood as a farm laborer, but never
Avithout a book in his pocket or fastened on the plow he fol
lowed in a convenient place for his eyes to glance upon it that
he might memorize that which proved, afterward, of great
service to him, for in the succeeding years we find him em
ployed as a teacher in the log school-houses of De Kalb County.
He had a memory disciplined by methods not taught him by
others, and an intellect that expanded for something raore. In
i860, with his family consisting of his wife (Rebecca Culp, born
in Youngstown, Ohio, in 1827, and died in Wilmington, Ind.,
in 1881) and three children — Cassius J., George W. and Letitia
A. — he removed from this county to Ann Arbor, Mich., Avhere
he attended a full course of lectures. He received the ap
pointment of Surgeon in the army during the Rebellion and
served till the close of the war, when he returned to Indiana
where he resided, in the practice of his profession. His
manners were genial, his affections warm, his conversation

W^

978 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
instructive, his teraperaraent cheerful, his gayety overflowing,
and the poor and destitute of the comraunity lost a liberal
and humane benefactor by his death, which occurred after an
illness of four days, of inflamraation of the lungs.
Herman N. Coffinberry, train raaster and traffic raanager of
the third, fourth and seventeenth districts of the eastern divis
ion of the Wabash Railway, was born in Sherraan Township,
St. Joe Co., Mich., April 23, 1846, a son of S. C. Coffinberry,
an attorney of Constantino, Mich. Our subject's educational
advantages were Hmited. At the age of fourteen years he was
employed by John Putnam in his native county and worked as
a farm hand at $10 per raonth for ten months, after which he
spent a few raonths in his father's office. In 1861 he Avent to
'Three Rivers, Mich., and worked as a raason for four raonths,
and from there to Adamsville, Mich., where he worked two
years for Hon. George Redfield. He then returned to Con
stantino, Mich., and was first employed in the freight-house of
the Michigan Southern & Northern Indiana Railroad Com
pany for one year, after which he had charge of the freight
and ticket office until 1870. He then returned to Three Rivers,
Mich., and took charge of the station there for the same com
pany until February, 1873, when he went to Cleveland and was
revising clerk in Addison Hill's freight office three months.
His health failing him he went to Osage, Iowa, Avhere he re
mained till 1875, and during that time he was engaged in the
mercantile business. He was also Deputy U. S. Marshal
some time. He returned to Constantino with his stock of
goods and carried on the business at that place a fcAv months.
In the spring of 1876 he went to Wabash, Ind., and was en
gaged as raaster of transportation for the Cincinnati, Wabash
& Michigan Railroad, and in the fall of 1878 entered the em
ploy of the Wabash Railway Company, taking charge of the
yards at Fort Wayne until the fall of 1881, when he carae to
Butler, assuming the duties of his present position. March 20,
1878, he was married at Wabash, Ind., to Miss Elizabeth, daugh
ter of WiUiara Ditlor. They have two children — WiUiara H.
and John B. Mr. Coffinberry has been a Mason for eighteen
years, and a Knight Teraplar fifteen years, and has recently
had the Consistory degrees conferred upon hira. His father
was forraerly Grand Master of Michigan and at one tirae held
the office of Grand High Priest of the chapter.

HISTORA' OF DE KALB COUNTY. 979
Charles Coffrin. carpenter and joiner, Butler, Ind., was born
in Whitley, Canada, thirty miles east of Toronto, Dec. 8, 1839,
a son of Robert Coffrin, a native of X'ermont, who moved to
Canada in 1S36 and died there in 1849. His raother is now the
widow of Abraham Scott, and lives in Butler In 1859 Mr
Coffrin Avent to Dodge County, Wis., and worked at his trade
till February, 1862, when he enlisted in Company E, Nine
teenth Wisconsin Infantry, and served three years, participating
in the battles of Fortress Monroe, siege of Yorktown, where
the regiment met Avith a heavy loss, Suffolk, Dreary Bluff and
others. His brother Amasa Avas in the same regiment and Avas
killed at Dreary Bluff. After his return from the war Mr
Coffrin came to Indiana, in June, 1865, and worked for W. W.
EgnCAv, of Butler, two years making pumps ; then worked at
his trade a fcAv years, when he bought a farm near Butler. In
1883 he returned to Butler, and has since paid the greater part
of his attention to horses. He has one horse. Farmers' Pride,
which is four years old and weighs 1,700 pounds; another, Ca
nadian Jack, is five years old and Aveighs 1,750 pounds. Mr.
Coffrin was married June 11, i86r, to Mary Howard, daughter
of Morris Howard, of Steuben County, Ind. To them have
been born two children, but one of whom is living — Evalena.
She is a Avell-known teacher of FrankUn and Wilmington town
ships, and is a graduate of Butler High School.
Payne K. Coggswell, engineer for the Wabash Railway, But
ler, Ind., was born in Litchfield County, Conn., Feb. 9, 1846, a
son of Hirara H. Coggswell. He was educated in his native
town, Canaan, reraaining there till fourteen years of age, Avhen
he came West and went to work on the lUinois Central Rail
road as newsboy, running frora Chicago to Centralia. Two
and a half years later he returned to Connecticut and followed
the same business on the Housatonic Railroad till 1863, when
he was employed on the same road as fireman ; worked in that
capacity two and a half years, and Sept. 19, 1865, was given
charge of an engine. He was employed as engineer five years,
and in 1870 was transferred to a new road, the Connecticut
Western, on which he worked nine and a half years. He ran
the engine on the first passenger train that went into Hartford
on that road. In the summer of 1879 he entered the eraploy of
the Wabash Railroad, running between Lafayette and Dan
ville. In August, 1 88 1, he was transferred to Butler, where he

f"

98o

HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.

has since Hved. Mr. Coggswell was married Nov. 3, 1869, to
Minnie E., daughter of Mervin R. Lente, of West Point, N. Y.
They have two children— Katie M. and AHce B. "Mr. Coggs
well is a raember of the Masonic fraternity and the Brother
hood of Locomotive Engineers. He was Master of his lodge
in Millerton, N. Y., six years.
Charles H. Crane, grocer, Butler, Ind., was born in Seneca
County, N. Y., Nov. 17, 1846, a son of John G. Crane, who
raoved to Carlton, Mich., in 1868. He was reared in his native
county, and received a good education, completing it at the
Onondaga Academy, near Syracuse, N. Y. He taught school
three years in Ncav York, and in 1859 came West as far as
Michigan, and engaged in the hide and leather business in
Ypsilanti tiU 1875, when he went to Toledo, Ohio, and was em
ployed as a travehng salesman for a wholesale grocery till
1877. In January, 1877, he carae to Butler and formed a part
nership in the grocery business with James Fisher. Eleven
months later he bought Mr. Fisher's interest and conducted
the business alone a year and a half. Then for three years was
in partnership with W. E. Crane, in the F. W. Oberlin building
on Broadway. In the meantime they built the store now occu
pied by Lingenfelter, to whora they sold it in June, 1880, and the
sarae year built the store he now occupies on Oak street, mov
ing into it in December. This store is the largest and most
convenient of the kind in Butler. The cellar is a rear base
ment, under the crockery and glassware departments, each of
which is entered from the main room, and in full view of the
front entrance. Mr. Crane keeps a large supply of everything
in his line, consisting of groceries, provisions, crockery, glass
ware, etc., and is able to compete with any firm in the place.
His annual sales araount to $15,000, with a constantly increas
ing trade. He was raarried October, 1871, to Emma, daughter
of Alexander Wallace. They have three children — Austin,
Mary and Carrie. Mr. Crane is a member of the Masonic fra
ternity. Isaac D. Dailey, blacksraith, Butler, Ind., Avas born in Frank
lin Township, Suramit Co., Ohio, Feb. 9, 1842, a son of Anthony
Dailey, who was a native of Pennsylvania. He was reared on
a farra, receiving a good education, completing it at Greens
burg College, Ohio. He enlisted in the Avar of the Rebellion
in Company B, One Hundred and Seventy-seventh Ohio In-

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HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY. 981
fantry, and served one year, participating in the battles of Mur
freesboro, Fort Anderson, Wilmington and others. In the fall
of 1865 he came to Butler, and the next spring opened a grocery
and provision store, Avhich he conducted nine months, when he
established his present place of business. He does general
blacksraithing and repairing, and has a good patronage. May
26, 1S67, he was married to Almira Noel, a native of Tuscara-
Avas County, Ohio, daughter of Nicholas Noel, now of Wil
mington ToAvnship. To thera have been born four children ;
but three are living— Minnie Agnoss, Leota E. and Bertha E.'
One daughter, Ida L., died in the fifth year of her age. Mr.
Dailey belongs to Meade Post, No. 44, G. A. R., and is a faith
ful meraber, always at his post performing his duty as Quarter
master, and never lacking in any business that is beneficial to
the post.
WiUiam DemaranviUe, farmer and stock-raiser, section 35,
Wilmington ToAvnship, was born in FreetOAvn, Bristol Co.,
Mass., Aug. 13, 1838, a son of Jaraes DeraaranviUe. In 1847 his
parents raoved to Tompkins County, N. Y., and as soon as large
enough he began to chop in the pineries, Avorking by the month
till the breaking out of the Rebellion, when he enlisted in Cora
pany A, Thirty-second New York Infantry, and served two
years, participating in several hard-fought battles, among them
West Point, xMalvern Hill, White Oak Swamp, and Chancel-
lorsviUe. He Avas married March 25, 1865, to Sarah Cramer,
daughter of Abram Craraer To them have been born two
children, but one of whora is Hving — George, born Aug. 30,
1874. Mr. DemaranvUle raoved to Indiana in Deceraber, 1865,
and in 1868 entered his present farm. He has engaged exten
sively in the dairy business, milking eighteen covins, and also
makes a specialty of sheep growing, having a fine flock of over
200 sheep. In pohtics he is a Repubhcan. He is a raember of
the Grand Army of the Republic. Mrs. Demaranville's brother,
Oliver Craraer, was a soldier in the late war, a raember of Com
pany F, One Hundred and Ninth New York Infantry, and was
taken prisoner at the battie of the Wilderness and confined in
Andersonville Prison. He contracted sciatic rheumatism and
scurvy while a^ prisoner, and died from its effect, culminating
in consumption, Septeraber, 1880. His wife has the last ration
issued to him.
D. D. Diehl, of Butler, Ind., was born in Sumrait County,
62

982

HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.

Ohio, Jan. 25, 1843, son of Isaac Diehl, who moved to De Kalb
County, Ind., in April, 1843, and settled in Stafford Township.
He remained on the farm with his parents until 1861, when he
enlisted in Company F, Forty-fourth Indiana Infantry, and in
March, 1862, was sent home on account of ill health. After
his recovery in August, 1862, he re-enlisted in Company H,
Eighty-eighth Indiana Infantry, under Captain, and afterward
General Blair, and participated in the battles of Perryville,
Stone River, Chickamauga, Lookout Mountain, Mission Ridge,
Resaca, Peach Tree Creek, Kenesaw Mountain, Chattahoochee
River, in all the battles in front and around Atlanta, in the de
cisive charge of Jonesboro, Avhich caused the fall of Atlanta,
and marched with Sherman to the sea and through the Caro
linas, and was in the last and bloody battle of Bentonville, N.
C, where the first division of the Fourteenth Army Corps, un
der comraand of Jeff. C. Davis, Major-General commanding,
did such gallant and noble fighting, his regiment being the first
to open the fight, being put on the skirraish Hne very early in
the raorning. He was taken prisoner at Stone River, Jan. 2,
1862, and exchanged soon after. He had his full share of suf
fering, and contracted disease that will always remain in his
system. He was married May 26, 1867, to Salina S. Walters,
daughter of Peter Walters. They have had four children ; but
three are living — George C, Minnie M. and Lena A., the
youngest now being twelve years old. He came to Butler in
1866, and the fall of 1867 raoved to Tiskihva, III., and remained
two years ; returning to Butler he has made this his home ever
since. He was in the agricultural irapleraent business three
years, and the book and stationery business Avith Jones Broth
ers, Chicago, III., two years. He is a tin and copper smith by
trade, and is foreman of the shop of Beadle & McCurdv, of
Butler, Ind. He is a member of Meade Post, No. 44, Depart
ment of Indiana, G. A. R., and is the Comraander of the post.
Abraham Eakright, farmer and stock-raiser, section 20, Wil
mington Township, was born in Wayne County, Ohio, Dec. 30,
1827. His father, Sarauel Eakright, av.is a native of England,
and came to Araerica in 181 1 and soon after enhsted in the
service of the United States, in the Avar of 1812. He settled in
Ohio, and there married Mary Maxwell. In 1836 they moved
to De Kalb County, Ind., and settled in XX^ilmington ToAvnship
where he died in 1852. The mother died in 1872. They had

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HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY. 983
a family of thirteen children, five of Avhom are living — Isaac,
Benjamin, John, Abraham and Jaraes. When the family first
moved to De Kalb County their only neighbors were Indians,
and it was eighteen months before INIrs. Eakright saw a white
Avoman. Their children and the Indian children were play
mates, and exchanged potatoes, salt, meat and corn-meal for
baskets, cranberries, etc. Their trading point Avas Ft. Wayne
or Lima, reaching the former place by pirogue on the river.
Abraham Eakright Avas raarried June 19, 1851, to Susannah
Miller, a native of Cumberland County, Pa., daughter of Joel
MUler. They have fiAC children — John J., Sarah A., Edward
W., Mary Ann and Ellsworth A. Mr. Eakright OAvns a good
farra of ninety acres Avhich is Avell-iraproved, Avith a pleasant
residence and corafortable farm-buildings. He and his wife are
merabers of the United Brethren church.
Jolm J. Eakright, section 20, XVilmington Township, is a prom
inent teacher of De Kalb County. He was born three miles
south of Butler, March 15, 1852, a son of Abrahara and Susan
nah (>filler) Eakright. He was reared on his father's farra and
educated in Butler and the High School of Auburn. He began :
teaching in the fall of 1873, and has taught nine winters in his
home district. He taught one Avinter in Union Township, and
the Avinter of i884-'85 in No. 3, Wilmington ToAvnship. Mr.,
Eakright has been a very successful teacher, and has gained a
reputation second to none in the county. He takes an active
interest in the teachers' institutes of De Kalb County, and has
never missed a session since he began teaching. He was elected 1
Justice of the Peace in 1884 for a term of four years. Af r. Eak
right Avas married Oct. 28, 1874, to Acelia Treman, daughter of
Edgar Treman, an old settler of Wilmington Township. They '
have one son — Orton E., born Sept. 9, 1877. Mr. Eakright has \
a pleasant home of forty-seven acres, and in the sumraer devotes
his attention to farming.
Edward W. Fosdick, attorney at laAv, Butler, was born in
Knox County, Ohio, July 12, 1822, a son of Thomas Fosdick, a ,
native of Connecticut. In 1844 he carae to Indiana and located
in De Kalb County two railes south of Butler where he engaged
in farming till 1855 ; in the meantime taught school several
terms, and also devoted his leisure hours to the study of laAv. ;
He was elected County Treasurer in 1854, and during the two
years he held that office continued his law studies. He began

