Clear Lake Township

Clear Lake Township

The smallest township in the county, occupying the northeastern corner, not only of Steuben County, but also the State of Indiana, is Clear Lake. It is congressional township 38 north, 15 east, and is bounded as follows : On the north by Branch and Hillsdale counties, Mich.; on the east by Hillsdale County, Mich., and Williams County, Ohio; on the south by York Township, and on the west by Fremont Township. It is four miles north and south, by two and three-quarters east and west. Its area is therefore about eleven square miles, or 7,000 acres, nearly 1,000 being covered by water. The township derives its name from the beautiful lake that is situated nearly in the center, on the north banks of which two hotels were built, a few years ago, for the accommodation of tourists. Clear Lake deserves to become still more popular as a resort. It was at one time proposed to build to it a branch from the railroad, but this plan was unfortunately given up. Besides Clear Lake, there are several smaller bodies of water, all connected with it. The soil is of a sandy nature, except in the eouth part of the township, which is of a rich, sandy loam. Most of the township is considered fertile. Tne surface is rolling, and interspersed with small rivulets which empty into the lake.

Levi Douglas and Thomas Cope entered land, the former on section 28 and the latter on 33, in April, 1836, and located the same year. Lewis Wells settled Dec. 19,1836; Charles Throop entered land on section 33; George and Clark Throop on section 29, in 1836, and settled on the same in 1837. George Hotchkiss settled on section 28 in the winter of 1838. Hiram Throop and Erastus Brown settled in 1840. The Lords and Burroughs came Soon after, at about which time the township began settling up rapid ly. and continued so until the land was all taken.

The first white child born in Clear Lake was Noah Douglas, son of Levi and Abigail D juglas, in the winter of 1837, and the second was L )vica C, daughter of Charles and Sally Throop, in January, 1838. The first marriage took place in 1839, Rodney Beach and Charlotte Diuiglas being the contracting parties. The first person who died was Levi Douglas, the event occurring in 1839, and he was shortly followed by Lovica and Marian Throop, both of whom died in the same year. The first school-honse was built at Harris's Corners, on section 33, in 1843, and the school was taught by Ariali Beach.

The first religious services were held at the house of Levi Douglas in 1838, by a Mr. Swiger. an exhorter of the Methodist Episcopal church, and the first preaching was by an itinerant Methodist preacher, at the funerals of Levi Douglas and the child en of Charles Ttiroop.

At a picnic held at Clear Lake, July 4, 1858, a terrible accident occurred, in which eleven persons were drowned. This cast a gloom over the occasion, which is yet spoken of by those who were eye-witnesses of this sad occurrence, which was the result of carelessness on the part of the man in charge of the boat, who was under the influence of whisky.

The following leading crop statistics are for the last census year, 18S0 : Acres of wheat sown, 967 ; average number of bushels grown per acre, twenty; total crop, 19,340 bushels; acres of corn, 522; average product of upland, forty bushels per acre, and of bfttom, forty-five bushels; total crop, 21,250; acres of oats, 332; average product, thirty bushels per acre; total crop, 9,960; acres in meauow, 318; average product, one and a half tons of hay per acre; total crop, 477 tons; acres in potatoes, forty; average product, seventy-five bushels per acre; total crop, 3,000 bushels.

Following is a list of those elected to fill the various offices in Clear Lake Township, together with the years in which they were chosen :

1861, J. E. McElhenie and Henry A. Lord; 1862, George B. Sowle and E. H. Brown; 1863, George B. Sowle, C. Hoffman and S. A. Teft; 1864, George B. Sowle, Martin Smith and E. P. Brown; 1865, G. B. Sowle and J. W. Sheets; 1866, H. Brooks and John May; 1868, Martin H.Smith and John Teeters; 1869, Wesley Cass and Martin H. Smith; 1870, Samuel Nelson and Joseph Cough; 1872, William Bloomer and John Teeters; 1874, James E. McElhenie and Sam Brooks; 1878, J. E. McElhenie and Jerry J. Sliatto; 1880, Daniel Haines and Thomas Painter, 1882, Daniel H. Buck and Thomas Painter; 1884, James Shaw and William Bloomer.

