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 84
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and sufficient evidence. My husband and I read much together, and I believe I may say we did not differ much in our conclu- sions. Such authors as Allison, Hume, Hallam, Macauly, Vat- tel, Blackstone and Kent, with biographies of Nelson, Welling- ton, Marlborough, 'The Lord Chancellors' and 'Queens of England,' give one an accurate idea of the Nation whose laws and history they elucidate, and furnish me what I deem ample reasons for placing my mother country first among Nations." Some of the venerable lady's reminiscences illustrate forcibly the changes of a lifetime. Imprisonment for debt was common in New England sixty or seventy years ago, and Mrs. Mott remembers one man of Berkshire County, Mass., who had been in the prison at Lenox for eight years for debt, and who, for all she knows to the contrary, died there. On one occasion when a member of the prisoner's family died, the body was brought to the jail that the unfortunate debtor might have one last look at the beloved features before they were consigned to the grave. It was not necessarily fraud which was punished in this manner, but inability to pay, however honest the intention. Probably in every day affairs the greatest change has been in letter writing and postal service. Envelopes have been invented and come into use within the last fifty years ; the custom until comparatively recent times having been to fold the sheet of paper in a peculiar way, seal with a wafer or wax, and write the address upon the back. When the letter was dispatched twenty-five cents was paid at one or the other end of its jour- ney, as the case might be. The postage on periodicals and other printed matter was high and very uncertain. Mr. John Pride, a friend of the family in Ohio, had been taking " Blackwoods Magazine," which, after reading, he usually for- warded to her. In 1845 it ceased to come, and he explains in a letter of that year that he had been paying $1.25 per year postage on the Magazine, but there had "recently been a " change of Postmasters, and with the change of officers new "rules and regulations are almost always adopted. So in this " case; the Magazine came to the office, and I was told that " the former Postmaster had not charged me as much postage " as the law required him to do, and instead of accepting the " former rate, the present Postmaster considers it his bounden " duty to tax me two dollars and eighty cents per year. I at " once came to the conclusion that it was an outrageous post-
Freut Sheridan &. Cllett. Bein C Haich 15th 1840. Wounded at Chickamauga, Stop! 20th 1563. Died in Hospital at . Nashville , May 15th 156%.
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" age, and ordered the Magazine discontinued." It is hard to realize the changes in ways of life and manners, which Mrs. Mott's memory can recall, extending as it does over three quarters of a century. Much of the national growth in morals and in social matters, so graphically depicted in McMaster's " History of the American People," has been accomplished within her recollection, and she re views the past with the con- viction that the result, taking it all together, is an improvement mentally, morally and physically. In religions matters Mrs. Mott is an orthodox member of the church of England, into which she was baptized, and of the American Episcopal church with which she is in communion. She is cheerful and bright, taking no gloomy views of old age, but preserving her serenity of mind, enjoying her books, whether novels or more substan- tial works, with the same zest as formerly, undisturbed by fears of the future. The Bible she reverences as the word of God, and delights in it as the master-piece of English prose, having read it again and again, both in English and French, in which latter tongue she is somewhat proficient. As she comes of a long-lived family we hope and believe she has length of days yet before her.
Lieutenant Sheridan E. Mott.
