History of Northeast Indiana : LaGrange, Steuben, Noble and DeKalb Counties, Volume II, Part 88

Author: Ford, Ira, 1848- ed
Publication date: 1920
Publisher: Chicago : Lewis Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 618

USA > Indiana > LaGrange County > History of Northeast Indiana : LaGrange, Steuben, Noble and DeKalb Counties, Volume II > Part 88
USA > Indiana > Noble County > History of Northeast Indiana : LaGrange, Steuben, Noble and DeKalb Counties, Volume II > Part 88
USA > Indiana > DeKalb County > History of Northeast Indiana : LaGrange, Steuben, Noble and DeKalb Counties, Volume II > Part 88
USA > Indiana > Steuben County > History of Northeast Indiana : LaGrange, Steuben, Noble and DeKalb Counties, Volume II > Part 88

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Of my maternal ancestors, the Smith family came from England to America in 1638 and settled in New London County, Connecticut, which county is the home of many of their descendants to this time. The Caulkins family somewhat later settled in Connecticut in New London County. Of the Baxter family three brothers came from Scotland to America some two hundred years ago, my direct ancestor by that name living for a considerable time at Long Meadow, Connecticut, from which place they eventually drifted westward.

Not less than five of my forefathers were soldiers in the war of the Revolution. One grandfather, Hosea H. Baxter, was a volunteer soldier in the Civil war. His father, Benjamin F., was a graduate of Harvard University and served in the War of 1812.

My grandfather, Russell Brown, in company with his brother-in-law, Orsemus Jakeway, and their families migrated from Cayuga County, New York, to LaGrange County, Indiana, settling in Spring- field Township in June, 1836. They went by way of the Erie Canal to Buffalo, thence across Lake Erie to Toledo. They were ten days making the trip from Toledo to LaGrange County owing to difficult traveling through the far famed Black Swamp. He invested in considerable land, which cost him for the most part only one dollar and a quarter per acre. Here in Springfield Township three of his sons grew to manhood, and aside from his farm labors he taught school several winters and served as township trustee. He was unusually proficient in mathematics and assisted in surveying lines for numerous highways in LaGrange and Steuben counties during the early years. He moved to Orland in 1855, where he lived until his death in September, 1888.

My father, Warren Brown, is a native of Cayuga County, New York, where he was born February 6, 1833. He came with his parents to Springfield Township when little more than three years old, and here he has resided continuously except three years in the Village of Orland during the late '50s. He and his three brothers were among the pioneer boys of Northeast Indiana-a generation now few and scattered. Although suffering frequent attacks of illness in his earlier years he has been noted through life for his untiring industry. His occu- pation through life has been general farming. Of his brothers only one, Hon. William M. Brown, of Angola, survives.

On Thanksgiving day, December 7, 1865, he was united in marriage to Miss Falona S. Baxter, of Norwalk, Ohio. They are the parents of two sons and a daughter, Charles W., Homer H. and Mrs. Laura E. Talmage.

In December, 1916, Warren Brown suffered an injury by a horse, resulting in a broken hip, thus making him a confirmed cripple, his only means of getting around being a wheel-chair. Otherwise his health is fair for a man in his eighty-seventh year.

My mother, Falona S. Brown, was the sixth in her father's family of thirteen children, and the youngest of three born to Hosea H. and Frances

(Caulkins) Baxter. She was born at Vermilion, Erie County, Ohio, June 18, 1841. When scarcely past her infancy her parents moved to South Mil- ford, Indiana, at which place she was left mother- less when two and a half years old. She lived in her father's family to the age of ten, when she went to live with an aunt in Norwalk, Ohio. She lived in Norwalk until the age of twenty-three, when, in December, 1863, she came to Orland to visit some uncles and cousins and in the month following, while staying with a sister in LaGrange County, she became acquainted with Warren Brown, to whom she was afterwards married. She was by trade a dressmaker, but worked as a domestic in the family of Russell Brown during the years 1864-65. Since 1866 her home has been in La- Grange County.

