USA > Indiana > Steuben County > History of Steuben County, Indiana, together withbiographies of representative citizens > Part 57
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George R. Powers, the youngest son of Winn and Betsy (Reeves)
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HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY.
Powers, was born in this township, July 27, 1842. He was reared and educated in his native place, living under the parental roof until he was twenty-one years of age. Sept. 3, 1864, he was mar- ried to Lydia Ann, daughter of Abram and Mary Hemry, who settled in this township in 1845, coming from Crawford County, Ohio. Both are now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Powers have two children-Henry, born May 4. 1866, and Mary Luella, born Dec. 6, 1873. Mr. Powers has a farm of 111 acres on section 29, where he has resided since his marriage. In politics he affiliates with the Democratic party.
J. Clark Powers, the oldest living representative of the Powers family in York Township, is a son of Stephen A. and Mary Ann Powers. He was born in Allegany County, N. Y., Oct. 18, 1825, and was in the twelfth year of his age when his parents settled in this county and has since been identified with and a resident of York Township. The homestead (original) was in what is now Scott Township. Mr. Powers received his education in his carly days from his father, who was an educated, cultured man, and a teacher forty-two winters, including the schools taught in this county. J. Clark Powers was also a teacher; commencing in his nineteenth year he taught several terms in this State, Ohio, and Michigan before his marriage, and afterward taught in the winter, attending to the cultivation of his farm in the summer. He is a finely educated gentleman, thanks to the teachings of his father and his own studious habits. He is one of York's best citizens, alive to all that pertains to the advancement of the interest of his township, socially and materially. He is a reliable man and has often been trusted with the settlement of estates and the guardian- ship of children, his honorable life and well-known integrity peculiarly fitting him for such trusts. After his marriage he set- tled on the farm where he now lives where he owns eighty acres of valuable land. He was married May 18, 1854, to Rozell Campbell, a native of Tecumseh, Lenawee Co., Mich., daughter of George and Eliza Campbell, her father a native of Vermont and her mother of Watertown, N. Y. They settled in Michigan in 1829, the mother dying in Hillsdale County, that State, in 1865, and the father in Toledo, Ohio, in 1877. Mrs. Powers is an educated lady, genial, and hospitable, enjoying this life and spreading sunshine along everybody's pathway with whom she is associated. Before her marriage she was a school-teacher, an occupation to which by nature and education she was well adapted. Mr. and Mrs. Powers
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have three children-George S., of Greenwood, Kas .; Howard, of Nebraska, and Mary E., of Dennison City, Texas.
Myron Powers, son of Winn and Betsey (Reeves) Powers, was born in Allegany County, N. Y., Ang. 19, 1826, and came to York Township with his parents July 8, 1837. He has witnessed the change of Steuben County from a wild, heavily timbered tract of land, inhabited by Indians, to its present state of advanced cul- tivation, thrifty farms and prosperous villages, and has assisted materially in producing this change. He remained with his parents till manhood, helping to clear and improve the farm. He was married Dec. 7, 1851, to Eliza Dillingham, a native of Ontario County, N. Y., born May 22, 1831, daughter of Jeremiah and Nancy (Thayer) Dillingham, who moved to Lenawee County, Mich., in the fall of 1836, and in February, 1838, settled in York Township, Steuben Co., Ind. Her father was born Sept. 14, 1786, and died Aug. S, 1858. Her mother was born Dec. 31, 1791, and died Sept. 28, 1883. After the death of her husband she made her home with her daughter, Mrs. Powers. To Mr. and Mrs. Powers have been born four children, but two of whom are living-Bettie, wife of John H. Dunham, and Elmo, born in 1872. Mr. Dunham resides on and has charge of the homestead of Mr. Powers. Their eldest child, Esky E., died Feb. 3, 1854, aged ten months and eleven days; Erwin died Sept. 7, 1859, aged three years three months and sixteen days. Mr. Powers commenced married life on the farm where he has since lived, on section 30, York Township. He owns 160 acres of val- uable land all well improved. His residence and farm buildings are large and commodious, and all in good repair. He is one of the solid, substantial citizens of the township, of good record and established reputation, honorable, energetic and perfectly reliable in all his business transactions. In politics he is a Democrat, in religion a believer in the final restoration of all mankind. He has been trusted with different positions of responsibility and has served several terms as Township Trustee.