¦^1 . ^^
984 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
his practice in Butler with James E. Rose, under the firm name
of Rose & Fosdick. Mr. Rose subsequently moved to Auburn
where he has a good practice. Mr. Fosdick has since continued
his practice alone and has met with good success. In 1869 he
was elected State Senator and served four years. He Avas mar
ried in 1852 to Helen G. Totten, who died in May, 1856, leav
ing two children — Emma, now deceased, and Edwin L., of
Butler. In 1859 he married Ruanna M. Brandon, who died in
April, i860. Sept. 17, 1878, he married Ehzabeth H. Fetter-
hoff, a native of Springfield, Ohio, daughter of Joseph Fetter-
hoff, of Steuben County, Ind.
Edwin L. Fosdick, M. D., of the firm Fosdick & Wilkinson,
druggists, Butler, was born in Auburn, Ind., May i, 1856, ason
of Edward and Helen G. (Totten) Fosdick. He received his ele
mentary education in the pubhc schools, and later attended the
Ohio Wesleyan University at Delaware. He then attended
the medical department of the Michigan University, Ann Arbor,
graduating in 1879. He practiced a year at KcAvaunee, Ind.,
and then from December, 1879, tiU March, 1882, carried on a
drug store. He then came to Butler, and the folloAving July, in
partnership Avith his father, opened a store in this place. In
February, 1884, his father sold his interest to M. L. XX^ilkinson,
and the firm name Avas changed to Fosdick & Wilkinson. They
carry a complete stock of drugs, medicines, paints, oils, notions,
etc. Their stock is valued at $5,000, and they have an annual
business of $11,000. Dr. Fosdick Avas married Jan. 12, 1880, to
Josie McCarter, a native of KcAvaunee, born May 25, 1861,
dauprhter of Alexander McCarter. He is a meraber of the De
Kalb County Medical Society.
Thomas C. Fralick, engineer on the Wabash, St. Louis & Pa
cific Railway, was born in Lower Canada, Oct. 9, 1859, a son of
Tiraothy Fralick, who moved from Canada to St. Lawrence
County, N. Y., in i860, and thence to Port Huron, Mich., in
1865, Avhere our subject Avas reared and educated. In 187S he
entered the employ of the Chicago & Lake Huron Railroad
Company as engine-wiper, and Avas subsequenth- promoted to
fireman. In 1881 he came to Butler, and ran an engine on a
construction-train from Butler to Detroit for the Wabash Rail
road. He now runs on a through-freight from Detroit to Indi
anapolis. Mr. Fralick was married Oct. 10, 1883, to Irene INL,
daughter of John A. Campbell, of Butler. They have one child
 ,   1 1 to
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HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTA'. 985
— Cecile Adelaide. Mr Fralick is a member of the Odd Fel-
loAv's order and the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers. He
and his Avife are raembers of the Methodist Episcopal church.
Frederick Ginder, farmer and stock-raiser, section 26, Wil
mington ToAvnship, Avas born in Ashland County, Ohio, April
25, 1S43. In 1853 his father, Jacob Ginder moved to De Kalb
County, Ind., and settled in XX'ilmington ToAvnship, Avhere he
Avas reared and educated, attending school in the log cabin
school-houses. XXlien eighteen years of age, in 1861, he en
hsted in Company F, Forty-fourth Indiana Infantry, and par
ticipated in all the battles and skirmishes of the regiment,
including Fort Donelson, Shiloh, Corinth, Stone River, Chick
amauga. He Avas discharged in the fall of 1864, and returned
to the farm, Avhere he remained till the spring of 1868, Avhen,
in company Avith Henry Gunsenhouser, a fellow-soldier, he
bought a saAv-mill of Bass & Hannah at Fort Wayne, and ran
it till January, 1876, when they exchanged it for land. In Feb
ruary, 1877, Mr. Ginder settled on his present farra, Avhere he
is doing a successful business. He was raarried Oct. 22, 1865,
to Emily McDannell, daughter of David McDanneU, of Staf
ford Township. To them have been born nine children ; but
seven are living — Jacob S., John P., Hiram and Byron (tAvins),
David O., Nora ]Nf. and George Merril. Frederick and Marga
ret are deceased ; the latter was burned to death at the age of
five years. Mr. and Mrs. Ginder are members of the United
Brethren church.
Jacob Ginder, farmer, section 22, Wilraington Township, was
born near the City of Worms, Germany, Nov. 6, 1822, a son of
Jacob Ginder. He was educated in the public schools of his
native country, and in 1833 came to the United States with his
parents, settling in Seneca County, Ohio, and in 1838 raoved to
Wayne County, and thence in 1840 to Richland County. In
1854 Mr. Ginder came to De Kalb County and settled on the
northwest quarter of section 27, Wilmington ToAvnship. He
bought 200 acres at $10 an acre, giving his note for $900 of the
money. He has been successful, and has paid his indebted
ness and given his son forty acres of land. He still owns 200
acres, which is now improved, and also town property in But
ler. He ran an ashery three years on his farm in company
with EHas Fisher, and subsequently ran a threshing-machine
and clover-huUer four years and a saw-mill four years. When
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986

HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.

Mr. Ginder Avas married he did not have money enough to
pay the 'Squire, but chopped wood for him for the fee. He
now has a good property and can look forward to an old age
of peace and plenty, gained by his own frugality and industry,
assisted by a noble Avife. Mr. Ginder was married Jan. lo,
1843, to Margaret MiUer, a native of Germany, daughter of
Frederick MiUer. To them have been born eleven children,
but five of whom are living — Frederick, Catherine, Phihp D.,
Eva and Mary. One son, George W., died in his twentieth
year from the effects of a cold in a slight cut on his knee. Mr.
and Mrs. Ginder are members of the United Brethren church.
Mr. Ginder is a Hberal, public-spirited citizen, and is always
ready to assist any charitable enterprise or anything of benefit
to the community.
Philip D. Ginder, farmer and stock-raiser, section 27, Wil
mington Township, Avas born in Ashland County, Ohio, March
7, 1846, a son of Jacob Ginder, who settled on section 27 in
1854, and nOAV Hves across the street frora his first settleraent,
on section 22. He was reared a farmer and has ahvays fol
lowed that vocation. He Hves on a part of the land entered by
his father, and in connection Avith his own cultivates his fa
ther's farra. He owns forty acres of valuable land. His resi
dence is a fine tAvo-story brick, the raain part 18x28 feet, with
a one-story L 24X 26 feet. He has the finest barn in the tOAvn-
ship. It is 36 X 62 feet in size, and eighteen feet high. Mr.
Ginder was married in January, 1871, to Sarah C. Swaidner,
daughter of John Swaidner, of HicksviUe, Ohio. To them Avere
born two children ; but one, Mary A., is living. Sarah is de
ceased. Mrs. Ginder died Sept. 4, 1873, and April 16, 1874, Mr.
Ginder married Martha McDannell, daughter of David Mc
Dannell. To them have been born five children, but three of
whom are living — Jacob L., Inez B. and Zantha A. Ida and an
infant daughter are deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Ginder are mem
bers of the United Brethren church.
Edward A. Griffin, section 16, WUmington ToAvnship, Avas
born in Licking County, Ohio, Feb. 16, 1847, a son of Eli B.
Griffin, a native of New York, and an early settler of Licking
County, moving there in 1834, and in Septeraber, 1848, raoved
to De Kalb County and settled in Jackson ToAvnship, and in
1865 raoved to Wilmington Township, Avhere he died in April,
1875. Edward A. Griffin Avas reared a farmer and educated in

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HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY. 987
the common schools. Arriving at manhood he began farming
for himself, and uoav owns seventy-two acres of choice land, avcU
cultivated, Avith a good residence and farm buildings. He Avas
married Feb. 2j. 1868, to Susannah M. MiUer, daughter of
Jacob Miller. But tAvo of their three children are living — El-
vin S. and Levis F. Mrs. Griffin died July 29, 1874. Aug. 22,
1875, Mr. Griffin married Mary A., daughter of Peter Menges,
They have had three children; but one is Hving — Elnora L.
Mr. and Mrs. Griffin are members of the United Brethren
church. Lafayette Griffith, engineer, XX^abash Railroad, Butler, Ind.,
was born in Cleveland, Ohio, Jan. 7, 1847, a son of Joseph
Griffith, Avho moA^-ed to XX^ells County, Ind., in 1848 and settled
in the northwest corner on an Indian reservation. These Indi
ans Avere of thfe Miarai tribe, the chief's narae, White Loon.
They Avere peaceable and our subject often visited thera and
learned their language. He received a good education, attend
ing Roanoke Serainary. Before his majority he learned the
carpenter's trade, serving an apprenticeship, but not liking it
he Avent to Avork on the Wabash Railroad as a laborer on a
work-train, and has since been in the employ of the company,
being gradually promoted till he reached his present position in
1874. He Hved in Peru, Ind., from 1866 tUl 1871 ; in Fort
Wayne from 1871 tiU 1880, and in Butler since 1880. He ran
a freight engine betAveen Fort Wayne and Lafayette seven
years, and Oct. 10, 1880, was transferred to the Detroit & But
ler branch of the eastern division, and ran the first express en
gine over the road west frora Detroit. Mr. Griffith Avas mar
ried Sept. 29, 1870, to Mary E. Walters. They have three
children— Minnie A., Jessie B. and Harry Lafayette. Mr.
Griffith has been a member of the Masonic fraternity since
1870, and the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers. His
wife is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.
Henry Gunsenhouser, section 21, Wilmington Township, was
bom in Summit County, Ohio, Feb. 22, 1834, a son of Jacob J.
Gunsenhouser, who brought his family to De Kalb County,
and settled in Stafford Township in 1836, when the Indians
were the principal inhabitants. He was reared a farmer, but
after attaining his majority learned the carpenters trade, at
which he worked about ten years. In 1861 he enlisted in Com
pany F, Forty-fourth Indiana Infantry, and participated in the

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988 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
battles of Fort Donelson, Shiloh, Corinth, Perryville, Crab
Orchard, Murfreesboro, Chattanooga, and others. At Fort
Donelson he was wounded, and carried the ball in his body till
January, 1884. Henry Gunsenhouser was married Oct. 21,
1857, to Ann Huffman, daughter of Frederick Huffman, of
Stafford Township. To them have been born nine children,
eight of Avhora are living— Mary, Ella, Ada, Ida, Florence, John,
Myrtle, and Ernest. Sadie, twin sister of Ada, died at the age
of four years. Mary is the wife of WiUiara Freidenbarger, and
Ella of Peter Whitman. In the spring of 1865 Henry Gunsen
houser moved to Wilmington Township, where he has a good
farm of eighty acres. He and his wife and two eldest children
are merabers of the United Brethren church.
Anton Hablawetz, farraer, section 36, Wilmington Township,
was born in Bohemia, Austria, Oct. 24, 1826, a son of John
Hablawetz. He came to Araerica in November, 1858, and set
tled in Richland County, Ohio, and in November, 1868, came
to De Kalb County and settled where he now lives. His land
was heavily timbered, but he moved his family into a small log
cabin, and went bravely to work to clear it and make a farm.
He owns ninety-nine and a half acres, sixty acres of which he
has cleared. His farm shows the care of a thrifty owner. Mr.
HablaAvetz was married in 1849 to Anna Lippert, daughter of
John Lippert. To thera have been born six children, five of
whom are living — John, Joseph, William, Maggie and Rose.
Their daughter Mary was married to Frank Conteriman, and
at her death left one child. Mr. Hablawetz and his family are
members of the Catholic church.
Gavin Hamilton (deceased) was born in the city of Ncav York
on the 4th day of November, 1792. His father, William Hamil
ton, was a native of Lanarkshire, Scotland, born in AuldtOAvn
in the year 1767, and was raarried to Catharine Campbell, of
Glasgow, Scotland, and with his ncAv bride crossed the billoAvy
Atlantic in the early part of the year 1792 to commence hisncAV
life in America. He engaged in mercantile pursuits in the city
of New York, and continued in business until 1795 Avhen he
died at the early age of twenty-eight years, leaving his widow
and his two sons, Gavin and John Hamilton, surviving hira.
His grandfather, Gavin Hamilton, Avas born in Scotland in the
year 1723. He married Janet Greenshields, and died at the
ripe age of seventy -six years. In the year 1799 his great-grand-

HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY. 989
father, Gavin Hamilton, also a native of Scotiand, purchased
the lands known as .Xuldtown frora the Weirs of Stonebyres in
or about the year 1732. His wife was a daughter of Thomas
Weirs, of XX'aterside, Avho was identified in Scotland Avith the
persecuted Covenanters knoAvn as the Scotch Presbyterians,
Avho, under the reign of Charies Second of England, had become
exasperated by oppi-ession and taken up arms against their op
pressors, and Avhen in the battle of Drunnilag, in the year 1679,
he came to his death in a singular manner ; the bridle rein hav
ing broken, his horse carried him into the enemy's ranks and
he was mortally Avounded. Gavin Hamilton, the subject of
this sketch, was only three years old Avhen his father died, and
at the early age of eighteen years, in the year 18 10, made his
Avay westAvard as far as Troy, Ohio. In two years from that
time he joined a Government surveying party and assisted in
the survey of NorthAvestcrn Ohio and Northwestern Indiana
and as far West as the Missouri border. In 1821 he was raar
ried to Anna Platter at Miami County, Ohio, and four years
afterward removed to Defiance County where he resided until
the year 1839, when he, with his family, took up their residence
in the county of De Kalb, Ind., on the St. Joe River, then the
frontier of civilization. In his ucav home his fortunes were as
varied as the seasons. In the years 1839- '40 he built a saAv and
grist miU, and in 1841 a flood of water, fiUing the banks of the
St. Joe River to overflowing (called by the pioneers a freshet),
swept away the work of those two years. With indomitable
energy and perseverance he again Avent to Avork, and in a few
years had replaced his mills, only to be consumed by fire in the
year 1847. Afterward the grist-mill Avas again rebuilt, and
known as the " Orangeville Mills." Mr. Hamilton, in politics,
was a Republican. He cast his first vote for Jaraes Madison,
fourth President of the United States, and adhered to the party
through its varied changes, supporting Harrison and Taylor as
Whigs, and following his party to the succession of the Re
publican party in i860, voting for Abrahara Lincoln for Presi
dent, and casting his last vote for General U. S. Grant for
President in 1872. He neither sought nor held office, but was
true to his friends and party. In 1823 he united Aviththe Meth
odist church, and lived a consistent member until the day of
his death which occurred on the loth day of February, 1874.
He had attained to the ripe old age of eighty-two years, his

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990 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
wife having previously died in the year 1865 at the age of sixty-
five years. Their faraily consisted of nine children, four only
of whom survive him — three sons and one daughter. Mr.
Hamilton was a man known far and wide throughout North
eastern Indiana and Northwestern Ohio. He was distinguished
for his kindness and generosity. His house was always open to
hospitality. He leaves behind raany pleasant raeraories. His
body now rests beside that of his wife in the ceraetery at New
ville, Ind., where a marble shaft marks his last resting place.
John Gavin Hamilton, retired farmer, Butler, Ind., was born
in Orangeville, Concord Township, De Kalb Co., Ind., April i,
1841, a son of Gavin HamUton. He remained at home till the
outbreak of the Rebellion, when he enlisted in Company H,
Eighty-eighth Indiana Infantry, and served three years, partici
pating in the battles of Perryville, Stone River, Chickaraauga,
Lookout Mountain, and others. After his return from the war
he worked on the farm for a time, and then bought a flour-mill
in Orangeville, on the St. Joseph River, which he ran a few
years. It is now owned by his brother Jaraes, but is run by a
lessee. After he disposed of his mill he bought the farm near
Coburn Corners, Concord Township, which he now owns. He
left his farra and raoved to Butler in 1881, and embarked in the
hardAvare business, but sold out in April, 1884, to John H. Mc
Curdy, and has since lived retired from active business life.
Mr. Hamilton was raarried June 14, 1866, to Ursula DaAvson, a
daughter of Lorenzo Dawson, an early settler of Concord ToAvn-
ship. They have two children — Correl and Guy. Mr. and
Mrs. Hamilton are members of the Christian church.
Sylvanus L. Hamlin was born in Orleans County, N. Y., Oct.
12, 1833, a son of Sarauel Seyraour, a native of the same county,
who died when our subject was fourteen years of age. He re
ceived a good education, attending the acaderay in Millville,
N. Y. After leaving school he worked for a tirae in his natiA-e
county, and then went to Shelby, Ohio, and engaged in the
grocery business two years, when he moved to Hudson, Lena
wee Co., Mich., and worked at the carpenter's trade and at con
tracting with his brother Seymour nine years, and then moved
to Medina, the same county. In the fall of 1874 he moved to
Fayette, Ohio, and engaged in the furniture business till 1880,
when on account of the ill health of himself and Avife he sold
out and went to Petoski, Mich. In October, 1882, he moved

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HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.

