USA > Indiana > Steuben County > History of Steuben County, Indiana, together withbiographies of representative citizens > Part 63
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Thomas E. Legg, proprietor of Legg's livery and feed stables, Angola, Ind., was born in Lagrange County, Ind., Oct. 9, 1840, a son of William and Mary (Down) Legg, natives of England, who emigrated to America in 1830, and were among the earliest settlers of English Prairie, Lagrange County. The father died in 1854, and the mother in 1860. Our subject was reared on a pioneer farm and experienced all the privations incident to a life in a new country. At the time his parents settled in Indiana the Indians were numerous and troublesome as it was just prior to the breaking out of the Black Hawk war. In August, 1862, Mr. Legg enlisted in Company C, One Hundredth Indiana Infantry, and participated in all the engagements of his regiment; among the more important were Mission Ridge, Peach Tree Creek, Atlanta, the march to the sea with Sherman, and the surrender of Johnston's army. He was in the line at the grand review of the army at Washington, and from there returned to Indianapolis, where he was discharged in June, 1865. In 1866 he came to Angola and has since been en-
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gaged in the livery and feed business. Mr. Legg was married in Angola in 1866 to Josephine Merry, a native of Ohio. They have four children-Hattie G., Minnie C., Pliny Albert and Nora F. In politics Mr. Legg is a Republican. He is a member and one of the organizers of the Grand Army of the Republic post in Angola. He has been Deputy Sheriff of Steuben County several years.
Albert William Long was born in Steuben Township, Steuben Co., Ind., Jan. 2, 1846, a son of James and Sarah (Reynolds) Long. His early life was spent upon the farm during which time he ob- tained a good common-school education at the district school. When twenty years old he began a higher course of study in the High School at Angola, Ind. After three years of faithful study he accepted the principalship of the Richland graded school, where he remained one year. The years 1870-'71 were devoted to the study of natural science at Hillsdale College, Mich., which institution conferred upon him the degree of "Master Science" in recognition of his attainments in this branch of study. In 1872 Mr. Long was employed in the High School at Angola, where he taught eight years. In the spring of 1880, on account of failing health, he abandoned teaching and is at present living on the old family homestead, two miles south of Angola, which he purchased on retiring from the school-room. Mr. Long was married July 26, 1874, to Susie M., daughter of W. R. Ingalls, of Otsego Township. They have three children-Howard, Mabel and Verna.
James Long, deceased, one of the pioneers of Steuben County, Ind., was born in Western New York in 1799. When a young man he removed with his parents to Richland County, Ohio, where he married a Miss Guthrie, who died in 1824, leaving five children -Benajah B., Robert E., John J., Jane, wife of Rufus Jackson, and Martha, who married G. T. Abbey. Benajalı is the only one living. Mr. Long subsequently married Sarah Reynolds, a native of Maryland, daughter of William Reynolds, who settled in Rich- land County in an early day. To them were born five children- Caroline S., wife of T. M. Allbee; David O., of Montcalm County, Mich .; Albert W., Hugh D. and James H. In 1836 Mr. Long, in company with several neighbors, moved to Steuben County, Ind., and bought a claim on section 10, Steuben Township. In 1854 he exchanged this farm with Dr. Clark for land on sections 2 and 11, where he died in the fall of 1856. He was a strong anti-slavery man, a Whig in politics, and subsequently one of the first to espouse the principles of the Republican party. He was one of
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the first Methodists in the county, and for many years was a class- leader and exhorter. In an early day he built a large building in which religions services were held for many years. He was an earnest supporter of education and all projects of public interest. Mrs. Long is living in Oakland, Cal., with her two sons, Hugh D. and James H.
