USA > Indiana > Steuben County > History of Steuben County, Indiana, together withbiographies of representative citizens > Part 25
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"Signed, sealed and delivered ) JOSEPH PIERCE,
by the obligors, and allowed by the Board of Commissioners of Steuben County.
CORNELIUS GILMORE,
WILLIAM M. CARY.
JAMES MCCONNELL, Clerk.
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"It is ordered that congressional township 36, ranges 14 and 15, be set off and organized with the privileges of other civil townships, and be called Otsego. And also ordered that the following person be and is hereby appointed a township officer : James Clark, Inspector of Elections. Also an election for a justice of the peace to be holden on the first Monday of August next.
" It is ordered that David Sams be, and he is hereby, appointed Assessor for the county the present year, and that he be notified of his appointment.
" It is ordered that William M. Cary be, and he is hereby, ap- pointed Collector of the county revenue the present year."
Thus was the governmental machinery of the county fully set in motion. At subsequent meetings, other townships were erected.
INDIANS.
During the first few years after the settlement of the county, the native Americans were very numerous, this region being then occupied by the Pottawatomies as a hunting ground. They were at peace with the " pale-faces," consequently no serious depreda- tions were committed upon the scattered settlements. Their chief's name was Baw Beese, who is reputed to have adminis- tered the affairs of his little kingdom with a sense of justice almost Roman in its sternness. His usual residence was in Branch County, Mich. In 1840 the Indians were removed to a reserva- tion in the far West.
COUNTY BUILDINGS.
On the organization of Steuben County, strong efforts were made by Isaac Glover, Abner Winsor and others, 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, as stated before, to donate $16,200, provided the county seat was located at that place. Messrs. Gale and Gilmore, founders 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 substan- tial frame court-house in 1841, at a cost of $2,000. The building was upon the site of the present court-house, from which it was moved in 1868, and it now stands on the south side of Maumee street, a short distance east of the public square. The present
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court-house, a very substantial structure, was erected in 1868, at a cost of $27,000. On the first floor are the offices of the auditor, treasurer, clerk and recorder, while in the second story sessions of court are held, as well as occasional public meetings. The four offices are provided with commodious fire-proof vaults.
The first county jail was constructed of hewn logs. In 1839 a frame jail was erected over and around the old one, the log build- ing answering as a cell for the frame one after the latter was built. The first prisoners confined in this jail were a couple of horse thieves who were captured in the northern part of the county. When they were brought here the jail was full of lumber which the sheriff had stored there for the purpose of drying. As the jail could not be put in readiness very well that night, the prison- ers were taken to the hotel and S. A. Powers, uncle of S. A. Powers, Esq., of Angola, volunteered to help guard them. In the morning the sheriff cleared the jail and the prisoners were duly incarcerated in the log cell. The following morning they were gone; and it was said that when Mr. Powers heard of it, he indulged in language more forcible than polite. Some one had very kindly helped the prisoners to escape. It was in this cell that the notorious Silas Doty was confined. In 1877 a new stone and brick jail, of beautiful design, was built at a cost of $22,000. The old frame structure was moved toward the depot and con- verted into a livery barn. The new jail is one of the handsomest structures of its kind in Northern Indiana, and attracts favorable comment from all visitors to Angola.
The county asylum is located near Crooked Lake, three miles northwest of Angola, on a fine farm of 315 acres, which is valued at $60 per acre. The old building now in use is composed of three different structures joined together, and is not very im- pressive as to beauty. Across the road a fine brick building has just been erected, which will last a generation, and as to appear- ance is in harmony with the other county buildings. Its contract cost is $14,853. Including furniture, etc., the cost will reach $19,000. It was occupied early in 1885. The number of per- sons dependent on the county for support is at present twenty. The present efficient Superintendent is Samuel A. Anspaugh, who began his duties March 8, 1878. He was preceded by Alexander Moore, who was in charge for eleven years; and his predecessor, Alonzo Cobb, who served three or four years, was the first Super- intendent of the county poor. Under Mr. Anspaugh the farm is
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well cared for, supplied with good stock, and the institution is self-sustaining.
