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 71
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Charles L. Rempis, Jr., was born in Germany, March 21, 1831, a son of Charles L. Rempis, who was born in Germany in 1801, and came to America with his family in 1832 and settled in Tuscarawas County, Ohio, and later in Massillon, Ohio, remain- ing there till 1853, when he removed to De Kalb County and bought 120 acres of land on the southeast quarter of section 22, Smithfield Township. Forty acres of the land were cleared and under cultivation, and had a log cabin and barn. He went to work to improve his farm, but lived only six years after com- ing to the county, dying in December, 1859. His wife survived him a number of years. They had a family of eight children, six of whom are living, four in De Kalb County. Charles L. Rempis, Jr., went to California in 1851, and remained on the Pacific coast three and a half years. In the fall of 1854 he re- turned East, and his father having in the meantime removed to De Kalb County, settled in this county. He was married to Elizabeth, daughter of William Middleton, who settled in Adams County, Ind., in 1842, and in 1843 removed to De Kalb County, and in 1845 settled on section 4, Union Town- ship, but sold out in 1864 and moved to Waterloo, where he died in 1866. His wife died July 19, 1874. They had a family of four children-Isaac, died in Idaho Territory ; Mrs. Rempis ; Hester, wife of Jacob K. Norton, of Eaton County, Mich .;
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James. The latter born in De Kalb County. Mrs. Rempis is the only member of the family living in De Kalb County. Mr. and Mrs. Rempis have three children-William H., Lewis F. and Theodore. Mr. Rempis has a fine farm on the northeast quarter of section 32, and is one of the most enterprising and influential farmers of the township.
Jacob Sawvell, section 24, Smithfield Township, bought his farm in 1847 of John Anthony. At that time but very little of the land was improved ; now it is one of the best farms in the township, sixty of the eighty acres being under cultivation. Mr. Sawvell was born in Adams County, Pa., near Gettysburg, April 23, 1807, and lived in his native county till twenty-one years of age, when he moved with his parents to Stark County, Ohio, where he was married to Sarah Anthony, who accom- panied him to De Kalb County. She was a native of Pennsyl- vania, but was reared in Stark County. They had a family of ten children, but seven of whom are living, two in De Kalb County. Mrs. Sawvell died in July, 1862, and Mr. Sawvell subsequently married Mary Mortorff, a native of Adams County, Pa., born in 1822. He has been a hard working, economical man, and his efforts have been crowned with suc- cess.
Eli Stoffer was born in Columbiana County, Ohio, in 1836, a son of Samuel Stoffer. In 1864 he moved to De Kalb County, Ind., and settled in Fairfield Township, and in 1874 moved to the southwest quarter of section 19, Smithfield Township, where he has since resided. In 1884 a cheese factory was built on his farm, and May 23 he began manufacturing, the firm name being Smithfield Dairy Association. Mr. Stoffer is President of the association. The factory has the capacity of manufacturing 500 pounds of cheese per day. Mr. Stoffer is one of the most successful and enterprising business men of the township. He was married in Ohio to Elizabeth Weaver, a native of Colum- biana County. They have seven children-Oliver, Delilah, Amanda J., Edwin O., John F., Mary K. and Ella N.
Aaron A. Stout was born in Lenawee County, Mich., in 1829, a son of George and Delight W. (Bliss) Stout, his father a native of New Jersey, born in 1799, and his mother a native of Vermont, a daughter of Nelson Bliss. His father moved to Western New York with his parents when about five years of age, and when a young man moved to Lenawee County, Mich.,
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where he was married, and in November, 1836, moved to De Kalb County, and settled in Fairfield Township. In 1834 he had entered eighty acres of land in Steuben County just across the line from De Kalb, and in the spring of 1837 settled on this land and improved it, making it his home several years. He subsequently moved to section 1, Smithfield Township, and thence to Jackson Township, Steuben County, where he died in the spring of 1866. His wife died in 1853. They had a family of five sons and two daughters-Herbey B., the eldest, died of cancer, aged fifty-three years; Aaron A .; George L. died at the age of twenty-three years; Orville L. died at the age of forty years; Nancy W., wife of Frederick Story ; Caro- line, now Mrs. Forst; Edwin went West several years ago, and is supposed to be dead. After the death of his first wife Mr. Stout married Mrs. C. (Shotto) Clark, who is still living. To them were born four children. Aaron A. Stout remained with his parents till his marriage to Malinda Bower, who was born in New York, April 13, 1834, daughter of John Bower, who settled in Fairfield Township in 1851. Her father is now living in Kent County, Mich .; her mother died in 1861. Mr. and Mrs. Stout have had three children, but one is living-Frances A., wife of Archie W. Irwin. Lydia L. died Jan. 29, 1878, aged twenty-two years, and one died in infancy. In 1861 Mr. Stout enlisted in the Forty-second Indiana Infantry for three years, but was discharged in January, 1862, on account of disability. In April, 1863, he settled on his present farm on section 12, ยท Smithfield Township, where he has one of the pleasantest homes in the county.