Biographical

Morris L. Chandler is a native of Perryville, Madison Co., N. Y., born Sept. 12, 1818, a son of Simeon and Temperance (Post) Chandler. On his twelfth birthday the family were on Lake Erie, en route to their new home in Hartiand Township, Huron Co.,

Ohio, where his father purchased a tract of heavily timbered land. The family comprised six children - Samantha, deceased, married H. Burnett; Morris L., Orrin P., Jerome, now of Montana; Enos and Thomas, of La Crosse, Wis. "When Morris L. was twentyone years of age he left home and located near Coldwater, Mich., where he remained twelve years. In 1851 he came to Steuben County and purchased the farm in Clear Lake Township where he now lives. He has been uniformly successful in all his business transactions and has acquired a competency for his declining years. He is an aflfable, courteous gentleman, and has been a useful and influential member of society. He was married in 1842 to Mary J. McMillan, a native of New York, who moved with her parents to Coldwater, Mich., in an early day. But one of their four children is living - Mary A., now Mrs. Wilson Teeters. Mrs. Chandler died and in 1857 Mr. Chandler married Lavina, daughter of Wilson and Sophia (Smith) Teeters.

George H. Davenport^ a pioneer of Steuben County, Ind., was born in Bethany, Genesee Co., N. Y., April 15, 1819, a son of Rufus and Nabby (Hall) Davenport, natives of Vermont, his father born in 1787, and his mother in 1793. They were the parents of ten children - Calvin, Betsey, William, Sylvia, George H., Sally, Kufus, Nabby, Marcus, Marshall, and one who died in infancy. They moved to Genesee County, N. Y., in an early day, and in 1830 to Cattaraugus County, where they died. In early life the mother was a member of the Baptist church, and afterward joined the Methodist Episcopal church. George H. Davenport was married in September, 1840, in Cattaraugus County, N. Y., to Lucina Lovejoy, burn Jan. 25, 1824, a daughter of Almon and Haimah (Ames) Lovejoy. Their children were eight in number; four are living - Hannah, the wife of David Mowrey; Elizabeth L., wife of Marvin L. Perigo; Ellen M., wife of Augustus Stiles; Charles G., of Woodbridge, Mich. Their eldest son, William R., enlisted in the Second Michigan Cavalry, and afterward in the Eleventh Michigan Cavalry, and died in the hospital at Lexington, Ky. ; Mary J. married Christian Estel, who was killed by lightning in July, 1870, and she died the following November. Two died in childhood. In November, 1842, Mr. Davenport moved to Steuben County, Ind., and settled in Clear Lake Township, moving to the place where he now lives in 1849. He built the first house on section 16. When Mr. Davenport left Lake Erie he had but one York shilling, and had to run in debt for having his goods hauled to the county. Their children were educated in the log-cabin schools; their first teacher was Adeline Bailey. Mr. Davenport now has a pleasant home and is a respected farmer of the township. Mrs. Davenport is a member of the Baptist church. Her father was born in 1792, and her mother in 1796. They came to Steuben County in 1842, and subsequently moved to Michigan, where the father died at the age of eighty-eight, and the mother aged eighty-four years, after a married life of sixty-seven years. They were members of the United Brethren church.

Samuel Lash was born in Ashland County, Ohio, June 25, 1845, a son of William and Barbara Lash, his father a native of New Jersey, and his mother of Pennsylvania. His parents were early settlers of Ashland County, where his mother died in March, 1885, and his father still lives, aged eighty-two years. Their family consisted of twelve children, seven of whom are living. In politics "William Lash was in early life a Democrat, but now affiliates with the Kepublican party. He was Captain of a militia company several years. Samuel Lash was reared on a farm, receiving in his youth only limited educational advantages. He was ambitious and when not at work applied himself to study and gained a good, practical education. In May, 1864, he enlisted in Company I, One Hundred and Sixty-third Ohio Infantry, which at first was known as the home guards. They were subsequently sent to the field and participated in the battle of Petersburg, Sept. 14, 1865. He was married to Eliza, daughter of Frederick Brouse. They have had seven children, six of whom are living - Orville, Ada, Alta, Elmer, William and Eva. Mr. Lash is a Kepublican in politics. He is serving his fourth year as Trustee of Clear Lake Township. He and his wife are members of the United Brethren church.

