Memorial record of northeastern Indiana, Part 87

Author:
Publication date: 1896
Publisher: Chicago : Lewis Publishing Company
Number of Pages: 932

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The lives of these two brothers flowed along together as smoothly as a placid stream. From childhood they were con- stantly associated together. As we have seen, they attended the same schools to- gether, and when grown to manhood em- barked in the same business and professional undertakings. To a remarkable degree their interests were bound up together ; their ob- jects were always the same, and there was be- tween them the strongest bond of sympathy and confidence. This was well illustrated by the fact that they always held their

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property in common, and there was never any reckoning of money or property ac- counts between them. Nothing ever dis- turbed these harmonious relations. What was the wish of one was always the wish of the other. In their relations with each other and with the business world they were looked upon as models, and their hundreds of friends hoped they might thus continue through a long and useful life.

But on Sunday morning, October 6, 1895, this relation was suddenly snapped asunder by the untimely death of Thomas, the younger brother. After a brief but very severe illness of typhoid fever, he peacefully passed away, resigning himself willingly into the hands of the God whom he had served and honored in life. To his wife and others about his bed he expressed the strongest confidence and hope. His end was as peaceful as the close of a summer day, and those who witnessed it felt that death was shorn of its terrors. His immediate home circle was crushed and broken under the sudden bereavement, and the sorely afflicted members of the family became at once the recipients of the most cordial sympathy of a multitude of friends and neighbors, all anxious to contribute something for the alleviation of their great sorrow. To the wife, who was left alone in their elegant new home, the bereavement was a sore one indeed. The remains of Thomas were laid to rest in Fairview cemetery, Bluffton.

The death of Thomas was a very severe stroke to his brother David, who was thus deprived of the companionship and counsels that he had regarded as indispensable all his life. To take up the burden alone, which had been borne so long by the help of his brother, was indeed a heavy task, and one from which he shrank with great sor-

row. But he resumed the management of the business, which had by their united efforts grown to flourishing proportions, and in a few months bought his brother's inter- est in the Chronicle and Evening News, and is now the sole proprietor of both publica- tions.

J UDGE EGBERT BENSON MOTT was one of the most prominent fig- ures in the history of northeastern Indiana in its early period. He was one of those noble characters who, true to every duty and relation of life, leave be- hind them a. blessed example that serves as a source of inspiration and encouragement to others. He was one of the prominent members of the bar, and his professional life was a busy one; yet he always found time to devote to the interests of his fellow men and recognized the brotherhood of humanity. All who knew him revere his memory, and the name of Judge Mott stands prominently forth on the roll of Auburn's honored citizens.

He was born on his father's farm, Tuckett Hill, Dutchess county, New York, July 23, 1795, descending from English an- cestry, who crossed the briny deep to the New World when this country was an En- glish province. The founder of the family, Captain James Mott, was born in Braintree, Essex county, England, where the family was an ancient and honorable one. In 1665 he sailed for America and became a resi- dent of Mamaroneck, Westchester county, New York, and devoted his attention to agricultural pursuits. Through several gen- erations the family carried on farming. James Mott, the father of the Judge, served as an officer in the New York militia during

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the war for independence. He wedded Mary Denton, daughter of James Denton, fourth in descent from Rev. Richard Den- ton, who came to Boston in 1632 in the ship Arabella with the party of Governor Winthrop. He served as a soldier during the eight years of war, beginning his service under the Continental Congress, August 22, 1775, as a First Lieutenant in a company of foot.

When he was twelve years of age he lost his father and to the widowed mother was left the care of five sons and three daughters. About 1824 the family removed from Sar- atoga county to Lehman, Luzerne county, Pennsylvania, where our subject attained his majority. He was married December 30, 1830, in Abingdon, Luzerne county, to Miss Mary Winterbotham, a native of Ashton, Lancastershire, England, born Feb- ruary 4, 1806. Her father, John Winter- botham, was engaged in the manufacture of woolen goods at that place. He married Anne Wringley, and after the birth of his three daughters brought the family to America.

He had heard of the excellent advan- tages afforded in the New World, and resolved to benefit by these, if possible; so in 1811 he sailed with his family, and after a voyage of eight weeks reached the shores of the United States. One of their ex- periences while en route was the searching of their vessel by an English man-of-war for deserters from the army and navy. It was the abuse of this practice that led to the war of 1812. It had been the intention of Mr. Winterbotham to locate in Kentucky, but changing his plan he became interested in the manufacture of fine woolen goods and broad- cloths in Seymour, Connecticut, then called Humphreysville, in connection with Colonel

David Humphreys, Judge John Humphreys and his younger brother William. This was the first successful attempt to manufacture that class of goods in the United States.

