JOHN CLARK is a native of Erie County, Penn., and
was born November 22, 1822. His paternal ancestor was from
Scotland, and his maternal from Ireland. They came to America
sometime previous to the Revolutionary war, and were
active participants in that memorable uprising for independence
and nationality. After the achievement of our liberties,
they settled in the State of New York, and engaged in agriculture.
During the war of 1812, his father entered the army and
contended for "free trade and sailor's rights", and at the return
of peace, he became a pioneer of Erie County, Penn. He
married Mary Furguson, and had ten children, viz.: William
J., Isabel, Martha, George W., Mary J., Lemira, John, Lafayette,
Esther A.; and Myron H., seven of whom are living - two in Iowa,
one in Missouri, one in Kansas, and two in Indiana.
Mr. Clark spent his youth, till twelve or thirteen years of
age, in Erie County, attending school and aiding his father on
the farm. In the Fall of 1834, he moved with his father to
Clinton Township, Laporte County, Ind., and bought land at
the land sales, and thus secured about 300 acres.
These "land sales" were held at Laporte, and were frequently
quite lively when speculators undertook to bid on
squatters' claims. A meeting of the settlers was called, and
Andrew Burnside was appointed leader, and a committee of
one, with aids if necessary, "to go for" every speculator
who offered to purchase a settler's claim.
Mr. Clark married, first, Adaline Wright, and by her had
Eudorus, who died young; America A., Jeduthan D., Gary
M., William and Garland - both died young - Elizabeth E.,
and John S.
Mrs. Clark died February 13, 1866, and is buried at Union
Chapel.
Mr. Clark married, secondly, Lucy Simpson, and by her has
Isabel and an infant not named.
He sows about 100 acres of wheat annually, and plants an
equal amount of corn.
JOSEPH McLELLAN was born in New Hampshire,
February 12, 1811. His father was a Scotchman and his
mother an American of English origin. He immigrated to
America before the Revolution, and settled in Grafton County,
N. H., where he lived to a good old age, engaged in farming,
and died about 1818. His name was John, and he married
Dolly Varnum, of New Hampshire, and had fourteen children,
as follows: Elizabeth, Dolly, Moses, (killed by the falling of a
tree), Aaron, Daniel, Rebecca, John, William, Sarah, Hannah,
Duncan, Joseph and Benjamin. There was a Mary, who died
young.
The three youngest sons moved west, but the rest remained
in New England, married, and had families.
In May, 1832, Mr. McLellan started for the "West," to seek
his fortune. Traveled by stage to Burlington, Vt.; thence by
steamboat to Whitehall, N. Y.; thence by canal-boat to Troy,
on North River; thence by the Erie Canal to Buffalo. Here
he took passage on the steamer Enterprise up Lake Erie to
Detroit; thence to Saginaw, by stage about half-way, and on
foot, by way of the Indian trail, to visit his brother Duncan,
who was at that time residing at Saginaw, Mich. There had
been an Indian fort, at this place, but it was deserted.
In June he went to Monroe on the River Raisin, thence to
Tecumseh, Jonesville and White Pigeon, reaching the latter
place in September. These were all small villages, just
located at that time, and contained but a small population.
The year 1832 was noted for the cholera, which broke out on
the lakes, among Gen. Scott's troops, and the Black Hawk war.
Mr. McLellan remained about two years at White Pigeon, Mich.,
and in April, 1834, he arrived in Laporte County, Ind., and
took up lands in Coolspring Township.
In 1839 he purchased 200 acres, with no improvements, on
Section 17 in Scipio Township, and has since added to it until
his homestead farm contains 340 acres. He erected a house,
barn and other buildings, and has lived there ever since. His
state and county tax in 1836 was $2; in 1873, it was $266.
In March, 1835, he married Fidelia, daughter of Belding Read,
of White Pigeon, Mich. Her ancestors were of Scotch descent.
They have had seven children, as follows:
1. Andrew, married Alice, daughter of the Hon. George
Crawford, and has Eddy F., William F., Carrie, Annie and Alice.
Resides in Scipio Township.
Mr. McLellan is one of our most successful and substantial farmers,
noted for his moral worth and sterling integrity.
HON. JAMES FORRESTER was born in County Roscommon, Ireland;
landed in New York, Aug. 1818; lived there until Jan. 1826, when he
had accumulated about $400; bought drygoods and commenced peddling.
In 1830 visited Ireland. In 1831 bought goods in New York, shipped
them to Detroit - bought a horse and wagon - traveled as far as Ottawa,
Ill. In 1833, went to Buffalo, chartered a vessel, and took the
first cargo of salt, coffee, sugar, glass, iron, etc., to Michigan
City. Bought land, and in 1834 commenced trade in Michigan City.
In 1836 sold his interest, and in 1837 settled on the farm where he
now lives. Like most of his countrymen, he brought nothing to this
country but his youth and health. The Lord favored him with a
good constitution, and common sense to take care of it.
