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