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HISTORY
OF
DEKALB COUNTY
INDIANA
With Biographical Sketches of Representative Citizens and
Genealogical Records of Old Families
ILLUSTRATED
1914
B. F. BOWEN & COMPANY, Inc.
Indianapolis
Fo^.
DRDICATION.
This work is respectfully dedicated to
THE PIONEERS,
long since departed. May the memory of those ^vho laid down their burdens
by the wayside ever be fragrant as the breath of summer
flowers, for their toils and sacrifices have made
DeKalb County a garden of sun-
shine and delights.
^1>2J.
J7
PREFACE
All life and achievement is evolution; present wisdom comes from past
experience, and present commercial prosperity has come only from past exer-
tion and suffering. The deeds and motives of the men that have gone before
have been instrumental in shaping the destinies of later communities and
states. The development of a new country was at once a task and a privi-
lege. It required great courage, sacrifice and privation. Compare the pres-
ent conditions of the people of DeKalb County, Indiana, with what they
were one hundred years ago. From a trackless wilderness and virgin land,
it has come to be a center of prosperity and civilization, with millions of
wealth, systems of railways, grand educational institutions, splendid indus-
tries and immense agricultural and mineral productions. Can any think-
ing person be insensible to the fascination of the study which discloses the
aspirations and efforts of the early pioneers who so strongly laid the founda-
tion upon which has been reared the magnificent prosperity of later days ? To
perpetuate the story of these people and to trace and record the social, polit-
ical and industrial progress of the community from its first inception is the
function of the local historian. .V sincere purpose to preserve facts and per-
sonal memoirs that are deserving of perpetuation, and which unite the pres-
ent to the past, is the motive for the present publication. A specially valuable
and interesting department is that one devoted to the sketches of representa-
tive citizens of these counties whose records deserve preservation because of
their worth, effort and accomplishment. The publishers desire to extend
their thanks to the gentlemen who have so faithfully labored to this end.
Thanks are also due to the citizens of DeKalb county for the uniform kind-
ness with which they have regarded this undertaking, and for their man\-
services rendered in the gaining of necessary information.
In placing the "History of DeKalb County, Indiana," before the citizens,
the publishers can conscientiously claim that they have carried out the plan
as outlined in the prospectus. Every biographical .sketch in the work has
been submitted to the party interested, for correction, and therefore any error
of fact, if there be any, is solely due to the person for whom the sketch was
prepared. Confident that our effort to please will fully meet the approbation
of the public, we are.
Respectfully,
THE PUBLISHERS.
CONTENTS
CHAPTER I— RELATED STATE HISTORY 25
First Explorers — National Policies — George Rogers Clark Expedition —
Xortliwest Government — St. Clair and Wayne Expeditions — Origin of Fort
Wayne — Organization of Indiana Territory — State Organization, 1816 — The
Last of the Indians — Internal Improvements.
CHAPTER II— GEOLOGY, TOPOGRAPHY AND ZOOLOGY 38
Location — Geology — Peat Deposits — Definition of Peat — Economic Value of
Peat — The Fauna: Past and Present — Game Preserve.
CHAPTER III— EARLY SETTLEMENT OF COUNTY 50
First Settlers — Early Life — The Log Home — Early Labor — First Events —
Other Pioneers — A Pioneer Honeymoon — Family Mills — Extracts on Early
History — John Houlton's Tale — A Dangerous Predicament — John Fee's ■
Track — Incidents of Humor — A Searching Party — Bear Hunt Resumed —
Pioneer Society — Mills and Mill Trips — Public Lands — Land Hunting — ^Cy-
clone — Hydrophobia — Pioneer Fare — Mound Builders — Indians — Fox Hunts
— The Last Bear.
CHAPTER IV— ORGANIZATION AND GOVERNMENT OF COUNTY 17
Organization — -Location of County Seat — First Election — First Commission-
ers' Meeting — County Jail — Court House History — First Court House — Sec-
ond Court House — The New Court House — DeKalb County Asylum — As-
sessment for DeKalb County. 1913 — Present County Officers^ — Finances of
County, 1913.
CHAPTER V— MILITARY HISTORY 90
• Causes of the Civil War — Lincoln's Nomination — The First Call — DeKalb
County Guards — Newspaper Editorials — Mass Meetings — Enlistments —
Drafting — Big Celebration — Official Report — Bounty and Relief — Com-
mands in Which Men from DeKalb County Enlisted — Spanish-.^merican
War— DeKalb County Militia.
CHAPTER VI— REMINISCENCES 118
Wesley Park's Tale — Arrival at the Site of Auburn — Trying Times — Indian
Customs — Sketch by S. W. Widney — Flood Waters — From Manuscript of
W. H. Dills— A Costly Trip— A Night of Suffering — \bram Fair's Narra-
tive — A Coon Story — John N. Miller's Narrative — A Long Trail for Flour —
.-\ Hard Journey — More .'Adversities — A Mill Trip with Ague — The Last Deer
— From the Manuscript of J. R. Skilling — Swamps and Animals — Indians —
Prehistoric Evidences — Lumber and Asherie.s — Imports and Exports — Mills
— First Public Utilities.
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER VII— TOWNSHIP HISTORIES 143
Wilmington Township — Topography — Organization — Early Settlement — A
Hard Winter — First Officers — Notes — Butler — Incorporations — Public Utili-
ties — Concord Township — Topography — Organization — First Settlements —
First Officers — St. Joe — Keyser Township — Topography — Organization —
Garrett — Early Pioneers — Incorporation — Garrett in 1913 — Municipal Im-
provements — City Hall — Library — Sacred Heart Hospital — Butler Township —
Topography — Organization — Early Settlement -i- First Officers — Fairfield
Township — Topography — Organization — Early Settlement — First Officers — •
Franklin Township — Organization — Topography — Early Settlement — First
Officers — Jackson Township — Topography — Organization — Early Settlement
— Hurricane of 1841 — First Officers — Newville Township — Topography —
Early Settlement — First Officers — Newville — Richland Township — Topogra-
. phy — Organization — Early Settlement — First Officers — Corunna — Sedan —
■ Smithfield Township — Topography — Organization — Early Settlement — First
Officers — Ashley — Stafford Township — Topography — Early Settlement —
First Officers — Troy Township — Topography — Early Settlement — Mills —
First Officers — Artie — Spencer Township — Spencerville — Grant Township-
Waterloo — Library — Union Township — Topography — Organization — Early
Settlement — Auburn — Wesley Park — Early Settlers — Taverns — Incorporation
as a Town and as a City — Public L^tilities — Library — Eckhart's Gift — Clubs
and Societies — Postoffice — Auburn Y. M. C. A. — Automobile Factories and
Other Industries — Storm of September 29. 1R72 — Fall of Sn}'der Block — Dar-
ing Burglary.
CHAPTER VIII— RELIGIOUS HISTORY 196
First Preacher — First Meetings — Methodist Episcopal Churches — German
Methodist Churches — Presbyterian Churches — Christian Churches — United
Brethren Churches — Baptist Churches — St. Mark's Lutheran Evangelical
Church — German Lutheran and German Reform Churches — Church of God —
St. Matthew's Reformed Church — Protestant Episcopal Church — Evangelical
Association — Catholic Churches.
CHAPTER IX— HISTORY OF JOURNALISM 222
Early Newspaper Making — First Paper in County — Other Early Papers —
Waterloo Press, the Oldest Paper in the County — More Auburn Ventures —
First Paper in Butler — First Newspaper in Garrett — The Butler Record —
■ The DeKalb County Herald — Papers of Short Existence — The Ashley Times
—The St. Joe News— The Corunna Star— The Auburn Weekly Bee.
CHAPTER X— THE MEDICAL PROFESSION 234
Early Doctors — An Interloper — The Medical Society — Present Physicians.
CHAPTER XI— THE BENCH AND THE BAR 243
Probate Court — Common Pleas Court — Justices of the Peace — Circuit Court
— Circuit Court Judges — Early Lawyers — The Present Bar.
CHAPTER XII— POLITICAL HISTORY 249
First Elections — Election of 1860 — Later Elections — Presidential Vote in
DeKalb County— State Senators — State Representatives — Sheriffs — County
Clerks — County Auditors — County Recorders — County Treasurers — County
Surveyors — Coroners — Prosecutors — Common Pleas Prosecutors.
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER XIII— HISTORY OF EDUCATION 259
The Early School — Early Text Books — Education in the Townships — School
History of Auburn — Establishment of Uniform Schools — Auburn Academy
— Spelling Matches — Destruction of Academy — First High School — Progress
of Education— Education in Garrett — School Statistics — Teachers and Officers.
CHAPTER XIV— AGRICULTURE 278
Farm Lands — Value of Lands — Domestic Animals — Principal Crops — Pro-
prietorship of Farms — County Fairs — The DeKalb County Free Fall Fair —
Granges — Horticulture in DeKalb County.
CHAPTER XV— RAILROADS AND TRANSPORT.A.TION 286
Early Roads and Road Cutting — Railroad History — Surveys — Railroad Be-
ginnings — Interurban Railway — -Fort Wayne, Jackson & Saginaw Railroad —
The Baltimore & Ohio Railroad — Trestles and Troubles — Land Buying —
First Trains — Railroad Boarding Houses — Building of the Shops — Early
Garrett.
CHAPTER XVI— BANKS AND BANKING 302
Early Banking Systems — ^First Bank in DeKalb County — Beginnings in Au-
burn — Present Day Banks — Auburn State Bank — City National Bank — Sav-
ings, Loan and Trust Company — Garrett State Bank — Garrett Savings, Loan
and Trust Company — First National Bank — Knisely Brothers & Company
State Bank — Citizens Bank — Thomas Exchange Bank — .St. Joe Valley Bank
— The Commercial Bank.
CHAPTER XVII— LODGES AND SOCIETIES 309
Free and Accepted Masons — Knights of Pythias — Independent Order of
Odd Fellows — Grand Army of the Republic.
CHAPTER XVIII— MISCELLANEOUS
Patent Medicines— Market Prices in the Fifties— Market Prices of 1913—
Pioneers' Association of DeKalb County — First Meeting — Other Meetings —
Wolf Bounty — First Circus — Log Values of 1854 — Population of County by
Decades.
HISTORICAL INDEX
A
Adversities, Early 135
Agriculture 278
Ague 136
Artie 180
Asheries 140
Ashley 177
Ashley Newspapers 232
Assessment, County 87
Auburn ISS'^
Auburn Academy 265
Auburn Baptist Church 212
Auburn Catholic Church 218
Auburn Christian Church 207
Auburn Clubs and Societies 191
Auburn, Incorporation of 187
Auburn Lutheran Church 213
Auburn M. E. Church 198
Auburn Newspapers 226
Auburn Postoffice 192
Auburn Presbyterian Church 205
Auburn Public Library 190
Auburn Public Utilities 189
Auburn School History 263
Auburn Y. M. C. A 193
Auditors. County 255
Automobile Industry 193
B
Banks and Banking 302
Baptist Churches 211
Beaver Dam 139
Bench and Bar 243
Big Run U. B. Church 210
Birds 46
Butler 147
Butler M. E. Church 201
Butler Newspapers 227
Butler Township 160
Butler U. B. Church 211
C
Cabins. Pioneer 54
Catholic Churches- 218
Christian Churches 207
Church of Christ at Butler 208
Church of God 217
Circuit Court 245
Circuit Court Judges 245
Clark Expedition 27
Clerks, County 255
Colonial Policies 26
Commissioners, County 78
Common Pleas Court 244
Common Pleas Prosecutors 257
Concord Township 149
Constitutional Convention 36
Coon Hunt 75
Coroners 257
Corunna - 173
Counterfeiters, Early 302
County Asylum 87
County Auditors 255
County Clerks 255
County Fairs 281
County Finances 89
County Jail 81
County Officers 88
County Recorders 256
County Seat Location 77
County Surveyors 256
County Treasurers 256
Court House History 83
Courts. Early 243
Crops 280
Cyclone 74
D
DeKalb County Guards 93
DeKalb County. Location 38
DeKalb County Militia 116
HISTORICAL INDEX.
DeKalb County, Organization of 71
Dills, W. H., Reminiscences 124
Doctors, Early 236
Doctors, Present 241
Domestic Animals -- ^ 280
Drafting 1 '— -PS-
Drainage 38
E
Early Courts 243
Early Dead 126
Early Doctors 236
Early History 58
Early Indian Inhabitants 26
Early Labor 55
Early Lawyers 247
Early Life 52
Early Market Prices 316
Early Medical Treatment 234
Early Mills and Markets 53
Early Newspaper Making 222
Early Preachers 197
Early Roads 286
Early Schools 259
Early Settlement 50
Early Text Books 260
Education 259
Education in the Townships 261
Eighty-eighth Indiana Regiment 108
Election, First 27, 249
Election of 1860 250
English Reformed Church 217
Enlistments 98, 99, 114
Episcopal Churcli 218
Evangelical Association 218
Explorations 25
Extradition. Old Time 137.
F
Fair, Abraham, Narrative 130
Fairiield Township 162
Fairs 281
Family Mills 58
Farm Lands 278
Fauna, Past and Present 44
Fee, John 65
Finances of County 89
First Bank in DeKalb County 303
First Commissioners Meetings 78
First Court House 83
First Election 78, 249
First Events 55
First Explorers 25
First High School 267
First Newspaper 223
First Preacher 196
First Public Utilities 142
First Religious Meeting 196
First Settlers 50, 144
150, 161, 163. 165, 167, 170, 172, 174
178, 179, 185. 186
First Threshing Machine 127
Fish 45
Five Nations 26
Flood Waters 123
Fort Wayne 33
Forty-fourth Indiana Regiment 105
Fox Hunts 76
Franklin Township 164
Fraternal Orders 309
Free and Accepted Masons ^ 309
Free Fall Fair 282
French Explorers 25
G
Game Preserve 49
Game. Wild 44
Garrett 154
Garrett Baptist Church 212
Garrett Catholic Church 221
Garrett Christian Church 207
Garrett M. E. Church 199
Garrett Newspapers 228
Garrett Presbyterian Church 205
Garrett Schools 274
Geology 38
German Churches 215
German Methodist Church 203
Governor St. Clair 30
Granges 283
Grand Army of the Republic 314
Grant Township 181
H
Hard Winter 145
Ilarmar's Expedition 31
Horticulture — 284
HISTORICAL INDEX.
Houlton, John 50, 60
Humorous Incidents 66
Hurricane of, 1841 168
Hydrophobia 74
I
Improvements. Internal i7
Incidents of Humor 66
Independent Order of Odd Fellows. 313
Indian Customs 122
Indian Inhabitants 26
Indiana Territory 34
Indians Last to Move 36
Internal Improvements 37
Interurban Lines 290
J
Jackson Township 166
Jail, County 81
Journalism 222
Justice of the Peace 244
K
Keyser Township 153
Knight? of Pythias 311
L
Land Hunting 73
Last Bear 76
Last Deer 138
Last of the Indians 36
Lawyers, Early 247
Lawyers, Present 247
Lincoln's Nomination 91
Location of County Seat 77
Location of DeKalb County 38
Lodges 309
Log Homes , 54
Lumber in Early Days 140
Lutheran Churches 213
Lutheran Evangelical Churches 214
M
Market Prices in the Fifties.-. 316
Markets, Early 53
Masonic Order 309
Mass Meetings. Wartime 97
Medical History 234-
Medical Society 240
Memorable Campaigns 250
Methodist Episcopal Church 198
Methodist Protestant Churches 202
Miami Tribe 26, 36
Military History 90
Miller, John N., Narrative 131
Mills, Early 53, 73, 141, 180
Miscellaneous 316
Mound Builders 75
Mt. Pleasant U. B. Church 211
N
Newspaper Editorials. 1861 94
Newspapers of the County 222
Newville 171
Newville Christian Church 209
Newville Township 169
Newville U. B. Church 209
Nineteenth Indiana Regiment 101
Northwest Government 29
Odd Fellows 313
Official Roster 88
One Hundred Eighteenth Regiment- 111
One Hundred F'ifty-second Regiment 114
One Hundred Fifty-seventh Regi-
ment 117
113
One Hundred Forty-second Re
uicnt ^
One Hundred Twenty-ninth Regi-
ment 112
One Hundredth Indiana Regiment— 110
Ordinance of 1787 30
Organization of DeKalb County 77
Organization of Indiana Territory.. 34
P
Patent Medicines in Early Days 316
Patrons of Husbandry 283
Peat. Analysis of 44
Peat, Value of 44
Peat Beds 40
Physicians, Present 241
Pioneer Fare 74
Pioneer Honeymoon 57
HISTORICAL INDEX.
Pioneer Society 7-
Pioneers ^^
Pioneers' Association 317
Political History 249
Population by Decades 320
Post Vincennes 28
Pottawatomies, Tlie 36. 75
Preaching, First 196
Prehistoric Evidences 140
I'resbytcrian Churches 205
Present Banks 304
Present Court House 84
Present Lawyers 247
Present Market Prices. — 316
Present Physicians 241
Presidential Vote 252
Probate Court 243
Progress of Education 267
Prosecutors 257
Protestant Episcopal Church 218
Public Lands 73
Public Utilities. First 142
R
Railroads 285
Recorders 255
Rehoboth M. P. Church 202
Related State History 25
Religious History 196
Religious Meeting. First 196
Reminiscences 58, 118
Representatives 254
Reptiles --— 45
Richland Township 171
Roads in Early Days 286
S
Sacred Heart Hospital . 160
St. Clair, Gen. Arthur 30
St. Clair's Expedition 32
St. Joe 153
St, Joe Christian Church 208
St. Joe M. P. Church 202
St. Matthew Reform Church 217
St. Michael's Catholic Church 220
School Officers 275
School Statistics 275
Schools 259
.Schools in .\uburn 263
Second Court House 83
Senators, State 254
Settlement, Early 50
Sherififs 255
Slavery Question 30
Smithfield Township 173
Soil of DeKalb County 278
Spanish-American War 115
Spelling Matches 265
Spencer Township 180
Spencerville 181
Spencerville M. E. Church 202
Stafford Township 178
State History 25
State Organization 36
State Representatives 254
State Senators 254
Sufferings, Early 128
Surveyors, County ■ 256
Swamps 138
T
Taverns 186
Teachers in DeKalb County 275
Thirtieth Indiana Regiment 102
Thirty-eighth Indiana Regiment 104
Tliirty-fifth Indiana Regiment 104
Threshing Machine, First 127
Township Histories 143
Transportation 286
Treasurers, County 256
Troy Township 179
Twentieth Indiana Regiment 101
Twenty-first Indiana Regiment 101
Twentv-ninth Indiana Regiment 101
U
I'niform School System 263
Union Township 184
United Brethren Churches 209
Unwelcome Visitors 63
Utilities, First Public 142
V
Value of harm Lands 279
HISTORICAL INDEX.
W
Wabash & Erie Canal 37
War Mass Meetings 97
Wartime Celebration 99
Wartime Editorials 94
Waterloo 181
Waterloo M. E. Church 201
Waterloo Library 183
Waterloo Presbyterian Church 207
Waterloo Press 224
Waterloo U. B. Church 210
Wesley Park's Tale 118
Widney. S. W., Reminiscences 122
Wild Animals 44
Wild-cat Currency 302
Wilmington Township 143
Wolf Bounty 319
BIOGRAPHICAL INDEX
A
Abbey, Giles T. 629
Albright, Frank 937
Altenburg, Eugene C. 378
Altenburg, Henry E. 373
Arford, Charles S. 848
Atkinson. Edgar W. 491
B
Bachtel, William H. 830
Barker, Isaac E. 874
Barney, Solomon 539
Baxter, John W. 440
Baxter, Miles 488
Beams, Jack M. 965
Betz, Washington 898
Blair, W. L. 563
Bolinger, Jerry A. 438
Boozer, Herman D. 606
Bowman, Archie S. 64!
Bowman, Clarence A. 911
Bowman, James 430
Bowman, Col. Stephen A. 357
Brandaberry, Levi 400
Brandon, Orin 379
Brecbill, Christian 918
Brechbill. John 767
Broughton, Frank, M. D. 638
Brown, Harry 645
Brown. Herman L. 507
Brumback, Edward M. 673
Brunson, Aden D. 901
Buchanan, John Edgar 321
Buchanan, Verne E. 888
Bunge, Fred 665
Burtzner, George W. 773
Buss, Christian C. 967
C
Cami). Aaron W. 954
Campbell, Albertus 877
Campbell, Charles A. 941
Campbell, Clark 923
Campbell, Edward 857
Campbell, Frank S. 417
Campbell, George 415
Campbell, Romain C. S41
Campbell, Samuel L. 416
Campbell, William E 418
Capp, Charles 628
Carper, Philip S. 997
Caruth, Davis E. 484
Casebeer, Jacob B., M. D. 405
Casebere, Solomon S. 670
Chaney, Nelson 945
Chapman, James 4S8
Chapman, Lemuel N. 882
Childs, Jason B. 683
Childs, Phineas D. _— 693
Close, Benjamin 582
Cochran, Eli T. 525
Coe, Henry E. 623
Corbin, Worth 647
Crooks, Robert W. 536
Crooks, Sheldon 544
Culbertson, Hugh R. 456
Curie. Christian 904
D
Daniels, Arthur G. 806
Daniels, Harrison M. 818
Daniels, Reuben G. 822
Dannells, Willis A. 712
Dapp, Henry 878
Darby, A. Byron, M. D. 402
Davidson, Henry R. 731
Davis, John L. 472
Day, James C. 460
Deems, George 692
DeLong, H. F. 780
DeLong, Marion S. 759
Denison, George B. 594
Denison, George O. 412
BIOBRAPHICAL INDEX.
Depew, Perry D. 828
Deihl, John 787
Diehl, Harry 730
Diehm, William C. 763
Dietzen, Nicholas 906
Dilgard. Jonas E. 558
Dilgard, Ray C. 760
Dilgard, Simon A. 578
Downend, Samuel H. 784
Duesler, John W. 632
Dunn, William 595
E
Eakright, Ellsworth A. 714
Eakright, John J. 586
Eckhart, Charles 323
Eldridge, Oliver P. 986
Elliott, Orlando 803
Endicott, William P. 672
Erick, William G, 979
Erwin, Edwin 847
F
Fanning. Frank D., M. D 616
Feagler. John C. 509
Feick. Fred L. 688
Fisher, Solomon 518
Forest, W. H. 716
Forney. William S. 834
Forrest, Earl W. 873
Fosdick, Edwin L. 366
Frantz, John 609
Frazer. Jacob I. 821
Frederick, Charles E. 524
Freeburn, C. W. 949
Fulton, Wesley 614
G
Geddes, George W. 648
Gerner, Karl 776
Gfeller, Frank W. 886
Gfeller. Frederick, Jr. 880
Ginder, Frederick 752
Goodwin, Elmer 870
Goodwin. Leander S. 454
Goodwin, Samuel L. 505
Goodwin, William 793
Graham, John E. 382
Gray, John H. 721
Gray, Truman W. 720
Green, Monte L. 947
Griffin, N. O. 687
Grogg, Abraham 601
Grogg, Alva F. 762
Grogg, Daniel 612
Grogg, Isaac 468
Grogg, John 570
Grogg, Oliver P. 757
Grube, William H. 666
Gruhlke, Augustus C. 534
Gunsenhouser, Isaac 774
H
Hamilton. Clarence B. 680
Hamilton, James M. 1001
Hamilton, W. E. 1001
Hamman, Daniel F. 924
Hamman, David A. 910
Hamman, Herman M. 943
Hamman. John 935
Hamman, Thomas 850
Hanes, G. W. 727
Harding, L. C. 964
Harding, Verne E. 825
Harmes, George E. 637
Hartman, Ezra D. 837
Ilartman, Joel E. 844
Harwood, Thomas W. 664
Haverstock, Samuel G. 533
Hawver, Benjamin F. 974
Hcbel. John 542
Heitz, Joseph P. 772
Hempstreet, Jeremiah 521
Henderson, John W. — 653
High, Samuel M. 719
Higley, Luther H. 770
Hine, Sheldon H. 991
Hines, Francis M., M. D. 392
Hinman, William H. 618
Hixson, Forest A. 754
Hoff, Frank A. 471
Hoff, John P. 446
Hoffelder, Frank C. 839
Hoffelder, John 859
Hodge, Chester P. 796
Hogue. Francis A. 756
Hogue. Frank 556
BIOBRAPHICAL INDEX.
Hohl. Joseph 868
Hollister, Wellington H. 652
Hose, Walter R. 707
Houghton, C. A. 703
Hull, Joseph A. 952
Hull, Russell L. 520
Husselman, Adam W. 604
Husselman, Henry 657
J
Jackman, Isaac M. 678
Jackman, Jefferson W. 768
Jackman, John 710
Jackman, Norman T. 528
Jones, John W. 590
Jones, Milton C. 896
Judson, Harvey T. 453
K
Kegerreis, Joseph 884
Kelley, Alfred 342
Kelley, Douglas 903
Kelly, Eugene 580
Kettering, William C. 977
Kimsey, John M. 635
Kiplinger, Michael, Jr. 335
Knauer, J. Harvey 695
Koch, John C. 940
Kosht, David R. 827
Kosht, Simon P. 785
Kramer, Albert A., M. D. 696
Kraus, John 573
Krontz, John H. W. 551
Kuhlman, Col. Aubrey L. 336
Kuhlman, George W. 592
Kutzner, Myron -S. 598
L
Lawhead, James G. 346
Leas, Byron 575
Leas, Daniel L. 704
Leas, John 390
Leas, Obediah 597
Leas, William H. 552
Leasure, John H. 565
Leasure, Dr. Lida 384
Lehmback, Charles 791
Leighty, Fred B. 951
Leighty, Jacob D. 352
Leins, Adam 805
Little, Edward O. 486
Lochner, John C. 496
Lockhart, Robert W. 854
Lockhart, William M. 931
Lockwood, Reuben 546
Long, J. Perry 420
Long, Jackson A. 699
Lower, Jacob, Jr. 819
Lung, Noah A 790
Lutz, Jacob 566
Lutz. John 611
Mc
McCaguc. James P. 560
McClellan, James Y. W. 432
McClure, Timothy 734
McCord, Howard B. 568
McNabb, Warren 422
M
Madden, Alpheus W. i7t,
May, George 810
Milks, David 788
Miller, Conrad 589
Miller, Forest 782
Miller, Lafayette J. 475
Miller, William C. 671
Mondhank, Walter J. 656
Montavon, Colonel E. 462
Mott, Egbert B. 364
Mountz, Walter W. 576
Mumaw, Samuel A. 999
Musser, Jesse J. 363
Myers, Franklin P. 915
N
Xebelung, J'red J. 522
Xewcoiner, Christian, Jr. 480
X'ewcomer, George W. 450
X'immons, Frank W. 685
Nisbet, James R. 644
Nodine, Silas 748
Xodine. William J. 961
Noirot, George 584
Nugen, S. H. 668
BIOBRAPHICAL INDEX.
O
Oberlin, John J. 418
dinger, Frank W. 624
dinger, Jacob N. 681
Oswalt, Dr. A. M. 429
(1tto, Capt. John F. 395
P
Park, George VV. 920
Pepple, Joseph 755
Peters, Albert H. 872
Place, Reed F. 973
Pomeroy, James E. 424
Potts, John S. 799
Powers, A. S. 944
Provines, Alexander 840
Provines, James 717
R
Ralston, Andrew J. 370
Reed, Charles R. 447
Rempis, Theodore 889
Reynolds, Melvin E. 765
Rhoads, Willis 443
Ritter, F. H. 608
Rock, George, M. D. 361
Rohm, Ezra 1003
Rohm, Simon, Jr. 907
Roland, Levi 724
Rose, James E. 514
S
Saylor, E. W. 994
Schiffli, Andrew 808
Schiffli, Anthony 887
Schopf, Elias 778
Schulthess, George 554
Seiler, Franklin P. 976
Shaffer, George 728
Shaffer, Oliver E. 894
Sheets, Martin C. 832
Sherwood, John V. 926
Shoemaker, Emanuel R. 736
Shoemaker, Henry D. 983
Shoner, George 499
Shoudel, John M. 862
Shoudel, Michael L. 865
Showalter, Henry M. 864
Showalter, J. W. ■ 654
Showalter, Joseph E., M. D. 434
Shultz, Albert L. 660
Shurts, P. A. 970
SkilHng, J. R. 531
Snyder. Jacob F. 981
Sprott, Thomas H. 571
Stafford, Thomas C. 677
.Stone, Samuel G. 549
Stroh, Adam 512
Swarts, David J., M. D. 386
Swartz. Melvin 650
T
Tarney. Dr. Simeon U. 436
Teeters, Franklin M. 968
Tess, H. L. 640
Thomas, Daniel 675
Thomas, Isaac M. 800
Thomas, Milo J. 333
Thomas, Ralph L. 492
Thomas, William A. 501
Thrush, Albert N. 995
Triplett, E. A. 852
Trostle, George W. 959
W
Walker, Eli 814
Walker, Frank 812
Ward, Rev. Stephen B. 482
Warner, Jesse H. 998
Webster, Charles W. 698
Weller, Miles J. 751
West, Price D. 408
Widney, Byron E. 990
Widney, Hugh M. 987
Widney, John P. 397
Widney, Oliver H. 464
Widney, Samuel L. 984
Wigent, Ervin W. 702
Williams, Harvey O. 427
Williams, Samuel 708
Williamson, Eli Y. 478
Willis, Frank W. 348
Willis, Herbert C. 912
Willis, Moses B. 928
Wimer, John 503
Wolf, Allen 971
BIOBRAPHICAL INDEX.
Wolfe, Arthur C. 621
Wolfe, Samuel 662
Wolfe, William 816
Wyatt, Edmond J. 746
Y
Yarde, David 726
Yarde, Frank 842
Yarde, Henry 722
Z
Zent, Isaac M. 368
Zimmerman, Elias 956
Zimmerman, John 330
Court House, AUBURN
A) DKKALU CUl-.XTY COURT HOUSK
NEW DEKALB COUNTY COURT HOUSE
HISTORICAL
RELATED STATE HISTORY.
FIRST EXPLORERS.
After the discovery of America by Columbus in 1492, or, to be exact,
when Cokimbus touched off the coast of Florida, more than one hundred and
fifty years were to pass before the white explorers were to touch foot to the
soil later embraced within the bounds of Indiana. Colonies were established
in Florida. Virginia and Nova Scotia by the rival governments of Europe, but
not until 1 670-2 did the first white travelers venture so far into the North-
west as Indiana or Lake Michigan. These explorers were Frenchmen by the
names of Claude Allouez and Claude Dablon, who then visited what is now
the eastern part of Wisconsin, the northeastern portion of Illinois and proba-
bly that portion of this state north of the Kankakee river. In the year fol-
lowing M. Joliet, an agent of the French colonial government, and James
Marquette, a missionary stationed at Mackinaw, explored the country around
Green bay, and along Fox and Wisconsin rivers as far westward as the
Mississippi, the banks of which they reached on Jime 17, 1673. They de-
scended this river a short distance and returned by way of tiie Illinois river.
.\t a village among the Illinois Indians, Marquette and his followers were re-
ceived with friendly hospitality, and made guests at a great feast of hominy,
tish. dog meal and roast buffalo. In 1682 LaSalle explored the West, but it
is not known for sure whether or not he entered the territory now embraced
in Indiana. He took jjossession, however, of the whole Mississippi region,
in the name of France, and he named it in honor of the king, Louisiana.
.Spain at the same time claimed the region around the Gulf of Mexico. Con-
sequently, the two nations clashed.
26 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA.
EARLY INDIAN INHABITANTS.
At this time the country of Indiana was held by the Miami confederacy
of Indians, the Miamis proper, originally the Twightwees, being the eastern
and most powerful tribe. Their villages were few and scattering. These In-
dian settlements were occasionally visited by Christian missionaries, fur trad-
ers and adventurers, but no permanent settlement was risked by the white
men. The "Five Nations," farther to the east, comprised the Mohawks,
Oneidas, Cayugas, Onondagas, and Senecas. In 1677 *^he number of war-
riors in this confederation was two thousand one hundred and fifty. About
1711 the Tuscaroras retired from Carolina and joined the Iroquois, and the
organization then became known as the "Six Nations." In 1689 hostilities
broke out between the Indian tribes and the French colonists of Canada, and
the following series of wars served the purpose of checking the grasping
policy of Louis XIV, and to retard the planting 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.
NATIONAL POLICIES.
The English, who were envious of the French, resorted to every method
to e-xtend their territory westward. Both nations secured aid from various
Indian tribes, and a bloody and merciless warfare continued for many years.
France continued in her effort to connect the Canadian country with the
Gulf of Mexico by a chain of trading posts and colonies, which further in-
creased the jealousy of England and really laid the foundation for the
French and Indian war, which terminated in the treaty of 1763, at Paris, and
by which France ceded to Great Britain all of North America east of the
Mississippi river, except New Orleans and the island on which it is situated.
The British policy, after getting control of the Indian territory, was still
unfavorable to its growth in population. In 1765 the number of French fam-
ilies within the limits of the Northwestern territory did not exceed six
hundred. These were in settlements around Detroit, along the Wabash river,
and in the neighborhood of Fort Chartres on the Mississippi river. Of these
families eighty-five resided at Post Vincennes, fourteen at Fort Ouiatenon
on the Wabash, and in the neighborhood of the confluence of the St. Mary
and St. Joseph rivers. The colonial policy of the British government opposed
any measures which might strengthen the settlements in the interior of this
DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 2/
country, lest they became self-supporting and independent of the mother-
country. Thomas Jefferson, the wise statesman and 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 Indians.
Accordingly he engaged a corps of scientific men and sent them to the
Mississippi river, to ascertain the point on that stream intersected by latitude
36 degrees thirty minutes, to the southern line of the state, and to measure
its distance to the Ohio. He intrusted the military operations in that quarter
to General Clark, with instructions to select a strong position near the named
point, and erect a fort and garrison the same for protecting the settlers, and
to extend his conquest toward the great lakes on the north. Conforming to
his instructions. General Clark erected Fort Jefferson on the Mississippi, a
few miles above the southern limit. The result of these operations was the
addition to Virginia of the vast Northwest territory. The fact that a chain
of forts was established by the Americans in this vast region convinced the
British commissioners that we had entitled ourselves to the land. During
this time the minor events were transpiring outside the territory in question
which later promoted the settlement in what is now known as Indiana.
GEORGE ROGERS CL.VRK EXPEDITION.
George Rogers Clark, some time in the spring of 1776, a resident of
Kentucky, but a native of Virginia, formulated a scheme of more rapid set-
tlement in the great Northwest territory. That part of Kentucky was occu-
pied by Henderson and Company, who pretended to own the land and set a
high .price on the same. Clark doubted the validity of their claim, and wished
to make a test of it, and adjust the control of the country so that settlements
might be fostered. He 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 interests of the country.
This meeting was held on the day appointed and delegates elected to
confer with the state of Virginia as to the propriety of attaching the new
country as a county to that state. Many causes prevented a consummatiov
of this object until the year 1778. Virginia was favorable to the enterprise,
but would not take action as a state. Governor Henry and a few others, how-
ever, assisted Colonel Clark all they could. Clark organized an expedition
and took in stores at Pittsburg and Wheeling, and proceeded down the Ohio
to the falls, where he built some light fortifications.
At this time Post Vincennes comprised about four hundred militia. It
26 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA.
was a daring task for Colonel Clark with his small force of men to go up
against it at Kaskaskia as he had planned. Some of his men, becoming
alarmed at the critical situation, deserted him. He conducted himself so as to
gain the sympathy of the French, and through them, the Indians to some
extent, as both were very bitter against the English who had possession of
the lake region He took Kaskaskia first, and succeeded by kindness in win-
ning them to his side. It was difficult, however, for him to induce the French
to accept his paper, continental money, in ]iayment for provisions. Colonel
Vigo, a Frenchman, who had a trading establishment there, came to the
rescue, and prevailed upon the people to accept this paper. Colonel Vigo
sold cofifee at one dollar per pound and other goods in proportion.
The next post was Vincennes. defended by Fort Sackville, an important
possession to gain. Father Gibault, of Kaskaskia, who also had charge of
the church at Vincennes, being friendly to the Americans, used his influence
with the people of the garrison, and won them to Clark's standard. They
took the oath of allegiance to Virginia and became citizens of the United
States. Clark had concluded treaties with several Indian tribes, and placed
Captain Leonard Helm, an American, in command of Vincennes. On learn-
ing the successful termination of Clark's expedition, the general assembly of
Virginia declared all of the settlers west of the Ohio organized into a county
of that state, to be known as Illinois county ; but before the provisions of the
law could be made efifective, Henry Hamilton, the British lieutenant governor
of Detroit, collected an army of thirty regulars, fifty French volunteers, and
four hundred Indians and mo\ed ujjon and took Post Vincennes in Decem-
lier. 1778. Captain Helm and a man named Henry were the only Americans
at the fort, the onlv members of the garrison. Helm was taken prisoner
and the French disarmed.
Upon hearing of the taking of Post Vinceimes, Clark, who was still at
Kaskaskia. determined to retake the place. He gathered together about one
hundred and seventy men. and on February 5th started from Kaskaskia,
crossing the stream of the same name. The weather was wet and the low-
lands covered with water. He had to subsist on such game as he could kill
en route. The men underwent great privations, wading through acres of
water to their hips, and suffering intensely with the cold. However.
Colonel Clark shared all of the hardships of the men and asked nothing of
them which he would not undergo himself. They reached the little Wabash
on the thirteenth, and two days were occupied in crossing the swollen stream.
They found the roads no better, but marched down and reached the Big
Wabash on the seventeenth of the month. The next two days were consumed
DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 29
in attempting to cross the angry stream. Finally canoes were constructed and
the entire force crossed the main stream, and then found the lowlands en-
tirely under water and ice which had formed recently. His men refused to
proceed. All of Clark's persuasions had no effect upon the half starved men.
In one company was a small drummer-boy and also a sergeant who stood six
feet and two inches high. Clark ordered him, the sergeant, to mount the boy
on his shoulders and plunge into the water. He did so, and the small drummer
beat the charge from his position, while Clark, sword in hand, followed.
This maneuver was electrical, and the men, with a cheer, followed their
leader. On arriving within two miles of the fort Clark halted his men and
sent in a letter demanding surrender, to which he received no reply. He next
ordered Lieutenant Bayley, with fourteen men, to advance and fire on the
fort, while the main body of men moved in another direction and took pos-
session of the strongest portion of the town. Clark then demanded Hamil-
ton's immediate surrender, on penalty of being treated as a murderer. Hamil-
ton refused indignantly. Fighting began and continued for over an hour,
when Hamilton proposed a three days' truce. Clark, characteristically, sent
word that notliing but unconditional surrender was satisfactory. In less than
an hour the surrender was dictated by General Clark. This was on February
24, 1779.
Of this expedition, of its results, of its importance, as well as of the
skill and bravery of those engaged, a volume could well be written. The
expedition has never been surpassed in modern warfare, when we consider
that by it the whole territory now included in Indiana, Illinois and Michigan
was added to the Union, and so admitted by the British commissioners in the
treaty of peace in 1783. But for the result of this expedition our western
boundary would have l^en the Ohio instead of the Mississippi. Clark rein-
stated Captain Helm in command at Vincennes, with instructions to subdue
the marauding Indians, which he did, and soon comparative quiet prevailed
on Indiana soil. The whole credit of this conquest belongs to Colonel Clark
and Francis Vigo.
NORTHWEST GOVERNMENT.
By the conquest of Colonel Clark, Indiana came within the territory be-
longing to Virginia. In January, 178.3, the General Assembly of the Old
Dominion resolved to cede this territory to the general government of the
United States. The proposition made by Virginia was accepted by the gov-
ernment and the transfer made early in 1784. The terms were that Virginia
was to be reimbursed for all expenses incurred in exploring and protecting
30 DEKAI.B COUNTY. INDIANA.
settlers in the territory: also that one hundred and fifty thousand acres of
land should be granted to the soldiers who, with Colonel Clark, had made
the famous expedition. After all these matters had been attended to, in the
spring of 1784, the matter of governing this section of the west was referred
to a committee of Messrs. Jefferson, of Virginia, Chase, of Maryland, and
Howell, of Rhode Island, which committee, among other things, reported an
ordinance prohibiting slavery in the territory after 1800, but this article of
the ordinance was rejected. The Ordinance of 1787 has an interesting his-
tory. Much controversy has been indulged in as to who is really entitled to
the credit of framing it. This undoubtedly belongs to Nathan Dane; and to
Rufus King and Timothy Pickering belongs the credit of having inserted the
anti-slavery clause which it contained. Mr. Jefferson had vainly tried to
secure a system of government for the Northwest territory excluding slav-
ery therefrom. The South, however, invariably voted him down.
In July 1787, an organizing act without the slavery clause was pending,
which was supposed to secure its passage. Congress went into session in
New York City. July 3th, Rev. Manasseh Cutler, of Massachusetts, came to
New York in the interests of some land or speculators in the Northwest
territory. He was a courtly gentleman of the old school type and had gotten
into the confidence of the Southern leaders. He wished to purchase five
million, five hundred thousand acres of land in the new territory. Jefferson
and his administration desired to make a record on the reduction of the public
debt, and this was a rare opportunity. Massachusetts' representatives could
not vote against Cutler's scheme, as many of their constituents were inter-
ested in the measure personally: Southern meml>ers were almost committed.
Thus. Cutler held the key to the situation, and dictated temis, which were as
follows :
1. The exclusion of slavery from the territory forever.
2. Providing 'one-thirty-sixth of all lands for public schools.
3. Be it forever remembered that this compact declares that religion,
morality and knowledge being necessary to good government and the happi-
ness of mankind, schools and the means of education shall always be en-
couraged.
Dr. Cutler planted himself on this platfrom and would not yield, stating
that unless thev could procure these lands under desirable conditions and
surroundings, that they did not care to purchase. July 13, 1787, the bill be-
came a law. Thus the great states of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan and
Wisconsin were consecrated to freedom, intelligence and morality. October
5, 1787. Congress elected General Arthur St. Clair governor of the North-
DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 3!
west territory. He assumed his official duties at Marietta and at once pro-
ceeded to treat with the Indians and organize a territorial government. He
first organized a court at Marietta, consisting of three judges, himself being
president of the court.
The governor, with his judges, then visited Kaskaskia for the purpose
of organizing a civil government, having previously instructed Major Ham-
tramck at Vincennes to present the policy of the new administration to the
several Indian tril>es and learn their feelings. They received the messenger
with a cool indifference, which, when reported to the governor, convinced him
that nothing short of military force would command compliance with the
civil government. He at once proceeded to Fort Washington to consult with
General Harmer as to future action. In the meantime he intrusted to the
secretary of the territory, Winthrop Sargent, the settlement of the dis-
puted land claims, who found it a hard task, and in his reports states that
he found the records so falsified, vouchers destroyed, and other crookedness
as to make it impossible to get at a just settlement, which but again proves
that the "graft" of the twentieth century existed decades l^efore tliis word
had been coined.
The general court in 1790 passed stringent laws against the sale of
intoxicating liquors to Indians and also to soldiers within ten miles of any
military post ; also prohibiting any games of chance within the territory.
The consultation between St. Clair and General Harmar ended by a de-
cision to raise a large military force and thoroughly chastise the Indians
about the head of the Wabash river. Accordingly. Virginia and Pennsyl-
vania were called upon to muster eighteen hundred men at Fort Steuben,
and, with the garrison of that fort, join the forces at Vincennes under Major
Hamtramck, who proceeded up the Wabash as far as the Vermillion river,
destroying villages, but without finding an enemy to oppose him. General
Harmar, with one thousand four hundred and fifty men, marched from Fort
Washington to the Maumee, and began punishing the Indians, but witii little
success. The expedition left Fort Washington September 30th, and returned
to that place November 4th, having lost during that period one hundred and
eighty-three men killed and thirty-one wounded. General Harmar's defeat
alarmed as well as aroused the citizens in the frontier counties of Virginia,
thinking the Indians might invade that state.
The governor of Virginia called out the militia along the upper borders
of that state ; at the same time Charles Scott was appointed brigadier-general
of the Kentucky militia now preparing to defend the frontiers of that state.
This excited Congress and a war board was appointed, consisting of five
32 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA.
members. March 9, 1791, General Knox, secretary of war, wrote to General
Scott recommending an expedition against the Indians on the Wabash. March
3, 1 79 1, congress invested Governor St. Clair with the command of three
thousand troops, and he was instructed by the secretary of war to march to
the Miami village and establish a strong and permanent military post. After
that was accomplished he was to seek the enemy with all his available forces
and make them feel the effect of the superiority of the whites.
ST. CLAIR AND WAYNE EXPEDITIONS.
Although seriously damaged, the Indians were far from subdued. The
Canadians and English along the border gave them much encouragement. In
September, 1791, St. Clair moved from Fort Washington with a force of two
thousand men and a number of pieces of artillery. November 3d, he reached
the headwaters of the Wabash, where Fort Recovery was later built, and
here the army camped, consisting of one thousand four hundred effective
men. The following morning the army advanced and engaged a force of
tweh e hundred Indians. Here the American army was disastrously defeated,
having thirty-nine officers and five hundred and thirty-nine men killed and
missing, twenty-two officers and two hundred and thirty-two men wOUnded.
Several pieces of artillery and all their provisions were taken from them.
The property loss was estimated at thirty-two thousand dollars. There has
always been some disposition to blame General St. Clair for this awful de-
feat, but his recent biographer, John Newton Boucher, of Greensburg. Penn-
sylvania, proves conclusively that he was not to blame. Be that as it may, he
resigned his commission after that battle and the work was taken up by
General Anthony Wayne, of Revolutionary fame, who organized his forces
at Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, and in October, 1793. moved westward at the
head of an army of three thousand six hundred men. He proposed an of-
fensive campaign. The Indians still held that the Ohio river should be the
boundarv line between the United States and their lands.
Major-General Scott, with about sixteen hundred A-olunteers from Ken-
tuckv, joined the regular troops under General Wayne on July 26, 1794, and
on the 28th the united force began their march for the Indian towns on the
Maumee river. Arriving at the mouth of the .\uglaize, they erected Fort
Defiance and on August 15th 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 Detroit
DEKALB COUNTV, INDIANA. 33
militia. The number of the enemy was estimated at two thousand, against
about nine hundred American troops actually engaged. As soon as the action
began this horde of savages abandoned themselves to flight and dispersed
with terror and dismay, leaving Wayne's victorious army in full possession
of the field. The Americans lost thirty-three killed and one hundred wound-
ed ; the loss of the enemy more than doubled this number.
The army remained three days and nights on the banks of the Maumee,
in front of the field of battle, during which time all the houses and com
fields were consumed and destroyed for a considerable 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 con-
flagration, among which were the houses, stores and property of Colonel
McKee, the British Indian agent, and general stimulator of the war then
existing between the United States and the savages. On the return march to
Fort Defiance the villages and corn fields for about fifty miles on each side
of the Maumee were destroyed as well as those for a considerable distance
around that post.
ORIGIN OF FORT WAYNE.
September 14, 1794, the army under General Wayne commenced its
march toward the deserted Miami villages at the confluence of St. Joseph and
St. Mary's rivers, arriving October 17th, and on the following day the site
of Fort Wayne was selected. The fort was completed November 22d and
garrisoned by a strong detachment of infantry and artillery under the com-
mand of Colonel 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. General Wayne, with the federal troops, marched to Green-
ville 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 hostile tribes of the
Northwestern territory. This treaty opened the way for the flood of immi-
gration for many years, and ultimately made the states and territories now
constituting the mighty Northwest.
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, after a treaty was concluded between the United States and Spain, the
British garrison, with their arms, artillery and stores, were withdrawn from
(3)
34 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA.
the posts within the boundaries of the United States northwest of the Ohio
river, and the detachment of American troops consisting of sixty-five men
under the command of Captain Moses Porter took possession of the evac-
uated post of Detroit in the same month.
In the latter part of 1796 Winthrop Sargent went to Detroit and or-
ganized the county of Wayne, forming a part of the Indian territory until its
division in 1805, when the territor}' of Michigan was organized.
ORGANIZATION OF INDIANA TERRITORY.
On the final victory of the American amiy in 1796 the principal town
within what is now the state of Indiana was Vincemies, which comprised only
fifty houses, but presented a thrifty appearance. There was also a small
settlement where now stands Lawrenceburg, and several smaller settlements
around trading posts, and the total number of civilized inhabitants in the
territory was estimated at four thousand eight hundred seventy-five.
Indiana territory was organized by act of Congress May 7, 1800, the
material features of the ordinance of 1787 remaining in force and the people
were invested with all the rights and advantages granted and secured by that
ordinance.
The seat of government was fixed at Vincennes. May 13, 1800, William
Henry Harrison, a native of Virginia, was appointed governor. John Gib-
son, of Pennsylvania, was made secretary of the territory. General Harrison
called together the first territorial legislature or council March 3, 1801. From
this time to 1810 the chief questions under discussion were land speculators,
African slavery and the hostile views of the Shawnee chief, Tecumseh, and
his brother, the wily Prophet,
Up to this time the sixth article of the Ordinance of 1787, prohibiting
slavery, had been somewhat neglected and many French settlers held slaves ;
many slaves had been removed to slave-holding states. A session of dele-
gates elected by popular vote in the new territory, petitioned Congress to
revoke the sixth article of the old ordinance. Congress failed to grant this
as well as many other similar petitions. When it appeared from a popular
vote in the territory that a majority of one hundred and thirty-eight were in
favor of organizing a General Assembly, Governor Harrison, on September
II, 1804, issued a proclamation, and called for an election to be held in the
several counties of the territon,' January 3, 1805, to choose members of the
House of Representatives, who should meet at Vincennes. February ist. The
delegates were duly elected and assembled as ordered, and they perfected
DEKALB COUNTY,
35
plans for territorial organization and selected five men who should constitute
the legislative council of the territory. The first General Assembly or Legisla-
ture of the territory met at Vincennes July 29, 1805.
July 30th the governor delivered his first message to the council and
House of Representatives. Benjamin Park, who came from New Jersey in
1801, was the first delegate elected to Congress.
The first newspaper published within the territory of Indiana was the
Western Sun, first issued at Vincennes in 1803, by Elihu Stout, of Kentucky,
and first named the Indiana Gazette, but changed to the Sun July 4, 1804.
In 1810 the total population of Indiana was 24,520. There were then
reported 33 grist mills, 14 saw mills, 3 horse mills, 18 tanneries, 28 distilleries,
3 powder mills, 1,256 looms, 1,300 spinning wheels; value of woolen, cotton,
hemp and flax cloth, $150,059: of nails, 30,000 pounds: of wine from grapes,
96 barrels, and 50,000 pounds of maple sugar.
The territory of Indiana was divided in 1809, when the territory of Illi-
nois was erected to comprise all that part of Indiana territory west of the
Wabash river and a direct line drawn from that river and Vincennes due
north to the territorial line between the United States and Canada. For the
first half century after the settlement Vincennes grew slowly.
The commandants and priests governed with almost absolute power ; the
whites lived in peace with the Indians. The necessaries of life were easily
procured ; there was nothing to stimulate energy or progress. In such a state
of society there was no demand for learning and science. Few could read
and fewer still could write their own names; they were void of public spirit,
enterprise or ingenuity. Not until the close of the war of 1812 and 1814
did Indiana take on her vigorous growth, and since then she has kept pace
with her sister states. In 181 5 the total white population was sixty-three
thousand eight hundred and ninety-seven. February 13, 1813* the Legisla-
ture in session at Vincennes changed the seat of government to Corydon.
The same year Governor Posev was appointed to take Governor Harrison's
place, for he was engaged in subduing the enemies of this country.
Up to 181 1 a man must own at least fifty acres of land before he was
entitled to cast his vote. To become a member of the council he must pos-
sess five hundred acres of land, and each member of the Legislature must
needs own two hundred acres.
In 1814 the territory was divided into three judicial districts. The
governor appointed the judges and the compensation was fixed at seven
hundred dollars per annum. The same year two banks were authorized : the
36 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA.
Mechanics Bank of Madison, with seven hundred and fifty thousand dollars,
and the Bank of Vincennes; with a capital of five hundred thousand dollars.
STATE ORGANIZATION 1816.
The last territorial Legislature convened at Corydon in December, 1815,
and petitioned Congress for authority to adopt a state constitution and main-
tain a state government. The President approved the bill, and Indiana was
made a state. The following May an election was held for the selection of
delegates to a constitutional convention. That body met at Corydon, June
15th to 29th, John Jennings presiding, and William Hendricks acting as
secretary.
The representatives in the constitutional convention were able men.
The constitution they there formed for Indiana in 1816 was in no wise in-
ferior to that of any other commonwealth in the Union to that date.
The first state election was held the first Monday in August, 1816, and
Jonathan Jennings was elected governor, Christopher Harrison, lieutenant
governor, and William Hendricks, representative to Congress.
The close of the war of 1812 and 1S14 was followed by a great rush of
immigrants to the new state, and in 1820 the state had more than doubled its
population, having at this time one hundred forty-seven thousand one hun-
dred and seventy-eight. From 1825 to 1830 was one of prosperity in In-
diana. Immigration continued to come in rapidly, the crops were excellent,
and the hopes of the people raised higher than ever before.
THE LAST OF THE INDIANS.
In 1830 there still remained on Indiana soil two tribes of Indians, the
Miamis and Pottawatomies. These were much opposed to moving to territory
farther west. This condition of unrest was used by the celebrated warrior,
Black Hawk, who, hoping to receive aid from the discontented tribes, in-
vaded the frontier and slaughtered the settlers. Others fled from their homes
and a vast amount of property was destroyed. This was in 1832 and was
known as the Black Hawk war. The invaders were driven away with severe
punishment and when those who had abandoned their homes were assured
that the Miamis and Pottawatomies did not contemplate joining the invaders,
they returned and again took up their peaceful vocations. In 1837-8 the
Indians were all removed to a country west of the Mississippi, and very soon
land speculations assumed large proportions.
DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 37
INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS.
The matter of making public improvements in Indiana began to be freely
talked of as early as 1818, and continued in favor until 1830, when the people
became much excited over the question of railroads.
In 1832 work on public roads and canals was really commenced, the
Wabash and Erie canal being the greatest of such undertakings. Thirty-two
miles of this canal were completed during that year.
During 1836 many other projected works were started, and in 1837,
when the governor took the executive chair, he found a reaction among the
people in regard to the gigantic plans for public improvements. The fear
that a state debt was being settled on their shoulders took hold of the people
from which they could never free themselves. The state had borrowed
$3,820,000 for internal works, of which $1,300,000 was for the construction
of the Wabash and Erie canal, the state to pay annually $200,000 interest on
her public debt, and the revenue derived which could be thus be applied
amounted to only $45,000 in 1838.
In 1839 all work ceased on these improvements with one or two excep-
tions, and the contract surrendered to the state in consequence of the act of
the Legislature providing for the compensation of contractors by the issue of
treasury notes.
In 1840 the system of improvements embraced ten different works, the
most important of which was the Wabash and Erie canal. The aggregate
length of this system was one thousand two hundred and eighty-nine miles.
Of this only one hundred and forty were completed. In 1840 the state debt
amounted to eighteen and one-half million dollars. In 1850 the state, having
abandoned public improvement, private capital and enterprise pushed forward
public work, and although the canal served its day and age, it was finally
superseded by the railroads, which now form a network over the state. When
water transportation was in vogue Indiana had one of the most extensive and
complete systems in the Union.
CHAPTER II.
GEOLOGY, TOPOGRAPHY AND ZOOLOGY.
The county of DeKalb is situated directly south of Steuben county, the
northeastern corner county of the state of Indiana. DeKalb county is
bounded on the east by Defiance county, Ohio; on the south by Allen county,
Indiana ; on the west by Noble county, Indiana ; and on the north, as mentioned
before, by Steuben county. The county is located in the basin drained by
the tributaries of Lake Erie and the Mississippi river and is also drained bv the
St. Joseph river, of the Maumee, including Cedar. Wells to twenty-five feet,
reach a second stratum of clear, cold, and in some cases, chalybeate water.
Tube wells forty-five feet deep, strike a thin stratum of clear and highly
chalybeate water. Near Auburn the water of this stratum rises nearly to the
surface and in cases becomes artesian. Typical of the section of the country,
the surface of the county is rolling and undulating. The land was originally
covered with the hard woods of northern Indiana, but has been cleared, and
now is of great value for various agricultural pursuits.
THE GEOLOGY.
The history of DeKalb county, as read in the rock formation underlying
the soil, proves conclusively that the county, or the land on which the county
now rests, was raised out of the sea by the earth shrinkage some time imme-
diately after the Devonian period. The carboniferous, the reptilian, and the
tertiary rocks are not present in the underlying strata; the Devonian is the
last, and it is in the short description of this strata that the geological history
of DeKalb county may be related.
The English scientists, Murchison and Sedgwick, named the rock forma-
tion known as the Devonian. In this formation are found fossils of the first
known fishes. The largest outcropping of this rock is in the region of
Devonshire, England, but in Indiana, in DeKalb county, the rock is com-
DEKALB COUNTV, INDIANA. 39
pletely hidden from view, covered with drift, or disintegrated rocks. This
soil was transported to this locaHty from other fields by the great glacier
which swept down from the north ages ago. The soil is a mixture of clay,
sand, gravel, pebbles, and all sorts and species of stones and boulders. These
rocks have no sharp edges, but round ones, due to the wearing process of
the glacial action. The scratches on their surfaces are from the same source.
Rocks of foreign species are scattered over the county, from widely different
localities, having been brought here by the glacier. The gently rolling
mounds here and there over the surface of the county are deposits of glacial
drift, formed the same as if one were rubbing a damp powdery substance over
a surface. On the top of this drift there is a thin vegetable mould, which
composes the rich soil of the county.
PEAT DEPOSITS.
DeKalb county ranks as one of the medium peat counties of Indiana in
its amount of material, and among the first in its quality. The deposits are
largely of the moss variety.
Township 33 north, ranges 12, 13, 14 and part of 15 east, have little or
no place left for the development of peat beds, due to the draining of the
glacial lakes by the St. Joseph river and its tributaries. Jackson and Concord
townships have a ten-acre peat deposit in the southwest quarter of section 3
and the same of 4; the bed is comparatively shallow and of fair quality. On
the place of S. Franks, in the southeast quarter of section i (^t, north, 13
east), and the southwest of section 6 (33 north, 14 east), is a ten-acre bed of
peat, which is shallow, but of good quality. Deposits of this extent are too
small for a peat plant, being suitable for fuel only, where it is spaded out,
stacked up to dry and used in the crude condition.
In Jackson township, in the northwest quarters of section 22, the south-
east of 15, and the northeast of 21, is located a peat bed one mile long and
one-sixth of a mile wide. Five different soundings showed an excellent
thickness and a stripping of about one and one-half feet. It is a dark choco-
late brown in color, and the substratum is composed largely of clay. More or
less high ground is scattered through this district and deposit. In an old
glacial lake basin in the northeast quarter of section 4 and the northwest of 3,
is a fair bed of peat of twenty or twenty-five acres. It has a stripping of
about one foot, and is a dark brown in color. In the northwest and north-
east quarters of section 4 are seventy acres of peat, on the Weimer and
Barnhart farms. This is of fair quality, brown color, one foot stripping, and
40 DEKALB COUNTY. INDIANA.
a sub-soil of clay. A deposit, similar in quality to this one, is in the south
central part of section 4. This is a bed of forty acres, with a thickness
varying between six and twenty feet. This is an excellent location for a peat
plant, as there are three deposits in this section, totaling about one hundred
and forty acres, with the Baltimore & Ohio railroad bisecting it. On the
Buchanan and Weaver places, in the northeast and northwest quarters of
section 8, is a thirty-five-acre peat deposit, of good quality, being derived
from the Sphagnum mosses. The bed is from five to twenty-five feet in
depth, and the stripping is very light. Almost all of the material is below
the ground-water level, and consequently has not been oxidized in the presence
of the air. The surface is largely covered from one-half to two feet with green
mosses, which would be very valuable to nurserymen. Immediately beneath
these mosses are several feet of a good quality of peat moss litter, of a light
and dark brown color. Under this is medium brown peat.
In Jackson and Butler townships peat beds, varying greatly in thick-
ness and extent, are found in pockets in the muck area, which extends east
and west, with a length of about two and three-quarter miles and a width of
one-fifth of a mile. They are located in the northeast and northwest quarters
of section 29, the northeast and northwest of 30, and the northeast and north-
west of 23. The area covered by these beds will probably be more than one
hundred and twenty-five acres. In the eastern portion of this area, just
north of the center of section 29, is a fifteen-acre bed, which contains a good
quality of peat, being derived from the sphagnum mosses. The stripping is
about one-half foot, and the underlying formation is clay. The thickness of
this deposit is from ten to twenty-five feet, with about one-sixth of its mate-
rial above the le^'el of the ground-water. Advancing westward from this
bed, in the muck area, there are numerous patches of two or four acres,
where the peat is five or more feet in depth and of good quality.
Around Duncan lake, in the southeast quarter of section 31 and the
southwest of 32, are about twenty acres of peat, derived from the sphagnum
mosses, and of good quality. The peat bed forms a belt about one hundred
yards wide around the lake, occurring between it and the higher ground. It
is almost all beneath the water level, and thus is in a very loose condition, and
would shrink greatly if drained. The sub-soil is clay, and the stripping al-
most nothing.
On the land owned by J. Paulin and M. A. Carnahan, in the southeast
quarter of section 36, is a peat bed ranging in thickness from six to twenty-
five feet. Twenty acres of clayey peat occur in the north central part of
section 14. The thickness of the bed is low and the stripping heavy. It is
DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 4 1
suitable for use only in the crude condition. A deposit similar in size, quality
and thickness is located in the south central part of section lo and the north
central part of 15.
In the southwest quarter of section 10 are fifteen acres of peat, of vary-
ing quality, derived from sphagnum mosses. A little more than one mile
south of Garrett, in the northeast quarter of section g, is a peat bed of
about seventy acres, where peat moss litter is taken out on a commercial
scale. Ten or more acres of this deposit have been carefully sounded and are
judged to have an average thickness of about forty-five feet. Several sound-
ings in the remainder of the deposit show a thickness of two to twenty feet.
This moss is spaded out for the market; after being dried and baled it is
shipped to different points in Ohio, Indiana, Michigan and Illinois, where it
is used as a litter for stables, fowl-houses, kennels, etc. It will absorb eight
to twelve times its own weight of water, while ordinary straw cannot absorb
more than three times its own weight. The state geologist in his report for
1906 on the peat deposits says : "In determining the value of peat as a ferti-
lizer it is doubtful whether any of the analyses are of value, as the benefit
derived from peat depends not so much on the chemical composition as on
the mechanical effect of the peat on the soil, its effect in promoting disin-
tegration and solution of mineral matters, and its property of absorbing
ammonia. The value of peat as a direct fertilizer depends on the nitrogenous
organic matter present and particularly upon the ammonia, potash, phosphoric
acid and lime. As these direct fertilizing ingredients rarely form two per
cent, of the mass free from water, it can not be a significant source of min-
eral fertilizer. The quantity of potash (K'O) in the ash of the peats examined
varies from 0.96 to 1.56% : the quantity of phosporic acid (P^O') from 1.17
to 1.90%." Further description of peat as a product will be given later.
Beginning at the west side of Garrett and extending west and north-
west for one and one-half miles, is a peat bed of one hundred acres. The
thickness ranges from four to twenty-five feet, and the stripping will average
about one foot. Probably twenty acres of peat can be found around the
small lakes in the southeast quarter of section 7. The topographical
position is that of an old glacial lake basin. A peat bed extends east and
west through or near the centers of sections 13, 14, 15 and 18, and has a
length of three miles and a width of from one-ninth to one-third of a mile.
This deposit is below the ground-water level, consequently has not been
affected by oxidation in the air. The thickness varies greatly.
In Union township there is an old glacial lake basin, which contains
several acres of peat of varying quality. It occurs in the southeast quarter of
42 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA.
section 33 and the southwest of 34. From about two and one-half miles
northeast of Auburn to a point near Mooresville is a chain of peat beds,
which will comprise several hundred acres of fair to good peat, found in the
northeast quarter of section 27, the southwest and southeast of 23, and the
southwest and southeast of 24. Individual deposits are from two to thirty-
five acres in extent, with the thickness ranging from ten to twenty-five feet.
In Wilmington township a bed of muck, one mile long and one-third of
a mile wide, containing numerous pockets of peat, appears in the southeast
quarter of section 20, the southwest and southeast of 21 and the northwest of
28. The peat beds, from two to twenty acres in area, will likely aggregate
two hundred acres, and have a thickness varying between four and twenty-
five feet. The quality of the material is from fair to good, being partly from
the sphagnum mosses and partly from the grasses and sedges. The stripping
is from one-half to two feet. On the Gender farms, in an old glacial lake
basin, in the southwest quarter of section 22 and the southeast of 21, are
forty acres of peat, underlain by a clay sub-soil. The thickness of the bed
will average five feet, and the stripping about one and one-half feet. In a
twenty-five-acre muck bed in the northeast quarter of section 8 and the north-
west of 7, are about forty acres of peat, more or less scattered in pockets of
ten acres or less. It has clay underneath, and is derived from the sphagnum
mosses. The stripping is one and one-half feet.
Ten or fifteen acres of a fair quality of peat are found in the muck bed
in the northwest quarter of section 7, and the northeast quarter of section 12.
Another small deposit of ten acres occurs just west of the central part of
section 2. An area similar in size and quality is found in the southwest
quarter of section 4.
In Troy township there is a peat deposit in the northeast and southeast
quarters of section 8 and in parts of each of the quarters of section 9, which
has a length of one-half of a mile and a width of one-quarter of a mile. It is
of good quality. Near the top it is very fibrous and bladed, while deeper it
becomes less fibrous and more compact. The very fibrous portion is a good
quality of peat moss litter and occurs here in large quantities. An old glacial
lake once occupied the same place that this peat bed now covers. About
twenty-five acres of peat occur in the west central part of section 30, of poor
quality and fair, and shallow thickness. A deposit of fifteen acres similar in
quality and thickness, is found in the east central part of section 26, and the
west central of 25. Another shallow bed of a rather poor quality is located
in the northwest quarter of section 10.
In Franklin and Smithfield townships, in an old lake basin in the north-
DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 43
east, soutliwest and southeast quarters of section 12, Smithfield, and the
southwest, northwest and northeast quarters of 7, Franklin, are about two
hundred and fifty acres of peat, in several large beds, separated by the higher
ground and muck. The quality ranges between poor and fair, the derivation
being, to a considerable extent, from the sphagnum mosses. About one-third
of the material is above the ground-water level. Fair crops of onions and
corn are raised on the more decomposed portions.
Forty acres of a shallow deposit of peat are found along the Lake Shore
railroad in the northeast and southeast quarters of section 3, Smithfield
township. Another shallow deposit of fifteen acres is in the west central
part of section 8 and the east central of 7. About four acres of fairly good
peat is found around Cedar lake ; another around Indian lake.
Other smaller deposits are found in divers places in the county, but
are of little importance.
DEFINITON OF PF.AT.
Arthur E. Taylor, in the State Geological Report, describes peat thusly :
"Peat is a moist, spongy and partially carbonized vegetable matter, ranging in
color from a light chocolate brown to a black. When it has remained, for
some time, in a state of imperfect decomposition in the presence of water, it
forms a soft, slimy mass, which is sufficiently tenacious to be molded into
almost any form. When dried this mass becomes hard and somewhat dark-
ened on the surface, from oxidation. It shows an earthy fracture, and re-
minds one of a black, carbonaceous clay. Where the peat has only been in
this state of partial decay for a brief period it is very fibrous, incompact and
often contains the roots of the plants which afford the material from which
it is derived. It is lighter in color and has a lower specific gravity than the
first variety. In any marsh where the process of peat formation is going on,
we find these two varieties, the former comprising the lower and medium
portions of the bed, while the latter lies near the surface. Between these two
varieties the peat is found in various intermediate stages of incomplete pre-
servation. Peat in many localities is commonly known by the terms 'muck,'
'turf,' and 'bog.' "
Peat is formed by the decaying of vegetable matter in the presence of
water. Owing to the numerous lakes in the northern part of Indiana, the
many peat beds are there found. Gradually, through the ages of time, lakes
have been gradually filled up by vegetation. The mosses form around the
edges of the lake, then spread out upon the surface. It slowly thickens, and
the decaved matter falls from the sides and accumulates on the bottom of the
44 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA.
lake. First this covering is very thin, but later becomes of sufficient srength
for a man to place his weight thereon. Then it is called by the familiar term
of "quaking bog." If the accumtilation continues for a long period the lake
becomes filled completely, and if sufficient decomposition beneath the ground-
water level had ensued, would become a "peat bed."
The water, however, for the forming of peat beds does not have to lie in
the form of a lake. In Indiana there are examples of peat having lieen formed
above the ground-water level. In an ordinary dn- forest the vegetation soon
becomes blackened and decomposed, the carbon passing off as carbon-dioxide
and the inorganic matter being left as a residue. Xear water the vegetation
decays more slowly and the accumulation gains on the decomposition. This is
the result of the fact that where water is present the air cannot come into
free contact with the carbon, and this element is largely retained, while much
of the inflanmiable substance is given off. thus improving the fuel qualitv of
the vegetation.
ECONOMIC VALUE OF PE.\T.
As a fuel, peat has served its purpose since a time prior to the Christian
era. Pliny, in his natural history, speaks of it. In .America the exhaustion
of coal fields and other causes has caused peat to be used very largely as fuel.
Briquettes are oblong blocks of compressed peat, and are excellent sources of
heat. The value of peat as a fertilizer is discussed fully elsewhere in this
work. Peat charcoal is a \raluable filtering agent. Peat coke is also widely
used, and the by-products from the coke are worth as much or more than the
coke. As a source of producer gas, peat is of great economic worth. Peat
gas is valued above coal gas in the steel industry on account of its greater
freedom from sulphur and phosphorus.
The chemical analysis of DeKalb county peat is as follows: Moisture,
I05°C, 17.16; volatile, air dried. 73.31: fixed carbon, air dried, 22.53: coke,
air dried. 26.67: ash, air dried, 4.14: nitrogen, air dried, 2.^6: sulphur, oven
dried, 0.74: per cent, of P^O' in ash, i.go: per cent, of K'^O in ash. 1.56.
THE FAUNA : PAST AND PRESENT.
If one were in doubt of the existence at one time of many different
species of wild animals in DeKalb county one has but to read of the days of
the pioneer and Indian, when the streams were filled with fish, eager for the
bait, and animals of all descriptions roamed the forest aisles, only waiting for
the trapper's bullet. The pioneers' t.nblcs were well filled witli wild meats in
DEKAI.Il COUNTY, INDIANA. 45
those days, but ixnv tlic many beasts iiaLivi' u> tliis locality have disappeared,
or at least are too feu to he of value. The IjiilTalo, elk and deer were the first
to fall before the white man. Twenty years ago the last deer was shot. The
panther and two species of the wildcat once snarled from the trees of DcKalb
county and made traveling dangerous to the settler, but it has been fifty years
since one of these felines has been seen. The porcupine, beaver and black bear
have forsaken their haunts for even a longer period, and the minks, weasels,
skunks, for whom a diligent search was once made on account of the value
of their fur, have largely disappeared. The different squirrels remain so long
as there are spots of forest land in the county, but with the diminishing
trees they, too, go. Moles, rabbits and bats arc still e.xistent, also muskrats.
Gray wolves are extinct, and also the fox family. Groundhogs, or wood-
chucks, are occasionally discovered, but very rarely. Wild hogs are an ani-
mal of the past, most of this valuable species being domesticated.
The absence of large lakes and streams in DeKalb county has been a
force to restrict the variety of fishes. There arc, however, some interesting
families for the ichthyologist.
The stickleback family are great game fish. There are many species in
this family, and each has a popular name, such as black bass, green or Osage
bass, big black sun-fish or rock bass, goggle-eye, and the common sun-fish.
These fish have diminished greatly. There are no perch in the county, al-
though at one time very common. Another fish that has largely disappeared
is the pike, also the pickerel and gar pikes. The suckers, buffalo, red horse,
and white are fish of the past. Fish of the cat-fish family are still common,
but have deteriorated, the best one weighing not over a pound and a half.
Among them are the channel, blue and yellow, bull-head. There are several
varieties of chubs, silver sides, and minnows in the smaller streams.
Reptiles have at one time been common to DeKalb county, some twenty-
three species existing. The larger ones have been exterminated. Two species,
the copperhead and massanger, are venomous. The smaller species, like
toads, are useful to the country, for they prey on destroying animals like
mice and moles. The lizard family is represented here by such animals as the
salamander, which is a useful one, having as their prey flies and other pests.
There have been eighteen species of these animals here. The largest attains a
length of about eight inches, and is of a black color, with large, irregular black
spots. Another species is wholly of a yellow color; and yet another is a bril-
liant red and haunts cold springs. The second in size is the mud alligator, or
water dog; and another has external gills for breathing in water. There are
five species of frogs and five of toads. Four are tree toads. One species of
46 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA.
frog is subterranean, digging backwards into the earth with its hind feet,
which are shaped like a shovel. It appears on the surface of the ground in
breeding time, after the thunder showers of April, and in the evening, and is
recognized by the loud, discordant croak it emits.
In DeKalb county are found over two hundred and fifty diiiferent species
of the bird family. The singers outnumber the others, although the really good
.singers are in the minority.
The thrushes are the best singing birds of the county, namely, the
wood-thrush. The song of the thrush has been the inspiration of the greatest
poets of the world; the thrush's song is varied and tuneful, and is unequaled
by that of any other bird. The olive-backed thrush, the brown thrush, and
the robin are all migratory birds, and have songs second to the wood-thrush.
The hermit and olive-backed thrushes are common to the spring of the year;
the robins and cat-birds haunt the gardens and orchards, preferring civiliza-
tion to the wildness of the woods, perhaps feeling more secure there from the
preying birds. The brown thrush is ofttimes found in the thickets of the
hazel-brush, and briers, which follow old fences and brush heaps ; in the latter
place the nest is generally built. The food of this family consists of grass-
hoppers, beetles, snails, spiders, caterpillars and small fruits and berries.
The bluebird is the only species of that family in the county, and it stays
from spring to fall, nesting in bird-houses, fence-posts, decayed trees and
feeds on winged insects, worms, grasshoppers, spiders, and a few berries. It
is a natural enemy to the song-birds, but is defeated bv the English sparrow,
which attack in droves.
The golden-crowned and ruby-crowned kinglets and the blue-gray gnat-
snatcher are common during the spring and fall. The latter is often found in
the winter, and the gnat-snatcher is here during the summer. The kinglets
nest most often in the region of the lakes, but the gnat-snatcher nests here,
usually building his nest high up in the oaks.
The white-bellied and red-bellied nuthatch are very common to this
locality, being found in woodlands and orchards, their nests built in holes in
the trees. Their food consists of ants, eggs of insects, and seeds.
The black-capped chickadee, or titmouse, the sole member of this fam-
ily here, feeds upon insects, berries, seeds, crumbs and meat, and nests in the
woods the whole year ; during the winter is found close to the house searching
for sweepings.
The Carolina wren is a rare bird, which occasionally gets this far north.
Ho\\ever, the house wren is common. The winter wren, the long-billed
DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 47
marsh wren and the short-billed marsh wren are comn:on residents of this
locality. They feed on insects alone.
The horned lark is a winter resident, sometimes breeding here. Barren
and gravelly fields are the abiding place of this bird, and it lives on insects
and seeds. When the ground is hidden in snow these birds may be found feed-
ing on the droppings of stock about the farm. The titlark is also a bird with
similar habits to the above.
The warblers are very numerous in this county. The black and white
creeper resides here in the summer, nesting on the ground, preferably beside a
fallen log. The blue yellow-backed warbler, a rare migratory bird, is some-
times found in the tree-tops of the forest. The blue-winged yellow warbler
is very uncommon, also the orange-crowned warbler. The blue golden-
winged warbler is common, and the Nashville and Tennessee variety. 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 chest-
nut-sided warblers are all common — some of them abundant; and all of them
are migratory birds. The bay-breasted, the Cape May, the prairie, the yellow-
throated and Kirtland's warblers are rare. The golden-crowned thrush is
rare, but uses this locality as a breeding ground. The Connecticut warbler, a
good singer, is rare here. The Maryland yellow-throat is occasionally seen,
and the black-capped fly-catching warbler is common during the spring and
fall. The Canada fly-catching warbler and the red start are very common.
The scarlet tanager is common, but the summer red-bird is not so fre-
quently seen. This is a large family, but little represented in this part of
the country.
The swallow is a very common bird in the county. There are several
species, namely: the barn, clifif or cave, white-bellied, and the bank or sand
swallow. The purple martin, a member of this family, has been driven out
by the sparrow. The swallows feed exclusively on winged insects.
The shrikes or butcher-birds are represented here. The great Northern
shrike is rare, bvtt the logger-head shrike is common. They are a very
quarrelsome bird, particularly among themselves. Their food consists of
large insects, mice and small birds and snakes. One habit of theirs is to
impale their prey on thorns or twigs and leave it there for future visits.
The finch and sparrow family are very numerous. Among the species
are pine grosbeak, purple finch, white-winged and red cross-bills, red-poll
linnet, pine linnet, goldfinch, or yellow bird, snow-liunting, Laplong long-
spur, Savannah sparrow, bay-winged bunting, yellow-winged, Henslow's and
Lincoln's sparrows, swamp and song sparrows, snow-bird, mountain sparrow.
48 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA.
chipping and field sparrows, white-throated and white-crowned sparrows,
English sparrow, fox sparrow, black-throated bunting, rose-breasted grosbeak,
indigo bird, towhee bunting or chewink. Except during the breeding season,
birds of this family feed upon seeds, and those which are residents during
the entire year eat very little during the breeding season, and feed their young
almost entirely on insects. The rose-breasted grosbeak is the only bird
known to feed on the potato bug and the white-crowned sparrow feeds on
the grape-vine flea-beetle. The common yellow bird prefers the seeds of the
thistle and lettuce. The chewee, or chewink, and the fox sparrow scratch
for the hibernating insects and snails. The cross-bills feed on the seeds in
the pine cones, and the English sparrow extracts the seeds contained in the
droppings of animals.
The blackbird family is represented by the following species : the bobo-
link, a songster; the cow-bird, or cow black-bird, which frequents old pas-
ture lands and wood edges in summer; this cow-bird builds no nest of its
own, but invades the nests of smaller birds and there deposits its eggs.
There is the red-winged blackbird, common in summer ; meadow lark ; or-
chard and Baltimore orioles ; rusty blackbird, or grackle, is common for a few
weeks in the spring; and the crow blackbird. Insects and grains constitute
the food of these birds. The cow birds destroy the eggs and young of other
birds, and the orioles feed on hairy caterpillars and some of the small fruits.
The common crow is a migratory bird, flying to the southward at the
first approach of winter. The birds of this family are omnivorous.
Of the fly-catcher family, the king-bird is frequently seen in the sum-
mer in orchards and in the edges of the woods. The great-crested fly-catcher
is abundant in the forest, and uses snake-skins in the construction of its nest.
The pewee, the wood pewee, the least fly-catcher, yellow-bellied fly catcher,
are others of this family common to DeKalb county. They subsist on the
winged insects.
Other birds common to this locality, and of different families, are : The
whippoorwill and night hawk, nocturnal birds ; chimney swallow ; humming-
birds ; king-fishers ; black-billed cuckoos, or rain-crows ; hairy, downy, yellow-
bellied, red-bellied, red-headed and golden-winged wood-peckers; great
horned, mottled, screetch, long-eared, short-eared, barn, owls; hawks, in-
cluding the marsh, sharp shinned. Cooper's sparrow, red-tailed, red shoulder-
ed, broad-winged, rough-legged or black and fish. The white-tailed kite, the
goshawk, the pigeon hawk, Swainson's hawk and the bald eagle are more rare.
The turkey buzzard, pigeon family, wild turkey, grouse, plovers, sandpipers,
herons, cranes, rails, gulls, loons, grebes are seen in this county. Ducks are
DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 49
represented here by the mallard type, the black, big black head, little black
head, ring-necked, red-head, golden-eye, butter-ball, ruddy and fish ducks,
brant and Canada geese, widgeon, golden-winged and blue-winged teal and
the hooded merganser. The pintail, gadwall, shoveler, wood duck, canvas-
back, long-tailed and red-breasted merganser are very rare.
GAME PRESERVE.
The game preserve in DeKalb county contains five thousand seven hun-
dred and ninety-four acres of rolling and level land, lying in the southwestern
part of Sniithfield township and extending into Grant township. One-tenth
of the preserve is woodland and there is much copse and young wood through-
out the remainder. The water supply consists of Cedar Lake and Cedar
creek, with its tributaries.
U)
CHAPTER III.
EARLY SETTLEMENT OF COUNTY.
Pioneer history, at its best, is an elusi\'e subject. Records in the days
when our fathers hewed their homes from the wilderness were not preserved,
and consequently the few sources of information in regard to the faraway
days are treasures which must be guarded zealously by the future men and
women of the county, lest the tales and deeds of the sturdy settlers be lost
from view. Pioneer history grows with the telling; there is glamour and
interest centering around the hardships and hard-fought battles of the early
day which will bear the retelling numberless times. What if bits of imagina-
tion are introduced in the retelling? .\ny life is prosaic in the stern reality,
and narrative beauty is added by the coloration of the pure facts: nf course,
adherence to the facts is a prime requisite.
Settlements were miles apart in the early nineteenth century, and social
intercourse was difficult. Log rollings, husking bees, barbecues, cabin build-
ings, and other pioneer entertainments afforded the only opportunities for the
people to congregate together, and these periods were generally months
apart. So the pioneer lived alone with his family, in the silent and mighty
forest, sallying out before dawn to shoot the game for the day's food sup-
ply or to cast a line in the stream nearby. The clothes were manufactured
by the woman who sat for days before the loom: linsey-woolse}- and home-
spun, adorned with skins of small animals, were the popular weaves. A
hardiness of soul and bodv was the result of this life, and men were steel-
cast. Today's civilization is deteriorating, but the effects of money and
luxuries are too near to us to merit discussion in a work such as this volume.
It is to the first men of the county and their influence upon the building up
of the county, that this chapter must serve.
FIRST SETTLERS.
The first settler known to have entered the bounds of DeKall) county to
make a permanent settlement was John Houlton. He was born in Highland
countv. Ohio, on September 21, 1804. He built the first house in the county
here on section i. Franklin township, where he resided until his death. June
DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 5 1
2, 1875. Having married JNliss Sarali Fee on February 5. 1833, Houlton, in
September of the same year, took three hired men, a yoke of oxen, a cross-
cut saw and a fro, came on to forty acres which he had entered and in four
days had cut the logs for, and raised and covered a house. Settlers prior to
1840 were presented with canes made from the timbers of this first cabin.
Houlton hauled out and buried twenty bushels of potatoes, and left them
until he moved on a month later, and the Indians, then numerous, left the
vegetables undisturbed. Here, then, in 1833, we find the log cabin of John
Houlton alone in the wilderness, its occupants ten miles from Denmark, the
nearest settlement. Grain was brought from the prairies, ground at White
Pidgeon, and then with many struggles in mire-holes, creeks and sloughs,
this heroic i)ioneer journeyed homeward. Night after night passed at the
little cabin, where devoted wife and sister and daughter awaited his return,
the howling of the wolves and the half-human scream of the panther awak-
ing their solicitude for the dear one absent.
In 1834, John Fee entered land to the amount of over five hundred acres,
partly in DeKalb and partly in Steuben. He was followed by Charles Boyer
and later by Luther Keep, Charles Crain, and Peter Boyer. During the year
1834, eight pioneers moved into the county by way of Fort Wayne. Their
names are : Peter Fair, and his sons Al^ram and Charles : Charles F. Crouse,
George Delong, and Andrus, Jacob and John Surface. On October ist,
they entered Butler township, with a four-horse team and a wagon. They
cut their road from Squire Caswell's in Allen county, beyond Huntertowti,
five miles to the place where they settled, and also a good share of the way
from Fort Wayne, as the track was too narrow and crooked for a four-horse
team. Our plan, said Abram Fair, was to come out, build cabins, make a
beginning, and then return to winter in our old homes in Montgomery county,
Ohio, and bring on the families in the spring. Provisions for the trip were
brought along, excepting meat which was expected to be obtained by killing
deer, but deer were found quite scarce that season, and there was a consequent
disappointment. One day Andrew Surface found a hollow tree on Black
Creek ; a bear had gnawed a hole and helped himself to the store of honey, but
upon chopping into the tree six gallons of honey were obtained. Bee trees
were soon found afterwards, and a supply obtained to last the entire party
twenty days, and on their return to Ohio, they took along twenty-one gallons
of strained honey. The honey-bee is seen to have preceded the settlement
of the county, and bee hunters were successful. Then the bee-moth threat-
ened to exterminate the insect, but later S. Rogers and I. Dichl had large
apiaries, and made bee culture a success. During the following year, settlers
52 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA.
entered land in different parts of the county, and soon the work of brush
burning, log rolling, rail splitting, and cabin raising was under headway-
Clearings were met with at wide intervals, and the dense forest of the county
re-echoed to the stroke of the ax, as trees came crashing and thundering down.
In the early part of the year 1836 comparatively few settlers were located
within the bounds of what is now DeKalb county. Homer Blake, below
Spencerville ; David Butler; Samuel Wasson; John Mathews; Mr. Yates, near
Spencerville ; Mr. Rhodes and sons; Jeremiah Rhodes; Mr. Brandt and Cran-
nel Rood, also near Spencerville; William Mathews; George and David
Mathews ; Mr. Lytle and Jared Ball, near Orangeville ; Washington Robinson,
on the present site of Newville ; and William Rodgers and Jacob Platter, near
Newville; were those who resided here before the year 1836, most of them
in the southern part of the present area known as DeKalb county. This was
before the formal organization of the county of DeKalb. A portion of the
territory was attached to Lagrange and a portion to Allen county.
Early in the year 1836, John Blair settled on a farm, on which place he
lived his entire life. Charles Wilber, near Orangeville; William Burley, in
the same locality; Joseph Lndwig; Judge Walden and Ariel Rood, farther up
the river. Toward the end of the year Judge Samuel Widney located on the
farm where he spent the rest of his days, and John P. Widney on the farm
owned now by A. I. Richmond; Benjamin Alton on the farm which was
later the Dr. Herrington place; Dr. Babcock on another farm; and Asher
Coburn and relatives, in the Coburn settlement. During the same season
Wesley Park settled on the site of .A.uburn, and laid out the town.
EARLY LIFE.
The pioneer, in his journey to the count)-, met with many reverses, in one
form or another. He traveled through untrodden forests, poled and rowed
his boat along swollen streams, and often was delayed for days by accidents.
Roads had to be cut through the forest and improvised bridges constructed
over the larger streams. A good illustration of the method of pioneer travel
is the experience of Judge Widney, from central Pennsylvania.
From his home in the last mentioned state, Judge Widney came by canal
to the Allegheny mountains, over the mountains by steam road, then again
by canal to Dayton, Ohio, thence by wagons through the black swamp to Fort
Wayne, Indiana. On horseback he and his wife came up the Indian trail
along the St. Joseph river, while his family, in care of John P. Widney and
wife, came in the pirogue of Judge Walden and Thomas Gorrell. who had
DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 53
come down for provisions. The pirogue was "poled" along the river, and
everything went well until they reached a ripple near David Butler's home,
when the boat, having turned broadside against the current, was capsized,
precipitating the occupants in the stream. The goods floated down stream
and the people floundered around in the water which was, at that point, three
or four feet deep. Some of the larger children succeeded in getting ashore,
while the wife of John P. Widney grasped a five-year-old child (afterward
Mr. Widney's second wife) and helped her to the bank. The men scattered
down the river to retain the luggage which had floated down. One trunk
containing a considerable sum of money, was recovered fullv a mile from
the scene of the accident.
Joseph Miller, the first surveyor of DeKalb county, and his father trans-
ported their goods by way of Fort Wayne to Shryock's mill, and from thence
to the farm about a mile below Auburn. They were forced to cut their path
through the dense forest. They left the most of their goods and their families
on the ]\Iaumee, and penetrated the woods, going east, by means of a small
pocket compass, to the St. Joseph, circling the worst and impassable swamps.
They cut a road back, a distance of twelve miles, in order that their wagons
might pass, and also had to bridge a tamarack swamp on the route. This
road was afterward known as "Miller's trace," and served as a highway for
many emigrants. It was located where the road now runs westward from the
St. Joseph river, at the place of Judge Widney's.
The closest mill and market to the DeKalb county settlement was at Fort
Wayne, about twenty-six miles from the center of the river colony by land,
and nearlv as far by the meandering river. There were no wagon-roads then,
consequently the river was mostly utilized as a highway. Pirogues — large
canoes hollowed from a tree trunk, preferably the poplar — were used as
vehicles of navigation. They were generally three or four feet wide, and
seventy to eighty feet long, thus would carry quite an amount of merchandise
and provisions. Poles and paddles furnished the motive power. The task
of poling these cumbersome boats up the river, especially when the water was
too high for the poles to touch bottom, can easily be imagined.
Mr. Rhodes, of Newville, and Samuel Wasson, of Spencerville, were at
one time compelled to pole, or pull, a loaded pirogue all the way from Fort
Wayne to Spencerville by holding to the willows and other bushes along the
river bank. Jt took them a full week to make the journey. Late in Novem-
ber, 1836, John P. Widney and a party came up with a load of provisions.
The river was swollen from the fall rains, and the "slush ice" was running.
Whenever the men drew their poles from the water the water turned to ice
54 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA.
on the poles, and these had to be handled with bare hands, as gloves or mittens
could not be used. This journey also required a full week.
Provisions at Fort Wayne at this time were not very plentiful. Flour
sold for fourteen dollars per barrel, and was of an inferior grade at that.
Corn in the ear was one dollar and fifty cents per bu.shel, and salt was two
dollars and twenty-fi\e cents per bushel. Other necessities were correspond-
ingly high in value.
Thus, the early settlers of DeKalb county were frequently in a predica-
ment in regard to their necessary provisions. The distance was great and the
prices almost prohibitive. In fact, many families went hungry, with no
means to supply themselves with adequate provisions. Potatoes \vere used
for everything at times, even for bread, and then, some families considered
themselves fortunate to get a few potatoes. Other families lived on wild
vegetables gathered from the surrounding forest, and cooked as greens, with
milk and beech bark. Fever and ague often visited one of these homes, and
the utmost energy and strategy was required to prevent a complete loss of the
home.
THE LOG HOME.
The log cabin of the early settler has practically disappeared from the
state. It is interesting to note how these primitive homes were built, and the
material used in their construction. The average cabin was about sixteen by
eighteen feet in size, and just high enough for the joists below the first rib.
The logs are cut one day and hauled to the site of the proposed cabin, where
they are laid out. The next day the neighbors from miles around come in
and assist in the work of throwing up the logs. Puncheons are split for the
floors, one side being dressed off even with the axe, altogether about two
inches thick. The heavy ribs are fastened to the logs, and clapboards put
on the top, overlapping a third over each other. Heavy weight poles are laid
along these clapboards to keep them in place. Butting poles are placed on the
eave-bearer, projecting some two feet from the wall line of the cabin. A
back wall is built of clay in the end of the cabin in which the owner intends
to have his fireplace. The chimney, supported by sapling uprights, is built of
alternate layers of mud and sticks. The windows are cut from the logs, and
greased paper fastened over the aperture to permit light to enter. This con-
stitutes the structure of the cabin itself, but there still remains the problem
of furnishing the interior. Puncheons are used to make the tables, rough
chairs, benches and beds.
DEKALB COUNTY. INDIANA. 55
EARLY LABOR.
Horses were very scarce in the early days, and consequently a great deal
of the labor incident to farming had to be done by hand. Heavy timber was
chopped, brush burned, logs rolled, rails split, and fields cleared without the
aid of a team. The wife would often "pitch in" and help the husband, she
clearing off the brush. The corn was planted, of course, by hand. William
Mathews planted a fairly good crop of corn with a handspike, and tended it
with a hoe. He inserted the sharp handspike diagonally into the soil, then
dropped the seed into the aperture formed, and then pressed down the soil by
stepping on it as he passed to the next hill.
Often the crop planting season came before the settler had cleared the
brush from his land, and then he planted between the log heaps, frequently
arranging the logs in windrows and leaving them to be burned when the crop
was gathered.
FIRST EVENTS.
The first wedding to occur among the residents of the DeKalb county
settlement was that of Jared Ball and Melinda Slater. The wedding did not
occur in the county, but in Williams county. Ohio, near Edgerton, the home
of the bride's father. Ball paid the minister his fee in pumpkins. The first
marriage to actually occur in DeKalb county, was that of Nelson Ulm and
Elvira Lockwood, in the summer of 1837. The bride had to be assisted to
the altar, and when there was too weak to stand up. The first marriage
licenses taken out in the county were those of Francis Smith and Maria Gun-
senhouser, and of John Platter and Ann Emmeline Walden. Both licenses
were issued on September 5, 1837, and both marriages were performed by
Washington Robinson, of Concord township, the first justice of the peace in
the county.
The first funeral in the county was that of a Mrs. Barker, who lived just
above the present site of Newville. Judge Widney was sent to deliver the
funeral oration, there being no minister close enough. The Judge sang some
hymns, prayed and talked in general about the subject of death.
The little village of Orangeville was the scene of the opening of the first
store in DeKalb county, in the spring of 1837. John Platter, William Rogers,
and a Mr. Savage and another man contributed two hundred dollars each, and
put in a stock of merchandise, consisting of the articles most needed by the
settlers at that time. John P. Widney was employed to cut logs for the store
house, receiving the sum of two dollars for his services, performing the job
56 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA.
in half a day. The house was sixteen by eighteen feet in size, and was built
of round logs.
The first grist mill, or corn cracker, in the county was built and owned
by William Mathews, on Bear creek, in the east part of the school section of
Concord township. The mill was a very small affair, the stones were about
two feet in diameter, and were turned by means of a flutter-wheeel on an up-
right post, set in a tub, through one side of which the water passed. The
whole machinery was installed in a bare frame, without a semblance of
weather-boarding or other protection. The corn dropped one grain at a time
from the small hopper, and the best yield, when conditions were good, was
eight bushels in twenty-four hours. Mr. \\^idney carried a half bushel of
corn a distance of four miles to get it ground, and had to wait a half day.
OTHER PIONEERS.
Other prominent settlers along the St. Joseph river were : Solomon
Delong, Daniel Strong, H. Fusselman, Christian and Samuel Wanemaker,
Lott Herrick, who was the first probate judge of DeKalb county, Joseph E.
Sawtell w^as the second merchant of the county. Rev. N. L. Thomas w-as the
first to open a store in Newville, George Barney was one of the first justices
of Concord, James Hadsell, Cornelius Woodcox, and Judge R. J. Dawson,
who later filled many important positions in the county.
Colin Robinson and his brother, Henry, came to the Maumee, near
Brunersburg. in 1833, and soon after their arrival, journeyed up the Maumee
to where William Rogers then lived, a little below the future site of the vil-
lage of Antwerp. From there they struck across the woods, guided by a
pocket-compass, some fifteen or twenty miles, through the forest, to the St.
Joseph river. When in the midst of the wilderness they w'ere so unfortunate
as to lose the needle from their small compass, and were forced to search for
quite a time in the leaves before they found it. About dark they struck the
bluff of the St. Joseph, and from there made their way, in the light of dusk,
down the river for a mile. Mr. Lytle then lived in a cabin over the river,
and the object of the Robinsons was to reach it and procure foor, for they had
had nothing since early morning. The time was on the 24th of December,
and upon reaching the river, they discovered that ice had formed about a
quarter of the way across, making it necessary to camp immediately, and
thus spend the night. By the side of a fallen walnut tree they "struck up"
their fire and rested.
The night was a very uncomfortable one to the travelers. On the next
DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 57
morning, which was Christmas day, 1833, they cut down a dry stump of a
tree, which broke in twain when it fell. The men lashed the two pieces to-
gether with basswood bark, and launched it, after breaking the ice at the
margin of the river. On this crude buoy they crossed the river, expecting
to find a warm fire at the cabin. No one was at home at the Lytle cabin but
the children, and nothing to eat but a single rabbit, which the men devoured,
after losing half of it to the family cat. The Rol>insons were there with
the purpose of entering land, but finding provisions so scarce, returned to their
starting point.
In the summer of 1834 or 1835 Solomon Belong and John Platter crossed
this same wilderness, and losing their way in the midst, without water, were
forced to camp for the night. They dug a hole in the swamp with their axes
and discovered water, but it had such a disagreeable taste that they could
scarcely drink it. The mosquitoes descended upon them in droves, and made
sleep an impossibility. Belong and Platter cut bushes and covered them with
green leaves. The men then crawled under these, and were comfortable for
the rest of the night.
A PIONEER HONEYMOON.
In the winter of 1836-7, in the month of January, Colin Robinson, re-
cently married, started on a bridal tour from the Maumee to the cabin built on
his land along the St. Joseph, the bride on horseback and Colin on foot.
Arriving at the "Mer-del-arm," a large creek between the rivers, running
through Cottonwood swamps, he found it swollen by rains and melted snow,
until it had overflown the swamps for a mile on each side. He waded through
the water, his wife following on horseback, until they came to the main
channel of the creek which he found covered with thick ice, and raised up sev-
eral feet by the high waters. Mr. Robinson persuaded his wife to dismount
and stand upon a stump, while he made the horse mount the ice and cross to
the other side. 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 to her saddle
again, he wading out as he had entered. The following summer Robinson
and his brother went down the St. Joseph to Fort Wayne, and then down the
Maumee to where Befiance now is, for the purpose of getting seed wheat, and
corn to get ground. They traveled in a large pirogue; loaded it with sixty
bushels of grain and started back, but, being green hands at piroguing, they
had considerable difficulty. Reaching Bull Rapids, near the state line, about
eight miles below Fort Wayne, they ran on the rocks and stuck fast. The
wind had ruffled the water so that they could not see bottom, consequently
58 DEKALB COrXTV, INDIANA.
had impaled themselves on the rock shelf. They were forced to crawl out of
the pirogue and push the boat from the rocks. Once more they started in the
normal fashion, and succeeded very well until they reached Cole's dam, one
mile below Fort Wayne. Here they had to unload the boat, and carry the
grain on their shoulders up a steep bank about thirty feet high, go more than
a half mile after a rope, and tying it to the boat, pulled it over the dam, very
nearly losing it in the execution of the job. They reloaded, and again were
on their way, but were halted again by the coming of night, at the mouth of
the St. Joseph. From there to John's mill they had much trouble from the
darkness and shallow water. They finally reached the mill, and unloaded
their grain. Their lodging that night was made upon the bare ground, with
no covering but the canopy of stars. On the final leg of the journey, to their
home, they had to stop at every ripple and unload the boat, so that it would
cross, then reload. Colin Robinson was seized with a violent sickness as the
result of this hazardous trip. This was the pleasure of pioneering.
FAMILY MILLS.
An interesting feature of pioneer life, showing the versatility of the early
settler, was the family mills. The regular grist mills were very far and with
long distance between, so it behooved the settler to provide some way to grind
his own corn. Every settler, in time, came to own a small family mill, which
was built along the following lines : A log of beech or cedar, some twenty
inches in diameter, was first secured. This log was sawed ofif to about three
feet in length. The log was placed on end. and an inch augur bored diagonally
from the circumference toward the center. This operation was continued
around the circumference, with all the holes meeting in the center. With a
chisel, the block bored under is pried out : it was shaped like a cone. The
funnel-shaped hole was trimmed out with the chisel, and a fire of coals built
therein to harden the wood. A thick stick, with an iron wedge inserted in
the end, was used as a pestle. The corn was beaten until as fine as possible,
and then was sifted, leaving corn-meal. The bran was blown out of tho
balance, and then it was used as hominy.
EXTRACTS ON EARLY HISTORY.
J. E. Rose, one of the pioneers of DeKalb county, writes the following:
"The pioneer merchants (store-keepers as we called them) were N. L.
Thomas, of Newville, whom we familiarly called 'Uncle Ladd,' and Thomas
DEKALB COUNTV, INDIANA. 59
J. Freeman, of Auburn; liotli men, of some consequence in their time, liave
long since gone to that country from which no traveler returns. * * *
The pioneer store in the eastern part of the county, the one kept by Ladd
Thomas, occupied a room about fifteen feet square, and two hundred dollars
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 carrv'ing with him his pur-
chases 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 purchases 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 funerals and solem-
nized marriages for all 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
conveyance. 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 attended 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 w-ife, two .sons (David,
who died at early manhood, and Newton, afterward a prominent lawyer in
a western city), all perched upon his back. Pardon my digression, but as the
old horse will be remembered by so many persons, he deserves a passing
notice.
"The store-keepers in the pioneer days were required to procure a license
from the county commissioners before commencing business, and in their
applications for their license they w-ere required to enumerate the articles
they proposed to sell, and state the amount of capital invested in the business.
And in compliance with the law, Thomas J. Freeman, the first merchant of
Auburn, on March 7, 1838, applied for a license to sell foreign merchandise
and domestic groceries, with a capital of $175; and was required to pay for
that privilege the sum of $5 ; 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 with-
60 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA.
out 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 the shoes for the
several families comprising his list of patrons. The ladies had not then ac-
quired 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 live only in the fond recollections of the few old
settlers who survive. The wilderness we then loved for its native grandeur
has disappeared, and in its stead the cultivated fields with their 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 be no longer found, but the commodious highways permeating
every part of the county furnish a comfortable route for every man to travel
u]jon. Th mail carrier, with his horn and saddle-bags, 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 contented 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 friends at a distance of what was in pioneer
days, a four days' journey."
JOHN HOULTON's tale.
John Houlton was the first settler of Franklin township, and accredited
with being the first in the county. He penned a series of reminiscences in
1859, for Mr. Widney. Houlton was a fine type of the hardy pioneer, and
naturally was not a literateur, but his significant and poignant manner of
stating the facts lends unusual interest to the reading of them. The following
is a portion of his memoir:
"Mr. Widney: Since you are writing sketches concerning the early
settlers of the various townships of this county, for the benefit 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
DEKALB COrNTY. INDIANA. 61
settlement of DeKalb, though they are inseparably connectetl with its settle-
ment.
"Samuel Houlton, my oldest brother, and Isaach Hughes, went into co-
partnership 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 w-ork for them. They gave us axes, a little provision, and fire-
works, and started us where Brunersburg later stood, 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 a fire was not to be found. We were all wet
to our knees, and it being very cold, we all expected to perish without fire.
A DANGEROUS PREDICAMENT.
"The boys threatened to whip me, as they said it was my d — — d care-
lessness for losing the flint. Said I, "The night will be dark as Egypt; we
must make our fire or perish. Let us all hunt and if possible find a stone to
strike fire with.' They said I w'as a fool to think of finding flint in those
swamps. We had worked hard all day and were tired and hungry, but I well
knew that there was not a moment to be lost ; so I started to hunt for a 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 near
the ground, 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 satis-
faction 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.
LACK OF PROVISIONS.
"We cut the road to the mouth 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 of about twenty feet square. When our pro-
visions began to fail, Samuel Floulton 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 stayed. The boat was to be back
in eight days. Twelve days passed and no boat appeared. It had rained
heavily; the river rose high, the weather turned quite cold, and our provisions
entirely failed, except a half bushel of dried peaches.
62 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA.
"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 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.
"Hughes and I stayed fourteen days after the boys left, during which
time wc had nothing under the heaxens 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 mir liird to be seen: im. not e\en so much as an Indian. On
the morning of the fourteenth day, I told Hughes that I would make a raft
of logs that day and leave the next morning. 1 did so. Next morning
Hughes accompanied me to the river to see me start. We both felt sure that
Houlton and Blair were coming up the ri\-er with the pirogue, and I was in
great hopes to meet them in two or three hours. The river was yet high, and
the slush ice running very thickly.
"T got some fire and wood on the raft. Hughes loosed the cable and was
in the act of handing it to me when lo! my brother, Samuel Houlton, called
to us from about a hundred yards up the ri\-cr. He knew we must be starv-
ing 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 over-
took him. He drove on until he could follow the road no longer and then
struck fire and camped for the night. It was fortunate for me, indeed, that
he came just when he did, for if I had got one hour's start, I should as surely
have lost mv life as I now live. For there was no human habitation till within
four miles of Fort Wavne. The slush ice would have so adhered to the raft
as soon to render it unmanageable: so that it must have stove, and I would
have l)een compelled to swim or drown. Had I swam out 1 must have frozen
to death veiy soon.
"Now, kind reader, you would think it pretlv hard fare to lia\e nothing
DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 63
to eat for fourteen days hut dried jjeaches. I tell ynu it kept body and soul
together and that was all it did.
"Hughes, Samuel Houlton and myself stayed about two weeks, then
Samuel took an Indian canoe and went down the river to get his pirogue load
of pork, flour, potatoes, corn and whiskey (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 anything happening worthy of note. We four worked on some time.
and in May got the mill ready to raise. Without any further help we went
to putting it up, without ropes or tackle. The size was eighteen bv fort\-five
feet. There were five swamp-oak sills, forty-five feet long. ;ind thirteen
inches square, and two plates ten inches square: but the middle btni with the
fender beam, fourteen inches square, was the heaviest.
UNWELCOME visrroRS.