991

to Butler, Ind., and engaged in the furniture business till Oct.
Is. 18S4, Avhen he sold out and is uoav engaged in contracting
and building. Mr. Hamlin Avas raarried Oct. 12, 1858,10 Sarah
Hamlin, a native of Orleans County, N. Y., a daughter of Luman
Hamlin. Mr. Hamlin is a meraber of the Masonic fraternity.
George C. Haskins, proprietor Haskins Livery Stable, Butler,
Ind., AA-as born in XX^ood County, Ohio, July 23, 1850, a son of
Henry Haskins, of Butler. He Avas reared and educated in
Kendallville, De Kalb County, where his parents moved when
he was a child. In 1864 they raoved to Corunna, and in 1866
to Butler, Avhere they have since lived. Upon reaching his
majority he embarked in the livery business, and has built up a
good trade. He keeps a good supply of carriage and road
horses, and buggies of every description. Mr. Haskins was
married Feb. 19, 1882, to Nancy J. Harn, a daughter of David
Ham, Avho came to De Kalb County in 1851, living here till
his death. She Avas born in Tuscarawas County, Ohio, in
April, 185 1. Mr. and Mrs. Haskins have one chUd — Leta H.
Jonathan Hazlett, engineer and grain inspector for the Lake
Shore & Michigan Southern Railroad Corapany, at Butler
Ind., Avas born in XX''ayne County, Ohio, Feb. 26, 1831, a son of
David Hazlett, a native of Pennsylvania, who settled in Wayne
County about 1825. His father Avas a blacksmith and miller by
trade, and his early life was spent in assisting on the farm and
in the mill. He learned the wagon-raaker's trade and worked
at it five years. In the fall of 1854 he came to Butler, and in
May, 1855, went to St. Joseph County, Mich., and in the fall of
1856 returned to Butler, and worked at his trade tAvo years,
and then ran an engine in a saw-mill till 1864. He enlisted in
the war of the Rebellion in Company H, Eighty -eighth Indiana
Infantry. He was Avith Sherman on his march to the sea, and
participated in the battle at Bentonville, N. C. He returned to
Butler after the war, and in 1873 Avas employed in his present
position. He was raarried in December, i860, to Sarah E.,
daughter of John Helwig, of Monravia, Kan. They have
three children — Florence E., now Mrs. Charles Huey ; Carrie
May and John H. Mrs. Hazlett and her daughter Florence
are members of the Disciples church. Mr. Hazlett is a mem
ber of the Masonic fratepity and the Grand Army of the Re
public. He has served as Marshal of Butler one year. Trustee
ten years, and Treasurer one year.

l^

992 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
Charles F. Hepp, blacksmith, in the employ of the Wabash
Railroad, at Butler, Ind., a son of Charles Hepp, was born in
Richmond, Va., Sept. 13, 1852. In 1863 his father moved to
Baltimore, Md., thence to Dayton, Ohio, in 1864, and in 1865 to
Richmond, Ind., where he lived till 1875, and is now in the em
ploy of the Pan Handle Railroad in their shops at Logansport.
Charles F. learned the blacksmith's trade when a boy, serving
an apprenticeship in the shops of Gaar, Scott & Co., at Richmond,
Ind., manufacturers of saw-raills, threshing raachines, etc. He
subsequently went to Logansport and was employed in the
shop with his father till 1881, Avhen he carae to Butler and en
tered the employ of the Wabash Railroad Company. Mr.
Hepp was married May 27, 1878, to Flora E. Cariger, daughter
of George Cariger, of Logansport, Ind. They have one
child — Pearl, born May 27, 1879. ^r. Hepp is a member of
the Masonic fraternity, and has taken the Knight Templar
degrees. Isaac Hirschler, proprietor of Hirschler's Opera House, But
ler, Ind., was born in Philadelphia, Pa., Jan. 3, 1839, the elev
enth of thirteen children of Simon A. Hirschler, but six of
whom are living. His father was a native of France, and
served eleven years in the French array, nine years of the time
was one of Napoleon Bonaparte's body-guard. At the battle of
Waterloo he was wounded, and carried the ball in his leg fifty
years. It was extracted in 1863 by Prof. Gross, of Philadelphia
Medical College, and is now in the museum of that institution.
He died in Philadelphia, Aug. 16, 1868. Two sons, Henry and
Leopold, died of cholera in Ncav Orleans in 1852. Isaac
Hirschler reraoved frora his native city to De Kalb County, Ind.,
in 1873, and located in Butler, where he has since lived. In
1883 he built his two-story brick opera house block, which
yields hira a good revenue. Mr. Hirschler Avas married Sept.
15, 1867, to Dora Myers. They have five chUdren — Matilda,
Dina, Amelia, Rosalee and Herman A.
Isaac Hose, one of the most energetic young business raen of
Butier, was born in WUmington ToAvnship, Dec. 12, 1856, a
son of Solomon Hose, of Steuben County, Ind., but an early
settler of Wilmington Township. He Avas reared a farraer,
remaining with his parents tiU manhood. He received a good
education in the coraraon schools, and after reaching manhood
began farraing for hiraself. In the spring of 1882 he moved to
,3' I'  - .. -  1 l»
VJ^— ^  ^  >K>

. •vf'^  _^ ^ 
HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY. 993
Butler and Avorked for the railroad for a time, and then en
gaged in the mercantile business for hiraself. He is enterpris
ing and ambitious, and is doing a good business. Mr. Hose
Avas married Sept. S, 1880, to Julia A. Crooks, a daughter of
XX^illiam Crooks, a pioneer of XVilmington Township. Mr.
Hose is a genial, social gentleman, philanthropic, and a Hberal
supporter of all benevolent enterprises.
Solomon Hose, farmer, sections 23 and 24, Wilraington Town
ship, Avas born in Summit County, Ohio, Jan. i, 1849, a son of
Solomon Hose, a native of Maryland, Avho settled in De Kalb
County in 1S56, and later moved to Steuben County, where
he noAV Ha'CS. Mr. Hose Avas reared a farraer and has always
devoted his attention to agriculture and stock-raising, at which
he has been very successful. He now owns a fine farra of 107
acres, Avith a good residence and farra buildings, Avhich he rents,
boarding with his tenants. Mr. Hose enlisted in 1864 in the
Eighty-eighth Indiana Infantry, Corapany H, and served till
June, 1865, participating in all the engagements of the regi
ment after he joined it, araong them, Kenesaw Mountain, Buz
zard's Roost, Peach-Tree Creek, the Atlanta campaign, Ben
tonville, Savannah and Resaca. He was but fifteen years of age
Avhen he enlisted, but was brave and made a good soldier. He
is a meraber of the Grand Army of the Republic.
Jason Hubbell, deceased, was born in Kent, Litchfield Co.,
Conn., Nov. 15, 1792, a son of Ephraim Hubbell. When he
Avas a boy his parents moved to Middlebury, Vt., and later to
Newburg, Ohio. When sixteen years of age he went to live
on the farm of his uncle, Samuel Eldred, and remained with
him till tAventy-one years of age. He subsequently bought a
farm in Medina County, Ohio, where he became acquainted
with Lydia M. Hosmer, to whom he was married April 13,
1823. In 1842 they moved to Frankhn Township, De Kalb
County, and bought a farm, on which they lived tiU 1859, when
they moved, to Butler. Mr. HubbeU was a progressive, influ
ential man, and assisted in all enterprises of public benefit. He
was one of the principal movers in securing the Wabash Rail
road through Butler. He was a liberal, whole-souled man, and
his many deeds of kindness and benevolence were not duly ap
preciated whUe he was Hving, many of them being unknown,
save to the parties interested. He was a member of the Ma
sonic fraternity. He died June 27, 1874. His widow stiU Hves
.^^ — :   ^K'

994 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
in Butler, loved and esteemed by all who know her. They
had a family of eleven children, seven of whom are Hving —
WiUiam H., Mary J., Laura A., Orson J., Harris B., AHce L.
and Corintha. One daughter, Harriet F., died at the age of
twenty-four years, leaving two children. She was the Avife of
William Welch, well known as a civil engineer for the Lake
Shore Railroad, and now a stockman of Bozeman, M. T.
Lester C. Hunt, engineer, in the employ of the Wabash Rail
way, at Butler, Ind., was born in Huntsville, Litchfield Co.,
Conn., Feb. 4, 1848, a son of Chauncey Hunt, a native of the
same county. In 1855 his parents moved to Bristol, IU., and
there he was reared and educated in the common schools. In
1865 he returned to Connecticut and began to work on the
Housatonic Railway at Bridgeport, reraaining there nineteen
years. He began on the road as brakeraan, and frora that was
advanced to baggage-master, fireman, station agent, conductor
and engineer In 1881 he came to Butier, Ind., and entered
the employ of the Wabash Railroad, a position he has since
occupied. Mr. Hunt was married Jan. 18, 1882, to Amarett
Crosley, a daughter of Thomas Crosley. They have tAvo
children— Rutheda and Jennie. Mr Hunt is a meraber of the
Brotherhood of Engineers.
Lewis Imhoff, farraer, section 15, Wilmington ToAvnship, Avas
born on the farm where he now lives, Jan. 31, 1845. His
father, Jacob Imhoff, Avas born in Canton de Baren, Switzer
land, Aug. I, 1 801, and in 1821 carae to the United States and
Hved in Millbrook, Wayne Co., Ohio, tiU 1844, Avhen he came
to De Kalb County, Ind., and settled on the land that is noAV
our subject's horae. He was married in Ohio to Mrs. Jane
(McKinley) Walker, widow of John Walker, by Avhom she had
one child — Jaraes P., who died in the service of his country.
The mother died March 4, 1878, and the father Oct. S, 1881.
Their family consisted of six children, LcAvis being the fifth ;
four are living — John, of Washington County, Kas.; Elizabeth,
wife of E. J. Shirts, of Shelby, Mich.; Jane, Avife of XX^illiam
Rolph, also of Shelby, and LeAvis. Z. B. enlisted in Company
G, Nineteenth Indiana Infantry and died in the service. Ellen
married M. V. Heffelfinger and at her death left six children.
Lewis Imhoff enlisted in Company D, One Hundred and Eight
eenth Indiana Infantry, and at the expiration of his term re-en
listed in Company H, Eighty-eighth Indiana Infantry, foUoAving

;v*

HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.

995

the regiments in all their varied fortunes, and was finally dis
charged in June, 1865. He Avas raarried March 9, 1870, to
Mary Cook, daughter of Thoraas Cook. They have three chil
dren—Ernest XX'., John H. and Ella L. Mr and Mrs. Irahoff
are members of the ITnited Brethren church.
David Johnson, oi the firm of Johnson & Cannon, grocers,
Butler, Ind., Avas born in XX'ilmington ToAvnship, Feb. 21, 1858,
a son of Joseph Johnson, a pioneer of De Kalb County, who
died in 1864. He was reared and educated in Butier. He
formed a partnership with J. W. Cannon, in 1884, and estab
hshed their present business. They carry a stock valued at
$3,000 and have a constantly increasing trade, keeping a full
Hne of foreign and domestic groceries, provision, canned fruit,
etc. They are thorough-going business men, and their courte
ous manners make thera many friends. Mr. Johnson was mar
ried Nov. 25, 1880, to AHce Tomlinson, daughter of John
Tomhnson, of Wilmington Township. They have had two
children ; but one is living — Bert. Harry died at the age of
eighteen months.
Charles G. Kellner, section 25, XX^ilmington Township, was
bom in Prussia, Germany, March 5, 1842, a son of John Fred
erick Kellner. When he was fourteen years of age he began to
work at the mason's trade, serving an apprenticeship. He
worked at his trade in his native country till 1867, and then
came to America and Hved a year in Philadelphia, and in 1868
moved to Butler, Ind., Avhere he worked at his trade two years.
In the fall of 1870 he moved to his present farm, but in the sura
raer StiU works at his trade. In the summer of 1882 he built a
fine brick residence, the main building, two stories high, 17x29
feet, and an L seventeen feet square. Mr. Kellner was mar
ried in August, 1870, to Maggie Shoup, daughter of Peter
Shoup, of Williams County, Ohio. They have five children — »
Emma, Fred, Anna, Herman and Henry. Mr. Kellner is a
member of the Lutheran, and his wife of the United Brethren
church. His farra contains 100 acres, forty acres in Wilming
ton and sixty acres in Stafford Township.
Joseph D. Kenestrick, M. D., is a native of Crawford County,
Ohio, born Jan. 31, 1853. He is a son of John Kenestrick, of
Troy Township, who carae to De Kalb County with his faraily
in the spring of 1864. He was educated at the Butler High
School and Fort Wayne University. He began the study of

A^

996 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
medicine under Drs. W. H. Myres and H. A. Clark, of the
Fort Wayne Medical College, and graduated from that institu
tion in 1878. He practiced one year in the St. Joseph Hospital,
Fort Wayne, and in 1880 went to Cincinnati and received the
Ad eundem degree from the Ohio Medical College. He then
located at Angola, Steuben County, and practiced three years
with Dr. Hugh D. Wood, and in the spring of 1884 removed to
Butler where he is building up a lucrative practice. He is a
member of the American Medical Association, the Northeastern
Indiana Medical Society and the Indiana State Medical Society.
He is a hard student of his profession and has a promising
future. He has a great fondness for the natural sciences and
classic Hterature. A man of strong religious convictions, he has
often been heard to remark that " a reasonable faith in the eter
nal order of the universe and a fond hope in the immortality of
the soul is the best creed knoAvn to raan." He is a raember of
the Masonic fraternity, lodge and chapter.
Peter S. Kester was born in Sussex County, N. J., Nov. 27,
181 3, of Quaker parentage. While yet a small child, he, with
his parents, moved to Ontario County, N. Y. After obtaining
his majority he moved to Huron County, Ohio, and in 1837
came to De Kalb County, Ind. He was married July 13, 1839,
to Miss Anabell Widney, of Franklin County, Penn., and died
from heart-disease, June 18, 1885, in Woodson County, near
Yates Center, Kan. Mrs. Kester came to De Kalb County,
Ind., with her widowed mother, brothers and sisters, her father,
John Widney, having died a fcAv Aveeks previous. To Mr. and
Mrs. Kester were born eight children — John P., Alonzo A.,
Amanda M., Richard S., Adolphus A., Annenus M., Amelia D.
and Mary M. Amelia is a graduate of the Valparaiso Normal
School, and is noAV a teacher in B grammar department of the
Butler schools. She has taught her fifth year in Butler, and
has also taught as assistant under Prof. Bowersox ; John P. is
a minister of the Methodist Protestant church in Hancock
County, 111.; Alonzo is a physician of Garrett ; Amanda is the
wife of Abram Bell, of Yates Center, Kan.; Richard is a physi
cian of AviUa, Noble Co., Ind.; Adolphus, a mechanic and
farraer, four miles south of Butler ; Annenus M., a farmer of
Union Township ; Mary M., the Avife of E. B. Nimmons. The
three eldest sons were soldiers in the war of the Rebellion.
Timothy J. Knisely, of the firm Knisely Brothers, Butler,