He is now married to his second wife, whose maiden name was Lavina
White, and has had seven children - four living - Peter, Margaret,
Lavina and Edward.
In 1828 he swore allegiance to our Government, voted the Democratic
ticket until 1861, and then thought it his interest and duty to
give his voice, vote and means to crush the Rebellion. No act of his
life is he prouder of. For this the people of his county thought
proper to elect him a member of the State Legislature.
He considers this the best poor man's government on earth. It is
a matter of surprise to him that so many Americans never get an
interest in the soil, when it is so easy to be obtained.
PHINEAS SMALL was born in 1805 in South Carolina. At three
years of age went to North Carolina, thence to Wayne County, Ind.,
where he resided until he was 20; thence to Montgomery County, and
six years thereafter, on horseback, to Michigan City, where he
purchased a lot, built a house, sold it, and in the Fall of 1834
moved to Clinton Township, Laporte County.
Here he purchased 160 acres, erected a cabin, and commenced to make
him a home, a lithograph of which may be seen in another part of
this work.
He married, June 25, 1840, Mary Pinney, of Ohio. Her father, Horace,
was from Connecticut, and her mother, Nancy (Snavley) from Virginia.
Mr. Small's ancestors are of English descent, and his grandfather was
killed in battle at the beginning of the Revolutionary War.
Mr. and Mrs. Small have eight children:
Mr. Small is one of our substantial farmers, and has the respect and
confidence of the community. He is a friend of schools and education,
and his sons and daughters are permitted to enjoy the best advantages.
HENRY P. CRANE was born January 15, 1819, in Virginia. His
grandfather came from England previous to the Revolution, and
was a soldier under Washington. His great uncle was captured by the
Indians, while passing through the woods, and bound, for burning.
Findiog a bottle of brandy, they became intoxicated. He released himself,
and killed all six of them, and escaped, carrying his gun and the
head of one of the Indians back to his regiment.
Mr. C. moved with his parents to Elkhart Co., Ind. in 1830; thence to
Laporte, 1834, and settled on Section 8, where he still resides. He
first married Mary Closser; secondly, Mary Keith, and has Nancy M.
and Bolsar T.
JOHN GOLDSMITH was born in Richland, Ohio
May 9, 1824. His ancestors were of Scotch-Irish descent, and
were related to the distinguished Oliver Goldsmith. His grandparents
came to America previous to the Revolution, and participated
in that war. His father married Miriam Garton, and
had John, Mercy A., Ruth, Richard, and Coleman (dead); the
rest live in Noble.
Mr. Goldsmith spent his youth in the common schools of
Ohio, and in aiding his father on the farm. In 1834 (year of the
land sales) he moved with his father to Laporte County, and settled
in Noble Township, where he owns a farm of ninety acres.
MARQUIS D. GARDNER came to Laporte County, October 7, 1847,
with his parents, and settled on Section 31,
Clinton Township, where he still resides. He was born April
13, 1829, in Smyrnia, Chenango Co., N.Y., and spent his
youth until seventeen years of age on the farm and in the
common schools of New York. His great grandparents were natives
of Massachusetts.
Mr. Gardner married, November 25, 1851, Charlotte, daughter
of Gideon and Margaret (Wright) Long. She is a native of
Jackson County, Va., and came to this county with her parents
in 1834. Her father was in the War of 1812, and both ancestors
were in the Revolutionary War.
Mr. and Mrs. Gardner have three children: Oretha A., Charlotte I.
and Allard E.
Mr. G. is the owner of a good library, composed of books
of travel, biography, general history, works which are calculated
to form character and give an impetus to healthy reading.
His farm of 160 acres - which he has rescued from the barrens
is an excellent one. Wheat, oats, corn, garden sauce,
fruit and berries, are abundant. This section compares well
with the prairie lands, and (with the exception of the wet seasons)
is not excelled in any kind of crop. He sows anually 40 acres of
wheat, 30 of corn, and has raised over 100 bushels of potatoes to
the acre.
ALBERT W. COLE, the son of John W. Cole, one of the
early settlers, and a member of the first grand jury of the county,
was born in New Durham Township, May 13, 1837. His mother's maiden name
was Eliza Payne, of Genesee County, N.Y.
They came to Laporte County about 1832. The family
cosisted of John A., Albert W., Eliza W., Henry P., and Sarah C.,
all now living in Indiana.
Albert W. married Mary A., daughter of Hon. George Crawford,
and has two children: Charles W. and Walter C.
Mr. Cole is a farmer and stock dealer, and has one of the
farms on Door Prairie. He and his wife are active workers
the Sunday School and temperance cause, and are members of
the M.E. Church.