"At that time there was a large In(Han \illage where Denmark now is,
and some traders came among them with whiskey, and matle then drunk, so
they came to rob us. We had worked hard all daw 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 kni\-es. bows and arrows, and
tomahawks, stuck their hands into our supper pot, and our sujiper 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 strike, but let them take what the)- wanted, and he would go
to the Indian agent at Fort W'ayne and make tlicm pay for it. They then acted
as true lords of the soil.
'They poured out their whiskey into their camj) kettles, knocked in the
head of a flour barrel, and also of a pork liarrel, and in fifteen minutes flour,
pork and whiskey were gone. They crossed the creek about twelve rods off,
and camped for the night. While they were making their fires and drinking
the whiskey, 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, they did not
get, and that was all that saved us from starvation. The tw o lumdred Indians
fought and screamed all night. A better .sam])le of the infernal regions never
could be gotten up in this world.
"As soon as we had secured our barrel of flour, we next resolved that
when they had generally got drunk, wc would alight on them with' a vengeance,
and kill the last one of them. So we loaded our four giiu"- w ith slugs and then
64 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA.
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 whiskey, eating
two hundred and thirty pounds of pork, and using up two hundred and fifty
pounds of flour, with several bushels of potatoes, they started off about eight
in the morning, well satisfied with what they had done.
"We made application to the Indian agent at Fort Wayne, but never got
any compensation for the articles taken. Every time I think of Indian
tragedy, I feel thankful that we were pre\-ented from imbruing our hands in
their life blood. It was the traders, with their whiskey, that made all this
trouble.
"Whiskey, whiskey, bane of life, —
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 the narrative of a 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 settlement of DeKalb county.
"In the summer of 1831, Samuel Holton 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 provisions. They let Aloses Fee,
a boy seven or eight years old, go with us. Before this Sarah and 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 ac-
cordingly stayed, leaving me and the girls and the little boy to get home
through the woods and swamps with the team 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 finally told the girls that one of them would have to
drive the forward cattle, so Sarah came and dro\e 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 suddenly 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 bov. smashing the boy's hand severely.
DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 65
"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 of the broken tree just brushing her head and
clothes. Cynthia Fee later married William Bender. I married Sarah, the
girl that drove the oxen and outran 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, DeKalb county. I also hauled out and buried
twenty bushels of potatoes on my land, and left them until we moved on,
about a month later, 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 DeKalb county.
When the mill had been in operation some years, the people had begun 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.
JOHN fee's track.
"In 1834 John Fee entered the large and excellent farm of 500 or 600
acres on which he later lived, and which lies on each side of the line between
Steuben and DeKalb 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 moccasin track he ever saw. He looked with
astonishment at the monster 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 these woods.' About the time that his astonishment and curiosity
got to its highest, he chanced to look behind him, and lo! it zvas his own track!
(n)
<56 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA.
INCIDENTS OF HUMOR.
"We had a large fireplace 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 anything else. Sometimes when parching corn or baking Johnny-
cakes, on a smooth clapboard, I would play Daniel Boone and imagine myself
camped out in the woods by a l)ig fire, and living on roasted corn. We moved
to this country in a covered wagon, and camped out, and then 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 newcomer who had moved so often that he declared that
whenever a covered wagon drove up or passed 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 floor, and it was fun to see them play hide and go-seek,
blindman's buff, or whatever their innocent games are in their language.
They were so plentiful 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 perhaps I was dream-
ing about Aladdin and the wonderful lamp, or Cinderella and the glass
slipper, 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 al-
ways 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 anaconda, and that I
had saved the whole family. The snake was very fat, and we saved the oil
for rheumatism and weak back, and always found it a sure cure.
"One day Tom and George Hollenback, father and myself were out
hunting, and the dogs made a big fuss in the thicket, and we rushed in to see
what was the matter, and found that they had come across the den of young
DEKALB COUNTY. INDIANA. 67
wolves and the old one was not at home. There were si.x of tlieni, 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 around for a fellow's fingers
and would snap at you like a steel trap. 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 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 ofif, 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 min-
utes 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 investigate 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 >'ou 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 most all of our chickens,
except an old setting hen that he did not relish ; 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 could ne\er tell if it was a case of intentional
suicide or he had 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.
A SEARCHING PARTY.
"It was in the spring, the time to plow for corn, and in the dark of the
moon, when you could not see your nose before you. One evening some of the
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 goes there?' An answer, in a musical
voice, said, 'Mingo.' On opening the door in stepped an Indian boy well
68 DEKAI.B COUNTY. INDIANA.
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 gotten 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 vv'e 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 earlv 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 calling
for Mary, the lost child.
"There were two or three women with her, trying to console her. The
men were all out looking for Mary, 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 anyone brought in
any news or found the child the horn should be sounded. It appears that on
the morning that 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 grand-
son, had come over to Mr. Tobby's, and while he went out to hunt for the
child sent Mingo over 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 whether she was alive or not. 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 then we agreed
that not a gun should be fired until Mary was found, dead or alive, and
broke for the place where Obbenobbe had found the piece of her dress. 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 her little footprints 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 began 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. ^^'e had a large grey-
hound that could catch a deer any time and two coon dogs. As night was
DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 69
coming on we prepared to camp, ^^'hile we were fixing our camp two 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 from the top.
"At last two coons rolled out, pretty well singed. We killed and skinned
them and were getting ready to roast them. It was not dark yet and we
heard a noise, and looking up we found that something had scared two deer,
and they came running right to camp. We put the dogs after them and a
short distance from us was the creek. In jumping in, one of the deer fell back
in the creek ; in a minute the dogs were on him, and we ran in and pulled him
out and killed him, and in fifteen minutes from the time we first drew blood
everyone of us had a piece of the meat 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 came 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. Remember, too, that this was the second day and second night
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, calling and listening, but all in vain.
"At last, about three o'clock, we gave it up and hope died within us, and
we turned out faces homeward with heavy hearts. There is something in
man called the dormant or latent powers or energies. For instance, I had
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 Ijefore him. It was Bridge
Ward, and he had found Marv- Tobby in this way: He, too had given up
and started home in despair. As he was riding along he saw a grove nortli of
him, in the bend of the creek, and somthing told him or influenced him to take
a last look there. He turned his hnrse to tlie riglit and through the grove, and
/O DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA.
then on the edge of the creek, and there he found Mary Tobbv, 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 together. He picked her
up gently and wrapped her in his coat and started for home. But how had
she lived and escaped so long- from wild animals ? 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 firing and the horn blowing,
as the rest of them 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. I thought she would kill the
child by hugging and kissing it. Mary was very weak, but after careful
nursing soon got strong again, grew to womanhood, married and raised a
family.
BEAR HUNT RESUMED.
"Now for the bear. After going north, we turned east, and killed a
couple of hogs in the neighborhood of Brunks 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 warpath, resolved to do or die for the rising generation. We were pro-
vided with guns and five dogs, including the big greyhound given to my
father by Samuel 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. The bear had a kind of elephant trot and traveletl fast. 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 cross-
ing the prairie, from one side ridge to another. He made good time and we
had hard work to keep anywhere near him.
DEKALB COUNTY,
A DIVERSION.
"While crossing a ridge we saw a deer coming right toward us, with
tongue out and very tired. One of the boys was going to shoot, but I told him
to hold on as 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 grey wolves, and a big
black one, the only one we ever saw, came running after it. We opened
fire on them and killed the black and one grey 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 of the deer. We fired at them, but
without efifect, 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 it, but had left enough for us.
Bears are great for honey or anything 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 some
game for supper, and in about an hour came in with a fine, fat buck, from
which we had a feast. W'e sat by the camp fire and ate 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 eat just such a meal as we did. There are some 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 made two
big fires, one on each side of us, as we had heard that wild animals would not
go through fire for a meal of victuals. Several times we were badly fright-
ened 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 \ery far, as we were afraid that
the bear would make a raid and gobble us up before we could say our jirayers.
"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 Indian camp, where Obbe-
nobbe and Mingo were. Through the day we found where he had made a
"^2 DEKAI.B COUNTY, INDIANA.
meal off a dead or wounded deer, as bear cannot catch a sound deer. As it
was nearly night we concluded to stay with the Indians, and they agreed to
go with us in the morning. After a good night's sleep w-e were off early,
with Indians, guns, and a new supply of dogs, and with their aid soon found
the trail. After following him until almost noon we saw him go into a sw'amp
filled with thick elbow 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 big 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 or wounded four or five dogs the greyhound broke loose and went
in. The bear grabbed him w ith his well fore leg and was about to crush and
kill him when Obbenobbe rushed in with a big knife and struck the bear
ander the shoulder, and that settled his case. He let the dog go and gave up
the ghost.
"The Indians said he was the largest they had seen fur 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 he
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. \\^e 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."
PIONEER SOCIETY.
In those pioneer days when settlements were far apart and neighbors
distant, acquaintance was widespread and neighborly offices cheerfully Iiestow-
ed. The latch-string was always hung out and the rough cabin could always
accommodate the stray traveler and the family of a settler moving to his
entry. The pioneer was prompt to help in peril or need, and none so heartily
enjoyed a good joke as he. While the settlers, like Isaac B. Smith and We.sley
Park, kept emigrants' hotel, and the right hand of fellowship was extended
to all, vet the regulators were not slow to punish the thief and blackleg who
found their wav into the communit\-.
DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 73
MILLS AND MILL TRIPS.
Prominent in the history of early settlement appears the erection of
mills and the trials of their patrons. Mill builders were recognized as men of
prominence, and first roads were cut to the mills which were scarce and dis-
tant. Primarily, the pioneers were compelled to use the family hand mill. In
brief, this was a three foot piece of log from a beech or a maple, hollowed
from one end by chisel and augur, in form of a cone. This hollow made
smooth and hard by a fire of coals kindled therein, is scraped clean and the
mortar prepared. A stick, wrist thick, split at one end, holding an iron
wedge, with edge to the slit, and kept in place by an iron ring, is the pestle.
Corn is placed in the mortar and beaten by the pestle. The finest sifted is
corn meal ; the balance, minus the bran, is hominy.
Amos Stearns, a settler in Troy township, went thirty miles to the Union
mills in Lagrange county, and there are those whose experience exceeded this
distance. On Fish creek, a stream second to Cedar in the county, were built
several grist mills, one by A. S. Casebeer; another higher up by Samuel Kep-
ler. In time water mills at Orangeville and Spencerville, and later steam
mills at Auburn, Butler and Waterloo and other points have so improved upon
the olden times that a single instance of many, of hard times, in going to mill.
will show a truth stranger than fiction.
PUBLIC LANDS.
The lands of which DeKalb county was formed w^ere regularly surveyed
at national expense into townships six miles square. The office for the sale of
lands was located at Fort Wayne, and purchasers obtained their title direct
from the general government. Much of the land was taken up by speculators,
and this, for some years, operated to delay actual settlement. As a measure
of justice a system of taxation was adopted by the early settlers which com-
pelled a sale of land to actual settlers and a clearing o-f the dense forest and a
utilization of the fertile soil.
LAND HUNTINO.
Isaac B. Smith ranged the woods of Smithfield township to find vacant
land for a home. Three times he had made a selection and gone afoot to
Fort Wayne, about thirty-two miles distant, and there found his pieces en-
tered. A fourth time he reached the land ofiice only to be disappointed.
74 DEKAI.B COUNTY. INDIANA.
\\'eary and nearly despairing, he made another fruitless journev to an entry
which he found to be in a swamp, boot-deep in water. Returning to Fort
Wayne, he secured as a witness to the unfitness of the entry for settlement,
Wilber Powell, with whom he traced the lines of the quarter section. A sixth
time at the land office he secured a new plat of the township, and with two
others had just found a good tract, when they met three other men on the
same quest. A race ensued between the parties. Thirty miles were traveled
on a trot, and reaching the office. Smith's party found their pieces entered,
but enjoyed the satisfaction of knowing that their competitors, who arrived
an hour later, had raced in vain. Assisted by Wesley Park, Smith at last
found vacant land, and hastened to Fort Wayne finally, after eight journeys,
and secured his future home.
In the summer or fall of 1841 a dark, swift-moving, wildly-confused
mass of clouds sped over the country. The wind accompanying demolished
houses, scattered fences like feathers, and le\eled the forests, rushing forward
with demoniac fury, laying devastation in its course. Limbs of trees dark-
ened the air; the timber fell with a continual roar, and lied clothing from
Henry Brown's house was carried two miles. The pathway of this tornado
was a half mile wide and three miles long, and passed mostly along the road
from Auburn to Spencerville.
HYDROPHOBIA.
During 1838 hydrophobia alarmingly prevailed, and cattle, hogs and
even wild foxes "went mad." In this connection it is related that Daniel
Coats, of Wilmington, was attacked by a rabid fox while passing through the
woods and succeeded, after a well-contested race, in securing a club and slay-
ing his pursuer. A drop of blood from the head of the fox alighting on
Coats' cheek burned like fire. Such is the power of imagination, and the in-
terest of the old tales that enlivened the pioneer firesides.
PT0NEi:i< FARK.
Food in the early day was neither abundant nor of high (piality. Appe-
tite controlled and made edible a fare which, in these days would seem im-
possible. The families of Daniel Altenburg and W'alsworth, while en route
to Auburn, regaled themselves for a breakfast in the new count>- upon the
DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 75
flesh of a raccoon whicli they liad cau.t^ht on the previous day. Wesley Park
and Joseph ]\Iiller, passing a rainy night in the woods of Butler township,
made a meal upon "new milk fresh from the cow," and the pioneers of that
locality in 1834 ate heartily of "coon steak" prepared by their cook, Charley
Crouse. not even John Surface being excepted since he, ini])elled by hunger,
finished what the others had left over after breakfast.
MOUND BUILDERS.
The presence, in the valleys of the Ohio and Mississippi, of numerous
earthen tumuli — the memorials of an age long past — indicates the existence
of a pre-historic race. There are claimed to i^e several moimds in this county,
but the facts have not been learned, yet the presence of stont axes, flint arrow-
heads, spear-points and other mementoes of this singular people, prove that at
least they were accustomed to traverse this section.
The lands of which DeKalb county forms a part originally belonged to
the Pottawatomies, whose title was procured by treaties made with them from
time to time by officers of the United States government. The energetic
Jesuit came among them towards the commencement of the eighteenth cen-
tury, and found plastic material. The Pottawatomies of Northern Indiana
numbered about four thousand. The Catholic priest who first came among
them paid the price for his temerity with his life, but when finally converted,
these Indians became firm Christians. In compliance with an order from the
general government, the tribe was removed to the Indian territory beyond the
Mississippi. With a grief akin to despair they took their melancholy journey
and many deaths along the route pr()\ed their Io\e of the home of their
fathers. By 1840 most had departed, and sa\e a few who lingered, their
lands were left to the incoming whites.
AN EXPENSIVE 'cOON.
In an early day 'coon hunts were numerous, but later, after the lands of
the county were all under priwUe ownership, it was sometimes a hazardous
pastime. /\ crowd of young fellows near New\'ille in 1876 engaged in one of
these 'coon hunts. They "treed" an animal in a dry oak tree on the premises
of Dr. Emanuel, and, in customarv fashion, cut down the tree. The doctor
yt DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA.
immediately entered suit in the circuit court for satisfaction and damages.
The defendants compromised during the trial by the payment of seventy-five
dollars in the way of costs, lawyers' fees and damages.
FOX HUNTS.
In the early part of 1875 for hunts became the vogue, and many were
organized among the citizens of the county. Marshals and other field ofiicers
were chosen, hunters were detailed on the dififerent lines prescribed, no fire
arms were allowed, and all dogs were loosed at the appointed time. One of
the first hunts was held at Corunna on Saturday, January 23. 1875, and six
foxes were caught. An immense crowd was present. February 6th, follow-
ing, another hunt was held in Richland and Fairfield townships. Only three
foxes were caught, but a number escaped from the lines. The trophies were
sold at auction, and the proceeds given to the poor.
THE LAST BEAR.
As late as October, 1874, a bear was killed in Richland township. The
following account is from the Waterloo Press of October 29, 1874: "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 by Messrs. Charles Rempis, James Booth and others."
CHAPTER IV.
ORGANIZATION AND GOVERNMENT OF COUNTY.
ORGANIZATION.
In the winter of 1836-7 the act was passed by the Legislature organizing
DeKalb county and immediately a strenuous competition began for the loca-
tion of the county seat. The legislative act named the boundaries of the
county as follows : "Beginning at the southwest corner of township 33 north
of range 12 east, thence east to the east line of the state, thence north with
the state line dividing townships 35 and 36, hence west to the line dividing
ranges 11 and 12, thence south to the place of beginning." The county was
named DeKalb in honor of Baron DeKalb, a German noble, who espoused the
cause of colonial independence, joined the American army, and was commis-
sioned a general. He fell at the battle of Camden, fought near Sanders creek.
South Carolina, on August 6, 1780.
DeKalb county is a part of the thirteenth congressional district. In the
state Legislature DeKalb and Steuben counties constitute the tenth judicial
district. The length of DeKalb county from east to west is twenty and one-
half miles, comprising an area of three thousand six hundred and ninety
acres. The length from north to south is eighteen miles. When organized
the county had a population of nearly one thousand.
LOCATION OF COUNTY SEAT.
As mentioned before, the competition for the location of a county seat
grew very strong. Messrs. Rogers and Hamilton, on one side, and Park and
Howe, on the other, were the contending forces. The former bought up land,
laid out a town plat, staked off lots and named the site Centerville. The site
laid out by Park and Howe was on the west bank of Cedar creek, two miles
south and three miles west of the center of the new county. This location
seemed to carry the most favor, and when Littlefield, of Lagrange, Gilmore,
of Steuben, and Robert Work, of Allen, were appointed commissioners to
70 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA.
select the site of the new county seat. Auburn was promptly chosen. Center-
\ille passed to her death after the defeat.
FIRST ELECTION.
The first election in DeKalb county was held in July, 1837'. The river
settlers voted at the home of Washington Robinson, at Vienna, or later called
Newville. Three county commissioners, two associate judges, and a clerk
and a recorder were to be elected. A bit of humor came to the surface when
the ballots were being counted out. One \oter, evidently of poetic propensi-
ties, had cast his ballot thusly :
"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."
FIRST commissioners' MEETINGS.
On July 25, 1837, the first meeting of the board of commissioners of
DeKalb county, consisting of Peter Fair and Samuel Widney, was held at
the house of Wesley Park at Auburn. The meetings were held at this place
for several years afterward. The first oflficial step of the board was to ap-
point Wesley Park clerk pro tern, also county treasurer for a year. Byron
Bunnel was selected as county agent; John Blair was made assessor: and
Lanslot Ingman was named collector of taxes. The first legislative act was
then executed, naming the boundaries of Franklin township, as follows:
"Commencing at the northeast comer 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 the said county; thence north to the place
of beginning: the above shall constitute the first township in DeKalb county."
Provision was made for organizing the township by an election to be held the
DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 79
first Monday in August following, and Peter Boyer was appointed inspector
of elections, Isaac T. Aldrich, constable, and John Holton, supervisor.
The office of judge was a singular one. Some of the judges of the day
could not carry on court unless they had, at stated intervals, a little dram of
whiskey. The drudge acted as an accommodation : he kept the judge sup-
plied with the spirits. 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 Wes-
ley Park and others were called. The journey was made on foot, following
an old Indian trail, as there was no road. En route all the swamps were
waded. Thomas L. Yates, one of the judges elected, was a very peculiar
character. He wore a coarse huntin'-shirt and fox-skin cap when he took
his seat on the bench, but for all his eccentricities, made an excellent judge.
The "second session but first regular" was held at the same place, Sep-
tember 4, 1837. A full board was present, including Peter Fair, Samuel
Widney and Isaac F. Beecher. John F. Coburn was clerk and Wesley Park
sherifif. "Being detained by unavoidable circumstances from transacting
business," they adjourned until the next day. On reassembling Samuel Eak-
right was chosen road commissioner for the county: after which an order
was passed "that the congressional township 34 north, range 13 east, be or-
ganized as a township for judicial purposes, to be known as 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 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 township, to be known
by the name of Wilmington township." Byron Bunnel was appointed super-
visor.
And again it was "ordered that the congressional township 33 north,
range 12 east, be, and it is hereby organized as a civil township, to be known
by the name of Butler township." Andrew Surface was appointed supen^isor.
It was at this meeting that money was first appropriated for current ex-
penses of the county. The first order drawn was for $50.84, in favor of
Wesley Park, and was to pay 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 Cold-
80 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA.
water state road, and $26.15 for services as commissioner in laying out the
Goshen and Deliance state road. Wesley McCan was allowed $2.96 for
services as axman in laying out the road : Martin Van Fleet, $2.96 for acting
as chairman at the same time; Lanslot Ingman, 31^4 cents for similar work;
William Park, t,i]4 cents as chainm.an, and $4.75 for laying out the Goshen
and Defiance state road; Seth W. Murray, $7.23 for service as commissioner in
laying out the Fort Wa3'ne and Coldwater state road; and Joseph Miller,
$26.2 1 J/2 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 per diem, an item which comes up as regu-
larly as the board meetings, several times each year. While the present sys-
tem seems to cost quite a sum in the course of a year, it nevertheless is 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
supervisors 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 transactions of routine business. 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 T,;^ 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 $20.00; each license to vend wooden clocks, $60; each license to exhibit a
caravan, menagerie or other collection 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 a
dollar and a half, as far superior in value as inferior in price to the sort dis-
tributed by the shrewd Yankee peddler of three-quarters of a century ago.
During the latter part of 1837 DeKalb county was organized, including
the present township of Concord, and the fractional townships of Stafford
and Newville. In March, 1838, the fractional township 34 north, range 15
east (now Stafford), was detached from DeKalb and annexed to Wilming-
ton for civil purposes, and the name of DeKalb was changed to Concord.
In those days nearly all business men were obliged to pay licenses of
various amounts, in addition to their ordinary taxes. 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
DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. SI
to vend foreign merchandise and foreign and domestic groceries for the cur-
rent 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 was fixed at five hundred dollars. The sum of two thousand dollars
was also appropriated from the three per cent, fund for roads, as follows :
Eight hundred dollars for the Goshen and Defiance state road ; eight hundred
dollars for the Fort Wayne and Coldwater state road; and four hundred
dollars for the state road on the northwest side of the St. Joseph river.
Several bridges were also ordered built. At the same session the commis-
sioners fixed the poll tax for 1838 at seventy-five cents, and the property tax
at a dollar thirty-five on each one hundred dollar valuation. Of this one
dollar and thirty-five cents, eighty-five cents was for county revenue, and
fifty cents for road purposes.
COUNTY JAIL.
Byron Bunnel, county agent, on May 9, 1838, was authorized by the
commissioners to contract for the building of a jail at Auburn, if he could
sell enough of the county lots, which had been deeded to the county by
Wesley Park, to pay for the work. The following is the plan of the pro-
posed jail : "Said jail to consist of one ground room, sixteen feet square in-
side of the walls. The upper soil where the jail stands shall be removed and
three sticks of timber one foot 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 timber, a foot thick and eight
to sixteen inches wide, making a floor twenty feet square, upon which said
jail shall be built of double walls on each side two feet thick. The inside
wall shall be eight feet high between floors." The jail was to have a shingle
roof and be lighted by one four-light window of eight by ten glass. It was
to be secured by iron grates of inch-square bars running at right angles,
three inches apart.
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 too low prices, and
contracting debts before having the money to settle them. So, in March.
1839, he was summarilv dismissed, and Thomas J. Freeman appointed in his
(6)
82 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA.
place. All orders for selling town lots and for building a jail were rescinded,
although Bunnel was paid for what he had done. Freeman, Wesley Park
and Nelson Payne were appointed as a building committee for the jail. This
jail was completed on time, and was used by the county authorities for about
twelve years.
On December 5, 1851, Jefferson Wallace contracted to build a county
jail, gave bond, and was authorized to draw on the county funds to the
extent of one thousand dollars. B. G. Cosgrove was the architect, and was
allowed thirty dollars for his plan. In December, 1852, the board of com-
missioners examined the completed building and accepted it. W. K. Streight,
then sheriff, was instructed to bank the jail. Joshua R. Steves, later a resi-
dent of Auburn, acting for Wallace, did the painting required and the county
had a fairlv secure place. Many notorious criminals were confined in this
building, such as Mrs. Knapp, who murdered her husband, and while in jail
attempted to kill herself by the "hara kari" method: "Michigan Bill." who
made good his escape from the jail.
When the next jail was contracted for in 1S75, the old building was
moved east to the northeast corner of Cedar and Ninth streets, and was fitted
np for fire quarters, and a meeting place for the town board.
The next jail was contracted for on January 16, 1875, by William Crane,
James R. Duncan and Harmon Lydecker. T. J. Tolan & Son, of Toledo,
were the architects. The structure was completed at a total cost of S28,-
647.78, and was equipped with triple grates, and the most modern Scandi-
navian locks. Twenty-nine thousand dollars worth of ten per cent, short
time bonds were issued by the county, to cover the expense of building. The
first man imprisoned in this jail was George Hobnich. then serving a term
of ninety days for larceny. Lewis Abbott, who murdered Francis Houlton
on March 18, 1878. was incarcerated here prior to his trial, and conviction,
and sentence for life in prison. Levi Kessler. who murdered Alexius T.
Harner on December 14. 1885 was also kept here.
Upon the erection of the new DeKalb county court house, arrangements
are being made to remove the old jail from the court yard, and on the lot
just north of the new city hall to construct a new and modern jail. Ap-
propriations have not yet been made, but plans have been asked for, and
active work will soon begin.
DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 83
COURT HOUSE HISTORY.
The first court of DeKalb county has already been described as being
held in the cabin owned by Wesley Park, the pioneer of the town of Auburn.
A schoolhouse was afterward erected, and for a time court was held in this
building. A dilapidated stove in this place supplied the heat, and a rough
platform of boards was built at one end, and given the name of the "bar."'
FIRST COURT HOUSE.
At the May session, 1840, of the commissioners court, the county
officials having detennined to build a court house on the public square,
Thomas J. Freeman, Wesley Park and Nelson Payne were appointed super-
intendents for the construction of such a building. Its dimensions were
to be "thirty feet north and south, and forty feet east and west, six feet of
which shall be a portico, four feet to stairs and wood rooms, leaving court
house thirty feet long. Two front doors and an alley from each to circle
fronting the judge's bench which was to be elevated a few feet above the
floor. The clerk's seat and table to be in front of the bench. The criminal's
box also to be in front of the bench. The rooms to be lighted by eleven
twenty-four-light windows above and below. The front of the portico to
be supported by four turned pillars fifteen inches in diameter." The cost
of this building was to be defrayed by the sale of lots belonging to the
county, excepting those required to pay for the jail or set aside for other
reasons. In the commissioners session, 1841, the plan of the court house
was received, entered into detail of structure, and date of July i, 1842,
selected as the time to begin work on the structure. Bids were called for,
and James Hite, a carpenter, living southeast of Auburn, took the contract
for eight hundred dollars. 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 partially logged, but burned off, and the frame of the court house
was up, but not inclosed. In the fall of this year the frame was completed,
and on .A.pril 29, 1844, the court held their first session in the new structure.
SECOND COURT HOUSE.
On June 4, 1863, the contract for the second court house was awarded
to A. Wheelock, William ^^alleau and Tohn A. McKay. The consideration
84 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA.
was $23,372, half in cash and the balance in county orders, and it was to be
completed December i, 1864.
Nothing much was done until the spring of 1864, at which time work
on the building was resumed, and was pushed forward rapidly. On July
1st, the bell, weighing six hundred pounds, was brought by rail to Waterloo,
thence by team to Auburn. It was manufactured by B. W. Coffin & Com-
pany, at the Buckeye Bell Foundry, Cincinnati, Ohio. By the last of July,
the dome of the court house neared completion, and on contract time the
work was finished and accepted by the county commissioners. The building
completed, contained six hundred thousand brick, three thousand perch of
field stone, or boulders, one thousand superficial feet of cut stone, thirty-
three thousand six hundred pounds of iron joists. The foundation was laid
to the top of the ground with common field stone, and faced with Sandusky
limestone. The building was divided on the first floor into four offices,
twenty-one by twenty-four feet, each with fireproof vaults. The court-
room was in the second story. The tower was eighty feet high, and sur-
mounted by a flagstaff, supporting a metallic eagle at one hundred and fifteen
feet above the sidewalk.
THE NEW COURT HOUSE.
Now in the process of erection, and to be finished during the early
months of 19 14, the county of DeKalb has a truly magnificent court house.
The building, architecturally, is worthy of the ancient Greek and Roman art.
The beauty of design, richness of ornament, and quality of material, is un-
surpassed in the state of Indiana.
The old court house had been for many years deemed unfit for use, and
the floor space inadequate for the increasing need. In 1910, the subject of
a new court house, one that might stand for decade after decade, combining
the most modern and efficient features, was talked of by the county officials
and inhabitants.
The first appropriation for the new structure was made on September
9, 1910, when two hundred dollars was set aside for use in inspecting build-
ings in other counties of the state, with the view that a court house best suited
to the needs of DeKalb county might be secured. The county commission-
ers duly set forth on a tour of inspection through Indiana. Several of the
leading cities were visited on the trip. On February 13th, the board met
with several architects, and after thoroughly going over with them the
proposed plans, Mahurin & Mahurin, of Fort Wayne, were decided on for
DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 85
the drafting of the plan. On February 15, 1910, the plans were formally
accepted, and filed with the county auditor. At the August meeting, 1910, a
requisition for two hundred and fifty thousand dollars was made for the con-
struction of the new court house. Bids were asked for on May 4, 191 1, and
there were ten different bidders for the work. J. B. Goodall, of Peru, was
successful, having bid one hundred and eighty-five thousand seven hundred
and fifty-seven dollars, with an allowance of three hundred dollars for the old
court house.
On May 8th, the workmen began to raze the old court house, using
dynamite in places. This work of destruction was completed in two weeks.
The corner-stone was laid with fitting ceremonies on July 27, 191 1.
Thomas R. Marshall, then governor of the state, delivered a pleasing address.
The court house dimensions are: North and south, one hundred and
forty-six feet ; east and west, one hundred and thirty-two feet ; height, eighty
feet. The stone used in the construction of the building is Bedford oolitic
limestone, quarried near the city of Bloomington, Indiana. The handsome
marble used in the interior of the structure is Vermont marble of number one
quality, not a slab of number two being in use. Grenito floors, composed of
cement and marble chips, are laid and in the lobbies and rotundas there is a
well designed tile floor. The court room, commissioners' room, and
libraries, are laid with a cork floor, to heighten the accoustic properties, and
at the same time insure silence. The dome is capped with art glass, illum-
inated by sixty electric lights in a surrounding trough at the base. The
woodwork in the building is all of quarter-sawed oak; this includes the
paneling in the courtroom. The court room is decorated with pure leaf
gold, and is constructed with the aid of the most modern accoustic arrange-
ments with a minimum of silence. Electric light, gas. water, and the latest
vacuum cleaning apparatus are installed. Lavatories are on each floor, and
washstands in every room of the building.
There are forty-six rooms in the court house, exclusive of lobbies, cor-
ridors, and rotunda. On the third floor are: two waiting-rooms for wit-
nesses: attorney's consultation room, large court room, jury room, court
stenographer's room, judge's private room, law libran--, attorneys' second
consultation room, grand jury room, ladies' witness room, gentlemens' wit-
ness room. Grand Army of the Republic and relic room, small court room,
judges' consultation room, county superintendent's examination room, also
his office; on the second floor are the officers' toilet, recorder's record room,
office, and workroom, clerk's record room, office, and workroom, commission-
ers' room, also a private room, auditor's two rooms, auditor's and treasurer's
80 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA.
room with metal grill between, treasurer's office, ladies' toilet; the basement
or first floor has ladies' and gentlemen's toilet, mothers' room, ladies' rest
room, surveyor's office, also workroom, sheriff's office, prisoner's cage, stale
record room, county assessor's office, assembly room, and two annexes.
Two beautiful mural paintings form a part of the decoration, placed on
the walls adjoining the stairway at the third floor. One represents "The
Spirit of Industry" and inscribed in gold letters below the painting are the
words : "The center group, a sitting female figure, allegorical of the state
of Indiana, her right hand resting upon the constitution and her left hand
holding the great seal of the state, giving protection to the agricultural and
industrial endeavors of the county, assisted and counselled by a male figure,
allegorical of the finest spiritual qualities of the human mind. At the base
of the center group a figure symbolic of education, a woman teacher instruct-
ing a future citizen, on the left different manufactures are portrayed and on
the right agriculture is represented by a great field of golden wheat, with
harvesters in the distance, and in the foreground, cows and sheep, implying
domestic industries of the county." The painting on the opposite wall
represents "The Spirit of Progress," with the following inscription below :
"The center group represents a monumental figure of Baron DeKalb, being
crowned by the Goddess of "V^ictory as one of the bravest heroes of the
Revolution. His horse being killed under him, he has regained his feet and
although badly wounded, is setting a fine example to his soldiers in attacking
the enemy again and again, until mortally wounded. To the left in the back-
ground scenes from the wars with the Indians, which were unavoidable
before a final peaceful settlement of the country was possible. At the right,
Columbia is proclaiming Peace and Liberty to the country. In the fore-
ground, starting on the trail, is one of the earliest pathfinders, and in the
distance, a settler with his family, tilling the soil of the county."
These paintings were executed by Arthur Thomas, an artist of New
York City, and were submitted by the William F. Behreng Company, of
Cincinnati, and were approved by the commissioners on May 30, 1913.
The superior system of natural lighting in the DeKalb county court
house is unsurpassed in the state, and is a model of twentieth century prog-
ress in designing.
The total cost of the structure will fall close to the sum of three hun-
dred thousand dollars. A bond issue of one hundred and sixt}' thousand
dollars has been made.
Plans are made to beautify the extensive lawn surrounding the structure,
which occupies the space of a city block, and the many shade trees are being
DEKAI.B COUNTY, INDIANA. 8/
carefully preserved. Cement walks and arc lights will decorate the court
yard, and at each of four entrances has been placed a sanitary drinking-
fountain.
The citizens' committee for the erection of the court house is composed
of Rev. Augustus Young of Garrett, Sam G. Stone of Butler, and Albert W.
Howalter of Helmer,
THE DEKALB COUNTY ASYLUM.
The DeKalb County Asylum is one of the best in the state, in equip-
ment, space, methods, and as a comfortable home for the unfortunate people
who are compelled to seek refuge there. The establishment of a home such
as this one is charity and humanity of the highest. A man has a right to
be protected by his fellows, and he has the right to demand it, but pride and
dread of dependence together prevent him from doing so in almost every
instance. In the case of the county asylum, the individual does not have
to seek help, the county seeks him who needs it, and gives it with open hand.
Such is the beneficence of this institution.
The present asylum is a magnificent structure of brick and stone, con-
taining in the main building sixty-four rooms for the inmates. The former
asylum was a two-story frame building, and, although adequate to the im-
mediate needs, was supplanted by the present building. The farm belonging
to the institution contains three hundred and twenty acres, and active farm-
ing is conducted thereon by the inmates who are able and qualified to work.
Steam heat from a private plant is supplied to all of the buildings, and the
place is wired for electricity, although at this date the current has not been
sent out from Auburn. There are commodious barns, out houses, store
houses, bakery, and shops connected, and a diversity of labor may be given
to the inmate. Three girls and two men are employed on the farm besides
the proprietor, Alva Grogg, and his wife. Good, substantial food is ob-
tained, and comfortable living quarters are furnished. The building was
constructed in 1908. At this date there are forty-one inmates, eleven of
whom are women. The county supports the institution, although the farm
itself brings in some revenue.
ASSESSMENT FOR DEKALB COUNTY, I9I3.
The following list shows the value of the lands, lots and improvements;
the value of personal and corporation property; and total net value of tax-
88 DEKAI.B COUNTY, INDIANA.
ables in the townships, and larger towns; for the year 1913, prepared from
the county auditor's tax duplicates :
The town of Butler: value of lands, lots and improvements, $4,565.30;
value personal and corporation property, $3,788.50; total net value of tax-
ables, $8,133.90. Using this same system of listing, the town of Waterloo
presents the following figures: $1,702.80; $2,753.10; $4,382.70. Richland
township, $5,201.20; $6,224.80; $11,063.10. The town of Corunna:
$538-50; $1,173.60; $1,694.50. Fairfield township: $7,211.80; $2,617.10;
$9,410.00. Smithfield township: $6,988.90; $3,278.50; $9,947.60. Ashley
township: $964.50; $42470; $1,328.20. Franklin township, $7,382.30;
$2,208.50; $9,193.70. Troy township: $3,053.70; $2,056.90; $4,850.30.
Grant township: $3,759.70; $5,576.90; $9,161.50. Butler township,
$5,005.60; $2,401.50; $7,061.30. Jackson township: $7,311.80; $5,149.30;
$12,002.70. Concord township: $3,630.50; $4,178.80; $7,566.50. The
town of St. Joe: $694.30; $1,366.60; $2,047.90. Spencer township: $3,-
728.80; $2,651.70; $6,218.00. Newville township: $2,949.08; $1,848.20;
$4.57570. Stafford township: $3,017.40; $868.90; $3,761.10. Wilming-
ton township: $7,432.40; $8,136.10; $15,140.90. Union township: $4,788.60;
$2,385.80; $6,891.70. The city of Auburn: $12,452.00; $9,875.30; $21,-
240.70. Keyser township: $3,016.40; $3,192.00; $6,084.20. City of Gar-
rett: $9,337.90; $4,710.50; $12,488.90.
COUNTY OFFICERS.
The officers of the county of DeKalb for the year of 1913 are as follows :
Glen Van Auken, joint senator ; E. M. McKennan, representative ; Frank A.
Powers, judge circuit court; Hubert Hartman, prosecuting attorney; John
Hebel, clerk circuit court; A. W. Madden, auditor; Warren McNabb (de-
ceased), Harvey O. Williams, recorder; J. J. Oberlin, treasurer; John Hoff,
sheriff ; Alva L. Link, surveyor ; Lida Leasure, county school superintendent ;
Alva Grogg, superintendent of county asylum; Ed. Kelham, E. A. Bordner,
W. A. Dannels, commissioners; Leonard Shipe, ditch commissioner. The
county council is composed of Luther Knisely, Charles Arford, Wesley D.
Miller, Charles Eckhart, John S. Potts, William Mercia and Gustave D.
Beeber. The trustees are: George W. Burtzner, Butler; S. H. Nugen,
Jackson; Samuel Mumaw, Concord; John Whitehurst, Newville; C. W.
Webster, Stafford; F. W. Nimmons, Wilmington; Frank Pyle, Union;
George Shaffer, Richland; Clark Hemstreet, Fairfield; Jerry Mortorff,
Smithfield; Oliver Oberlin, Franklin: Daniel Burkhart, Troy; S. H. Down-
DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 89
end, Keyser; J. H. Reed, Grant; William Erick, Spencer. The assessors are
as follows: David Heitz, Butler; A. E. Culbertson, Jackson; John Smith,
Concord ; Neff Cullers, Newville ; Henry Shaffer, Stafford ; Henry A. Wins-
low, Union ; A. D. Brunson, Wilmington ; Frank Devinney, Richland ; Henry
Deetz, Fairfield; Brown Albright, Smithfield; Benjamin Lowe, Franklin;
Frank Gunsenhouser, Troy; D. S. Haag, Keyser; D. E. Newcomer, Grant;
George W. Wade, Spencer; George Scattergood, county assessor. County
attorneys are : Daniel M. Link and Edgar W. Atkinson.
FINANCES OF COUNTY, I913.
The last financial exhibit by the county auditor, showing receipts and
disbursements to county fund is : Receipts, $282,720.65 ; disbursements,
$177,979.85; balance in county fund, $104,740.80; balance in county bond
fund, $22,789.37, making a total balance of $127,530.17.
The statement of the county including receipts and disbursements of
several funds is: receipts, $643,990.63; disbursements, $495,062.92; balance,
$148,927.71. The latter figure is the balance in the county treasury.
CHAPTER V
MILITARY HISTORY.
The county of DeKalb, like all other counties, is justly proud of the
heroic part played by her sons in the great drama of the sixties. Enshrined
in the hearts of the people, these men who resolutely faced the terrors of the
South, risking life, home, health, and everything that was dear to them, in
order that a Union might be preserved, truly desei-\'e more than a few
scattering words to their memory. It is true that monuments may be erected,
the deeds of the brave sung in immortal verse and ennobled in the national
literature, but yet the true memorial, the sanctity of the heart will enfold,
and by word of mouth from generation to generation will the courage,
fortitude, and sublime self-sacrifice of the "boys in blue" be transmitted in
enduring form. History has a purpose : it is to preserve, fairly and justly,
the records of the past, so that a guide may be supplied to the thoughts and
conceptions of future men and women who live when these white pages have
grown sear and yellow with age. Simple statement of fact is far better
than fulsome encomium in the narration of the big story of fifty years' ago;
it is by these direct, forceful means, that history will serve its true purpose.
DeKalb county people at the beginning, when the first dark mutterings
of war were heard, held dififerent opinions, and so did other parts of the
North. There were many who believed that war was needless, and conse-
quently refused to take one side or the other. Others were frankly of the
"butter-nut" tinge, but they were in the minority. The big mass of the
citizens favored a suppression of the iniquitous South and her dreaded insti-
tution of slavery. The twentieth century reader does not know the scope
of that word "slavery," that is, the general reader. The true meaning has
merciful!)- been expurgated from the pages of modern literature. We have
the term "white slavery" today, and the meaning of the expression brings
to us a feeling of loathing and indignation, that a country should have indi-
viduals who veritably fight the growth of civilization. The slavery of the
South was little better. In the main, different in character, it yet embodied
deeds and motives similar to the modern slavery. Rome and the Latin
countries had their slavery, and their ideas of that institution are not written
DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 91
in disguised form. So, in America during the later fifties, there was a need,
a pressing one, that coercive measures be taken to exterminate the "terror of
the South."
Notwithstanding the various causes that have been attributed to the
outbreak of the Civil war, the sole cause was slavery. In reading this deduc-
tion, many will disagree, for even at this late day there is incontrovertible
argument on each sicje of the question. Slavery was distinctly out of tune
with the times; the attitude of the Southern people was falsely artistocratic ;
and the North, with saner customs, resolved itself into a unit. The stirring
times that followed the Mexican territory acquisition, the fugitive slave law,
the Missouri Compromise, the struggle in congress, the Lincoln-Douglas de-
bates, and Lincoln's election to the presidency, cannot be detailed in a work
of this scope, but a discussion is worthy as a preface to the part DeKalb
county played later.
A greater appreciation of Abraham Lincoln's worth is gained when we
comprehend the arena into which he was forced to step in i860. The utter
confusion, the threatening war clouds, and the attitude of the people, who
spoke silently, "Let's see what you can do," supplied a stern test for the
"backwoods lawyer." The opportunity was provided for him, and his ac-
complishments are history.
War might have been avoided had the North recognized the slaves upon
the same basis as cattle or any other common property, or, on the other hand,
had the South reverted to the sentiment of the North, and pronounced
slavery an evil. It is evident, however, when the tenor of the day is con-
sidered, that these two theories were impossible. The mass of people, of
both sides, were eager for the actual conflict; mob spirit prevailed; but the
greater minds, the leaders, entered the struggle with heavy hearts. Lincoln,
Grant, Lee, Jackson, Meade and Longstreet, and other of the great minds of
the conflict, were sad with the weight of unjust and useless carnage. The
four years' strife, the early success of the Confederate host, the high tide at
Gettysburg, and then the slow, merciless pounding of Grant's machine on the
depleted Army of Northern Virginia, and the final chapter at Appomattox,
cannot be more than mentioned, but this is appropriate and adequate.
Lincoln's nomination.
The news of Lincoln's nomination by the Republican party for the
presidency of the United States was received with great rejoicing in DeKalb,
and particularly in Auburn, the county seat. Processions, music and meet-
92 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA.
ings were the order of the day, and the people were very enthusiastic and —
noisy. Samuel W. Widney and S. B. Ward were the chief orators of the
day, and their stirring- sentences served to increase the loyalty and patriotism
of those assembled.
THE FIRST CALL.
When Abraham Lincoln first sent forth his call for seventy-five thousand
men, many volunteers from DeKalb county offered their ser\nces. How-
ever, they were not organized into companies, but those who were accepted
for the service were assigned to other commands, and many were thus
credited to other counties of the state. The number of men at this period
was sufficient for two full companies. The first company to receive a large
number of DeKalb men was G, of the Nineteenth Indiana Volunteer In-
fantry. People in various parts of the county held celebrations in honor of
the men who were leaving to join this company and others. At Waterloo,
on July TO, 1861, a very sad incident occurred, which dimmed the ardor
of the people.
THE WATERLOO TRAGEDY.
A cannon belonging to the citizens of Waterloo was being fired in honor
of the volunteers belonging to Captain Clark's company who were leaving on
the express train at 3:55. Two rounds had been fired, and the third and
fatal one was reserved until the departure of the troop train. The gun had
been heavily charged, and was wadded with green leather shavings from the
tannery, to within a few inches of the muzzle, and as the train pulled out,
the gun was discharged. The result was a terrific explosion, bursting the
gtin to atoms and scattering the fragments of iron in all directions, over
houses and tree tops, carrying some pieces a distance of eighty rods.
J. H. Shoemaker, who had assisted in loading the gun and who applied
the match, was struck by a piece of iron, and a frightful gash cut in his side,
near the lower ribs, and completely severing the spinal column. He died
instantly. About to fire the piece, he was heard to remark that "those boys
over there," pointing to the crowd at the depot, "said they would not touch
it off for five hundred dollars" ; another instant and he was dead.
Singularly, not another person in the crowd was injured, although the
narrow escapes were many.
DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 93
DEKALB COUNTY GUARDS.
The first company to be raised in this county entirely, and officered by
DeKalb men, was Captain Hawley's, which company entered the Thirtieth
Indiana Volunteer Infantry. Some of the best citizens of the county joined
this regiment. After the organization, the ladies of Auburn met together
and evolved plans for showing their admiration of the men, and decided
upon a banner. Accordingly, one was made of silk, and presented it to the
company. The men were overjoyed by the tribute, and wrote a letter to
the editor of the New Era, to be published. The letter was as follows :
"Camp Allen, Fort Wayne, Ind., Sept. 9, 1861.
"Editor- Era — At a meeting of the DeKalb County Guards, while on
duty in company drill, in Camp Allen, the following preamble and resolutions
were adopted:
"Whereas, The citizens of DeKalb County have, by their energetic efforts,
been instrumental in effecting the organization of the DeKalb County Guards,
and in contributing to their aid and comfort, in both physical and social
wants, therefore be it resolved,
"i. That we tender to the citizens of said county, one and all, 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 experienced
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 Govern-
ment 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 de-
parture from that place; and we also owe our grateful thanks to those who
accompanied to this camp.
"4. That as it would be impossible to specify all the acts of indi-
vidual kindness which have helped to contribute to our relief, we will only
say, with true feeling, that they are all duly appreciated, 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 re-
proach upon the name of DeKalb.
"6. That the foregoing preamble and resolutions be signed by the com-
94 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA.
missioned officers of our company, a copy be forwarded to the Era at Auburn
and the Press at Waterloo, for publication.
"Capt. Cyrus Hawley,
"First Lieut. W. W. Griswold,
"Second Lieut. J- C. Smith."
NEWSPAPER EDITORIALS OF 1 86 1.
The general preparedness of the country is evidenced by the following
editorial from the Waterloo Press of September 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-pounders; twenty 32-pounders; 2,467 32-pound balls; 147 64-pound balls;
and sixty- four 96-pound balls; and aggregate of 91,840 pounds of shot, shell
and ball."
The Waterloo Press, one of the loyal Union papers in the county, in
the issue of October 4, 1861, publishes the following:
"The instrinsic 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 our government. Our citizens have
gone forth in twos, fives, tens, twenties and forties to fill up vacant places
in other counties and states ; then came one full company. Captain Hawley's,
and it is so written on the pages of histoiy and tablets of many observers.
"Now two more companies are being formed, already in camp. Captain
Merrill's and Captain Park'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 con-
sideration. He has been a military man for a number of years, and was
once elected captain of Company A, Toledo Guards, which post he resigned
when he came among us.
"Patriots, will vou 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. Tlie prompt response to the calls already made upon you is a
sure gfiiarantee tliat your patriotism is equal to the demand. These com-
DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 95
panics cannot fail of being filled by the brave boys of Delvalb. Do I over-
estimate your patriotism? Time will tell.
"Newville is thus the banner tov^^nship. The voters of that town num-
ber one hundred and seventy, arid forty of them are volunteers in the govern-
ment service. What township speaks for the banner next?
"Everything for the cause."
The New Era of March, 1861, just before the breaking out of hostilities,
prints the following, which shows plainly the position of the peace advocates :
"Coercion stands boldly out in the inaugural, and coercion carried into
effect will no doubt lead to war. The Southern Confederacy has thirty
thousand troops encamped in the field ready to resist coercion. 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 tiien we will have war, but Mr. Lincoln
would not be to blame; he is bound by his official oath to sustain the Consti-
tution 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 to those Republican and seces-
sion members of Congress who, in defiance of the will of the people, refuse
to vote for compromises that would have given peace to the country."
This same paper, in August, 1861, said:
"What we most wish is the present and future sacred observance of the
Constitution. We are strong enough to maintain the Union and the Consti-
tution, too. What is past cannot be remedied, and we need not stop at pres-
ent to discuss. We are in the midst of war — a war begun by reckless rebels
at Charleston. The President had lawful power to call out troops to serve
until thirty days after the meeting of Congress. He did so, and we urged
the enlistment of troops. The capital was in danger, and its capture by the
Confederates would ha\e curtailed on us everlasting di.sgrace and incalculable
evils.
"Since then other acts have been done 1>y the Executive, which we could
not approve. But let them pass, and let us look at matters as they now stand.
Congress has authorized the raising of troops, and the capital is probably
at this moment in greater danger 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 s])cecly enlistment of troops, and accordingly we have
90 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA.
exerted all our influence to this end, although bitterly denounced 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 recruiting, 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."
Thus, the newspaper seemed to have an indefinite opinion of affairs in
general. From the tone of their editorials printed above, one is lead to
believe that they were against war, but afraid to say so. When the struggle
was on in full force it thus spoke :
"Our nation is now passing its fiery ordeal. It will come from the con-
test a power among the nations, or it will sink to a disunited conglommera-
tion of petty states. Nothing so vital to every citizen can be conceived as
the decision of the question. Have we a government? Shall we maintain it
despite domestic dissension and foreign intervention? To fail would be to
sink millions of property as well as to co\er the face of each patriot with
chagrin, and to ruin the hope of a government like ours ever becoming
permanent.
"But we know no such word as fail. Sooner than this, the loyal states
would see twice five hundred thousand 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."
In August, 1862, came the following in the same paper:
"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 revo-
lution will shine bright among the brighest, 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, DeKalb 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 eight
hundred and eight men. The fact is, the people of little DeKalb 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 o])ject they will toil, if
necessary, to the bitter end."
DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 97
MASS MEETINGS.
For the first few years of the war, enthusiasm did not abate in DeKalb
county, and frequent meetings were held, resulting in added enlistments and
more interest in the success of the Union. Even in the fateful year of 1863,
when the gray host seemed to have the upper hand and the cause of the
Union lost, the people of the county maintained their hearty spirit, and the
meetings increased in number, every village and town in the county pro-
claiming their loyalty, holding assemblies in school houses, churches and resi-
dences, anywhere that the people might congregate and conduct a celebra-
tion.
On February 20, 1863, at the Methodist church in .Vuburn, a meeting
was held. The meeting was called to order by Rev. S. W. Widney, and
Capt. L. J. Blair, of the Eighty-eighth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, was
chosen president ; Capt. F. F. Smith, of the United States Navy, was selected
as secretary, and the following were named as vice-presidents : Capt. Cyrus
Hawley, Corp. J. McMillen, and Lieut. James McKay, of the Thirtieth Indi-
ana : Solomon Belong, R. Lockwood, L. Hoodlemire, I. Ditmars, J. Hofifman,
and J. Link of the Forty-fourth Indiana; C. Carr, of the Forty-eighth Indi-
ana; A. McClellan, of the Fifty-second Illinois Volunteer Infantry; and
William Fisher, of the Seventeenth Michigan. Dr. J. N. Chamberlain,
Rev. Widney, and John McCune were appointed as a committee on resolu-
tions, and while they were forming a report, W. S. Smith, of Fort Wayne,
addressed the audience in stirring words. The committee brought in a
series of resolutions commending the action of the government in using
every available means of suppressing the seceding states, and expressed them-
selves as willing to make every sacrifice to maintain the armies in the field,
praising the boys of the state of Indiana, mourning the ones whose lives
had been sacrificed on the field of battle, and thanking those at home who
gave up their loved ones for the cause. These resolutions were published in
the Chicago Tribune, Indiana State Journal, and the Waterloo Press. They
were also adopted verbatim by subsequent meetings in the county. Demo-
crats joined with Republicans in supporting the party of the North, and
there was but one party, the Union.
The citizens of Concord township held a meeting at Spencerville, to
take into consideration the state of the country and to express their opinions.
George Barney was in the chair, and John F. Coburn was chosen secretary.
(7)
98 DEKALB COUNTY. INDIANA.
John P. Widney, Newton Thomas and Newton Arkew were named as a
committee to draw up a set of resolutions, which they did, while Robert
Johnson addressed the crowd. The resolutions drawn up, favored each
state and neighborhood as well should define their exact position, that the
Union should be maintained at any cost, that if necessary every citizen would
offer his life in battle, and repudiating the right of seccession. After the pro-
ceedings, a roll of minute-men was presented, and the people called upon to
enlist in their country's cause.
ENLISTMENTS.
At Auburn. Marquis L. Rhodes, using his little red brick store on the
southeast corner of ■Main and Ninth streets, opened a recruiting office. He
succeeded in raising a full company and was chosen captain himself. They
were mustered in as Company A, One Hundredth Indiana Volunteer In-
fantry, and on September 10, 1862, left Fort Waj^ne for Memphis, Tennessee.
With this regiment went Rev. Charles A. Munn, as chaplain, and David J.
S warts as assistant surgeon. The former resigned on August 10, 1863, and
the latter served until his command was mustered from the service. During
its service, Company A had five captains, namely : Captain Rhodes. Ezra D.
Hartman, Lucius Barney, John H. Moore, and Eli J. Sherlock. Moore died
of wounds received in the Atlanta, campaign.
DRAFTING.
Not until the last two vears of the war was the draft resorted to in this
county. Enlistments had fallen short of the quotas demanded at that time,
and the draft was necessary, but taken in good spirit by the people, despite the
hardship wrought in many families. The following quotation from the Nezv
Era of August. 1863, portrays one of the drafting scenes, and shows the
humorous side :
"Late Tuesday was the day appointed by the militia enrolling com-
missioner for this county 'to hear and determine the excuses of persons claim-
ing 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 government had located a
militarv hospital at this point, and that the battle-scarred veterans of the
DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 99
present crisis had come here to receive the care and attention due the brave
soldier of the bloody field. The sight was painful to behold, 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 from excessive weeping, and out from beneath whose coat there
plainly protuded the neck of a bottle. It would not have taken long to have
recruited men enough for the Crutch Brigade out of the crowd, and officered
the same b_\- Old Age and General Debility. The 'menagerie' will be con-
tinued on next Monday."
Wilmington, Stafford and New\ille townships were never brought under
the draft, as they always furnished their full quotas when demanded. Troy
township had eight men drafted; Franklin, twenty-two; Richland, forty-one;
Union, two; Jackson, twelve; Butler, eight; Concord, one; Smithfield,
hventy-five; and Fairfield, thirty, making a total for DeKalb county, of one
hundred and forty-nine.
BIG CELEBRATION.
In June of the year 1865, most of the veterans of the regiments and
batteries, who were from DeKalb comity, returned home, and a big celebra-
tion was held in the town of Auburn. Feasting, a monster parade, and
speech-making occupied the day. This was a gala day for people and
soldiers alike, and precluded the joyful and successful reunions held after-
ward in the county.
OFFICI.AL REPORT.
On October 6, 1862 the number of volunteers credited to DeKalb county
was seven hundred and fifty-eight. Under the call of October 17, 1863, the
quota of the county was one hundred and fifty-five, which was filled by re-
cruiting. Under the calls of 1864, there were sixty veterans and six hun-
dred new recruits credited to the county, and fifty-four men were drafted,
making a total of seven hundred and fourteen, a greater number of whom
were three years' men. The last call of December 19, 1864 supplied sixty-
three enlistments and one hundred and seventy-two conscripts, or two hun-
dred and thirty-five men, for periods of one and two years. A summary of
the preceding, making no allowance for reenlistments, credits this county
with a total of eighteen hundred and sixty-two men.
DEKALB COUNTV, INDIANA.
BOUNTY AND RELIEF.
The county of DeKalb not only sent her sons to the field in the war for
the Union, but those who remained at home did not forget their share in the
struggle. Necessities and little luxuries were sent to the men of the army, in
order that the hardships might be mitigated slightly. Women met in clubs
and formed plans for procuring foods, hospital supplies, clothing, shoes,
and every article necessary. Many a housewife's needle was busy during the
four years, that a son or husband might be eased and comforted. Meetings
were held in public, fairs and festivals were held, entertainments, and private
donations, all the profits going into a common fund for the relief of the
soldiers. The families at home who were dependent upon some brave fellow
in the field were also supplied with necessities, and not a one was allowed to
sufYer during those trying times. The total amount subscribed for bounty in
DeKalb was $139,250; the amount for relief was $24,481.63: making a total
of $163,731.63.
NINTH INDIANA \'OLUNTEEK INFANTRY.
Company A and Company E of this regiment were represented in
DeKalb county by James Brownlee and David Culver in the fomier company
and John W. Butcher, David H. Renner and Orin Stansbro. These men
served until the later years of the war, with the exception of Brownlee, who
died; and Culver, who deserted.
ELEVENTH INDIANA VOLUNTEER INF.ANTRY.
Three men from DeKalb, John B. Knight, Elijah Rhodes, and Hiram
Zimmerman, were in Company E of this regiment. Robert Lock was a
member of Company A of the Twelfth Indiana Infantry.
THIRTEENTH IND'IANA VOLUNTEER INFANTRY.
Company A of this regiment had the following men from DeKalb:
Benjamin Alton, Alvin D. Beggs, Frederick D. Carr, Edward Casebeer,
Daniel M. Faunce, Benjamin Hamilton, Harvey D. Hathaway, Benjamin
Hoyt, George H. Huffman, Nathan Johnson, Thomas Johnson, died May 27,
1865, from wounds received at Fort Fisher; Isaac N. Snively, and James
Stafford. Company B had Henry Hull, William Noles. Isaiah Overhalzer,
DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. lOI
Daniel Reisner, Gilbert Rodensbaugh, Israel Shearer and James L. Stewart.
Company C had Oscar Smith. Charles Tousley and Nathan Wyatt. Com-
pany D liad Frederick Horney: George C. Ferguson was killed by an ex-
plosion at Fort Fisher. Others in this regiment were Luther St. Clair,
Frederick Craw. George Inghuni. This regiment saw much hard service in
the war, and the ranks were thinned many times by Confederate bullets.
The regiment campaigned mostly in the South.
NINETEENTH INDIANA VOLUNTEER INFANTRY.
The following men served in Compan\- G of this regiment: Charles K.
Baxter; Johnston D. Curd, Elias Fisk. \\'arren Fisk, .\lvin Serry, Michael
Shirts and Moses Smith. Baxter A\as mustered in as first sergeant, commis-
sioned second lieutenant, and afterward lieutenant. The last five men named
were afterward transferred to the Twentieth Indiana.
TWENTIETH INDIANA VOLUNTEER INFANTRY.
Ithamar Hague, William L. Balsch. John A. Burn was captured at the
Wilderness, Benjamin Turner, and tho.se mentioned as being transferred
from the Nineteenth. This regiment took part in all of the engagements on
the left of the Army of the Potomac, from Hatcher's Run to the fall of
Richmond, and took part in all the battles up to the surrender of the Army
of Northern Virginia. Its last engagement with the enemy was at Clover
Hill on April 9, 1865.
TWENTY-FIRST INDIANA VOLUNTEER INFANTRY.
Company .\ had ui)on its roll the following men from DeKalb county :
David Smith, Caspar Altenburg, Isaiah Baughman, Lewis Brown, James K.
Culbertson, James Draggoo, Owen Dixon, George Hay, John Jones, John
W. Jones, Osborn Knight, John C. Reed and Burton Smith. Company M
had Daniel \V. and Isaac L. Altenburg. John T. Rush was unassigned. This
regiment was with Buell in the South, took pari in tlie siege of Corinth, and
otherwise campaigned in the southern territor}-.
TWENTY-NINTH INDIANA VOLUNTEER INFANTRY.
Company A of the Twenty-ninth enrolled Robert H. Garrett. Stephen
E. Healy, Frederick High. James McXalib, X'oah Martorff. Lewis Y. New-
I02 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA.
house, Henry Snook, William C. Sweeney. David Smith belonged to Com-
pany H. Nathan Watson and Jeremiah Walker joined Company I. Ed. A.
Stone was a member of Company K.
The Twenty-ninth was organized at Laporte, Indiana, for the three
years' service. As a member of General Rousseau's brigade the regiment
was assigned McCook's division, in Buell's army, and marched to the Ten-
nessee river. At Shiloh the regiment suffered heavily. The men were in the
siege of Corinth, pursued Bragg through Kentucky into Tennessee, partici-
pated in the battle of Stone's River, Tullahoma. At Chickamauga the regi-
nient was a part of the Second brigade, under Col. Joseph B. Dodge. At
Chickamauga the regiment took an active part and bore her share of the
tremendous losses. After tliis battle the regiment was sent to Alaljama,
where it remained until 1864, when it veteranized and returned to Indiana
on furlough. After the return to service, Decatur, Alabama, was the first
battle, next Dalton, Georgia, and on Decemlier 2. 1865, was mustered from
the service at Marietta, Georgia.
THIRTIETH INDIANA VOLUNTEER INFANTRY.
Company H of this regiment was composed almost wholly of DeKalb
county men, and was captained by Cyrus Hawley. W. W. Griswold was
commissioned first lieutenant, then captain, transferred to Company C, Resi-
duary Battalion, commissioned major on December 3, 1864. colonel One
Hundred and Fifty-second Indiana Volunteer Infantry on March 9, 1865.
Joshua Eberly was mustered in as first sergeant and reached the rank of
first lieutenant, and was killed at Chickamauga. Leander F. W'elden was
mustered in as sergeant and reached the rank of major. Job C. Smith,
Joseph ^TcKav, Jeremiah D. Likens were second lieutenants during the
service. Perrv Hodges was sergeant and discharged for disability. Cyrus
C. Hodges, William H. Phelps, Lorenzo D. Conner, Philip Noel, William
Miller, Henry M. Stoner, John C. \Miysong, Martin V. Snyder were cor-
porals. Other members of the company follow : William Feagler was cap-
tured at Chickamauga: James F. Johnson, Joseph S. Murry, David S. Ar-
thur, Caspar Altenburg, Isaiah Baughman, Peter Barnhart died from
wounds at Stone River, William H. H. Beard, Adna Brown, Florence Buch-
anan, Henry Bolinger, George Baltsley, Israel Church, George Cole, Alvin
Collar, Zephania B. Culbertson, William Connaway, William Crusan, Abel
Crusan, William H. Cox, Mathew Crooks. Ebenezer Delong, Charles De-
long, Lester Dilno. Colvert J. Drury, John N. Eberly. Robert Feagler, Leslie
DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. lOJ
Fisher, Lewis Fisher. John Furney, Samuel Ford, William C. Ford, Nathan
Frederick-son. William Freeman, William Franks, William Fike, Jesse Gin-
gerick. Samuel George, George W. Hamilton, Marquis L. Hoose, John High,
Henry Healey, Peleg Hull, Amos Htill, Isaac Hornberger, James S. Hughey,
David Highes, Benton Hoover, Robert H. Johnson, David Knowderer, Philip
Kennedy, St. George Lightner, John Lawrence, Asbury J. Long, Joseph
Lockmire, John P. McMillen, Perry Mullen, John Marcum, James C. Myers.
Dexter Munger, Reason McCush, Samuel L. Musser, Nathaniel Osburn,
Henry J. Park, Hezekiah Plummer, John A. Provines, David Rigby. Eli
Rigby, Riley Rickles, Albert Reed, Levi Rutan, Benjamin F. Sponhower,
Alfred G. Showers, Nathan M. Showers, Ephraini Shull, Ephraim Shaff-
stall, Alexander Skinner, James Skinner, Samuel Ulem, John W. Watson,
Jesse ^^'allace, John C. Weeks, Henry Wagner, James Weir and Jonas Zim-
merman, Joseph Teegarden, Jacob Kyle, Abraham Weaver, Charles Roberts,
Robert H. Johnston were members of Companies D, E, F and G. Charles W.
Campbell was a member of Company D, Thirty-fourth Indiana Volunteer
Infantry.
The Thirtieth Indiana \'olunteer Infantry was organized at Fort Wayne,
Indiana, for the three years' service. With McCook's division in Buell's
army, the regiment fought bravely at Shiloh, where it lost its colonel. Bass;
siege of Corinth, the pursuit of Bragg into Tennessee, was with Rosecran's
army in the movement from Nashville to Murfreesboro. battle of Tullahoma,
and as a part of the Second brigade, participated in the sanguinary conflict at
Chickamauga. In the battle of Chickamauga this regiment came on to the
field about noon of September 19, 1863, and went into action first at the
Brock field east of the Brotherton house, and was engaged all afternoon in
assisting in driving the enemy the distance of about a mile east of where they
first went into action, and was there on the afternoon and again in the night
fight with Dodge's brigade, on the Alexander and Reed's Bridge road imme-
diately south of the Winfrey field line. After the battle of Chickamauga
and the return of the army to Chattanooga, the regiment remainecl at dif-
ferent stations in Tennessee, and a portion of the regiment re-enlisted as
veterans at Blue Springs, that state, in January, 1864. The non-veterans
remained at Blue Springs until April, 1864, the veterans having returned to
the field, the entire regiment rejoining the Army of the Cumberland under
command of ISIajor-General George H. Thomas, and took part in the fol-
lowing battles: Catoosa Springs, Tunnel Hill. Buzzard Roost, Oostenaula
River, Kingston, Pumpkin Vine Creek, New Hope Church, Kenesaw Moun-
tain. Marietta. Peach Tree Creek, siege of Atlanta, Jonesboro, and Lovejoy's
I04 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA.
Station. After the fall of Atlanta the non-veterans were sent home to In-
diana and mustered out, while the veterans and recruits were attached to the
Fourth Army Corps and engaged in the battles of Columbia, Spring Hill and
Franklin. The regiment fought Hood at Nashville, joined in the pursuit of
him, and after the surrender at .\ppomattox was a patt of the armv of occu-
pation which was sent to Texas.
THIRTY-FIFTH INDIANA VOLUNTEER INFANTRY.
James Abel, Uriah Blue, John Bloomfield, Isaac Farver. Israel Horn,
Henry M. Horner, Joseph Koch, Richard Kester, Daniel S. Kimes, Henry
J. Kline, John Leighty, William Monroe, David A. Miller, Judson S. Miller,
Byron Woodcock, and Jacob Yarnell were members of Company C of this
regiment. This regiment campaigned through the South about the same as
the Thirtieth. The regiment was in the battle of Chickamauga, and sustained
unusually heavy losses. At Kenesaw Mountain later, the regiment again
imderwent a baptism of fire, and a hand-to-hand conflict \\ith the enemy.
Many others gave up their lives here, including Major John P. DuiTicy.
THIRTY-EIGHTH INDIANA VOLUNTEER INFANTRY.
In Company D of this regiment were the following men from DeKalb
county: George H. Burns, Jacob Brown, John Bruner, William Bryan,
James C. Carrell, James C. Delong. Alex. Fountain, Noah Miller and Alex-
ander Shanks. In Company E were Robert Cochran, George Delano,
Daniel F. Hammond, Joseph Hose. Solomon Hose, Elijah Imhoff, Thomas
J. Jones, Adolphus G. Jones, Stephen Larkens, Joseph Pennick. Frank B.
Sandy, Henry J. Sandy, Silas W. Sinclair. In Company F were Henrj'
Crooks, Alonzo Concklin, Erastus Finney. Henry Milleman, Francis M.
Stout. John Freeman, John W. Wood.
The Thirty-eighth was mustered into the three >-ears' service at New
Albany, Indiana, on September iS, 1861. with Benjamin F. Scribner, of
New All-)any, as colonel. The regiment was assigned with Buell's division,
and campaigned through Kentucky and Tennessee in pursuit of Bragg and
his Confederates. In the battle of Perryville the regiment took a conspicu-
ous part, and lost twenty-se\-en men, besides those wounded and made prison-
ers.
The regiment was \vith Rosecrans in the Murfreesboro campaign and
participated in the engagement at Stone's River, losing one hundred men in
DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. IO5
killed and wounded. The regiment was at Hoover's Gap and also at Chicka-
mauga, where it took part in the engagement at Lookout Mountain and
Missionary Ridge. In December, 1863, many of the men veteranized, and
returned to Indiana on veteran furloughs. At the opening of the Atlanta
campaign, May 7, 1864, this regiment marched with Sherman's army, and
was engaged in all of the skirmishes and battles of the campaign, namelv :
Buzzard Roost, Snake Creek Gap, New Hope Church or Pickett's Mills,
Pine Mountain, Kenesaw Mountain, Marietta, Charrahoochie River, Peach
Tree Creek, siege of Atlanta, Jonesboro and Lovejoy's Station, and entered
Atlanta with Sherman's troops. The regiment was mustered out in Tulv.
1865.
FORTY-FOURTH INDIANA VOLUNTEER INFANTRY.
In Company P> of this regiment were the following from this county:
William Gobal, Ralph Goodrich, Isaac Harrison, Peter Huffman, Clinton
Scobey, John H. Barnes, James W. Briggs, Joshua Ballinger, Samuel Cum-
mins, Joseph H. Corder, Francis M. Cox, Isaac R. Gary, Isaac C. Havens,
John L. Walters. In Company D were Joshua Lounsberry, Francis Bartlett,
Frederick Bruner, Henry I. Collier, Jacob H. McClellan. David McCord,
Norman Luce and Henry Luce. In Company F were Captain George W.
Merrill. Captain Thomas C. Kinmont, Captain John Gunsenhouser. Captain
Irvin N. Thomas, Captain George H. Casper, Lieutenant James Colgrove,
Lieutenant .Alexander Kinmont, Lieutenant James AI. Thomas, Captain Solo-
mon Delong, Lieutenant .Vlfred Rose, James H. Obeli, Wilson Nichols,
Nathan P. Fuller were sergeants ; James G. Dirrim, Willis Andrews, Francis
S. Chandler, Andrew J. Stole, Marshall Hadsell, James M. Williman were
corporals ; Simeon .\ldrick and Trusterman B. Tottcn were musicians :
Nathan Mathews was wagoner: Henry J. Aliell, David .Andrews, Hollis B.
Aikens, Michael Brubaker, Otis Blood, Lewis Baird, Wilson S. Barden,
Isaac Brubaker, William Collier, Joseph Craig, Edward R. Coburn, Daniel
W. Cole, Calvin Caseber, John G. Casebeer, Oscar 1. CraiiL Peter Country-
man, Ludwig Countryman, George H. Casper, William Cochran, ^^'illiam
Diehil, Ezra Dickinson. Richard Dirrim, Isaac Ditmar, Charles O. Danks,
James Flora, William Friend, Daniel Greenwalt, Hiram Gaff, Frederick
Ginter, Henrv Gunsenhouser, Chester D. Greemyer, Alexander Hart, John
H. Hart, David N. Hart, Jacob Hoffman, Allen S. Headley, John Hunbarger.
Samuel Jacques, Leonard Kirby. Jacob Myers, Heniy Milliman, Warren
Milliman, Henry L. Monroe, Robert Matthews, Harvey Nichols, .Alexander
L. Nichols, Orlando Oherlin. George W. Palmer, Henry C. Pryor, Bennett
lOD ni:K.\I.B COUNTY, INDIANA.
S. Robe, James Revett. George E. Revett, Samuel R. Rickell. ^^'illiam M.
Smith, Robert S. Schamp, Thomas O. Sloan, John M. Scott, Nathan Stock-
well. Lewis R. Tiffany, Albert P. Totten, Henry L. Wallace. John H. Wel>
ster. Hiram B. ^^'illiams, George W. \\'allace. George W. Weeks, David N.
Yarrell, Samuel Anderson, INIumford Ashley, James S. Ashley, John Brown,
James Brubaker, Usury Bowlan, John C. Baum, Henry A. Bailey, Hiram
Bright, Abraham T. Banta, Andrew J. Banta. George W'. Brown, Seth C.
Burris, James Carnahan. AA'illiam J. Carr, Amos Camfeld, Nelson Cobell,
\\'illiam H. Carr, ^^'illiam A. Deihl, Robert W. Ewbanks, Rawlin E. Ford,
^^'illiam Fisher, John ^^^ Forbes. Samuel Goodman, David and Alonzo E.
Goff, George W. Groves, George W. Goff, William R. Goff, Benjamin
Gilley, Robert Gilley, John W. Goldsmith, John W. Gibson, William F.
Green, Michael Gibbons, Wilson Hyatt, Asoph Harwood, John Harris, Ros-
well Hunter, Thomas Hendrickson, Anthony Hamm, Alexander C. Huffman.
George G. Hopkins, Jacob Hicks. James \\'. Hyatt. Jerritt W. Hall, William
A. Hood. John Hall. William H. H. Joy. Julius Johann. David Jacques,
Charles Kooster, \\'illiam B. Knowles. Wesley W. Lowry, John Livingstone.
Covert Lucas. Joseph E. Lough, Basil Lamb, Stephen McCurdy, Resin
^Maples, William W. McClintock, A\'illiam Moixis, George Mayers, Ezekiel
Marquis, \\"illiam E. McFarlan, John Xoatestine, Samuel Oberlin, Adam
Oberlin, Thomas Overton. \\'i]liam H. Potts. David G. Robinson, Franklin
J. Ritsell, Isaac Rumble. Henry S. Reid. William P. Robb. Jacob Sleutz,
Henr\- Sleutz Frederick Shock. George T. Shick, John H. Smith, Taylor
Stewart, Charles Stanke, Alexander Sloan. John C. Smith. John L. Smith.
John Smith, William C. Spaulding, George P. Sharp, \\'illiam F. Stewart,
Lorenzo Syphert. William H. Stoy, Simon H. Stewart. George W. Stallings,
\\'illiam Straine, John Shroder. Jason H. Thruston. William H. Thomas,
Isom Tull. George W. Townsend. Leander ^"ale. Sidney N. Welch. Henry
C. \\"hite. David Weather ford. Thomas \\'akeman, Caswell York. In Com-
pany K were Captain \\'esley Park, Captain John H. Wilson, Captain Moses
B. A\'illis, Lieutenant Nicholas Ensley, Corporals Hiram Smith, W. H. H.
Cornell, Cabb Clark. Musicians John M. Kimsey and William T. Kimsey,
Privates Benjamin F. Cornell. John M. Chilcoat. James M. Chilcoat. Jacob
Casebeer, Samuel Ensley, John J. Frampton. ^^"illiam Greenamyer, Jerad F.
Housel. Robert Hall. John H. C. Hoffman. Leonard Hudlemyer. Reuben
Lockwood. Charles Lockwood. Elijah Lock. Jacob Link. \\'illiam :Middleton.
Samuel E. Mease. George W. McDorman, Philip Parnell. James E. Pearse.
Lemuel Rickey. Daniel W. Squier. David Smith. John L. Shatto, Colfenous
DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. IO7
Surface, Joseph Thompson, George F. Wilson, O. A. Whipple, Isaac M.
Wood, James G. Wiseman, Franklin W. Willis, Levi Wallack, James Ar-
nold, Fearless Arnold, Samuel E. Anderson, James C. Benson, Shurban
Bullard, Henry I. Barekman, William H. Boran, John Barnes, John Chilcoat,
Daniel G. Cook, Joseph Connell, Archibald Curn,-. John ^^'. Chance, Francis
M. Chamberlin, William H. Clark, Jeremiah Cullison, William Cannon,
William Qark, Fielding Catt, John Diersch, Andrew F. Dull, Isaac Dun-
widdie, John D. Elliott, John Englebright. Andrew Ernst. Isaac Ebert, James
A. Fair, David Frazer, James Foster, Richard Foster, Hiram L. Fanning,
Levi Guthrie, Alexander D. Green. James Glass, Simon Gerard, Martin L.
Holcomb, James H. Harkrader. John Hay, \\'illiam A. Harris, Irwin C.
Harroll. Leonard Hoodlemeyer, Albert Hensler. Charles Hickson, Victor D.
Hodshire, Abraham W. Hooker, Henrys J. Imboden. James Jones, William
M. Jordan, Milton Jackson, William H. Javins. Jediah Killum. George W. H.
Keith, William H. Kynett, August Koehler. L}Tnan Lockwood. ^^'illiam
Lynch, David C. Lorch, Jerome ilorse. John A. J. Michael. James Montgom-
ery, Joab Moflfatt. Silas Morehouse. William H. Malott. Samuel Moore,
Thomas J. Moore, Joseph Muckenstrom, Jacob Xewman. George F. O'Byrne,
Albert Pepple. DeForrest Parker, Isaac F. Purcell. William A. Ross. Reuben
E. Re}Tiolds. Matt. Rustan, Francis M. Rust. John M. Ryan, Zachariah
Rosell, Emmanuel Rex, Joel Smith, Benjamin Sodder. Ambrose Smith,
Isaiah Smith. Christopher C. Simon, Isaac Snyder, John L. Stacy, George
Segur. William F. Smart, Adam Stutsman, David R. Thompson. Samuel
Thomas, Dillard White, Robert White, Charles Westfall. Andrew Welton,
John Witman, Martin Whittig. David Williams, James E. Washington. Isaac
Washington, Rufus Webb, Moses B. \\'illis.
The Forty-fourth Indiana Volunteer Infantry was organized at Fort
Wayne and was mustered in on October 24. 1861, with Hugh B. Reed as
colonel. In December it was sent to Henderson, Kentucky, and reported to
Gen. Thomas L. Crittenden, and by him assigned to Cruft's brigade. The
regiment participated in the siege of Fort Donelson. where it suffered heavy
loss. It was engaged both days at Shiloh, losing thirty-three killed and one
hundred and seventy-seven wounded. The Confederate general. Albert Sid-
ney Johnson, was killed in front of this regiment at Shiloh. The regiment
next marched to Corinth, participated in Buell's pursuit of Bragg, engaging
in the conflict at Perr>ville. Returning with the army through Kentuck->-. it
again marched into Tennessee and was in the battle of Silver Spring. When
the Armv of the Cumberland entered upon the Murfreesboro campaign, un-
I08 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA.
der Rosecrans, this regiment participated in the battle of Stone's River,
losing heavily. This was on December 31, 1862, and January i, 2 and 3,
1863. The regiment was actively engaged in the battle at Chickamauga. On
the afternoon of the first day in this battle, the regiment supported Wilder's
brigade ; on the second day, after having assisted in meeting one of the sever-
est charges of Stewart's divisions, the regiment retired and held off the
enemy until four o'clock, when a flanking movement compelled their further
retirement. On the third and last day the regiment fought in line with its
division until the break in the center of the Union lines, when it repaired to
Thomas' line and fought against Harker's brigade until ordered from the
field at five o'clock. Later it engaged at Missionary Ridge. In October,
1863, the regiment was assigned to provost duty, re-enlisting as veterans.
On September 14, 1865, the regiment was mustered out. During the war
the regiment lost by death, wounds and disease, four hundred and eight men.
EIGHTY-EIGHTH IXr)I.\X.\ \"OLl'NTEER INF.\NTRY.
With the Eighty-eighth were \\'illiam D. ATyers as surgeon and Henry
W. Willard, hospital steward. Captains Jensen P. Beers, James H. Steele and
Elam B. Cutter, Lieutenants Samuel L. Stough, Walter E. Boley, Royal H.
Edgerly andWilliam A. Fisher. Sergeants George Sharp, David Woods, Jo-
siah C. Smith, Corporals Calvin W. McQueen, George Jones, Matthew E.
Rathbum, George W. Sanders, Josiah Baughman, Musicians George W.
Edinger and Franklin N. Beidler, Wagoner Thomas H. Rogers. Recruits as
follows: Charles Bowman, Ira S. Bailey, Lewis Brown, Thomas Brown,
George W. Baughman, John Bromley, George E. Blaker, Harvey D. Bigelow,
John Bruner, Emanuel Beck, John L. Cotrill, Ezra Grain, John V. Collins,
Charles H. Chittenden, Abram L. Canon, George Daniels, Archibald Dan-
iels, William Duck, Kinsey Daniels, Samuel Day, George W. Everett, John
Ferriman, Henry Frick, Lawrence Fetters, John H. Franks, \\''illiam H.
Gonser, George Gundrum, David Goodrich, William Hornberger, Franklin
B. Hendricks, Jacob Humbarger, Jesse Hively, Daniel F. Hamon, Simeon F.
Hammon, John P. Hale, Allen Johnson Levi Ingle, Daniel B. Keller, Alonzo
A. Kester, William Krontz, John P. Kester, George J. Link, Amos Lower,
Isaiah Lykins, Daniel Lidy, Robert A. Matthews, Sheridan E. Mott, Elijah
Mudge, James G. Morrow. John T. McAdanis. Francis Mills, Joseph T. Mar-
tin, Jacob North, Christopher Nugen, Seneca Nodine. Truman J. Needham,
John Packer, Thomas J. Reynolds, Frank W. Railing. Jonathan Steward,
Tohn M. Steward. Uriah Smith. Park Seberts, George R. Smith, Jacob She-
DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. lOQ
waiter, William Shoup, John K. Sinn, Thomas Tomlinson, George Teutsch,
Lemonsky R. Willard. Henry L. Williams, James D. Woods, Henry W.
Willard, Israel Yoh, John A. Zimmerman, Jacob Brown, John Bruner,
George W. Burns, William A. Bryan, Oscar P. Carver, Charles C. Corill.
James C. Belong, Joseph C. Dickson, Alexander Fountain, Daniel F. Ham-
mond, Marcus L. Hoose, Benjamin F. Leasure, Noah Miller, John H. Reese,
Emile Sholtze, Albert B. Shirts, Andrew E. Shanks, Silas K. Sinclair, John
H. Smith, David Woods. In Company C was Philip W. Silver. In Com-
pany D there were Milton Horn, William Johnson. George Keith, John C.
Stafford. In Company E was John R. Lyon ; in Company G, William A.
Goodrich.
In Company H were Captain Lewis J. Blair, afterward major, lieuten-
ant-colonel and brigadier-general ; Captain Dexter L. Thomas ; Lieutenants
Philander Smith, Joseph Rainer, William Dillworth, Andrew Yeagley,
George F. Delong; Sergeants Hiram W. Hatch, Samuel Headley, William
A. Rex ; Corporals Alexander Bailey, Washington Testison, Harvey C. Plat-
ter, Joseph A. Coats. William Robertson, Alanzo Conklin, John Hull, Thomas
F. Benjamin; Musicians Edwin M. Smurr, Jacob Danor; Wagoner Henry
May. Recruits were : James Armstrong, Stillman Akins, William A. Boyer,
Alvin D. Beggs, William Brownlee, Leroy Blood, Elias Blood, Austin Conk-
lin, Wesley V. Cosper, Andrew Cole, William Crooks, William Deemes,
Daniel D. Diehl, Samuel Duck, Abraham Emminger, William Evey, Michael
Fusselman, David Franks. Robert Goodwin, Lawrence Gibson, John Hamil-
ton, Joseph M. Hart, Isaac Hart, z\lbert Henry, George Henry, Michael
Johnson, Thomas Krise, Daniel Krise, David Lee, Heni-y K. Lawrence, Isaac
Meese, Albin Melton, Dyer R. Mathews, William Meek, John Melton, Sam-
uel C. Osborn, John Packer, William O. Packer, Charles S. Piyor, Ira W.
Pryor, Jacob Pressler, Simeon Rose, Samuel R. Stanfer, Jacob S. Stout,
Benjamin Suly, William Sawyer, Henry Saylor, Francis Shrull, John Swan-
good, Levi Stoy, Jonathan Snively, Isaac Seely, Levi Smith, Franklin Stout,
Chockly W. Thomas, Henry S. Vestal. Walter T. Watkins, Oliver H. Wid-
ney, Jacob Wineland, Joseph Widney, Edwin D. White, Eli M. Welch,
Elmore Wyatt, Philip Yarnell, Christopher Yader, John H. Yohe, William
Yeagley, John Yocum, Benjamin F. Zigler, John Bills, Alonzo Conklin,
Robert Cochran, Henry Crooks, George Delano. Isaac G. Dohner, Joseph
Hose, Solomon Hose, Dewitt C. Headley, Elijah Imhoff, Thomas I. Jones.
Stephen Likens, Henry Milliman, Daniel S. McNabb, Henry M. Rockwell,
Joseph Penicks, Frank B. Sandy, Henry J. Sandy. Francis M. Stout, Luther
Smith, Thomas Stafford, John Treman, John W. Woods.
no DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA.
The Eighty-eightli Indiana Volunteer Infantry was rendez\-oused at
Fort Wayne, Indiana, mustered in on August 29. 1862, with George Humph-
rey as colonel. Immediately the regiment was ordered to Louisville to de-
fend that city against the supposed advance of General Kirhy Smith. The
regiment next was assigned to the Seventeenth brigade, Rousseau's division,
and marched in pursuit of Bragg. At Perryville the regiment won their
colors by meritorious conduct and underwent heavv losses. The regiment
moved with Rosecrans' army in the campaign against Murfreesboro, cul-
minating in the battle of Stone's River. Fifty-six men were lost in this fatter
engagement. The regiment next, as a part of the Army of the Cumberland,
went through middle Tennessee, participating in the battles of Hoover's
Gap, TuHahoma, Hillsboro and Elk River. On September 19 and 20, 1863,
the regiment took part in the bloody engagement at Chickamauga, being on
the first day in the vicinity of Glass Mill, where, with its brigade, it supported
Bridge's and a part of Shultz's batteries in an engagement with tlie enemy.
In the evening it moved to the Brotherton place and bivouacked. On Sunday
morning, September 20, it moved to position on the west side of the La-
fayette and Chattanooga road, south of the McDonald house, where its
brigade, being assailed by the brigades of Adams and Stovall, was broken,
and the regiment forced southwestward toward Snodgrass Hill. It there
took position in support of General Negley's artillery, and afterward accom-
panied this officer to Rossville. With Hooker, on the night of November
24, this regiment took part in the scaling of Lookout Mountain and the "Bat-
tle Among the Clouds." On the 25th it was in the charge on Missionary
Ridge. Later tlie men fought at Graysville and Ringgold. Georgia. When
Sherman started his campaign against Atlanta this regiment was a part of
the troops and was notably engaged at Buzzard Roost, Resaca, Dallas, Kene-
saw. Peach Tree Creek, Atlanta and Utoy Creek. The regiment continued
with Sherman's long campaign, performing well the various duties imposed;
it fought at the bloody conflict of Bentonville on March ig. 1865. After the
surrender of the Confederate armies the regiment was transported to Wash-
ington, D. C, and marched in the grand review at that place. The regiment
was mustered out on Jnne 7. 1865.
ONE HUNDREDTH INDI.\NA VOLUNTEER INF.\NTRY.
Charles A. ]\lunn was a chaplain, and David J. Swartz an assistant .sur-
geon in this regiment. In Company A were: Captains r^Iarquis L. Rhodes,
Ezra D. Hartman, Lucius Barnev, John H. Moore and Eli J. Sherlock;
DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. Ill
Lieutenants David J. Swartz and Albeit A. Waters; Sergeants John S.
Kindell, William C. Lockhart; Corporals Cleveland A. Klien, Daniel DeWitt,
John M. Hall, Albert Robbins, Allen Devilbiss, James P. Walker; Musicians
David C. Bodine, George Shuman, Joseph C. Durbin. Recruits were; Ab-
raham Anthony, Martin Arthur, George Beams, John W. Boren, Irving
Butler, Artemus Boyles, Reason Buchanan, George Buchanan, John A. Bu-
chanan, Harrison Culver, Jonathan Critchet, William H. Dimmitt, James
Davis, John Da\is, William H. Fair, Samuel Frees, Hammond Frees, John
Fiant. Henry Friedt, Lemuel Farver, William H. Graham, Simeon Guthrie,
Abel R. Goodenough, John Grubb, Napoleon A. Haines, Jonathan Houser,
Gideon Houser, Jolin Flursh, Benjamin Hursh, James Hammond, Samuel
Holden, Wesley J. Jones, Harrison Long, William Likens, John McNabb,
William B. Maxwell, George W. Melvin, Wallace J. Melvin, John R. Mohler.
Benjamin P. McGoon, John McConnell, Silas C. Miller, George Noel, Enos
Osburn, John S. dinger, Daniel Olinger, Lewis F. Penry, Daniel Piffer,
Joseph Piffer, Levi B. Powell, Hiram Palmer, Joseph C. Prosser, Charles T.
Rogers, John B. Raub, John C. Symonds, John Sevander, Asher Squires,
Nathan Squires, Ansel M. Shaw, Isaac Smith, Orlander Skinner, Jeremiah
Ulm. John D. Vanlier, Benjamin S. Wiltrout, Calvin J. Wearley, Henry
Wolf, Richard Wyatt, Walter Cordery, Alden Nickerson, Moses Whit-
comb was in Company E. In Company K were Louis B. Burdick, George J.
Haswell, Andrew Haynes, Frank Haynes, Jacob D. Jackson, Benjamin Phil-
lips, John T. Stouffer, William A. Vanwormer, George Barntrager, Lewis
R. Haswell, George Simons.
The One Hundredth Indiana Volunteer Infantr)- was recruited from
the eighth and tenth congressional districts, under Col. Sandford J. Stough-
ton, and mustered into the service on the loth of September, 1862, left for
the front on the nth of November and became attached to the Army of the
Tennessee on the 26th. The regiment participated in as many as twenty-
five battles, together with skirmishes 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 ser\n"ce at Washington on the 9th of
Tune and reported at Indianapolis for discharge on the 14th of June, 1865.
ONE HUNDRED AND EIGHTEENTH INDIANA VOLUNTEER INFANTRY
SIX MONTHS.
In Company F of this regiment were : Captain Manius Buchanan ; Lieu-
tenants Cyms F. Mosier and George L. Farnum ; Sergeants Chalon D. Cogs-
112 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA.
well, Oliver H. Widney, George N. Cornell, Henry S. Hartley, Amos R.
Walters, Erastus Pyle; Corporals John T. Fickas, Samuel Tanner, George
Beckley, Alvin Campbell, Howard S. McNabb, Albert M. Alton, Erastus
Finney; Musician Leander J. Diehl; Wagoner Ethan Anderson. Recruits in
this company were: Squire Admire, Jesse F. Atcheson, Elzy Andrews,
William B. Brown, Benjamin C. Bohn, Charles Bohn, Thomas W. Baker,
Jasper Barmour, Martin Castleman, Robert E. Cherry, Loudon Cronk, Will-
iam Crain, Thomas Campbell, William Campbell, Humphrey E. Chilcoat,
Henry Crooks, John E. Chasey, Robert Cochran, Oscar P. Carver, James
Belong, Philip E. Emery, Joseph W. Franklin, James Fike, Abraham Fike,
William F"isher, Augustus C. Fisher, Franklin C. Finch, David Fry, Jere-
miah Goodwell, William Guirer, Anthony Grite, David E. Hardin, John
Hillis, Ami Higby, Jacob Huffman, Thomas Hefflinger, Stephen Hughey,
Solomon Hartman, Francis Hart, Lewis Imhoff, David Jacques, James John-
son, Alexander Jarvis, George Kreger, John Kreger, Augustus C. Kane, John
W. Kane, James Louthan, James McCool, William IMcClure, Thomas Moore,
Josephus Oliver, Cyrus OHnger, Thomas Rawson, Henry Rich, F"rancis M.
Remington, Wallace Robbins, William H. Richardson, Elias Shull, Leonard
Shull, Isaiah Smith, William Stafford, James H. Sandy, David A. Stone,
Rufus Taylor, Jonathan J. Totten, Amos R. Walters, David K. Williams,
Emanuel Wright, James Woods, Sidney Welch, Alson Woodward. Irvin
Waters, John Wallace, Almond Wilkinson, John T. Young.
The One Hundred and Eighteenth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, whose
organization was completed on the 3d of September, 1863, under Col. George
W. Jackson, joined the One Hundred and Sixteenth at Nicholasville, and
sharing in its fortunes, being in the movement on Cumberland Gap, returning
to the state capital on the fourteenth of February, 1864. The casualties were
comprised of a list of fifteen killed and wounded.
ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-NINTH INDIANA VOLUNTEER INFANTRY
SIX MONTHS.
Solomon Delong was a major, afterward lieutenant-colonel, in this regi-
ment. In Company A were: Lewis Dunn, Thaddeus S. Bonney, John A.
Mason, William Brown, George Casebeer, Ephraim Enzer, William Fisher,
Alonzo Lower, James Myers, Ira Nelson, Charles Nelson, Daniel Nelson,
John C. Steeley, William H. Taylor, Josiah B. Veley. In Company C were :
Hiram Baer, John W. Cordry, Noah Hively, Cyrus Martin, Jacob Swartz,
Amos Swartz. In Company F were: Solomon DeLong, Obadiah Baer,
DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. II3
Philander Sniitli, Henry C. Beckley, John O. McNabb, Gideon Cogsdill,
Samuel WilHams, Alva Brown, Thomas O. Sloan, John Clark, Uriah J.
Shirts, Alexander B. Dowell, Newton M. Adams, Edward Rupert, Milo F.
Calkins, Leslie Knaff, Walter Abel, David W. Adams, John M. Amrine,
George A. Bishop, Cyrus Beard, John Brubaker, John Crouse, Madison I.
Chilson, Chalon D. Cogsdill, George Cole, Daniel Chilcoat, David Delong,
Henry Delong, Alfred Delong, Samuel Depew, Manlius E. Dyke, Abraham
Erl, William N. Faurot, Nelson Fusselman, Samuel A. Fowler, Gustin Flint,
Clark W. Griffith, Lorenzo Haynes, David J. Hively, Henry Herman, John
B. Hawkins, Wilson S. Headley, Joseph Hosier, Daniel, John and Samuel
Hosier. Lewis D. Hosier. Henry W. Hobnic, Alexander Hart. J. H. Houser.
Paul A. Joray, Andrew L Kimes. David Kroh. Drayton Loomis, ]\Iartin
Luttman, Henry P. McConnell, Judson S. Moody, Jacob S. Morrow, Joel A.
Milliman, Edward Mathews, Volney F. Mathews, Charles Proctor, Edward
Rawson, Isaac Reed, Henry Revert, Jacob Revert, George Smith, David A.
Sloan, Abraham Staley, John W. Squires, Samuel G. Shook, Horace Shoe-
maker, Peter Shirey, David Williams, James Weir, John C. Wilson, Abra-
ham H. Whirley, David A. Wiley, John R. Wendell. William Wert, William
R. Wiltrout, Newman Whiffle, Moses Yater, Frederick Zubrook. In Company
H were Jacob North. John H. Freeby. John K. Sleutz. In Company I were
Delos Lockwood, Francis B. Shaver, Harrison ^^^ellington.
The One Hundred and Twenty-ninth Indiana Volunteer Infantry was
mustered in at Michigan City in March, 1864, under Col. Charles Case. The
regiment moved to the front on April 7', 1864. and was assigned to Schofield'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 this regiment.
On August 29. 1865. the men were disbanded at Charlotte. North Carolina.
ONE HUNDRED AND FORTY-SECOND INDIANA VOLUNTEER INFANTRY
HUNDRED D.\YS.
In Company A of this short term regiment were : Henry Frick. James
C. Mills, Emmett Baxter. George Baxter, William Campbell, Abraham Gin-
dlesparger, William Gindlesparger, George Kreger, John Kreger, Aaron
Rigby. David Rigby, Eli Rigby, Elzie Speer, Robinson E. Speer, Isaac
Treesh, Levi. Treesh, Jacob Vail and Albertus Widener. In Company D
(8)
114 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA.
were : John W. Bowman, James Balenline. John Debelbus, Benjamin Funk,
Anthony Palmer, John Pifer, John Worden. In Company F was Samuel
Oberholtzer. In Company G were : John Hettinger and George H. Points.
This regiment was recruited at Fort Wayne under Col. I. M. Comparet,
and was mustered into service at Indianapolis in November, 1864. After a
steadv and effective service it returned to Indianapolis on the i6th of July,
1865.
ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY-SECOND INDIAN \ VOLUNTEER INFANTRY
HUNDRED DAYS.
In this regiment Whedon W. Griswold was commissioned a colonel.
James N. Chamberlain was a surgeon and \\'illiam M. Mercer assistant sur-
geon with the troops. In Company B were : J. O. Casebeer, Jacob W. Case-
beer, Albert M. Casebeer, Andrew C. Fuller, William M. Fuller, John G.
McClellan. In Company C were : William Lemasters, Humphrey E. Chil-
coat, Loami C. Bair, William H. Coats, Edward C. Drowley, David Jen-
nings, David McGrady, Henry H. Rheineohl, Uriah Swager, James W.
Wycoff. William Wycoff. George Wanemaker. In Company H were : Hol-
land K. Moss. Riley Rickets, Newton Boyles, James Bryan, Albert Crooks,
Abraham Fike, Jacob Furney, Calvin P. Houser, Edward Jones, Uriah E.
Johnson, James Knight, George Michaels, Philip Nussdorfer, Owen W. Rum-
mell, Hiram Summerlot. John W. Shore. In Company K Orville Squires
was enrolled.
This regiment was recruited at Indianapolis under Col. W. W. Gris-
wold, and left for Harper's Ferry on the i8th of March, 1865. It was at-
tached to the provisional divisions of the Shenandoah army, and engaged
until the first of September, when it was discharged at Indianapolis.
OTHER ENLISTMENTS.
Robert Lock was enrolled in the Twelfth Indiana Volunteer Infantry.
Orville Stout was in the Seventeenth. Henrx- Bungard and Samuel Hart
were in Company C of the Forty-second. Joseph Hacker was in the Forty-
eighth. John R. Hamacher, Isaac Ball, Henry Mills, .^sa Carter, Pleasant
R. Cravens, Pleasant A. Cravens, John A. Cravens, William ,\. Whitson.
"William H. Cravens, George F. McClough, William U. Fitch were in the
Forty-ninth. Hamacher was a major. Thomas Lypselt, Joseph G. Chacey.
William Seberts, Edward Boren, Philip Cobler, lolin Link, Preston Raw-
DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. II5
son, Samuel J. Tarney, Curtis Lochemeyer were in the Seventy- fourth.
William Wernce, Marcus M. Baird, Benjamin Ensign and John Presler were
in the Eighty-seventh. Zyra H. Conley was in the Ninety-first. In the One
Hundred and Nineteenth, Seventli Cavalry, were: Eli Dahuff, Moses Fost-
naucht, John Fitch, Richard Guthrie, Samuel D. Hoffman, George Hamlin
and Robert E. Cherry. In the One Hundred and Twenty-seventh, Twelfth
Cavalry, were: George Austin, Alexander Bailey, John H. Boley, Israel
Church, John Deetz, John W. Griffith, Sidney P. Jones, Franklin T. Johnson,
Milton C. Jones, George Kirkendall, Joseph Myers, David Nounnem, Joseph
Roberts, John Shaw, Joseph Werrich, Samuel Cramer, Isaac C. Dirrim, Sam-
uel Duck, Henry W. Gondy, Albert J. Gondy, Clement Gillespie, William
Wilkins, Alfred J. Britton, Alva N. Carpenter, Jacob Finch, Charles H. Hay-
wood, Hugh McClelian, Joseph Pulver, Charles Swan, Willard G. Story.
Isaac Wright was in the One Hundred and Fortieth.
SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR.
At the beginning of the fiscal year. r-SgS, the National Guard of Indiana
consisted of forty-one companies of infantry and three batteries of artillery,
with an aggregate of twenty-eight hundred and twenty-two men. On or
about April i, 1898. war between the United States and Spain being immi-
nent, company commanders were instructed to recruit their companies up
to the maximum number of eighty-four. Meanwhile the clouds of war were
growing darker and darker, until April 19th, when Congress passed resolu-
tions of intervention, which were approved on the 22d, and on the 23d the
President issued his proclamation, calling for one hundred and twenty-five
thousand volunteers to serve in the army of the United States for two years.
On April 25, 1898, the declaration of war was passed by Congress and
the President empowered tn use the full land and na\-al forces of the United
States to carrv the declaration into effect. At 6:15 p. m. on April 25, the
following telegram was recei\ed from the secretary of war to the governor
of Indiana, James A. Mount:
"Washington, D. C, April 25, 1898.
"The Governor of Indiana, Indianapolis, Ind.
"The number of troops from your state under the call of the President
dated April 23, 1898. will be four (4) regiments of infantry and two (2)
light batteries of artillery. It is the wish of the President that the regiments
of the National Guard or state militia shall be used as far as their numbers
will permit, for the reason that they are armed, equipped and drilled. Please
Il6 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA.
wire as early as possible what equipments, ammunition, arms, blankets, tents,
etc., you will require.
"Please also state what troops will be ready for muster into United
States service. Details to follow by mail.
"R. A. Alger,
"Secretary of War."
Immediately Governor Mount issued his call for the required quota. In
numbering the regiments after being mustered into the United States service
it was determined to begin the numbers where the war of the rebellion left
ofif. The Third Regiment, being the first ready to be mustered, was desig-
nated as the One Hundred and Fifty-seventh. The Second was next, and
was made the One Hundred and Fifth-eighth. The First came third, and
the Fourth, fourth. This system has again reverted to the primal numbers
at present.
DEKALB COUNTY MILITIA.
Company K, of the Third Indiana Volunteer Infantry, was raised in
Auburn, DeKalb county, on January 12, 1892, and on the outbreak of war
was assigned as K, of the Third Infantry. James F. Lahnum was captain;
Othello B. Rufner, first lieutenant; John J. Wolf, second lieutenant; Morton
Hilkey, first sergeant; John W. Brown, quartermaster-sergeant; Irwin E.
Rader, Benjamin F. Jolliff, Worthy E. Keller, Charles A. Picker, sergeants ;
Phillip Holman, Charles T. Elson, Alexander McDonald, James Williamson,
George W. Wolf, Charles Martin, corporals; Dick McNany and John R.
McDowell, musicians; Wilson Feagler, artificer, and William O. Leighty,
wagoner. There were eighty-four privates in this company from this county.
Company I was organized at Waterloo, DeKalb county, on September
15, 1879, and was assigned as Company A, Third Infantry, afterward as
Company I. Third Infantry, Indiana National Guard. Levi L. Denison was
captain; Charles V. Barr, first lieutenant; Wilson H. Denison, second lieuten-
ant; Daniel W. Rohrbough, first sergeant: Freeman Moore, quartermaster-
sergeant; Charles A. McCague, Pearl J. Greeting, sergeants: Maynard F.
Hine, Harry W. Beidler, Frederick G. Beidler, corporals; also Edward D.
Willis and George W. Getts : Dell B. Ackley and William A. Beecher, musi-
cians; Harley Thomas, artificer; Peter F. Ankney. wagoner. There were
fifty recniits from this county and many from outside territory.
A. L. Kuhlman was a major of the Third, or One Hundred and Fifty-
seventh, and Clvde L. Hine was a sergeant-major.
DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 117
PERIOD OF SERVICE.
The One Hundred and Fifty-seventh Regiment, Indiana Volunteer In-
fantry, arrived at Camp Mount, Indianapolis, on April 26, 1898, under
orders from the governor, for the purpose of being mustered into the service
of the United States. Companies of this regiment came from Knox, Fort
Wayne, Goshen, North Manchester, Elkhart, South Bend, Angola, Waterloo,
Auburn, Ligonier, and Plymouth. The work of preparing for muster was
necessarily slow, as all officers and men had to pass a physical examination,
and be accepted by tlie surgeons, before they would be accepted by the United
States officers.
The regiment was mustered into the volunteer service on May 10, 1898,
and left for Camp Thomas, Chickamauga Park, Georgia, on Sunday, May
15th, and on arriving there on May 17th went into camp; left Camp Thomas
June I St, for Port Tampa City, Florida, and arrived there on June 3d ; left
Port Tampa City, July 29th, for Femandina, Florida, arriving there on July
30th; remained at Fernandina until August 30th, when it was ordered to
Indianapolis, for muster out of service, where it arrived on September 2d,
was furloughed for thirty days on September loth, and was finally mustered
out and discharged November i, 1898.
CHAPTEr< VI.
REMINISCENCES.
WESLEY PARK S TALE.
For the readers of this history there is preserved the personal narrative
of Wesley Park, the first settler and founder of the city of Auburn, the
present county seat. His account runs as follows :
"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. De-
fiance, 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 Houlton's. I then returned to Ohio
and stayed until February, 1836. Started to Indiana then with a drove of
cattle and load of dried fruits, got to Lima, sold out and started, in company
with John D. Howe, Esq., to the center of the new county, afterward called
DeKalb, to locate a site for a county seat.
"We got to Pigeon river, and the same canoe upsetting, I swam over the
stream. Howe came over in the canoe, swimming his horse alongside.