WT

IIISTORV OF DEKALB COUNTY,

997

Ind., was born in Troy Township, De Kalb County, Ind., April
17, 1848, a son of XX'illiam Knisely, an early settier of that town
ship. Losing his father when quite young and being the eldest
child, he was obliged to depend upon his own resources and
assist his mother in the maintenance of the family. His educa
tion was obtained by study at home, Avhen not at work, as he
was able to attend school but tAvo months in the year. XX^hen
about eighteen years old he began teaching, and taught two
terhis. Then clerked six months for his brother-in-law, J. D.
Aldrich, Avhen he became a partner in the business. In 1870 he
came to Butler, and the first winter worked in the hotel for his
board. The next spring he Avas employed in Isaac Oaks' store
at §40 a month, and after a year and a hah was given $50 a
month. He remained there three and a half years and then
bought an interest in the drug business Avith Dr. Hoopingard
ner. The next year his brother, David H., bought the Doctor s
interest, and they carried on the business six months when they
sold the entire stock to the Doctor and established a general
store. They carry a stock valued at $20,000, and have an an
nual business of $60,000. XX^hen they sold their druo- store
they had a capital of about $6,000. They keep a full line of
dry goods, clothing, boots, shoes, hats, caps, notions, groceries,
furnishing goods, carpets, and also carry on a merchant tailor
ing establishment, having a'good custom. They are among the
most successful merchants of Butler, and among the rising
young men of De Kalb County. Mr. Knisely was married
May 10, 1868, to Jennie McCurdy. To them have been born
four children ; three are Hving — Lilhe Dell, bom Feb. 28, 1870;
Ora T., Sept. 15, 1873 ; Sarah Dessie, Nov. 3, 1874. Mr. Knisely
is a meraber of the Masonic fraternity, lodge, chapter, council,
and comraandery. He and his Avife are members of the Meth
odist Episcopal church.
David H. Knisely, of the firm Knisely Brothers, general mer
chants, Butler, Ind., was born in Troy Township, De Kalb Co.,
Ind., Nov. 18, 1854, a son of WiUiara Knisely. He remained
on the farra till fourteen years of age, receiving a coramon-
school education. Then went to Hamilton, Steuben County,
and clerked for Aldrich & Knisely a year and a half. He then
worked on the farra a year, and in 1871 came to Butler and at
tended school two terras, and clerked in a drug store three
years. He then bought an interest in the drug business Avith
63

998 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
his brother, Tiraothy J., which they sold In the fall of 1875, six
raonths after buying, and in September established their pres
ent place of business. Mr. Knisely was married Oct. 15, 1882,
to Eva J. Mason, daughter of Albert J. Mason, an old set
tler of De Kalb County. They have one chUd— Mabel. Mr
Knisely is a raember of the Masonic fraternity.
William Knisely, deceased, was born in Tuscarawas County,
Ohio, Jan. i, 1804, a son of John Knisely, .a native of Pennsyl
vania, of Swiss parentage. In 1841 Mr. Knisely came to 'De
Kalb County and entered a tract of timbered land from the
Governraent, Avhich he cleared and on which he lived tiU his
death, April 5, i860. He Avas thrice married. His first wife
Avas Susan Burl, and to them were born six children — Harriet,
Ehzabeth, Rhuama, Sarah, Solomon and Martha J. His second
Avife, Elizabeth Snyder, Hved only a year after their marriage.
His third was Susan McEndaffer. They had four children ;
but three are living — Timothy, William and David.
Edward Krafft, farmer and stock-raiser, section 34, Wilming
ton Township, was born in Baden, Germany, March 3, 1835, a
son of John Krafft. He came to the United States in 1850, in
company with some neighbors, and lived one year in Richland
County, Ohio. Then carae to De Kalb County, and in 1854
returned to Richland County and worked two years for one
man, and in that tirae saved enough to pay for forty acres of
land. In 1856 he returned to De Kalb County and bought his
land in Wilmington Township, on section 27. He Avent to
work to clear his land, and by industry and frugality has added
to it till he now owns 150 acres. He is engaged extensively in
stock-raising, making a specialty of Durham short-horned cat
tle. He has several very fine head ; one, Flora Red, is regis
tered. Frora the spring of 1863 till the fall of 1865 Mr. Krafft
was engaged in the dairy business on the Thoraas farm in this
township. Mr. Krafft Avas raarried in November, 1862, to Hen
rietta Coleman, daughter of Conrad Coleman, Avho died in 1870,
leaving three children — Mary A., Ida E. and EdAvard Mahlon.
June 15, 1871, Mr. Krafft married Eliza A., daughter of Hugh
Maxwell. He is a member of the Presbyterian and his Avife of
the United Brethren church.
William Krontz, farmer, section 22, Wilmington ToAvnship,
Avas born in this township, March 5, 1844, a son of John Krontz,
one of the pioneers of De Kalb County. He remained on the

l\^

"^

HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTV.

999

larm Avith his parents till the breaking out of the Rebellion, and
in 1862 enhsted inCompany A, Eighty-eighth Indiana Infantry,
and served nearly three years, participating in the battles of
Perryville, Stone River, Chickamauga, Lookout Mountain,
Mission Ridge, Atlanta, and with Sherraan to the sea. He Avas
raarried July 30, 1865, to Araanda Wineland, daughter of John
XX^ineland, one of the early settlers of XX^ilraington Township.
They have six children— Mabel, Henry, Elam, Roy, Michael,
and Lovina. Mr. Krontz has a good farm of fifty-six acres, Avell
improved, Avith a good residence and farm buildings.
Joseph R. Lanning, merchant, Mooresville, Ind., was born in
Cadiz, Ohio, Dec. 16, 1829, a son of John Lanning, a native of
New Jersey, an early settler of Cadiz, and later of Ashland
County, Ohio. He Avas brought up to the life of a merchant,
beginning to Avork in a store Avhen he was ten years of age. He
first came to De Kalb County in 1849, hut did not locate till
185 1, Avhen he became established In the mercantile business in
Butler. He Avas elected County Clerk in 1867, and re-elected
in 1871. He Avas Postmaster of Butler four years, and Justice
of the Peace about the same length of time. In 1872 he Avas a
delegate to the convention at Baltiraore Avhich norainated Hor
ace Greeley for President. In the fall of 1867 he raoved to
Auburn, where he still resides. Frora 1875 to 1882 he Avas in
business in Aubum, and then moved his stock to Mooresville.
He carries a stock valued at $1,500, having an annual business
of §3,000. Mr. Lanning was married in April, 1857, to Mar
garet Deeter, daughter of Edward Deeter, an early settler of
De Kalb County. They have eight children — George L., Dan
iel K., Joseph R., EdAvard D., Margaret B., Minnie, Evelyn and
Ella. Aaron Levy, merchant, Butler, Ind., Avas born in Northern
France in 1842, and carae to Araerica in 1865. In 1869 he
began the mercantile business in Florence ToAvnship, Williams
Co., Ohio, and tAvo years later moved his stock to Archibald,
Ohio, where he still has one of the largest stores in the
place. In November, 1882, he opened a store in Butler, and
noAv carries a complete stock of general merchandise, valued
at $20,000, and has an annual business of from $35,000 to $40,000.
He was raarried in 1872 to CaroHne Hirsh, and to them have
been born six children — Sarah, Barnhardt, Henry, Ida, Rosa
and Louis.

^

lOOO HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
Hon. William H. Madden, M. D., of Butier, is a native of
Wayne County, Ohio, born April 8, j 82 5, a son of John Mad
den. His early Hfe was spent on a farm, but later his father
moved to Freeport, Harrison Co., Ohio, and engaged in the
mercantile business several years. He received a good educa
tion in the public schools, and after leaving school began the
study of medicine with Dr. John E. Charles, of New Curaber
land, Ohio. In 1847 he located in Butler, Ind., and practiced
six raonths ; then returned to Ohio and practiced in Jefferson
County fourteen raonths, and in 1849 returned to Butler, where
he has since resided, locating on section i, Wilraington ToAvn-
ship. He owns a fine farm of 375 acres of improved land,
which he superintends in connection with attending to his pro
fession. He is a member of the Indiana State Medical Society,
and has the respect and confidence of the brotherhood. In
1876 Dr. Madden was elected to the Indiana Legislature, and
while there introduced two iraportant bills, which Avere
adopted ; one a biU to entitle trustees of two or more townships
to build school-houses jointly, and the other to legaUze the acts
of the corporation of the town of Waterloo. Both these biUs
have been of great benefit to Wilraington and adjoining tOAvn-
ships. As a legislator Dr. Madden vv^as ever mindful of the
needs of the people whom he represented, and aU his voice was
for the promotion of measures which promised the greatest
good to his county and State. In addition to his service as
Representative he has filled several local offices of trust, such as
Justice of the Peace, Trustee, Notary Public, etc. He Avas the
first Postraaster of Butler, appointed in 1853. Dr. Madden Avas
married April 13, 1851, to Isabel Walter, daughter of Peter
Walter. Of their seven children but five are living — Herman
M., MeHssa J., Ira B., Ida M. and Emma L.
Albert J. Mason, dealer in luraber, shingles, lath, etc., Butler,
Ind., was bom in Genesee County, N. Y., Dec. 29, 1829, a son
of David and Sarah (Smith) Mason, his father a native of Ver
mont and his mother of Elmira, N. Y., both of Enghsh descent.
In 1845 his parents moved to Williams County, Ohio, and set
tled in Northwest Township, and Albert J. began to Avork in a
fanning-mill factory the folloAving spring. He Avorked there
one season and then began to work at the carpenter's and join
er's trade, which he followed continually until 1880. He came
to De Kalb County in 1856,, and has built sorae of the best
>¦".  ^kr*
•f 6  ^ -•  &\

^jnT ¦""^¦¦WH-

(Jlili^ .^ua/^^

L^.

HISTORY OF DE KALI! COUNTY. looi
houses and business blocks in the tOAvn. He established his
lumber yard in 1875, and since 1880 has given it his entire at
tention. Mr Mason was married in 1853 to Harriet M. Olds.
They have had four children, three of whom are living — Byron
C, a traveling salesman for a Cincinnati Safe and Lock Com
pany ; XX\irren A., a partner with his father; and Eva, wife of
David Knisely. Mr. Mason is a meraber of the Masonic fra
ternity, and is one of the most enterprising business raen of
Butler Elliott P. Masters, of the firm Masters & ScoviUe, Butler,
Ind.. Avas born in Fulton County, Ohio, Oct. 10, 1853, a son of
Hon. Ezekiel and Susannah B. (Perkins) Masters. In 1869 his
parents raoved to Pioneer, XX'illiaras Co., Ohio, and there he
foUoAved farraing and engaged in the produce business. He re
ceived a common-school education, reraaining Avith his parents
tiU his raajority. In 1882 he carae to Butler, Ind., and forraed
a partnership Avith J. M. ScoviUe. They keep constantly on
hand a full supply of hard and soft coal, and buy and ship but
ter, eggs, and garae to the Eastern markets. Mr. Masters was
married Nov. 18, 1875, to Martha V. Fulton, daughter of Peter
Fulton, of Pioneer, Ohio. They have three children — Bertha,
Herbert and Lottie. Mr. and Mrs. Masters are raerabers of the
Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Masters's father, Hon. Ezekiel
Masters, Avas born in Knox County, Ohio, Dec 3, 1816, and in
1826 moved with his parents to Marion County, Ohio, Avhere
his father died, leaving him at the age of seventeen years with
the care of eight younger children, and a debt to clear on the
horaestead. In 1836 he Avas appointed Orderly Sergeant of a vol
unteer rifle company, and eighteen raonths later was proraoted to
Second Lieutentant, and subsequently by succession till he was
Colonel of the regiraent. Early learning habits of frugality and
industry, he was successful and accuraulated a large property.
In 1845 he removed to Wilhams County, Ohio, where he still
lives. He has held many responsible offices in church and
State, and was a meraber of the General Assembly from 1862
till 1868. Oct. 13, 1836, he Avas married to Mary Oliver, who
died, and he afterward married Susannah B., daughter of Hon.
Judge John Perkins. He has fourteen children, all well edu
cated. David Maxwell, section 27, Wilmington Township, was born
in Wayne County, Ohio, March 12, 1838, a son of Hugh and

•^'.

I002 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
Ellen (Northgraves) Maxwell, and came with them to De Kalb
County, in 1842, and was here reared and educated, in the log-
cabin schools. In 1859 he went to Cahfornia, driving a team
of mules all the way. There were twelve in the party when they
left De Kalb County, intending to go to Pike's Peak, but at Bel
mont, Kas., receiving unfavorable reports seven of the party
turned back. Mr. Maxwell bought the mules of Mr. Fosdick,
who returned to the county, and the five proceeded to Cali
fornia. In the spring of i860 he went intoNevada and bought
a stock ranch which he ran tiU the fall of 1865 Avhen he returned
to Indiana, coming by water around Cape Horn, reaching home
Jan. 10, 1866. Since his return he has been engaged in agricult
ural pursuits, and now owns a farra of 160 acres, all well im
proved. March 27, 1870, Mr. Maxwell married Addie Bills,
daughter of Francis Bills, an old settler of Wilraington Township.
Hugh Maxwell, farmer, section 34, Wilraington Township,
was born in Mercer County, Pa., May 28, 1806, a son of James
Maxwell, a native of Ireland, who came to the United States
in an early day and in 18 14 removed his family to Wayne
County, Ohio. He Avas reared and educated in Ohio, attend
ing the primitive log-cabin schools, and those very little as his
services were usually required on the farm. After he Avas
twenty-one years of age he learned the blacksmith's trade,
serving an apprenticeship of three years, receiving in that time
only his board and clothes. He Avorked at his trade seven
years. In 1837 he carae to Indiana and entered land on sec
tion 34, WUmington Township, and in 1842 moved his faraily
to it. He has been a hard-working man and has cleared his
land of timber and made of it one of the best farras in the county.
He owns 200 acres of valuable land, all well cultivated. Mr.
Maxwell was raarried May 20, 1834, to Ellen Northgraves,
daughter of Joseph Northgraves. But four of their seven
children are living — Joseph, David, Ellen and James. Their
eldest daughter, Jane, was married and at her death left tAVO
children, one son in Dakota and the other in Michigan. Mrs.
Maxwell died in February, 1844. Mr. MaxAvell subsequently mar
ried Mary A., daughter ot David Ash. Eight of their nine chil
dren are living — Eliza A., Mary E., Hugh B., Walter S., Henry
M., Calvin J., Sarah C. and Aurilla M. Mr and Mrs. Max
well and five children are members of the United Brethren
church. Ellen is a meraber of the Christian church.