John R. Walker, section 35, Smithfield Township, bought his farm of 160 acres of Wesley Parks in August, 1844. At that time it was heavily timbered, but he cleared and improved it, and in 1860 bought the quarter section adjoining. By hard work and economy he has acquired a compentency, and is one of the successful farmers and most respected citizens of the county. Mr. Walker was born in York County, Pa., in 1808, and was there reared and married to Catherine Chrumrine, a native of Maryland, born in 1810. In 1835 they settled in Co- lumbiana County, Ohio, and lived there till their removal to De Kalb County in 1844. Mr. Walker's father, Nicholas Walker, was a distiller, and in his youth he learned the business and followed it a number of years in Ohio. Mr.
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HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
and Mrs. Walker have had eight children; but four are liv- ing-Sarah, Amanda, Eli and George, the two latter born in Indiana.
Frederick C. Waterman, section 8, Smithfield Township, a son of Othniel and grandson of Elijah Waterman .. His grand- father settled on section 30, Franklin Township, De Kalb County in 1837, and resided there till his death in 1863. His father, Othniel Waterman, settled on section 9, Smithfield Township in 1840, but about 1843 moved to Steuben County, and from there two years later to Milwaukee, Wis .; thence to Waukesha County, Wis., and from there to Fox Lake, Dodge County, and thence to Tomah, Monroe County. He engaged in the lumber business north of Tomah, till 1868, and then bought a farm near town, where he lived till his death in the fall of 1882. The mother, Mary (Gambia) Waterman, still re- sides on the homestead. Of their six children but three are living- Frederick; Alice, wife of Mervin Jones, of Monroe County, Wis .; and Charles, a conductor on the Chicago, Mil- waukee & St. Paul Railroad. Frederick was born in New York Mills, Oneida Co., N. Y., Aug. 26, 1841. He remained with his parents till the breaking out of the Rebellion, when, May 11, 1861, he enlisted in the Second Wisconsin Infantry, which was a part of the famous Iron Brigade of Wisconsin. He participated in the first battle at Bull Run, July 21, 1861, Gainesville, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, and on the first day of the battle of Gettysburg, was taken prisoner, but was paroled by General Early the same evening. However, in- stead of being allowed to report immediately at parole camp, he was required to assist in taking care of the wounded. He rejoined his regiment at Bristow's Station, a few days later, and subsequently participated in the battles of the Wilderness, Cold Harbor, North Anna; was forty-two days in the trenches before Petersburg ; was at Five Forks, and Appomattox at the surrender of General Lee. After the close of the war he re- turned to Wisconsin, and worked at his trade (printer) in Mil- waukee a short time; then returned home and assisted his father for sometime, and subsequently went to Walworth County, Wis., where he engaged in farming till 1870, when he moved to De Kalb County, Ind., where he has since lived. He owns eighty acres of good land on section 8, which formerly belonged to George Brunner. Mr. Waterman was married to Ellen, daughter of Orris Danks. They have two sons- Herbert and Orris O.
CHAPTER XXI.
STAFFORD TOWNSHIP.
SITUATION. - GEOGRAPHY AND TOPOGRAPHY .- EARLY SET- TLERS .- RELIGION AND EDUCATION IN AN EARLY DAY .- FIRST TOWNSHIP OFFICIALS. - POPULATION. - PROPERTY AND TAXATION .- AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS .- BIOGRAPH- ICAL.
On the east line of the county, midway north and south, lies Stafford, one of the three small townships in the county. It is bounded on the north by Troy Township, on the east by the State of Ohio, on the south by Newville Township, and on the west by Wilmington. The northern end is crossed by a rail- road used by both the Michigan Southern and the Wabash, St. Louis & Pacific Railroad companies. The St. Joseph River crosses the southeast corner, and Big Run has its course west to east across the north end. On the river and creek the lands are quite fertile; between the two they are variable in quality, but none too poor for wheat when properly cultivated. The surface is generally level, with bluffs in the south on the river. The township is six miles long, north and south, and nearly two and a half wide east and west; thus containing twelve whole and six fractional sections.
