Steuben County, Indiana - Miscellaneous, 1885

Miscellaneous

AND Taxation. - United Brethren Church. - Ped Pibbon Movement. - Drowned in the Lakes. - Steuben's Oldest Inhabitant. - A Lucky Find. - Spelling Matches. - Silas Doty.

The following, kindly furnished ns for publication, has been carefnllv compiled from the official records at Washington and will be of interest to readers in and out of Steuben County. We take pleasure in presenting this matter, together with Mr. Beight's letter to Dr. McConnell, as an authentic sketch of history well worth preserving:

Dear Sir: - Recognizing the fact that Dr. McConnell is one of the earliest settlers of Steuben County it affords me great pleasure to refer the enclosed history of the postoffices of the county to him. In conning over these pages, I presume to say his mind will revert back half a century ago when Uncle Sam's mail carrier rode throuo-h the wilderness on horseback, and the people whom he served were satisfied, or had to be, with a weekly delivery of the mail. If 1 had the time to refer to the books in the archives of the Postoffice Department, I would locate the mail routes to their terminal points as they existed at the time when the first offices in the county were designated and established. Being one of the early settlers, I doubt not Dr. McConnell can locate these routes, the method of carrying the mails when the first offices were established, and the terminal points of the routes through the county, I can assure friends in Steuben County that in the preparation of this history I have spent considerable time, although the care and labor involved does not appear very great in quantity. Yery truly,

History of the postoffices, appointment of postmasters, discontinuance and changes in the names of offices for Steuben County, Ind., as it appeared on the books of the Fostoffice Department, Washington, D. C, May 29, 1SS5.

Property And Taxation

As property is assessed at one-third its actual value, the assessment at the present time would indicate that the wealth of Steuben County amounts to the sum of $11,591,775, an average of $724.48 per capita, estimating the population at 16,000. The taxes amount to $4.28 per capita. For 1884, the number of acres of land assessed was 192,902.96; value of same, $2,233,070; valueof improvements, $847,005; value of personal property, $763,950; total valuation, $3,863,925; number of polls, 2,413; number of dogs, 1,027; total taxation, $80,973.54.

United Brethren Church

The following is from the pen of Kev. L. I. C. Young, of Fremont, a prominent and honored minister of the denomination: Sugar Grove Circuit, North Ohio Conference, of the church of United Brethren in Christ, in 1885 consists of live organized churches, with about 270 members. Sugar Grove, in Clear Lake Township, Ind., has ninety-two members; Summit, in York Township, Ind., has sixty-one members; St. Pauls, in South Camden, Mich; North West, in North West Township, Ohio; Pleasant View, in North West Township, Ohio. The first United Brethren class ill the bounds of this circuit was organized in the summer ot 1859, by Rev. H. W. Cherry, then traveling Steuben Circuit which embraced the whole county. The class consisted of six members: John and Sarah Mc Elhenie, Nancy Brown, Mary A., Nancy F. and L. I. C. You ng, and held services in a small house called. '' Seven by Nine," in the north part of Clear Lake Township. The following year Rev. M. Morthland traveled the work, but failed to tell about the quarterly meetings until they were past, and the appointment was dropped at the end of that year. Rev. Morthland died in Michigan, and Rev, Cherry is an old retired minister whose life is full of years and good works.

Clear Lake Mission

In January, 1866, Rev. James M. Lyon and Joseph Wolfe, local preachers, held a protracted meeting at the Harris school-house^ and organized Clear Lake class with twelve members: John Mc. Elhenie, Leader, and Daniel Clark, Steward.

In September, 1866, the Michigan Annual Conference (as it was then called) formed Clear Lake Mission by attaching Algansee appointment of Branch Circuit, in Branch County, Mich., with Clear Lake class. The first quarterly meeting was held at the Philip's school-house in Algansee Township, Dec. 22, 1866, Rev, D, Holmes was Presiding Elder; Rev. R. T. Martin, Pastor, and E. E, Gibson, Secretary.

Joseph Wolfe received license to preach in the U. B. church at this meeting. When converted, he joined the Baptist church with his wife, a daughter of Deacon McNall,of Kinderhook, Mich., but being dissatisfied with close communion he requested a letter of recommendation to some other church. Elder Mc Louth, President of the association, said: ''There are but two ways out of the Baptist church - to die, or be expelled." Mr. Wolfe took his hat and said: "I'll show you a third way," and walked out. He died in June, 1867.

Rev. J. M. Lyon, a brother of Horace Lyon, of Ray, continued a member of this work until 1868, when he removed to Michigan. Rev. Richard T. Martin has spent many years as a circuit preacher. He owns a farm in Bethel, Mich. , and practices medicine when not laboring in the ministry. His brother, Rev. James W. Martin, ofMontpelier, Ohio, has long been a successful preacher in this conference.

K.Swi hart, Pastor. Father Swihart was born in "Washington County, Pa., March 10,1808. He began preachingin 1844 in Muskingum Conference and was transferred in 1859 to this conference. He lived twenty-two years near Hudson, in this county, and now lives at Bethel, Mich., with his son-in-law, G. W. Hill, formerly a preacher in the United Brethren church. He traveled nineteen years, and is now superannuated and feeble, waiting for his reward. He organized Summit class in the spring of 1868, in York Township, with M. Y. Garn, Leader, and George French, Steward. A few weeks later lie organized a class at the "Withington school-house, near which now stands the California church on Branch Circuit. The Algansee appointment was dropped.

During this year Rev. Armine T. Rease, of the Cumberland Presbyterian church, and Chaplain of the One Hundred and Twenty-ninth Indiana Yolunteers united with the United Brethren church and dwelt at Fremont until 1S74, when he took a transfer and located at Oberlin, Ohio, in order to educate his children.

The third year of Clear Lake Mission Rev. John N. Martin was Presiding Elder. R. T. Martin preac hed at the organized classes the first half, and J. K. Swihart sup plied the balance of the year. Appointments were kept up for a while at Fremont, Farnham's school-house, Scott Center, Ray and other points. The building of a meeting-house at Clear Lake was defeated.