Stayed 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 town-
ship- now), and 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, being tired or lazy,
or both, laid down on the snow. In the morning he had melted his whole
length in the snow and was wet, but I was diy. I lay all night with my rifle
by my side to be prepared for the wolves that howled around continually.
After hunting a day for the best site, decided on the piece of land where
Auburn now is. Entered the land, and laid out the town. I then put up a
shanty, ten by twelve 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. After-
ward Joseph Miller and I started from William Miller's, I with my cart and
DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. I I9
oxen and he with me to help cut the road, 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 over-
took 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, however, 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 morn-
ing, after lying out through the night, we ctit 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 fifteen men who
very nearly filled my hotel. Some lay on a shelf, and the rest on the ground
under it, so that there was plenty of bed room. After eating up the first load
of provisions. T 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.
ARRIVED AT THE SITE OF AUBURN.
"I kept travelers, showed land, and erected a cabin eighteen by twenty
feet, one and a half stories high, with a roof of rafters and clapboards. It
stood on the lot close to the old water saw-mill. I then returned to Ohio
and brought out my wife, Sophia, and my son, Amos, then a child. Launcelot
Jugman and family also came with me. We all arrived at Auburn on the
sixth 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 DeKalb
county. Littlefield, of Lagrange, Gilmore, of Steuben, and Robert Work, of
Allen, were appointed commissioners to locate the county seat. I was ap-
pointed by the governor, sheriff of the new county, with authority to appoint
the place for the elections in the few precincts in the county, and to receive
and forward the returns. The result of the election is stated elsewhere.
I20 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA.
"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. I 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 always 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 a brother to
the celebrated fur traders, W. G. and G. W. Ewing. Judge Yates has been
spoken of as an odd genus 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 inflict the penalty. As the judge
was making toward the criminal with this avowed intention, I seized him and
gave 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 adjourned peace-
fully.
TRYING TIMES.
"Will you allow me now to go back to the winter of 1836 and 1837 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 of their provisions from Fort Wayne or the northern prairies, with scarce-
ly anything that could be called roads. At one time our corn cost us three
■dollars per bushel. I saw teams that had to travel seventy-five miles for pro-
visions. I never drove more than sixty miles for com, 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 rheumaitsm and lay several weeks. In De-
cember the snow fell two feet deep.
"Emigrants 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 Steubenville 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.
DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 121
"A few moments after the arrival of these sufferers, a traveler came
in and told us that a man and 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 receiving 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 sec-
tions as the trail was very crooked). They got him on the pony and brought
him in about midnight, frozen to the knees ; yet he 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 fifty cents to
bring him in, which led me to administer him a severe rebuke.
"I told him if the boy was not worth more than fifty 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 to his rescue. He
had kept traveling and was thus saved from freezing.
"They proved to be Mr. Graden and son. of Noble county. They 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 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 annoy us considerably,
although they furnished us with venison, bear meat, turkeys, cranberries,
etc., for money or such things as we had to exchange.
"They were honest, and some of them religious, before the whites gave
them fire water and stole their ponies and blankets.
"Thv used frequently to apply to me to take away 'bad Indian' when-
ever any of their number misbehaved. After the whites had created in them
the unnatural appetite, they were vei-y fond of whiskey. One day a poor
squaw came to my house and begged hard for whiskey. Palmer took the
pepper-sauce bottle and handed it to her: she took a very hearty drink, but
as soon as she had removed the bottle from her lips, she began to spit,
sputter, salaver and holler 'pizen ! pizen !' while Bill Palmer, the perpetrator
122 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA.
of the joke, rolled and laughed to his hearts content. After her sufferings
were over, I and my good Sophia took a good laugh at her, and she never
troubled us again.
INDIAN CUSTOMS.
"The Pottawatomies and Miamis were the principal tribes in DeKalb
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 dis-
liked very much to have their dead interfered with, yet it was done by un-
principled 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 stem-
ming the storms and suffering the privations of a hard winter. During this
season emigrants began to come in more plentifully and several cabins went
up in Auburn. I had given one-third of the lots to the county, receiving no
compensation but the assurance that it would be permanently the county seat.
In most cases, too, I gave a lot to every settler building thereon. This year,
1837, I and Mr. Ogden built the saw mill. The town continued steadily to
improve, and has been blessed with good inhabitants with few exceptions.
Much of the lan-d in the county was taken up by speculators. This hindered
its settlement to a considerable degree for some years. The crash of banks
in 1837-8 was severely felt and many suffered for want of food and raiment.
The years 1836-7 were healthy seasons; 1838 was more sickly; 1839 still
more so, and from that time until 1850, there was more or less of bilious
complaints every season. Since 1850 both town and country have been gen-
erally healthy."
FROM MANUSCRIPT OF S. W. WIDNEY.
From a pamphlet published about sixty years ago by Rev. S. W. Wid-
ney, entitled "Pioneer Sketches," the following is quoted: "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.
DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 1 23
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 savages.
"Well do I remember a night in the fall of 1837, spent in terror of
Indians. I had been in the county six months, but as yet had seen very few
of them. My widowed mother, with six children younger than myself, (and
1 not yet seventeen years of age), bought and settled on a farm. 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 grew continually nearer, and increased in volume,
till fears pictured a whole army of savages coming to murder us. We put
out the lights, fastened the doors, and concealed ourseh^es in different parts
of the house. Soon the Indians were tramping around the house, and their
torches gleaming through the windows. We almost held our breath with
fear. Soon, however, they passed by, down to the river, and taking our
canoes crossed over, and their whoops died away, drowned in the Indian's
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."
FLOOD WATERS.
Again quoting from Rev. Widney: "I remember far back beyond the
flood. 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. Joe, 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 neighborhood of this mild looking
124 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA.
saint, that he unexpectedly 'imbibed' too larg-ely, and advanced upon us,
raging and foaming terribly, without any provocation whatever. 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 continued 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 of our
fire wood to 'boat' in with our 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 morn-
ing found the floor all afloat again, so we concluded to embark for safe
quarters. Running the canoe into the water, we took the passengers from
the bed, and, packing everything which the water could injure, above its
reach, we crossed the raging river to sojourn with friends until after the
flood. The water rose until it was two and a half feet deep in the cabin, and
then began to subside. Just then a severe freeze set in, leaving the entire
bottoms covered with a sheet of thin ice. When the river got within its
banks again, we returned throughout the ice, and took up our residence in
the cabin. Other settlers besides us suffered from this saintly freak, but we
have not the particulars."
FROM THE MANUSCRIPT OF W. H. DILLS.
"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, with the aid of a dog, a cow or two, some-
times 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 penetrated, 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 today you will find comfort, luxury and ease.
"Before reaching that final resting place 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
DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 12^
relied for protection and safety. The trails would sometimes seem to nni
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, wnthout
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 rifle on the other, there seek repose and rest, with as much confidence
of safety and exemption from injury as you upon your downy couches,
wathin 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. 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 vege-
tables.
"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 generally malarial in their char-
acter, were certain to overtake him and his family. The massive foliage
of the giant trees through which the sun scarcely penetrated, and the black
soil vegetation, and the decayed vegetable matter everywhere abounding,
generated vast columns of miasma. No physician or drug store was prob-
ably within twenty miles, and himself and family were racked almost to death
with the shakes, or scorched with raging fevers. Until acclimated by a resi-
dence of from two to five years, and sometimes longer, the early settler was
yearly visited with attacks of fever and ague, and felt thankful, indeed, if
in the fall seasons he did not have an attack of bilious or intemiittent fever.
Snake bites, broken or cut limbs, and rheumatism from his frequent ex-
posure were of frequent occurrence, and no medical aid at hand.
"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 necessities of life. Families were
almost driven to the verge of stan^^ation, living for weeks on potatoes, wheat
126 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA.
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.
"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. Was he a good fellow,
truthful, honest and charitable? If he had not these qualities, he did not stay
long enough in our midst to become an old settler. * * *
"At the risk of wearying you, I will name a few of those veterans 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 many virtues will commend them to our considera-
tion. I will give them by townships in the usual order, leaving out Keyser,
which was not then formed :
"Butler — The Brooks, Henry Clark and sons, George Belong, the
Embrys, Abraham and Charles Fair, Nathaniel Fitch, the Greggs, the Bells,
the Hoffmans, Hogues, Holbrooks, Jacksons, Lungs, Millers, Rodenbanghs,
Reeves, Shulls, Simons, Surfaces, Natts and Wellers.
"Jackson — The Bishops, Cools, Cobblers, Komeskys, Daves, Draggoos,
Essigs, Georges, Hurshes, Hendersons, Hartles. Johnsons, Lawheads, Means,
Moores, Mowries, Osburns, .Sugars, Staffords. Squiers, Stewards, Tarneys,
Watsons, Wyatts, Williams and Zimmermans.
"Concord — The Aliens, Altons, Burleys, Blairs, Balls, Carrs, Culbert-
sons, Coburns, Catlins, Draggoos, Dawsons, Fales, Headleys, Johnsons,
Knights, McNabbs, Nichols, Owens, Robinsons. Rhodes. Sechlers. \\'id-
neys, Woodcoxes, Williams and Whites.
■ "Nezii'ille — The Bartletts, Dodges, Delongs. Ellises, Lewises. Law-
rences, Murphys, Rogers, Platters, Strongs, Steeles, Thomases, and Waldons.
"Stafford— Tht Barbers. Coats, Christoffels. De Forrests, Deihls, Head-
leys, McDaniels, Roses, Strohls, Shoubs, Schofields, Websters and Wane-
makers.
"Wiliuington — The Armstrongs, Babcocks, Coes, Crooks, Eakrights,
Egnews, Fosdicks, Finneys, Hehvigs, Hackleys, Handys, Imhofs, Jackmans,
Kreutzes, Maxwells, Mullenixes, Meeses, Morrises, Nelsons, Nodines, Pack-
ers, Rutledges, Roberts, Robes, Sawyers, Tremans, Tomlinsons, Tottens.
Veeleys, Widneys, Woods and Weeks.
"Union — The Ashelmans, Altenburgs. Abbotts, Bidlers, Baughmans,
Browns, Cospers. Clays. Fishers, Fulks. Gingriches, Husselmans, Krums,
DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 12/
Lutzes, Latsons, McEndefers, Misers, Summers, Strolls, Weavers, Weeks,
Walworths, Whetsels, Parks and Ingmans.
"Richland — The Bangs, Cowleys, Clays, Calkins. Daileys, Dewitts,
Feaglers, Greens, Hardys, Moodys, McMillens, Pennells, Rogers, Shulls,
Showers, Treshes and Weirocks.
"FavHeld — The Chaffees, McNahbs, Powells, Storvs, Gushwas and
Wells.
"Siiiithficld — The Baxters, Boyers, Blakers, Corwins, Banks, Daniels,
Hemstreets, Holmes, Krums, Kelleys, McCoshes, Smiths and Walkers.
"Franklin — The Aldriches, Balls, Bowmans, Bucks,' Beards, Grains,
Dirrims, Ducks, Firestones, Houltons, Holmes, Hammonds, Jones, Jackmans,
Jeffords, Keeps, Lewes, Manns, JMcOueens, McCurdys, McAllisters, Myers,
Nidigs, Nelsons, Olds, Porters, Packers, Rudes, Stambaughs, Shulls, Snooks,
Thurstons, Watermans and Wilsons.
"Troy — The Burdicks, Gathers, Casebeers, Colls, Emersons, Eddys, Hel-
wigs, Jennings, Kniselys. Larneds, McClures, McGlellans, McDaniels,
Stearns. Willards, Waydleichs and Zimmermans.
"The men whom I have named, who came here prior to January i, 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 railroad track in the county today,
and two hundred trains daily through it. There was not then in the county
a steam engine ; there was not one cook stove in a dozen families.
"I recollect very distinctly the first threshing machine. It indeed was
a beauty. It did not even separate the grain from the chaff and straw. It
was brought into the count}' by John Zimmerman, who then resided on the
Houk farm, in Jackson township. 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 fifty or sixty cents a bushel. Corn had a value then proportioned to
wheat, the same as now. Pork then ranged at one dollar and a half to two
dollars per hundred pounds.
128 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA.
"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
wild animals."
A COSTLY TRIP.
Cyrus Smith, the hero of travels, in search of unentered land, although
ill at the time, set out in December, 1837, with a yoke of oxen, for Gilead,
Michigan. Rains had swollen the streams and he was obliged to lay over
every other day from sickness, yet he reached his goal, got eight bushels of
corn, and started for the Vermont mills or Orland. A cold spell set in, snow
fell fast, the winds rose, and a tree falling before him, he narrowly escaped
its limbs, turned aside to go around it, became bewildered, and for hours
drove on through the openings. The clouds cleared to the west, and he saw
the sun setting, and struck out in that direction. He found the road he had
left in the morning three miles in advance of his unfortunate diversion, and
passed the night and the next day at Deacon Stocker's. Leaving his corn
at the mill, he went to Tull's mill, near White Pigeon prairie and returned
with fifteen bushels of smutty wheat. He remained here three days sick, a
third waiting for the grist. Finally, starting home, he had to leave his wagon
when half a mile from home, turn the oxen loose and foot it in. The
eleventh day since leaving home he got back his wagon. His grist, not
pricing the corn, cost him in cash, forty-fi\'e dollars.
A NIGHT OF SUFFERING.
In the winter of 1837-8, a Mr. Osburn started from where Hicksville,
Ohio, 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 later stood. Having had to wade into the creeks, and break
DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 1 29
ice before his oxen, his clothes were wet, and it was freezing severel}'. On-
ward, however, he made his way, through the snow and darkness, on a stomiy
winter night, until he began to feel that he was freezing.
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, and 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, com-
menced barking; and some of the people going out to see what was the
trouble, were led by the dog to the poor sufferer, about a mile off, and he was
borne into the house.
Both of his legs had to be amputated just below the knees. He re-
mained several days at Mr. Brant's, and was drawn home on his sled.
A NEW Yorker's parody.
This is from the pen of Mr. Widney: '"I taught several schools in an
early day, and experienced the truth of Thompson's couplet :
" 'Delightful task ! to rear the tender thought,
And teach the young ideas how to shoot.'
"Well, a New York dandy, better acquainted with books and pavements
than with the '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
greatcoat on, his fur cap tied down over his ears, and his fur gloves up to
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 squirrels drop one after an-
other, 'perpetrated the following parody on the above oft quoted couplet of
Thompson :
" 'Delightful task! to rear the tender thought,
And teach the youthful Indian how to shoot!'
"The rascal ! It was well for him I was not there to hear him."
' ■ (9) i
130 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA.
ABRAM fair's NARRATIVE.
Abram Fair, one of the eight first settlers of Butler township, writes as
follows : "Our plan 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 families in the spring. We brought provisions enough with us
to last till our return, excepting meat — calculating to kill deer enough to sup-
ply that. In this, however, we were mistaken. We found deed quite scarce
in those woods that fall. One day, Andrew Surface found a hollow tree (on
Black creek where Peter Simon's ashery later stood) 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 gallons of
honey. The first fair day after this, we found two bee trees, cut them, and
took the honey. We, eight, ate all the honey we wanted for twenty days
(and we had little to eat except the honey and bread) and on returning to
Montgomerv county, we had twenty-one gallons of strained honey left.
A COON STORY.
"After finding the bee trees, Andrew Surface found a hollow tree with
two 'coons' in it, 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, Charley Grouse, who was our cook, prepared them for our break-
fast. Being rather meat-hungry, we all ate heartily of them, except John
Surface, who 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 supposed 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 Grouse
DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. I3I
went in to cook dinner, my father told the joke, and it was some time before
John heard the last of the coon story."
PIONEER DIMENSIONS.
Abram Fair, the author of the above, was a splendid type of pioneer.
We read how many of the brave settlers perished under the hardships incident
to opening up the country, but listen to Fair's own words of his experiences
and the result: "I was twenty-two years of age when I moved into the town-
ship (Butler), twenty- four years ago. I then weighed one hundred and
sixty pounds, and my wife one hundred and forty. Now I weigh two hun-
dred and ten, and my wife two hundred. We have had eleven children born
in the township, and nine are still living. In the twenty-four years I have
not lost as many hours by sickness. I am now six feet four and one half
inches high, and there never has been cleared land enough in DeKalb county
to throw me down on."
These words were written about the year 1859.
JOHN N. miller's narrative.
John N. Miller was one of the first settlers in Wilmington township.
His pioneer experiences are very interesting. Near the year i860, he wrote
the following concerning them :
"In the winter of 1836-7, I took a job of chopping for Mr. Lytle, who
had sold out where he first settled, and had entered the tract of land since
owned by the late William Pryor, in Stafford township. The job was on the
river bottoms, where the timber was very heavy — huge oaks and elms, with
enormous tops, being rather plenty to get along fast, as I had to take down
all the timber, and cut it up ready for logging. I only got four or five dollars
(I do not now remember distinctly the wages), and was to take my pay in
potatoes, pork, beans, etc. For potatoes, I paid $1 per bushel; for pork, 16
cents per pound; and other things in proportion. The price of chopping was
low, and that of the articles of pay high ; yet I could not do better, as pro-
vision must be had. While I kept busy on my job, I could just about get
provisions enough to keep in the bare necessaries of life, so far as eating
was concerned; but I had no time to be sick, and no rest but the Sabbath.
One cold March evening, after chopping hard all day, I took a bushel of pota-
toes and 17 or 18 pounds of pork on my shoulder, and started for home,
about dusk. The distance I had to travel along a blind trail, through the
132 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA.
darkness and brush, was about six miles. Coming to Buck creek, over
which a small limber log was placed, I undertook to walk it with my load,
but fell off in the water, which was high. Then I waded through the bal-
ance of the creek, getting very wet. Cold, wet and tired, I pursued my
journey with my heavy load, until the long miles were passed, and I set down
my pork and potatoes in my cabin.
"The worst part of the tale is, that Lytle was not satisfied with my
doing the job so cheap, and taking the pay in high priced trade; but he
actually moved the stakes first set; so that the lines might take in several
large elms that Avere just outside of the job ; and, besides, wanted me to chop
up to a curving brush fence, which ran from stake to stake, on one side of
my square job. including about a quarter of an acre more than the straight
line agreed upon. My job being finished, as agreed upon, including, too, to
the elms fraudulently brought in, I went 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, with my hands cov-
ered with blisters from hard and incessant chopping (a kind of labor I was
not accustomed to) ; this I say, provoked me almost beyond endurance, and
I told him I should take it out of his hide, right then and there. I was mak-
ing towards him. His wife screamed, and Lytle turned it off with a laugh,
and said he would pay me and thus the matter ended."
This Lytle was known among the settlers as a hard customer. Very
profane and with little conscience, he ever failed to recognize the rights of
others. Miller tells another story of the man:
"I used to go down to Lytle's sometimes on Sunday afternoon, to be
there on Monday morning, to commence my job. Well, one afternoon,
Lytle, being an excellent boatman, asked me to take a little ride on the river
in his canoe. I consented, and tried to help him navigate the craft, but was
very awkward at the business. This provoked him, and he let out such a
volley of oaths at me, as I had not been accustomed to listen to tamely. In
the midst of his imprecations, he set down his pole, with more than usual
energy, and smack it went into two pieces, while he was 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 would split his
head. Being in a cold element, he soon cooled down and came out peaceably.
DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. I.33
A LONG TRAIL FOR FLOUR.
"In the spring of 1837, I had lent William Rogers half a barrel of flour,
for, though six miles apart, we were neighbors, as was usual at that time.
I expected that it would be returned before needed; but the bottom of the
flour sack stared me in the face before it arrived. Getting up one morning,
I found only flour enough for one small cake. I told my folks to bake it and
eat it. while I went for the lent flour. It was six miles to Rogers, and but a
'trace' for a road. I set out early, afoot, and barefoot at that, and made
good speed, thoughts of breakfast spurring me on, until I came to a swamp,
round which the trace wound. Thinking to gain time, I struck across, ex-
pecting to find the place where the trace came round ; but, the morning being
cloudy, I missed the course, and the trail. I traveled on rapidly, however,
in what I supposed to be the right direction, until the sun broke out, and I
found that it was about noon, and I was only a mile from home ! I quickly
sought the trace again, and passed down it at a rapid rate, until I reached
Rogers, where I got something to eat. Rogers proposed that if I left the
flour, he would bring it on a horse the next day, but I knew this would not
answer our wants. So I told him I could carry it, and taking the hundred
weight of flour on my shoulder, I trudged back, the whole six miles, without
once laying it down. On one occasion the Coatses. Roses and myself, being
out of breadstufif, held a consultation as to where we should go to get corn.
I was for going to Fort Wayne, but they thought best to go to the North
Western prairies. They started to the prairies and I sent $10 along. They
were gone ten days, and my money brought me ten bushels of corn, the mill-
ing and hauling of which cost me ten more. So my meal cost me $2 per
bushel, and much of it rotten, as there had been a frost on the 29th of the
preceding August, killing the corn on these prairies, leaving it too green to
keep without rotting.
A H.-VRD JOURNEY.
"Mr. Altenburg and Walsworth were among the early settlers in the
vicinity of Auburn. They moved in together and left Steubenville. in
Steuben county, on the morning of the fourth of November. 1838. in the
midst of a very heavy fall of snow, which continued all day. Having a nar-
row, blind, crooked track to follow, without a house for nine miles, the
snow flakes falling so fast as to bewilder the traveler, and, at some times,
weighing down the bushes across the track, it became necessary for one of
the men to walk before the teams, to find the wav. and remove the bushes
134
DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA.
overhanging it. They also had some stock to drive, and their help being
rather scarce, the women were under the necessity of walking, and assisting
to drive them. The snow being soft, and hanging on the bushes, those on
foot became completely wet. On, on the slow ox teams passed, through
snow and mud, along the crooked, narrow path, until night came on, and .still
all around was a bleak, snow-clad forest. They began to think of lying in
their wagons for the night, but having no way of making fire, and nothing
for their teams or stock, and the women and children being frightened by
the howling of the wolves around them, they drove on in the darkness,
occasionally stalling against the trees on the side of the track. At length,
one of the teams and the wagon got entirely out of the way, and so entangled
among the trees and logs that the latter had to be left. Hitching Iwth teams
to one wagon, they drove on until they began to think they must be near to
the only dwelling between Steubenville and Auburn, Isaac B. Smith's. Stop-
ping the teams, Mr. Altenburg proposed that all should unite in one desperate
yell in order to find whether any human being was near. Loud and shrill
arose that cry on the midnight air, but the loud howl of a pack of wolves,
whose name appeared to be legion, was the only reply. After holding their
breath in silence for awhile, Mr. Altenburg proposed that they tune their
throats anew, and pitch their voices a note or two higher, and ez'en pinch the
baby (later Mr. Henry Altenburg), that he might join his voice with theirs.
This effort was successful, and Mr. Smith came to their rescue with a light,
and welcomed them to the hospitality of his little cabin, for, although about
full already, he still had room for two families.
"The next morning, bringing up the wagon left in the rear, they started
on, and succeeded in driving all of three miles through mud and snow before
dark, reaching a little board shanty put up by Wesley Park for two men to
lodge in, who were building a bridge over Cedar creek, where Uniontown
now is. During the day they caught a coon, and on it they feasted the follow-
ing morning, the two families and the two bridge builders having some-
how contrived to stow themselves away for the night in the little shanty. In
the morning the question was how to get down the high steep bank of the
creek with the loaded wagons. This feat was accomplished by running poles
under the body of the wagon and between the spokes of each wheel, so as to
lock them all, and then hitching a yoke of oxen to the tongue to hold back,
and another yoke to the hind part of the wagon to pull back, the oxen hitched
behind, making, of course, a desperate effort to prevent being dragged down.
DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA, 1 35
MORE ADVERSITIES.
"On Friday, IMay 27, 1837, in the afternoon, Isaac B. Smith, Cyrus
Smitli and Joseph Delong, with their families, arrived on the hill where Mr.
Smith's cabin later stood. This was in Smithfield township. There was
not even a shanty or wigwam then. To keep ofif the night dews, they cut
forks and driving four of them in the ground, and laying poles on them.
covered them with brush. Under these they lay on the ground, on Friday
night, and on Saturday put up a cabin such as three men could raise, to the
joists — and again lay under the brush that night. The next morning they
discovered an unwelcome bedfellow, in the fomi of a "massasogga," 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, and
covered one side with black ash bark peeled from the adjacent trees, and,
fixing poles in the crevices between the logs, laid their beds some feet above
the ground, so that Mr. Massasogga might have the ground to himself. On
Monday they covered the other side of the cabin and the joists with bark,
and carrying in some pole "sleepers," laid a puncheon floor. By the time
the floor was laid, the joists were found to be so low that even a woman
could not walk straight under them. Whate\er may be thought of cabin
raising on Sunday, it must be remembered that 'necessity knows no law.'
It seemed fortunate that the caliin 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, sixteen
by eighteen feet, the three families lodged together 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. Smith had boxed up five busliels of potatoes, and
among them had packed his pots and kettles not wanted on the road, and
sent the box with other goods by public conveyance to Adrian, Michigan.
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 iron ware. He thought it
was now too late to plant them, but Mr. Park advised him by all means to
do so. He planted them on the 8th and 9th of July, and in the fall dug
eighty-six bushels from the five bushels of mangled seed.
136 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA.
A MILL TRIP WITH AGUE.
"In July following his settlement, Mr. Smith took the ague, and had it
with but little intermission until the June following. In December. 1837,
he had it so se\ercly each alternate day that he was unable to be about. On
his well day, he could be around, but 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, Michigan, 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 finally he reached Gilead, where
he got eight bushels of corn, and started back to the Vennont mills, in the
settlement of this same name. It had now turned 'cold as Greenland.' and
was blowing fiercely while the air was filled with the descending snow. It
was yet early in the morning, and he had gone but three-fourths of a mile
on the road to the mill, when the wind blew a tree down across the road,
almost brushing the oxen's heads. To get around the trees, he turned out
of the road, expecting to come right in again, but failed to do so, and, getting
bewildered amid the falling snow, he drove on through the openings, as near
as he could in the direction of the mills — on — on — on — for hour after hour,
and still no road nor mill was found.
"Mr. Smith had on his head a palm leaf hat, that had been a fine one,
but was now the worse for wear. While traveling, bewildered, through the
openings, a whirling blast whisked it from his head, and he last saw it
careening on the wings of the wind — rising higher and higher until it was
lost to sight in a cloud of snow. Having a 'comforter' on his neck, he
<lrew the end of it over his head, and traveled on. Thus the time passed, in
continual traveling through the cold, stormy day, and the failing light told
the lost man that night was near, and he began to picture to himself the long
cold night that was to follow, in all probability the last that he should ever
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, and
striking in that direction, in about eighty rods he found the road he had left
in the morning, and the bridge across 'crooked creek,' about half way from
Gilead to the mills. Thus he had advanced not more than three miles during
the whole day of weary traveling. Place yourself in his circumstances,
reader, and imagine, if you can, his joyful feelings in seeing the road again.
DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. T37
In an hour he was safely housed at the residence of Deacon Stocker, father
to Leland Stocker of Angola. Here he lay sick the next day, and on the
day following left his corn at the mill, and started for Tull's mill near the
White Pigeon prairie, where he obtained fifteen bushels of veiy smutty
wheat, which he brought to the Vennont mills also. Here at Deacon
Stocker's again, he spent three days, two of them too sick to travel, and the
third waiting for his grist. Finally, starting for Pleasant lake, he lay
there during a sick day, and on the next day, got a man to go with him to
break ice in the streams. By dint of hard work all day, they got within a
half mile of home; and had to leave the wagon on 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 com, which was paid as he moved in, cost him in cash, forty-five dollars."
OLD TIME EXTRADITION.
During the years 1830 to 1854. W. K. Streight served as sheriff of
DeKalb county. One of the incidents related in regard to his term was of
the time he went hunting in the creek bottoms while court was in session.
He stayed out all day, and in the evening, toward sundown, brought in a nice
deer. He was informed, immediately upon his return, that the prisoner had
escaped while he, the sheriff, was wading through creek bottoms. Streight
saddled his horse and rode to a notorious "hang-out" some distance in the
woods, run by Old Sile Doty. There he found his prisoner, in company with
seven other men. The sheriff collared his man and calmly rode back to town
without molestation.
Another time he wanted a man who had escaped and had taken refuge
near Hicksville, Ohio. Streight journeyed to that place and called on the
sheriff there, A. P. Edgerton.
"I want a man who is hiding near here," Streight said.
"Well," replied Edgerton, "go and take him then."
"But this is in Ohio," suggested Streight.
"Never mind the state line." Edgerton instructed." just Ijend it east till
it gets beyond the man you want, then take him. and after 3'ou are gone.
I'll bend the line back again for you."
Streight got his man.
138 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA.
THE LAST DEER.
The last deer in DeKalb county was seen in March, 1893. He was full
grown buck, having horns of four or five prongs. The deer was not cap-
tured, and it is supposed that he escaped from a nearby circus.
FROM THE MANUSCRIPT OF J. R. SKILLING.
My father, Michael Skilling, moved with his family from Richland
county, Ohio, to DeKalb county, Indiana, in November, 1846, and settled in
Richland township, three quarters of a mile west of the present town of
Sedan, on a piece of land which he purchased from the government in 1843.
They were sixteen days on their journey in a covered wagon which was
motored by a team of oxen and one horse in the lead. The wagon furnished
the family lodging at night, and shelter from rain. The cooking was done
by camp fires and the fire was kindled from a spark that was produced by
striking a flint stone on a piece of steel over a tinder box provided for that
purpose. I remember well the modes and customs of the pioneers of DeKalb
county. The primitive condition of this county was a wild forest 6f various
species of timber of excellent quality, consisting of black and white walnut,
yellow and white poplar, white and red oak, white ash, blue ash and black ash,
wild cherry, red elm, hickory elm and swamp elm, red and white beach, sugar
and maple, and linden which was designated by the early settlers as "bas-
wood."
SWAMPS AND ANIMALS.
This was a very swampy country in early days, containing many tama-
rack swamps, densely covered with beautiful tall straight tamarack or "hack-
matack" trees. Many of the swamps abounded with huckleberries and cran-
berries in abundance, for which there was no market, liut the new settlers
had the pleasure of harvesting all they required for their own consumption.
The woods and swamps were well stocked with venomous rattlesnakes and
the people were always in fear of coming in contact with these dreaded rep-
tiles, although they invariably give warning by the sound of their rattles
when approached. Although there were quite a number of people who were
victims to the stroke of the fangs of these poisonous serpents, we never heard
of a case that proved fatal as the people were educated in the treatment of
such cases and were provided with antidotes to give treatment to all patients
who required immediate attention. The first pioneer settled in DeKalb
DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 139
county in 1835 and others soon followed. They found the forest well stocked
with game, such as wild turkeys, deer, coon, mink, opossums, squirrels,
pheasants and otter. There were a few bear, but they soon disappeared as
the country improved. The gray timber wolves also abounded, for which
there was a diligent search made by the hunters as the county commissioners
offered a premium of five dollars for the scalp of each wolf killed in the
county. This premium was soon raised to seven dollars, which led to their
entire extermination by 1850. The busy honey bees were here in advance
of the white man, and established their hives in the trunks of trees where
they had stored in abundance the product of their labor. This furnished a
very lucrative luxury for the early settlers. The coon, otter, mink and
opossums were hunted on account of the value of their fur for which there
was a ready sale for cash, to the fur traders who traveled through the county.
The deer was hunted as there was a ready sale for their hides, and the
venison, which was the principal meat served on the tables of the early
settlers. There was distinct evidence that the beaver had once inhabited the
county, but they were exterminated in advance of the early settlers.
The I'littawatomie Indians still inhaliitcd the forests of DeKalb county
when the first white settlers located here, but in 1842 they were piloted west
of the Mississippi river by a French Indian agent of South Bend, Indiana,
by the name of Coquillard. He was named and recognized by the Indians as
"Cuttieaw." We have good evidence that DeKalb county was inhabited by
a prehistoric race of people, prior to the Indians. We will make a few brief
statements on this subject from our own personal observations.
BEAVER DAMS.
This country abounded with water barriers or dams which had been con-
structed on the small streams and they were designated by the early settlers
as beaver dams. In many places there were two or three in succession on the
same stream at such a distance between that the water would be blocked up
to the next dam above. These dams were all constructed in the form of a
segment of a circle, bracing against the current. The earth used in the con-
structing of these dams, in every case had been obtained up the stream, above
the structure, which was indicated by caverns in the banks from which the
earth had been moved, and perhaps conveyed on rafts to where it was de-
140 DEKALB COUNTYj INDIANA.
posited. This could not have been done by the Ijeaver. Large trees had
grown on the summit and sides of these supposed beaver dams that showed
evidence of age, perhaps a thousand years. An opening had been cut through
these embankments and the water let out, when, and by whom, it is not
known.
PREHISTORIC EVIDENCES.
DeKalb county has another witness of this prehistoric race of people in
the form of an old fort which we visited in 1865. This is located in Smith-
field township about two miles south of the town of Ashley, and about three
quarters of a mile west of the Auburn and Ashley public road. It consisted
of an embankment of earth about four feet high and perhaps twelve or
fifteen feet wide, in a true circle, encompassing over an acre. There was a
trench on the outside of the embankment about three or four feet deep, and
about twelve feet wide, produced by the excavation of the earth in construct-
ing the bank. When we visited this relic in 1865 it was in a dense wood
and large trees had grown on the embankment and also in the trench, the same
as on the dams above described. It is quite evident that this work had all
been done about the same period and by the same class of laborers. There
was no opening in the embankment. It liad lien conceded on good authority
that such structures were not built for forts but for a place of worship by the
"Mound Builders." Another evidence that a prehistoric race of people in-
habited this county is furnished by the stone implements which are found
all over the county, as the land is being cultivated, such as arrow heads, spear
heads and what is designated by our people as "stone sledges" and "skinning
stones." These names are only conjectures as it is not known when or where,
or by whom, or for what purpose they were made. In various parts of
Europe the same kinds of stone implements are found and of the same
quality of stone as those found in DeKalb county. This we see demonstrated
in our academies of natural science. W'e make this statement to refute the
presumptive and delusive theory that we so often hear advocated that these
stone implements are the product of the Indians. The more we try to in-
vestigate this subject, the further we become perplexed.
LUMBER AND ASHERIES.
I personally remember when the very best grades of black walnut and
poplar lumber could be bought for five and six dollars per thousand feet, and
there was short sale for it at that price. There was no market for the timber
DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. I4I
SO in order to redeem the laud, trees were cut down and the logs rolled
together and burned, regardless of quality. The ashes were gathered and
sold at the asheries for six cents per bushel. Here the ashes were leached
in large vats and the lye thus obtained was manufactured into potash. There
were quite a number of asheries in the county, owned and operated by parties
who owned a store, with such goods as were in demand by the settlers. De-
Kalb county at present, contains beautiful and valuable farms, but if the
original timber that once covered these farms could be replaced, it would
command a price in the market today, at the least estimate, to four times
the present value of the land.
IMPORTS AND EXPORTS.
In 1842 the Erie and Wabash Canal was opened for navigation to Fort
Wayne. This enterprise gave DeKalb county the first encouragement for
eastern transportation. All the exports and imports were hauled with teams
on mud roads and over swamps on corduroy bridges which were formed of
logs laid side by side. The exports consisted of wheat, corn, oats, potatoes,
potash, maple sugar, cranberries, deer hides and furs. The imports were dry
goods, tea, coffee, leather, hardware and whiskey, an indispensable necessity
with the hardy pioneers. The early settlers made all the soap they required
and their shoes were made by the local shoemaker.
Charcoal was the only coal that could be obtained by the blacksmiths,
which was manufactured by burning wood in charcoal pits. The first steam
sawmill in the county was built in 185 1 in Richland township, at Green's
Corners, half a mile south of Sedan, by Fisher & Brown. This was the first
steam power in the county, but prior to this date there had been fifteen water
saw-mills built in the county. In early days Mr. C. Work built a water saw-
mill about half a mile south of the present .\uburn Junction. He had a pair
of small mill stones set in this mill to grind corn and buckwheat. Here the
first grain was ground in DeKalb county. The first flour mill to grind wheat
in the county was a water mill built in 1850 by a Mr. Fansler on Cedar
creek, about seven miles north of Auburn on the present Ashley public road.
142 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA.
FIRST PUBLIC UTILITIES.
The first electric light plant in the county was established in Garrett in
1886 by the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Company. The first opera house
in the county was erected in Garrett in 1889 by J. William Wagner. The
first water works in the county was established by the city of Garrett in 1896
to supply the city with water, which is furnished from eight-inch driven
wells, two hundred and fifty feet deep.
CHAPTER VII.
TOWNSHIP HISTORIES.
WILMINGTON TOWNSHIP.
The township of Wilmington Hes in tlie east central portion of the
county, and is bounded as follows : On the north by Franklin township, on
the east by Stafiford, on the south by Concord, and on the west by Grant and
Union. S. B. Ward, a pioneer minister, thus described the township: "It
is a second rate township in quality of soil, taking it together, yet it has some
first rate land in it, especially along 'Big Run,' a considerable stream running
across the north side of the township. For fine oak timber, there is no town-
ship in the county that surpasses it." The timber, except the second growth,
is largely cleared away now, and the land has developed into very fair agricul-
tural ground. The Lake Shore & Michigan Southern, the Vandalia of the
Pennsylvania system, and the Wabash railroads all cross the township, meet-
ing at Butler, in the northeast corner.
ORGANIZATION.
Wilmington township was organized on September 5, 1837, at the first
regular meeting of the board of commissioners. The board then consisted of
Peter Fair, Samuel Widney and A. F. Beecher, who "ordered that the con-
gressional township 34 north, range 14 east, be and it is hereby, organized as
a civil township, to be known by the name of Wilmington Township." They
also directed "that Byron Bunnel be appointed supervisor for the road district
No. I, comprising the whole of Wilmington township, and all the lands resid-
ing in the said township shall be allotted to the same district." In March,
1838, fractional township 34 north, range 15 east (now Stafford), was added
to Wilmington for judicial and civil purposes, and a new election was ordered
the first Monday in April following, at the house of Ira Allen, with Milton
A. Hull as inspector.
144 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA.
EARLY SETTLEMENT.
Wilmington township was not settled in the year 1835, no white man yet
having seen fit to throw np a cabin there. The year 1836 saw the building of
the first log cabin by Byron Bunnel ; Mr. Lonsberry's house was the next, and
George Egnew's next. In 1837 these cabins were in the portion allotted to
Wilmington when the county was organized and township lines established.
Two of these cabins were situated on the Newville and Auburn road, and
one was called at an early date the Bunnel place.
The first resident settler of the township was undoubtedly Ira Allen,
who came in the very early months of 1837 and pitched a cloth tent on an
oak hill on the east side of the township. In that tent he remained several
weeks, until he constructed a commodious house, composed of oak logs hewed
square and notched down closely. His hardships in clearing his land and
building a home for himself made him a broken man. As an instance of
these hardships that ruined his health, the following is quoted verbatim from
"Pioneer Sketches :"
"Some time in October, 1837, J\Ir. Allen went out to hunt his cattle, of
which he had a number, and after finding them far out in the apparently
interminable woods and swamps to the north and west, he started home with
them. On the way one of his work oxen mired down. After laboring hard
in the mud and water for some time,^ — the other cattle in the meantime getting
scattered in the woods again — he started for his tent, but failed in reaching
it, and lay out through the night, cold and frosty as it was, and wet and muddy
as he was. The next day John N. Miller, an early settler of the same town-
ship, while making his way through the wilderness to the land he had entered,
heard someone hail him away out where he was not looking for a human
being, and on going where 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 of the next day. They had forgotten to bring an ax, and
had to cut a pry by bending down a sapling and cutting it off with a pocket
knife, while the fibers of the wood were thus strained. Getting this pry under
the beast they finally raised him from his sunken condition, but had to roll
him several times over before he could find firm footing."
The large block house erected by Mr. Allen was long used as a meeting-
house as well as a dwelling, and here in an early day was held many a prayer
meeting or Sunday worship.
Other settlers who came in 1837' were: Lot B. Coe, William P. Means,
BROADWAY, BUTLER
DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. I45
Charles Handy, Dr. Sawyer and several more. The pioneers began to get
within striking distance of each other, as it were, and means of social inter-
course were established, thus making the nights something more than dark,
gloomy spaces of time, with the mingled howls of the wind and prowling
wolves. Charles Handy was the first blacksmith in the township, and settled
at what was later called Handy's Corners. Amos Lonsberry was the first
white child born in the township. At the close of 1837 twenty-two families
were settled within the boundaries of Wilmington township. The first mar-
riage was that of Dan Coats and Mary Allen. Washington Robinson per-
formed the ceremony in January, 1836.
A HARD WINTER.
From the pen of Rev. S. B. Ward the following is taken :
"The winter of 1842-3 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 live on when the 'hard winter' set in. The fall had been fine, but
about the first of Xo\-ember a light snow fell, which mostly went off soon
after. On the 17th of the month it set in cold, with high winds and some
snow. The snow continued to increase from time to time, until it was nearly
two feet deep on the level, with occasional showers and hard freezes, so that
it was almost impossible to get about. It snowed a little every day but one
through February, and March came in with the severity almost of a polar
winter. By this time most of the hay and grain was consumed, and hogs and
cattle were daily dying all over the country from stravation. Some settlers
lost all their hogs and most 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 few days of
March, however, even this provison of nature was cut off. When all were
anxiously looking for the opening of spring, heart-sick in view of the sufl:'er-
ings of the poor dumb animals, the sleeper in his lone cabin in the midst of
the forest was awakened on the night of the 27th of March by the continual
crashing of the tree tops, which did not cease until day dawned, when to the
dispirited immigrant 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 cat-
tle must all die; for when the trees were cut down for browse, the small twigs,
(10)
146 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA.
encased in a hard coat of ice, would break off, with the ice adhering, and
mingle with the snow. Besides this, the crust on the snow was so thick and
hard that the cattle could hardly get about. The wild animals also suffered
almost as much, seemingly, as the domestic ones. It was nothing unusual to
see squirrels so reduced as to be easily caught by hand. On election day T first
Monday in April) snow was one foot deep in the thick woods, and it was
good sleighing on most of the roads. That week, however, sent the snow 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."
FIRST OFFICERS.
The first election was held at Ira Allen's, on the farm afterwards owned
by William Crooks. Says a pioneer: "As our township was in limited cir-
cumstances as to population, and most of them had the ague, and it took two
of them to make a shadow 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 town-
ships held elections together at the above place and elected the several officers.
Among them were William P. Means, for county assessor, and Mr. Lons-
berry, for school commissioner. I don't recollect the balance of the officers
that were elected in those days; we had not much use for squires nor con-
stables, but I think Ariel Walden was elected associate judge for the court
of this county. The first justice of the peace elected was a Mr. Pearsons."
Early justices of the peace were: Charles D. Handy. Moses L. Pierson,
Daniel B. Mead, P. B. Nimmons, John Moore, Dr. Madden, Ezra Dickinson,
Richard Worth, L. A. Benedict and H. C. Colgrove. Constables were : Daniel
Coats, H. N. Mathews, Jesse Wood, William K. Streight, William Mathews,
William Campbell, Edsall Cherry, Noble Cherry, Peter Kester, A. F. Packer,
Hiram Freeman, N. W. Delano. Isaac Eakright, W. D. Armstrong, Joseph
Norris and John Weaver. Trustees prior to i860 were: John Helwig, M.
L. Pierson, Collins Roberts. Joseph Nodine, Joseph Totten, Asa Sawyer, S.
B. Ward. Thomas Fosdick, E. W. Fosdick, Edgar Treman, William Maxwell,
Nelson Smurr, Andrew Smith, William H. Thomas, Dr. Madden, Lot B.
Coe, N. G. Sewall. G. Maxwell. ^^'. K. Streight. P. B. Nimmons. W. D. Arm-
strong and .A.. Cochran.
NOTES.
In 1880 the population of \\'i!mington townsiiip was one tlniusand five
hundred and twenty-nine: in i8qo, three thousand eiglit hundred and sixty-
DEKALB COUNTV, INDIANA. ' 147
eight; in 1900, three thousand two luimired and ninety-seven; and in 1910,
three thousand.
During the war for the Union, Wihnington was ver_v loyal, being one
of the first to respond to the call for three months" men, and every call that
was made by the government was met by her quota. The draft was never
resorted to in this township.
In 1856 the township was "boomed" considerably by the construction of
the air line of the Michigan Southern railroad, and the consequent growth of
Butler, at first called Norristown. A market was opened for surplus agricul-
tural products, prices went up, and there was a consequent Trnprovement of
the lands and equipment of the farmers. The construction of the second rail-
road in 1872, and the W^abash in 1892, gave a clinch to the prosperity, and
this progressive township has continued to grow ever since.
The town of Butler was originally called Morristown, in honor of one
of the early settlers of Wimington township, Charles Norris. It is located in
the northeast corner of the township, on sections i, 2, 11 and 12. At this
town the Wabash, the Vandalia of the Pennsylvania system and the Lake
Shore & Michigan Southern have a junction, thus adding a great amount
of value to the town as a shipping center. Access is also provided thereby to
other points of the county in any direction, and to the outside world. In
1880 the population of Butler town was approximately thirteen hundred; in
1890, it had jumped to two thousand five hundred and twenty-one; in 1900,
there were two thousand sixty-three inhabitants; but in 1910, the latest cen-
sus, there were only one thousand eight hundred and eighteen.
As early as the year 1844 the settlers in the vicinity of the present site
of Butler had their postoffice at a point two miles south of the incorporation at
Oak Hill, the office being conducted by Thomas Fosdick. In 1842 Egnew,
Hanes, Cherry, Morris, Tomlinson and others erected a school house on the
land of George Egnew, and this proved to be the first house in Butler. There
was a dwelling house built in 1844 by Mr. Brainard. In 1851 a small mer-
chandise stock was sold from a log hut standing on the southwest corner of
land owned by Charles Norris, and was sold by "Ladd" Thomas and Osburn
Coburn. The first frame structure was raised on the later site of the Haver-
stock block, in 1855. In 1870 the w^ooden building was totally destroyed by
frames. The second frame structure was constructed by Noble & Madden
and used as a general store. At this juncture the postoffice was moved to the
148 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA.
village, which was given the name of Norristown, after Charles Norris. a real
estate promoter of the place. Later the village was known as Jarvis. and
about the time of the Civil war the name of Butler was adopted, and has
existed since.
Butler's first railroad, the Air Line, was completed May 26, 1856, and in
October, 1873, the Eel River road, later the Wabash, arrived. The first
tavern was kept by John Shull, and on July 4, 1857, A. A. Kennedy first
opened the Waverly House. The first saw mill was erected by Messrs. Dan-
forth, Carpender and a third party during the winter of 1853-4, and was
destroyed by fire in 1884. The first brick building was put up by Henry
Linderfer in 1856. The first death occurred in 1848, and was that of A. Robe,
who lived on the later site of Dr. Madden's residence. Henry C. Cherry,
born December, 1841, was the first person born in Butler, and the first mar-
riage was that of Amasa Smith to Amelia Morris, the ceremony being per-
formed by Elder Cherry.
INCORPORATIONS.
The town was incorporated as a town in the year 1866, with W. P. Car-
pender, J. A. Campbell and Elihu Ocker as trustees, A. A. Howard as clerk,
and William Thomas as marshal. Butler at present is a city of the fifth class,
with a population of two thousand people. The town was incorporated as a
city in May, 1903. Sam G. Stone, druggist, was the first mayor, but he re-
signed before the completion of his term. The remainder of the time until
the next election was filled by John Llazlett and Otto Gengnagel. Wallace
Webster was the next mayor, and the present incumbent is Walter J. Mond-
hank. The other officers of the city now are : F. H. Ritter, city attorney ; L.
C. Buehrer, clerk; C. W. Campbell, treasurer; Frank Creager, Ora Water-
man, Charles Noragon, S. M. Ramey, Eugene Oherlin, councilmen, and Will-
iam Holtzberg, marshal.
PUBLIC UTILITIES.
The Butler electric light and water works is a municipal establish-
ment, with three hundred patrons in the city. The plant is worth sixty thou-
sands dollars. They have one hundred and ten street lights, including twenty-
four ornamental posts, with three lights each. Fire plugs to the number of
forty-two are placed at advantageous points in the city.
There are three miles of sanitary sewerage in Butler, with the outlet in
Big Run creek. Two miles of brick paving add greatly to the appearance of
the city.
DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 149
THE BUTLER COMPANY.
The Butler Company, manufacturers of wind mills and buggies, is one
of the largest concerns of its kind in the county, and in fact, in the state. The
company was established in 1888, and has grown rapidly until the present
time, and now has prospects of even greater scope of industry and trade. Be-
sides a line of buggies, the factory turns out wind mills of all types, cypress
tanks, galvanized tanks, pumps, valves, and other accessories. About three
hundred men are supplied employment by this establishment. Trade is car-
ried on with all parts of the world, quite a- brisk business lieing formed in
South Africa. Good railroad connections are afforded by the close proximity
to the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern, the Wabash and Pennsylvania
lines.
CONCORD TOWNSHIP.
In the southeastern portion of DeKalb county is the township of Con-
cord. This township is bounded on the north by Wilmington township, on
the east by Newville township, on the south by Spencer township, and on the
west by Jackson township. The St. Joseph river flows in a meandering direc-
tion from the northeast to the southwest, and Bear creek, entering in the
northwest corner, flows toward the center. In the early day many good mills
were situated along these rivers. A saw mill was constructed 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 land, the township is well favored.
The river bottom lands are excellent for the production of grain, and at one
time extra good timber covered portions of the township. This growth has
been largely cleared off at this day. Spencer township has recently been made,
on June 7, 1909, from a part of Concord, so that the latter is now the upper
half only of the original bounds designated as Concord.
ORGANIZATION.
The first name given to the township was DeKalb, in the fall of 1837.
It included at that time the territory embraced in Stafford and Newville town-
ships, but in March following Stafford was detached and temporarily added
to Wilmington, while the name Concord was substituted for DeKalb. An
election was held on the first Monday of April following, at the home of
Jared Ball, and Cornelius Woodcox was appointed inspector of elections.
At this election Washington Robinson was chosen justice of the peace. New-
150 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA.
ville was also made a separate township shortly afterward, leaving Concord,
which was again divided in halves, making Spencer township of the southern
half.
On April 9, 1838, Washington Robinson made the first report to the
county that was rendered by any justice, as follows:
■'State of Indiana, DeKalb County, Concord Township, March 30, 1838,
Plaintiff.
"This day personally appeared before me, Washington Robinson, a jus-
tice of the peace in and for the township aforesaid, Lyman Benton and Will-
iam 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 my hand this 30th day of March, 1838.
"Washington Robinson, J. P."
FIRST SETTLEMENTS.
In the year 1835 nine families out of the ten settled in the county of
DeKalb were in the limits of Concord township. The St. Joseph of the
Maumee at an early day was a main channel for all commercial traffic, and
on the banks of this river were found the earliest settlements of the county.
From 1835 to 1839 many settled along the river, namely: Homer Blake,
David Butler, John Mathews, Thomas L. Yates, John T. Rhodes, Jerry
Rhodes, Daniel Rhodes, Brandt Rood, Cramwell Rood, William Mathews,
Mt. Lytle, Jared Ball and several others. In the spring of 1834 Washington
Robinson entered a tract of land across the river from the present site of
Orangevilie, built a small cabin, and settled in January, 1837. In the month of
November, 1837, he platted a portion of section 12, and named the tract
Orangevilie. In the spring of 1837 Platter and others opened the first store
in the county. Other early settlers who came later and at this time were:
Gavin Hamilton, Lott Herrick, who was the first probate judge of DeKalb
county ; George Barney, once treasurer of the county ; James Hadsell, Cornel-
ius Woodc'ox, R. J. Dawson, John Blair and sons, William Burley, Charles
Wilbur, Joseph Ludwick, Judge Walden, Samuel Widney, John P. Widney,
Rev. Benjamin Alton and Dr. Babcock. James Hadsell became one of the
most important of the early pioneers, serving as minister of the Disciples
DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. I5I
church, where he accompHsheil much in tlie rehgious development of his com-
munity.
Nelson Ulm, of the band of early settlers, moved here in 1834, and set-
tled on the present site of Spencerville. His account of his early experiences
tells of how he helped drive from Fort Wayne in the fall of 1834 the first
hogs and cows ever brought to Spencerville, eight hogs and one cow for
David Butler, and two cows for Dan Rhodes. Dan Yates, then living at
Spencerville, was the first white settler there, for whom Mr. Ulm worked
during the fall of 1834 and subsequent winter. During the same winter Mr.
Yates sent Mr. Ulm to Fort Wayne to mill, a hazardous proceeding in that
day. 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 later was-
located, 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 search of something 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, followed them up the river where
Newville later stood, crossed the river, left the trail and returned to Daniel
Rhodes', where he stayed all night. Early the following morning he struck
the trail and followed the same all day without any success, camping that
night near the Maumee river. Awakening 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 then retired.
The next morning he started home, leading one horse, carrying gun and knap-
sack, and striking the St. Joseph river near where Hurch's mills later stood.
In consequence of riding bareback, with heavy load, and it raining all the
time, the horse's back became sore and in time all the hair came of¥.
Starting for Houlton's mill on Fish creek in the fall of 1834, after a
raft of lumber, Mr. Ulm arrived at the mill, and with the assistance of Mr.
Houlton succeeded in getting back 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,
and the name still exists.
Following is a list of the early pioneers of Concord township: 1833,
Samuel Wasson and David Butler; 1834, Nelson Ulm, Mrs. Polly Rhodes.
Jeremiah Rhodes and wife; 1835, Samuel Draggoo, Cynthia Engle, William
152 DEKAI.B COUNTY, INDIANA.
Knight, Aseneth Ricketts, Henry Robertson; 1836, Samuel Henderson and
vvife and son William and other children, Jane Lawhead, 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 John-
son, Charles Widney, G. W. Woodcox, Solomon Woodcox, Erastus White,
Jacob B. White, Ira Picketts, Hugh Wyatt, Jonathan Boyle, Henry J. Abel,
Mrs. Samuel Wasson; 1838, H. H. Fales and wife, George Barney, Mrs. Sophia
Moody, Milas Rhodes, E. D. White, Susan White, J. M. Lounsberry, Martha
Lawhead, Charles M. Coburn; 1839, Isaac Lawhead, James M. Hamilton, S.
L. Widney, Nancy Culbertson, Samuel Lawhead; 1840, Eva Lounsberry,
Elizabeth Wineland, Hugh Maxwell, Mary Maxwell, Sarah A. Hull, Maria
C. Williams, Harlow Gee, Harmon Gee; 1841, O. H. Widney, William Drag-
goo, Amand Meese, Rebecca Smith, George Maxwell, Betsey A. Leighty,
John Wyatt, S. E. Parsons; 1842, Daniel Butler, David Butler, Mary A.
Widney, Jane Jenkins, Mrs. Erastus White, Elizabeth Widney, Jacob Dermott,
Moses Perry; 1843, J^'^^ Moody, Jonas Emanuel, Benjamin Hursh, Mrs. M.
"Widney, Robert Culbertson, J. M. Milliman, Mary Milliman ; 1844, Margaret
Stewart, John Leighty and wife, Sol. Barney, Henry Jenkins, William
Leighty,. J. D. Leighty, Levi Sechler, Mary Sechler, Lizzie Chaney; 1845,
Catherine Silberg, Robert Johnson, Sep. Hull, John W. Dills, George W.
Draggoo, Mary Ann Koch, Adeline Showalter, Catherine Jenkins.
FIRST OFFICERS.
Some of the first justices of the peace were: John Blair, Ebenezer Co-
turn, George Barney, Jeremiah Rhodes, John Bates, Asher Coburn, James
Draggoo, Moses Perry, Lorenzo Dawson and Robert Culbertson. Among
the early constables were: Gardner Mellindy, W. Munroe, Uriah Miller,
Henry Fales, Eben Smith, D. Harrington, James Smith, J. Z. Henderson,
Samuel Flint, Moses Boyles, John Smith, D. Andrews, Michael Knight, W.
R. Drake. Among the first trustees were : Samuel Widney, John Blair,
Ebenezer Coburn, Asher Coburn, J. P. Widney, William Henderson, Solo-
mon Shilling, Joshua Nichols, James Hadsell, Asa Fletcher, John F. Coburn,
William Munroe, Michael Silberg, John Helmick, Moses Perry, Jonathan
Boyles, Bushrod Catlin, Romeo Catlin, W. Horner, James Draggoo, John
Shutt and Jacob Dills. Jeremiah Rhodes and John A. Chillis were early as-
DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA.
In 1880 Concord township had a population of one thousand six hundred
and twenty-three; in 1890, one thousand nine hundred and twelve; in 1900,
one thousand eight hundred and sixty-one; and in 1910, nine hundred and
fifty-seven.
TOWN OF ST. JOE.
Located on the Baltimore & Ohio and Wabash railroads, the little
town of St. Joe is enjoying an ever increasing prosperity. There are three
hundred and fifty people in this town, and proportionately, the town is equal
to any in the middle west in beauty, civic pride, and commercial prosperity.
St. Joe was laid out by John and Jacob D. Leighty, on April 20, i87'5, being a
part of the southwest quarter of section 15, township 33 north, range 142.
Since then several additions have been made to the site.
In December, 1898, St. Joe petitioned for incorporation as a town, and
on January 11, 1899, the election was held to determine the matter of in-
corporation. The result was incorporation, and since, then, by reason of this
wise move, the town has sprung into modem existence, and threatens to grow
even larger and better. The present trustees of the town are: William
Curie, Henry Hathaway, and William Randall ; Thomas Rickett is marshal
and street commissioner; Dr. B. E. Shcffer is clerk, and Marsh Andrews is
treasurer.
KEYSER TOWNSHIP.
Keyser township 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. The township is drained by several
small creeks, tributary to Cedar creek. The Baltimore & Ohio railroad, the
Vandalia, and Lake Shore & Michigan Southern cross the territory.
ORGANIZATION.
Keyser owes its organization to the construction of the Baltimore &
Ohio railroad, which led up to the founding of the town of Garrett on the
line between Richland and Butler townships. To avoid having the new town
in two townships, the board of commissioners formed a new township at
their June term, 1876, when it was "ordered, directed and decreed by the
board that the territory bounded by a line commencing at the northeast cor-
154 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA.
ner 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 to 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."
THE CITY OF GARRETT.
By J. R. Skilling.
The town of Garrett was laid out by Beverly L. Randolph, son of James
L. Randolph, chief engineer for the Baltimore & Ohio. The original plat of
Garrett was recorded at Auburn on April 9, 1875, and named Garrett in
honor of John W. Garrett, president of the Baltimore & Ohio railroad. The
first lot was sold on the 13th day of April, 1875, to Nathan Tarney, which
was lot No. I in Block No. 18, although previous to this date O. C. Clark had
contracted for lots on the southwest corner of King and Randolph streets,
where Reyher's dry goods store and Hershberger's grocery stores are sit-
uated. O. C. Clark built the first house in Garrett in April, 1875, now owned
and occupied by the Reyher drug store. The building was first occupied in
1875 by the Lancaster brothers as a dry goods store. The first postofiice was
also in this building, on the second floor, and A. W. Pratt was the first post-
master. He appointed T. G. Baylor assistant to hand out the mail, as he was
engaged in engineering the construction of the Baltimore & Ohio shops.
FIRST STRUCTURES.
O. C. Clark resided two miles west of Garrett, on a farm, and he was
one of the first settlers of the county. H. M. Bicknell came over from Ken-
dall ville on April 23, 1875, and erected a one-story frame building which he
used as a drug store. This was called the Pioneer Drug Store. John L.
Davis, of Auburn, F. C. Davenport, Eli Kuhlman, John Robbins, P. K. David
and brother were other merchants of 1875, and they prospered in the rapidly
growing community. In 1875 T. A. Smith opened up a bakery, known as the
Star bakery: N. B. Rowe also opened a few stores, one a bakery; Mr. Mc-
Williams, from Virginia, built some frame buildings; Samuel Lemon con-
structed a two-story frame; Washington Cowen had his of-fice in the latter
building, on the corner now occupied by Widmer's block, and Dr. L. M. Sher-
SACRED HEART HOSPITAL, GARRETT
l-i^y\/ATS^ W0y9/<^ AA/a ^^SC7-f?/c /.I CUT <°^^/i/7-
IIAKRETT'S I'F-TO-DATE I'UHLIC I'TII-ITY PLANT
DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. I 55
man acted as his clerk. Sherman was the first physician to locate in the
town. Isaiah Decker established the first livery and feed stable in the autumn
of 1875 on the southwest corner of Peters and Keyser streets, one square
north of the Catholic church. The three-story brick store on the west side
of Randolph .street opposite the Keyser hotel was built in 1875 by John King,
at that time first vice-president of the Baltimore & Ohio, and William Key-
ser, second vice-president, also built a brick store on the south side of Keyser
street, east of the hotel.
The DeKalb House, now the Keyser hotel, a three-story brick structure
with twenty-six bedrooms, was built in the autumn of 1875,' by the Baltimore
Land and Improvement Company. John W. Garvey, a Chicago contractor
who constructed the Baltimore & Ohio shops, also constructed this hotel,
which was at once fitted up in the best of style and was opened to the public
January i, 1876, by N. & G. Ohmer, of Dayton, Ohio, with Christ Connecht
in charge and Thomas Taggart as clerk.
On July 4th, 1876, the Baltimore & Ohio depot was opened to the
traveling public. The dining and lunch room was opened by N. & G. Ohmer,
with Thomas Taggart in charge. Taggart, noted for his gentlemanly and
accommodating deportment to all, continued dealing out the doughnuts, pies
and coffee to the railroad boys until 1S79, when he bid Garrett farewell. He
was afterward county auditor of Marion county, Indiana, mayor of Indian-
apolis, and Democratic national committeeman for Indiana.
W. J. Frederick, in 1875, built a two-story dwelling, which was destroyed
by fire and replaced with another similar structure. Charles Linkenhelt also
bought a small piece of land and erected a one-story building thereon. W. S.
Perry, John Paul, P. Behler were other early builders. George Cady built a
two-story frame building where the postofifice now is, and in this building
the first newspaper of Garrett, "The Garrett Nezvs," was printed. Gus Thienel
opened one of the first saloons in Garrett. There was a jolly set of railroad
boys here then. They were ready for fun, and would get it if they had to get
it on credit. So Thienel's conser\atory was selected as headquarters for all
their "Free and Easys." Thienel bought his beer at Kendallville and the boys
would go there and fill up their tanks and then march down street with pieces
of paper to represent music, and sing. The early pioneers will remember that
Thienel was frequently compelled to have a new front in his Exhibition Hall
the next morning after pay day. Tonnesen's furniture store now occupies the
site of this memorable resort.
156 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA.
EARLY PIONEERS.
We will proceed to mention a few of the early pioneers of our city.
Lewis Covell was the first attorney. He came from Kendallville in the sum-
mer of 1875 and brought some dry goods and clothing which he first placed
in Bicknell's pioneer drug store till he had a building ready on Cowen street.
Mr. M. Zimmer and family, Peter Loth and family, C. S. Ever were among
the first residents.
GARRETT BABIES.
In the spring of 1875 the land company neglected no means of stimulat-
ing the growth of the place and commenced offering prizes for babies born in
the town. Quite a furore was created and about the first of September, 1875,
the first claimant appeared. A public demonstration was immediately an-
nounced. Special trains were run to accommodate visitors from neighboring
towns. John K. Cowen, son of Washington Cowen, who was chief attorney
for the Baltimore & Ohio, was here from Baltimore as one of the speakers.
A social and jolly dance at the Chicago House in which all participated and
enjoyed themselves kept up the excitement until after midnight. The young
claimant was presented with a beautiful silver mug with the name "Lidiana
Garrett Quigley" inscribed thereon. Mr. Ouigley, a switchman here in the
service of the Baltimore & Ohio, was the happy father of the child.
The land company never offered any mor prizes for such enterprises,
but the rage for babies continued to increase and even doubled up, as the
record of Garrett for the first fifteen years will show more twin babies in that
length of time than any other town of the same population in the country.
OTHER PIONEERS.
N. Kovniske was the first merchant tailor in town. A. H. Philips and
his brother came here in 1876 and opened a grocery store. M. McNamara
was one of the 1875 pioneers. He owned a hardware store on Cowen street.
James Atwater built a two-story frame building in 1875 on the lot which is
now occupied by the south half of Wagner's opera house. J. W. Wagner ar-
rived in Garrett in 1875 from Mansfield, Ohio, and purchased lots in the
east side of Cowen street north of Dr. Thompson's residence. He built a two-
story frame here, and ran a saloon. H. Levi was one of the first butchers in
Garrett. H. H. G. Upmeyer came to Garrett in 1875 with a small stock of
boots and shoes. Gus Upmeyer conducted a dry goods store in '76 and 'jj.
DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 157
There were two lumber yards established liere in 1S75, one by W. G. Pierce
from Michigan, and the other by J. P. Spencer. Thomas Hartford was one
of the first settlers in Garrett, coming with his wife and fifteen children, from
Elkhart.
INCORPORATION.
As soon as the sale of lots was commenced, in April, 1875, there was a
rush made here by the enthusiastic people, all over-zealous with the future
prosperity of the new town. The rail farm fences were torn down and scat-
tered, and in some places trees were cut down to make way for the new frame
buildings which were hastily and rudely constructed on wood posts and
blocks for foundations.
Excitement was so great that a general cry soon went up calling for in-
corporation. This move was so generally approved that Jackson H. Thomp-
son, a deputy constable, was appointed to take the census of the proposed
town. To arrive at this result required three days. The result was a popula-
tion numbering two hundred and fifty-seven. Immediately after this, a peti-
tion for incorporation was presented to the county commissioner, which was
granted.
As per announcement in notice, at 9 o'clock on December 18, 1875, a
number of citizens collected in the front room of the Neivs building, and or-
ganized a board of inspectors. The election was held and resulted in favor of
incorporation. Accordingly the town was divided into three wards, and the
result of the election presented to the board of county commissioners and they
ordered another election to be held on the 8th day of January, 1876, for the
purpose of electing officers for the town. The election was held and the fol-
lowing were the town officers chosen : Hiram M. Hogue, Charles Linkenhelt,
William A. Pratt, councilmen ; Thomas Maloney, clerk; A. H. Putt, assessor;
Joseph Hyman, treasurer. The first meeting of the town board was held in
Dr. C. E. Pratt's office, on the corner of Keyser and Cowen streets. At this
meeting J. R. Skilling was named as the first marshal of the town of Garrett.
Garrett was managed as a town until April, 1893, when it was incorpor-
ated as a city by a vote of the people. The last meeting of the town board
convened on the evening of May 18, 1893, and the first mayor, Charles W.
Camp, assumed office. The city was redistricted, which made a change in the
wards from the original districting of December 18, 1875, as follows: The
first ward was changed to imply all the territory within the city lying north
of the center of King street ; the second ward all that territory within the city
150 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA.
lying between the center of King and Houston streets ; the third ward all that
territory within the city limits lying south of the center of Houston street. •
GARRETT IN I9I3.
Garrett at present has a population close to fi\e thousand people, being
the largest city in DeKalb county. Upon entering the smoky interior of this
city one conceives the impression that he is entering a larger city than Gar-
rett really is. The large population is spread over a wide extent of territory,
and the bustle and rush of the people give the composite air to the place.
Garrett is progressive, modern and "alive," always looking for something
new, the acquiring of which benefit the city and add to the welfare of the
people.
As a city Garrett was incorporated in 1893 and Charles W. Camp was
the first mayor. He continued in ofifice until 1902, when E. B. Thumma took
the responsibility. In 1910 the third mayor entered his term: this was W. J.
Frederick. M. J. Driscoll served as mayor pro tern when Frederick gave up
the office, and in 1910 George Schulthess was chosen. His term expires
December 31, 1913, and the mayor then to take office is J. A. Cle\enger.
The present city officers are: George Schulthess, mayor; W. W. IMountz,
clerk and collector; A. J. Little, treasurer; E. M. McKennan, attorney; Phil
Holman, engineer; \V. A. Duerk, marshal; A. W. Beehler, fire chief; J. A.
Moore, secretary board of health; G. C. Scott, superintendent water and light
plant. The council is composed of C. C. Lindoerfer, 'SI. J. Driscoll, Leslie
Stoner, Isaac Whirledge and Will Franks.
CITY WATER AND LIGHT COMPANY.
This important public utility is owned and controlled exclusively by the
city of Garrett, and gives fair and impartial service to the many patrons of
the system. It was established in the year 1896 and cost, when completed,
seventy-five thousand dollars. There are nine miles of water mains in the
city, and the water is supplied from a system of eight-inch wells which were
driven down into a strata of gravel at a depth of from two hundred to two
hundred and fifty feet. The water passes the strictest chemical examination.
There are forty street lights in Garrett, and fifty ornamental posts with cluster
lights. The boulevard lighting system was installed in the latter part of
1912, and adds a distinct beauty to the streets. There are forty-four five-light
posts and six three-light posts. Eight of the posts are placed within each
DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 159
Randolph street block, four on each side. The territory extends from the
Baltimore & Ohio to Houston street on Randolph, and from Franklin to
Cowen on King street. The three lamp posts are in the first square north of
the railroad. The iron post is of the Cutter Commonwealth type. The com-
pany maintains fifty-five fire hydrants, located at advantageous points in the
city.
MUNICIPAL IMPROVEMENTS.
In Garrett there are three full miles of street paving. One mile of this is
in brick, and the remaining two are constructed of asphalt. There are five
miles of excellent sewerage laid under the main streets. The outlet of the city
is into Cedar creek, which is the most accessible stream to Garrett, at a dis-
tance of four miles, with a thirty foot fall. The gas for the city is supplied by
the Indiana Light and Fuel Company of Fort Wayne. This corporation also
supplies Auburn and Kendallville.
CITY HALL.
In October, 1912, Mayor Schulthess and the city council purchased two
vacant lots at the corner of Randolph and Keyser streets, with a fifty foot
frontage and a depth of one hundred and twenty-five feet, upon which it was
proposed to erect a building costing twenty-five thousand dollars that would
house the city clerk's office, an office for the mayor, council chamber, fire de-
partment, jail, city scales and public la\ator\-. The lots were bought at public
auction for forty-five hundred dollars.
In November, 1913, the handsome building nears completion. It is of
Tudor style architecture and is very attractive. The structure is of brick. A
private telephone system connects every office within the building, and the
heat is supplied by the City Water and Light Company, who force the steam
through pipes underground into the building. This is the first heating sys-
tem of this type in the county. The total cost when completed will approach
thirty-one thousand dollars.
LIBRARY.
The present library in the city of Garrett is of little consequence, con-
taining less than a thousand books. However, a magnificent building is pro-
posed, and w ill, in all probability be a realization within a few months. The
plans have been drawn, and the work of organization is being hurried. An-
drew Carnegie has expressed his willingness to subscribe ten thousand dollars
l60 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA.
toward the construction of the new liljrary, if the citizens comply with their
part of the contract.
SACRED HEART H0SPIT.\L.
For quite a time the erection of a hospital in Garrett was considered by
the people of Garrett, particularly the members of the Catholic church. There
was talk at one time of the removal of the railroad shops to Defiance, and
consequently the building of an expensive hospital was delayed until definite
knowledge was forthcoming. This procured, and to the efifect that Garrett
would retain the Baltimore and Ohio shops, plans were put on foot for the
hospital. The Catholic church bought the ground in 1901 and the hospital
was constructed in 1902, at a cost of sixty-two thousand dollars. The insti-
tution is conducted under the management of the Franciscan Sisters. The
equipment and furnishings of this hospital are modern and sanitary; the
highest principles of hygiene have been observed in every detail of the work,
and the record of the work done is truly one to be proud of. The hospital is
managed by the Catholic church.
BUTLER TOWNSHIP.
Butler township lies in the extreme southwestern corner of DeKalb
county. It was six miles square at the beginning, and was organized as a
civil township on the 5th of September, 1837. In 1876, however, twelve sec-
tions were taken from the northern side for the new township of Keyser, and
the township was reduced to the dimensions of four miles by six. It is
bounded on the north by Keyser township, on the east by Jackson, on the south
by Perry township, Allen county, and on the west by Swan township, Noble
county. Cedar creek, running across the northeast corner down through the
center, and Black creek, running through the western part, supply water to the
locality. The soil is very rich for agricultural purposes, although certain
small localities are below the standard.
ORGANIZATION.
The first regular meeting of the county board of commissioners was held
on September 4, 5 and 6, 1837, and was attended by a full board. The sec-
ond day of the session it was "ordered that the congressional township 33
north, range 12 east, be and it is hereby organized as a civil township, to be
known by the name of Butler township." It was also resolved "that Andrew
DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. l6l
Surface be appointed supervisor for the road district No. i, comprising the
whole of Butler township, and all the lands in said township shall be assigned
to the same district." The first election was appointed to be held on the first
Monday in April, 1838, at the home of Robert Work.
EARLY SETTLEMENT.
Among the early pioneers of Butler township were Peter Fair and his
two sons, Abram and Charles; Charles F. C. Crouse, George DeLong, and
Andrew, Jacob and John Surface. These settlers first came into the township in
October, 1834, with a four-horse team and wagon. From Squire Caswell's
they were obliged to hew their path ; Caswell's place was in Allen county, be-
yond Huntertown. Much of the way was too narrow to allow their four-
horse team to pass. In the same 3'ear Lewis Holbrook, Lyman Holbrook,
Joseph Stroup, Henry and Michael Miller emigrated into the township; and
in the spring of 1836 came William Surface, John Gregg and James Bell.
Sanford Bassett came in 1838, and John Noel, John C. Clark, John Embry
and Henry Fair in '39. In 1841 George Ensley, of Auburn, moved into the
township. The Moodys, Works and Hoffmans were also identified with the
early growth of the township.
FIRST OFFICERS.
The first justice of the peace was William Day, and he was elected in
April, 1838; George Ensley was the second man to hold this office, which was
a very important one in those days. Prior to i860 other justices were : Silas
Hand, George Munroe, William McAnnally, Job C. Smith, G. R. Hofifman,
O. C. Clark and E. S. Hanson. Early constables were Stephen Clark, Abram
Brown, William Young, Peter Simons, Uriah Wigent, David Trussell, James
Forbes, Jehu Bricker, James McAnnally, R. B. Showers, John Noel and Mar-
tin Bigler. The trustees for the first years were: Jacob Shull, C. Probst,
Henry Clark, I. N. Young, P. Simons, John Grube, J. V. Keran, George
Munroe. George Ensley, Uriah Wigent, S. Hutchins, J. Clark, G. R. Hoffman,
Daniel Hoffman, George Gordon and James Goetchius.
In 1913 Butler township is accounted a progressive and rich township
and is well up in the scale with the other fourteen townships of DeKalb
county. Discussion of the agricultural, religious, education and other phases
of hr history is written in the respective chapters on those subjects.
(II)
l62 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA.
FAIRFIKLD TOWNSHIP.
Fairfield township, owing to its location in the extreme northwestern
corner of the county, was the last of the tirst townships to become settled.
Fairfield 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. Indian Lake, on section 29, and Story lake,
on section 4, besides several small creeks, supply the water for the land, and
act as drainage. The nearest communication with a railroad of this county is
Avith the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern, along the southern border in Rich-
land township. The surface of the township is somewhat broken, there being
a great many hills dotted over the surface. The beauty of the country was
unnoticed by the early settlers, as the locality was the last in the line of emi-
gration. Also, much of the land was purchased by speculators in an early
day, and this fact served to retard the natural growth. A man by the name
of Dedrick entered eleven hundred acres; a Pennsylvania bank held a tract;
and other agencies held ground, all of which were sold through the aid of
Wesley Park.
ORGANIZATION.
On the date of March 7, 1844, the board of commissioners of the county
received a petition reading: "We, the undersigned, inhabitants of the unor-
ganized township of DeKalb county, in consequence of the distance we have
to go to elections and the inconvenience of having to go into another town-
ship to do township business, do most humbly pray your Honorable Body that
you would organize said township at your March session, and order an elec-
tion for a justice of peace, and other officers for the said township; and your
petitioners will ever pray.'" This was dated February 27, 1844, and signed
by Rufus R. Lounsberry, George W. Story, A. Ball, Oran B. Story, Miles
Allen, C. Allen, George Powell, Benjamin Hunt and Nathan W. Powell, who
■were all voters in the township.
This petition received a favorable reception, and the board of commis-
sioners 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. An elec-
tion was held on the last Saturday in August for three trustees.
DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. I63
EARLY SETTLEMENT.
The Ston- family, five in numbers, were the pioneer settlers of Fair-
field township, and they settled along the northern border. There were Au-
gustus, Frederick, Willard, George and Samuel Story.
Willard Childs, one of the prominent early settlers, started on foot from
his home in Onondaga county, New York, and walked through to Fort
Wayne, thence to Kendallville, where there were but two cabins, and taking
a guide came into DeKalb county, March 4, 1837, the day Martin Van Buren
was inaugurated President of the United States. He selected one hundred
and twenty acres on section 27, paid for it, and then set to work at Fort
Wayne to earn enough to take him home. When the land was entered the
Storys w^ere the sole occupants of the territory of Fairfield township. Mr.
Childs returned in October, 1844, to pay taxes, and to review his purchase, to
decide on making the place his home. Settlers had moved in, and in the
southeast was David McNabb and family. Farther east was Wilbur Powell,
and on the north adjoining was the cabin and clearing of George Powell,
the first justice of the peace in the township afterward. In 1846 Childs moved
in, and made his home temporarily with Benjamin Chafifee, who sold his
place to Childs and made another settlement in the north part of the town-
ship. He afterward became postmaster at Corunna. Rufus R. Lounsberry,
of Wilmington, William and Isaac Wilsey, D. Rager, Hiram Thomas, Phillip
Gushwa, John Shook, Henry and Leonard Hartman, and Aliles Allen were
also early settlers in Faii-field township.
After this came a lull in the settlement, which extended until 1850, at
which time a new influx of settlers came, and building and clearing started
with a rush. Log rolling and raising took up much of the time.
FIRST OFFICERS.
Prior to i860 the justices of peace in Fairfield were: D. Rager, R.
Worrell, Jesse Brumback, Job C. Smith, S. Greenamyer, George Powell and
William 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 and Daniel Gonser. Trustees in this early time were : R. Wor-
rell, D. Rager, W. Childs, S. ]\Iiser, 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.
164 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA.
Perhaps the first marriage performed within the limits of Fairfield town-
ship was that of David Gonser and Miss Gushwa.
The census of 1880 gave Fairfield township a population of one thousand
five hundred and fifty-eight people; in 1890, there were one thousand three
hundred and sixty-one people: in 1900, the same: and in 1910, one thousand
one hundred and ninety-four.
FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP.
l'"rauklin township is located in the northeastern portion of DeKalb
county, in the northern tier. It is bounded on the north by Otsego town-
ship, Steuben county: on the east by Troy township; on the south by Wil-
mington township, and on the west by Smithfield township. It is watered
and drained by the tributaries, headwaters, of Cedar creek and Fish creek,
and along the northern border are two small lakes. There are no railroads in
Franklin township, consequently no town of great size. Butler, on the Michi-
gan Southern, just below the southern border, is the nearest trading point.
The highways of this township, however, are excellent, and provide swift
intercourse with distributing centers. The land is good and well suited for
agriculture.
ORGANIZATION.
The first act of the first board of commissioners of DeKalb county, on
July 25. 1837, was, affer appointing necessary officers, to provide for the or-
ganization of Franklin township, with the following boundaries: "Com-
mencing at the northeast corner of said county (DeKalb), 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 the said county, thence north to the place of beginning;
the above shall constitute the first township in DeKalb county."
The board, Peter Fair and Samuel Widney, then appointed ''Peter Boyer
for Inspector of Elections for township No. i in said county of DeKalb, 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 qualified, and do also appoint John Houlton for Supervisor of said town-
FIRST HOUSE BUILT IN DEKALB COUNTY
John Houlton's House, in Franklin Townsliip, Built Sept. 4, 1833
DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. I65
ship No. I, and district No. i, in ,';ai(l county of DeKalb." The limits thus
provided made Franklin to include what is now Troy township, in addition
to its present territory; but some years afterward Troy was organized, leaving
Franklin six miles square.
At the first election in August, 1837, Abram F. Beecher was chosen com-
missioner, and Luther Buck as justice of the peace. At the next election, held
at the house of George Firestone, on the first Monday in April, 1838, Judge
Linsey was made justice of the peace. Irregularity in making the returns pre-
vented the receipt of commissions, and it was not until the spring of 1839
that first legal election was held, at the house of M. L. Wheeler, he being
chosen justice of the peace, and George Firestone, constable.
EARLY SETTLEMENT.
In point of settlement, the same as organization, Franklin township was
the first. John Houlton, the first man in DeKalb county to build a home,
constructed his rude log house on the bank of Fish creek, in the northeastern
part of the township, in the year 1833. For quite a time he was the lone resi-
dent in the forest, but after a period of two years he was joined by John
Smith, who settled on section 4.
In 1836 many pioneers came in, among them being: Abner Smith of
section 9, Abram Beecher on 4, Luther Keep on 8, Charles Grain, Willis O.
Hyde, Peter Boyer, Jacob Myers, Michael Boyer and Mr. Deming and Cor-
wright. George Firestone moved in in October, 1836, hauling his goods by
ox-team, and settled on section 23, a part of which he cleared. While build-
ing his cabin he lived at the cabin of Michael Boyer.
Supplies of wheat and corn were obtained by the pioneers from Jackson
prairie. The wild meats of the forest were used extensively by the pioneer,
his trusty rifle being the earner of much of his pro\ender. The Pottawatomies
were also ever anxious to trade meats for such trifles as the settlers could
procure for them. The heavy timber of the land was speedily cleared away
and the planting of com, potatoes and buckwheat begun. In the spring of
1837 grists were taken to the LTnion mills in Lagrange, a distance of thirty
miles, several days were required to make the journey, and it was fraught
with many hardships. The first roads laid out in Franklin township were
the Defiance and Lima state road and the Fort Wayne and Lima state road,
forming a junction a half mile I'ast of Hamilton.
Of those who came to the township in 1837 were: Daniel Kepler, Sam-
uel Kepler, Aria! Rood, Cj-.'incl Hood, Grant Bowers, M. L. Wheeler. John
l66 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA.
Matson, Elisha Waterman and John Farley. Later came Jason Hunnell,
Daniel McEntarfer, William Letz, Levi Nelson, John and Edward Jackman,
Preston Bowman, Cyrus Bowman and James Bowman.
John Houlton wrote the following concerning his entrance into Franklin
township :
"When 1 first moved into Franklin mv nearest neighhor was at Den-
mark, ten miles off. Aly next neighbor on the west was on Jackson Prairie,
twenty-two miles away. 1 had to bu}- my grain on the prairies, and take it
to \Miite Pigeon prairies 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 l)ag at a time on my shoulder through creeks
and sloughs often breast deep in water, and frequently ice to break at that, it
generally took me from two to four days to make the trip. Often while
awav 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 \'ery best of constitution, but 1 am now very nnich
broken, and ahlicted 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 alive. Avery died in Fort \\''ayne ; Samuel Houlton died at the mill on
Fish creek in May, 1839: Plughes left ^^'ayne in 1839 for the West.
FIRST OFFICERS.
Early justices of the peace were: ^I. Wheeler, L. Buck, J. I-iink, John
McCurdv. George Beard, George Firestone, T. M. Mitchell. Early constables
were: G. W. Jeffords, Miles Waterman, Cyrus Jackman, David Clark, John
Shock, Abner Slentz, John R. Ball, George Firestone, William Oberlin; and
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.
In i8go, there were 1,246 people in the township; in 1900, 1,171 ; and in
1 9 10, 1,063.
JACKSON TOWNSHIP.
Jackson township is in the southern tier of townships of DeKall) county,
centrally located ; bounded on the north by Union township, on the east by
Concord and Spencer townships,' on the south by Cedar Creek township, Allen
county, and on the west by Butler and Keyser townships. Cedar creek
DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. ifij
crosses the northwestern portion of the township, two branches of Bear creek
enter, or leave, the southeastern corner, and Duncan lake and tributaries is
located in the southwestern corner. The land is now fairly well suited for
agriculture, although at one time it was inferior to the other townships, there
being too much swamp land, and a considerable amount of heavy, clayey soil,
the latter being still present in large quantities. The land has been ditched
and tiled, and has been developed greatly considering the early character.
Three railroads — the Vandalia, Baltimore & Ohio, and the Lake Shore &
Michigan Southern meet in the northwestern corner, at Auburn Junction ; the
BaltiuKire &• Ohio traverses the entire noithcrn (|uarter of the township.
ORGANIZATION.
On January i, 1838, the board of commissioners of the county "ordered
that township 33 north, range 13 east, be organized as a civil township to be
known by the name of 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 .Vpril, 1838. at the house of John Watson.
EAUI.Y SETTLEMENT.
The first settler in the township was William Miller, who moved in
during the spring of 1836. He and his son, Joseph Miller, cut the first wagon
track from the river settlements through to Cedar creek, below Auburn. The
road crossed Jackson township from its east line, very nearly to the west one.
Joseph Miller was afterward the first county surveyor. Another son,
Thomas, was killed by the overturning of a wagon load of cross ties for the
Eel river railroad. Another settler who became noted in the county was
Thomas L. Yates, the eccentric judge, whom Wesley Park once threatened
to put "up the ladder." He sold his land on the river, and settled three miles
down the creek from Auburn, on the land w b.ich afterward belonged to Alonzo
Lockwood. Others in that part of the township were : Leonard Boice,
Adam P. Hartle, the Phillips family, and Benjamin Miller. In the southeast
there were to be found; James Steward: Samuel Henderson, who came in
fall of 1836: John and David Moody, John and William Watson, Srs., and
their families: Nathan Wyatt and his sons, then forming three families; Jacob
Maurer, once justice of the peace, and Willis Bishop. Northward of these
on the east side of the township were: William Means, the first justice of the
l68 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA.
peace in Jackson township ; Samuel Farney, Henry Dove, Abraham Johnson,
Amariah Johnson, William R. Moore, William McClure, William Squiers,
Henry Brown, Matthew George, William George, Samuel Geisinger and Nel-
son Griffith. In the center of the township the first settlers were: Joseph
Walters, Mr. Essig and William McNabb.
DEATH OF THE ME.\NS BROTHERS.
The untimely death of two young men — brothers — the sons of Esquire
Means, was a distressing incident in the early settlement of the township.
They were at work together in the clearing, and one of them came to the well
at the house for a drink, and accidentally losing the bucket in the well, he
went down to get it. There were damps in the well, and he fell senseless into
the water. The women raised the alarm, and the other young man hastened
to the well, and perhaps not understanding the matter, went down also, to
rescue his brother, and fell senseless with him. Before either could be drawn
out. life was entirely extinct.
HURRICANE OF 184I.
In the summer or fall of 1841, a dark cloud arose, seeming to threaten
a heavy shower, but soon the rapid motion and wild confusion of the lowering
clouds proclaimed the approach of a wind storm. It struck the forest and
leveled the timber. William and Mathew George, Heniy Brown, Nelson
Griffith, and some other men were working on the road west of where Karper
lived. Karper's cabin had been raised, but he had not yet moved in. The
men, startled by the rumbling of the nearing storm, and seeing the air
darkened with tree limbs and other debris, ran with all their speed to the
home of Henry Brown, about eighty rods distant, where Brown's children and
a daughter of William Munroe were, and rushing in, seized the children, and
carried them into the open field. Immediately the storm was upon them.
They grasped the wiry grass and held on to stumps to keep from being blown
away. In the hurry of the moment, one child and the young woman had
been left in the house, but fortunately, by some means, fell through the floor.
The wind lifted the door from its hinges and threw it over them, and then the
logs of the house came tumbling in upon them, until the house was leveled,
and even the foundation logs turned over, yet the occupants were uninjured.
The weight poles were blown a distance of forty rods. One of the knees
from the roof of this cabin struck Leander Brown in the head, makinar a fear-
DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 1 69
ful gash. This wound affected the boy's eyesight in later hfe. The storm
swept on over the township, rushing and swirhng, and ripping everything to
pieces which lay in its path. Fences were scattered, dwellings demolished in
the clearing, and striking the forest, the giant trees wilted before the impact.
Upon reaching the tract of land owned by William Draggoo, the ominous
clouds lifted, and the work of destruction ceased. Articles of bed clothing
from Brown's house were found at this point. The width of the path was
half a mile and the length three miles.
Mrs. William George, after the fury of the storm, started to the home
of Mr. Brown, but was so bewildered by the confusion of fallen timber, that
she lost her way, and after exerting herself to the utmost, finally arrived at
the home of George Moore, where she swooned from her excitement.
FIRST OFFICERS.
Prior to i860, the justices of the peace were: \\^illiam Means, John C.
Hursh, A. D. Goetschius, Henry Brown and Jacob Mowrer. The constables
were: William R. Moore, William McNabb, Benjamin Bailey. Frank Bailey.
David Mathews, S. Geisinger. Thomas Wyatt, Willis Bishop, William Beatty,
A. H. Flutter, John Carper, Burton Brown and John McClelland. Trustees
were: 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 Zimmerman,
Abraham Johnson and James McClelland. The assessors were John G.
Dancer, Joseph Walters and Alexander Provines.
POPULATION.
In 1880 the population of Jackson township was 1,430; in 1890, 1.412;
in 1900, 1,351 ; in 1910, 1,204.
NEWVILLE TOWNSHIP.
The southeastern corner of DeKalb county is occupied by Newville
township, a fractional township, six miles long and two and a half wide, con-
taining 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, Allen county, and on the west by Concord and Spencer townships.
The St. Joseph of the Maimiee crosses the northwestern corner, flowing from
170 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA.
northeast to southwest. A .smaller branch of the same river is located in the
southwestern corner of the township. The Baltimore & Ohio railroad
crosses the middle of the township. The land is much the same as that of
Concord and Spencer townships, rich ri\er-Iiottnm land, oak-timbered wheat
land, and beech and maple timbered land. However, the timber has been
largely cleared away, to make room for the crops.
EARLY SETTLEMENT.
The pioneer settlers of Newville township were John Platter and Solomon
DeLong. who, when traveling through the woods in the summer of 1834. be-
came bewildered, and encamped at the border of a prickly ash swamp. Here
they dug a hole for water, using their axes and hands. They found water,
but the fluid was so heavily mixed with the juices from the roots of trees as
to be scarcely drinkable, though their craving for drink led them to make the
best of it. Platter settled on section 7, and DeLong settled on the bank of
the St. Joseph, across from Newville: was one of the early county commis-
sioners, and served during the Civil war in the Forty-fourth and One Hun-
dred and Twenty-ninth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, having the rank of
lieutenant-colonel in the latter. Daniel Strong was another pioneer. Others
were Dwight Moody, J. S. Peck, John Thompson, I. N. Blood, .\lva Law-
rence, and Ephraim Strong. S. H. Bartlett and family came in 1836, also
George Weeks.
"the MOUND."
"The Mound" is an elevation of ground on section 7, on the Ashman
faruL 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 Bertlett. They found a large quantity of human bones about three
feet below the surface. The elevation was then ten feet, but has decreased
since, until now it is hardly visible. 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.
FIRST OFFICERS.
Among the early justices of the peace in Ne^yyjUe township were:
Washington Robinson, J. Helwig, John Cary, J. S. Peck, and Dwight Moody.
DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. [71
Constables were: John P. Widncy, John Thompson and Asa Overacker, and
the first trustees were: D. Strong-, A. B. Fetterer, N. Fuller, John Newton,
John Murphy, N. L. Thomas, Newton Thomas, I. N. Blood, Alva Lawrence,
S. DeLong, D. Moody, Ephraim Strong and John Platter.
In 1S80, the population of Newville township was 760; in 1890, 687: in
1900, 645 ; and in 1910, 562.
NEWVILLE.
The \'illage of Newville. once called Vienna, is located on the northwest
bank of the river, in the southwest quarter of section 6. George W. Weeks
surveyed and [ilatted tlie town in March, 1837, for Washington Robinson,
settler and owner of the land. Tlie original plat contained twenty-six and a
half acres, exclusive of streets. N. L. Thomas, a Methodist minister, was
the first store keeper in this town, and a Mr. Dodge the host of the first tavern
opened to the public. Dr. John Lattman was the first physician. John Cary
was a shoemaker, also an early justice of the peace. Newville has been re-
stricted in her growth by the lack of a railroad, but the people are very pro-
gressive, and keep in touch with the world just as well as if intercourse were
provided by steel rails.
RICHLAND TOWNSHIP.
Richland township is located centrally in the western tier of the town-
ships of DeKalb county : is bounded on the north by Fairfield township, on
the east by Union and Grant, on the south by Keyser, and on the west by
Allen township, Noble county. Little Cedar runs diagonally from the north-
west corner across the township, also several other tributaries to this stream
and Cedar, besides a few small lakes. This provides sufficient drainage and
water supply for the land in the township. The township is not the best in the
county for agriculture : the land being very hilly, and with sandy and clavey
upper soil. The clay is of excellent composition for the manufacture of
bricks and various kinds of tile. Beech, maple, ash, oak, and poplar, witli a
little walnut, were the prevailing woods of this township, but these have been
largely cleared off. The Lake Shore & Michigan Southern traverses the
northern border of the county, stopping at the towns of Corunna and Sedan.
ORGANIZATION.
Richland was organized as a civil township in September, 1837, as a
whole congressional township, and Jacob Weirick was appointed its first
[72 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA.
supervisor. At the first election held, but six votes were cast, and William
Showers was elected justice. On the formation of Keyser township, in June,
1876, twelve sections were taken from its southern side, reducing the town-
ship to twenty-four sections.
EARLY SETTLEMENT.
The first settler in Richland township was Joseph Miller, who came in
August, 1836, having cut his way in from the home of his father in Jackson
township. Previous to moving in, he cut the logs for his house in one day;
made the clapboards in the next. ha\ing to chop off the timber two clapboards
length, not having a saw, then split them into bolts and chop them in two
before riving. He and two others put up the house without any further
assistance, on the third day. He, and Mr. Vansickle, and Obadiah Whitmore
also put up a house for Jacob Weirick, without any other help. Jacob Weirick
and Joshua Feigler moved in in October, 1836. Calvin Calkins set out in the
fall of 1839, from Sandusky county, Ohio, with his provisions in a knapsack,
and arriving in this township, selected a quarter section, 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 possilile to the land ofiice at Fort
Wayne, and was scarcely half an hour in advance of his competitor. His
family moved in during the fall of 1840. The neighbors were well scattered
at this time ; Peter Kronkite, who had come the previous fall, had a cabin in
the woods; and Peter Moody had located on his clearing about a mile east of
Corunna. In the northeast part of the township was the Showers settle-
ment. Solomon Showers, the pioneer, was the host to many a settler who
moved into the locality to set up a home. His cabin was small, but room
was always found for the incomer. Lyman Green, for whom the corners
south of Sedan were named, Daniel Webber. \\'illiam Beck. William Showers
and Daniel Showers were other men who soon established themselves in the
neighborhood. Japhet Ingraham came in a short time later, and then Peter
Treesh made the first clearing of the Amos Britton farm. Thomas Dailey
moved in from Michigan, and located in the western part of the township,
and Dimick Harding camiC from Lima, Indiana, and chose a tract. Other
early settlers were: the Moodys, Peter, John and Harvey: the Connellys,
Ezra. William and John : Samuel Haynes. James Blake, Heman Bangs and
James McCrum. Henry Willis, afterward sheriff, and who sulisequentl}-
went to Waterloo, came very early and settled in the northeastern portion
of the township. He located on a sugar-timbered tract, and manufactured
DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 1/3
sugar, trading the commodity tor lireadstuffs, which transaction often neces-
sitated a three days' journey. This trading system was common among the
early settlers, and, in tact, meant subsistence for many of them.
FIKST OFFICERS.
Some of tlie early justices were: William Showers, James Blake, D.
Shaw and L. D. Britton. Constables were : Lyman Green, John Clay, Rob-
ert Williams. Leeman Fulson, J. Simons, D. Mallery, A. P. Bristol, John
Palmer, L. Thomas, B. Sanders, David Swander and C. B. Kagey. Trustees
were: Peter Treesh, Joshua Brubaker, David Lawrence, A. J. Hunt, Jacob
Palmer, Jefferson Wallace, Christian Frezt, Solomon Showers, H. Willis,
W. Connelly, J. C. Mead, Japhet Ingraham, James Blake, Lyman Green, W.
Showers, L D. Britton, H. Sherlock, H. Knapp and L Kanaga. Assessors
were: \Mlliani \\'elker, C. Knapp, John Shaw, and Henry Sherlock.
At present Coriinna has a population of three hundred and eighteen
people, and is a progressive little town, situated on the Lake Shore & Mich-
igan Southern. There are three schools, two lodges, a bank, telephone sys-
tem, public lighting plant, two mills, one flour mill and one saw mill, and a
hotel.
Sedan is another small town located on the Lake Shore & Michigan
Southern, about four miles east of Corunna. The population is very small,
and business is in proportion to the population.
In 1880 the population of Richland township was 1,598; in 1890, 1,127;
in 1900, 1,310; in 1910, 1,146.
SMITHFIELD TOWNSHIP.
Smithfield township is situated in the north central part of DeKalb
county, and is bounded as follows : On the north by Steuben township,
Steuben county; on the east by Franklin township; on the south by Grant
township, and on the west by Fairfield township. The township is drained
by tributaries of the Cedar, all very small streams. Cedar lake lies in section
30. The soil of this township is generally good, being mixed with plenty of
sand and gravel, and with very little of the clay found in other parts of the
county. The Lake Shore & Michigan Southern railroad runs directly
north through the center of the township.
174 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA.
ORGANIZATION.
The first township election was held at the house of Isaac B. Smith in
the spring of 1839, and there were just five men present, a bare number to
form a board. Ferris Blake was chosen township clerk and Isaac B. Smith,
Isaiah McLeish and Pharez Blake, trustees. N. Blake was made 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 wald hogs,
but failed to catch any of them.
EARLY SETTLEMENT.
The first settler in Smithfield township was Isaac B. Smith, after whom
the township was named. His own narrative is printed in "Pioneer
Sketches," a portion of which is quoted below :
"Mr. Smith came to Mr. Murray's, at Pleasant Lake, Steuben county,
and from thence explored the woods of Smithfield township to find a piece of
vacant land that would suit him for a home. There 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 an-
other disappointment. Tired in body and heart sick with hope deferred, he
met a man at the land ofiice from Wells county, not far from where Blufifton
now is, who represented to him that he was building a mill in that region, and
knew of a very good quarter section of land still 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
swamp, boot-top deep with water. He now returned to the land office, and
told the register 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 Fair-
DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 175
field township, at the land office, he prevailed on him to accompany him as a
witness. On reaching the place, they traced all the lines around the quarter
section, and passed through it twice diagonally from corner to corner, and
did not see a single tree except cottonwood on the 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 inquired 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 expression of their eyes, he con-
cluded 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 dis-
covered 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. Passing over these miles they reached their lodging place sometime
after dark. Their competitors were not there. The next morning they were
ofiF 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 continual 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, thev 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 refreshments, Mr.
Smith started back to look again, and as he was crossing the St. Mary's
bridge close to town, he met his competitors, 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, and the next morning Mr. Smith gathered from
their conversation that they were going up into the north regions to look for
176 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA.
land, and that Mr. Park was to go with them ; for which each was to pay him
one dollar. He proferred 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 settled. It was agreed that each should
privately mark for his first choice of the lands, and providentially or acci-
dentally 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 evening, 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 he had visited Fort Wayne before he secured his future home."
A further account of Mr. Smith's adventures in the early settlement of
Smithfield township may be found in the chapter on "Reminiscences."
The second permanent settler in Smithfield township was Reuben J.-
Daniels. He emigrated from Orleans county, New York, and came by way
of the state of ]\Iichigan. He was accompanied by Ira Camburn, and they,
having located and entered two hundred acres, paid for it in silver which they
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 door-
less, without upper floor, and without daubing. There were plenty of Indians
and wolves at that time.
Pharez Blake came next and located on section 27. His son, Norton,
married Huldah Holmes in 1839, and this ceremony, performed by Squire
Daniels, was the first in the township. Jacob McLeish and his two sons,
Isaiah and Jacob, and Thomas Locke, came in the spring of 1838 and located
upon section 29. Joseph Delong and family came by way of Pleasant lake
in 1829, and selected a tract on section 29. He afterward became a resident
of M^aterloo. Solomon Brandeberry came during the same year and located
upon section 23. The McEntafifers, John and his three sons, William, Jacob
and Abraham, were also settlers of 1839. Daniel Kepler, a Franklin town-
ship pioneer, moved into Smithfield, also Cyrus Bowman. Other settlers of
an early period were: Henry Shoemaker, Thomas Locke, David Martin,
J. Haun, John Baxter, Jeremiah Hemstreet, Isaac Grate, William Clark,
Hugh McOsker and George Seiner. The first birth in this township was that
of INIartha Smith, who later married Edward Richards and moved to Mis-
souri. Lucinda Daniels was the second child born in this locality.
At the foot of Cedar lake, in 1844 approximately, the first saw mill was
DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 177
erected. Daniel Martin built a mill on the south branch of Cedar creek, and
a Mr. Fansler constructed a grist mill on the west branch about a mile below
the lake. Isaac B. Smith planted the first crop of potatoes, Reuben J- Daniels
the first wheat, and Norton Blake first introduced the reaper in harvestinij.
FIRST OFFICER.S.
The following represent some of the first officers of Smithfield township:
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 Locke, 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 Mullen. John McOsker, John Homberger,
George W. Frout, George J. Duncan, AVilliam Hoffman, R. Lockhart and
William Cox; assessors, John Baxter. H. P'rceman, John Schrantz and Cyrus
Duncan.
The population of Smithfield township in 1880 was r.424; in 1890,
1,279; ''1 1900, 1,607; in 1910, 1,469.
The town of Ashley was platted in the year 1892, the origin of the town
being due to the building of the Wabash railroad. This railroad company
under the name of the Indiana Improvement Company, bought extensive
lands on the site of Ashley, and established a division there. The town
quickly sprang into life, and was incorporated as a town in the latter part of
1892. Singularly, the town is placed square on the county line between
Steuben and DeKalb counties; the main street is the division point. Many
peculiar and humorous, as well as inconvenient, situations arise from this
fact. The shops and division headquarters were moved in 1907' to Mont-
pelier, Ohio, but notwithstanding the town has continued to grow. The cen-
sus of 1910 placed the population as six hundred and thirty-nine, but this
has increased substantially since. The town officers at present are : G. W.
Clark, George Kirlin, and W'illiam Zubrugg, trustees; J. W. Mintzer. clerk;
and George Park, treasurer. The electric light plant is owned by the town,
and was installed in 1895 at a cost of five thousand dollars. There is one grist
mill and one saw mill at Ashley.
(12)
178 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA.
STAFFORD TOWNSHIP.
On the east line of the county, midway, lies Stafford township. It is
a fractional township, comprising twelve whole sections, and six half sections.
It is bounded on the north by Troy township, on the east by the state of Ohio,
on the south by Newville townsliip, on the west by Wilmington township.
The St. Joseph river crosses the southeast corner, and Big Run runs from
Avest to east across the northern end. On the river and creek, and in the
bottoms, the land is very fertile; but otherwise is of variable quality,
but when properly cultivated, of fairly productive nature. The surface in
general is level, with several bluffs soutli on the river. The Lake Shore &
Michigan Southern, and the Vaudalia of the Pennsylvania system cross the
northern and northwest corners respectively.
EARLY SETTLEMENT.
James Lytle was ])erhaps the earliest settler of Stafford township. He
located in this territory during the summer of 1836, but after a short stay
here left the county. The next, and permanent, settlers were Jolm and
Hazzard Webster, Rufus Coats and John Rose, all with their families, in all
a colony of twenty-six persons, lliey emigrated from Trumbull county.
Ohio, and arrived within the limits of Stafford township on the fourth day
of October, 1836. John Webster purchased about one hundred acres of land
on the river, near the Ohio state line, and therein settled. He was one of
the eccentric men of the early township, as every township has, or has had,
a queer character. He was fond of wealth, but did not place much faith in
religion. Yet. despite his peculiarities, he was a good citizen, and was useful
in supplying the others with corn, potatoes and other commodities, at very
reasonable rates considering the difficulties incident to obtaining these sup-
plies. He later erected a saw mill and gri.st mill on his premises, and his
estate became the mecca for settlers in general, to get their grain ground.
Other early settlers were as follows : Jacob Gunsenhouser, John Rose,
Rufus Coats, James W. Rose, James E. Rose and Daniel Coats. The first
habitation was raised by Lytle, and the next four were built about the same
time by the abo\'e named people. Next, Edward Scoville and Ariel Walden
came in. Walden was for years an associate judge of this county. In 1838
and 1839, many families moved in, occupied homes, and became prominent
in the development of the county. Prominent among them were : Christian
DEKALB COUNT Vj INDIANA. 179
Wanemaker, Henry Fusselnian, and Thomas Strote. John Barber was
located in the northern part of the township. C. R. Wanemaker and Stephen
W. Hackiey were other settlers of the early date.
FIRST OFFICERS.
Among the justices of the peace who have served this township, some
of the early ones were : Rufiis Coats, Henry Fusselman, David McDaniel,
Noyce Coats, Samuel Wanemaker, F. Hoffman and J. J. Imhoff. Early con-
stables were: I. Gaft, C. R. Wanemaker, H. Dickerhofif, and H. H. Wane-
maker. Trustees were : J. J. Gunsenhouser, Isaac Beal, A: Fusselman,
Joseph A. Coats, Noyce Coats, J. J. Imhoff, F. Hoffman, Peter Walter, John
Grouse, Samuel Headley, John W. Rose, Jesse W. Rose, C. H. Wanemaker,
William Brown, John Webster, William Webster and Chris. Wanemaker.
