USA > Indiana > Steuben County > History of Steuben County, Indiana, together withbiographies of representative citizens > Part 38
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John F. Cameron, M. D., one of the medical corps of Steuben County, resides in the village of Hamilton. He was born in Rich- land Township, this county, May 8, 1855, where his parents, John and Mary Cameron, settled in 1841. John Cameron was born in Scotland, Dec. 21, 1814. His parents were George and Janet Cameron, who came to America and located in Canada, in the Province of Ontario, in the fall of 1834. George Cameron died in 1848, and his wife in 1838. Their son John preceded them a few months, coming to America in the spring of 1834. He, not long after, went to New York State, and from there to Ohio, where he was a contractor on the Wabash & Erie Canal. He was married at Napoleon, Ohio, Feb. 25, 1841, to Mary Carlin, a native of Ohio, born Feb. 5, 1823, a daughter of Robert Carlin. They became residents of this county the following year. Nine children were born to them, eight of whom are living-James G., of Eden, Ohio; Louisa, wife of O. A. Mathews, of Eden, Ohio; Robert, of Colum- bia, Ohio; Mary, residing in Richland Township with her widowed mother; Dr. John F., our subject; Margaret, wife of Samuel Ans- paugh, of this county; Josina, wife of Uriah Egbert, of this county; William C., now attending the Tri-State Normal, at Angola; George, the eldest, was born Sept. 10, 1842, and died Oct. 29, 1850. John Cameron died April 4, 1878. He was a man of thrift, a sterling citizen. When he came to this county he was possessed of some capital and bought 160 acres of land, which he rapidly im- proved. The wife that he brought with him to the wilderness, that shared his joys and sorrows, amid hardships and toils, a true com- panion, and now in a fair degree of health, is living with her daughter Mary, on the old homestead. Mr. Cameron, for a num- ber of years, was a faithful and consistent member of the United Brethren church at Metz. He was one of the trusty and trusting men of Richland Township. He was elected Township Trustee, performing the duties two terms in a manner creditable to himself
HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY.
and satisfactory to his townsinen. He also served as Justice of the Peace twelve years. In 1874 he was elected County Commissioner, and re-elected to that responsible position in 1876, and was, at the time of his death, Chairman of the board. He was a man of more than ordinary intelligence, upright and honest in business, oblig- ing as a neighbor, an affectionate father, who ever held the inter- ests of his children dear to himself. Dr. John F. Cameron attended the schools of Richland Township till seventeen years of age, after which he attended Hillsdale College a term and the An- gola High School six terms, receiving a diploma from the latter. Then commenced his medical studies under the tutorship of his brother, James G. Cameron, of Eden, Ohio; remained with him three years, and attended three courses of lectures at Rush Medi- cal College, Chicago, Ill., graduating in the spring of 1880. May 1, of that year, he commenced practice in the village of Hamilton, where by strict attention to his business, good judgment and faith- ful attendance upon his patients he is fast winning favor and friends. He was married Dec. 12, 1880, to Elnora Powers, daughter of Clark and Hannah Powers. She was born in York Township, March 7, 1854. In 1883 Dr. Cameron bought of Hon. Hugh Mc- Culloch the Hamilton hotel property, where the traveler is enter- tained and given, in every sense of the word, the comforts of home.
Alonzo P. Clark, M. D., was born at Pratt's Hollow, Madison Co., N. Y., Dec. 23, 1807; his father was a native of Cape Cod, Mass., and emigrated with his wife to Chenango County, N. Y., in 1799. He and wife were descendants of the earliest New England stock. Dr. Alonzo Clark, when a boy, removed with his parents to Onta- rio County, N. Y. He early directed his attention to the study of medicine, and began the practice of his profession in 1831, at Port Gibson, Ontario Co., N. Y. He was married October, 1828, in Madison County, to Betsey Bump, who was born in that county Jan. 14, 1808. In the spring of 1836 Dr. Clark came to Steuben County and bought a mill-site and saw-mill in Jackson Township. He also bought a tract of land, a part of which composes the farm of his son Omar and on which was located the original plat of Steu- benville. He brought his family later in the season of the same year. He was the first physician in Steuben Township, and per- haps the first in the county. He was a man highly respected, and an excellent physician, and one of the most energetic and progres- sive of Steuben's pioneers. He died Feb. 3, 1867. Politically he was originally a Whig, and later a Republican. He also practiced
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law in the early history of the county, and served a term in the Legislature of the State, and was a public speaker of much ability. His wife died March 26, 1878. Dr. Clark had six children, three of whom are living.
