USA > Indiana > Steuben County > History of Steuben County, Indiana, together withbiographies of representative citizens > Part 42
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Cherry-trees .- Number of bearing age, 1882, 18,282; under bear- ing age, 3,719; bearing age, 1883, 17,227; under bearing age, 3,551.
Siberian Crabs .- Number of bearing age, 1882, 628 ; under bearing age, 805; bearing age, 1883, 518; under bearing age, 225. Grape-vines .- Number of bearing age, 1882, 13,249; under bear- ing age, 3,218; bearing age, 1883, 15,230 ; under bearing age, 2,738. Blue and other Wild Grasses .- Acres in 1883,6,995; in 1882, 8,015. Unused Plowed Land .- Acres in 1883, 20,549; in 1882, 10,444. Timber Land .- Acres in 1883, 35,505; in 1882, 37,783.
CHAPTER XI.
MISCELLANEOUS.
POSTOFFICES AND POSTAL SERVICE IN STEUBEN COUNTY .-- PROPERTY AND TAXATION .- UNITED BRETHREN CHURCH .- RED RIBBON MOVEMENT .- DROWNED IN THE LAKES .- STEUBEN'S OLDEST IN- HABITANT .- A LUCKY FIND .- SPELLING MATCHES .- SILAS DOTY.
POSTOFFICES AND POSTAL SERVICE IN STEUBEN COUNTY.
The following, kindly furnished us for publication, has been carefully compiled from the official records at Washington and will be of interest to readers in and out of Steuben County. We take pleasure in presenting this matter, together with Mr. Beight's letter to Dr. McConnell, as an anthentie sketch of history well worth preserving:
WASHINGTON, D. C., May 29, 1885. DR. G. W. McCONNELL, Angola, Ind .:
Dear Sir :- Recognizing the fact that Dr. McConnell is one of the earliest settlers of Steuben County it affords me great pleasure to refer the enclosed history of the postoffices of the county to him. In conning over these pages, I presume to say his mind will revert back half a century ago when Uncle Sam's mail carrier rode through the wilderness on horseback, and the people whom he served were satisfied, or had to be, with a weekly delivery of the mail. If I had the time to refer to the books in the archives of the Postoffice Department, I would locate the mail routes to their terminal points as they existed at the time when the first offices in the county were designated and established. Being one of the early settlers, I doubt not Dr. McConnell can locate these routes, the method of carrying the mails when the first offices were es- tablished, and the terminal points of the routes through the county. I can assure friends in Steuben County that in the preparation of this history I have spent considerable time, although the eare and labor involved does not appear very great in quantity. Very truly,
SAMUEL BEIGHT.
(466)
467
HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY.
History of the postoffices, appointment of postmasters, discon- tinuance and changes in the names of offices for Steuben County, Ind., as it appeared on the books of the Postoffice Department, Washington, D. C., May 29, 1SS5.
ALVARADO.
NAMES.
APPOINTED.
NAMES. APPOINTED.
Marvin B. Gordon.
.June 21, 1885
Simpson Watson
Nov. 30, 1868
Jacob Sams .. . Feb. 13, 1857
Jno. L. Deuel. .Jan. 25, 1869
Cyrus Lawrence. .June 10, 1857
Augustus Porter. . Nov. 29, 1872
Jno. W. Thomas.
. Oct. 15, 1859
Marvin B. Gordon.
. Sept. 15, 1873
Marvin B. Gordon
.July 26, 1861
Silas Gray. Aug. 21, 1874
John Holt. .
Mar. 17, 1864
Albert H. Olmsted. . Feb. 15, 1883
Jno. W. Thomas.
Dec. 13, 1865
Jno. W. Douglass.
.Feb. 2. 1884
ANGOLA.
Jas. McConnell. .Jan. 3, 1838
Wm. M. Squier.
.Nov. 17, 1851
Thomas Gale.
Aug. 4, 1841.
Rob't Patterson
. June 11, 1853
Wm. M. Carey
May 30, 1842
Asa M. Tinker . Dec. 26, 1860
Simeon C. Aldrich
.Dec. 9, 1845
Alfred Osborn.
.July 1, 1862
Adams Knott. .Nov. 15, 1849
Orville Carver. July 23, 1869
Chas. G. Mugg.
