USA > Indiana > Steuben County > History of Steuben County, Indiana, together withbiographies of representative citizens > Part 71
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765
HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY.
family; Anson, died Oct. 10, 1858; Elbridge, died May 28, 1879. The latter was born in New York, Dec. 28, 1822. He married Martha Ann Cochran, a native of Ohio, born March 3, 1824. His farm, a part of which is owned by his son Henry, he bought soon after his marriage, and lived here till his death. His wife is still living on the homestead. Their family consisted of eight children, six of whom are living. Henry Wright married Mary E. Frederick, daughter of David Frederick, and has two children-David E. and Charles E. After his marriage he bought eighty acres of land on section 21, which he improved. In April, 1881, he bought 160 acres of the homestead, on which he now lives.
Monroe F. Wright, a representative of one of the pioneer families of Steuben County, was born in Salem Township, Oct. 2, 1858, a son of Elbridge and Martha Ann (Cochran) Wright. He was reared and educated in his native township, and since attaining manhood has followed agricultural pursuits. He has been successful in his chosen vocation and now owns 120 acres of the old homestead farm of his father, located on the southwest quarter of section 19, Salem Township. Mr. Wright was married to Carrie Parr, a native of De Kalb County, Ind., born in 1858, a daughter of George Parr, an early settler of De Kalb, but now a resident of Steuben County. To Mr. and Mrs. Wright have been born two children -Arthur G. and Cyrus.
HACE
CHAPTER XXI.
STEUBEN TOWNSHIP.
GEOGRAPHY .- DESCRIPTION .- FIRST SETTLERS. - FIRST DWELLINGS, SCHOOLS AND ORCHARDS .- STEUBENVILLE .- STEUBENVILLE, JUNIOR. -PLEASANT LAKE .- FOUNDERS .- SOCIETIES, CHURCHES AND BUSI- NESS. - POPULATION OF TOWNSHIP. - AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS. - PROPERTY AND TAXATION .- POLITICS .- PRESIDENTIAL VOTE SINCE 1840 .- DETAILED VOTE IN 1884 ON STATE AND COUNTY TICKETS. -LIST OF TOWNSHIP OFFICIALS SINCE 1850 .- BIOGRAPHICAL.
Steuben Township is in the southern tier of the county, and is bounded as follows: On the north by Pleasant, on the east by Ot- sego, on the south by the county of De Kalb, and on the west by Salem. It is six miles north and south by nearly the same dis- tance east and west, and therefore contains nearly 36 sections, or nearly 23,000 acres. The township is drained by Pigeon Creek, which flows from east to west irregularly through the northern part, connecting several lakes. The village of Pleasant Lake is on section 15, between Long and Pleasant lakes, the former of which lies on sections 15 and 16, and the latter on 14, 15, 22 and 23. There are a number of other bodies of water, the most important of which are Golden Lake, on sections 6, 5 and S, and Goose Neck Lake, on sections 23 and 24. The Fort Wayne & Jackson branch of the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern Railroad crosses the town- ship north and south.
Steuben was first settled in 1835. Seth W. Murray, Isaac Glover, Alexander C. Britton, Reuben Warwick, James Forbes, Daniel Cummings, and perhaps one or two others being the pioneers. In the following year there came Abner Winsor, Jonas Carter, James Perfect, Lewis Carter, John W. Carter and Samuel Carter. The last-named gentleman entered his land on the 1st of August in the same year. Gideon Ball entered land in 1835, and moved into the township the following year, but in a few months settled perma- nently in Otsego Township. Wooster McMillen also entered land in 1835 and settled in 1836. During the next three years a num- (766)
767
HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY.
ber of settlers came in, among whom should be mentioned Sylvanus B. George, Theophilus Jackson, Eber Thayer, Chauncey Clark, Orsemus V. Barnard, O. Smith, M. Bowen, A. P. Clark, A. Beach, C. Chard, A. and J. Miller, James Long, G. B. Mason, Alanson Abbey, H. Frink, Justin Darling, Hiram Niles, R. Loomis, Thomas Lacey, J. Allison, F. Forbes and Lucius Crane.
The first log house was built in 1835, on section 15. The first frame dwelling was erected by Seth W. Murray in 1836. The first school-house was built in 1836, on section 10, in the then village of Steubenville. Lucy Avery was the first teacher. Abner Winsor and Seth W. Murray put out the first orchards in the spring of 1836.
