USA > Indiana > Allen County > Fort Wayne > Valley of the upper Maumee River, with historical account of Allen County and the city of Fort Wayne, Indiana, Volume I > Part 34
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Michael Landin, a venerable and respected citizen of St. Joseph township, was born in Germany, June 8, 1808, son of Michael and Magdalena Landin. He was a weaver by trade, but most of his life in this country has been spent in farming. In 1836 he emigrated to America and settled at Buffalo, N. Y., where he remained seventeen years. He then moved to Toledo, Ohio, but six months later he came to this county. After living on rented land ten years he bought 160 acres of new land, which he cleared. He was married in 1832 to Mary M. Fisher, who was born August 7, 1810, and eight children were born to them, of whom six are living: Barbara, Catherine, Jacob, Michael, John and Mary M. He and his wife are prominent members of the Catholic church. He served as trustee of his church several years in Buffalo, and has helped to build four churches. Mr. Landin began in this country with nothing, but he succeeded well and was able to divide 160 acres of valuable farming land between his sons, John and Michael, who are to pay the shares of the other heirs. He is now eighty-one years of age, and his venerable wife, who has shared his toil, is aged seventy-nine.
Michael Landin, jr., son of the above, was born in New York, January 23, 1845. He assisted his father in the work of clearing and farming, and shared the toils of the early days. In 1877 he was mar- ried to Mary Ley, who was born in 1855, and to their union has been born five children, of whom four are living: Anna M., William H., Katie, Mary and Edward. He and wife are members of the Catholic church. They are now comfortably situated on a pleasant farm of eighty acres, handsomely improved with good house and barn, and are highly esteemed by all.
John Landin, another son of Michael and Mary M., was born in New York state, February 17, 1847. He also worked with his parents and is now rewarded by possession of a handsome eighty-acre farm. He was married in October, 1876, to Maggie Blinckner, who was born in Ohio, in 1856, and died July 15, 1887. She was a member of the Catho- lic church. April 10, 1887, he was married to Fannie Raw, who was born April 24, 1864. Mr. Landin and wife are members of the Catho- lic church and are popular and respected citizens.
Martin Blume, prominent among the young farmers of St. Joseph township, is a son of Martin and Margaret Blume, of this township. The latter Martin Blume, was born in Germany, August 10, 1825, son of Martin and Elizabeth Blume, who emigrated with their family to America about IS35, and settled in Pennsylvania. Four years later they moved to Perry county, Ohio, and ten years later to Hocking county, where they lived until death. The family have done a great work in the clearing of land, Martin Blume, sr., having brought under cultivation a farm of 300 acres, which he purchased in 1860. Martin Blume, jr., the subject of this mention, was born in Hocking county, Ohio, June 2, 1853, and came to Indiana when a small boy and had a share in the pioneer work in which his father engaged. In 1876 he
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was married to Cecilia Evard, who was born in 1853, and to this union have been born seven children, of whom six are living: Nora, Catherine C., Albert, Charles, Bessie and Eugene. Two years later he bought 157 acres of land of his father for $3,500, $2,000 of which his father gave him, and the remainder he paid. Of this farm he has cleared a considerable portion, and has built upon it a good two-story brick dwell- ing. He and wife are members of the United Brethren church.
Henry Bohde, an industrious and successful farmer of St. Joseph township, was born in Germany, January 17, 1818, the son of Frederick and Dora Bohde. He was reared in Hanover, and there received his education and learned the trade of a baker, which was his occupation about ten years. He was married in 1848 to Sophia Bohnon, who was born about 1824, and in 1854 he and family came to America. They settled in St. Joseph township, where he rented land for six years. He then bought forty acres of wild land, and was about to clear it when his wife died, in 1860, leaving three children: Henry, jr., Doris and Irma. She was a devoted member of the Lutheran church, and estimable wife, and was sincerely mourned. Mr. Bohde afterward boarded with his brother and began clearing his farm, then untouched by the hand of man, and in October, 1863, he was married to Doris Karnal, and moved into his little log cabin on his farm. Then began a life of sturdy endeavor, which has been rewarded by a handsome and productive farm, increased now to eighty acres, and provided with a comfortable house and roomy barn. Though now seventy years old, Mr. Bohde is still active and in the enjoyment of life. He and his good wife, who was born May 2, 1827, are members of the Lutheran church, and are respected by all. Henry Bohde, jr., who has always made his home with his father, was born in Germany, January 27, 1852. Coming to Amer- ica at two years of age, he was early thrown into the activities of pioneer life, and his early years were busily occupied with the duties of the farm. He was married in 1881 to Mary, daughter of John and Sophia Meyer, elsewhere mentioned. She was born March 9, 1860. To this union were born four children, three of whom survive: Hannah, Emma and Clara. Mr. Bohde and wife are members of the Lutheran church. He owns forty acres adjoining the old homestead.
