OLD SETTLERS MEETING
August 21st, 1907
Transcribed from the Steuben Republican Newspaper
Submitted by: Sean Walker
swalker65@yahoo.com

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Death List of Old Settlers

     Otis W. Wisel, born in Cataraugus county, New York, Sept. 20, 1835; came with his parents to Steuben county in 1836; died near Oklahoma City, Okla. Aug. 1, 1906; aged 70 years, 10 months, 11 days.
     Frances Grieves Ketchum; born in Huron county, Ohio, Sept. 20, 1848; came to Indiana with her parents in 1852; died in Hudson, Aug. 7, 1906, aged 57 years, 10 months, 17 days.
     Adelaide Carver Parsons, born on Jackson Prairie, Steuben county, March 23, 1845; lived in Steuben county all her life; died in Angola, Aug. 21, 1906, aged 61 years, 4 months, 29 days.
     Mrs. Ursula Humphrey Wilder was born in Victor, New York, in 1820; came to Steuben county in 1837; died August, 1906, aged 85 years, 6 months.
     Thomas McClue, born in Niagara county, New York, Nov. 16, 1833; came to Steuben county with his parents in 1836, died Aug. 27, 1906, aged 72 years, 9 months, 11 days.
     Jane Sinkey, born in Delaware county, Ohio, May 19, 1827; came to Steuben county Jan, 4, 1849; died Aug. 31, 1906, aged 79 years, 3 months, 12 days.
     Benjamin Nichols, born in Ohio, March 12, 1834; came to Steuben county with his parents when but a small boy; died in Angola, Sept. 2, 1906, aged 72 years, 6 months, 21 days.
     Nicholas Helmick, born in Wayne county, Ohio, July 16, 1841; came to Steuben county in 1860; died in Pleasant Lake, Aug. 20, 1906; aged 65 years, 1 month, 4 days.
     Mary E. Wright, born in Salem township, Steuben county, June 26, 1850; died at her home near Helmer, Sept. 12, 1906, aged 56 years, 2 months, 16 days.
     James Merritte, born in Morgan county, Ohio, Feb. 22, 1832; came with parents to Steuben county when a young boy; died in Jamestown township, Steuben county, Sept. 13, 1906, aged 74 years, 6 months, 22 days.
     William Heckman, born in Franklin county, Maryland, Aug. 1, 1833; came to Steuben county in 1866; died in Steuben county, Sept. 30, 1906, aged 73 years, 1 month, 29 days.
     J. B. Shaffer, born in Canton, Ohio, Nov. 14, 1829; came to Steuben county about 35 years ago; died in Butler, Sept, 26, 1906; aged 76 years, 10 mos., 12 days.
     Susan Benninghoff, born in Seneca county, Ohio, March 25, 1837; died Oct. 2 1906; aged 69 years, 6 months, 7 days.
     Anna Jane Maxwell, born in Cumberland county, Penn., Dec. 6, 1828; moved to Otsego township, Steuben county in 1836; died Oct. 6, 1906, aged 77 years, 10 months.
     John Norman born in Coshocton county, Ohio, June 26, 1834; came to Steuben county in 1860; died Oct. 16, 1906, aged 72 years, 3 months, 29 days.
     Smith Ora Denman, born in Wayne county, Ohio, Sept. 1, 1830, died at his home in Pleasant Lake, Oct. 13, 1906; aged 76 years, 1 month, 13 days.
     Elizabeth Knisely, born in Starke county, Ohio, April 19, 1842; died in Pleasant Lake, Oct. 22, 1906; aged 64 years, 6 months, 3 days.
     James H. VanAuken, born in Deerfield, Portage county, Ohio, Oct. 2, 1837; died Oct. 29, 1906; aged 69 years, 27 days.
     Thomas E. Legg, born in LaGrange county, Oct. 9, 1840; died November, 1906.
     Otis Bent Wisel, born in Watertown, Livingston county, N. Y., Oct, 10, 1810; came to Steuben county in 1836; died at Salem Center, Nov. 1, 1906, aged 96 years, 22 days.
     Mrs. Martha Hart, born in West Moreland county, Penn., Dec. 22, 1812, came to Steuben county in 1863; died in Angola, Nov. 21, 1906; aged 93 years, 10 months, 29 days.