Steubenville, which was platted in November, 1835, was the competitor of Angola for the location of the county seat, early in 1837, Glover, Winsor and others endeavoring unsuccessfully to have the county buildings in their town. Steubenville was situated not far from the present village of Pleasant Lake. When the county seat was located at Angola, in 1837, Steubenville commenced declining, and was never destined to fulfill the expectations of its pioneer proprietors.
Another Steubenville was laid out March 10, 1873, on section 34, township 36, range 13, by Daniel Till and Samuel Teeters. It was started when the Canada Southern Railroad was surveyed, and was located at the crossing of that road and the Fort Wayne & Jackson Railroad, but since the former road failed to be built it has rapidly declined.
The village of Pleasant Lake was laid out by William Thompson and Sheldon X. Ball in 1870, on section 15, and an addition has since been made by David S. Gilbert. Within the past few years Pleasant Lake has achieved celebrity as a summer resort, on account of the beautiful sheet of water from which the village derived its name. The inhabitants of the village and township are exceed- ingly enterprising, and constantly doing all they can toward devel- oping the resources of the country, which many of them knew when it was a wilderness. Here, in their youthful days, they made their homes, and they do not propose to move away now that old age is creeping on apace. But few of the very early pioneers are left, many having died, and the restless ones long since followed the star of empire in her westward course, and their children are among the citizens who inhabit the prairies of Nebraska and Kansas. Of the first settlers, Sylvanus B. George, Abner Winsor and Omer Clark, are yet left.
768
HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY.
The Congregational society was organized in January, 1879, by Rev. John V. Hickmott, who acted as pastor for some time, ser- vices being held in the church building which has likewise been used by the Methodists and Universalists. Since Mr. Hickmott's time the society lias had no regular services.
The Methodists have a growing society, under the pastorate of Rev. I. M. Wolverton, of Angola. The society now numbers be- tween thirty and forty members.
The Baptists organized a church about 1850, under the lead of Elder Byron. Among its leading members were Deacon L. Colton and wife, Justin Darling and wife, John Meserve and wife, Tru- man Meserve and wife, Mr. Holman and wife. Among those who have preached at Pleasant Lake are Elders William Conley, Will- iam Lacy, W. N. Welker, T. C. Briggs, S. B. Ward, Lyman Colton, J. P. Jones, J. Ward and Mr. Finch. The society now has about fifty members.
The Universalist society was organized about 1870, among the prominent members being S. B. George, A. B. Knapp, M. R. Knapp, Samuel Carter, James Carter, George W. Clawson, Volney E. Simmons, J. C. Simmons, D. W. Gaylord, A. F. Huffman and their wives. They built a frame church about 1874, at a cost of $3,500, which is now used by any denomination which desires to hold services. Rev. M. Crary, now of Defiance, Ohio, preached here from 1856 to 1874. Then Rev. John Binns, from Fayette, Ohio, preached two years, since when the society has had no regu- lar services. Sylvanus B. George has been a Trustee of the church since its construction. The first board contained, besides him, A. B. Knapp and Volney E. Simmons. The present Trustees are S. B. George and A. F. Hoffman.
The only secret society at Pleasant Lake is the Grand Army post. Middleton Perfect Post, No. 173, G. A. R., was mustered May 19, 1883, with twenty members, and the following leading officers: R. J. Willard, Com. ; John Carlin, S. V. C .; S. B. George, J. V. C .; A. Ross, Adjutant. The present officers are: Cyrus Robinson, Com .; Samuel Major, S. V. C .; John Hall, J. V. C .; Asa Huffman, Chap .; O. D. Scoville, O. of the D .; T. E. Biery, Surgeon; Leander Weldon, Q. M .; M. J. Avery, O. of the G .; A. Rose, Adjutant. The post lias forty-four members, and meets the second and fourth Saturday of each month.
The firms doing business at Pleasant Lake are given in the fol- lowing list: Chadwick & Co., dry goods; Mosiman & Co., dry
769
HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY.
goods; Murray & Case, hardware; Thomas Brothers, groceries; G. P. Ball, groceries; Weaver Brothers, drugs; Mr. Teegardin, drugs; G. W. Conkell, furniture; Carpenter Brothers, livery; A. P. Hub- bard, jewelry; G. W. Oberlin, jewelry; G. W. Conkell, Lake View House; Augustus Stover, flouring mill; Orrin Sisson, blacksmith ; Mr. Hannah, blacksmith; E. L. Lewis, blacksmith; Austin Knight, blacksmith; S. W. Freeman, wagon shop; Sam Barr, saloon; Will- iam Spriegel, saloon; Dr. T. E. Biery, photographer; Aldrich & Co., ice; J. Vanorden, ice; Sylvanus B. George, Postmaster'; J. W. Zim- merman, blacksmith; H. Oberlin, Justice of the Peace; S. H. Ful- ler, physician; T. E. Biery, physician.