PIONEER REUNIONS.
In nearly every community in our now populous North west the old settlers have formed associations for the purpose of holding annual meetings and renewing memories of the past. The Steu- ben County pioneers were not so prompt in taking this step as those of surrounding counties. In the summer of 1873 a call was published in the Republican, as follows:
"The old settlers of Steuben County are fast passing away and their children, many of them, have sought new homes in other States, or become like their fathers, pioneers in Territories. A few years more and every one of the early settlers and their children will have " passed beyond the flood," and no record of their early history will be known to those who will reap the benefits and enjoy the luxuries and blessings of our county, made fruitful and wealthy by the industry, energy and self-sacrificing privations of the first settlers. Let there be a meeting of all the old settlers and their children to compare notes, revive old reminiscences and appoint some competent person to write up the incidents, anecdotes and land marks of early days that their children may know, while they are enjoying the blessings of life, what it cost to produce them. The following are among the early pioneers, and there are doubt- less many more with whom we are not acquainted, and we ask them, as many as can, to meet us at the court-house at Angola on Saturday, Aug. 9, 1873, at one o'clock P. M., that we may perfect an organiza- tion and take the initiatory steps for an ' old settlers' Jubilee.' Let every one that can attend and inform all within their neighbor- hood of the time and place of meeting." Here followed a list of about eighty pioneers.
OLD SETTLERS' JUBILEE.
At that called meeting the following township committees were appointed to awaken interest in their respective localities, and to prepare historical reports with a view to a " jubilee" on the 25th of September following: Millgrove, Nelson Newton, George Hard- ing and Orlando Wilder; Jamestown, Clayton Mallory, Cephas McCuller and John McClue; Fremont, Jeremiah Tillotson, Theron Storrs and Willard L. Scott; Clear Lake, George Hotchkiss, David Harris and D. B. Teeters; York, Calvin Powers, David Hanselman and H. P. Hathaway; Scott, Augustus Woodworth, Jas. A. Segur
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and Nelson Hutchins; Pleasant, George W. Baldwin, Able Sowle and Lewis Stealey; Jackson, Zephaniah Stayner, Amasa Sams and Porter Gleason; Salem, Eli M. Teal, Elbridge Wright and H. P. Butler; Steuben, Samuel Carter, Jacob Abby and Capt. S. B. George; Otsego, Henry R. Williams, A. J. Corbin and Ed. C. Johnson; Richland, M. B. Gordon, S. W. Scoville and John Cam- eron. The jubilee was held at the appointed time, and was a com- plete success. The day was favorable and the attendance large. Among those present were John Slick and wife, of Salem Town- ship. The former was a soldier under Bonaparte, and came to this county at an early day. Mrs. Slick never heard a brass band play until this reunion. Speeches were made by several persons and some historical reports were read, but no set programme was fol- lowed, everything being spontaneous.
SECOND MEETING.
The second reunion was held Aug. 27, 1874, in McConnell's Park and was well attended. The day was pleasant in every re- spect. As on the previous occasion, there was no formal order of exercises, but prayers, music, conversation, recitals of incidents, reminiscences, expressions of regard, regrets for absentees-all terse, timely and interesting-made up the day's entertainment.
THIRD REUNION.
Aug 19, 1875, was appointed for the next meeting. The day opened cloudy and threatening, and many were doubtless deterred from attending. Still, by noon 2,000 persons were assembled. The procession to the park was made up by townships, the oldest settlers, so far as they could be arranged, bearing the banner which indicated the place of settlement. Mrs. Alexander Chapin carried Millgrove, leading the concourse. On arriving at the grove the crowd, so far as possible, was seated, with the "old folks" nearest and around the stands. After preliminary exercises and dinner volunteer speeches were called for.
The first respondent, Russell Brown, of Orland, stated that he removed from Onondaga County, N. Y., to Lagrange County, this State, in 1836. At that time Steuben was a part of Lagrange County, with the seat of justice at Lima. He assisted in locating a road to Lagrange Center, and on reaching the place found noth- ing but a brush heap where the town now stands.