General Conference was held in May, 1869, and divided Michigan Annual Conference, and all south of the Michigan Southern Railroad was called Korth Ohio Conference, but now embraces the south tier of counties in Michigan from Branch to Lake Erie.

In September, 1869, Clear Lake Mission was discontinued, Withington class was attached to Branch Circuit, Clear Lake and Summit classes to Mt. Pleasant Circuit, which consisted of Mt. Pleasant, Bethel and Mayberry in Steuben County, and six classes in Williams County, Ohio, being eleven appointments, and fifty-eight members composed the quarterly conference. Rev. J. K. Al. wood was Presiding Elder, Rev. E. Miller, Preacher in charge, and Rev. W. R. Bundy, Assistant Pastor.

Fremont Mission

Sept. 23, 1870, the North Ohio Conference detached Clear Lake, Summit and Mayberry (Otsego) classes from Mt. Pleasant Circuit, with the adjacent territory, situated in the northeast part of Steuben County, and extending into Ohio and Michigan.

The first quarterly conference of Fremont Mission convened in the Harris school-house Dec. 17, 1870. Rev. D. Holmes wa^ Presiding Elder, and Rev. W. R. Bundy, Pastor. He organized a small class at the Starr school-house in Scott Township; Charles Stafford, Leader, and Wm. Smiley, Steward. There was a strong element opposed to Christianity here, which the church did not overcome, though a good work was accomplished, yet many moved away, and the remaining few disorganized in 1878, and united elsewhere. The ofiicial members were Charles Stafford, "Wm. Smiley, J. Tuttle, Alonzo Bullard, Lyman Bullard and George Reynolds. Among those who remain there, a savor of good in that place, are Wm. Smiley and wife, waiting for the Master's call. He also prepared the way for a good class at West Amboy. Sixteen members of Clear Lake class reorganized at the Brown schoolhouse, on Fremont Township line, and a new class was organized at the Stone school-house, at South Camden, Mich., which was called South Camden class, where a large revival was held. Rev. Edmund Miller forsook the canal-boat service, and preached many years in this conference, and on all of the circuits in this county, and was transferred to Michigan Conference in 1875, thence to Southern Illinois Conference, where he was Presiding Elder, and in 1884 he removed to Eastern Tennessee.

Rev. William R. Bundy, born March 8, 1846, in Delta, Ohio, was a soldier in the late war in Thirty-eighth Regiment, O. V. I. ; traveled his first circuit in 1869; was ordained in 1872; transferred in 1880 to Saginaw Conference, now North Michigan, where he traveled a district as Presiding Elder, and is active in the work.

In 1871 Rev. T. Osmun was Presiding Elder and Rev. J. W. Rhodes, Pastor. He organized a good class at West Amboy, Mich., which was attached to Hillsdale Circuit, and received fortyone accessions to the church. Brother Rhodes was well educated and engaged in mercantile business at Clyde, Ohio, before he began preaching in Sandusky Conference. He came on transfer in 1871, preached in this conference twelve years, and transferred back in 1883. His wife was a teacher, and a worker in the church, and Secretary of the Woman's Missionary Society of North Ohio Conference.

Rev. L. I. C. Young was converted near Fremont, Ohio, in 1857, and came to Steuben County the following year and organized the first Sunday-school in Clear Lake Township. He was Secretary of the Soldiers' Christian Association of the Twenty-ninth Indiana

Volunteers, and used the pen more than the sword during the war. He received quarterly conference license March 9, 1872, admitted into annual conference in 1875, and ordained in 1880. He has held a local relation, and been quite successful in the Sundayschool work and temperance movement. He was elected Secretary of Clear Lake Mission Quarterly Conference Aug. 24, 1867, and continued in all the changes of the work until Nov. 22, 1884, having been absent from only one quarterly conference in seventeen years.

In 1872 Eev. J. K Martin was Presiding Elder and Eev. G. W. Bechtol, Pastor. He organized a class at the school section in York Township, called York Center class, which continued with varying success until in 1877 the appointment was removed to Whaley's school-house ov.er in Oliio. Edward Lambertson (deceased) was Leader and Steward, the other members being women.

E.ev. B. M. McLouth was converted in 1864, and united with the Baptist church at Clear Lake, and remained with them four 3^ears. In 1872 he united with the U. B. church at South Camden and received quarterly conference license, and in 1873 was recommended to annual conference, and sent to Branch Circuit which he resigned at the second quarterly meeting. Two years later he was sent to Liberty Circuit, which he also resigned at the middle of the year. He passed his three years' course of reading in 1879, but was not ordained to elders' orders, at his request.

llev. Mathew Woodard was one of the old settlers of York Township and a licensed preacher in the Wesleyan Methodist church. He was granted quarterly conference license in 1875, and died in 1878.

In 1873 Kev, J. K. Alwood was Presiding Elder and Brother Bechtol was returned. A Board of Trustees to build a parsonage was elected, consisting of Hiram Davis, Robert Seely, and Fred Brouse. F. Brouse resigned and Charles Hemry has filled the place since. The,y began building the parsonage at Summit, in York Township, the following year, and proceeded as they secured funds, and now have a good house, well , barn, cistern, etc., costing about $1, 200.

This year John McElhenie, F. Brouse and L. I. C. Young were elected Trustees to build a meeting-house at Clear Lake, but they reported adversely and were discharged."

John Kogin, H. Barr and L. Douber were elected Trustees to build a meeting-house at Otsego, but they failed to agree on a site, and troubles arose, and in 1879 all but six members withdrew and joined at Mt. Pleasant, and the Otsego class was finally disorganized in ISSO. They first occupied the old Champion schoolhouse, then the Corbin school-house, and worshiped in the M. E. brick church after it was built. The following is a list of their oflicial members: John Kogin (deceased), E. Horr, Lewis Yaughn (deceased), H. Ellis, Lorenzo Douber, John Priest, Orland Ellis, Jacob Hanna and Geo. Foster.