Her father, Hosea H. Baxter, was one of the LaGrange County pioneers. He ran several thresh- ing crews or outfits in LaGrange and Noble coun- ties during the season of 1837. Some time during 1841 he moved from Erie County, Ohio, to South Milford, Indiana, and engaged in the mercantile business, conducting a general store. Some time later he went in partnership with Ed Wright, a glove maker, and they carried on the manufacture of potash in connection with the mercantile busi- ness both at South Milford and Mt. Pisgah, Mr. Wright having charge of the Mt. Pisgalı branch. Mr. Baxter left South Milford for Mich- igan early in 1849, while Wright removed to De- Kalb County and established a third store at what is now. Woodruff, at that time Wright's Corners.

HOMER H. BROWN has been a factor in several farming communities in Northeast Indiana for over a quarter of a century and now occupies the old Brown homestead in Springfield Township. He was born in that township March 29, 1871, and is a son of Warren Brown. In the Brown family line he, his father, grandfather and great-grandfather were all second sons. The interesting story of his ancestry and family connections in Northeast In- diana and elsewhere is told on other pages.

He was educated in the country schools, and lived at home until his marriage to Nancy Louvina Parker August 9, 1898. He then moved to a piece of land he had previously purchased, known as the Prentiss Mill property, and not long afterward moved on the farm now occupied by his brother Charles. In 1903, having sold the Prentiss property, he moved to his father's homestead and remained there three years. He next went to what is known as the old Hamilton farm in Steuben County, own- ing that place four years. He sold the property in 1908, and since then for eleven years has made his home on the Brown homestead.

Mr. Brown is the father of three children. Philena M. and Dorothy C., are the daughters. The only son, Warren D., died March 1, 1916. He was a young man of unusual promise and his death was an overwhelming blow to his father, whose in- terest and affections centered in the youth. Politi- cally Mr. Brown is a republican, having cast his first presidential vote for Benjamin Harrison in 1892.

JOSEPH L. SWIHART came to LaGrange County when a boy of eleven years, and since early manhood has been identified with the agricultural activities of the county. For over forty years he has lived in the Brighton community of Greenfield Township, and in that time a large acreage has come under his ownership and has been developed as one of the most productive farms in that locality.

He was born in Tuscarawas County, Ohio, March

LEANDER T. CRAIN FAMILY Three Generations Represented

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HISTORY OF NORTHEAST INDIANA

7, 1849. The record of his grandfather, father and other members of the Swihart family is given more in detail on other pages of this publication. Joseph L. Swihart was eighteen months old when his par- ents settled in Allen County, Indiana, and ten years later they moved to LaPorte County, thence to St. Joseph County, Michigan, and in 1860 came to LaGrange County. Mr. Swihart finished his educa- tion in the public schools of Greenfield Township, and on starting for himself farmed two years south of Brighton. He moved to his present home west of Brighton about 1878. Mr. Swihart owns 200 acres in Greenfield Township and fifty acres in Bloomfield, and has increased the value and attrac- · tiveness of his farm by the addition of a number of substantial buildings. In 1872 he married Miss Anna Horner, a native of Ohio, daughter of Eli Horner, who came to Greenfield Township in 1866. To their marriage were born five children: Ora is the wife of Christian Wolf, manager of an elevator at North Liberty, Indiana; Rolland is a farmer in Greenfield Township; Jason is with his father on the farm; Alma is the wife of Roy McDonald, a Greenfield Township farmer; and Bertha, the youngest, is Mrs. Albert Merrifield, living in Illinois.