Aime Chausse, who has been an industrious and valuable citizen of the county since 1854, was born in Switzerland, December 4, 1828, son of Abraham and Emily (Marchand) Chausse. In his native country he received a good education, and since coming to America has taken time to teach himself the English language in his few leisure moments. He emigrated to America in March, 1849, and first settled in Wayne county, Ohio. Being familiar with both the trades of carpenter and cooper, he followed one or the other, when not farming, and remained in Ohio until 1854, when he came to Milan township, and settled on ninety-eight acres of wild land, which he purchased of F. P. Randall. In the same year he was married to Elise Bueche, who was born in August, 1838. They made their home on this uncultivated tract, where Mr. Chausse
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cut down the first tree, and worked hard to pay for the land, which he had bought on time. They succeeded well by patient industry, and in a few years had a productive farm adorned with good buildings. In 1869 he sold his farm and bought forty-three acres in St. Joseph township, all of which but five acres, it was necessary for him to clear. He now owns a valuable place of sixty-three acres, well-improved, with a pleas- ant residence and good barn. He is highly esteemed by his neighbors, and in 1878 he elected justice of the peace, and since then has been continuously elected without opposition. During the years of the Grange organization he was a prominent member and treasurer. He and wife and their family, consisting of four children, John, Edward, Helena and Bertha, are highly esteemed.
Jacob Vonderau, one of the prosperous farmers of St. Joseph town- ship, was born December 8, 1819, the son of Jacob and Barbara Von- derau. In Germany, his native land, he received a good education, and after marriage in this country, through the kindness of his wife, he has become familiar with the English. He emigrated to America in 1842, arriving at New York, July 4th. He first settled in Pennsylvania, and a year later, moved further west to Union county, Ohio, which was his home for thirteen years. At the close of that period he came to this county and settled in Milan township, where he remained twenty years. Afterward he removed to the farm upon which he now lives. He was a tailor by trade in the old country, but he has been quite success- ful as a farmer. Beginning by renting land for twenty-five years, he then bought eighty acres of unimproved land, to which he subsequently added another eighty, and as he improved in circumstances he bought 120 more, and 168 in Maumee township. He highly deserves, as he generally receives, the appreciative esteem of the people who know him and his industrious career. In 1845 Mr. Vonderau was married to Mar- garet Kern, and to this union were born eleven children, all of whom are living. Parents and family are members of the Lutheran church.
Herman G. Vonderau, son of the above, was born in Union county, Ohio, February 11, 1855. He came with his parents to Allen county at the age of two years, so that nearly all his life has been spent in this county, where he is highly esteemed, and ranked among the deserving and worthy citizens. In this county he received a good common school education. He was married November 24, 1878, to Catherine Griebel, who was born March 13, 1856, and to this union have been born three children: George, Mary and John. He and wife are members of the Lutheran church. Beginning his career as a farmer, without any assis- tance from his father, he has succeeded well, and now has a good farm of eighty acres in St. Joseph township.
Louis Gillieron, prominent among the St. Joseph township farmers of Swiss origin, was born in the Alpine republic October 17, 1819. He was raised to manhood in his native land, and there acquired a good education in the French language. In 1859 he was married to Mrs. Mary A. Shaftef, who was also born in Switzerland, in March, IS22
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To this union has been born one child, Louis. Mr. Gillieron served in the army of Switzerland thirteen years before coming to America, and afterward served four months in the Union army during the war of the rebellion. Taken sick at the end of that period he was honorably dis- charged. Though a poor man when he came to this country, he has prospered, through his industrious and economical habits, and now has a good farm of 120 acres, and a comfortable home. He and wife are members of the Lutheran church. His son, Louis, is married to Julia Guke, and they have two children, Louis and Joseph. Both are members of the Lutheran church.