Robert McElroy, farmer, section 33, Clear Lake Township, is one of the enterprising citizens of Steube n County. He is a prosperous farmer, owning 144 acres of land, 100 acres under cultivation, valued at $50 an acre. He was born in Canada East, March 13, 1833, a son of Kobert and Mary Ann (Hamilton) Mc- Elroy, natives of Ireland. They died when our subject was thirteen years of age, and thus early he was thrown on his own resources. He was married in 1859 to Alz ina Brooks, of Huron, Ohio, daughter of Menshall Brooks. They have nine children - Joseph C, Mary J., Florence, Menshall, Ulysses, Bessie, Eliza, Katie and Hattie. In 1862 he enlisted in Huron County, Ohio, in the Twelfth Ohio Battery, and participated in the engagements at

Fredericksburg, Chattanooga, Lookout Mountain, Missionary Ridge, Buzzard Roost, Resaca. He was mustered out at the close of the war at Camp Chase, Cohimbus, Ohio. He was shot in the right shoulder by a picket while out on a pass, being mistaken for another man. He was also injured by his horse tailing on him. Mr. McElroy is a member of Judson Kilpatrick Post, No. 45, G. A. R., at Fremont. In politics he is a stanch Republican.

Christopher Oberst, far mer, Clear Lake Township, was born in Ottawa County, Ohio, Aug. 26, 1840, a son of John and Baibara (Auldt) Oberst, natives of Germany, who came to America at)out 1835, and settled in Rochester, N. Y. , removing three years later to Ottawa County, Ohio, where the mother died in January, 1856, and the father Sept. 12, 1877. They were members of the Lutheran church. Their family consisted of eight children, four of whom are living - Conrad; Maria, widow of Peter Bowman; Elizabeth, wife of Martin H. Smith, of Washington County, Neb., and Christopher. Our subject remained in his native county till manhood, and was there educated. He enlisted in 1861 in Company A, Forty-fourth Indiana Infantry, and participated in the engage" ments at Fort Donelson, Shiloh, Corinth, Stone River and Chickaraauga, where he was wounded Sypt. 20, 1863. The ball struck his shoulder and passed down into the right side where it still remains. He lay on the field ten days, having fallen into the hands of the rebels, and was then paroled and immediately sent to the hospital. In May, 1864, he joined his command at Chattanooga, and was mustered out the following November. After leaving the service he came to Steuben County, and bought the farm where he now lives. He was married Sept. 3, 1861, to Mary M. Lord, a daughter of Henry A. and Catherine (Flora) Lord, her father a native of Maine, and her mother of Richland County, Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Oberst have two children - Marian A. and George A. Mrs. Oberst's parents moved to Steuben County in 1849, and located in Clear Lake Township. The father died in Eaton, Mich., in 1866, and the mother in November, 1884. They had a family of eight children, six of whom are living - Mary M., Henry A., John M., James A., Edwin D. and Waldon B.

Valentine W. Bathhun one of the early settlers of Steuben County, Ind., was born in Cayuga County, N. Y., July 6, 1826, a son of Valentine W. and Roxanna (Smith) Rathbun, natives of the New England States, his father born in 1792 and his mother in 1795. In 1831 his parents moved from Cayuga to Huron County,