Stephen A. Powers, deceased .- Among the pioneer families of Steuben County few have done more toward the growth and de- velopment than the Powers family. They came of pure Celtic stock the great-grandfather of the four brothers who settled in this county being Arad Powers, a native of Ireland, who mar- ried Lydia Bruce, a native of Scotland (of the noted family of Bruces so well known in history) and emigrated to the United
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States before the Revolutionary war, settling in Massachusetts. Oliver Powers was born in Massachusetts of this marriage, where he grew to manhood and inarried Lydia Winn, also a native of that State. To them were born the following children-Jacob, Josiah, Oliver, Lydia, Lucy, Dolly and Betsy. Oliver Powers served through the Revolutionary war under Washington, and shortly after he moved with his family to Oneida County, N. Y., and afterward to Ontario County, of the same State, where he and his wife died. Josiah was the second in the family and was born in Massachusetts in 1772. He married Hannah Church in 1799. She was the daughter of Josiah and Hannah Church, natives of Massachusetts, and was born in January, 1776. The year of their marriage they moved to Oneida County, N. Y., and in 1805 removed to Ontario County of the same State, where Josiah died August, 1808, leaving his wife with five small children, as follows -Stephen, born January, 1800; Winn, December, 1801; Clark, December, 1803; Josiah, February, 1806, and Calvin, March, 1808. The four eldest she " put out" with friends to care for, and with her babe Calvin began to earn her own living. At that time Ontario County was almost a wilderness and the Powers family were among its pioneers. The boys grew to manhood in that county and began life with nothing but their own brave hearts and will- ing hands to depend on, to win the battle. Their mother was again married in September, 1811, to George Jenks, a native of Massachusetts, by whom she had three children-Laura, Joan and George. Her husband died November, 1820, and about 1847 she moved with her son, George Jenks, to Steuben County, Ind., where she died December, 1857, in her eighty-second year. Stephen A. was the eldest in the family and was born in Oneida County, N. Y., Jan. 2, 1800, and, as has been already stated, he "went out" to live after the death of his father, but his master dying before Stephen was grown he was thrown on his own resources, and by his individual, unaided efforts, he acquired a first-class English education. In his boyhood days he went to learn the blacksmith's trade, but his mind running in another channel he abandoned it and learned surveying and navigation. He was married in Alle- gany County, N. Y., Jannary, 1825, to Mary Ann Campbell, daughter of George and Elizabeth Campbell, natives of Herkimer County, N. Y., of Scotch, English and German origin. Mrs. Powers was born in Herkimer County, N. Y., July, 1808. Her father died one month before her birth and her mother was after-
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ward married to Eber Newton, and moved to Ontario County, N. Y ., and subsequently to Allegany County, where they both died and where Mrs. Powers spent her youth. By her marriage she had the fol- lowing children-Clark, born October, 1825; Andrew, September, 1827 (died in the army at Vicksburg, June, 1863); Newton, February, 1830 (died in 1837); Hannah E., March, 1833 (died 1839); Dolly Jane, April, 1835; Volney, March, 1838 (was a soldier in the late war); Ellen, Jan. 8, 1841; Oliver, February, 1843 (died in the army at Bowling Green, January, 1863), and Lydia Bruce, August, 1845. After his marriage Stephen Powers settled in Allegany County, N. Y., where he lived twelve years, when he started for Indiana with an ox team, arriving in York Township, July, 1837. His brothers, Clark and Calvin, had been to the county in 1836 and entered land, and early in 1837 Clark came and built a cabin for the reception of his brother and their families, and in that cabin Stephen and family lived with the others for about two months, when he moved to a cabin on section 26, Scott Township, two miles west of the Powers school-house, and there settled in the woods with Indians as their neighbors, with whom they lived har- monionsly. It is unnecessary to speak of the many privations and hardships which fell to their lot. Suffice it to say they met and overcame all obstacles; were not made of that stuff which falters. When the war broke out Stephen A. Powers was in his sixty-second year, and his hair was white with age, but his heart was strong, young and patriotic. He colored his hair black so as to pass muster when he presented himself as a volunteer for examina- tion. When the examining surgeon asked him how old he was, he replied, " I am old enough to help put down the rebellion." Noble words that will live while time lasts. He served eleven months when he was discharged for disabilities which culminated in his death. After returning from the army he settled in Williams County, Ohio, and in 1871 went to Antrim County, Mich., and took a soldier's claim. His foresight was wonderful, as he got his land forty acres wide and one mile long through which a railroad was then surveyed and afterward built which increased the value of his land. Here he died October, 1872, and his widow remained on the farm and did what not many women would have been capable of doing in clearing it up and carrying out the necessary regula- tions to retain the land. For all this she deserves just credit, and her energy and force of character was extraordinary. Her husband was buried in Michigan; five years later she had his body
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brought to this county and buried in the Powers Cemetery, and marking his last resting place, she put a fine monument, showing, though dead, he is not forgotten. Stephen A. Powers was in many ways a remarkable man. He followed teaching and surveying as his principal occupation; was County Surveyor for many years, County Commissioner in 1839-'40, and was well known all over the county. He was a close student, a good teacher, having taught for forty-two winters. He had a wonderful memory; was a lover of knowledge and endowed with clear logical reasoning faculties; was a devoted Mason most of his life and a member of the I. O. O. F. He was a kind father and husband, courteous and polite toward his fellow-men, and believed that true religion con- sisted in following the Golden Rule. Mrs. Mary Ann Powers, his wife, died in 1883, in Branch County, Mich., at the residence of her daughter, Lydia Bruce Hamer. Her remains were interred in the Powers Cemetery by the side of her husband.