C. R. Wanemaker, James Gather and Jacob Grise were early assessors.
In 1880 the population of Stafford township was 569; in 1890, 476; in
1900, 423; in 1910, 381.
TROY TOWNSHIP.
In the southeastern corner of DeKalb county is the fractional township
of Troy. 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 Stafford,
and on the west by Franklin township. Fish creek enters the township from
the northwest, and crosses the state line a mile north of the southeast corner,
being the second largest creek in the county, and the one upon which, near the
mouth, that Houlton & Hughes erected their saw^ mill in 1827. The northern
portion of the township is of a clayey soil, the central and southeast of rich,
sandy loam, and to the southwest, clay again. The W'abash railroad runs on
a southwest and northeast diagonal through the southern half of the township.
EARLY SETTLEMENT.
The earliest known settler of the township was Isaac T. Aldrich. later of
Franklin township. In the following year, Roger Aldrich, a brother, be-
came a settler, and Simeon Aldrich subsequently moved in. Others of the
early comers to this locality were: George Skinner, Asa Haynes, G. Wil-
liams, R. Reed. Willard Eddy, S. Gall and John and A. S. Casebeer, Peter
Helwig, Jacob Helwig, Updegraff Glawson, 1. Clawson, and W. R. Herbert.
l8o DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA.
At the month of Fish creek, in 1827, Houlton & Hughes erected their
saw mill ; and Mr. Casebeer had a grist mill in operation near the same time.
Higher up Samuel Kepler had another, and at the outlet of Fish lake, were
the Hamilton mills, owned by John Fee.
FIRST OFFICERS.
The first justice of the peace of Troy township was A. S. Casebeer, and
the others who followed were : S. Learned, Hambright Reese, Jacob Helwig,
G. C. Everetts, John McDonald and George Smiley. 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.
Emmerson, Simeon 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. Zimmerman. Amos Stearns
and G. C. Everetts.
ARTIC.
The Artie postoffice was established in 1850, and was in charge of Amos
Stearns until his death in i860. His son James was the postmaster during
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 discon-
tinued in 1865. It was re-established in 1884, with Joseph Bell as postmaster.
In 1880, the population of Troy township was 646: in i8go, 607: in
1900, 520; and in 1910, 500.
SPENCER TOWNSHIP.
The board of county commissioners, on June 7, 1909, divided the town-
ship of Concord, and named the lower half Spencer township. The division
was for school purposes entirely, and although much controversy and hard
feeling existed at the time, the two townships at present are enjoying mutual
prosperity.
).\E OF MANY BEAUTIFUL SCKXKS l.\ UKKAI.i; ('(JUXTY
•'j?.eoi^ w.fa.
Si'
ONE OF DEKALB COUNTY'S OLD LANDMARKS
DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA.
SPENCERVILLE.
Spencerville is the only town of any consequence in the township. The
town has about two hundred and seventy-five people, and several good busi-
ness houses and stores. Two churches and two lodges have existence here.
The town is not incorporated. One school building, a very complete and
excellent structure, was erected in 1909 at a cost of seven thousand dollars.
The Wabash railroad runs about two miles west of the town, and transfer
is provided to the station.
GRANT TOWNSHIP.
On September 8, 1889. the county commissioners, acting under a peti-
tion of tax-payers and voters, made the north half of l.^ninn township into a
new township, to be known as Grant township. The area comprised in this
new division was sections one to eighteen.
WATERLOO.
Four and a half miles north of Auburn is located the town of Waterloo,
in Grant township. The town was formerly in Union township, hut upon
the division of the latter, the place fell within the bounds of the new town-
ship of Grant. Two branches of the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern
railroad meet at Waterloo, making the town important as a shipping center.
In 1890 the town had a population of one thousand four hundred and seventy-
three; in 1900, one thousand two hundred and forty- four: and in 1910, one
thousand one hundred and sixty seven.
The first settlement near the present site of Waterloo was made near
Cedar creek, northeast, and was called Uniontown; it is now a mere suburb
to Waterloo. Wesley Park erected a board shanty on the site of Uniontown
in 1838 as a shelter for two men who were building a bridge over Cedar
creek at that point. In November, 1838, D. Altenburg and L. Walsworth
and their families, together with the two bridge builders, passed a night while
the settlers were on their way from Steubenville to their selections of land in
Union township.
Owing to the fact that the place was on the line of the state road from
Fort Wayne north through Angola, and being remote from other settlements,
it was thought to be a splendid site for a town, and accordingly a plat was
made by Frederick Krum. George Trout built a store building and estab-
182 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA.
lished a trading point. The firm of M. & A. Hale next entered the merchan-
dise business. James Bowman erected a water power saw mill, and about
1856, after. the laying out of Waterloo, changed it to a steam power mill.
Richard Burniston was the local blacksmith; Dr. Jones the physician, Mr.
Wareham the gunsmith, and a Mr. Smith had a cabinet shop.
The construction of the air line by the Lake Shore & Michigan Southerji
railroad through the county caused the platting of Waterloo City, as it was
called for several years, there being another Waterloo in the state. Miles
Waterman, afterward a member of the Legislature, owned a tract of land
south of Uniontown, lying on both sides of the railroad track. On this tract
he laid out the town of Waterloo, assisted by John Hornberger, and the
acknowledgment was taken before Justice of the Peace George Wolf on
March 14, 1856. A railroad office was the first structure raised. Eli William-
son, the pioneer carpenter, built the first dwelling house. Store buildings were
erected by James Irving and John Wood, and rented. The sale of lots and
buildings began and continued at a very lively rate, and the population began
to increase. Some of the men who moved in were : T. Y. Dickinson, after-
ward publisher of the Waterloo Press; Dr. J. N. Chamberlain, sheriff of
county from i860 to 1862; Henry Willis, who filled the same office from
1864 to 1S68; Jacob Kahn, merchant; Gen. Lewis J. Blair. John Shull
opened the first ta\'ern, which was later known as the Central House. J. P.
Beers, from Auburn, was the first lawyer in the town. The first .grist mill
was built and run by Josiah and Jonathan Weaver, and it stood in Union-
town and was liuilt in 1868. George Thompson and Best, McClellan &
Moody later erected mills. The latter firm suffered a total loss by fire in
1876. Waterloo has the honor of having had the first fire department in
the county.
WATERLOO IN I9I3.
The United States census of 1910 places the number of people in Water-
loo as eleven hundred and sixty-seven. The town is well located on two
railroads, and enjoys increasing prosperity as a shipping point for the sur-
rounding country. The present town board is composed of the following
men : J. E. Dilgard, W. F. Bowman, John Dunn, Wesley Beidler, and Samuel
Gfellers. W. R. Newcomer is clerk, Verne W. Lowman is treasurer ; and W.
H. Ettinger is marshal. A new town hall was built in the year 1912, to re-
place the one destroyed by the windstorm of November 11, 191 1, which swept
over the town from a northeasterly direction, and entailed a hundred thousand
dollar loss to the town. The new town hall is modern in equipment and cost
PICTURESQUE WATERLOO
DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 1 83
twelve thousand dollars. The Indiana Public Utilities Company, an outside
corporation, supplies water and light to the town. Gas, paved streets and
sewerage have not yet been installed in the town.
LIBRARY HISTORY.
The first steps taken to procure a lilDrary for Waterloo were taken in the
fall of 191 1. On the evening of December 5, 191 1, Miss Ora Williams, of
Indianapolis, one of the state organizers, came to Waterloo, and a public
meeting was called at the old United Brethren church, and the library law
and its scope fully explained. A committee from the Fortnightly club, the
Minerva club, the Progressive club, and the W'oman's Christian Temperance
Union, was appointed to proceed with the work of organization. Not until
the summer of 1912, however, was the work pushed. Then they got busy and
the necessary subscription was soon raised, and at the July meeting of the
town board the petition and the subscription list were presented and the town
board ordered the levy to be made. One of the first official acts of the newly
appointed town board was the issuance of an invitation to the advisory boards
of Grant and Smithfield townships to join in the establishment of a public
library. Smithfield township took no action, but the advisory board of Grant
township wanted an expression from their people. The necessar}? signatures
of the tax payers was obtained, and the levy made.
A room in the Denison block was rented, and Bertha Knott was appointed
librarian, and on November 20, 191 2, the library was opened to the public.
Book showers, donations by individuals and clubs, entertainments by the
Rebekah lodge and high school societies furnished money to buy books, and
four hundred books were on the shelves and the state loaned two hundred
more.
The erection of a building had been discussed early and the secretary
of the board was instructed to open up correspondence with the Carnegie
corporation. After some delay this was done, and on March 26, 1913, the
Carnegie board pledged nine thousand dollars for the building with the con-
ditions that a site must be donated and the town and township to guarantee-
to raise nine hundred dollars annually to maintain the library. On April 14,.
the board selected the two Showaltcr lots on the corner of Wayne and Maple-
streets as the best site for the new building and the purchase money was con-
tributed by the people of the south side. Wilson B. Parker, of Indianapolis,
was chosen as architect. On June 28th, contracts were let. Goodall & Sons,
of Peru, secured the contract. The new building will be ready for dedication
sometime in December, 1912, or the first of the year 1913.
184 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA.
UNION TOWNSHIP.
The township of Union is centrally located, and may be regarded as the
most important in the county, due to the location within its limits of Auburn,
the county seat. Union township is bounded on the north by Grant township,
on the west by Richland and Keyser, on the south by Jackson, and on the east
by Wilmington. Cedar creek runs down from the northwest corner, through
the township and leaves near the southwest corner. This drains the town-
ship very thoroughly, although not many years ago there were several tama-
rack swamps in it. The northern and western portions of the area are generally
rolling and somewhat sandy. The southeastern part is more level, and of a
clayey constituency. The Lake Shore & Michigan Southern, the Vandalia
of the Pennsylvania system, and the Baltimore & Ohio railroads cross the
township at various points.
ORGANIZATION.
Union is one of the oldest townships in the county, being but two months
younger than Franklin. At the first regular meeting of the board of com-
missioners of DeKalb county, September 5, 1837, those present being Peter
Fair, Samuel Widney and A. F. Beecher. it was "ordered that the con-
gressional townshi]j 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. 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 Mon-
day in December following, and Lanslot Ingman was 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.
Wolf, S .W. Russell, J. D. Davis, J. W. Case, and William Lessig. Early
constables were: J. O. P. Sherlock, William Shirter, Lyman Chidsey, T. J.
Freeman, Isaac Latson, Joseph Garver, John Druiy, Z. Tanner, H. Siberts,
J. Powlas, H. Jones, L. Weaver, S. Bowman, L. Leasure, Jonathan Hall, A.
O. Espy, J. Haun, Zopher Johnson, Jeremiah Plum, William Valeau. Andrew
Harsh, J. H. Piles, Emanuel Miller, George Jones, and J. B. Howard. The
DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 185
trustees prior to i860 were: J. B. Rockwell, David Altenburg, J. F. Coburn,
John Husselman, N. Payne, James C. George, C. Simonds, S. W. Sprott,
Aaron Hague, James R. Cosper. T. J. Freeman, Kneeland Abbott, William
Middleton, Henry Clay, G. R. Baker, J. E. Hendricks, A. Watkins, T. R.
Dickinson, H. Moneysmith, D. Eldridge, J. Hawk, Dr. W. Dancer, Jacob
Cupp, J. J. Huffman, John Davis, O. A. Parsons, 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.
EARLY SETTLEMENT.
In discussing the first settlement of DeKalb, the most will be written
in the history of Auburn, as the pioneer stoiy of that town is practically
synonymous with that of the township. Early settlers in the township on
farms were: Kneeland Abbott on the south, David Altenburg and Levi
Walsworth on the east, and the Husselmans and McEntaffers on the north.
Altenburg and Walsworth moved in during November, 1838; James R.
Cosper and John Weeks in the spring of 1841 ; and the same year John
Somers and Lyman Chidsey settled southeast of Auburn. In the northeast,
Rockwell, Lightner and Morringston were the first settlers. Two days were
occupied with raising the heavy frame of the Husselman barn, and most
of the settlers for miles around were engaged in the work.
In 1880 the population of Union township, exclusive of Auburn and
Waterloo was 1,200; in 1890, including Auburn 3,030; in 1900, 4,032; in
1910.4,710.
THE CITY OF .A.UBURN.
By Wesley Parle
In the fall of 1836 the first settler of Auburn, Wesley Park, entered
land adjoining that of John Houlton, the first settler of the county. It is
said that a Mr. Comstock opened the first store in the town of Auburn.
Thomas J. Freeman, who occupied a frame building at Park's corners, ap-
plied for a license on March 5, 1838, to sell goods. He brought his supplies
from Fort Wayne on horseback, using a pair of saddlebags. Freeman kept
whiskey, for liquor was much used among the Indians and settlers, who liked
its qualities as a preventative of chills.
On November 5, 1838, Daniel Strong and Isaac T. Aldrich, newly chosen
commissioners, together with Peter Fair, a member of the old board, met
l86 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA.
at the house of Wesley Park. The books of the early county, and the first
records, were written upon all kinds of manuscript, even family records.
As the commissioners met at different times and settlers moved into the
county, the few officials having their headquarters at Auburn, were employed
in reducing townships areas and districts, until the congressional became the
boundary of the civil townships.
EARLY .SETTLERS.
The settlers watched neither times nor seasons in their emigration, but
waded the snows of winter, or in the summer, following Miller's trace, skirt-
ing the swamps, and, until a land entry could be made, accepting the hospitali-
ty of the resident settlers. For several years Auburn was little more than
a name, and many lots were bought and held by speculators. In 1839, there
was a small sale of lots, but little building upon them. Several men came
in the fall of 1839, boarded with Wesley Parks and Freeman, and bought
land and lots, aided in the selection by Parks, who charged a small fee for
his services. Daniel Altenburg and Levi Wals\yorth came from Steubenville
in November, 1838, having a very difficult journey through the snow and
swamp land. Wolves howled in the darkness around their night camps on
the trail, and strange and fearsome noises occurred in the forests around them.
They expressed themselves as mighty glad to reach the settlement. On
January 17, 1840, the Sherlock family came. In 1841 came Samuel W.
Sprott, David Weaver, David Shoemaker, Henry Curtis, Lyman Chidsey.
James R. Cosper and David Cosper.
At this time there were four taverns in Auburn, and their cheery inter-
ior was utilized by the settlers as a rendezvous where
"A mug of ale, and hearty jest
Did never fail to give a zest"
to the merry companies that assembled there. These taverns were owned
by Thomas J. Freeman, O. A. Parson, J. O. Sherlock and Nelson Payne.
In the year 1841, there was much sickness in the settlement at Auburn. The
old mill dam north of the village was deemed responsible for the fever and
ague that came upon the community. The water backed up at the dam,
and was a veritable hotbed of malerial germs, according to the settlers. They
said that maleria was worse in the morning and evening, for the air, when
DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. I»7
heated, arose, iDearing miasma with it, and toward evening as the surface
cooled, the malaria sank again to the earth. No medicine could remove the
disease while the malaria existed. In this age, we know that such was not
the cause of malaria. The breeding and re-breeding of germs caused alter-
nate fever and chill, for the germs lived in the blood, not in the old mill
dam, although the mill dam was the home of the mosquito which carried the
genn to the human body. Provisions were scarce, the wildness of the sur-
rounding country, and the fewness of the inhabitants, in number seventy-two,
made this year a miserable one and a tax to the strongest and most optimistic
pioneer. Dr. Ross, R. B. Cooper and Eli Pritchard were the only doctors.
In 1842, Samuel W. Ralston came to DeKalb county, and found here
eight families, among them being those of Wesley Park, O. A. Parsons, J.
Puffenberger, Lanslot Ingman, J. O. Sherlock and Nelson Payne.
In 1843, O. C. Houghton and family, of New York, came to the settle-
ment, and Houghton bought the steam mill owned by Wesley Park. Aaron
Hague and David S. Shoemaker also came in this year. This year is noted
on account of the terrific hurricane which swept over DeKalb county, level-
ing grain fields, unroofing cabins, felling giant trees of the forest, and perform-
ing many peculiar freaks by force of the winds. The next year was also
one to be remembered, for the winter was one of the severest in the whole
history of DeKalb county. In 1845, efforts were made to have the old mill
dam north of the town removed, and the case was even taken to the courts.
STREET BEGINNINGS.
The Fort Wayne and Coldwater state road through Auburn bore the
name of West street, and the Defiance and Goshen state road laid out as
entering on Seventh street and leaving on Third street. Cedar street was
platted as Main street, and a street east was East street, but was vacated in
1855, because its course led through the bottom lands of Cedar creek and
swamps. From Ninth street south to Fifteenth street, was a swampy
tract too low for drainage, covered with rank vegetation in the summer.
John Kruger established an ashery at the east end of the street. In the year
1848, the taxes for Auburn amounted to $18,337.39.
INCORPORATION AS TOWN.
In the year 1849, Auburn was incorporated as a town, and divided into
wards, as follows : First ward, all north of Fourth street ; second ward, be-
l88 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA.
tween Fourth and Eighth streets; third ward, between Eighth and Twelfth
streets; fourth ward, between Twelfth and Green streets; fifth ward, remain-
ing south of Green street. The election for officers was held on September
22, and C. .\. Parsons, Wesley Park, Nelson Payne, James T. Bliss and
Joel E. Hendricks were named as the first board of trustees. These men
served in their official capacity witliout compensation of any kind — except
possibly a political favor now and then. T. R. Dickinson was appointed
clerk of the new town, Egbert B. Mott, treasurer, and William B. Dancer,
assessor. In the fall of 1849, quite a colony of people emigrated from Stark
county, Ohio.
At an adjourned meeting of the board of trustees of Auburn, held April 30,
1853, at the store of S. B. Ward, it was resolved: "That in and from this
time and henceforth this town be incorporated and governed as provided in
Sec. sf'), of chapter 108. of the revised statutes of 1852." These laws state
that a town may, by resolution, become incorporated under this act, but the
same shall be deemed a surrender of all the rights and franchises acquired
under any fomier act of incorporation. The officers were specified to remain
the same. Thus, Auburn was again incorporated, but to what advantage it
is not known. In the year 1853, also, sidewalks were established at a width
of ten feet, and the planting of shade trees was authorized within the ten
feet. This was done, and today Auburn's many trees beautify the town.
The first hotel, intended as such, was kept by T. J. Freeman, who some
years afterward built the hostelry known as the Franklin House, also Gris-
wold and later Auburn House. Samuel Reed was the first minister in Au-
burn, representing the Methodist Episcopal denomination. The first resident
carpenter was James R. Gosper, and later Samuel Ralston, Amos Hutchin-
son and O. C. Houghton came. The first cabinet makers were J. O. P.
Sherlock, John Johnson and L. Ingman. The first gunsmith was Isaac
Savage, and afterwards, Charles Stimely. The first wagon maker was Jona-
than Hall. Philip Fluke was the first tanner. The first shoemakers were:
Cyrus Smith, A. Forshee, S. Latson ; the first harness maker, William
Abright: tinner, Isaac Jones, Sr., and hatters, Joseph Garver, John Tridell
and J. D. Davis. John Tridell started the first foundry on the site of the
postoftice.
At the close of the Civil war Auburn was a very quiet and retired vil-
lage of about seven hundred inhabitants, its principal features being two,
long, tree-lined streets, the new court house, the woolen factory and the
academy. The academy and woolen factory were afterwards destroyed by
fire, also the court house.
DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 1 89
The early religious, educational, medical and legal history of the present
city of Auburn is discussed fully in the respective chapters dealing with those
subjects.
INCORPORATION AS CITY.
In the latter part of the month of April, 1900, the town of Auburn was
inctjrporated as a city of the fifth class. The town board held its last
meeting on May 4th, of that year, and then the following officers took office
for the first time: IMayor, Don A. Garwood: clerk, C. 13. Weaver; treasurer,
David A. Hodge; marshal, E. Morton, Hilkey ; councilmen, John Zimmer-
man, Milen E. Garrett, John B. Rolape, Howard B. McCord; Perry A. Muhn
and Eli T. Cochran. Thomas H. Sprott became mayor in 1902 ; J. Y. W.
McClellan in 1904; George O. Denison in 1906, and H. R. Culbertson, the
present incumbent, in 19 10. James Y. W. McClellan will take the office in
January, 1914. The other officers of the city at this date are : E. O. Little,
clerk; E. E. Shilling, treasurer; John Kerran, marshal: J. H. St. Clair,
E. A. Johnson, Erank Shook, T. H. Leasure and O. J. Wise, councilmen. A
new city hall is in process of construction for the use of the city officials,
fire department and assembly rooms. This structure is a handsome one of
brick with stone trimmings, and w-ill cost when completed, thirty-five thou-
sand dollars.
PUBLIC UTILITIES.
Auburn possesses public improvements proportionately .equal to any
other city in northern Indiana. Eive miles of asphalt paving add to the
beauty of the city, and the streets are at all time kept clean and in the best
of condition. The absence of heavy traffic is a saving factor to the asphalt,
and consequently, holes and rips are seldom ob.served. An extensive sewer-
age system of about seven miles is but another of the sanitary features of the
city. Cement walks, lined with beautiful shade trees, with the many artistic
residences, make Auburn typically a "city of homes."
The Auburn water and light works was constructed in the year 1898,
at an original cost of thirty-five thousand dollars. The plant is now valued
at one hundred thousand dollars. The water is drawn from deep artesian
wells, and is of first quality, in clearness and purity. The gas for the city is
supplied from the Indiana Light and Heat Company of Fort Wayne, which
also furnishes the artificial gas to Garrett and Kendallville.
190 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA.
About seventeen years ago, when a committee, of which Charles Eckhart
was chairman, established a reading room in the building now occupied by
the Maze cafe, the first steps might be said to have been taken toward the
erection of an efficient library for the public. The original Culture Club had
in the meantime provided a library for its members and others who contri-
buted to the support of the institution. At that time, however, there existed
no library laws as we now have, and abandonment of all these movements
was necessitated for want of proper support. The late W. H. Keckler, when
jiresident of the Commercial club, became interested in the matter, and he
apijointed a committee, but unfortunately, this body did nothing.
The various clubs appointed delegates who met conjunctively and Miss
Merica Hoagland, then state librarian, gave a thorough discussion relative
to the requirements and the methods of procedure necessary to take advan-
tage of the state law. The clubs subsequently submitted reports stating the
amounts of money they would contribute and while the result demonstrated
the great momentum the mo\ement had gained, it was not equal to the sum
necessary for the expedition of the plans. The Thursday Evening club then
districted the town of Auburn, assigning territory for each member to can-
vass. The result was a subscription which assured success for the library.
The organization of a library board was next considered, and the judge
appointed Charles Eckhart, Grace Smith and H. E. Coe. The city council
appointed Mrs. J. C. Baxter and C. M. Brown. The school board appointed
Dr. Lida Leasure and Dr. F. M. Hines. The initial meeting of the official
board was held July 6, 1906. The first matter to come up before the board
was the choice of a site and the purchase of the necessary equipment. The
Culture Club donated three hundred books. A loan library of sixty volumes
was given from another source. The citizens contributed their share of the
money, and on March 8, 1907', the library was opened, with Mrs. A. H.
Barnes as its custodian. Mr. Carnegie was appealed to, and expressed his
willingness to give twelve thousand five hundred dollars toward the erection
of a permanent building. Charles Eckhart had previously informed the boarc
that he would cheerfully donate the necessary site for a library building.
eckhart's gift.
While the matter of erecting a lilirary building was considered Charles
Eckhart took the step which was to make his name everlasting in the history
DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. IQI
of Auburn and DeKalb county, and to strengthen the feeling of profound re-
spect and afifection which his townspeople held for him. He not only offered
to give the site for the new library, Imt asked to be allowed to provide means
for the erection of a magnificent building, including all the equipment and
furnishings. This generous and wholehearted bequest was accepted by the
people and accordingly the ground was beautified and a library constructed.
On May 13, 19 10, the corner stone was laid with fitting ceremony, including
a spirited address by Thomas R. Marshall, then governor of the state. The
deed, dated December 15, 1909, to the public librai-y board of the city of
Auburn, Indiana, was given over on condition that there should forever be
maintained on the real estate and building given, a public library, with
assembly room open at all reasonable hours, to l:e non-sectarian and non-po-
litical. It was meant to be an organization for the advancement of education
and philanthropy, and neither the sale nor the use of tobacco, nor intoxicat-
ing liquors, should ever be permitted on said grounds.
CLUBS AND SOCIETIES.
In 1908, the various clubs of Auburn and vicinity associated themselves
together, "the object being to bring into cummunication the \arious women's
organizations of the city and community, that they may compare methods
of work and become mutually helpful in the work of any common interest."
The organization thus effected was given the name of "The Woman's
League." The clubs holding membership are: the Ladies' Reading Club,
Ladies' Literary Club, Entre Nous Club, Auburn Culture Club, Richardson
Art Embroidery Club, Utile Dulci Club, Thursday Evening Club, En Ami
Club, Auburn Amateur Musicale, Woman's Christian Temperance Union.
The officers of the League are: Mrs. J. E. Buchanan, president; Miss Inez
Knapp, vice-president; Mrs. Beulali Casebeer, secretary; and Mrs. A. M.
Oswalt, treasurer.
Club life and work is one of the main features of Auburn societ}'. The
associations have always done their work well, and have aided materially
in making Auburn a better and cleaner city, and to these forces is due a great
deal of credit for the defeat of the saloon element in the past several years.
The Auburn Commercial Club was organized on February 14, 1903,
with forty members, and now has an enrollment of one hundred and fifty.
W. H. Schaab is president, C. B. Weaver secretary and E. W. Hicks treas-
urer. The purpose of this organization is the furtherance of ci\ic and com-
mercial interests pertaining to Auburn. Tlie work done by these men is
192 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA.
directly responsible for the present high standard of Auburn business and
municipal excellence.
The Auburn Country Club was organized on April 5, 1910, and pur-
chased a twenty-seven acre tract on East Seventh street. F. E. Eckhart,
John Zimmerman, J. I. Farley, George Shepard, A. M. Oswalt, M. L. Green,
H. C. McClung, J. E. Pomeroy and A. L. Kuhlman were charter members.
Besides the three lodges. Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Masons
and Knights of Pythias, treated at length in the lodge chapter, the following
are in Auburn : DeKalb County Poultry Association, Grand Army of the
Republic, DeLong Post No. 67 ; ^^'oman■s Relief Corps, DeLong Post No. 2 ;
Knights of Golden Eagle, Auburn Lodge No. 25 ; Ladies of Golden Eagle,
Auburn Temple No. 23; Knights of the Maccabees, Auburn Tent No. 51;
Ladies of the Maccabees, Conrad Hive No. 9; Modern Woodmen of America,
Eureka Camp No. 3805; Royal Neighljors. Warner Camp No. 3005.
POSTOFFICE HISTORY.
The Auburn postotlice is now of the second class. Sixteen men are em-
ployed in the department, including the postmaster and deputy. There are
six rural routes going from the Auburn office. Seventeen mail trains daily
supply the transportation for the mail. The amount on deposit for the sav-
ing department in Novemlier, 191 3. was a total of fifteen thousand dollars.
The amount of business of the office, outside of money orders, for the last
fiscal year was twenty-seven thousand two hundred and fifty-four dollars and
sixty-eight cents. The present postmaster's commission is dated April 15,
1910. The following is a complete list of the postmasters who have served
at Aulnirn, obtained from the first assistant postmaster-general at \\'ashing-
ton, D. C. :
Wesley Park, date of appointment, March 5, 1839; Nelson Payne, Octo-
ber 6, 1845; Alonzo Watkins, May 15, 1849; E. B. Mott, February 10, 1851;
T. R. Dickinson, June 15, 1853; J. B. Hoover, December 24, 1855; WilHam
C. McGonigal, July 15, 1858; John Butt, April 6. 1859; Wyllis Griswold,
March 9, i860; C. S. Hare, August 27, 1860; J. W. Case, April 16, 1861 ;
S. W. Sprott, March 13, 1867; J. D. Burr, July ly. 1867: William E. Rush,
December 16, 1867; J. W. Case, March 19, 1869; S. L. Yandes, August 4,
1869; Joseph Ranier, June 20, 1876; George W. Gordon, December 15, 1881 ;
Michael Boland. August 6, 1885; George W. Gordon, September 19, 1889;
Silas J. Brandon, November i, 1893; Granville H. Forker, ; October 22,
1897; Thomas A. Carter. January 9, 1902: Aubrey L. Kuhlman. January 23,
1906; Isaac M. Zent, April 4, 1910.
:ast sk\'k\tii strki-
WEST SEVENTH STREET, AUBURN
DEKAI.B COUNTY, INDIANA.
YOUNG MEN S CriRISTIAN ASSOCIATION.
193
Another superb moininieiit to Auburn's notable citizen, Charles Eckhart,
is the handsome building for the Young Men's Christian Association, com-
pleted on the corner of North Main and Fourth streets. This building is of
brick and stone, and cost about forty thousand dollars. Charles and Frank
E. Eckhart, on June 25, 1912, offered a substantial sum each, for the site, the
building, and equipment complete, to be turned over to the city, providing
the latter would agree to provide a customary share of its annual support. The
building was deeded to a board of trustees. This magnificent institution will
have a well equipped gymnasium with all the modern apparatus, a plunge
bath, several class rooms, a commodious kitchen, a large lobby for general
use, a room for the men, and one for boys. There are sixteen rooms in the
dormitory, and ten shower baths.
AUTOMOBILE FACTORIES.
The Zimmerman Manufacturing Company was established in 1873 by
Franklin T. Zimmerman, with a partner named Watson, as a planing mill.
Watson sold his interest to George B. Zimmerman, and the firm then became
known as Zimmerman Brothers. This continued until December of 1876,
when George B. sold out to Eli Zimmerman, and then the firm name changed
to Zimmerman Company. In December, 1886, the firm was incorporated
under the title of the Zimmerman Manufacturing Company, which cognomen
it still bears. The first officers of the incorporation were : John W. Ba.xter,
president; Eli Zimmerman, secretary; Albert Robbins, treasurer; F. T. Zim-
merman, general manager. In 1880, and until 1908, the company manufac-
tured windmills of every type. In i8go the carriage business was begun,
and in 1907, the automobile industry. The machines are assembled here,
and shipped to every part of the United States. The present of^cers are:
Eli Zimmerman, president ; C. C. Schlatter, vice-president ; John Zimmerman,
secretary-treasurer and general manager. F. T. Zimmerman was the real
founder, and acted as manager until the spring of 19 10, when his health failed,.
his death occurring in September of the same year. The capital stock of
the company is sixty-one thousand dollars. The factory has one hundred
thousand square feet of floor space, and an average of ninety men are em-
ploved in all departments.
(13)
194 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA.
The Auburn Automobile Company was established at Auburn in Octo-
ber of the year 1902. The business was begun with small capacity and little
capital, but steadily has increased, until now it is one of the largest automo-
bile concerns in the state and middle west. The first capital was twenty-five
.thousand dollars, and in the eleven years since the establishment this sum has
mounted to five hundred thousand dollars. Charles Eckhart is the president
•of the corporation; Frank E. Eckhart, vice-president, and Morris E. Eckhart,
secretary-treasurer and general manager. The manufacture and assembling
of automobiles is the sole business of this concern, although the company
at one time manufactured buggies. Shipments are made to all parts of the
United States and to many foreign countries. The floor space of the present
factory is over one hundred and twenty-five thousand square feet, and from
one hundred and fifty to two hundred men are employed. During the last
three years the annual business has been about two million dollars.
The W. H. Mclntyre Company was established in the year 1S83 under
the name of W. H. Kiblinger Company, and this company manufactured
carriages. In the year 1909 the firm name was changed to the W. H.
Mclntyre Company, which it bears at this time. The incorporation, how-
ever, occurred ten years previous to this change in name. W. H. Mclntyre
is president and treasurer of this company, and H. C. Mclntyre is secretary.
The capital stock is one hundred and fifty thousand dollars. Three plants
are operated in the city of Auburn, and four hundred men are employed on
the average. Shipments are made both to points in the United States and
foreign lands. Autos, trucks and cyclecars are manufactured. One plant,
formerly located just north of the Swineford hotel, was destroyed by fire in
the year 19 13.
OTHER INDUSTRIES.
Besides the three automobile factories, the city of Auburn has two car-
riage factories, a creamery, a handle factory, a carriage body factory, an
■excelsior factory, an artificial ice plant, a rug factory, a post card factory,
two cigar factories, a cigar-lighter factory, one foundry, a double fabric tire
reinforcing factory, a heating and ventilating company, and several small
mills.
STORM OF SEPTEMBER 29, 1872.
At the opening of the year 1872, many buildings had been built in the
town of Auburn, and many others were in the process of construction. Among
the finer blocks was the Odd Fellows' hall.
DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 195
On the 29th of September, i87'2, between three and four o'clock in the
morning, a terrific gale sprang up from the southwest and struck the new
building with a driving force. Its wall, which was then ready for the roof,
crumbled under the pressure and crashed to the ground, damaging the
Methodist Episcopal cinirch on the east. The storm once past, a desolate
and discouraging sight were the streets of Auburn. Heaps of broken stone,
brick, and splintered timber lay in profusion in every direction. Few build-
ings but received their share of the storm, and especially the Odd Fellows"
hall.
FALL OF SNYDER BLOCK.
On Sunday evening, April 6, 1873, t'""^ t^^w brick block on Seventh
street known as Snyder's building fell. For a few days before, it had been
noticed that the inner foundation wall was weak and gave indication of giv-
ing way, but no precautions were taken to prevent the calamity until after
the roar and crash of the falling structtu'e announced that it was too late.
Mr. Snyder's stock of farm implements inside was totally destroyed, and the
Ensley building, adjoining, was also destroyed.
DARING BURGLARY.
On Saturday night, February 16, 1867, the county treasurer's office at
Auburn was broken open and robbed of eighteen thousand dollars, according
to reports. The outer door of the office was of iron, and was drilled into
and pried ofif, and the wooden doors forced open. The outer door of the
safe was cut through the panels. abo\e and I)el(n\ the lock, the inner bolts
withdrawn, and the door opened. The money chest was opened by steel
wedges and bars. The general work of the affair was evidently that of an
expert "cracksman." Suspicion fell upon several parties, and arrests were
made, but being unsuccessful after several months, the affair was dropped.
A great deal of litigation resulted, and in 1875 the matter was settled by the
county accepting a judgment of fifty-eight hundred dollars.
CHAPTER VIII.
RELIGIOUS HISTORY.
FIRST PREACHER.
The first settlers of DeKalb county were without rehgious privileges of
any kind. Benjamon Alton, of the Desciples' or Campbellite church, preached
the first sermon in the county in the fall of the year 1836. For over a year
he was the only preacher. He settled in the woods, cleared a space for his
home, and worked hard during the week, chopping for himself and for his
neighbors in order to earn enough to stock his larder. However, on
Sundays he never failed to don his black coat and occupy the puipit. It is
said of him, though, on reliable authority, that he used to preach in the sum-
mer, in his rough tow pants, without a coat, and with a shoe on one foot
and a boot on the other. This was not strange for the time, however, for
boots and shoes were next to impossible to obtain. John P. Widney and
S. W. Widney once had one pair of shoes between them ; one would wear
them on Sunday and the other fellow on the following Sunday, the odd felloAv
remaining at home. John and Hazzard Webster are said to have gone bare-
footed many months, coming to town for election in the same manner.
FIRST MEETING.
The first Methodist two days meeting was lield near Orangeville in
1837, by N. L. Thomas and Joseph Miller, both then residing on the ^ilaumee.
Prayer meetings had been held previously by people of various denominations,
without any distinctions. The origin of the first one is thus related by Judge
Widnev : "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 Thomas L. Yates, afterward
judge, was under conviction, and wished me to come and pray with him. I
DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. I97
went, and found quite a numlier of persons in the house. I sang and prayed,
and wliile praying, noticed tliat old Father Rhodes was fervently responding
to my petitions. I then sang again and called upon him to pray, and while
he prayed I noticed that the old lady, his wife, was also 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. After-
ward we held prayer-meeting nearly every Sabbath, at Father Rhodes', my
house, Mr. Lounsbury's, Mr. Eckhart's, or some other."
EARLY PREACHERS AND MEETINGS.
Mr. W'idney continues; "Revs. Coleman and Warner were the first
circuit [ireachers of the Methodist Episcopal church who visited the settle-
ment. I think it was ?^ome time in the year 1838. They organized several
classes at different points. Early in the year 1839, sixteen persons who had
tjeen members of the Methodist Protestant church in Ohio and Pennsylvania
met at the home of Samuel Tarney, on Bear creek, and organized themselves
into a Methodist Protestant class. I was one of the members, and Samuel
Widney, Sr., was our leader. He wmte to Rev. Joe! Dalbey, then at Pitts-
burg, 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. The 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 Protestant preacher in
Indiana, north of the Wabash, so far as 1 know. For some time the Disci-
ples, Methodist Episco]ial 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. S. B. \\'ard was the first regular Baptist minister in the county, Elders
Cherry and Miner the first Free-^^'ill Baptist, and James Cather the first
Lutheran. Mr. Cather commenced In's laliors early in llic year 1844. and
the others several years earlier."
The Church of God structure was the first house of worship built in the
city of Auburn, and it was constructed by the Presbyterians in pioneer days
and occupied by them until their own brick church was erected. Then the
Lutherans used the building, and after them, the Church of God bought it,
and u,sed it until the s])ring nf 1005, when thev built for their services a
198 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA.
brick church. The ground of this church was donated by the late W. S.
Ralston. He afterward wished to buy it back, and ofifered them the corner
w'here the new Church of God stands, but they refused to trade on account
of the lot being too swampy.
METHODLST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
There are eleven organizations and ten churches of the Methodist de-
nomination in DeKalb county. There is one church building in Auburn,
Garrett, Corunna, Waterloo, Butler and Spencerville, the others being in the
country districts. The first organizations were made in the year 1839, by
the earl}' pioneer settlers, nearly all of whom ha\e been long since called
from labor to reward. In the early days, the "circuit rider" was much in
evidence; in fact, for twenty-five or thirty years the safest and most con-
venient way to reach the different appointments was on horseback, and the
pioneer preachers rarely made their appointments oftener than once in two
weeks, and in some cases, once in four weeks, frequently holding services in
private homes, wherever a few people could be brought together. The
younger pastors of the present day can hardl}- comprehend the sacrifice and
hardships of the early day pastor and the amount of labor he was required
to perform for the meager salan- that he received. Yet the people of those
days seemed to have, and I believe did have, a higher appreciation of the
preached word than people do now.
The first Methodist Episcopal church of Aulmrn, Indiana, was organized
in the year 1839, by Rev. Samuel Reed, a very brilliant young minister who
died at a comparatively early age. He was greatly aided by Wesley Park,
the founder of the town. This was first called the St. Joe Mission. Rev.
Geo. M. Beswick was the presiding elder. To Wesley Park was given much
credit in forming this first class, which numbered forty-two souls. He also,
in a few years, organized the first Sabbath school and was a great help to the
church all his life. The first church was built in the year 1843, ^t the north-
east corner of the court square, and later a lecture room was added in the
rear. As the town enlarged, it was thought advisable to take a location
farther from the business center, so in the summer of 1878, under the pas-
torate of Rev. J. E. Ervin, this building was moved to the lot on the north-
east corner of Van Buren and Seventh streets and placed at the back part of
the lot so that there would be room to erect a new church as soon as thought
best, and in the summer of 1890, under the pastorate of Rev. H. M. Lamport,
the splendid new brick building was erected at a cost of near twenty thou-
DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. I99
sand dollars. This \\as used with but little change until the summer of
1912, when improvements were made in an enlarged basement with cement
floor, a model kitchen and dining room, a new steam heating plant, improved
lights, frescoing and refinishing all woodwork, improvements on the pipe
organ and cork linoleum on the floors, all at a cost of about five thousand
dollars, under the pastorate of Rev. Fred F. Thomburg. In the fall of 1896.
after the new church was built and the old one sold and removed, the old
parsonage was moved to the rear of the new church and repaired and used
until 1905, when a new parsonage was purchased at the northwest corner of
Fifth and Van Buren streets, all making by far the most valuable and commo-
dious church property of any in the city or county. The present membership
is about five hundred and fifty, with a large Sunday school of about the same
enrollment.
The pastors who succeeded Rev. Reed in 1839 were: In 1844, Enoch
Holdstock; 1845, James Sparr; 1846; Elijah Lillison and J. P. Jones; 1847,
W. J. Forbes and E. Hall; 1S48, S. Lamb and E. ^laynard ; 1849, S. Lamb
and James Sewell ; 1S50, J. J. Coo])er: 185 [. J. H. Payton; 1852, M. M.
Hann; 1853, James Sewell; 1854, J. W. Welch, two years; 1856, Isaac
Ayres; 1857, E. S. Preston and a supply; 1858, Isaac Dean; 1859, Thomas
Comstock, two years; 1861, S. H. Clark and J. Mann; 1862. C. W. Lynch
and M. E. Hansley. two years; 1S64, J. W. Miller; 1865, C. Hoover; 1866,
Emanuel Hall, two years ; i8dS, William Comstock, two years; 1870, Eman-
uel Hall; 1871, A. W. Lamport; i87'2, Albert Cone, two years; 1874, J. W.
Welch, three years; 1877, J. E. Ervin, two years; 1879; H. J. Norris, three
years: 1882, W. H. Daniel; 1883, C. W. Church and C. L. Clippinger. three
years; 1886, H. M. Lamport, four years; 1891, A. S. Wooten, four years;
1895, J. K. Walts, two years; 1897, L. M. Guild, three years; 1901, L. M.
Krider, four years; 1905, i\I. A. Harlan, two years; 1907. W. Pj. Freeland.
three years; 1910, Fred F. Thornburg three years.
The societies are : The Ladies' Aid, Woman's Foreign Missionary So-
ciety, also the Home Missionary Society, the Epworth League and Junior
League.
The Methodist Episcopal church was organized in Garrett bv the Rev.
J. W. Welch in 1875. He was at that time pastor of the church in Auburn
and came to Garrett to hold meetings. These meetings were held in a place
just east of where the present church stands and was known as "The Taber-
nacle." This tabernacle had nothing but a sawdust floor, and was sided with
rough, up-and-down siding. As near as can be found the first members were
2(X) DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA.
Mr. and Mrs. John Stoner, Mrs. J- G. Philbrick, Mrs. Anna Keneskie, Miss
Stickney, Mrs. Alarsh, Mrs. Parker and several others.
In the spring of 1876, Rev. George Adams was appointed to Garrett,
being the first regularly appointed pastor of this church. During this year
the preaching place was moved to an old frame building that had formerly
been used as a saloon, standing on Cowen street where the fire department
house now stands. In the spring of 1877 Rev. Beneville Saw3.-er succeeded
Rev. Adams, and under his control prosperity dawned upon the little society.
New members were added and many helped the church who were not mem-
bers. About the close of his pastorate, the front part of the church building
was erected and dedicated. In 1879 Rev. H. Sutherlin was pastor. In 1880
Rev. S. T. Sti:)ut came, and in the next year the church was supplied by dif-
ferent men. In 1882 Rew W. E. McCarty was ])astor and remained one
3'ear, when he was followed in 1883 I)y Rev. Chauncey King, who served
three years. In 1886 Rev. W. R. Jones was appointed to the charge and
remained until 1891. During the time he was here the church was built to
its fullest extent. In i8qi Rev. .\. L. Lamport was appointed to this charge
and remained a little o\er three years. Rev. M. E. Nethercut followed and
in 1895 Rev. G. B. Work took charge, to be succeeded the next year by Rev.
J. B. Book. The year 1897 saw the coming of Rev. J. M. Haines for a term
of five years. In 1902 Rev. J. .\. Patterson took up the work: in 1905 Rev.
P. E. Powell had charge, and in 1908 Rev. D. V. ^\■illiams. He continued
imtil 191 I, when he was followed b}' the present able and efticient pastor.
Rev. Charles Tinkham.
At the beginning of the present pastorate there was a very strong feel-
ing that the church building was not adequate to the needs of the growing
congregation. During the summer of 1911 the proposition of erecting a new
church was submitted to the members of the church for their vote. The
result was an almost unanimous vote for a new edifice. Plans for subscrip-
tion were laid, and by Januaiw i. 1912, the pastor had taken suliscriptions
amounting to nearly se\enteen thousand dollars. On June i the trustees
ivurchased the new location at the corner of Cowen and Huston streets,
agreeing to jiay four thousand dollars for the site. Plans were submitted to
the church authorities and the architect and contractor selected, with the
result that at this time the work upon the handsome new Methodist Episcopa'
church is practically finished. The church will cost, when completed, about
tweiity thousand dollars.
The present membership of the church in Garrett is alxnit four hundred
and twenty-five. The Sunday school a\-erages about two hundred and sev-
DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 201
enty-five members. The Epworth League has a membership of one hundred
and fifty, the Junior league one hundred and ten. There are two missionary
societies, the home and the foreign. There is also a Ladies' Aid Society,
composed of all the women of the church.
The Methodist Episcopal church at Waterloo first used a seminary
building. The brick church was constructed in 1885, but in October, 1886,
it burned, and was rebuilt under the pastorate of Rev. W. D. Parr in 1887,
at a cost of fifty-five hundred dollars.
The present membershij) is sevent} , and there is a progressive Sunday
school of sixty-five people. There is also a missionary and- temperance so-
ciety. The Epworth League does not hold devotional meetings, but assists
in sustaining a missionary in India. There is a Ladies' Aid Society, which
is active in taking charge of the finances and keeping the church and parson-
age in good repair.
The past(jrs who have served this church and the dale of their services
is as follows: Revs. W. M. VanSlyke, 1884; W. D. Parr. 1885; H. C.
Smith. 1888; L. A. Retts, 1890: J. \\'. ne\\'eese, 1891 : E. F. Albertson,
1892: W. S. A. Bridge, 189.3; C. L. ^^■eaver, 1894; F. L. Erlongher, 1895;
W. F. Dingel, 1898; J. D. Belt, 1900: D. J. Hower. 190T : L. .\. Retts, 1903;
C. H. Murray, 1904: R. D. Bevin, 1907: E. E. Bergman, 1909: N. L. Stam-
baugh, 1910; R. F. Hubbartt, 191 1, and Carl E. Bash, 1913.
The Methodist Episcopal society at Butler was organized about 1839
at "the corners," before any town had been established. Four years later
the society began holding meetings one mile north of the present site of But-
ler, at the home of John McCurdx-. .After eighteen months another removal
was made to the school house at the corners, and the membership at once
increased from fifteen to ninety. Mr. McCurdy was then living on a farm
later owned by Jeremiah Lewis. The frame church was built in 1855 ^"<i
1856, at a cost of one thousand dollars. The first pastor of the society was
Rev. Jesse Sparks. The pastors who followed him until the present time
were: Revs. John Paul Jones, Metz. Lanil), J. J. Cooper, Lynch, Lamport,
C. H. Wilkinson, D. C. Woollpert ; W. S. Stewart, 1885-7; A. Cone. 1888-9;
F. M. Stone, 1890-2; J. S. Kane. 1893-4; C. E. Disbrow, 1895-7; T. F.
Freeh, 1898-1903; H. C. Smith. i<)04-5; G. H. Myers. 1905-7; E. F. Albert-
son, 1907-12; W. H. Brightmire, 1912-14. '!"he present brick church was
built in 1889, and is valued at fifteen thousand dollars. The parsonage was
constructed during the pastorate of Rev. Freeh. There are two hundred
and eightv members of the church, and in the Sunday school are two hundred
202 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA.
and fifty. The societies are the Ladies' Aid Society, the Woman's Foreign
Missionary Society and the Epworth League for young people.
The Methodist Episcopal church at Spencerville has an enrollment of
one hundred and se\-enty-two members, with a Sunday school of one hun-
dred and four. The pastorate is in charge of Rev. Arthur Gordon at this
time. Since 1894 the pastors have been: Revs. Simons, E. H. Peters, C. B.
Sweeney, D. -A.. J. Brown, C. .\. I'.urt, Homer Elliott. The Ladies' .A.id
Society is acti\e in the church.
METHODIST PROTESTANT CITURCHE.S.
The Methodist Protestant organization at St. Joe was brought into
existence in the year of 1886, and from those humble beginnings has devel-
oped into a hustling and progressive society of one hundred members. Rev.
W. H. Lineberry was the pastor who assisted in organizing the church. The
church edifice was built in 1888, the same year as the Disciples church. The
building cost thirty-five hundred dollars. At this writing, Rev. G. C. Mc-
Caslin is in charge of the society. The first trustees were Frank Ingle,
George Bleeks and Sol Barney. The Sunday school, Ladies' Aid Society
and Christian Endeavor add greatly to the interest of the church. The
Methodist Protestant society has small churches at Concord and Fairview
jilso.
The Rehoboth Methodist Protestant church was organized sometime in
the year 1840, at the cabin-home of Samuel Tarney. The charter members
were: Amariah Johnson and wife, Nathan Wyatt and wife, Abraham John-
son and wife, John Wyatt and wife, William R. Moore and wife, Samuel
Tarney and wife, William A. Squires and wife, and Samuel Widney and
wife. These sixteen persons constituted the first church organization in
Jackson township which was known as the Bear Creek class. There being no
church house, services were held at the caliin-homes of the early settlers; for
some time' later the regular ser\ices were held in a log schoolhouse located on
the farm of .A.mariah Johnson, now owned by William Jolmson. Special
meetings were either lield in the grox'es or at tlie double log l)arns of the
settlers.
Some years later a church was built a short distance north of the log
school house. The building was a frame structure and was considered quite
elaborate at that early day. This church was known as the Bear Creek
church. Here services were held until the fall of 1881, when the old church
was considered unsafe and was abandoned. This old building was the scene
DEKALB COUNTYj INDIANA. 2O3
of many a gracious revival and many liearts were made happ\- in a Savior's
love. After abandoning the old church, the place of holding services was at
the Bear Creek schoolhouse, a half mile west. Under the pastorate of the
late Rev. F. M. Hussy, during the winter of 1881 and 1882, an effort was put
forth for the erection of a new church house. It was with some difficulty
that a suitable location could be found.
It was finally decided to build on the site where the Rehoboth church
now stands, and the building was completed at a cost of twenty-one hundred
dollars. Owing to the difficulty in securing a location, Mr. John S. Boots, one
of the donors, thought that the proper name for the church should be Reho-
both, and wished the honor of naming it, which privilege was accorded him.
In the fall of 1913, this church house underwent repairs ot the extent of
eight hundred dollars. To he in keeping with the progress of the time, a
basement has Ijeen put under the church, a furnace and modern lighting sys-
tem installed, and an addition made.
The first religious service held in Jackson township was at the home of
William Watson in 1839, and the preacher was Rev. James T. Robe, of the
Methodist Episcopal denomination.
Rev. Lewis Hicklan, missionary of the Methodist Protestant church,
came to Jackson township in 1841. and organized a church. Today there
are in the township several churches : namely, Church of God, Methodist
Protestant and United Brethren.
THE GERMAN METHODIST CHURCH.
In 1873, a church reinforced in numbers by the increasing population
of Auburn came prominently into notice. The society of German Method-
ists had an unorganized existence in the town from a very early date. Min-
isters of this denomination held services at private houses on such occasions
as brought them to this neighborhood, but the scarcity of numbers precluded
attempt at forming a society. Rev. John Schneider was probably the pioneer
preacher in this locality.
On November i, 1858. Re\-. I-". Uuff organized what was known as the
Kendallville circuit, of which .Vuhurn was an appointment, although preach-
ing was at first at a point north of town. This minister, who is recognized
as the founder of the Auburn society, served for two years. The original
membership consisted of George and Catherine Eckhart, Herman and Eva
Froelich, Elizabeth Pullman, John and Caroline Raesch, John and Frederika
Steffin, F. Raut, Sr., Charles Rant, Jr., Maria and Charlotte Raut.
204 DEKALB COUXTV, INDIANA.
The first officers chosen were George Froelich. exhorter, and George Eck-
hart,' steward. Xo trustees to mark official existence were elected until about
twelve years later.
The immediate successors of Reverend Ruff were: A. Gerlach. i860;
J. C. ^^'eidman, 1S62: G. Schwinn, 1863: C. A. Militzer, 1867: Henry Krill.
1S69: A. Meyer, 1871.
From 187 1, there were generally assistant preachers sent on the Kendall-
ville circuit, who mostly lived at Auburn. Joseph Kern was the first of these.
He was followed by G. Weiler, of Fort Wayne, succeeded by J. Lamprecht
who remained two years and co-operated with Rev. Meyer to establish the
church upon a strong and enduring basis. These ministers conducted a pro-
tracted meeting in 1872, which brought almut a revival and ten conversions.
The Sunday school was organized in 1S72. and continued until 1880, when
it was closed for a number of years. The societx' in 1874 considered the
question of a church lot and building. To secure the former a committee of
three persons was appointed on May 25, 1874. The committee, Frederick
Raut, Charles Raut and John Raesch chose the lot upon which the church
afterward stood.
Five members had in the meanwhile been elected by the quarterly con-
ference at Kendalhille as trustees of Emanuel Methodist Episcopal cluirch,
namely: F. Raut, C. Raut, J. Raesch. H. W'artensleben, and John Lohmiller.
These parties. August 24th, bought of Andrew ]\Iayer of Noble county, the
lot selected, paying for the same two hundred and fifty dollars, and promptly
took measures for the erection thereon of a frame meeting house. The church
was completed and dedicated by Rev. Roberts, of Fort Wayne, and the cost
was two thousand seven hundred and forty dollars. After subscriptions had
all been collected there remained a deficit of two hundred dollars, which was
paid by the Church Extension Society of the Central German Conference.
In 1892 a parsonage was built for fourteen hundred dollars.
The pastors have been: John Bodmer, 1874; William Mueller, 1876;
H. Buddenbaur, 1879; A. Gerlich, 1881 ; J. C. Gommel, 1882; J. H. Schim-
melpfinig, 1885; John Haas. 1886: H. Rogatsky, 1891. Assistant and resi-
dent ministers for the same time have been : C. Treuschel, William Conzel-
mann. W. Hamp, G. Moehring, C. Henke, S. P. Spechman, A. C. Baur, D.
Dobbick, W. Rogetzby and C. B. Koch. The Sunday school was organized
in 1890 by Rev. Dobbick.
At present, this church has a \er\- small congregation and is supplied by
visiting pastors.
DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 205
THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
The Presbyterian society in Auburn was organized in the fall of 1846.
Auburn first belonged to the Logansport Presbytery; but this being divided,
it was transferred to the Fort Wayne Presbytery. Rev. Bliss, who was first
assigned to this place was stated supply until the spring of 1856, at that time
the membership numbering forty-three. In the spring of i857', 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 inter\al, in the spring of 1872 Rev. J.
Emory Fisher began services on alternate Sundays. Rev. Henry Johnson
came in the spring of 1874, and remained until the fall of 1880. During his
pastorate, in the fall of 1876, a brick structure was erected on the corner of
Jackson and Twelfth streets, costing six thousand dollars; it was dedicated
in Januaiy, 1877. The trustees were E. D. Hartman, S. B. Miller, Joseph
Albright and Richard Elson.
The early pastors were : Charles A. Miinn, Charles Evans, Levi C. Littell,
J. B. Fowler, 1871 ; J. E. Fisher, Henry Johnston, W. F. Mathews until 1882;
H. D. McCord, G. W. Barr until 1884; D. S. Stephens, Henry A. Sawyers in
1886, and George Wade Healy in 1891. In 1895 Frank C. Colvin took
charge of the church, and remained until 1897, when Rev. Flenry A. Arlen
supplied. In 1900 the church in Auburn was vacant, and in 1901 Rev.
Thomas E. Burrows supplied. In 1902 Rev. Asher H. Brand was here, and
during his pastorate the parsonage was built. In 1908 Rev. Walter M. Elliott
came and remained until 191 1, when the present efficient pastor, Robert I.
Platter, took charge.
The church at present has one hundred and fifty members, and the Sun-
day school enrollment totals one hundred and twenty-five. The societies in
the church are : the Ladies' Home and Foreign Missionary Societ}^, the Ladies'
Aid Society, the Christian Endeavor, and the Westminster Guild.
The Presbyterian church in Garrett is yet a small denomination, but is
rapidly growing and in the near future promises to be a thriving and large
society.
The first attempt to organize a Presbyterian society in Garrett was made
in 1903 and 1904 by Rev. E. F. Knickerbocker, now in missionary work at
Ningpo. China. Rev. Knickerbocker writes the following in regard to the
futile attempt at that time : "Nearly the first work I did after being trans-
ferred from. Nebraska to Indiana was that of looking up the need in Garrett.
What a time I had of it, too, but I enjoved the work nevertheless. Mv head-
206 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA.
quarters were at the leading hotel. I entered every house, store and shop in
the city that was enterable. When the canvas was completed I had a list of
more than seventy people who were material for the forming of a Presbyterian
church. Nearly all were members of a Presbyterian church somewhere, and
all were members of some sort of church, while only about a dozen of them
were working with or members of any church in Garrett. A few days after
this canvas began I hired a dance hall, rented a stove and a few lamps, bought
wood, engaged a janitor, and began meetings, which lasted over two weeks.
What a time of blizzard it was! A handful of people would come one evening.
These I would gather in a circle around the stove, and we all sat while I con-
ducted a Bible study. At the close of the meeting some one would remark,
'Well ! It seems veiy strange that the people do not take an interest in things.'
The next night these people would not come, and another small lot would take
their place. Things went on like this night after night. One good brother
came nearly every evening. He was the real goods. But one night — a ter-
rible night — -no one came. Half an hour after time for the meeting to begin,
I stepped to the foot of the stairs and fastened the door, so that no one might
disturb the meeting. Then I spent an hour in Bible study and prayer. That
was really the most encouraging time of all, for at the end there was not a
discouraging word."
Rev. Knickerbocker was finally compelled to relinquish his efforts in
behalf of a Presbyterian church in Garrett, and upon the coming of the next
pastor the society disbanded. Knickerbocker writes of his successor :
"Whether he broke the church or the church broke him, or else a mutual
breaking, I am not sure."
In the fall of 1907 steps were again taken to organize a church in
Garrett, and in 1908 a permanent society was effected. Charles G. Sterling
was the first pastor called, and he was followed by W. A. Service and Edgar
L. Buchanan. The latter is the present pastor, having come here from
Lafayette, Indiana, in December, 191 1. The present directors of the church
are: Dr. G. Allison, C. E. Leightner, E. M. McKennan, W. A. Clifford. E. C.
Moughler. Elders are: C. E. Leightner, W. A. Clifford. E. C. Moughler,
John W. Brown, William C. Robinson and A. R. Moore. The congregation
worships at present in the German Methodist building, but. as the latter
society is very small, the Presbyterians contemplate leasing the church
entirely for their own use; thus it will be known as the First Presbyterian
church. The church numbers one hundred and twentv members, with a
DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 20/
Sunday school of one hundred and seventy members. There are two societies
in the church, the Woman's Foreign Missionary Society and W'oman's
Helpers.
The Presbyterian church at Waterloo was organized on June 5, 1863, by
Rev. C. Ford, with the following constituent members: P. B. Nimmons,
Mary Nimmons, James Lockhart, Robert M. Lockhart, Elizabeth Lockhart,
Abraham McCoy, Elizabeth McCoy, Mahlon Nimmons, Louisa Nimmons,
Edward Craft, J. E. Rutan, Keziah Rutan, Joseph Mills, J. N. Mills, Jane
Smith, 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, a frame structure on Maple street, was erected in 1867,
at a cost of three thousand dollars. The first pastor, Rev. Edward Wright,
was there from 1863 to 1866. Other pastors who followed were: C. A.
Munn, L. C. Littell, J. B. Fowler, Henry Johnson, W. F. Mathews, J. D. Mc-
Cord, and G. W. Barr. Rev. W. H. Chase, living at Auburn, has charge of
the church at present. There are about sixty-five active members of the
church. The church society is a progressive one and a great aid to the town
of Waterloo.
THE CHRISTIAN CHURCHES.
The Christian church in Auburn was organized in the winter of 1902 by
Rev. J. N. Wilson, who was the first pastor. The succeeding pastors have
been: J. A. Brown, C. H. Earenfight, John Lennox, Frank Nixon, Fred
Thomas, and at present Rev. C. W. Mahin fills the pulpit. The church build-
ing was constructed in 1907, and cost thirty-two hundred dollars.
There are two hundred members of the church at present, with one hun-
dred and seventy-five in the Sunday school. The societies are : The Ladies'
Aid. Ladies' Auxilliary, Christian Endeavor and the Christian Woman's
Board of Missions.
The Christian church of Garrett was organized in the year 1907 by Rev.
O. L. Hull, and his first congregation numbered twenty-eight members.
When he left, after three years' meritorious service, he had enrolled over
two hundred and fifty people. The pastors who have followed him are:
Revs. John H. Swift, L. C. Brink, L. M. Nesmith, B. O. Borten, and the
present pastor is J. W. Borden. The society bought a hall, formerly used
for meetings, on King street, for the sum of twenty-six hundred dollars, and
herein the loyal membership of two hundred and fifty people hold their
services. The Sunday school numbers one hundred and fifteen. The Ladies'
208 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA.
Aid Society is a prominent factor in the good work done by the church, and
it, with the congregation as a whole, is working hard to make tlie church
one of the strongest in the city.
The Church of Christ at Butler was organized by John Ailsworth in
the Lutheran church, on March i, 1870, with the following charter members:
G. H. Young. Mary Young, Sarah Young, E. Olmstead, Frank Reynolds,
Lucy Reynolds, Mrs. Rowe, Frederick Huffman, Elizabeth Huffman, Alice
Huffman, Almira Huffman, John and Mary Shoub, Fred H. Fanning, Carrie
M. Fanning, Calista Pillsburg, Jacob Jennings, Mary, Cyrenas and Elizabeth
Jennings and Jacob Funk. Elder J. E. Harris was the first minister of this
denomination in Butler. T. P. Sutton assisted. Harris was from Licking
county, Ohio. After him, with the dates of their services, came : Elder Had-
sell, 1872; T. P. Sutton, 1873-8; under Rev. Sutton the lot on which the
Christian church now stands was purchased, the church was erected, and dedi-
cated on February 7, 1875, by L. L. Carpenter of Wabash; Elder Leavett came
in 1878; then O. O. Ovialt; E. L. Fanner in 1883; Elders, Struber, Wilson,
Lovines, Moot, Stewart, Sniff, Scoville, A. M. Laird, D. A. Shaw, Fred
Thomas, Drash, Harris, Ira Smith, R. B. Chapman, S. B. Braden. Konkle,
John Lnhof, and at present, A. E. Wrentmore, have had and have charge of
the church at Butler. There are about one hundred and seventy-seven mem-
bers, a Ladies' Aid Society and a Christian Endeavor.
The Disciples church, or Christian church, of St. Joe was organized on
May 2, 1886, by Rev. L. L. Carpenter. Elder J. A. Thomas was the first
pastor of the church, and he was followed by T. A. Hedges, W. W. Harris,
L. W. Fairfield, J. O. Rose, S. S. Bartlett, Harry Clark, Rev. Dunkleberger,
W. S. Meyers, J. A. Brown, T. N. Russell and S. O. Redacer. The persons
who helped in the organization of this church in 1886 were: Joshua W.
Lounsberry, Anna Lounsberry, E. M. Vollmer, R. K. McDonald, Anna Mc-
Donald, Mr. and Mrs. Alex Filley, B. S. Sheffer, Eva S. Sheffer, Emma Hart,
Jared Irwin, and wife, Charles Coburn. Emma Tustison.
The church at present has a membership of one hundred, with an ex-
cellent Sunday school of seventy-five. The Martha Society performs aid
service for the church. The Christian Endeavor is also existent in the church.
The house of worship was constructed in the year 1888. two years after the
organization, and cost at the time, twenty-five hundred dollars.
The Church of Christ built a brick structure in 1870 at Waterloo, on
Maple street, at a cost of thirty-five hundred dollars. Rev. N. N. Bartlett,
the first pastor, remained two years. He was followed by Revs. James
DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA, 201)
Hodsell, F. H. McCormick, M. M. Gleason and M. L. Blaney. This church
is now defunct.
The Newville Christian cliurch was organized in the fall of 185 1 by'
James Hadsell. in a schoolhouse where the United Brethren parsonage later
stood, across the river and southeast from Newville. There were originally
twenty-seven members. At the close of 1879 the church had a membership
of one hundred and ninety-two. This church has a present membership of
seventy-five.
UNITED BRETHREN CHURCH.
The United Brethren class at Newville was organized in 1842 by Rev.
Jonathan Thomas, one of the pioneer preachers. The class was organized
in a small log building on the east side of the road about two miles west of
Newville on the farm owned by Solomon Wilcox. The class was composed
of eleven charter members, nine of whom were: Mr. and Mrs. Solomon De-
long, Hanna Robertson, Cornelius Woodcox and wife, Solomon Woodcox
and wife, M. Soper and Mrs. Ellis. The first board of trustees was com-
posed of Solomon Belong, Collin Robertson and Cornelius Woodcox. Maria
Belong, who died March 28. 1912, at the age of ninety years, was the last
charter member.
About 1842 a frame schoolhouse was built where the parsonage barn
now stands, and soon after the place of meeting was transferred from the
Woodcox home to the schoolhouse. This building was used for church ser-
vices until 1855, when, during the pastorate of Rev. J. Fink, a splendid frame
church building, thirty by forty-six feet, was erected. About 1880 the church
was moved back from the road and set on a brick foundation, truss beams
were put in overhead and the center supports removed. In the year 1885,
while Rev. R. T. Martin was pastor, extensive repairs were made, consisting
of tower and bell, slate roof and new windows.
The old building, which has served its purpose well for fifty-eight years,
is now being thoroughly renovated at an approximate cost of thirty-five hun-
dred dollars. Lecture room, library, pastor's study, rostrum, basement, fur-
nace, new windows, chairs, are among the many improvements. The present
membership is one hundred and five, and the Sunday school also has a strong
enrollment. The first church was dedicated by Bishop Henry Kumler, Jr.
The new one will be dedicated by Bishop H. H. Fout. Buring the seventy-
one years of the existence of the class, forty-three pastors have served the
chruch. The present pastor is Oliver Perry Givens. a nati\e of Xohle duintv,
Indiana.
(14)
210 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA.
The United Brethren church at Waterloo had its origin prior to 1856,
probably in 1852. At that time the church was supported by traveling
evangelists. Among the earliest were Revs. William Miller and Jonathan
Thomas. Tlien came Re\s. J. Fink and Lammon, who traveled together and
held revivals. A deed to the lot on which the United Brethren church now
stands was made by George W. Trout and wife in November, 1862, to George
W. Trout, David Goodwin and John Beidler, as the first board of trustees.
The church building was then completed. This was in 1862. Rev. Taring
Osmun was pastor at this time. It was the lirst church in Waterloo. During
the early history of this church tiie Inuiijing was used for union worsliip,
also union Sunday school. In 1879 tlit- church was rebuilt. Among the early
preachers were: J. Fink. Lammon. William Aloffatt, J. Alorthland. A. Lower,
Leonard, T. Osmun, J. K. Swihart, C. Crossland, C. O. Lawrence, J. G. Bow-
ersox, Joseph Brown, D. Bender, John Martin, George Crawford, B. Baldwin,
Richard Martin, C. H. Kirracofe, W. O. Dinnius. S. P. Klotz, J. D. Snyder,
W. O. Butler, George Dinnius, J. S. Tedrow and J. W. Lilly. In 1889, when
the division of the church came in general conference at York, Pennsylvania,
the Waterloo church lost many of its oldest memliers. However, the society
took on new life, and on June 13, 191J. the old church, which had lieen
veneered with lirick, was torn down and work of constructing the new edifice
begun. The cornerstone was laid August 9, 1Q12. and the church was dedi-
cated April 6, 1913. The total cost was fifteen thousand dollars. The pres-
ent enrollment numl)ers one hundred and fifty-five, and the pastor is Rev.
F. P. Overmyer.
In Smithfield township organized Christianity was introduced by the
United Brethren, who had regular services at the Smith school house, later
known as number six. The first minister was Rev. Samuel Chaplin. The
Methodists met at Barker's and formed a class, of which Mr. Barker was the
leader. The Disciples, organized by Revs. Bartlett and Hadsell, had a church
at Cedar lake.
The Big Run LTnited Brethren church, in Stafford township, was organ-
ized in the spring of 1843 by Rev. Jonathan Thomas. The charter members
were; Jacob Gunsenhouser and wife, Thomas Olds and wife, David Flick-
inger and wife, Stephen Hackley and wife and Mary Willard. They organ-
ized at the home of Jacob Gunsenhouser, and used this place for worship dur-
ing the next five years, later using the old log house on the Gunsenhouser
land. A church was built during the progress of the Civil war, and services
were held on alternate Sundays by the Rev. James Martin.
DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 211
The United Brethren church in Butler was organized in January, 1884,
with a membership of forty people. Their frame church building was erected
in the fall of 1883. at a cost of twenty-three hundred dollars, and dedicated
in December, 1883. It is located on West North street. The pastors have
been: Rev. Joseph Brown, W. O. Butler, 1884; J. W. Martin; S. P. Klotz.
1885; Joseph Brown, 1883; D. B. Keller; A. F. McCloe, 1889; J. S. Tedrow,
J. W. Cummings, A. F. McCloe, 1900; C. H. Bell, 1902; W. H. Phetro, 1904;
O. F. Landis, 1905:0. B. Wells, 1906; W. F. Parker, 1907; A. W. Phillips,
191 1, and D. B. Kessinger, 1912, who is the present incumbent. There are
two hundred and fifty members of the church at present, and the Sunday
school numbers t\\ o hundred and sixty. There are societies as follows in the
church : Ladies' Aid Society, Woman's Missionary Association and Christian
Endeaxor. In the Butler circuit are the Big Run, Jerusalem and Zion
churches, with a combined congregation of two hundred and ninety-two peo-
ple. Rev. Richhart, of Butler, has charge of them. The Newville circuit has
a membership of two hundred and fifteen.
Mount Pleasant United Brethren church, in Wilmington township, is
over sixty years old. In 1854 meetings were held in the house of Abraham
Eakright, on section twenty, by Revs. Benton and wife. The constituent
members were: William McBride, Mr. Dirrim. Abraham Eakwright and their
wives, and Mrs. Levi McBride. Services were held in the Eakright house
until 1861, when the>' commenced to use the old log schoolhouse on section
19. This organization held many successful revials. A chapel was erected
at Mount Pleasant in 1870.
The Lilly United Brethren church at Moore Station was organized by
Rev. Aaron Lilly in December, 1882, with twenty-seven members. Services
were held in the Mooresville schoolhouse until the next summer, when they
built a fine large frame clnirch. costing fourteen hundred dollars. Services
were held e\ery alternate Sunday.
THE B.\PTIST CHURCH.
The history of the Baptist church dates almost co-equal with the first
settlement of DeKalb county. Here and there in the townships, log meet-
ing houses were raised, and long ser\ed their purpose. The first regular
Baptist church organized in this county was known as the "Cedar Creek
church." The house of worship was a log building. It was located about
one mile south of the present village of Corunna. The date of organization
was in 1841 or 1842. Deacon McConly, who afterward became a minister.
21,2 DEKALB COLXTW INDIANA,.
was very prominent among the early members of this denomination. Calvin
Calkin, T. D. Daily and families, were other strong memljers of the society,
The pastors of the church at various times were Elders P. H. E\ans, William
N. Welker, A. Town and others. Tiiis church is now defunct.
The next church organized was within the bounds of Wilmington town-
ship, and had its origin in 1844. Its formation was largely owing to the
energetic efforts of A. Town and R. Speer. James R. Cosper donated land
for a church site so long as it would be used for religious purposes. A log
meeting house was accordingly raised upon this ground. S. B. Meade was the
lirst pastor of the church, and S. B. Ward followed shortly afterward.
Elders Baker and Whitehead held a series of meetings in Auburn and the
result was the organization of a church. Upon this the Wilmington church
was practically dissolved, because the members persisted in joining the church
at Auburn. The Wilmington church was abandoned in 1861.
On August 13. 1852, the brethren met at the old courthouse to take into-
consideration the organization of a Baptist church in Auburn. Everybody
agreed on the plan, and an organization was efifected on September 15, 1852.
Elder Ward became the first pastor, and then Elder A. Town. Having no
regular meeting house of their own, the Baptists at this time held their
services at the courthouse or in the Methodist or Presbyterian churches.
The new brick building of the Baptist church was completed in the fall
of 1873. Elder Ward, R. P. Jones, W. Langton Sanders, J. P. Ward, H. J.
Finch, T. C. Smith and O. E. Eagy were ministers until the year 1892.
From 1892 until 1913 the ministers have been: Reverends F, W, Hart,
W. P. Pearce. Edwin P. Hoyt, W. A. Pavy, J, H, Martin, H, J, Finch, C, B,
Janes and F, M. Reece There are now seventy-three members of the church
and the Sunday school has an enrollment of seventy-one.
The Baptist church was organized on December 15, 1885, by seven ladies
uf Garrett, namely: Mesdames C. N. Bell, G. W. Mudd, Frank Hartsock,
Effie Stewart, Sarah Cobler, Lydia Osborn, and Miss Addie Ford. The first
pastor of the church was Rev. Davies, and following him have been, in part:
Reverends Pavey, Chansler, Stevens, Whitney, and John Walton, who is the
present minister in charge of the work. The present brick church building was
erected in 1888 and 1889, and it is to the credit of the present pastor and the
loyal members of the church to say that the debt incurred in the first building
has just been lifted. The Baptist church has a membership of two hundred
and twenty-five, and the Sunday school ha? one hundred and thirty-five.
Among the societies identified with this thriving little church are the Baptist
DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 2I3
-Young People's Union, the Ladies' Aid Society, the Home Mission Society,
and the Pansy Ciuh, a\ hich is devoted to charitable work. It might be said
that the delit of the church was paid almost entirely by subscriptions.
ST. M.\RK's LUTHERAN CHURCH.
Several fruitless attempts to organize and establish the English Lutheran
church in Auburn were made at different times by Re\s. \V. Waltman, J. Sise
and C. C. Link. I'he need of a house of worship was great. Rev. Levi Rice
made a visit to .Auburn in ^hiy, il^J-t. and completed arrangements to preach
occasionally in the Baptist clnuch, and this continued until' October 26, 1875,
when, notice ha\-ing lieen duly gi\eii, all members of the society met at the
home of Jacob \\'allx)rn. where a permanent organization was made with nine-
teen members. The church so formed was given the name of "The St.
Marks English Evangelical Lutheran Church of Auburn.'" At this meeting,
Levi Rice presiding, an election was held and a council chosen, namely : John
Treesh, J. Walborn, Enos H. White and D. A. Sebring. Rev. Rice was
engaged for one year, with semi-monthly meetings. The names of the
original members are as follows : J. J. and Caroline E. Huffman, Jacob
.Stamets, David A. and Minerva Sebring, Jacob, Lucetta and Mary Walborn,
Mary ^^'iles. Htirace .\. Hoffman, Margaret Sibert, John Treesh, William Mc-
Clellan, Andrew and Elizabeth Bolander. William L. and Angeline Smith and
Enos H. and Clara M. \Miite Of these, nine were former members, three
were transferred and the rest were recei\ed liy letter. ' The Lutherans at once
purchased of the Presbyterian society their old frame church, occupying the
southeast corner of lot twenty, west .Auburn, and paid the sum of six hundred
and fifty dollars for the property. Rew Rice remained with this church for
six years.
Rev. Samuel Kelso, of Spencerville. succeeded Rev. Rice, and stayed one
year. Rev. William Waltman came next. He was a resident minister of
Kendallville, but supplied this church a brief period in the early part of 1883.
A permanent pastor was next secured in the person of Rev. W. D. Trover,
whose engagement covered the space of four years, terminating in October,
1887. Rev. Jessup, from Leipsic. Ohio, follow^ed, the Rev. \. J. ATyers, of
Noble county, in March, 1888.
During the year 1889 the society negotiated for and purchased of Mrs.
Fannie Smith lot sixty-two. West .A.uburn, paying five hundred dollars for
the property. A building committee w-as appointed and contracts made for a
new church. Before the end of October the edifice was finished. The build-
214 DKKALB COUNTY. INUIANA.
ing was (lolliic in st\'Ie. lia\in<( brick walls ami slated j^ables, and the dimen-
sions were forU-l'iuir hy sixty-three feel. The tower rose to a height of
eighty-five feel, supporting a i)ell weigliing eight Inindred pounds. Tlie inter-
ior of the ehurch was linished in natural wood. The lloor was howl-shaped,
descending toward the pulpit and the seats circular and concentrically ar-
ranged. Stained glass wiiulow^ were installed, respectively nieniorials of the
Sabbath school. Synod of Xortheni Indiana. Lewis Bowers. Jacob Walborn,
Burton Brown. Samuel t oruell and the Xelsons. Tud hot-air furnaces sup-
plied the lu'.it. The total cost of the building was about .seven thousand
dollars.
The building was consecrated for religious jiurposes in a sermon preached
on November ;,. iSS.). by Dr. I,. \. (iodwall. .if Springlield. Ohio. In Febru-
ary. i8()(), Rev. D. I'". l\;iin, of Albion, Indiana, w.is engaged as minister, and
stayed until the sjiring of iS()i. ;uid was succeeded by Re\-. J. D. Brosy, from
Pleasant Lake.
The Sabbath school was orgatu/ed in the year 1S7-; a Ladies" Aid so-
cietv in 1SS5. and. on X.weniber ;. iSi)i. a Christian Endeavor society. In
iS()_' a parson;ige was erected on tlie lot ea-t of the cluuTh at a cost of fifteen
hnndretl dollars.
Rev. Brosy reni.ained at \uburu until 1.105. when he was succeeded by
Rev. S. I', Slater. \\ P., wb.. .Maved until i.;o.). Uev. J. II. Xeuh.mscr l"ol-
lowcd. an.l be in turii w;is succeeded, .m September 1. i<)ii. by the present
past.M-. Re\. A. 1'.. < larmar. The church at pn-ent has iw,. bun.lre.l and thirty-
three cMuninicant members, tbive bun. bed .and cle\en onlirmed members,
and three hun.lied .and I'lftv six b;i]iti/e.l. Tlie Sun. lav school numbers three
hundred ;m.l I'lftv members, with thirty- f.>ur ortlccrs and teachers. The
Ladies' .\i.l S.iciety was .irganixed in 18S3: the ^'.lung I'eoples' Society
Christian l\n.lea\.M was organized on November 7. iS()t ; the Luther League
in i8c)4; W.iman's ILmie and Foreign ^Missionary Society in 1S96. and the
Lutheran Brotherho.Hl in bVbru.ary. i()io. The Missi.m Baud of seventy-
live members takes charge of l.u\al relief and charit}" w.>rk.
St. Mark's l.utber.an l'',\ angelical church at Butler was organized in
1804 by Rev. j. W . llenders.Hi. The church was built ab.nit 1867, imder the
pastorate of Rev. 1 leu.lers.m. It was .if brick .and cost originally about five
thousand dollars, but has later been remodeled twice, at an additional cost of
three thousand dollars, ."^ince Rew Henderson, the pastors have been: Revs.
J. X, Morris. .\. W. B.urns. S. B. Snyder. William (,'. Baruett. Jabez Shaffer,
0. F. Kain, W. nieffenbach. S. P. l->yberger. K. V.. Xeibel. W. S. Oberholter,
M. L. Imrst. I. 11. l'r..use. and John B. (Gardner, the iiresent elVicient and
DEKAI.B COUNTY, INDIANA. ^15
popular pastor, who came on M;i\ i, kjij. At present there are eighty-one
members of the church, with ninety in tlic Sunday school. The Porcag So-
ciety, a charitahU' orfjanizatinn. and llir Lutlu-r l.catiuc, for ynung people, are
existent.
The Wittenberg Lutlieian l'.\an<;clical church is one of the oldest in this
territory of the synod, or in the county. It was organized by Rev. J. Gather,
in 1843. The church building is valued at lifteen hundred dollars. There are
twenty-three menibcrs, with ,'i Sundax' sclion] of fort\'-li\e. There are the
Dorcas .Society and Luther League in this cluu-eh also. Rev. John 1'.. Gardner
attends this church on alternate Sundays from Butler.
Richland Center Lutheran Evangelical church was organized l)y Rev. W.
VVallman in 1855, with twenty-five charter members.
Fairfield Center church was org.-uii/ed in i\e\. J. (atlier in 1X5^1. with
fourteen charter members.
Sedan church was organized in i860 b\- Re\. J. W'ah
eight members.
Fairfield Center Lutheran ehureii was orgain/ed l)y
1856, with fourteen charter nienil.ers. Sedan rhurcli wa>
by Rev. VV. Waltman with twenty-eight members. i\ev.
the first Luthenui ehiurli in Concord township in Oclnber,
of William Doums, with twel\'e charter nu'inlit-rs. johii
man. C. C. Caskey, in 1859. were pa.stors when the ii.isto
that of Spencerville, St. John's, .Salem and Richl.-md. !!. !•'
A. Leathers, E. W. Erick and S. Kel.so followed. During
service he organized the St. Joe church and built tin- st
three llionsaiul dollars. Iv K. I'.aker came next, and i:
fctnnded the church at Spencerville.
The h'.vaugclieal Lutheran church at Speucer\ille
hundred and seventeen conlinned members. Re\. 1). I'
of the congregation, having come to the pastorate on (Jctober i, 1912. The
Sunday school has a membership of one himdred and five, with twenty officers
and teachers. There is a Ladies' Aid Society and a Woman's Home and For-
eign Missionary Society. The church building was erected in i8Sj, also the
parsonage, and the cost was si.x thousand dollars at the time.
m;ni.
with tueuty-
Rev.
j. t ather in
organ
ized in i8fK)
J. Cather founded
1849,
at the home
1 Side
1. W. Walt-
rale w
,as split into
. Hills
.. C. C. Sink,
the latter pastor's
let lire
at a cost of
n S. 1
'. bTybcrger
1 pre.
ent has one
Ilelt/c
1 has charge
<;1':km.\n \.vt]
IKRAN AND (
:.Ki
A society, to l)e kn
own as the (
'. le
successful in organizati
on. iMjr a 1
tin
RM.W RKFi
Reformed Lutheran church, was
o German societies united their
2l6 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA.
Strength and resources, under tlie above title, and taking advantage of a
donation of land for churcli |'ur])()ses, the combined societies appHed for and
were granted lot number one hundred and fifty-four, which had been held for
the first religions society that might niake claim to and actually improve it
in accord with the wishes of the gi\'er, John Spencer.
The site having been cheaply and legally acquired, the society contracted
for the erection of a small frame meeting house, to cost but a few hundred
dollars. The work was acti\-ely carried forward, so that by February, 1865,
the building had been completed and dedicated a home of worship. At the
dedication the attendance was nnich beyond the limited capacity of the Iniild-
ing, the music was good and the exercises, conducted in German, were of an
interesting character.
Later the German Reformetl church of St. Johns bought out the interest
of the other society and on January i. 1866, a meeting was called and a con-
sistory was chosen. Peter Durmer and Jacob Kandel were elected elders and
John Otto and Ernest Myers, deacons, to serve two years. The Rev. Isaac
Motzinger was the first minister. He served the church acceptably until 1872,
living in a small framed cabin during the jieriod of his service. Rev. William
B. Sandoe was his successor. Other ])rcacliers in order were : Philip Ruhl.
1872; John Rettig, 1879: John Winter. 1882: W. Grether, 1884: B. Ruf,
1888. Shortly after the church had Iveen built the Evangelical Lutheran so-
ciety sold their interest and for se\eral years were without a home of wor-
ship. Rev. Reichard. of Avilla, and Re\-. Steinback, of Fairfield, alternated
ever}- fortnight in preaching to the society, and it was not till February i.
187,^, that the members resolved upon erecting a meeting house. To this end
a meeting was held at the residence of Charles Bartles, of Richland town-
ship, and application was then made for a lot which had been set aside by
Air. Spencer solely for church i)ur])iises, and on obtaining possession they pro-
ceeded to build upon the lot a small church, in which their services were held.
Rev. Searing preached for them at inter\als of several weeks and Rev. Lewis
Pullman was the only resident ]:)reacher. Rev. C. IV Preu'^s came next.
The (ierman Evangelical Lutheran church in Garrett, of the Missouri
synod, was organized in the year 1888, with thirteen voting members. C. B.
Preuss was the first visiting pastor, and he continued until 1890. His home
was in .\\illa. Re\-. F. J. Keller was the second pastor and the first resident
pastor. ( )tto Schumm came next: then H. B. Kohlmeier; then C. W. Giese.
The present incumbent is Rev. G. Rloedel, who took charge of the work on
July 29, i9i,>. coming liere from the slate of Nebraska. The church numbers
one hundred and fifty communicants. fort\- \oting members, an.d three bun-
DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. ^I^
dred and seventy-five souls. The Sunday school has a membership of fifty.
The Ladies' Aid Society conducts charitable work in Garrett, and is very well
organized. Rev. Bloedel teaches a pai^ochial school adjoining the church
building' on the east ; he has thirty-nine scholars.
The church building is of wood, and was dedicated on October 27. 1889.
The cost was eighteen hundred dollars.
The English Reformed church at \\'aterloo has a fine brick structure on
the corner of Center and Union streets. It was built in 1872, at a cost of
fifty-five hundred dollars. Rev. Henry Baer was the first pastor, followed by
Rev. Fenniman, and Rev. F. F. Christine in 1880.
The Lutheran church in Troy township was organized by Re\'. James
Cather in 1843, in the liouse of John A. Zimmerman, on section thirty. The
house of worship was later on section twenty-eight.
CHURCH OF GOD.
The Church of God was organized at a very early date in the cit\- of
Auburn. The pastors since 1887 have been Revs, Markle}-, Neill. Fuller.
Harendeen, Bloyd, L M. Thoma'-, H. H. Spicher, A. (X Musgrove and J. G.
Wise, the present incumbent.
The church has a memljershij) of ninet\-two, with eight\- in the Sunday
school. Societies are: The Woman's Missionary Society and the Christian
Endeavor.
ST.' MATTHEW REFORM CHURCH.
The St. Matthew Reform church in Garrett was organized in the year of
1888, and the first pastor called was Rev. B. Ruff. After him, in 1893, came
Rev. George Englemann. Li 1899 G. M. Ifersch took charge of the work,
also Rev. Vollbach during a short period following. In 1906 Edward Kiels-
meier was chosen for the pulpit, and for two years he benefited the church
greatly. In 1908. and until iQii, Henry Clausing had charge. In 1912
Rev. Otto H. Scherry, the present able pastor, came to Garrett, and under his
control the church has taken rapid strides toward a fuller and more complete
organization. The brick church building was erected in the year 1904. and
cost, when completed, fifty-five hundred dollars. The church is situated at the
corner of Keyser and Franklin streets and the parsonage is adjoining. At
present there are eighty-eight members of the society in Garrett. The Sunday
school has seventy members. Two societies, the Christian Endeavor and the
Ladies' Aid Societv, exist at this time, and both are of very high standard.
DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA.
PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
The Protestant Episcopal church at Garrett was built in 1876 and dedi-
cated in Jul}-, 1877. The land was purchased, building erected, furniture
put in and everything provided for use by John King, Jr., and William Keyser,
first and second vice-presidents, respectively, of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad
Company, and presented as a free gift to Bishop Talbot of the Indiana dio-
cese. The first pastor was Rev. B. L. Trimble. Rev. Weatherby and R. H.
Dennis succeeded him, and for a period the church was closed. In the winter
of 1883-4 the church was reopened, and Rev. S. M. C. Orpen came from
Lima, Indiana, and preached every two weeks. Rev. Benjamin R. Phelps
succeeded him. Rev. C. E. Bilger now tends the Garrett membership, which
is very small.
EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION.
The Evangelical .Association at Waterloo was organized before the out-
break of the Civil war, and in 1886 a church was built at a cost of three
thousand dollars. Another authority claims this church to have been built in
1877. Rev. Geist was the pastor in charge when the church was constructed.
In 1880 he left and returned again in April, 1913, and is still the incumbent.
There are eighty members of the church and one hundred in the Sunday
school. A Ladies' Aid Societx-, N'oung Peoples' Alliance and a Missionary
Au.xiliary are societies within the congregation. Some of the pastors who
have served at Waterloo are : Revs. W. H. Mygrant, W. H. Freshley, D. O.
Wise, C. H. Burgener, B. F. Walmer, D. E. Zechiel. G. F. Zuber and P. L.
Browns. Rev. Geist visits the County Line society also, a small organization
with a church-house near the county line of DeKalb and Steuben, three miles
west of Ashley. There are forty members here. A mile south of Fairfield
Center there is a society, but active work had been abandoned.
CATHOLIC CHURCHES.
In August of the year 1872 a Catholic priest for the first time visited the
city of .Auburn, blather August Young was commissioned in this capacity.
He found nine Catholic families here at the time, who were: Engelbert
Ashley, Joseph .\shley, William H. Mclntyre, Jules Beuret, Justin Girardot,
Charles Beugnot, Benjamin Goodman, Jacob Hollinger, Stephen Girardot and
Patrick Murphy. For two years he had services in the home of Engelbert
DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 2ig
Ashley, on West Seventh street. In the meantime the jjresent lots were
secured, facing on w hat was then .the corner of Fourtli and Railroad streets.
The committee in charge consisted of Engelbert .Ashley, Jules Beuret and
Jacob Hollinger.
The foundation for the new^ church was laid on June i, 1874. A little
frame structure, thirty by fifty feet, was erected and served as a place of
worship until August, 1912. The church was dedicated by Bishop Joseph
Dwenger, of Fort Wayne, on October 18 of the same year. The building sat
close to the sidewalk, facing Fourth street and was erected at a cost of three
thousand dollars, the total amount of which was paid on the day after the
dedication.
The present priest's residence, adjoining the church projjerty, was bought
for one thousand, nine hundred dollars, on .\pril 15, 1S74. The congregation
from the beginning increased rapidly and at this time it numbered three thou-
sand souls and had no debt on the church property. At the suggestion of
the bishop. Father Young changed his place of residence from Auburn to
Garrett, on No\-ember 10, iS8(), InU continued to \isit Auburn from Garrett
until November i, 1891.
The resident pastors succeeding Father Young at Auburn were the fol-
lowing: Rev. Rudolph Denk, eight months: Re\ . hrancis P. Faust, from
June, 1892, to November, 1895; Rev. Edward J. Boccard, from November,
1895, to September, 1898: Re\-. Frederick J. Dandurand, from September,
1898, to July, 1900; Rev. John M. Schmitz, from July, 1900, to July, 1910,
when the present pastor. Father Angermaier. took charge.
Since his presence in our midst. Father Angermaier has been doing
splendid work for the material, as well as spiritual, upbuilding of the parish.
A public-spirited, energetic young man, he set about at once to make the re-
quired improvements on the parochial residence and church property in gen-
eral. Of course, this took time and money, but with foresight and the spirit
of perseverance required, he began planning the work he had in view, and the
present beautiful church is the fruit of his labor. The congregation approved
of his plans and supported him liberally in his undertaking.
The work of excavating for the new building started the first week in
August, 19 1 2. A concrete foundation was put in and a roomy basement sup-
plied for the whole church. Rising above this are five tiers of cement blocks
which raise the superstructure of the church about five feet above the level of
the ground. The old frame structure was utilized because of its splendid ma-
terial. The exterior of the present building measures ninety-four feet. It has
a transept of forty-eight feet, giving it a seating capacity of about three bun-
220 D'EKALB COUNTY, INDIAKA.
dred. A large' sanctuary with vestries on either side takes up the fore part of
the church. \Miile the shell is a frame structure, the outside, finished in
stucco, is an inncnation in church building. Not only in the city of Auburn,
but, so far as can be learned, it is the only church building of its kind in the
State. It is this that attracts the attention of so many and elicits admiration
and comment. PSeautiful concrete steps lead to the entrance of the church,
which at present sets back from the sidewalk about fifteen feet. A steeple
sixty-five feet high surmounted by a gilded cross of four and a half feet adds
much to the beauty of the exterior and attracts the attention of the stranger at
a distance: The interior artistic decoration is the work of Signor Giovanni
Gioscio, an Italian artist of Indianapolis. Two beautiful oil paintings adorn
the ceiling of the church. One represents the mother of the Savior
crushing the head of the serpent, according to the saying in Genesis: "She
shall crush thy head; and thou shalt lie in wait of her heel." The other is a
painting of Saint Cecelia, patroness of music. Two adoring angels adorn the
arch of the sanctuary. The chtnxh has been com])letely refurnished. Oak
l>e\\s finished in mission st\le that are very roomy and comfortable have
replaced the old ones. .\ new Packard organ, with pipe organ efifect, has
been secured for the choir. A massive and beautiful altar, worth no less than
two thousand dollars, was the gift of the pastor from a personal friend in
Fort Wayne In liarmony with the side alters, it is finished in white and
gold. To the Catholic the altar is ever most intimately associated with
priests and .sacrifice, as is beautifully illustrated by the carvings on the panels
of the altar tal)le, the one to the left representing Abel offering a lamb as a
sacrifice; the other to the right the High Priest Melchisedech. king of Salem,
oiYering bread and wine which prefigured the true sacrifice of the New Law,
represented by the carving in the center panel, Christ with His Apostles at the
last supper changing bread and wine into His sacred Body and Blood. .\
beautiful red velvet carpet covering the floor of the sanctuary and heavy cork
matting coxering the floor of the auditorium are the .gifts of Schaab &
Brother Company to the congregation. .Ml this with a splendid electric
illumination from walls and ceiling gi\es the church a most beautiful and
pleasing interior.
The St. Michael's church is located at Summit, in Sniithfield township.
The church was built in 1880 by Rev. Augustus Young, and was dedicated on
August 28, 1881, by Bishop Dwenger. Rev. Young was relieved of the pas-
torate by Rev. Peter Franzes from June 20, 1882, till May 11, 1883. After
this Father Young again attended the church. This pastorate was taken on
July 4, 1884, by Rev. ATaxinulian Benzinger.Wno stayed until October 17,
DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 22 1
1897. Two acres of land and one acre as a cemetery were donated by John
M. Schaudel. In 1885 Benzinger bnilt the pastoral residence at a cost of
fourteen hundred dollars. The next pastor was Rev. Herman Jurascheck.
until May 18, 1894. In 1895 the church was enlarged to its present size.
Revs. Peter Schmitt and John N. Schmitz were other pastors. Since July
13, 1900, the church at Summit has been a mission, attended by the priests
of Auburn. Father George Angermaier has charge of the church at present.
Sixty families comprise the congregation, and the church is without debt.
The Catholic church in Garrett had its beginnings when Father A. Young
was caring for his flock in Auburn. In May and June; 1876, he built the first
church in Garrett, a frame building twenty-four by forty feet, at a cost of
two thousand dollars. To this he added a sacristy which cost three hundred
dollars. As soon as the church was enclosed he opened a select school in it
with Josephine Bisset as teacher. This was the first school in Garrett and
continued until the public school was opened. In 1886 he moved the sacristy
back from the church building thirty-four feet, added four feet to the length
of the church, built a cross section on the rear end of the church, thirty by
forty-eight feet, and also constructd a new belfry and steeple on the church.
all of which cost thirty-five hundred dollars. At the same time he built a par-
sonage for himself costing two thousand dollars. On the tenth day of No-
vember, 1886, he moved from Auburn to Garrett.
In 1888 a beautiful and commodious parochial school building was erect-
ed, with four schoolrooms sufficient to accommodate two hundred pupils.
This building cost six thousand dollars. Again in 1893 the church was
remodeled at a cost of thirty-three hundred dollars. Calvary cemetery was
purchased and laid out in 1897. The improvements and all cost three thou-
sand dollars. The Sacred Heart Hospital was built in 1902, and is described
in the history of Garrett. In 190^) Father Young built an addition to the
brick parochial school building which he had constructed in 1888. As it is,
there are eight schoolrooms, capable of accommodating four hundred pupils.
The Catholic church at present in Garrett is in a very prosperous condi-
tion, and has a very large membership. Father A. 'S'oung continues as the
pastor.
The first Catholic church in the county was built at Waterloo in 1867,
and was attended by Catholics from Auburn and other places. The priests
in charge up to 1874 were Revs. R. J. Echlering, R. A. Dimig. R. J. Zini-
bilde and R. A. Yung.
CHAPTER IX.
HISTORY OF JOURNALISM.
By Herbert C. Willis.
The making of a newspaper has given the projectors of the various en-
terprises more real worry and hardships than perhaps any other line of busi-
ness investments. It has made men poor from a financial standpoint, some
have lost friends, and all of the promoters have lost sleep trying to make their
newspapers pay and at the same time liave a standing in their communities as
molders of pul^lic opinion.
There ha\e been as many newspapers in the county since the publication
of the first paper as there have been establishments in any one line of business.
Still today tliere are ijut ten newspapers published in the county. All of the
papers now published ha\e their fields in which to circulate and most of tliem
have a ])olitical party whose principles they advocate.
E.\RLY NE\VSP.A.PER M.\KING.
The earlier newspapers of the county never thought of contesting with
each other to get a "scoop" on a news story. It was too slow a process and all
that was thought of was to get a subscriber now and then, take a load of wood
on subscription, or a gallon and a half of apple butter. The editors generally
boarded their printers and the wages paid were small compared with that of
the present time. One printer on a paper, with an apprentice and a "devil,"
who worked for a chance to learn the trade, composed the force that set up the
type, with the assistance of the editor himself, and started the paper off' to
press, sometimes on time, sometimes late from one hour to two days. It
seemed to make no difference when the subscribers received their papers, and
in some instances it mattered not whether they received them at all.
About three times a year, .Saturday afternoon w'as made a half holiday,
when a pile of kindling would be gathered in the back yard and the process
of roller-making was carried out. A portion of glue and molasses was
cooked until it was of the proper texture, when the "'dope'" would be poured
DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 223
into the molds of cylinder shape and a roller cast, with which the "devil"
had to stand on a box and by hand roll the forms on the hand press in order
that the ink would be properly spread over the type. It is perhaps safe to say
that there is not more than one printer or publisher in the county at the pres-
ent time who ever helped to cast a roller in the old-fashioned way.
Today the newspaper plants of this county are modern country offices,
well equipped for newspaper work, and with up-to-date job printing depart-
ments, able to handle much of the work that larger printing offices do.
The newspapers of today are no longer considered a subject of charity,
supported in order to help out the publisher that he may secure food and
clothing for himself and family. It is now a business proposition with the
publisher. He sells liis advertising space, and ofifers it as his stock in trade,
the same as any merchant.
The press of DeKalb county has proved to be one of the greatest factors
in modern civilization. It has aided the progress of the county from the time
that the newspaper was first known to its people to the present time in a
manner that cannot be told. Before tliis county had a newspaper it was
necessary that all legal notices that were required by law to be ])ublished had
to be sent outside the county for publication. This ga^•c but little notice to
the public or parties who were directly interested in such publications.
FIRST PAPER IN COUNTY.
The first newspaper talk for DeKalb county was in 1852. when S. E.
Alvord, then publisher of the Obscrrer at Albion, in Noble county, contem-
plated starting a paper at Auburn, the county seat. Not receiving sufficient
encouragement in the venture proi)osed, he soon afterward sold his outfit to
Messrs. Berry and Milton J. Pierce, who launched the first paper in DeKalb
county, by the publication of the Democratic Messenger at Auburn. This
did not prove to be a successful venture and after the paper had been pub-
lished less than a week Mr. Berry retired from the newspaper and shortly
after this, in December, 1855, the office was destroyed by fire. Mr. Pierce
was elected auditor of DeKalb county in 1856. and DeKalb county was
without a newspaper.
OTHER EARLY PAPERS.
However, in 1856, two papers started up at Auburn, but neither one
proved to be a success and they were soon moved away. W. C. McGonigal
became the editor and publisher of the DeKalb Democrat, and J. M. Broma-
224 DEKALB COUNTYj INDIANA.
gem of the Auhiini Republican. During the same year and at the close of
one of the most exciting presidential campaigns ever waged in the history of
the county, the Republicmi was moved to Angola, where the Steuben Repub-
iican was issued, and since that time has been Steuben county's leading news-
paper. The Democrat was moved to Wabash in 1859, where Mr. McGonigal
began the publication of the I! 'abash Plaiiidealer.
THE WATERLOO I'RE.SS ESTABLLSHED IX 1859.
The lack of support that these papers received at the county seat did not
discourage others from starting similar ventures, and it was in August, 1858,
that William T. and John I\I. Kimsey began the publication of the DeKalb
County Times at Auburn. It only took the new publishers a few months to
find out that there was not room for the Times at the county seat, Auburn
then being a much smaller town than Waterloo, and they sold out their print-
ing outfit to Timothy Y. Dickinson, a son of the late Hon. T. R. Dickinson,
then a practicing attorney at Aulnun, to whom an appeal had been made to
have a paper printed in Waterloo. The Times plant was moved to Waterloo
and on February 4, 1859, the first issue of the Waterloo Press came off the
press, and since that time it has been continuously published.
The plant that was taken to Auburn by the Kimsey brothers was one
that had been used at Angola, in Steuben county, with which was published a
paper called the Truth Seeker, espousing the tenets of a religious sect, but it
proved a financial failure.
When the Waterloo Press was started William T. Kimsey was employed
to work on the paper and he continued in this jMsition until the breaking out
of the Civil war, when, in 186 1, he entered into the service of the Union army.
Mr. Kimsey is living today and is the only survivor of the former publishers
or printers who worked on the first newspapers established in DeKalb county.
C. K. Baxter, another printer then employed on the paper, left the office
at the same time and also entered into the army service. Mr. Baxter passed
away at his late home in Ellsworth, Kansas, in June 19 13. Soon after the
Civil war broke out, T. Y. Dickinson was appointed assessor and internal
revenue collector for this county, and he leased the Press to J. F. Radcliffe, a
printer in his employ, who appears as the editor of the paper in February,
1862, although the ownership of the paper remained in Mr. Dickinson until
after Mr. Baxter came out of the army in the fall of 1864. when he bought
the paper from Mr. Dickinson. The Press continued under the ownership of
the new proprietor until the spring of 1865, when he sold it to J. F. Radcliffe
DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA.
and Henry J. Long. Tliis partnership existed but a short time and Mr. Long
sold his interests to Benjamin F. Kennedy, and the paper continued under
the editorial head of RadclifYe & Kennedy until in September, 1868, when Mr.
Baxter again became connected with the paper, having bought the half inter-
est held by Mr. Radcliffe. Baxter & Kennedy then published the paper until
1873, when Mr. Kennedy was forced to retire on account of failing health,
holding his interest in the paper until 1875.
On January i, 1884, Mr. Baxter sold out the Press to his brother-in-
law, tiie late Frank W. Willis, and his nephew, Edward P. Dickinson, the
only surviving son of the founder of the Press, T. Y. Dickinson. This part-
nership existed a short time and then Mr. Willis became the sole owner, con-
tinuing the publication of the Press until the great fire that visited Waterloo
on February 12, 1896. While the presses were hot and the embers were
still burning, Mr. \\'illis formed a partnership with his son, Herbert C.
Willis, and the paper was continued without missing an issue, altTiough the
fire occurred on the morning that the paper was to go to press. Phoenix-like,
the Press arose from its ashes, and was but a few hours late in going to press,
as a full sized paper, being seven columns, eight pages. This partnership
continued until the death of the senior Mr. Willis, which occurred on May
19, 19 1 3, when the paper was continued by his son and partner, and today
stands foremost for the best principles of good citizenship, enjoying a wide
circulation. It supports the Republican party.
During the time that the paper was published by Baxter & Kennedy in
1868 the office was destroyed by fire, but publication was resumed with but
slight interruption.
On the morning that the Press office was burned in 1896, at three o'clock,
when the junior editor of the paper was circulating about the streets to find
business men who had not suffered loss, soliciting them to take advertising
space in the paper, and at the same time making the rounds to get items for
the paper, the editor was accosted by J\Ir. D. L. Leas, one of the business
men who had burned out, who remarked, "Well, we won't have a paper this
week, will we?" The editor replied, "Yes, but we may be a few hours late."
Mr. Leas thought that the answer was made in a jesting way, and said, "Oh,
what a liar you are getting to be." On publication day Mr. Leas was sur-
prised to see the Press issued in full size, seven columns, eight pages, the
work having been accomplished in Fort Wayne. He looked up the editor
and apologized, saving that he had no idea the editor meant what he said.
(15)
226 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA.
THE OLDEST PAPER IX THE COUNTY
is the Waterloo Press, which lias been printed continuously for over half a
century. The first copy that was e\-er printed is now framed and occupies a
place in the office of the present publislier of the paper, who has a complete
set of hound files of the paper for the last forty-four years. The editor of
the Press set his first type in 1884 and has followed that trade ever since,
working at the case during school vacations until he took up active work on
the paper in 1891.
MORE AUBURN VENTURES.
In the fall of 1859 George KuJilman started another paper at Auburn,
known as the New Era. This paper \\'as later continued by Joseph C. Love-
land until in 1865, being called the Obserz'er and Reporter. Mr. Loveland
moved his paper to Clyde, Ohio.
