Submitted by: Arlene Goodwin
Auburn, Indiana
History of De Kalb County, Indiana.
Inter-State Publishing Company, Chicago, 1885.

Abel Campbell, deceased, was one of the early settlers of Smithfield Township, locating on the southwest quarter section 28 in May, 1847. He was a native of Pennsylvania, born Oct. 26, 1807, and when a boy moved with his parents to Stark County, Ohio, where he was reared and married June 16, 1831, to Jane Taylor, a native of Washington County, Pa., born May 25, 1812. In 1836 they moved to Summit County, and thence to De Kalb County, making the journey hither by teams, taking two weeks to make the trip. Mr. Campbell bought his farm of Andrew Houhn the previous fall. It had been entered in 1836 by John Taylor, father of Mrs. Campbell, who sold it to Mr. Houhn. Sixteen acres were cleared, and there was a small round-log house on the land which the family moved into. Mr. Campbell cleared about seventy-five acres and erected good buildings, making it his home till he death in November, 1860. Mrs. Campbell is still living on the homestead. They had a family of eight children, four of whom they brought with them to De Kalb County. Six are living---Margaret, John, Edward H., Ruth (wife of E.R. Leas), James D. and Lewis P. William C. died in 1871, aged twenty-three years; Benjamin F. died Sept. 4, 1855, aged three years. Mr. Campbell was one of the most prominent men of the township. Politically he was a Whig, but after the organization of the Republican party was strong adherent of its principles. He died the day following the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States. Edward H. resides on the homestead, a part of which he owns. He was born in Summit County, Ohio, in 1841. He has always lived with his parents, and has assisted in clearing the farm. He was married to Mariam E., daughter of Brickard Childs, who settled in Fairfield Township in the fall of 1847, and subsequently moved to Smithfield Township. Where he died in 1878 and his wife in 1883. Mr. and Mrs. Edward Campbell have five children---Frank, Elnora, Albertis, Clark and Thomas.

Submitted by: Arlene Goodwin
Auburn, Indiana
History of De Kalb County, Indiana.
Inter-State Publishing Company, Chicago, 1885.

John A. Campbell, insurance and collecting agent, Butler, Ind., was born in Wayne County, Ohio, Dec. 25, 1836, a son of John Campbell, a native of West Virginia. He was reared a farmer, but received a good education, attending the schools of his native county, and later the High School at Fredericksburg, Ohio. In the fall of 1856 he began teaching school in Summit County, Ohio, and taught till 1875, twenty-four terms in all. In the summer of 1870 he was engaged in the insurance business, and since 1875 has given it his entire attention, with the exception of four years, during which he was serving as Justice of the Peace. He represents sixteen companies, including both fire and life insurance, and has built up a good paying business. He was married June 15, 1861, to Mary A. Jadwin, daughter of Andrew Jadwin. To them were born seven children, six of whom are living---Irene M., Mervale F., Orla I., Ramaine C., Emlin V., and Charles W. Arvilla B. is deceased. Mrs. Campbell died Aug. 22, 1882, aged forty-one years. July 31, 1883, Mr. Campbell married Grace Champion, a native of Lorain County, Ohio. They have one daughter---Stella. Mr. Campbell is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and the Odd Fellows’ fraternity. He has always taken an active interest in all causes of public benefit. During the past few years he has written the biographies of many of the old settlers, and the county press has been enlivened from time to time with interesting letter when he has been from home.

Submitted by: Arlene Goodwin
Auburn, Indiana
History of De Kalb County, Indiana.
Inter-State Publishing Company, Chicago, 1885.

Oliver J. Camp was born in Stark County, Ohio, in 1852, a son of John and Susanna (Smith) Camp, natives of the same county. His parents came to De Kalb County, Ind., in April, 1855, and settled on section 6, Smithfield Township, on land bought several years previous of Mrs. Camp’s father, Benjamin Smith. The first house on the place was built by Mr. Camp in 1855. The present residence, one of the best in the township, was built in 1878. The farm is under a good state of cultivation; there is a fine orchard of about 125 trees, and all the improvements are in good order, and among the best in the township. Mrs. Camp still resides on the homestead. They had a family of four children, three of whom are living---Aaron W., Luther B. and Oliver J. The latter still resides on and has charge of the farm.