John Priest was recommended from Otsego class, and was licensed to exhort in 1874, and removed to Northwest Ohio in 1876. He there joined the Methodist Episcopal church and the Odd Fellows, but soon concluded that he could not be faithful to the lodge and enjoy Christian religion at the same time, and consequently withdrew from both lodge and church. When the ]^orthwest church was built, he again united with the United Brethren church, and is now their leader.

In 1874 Rev. Joseph Brown was Presiding Elder and Geo. W. Bechtol returned his third year on this work, having preached one year previous. He was a farmer near Edon, Ohio, is a successful preacher and revivalist, and a good singer, and many have been converted under his ministry. He received fifty-three accessions on Fremont Mission, and filled six appointments. He was the first preacher that moved on the work, and did much to make it permanent.

In 1875 Rev. Cyrus Crossland (deceased) was Presiding Elder of the West District, and Rev. Joseph Waldorf was sent to Fremont Mission, which began to feel the need of church buildings, but the people were unable or unwilling to sacrifice for that purpose, and the idea obtained that revival meetings should not be held in school-houses during the school term, so that little was accomplished in consequence before 1880. There were six appointments and nineteen accessions.

Rev. J. Waldorf was born Jan, 23, 1821, in Trumbull County, Ohio. His parents were Pliilip and Lydia Waldorf. A.t the age of fourteen he was converted, and became an exhorter at eighteen. He joined the Muskingum Conference in 1845, in which he traveled until he was transferred to North Ohio Conference in 1863, and from here transferred to Tennessee Conference in 1883 He has traveled as an itinerant thirty-eight years - thirty years on circuits, some of which were as large as presiding elders districts are now, two 3'ears Presiding Elder in Muskingum Conference, three in North Ohio, and three in Tennessee, in the emplo}' of the Missionary Board from 1872 to 1875. From his home in Dayton, Rhea Co., Tenn., he writes: ''I have not lost my old itinerant tire. I would like to do some good yet. But, oh! I am so sorry that the church has got into contention over the secrecy question. It does not seem like the same church that I joined when I was a boy. Then we were all of one mind on that question. And it does not seem like the same in reference to its stretch after popularity. Then we were a plain, humble people." He gained his knowledge of theology by burning the midnight lamp, on horseback, and in his buggy. All honor to the old itinerants.

In 1876 Rev. J. Brown was Presiding Elder and Rev. J. 'N. Martin in 1877. Rev. A. H. Dnnlap traveled the mission two years, and lived in the parsonage. He was well lii^ed, but on account of opposing influences, and being shut out of school-houses during school terms, there was but little advancement. The Palmiter difficulty at South Camden caused several to leave the church. The spiritists or spiritualists at Harris' school-house for awhile held an organization. The Mormons thought to usurp Clear Lake, but found the people too intelligent. Brother Dunlap preached at seven appointments. He joined annual conference in 1874, and was ordained in 1878. He traveled several years in the itineracy, and the " Irishman" is now located on a farm in Ransom, Mich. He married Mary Baldwin, a sister of Rev. Burton Baldwin, of Metz, Ind.

In 1878 Rev. J. N. Martin was Presiding Elder and Rev. D. Holmes, Pastor. The want of meeting-houses was forcibly illustrated this year by thirty conversions and three accessions at the M. E. brick church at Otsego. Rev. David Holmes was born in Richmond, Va., in 1824, and at the age of nine was apprenticed to a shoemaker. He came to Williams County, O., in 1853, and joined the U. B. church the next year, and taught school. He entered the itineracy in 1856, and traveled twenty-eight years - four as Presiding Elder. He preached at nineteen appointments every three weeks, and received $170 for his year's labor. He reported about 600 conversions. In 1884 he took a transfer, and now resides at Princeton, Pranklin Co., Kan. The North Ohio Conference was held in Mt. Zion church, Steu- ben County, Ind., Sept. 3, 1879, Bishop J. Dickson, D. D., presiding, Rev. W. H. Clay, Secretary. Fremont Mission was raised to Fremont Circuit, for one year. Eev. J. K.Al wood. Presiding Elder of West District, and S.J. Colgan, who had been converted only about eight months, Pastor. Nettle Lake appointment of Hillsdale Circuit was attached to Fremont, but would not receive the preacher, nor the new circuit. This year there were thirty-eight conversions at South Camden and only eight joined the church. At South Camden class, Peter Seely, Wm. C. Johnson and Kobert Seely were elected Trustees to build a meeting-house. Afterward R. Seely resigned and Orrin Odell filled the vacancy, and they built a good house in 1881.

Rev. Stephen J. Colgan, the ^^oungest of eight children, was born near Stryker, O., Jan. 30, 1848, and brought up under Christian influence; attended school at Bryan Academy, and becan:ie a school-teacher. At the age of seventeen he was converted in a meeting held by his oldest brother, J. R. Colgan, of the M. E. church. He had a call to preach, but, Jonah like, he " went west" and remained in a backslidden state until he became "obedient unto the heavenly calling," in which he is meeting with success. He joined annual conference in 1880, and was ordained in 1882. Soon after he came to the work he married his second wife, Mary M. Godard, a school-teacher, and occupied the parsonage.

Rev. J.D. Snyder, of Waterloo, Ind.,was Presiding Elder in 1880 and Rev. G. Robinett, Pastor. George,son of John and Mary Robinett, was born in Holmes Count}', O., March 28, 1838, and removed to De Kalb County in 1847. He was converted in a prayer-meeting at the age of seventeen, received license to preach in 1876, and ordained in 1880. He married Mary A. Geddes in 1858, who is an excellent companion in his pastoral work. His oldest son, John, is Leader and Superintendent of the Sunday-school at South Camden, He traveled Fremont Mission three years, and received seventy-tive into church, and three church houses were erected. The first year he organized a class at North West, O., of twentyfive members, T. F. Whaley, Leader, and George Ward, Steward.

F. Brouse, C. Egel kraut and S. Lash were elected Trustees in Feb. 1881, to build a meeting-house at Clear Lake. M. and S. F. McElhenie built for them a neat frame 28x38 feet, at a cost of $942.19, not counting some work, and it was dedicated by Elder J. Brown, March 26, 1882, and called Sugar Grove Chapel.