Mark T. Clay, M. D., was born in Erie County, in 1855. He was reared in his native county, and received a good academical education. When nineteen years of age he began the study of medicine with Dr. Israel Wheeler, of East Gilead, Branch Co., Mich., and later took a course of lectures at the Eclectic Medical College, Cincinnati, Ohio. He began the practice of his profession in Erie County in 1875, and in 1880 came to Steuben County, Ind., and located in Salem Center. He is a member of the Indiana Eclectie Medical Association, and was granted a diploma by this society May 15, 1884. He is the only practicing physician of Sa- lem Center, and is fast winning his way into the confidence and esteem of the citizens. He is a young man of pleasing address, courteous manners, and readily inspires confidence in his patients and their friends. He is also the proprietor of one of the drug stores of Salem Center. He was married to Amelia Beigh, a native of Indiana. They have two children-Leo and Lura.
Albert Eastman, M. D., is a native of Oneida County, N. Y., born in 1832, a son of Amasa and Catherine Eastman, and grand- son of Peter Eastman, a native of England, who came to the United States in the early part of the eighteenth century and settled in Connecticut, and subsequently moved to Oneida County, N. Y. He was a soldier in the Revolutionary war. His mother, Catherine Eastman, was a descendant of the Stuyvesant family, of New York. She was left an orphan at the age of twelve years, and supported herself by working at a sixpence a week. She had one sister, but they were separated after their mother's death and were never again united. Albert Eastman spent his early life on the home farm. When twenty-two years of age he came West, and located in Illinois, subsequently moving to La Porte, Ind. Having from his boyhood a desire to be a physician, as soon as he was able le devoted his time to the study of medicine. He is a close student, and has been a successful practitioner from the first. His genial, courteous man- ners and sympathetic, kindly ministrations have won him many friends, and he has a large and constantly increasing practice. His friends are not confined to his patients; the medical fraternity rec- ognizing in him a devoted and successful brother, he enjoys their confidence and esteem. Dr. Eastman was married in 1873 to Ella
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A., daughter of Jeffrey and Malvina (Fillmore) Francis, natives of New York, her mother being a niece of Millard Fillmore. They have three children-Edward, Ruby and Abby. Dr. and Mrs. Eastman have a pleasant home, where they are surrounded by all that betokens comfort and refinement, and their friends find a wel- come that assures them of the pleasure it gives to greet and entertain their guests. Dr. Eastman enlisted in the war of the Rebellion, in the Eighty-ninth Illinois Infantry, and participated in all the varied fortunes of his regiment.
Stephen H. Fuller, M. D., was born in Montgomery County, N. Y., in 1847. When six years of age he came to Indiana with his parents, locating at Chesterton, Porter County, where he was reared. In February, 1864, he enlisted in the One Hundred and Twenty-Eighth Indiana Infantry, and served till the close of the war. At the time of his enlistment he was but little past sixteen years of age, and his weight was less than 100 pounds, but he en - dured the hardships of war like a veteran. He participated in Sherman's march from Chattanooga to Atlanta, and then his regi- ment was assigned to General Thomas's Division, and joined in the Nashville campaign. He began the study of medicine in the spring of 1874, at Chesterton; attended two terms at Rush Medical Col- lege, Chicago, Ill., and graduated at Fort Wayne Medical College in 1879, having practiced two years prior to his graduation. He located in Pleasant Lake in April, 1877, and has built up a large practice. He has been Coroner of the county three terms, and is one of the Pension Examiners of the State of Indiana. Dr. Fuller married Harriet Follett, daughter of Almarion Follett. They have two sons-Fern and Forest.
