USA > Indiana > Steuben County > History of Steuben County, Indiana, together withbiographies of representative citizens > Part 24
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Next to this prima donna of the forest are the olive-backed (or Swainson's) thrush, Wilson's thrush, the northern mocking-bird (or cat-bird), the brown thrush and the robin. These are all migra- tory birds, spending the summer here but the winter in the South. The robin sometimes remains all winter. The hermit and the olive-backed thrushes are more common in the spring and fall. The robin and the cat-bird frequent the orchards and gardens, nest- ing about the door-yards, and prefer these places to the woods, probably because of greater security from birds or other animals of prey. The brown thrush is found in the thickets of hazel-brush, briers, etc., which skirt old fences and the edge of woods, and gen- erally nests in brush heaps. The remainder of this family is con- fined to the woodland. Their food consists of beetles, grasshoppers, snails, spiders, caterpillars, etc., together with small fruits and berries.
Bluebird Family .- The bluebird is the only representative of this family in the county. It is common frem spring to fall, nest- ing in bird-houses, fence-posts, decayed trees, and feeds on winged insects, worms, grasshoppers, spiders and a scant proportion of berries.
Kinglets .- The ruby-crowned and the golden-crowned kinglets and the blue-gray gnat-catcher are all common during the spring
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HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY.
and fall. The first-mentioned is frequently found in winter, and the gnat-catcher is abundant during the summer. These are con- fined to the woods. The kinglets nest in the lake region, but the gnat-catcher nests here, building a wonderful structure high up on the oaks. It is somewhat purse-shaped, and often at the extrem- ity of a bough, so as to sway with the wind, secure from enemies. It is placed in a concealed situation, and artistically, as well as substantially, finished.
Chickadee .- The titmouse, or black-capped chickadee, the only member of this family here, feeds upon insects, seeds, berries, crumbs, meat, etc., and generally nests in the woods, where it makes its home most of the year, but during the winter it is seen near the house, feeding upon sweepings from the table.
Nuthatches .- The white-bellied and the red-bellied nuthatch are common, especially the former. These birds are found in wood- lands and orchards. Their nests are built in holes in trees. Food -ants, eggs of insects and seeds.
Brown Creeper .- A common spring, fall and winter resident, and a woodland bird, is to be mentioned in this connection.
Wren Family .- The Carolina wren is a very rare straggler from the South. The house wren is common locally. The winter wren is a common spring and fall visitor, often remaining during the open winters. The long-billed marsh wren is a common summer resident of the marshes, building a large globular nest of coarse sand-grass, suspended to reeds or flag stems. The short-billed marsh-wren is a common summer resident, generally found on low meadow lands. The wrens feed on insects only.
Lark Family .- The horned lark is a winter resident, but some- times breeds here. It frequents barren and gravelly fields, feed- ing on seeds and insects. When the ground is covered with snow they may be seen feeding upon the droppings of stock about the farm.
The Titlark is an abundant migrant in late fall and early spring, frequenting the same localities and subsisting on the same food as the preceding. There are sometimes large flocks of this species of bird.
Warblers .- These are numerous. The black and white creeper is a common summer resident, nesting on the ground, generally beside a fallen log. The blue yellow-backed warbler, a rare mi- gratory bird, is sometimes found in the tree-tops of the wild forest. The blue-winged yellow warbler is rare. The blue golden-winged
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HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY.
warbler is common in spring and fall. The Nashville and Tennessee warblers are very common. The orange-crowned warbler is rare. The yellow, the black-throated green, the black-throated blue, the blue, the yellow-rumped, the blackburnian, the black-poll, the yellow red-poll, and the chestnut-sided warblers are all common-some of them abundant; all migrants. The bay-breasted, the Cape May, the prairie, the yellow-throated and Kirtland's warblers are rare. The golden-crowned thrush (Sciurus auricipillus) is a common summer resident, frequenting low open woods. The water thrush (S. Naevius) is rare, but breeds here. The large-billed water thrush is common in swampy timber lands. The Connecticut war- bler is rare, but may become common. It is a fine songster. The Maryland yellow-throat is found occasionally. The black-capped fly-catching warbler is common during the spring and autumn. Canada fly-catching warbler, common. Red start, very common.
Tanagers. - The scarlet tanager is common, and the summer red- bird (sometimes kept in cages) rare, accidentally straying from the South.
Swallow Family .- The barn, cliff or eave, white-bellied, and the bank or sand swallows are common. The purple martin, for- merly common, is being driven out by the English sparrow. The swallows feed exclusively upon winged insects.