LEANDER T. CRAIN. It would be impossible to find any more representative a class of American citizens than those now engaged in operating the fertile farm lands of Steuben County. Many of these agriculturists not only have been engaged in farming all of their lives, but have inherited their love of the soil from father and grandfather, their work in this line extending back over many gener- ations. Such men, who live close to nature, have deep in their hearts a patriotism, a love for their country, which is not often equalled, and never ex- ceeded by those residing in the more congested sec- tions. One of these good citizens of Steuben County is Leander T. Crain, owner of a fine farm in sec- tion 26, Steuben Township, where he has lived since 190I.

Leander T. Crain was born in Franklin Township, DeKalb County, Indiana, May 29, 1845, a son of Ervin J. Crain and grandson of Charles Crain. Charles Crain was born in Vermont and his wife, Fidelia (Case) Crain, was also a native of that state. They came west to Painsville, Ohio, at an early day, and in 1836 moved to DeKalb County, Indiana, locating in Franklin Township. There Charles Crain spent the remainder of his life with the exception of the last two years, during which period he was retired from farming and a resi- dent of Hamilton, Indiana. He and his wife had the following children: Ervin J., Leander T., Ozro, Charles, Ann, Fidelia, Jackson and Martha. After the death of his first wife Charles Crain was mar- ried to Eliza Severns, and they had children as fol- lows: Ezra, Oscar, Harvey, Samuel, Elvina and Joseph.

Ervin J. Crain was born at Middleberry, Vermont, in January, 1813, and his wife, Nancy (Gaylord) Crain, was born in Pennsylvania in 1812. He spent the greater part of his mature life in Franklin Township, DeKalb County, Indiana, where he was engaged in farming. His death occurred in Octo- ber, 1874, as the result of an attack of a vicious bull. He and his wife had the following children: Melissa, Fidelia, Leander T., Horace J., Luther and Ervin.

Leander T. Crain grew up in his native township and attended its schools. Just as he was merging from boyhood, when only seventeen years old, he enlisted, November 14, 1863, for service during the Civil war in Company A, One Hundred and Twenty-

ninth Infantry. He received his honorable discharge August 25, 1865, having continued with the same regiment and company during his period of serv- ice. Mr. Crain took part in some of the most hotly contested engagements of the war, among them be- ing those of Resaca, New Hope Church, Kensaw Mountain, Lost Mountain, Atlanta and Jonesboro, all in Georgia, and Johnsonville, Columbia River and Franklin, Tennessee, and was at both battles of Nashville, Tennessee. The regiment then went to Washington. During the winter of 1864-5 he took part in the memorable campaign through North Caro- lina, being at the engagements of Fort Anderson, Fort Fisher and Goldsboro, and was never wounded during all of his service.

Returning to DeKalb County, Indiana, after his discharge, Mr. Crain spent three years farming in Franklin Township, and then in 1868 went to Mon- tana, where he remained until 1876, during which period he spent two years gold mining and four years ranching. He then returned to Franklin Township and for thirty years was actively engaged in farming, becoming one of the best known men in that section. In 1901 Mr. Crain bought his pres- ent farm and became one of the honored residents of Steuben Township and county. One of the pleas- ant recollections of his life in Montana is a trip he made to the National Park.

Mr. Crain has been twice married, first on March 3, 1876, when he was united with Mary A. Fee, a daughter of John Fee and Mary A. (Houlton) Fee, and she died in 1889, having borne him the follow- ing children: Charles K., who died at the age of fourteen months; Ervin J .; Mary, who married Grover C. Brown; and Elsie A., who married Ar- thur Fisher. In 1892 Mr. Crain was married to Miss Martha George, a daughter of James Carter George, and she died January 6, 1896.

Ervin J. Crain, the eldest living child of Mr. Crain, was at one time captain of Company B, Third In- diana Infantry, and was put on the retired list in I916.