>sr

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llIsroRV OF DE KALB COUNrA'. 1003
Daniel T. McNabb. proprietor of the Wabash House, Butler,
Ind., was born in Center County, Pa., April 28, 1834, a son of
Robert and Prudence (Parsons) McNabb. He Avas reared on a
farm, receiving a good education in the common schools.
XX'hen seventeen vears of age, in 1851, he went Avith his par
ents to Lee County, III., and from there in 1855 to Ashland
County. Ohio. In 1859 he came to De Kalb County, Ind., and
settled in Stafford Township, Avhere he engaged in farming till
1862, Avhen he enlisted in Company H, Eighty-eighth Indiana
Infantry. He participated in the battles of Stone River, Per
ryville and several others, and in the latter part of 1863, at
Stone River, he was taken sick, and February, 1864, Avas dis
charged on account of disability, and has never fully recovered.
He noAv draAvs a pension on account of injuries received in the
service. He remained on the farm about tAvelve years after
his return home, and then moved to Butler, Avhere he teamed
till October 1882, Avhen he bought the XVabash Hotel. This
house contains twenty-one rooms and is kept in first-class order.
They set a good table, having everything the market affords;
terras, §1 a day or §4 a Aveek. Mr. McNabb Avas married June
5. 1855, to Sarah A., daughter of Jacob Hart. They have had
five children ; but four are living — Margaret E., AHce, Harriet
and Augusta. John XV. died in 1882, aged twenty-one years.
Mr. McNabb is a raember of the Grand Army of the Republic.
In political vicAvs he is a Republican.
Thomas H. Mitchell, deceased, Avas born in Tuscarawas
County, Ohio, Oct. 10, 1818, a son of John Mitchell, Avho Avas a
native of Pennsylvania, but a pioneer of Ohio. He was reared
a farmer, but obtained a good education, completing it at the
Leesburg, Ohio, High School. He taught school nine winters,
devoting the summers to agricultural pursuits. In 1853 he
raoved to De Kalb County, Ind., and settled on a farm in
Franklin Township, Avhere he died Oct. 23, i860. He Avas a
devoted Christian, a member of the Methodist Episcopal
church. He Avas an upright, progressive citizen, a Hberal sup
porter of all charitable institutions, benevolent to the poor, and
a kind and obliging neighbor. He was married May 22, 1844,
to Rebecca Knisely, a native of TuscaraAvas County, Ohio,
born Feb. 25, 1823, a daughter of David Knisely, an early set
tler of that county. To Mr. and Mrs. Mitchell were born eight
children, but three of Avhom are living — William K., a physi-

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1004 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
cian of Ligonier, Ind.; John D., a farraer, residing on the old
homestead, and Thirza. James O., Francis L., Mary E., Mattie
and Sarah Belle are deceased.
Aaron D. Moore, one of the raost prorainent farmers and stock-
raisers of Wilmington Township, resides on section 18, where
he has a pleasant home and 200 acres of valuable land. He
makes a specialty of raising fine stock. His Durham short-
horned cattle are registered in the American Herd Book, Chi
cago ; Spanish Merino sheep in the Vermont Merino Sheep
Breeders' Association, Middlebury, Vt., of which he is a raem
ber ; and his hogs in the Central Poland-China Record of Indian
apolis. His ram, Burwell, No. 316, is a gra!ndson of Bismark,
who took the first premium at the Centennial, where there
were twenty-seven competitors. He paid $200 for this Avhen a
lamb nine months old. It shears twenty-two pounds. One
ewe, No. 76, shears tAvelve pounds of first preraiura avooI, and
several shear eighteen pounds. His cattle and hogs are of the
choicest grades. He is the only man save Dr. W. H. Madden,
of Butler, in Northern Indiana, who has sheep registered in the
Vermont Spanish Merino Record. Mr. Moore was born in
Canal Fulton, Stark Co., Ohio, Jan. 17, 183 1. He Avas reared
and educated in his native town. His father Avas a shoemaker
and in limited circumstances, and in his youth he began boating
on the Ohio Canal in the summer, attending school in the Avin
ter. He came to De Kalb County in 1854 and settled in the
dense woods Avhere he now lives, and it was eight years before
he saw a Hght in a neighbor's cabin, and often for weeks he saAv
no one. The first log cabin he built is still on his farra. He
was a good hunter, and his gun and hounds were his raain de
pendence. For several years he paid his taxes Avith hides and
furs. He has cleared 160 acres of his OAvn land, in addition to
the assistance he has given to others. One season he Avalked
nine railes Monday mornings, chopped in the woods all the
week and returned home Saturday nights. While he Avas Avork
ing for his neighbors his wife raised a crop of corn at home on
land that had never been plowed. Mr. Moore Avas married in
January, 185 1, to Rebecca J. Caldwell, of Stark County, Ohio.
To thera have been born nine children, but six of Avhom are
Hving — Hiram M., Margaret A., Ella, A. Alvin, George M. and
John R. A daughter, Jane, died at the age of eighteen years,
and a son, William, at the age of ten years.

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J

IIISTORV OF DE KAl.l! COUNTY. 1005
Chester ^-L Newman, photographer, Butler, Ind., is a native of
Michigan, born near Brighton, Livingston County. XVhen he was
four raonths old his parents moved to Percy, N. X'., Avhere he
remained till eleven years of age. He then returned to his na
tive county and attended the schools at Pinckney and HoavcU,
and after leaving school began to learn the art of photography
in Brighton. He then opened a studio in Mendon, Mich^,
Avhere he remained one year, and moved to Butler in 1883. He
thoroughly understands his profession, and does the latest ap
proved Avork. His business is constantly increasing, and he
has the promise of a prosperous future.
Philip B. .Vimwopis, farmer and stock-raiser, Avas born in
Broome Countv. N. Y., March 24, 1817, a son of Samuel E.
Nimmons, an early settler of that county from Ncav Jersey,
Avho in 1832 raoA-ed his faraily to Richland County, Ohio. In
1S44 Mr. Niraraons came to De Kalb County, Ind., and settled
in Wilmington ToAvnship, Avhere he uoav lives, on land entered
by his brother James in 1837. Five acres Avere partially
cleared, but there Avas no house on the land. He imraediately
built a round-log house and raoved his faraily into it. When
he left Ohio he had a Avife and tAvo children, forty sheep, a coav
and calf and §27 in money. He paid his last dollar for fruit
trees and exchanged his sheep for provisions, and in that Avay
began life in the Avilderness. He Avas taken sick and was
obliged to sell forty acres of his 160 to pay for having his land
cleared, but afterward bought it again. He has always fol-
loAved agricultural pursuits and stock-raising, giving the latter
industry his special attention for the past six years. When he
began to give his attention to stock he bought a thoroughbred
short-horn heifer of John Comstock, of Liberty Mills, Ind., for
Avhich he paid what Avas considered an exorbitant price. Hoav
Avell he has succeeded can be seen by A-iewing the splendid
herd he has on his farm. The head of his herd is Sultan, No.
2, bred by B. F. Bedford, of Kentucky, his sire being Prince
Adra, and his dam Valley Princess, both prize animals at the
Paris, Ky., exhibition. He has eight head of thoroughbreds,
and ten or fifteen grades almost as good in appearance as thor
oughbreds. They sold two head of cattle at the Waterloo fair,
and one calf six months old for §75. They received eight first
preraiuras at the Hicksville and nine at the Waterloo fair.
Their fatted cattle bring i }4 cents a pound more than other

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1006 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
grades. Durharas are acknowledged to be the best beef cattle
and are easier kept than other grades. Although not consid
ered as good railch cows as some other grades, Mr. Niraraons
has one cow that is an exceptionally good railker. The farraers
of De Kalb County are indebted to Mr. Niraraons for his
untiring industry in iraproving the stock. Mr. Niraraons
was married Nov. 14, 1840, to Mary A. Brink, daughter of
Abram Brink. To them were born five children — Laura,
Sarah, Mary, Erablen and AUie. Laura raarried Wilham S.
Best, an attorney of Minneapolis, Minn. ; Sarah married Hon.
J. I. Best, one of the Supreme Court Judges of Indianapolis ;
Mary married Jaraes E. Rose, attorney of Auburn ; Erablen,
now in partnership with his father, raarried Eliza Kester. Mrs.
Niraraons died March 30, i860. In May, 1861, Mr. Niraraons
raarried Mrs. Mary Niraraons, daughter of Harvey Westfali.
They have one son — Frank W , who married AUie Yarlotts.
She had one son by her former marriage — George W. Mr.
and Mrs. Nimmons are members of the Presbyterian church.
Mr. Nimmons has never sought official honors, but has served
two terms as Justice of the Peace, and five or six years as
Township Trustee.
Prof. Augustus Obendorf was born in Tuscarawas ToAvnship,
Stark Co., Ohio, April 28, 1861, a son of Jacob and Mary (Shaub)
Obendorf. Jacob Obendorf was born in Lancaster County,
Pa., Dec. 8, 1820. He enlisted in the war for the Union in the
Sixty-fourth Ohio Infantry, and was killed at the battle of
Murfreesboro, Dec 31, 1862. He left a family of nine children
— Mary A., Hiram, Martha, Ann E., Catherine. AHce S., Sarah
S., Augustus and Jacob. Jan. 23, 1866, Mrs. Obendorf mar
ried Stephen Kutz, who was born Feb. 27, 18 10, and died Jan.
15, 1880. To thera were born three children, all deceased. In
the spring of 1881 Mrs. Kutz moved Avith her family to De
Kalb County. Augustus Obendorf received a good education
in Ohio, and in the spring of 1880 came to De Kalb County,
Ind., and the following fall Avas employed to take charge of the
Centre School, Wilmington Township, and has taught four
winters in that district. In the Avinter of i883-'84 he taught in
Stafford Township. He is a good disciplinarian, and is re
raarkably successful as an instructor, having a peculiar tact for
imparting information to others.
Benjamin Oberlin, of Butler, Avas born in Stark County, Ohio,
A^ — - -^=^

HISTlARV OF DE KALB COUNTV.

1007

Jan. 16, 1S36, a son of John Oberlin, Avho carae to De Kalb
County, Ind., in the fall of 1S45 and settled on a tract of heav
ily timbered land. His education Avas received in the log-cabin
school-house, and was limited to but a small portion of the
year. He was reared in the primitive log cabin, and spent the
greater part of his youth in assisting to clear the farm. In 1856
he came to Butler, where he has since made his horae. He
Avas married Nov. 4, 1S59, to EUzabeth Eckhardt, daughter of
Henry Eckhardt, who came from Germany to the United
States in 1S47, and in 1854 moved to Indiana. Mr. and Mrs.
Oberlin have had nine children, seven of Avhom are living —
AHce. Inez, George, Charles, Clyde, Pearl and Carl. Alice
married Jaraes Cantleburv. and has two children — Frederick
and Nora. Inez raarried Curtis McBride, and has two children
— Winona and Leroy.
Frederick W. Oberlin is a native of Massillon, Ohio, born
Sept. 21, 1S26, a son of Adara Oberlin. When he was an in
fant his parents moved to a farm, and there he Avas reared,
having early to help on the farm, and very hmited educational
advantages, as the school was some ways from their home. In
1847 he came to De Kalb County and settled in Franklin ToAvn-
ship, Avhere he foUoAved agricultural pursuits several years, and
at the same tirae ran a Massillon thresher for the farraers. He
subsequently raoved to Butler, Avhere he kept a grocery three
years. He OAvns the brick business block on the west side of
Broadway, uoav occupied by a grocery and bakery. Mr. Ober
lin Avas raarried in September, 185 1, to Mary Slentz, Avho died
in 1866. They had a family of seven children, five of Avhom
are living — Lovina, Sarah E., Melinda, Jereraiah and Harriet.
One son, James, died at the age of tAventy-seven years. June
7, 1867, Mr. Oberlin married Mrs. Martha A. Miers, daughter of
Joseph Favorite, and widow of Jacob Miers. They have one
child — Mary Jane. Mrs. Oberlin has one son — Joseph F.
Miers. Abner F. Pinchin, attorney at law, Butler, Ind., was born
Sept. 28, 1822, near the old fort in Ticonderoga, N. Y., a son
of John Pinchin, a native of Massachusetts, of English descent.
His grandfather was a soldier in the war of the Revolution ;
his father in the war of 18 12, and he in the Avar of the Rebell
ion. When he was eight years of age he went to Vermont to
live with a sister, and remained there till 1838, Avhen he re-

1008 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
raoved with his sister to Huntington County, Ind., and thence
the sarae fall to Troy Township, De Kalb County. In the fall
of 1840 he returned to his native county and learned the black
smith's trade. In 1842 he went to Racine, Wis., and was em
ployed in the construction of the harbor, on which he dug the
first shovel of dirt. In 1844 he returned to De Kalb County,
and in 1856 went to Harailton, Steuben County, where he be
gan the study of law and was adraitted to the bar in August,
1856. He has resided in Butler since 1865, and has built up a
good practice. Mr. Pinchin was married Feb. 9, 1845, to
Ameha P. Aldrich, who died in 1855, leaving tAvo children,
both noAv deceased, Sept. 19, 1855, he married Harriet Knisely.
But two of the four children born to them are Hving — Emma
O. and Abner E. From 1861 till 1863 Mr. Pinchin was a re
cruiting officer in the service of the United States, and during
that time enrolled about 1,000 names. In Deceraber, 1863, he
enlisted in Company H, One Hundred and TAventy-ninth Indi
ana Infantry, and March 7, 1864, was coraraissioned First Lieu
tenant. He remained Avith the regiraent tiU January, 1865,
when he was detailed Arabulance officer, and as such Avas
mustered out. He participated in the battles of Resaca, At
lanta, Franklin, Tenn., and Nashville. At the battle of Frank
lin the rebels were in greatly the majority, but determined
effort on the part of the Union forces won the day. The army
reports at Washington, D. C, give A. F. Pinchin the credit ot
gaining the battle of Franklin. The supply of aramunition Avas
run out and he volunteered to make the attempt to pass
through the ranks and to the rear for raore, but before he
reached headquarters he Avas Avounded, but revi\'^ed, had the
araraunition sent to the front and the ranks supplied, and they
were able to repel the attacks. His bravery and deterraination
inspired the soldiers, and Avith rencAved effort Franklin Avas
won by the Union forces.
Augustus Porter, section i, Wilmington Township, Avas born
in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, Oct. 4, i8i5,asonof Augustus
Porter, a ship-carpenter, Avho Avorked at his trade in Avinter
and in the summer attended to his farm. Our subject received
a good education, attending the High Schools of NorAvalk and
Clarksfield, Ohio. He then taught seven or eight Avinters,
working on the farm in the summer. During the summer of
1837 he chopped Avood at 25 cents a day. In 1838 he came to

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HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY. 1009
Indiana and Hved in Steuben County till 1840; then returned
to Huron County, Ohio, and thence in 1841 to WiUiams
County, Ohio, and in 1854 returned to Steuben County,
Ind. In 1856 he again Avent to \X''ilHaras County, Ohio,
and in 1870 returned to Steuben County, and in Noveraber^
1S73. rnoved to De Kalb County, and lived in Butier Township
one year In November, 1874, he moved to the farm in Wil
mington Township, where he has since Hved. In addition to
superintending his farm he is engaged in securing soldiers'
claims, bounties, pensions, and back pay. He is doing a good
business, but has met Avith a number of losses through sharp
ers, araounting to §7,000. He OAvns eighty acres of good land,
and has given his son fifty acres. Mr. Porter has experienced
all the phases of pioneer Hfe, in both XVilharas and Steuben
counties. The first year he lived in Williaras County he cleared
a small patch of ground, raised a crop of corn and fattened hogs
for market, but found that the nearest one Avas seventy miles
away, so he killed his hogs and salted thera Avith salt that cost
hira §5 a barrel. The next year he exchanged his raeat for labor,
getting 2 cents a pound for it. The nearest postoffice, mill',
and trading point were tAventy miles away. They raised the
produce and vegetables required for the family, and paid their
taxes and bought their groceries Avith furs and deer skins. Mr.
Porter has held the offices of Postmaster, Justice of the Peace,
and Notary Public. He was married March 10, 1845, to Ra
chel, daughter of Daniel and Isabel McLaughlin. They have
had seven children, but two of Avhom are Hving — Clark and
Grace. One daughter, Jane, married John Crise, and died at
the age of thirty-one years.
Julius Proctor, farmer on section 12, Wilmington ToAvnship,
was born in Huron County, Ohio, Jan. 3, 18 19. His father
OHver Proctor (deceased), was a native of Canada, who settied
in Huron County, Ohio, in 18 16. Juhus Procter was reared a
farmer and obtained his education in the old log-cabin subscrip
tion schools. In the fall of 1846 he came to this county, set
tling on his present farra, at that tirae being all woods. There
Avas but one house where Butler now stands. It was made of
hewed logs, and is now occupied by Tim Otis. Mr. Proctor
was raarried May 29, 1841,'in his native county, to Matilda
Brainard (deceased), whose parents settled where Butler now
stands in 1840, and built the house raentioned above. To Mr.