Winn Powers, deceased .- This old and respected citizen was the second in the family, and born at Fort Stanwix (now the city of Rome), Oneida Co., N. Y., December, 1801. His youth was passed under the roof of a stranger, where he was placed by his mother after his father's death. Having received a fair education, as soon as he arrived at manhood he began teaching school, teach- ing one term of three months in each year for three years. The rest of the time he worked at farming, and judiciously managed to save enough to give him a start in life. This was in Ontario County, N. Y., whither his parents had moved when Winn was abont three years old, and where his father died in 1808. He was married in Ontario County, N. Y., April, 1825, to Betsy Reeves, the daughter of John and Elizabeth Reeves, natives of New Jer- sey, where Mrs. Powers was born May, 1801. A few days after their marriage the young couple moved to Allegany County, N. Y., and settled on a wild farm, on which they lived twelve years, clearing sixty acres during that time. His wife before her mar- riage had by industry and economy saved enough to set up house- keeping in a primitive manner, and in a log cabin in Allegany they began to fight the battle of life, and well did they succeed About 1836 they concluded it was their duty to provide homes for their children. With this purpose in view they sold their little home and started overland for Indiana, where his brothers Clark and Calvin had come and entered land in the spring of 1836. After a long and tedious journey he and his family, with
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his brother Stephen and family, arrived at the cabin built by Clark on section 30, York Township, Steuben Co., July, 1837, where Winn and family lived through the winter of 1837-'38. In January of the latter year he bought 120 acres of land on section 29, York Township, and the following summer built a log cabin . in the woods, and in this humble manner began his new life in the then distant West. By his marriage the following children were born to him-Myron, Angust, 1826; Hannah, October, 1828; Ed- win, February, 1831; Calvin P., January, 1834; Mowry, Decem- ber, 1836 (deceased); Ann E., January, 1839, and George R., July, 1842. The purpose which brought Winn Powers and wife to Indiana they never deviated from. All their children now living are settled close to the old home. The Powers family believe in the universal salvation of mankind; politically, have always adhered to Democracy; and " Uncle Winn," as he was familiarly called, was a member of the Masonic Lodge about thirty years. For nearly half a century Uncle Winn and wife walked side by side, but the dread messenger came and sum- moned his loving helpmate to her eternal rest on April 14, 1873, and on June 24, 1883, after an illness of a few days, he joined her in the better land. Beginning life at the foot of the ladder he had by his energy and industry accumulated a hand- some property. He was always fond of the chase, and was happy when roaming the dense forest with no companion but his trusty rifle. In every public improvement the Powers family have stood shoulder to shoulder with the foremost, and no family of "Old Stenben " have done more than they to build up the county. Sev- eral years ago he set abont soliciting subscriptions for building a church on land known as the Powers Cemetery, which his brother Clark had donated to the public many years before. He suc- cecded in this laudable undertaking, as the commodious "Free Church " well attests, and beneath whose shadow he is sleeping his last sleep.
Minard F. Rose, section 18, York Township, was born Dec. 9, 1841, a son of Jacob O. and Mary A. (Comstock) Rose. Jacob O. Rose was born in Rensselaer County, N. Y., May 18, 1814, and when twenty-one years of age left his native county and located in Cuyahoga County, Ohio. His parents, Elias and Eva (Over- rocker) Rose, were natives of New York, of Dutch descent. Jacob O. Rose was married to Mary A. Comstock April 12, 1837.