Francis Macartney was born near Toronto, Ontario, Canada, Sept. 10, 1831. His father, Thomas Macartney, was of Scotch an- cestry, but was born in Northern Ireland, where he lived till eighteen years of age. He then emigrated to America and en- gaged in business near the city of New York as a surveyor and civil engineer, for which he had been edncated, and when not em- ployed in this way spent his time in teaching school. In 1819 he was married at Hampden, Winchester Co., N. Y., to Mary A. Young, a native of Ponghkeepsie, N. Y., of English parentage. In 1824 the family moved to Ontario County, at that time a new part of the State, and in 1829 moved to Canada, where the father died. In 1838 the mother moved with her family to Cuyahoga County, Ohio, and in 1844 to Stenben County, Ind., locating in the northern part of York Township, a very sparsely settled portion of the county. The mother died at Angola in January, 1885, in the eighty-eighth year of her age. Of her five children, two sons died in early man- hood, and two, William and Francis, live in Angola. Her daughter, Mrs. M. A. Goodale, resides in Metz. Francis, the youngest of the family, was thirteen years of age when they moved to Steuben County, and here he grew to manhood. His natural taste for read- ing and study was encouragedand strengthened by the careful and judicions training of an intelligent mother. His home training supplemented by a few terms at the common schools was his only means of acquiring an education. The schools of Steuben County forty years ago were very inferior, the teachers being rarely trained for the work, and often not very well qualified for the proper dis- charge of their duties but Mr. Macartney holds in grateful re- membrance as his alma mater the log school house that once stood near Hathaway's Corners in York Township, and ever ac- knowledges his indebtedness to the faithful teachers who labored there, often under very discouraging circumstances, to train the youthful minds. With the exception of about three years passed in the lumber regions of Northern Michigan and a few terms spent in teaching school. Mr. Macartney was engaged in farming till thirty years of age. In 1860 he was elected to
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the office of County Treasurer and assumed the duties in 1861, serving two years. In 1863 he was elected Auditor and in 1867 was re-elected, serving till 1872. In 1874 he was again the uomi- nee of his party, but was defeated by Jesse H. Carpenter. In 1876 some unpleasant complications arose in the Treasurer's office, requiring a change of management. Mr. Macartney was called upon in this emergency, and under appointment as Deputy took charge of the office till September, 1877. In 1880 he was elected State Senator for the district composed of the counties of Steuben and De Kalb, which he represented in the legislative sessions of 1881 and 1883. In March, 1883, he was appointed Postmaster at Angola, which position he now holds. In 1861 Mr. Macartney purchased one-half interest in the Steuben Republican, of which he became manager, and in 1863 bought the interest of his part- ner, J. O. Reese, and became sole proprietor. He conducted the paper a year, and then sold it, but in 1874, in company with Germ Browu, purchased it again and furnished the office with a new out- fit of presses and material, enlarged the paper, increased its cir- culation and thereby extended its usefulness. After assisting in publishing the paper over a year he sold his interest to J. U. Miller. Mr. Macartney's official labors have been marked through- out with painstaking and accuracy, and he has endeavored to place on record an exact statement of each transaction. To his efforts may be traced many improvements in the methods of transacting the business it has been his duty to perform. In politics he has been a Republican since the formation of that party, and is a strond defender of its principles. Few publie enterprises have been undertaken in Angola since his residence here in which he has not borne some part, frequently at the expense of his own pri- vate interest and convenience. Mr. Macartney is probably second to none in his knowledge of the history, topography, resources, institutions and people of Steuben County. His spare time for several years past has been devoted to working up an abstract of titles to all the land in the county. Mr. Macartney was married in 1855 to Minerva Gore, of Northwest Ohio. Three children have been born to them, but two of whom are living.
William Palfreyman, one of the enterprising farmers of Pleas- ant Township, was born in Yorkshire, England, July 25, 1832, a son of Hugh and Elizabeth (Moorfoot) Palfreyman. In August, 1836, his parents came to the United States and located in La- grange County, on land owned by his uncle, who had been killed in a
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well, his father being the only heir. In 1839 his father died. His family consisted of eight children, but two of whom, William and David, are living. His mother afterward married Thomas Slater. Their children were five in number, four of whom are living- Samuel, Amos, Hannah and Peter. Mrs. Slater died in 1852. She was a sincere Christian, a member of the Methodist Episco- pal church. William Palfreyman was married in 1861 to Eliza- beth Elya, daughter of Abram and Rachel Elya. They have two children-William A. and Myrtle. Mr. Palfreyman came to Steu- ben County in the spring of 1863 and purchased land on section 10, Pleasant Township, where he has since lived. He has erected good buildings and has one of the best farms in the township, valued at $65 an acre. He is a wide-awake, enterprising business man and has been successful in making for himself and family a pleasant home. In politics he is a Democrat.