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lOIO HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
and Mrs. Proctor were born five children, of whom only
two suiwive — WiUiam Edward and John B. One son, Charles,
was a soldier in the late war, in Company L, One Hundred and
Twenty-ninth Indiana Infantry, and participated in eleven hard-
fought batties, besides several skirraishes. His death occurred
March ii, 1871. Mr. Proctor also served in the late war in
Company L, One Hundred and Fifty-fifth Indiana Infantry, for
seven months, he being one of the oldest volunteers frora this
county. He was crippled while in the service, for which he
draws a pension.
George Pugsley , Justice of the Peace and farmer, section 29,
Wilmington Township, was born Jan. 28, 1838, a son of Joseph
Pugsley, a native of England, Avho came to America in 1845
and located in Cuyahoga County, Ohio. Mr. Pugsley was
reared a farmer but obtained by his OAvn exertion a good edu
cation, attending the seminaries at Chagrin Falls and Twins-
burg, Ohio. When seventeen years of age he began teaching
and has taught every winter save three since that time. Many
began at A, B, C, and continued under his instruction at the
same school until they were qualified to teach and became
among the best teachers of the county. He came to Indiana
in AprU, i860, and settled on his present farm, Avhich Avas very
heavily timbered. He has cleared his land, doing all the work
hiraself, and now has a good farra under excellent cultivation.
Mr. Pugsley has been four times elected Justice of the Peace
in his township and is now serving the fourth term. He Avas
married in March, i860, to Caroline Bailey, daughter of Cyrus
Bailey. To them have been born ten children, nine of whora
are Hving — Cora L., Mary E., Reuben J., Eugene E., George
E., Emraa J., Walter G., WiUiara H., Laura E. and an infant
son. Mrs. Pugsley and three daughters, Cora L., Mary E. and
Erama J., are members of the Methodist Episcopal church.
James Revett is a natiye of Kinning Hall, County of Norfolk,
England, born Aug. 14, 1806, a son of James Revett. He came
to America in the fall of 1824 and located in Canada. He Avas a
British soldier in Canada and Nova Scotia. In January, 1829,
he came to the United States and lived in Pennsylvania a num
ber of years, having a shoe shop in Bradford County the raost
of the tirae. In September, 1845, he carae to De Kalb County
and located three miles south of the present site of Butler.
Not being able to get any Avork at his trade he worked on

^^T

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lL

HISlOkY OF DEKALB A'OUN'IY. lOI I
Henry Fusselman's millrace at 50 cents a day, frora daylight
till starlight, and then had to carry Avater a halt a mile and
make porridge for his sick family. For several years he en
gaged in farming, and many tiraes has hauled his grain to Fort
Wayne and there sold it for 53 cents a bushel, half cash and
half trade, and spent all the cash to feed his team on the Avay
home. In 1855 he raoved to Butler and began to Avork at his
trade Avhich he folloAved successfully several years, and now
lives retired from active business life. He was married April
13, 1S34. to Sarah M. Haskins, daughter of Aris Haskins. At
their golden Avedding in 1S84, 250 people were in attendance,
and they received many valuable presents. They have had
nine children ; but four are living — Eliza J., Abigail E., Thomas
and Minerva Anna. James died at the age of thirteen years,
John D., aged ten raonths ; Matilda, aged tAventy-five years ;
and George E., March 9, 1879. I" 1861 Mr. Revett and his
son George enlisted in the Avar for the Union. At Donelson
Mr. Revett Avas Avounded and now draws a pension. George
participated in all the engagements of the Forty-fourth Indiana,
and although Avounded at Shiloh, had his Avound dressed and
remained Avith his regiment. He Avas a brave soldier, but died
from the effects of his exposure during the Avar. Mr. Revett
is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic and has a
gold-headed mahogany cane presented him by his brethren in
the order. Mrs. Revett has been a hard-Avorking Avoman, al-
Avays doing her share to assist In the maintenance of the faraily.
She is a native of Ncav York, of Enghsh descent, her great
grandfather, Benjarain Haskins, coraing to Araerica in an early
day and settling in Massachusetts, where her grandfather,
Richard Haskins, Avas born.
Frank Reynolds, farraer, section 12, Wilraington ToAvnship,
Avas born in Wayne County, Ohio, May 4, 1833. a son of Jaraes
and Mary (McLellan) Reynolds, his father a native of DelaAvare
and his raother of Greene County, Pa, His raother Avas a
granddaughter of Colonel McLellan, Avho Avas kiUed by an In
dian while camping by a spring. Some years after a son of
Colonel McLellan met the Indian and was roAving Avith him
across the river, Avhen he learned the facts and atterapted to
kiU him, but the Indian escaped by jumping into the river
Mr. Reynolds Avas reared and educated in his native county,
and in 1849 carae to De Kalb County, Ind., and taught school

•K^

IOI2 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
the following winter. The next spring he returned to Ohio,
with the intention of going to California, but his friends pur
suaded hira to abandon the idea. In 1854 he came with his
father's family to De Kalb County and settled near Auburn.
He subsequently lived some years in Troy Township, and in
1872 raoved to Wilmingion Township and settled on the farm
where he nOAV lives. He was raarried Aug. 7, 1856, to Lucy
A. Wannamaker, a native of TrurabuU County, Ohio, born
Jan. 8, 1834, a daughter of Elder Sarauel Wannaraaker. To
them have been born four children — William W., deceased ;
Laura M., wife of Hon. W. W. Darby, of Bryan, Ohio ; Frank
E. and Alzein M. Mrs. Reynolds's father came to De Kalb
County in 1844, and settled in Stafford Township, where he fol
lowed agricultural pursuits, and at the sarae tirae preached for
the Christian church. He had a family of six children — Charles
H., deceased ; Lucinda, Cordelia, Maria, Lucy A. and Laura A.
Mr. Wannamaker died in the spring of 1880. Mr. Reynolds
has traveled over the raost of the States and Territories. In
1879 he took a trip South, visiting Washington, Richraond,
Cincinnati and several of the Southern cities, and in 1882 Avent
to California, going by the Southern and returning by the Cen
tral route. He and his wife are members of the Christian
church. Jesse W. Rose, a pioneer of De Kalb County, Avas born in Trum
bull County, Ohio, March 29, 181 8, a son of John Rose, a native
of Maryland, Avho settled in TrurabuU County in 1816, and in
1836 raoved to De Kalb County, settUng in Stafford ToAvnship,
in the dense Avoods. A colony of twenty -six persons came from
Trumbull County, reaching De Kalb County Oct. 4. John Rose
entered 320 acres of land on section 19, and by the next spring
had enough of it cleared to raise some grain and vegetables.
Their nearest raarket was Fort Wayne or Defiance. Tavo years
later Rev. Ladd Thomas opened a sraall grocery in the colony,
bringing his goods from Fort Wayne on horseback. He at
tended to their material wants during the week, and on Sunday
administered to their spiritual needs. Indians Avere numerous,
but peaceable and quiet. The chief, John BrOAvn, Avas a fre
quent visitor to the Rose family. Our subject was one of the
most energetic young men in the colony. He had a good team
and was often called on to assist at log-rollings and house-rais
ings. He has done as much to make De Kalb County Avhat it

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HISTORY OF DEKALB COUNTY. 1013
is as any ot the early settlers. He has been very prominently
identified Avith all public interests, and has held several posi
tions of trust and responsibility. But a few days after attain
ing his m.-ijority he was elected Constable and served four years.
He has served as Clerk ten years, and Treasurer tAvo years. He
was married March 21, iS58,to Marilla A., daughter of Stephen
XX'. Hackley. They had one child, uoav deceased. An adopted
daughter, Martha, is now the Avife of Samuel H. Tyson, and has
two children— Rose and Herbert. Mrs. Rose died Feb. i, 1880.
She was a meraber of the United Brethren church, and a sincere,
earnest Christian. None Avho applied to her for food or assist
ance was turned away. Her presence was comforting In the
sick-room, and in any time of trouble her quiet ministrations
Avere beneficial and cheering. Her death was a loss to the
comraunity and to her faraily that cannot be estiraated.
U'illiam A. Rose, iarmer, section 28, XVilmington ToAvnship,
Avas born in Trumbull County, Ohio, March 5, 1842, a son of
Jaraes Rose, Avho raoved his family to De Kalb County in 1846
and settled in XX'ilraington ToAvnship, and in 1866 raoved to
Moore County, Minn., Avhere he died in 1S74. WiUiam A. Rose
Avas reared and educated in De Kalb County. He enlisted in
the AA^ar of the Rebellion, in Company F, Forty-fourth Indiana In
fantry, as private, and Avas proraoted through the various grades
to Second Lieutenant. He participated in the battles of Fort
Donelson, Shiloh, Stone River, Chickamauga and others, serv
ing four years. Feb. 11, 1864, Avhile home on a furlough, he Avas
married to Celestine C. MatthcAvs, a daughter of Nathan Mat-
thcAvs, Avho settled on section 27, XVilmington ToAvnship, in
1841. Five children have been born to them; but three are liv
ing — Grace, Bertha and Frank. Mr. Rose moved to his present
farm in July, 1880. He has fifty-three acres of valuable land,
Avith a good residence and farm-buildings, and Is one of the
prosperous farraers of Wilmington Township. He and his Avife
are merabers of the Baptist church. He is a raeraber of the
Grand Army of the Republic
Thomas Rudd, dealer in fresh and cured meats, canned goods
and oysters, Butler, Ind., was born in Bellevue, Ohio, April 30,
1854, a son of John W. and Mary (Wolcott) Rudd, natives of
Devonshire, England, who emigrated to America in 1852 and
settled in Ohio, Avhere his father died in 1863. He then lived
with a faraily naraed Charaberlain till sixteen years of age,
64

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IOI4 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
three years ot the time in Monticello, Jones Co., Iowa. When
sixteen years of age he began clerking for a raan in a raeat
market, and in April, 1880, came to Butler and estabhshed his
present place of business. He is a genial, courteous tradesman,
and has built up a good trade. He keeps constantly on hand
all kinds of goods in his line, and this added to his reasonable
prices insures his success. Mr. Rudd was married Nov. 5,
1874, to Mary Link, of North Monroeville, Ohio. They have
had two children — Robert, deceased, and Frederick. He is a
member of the 1. O. O. F. and Royal Arcanum, Bellevue, Ohio.
He is a member of the Board of Town Trustees.
Prof. Thomas J. Sanders, A. M., was born in Wayne County,
Ohio, Jan. 18, 1855, of humble but honorable parents. Of his
ancestors on his father's side, though raost probably of Enghsh
descent, nothing is known certainly further back than his grand
father, who was a native of Pennsylvania. They are charac
terized by that vigor of body and raind, strength of passion,
inflexibility of will, and boldness of character of those born to
command. On his mother's side his ancestry can be distinctly
traced through six or seven hundred years to the old English
stock, tall in stature, and possessing great physical and
mental power and fertility oi resources. The subject of our
sketch was reared on a farm, enduring many privations raid
practices of rigid econoray and earnest toil. At the age of six
teen he resolved, though he kncAv not how, to push his educa
tion to the highest possible point. Having completed the Avork
in the old " Stratton " school, he prosecuted his studies through
many discourageraents and sacrifices in the Sraithville High
School and the Canaan and Burbank academies. He then
entered the classical department of Otterbein University, Wes-
terville, Ohio, from which he graduated in 1878, and in the
summer of 1880 graduated frora the Ohio Central Normal
School, Worthington, Ohio. He Is at present (1885) taking the
post-graduate course, department of philosophy, in the Univer
sity of Wooster, Wooster, Ohio. Was recently elected first
Hfe member of the Otterbein University Historical Society, and
has just received frora the State of Indiana a life license to
teach. Previous to his graduation he taught tAvo terms of dis
trict school, and assisted in the academies and High School
where he attended. Soon after his graduation from the uni
versity he became Principal of the Edon, Ohio, pubhc schools.

;^:"

HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.

IOI5

which position he filled for three years. Subsequently he was
called to the Principalship of the XVest Unity, Ohio, pubhc
schools, and after serving one year was elected Superintendent
of the Butler public schools, which position he has since filled.
In teachers' institutes and associations he is an able and enthu
siastic instructor He is an earnest and faithful Avorker in the
Sunday-school, engages heartily in all moral reforms, addresses
public gatherings, and deliycrs scientific lectures. Prof. San
ders is a thorough, efficient instructor, a strict disciplinarian,
and AvhUe he commands the love and esteem of his pupils by
his ready co-operation and interest in their plans, inspires them
to do good Avork, and assures thera of his own competency to
aid thera. He has brought the schools of Butler to a high
degree of excellence, and conducts thera on the most approved
raethods of normal instruction. He beUeves that constant
acquisition should be the law of the teacher's life ; that no one
can become a good teacher Avho is not a good student, and that
It is the animus or spirit of the teacher that gives him his chief
value. Says Prof. John Ogden, of XVashington, D. C. : " He
is a grand student. He combines thought and study Avith
teaching:, in other Avords, he studies his work. He teaches
more than he knoAvs, as every good teacher does; i. c, the
pupils get more frora his example than from his precept.
Virtue goes out frora hira by contact, for he is an unconscious
teacher — a good man." Prof. Sanders Avas raarried June 2, 1878,
to Gertrude E., daughter of Rev. Charles A. Slater, of Bur
bank, Ohio, also a graduate of Otterbein University. They
have one son, Ernest Avery, born June 28, 1881. they are
merabers of the United Brethren church.
John M. ScoviUe, oi the firm Masters & ScoviUe, dealers in
coal and produce, Avas born in Lorain County, Ohio, July 19,
1 841, a son of Ira B. and Harriet (Dennison) ScoviUe. In 1848
his parents moved to Ashland County, Ohio, and tAvo years
later to Medina County, returning to Ashland County in 1852,
and in 1858 moA^ed to Williaras County. Mr. ScoviUe received
a good education, reraaining Avith his parents tiU raanhood. He
enlisted in the Avar of the Rebellion, Sept. i, 1861, in Corapany
H, Thirty-eighth Ohio Infantry, and served nearly four years,
re-enlisting as a veteran in December, 1863 ; was mustered out
July 25, 1865. He enlisted as a priA'ate and rose to the rank of
Sergeant. He participated in the battles of Corinth, Perryville,

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^

IO16 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
Stone River, Jonesboro, Atlanta and others. After the war he
settled in Pioneer, Ohio, and subsequently moved to Muir,
Mich. He carae to De Kalb County, Ind., and engaged in the
produce business with E. P. Masters, and in January, 1884,
added coal. Mr. ScovUle was raarried Sept. 14, 1865, to Lydia
R., daughter of Joshua Bear. They have had four children ;
three are living — Charles L., George S. and NeUie V.
Andrew Smith, section 36, Wilraington Township, was born
in Trenton, Oneida Co., N. Y., May 10, 1814, a son of David
Sraith, a native of Dutchess County, N. Y., who raoved Avith
his family to Wayne County, Ohio, in the faU of 18 14.. His
grandfather, David Smith, was a soldier in the Avar of the Rev
olution, and was taken prisoner by the British, and Avith others
was to have been put to death, "rhe night before the day set
for their execution he and a comrade plead Avith the door
keeper to give them a little air, and he opened the door slightly
and Mr. Smith knocked him down, and then, Avith about half
the prisoners, escaped. David Smith, Jr., was a soldier in the
Avar of 1812. Our subject was reared in Ohio, and in 1845
carae to De Kalb County, Ind., and settled in the thick Avoods
on the site of his present farm. He cleared a small patch and
built a cabin 18x20 feet, in which he Hved nine years. He now^
owns 160 acres of valuable land, on which are good farm build
ings. He was married Feb. 4, 1839, to Elizabeth Meacham,
who died eighteen months after her marriage. Jan. i, 1844, he
married Susanna Rice, and to them Avere born three children ;
but two are living — George R. and Murray A. Marshall B. is
deceased. Mrs. Smith died, and Dec. 23, 1862, Mr. Smith mar
ried Luthera A. Sutherland, Avho at her death left one son —
Andrew M. Sept. 27, 1881, Mr. Smith married Maggie (An
thony) Corey, widow of Jackson Corey. Mrs. Sraith has been
married three times. Her first husband was John Kiser ; they
had three children — Lucinda, noAv Mrs. Wiles ; Sarah F., uoav
Mrs. Andrews, and George H. Mrs. Smith is a native of Jeffer
son County, N. Y., and Avas left an orphan Avhen a child. She
Avas reared by Abram Beecher, and Avith him came to De Kalb
County in 1836. They Hved in a tent ten days and Avere obliged
to keep candles burning all night to keep the Avolves aAvay, but
even then they would prowl around and groAvl. The Indian
chiefs Popquah and MashaAvness visited them often. The lat
ter was 1 10 years old when the tribe left the settlement.

