USA > Indiana > Steuben County > History of Steuben County, Indiana, together withbiographies of representative citizens > Part 56
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Mr. Gundrum is a Republican. In religious faith he and his wife are Lutherans. Mr. and Mrs. Gundrum have by toil and frugality made a good home where they live, enjoying the respect of all who know them.
William H. Hall was born in Delaware County, Ohio, Oct. 22, 1824, a son of William and Polly Hall, natives of Hartford County, Conn. They were married in Ohio, where the latter died in Dela- ware County. The father died in Hillsdale County, Mich., hav- ing settled there in 1858. Our subject was reared on a farm in his native county, and in 1850 came to this township and bought a farın of 110 acres in section 4 where he remained some years. He then sold that property and purchased the home he now occupies in the same section. He has a fine farm of 104 acres, most of which is under cultivation. He was married Oct. 4, 1848, to Nancy, daughter of Dr. D. P. and Elizabeth Hathaway. They have one daughter, Elizabeth, who was born April 24, 1856, and was married May 10, 1877, to William W. Uhl, who was born in Holmes County, Ohio, Aug. 28, 1850. They reside with Mr. and Mrs. Hall, Mr. Uhl owning a farm of ninety-seven acres adjoining the farm of Mr. Hall. He and his family are members of the Methodist church, and are much respected by all who know them. Mr. Hall is a member of Fremont Lodge, No. 248, A. F. & A. M., and in poli- tics he is a Democrat.
John Headley was born in Columbiana County, Ohio, Sept. 9, 1828, a son of Reuben and Louisa Headley, the former a native of New Jersey and the latter of Virginia. In 1849 the family came to this township and settled on section 16, where the father died in 1860 aged sixty-six years. The mother lives with her daughter, Mrs. Hannah Cross, of Pleasant Lake. Twelve children came with them to this county, eleven of whom are living-John, Mrs. Cross, Mrs. Naney Williamson, Mrs. Mary Gilbert and Wheeling live in this county; Joseph and Reuben, in Missouri; Mrs. Sarah Jane Fox, in Kansas; Mrs. Emma Myers and Mrs. Louisa Phillips, in St. Joseph County, Ind .; and Charles, in Williams County, Ohio. In 1849 John Headley bought thirty-six acres of land on section 16, and deeded it to his mother. In 1851 he bought for himself forty acres on the same section, and commenced making a home, at the same time helping to improve the home of his par- ents. He was married Nov. 9, 1853, to Susan Hubbell, who was born in the State of New York, July 13, 1833. To them were born five children, three of whom are living-Edwin E., Edgar, and
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HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY.
Minard U. J. Cary J. died at the age of six years, and Mordant died in infancy. They also adopted a daughter-Rettie. Mrs. Headley died April 11, 1882. June 24, 1883, he married Harriet Hood, who was born in De Kalb County, Ind., March 23, 1860. Mr. Headley, by industry, frugality and good management, assisted by a most estimable wife, has accumulated a good property. He has added to his first purchase till he now owns 280 acres of finely improved land. His present fine residence bears no resemblance to the home of his newly wedded life. He makes a specialty of stock-raising and has some of the finest animals in the township. In politics he is a Republican. He is one of York's best citizens and has held several offices of trust and responsibility; among others has served as Road Supervisor twenty-one years.