Wax-wings .- The Carolina wax-wing or cherry bird is a com- mon resident, breeding in August and September, and feeding on the cultivated fruits.
Vireos .- There are a half-dozen species of these in this section of the country, inhabiting woodlands, some of them common, some of them rare.
Shrikes or Butcher Birds .- The great Northern shrike is rare; the logger-head shrike, two varieties, is common. These form a small but interesting family of bold and spirited birds, quarrel- some among themselves. They form a kind of connecting link between insect-eating birds and birds of prey. Their food con- sists of large insects, mice and small birds and snakes. They are noted for impaling their prey on thorns or sharp twigs and leaving it there-for what purpose is not yet known.
Finch and Sparrow Family .- Numerous; pine grosbeak, an oc- casional winter visitor; purple finch, a common migrant; white- winged and red cross-bills, rare winter visitors; red-poll linnet, an irregular winter visitor; pine linnet, a rare winter visitor from the North; goldfinch, or yellow bird, common and well-known; has the
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HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY.
appearance of a canary; snow-bunting, a common but irregular winter visitor; Lapland long-spur, a common winter visitor; Savan- nah sparrow, a common migrant; bay-winged bunting, very com- mon from spring to fall; yellow-winged, Henslow's and Lincoln's sparrows, are summer residents; swamp and song sparrows, common, the latter abundant all the warm season; snow-bird, common in winter; mountain sparrow, common in winter; chip- ping and field sparrows, common in summer; white-throated and white-crowned sparrows, common migrants; English sparrow, abundant in the towns, driving out our native song-birds; fox sparrow, a very common spring and fall visitor; black-throated bunting, growing common; rose-breasted grosbeak, a common sum- mer resident; breeds along the water-courses in low trees and shrubs; indigo bird, abundant in summer, frequenting low wood- lands overrun with briers; towhee bunting or chewink, abundant.
Birds of this family feed entirely upon seeds except during the breeding season. Those which are residents all the year and those which are summer residents only subsist during the breeding sea- son and feed their young almost exclusively upon insects. At other times their food consists of the seeds of grass and weeds.
The rose-breasted grosbeak is the only bird known to feed on the potato bug, and the white-crowned sparrow feeds on the grape-vine flea-beetle. The common yellow bird, or goldfinch, prefers the seeds of the thistle and lettuce. The fox sparrow and chewink scratch the ground for hibernating insects and snails. The cross- bills feed on the seeds in pine cones, and the English sparrow feeds on the seeds contained in the droppings of animals.
Blackbird Family .- Bobolink, common and well-known; a fine and cheerful songster; cow-bird, or cow blackbird, a summer visitor, frequenting old pasture land and the edge of woods; like the European cuckoo, it builds no nest, but lays its eggs in the nests of smaller birds, such as warblers, vireos and sparrows. Red-winged black-bird, abundant in summer; meadow-lark, well known; or- chard and Baltimore orioles are very common; rusty blackbird, or grackle, is common for a week or two in spring; crow blackbird, common and well known.
With the exception of one or two species, this family is decidedly gregarious. Insects and grains constitute their food. The cow- bird destroys the eggs and young of other birds. The orioles feed largely on hairy caterpillars and also on some of the small fruits, green peas, etc.
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HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY.
Crow Family .- The raven was common, but is now rare. The common crow, well- known, emigrates southward during the cold- est weather. Blue jay is the gayest plumaged and harshest-voiced bird of the American forests. Birds of this family are omnivorous.
Fly-catcher Family .- The king-bird is abundant in summer, fre- quenting orchards and the edge of the woods; great crested fly- catcher, abundant in the forest; uses snake-skins as a part of its nest material; pewee, or Phœbe bird, common; wood pewee, a common bird of the orchard and woodland; least fly-catcher, com- mon in summer; yellow-bellied fly-catcher, a common migrant, but rare summer resident. The king-bird and pewee frequent open places; the others of this family dwell in the forest. They all subsist upon winged insects.
Goatsucker Family. - Whippoorwill and night-hawk, well- known and common. These birds are nocturnal in their habits and feed upon insects.
The Chimney Swallow is the only member of the family Cypse- lidæ that is found in this latitude. It is sometimes seeu in large flocks, roosting in unused chimneys, barns and hollow trees.
Humming-bird Family .- The ruby-throated is the only species found here. It feeds upon insects, which it captures within flowers.