John T. Black, of St. Joseph township, is one of the leading farmers of the county. Though coming to Allen county at a later day than many others, he had already experienced at his former home all the hard work and privations of pioneer life, and his prominent position among the prosperous people of the county is one honestly and laboriously earned. Blessed with such a vigorous constitution that he has never been confined to bed a day by sickness, his life has been busily occupied. His grandfather came from Germany, and his grandmother was of an English family that came to Delaware about 160 years ago. He was born February 22, IS24, in Maryland. On December 20, ten years later, his parents, John and Matilda (Lowe) Black, reached Erie county, Ohio, having traveled to the west with their family and goods in two one-horse emigrant wagons, occupying twenty-six days in the trip. The father brought with him $1,000 in silver, and bought 150 acres of new land bordering on Lake Erie. Here they built a cabin of rough hickory logs for their home, and father and son began the work of clearing. Money being scarce they had to earn what they got by boating wood to Huron. By working continuously almost day and night, the family soon became prosperous, and the father's lands increased in extent and value until they were worth $100,000. This land was divided among the children. The mother, a true and devoted member of the Methodist church, died in May, 1886, at the age of eighty-five years. The father, who in addition to his severe farm work, served as a soldier in the war of 1812, for which he now receives a pension, still retains much of his eyesight and is able to walk without a cane at the age of ninety-eight years. John T. Black obtained his education in subscription schools in Maryland, and in district schools in Ohio. May 23, 1850, he was mar- ried to Rachel M., daughter of Wilson and Keturah (Elson) Driver, of Maryland, and soon afterward settled upon the Ohio homestead which fell to him upon the division of his father's lands. Here he remained until 1864, when he removed to St. Joseph township and bought 160 acres, of which he has made a beautiful farm. He also owns eighty acres in Milan township, and a house and lot in Fort Wayne. By his first marriage he had eight children, of whom five are living, Senora, Calvin, William, Marion, May. The mother died in July, 1876. Mr. Black served as trustee in his township in Ohio six years. He has been a member of the Masonic order since 1860.
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Among the citizens of St. Joseph township, of German birth, who are comfortably situated and well-to-do, should be mentioned Valentine Lapp. He was born in Germany, December 5, 1827, son of Henry and Eliza Lapp. Growing to manhood in his native land he was there well educated, but since coming to America has not given much attention to the study of English. He came to America in 1858, without money, but coming to Allen county, he worked out a short time and then bought the farm where he now lives, and he has been able to pay for it, and add many more acres. First buying forty acres, he built there his log cabin, which has now given way to a commodious two-story dwelling. He soon bought another forty and cleared that also, and now has in all 100 acres in St. Joseph township and eighty in Milan. His sturdy and estimable traits of character have won for the respect of all his neighbors. October 9, 1858, he was married to Elizabeth Amren, who was born December 26, 1832, and they have five children: Elizabeth, Henry, Martin, John and Valentine. Parents and children are members of the Lutheran church, of which Mr. Lapp has been one of the trustees for about three years.
Conrad Dannenfelser, a worthy and prosperous citizen of St. Joseph township, now deceased, was born in Germany, October 9, 1819, son of Henry D. Dannenfelser. He emigrated to America in 1849, and first made his home at Cleveland, Ohio, where he remained nine years. He then came to Allen county, and in 1867, moved upon the farm which was his home until his death. Mr. Dannenfelser came to this country a poor man, but was very successful in his enterprises, industrious and economical, and left an estate of 243 acres of well cultivated land. He died June 11, 1889, sincerely mourned by a great number of friends and acquaintances. He was one of the leading citizens of the township. On December 2, 1842, he was married to Dorothea Rhienfahrt, by whom he had five children, one of whom, Mary, survives, and after the death of this wife, he was married in 1855, to Catherine Mack, who was born December 5, 1826. She survives him with four of their five children, Louisa, Ernst, Alfred and George. Mrs. Dannenfelser, as was her husband, is a member of the Lutheran church.