The earliest settler of this township was James Lytle, who located during the summer of 1836, and after a short stay left the county. The next and permanent settlers were John and Hazzard Webster, Rufus Coats and John Rose, and their fami- lies, in all a colony of twenty-six persons. They emigrated from Trumbull County, Ohio, and arrived at their destination in this township on Oct. 4, 1836. John Webster bought some hundreds of acres of very rich land on the river near the Ohio State line and settled on the same. He was a somewhat ec- centric man, an ardent devotee of wealth, careless on religious subjects, and yet a good citizen and neighbor. He was very useful in supplying the early settlers with corn, potatoes, etc.,
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at very reasonable rates for the times, and, some years later, by erecting a good saw and gristmill on his premises. He and all his sons, three in number, have been in the spirit land for thirty years or more. His brother, Hazzard Webster, was also an early settler, respected by those who knew him. He died in California a generation ago.
Other early settlers were: Jacob Gunsenhouser, John Rose, Rufus Coats, James W. Rose,James E. Rose and Daniel Coats. The first habitation was built by Lytle, and the next four were raised about the same time by the families above named. During the year following Edward Scoville and Ariel Walden (for years an Associate Judge for this county) came in. During the years 1838 and 1839 many families moved in, entered land and en- gaged heartily in the work of developing the country. Prominent ones were: Christian Wanemaker, Henry Fusselman (a Justice and County Commissioner) and Thomas Strote. John Barber made his home in the northern part of the township, and C. R. Wanemaker (since County Commissioner), and Stephen W. Hackley, were other early settlers in the same locality.
Though there was hard labor and few comforts save as they were won by industry, yet these settlers were not unmindful of the claims of religion and of education. Early preachers there were, men unschooled, and appearing in their shirt sleeves, who were full of zeal and awakened religious fervor in many a cabin home. Lewis Hicklen was a Methodist Protestant min- ister, and preached in the settlers' cabins. Then there were Byron Miner and Henry Kumler, the latter since known as Bishop Kumler; Jonathan Thomas, of the United Brethren church, and Elder Josiah Cooper, a Methodist Episcopal. The first school patronized by the people of Stafford was taught by Miss Emily Handy. The building occupied for the purpose was a cabin not in use, and owned by Walter Slaughter. It stood near Coats' Corners. The first school-house, erected as such, stood near the residence of Mrs. Joslin, in the Wane- maker settlement, and has known many occupants, teachers and pupils, now engaged in other duties. The youth of the early days have grown to manhood; and, in vivid contrast with the husbandry of the present, memory recalls
" How we grasped the old sheepskin with feelings of scorn, As we straddled the back of the old sorrel mare, And rode up and down through the green rows of corn,
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HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
Like a pin on a clothes-line that sways in the air; We can hear our stern fathers reproving us still, As the careless old creature comes down on a hill."
Some of the early Justices of the Peace in Stafford Township were: Rufus Coats, Henry Fusselman, David McDaniel, Noyce Coats, Samuel Wanemaker, F. Hoffman and J. J. Imhoff. Early Constables were : I. Gaft, C. R. Wanemaker, H. Dickerhoof and H. H. Wanemaker. The first Trustees were: J. J. Gunsen- houser, Isaac Deal, A. Fusselman, Joseph A. Coats, Noyce Coats, J. J. Imhoff, F. Hoffman, Peter Walter, John Crouse, Samuel Headley, John W. Rose, Jesse W. Rose, C. H. Wane- maker, William Brown, John Webster, William Webster and Chris. Wanemaker. C. R. Wanemaker, James Cather and Jacob Crise, were early Assessors.
The Big Run U. B. church was organized in the spring of 1843 by Rev. Jonathan Thomas, who is still living in Hamilton, Steuben County. 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 organized in the house of Jacob Gunsenhouser, and wor- shiped there for about five years, afterward using the old log school-house on Mr. Gunsenhouser's land. While using this house, they had a most successful revival, resulting in the con- version of sixty souls. Rev. Chester Briggs conducted the meetings. Their present church building, 30x40 feet, was begun in 1861, and completed during the war. Services are held alternate Sundays by Rev. James Martin. The cemetery by this church was the first in the township. The first person buried there was Miss Abigail Hackley ; her death occurred several years before the organization of the church.
The population of Stafford Township is 569, or 38 to the square mile. The valuation per capita is $453-73. In 1884 the number of acres of land was assessed 9,311.57 ; value of same, $198,975 ; value of improvements, $26,240; value of lands and improvements, $225,215 ; value of personal property, $48,465 ; total value of taxables, $273,680 ; rate of taxation, $1.66; num- ber of polls, 93 ; poll tax, $1.00; total amount of taxation, $4,698.31.