Shortly after locating at their new home Mrs. Winterbotham died, leaving three sis- ters, -Mary, Sarah and Ann. The father afterward married his sister-in-law, and the eldest child of this union was Hon. John H. Winterbotham, of Michigan City, Indiana, who for eight years was State Senator from La Porte county. In connection with his two sons and Mrs. Mott's youngest son, J. Granville, Senator Winterbotham had for many years been contractor of the convict labor at the Northern Indiana State Prison at Michigan City, and also the Illinois State Prison at Joliet. Mr. Winterbotham died February 10, 1895, at the age of eighty- three.

Mrs. Mott received excellent advantages in her youth. Her father's senior partner, Colonel Humphreys, had been one of Wash- ington's aid-de-camps during the Revolu- tionary- war, and subsequently served as United States Minister to Portugal and Spain. He was a highly cultured gentle- man, and possessed an extensive library which he placed at the disposal of the Win- terbotham family. Thus the daughter Mary had ample opportunity for indulging her taste for literature. At an early age she became a student in a school in Derby, near Humphreysville, and at the same time made her home with Mrs. Edward Blakesly, widow of an Episcopal minister, who carefully looked after her social training, and thus her development was uniform. Failing health finally forced her to leave school, but not until she had acquired an excellent English education, and her love of study and fond- ness for books continued throughout her

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life. Returning to the family home in South Britain, New York, she remained there until twenty years of age, when her health necessitated a change, and she went to the home of an uncle in Luzerne county, Penn- sylvania. There she rapidly improved, -so much indeed that not long afterward she began teaching school, and it was while thus engaged that she formed the acquaint- ance of Mr. Mott, which terminated in their marriage. Theirs was a most happy married life. A similarity in tastes and a love of literature, made them extremely companionable and their mutual love and confidence increased as the years went by.

In 1836 Mr. Mott with his family left their Pennsylvania home and removed to Frederickstown, Knox county, Ohio, where Mrs. Mott's parents were then living. For several years they resided in Knox and Rich- land counties, and in May, 1843, they re- moved to Kalida, Putnam county, Ohio. There Mr. Mott formed the acquaintance of Judge Morris, at that time a young lawyer, who with his wife and child had arrived in Kalida only the evening before. A warm friendship sprang up between these two gen- tlemen, which ended only when death sepa- rated them. Neither was favorably im- pressed with their new home, and in the summer they started out in search of another locality.

This resulted in the removal of Mr. Mott and his family to Auburn, Indiana, on the 16th of October, 1843, but Mr. Morris did not come until the following year. The now thriving and beautiful city of Auburn was then a mere hamlet, containing only a few homes. The Judge purchased a log cabin, and in that primitive home the family began life in northeastern Indiana. He was the first lawyer of the town, and as may be

imagined there was not an immense volume of business to be done in those early days, but with the increasing population business of course increased in all its branches.

In 1856 he was elected Judge of the Court of Common Pleas for the district com- prising the counties of De Kalb and Steuben. He was always faithful to every trust re- posed in him, whether of a public or private naturc. A man of broad, general informa- tion and ripe scholarship, he read exten- sively, and was always well informed on the current events of the day, concerning both our own country and foreign lands.

In his political views, Judge Mott was first a Federalist, afterward identified him- self with the Whig party, and finally became a Republican. His life was that of a devout Christian gentleman, charitable and kindly, and to the poor and needy he was ever ready to extend a helping hand. He passed away September 30, 1865, and Mrs. Mott, who had long faithfully traveled life's journey by his side, with several children, was left to mourn his loss. She survived him for more than a quarter of a century, and hers was a bright and cheerful old age. She found pleasure in caring for her home and her flowers, and in the companionship of the best authors. To the last she retained her in- terest in questions of public importance, con- cerning which she was remarkably well in- formed. She passed away October 4, 1893, at the advanced age of eighty-seven years and eight months, firm in her belief of a resurrection through Christ. She had been baptized into the Episcopal Church in her early life and died in its communion. She was a woman who made many most warm friends, who will always cherish her mem- ory.