The second paper to be called the DcKalb Deiiiocrat at Auburn was
started by William H. Dills in 1864, who was later succeeded by Howard
Coe as editor. Another paper known as the Democrat was published at
.Auburn by H. 1). Carroll, luit it lived nnly a year and suspended publication
in 1868.
In l)eceml)er. 18OS, j. F. Radclifl'e started an opposition ])aper at Water-
loo called the Air Line, but it met with many hard knocks, and in 1870 sus-
pended for lack of patronage, then being published by James A. Barnes.
The plant was sold to Tom Mays and removed to Auburn, where, on January
I, 1 87 1, the Auburn Courier was launched. Before coming to Auburn. Mr.
Mays had been connected with the Fort Wayne Sentinel, and was an ex-
perienced newspaper man of that time. He continued the paper until July
1, 1878, then selling the Courier to Theodore Reed, who came to .\uburn
from Columbia City, Indiana. Shortly after his purchase he sold an interest
to Robert J. Lowry, of Fort Wayne, who purchased Mr. Reed's interest in
1880, and continued the paper until he died in 1880, after which time the
paper fell into the hands of James A. Barnes and Daniel Y. Husselman, who
li\-ed al Waterloo. They continued as partners until January i. 1S82, when
l""rank 1'. EJlair bought Mr. Husselman's interest in the Courier, and in
March, of the same year, he disposed of his interest to ]\Ir. Barnes, who
continued the publication until about 1899, when his health began to fail and
he formed a partnership with Mr. Coxey Miner, of Garrett, and later the
Courier Company. Mr. Barnes still being connected wnth the paper until he
died. During tlie time that Mr. Barnes was connected with the Courier he
DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 22/
established the first daily paper in DeKalb county, and the publication of the
Daily Courier continued until February 7, 1913, when the office was de-
stroyed by fire. At the time of the fire W. H. Mclntyre, the automobile
manufacturer of Auburn, was the owner, and then it was that a merger was
formed with the Auburn Dispatch, daily and weekly, and the two daily papers
suspended and by a comljined force of the former publishers of the two
papers, the .luhuru Evcuiuy Star was launched, both the Courier and Dis-
patch continuing their weekly pa])ers, being issued semi-weekly.
THE FIRST PAPER IN BUTLER.
W. T. Kinny started the first paper in Butler, known as the Herahi.
This was in 1866, but it had a brief existence of one year. In 1868 another
paper was started in Butler, called the Banner of Liberty, published by
Emory Higly, the father of the present editor of the Butler Record. Mr.
Higly, desiring to advance with the progress of the county seat, soon moved
his paper to Aul)urn, styling it the Auburn Times, but it was short lived. In
1874 R. Harry W'eamer began the publication of the Butler Xews, but in a
short time had a vision of a Republican paper at the county seat and moved
the plant to Auburn, where he launched the DeKalb Coionty Republican.
Soon after going to Auburn he became associated with his nephew, and the
firm name was Weanier & Weamer. In March, 1878, R. H. Weamer sold
out his interest in the Republican to Calvin P. Houser. In May, the same
year, Mr. Houser sold out his interest to George Weamer. who was then the
sole owner, continuing the Republican until March, 1881. when Mr. Houser
and Joseph Rainier bought the paper, but in Xoveniber of the same year Mr.
Houser bought out Mr. Rainier's interest. In June, 1884, Myron li. Hois-
ington bought an interest in the paper with Mr. Houser.
From the publication of the Auburn Republican evohed the Auburn
Dispatch, which paper is published at this time.
After M. E. Smith sold out the Butler Record he secured the Republican
at Auburn and continued the paper a short time until Wallace E. Campbell,
now of Anderson, Indiana, came to Auburn, and with a printer partner, by
the name of Stevens, who came from Faxon, Illinois, the Republican was
changed to the Auburn Dispatch. 1liey continued the puljlication of the paper
until in the early nineties, when Mr. Campbell, who had became the sole
owner, sold the Dispatch to George W. Gordon, the veteran postmaster. For
a while Mr. Gordon continued the paper alone, and later took in as a partner
Charles Spake, his foreman i)rinter. This partnership existed until there
228 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA.
were some differences and Mr. Spake started a job printing office and the
Dispatch was again under tlie control of Mr. Gordon, who, at his age, was
unable to carry on the hard work incident to the pubHshing of a paper, having
in the meantime estabHshed a daily paper, known as the Evening Dispatch.
The project finally failed and the paper was sold to James E. Buchanan, who
was editing the Albion Nczv Era. This change was made about ten years
ago, and Mr. Buchanan continued at the head of the Dispatch until his
death, which occurred during the summer of 1913. Since that time his son,
Vern, lias become editor and manager of the paper, and with the assistance
of his mother, they are carrying on the publication along the plans of the late
editor.
The Evening Dispatch was discontinued early in the year, as stated in
another part of this chapter, which covers the merger story with the Auburn
Courier.
FIRST NEWSPAPER IN GARRETT.
Soon after the town of Garrett was started it was considered necessary
to have a newspaper in order that the new town might be made an important
factor, not only in the railroad circles, but in the business world as well.
The Garrett Nezus was launched in October, 1875, by C. W. Wing &
Company, as publishers, and Thomas Malony, as editor. It was but a short
time when the publishers found the venture losing money and the\' decided to
discontinue the paper.
However, in 1877, Otho J. Powell tried another venture in Garrett,
establishing the Garrett Herald^ and conducted it as a Republican paper.
This paper also contained many religious stories, and the editor being of a
religious turn of mind, gave religious subjects more space in his paper than he
did news or politics, and there was a sentiment growing in favor of another
paper of the opposite views on religion as well as politics. This led up to the
establishment of the Garrett Clipper in 1884 by Henry E. and A. J. Little,
brothers. This partnership existed until 1897 when they sold out to Solomon
Ellis, who lived in Chicago, and desired to conduct a country newspaper.
After conducting the paper for one year he sold the paper to Henry E. Little,
and his son, Tracy C, now deceased. The father and son conducted the
paper as a live wire until 1905, when the senior Mr. Little died, and the son
conducted the paper until the year 1908, during which time he made consider-
able money out of the newspaper business. He sold the Clipper to C. B.
Hamilton, the present owner. The paper is a stanch Democrat newspaper,
DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 229
fearless and newsy. After Tracy C. Little sold out the Clipper he formed a
partnership with his uncle, and former partner of his father, A. J. Little, in
the Little Hardware Company, remaining there until his death in the spring
of 1913.
The Garrett Herald was continued and later bought by C. W. Miner,
who with his son conducted the paper for a number of years, but finally closed
out the paper about 1900.
Other papers were started since that time, but all had a short duration.
The Garrett Nezvs was the title of the paper which was conducted by Alfred
Kist, who was also connected with the circulation department of the Fort
Wayne Journal Gazette. Mr. Kist absconded and left his paper heavily in-
volved and it was closed up by a mortgage foreclosure proceeding.
THE BUTLER RECORD
came into existence in March, 1877, with W. M. Kist as the editor and pub-
lisher, who continued at the helm of the paper until 1880, when he leased the
plant to R. Harry Weamer, now deceased, for a term of one year. Mr.
Kist died during the year and at the end of the time for which the plant was
leased his estate sold the paper to W. F. Garrison, a brother of Mrs. Kist.
Mr. Garrison conducted the paper for a number of years and then the Record
passed through several hands, becoming the property of Mr. Maxwell, who
sold the paper to M. E. Smith, and later to Luther H. Higley, the present
editor and publisher, who has built up a good printing business in connection
with his paper.
THE DEKALB COUNTY HERALD
is the name of the Democrat paper published in Butler at the present time.
It is the offspring of the Butler Reviezv. After Mr. R. H. Weamer had
leased the Butler Record, before the death of Mr. Kist there seemed to be
some misunderstanding as to the time which he was to continue the paper.
By the death of the proprietor of the Record, a termination of the lease was
made at the end of the year. This aroused Mr. Weamer to start a paper in
opposition to the Record. To do this and make it pay, he believed it prudent
to make it a Democratic paper. Mr. Weamer was a very stanch Republican,
and so close did he draw the party lines, he could not write a Democratic
editorial, so he conducted the paper as the publisher and proprietor and
secured the services of John Baxter, then a Butler resident, to write the edi-
230 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA.
torials. This arrangement continued until 1884, when, on the first day of
October, he sold the plant to Edmund Calkins, who edited the paper until in
March, 1885. It then was edited by George Lautzenheiser for three months
and was sold to John J. Higgins who published the Reziew for several years,
when he sold the plant to O. H. Downey, now editor of the Churubusco
Truth. Mr. Downey conducted the paper a short time and then sold it to
M. E. Gardner, now publisher of the Democrat, at Lansing, Michigan. In
a short time Mr. Downey again became editor of the paper and in order to
make some changes in appearance of the paper, and for the purpose of placing
it more before the people as a democratic organ of the county, he changed
llie name to the DeKalb County Herald.
Later Mr. Downey disposed of the Herald to W. li. Keenan who had
charge of the paper until five years ago \\hen it was sold to A. S. Powers
who today is publishing a good paper.
PAPERS OF SHORT EXISTENCE.
These papers have been numerous, and some of them have been organs
of spite and malice, while some have tried hard to maintain a circulation and
gain a prestige.
In the latter part of the eighties a paper was started at Corunna, known
as the Corunna Hcadliglit. This was in small pamphlet form, and was an
experiment along the line of the Ram's Horn. Joseph Loveland, an eccen-
tric character, was the publisher of the paper, but it died after a short exist-
ence, struggling to the last. During the time that he was editor of this paper,
his sister, Miss Mary Loveland, a maiden lady, and his son, Joseph Loveland,
Jr., learned to set type, and after the death of the senior Mr. Loveland, Mr.
Loveland, Jr., and his "old aunt Mary" came to Waterloo and started a paper
called the DeKalb County Democrat. This was in 1890, and the paper had a
struggling life for nearly two years when O. S. Davison, then a photographer
of Waterloo, made a venture and purchased the hand outfit of the Democrat
and launched the Advocate. This paper was run during the campaign of
1892 as an organ for the Patrons of Industry, but was found without sup-
port enough to keep it going in less than a year and the paper was discon-
tinued. The outfit was then bought by Charles Spake, an Auburn printer,
who moved the plant to Auburn and started an opposition paper to the
Auburn Dispatch. The new Auburn paper was- known as the Auburn Times,
DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 23 T
but had a short existence, when it was consoHdated with the Dispatch, and
Mr. Spake became a partner of George W. Gordon, then the publisher of
the Dispatch.
Shortly after this, others saw what they thought to be an opening for
a third newspaper in Auburn, and the Times was again launched with Frank
Fluke and Frank Cline, brothers-in-law, as the editors and publishers. A
new outfit was purchased and the two printers used what means they had to
experiment on a money-making newspaper scheme, but they were compelled
to retire. At this time R. H. Weamer again entered the field and took up
the Times, but in only a short time he was convinced that a third paper m
Auburn had no place and he moved the plant to Hudson where he published
the Hudson Banner. This paper was conducted a number of years and was
finally suspended when Mv. Weamer became too feeble to continue its publica-
tion and unable to find anyone to take up the work. Mr. W'eamer's death
followed the suspension of the paper.
A brewers' paper.
Just at the time William Jennings Bryan was coming into prominence by
his free siher ideas, the Silver Daivn was conceived in Waterloo. Karl
Gerner, hailing from Madison, South Dakota, struck this county after having;
been in Owensboro, Kentucky, seeking a location for a silver paper. He
launched the Silver Dawn in July, 1896, and sought subscriptions for the sum
of a silver dollar. The silver dollars never increased the circulation to any
extent and the publisher became restless, desired to make a disposition of
the paper. He finally succeeded in leasing the paper to Lewis Barnett Fretz
and Saxby Mcintosh, two printers, who conducted the paper for four months,
when Mr. Gerner was forced to take the paper back. During this change in
management the name of the paper was changed to the Dawn.
During the local option campaign of 1909 Mr. Gerner sold the Dawn-
to the Indiana Brewing Association, through the agency of Hon. S. B. Flem-
ing, of Fort Wayne, with Alfred Kelley as local proprietor and publisher.
Then it was that Enoch Moffett came to Waterloo to take charge of the paper
and, while posing as a temperance man himself as to habits, a detective em-
ployed by the temperance people came to the town and incidentally "birds of
a feather flock together," and the detective became so "dry" that Mr. Moffett
kindly offered to take his money and go to a drug store where he could get a
bottle of whisky for him. The detective consented, and after being con-
.232 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA.
vinced that the contents of the bottle were whisky, he labeled the bottle and
dated it. with the name of the purchaser and seller. Later the bottle appeared
in the grand jury room and the court did the rest.
Tliis incident is mentioned to show the drift of the influence that the
Dawn had and to explain that it was no wonder that it died in April. 1910,
by "drowning," after fighting for a wet campaign.
THE ASHLEY TIMES
was started with the inception of the town of Ashley, located on the county
line adjoining Steuben county, by George W. Strayer, who came along with
the town boomers to make Ashley a railroad division point. Mr. Strayer
conducted the paper for a number of years when his ofifice was completely
wiped out by fire in the middle of an afternoon. Without loss of time, Mr.
Strayer organized the Ashley Printing Company, and resumed the publication
of the Times. He continued this paper until his death which occurred in
1903, when the business was continued by his widow, who secured the services
of Charles F. Kettering, who eventually leased the plant. It was running
down hill and the new editor not being able to pay his rent, refused to re-
linquished his lease on the paper. .A.n action was begun in the circuit court
praying for a receivership. Judge J- H. Rose appointed Herbert C. Willis,
the junior editor of the Waterloo Press, to take charge of the paper as editor
and receiver, continue the business, close up affairs, collect accounts, and run
the paper at the same time in order that it might be put in shape to be sold
at receiver's sale. This was during the summer of 1904, and in November
the plant was sold, Mrs. Strayer, the widow of the late George Strayer, and
one of the stock holders, bidding in the plant. The business had been worked
up and the paper placed on a basis that made it self-supporting. Mrs. Strayer
in turn sold the paper to J.F. Coss, who conducted the paper for some time.
Later Mr. Coss sold out his paper to the Angola Herald, which tried to print
an Ashley paper in Angola, and have it circulated in the DeKalb-Steuben
county town. This venture was not a success, and after some litigation the
sale was annulled. In the meantime, and five years ago, John L. Gillispie
bought the old Hudson Banner outfit and started up another paper in Ashley
under the name of the Ashley Ne^rs. This he had a hard time to make pay, as
two papers in Ashley (J. F. Coss going back in the newspaper business) were
more than the town could support. Finally, Mr. Gillispie sold out the Ashley
Ne7vs to A. C. Wolf, who has since conducted the paper, and Mr. Coss van-
ished from this section of the country almost simultaneously.
DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 233
THE ST. JOE NEWS
was started at St. Joe, in the southeast part of the county, several years ago
by Mort E. Olds. The paper was continued under his management several
years and had a very successful career for a paper in a small town. Later the
paper became the property of Lloyd Yeiser, who finally disposed of the paper
to the present publisher, Fred J. Leighty, who has continually improved the
paper, as an independent sheet.
THE CORUNNA STAR
was one of the late projects that faded away, and after a struggling existence
of about two years. Rex B. Wood, the preacher and checker player who came
from Wolf Lake to this county, discontinued the paper and his subscription list
was taken up by the Waterloo Press, which paper is now filling the unexpired
subscriptions. The Star was independent.
THE AUBURN WEEKLY BEE.
John C. Lochner, who has conducted a job printing office in Auburn for
a number of years, and at one time was connected with the Auburn Courier,
thought out a plan by which a weekly newspaper could be published for fifty
cents a year. He launched his paper January i, 191 1, and since that time the
paper has prospered and all subscriptions are received at the nominal sum of
fifty cents per annum. Politically, it is independent. Mr. Lochner has in-
stalled a new Intertype machine and issues a four page paper, all home print.
It is worth the price charged. One of the features of his paper is to print a
list of new subscribers each week, also the names of those who pay their sub-
scriptions.
CHAPTER X.
THE MEDICAL PROFESSION.
(By A. Byron Darby. M. D. )
Some years ago the writer attended the famil)- reunion, to which the pub-
lic was invited, in honor of John Houlton, the first settler of DeKalb county.
To an old lady who was among the earlier settlers, I asked the following
question : "What were the greatest and most serious difficulties you had to
contend with in your new home in DeKalb cnunty in those early days?" Tliis
old lady very promptly replied : "The difficulties were most prominent in the
order I mention them : The malarial fever, the doctors, the mosquitoes and
the bears. But," she continued, "the bears are long since gone; our in-
dustrious and progressive men have ditched and drained our low and swamp
lands, so the malaria is also gone, and the mosquitoes are so scarce that they
appear lonesome. The doctor we still have with us, but in such an improved
type that he is no longer a dread, but, on the other hand, we feel that he is a
new being, and we need him for his usefulness and skill, in both preserving
our health b)' his advice, and restoring our health. But those first doctors —
Oh my!"
We do not marvel that the doctor was, in those days, placed in the list of
unwelcome pests, when we know that the principal remedies were : First, the
lancet, to take from the patient all the blood he could spare and still live, hop-
ing thereby to destroy the tenement of the demon disease, and force him to
seek some other abode, thinking that, perhaps like of old, by some miracle,
he would be submerged in the sea. Then, second, the doctor had another
indispensable remedy, "The Spanish-Fly Blister," which was applied upon the
same theory, indiscriminately upon adult and child. Calomel and blue-pill
were the universal internal remedies for all diseases determined by the doc-
tor's diagnosis, and as a placebo when the doctors were uncertain in their
minds. On these three remedies the doctors anchored their hopes of success.
To work out of the system the calomel and blue-pills, after they had done
their savage work, gamboge, castor-oil and senna, one or all of them, were
DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 235
freely administered. If the patient .survi\ed the first course, it was soon
repeated until the patient, in the opinion of the doctor, was only suffering
from the remedies, which he usually did. The surgeon in those earl_\- days of
frontier life, ranked with the skilled carpenter and blacksmith. In fact the
former made the doctor's splints and other appliances of wood, and the latter
made his operative cutlery, forceps and other implements of steel. The
writer has some of these relics in his possession. Is it any wonder that the
old lady at the Houlton reunion referred to above associated the doctor with
the afflictions of the early days, as practice has proved the doctors of that day
in the frontier section were following traditions rather than scientific investi-
gation, with independent thought, both in theory and practice. If the phy-
sician in those early days, with his multiplied trials to contend with, could
be enthusiastic in his efforts and carry conviction with what seemed to him
to be the overwhelming weight of truth, what might be his exulting joy now,
since the light of intervening years of scientific progress and investigation
has so changed the theory of disease and remedies since the opening of the
last century ? Both medicine and surgery have made greater progress in har-
monv with scientific truth in the last half century than during all previous
historv. Medicine, however, with its component sciences and surgery are not
alone in this rapid and wonderful progress, which is world wide, but there
has been a general awakening in the world of thought during this recent
period, discovering and inventing the most wonderful aids to modern life.
We can but marvel when we endeavor to tabulate the innumerable lists. This
revolution has placed medicine, as a profession, a long way on the road of
science. As nature, with its most intricate vital forces, is the superior physi-
cian and first in charge of every case of human disability, the present doctor —
"this new type, this new being" — is now on such friendly terms with nature
that he lends rational assistance to his superior, and thereby gives most wel-
come aid to the afflicted.
The following vear after John Houlton had settled in Franklin township
in DeKalb county, on Fish creek, September 4th, 1833, several families im-
mediately followed and settled in that township. This fact from a distant
view made a rosy field for the first doctor, who was William Sheldon, who
settled on section two and remained about one year without much history, and
was soon followed by Dr. William Pink, a native of England. He had form-
erly, for a time, resided in the state of New York. He was unmarried, hav-
ing had a wife and two children deceased. Doctor Pink made his home with
John Fee, a I)rother-in-law of John Houlton. The doctor was a man of
236 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA.
good manners and cultured intelligence, positive and tyrannical in his opinions.
He was addicted to the use of intoxicating drinks, which too often rendered
him incapable of serving his patients; but it is said that, during these periods
of drinking, he had the discretion to positively refuse to give any attention
to the sick. He frequently treated families with whom he would live until he
had boarded out the professional claim. If the board suited him the claim
was large, but if the family was not congenial, the claim was small. He died
at the home of Adam Boyer, in Franklin township in 1846. Dr. Peter
LaDue, of French descent, soon followed the arrival of Doctor William Pink
and settled a little northeast of the center of Franklin township. He was a
man of ill temper and impressed the people that he lacked sympathy. He
was exacting and pedantic. In the early forties he moved to Enterprise, now
Hamilton, just across the line of Franklin township, in Steuben county, and
soon died from an accidental injury received when his horse fell through a
bridge. In 1842 Dr. William Joice, a native of Pennsylvania, located near
John Houlton on Fish creek. Doctor Joice was a man of culture, good
habits and of sympathetic nature. He was conscientious in his professional
duties and the pioneers all respected and even loved him. In 1848 he moved
to Orland, in Steuben county, where there were additional advantages. The
people of Franklin township and surrounding country regretted his departure.
Doctor Joice resided in Orland until his decease.
Previous to 1840 there were no roads cut out, only in a primitive manner,
simply cutting away the brush and saplings sufficiently to permit the passage
of ox team and' wagon. These roads were meandering on the highest ground,
avoiding swamps as. much as possible, crossing swashy beaver dams. These
beaver dams were all named, like buoys for the sailor. These trails took a
course in the direction of some distant fort or settlement, where could be
secured food and other necessities, to sustain life. Fort Wayne, Fort De-
fiance and Jackson Prairie were the nearest. The St. Joseph river passing
through the southeast part of the county, and emptying its waters into the
Maumee at Fort Wayne, was an early channel which the settler could use for
exporting and importing, by the use of pirogue or raft. From this fact, as
early as 1834. settlement began along this river in DeKalb county.
Dr. John Tatman located at Vienna, now Newville, in 1834 or
1835, and made his home, a portion of the time, at Orangeville, a competing
embryonic city, one mile by trail, down the river from Vienna. The doctor
continued in practice a number of years. Doctor Tatman was noted for haste
and bluster. He always rode a white horse and was invariably on the gallop
where the conditions of the trail would permit. This hustle and haste and
DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 237
the white horse made the doctor quite noted. During these years Doctor
Herrick engaged in practice at Orangeville. The writer can learn but little
of him ; however, we learned that he met with a fatal accident. Attempting
to cross the river in a boat, he lost control of it and was carried over the
dam at Orangeville and was drowned. For the benefit of the lovers of the
mysterious, I will say that, one of his patrons, a devoted Christian lady, had a
vision two weeks previously, and had stated that the doctor would lose his
life in the manner he did.
From 1833 to 1842 was reall}- the prinie\al age of the medical profession
in DeKalb county. The doctors labored under the most trying circumstances,
it being difticult to obtain their own supplies or those for the comfort of the
sick. There were no roads and they were often scantily clothed and fed.
One thing, however, they always had a bountiful supply of fresh air.
From 1837 to 1842 the emigration into the county was large, and home-
seekers had located in all parts of the county. The county was organized,
state roads laid out, and the leading ones partly opened. The first of these
roads in the main followed the early trails. The settlers were rapidly cutting
away the timber, letting the sun-rays directly upon the undrained soil, and
its numerous sags holding water which disappeared only by evaporation.
This increased the mosquitoes and malarial fevers, which made additional
demands for doctors in various parts of the county. The following named
doctors found a field for busy work over the entire county : Dr. Solomon
Stough, a native of Tuscarawas county, Ohio, who located on Fish creek,
in Troy township, in 1845. where he continued his extensive practice, ac-
cumulating means to secure two hundred acres of excellent land, which he
highly improved until it was considered the best farm in Troy township. In
the early sixties he moved to Waterloo. He enjoyed an extensive practice
for nearly sixty years. His death was accidental, he having been struck Iiy a
Lake Shore train at a street crossing in the niglit.
Dr. Jonas Emanuel, a native of Ohio, located at Spencerville in 1843.
The doctor had an extensive practice and for many years was the only physi-
cian in that section of the county. He was a man of energ\-, and was atten-
tive to business, and financially was a success.
Dr. William H. Madden, a native of Oliio, located at Xorristown, in
Wilmington township; the name was changed from Xorristown to Jarvis and
finally to Butler, its present name. The doctor enjo}'ed an extensi\e practice
and had the confidence of all wlio knew him. 1 le was kind and indulgent and
never oppressed his patrons Ijy hi> i)rofcs>ionaI charges. He once said to the
238 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA.
writer, "I have had much more joy out of my efforts, and their results, in
reheving the sufferings of humanity than I ever have had from the money my
profession has made for me." Age and infirmities compelled, him to retire
from practice, but he never lost his interest in the profession. He was
especiallv unsellish and kind to his competitors, and his long and faithful
friends mourn tlie decease of a good man.
Dr. James r^lilligan, a native of Pennsylvania, located at Butler in
1853, where he followed his profession for five years. The doctor was firm in
his convictions and energetic, but lacked devotion to his profession. He
bought a fine farm in Troy township, to which he retired, where he enjoyed a
happy life to a good old age. The doctor had frequent periods of disgust
with the practice ; and at one time said to the writer while living on his farm :
"When I plant and sow for a crop of grain, I expect to reap a bountiful har-
vest, but in medicine a doctor is always sowing to the wind, and he is for-
tunate if he does not reap a whirlwind." 1 replied: "Doctor, }ou no doubt
love agriculture, and you study nature, and the laws governing it. ""^'ou per-
fectly prepare the soil, you carefull}- select the seed, you sow and plant in the
season, vou skilfullv till and cultivate the crops, and you are blessed with a
bountiful harvest. Would not a like study of nature in dealing with the
human body, becoming familiar with the normal and abnormal conditions,
and the functions of the organs, making yourself equally as familiar with the
chemistry and specific action of remedies, and administered with like care you
exercise in planting and sowing your seeds, would you not obtain fully as
satisfactory results?" He replied : "That is all bosh." The doctor had an
extensive practice through the country of that region, notwithstanding his
dislike for his profession. He was ne\er known to ride his horses off a walk.
He would say to any one, asking him to hurr\- : "If the patient is going to
die, tliey will die anyway: and there is no use of killing a horse."
Dr. Noyce Coats, a native of Pennsylvania, matured his boyhood
davs in Wilmington township, near Butler. He took a course of lectures in
Michigan University, and was appointed surgeon in the Federal army during
the war of the Rebellion. He was a man of fine culture, companionable and
sympatlietic. He died in 1S77, mourned by all who knew him.
Dr. Hiram Jones located in Uniontown. now the first ward of
Waterloo, in 1850. He was noted for his tall and angular physique, the
colonial cut of his clothing, and he always wore a high silk hat. He was
social and congenial and was fond of society: was fond of anecdotes and
stories, and his were made rich by his nasal voice. He was an old bachelor
DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 239
and especially fond of the company of young ladies. He frequently boasted
that no tricks could be successfully perpetrated on him. One winter's evening,
after a drifting snow, he invited two jolly and very popular young ladies to
accompany him to a spelling school at a distant school house. The roads
were badly drifted with snow. \Vhile at the spelling contest the boys re-
moved the bolts which held the box of his sleigh to the running gear, and
when he started for home, w ith the young ladies, the first drift they reached
the sleigh was dumped into the snow, and old "John," the horse, went home
with the sleigh. The doctor never heard the last of this trip, and he deeply
felt the humiliation, but said: "It was the most chilling and perplexing case
in all my professional career." He retired from practice during the early
sixties, married a Miss Johnson, of Steuben county, Indiana, who had in-
herited her father's estate, and they migrated to Missouri, where snow drifts
were seldom known.
Dr. Isaac John Hornberger, a contemporary with Dr. Hiram Jones
at Waterloo, was retiring in his manner, l)ut had the confidence of the people.
He was conservatively liberal in his views and sympathetic. In the early
sixties his health failed, and he retired from practice, dying about the time
of the close of the war of the Rebellion.
Dr. William Benier, a native of Ohio, located as a young phwsician in
Salem Center, Steuben county, in 1848. Having had a very large patronage
from the northern half of DeKalb county, in 1862 he located in Waterloo,
DeKalb county. He made the treatment of chronic diseases a specialty. The
doctor had a wide and deserving reputation : he had a superior knowledge of
therapeutics, had an analytical mind, was quick of perception, and .seldom
was in error in any detail of his diagnosis. He had the gift of memory to the
extent that he could relate in detail every remedy he had used and its effect
in every case in his fiftv years' practice. He died in ^^'aterloo at the age of
eighty years.
The physicians at Auburn during the primitive period of DeKalb county
were Doctors Ross, Haynes, Cooper, Prichard, Oliver and Roe; in addition
to these, prior to 1856, were Doctors J. H. Ford, W. B. Dancer, Hendricks
and J. N. Chamberlain; all of these four men had more than ordinary ability;
they were energetic, quick of perception and exercised superior judgment in
their profession. Their everyday lives were convincing proof of their un-
selfish interest in humanity. Each one of them was always ready to lend un-
selfish counsel and aid to the younger members of the profession. They ha\e
passed to their reward, but they still live in history as deserving noblemen.
240 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA.
From 1842 to 1856 closes what might be termed the middle age of the
settling of DeKalb county and its development. In 1856 the Lake Shore &
Michigan Southern Air Line railroad was completed through the center of
the county, causing the building of the thriving towns of Butler, Waterloo
and Corunna. The Fort Wayne branch of the Lake Shore & Michigan
Southern, through the center north and south, which passes through Summit,
Waterloo, Auburn, Auburn Junction, St. Johns and New Era, quickly fol-
lowed these railroads. The Eel River, now Vandalia railroad, was built from
Butler to Logansport, passing through the city of Auburn, running from
northeast to southwest through the county. The Baltimore & Ohio, built
through the southern tier of townships, which caused the building of the town
of St. Joe on the east in Concord township, and the village of Concord,
Auburn Junction, and the city of Garrett, where are located the division and
shops of the Baltimore & Ohio. The Wabash enters the county in Troy
township, near the village of Artie, passing through the cities of Butler, St.
Joe and Spencerville. The construction of these railroads caused the building
of new towns and rapidly increased the growth of the older ones. From this
wonderful development and increase of population, we can readily see that
from 1856 to the present constitutes the modern age of DeKalb county in
every respect. In this period the doctors have located in every inviting field.
They have been mostly young men fre.^h from colleges and universities, ener-
getic and intelligent.
THE MEDICAL SOCIETY.
The question of a medical society had for a long time lieen suggested and
urged during personal interviews and prdfessional councils of the doctors as
they chanced to meet throughout the county.
In 1882 the doctors most interested in the advancement of the profession
met in Auburn to organize 'a medical society. There was but one question
which arose touching upon the laws and rules that should govern the society
whicli called out discussion. This was whether a woman who had the accom-
plishment of M. D. should be received into the society. During the discussion
one grave and influential doctor arose somewhat agitated and said: "Mr.
President : I think no one of us would be injured b\' the civilizing influence
of women; unless you have lost all love for your mother and your wife, if
you have one, I can see no earthly reason why women should not be allowed
to become medical men in this society." This created an outburst of laughter,
and there were no further objections. By unanimous consent women who
were medical doctors were admitted.
DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 24I
Upon the completion of the organization of the Medical Society of De-
Kalb County, as an auxiliary of the Indiana State Medical Society, fifteen
doctors were present and signed the constitution and by-laws. This meeting
convened at the office of Dr. W. P. Carpenter in the city of Butler on
July 27, 1882, following a meeting at the office of Dr. J. A. Cowen in the
city of Auburn a few days before for making temporary arrangements for the
organization. Out of the fifteen who signed the by-laws at that meeting,
there are only two living at this date. There have been, since the organization
of this society, in 1882, many doctors located in DeKalb county, who for some
reason, best known to themselves, have not affiliated with the medical society.
As a rule these doctors not affiliating have been transient or have failed
to recognize the educational features of the society for the advancement of
professional knowledge.
The following named doctors have affiliated with the organization of
the medical society since its beginning, and the society keenly feels the loss by
death of many of these benefactors and their wise counsel : J. S. Barnett, J.
J. Littlefield, J. B. Bennett, W. H. Madden, B. S. Sheffer, A. A. Ward, J. S.
Kenestrick, C. E. Nusbaum, J. S. Yount,, D. M. Hines, S. M. Sherman, J. V.
Lewis, V. Anderson, L. A. Hines, U. G. Souger, M. E. Clingler, A. A.
Kramer, W. P. Carpenter, W. K. Mitchell, J. B. Casebeer, S. H. Snyder, T.
C. Sargent, James N. Chamberlain, Mrs. L. A. P. Leasure, W. F. Shumaker,
P. S. Kaadt, Frank Bevier, J. H. Ford, G. E. Emanuel, F. M. Hines, J. C.
Baxter, W. W. Swartz, Frank Brown, W. K. Schlusser, J. A. Cowan, D. J.
Swartz, F. W. Fanning, Mrs. Vesta M. Swartz, V. A. Humphrey, U. J.
Ward, M. M. Bowen, N. J. Shook, J. O. Buchtel, J. A. Stough, A. Byron
Darby, Frank Broughton, N. L. Hines, J. A. Clevenger, A. V. Hines, J. C.
Emma, E. L. Fosdick, D. A. Sebring, A. S. Farrington, J. J. Wilkinson, R.
Elson, H. W. Bowman, Charles S. Stewart, Z. H. Stamets, L. U. Geisinger,
G. T. Mathena, J. T. Dunn, J. B. Adams, J. E. Showalter, W. H. Nusbaum,
F. A. King, J. W. Thomson.
The number of physicians now in practice in DeKalb county totals
thirty-nine and are located as follows : In the city of Butler, five ; Newville,
one; St. Joe, three; Spencerville, two; Waterloo, five; Auburn, twelve; Gar-
rett, seven ; Corunna, two ; Ashley, two.
These men now engaged in practice have the confidence of the com-
munities in which they live, are intelligent and aspiring, keeping in the front
rank with the most skillful in the state.
(16)
242 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA.
In conclusion, I am sure it will gladden the heart of every reader,
whether doctor or layman, when I tell you that a more glorious epoch is at
hand. Its dawning light will guide the medical profession into the unerring
paths of scientific sanitation; and the doctor will be employed to prevent
disease instead of being employed to cure disease ; which, at best, with all the
profoundest skill that is, or will be, leaves the sufferer with physical loss
which cannot be regained. When the doctor succeeds in preventing disease
the millennium for the medical profession has come. It is in sight. The light
will soon disperse all doubt. Then the doctor's regrets and sorrows from
sympathies for the afflicted, blasted hopes through failures, and tears of
sympathy shed when alone in his sanctum for the bereaved, will all disappear;
and, instead, he will realize the pleasure of triumph, joy instead of sadness,
hopes realized instead of failure, and smiles in place of tears. I know I
voice the hopes of the profession, here and elsewhere, that unfailing science
may direct us, and lead us into the light of truth, that we may more bountifully
bless mankind, and restore man from his dwarfed and weakened condition,
to the strong and beautiful creature that God created as the crowning glory
of His omnipotent power.
CHAPTER XL
THE BENCH AND BAR.
(By John ■«'. Baxter.)
PROBATE COURT.
When DeKalb county was organized, the law provided for a probate
court, to be known as the Probate Court of DeKalb County. Such court had
"original and exclusive jurisdiction in all matters relating to the probate of
wills and testaments, granting of letters testamentary, and letters of adminis-
tration, and of guardianship — the settlement and distribution of decedents'
estates, the examination and allowance of the accounts of executors, adminis-
trators and guardians," and also "concurrent jurisdiction in all suits at law, or
in equity upon all demands or causes of action in favor of or against heirs,
executors, administrators, or guardians, and their securities, and representa-
tives when the amount in controversy shall exceed fifty dollars, and in parti-
tion of real estate; and the assignment of the widow's dower; and the appoint-
ment of a commissioner to make deed on title bond given by deceased obligor;
and to authorize the guardian to sell and convey the real estate of his ward
in certain cases." The judge of the probate court was elected by the voters
of the county and commissioned by the governor of the state to serve for a
term of seven years, and until his successor may be chosen and qualified, if
the same shall so long behave well. The clerk of the circuit court and the
sheriff of the county served the probate court as clerk and sheriff respectively,
and the judge was authorized to call to his aid a jury for the trial of proper
cases.
The law provided that "no person shall be either elected, commissioned
or appointed such judge of the probate court until he shall first have obtained
a certificate from some one of the judges of the supreme court, or some one
of the president judges of the circuit courts, that he is qualified to discharge
the duties appertaining to said office of probate judge — provided, that such
judge of the supreme or circuit court in the examination hereby authorized,
244 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA.
shall have due regard for the legal qualifications of such person; and pro-
vided also, that nothing in this section contained shall be construed so as to
require any judge of said probate court to be a professional cliaracter."
COMMON PLEAS COURT.
The court was abolished by the Legislature in 1852, and its jurisdiction
transferred to the court of common pleas, then established. Lott B. Herrick
and John C. Wood at different times were elected and presided as judges of
the common pleas court of DeKalb county. The court of common pleas was
established by the Legislature of 1852, and our district was composed of the
counties of Lagrange, Steuben, DeKalb, Noble and Whitley. At the Octo-
ber election of that year John Morris was chosen judge of the common pleas
court for the district, for the term of four years, when Egbert B. Mott was
elected as his successor, and served for one term. These judges were both
pioneer lawyers of DeKalb county, and brought to the bench rich learning in
the law, and high ideals of honor and the business of the court and of the
bar. Afterward, William M. Clapp, of Albion, Noble county, was elected
judge of this court, and so continued until the court was abolished by the
Legislature of i87'3. Its business and jurisdiction were transferred to the cir-
cuit court.
JUSTICES OF THE PEACE.
The justices of the peace have had limited jurisdiction in both civil and
criminal cases since the organization of the state and county. Their juris'
diction in civil cases is confined to the township of their residence, but in
criminal cases it is coextensive with the county. The justices of the peace
generally have not been versed in the law, and often their educational qualities
have been very limited, although DeKalb county has had many of these
justices who have been endowed with fine qualities of judgment, and who
rarely departed far from right conclusions upon cases brought before them.
Of these the writer is reminded of George Beard, an early justice of Frank-
lin township; George Barney, a pioneer justice of Concord township; George
W. Maxwell, who served as a justice first in Wilmington township and after-
ward in Richland. Also Cyrus C. Walter, who acceptably served for many
years as justice of the peace in Auburn. These worthy squires, by their wise
counsel, assisted in settling many annoying disputes to the advantage of both
parties without suit, and when a cause could not be adjusted except by a suit,
DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 245
they fearlessly gave decision as justice and law required, and their judgments
were rarely overturned by appeal.
CIRCUIT COURT.
The circuit court has been court of general, civil and crinn'nal jurisdic-
tion since the organization of this state, and since the common pleas court
was abolished in 1873. The circuit court has also had exclusive jurisdiction
in guardianships and the settlement of the estates of deceased persons.
In the early days of Indiana, when the settlements were small and scat-
tered, there were many counties grouped together in one judicial circuit, and
the judge of the circuit rode from one county to another in the judicial cir-
cuit, accompanied by the lawyers, and held court in each county seat, until the
business was disposed of, and as the inhabitants and wealth of the counties
increased, bringing an increase in the business of the courts, the number of
circuits was increased, so that fewer counties were included in each circuit,
until at this time each of the larger counties of the state comprises a judicial
district. DeKalb county has never attained to this distinction, but has al-
ways been included with another county or counties in the formation of the
judicial circuit. By the act of 1873 the thirty-fifth judicial circuit was made
to consist of Noble, DeKalb and Steuben counties, and in 1889 the circuit
was again changed, and since has been composed of DeKalb and Steuben
counties.
DeKalb county has not always been especially fortunate in the judges
of its circuit court, but generally the bench of the court has been occupied
by able and honest lawyers, and some of the most distinguished jurists of
our state have presided as the regular judges of this court. Until the adoption
of the state constitution of 1852 the circuit court consisted of a president
judge of the circuit, who went from county to county with two associate
judges elected in the county. The president judge could alone hold the court
in the absence of the associate judges, or with either of them, if the other was
absent, and in the absence of the president judge the two associate judges
could hold the court, except in capital cases and cases in chancer}'.
CIRCUIT COURT JUDGES.
The following named president judges occupied the bench of the DeKalb
circuit court : Charles Ewing, E. A. McMahon and J- W. Wright. The asso-
ciate judges were : Ariel Walden, Thomas L. Yates, Samuel Widney, Nelson
246 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA.
Payne, Robert Work, David Martin, Abraham Cope and G. C. Mudgett.
Since 1852 the following named men have presided as judge of this court:
E. R. Wilson, then living at Bluffton; James Borden, then living at Fort
Wayne ; Reuben J. Dawson, then living at Spencerville ; Robert Lowery, then
of Goshen, but afterward removed to Fort Wayne, where for many years he
presided as judge of the Allen superior court with marked ability, from
which he retired to represent this district in the congress of the United States.
Hiram S. Tousley, a lawyer of Albion, a kind and able judge, occupied the
bench of this court both before and after his service as a soldier in the war of
1861. Others were: James I. Best, then living at Waterloo, who made an
excellent judge, but he resigned to return to the bar, where he always en-
joyed an extensive practice, and where he was justly rated as one of the best
of trial lawyers and an honorable antagonist; Joseph A. Woodhull, of An-
gola, was appointed to fill the vacancy caused by Judge Best's resignation, and
presided acceptably until the next election, when Hiram S. Tousley was
elected for the second time, but his health failed and he died in office, and
Charles A. McClellan, of Waterloo, was appointed and presided for about one
year, until the next election, when R. Wes McBride, then of Waterloo, was
elected and made an excellent judge for the term of six years. He afterward
removed to Elkhart, where he practiced law for a short time before he be-
came a judge of the supreme court of the state. He is now located at In-
dianapolis, where he enjoys a large practice, largely in the supreme and ap-
pellate courts. Stephen A. Powers, of Angola, was the next judge for a full
term. AVilliam L. Penfield, of Auburn, was then elected, but resigned during
his term, to accept a position as solicitor in the department of state at Wash-
ington, D. C. Frank S. Roby, then of Auburn, was appointed to fill the
vacancy caused by the resignation of Judge Penfield, and made a good judge
until the next election, when Ezra D. Hartman, a good lawyer and a good
man, was chosen, but diseases resulting from his army services had broken
his health, and he died while in ofiice, and James H. Rose, a capable young
lawyer of Auburn, was appointed and made an excellent judge until the next
election. Emmet A. Bratton, of Angola, was then chosen, and served for a
full term of six years as a most painstaking and conscientious judge. Frank
M. Powers, of Angola, was elected to this office in November, 1910, and is
still the judge of this court, and is engaging in the discharge of his duties
with the same quiet business habits and thorough knowledge of the law
which made him a successful lawyer. The business of the court has been
badly interfered with by the loss of most of its records in a fire, which on Feb-
ruary 8, 19 1 3, destroyed the building in which the court was held.
DEKALR COUNTY, INDIANA. 247
EARLY LAWYERS.
The list of the lawyers of DeKalb county contains the names of many
men who have ranked high at the bar and on the bench of this state. With-
out presuming to give an altogether complete list, the following are re-
membered by the writer, as the men who have practiced law while living in
this county: Egbert B. Mott, of Auburn, also judge of common pleas court;
Timothy R. Dickinson, of Auburn, afterward of Waterloo; John Morris, of
Auburn, afterward of Fort Wayne, judge of common pleas court, and after-
ward supreme court commissioner, a fine lawyer, a great scholar and always a
gentleman; Reuben J. Dawson, of Spencerville, judge of circuit court; Abner
F. Pinchin, of Hamilton, then at Butler, was district attorney in early days.
All of the above named are deceased. William H. Dills, of Auburn, deceased;
James B. Morrison, of Auburn, removed west; Guy Plum, of Auburn, de-
ceased; James I. Best, of Waterloo, also judge of circuit court, and supreme
court commissioner; Charles A. O. McClellan, of Waterloo and Auburn,
judge of circuit court, and representative in congress, deceased; Lewis J.
Blair, of Waterloo, deceased; James E. Rose, of Auburn, deceased; Edward
W. Fosdick, of Butler, deceased; Joseph L. Morelan, of Waterloo, deceased;
R. Wes McBride, of Waterloo, judge of circuit court and of supreme court,
now at Indianapolis; Ezra D. Hartman, of Auburn, also judge of circuit
court, deceased; Charles E. Emanuel, of Auburn, deceased; Price D. West,
of Auburn, deceased; William L. Penfield, deceased; James M. Sommers, of
Waterloo, deceased; Frank S. Roby, of Waterloo and Auburn, now of In-
dianapolis; William T. Bope, of Butler, now at Bad Axe, Michigan; Andrew
J. Baxter, of Butler, deceased; Frank C. Baxter, of Auburn, deceased; Ed-
ward B. Dunton, of Butler, now in Mississippi; Daniel Y. Husselman, of
Waterloo and Auburn, deceased; Hubert E. Hartman, of Auburn, now in
Detroit; James H. Rose, of Auburn, now at Fort Wayne; Walter Penfield,
now in Washington, D. C.
THE PRESENT EAR.
The active members of the DeKalb county bar at this time are as fol-
lows : Daniel D. Moody, 1869; Publius V. Hoffman, i8y2; John W. Baxter,
1875; James H. Rose, 1889; Willis Rhoads, 1894; James E. Pomeroy,
1895; Daniel M. Link, 1894; C. M. Brown, 1892; Charles S. Smith, 1899;
Charles O. Borst, 1895; E. W. Atkinson, 1913; L. B. Gatten, 191 1 : J. Glenn
Miller, iqoy: Winthrop W. Ketcham, 1913; Frederick O. Shearer, 1913.
248 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA.
These attorneys are in Auburn. In Waterloo are: William H. Leas, 1847;
Cyrus M. Phillips, 1875; George W. Crooks, 1897; Henry J. Spackey, 1904.
In Garrett are: Lewis J. Gengler, 1890; Edward M. McKennan, 1895;
Willard W. Sharpless, 1891 ; Howard W. Mountz,, 1895 ; J. D. Brinkerhoff,
1902. In Butler are: Cassius J. Coats, 1877; Frank A. Brink, 1878; William
P. Endicott, 1910; Forest H. Ritter, 1910.
CHAPTER XII.
POLITICAI, HISTORY.
The political history of DeKalb county is, in many respects, similar to
that of the other counties in the state of Indiana. In fact, politics is a sub-
ject that permits of various and equally truthful viewpoints. Graft, injustice
and favoritism are, of course, present wherever men are chosen by popular
vote to fill official positions; but, on the other hand, there are more clean
elections and proper campaign tactics in force than a public is allowed to
believe. The newspaper is the means of communication to the people, but
upon reading two different papers, two theories, apparently each tenable, are
learned. However, this is not the purpose of history, and in the discussion of
DeKalb county politics, no recourse will be made to the party issues and the
attitude of the voters and newspapers; an effort will simply be made to tell
the facts, results and the general character of the county during the campaign
times; also a complete list of the officers chosen in the county from the date
of organization until the present year.
FIRST ELECTIONS.
The first election after the organization of the county of De-
Kalb was held on August 6, 1838, and resulted in the ciioice of Luther Keep
for commissioner, Wesley Park for sheriff, Lott Herrick for school commis-
sioner, and Robert Work for coroner. These men had very little opposition.
In addition, a representati\e was voted for, and David B. Herriman was
chosen with a majority of fourteen. Peter Fair, A. F. Beecher and Samuel
Widney were chosen commissioners in 1837, Ijut the county could hardly be
said to have been organized at that date.
The first presidential election in whicii the county participated was the
one of 1840, when Harrison and \'an Buren were the candidates for
President. Glowing descriptions have been given of the "hard cider^'
campaign of that year, and the glorious and enthusiastic rallies where the
slogan of "Tippecanoe and Tyler too" was sung by marching crowds. Harri-
250 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA.
son was successful in the county, for of the three hundred and thirty-four
votes cast, he received a majority of ten; thus the Whigs were strongest in
DeKalb.
Four years later, during the memorable campagin of 1844, the Wliigs
had as their candidate Henry Clay, of Kentucky, and his chances were re-
garded as very favorable. However, a compromising letter penned by this
son of the "dark and bloody ground country" just before election caused his
chances to decrease, and when election came the Free-Soilers, with James K.
Polk at the helm, were victorious. Polk's plurality in the state of New York
was but five thousand. It is interesting to note the "ifs" of this result — thus,
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; New York
would have given a majority to the Whig party, Clay would have been named
President, and the annexation of Texas defeated, and the Mexican war of
1849 would, in all probability, never have occurred. The total vote of this
election was over twice that cast during the campaign of 1844.
In 184S the Democrats nominated Cass and Butler, the \Miigs Taylor
and Fillmore, and the Free-Soil men. Van Buren and Adams. DeKalb county
tavored Cass in this election.
The election of 1852 came just after the famous compromises of 1830,
and before the renewal of the agitation over slavery, caused by Kansas-
Nebraska troubles. Both Whigs and Democrats adopted platforms in favor
of the 1850 compromises, but Genera! Scott, the \Ahig candidate, was not
trusted by either the friends or enemies of slavery restriction. The result was
that he carried only the states of Massachusetts, Vermont, Kentucky and Ten-
nessee, while Gen. Franklin Pierce, of the Democrats, carried twenty-
seven states. DeKalb county gave Pierce a majority of her votes.
In 1852 a new state constitution was adopted, fixing the general annual
election in the month of October. Previously, it had been held in August.
The Whig party expired with the disastrous defeat of 1852, and the Republi-
can party rose and nominated John C. Fremont for President. James Bu-
chanan was the Democratic choice, and Millard Fillmore headed the Ameri-
can party. Buchanan was elected. He received the largest number of votes in
DeKalb, with Fremont second.
ELECTION OF 186O.
The presidential election of the year iSfio was easily the most import-
ant of the government until that time, and afterward until the present. A
DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA.
big issue was existent, and the country was divided as it ne\er was nor
probably ever will be. The Repubhcan party, representing tlie North and
Uiiion, nominated Abraham Lincoln for the presidency; the Democratic
party, for the South and slavery, chose John C. Breckenridge. The regular
Democratic party, other than the Democratic party of the South, nominated
Stephen A. Douglas, who advocated popular sovereignty, a middle ground.
A fourth party, designated the Union party, named John Bell as candidate,
but the party was of little importance in the campaign, as it had very indefi-
nite views. By running Breckenridge, the South threw the presidency to
Lincoln, when it nn'ght have supported Douglas as a whole, and won.
DeKalb county gave Lincoln a plurality of one hundred and one, and a
majority of seventy-five. Breckenridge received but two votes. The town-
ships in favor of Lincoln were: Butler, Concord, Newville, Stafford, Wil-
mington, Union, Franklin and Troy. Jackson, Richland, Fairfield and Smith-
field gave Douglas the majority.
The one-sided vote in DeKalb county does not represent tlie general
spirit that prevailed here during those stirring times. The county was a
hotbed, and political enthusiasm reached a high point. Meetings where in-
flamed oratory abounded were numerous, and rallies, processions, and barrel-
head speakers proclaimed the excitement of the people. There were many
"butternuts" in DeKalb county, but upon becoming too oljstreperous they
were promptly, sometimes with coercive measures, man-handling, forced into
silence.
LATER ELECTIONS.
The Republicans drew a great deal of strength from the election of i860,
and afterw-ard bore out this prosperity with repeated successes. In 1868
U. S. Grant received a majority of twenty-four in DeKalb county, out of a
total vote of three thousand four hundred and seventy-six. In 1872 Grant
was again nominated by the Republican party, and the new division, the
Liberal Republicans, nominated Horace Greeley. Grant was again victorious.
The following paragraph, written in the Auburn Courier after the election, is
interesting :
"From 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 noth-
ing. Twelve years' experience has taught us that Salt River is a navigable
stream. The air at its headwaters is pure, but not so very 'healthy.' The
countrv is inhabited l)v white men exclusively, and although manv of these
252 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA.
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 today 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 enemies 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 Presi-
dent. Now he ain't. Well, Greeley, he wore a-running 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 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 end on him. The main reason why H. G. was not elected was
that he could 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
until it was everywhere. Whenever a thing spreads, then you may know it
gets thin, and thus you may account for H. G.'s vote. We'll be opposed
hereafter to having elections, when such things are around."
PRESIDENTIAL VOTE IN DEKALB COUNTY.
in 1840 Harrison and Tyler received one hundred and seventy-seven
votes, and Martin Van Buren one hundred and sixty-seven.
In 1844 Polk and Dallas received three hundred and twenty-seven votes;
Clay and Frelinghuysen, two hundred and sixty-nine ; and James G. Birney,
six.
In 1848 Cass and Butler received nine hundred and si\t)--eight votes in
the county, Tavlor and Fillmore, five hundred and seventy-seven; and Van
Buren and Adams, three hundred and forty-seven.
In 1852 Pierce and King received seven hundred and eighty votes: Scott
and Graham, three hundred and ninety-one : Hale and Julian, one Inindred
and sixty-four.
DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 253
In 1856 James Buchanan received one thousand two hundred and forty-
seven votes ; John C. Fremont, one thousand ninety-seven ; Millard Fillmore,
seventy-five.
In i860 Abraham Lincoln receixed fifteen hundred votes: Stephen A.
Douglas, thirteen hundred ninety-nine; John Bell, twenty- four ; and John C.
Breckenridge, two.
In 1864 Lincoln received fourteen hundred and eighty-four; George B.
McCIellan, fourteen hundred seventy-two.
In 1868 U. S. Grant received seventeen hundred and fifty votes; and
Horatio Seymour, seventeen hundred twenty-six.
In 1872 U. S. Grant received eighteen hundred and sixty-one votes;
Horace Greeley, fifteen hundred forty- four; and Charles O' Conor, ninety-
four.
In 1876 Samuel J. Tilden received twenty-five hundred and fifty-three
votes; Rutherford B. Hayes, twenty-three hundred and eighty-one; Peter
Cooper, thirty-eight.
In 1880 Winfield S. Hancock received twenty-five hundred and eighty-
two votes; James A. Garfield, twenty- four hundred and forty-one; James C.
Weaver, one hundred and ten.
In 1884 Grover Cleveland received twenty-seven hundred and ninety-
nine votes; James G. Blaine, twenty-four hundred fifty-one; Benjamin F.
Butler, ninety-five ; John P. St. John, fifty-nine.
In 1888 Grover Cleveland received thirty-one hundred and sixty votes;
and Benjamin Harrison, twenty-eight hundred seventy-nine.
In 1892 Grover Cleveland, Democrat, received twenty-eight hundred
and one votes in DeKalb county; Benjamin Harrison, Republican, twenty-
four hundred and ninety-nine; Bidwell, Prohibitionist, one hundred ninety-
eight ; and Weaver, Peoples, seven hundred and forty-six.
In 1896 William J. Bryan, Democrat, received thirty-six hundred and
seventy-eight votes; William McKinley, Republican, thirty-one hundred and
thirty-seven; Levering, Prohibitionist, thirty-three; Palmer, Gold Democrat,
twenty-five ; National ticket, fourteen.
In 1900 Bryan received thirty-four hundred and eighty-eight votes;
McKinley, thirty-two hundred and eighteen; Woolley, Prohibitionist, two
hundred and fifty-nine ; the Social Democrats, Union Reform, and Peoples
tickets received two, one and seven votes, respectively.
In 1904 Alton B. Parker, Democrat, received two thousand eight hun-
dred and twenty-seven votes ; Theodore Roosevelt, Republican, three thousand
254
DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA.
four hundred and sixteen : Prohibitionist ticket, three hundred and forty-
three; Peoples, sixty-seven; Socialist, one hundred fifty-four; Socialist
Labor, twenty-nine.
In 1908 William J. Bryan, Democrat, received three thousand six hun-
dred and twenty- four votes; William H. Taft, Republican, two thousand nine
hundred and ninety-one; Prohibition, two hundred eighty-seven; Socialist,
sixty-three; Peoples, five; Socialist Labor, two; Independent, eighteen.
In 1912 Woodrow Wilson, Democrat, received two thousand seven hun-
dred and sixty-six votes in DeKalb county ; William H. Taft, Republican, one
thousand one hundred twenty-five; Theodore Roosevelt, exponent of the new
Progressive party, one thousand six hundred twenty-three; Prohibition, two
hundred forty-four; Socialist, four hundred thirty-seven.
ST.\TE SENATORS.
Following is the list of senators who have served in the state Legislature
from DeKalb county: Elias Baker, 1839-41; David B. Herriman, 1841-3;
David B. Herriman, 1843-6; Madison Marsh, 1846-9; Reuben J. Dawson,
1849-50; Robert Work, 1850-2; George W. McConnell, 1852-6; Miles Water-
man, 1856-1860; Timothy R. Dickinson, 1860-2; William H. Dills, 1862-4;
Enos B. Noyes, 1864-8; George A. Milnes, 1868-1872; William G. Croxton,
1872-76; Samuel S. Shutt, 1876- 1880; Jesse H. Carpenter, 1880- 1884; La-
fayette J. Miller, 1884-1888; Jackson, 1888-1892; James E. Mc-
Donald, 1892-96; W. H. Nusbaum. 1896-1900; Charles H. Bruce, 1900-4;
Cyrus E. Gallatin. 1904-8; Stephen A. Powers, 1908-1912; Glenn Van
Auken. 1912-1916.
STATE REPRESENTATIVES.
The following list comprises the representatives who have served in the
state Legislature from DeKalb county, or such territory as the county has been
identified with: Asa Brown, 1839-41; Madison Marsh, 1841-3; Jacob Hel-
wig, 1843-4; Jacob Helwig, 1844-6; David B. Wheeler, 1846-8; Reuben J.
Dawson, 1848-9; Edward R. May, 1849-50; Edward R. May, 1850-1 ; Gil-
man C. Mudget, 1851-2; E. F. Hammond, 1852-3; Robert Work, 1852-3; A.
P. Clark and James Hadsell, 1853-6; Bushrod Catlin and W. I. Howard,
1856-8; Miles Waterman, 1858-60; Henry Feagler, 1860-2; Miles Waterman,
1862-4; Robert M. Lockhart, 1S64-6: Ezra D. Hartman, 1866-8; Lewis D.
Britten, 1868-70; Lewis D. Britton, 1870-2; Samuel S. Shutt, 1872-4; Miles
DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 255
Waterman, 1874-6; William H. Madden, 1876-8; Samuel S. Shutt, 1878-
1880; Samuel S. Shutt, (joint) and Daniel D. Moody, 1880-2; Eli B. Garber
(joint) and Daniel D. Moody, 1882-4; William Barney (joint) and Daniel
D. Moody, 1884-6; J. D. Leighty and William M. Barney, 1886-88;
Jackson (joint) and Freeman Kelley, 1888-1890; Norman Teal (joint) and
Freeman Kelley, 1890-92; Marion F. Franks, 1892-4; Frank A. Willis, 1894-
6; Norman Teal (joint) and C. M. Brown, 1896-8; Charles M. Brown, 1898-
1900; Jefferson W. Jackman, 1900-2; Russell S. Hull, 1902-4; Howard W.
Mount, 1904-6; Luther W. Knisely, 1906-8; Edward M. McKennan, 1908-
10; Edward M. McKennan, 1910-12; Edward M. McKennan, 1912-14.
COUNTY SHERIFFS.
From the year 1837 to 1850 Wesley Park, Thomas J. Freeman, Jonathan
Puffenbarger and S. W. Ralston successively held the office of sheriff. Since
1850 the following have held the office in DeKalb county: W. K. Straight,
1850-4; Isaac Brandt, 1854-6; S. W. Ralston, 1856-1860; J. N. Chamberlain,
1860-2; J. N. Miller, 1862-4; H. Willis, 1864-8;' J. Plum,"i868-i872 ; W. L.
Meese, 1872-6; John St. Clair, 1876-8; A. S. Leas, 1878-1882; John W.
Boyle, 1882-6; K. Garrison, 1886-88; J. Plum, 1888-90; Philip Plum, 1890-
2; George C. Ralston, 1892-4; Henry P. Stroh, 1894-6-8; John Hathaway,
1898-1902; George W. Bleeks, 1902-4: James W. Reed, 1904-6-8; R. L.
Thomas. 1908-10-12; John P. Hoff, 1912-14.
COUNTY CLERKS.
John F. Coburn, 1837-1841 ; S. W. Sprott, 1841-1851 ; J. P. Widney,
1851-5: S. W. Sprott, 1855-9: John Ralston, 1859-1867; J. R. Lanning,
1867-1875; G. H. K. Moss, 1875-1880: John W. Baxter, 1880-4; D. Y. Hus-
selman, 1884-6; George A. Bishop, 1886-98: George O. Denison, 1898-1904;
Charles A. Jenkins, 1904-1908: Warren A. Austin, 1908-1912; John Hebel,
1912-14.
COUNTY AUDITORS.
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 Rob-
bins, 1878-82; Thomas H. Tomlinson, 1882-6; Cyrus C. Walter, 1886-90;
256 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA.
Herman N. Coffinberry, 1890-4; Frank A. Borst, 1894-8; Frank P. Seiler,
1898-1902; Herman D. Boozer, 1902-6; Emery A. Shook, 1906-10; A. W.
Madden, 1910-1914.
COUNTY RECORDERS.
The office of recorder was combined with that of clerk for the first four-
teen years of the county's existence. The incumbents of the office since it
was created have been: John McCune, 1851-5; W. W. Griswold, 1855-9;
S. W. Widney, 1859-64; G. R. Hoffman, 1864-8; D. Z. Hoffman, 1868-76; M.
Boland, 1876-84; John Butt, 1884-6; George M. Crane, 1886-90; Samuel
Williams, 1890-4; Milton C. Jones, 1894-8; Daniel Herrick, 1898-1904;
Juhn W. Henderson, 1904-8; Samuel G. Haverstock, 1908-12; William Mc-
Nabb, I9i2-(deceased) ; Harvey O. Williams appointed to fill out unexpired
term.
COUNTY TREASURERS.
Wesley Park, 1837-51; S. W. Ralston, 1851-3; J. E. Hendricks, 1853-5;
E. W. Fosdick, 1855-7; Jacob Helwig, 1857-9; R- B. Catlin, 1859-61;
George Barney, 1861-5 ; L. J. Blair, 1865-7; F- D. Ryan, 1867-72; Nicholas
Ensley, 1872-6; Daniel Gonser, 1876-80; L. J. Miller, 1880-4;
Brandon, 1884-6; John L. Davis, 1886-8; George W. Probst, 1888-90; Reu-
ben Sawvel, 1890-2-4; David W. Fair, 1894-6; Henry Hines, 1896-8; Francis
M. Hines, 1898-1900-2; George W. Probst, 1902-4-6; H. H. Slaybaugh,
1906-8-10; John J. Oberlin, 1910-12.
COUNTY SURVEYORS.
Joseph Nodine, 1852-4; Joseph Nodine, 1854-6; Daniel W. Altenburg,
1856-8; Daniel W. Altenburg, 1858-60; Marius Buchanan, 1860-2; Daniel
W. Altenburg, 1862-4; Henry M. Stoner, 1864-5; George W. Weeks, 1865-7;
Joseph W. McCasslin, 1867-70; Isaac K. Shaffer, 1870-2; Chauncey C. Clark,
1872-4; Winfield S. Bangs, 1874-6; Jay J. Van Auken, 1876-8; J. J. Van
Auken, 1878-1880; Azam P. Foltz, 1880-2; J. J. Van Auken, 1882-4; J. J.
Van Auken, 1884-6; I. F. McDowell, 1886-8; Jacob M. Hook, 1888-90-2;
Calvin E. Van Auken, 1892-4-6; J. H. W. Krontz, 1896-8-1900; Commodore
P. Hamman, 1900-2-4; John Eakright, 1904-6-8; Charles L. Wagoner, 1908-
10-12; A. L. Link, 1912-14.
DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 257
COUNTY CORONERS.
Robert Work, 1838-9; Byron Bunnell, 1839-40; Wesley Park, 1 840-1;
John O. P. Sherlock, 1841-2; James Goetschius, 1842-3; O. A. Parsons,
1843-5: David Weaver, 1845-6; Oaxid Weaver, 1846-7; Joseph Nodine,
1847-8; John McCIellan, 1848-9; Charles C. Knapp, 1849-51; Lyman Chid-
sey, 185 1-2-4; Lyman H. Coe, 1854-6; Jeremiah Plum, 1856-8-60; Henry
Willis, 1860-2: Jeremiah Plum, 1862-4; George W. A. Smith, 1864-6; Henry
Feagler, 1866-8; George IMetcalf, 1868-70-2; James J. Latson, 1872-4-6-
8-80-82-84; Francis Picker, 1884-6; J. B. Casebeer, 1886-8; Wood,
1888-90; Lafayette D. Miser, 1890-2-4; Vincent C. Bronson, 1894-6; J. W.
Hughes, 1896-8; Emlin G. Campbell, 1898-1900; Charles Comesky, 1900-2;
William H. Ettinger, 1902-4; John C. Baxter, 1904-6: Frank Broughton and
Fred Briggs, 1906-8; Fred Briggs, 1908-10-12; E. Treesh, 1912-14.
PROSECUTORS.
Reuben J. Davidson, 1843-5; John W. Dawson, 1845-7; Reuben J. Daw-
son, 1847-9; Timothy R. Dickinson, 1849-50; Egbert B. Mott, 1850-2; J. M.
McConnell, 1852-4; John W. Dawson, 1854-6; Sanford J. Stoughton, 1856-8;
James M. Schell, 1858-9; George D. Copeland, 1859-60; Augustus A. Chapin,
1860-2; James H. Schell, 1862-4; Joseph W. Cunningham, 1864-6; Thomas
Wilson, 1866-7; Thomas J. Smith, 1867-70; Thomas Wilson, 1870-2; Leigh
H. Playmond, 1872-4; William B. McConnell, 1874-6; Daniel H. Moody,
1876-8; George B. Adams, 1878-80; George B. Adams, 1880-2; Harry Rey-
nolds, 1882-4; Francis M. Powers, 1884-6; E. A. Bratton, 1886-8; H. Leas,
1888-92; Joseph Butler, 1892-6-8: Cyrus B. Jackson, 1898-1900; Joseph
Butler, 1900-2; Alphonso Wood, 1902-4; Charles S. Smith, 1904-6; J. Delano
Brinkerhoff, 1906-8; Joseph Butler. 1908-10: \\"i!Iiani II. Leas, 1910-12;
James R. Nyce, 1912-1914.
COMMON PLEAS PROSECUTORS.
W. W. Griswold, 1852-4; Asa M. Tinker, 1854-6; Leland H. Stocker,
1856-8; Abner Pinchin, 1858-60; Joseph W. Cummings, 1860-2; Alexan-
der B. Kennedy, 1862-4; Asa M. Tinker, 1864.-6; Joseph D. Ferrall, 1866-8;
William G. Croxton, 1868-70-2; Daniel Y. Husselman, 1872-4. The office
was then abolished and the business turned o\-er to the circuit court.
(17)
258 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA.
JUDGES.
In the chapter, "Bench and Bar." is given a full list of the judges (com-
mon pleas, associate, and circuit) who have served DeKalb county or terri-
tories comprising the county.
CHAPTER XIII.
HISTORY OF EDUCATION.
THE EARLY .SCHOOI..
The following is from the maniuscript of J- E. Rcse, being part of an
address delivered before the Old Settlers' Association on June 15, 1882:
"The first schoolhouse built in the county ^vas, I think, in the Handy-
settlement, three miles south of tlie place where the town of Butler now is. It
would be a curiosity now. Permit me to describe it today 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 illuminated the literary
path of the students during the weeks, or the spiritual path of the churchgoers
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 Ijeen left out 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 snowball that hit a window"), and a pane of
glass was broken, its place was sujiplied by a piece of oiled paper.
"These were usually sup])lante<l with glass at the commencement of a
term: the number of accidents of th;it mysterious nature that transpired dur-
ing the term could be determined by the number of greased papers in the
window, and as these unprovided panes of glass became nmnerous in the
window and were not exceedingly translucent during cold, cloudy days, when
the door must l^e 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
26o DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA.
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 col-
lege is by the freshmen. The cracks between the logs were chinked with
pieces of wood and daubed with mud outside and in. The ceiling 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 on 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 the
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 bottorh or oval sides. These were
made to suit the comfort of full grown men, and hence were so high from the
floor that the aid of the teacher was necessary to place the small scholars on
their seats; and when there no little care was required on their part of avoid
falling off.
EAKLV TEXT BOOKS.
"The text books used were the Western spelling book, the New Testa-
ment, and for advanced scholars, the old English reader. The scholars who
ciphered used such arithmetics as they could procure, but Dabold's predom-
inated ; and when an industrious and studious scholar had reached the 'rule of
three," the teacher, to avoid an exposition of his ignorance of the mysteries
beyond, prudently required a review, and the mathematical ardor of the am-
bitious youth was cooled by being turned back to notation and compelled to
memorize the fine print and foot notes. As there was not a uniformity of
books, there were no classes except spelling and reading classes, and each stu
dent 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, terrestial 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 Rev. 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 re\-elator saw, with its crowned
heads and ten horns; with its glowing mouth and red hot fangs through
which blue, sickening and sulphurous flames seethingly issued ; with its ser-
DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 261
pentinc caudal appendage drawing in its train one-third of the stars of
heaven.
"None of the modern improvements and discoveries to aid in the cause
of a practical education was 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 jackknife of the teacher. They were applied to the
backs of the wayward youth to demonstrate the propriety of searching for the
most direct route to obedience."
EDUCATION IN THE TOWNSHIPS.
In Franklin township the first school house was built on section twelve,
the present site of section one, and was known in 1840 as the Houlton school
house. The first teacher was Lucy Orton, of Angola, Steuben.
The first school in Jackson township was taught in a log cabin on section
twtnty-three by James P. Plummer in 1845.
The first school house in Newville township was built of round bass-
wood logs, about sixteen by twenty feet, with a "shake" roof held in place by
weight poles. The house otherwise was similar to the other log houses, and
was built in the spring of 1839, and the following fall the school was taught
by Marietta E. Robinson for a dollar and a half a week. A new frame school
house was built about 1843, afterward the site of the United Brethren par-
sonage, and in 1850 a church and school building was erected under the lead
of R. Faurot. In 1852 a select school was opened by Faurot, which was main-
tained until 1861. After Faurot, the principals were: J. E. Hendrix, A
Hartness, L. Barr and others. In 1861 it became a township school. The
first school in the township, however, and also the first in DeKalb county, was
taught in 1837, by Eunice Strong. The house was a frame, sided up with
shaved clapboards, or whip shingles. It was the first frame house built in the
county. It stood on section seven.
In Richland township the fir-t ^cIkkjI bouse was erected at Green's Cor-
ners prior to 1 84 1. In 1849 ^ fi'ame 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 mile northeast of Calkin's Corners;
Loretta Dawson was the teacher, and she had fifteen pupils. Harvey Smith
was the first male teacher.
In Smithfield township Isaac B. Smith and Reuben J. Daniels put up a
log school house on the corner of the farm of the latter during the year 1839.
262 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA.
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 schoolhouses at nearly the same date. Albert Blake. George
Duncan and Peter Colgrove were a few of the early teachers.
The first school house in Staffortl township stood in the \\'anamaker
settlement.
In Wilmington township the primitive log school house was supplanted
by a frame structure in 1855, among the teachers in this being Hamlin Fay,
Mrs. Wood, Miss Stroy, Mrs. Butler and J. A. Campbell. A three-story brick
building was erected in 1867, at a cost of twelve thousand dollars. The first
teacher in it was Deck. Thomas. The first regular school was opened by Rev.
G. \Y. Bowersox. William H. Mcintosh, L. L. Hamlin, James Burrier.
Leavitt, J. P. Rouse, D. D. Luke, C. A. Fyke. O. Z. Hubbell and T. J. San-
ders were other principals of this school.
The Husselman school in Union township, in what is now Grant town-
ship, was originated in 1844 and 1845, and Mary Maxwell was the teacher.
Of the thirteen pupils, six of them belonged to the Husselman family. The
school house of that day was a little log house built in the woods. Jacob
McEntarfer was the builder. It had two windows, one door, mud in the
walls, clapboard roof, with weights to hold it on, no nails being used. Hunches
were used, being six feet long, with hewed slabs and legs without backs, to sit
on. Boards were placed on pins in the walls to write on. Goose quill pens
were used, and the ink was made by boiling maple bark in copperas. The
blackboard was two by three feet. .A fireplace supplied the heat. The study
course was English readers, Cobb's speller, arithmetic, writing, and school
was taught by saying "books." Sessions were from eight until half-past four,
with three quarters of an hour for noon, and no other recess. The school
house burned to the ground after being used for about four years, and other
houses have been erected since, the present one being the fifth. The school
term was three months in duration, and the teacher received fifty cents per
day, with the privilege of boarding around. Pupils wore home-made clothes,
and were guided through the woods on their way to school by blazed trees.
From the school house, remains of Indian camps could be seen; deer would
come up to the school, wild turkeys were in the woods, black, red and gray
squirrels were plentiful. The latter were so numerous that the lads would
chase a drove of eight or ten up a tree at one time. In the swamp lands sur-
rounding, many snakes, birds, cranes, foxes, wolves and bears were seen.
Venison, turkey, corn cake, etc., were the supplies carried to school by the
children.
DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 263
SCHOOL HISTORY OF AUBURN.
In 1840, Mr. Sherlock, trustee, realized a necessity of teaching the chil-
dren, so he went in search of a teacher, and found Miss Jane Bailey, who was
engaged to teach a subscription school for the summer term. The school was
held in a deserted, partly unfinished building, which was also used for
meetings.
In 1849, William Clark and Joel Hendricks are remembered as teachers
in Auburn. Clark, famed for his instruction of elocution, taught in an humble
frame school house that stood on a lot afterward owned and occupied by Mrs.
Regina Weaver. Mr. Hendricks, a famous mathematician, opened and con-
tinued a school through the winter of 1849 ^"d 1850, his school room being
the northeast room of the second story of the then court house. The district
schools in the winter of 1849 ^^ere kept by Paul A. McMynn, Michael and
Cyrus Seiler, and Calvin P. Houser. Another teacher of the '49 period was
William Reynolds, who died near the end of the year of typhoid fever. In
the spring of 1849 ^ short term of school was taught by Sophia Merrill.
In the autumn of 1850, John B. Clark came from Lagrange county and opened
a select school. He was one of the most severe teachers ever in the county,
although he was kindly. He followed strict rules of discipline, and conse-
quently his pupils learned their lessons well. At one time he suddenly asked
of his pupils: "If I call a sheep's tail a leg, how many legs has a sheep?"
"Five," responded the eager pupils. After a moment, Clark added, "Does
calling a sheep's tail a leg make it one ?" This was a lesson direct.
ESTABLISHMENT OF UNIFORM SCHOOLS.
The inauguration of the general and uniform system of schools in
Auburn and DeKalb county was under the provision of the act passed June
14, 1852. The school law was in force in August of that year, at which date
its provisions were circulated in pamphlet form in the different counties of
the state by authority, but it did not become practically operative until the
first Monday in April, 1853, when township trustees for school purposes were
elected in the townships of the counties. The first duties of the trustees were
to establish and locate a sufficient number of schools for the education of all
the children within respective limits.
Before this time, shabby rooms had l>een employed for school purposes.
Mr. Hendricks once used a room in the court house. Here and there in
264 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA.
DeKalb county, the people had erected houses. On June 14, 1853, there
was formed in Butler township, at the farm house of Orrin C. Clark, an
organization known as the Union School House Educational Societ}'. Three
trustees were elected, namely : Henry Clark, Harris and Jacob Dahman.
In some townships and counties in the state in 1853, there was not a
single school house of any kind to be found. In other localities, the log
houses, dilapidated and poorly equipped, were worse than nothing. It was
thought that fully thirty-five hundred schools should be built in the state.
By provisions of the new constitution, each township was made a munici-
pal corporation of which every voter was a member. The state had provided
a system of public instruction and now intrusted its execution to its cities,
towns and townships. No authority had been given to levy a special school
tax without the consent of the voters, to be given at a general or special meet-
ing. This restricted the development, for, in some places, no meetings were
held, and, in others, the vote was adverse.
Auburn citizens ordered the clerk to post notices of an election for school
tru.'-tees and for a vote on tax or no tax for school purposes in Auburn. On
May 14, 1853, the polls were opened, but only twenty-five men voted, twenty-
two of whom were for the tax.
There were in 1853, thirty-one schools in DeKalb county; nine of the.se.
mostly built of logs, were in Concord township. As late as 1876, but few of
the old log houses were standing and none was in use. Prof. Barnes, in a
centennial article on education, published in the Waterloo Press, illustrates
progress in school architecture as follows : "In one district in Butler town-
ship, may be seen within a few rods of one another, the three representative
school houses of the county. On the east side of the Fort Wayne wagon
road, is the old log school house, on the west side of the road is the old frame
house that succeeded it, and a few feet west of the latter stands the new brick
school house erected in 1875."
In Auburn, the log cabin of O. C. Houghton was rented for three months
for two dollars, and was fitted up for school use. At a special meeting held
November 29, 1853, it was decided to have two free schools in Auburn.
Teachers were very scarce, as the wages were too small. The average was
eighteen dollars per month to male, and ten dollars to female. The organiza-
tion of every town and township into school districts greatly increased the
demand for teachers. Few applicants for license could pass any examina-
tion. W. C. Larrabee, state superintendent of public instruction, found here
a difficulty. The law required him to appoint deputies in each countv to
SS5SS=:|_'-'" —
OLD ACADEMY AT AUBURN
Burned October 16, 1875
DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 265
examine applicants for license, but no standard of qualification was made.
The legislature of 1853, amended this law and transferred the authority to
appoint examiners to the county commissioners and at the same time made a
standard of qualification. The board of examiners for DeKalb county for
1853 was composed of E. W. Fosdick, S. W. Dickinson, and L. D. Britton.
The number of persons licensed to teach in 1853 was sixty-nine.
There were no normal schools. However, teachers' institutes had been
organized in some counties. In 1867. an institute was held in what was the
Presbyterian church at Auburn, with an attendance of fifty, and Prof. Patch
as the principal instructor. John Dancer and Abigail Wolsey were employed
to teach in the two schools of Auburn, the former to receive sixty dollars for
three months, and the latter forty-eight, and to pay own expenses. Schools
were ordered to open on Wednesday, December 7, 1853.
The books then used in the schools were: McGuffy's readers, Ray's
arithmetic, Bullion's grammar, Mitchell's geography, Davis' geometry and
algebra. Olnistead's philosophy and Webster's elementary spelling book.
AUBURN ACADEMY.
In March, 1859, Andrew Larimore made application to teach in the old
academy, and was successful, and on August 8th, was employed as principal
in what was known as Auburn Union School. In i860, school began to be
more patronized. Students were in high school departments, and a new era
seemed to be forthcoming.
In 1858 the academy was built, and opened August 22, 1858^ inaugurat-
ing the graded free school system in Auburn. The academy was of three
stories. One outer door gave access to all of the rooms. Winding stairs
led to the upper floors. The furniture on the interior was old-fashioned,
very cumbersome and unsuited for use. On the first floor were the primary
and intermediate rooms, on the second floor the grammar and high school de-
partments, and on the third floor was the rhetorical room, with a platform at
one end, on which students might try their lung capacity in recitation and
declamation. By the year 1869 the academy was crowded with students.
In this year education was progressing very rapidly all over the county.
Butler had erected good schools, as also had many other places in the county.
SPELLING MATCHES.
Matters in the educational line were not confined to the schools, for in
the >-pring of 1875 a spelling epidemic broke out and became the rage through-
266 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA.
out the county. Auburn citizens took a lively interest in the spontaneous, but
short-lived, revi\a! of the old-fashioned spelling school. Matches were held
in which prominent citizens and their families participated. However, inter-
est soon declined and the custom gradually fell into disuse.
On July 5, 1875, the school board bought of J. H. Ford for six hundred
and scnciUv-iiNi' dollars, lots number seventy-nine and eighty in west Auburn,
upon which to build a ward school house some time during the summer.
Bonds to the amount of three thousand dollars were authorized by the town
trustees to provide the means. The contract for the proposed building was
awarded during July to Messrs. Lewis Griffith and George S. .McCord, of
Fort Wayne, for two thousand one hundred and fifty-seven dollars and fifty-
six cents. The work was to be finished by August 20. The house was built
of brick, and two stories. School was taught therein for a time, when the
building stood vacant, the outlay seemed ill placed and premature, and the
unattractive structure, surrounded by rank vegetation in the summer, sug-
gested the unfinished university on a Kansas prairie. The necessities of
cramped accommodations finally brought about the use of the building for a
primary school.
Meanwhile the school board added very much to the appearance of the
new school grounds in the central western part of the town, by planting
shrubbery, making walks, and surrounding them with a fence. S. B. Duncan
furnished one hundred and fift)' evergreens at a cost of one hundred and
twelve dollars and fifty cents, and eight chestnuts for six dollars, and Albert
Wells received thirty-five and a half dollars for one hundred and fifty young
forest trees.
DESTRUCTION OF ACADEMY.
The schools opened auspiciously, and the usual routine was being con-
ducted on the line of study and discipline, when the schools were dismissed
for the day, and, as it proved, to assemble no more in the old academy. In
the early evening of October 16, 1875, an alarm of fire was given and soon the
tidings spread that the school house was burning. Men were promptly on
the spot, but they had no ladders nor other appliances to reach and attack the
fire, which originated in the west end of the building. The population of
the town crowded to the scene and looked on helplessly while the building in
a short time enveloped in flames, slowly burned. Prudent forethought had
placed three thousand dollars insurance on the building and five hundred on
the furniture. This was a great help in the subsequent building.
DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 267
The demand for a new school house was imperative, and in this emerg-
ency the school board issued ten thousand dollars' worth of eight per cent.
bonds, the last payable nineteen years from date. These bonds were taken
by New York parties and the proceeds of sale were turned over to the school
board to be applied in erecting a school house.
FIRST HIGH SCHOOL.
Work was begun upon the first Auburn high school building in the spring
of 1876, under the general management of the school board. The site was
well chosen, the structure was of brick two stories high, in dimensions sixty-
one by seventy-five feet, and the highest point was sixty feet above ground.
The foundation walls were of free stone, and supplied a roomy basement.
The contract was let to James W. Case, who it will be remembered, was
one of the builders of the academy. The job was awarded to him at nine
thousand, six hundred and seventy dollars ; he was one of thirteen bidders.
The building was erected in accordance with plans and specifications pre-
pared by Messrs. Moser & Gibbs, of Toledo, Ohio. This school house was
substantially built at a personal loss to the contractor, who erred in making
his bid too low. The furniture consisted of modern and comfortable seats
and desks, and was furnished by C. P. Houser for eight hundred dollars.
Heat was effected by means of two Boynton patent hot air furnaces,
which cost four hundred dollars. The entire cost of the first building was
twelve thousand three hundred and thirty-two dollars. Michael Seller of
Fairfield township was the first superintendent in this school at a salary of
one thousand fifty dollars a year.
This building was destroyed by fire on the evening of Tuesday, Novem-
ber 30, 1880. The first was first seen near the heating apparatus in the base-
ment, where it undoubtedly originated. It was of very small proportions
when first seen, and with proper facilities could have been extinguished.
However, the building was a total loss.
Undaunted, the citizens and authorities at once took measures for the con-
struction of a new building.
PROGRESS OF EDUCATION.
The Auburn Courier of January 22, 1891, published a very compre-
hensive and entertaining article on the progress of education in DeKalb
268 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA.
county between tlie years 1866 and 1891, written by William H. Mcintosh,
one of the pioneer teachers of the county. The article in full is as follows :
"That progress has been made and is still making in the system and
appliances for common school education, not alone, though conspicuous, in
our county, but in general throughout the state, is plain to the most casual
experienced observer.
"Not until thoughtful attention has been directed to this all-important
subject, however, do the striking changes for the better and along the lines
of genuine and permanent advancement in all that pertains to schools and
school teaching, become evident.
"It becomes an unexpected pleasure to have found ample grounds for
encouragement for trustees, parents and teachers in a partial presentation of
testimony that the great cause of popular education is being advanced in grand
movement towards approximate perfection. There is no need to unjustly dis-
parage the past to honor the present. Indiana's complete school system is
the combined and adequate effect of long and tireless effort. Good schools
in village and district, there were a quarter century ago. Earnest, efficient
and successful educators unexcelled since in all the essentials of pedagogy
were not wanting, and they were recompensed measurably according to
deserts by intelligent patrons whose wise forethought secured their services.
"In the face of difficulties now unknown, those intrepid, enthusiastic
leaders in teaching inspired pupils with love of learning, pride in their schools
and noble ambition to excel ; they enlisted the ready sympathy and co-opera-
tion of parents, and filled the community at large with confidence and desire
to increase school facilities and to augment the number of such educators.
"Inscribed upon the roll as the first to avail themselves of the State
Normal school at Terre Haute, and to pioneer the way to better things and
educative methods in DeKalb county, stand the honored names of C. P.
Houser, and the brothers Cyrus and Michael Seller. Since their day even
our state institutions have been pleased to secure as teachers in advanced
branches the services of young men from this county whose ambition was in-
cited and fostered by those and such like progressive instructors.
"But while these few in the van upheld and aroused school interest, the
general mass of teachers were woefully deficient in theory and practice of
teaching, the people in contentment of ignorance of the character of their
school never or rarely inspected them and the standard of education remained
apparently stationary at the close of term after term.
"But agencies were at work, destined to revolutionize these conditions,
and the normal schools conducted by school examiners, the powerful influence
DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 269
of the county institute, the selection for township trustee of live men and
leading local schoolmasters, awakened a sentiment whose fruition is mani f est
in various progressive measures to which attention is briefly directed in a
retrospection commencing with the school site and closing with the teacher at
work.
''We have, then, first, better school sites as to area and location. The time
is recent when trustees with good sense and no small degree of courage, im-
periled their popularity by geographical locations of school sites, and when
the apology for a school house built upon the very field corner had but the
ground it occupied, itself the focus whence fences diverged as from an angle.
The public highway was the only playground, and there was absolutely no
provisions for privacy.
"There were no wells for water, no sheds for wood, no trees for shade,
and children were given less consideration than stock upon the farms.
"Gradually, these injurious and shameful conditions have been changed
till the worst features have been eliminated, but gross evils easily remedied
yet exist.
"The proper area for a school site — an acre of ground — has in many
districts been purchased, arrangement has been made for separate play-
grounds, conveniences in the interest of health and morality have been sup-
plied, and permanence reached in central, healthful and ample sites.
"In all communities there exist those progressive and those obstinately
opposed to progress, and the traveler sees in the size and location of school
grounds indisputable indications of the predominant district influence.
"Secondly, the number of districts has been reduced. Instead of twelve
illy located schools, there are but nine in the full congressional township, and
each district theoretically complete comprises four sections. This hard-won
improvement has reduced the cost to the towmship o f its schools, increased the
number attending each and enabled trustees to pay higher salaries and to ex-
tend the terms.
"No live teacher but feels encouraged when the consolidation of two
weak schools has given him the stimulus of full classes, in one strong one.
A notable illustration of this fact appeared in the union of numbers five and
six, Wilmington township, under the able management of J. J. Eakright, vet-
eran district teacher of the school at Moores Station, successfully contesting
the honors of leadership in interest, atcndance and scholarship, not only in the
district but in the town schools.
"Third, there has been great improvement in the style and material of
school buildings. Twenty-five years ago, the age of log houses had been
2/0 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA.
succeeded by that of frame structures, and in these later years they in their
turn have been superseded by spacious, convenient, and attractive brick edifices
of handsome exterior and interior. Most have been fully supplied with
slated blackboards, modern seats and desks, boxes for firewood, some appa-
ratus and heating stoves, designed with falling window sashes to secure even
temperature and proper ventilation.
"What caricatures of houses those old, weather-Iseaten. dilapidated frame
buildings were! Outside rough, heavy shutters, swayed by winter winds,
swung creaking back and forth, slamming against sash and clapboard. Within,
a red-hot stove was encircled by a favored few, while others at their seats,
sufifered with the cold.
"The air was unwholesome and heated in some, and the recess or noon-
ing-time brought in pure atmosphere like a breath from Paradise.
"What seats! Inconvenient, immovable, ink-splashed, knife-notched.
What lack of blackboard and seats for recitation !
"That good work was done under great disadvantages heightens claim
to honorable recognition of the faithful labors of the teachers of that time,
and emphasizes a silent, but conscious, demand tiiat present progi-ess shall be
proportionate to the ratio of modern advantages.
"Popular interest has been awakened and interested in school archi-
tecture and the election to the office of trustee of competent progressive men.
Often leading teachers in their townships ha\e made the schoolroom pleasant
and healthful as the home.
"Fourth, progress and change mark the method of raising the money
wherein to recompense teachers.
"In 1854, the income derived from school fund was but $159,501.17',
from loans at seven per cent, interest. Two and a half per cent, of this was
paid the county auditor and the treasurer for their services, leaving but $143,-
551.06 for distribution. This gave thirty-five cents per child enumerated,
between the ages of five and twenty-one years. The state levy was ten cents
on each one hundred dollars valuation, and fifty cents on each poll.
"In 1866, the rate school was obsolete, and salary was a compound of
board and wages. Teacher boarded in families such times as the number of
children in the family bore to the number of days in the term. Local tuition
taxes were unknown, and from the state was derived the common school fund
based upon the annual enumeration of children of school age.
"After successive changes, always in the line of economv, school taxa-
tion has varied until it falls hea\ily and directly upon the land owners in
DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 2/1
respective townships of the county, and declares plainly the cost of free
schools. Last year the state sold upward of four million dollars' worth of
three per cent, bonds to eastern capitalists, and applied the proceeds to pay-
ment of its indebtedness to the school fund. Till then the state and other
borrowers had paid interest at eight, then seven i)cr cent. ; later, when these
vast sums had been distributed to the counties, the rate was still further re-
duced to six per cent., always payable in advance.
"Present sources of revenue are school fund interest, state tax, township
tuition tax, surplus dog fund, and moneys for liquor licenses. The people
are content when satisfied that for each dollar paid a dollar's worth is re-
ceived. The state school fund disbursed in DeKalb in 1889 was eighteen
thousand dollars. The tuition home levy was twelve thousand dollars and
the special, sixteen thousand dollars.
"Fifth, there has been progress in the increased number of branches re-
quired taught, the uniformity of text books, cheapened in cost, the gradation
of instruction and the system of honorable graduation.
"Physiology and history, formerly exceptional, are now regular studies.
Where it was common to find in one school, among those of the same ability,
classes in Kidd's or Putnam's elocution and fifth and sixth readers, Pinneo's
and Clark's grammar, McNally's and Mitchell's geography. White's, Ray's
and Robinson's arithmetics, now is seen one strong class in each branch of
study, resulting in time saved, more time to recitation, and the greater in-
terest in greater numbers.
"Formerly there was no sequence to instruction of a previous term.
Teachers, by trial, found where to commence pupils, or left it to them to begin
in what and wherein they pleased. Winter schools absorbed most interest
and money and the cheap summer school was a parody on teaching. Now
the terms are equalized and connected by hiring one person for both, records
are kept and successive teachers continue each grade where their predecessors
left off, and the course of studies, systematically arranged, provides for grad-
uation on its completion. This again simplifies the teacher's labors, and
stimulates the school to better attendance and effort to reach the goal of their
aspiration.
"Sixth, there is improvement in the supervision and payment of teach-
ers. Formerly no provision was made for inspection of schools and it is on
record that Spencer Dills and myself, while serving as county school exam-
iners, and in the performance of that all important duty, at a compensation
of three dollars a day, were officially notified by county commissioners who
272 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA.
were then acting within the law, to cease from such school visitation, as no
allowance would be made therefor. Their act voiced popular opinion that
school supervision was an unnecessary expense. The young teacher had no
experienced superintendent to set him right, the disheartened had no one to
cheer him, and the incompetent time server met with no one to show his unfit-
ness.
"Teachers met only on occasion of the county institute, at which the
best efifort possible was put forth in their aid. They rarely, if at all, held
meetings among themselves, and later it was difficult to get them out to
township institutes. Now superintendent and trustee are required by law to
visit schools, to encourage, to suggest beneficial changes, to create and foster
feelings of responsibility, local ambition and professional pride, to make so
far as practicable the poor schools equal to the best.
"Formerly teachers at county institute were entertained by the people
gratis and enjoyed a very good diet in boarding around, now they are salar-
ied, pay their board, are paid janitor's fees, allowed for day's attendance at
township institutes, and these changes contribute to self-respect, independence
and personal health, comfort and time for improvement.
"Seventh, all these foregoing evidences of progress are subsidiary to
the one great and all important condition that teachers of good moral char-
acter and fairly qualified be obtained in sufficient numbers to conduct the
schools.
"It has ever been the intent of school legislation to eliminate from the
profession all that class who owed their employment to misdirected sym-
pathy, and to lax examination of qualifications. Ignorant pretenders and
failures elsewhere no longer caricature keeping school, and gradually the
standard of proficiency and ability has been elevated in favor of higher
grades of teachers. To whatever extent this object has been realized, pro-
portionate progress in education has been made, for it is not to be questioned
that the character of schools for morality, discipline and study is based upon
the possession and practice of those virtues by those who influence, govern
and teach in them.
"In the primitive condition of pioneer settlement, each locality neces-
sarily hinlt its own house and provided and paid its own schoolmaster. Young
men and women attended in winter, and such scenes were witnessed and
enjoyed as have been recently enacted in Huntington county, where the
county superintendent, on his visitation, after finding several teachers locked
out for a Christmas treat, at length entered the school house to find the
DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 273
schoolmaster bound fast to his desk and his insurrectionary pupils perform-
ing, to the clatter of ash bucket and dinner pail, a parody of the Sioux ghost
dance. From 1855 to 1875 it was legal and customary for householders of
any school district, at their annual meeting, to designate by vote their choice
of a teacher, and the trustee was obligated to hire such person, providing he
obtained a license to teach.
"It not infrequently happened that persons so chosen proved utterly un-
qualified, and knowing this the people petitioned the examiner to exempt
them from examination in more or less of the branches, notably physiology
and history, on the ground that theirs were backward schools, and these
studies would not be taught in them.
"The climax was reached in my own experience, when a girl whose
average of seventeen was the lowest of all, brought me a paper signed by
every householder in the district, petitioning for the issue of a license, ac-
companied by a statement that she was good enough for them.
"Abrogation of this popular privilege and the placing of this duty
solely with the trustee has enabled that officer to locate his teachers to ad-
vantage, and rendered them less dependent upon their patrons. Enforce-
ment of legal requirement in granting license created a scarcity of teachers
and enabled those qualified to demand an advance in wages, and forced those
desirous of teaching to measures for self-improvement.
"The examination fee of one dollar has been abolished, and the exam-
ination made free, while the widely varying estimates of examiners has
been made uniform by state supply of questions to superintendents. A great
change has transpired in teachers past and present. It was the rule to employ
men in winter, women in summer, and such as reversed this condition were
regarded as out of their proper place.
"The winter teachers were energetic and capable young men, residents
of the township preferably, and these living at their homes secured higher
wages than are now saved. Those teachers were experienced, ambitious and
of excellent character and cannot be surpassed, present or future, whatever
changes otherwise occur.
"They are remembered with pride and affectionate regard and recog-
nized as having been strong and hearty co-workers with patrons and officials
in the noble work of promoting the great cause of education. The change
caused by hiring one teacher for the school year threw out these teachers
and caused an irreparable loss, viewed from the standpoint of a winter term,
(18)
274 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA.
but the gain to summer schools, and the encouragement offered to become pro-
fessional teachers doubtless largely compensated, by continuous and intelli-
gent work for the year, for the apparent loss. Hiring for the year did away
with discrimination in wages, left the field largely to young women and
equalized the importance and compensation of the two periods of the year.
"I have faith and \'igilance in the courage of Indiana teachers. As her
volunteer soldiers reckoned not of limb or life in the fight for national in-
tegrity, so her great army of teachers will not prove recreant to the cause
of education, and the schools of DeKalb will continue under her teachers to
improve and progress in the line with the foremost and the best."
EDUCATION IN GARRETT.
(By J. R. SkiUing.)
In the spring of 1876 the town board appointed the first school trustees
for the town of Garrett as follows : Dr. S. M. Sherman, Dr. A. S. Parker
and N. W. Lancaster. As soon as these gentlemen were qualified and or-
ganized they at once commenced preparing for the construction of a school
house. Two architects at Toledo, Ohio, were employed to draw plans and
specifications for the proposed building. These were promptly executed and
furnished for a building to cost sixteen thousand dollars.
Objections were raised by the town trustees and many of the citizens,
who protested against involving the young town with such an enormous and
unnecessary bonded debt, claiming that a six thousand dollar school house
would be sufficient. Public meetings were called, and many objections ex-
pressed against this move, as this was in the time of the panic of i87'3, ^nd
the tidal wave of the boom of the new town was about to recede to low ebb,
as many of the citizens were in debt for their homes. So, after much parley-
ing and contention, the school trustees let the contract to build the school as
per plans and specifications to J. W. Harvey, a Chicago contractor who had
just finished the Baltimore & Ohio shops. The construction of the school
house was commenced in the latter part of 1876. and, it being in a heavy
wood, the first work was to cut down the large oak trees.
During the time of the construction of the new building there were two
schools opened. The first was a select school, which was opened about the
first of September, 1876, in the new Catholic church, with Josephine Bisset
as teacher. Mr. Frank Moody was trustee of Butler township and he had
furnished new seats and desks for a district school, so he turned the old
seats and desks over to Garrett school trustees. They put them in the News
DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 275
printing office building on the corner north of the Baptist church. About the
time that the district schools were opening in the fall of 1876 for the winter
term, there was a school opened in this building with Mrs. A. S. Parker as
teacher. Work was rushed on the new building so that the first public school
was opened in Januar}^, 1877, to fill out the unexpired term of that year.
There were one hundred and twenty pupils enrolled in September, 1876. In
September, 1880, there were two hundred and twenty-eight pupils enrolled,
and in 1882 two hundred and fifty-four.
The first graduating class of the (iarrett public school was composed of
Charles Sembovver, William Ward, Lulu Milbourne and Maud Tarney. The
graduating exercises were held at the Methodist Episcopal church on Friday
evening, May 27, 1885.
Since 1885 Garrett has taken the lead in this county in the progress and
development of education. There was a new school house built on the north
side in 1900 at a cost of five thousand dollars, and in 1906 our promoters of
education and public improvements liad a magnificent and modern high
school building constructed at a cost of twentv thousand dollars.
SCHOOL STATISTICS.
At present there is a total enrollment of two thousand and twenty-
seven pupils in the schools of DeKalb county. There are one hundred and
three school houses in the county. The average daily attendance for the last
year has been one thousand two hundred and seventeen. There has been a
total of one hundred and forty-three thousand three hundred eighty-nine
dollars and sixty-four cents spent in the last year for the support of the
schools.
TEACHERS AND OFFICERS.
The following list comprises all of the teachers and officers of DeKalb
county in 1912 and 1913 : County superintendent, Dr. Lida Leasure, of
Auburn; township trustees, Butler, G. W. Burtzner; Concord, Samuel Mu-
maw; Fairfield, Clark Hemstreet; Franklin, Oliver Oberlin; Grant, Harry
Reed ; Jackson, S. H. Nugen ; Keyser, S. H. Downend ; Newville, John White-
hurst; Richland, George Shafifer; Smithfield, J. W. Mortorfif; Stafford, C.
W. Webster; Spencer, W. G. Erick; Troy, Daniel Burkhart; Union, Frank
Pyles; Wilmington, F. W. Nimmons; truant officer, Ed. Van Fleit, of Garrett.
The city and town school boards are as follows : Auburn, M. Boland,
276 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA.
president; J. A. Mclntyre, secretary; Fred Knott, treasurer. Butler, Sam G.
Stone, president ; George W. Geddes, L. C. Bewhrer. Garrett, J. F. Thomp-
son, D. B. Van Fleit, Warren McNabb; Altona, F. L. Rodenbaugh, G. W.
Fretz, Theo. Houser; Ashley, I. N. Cox, Daniel Rhinesmith, A. W. Gonser;
Corunna, O. C. Smith, Eugene Treesh, W. A. Kennedy; Waterloo, D. L.
Leas, J. E. Showalter, Harry Beidler.
The city and town teachers are as follows: Auburn, J. A. Langston,
superintendent; high school, P. W. Kiser, C. E. York, Mary E. Mulvey,
Maud S. Armstrong, Lulu M. Bateman, Blanche E. O'Brien, Agnes U.
Jeffrey; Harrison building, Clarence Wyant, principal, Myrtle Clark, Roy C.
Nugen, Pearl Mason, Myrtle Hornberger, Belle Cooper, Nellie Wilderson,
Bonnie Seiler, Bertha Maegerlein ; DeSota building, I. M. Cosper, principal,
Martha Rupley, Grace Hines, Gertrude Renner; Riley building, Lydia Teet-
ers, principal, Delia Maginnis, Sadie Houston, Josephine Bryant. In Gar-
rett F. M. Merica is superintendent; James H. Green is principal of the high
school, and the teachers are Geraldine Sembower, Maude Camp, Vera Van
Auken, Bessie Berry ; South Side building, Will Franks, O. V. Franks, Gladys
Halter, Benjamin Miller, Lottie Miles, Marie Warren, Martha Dick, Pauline
McFann, Georgia Sembower, Jessie Brown, Beatrice Bowers, Pauline Kings-
bury and Ada Chew; North Side building, John Reinoehl and Maybelle Sny-
der. In Butler H. E. Coe is superintendent; Geneva Kimmel is principal of
the high school, and the teachers are Carrie B. Lipe, B. L. Baily, Hazel Har-
rison and Ethel Weick ; other teachers in grades are Nellie Gary, Coral Scho-
ville, Muriel Baker, Myra Scott, Grace Maginnis, P. D. Hamman, B. L.
Bailey. A. L. Moudy is superintendent at Waterloo, G. E. Roop is principal.
Teachers are Edith Masters, Mary Chapman, Blanch Betz, Etta Wittmer,
Cora Stanley, Scott H. Rhoads, Bess Showalter, Anna Snader. Ashley has
A. N. Faulkerson as superintendent, and Marie Thrush as principal. The
teachers are as follows: Alma Husselman, Dora Baird, Charles Parsell,
Clara DeCamp. In Spencerville, J. F. Slaybaugh is superintendent, Sylvia
Yager is principal. Teachers are Zona Horn, Melvin Howey and Jennie
Steward. St. Joe is represented by L. A. Thatcher, superintendent, Frank
Baltz, Roy Maxwell and Ethel Leighty. M. T. Markley and Cordice Hal-
lett are teachers at Corunna. Robert Ulm and Myrtle Griffin serve at Altona.
The following are the district teachers, preceded by the number of their
school: Butler, one, Anna Bevier; two. Lulu Heitz; three, Lovina Pfaff; five,
Carl Shull; six, Claude Miller. Concord, two. Glen Freeborn; four, Ida
Widney; five, Ralph Sechler ; seven, Mary Scholes. Fairfield, three, Grace
DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 277
Widdicombe ; four Louise Kuckuck; six, Lena Stomm; seven, William Mc-
Intyre ; nine, Isaiah Wert ; ten, Grace Seery. Franklin, one, L. C. Wyncoop ;
two, Letha Enzor; three, Orla Fee; four, Elva Albright; five, Grace Water-
man ; six, Lena Cameron ; seven, Blanche Smith ; eight, Grace Whetsel ; nine,
Blanche Whetsel. Grant, one, Mae Mcintosh; four, Ethelyn Rowe; five, J.
A. Husselman; six, Ethel Hallett. Jackson, one, Florence Berry; two, Ida
Reed; three, A. C. Maurer; four, John Nugen; five. Elsie Farver; six, Jesse
Provines; eight, Mabel Lochner; nine, Nellie Berry. Keyser, one, Naomi
Brady; two, Jennie Lasch; three, Jay Olinger; four, Grace Zerkle; five, Cora
Miller ; six. Ruth Smurr ; seven, Bess Kinsey ; eight, Lulu Kinsey. Newville,
five, Ray Davis; seven, Clyde Hart, Merritt Maxwell, Gr^ce Kain. Rich-
land, F. M. Wiltrout; three, Alma Leins; five, Carl Becker; seven, Alida
Walter; eight, Perry Foote; nine, Mabel Brecbill. Smithville, Ward Par-
sell; one, Clyde Betz; four, Ada Bair; five, Austin Benjamin; six, Helen
Shull ; seven, Harriett Seery ; eight, Gladys Kain ; nine, Edna Bickel ; ten,
Perth Grays. Spencer, Clara Shull. Stafford, one, Hilda Whitman ; two,
Clara Apt : five, Ross Abel. Troy, one, Bernice Clark ; two. Hazel Gunsen-
houser; three, Leeta Eddy; five. Garnet Brink. Union, five, Zora Martin;
six, George Wilson; seven, Lida Pfaff. Wilmington, two, Pearl Brink;
three, Sura Shumaker; four, Grace Murch; five, George Beams; six, Maude
Kennedy; seven, Walter Carper; eight. Winnie Snuirr; nine, C. O. Krise.
CHAPTER XIV.
AGRICULTURE.
Upon the agriculture of a county are based the prosperity and welfare
of the people. Other sources of revenue, such as railroads, manufactures,
public institutions or mines, are valuable, but not so greatly as the yield of
the native soil. It was the search for productive soil that brought the first
settlers to DeKalb county, and led them to banish the native Indian to the
westward. History does not grow fluent with the description of the early
crops; methods were primitive and implements crude, and the sowing and
harvesting had not reached the scientific point that they now occupy. The
hoe, hand rake, scythe and small sickle were the tools, and sheer force of
labor was responsible for a good crop, if such were had. The task of clear-
ing the land precluded any attempt at systematic farming during the early
days, but the stanchness and courage of the first tillers made possible the
versatile farmer of today, who understands crop rotation and farm science
as an engineer knows his machine.