.July 22, 1851
Francis Macartney
Feb. 28, 1883
CROOKED
CREEK.
Thomas Knott.
. May 5, 1837
Truman C. Dewey May 30, 1850
John Nichols.
Aug. 1, 1837
Joseph Hutchinson. . Sept. 9, 1851
John Knott.
.July 26, 1838
Theron Storrs.
. June 17, 1854
Jas. I. Follett.
.June 11, 1841
Simeon Gilbert.
. Oct. 30, 1857
John Kent. .
. Mar. 14, 1844
Richard C. Dickinson.
.Feb. 21, 1862
Geo. Johnston. .Sept. 29, 1845
Henry L. Gilbert. . Sept. 19, 1862
Chester D. Salisbury . Apr. 27, 1846
Amasa H. Cory. .June 12, 1863
Richard A. Gains. .July 6, 1846
Henry C. Austin. .June 27, 1866
Geo. A. Milnes .Apr. 5, 1847
Chas. H. Collins. . Feb. 18, 1870
John Kent.
. Sept. 22, 1847
Jno. E. Smith. . Oct. 17, 1876
John Nichols.
May 30, 1849
Joseph H. Wilder
Feb. 2, 1881
FISH CREEK.
Ellis Fales.
Apr. 15, 1846
Jacob O. Rose
. Dec. 13, 1860
Geo. W. Jenks.
.June 18, 1857
Geo. Brooks ..
. Apr. 28, 1864
Geo. W. Durbin.
.June 2, 1853
Jacob O. Rose. .
Aug. 20, 1864
Jacob O. Rose. .June 17, 1854
Wm. R. Mitchell.
Jan. 10, 1865
Winn Powers. .Feb. 10, 1859
Discontinued June 25, 1875.
JACKSON PRAIRIE.
Adolphus Town.
May 15, 1839 - Sam. B. Jackson .Oct. 9, 1846
Rob't C. Jackson. . .Feb. 14, 1845
Geo. Emerson. . Dec. 1, 1846
FLINT.
Benajah B. Long. Jan. 14, 1850
Spencer J. Cleveland. Apr. 3, 1857
Arby Dean ... .June 11, 1853
Sam. H. Collins
.Mar. 3, 1859
Columbus C. Bennett
.. Mar. 31, 1854
Eli Frink ...
June 7, 1859
Jno. C. Hopkins. Dec. 16, 1854
Jeremiah Brown. May 3, 1862
Arby Dean. .Jan. 12, 1855
Lorenzo C. Van Husen. .May 5, 1863
Name changed to
Erastus M. Roberts. . Apr. 3, 1856
John Crandall. Oct. 10, 1863
468
HISTORY. OF STEUBEN COUNTY.
BROCKVILLE.
Aaron B. Goodwin ...... Apr. 24, 1837 | Matthew Coffin ...... .Feb. 26, 1838
Name changed to
FREMONT.
Daniel Caswell. Nov. 11, 1845
Enos Beall. .Jan. 7, 1850
Jno. Russell. .June 3, 1857
Jno. W. Follett. . Dec. 28, 1857
Jeremiah G. W. Colburn. . Jan. 19, 1858
Melvin Tillotson. June 12, 1859
Jno. W. Follett. May 5, 1860
Chas. Havens. . .July 12, 1861
Warren W. Wilkinson .. . July 5, 1881
ENTERPRISE.
Samuel Tuttle. May 15, 1839
-
Frederick C. Wilson .... Apr. 14, 1842
Jas. W. Jefferds. June 20, 1839
Name changed to
HAMILTON .
Daniel M. Gale. .Feb. 26, 1849
Oscar A. Gambia . May 30, 1849
Jno. W. Emerson
. Feb. 20, 1852
Peter W. Ladue. May 5, 1853
Herbert N. Andrews . Feb. 19, 1878
Lewis Griffith. Jan. 14, 1854
Simpson Duck. .Sept. 9, 1878
Reuben Lent. .June 9, 1854
Truman A. Beecher .July 16, 1880
Benajah B. Long .June 23, 1855
William Rima. Dec. 2, 1856
Elisha Thompson Jan. 13, 1859
William Rima. Mar. 26, 1859
Jno. W. Thomas.