The population of Steuben Township was in 1870, 1,253; in 1880, 1,657-an increase of 404. The population is now equal to forty-seven per square mile.
The following leading crop statistics are for the last census year -1880: Acres of wheat sown, 3,795; average yield per acre, 18 bushels; total crop, 68,310 bushels; acres of corn, 2,128; average yield per acre, 37 bushels; total crop, 78,736 bushels; acres of oats, 784; average yield per acre, 28 bushels; total crop, 21,952 bushels; acres of meadow, 507; average yield of hay per acre, one and a half tons, total crop, 760 tons; acres in potatoes, 136; average yield per acre, 80 bushels; total crop, 10,880 bushels.
In 1884 the number of acres of land assessed was 20,325.94; value of same, $284,740; value of improvements, $93,210; value of personal property, $81,510; total valuation, $459,460; number of polls, 326; number of dogs, 125; total taxes levied, $10,298.26. As property is assessed on a basis of one-third, the above would indicate a total wealth of $1,378,380.
In politics, Steuben was strongly Whig until the death of that party, since when it has given its unquestioned allegiance to the Republican party. It is the strongest Republican township in the county. The smallest plurality given in a presidential year was in 1840, eight for Harrison; and the largest was in 1876, 172 for Hayes. The following statement of the presidential vote shows the political complexion of the township at each presidential elec- tion, and also gives an idea of the steady growth in population:
1840-William H. Harrison .. . 23 Martin Van Buren. .15
8
1852-Winfield Scott. 65 17
Franklin Pierce. 48
John P. Hale ... 2
James K. Polk. 20
James G. Birney. 2
1848-Zachary Taylor. .45
23
Millard Fillmore. 1 1860-Abraham Lincoln. .173 Stephen A. Douglas .65
108
Martin Van Buren .22 Lewis Cass. 13
John Bell .
3
1844-Henry Clay. 51
31
1856-John C. Fremont .. 146 102
James Buchanan. 44
770
HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY.
1864-Abraham Lincoln .... 164
107
1876-Rutherford B. Hayes. . 269
172
George B. McClellan. .. 57
1868-Ulysses S. Grant.
201
129
Horatio Seymour ...
.. 72
1872-Ulysses S. Grant ...
.. 201
136
James B. Weaver. ..
.... 8
1884-James G. Blaine.
.270
Grover Cleveland.
.157
Benjamin F. Butler.
... 7
113
Congressman.
Commissioners-(continued).
Theron P. Keator
.273
115
Robert Lowry.
.158
George F. Hartsuck.
3
.
John Dygert.
.5
John M. Sewell
159
159
Prosecutor.
Sheriff.
Henry C. Peterson.
.269
104
Allen Fast ..
270
111
Frank M. Powers.
165
Charles Squier
159
Thomas R. Moffett.
.5
Senator.
Nicholas Ensley.
.271
110
Lafayette J. Miller
.161
Clay Lemmon
259
92
Edwin Jackson
167
Martin V. Garn.
.4
Surveyor.
Robert G. Morley
.271
107
Moses J. Parsell.
.164
Coroner.
T. Ray Morrison.
.271
108
Edward B, Simmons.
.163
The following are the names of those elected to office in the township since 1850, so far as obtainable, with the years in which they were respectively chosen:
Assessors .- 1850, Samuel Carter; 1851, same; 1852, James Per- fect; 1854, same; 1856, Abner Winsor; 1858, Lucas Perfeet; 1860, Charles Bixler; 1862, Giles T. Abbey; 1864, same; 1866, Hannibal Scoville; 1868, John Barber; 1870, N. M. Lacey; 1872, A. Huff- man; 1874, David B. Teeters; 1878, Nathan Lacey; 1880, George E. Young; 1882, Marshall Dunlap; 1884, Chester V. Tuttle.
