USA > Indiana > Steuben County > History of Steuben County, Indiana, together withbiographies of representative citizens > Part 45
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Their section of country was equally as good as that on the west, and it was only because the postoffice, which was established this year, happened to be at the Vermont settlement, that the town did not become located on the east side. Colonel Alexander Chapin was appointed Postmaster. He was a stanch Whig, but was appointed under a zealous Democratic administration. The name proposed for the new postoffice was Mill Grove, which was the name given to the township, but it was found that there was already a postoffice by that name in the State, so they had to select another name.
Now these Vermont people, being of the Puritanic stock of old New England, were considerably given to the use of congrega- tional singing in their worship; and being fond of vocal music they were in the habit of meeting at social singing schools, having of course brought their singing books as well as their Bibles with them to their new homes. At one of these singing meetings they agreed that Colonel Chapin should open his note book at a venture and they would sing the first tune presented and name the post- office from the name of that tune, if the department would accept of it. Orland was the tune, and Orland became the name of the postoffice, this being the first office of that name in the United States. The name being a very pretty one, a number of offices have since adopted it.
About this time Deacon Timothy Kimball built the first grist- mill, on the river just north of the settlement. The building of this mill was a great desideratum to the community of settlers in that region of this new country, and was duly appreciated.
The first frame house in Orland was built by Mr. Chapin, and gave way many years ago to the more stately mansion of Mr. Jonas Twichell. Nearly at the same time John Anderson built a small house, the frame of which is now included in the dwelling of William Van Husan, on West street. Mr. Anderson was drowned a few years after in Lake Jimmerson, while hunting deer with Clayton Mallory. Cyrus Choate shortly after built a small frame dwelling on the south side of Vistula street, but this structure has also long since gone to the shades. It was, however, the building in which more of the business of the early times was transacted than in any other place of that date in the history of the village.
1
499
HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY.
The first store, or stock of goods, was brought here and opened for sale by Captain Samuel Barry, in the winter of 1836. A small stock of goods was also brought in by the Carletons on the east side of the river. The first general store, however, was opened in Feb- ruary, 1837, by Dr. James McConnell and G. D. Palmenter.
Other early settlers who came prior to 1840 were Drs. James and George W. McConnell, Rev. Stephen Thompson, Leland H. Stocker, J. F. Baldwin, Orlando Wilder, Peter C. Carleton, Charles Carleton, George Stocker, Caleb H. Blanchard, Francis Scripture, Cleon Elmore, Miles Coe, Elijah Salisbury, Milo L. Hudson, Samuel Barry, Emory Brown, Sullivan Clark, Alanson Kidder, Whiting and Charles Squiers, Consider Ames, Stephen Dudley, James McDuffie, Orrin Goodrich, Andrew Lundstrum, Elijah Owen and H. Miller.
The first marriage was solemnized Oct. 12, 1836, Augustus Kimball and Eliza Eaton being the contracting parties, and Elder Hall the officiating clergyman. The first child born was Sarah L., daughter of Benjamin Pierce. She was born Nov. 10, 1834, and afterward became the wife of Alsinus Townsend. The first death was that of Polly, wife of Abel Blanchard, who died Aug. 2, 1835, aged thirty-nine. Her husband died April 7, 1852, aged fifty- nine. Benjamin Pierce died in 1842, in the fortieth year of his age. In October, 1849, John Stocker died, Betsy Stocker having passed away the May previous. Elihu Sabin died in 1842, and his wife Lucy followed him in May, 1845. Eliza, wife of Augustus Kimball, died in March, 1873, aged sixty-five. Chester Stocker closed his eyes on the scenes of this world in January, 1853. his wife having died the April before.
The wife of Nelson Newton died in January, 1842, aged thirty- one years. John B. Barnard died July 9, 1873. Henry Depne lived to be sixty-one years old, and died in 1842. Sarah Depue died in March, 1851; Levi Depue, in April, 1852, aged forty-one and his wife survived until 1876. S. C. Cutler died in 1845, and Samuel in 1847, aged sixty-nine years. S. G. Cutler died in 1860, and Alexander Ward in September, 1841. Mrs. Willianı Wilder died at the age of fifty-seven, her death taking place in March, 1852. Her husband followed her in November, 1862, at the age of seventy-six. Luman Humphrey died at the age of fifty- four, in 1841. Philena Humphrey died in September, 1856, aged sixty-seven. The death of Charles Carleton took place in 1859.