Elder Blanchard, of Wolcottville, was next introduced. He lik-
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ened the meeting of the early settlers of Steuben County to a re- union of the alumni of some college; all had met together to call to mind the experiences of the past and to note the changes the finger of time had wrought on the county and its inhabitants. The speaker's father settled at Orland in the year 1835, the second house at that place being erected by him, a rude structure, indeed, to say the best of it. At that early day persons living many miles away in adjacent townships were styled neighbors, and in the full sense of the term were such. It was highly essential in those days for the people of these sparsely settled townships to be neighborly and help each other. They used to assist one another in building and raising the log cabins. In those days we would pride our- selves on being first-rate log-house carpenters, and we were not only good log-cabin carpenters, but also masons. Masons suffi- ciently skilled to plaster shut the gaping cracks between the logs and mechanically build up the customary old-fashioned stick chim- neys. In those days necessity made mechanics of men. Most every man could make a plow-beam or an ox-yoke The speaker took occasion to refer to the country as being not an unpleas- ant one to locate in and clear up at the earliest period of its his- tory. It took but a few months to clear off a few acres of ground and to have a heavy crop of corn or potatoes therefrom. No won- der Steuben has some of the largest and most productive farms in the State. Nature has done everything for the county. The young people should cherish the memories of their ancestors by retaining the old homesteads handed down to them. Mr. Blan- chard then closed his remarks with a few touching words relating to the reunions of early settlers as having a natural tendency to wed the hearts of the old folks closer together and to produce that natural flow of harmony and good feeling only resulting from these happy yearly gatherings.
Dr. Geo. W. McConnell stated briefly that he settled in Steuben during the fall of 1836. Mother Chapin was the first person that made him a coat. Remembered the time very well when Elder Blanchard earned his daily bread by the sweat of his brow splitting rails at 50 cents per thousand. Right well he did his work, too.
In response to loud calls Mrs. Alexander Chapin next came upon the platform. She had been prominently identified with the early settling of the county, as appeared from the course of her short speech. She, with a large family, moved into a house 14 x 14 feet near Orland, and well remembered the cordiality
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with which she was greeted by her few neighbors in that then sparsely settled locality.
Joseph Tousley, sixty-one years of age, here came forward. He had settled in Jamestown over thirty-nine years previously. At that time the red man of the forest still lingered in portions of Northern Indiana. Late in the fall he had frequently met squads of Indians carrying cranberries to Coldwater to market. The first bedstead Mr. Tousley slept on in Jamestown he constructed of poles with tapered ends stuck into holes made in the logs of his cabin.
Mr. and Mrs. Slick were next assisted upon the platform. Mr. Slick, at this meeting over ninety years old, fought under Napoleon I., after which he removed from France to England, where he was soon pressed into the British army and sent to Canada. During the war of 1812, while in a conflict, he deserted the English army and joined the American forces, from which time he resided in the United States.
George Harding, of Orland, now arose. He settled in James- town Township in 1835. For many years he was engaged in carry- ing passengers and merchandise from Cleveland, Ohio, to various points in Northern Indiana, and consequently was quite familiar with the intervening country.
Leland H. Stocker, in response to a call, said he settled in Steu- ben in 1835, when there were but ten white families in the county. He remarked that about all the recollection he had of early things, was that he was a boy, and felt as though he was one yet. He well remembered the trips he, in company with others, some of whom long since passed from earth, had made over the country by moon- light, during the long winter evenings. They would meet together, construct a rude sled, and jumping aboard, start for a neighbor's shanty to spend the evening. They thought nothing of journeying ten miles through the woods in this manner, many times not reach- ing home before the sun was peering through the tree-tops around their houses. Now, while gazing upon the faces of so many who were his associates in the early [history of the county, the speaker felt like taking each one by the hand and calling them brothers and sisters.
Captain C. C. Bodley, measuring six feet seven inches in height, was next presented to the audience, but owing to a throat affection did not speak except through Dr. McConnell. In the early days of the county, Captain Bodley, being an expert musician, made most of the music for the country dances; in fact, whenever a party was
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announced, he was always the first to receive an invitation accom- panied by a request to bring along his flute for the edification of the company.