Justices of the Peace .- 1853, James Carter, 1855, Daniel Smith ; 1857, James Carter and Leonard Slabaugh; 1858, David Gilbert; 1860, James Carter; 1862, David Gilbert; 1865, True W. Me- serve; 1866, Timothy M. Albee; 1870, Timothy M. Albee and Henry B. Dodge; 1874, David S. Gilbert and Henry B. Dodge; 1876, Myron Tuttle; 1878, Joseph Ketchum; 1880, James Ketchum and H. P. Dodge; 1882, Hiram Oberlin and Joseph Ketchum; 1884, Henry B. Dodge.
Constables .- 1858, Sylvanus B. George and Miles Gilbert; 1859, S. B. George and Miles Gilbert; 1860, same; 1861, same; 1862,
109
William W. Wyrick.
159
Commissioners.
Herman C. Shutts.
.270
111
Adam Failing.
159
Thomas McClue.
.5
Daniel P. Rummell.
.269
100
Samuel J. Tilden ...... 97
Peter Cooper .. . .
.. 16
1880-James A. Garfield ..... 289
154
Winfield S. Hancock .. 135
Horace Greeley.
.65
Charles O'Conor
.5
Alvah Carpenter.
169
Treasurer.
Representative.
Doak R. Best. .
268
771
HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY.
S. B. George, Sr., and S. B. George, Jr .; 1863, Lemmon Tuttle and George Woodworth; 1864, George Morley and Lemmon Tut- tle; 1865, Dorman Carpenter and Jonas Hagenbaugh; 1866, George Scott and Edward Smith; 1868, Robert Moore and Henry Cramp- ton; 1869, Henry Thompson and Irving Knight; 1870, Henry Thompson and Morgan Swihart; 1872, Theodore F. Tuttle; 1874, Theodore F. Tuttle; 1878, George Murray and G. L. Balcher; 1880, I. D. Smith, Henry Wilcox and Barney Brown; 1882, Isaiah Smith, Daniel Heming and Charles Dunlap; 1884, Charles Miller and David Heming.
Trustees .- 1859, True W. Meserve; 1860, same; 1861, same; 1862, same; 1863, same; 1864, same; 1865, Middleton Perfect; 1866, same; 1867, same; 1868, same; 1869, same; 1870, John Barber; 1872, John Barber; 1874, Lewis J. Matson; 1878, George E. Young. 1880, R. L. Perfect; 1882, David S. Gilbert; 1884, same.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
Jacob D. Abbey, section 26, Steuben Township, was born in York Township, Sandusky Co., Ohio, Oct. 16, 1823, a son of Alanson and Lucy (Daggett) Abbey. Alanson Abbey was born in Naples, Ontario Co., N. Y., in 1792. He was a soldier in the war of 1812, and participated in the battle of Queenstown. He was married in New York, and in 1819 removed with his wife to Sandusky County, Ohio, where they lived till the fall of 1838, when they moved to Steuben County, Ind., and settled on section 22, Steuben Town- ship, on land he had entered two years before. He partially im- proved his land, built a large log house, and set out an orchard. In 1843 he sold the place to Jared H. Miner, a Free-Will Baptist minister of Otsego Township, and returned to the State of New York, remaining there two years. He came again to Steuben County and lived several years at the head of Pleasant Lake; then bought eighty acres of land on section 34, but subsequently re- turned to Pleasant Lake. He afterward went to Kansas, where he lived three years, and then returned to Indiana and lived with his son, Jacob D., till his death, March 22, 1877. His wife died in Steuben Township in 1839. They had a family of ten children, six of whom grew to maturity, viz .: Henrietta, widow of Henry Bixler; Jacob D .; Nancy, wife of Chauncey Gilbert, who removed to Kansas in 1862; Giles T., of Waterloo; George J., of Kansas; Minerva, who died in 1869. Jacob D., the only representative of
772
HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY.
the family now living in Steuben County, was married in 1848 to Eliza A. Gilbert, daughter of Bela and Anna Gilbert. They have two daughters-Rosalthe, wife of John Renner, and Jannette. Their only son, Orrin, died March 16, 1871, aged seventeen years. Aug. 11, 1862, Mr. Abbey enlisted in Company H, Seventy-fourth Indiana Infantry, and served till the close of the war. From 1848 till 1856 Mr. Abbey lived on the farm of his father on section 22. In 1856 he bought and located on his present farm. He owns 120 acres of valnable land, with good improvements, all made by him- self. He is one of the representative farmers of the township, and a highly respected citizen. In politics he is a Republican.