" Speak with a tender reverence, oh, friends! Of those old comrades, bravest of the brave; That silent army on the other side, Of whom we say : 'They sleep within the grave.' "
In 185-, thirty years ago or more, four little boys were playing together. They were Sheridan Mott, his brother Grenville, with Samuel and Clark Ford. Said Sheridan : "My father says he believes there will be a war before many years, and if I am a man when it begins, I am going." " And so will I," "and I," " and I," echoed the others. Years passed. The lads grew toward manhood. The war came. They all went into it, and three out of the four sleep in soldiers' graves. Clark Ford was killed instantly at the battle of Shiloh. Samuel, wounded again and again, lingered on, suffering for more than twenty years before his spirit was released from its ruined tenement. Lieu- tenant Sheridan Edward Mott, the subject of the present sketch, and third son of Egbert B. and Mary (Winterbotham) Mott, was born in Belleville, Richland Co., Ohio, on Sunday, March 15, 1840. He was rather a delicate child, though not
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sickly, but, in common with most others, suffered much from ague after the removal of his father's family to Auburn. It is still remembered how, one morning, standing before the fire in an ague chill, he turned himself around, exclaiming: "I can get hot, but I cannot get warm." During his boyhood he at- tended such schools as the village afforded, and developed quite early great fondness for reading, especially for historical studies. Aug. 12, 1857, Sheridan E. Mott began the school year at Wyoming Seminary, Kingston, Pa. His nature was very reserved, and his attachment to home so deep and strong that he suffered greatly from homesickness, but he pursued his studies with great earnestness. A schoolmate writing of him at the time, said : " There are many students who do well, but I never saw another like Sheridan. He is always perfect." " I was marked 100 in all my studies," he wrote at the conclusion of an examination. He returned home in the summer of 1858, and soon entered his father's law office, where he pursued his studies during nearly three years. After passing an examina- tion he was admitted to the bar April 15, 1861, just one month after he attained his majority. July 14, 1862, he enlisted in Company A, Eighty-eighth Regiment, Indiana Volunteers. He was very slight and delicate in appearance, but endured the long marches much better than many who were apparently much stronger. Always ready to assist a comrade, he earned the title of " The double knapsack man," because he so often relieved others of some part of their burden. Surviving sol- diers of the Eighty-eighth will remember that when the regi- ment presented a sword to Colonel Humphreys, Sergeant Mott was chosen to make, and did make, the address. In battle he did not seem to know what fear was, and he fought as if that were the business of his life. He was shot in the battle of Chickamauga, Sunday, Sept. 20, 1863. The ball shattered the neck of the femur. A comrade, M. E. Rathbun, though not wounded, remained beside him until taken prisoner with him. After about a week, during which time he received as kind treatment as was possible under the circumstances, young Mott, with other wounded, was exchanged for wounded pris- oners held by the Federal army. He lay in the hospital at Chat- tanooga, suffering at times in common with other wounded from the intense cold and a lack of proper food, until Jan. 24, 1864, when he was removed to better quarters in Nashville. A
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commission as Second Lieutenant in the Seventy-eighth New York was given to him by Governor Seymour, Oct. 21, 1863, but the nature of his wound was such that had he recovered he could never have served in the infantry corps again. Brave in doing, he was equally patient in suffering. " I never heard a complaining word from his lips," said the hospital nurse, " everything was always well with him." It will be remem- bered that the Government took possession of the railroads for military purposes, and that it was almost impossible for civil- ians to obtain passes to the seat of war, but again and again, through one and another who was coming up, Lieutenant Mott's parents made arrangements to have him brought home. Each time his judgment decided against the attempt. " When I am able to walk on crutches I will come," he said, but that was never to be. Saturday morning, May 14, erysipelas having appeared in the wound, the surgeon told him that death was near. He remained for a few moments in silent thought, and then asked a comrade, whose face was turned toward life as his to the grave, to write a telegram for him. Having dictated it, he quietly awaited the inevitable summons. Growing weaker with every hour the end came at last, Sunday evening, May 15, 1864, when Sheridan Edward Mott, aged twenty-four years and two months, " fell on sleep " to awake in eternity. Mean- while in his Indiana home his parents were hoping soon to see him. The restrictions on travel were somewhat relaxed, and they expected to go the next week to Indianapolis, where they hoped to obtain passes to the South. Thursday morning, May 19, Judge Mott came from his office with hurried steps. With quivering lips and tremulous tones he said: "I must go to Nashville." The fatal message had come. "I am at hospital No. three (3), Nashville ; shall soon die." Father, mother, the only sister and her husband went to him. The sad urgency of their mission opened the way to them. They reached Nash- ville Saturday evening; he had been buried the Monday before. His body was brought home and laid to rest Friday evening, May 27, where he has ever since slept, almost under the shadow of the paternal roof-tree. There one after another of those nearest to him have lain down in a like dreamless sleep. Re- quiescat in pace.