Charles Hemry and his wife have lived in York Township since Aug. 17, 1853, locating at that time on a tract of heavily timbered land on section 7. This land he has cleared and now owns seventy- three acres of the best land in the township. He was born in Carroll County, Ohio, Oct. 26, 1825, a son of Isaac and Delilah Hemry. His mother died when he was eighteen months old, and his father afterward married Nancy McCollongh. In 1832 they moved to Crawford County, Ohio, and there he was reared and educated. His father died Aug. 11, 1868, aged eighty-four years, and his widow in August, 1879, aged ninety-one years. Isaac Hemry was a Captain of an Ohio militia company in Harrison County and was ordered out in the war of 1812, but never saw active service. Charles Hemry was married Oct. 4, 1849, to Rebecca Jane Handley, a native of Crawford County, Ohio, born March 2, 1832, daughter of William and Jane Handley. Her parents died on the old homestead in Sandusky Township, her father in 1843, and her mother Oct. 3, 1874, aged seventy-five years. One year after his marriage Mr. Hemry moved to Hicks- ville Township, Defiance Co., Ohio, and three years later to Sten- ben County, and settled where he has since lived. Mr. and Mrs. Hemry have never had any children, but reared and educated Lydia G. Stallman, caring for her till her marriage, when in her eighteenth year, to George Hemry, a nephew of Mr. Hemry. In his early life Mr. Hemry was a Whig, but since its organization has affiliated with the Republican party. He and his wife are members of the United Brethren church.
Royal B. Hix was born in Seneca County, N. Y., Jan. 9, 1813. His parents, Ephraim and Lucy Hix, moved, in 1825, to Orleans 39
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County, and there the mother died within a year, aged fifty-five years. When she was twelve years of age she was bitten by a rabid dog, but no serious results were manifested till about two years after the birth of Royal B., after a period of thirty-three years had elapsed, when she was attacked with all the symptoms of hydrophobia. Her life was prolonged, but in a sad condition, her limbs being covered with sores for ten years. The father subse- quently married again and died in Cattaraugus County, N. Y., in 1836, aged seventy years. Royal B. Hix remained with his father till manhood. June 13, 1838, he was married to Martha Braman, a native of Ontario County, N. Y., born March 3, 1812. The fol- lowing fall he moved to Steuben County and settled on section 9, York Township, where they have since lived. This land they have improved and now have 121 acres finely improved, and a commo- dious house and farm buildings. They have been industrious and frugal, and have accumulated a competence for their declining years. . Their upright lives and friendly dealings with their neighbors has won them many friends. They are members of the Baptist church and earnest, devoted Christians. In politics Mr. Hix is a Republican. They have four children-William, of Lenawee County, Mich .; Marvin, on the homestead; Lyman, of Nebraska, and Luella, wife of Prof. Abram Stevens, of Angola.
George W. Johnson and his wife are among the few of the old pioneers who brought their families to the township prior to 1840. He was born in Franklin County, Vt., Aug. 15, 1809. When he was eight years of age his parents, Timothy and Betsey (Cochrin) Johnson, moved to Orleans County, N. Y., where his father died about 1824. There he grew to manhood and married Edexey Woolcott, who was born in Erie County, N. Y., November, 1809. In 1838 they came to Steuben County, bringing with them four children-Mrs. Sophia Foster; Joanna, died at the age of twenty- one years; Mrs. Harriet Burke and Andrew, deceased. Two chil- dren were born in this township-Riley, who lives on a part of his father's homestead, and George, who died after the elose of the war, having been a soldier in the defense of his country. Mr. Johnson located on section 9, which was at that time an unbroken forest, and now, through his industry, is one of the finest farms in the township. His 155 acres are all under a state of cultivation, and his rude log-cabin has given place to a fine residence, pleasantly located.
John B. Knisely was born in Tuscarawas County, Ohio, Nov.
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HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY.