Charles W. Goodale, M. D., is a native of York Township, Steuben County, Ind., born May 11, 1844, a son of Burdett and Mary Ann Goodale. In October, 1842, his parents moved from Cleveland, Ohio, to Steuben County, Ind., and settled in York Township, where the father died June 15, 1855, aged thirty-eight years. His mother is living with a daughter, Mrs. Stevens. They had a family of four children, of whom our subject is the second. Albert N. was a member of the Forty-second Illinois Infantry in the war of the Rebellion, and died in October, 1863, from the ef- fects of wounds received at Chickamauga. Orville F. is clerk of Steuben County Court, and resides at Angola. Amelia is the wife of Abraham Stevens, of Metz. In his early life our subject made the best use of time allotted for attending school, and in addition to
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the district school attended the High School at Angola, and Hills- dale College. While a student at Hillsdale he enlisted in the Thir- tieth Michigan Infantry and served about six months. After his return home he began the study of medicine under the preceptor- ship of Dr. H. D. Wood, now of Angola, then of Metz, and re- mained with him three years. He then attended Rush Medical College, Chicago, Ill., graduating in 1869. He began his practice at Metz, and in 1871 went to Reed City, Mich., where he remained till 1874. Then returned to Metz, and engaged in the mercantile business almost exclusively for four years, and in 1878 went to St. Joseph, DeKalb County, and resumed the practice of his profes- sion. In 1880 he returned to the home of his childhood, with the intention, of remaining, but his love for traffic, rivaling the love of his profession he again, the following fall, embarked in the mer- cantile business, and in October, 1881,admitted as a partner Abra- ham Stevens, an enterprising business man. In the spring of 1884 he left the charge of the business to his partner, and again re- sumed the practice of medicine. Dr. Goodale has many friends, and as he is a close student and has kept himself informed on all the advanced theories of his profession, has no trouble in building up a good practice. In the spring of 1885 he sold his interest in the mercantile establishment of Goodale & Stevens to Jeff War- ner. Dr. Goodale was married Sept. 5,1869, to Miss Margaret A. Parrott who was born Jan. 9, 1842, daughter of Sylvester and Hen- rietta Parrott. They have six children-Burdett, Alice, Frank, Paul, Amelia and Ford. In politics Dr. Goodale is a Republican. He and his wife are members of the Disciple church.
Dr. David P. Hathaway was born in the State of New Jersey, Nov. 4, 1791. When eleven years of age his parents, Jacob and Lydia (Day) Hathaway, moved to Washington County, Penn., where the Doctor was reared, and July 27, 1810, married Elizabeth Bennett. She was born in that county July 22, 1790. The Doc- tor commenced the practice of medicine in Washington County, then emigrated to Licking County, Ohio, in 1836, and in the fall of 1849 settled on section 5, York Township, which has since been called Hathaway's Corners. The new country demanded his continuous professional services; and by hard work, attending to all calls at all hours, he soon broke down and died-May 11, 1850. His useful life was given to the help of the sick and distressed of the new country. His widow survived him and died Aug. 11, 1878.
George W. McConnell, M. D. In writing the biographies of
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Steuben's pioneers, we have tried to place before our readers the simple record of those most worthy of representation, and we be- lieve that Steuben County has never had a citizen more deserving of this honor than the old pioneer whose name stands at the head of this sketch. He comes of pure Celtic stock, his great-grand- father, Robert McConnell, being a native of County Antrim, Ireland, born in 1695, whose ancestors went from Scotland to the Green Isle in the sixteenth century. Robert McConnell and wife immi- grated to the American colonies early in the eighteenth century, and settled in Franklin County, Penn., where he died in 1770. In that county was born James McConnell, the grandfather of George W., in 1745, where he grew to manhood and married a Miss Mc- Connell, to whom were born six sons and six daughters, one of whom is living-Mrs. Judge Denny, of Lagrange County, Ind. On the breaking out of the Revolutionary war, he raised a com- pany of patriots, and Aug. 16,1776, left his native county as Captain of his company, and served throughout that struggle for indepen- dence. He was placed at Kings Bridge at the head of the island, where New York City now stands. After the war closed, he returned to Franklin County, Pa., where he was a Justice of the Peace for several years, County Commissioner in 1788, a member of the State Legislature from 1804 to 1806, and an Elder of the Rocky Spring Presbyterian Church for many years. He died in1809,and he and his father, Robert, are buried in Rocky Spring graveyard,near Chambersburg, Penn. His brother, John McConnell, was also a Captain in the Revolutionary war, and served from first to last in that struggle against tryanny, participating in the battles of Paoli and Brandywine and a number of others. The father of the sub- ject of this sketch was James McConnell, who was born in Frank- lin County, Penn., Oct. 9, 1784, being the third son in a family of twelve children. His youth was passed in his native county, and in May, 1808, he was married, near Winchester, Va., to Eliza- beth Luckey, who was born at that point April 5, 1785, daughter of Joseph Luckey. Of the above marriage, twelve children were born, viz. : Mary J., James, Rebecca, Joseph, George W., William, Caroline, Robert, Eliza A., and three died in infancy. The grand- father of Mrs. McConnell and great-grandfather of our subject, Hugh Luckey, removed from Londonderry, Ireland, and settled at Fag's Manor, Chester Co., Pa., about the same time of Robert McConnell's immigration to Franklin County, Pa. His family, consisted of four sons and one daughter-William, Joseph, Isaac,