King-fisher Family .- The belted king-fisher is a common sum- mer resident in suitable localities. It feeds upon small fish.
Cuckoo Family .- The black-billed species is common; has been called "rain crow." The yellow-billed cuckoo is not common. Omnivorous.
Woodpecker Family .- There are half a dozen species of wood- pecker found in this locality, all common, viz .: The hairy, downy, yellow-bellied, red-bellied, red-headed and golden-winged. Omniv- orous.
Owl Family .- The great horned, the mottled, the screech, the long-eared and the short-eared are abundant. The barn owl is a rare straggler from the South. Possibly one or two other species may occasionally be found here.
Hawk Family .- The marsh hawk, the sharp shinned, Cooper's, the sparrow, the red-tailed, the red-shouldered, the broad-winged, the rough-legged or black, and the fish hawks are all common. The white-tailed kite, the goshawk, the pigeon hawk, Swainson's hawk and the bald eagle are more rare.
The Turkey Buzzard, belonging to a distinct family, is rare.
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HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY.
Pigeon Family .- The wild pigeon, an abundant migrant, some- times breeds here. The Carolina dove'is a common resident here most of the year.
The Wild Turkey once abundant but now rare, is the only member of its family native to this region.
Grouse Family .- Prairie chicken, once occasional, none now; ruffed grouse, or partridge, occasional; quail, common.
Plover Family .- The golden plover, the killdeer and the semi- palmated are common about unfrequented ponds. The black-bel- lied plover is rare, if ever seen at all.
Sandpiper Family .- The most common species of this family are the semi-palmated, least, pectoral, red-breasted, Willst, solitary, spotted and upland sandpipers, the snipe and the woodcock. Less common are the buff-breasted and red-backed sandpipers, long- billed curlew and perhaps occasionally two or three other unim- portant species.
Heron Family .- The green and night herons, the bittern and the least bittern are common residents. The great blue heron is a common migrant and the great white heron a rare summer visitor.
Cranes .- The whooping and sand-hill cranes are sometimes seen in migration.
Rail Family .- The Virginia and Carolina rails and the coot are often seen in the vicinity of the streams and in the margin of ponds; the clapper, king, yellow and black rails, very rarely; the Florida gallinule, occasional.
Duck Family .- The common species are the mallard, black, big black-head, little black-head, ring-necked, red-head (or pochard), golden-eye, butter ball, ruddy and fish (gosander) ducks, the brant and Canada geese, widgeon, golden-winged and blue-winged teal, and the hooded merganser. Rarely are seen the pintail, gadwall shoveler, wood duck, canvas-back duck, long-tailed duck and red breasted merganser. All the duck family are migratory.
Gull Family .- About ten species may rarely be seen in passing.
Loon .- One species sometimes strays into this locality from the North.
Grebes .- The horned and the pied-bill grebes are occasional. One or two other species very rare.
FISHES.
Stickleback Family .- This furnishes the chief game fish, as bass
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HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY.
and sun-fish. The local names of these fish are so various that we scarcely know how to refer to them; but we may venture to name the black bass, the green or Osage bass, the big black sun-fish or rock bass, goggle-eye and the two common sun-fish, all of which have materially diminished within the last five years.
Perch Family .- There are no perch, or "jack salmon," in the county. They were once common throughout the State, but now are only to be found occasionally in some of the most favored places. They are among the finest fishes, and ought to be culti- vated. The salmon sometimes attains a weight of forty pounds.
Pike Family .- The larger pike, sometimes called "grass pike," used to be met with, especially in draining off the marshes. The pickerel was also native here, but none are to be found at the present day. Nor have gar pike ("gars") existed here since the advent of mill-dams.
Sucker Family .- To this family belong the buffalo (rare), red- horse (occasional) and the white sucker (also occasional). Black suckers and mullets still thrive in some parts of Indiana, but not here.
Catfish Family .- Fish of this family are still common, but are small, weighing only a pound or two. We can scarcely name the species in English. Perhaps we may say the channel, or mud cat- fish, the blue and the yellow, the bull-head and one or two other small species are found here. The yellow are the most common.
Minor Sorts .- Besides the above, there are several varieties of chubs, silver-sides, and large numbers of other species denomi- nated minnows, which are found in the smallest spring branches, as well as the larger streams.
Fish planting has not yet been introduced into this county.
REPTILES.
Of the twenty-three species of Snakes that have existed in this State, and probably in this county, several of the largest have been about exterminated. Only two of them are venomous, namely, the copperhead and the massasauga. Very few of these are to be found at the present day. The smaller species are useful animals, like toads, in destroying mice, moles and other vermin, and are preserved by intelligent farmers on this account.