We extract the following from a speech made on this occasion by Rev. John Paul Jones, one of the pioneer preachers of this re- gion, and present Auditor of Lagrange County.
" I came to your county in 1842, having been appointed as junior preacher of the Stenben Circuit by the Indiana Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, the session being held that year at Centerville, Wayne County. The conference then comprised the entire State of Indiana, which was subsequently divided and is now under the jurisdiction of four conferences. The circuit then embraced all the settled portions of Steuben County and part of the county of Branch, in Michigan. There were twenty-eight appointments or preaching places to be filled by my colleague, Rev. E. I. Blue, and myself, alternately once a fortnight. I came among you almost an entire stranger, having had no acquaintance with any of your citi- zens, except Dr. Madison Marsh, whom I met at Auburn the year previous, S. W. Scoville, Esq., then a young farmer of Richland Township, afterward County Auditor, who is present with us to- day, and Newton D. Canfield, who died a few years since.
"The winter of 1842-'3 was remarkable for the severity of the weather and will be remembered by the early settlers as the long and dreary winter, reminding us vividly of Longfellow's graphic description in "Hiawatha.' Toward spring, feed for stock became very scarce. Those who had the means wherewith to purchase, re- sorted to our more highly favored neighbors of the prairies for sup- plies, going down, as they said, to Egypt; and those too poor to do so felled the trees of the forest, upon which to browse the cattle, as a substitute for hay and grain. In consequence of this scarcity of provender much of the stock perished. The excitement of William Miller's prediction, about this time of the end of the world, caused a gloom to settle upon the minds of many of the people. Several itinerant lecturers visited this part of the country, fixing the time for the great conflagration in the month of April, 1843.
"The gatherings for religious services were well attended, the people coming from far and near, eager to receive instruction and glad to join in such revivals. The names of those engaged in min- isterial work among yon that year, whom I now recall, were Stocker, Stealy, Minor, Kellogg, Littlefield and Blanchard. Our work being so extensive, we seldom met, having but little time
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for social gatherings; we knew, however, by report, how matters were progressing, and with fraternal regard pursued our plans. I assisted in the construction of the first meeting house in the county, a hewed log structure near the farm of E. T. Ham- mond, in Salem Township. Our preaching places were private dwellings and barns, and frequently the groves were resorted to and seats were improvised for the accommodation of the assembled 'multitudes,' so regarded at that time. Our log cabins with but one window were quite convenient and could be used as parlor, sitting- room, drawing room, bed-chamber and kitchen as well as chapel, and here as well as in the more commodious and beautiful temples we could worship the Father in spirit and in truth.
" The preachers of those times rarely took part in political affairs, having but little inclination in that direction, save that of exercis- ing the freeman's right, dear to the heart of every true patriot, to vote. When, however, in later years questions involving the most sacred rights of the citizen, affecting public morals and the safety of the republic arose, it was deemed eminently proper that the pulpit as well as the press, the minister and the private citizen alike should actively participate in political affairs.
"This county has obtained no little notoriety growing out of the action of several of her people upon these questions. The impor- tance of a single vote has been frequently alluded to, and this county designated as an illustrious example in this regard. The true version of the story appears to be substantially this: Dr. Marsh and Captain Beal, both residents of this county. were candidates for the office of Representative in the General Assembly for the coun- ties of Steuben and De Kalb. Mr. Beal received the certifi- cate of election, but the seat was contested, the result being that Dr. Marsh was declared duly elected by one vote, it having been as- certained that the Board of Canvassers had improperly, on account of some informality, thrown out a vote intended for Marsh. At the ensuing session of the Legislature, 1845, Edward A. Hannegan was chosen United States Senator by a majority of one, Dr. Marsh casting his vote for Hannegan. It is claimed that Texas was ad- mitted into the Union in consequence of Hannegan's vote, and now the great results of this affair are attributed to Steuben.