David L. Phenicie is a native of Pleasant Township, Steuben Co., Ind., born April 17, 1839. His father, David Phenicie, was born in Bedford County, Pa, Oct. 11, 1797. He married Rebecca Pitman who died Aug. 1, 1823. Their only child died in infancy. He afterward married Mary Jenkins, who was born Feb. 1, 1803. To them were born six children, four of whom are living-Susanna, wife of Myron C. Holcomb; Jane, wife of A. E. Farnham; David L .; Mary E., wife of M. G. Miller. All save David L. live in Olathe, Johnson Co., Kas. In 1832 David Phenicie moved to Wood County, Ohio, and in 1836 to Steuben County, Ind., and settled in the southern part of Pleasant Town- ship. He rolled up the logs for a cabin and covered it with marsh hay. His brother Daniel came with him and was the first man to drive a wagon and team between Fremont and Angola. Their milling was done at Union Mills, Lagrange County, and their marketing at Ypsilanti, Washtenaw Co., Mich. In 1853 he pur- chased land in Fremont Township, where John W. Noyes now lives. He died in Kinderhook, Branch Co., Mich., Sept. 23, 1869. Mrs. Phenicie died Sept. 18, 1876. They were members of the Baptist church. In politics he was an old-line Whig and anti- slavery man, and subsequently a Republican. In 1844 he cut his knee and through the mismanagement of the surgeon lost his leg, and he was obliged to give up farming. David L. Phenicie was reared in his native county, growing to manhood among the pio- neers. His early education was obtained in the log-cabin schools, but after moving to Fremont he had better privileges. In 1857-
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'58 he attended Hillsdale College, and in 1859 Bryant & Stratton's Commercial College, Indianapolis, from which he graduated the following autumn. He was married Nov. 14, 1867, to Eliza A. Nichols, danghter of Henry and Harriet Nichols. They have had four children-Jesse L., born Feb. 20, 1869; Ella M., Sept. 12, 1874; Ernest G., Ang. 30, 1876, died April 4, 1881; Irvin G., born May 3, 1879. In politics Mr. Phenicie is a stanch Republi- can. In 1859 he bought a farm in Kinderhook, Mich., where he lived till 1882 when he moved to Fremont. His farm contains 280 acres of valuable land. Mrs. Phenicie's father was a native of Vermont, and when a young man left his native State and went to Erie County, Ohio, where he taught school. Subsequently went to Sandusky County, and there married Harriet Bemis. They had a family of six children, five of whom are living- Abbie, wife of Charles S. Ritchie, of Kinderhrook; Henry B., of Seneca, Kas .; I. J., of Kansas; Eliza A., wife of D. L. Phenicie; George D., of Clyde, Ohio. Mr. Nichols died Feb. 8, 1882. Mrs. Nichols is living with her son George, at Clyde. He was a mem- ber of the society of Friends and she of the Methodist Episcopal church.
George W. Poland, carpente a nd joiner, Angola, Ind., is one of the early settlers of Steuben County. In 1846, while living in Ohio, Dr. George W. Mc Connell advised him to come to Indiana and buy land, but he laughed at the idea, as he was a poor young man, just starting out for himself, and had nothing to pay for it with. However he finally took the Doctor's advice as he told him he might take his own time to pay for it, and that same fall came to this county and bought forty acres in what is now Scott Town- ship. He was a carpenter by trade, and worked at his trade or any employment he could find till his land was paid for. He walked to Richland County and back twice, a distance of 180 miles, taking four days to make the journey each way. He has been one of the most influential and progressive men of the county. He is a man of decided opinions, extensive reading and observation, which, added to his determined will and energy, make intelligent and public spirited citizens, and hence are ready to assist any project which promises advancement to the county. In 1860 he moved to Angola, and took in a partner a year after in the grocery business, the partner to conduct it. In two years the business was closed out, Mr. Poland sustaining a heavy loss. Since then he has worked at his trade. He for a number of years was Secretary and Treas-
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urer of the fire department, and in December, 1884, was elected Chief of the Department. He was a delegate to the State Fire- man's Association, and at the second meeting was one of the Vice- Presidents. At the third meeting he was elected Treasurer, a po- sition he has since held. He has always taken an active interest in the association, and is one of its leading members. In politics he is a Greenbacker. He has held several local offices of trust, among others Trustee, Supervisor and Assessor. He is a member of the Odd Fellows order, and in 1870 represented his lodge in the Grand Lodge of the State. Mr. Poland was born in Franklin County, Pa., Sept. 6, 1825, a son of John and Rachael (Cookston) Poland, natives of Pennsylvania. In 1832 his parents moved to Ohio, crossing the mountains and fording the streams, and bought a tract of heavily timbered land in Richland County, which was cleared by the father and his sons, our subject doing a large share of the work. There was a family of eleven children, all of whom lived to adult life, never requiring the aid of a physician till after they reached maturity. The mother died in 1840. She was a member of the Lutheran church and a sincere Christian. In 1854 the father followed our subject to Steuben County and resided about eighteen months; then went to Kosciusko County and lived with Jesse Poland, the youngest son, until his death. Mr. Poland was married June 13, 1848, to Sarah Barr, a native of Fairfield County, Ohio, born March 10, 1825, a danghter of James and Eliz- abeth (Thompson) Barr, who settled in Steuben County in 1846. Mr. and Mrs. Poland have had five children-Caroline, wife of Adelbert Day, foreman in the Angola Republican office; Elvira, wife of Henry C. Miller; Jason, married Helen Cobb; Eugenia (de- ceased), and George, a fireman on the railroad.