Of Lizards there are very few in this section. Those creatures which resemble them are innocent salamanders, and are really as useful as toads in the destruction of flies and other insects. There
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HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY.
are eighteen species of these animals in Indiana. The largest attains a length of eight inches, and is black, with large, irregular yellow spots. Another large species is entirely yellow; another of a brilliant vermilion haunts cold springs. The second in size is the "mud alligator," or " water dog," a frequent annoyance to fishermen. Still another species has external gills, for respiration in water, thus resembling pollywogs.
Of Frogs there are five species, and of toads five. Four are tree toads. One species of frog is subterranean, excavating its burrows backward with its hind feet, which are shovel formed. It comes to the surface early to breed, after thunder showers in April, in the evening, when it is easily recognized by its loud, discordant notes.
CHAPTER III.
EARLY HISTORY.
FIRST SETTLERS AND LAND ENTRIES .- ORGANIZATION OF COUNTY .- LOCATION OF COUNTY SEAT .- NAME OF COUNTY .- FIRST OFFI- CIALS. - FIRST SESSION BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS. - BOND OF JOSEPH PIERCE. - PROCEEDINGS OF BOARD. - ERECTION OF JAMES- TOWN TOWNSHIP .- JOSEPH PIERCE FIRST TREASURER OF COUNTY .- HIS BOND .- ERECTION OF OTSEGO TOWNSHIP. - ASSESSOR AND COL- LECTOR APPOINTED. - INDIANS .- COUNTY BUILDINGS, COURT-HOUSE, JAIL AND ASYLUM. - PIONEER REUNIONS. - ORGANIZATION OF SO- CIETY .- CONDENSED PROCEEDINGS OF ANNUAL MEETINGS FROM 1873 TO 1884 .- ADDRESSES, REMINISCENCES AND ANECDOTES .- D. B. GRIFFIN'S REMINISCENCES .- MRS. J. B. WISEL'S REMINISCENCES.
FIRST SETTLERS AND LAND ENTRIES.
The first permanent white settlers of Steuben County were Gideon Langdon and John and Jacob Stayner, who located in 1831 on what is now known as Jackson Prairie. On the 17th of September, in the same year, Langdon made the first entry of land in the county, it being the east half of the southwest quarter of section 5, town- ship 37, range 12 east. Ten days later, John Stayner entered the west half of the southeast quarter of the same section.
ORGANIZATION OF COUNTY.
The county of Lagrange was organized by an act of the General Assembly, approved Feb. 2, 1832, and " all the territory lying east of said county to the State line and south of said county and said territory to the line between townships 33 and 34," was attached thereto for civil and judicial purposes. The county of Steuben was organized in pursuance of an act of the General Assembly, ap- proved Jan. 18, 1837, which provided that from and after the first day of May, 1837, the county of Steuben should "enjoy all the rights and jurisdictions which belong to separate and inde- pendent counties."
John W. Violet, of Elkhart County; Henry Hosteller, Sr., of (273)
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HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY.
Noble; Isaac Eaton, of St. Joseph ; Benjamin Jones, of Lagrange; and John McIntosh, of Allen, were appointed Commissioners for the purpose of locating the permanent seat of justice of said county. These commissioners were required to meet, as soon as a majority of them could agree, at the house of Cornelius Gilmore, at or near the center of said county.
LOCATION OF COUNTY SEAT.
Isaac Glover, Abner Winsor and others made strong efforts to secure the location of the county seat at Steubenville, a few miles south of Angola, near the present village of Pleasant Lake. They offered to donate $16,200, providing the county seat was lo- cated at that place. Messrs. Thomas Gale and Cornelius Gilmore, of Angola, agreed to give the site for the court-house and erect the buildings. Their offer was accepted, and, in accordance with the agreement, they completed a substantial frame court-house in 1841 at a cost of $2,000. This selection has never since been se- riously questioned, and the people have never been disturbed by " county-seat wars," such as have agitated the inhabitants of many counties.
NAME OF COUNTY.
The county was namned in honor of Baron Frederick de Steuben, a noted soldier who served under the great King Frederick, of Prussia. He came to America during the war of the Revolution, and tendered his services to the patriot cause. He was commissioned, and rendered efficient aid to the army by greatly improving its discipline. He was killed at the battle of Camden, S. C., in 1780.
FIRST OFFICIALS.
