USA > Indiana > DeKalb County > History of DeKalb County, Indiana : together with sketches of its cities, villages and towns and biographies of representative citizens : Also a condensed history of Indiana > Part 50
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CHAPTER XIV.
FAIRFIELD TOWNSHIP.
SITUATION .- GEOGRAPHY AND TOPOGRAPHY .- ORGANIZATION AS A TOWNSHIP. - PIONEERS .- EARLY EVENTS .- FAIRFIELD CENTER .- EARLY JUSTICES, CONSTABLES AND TRUSTEES .- POPULATION .- PROPERTY AND TAXATION .- AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS .- BIOGRAPHICAL.
" Fair Fields," indeed, are those of the township to which this chapter is devoted. Owing to its situation it was the last township settled in De Kalb County. It lies in the northwestern corner of the county, and contains neither railroad nor town. Its trade is drawn by the village along the line of the Michigan Southern Railroad, which lies on its southern border. Fair- field is bounded on the north by Salem Township, Steuben County, on the east by Smithfield Township, on the south by Richland, and on the west by Wayne Township, Noble County. It is drained by several small creeks, and the outlets of Stony Lake, which is on section 3 and 4, and Indian Lake, on sections 20 and 29.
The surface is somewhat broken, and there are more hills than in most of the townships. Its long slopes, rugged bluffs, deep ravines, winding streams, and limpid lakes present an inviting view to the immigrant, although it was not brought into notice until the other townships were settled, being off the routes of travel, and remote from the county seat. Much of the land was bought by speculators, in an early day, and this contributed to retard actual settlement. One Dedrick, entered 1,100 acres; a bank in Pennsylvania held a large tract; and other parties owned various parcels of land, which were sold through the agency of Wesley Park. Gradually the lands came into the hands of immigrants, who have since received a rich tribute from the soil, as is evinced by excellent residences, barns, stock, and all the modern appliances of agriculture.
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March 7, 1844, the Board of Commissioners received a peti-
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tion, reading: "We, the undersigned, inhabitants of the un- organized township of De Kalb County, in consequence of the distance we have to go to elections, and the inconvenience of having to go to another township to do township business, do most humbly pray your Honorable Body that you would organ- ïze said township at your March session, and order an election for a justice of the peace, and other officers for said township; and your petitioners will ever pray." This was dated Feb. 27, 1844, and signed by Rufus R. Lounsberry, George W. Story, A. Ball, Oran B. Story, Miles Allen, C. Allen, George Powell, Benjamin Hunt, and Nathan W. Powell, who were all the voters in the township.
This petition was received favorably, and the Board ordered that township 35 north, range 12 east, be organized for civil purposes as a separate township, to be known by the name of Fairfield ; and the first election was ordered held on the first Monday in April, 1844, at the house of Rufus R. Lounsberry, to choose one justice of the peace. This man was also appointed inspector of elections. An election was held on the last Satur- day in August for three trustees.
The Story family, five in number, were the pioneers of Fair- field, and lived along the north line of the county. Willard Childs, one of the prominent early settlers, set out on foot from his home in Onondaga County, N. Y., and walked through to Ft. Wayne, thence to Kendallville, where there were but two cabins, and taking a guide came into De Kalb County, March 4, 1837, the day Martin Van Buren was inaugurated President of the United States.
He selected 120 acres on section 27, paid for it, and then set to work, at Ft. Wayne, to earn enough to take him home. When the land was entered, the Storys, five in number, as above mentioned, were the sole settlers. Mr. Childs returned in October, 1844, to pay taxes, and to review his purchase, to de- termine whether he should make the place his home. The result was satisfactory. Settlers had moved in, and in the southeast was David McNabb and family. Farther east was Wilbur Powell, and adjoining on the north was the clearing and cabin of George Powell, the first Justice of the Peace, and one or two others.
In 1846 Childs moved in, and temporarily lodged with Ben- jamin Chaffee, who sold his place to Childs, and made another
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settlement in the north part of the township. He afteward be- came Postmaster at Corunna. Rufus R. Lounsberry, of Wil- mington, also became a settler in Fairfield. Other early settlers were: The Wilseys, William and Isaac, D. Rager, Esq., Hiram Thomas, Miles Allen, John Shook, and Henry Hartman. Al- though there were now about fourteen families settled in Fair- field, there were not to exceed eighty acres cleared, and all were occupants of log cabins.