David S. Ober, of the firm Ober & Beugnot, manufacturers of staves, headings and lumber, Auburn, Ind., is a native of Bed- 58
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ford County, Pa., born March 1, 1844, a son of Joseph and Anna (Smith) Ober. He was reared a farmer, remaining at home till after the breaking out of the Rebellion. In the spring of 1864 he enlisted in Company A, One Hundred and Eighty- fourth Pennsylvania Infantry. He was captured at Petersburg and taken to Libby prison, thence to Belle Isle and from there to Andersonville, where he remained eight months. Then was taken to Millen, Ga., and a short time later returned to Ander- sonville. In April, 1865, he was taken to Florida Swamps, and was exchanged the 28th of the month. He was then discharged and returned to his home in Pennsylvania, and in the fall of 1866 came to Indiana and located in Butler, De Kalb County, where he engaged in the lumber business, furnishing ties, bridge til- ing, etc., to the Baltimore & Ohio, Grand Rapids, Fort Wayne & Michigan Southern railroad companies. In 1873 he moved to Auburn and bought the interest of Mr. Girardot in the firm known as C. Beugnot & Girardot. This business was estab- lished in 1871, and is now doing a good business, having a large trade, being the leading manufactory of the kind in Au- burn. He was married March 22, 1871, to Harriet Ditmars, daughter of John A. Ditmars. They have three children, two daughters and one son, viz: Laura E., Archie J. and Nellie M. Mrs. Ober has been a resident of the county for thirty-two years, having moved here with her father from Wayne County, Ohio, when a child five years old. She was educated in the town of Auburn, and taught a number of schools in the county, principally in Butler and Jackson townships.
John F. Otto, dealer in boots and shoes and groceries, Auburn, Ind., is a native of Prussia, born in Erfurt, Dec. 10, 1826. When fourteen years of age he was apprenticed by his parents to learn the trade of a glove maker, serving till he was eighteen. He then worked as a journeyman till nearly twenty-one, when he enlisted in the Prussian artillery service, and assisted in crushing the rebellion in the South German States, and partici- pated in two battles and the siege of the fortified city of Rastadt in 1848 and 1849. In 1851 he was honorably discharged as a non-commissioned officer, and immediately after emigrated to the United States, landing in New York in May. He found employment as a farm hand near Albany, but was defrauded out of his wages, and the following winter was the hardest he ever saw, being in a strange land without money or friends.
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His parents came to America in the summer of 1851 and settled in Buffalo, N. Y., but he did not find them till the spring of 1852. He remained with them till the fall of 1853, when they all came to Indiana and located in Fort Wayne, and he was em- ployed in the shops of the Pittsburg & Ft. Wayne Railroad till October, 1861, when he enlisted in the Eleventh Indiana Bat- tery ; was mustered into service Dec. 17 and served till Jan. 7, 1865. At the organization of the battery he was commissioned Junior First Lieutenant, and Aug. 12, 1863, at Bridgeport, Tenn., was promoted to First Lieutenant. Nov. 17, 1863, he was placed in command of the Twentieth Ohio Battery, but was relieved Dec. I by an order from headquarters to return to Indiana on recruiting service, joining his battery again in the spring of 1864. He participated in the battles of Shiloh, Corinth, Nashville, Murfreesboro, Manchester, Chickamauga, Chattanooga, Mission Ridge, Buzzard's Roost, Dalton, Resaca, Kingston, New Hope Church, Burnt Hickory, Kenesaw Mount- ain (where he was wounded), Chattahoochee River and Atlan- ta. After his return from the war he located in Auburn, and, in company with Ernest Myers, engaged in the boot and shoe business under the firm name of Myers & Otto. In 1867 Mr. Myers retired from the firm, and Mr. Otto has since carried on the business alone. In 1870 he added a stock of groceries, and now has a large and increasing trade. He was married Jan. 26, 1865, to Mariah C. Reehling, of Fort Wayne. They have six children-Kate, Francis, Lucy, Clara, Lizzie and Alpha Blaine. Mr. and Mrs. Otto are members of the Presbyterian church. He is a member of DeLong Post, No. 67, G. A. R.
George W. Pepple, the eldest son of John and Ann (Baker) Pepple, was born in Perry County, Ohio, Aug. 18, 1840. When he was fourteen years of age, in 1854, his parents moved to De Kalb County, Ind. He remained at home till twenty-two years of age, and then began his career as a farmer. He is one of the successful agriculturist of the township, and owns 188 acres of choice land, 120 acres being under cultivation. His stock is of the finest grades, and he is one of the most successful wheat raisers in the county. Mr. Pepple was married in 1872 to Miss Catherine Husselman, the eldest daughter of John and Eliza- beth (Dunn) Husselman, one of the first families in this part of the township. To them have been born five children, three sons and two daughters-Jennie, Laura, Jesse, John and Iraay.