March 8, 1882, C. Hemry, Wm. Davis and B. J. Adair were elected Trustees, and built Summit Chapel in York Township, a substantial brick 30x40 feet, costing about $1,500, which was dedicated by Rev. J. Brown, Dec. 27, 1882.

March 3, 1883, a Board of Trustees was elected to build a church at North West, O., and began work, but not being properly incorporated a second board was elected and failed, and finally Aug. 16, 1884, T. F. Whaley, G. Ward, Jacob Brosia, Fred Winters and J. Robins were duly incorporated, and finished the North West Chapel, of brick, which was dedicated by Rev. D. B. Keller Sept. 25, 1884.

Rev. Joseph Brown, of Salem Township, was Presiding Elder for 1881. He began as an itinerant in 1863, and has been Presiding Elder about six years. He has gathered many sheaves in life's harvest.

Rev. Daniel B. Keller was elected Presiding Elder in 1882 and continued three years on the West District. His parents live at Hudson, in this county. He entered North Ohio Conference in 1875, and was ordained in 1878.

Sugar Grove Circuit

The following is the fourth item of the report of the Committee on Boundaries at the annual conference September, 1883: 4. " That pleasant view appointment of Hillsdale Circuit be attached to Fremont Mission, and that it be raised to a circuit and called Sugar Grove Circuit. Rev. J. H. Crouse was assigned to Sugar Grove Circuit, and returned for the year 18S4-'5. He was born in Wayne County, O., 1847, converted in 1879, admitted to annual conference in 1881, and ordained in 1883. He reported forty-one accessions last year, and has received about seventy his second year, having received sixty-one at Sugar Grove Chapel. He was a soldier in the late war, and now lives on his farm at North West. -

Pleasant Yiew is a new frame church in North West Township, Ohio. The Trustees are: H. A. Hoverstock, J. M. Heiserman, G. Kent, W. F. Kentig and 1. A. McLain. Rev. Ira A. McLain lives at this class and has done much to establish the church there. He was recommended to the North Ohio Conference in 1876, and ordained in 1879.

ferenee: John McElhenie, Daniel Clark (deceased), Frederick Brouse,Cjrns Brouse, L. I. C.Young, Nathan Odell,Sen. (deceased), Wm. J. McElhenie, Jacob Terrj, D. B. Teeters, A. C. Cooper, Samuel Lash, Christian E^elkraut and B. M. McLouth. S. F. McElhenie and Charles Ansle}^ were appointed Assistant Leader and Steward for the young people's prayer-meeting this year. Among the older members we might mention G. W. Brattin, J. J. Berry, L. F. Gary, J. H. Jennings, S. Geedy, F. Winters, besides many younger brethren that will be heard from in the future. Thej have one of the best Sunday-schools in the county.

Summit class has sixty-one members: Martin V . Garn, George French, Charles Benry, Wm. Weiss, Henry Clock, B. J. Adair, Hiram Davis, Jos. Davis, Ed. Roberts (deceased), Wm. Davis, Dan. Gregg and David Welton complete their official list for the class and quarterly conference. John Barnes and many promising young people belong to this class. They have a good Sundayschool here, and also at each of the churches on the circuit.

The Sunday-school work is prosperous in this vicinity. There have been three annual Sunday-school picnics at Sugar Grove, which were attended by seven schools in 1882, by eleven schools in 1883, and by thirteen schools in 1884, which were very encouraging to Sunday-school workers, showing by the thousands who attended, the interest that the people liave in the good work.

Among the ministers that preached here many years ago were Revs. J. Thomas, E. H. Curtis of California, and Father John Hiscock, a Methodist local preacher who died in Jonesville, Mich., a few years since. He truthfully said, "How often the local preacher prepares the way for a revival, and the circuit preacher comes on and reports the success to conference."

Red-Ribbon Movement

Steuben's citizens are as a rule temperate, and hardly a county in the State can show so few saloons and liabitual drunkards. But SO widespread is the monster evil of intemperance, that in the best communities there is still need for temperance work. There has been but one concerted eifort made here, and that was the celebrated "red-ribbon movement," which was pushed all through the Northern States by Dr. Reynolds in 1877. This leader visited all the large towns, remaining in each several daj^s, until the moveis raent was well organized; and then from these towns as centers, local workers and lecturers were sent out over the country until clubs were formed at everj^ possible point. The clubs received their name from the fact that the members wore conspicuously tied in a button-hole a small red ribbon. Dr. Reynolds himselt was a reformed drinker. The pledge which members were required to sign was very strict, the use of sweet cider even being prohibited.

The movement was a little slow in reaching this region, but when it came the citizens were so familiar with its name through newspaper accounts of its wonderful progress elsewhere that they gave it a substantial welcome. Thursday evening, April 26, 1877, A. P. Johnson, of Lansing, Mich., after giving notice of his presence in town, and intentions in prosecuting his work, met a large assembly of Angola's citizens at the M. E. church. There was aroused at once an enthusiasm quite unexpected in behalf of temperance. At Lansing, by the way, Dr. Reynolds had made a personal campaign of one week, and had achieved unprecedented success. A club was formed whose membership rapidly swelled to over 1,000 - half the voters of the city and surrounding township. Lansing sent out local organizers all over Southern Michigan.

Mr. Johnson was very successful. The first night's work was encouraging, and another meeting was called for Friday evening at the east church; while on Saturday night the west church was occupied. The crowds became eager and earnest. The interest grew to an intensity incredible to one not a participant. On Sunday afternoon and evening the several churches dispensed with their usual services, and in the interest of the cause of temperance joined at Concert Hall in one grand mass-meeting. This assembly was by far the largest, most interesting and enthusiastic of any description ever held in Angola. A club was organized and went right at work. Some 400 names were enrolled at the meetings, and these were made honorable by the weight given to the onward movement. Of the persons so combined, old and young, many were not a little addicted to the cup. But they stepped boldly out of their old ruts and came up on the right side of the great and soul-stirring question.

Soon after, a club was formed at Jackson Prairie, which in a few days had a role of 102 names. This was organized by Rev. E. Hall, of Orland. A few otlier clubs were started at various points in the country, with more or less success. That at Angola had quarters fitted up in Jackson's Block and maintained the interest for a lont^ time.