David Scoville was born in O ondaga County, N. Y., April 21, 1832, a son of David and Sally (Sutherland) Scoville. In 1836 his parents moved to Seneca County, Ohio, and in 1845 returned to New York where they both died. They had a family of three sons and seven daughters. David remained with his parents till manhood and in 1852 came to Steuben County and spent the winter; then re- turned to New York and remained till the death of his father. In February, 1857, he was married to Alena Davis, daughter of John and Sally (Piper) Davis, natives of England, who immigrated to Canada in 1838, leaving Mis. Scoville, then less than two years old, with her grandmother. When she was eleven years old she came to America and lived with her parents three years. When four-
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teen she went to New York, and there became acquainted with Mr. Scoville. In the autumn following their marriage they came to Steuben County and engaged in farming till 1866 when they moved to Angola where they have since resided. They have an adopted daughter-Elsie. In politics Mr. Scoville is a stanch Republican- He has been Marshal of Angola several years. He was baggage- master for the Fort Wayne, Jackson & Saginaw Railroad two years after coming to Angola. He has accumulated a good property, al- though in limited circumstances when he came to the county, and now owns eighty-eight acres of valuable land, two and one-quarter miles from Angola.
James A. Segur was born in Cortland County, N. Y., April 20, 1822, a son of James and Cynthia (Crawford) Segur. His parents were early settlers of Cortland County. When moving to the county they passed through what is now Syracuse, N. Y., and Mr. Segur was offered 160 acres at $1.25 an acre, in the center of the town, but at that time a cedar swamp. He followed blacksmith- ing in New York till 1837 when he moved. his family to Richland, now Ashland, County, Ohio, where he died in 1842. The mother survived him many years, and died in 1864. She was a life long member of the Episcopal church. There was a family of nine chil- dren, three sons and six daughters. James A. Segur was fifteen years old when his parents moved to Ohio. He received a liberal education in the common schools and the High School at Preble Cor- ners, and subsequently Ashland Academy. He taught several terms of school in Ohio, and after coming to Steuben County taught winters. He came to Steuben County in 1849 and settled in Scott Township, on section 36, where he hewed out a farm from a tract of heavily timbered land, residing there thirty-one years, when he sold the farm and moved to Angola where he has since lived a quiet, retired life. He was married in March, 1849, just prior to his re- moval to Steuben County, to Corinda Hill, daughter of Henry Hill, of Ashland County, Ohio. To them were born four children- Charles, Sarah, Harvey and Lell. Charles is a Professor of the graded school in Hamilton, Ind. Mrs. Segur died May 8, 1882. She was an active and consistent member of the Christian church, and loved by all who knew her. Mr. Segur has experienced all the hardships of pioneer life, but has lived to reap the reward of his toil, being one of the well-to-do citizens of the county. In politics he is a Republican and has held many local offices of trust .
A. W. A. Sowle is a native of Montgomery County, N. Y., born
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Jan. 20, 1806, a son of Joseph and Rachel Sowle, natives of Rhode Island. His parents were married in New York about 1800, and to them were born fourteen children, twelve of whom lived till maturity. The father was an old-line Jackson Democrat. He died in 1862, his wife preceding him ten years. When A. W. A. was fifteen years old his parents moved to Oneida County, N. Y., where he worked on a farm till twenty years of age, and then learned the trade of a carpenter and joiner. In 1830 he married Experience Whaley and moved to Jefferson County, N. Y., and embarked in the hotel business at Evans' Mills, but two years later resumed work at his trade which he continued till 1850, when he came to Steuben County, Ind., and purchased land in Fremont Township. When he came to Steuben County he was in limited circumstances but he pursued patiently the vocation of farming and accumulated a good property. He lived on his farm about twenty years and in 1871 moved to Angola and embarked in general merchandising. A year later he sold out but subsequently opened a grocery store and in 1877 became established in his present business. He has been identified with the interests of Steuben County thirty-five years, and has been one of its most prominent benefactors. When he first came to the county he raised wheat and hauled it to Hills dale, Mich., with an ox team and sold it for 45 cents a bushel. He stopped at a hotel where he paid four slullings for supper, lodging. breakfast and two drinks. Mr. and Mrs. Sowle have had eleven children; but five are living-Sarah A., wife of J. L. Bene- · dick; Orin, Dwight, Leander and Julia. Mr. and Mrs. Sowle have had a peaceful married life of fifty-five years. In 1880 they celebrated their golden wedding, entertaining 200 guests. They received many valuable presents among them a purse containing $50 in gold. In politics Mr. Sowle was originally a Democrat, casting his first Presidential vote for Andrew Jackson. He sub- sequently affiliated with the Free-Soil party, and is now a worker in the Republican ranks. He has never aspired to official honors, but held various local positions in his native State. He has pros- pered in material things since coming to Steuben County. The farm he paid $1,100 for he sold in 1871 for $9,000. It is now one of the finest farms in the county.