     Mrs. Austin Fox, born in Pomfret, Vermont, March 3, 1837; came to Steuben county in 1855; died in Angola, Nov. 24, 1906; aged 69 years, 8 months, 21 days.
     Joseph Strickland, born near Mansfield, Ohio, Aug. 23, 1823; came to Steuben county in 1862; died in Hudson, Nov. 12, 1906; aged 83 years, 2 months, 19 days.
     Christian Frederick Schneider, born in the Grand Duchy of Baden, Germany, Nov. 17, 1818; came to Steuben county in 1846; died in Orland, Nov. 30, 1906; aged 88 years, 13 days.
     Miss Louisa Orton, born in Erie county, Pennsylvania, in 1820; came to Steuben county in 1838; died in Angola, Dec. 8, 1906, aged 86 years.
     Hannah R. Scott, born in Kalamazoo county, Mich., Dec. 22, 1836; came to Steuben county in 1845; died Dec. 9, 1906; aged 69 years, 11 months, 17 days.
     Catharine Smith, born in Walpole, Halderman county, Upper Canada, June 7, 1835; came to Steuben county may 11, 1842; died at her home in Scott township, Dec. 2, 1906; aged 71 years, 5 months, 26 days.
     Mrs. Elias Sillabaugh, born in Columbiana county, Ohio, Aug. 15, 1837; came to Steuben county in 1853; died at her home in Salem Center, Dec. 4, 1906; aged 69 years; 3 months, 19 days.
     Mrs. David O. Parrott, born in Carroll county, Ohio, Aug. 30, 1840; died at her home near Pleasant Lake, Dec. 15, 1906; aged 66 years, 3 months, 15 days.
     John Dole, born in Columbiana county, Ohio, June 4, 1820; came to Steuben county in 1864; died Dec. 20, 1906; aged 86 years, 6 months, 16 days.
     Julius Weaver, born in Saxony, Germany, July 24, 1842; came to Steuben county in 1862; died Jan. 7, 1906, aged 64 years, 5 months, 11 days.
     Mrs. William Knapp, born near Buffalo, N. Y., Aug. 22, 1830; came to Steuben county in 1859; died Jan. 19, 1907, aged 76 years, 4 months, 27 days.
     Mariam Marish Williams, born near Alliance, Ohio, Sept. 14, 1836; came to Steuben county in 1851; died Jan, 29, 1907, aged 70 years, 4 months, 15 days.
     Harriet Ann Gilbert, born in Ontario county, N. Y., Aug. 12, 1836; came to Steuben county in 1840; died in Pleasant Lake, Jan. 30, 1907, aged 70 years, 5 months, 18 days.
     William Crowl, born in Starke county, Ohio, January 25, 1837, died Feb. 9, 1907, aged 70 years, 15 days
     Joseph A. J. Sowle, born in Genesee county, N. Y., Aug. 13, 1831, came to Steuben county in 1839; died Feb. 26, 1907, aged 75 years, 6 months, 13 days.
     John G. Parker, born in Hillsboro, New Hampshire, Dec. 10, 1838; came to Steuben county in 1852; died March 10, 1907; aged 68 years, 3 months.
     Edwin L. Parker, born in Hillsboro, N. H.; in January, 1841; came to Steuben county in 1852; died March 9, 1907, aged 66 years.
     Mary Ford Hall, born in Armah county, Ireland, July 28, 1823; came to Steuben county in 1861; died near Nevada Mills, March 4, 1907, aged 83 years, 7 months, 4 days.
     Elizabeth Ellison, born in Deerfield, Portage county, Ohio, March 22, 1835; came to Steuben county in 1866; died March 9, 1907, aged 71 years, 11 months, 17 days.
     John K. Folk, born in Pennsylvania, April 30, 1823; came to Steuben county in 1841; died March 20, 1907, aged 83 years, 10 months, 20 days.
     Andrew Yockey, born in Pennsylvania, July 5 1812, came to Steuben county in 1836; died in Fremont, March 6, 1907, aged 94 years, 8 months, 1 day.
     Charles VanWormer came to Steuben county in 1844 at the age of 11; died March 22, 1907, aged 73 years, 8 months, 11 days.
     Levi Bigler, born in Wayne county, Ohio, March 18, 1829; came to Steuben county in 1848; died March 27, 1907, aged 78 years, 9 days.
     William Waller, born in Morgan county, Ohio, June 4, 1822; died in Angola, April 1, 1907, aged 84 years, 9 months, 28 days.