Submitted by: Arlene Goodwin
Auburn, Indiana
History of De Kalb County, Indiana.
Inter-State Publishing Company, Chicago, 1885.

J.W. Cannon, of the firm of Johnson & Cannon, grocers, Butler, Ind., was born in Seville, Medina County, Ohio, June 15, 1849, a son of Isaac and Margaret (Bordner) Cannon. His father was a native of Pennsylvania, but moved to Ohio when a child with his parents, and lived there the greater part of the time till his death. His mother still lives in Seville. J.W. was reared on a farm, receiving a common-school education. When he was a child his parents moved to Eaton County, Mich., but five years later returned to Ohio. In 1869 he came to Indiana and followed agricultural pursuits till 1880, when he embarked in the lumber business, and three years later commenced running a saw-mill. He abandoned this in 1884 and formed a partnership in the grocery business with David Johnston, under the firm name of Johnson & Cannon. Mr. Cannon was married September, 1870 to Libbie Grube, daughter of Peter Grube, a pioneer of Stafford Township, not in the eightieth year of his age. Mr. and Mrs. Cannon have one daughter---Adella. He is a member of the Odd Fellows’ fraternity, lodge and encampment.

Submitted by: Arlene Goodwin
Auburn, Indiana
History of De Kalb County, Indiana.
Inter-State Publishing Company, Chicago, 1885.

James E. Cantleberry, railway conductor, was born in Wauseon, Fulton Co., Ohio, Aug. 12, 1851, son of David Cantleberry, a retired farmer of Wauseon. James E. was reared to farm-life and received a limited education in the public schools of Wauseon. At the age of sixteen years, in 1867, he began working for the Lake Shore Railway Company as brakeman, and was in the employ of that company twelve years and seven months, and during that time was conductor almost six years. He then dealt in agricultural implements in Wauseon over three years, after which he went to Delphas and ran an engine on the Toledo, Cincinnati & St. Louis Narrow-Gauge Railway for nine months. In the spring of 1882 he came to Butler and entered the employ of the Wabash Railway. He acted as brakeman for twenty-one days since which he has held the position of conductor. He was married Nov. 28, 1878, to Alice Oberlin, daughter of Benjamin Oberlin, of Butler. To them have been born two children---Freddie and Norie.

Submitted by: Arlene Goodwin
Auburn, Indiana
History of De Kalb County, Indiana.
Inter-State Publishing Company, Chicago, 1885.

George Casebeer, formerly of Troy Township, but now of St. Joseph Township, Williams Co., Ohio, was born in Tuscarawas County, Ohio, Oct. 5, 1831, a son of John Casebeer. His parents came to De Kalb County, Ind., in 1840, and settled in Troy Township on the line of Williams County, Ohio. His education was limited to the district school of his township, and this was two miles and a half distant. His services were early required on the farm in assisting to clear and improve a frontier home. He has made farming and stock-raising his life work and now has a good farm on section 18, St. Joseph Township, Williams County, Ohio, near the old homestead. He has run a threshing-machine twenty-five seasons, helping to run the first thresher in the county. He enlisted in the war of the Rebellion in the One Hundred and Twenty-ninth Indiana Infantry, and participated in the battles of Kenesaw Mountain, Resaca, Atlanta, and other of less importance. He was detailed in charge of an ambulance train in February, 1865, serving till discharged, Aug. 29, 1865. He is a member of the odd Fellow’s order and the Grand Army of the Republic.

Submitted by: Arlene Goodwin
Auburn, Indiana
History of De Kalb County, Indiana.
Inter-State Publishing Company, Chicago, 1885.

