USA > Indiana > Steuben County > History of Steuben County, Indiana, together withbiographies of representative citizens > Part 49
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Danforth C. Ward was born in Huron County, Ohio, Sept. 20, 1825, son of Isaac and Phœbe (Beebe) Ward. His father died when he was quite small, and his mother afterward married again. In 1837 he accompanied his mother and step-father to Steuben County, Ind. In 1843 they located on the farm where his mother still lives. He cut his foot and was obliged to walk with crutches, being unable to do any farm work for some time. He was mar- ried in 1846 to Abigail M. Cady, daughter of David and Mary Mc- Master, natives of Vermont and Connecticut, and among the first settlers of Jamestown Township. Mr. and Mrs. Ward have had a family of nine children, but four of whom are living-Charles, Truman, Rhoda R. and Granville. Mr. Ward is an upright, hon- orable business man, and has won the esteem of all with whom he has had any dealing. He takes an active interest in all that per- tains to the promotion of the welfare of the county.
Daniel Wheaton, one of the most respected and influential citi- zens of Jamestown Township, is a native of Litchfield, Conn., a son of Terrace and Maria M. (Bostwick) Wheaton. Mr. Wheaton has been twice married. His first wife was Alvira Way, a native of Litchfield, Conn. She left one daughter-Mary. His second wife was Millie Kellogg, daughter of one of the old and well-known cit- izens of Steuben County. Mr. Wheaton has been identified with the business interests of Steuben County for many years, and has, by his untiring energy and strict integrity, gained the esteem of the citizens of his township.
Joseph H. Wilder was born in Cuba, Allegany Co., N. Y., in 1828, a son of Kendal and Laura (Stephens) Wilder, early settlers
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of Cuba. Kendal Wilder moved from Vermont in the winter of 1819, and was the third settler in Cuba Township. The first year he kept " bachelor's hall," and in 1820 married Laura, daughter of Francis and Mary (Stone) Stephens, natives of Massachusetts, and early settlers of Lima, N. Y. Francis Stephens was a soldier in the Revolutionary war. The paternal grandparents of our subject, Calvin and Polly Wilder, were natives of Vermont, and late resi- dents of Crawford County, Pa. Joseph H. is the eldest of six children; Mary is deceased ; Norton is a resident of Steuben County; Oliver, of Newton, Ind .; Sherman,of Hornellsville, N. Y .; Charles of Cuba, N. Y., living on the old homestead with his father who is now ninety-three years of age. Joseph H. Wilder remained at home till twenty-one years of age, receiving a fair education in the district schools. In 1849 he came West as far as Sandusky County, Ohio, where he engaged in the mercantile business three years. He then came to Steuben County, and bought a tract of wild land, the only improvement being a slab house, with one end entirely out to admit of a chimney. The outlook was not favorable to suc- cess, but with a determination that surmounts all difficulties he went bravely to work and has brought his farm under a fine state of cultivation. In 1877 he built the hotel in Jamestown, where he has been a popular and efficient landlord. He was married in 1854 to Mary J. Shutts, daughter of Charles and Susan (Ritchie) Shutts, and granddaughter of Gabriel and Mary (Sailor) Shutts, and John and Ellen (Updyke) Ritchie.
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CHAPTER XIV.
FREMONT TOWNSHIP.
FIRST KNOWN AS BROCKVILLE .- GEOGRAPHY AND TOPOGRAPHY .- EARLY SETTLEMENT .- CRIMINAL CARELESSNESS .- MORE PIONEERS AND WHAT BECAME OF THEM .- THE ROLL OF THOSE WHO CAME BEFORE 1840 .- FIRST HOUSES .- FAMILIAR BRUIN .- PIONEER MERCHANT .- A "THUNDERING GOOD FELLOW."-R. A. GAINES AND HIS CAREER .- ON THE RISE TO FORTUNE .- MYSTERIOUS DEATH OF FATHER AND MOTHER .- WHERE WAS THE $7,000 .- GAINES FLIES TO FIELDS AND PASTURES NEW .- PERSEVERING HUNT BY THE SON .- FOUND .- GOING TO TOLEDO TO MARKET .- PLATTING OF BROCKVILLE, AFTERWARD FREMONT .- MAIL ROUTES. -AD. KNOTT'S STORE .- HIS INTERESTING CAREER AND SAD END. -FOURTH OF JULY, 1838 .- INDIAN RAID .- REVENGE BY THE WHITES .- DISSECTED WAGON .- A LEARNED PHYSICIAN .- SUBSE- QUENT PRACTITIONERS .- ANOTHER SUICIDE .- TRAPPING WOLVES. -How MRS CLUCK WAS CURED. - GOODWIN AND THE INDIANS .- SQUAW BELIEVES IN WOMAN'S RIGHTS .- INDIAN JUSTICE .- THE FUNERAL .- SHARP PRACTICE .- DROWNED (?) IN LAKE JAMES .- FIRST DWELLINGS, SCHOOL-HOUSES AND CHURCHES. - FIRST LAND ENTRIES. - FIRST PREACHERS .- FREMONT .- SOCIETIES .- BUSINESS FIRMS. - POPULATION. - AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS. - PROPERTY AND TAXATION .- POLITICS .- VOTE FOR PRESIDENT SINCE 1840 .- VOTE IN 1884 .- LISTS OF TOWNSHIP OFFICIALS SINCE 1850 .- BIO- GRAPHICAL.