     Rebecca Neff, born in Lehigh county, Penn., Oct. 29, 1822; came to Steuben county in 1848; died April 3, 1907, aged 84 years, 5 months, 4 day.
     Joshua N. Walsh, born in Columbus, Ohio, April 9, 1832, came to Steuben county in 1837; died April 2, 1907, aged 74 years, 11 months, 22 days.
     William Batterson came to Steuben county From Massachusetts in 1841; died in Portland, Ore., in April, 1907.  He was one of the first teachers in the Angola public schools.
     Mrs. John S. Baker, born in Cambridgeshire, England, March 3, 1846; came to Steuben county in 1857; died April 18, 1907, aged 61 years, 1 month, 15 days.
     Ellis Closson Mundy, born in Middlesex county, New Jersey, July 8, 1829; came to Steuben county at an early age; died in Fremont, April 22, 1907, aged 77 years, 9 months, 14 days.
     Mrs. Nancy Friend, born in Orland, April 12, 1847, died May 1, 1907, aged 60 years, 19 days.
     Edwin R. Morse, born in Cheshire, Conn., May 16, 1833; died in Toledo, Ohio, May 4, 1907, aged 73 years, 11 months, 25 days.
     Lyman Hart, born in Erie county, Penn., May 19, 1822; came to Steuben county in 1844; died May 11, 1907, aged 84 years, 11 months, 24 days.
     Israel Kemery born near Lancaster, Fairfield county, Ohio, April 5, 1830; came to Steuben county in 1856; died May 17, 1907, aged 77 years.
     Augustus V. Ball, born in Ontario, county, N. Y., May 24, 1818; came to Steuben county May 24, 1836; died near Pleasant Lake, May 14, 1907, aged 88 years, 11 months, 19 days.
     Mrs. Elizabeth Kimball, born in Salina, now Syracuse, New York, March 24, 1844, came to Steuben county in 1862; died May 6, 1907, aged 63 years, 1 month, 12 days.
     Rosina Streble Dauber, born in Wortenburg, Germany, Dec. 17, 1825; came to Steuben county in 1861; died May 18, 1907, aged 71 years, 5 months, 1 day.
     Joseph McGrew, born in Morrow county, Ohio, Jan. 4, 1833; came to Steuben county when a boy; died May 22, 1907, aged 74 years, 4 months, 18 days.
     Peter Bruce Wicoff, born in Holmes county, Ohio, March 12, 1837; died May 16, 1907, aged 70 years, 2 months, 4 days.
     Julian Gilbert, born in Hon, Germany, Dec. 21, 1833; came to Steuben county Oct. 18, 1865; died May 27, 1907, aged 74 years.
     Mrs. Robert Squier, born in Yates county, New York, Feb. 16, 1827; came to Steuben county in 1850; died June 14, 1907, aged 80 years, 3 months, 28 days.
     Margaret Kankamp, born in Germany, April 4, 1841; came to Steuben county in 1846; died June 17, 1907, aged 66 years, 2 months, 13 days.
     Catherine VanWagner, born in Richland county, Ohio, April 11, 1822, came to Steuben county in 1859, died June 26, 1907, aged 85 years, 2 months, 15 days.
     William J. Hurth, born in Athens county, Ohio, June 7, 1825; came to Steuben county in 1866; died July 4, 1907, aged 82 years, 27 days.
     Lewis Stealy, born in Marion county, Ohio, Nov. 2, 1825; came to Steuben county in 1836; died July 21, 1907, aged 81 years, 8 months, 19 days.
     John T. Ransburg, born in Frederick City, Md., March 15, 1835; died July 23, 1907; aged 72 years, 3 months, 8 days.
     Benjamin Dygert, born March 6, 1822; came to Steuben county in 1838; died Aug. 9, 1907; aged 85 years, 5 months, 3 days.
     George G. Oline. born in Richland county, Ohio, Sept. 4, 1824; came to Steuben county in 1854; died July 31, 1907; aged 82 years, 10 months, 27 days.
     Alice Swift Cowan, born in Broome county, N. Y., July 13, 1833; came to Steuben county in 1837, died in Angola, Aug. 4, 1907; aged 76 years, and 21 days.
     Henry Spangle, one of the Old Settlers of Jackson Prairie died Tuesday Aug. 13, aged 86 years.