Francis Sowle, one of the pioneers of Steuben County, was born in Montgomery County, N. Y., Oct. 21, 1808, a son of Joseph and Rachel (Allen) Sowle. He received his early education in the com- inon schools and when eleven years of age started out to take care of
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himself and assist his father, who was a poor man. He worked a year for $3 a month and three years for $4 a month. When fourteen years of age he gave his father a yoke of four-year-old cattle. In 1834 he left his native heath and immigrated to Wayne County, Ohio, and thence in 1836 to Steuben County, Ind., and entered land in Pleasant Township, in what is known as the Sowle settlement. At that time there was but one board shanty in what is now Angola, owned by a man named Gilman. He returned to Ohio and cleared land and raised a crop which he harvested and sold. The spring of 1839 he moved his family to his land, and began making a home. He set out an orchard soon after coming to the county, and subsequently built a good house and barn. In 1843 he moved to Angola, where he bought the lots on which the jail now stands. In 1852 he crossed the plains to California, taking four and a half months to make the trip, and remained about fifteen months, returning again to Angola where he has since resided. Mr. Sowle was married May 23, 1829, to Susan N. Vromon, who died Sept. 19, 1845, leav- ing four children-Joseph A. J., born Ang. 13, 1831; Mary Ann, April 1, 1834; Adam, June 24, 1837, and Helen Feb. 11, 1841. Nov. 30, 1846, Mr. Sowle married Henrietta Holdridge, and to them was born one daughter-Henrietta L., born Sept. 1, 1848. Mrs. Sowle died Sept. 7, 1848, and July 22, 1849, he married Bar- bara McMahan, daughter of John McMahan, the first settler of Fremont Township. They have two children-Byron L., born Aug. 28, 1850, and Josephine C., born March 4, 1852. Mr. Sowle in politics is a stanch Democrat, being a strong supporter of the party's principles.
Andrew J. Snyder is a native of Canandaigua, N. Y., born May 11, 1840, a son of William L. and Fannie (Woodbridge) Snyder, his father born Aug. 12, 1802, and his mother Jan. 24, 1815. William L. Snyder was a carpenter by occupation. He enlisted in 1862 in the Fiftieth New York Engineers and served several months, was discharged on account of disability. In 1868 he moved to Flint, Mich., where he died in November, 1881. His wife is living with her son in Angola. They had a family of three children-Catherine E., George W. and A. J. Andrew J. Sny- der was educated in the common schools of his native State. When seventeen years of age he was apprenticed to learn the black- smith's trade and served three years. The first year he received $40 and his board, the second year $50, and the third year $75. In 1861 he came west and located at Orland, Ind. In August,
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1862, he enlisted in Company B, One Hundredth Indiana Infantry. From Fort Wayne they were sent to Indianapolis, and from there four companies of infantry and four of cavalry were sent to the borders of the State to meet Morgan. In November they returned to Indianapolis and the regiment was organized and the latter part of the same month was sent to Memphis, thence overland to Vicks- burg and returned then down the Mississippi to the Yazoo, and up that stream to Haines's Bluffs; then to Jackson, Miss., where they were assigned to the Sixteenth Army Corps, and afterward to the Fifteenth; participated in all its general engagements till the close of the war. After the battle of Holly Springs Mr. Snyder was detailed as blacksmith of the regiment, serving in that capacity till the close of the war. After the war he went to Flint, Mich., and formed a partnership with George Reighter, and three years later came to Angola. Mr. Snyder was married in Vienna, N. Y., to Martha L. Carpenter, daughter of David Carpenter. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, lodge, chapter and council and has filled all the chairs of the lodge, from Junior Deacon to Master. He is a member of B. J. Crosswaite Post, No. 150, G. A. R., of which he is Commander. In politics he is a Republican.
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