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HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
John H. Pyle, farmer, section 25, postoffice Auburn, is a native of Wayne County, Ohio, born March 1, 1827, the only son of Michael and Isabel (Dysart) Pyle, natives of Pennsylvania, his father of Westmoreland County, and his mother of Franklin County. In the spring of 1849 they moved to De Kalb County and settled on the farm now owned by our subject, four miles east of Auburn. Their family consisted of four children --- Elizabeth, wife of Ezekiel D. Wagar; Margaret D., wife of A. C. Brown, of Kansas; Isabel, deceased, was the wife of Thomas Weldin : and. John H. Our subject was reared in his native county, and when sixteen years of age began to work at the cabinet-maker's trade, serving an apprenticeship of four years. He came to De Kalb County with his parents, remaining with them as long as they lived. He has given his attention to the farm since coming to this county, and now has 167 acres of choice land, with a large orchard of assorted fruits, a large brick residence and substantial farm buildings. He was mar- ried in 1852 to Jane Moore, daughter of James Moore, one of the early settlers of De Kalb County. She died in 1874, leav- ing four children-James S., of Crawford County, Kan., mar- ried to Hattie E., daughter of S. W. Emery, a farmer and stock-raiser of Kansas; Ella, wife of John Wingard, of Kansas ; Mary, wife of Simon Miser; and Frank. In 1875 Mr. Pyle married Mrs. Mary J. Hoffman, widow of William Hoffman, by whom she has three children-William, Ori E., and Jennie. Joseph Rainier is a native of Ohio, born at North Georgetown, Columbiana County, Oct. 14, 1841, a son of Levi D. and Chris- tina (Goodbroke) Rainier, his father of French, and his mother of German descent. In 1850 his parents moved to De Kalb County, Ind., and settled in Newville where he lived with them till fifteen years of age, obtaining a fair education in the public school. He then began to work at the mason's trade which he followed till Aug. 9, 1862, when he enlisted in Company H, Eighty-eighth Indiana Infantry, to serve three years. He was promoted from the ranks through the various grades to First Lieutenant of his company. He participated in all the battles of his regiment, including Perryville, Stone River, Chickamauga, Lookout Mountain, Resaca, Buzzard's Roost, Kenesaw Mount- ain and Atlanta. In July, 1864, while on a skirmish line on the Chattahoochee River he was severely wounded by a rifle ball, and did not fully recover while in the service. After a partial
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recovery he was detailed on detached service in East Tennes- see as Quartermaster and Adjutant in a provisional brigade commanded by Colonel Dillsworth, and served in that capacity till March, 1865, when he resigned his commission on account of disability and returned to Newville. He soon after went to Clinton, Ill., to work at his trade, and while there, Sept. 19, 1865, was married to Malinda, daughter of Thurston and Eli- nor (Beatty) Cundiff. Soon after his marriage he returned to Indiana and engaged in the livery business till 1874. He then carried on a grocery and provision store till 1876, when he was appointed Postmaster at Auburn, and served till January, 1882. He then became associated with D. C. Headley and opened the City Meat Market which he still carries on. Politically he is a Republican, and in 1880-'81 was associated with C. P. Houser in the publication of the De Kalb County Republican, selling his interest to Mr. Houser in December, 1881. Mrs. Rainier died Dec. 17, 1878, leaving four sons-Harry Carlin, Edwin North, Charles Elliott and James Bradford. Sept. 7, 1880, Mr. Rainier married Amanda Cundiff, a sister of his first wife. They have one child-Anna A. Mr. and Mrs. Rainier are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. He is a member of De Kalb Lodge, No. 214, F. & A. M.
Samuel Woodburn Ralston, retired merchant, Auburn, is a na- tive of Washington County, Pa., born Dec. 12, 1807, the fourth of ten children of Robert and Jane (Woodburn) Ralston. In 1814 his parents removed to Richland County, Ohio, now Ash- land County, where he was reared and educated. When six- teen years of age he began to learn the carpenter's trade at which he worked twenty-five years. In the fall of 1842 he moved to Auburn, Ind. In 1846 he was elected Sheriff of De Kalb County, and in 1848 was re-elected. In 1849 he was elected Treasurer, and resigned the office of Sheriff. In 1856 he was again elected Sheriff and served till 1859. In 1862 he embarked in the mercantile business which he continued till 1880, when he retired from active business. He has been an energetic man, and has accumulated a good property. He owns one of the finest residences in Auburn where he is surrounded with all that makes life a pleasure. He was married in 1834 to Eliza J. Brink, of Plymouth, Ohio. To them have been born four children, but three of whom are living-Emily A., Andrew J., and George C. Mr. Ralston is a regular attendant at the Presbyterian church, of which his wife is a member.