27, 1830, a son of David and Sarah Knisely. He was reared in his native county, and when twenty-one years of age left home and came to Steuben County and settled on 106 acres of land on section 6, York Township, which his father entered when the land first came into market. He has been industrious and frugal and has added to his land till he now owns 360 acres. His wife owns her father's old homestead of eighty acres. Their residence and other farm buildings are large and comfortable, and they have one of the pleasantest homes in the county. Mr. Knisely was married May 22, 1853, to Emma S. Johnson, who was born in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, May 22, 1836, daughter of Silas and Aseneth Johnson. Her mother died Oct. 9, 1849, in the forty-ninth year of her age. In the fall of 1852 she came to this township with her father and was his housekeeper till the following spring, when he married Mrs. Betsey Johnson, widow of Cutler Johnson. He located on section 7, where he died in 1866, and his widow five years later. Mrs. Knisely has one sister and two half sisters living; the former is Mrs. Lucretia Smart, of White Pigeon, Mich., and the latter Mrs. Betsey Bevington, of Nebraska, and Mrs. Caroline Ward, of Portage County, Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Knisely have had five children, three of whom are living-Letta E., wife of George Osfall; Frankie T. and Nellie C. Marion and Mary died in infancy. In politics Mr. Knisely is a Republican. He and his wife are mem- bers of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Knisely's father died in Tuscarawas County, Ohio, in the fall of 1877, aged eighty- seven years. His widow is living in that county with a daughter, Mrs. Sarah Everett.
William R. Mitchell was born in Washington County, Pa., Aug. 27, 1816. When he was a child his parents, John and Isabel Mitchell, moved to Jefferson County, Ohio., and from there to Hagerstown, Carroll County, and thence, in 1826, to Tuscara- was County, where his father died in 1862 and his mother in 1863: He was reared in the latter county, and was there married, Oct. 5, 1850, to Sabilla Knisely, who was born June 5, 1827. In the spring of 1853 they became identified with Steuben County, settling on their present home April 27. His farm on section 20 contains 160 acres of land. At that time but a few acres had been cleared and a rude log cabin built. The present finely-improved farm and the large commodious residence are the evidences of in- dustry and frugality. To Mr. and Mrs. Mitchell have been born six children-Lucetta, widow of R. W. Gordon, who died Nov.
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12, 1882; Emma Belle, first wife of R. W. Gordon, died in Octo- ber, 1879, leaving one child, Lulu Belle, who is cared for by her grandparents ; Morgia died Dec. 11, 1881, of consumption; Will- iam W. married Della Chadwick, and lives in York Township; Edward married Mary E. Rose, and lives in Marion, Kas .; Thomas O. lives in Oakland, Cal. Mr. Mitchell is one of the thorough farmers of the township, and has done his full share in assisting in the development of the county. He is a member of Angola Lodge, No. 236, F. & A. M., and makes the teachings of that order the rules of his life.
John F. Musser was born in Cumberland County, Pa., Nov. 9, 1843, and came to Steuben County when a child with his parents, Henry and Mary Musser. He remained at home till after the breaking out of the war of the Rebellion, and Aug. 15, 1862, en- listed in Company B, One Hundredth Indiana Infantry. He participated in the siege of Vicksburg and the battles preceding that siege; the battles of Jackson, Chattanooga, Mission Ridge, Atlanta campaign, Jonesboro, Lovejoy's Station; was with Sher- man through the Carolinas, and participated in the grand review at Washington, May 22, 1865. He was wounded at Mission Ridge. He was discharged June 28, 1865, and returned to Sten- ben County. He was married Sept. 28, 1868, to Harriet Snyder, a native of Ohio, daughter of Henry and Elizabeth Snyder, who settled in Richland Township in 1858, where the father died and the mother still lives. Mr. and Mrs. Musser have three children- Cora E., Lee H. and Ray H. Mr. Musser is a member of Mt. Pleasant Lodge, No. 239, I. O. O. F., of which he has been Re- cording Secretary eight years. In 1880 he was elected Justice of the Peace and filled the office acceptably four years, when he de- clined re-election. In politics he is a Republican. He is an active, enterprising citizen, giving his support to all projects of public benerit.