Leander T. Crain relives his military experiences among his old comrades of the local post of the Grand Army of the Republic, while he maintains social relations with them as well. He belongs with the Odd Fellows. For some time past Mr. Crain has not taken any active part in the farm work, al- though he is interested in .it and everything per- taining to agriculture, to which he has devoted his efforts during a long and honorable life. While not one of the old residents of Steuben County, he has resided here long enough to become imbued witlı its spirit and takes an active and intelligent inter- est in those movements calculated to bring about reforms, develop good roads and keep the young people on the farms. He is a firm believer in the future of this locality, and as he is a native of the state naturally feels that Indiana is hard to beat in any way. The incarnation of probity and kindness of heart, his friends have in him a tower of strengthi in times of trouble. Both as a soldier and private citizen he has proven his worth as a man, and it may be truly said of him that he was always from boyhood sincere and unselfish, patriotic and cour- ageous, and had the great war come a few years sooner his country would have been offered his services as a soldier, and his government did have them as an individual in the local work of conser- vation and various drives. Such men as he helped to make our country what it is today, preserving the Union from destruction, and they raised up sons and daughters to carry on the good work and pass the torch of truth and understanding to their de- scendants in turn. No wonder this country has never

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been beaten when it is backed by such men as Lean- der T. Crain and the men who with him wear the uniform of the "old soldier."

WILLIAM S. COVELL. The late William S. Covell was during his lifetime one of the prosperous farm- ers of Steuben County, as well as one of its most representative men, and when he died he left behind him a valuable farm in Scott Township, on which his family still reside, his son Guy attending to its management. William S. Covell was born in Pleas- ant Township, Steuben County, May 16, 1850, and he died March 22, 1909. He was a son of Lyman G. Covell and a grandson of William Covell, the latter having been born at Danbury, Connecticut, June 13, 1768. He was married June 3, 1791, to Jerusha Hollis, born June 1, 1775, at Lanesboro, Massa- chusetts. In 1816 they moved to Oneida County, New York, where she died August 19, 1834, he sur- viving her until July 15, 1850, when he passed away at Macon, Lenawee County, Michigan, while on a visit to his children.

Lyman G. Covell was born at Vienna, Oneida County, New York, August 25, 1810, and after the death of his mother he was taken into the family of Doctor Chatfield, with whom he remained for three years, leaving these friends then to go to Albany, New York, where for a year or so he was con- nected with a mercantile establishment. On May 13, 1840, he was united in marriage with Maria Hollis in Huron County, Ohio. She was born at Charlotte, Chittenden County, Vermont, September 24, 1815, a daughter of Lyman and Betsy ( Palmer) Hollis, who moved to Huron County, Ohio, in 1835, living there until they were claimed by death. On October Io of the year of his marriage Mr. Covell came to Steuben County, Indiana, and located in section I, Pleasant Township, where he developed a farm and lived for eighteen years, leaving it in February, 1859, to move to Scott Township, in section 15, where he owned eighty acres of choice farm land. Mr. and Mrs. Covell became the parents of the following children : Elizabeth, Jerusha E., William S., Janette, Abyram and James L., the last three children dying when very young. Members of the Disciples Church, they were pillars of their congregation for many years. They were kind and charitable to those who needed assistance, and their benefactions were many and varied. Mr. Covell was interested along many lines, and in addition to his agricultural ac- tivities he was a school teacher during his younger years and worked at the carpenter trade. His fellow citizens elected him trustee of Pleasant Township, and he served as a justice of the peace for seventeen years.

William S. Covell was reared in the atmosphere of a religious home and early learned the distinc- tions between right and wrong. He was sent to the neighborhood school, and later to that of Angola, and acquired sufficient training to engage in school teaching for ten years in Scott Township, during six of which he was in charge of the Jones school. Leaving the educational field, Mr. Covell com- menced to put to practical use the lessons his father had taught him relative to farming, and moved to the old homestead of eighty acres of land in Scott Township. Here he made many improvements, erecting some of the buildings and remodeling others so that the premises are in prime condition.