Ohio, tlience in the fall of 1841 to Erie County, and in the spring of 181:2 to Steuben County, Ind., and settled in Scott Township. The mother died in Scott, Aug. 28, 1858. She was a member of the Free-Will Baptist church and a sincere Christian. She left a family of eight children - Niles, Nancy L., Phidelia J., Valentine W., Joseph S., Roxanna P., Hannah and Charlotte. In 1859 the father married Isabella Hamilton, and to them were born five children - Mary D., Emma L., Nettie, Minnie I. and Homer R. Mr. Rathbun died May 16, 1876. He was a Drum Major in the war of 1812; in politics was a Whig and Republican. Valentine W. Rathbun, Jr., remained with his parents till manhood, receiving a good education for the early days. He was married June i, 1851, to Paulina Hardy, a native of Cayuga County, N. Y., born Sept. 23, 1823, a daughter of Ephraim and Annis(Coburn) Hardy, natives of the New England States. Mr. and Mrs. Rathbun have five children - Ginevra, A., wife of Samuel Davis of York Township; Albert Henry, married Catherine Kinsley; Charles D., of Iowa; Walter M., married Harriett Merrifield; Oscar Bradley, died in infancy. Mr. Rathbun was in limited circumstances when he began life but has by his industry and good management acquired a good property. He owns 261 acres of land, 186 acres under cultivation, valued at $50 an acre. When the war broke out he was examined but was refused on account of disability. He was appointed recruiting officer and assisted in* raising volunteers for the service. He has been Justice of the Peace sixteen years, and Trustee one term. In politics he is a Greenbacker, and his religion is as Thomas Payne's, who said "This country is my home, and to do good is my religion."

David B. Teeters was born in Sandusky County, Ohio, a son of Wilson and Sophia (Smith) Teeters, his father a native of Lancaster County, Pa., and his mother of Wilkes Barre, Luzerne Co., Pa. His parents moved to Columbiana County, Ohio, about 1812, and a few years later to Sandusky County, where they lived about twenty years. In 1854 they moved to Steuben County, Ind., and bought the land where our subject now lives, at that time partially improved. Wilson Teeters was a man of unlimited energy, and surrounded himself and family with all the comforts of life. He accumulated a large landed estate which was well improved. He became a prominent man in the township and served in several official capacities. He died in the spring of 1854 after a life of untiring zeal and well filled with noble deeds. His family comv> prised ten children - Priscilla, deceased, was the wife of James E. McElheny; Harriet, wife of Peter Buck; Andrew J.; Lavina, wife of M. L. Chandler; Elisha; Catherine, deceased; John, of Nebraska; Mary W., wife of A. M. Styles, of Minnesota; David B. and Wilson. David B. passed his early lite in Sandusky County, Ohio, in a manner common to farmers' boys. He remained with .his parents caring for them in their old age and inherited the homestead. He was married in 1S63 to Susannah, daughter oi John and Sarah JBrouse) McElheny, of Wayne County, Ohio, who settled in Steuben County in 1854. Mr. and Mrs. Teeters have eight children - Annetta, Rosette, Orpheus, Ada, Edith, Hattie, Lavina and Perla. Mr. Teeters is one of the energetic, public-spirited, enterprising citizens of Clear Lake Township. He has served his fellow townsmen as Assessor and Trustee several terms each, and has always performed his duties in a painstaking and satisfactory manner. Mrs. Teeters's parents are residents of Ray, Ind. They have had a family of twelve children - Thomas, of Williams County, Ohio; Susannah, now Mrs. Teeters; "William J., of Missouri; Margaret J., wife of John Shock; Walter C, of "Williams County, Ohio; Sabina S., deceased, wife of Charles Odell; John D., deceased; Maria, now Mrs. Simon Geedy; Ephraim, of Steuben County; Arklo W., of Missouri; Clara, wife of Charles Smith, and Ella, wife of Ray C. Stump.

Elisha Teeter's is a native of Columbiana County, Ohio, a son of Wilson and Sophia (Smith) Teeters. He remained with his parents till manhood, coming with them to Steuben County. He was an industrious young man and labored assiduously till he had ' provided himself with a home. He is an upright, honorable citizen, and by his untiring energy and enterprise has made himself one of the well-to-do and influential men of the township. He was married in 1868 to Fidelia Oberst, daughter of John and Sarah (Florence) Oberst, the former a native of Germany, and the latter of New York. She is the eldest of a family of six children, tjie ot-hers being John, of Burt County, Neb.; Frank, of Steuben County; Olive, wife of John Briggs, of Cumming County, Neb.; Jennie, wife of Hal. Christy, of Dodge County, Neb., and Fred, of Washington County, Neb. Mr. and Mrs. Teeters have had two children - Frank and Harrj', the former deceased.