May 16, 1883
NORTH BENTON.
Iia Allerton. Dec. 10, 1868 Discontinued Nov. 22, 1869.
HUDSON.
David Ferrier. Jan. 15, 1875
Frank M. Zimmerman ... Apr. 14, 1880
Hezekiah K. Leas. . Feb. 24, 1879
Jno. N. Wagner.
... Oct. 11, 1883
Marvin B. Butler. Mar. 17, 1880
LAKE GAGE.
Oliver Miller.
Jan. 31, 1884 |
METZ.
Joseph Bennett. . May 10, 1849
W. H. Brandeberry .Feb. 8, 1872
Justus Barron .. Nov. 1, 1853
Geo. D. Brown. .Jan. 14, 1874
Nathaniel Pettit. Aug. 4, 1857
Nathaniel Pettit. . Aug. 10, 1874
Jas. Shepard. .May 31, 1866
Sam. D. Porter. . Apr. 18, 1882
NEVADA MILLS.
Cyrus N. Mason July 23, 1867
Israel Lucas. .June 21, 1870
Gen. Ruinsey. Sept. 25, 1867
Samuel Herald. . Feb. 24, 1871
Discontinued March 15, 1871.
Frederick Neutz. .May 15, 1873 | Mrs. Maria Neutz. Jan. 27, 1874
1
Jno. R. Ross. . May 16, 1881
Frank Cameron. . Nov. 11, 1881
Andrew J. Stout. Jan. 1, 1882
Levi B. Brown Aug. 23, 1861
William Rima. May 5, 1866
Albert Morley . Sept. 15, 1873
Josiah I. Zerkle. . May 20, 1874
Jno. W. Thomas Mar. 19, 1869
HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 469
ORLAND.
NAMES. APPOINTED.
Alexander Chapin .. . Mar. 9, 1837
Nathaniel A. Shumway. . June 13, 1840
Sidney P. Gambia. . Dec. 6, 1843
Enoch W. Marsh. . Sept. 26, 1846
Sullivan U. Clark. Nov. 2, 1847
NAMES. APPOINTED.
Wm. E. Blake. May 31, 1848
Chas. L. Luce. May 30, 1849
Nathan Roberts. May 5, 1853
Christian Schneider. Dec. 30, 1856
OUFA.
Orris A. Mathews. . . May 6, 1880 | Geo. H. Carpenter. . May 2, 1881
STEUBENVILLE.
Seth W. Murray May 15, 1839 -
Angus McFinley .. June 3, 1846
Abner Windsor. . Feb. 18, 1842
Justin Darling. May 11, 1849
Name changed to
PLEASANT LAKE.
Simeon C. Aldrich .June 2, 1851
Americus Carpenter . Apr. 7, 1864
Ira Gardner. Dec. 30, 1856
David Gilbert. . .Feb. 1, 1866
Augustus V. Ball. . Dec. 23, 1857
J. W. Long. . Apr. 12, 1867
Chas. L. Perfect. . . Oct. 11, 1858
Volney E. Simmons Apr. 26, 1867
Augustus V. Ball. . . Apr. 3, 1860
Sylvanus B. George.
Oct. 13, 1879
Mrs. Melissa Aldrich. Aug. 2, 1861
SALEM CENTRE.
David Wisel. . Apr. 26, 1852
Orson Woodford. .June 20, 1861
Walter Braden. Nov. 6, 1852
John Cary. .Feb. 22, 1870
Orson Woodford . Oct. 28, 1854
W. E. Kinsey . Dec. 26, 1879
Silas Conger. .Dec. 30, 1856
CLEAR LAKE.
Abraham Bloomer. May 23, 1870 |
Name changed to
RAY.
Lester W. Roscrant. .Jan 12, 1872
Albert Paul .. Dec. 23, 1878
Geo. D. Avery. July 19, 1875
Benj. M. McLouth. . Feb. 23, 1882
Alexander Thompson ... . Oct. 3, 1875
Benj. F. Isenhouer. .June 18, 1883
TURKEY CREEK.