William M. Cary was appointed by the Governor, Jan. 30, 1837, as Sheriff of Steuben County, to serve until the first Monday of August following. A writ of election was issued by the Governor April 11, 1837, for the election of clerk, sheriff, recorder, two associate judges and three commissioners. An election was held a few weeks afterward, but the precise date cannot be determined. The Board of Commissioners was authorized by the organic act to meet in special session, when elected and qualified, " to appoint a lister and make other necessary appointments."
FIRST SESSION BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS.
The first meeting of the Board of Commissioners was held June 26, 1837, the Commissioners being Seth W. Murray, James Clark
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HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY.
and Jonas Twichell. James McConnell was also present as Clerk, and William M. Cary as Sheriff. We copy the following proceed- ings from the record of this first session:
"Joseph Pierce presented his bond for the faithful discharge of his duties as Agent of the Surplus Revenue for the county of Steu- ben for the present year, and until his successor shall be chosen and qualified, which reads as follows, to wit:
" Know all men by these presents, That we, Joseph Pierce, Cor- nelius Gilmore and William M. Cary, of Steuben County, are held and firmly bound unto the State of Indiana in the sum of $4,300, lawful money of the United States, for the payment of which, well and truly to be made and done, we bind ourselves, our heirs, ex- ecutors and administrators, jointly and severally, firmly by these presents. Sealed with our seal, and dated this 24th day of June, 1837.
"The condition of the above obligation is such that if the above bound Joseph Pierce will faithfully discharge the duties of his office as Agent of said State of Indiana for loaning that part of the surplus revenue of the United States, to which said county of Steuben is entitled by virtue of an act of the General Assembly approved Feb- ruary, 1837, according to the provisions of said act, and the act that may be amendatory thereto, then the above obligation to be void and of no e ffect, otherwise to be and remain in full force and virtue in law.
" Signed, sealed and delivered ) by the obligors and approved ( by the Board of Commissioners of Steuben County.
JOSEPH PIERCE, CORNELIUS GILMORE, WILLIAM M. CARY.
"JAMES Mc CONNELL, Clerk.
"[This document calls to mind the distribution of surplus revenue among the several States by the United States in 1837, the only instance of the kind in our history.]
" It is ordered that there be an election for two justices of the peace for Jackson Township, said election to be holden the 24th day of July next at the usual place of holding elections in said township. And also appointed to said township James Hardy and Orrin Goodrich, Constables; Benjamin Twichell, Supervisor of the second road district ; Abner Davis and M. Carver, Fence-Viewers; George Hendry, Inspector of Elections.
"It is ordered that E. M. Has kins be licensed to vend foreign merchandise and groceries by paying into the county treasury five dollars.
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HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY.
"On petition of Theron Storrs and others, it is ordered that congressional township 38 north, range 13 east, be set off and organ- ized as prescribed by law in such cases made and provided, and that said township be called Jamestown. And that there be notice given of an election in said township for a justice of the peace, and that Valorus Baker be appointed Constable; Theron Storrs, In- spector of Elections, and John Bell, Jr., Supervisor.
" On petition of Aaron B. Goodwin and others for the setting apart and organization of the congressional township 36, ranges 14 and 15 east, it is therefore ordered that said township be set off and organized as other civil townships, and that notice of an elec- tion for two justices of the peace be given, and that Hiram S. Parker and James Winters be Constables for said township, and that they qualify themselves according to law; also, that Aaron B. Goodwin be Inspector of Elections.
"It is ordered that Joseph Pierce be, and he is hereby, appointed County Treasurer.
" Know all men by these presents, That we, Joseph Pierce, Cor- nelius Gilmore and William M. Cary, of Steuben County, are held and firmly bound unto the State of Indiana in the sum of $2,500, lawful money of the United States, for the payment of which well and truly to be made and done, we bind ourselves, our heirs, exec- utors and administrators, jointly and severally, firmly by these presents. Sealed with our seals, and dated this 4th day of Septem- ber, A. D. 1837.
"The conditions of the above obligation is such that if the above bound Joseph Pierce will faithfully discharge the duties of his office as County Treasurer, for the County of Steuben, for the term of one year, and will render a true and just account of all moneys which may come into his hands by virtue of his said office, and will at the expiration of his term of service deliver over to his successor in office all books, papers, documents and other things belonging to said office, and which may be in his hands and possession, and will moreover pay to his successor all moneys which may be in his hands belonging to the county, then the above obligation to be void and of no effect, otherwise to be and remain in full force and virtue in law.
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