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George and Elizabeth. The latter married Rev. James Dun- lap, the second President of Jefferson College, Cannonsburg, Pa. William and Joseph each raised a company of which they were appointed Captains and served throughout the Revolutionary war. Isaac enlisted as a private and was killed at the battle of Brandywine. Joseph was a Quartermaster under Washington as well as Captain. George Luckey entered Princeton College from which he graduated and afterward became an eminent Presbyte- rian divine, settling near Baltimore, Md. He was a classmate of Dr. John McMillan, the founder of Jefferson College, Aaron Bnrr and Luther Martin. James McConnell was a very fine scholar and excelled as a linguist. After graduating he studied law, at same time taught a classical school at Mercersburg, Penn.,during which time he prepared James Buchanan for college, who became Presi- dent of the United States in 1857. He entered upon the practice of law at Morefield, Va., which he followed but a short time; but, as duty called him, he studied theology and entered the Presbyterian ministry, being licensed to preach at Richmond, Va. His health soon failing he again took up teaching and taught at the following places: Morefield, Va .; Lovingston, Va .; Brownsville, Penn .; New Glasgow, Va .; New London, Va., and Chester, S. C. At the latter place, his continued failing health compelled him to quit teaching, whereupon he returned to Pennsylvania and settled on a farm in Greene County. His brothers Robert, William, Alex- ander and Joseph were soldiers in the war of 1812. Robert and Alexander settled in Morgan County, Ohio, and laid out the town McConnellsville, in that county. James McConnell died Oct. 7, 1840, near Mansfield, Ohio, at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Andrews, whom he was visiting at the time. His wife survived him many years, dying at Waynesburg, Pa., Sept.6, 1863. The subject of this sketch was the fifth in the family, and was born in Loving- ston, Nelson Co., Va., March 16, 1816. He received a good literary and scientific education, and in 1836 came out to the "Vermont settlement," Steuben Co., Ind. He studied medicine with his brother James, and, in the spring of 1838, began practicing on Jackson Prairie, moving to Angola the following year, where he continued practice until his brother's death, Oct. 9, 1844, when he retired from the profession. He was married near West Alexan- der, Penn., Aug. 13, 1846, to Miss Eliza Bonar, daughter of Barnet Bonar, who was born in Pennsylvania, Jan. 14, 1778, and Jane Bonar, nee Donahey, born in Ireland, Dec. 13, 1782. Barnet
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Bonar was an Elder of the Presbyterian church for over fifty years, and died Feb. 1, 1870, on the farm where his birth occurred ninety-two years previously, his wife having died Dec. 10, 1869. Mrs. McConnell was born in Washington County, Penn. April 22, 1828, and has had the following children: James, William B., Joseph, Robert, George W., Alexander, John L., Thomas C., Samuel, Elizabeth J., Mary A. and Sarah M. McConnell, Of those, Robert, Samuel and Sarah M. died in infancy, Joseph in his eighth year, Mary A. in her ninth, and John L. was accidentally drowned in the lake when in his eighteenth year. Mrs. McConnell is kind and sympathetic in her nature, feeling deeply for the suffer- ings of others, and bearing her own with gentle fortitude. Firm in her attachments and friendships, she cannot understand what wealth or position has to do with either. To her, all humanity is molded alike and she knows no other guide for her relations toward her neighbor than that laid down in the divine law. Gen- erous and hospitable to a fault, she has ever wielded a power for good in her sphere of life. Christianlike and charitable, she loves to minister to God's poor, and has never sent away a homeless waif hungry from her door. Throughout her life she has always been an industrious, faithful wife, and a fond, loving mother. Dr. McConnell was Sheriff of Steuben County from 1847 to 1849, and was elected to a seat in the State Legislature for the winter of 1851 -- '2 at which session the statutes were revised under the new Con- stitution of Indiana. He has been engaged principally in farm- ing and dealing in real estate. He was one of the organizers of the first select school of Angola, and, with others, was instrumental in having the present school building erected, for which he con- tributed generously. The citizens of Steuben know well the prominent part taken by Dr. McConnell in having the Fort Wayne, Jackson & Saginaw Railroad come through Angola, as well as all other public improvements which have added to the wealth and prosperity of the county. Politically a Democrat, he was always a firm upholder of the Union. He was at For t Wayne when the first shot was fired on the nation's flag at Sumter, attended a war meeting in that city, returned to Angola and called a similar meet- ing, and ever after took an active part in raising volunteers for the defense of the Stars and Stripes. He went into the Forty-fourth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, of which he was Quartermaster, and remained with his regiment until his private business and sickness in his family compelled his returning home. He and his wife are
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members of the Presbyterian church, and have always been earn- est advocates of temperance. We can safely say that Steuben County owes as much to George W. McConnell for its present pros- perity as to any citizen it has ever had, and we have been told by Angola's best citizens that Steuben has been known throughout Indiana and bordering States more through his name and efforts for the county's welfare than those of all other citizens combined. In adversity, many have deserted him, but for all time to come he will be remembered as a man of active business enterprise, un- bounded public and private liberality, and imbued with every princi- ple calculated to benefit the county of which he has so long been a worthy citizen.