There now came a lull in settlement. About 1850 those who had held lands for a rise began to sell them, and clearing and building began in earnest. The tide of immigrants poured in, and soon occupied all the land. Log rolling and raising, in 1851, took up much of the time. The first frame building was a barn, 24 x 30 feet in size, on the premises of Mr. Childs. One spring day in the year 1847, thirty men and three boys assembled to put up the bents ; by noon of the same day the work was completed, refreshments were served, and the settlers dispersed homeward.
One of the first marriages was that of David Gonser to Miss Gushwa. The first religious organization was a Methodist class, formed by P. Jones, since a resident of Lagrange. A frame church was erected in 1855; Hiram Thomas was class-leader, and there were a dozen members. The Lutherans also organ- ized at Fairfield Center. The first innovation of the period of log school-houses was 1848, when a frame structure was erected in district 10; Alvin Thompson was its first teacher. The first road was laid out in a northerly direction from Sedan.
Fairfield Center is a hamlet located on the line between sec- tions 15 to 22. It is not destined to any remarkable degree of prosperity, as trade is attracted naturally to Corunna, Waterloo, etc. Messrs. Morrell and Hoover were early store-keepers at the Center. Edward Wright, a most respected pioneer, located at this point, built an ashery, and also kept a store.
It is said of Henry Hovater, the pioneer blacksmith, that he was hard pressed for food for his family of eight or ten children. He worked early and late, in the shop and on the clearing, and finally became independent, living to see his sons comfortably established.
Mr. McNabb entered his tract of eighty acres, and paid for it with money earned by himself and wife. He had $50, she an equal sum, and after paying for their land, they had a half a
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dollar left. A pole cabin was built, and the beginning of a home made.
The Justices of the Peace in Fairfield Township prior to 1860 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, Daniel Gonser.
The Trustees were: R. Worrell, D. Rager, W. Childs, S. Miser, J. C. Smith, G. W. Smith, D. Gonser, D. N. Nidick, B. Hunt, John Long, E. Wright, J. Short, W. H. Wilsey, Moses Gonser, D. Kimbell, B. A. Chaffee, H. Thomas.
The last census (1880) gives Fairfield Township a population of 1,558, or 43 to the square mile. The rate of taxation in 1884 was $1.61 ; poll tax $1.75; number of acres of land, 22,794.09 ; value of lands, $349,255 ; value of improvements, $79,755 ; value of lands and improvements, $429,010; value of personal property, $136,005 ; total value of taxables, $565,- 015 ; number of polls, 233 ; number of children of school age 547 ; valuation per capita, $356.19. The township had in 1881, 4,036 acres in wheat, producing 20,180 bushels, or 5 bushels per acre; 2,343 acres in corn, producing 70,930 bush- els, about 30 bushels to the acre of upland, and 40 bushels on bottom lands; 861 acres in oats, producing 21,525 bushels or 25 bushels per acre; 969 acres in meadow, producing 1,938 tons of hay, at the rate of two tons per acre; 113 acres in potatoes, producing 2,260 bushels, or 20 bushels per acre.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
David C. Ansley, farmer and stock-raiser, was born in Gor- ham, Ontario County, N. Y., June 27, 1824, a son of Albert and Prudence (Clark) Ansley, natives of New York, of English de- scent. He was reared on a farm, residing with his parents till manhood. In 1844 he came West and lived in De Kalb County, Ind., one winter, and then went to Pennsylvania and located in Potter County, where he engaged in the lumber business eighteen years. In January, 1863, he was married to Elizabeth Ames, daughter of Jacob and Jerusha (Bell) Ames, a native of Steuben County, N. Y. In 1863 he again came to De Kalb County, and settled in Fairfield Township, where he has since been successfully engaged in agricultural pursuits. Mrs. Ans-
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ley is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. In poli- tics he affiliates with the Republican party.
Christian Barkey, farmer and stock-raiser, Fairfield Town- ship, is a native of Westmoreland County, Pa., born April 6, 1820, a son of John and Susannah (Bussard) Barkey, natives of Northampton County, Pa., of German descent. When he was five years of age his parents moved to Ohio and settled in Holmes County, where he was reared and lived till 1851, when he came to De Kalb and settled on a tract of land which is now his valuable farm in Fairfield Township. This land he had entered about 1841, and at the time of his settlement it was wholly unimproved and heavily timbered. He now has it under a good state of cultivation, and his improvements are among the best in the township. Mr. Barkey was married March 13, 1851, to Hannah Herrington, a daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth (Long) Herrington, of Ohio. They are the pa- rents of nine children, eight of whom are living -- Mary Ann, John W., George A., Henry, Sarah E., Samuel, Thomas, and James F. Calvin is deceased. In politics Mr. Barkey affiliates with the Democratic party.