To Mr. and Mrs. Mott were born five

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children. Reginald Heber, however, died in infancy, while the parents were living in Pennsylvania. The eldest son, Egbert, went to California, in 1852, and was in business in Sacramento and San Francisco for thirty years. He died in Sacramento, on the 4th of April, 1882, and his death was widely and deeply mourned. Sheridan, who entered the legal profession, laid aside the pursuits of peace in August, 1862, to enter his coun- try's service, and was wounded at Chicka- mauga on the 20th of September, 1863. He died in a hospital in Nashville, May 15, 1864, and the brave soldier, on the 27th, was laid to rest near his parent ' home. Julia, the only daughter of the family, is now the widow of Professor C. P. Hodge. The youngest son, J. Granville, was also for three months in an Ohio regiment during the Civil war. He married the daughter of Senator Winterbotham, and is now living in Michigan City, Indiana.

S COTT SATTISON, one of the pros- perous farmers of Troy township, Whitley county, Indiana, residing near Lorane, is a native of this place. He was born on the 23d of Novem- ber, 1850, and is a son of Jonathan and Mary (Hofstatter) Sattison.

The father was born in Lebanon county, Pennsylvania, in 1815, one of the six children of Adam and Elizabeth Sattison, natives also of that State and of German descent. He died in Indiana, November 26, 1894, aged seventy-nine years, six months and fifteen days. In July, 1843, he was married to Mary Hofstatter, daughter of George Hofstatter and a native of New York, and they had four children, two of whom are living,-George X. and Scott. Mrs. Sat-

tison died October 8, 1873. The maternal grandfather of our subject, George Hof- statter, was born April 8, 1797, and on the 18th of March, 1820, was united in marriage to Elizabeth Bare, whose birth occurred on the 15th of January, 1803. They were resi- dents of Huron county, Ohio, and both are long since deceased. A record of their chil- dren is as follows: Almira, born January II, 1822, was married December 28, 1847, to Alfred West, in Ripley, Ohio, Homer Austin, Esq., performing the ceremony; Mary, the mother of our subject, was born September 10, 1824; Fidelia and Matilda, twins, born March 3, 1828; Fidelia was married at Ripley, Ohio, October 20, 1853, to William McNutt, the ceremony being performed by Merritt Ketchum, Esq .; and Matilda was married at the same place, De- cember 24, 1846, to Leonard Carpenter, George Jenks, Esq., officiating; Catherine, born December 25, 1832, was married on the 28th of May, 1857, to George Sonnaus- pine, at Norwalk, Ohio; Lucy, born No- vember 4, 1836, became the wife of Fred Frey; Jacob was born June 17, 1830; and David, the youngest.

Jonathan Sattison and his wife Mary were the parents of four children : George Henry, born November 5, 1844; Lucinda, born August 13, 1847, now deceased; Scott, the subject of this review, born November 23, 1850; Elizabeth, who was born July 27, 1852, and has now passed away. The father of this family was a highly respected farmer of Whitley county and an energetic and progressive business man who prospered in his undertakings.

Scott Sattison, whose name introduces this sketch, remained a member of the home circle and aided in the development and cul- tivation of the farm until twenty-four years

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of age, when he left the parental roof to begin business for himself. He removed to an eighty-acre tract of land given him by his father, and has since engaged in farming there. Since his father's death he has had the general supervision of the old home place as well as his own land, cultivating al- together about 340 acres. He built his present residence in 1876 and his barn in 1881. His land is under a high state of cultivation and its general air of thrift and prosperity shows its owner to be a man of good management as well as industry. Mr. Sattison gives his political support to the Republican party, but has never sought or desired public office, preferring to devote his time and energies to his business inter- ests, in which he is meeting with good suc- cess.

On the 24th of July, 1875, Mr. Sattison was united in marriage with Miss Mary Elizabeth Daniels, daughter of Ethan and Naomi (West) Daniels. Her parents have been dead for many years, her father passing away November 15, 1859, and her mother November 4, 1861, both at about the age of fifty years. From the Daniels family rec- ord we glean the following: Lucy Orphia, who was born June 12, 1846, and became the wife of Jerome Jinks; Benjamin Frank- jin, born October 29, 1848; La Fayette, born March 22, 1850; Electa Abigail, born June 5, 1853. wife of Hugh Eachens; Clar- issa Jane, who was born October 27, 1855, wife of Peter Arnold; Mary Elizabeth, born January 29, 1858, now the wife of Mr. Sattison; and Alfred M., who was born Oc- tober 18, 1861, and died in infancy. Six children graced the union of our subject and his wife, namely: Nellie Gertrude, born May 22, 1876; Myrtle Wynonie, born May 1, 1878; Charles, born April 30, 1880;

Gladys Eleanor, born December 24, 1888; Frank, born November 21, 1891; and Maris Greetal, born January 24, 1895. All are living except Frank, who died November 26, 1891.