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She was born July 3, 1817, a daughter of Stephen and Charlotte (Fitch) Comstock, natives of Connecticut, who moved to Ohio be- fore their marriage, where the mother died in 1829. The father died in York Township Jan. 12, 1858. In 1845 Mr. and Mrs. Rose moved to Steuben County, Ind., and settled in York Town- ship, and later moved to Big Rapids, Mich., where Mr. Rose died Oct. 24, 1883. Mrs. Rose now makes her home with her son, Minard F. She owns a good farm of sixty acres on section 19. Their family consisted of three children-Elias O., of Grand Rapids, Mich .; Charlotte died in infancy, and Minard F. Minard F. Rose was four years of age when his parents moved to Steuben County, and here he was reared and educated, remaining with his parents till manhood. He was married Oct. 6, 1861, to Ann E. Powers, the second white child born in York Township, born Jan. 2, 1839, daughter of Winn Powers. They have four children- Mary E, wife of E. E. Mitchell, of Marion, Kas .; Jay O., Willie E. and Irwin F. Ida died Oct. 2, 1874, aged two years. Mr. Rose owns a good farm of eighty acres, where he has lived since 1865. He is a thorough, practical farmer, and one of the repre- sentative agriculturists of his township.
Daniel P. Rummel was born in Columbiana County, Ohio, May 11, 1826, and came to this county in the fall of 1844 with his par- ents, Henry and Elizabeth Rummel. At the age of twenty years he was given his time by his father. Dec. 28, 1851, he married Clarinda Benjamin, daughter of David and Emily P. Benjamin. She was born April 23, 1832, in Cuyahoga County, Ohio. Her father died when she was a small child. Her mother later mar- ried Asa Gaskell. Mrs. Rummel died Dec. 20, 1877. Sept. 29, 1878, he married Sarah Wanee, a native of Columbiana County, Ohio, born May 1, 1839. He lived in Richland Township until March, 1873, and then became a resident of York. His occupation up to 1872 was that of a farmer. In 1874 he engaged in general merchandising at Metz, continuing there about nine years, then sold his stock to Norris & Co., and since that time has been out of active business. Mr. Rummel has been a prominent citizen wher- ever he has resided, and April, 1884, was elected Trustee of York Township. In November, 1884, he was elected County Commis- sioner of the middle district. Mr. Rummel is much respected for his upright, honorable life and for his active interest in all that pertains to public good. In politics he is a Republican. He and - his wife are members of the Disciples church.
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John Sattison was born in the State of Pennsylvania, March 6, 1819, a son of Adam and Betsey Sattison, who moved to Niagara County, N. Y., when he was a small child and later to Huron County, Ohio, where he grew to manhood and married, Nov. 17, 1842, Maria Stotts, a native of Huron County, born March 3, 1826, a daughter of William and Sarah Stotts. Her father was killed by the falling of a burning trunk of a tree in 1830, and three years later her mother married Harrison Smith, and in 1849 came to this township, and later moved to Fremont Township, where the mother died in 1873 aged sixty-seven years. In 1851 Mr. Sattison moved to Steuben County and settled in York Township, on section 7, where he now owns 110 acres of valuable land, and in 1873 built one of the finest residences in the township, it being the first brick house in the township. They have been among the most industrious and frugal citizens and now are rewarded by having a pleasant home and all the comforts of life with which to enjoy their old age. Their children are three in number, two born in Ohio and one in Steuben County-William, of Scott Township; Frederick, of Franklin Town- ship, De Kalb County, and Adam of this township. All are mar- ried and have families. William enlisted in August, 1861, in Com- pany A, Twenty-ninth Indiana Infantry, and served four years. Although but sixteen years of age when he enlisted he was one of the most gallant and courageous soldiers. In politics Mr. Sattison is a Republican. His first vote was cast in 1840 for General Har- rison.
George A. Souder was born in Columbiana County, Ohio, Sept. 28, 1828, and when a small child removed with his parents, Will- iam and Nancy (Stevens) Souder, to Crawford County, Ohio, where his mother died in 1841, aged forty years. His father died at the residence of a son-in-law, H. K. Barr, in 1876, aged seventy-seven years. The family consisted of four children-Amos and Mrs. Almeda Barr, of Otsego Township; Alexander, in Iowa, and our subject. George A. Souder was married in Crawford County, Ohio, July 13, 1856, to Mary Coberly, a native of that county, born July 27, 1833. In February, 1858, they came to Steuben County and settled in Salem Township, buying eighty acres of land, upon which they lived till 1863, when they sold it and bought the farm of forty acres where they now live, on section 36, York Township. To them have been born four children, but one of whom is living-Nellie, who was born July 21, 1874. Mag- gie died at the age of seventeen years and Paul and Clement in
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infancy. Mr. Souder is a valued and respected citizen, honorable and upright, making and keeping his word in business transactions as good as his bond.