Dr. James Mc Connell, deceased .- Among the men who took an active and prominent part in the early history of Steuben County few are more worthy of mention than Dr. James McConnell. He was born in Morefield, Va., Sept. 17, 1810, and was the second in the family of James and Elizabeth McConnell. He received his education at Lovingston, New Glasgow and New London, Va., under his father's watchful care, and soon after entered the office of Dr. Lamb, of Brownsville, Fayette Co., Pa,, completing his medical studies with Dr. Porter, formerly Professor of Anatomy in Jefferson Med- ical College, Philadelphia. He began practice at Brownsville, Pa., and about 1833 moved to McConnellsville, Ohio, and in May, 1835, came to Lima, Lagrange Co., Ind. The territory of which Steuben County, Ind., now consists was then a part of Lagrange County, and it will thus be seen that he was identified with Stenben County from the very commencement of his career in Indiana. He re- mained at Lima until Nov. 1, 1836, when he moved to the " Ver- mont settlement," now Orland, where he continued the extensive practice he had enjoyed in Lima. He was the first physician of Steuben County, and a man of fine education and undoubted ability . In April, 1837, he was elected Clerk and Recorder of Steuben County for the term of seven years, and located his office in the log- cabin of Jolin Stayner, on Jackson Prairie, removing to Angola in the fall of 1837, where the county-seat had been located and a frame office erected for his occupancy. While practicing medicine in Sten- ben County he was called to attend all the more difficult and im- portant cases which arose, one of which deserves, from the singular circumstances of its origin, a more detailed account. A young man named Munson was in the woods hunting, and started some deer. While maneuvering to get a shot at them, he put down his loaded
Very Truly Yours Dearge W. K. Bowell
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and cocked rifle, holding the barrel with his hand and letting the butt rest on the ground. As it happened, the butt came squarely down on a large rattlesnake, which young Munson, intent on the deer, did not see. The snake lashed its tail, which, striking the trigger of the gun, caused its discharge, the bullet passing through Munson's neck. The surprised snake hastened to escape, leaving Munson bleeding from his very dangerous wound. Dr. McConnell was hastily summoned, and by his skillful treatment of the wound saved Munson's life. He was married in Angola in January, 1841, to Mrs. Julia Whittaker, sister of Judge Thomas Gale, one of the pioneers of Angola. In 1843 Dr. McConnell resigned his office, and began practice as an attorney, but death cut short his labors, he dying Oct. 9, 1844. Most of the old settlers remember him as a man of integrity and true worth; energetic, obliging and capable; possessed of the finer attributes of manhood, and endowed with a strong, logical brain. Although first settling in Lima, he was from the beginning intimately associated with the early, sturdy pioneers of " Old Steuben," of whom their descendants may well feel proud. Dr. James McConnell, though dead over forty years, is still spoken of in words of kindness and honor.
William H. Miller, M. D., was born in Toronto, Canada, Sept. 20, 1851, a son of Simeon and Louisa (Frink) Miller. His father was a native of Yorkshire, England, and when fourteen years of age came to America, and lived in Monroe County, N. Y., till after his marriage, when he moved to Toronto. In 1856 he returned to Monroe County, and in 1866 moved to Jackson County, Mich., where he still resides. The family consists of six children-four sons and two daughters. When our subject was seventeen years of age he left home, and from that time maintained and educated himself. Being ambitious to obtain a thorough education and ul- timately enter a professional life, he went to Jackson, Mich., where he attended the graded schools three years, working when not in school to defray his expenses. He then attended the literary de- partment of Ann Arbor University, and while there decided to take up the profession of medicine. After leaving the University he returned to Jackson and entered the office of Drs. Anderson & Towne, remaining with them, when not attending lectures, till March, 1884. In the winter of 1880-'81 he attended the Hahne- mann Medical College, Chicago, and also in 1881-'82, graduating in the spring of 1882. He continued his practice under the guid- ance of his former tutors till 1884, when he removed to Fremont,
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