On the average, the soil of DeKalb county is the equal of any of the
Northwest, being very fertile and tillable. John Houlton is remembered as
the first pioneer, and as he planted potatoes in 1834, he might be said to have
been the first farmer. The early forests dropped their leaves in the autumn,
and these, decaying, left a heavy loam upon the ground that has provided
this excellent soil for the farmer of today. The pioneer found this extreme
fertility when he was enabled, from a small bit of land, to raise sufficient
grain to keep his home well stocked. It is related in another portion of this
book how an early settler planted five bushels of potatoes, and in the fall of
the year dug eighty-six bushels from the earth. The grain which the pioneer
could not use was transported by wagon and ox-team to Fort Wayne, Toledo
and Hillsdale, and we already have a few accounts of the hardships under-
gone upon a journey of that kind.
FARM LANDS.
It is interesting to note the statistics in relation to the present DeKalb
county. First, it might be well to say that the population of the county is
DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 279
twenty-five thousand and fifty-four people, according to the last census. The
number of farms in the county is two thousand five hundred and eighteen,
sixty less than there were ten years ago. Of native white farmers there are
twenty-four hundred and twenty-nine, and of foreign born white, eighty-nine.
There are four farms in the county of an area under three acres ; from
three to nine acres, there are one hundred and ten; of ten to nineteen,
eighty-eight; of twenty to forty-nine, four hundred and twelve; of fifty to
ninety-nine, one thousand and twenty-eight ; of one hunched to one hundred
seventy-four acres, seven hundred and thirty-live; of one hundred seventy-
five to two hundred fifty-nine, there are ninety-nine; of two liundred and
sixty to four ninety-nine, there are forty-two farms.
The approximate land area of DeKalb county is two hundred and thirty-
six thousand eight hundred acres. Of this amount, there are two hundred
and twenty-one thousand nine hundred and three acres in farm lands. The
improved land in farms amounts to one hundred and seventy-eight thousand
six hundred and forty-nine acres, an increase of over ten thousand acres in
the last ten years. Woodland in farms totals thirty-five thousand five hun-
dred and eighty-four acres ; and all unimproved land in farms is seven thou-
sand six hundred and seventy acres in farms. Thus the per cent, of land
area in farms is ninety-three and seven-tenths; of farm land improved, eighty
and five-tenths; average acres per farm, eighty-eight and one-tenth; average
improved acres per farm, seventy and nine-tenths.
VALUE OF FARM LANDS.
The value of all farm proptTty in DeKalh county, irrespective of kind
and quality, is nineteen million seven hnmlred twenty-two thousand five hun-
dred and eighty-five dollars, being an increase of over eight million during
the last ten years, a per cent, of increase of seventy-six and nine-tenths. The
value of the lands is twelve million six hundred and thirty thousand four
hundred and sixty-eight dollars: of buildings, four million three hundred and
forty-nine thousand seven hundred and twenty-one; implements and ma-
chinery, seven hundred and four thousand five hundred and sixty-one dol-
lars; domestic animals, poultry and bees, two million thirty-seven thousand
eight hundred and eighty dollars.
The per cent, of value of all property is ; In land, sixty-four per cent. ;
in buildings, twenty-one and one-tenth; in implements and machinery, three
and six-tenths; in domestic animals, etc., ten and three-tenths.
28o DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA.
The average value of the land per farm is seven thousand eight hundred
and thirty-tliree dollars; the average \alue of the land per acre is fifty-six
dollars and ninety-two cents.
DOMESTIC ANIMALS.
There are twenty-four hundred and seventy-nine farms reporting do-
mestic animals. In DeKalb county there are sixteen thousand two hundred
and fifty-six head of cattle, the value being four hundred and sixty-seven
thousand seven hundred and forty-nine dollars. There are eighty-five hun-
dred and ten horses, representing a value of one million ten thousand three
hundred and ninety-eight. There are one hundred and fourteen raules, value
fifteen thousand nine hundred and twenty-five dollars. There are thirty-six
thousand three hundred and thirty-five head of swine, with a value of two
hundred and fifty thousand six hundred and sixt\-five dollars. There are
forty-two thousand sixty-three sheep, valued at one Inmdred and eighty-six
thousand eight hundred twenty-three dollars. Of goats, there are thirt\-one,
\alued at sixty-three dollars. There are one hundred and eighty-nine thou-
sand nine hundred and ten pieces of poultry, worth one hundred and four
thousand one hundred and four dollars. There are eight hundred and nine-
teen bees in the county, valued at two thousand one hundred and fifty-three
dollars.
PRINCIPAL CROPS.
The principal crop in DeKalb county is corn. There are thirty-three
thousand four hundred and ninety-six acres devoted to this grain, and the
yield is one million two hundred and forty-five thousand five hundred and
ninety-two bushels. Twenty-five thousand five hundred and one acres are
devoted to oats, which area yields nine hundred and sixty-six thousand one
hundred and thirteen bushels. Twenty-one thousand four hundred and ninety-
eight acres are sown in wheat, producing three hundred and ninety-one thou-
sand and eighty-four bushels. There are eight hundred and forty-six acres of
barley, producing twenty-one thousand four hundred and thirty-two bushels.
There are fourteen hundred and eighteen acres of rye, producing twenty-
three thousand eight hundred and fifteen bushels. Twelve hundred and fifty-
one bushels of clover seed comprises this crop. Potatoes cover ground to the
extent of two thousand one hundred and ninety-one acres, and make two
hundred and twenty-four thousand two hundred and five bushels. Hay and
forage is gathered from thirty-six thousand six hundred and thirty-four
acres, weighing forty-eight thousand and thirt\--nine tons.
DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 281
PROPRIETORSHIP OF FARMS.
There are one thousand seven hundred and twenty-two farms in DeKalb
county operated by owners, and representing a value of eleven million one
hundred and ninety-five thousand two hundred and sixty-four dollars. There
are seven hundred and eighty-two farms operated by tenants, value, five
million five hundred sixty-seven thousand four hundred and twenty-five dol-
lars. Farms operated by managers number fourteen, valued at two hundred
and seventeen thousand five hundred dollars.
It is said that the first attempt to hold a fair was a small exhibit made on
the old Baker farm, then owned by Thomas Ford. Leonard Hoodlemire
built the fence enclosing, and during the fair the main attraction was a foot
race. In the fall of 1855 a fair was held on the court house grounds, at which
a horse race was a sensation. Tlie next fair was held in the same jilacc in the
fall of 1858.
Realizing the advantages to farmers nf association and the benefits
naturally to be enjoyed at Auburn of a fair ground and an annual fair at
which competitive exhibits could he held and impro\ement in stock, ma-
chinery and handiwork encouraged, Wesley Park, on April 2, 1859. leased
to the directors of the DeKalb County .\gricultural Society about seven acres
of ground lying north of Park's addition to the town plat, or just west of the
public road running from Auburn to Waterloo. The lease was for a term of
eight years, and was made in consideration that the society should within
sixty days build a substantial board fence se\'en feet high along the north
and east sides of the groimds and the remainder within one year. Shade
trees were to have been planted and a track laid out. At the expiration of
the lease the ground and fence were lo l?e gi\en up. the society reserving lum-
ber, sheds and such fixtures. At tliis time |. X. L'liamberlain was ])resi(lent of
the society, and M. F. Pierce, secretary. The president before Chamberlain
was S. W. Sprott. and succeeding the former was W. \\'. Griswold. The open-
ing of the Civil war in t86t obviated rin\ attempt to hold a fair and conse-
quently for a time it was abandoned.
In 1871 leading citizens of Waterloo and elsewhere, prominent among
them being J. N. Chamberlain, John and A. S. Leas, R. J. Lent, S. J.
Locke, C. A. O. McClellan, R. :\I. Lockhart. B. B. Long and R. W. McBride,
282 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA.
organized the Northeastern Indiana 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. The fair was held
annually in October, and the stock of the association was fixed at ten thou-
sand dollars.
The first fair here was held on October 15, 16, 17 and 18, 1872, and
was a big success. Prizes were given for exhibits, racing was held, and large
attendance was had. The county fairs continued during the years until the
early nineties, when they were abandoned for various reasons. The DeKalb
County Free Fall Fair has taken the place of these exhibitions, and is quite as
successful, if not more so.
THE DEKALB COUNTY FREE FALL FAIR.
The DeKalb County Free Fall I'air is promoted by Auburn business
men, merchants and manufacturers, and maintained and supported by the
Commercial Club.
It is held each autumn in Auburn, and is similar to the county fairs in
other counties, but is. held about the coiut house square and in the main
streets of Auburn. It is absolutely free.
A large list of premiums is annually donated by the merchants and
business men. The farmers, manufacturers and others exhibit their best
products, and it is claimed that the fair by its exhibitions has brought about
a raise of ten to fifteen per cent, in farm values in this county.
It is not merely a street carnival, but is a real county fair. It has been
held in Auburn each year except 191 1, when it was held at Garrett. ]\Iany
amusements are provided in the way of shows, brass bands, etc., and on the
closing day a Mardi Gras parade is held. The fair is attended usually by a
crowd of fifteen to twenty-five thousand people daily. The Purdue Agricul-
tural Experiment Station and School of Agriculture sends an exhibit, and
Prof. G. I. Christie, or another from the faculty, assists in judging the ex-
hibits. The premiums range in value up to one hundred dollars. Every
year some noted man of the state attends and delivers a lecture.
The officers of the fair are: H. G. Judson, chairman; Miles Baxter,
secretary; U. S. Rant, treasurer; H. R. Culbertson, C. M. Brown, George
Bishop, Pres. Wilcox, H. H. Strole. J. R. McDowell, board of directors.
Culbertson and M. Boland are members of the committee on judges.
DEKALB COUNTYj INDIANA. ' 283
In the early part of 1874 the farmers began to organize what has since
been known as tiie Grange movement. The growth was wonderful and en-
thusiasm unbounded. The mo^-ement spread like wildfire. Granges were
formed in every township, councils in each county, and were given direction
and force by state and national Granges. Interest \vas increased by gather-
ings, where oratory and food abounded ; and entire families gave the day to
enjoyment with the object of consolidating their power. Middlemen were
deemed superfluous, and steps were taken by appointing of purchasing agents
and stcoking of Grange stores, to bu_\' supplies at a])proximatelv wholesale
prices.
Along in February, 1874, the impulse made itself known in DeKalb
county. On the 17th a Grange was constitiited at the llusselman school house
with R. N. Crooks, master; S. Kutzner, secretary; W. Lessing, overseer; C.
W, Scattergood, lecturer; J. C. St. Clair, treasurer; R. S. Reed, steward, and
Mrs. Reed as his assistant.
Smithfield farmers organized on the loth, electing F. Kelley. E. R.
•Shoemaker, S. B. Mottinger, J. Hemstreet and Henry Hood as officers.
Four days later Jackson Grange was formed with John Cool,' James
McClellan, J. G. Lawhead and M. Owens as officers. In rapid succession
others followed, until the territory was fully occupied.
A county council of Patrons of Husbandry was organized on May 8,
1874. in Grangers' hall, Waterloo, by delegates from subordinate Granges.
At this council R. N. Crooks was chosen president; Ephraim Boyle, vice-
president ; M. Waterman, secretary ; F. Kelley, treasurer ; and J. G. Law-
head, doorkeeper. The board of trustees was composed of A. D. Moore, John
Lowe and Hugh Nelson. A committee was appointed to elect a purchasing
agent, and the objects of the order were stated to be the welfare of the far-
mer and to "bring producer and consumer together to the exclusion of the
middleman."
However, the Granges in this county .soon stranded, went out of exist-
ence after a brief but brilliant and suggestive career. It taught farmers
their strength and encouraged them to persevere, and trust in co-operation,
and believe that "in union there is strength."
284 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA.
HORTICULTURE IN DEKALB COUNTY.
(By H. M. Widney.)
In the early history of our county apples, pears, peaches and all other
tree fruits adapted to temperate climes grew when planted and produced
abundant crops of the finest fruits. Little care was observed by the planter.
Little did our pioneers know about the coddling moth, San Jose scale, or any
of the many fungus diseases at that time ; the only purpose in those days
when planting a tree was to produce a home supply of the much needed
fruits for the betterment of health conditions in the home, and the giving to
the youth the food demanded by nature. So, all of the earliest orchards of
our county were planted from the home-supply standpoint, and those who
thought of the commercial side of the question were but few. However,
these orchards grew beyond the expectation of those who planted, and it has
not been many years since the apple-buyer was expected each year to gather tlie
surplus and pack the same in liarrels. then ship to some distant city market.
The peach was never so fortunate in those days, and many who are yet with
us can tell stories of wagon loads of big. luscious, yellow peaches lying on the
ground, rotting for want of a near market, a market close enough to warrant
the owner caring for them and marketing them. Pears and plums grew
well, but were never planted in such quantities as the peach and the apple. A
more natural climate for the production of tree fruits than our county in
pioneer days would be hard to find. But for the fact that cities were but
villages, towns but country cross-roads and the present villages unknown, the
demand would have been vastly beyond the resources of the time. Horticul-
ture remained to a great degree undeveloped. If demand at that time had
been as it now. Hood River would ha\e l:ilushcd with cn\ y at the jiroduct of
old DeKalb.
Thus, in the early history of fruit growing, no worms, no fungus and no
scale plant attacked the tree. The ricli virgin soil and protected conditions
made by -the forests gave the fruit-bearing trees an ideal home, and the result
was a luscious, perfect crop, with but little effort. But as the county became
better settled and orchards more plentiful, the natural enemies came also.
Near the seventies came the coddling moth, who, by his habits, gave us the
wormy apple, the curculo, who robbed us of our plums and ruined our
peaches ; then the fungus enemies to scab over our apples, pears and peaches ;
then, seemingly bent on utter destruction, the San Jose scale, to kill outright
the trees. But it lias been said that "neces«itv is the mother of in\-ention." Our
DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 2»5
county has developed, our towns are now cities, and so man studies the con-
ditions. He replaces the humus and fertility that our forefathers unconsciously
robbed from our soil ; he plants trees now because he can see great financial
returns in the future for so doing; he has learned how to meet the enemies
which seemed sure to destroy the fruit-bearing trees, the coddling moth, the
curculo, the fungus diseases and the San Jose scale. These marauders must
submit to the science of man. Thus, while for a time the fruit product of
DeKalb county was a disgrace to her name, we now can truthfully boast of
her wonderful progress in developing this department of her agricultural life,
and her sons should always see to it that her l)anner floats near the top, and
then their recompense will be plenty.
CHAPTER XV,
RAILROADS AND TRANSPORTATION.
EARLY ROADS AND ROAD CUTTING.
Few of the present generation realize the diificiilty of travehng in the
woods of the early country. In these days one may cross the country in a
few hours over a steel road, or by excellent wagon roads he may travel with
facility and ease. The hardy immigrant with his small wagon load of neces-
sary 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 axe in hand. The road thus made was of the rudest character when
dry, and in the spring of the year was nearly impassable. At times one right
fore wheel and one right hind wheel would be high in air on stumps or logs;
then the fore wheels would plimge into a mud hole, while the rear of the
wagon mounted high in air. Again he would slide 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 tense, and use both hands to drive, leaving his face, neck
and hands entirely at the mercy of the hungry mosquitoes swarming around.
The miring of a horse or the breaking of a wheel was the worst fate that
could befall the traveler. The extreme slowness of travel over a newly cut
road through the forest in the wet springtime is told without exaggeration by
a pioneer. He had been to a mill with a wagon and a yoke of oxen, and
arrived within one mile of home at seven o'clock in the evening, but the re-
maining one mile took 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 Indians, possessing no wheeled vehicles, carrying on little trade,
using no machinery, found the trace or trail sufficient for their needs. Be-
tween the villages of the Pottawatomies and trading posts were well beaten
trails. Two main trails traversed the land of DeKalb county. One from
White Pigeon forked near Lima, one branch terminating near Fort Wayne.
DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 287
the Other leading southeast and at the St. Joseph river intersecting a trail
from the east. The other trail, from the direction of Toledo, followed 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. 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 then fixed on the runners. Wesley Park and
Mr. Miller afterward widened this road to admit the passage of a cart. The
trail was known then as "Miller's trace."
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 on September ist. Wesley Park and one Hostetter were
to lay out the Goshen and Defiance state road, east and west through the
county. The work was performed by Park alone, and the legislature after-
ward legalized this. Joseph Miller was tlic 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 Vandoler'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 of Fish creek, by Simon Aldrich, Peter Boyer and
Roger Aldrich ; a road on the northwest side of the St. Joseph river was sur-
veyed by R. J. Dawson, and afterward corrected by John Blair, John Web-
ster and Hector Blake, and a road from Enterprise to Uniontown by Daniel
Kepler, Michael Boyer and John Farlee.
At the May session of 1838 the commissioners appropriated two thou-
sand dollars from the three per cent, fund, as follows : Eight hundred dol-
lars on the Goshen and Defiance road; eight hundred dollars on the Fort
Wayne and Coldwater road, and four hundred dollars on the state road on
the northwest side of the St. Joseph river. 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
288 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA.
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 the 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 Auburn. In 1842 Isaac Swarthotit and J. R. 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 constructed for three hun-
dred dollars. 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, the quality of
bridge and highway building progressed, until it has reached the splendid
standard of today.
GENERAL SUMMARY.
Before giving any detailed history of the five railroads now crossing the
county of DeKalb, it is well to present a short sketch of each of the roads in
order to facilitate the understanding of future discussion.
The first road to be built was the Air Line division of the Michigan
Southern & Northern Indiana, now known as the Lake Shore & Michigan
Southern. Surveys were made as early as 1852-3, and along the proposed
route the villages of Corunna and Lawrence and the towns of Butler and
Waterloo became existent in 1855. On May 27, 1856, the forty-one inhabi-
tants of Butler learned with joy of the completion of the road to their town.
This heralded the growth of Butler, and today it is one of the foremost cities
in the county, being third in population. The road enters the eastern side of
the county, passes through the northern parts of Stafford, Wilmington, Grant
and Richland townships, altogether traversing a distance of twenty miles in
the county.
The Fort Wayne, Jackson & Saginaw railroad was opened to traffic on
October 5, 1870, but after a few years of operation went into the hands of a
receiver, and was absorbed by the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern Com-
pany. It enters the county from the south, and passes through the townships
DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 2»9
of Butler, Keyser, Union, Grant and Sniithlield, crossing the Vandalia and
Baltimore & Ohio at Auburn Jnnction and the main branch of the Lake
Shore at Waterloo. There are o\er nineteen miles of road in the county.
The Detroit, Eel River & Illinois, later the Wabash, St. Louis & Pacific,
and now the Vandalia of the Pennsylvania system, was the first railroad be-
gun in the county, but the fourth to be completed. It was projected early in
the fifties, but lacked sufficient support for completion. In the closing months
of 1872 the line was completed from Logansport to Auburn. Here it again
rested. By efforts of stockholders in DeKalb county an effort at consolida-
tion with the Fort Wayne, Jackson & Saginaw railroad was defeated. After
this defeat the road pushed eastward and reached Butler on October 18, 1873.
The road has a little over eighteen miles of track in the county.
The Chicago division of the Baltimore & Ohio railroad was projected
soon after the war. After many controversies, related fully on the following
pages, the first train run througli the county in November, 1875. The line
passes through Garrett, Auburn Junction and St. Joe, running east and west.
Crossing the extreme southwestern corner of DeKalli county is the
Grand Rapids & Indiana railroad, with no station within the county's liounds.
About two miles of track are in the county.
The Wabash railroad, the Detroit division, was built in 1901 and 1902,
from Butler to New Haven, six miles east of Fort Wayne, where it connected
with the main line. It was put into service in 1902. Division point was first
established at Ashley, on the DeKalb and Steuben county line. After a few
years, however, this point was transferred to Montpelier, Ohio.
RAILROAD HISTORY.
The first sur\-ey made througli the count_\- for a railroad was run in
June, 1853, by the Southern Michigan Railroad Company. This survey
started from Toledo, Ohio, passed through northern Indiana and intersected
the Southern Michigan road at Elkhart, Indiana. This was for the Air
Line, or Northern Indiana, road. The survey for the Eel River railroad
was made at the same time. This started at Logansport, Indiana, and ex-
tended northeast, passing on the south side of Auburn and intersected the
Air Line at a point in DeKalb county then called Norris. later Jarvis, and now
Butler. The work of clearing oft' the right-of-way for these two roads was
(19)
290 DEKALB COUNTY. INDIANA.
begun in tlie autumn of 1853, but on account of some embarrassment the
work of construction on the Eel River road was suspended indefinitely in
1854. So this proposed road lay dormant until 1875. when it was revived
and completed. The work of constructing the Air Line road continued
during the years 1854-5-6-7, and as this was prior to the steam shovel period,
the grading was done with picks, shovels, hand-barrows and horse-carts. In
the early days there was an Indian trading point established on the north
side of Cedar creek, about six miles northeast of Auburn, and named Cedar-
ville, but the name was changed to Uniontown on account of being included
in Union township. As the Air Line railroad was located on the south side
of the creek, about half a mile from the village, there was a station established
there and named Waterloo. This new town soon became one of the chief
trading posts in the county. Four miles west of Waterloo another station was
located and named Hudson, and later changed to Sedan. The Sedan post-
office was "Iba." Every effort was put forth to build up a town at Sedan.
Parties who owned the land donated town lots free of charge to anyone who
would agree to build a house on the lot, this being the only consideration re-
quired. An elevator was erected, and during the first ten years it was a popu-
lar grain market. The late William Mclntyre, of Auburn, was agent for the
railroad company for about ten years prior to 1872. During this time Sedan
flourished, Iiut on his retirement the town lost its prestige.
RAILROAD BEGINNINGS.
The Fort Wayne, Jackson & Saginaw railroad and the Eel River rail-
road were built in 1870 and put into operation in 187 1. The Baltimore &
Ohio railroad was constructed in 1872 and 1873, and in 1874, in November, it
was put into active service. The Detroit division of the Wabash railroad
was built in 1901 and 1902. from Butler to New Haven, six miles east of
Fort \\'ayne. where it connected with the main line. It was put into service
in 1902.
INTERURBAN RAILWAY.
The Toledo & Chicago interurljan railway was put into service in 1906,
from Fort Wayne to Garrett, where it branched off to Kendallville by way of
Avilla, and to Waterloo by way of Auburn. In 19 13 this road was absorbed
by the Fort Wayne & Northwestern Railway Company.
DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 29I
I'^ORT VVAVXE, JACKSON & SAGINAW RAILROAD.
In 1870 the Fort Wayne, Jackson & Saginaw railroad was constructed
under the pretext of being a farmers' railroad. An extensive canvas was
made among the farmers and townspeople along the proposed route for the
sale of stock in the enterprise. The shares were fifty dollars each, and every
one was induced to take at least one share. Farmers through whose prop-
erty the road was built were solicited to donate the right-of-way, and many
of the transfers were made without other consideration. Other farmers fur-
nished their teams and labor to grade the road, for which they were paid in
railroad stock. Citizens of Waterloo, prominent among whom were the
Hale brothers, general merchants, contributed liberally to the building of the
road, for, situated on the only railroad between Fort Wayne and Southern
Michigan, the town was the center of an extensive territory. The wheat and
corn, the live stock, and wood, the butter and eggs, poultry, and the products
of the orchards from southern DeKalb to northern Steuben, found a market
there. During the marketing of the grain Market street was thronged with
loaded wagons from near and far, awaiting their turn to dri\e up the incline
and unload at the elevator.
With the completion of the new railroad, elevators were built at the
various stations along the line, and it became the market place for what had
formerly been taken to Waterloo, thus depriving that town of much of its
prestige. Six miles north of Waterloo was Mottinger's and Gramlin's Cross-
ing, the point of greatest elevation on the road, and consequently the station
was called Summit. The station was hard to reach by north-bound trains on
account of the grade, and many of the indifferent engines of that day were
compelled to take the train up in two sections, after vainly puffing to a stand-
still. For years Summit was the leading wood station on the line, as they
fired the engines with wood in those days. A thriving town sprung up at
Summit, with stores, saw mill, l)Iack,smith shop, brick mill and saloons. A
few dilapidated buildings now mark the site of Summit and Sedan. After
the Fort Wayne, Jackson & Saginaw railroad was operated a few years it
went into the hands of a receiver and was sold to and absorbed by the Lake
Shore & Michigan Southern Railroad Company. The original stockholders
were permitted to retain their certificates of stock as reminders that they
were once stockholders in a railroad.
292 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA.
THE BALTIMORE & OHIO RAILROAD.
The survey of the Baltimore & Ohio & Chicago railroad, known as the
Chicago division, was made in 1871, under the supervision of Chief Engineer
James L. Randolph, assisted by Charles Archanhiel, T. G. Baylor, W. A.
Pratt and a Mr. Manning. The survey was started ofif the old Sandusky
City, Mansfield & Newark railroad at a point two miles south of Centerton.
This starting point was called Chicago Junction. The Baltimore & Ohio
Railroad Company had previously leased the Sandusky City, Mansfield &
Newark railroad. The survey was made through Ohio and Indiana and into
Illinois, where it intersected the Illinois Central railroad eight miles south of
Chicago and t-wo hundred and sixty-two miles west of Chicago Junction.
The point was named Baltimore Junction. Baltimore Junction is now called
Brookdale.
"water, WATER, EVERYWHERE, BUT NOT A DROP TO DRINK."
There were many laughable incidents related by the engineers in making
this survey, one of which I shall mention. The country, or, in other words,
the wild forest, where Deshler, Hamler, Holgate and Standly were estab-
lished, was known as the Black Swamp and was submerged in water, so the
surveyors were compelled to wear hip gum-boots. Somewhere in this terri-
tory they came to a log cabin and they were surprised to see a backwoodsman
standing in a log canoe with a long pole in his hands and a tin cup attached to
one end of the pole. He was propelling his canoe around in front of his cabin,
and occasionally searching around in the water with his pole. Being surprised
at his maneuvers, they inquired, "What are you hunting?" The backwoods-
man replied that "he was hunting his well to get a drink."
AN UNFORTUNATE IMBECILE.
There was an unfortunate imbecile by the name of Christ Long, who
owned forty acres of land where Garrett is located, who was more deserving
of pity than censure. He lived in a one-story log cabin which was located
between the present Baltimore & Ohio saw shop and the car shops. These
buildings and the coal chutes were erected on the land owned by Long. There
was no floor in his cal)in except the ground, and here Long lived and slept with
his hogs. .Another man had taken Long's wife, oxen and wagon and eloped
DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 293
with the outfit to Michigan a few years previous. When the engineer corps
would approach Long's land they were met at the boundary line by Long,
armed with a pitchfork, and notified not to enter, which would lead to consid-
erable parleying. On one occasion Charles Cochran, the front chainman,
pointed the transit rod at Long, and he, thinking it was a gun, took to his heels
and kept out of sight during the day. There was considerable trouble obtain-
ing a clear title to Long's land on account of his wife's untimely elopement.
TRESTLES AND TROUBLES.
As the Baltimore & Ohio was located through a heavily timbered and
undeveloped country, timber at that time was very plentiful. Therefore it
was considered advantageous and more expedient to construct trestles of
timber over the swamps and ravines than to fill by grading. Therefore, there
were three hundred and ninety-six trestles and bridges constructed in build-
ing the Chicago division. Number one was in the Chicago Junction yard,
and number three hundred and ninety-six was between South Chicago and
Baltimore Junction (Brookdale), making over nine miles of continuous trestle
work if they had been connected.
Trestle number two hundred was at the bottom of the incline of the Gar-
rett coal chutes, which was filled in 1881. There were over three miles of tres-
tles between Chicago Junction and Garrett, and over six miles west of Garrett,
the largest trestle being west of Garrett. Number two hundred and ninety,
about four miles west of Bremen, was known as the Big Marsh trestle. This
trestle was three thousand eight hundred and thirty-two feet long, and con-
tained three hundred and nineteen pile trestles. Four piles were driven for
each trestle. This trestle was filled in 1882 with sand out of the pit on the
south side of the Walgerton coal chutes. The highest trestle was four miles
west of Defiance, which was thirty-five feet high. There was a saw mill at
the east end of it and a spur track. This was known as White's mills, and all
local trains stopped there.
I think this trestle was number one hundred and forty-nine. It was filled
in 1883, after a twelve-foot arch culvert had been constructed. Trestle number
two hundred and one was west of the Garrett coal chutes, over the tamarack
swamp. This trestle was one thousand one hundred and forty-two feet long.
The early pioneers will remember this swamp was covered with brush and
tamarack trees, so dense that the lake in the center of it was not visible from
the railroad. The tamarack trees were converted into cross ties and tele-
294 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA.
graph poles. There was about three hundred feet in the middle of this swamp
covered with a crust of peat about eight feet thick. Under this there was an
open lake. It broke in in 1873, when the road was being graded. Then it
was piled for trestles. The contractors claimed they drove some of the piles
six hundred and twenty feet, which led to a case of litigation between the
company and the contractors. The general opinion was that the piles angled
off into the lake underneath, as Engineer Manning, who made the survey,
testified that he took the soundings when he made the survey, and the deepest
sounding was eighty-two feet. This trestle was filled in 1886 and 1887. The
filling was commenced with clay, which soon crushed down through the peat,
forming an open lake, and the water in the lake north of the trestle soon be-
came the color of the clay that was being dumped in at the trestle. The piles
commenced to give away, which let the frame trestles turn over on their side.
The filling in with clay was discontinued at once and cribbing up with old
timbers was adopted, and filling with cinders which were not so heavy as clay.
The track was supported on a pontoon of old car sills and bridge stringers.
Every morning the track would be down, as the pontoons would settle during
the night, some nights as much as two feet. I had charge of this work, and to
my personal knowledge, there was sixty feet of pontooning of this descrip-
tion crushed down in this sink.
The construction work was commenced at the various railroad crossings,
where engines, cars and tools were delivered, and the work was rushed for-
ward each day. One of the construction engines was shipped from Toledo
to Defiance on the canal, where it was placed on the Baltimore & Ohio track.
It is presumed that it was not as large as the present Baltimore & Ohio
engines. There was some trouble encountered in crossing the Michigan
Central tracks, which place is now known as Willow^ creek, of which I will
give a brief sketch. The Michigan Central people objected to the Baltimore
& Ohio people crossing their track on a grade crossing, requesting the latter
to construct an elevated crossing. The Baltimore & Ohio refused to comply
with this request. The case was carried into court, and the decision was re-
turned in favor of the Baltimore & Ohio. The Michigan Central ignored this
decision by placing all kinds of obstructions at this point.
About three hundred men, from appearance supposed to be "Chicago
roughs," were established here, evidently preparing for a "pick and shovel"
fight in case the Baltimore & Ohio attempted to put in the crossing. The
Baltimore & Ohio, being overpowered, called on the sheriff of Porter county
for protection. The sheriff responded W'ith a corps of deputies and their
DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 295
entreaty and authority were impertinently ignored. The sheriff at once re-
ported the situation to Thomas A. Hendricks, governor of Indiana. Two
companies of soldiers, in charge of Captain Whiteman, were dispatched to
the scene at once. At early sunrise, on the morning in November, 1874, the
pick and shovel brigade located at this barricade was amazed at the transparent
luster which was reflected from two brass cannons mounted on a flat car,
which slowly approached in front of a train from the east, followed by cars
with the boys in lilue. who were at once lined up in battle array.
Captain Whiteman then took a stand and addressed the opposing faction,
advising them that he had not come there hunting trouble, but had been sent
there by legal authority to prevent trouble, stating that they had the decision
of the court to put in the crossing and they were going to put it in. The men
were lying around, some on the ties which were piled up as an obstruction, and
they would not move when ordered, as the order did not come from the
parties by whom they were employed. There were quite a number of Michi-
gan Central and Baltimore & Ohio officials present. The former officials
maintained silence, and gave no orders, therefore the men would not move.
The sheriff was present with a corps of deputies. After parleying and
maneuvering all forenoon, the sheriff commenced arresting the Michigan Cen-
tral ofncials until there were thirteen under arrest and imprisoned in a
caboose, which was run to Michigan City.
The order was given to put in the crossing. Flagmen were sent out on the
Michigan Central track each way. A force of the Baltimore & Ohio track
men, in charge of supervisor John Marion, soon cleared the way, and the
Michigan Central track was cut, the crossing frogs put in place, and every-
thing coupled up in good condition in two hours' time. This being accom-
plished, gave the Baltimore & Ohio the right-of-way into Chicago.
LAND BUYING.
When the construction of the road was about finished, in 1874, six of the
Baltimore & Ohio officials organized a company in Baltimore and it was in-
corporated as the Baltimore Land and Improvement Company. John King,
first vice-president, and William Keyser, second vice-president of the railway,
were the principal members. Washington Cowen, father of John J. Cowen,
who was chief attorney for the railroad, was a retired farmer of Holmes
county, Ohio. He was selected as agent for the Baltimore Land and Im-
provement Company, to locate the division point on the Chicago division.
296 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA.
In September, 1874, the road was not yet opened up for travel. Cowen
went to Kendallville on the Lake Shore road and drove through the country
to a point on the Chicago division of the new railroad, four miles east of
Albion, known as Wash Easter's crossing. Mr. Cowen selected this place for
the division point. Every movement of the Baltimore & Ohio officials at this
period was being critically observed by enthusiastic speculators ready to buy
up the land where the division shops were to be located. Mr. Cow-en, being
aware of this state of affairs, was compelled to use the greatest caution in
all of his movements so as not to create the impression that there would be
a town located here, and that the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Company would
make this point a division of the road and erect shops. Cowen, on arrival at
this place, immediately commenced contracting with the farmers for their
farms, saying that he had two sons and two sons-in-law back East, whom he
desired to locate together as near as possible, and that he had a little daughter
twelve years old, and he wanted about thirty acres as a home for this young
daughter and himself. After he had contracted with two or three farmers,
and had advanced some money on the contracts, the other farmers with whom
he had not contracted, raised the price of their land so high that Mr. Cowen
was compelled to abandon the enterprise at this place. So he settled up with
those with w^hom he had contracts, which cost him about four hundred dollars.
I obtained part of this information from Mr. Cowen and part from the
farmers who were interested.
Mr. Cowen then went to Kendallville, from there to Waterloo and then
to Auburn Junction. Here the section men took him on a hand-car to the
present site of Garrett. Mr. Cowen very quietly commenced negotiating with
the farmers, using the same tactics that he had used at Easter's crossing in
Noble county, and on the 8th and loth of October, in 1874, he closed the
deal with the owners of the land where Garrett is situated, and the deeds were
executed October 22 and 24, 1874, to Washington Cowen, in trust as agent for
the Baltimore Land and Improvement Company, as follows : John Kitchen,
forty acres; C. Hoick, fifty-five acres; Mrs. W. J. Anthrop, forty-four and a
half acres; J. L. Smith, one hundred acres; Holmes Link, eighty acres;
Samuel and S. Link, thirty acres ; Jacob and Catherine Link, ten acres ; Christ
Long, forty acres; F. C. and M. Bartles, forty-five acres; Joseph Leason,
forty acres ; G. E. Matthews, forty acres ; G. Rodenbaugh, eighty acres. The
total was six hundred and four and a half acres.
Each of these twelve farms had log cabins for dwelling houses. Mr.
Cowen had considerable trouble with Christ Long, as I stated in a former
DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 297
article. Long being mentally unbalanced. Cowen purchased his forty acres
for one thousand six hundred dollars, and Long would not accept anything
but gold as pay. Cowen finally paid him in gold. Long lived in a deplorable
condition, all alone in his log hut, and he refused to move out, claiming that
he had lost five hundred dollars of the money. He did not vacate until
crowded out by the improvements. Long's wife had eloped with another
man a few years previous, taking with them Long's ox team and wagon.
Mr. Cowen could not locate her for about two years. After tracing her by
writing to the postmasters in Michigan, Illinois, Kansas and other states, he
finally located her in Nebraska, and then had to pay her fifteen dollars to get
her to sign the deed.
While the Chicago division was tmder construction there were several
enthusiastic speculators on the alert, ready to buy up the land where the shops
would be located. Riggs D. Thomas and a Mr. Toland arrived here from
London, Ohio, about the same time that Cowen did, and were quietly watching
Mr. Cowan's movements. Thomas was sent as agent for the London Bank-
ing Company. Cowen, being aware of the situation, very quietly secured the
twelve farms at forty dollars per acre, while these two gentlemen were at their
hotel in Auburn. Then came the excitement — the division point was estab-
lished. Up went the price of land, from forty to eighty-five and one hundred
dollars per acre. These two gentlemen then bought several farms adjoining
those purchased by Cowen. hence the names of Thomas' south and east addi-
tions and Toland's addition. Thomas'. south addition was laid out by Engineer
T. G. Baylor, under the supervision of Engineer W. A. Pratt, and agent R. D.
Thomas, in the fall of 1875, ^"^ the plat was filed at Auburn November 19,
1875. The plat of Toland's east addition was entered for record at Auburn
November 30, 1875, and the sale of lots began. Engineer W. A. Pratt at
this time was engineering the construction of the Baltimore & Ohio shops.
Of the twelve parcels of land purchased by Mr. Cowen, eight were in
Butler township and four in Richland township. Therefore the town was
located in two townships, and the shops were built on the line. About two-
thirds of the round house, machine and blacksmith shops were in Richland
township, and about one-third in Butler township, and also on the center line
extending north and south, through the two townships, public roads having
been established on these lands. The township line was about where the
Baltimore & Ohio freight house is located. Randolph street is on the original
section line from the north to where it intersected the township line at the
freight house. Here there are one hundred and thirty feet of an offset to
298 DEKALB COUNTYj INDIANA.
the west, where the section line extended south through the center of Butler
township. The alley on the west of the postoffice is about on the line of the
old wagon road. There was a log house owned by one of the Links where Dr.
Thompson's brick stable now stands. When the county commissioners ac-
cepted and approved the town plat in the spring of 1885 this vacated these
public roads.
FIRST TRAINS.
As soon as the division point was located in Garrett in 1874, the railroad
at once erected a frame engine house forty by two hundred feet, on the north
side of the main track directly north of the present round house, with two
tracks running lengthwise through it, provided with engine pits. A "Y" was
constructed at each end of the engine house for machine and blacksmith shops.
These two buildings were destroyed by fire in November, 1875. Commencing
with the running of trains in November, 1874, freight trains were run from
Chicago Junction to Defiance, from Defiance to Bremen and from Bremen to
South Chicago. Passenger trains were run through from Chicago Junction
to Chicago by running eight miles on the Illinois Central tracks from Balti-
more Junction, which is now known as Brookdale.
F. H. Sembower and R. Lantz were the first two engineers to pull
passenger trains into Chicago. Sembower had run a construction engine con-
structing the Chicago division and on the 7th day of November, 1874, with
William Lane as conductor, he pulled the first Baltimore & Ohio passenger
train into Chicago. Train dispatcher G. W. Fordyce gave the order. R.
Lantz, who had been running a passenger train on the Lake Erie division be-
tween Sandusky and Newark from 1870 until this time, was transferred to
the new division, and on November 8. 1874, he pulled the second passenger
train into Chicago, arriving there at eight o'clock p. m. He had engine No.
five hundred and nine, which had the name "David Lee" lettered on the side
of the cab, as it was customary in those days to name the engines in honor of
the officials of the road. F. H. Sembower is still a passenger engineer here.
R. Lantz retired from actual service in 1908, after forty years of continual
service as passenger engineer with the Baltimore & Ohio.
In reflecting back to January, 1875, we see the new engine house, the
machine and blacksmith shops, the "Y" all ready for operation, a small shanty
with boards up and down ready for a telegraph office, two passenger coaches
and a baggage coach set out on the north side of the main track north of the
present blacksmith shop, to be used as a dining and lunch car, and the baggage
DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 299
coach for a kitchen. A Mr. Tubbs was put in charge of the cuHnary depart-
ment.
George M. Hoffman was the first supervisor of trains, or trainmaster, in
Garrett. He was the first to come and the last to go of the officials here,
so he remained until the first of March, 1876, when he was superseded by H. S.
Morse. The first master mechanic was Mr. Hibbard, and the first dispatchers
were George W. Fordyce, W. T. Backus and W. F. Perdue.
The town was not yet platted or the new shops selected in January, 1875,
when this temporary arrangement was made for the accommodation of trains.
The trainmen were all notified that Garrett was the only division point on
the Chicago division and to make arrangements to lay over here in place of at
Defiance and Bremen, but some of them were so blinded with invincible
prejudice that they resigned from the service rather than obey the order.
RAILROAD BOARDING HOUSES.
In 1875 there were no accommodations for the men required for the
construction of the roundhouse, machine shop and blacksmith shops. There
were a few log cabins which the land owners had occupied, and a few rude
shanties and tents hastily established, but these were all packed brimful, in
some four men occupying one bed. So arrangements had to be made for the
accommodation of the men, and for that purpose a large boarding house was
built on the southeast corner of Cowen and Keyser streets, which still stands
as one of the old landmarks, east of the Baptist church. Tins was called the
"Chicago House." Later a second house was built on the south side of it.
In September, 1875, there were eighty-five men boarding and lodging in
these two houses and they were a lively, jolly set of fellows. They did not
appear to have any grievance with the situation and cheerfully co-operated
with each other. The dining room was on the first floor of the comer build-
ing, but there were not beds enough to accommodate half of the boarders.
THE "grand march."
In the evenings the first in would take possession of the beds and those
who came in later were forced to take lodging on the floor, bunks or any
place they could find to stretch their wearied bodies out to rest, with a block
of tamarack wood for a pillow and their coats for a covering. They had a
mutual agreement that at twelve o'clock each night, they were to have the
300 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA.
"Grand March,"' in which al! agreed to participate. So every night at twelve
o'clock, the signal trumpet was sounded. Each and every one was compelled
to report for duty, and if anybody failed to vacate his bed at the call, he was
quickly pulled out. At the close of the "Grand March," would come the
grand rush for the beds. The agreement was that the first man was to take
possession on a pre-emption right, and the other fellow was to look out for
himself. People who lived in the neighborhood, complained that it was not
only the boarders in the Chicago House who were awakened by the "Grand
March."
BUILDING OF THE SHOPS.
The brick laying of the shops was not commenced until in September,
1875, commencing with the round house, which was formally put into service
on Christmas day, but not completed until about the first of March, 1876,
when the new machine and blacksmith shops were all opened. The weather
was very favorable for outside work that winter, as it was the most open
winter ever known in northern Indiana. There were four or five days of
cold weather, with a light fall of snow in November. After that the frogs
were out and croaking all winter till in March, 1876, when there was another
fall of snow on the mud. There was no ice put up that winter, and the
snakes and frogs were out on the first day of 1876.
A 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 tract 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. Various plans were proposed
for overcoming this ugly crook in the Air Line, 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 sum-
mer 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 network. The result was highly satisfactory, and in a few months a track
DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 3OI
was laid across the old break, and the work, though slow in accomplishment,
was not so very extensive as feared at one time.
WHAT THEY DID.
The Air Line created Corunna, Waterloo and Bvitler, but killed Sedan,
already arrested by the growth of Auburn and Newville, and made Union-
town an isolated suburb of Waterloo. The Fort Wayne, Jackson & Saginaw
boomed Auburn. The Detroit & Eel River helped Auburn and Butler. The
Baltimore & Ohio helped Auburn and Auburn Junction, and created St. Joe
and Garrett. The Wabash created Ashley.
EARLY GARRETT.
Trains stopped at Garrett City for refreshments, but the city was yet to
be, and the view to the visitor was wild and discouraging. Several cars had
been placed alongside the track and served for a dining hall.
During the latter part of November, 1874, a freight train drawn by
engine number fi\e hundred and nineteen, left Defiance, Ohio, bound for South
Chicago. The crew had no pilot, but had heard that the division headquarters
were to be at Garrett. It was night when they approached the place, through
which they passed at the rate of forty miles per hour. On their return, by
daylight, they saw a large, barn-like structure and a "Y" track. On the right
was a spur track, upon which stood a construction train. They slackened
speed, learned that it was Garrett, and in disgust, put on steam and sped away
at a lively rate. Another trip, and there were two long sidetracks, a track
from the shed, a coal track, a temporary frame boarding-house, several log
cabins and two hundred people there.
CHAPTER XVI.
BANKS AND BANKING.
Although DeKalb county has not been entirely free from banking troubles
during her seventy-five years or more of life, no lasting weakness has been
imposed upon the county by poor banking, such as will be found in some terri-
tories. What misfortunes there were may be traced to the fact that the old-
time banking system allowed anyone, irrespective of nationality or occupa-
tion, to start a bank, in consideration that he won the confidence of the peo-
ple and could persuade them to trust him with their funds. No strict quali-
fications were necessary, such as exist today, and no examinations of the ap-
plicant for banking privileges were necessary. Under such a state of affairs, it
is not singular that trouble arose, and it did arise, in some sources. This was
aptly called the free-for-all banking system. The issue of paper currency for
circulation as money was free and open. Any banker had the privilege of
issuing such currency, which would be as valuable as his bank was well known.
Bills of practically all banks would be current somewhere, at some price, but
largely they were taken only at a discount, the discount depending, as men-
tioned before, upon the general reputation of the bank. Thus, many unde-
serving institutions would issue a quantity of currency, which would float at a
fluctuating valuation, and then die in the hands of the holders, to the loss of
everybody except the original issuers, who obtained face value when they
issued the same. Again, strong institutions would issue currency in their
own locality, which would be accepted readily by the people at face value, but
in adjacent communities would be subjected to a slight discount, this discount
increasing the farther away from home the currency traveled. The incon-
venience of this is obvious.
Counterfeiters were also plentiful in the early day. It was an easy
matter to counterfeit, apparently, and a much harder matter to distinguish
between good and bad money. A man one thousand miles from home would
stand small chance of being able to pass a bill upon his home bank, no matter
how stanch and reliable he knew the institution to be. The paper money was
redeemable only over the counter of the issuing bank.
DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 3O3
The first steps taken to remedy this palpable evil was the establishment
of the "state banks," in the early thirties. This was a material improvement
over the "wild cat" system formerly in vogue. Of course, the system of state
control and supervision was in a crude and primitive state, but it had the
merit of securing reputable people as the responsible heads of these banks and
branches.
FIRST BANK IN DEK.\LB COUNTY.
In the matter of banking, tlie town of Waterloo became the pioneer in
DeKalb county.
In May, 1873, W. C. Langan, of Lima, Ohio, became formally associated
with O. T. Clark, J. I. Best, and C. A. O. McClellan, of Waterloo, for the
purpose of doing a general banking business in that place, under the name of
the DeKalb County Bank. On July 24th, their safe, weighing fourteen thou-
sand pounds, arrived from the manufactory of Diebold, Kiengle & Company,
of Canton, Ohio, and was placed in the office, located in the south side of what
was known as the Clark building, north of the Lake Shore railroad crossing.
The capital of this early bank was placed at fifty thousand dollars. Mr.
Langan became the cashier and business manager of the bank, and the enter-
prise gave much satisfaction to the general public.
BEGINNINGS IN AUBURN.
In the beginning of the year 1874 there was no bank in Auburn, but the
tirr;e had arrived when such an institution v^'as a necessity. There were citi-
zens who were willing and had enough capital to engage in banking, but they
had no experience and, distrusting their own ability, they invited the coming
of someone to take the initiative.
On March 2nd, two men named Riley and Mots, from \\"abash: visited
Auburn, to look over the ground preparatory to establishing a bank. The
need was evident for a medium to facilitate business transactions and by
secured deposits to find employment for otherwise idle currency. These men
met several citizens at the Swineford House, to whom they expressed them-
selves well pleased with the location and their proposals met unqualified
encouragement.
All seemed favoralile and the front part of the Cool building was en-
gaged for an office. It was intended to commence business within a month,
with a capital of fifty thousand dollars, of which sum the people of Auburn
304 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA.
were to have supplied two-fifths. Nothing was done and, save several futile
assurances, the subject lapsed until near the close of the year, when George
Hazzard, a stranger from Newcastle, this state, made his appearance, and re-
newing the subject of a bank, won the confidence of the people. He pro-
posed to open a bank in Auburn with a capital of fifty thousand dollars, to
which sum he asked the citizens to subscribe fifteen thousand dollars. This
offer was taken, and arrangements made for a speedy organization. There
was a question in the minds of the people as to whether a state or a national
bank would be the best. The national bank was supposed to be the most
profitable to the stockholders, but the general trend was in favor of the state
institution. However, the decision was in favor of a national bank, and on
December 19, 1874, the First National of Auburn, Indiana, was organized,
by electing a board of directors, consisting of Nicholas Ensley, William
Mclntyre and Orrin C. Clark, of Auburn, and George and James Hazzard, of
Newcastle.
A small frame building on Seventh street, just west of the later Farmers"
Bank building, was occupied, a strong safe was procured and put in place,
and James V. Hazzard, the youngest of the brothers, was made cashier.
Deposits were at once received; United States bonds were purchased and
deposited in the national treasuiy. Sheets of crisp, new national bank notes
in denominations of fives, were received from Washington, and being signed,
their issue commenced, and business opened auspiciously, the date being April
I, 1875-
This bank was afterward involved in many difficulties, and was threat-
ened with insolvency. Faulty investments and misuse of moneys caused no
end of trouble for the institution.
In 1878 it was discovered that George Hazard, heaviest stockholder, had
hypothecated his stock with other banks; drawn heavily from the bank on
worthless notes, accepted by his brother, the cashier; sold the bonds of that
bank and replaced them with ones drawing a lower rate of interest, and, to
cap the climax, replaced the worthless notes with others of leading citizens.
Seventeen out of twenty-one thousand dollars was recovered.
PRESENT DAY BANKS.
In Auburn there are three banks : The Auburn State bank, the City
National bank, and the Savings, Loan and Trust Company.
DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 3O5
AUBURN STATE BANK.
The Auburn State bank was organized in the year of 1904, with a iirst
capital of $50,000. The present capital of the bank is $75,000. The surplus
is $12,000, and the amount of mone}' on deposit is $450,000. In the report of
the condition of the bank, published on October 21, 1913, the following re-
.sources are shown: Loans and discounts, $372,653.50; overdrafts, $610.10;
other bonds and securities, $526.26; banking house, $20,000; furniture and
fixtures, $3,384.90; due from banks and trust companies, $54,398.12; cash
on hand, $20,760; cash items, $20; all making a total of $472,352.88. Lia-
bilities, besides capital stock and surplus already mentioned, were: Undi-
vided profits. 663.37; exchange, discounts and interest, $2,053.97; demand
deposits, $169,464.24; demand certificates, $213,671.30; making a total of lia-
bilities, same as the resources.
The present oflkers of the Auburn State bank are : President, J.
Schloss; vice-president, I. D. .Straus; cashier. C. B. Weaver.
CITY NATIONAL BANK.
The City National Bank of Auburn w as organized in 1902. F. M. Hines
is president; Charles M. Brown, vice-president; Willis Rhoads, cashier; F.
W. Knott, assistant cashier. The capital stock is $50,000 ; the surplus, $20,000,
and the deposits total $325,000.
SA\aNGS, LOAN AND TRUST COMPANY.
The Savings, Loan and Trust Company of Auburn was organized in the
vear 1903. The present capital is $50,000; the surplus is $10,000; and the
am.-iunt if deposits is $260,000. P. D. West is president; W. M. Swaysgood,
vii-f- president ; VV. C. Henderson, cashier.
GARRETT STATE BANK.
The Garrett State bank is located at Garrett, Keyser township, DeKalb
county. Indiana. This bank was originally named the Garrett Banking Com-
pany This first bank was organized on January 3, 1893, with a capital of
$25,000. In 1907 the capital stock was increased $35,000 and a surplus of
(20)
306 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA.
$15,000 was created. The late H. N. Coffinberry and the Kniselys, of Butler,
this county, started the bank and Coffinberry was the first president. Thomas
Mitchell was the first cashier. He was succeeded in a couple of years by
Charle.< W. Camp, and the latter has been actively connected with the institu-
tion ever smce.
I he new charter of the bank, wherein the name was changed to the Gar-
rett State bank, was issued on November 25, 1912. This reorganization was
necessary on account of a provision of the constitution of the state of Indiana
that the charters of banking corporations shall expire in twenty years from
the date they are issued.
The present capital is $50,000; the surplus, $8,750; and there is on de-
posit in the bank, $265,000. The present officers are as follows : President,
H. W. Mountz; vice-president, J. Singler, cashier; H. M. Brown; assistant
cashier, H. W. Wert.
GARRETT SAVINGS, LOAN AND TRUST COMPANY.
This bank is located at Garrett, this county, and was organized in No-
vember of the year 1908. Monte L. Green and J. N. Ritter were the men
responsible for the establishment of the institution, and their first capital
consisted of $25,000. The charter is dated November 8, 1908. The present
capital totals $40,000; the surplus, $3,000; and the ainount of deposits,
$60,000. Monte L. Gren is president ; J. N. Ritter is first vice-president ; J. A.
Clevengcr is second vice-president; and Laura A. Shutt is secretary. The
resources and liabilities each, according to the sworn statement issued October
31, 1913, equals $101,842.58. The bank is a four per cent, bank, and is a
depository for the United States postal savings, Garrett schools, city of Gar-
rett, town of Altona, Altona schools, Keyser township, and DeKalb county
treasurer. The bank writes insurance of all kinds, rents and sells property,
makes loans on collateral and mortgage, issues money drafts on New York and
Chicago, sells high grade bonds, acts as executor, administrator, guardian,
etc., and rents safety deposit boxes in steel burglar proof vaults.
FIRST NATIONAL BANK.
This bank is located in Butler, DeKalb county, Indiana. The bank was
organized in the ye^:- 1908. The present capital stock of the bank is $25,000,
and the amount of deposits is $75,000. The record of the bank shows that
DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 3O7
the deposits have been more than doubled in the past two years. A beautiful
bank building is at present under course of construction. The bank is now
without a president, and no clianges will be made until the annual meeting.
E. A. Farnham is cashier and manager, and E. A. Farnham, Jr., is assistant
cashier.
KNISELY BROTHERS & COMPANY STATE RANK.
This banking institution is located at Butler. It was organized in the
year 1882. The date of the present charter is April i, 1907. The present
corporation succeeded Knisely Brothers & Company private bank in the year
of the charter date. The present capital is $60,000; the surplus, $16,000; and
the amount of deposits, $263,000. T. J. Knisely is president; W. A. Mason
is vice-president ; O. T. Knisely is casliier. and C. R. Decker is assistant cash-
ier. The bank erected an excellent bank building in 1903, costing when com-
pleted, $20,000. This includes a private heating plant.
CITIZENS BANK.
The I)ank known as the Citizens liank i< iDcated in Waterloo, DeKalb
county. This bank was organized in the early seventies, with a first capital
stock of $25,000. This early date or organization marks the bank as one of
the oldest, if not the oldest, in the county. The present capital amounts to
$10,000. H. K. Leas is president and cashier, and Grace Wilcox is assistant
cashier. The bank is not chartered. The present bank building was erected
in the year 1876, at a cost of $4,500; $190,339.74 is the amount each of re-
sources and liabilities.
THOMAS EXCHANGE BANK.
This bank is located in the town of Corunna, DeKalb county, and was
organized in the year 1897 by Milo J. Thomas, with a first capital of $5,000.
The present capital is $10,000; the surplus is $11,000; and the amount of
deposits is $63,000. Milo J. Thomas is president of the institution and
cashier; M. C. Guthrie and Bertha M. Thomas are assistant cashiers. A
handsome bank building was erected in 1909, which cost, complete, $1,200.
The sworn statement issued October 21, 19 13, places the liabilities and re-
sources each as $94,149.39. This was divided as follows: Resources, loans,
$70,480.90; cash in other banks, $18,338.63; cash on hand, $2,329.86: furni-
ture and fixtures, $1,800: building, $1,200. T.iabilities, capital, $10,000; im-
divided profits, $11,089.15; deposits, $73,060.24.
308 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA.
ST. JOE VALLEY BANK.
The St. Joe Valley bank is located at St. Joe, DeKalb county, and was
organized in 1888, by J. D. Leighty, E. Case and W. C. Patterson. The in-
stitution was incorporated in the year 1913. It is a state bank. The first
capital entered was for the amount of $6,000, but today the capital stock
totals $25,000. There are $70,000 on deposit at this bank. The date of the
charter is August i, 1913. The present bank succeeded the St. Joe Valley
private bank on the date of the above mentioned charter. E. Case is the
president and W. C. Patterson, vice-president and cashier.
THE COMMERCIAL BANK.
The Commercial bank at Ashley was reorganized in 1910 with a capital
of $25,000, the same as at present. E. F. Mortorff is president; E. F. Smith,
vice-president: A. W. Gonser, cashier; G. W. Clark, assistant cashier.
CHAPTER XVII.
LODGES AND SOCIETIES.
FREE AND ACCEPTED M.\SONS.
On May 28, 1857, DeKalb Lodge No. 214, Free and Accepted Masons,
was chartered, and on June 5th was instituted. The first officers were : Mil-
ton F. Pierce, worshipful master; John Butt, senior warden; Alva O. Espy,
junior warden; Aaron Wolf, treasurer; Eli Weaver, secretary: Joseph H.
Ford, senior deacon ; James Barclay, junior deacon ; William E. Rush, t\ler,
and John Butt, James Barclay and A. O. Espy, trustees.
In 1 91 3 the lodge has one hundred and sixty-two members, and the fol-
lowing officers: Joseph N. Grover, worshipful master; Philip Holman, senior
warden; Donald P. Sprott, junior warden: Fred W. Knott, treasurer; Thomas
H. Sprott, .secretar}-; Ira A. Thrush, •senior deacdu; John E. (iraham. junior
deacon; Thomas C. Ford, senior steward: W. Gage Zigler, junior steward;
George W. Rudolph, tyler; James L. Lewis. James Y. W. McClellan, John E.
Graham, trustees.
William Hacker Chapter No. 63, Royal Arch Masons, was organized
under dispensation on September 3, 1866, and chartered May 23, 1867. John
Butt was high priest until 1878. The chapter now has sixty-two members, and
is officered by the following: William H. Leas, high priest; Joseph N.
Grover, king; Charles H. Kjiapp, scribe; James L. Lewis, treasurer; Thomas
H. Sprott, secretary; William C. Howard, captain of host; Harr\- M. Rich-
wine, principal sojourner; Daniel J. ^^'lli])ple, royal arch captain; James Y.
W. McClellan. master third veil : Noah A. Bash, master second veil : George
A. Bishop, master first veil ; George W. Rudolph, guard.
DeKalb Council No. 57, Royal and Select Masters, was chartered on July
13. 1885. The council has a present membership of forty-five, and has the
following officers: Harry M. Richwine, thrice illustrious master; Willis
Baughman, deputy illustrious master: Sam F. Davenport, illustrious principal
conductor of work; Price D. West, treasurer; Thomas H. Sprott, recorder;
William C. Howard, captain of guard: Howard A. Marvin, conductor of
council: F. L, Rodehaugh, steward, and George \\'. Rudolph, sentinel.
3IO DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA.
Auburn Chapter No. 103, Order of Eastern Star, has a good membership.
Waterloo City Lodge No. 307, Free and Accepted Masons, was or-
ganized in Waterloo in 1861. The charter is dated May 26, 1864. At present
there are sixty members, and the officers are: Clark Campbell, worshipful
master; Frank Fisk, senior warden; J. Harris Reed, junior warden; C. Ells-
worth Montavon, treasurer; William H. Leas, secretary; W. R. Newcomer,
senior deacon ; W. E. Montavon, junior deacon ; John J. Rohm and A. H.
Erwin, stewards; John J. Lightner, tyler; N. T. Jackman, J. J. Lightner, John
W. Frick, trustees. The Masons own their own hall, and part of the Abbey
block, which they use as an annex.
Waterloo Chapter No. 142, Order of Eastern Star, has about ninety-six
members at Waterloo.
Garrett City Lodge No. 537, Free and Accepted Masons, was united
under dispensation on July 17; 1876, and the charter is dated May 15, 1877.
The present lodge has about two hundred and thirty-five members. The offi-
cers are: Harry E. Wert, worshipful master; Howard A. Marion, senior
warden; Harry B. Hill, junior warden; Harry M. Brown, treasurer; Job C.
Smith, secretary.
Garrett Chapter No. 129, Royal Arch Masons, was united under dis-
pensation on May 23, 1903, and tlie charter is dated October 22, 1903. The
chapter has a menilx>rship of aliout one hundred and twenty-five, and is offi-
cered by the following: Franklin Rodebaugh, high priest; Thomas A.
Smith, king; Edwin Van Fleit. scribe; Harry M. Brown, treasurer; Job C.
Smith, secretary.
Harmony Chapter No. 67', Order of Eastern Star, has aliout one hun-
dred members in Garrett.
Ashley Lodge No. 614, Free and Accepted Masons, has about fifty
members. A. N. Ellis is worshipful master; C. H. Bruce, past master; W. N.
Folkerson, senior warden; Jess McClugen. junior warden; L. C. Hunt, sec-
retary; C. A. Lakins, treasurer.
Ashley Chapter No. 229, Order of Eastern Star, has a good membership.
Forest Lodge No. 239, Free and Accepted Masons, at Butler, was or-
ganized in 1858. with the following as first officers: H. S. Madden, wor-
shipful master; W. W. Straight, senior warden; W. R. Chilson, junior war-
den ; Jason Hubbell, secretary ; J. H. Boon, treasurer ; W. H. Madden, senior
deacon ; A. Lampson, junior deacon, and Z. Handy, tyler. The charter is
dated May 25, 1859. The present membership is one hundred and twelve,
and the following are the present officers: Marion M. Knepper, worshipful
DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 3 II
master: Charles H. Miller, senior warden; Clifford R. Decker, junior war-
den; Samuel G. Stone, treasurer; Charles T. Apt, secretary- ; C. H. Grube,
senior deacon; George A. Powers, junior deactm ; Hugh T. Berkey and Harry
M. Hatch, stewards ; Peter Whitman, tyler.
Butler Chapter No. io6. Royal Arch Masons, at Butler, was chartered
on October 22, 1891. At present there are seventy-three members. The
officers are: Clyde J. Shaffer, high priest; M. M. Knepper, king; Henry
Grube, scribe; Frank P. Stump, treasurer; Charles T. Apt, secretary; C. H.
Grube, captain of host; John A. Daniels, principal sojourner; J. Bruce Pes-
sel, royal arch captain ; O. C. Waterman, guard master third veil ; Frank P.
Stump, guard master second veil; Ed. A. Karle, guard master first veil;
Peter Whitman, guard.
Butler Council No. 83, Royal and Select Masters, at Butler, was char-
tered October 20, 1909. The present membership totals thirty-eight. The
following are the officers : Walter J. Mondhank, thrice illustrious master ;
Clyde J. Shafer, right illustrious deputy master; Oris C. Waterman, illus-
trious principal conductor of work ; Morrison Brunstetter, treasurer ; Charles
T. Apt, recorder; M. M. Knepper, captain of guard; Henry M. Showalter,
conductor of council ; F. P. Stump, steward : Peter Whitman, sentinel.
Forest Chapter No. 44, Order of Eastern Star, was chartered at Butler
on April 15, 1880.
KNIGHTS OF PYTHIAS.
Auburn Lodge No. 191, Knights of Pythias, was chartered on May 4,
1888, and now has a membership of three hundred and thirty members. T.
L. Boodelmier is chancellor connnander; Guy Clement, vice commander; L.
F. Moore, prelate; Arthur Grube, master of work; D. C. Norris. keeper of rec-
ords and seal; W. C. Kettering, master of exchequer; E. E. Shilling, master
of finance; F. H. Fury, master at arms; R. A. Gramling, inner guard; Charles
E. Kingsbury, outer guard; F. D. Smith, Charles E. Renier, Dr. D. N.
Fitch, trustees. The hall is in the third story of the building at Seventh and
Cedar streets. The property is valued at six thousand dollars.
Butler Lodge No. 158, Knights of Pythias, was organized on Decem-
ber II, 1886, and at present has a membership of two hundred and sixty-five,
being the largest lodge in Butler. The lodge owns the second storj^ of the
Oberlin block, and the property, including fixtures, is valued at six thousand
dollars. The officers are : A. A. Kramer, chancellor commanck-r ; W. P.
Endicott, vice commander; George W. Geddus, master of finance; T. J.
312 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA.
Knisely, master of exchequer: C. W. Campbell, secretary; Roy Johnson,
master of work: W. R. Lennon, inner guard: J. O. Gee, outer guard; trustee,
R. C. Campbell.
Butler Temple No. 126, Pythian Sisters, is also active in Butler.
Garrett City Lodge No. 130, Knights of Pythias, was organized on
June 2, 1886, with fifteen charter members. The present membership totals
seventy-nine, and the lodge is officered by the following : Carl Moyer, chan-
cellor commander; C. PI. Hamilton, vice commander; L. Stoner, prelate; J.
Hill, master of work ; D. C. Beehler. keeper of records and seal, also master of
finance ; J. A. Moore, master of exchecjuer ; L. J. Gengler. master at arms ; S.
E. Boogher, inner guard : Louis Eberle. outer guard.
Ruth Temple No. 56. Pythian Sisters, was organized at Garrett on
June 17, 1892.
St. Joe Lodge No. 400, Knights of Pythias, was organized on February
28, 1894, and chartered on June 6. 1894, with the following charter mem-
bers : Sol Barney. H. M. Widney. S. Openlauder. J. C. Hull. J. A. Culbert-
son, Daniel Hamm, W. C. Patterson, Frank Barney, Leo Bleeks, J. P. Bon-
nell, John Williams, Ed. Leighty, C. H. Brown, B. F. Walter, John Deets,
Jo.seph Harrods. Logan Fuller, B. S. Sheffer, John Alten. F. J. White, F. H.
Abel, D. J. Baker, L. Gee, J. L. Stewart, William Curie, J. C. F. Abel, C. A.
Patterson, O. M. Savior and Ballard Bowen. F. W. Ahel was the first chan-
cellor commander. C. H. Brown, H. M. \\'idney. C. A. Patterson. J. C. F.
Abel. Frank W'alters, D. J. Baker. John Allen and Ed. Leighty were other
first officers. At present writing there are se\enty-six members in the St.
Joe lodge, and the officers are Edwin Cox. chancellor commander; William
Curie, vice chancellor: Wilson Kock. prelate: Clarence Hart, master of work;
J. C. Hull, master of exchecjuer ; Abner Copp, master of finance ; B. S. Shef-
fer, keeper of records and seal ; Charles Collins, inner guard ; Ira Bowen, outer
guard; H. M. Widney, Joseph Haifley and Ed. Leighty, trustees. Azalea
Temple No. 152, Pythian Sisters, is active in St. Joe.
Leonidas Lodge No. 205, Knights of Pythias, was organized about fif-
teen years ago in Waterloo. At present there are one hundred and seventy-
two members, and the officers are : Frank Walker, chancellor commander ;
Isaac Johnson, vice commander: Charles Barton, prelate: Henry Link, keeper
records and seal; J. J. Beck, master of exchequer; W. H. Leas, master of
finance ; John Mann, master at arms : Dan Rumm. inner guard ; Roy Shuman.
outer guard.
Ashlev Lodge No. 394. Knights of Pythias, was instituted on July 12.
1893. and at present has forty-one active members. The officers are as fol-
DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 3I3
lows : Frank Baughman. chancellor commander ; Jesse Camp, vice com-
mander; George Parks, prelate; S. C. Hunt, secretaiy; Dave Forney, master
of exchequer; F. P. Hoover, master of Finance; Frank Jennings, inner guard;
Jacob Hood, outer guard.
Ashley Temple No. 98, Pythian Sisters, has a membership of thirty-nine.
Corunna Lodge No. 248, Knights of Pythias, has a small membership.
INDEPENDENT ORDER OF ODD FELLOWS.
The IndeiJendent Order of Odd Fellows was first introduced in Auburn
at a very early date, but the records have been destroyed, A charter was
granted to Bradford C. Cosgrove and others on July 21, 1852, and on July 21,
1853, Auburn Lodge No. 116 was instituted. The first officers were: Wesley
Park, noble grand ; W. H. Straight, vice grand ; W. W. Griswold, secretary,
and S. W. Ralston, treasurer. The fire of January, 1856, destroyed the hall,
and the lodge reorganized on June 25th, with A. O. Espy, noble grand ; S. W.
Ralston, vice grand; W. W. Griswold, secretary, and Wesley Park, treasurer.
In the fall of 1872 a brick building was begun on the north side of Seventh
street opposite the court yard. In October a storm ruined the structure and
bankrupted the lodge. The charter was returned and the members disbanded.
A new charter was granted January 17, 1882, as Mentor Lodge No. 591,
and on January 30th of the same year the lodge was instituted. The first
officers were: F. T. Zimmerman, noble grand; P. Noel, vice grand; W. H.
Rakestraw. secretary, and G. W. Gordon, treasurer. The lodge at this date
has one hundred and fifteen memliers, and is officered by the following :
Kent Provines, noble grand; Lester Cobler. vice grand; E. C. Altenburg,
recording secretary ; J. F. Baughman, financial secretary ; F. E. Draggoo,
treasurer; A. A. Rowland, trustee. The lodge owns its hall and equipment.
St. Joe Lodge No. 671, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, was char-
tered on March 18, 1891, with the following as charter members: William
Curie, John Y. Davis. James K. Stafford, J. R. Culbertson, Sol Barney and
L. L. Stanton. At present there are one hundred and three members. The
officers are: Jay Rickets, noble grand; Ray Herrick. .secretary; W. A. G.
Smith, treasurer ; Fred Reeder, vice grand ; Frank Kinsey, financial secretary.
Sol Barney, of this lodge, is district deputy grand master for DeKalb county,
having held the office for fifteen years. St. Joe Valley Lodge No. 505, Re-
bekahs, was chartered on January 16, 1896.
Garrett Lodge No. 602, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, was in-
stituted August 29. 1883, with T. C. Sargent as nnT)le grand: H. M. Rick-
314 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA.
nell, as vice grand; Charles \Y. Camp, as secretary, and B. D. Thomas, as
treasurer. The present enrolhnent numbers two hundred and thirty-five men.
The hall was remodeled in 1901, and now has a valuation of twelve thousand
dollars. The charter members of the order were : Charles W. Camp, T. C.
Sargent. A. H. Philips, Thomas H. Stewart, Charles S. Stewart, H. M. Bick-
nell, B. D. Thomas, H. F. Sembower, Lyman Lockwood and Heniy Schelter.
The present officers are : Howard Ross, noble grand : J. L. Ghrum, vice
grand I ^\'illiam Watson, secretary; S. D. Johnston, treasurer: G. W. Rowe,
trustee.
Butler Lodge No. 282, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, was insti-
tuted May 22, 1867, and the five charter members were: Leonard P. Water-
house, Jacob Apple, John T. Champion, William Macartney and Warren
Closson. There are now one hundred and twenty-four members. The elec-
tive officers are : Jacob Farner, noble grand ; William Tefft, vice grand ; C. A.
Engles, recording secretary; S. G. Stone, treasurer; Charles IMumaw, finan-
cial secretary. There is also a lodge of the Rebekahs in Butler.
Butler Encampment No. 160, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, was
established on March 17, 1S84, with seven charter members.
Waterloo Lodge No. 221, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, was or-
ganized in Waterloo, DeKalb county, in i860. There are now about ninety-
five members, and the elective officers are: O. B. Arthur, noble grand;
Henry Shultz, vice grand; D. E. Newcomer, recording secretary; R. W.
McBride, financial secretary, and C. J. Myer, trustee.
Ashley Lodge No. 829, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, has twenty-
five members, and w-as organized by Sol Barney, of St. Joe. The present offi-
cers are: Arthur C. Wolfe, noble grand; Ira Moortorfi^, secretary; C. S.
Thomson, treasurer, and Thomas Robinett,' vice grand.
GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC.
DeLong Post No. 67, Grand Army of the Republic, was organized and
chartered at Auburn on Mav 8, 1882. The charter memloers were: Henry
C. Peterson. P. W. Silber, George W. Gordon, Michael Ensley, Henry Wolf,
John Otto. Ezra D. Hartman, J. J. Littlefield, John A. Cowan, H. E. Alten-
burg, Adolph Pairan, C. P. Houser, Fred Abel and William Schneider. The
post was named in honor of Colonel Solomon DeLong, of the One Hundred
and Twenty-ninth and Forty-fourth Indiana Volunteer Infantry. The past
commanders have been : Nicholas G. Ensley, Phillip Noel, John Otto, A. P.
Green, Joseph Ranier, J. O. Davidson, D. C. IMarvin, Robert Simpson, Joseph
DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 3I5
Davidson at present, and on Januan^ i, 19 14, O. H. Widnc}' assumes the
office of commander. In December, 19 13, there are forty-three living mem-
bers of the DeLong Post. A special room has been provided for the veterans
in tlie new DeKalb county court house, a room in which will also be kept the
records and relics of the post.
John C. Carnes Post No. 144. at St. Joe, was organized in March, 1883,
and named after the first man killed from Concord township in the Civil war.
Carnes was killed at Paducah, Kentucky, while mounting a cannon. There
were about thirty-six charter members, and the post was organized in the
hall over Jacob D. Leighty's store. Leighty was the first commander of the
post. They remained in the hall until about 1889, when they occupied the
hall over the St. Joe Valley bank. In 191 o a monument was erected in the
cemetery, commemorating the heroes of "61. This monument is twenty-two
feet six inches in height, cost twenty-two hundred and sixteen dollars, and
was dedicated on May 30, 1912.
Charles Ca.se Post No. 233 existed at Garrett, but has been disbanded.
The post was organized in 1883.
Waterloo Post No. 52 was mustered in March, [882, and is still existent,
with a good membership.
Meade Post No. 44, at Butler, was mustered in February. 1882, w ith C.
S. Stov as commander.
CHAPTER XVIII.
MISCELLANEOUS.
PATENT MEDICINES.
The reign of the patent medicine king was high during the fifties and
sixties. Newspapers were filled with florid and startling advertisements advo-
cating the various "sure cures." Townsend's Sarsaparilla. Helmbold's Ex-
tract of Buchu, Warner's Safe Kidney Cure, Black Draught. Wine of Cardui.
Wistar's Balsam of Wild Cherry, Dr. Guysott's Improved Extract of Yellow
Dock and Sarsaparilla. were among those most extensively advertised.
MARKET PRICES IN THE FIFTIES.
Sixty years ago sugar sold sixteen pounds for one dollar. Cofifee was
fourteen cents a pound. Molasses was thirty-seven cents a gallon. Tobacco
was from ten to seventy-five cents a pound. The Auburn market in Septem-
ber, 1856, quoted the following: Flour, per barrel, six dollars and a half;
wheat, per bushel, one dollar : corn, per bushel, thirty-one cents ; rye, per
bushel, fifty cents; oats, i>er bushel, twenty-five cents; flaxseed, per bushel,
one dollar; potatoes, per bushel, sixty-two and a half cents; butter, per pound,
twelve and a half cents; eggs, per dozen, eight cents; timothy seed, per
bushel, one dollar and a half; clmer seed, per bushel, six dollars.
MARKET PRICES OF I913.
Of interest to the reader of a score of years hence w ill be the prevailing
prices of the DeKalb county markets in 19 13. Prices at this period fluctuate
considerably, due to the restricting action of corporations and trusts. \Vheat
sells for ninety- four cents per hundredweight; corn, eighty cents, and oats,
thirty-seven cents. Timothy seed sells for two dollars per bushel ; potatoes,
fifty to sixty cents per bushel ; onions, ninety cents to one dollar a bushel ; eggs,
thirty cents a dozen ; butter, twenty-five to twenty-eight cents ; apples, eighty
cents to one dollar per bushel: fowls of all kinds, around twelve cents per
pound.
DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 7,1 J
pioneers' association of DEKALB COUNTY.
Not until the year 1878 were steps taken by the old settlers of DeKalb
county to organize into a band to perpetuate the memories of the early days.
The first meeting was appointed for July 4, 1878, at Auburn, at the celebra-
tion there of Independence day. The committee of arrangements for this
day comprised G. W. Gordon, R. H. W'eamer, Henry Bashelier, John Leas-
ure, L. J. Hopkins and T. ]\lills. Dr. Ford was chosen president; T. C.
Mays, officer of the day The following committee of old settlers was ap-
pointed to arouse interest in their respective localities : Butler township,
Peter Simmons; Jackson, Alexander Provines and Henry Feagler; Concord,
J. F. Coburn; Newville, B. E. Blair; Stafford, Henry Dickerhoff; Wilming-
ton, Samuel Headley; Union, John Butt, S. Bassett, S. W. Ralston, Major S.
W. Sprott, D. Altenburg, J. O. P. Sherlock and George Ensley; Richland,
James Goetschius; Fairfield, George Emerick: Smithfield, E. R. Shoemaker;
Franklin, George P. Firestone ; Troy, Samuel Learned ; Keyser, O. C. Clark.
T. D. Gross was named as superintendent.
A good representation of the pioneers was present on the day appointed,
and after the Fourth of July exercises they met to organize. T. D. Gross
called the meeting to order. James R. Cosper was chosen president and T.
D. Gross, secretary. The following resolution was immediately adopted by
those present :
"Resolved, That when this meeting adjourns, it will adjourn to meet at
Auburn, September 12, 1878, and that all who were citizens of the county
prior to January i, 1846, are cordially invited to attend and participate in
the meeting."
On motion, a committee of two from each township was appointed 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 ; Jack-
son, A. D. Goetchius and Henry Brown; Newville, B. F. Blair and John
Plattner; Concord, Samuel Wasson and J. Rhodes; Stafford, C. B. Wane-
maker and C. L. Thomas ; Wilmington, George Egnew and Nathan Mathews ;
Union, T. D. Gross and Miles Waterman; Keyser, O. C. Clark and William
Embra ; Richland, G. Showers and Thomas Dailey ; Fairfield, W. Childs and
P. Gushwa; Smithfield, R. J. Daniels and Jerry Hemstreet; Franklin, John
N. Clark and John Hammond ; Troy, William Emerson and John Stearns.
3l8 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA.
FIRST MEETING.
On the I2th of September the meeting was held at Auburn. Major S.
W. Sprott was appointed chairman, and T. C. Mays, secretary. Nelson Pren-
tiss, of Noble county, was present, and was called upon to suggest a way to
proceed to organize an old settlers' association, which he did after the man-
ner 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 officers were elected for the year: Elder S. B. Ward,
president; P. B. Nimmons, vice-president; W. H. Dills, secretary; Cyrus
Bowman, treasurer; J. E. Rose, biographer and librarian. Articles of asso-
ciation were drawn up, in which it was stated that the association was to be
called the Pioneers' Association of DeKalb County, Indiana. Persons who
had been residents of the county before January i, 1846, were eligible to
membership.
Those in attendance at this first meeting, and the date of their settle-
ment is given in the following: William Smith, May, 1836; Samuel Wasson,
December, 1833; S. D. Long, March, 1845; J. E. Rose, October, 1836; Sam-
uel Headly, September, 1836; Philip Gushwa, March, 1845; S. B. Ward,
January, 1842; William Carr, February, 1839; J. D. McAnnally, September,
1840; N. H. Matthews, October, 1839; C. P. Coleman, December, 1842; R.
Culbertson, October, 1843; P- G. Daniels, January, 1837'; P. B. Nimmons,
August, 1844; N. Griffith, April, 1839; James Draggoo, October, 1841 ; A. D.
Goetschius, June, 1836; Paul Long, February, 1841 ; John Hogue, June,
1842; D. McDaniel, June, 1843; Isaac Diehl, June, 1843; A. J. Ralston,
December, 1842; James Johnson, August, 1844; N. Ensley, October, 1841 ;
J. E. Shilling, April, 1845 ; G. W. Gordon, October, 1841 ; Henry Clark, Octo-
ber, 1842; O. C. Clark, October, 1842; J. C. Wells, June, 1844; D. Alten-
burg, November, 1837; R. B. Showers, February, 1839; W. Jacques, October,
1845; Thomas D. Daily, March, 1841; Levi J. Walsworth, November, 1837;
C. Bowman, October, 1839; Henry Feagler, September, 1836; M. Whetsel,
May, 1837; John McClellan, October, 1844; J. H. Ford, November, 1844; A.
Blodgett, August, 1842; Peter Treesh, October, 1842; Henry A. Shull, Sep-
tember, 1844; David Weaver, August, 1838; A. S. Casebeer, September,
1837; G. W. Husselman, May, 1845; Abraham Eakwright, September, 1836;
D. Z. Hoffman, May, 1845; J. C. Somer, August, 1841 ; S. W. Sprott, July,
1840; T. D. Gross, March, 1841 ; Guy Plum, June, 1843; Henry Willis, Octo-
ber, 1843; Charles Gillett, October, 1843; Cornelia P. Cole, June, 1842;
Sarah Bowman, March, 1841 ; Eliza Wason, September, 1837; Caroline
DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 3I9
Whetsel, September, 1841 ; M. J. Husselman, October, 1845; Anna McDaniel,
May, 1843; Mary Siebert, August, 1836; Maria Ingman, August, 1836;
Almira Martin, May, 1836; S. A. Griffith, November, 1839; Anna Kline,
August, 1841 ; Mary McClellan, August, 1841 ; Rachel Treesh, October, 1842.
OTHER MEETINGS.
Interest continued unabated through the years, and today the ranks of
the old settlers are still in formation. Thinning rapidly, it is true, but those
who stand, remain stanch and sturdy for the record of the old time. Meet-
ings are held every year at different points in the county, and interest never
wanes. Orators and music enliven these gatherings, and a stimulus is pro-
vided, productive of happiness to the aged man who meets there his brother.
In time these first pioneers will all be departed from this earth, but their
deeds and lives are perpetuated, not alone by the workings of the pioneers'
association, but by the children who survive them and treasure carefully the
records. The last meeting of this association was held at Waterloo, DeKalb
county, on June 19, 1913.
WOLF BOUNTY.
Two dollars a scalp once was paid for wolf scalps, providing the animal
was over six months of age, and one dollar was paid for the scalp if the ani-
mal was under that age. Wolves had become so numerous that this pro-
vision was necessary. Farm stock was continually in danger from the nightly
marauders, and consequently a concerted effort was made by the farmers of
the county to exterminate the annoying animal Wolf hunting was a great
sport of the pioneer days, and parties of men, with their dogs, would hunt
from sunrise to sundown, and come in to warm by the merry tavern fire and
relate the day's experiences to the stay-at-homes. The sport was a lucrative
one, also, as the bounty was high.
FIRST CIRCUS.
The first record of a circus in DeKalb county was in June, 1852, at
Auburn, when Orney & Company were granted permission to exhibit within
the limits of the corporation without payment of a license tax. The wagons
were driven overland, and people lined the highway into town to see the
circus caravan appear. Much excitement prevailed, and practically all of
Auburn and most of the county population crowded under the one canvas
to witness the performance.
320 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA.
LOG VALUES IN 1 854.
A log twelve feet four inches long, two feet through at the top end, of
black walnut, sold for one dollar and thirty cents; of poplar, one dollar and a
quarter, and of oak, one dollar. The black walnut commanded a cash pay-
ment, but the others were for half cash and half goods.
POPULATION OF COUNTY BY DECADES.
In 1840 DeKalb county had a population of approximately 3,000; in
1850, 8,000; in i860, 13,880; in 1870, 17,167; in 1880, 20,225; in 1890,
24,307; in 1900, 25,711; in 1910, 25,054.
<^^0(^^n-- / v2^(>o '
,^0
u
BIOGRAPHICAL
JOHN EDGAR BUCHANAN.
Among the iiK-n of eanie-^l purpose and succt-ssful lite who have hon-
ored DeKalb county by their citizenship none is more ileserving of specific
mention in the annals of the county than J. Edgar Buchanan, whose death re-
moved from this locaHty one of its most enterprising and progressive citizens
and whose loss was widel\- niournt-d throughout tliis section of the state.
J. Edgar Buchanan, well known as the edilDr and manager of the
Auburn Dispatch and the Auburn Evening Star and general manager of the
Auburn Printing Company, was born on March 25, 1868, in Fairfield town-
ship, DeKalb county, Indiana, and his death occurred at Evanston, Illinois,
on July 27, 19 1 3. He was the youngest son of Albert and Hannah E.
(Potts) Buchanan and came of a family that had been prominent in DeKalb
county from an early day. The subject's parents had come to this count)-
from Holmes county, Ohio, in 1854, and had taken a i)rominent and active
part in the early development of this localil\-. Tin subject's boyhood days
were spent on the pioneer fami in Fairfield township, and as soon as old
enough he helped in the arduous laljors of the farm, liis education being re-
ceived in the common schools of that locality. After completing the common
school course he entered Hillsdale College, at Hillsdale, Michigan, to which
city his parents had moved in order to give him this educational advantage.
However, after studying in that institution for two years, he was afflicted
with a severe illness which undermined his iiealth to such an extent that he
never fully recovered from the effects. The family then returned to the
home farm, where Mr. Buchanan in a measure recovered his health so that
he engaged in teaching school for a number of years, serving rme year as
principal of the Waterloo high school. In llie fall >>( 1800 Mr. Buchanan
took up his residence in Auburn and entered the law firm of J. K. Rose &
Son, with whom he pursued the study of law until ins .ulmission to the bar on
December 2, 1892. He was intenselv ambitious and gave promise of a
(21)
322 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA.
splendid career in the legal profession, but again his hopes and ambitions
were disappointed because of his already undermined health,, and for two
years he again followed the vocation of school teaching at Altona and Gar-
rett, filling the position of superintendent of the Garrett city schools for
awhile. However, the pedagogical profession did not appeal to him as a life
work and he turned his attention to the field of journalism, in which he began
a series of investigations which eventually resulted in the purchase of the
Albion New Era from j. P. Prickett, taking possession of the plant in
September, 1895. Though without previous experience in this specific line
of efiforts, his natural ability and progressive ideas enabled him to so direct
and control the business that it grew and flourished and Mr. Buchanan estab-
lished his home at Albion, thinkint^- at that time that be wrmld make .\lliion
his permanent residence. Ho\\e\er, when the plant of the Aiihuni Dispatch
and the Evening Dispatch wa'^ iilaceil upon the market at receiver's sale, a de-
sire to be near his people and liis old friends bore u]ion him so strongly that
on Januarv i, 1903, he became owner of the liusiness. which, under his guid-
ance and direction, grew to be one of the best newspaper plants in DeKalb
county and now stands as a monument to his memory. When he first came
to .\uljurn to take charge of tlic Ini^ines^, tlie family remained in Mhiini in
charge of the business there until it could be disjiosed of, they removing to
Auburn on April i.st following. iMr. l^uchanan organized the Auburn Print-
ing Companv, a company formed b\- the consolidation of the Aiihiiru Evening
Dispatch and /iiiburn Daily Courier, now being ])ublished as the Evening
Star, of which he was chief owner, secretary and treasurer and general
manager, and be remained at the head of the newspaper business in this city
until his death, directing his affairs with ability and discretion and showing
that he had a natural aptitude for the profession to which he had turned.
Since coming here his whole life and soul were given to the upbuilding of
the institution which he felt was to provide for himself and family a modest
heritage. He really loved his work and one of his greatest pleasures was
to watch the growth of the business and the daily rewards of work well done.
Personallv. Mr, Buchanan was a man of uncompromising honesty and in-
tegritv of cbaracter, his sterling qualities of manhood and genial disposition
giving him an enviable standing among his fellow citizens of DeKalb county.
A graceful and at the same time a forceful writer, his editorial utterances
were influential and alwavs on the right side of every moral or civic question
affecting the welfare of the people generally. He was a man of honest con-
victions on the- great public questions nf the day, and when once convinced
UEKALB COUNTY. INDIANA. 323
that he was right, nothing could swerve him from tlie course he had decided
upon.
On June 21, i8<)i, Mr. i'uchaiian was married to Nellie 1). Brecbili. who
was born and reared in Smithtield township, and to them was born a son.
Verne E. Buchanan.
J. Edgar Buchanan was not only esteemed iiecause of the large business
success to which he had attained in Auburn, but was also considered a man
of unusual moral fiber, standing for all that was good in the community,
no movement for the advancement of his fellow citizens along material,
moral, religious or educational development appealing to him for assistance
in vain. He was unselfish in his attitude toward local affairs and gave his
material assistance to man\- enterprises. Thu'- at the time of liis death he
was not only general manager of the .\nl)nrn Printing Company, publishing
the Auburn Ifispalcb.. the .hilvini Courier and the nz'ciiiiic/ Star, but was a
member of the board of directors of the Zimmerman Manuf.actnring Com-
pany, the Auburn Post Card Company and president of the .Xuliurn Build-
ing and Loan Association, as well as an active and influential member of the
Auburn Commercial Club, while his social relations were with the lotlge of
Knights of Pythias at Cnrunna, this count)-. No Cdiiimunitx- can .-ifford to
lose such men as Mr. Buchanan, for he had i;irnestly and faithfully
endeavored to do his part as a man among men and. without boasting or
ostentation, he steadily pursued his course, doing well whatexer he turned
his hand to, gaining not onlv materi.al prosperity, but that which was more
to be desired, the commendation and .-ipprov;d of his fellow citizens.
CHARLES ECKHART.
The following sketch tells of a boyhood whose strengtli was developed
by overcoming obstacles; of young nianhnod, when the path to future success
was only dimly to be seen; of middle life, when the earlier da\s of diligent
and sustained effort, tenacity of purpose, rugged honesty and thrift began to
bear fruit; of the full manhood, when the rewards have come, and are ix-ing
used for the furtherance of noble causes. A simple recital of Mr. Eckhart's
career, without attempt at eulogy. ma\- well encourage and inspire others to
follow by the same road of hard work and honest purpose to the success that
may be won.
Charles Eckhart was born Eebruary 24, 1841. at tlermantown. I'ennsyl-
324 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA.
vania, and is a son of John and Charlotte (Fraley) Eckhart. His boyhood
was spent at Fisher's Hollow, now a part of Germantow n. There, at the age
of eight years, he began helping his father spool yarn, his father being a
weaver. Of schooling he had only a year and a half, and tlnat in schools that
were far short of the present standard. When he was fifteen years old the
family moved into Philadelphia, and there he found employment in a woolen
mill where they made fancy goods, his father being also employed in the same
mill. In the fall of 1857 a panic spread over the business world, causing the
woolen mill to shut down and the lad started out to seek his fortune else-
where. He had only three dollars in his pocket, and he did not spend that
on auto, carriage nor railway. He walked. The first day he covered fifteen
miles. He got supper, bed and breakfast at a taxern, and it cost him se\enty-
five cents, one-fourth of his cash capital. :\nother day of fifteen miles and
he came to Hilltown, Bucks county, Pennsyh-ania, where he found a chance
at learning his chosen trade, carriage making, it was a hunihle little shop,
and he was engaged two weeks on trial. After two weeks he made a bargain
with his employer to serve two and one-half years for board and washing,
with three weeks off in harvest time so he' could earn monev for clothes. The
next summer he laid off at harvest time, but went into Philadelphia and got a
job at four dollars per week, while he boarded at home. .At the end of four
weeks he had sixteen dollars, for he had saved everv cent. Returning to his
employer at Hilltown, he asked for a new agreement, for he saw he could not
clothe himself and meet his obligations at that rate. The employer would not
consent to a better arrangement, so the young man left him, first paying all
his small debts: he ne\-er left a place without settling e\er\- cent he owed.
After a thirteen-mile walk he took the train to Xew York city, where he spent
a week vainly looking for work. hVom there he went to Albany, where he had
relatives, but he failed to find them. Returning to New York city he then
went on foot to Trenton, New Jersey, seeking work on the way. From there
he went by boat to Philadelphia, where his parents were residing", and finally
found work in a dye house at two dollars per week, working seven days a
week. He remained there all winter and the following spring secured a posi-
tion with D. R. Mover, \\hi) had liought the carriage shojj at Hilltown. Mr.
Eckhart was to work for Moyer one year under Mo}-er's instructions, .\fter
six months he bought release from the original agreement and worked by the
piece. He worked often from four in the nionnng. putting in as many as
sixteen hours a daw Six months later Mr. Moyer failed in business. Mr.
Eckhart, who was then a boy of only eighteen \ears, had saved a few dollars.
DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 325
and also had some wages due him. Boy, though he was, he bought the stock
in trade, giving his personal note for the balance. Being a comparative
stranger and without financial backing did not destroy his credit, for all knew
his industry and he had shown that he was honest. This is evidenced by the
fact that he had a credit enabling him to go into debt in the amoimt of eight
hundred dollars.
At the breaking out of the Civil war business became dull in his line, '
and, like thousands of others. Mr. Kckharl enlisted to fight for the Union.
On September 6, 1861, he joined Company A. One Hundred Fourth Regi-
ment, Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, under Capt. E. L. Rogers and Col.
W. H. H. Davis. He was made fourth sergeant at once. The time until
November was spent at Doylestown and then till March, 1862, at Washington,
D. C, drilling every day but Sunday. In March they went as part of Mc-
Clellan's army to Alexandria and then by transports to Newport News, Vir-
ginia, arriving the day after the historic battle between the "Monitor" and the
"Merrimac."' They helped in the siege of Yorktown and when the rebels
evacuated that place they took part in the battle of Williamsburg. Following
the rebels to their final stand at IvTir Oaks, or Seven Pines, the battle of
Fair Oaks was fought May 31 and June i, rSr>2. In that l)loody battle the
One Hundred Fourth Regiment and tiieir brigade lost more men than any
other regiment or brigade in the battle. 'J'hey were in the Seven Days re-
treat, when, late in June, they were driven out of their position near Richmond
and fell back, fighting all the way for seven days, .\fter reaching Harrison's
Landing they remained about a month. .-Vbandoning that position, the army
went on toward Fortress IMonroe and to the battle of Antietam, but the One
Hundred Fourth Regiment and their brigade was ordered to Gloucester
Point and there did guard duty till January, 1863. From there they went on
an expedition down through the Carolinas. May 20. 1863. Mr. Eckhart was
discharged on account of physical disability, at Hilton Head. South Carolina.
At the time of his discharge he ranked as first sergeant.
In the fall of 1863, Mr. Eckhart went to Morris Island, South Carolina.
and hired out as a sutler's clerk, and for a time was in business for himself
as a. sutler. After eleven months he returned to Philadelphia, in September,
1864, visited a relative near Waterloo, Indiana, and it was then that he made
the acquaintance of the one who later became his wife and the mother of
his children. In February, 1865, he enlisted as first sergeant in the Two
Hundred Thirteenth Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, and did guard dut\
near Washington, in Maryland and Virginia, until November 24. 1865, re-
326 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA.
maining in service about six months after the war. He next entered the
Bryant & Stratton Business College, at Philadelphia, but, not having enough
money to carry him through, he left before completing his course, and in the
spring of 1866 went to work at his trade at Norristown, Pennsylvania. In
the fall of 1866 he came to Indiana to visit his uncle at Waterloo. We may
also infer that he made other interesting visits in that neighborhood, for he
secured a position at his trade in Kendallville and on October 31, 1866, was
united in marriage with Barbara Ellen Ashelman, who resided near Water-
loo. She was a daughter of John U. Ashelman, an early pioneer of this
county, who is spoken of elsewhere in this work.
In the spring of 1867, Mr. Eckhart mo^-etl to Auburn, anrl aliout the
first of July was promised a good situation at his trade in Chester county,
Pennsylvania, to which place he moved at once. There his first son, Frank
E., was born on October 9, 1867. Two weeks after the birth of their first
child the family moved to a place in Montgomery county, Pennsylvania,
where Mr. Eckhart engaged in partnership with D. R. Moyer, his old em-
ployer. After one }Tar Mr. Moyer withdrew and Mr. Eckhart continued
in business for himself at that place until October, 1874. LXn-ing their
residence there, three other children were born, Annie, born January 22,
1869; Morris, born March 25, 1871, and William, born January 18, 1873.
In the fall of 1874, business was at a very low ebb all over the country.
Mr. Eckhart sold out and moved Ijack to Auburn, at which place he has made
his home ever since. For a time he could not find regular employment and
took any kind of honest work he could find. He was virtually obliged to
go into business to provide employment. He began in a small way, at
first in the parlor of his home on East Seventh street, making a few carriages.
That house is now the office of the Eckhart Carriage Company. He Iniilt
a small shop nearby, a stnicture eighteen by twenty-four feet, two stories
high, and in tliat building, in March, 1875, started what is tiie Eckhart
Carriage Company of today. Fortunately for Mr. Eckhart, he had already
•acquired a thorough and practical knowledge of every branch of carriage
making except blacksmithing, and he was his own master mechanic. From
the time his little boys were eight years old, he required them to help as they
could when not at school. From the start he always insisted on the best
of workmanship and strict honesty in his business. Perhaps a customer
had a vehicle in which a defect of workmanship would develop, all un-
noticed by the customer: Mv. Eckhart would not wait until the customer
would see it, if his practiced eye had detected the fault. He would call
DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 327
the customer in and tix the defect free of charge. His goods soon estal)Hshed
a reputation for being built and sold on honor. The business grew, and on
an average of once in two years since then it has been necessary to enlarge
the plant. Continued inipnixcnieuts lia\e l)eeu made in the constructive
appliances of the plant, and the buildings are arranged with the purpose of
handling the work through different stages of construction in a systematic
and economical manner. The plant is located along the Vandalia railway
and has its own private track. Their business has grown from the limited
start in a private residence to one that employes a large number of skilled
workmen, with a force of traveling salesmen, and has built nearly five thou-
sand vehicles in a year.
About 1902 the carriage company began, in an experimental way, to
make automobiles, having already at hand most of the needed m.achinery,
appliances and the organization to successfully launch such a business. After
about three years they erected a building near the carriage factory, two stories
high, sixty feet wide and one hundred feet long, using the lower floor for
auto making. By 1906 their automobile business was well able to stand alone
and required larger quarters. They bought a factoiy building and grounds
along the Vandalia tracks in Aulnirn. and installed their machinery. They
assembled an organization of skilled workmen and liegan ojDeration at the
present location October i, 1906. They have not ad\ertised extensively, but
have depended upon the same methods that made their carriage factory a suc-
cess, striving for economic efficiency of system in carrying on the various
operations, but. above all, insisting on honest quality in everything. Now
their business has reached about two million dollars a year, and Auburn auto-
mobiles are sold in about one-half the states of the Union, every car being a
good advertisement for the factory.
About 1893 Mr. Eckhart retired from the active management, leaving
his son, Frank Eckhart. in charge of the carriage factory. The sons having
had practical experience from early childhood, and each one master of at
least two trades, they are better fitted for their responsibilities than many an
older man, whose experience was not so thorough and ])ractical in the forma-
tive period of life. They understand the practical details of their line of
business from top to bottom, and have both been of great assistance in build-
ing up the Eckhart plants at Auburn. It is a source of great satisfaction to
Mr. Eckhart that his sons, trained by him for their careers, have developed
their talents so well, and are so com])etent, for he knows he need not fear for
the business wath them in charge. They have managed in a way to merit the
328 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA.
hearty approval which he gladly accords them. Since retiring from business
Mr. Eckhart has traveled in every state in the Union except one, and spends
his winters usually in California, but occasionally in Florida. Although he
is comparatively free from business cares and has ample means, he is not an
idler, but uses his energy, time and money in any cause that is for the general
good of his fellow men. He has been active in politics, but not with hope of
pecuniary reward. He lias for full thirt}' years supported the Prohibition
party, for the good he can do in promoting the cause of temperance. He
has campaigned for the party with his name on the ticket as a candidate for
any office, having run for the lowest office on the ticket up to the highest in the
state, for he was the party cantlidate for governor in lyoo. He has cam-
paigned actively, speaking ail over Indiana, never at the expense of the partv,
but freely paying all his expenses and contrihutini;- of his money to help the
cause.
In religious belief he is a member of the .\dvent Christian churcli (not
Seventh-Day .\dventist) and has been a tower of strength in the dcnonn'na-
tion. He has gi\-en lil)erally for denominational and educational work,
especially for the benefit of the Ad\-ent Christian College of .\urora, Illinois.
In recognition of his help so freely given, the main Iniikling of the institution
is named Eckhart Hall. Considering that he has succeeded so well with such
meager schooling as he had, one might expect him to esteem schools but
lightly, but he does not do so. He beliexes e\ery child is better off with
schooling, at least u]) to high school, and higher uhere a professional life is
contemplated.
In Auburn Mr. Eckhart has been ahvays ready to help in whatever he
considers for the general welfare of the community. He is a member of the
DeKalb county board of charities and corrections, and is also a member of the
county council. He contributes lil)erall}- to the churches of Auliurn. and one
of his benefactions that .Auburn will ahvays remember with .gratitude is the
Eckhart Public Libraiy. He was a member of the Auburn pul^lic library
board when the library was in an upstairs room south of the court house.
Recognizing that it was inadequate, the board decided to seek subscriptions
and ask Mr. Carnegie to contribute liberally. Mr. Carnegie agreed to con-
tribute twelve thousand fi\e hundred dollars, but later Mr. Eckhart agreed to
purchase the ground where the library is now, present it to the city and build
the library. Dr. Lida Leasure wrote Mr. Carnegie to the effect, and received
from Mr. Carnegie a reply saying in part: "Let me congratulate Auburn
upon having such a citizen as Mr. Eckhart. I should like to shake him by the
DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 329
hand as a fellow worker in a good cause. Happy man, who can console him-
self through life with the thought that because he lived one little spot on
earth has been made better than it was before. I wish him long life and
happiness." A more extended description of the library and grounds will be
found elsewhere in this work. It is said by competent authorities that there
is probably nowhere to be fnunci a finer nor Ijetter equipped library for its size
than the Eckhart Library of .Auljurn. Flis aim in every stage of construction
was to have the best of material, design and workmanship, and he spared no
expense to make it so.
In 1912, Mr. Eckhart and his son Frank contriljutcd twenty thousand
dollars each with which to purchase llie ground and erect the ^'oung Men's
Christian Association building at Auburn. Since then they have each con-
tributed twenty-fi\e iumdred dollars additional, and will proljably ha\'e to
give as much more, making in all fifty tb.ou^and dullars for the grounds,
buildings and furnishings complete. An orgaiiizalinn of .\uburn business
men was formed to carry forward the work, and the liuikling erected at its
present location at the southeast curner of V'lixh and Main streets. .\ more
extended descri]ition of the building will be found un<ler the appropriate
heading.
Mr. Eckhart's first wife was called to rest on September lo, 1903. In
her childhood and youth she was innured to the prixations and hardships
incident to early settlement. She bore her share of the burdens of home life
when her husband's business was in its humble beginnings ; she was with him
as it grew to its later magnitude ; but no change in fortune e\'er made any
change in her ideal domestic character. She loved home and family, and her
constant purpose was to make the fireside attractive and to bring up her
children by precept and example to become worthy and useful members of
society. She was a member of the ;\dvent Christian church, in whose creed
she had full belief and confidence. On October r8, 1904, Mr. Eckhart mar-
ried Martha A. Hoffman, who was born near Carey, Ohio, and is a daughter
of Rev. J. H. and Margaret Hoffman. Her father was a Lutheran minister,
a graduate of Gettysburg College, a good Greek scholar, and preached in both
German and English. Although well educated and fitted for the more public
places of the cities, his earnestly devoted disposition led him to do missionar\-
work in out-of-the-way churches and among the poor. His daughter, now
Mrs. Eckhart, also has the disposition to do good for others and seconds her
husband in his philanthropies.
Of Mr. Eckhart's children. Erank E. Eckhart. who is manager of the
330 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA.
Eckhart Carriage Compan}-, married (irace Leiter and has three children,
George, Mary Ellen and Josephine. He has a beautiful home in Auburn, is
much like his father in his desire to use his money for good causes, and is a
member of the Methodist church. Morris Eckhart, who is at the head of the
Auburn Auto Company, is a keen, active business man, and has one of the
finest residences in northeastern Indiana. He married Ada Mclnterfer, of
Waterloo, and has one daughter, Ruth. William Eckhart, who is at Los
Angeles, California, with the Shugers Manufacturing Company, makers of
automobile tops, married Nettie Willis, daughter of Moses B. Willis, of
Auburn, Indiana, and they have a son, Charles W., and a daughter, Edith.
Annie is the wife of George W. Shugers, of Auburn, who is now proprietor
of the Shugers Manufacturing Company at Los Angeles. They have no
children of their own, but are rearing a bright little girl named Clara.
JOHN ZIMMERMAN.
The character of a community is determined in a large measure by the
lives of a comparatively few of its members. If its moral and intellectual
status be good, if in a social way it is a pleasant place in which to reside, if
its reputation for the integrity of its citizens has extended into other localities,
it will be found that the standards set by the leading men have been high and
their influence such as to mold the characters and shape the lives of those with
whom they mingle. In placing John Zimmerman in the front rank of such
men, justice is rendered a biographical fact universally recognized through-
out the locality which is honored by his citizenship. Although a quiet and
unassuming man, with no ambition for public position or leadership, he has
contributed much to the material, civic and moral advancement of this com-
munity, while his admirable ciualities of head and heart and the straight-
forward course of his daily life have won for him the esteem and confidence
of the circles in which he moves.