HI.STORY OF DE KALli COUNTY. IOI7
Samuel E. Stafford, engineer Lake Shore & Michigan South
ern Railroad, Butler Ind., Avas born in Ashland County, Ind.,
July 4, 1S44, a son oi John Stafford, a native of Pennsylvania,
but an early settler of Ashland County. In 1852 his parents
moved to De Kalb County, Ind., and settled in Jackson Town
ship, where he was reared. He enlisted in the Avar of the Re
bellion in Company H, Thirtieth Indiana Infantry, and partici
pated in the battles of Atlanta, Franklin, NashvUle and others,
and at the close of the war was sent with his regiment to Texas,
Avhere they remained six months. After his return home he
Avorked on the farra a year and then Avorked six years at the
mason and plasterer's trades. In November, 1872, he entered
the eraploy of the Michigan Southern Railroad Company, and
has served them faithfully and avcU. Since that time he has
changed his residence from Elkhart to Butler, alternating be
tAveen the tAVO scA-eral times, coming to Butier the last time in
1SS4. He has a pleasant residence in Butler. He Avas mar
ried Jan. 16, 1868, to Elizabeth Henderson, a native of Jackson
ToAvnship, born Oct. 5, 1846, a daughter of Sarauel Henderson,
a pioneer of the toAvnship. They have five children— Frank
M., Jessie M., Charles H. Effie L. and Gertrude M. Mr. Staf
ford is a meraber of the Brotherhood of Locoraotive Engin
eers and of the Grand Army of the Republic. Mrs. Stafford
is a meraber of the Methodist Episcopal church.
Herman E. Stannard Avas born in XVyoming County, N. Y.,
Sept. 19, 1836, a son of Grinnell Stannard, a native of Scotland,
who came to Araerica in 1806 and settled in New York, and in
1840 moved to Allegany County, Avhere he died in 1873. Our
subject left home at the age of seventeen years and Avent to
Joliet, IU., and the same fall to Galesburg, and Avas employed in
laying the track of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Rail
road. He Avas fireman on the first engine that ran into Gales
burg. He subsequently Avorked on the steamer New York,
that ran from St. Louis to Keokuk, and Avent to Yankton, D. T.,
in 1856. Omaha at that time Avas a pile of Avood, two flat-boats
and a wood-chopper's shanty. He then returned to the em
ploy of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad for a fcAv
months, and then started for home, but on the way changed his
mind and Avorked for the Michigan Central Railroad till No
vember, 1857. H!e then was fireman on the Erie Railroad on a
switch-engine tAvo years, and on the road a year. He enlisted

¦*y|ia-

IO18 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
in the service of his country in Corapany G, Twenty-seventh
New York Infantry, and participated in the first battle at Bull
Run, West Point, and the seven days' battle. He was wounded
the second day of the latter battle, and was taken to Fort
Wood on Bedlow's Island, and frora there went horae on a
furlough. After the war, in 1866, Mr. Stannard carae West as
far as Michigan and lived in Linden five years, and in White
hall a year. He had charge of the machinery in a tannery in
the latter place. He then lived a year in Portland, Mich., and
in 1874 entered the employ of the Wabash Railroad, beginning
as pump repairer. He now has charge of the pumps on 360
miles of the road. He carae to Butler, April 25, 1882. Mr.
Stannard was married Feb. 4, 1863, to Martha WiUcox, of
Petoskey, Mich., a daughter of Abram Willcox. Their only
child, Jennie, is deceased.
A. T. Strong was born May 14, 1845, in Whitley County, Ind.,
tAVO miles north of Columbia City, on what Avas knoAvn as the
Homer Alexander farra, a son of Ephraim and Angehne (Hill)
Strong. When he was one year old his father raoved one mile
Avest of Columbia City on a piece of land Avhich is now a part
of the county farm, and when he was five years of age his father
moved to Columbia City and engaged in the grocery and pro
vision trade which afforded him a good opportunity of attend
ing school, helping him in the grocery spare times. In 1856
his mother died, and in 1857 his father married Helenor Kiler.
During the same year moved to the country, three and a
half railes northwest of Columbia City, on Avhat Avas known as
the Walker farm, and in the winter of i859-'6o removed seven
miles north of Columbia City, on what was knoAVn as the Hum
barger farm. He served his father until March 1, 1864, Avhen
he, Avith Vallorous Brown, enlisted in Company C, ScA'cnteenth
Indiana Infantry, arrived at Indianapolis, March 2, mustered
into service March 3, and the 4th of March drcAv one month's
pay ($13) and $50 bounty. Armed with revolver, paper-collar
and pair of cavalry boots he got a furlough home for ten days;
reported at Camp Carrington March 15 ; on tbe i6th boarded
the Jeffersonville, Madison & Indianapolis train for Louisville ;
caraped about two weeks at Louisville, when he Avas mounted
and took up line of march for Nashville ; passing through Nash
ville marched for Chattanooga, via Deckerd and Huntsville,
and arrived at Chattanooga, May i, 1864; May 7 was engaged
-^ s  -»- -^1  • V

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i

HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY. 1OI9
on the right Aviiig reconnoitering and skirmishing al Tunnel
Hill ; Avas engaged at Buzzard's Roost, Dalton, Rockv Face
Ridge, Snake Creek Gap, Rome, Alatoona, Kingston, Carters-
ville; Avas dismounted at Burnt Hickory by horse falling from
under him ; June 5th Avas put on detached duty at Columbia,
Tenn.; on the 12th of July rejoined his command at Etawa
Ridge and took part in the engagements at Buck Head, Cross
Keyes and Peach Tree Creek; July 21st Avent to Covington, east
of Atlanta, cutting telegraph hnes and tearing up railroad track;
about the 30th of July was engaged in the Jonesborough fight,
foUoAving Hood back to Nashville. He Avas taken sick on the
march and Avent into the hospital at Chattanooga ; thence to
Nashyille Hospital, branch of No. 3. In November he rejoined
his command Avhich Avas sent to Louisville to be remounted ;
thence to Gravally Springs, and Avent into camp for the Avinter;
March 20th took up line of march for raid through Alabama
and Georgia; April 2, 1865, had a hard fight at Selma. His
corarade. Brown, Avas Avounded in left cheek, but under the
careful care of Strong he soon recovered, never leaving ranks ;
May 20th Avas one of the advance guard, taking the city of
Macon, Ga., and was detailed as safeguard for Mr. Cox by
Major-General Wilson; May 25th Avas called in and Corapany
C started out along the Southwestern Railroad, via Oglethorp,
Fort Valey, in search of Jeff Davis, who was escaping across
the country. At Cuthbert, BroAvn Avas poisoned and unable to
go any further, and he Avas detailed to take care of hira ; re
mained tAVO Aveeks at Cuthbert and returned to Macon ; Avas
mustered out of service Oct. 5, 1865, and Avas honorably dis
charged ; arrived at home Oct. 13, 1865. He then engaged in
farming Avith his father and attended the High School under
Professor Dolan. He opened the first Avinter school in Decem
ber, 1865 ; attended the High School the folio \Adng su.-nmer
and graduated, and taught school the following Avinter. March
26, 1868, he Avas raarried to Alraedia lams. He farmed and
ran a threshing-machine during sumraer, and in the fall and
Avinter taught at Hively's school-house. In the spring of 1870
he reraoved to Columbia City and engaged in the manufacture
of broom-handles, and May 21, 1 871, he was employed at bridge-
building on the D., E. R. & 1. Railroad, then under course ot
construction ; July 5 he Avent on the iron train, and Oct. 5 got
the job of Aviping ; June 12, 1872, Avas promoted to fireman ; in

> V

1020

HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.

May, 1874, to switch engineer, and to road engineer in August,
1874. He moved to Logansport in November, 1876, and was
given the accommodation train; Aug. 15, 1881, he was pro
moted to passenger engineer, and Dec. 3 removed to Butler,
Ind. In June, 1885, Mr. Strong took a trip with some of his
comrades through the South, visiting the old battlefields on
Avhich they fought. Mr. and Mrs. Strong have two sons—
Jeddy, born Dec. 28, 1868, and Heber, born Oct. i, 1876.
George W. Swartz, farmer, section 26, Wilmington Township
is one of the most prominent and influential citizens of the
tOAvnship. He bought his land in the fall of 1848 apart of
Avhich Avas on section 25, but did not move to it tiU 1859. He
has cleared it from a heavily timbered tract and has made of it
one of the best farras in the township. He OAvns 335 acres ot
valuable land, and has a fine residence and good farm build
ings. He Avas born in Luzerne County, Pa., Oct. 3, 1817, a son
of Michael Swartz, of German descent. He received a good
education corapleting it at the Belvidere, N. J., Acaderay, and
when eighteen years of age began to work at the carpenter and
joiner's trade. In 1838 he came to Indiana and Hved in Fort
Wayne till 1842, and then went to Fort Defiance, Ohio, and to
Lafayette, Ind., in 1845. In 1850 he Avent to California and
worked in the gold and quartz mines tiU 1858, when he returned
to Pennsylvania and in 1859 came to Indiana and settled on his
land. He Avas married March 9, 1859, to Elizabeth Hollow-
peter, daughter of Wesley HoUowpeter, of Pennsylvania.
They have had five children, but three of Avhora are Hving — Ida
E., OlHe and Minnie V. Mr. Swartz has been a Justice of the
Peace eight years, and has served in several local positions of
trust, such as Supervisor, School Director and Trustee, and
has ahvays given entire satisfaction to his constituents. Mrs.
SAvartz is a raember of the Methodist Episcopal church. In
addition to his farm Mr. Swartz o-vns a large flouring mill on
the St.Joseph River in Stafford ToAvnship, where he carries on
a large business.
John H. Topper, farmer, section 36, Wilmington ToAvnship,
is one of the most successful and prominent young farraers of
the toAvnship. He is a native of Wilmington, born Oct. 4, 1863,
a son of WilHam H. Topper, one of the early settlers. He has
given his attention to agricultural pursuits since old enough to
be of assistance on the farm. He Avent to Defiance County,

s> "r

."H^ — ^ -^ — ^\^
insrORY OF DE KAl.r. COUNTV. 102I
Ohio, about 1876 and Avorked Iavo summers for his brother,
Simon P. He now lives on the homestead Avhich he superin
tends and thus relieves his father of the burden he has borne so
long and faithfully. He united with the United Brethren
church in 187S, but in 1883 changed his membership to the
Dunkard church at Corunna.
William H. Topper, section 36, \X'ilmington ToAvnship, Avas
born im Bedford County, Pa., June 20, 1828, a son of George
Topper. He settled in Ashland, then XVayne, County, Ohio,
in 1S45, and in 1857 moved to De Kalb County, Ind., and set
tled in XX'ilraington ToAvnship. Mr. Topper Avas married in
Ohio in 1S47, to Phoebe Newman, daughter of Thomas Ncav-
man. Their tAvo children are both deceased. Mrs. Topper
died in 1849. ^" April, 1850, Mr. Topper married Tracy East-
erday, a nati\-e of XVayne County, Ohio, born Sept. 30, 183 1, a
daughter of Michael Easterday. Nine children have been born
to thera, eight of whora are living — Simon, Margaret A., Mary
L., John H., Laura E., William A., Letitia and Rosa L. Mr.
and Mrs. Topper are raerabers of the United Brethren church.
Mr. Topper's first Avife was the heir of one-seventh of $64,000,-
000 in England, and had she lived her right to it Avould have
been proven Avith very little difficulty.
William V. Troutman, station agent for the Wabash Railway
at Butler, Ind., Avas born in Jefferson County, Ind., July 23,
1855, a son of Abrahara and Margaret E. Troufraan. He Avas
reared and educated in his native county, and when tAventy
years of age Avent to Deputy, Ind., and learned telegraphy.
He Avorked for the Jeffersonville, Madison & Indianapolis Rail
road at Edinburg, Ind., four and a half years, and frora there
Avent to Roachdale, Ind., where he had charge of all the busi
ness of tAVO corapanies a year. In August, 1881, he went to
Kokorao, Ind., and attended to the telegraph office of the rail
road company tiU March, 1883, Avhen he came to Butler and
has since had charge of the freight and ticket office of the Wa
bash Road. Mr Troutman Avas married Nov. 24, 1880, to
Lizzie Ford. To them have been born two children ; but one
is living — Lena XV.
Albertus A. Waters, section 5, Wilraington ToAvnship, is one
of tbe raost prosperous farraers and stock-raisers in the tOAvn-
ship. He was born in Cortland County, N. Y., March 18, 1832,
a son of Aretus and Caroline (LaAv) Waters, his father a native

^'.