Eugene S. Aldrich is a son of Colonel Simeon C. Aldrich, one of the early settlers of Steuben County. Simeon C. Aldrich was born in Rockingham, Vt., Oct. 14, 1816, and came to Steuben County in 1844. He was a tailor by trade and opened a shop in Angola. Soon after the discovery of gold in California he crossed the plains and was absent two years. Returning to Angola he engaged in the mercantile business and served one term as Sheriff of Steuben County. He made a second trip to California, returning to Indi- ana about the time of the breaking out of the Rebellion. In 1861 he, with Captain Parks, of Auburn, De Kalb County, were chiefly instrumental in raising Company K, Forty-fourth Indiana Infantry. He was elected First Lieutenant, and soon after promoted to Captain. In November, 1862, he was promoted to Lieutenant- Colonel and commanded the regiment at the battle of Chicka- manga, where he displayed great courage and efficiency. After this battle he was made Provost-Marshal of Chattanooga, filling the position till the regiment re-enlisted, when he accompanied the veterans home. He returned with them to Chattanooga, and con- tinned in command till August, 1863, when he was granted a leave of absence on account of ill health. A few days after reaching home he was suddenly taken worse and died Aug. 14, 1863. He was commissioned Colonel July 27, but owing to the reduced num- ber in the regiment was not mustered in as such. Colonel Aldrich was twice married. First, Dec. 23, 1838, to Polly A. Jackson, who was bornin Livingston County, N. Y., Sept. 16, 1816. She died Jan. 29, 1852, leaving three children-Engene S., Helen J. and Addison Umphrey. A daughter, Emma L., born June 13, 1850, died in infancy. Helen J. married Charles Tyler, and died Jan. 10, 1879. Addison died Nov. 12, 1863. June 23, 1852, he married Melissa Knapp, now a resident of Hillsdale, Mich. Their children
G
773
HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY.
are-Nellie, of Toledo; Lulu, wife of William Feigel, of Hillsdale, Mich., and Charles C., in Mexico. Eugene S. Aldrich was born in Warsaw, Wyoming Co., N. Y., in 1842. He enlisted in 1861, in Company K, Forty-fourth Indiana Infantry, and served three years. He enlisted as a private, but on the organization of the company was made Third Duty-Sergeant. Nov. 27, 1862, he was promoted to Second Lieutenant, and April 17, 1863, to First Lieutenant. He participated in the battles of Shiloh, Corinth, Stone River, Chickamauga, Mission Ridge and many others of less importance. With the exception of three years spent in Ohio he has lived in Pleasant Lake since the close of the war. Mr. Aldrich has been twice married. His first wife, Lucy, daughter of Lansing Knapp, died April 14, 1869. Their only child-Simeon A., died Oct. 25, 1871. His present wife was Addie C. Carver, a native of San- dusky County, Ohio, born in 1841, a daughter of Amos Carver. They have one daughter-Josie, born June 17, 1872. Mr. Aldrich owns a valuable farm of 100 acres on the south side of Pleasant Lake.
Julius Ball resides in section 21, Steuben Township, on land entered by his father, Gideon Ball, in 1836. He was born in On- tario County, N. Y., Sept. 30, 1820, and was sixteen years of age when he came to Steuben County. His farm originally contained 160 acres, but to this he has added forty acres, and now has one of the finest farms in the township. He is one of the few represen- tatives living of the pioneers of 1836. He was married in 1859 to Lucy A. Tuttle, a native of Sandusky County, Ohio, born Sept. 9, 1829. They have three children-Charles Ford, Gideon Grant and Carl Claude. Mrs. Ball's parents, Van Rensselaer and Patience (Powell) Tuttle. Her father was born in Mount Morris, Livingston Co., N. Y., in 1789, and removed to Pennsylvania. He was married in 1812. About 1825 he moved to Ohio, and in 1869 to Steuben County, Ind., to live near his children. He died Jan. 17, 1870, and his wife in 1877. They had a family of twelve children, all of whom lived to maturity. Mr. Ball is the owner of the beautiful park at Pleasant Lake, Ind.