The township first known as Brockville, but afterward named in honor of the famous " pathfinder," John C. Fremont, is bounded on the north by Branch County, in the State of Michigan; on the east by Clear Lake Township; on the south by York and Scott, and on the west by Jamestown. It is four miles north and south, and five and three-quarters east and west. Its area is accordingly about twenty-three square miles, or 15,000 acres, of which 600 are covered by water. The largest lakes are Cedar, on sections 14, 15, 22, 27, 26 and 23; Walter's Lake, on 18, and Fish Lake, on 16
(541)
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HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY.
and 21. The Fort Wayne & Jackson branch of the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern Railroad crosses the township from south- west to northeast, over sections 32, 29, 28, 21, 22, 15, 14 and 13. It has two stations, Fremont and Ray, the latter being partly in Branch County, Mich.
One day in the latter part of August, 1835, John McMahan unhitched his horses about a mile from the present village of Fre- mont, and to him belongs the honor of being the first white settler in the township. Uncle Demary Tillitson passed Mr. Mc- Mahan about two hours after the latter had stopped, and he is thus entitled to the second place on the roll of old settlers. Mr. Tillitson "took up" eighty acres of land where the commodious residence of Erastus Farnham (now of Chicago) was afterward erected, and Mr. McMahan settled a mile further north. He died in 1878, being survived by Demary Tillitson for a short time. That same fall several more settlers came into the township, among them being Jeremiah Tillitson, an uncle of Demary's, Jacob Roop, Fred Bowers and Peter Cluck. Jeremiah Tillitson died about 1874, in his eightieth year.
Jacob Roop was killed about 1865 by the carelessness of a drug clerk. He had been troubled for some time with the rheumatism, and called on a physician for something to relieve him. The doctor told him to take a spoonful of tincture of colchicum every three or four hours. Mr. Roop took the prescription to a drug store. The clerk didn't know what tincture meant, and so gave him col- chicum seed. He took one spoonful of them and in about three hours was in great agony, but thinking that it might be necessary to cure him took another spoonful. He grew rapidly worse. Medical aid was summoned from Fremont and other places, but notwithstanding every effort was made to save him he died in a few hours, having suffered terribly. Fred Bowers died of old age about 1869, being at the time of his death nearly ninety years of age. Peter Cluck was a blacksmith, and was noted as a very pow- erful man. One of his sons, Peter, succeeded him in that occupa- tion at Fremont. Another son was killed in the late civil war. The old gentleman died about 1870.
Among the first settlers in the township should be mentioned Elder Truman Burrows, a Baptist minister, John D. Barnard, Elijah Salisbury, Chester D. Salisbury, Avery Farnham and his brother Erastus. Elder Burrows died some years since, having attained a ripe old age. John D. Barnard and Chester D. Salis-
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bury removed to Orland to enjoy, during their declining years, the fruits of their early labors. Mr. Barnard is dead. Elijah Salis- bury went to California a few years since, and died in the Golden State. Erastus and Avery Farnham are both dead, the latter in 1878 and the former several years previous.