John Zimmerman was born at Leo, Allen county, Indiana, on January
17, 1868, and he' is the son of lilias and Mary (P5ittenger) Zimmerman, who
are represented elsewhere in this work. In the fall of 1875 tbe familv re-
moved to Auburn, where the subject has since resided. He secured his edu-
cation in the public schools, though from the age of nine years he began
to work in the Zimmerman factory, when not in school. After completing
the high school course at Auburn, Mr. Zimmerman received preparation for
DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 33 1
his future career by attending a business college at Ft. Wayne. In April,
1886, he permanently identihed himself with the factory, in the affairs of
which he has since been a prominent figure. At the age of twelve years he
had been placed in charge of the engine room, where he had worked hard, a
part of his duties consisting in firing the boiler with green saw-dust. In
1886 he went into tlie office and took charge of the books, really acting as
secretar}', though not officially elected to that position until i88g, when he
had reached his majority. He has continued to act as secretary, and for
many years has also served as treasurer. In 1910, upon the death of his
brother, Franklin T., he was made general manager, and he is now discharg-
ing the multitudinous duties of these several offices, to the entire satisfaction
of all concerned.
The Zimmerman Mfg. Co. has had an interesting and successful career.
In 1873 Frankhn T. Zimmerman and a partner named Watson started a plan-
ing mill, in which they intended to manufacture building material. The fol-
lowing year Watson withdrew from the firm, selling his interest to George
B. Zimmerman, a brother of Franklin T. About 1876 their father, Elias
Zimmerman, bought the interests of George B., and the business was operated
under the name of the Zimmerman Company until December, 1886, when the
Zimmerman Mfg. Co. was incorporated, with the following officers: Presi-
dent, John W. Baxter ; secretary, Elias Zimmerman ; treasurer, Albert Rob-
bins ; general manager, F. T. Zimmerman. The planing mill was devoted to
the manufacture of church furniture for a few years, but about 1882 they
began the making of wind mills and tanks, in which they continued to be
successfully engaged until 1908, when these features of the business were
sold to the Celina Mfg. Co., of Celina, Ohio. In 1890 the Zimmerman Mfg.
Co. began the making of buggies, an industry that has been eminently success-
ful and which has steadily gro\\n in volume and importance, the otitput
amounting to about two thousand five hundred vehicles a year. In 1907 the
company began the manufacture of automobiles, in which also they have
met with pronounced success. The original building owned by the company
was about sixty feet by eighty feet in size, but the rapid and continuous in-
crease in the business has necessitated a number of additions and improve-
ments. In 1908 the first half of the present factory building was erected,
it being a substantial concrete structure, and in 1909 the other part was
built, as well as two other three-story buildings. The main building is two
hundred and eighty feet by sixty feet in size, and, with the other buildings,
provides about seventy-five thousand square feet of floor space. About
332 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. .
eighty men are constantly employed, most of whom are experts in their indi-
vidual lines. In the manufacture of automobiles, the company has turned
out a few very light cars, though the greater part of their output has been
of the four-cylinder type; they are now making a six-cylinder car, ranging
in price from sixteen hundred to twenty-three hundred dollars and which is
the equal of any similar-priced car on the market. Though the automobile
branch of the business has assumed extensive proportions, the buggy branch
of the business has not been allowed to languish, but is looked after care-
fully, both in the manufacture and sale. The jiresent officers of the Zimmer-
man Mfg. Co. are as follows: President, Elias Zimmerman; vice-president,
C. C. Schlatter, of Ft. Wayne ; secretary-treasurer and general manager, John
Zimmerman. In the splendid success which has characterized this company,
John Zimmerman has been an important factor, for he is a man of ackno\Nl-
edged business ability, sagacity anfl far-sightedness, who has won and retains
the confidence and respect nf ail whu have had dealings with him.
In the civic life of the conmninit)- J\lr. Zimmerman has taken an intel-
ligent interest and has cnntiibuted in a definite measure to the advancement
and improvement of the cit\-. In i8()S lie was elected a member of the town
biiard, while in looo he was elected a niemlicr of the city council and was
re-elected in ic)02, thus serving si.\ years. During this period many im-
portant improvements were made, including the electric light, water works
and the sewer system, while the paving of the streets was begun. Mr. Zim-
merman is a memljer of tlie Commercial Club and has been active in the work
Avithin its province.
On May 20, 1891, Mr. Zimmerman was united in marriage to Clara E.
Altenburg, the daughter of Henry Altenburg, and they are the parents of
three children, namely: Nellie, who graduated from the Auburn high school
in TQii ; Joseph, now a student in high school, and Lois, who is also in the
public school. Religiou.sly, Mr. Zimmerman and his family are members
of the Methodist Episcopal church, in which Mr. Zimmerman was superin-
tendent of the Sunday school for tliirteen years, or until his resignation in
1910. He and his family are popular in the social life of the comnumity.
and to the son Joe belongs the distinction of having originated tlie slogan
now used by the Commercial Club. The club offered a prize in the spring
of 1912 for the best slogan for Auburn, and the one suggested by Joe Zim-
merman, "Auburn Forever, with Honest Endeavor," was awarded the prize
and on March 26, 1912, was adopted as the slogan of the club. Personally,
John Zimmerman is a man of genial and kindly impulses, who easily makes
DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 333
friends, whom he always retains. He holds worthy prestige in business and
industrial circles, being regarded as distincti\ ely a man of affairs and wield-
ing a potent influence among those with wlium he associates.
MILO |. THOMAS.
The two most strongly marked characteristics of both the East and the
West are combined in the residents of tlie section of country of which this
vohime treats. The enthusiastic enterprise which oxerleaps all obstacles and
makes possible almost any undertaking in the comparatively new and vigor-
ous \\'estern states is here tempered by the stable and more careful policy
which we have borrowed from our Eastern neighbors, and the combination
is one of peculiar force and power. It has been the means of placing this
section of the country on a par with the older East, and at the same time pro-
ducing a reliability and certainty in business affairs which is frequently lack-
ing in tlie West. This happy coml)ination of characteristics is possessed by
the subject of this sketch, Milo J. Thomas, a leading citizen and successful
business man of Corunna, DeKalb count} , Indiana.
Milo J. Thomas, to whom the enterprising town of Corunna, DeKalb
county. Indiana, is largely indebted for its present prosperity, is a native of
the county in which he now lives, and was born on August 15, 1861. He is
a son of Daniel and Elizabeth (Reckenwalt) Thomas, both of whom were
natives of the state of Ohio, the father born at Louisville. Daniel Thomas
came to Indiana in an early day, settling in Richland township, where he fol-
lowed the \ocation of farming with splendid success until his retirement,
when lie mo\-ed to Corunna, where he now resides. Tlie subject of this sketch
and an older sister, .\lniira. who died in infancy, were the only children born
to him. Milo J. Thomas received his jireliminary education in the common
schools of DeKalb county, and then went to V'alparaiso University, this state,
where he attended one hundred and six weeks, and, thus well qualified, he
engaged in the pedagogical profession and for eight years was numbered
among the successful teachers of this locality, his summers being employed
as a clerk, in which he gained valual)le mercantile e.Kperience and familiarized
himself with l)usiness methods and ideas. In 1888 .Mr. Thomas engaged in
the general mercantile business at Corunna, carrying a general line of hard-
ware, lumber and farming implements, Jiis hardware stock including a well
selected line of heavy and shelf hardware, slows and ranges, ami in the con-
334 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA.
duct of this enterprise he seemed to have met a long-felt want, for his success
was notable from the beginning. This success was not accomplished without
much hard labor, indefatigable effort and a persistency that would brook no
obstacles, and twice during his business career he was visited by disastrous
fires, first on Alay g, 1889, and again on July 22, 1895, but, undaunted by
apparent disaster, Mr. Thomas at once rebuilt and restocked his new store
and has now the enviable reputation of owning the largest and best equipped
hardware and implement store in the state, the size of the town considered.
Among the hardware men of Indiana Mr. Thomas has long enjoyed a high
reputation, both because of his business success and because of his high stand-
ing as a man. and he was recently elected president of the Indiana Retail
Hardware Dealers' Association, an honor deserved Ijy him and thoroughly
appreciated. He was also chosen a delegate to the National Hardware Deal-
ers' Association, wliich convened at Jacksonville, Florida. On November
15, 1897, ^'it''- Th(.inias engaged in the lianking business under the name of
the Thomas P^xchange Bank, and in this enterprise his judgment was again
vindicated, for the Thomas E.Kchange I'.ank has grown in importance and
influence until loda\' it is mw of tiic leading banks of DeKalb county. It
also has the lioimr of being one of the fifteen hundred banks in the United
States which ha\e won a i)lace on the Roll of Honor, which means that the
surplus and undivided profits are greater than the capital stock. Mr. Thomas
is now president of the DeKalb County Bankers' Association, .-\lwa\s on
the lookout for an opportunity to advance local conditions, iMr. Thomas, in
1893. succeeded in getting telephone communication with the outside world
and the Corunna Telephone Exchange, which was established in 1897, be-
came one of the most popular pulilic utilities of this locality. Eventually
Mr. Thomas disposed of his interests in the same, Imt to him belongs the
credit for its establishment here. Mr. Thomas also for a number of years
held important interests in the Corunna Flouring Mills, and in many other
ways has been one of the most important and influential factors in the ad-
vancement of the commercial interests of this thriving town. Sound mental
powers, invincible courage and a determined purpose that hesitates at no
opposition has so entered into his composition a.-- to render him a dominant
factor in the business world and a leader of men. He is essentially a man
of affairs, of sound judgment, keen discernment, rare acumen, far-seeing in
what he uiidert-akes and every enterprise to which he has addressed himself
has resulted in liberal financial returns. His success in life has been the
legitimate fruitage of consecutive effort, directed and controlled by good
judgment and correct principles.
DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 335
On September 17, 1885, Mr. T1kiiii;is married X'esta Kline, the daugh-
ter of Henry J. and Ehnira S. (Harding) Khne. Mrs. Thomas'.s father was
born in Huron ct)unty, Ohio, and iier mother in DeKalb county, Indiana,
Ehnira Harding was a daughter of Dimmick Harding, who came from New
York state to DeKalb county, settling in Richlaml township. He became the
father of two children, Mrs. Thomas, who was born June 26, 1868, and
Archie, born in December, 1872, and who died at the age of one year. Henry
J. Kline came to DeKalb county at the age of twelve years with his parents,
John and Catherine ((Jeisler) Kline, who settled in Richland township, their
former home having been in Crawford county, Ohio, and he was married
to Elmira Harding in 1862. After the death of his first wife, Mr. Kline
married Elma Reynolds, the daughter of Nathaniel and Jeannette Reynolds,
who had come to DeKalb county from New ^"ork state. He died on July
I, 1909. To Mr. and Mrs. Thomas have been born fi\ e children, namely:
Harry K.. born March 24, 1887: Bertha M.. March 5. 1880; Charles A.,
July 16, i8t)4; Hugh A., July 27. 1896; Wilma. October 26, 1900. Hugh
A. Thomas was accidentally shot and killed by a companion on February 26,
1911.
Thus in I)rief ha\c been gi\en the leading facts in the eventful career
of a man whom Corunna honors as a successful !)usiness man, public-spirited
citizen and a man whose private life will stand the test of scrutiny. Finally,
in him there are combined the qualities of head and Iieart that win confidence
and beget friendship, and in the locality which has so long In-en honored I)y his
citizenship no one enjo}-s to a higher degree the good will of all know him.
MICHAEL KIPLINGER. JR.
Among the well known citizens of Waterloo, Indiana, who are num-
bered among the enterprising and progressive citizens of DeKall) county, is
Michael Kiplinger, Jr., who was born on April 20, 1846, in Ashland county,
Ohio, and is the son of Michael Kiplinger, Sr., and wife. The subject grew
to manhood in his native state, secured his education in the public schools
and then adopted the profession of teaching. He came to Waterloo and here
followed the pedagogical profession, having among his pupils Flora Den-
nison, the daughter of George and Eliza (Fenner) Dennison. On May 31,
1871, he and Flora Dennison were united in marriage and for a time there-
after he gave up teaching and became a salesman. Afterwards he took up
336 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA.
carpentering, which has been his chief occupation since, but he is a good
all around mechanic and has been employed at various lines of work. From
the time of his marriage he resided at Waterloo. He is a strong Democrat
in his political views, and for a time he took an active part in party work.
He was elected city clerk, which office he filled for three years. He has also
served as secretarv of the \(lrtlK■:l'^ter^ Indiana Agricultural Association
for five consecutive years. Tu him and his wife ha\e l)een horn si.x daugh-
ters, namely: Viola May, the wife of Frank Myers, nf Waterlno; Olive H.,
wife of Ralph L. Thomas, ex-sheriff of DaKalb count)-, wli, > lives at Auburn.
and who is represented elsewhere in this work; Orpha Estella, wife of a Mr.
Ladd, and after his death she became the wife of Rev. Browne, a minister of
the Evangelical church; Bertha Belle, the wife of Dr. J. E. Graham, a dentist
at Auburn ; Delia Matilda, the wife of Dr. C. L. Hine, a dentist at Tuscola,
Illinois; Cora Delilah, the wife of Albert Bogart, who lives at Albion, Mich-
igan. The mother of these children was born in Richland county, Ohio, on
October 29, 1851, and when a year old was taken by her parents to Wood
county, Ohio, where they lived until 1868, when they moved to Waterloo,
this county. She died on August 31, 1886, shortly liefore her thirty-fifth
birthday and when her oldest child was a girl of but fifteen years and the
youngest only three years old. Tiie father kept the children together, assisted
by his sister, for a year, or until the older children were able to keep house
and care for the younger ones. Mr. Kiplinger still resides at Waterloo, being
now sixty-seven years old, but is still actively engaged at his work. He is a
member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and because of his con-
sistent life and high personal character, he enjoys to a marked degree the
confidence and regard of all who know him.
COLONEL AUBREY L. KUHLMAN.
A due measure of success invariably results from clearly defined pur-
pose and consecutive effort in the affairs of life, but in following out the
career of one who has gained success by his own efforts there comes into
view the intrinsic individuality which makes such accomplishment possible.
Such attributes are evidently possessed by the subject of this sketch, who,
during all his manhood years, has been pronfinent in commercial and indus-
trial life, and who has impressed his personality upon the lives of all with
whom he has come in contact. He has always stood readv to identify him-
' -^^^.
<^4(^/Z^.-C-^
DEKALB COUNTV. INDIANA.
337
self with his fellow citizens in any good work and extend a co-operative hand
to advance any measure calculated to better the condition of things in his
community, that will give better government, elevate mankind, insure higher
standards of morality and the highest ideals of a refined, ennol^ling culture,
being a man of public spirit and correct conduct, aand eenjoying the confidence
and esteem of all who know him, by reason of these commendable character-
istics, coupled with a genial, gentlemanly address and a heart of charitable
and hospitable impulses. Indeed, no family in DeKalb county has been better
or more favorably known than that represented by the subject of this sketch,
the name Kuhlman standing for progress, ujM-ight manhood and loval pat-
riotism.
Aubrey Linden Kuhlman was born in Auburn, DeKalb count}-, Indiana,
on December 25, 1869, and is the .son of Enos and Amanda (Rhodefer)
Kuhlman. Enos Kuhlman was born at Canton, Stark county, Ohio, the son
of William and Mary (Hoover) Kuhlman, whose ancestors originally came
to this country from Germany. Enos Kuhlman was reared and educated at
Canton, and in young manhood came to Auburn, Indiana. At the outbreak
of the war of the Rebellion, Enos Kuhlman enlisted as a private in Company
K, One Hundred and Thirty-ninth Regiment Indiana Volunteer Infantry, in
which command one of his company comrades was VVinfield T. Durbin, ex-
governor of Indiana. Mr. Kuhlman rendered gallant and faithful service
to his country and at the conclusion of the war he returned to Auburn. Here
he became a salesman, travelin,£r th.e greater part of the time until 1890, when
he went to Mulhall, Oklahoma, where he has since been successfully engaged
in the general mercantile business.
Soon after his return from the army, Enos Kuhlman married Amanda
Lorena Rhodefer, who was born and reared near Auburn, the daughter of
Abraham and Elizabeth (Feagler) Rhodefer. Elizabeth Feagler was a
granddaughter of Henry Feagler, who was a captain in the war of 181 2,
and Colonel Kuhlman has now in his possession a military order addressed
to Captain Feagler at Frederickstown. Maryland, during that second war
with England. Abraham and Elizabeth Rhodefer came to DeKalb county
from Montgomery county, Ohio, in 1845, locating first about three miles
northwest of Auburn, but eventually moving to a farm two miles south of
that city, where they spent the remainder of tlieir lives. To Enos and
Amanda Kuhlman were born five children, the eldest, Clyde, being killed at
school at the age of seven vcars. and a daughter. Geneva Nevada, the young-
(22)
338 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA.
est, dying at the age of three years. The three hving at the time this volume
is printed are Col. Aubrey L. Kuhlman, William O. and (ieorge \\'., all of
Auburn, Indiana.
Aubrey L. Kuhlman was reared under the parental roof in Auburn and
secured his education in the public schools here, graduating from the high
school with the class of 1887. Upon completing his studies he took em-
ployment with Kuhlman Brothers, a lumber company at Auburn, with whom
he spent a little over three years, transferring thence to the lumber firm of
A. Lewis & Company, with whom he remained two years. He then joined
the Auburn Manufacturing Company in the capacity of lumber inspector,
anil in January, 1894, became office manager for that concern. Soon after-
wards he was elected secretary of the company, and a year or two later he
was also made treasurer of the company, holding both offices, and for several
years carried the additional responsibilities of general manager. Several
years later he was made a director of the company and, excepting six months,
when he was in active military service during the Spanish-American war, he
was continuously identified with this concern until February 10, 1906. On
that (late (_"(il()iK'l Kuhlman recei\eil his commission as postmaster of Auburn,
and served four vears in that capacity, or until May i, loio. His adminis-
tration of the postoffice was characterized l)y the same careful attention to
details and to the wants of the patrons of the office that has characterized him
in all his business affairs and his relations with his fellows, and his official
record was such as to win for him the approval of the department and the
commendation of the community. After the expiration of his term as post-
master, Colonel Kuhlman accepted a position in the office of the Zimmerman
Manufacturing Company, having less than a day's vacation between engage-
ments, and he remained with the Zimmerman Company until the spring of
19 1 2. He then enjoyed a vacation of several months, after which he took a
position as manager of the Angola factory of the Auburn Automobile Com-
pany, and served in that capacity until August i, 191 3, when he was trans-
ferred to the main office in Auburn, where he holds a responsible position,
being one of the most valued and appreciated members of the splendid force
which is making this concern one of the most successful manufacturing enter-
prises of the state. Possessing executive and administrative ability of a high
order, Colonel Kuhlman is also a man of tact and sound judgment and his
relations both with his employers and the men under him have been mutually
pleasant and agreeable.
DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 339
For many years the subject of this sketch has been deeply interested
in military affairs and more than a score of years ago he organized at Auburn
a company of the National Guard, of which he was elected captain on the
date of its muster into service, January 12, 1892. On March 25, 1897, he
was commissioned a major, and on the outbreak of the Spanish-American
war he reported at Indianapolis for duty with his regiment on April 26th
and was, on May 10, 1898, commissioned as major and had command of a
battalion of four hundred and thirty -fnc iifficers and men. his command being
a part of the One Hundred l"ifty-sc\ (.-nth Indiana N'ulunteer Infantry, for the
United States volunteer service, -serving as such until mustered out of that
service on November i, i8g8. His regiment \vri< moliili/A-d at Cbickamauga,
.Georgia, leaving Indianapolis on May 15th and arriving at Cbickamauga on
the 17th, under the command of General Brooks, moving on June ist to
Tampa, Florida, and on July 29th were transferred to Fernandina, on the
Atlantic coast of Florida. The regiment left Fernandina on August 30th,
arriving at Indianapolis September 2nd, remaining there until mustered out,
excepting a furlough period for the entire regiment from September loth
until October loth. The battalion under Major Kuhlman's command com-
prised the companies from Angola. Waterloo, Auburn and Ligonier. After
the war the Indiana National Guard was re-organized and, on April 27, 1900.
the subject of this sketch was again commissioned as major. He was pro-
moted to lieutenant-colonel on December 11, 1909, and on I'ebruary i, 1913,
was commissioned colonel of the I'hird Regiment, made up of the twelve
companies whose home stations are at Ft. Wayne, Auburn, Angola, Columbia
City, Monticello, South Bend, Plymouth, Rensselaer, Albion, Warsaw.
Goshen and Elkhart and the band at Peru. His entire military service has
been characterized by duty promptly and intelligently performed and he is
held in high esteem among his ]>rot!ier officers of the Guard. As a company
commander, he took part in Cio\ernor Matthews' campaign against prize
fighting at the Roby arena in September, 1893, when a lot of toughs and
sporting men from Chicago threatened to override the laws of Indiana. In
1894, during the great strike of the American Railway Union, he had com-
mand of the detached military post at Whiting, Indiana, which was gar-
risoned bv the two companies from Auburn and Fort Wayne. On January
4, 1908, the National Guard was called to Muncie to assist in suppressing the
rioting during a strike on the street and internrban lines, twelve companies
of infantry and one battery of artillery being called into service, and during
34° DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA.
the latter half of the service Cokjiiel Kuhhnan had command of the entire
force. On November 6, 1913, the entire National Guard of Indiana was
called to Indianapolis to protect life and property in connection with the
strike of the street railway employees, and during this period of duty Colonel
Kuhlman had command of a force consisting of fifteen companies, eleven
companies of his own regiment, three companies of the Second Regiment
and one company of the First Regiment.
Colonel Kuhlman's war horse, "Harry," a product of DeKalb county,
who carried him through the Spanish-American war and in army maneuvers
during fifteen )-ears following the war, died January 5, 1914, at the age of
twenty years.
On December 25, 1895, Aubrey L. Kuhlman was married to Josie B.
Shull, who was born and reared in this county, nortliwest of Auburn, the
daughter of Eli W. and Adaline (Olinger) Shull, who now reside on a farm
about a mile from the place where Mrs. Kuhlman was born. Immediately
after the completion of her education, Mrs. Kuhlman became a teacher in the
schools, but at the time of her marriage was engaged in tiie millinery busi-
ness in Auburn. Mrs. Kuhlman is prominent in church, club and social
circles. Mr. Shull is a prosperous farmer and public-spirited citizen, owning
more than three hundred acres of good land. He has iaeen a life-long resi-
dent of this locality and was a veteran of the Civil war. To Colonel and
Mrs. Kuhlman has been born a daughter, Helen, a beautiful, talented and
affectionate girl, beloved by all who know her.
Fraternally, Colonel Kuhlman is an appreciative member of the Knights
of Pythias, while he is also a member of the Spanish-American War Vet-
erans, his comrades insisting upon naming the Auburn camp of Spanish War
Veterans Kuhlman Camp, in his honor. In local civic affairs he has long
been a prominent figure and has been an active member of the Auburn Com-
mercial Club, which he served as president two years and for three years as
a member of the board of directors. When the Agricultural Exhibit at
Auburn was originated, Colonel Kuhlman proposed the idea, drew up the
plans of organization and had a leading part in the development and consum-
mation of the affair, a plan for the exhibition of agricultural products so
different from the time-honored county fair, and so successful in its results
that it has been copied in many states of the Union and the very first year of
its operation it produced such a splendid display of agricultural products
from DeKalb countv alone that at least a half dozen state fairs in the Central
DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 34I
states were outclassed by the ([uantity and (|ualit\- of tlie products displayed
by DeKalb count_v, this statement heint; the- volunlarv testimony of visitors
who had seen the state fairs and it is generally couceiK-d that the Aoricultural
Exhibit which Colonel Kuhlman orig-inallv proposed and planned has, by
means of the attention which it has attracted to this county, increased the
value of every acre of land in DeKalb county at least fifty per cent.
In 1902 Colonel Kuhlman published a book which brought to its author
the very highest encomiums from some of the most distinguished men in
.America, statesmen. ai;tliors. evangelists, generals, clergymen and puldishers,
and almost from the day of his graduation his versatile pen has been called
upon from every direction. In this connection we are tempte'd to include in
this sketch several of the comments, taken at random from the many similar
ones:
"Unusually beautiful — I have read it with pleasure." — (ien. Lew
Wallace,
"I am delighted with it. It will do great good to all who read it and
is worthy of a place in every American home." — Ira D. Sankey.
"An invaluable help to young people. It contains 'nuggets' of \fry
great value." — Governor W. T. Durbin.
"Major Kuhlman's booklet, 'Nuggets of tiold.' will be wonderfully heli)-
ful to any life. There is no question as to its value " — Chaplain Medbury.
"The volume is beautifully gotten up and the e.xterior does homage to
the nobility of sentiment between the covers." — Col. (ieorge M. Studebaker.
"The selection of paragraphs has been exceptionally happy and it is
certainly such a volume as might be presented to anyone and through :my
medium, with pride and satisfaction." — Youth's Companion.
Roosevelt. Taft, Hitchcock, Marshall. Hanly and many other dis-
tinguished men ha\e commended the !iook, but, although Colonel Kuhlman's
book received such commendation as very few books ever receive, it has
never been placed upon the market or offered for sale.
A man of many sterling characteristics of head and heart, among his
contemporaries it would be difficult to find a record as replete with toilsome
duty faithfully performed in all the walks of life as Colonel Kuhlman's, while
his career in the humble sphere of private citizenship has been such as to com-
mend him to the favorable consideration of the city and count}' where lie has
long maintained his residence.
342 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA.
ALFRED KELLEY.
It is with a great degree of ^atisfactinn to us when we advert Ui the lite
of one who has made the rougii p;ith nf life sninoth hv untiring perseverance,
attaining success in any vocation requiring deflniteness of purpose and deter-
mined action. Such a life, whether it he one of calm, consecutive endeavor, or
of sudden meteoric accomplishments, must ahound hoth in lesson and incen-
tive and prove a guide to the young men whose fortunes are still matters for
the future to determine. For a numher of years the late Alfred Kelley di-
rected his efforts towards the goal of success in Waterloo, Indiana, and by-
patient continuance won pronounced prestige. But it is by no means an easy
task to descril;e within the limits of this review a man who led an active
and eminently useful life and b\- his own exertions reached a position of
honor in the lines of business with which he was interested. But biography
and memorial history lind justification, ne\ertheless, in tracing and recording
such a life history, as the pulilic claims a certain property interest in the
career of every individual and the time invariably arrives when it becomes
acUisable t<i give the right pulilicity. It is, then, witli a certain degree of sat-
isfaction the chronicler essays thr task of touching briefly upon such a record
as was that of the honored subject of this memoir, for many years one of the
leading business men of Waterloo and who deserved in every respect the
large success he attained and the high esteem in which he was universally held.
Alfred Kelley, who during his lifetime was familiarly l-aiown among his
friends as "Ab," was born at Wooster, W'ayne county, Ohio, on May i6,
i83_', and died at the lionie of his son, Eugene Fvelley, in Waterloo, Indiana,
on June 5, 191 1, in the sixtieth year of his age. He was a son of Joshua and
Martha (McCrillis) Kelley, whose children, six in number, were as follows:
Charles, who died in \\'aterloo, in 1912; Mrs. Florinda Marvin, who now
resides in Iowa; Mrs. Samantha Beard, of Waterloo; Alfred, the immediate
subject of this memoir; Cyrus and Mrs. Emma J. Fee, both of whom died
several years ago. Joshua Kelley was a native of Pennsylvania and the son
of Thomas Kelley. After his removal to Ohio he married a Miss Durst,
who died, leaving a daughter, Elizabeth. The latter married and spent her
entire life in Ohio, being now deceased. Eventually Joshua Kelley married
Mrs. Martha (McCrillis) Ward, the widow of Joneth Ward. She was born
in Ireland and accompanied her parents on their emigration to the United
States. Her mother, wlio died in Wavne county, Ohio, lived to the remark-
DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. l,^},
able age of one hundred and three years. By her first marriage Mrs. Ward
became the mother of a daughter, EHzabeth.
About 1850 Joshua Kelley came to DeKalb county and entered probably
about four hundred acres of land in Sniithfield township. He was here sev-
eral times afterwards, looking after the land, and about 1855 he moved his
family here. The land was new and to the clearing, cultivation and improve-
ment of this farm he devoted himself closely. His place was far from schools
and largely because of that fact he bought the Porterficld farm, near Taylor's
Corners, in Franklin township, where the land was improved, including an
orchard, and situated near schools. There he established his permanent home
and remained until his death, which occurred in 1862, b\- which time he had
become quite well-lD-do. He bad inherited one hundred and sixty acres of
land from his fatlier. who had come here before his son |ij>hua and bouglit a
farm near Hamilton. Joshua had also bouglit otlier land, becoming the
owner of about seven hundred acres of land in DeKalb county and other
lands in Ohio. He was survived many years by his widow, who passed away
in March, 1898.
Alfred Kelley accompanied his parents on their removal to Sniithfield
township, this county, in 1855, being at that time but three years old, and
he was but eleven years of age when his father died. He remained on the.
home farm until about 1873, when, reaching his majority and inheriting one
hundred and sixty acres of land and some ready money from his father's
estate, he moved to Waterloo and for several years carried on a brokerage
business, though at tiie >anie time lie ga\c attention to the clearing and im-
provement of his land, .\bout 1895 Mr. Kelley bought the Locke Hotel, at
Waterloo, from iiis father-in-law. Simon J. Locke, and continued its operation
with marked success and financial profit until 1910, when, on account of
failing health and the heavy demands of his other business interests, he re-
tired from the hotel business. During his management the well-established
reputation of the house was ably maintained and it continued to be a favorite
stopping place for the traveling public for many years. About 1899 Mr.
Kelley established the Waterloo telephone exchange, under the Bell system,
installing the first switch-board in his hotel, with thirty subscribers. How-
ever, giving to the telephone business the same careful attention and sound
business management that characterized him in everything to which he ad-
dressed himself, the new business became popular and soon grew to such an
extent that it was necessary to secure more room for it than could be secured
in the hotel. Li K)io Mr. Kelley erected the present exchange building, where
344 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA.
there is ample room for switchboards and other necessary appliances. This
modern brick building, completed early in 191 1, stands as a monument to his
progressive spirit and faith in the community where he lived.
Politically, Mr. Kelley was an active supporter of the Democratic party,
in whose councils he was a frequent figure, being chairman of the county
central committee for a time. As a partial reward for his fidelity to his party
and his earnest labors in its behalf he was appointed postmaster of Waterloo
under President Cleveland, discharging the duties of the position with credit
to himself and to the entire satisfaction of the department and the patrons of
the office. He also served in an oifical capacity in the municipality for several
terms. Fraternally, Mr. Kelley was an appreciative member of the Knights of
Pythias, and in his religious views he was always in accord « ith the creed of
the Presb_\-terian church, of which he became a member before his death.
On January i. 1877, Alfred Kelley was united in marriage with .\da
Locke, who was born in Toledo, Ohio, the eldest daughter of Simon 1. and
Wattie (McCormick) Locke. In May, 1866, her family removed to Water-
loo, where her father engaged in the restaurant business, which he continued
here for nearly twenty years, and during that period he enjoyed a large pat-
ronage, especially during the earlier years, when all the trains on the Lake
Shore railroad stopped at Waterloo, many of Mr. Locke's patrons being rail-
road men. When the restaurant was first opened, Mrs. Kelley, then a girl of
fourteen years, waited on the tables and her uniform courtesy, cheerful dispo-
sition and constant efforts to please the patrons of the restaurant made a last-
ing impression on the railroad men. who gave substantial evidence of their
regard for her and their appreciation of her courtesies by presenting her with
a beautiful gold watch and chain, valued at one hundred and seventy-five dol-
lars. Inside the case were engraved the words, "Presented to Miss Ada
Locke l)y the Employes of the Air-Line Division of L. S. & M. S. R. R. June
20, 1872." After Mr. Locke had run this restaurant for about twenty years,
he bought the Lent Hotel, renamed it the Locke Hotel, and ran it until 1895.
when he sold it to Alfred Kelley. He moved to Br)an, Ohio, where he en-
gaged in the hotel business, but about six months later, while back in Water-
loo on a visit to Mrs. Kelley, he was taken suddenly ill and died. His wife
retained her residence at Bryan until her death, which occurred in December,
1906, and the hotel business there is now continued by her daughter. Miss
Cora B. Locke. Besides Mrs. Kelley and Cora B., there were five other chil-
dren, as follows: Adelbert, familiarlv known as "Del," runs the Bliss Hotel
DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 345
at Bluffton, Indiana; Hattie is the wife of W. P. Nolton, of Pittsburgh,
Pennsylvania ; Rev. Richard Earl Locke is pastor of the Presbyterian church
at Rutherford, New Jersey; Effie is the wife of O. E. Siegfried, of Toledo;
Gracie died about 1874, at the age of two years. To Alfred and Ada Kelley
were born three children, namely: Blanche E., the wife of Andrew Maselle,
who is engaged in the automobile business in San Francisco; Eugene, who is
represented by a personal sketch elsewhere in this work ; Bessie is the wife of
R. J. Nisbet, manager of a surgical instrument house in Chicago, and they
ha\e two children, Richard Kelley Ni.sJjet and Ada Blanche Nisbet. Mrs.
Kelley still resides in the old home in Waterloo. She is an earnest member
of the Presbyterian church, taking a deep interest in its various activities, and
is also a member of the Order of the Eastern Star and tlie Pytliian Sisters.
She is a lady of many gracious qualities of head and iieart, moves in the Iiest
social circles of the community, and is well liked by all who know her.
Personally, Mr. Kelley was a man of more than ordinary caliber and
during the period of his residence in Waterloo he was a prominent factor in
the growth and development of the community, fie was a progressive man
in the broadest sense of the term; realizing the \\ants of the people, he tried
to supply the demands of the vicinity honored by his citizenship. He was a
consistent man in all he ever undertook, and his career in all the relations of
life was utterly without pretense. In business matters he was alert and
sagacious and during his later years his real estate transactions reached large
proportions. Of strong domestic tastes, he was very generous in his treat-
ment of his familv. to the members of which he made many substantial gifts,
one gift being the Telephone Exchange building to his wife as a Christmas
present, while at Christmas time his usual gift to each of his children was one
hundred dollars or something equally substantial. When Mr. Kelley realized
that his end was approaching he made a verbal statement as to tlie manner in
which he desired his property to be distributed among his wife and children.
He was a good husband and father, faithful and loving; a good citizen and
friend, constant and reliable ; a man in the fullest sense of the word. Genial
and companionable, he was fond of a joke, and in his home he was imiformly
kind and cheerful, the brightness of his own life driving away all clouds from
the home. Physicallv. a large man, with strong and pleasing features, he
possessed to a notable degree those qualities which beget friendships, and
there was probably not another man in the community who was held in higher
esteem by all, regardless of politics or professions.
34^ DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA.
JAMES GEORGE LAWHEAD.
Among the men of high personal attainment and exalted character who
have reflected honor on DeKalb county, and at the same time attained to a
commendable position among their fellow men, was the gentleman whose
name appears at the head of this review, a man who in every walk in life
performed his full part and gave his unreserved support to every movement
for the public welfare and who in his daily life so lived as to earn the con-
fidence and good will of his fellow citizens.
James G. Lawhead was born in Jackson township, DeKalb county, In-
diana, on October i, 1844, and was a son of Benjamin and Mary Jane
(Essig) Lawhead. Of the subject's ancestral history it may be stated that
his paternal grandparents, James and Martha Lawhead. came to DeKalb
county, Indiana, from Wayne county, Ohio, in 1839, and here the father
died in 1854, and the mother in March, 1880. They were the parents of
nine children. Of these, Benjamin, father of the subject of this sketch, was
born in Fayette county, Pennsylvania, on April i, 1820, accompanied his
parents on their removal to Ohio in 1834 and to DeKalb county, Indiana, in
1839. The family were among the earliest settlers in the southern part of
DeKalb county, and were numbered among the progressive and influential
citizens of that locality. In 1843 Benjamin Lawhead married Mary Jane
Essig, who was born in Stark county, Ohio, in 1821. and in 1851 Mr. Law-
head bought the homestead in section 17. They were the parents of two
children, James G., the immediate subject of tliis sketch, and Caroline, who
become the wife of Charles L. Cool, of Auburn.
James G. Lawhead was reared on the paternal farmstead near the center
of Jackson township, where he resided until his marriage, on April 17,
1870, to Wealthy B. Nelson, whose death occurred on April 27, 1877, leav-
ing two children, \^'illiam B. and Queen Victoria, the latter subsecjuently
becoming the wife of Eli Amstutz, of Allen county, this state, and she is the
mother of four children, two sons and two daughters. William Benjamin
Lawhead married Sarali McKinley and is tlie father of three children, and
lives in the east end of Butler township, this county. After Mr. Lawhead's
first wife died he resided with his parents until September i, 1879, when he
was united in marriage with Eliza Walter, who was born one mile north of
Jackson Center in Jackson township. November 27, 1851, the daughter of
Joseph and Sarah (Nixon) Walter. Her father was a native of Wayne
county, Ohio, near Orville, the son of Christian and Margaret (Keester)
z>?^
ix i-l
JAMES G - LAWHEAD
DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 347
Walter, while her iiinther was a native of Weslniorelaiid eduntv, Pennsyl-
vania. Joseph Walter, alter his marriage in Wayne count v. Ohio, came to
DeKalb county, Indiana, about 1836, l)eiuii- nuniliered aniony- the first settlers
here and entered a .section of uovernment land, the joinne\ from Ohio to
this state being made in the tyjiical pioneer waijon. Here he and his wife es-
tablished their frontier home and lived here durin','- the remainder of their
lives. Mr. Walter gave his attention to farming, in which he was eminently
successful, owning at the time of his death four InuKhed acres of land.
They became the parents of fourteen children, of whom thirteen grew to
maturity. After Mr. Lawhead's second marriage he and his wife lived a
year with his parents, at the end of which time he bought eighty acres of
land, the nucleus of the farm on which .Mrs. T.awhead now lives. Thev
lived near that place for two years and then moved back to his father's farm
in order to care for his parents until his mother's death. In the spring of
1887 they moved to the present homestead, where they ha\e lived until the
present time. Mr. Lawhead's father lived with them, remaining there until
his death, nine years later. In 1888 Mr. Lawhead. the subject of this sketch,
built the present residence and made many other substantial and permanent
improvements on the farm, which made it one of the best in the locality. He
owned at the time of his death three hundred and five acres of land and was
counted among the substantial and representative agriculturists of the county.
In his younger days Mr. Law^head had been engaged to scjme extent in teach-
ing school, but farming was his main vocation throughout his life, and in
this vocation he attained an enviable success. Politically, he gave his support
to the Republican party, but was too busy a man to indul.ge much in political
affairs. To James G. and Eliza Lawhead were born five children, namely:
Walter, who died at the age of three years; Gertrude, the wife of Jesse Het-
rick, who lives on the home farm and is the mother of two sons. Buster and
Schuyler; Frank, who lives in Detroit, studied law at the State University at
Bloomington and has traveled extensively: Kirln- married Cecil Townley.
and lives one mile south of the old home farm: he is the father of two chil-
dren, Virginia and Violet; Nixon is a student at the State University at
Bloomington, Indiana.
Mr. Lawhead died on March 27, ic)i3, and bis death was universally
mourned throughout the locality where he was :ic(|uainted. for there were
combined in his make-up those elements which commended him to the .good
will and esteem of all who knew him. He was not only a loving and faith-
ful father, a kind and indulgent husband, but to all those with whom be came
348 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA.
in contact he bore kindly relations and at all times endeavored to spread the
gospel of good cheer, being generous in his attitude toward others, regard-
less of their faults or foibles. A man of good judgment and ripe experience
he was often sought for advice by those starting out in life's battles and he
cheerfully and wisely advised those who sought him. The best that can be
said of any man may be truthfully said of Mr. Lawhead, namelv, that the
world was better for his having lived, and though he has passed to the better
world his influence still pervades the lives of those who came within the
range of his life and character.
FRANK W. WILLIS.
Not to(_) often can be repeated the life stor_\- of one «ho li\-ed so honorable
and useful a life and attained to such notable distinction as he whose name
appears at the head of this sketch, wlio was one of the most successful and dis-
tinguished newspaper men of northeastern Indiana. His character was one of
signal exaltation and purity of purpose. \\"ell disciplined in mind, maintain-
ing a vantage point from which life presented itself in correct proportions,
guided and guarded by the most inviolable principles of integrity and honor,
simple and unostentatious in his self-respecting, tolerant individuality, such a
man could not prove other than a force for good in whatever relation of life
he may have been placed. His character was the positive expression of a
strong nature and his strength was as the number of his days. In studying
his career interpretation follows fact in a straight line of derivation and there
is no need for indirection or puzzling. As the day, with its morning of ho])e
and promise, its noontide of activity and accompli.shment and its evening of
completed and successful efforts, so was the life of this good and honored
man. His career was a long, busy and useful one, and his name is revered by
all who had occasion to come into contact .with him on life's pathway. His
life was one of consecration to his calling, and well does he merit a place of
honor in every history touching upon the lives and deeds of those who have
given the best of their powers anrl talents for the aiding and betterment of
their kind.
Frank ^V. AVillis was born in Syracuse, New York. June 13, 1842. and
died at his liome in Waterloo, Indiana, ]\Iay [q. 1913, at the age of seventy
years, ele\en months and six days. He was a son of Henry and Fmerline
(Hewitt) ^^'illis. and came to this countv in 1844 when liis jiarents located
FRANK \V. WILLIS
DEKAI.B COUNTY, INDIANA. _^ |(>
on a tract of land in Richland township, where they resided until 1864, at
which time they moved to Waterloo when the senior Mr. Willis was elected
sheriff of DeKalb county. The subject of this sketch was reared on the
farm belonging to his father and attended the common schools. In addition
to this he attended the schools at Auburn and Waterloo, and also spent some
time at the Orland Seminary. At Ihc age of eighteen years he offered his
services to the United States at the time of the Civil war outbreak and en-
listed as a member of Company K. Forty-fourth Indiana Volunteer Infantry,
serving his country for over three years. During these years of service he
spent the best part of his life for his country, and engaged in the battles of
Shiloh, Chickamauga, Stone's River and other important .engagements, and
was wounded three different times, but was always ready to do his duty as a
soldier.
After his discharge Mr. Willis was appointed assistant assessor and
deputy collector of the tenth congressional district, by William Pitt Fessender,
secretary of the treasury under President Johnson. For four years he dis-
charged his duties in this capacity with the full satisfaction of his superiors
Soon after the war he commenced to practice before the department of in-
terior, and as a claim agent secured many pensions for old soldiers and their
widows. He was well known among the soldiers of the county and elsewhere
and had many tender comrades who thought of him during his illness and
were kind to him. After his return from the army he was stricken with
violent illness and at times suffered greatly, due to his exposure in the service
for his country. At times regaining his health, he thought that he would
eventually become stronger, and for a number of years was much improved,
but after the fire of 1896 he again lost his health, and from that date gradually
failed, although he held on to life always with a tenacious grip, and his sturdy
constitution gave him courage to live as long as he could, until he had passed
the three score years and ten. Many a time he seemed cheerful when he was
suffering from pain that cannot be described. He enjoyed his home and
reared a large family. On January i, 1884, Mr. Willis formed a partnership
with E. P. Dickinson, and the new firm bought out the Waterloo Press, then
owned by C. K. Baxter. For a number of years Mr. Willis had editorial
charge of the paper and later bought out the interests of his partner and con-
tinued the Press, being in editorial charge until the time of his death. In
1867 he purchased the book store of H. K. Davis and with C. K. Baxter,
purchasing that of T. Y. Dickinson, the two then consolidated their business
under the firm name of Baxter & Willis. In December, 1868, Henry Willis,
father of the late deceased, purchased the interest in the book store of Mr.
350 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA.
Baxter, and the firm was then known as WilHs & Company, and remained so
until 1896, when in February of that year their business was destroyed by
fire, including that of the Waterloo Press. It was at this time that Frank W.
Willis and his son, Herbert C. formed a partnership and continued the
publication of the Waterloo P^css. and also succeeded the firm of Willis &
Company in the book and stationery business. Henry Willis then retiring
from active business on account of his age. From the time of his entering the
newspaper business Mr. Willis was actively identified with the general inter-
ests of the county and community, and always conducted an editorial column
in the paper up to the time of his last illness.
In the fall of 1894 he was elected to the state Legislature as representa-
tive from this county, being elected by the largest majority ever accorded a
Republican in this county to that office, which spoke for the high esteem in
which he was held by the voters of the county. After serving for two years,
during which time lie was foremost in the passage of good legislation, he re-
tired from acti\'e politics, hut was always active in the interests of his part}'
until his health failed to such an extent that he could not longer take active
part in the work. However, he was very forceful in his editorial writings,
and w^as ardently enthusiastic in advocating his party principles so long as he
believed them right.
\Mien a }-oung man Mr. Willis joined the First Presbyterian church of
Waterloo, and remained an active member to the time of his death. He was
an elder in the Presbyterian church for nearly forty years, and never missed
attending services when he was at home and not detained by illness. As a
worker in the Sunday school he was a teacher fifty years, being active in that
work at the time of his death. He served as superintendent of the Sunday
school for many years, and also was an enthusiastic worker in Sunday school
conventions, both in county and, in earlier years, in the state conventions.
Among the many beautiful tributes to the life, work and character of
Mr. Willis was the following from John B. Stoll, the veteran journalist of
South Bend and life-long friend of the deceased: "He was what I consid-
ered the ideal country newspaper man — discreet, vigilant, intelligent, consid-
erate, conscientious, patriotic. His death is a distinctive loss to the newspa-
per fraternity, as well as to the community, which for many years enjoyed
the benefit of his inspiring example and his well directed efforts for civic
righteousness and the moral uplift. Though now numbered among the dead,
his splendid record as a man, citizen and patriot will live long in the memory
of those who prize nobility of purpose as cardinal virtues of man."
It is eminently fitting that there should be incorporated in this memoir
DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 35 1
the splendid tribute paid the deceased by his son and business associate : "In
the passing away of the senior editor of this paper, the community loses one
of its oldest citizens, and a man who has been identified with public interests
to a very large extent. As a man he lived a life that stood for itself. No
comment is necessary as to his character. He was possessed with a Christian
character that stood foremost in liis life. Since a young man he was inter-
ested in Sunday school and church work and was active up to the time of his
last illness. As a. soldier, his active service stands as a tribute to his loyalty
to his country. As a man for right, he was always foimd unflinching for all
that was good and honorable. As a business partner the writer has l)een
actively associated with him for the past seventeen years, and during all tliat
time has been in such close relationship that he knew him better than anyone
else outside the immediate family circle. As a parent for over two score
years the writer knows that he has always been kind and loving and had a
desire that his children should be trained in honorable paths, and that they
should live such lives that they would be as ready to be called to their eternal
homes as he was. During the twenty-nine years that he has been at the
editorial head of this paper he has been honest in his editorial opinions, and
while there have been many incidents that perhaps have been left unco\ered
in his editorial writings, his scope has been so general that it was made ])lain
where he stood on ajl important subjects of the day. His writings have been
widely copied and no doubt he will be missed among the journalists of the
state. All the years that he has been broken in health he has done his part
in making life cheerful, not only to himself, but others as well. The close
association in business causes a grief on the part of the writer that but few
can understand. It is hard to fight life's battles and it is hard to give them
up. He has fought for his life and was ready to give up at the call of the
Master. He was a good man, and no one can dispute that he has been con-
sistent in his life's habits, and he had the confidence of his friends and those
with whom he had done business. The end came like a shock, and while it
has been known for some time that he could not get well, yet while there was
life there was hope, and at last that hope vanished. There might be no more
fitting tribute to be paid a father by a son than to say he has been a good
father and one who has done all he could in rearing a family of nine children,
all of whom today survive."
On September 27, 1868, Mr. Willis was united in marriage with
Josephine Dickinson, who was born in Auburn, Indiana, on May 17, 1850,
the daughter of Timothy R. and Mary (Youngman) Dickinson, her father
having been at one time one of the most prominent attorneys in DeKalb
352 DEKALB COUNTY^ INDIANA.
county. During the Civil war he was drafting officer for this county and
thus filled a very difficult position, which inevitably aroused animosity and
enmity among many, especially those Southern sympathizers who then in-
fested this locality and who assaulted him with stones, eggs and other missiles,
so that at times it was necessary for him to be guarded by his friends. He
was even asked by a committee from his church to resign his membership be-
cause of his strong anti-slavery views, but he was fearless and upright, stood
staunchly for freedom and the perpetuity of the national union. Soon after
the war he bought a tract of land north of Waterloo and laid it out, naming
it Waterloo cemetery and incorporating an association to own and control it.
There have been several additions to this cemetery, the last one being laid out
by Frank W. Willis. Probably twice as many people have been buried there
as comprise the present population of Waterloo. For awhile Mr. Dickinson
practiced law in Auburn, but eventually moved to Waterloo, where he lived
during the remainder of his life. Mrs. Willis, who lived at home until her
marriage to Mr. Willis, had attended Oberlin College and also had received
some academic work. To Mr. and Mrs. Willis were born nine children, six
sons and three daughters, namely: Herbert Clyde, who was his father's
business partner and associate for a number of years, and who is now editor
and owner of the Waterloo Press, being represented elsewhere in this work,
by a specific sketch; Mary Gertrude is the wife of James P. Hornaday, news-
paper correspondent at Washington, D. C. ; Fred I. is connected with the
Hearsey-Willis Company, automobile dealers and bicycle manufacturers at
Indianapolis ; Raymond E. is postmaster at Angola, Indiana, and part owner
of the Steuben Republican; Edward D. is also interested in the Steuben Re-
publican; Dora E. is the wife of R. G. Dilts, of Waterloo; Frank B. is en-
gaged in the automobile business in Indianapolis ; Josephine lives at Waterloo
and William H. is engaged in employment at Indianapolis. These children
all received good educations and have been reared to honorable manhood and
womanhood, a credit alike to their community and an honor to their parents.
JACOB D. LEIGHTY.
A publication of this nature exercises its most important functmn when
it takes cognizance, through proper memorial tribute, of the life and labors
of so good a citizen as was Jacob D. Leighty, who was for many years one
of the best known business men and most representative citizens of DeKalb
^
{KA^^Lyty^ lypuJC^
DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 353
county, Indiana, hav'int;; been an iniiuenlial factor in the general development
of the community. He ever stood as an exponent of the most loyal citizen-
ship and was a noble personality whose memory will be long cherished and
venerated in the community to whose civic and material progress he con-
tributed in a most generous measure. A man of great business capacity and
of the highest principles of integrity and honor, he made his influence felt
along diverse lines and he was long a leader in the promotion of legitimate
enterprises which conserved the general welfare of the city and county of
his adoption. He matured his plans carefully and patiently and was a man of
splendid initiative power and constructive ability, so that he was well fitted
to become one of the upbuilders of a thriving community. He gave gener-
ously of his superb powers in furthering the industrial, commercial and civic
upbuilding of the locality so long honored by his citizenship, and his name is
one that merits a conspicuous place on the roll of those who have worthily
conserved such progress. His integrity was of the most insistent and un-
swerving type and no shadow rests upon any portion of his career as an
active business man and sterling citizen. He had his limitations, as do all.
but he gave of the best of his talents to the world and to aiding his fellow
men. Mr. Leighty was a man of impressive personality, was broad of mental
ken and had the characteristics which ever beget esteem, confidence and
friendship. Viewing his life in its perspective, none can fail to have an ap-
preciation of his great accomplishments at a time \\lu'n such powers as his
were at a premium, and he should ever be renienil)ered as (jne of tlie noble,
kindly and public-spirited men of affairs who played a conspicuous role in the
development and progress which characterized this section of the state.
Jacob D. Leighty was born in Westmoreland coiuity, Pennsylvania, on
the 30th of October, 1839, the son of John and Elizabeth (Sowash) Leighty,
and his death occurred in St. Joseph's hospital, P^ort Wayne, Indiana, on
October 17, 1912, in the seventy-third year of his age. He was the third in
order of birth of the ten children born to his parents, and he was but four
years of age when the family came to DeKalb county, Indiana. Here he
was reared and secured a good, practical education in the common schools,
in which he became a teacher at the early age of sixteen years. He con-
tinued his pedagogical labor'; several \ears, and then became a student in
Wittenberg College, at Springfield. (Miio, where he was a memlier of the
sophomore class at the outbreak of the war of the Rebellion. His patriotic
spirit was quicklv aroused at the attack on the national flag and on Jnlv 8,
(23)
354 DlCKAl.P. COUNTY, INDIANA.
1861, he gave practical evidence of his loyaUy and courage by enlisting as a
member of Company E, Eleventh Regiment Indiana A'olunteer Infantrv, in
which he was appointed a sergeant. His military record was a mo.st creditable
one, characterized by courage of a high order, and he took part in a number
of the most notable struggles of that great contest. His first engagement of
importance was that of Fort Henry, in the spring of 1862, after which fol-
lowed the battles of Fort Donelson, Shiloh, Grand Gulf. Port Gibson, Ray-
mond, Champion's Hill, and others of scarcely less importance. In the en-
gagement at Champion's Hill Mr. Leighty was severely wounded in the left
hip and was disabled from active service for sixty days. Upon partially re-
covering from his wound, be rejoined his regiment at Baton Rouge, Louis-
iana, and from there went down the Mississippi river to New Orleans. He
served with an expedition into western Louisiana, extending to Opelousas
and engaging the enemy several times on the way. After his return to New
Orleans and because of the effects of his wound, from which he still suffered,
he resigned in March, 1864, and returned home. That Mr. Leighty was a
good soldier was indicated by his successive promotions, to second lieutenant
on January 24, 1862, and first lieutenant on December ist of the same year.
[']ion bis return to peaceful pursuits, Air. Lei.gbty engaged in mer-
cantile business at Spencerville, Indiana, acquiring an interest in the firm of
Miller & Myers. Shortly afterwards he and Mr. Miller purchased Mr.
Myers' interest and the firm of Miller & Company w as continued a year, when
the subject's father, John I.eigbtv, bought Miller's share, the firm name being
changed to John Leighty & Son. The business was thus conducted, with
eminent success, until 1872, when Jacob Leighty purchased his father's in-
terests and ran the business alone until 1874, when he sold his mercantile
stock to P. Bishop. In 1875, when the Baltimore & Ohio railroad was pro-
jected through this section to Chicago. Mr. Leighty. with the foresightedness
and sagacity characteristic of him. saw the possibility of a thriving town
between Hick.sville and Auburn, and. with this in view, he and his father
bou.ght what was then known as the Blair farm, on which they platted and
laid out what is now the town of .St. Joe. Three years later Mr. Leighty
engaged in the mercantile business in the new town, having associated him-
self in business with M. T. Bishop. About seven years later Mr. Leighty
bought his partner's interest in the business, which he tliereafter conducted
alone until about iH()4, when he disposed of his Im^iness to \\'. C. and C. A.Pat-
terson, J, K. Stafford and M. E. Olds. In many otlier ways he was a ])roniiiient
figure in the upbuilding and development of the town, having assisted in the
DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 355
organization of a bank, of which he was elected president, owning an interest
in the grist mill and other enterprises which contributed in a definite way to
the welfare of the town, especially in its earlier days, when men of strong
character and positive action were needed. He was active in the erection nf
the grain elevator and he built the- substantial brick store building now occu-
pied by C. A. Patterson. After moving to St. Joe Mr. Leighty and his wife
first lived in the residence which was standing on the Blair farm, but later he
built a comfortable residence in the town, just east of the present commod-
ious and attractive brick residence, which he built in 1889. No enterprise
which promised to benefit the community ever appealed for his assistance in
vain, for he was public spirited to a notable degree. In all that constituted
true manhood and good citizenship he was an e.\ani|ile, liis career liaving
been characterized by duty faithfully perfurmod, and by industry, thrift and
wisely directed effort.
l.'nder a full page-wide heading of "Our l.eadiug Citizen (jone," the
St. Joe Nczvs made the following editorial comment on the life and character
of Mr. Leighty, the same having special value because of the writer's long
personal acquaintance witli the deceased and knowledge of his life and works:
"St. Joe has lost by death its foremost citizen, Hon. J. D. Leighty, and by his
taking away the town suffers an almost irreparable loss. \Miat he did for
the place and liis interest i'.i its welfare lias been recognized and appreciated.
but the full measure of his worth will be better known and more fully under-
stood as time reveals the extent of our loss. He took what may well be
termed a fatherly interest in the little town that he and iiis fatlier. John
Leighty, had platted, for, as he had Ijeen instrumental in bringing it into ex-
istence, he took just ])ride in its advancement and felt keenly any failure.
Hence, with his pocketbook, his counsel and his hands, he stood ever ready to
help forward all movements for the betterment of St. Joe. In every emer-
gency he could be depended upon, and in every move for civic or moral re-
form, he never was classed among the doubt ftd ones. St. Joe feels its loss
deeplv and our citizens are in mourning. But the loss is not confined to St.
Joe alone. In a relatively decreasing degree, as they arc farther removed
from the scenes of his activities and influence, the county and the state suffers
loss bv the death of Mr. Leigiity. He was a well known figure in councils
outside the sphere wherein he chiefly moved, always on the side of what he
believed to be right.* * * An honest man has been styled 'the noblest
work of God.' J. T). Leighty was an honest man — honest in his dealings with
his fellow men: lione-i in liis outspoken advf>cac\- of the right, as he saw it:
35^' DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA.
honest in his abhorrence of hypocrisy and sham ; honest to himself in shaping
his course through hfe to the dictates of a conscience governed by a high
sense of right and wrong. Men differed from Iiim in opinion and in judg-
ment, but they ne\"er questioned his honesty n(.)r impugned his motives, for
he stood out in the open, never resorting to questionable means, and his op-
ponents respected him. His veracity was unquestioned, for his word was
known to be his bond of honor. His acts of kindness — and they were many
— were not performed in public places nor accompanied by display. He was a
true scion of the 'Pennsylvania Dutch' stock, which has left an impress for
good upon many parts of the country.
Politically, Jacob D. Leighty was a stanch supi)orter of the Republican
party and took a deep interest in piil)lic affairs. He was called upon a number
of times to serve his fellow citizens in a public capacity, always acquitting
himself with credit and to their entire satisfaction. Tn 1875 he was ap-
pointed postmaster at St. Joe, holding the office until his election to the office
of township trustee, when he resigned. In 1897 he received at the hands of
President McKinley the appointment as state pension agent, a position he
ably filled for four years. In 1894 he was elected to Congress as a Republi-
can from the twelfth district by a plurality of about two thousand seven
hundred, his election being especially notable from the fact that the district
was normally Democratic by from fifteen hundred to two thousand five hun-
dred votes — certainly a marked testimonial to his popularity and ability. Two
years kucr he \\:is :iL:ain the noiiiinee of lii-; ])rii-iv for Congress. Init was de-
feated, though he ran far ahead of the balance of the ticket. Fraternally, Mr.
Leightv was an a])preciati\ e member of the Masonic order, in which he had
received distinctive preferment, having received the thirt}'-tliird and last de-
gree of the order in 1889.
In March, 1866, Jacob D. Leighty was married to Kate A. Metzger, who
was born in Circleville, Ohio, the daughter of Judge Andrew and Elizalieth
(Driesbach) Metzger, of Fort Wayne, Indiana. Judge Metzger was a native
of Ohio, his family having come originally from Pennsylvania. He followed
farming until his removal to Fort Wayne, in 1853, he being numbered among
the earlv and prominent settlers of that locality. He was interested there for
a number of vears in journalism and also served for a time as deputy county
clerk. To him and his wife were born six children, namely: Kate A. (Mrs.
Leighty), George, Mary, Jennie, Harry and Frank, of whom George, Harry
and Frank are deceased. To Mr. and Mrs. Leighty were born three children,
two of whom died in infancy, the only survivor being John R., of Kansas
DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 357
City. Mrs. Leiglitv, wlio still resides in the old family hunie in St. Joe, is a
lady of many graciovis qualities, which have commended her to the love and
esteem of her many friends. She was to her husband a helpmate in the
truest sense of the word, much of his success in lite being due to her wise
counsel and the encouragement which she gave him in his affairs. She takes
a kindly interest in all charitable and benevolent work in her community and
her heart responds to every appeal for help in all good work.
COL. STEPHEN' A. P.OWMAN.
Great achievements always excite admiration. Men of deeds are the
men whom the world delights to honor. Ours is an age representing the
most electrical progress in all lines of material activity, and the man of
initiative is one who forges to the front in the industrial world. Among
the distinctive captains of industry in northeastern Indiana, a place of pri-
ority must be accorded to Col. Stephen .\. Pxiwnian, of Waterloo, Indiana,
for to him is due the upbuilding of an industr\- which is not only one of the
most important in his countw but also one of the most extensive of its kind
in this section of the country, while the comparatively short time within
which these great results ha\e been obtained further testify to his exceptional
administrative power and executive ability. He is, in the fullest sense of
the term, a progressive, virile, self-made American, thoroughly in harmony
with the spirit of the advanced age in which he lives, conducting all his
business matters carefully and systematically, and in all his acts displaying
an aptitude for successful management. He has not permitted the accumu-
lation of fortune to affect in any way his actions toward those less fortunate
than he, being a most .sympathetic and broad-minded man. and has a host of
warm and admiring friends.
Stephen A. Bowman was born in Keyser township, DeKalb county, In-
diana, one-half jnile west of where the county farm is now located, on No-
vember I, 1865, and is the son of Joseph and Ida (Brand) Bowman. Joseph
Bowman, who was born in Berks county, Pennsylvania, was the grandson of
Jacob Bowman, who came from Germany in 1772, settling near Gratz, Penn-
sylvania. The.latter's son, Samuel, came to Stark county, Ohio, in 181 7.
settling in Osnaburg township, where he became the father of a large family
of children, one of whom was Joseph, the father of the subject of this sketch.
Joseph Bowman was born January 31, 18 14, in Pennsylvania, and came with
358 DEKALB COUNTY. INDIANA.
his parents to Stark county. Ohio. In 1839 he came to DeKalb county, In-
diana, entering eighty acres of go\ernment land at the place where the sub-
ject was Ijorn. He also bought other land and sold some, so that at the time
of his death he was the owner of one liundred and twenty acres. He was
twice married, first to Kve Bortz. to which union ten children were born, of
whom only one is now li\'ing, Airs. George O. Dcnison, of Auburn, this
county. Some time after the death of his first wife. Mr. Bowman married
Airs. Ida (Brand) Tongue, the widow of William Tongue. She was a na-
tive of Ohio and a daughter of English parents. When slie was but an in-
fant her mother died and she was reared by a German family, who talked the
language of the fatherland, so that she. thoroughly learned the German lan-
guage. Years afterward she and her brothers were brought together, and
as they talked only English she could not understand each other. She was
born in 1829, and died in 1S7S, at the age of forty-nine years, and lies buried
in the first cemetery at Auburn beside her husband. By her second union she
became the mother of ten children, of whom four sons are living, namely:
William, who lives on a farm five miles west of Waterloo, married Ella
Chaney, and they have five children; Lydia, deceased, was the wife of George
King, and the mother of four children; Eva, deceased, was the wife of John
Palmer, and left one child; Stephen A., the immediate subject of this sketch,
is the next in order of birth; Frank Hves on a farm two miles south of Water-
loo and married Verna Kinney, to which union were born six children ;
George lives at Danville, Illinois, and has Iieen twice married. The otlier
four children died in childhood or infancy.
Stephen A. Bowman lived on the paternal farmstead until about four-
teen years of age, and then for three years he resided with his brother-in-
lavf, George O. Denison. In the fall of 1883 he came to Waterloo and here
completed his education in the high school. In 1884 he entered the employ
of J. S. Slaybaugh in tlie handle factory, and on August i, 1885, he started
handle making on his own account. At that time his cash capital amounted
to five dollars, and much hard work and rigid economy were required in
order to make both ends meet in the Ijeginning of iiis business experience.
At that time all the work of making handles was by hand and Mr. liowman's
first year's output was about one hundred and fifty dozen handles, the major
portion of these handles being made for edged tools. Since that time the
growth of the business has been nothing short of phenomenal, machinery
having taken the place of handwork in every respect possible, and now the
business lias grown to a production of ten thousand dozen a year. Mr. Bow-
man started his business career in a room twelve by sixteen feet in size, in
DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 359
an old sawmill, but in November. 1886, he was enabled to buy a little buildin,^'
northwest of the l.ake Shore crossing. He has added to this from time to
time and now lias a substantial biuilding about forty by one hundred feet in
size, \\(jnderfully well equipped in every respect for the work to which it
is devoted, and an inspection of the plant by those not acquainted with its
workings would surprise and gratify the sightseer. Many machines are
found here which are almost human in their apparent intelligent action,
some of them being very intricate, and one of which took a year to plan.
Many of the machines have been invented by Colonel Bowman and his son,
and many others improved by them, so that practically all of the manu-
facturing done here is the product of machinery. It is wo'rthy of note that
so simple a thing as an ax handle is handled twenty-eight times from the
time it conies into the shof) with the bark on until it leaves the factory, a
finished handle ready for shipment. The shop is equipped with its own
electric light plant, there is above every machine an electric fan for the com-
fort of the workmen, and the plant is steam heated in winter by e.xhaust
steam from the engine. Colonel Bowman has made it a point to use nothing
but the best stock in his plant, and therefore his product has earned in the
market of the world the highest reputation for its superior quality and work-
manship. The industry has been one of the principal enterprises of Water-
loo, and to Colonel Bowman is due a large meed of credit for the stimulus
he has given to local business life.
.■\side from his business interests. Colonel Bowman has been deeply
interested in the development and progress of his community, and for eleven
years he served as clerk of Waterloo and is now an efficient and active mem-
mer of the library board.
In May, 1882, Colonel Bowman entered the Indiana National Guard as
a private in Company I of the Third Regiment and served in the ranks until
1887, when he was appointed second lieutenant of Company 1. In 1889 he
received his commission as captain, in 1892 was promoted to major and in
1896 to lieutenant-colonel, and in 1900, anil in 1908 again, he was appointed
colonel by Governor Marshall. In December, 1908, he w'as in command of
the First Regiment, Indiana National Guard, and on February i, 1913, he
retired from the service, having completed a continuous service of nearly
thirty-two years, at the time of his retirement being the oldest in point of
continuous service in the National Guard, with the exception of Adjutant-
General McKee. Colonel Bowman was called out to jjrevent prize fighting
at Roby in 1893, and in 1894, because of railroad strikes, he was located
twenty-two davs at Hammond, and was shot at by strikers. He served a
360 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA.
number of times as president of courts martial and on courts of inquiry,
and was president of the examining board sixteen years. At the joint maneu-
vers held at West Point, Kentucky, by the National Guard of several states,
Colonel Bowman was highly complimented by Colonel Wagner, of the
United States army, a high military authority, and in reference to the incident
the following quotation is made from the JVateiioo Press of that date:
"During the joint maneuvers of the United States army and the organ-
ized militias of the various states held at West Point, Kentucky, in Sep-
tember, 1903, Col. Arthur L. Wagner, of the United States army, chief
umpire, maneuvering division, in his report of maneuvers of the Third
Infantry, says: 'The Third Regiment, commanded in the absence of Colonel
Studebaker by Col. S. A. Bowman, for quickness of movement, intelligence
in executing orders, rapidity in comprehending wholly unexpected difficulties,
good training in taking advantage of cover, the regiment was especially
commended." The tribute is especially pleasing to Colonel Bowman and his
friends because of the somewhat difficult position of commanding the regi-
ment in the absence of the senior officer. Had censure been his portion, no
matter how mild, it would have been felt keenly. Since praise is his share,
his pleasure is all tlie more heightened.'"
On September 16, 1887, Colonel Bowman \\as united in marriage with
Cora Fisher, daughter of Solomon and Harriett ( Rhodabaughj Fisher, the
former a retired merchant of Waterloo. Mrs. Bowman was born at Waterloo
on January 3, 1863. To the Colonel and his wife have been bom eight
children, six sons and two daughters, namely: Harry Fisher, born April 9,
1889, is an electrical engineer for the Hunt Helm Ferris Company, of Har-
vard, Illinois, with whom he has been employed continuously since 1907.
He married Leora Thompson, of Harvard, Illinois, and they have a daugh-
ter. Lelah: Paul A., liorn }ilay 23, i&^i. and wiio is unmarried, is assisting
his father in the handle business; Fred Rhodabaugh, born November 13.
1893, is a commercial traveler for the hat and cap house of G. H. Gates
Company, of Detroit, Michigan, and, though not yet twenty years old, is
a very successful salesman. These three sons have been especially educated
in their particular lines; Joseph Solomon, born March 20, 1886, is attending
high school and at the same time taking a special course in electrical engi-
neering; Wilbur E. and \\'alter M., twins, born January 15, 1900, are now
in their first year in high school, and are enthusiastic boy scouts; Harriet
Ida, born March 19, 1906, is attending school, and the youngest in the family
is Daisy May, born April 4, 191 1.
Colonel Bowman is an ardent lover of outdoor sports, being an enthusi-
DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 361
astic hunter and frequently going to the woods of Maine and Wisconsin in
pursuit of wild game. He has been very successful, being a splendid rifle
shot, and possesses many interesting relics of his trips, and is able to recite
many entertaining reminiscences. Personally he is a man of genial and
kindly impulses, a splendid conversationalist and entertaining companion
and enjoys a wide circle of warm and loyal friends. He and the members
of his family are identified with the Methodist Episcopal church at Waterloo,
and Mrs. Bowman is a devoted member and actixe worker in the Woman's
Christian Temperance Union. Colonel Bowman tleserves a large measure
of credit for the success which he has attained, for in earl\- Ixjyhoiid he was
compelled to work hard and liad \ery little oppurtunit)' for a school edu-
cation. In view of his own experiences he vowed he would give his children
better chances for education and for a right start in life tha-n he enjoyed, and
he is, to the extent of his ability, fulfilling his vow. Tall, well built, and
with a distinct military carriage, he is a man of pleasing address and is a
welcome member of all the circles in which he mores. He has been an
important factor in the commercial and industrial prosperity of Waterloo
and holds an enviable position m the esteem of the community wliich is
honored by his citizenship.
GEORGE ROCK, M. D.
Actively connected with the profession of medicine, Dr. George Rock
has won that favorable regard that conies only as the result of superior ability
and personal worth. Having carefully prepared for the practice of his pro-
fession, he is now devoted to his work and his strict regard for the ethics of
the profession has gained for him the confidence of his brethren of the
fraternity as well as of the general public.
George Rock was born in Crawford county, Ohio, on January ii, 1854,
and is a son of William and Sarah (Greiner) Rock, the former a native of
Columbiana county, Ohio, and the latter of New York state. The home of
the subject's parents was in Crawford county, Ohio, for a number of years
prior to i860, when they moved to Delaware township, Defiance county, that
state, where the remainder of their lives was spent. The subject accompanied
his parents on their removal to Defiance county when a lad of but six years
and there received his elementary education, subsequently attending the high
school at Defiance. Early in his manhood he became identified with the mer-
cantile and subsequentlv the insurance business at Shenvood, but having
362 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA.
resolved to make the practice of medicine his Hfe work he abandoned these
pursuits and, in 1887, entered the Miami Aledical College at Cincinnati, where
he prosecuted his studies for two years. He then spent two terms at Rush
Medical College, of Chicago, after which he matriculated in the Toledo Med-
ical College, where he was graduated with the class of 1891, receiving the
degree of Doctor of Medicine. Immediately after his graduation he located
at Sherwood, Ohio, and entered upon the active practice of his profession.
In some respects one might have criticised him for making the change from
ordinary business pursuits, for while a resident of Defiance he had attained
to a high standing in business circles, being known as an enterprising and in-
fluential citizen and his fellow townsmen had manifested their esteem for him
by honoring him with various offices of trust. However, his career since
entering upon a professional life has proven the wisdom of his choice, for he
has continuously enjoyed a large and remunerative practice and has been
successful in the line of effort to which he has devoted himself. In 1900 Dr.
Rock came to Auburn, Indiana, and has been continuously engaged in the
practice of medicine and has enjoyed from the beginning his full share of
business in his line. He has successfully handled a number of very difficult
cases and has earned not only the regard of his professional brethren, but the
esteem and good will of the entire community.
Dr. Rock has been twice married, first at Sherwood, Ohio, to Amanda
Tavlor. who died soon after marriage. Two years later he married Margaret
Sausaman, also a resident of Sherwood, and a native of Defiance county,
and to them has been born a daughter, Emma. Margaret Sausamon is the
daughter of Samuel and Jane I SchwalO Sausaman. Her father came from
Pennsylvania to Crawford county, Ohio, moving from there to Defiance
county, that state, where he died at the age of eighty-seven years. Mrs.
Rock's mother. Jane (Schwab) Sausaman. wa'^ a native of Cermany, who
upon coming to America located first in Crawford county, thence moved to
Defiance county.
Fraternally, Dr. Rock is an active memljer of the Independent Order of
Odd Fellows, belonging to the subordinate lodge at Auburn, in which he has
passed through all the chairs and is now a member <if the grand lodge.
He also belongs to the encampment of that order at Garrett, and holds mem-
bership in the lodge of Knights of Pythias at .A.uburn. The record of testi-
mony is ample that Dr. Rock is a good citizen in the full sense of the term,
worthy of honor and public trust, ever doing worthily and well the life work
to which he has consecrated himself. Well qualified by natural aptitude,
training and experience for the profession which he follows, he is numbered
DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 3(iJ
among the steady and sterling citizens of his community, and as far as pos-
sible he devotes his attention also to the uplniilding of the community with
which he is identified, giving his support ti) every movement for the benefit of
his fellow men. He is genial and companionable and enjoys the friendslii])
of all who know him.
JESSE JOEL MUSSER.
Among the younger generation of DeKalb county citizenship who are
giving promise of fruitful lives and who are now laying the^ foundations for
their future careers is the gentleman whose name forms the caption to this
sketch.
Jesse Joel Musser was born at Sherwood, Ohio, on July 22, 1S91, and is
a son of Jacob G. and Lovina (Rock) Musser, now residents of Auburn.
Jacob G. Musser was also a native of the old Buckeye state, having been born
in Defiance county, Ohio, on November 7, 1852, and is a son of Joel and
Sarah C. (Gier) Musser. Both of these parents were of rugged old Pennsyl-
vania Dutch stock, and both came to Wooster, Ohio, with their respective
parents in an early day. their marriage occurring in that city. Immediately
after that interesting event, which occurred in the early forties, they moved
to Defiance county, that state, where they made their permanent home. Joel
Musser was a shoemaker by vocation and for many years followed that busi-
ness in Brunersburg, that being at a period when boots and shoes were made
to order. Eventually he abandoned the shoemaker's bench and took up farm-
ing which he followed during the remainder of his active life. He died in
1899. and his wife in 1901. Jacob G. Musser was born and reared on the
parental farmstead between Defiance and Brunersburg, and at the age of
seventeen years he went to the latter place and learned the blacksmith's trade,
which he followed for about forty-five years. When twenty-five years old,
he started a shop of his own at Sherwood, Ohio, and for a period of six years
operated a farm at the same time. In the fall of 1901 he moved to Auburn
and established a blacksmith shop, which he is still operating. His years of
experience have qualified him for the most difficult jobs of horseshoeing, in
which he specializes, and as a general blacksmith he has few equals and no
superiors. Though only medium in physical build, he is a man of extraor-
dinary endurance and on more than one occasion has shown unusual pres-
ence of mind and courage when shoeing nervous or vicious horses. At the
age of twenty-six vears. while residing in Sherwood, Ohio. Mr. Musser was
364 DEKALB COUNTY. INDIANA.
married to Lovina Rock, a sister to Dr. George Rock, whose sketch appears
elsewhere in this work. To Mr. and Mrs. Musser have been born eight chil-
dren, seven of whom are living: Charles, the first born, died at Auburn in
1910, at the age of thirty-two years ; he had been a teacher in a business col-
lege in Wisconsin, and had been married less than a year at the time of his
death; Maude is the wife of Arthur Thomas, who with his father and brother
runs an artificial ice plant and saw mill in Auburn. She is the mother of two
children, Arnold Clay and Cliarles Burgess; Albert, who is emploved at
Jackson. Michigan, is an automobile top builder, married Mary Schomberg,
and has two children, Howard and Ralph ; Edgar Guy, Sarah Ella, Jesse Joel,
George and Ruth, all of whom are still under the parental roof. Edgar is
employed at the Auburn automobile factory.
Jesse Joel Musser came to Auburn with his [jarents on tlieir removal
from Defiance, Ohio, and has finished his education in the high school. Mr.
Musser is an industrious young man of good character and splendid habits,
self reliant and possessing those qualities that betoken his future success.
He is genial in disposition and is deser\edl}' popular in the social circle in
which he moves.
EGBERT BEX SOX :\10TT.
The Mutt family of whicli tlie subject of this sketch is a descendant is
of English descent in lioth paternal and maternal lines, representatives of
which came to America in early colonial days. The family was an ancient
and honorable one in England. The emigrant ancestor was Capt. James
Mott, youngest son of John Mott, Esq., of Shalford, in the county of Essex,
who came to America in 1665-6, locating in Mamaronek, Westchester county,
New York. He was for several years a captain in the army of the Province,
and in later life one of the magistrates of Westchester county, appointed by
successive royal governors. He also engaged in agricultural pursuits, as did
all of his descendants down to Egbert B. Mott. During the Revolutionary
war another James Mott. the fourth of the name, ])articipated in the Sara-
toga campaign, resulting in the surrender of Burgoyne, and was given a com-
mission June 25, 1778, as ensign in Colonel Hopkins' regiment of Dutchess
county, New ^'ork. He married Mary, daughter of James Denton, of Xew-
burg, .New York, a Revolutionary soldier, who was captain of a company
of the Eourth Ulster County Regiment. His first commission was as second
lieutenant, October 11, 1775. He was fifth in descent from Rev. Richard
3V
DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 365
Denton, a Puritan divine of Halifax, Vorkshirf, Jingland. whu came to
America in 1630 in the ship "Aial)L'lia," with (iuvt-rncir W iiuhroi) and a
company who founded Boston.
When Egbert B. Mott was about twelve- years old his father died, leaving
a family of five sons and three daughters to the care of the mother. After
a few years' residence in Saratoga county, New York, the family removed
to Lehman, Luzerne county, Penn.sylvania, about the }ear [824. Mr. Mott
was married December 30, 1830, in Abingdon, Luzerne county, Pennsylvania,
to Mary, the daughter of John W'interbotham, of ^loselex-, Lancashire, Eng-
land, where she was born on February 4, 1806. Her mother's maiden name
was .\nne \Vrigley. In i83r) Mr. Mott removed with his ,wife and two chil-
dren from Pennsylvania to Frederickstown, Knox county, Ohio, where Mrs.
Mott's family then resided. After living several years in Knox and Rich-
land counties, Ohio, Mr. Mott removed, in May, 1843, to Kalida, Putnam
county, where he made the acquaintance of Judge Morris, a young lawyer,
between whom and himself there formed a friendship as strong and endur-
ing as life. Subsequently Mr. ^Nlott and Mr. Morris came to Indiana in
search of a better location for the ])racticc of their profession, and Mr. Mott
located in Auburn on October 16. 1843, being the first lawver who settled in
this locality. In 1856 he was elected judge of the court of common pleas for
the district comprising the counties of DeKalb and Steuben. In politics the
Judge was first a Federalist, then a Whig and finally a Republican. He
had a remarkable memory, excellent judgment and the utmost firmness of
jirinciple. Throughout his whole life he was a faithful Christian, exempli-
fying his faith by a life of practical righteousness. He died on Se])teml)er
30, 1865, after an acute illness of three weeks. l"\\<i sons <lied before him.
Reginald llel)er, an infant, and .Sheridan Edward, who was wounded at
Chickaniauga on Septenilier 20. 18^3, and died in the hos])ital in Naslnille,
May 15, 1S64. Mrs. Mary W. Mott died on October 4. 1803, at the age of
eighty-seven years and eight months. During her earlier years Mrs. Mott
had many advantages from a literary and social point of view, for her father
was in partnership with Col. Da\id Humphreys and Judge John Humphreys
in the manufacturing business, they having engaged in the manufacture of
fine w-oolen goods, broadcloth, etc., at Seymour, Conned icul. then called
Humphreysville, this being the first --uccessful attempt to manufacture that
class of goods in the United States. Colonel Ilum])hreys had been one of
Washington's aides-de-camj) in the Revolutionary war and >ul)se(piently
United States minister to Portugal and Spain, froiu which latter country he
brought the lirst Merino sheep to America. .\t an early age Mrs. Mott was
366 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA.
placed in school at Derby, near Humphreysville, where her associations and
training were of the \ery best. Owing to the condition of her health, she
made a protracted visit with an uncle, Abram Wrigley, of Luzerne county,
Pennsylvania, where she rapidly improved, and not long afterwards began
teacliing school, and at Providence, a few miles from her uncle's residence,
slic first became accjuainted w ith her future husband, to whom she was mar-
ried on December 30. 1838.
EDWIX L. FOSDICK
Fealty to facts in the analysis of the character of a citizen of the t)-[)e
of Edwin L. Fosdick is all that is re(piired to make a biographical sketch
interesting to those wlio ha\e at heart the good name of the community,
because it is the honorable rejnUation of the man of standing and affairs, more
than any other consideration, that gives character and stabilitv to the bodv
politic and makes the true glory of a city or state revered at home rmd
respected abroad. In the broad light which things of good repute ever in-
vite, the name and character of Mr. l-'osdick stand revealed and secure, and
though of modest demeanor, with no ambition to distinguish himself in
pul:lic |i isition or as a leader of men, his career has been signally honorable
and it may be studied \vilb ])rotit liy the youtli entering u])on his life work.
lulwin F. l-'osdick, who for a number of years has occujjied a respon-
sible position with the b'.ckliart C'arriage C'ompan\' of .\ul)urn, is a natix'e
of this city, wliere he was 1;orn on Ma\' 1, 1856. He is the son of lulward
A\\ and Helen (J. ( Totten I l-osdick. Edwin \\'. h'osdick was born on July
12, 1822. in Kno.x county. Ohio, and was the son of Thomas Updike and
Rachel (Armstrong) Fosdick. 'Die history of the Fosdick family has been
traced back to Welsh ancestry, members of the family having emigrated
to America near the middle of the seventeenth century. They intermarried
here with the Ha\ens family, some of whom provided one of the first churches
on Long Island. The first of the family to come to DeKalb county. Indiana,
was Orville l-"osdick. oldest brother of Edward \\'.. who entered govern-
ment land in Wilmington township in an earl}- day. Sliortly afterwards,
in 1844, the other members of the family came here and located two miles
south of Butler, and that remained the permanent famil\- home as long as
the old folks lixed. Edward ^^^ Fosdick was a young man when he came
to this locality and li\-ed on the hon-ie place in Wilmington townsliiii until
DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 367
after his marriage, which occurred about 1850, when he was united to Helen
G. Totten, daughter of Joseph P. and Betsy (Barnes) Totten. She and her
parents had hved on a farm adjoining the Fosdick farm. Slie died on ^[ay
21. 1856, and Mr. Fosdick afterwards married Ruanna iirandon. a daughter
of Peter Brandon. She Hved only about a year after her marriage, dying
in April, i860, and in 1878 Mr. Fosdick married Eiizalieth H. Fetk-rhoff,
who now reesides on the old farm in Butler township. lulward W. I'os-
dick studied kiw at the University of Michigan, and practiced his profession
at lUitler. In US54 he was elected treasurer of DeKalb county and in
i833 moved lu Auburn in order to he close to his office and during his term
of two years the count r\- was Hooded with wild-cat currency. After the
completion of his term as treasurer Mr. Fosdick returned to Butler and
during the rest of his active years he devoted himself to the practice of law.
In 1869 he was elected state senator and ser\-ed one term. He died on
^larch (). i8(,(j. at the age of se\enty-seven years.
The subject of this sketch, whose birth occurred Init three weeks before
the death of jiis mother, was reared in the home al 1 Sutler and after com])let-
ing his public school education, he i)ecame a student in the Oliio Weslevan
University at Delaware, Ohio, after which he matriculated in the medical
department of the University of Michigan, frotn which he was graduated
in 1879. He then located in Kewanna, P\ilton cnuntx-. Indiana, where for
two years he engaged in the drug liusiness under ilie linn name of Fosdick
&• Ralston. He then returned to Butler and from 1SS2 to 1895 was en-
gaged in the drug business there, in which he met with \ery good success.
For a time thereafter he was on the road as a traveling salesman and also
for a period had charge of the I'nited States and I'acilic E.xpress Com-
panies' oftrces at Butler. He also ga^e some attention to the practice of
law, or rather to the business left I)y his father, liut eventually he sold the
law library and came to Auburn, with which city he has since l)een identi-
fied. He is now head bookkee])er in the office of the Fckhart Carriage
Company and is i)erfonning his duties to tlie entire satisfaction of his em-
ployers, whose interests he makes his own.
In i88i Mr. I'osdick was married to Josephine ^icCarter, then a resi-
dent of Kewamia, Indiana, and the daughter of Alexander and Mary L.
(Richey) McCarter. Fraternally, Mr. Fosdick is a memljer of the Free
and .Vccepted Masons, in which he has attained to the degree of the Royal
Arch lie and liis wife are both members nt the Methodist Episcopal
church, in the prosperity of which they are deeply interested. Mr. Fos-
368 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA.
dick enjuys an extensive acquaintance in his localit}- and none can boast
of more devoted friends than he, for in him are combined those characteri^tics
which gain and foster friendships that endure through all times and all vicis-
situdes of fortune.
ISAAC MYERS ZENT.
Tiie biographies of enterprising men, especially of good men, are in-
structive as guides and incentives to others. The examples they furnish of
patient purpose and steadfast integrity strongly illustrate what is in the power
of each to accomplish. Some men belong to no exclusive class in life;
apparently insurmountable obstacles have in many instances awakened their
faculties and served as a stimulus to carry them to ultimate renown. The
gentleman whose life history is herewith outlined is a man who has lived
to good purpose and achieved a splendid sixccess. By a straightforward and
commendable course he has made his way to a respectable position in the busi-
ness world, winning the hearty admiration of the people of his county and
earning a reputation as an enterprising, progressive man of affairs which the
public has not been .slow to recognize and appreciate.
Isaac Myers Zent was born near Massillon, Stark county, Ohio, on No-
vember 19, 1 850, and is the son of Jeremiah and Mary C. (Armstrong) Zent.
Jeremiah Zent was a son of Samuel and Elizabeth (Hage) Zent. Samuel
Zent was born in Franklin county, Pennsylvania, December 7, 1790, and
died March 2, 1855; the latter's wife, Elizabeth Hage, was born July 25,
1792, in the same county, and died August 31. 1874. Samuel Zent was the
son of Jacob and Susanna Zent, the former having been born January 30,
1763, and died October 25, 1845, his wife's birth occurring April 30, 1765,
and her death on March 13, 1841.
Jeremiah Zent, who was a farmer, moved, in 1850, id X'andalia, Illinois,
where he bought a large tract of land and there carried on agricultural opera-
tions during the rest of his active life. He was public spirited and took an
influential and imselfisb interest in the upbuilding and welfare of his com-
niunitv. He was a man of definite convictions on the great questions of the
day and, though living in a hotbed of secession, he openly espoused the cause
of the Union and during the Civil war he proved such a friend to soldiers
and soldiers' families that the Grand Army of the Republic afterwards made
liiiii ;in hi.norarv member of that society, though he had seen no military
service. He died in iqoi and his widow still resides in \^andalia.
DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 3(')9
Isaac M. Zent lived at Vandalia until lie was seventeen years old and
received a good practical education in the public sclmuls. He then left home
and started out in life on his own account, his first ettort being to learn the
trade of a telegrapher. Entering the employ of the Wabash railroad, he was
assigned to different stations on that system and in June, 1882, was ap-
pointed agent at the Auburn station. His services were here so faithfully
performed that he was retained in the position for twentv-eight vears,
through several changes of administration and after the Wabash company
sold the road to the Vandalia Railroad Company — in fact, up to the time he
was appointed postmaster of Auburn, his commission to the office being April
15, 1910. In the latter position he exhibited the same careful attention to the
performance of his duties as characterized him when in the employ of a cor-
poration, and his relations with his superiors and the patrons of the office
have been mutually satisfactory and pleasant.
In the business and commercial life of the community Mr. Zent has
long been an active and prominent figure. He was one of the organizers of
the Citizens National Bank, of Auburn, and is now the largest individual
stockholder of this institution, of which he has been a director ever since its
organization. He also assisted in the organization of the Savings Loan and
Trust Company and was one of its first directors, but he later sold his hold-
ings in that company to Rlonte L. Green. He is the only local stockholder,
and is a member of the board of directors of the Indiana Fuel and Light
Company, the company that furnishes gas to Auburn. Of the Auburn Com-
mercial Club Mr. Zent has been a member since its organization and a direc-
tor for many years, while in many other ways he has exerted a wholesome
and appreciated interest in the advancement of the business interests of Au-
burn and DeKalb county. Physically, l)uilt on the Abe Lincoln or Joe Can-
non style, Mr. Zent is, like them, a man of strong convictions and earnest pur-
pose, optimistic in his views of life, and affable and agreeable in his rela-
tions with his fellow men. These qnalities have combined to gain for him a
marked degree of popularity in the community in which so many of his active
years have been spent.
Politically, Mr. Zent has, for many years, been an active and influenlial
member of the Reiniblican party and in local political circles he is a promi-
nent figure, having for a number of years served as treasurer of the county
committee. Fraternally, Mr. Zent is a Mason, having attained to the thirty-
second degree of the Scottish Rite, and is also a member of the Mystic Shrine,
and the Auburn lodge. Knights of Pythias, having been a charter member
(24)
370 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA.
of the last-named organizatidti. heins a popular member of these several
fraternities.
On July 25, 1885. Mr. Zent married Laura E. Ensley, who was born
and spent her entire life at .\ubuin. Her parents, George and Lydia (Noel)
Ensley, were among the pioneer residents of Auburn, the family being for
many years prominent and influential in the affairs of the community. Mrs.
Zent was called to the higher life on October 5, igio. All in all, Mr. Zent
is a worthy representative of the sturdy, intelligent and progressive class that
gives stability to the body politic and character to the community, being broad-
minded, with wide views of men and affairs, and a true type of the enterpris-
ing American of today.
ANDREW JACKSON RALSTON.
The family of which the subject of this review is a creditable repre-
sentative has been known in DeKalb county since the pioneer epoch and,
-without invidious comparison, it can with propriety be said that no other
name is better known or more highly esteemed in this locality. Honored
and respected bv all, there is today no man in the county who occupies a
more enviable position in the regard of his fellows than Andrew J. Ralston,
not alone because of the splendid material success which he has achieved, but
also by reason of the splendid life which he has lived in this community.
He was bom at Plymouth, Richland county, Ohio, on September 9, 1841,
and is the son of Samuel W. and Eliza J. (Brink) Ralston. The subject's
paternal grandparents were Robert and Jane (Woodburn) Ralston, of whom
and their ten children the remarkable fact is recorded that their average age
was eighty-four years, the youngest having been over seventy-two years old
at the time of his death. These children were named Robert, Jr., James,
Mrs. Jane Hall, Mrs. Margaret Hall, Mrs. Mary Gribben, Alexander, Samuel
W., Mrs. Maria Dixon, David and Mrs. Julia Bodley. In 1814 Robert and
Tane Ralston moved, with their family, from \\'ashington county. Pennsyl-
vania, to Richland county, Ohio (now Ashland county). There Samuel W.
Ralston, who had been born in Washington county. Pennsylvania, on De-
cember 12. 1807, began to learn the trade of a carpenter, which he followed
with considerable success for a quarter of a century. In December, 1842,
he brought his family to Auburn, Indiana, arriving here on the 12th of De-
cember and being the eighth family to locate in this city. He here fol-
lowed his trade of carpenter, in which he became quite prominent. In 1843
DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 37 I
he took the contract for the completion of the first courthonse, a two-story
frame building, thirty-five by fifty feet in size, and the frame work of which
had been put up by the first contractor, Joseph Heit, who then relinquished
his contract. Mr. Ralston completed the contract in 1843. In 1846 he was
elected sheriff of DeKalb county, serving two years, and was then elected
county treasurer for a like period. In 1856 he was again elected to the office
of .sheriff and was re-elected in 1S38. In iSru he engaged in the mer-
cantile business, in which he was successful and which commanded his at-
tention until about five years prior to his death, when he retired from busi-
ness and spent the remainder of his days quietly at his home, a large and
substantial brick building, which he had erected at the corner of Tenth and
Main streets and which is still standing in good condition. There his death
occurred on March 6, 1891, and his widow died there in August. 1893. Mrs.
Ralston, whose maiden name was Eliza J- Brink, and whom he married in
1834, was a native of Plymouth, Ohio. She was a faithful member of the
Presbyterian church, of wliich her husliand was a regular attendant. They
were the parents of four children, namely: Helen M. died in November,
1855, at the age of about twenty years: Emily A., who died on January 20,
1903, was the wife of W. H. Dills, of Auburn: Andrew J.: George C. is
engaged in the hotel business at Sulphur Springs, Arkansas.
Andrew J. Ralston was reared in Auburn, securing a fair education in
the public schools, and in young manhood was variously employed, usually
in drygoods stores and other mercantile houses. He served as deputy sheriff
under his father and in a like capacity under Sheriff J. N. Miller. From
1869 to 1873 he served as deputy county treasurer under Treasurer F. D.
Ryan, and then for about seven years he was successfully engaged in buy-
ing and shipping grain. In 1882 Mr. Ralston went into the grocery business,
to which he devoted his attention until 1896, when he disposed of that busi-
ness and has since mainly occupied himself in looking after his farming
interests. He owns one farm of one hundred and seven acres east of Auburn
and an undivided half interest in one hundred and sixty acres nine miles
south of Auburn.
For many years Mr. Ralston took an active part in public affairs and was
a prominent and influential figure in the councils and conventions of the
Democratic party, but of late years he has somewhat retired from active par-
ticipation in these things, though his interest in current affairs has not in
the least abated. For six years Mr. Ralston has rendered appreciated ser-
vice as historian for the Old Settlers' .Association, in the proceedings of
which he has long been deeply interested, .^s a storehouse of facts and
372 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA.
traditions regarding the early history of DeKalb county he is an authority,
and his utterances on these things are entitled to credence, for to him belongs
the distinction of being the oldest citizen of Auburn in point of vears of
continuous residence, and he lias taken considerable pride in collating much
interesting and valuable local history which otherwise might have been lost
to future generations.
On February 25, 1864, Mr. Ralston was married to Hadessa J. George,
who was born in what is now Ashland county, Ohio, the daughter of James
Currie George and Priscilla (Reynolds) George. Mr. George was Ijorn in
Ashland county, and his parents, who were natives of Pennsylvania, were of
Scotch-Irish ancestrj'. Priscilla Reynolds was born in Delaware and in her
childhood she was brought to Ohio by her parents, James and Mary (Mc-
Clellan") Reynolds. Mrs. Ralston was but a 1iabe in arms when, in Novem-
ber, 1842, the family came to Auburn, her father having bought a half sec-
tion of land a mile east of that city some time previously. When they moved
here he brought the price of the land in silver in his wagon. He had a
brother Iiere, with whom he stayed a short time, and the money was put and
safely kept under a puncheon floor, there being no banks here at that time.
On the tract of land referred to the George family made their permanent
home, Mr. George carrying on farming operations there during the rest of
his active life. He became prominent in the early life of that locality and
served in several township offices, always to the entire satisfaction of his
fellow citizens. His death occurred in 1849, at tlie early age of thirty-six years,
leaving a wife and two daughters, Mary Ann and Hadessa. The widow
lived to be eighty-seven years old, her death occurring in August, 1903.
To Mr. and Mrs. Ralston have been born three children, as follows:
George M., liorn in October, iS^;, is connected with the Commercial Bank at
Ft. Wayne and is secretary for the well known real estate and banking firm
of Strauss Brothers, which does an annual business of more than two million
dollars. ;\.t Ft. \\"ayne, he married Nettie Ernest, a resident of Auburn, and
they have two children, Roger Jackson and Hubert Russell; Alzein Aileen,
whose death occurred on March 30, 1903, was the wife of Harry K, Scott, of
Angola. Indiana; Helen S. is the wife of Monte L. Green, a lianker at
Garrett, this county, and they liave a daughter. Alzien Louise. Mrs. Ral-
ston is a member of the Presbyterian church and is also well known in club
and. literary circles of Auburn. She is one of the three active members of the
Ladies' Literary Club of this city who were charter members when the club
was organized in April, 1882. it being the oldest woman's club in northern
DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 3-3
Indiana and next to the oldest in the state. She is a woman of kindly man-
ner and is deservedly popular in the circles in \\ inch she moves. Mr. Ralston
has through the years performed his full dut>- as a citizen, standing as a man
among men, and today he enjoys to an eminent degree the confidence and
good will of all who know him.
HENRY E. ALTENBURG.
The life history of him whose name heads this biographical memoir is
closely identified with the history of DeKalb county, Indiana, which was long
his home. He began his career in this locality in the pioneer epoch and
throughout the years which later came and went he was closely allied with
its interests and upbuilding. He was of a high type of progressive citizen
and his life was one of untiring activity. The cause of humanity never had
a truer friend than Mr. Altenburg, who long since passed to the higher life.
In all the relations of life — ^family, church, society and business — he dis-
played that consistent Christian spirit, that natural worth, that endeared him
alike to all classes. His integrity and fidelity were manifested in every re-
lation of life, and the example of such a life is always an inspiration to
others. In dealing with mankind, his word was his bond: deceit ne\'er
entered into any transactions lie liad with his fellow men. His plain, rug-
ged honesty, his open-hearted manner, unilisguised and unaffected, is to his
descendants a sweet and lasting memory.
Henry E. Altenburg, who was an honored early pioneer of DeKalb
county, was born near Sandusky, Ohio, on April 23, 1838, and died at his
home in Auburn in February, 1889. He was a son of Daniel and Sarah
(Latson) Altenburg. Daniel Altenburg was a native of the IMohawk valley,
near Buffalo, New York, and eventually moved from that locality to San-
dnskv. Ohio, where they lived two years. \Mien Henry E. was a baby of
ajjout two months, the family came to DeKali) county. Indiana, following
blazed trails through the interminable forests which then covered the country,
no roads or bridges having been Iniilt as yet. The first bridge over Cedar
Creek, between Waterloo and Uniontown, was then being erected, and they
were compelled to ford that stream, which was so deep that the cows, which
were tied beside the wagon, were compelled to swim. Before reaching
Auburn they became lost in the deej) snow one night and called loudly for help.
374 DEKAl.B COUNTY, INDIANA.
They were lieard by Isaac B. Smith, a farmer, who came to their rescue
with a lantern and guided them to his home. They were then between
Waterloo and Uniontown and it took them all the following day to get to
Auburn. Upon reaching this locality Daniel Altenburg entered a quarter
section of government land two and a half miles east of Auburn, the tract
being located in the midst of a dense forest, from which the only road to the
little settlement at Auburn was a narrow and winding trail. Here they estab-
lished their permanent home and. amid the pioneer conditions of that day.
they started In clear the land, build a home and plant the soil. Here Daniel
and Sarah Altenburg reared their family of nine children, six sons and three
daughters, namely: Daniel L., Mary Jane, Henry E., Harriet E., David
Cosper, Isaac L.. Sylvia A.. William J, and Frank F. Politically, Daniel
Altenburg was a stanch Republican and was a strong supporter of the Union
cause during" the war of the Rebellion, and, though too old himself to enlist,
he sent four sons to the front to fight for the preservation of the nation. He
was an honored and resi^ected citizen of his community and for many years
served as justice of the peace. in ynung mnnhiKKl he lost an arm from the
eiifects of a tree falling on it and (mm this \\(jund he >uti'ered during all the
remainder of his life, the pain frequently being intense, luit he bore his suffer-
ings with patience and Christian fortitude. He was public spirited to a
notable degree and it is related of him that, having bought the old court
house, which had been moved from its original site to make way for the
new brick building, he gave the nid building to lie burned in celebration of a
Union victorv during the war. Haniel .Mtenburg's first wife, the mother
of the children before mentirmetl. tlied in 1863, and he afterwards married
Susanna Seibert. whose first Juisband had l-een killed in the war. She now
resides northwest of Auburn, at the advanced age of eighty-seven years.
About 1870 J\Ir. Altenburg moved into Auburn, where he spent his remaining
days, dying in January, 1887.
Henry E. Altenburg was reared on the paternal farmstead, east of
Auburn, living there until the outbreak of the Civil war, when he enlisted in
Company G, Nineteenth Regiment Indiana Volunteer Infantry. He was in
constant and active service for eighteen months, taking part in the first battle
of Bull Run and the other great battles in which the Army of the Potomac
participated tip to the time he received his honorable discharge. In the fall
of 1864 Mr. Altenburg again enlisted, this time in the First Indiana Batter)'
of Heavy Artillery, with which he saw service along the Mississippi river
and at the battle of Mobile Bav- He recei\ed his final discharge from the
DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 375
service in November, 1865. His two brothers, Daniel and Isaac, were in
the service with him during his second enlistment.
On January 27, 1864, while at home between his two enlistments, Mr.
Altenburg was married to Sarah C. Bodine. She was born near Plymouth,
Ohio, and came to DeKalb county in 1861 with her mother, Elizabeth E.
(Chamberlain) Bodine, her father, John Bodine, having died in August,
i860. Elizabeth Chamberlain was born in Cayuga county, Xew York, and
was there married, her husband also being a native of that county. They
moved to Plymouth. Ohio, where he engaged in farming, and later ran a shoe
store. After his death, his widow and her six children came to Auburn,
where she resided until all of her children were married.
After the war Henry E. Altenburg made his home in Auburn, w here he
took up the vocation of a caipenter, becoming a contractor and erecting a
number of houses, some of which are still standing. In 1876 Mr. Altenburg
became a railway postal clerk, which employment he followed for nearly
twelve years, when he resigned and moved to Kendall, Hamilton county,
Kansas, where he engaged in the feed business. He remained there a little
over two years, when the extreme and long-continued drought caused a wide-
spread failure of crops, entailing upon him a loss of all his capital. He then
brought his family back to Auburn, and during the following winter he was
taken sick, his death occurring in February, 1889.
To Plenry E. and Sarah C. Altenburg were Ijorn four children, as fol-
lows: Harry O., who lixes in Kalamazoo, Michigan, is connected with the
Burroughs Adding Machine Company: Clara E. is the wife of John Zimmer-
man, of Auburn, whose sketch appears elsewhere in this work; Eugene C. is
advertising manager for the Zimmerman Manufacturing Company: John D.
is a successful dentist at Findlay, Ohio.
Religiously, Mr. Altenbm'g was an earnest, faithful and consistent mem-
ber of the Methodist Episcopal church, in the prosperity "of which he was
deeply interested. Fraternally, he was for many years an appreciative mem-
ber of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. In his domestic relations,
Henry Altenburg was a faithful husband and a kind father, affectionate in
his home relations, while in the coniniuuity he was a ccmscientious man and
a good citizen in the broadest sense of the term. (_)uiet and unostentatious
and seeking the sequestered ways of life rather than its tumult and .strife, he
ever attended strictly to bis own affairs and made better all who came w ithin
range of his influence.
2)y(i DEKAI.B COUNTY, INDIANA.
ALPHEUS W. MADDEN.
Practical industry, wisely and vigorously applied, never fails of success.
It carries a man onward and upward, brings out his individual character and
acts as a powerful stimulus to the efforts of others. The greatest results in
life are often attained hy simple means and the exercise of the ordinary
qualities of common sense and perseverance. The every-day life, with its
cares, necessities and duties, affords ample opportunities for acquiring ex-
perience of the best kind and its most beaten paths provide a true worker
with abundant scope for effort and self improvement.
Alpheus W. Madden, the present efficient and ])opular auditor of De-
Kalb county, and successful business man at .\u])in-n, is a nati\e of the old
Hoosier state, having been born in Eel Ri\er townsliip. .Mien countv, on
February 19. 1856, and is a son of William and Rachel (Taylor) Madden.
The father, who was bfirn in Tuscarawas county, Ohio, came to Indiana in
the early forties, and settled in Allen countv. where he formed the acquaint-
ance of and married Rachel Taylor, tlie daughter of Aljraham and Ro.xey
Taylor. They spent all their lives and died in that townshi]>, wliere he had
followed the vocation of farming during ;dl hi> .ictixe years.
Alpheus W. Madden remained on the home farm in .\llen comity until
twenty-two years of age and recei\ed a fair practical education in the com-
mon schools. .\t the age mentioned be started in life for himself, working
as a farm hand for fifteen dolhirs per month, and during this period while
employed in si)litting rails, be was disaliled 1)\ an accident. Tims finding
himself disqualified for heavy manual labor, be felt the necessity for further
education, and to this end went to h'ort Wayne anil took a course in the com-
mercial college at that place. lie then engaged in the insurance Imsiness
for about a year and a half and then ])ecame a salesman of marble and
granite work, which be followed for about three years. In 1882 Mr. Mad-
den moved to .\ubum ;md engaged in the marble and granite business in
partnership with Walton 1\. Smith. His business was [)rosperous from the
start and in 1886 he brmght the place at the corner ot Jackson and Seventh
streets now occupied by the Jenkins grocery store, hut which at that time
was occupied by a frame building which he used for their work. In 1892
Mr. .Smith died and he was succeeded in the jiartnership b\- Mr. Madden's
two brothers. Jose])b R. and Charles E.. who continued together about four-
teen years when the subject of this sketch bought his brothers' interests and
took in as a partner his son. Frank. Tbev bax'e continued tlie business
ALPHEUS W. MADDEX
DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. }^JJ
together and have been eiuinenlly successful in (heir \\<irk. In 1888 Mr.