Augustus V. Ball, farmer, section 23, Steuben Township, is a representative citizen and pioneer of the county. His father, Gid- eon Ball, was born in Granville, Mass., Dec. 27, 1785, and when a child removed to Eastern New York with his parents, locating at the mouth of Catskill Creek, on the Hudson River, and subse- quently to Ontario County, where he married Lydia Dodge, who 49
774
HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY.
was born in Wiscasset, Me., July 6, 1794, and removed with her parents to Ontario County when a child. In 1832 Mr. Ball moved to Sandusky County, Ohio. In 1835 he came to Steuben County, Ind., and entered about 900 acres of land in Otsego and Steuben town- ships, and moved his family to the county May 20, 1836. He en- gaged for a number of years in buying and selling land, and his investments were in the main successful, and he acquired a com- petency. He died in July, 1870. His children were eight in number, all, save the youngest, born in New York, viz .: Sheldon, Augustus V., Julius, Edwin, Frank, Charlotte, Demia and Emeline. Sheldon was born Jan. 25, 1815, and when fifteen years of age went to Canandaigua to learn the jeweler's trade. When twenty- one he went to Virginia, where he taught school and became ac- quainted with and married Emma Lee. He died Jan. 20, 1877, leaving two children, a son and daughter, who are with their mother in New York City. Edwin. died at the age of seventeen years; Charlotte married Chester Ladd, and died while her husband was serving in the war of the Rebellion. He died soon after in the hospital at Washington. They left two danghters, who are now living in Chicago, Ill. Demia married Oscar Swift, and died several years ago. Emeline died when five years of age. Au- gustns V. Ball was born in Ontario County, N. Y., May 24, 1818. The first farm be purchased was in De Kalb County, on which he lived several years, and which he still owns. In 1859 he embarked in the mercantile business at Pleasant Lake, continuing till 1865. In February, 1866, he moved to the farm where he now lives, which contains 212 acres of valnable land. He also owns village property in Pleasant Lake. Mr. Ball married Emeline Stetler, daughter of William Stetler. They have three children -- Edwin, Theda and Dora.
Samuel Barr is a son of James Barr, who settled in Scott Township in 1846, on a tract of nnimproved land for which he had exchanged property in Ohio. James Barr was born in Center Connty, Pa., and married Elizabeth Thompson, of Fairfield County, Ohio, and soon after moved to Richland County, Ohio, where he remained till his removal to Steuben County, Ind., in 1846. His family consisted of five children. The eldest son, Benjamin, died in Michigan. Sarah, James, Mary and Samuel reside in Steuben County. The parents are both deceased. Samuel Barr was born in Richland County in 1841. With the exception of two years he has lived in Steuben County, Ind., since 1846, living on the farm
775
HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY.
with his parents till twenty-four years of age. He married Emily Huntley, a native of Ohio, daughter of Elijah Huntley. Since 1879 he has been living in Pleasant Lake, engaged in the wine and liquor business. He conducts his business in a conscientious, legiti- mate manner. He keeps the best qualities of liquors; no minors are allowed in his store; no chairs nor benches are found for the accommodation of loungers; no gossiping idlers nor games of chance with cards, dice, etc., are allowed, and no man is permitted to be- come intoxicated on his premises. He possesses strong principle, nerve and will-power, and is never imposed upon by the rougher element of society. Mr. Barr is a highly esteemed citizen of Pleas- ant Lake.
George Brooks is one of the few early settlers living who date their coming to the county as early as 1837. He was born in Der- byshire, England, July 8, 1824. In 1830 his parents came to the United States and settled in Farmington, Ontario Co., N. Y., where they lived seven years, and then, in the fall of 1837, moved to Steuben County, Ind., and settled in York Township, on section 36. His parents were George and Elizabeth Brooks. This land was entered for Mr. Brooks by Clark Powers, in the spring of 1837. After it was improved he sold it to his eldest son, William, who still owns and occupies it, and bought a farm across the township line in Richland, on which is located the south part of the town of Metz, where he lived till his death, Oct. 6, 1853. His wife died twenty years later in Michigan. They had a family of nine chil- dren-Ann, in Lagrange County; Martha, deceased; William, of York Township; George, Jr .; Thomas, of York Township; Henry died while in the service of his country during the Re- bellion; Samuel, of Otsego Township; Robert, of Branch County, Mich .; Francis, also a soldier, died while in the army. George Brooks, onr subject, came to Steuben County in the spring of 1837, with Clark Powers, with whom he lived a number of years. He walked the entire distance from New York to Steuben County, and assisted in driving a number of cows and young stock, being about ten weeks in making the journey. He worked by the month for Mr. Powers and others, and when twenty-one years old held the deed for eighty acres of land and owned a fine young horse, all the re- sult of his own labors. When twenty-three years of age he mar- ried Jane Burk, daughter of Eli Burk, and settled on his land. After improving it he exchanged it for a farm on section 31, where he lived till 1868, when he bought the farm on section 24, Steuben Township,
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