On October 10, 1875, Mr. Covell was united in marriage with Maria A. Crawford, born in Scott Township, March 31, 1855, a daughter of Edward and Mary E. (Hutchins) Crawford. Mr. and Mrs. Covell became the parents of the following children :

Guy; Fred, who married Ida Foster and has the following children, Royal, Iver, Harry, and Margie; Cary E., who married Ella Deller, has two children, Lucille and Wendell; Pliney, who died in childhood; Jesse, who is mentioned below; and Elsie, who is the youngest. Jesse Covell entered the military service of his country on June 18, 1908, in Company B, Third Indiana Infantry, and was promoted to corporal in 1910 and to be sergeant in 1911. In 1913 he received his commission as second lieutenant, and later in that same year was made first lieutenant. When he received his commission as captain in 1916 he was the youngest officer of that rank in his regi- ment. Since September, 1917, Captain Covell has been stationed at Camp Shelby. William S. Covell was a Mason. He served for four years as town- ship trustee and for four years as a justice of the peace. A man of high principles, he lived up to what he believed to be right, and never allowed him- self to be swerved from these ideals.

ISAAC C. SCHROCK. Though he is now accounted one of the largest farmers and land owners of Eden Township, Isaac C. Schrock at the time of his mar- riage had little to begin on, rented for a time, went in debt for land, and paid out after a number of years of self denial and sacrifice. The Schrock farm is two miles west and three miles north of Topeka.

Mr. Schrock was born in Elkhart County, In- diana, March 4, 1862, a son of Cornelius and Mag- dalena (Borntrager) Schrock. His parents were both born in Pennsylvania, his father coming to Indiana at the age of twelve and his mother at eight years. The Schrock family settled in Elkhart County and the Borntragers in LaGrange County. After their marriage the parents lived in Elkhart County several years and in 1865 moved to La- Grange County, where the father died. The mother is still living. The Schrocks are members of the Amish Mennonite faith. Cornelius Schrock and wife had thirteen children, and the eight still living are: Peter, of Fulton County, Ohio; Cyrus, of Reno County, Kansas; Joseph, of Holmes County, Ohio; Anna A., wife of J. V. Yoder, of LaGrange County; Isaac C .; Henry, of Texas; Christ, of Elk- hart County; and Amos, who lives on the old home- stead in LaGrange County.

Isaac C. Schrock grew up on a farm in LaGrange County and attended district schools in winter and worked on the farm during the summer. He worked out at monthly wages for one year, and on February 18, 1883, married Anna Chistner. She was born in Holmes County, Ohio, but was brought to In- diana when an infant.

For two years after his marriage Mr. Schrock was a renter and then went in debt for 120 acres of land, being able to pay only about $600 down. Mrs. Schrock inherited about $2,000, but with that excep- tion they have worked out their destiny along, and are now proprietors of 370 acres, a high class farm and one well known for its Percheron horses and other good grades of livestock.

Mr. and Mrs. Schrock have a large family of twelve children, named: Cornelius, Eli, Amos, Susie, Levi, Mary, John, Andrew, Lydia, Amanda, Ammon and Fannie. Seven of these are married. They are all members of the Mennonite Church and Mr. Schrock is a democrat.

GEORGE W. DELANCEY. The citizens of Steuben County have twice called George W. DeLancey to the honors and responsibilities of the office of sheriff. Mr. DeLancey is one of the best known men in the county, and has long enjoyed a high standing and success as a farmer and stockman.

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HISTORY OF NORTHEAST INDIANA

He was born in Richland County, Ohio, September 19, 1855, but has lived in Northeast Indiana since early boyhood. His parents were George W. and Sarah (Corzier) DeLancey. His father was born in Richland County in 1824 and his mother in the same section of Ohio in 1825. They married there, and after three years of residence in Crawford County, Ohio, moved to Steuben County, Indiana, in 1868. They settled on a farm in Steuben Town- ship two miles west of Angola, and the 'father lived out his industrious life in that locality, where he died in 1880. The mother passed away in 1897. The father was a republican and the mother a member of the Methodist Church. In their family were eleven children, three of whom died in infancy. The others were named Mary, Rebecca, Jane, Harriet, John, George W., Charles and Naomi. The only ones now living are Charles and George W.