Almon Chaffee May 18, 1852
Andrew S. Barker. Aug. 26, 1878
Porter Johnson. . . Oct. 16, 1852
Jesse P. Davis
. Feb. 18, 1879
Almon Tinklepaugh. .Jan. 5, 1864
Frank T. Dole. .Jan. 24, 1881
James Noddings. .Apr. 10, 1871
Wilber Mains Apr. 3, 1883
YORK CENTER.
Henry Eldridge. Nov. 6, 1855
David G. Smith. Aug. 23, 1867
Elias M. Glesson. .Oct. 24, 1857
Richard C. Stewart. May 23, 1876
Geo. Dunnavan. Aug. 29, 1861
Harvey D. Ellis. .July 21, 1879
CROOKED LAKE.
John Merrill . May 5, 1839 Discontinued Sept. 19, 1842.
30
.
Benj. F. Noddings Aug. 6, 1877 -
470
HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY.
LAKE JAMES.
NAMES.
APPOINTED.
NAMES. APPOINTED
Clayton Mallory. .Sept. 19, 1851
Discontinued Oct. 6, 1851.
NORTH EAST.
Stephen A. Powers. .Jan. 8, 1858 Discontinued Jan. 15, 1865.
SANDY RIDGE.
Jas. A. Segur. .Feb. 12, 1857 Harlow B. Holdridge .... Mar. 16, 1860 Dudley Holdridge ... Apr. 10, 1858 Harriet A. Holdridge. .. . July 16, 1862 Discontinued Nov. 3, 1863.
The first mail route established in this county was from Lima, Lagrange Co., Ind., to Toledo, Ohio, via Lexington, Mill Grove, Jamestown and Brockville, now Fremont. The second was from Lima via Lexington, Jackson Prairie, Pleasant Lake or Steuben- ville, Enterprise to Defiance, Ohio. The third from Angola to Brockville. The fourth from Coldwater, Mich., to Fort Wayne, via Hall's Corners, Jamestown, Fremont, Angola, Pleasant Lake, Hamilton and Auburn, in De Kalb County, to Fort Wayne. From Lima to Toledo the mail was carried on horseback, on the Vistula Road.
The second from Lima to Fort Defiance was"carried on horse- back, and also the one from Angola to Brockville, until the route from Coldwater to Fort Wayne was established, when it was carried by stage, being the first stage route established through the county.
PROPERTY AND TAXATION.
The following table shows the total value of property listed for taxation each year from 1844 to 1884; also the number of taxable polls, and the total amount of taxes levied for each year :
YEAR.
VALUA- TION.
POLLS. TAXATION.
1844
$ 414,200
607 $ 6,740.82
1845.
456,740
634
7,286.49
1846
457,906
805
10,969.77
1847.
484,556
779
11,321.04
1848.
492,101
856
10,816.39
1849.
502,620
1,050
8,242.24
1850
516,331
1,082
11,385.80
1851.
717,615
1,035
14,601.93
1852.
730,294
1,098
13,371.07
1853.
836,200
1,085
15,034.55
1854.
1,014,820
1,203
16,874.63
1855.
1,229,368
1,351
23,353.96
1856.
1,041,845
1,449
20,032.61
1857
1,058,822
1,4421
17,324.70
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HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY.
471
YEAR.
VALUA- TION.
POLLS. TAXATION.
1858.
1,001,032
1,591
16,224.89
1859.
1,587,437
1,592
20,727.47
1860.
1,621,528
1,682
23,918.33
1861.
1,701,455
1,867
25,762.67
1862
1,651,266
1,711
25,889 68
1863
1,779,521
1,701
32,825.94
1864.
2,365.590
1,593
42,925.28
1865.
2,658,335
1,525
67,791.12
1866
2,601,180
1,835
61,552.31
1867
2,581,090
1,920
57,752.47
1868
2,537,056
2,011
53,316.16
1869
3,024,846
2,042
59,946.46
1870
2,933,080
1,988
70,303.52
1871
2,975,580
2,147
61,562.53
1872.
3,022,830
2,273
46,655.44
1873.
6,253,880
2,118
64,002.73
1874
5,906,730
2,315
71,387.18
1875.
5,355,895
2,116
62,997.89
1876
5,337,920
2,367
68,288.18
1877.
5,289,225
2,560
74,808 09
1878.
5,199,610
2,538
77,481.68
1879
5,191,080
2,542
72,778.77
1880.