RICHARD HENRY WILKINSON was born near Warrenton, Fauquier
County, Va., May 1810. His father, John Wilkinson, left his
home in northern England about the year _____. Coming to America,
he settled in Virginia, where he married Miss Mary Neal, who was
a second cousin of Joseph C. and Alice B. Neal, for many years
editors of the Saturday Gazette
Henry was the fifth child of this couple, was educated for the
ministry, and came to Indiana in the year 1833, stopping at Charlestown,
in Clark County, near the Ohio river. In 1835 he married Miss Julia
A. Henley, sister of Hon. Thomas J. Henley, who for several terms
represented his district in the Legislature of Indiana, and afterwards
served two terms in the United States Congress.
In the Autumn of 1837 Mr. Wilkinson removed to Laporte County,
purchasing the home where he still resides. Obtaining a license
to preach, he was for a time engaged in spreading the gospel,
in accordance with the Methodist Episcopal creed,
through the counties of Laporte, St. Joseph and Elkhart.
The profession was abandoned for the more healthful life of a
farmer. His family at present consists of himself, wife and six
children, the two oldest of whom have married and settled in
Illinois. Their names are Cora M., Harriet E., William H.,
Cecilia E., Theopolis H., and Mrs. Lucinda A. Baum.
EDMUND S. ORGAN was born in Campbell County, Virginia,
July 2, 1813. His ancestors came to America previous to the
Revolution and settled in Maryland. They subsequently moved to
Virginia while Mr. Organ's father was a boy. His father was a
farmer who married Elizabeth Johnson, and had William, James,
John, Samuel, Holcomb, Edmond S., Henry A., Cornelius, and Mary.
Mr. Organ, the subject of this sketch, married Catherine N.
Early, daughter of Jacob, an old settler in Laporte County
(1835), and has had ten children: Mary (died), Ellen, Alice,
Doshea, Fanny, Catherine (died), Nettie, Lucy, Cora, and
Walter. Mr. Organ moved to Laporte County in 1836, and
settled in Laporte as a clerk in Jacob Early's store. He
remained in that town ten or eleven years, and then settled on
Section 28 in Springfield Township.
In 1852 he was appointed and elected county treasurer, and
served five years. He engaged in the mercantile business, and
in buying and selling land for two or three years, and in the
lumber business and farming.
His brothers Samuel and Henry A. came to Laporte in 1837,
and engaged in the cattle, produce, and grocery business and
merchandising. They both died in Laporte, leaving families,
and are interned in Patton's Cemetery.
GEORGE W. REYNOLDS, the son of Abram and
Mary (Billington) Reynolds, was born in Oneida County, New
York, December 19, 1814.
He is of Scotch and English descent. His mother's ancestor
came with the Pilgrims into Massachusetts. His grandfather's
name was Reuben, and his grandmother's Lydia VanTile. Mr. Reynolds
married June 23, 1836, Cynthia, daughter of Judge John Winchell.
Her descent is as follows: Tradition says Robert Winchell
came from England - perhaps Wales - landed in Dorchester,
Mass. in 1634; in Windsor, Conn., 1635; died January 21, 1669.
He had a son Nathaniel (married Sarah Porter), who had a son Nathaniel
(married Mary Graves), who had a son Nathaniel (married Abigail Ruggles),
who had a son Benjamin (married Miss _____), who had a son Robert R.
(married Martha Hubbard), who had a son, John (married Amy Barney),
who had a daughter Cynthia who married George N. Reynolds,
and their family is as follows:
(Transcribers note: Unsure whether George Reynolds middle initial
is W. or N., as both initials are used in the text).
1. Emerette, married Daniel P. Grover, has Carrie.
Mrs. Reynolds father built the first house on White Pigeon
Prairie, about 1825, and donated the land for the graveyard
and Church at Kingsbury.
Mr. Reynolds is a carpenter and joiner and farmer, has been
justice of the peace seventeen years, and resides at Kingsbury,
Indiana.
2. Sarah J., not living.
3. Belding, married Rebecca Reed, and has Minnie and Effie.
Resides in Jasper County, Iowa. He was in the Fourth Indiana
Battery during the Rebellion, and had his leg broken in battle.
4. George W., married Melinda Shead, and has Eva, Joseph W.,
and Ona. He is a farmer. Resides in Laporte County. Was in the
Union army - 128th Indiana Volunteers - in the Rebellion.
5. John W., married Huldah Forbes. He is an artist, and
resides in Valparaiso, Ind.
6. Mary, married Charles McClure. He is a merchant, and
resides at Westville, Ind.
7. Martha, married George Reed. Resides in Laporte Co.
(Transcriber's note: At this time, I do not have the picture noted
here).
1. Louis{e?} S. married Elijah Reynolds, and has Eudoras, Phineas,
Orlando and Frank.
2. Nancy J. married Emery Zenar, and has Mary L., Susan, and
Dallas.
3. Eunice L. married Dallas Hascall, and has Arthur, Estella
and Luella.
4. Orlando V. married Agnes Freanor; resides in Kansas.
5. Riley F.
6. Harrison P. 7. Henderson T. (Twins).
8. Phineas O.
2. Calista, unmarried.
3. Julia, married Arba Kimball, has George I.
4. Herman P., married Elizabeth Dorland, has Elberta.