Augustus C. Phillips was born in Athens County, Ohio, Feb. 23, 1834, a son of Job and Louisa Ann Phillips, who moved to Hancock County, Ohio, in September, 1835, and subsequently to Hardin County, where the father died in 1879, aged seventy-two years, and the mother still lives. Augustus C. was reared in Han- cock County and there married, Nov. 11, 1858, Tabitha White, a native of that county, born April 7, 1843, daughter of George and Isabel White, both deceased, the mother dying in 1861 and the father in 1847. To Mr. and Mrs. Phillips have been born ten
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children, six of whom are living-Leander B. married Sarah Meeks, and lives in Hillsdale County, Mich .; Louretta, wife of Floyd Phillips, of the same county; Abraham L., Lucinda, Adol- phus and Flora D. Mr. Phillips has always followed agricultural pursuits. He lived in Ohio till the fall of 1869 and then moved to Steuben County and bought eighty acres of land on section 20, York Township. All the improvements, save the clearing of a few acres, have been made by him. He has a pleasant residence and good farm buildings, and sixty acres under cultivation.
John W. Porter was born in Wood County, Ohio, March 8, 1854, a son of Joseph and Huldah Porter. He came to this county with his parents, and after the death of his mother, in 1868, made his home with his brother Samuel. He learned the ma- son's and plasterer's trades of his brother, and has worked at them since 1874. He was married Oct. 5, 1879, to Josephine Wood, a native of Franklin Township, De Kalb County, Ind., born March 16, 1856, a daughter of John K. and Irene Wood. To them have been born three children-Jay, Ella May and Irene. Mr. and Mrs. Porter are among the most prominent young people of Metz. He is an industrious young man and one of the best mechanics of the township.
Samuel D. Porter was born in Medina County, Ohio, April 16, 1843, son of Joseph and Huldah Porter. When he was about six years of age his parents moved to Ashland County, Ohio, and four years later to Wood County, where he was reared, and when fifteen years of age began to work at the mason's trade, which he followed till January, 1862, when he enlisted in Company G, Sixty-eighth Ohio Infantry. His first battle was Fort Donelson and the next Pittsburg Landing. After the last battle he was taken sick with the measles and not recovering was discharged at. St. Louis, Mo., and returned home, his parents at that time living in Williams County. Early in the year 1864 he again offered his services to his country, but was rejected. May 1, 1864, he was accepted as a member of the One Hundred and Forty-second Ohio National Guards, for 100 days' service, and sent to the Army of the Potomac; was discharged the latter part of September. In 1868 the family moved to Steuben County and settled in Richland Township, where the mother died in December, 1869, in her fifty- fifth year. His father is living near Metz with a second wife, Mrs. Amanda Bridge. Four brothers of our subject are living-Riley, William H., John W. and James W. Samuel D. Porter was mar-
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HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY.
ried to Mary Judd Nov. 26, 1863. She was born in Monroe County, N. Y., Oct. 6, 1841. When she was two years of age her parents, Elihu and Eliza Ann Judd, moved to Ashland County, Ohio, and later to Williams County. In September, 1873, they came to Steuben County, Ind., where the mother died in 1874, aged fifty-nine years. The father still makes his home with Mrs. Porter. In March, 1868, Mr. Porter moved to Steuben County and settled near the center of Richland Township, and in the fall of 1871 moved to Metz, and in the fall of 1873 bought a farm in Otsego Township. In February, 1882, he sold his farm and re- turned to Metz and engaged in the hardware business with his brother James till February, 1884, when he sold his interest in the stock. Since the spring of 1885 he has been engaged in the man- ufacture of drainage tile and brick. In April, 1882, Mr. Porter was commissioned Postmaster at Metz. In politics he is a Repub- lican. He and his wife are members of the United Brethren church. They have had five children-Lewis died at the age of fourteen years, in April, 1881. Silas, Sanford, Perry, and Olive are at home.