3,749,915
2,363
69,656.15
1881.
3,643,910
2,534
61,049.36
1882.
3,690,530
2,459
71,514.21
1883.
3,832,990
2,432
76,766.68
1884.
3,863,925
2,413
68,549.80
As property is assessed at one-third its actual value, the assess- ment at the present time would indicate that the wealth of Steu- ben County amounts to the sum of $11,591,775, an average of $724.48 per capita, estimating the population at 16,000. The taxes amount to $4.28 per capita. For 1884, the number of acres of land assessed was 192,902.96; value of same, $2,233,070; value of improvements, $847,005; value of personal property, $763,950; total valuation, $3,863,925; number of polls, 2,413; number of dogs, 1,027; total taxation, $80, 973.54.
UNITED BRETHREN CHURCH.
The following is from the pen of Rev. L. I. C. Young, of Fre- mont, a prominent and honored minister of the denomination: Sugar Grove Circuit, North Ohio Conference, of the church of United Brethren in Christ, in 1885 consists of five organized churches, with about 270 members. Sugar Grove, in Clear Lake Township, Ind., has ninety-two members; Summit, in York Town- ship, Ind., has sixty-one members; St. Pauls, in South Camden, Mich; North West, in North West Township, Ohio; Pleasant View, in North West Township, Ohio. The first United Brethren
472
HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY.
class in the bounds of this circuit was organized in the summer of 1859, by Rev. H. W. Cherry, then traveling Steuben Circuit which embraced the whole county. The class consisted of six members: John and Sarah. Mc Elhenie, Nancy Brown, Mary A., Nancy F. and L. I. C. Young, and held services in a small house called " Seven by Nine," in the north part of Clear Lake Township. The following year Rev. M. Morthland traveled the work, but failed to tell about the quarterly meetings until they were past, and the appointment was dropped at the end of that year. Rev. Morth- land died in Michigan, and Rev. Cherry is an old retired minister whose life is full of years and good works.
CLEAR LAKE MISSION.
In January, 1866, Rev. James M. Lyon and Joseph Wolfe, local preachers, held a protracted meeting at the Harris school-house, and organized Clear Lake class with twelve members: John Mc. Elhenie, Leader, and Daniel Clark, Steward.
In September, 1866, the Michigan Annual Conference (as it was then called) formed Clear Lake Mission by attaching Algansee appointment of Branch Circuit, in Branch County, Mich., with Clear Lake class. The first quarterly meeting was held at the Philip's school-house in Algansee Township, Dec. 22, 1866. Rev. D. Holmes was Presiding Elder; Rev. R. T. Martin, Pastor, and E. E. Gibson, Secretary.
Joseph Wolfe received license to preach in the U. B. church at this meeting. When converted, he joined the Baptist church with his wife, a daughter of Deacon McNall, of Kinderhook, Mich., but being dissatisfied with close communion he requested a letter of recommendation to some other church. Elder Mc Louth, Presi- dent of the association, said: "There are but two ways out of the Baptist church-to die, or be expelled." Mr. Wolfe took his hat and said: "I'll show you a third way," and walked out. He died in June, 1867.
Rev. J. M. Lyon, a brother of Horace Lyon, of Ray, continued a member of this work until 1868, when he removed to Michigan.
Rev. Richard T. Martin has spent many years as a circuit preacher. He owns a farm in Bethel, Mich., and practices medi- cine when not laboring in the ministry. His brother, Rev. James W. Martin, of Montpelier, Ohio,has long been a successful preacher in this conference.
In 1867 Rev. J. K. Alwood was Presiding Elder, and Rev. J.
473
HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY.
K. Swihart, Pastor. Father Swihart was born in Washington County, Pa., March 10,1808. He began preaching in 1844 in Mus- kingum Conference and was transferred in 1859 to this conference. He lived twenty-two years near Hudson, in this county, and now lives at Bethel, Mich., with his son-in-law, G. W. Hill, formerly a preacher in the United Brethren church. He traveled nineteen years, and is now superannuated and feeble, waiting for his re- ward. He organized Summit class in the spring of 1868, in York Township, with M. V. Garn, Leader, and George French, Stew- ard. A few weeks later he organized a class at the Withington school-house, near which now stands the California church on Branch Circuit. The Algansee appointment was dropped.