There was great need for this movement in our midst. No one could realize the extent of the habit of drinking until the turning began, and showed the depth and strength of the whisky ranks, when so many who were singularly devoted to the other side of the temperance question were constrained to break their old allegiance and enlist under the banner of reform. "When scores of such began to walk up to a new starting point, then it became apparent that there was a chance - a grand chance, to do good. And that good was done. Hundreds took hold of the matter with an earnestness never before felt. The formal organizations died out after a time; many broke their pledges; and some were disappointed at the result; but the fact is indisputable that some of the results of the red-ribbon movement were permanent.

Dkowned In The Lakes

The beautiful lakes with which Steuben County abounds look innocent enough, and they afford abundant pleasure to those who seek it, but there are dangers which no ordinary care can avoid, and several persons have ended their lives when trusting too much to the kindly disposition of the water. A prominent case in point occurred Thursday, Dec. 27, 1877, when a fishing expedition resulted in the death of two of Angola's citizens, and the very close escape from drowning of three others. The names of the drowned were Simon L. Yandes and Samuel Truesdell. The others were David Yengling, H. Menzenberger and U. L. Piper.

These five men went to Silver Lake, about three and a half miles west of Angola, for the purpose of fishing, and started from CasteU's landing just before dark. The boat was a large, new and stanch row-boat, with capacity for carrying six or eight persons. After rowing around the east side of the lake a half a mile or more, and when it was dark, they struck a light and commenced fishing - having excellent luck. "When at or near "Ward's Cove at the southeast part of the lake, and not very far from shore, by some means which none of the survivors could explain, the boat suddenly tipped over and all went into the water. Yandes and Truesdell were at the time of the mishap seated in the stern engaged in rowing. The others were standing in the boat.

the water, were entirely free from alarm or fear, and all retained their presence of mind, thinking the accident would amount to nothing more than a good wetting and the loss of a few fish. They were, of course, in sudden darkness, but thinking themselves so near the shore they all called it a wet joke and counseled together as to the best course to take in the dilemma. In attempting to turn the boat right side up, they, however, worked rather precipitously, and it turned several times over and remained bottom side up as before. They then thought it best to cling to it in that condition and try to work it toward the shore. After proceeding about fifteen or twenty feet they found themselves encountering the marl-bed which characterized the bottom in that part of the lake. This was a serious disadvantage to them, for they could not find resting place or solid bottom. They, however, kept trying to advance the boat, and worked manfully and with presence of mind and calmness for half an hour or more, when it was discovered that they were making no headway and that the boat was held by the inverted jack-staff in the thick marl.

Mr. Yengling, who was at the bow, got under the boat and at last succeeded in disengaging the jack-stafi". This took some time and the men were getting somewhat tired out with their exertions. They now began to cry for help, hoping that perchance somebody on shore might come to their assistance. But after calling for a long time, no help came. Their struggles in the water and mud, which now had on the surface a large quantity of kerosene oil from the jack-lantern, rendered them anything but comfortable, and some of them began to have fears that their success was by no means certain. The old gentleman, Yandes, was becominoquite exhausted and could do no more than to cling to the stern of the boat and keep his head above water. At last they succeeded in reaching the bogs, but were now unable to get the boat any farther, and there was no bottom to the mud - only a soft quagmire over or through which they found it well-nigh impossible to proceed.

Piper, Yengling and Mentzenberger, however, essayed to make their way through, a distance of about thirty feet, to the harder land. Mentzenberger's strength failed him and he sank between the bogs, but Piper, who seemed to be the stoutest one in the party, assisted him up several times, and they finally reached firmer ground. So also did Yengling, but in a very exhausted condition and unable to get farther. Truesdell and Yandes re- mained at the boat, having raised their bodies upon it somewhat. They could not venture to strike for the shore, but were told to await help where they were. Piper, after much difficulty, made his way through the woods to Mrs. Ward's house, nearly a half mile distant, and then to John Castell's. Mr. Castell and his hired man proceeded immediately with lanterns to the scene of the disaster, and found Yengling and Mentzenberger nearly chilled to death on the shore, whom they assisted to Mrs. AVard's house.

About the same time Silvester Lock and Ben Wheaton, who had heard the cry for help while a great distance from the lake, came to the scene and found that Truesdell had fallen from his position on the boat and was dead in the mud. Yandes was still alive, but unable to move or scarcely speak. There also came Joseph Sharrett and William Henry and others; when, after much work in bridging the quagmire, Truesdell's body was taken out and Yandes was rescued in an insensible state. Mr. Yandes revived sufficiently to express his desire to be saved, but in about five minutes after he was taken into the house he died. Mr. Piper went to the village and gave an account of the fatal adventure, and several of the citizens started forthwith for the lake. Yengling and Mentzenberger remained in the room with their dead comrades until vehicles from town came to carrj" them home, which they reached about midnight or after.

The next morning the corpses were brought to town and taken to the homes they had left the evening before, full of life and hope. These homes were now scenes of heartrending sorrow and lamentation. On Sunday morning following the funeral of Mr. Truesdell was held at the Disciples' church, Rev. W. P. Alsworth, Pastor, officiating. In the afternoon, the funeral services of Mr. Yandes were held at the Methodist Episcopal church, Rev. G. B. Work, Pastor, preaching the sermon.

The funeral of Mr. Yandes was attended by the Odd Fellows, he belonging to the lodge at Auburn, from which town he had a short time before removed.