L. I. 0. Young^ one of the prominent farmers of Clear Lake Township, was born in Sandusky County, Ohio, May 6, 1837, a son of Charles and Nancy (Scothorn) Young, his father a native of

Bedford County, Pa., born Feb. 28, 1788, and his mother of Eockingham County, Va., born Aug. 1, 1798. When young people they went to Ohio and were there married in 1818. They first settled in Pickaway County, and in 1821 moved to Sandusky County, where they were among the first settlers. They had a family of nine children eight of whom lived to have families of their own. Noah lives on the old homestead; Nathan is deceased; Rebecca, deceased, was the wife of James Hies, and died in Texas; Elizabeth is the wife of Mathew Hutchins, of Clyde, Ohio; Susan married Milton T. Brown and settled on a part of the R. H. Goddard farm in Scott Township, about the year 1848. They died in the prime of life, and with their two youngest children were buried in the Fremont cemetery. Their son Charles R. is a citizen of Chattanooga, Tenn. Mary married Hon. James Fowle,ot Camden, Mich., and both are deceased. Their son, Elcho, is a student in San Joaquin Valley College, California. Nancy F., wife of James Rollins, of California; Lewis I. C, our subject; Elsie Ann, wife of Rev. E. H. Curtis, died in California. Mr. Young died in Sandusky County, Dec. 10, 1841. Mrs. Young subsequently married Ithamar Brown and moved to Steuben County, where she died March 28, 1862. She was a member of the United Brethren church, and was beloved by all who knew her. L. I. C. Young received a liberal education, remaining on the farm with his mother till manhood. April 10, 1858, he came to Steuben County, and settled on section 18, Clear Lake Township. He taught school in the winter and worked on his farm in the summer for several years. Aug. 26, 1862, he enlisted in Company A, Twenty-ninth Indiana Infantry, and was soon after detailed recruiting oflicer. The following spring, April 11, he joined his command at Murfreesboro, Tenn. He was taken sick and in May, 1863, was sent to Louisville, where he was in the hospital till August, when he returned home on a sick leave. In the early part of winter he joined his regiment at Bridgeport, Ala., and served till October, 1865. Since his return home he has given his attention to agricultural pursuits. He (pwns 119 acres of valuable land, on which he has erected large and commodious buildings. He has been prominently identified with all the material interests of the county, and has held several h^cal ofiices of trust. He was Justice of the Peace nine years. He has always taken an interest in educational matters and is a stront; supporter of the free-school system. Mr. Young was married Jan. 28, 1862, to Elizabeth S. Potter, daughter of Merrit D. and Anna

M. (Fort) Potter, the former born Sept. 15, 1810, and the latter May 15, 1813. Mrs. Young is the only one of three children living. Charity E. and Henry J. are deceased. The latter was a member of the Seventy-second Ohio Infantry, and died from exposure and cruelty in Andersonville Prison. Her mother died Nov. 22, 1856, and in January, 1859, her father married Margaret Hanselman. Their only child, Merrit G., lives in Kent County, Mich. Her father died Jan. 22, 1880. Mr. and Mrs. Young have had eight children - Theressa M., born Jan. 17, 1863, died April 18, 18T3; J. Orville, born Sept. 11, 1866, died July 29, 1867; Lulie E., born Sept. 26, 1868; Armina V., born Jan. 1, 1871; Ozro V., born Aug. 28, 1873; Eda Z., born Oct. 23, 1875; Amy P., born Dec. 28, 1882 died Jan. 3, 1883; Mattie G., born Jan. 28, 1884. Mr. and Mrs. Young are members of the United Brethren church, of which he is a local preacher.