During this year Rev. Armine T. Rease, of the Cumberland Presbyterian church, and Chaplain of the One Hundred and Twenty-ninth Indiana Volunteers united with the United Brethren church and dwelt at Fremont until 1874, when he took a transfer and located at Oberlin, Ohio, in order to educate his children.
The third year of Clear Lake Mission Rev. John N. Martin was Presiding Elder. R. T. Martin preached at the organized classes the first half, and J. K. Swihart supplied the balance of the year. Appointments were kept up for a while at Fremont, Farn- ham's school-house, Scott Center, Ray and other points. The building of a meeting-house at Clear Lake was defeated.
General Conference was held in May, 1869, and divided Michi- gan Annual Conference, and all south of the Michigan Southern Railroad was called North Ohio Conference, but now embraces the south tier of counties in Michigan from Branch to Lake Erie.
In September, 1869, Clear Lake Mission was discontinued. Withington class was attached to Branch Circuit, Clear Lake and Summit classes to Mt. Pleasant Circuit, which consisted of Mt. Pleas- ant, Bethel and Mayberry in Steuben County, and six classes in Will- iams County, Ohio, being eleven appointments, and fifty-eight members composed the quarterly conference. Rev. J. K. Al_ wood was Presiding Elder, Rev. E. Miller, Preacher in charge, and Rev. W. R. Bundy, Assistant Pastor.
FREMONT MISSION.
Sept. 23, 1870, the North Ohio Conference detached Clear Lake, Summit and Mayberry (Otsego) classes from Mt. Pleasant Circuit, with the adjacent territory, situated in the northeast part of Steu- ben County, and extending into Ohio and Michigan.
474
HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY.
The first quarterly conference of Fremont Mission convened in the Harris school-house Dec. 17, 1870. Rev. D. Holmes was Presiding Elder, and Rev. W. R. Bundy, Pastor. He organized a small class at the Starr school-house in Scott Township; Charles Stafford, Leader, and Wm. Smiley, Steward. There was a strong element opposed to Christianity here, which the church did not overcome, though a good work was accomplished, yet many moved away, and the remaining few disorganized in 1878, and united elsewhere. The official members were Charles Stafford, Wm. Smiley, J. Tuttle, Alonzo Bullard, Lyman Bullard and George Reynolds. Among those who remain there, a savor of good in that place, are Wm. Smiley and wife, waiting for the Master's call. He also prepared the way for a good class at West Amboy. Six- teen members of Clear Lake class reorganized at the Brown school- house, on Fremont Township line, and a new class was organized at the Stone school-house, at South Camden, Mich., which was called South Camden class, where a large revival was held. Rev. Edmund Miller forsook the canal-boat service, and preached many years in this conference, and on all of the circuits in this county, and was transferred to Michigan Conference in 1875, thence to Southern Illinois Conference, where he was Presiding Elder, and in 1884 he removed to Eastern Tennessee.
Rev. William R. Bundy, born March 8, 1846, in Delta, Ohio, was a soldier in the late war in Thirty-eighth Regiment, O. V. I .; traveled his first circuit in 1869; was ordained in 1872; transferred in 1880 to Saginaw Conference, now North Michigan, where he traveled a district as Presiding Elder, and is active in the work.
In 1871 Rev. T. Osmun was Presiding Elder and Rev. J. W. Rhodes, Pastor. He organized a good class at West Amboy, Mich., which was attached to Hillsdale Circuit, and received forty- one accessions to the church. Brother Rhodes was well educated and engaged in mercantile business at Clyde, Ohio, before he began preaching in Sandusky Conference. He came on transfer in 1871, preached in this conference twelve years, and transferred back in 1883. His wife was a teacher, and a worker in the church, and Secretary of the Woman's Missionary Society of North Ohio Conference.
Rev. L. I. C. Young was converted near Fremont, Ohio, in 1857, and came to Steuben County the following year and organized the first Sunday-school in Clear Lake Township. He was Secretary of the Soldiers' Christian Association of the Twenty-ninth Indiana
C
475
HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY.