Mr. Yandes was born in Wabash County, Ind., in 1832, and was in his forty-sixth year. He was formerly Postmaster at Auburn, DeKalb County, and moved with his family from that place to Angola the summer of 1877. He was a harness-maker by trade, and worked for Israel Kemery at that business at the time of his death. He left a widow and nine children, in straightened circumstances. Mr. Truesdell was born in or near Goslieii, Elkhart

For nearly five years this county enjoyed the distinction of having among its citizens a genuine centenarian. This was Willard Dewitt, commonly called "Grandfather" Dewitt, of Scott Township. He was born in Herkimer County, N. Y., March 26, 1776, and died at his residence in Scott Township, this county, Jan. 28, 1881. He had consequently arrived at the advanced age of 104 years, ten months and two days. He was the father of eighteen children, twelve by his first wife (six sons and six daughters) and six by his second (four sons and two daughters). At the time of his death there were living of his first family one son, Daniel Dewitt, a farmer of De Kalb County, fifty-nine years old, and a daughter somewhere in the State of Michigan; and of his second family four daughters were living, Linda, aged about seventeen; Eva Belle, fifteen; Nettie, thirteen; and Ollie, ten years.

He was first married in the State of New York, where he owned a small farm, when about twenty years old. This wife died in August, 1860, aged eighty-two years. The following April he was married to a Mrs. Sarah Mudd {nee Grubb), who had lived with her first husband less than two years, when he died, and who was the second time left a widow by the death of Mr. Dewitt, in 1881. She is yet living in good health.

Mr. Dewitt had been a farmer all his life, having' owned a small farm in the State of New York. He sold this before emigratino- to Summit County, Ohio, when he purchased a farm of 100 acres. He sold this, came to Indiana and settled in De Kalb County in 1843. He remained there twenty-one years, when he came to Steuben County and settled on the Roose farm in Scott Township. About 1870 he removed to Angola, and two years later he returned to Scott Township, where he lived until his death.

During our war of 1812 Mr. Dewitt served in Captain Ichabod Bartlett's company of New York militia, and for the last nine years of his life he received a Government pension of $8 per month obtained for him by Lawrence Gates.

His funeral at the Methodist Episcopal church at Angola was very largely attended. He had been for years a devoted member of that denomination, and during the preaching of the funeral discourse by Elder Wiggins, the speaker referred to an attempt made a year or two previous to prove that the old man had turned Universalist. Before his death, Mr. Dewitt made the following denial of the statement :

" "Whereas, There has been circulated in the Steuben Repuhlican and, I am informed, in other papers, the statement that I had been a class-leader in the Methodist church, and now when over 105 years of age I am an Uuiversalist, let me state a few facts; 1 feel very much grieved that any one should think the Devil had got me, as he did Mother Eve, to believe a lie that I might be damned. It is true that 1 have been a member of the Methodist Episcopal church for forty years, and filled various offices in that society and exhorted men to flee from the wrath to come. It is true I have been a member of the Wesleyan Methodist church for many years endorsing its reformatory principles. I am trying to live godly in Christ Jesus, and only regret whatever I may have fallen short in my efforts so to do. I believe there is a Devil to despise and reject; I believe there is a God to love and obey; a hell to shun, a heaven to gain. I am looking earnestly toward the place Jesus is preparing for me, that where he is I may be also, and I would disown the kinsman that would circulate so base a falsehood on an old man whom God has blessed and kept in the world for more than a hundred years. As many papers as have circulated the former, please copy. This is signed with my own hand.

For some years previous to his death, his age was stated and believed to be two years more than subsequent investigation warranted; hence the apparent discrepancy in his statement above that he was over 105 years at the writing of the letter, with the fact that he was less than 105 vears old at death.

A Lucky Find

In the latter part of November, 1884, while a carpenter at Hamilton, was engaged in making some repairs on the Sewell Flouring Mill, he came across an old can which was subsequently thrown out doors. A boy by the name of William Renner, in passing along gave the can a kick with his foot and was greatly surprised to see a $10 gold piece roll out. A close examination revealed the fact that the can contained $250 in gold, and enough greenbacks of the issues of 1862 and 1863 to make the total amount $721.50. When the excitement over the finding of such a sum had somewhat subsided,the questions arose: How came the money in the mill? and to whom did it belong ? Persons who were residents of the county twenty years ago, remember that the then owner of the mill, a man by the name of Colton, was found dead in the building one morning, with every evidence that he had been strangled. He was known to have had a considerable amount of money a short time before, and as the money could not be found, suspicions were aroused that his death was not self inflicted, but that he had been murdered for his gold. No evidence tending to prove that he had been foully dealt with appearing, the coroner's jury returned a verdict of suicide; and in the score of years that passed, the matter had nearly passed from the public minds.

Spelling Matches

Every one remembers the rage for spelling schools that swept over the country in the winter of 1874-'5. The movement reached Angola rather late in the season, but when it came it took a ''good grip. " The first match of importance was held April 2, 18T5. Concert Hall was well filled with spellers and spectators. Messrs, Mc Connell and Bodley were captains, and chose sides according to the ancient approved method, except that perhaps they paid rather less heed to the assortment of boj^s and girls for their hearts' sake than for spelling. Webster's Elementary, so familiar to those who attended school a generation ago, was adopted. Prof. John W. Cowen was selected as pronouncer, and E, B. Glasgow as scorer. The contest continued until nearly eleven o'clock, when Mrs. Eldredge, the last of Captain Bodley's force, succumbed on the word " horizontal, " leaving six of the Mc Connell side possessors of the field.

One week later, a smaller audience assembled at the Congregational church, and Mrs. Carlin and Hale Day acted as caotains. After choosing about twenty-five on each side, the captains divided the house by the central aisle, inviting all who would to take their places in line. The spelling was very creditable for an hour or more, although a victim fell now and then. To quote from the account given in the Hepublican'. " "We had for several days prior to the match assisted in giving Butler a special training for this contest, but he didn't doo well at all. Elder Andrews, although familiar with types and shadows, tijpijied his own fall by the use of an 'i'in the first syllable. Dick Baxter spelled the name of his infernal majesty, Satin, but ashamed of his want of familiarity with family names, changed it to ' Satan ' in time to save his repu- tation. Glas^^ow, notwithstanding his long practice in his profession, and his experience in the Indiana Legislature, pretended that rougery was right. Prof. Carlin has never given very close attention to millinary signs, and therefore went down. Lawrence Gates injected an '' i ' into tassil. Dell Day kept his eye peeled for jaw-breakers, but the schlerotic coat became too hard for clear sight and down he went. Elder Aylesworth's better half evidently pays for fancy goods when purchased, for if his sight had been disturbed by 77iilleners' bills as often as some poor mortals we know of he would never have forgotten the word. Joe Moore is usually a very modest and mannerly young man, but for oi\Q,Q\\eiovgo\,h\^ etigioet. Stevens didn't get the ^'?'si! of his word and died easy. Jo Butler will doubtless make a good county clerk, but he is a poor critereon at a spelling school. Mr. Cline has read the first and last books of the Bible, but has neglected that doubtful portion called the Apocraphy ^ The battle continued until about half-past nine o'clock, when eight or ten were left standing on each side. At this juncture, the cry of fire was raised in the streets when the victors and the vanquished "stood not upon the order of their going, but went at once."