Calvin Powers, deceased, was one of Steuben's first settlers and as a consequence had to endure the many privations so inseparable from the life of a pioneer. He was born in Farmington, Ontario Co., N. Y., March, 1808, and was the youngest in a family of five children. His parents were natives of Massachusetts, where they were married in January, 1799, and moved to Oneida, N. Y., and in 1805 to Ontario County, where the father died five months after the birth of our subject. Calvin's mother was again married Sep- tember, 1811, to George Jenks, by whom she had three children- Lanra, Joanna and George, her husband dying in November, 1830. Here in Ontario Calvin grew to manhood, receiving a fair educa- tio.1. He was married in Palmyra, N. Y., September, 1835, to Emeline Corey, daughter of Robert and Elizabeth Corey, natives of New York. Mrs. Powers was born in Cazenovia, N. Y., June, 1817. In the spring of 1836 he with his brother Clark came to Steuben County, Ind., and that summer entered a large tract of land in York Township. They returned to New York, where Calvin remained until the early part of 1837 when he with his brothers Stephen and Winn started overland with their families tor Steuben County. Stephen and Winn arrived at the cabin in July, 1837, but Calvin was detained on the road in Ohio by the sickness of his wife and did not arrive until the latter part of the month. He
C
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HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY.
settled in the southwest part of the township. He remained where he first settled but a short, time, moving to the southeast quarter of section 29, where the most of his life was spent. By his mar- riage were born the following children-Alonzo, born August, 1836; Lorenzo, born October, 1838, died December, 1839; Harriet, born September, 1840, is the wife of Hon. E. O. Rose, of Grand Rapids, Mich .; Elizabeth, born January, 1842, and George, born September, 1844. Mrs. Powers died September, 1848. Mr. Powers was again married, April, 1851, at Pleasant Lake, Ind., to Lucy A. Gilbert who was born in Lorain County, Ohio, July, 1829. To them were born two children-Emma R., July, 1852, now wife of Prof. H. H. Keep, of Pleasant Lake, and Frank M., April, 1860. In April, 1877, Mr. Powers moved to Angola where he died January, 1878, and was buried in the Powers Cemetery. The greater part of his life was spent in the vicinity of his final resting place. He was prominently identified with the growth and development of Steuben County. His energy and industry, of which he pos- sessed a large share, contributed not only to his own prosperity but to the prosperity and advancement of the neighborhood in which he lived and to the county as well. He with his brother Winn were the leading spirits that gave to the township the Free Church of which all may justly feel proud. In politics he was a firm Demo- crat; was County Commissioner from 1844 till 1847, and again from 1856 till 1859. He was a man of large public spirit, prudent and frugal, yet benevolent, ever ready to help the needy and sup- port charitable enterprises. In society he was eminently compan- ionable; in conversation thoughtful and witty. Few persons at the close of life left a larger circle of friends than he. In religion, though connected with no church, he openly professed his faith in the justice and mercy of God. A few hours before his death he said, "I am just waiting for the last link to be broken and I shall be free from pain." Thus passed away a grand and noble man, amid tears of genuine sorrow and respect. He was a member of the Masonic fraternity and an advocate of temperance, which he exemplified by his life, and we can look back upon a life rich in qualities, fit to be remembered and imitated.
Calvin P. Powers was born in Allegany County, N. Y., Jan. 19, 1834, a son of Winn and Betsey Powers. He remained with his parents until his marriage and from that time on the old home- stead, on sections 29 and 30. He owns a fine farm of 320 acres, his residence being on section 30. He was married Jan. 1, 1860,
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to Jane Clark, a native of Williams County, Ohio, born Sept. 23, 1840, a daughter of H. N. and Eliza (Bailey) Clark, natives of Ver- mont, who settled in Williams County in December, 1836, where the mother died when Mrs. Powers was a child, and the father in October, 1859, in the sixtieth year of his age. Their children are all living-Mrs. Jerusha Teals, Joshua D., George J., Mrs. Sarah Huggett, Mrs. Julia Woodworth and Mrs. Jane Powers. Mr. and Mrs. Powers have four children-Lola, wife of Frank Brooks; Mora, Lila and Milo. Mr. Powers is one of the prominent citizens of York Township, a man of sterling integrity, a worthy descendant of a worthy name. In politics he is a Democrat. He is not a be- liever in dogmas or creeds, but a lover of the great essentials of Christianity; a believer in the brotherhood of man and the father- hood of God. Mrs. Powers is a liberal-minded, cultured lady, and is loved for her pleasant home ways and kind, neighborly minis- trations.