Volunteers, and used the pen more than the sword during the war. He received quarterly conference license March 9, 1872, admitted into annual conference in 1875, and ordained in 1880. He has held a local relation, and been quite successful in the Sunday- school work and temperance movement. He was elected Secre- tary of Clear Lake Mission Quarterly Conference Aug. 24, 1867, and continued in all the changes of the work until Nov. 22, 1884, having been absent from only one quarterly conference in seventeen years.
In 1872 Rev. J. N. Martin was Presiding Elder and Rev. G. W. Bechtol, Pastor. He organized a class at the school section in York Township, called York Center class, which continued with varying success until in 1877 the appointment was removed to Whaley's school-house over in Ohio. Edward Lambertson (de- ceased) was Leader and Steward, the other members being women.
Rev. B. M. McLouth was converted in 1864, and united with the Baptist church at Clear Lake, and remained with them four years. In 1872 he united with the U. B. church at South Cam- den and received quarterly conference license, and in 1873 was recommended to annual conference, and sent to Branch Circuit which he resigned at the second quarterly meeting. Two years later he was sent to Liberty Circuit, which he also resigned at the middle of the year. He passed his three years' course of reading in 1879, but was not ordained to elders' orders, at his request.
Rev. Mathew Woodard was one of the old settlers of York Township and a licensed preacher in the Wesleyan Methodist church. He was granted quarterly conference license in 1875, and died in 1878.
In 1873 Rev. J. K. Alwood was Presiding Elder and Brother Bechtol was returned. A Board of Trustees to build a parsonage was elected, consisting of Hiram Davis, Robert Seely, and Fred Brouse. F. Brouse resigned and Charles Hemry has filled the place since. They began building the parsonage at Summit, in York Town- ship, the following year, and proceeded as they secured funds, and now have a good house, well, barn, cistern, etc., costing about $1,200.
This year John McElhenie, F. Brouse and L. I. C. Young were elected Trustees to build a meeting-house at Clear Lake, but they reported adversely and were discharged.
John Kogin, H. Barr and L. Douber were elected Trustees to build a meeting-house at Otsego, but they failed to agree on a site, and troubles arose, and in 1879 all but six members withdrew
476
HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY.
and joined at Mt. Pleasant, and the Otsego class was finally disor- ganized in 1880. They first occupied the old Champion school- house, then the Corbin school-house, and worshiped in the M. E. brick church after it was built. The following is a list of their official members: John Kogin (deceased), E. Horr, Lewis Vaughn (deceased), H. Ellis, Lorenzo Douber, John Priest, Orland Ellis, Jacob Hanna and Geo. Foster.
John Priest was recommended from Otsego class, and was li- censed to exhort in 1874, and removed to Northwest Ohio in 1876. He there joined the Methodist Episcopal church and the Odd Fellows, but soon concluded that he could not be faithful to the lodge and enjoy Christian religion at the same time, and conse- quently withdrew from both lodge and church. When the North- west church was built, he again united with the United Brethren church, and is now their leader.
Rev. E. V. Allen was received as an Elder from the Wesleyan Methodist church in 1874, and the next year removed by letter to Pennsylvania.
In 1874 Rev. Joseph Brown was Presiding Elder and Geo. W. Bechtol returned his third year on this work, having preached one year previous. He was a farmer near Edon, Ohio, is a successful preacher and revivalist, and a good singer, and many have been converted under his ministry. He received fifty-three accessions on Fremont Mission, and filled six appointments. He was the first preacher that moved on the work, and did much to make it permanent.
In 1875 Rev. Cyrus Crossland (deceased) was Presiding Elder of the West District, and Rev. Joseph Waldorf was sent to Fre- mont Mission, which began to feel the need of church buildings, but the people were unable or unwilling to sacrifice for that pur- pose, and the idea obtained that revival meetings should not be held in school-honses during the school term, so that little was ac- complished in consequence before 1880. There were six appoint- ments and nineteen accessions.
Rev. J. Waldorf was born Jan. 23, 1821, in Trumbull County, Ohio. His parents were Philip and Lydia Waldorf. At the age of fourteen he was converted, and became an exhorter at eighteen. He joined the Muskingum Conference in 1845, in which he traveled until he was transferred to North Ohio Conference in 1863, and from here transferred to Tennessee Conference in 1883 He has traveled as an itinerant thirty-eight years-thirty years on
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