Walter Luce lived to the advanced age of seventy-eight, and
500
HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY.
died in 1872. Abraham Gray died in 1839, aged forty-three, and his wife followed in 1871, aged seventy-six years. Cyrus Gray lived just fourscore years and died in 1846. Miles Hudson and wife were among the early settlers, but the dates of their death cannot be ascertained. Mr. Hudson surveyed the town when it was first laid out. Mrs. Lewis Barnard died in 1863, and Miles Coe in 1868. Timothy Kimball died in May, 1851, having lived to the allotted age of threescore years and ten. His wife died two years before, aged sixty-four. Elder Freeman Burrows was a prominent Baptist minister in early days, but he and wife died at unknown dates.
Alexander Chapin died in March, 1849, aged forty-four. Josiah Chapin, his father lived to be eighty-four years old, and died during the war, in May, 1864. His wife died four years before, aged eighty. Cyrus Choate died at an early day in the history of the township, in 1843, at the age of forty-two. His wife was forty- nine years old when she joined him. Polly Choate died in 1852, at the age of seventy-seven. Eliphalet Warner died in 1865, and Mrs. Warner lived five years longer, dying at the age of sixty. She was living alone when she died. Mrs. Kidder died in 1851; Samuel Barry died in 1855, in Illinois, aged sixty-seven, and in the same year his wife passed away at the age of seventy-one.
Captain Samuel Barry was a very prominent man in the early days, and was a devoted friend of churches aad schools. One of the old settlers aptly refers to him as an "extraordinary man." His opportunities when a boy were very limited. He often said he obtained what little education he had from Dilworth's old spelling book by the light of a pine knot. In nearly everything he was ten to twenty-five years ahead of most people. In 1833 Captain Barry, with two or three others, left the Green Mountains of Ver- mont and looked through this country. They finally decided to buy land in the vicinity of where Orland is at present located, and made this a point to immigrate to.
He was very active in the building of the Baptist church, and paid more than one-third of the cost of the structure. He took a great interest in the building of the seminary at Orland, and every one concedes that if it had not been for him it would never have been built. He circulated subscription papers and headed them with large amounts. Captain Barry was indeed very chari- table, and always took the lead in every good cause.
In the day when our fair country was cursed with human slavery,
501
HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY.
Orland was a station of importance on one of the "underground railways." Captain Barry was an active agent on that route of travel, and helped many a poor slave to the land of freedom be- yond the Detroit River. ' He was arrested once under the Fugitive Slave Law and taken to Indianapolis. There was a Deputy United States Marshal at Orland then, and the anti-slavery men had irri- tated him so that he commenced prosecution against some of them. Mass meetings were held for the purpose of taking things into consideration. Foster, the noted anti-slavery speaker, and his wife were present and lectured.
Slaves very often stopped with S. U. Clark, who at that time kept the hotel. Dr. Madison Marsh was the Deputy United States Marshal. They paraded the slaves in front of his house for the purpose of irritating him. After the meeting, when Foster and his wife spoke, Marsh was burned in effigy. Captain Barry not only took an active part in freeing the slaves, but in many other projects he was always at the head. He did not accumulate much property, for as soon as he had saved a little he gave it away for charitable purposes. Though he did not leave money behind him, he left that which is rather to be chosen-agood name, which will always be revered. His monument is the educational edifice he built, almost entirely alone. His life is one that can be studied with profit by every youth. If he had any faults they are for- gotten when we think of the great amount of good he accomplished.
The first house in the township was built in 1834 by G. D. Pal- menter. It was constructed of logs, and was built on the sonth- west corner of the northwest quarter of section 29. The first frame house was built by S. A. Palmenter. The timber was hewed by Leland H. Stocker, and the master builder was S. C. Sabin. The wages were $1.25 per day. It was built in 1836, just east of where the stone house of Peter Lindquist now stands.