The following also settled in the township prior to 1840 : Dan- iel Caswell, Thomas M. Brown, Peter Wolf, John Duguid, Jacob Wolf, Samuel Stewart, Aaron Goodwin, A. Crawford, James Lockwood, Henry Wilcox, James Duguid, Martin Tillitson, Henry Snow, John McClue, N. Ford, Charles Campbell, A. Campbell, Fred Bower, Horace Waite, William Campbell, Josiah Sabin, Dr. D. B. Griffin, James Winter, Dr. Reynolds, Alexander McNaugh- ton, John Havens, S. Goodfellow, E. Masters, M. Terry, R. A. Gaines, Rufus Beall, Michael Kreger, Samuel Tillitson, Enos Beall, S. A. Steward, Peter Rowe, John Stewart, C. Van Horn, M. Meade, M. Carpenter, L. Van Horn, Joseph Terry, Elias True, Silas Doty, and James Critchfield. Nearly all of the old settlers have passed away, but among the living are yet numbered Alex- ander McNaughton, John McClue, Thomas Knott, Dr. D. B. Griffin (now of Angola), and a few others.
During the first few weeks after Demary Tillitson settled in Fremont Township, his only shelter was a few boards set against a tree. The lumber was hauled from Coldwater. His uncle, Jere- miah Tillitson, built the first log-house and he built the second. Bears would come snuffing around the houses, being not in the least afraid. Bruin would often put his nose through the crevices between the logs. Wolves were prowling around nights and would frequently venture close to the cabins.
The first frame building was erected in 1836-'7 by a man named Goodwin. The house is yet standing, being nearly in the center of the village of Fremont. About the same time a Mr. Parker, from Fort Wayne, built a log store on the lot just where the American House is now. He is spoken of by one of the "oldest inhabitants " as a "thundering good fellow." His stock of goods would not make a very creditable showing now. It is said that all his worldly possessions might have been very easily loaded into a one-horse wagon. He remained two or three years and then sold out. A frame addition was then built to the store and it was turned into a hotel. Truman Gilbert was the first landlord.
Early in 1839 R. A. Gaines came from Lima and brought a broken stock of goods that could have been put into a small wagon.
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He sold everything at a fabulous profit, built a larger store and stocked it with goods he bought in New York. Gaines also built the hotel now known as the American House, but did not keep it long. He sold or rented it to Truman Gilbert, who acted the part of " mine host " for some time.
When Gaines brought his stock of goods from New York he was in debt to some extent, having borrowed money of his father. He was very anxious that the latter should come West, and made such glowing representations of the fabulous richness of the new coun- try that the old gentleman was finally induced to sell his property in the East at a great sacrifice, and follow the footsteps of the son to the new country. The old gentleman had not been here long before the son desired to borrow what money the father had, about $7,000, saying he could double it in a year. The father was cau- tious, however, and didn't care to invest. In a short time they removed to Jamestown. Old Mr. Gaines had an attack of the ague one day, and his son persuaded him to take some medicine. The next day the father died. His wife, Richard's step-mother, was feeling somewhat indisposed. He persuaded her to take some medicine. The following day she also died.
When the administrator of the estate came to examine the affairs of old Mr. Gaines, he was unable to find any of the wealth people supposed he had. There was a note for $300 given by Richard to his father some time previous. Soon after this Richard removed to Hillsdale, Mich. He had two stores there, and appeared to be doing a flourishing business. One fine morning every one was as- tonished to learn that he had sold out to ex-Sheriff Beall, and with $16,000 in his pockets had left for "fresh fields and pastures new." No one had the least idea where he had gone. His family was left in a destitute condition. Before he left he told Mr. Beall that if any letters came to him to open and read them.
In a day or two a missive came from Detroit, directed in a fem- inine hand. Mr. Beall opened and read it and found it was from a fashionable member of the demi monde whose home was in New York; but, judging from the letter, she had come on to Detroit to meet Gaines. They were then to go to some foreign land and en- joy their wealth. Beall showed the letter to Mrs. Gaines. She fainted and was too ill to travel for some time. When she recov- ered she took her family and moved to Ohio, where she lived with her brother until her family were grown up. When her son be- came of age, he resolved to search the wide world over for his father.
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HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY.
He went to California, thence to Mexico and Central America. Finally he went to South America, visiting all the principal towns in the northern portion of that continent, in every one of which he made inquiries for his father. After months and years of search- ing, he at last saw the name of R. A. Gaines in a newspaper. He found that the man was his father.
The unnatural parent was engaged in the wholesale trade, and Dame Fortune appeared to have smiled upon him. He was re- puted to be worth tens of thousands of dollars. Before the son left, his father gave him enough money to start him in business. Mrs. Gaines was still living in the Buckeye State. She had sev- eral offers of marriage, but had declined them all and declared she would remain single until she knew what had become of her hus- band. When her son returned from South America and she learned how the father of her children was living, she immediately married a gentleman of considerable means, who had been waiting for her for several years. They are now living in Ohio and the son is doing business in the same State.