J OSEPH SCHOONOVER BAKER. The majority of lives are unmarked by events of exciting nature and the reader who is fond of startling inci- dents is therefore seldom a student of bi- ography; but the record of a man who faith- fully performs all the duties that devolve upon him and makes the best of his oppor- tunities leaves behind him a record which is worthy of perpetuation. It is this class to whom the country owes. its stability and of this class our subject is a worthy representa- tive. Entirely free from ostentation he makes no claims, yet his fellow townsmen know him to be a man of genuine worth and reliability, and in various public offices he has discharged his duties with a prompt- ness and fidelity that have won him high commendation.

Mr. Baker was born in Hancock county, Ohio, September 8, 1838, and is a son of Isaac and Rebecca (Schoonover) Baker. The father was born in Virginia, of German an- cestry, and the mother was a native of New Jersey. During his boyhood the former re- moved with his parents to Ohio, locating on a farm near Columbus. After his mar- riage he went to Hancock county, casting his lot with its pioneer settlers and followed farming near Findlay. fn 1852 he brought his family to Kosciusko county, Indiana, locating on a farm near Warsaw, where he made his home until his death, which oc- curred in 1860. He was reared in the faith of the Methodist Church, and in it held

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membership during the greater part of his life. In his political views he was an old- line Whig of the abolition school, but later affiliated with the Republican party. His wife also was a life-long Methodist; and her death occurred on the old family homestead near Warsaw in 1855. Of their family of six children four are now living, namely: Rev. E. M., a Methodist minister; Mary, wife of Rev. William Lash; Sarah E., wife of Cap- tain George Crouse; and Joseph S.

The last named was a boy of fourteen years when the family removed to Kosci- usko county. His education was acquired in the district schools of his native county, and in Warsaw, and at the age of eighteen he entered upon his business career, secur- ing a clerkship in the store of N. D. Heller, a dry-goods merchant of Warsaw. Subse- quently he was employed by Chipman Broth- ers & Company, where he remained until his enlistment in his country's service during the Civil war. He joined Company E, Twelfth Indiana Infantry, and was with the Army of the Potomac until mustered out in Washing- ton, District of Columbia, in May, 1862.

Mr. Baker at once returned to Warsaw and resumed his position with Chipman Brothers & Company. On the 23d of No- vember of the same year he led to the mar- riage altar Miss Angie Runyan, a daughter of Peter L. and Mary (Ervin) Runyan, pio- neers of Kosciusko county. Mrs. Baker was reared and educated in Warsaw, her native city, and by her marriage has become the mother of three children: Blanche, now a successful kindergarten teacher; George B., who graduated at De Pauw University, Greencastle, Indiana, in 1887, and is now gaged in buying and selling municipal and other bonds at Cleveland, Ohio; and Ethel, still in school.

Mr. Baker embarked in business on his own account in 1863, as a boot and shoe dealer, and was in partnership with John H. Rousseau until 1865. From that time until the Ist of November, 1879, he was almost continuously engaged as a commercial sales- man, but was called from mercantile life to public office. In 1878 he was nominated and elected by the Republicans of Kosciusko county to the office of County Auditor, and so acceptably did he fill the position that he was re-elected in 1882, serving in all for eight years. He afterward remained in the office with his successor, A. C. Funk, for two years. It was during his term that the court-house of Kosciusko county was begun and completed, Mr. Baker devoting a large portion of his time to looking after the interests of the county during its erec- tion. In February, 1888, he was awarded the contract for building the Whitley county court-house, giving a bond of $75,000 for the faithful fulfillment of the contract. For more than a year prior to the completion of the building he fully realized that it would not prove a source of profit to him; he never- theless completed the structure, exactly in accordance with the plans and specifica- tions and to the perfect satisfaction of the architect and county commissioners, receiv- ing for the same the sum of $134,000. Mr. Baker is true to every trust reposed in him, at whatever cost to himself; and though he did not clear a dollar off the building, he lived up to the very letter of the contract because he had pledged his word.