1022

HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.

of Connecticut and his raother of Oneida County, N. Y. There
was a faraily of twelve children, nine of whora are living — Al-
cander S., Merton M., Albertus A., Orson, Oscar, Henry D.,
Curtis D., George W. L. and Eraily A. In 1856 our subject
' carae to De Kalb County, Ind., and settled in Wilmington
Township. He now owns a fine farra of 120 acres, all well
cultivated. He raakes a specialty of stock-raising and has some
fine aniraals from registered herds. Mr. Waters was snarried
July 18, 1852, in Orleans County, N. Y., to Cynthia Nodine, a
native of Connecticut, daughter of Henry Nodine. To them
Avere born six children— Henry, Elvena, Zella, Aretus A., Alta
Ettie and George L. Henry raarried Climera Treraan, and
resides at Surarait ; Elvena married Edward Kiphnger, and has
tAVO children — George A. and Carlton H.; Zella raarried Ah
mond Jennings, and has one child — Lola. Mr. Waters en
listed in the war of the RebeUion, in the One Hundredth
Indiana Infantry, and served three years. He participated in
the battles of Vicksburg, Black River Bridge, Jackson, Chatta
nooga, Knoxville, Dalton, Tunnel HiU, Resaca, Dallas, New
Hope, Big Shanty, Kenesaw Mountain, Mission Ridge, Chat
tahoochie, siege of Atlanta, Jonesboro, Lovejoy, Cedar Bluff,
Little River, Griswoldville, Savannah, Charleston, Branch-
viUe, Columbia, Bentonville, Raleigh and others. He enhsted as
a private, and Nov. 22, 1864, was brevetted Second Lieutenant.
Mr. Waters is now a raember of the Grand Array of the Re
public, Post No. 52, Waterloo, Ind. He has served his tOAvn-
ship as Justice of the Peace. In religious faith he adheres to
the Church of God.
Robert H. Weamer, proprietor Wearaer House, Butler, Ind.,
was bom in Indiana County, Pa., April 23, 1839. His father,
Daniel H. Weamer, was a native of Pennsylvania, of Gerraan
descent. In 1843 the family raoved to Guernsey County, Ohio,
and in 1845 to Ply raouth, Ohio, where the mother died in 1848.
The father afterward moved to Henry County, Ohio, Avhere
he died in 1873. In 1857 our subject Avent to Napoleon, Ohio,
and worked tAvo years with his brother, George W., on the
Napoleon Star. Then Avent to Mansfield, Ohio, and Avorked
on the Shield and Banner a year. XVhile there cast his first
vote for Abrahara Lincoln, and that fall raoved to Kendallville,
Ind., and was employed as foreman of the KendallAnlle Journal.
June 6, 1 86 1, he enlisted in Company E, Second Kentucky In-

r

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^=^:^rr:rrr^::rrrr^;^^^-!— — — — — — ^-^-^— ^^— — ^— — — — ^^— — — — — — — t— h

HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.

1023

fantry, and served three years. He participated in the battles
of Shiloh, Stone River, Chickamauga, Corinth, Antioch ; Avas
taken prisoner at Antioch. The first year of his service was in
KanaAvha Valley, Va., in an active campaign. After his return
home in 1865 he Avent to Cardington, Ohio, and published the
Republican a few raonths. In 1868 he forraed a partnership
Avith J. A. Myrtle in the publication of the Steuben Republican,
at Angola, Ind. In 1874 he established the De Kalb County Re
publican at Auburn, and conducted it till 1879. I" 1880 he
began the pubUcation of the B\xt\er Record, and in 1881 estab
hshed the Review, Avhich he published till October, 1884, Avhen
he sold out and became the proprietor of the Boots House,
noAv the XX'eamer House. He makes a genial, accommodating
landlord, and keeps one of the best hotels in the county. Mr.
XX'earaer was raarried Nov. 10, 1864, at Urbana, Ohio, to Elvira,
daughter of XX^m. M. Gregg. They have had three children-
William L., born in 1865, died in 1869; Sadie B., born April
18, 1872; Mary Maud, born Nov. 28, 1876. Mr Weamer is a
member of the Knights of Pythias and the Grand Array of the
Repubhc He and his Avife are raerabers of the Methodist
Episcopal church.
James M. Weeks, one of the raost prorainent and successful of
the pioneers of De Kalb County, lives on section 32, Wilmington
Township, where he settled in June, 1836. At that time the
country Avas ipfested Avith Avild aniraals and Indians, and the
former made night hideous Avith their howHng. The Indians
Avere peaceable, but were beggars and thieves. He entered
160 acres frora the Government on the northwest quarter of
section 32, and has brought it from its wild wooded state to its
present valuable condition. When he first came to the county
he Avorked by the day or job at anything he could get to do.
He at one time split 1,000 rails tAvelve feet long for Williara
Thomas for 50 cents a hundred, receiving his pay in two bills,
and the bank which issued one of them suspended payraent the
next day, and $3 was all he realized for the job. He has cleared
100 acres of his land with his own hands, and has cleared nearly
twice as ranch for other settlers. He raet with serious discour
ageraents when a young raan, but his deterraination and pluck
have carried him through all difficulties, and he is now reaping
the rcAvard of his hard labor. Mr. Weeks was born May 26,
1 8 14, in Rockbridge County, Va., a son of John and Margaret

1024 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
(McQuillen) Weeks. His father died in January, 1815, and his
raother when he was ten years old. He is the youngest of four
chUdren. His brother John lives in Union Township ; a sister
Jane married Jacob Platter, and is now deceased ; and Mary is
the Avife of Vinage Russell, of Miami County, Ohio. Mr.
Weeks lived with an uncle till seventeen years of age, and then
learned the blacksmith's trade, at Avhich he worked five years.
when he came to DeKalb County. He was raarried Dec 18,
1849, to Mary Hay, a native of Gerraany, daughter of Valen
tine Hay. Their only child died at the age of ten and a half
months. Mrs. Weeks died Oct. 3, 1872. She Avas an exem
plary Christian woman, a raeraber of the Lutheran church, and
Avas beloved by all Avho knew her. Cornelius Platter, a son of
Mr. Weeks's nephew, is Hying on his farra and superintends the
work. He was born in Defiance County, Ohio, Sept. 12, 1861,
a son of Jaraes Platter, the first white child born in the county.
He Avas raarried to Eliza Davis, daughter of Isaiah Davis, and
has tAVO chUdren — Charles and Harriet E. Mr. Weeks is
therefore living Avith the fourth generation.
Henry Whetsel, one of the raost influential farraers of Wilming
ton Township, was born in Wayne County, Ohio, Sept. 10, 1821,
a son of Henry Whetsel, a native of Pennsylvania, and an early
settler of Wayne County. In 1830 his parents moved to Seneca
County, Ohio, and there he was reared and educated. He at
tended the old-fashioned log-cabin schools, where the mode of
instruction was as primitive as the style of the house. In 1840
he came to De Kalb County, and worked five years for Wesley
Park, a farraer near Aubum. He bought 160 acres of timber
land on section 16, Wilraington Township, on Avhich he after
ward settled and which is uoav his finely cultivated farm. Mr.
Whetsel married Julia Waterraan, and to thera Avere born ten
children, eight of whora are living.
William J. Whetsel, a well-known teacher of DeKalb County,
was born in Wilraington Township, April 4, 1856, a son of Henry
and JuHa (Waterraan) Whetsel. He received a good education,
attending the High Schools of Butler and Waterloo, and has
taught five consecutive winters in his native tOAvnship. He is
a successful instructor and disciplinarian, and has uoav a good
reputation as a teacher. His suraraers he devotes to study and
work at the carpenter's trade. Mr. Whetsel is one of the best
informed men of the tOAvnship, keeping pace Avith all the local

HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY. IO25
interests as well as those of personal benefit, lie owns forty
acres of land, Avhich has been cultivated by hired labor. Mr.
XX'hetsel is a member of the United Brethren church.
John Wilson, farraer, section 30, Wilraington Township, Avas
born in Jefferson County, Ohio, March 14, 1840, a son of James
and Jane (Moody) XX^ilson, Avho came to De Kalb County in the
fall of 1844 and settled in the Avoods on section 33, Wilmington
ToAvnship, coming from Ohio in a one-horse Avagon. The
father died in 1S47. XX^'hen a youth our subject learned the car
penter's trade and worked at it several years. He spent a year
and a half in Traverse Bay, Mich. He enlisted in the Avar of
the Rebellion in Company E, Eleventh Indiana Infantry, known
as General Lcav XX^allace's Zouaves, and served over four years.
He participated in the. battles of Fort Henry, Fort Hymen,
Fort Donelson, Shiloh, Port Gibson, Champion Hills and sev
eral others. He Avas married May 17, 1866, to Amanda Bair,
daughter of Rudolph Bair, Avho moved to Allen County, Ind.,
in 1845. -^^rs. XVilson is a native of Holraes County, Ohio,
born in Septeraber, 1844. To INlr. and Mrs. XX''ilson have been
born four children — Morton R., Jaraes A. B., Alraa O. and
Mary M. Mr. Wilson served this township as Justice of the
Peace h\e years, Avhen he resigned. He has been a successful
farmer and uoav owns 150 acres of valuable land, sixty acres of
it being in Union Township. He is a member of the Grand
Army of the Republic, and he and his Avife and Morton and
Alma are members of the Methodist Episcopal church.
fames D. Woods, farmer, and stock-raiser, section 23, XX^il-
raington Township, Avas born in XVayne County, Ohio, Jan. 27,
1840, a son of Moses Woods. His father died in Ohio and in
1845 the faraily moved to Indiana and settled in De Kalb
County, where James D. Avas reared and educated. He was
early thrown on his own resources but having a desire to suc
ceed in life has been energetic and owns a good farm of forty
acres, all well improved, with a good residence and farm build
ings. In 1862 he enlisted in Corapany A, Eighty-eighth In
diana Infantry, and was appointed Corporal. He served three
years, participating in all the battles of his regiment, among
others Perryville, Stone River, Chickamauga, Lookout Mount
ain, Mission Ridge, Atlanta, with Sherman to the sea and
through the Carolinas to Washington, where he Avas in the
Hne at the grand review of the array. After his return home

^«

1026 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
he resuraed farraing and soon after settled where he now Hves.
He Avas raarried Oct. 9, 1870, to Martha A. Kiser, daughter of
John W. Kiser, of Wilraington Township. They have three
children — Logan, John and Mary B.
Rev. David C. Wooipert, pastor of the Methodist Episcopal
church, Butler, Ind., was born in Denver, Miarai Co., Ind., Dec.
1 2, 1 8 5 1 , a son of Re V. Hosea Wooipert, one of the oldest raerabers
of the Northern Indiana Conference, now located at WhitCAvater.
David C. was converted at the age of eight years, and eariy
was convinced that he ought to preach, but resisted the con
viction and studied and practiced raedicine for a tirae. Fi
nally he yielded to the proraptings of the Spirit and in the faU
of 1875 joined the Northern Indiana Conference. His first
charge was Decatur, thence in the spring of 1876 to Muncie
Circuit; in 1878 to Albany Circuit; in 188 1 to Liraa Circuit.
His health faiUng he went South, and on his return, in April,
1883, was assigned to Butler He is an able, eloquent speaker
and a successful pastor, making many friends wherever he
labors. He was married May 5, 1872, to Jennie Lash, daugh
ter of Phihp Lash. They have had four children, but tAA^o of
whom are Hving — Chloe Maud and Carry H.
Peter Q. Wyckoff, deceased, was born in Ncav Jersey, Sept. 26,
1816, a son of James Wyckoff, who removed to CarroU County,
Ohio, in 1823. He was reared in Ohio, receiving a common-
school education. He Avorked in a saw-mill several years in
CarroU County and Belle Centre, Ohio, and in 1856 came to
this county and settled in Wilmington Township, four miles
west of Butler, but two years later moved to Butler and bought
a saw-miU Avhich he ran three years ; then sold the mill and
raoved to a farm, but was obhged to take back the mill Avhich
he again sold two years later, and moved to a farm in Stafford
Township, Avhere he died March 7, 1877. He Avas married
Dec 16, 1841, to Mary A. Johnson, daughter of XX'iUiara John
son. Of the nine children born to them but six are living —
James W., XVilliam J., CorneUus, John, Mary M. and Ida. One
daughter, Murtilla, died at the age of eighteen years. Jaraes
W. Hves in Stafford Township ; John, in Butler ; Cornelius and
WiUiara, in Kansas, and Ida, on the old homestead. Maggie is
the only one living Avith her mother. Mr. Wyckoff Avas a mera
ber of the Lutheran church, a faithful Christian gentleman. He
Avas a quiet, unassuming man of fcAV Avords, but his straightfor-

\

AK

HISTORY OF DE KALI! COUNI'V. IO27
Avard manner and strict business integrity gave evidence of his
character and Avorth. He Avas one of the most honored citizens
of the county, a kind husband and affectionate father. In 1881
Mrs. XX'yckoff sold her farm and bought her residence in Butler
Avhere she has since resided. Mrs. XX^yckoff is one of a family
of twelve children, but two of Avhom are Hving.
Jacob Yoey. farmer, section 13, Wilmington ToAvnship, Avas
born in Surarait County, Ohio, April 5, 1840. His father, Isaac
Yoey, Avas a native of Pennsylvania, but Avhen a child Avas taken
by his parents to XX'ayne Countv, Ohio. Subsequently he set
tled in Summit County, and in 184S moved to De Kalb County,
Ind., and settled in Stafford ToAvnship, and about a year later
moved to the farm Avhere our subject noAv lives, Avhere he died
in 1857. Mr. Yoey Avas reared on a pioneer farm and received
his education in the old-fashioned log-cabin school-house. He
began helping his father on the farm Avhen a very small lad,
and has experienced all the phases of pioneer Hfe. His farra,
Avhich Avas entered by his father, is noAv under a good state ot
cultivation and is one of the best in the tOAvnship. Mr. Yoey
was married May 26, 1861, to Sarah C, daughter of Joseph
Killinger. They have had tAvo children, but one of Avhora is
living — Frank, Avho Avas born Ai>ril i, 1867, and is now in
school, fitting hiraself for a profession. Their daughter, Amanda
E., died at the age of thirteen raonths.
Oscar L. Young, attorney at law, Butler, Ind., Avas born in
Allen County, Ohio, Sept. 3, 1849, a son of XX'illiara Young, a
native of Maryland, and an early settler of Allen County. He
Avas reared on a farra, receiving his early education in the log-
cabin school-house. Later attended the NcAvyille, Ind., High
School, Avorking on a farm nine raonths and attending school
three raonths of the year. In 1-873 he Avent to Fort Wayne and
read law Avith Judge L. M. Ninde tAVO years, and in 1875 came
to Butler and began the practice of his profession before a just
ice, haying been admitted to the bar in Fort Wayne. Subse
quently returned to Fort XVayne and formed a partnership Avith
A. H. Bittinger, and practiced Avith him tiU 1879. Then went
to Southwestern Kansas and remained a year, employed as at
torney for the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad. In 1880
returned to Butler, Avhere he has since remained. He Avas
married May 24, 1882, to Jennie M. Walker, daughter of
Leonard S. Walker, ot Fort XX^ayne. They have one child—

;rv^

1028

HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.

Beulah B. Mr. and Mrs. Young are members of the Christian
church. Rev. H. W. Cherry was born in Erie County, N. Y., July i6,
1828. His father. Rev. Henry Cherry, was a native of Canada,
and in 1841 brought his family to De Kalb County and settled
on a farm in Wilmington Township, a raile south of Butler.
He was a minister of the Free-Will Baptist church, but the
latter years of his life had no regular appointment. Our sub
ject Avas reared on a farm, but received a good education, and
in 1854 entered the ministry of the United Brethren church.
He was engaged in the regular Avork about twenty-five years ;
two years of the tirae was in Steuben County, tAvo years in
Hampdon County, Mass., and sixteen years' in Wauseon, Ohio.
In May, 1882, his health failing, he retired from the regular
Avork and located in Butler. In 1883 he received an injury in
his hip, from the effects of Avhich he will probably never re-
coA'er. He is a liberal supporter of his church and all its inter
ests, and has given his farm near Butler, v^alued at $6,000, to
endow the Greek chair in the Union Biblical Serainary at Day
ton, Ohio, reserving the income for his use till his death. ]Mr.
Cherry Avas married in March, 185 1, to Louisa French, a native
of NcAv York State. Their only child is deceased.

;v^

Date Due
All books are subject to recall after two weeks.

>1297 3856

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