" Your people gained further political notoriety when some of the oldest and most respectable citizens were prosecuted for al- leged violation of the Fugitive Slave Law, in aiding and abetting some liberty-loving people of dusky hue in their flight toward the
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Queen's dominions, under the stars and stripes of their own land, where it is asserted that ' all men are created equal.' I speak of these things not in a partisan sense, but refer to them as incidents of the time and as part of the history of our country, strangely contrasting with the spirit and practice of the present time. An indignation meeting, largely attended, was held at Orland, when those who were regarded as instrumental in these prosecutions were denounced in unmeasured terms. The results of the war have, however, settled these questions forever, and it is pleasing now to contemplate the fact that the seenes which gave rise to such feelings are no more to be enacted. We respond to the sentiment 'let the dead past bury its dead.' To-day, it is true, we have ques- tions of vital importance, but they are not calculated to disturb fraternal feelings.
" But I must close. When I first came among you, being but a little past twenty years of age, and not having the advantages of a liberal education, either literary or theological, with a few books in my saddle bags, and but little time to study, it was with much timidity that I attempted the duties of my calling. I call to mind with pleasure and gratitude the many marks of favor received at the hands of those with whom I mingled, both in and out of . the church of my choice, and shall ever have them in grateful re- membrance. They are not all here who were living then. Many have crossed to the other side, and some are now
" Brushing the dews on Jordan's banks, The crossing to whom is near.
We shall not all meet again at a reunion like this to-day. Let me say to the children of the early settlers, as you shall perchance go forth to become pioneers of other lands, emulate the example and virtues of your noble fathers and mothers; be thankful for the superior advantages you enjoy; and live so as to be useful, hon- ored and respected, wherever you may dwell. To all let me say, farewell! May God continue to bless the pioneers of Steuben County, and bring them to the inheritance incorruptible, undefiled, and that shall never fade away."
THIRD ANNUAL REUNION.
The third annual reunion was held at McConnell's Grove, Aug. 17, 1876. The day was pleasant, and the attendance was variously estimated at from 2,000 to 3,000. The people gathered at the public square and marched to the grove, headed by the Angola
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silver cornet band. Arrived at the grove, appropriate public ex- ercises were held, including prayer by Rev. H. J. Carpenter, of Otsego, the oldest settled clergyman of the county then living. The election of officers resulted as follows: President, Abner Winsor; Vice-President, Calvin Powers; Secretary, Orlando Wil- der; Treasurer, George Harding. The following were named as an executive committee: Millgrove, Chester D. Salisbury; James- town, Clayton Mallory; Fremont, Demary Tillitson; Clear Lake, David Harris; York, William Wicoff; Scott, James Segur; Pleas- ant, Jesse M. Gale; Jackson, Robert Ryan; Salem, Henry P. But- ler; Steuben, James Carter; Otsego, Ransom Gates; Richmond, Samuel W. Scoville. In the afternoon able addresses were made by Hon. John B. Howe, of Lima, and A. Ellison, of Lagrange.
REUNION OF 1877.
The next annual meeting was held Aug. 16, 1877, and was one of the best ever held, though it was as informal as the preceding ones. L. H. Stocker gave the address of welcome, and off-hand speeches were made by a number. Dr. G. W. McConnell and A. S. Sherwood acted as Marshals.
FIFTH ANNUAL REUNION.
In 1878, the meeting was held June 20. Notwithstanding a shower of rain in the morning, and an evident promise of more rain during the day, people came in from the surrounding country in considerable numbers during the forenoon. At eleven o'clock the bands paraded the streets, and the procession was formed which proceeded to the upper park in McConnell's Addi- tion. The grounds had been nicely and conveniently arranged with suitable seats and a large, commodious stand built for officers and speakers. The weather had cleared off somewhat, and it was thought it would not be a bad day after all. A. S. Sherwood acted as Marshal, and President G. W. McConnell called the meeting to order. An appropriate address of welcome was delivered by Le- land H. Stocker. Music was furnished during the day by the An- gola silver cornet band, the Angola ladies' band, and a martial band, of drums and fife. After dinner Hon. Cyrus G. Luce was introduced. He at once took the undivided attention of the assemblage and talked to them of the olden time, and of the by- gone incidents, and of the changes wrought by the years in their onward roll. Before he had finished, and when the interest was
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