Francois Beuchat, farmer and stock-raiser, is a native of Switz- erland, born Nov. 7, 1830, a son of Barnard and Mary Ann Beu- chat. His youth was spent on his father's small farm, and when fifteen years of age he went to work in an iron foundry, and was thus employed two years. He then engaged in farm- ing till the spring of 1851, when his father and five sons came to the United States, his mother having died a short time before. They located in Stark County, Ohio, where his father bought a small farm, and made it his home the remainder of his life. He was born in 1792, and died in 1871. Francois Beu- chat remained in Stark County till the spring of 1866, when he came to De Kalb County, Ind., and bought forty acres of land in Fairfield Township, twenty acres of which was partially cleared. He went to work to improve his farm, and has added to it from time to time, till he now owns eighty-two acres of improved land. He was married Sept. 20, 1854, to Mary Smith, a native of Berks County, Pa., born Sept. 1, 1825, daughter of John and Maria Smith. To them have been born five children, three of whom are living-Maria E., William Henry, and Lois M. Peter John and Lewis E. are deceased. Politically Mr. Beuchat affiliates with the Democratic party.
1,
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HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
George Billman, one of the prominent citizens of Fairfield Township, is a native of Washington County, Pa., born Feb. 23, 1801, a son of David and Catharine Billman, natives of Ger- many, who were sold by the ship company to pay their passage to America. Our subject was reared in his native county, and when eighteen years old began to work at the tanner's trade, serving an apprenticeship of three years. He then worked as a journeyman, dressing leather, for nine years, and then en- gaged in farming till Aug. 15, 1834, when he moved to Seneca County, Ohio, and cleared and improved a farm of ninety-four acres. In 1864 he sold his farm and moved to De Kalb County, Ind., and bought the farm where he now lives. He has been successful in his pursuits and has a comfortable property for use in his declining years. He was married Dec. 25, 1827, to Mary Wansettler, and to them were born two children, both deceased. His wife died April 5, 1830, and he was again mar- ried June 21, 1833, to Catherine Dencer, a native of Washing- ton County, Pa., daughter of George and Catherine Dencer, of German descent. They have had five children, two of whom are living-Mary Ann, wife of Henry Hecht, of Michigan, and Matilda, wife of Daniel Cartret, of this township. Politically, Mr. Billman is a Democrat.
Josiah Boyer, the youngest son of Michael and Christina (Troutman) Boyer, was born in Somerset County, Pa., Jan. 22, 1834. When he was five years old his parents moved to Fay- ette County, Pa., and in 1841 to Holmes County, Ohio, where they remained till 1851. He accompanied them to De Kalb County, Ind., in the latter year and assisted his father in clear- ing and improving a frontier farm. When he was twenty-one years old he bought a tract of unimproved land on the south side of Story Lake, which he cleared and improved, at the same time making his home with his father and assisting in the cul- tivation of the homestead, till after his marriage. He then settled on his own farm, where he now has 120 acres of finely improved land, with a good residence and farm buildings. He was married Dec. 27, 1881, to Mrs. Margaret M. McClislı, daugh- ter of Daniel and Elizabeth (Cole) Kimbel, and widow of Alexan- der McClish, by whom she has two children-Alice and Libbie. Mr. and Mrs. Boyer are members of the German Reform church. In politics he affiliates with the Democratic party.
· Michael Boyer, farmer and stock-raiser, Fairfield Township, is
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one of the most prominent citizens of De Kalb County. He is a native of Somerset County, Pa., born Aug. 29, 1804, a son of Benjamin and Christina (Duffman) Boyer, natives of Penn- sylvania, of German descent. He was reared on a farm in his native county, and was there married in 1829 to Christina Troutman, a native of Somerset County, a daughter of Peter and Barbara Ann (Stanler) Troutman, natives of Philadelphia. After his marriage he settled on the Troutman homestead, where he lived ten years, and in 1839 moved to Holmes County, Ohio, and twelve years later, in 1851, moved to De Kalb County, Ind., and bought eighty acres of timber land in Fairfield Township, which he has cleared and made one of the finest farms in the township. He is a successful agriculturist and has surrounded himself and family with all the comforts of life. To him and his wife have been born four children-Solo- mon, of Noble County, Ind .; Josiah, of this township; Maria, wife of George Henney, and Elizabeth, wife of Moses Deitz. They are members of the Lutheran church. In politics he is a Democrat.