Hon. Clark Powers, deceased, was born in Oneida County. N. Y., December, 1803, being the third in a family of five children, and the son of Josiah and Hannah Powers, of Granville, Mass. His youth was passed in Ontario where his father died when he was only five years old. After his father's death Clark found a home in that county with a good family who gave him a fair education, which he improved after coming of age. July 23, 1833, Wm. L. Marcy, Governor of the State of N. Y., appointed him Captain in the Eleventh Regiment of Infantry of the Twenty-fourth Brigade of that State. After faithfully performing the duties of that office for three years, at his own request he was, on the 17th of November, 1836, honorably discharged. In the spring of 1836 he and his brother Calvin came to Steuben County, Ind., and on the 18th of July of that year they entered a large tract of land in York Town- ship. They then returned to New York and in the spring of 1837 Clark again came to Indiana. In that year he built a log cabin immediately north of where the maple grove now stands, in the southwest corner of section 29, for the occupation of his brothers and their families, he at that .ime being a single man. After they arrived his brother Winn and family lived in the cabin during the winter of 1837-'38, Clark making his home with them. During these years Clark made several trips on horseback from the city of Detroit, Mich., to this county, carrying money in saddlebags with which to make payments for his land, and to the exposure to cold and rain in these trips through the then pathless and dense
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forests may be attributed one of the causes which led to his early death. He lived with his brother Winn for about three years when he again returned to Ontario County, N. Y., where, Nov. 4, 1840, he was married to Miss Hannah Ketchum, who was born in Rensselaer County, N. Y., August, 1813. She was the daughter of Stephen Ketchum who was born in New York, Sept. 2, 1768, and Hannah Ketchum, nee Sutherland, born in the same State, Nov. 24, 1774, the mother dying in Rensselaer County, N. Y., December, 1827, and the father, February, 1839. Mrs. Powers was the eleventh in a family of twelve children. Her mother died when she was but fourteen years of age and her father marrying again, she at the age of nineteen moved to Ontario County, N. Y., where she became acquainted with Clark Powers and remained until her marriage. Immediately after their marriage they came to Steuben County. Ind., and commenced housekeeping in the cabin which he had built four years before, where they remained until 1843, when they built and occupied the house on the old homestead, since sold to N. Pettit, of Metz. After the death of her husband she managed well the affairs of the estate and of her household. She was a kind mother, a good neighbor and friend. The following children were born of this union-Hannah M., born April, 1842, died February, 1879; Joanna, born November, 1844, is the wife of Hugh D. Wood, M. D., of Angola; William E., born December, 1845, died October, 1846; Josiah, born September, 1847, was a member of Company A, One Hundred and Twenty-ninth Indiana Infantry, and died at Chattanooga, Tenn., Aug. 4, 1864; Stephen A., born December, 1851, married, October, 1876, Dora Ferrier, is an attorney of Angola; and Elenora, born March, 1854, married Frank Cameron, M. D. Clark Powers was a member of the State Legislature for the years 1845-'46. He was a farmer by occupation, and by active industry and good management he amassed a large property. He was a man of actions rather than words and many an early settler has reason to remember him for his kindness to them in their times of want. He was proverbially honest, and it may truly be said his was a noble manhood, Christian-like and charitable. He did much to advance the interests of the county; was foremost in all public improvements till his death which took place more than a score of years ago, in the spring of 1859, and in March, 1885, his aged wife departed this life, being the last of the Powers pioneers that came here in 1837.
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