Silas Doty

One of the most noted criminals in the Northwest, and the only one who has claimed a home in Steuben County, was the notorious Silas Doty, who passed most of his life in prison. Much as we dislike to notice such " black sheep," this history would be incomplete without a sketch of this man. An elaborate biography has been published, and is now on sale, but it is of rather a sensational character. We have selected for our purpose a series of articles written in 1878 for the Angola Herald^ by Dr. D. B. Griffin:

The same spring that 1 arrived in this county (1839) Silas Doty also came. He was a very industrious man and worked hard early and late. He got a breaking team and commenced breaking tor himself and others. He would work all day and start off to go to English Prairie, Orland or Coldwater in the evening. The neighbors thought it was because he wanted to save time, and no one suspected him of dishonest motives until he was arrested for stealing some carpenter's tools from Colonel Alexander Chapin, of Orland. The officer came with a search warrant and found the tools at his place. He gave them up at once and went with the officer. I think he gave bail at that time, but was soon arrested for other thefts. There was a merchant in Fremont who had missed an ax, which had been gone for a number of weeks, Doty trading with him all the time, and was so friendly that he had never mistrusted him. One day there came two or three men from English Prairie. They said they were going to Doty's to search for some carpenter and joiner's tools. Gilbert, who had lost the ax, went with them. They found all the tools they were in search of. Gilbert saw his «x in a box of old irons and told Doty he thought that was his ax. Doty told him to take it, if it was his, so Gilbert took his ax along home with him. Doty went with the officer and had his examination, and was bound over for trial at the next term of court. Doty was so accommodating in the neighborhood and so industrious that all his neighbors had a good deal of conlidence in him. One neighbor told me he wanted a small plow on one occasion, and went to Doty to see if he had one. He told hira he had not, but he knew where he could get one, as he had some talk of trading for one; it rested with him to trade for it or not. " You come here in the morning, as early as you please." said Doty, "and the plow will be ready for you." The man went and found the plow according to agreement. He asked no questions but took the plow. Doty would steal from strangers, or rich people, and give to the poor, or to friends. During the summer there came to Doty's a young man from Lenawee County, Mich., by the name of Lorenzo Koyes, who was an old neighbor and acquaintance of Doty's. Now, this Noyes was said to be rather odd, and, it was claimed, lacked judgment, told all he knew, and volunteered advice to older and wiser people than himself. He was out of health and his folks did not expect he would live long. He went to Doty's, as he knew he was welcome, and Doty would give him work when he was able to work. As this Noyes was a great talker, he soon got acquainted with all the people around and confided many secrets to them. He told them that Doty stole cattle in Michigan and butchered them and took them to Toledo in the night, where he sold them; that he had been detected and had to get out of the State. Noyes was telling all the while that he was going West, sometimes to Illinois and then again he was going somewhere else. After awhile Noyes was missing. He had frequently traded clothes and anything he could trade. When inquiry was made of Doty as to where Noyes was, he replied that he had gone West, to Illinois, etc. When Doty offered to trade or sell Noyes's clothes, most of which he seemed to have in his possession, he claimed that he had traded with Nojes for them. So the folks thous^ht it was all right, knowing well Noyes's propensity for dickering. Finally there came an oflScer from Michigan, either with a requisition or he had found Doty across the State line; at any rate Doty was taken to Michigan, where he was tried and sent to Jackson for three or four years.

In about three years after the sadden and somewhat mysterious disappearance of Lorenzo Noyes, Wm. A. Bliss came to the village and told Esquire Tillotson and myself that his boys, the day before, while looking for turkey's nests, had found something which he took to be a human skull, and requested us to go with him and see what we could make of their discovery. I took a bag with me and Esquire Tillotson and I went with Bliss. We went to a tamarack swamp a little west of his house, and there we found the skull and all the bones of a man. The ribs and breast-bone were out of the ground; the vertebra were covered; the bones of the feet and hands we had to dig for a little. We found the hair of the head and nails of the fingers and toes, and every bone of the body was found. There had evidently been an attempt to hide the body, as it had been put under a large tamarack log and brush thrown over it, and a splinter that lightning had split off a tree had been carried a number of rods and put over the body. I took all the bones and put them into the bag and took them home with me. The people wondered who it could be. Finally they began to think of Noyes, and the stories Doty had told when asked about him. A coroner's jury was impaneled and an inquest held over the remains. Many believed the bones were the bones of Lorenzo Noyes and that Silas Doty had killed him. The verdict of the coroner's jury was that the man came to his death by violence, at the hands of some person to them unknown. Doty was in prison at Jackson at that time and his term was not yet out. Accordingly a writ was put into the hands of Sheriff Beall, commanding him to take the body of Silas Doty and bring him before the court of Steuben County, State of Indiana. When Doty's time was out in Jackson, therefore, Sheriff Beall was ready for him, and they came home together and Doty was lodged in jail at Angola, to await trial for the murder of Lorenzo Noyes. I was summoned to appear as a witness, and to have said bones then and there. I went on the appointed day and the jury's verdict was: " Guilty of murder in the second degree," the penalty of which was imprisonment in the State prison for life.

new trial, and Silas Doty, after serving oce year, was taken to Logansport jail for safe-keeping, as they did not consider the jail at Fort Wayne sufficiently secure, where so much was at stake. The next summer we were all subpoenaed to attend another trial at Fort Wayne. It was in July I think. We arrived there on Saturday evening, and on Monday morning went to the court-house, expecting to see Doty come in with the Sheriff. The Deputy Sheriff soon made his appearance but without the prisoner. His explanation was: He had Doty on a canal-boat and was on his way from Logansport to Fort Wayne; that as they were going through a tamarack swamp Doty jumped off of the boat and made good his escape. Of course the court could do nothing without the prisoner, and we could not go to trial. The judge therefore discharged the witnesses and we started for home. We stopped at Brushy Prairie to dine and while we were at dinner we heard a hurrahing about a quarter of a mile away and on our way toward home. Yery soon some one came in and said they had just got Doty. He had come out there to inquire the road to Fremont. It was a four corners and he did not know which road to take. But, alas for him! the bil\ with a description of him and the reward offered was there. He was put into a wagon between two good stout men well armed, and started for Fort Wayne.

