Fremont Township (part 2 of 2)

Demary Tillotson, the oldest settler of Fremont Township, was born in Pi ttsford, Monroe Co., N. Y., April 26, 1810, a son of Nathan and Mary (Kellogg) Tillotson, early settlers of Monroe County. The mother died in 1821 and the father afterward went to St. Clair County, Mich., where he died. They had a family of sevcTi children, three of whom are living - Joseph, of Monroe County, JN. Y.; John and Demary. Our subject received a lim- ' ited education in the common schools of his native county. After the death of his father he was thrown on his own resources. In 1833 he went to Branch County, Mich., and bought 160 acres of land near Coldwater, In August, 1835, he came to Steuben County and settled on section 28, Fremont Township. His family lived for three weeks under a shed made by laying boards on crotched limbs cut from the trees, till their log cabin could be built. Mr. Tillotson was the second settler of the township; the first, John McMahon, preceded him about an hour, and was preparing to feed his team when Mr. Tillotson drove by. He opened up a farm where the Noyes place is now located, near the depot at Fremont, then known as Willow Prairie. He lived on this place four years and in 1839 settled where he now lives. He was married April 12, 1835, to Harriet Shepard, a native of New York, and to them were born six children - Jerome, William, Truman T., Merritt, and two who died in infancy. Jerome was drowned in Lake James, Steuben County. William was a member of the Fifty-fourth Indiana lufautry in the war of the Kebellion and was killed at Yicksburg. Mrs. Tillotson died March 18, 1850. She was a member of the Baptist church and a most estimable woman. In January, 1853, Mr, Tillotson married Mrs. Sarah (Thomas) Phenecle, a native of Franklin County, Pa., born Oct. 5, 1824, widow of James Phenecie. To them were born two daughters - Sarah, wife of Homer Withington, and Ida. Mrs. Tillotson died July 21, 1883. She was a member of the Wesleyan Methodist church, and was loved and respected by all who knew her. Mr. Tillotson left New York with a man named Simeon Pierce, but left him at Detroit and proceeded to Branch County on horseback, and when he landed there had $95 and his horse. Although a poor man when he came West he was possessed of a determined will and strong ambition, and made a success of all his business ventures, leaving no stone unturned that would aid in furthering his interests. He tells many thrilling and amusing reminiscences of his life in a new country. Before he raised any grain he was obliged to go to English Prairie to buy it and then take it to be ground, it was midnight before he was ready to start for home, and the snow was two feet deep. His oxen wanted to go home in the same direction that they made the journey and started toward English Prairie, and it was with difficulty that he got to the main road. He then rolled himself up in an old-fashioned cloak and with a bag for a pillow went to sleep. When his oxen reached a small store, Dr. Calton's tamerack store, at which they were accustomed to stop, they came to a stand-still. This wakened him, and he got up and started them on again. By this time the wolves began to howl around him but paying no attention to them, he again slept till they reached Cove's cabin, where the oxen again stopped and he alighted and put up for the rest of the night. Many are the adventures Mr. Tillotson had with wild animals and Indians, and his manner of telling them cannot be portrayed by any but one who has had the experience of like adventures. He is a man of unquestionable integrity, and now, in the seventy-fifth year of his age, is reaping the reward of a well-spent life. He has lived to see the county of his adoption change from a wilderness to finely cultivated farms and prosperous villages, and many of the improvements are due to his energy and enterprise.

Henry Trecarten was born in Lubec, Washington Co., Me., May 18, 1837, a son of William and Sarah A. (Drake) Trecarten, natives of St. John, New Brunswick. There was a family of eleven children, seven sons and four daughters, all of whom lived till maturity. Our subject was reared and educated in his native county, and learned the cooper's trade of his father. In 1863 he left Maine and went to Chicago, 111., where he lived two years, and in 1865 moved to Steuben County, Ind., and settled in Fremont. He had but $75 in money when he reached Steuben County, but he is a natural mechanic, and by energy and industry has accumulated a competency, having a pleasant home and surrounded with all the comforts of life. Mr. Trecarten was married in June, 1865, to Harriet (Tigns) Grant, widow of Harrison Grant, who died from the effects of disease contracted in the army. They have three children - Myrta M., Oassius M. and Cora E. Mr. and Mrs. Trecarten are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Trecarten is a member of Steuben Lodge, No. 231, I. O. O. F.