The first school-house was a frame structure erected in 1837, 24 x 40 feet, in what is now Orland. It stood on the west side of the north or mill road, and is now occupied as a blacksmith shop. This school-house was for the times a large and commodious one, and for years was used not only for school purposes, but for relig- ious meetings. Here the worshipers, which class, generally speak- ing, included the entire community, congregated regularly every Sabbath day to listen to the preached word, irrespective of denomi- national views.
Miss Eliza Eaton, afterward Mrs. Augustus Kimball was the 32
502
HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY.
first school-teacher. She was engaged to teach what children there were in the community who could attend, at $2 per scholar. Her school was opened in a log house on the east side of the north road, about half way to the river from the " corners, " at the'place long af- terward and still known as the Elder Patch place. This was then the residence of Elihu Sabin, whose wife's sister Miss Eaton was. Both Mr. and Mrs. Sabin, who were good instructors, afterward taught the settlement schools. Mrs. Sabin had charge of a school in her own house in 1836, at a compensation of $1. 25 per week. These teachers, after raising families, children and grandchildren, have passed away.
The first church in Orland was of the Baptist denomination, and its organization was effected Aug. 7, 1835, by Rev. H. T. Hall, who came to the county a year before. Under his ministry was also instituted the first class of children for Bible instruction, which was in charge of Mrs. Currier, who also taught the district school about this time, 1837. The Baptist church was dedicated in 1848, having been built at a cost of $1,800. The Presbyterian church was organized in 1836, and the first Methodist class in 1837. In 1851 the Methodists, Congregationalists and Presbyte- rians united in building the Union church, on which they expended $2,100. The Orland mills ground the first grist in 1838. They bolted by hand for three weeks.
The first tavern, or hotel, as the more fashionable name now is, was built by S. U. Clark, in 1838, on the subsequent site of the Burnham House. It was for the times and surroundings a large and imposing structure, and was an elegant and very notable addi- tion to the village buildings. It was a two-story frame building, handsomely finished on the outside, and was nearly finished on the inside, when, only a few years after its construction, it was burned to the ground. This was the first blaze, and a big one it was, which the little village experienced. Mr. Clark, however, with indomitable energy and with the assistance and good will of the citizens, proceeded immediately to the construction of another building on the old site, which building has since become a por- tion of the Burnham House.
The first practicing physicians to locate in the township were Drs. James McConnell and P. C. Carleton; the latter's residence was on the east side of the river, near the present home of Adam Patterson. It was a little while after this, however, that Dr. Madi- son Marsh located in Jackson Township, from whence he shortly
503
HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY.
afterward moved to Orland. Drs. Carleton and Marsh were for many years the leading physicians in this part of the country. Dr. S. D. Richardson came in 1840, and soon took a large prac- tice.
The first graveyard was located and established just north of and adjacent to the school-house site. In the onward march and prog- ress of the village limits, it was found that this old cemetery was right in the way. So the good people thought they would have it moved and located somewhere out of the way of the village expan- sion. Accordingly, new grounds were surveyed and platted for burial purposes; but this location, too, has proved to be right in the direction the village shows an inclination to extend.
The first blacksmith shop was a shanty on the west side of South street, built by Andrew Lundstrum, then a young Swedish me- chanic.
S. U. Clark was the first tailor in Orland. His shop was one of the rooms of the new tavern building erected by him, and which was destroyed by fire. The first cabinet or furniture establish- ment in the village was started by Roswell Farwell, a deaf mute, who died many years ago. Nelson Newton and Chester Stocker were the first to make pumps for the wells in the neighborhood, and they soon acquired an extended trade in their pumps. These were usually made from tamarack logs, and were unblessed with paint or other ornamentat.
The people of Orland, or Vermont settlement, of course were imbued with the spirit of free schools, and the place has always been an educational center. The Northeastern Indiana Literary Institute, which name was given to the Orland Academy when it was first established, began its career in 1850. It was first started under the more direct auspices of the Baptist church of Orland, and the association with which that church was connected. But the matter soon received the attention of progressive men of all denominations, and was pushed to success. The history of this school, which endured from 1850 to 1878, is given in the educa- tional chapter of this work. In the last mentioned year it was merged with the common-school system of the township.