In the southwest corner of St. Joseph township is the homestead of Joseph W. Challenger, now deceased, who was one of the worthiest citizens of the township. Joseph W. Challenger was born in Twerton, near Bath, England, January 17, 1823, and came to America with his parents when a mere child, and settled in Massachusetts. Leaving home at the age of ten years on account of ill-treatment at the hands of his father he was thrown upon the world, practically an orphan, and deprived of all educational advantages. By his own efforts, however, he became well educated in practical matters. Becoming a machinist he was presently a master of his trade and for a considerable time served as a locomotive engineer. He invested his savings in thirty acres of land one and a half miles from the court-house on the Maumee avenue road, and cleared this and built upon it a good house and barn, making
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it a productive and pleasant place. He was married January 8, 1856, to Margaret A. Willower, and to this union two children were born: Frank C. and Edward D. Appreciating the value of the advantages of which he was deprived, he gave his sons a good education, both attend- ing the Fort Wayne commercial college. This worthy gentleman passed away April 16, 1888. The eldest son, Frank C. Challenger, was born December 3, 1856, at Lima, Ohio. He was raised in Fort Wayne, where he received a good education. June 15, 1880, he was married to Adelia Tilbury, daughter of Jarius and Eliza Tilbury. She was born in Fort Wayne, January 22, 1859. She and her husband are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Their home is at the old farm, and they own besides that place three houses and lots and one vacant lot in the city. Edward D. Challenger, the second son of Joseph W., was born at Zanesville, Ohio, October 14, 1860. Coming to Indiana when a mere child, he grew up at Fort Wayne and there received a good education, including two years at the commercial college. February 18, 1882, he accepted a position as bookkeeper in the boiler shops of the Pennsylvania railroad company, which he has retained until the present, giving satisfaction to the company, and faithfully remaining at his post during all this period, except four days during the last illness of his father. He was married July 10, 1883, to Edith Hutson, daughter of James and Sarah Hutson, and they have one child, Maude, born June 6, 1885. He is an energetic young man, and highly esteemed.
William Wetzel, who was one of the prosperous farmers of St. Joseph township during his lifetime, was born in Germany, in 1817, and died in April, 1888. He remained in his native land until 1848, and in 1846 was married there to Mary Pflaumer, who was born in Germany in I825. When they emigrated to America, they were without means, except to pay their passage, and after they had spent one night in the strange land, they were absolutely without money, and with two chil- dren to support. He borrowed $30 from a friend, and that carried him to Starke county, Ohio, where he began work as a day laborer in a brick yard. The next year he came to DeKalb county, and bought thirty acres of new land. This he cleared, meanwhile working for his living at day's labor. Subsequently he sold this land and bought another forty in DeKalb, which he sold and purchased eighty acres, which he cleared and improved. After remaining there some time, he came to Allen county and purchased 103 acres in St. Joseph township. To his marriage were born four children: William, Elizabeth, John and Henry. Mr. Wetzel was a faithful member of the German Reformed church, and was highly thought of by all who knew him.
Charles Lomas, now deceased, an industrious and popular citizen during his lifetime, was born June 29, 1835, at Manchester, England. He was the son of James and Ann ( Ashton) Lomas. He grew to man- hood in his native land, and there received a good education, and learned the trade of a moulder, which was his occupation for many years. In 1853, he was married in England, to Elizabeth, daughter of Edward and
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Mary (Hopwood) Simpson. She was born May 17, 1835. In the same year they emigrated, and settled first at Brooklyn, N. Y., where they remained eighteen months, then going to Ohio, where they spent one year. Subsequently they remained four months in Kentucky, and then lived in Ohio again for two years. They then came to Fort Wayne, where the father found employment in the J. H. Bass foundry and machine shops, and retained his position for thirteen years. He then bought the farm in St. Joseph township, where his widow now resides, but his life was not long spared for the enjoyment of this new home. Two years after moving there he died November 30, 1878. He was a member of the I. O. O. F., and intelligent and enterprising. Since his death, his widow has made many improvements on the farm and now has a comfortable two-story dwelling and a good barn. To the mar- riage of Mr. and Mrs. Lomas were born ten children, of whom eight are living: William, Charles, Edward, James, Byron, Martha J., Sarah A., and Mary E.
ABOIT TOWNSHIP.