The following statistics are of staple crops raised in 1881 : there were 1,526 acres in wheat, producing 7 bushels per acre, or 10,682 bushels ; 879 acres in corn, producing 15 bushels per
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acre of upland and 25 per acre of lowland, or 13,460 bushels; 531 acres in oats, producing 35 bushels per acre, or 16,585 bush- els; 353 acres in meadow land, producing a ton to an acre of hay, or 353 tons ; 44 acres in Irish potatoes, producing 15 bushels per acre, or 660 bushels.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
Robert Arford, section 4, Stafford Township, was born in Fay- ette County, Pa., March 27, 1828, a son of Jacob Arford, a na- tive of Maryland, who moved to Wayne County, Ohio, in the spring of 1831, and to Tuscarawas County in 1839. Robert Arford grew to manhood in the latter county, and in 1852 came to De Kalb County, Ind., and settled on the land where he now lives. He cleared a small patch of ground and built a hewed log house 26 x 18 feet in size, a story and a half high. He was in meager circumstances when he came to this county, and after paying for part of his land and buying a few necessary articles, had but $12 dollars left. He bought seventy-five acres of land for $350, and paid $130 cash. He went to work for others till he had paid the rest. He made all the furniture in their house with the exception of two chairs and a bureau. He had no team, and he and Jacob Crise bought a yoke of oxen together. Although commencing life in what seemed adverse circumstances, he has toiled bravely on, assisted by a. noble wife, till he now has a fine farm of nearly 200 acres, all under a good state of cultivation. He was married June 16, 1850, to. Margaret Weimer, daughter of John Weimer. They have had a family of seven children, but three of whom are living-Mary E., Maville C. and Charles S. Mr. and Mrs. Arford are mem- bers of the United Brethren church.
Daniel Beha, farmer and stock-raiser, section 9, Stafford Township, is a native of Baden, Germany, born Jan. 25, 1845. He was reared in his native country, and when twenty-five years of age, in 1870, came to the United States, and in 1872 settled in Stafford Township, De Kalb Co., Ind. Till within the past three years he has worked for the railroad, but since then has engaged in farming. He owns forty-three acres of land, thirty-eight acres being in Stafford Township and five acres just across the line in Ohio. He was married in 1872 to Caroline Barmmaert, and to them have been born three chil- dren -- Rosa, Katie and John. Mr. and Mrs. Beha are members of the Catholic church at Edgerton, Ohio.
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HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
David W. Blaker, section 18, Stafford Township, was born in Lycoming County, Pa., May 19, 1830, a son of Jesse Blaker, a native of Bucks County, Pa., and what was called a Hickory Quaker. He enlisted in the war of 1812, but the war closed before he was called into service. David W. lost his mother when he was seven years old, and before he was nine years old began to take care of himself. Before he was fourteen years old he found himself 200 miles from home without friends, barefooted and with no shoes nor money. He worked on the canal nearly a year and then at the blacksmith's trade fourteen years. In 1853 he came to De Kalb County and located at But- ler, where he worked at his trade for the contractors of the Lake Shore Railroad. He remained in Butler till 1867, work- ing at his trade with the exception of one year, when he was associated with his brother in a meat market and grocery. In the spring of 1867 he settled on his farm, which at that time contained eighty acres of land, partially run down, but by dili- gence and care he has made it equal to any farm in the town- ship. He now owns 120 acres of fine land, and his crops are among the best in the county. He was married July 4, 1852, to Ethilinda Fowler, of Flat Rock, Wayne Co., Mich., and to them have been born ten children, but five of whom are living -George W., Frederick D., Ella M. B., William L. and James C. George married Emma Flickinger and lives in this town- ship. Mr. and Mrs. Blaker are members of the Methodist Epis- copal church.