Madden and Mr. Smith, his f(.>rnier [);irtner, hniU the [ireseut Mock in wiiich
the Jenkins grocery store is located antl continued their liusiness there until
about 1893. Soon after the erection of thi> huildiu!;, Mr. Ahidden hou^ht
a farm of eighty acres adjoining the city of .Xuhurn on the northeast and
about three years later he erected here a handsome residence fronting on
East Seventh street, where he now resides, combining with the advantages
of city life the profit and pleasure of a country home. In h»<)3 Mr. Madden
bought ground and built another business block on Mast Seventh street be-
tween his home and the postoffice, and here the monument business is car-
ried on today. In i(p6 he bought land at the corner of Ninth and East
streets, where he erected a large l)arn, now occupieil by (ireen's livery busi-
ness. On one corner of Mr. Madden's home farm is located the .Vuburn
base ball park. \Miile in i)artnership with .Mr. Smith, they also bought the
old farm in Allen county, where Mr. Madden was reared, but he has since
disposed of it. He has also Iniilt other residence ]>roperties in Auburn, one
north of his monument works which is occupied by bis son, Frank, and a
house across Seventh street from bi> home, which is now occupied by his
daughter, Mrs. Nelson. Possessing marked business ;iliil!ty. energetic and
hustling, Mr. Madden has long enjoyed the major part (pf the business in
his line in this county ami community, and because of his success and his
personal worth he is numbered among the leading men of the county.
Mr. Madden has ftir many \ears been an active supporter (jf the Demo-
cratic partv, and in i8()3 was elected trustee of his township, holding the
office four years. In November, kiio, he w;is elected auditor of DeKalb
coimty, and is the present incumbent of that office. His nomination was
secured after an unusually hard fight, but his course in office has proved the
wisdom of the choice. He is distinctly a selfmade man in the fullest sense
of the term and is entitled to the fullest meed of credit for his accomplish-
ments. He is always to be found in the auditor's office at six-thirty o'clock
in the morning and keeps hard at his official duties until closing time in the
evening. His courteous treatmeiU of all who ha\ e dealings with him h.ave
won for him a deserving popularity with the people.
On December 25, 1884. Mr. M.idden was married to Katie Fox, daugh-
ter of Charles and Margaret ((hiillen) I'ox. She was bom in Marshall,
Texas, came to DeKalb count\- w ith her parents in 1866. Her father was
a native of Germany and her mother of (ieorgia, ;ind after locating in
•Vuburn her father was engaged in the butcher Inisiness up to the time of his
378 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA.
death, which occurreil <m June icj. 1878. Mrs. Fox now nialces her home with
Mrs. Madden.
To Mr. and Mrs. Madden ha\e been born seven children: Frank, who
is engaged with his father in the marble and granite business, was married
to Myrtle McClellan, and they have one son, Richard; Leona is the wife
of Stanley P. Nelson, deputy coimty auditor ; Effie is also assisting her father
in the auditor's office; Inez, Mabel, Grace and Homer are all at home.
Fraternally, Mr. Madden is a meml)er of the Knights of Pvthias and takes
a lively interest in the workings of the order. Genial and approachable in
manner, he is deservedly popular throughout DeKalb county.
FUGKX1-: G. ALTKXIiU
.Vniung the citizens of Aubnrn. DeKalh counl\. Indiana, who occupy
prominent i)ositions as reiiresentatixe men of the rommunitx' is the gentleman
wh(ise name appears at the head of this sketch. A man of -sterling integrity,
marked business ability and genial disposition, he lias n(.)t only earned the
confidence and res[)ect of hi^ !)u,-<iness associates, but has gained for himself
the good will of all who ha\e come into contact with him.
Eugene G .-\ltenburg, who has chnrge of the advertising deiiartment for
the Zimmerman Manufacturing Gumpan\- at .Vuliurn, was Ijorn in the city
which is now honored 1;\- his citizenship on January 10. 187J. He is the son
of Henry 1'".. and Sarah I'. ( liodine ) Altenburg, who are mentioned spe-
cifically elsewhere in this work, tlierefore it w^ill not l>e necessary to de\-ote
further space to them at this i)oint. Eugene G. Altenburg was reared in the
parental home at Aulnirn and secured his education in th.e excellent public
schools of this cit\-. -\t the ;ige of eighteen _\-ears he took up life's duties on
his own account, obtaining employment in the office of the Zimmerman Manu-
facturing Gomijany. wilh whom he remained about fi\e years. In 1899 '^I'"-
Altenburg went s(juth, being located in three different ])laces and engaging in
the drug business at his last location. In April, 1():h). he returned to Auburn
and again became a member of the office force of the Zimmerman Gompany,
being given charge of the advertising for that company, in which position he
is still acting. Po.ssessing originality and artistic sense. .Mr. .Mtenburg has
demonstrated his \alue to the business and has been one of the important fac-
tors in the splendid success which has characterized this well-known concern.
DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. },yi^
Mr. .\ltenhuro- was married, on October 24, 1894, to Hattie E. Casebeer,
the (lau.yhter of Dr. Jacob B. and Sarah E. ( Xycuni ) Casel)eer, who also are
mentioned on other pages in this work. I'o Mr. and Mrs. .Mtenbnrg ha\e
Ijeen born two sons, Harry, l:orn al Indianapolis, Indiana, on December 23,
1896, and Robert E.. born at Tnllahoma, Tennessee, on October 8, 1900. Of
marked domestic tastes, Mr. Altenlnirg is a home lover and finds his greatest
and truest enjoyment in the pleasant and attractive home in which he lives.
Fraternally, Mr. Altenburg is an appreciative member of the Independent
Order of Odd Fellows, while, religiously, he and his wife are earnest and
faithful members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Quiet in disposition,
yet genial in his intercourse with his fellows. Mr. Altenburg has won a host
of warm personal friends in this community, where practically his entire life
has been passed. He is keenly alive to his responsibilities as a citizen and
gives his support to e\'ery mo\ement which i)r(]niises to benefit the community.
materially, educationally, niora'ly or socially. De is fully deserving of the
large measure of public confidence and esteem \vliich is accorded to him.
ORIN BRANDOX.
.Among the citizens of DeKalb county who are \\idel\ and favorably
known is Orin Brandon, one of .\nbuni'> useful .nid highly esteemed men.
His life has become a part of the history of the conniiunity in which he has
made his home for many years, and his long and honora]:)le business career
has brought him before the public in such a wa\- as to gain the esteem and
confidence of his fellow-men and a well deserved reputation among his con-
temporaries. Keen perception, tireless energy and honesty of purpose, com-
bined with mature judgment and every-day common sense, have ever been
among his most prominent characteristics, and while laboring for individual
success and for the material interests of the community, he has also been
instrumental in promoting the moral welfare of those with whom he has
mingled.
Orin Brandon was born about two miles west of .\ul>urn. Indiana, on
Januarv 11. i86(), and is the son of Isaac and B.arbara ( Kutziier ) Brandon.
Both parents were natives of Stark county, Ohio, having been born a short
distance west of Canton. Isaac Brandon, who was bom on May 12, 1836, was
reared on a farm and in the city of Canton. His parents were John and Mary
380 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA.
(Beard) Brandon, tlu- father having been a successful farmer n{ that com-
munit_v and also ha\ ing served efificiently as sheriff of Stark county. He
was a native of Ir'ennsyh-ania. In June, 1849, John Brandon brought his
family to DeKalb county, Indiana, and settled on what is now known as the
Brandon farm, adjoining Auburn on the west. With the exception of about
six months, during which Isaac Brandon was clerking in .Auburn, the latter
lived with his parents until 1862, assisting his father with the farm work.
.\fter his marriage in the year mentioned, he moved to a farm which he had
])urchased in Richland townshi]) and lived there until 1873. when he mo\-ed
back to the o'd homestead. In the fall of 1874 he and his brother. Silas J.,
went to Nebraska with the intention of buying land and locating there, but in
their absence their father was taken seriously sick and upon Isaac's return
home, he settled permanently at the old farm. Mr. Brandon showed himself
a good manager, a practical farmer and a successful business man. .\lthough
he never aspired to official honors, he always took a deep and active interest
in public affairs, giving his support to the right men for the office sought.
While a resident of Richland township he was elected justice of the ])eace,
but did not qualify for the office. On March 20, 1832, he was married to
Barbara .A. Kutzner. tlie daughter of I.saac Kutzner, a native of Canton. Ohio.
To this union were born the following children : .Alva, Ira. Orin. .\sa, I'lla.
Myron and Artie. Isaac Brandon was the owner of one hundred and thirty
acres of land lo which he ga\-e his attention, and though adx.uiced in years.
he was niuuliered among the enterprising and progressi\e men of his locality.
His death occurred ou Monday. May j':,. 1013. at his old home near Auburn.
Orin Brandon was reared to maturity on the home farm, and at the age
of seventeen years he started out in life for himself, .going to Texas and
Indian Territory, where he found eni])lnyment on a railroad. -\ year later
he went to Jackson. Michigan, where he entered the employ of the Lake Shore
& Michigan Southern railroail, but cpiit that employment because he did not
find it sufficiently remunerative. Retiu-ning then to Auburn he took up the
carpenter's trade, at which he worked until 1893. when he and Perry J. Long
began taking building contracts. They were engaged together in this line of
work about eight years and built some of the best buildings in .\uburn, in-
cluding some of the larger store buildings in the business section of the city.
In March. 1903, Mr. Brandon ga\e u]) the contracting business, when he and
O. G. Huff, of South Bend, Indiana, bought the lumber yard formerly owned
by the A. Lewis Lumber Company. Mr. Huff' continued his residence in
South Bend, and traveled a great deal, leaving the actual management of the
DEKAI.B COUNTY, INDIANA. 381
business to Mr. Brandon, \v!io ga\u to it his personal altentitjn. and to whuse
effective efforts was due the large trade which they enjoyed in this line. In
.March, kjij;, the Huff intere>t> were inu-cliased by iMank W. Olinger, of
Auliurn, who continues to he the business associate ot' Mr. iirandon. The
latter gives practically his entire time to the lumber business, although he is
also connected with the Auburn lluilding and Loan A.ssociation. He carries
a large and complete line of both building and dimension stock, and side lines
required in the building trade, so that he is able to accommodate any calls
upon him in his line.
In the local life of the ctjmmunity Mr. Brandon has taken a dee]) and
abiding interest and for about eight years was an elffcient me^nber of the city
council. While he was in ofifice the contract was let for the first paved streets
in Auburn, and the sewer system was contracted for just before he entered
office. Fraternally Mr. Brandon is a member of the Independent Order of
Odd Fellows, in which he takes a deep interest, and he and liis family belong
to the Methodist Episcopal church, he being a trustee of the local organization.
On April 9, 1891, Mr. Brandon married Winnie Rant, daughter of
Frederick and Mary ( .-Vshelman ) Rant. She was born and reared in Auburn,
and in her veins runs stanch old (ierman blood, her father having Ixeen a
native of the Fatherland, and her mother, though of Swiss parentage, was
born about a half-mile east of Au.burn. Frederick' Rant came here when a
young man and married Mary Ashelman. He followed the vocations of har-
ness making and shoe making in the early days, and was also a successful and
popular preacher in the German Methodist church. Mary Ashelman was the
daughter of John J- .Ashelman, an old settler, who followed farming east of
Auburn, where Mrs. Brandon's mother was reared. Her father died here
about 1880, and the mother still lives in Auburn.
John U. Ashelman, paternal grandfather of Mrs. I^randon, was born at
Basle. Switzerland, in 1792, was reared in that city and there engaged in
the milk business. He married Mary Everhart in Basle, and within a year
afterward he came to -America, arriving here in 1832 and locating in Wayne
county, Ohio, where they lived for about ten years. He bought a farm of
eightv acres there and gave his attention to its culti\ation. In 1836 he came
to Auburn, DeKalb county, Indiana, there being then Inii three houses in
Auburn. He entered land upon his arrival here, and while building his first
home, he lodged with some friendly Indians. His entire possessions of real
estate here amounted to about six hundred and forty acres of land located at
ihe east edge of .Xuburn, part of which being now comprised within the
382 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA.
city limits. He also entered a tract of land near the city of Fort Wayne, this
state. He contracted to ha\e some of the land cleared, and returned to his
home in Ohio, where he lived until 1842, then came here and spent the balance
of his life on his own place. His death occurred in 1856. His widow sur-
vived him several years, dying in 1864. At the time of his death, Mr. Ashel-
man owned nine hundred and twenty acres of land and was considered quite
well-to-do for that day. They were the parents of three sons and six daugh-
ters, namely : Mrs. Elizabeth Carmer, Moses, Mrs. Barbara Eckhart and
William are deceased. Those living are Mrs. Mary Raut, Mrs. Regina
Weaver, Mrs. Annie Walker, Christopher, and Mrs. Rosa Saxton. John U.
Ashelman was in many respects one of the remarkable men of his day and
generation. He was not only a pioneer, but took a prominent leading part
in the development and upbuilding of the early community, and none of the
men who made the early history of this locality is entitled to greater credit
for its development than he. Energ\-. hospitalitx- and absolute integrity were
his leading characteristics and his long life was a blessing to the community.
To Mr. and Mrs. Brandon have been Iiorn four children, three of whom
are living: Russell, wiio died at the age of eleven years: Charles A., .\nnie L.
and Mary Elizabeth. By a straightforward and commendable course, Mr.
Brandon has made his way to a respectable position in the business world,
winning the hearty admiration of the people of his city and earning a reputa-
tion as a very careful and progressive man of afifairs. and a broad-minded,
upright and charitaljle citizen, whom tlie ]niblic has not been slow to recognize
and appreciate.
DR. TOHN E. GRAHAM.
The true western spirit of progress and enterprise is strikingly exempli-
fied in the lives of such men as Dr. Graham, men whose energetic nature
and laudable ambition have enabled them to conquer many adverse circum-
stances and advance steadily to leading positions in professional and business
life. The Doctor is a worthy representative of this class and is now a
prominent figure in the professional circles of DeKalb county, having been
successfully engaged in the practice of his profession in the town of Auburn
since 1899.
Jolin E. Graham, a successful dentist and popular citizen of Auburn,
DeKalb countv. Indiana, was born at Trenton, Ontario, Canada, on October
DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 383
2, 1875, and is the son of Major John E. Cirahani and Jennie E. (Meyers)
Graham. Major Graham was a graduate of Fort William Military Academy,
at Kingston, Ontario, an institution similar to the United States Military
Academy at West Point. He was commissioned a major in the English
army, but subsequently resigned and became engaged in business at Trenton.
His wife was a granddaughter of old Captain John Meyers, who. during the
French and Indian war north of Lake Erie, was a courier between Quebec and
Detroit. A brother of Major Meyers is now mayor of Kingston, an office
that receives much more honor in Canada than in this country. Major Gra-
ham died shortly before the birth of his son, the subject of this sketch. When
the latter was about twelve years old. his mother brought liim to the United
States, and subsequently she became the wife of Samuel Moody, of Waterloo,
DeKalb county, Indiana, her present residence being at Auburn. John E.
Graham, who is of the third generation of the family to bear that name,
attended the common and high schools at Waterloo and graduated in 1893.
Then, because of ill health, he spent a year in the highlands of Ontario. In
the fall of 1894 he entered the dental department of the University of Michi-
gan at Ann .\rbor, completing the course and receiving his degree in 1897.
He immediately entered upon the active practice of his profession at Water-
loo, but two years later moved to Auburn, where he has remained and where
he has built up a large and representative patronage. He possesses a thor-
ough knowledge of his profession and keeps closely in touch with the latest
advances made in the science of dentistry, being now numbered among the
ablest and most successful in his line in this section of the state.
On December 31, igoo, Dr. Graham married Bertha Kiplinger, of
Waterloo, daughter of Michael Kiplinger and wife, who are represented else-
where in this volume. To this union have been linrn three children, namely:
Gladwyn, DuVern and Erthenia.
In the civic life of the community in which he lives. Dr. Graham has
long taken an active and prominent part and from 1906 to 1910 he served
as president of the city board of health. Fraternally, he is a member of the
Masonic order, in which he has attained to the fourteenth degree of the
Scottish Rite. He is also a member of the Knights of Pythias, Uniform
Rank, and has served as chancellor commander of the lodge at Waterloo.
He also belongs to the Modern Woodmen of .\merica and the Brotherhood
of American Yeomen. Religiously, Dr. Graham and his wife are members
of the Presbyterian church, of which the Doctor is an elder, and in 1910 he
was honored by being made a commissioner to the general assembly of the
384 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA.
church wliich met at Atlantic City. He is a straightforward, conscientious
man, in whom his fellow citizens have marked confidence because of his
public spirit and splendid personal qualities. Personally he is genial and
companionable, and is popular in the social circles in which he moves.
DR. LID.V (POWERS) LEASURE.
The life of the scholarly or professional man or woman seldom exhibits
any of those striking incidents that seize upon public feeling and attract at-
tention. Their characters are generally made up of the aggregate qualities
and cjualifications they may possess, as these may be elicited by the exercise
of the duties of their vocations or the particular professions to which they
belong. But when such persons have so impressed their individualities upon
their fellows as to gain their confidence and through that confidence rise to
important public trust, they become conspicuous figures in the body politic of
the communitv. The suliject of this sketch is one of the scholarly women of
her count}-, who, not content to hide her talents amid life's sequestered ways,
has. l)y the force of will and a laudable ambition, forged to the front in an
exacting and responsible calling and earned an honorable reputation as the
head of one of the most important branches of public service. She is a well-
educated, symmetrically developed ^^■oman and, her work as an educator hav-
ing brought her prominenth^ to the notice of the public, the result has been a
demand for her services where a high standard of professional excellence is
required. She is fullv abreast the times in ad\anced educational methods and
her general knowledge is broad and comprehensive. Because of her earnest
life, high attainments, well rounded character and large influence, she is emi-
nently entitled to representation in a work of the character of the one in hand.
Dr. Lida Leasure is a daughter of the old Hoosier state, having been
born at Spring Hill, near Greensburg, Indiana, and is a daughter of Jonathan
and Mary (Hood) l^)wers. She was reared on a farm and her elementary
education was received in the common schools of ht-r neighborhood, which
was supplemented by attendance at a local academy. .Vt the age of about
twenty vears she became a student in the Terre Haute Normal School, where
she was graduated, after which she engaged in teaching school. Her first
pedagogical work was as a teaclier in the high school at JNIarshall, Illinois,
after which she taught in the Model School at Terre Haute and in the In-
dianapolis high school. In 1878 she came to .Aubin-n, where for several years
DR. LIDA LEASURE
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DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA.
she taught in the hit^li school, and seiNcd as suiiL-rint.-n(U
where she earned a S]ilendi<l re|iutation for h.ilh educ
ability. In 1880 she lau,<;ht in the hiu-h sehool at Princ
December 30th, that year, she was married to John Fl.
after which she resigned her position at Princeton and returned to Aui)urn to
reside. However, her love for educational work again attracted her to the
school room and in 1882 and for two or three years thereafter she was a
teacher in the Auburn high school. .Xhout this time she determined to take
up the practice of medicine and to this end she matriculated in the medical
department of the University of Michigan, at Ann Arboi-, where she was
graduated in 1888, with the degree of Doctor of Medicine, b'or a while Dr.
Leasure jiracticed her profession at -\uburn, but in 1802 she moved to An-
gola and, with the e.xception of a year at Logan^porl. Indiana, she was en-
gaged in the active practice at .\ngola until kio^, when, ha\ing found her
professional duties too e.xacting ami her hnsliand'^ hnsinev^ rec|uiring his
constant presence at .Auburn, they returned to the latter place, where they
have since resided. Here, having relinciuished her medical practice. Dr.
Leasure again entered the educational work antl for two years was principal
of the Riley school, and taught a year in the high school, resigning the latter
position. In June, igii, without solicitation on her part, she was elected to
the position of county superintendent of srhools, she ha\ing given her consent
to the election in response to the re(|uest of a number of the c.junly's in-
fluential trustees. She was elected for a four-year term, bul by legisl.ative
enactment her term has lieen extended to 1917. To Dr. Leasure ])elongs the
distinction of being the first woman to be elected to a public office in Indiana
and also of being the onl\- woman superintendent in the state. Though a
very busy woman, and the duties of her office responsible and exacting, she
loves the work and is discharging her official tluties in a lu.anner that has won
the approval and commendation of all classes. Personally. Dr. Leasure is a~
woman of many gracious qualities of head and heart which h.ive endeared her
to all who know her. Aside from her professional w<irk. ^be takes an intel-
ligent interest in the social, mond and civic life of the comnmnity. NUjiporting
every movement for ihe advancement of the welfare of the commuiiitx'. .She
is an honorarv member of the '..adies' !.iterar\ Club ami is a niembei- of the
Woman's Christian Temperance I'liion. while lur religious niembersbi]) is
with the Presbvterian clnu-cb. of which she is an earnest member.
Bv her union with iobn M. Leasure. who is referred to s|)ecificall\- else-
'(25)
386 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA.
where in this work, Mrs, L.easure has become the mother of the following
children: Flossie, the wife of Harry i\I. Richwine, of Auburn, and the
mother of a daughter, Helen Marguerite: and J. Kent, who is a student in
the medical department of tlie State I'niversity at Bloomington, Indiana.
DAVID J. SWARTS, M. D.
In giving the life record of the kite Dr. David J. Swarts, of Auburn,
Indiana, it is belie\ed that it w ill lie an incenti\e to the young who nia_\- peruse
it to lead nobler lives, have higher ambitions and accomplish more for their
fellow-men, for his life was e\er led along a plane of high endeavor, alwa_\ s
consistent with truth in its highest forms and ever in keeping with honorable
principles. He had an altruistic spirit — and for a half century he put forth
every efifort in his power to alleviate suffering, so that his name deserves to
go down in the history of his locality as one of its worthiest and most faithful
and efficient physicians. Thus, for many reasons, not the least of which is
the fact that he was one of the patriotic sons of the North who, when the
terrible tocsin of war sounded in the early sixties, unhesitatingly gave up the
pleasures of home and the pursuit of a profitable profession to do what he
could in behalf of the National Union, tlie biographer is glad to set forth tlie
salient facts concerning his long, useful and honorable career.
David j. Swarts was born near jeromexille. Ashland county. Ohio, on
June 30, 1S32, and was a son of David and Catherine (Smith) Swarts. He
remained on the farm with his parents until nineteen years of age. in the
meantime securing the rudiments of his education in the common schools.
He then became a student in \'ermillion Academy, at Hayesville. Ohio,
where he remained two and a half years. In 1836. having determined to
make the practice of medicine his life work, he entered upon its .study under
the direction of Doctors Robinson and Firestone, of Wooster, Ohio, with
whom he remained until the fall of 1858. He then entered the Ohio Medical
College, at Cincinnati, where he was graduated in March, i860, and later took
a post-graduate course in the Bellevue Hospital Medical College, in Xew
York Citv. He first located at Reedsburg. OInd. but in November, i860,
removed to Auburn, Indiana, where his abilities were quickly recognized and
he was soon in command of a large and remunerative patronage. His private
professional career was interru])tcd, linwe\er. by the outl;reak of the war of the
DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 387
Rebellion, which aroused his patriotic spirit and. ni June, 1862, he enlisted
as a private in Compan\- A, One Hundredth i'iegiment Indiana Volunteer
Infantry. At the organization of the company he was elected and com-
missioned first lieutenant, in wliich capacit}- he served until the following
October, when he resigned his commission in order to accept the commission
of assistant surgeon of his regiment, and rendered most faithful and efficient
service until the close of the war, being mustered out in June, 1865. He
participated in most of the battles in which the bifteenth Army Corps, under
Gen. John A. Logan, engaged, including Pigeon Roost, Resaca, Kenesaw
Mountain, the siege of Atlanta, siege of Vicksburg, Mission Ridge, Black
River, siege of Jackson, Lovejoy Station, P>enton\ilk- and manv others of
scarcely less importance.
In his professional practice Doctor Swarts was numbered among the
most successful in his section of the state, and was held in the highest regard
among his professional colleagues. In 1862, prior to his enlistment, he had
been employed as one of the county physicians, and in 1880 he was again
ap]5ointed .to that jiosition. while he also rendered effective ser\ice as secre-
tary of the county huard of healtli. He was nut (iiil\- an able ])hysician. but
he was characterized liy a ])rof(innd human -yni|)alltv. which ii\erlea])ed mere
.sentiment to Ijecome his actuating motue. Tiiose who knew him well were
unstinted in their jiraise of his kindly dispn-ition and his superior aJiility.
He was a member of the DeKall) County Medical .'society, the Indiana State
Medical Society, the Tri-State Medical Society ar.d the American Medical
.Association. In the summer of iqoo Doctor Swarts took a irij) to Europe,
his itinerary embracing England, German}-, Switzerland and b" ranee, \isiting
the Paris Exposition, while, professionally, he \isited a number of the leading
hospitals of Europe.
Dr. David J. Swarts died on ]\larch 3. 1903, in Peaver county, Okla-
homa, where he had entered a government claim on which he was staying to
prove it up, but chiefly for the benefit of his failing health. His remains were
brought back to Auburn for interment. His loss was deeply felt in this com-
munity, where so many of his acti\e years had been passed, his death coming
to manv as a personal bereavement, for he had endeared himself to all who
were numbered among his friends.
On August 28, 1862, Dr. David Swarts was married to Vesta M. Ward,
the daughter of Rev. Stephen Brown and Laura Ward, of Auburn, a sketch
of whom appears elsewhere in this work. She was born in Lorain county.
Ohio, on April 26. 1S41. and came to IVKalb C(iunty. Indiana, with her jiar-
3oO DEKALB COUNTY. INDIANA.
ents in 184J. She received lier early educatimi in the Auburn public schools,
completing her studies at the Xortheastern Indiana Academy, at Orland,
Steuljen county, in 1858. She then began teaching and from that time u])
to her marriage to Doctor Swarts she was identified with the educational
interests of DeKalh county, eventually becoming superintendent of the Auburn
schools. For a \ear during the early part of the Civil war she taught school
in Hicksville, Ohio, and in the great issue between the Xorth and the South
her loyalty inspired her to active efforts in behalf of the Union. She gave
frequent talks and readings at meetings called for the enlistment of volun-
teers, and later while teaching at Auburn she had a class of thirty students
who sang war campaign songs on sucli occasions. She still has in her posses-
sion several copies of these songs.
In July, 1864, Mrs. Swarts, i)ossessed with a deep consciousness of a
call to duty, resigned her position in the Auburn schools and started for the
Southland, her intention being to join her husband and assist liim in his care
for the sick and wounded soldiers. He was then located at .-\ltoona Pass,
Georgia. She called un Governor .Morton and asked for a pass, which he
readily gave her. but told her that cummunication was cut off by Hood's army,
which was in Kentuck}-, and that she prijlialil}- would not be able to get through
for some time, blowever. he ga\e her an order to report for service to Mrs.
Annie Wittenmyer, of the Christian Cduimissi'in. at Louisville, and there, on
July 15th, she began her work as nurse in the Brown U. S. General Hospital.
In October of the same year she was transferred to the Crittenden U. S.
General Hosjjital, at Louisville, where she remained until March ij. 18^15,
when, being unfit for further duty on account of poor health, she was hoiior-
ably discharged and returned to her home. Her experiences in this work
were necessarily far from pleasant, but she devoted herself, heart and soul,
to the work for which she had oft'ered herself and her record during that try-
ing period was one of faithful and self- forgetting ser\'ice for others. Only
those who have had actual experience on the battlefield or in hospitals can
fully realize how cheap human life is ofttimes held in time of war or of the
awful carnage of battle. In the Crimean war b'lorence Nightingale led her
devoted band o'f nurses along a new route in the mitigation of the horrors
of war, and her American sisters followed along the same merciful and loving
way. The nurses of the Civil war were recruited from e\ery-day life and
Mrs. Swarts was justly proud of the commission which she held from the
government, for such commissions were not to be had for the mere asking.
Referring to her exiieriences in those days. Mrs. Swarts. in one of her letters.
DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 389
wrote as follows: "A circular sent mil 1>\- the suijcrintendent of nurses of
the Sanitary Commission stated emphatically that all nurses are re(|uired to
be very plain looking women, their dresses must l)e hrown or hlack, with no
bows, no curls or jewelry, and no hoop skirls. 1 could have tilled that bill
of particulars perfectly, but was spared the inquisition, for Mrs. Wittenmyer.
of the Christian Commission, to whom I reported for duty, was less exacting
and my papers were duly signed by order of Secretary Stanton and the sur-
geon-general of the army."' Again she wrote : "The army nurses know no
North, no South, in their care for the sick and suffering."
In 1878 Mrs. Swarts decided lo (le\ote her-elf U> the practice of medicine
and, after studying for awhile with her husband, she took special courses m
medicine and surgery, and was admitted to the junior class of ihe department
of medicine of the University of Michigan, at .\nn .\rbor. And on March i.
1882, she graduated at the Ft. Wa^ne College of Medicine and received her
degree. She immediately entered upon the active ])ractice of her profession
at Auburn and later took a post-graduate course at New Orleans, Louisiana.
Dr. Vesta M. Swarts is a woman of high intellectual attainments, thor-
oughly demonstrated professional ability, and exalted personal character, so
that she has at all times enjoyed the fullest niea-^ure of confidence and regard
throughout the community where practically her entire life has been spent.
To David J. and \'esta Swarts were born two children, namely : Harris
J., on August 24, 1866, and \\'i!Iard Ward, on July 14. 1872. Harris J.
secured his educational training in the Auburn public schools and then com-
pleted a thorough course in practical telegraphy, in which he became an ex-
pert. From 1884 he was employed in active railroad service as an operator
and in 1893 he became a train dispatcher for the Illinois Central Railroad
Company, being now located as a chief dispatcher at Freeport, Illinois. He
has been a prudent manager of his private affairs and is the owner of valu-
able real estate at Auburn. He was one of the original incorporators of the
Auburn Hardware Company, in which company he was a stockholder. On
November i, 1888, he married Chloe S. Shoemaker, the daughter of A. Shoe-
maker, of Decatur, Illinois. To them were born two children. Mabel \'esta.
born June 27, 1890, and Harold \\'ard. born May 4. 1894. the latter dying
on October 28, 1896, and the former less than a week later, on November
2d, both deaths being caused by malignant diphtheria. Dr. Willard Ward
Swarts received his elementary education in the Auburn public schools, and
during both his junior and senior years in high school was president of his
class. He began the study of medicine under the direction of his parents.
39° DEKALB COUNTYj INDIANA. "
and then took the full course in the Ft. Wayne College of Medicine, after
which he attended the Ohio Medical College, at Cincinnati, where he received
his degree of Doctor of Medicine. Soon afterwards he took two terms at
the Post-Graduate Medical School and Hospital at Chicago, after which he
located at Poe, Allen county, Indiana, where he devoted himself to the general
practice of medicine and surgery. Five and a half years later he removed to
Auburn, where he has continued in the practice, with excellent results. He
is an honorary member of tlie Ft. Wayne College of Medicine Alumni Asso-
ciation, and while in Allen county he was a member of the Allen County
Medical Society and was a charter meml^er of the Ft. Wayne Academy of
Medicine. He is now a member of the DeKalb County Medical Society, the
Indiana State Medical Society and the American Medical Association. He
was appointed in January, 19 14, as secretary of the Auburn city board of
health, for a term of four years. On February 3, 1897, Dr. Willard S warts
married Nell Garside, the daughter of James W. Garside, of Edon, Williams
county, Ohio, assistant cashier of the Edon Banking Companv. To Dr.
Swarts and wife have been born two children, Irene, born March 7, 1898,
and Ward Garside, born September 28, 1906.
lOHN LEAS.
It is a well attested maxim that the greatness of a community or a county
or a state lies not in the machinery of government nor e\en in its institutions,
but rather in the sterling qualities of the individual citizen, in his capacity for
high and unselfish effort and his devotion to the public welfare. In these
particulars, he whose name appears at the head of this memoir conferred
honor and dignity upon the locality of his residence, and as an elemental part
of history it is consonant that there should be recorded a resume of his career,
with the object in \iew of noting his connection with the advancement of one
of the most flourishing and progressive sections of the comnionu ealth, as welt
as his relations with the commercial and financial affairs of the community
honored by his citizenship.
John Leas was born in Atlams county, Pennsylvania, near the historic
city of Gettysburg, on July 12, 1815, and was a son of Col. John, Jr., and
Sophia (Spangler) Leas, both of whom also were natives of the old Key-
stone state. He came of good old American stock, his paternal grandfather
DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 39I
liaving- been a soldier in the war of the Revolution. Colonel Leas was a
farmer and in tSiS he emigrated tu Stark connty. Ohio, where he began
operations on a tract of virgin soil. In 1838 he went to (Guernsey county,
that state, and there again created a good farm out of what was formerly
a wilderness. In the fall of 1852 the Colonel came to DeKalb county, Indi-
ana, and located on section 5, Smithfield township, where he again made a
farm, and there he remained until 1866, when he moved to Waterloo, where
his death occurred in 1875. While a resident of Stark county, Ohio, he was
commissioned colonel of a regiment of militia. In politics he was a Jack-
sonian Democrat and he acceptably filled a number of local ofiices. His wife
died in 1882. They were members of the Reformed church. Colonel Leas,
who was a man of more than ordinary ability, became a prominent figure and
an important factor in the atfairs i>f the various connnunities where he lived
and enjoyed universal respect.
John Leas was reared ujjou the paternal farmstead in Stark county.
Ohio, whither the family had mo\'ed when he was but three years old. Owing
to the modest circumstances of the family, he was not given large oppor-
tunities for an education, the log-cabin school of that locality being his only
chance. While still a resident of that county, he was married to Susan
SchimpfT, a native of Germany, who had emigrated to this country when
thirteen years of age. To that union were born twelve children, namely :
Peter, Susan ami a daughter unnamed died in infancy: Martin \"an Buren,
W'ho was born at Osnaburg. .Stark county. Ohio. <]u Aneu^it _'5. 1 S40, died at
his home in Salem township, Steuben comitv. Indiana, on March 31. 1899;
Jacob H., who lives north of Hudson, is the oldest of the family now' living;
John S.. who lived in Salem township. Steuben county, died, leaving six chil-
dren by his first marriage and two by the second; his widow now lives at
Ashley; Elizabeth L. is the wife of Oscar Taylor, a banker at Hamilton;
Adeline is the wife of Miles Jefiferson Waterman, of F"ranklin township, this
county: the other four children. Hezekiah H.. Obediah. VMlliam Henrs- and
Daniel Louis, all live at Waterloo, this county, and are represented in indi-
vidual sketches elsewhere in this work. In 1842 John Leas came to Indiana,
purchasing one hundred and f(5rt\-threK acres of land, and the following year
he moved his familv to this state. In 1867 be came to DeKalb county and
bought a fine farm in Smithfield townshij) and one year later moved on it.
and made it his permanent home, owning two hundred and fift}' acres of land
at the time of his death and being numbered among the successful and enter-
prising farmers of the county. In 1871 Mr. Leas was one of the leaders in
392 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA.
the organization of the Citizens Bank at Waterloo, which had a most suc-
cessful career. In the course of time he bought out the other partners and in
1881 became the sole owner of the bank, which he retained until 1896. when
he sold it to his son, Hezekiah, and retired from active business life, his
death occurring on June 25. 1897.
The record of Mr. Leas was a remarkable one in se\"eral res])ects and
the example of his life is one worthy of emulation. When he first came to
Indiana his material possessions consisted of eighty-five dollars in monev and
a yoke of oxen, but he was endowed with a large ambition and a great
capacity for work, elements which will insure success in almost any under-
takings Indefatigaljle in his efforts, keeping e\-er before him the highest of
ideals, he gradually forged ahead and eventually gained not only a compe-
tency, but also the universal confidence and good will of his fellow citizens.
Mrs. Susan Leas died on June 15, r88i, and subsequendy Mr. Leas mar-
ried Mrs. Amanda Mallory Patterson, widow of Robert Patterson, to wlnich
union were born five children.
Politically. Mr. Leas always sujiported the Democratic party and in
several offices of local importance he rendered valualjle services to his com-
munity. Religiously, he was a member of the Reformed church, while, fra-
ternally, he was a member of the Free and Accepted Masons, Ijelonging to
Waterloo Lodge No. 307. In Mr. Leas' business career, as well as his
private life, he was actuated by the highest motives, his actions being always
the result of careful and conscientious thought. His death removed from
DeKalb county one of her most substantial and highly esteemed citizens and
the many beautiful tributes to his high standing in the world of aft'airs and as
a man and citizen attested to the abiding place he had in the hearts and
affections of his friends.
FRANCIS MARK HINES, M. D.
Success in what are popularly termed the learned professions is the
legitimate result of merit and painstaking endeavor. In cominercial life
one may come into possession of a lucrative business through inheritance or
gift, but professional advancement is gained only by critical study and
research long continued. Proper intellectual discipline, thorough professional
knowledge and the possession and utilization of the qualities and attributes
essential to success have made the subject of this review eminent in his
chosen calling and he stands today among the scholarly and enterprising
Z^^)
DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 393
physicians and surgeons in a community lon-i; distinguished for the high
order of its medical talent. In the civic and political circles of DeKalb
county the Doctor has also long been a prominent figure, having served faith-
fully and efficiently in positions of public trust and responsibility, having
added prestige to a name already honored and dignified by his father.
Francis M. Hines was born on January 26, 1861, in Jack.son township,
DeKalb county, Indiana, and is the son of Henry and Sarah Abigail (Smith)
Hines. Henry Hines was born in .\shland count}-, Ohio, on April i, 1839,
a son of Francis and Lovina (Culler) Hines. In 1844 his parents moved to
Kosciusko county, Indiana, where the father died in 1877. Henry Hines
lived with his parents until his marriage to Sarah .\l5igail Smith, February
6, 1858. She was born on .\pril 8, 1838. in Medina county, Ohio. The year
following their marriage they came to DeKall) county, settling in Jackson
township, where he entered upon the task of creating a f:inn out of the
wilderness. He there I^ecamc the owner of one iumdred and sixty acres of
land in sections 10 and 11, which eventually became one of tlie choice
farms of that locality. He continued the operation of that farm until tlie
fall of 1896, when he was elected treasurer of DeKalb county and moved to
Auburn, where his death occurred about six months later, on July 6, 1897.
Henry Hines was a remarkable man in many respects and during the entire
period of his residence in tliis county he enjoyed to a notable degree the
confidence and high regard of all who knew him. Me was elected justice of
the peace, and. by successi\-e re-elections, served continuously for eighteen
years, or until his election to the office of county treasurer. He did not
desire the office, but his fellow citizens insisted on re-electing him. Even
tempered, level headed and with a keen sense of the fairness of things, he
conducted his justice court in such a manner as to satisfy all litigants, and
it was frequently the case that disputants would refer their troubles to him
for settlement without law proceedings. His sense of justice, fairness and
honesty made him a man of influence, though he was firm for what he be-
lieved to be right and was absolutely fearless. His word was as good as a
bond, and any statement from his lips was accejited without question.
Henry Hines was a successful man in his material affairs and at the time
of his death owned, besides the home farm, two saw-mills, one in Jackson
township and one in Union township.
To Henry and Sarah Hines were born the following children : Lillie
Louisa, now deceased, was the wife of James H. Farver, of Jackson town-
ship, this county: Francis M. is the immediate subject of this sketch: \\'esley
394 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA.
L. is a practicing physician at Warsaw, Indiana; Leonard Arthur, now
deceased, was a successful physician at Warsaw at the time of his death;
Lovina Ann is the wife of Alfred J. Geisinger, of Auburn; Effie A. is the
wife of Lewis M. Geisinger, of Auburn. The mother of these children
survives and is living in Auburn.
Francis M. Hines was reared to manhood on the home farm in Jackson
township, securing his education in the public schools, also attending the
normal school at Auburn several terms. At the age of nineteen years he
began teaching school in his home township, continuing to follow that
vocation until 1889. In the fall of that year, having determined to take up
the practice of medicine, he matriculated in the medical department of the
Methodist Episcopal University at Fort Wayne, where he was graduated in
March, 1892, with the degree of Doctor of jMedicine. He then returned to
Auburn and in May following he began the active practice of his profession.
Successful from the start, Doctor Hines was soon in command of a lucra-
tive practice in both medicine and surgery, and during the subsequent years
he has stood high among his professional colleagues in this community.
In November, 1898, Doctor Hines was elected treasurer of DeKalb county,
assuming the duties of his office on January i, 1899, and so satisfactory were
his services that in 1900 he was elected to succeed himself, thus serving
four years as treasurer and retiring from the office with the commendation of
all the people.
Prior to his election as treasurer. Doctor Hines had ser\ed as a mem-
ber of the Auburn city council from the third ward. During his term it was
decided to install a municipal light and water plant, and, largely through
the efforts of Doctor Hines, this was accomplished at a much more reason-
able figure than was at first deemed possible. He was urged to again run
for councilman, but declined, owing to his nomination for the county
treasurership. He also gave to his city six gears' \alua1)le ser\icc as a
member of the school board.
Politically, Doctor Hines has always been aligned with the Democratic
party and has taken an active interest in political and public affairs. In the
fall of 1902 he was elected chairman of the Democratic county central com-
mittee and two years later was a delegate to the national convention of his
party at St. Louis, when Alton B. Parker was nominated for the presi-
dency. During the Doctor's official life he did not abandon the practice of
his profession, giving his personal attention to his practice as far as was
possible and employing an ofifice assistant to take his place when his official
duties prevented him from doing professional work.
DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 395
On March 29, 1885, Doctor Hines was married to Lillie Ann Carper,
who was born and reared in Jackson township, this county, the chuighter
of John and Sarah (Friedt) Carper. Her parents, who were natives of
Ohio, came with their respective famihes to DeKalb county and were pioneer
settlers in Jackson township. To Doctor and Mrs. Hines have been born
the following children: Dorsey Mark, born May 5, 1886, attended the Indi-
ana University School of Medicine at Indianapolis, graduating in 1909, and
is engaged in the practice with his father; Ralph died in infancy; Vera
Grace received a splendid education, attending the Western College for
Women at Oxford, Ohio; the State Normal School at Terre Haute, Indiana;
the Tri-State Normal School at Angola, Indiana, and the State Normal
School at Ypsilanti, Michigan. Since the fall of 1909 she has been teaching
in the Auburn public schools, being in the DeSoto school building that was
erected while her father was a member of the school board ; Nellie Faith,
who graduated from the Auburn high school, and attended college at Jack-
sonville, Illinois, is teaching sewing in the Auburn public schools; A. V.,
born April 16, 1892, graduated from the Auburn high school in 1908 and
from the medical department of Indiana University in 1912. He served a
year as house physician at St. Vincent's Hospital, Indianapolis, and is now
engaged in the practice of his profession at Auburn ; Victor Glenn, born
September 4, 1895, died at the age of six years; Lillian died in infancy.
Religiously, Doctor Hines is an earnest member of the Methodist
Episcopal church, in the prosperity of which he is deeply interested and to
the support of which he contributes liberally. Personally, he is genial and
unassuming, possessing to an eminent degree those qualities of character
which commend him to the friendship of all with whom he comes in contact,
and he not onlv enjoys a wide acquaintance throughout the county which
has been honored by his citizenship, but he is deservedly popular among all
classes.
CAPTAIN JOHN F. OTTO.
Among the representative citizens and honored ex-soldiers of DeKalb-
county, Indiana, is the subject of this review, who. after a quarter of a cen-
tury of untiring efifort in business pursuits, is now retired and living quietly
in his home at Auburn. To such men as Captain Otto we turn with particular
satisfaction as offering in their life stories justification for works of this
396 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA.
character, owing to the life of honesty and sobriety he has led and his ener-
getic nature and patriotic spirit.
Captain John F. Otto was born in Erfurt, Prussia, on December lo,
1826, and at the age of fourteen years was apprenticed by his parents to learn
the trade of a glove maker, serving as such until he was eighteen years old.
He then enlisted in the Prussian artillery service and assisted in crushing tlie
rebellion in the South German states, participating in two battles and in the
siege of the fortified city of Rastadt in 1848 and 1849. I" 1851 Captain Otto
was discharged from military service as a non-commissioned officer, and im-
mediately emigrated to the United States, landing in Xew "S'ork City in May
of that year. He soon found employment as a farm hand near Albany. Xe\\
York, but was defrauded of his wages, and the following winter was one of
privatifin and suffering, for, being a stranger in a strange land, without money
or friends, he knew not which way to turn. In the summer of 1851 his par-
ents came to this country and settled at Ruffaln. Xew York, liut he did not
find them until the spring of the following year. He remained with them
until the fall of 1853 when they all moved to Fort Wayne, Indiana, and he
obtained employment in the shops of the Pittsburg & Fort Wayne railroad.
He was thus employed at the outbreak of the Civil war and in October, 1861,
loyal to his adopted country, he enlisted in the Eleventh Indiana Battery, being
mustered into the ser\ice on December 17th of that year and serving with
courage and \alor until January 7, 1863, when he was honorably discharged.
At the organization of the battery he was commissioned junior first lieutenant,
and on August 12, 1863, at Bridgeport. Tennessee, he was promoted to first
lieutenant because of valiant service on the field of battle. On November
17, 1863, he was placed in command of the Twentieth Ohio Battery, but was
relieved by a general order from headcjuarters to return to Indiana on recruit-
ing service. In the spring of 1864 he rejoined his battery. wMth which he
served until the end of the war. He took part in the battles of Shiloh, Corinth,
Nashville, Murfreesboro, Manchester, Chickamauga, Chattanooga. Mission
Ridge, Buzzard Roost, Dalton, Resaca. Kingston, New Hope Church, Burnt
Hickor^^ Kenesaw Mountain (where he was wounded), Chattahoochee River
and Atlanta. After his return from the army Captain Otto located in
.\ul)urn. and in company with Ernest M.yers he engaged in the boot and shoe
business. In this enterprise he was successful and in 1867 he bought his
partner's interest and continued alone. Three years later he added a stock of
groceries and continued his business with gratifying results until 1890, w^hen,
having amassed sufficient in a material way to insure his future years against
DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 3<^7
want or eml)arrassnieiil, hi- retired from acli\c business and is now living
quietly in his pleasant home in Auburn.
On January 26, 1865, Captain Otto married .\lariah C. Keehling. (jf
Fort Wayne, and to them have been born six children, namely : Kate is the
wife of Isaac Grogg, of Auburn, who is mentioned at length elsewhere in this
work; Francis and her brother, .Vlpha Blaine, are at Berkeley, California,
where the latter is a successful pharmacist; Lucy is the wife of Herbert I.
Scott, of Indianapolis; Clara is the wife of John M. Samuels, of Los Angeles,
California, and Lizzie is living with her parents in Auburn.
JOHN P. WIDNEY.
The importance that attaches to the lives, character and work of the earlv
settlers of DeKalb county antl the influence they e.xerted ujion the cause of
humanity and civilization is one of the most absorbing themes that can pos-
sibly attract the attention of the local historian. If great and beneficent re-
sults — results that endure and bless mankind — are the proper measure of the
good men do, then who is there in the world's history that may take their
places above the hardy pioneer. To point out the way, to make possible our
present advancing civilization, its happy homes, its arts and sciences, its dis-
coveries and inventions, its education, literature, culture, refinement and soL-ial
life and joy, is to he the truly great benefactors of mankind foi- all time. This
was the great work accomplished l;y the early settlers and it is granted 1)\- all
that they builded wiser than they knew, i'rominent among the worthy rej^re-
sentatives of the pioneer element in the county of DeKalb was the well-known
gentleman to a review of whose life the following lines are devoted. For
many years he was a forceful factor in the growth and de\-elopment of this
locality and because of his life and accomplishments he is eminently entitled
to representation in the annals of his county, for the record would not be
complete were there failure to give him his due meed of credit for the im-
portant part he played in the early drama enacted here.
John P. \\idney was horn of Irish parentage in JManklin county, i'enn-
sylvania, on Xo\ember 28, 1816, his ])arents having been John and Jo;ui!ia
(Patterson) Widney. In 1835, at the age of nineteen years, he married and
in May of the following year the young couple came to DeKall) comity, Indi-
ana, locating on the banks of the St. Joe ri\-er, in Concord township, where he
398 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA.
entered a tract of go\ernment land. To the clearing and impro\ement of
this land he immediately applied his energies and in the course of time suc-
ceeded in establishing a comfortable home. In those years of toil and hard-
ship inseparable from the life of a pioneer, John P. Widnev evaded no share
of labor and during those early years he knew no idle moments. From want
of facilities he had received but a meager school education ; but the necessities
of pioneer conditions, and responsibilities as the head of a family so early in
life, caused him to depend wholly on personal effort, guided by e.xceptional
natural mental acumen. He developed such qualities of mind as won for him
the respect and confidence of the early settlers, which was shown in an un-
mistakable manner when the first election in DeKalb county was held, he being
chosen with one other to constitute at the county seat the first canvassing
board, whose duty was to verify the vote of the county to the • governor.
Subsequently he was elected a member of the Legislature, serving in 1 847 and
1848. In this public capacity he proved himself worthy of the trust of his
constituents and the regard of his co-legislators. In 1850 he was elected
county clerk, serving one term of four years. His official duties required his
residence in Auburn, and he shared with that village its early struggles and
its ultimate success. In 1852 he was cho.sen one of the town's board of
trustees. He was later elected justice of the peace and in that capacity showed
himself sound of judgment and prompt in decisidu. He was also deputv
internal revenue collector and held other positions of trust. During the Civil
war Mr. Widnev was active in his support of the Union cause, but did not
enlist for active military serx'ice himself for the reason that, while putting in
the first bridge across Twenty-six-mile creek, near Xewville. he had been
severely injured, not fully recovering until late in life. In matters ])olitical.
he was not a blind partisan, but gave careful consideration to men and mea-
sures, casting his vote at all times for what he considered the best interests
of the community, state and nation. He was a man of strong and positive
convictions, and wrote much for the press, giving his views on questions of
the da)- and on matters that pertained to the county. In religious faith, he
was a Universalist. In character, he was prudent in his investments, wise in
the management of his affairs, and frugal in his tastes, qualities which en-
abled him to accumulate a goodly amount of material substance, which was
largely shared by his children. In reputation, social, business or official,
John P. Widney was regarded as an upright, honorable man. of the strictest
integrity of thought and action. He "stood four square to every wind that
blew" and never violated the confidence which his fellow citizens reposed in
DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 399
him. His last years were spent with his children, his death occurring on
October ii. 1905, at the age of eighty-nine years — a long life, in which he
gave the best that was in him for his family and the community. He always
stood by the right as he knew the right, having the courage of his convictions,
though sometimes in the minority. In evidence of this is the fact that he was
renominated for election to the Legislature, but was defeated because he advo-
cated the free-school system and a bill to regulate the sale of intoxicating
liquors. It is a matter of fact that, though he was \ery successful in the
accumulation of money, much of which he loaned, he ne\er charged more
than the legal rate of interest, and ne\er distressed an\- one in the repayment
of borrowed money, while, on the other hand, he ga\e material assistance to
many a poor man in the securing of a home. His reputation for honorable
dealing and just treatment of his fellows was firmly established and is emi)ha-
sized by those who best knew him. Quiet and unassuming, he was never a
seeker for public preferment, and it is said that he was never ])resent at a
meeting where he was nominated for office, though, as a lo\al citizen, he
gladly and efficiently performed his full dutv when called b\' bis fellow citizens
to perform official functions.
In 1835 John P. Widney was marrietl to fane L.inn. the daughter of
John and Jane (Scyoc) Linn, and to them were born five children, of whom
but two survive. Oliver H.. who is referred to specifically elsewhere in this
work, and Samuel L. Mrs. Jane \\'idney died on October it. 1S51. and on
May 30. 1852. he married Mary H. Widney. a daughter of Judge Widney.
To this union were also born fi\e childreTi. of whom three are living. Mrs.
Mai7 Alice Lewis, John Morris Widney and Mrs. Cora Lodewick. .Ml of
the surviving children reside in j\ul)urn. with the exce])tion of Samuel L.. who
lives at St. Joe. this county, and Mrs. Lodewick. of Ashland. Ohio. Mrs.
Mary W'idne)' passed away at Auburn on Xovember 14. 1903, after which
Mr. Widney made his home \\ itb his children, who ga\e to him the most
loving and solicitous attention.
The Linn and W'idney families had been for a number of centuries
closely connected. The Widneys are descended from Colonel Widnej', w-ho
was an officer in the army of William of Orange, of Holland. He accom-
panied that prince from Holland to England in 1688 and was in the war
against King James II. For his valuable services he received a large estate
in county Tyrone, Ireland, which was handed down to his descendants. Colonel
Widney's great-grandson, James W^idne\-. who inherited the estate, was a
squire. In I7'84. when thirty-one years old. be sold the ancestral acres and
400 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA.
came to America, buying six hundred acres of land in Path Valley. Franklin
(then Cumberland) county, Pennsylvania.
The Linn family is descended fmni the ancient Celts '.vho migrated from
Scotland to Ireland after the conquest by William of Orange. They settled
not far from the Widney estate and the two families became very close in
their relationships. When James \\idney came to .\merica, he sent word
back to Hugh Linn, his sister's husband, and in 1788 Hugh Lind and his
family came to Pennsylvania and located near the Widney estate, in Path
Valley. There they became successful in their material ]:)ursuits and promi-
nent in the social. ci\ic and business life of the communitw
LEVI BRANDABERRY.
It is signally consistent that in this compilation be entered a memoir of
so worthy and honored a citizen as was Levi Brandaberr\-, who was for
many years a resident of the county and who here attained independence
through his honest and well directed efforts in connection with the great
basic art of agriculture, while he stood forth as one of the representative
citizens of his township.
Levi Brandaberry, whose untimely death on October 20, 1899, caused
universal expressions of regret and sorrow throughout Smithfield township,
was born in Stark county, Ohio, on June 2, 1844, and was the son of Benjamin
and Elizabeth (Frick) Brandaberry. He \\as one of si.\- children, the others
being Isabell, Cyrus, Caroline, .Sarah and Hannah. When the subject was
but a boy the family moved to DeKalb county. Intliana, locating in Smith-
field township, where the father bought a farm in the southern part of that
locality, where the parents made their permanent home and died. On that
farm Levi Brandaln/rry was reared to manhood and after his marriage in
1870 he lived for two years on the paternal farmstead, at the end of which
time he bought a farm in the southwest part of Smithfield t()wnship, compris-
ing one hundred and one acres of land, and to this lie gave his undivided at-
tentirm during the remainder of his life. T^ractical and progressive in his
ideas, energetic and persistent in his methods, it was not strange that suc-
cess crowned his efforts, for in him were combined those qualities of char-
acter which insure success in an\' undertaking. He made many splendid
permanent improvements on his farm, including a large brick house, a com-
modious and well arranged barn and manv other features which gave the
7ft
LEVI BP.AND^BER.R-Y
DEKALB COUNTY. INDIANA. 4O 1
place a splendid reputation as one of the up-to-date and modern farms of
Smithfield township. Mr. llrandaljerry «(ave his personal attention to e\ erv
detail of his work, and knew no sueh word as idleness. Hi^ death was
caused hy being caught in a corn sluvdder, from which he received injuries
that resulted in his death four days later. A careful and prudent business
man, he had his affairs in good sha])e so that, although his death was un-
timely, his widow found his affairs in good condition and has been enabled
to carry on the farm work through tenants w-ith good success. She is now-
making her home in Waterloo. Mr. Brandaberry was an earnest member of
the Knights of Pythias, in the woHnngs of which he took an interested part.
Because of his higii character. l)nsiness success and his genial nature, he had
won and retained a host of warm friends throughout the conimunitx' where
he lived, and his deatii was considered a distinct loss to the coiumunitx which
had been honored by liis citizenshi]i for so many years.
On October o, 1870. Levi Brandaberry was united in marria.ge with
Margaret Haniman. w'ho was born in DeKalb county. Indiana, but went with
her parents to Kosciusko covmty, this state. Her father died when she was
but five years old, and her mother, upon whom was thrown the burden of
rearing five small children, felt tmable to properly care for them and conse-
quently Margaret was placed with a family by the name of Chambers, by
whom she was taken to Illinois, where they made a home. They died there
and she was taken into the liome of James .\dams at the age of ei.ght years,
with whom she remained until seventeen years old. By these people she was
not given proper consideration, being treated badly in many respects, being
compelled to work hard and being clothed scantily and denied the oppor-
tunities of a proper education. Tn the meantime her brother, who was
desirous of ascertaining her whereabouts, had written postal cards to every
postmaster in Ohio, Indiana and Illinoi.s, asking for information as to her
whereabouts. The postmaster wliere she was then li\ing recognized the de-
scription of her and gave her the card, to which she wrote a reply, and she
was then informed that her relatives had about concluded that she was dead
and wislied to see her again. This she told to the people with whom she
lived, who grudi:ingl\- ga\e hei' -^ome clothes to travel in. W'lien slie ar-
rived in the localitv where her relatives were, she was waiting at the railroad
station and saw two women, evidently a mother and daughter, eyeing her
closelv and whisjtering to each other. Finally one of them apijroached her
and asked her name, which on learning, they told her they were her cousin
(26)
402 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA.
and aunt. However, she did not know them and even her mother seemed to
her like a stranger. She felt strangely alone in the world, for fate had
cheated her of a child's natural heritage, a mother's love, during the forma-
tive period of her life. She did not remain long at home, but secured a place
and worked out in the neighborhood until her marriage to Mr. Brandaberry,
wlio was prosperous and provided well for her. eventually leaving her a good
farm and a comfortable home. She was in the truest sense of the word a
helpmate to her husband, contributing by her encouraging words and sound
advice to his business prosperity and in the comnumity where so many of her
years have been spent, she is held in the highest esteem by all who know her.
No children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Brandaberry, but they adopted a girl,
Jennie Fee. the daughter of John and Sarah (Johns) Fee, she now being the
wife of \V. B. Williams, of King county, Washington. During the thirteen
years which have elapsed since Mr. Brandaberry's death, Mrs. Brandaberry
has had only two tenants on her farm, and has had very satisfactory busi-
ness relations with them. She is a shrewd, keen and sagacious business
woman, handling her affairs witii prudence and sound judgment, and be-
cause of her kindly qualities of head and heart she has a large circle of warm
and loval friends.
A. BYRON D.^RBY. M. D.
Devoted during a long period of years to the noble work which his pro-
fession implies, the gentleman whose career we essay to briefly outline in the
following paragraphs has been faithful and indefatigalile in his endeavors and
has not only earned the due rewards of his efforts in a temporal way Ijut has
also proved himself eminently worthy to exercise the important functions of
his calling, by reason of his ability, his abiding sympathy and his earnest zeal
in behalf of his fellow men. His understanding of the science of medicine is
regarded by those who know him as being broad and comprehensive, and the
profession and the public long ago accorded to him a distinguished place
among the men of this class in Indiana. His has been a long life of earnest
and jjersistent endeavor, .such as always brings a true appreciation of the real
\-alue I, if human existence — a condition that must lie prolific of good results in
all the relations of life.
.A. Byron Darby was born in Fulton county, Ohio, on November i8.
1839, and is a son of Samuel Byrant and Sepharna (Guilford) Darby, the
former a nati\e of \'ermont an.d the latter of Massachusetts. These parents
DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 4O3
were married in Allegany county, Xew NOrk. in i<S26, and in 1836 they moved
to what was then Henry, now h'ulton county, Ohio, the long, tiresome and oft-
times dangerous journey heing made with two yoke of oxen and a lumber
wagon. They were among the first settlers of Henry county, and in the
organization and development of the county Samuel B. Darby was a promi-
nent figure, he having helped to organize the first township in the county, was
postmaster of the first jjostoffice, taught the first scliool and opened the first
store, conducting the latter for several years. In his political affiliations he
w^as first a Democrat, hut after the organizaliMU of tlie Republican party he
allied himself with that organization and was thereafter acti\e in it-^ supjiort.
He was a iiienil:er of the historic conxention which nominated John C. Fre-
mont for the I'residency, and also the convention four years later which
nominated Abraham Lincoln. His death occurred on July 15, 18S4, and he
was sur\-ived many years b\- his widow, who died in i^oi), when nearly ninetx-
nine years of age. They were the parents of nine children.
A. Byron Darby recei\ed his earl}- education in the common schools and
then became a student in Alford College, .Allegany county. New York, and
later studied at Oberlin College, Ohio, where he paid his school e.\])enses bv
teacln'iig and working boms n(jt re(|uired for stiid\ . Ha\ing determined to
make the jiractice of medicine his life work, he <levotecl his spare time to the
study of the necessary te.xt books and in i8nj ;md 1S03 he was a student in
the Eclectic Medical College at Cinciiuiati, Ohio, where he was graduated in
the spring of the latter year. Immediately after his graduation he located at
Flint, Indiana, and in ])artnership with Dr. H. L. Smith practiced his profes-
sion for about a year, at the end of which time, Dr. Smith moving from the
place, the subject became the only ph} sician in that locality. Here he built up
a large and profitable practice, but his health liecoming impaired he moved
to Waterloo, DeKalb county, Indiana, which lias been his home since that
time. Proper intellectual discipline, thorough jirofessional knowledge and
the possession and utilization of the tpialities and attributes essential to suc-
cess made Dr. Darl)y eminent in his chosen calling, and during all the years
since he located at AX'aterloo, he has stood among the scholarly and enterpris-
ing physicians and surgeons in a community long distinguished for the high
order of its medical talent. His life here has been characterized not only by
high professional ability, but also by the most profound human symj)athy,
which has overleaped mere sentiment and becotne an actuating motive, for in
youth he realized that there is no honor not founded on genuine worth: that
there is a vital purpose in life, and that the best and highest accomplishment
404 DEKAI.B COI'NTV, INDIANA.
must come from a well trained mind and an altruistic heart. Those who have
known him well have teen unstinted in their praise of his superior ability and
the younger men in his profession have frequently sought his counsel, all ad-
mitting his eminence. The large success which has crowned his life work.
coui)led with his ripe experience and kind heart, have enabled him to bring
comfort and confidence to the sick room and he has carried sunshine into many
a home, his practice having extended n\er a wide radius of the surrounding
county. i'rofessionally. the Doctor is a meml.er of the DeKalli County
Medical Society, the Indiana State Medical Societ}- antl the American Medicai
Association. For many years he was the efficient secretary of the hoard of
health of \\aterloo.
On April 28, 1864. Dr. Darb\' was married to Linda M. Huyck. who was
born in Huron county, Ohio, on February 7, 1842, the youngest daughter of
John P. and Lucinda (Bisil) W'hite, the former of whom was born in the
state of New York, and the latter in Wrmont. Mrs. Darby came with her
parents to Williams countw Ohio, when a }-oung girl and li\-ed there until
her marriage to Dr. Darby. She actpiired a good, self-secured education and
taughl a mimber of terms of school in Ohio and also several terms in Illinois.
Afte'- he- removal to Waterloo she gained man}- warm friends during the long
year.; of lier residence here and was closely identified with the social and church
circles, !)ting always a leader in moral reform and acti\'el\' interested in the
work of tlie ^^'oman"s Christian Temperance I'nion. She was possessed of
more than ordinary lalent and until late in life was a leader in the circles in
\\hich she mo\-e(l in her communitw .She engaged in literar\- pursuits and
was a charter memlier of the Ladies' Miner\a Club, also an earnest and faith-
ful member of the Christian church. Her death occurred on December 10,
1900. To the Doctor and Mrs. Darby were born three children, namely :
Hadsell Byron, born Jnnc 3. 1865, now lives at Fort ^\'ayne, Indiana, where
he manages a drug store for Jacob Bills : he married Edith Griffith, of
Corunna, this county, and the\- ha\e two daughters, Nina and Naomi; Frank
William Darby, born on Febniar\ 1 1. 1868. .and who is engaged in the drug
business in Waterloo, married Ne\a Snn'th. of .Steuben county, this state:
Verna Darby, born November 6, 1878. is the wife of O. C. Lampland, who-
is conducting the Lowell Observatory at Flagstaff, Arizona. Mr. and Mrs.
Lampland were fellow students and graduated in the same class at the Indi-
ana State LTniversity, and Mrs. Lampland gives valualile assistance to her
husband in his observatory work.
Dr. Darby has been a life-long supporter of the Republican party and
DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 4O5
has been active in its support. In 1900 he was elected to the state Senate and
served during the sessions of 1901 to 1903, with credit to himself and honor
to his district. He is a member of the Church of Clirist, and for many years
was an active worker in the Sunday school. ['"raternally. he is a member of
Waterloo Lodge No. 307, I'>ee and Vccepled .Masons, and of the Knights
of Honor. Personally, Dr. Darby is genial and api)roacliable, ])ossessing
those qualities which win friends, and be has been scrupnloush conscientious
in all that he has said and dime. lie wav al\v;iy^ deeplv imbued with the
courage of his couNiclions and bis relatii'n>^ with bis fellow uien ba\e e\'er
been such as to win and retain their cnnlidence and esteem.
r\ . either
ot a past
of mind.
character
:lesceiidair
ts and of
ii])le are 1
IK It more
b cnuiity.
Indiana.
. have not
only led
1 these wl
10 follow
been nf c
iiiiimend-
JACOB B. CASEBEER, M. I).
The biographies of the representatixe men of a co
or present generation, bring to light many bidden ircasi
and courage, well calculated to arouse the ])iide nl" tlic
the communitw and it is a source of regret tliat the
familiar with the ])ersonal history of such men. DeKalb
has been the home and scene of labor of maii\ men whc
h\es which should ser\e as a lesson and an ins])iration t<
them on to the stage of life's activities, but wlm ba\e also
able service in important a\enues of usefulness. The well remembered ]ib\-
sician whose name forms the caption of ibis brief memoir was one of the
useful workers in the world's work, a man <<\ well rounded character, sincere,
devoted and loyal, so that there are many salient points which render con-
sonant a tribute to his memory in this compilation. Standing as he did for
many years at the head of one of the most important and exacting of pro-
fessions, his labors were long directed for the physical amelioration of the
people of his community with such gratifying results. Personall\ . Doctor
Casebeer was affable and iK)]uilar with all classes and stood ready at all
times to encourage and aid all laudable measures and enterprises for the
general good. By a life CMiisistent m motixe and because of bis mam- hue
qualities of head and heart he earned the sincere regard of .a \a>t accjuaint-
ance, and his success in his chosen field of endeavor bespoke for him the pos-
session of superior attributes. 'S'et he was a plain, unassuming gentleman
and straightforward in all bis relations with his fellow men.
Jacob B. Casebeer was born in Holmes county. Ohio, on .\pril 1 1. 183Q.
406 DEKALB COUNTY. INDIANA.
and was llie seventh in order of l)irth of thirteen children horn to David and
Rehecca (Kenstrick) Casebeer. who were natives. res])ecti\ely. of Pennsyl-
vania and Virginia, and farmers hy occn|)ati(in. ( )n the i)aternal side the
family is of German descent. The parents of David, J<ilin and Xancy (Best)
Casebeer, moved from Pennsylvania to Tuscarawas county, Ohio, when he
was a child, and there the greater portion of his after-life was passed. He
was married to Rebecca Kenstrick on October 2C>. 1826. their union resulting
in the birth of thirteen children, namely: Susanna, Enos L., David W., Re-
becca J\I., Elizabeth N.. Margaret C, Eliza E., Howard M., Jacob B., Sarah
A., Martha J., John and Joshua. David Casebeer was a member of the
Methodist Episcojial church and a man of exemplary character. His wife was
the daughter of John and Sarah ( Hivner) Kenstrick and she, too, was an
earnest member of the Methodist church. The death of this u-orthy couple
occurred res|5ectively nn February 25. 1885, and July 18, 1873.
Jacob B. CaseJK'er was indebted to the C( minion schools for the limited
education which he received, his scholastic training being practically com-
pleted wdien, the suniiuer after he was fourteen years of age, he was granted
the privilege of attending a select .school two months before harvest and two
months after, and to do this he was obliged to walk two and a half miles
each way. In the winter of 1833-4 he engaged to teach a school which for
some years had l;een noted for the unruly conduct of the larger scholars,
but, by his firmness and tact, lie succeeded in mastering the situation and w-as
retained in the school for four years, after which he taught in other localities
three years longer. I )uring this jieriod he had pursued private studies and
had received some op]Kirtunities for studying in advanced classes, thus be-
coming a well educated man, largely through his own efforts. In i860 he
went to Hardin count)', Kentucky, and. after working as a traxeling sales-
man for a time, was emjiloyed as ])riiicipal of a graded school, and at the
close of the regular term he took charge of a select school. Before the term
of school was completed he was, on account of his well-known Union senti-
ments, threatened with personal violence and requested to lea\-e the country,
but he courageously completed bis c(iiitract. when he returned to Northern
territory. The following .season he taught school at Middletown, Ohio, and
the following year was principal of the schools at Fredericksburg, Wayne
county, that state. During this latter period he en.gaged in reading medicine
in the office of Dr. James ^Martin, of Fredericksburg, and in the fall of r863
he entered the medical department of the l^ni\ersity of Michigan, where he
remained until the following March. The next June, liaving passed a ri.gid
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DEKALB COUNTY, INDI.\NA. .+07
e.xaniination l)efore the Ohio l)oarcl of niechcal e>
sioned a surgeon in the Union army antl assigned
near Cincinnati, where lie was given charge of one
Soon after he was promoted to tiie charge of that
arm_v hospitals, remaining there until I'^jruars . i Si
sioned assistant surgeon of tiie One lluii(h-ed ai
Volunteer rnfantry. Me inimeihatel) joined his
Carolina, and remained with it until ii was uiiistcre
1865. He then returned to the oflice of 1 )octor .Ma'
studies and assisted the Doctor until fall, w luu !h-
Medical College, New ^'ork, where he was graduated, with the degree of
Doctor of "Medicine, on March i. 1866. He immediately came to Auhurn.
Indiana, and entered upon the practice of his profession, which continued
practically without interruption up to the time of hi^ death, which occurred
on July 10, 1909. In the winter of 1S73-4 he went t'l .\cw N'ork City and
took post-graduate courses in the College of T'hysicians and .Surgeons, the
New York jNIedical College and the Pjellexiie Hos])ital .Medical College. He
was, at different times, associated in the practice with Doctors Kesslar,
Spooner, Littlefield and Matheny, and on July 14, 1879, he and Dr. Matheny
purchased a drug store, which they continued to conduct successfully for a
number of years. Doctor Casebeer gained a high reputation as an able phy-
sician and skilled surgeon, lieing called frequently to distant points, while he
acted as surgeon for the Detroit, Eel River & Illinois Railroad, and was medi-
cal examiner for a number of life insurance societies. He was earnestly de-
voted to his profession and enthusiastic in its [iracticc. He was a close
student, and kept abreast of the constant advances being made in the sciences
of medicine and surgery, owning a large and up-to-date library and taking
the leading medical periodicals. He was a forceful writer on professional
subjects and se\eral of his papers, read before the .\mcrican .Medical Asso-
ciation, were widel\- copied b\' the leading journals in tliis coiintr\- and
favorably commented upon. He was a member of the DeKalli Countv Medi-
cal Society and the Northeastern Indiana Medical .Societw having served as
president of the last-named bodw
Politically, Doctor Casebeer wa> ;in .ardent sup|)orler of the Republican
party, being a man of strong and |)osiii\c com iction-^ on all (pieslions of
work of temperance reform. Rebgiouslv. he was for many years an active
public policy. On the tem])erance tpiestion he was es])ecially positive in his
opposition to the traflic and was active and inlluential for nianv vear^ in the
408 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA.
and earnest member of the IMetliodist Episcopal church and long served as a
member of the official board. In local afifairs he was interested in everything
that affected tlie welfare of the people and at the time of his death was
serving as conntx- health officer. l\e had also, for many years. ser\-ed as
pension examiner.
Doctor Casebeer was twice married, first on I'eJjruary 5. 1863, to Har-
riet G. Smith, of Fredericksburg. Ohio, the daughter of Eli B. and Fannie
Smith. She died on January 28, 1869, leaving a daughter, Fannie B., who
was born on November 27, 1865. The latter became the wife of Bernard
Gunn, and her death occurred at Minneapolis, Minnesota, in the spring of
1902. On June 4. 1872, the Doctor married Sarah E. Nycum, of Ft. Wayne,
the daughter of \\'illiam and Margaret (Carr) Xycum. She was born in
Bedford county. Pennsylvania, and at the age of two years was taken to
Iowa by her parents, coming to Vt. \\'a_\-ne when she was four years old,
li\-ing there until her marriage to Doctor Casebeer. To them was born a
daughter, Hattie K.. bom .\i)ril i 1. 1873, who is now the wife of E. C. Alten-
burg. of .\uburn.
Although Doctor Casebeer's life was a busy one. his |)rofessional duties
making heavy demands upon his time, he nexer shrank fr(jni his duties as a
citizen and his obligations to his church, his neighbors and his friends. Al-
ways calm and dignified, never demonstrative, his life was, ne\ertheless, a
persistent plea, more by precept and example than by written or spoken
word, for the purity and grandeur of right principles and the beautv and
elevation of wholesome character. To him home life was a sacred trust.
friendship was inx-iolablc and nothing coidd. swer\e him from the i)ath of
rectitude and honor.
PRICE DONNER WEST.
.\mong the well known citizens of northern Indiana who have finished
their labors and gone to their reward, the name of Price Donner West, who
was one of the jirominent business men and highly esteemed citizens of
Auburn, is deserving of special notice. He was one of those sterling citizens
whose labors and self-sacrifice made possible the advanced state of civiliza-
tion and enlightenment for which this section of the Hoosier state has long
been noted. He was a benefactor in the truest sense of the term. His career
was fraught with inestimable blessings to the world, for he was a man who
did not believe in living to himself alone, but desired to hel]) those whom
3^
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■y^r^-f^ -yj. 7f/^-^J-/ rf Jir/ /rf //If / 1/
DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 4O9
fortune favored less on the highway of hfe, conse(|uentIy his nieniur) will
long be revered jjy a wide eircle of friends and acquaintances in DeKalb
county or where\er he was known.
Price Donner West, son of I-'isher Curtis West, was born in Perry
township, Allen county. Indiana. December 27. i8(ii. When about eight
years old he went with his parents to Port Mitchell. Xoble county, Indiana,
where the family lived for three years. At the end of that time the family
returned to the old home in Allen county. Price, when a boy, attended the
district schools. Thirsting for knowledge and assisted in his ambition by
his mother, who was an educated woman, young West entered the Methodist
Episcopal College, then located in Fort Wayne. He was graduated from
this, his mother's alma mater, in 1880. He entered DePauw University,
and, largely through his own labor during summer vacations, paid his own
way through that institution, fnmi which he took his diploma in 1885.
At tliis time his mim! turned to the law and he entered the I'niversity
of Michigan at .Ann Arbor to prepare himself for the practice of his chosen
profession. He was graduated from that institution, and, in 1889, he was
admitted as a member to the bar of DeKalb county, Indiana. In 1892 he
formed a partnership with Judge Hartman. .\fter the dissolution of this
partnership Mr. West was alone for awhile practicing law and lending
money. From this grew his desire to go into a banking business, and early
in 1900 he formed a partnership with Charles M. Brown, and the law firm
of Brown & West continued to lend money, and in 1903 organized the
Savings, Loan and Tru.st Comijanw On the 1st ni Janua?-y. 1908, Mr. \\'est
bought the interests of Mr. Brown and the partuershi]) was dissoh-ed. Mr.
West was president of the Saxings, Loan and Trust L'ompany from its
organization imtil his death. At all times Mr. West's business transactions,
both in his law practice and in his trust company, were marked by the
strictest integrity. In 1901 Mr. West's health failed and he was obliged to
seek a change of climate to recuperate. He spent several months in Florida
at St. Petersburg. He returned home much impro\ed. As a boy at home
he worked beyond his .strength, and during bis \acation months in his
college vears he was u]) from early dawn until late at night running a
threshing machine and doing such other farm work as would enable him
'to pay his wav through college the following school year. His amliition
always exceeded his bodily strength. .Although Mr. West was the son of a
rich farmer he lived and worked as a poor boy. always. His mother died
in 1889. and, although a large part of the farm was her own. Price derived
4IO DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA.
no benefit from it, allowing his father to retain and use it as he had in the
mother's lifetime.
The elder Mr. West was a man of sound business ability and his advice
and judgment were eagerly sought and accei^tetl by the son, who always
gave his father his entire confidence. The father, being a stockholder and
directcjr (if the Savings, l.oan and Trust Comjiany. was in a position to
give his son the benefit of his many }ears of experience, which he did.
At the time of his death, I'rice 1 J. West was knuwn far and wide, and his
trust company was one of the most popular and flourishing institutions of
the kind in this section of the country. He was known as the "poor man's
friend." Those struggling for a foothold in the world never asked him in
\'ain for help, and those in trouble seeking his advice were received by
him with the utmost sincei'ity and went away satisfie(4 that his adxice
was right.
Mr. West as a lawyer stood high. He was admitted as a member of
the l>ar of the su])reme court ni Imliana Aiiril 2. njoi). ( )n the same date
he was admitted to practice in the circuit cnurt of the I'nited States. In
October of iqoS he organized the Ciarrett Sax'ings, Loan and Trust Com-
pany in the neighboring town of Garrett. He was president of that institu-
tion until within a few months of his passing away, when he sold all of his
interests therein. He was president also of the Auburn Creamery Company
and of the County Association of Insurance Agents. His father being old
and blind, I'rice took the management (.)f his father's large farm in Allen
county ui>oi] his own shoulders. He seldom took any recreation except to
go to the farm for a few days' tramp through the fields and woods, every
foot of which was dear to him.
He was married December 27, 1895. to .Mrs. Mary C. Barnes. Two
.sons came of this marriage, Fisher C. We,st. Jr., and I'rice Donner West. Jr.
The mother of these children died March 10, IQ05. On June 19, 1906, Mr.
West was married to Nanne Peterson, daughter of Henry C. Peterson, of
Albion, Indiana. She and the two sons, Fisher, aged ten years, and Donner,
almost nine years of age, are living at tlie home in .\uliurn.
Although of a retiring disposition, this man was kind and obliging to
all whom he met in a business or a social way, and no favor was too much
trouble for him to grant. Being a man of many sorrows, be had sympathy
for the sorrowing, and aided them in many ways. His life was not an easy
one, but one filled with trials that usually beset the man who makes his own
way. He loved his work and found great happiness in it. During the jiast
DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 4II
seven years he had seemed to be growing steadily stronger, so that his pass-
ing was a shock to every one, as well as a great grief.
He was a valued member of the Scottish Rite at i''ort W a\ne, and of
all the Masonic orders at Auburn. A year before bis death he was worthy
patron of the Order of the I-'astern Star, and also a member of the Knights
of Pythias. He was also prominent as a member of the Commercial Club
of Aul)urn. He was pulilic-spirited, Ix'ing intensely interested in the wel-
fare of the community in which be Ii\ed. His Christian faith was e.xempli-
fied b}' the many good deeds of his daily life. Being a most profound Bible
scholar, he implanted a love for Bible stories in his two sons. The prepara-
tion that Christ made for his ministry was the last lesson he taught his sons.
He said: "Get an education to enalile you to do something in life. Get
ready to do, then do it." In bis home life he was ideal. His every thought
was for his wife and Iwn children. It was bis most earnest wish that he
might li\'e to see Fisher and 1 )onner started in life for themselves. He
was summoned by the death angel while sitting at bis desk on the evening
of July 5, 1 91 3- His passing was the same as that of two of his mother's
family. In the passing of this great and good man went the last of a family
of eight children. He died as the Wheelers die, of apnplexy. Sincerity was
the keynote of the character of this true friend, loyal citizen and superior
business man. In every instance he was true to himself and his God, leaving
nothing undone to gratify e\ery wish of those nearest and dearest to JTini.
making his home a paradise tilled with the flowers of hue.
Henry Clay Peterson, father of Mrs. Price D. West, was ln)rn in St.
Mary's township. Adams county, Indiana. October 10, 1842. In Sejjtember
of 1856 Mr. Peterson, with bis father's family. mo\ed to Iowa. l)ut in
October of the following year the family returned to .\dams county. Mr.
Peterson was educated in the common schools of Adams county and in the
high school of Warsaw. Indiana. He was a classmate of Vice-President
Marshall. In the Civil war he was a corporal of Henry Banta's Company
I. Eighty-ninth Regiment of Indiana \'olunteer Infantry. He was mus-
tered into service August 14. 1862. He was taken i)ri-;on.er at Mumfordville,
Kentucky, in the fall of 1862. and was paroled and came home with bis
company for a short time. He was exchanged at the time his regiment was
returned, the regiment then being on post duty in Tennessee the greater part
of the winter. He with his regiment was then in the Missouri canijiaign.
the expedition up the Red river with General Banks, and Thomas's campaign
at the battle of Nashville. He with his regiment i^articipated in the capture
412 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA.
of Spanish I'ort and l^'urt Blakely at Mobile. In short, he was with the
regiment from the time it was mnstered into the service imtil it was mus-
tered out. Toward the latter ])art of the campaign he was chief clerk at
.Majcjr-lieneral A. j. Snnth's head(|uarters in the field.
.After his return from the arm_\- he taught school and read law with
Judge Boho of the Adams circuit court. He was admitted to practice law
at the bar in the Adams circuit court at the September term of 1876. At the
October election of 1866, he was elected county surveyor of Adams county
and served in that office one term, he being the only man of his party ever
elected to an office in Adams county. Mr. I'eterson moved to Auburn in
1870 and resided here until 1889, ulien he mo\ed to Kansas, and later in
the same year mo\ed to A.lbion, wiiere he has resided since. While li\ing
in this city he served three terms, or si.\ years, as pro.secuting attorney.
He was a man who was decided in his opinions and free to express them,
but you knew where he stood. He was courageous, fearless and honest; of
the strictest integrit}- and a friend in whom yon could confide. He never
plaved false, as do so many would-he friends. He always took an active
interest in the affairs of life, had a wide accjuaintance and was one of the
most influential men of his county. He was sixty-three years of age.
Mr. Peterson was first married to Sarah E. Blossom, of l")ccatur, Indi-
ana, I*'ebruary 7, 1S67. Her death occurred at Auburn, Ma\ _'_', 1874. He
Avas again joined in marriage to Amy E. McConnehe}' at -\ul)urn. May 23,
1876. Mr. Peterson practiced law for a short time in Decatur, after his
office as sur\-eyor expired. He was the father of four children: Jessie A.
Peterson: Blanche, wife of J. D. Hoffman, deceased: Jamie, deceased, and
Mrs. West, the oldest.
GEORGE O. DEXISON.
It is not an eas}- task to describe adecjuately a man who has led an emi-
nently active and bnsv life and who has attained a position of relative dis-
tinction in the conimunily with which his interests are allied. But biography
finds its most perfect justification, nevertheless, in the tracing and recording of
such a life history. It is, then, with a full appreciation of all that is demanded
and of the painstaking scrutiny that must be accorded each statement, and yet
with a feeling of satisfaction, that the writer es.says the task of touching
briefly upon the details of such a record as has been that of the honored subject
whose life now comes under review.
DEKAI.B COUNTY, INDIANA. 4I3
George O. Dcnisun is a native of Richland enunt\ . ()lii(i. where he was
bom on August 17, 1S43, the son <>f ( ieort;e 1'. and Salome \'.. (henner)
Denison. He is of the ninth generation of the family in this country, the
emigrant ancestor, William Denison, having come from England some time
during the early colonial period, settling at Roxbury, Massachusetts. The
family originated in Scotland where the name was spelled Danielstown. The
subject of this sketch was reared on his father's farm to the age of seven years,
when the family moved to \\'ood county, Ohio, where they resided about
eighteen years, the home being located south of Toledo. In addition to his
farm there the father also owned a tract of land southeast of Waterloo, Indi-
ana, in (irant township, DeKalli county, and in t866 he came there with the
intention of improving and selling it, George and his brother Felix being left
to run the farm in Ohio. However, after living here for a time the parents
found their Indiana home more to their liking than the Ohio place, conse-
quently they sold the latter and their sons came to their Hoosier home, where
they made their permanent residence. The subject of this sketch had always
given his attention to agricultural pursuits, but in 1880 he engaged in the ice
business, having constructed an artificial lake on his farm for that purpose,
and he soon had an extensive business, furnishing all the ice to the town of
W'aterloo, .Auburn and Garrett. H'.s brother. Levi, was associated with him
in this business until about 1898, when they s])!it the business, Levi taking the
trade at Garrett, and George continuing at Waterloo. Tie has carried on this
business until the present time, and in this as well as in farming has achieved
definite success.
Li public afifairs Mr. Denison has been prominent for a number of years.
In 1890 he was elected trustee of Grant township, holding the office for five
years, and in i8g8 he was elected clerk of the circuit court, assuming the duties
of his office in October, 19,00. In addition to the regular four years' term for
which he was elected, by legislative action his term was extended to the end of
the year 1904, after which he served as deputy clerk for a time, or until his
election as mayor of Auburn. He discharged the duties of this ottice for four
years and then resumed his previous j)osition as deputy clerk, in which cai)acitv
he has served most of the time since, his continuous service in this position
being due to his intimate knowledge of the official records and the business
connected with the office of county clerk. This is also noteworthy owing to
(he fact that as a Repul;lican he served under Democratic clerks. In March,
1913, after the destruction Iw fire (if many of the county's books of record.
Mr. Denison was appointed and commissioned in conjunction with Mr
414 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA.
Austin to restore the destroyed records, and is now engaged in this responsi-
ble work, fur whicli lie is jirobably better (|naHtied than any man in the
count}'.
In 1873 Mr. Denison wa^ married tn Joanna Bowman, who was born
and reared near Auburn, the daughter of Joseph and Ida ( Borst) Bowman.
Her parents were early settlers of DeKalb county, having come here from
Canton, Ohio, at a period prior to the advent of railroads here, making their
permanent location about two miles west of .\uburn, where Mrs. Denison
li\'ed until her marriage. Tt) Mr. and Mrs. Denison ha\e been born the
following children: Nettie is the wife of Willis J. Eberly, of Waterloo, and
they have three children. Fred. Helen and David: Daisy is the wife of Clyde
Fee and lives on a farm east of Waterloo, and they have fi\e children.
Hubert, (Georgia, Kenneth, and twins, Alene and Irene: Vay is the wife of
V'erne (Jrosscop. and lix-es in .\ul:urn. and the}' ha\e two children. Catherine
and Dorothy: George Bradford, the only son', is now running the farm and
ice business for his father. He married .\gnes Brown, and thev ha\'e two
children.
Politically. Mr. Denison is, as before stated, a Republican and has been a
stanch supporter of his party during the campaigns, and in this connection it
is notewortb}' that the official positions held b}' biiu ha\'e all been attained
without any solicitation on his part — certainly a marked testimonal to his
personal standing and efficiency. Fraternally, he is a member of the Knights
of Pythias and of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and in the latter
order he has passed the chairs in the local lodge and serxed as a delegate to
the grand lodge.
Mr. Denison has clear recollections of DeKalb count}- at a time prior
to many of the public impro\-ements which now characterize this countx'.
having, in early childhond, c^iue here on a tri]) with his parents, who were
looking for land. He recalls the rough and unsightly appearance of the
country, which was characterized by the entire absence of good roads and
bridges, necessitating many detours in order to avoid streams and swamps.
In the Denison family the military spirit has been prominent for iuan\
generations, the trait having been marked even in the first ancestor in .\merica,
who had been a valiant officer of high rank in the English armv and pos-
sessed a coat-of-amis. .\lthough Mr. Denison was legally too young for
military service in the Civil war, he enlisted, but was too late to see any
active service in the field. He has since been a member of the Waterloo
Rifles, a well known local military company. His brother, Levi L.. was a cap-
DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 415
tain during the Spanish-. \imTicaii war. in which thi' sul)ject's nephew. Wilson
H. Denison, was a hentenant. and the snbieet's sun. ilradtord. is now a heuten-
ant in the National Guard, and i.s considered one of the best marksmen in the
state, having been one of the eighteen sharpshooters chosen by contest at the
state encampment to go to Sea Girt. Xew Jersey, where they took part in
the great contest of National Guardsmen from the different states. He has
been twice selected for this contest.
GEORCiE C.\A[PB1-:LL.
The 1 est history of a community or stale is the one that deals most
with the lives and activities of its people, especially (jf those who. Iiy their
own endeavors and indomitable energy, ha\e forged to the front and jdaced
themselves where they deserve the title of progressive men. in this brief
review will be found the record of one who has ontstrip|jed the less active
plodders on the highway of life and among bis contem])oraries has achieved
marked success in the business world, the name of George Cami)bell being
honored by all owing to his ujjright life and habits of thrift and industry.
George Campbell, a well known citizen of .\uburn and one of the most
active members of the well kno\\n carriage manufacturing firm of Campbell
& Sons, was born in Aul)urn. Indiana, on September 3. 1873. the son of
Samuel L. and Mary (Palmer) Campbell. George Campbell was reared in
Auburn, securing his education in the public schools and then at the age of
seventeen years he commenced working in a trim shop. Not satisfied with
this line of work, a few months later he beg.in to learn the carpenter trade,
at which he remained about eight months and then turned his attention to
blacksmithing. Here he found eni]ilo\-menl to his liking and energetically
applied himself to learning this trade. In 1892 he opened a blacksmith shop
of his own in Auburn, where Ijesides the regular custom work he also did
the blacksmithing for his father's carriage shop. Soon afterwards he ac-
quired an interest in his father's business and has continued with him ever
since, being now^ the active manager of the business, which is one of the
important industrial concerns of Auburn. In the management of this enter-
prise he has shown a business ability and a soundness of judgment that has
not only gained for him financial success, but has also connnended him to the
confidence and good will of all who had dealings wn'th him.
On April 26, 1894, George Cami)l>ell married Ada Miers. the daughter
4l6 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA.
of Eli and Julia (Daley) Miers. her birth having occurred in Fairview town-
ship, this count}'. When eight or nine years of age her parents moved two
miles west of Auburn, where she li\ed until her marriage. Her father was
one of the early settlers of DeKalb county, having come here with his mother
when only eight years old, their former home having been in Stark county,
Ohio. Eli Miers was thrown <n] his own resources at an early age, which
fact developed his latent talents and he formed habits of self reliance and,
going out into tlie world on liis uwii ;iccount, by strict integrity and indus-
trious habits and rigid economy he was enabled to accumulate a competence,
having eventually owned a fine farm west of Auburn. Tie died in Septem-
ber, 1909, at the age of seventy-nine years, the last two or three years of his
life having been siient at the home of his daughter. Airs. George Campliell, in
Auburn. To Mr. and Mrs. Campbell have l;een born two children, Esther
and W'ilbert. Mr. Campbell is a memlier of the Maccabees and the Trilie of
Ben-Hur. Genial in disposition and courteous in manner, he has won a large
and warm following among his acquaintances in Auburn.
Samuel L. Campbell, father of the subject of this sketch, was born in
Champaign county. Ohio, on jNIay j. 1841, and is the son of Joseph and
.Susanna (Kessler) Campbell. W'lien Samuel L. Campliell was four years
old his father died of typhoid fe\er and the mother and six children con-
tinued for a while on the farm, one child having died in infanc_\- before the
father's death. In the fall of 1868 the mother and lier sons, Samuel L.,
Isaiah and George \\'., came to Wabash county, Indiana, and bought a farm.
When SamuelL. Campbell had reached his majority he went to the city of
Wabash and learned the wagonmaker's trade, at which he was employed
about six years, then he was employed in a like capacity at Ligonier two
years, after which he came to W'aterloo in 1869 and was employed as a
wagonmaker for two years. In 1871 he came to Auburn, since which time he
has been closely identified w^ith the business interests of the city. In the latter
eighties Mr. Campbell started a wagon shop, where he made and repaired
wagons, and such was the (pialitv of his work that he soon gained an enviable
reputation throughout the count}', and man}- of the splendid wagons he turned
out at that time are still in active service, .\bout two years after he en-
gaged in business on his ow-n account his son. George, came in as a partner
and this firm has continued to the present time, enjoying an enviable reinita-
tion throughout this section of the state. About twenty years ago the firm
began the manufacture of deli\'ery wagons and carriages on a rather exten-
sive scale, their first location being at the northeast corner of Fifth and
DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 4I7
Jackson streets, but so rapidly did the Inisiness increase that ihev were com-
pelled to seek larger rjuarters. and in iS(j8 they came to their ])resenl location,
where they are well situated and splendidly etjuipped tor all classes uf work
in their line. They have a substantial building, tifty-two by eighty feet in
dimensions, two stores and basement. In addition to the manufacture of
light wagons and carriages they also deal in automobiles, handling the Stude-
baker and R. C. H. machines, and also sell ^Milwaukee binders and mowers
and Alamo gas engines.
Mr. Campbell has for many years enjoyed a splendid standing among
the business men of Auburn, who regard him as a man of exceptional busi-
ness ability and good judgment.
In 1870 Samuel L. Campbell married Mary Palmer, the daughter of
(jeorge and Catherine ( Hoo\er) Palmer, hei- birth ha\ing occurred in
Stark county, (lliio. At the age of aliout two years she acconii)auied her
parents on their removal to DeKalh county. Intliana. locating on a farm
three and one-half miles west of Auburn. Later they located in the city of
.\ulnirn, where she has resided ever since. To AJr. and .Mrs. Campbell have
been born four children, three sons and one daughter, the latter dying at the
age of fourteen months of scarlet fe\ er. The -■ lUs are i'rank S.. (ieorge and
^^'illiam E. bVaternally, Mr. Cami)l)ell is a member of the Knights of the
Maccabees and the Tribe of Ben-Hur.
Frank S. Campbell was liorn in Pleasant L;ikc. Steuben county. Indiana,
on \o\'ember 28. 1871. being the first child born to his parents. Samuel I.,
and Mary (Palmer) Campbell. Wlicn he was a b.aby of l-,ut three or four
months the famil}- moved to .Vubmii antl here be was reaied lo manhood,
receiving a good practical education in the [)ublic schools. In bis youth he
accepted employment with the Kibblinger Company, now known as the .\lc-
Intire Company, where, under his father's tutelage, he learned carriage body
building and designing. He was with that com])any twenty-five years, and
for a number of years was foreni.an of the wood sho]) there with six to
twenty-five men in bis depaitnient. lie made and built all kinds of bodies
from buggy bodies to automobile bodies, ambulance and casket wagons.
About T900 his health failed and he and bis wife went to \ew .Mexico.
\Miile there he lauglil orchestra, band and piano music, also organized and
directed a liand. lie remained there for two years, then returned to Auburn
and returned to the Kibblinger C'omi)any. On January _>. 1913. he resigned
and came in with his father and brothers in the linn of Campbell & Sons, in
which place he is now engaged. He is a man of good business ability and
{27)
4l8 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA.
has contributed largely to the splendid success which the firm is now en-
joying.
On September ii, 1894, Mr. Campbell married Jennie Husselman.
daughter of Henry and Ellen Husselman, she having been born and reared
north of Auburn, and being the representative of one of the old pioneer
families of this county. To this union has been born a son, Charles J., who
first saw the light of day on November 11, 1895. Religiously, Mr. and ^Irs.
Campbell belong to the Lutheran church, in which he has been an active mem-
ber and where he conducts an orchestra in the Sunday school. During the
past twelve years Mr. Campbell and his orchestra have missed but one Sun-
day in each _\ear and their music is appreciated highly by the attendants of
the school. He gives instructions to the orchestra members free, having a
rehearsal e\'ery Wednesday night and the organization is one of which he
is deservedly proud.
William E. Cam])bell. son of Samuel L. and Mary ( Palmer) Campbell,
was born on April 3, 1875, and was reared in this cit_\', receiving his educa-
tion in the public schools here. In his early youth he entered the employ of
Kibblinger & Company, where he learned carriage trimming and was after-
ward employetl in sexeral other cities, including aljout three and one-half
years at Butler, two }ears at Ligonier. two years at Albion, two years at
Logansport and two years at Linden, Michigan. Later he was employed ror
two years by the Modern Bugg}' Company at .\uburn. That he was a com-
petent workman is evidenced b}- the fact that in e\ery shop in which he was
employed he was foreman. In January, 1911. Mr. Campbell started the
Auburn Auto Top Company and did a thri\'ing business for two years. He
is now connected \\ ith the Campbell & Sons Company, referred to elsewhere
in this sketch. In 1890, at Fostoria, Ohio, Mr. Campbell married Rosa
Spruck and they have three children. Ruth, Eugene and Mary Louise.
Fraternally, he is a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of
Elks and Fraternal Order of Eagles. He is a man of fine qualities of char-
acter and enio}'s a marked popularity in the circles in which he mingles.
JOHN J. OBERLLN.
.\n enumeration of those men of the present generation who have won
honor and public recognition for themselves and at the same time have hon-
ored the locality to which thcv belong would be incomplete were there failure
to make mention of the one whose name forms the caption of this sketch.
DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 419
During a period ot many \ears he sustained a \erv en\ial)le reputation in
•educational circles, and today is giving tlmnglitful and intelligent direction lu
the financial affairs of DeKalh county, being the present county treasurer.
John J. Oberlin is a native of the old Buckeye state, having been born in
Summit county, Ohio, on .May 4. 1847, and is the son of Abraham. Jr.. and
Alary (Stewart) Oberlin, both of whom were natives of Lancaster county,
Pennsylvania. The subject's paternal grandfather also bore the name of
Abraham. John J. Oberlin was reared on the paternal farmstead in Ohio,
and received his educational training in the common schools of the nei.gh-
borhood, his vacation periods l)eing spent in assisting his father on the home
farm. He finished his education in the high school at Manchester, Ohio, and
at the age of eighteen years began teaching school. He was eminently suc-
cessful in this calling, which he followed for twenty-two terms.
In 1872 Mr. Oberlin came to DeKall) county. Indiana, locating near
Butler, and during the foll.)wing four years taught school there, lie then
moved to Marshall county, this state, where he resided for .seven years, teach-
ing school during si.x years of that time. While carrying on his educational
work he had also engaged in farming, at which calling he was erpially success-
ful. Returning to DeKalh county Mr. Oberlin located on a farm south of But-
ler, to the operation of which he devoted his attention until i^i)},. when he was
appointed postmaster of Ihitler, holding this ])osition four years to the entire
satisfaction of the goxernnient and the ])atrons of the olfice : then for a \ear
he was on the road as a traveling salesman, after which he engaged in the
general mercantile business at lUitler. In kjo^ he was nounnated for county
commissioner by the Democratic ])arty and was elected, holding the office
three years. His services were entirely satisfactory and he was renominated
for the position, but owing to the Repulilican landslide of that year he went
down to defeat with the rest of the ticket. llowe\er. as evidence of his
popularity it may be noted that while Roosevelt carried the county by si.K
hundred and twentv-five ])lniality, .Mr. ( )berlin was defeated by onlv ninety-
seven votes. Many Republican friends of his a,ssured him afterwards that
had they thought there was any chance for his defeat, they would have voted
for him. In the fall of 1910 Mr. Oberlin was the successful candidate of his
party for countv treasurer, and in kuj was re-elected by the largest majoritv
of any candidate on the ticket, being the present incumbent of that office.
His sterling integrity, sound business judgment and wise discrimination in
the administration of the county's finances have commended him to the con-
fidence and resi)ect of all the citizens regardless of political lines.
420 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA.
Political!}-, Mr. Oberlin is a stanch supporter of the Democratic party.
and has for a number of years taken an active part in the campaigns, his
counsel and sound judgment l)eing considered in\aluable by his party col-
leagues. Religiously, he and his wife are members of the United Brethren
church, to which they are liberal contrilnitors.
In y8f)Q John J. Oberlin was married to Catherine Beerer, a nati\e of
Summit county. Ohio, and a daughter of George and Julia N. Beerer. To
Mr. and Mrs. Oberlin ha\e been horn eight children, all living, namely :
Minnie, wife of C. W. Beard, of Butler; Lemuel, who is a billiard ball turner
at Cincinnati, Ohio, married Blanche Jewell, and they have two children,
Clark and Gale : Charles, a farmer living at Butler ; Jesse, who is in his
father's store at Butler, married Belle Xewton, and they have two daughters,
Lucile and Catherine; Cl\'de B.. also in tlie store at Butler, married Luella
Farley, and the\- ha\e one daughter. Mildred; Lloyd, who is employed as a
molder in the ])lant of the Butler Company at Butler, married Goldie Hart-
man, and the\- have two sons. Lindley and Burton; Grace \'iola is at home
with her ])arents; Karl Lero\- is bis father's assistant in the county treasurer's
office.
In Mr, Oberlin's record there has been much that is commendalile and
his character forcibly illustrates what a life of energy can accomplish when
plans are wisely laid and actions are governed I))- right principles and high
ideals. In his business career as well as his ])ri\ate life no word of sus-
jiicion has e\er been breathed against him. Successful in business, faithful in
the performance of public duty. res]:ccted in social life, and as a neighbor
discharging bis duties as becomes ,-i liberal minded, intelligent citizen, he has
won and retains the sincere rc'ard of all wIim know him.
T. PERRY LONG.
A man who boldly faces the res])onsi])i]ity ot life and by determined and
untiring energy carves out for himself an honorable success exerts a power-
ful influence upon the lives of all who follow him. Such men constitute the
foundation of our rei)ublican institutions and are the pride of our civilization.
To them life is so real that they llnd no time to plot either mischief or vice.
Their lives are hound up in their duties, they feel the weight of their citizen-
ship, and take jaleasure in sow'ing the seeds of uprightness. Such has been
the career oi the stibject of thi- brief notice.
DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 421
J. Perry Long, who enjoys a faxcirahlc reputation as a successful car-
penter and builder at Auburn, was born al.Dut one mile north of (larrett,
DeKalb county, Indiana, January 2^, 1807, and is a son of Samuel Harrison
and Marietta (Wyant) Long. Samuel H. Long was a native of Ohio, and in
an early day came to DeKalb county with his parents, Christian Long and
wife, who were lifelong farmers and settled in thi> county when l)Ut little of
the land had been cleared, hideed, where Garrett now stands was practically
an untouched wilderness in which deer and other wild animals roamed un-
disturbed. The land which Christian Long owned was located where now
stands the Baltimore & Ohio railroad shops, this land being sought by the
railway company when the subject of this sketch was a lad of nine years.
Perry Long was reared on the home farm, where he remained until at-
taining his majority, having ])erformed his [)art of the wijrk of lilling the
soil and har\esting the crops antl in the meantime secured a good practical
education in the ])ul)lic schools. At the age of t\\ent}'-one )-ears he came to
Auburn and learned the carpenter's trade, which he has made his life work.
For about eight years he was employed as a journeyman and then he formed
a partnership with Ora J. Brandon, building contractor. Two years later
Mr. Brandon retired from the i>arlnersliip to go into the lumber business,
since which time Mr. Lung has cuntinuetl the lousiness alone. b'or maiiy
years he has been numbered among the leading contractors of DeKalb county,
and many of the best residences and business blocks in this section have been
constructed bv him. His work has always been characterized liy thorough-
ness in every detail and his absolute reliabilit\- in the performance of his con-
tracts has gained for him the confidence cjf the public. l'er>onally, he is a
man of splendid qualities and genial address and has well merited the high
standing which he enjoys among his accjuaintances.
Politically. Mr. Long is a stanch supporter of the DeinocraHc parly.
and in 1904 was elected a member of the city council, the duties of which
position he discharged to the entire satisfaction of his constituents. His
fraternal affiliations are with the Knights of Pythias and the Knights of the
Maccabees.
Mr. Long has been twice married, first on May 13, 1888. to Florence
Dirrini, daughter of William Dirrini. to which union were born three chil-
dren: Ruth and \'esta. who live with their father, and Ethel, the wife of
Orange Wasson, a farmer near .Auburn, to which union ha\e been born two
children, Walter and Ruth. Mrs. IHorence Long died in 1900. and in June,
1902, Mr. Long married Rosa l\U])ert, of Xew\ille. Her parents were
422 DEKALB COUXTV, INDIANA. •
Manassa Rupert and .Mary (Burden) Rupert, the father a native of Ma-
honing county. Ohio, and the niuther of Allen C(ninty, Indiana. To Mr. and
Mrs. Long have been born five children, namely: Perry Waldo. Rupert D.,
Mozelle Rosamond, Marietta Evangeline, and a Ijab}- not yet named.
WARREN McNABB.
The gentleman to a brief re\ie\v of whose life and characteristics the
reader's attention is herewith directed was among the foremost business men
of DeKalb county, and by his enterprise and progressive methods con-
tributed in a material way to the industrial and commercial advancement of
the city and county. He was in the course of an honorable career most suc-
cessful in the business enterprises of which he was the head, and is well
deserving of mention in the biographical memoirs of DeKalb county. Among,
the prominent citizens of DeKalb county who have been well known because
of the part they have taken in public affairs was he whose name appears at
the head of this memoir, and who until recently was recorder of DeKalb
county.
Warren McXabb is a native of DeKalb county, in which he spent his
entire life, his birth having occurred there on July 2(k 1857. His parents,
David and Sophia (Dunfee) McNabb, were among the early settlers of the
count}-. Da\ id was a nati\e of Center county, Pennsylvania, born December
9, 1819, and was a son of John and Mary (''I'oung) McNabb, also a native of
that state, the father being of Scotch descent and the mother of Swiss and
English ancestry. \\'hen Dav 