                        Old Settlers Day

     The Old Settlers' meeting for 1907 has come and gone with its reminiscences and pleasant recollections.  The crowd was larger than one year ago, and every one seemed to be having a good time.  The Valley Line did not get in as was expected, much to the regret of Mr. Swinehart, the superintendent, and Mr. Bucklin wrote from Chicago his personal regrets that he could not be present.

     The meeting of the old people in the M. E. church was well attended.  There were thirty persons present who were over eighty years of age, Milton Stayner, the first white child born in the county, being among them.  Mrs. Elizabeth Maugherman, aged 102, also attended the meeting.  The session was called to order by S. A. Powers, and invocation was given by W. W. Wyrick.  Tuttle's orchestra, of Pleasant Lake, composed of fourteen persons, furnished appropriate and splendid music for the occasion.  C. P. Powers and E. O. Rose recited experiences of the early days.  Hon. J. W. Hanan, of LaGrange, made some remarks which were very much appreciated, and Lafe Burkett sang to the delight of the audience.  Miss Mildred Gates recited "That old Sweetheart of Mine," in a pleasing manner, and one of the best exercises was the song, "Silver threads among the gold," as sung by Blanch Gates, grand-daughter of Ransom Gates.

     After dinner the people assembled in the Court House park.  Rev. Sherman Powell offered prayer, followed by an address of welcome by Jose Perez Antonanzas, of Havana, Cuba, who spoke in the Spanish language in an earnest and pleasing manner as follows:

     "I have undertaken to speak for a few minutes to this select and respectable audience because of the satisfaction we young Cubans, residing here feel at finding ourselves among such excellent friends of both ourselves and our people.

     It is a very expressive case that four young Cubans should come from so distant a place in order to pufsue their studies in a college which has formed so many good characters and who are now scattered to other parts doing much good, and we do not doubt that in turn our opportunity to do the same will come in the near future.

     The old founders of this county ought to feel congratulated at celebrating their 35th annual reunion with the attendance of four young Cubans who have received a very affectionate and enthusiastic welcome and who take advantage of this opportunity to express publicly their immense gratitude, promising that they will make use of all these experiences to inform their families and friends of the sincere cordiality of the American people here represented in a most select manner.  We hope that soon we too may be able to unite in these and similar gatherings, and participate in them in the English language.  We, Cubans, salute the Old Settlers of Steuben county and desire for them the greatest prosperity, joy and felloity, such as we wish for ourselves, and may our coming be a date marked with signs of greatest interest, sympathy and congratulations, which unite more closely each day the two people, and especially the youth of the United States and Cuba."

     The Concord quartette proved to be Tuttle, Gilbert, Ransburg and Huffman who brought the audience to cheers with their witty songs.  Charley Shank delighted the audience with selections from Riley; Anna Brooks told how they used to plant their vegetable seed in the moon, and how they rocked babies in sap troughs when she was a girl.  It is difficult these days to find outdoor speakers, but Thomas Marshall, of Columbia City, and John W. Hanan, Of LaGrange, proved themselves equal to the task, giving interesting and entertaining addresses.  The remarks by Senator Ganfard and congressman Gilbams were, glad and well received.  The sacred hymns sung by two Cuban boys were greatly enjoyed.  Rev. Martin dismissed the audience.

                       Old Settlers' Notes

     H. E. Jackman who lives east of Summit, was exhibiting a can of seedless apples.
     Wm. Chilson, of Santa Anna, California, enjoyed the day meeting former acquaintances.
     R. H. Rerick, editor of the LaGrange Standard, was here and it was his first visit to Angola.
     T. Y. Somers and family, of Montgomery, well known in Steuben county, enjoyed the fellowship of the day.
     We always expect to meet Isaac Rannels, of Columbia, on these occasions.  He is 77 years of age and has lived on one farm continuously since he was four years old.
     Harvey Green, of Fairview, had on exhibition in the REPUBLICAN  office a section of the backbone of a whale that was 100 feet long,  The bone was brought from California by Stephen Hubbell.
     The Valley Line carried a great many passengers for the meeting in spite of the fact that the road was not completed.  Passengers rode as far as Crooked lake and then walked to the Lake James Line.

     One of our first callers was Mrs. Daniel Jenner, of Auburn, who is a regular visitor at our Old Settlers' meeting.  For eighteen years she has been landlady of the Central hotel at Auburn, and deserves a rest.  She will visit for a few days in the home of George Cary, in York.

     Nancy Fennimore, formerly of York township, drove from her home at West Unity, Ohio and arrived here in good time.  Speaking of our recent cyclone she said three years ago one visited her home and tore down a large new barn, carrying much of it off the farm.  A granery in which was a large quantity of grain, was picked up and carried to the road and then dropped wrong side up.