Near where the canal crossed the Aboit river La Balme and his little force from Kaskaskia and Vincennes encamped in the latter part of 1780, and were surprised and slaughtered by the Indians under Little Turtle. It has been stated that the word " Aboit" is a corruption of the French "Abattoir," or slaughter-house, given on account of that bloody event. But in an early treaty the river is called " à Bouette," which is a form of "à Boitte," and as a name for the stream signifies "Minnow river." This is undoubtedly the true derivation and meaning of the name. Unlike " à l'Anguille," the early name of Eel river, it was not translated, but was gradually transformed, and is yet often spelled Aboite. In the wilderness here the " Maryland settlement" was established in 1833. The colony, about thirty souls in all, was composed of the families of Enoch Turner, Richard Andrew, William E. Gouty and Richard Clark, all natives of Maryland. These were industrious and enterprising pioneers. The first religious services were held at the house of Mr. . Andrew in 1834, by Rev. James Holman, a Methodist minister, and it was the regular place of meeting for a number of years. The same minister married Martin Kelley to Mary, daughter of Mr. Andrew, in 1834, that being the first ceremony of the kind in the township. At the same home the first township election was held in 1836, and Mr. Andrew and Samuel Dunlap were elected justices. There were just about enough voters to form the board and furnish candidates. Enoch Turner donated the ground for a cemetery in 1834, and afterward gave land for a log church which was built in 1842, and used for that purpose and also for a school-house for many years. In the year of this settlement, 1833, Jesse Vermilyea came. He was a prominent man, and when Aboit postoffice was established in 1839 he became the first postmaster, and served a considerable time. During the latter named year he man-
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ufactured brick and built the first brick house in the township. He kept a small stock of goods and traded with the Indians, though he did not open a store. The next comers were Lot S. Bayless and Benjamin Rogers, who came early in 1834. In 1848 Bayless built a saw-mill on Aboit river. In 1833, William Hamilton purchased a tract of land, and in after years he amassed a considerable fortune. In IS53 he erected a saw-mill on Aboit river. George Bullard, a prominent citizen, came in November, 1835, and purchased 240 acres on section 13, which he cleared almost without assistance. His energy is revealed in the record by the fact that he built the first hewn log house in 1836, and next year set out the first orchard. In the same year, through his generosity, the first school was taught on his land. Another among the early settlers was Raburn Beeson, who came from Ohio.
Along the Little river, in portions of the townships of Wayne, Aboit and Lafayette, a sunken basin extends for twelve miles, with an aver- age width of three miles, which had been a miasmatic swamp from the earliest settlement until a recent date. Attempts were made to drain it, but the enterprise was too gigantic for any other than specially organized effort. Finally under the drainage law of 1883, a petition was filed to begin proceedings for a thorough drainage system. The drainage commissioners, Surveyor D. M. Allen, W. W. Shoaff and Edward Ely reported on this petition that there were 18,000 acres covered with water so as to be absolutely worthless, 17,000 only avail- able in the dryest seasons, and that other land to the extent of 50,000 acres would be benefited by the drainage proposed. It was proposed to construct forty miles of ditches. The great expense of the work caused many to fear that the cost would exceed the benefit and there was a vigorous contest. The burden which fell upon some land owners was indeed almost crushing. But finally the work was ordered, and Mr. Ely appointed superintendent. The contract was let July 7, 1886, to the Little River Ditching company, consisting of H. C. Paul, C. S. Bash, Joseph Derheimer, F. C. Boltz and S. B. Bond. W. H. Goshorn was the engineer in chief. In June, 1889, the work was practically completed by blasting the ditch through the limestone ledge which was the main barrier to drainage. This immense tract, which was formerly in wet seasons so flooded with water that the track of the Wabash railway was submerged, is now rapidly becoming a beautiful, cultivated prairie, the soil of which is wonderfully fertile.
A son of one of the early settlers just named, William A. Hamilton, was born in Aboit township, December 1, 1835. His father, William Hamilton, first came to Allen county in 1833, from Albany, N. Y. After selecting his land, he returned for his family at Cleveland, Ohio, and brought them to the farm where A. M. Darroch now resides. His wife's maiden name was Joanna Van Huzen. She died May 21, 1875, and his death followed eight days later. They were the parents of four children, three of whom are now living: William A., Mary and Jane A. William A. Hamilton was educated in the common schools, and worked
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