In the early days of Fremont Township, Toledo was the nearest market. Demary Tillitson told how he took wheat there with an ox team and sold it for 50 cents per bushel and thought he was doing well. He used to go to .Detroit quite frequently and return with loads of salt, dried apples, etc.
In 1837 the village of Brockville was platted. Prior to that time the settlement had been known as Willow Prairie. In 1851 the name of the postoffice was changed to Fremont, the reason for the change being that there was a Brookville in the southern part of the State, and the similarity in the names caused many mistakes to be made in the forwarding of letters. Jeremiah Tillitson, who was an ardent admirer of the distinguished officer and explorer John C. Fremont, christened the office after him. A. B. Good- win was the first Postmaster at Brockville. In 1838 a mail route was established from Blissfield, Mich., to Lima, Ind. The mail was carried on horseback, and William A. Bliss was the first con- tractor. After the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern Railroad was completed to Coldwater, Judge Storrs made representations to the Department at Washington which secured a tri-weekly mail, the route being from Coldwater through Jamestown, Fremont, Angola, and Auburn to Fort Wayne. On this route Seeley & Fox were the contractors. Judge Storrs said that the first lucifer matches he ever saw were brought by the mail-carrier from Blissfield. He
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paid 10 cents for a small box, and considered them very wonderful.
In 1842 Adam Knott, more familiarly known as " Ad" Knott, opened a "store." His stock of goods was very limited. He stored them in a goods box and a trunk which he kept under his bed. From that small beginning he worked onward and upward until he had as good a store as any one in the village. He then removed to Angola, and a few years later became a partner in a wholesale house in New York City. Finally he came back to Toledo and went into the wholesale trade there. Dame Fortune did not smile on him as she had in years gone by; part of his large fortune vanished like dew before the morning sun. He became bewildered, and at last his insanity became so marked that his friends placed him in an asylum, where he committed suicide. Thus ended the interesting career of one of the pioneers of Fre- mont Township. He started at the foot of the ladder, but, un- aided and alone, he attained wealth and prominence. In reaching that end he wrecked his own mind. Death kept aloof until finally the poor man in despair resolved to flee from worldly care and suffering, and at a moment when no one was watching he terminated his unhappy existence. The wealth he had spent his life in acquiring he left for others to enjoy. Notwithstanding the large amount he lost at Toledo, it is said that he was worth $50,- 000 when he became insane.
In the spring of 1838 the citizens of Fremont Township, though few in number, resolved to celebrate in a becoming manner the coming anniversary of American independence. As the glorious day approached they became more and more enthusiastic until finally they decided to erect a liberty pole, and have speeches and toasts and a good time generally. At last the day came, and a half hundred citizens assembled for the celebration. Now in those days there lived west of the village a practical joker named Goodwin, who was the happy possessor of an Indian pony. Dur- ing the day it occurred to him that he would be doing a brilliant thing if he could devise means whereby he could give the celebra- tors a good scare. It did not take him long to think of a plan. The thought was father to the deed. He procured an Indian blanket, made his face hideous by applying paints of various colors and took his flint-lock.
The next thing in order was to mount his pony and start for the scene of the celebration. Men women and children were enjoying themselves to the utmost. A strange noise in the forest close at hand
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caused some of them to look in the direction whence it proceeded. They were horrified to see an Indian in the act of raising his gun to his shoulder to fire. The children screamed and ran crying to their mothers' arms; the women were on the point of fainting, while the masculine portion of the company started for their fire- arms. The Indian would disappear, but ever and anon he would be seen peering from behind a tree. Finally Thomas Knott se- cured an old work horse and started in pursuit of the red man with a resolve to kill or be killed. More than once the trusty rifle of 'Squire Knott was brought to his shoulder. The Indian would dodge behind a tree and a moment later his gun would be pointed at the 'Squire, when the latter would take a turn at holding up a tree. This was kept up for some time, but the Indian finally made his escape.
While Knott and the redskin had been engaging each other's at- tention, the male inhabitants had taken the women and children to a place of safety and were preparing for an Indian war. In the course of an hour or so Goodwin came around, having first been home and washed the paint off his face, and confessed that he was the Indian and he did it all for fun. At first the settlers were not disposed to take it in that light and there was talk of hanging, but he was finally allowed to go. Thus ended the Indian scare. Shortly after this the " boys" paid his place a visit. They took his wagon to pieces and scattered the different parts here and there. The ex-Indian was kept busy the remainder of the season hunting for his wagon. Part of it he found in the neighboring tree-tops, and part under the leaves in the forest.