Charles White was born in Edinbnrg County, Scotland, Oct. 6, 1820, a son of Charles and Elizabeth (Watson) White. His mother died in 1823, leaving two sons, Charles and David. His father afterward married Fannie Gibbs, and to them were born six children - Ann, William, Jesse, Fannie, James and Jane. When fourteen years of age, our subject was apprenticed to learn the trade of a machinist, and served four years, his only remuneration being his board. He was married in his native country, in 1815, to Marian White, also a native of Scotland, born Oct. 16, 1823. To them were born ten children, but four of whom are living - Charles M., Lottie, wife of Jackson Little, Lillie and Annie. In the spring of 1850 he left his native heath and came to America in a sailing vessel. He located in New York, where he found employment in the navy yard, and the following fall sent for his wife. In August, 1853, he moved to Detroit, Mich., and in 1859, to Angola, Ind., where he was engaged in the manufacture of fewing machines. The following fall he purchased and removed to the farm where he now lives, a mile and a half from Fremont. May 10, 1862, he enlisted in Company M, Fifth Indiana Cavalry, and participated in the battle of Salina, on the Cumberland River; was on the Morgan raid at the time 1,500 of his men were captured; the siege of Knoxville and all the engagements against Longstreet. The regiment was then dismounted and sent to reinforce Sherman's army, and participated in the battles of Buzzard's Roost, Resaea, Stone Mountain, siege of Atlanta and Stoneman's raid. They were captured at Macon, Ga., July 31, 1864, and confined in Andersonville three months. Miller six weeks, Savannah two weeks, Blackshear one week, and Thomasville, Ga. , till May 1, 1865, when they were released and sent to Jackson, Fla. His son Charles M. was a member of the same regiment, and was with him in all his experiences. Mr. White was a charter member of Angola Lodge, No. 180, I. O, O. F., and is now a member of Steuben Lodge, No. 231. He has passed all the chairs and has been a representative to the Grand Lodge of the State. He is also a charter member of Heaton Encampment, No. 60, and of the Grange and Grand Army of the Republic. He has been Master of the Grange six years. He and his wife are members of the Congregational church.

Jacob Wolf^ one of the pioneers, and a prominent and influential citizen of Steuben County, Ind., was born in Washington County, Pa., Nov. 19, 1815, a son of Samuel and Sarah (Wood) Wolf, natives of New Jersey, where they were married and lived till 1807 when he moved to Washington County, Pa., where the mother died in 1827. In 1828 the father removed to Tuscarawas County, Ohio, where he died in 1837. They had a family of six children, two born in New Jersey and four in Pennsylvania - Ruth, now of White County, Ind., the widow of William Wolf; Peter, who settled in Steuben County, Ind., in 1836, and died in Branch County, Mich., in 1882; Abbie (deceased) was the wile of Ellis Hughes; Mary died in infancy; Jacob; Sarah (deceased) was the wife of Hugh Hughes. Jacob Wolf removed with his father to Onioin 1828, and in the spring of 1837 came to Steuben County, and located in Angola, at that time a hamlet of a few log cabins. When he left Ohio he had 44 cents in money. He was by trade a blacksmith, and finding no employment in Angola, went to CTnion Mills, south of English Prairie, and worked at his trade a short time. Becoming discouraged he came to Fremont and ordered a suit of clothes made, intending to return to Ohio, but finally concluded to remain, and worked in different places till 1842, when he bought the farm where he now resides. He has been a hard working man, and his beautiful home is the result of his many years of unabated toil. He is now one of the well-to-do farmers of the county, he and his sons owning 450 acres of land, all gained by his untiring industry. Mr. Wolf was married June 6, 1841, to Delilah Masters, daughter of Uriah Masters, a pioneer of Steuben County. They have had eight children, five of whom are living - Phoebe, wile of J. C. Bisby; Ann, wife of J. C. Tobias; William, John and Sarah. Mr. Wolf is in politics a stanch Democrat. During the war of the Rebellion he was a loyal Union man, and gave of his means liberally for the support of the widows and orphans of the soldiers. He is a public-spirited, whole-souled man, supporting all projects of public benefit, and giving liberally to all benevolent objects. He and his wife joined the Methodist Episcopal church in their youth, and ever remained true to its principles. Mrs. Wolf died Jan. 14, 1877, loved and lamented by all who knew her. Mr. "Wolf is still an active business man. For the past eighteen years he has dealt extensively in stock, which has given him an extended acquaintance throughout the county.