Following are the principal business firms of Orland : J. G. Parker, general store; Fox & Vanetta, drug store ; D. H. Roberts, dry-goods; Taylor, Wilder & Co., hardware; Canst & Bro., grocery and meat market; Oscar Underhill, shoe shop, grocery and billiard hall; Fred Schneider, grocery; Miles Kimball, hardware; Helme,
504
HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY.
shoe shop; David Schneider, shoe shop; Frank Burnham, Burn- ham Hotel; Henry Carver, boarding house; J. W. Helme, wagon shop; James Lyte, blacksmith shop; Joseph Reeves, blacksmith shop; W. W. Thompson, furniture; Stephen Sabin, furniture; John Roberts, flour and meat market.
There are three church organizations: The Congregational, under charge of Rev. Mr. Preston; the Methodist Episcopal, under Rev. Mr. Marble; and the Baptist, with Rev. Mr. Shepherd in the pulpit.
Masonic and Odd Fellows lodges are both maintained. Star Lodge, No. 225, F. & A. M., was organized July 31, 1857, the original officers being : L. C. Marsh, W. M .; J. F. Chapin, S. W .; E. M. Roberts, J. W .; M. H. Haskins, Secretary. The charter was granted May 25, 1868, previous to which time the lodge worked under dispensation. The first person initiated was D. H. Roberts, and the first made W. M. was J. E. Spear. Orland Lodge, No. 541, I. O. O. F., was organized Dec. 22, 1877, with the following first officers : Dr. George Keesler, N. G .; James Clifton, V. G .; V. Darrow, Secretary; James Rogers, Treasurer.
The population of Mill Grove Township was in 1870, 975; and in 1880, 1,021-an increase of forty-six. This is a population of forty to the square mile.
Following are staple erop statistics for the last census year, 1880: Acres of wheat sown, 3,115; average product per acre, fifteen and one-third bushels; total crop, 46,725 bushels; acres of corn, 2,- 372; average yield, thirty-three bushels per acre; total erop, 78,- 276 bushels; acres of oats, 222; average yield, twenty-five bushels per acre; total crop, 5,550 bushels; acres of meadow, 261; average yield of hay, one and one-third tons per acre; total crop, 348 tons; acres of potatoes, fifteen; average yield, eighty bushels per acre; total crop, 1,200 bushels.
In 1884 the number of acres of land assessed was 14,328.62; value of same, $156,825; value of improvements, $87,890; value of personal property, $87,585; total valuation, $332,390; number of polls, 148 ; number of dogs, forty-nine; total taxes levied, $6,- 853.42. As property is assessed on a basis of one-third its actual value, the wealth of the township may be estimated at $997, 170.
In politics the township was a stronghold of Whigism until 1856, since when it has given heavy Republican majorities. This is the natural result of the New England traditions brought into " Ver- mont settlement" by Captain Barry and the other first immigrants.
HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY.
505
In 1844, 1848 and 1852 it also contributed a respectable number of votes to the Free-Soil party. The vote at each presidential election has been as follows :
1840-William Harrison.
.49
40
1864-Abraham Lincoln ..... 179
154
Martin Van Buren. .9
George B. McClellan. . . 25
1844-Henry Clay.
.31
8
1868-Ulysses S. Grant .....
.192
147
Henry G. Birney 23
Horatio Seymour.
.45
James K. Polk.
20
1872-Ulysses S. Grant. .
.149
90
1848-Zachary Taylor.
.29
4
Charles O'Conor
3
1877-Rutherford B. Hayes.
.197
145
1852-Winfield Scott.
51
10
Franklin Pierce.
41
John P. Hale. ..
19
1856-John C. Fremont ..
134
119
James Buchanan.
.15
Millard Fillmore
1
1860-Abraham Lincoln.