Joseph Bradley, deceased, was born in New Lisbon, Ohio, Oct. 26, 1815, a son of William Bradley, a native of Ireland. When he was five years old he went with his mother to Maryland, and soon after to Belleville, Washington Co., Pa. When nine- teen years of age he came West as far as Ohio and located in Wayne County, and a few years later moved to Defiance County. April 18, 1854, he came to De Kalb County, Ind., and settled on section 32, Stafford Township, where he opened a farm and made for himself a home, remaining here till death, Oct. 20, 1865. He was married Jan. 2, 1838, to Mary E. Tharp, daughter of Isaac Tharp. To them were born nine children, seven of whom are living-Mary J., Melissa, William, Sarah, Margaret, Mandana and Zelma. Elmer and Caroline are de- ceased. Elmer married Louisa Johnson and left a son, Franklin, who lives with his Grandmother Bradley. Mary J. is the wife
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of John McCollough, of Bryan, Ohio, and has six children- Scott, Bertha, Charles, Nelia, John and Estella. Melissa is the wife of Ryer McDonald, and has nine children-James A., Elmer, Laura, Bertha, Ida, Frank, Dea, Minnie, Hattie. Will- iam, of Butler County, Kas., married Mary E. Smith, and has two children-Frank L. and an infant son. Sarah is the wife of Wilson Headley. Margaret is the wife of Ephraim Allen, of Defiance County, Ohio, and has five children-Darius, Mary, Gertrude, E. C. and an infant. Mandana is the wife of Sumner Rose, and Zelma of David Ball, both of De Kalb County.
Rev. James Cather, section 6, Stafford Township, is a native of Guernsey County, Ohio, born Aug. 25, 1819. His parents moved to Frederick County, Pa., where he was educated, and subse- quently attended the Lutheran Literary and Theological Semi- nary at Gettysburg. He began preaching in the Allegheny Mountains while there recruiting his health, and in 1842 came West and preached a year in Stark and Tuscarawas counties, Ohio. He came to De Kalb County in 1844 and settled near Butler. He was employed as a missionary by the English synod of Ohio, and to organize churches, and in September, 1844, organized the Kepler church. He also organized the Wittenberg, Melbourne Station, Denmark, and Spencerville churches. He was engaged in the work of the ministry thirty years, and in 1872 retired to agricultural life, although he still preaches occasionally to fill vacancies. He settled in Stafford Township on a farm, where he owns 120 acres of choice land. He was married Jan. 1, 1847, to Lydia Norris. They com- menced married life with nothing but their clothes, a horse and $3 in money. Mrs. Cather lived at home till he could buy an acre of land in Franklin Township. He then built a log house, which at that time was the best one in the county. He taught one winter and preached on the Sabbath and at night hunted raccoons, at which he made more money than both his other occupations. He has made his home in De Kalb County since 1844, with the exception of three years spent in Elkhart. He was Assessor of his township sixteen or seventeen years. He has experienced all the trials and hardships of a pioneer preacher, but has been rewarded for his toil by the conscious- ness that his labor has not been in vain. To him and his wife have been born nine children, but three of whom are living- Isabella, now the wife of Rev. J. B. Hawkins, of Ashland, Ohio ;
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HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
Charles F. and Pitt. Elizabeth, William, Kate, Susannah, James and Josephine are deceased. Mrs. Cather's father, Charles Norris, was a pioneer of this county, and laid out the town of Butler. He was a native of New England, a soldier in the war of 1812, and died at an advanced age.
David McDannel, section 5, Stafford Township, is a native of Stark County, Ohio, born Feb. 11, 1816, a son of James Mc- Dannel, an early settler of that county. He was reared on a farm, but when a young man learned the carpenter's trade, at which he has worked the most of the time since. He came to De Kalb County in June, 1843, and July 4 settled on the land where he now lives. He lived in a board shanty till the follow- ing fall, when he finished his present residence, which was the first frame house in the township. He owns seventy-five acres of fine land, but the greater part of it is carried on by tenants. He has been an influential citizen of the township, and has served as Justice of the Peace thirteen or fourteen years, and several years as Trustee. He was married Oct. 27, 1839, to Annie Gunsenhouser, daughter of John Gunsenhouser. To them have been born six children, but three of whom are living- Emily, Mary, and Martha. Emily married Frederick Ginder, and Martha married Philip Ginder, of Wilmington Township. Sarah, Elizabeth and John are deceased. John lost his hearing when five years of age from the effects of brain fever, and was educated in the deaf and dumb institute at Indianapolis. He was a very intelligent young man, and especially skillful in fine cabinet work. He was run over and killed by the fast express train on the Lake Shore Road, May II, 1882, when on his way to Butler. Mr. and Mrs. McDannel are members of the Lutheran church.
Isaac Diehl, farmer and stock-raiser, section 7, Stafford Township, was born in Adams County, Pa., Nov. 25, 1812, a son of Jacob Diehl, a tanner and farmer. His father died when he was eleven years of age, and he was early thrown on his own resources. He learned the cooper's trade when a young man, and followed it three years. He came to De Kalb County, Ind., in June, 1843, and settled where he now lives, entering eighty acres of land from the Government. He cleared away enough of the timber to build a log cabin, and then went to work to make a farm out of a tract of heavily timbered land, working at his trade in the fall and winter months. He was in
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