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HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
Ephraim D. Raub was born in Stark County, Ohio, Sept. 13, 1846, the eleventh of thirteen children of Peter and Sophia (Grim) Raub. His father was a native of Pennsylvania, born near Delaware, York County, Feb. 22, 1801, and his mother of Maryland, born Jan. IS, 1806. They were married in Stark County, April 19, 1825, and remained there till 1854, when they moved to De Kalb County, Ind., and settled on what is known as the Weirich farm, living there till the spring of 1880. The father is now living with a son in Steuben County, and the mother with our subject. Of their family of nine sons and four daughters, five are living. Two of the sons were soldiers in the war of the Rebellion, one, Solomon, dying while in the ser- vice. He was a member of the One Hundredth Ohio Infantry, and was taken prisoner at Chickamauga and taken to Belle Island, thence to Richmond where he died Dec. 28, 1863. John B. served three years and returned home uninjured. Ephraim D. Raub was eight years of age when his parents removed to De Kalb County. Here he received the most of his education, completing it at Roanoke Seminary, Huntington County. Af- ter leaving school he taught school about three years, and then began the study of medicine with Dr. J. A. Cowan, of Auburn, and took his first course of lectures at Detroit, Mich. He be- gan his practice in the fall of 1874 at Salem Center, Steuben County, and later moved to Wells County where he remained several years. In the winter of 1882 he gave up his practice for a time, and removed to the farm where he has since lived. He was married in 1874 to Margaret E., eldest daughter of John and Jane Davis, of this county. They have four children- Maude E., Jay D., Eda F. and Charles Dudley.
Charles Raut, senior member of the firm Charles Raut & Son, dealers in boots and shoes, Auburn, was born in the northern part of Prussia at Rothmanshagan, July 31, 1837, a son of Charles and Charlotte Raut. In 1854 his parents came to America, and soon after landing in New York City, started for Indiana, arriving in De Kalb County, June 10. They located in Union Township on the present site of the City of Waterloo, where they built a shanty. They after- ward bought land two miles from Waterloo, of which they made a farm. Our subject's first work in this coun- try was on the Lake Shore Railroad, then being built. The following October he came to Auburn and worked as
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HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
journeyman at the shoemaker's trade, which he had learned in his native country. He was employed by John Rickle seven years, and then worked a time on his father's farm. In the fall of 1861 he returned to Auburn and worked at his trade, and the next spring formed a partnership with his brother Freder- ick in the boot and shoe business, the firm name being F. & C. Raut. In February, 1865, they sold out their store, and in the latter part of the year opened a harness-making establishment under the same name, selling their business in 1867. He then engaged in farming till 1872, when he again came to Auburn and worked at his trade, and in 1878 formed a partnership with Isaac Hague under the firm name of Hague & Raut. In Feb- ruary, 1884, his son, Clarence H., became the successor of Mr. Hague, and the firm name was changed to Charles Raut & Son. Mr. Raut was married Aug. 27, 1860, to Emeline Hoover, of Waterloo. They have had five children, two of whom are living-Clarence H. and Ulysses S. Three died in infancy. Mr. and Mrs. Raut are members of the Methodist Episcopal church.
Robert S. S. Reed is a native of Wayne County, Ohio, born March 12, 1837, a son of Robert and Anna (Fast) Reed, his father a native of Pennsylvania and his mother of Ohio. In the fall of 1853 his parents moved to De Kalb County and his father bought a claim of 120 acres of timber land on section 20, Union Township, which he began to clear and pre- pare for cultivation. He remained on this farm till 1859 and then moved to Waterloo where he died in August, 1870. His widow survived till 1873. They were the parents of nine chil- dren, four sons and five daughters, four of whom are living. Robert remained with his parents till 1860 when he was mar- ried to Emily Ditmars, daughter of John A. Ditmars, of Jack- son Township. After his marriage he settled on the old homestead of his father, buying the interests of the rest of the heirs. He has improved his farm and has added to it till he now owns 200 acres located on sections 17, 20 and 21. His fine brick residence is on section 20, on the land of his father. His farm buildings are all in good repair. For several seasons Mr. Reed has run a threshing-machine for the accommodation of the neighboring farmers. He has served his township as Appraiser and Deputy Assessor. He was one of the organizers and is now President of the Farmers' Mutual Fire Insurance
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HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
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