.175
136
Stephen A. Douglas .... 39
Following is the detailed vote of Mill Grove Township at the fall election of 1884:
President and Vice-President.
Blaine and Logan.
153
78
Cleveland and Hendricks ..
.. 75
Butler and West ..
17
St. John and Daniel. ..
2
Governor.
William H. Calkins
153
79
Hiram Z. Leonard
17
Robert S. Dwiggins.
.3
Congressman.
Theron P. Keator
154
80
Robert Lowry.
.74
Jesse M. Gale.
3
Prosecutor.
Henry C. Peterson.
152
Frank M. Powers.
92
Senator.
Nicholas Ensley.
153
Lafayette J. Miller.
92
Representative.
Coroner.
Doak R. Best ....
151
57
T. Ray Morrison.
153
59
William W. Wyrick.
94
Edward B. Simmons.
.94
Commissioners.
Herman C. Shutts.
153
79
Adam Failing.
74
Thomas McClue.
20
Daniel P. Rummell
153
79
Alvah Carpenter.
.74
John Dygert.
20
Sheriff.
Allen Fast ..
154
81
Charles Squires ..
73
Thomas R. Moffett. .
20
Treasurer.
Clay Lemmon.
153
79
Edwin Jackson
.74
Martin V. Garn.
.20
Surveyor.
Robert G. Morley
.153
59
Moses J. Parsell.
94
The following are the names of the various township officers elected since 1850, with the years in which they were chosen :
Assessors .- 1850, Miles Coe ; 1851, George Brown; 1852, Heze- kiah Smith; 1854. Peter C. Carleton; 1856, Hezekiah Smith; 1858, Walter Luce ; 1860, Hezekiah Smith; 1862, Elisha Fuller; 1864, same; 1866, Walter Scott; 1868, same; 1870, G. S. Benschoten;
.
Lewis Cass. .25
Martin Van Buren
23
Horace Greeley ..
.59
Samuel J. Tilden. .
52
Peter Cooper ..
17
1880-James A. Garfield ..
.182
114
Winfield S. Hancock ... 68
James B. Weaver.
31
1884-James G. Blaine.
153
S. Grover Cleveland. .
.. 75
Benjamin F. Butler .. .. 17
John P. St. John. .
2
78
Isaac P. Gray ..
74
60
61
G
506
HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY.
1872, Orrin Taylor; 1874, David B. Teeters; 1878, Elisha Fuller; 1880, Amos Bachelor; 1882, Chester D. Salisbury.
Justices of the Peace .- 1852, Sullivan U. Clark and William S. Joyce; 1853, Stephen C. Sabin; 1856, Leonard Bisbee; 1857, Morris H. Haskins; 1860, Frank A. Rowley; 1861, Morris H. Haskins; 1862, Stephen C. Sabin; 1864, Amos Bachelor; 1865, Gardner Black; 1866, William Dixon; 1869, John McClung and S. W. Huglis; 1870, L. Bisbee; 1872, John McClung; 1874, Wm. W. Birce; 1876, John McClung; 1878, Robert N. Purdy; 1880, Gardner Black; 1882, Grove Dudley; 1884, Daniel Dunham and Romeo Rogers.
Constables .- 1858, Elisha Fuller and Lyman W. Lyons; 1859, Elisha Fuller and W. G. Rathbun; 1860, Elisha Fuller and Oliver Miller; 1861, Douglas Bennett and Oliver Miller; 1862, W. S. Mc Gowan and George Ruby; 1863, James Loghry and Alonzo Smith; 1864, James Loghry and Alonzo Burlingame; 1865, R. V. Shumway and F. V. Shumway ; 1866, R. V. Shumway and James Loghry; 1868, Oliver Ellston and Elisha Fuller; 1869, Samuel Mc Cagg and J. C. Bisbee; 1870, Charles Brunes and William Vanlinsan; 1872, A. H. Finch and J. Lyman Heath; 1874, Will- iam H. Green and Ezra Smith; 1878, William H. Green and Frank D. Parker; 1880, C. H. Wilder and D. Schneider; 1882, Charles Rowley and Charles H. Wilder; 1884, Oscar F. Underhill and David Schneider.