Doty was taken back to Fort Wayne and lodged in jail awhile But the jail being thought unsafe, he was returned to Angola for safe-keeping, and remained here until the following summer. In the spring the news went forth that Doty had made his escape, and that he had stolen Douglass' horse. About daylight, the morning after Doty's escape, Mr. Isaac Estlow heard some one call his name, from the road. He got up and went out, and there was Doty, his old neighbor. He had Douglass' horse and had immense shackles on his ankles and hand-cuffs on his wrists. He told Estlow he wanted him to get those things off his ankles and wrists, and wanted that horse taken to Sumner Stimpson's and hitched at his gate, all of which was done.

Stimpson had a cold chisel, and holding an iron ax, or some such thing, under the shackles, with the cold chisel and hammer he soon had Doty free as any man. Doty then went home a little while, partook of some refreshments and started for the seat of war in Mexico. He went as best he could until by dint of perseverance he reached Mexico. He found the American army and forthwith went to General Scott's headquarters. He soon ingratiated him- self into General Scott's favor and became his groom, staying with him until the war was over. Then he came home with the nicest pair of ponies I ever saw. Doty also had gold enough to buy forty acres of improved land, and had money left. He told his neighbors if they would let him alone he would guarantee that there should not be anything stolen of anybody within twelve miles of his place. No one made any move against him, and there was nothing stolen anywhere in the vicinity, but the gang, of which he had evidently been a leader, needed something to live on and they would importune Doty to help them, and he, being honorable toward his clan, would go out and make a raise, but it was obtained outside of the twelve miles. OflBcers came from Michigan, some ways off, in search of some evidence of a load of wheat which had been stolen, bags and all. They found the bags with Doty, having their mark on them. Other men had got the money for the wheat, but Doty had in his possession the evidence that would convict him of the theft. They took Doty to jail in Hillsdale, 1 think, and he had his trial, and the bags being found with him, it vf2iB primafacie evidence of guilt. The Judge asked Doty how old he was. He said he was fifty-three years old. " Well," said the Judge, " I will send you to Jackson seventeen years, and by that time you will be seventy years old and will not be able to do much more harm." Doty went to prison and he worked so faithfully and behaved so well that the officers of the prison liked him, and he had many favors shown him on that account. He would get his stint and by being industrious would gain time. He was set at liberty before his time would have been out by his sentence, but they have some rule in the prison that a prisoner can gain time by good behavior, and Doty availed himself of the benefit of that rule. He came home with the most flattering recommendations from the officers of the prison, as to his good behavior. After visiting his family, he went to Coldwater, where he met with the warmest reception by his former acquaintances and was made more of than the Governor of the State would have been. The aristocracy of Coldwater seemed to vie with each other in doing Doty honor. After Doty had been out a few months a lawyer in Coldwater by the name of Parsons had his horse stolen.

Parsons advertised his horse and offered a reward for him and the capture of the thief. In the course of two or three days Doty made his appearance in Bryan, Williams Co., Ohio, on the horse of Parsons. There the bills were in advance of his arrival, and it seems as though he must have known all about it and wanted to get back to Jackson. I understood that he told the keeper of the prison at Jackson to keep his cell ready for him, and not let any dirty or lousy fellow occupy it, for he would be back in a little while, and wanted it neat and clean.

Doty was taken back to Coldwater after his arrest at Bryan, Ohio, and the horse was identified as the property of Parsons. Doty said he did not take the horse himself, but would not tell who did take it. Doty's counsel advised him to plead "guilty, " which he did, and he was again convicted and sent to Jackson for a term of years, I think. He served his sentence and was discharged with the same report as to his good behavior as before. When his time was out he came back, visited his son and daughter and then went to Coldwater, the place from whence he was sent to Jackson, and there they made the same fuss over him they had done before. He was out of prison but a few months before he was a^am taken up for stealing 2ixxdi was sent back to Jackson. He had told the keeper as he did before, to keep the cell clean for him. He went and served another short term and came back to his old home and friends. He was still spry and active. After being out of prison a few months he was taken up and sent back to Jackson for another term. I did not hear just what he was sent for that time, but he served his time out and came back to his son's.

He said to me he thought he was about as honest as mankind will average. , Said he: " I have always paid my honest dehts, and never took anything that did not belong to me to better my own condition, but for somebody else. 1 have taken from the rich and given to the poor and needy." He said he had tried to distribute things equally among mankind as far as he could. He said there were plenty of men who claimed to be honest who would sell an unsound horse for a sound price, to a man whom they knew was no judge of horses, and take half the price of the horse out of the one who bought him. Then they would boast of it and think it was smart. The man cheated was not able to lose. '' Now " said Doty, " which is the worst, to cheat a poor man out of half the worth of a horse, or to take that amount from a man who had a plenty, but w ould not give a cent to save a poor person's life, and give to a person who was needy and had no way of paying for the things he wanted ? "

Doty died in the winter of 1876, I think, at the residence of Mr. William Doty, his son, in Reading, Mich., of pneumonia. I believe he was very near, if not quite, eighty years old, and he appeared to be as vigorous and active as men commonly are at fifty years. I understand by people who knew Doty's folks - parents and relatives - that they were highly respectable and honest, and that he was brought up to believe in religion and morality.