Jesse M. Brumback, one of the successful pioneers of Fairfield Township, is a native of Ohio, born in Huron County, April 2, 1823, a son of Daniel and Sarah (Culp) Brumback. He re- mained with his parents till his majority, and then engaged in farming in his native county till October, 1846, when he came to De Kalb County, Ind., and began clearing 160 acres of heavily timbered land in Fairfield Township. His means were limited, but by industry and frugality he was successful, and has now 200 acres of fine land, and has given his son a farm of 123 acres. His residence and farm buildings are among the best in the county. Mr. Brumback was married April 7, 1850, to Melissa J. Showers, daughter of Solomon Showers, of Rich- land Township. They had a family of three children, but two of whom are living-Celia R., wife of John E. Walters, and Edward M. Cornelia J. is deceased. Mrs. Brumback died March 9, 1855, and Nov. 2, 1856, Mr. Brumback married Lu- cinda Gloid, a native of Richland County, Ohio, daughter of Samuel and Rebecca (Smith) Gloid. In politics Mr. Brumback is a Democrat. He served his township as Magistrate a short time, and in 1862 was elected County Clerk and served three years.
David Buchanan was born in Chester County, Pa., Nov. 6, 1800,
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the eldest of six children. When he was about one year old his parents moved to Washington County, Pa., and four years later removed across the State line into Brooke County, W. Va., where they remained until the fall of 1815. They then moved to what was Wayne County, Ohio, now Holmes County, which was at that time almost an unbroken wilderness. Indians roamed the county and wild game was very plenty. John Buchanan, the father of our subject, purchased and settled on a tract of land on a small stream called Paint Creek and im- proved it, and other farms were opened up about the same time or soon after. After residing there about four years they built a small woolen factory and carded wool for their neigh- bors, and also scrutched flour by water-power in the same building. David Buchanan learned to card wool, and followed the business a few years. His means of gaining an education were very limited. His father was a very good scholar for that time, and taught school among the neighbors. Being very apt he became well versed in orthography, penmanship, arith- metic and surveying. He taught school a few terms, and fol- lowed surveying in connection with his farming for twenty-five years. He settled up a great many estates in his life time. He was married to Lydia Tribby Sept. 23, 1824, by Samuel Spen- cer, a Justice of the Peace, and soon after his marriage built a log cabin in the woods on a title of 100 acres of heavily timbered land in Monroe Township, Holmes County, Ohio, and some fifteen years later bought the land of the original owner. They lived in the log cabin nearly twenty-eight years, and there their children were all born. They had seven sons and one daugh- ter. Six of the children are living. James G. died June II, 1852, aged twenty-three years, six months and five days ; Elmira died Jan. 8, 1842, aged fourteen months and seven days. Mr. Buchanan was elected to the office of Justice of the Peace in 1838 as a Whig in a strong Democratic township, and filled the office with credit to himself and to the township, and came within a few votes of being re-elected. He visited Indiana several times from 1847 to 1854 to sec the country and buy land, and purchased six eighty-acre tracts in Fairfield Town- ship, De Kalb County. He moved to this land in October, 1854, and his surviving children all came with him or soon after. Here he remained till death. He was a firm Republican from the organization of the party till his death. He was elected
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to the office of County Commissioner in this county in October, 1859, and held the office one term or three years. Lydia Tribby Buchanan was born in Loudoun County, Va., May II, 1802, and is now in the eighty-fourth year of her age. She has been a hard worker, a good manager, and a kind, indulgent mother and an affectionate wife. Her many acts of neighborly kindness have endeared her to the hearts of legions of friends. An earnest, active Christian, she has been identified with the church fifty years. Her parents moved to Wayne County, Ohio, in October, 1816, with seven children. They each lived to be about eighty years old, and their children all survived them except one.