George W. DeLancey was thirteen years old when brought to Steuben County, and he grew to man- hood on the old home farm which he now owns. He was educated in the local schools, and for over forty years has followed farming as his chief busi- ness. His home farm comprises 138 acres and is well adapted for the general crops and stock.

Mr. Delancey has been one of the sterling re- publicans of Steuben County, and was elected on that ticket to the office of sheriff in 1915, taking up the duties of office January 1, 1916. He was re- elected in 1918. The sheriff is affiliated with Pleas- ant Lake Lodge of Masons, Angola Chapter, Royal Arch Masons, and is also a member of Angola Lodge, Knights of Pythias. He and his family are members of the Methodist Church.

December 15, 1878, he married Miss Sarah A. Landis, of Steuben Township, daughter of Jacob and Sarah (Apple) Landis. Her father came from Wood County, Ohio, to Steuben County in 1865. Mr. DeLancey's parents are both now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. DeLancey have two children and seven grandchildren. The son, Walter, after leaving school took up farming and now owns a place in Pleasant Township, about two miles from Angola. He married Laura Cline, and their four children are Floyd, Martha, Marland and Wando. The daughter, Verle, is a graduate of the Angola High School and is the wife of Paul Horn. Their chil- dren are Stephen, Bessie and Lillian.

JAMES W. SCHAEFFER began to take a part in the agricultural activities of LaGrange County in 1872, and out of the generous prosperity he builded through his years of consecutive work and good judgment he has been able to live retired and enjoy the comfort which his declining years deserve. Hc is a resident of Howe.

Mr. Schaeffer was born in Center County, Penn- sylvania, February 17, 1848, a son of Daniel and Harriet C. (Hock) Schaeffer, also natives of Penn- sylvania, and a grandson of Peter Schaeffer, who spent all his life in the Keystone state. James W. Schaeffer was fifteen years old when he and his parents started west to find a home in Michigan, and on November 25, 1863, reached White Pigcon. His parents spent the rest of their lives in St. Joseph County, Michigan, where his father farmed for a number of years and later retired to Sturgis. They had a family of eight children, James W., Peter, deceased, Albert, Edwin H., deceased, Daniel B., deceased, David O., John C., deceased, and George W.

James W. Schaeffer had some advantages in school in Pennsylvania and also attended school at White Pigeon, Michigan. He was still a young man when he came to LaGrange County in the spring of 1872, and in 1882 he bought sixty-eight

acres in Lima Township, which became the nucleus of the farm of two hundred seventy-nine acres which he now owns and which represents in im- provements and facilities one of the best farms in that locality. Since 1900 he has lived retired at Howe. Mr. Schaeffer was reared in the faith of the German Reformed Church, of which his parents were active members. September 20, 1871, he mar- ried Susan S. Sheaffer, whose name, it will be noted, is spelled somewhat differently to his. She was born in Ohio, a daughter of George Sheaffer, who became a well known citizen of LaGrange County. Mrs. Schaeffer died August 19, 1895, the mother of six children: Hattie R., Mertic B., Bertha, Minnie M., Clarence and Mabel. Of these Mertie and Minnie are now deceased. In 1897 Mr. Schaeffer married Miss Hattie J. Smeltzly, a sister of F. G. Smeltzly, of LaGrange County. To this marriage were born three children, James W., Clif- ford D. and Ernest V., all living.

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History of Northeast Indiana : LaGrange, Steuben, Noble and DeKalb Counties, Volume II, Part 88

Author: Ford, Ira, 1848- ed Publication date: 1920 Publisher: Chicago : Lewis Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 618

Author: Ford, Ira, 1848- ed
Publication date: 1920
Publisher: Chicago : Lewis Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 618