Trustees .- 1859, William S. Joyce; 1860, Stephen C. Sabin; 1861, same; 1862, same; 1863, same; 1864, same; 1865, H. H. Goldsmith; 1866, same; 1867, same; 1868, Stephen C. Sabin; 1869, H. M. Aldrich; 1870, same; 1872, same; 1874, James B. Parker; 1878, Irenus Mc Gowan; 1880, D. H. Roberts; 1882, W. S. Thompson; 1884, same.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
James U. Bennett, son of Wildman and Anna (Nichols) Ben- nett, was born near Bridgeport, Conn., in 1831. His parents moved to Lagrange County, Ind., about 1851, and subsequently to Bron- son, Mich., where they passed the remainder of their lives. About 1858 James U. came to Steuben County, purchased property in Orland, where he established a permanent home. Seeing the need of improving the stock of the country he turned his attention to this industry, and was gaining a national reputation for his fine cattle when he was stricken with disease and died March 13, 1881. He was an enterprising, public-spirited citizen, and gave his sup-
5
507
HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY.
port to all movements that tended toward the advancement of the community. Unselfish and benevolent, all objects of charity found in him a benefactor, and all in need of assistance or advice a true friend and counselor. He was married in 1849 to Sylvia M. Hurd who died Dec. 7, 1858, leaving one daughter, Sylvia E., now Mrs. John Dickinson, of Maywood, Ill. In 1859 he married Eunice C. Hurd, who died Nov. 24, 1863. March 27, 1864, he married Emma C. Kimball, a daughter of one of Mill Grove Township's oldest and most influential citizens. To them were born four chil- dren-James A., Ora P., Arthur N. and Emma E. After the death of J. U. Bennett, Mrs. Bennett settled the estate, and her son James, though but sixteen years of age, assumed the management of the farm, carrying on the stock business in a manner that would be creditable to a man of thorough experience. He is a young man of unexceptional character, of fine business qualities, and has been a careful and successful manager of his mother's business.
John Hackett is a native of Cayuga County, N. Y., born in 1821, a son of Miner and Electa (Chase) Hackett, natives of Vermont, who moved to Albany and thence to Cato, where the father died. When a mere lad John left home and came West to Oakland, Mich., where he worked three years, thence to Teconsha, and two years later to eight miles south of Adrian. At that time the country south of Adrian was a dense forest. Subsequently he went to Burr Oak, and in 1844 to California, making the journey by water. In addition to a lack of provisions and water the yellow fever broke out on shipboard and the suffering was intense. He remained in the West thirteen months, and on his return to Burr Oak had $1,300. He began in earnest to develop his farm, and had just got fairly started when the small-pox swept over the land, and he was again reduced to a lack of means sufficient to enable him to live in comfort. He remained there three years when his wife died. She was Ellen Richardson, daughter of Eleazar and Eliza- beth Richardson, of Oswego, N. Y. They had four children- George and Elizabeth deceased; John, of Sand Lake, Mich .; and Josephine, widow of David McCord. He afterward married Anna Hause, daughter of George and Elizabeth Hause, early settlers of Bronson, Mich. They had two children-one who died in infancy, and Frank. Mrs. Hackett died, and in 1856 Mr. Hackett married Caroline Hoyt, of Canada. They have had six children-Edwin; Gertrude, now Mrs. Rome Rogers; Lillie, deceased, married An- drew Lull; Carrie, deceased; Maud and Fred. Mr. Hackett is
G
508
HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY.
purely a self-made man. Thrown on his own resources at an early age, he had no chance to obtain an education. Of an ambitious disposition that would take no denial he struggled on, and by observation acquired a knowledge of the world that has stood him instead of an attendance at the schools and academies of the country. He spent several years in Kansas; returning in 1875 to Steuben County, he located on his present farm, buying 200 acres of land. He has been successful and has surrounded his family with all needed comforts, and as each child left the paternal roof gave them ninety acres of land. Mr. Hackett is gifted with remarkable perceptive faculties, quickly discerning character, courteous and affable in his manners, and is a popular and influential man in his township.
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