In February, 1890, he became connected with the G. B. Lesh Manufacturing Com- pany, of which he was made treasurer, and in January, 1892, he was elected secre- tary and treasurer, which position he still occupies. This company are manu-

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facturers of and wholesale dealers in plow and wagon-stock and hardwood lumber, and the industry is now one of the most import- ant in Warsaw.

Our subject and his wife have long been members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and for many years he has served as one of its officers. He is prominent in the Masonic fraternity, being a thirty-second-degree Mason, and a member of the Indiana Con- sistory of the Ancient and Accepted Scot- tish Rite. He belongs to the blue lodge, chapter and commandery in Warsaw, in which he has held office, and for a third of a century has been connected with the In- dependent Order of Odd Fellows, while his relation with the comrades of the war is continued through Kosciusko Post, No. 114, G. A. R. In business, social and political life his honorable career has gained him high regard, and it is with pleasure that we present to our readers this review.

J OHN GEORGE STRODEL, the first member of the family to settle in America, was a native of Bavaria, Germany, born July 14, 1802. He arrived in Huntington, Indiana, April 2, 1855, and from that time until his death, May 6, 1877, his name was prominently identified with the history of the county. He had given the full military service re- quired by the government before coming to this country, and so was exempt from the duty when he left his native land. He had been engaged in the restaurant and brewery business combined, and had accumulated considerable means. Upon the death of his first wife, who had borne him fifteen children, he was compelled under the laws |

of Germany, upon his second marriage, to distribute his property among his children as they became of age. This practically destroyed the business; so he resolved to try his fortunes in the new world.

His passport, dated April 19, 1854, at Otto, Bavaria, reads as follows: "Age, 52 years; height, middle size; hair, gray; fore- head, middle; eyebrows, brown; eyes, gray; nose, wide; month, wide; beard, gray; chin, oval; face, same; general ap- pearance, healthy." The children men- tioned in the passport are: John George, John, Andrew, Egidius and Mary; and Anna Barbara, the wife, completed the list. The family sailed from Bremen, and after a long and weary voyage of forty-seven days landed in the port of New York. They continned their journey to the West and settled at Fort Wayne, Indiana, where an older son, Matthias, had lived for several years. Mr. Strodel's first occupation was as a laborer in the construction of the Wa- bash Railroad. In his youth he had mas- tered all the details of the butcher's trade, and afterward engaged in that business in this country, following it until his death.

A copy of Mr. Strodel's discharge from the army is still in possession of the family, and is dated March 21, 1826, and was issued at Augsburg, Bavaria. Description: Height, five feet, nine inches and seven- twelfths of an inch; hair, black; forehead, high; eyebrows, black; eyes, brown; nose, wide; mouth, large size; beard, brown; chin, oval; face, same; color, healthy; general constitution, heavy set. Born July 14, 1802, village of Moosmuehle, county seat, Otto, Bavaria; single; German Lu- theran; as apprentice, brewer.

He was united in marriage June 11, 1825, to Rosina Haeving, of Frickenhausen,

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who was born March 6, 1801, and died October 21, 1842. She was the mother of fifteen children, named as follows: John George, born November 15, 1826, died January 11, 1837; Christian, born Janu- ary 16, 1828; Matthias, born March 24, 1829, died November 23, 1829; Samuel, born March 7, 1830; Matthias, born Febru- ary 2, 1831, died January 19, 1878; Rosina, born April 7, 1832, died August 1, 1850; Sybille, born April 8, 1833; Jacob, born June 21, 1834; Anna Maria, born Decem- ber 6, 1835, died September 13, 1836; Tobias, born September 21, 1837; Maria Elizabeth and John, twins, born October 21, 1838, the former of whom died No- vember 7, 1838, and the latter April 12, 1839; Anna Maria, born December 1, 1839; John George, born August 10, 1841, died October 11, 1841; an infant daughter, born October 21, 1842, died the day of her birth.

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Memorial record of northeastern Indiana, Part 87

Author: Publication date: 1896 Publisher: Chicago : Lewis Publishing Company Number of Pages: 932

Author:
Publication date: 1896
Publisher: Chicago : Lewis Publishing Company
Number of Pages: 932