George M. Buchanan, farmer and stock-raiser, was born in Holmes County, Ohio, March 19, 1838, the sixth son of David and Lydia (Tribby) Buchanan. He received his early educa- tion in the schools of his native county, completing it at the Auburn High School. He was sixteen years of age when his parents came to De Kalb County, and the most of his time sub- sequent, till manhood, was spent in assisting his father. He was Surveyor of De Kalb County from August, 1861, till Aug. 19, 1862, when he enlisted in Company A, One Hundredth In- diana Infantry, and participated in many hard fought battles, among the more important being the siege of Vicksburg, At- lanta campaign, and those incident to Sherman's march to the sea. At Griswoldville, Ga., Nov. 22, 1864, he was wounded in the left shoulder and disabled for further field duty. He was then assigned duty in the hospital, joining his regiment at Alex- andria at the close of the war and accompanying it to Wash- ington, where he was in the line at the grand review of the army, and was discharged June 9, 1865, and mustered out at Indianapolis June 19, 1865. Returning to De Kalb County he engaged in farming, and the following spring bought the farm he now owns. He was married April 19, 1866, to Margaret Kreger, a native of Holmes County, Ohio, daughter of Thomas Kreger. September, 1882, he went to Tennessee, and engaged in the furniture and undertaking business successfully till No- vember, 1884. Aug. 8, 1884, his wife died, and he then sold out his business and prepared to return to his old home in De Kalb County. He has one daughter, Lydia I. Mr. Buchanan and his daughter are members of the United Brethren church, as was also his wife. He casts his suffrage with the Republican party.
Died Few when 30-1893 and 67 wears 4 months and 15 days
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John Buchanan, farmer and stock-raiser, Fairfield Township, was born in Holmes County, Ohio, July 14, 1826, the eldest of seven children of David and Lydia (Tribby) Buchanan, the former a native of Chester County, Pa., and the latter of Lou- doun County, Va., and early settlers of Holmes County. He was reared in his native county, remaining with his parents till man- hood. He was married Sept. 1, 1853, to Emily Burns, a native of Holmes County, Ohio, daughter of James and Margaret (Stuart) Burns. In November, 1855, Mr. Buchanan moved to De Kalb County, Ind., where his parents had moved the year before, and settled on 160 acres of wild land. In addition to clearing and improving his farm, he worked at the carpenter's trade, and also taught school during the winter for six years. He has been successful, and now has 312 acres of valuable land and his improvements are among the best in the township. To Mr. and Mrs. Buchanan have been born three children, but two of whom are living-Amina, wife of Dr. J. W. Squires, of Whitley County, Ind., and James, who married Millie Tucker, and lives in this township. In politics Mr. Buchanan is an uncompromis- ing Republican. He was one of the organizers of the County Agricultural Society, and has always been one of its Directors.
Leander Buchanan, farmer and stock-raiser, Fairfield Town- ship, was born in Holmes County, Ohio, Oct. 3, 1831, the third son of David and Lydia (Tribby) Buchanan. He remained with his parents till manhood, and in 1854 went to Winchester, Tenn., for health, but came to De Kalb County, Ind., the same fall. When seventeen years of age he took a severe cold, which settled on his lungs, and for several years he was unable to work, and has never fully recovered from its effects. He was married Oct. 18, 1860, to Clara Chilcote, a native of Seneca County, Ohio, daughter of Humphrey and Christiana (Snivley) Chilcote, early settlers of Ohio, who moved to De Kalb County in 1847. After his marriage Mr. Buchanan settled on a farm in Fairfield Township, where he lived two and a half years, and then sold it and bought the one where he now lives, which contains eighty acres of the choicest land in the township, all well cultivated. In 1853 he began to learn the carpenter's trade and followed it several years in connection with farming. He · has always taken an active interest in the public affairs of the county, and has assisted materially in building up all enterprises of benefit to the community. To Mr. and Mrs. Buchanan have
John Brohamm Buchanan
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been born three children, but one of whom is living-Elmira Ellen. Mary Vienna died at the age of fifteen years, and one died in infancy. In politics Mr. Buchanan is a Republican. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church.
Willard Childs is a native of New York, born in Oneida County, Feb. 15, 1811, the second son of Phineas and Theodosia (Evans) Childs, the former a native of Massachusetts, of English descent, and the latter of Connecticut, of Welsh descent. In 1813 his parents moved to Jefferson County, N. Y., and thence in 1826 to Onondaga County. When he was fifteen years of age he began to work by the month for farmers. In 1837 he came De Kalb County, Ind., and bought 120 acres of land, and after paying for it had 73 cents left. He then went to Ft. Wayne and earned the money with which to return to New York. In 1846 he moved his family to De Kalb County, land- ing in Fairfield Township, Aug. 24. He moved into a log cabin, belonging to B. A. Chaffee, and a short time after bought the land on which it stood. There were but fourteen families in the township when he settled here, and the land was mostly heavily timbered. He has added to his first purchase till he has 286 acres of land, which comprises one of the best farms in the township. 125 acres of this he has cleared and improved him- self. He has seen De Kalb County change from a forest to one of the most prosperous counties.
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