Dr. Stewart was the first physician in the township. He had great faith in the curative power of "roots and yarbs and sich." It is related that he was once called to see a patient suffering with what he called quinzy, but what would now be more readily recog- nized under the name of diphtheria. He gave the following pre- scription, and said the invalid would be all right in the morning. The learned (?) M. D. directed that some one should go to the woods and procure some of the inner bark of the witch-hazel. Another he sent to a spring or pool of water to get a green frog. The witch-hazel bark, the live frog and a quart of water were to be boiled down until the mixture was of the consistency of salve. A quantity of this as large as a pea was to be placed on the end of the patient's tongue. From there it would spread until all the af- fected parts were healed. This novel remedy had its effect. The patient died.
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Dr. Griffin, now of Angola, was the second physician. He achieved success by using quinine for the cure of fever and ague instead of roots and herbs. In a few months after his arrival Dr. Stewart left and settled in Michigan, but owing to his intemperate habits met with little success. Several years after he returned to Fremont and united with the Sons of Temperance, taking a life pledge which he faithfully kept during the remainder of his life. Notwithstanding the excesses he indulged in for many years, he lived to a good old age. The last few years of his life were spent in the West. He died about 1869 or 1870. Dr. Griffin remained until 1851, when he went East and lived in New York nine years. He then returned to this county, where he has since made his home. He resides now at Angola, but is not practicing.
Dr. Hendricks was the third physician who settled in the town- ship. He is spoken of as a well-educated man and a successful practitioner. Among other doctors who came in early days may be mentioned Fitzgerald, Patterson and Drake. The last-named removed to Detroit, became a homeopathist, and acquired great wealth. He was killed by the cars at Ypsilanti, Mich., a few years since. Dr. Wakefield came in 1853; Dr. Lacey, an eclectic physi- cian, came soon after, and Dr. Moore was the next to settle in the township
Jacob Froat was among the early settlers. In 1840 he became insane. He thought his family did not want him to live any longer. Early one afternoon he took his rifle and went out. Nothing was thought of it for a time, his relatives supposing that he had gone hunting. When it became dark and he did not return they became worried and commenced searching. About nine o'clock he was discovered leaning over a fence near the house. Upon going to him, he was found to be in a dying condition, a bullet having pen- etrated the base of the brain. He was taken home and lived until the following day. Before he died he became perfectly sane. He said he had gone a little distance from the house, where he laid down with his back to a tree. Then he had taken his silk hand- kerchief and tied it to the trigger, after which he placed the muz- zle to his head and fired. In two or three hours he regained consciousness and managed to crawl to the place where he was found. He repented of the rash act, his last word being: " I die a fool's death."
His was the first body that was buried in the township. The grave was located where the depot now is. The first tombstone in
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the township was erected over his grave. It stood for many years, but was finally broken. When the Fort Wayne, Jackson & Sag- inaw Railroad was constructed, the road bed was made over his grave, but the bones, if there were any that had not decayed, were left undisturbed. During his lifetime Froat used to take great de- light in trapping wolves. He used to catch them in pen traps, and on a certain occasion caught two at one time. He invited C. Ha- vens, now living in the village of Fremont, and some others to go along and have some fun. When they arrived at the pens they made a slip noose out of a hickory sapling, thrust it into the pen where one of the wolves was confined and caught him around the neck.
They then drew him near the edge of the pen and succeeded in pulling one of his hind legs outside. Next they cut through the gambrel cord and put a small hickory sapling through, the pole be- ing about twelve feet long, after which they opened the pen and allowed his wolfship to come out. The dogs, three in number, were set on, but the wolf, notwithstanding the disadvantages he labored under, succeeded in nearly killing the dogs, and would have escaped to the swamp if the mighty hunters had not tom- ahawked him. The other wolf was served in that way, but the dogs were not allowed to interfere, and it is somewhat doubtful if they had any desires in that direction. If they had any thoughts at all about the matter they probably concluded that one wolf fight in a day was a sufficiency.
Mrs. Peter Kluck had been bed-ridden for several months before the big Indian scare of July 4, 1838. For some time she had not left the house, and hardly ventured to get off the bed. When news came that the Indians were on the war path she at once for- got her illness and caught up her child and ran to Mr. Goodwin's house, about three-quarters of a mile distant across the prairie. The excitement cured her-she was never bed-ridden again.
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