Washington L. Weiss was born in Licking County, Ohio, Nov. 28, 1837. His father, Jacob A. Weiss, was born in Lancaster County, Pa., in 1797, and was married in his native State to Lydia Stout. In their early married life they moved to Licking County, Ohio, and in October, 1852, to Steuben County, Ind., living the first winter in Fremont Township, and the following spring bought 160 acres of land on section 12, York Township. He sold 100 acres to members of his family, retaining the rest for his homestead, where he died in 1861. His widow died June 13, 1854, aged forty-seven years. Their children numbered thirteen-William, Christian, Mrs. Eliza Ann Boyd, Mrs. Mary Barnes, Stephen, Mrs. Susan Barnes, Washington L., Joseph, Mrs. Lydia Baldwin, Mrs. Mi. nerva Gasser, Mrs. Ellen Carpenter, Mrs. Priscilla A. Johnson and Andrew. After the death of the father, Washington L. took charge of the farm and cared for the younger children till they were inar- ried and settled for themselves. He was married Jan. 25, 1866, to Sarah L. Folck, a native of Morrow County, Ohio, born Sept. 25, 1844 daughter of John K. and Margaret Folck. Four children have been born to them, three of whom are living-Jessie and Jennie (twins), born Christmas day, 1867, and Fred, born May 14, 1871. Their eldest, Edna, died in her fifth year. Mr. Weiss lives on his father's homestead, on section 12, and has added to it till he now owns 160 acres. He is one of the most thorough and thrifty farm - ers of the township and is an esteemed and popular citizen. In politics he is a Greenbacker. In religious faith he is liberal.
William Wicoff was born in Wayne County, Ohio, July 25, 1830. In 1844 his parents, John and Margaret Wicoff, moved to Willaims County, Ohio, and from there to Berrien, Mich., in 1864, where his mother died Nov. 21, 1865, aged sixty years. His fa- ther is an active man eighty years of age and is a member of his family. In 1854 Williamn Wicoff came to Steuben County, Ind., and worked as a farm hand for Martin Eldridge till January, 1856, when he was married to his employer's daughter, Armelia, who was born in New York State, Sept. 30, 1838, and was brought to Steu- ben County by her parents when three years of age. Mr. Eldridge entered 160 acres of land from the Government in 1838 and after locating on it improved it rapidly. After his marriage Mr. Wicoff worked the farm on shares and finally bought it, and to the 160 acres
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has added till he now owns 293 acres, the most of it under cultiva- tion. In September, 1864, Mr. Eldridge moved to Angola, where he died in August, 1870, aged fifty-seven years. His widow sur- vives and lives with her daughter, Mrs. Anna Fitch, of Angola. To Mr. and Mrs. Wicoff have been born three children-Willis M., Peter B. and Lovina. Willis died Feb. 11, 1885, aged nearly twen- ty-eight years. He was married in 1880 to Sonora Frost. In pol- itics Mr. Wicoff is an uncompromising Republican. Although not an office seeker, he has been elected to several positions of trust in both county and township. In October, 1874, he was elected Sheriff, and re-elected in 1876. He has served three terms as Trustee of York Township. Sept. 30, 1869, he fell into a horse- power attachment of a threshing machine and lost his right leg. He has always been a prominent citizen of the county and has been identified with all its interests.
CHAPTER XVII.
SCOTT TOWNSHIP.
FORMATION. - BOUNDARIES. - DESCRIPTION .- FIRST LAND ENTRIES .- FIRST SETTLERS. -- FIRST MARRIAGE AND BIRTH .- OLDEST IN- HABITANT, WILLARD DEWITT .- FIRST MILL, SCHOOL, TEACHER AND SCHOOL-HOUSE. - POPULATION. - AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS .- PROPERTY AND TAXATION. - POLITICS. - VOTE FOR PRESIDENT SINCE 1850. - VOTE IN 1884 .- LISTS OF TOWNSHIP OFFICIALS .- BIO- GRAPHICAL.
Scott Township was a part of York until March, 1849. For a few years after 1838 a strip two miles wide off the west side was attached to Pleasant Township; and in 1850 one mile from the east side was attached to York. The township as now constituted includes nearly thirty sections, or between 18,000 and 19,000 acres. It is bounded on the north by Fremont, on the east by York, on the south by Otsego, and on the west by Pleasant. Pigeon Creek flows from north to south midway through the town- ship. The only lakes are Pigeon and Little, on section 29. Section 2 is crossed by the railroad diagonally from southwest to north- east. Owing to the very heavy growth of timber which originally covered the township, it was not as rapidly settled as some others, the pioneers preferring land which could with less difficulty be made ready for civilization. In time, however, the township be- came settled with an industrious, prosperous community.
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