Jacob B. Casebeer, M.D., was born in Holmes County, Ohio, April 11, 1839; is the seventh child of thirteen children born to David and Rebecca (Kenestrick) Casebeer, natives of Pennsylvania and Maryland, respectively, and of German descent. The parents of David, John and Nancy (Best) Casebeer, settled in Tuscarawas County, Ohio, when he was a child, in which the greater portion of his after life was passed. He was married Oct. 26, 1826, to the above-mentioned lady. Nine of the thirteen children born to them are living, viz.: Susana, Enos L., David W., Rebecca M., Elizabeth N., Margaret C., Eliza E., Howard M. and Jacob B. Sarah A., Martha J., John and Joshua are deceased. Mr. Casebeer possessed an exemplary character, in which were harmoniously blended those admirable traits which so grandly embellish the life and career of the honorable and just. He was soundly converted at the age of six years, and ever after every deed and act of his life was animated by a pure Christian spirit. He lived nearly eighty years after his conversion, during which time he was an active and consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal church. His death occurred February 25, 1885, aged eighty-five years and four days. Mrs. Casebeer was a daughter of John and Sarah (Hivner) Kenestrick, and a most estimable woman, who possessed those sterling qualities of mind and heart, which alone give grace and beauty to the highest types of true womanhood. As a wife and mother, no praise can commensurate what the deeds and acts of her life justly merit. Christianity was the illumination which lighted her along life’s pathway, and what she professed in the Methodist Episcopal church of which she was a useful member, she practiced in the daily walks of life. Her death occurred at Fredericksburgh, Ohio, July 18, 1873, aged sixty-four years, one month and seventeen days. The early life of the subject of this sketch was passed in a manner common with farmers’ sons. He attended a district school during the winter seasons, in which, by close application to study, he had mastered the rudimentary branches when only thirteen years of age. He then attended the Middleton High School, two and a half miles from home--to and from which he walked night and morning during a few terms. He was successful in passing a rigid examination by the County Board of Examiners, and the ensuing winter taught a country school; subsequently he attended the Fredericksburgh seminary for several seasons, which was alternated by teaching winter school, and was eminently successful, having won by the faithful performance of duty, the confidence and esteem of both patrons and pupils. At the age of twenty he went to Kentucky and engaged in teaching, first in a district school and afterward in a select school at Stephensburg, where he won an enviable reputation as an instructor. During the latter period of his term of school at the above place, the “war feeling” began to pervade the minds and hearts of the “fire eating” Kentuckians, who never lost an opportunity to personally annoy the “school-teaching Yank” (a term derisively used by the unenlightened, and at that time unterrified ones), and numerous written imperative commands did he receive, ordering his prompt departure from “Dixie’s land.” Despite the threats of violence from the more radical ones, as well as the milder requests from conservative sources, he manfully stood his ground till his term of school by virtue of contract had expired, at which time he crossed the Ohio River into patriotic atmosphere of the loyal North. The presidential election of 1860 came off several months previous to his departure, and on the morning of said election he astonished the “natives” by presenting himself at the polls, Abolition ticket in hand and although violence was threatened if he persisted in voting for Mr. Lincoln, he boldly declared himself a citizen of the Government and a legal voter of the State, and demanded to be peaceably allowed to exercise the right of suffrage as guaranteed to such in the Constitution of the United States. His fearlessness and cool determination so disconcerted the excited rabble opposed to him that his Republican ticket was formally entered on the election books (a mode of voting then in vogue in Kentucky), and afterward received due credit in the count, as did that of his brother, L. Casebeer, there being the only two Republican ballots voted in that precinct. For one year following his return to Ohio he taught in Middleton school, and the subsequent year was Principal of the Fredericksburgh graded school, in which he won new honors as an educator and disciplinarian. During this latter term of school he began reading medicine under the direction of Dr. James Martin, a skillful physician of more than local note, who was his preceptor till the winter of 1863-’64, at which time he matriculated at the University of Ann Arbor (Michigan) School of Medicine and Surgery. After taking a course of lectures he returned to his former tutor’s office, and soon after the Government Medical Purveryor of Ohio appointed and assigned him to duty in the Dennison U.S.A. Hospital at Cincinnati, Ohio. In February, 1865, he was commissioned by Governor Tod, of Ohio, Assistant Surgeon of the One Hundred and Third Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He immediately joined his regiment in North Carolina, he was honorably discharged from the United States’ service, June 27, 1865, entered the Bellevue Hospital Medical College, New York, which institution conferred on him the degree of Doctor of Medicine, March 1, 1866. Immediately thereafter he located in Auburn, where since he has devoted himself to the demands of a large, constantly increasing and remunerative practice, in which he has been eminently successful. He is devoted to his profession---a hard student, sparing neither labor nor expense to keep himself well abreast of the foremost in the rapid advancement of the sciences of medicine and surgery. His library of medical works is large and well chosen embracing volumes of all best known authors, and in his cabinet is to be found all modern appliances and instruments which facilitate operations in the most delicate cases, and give an approximation to safety before unknown in the more hazardous ones. His writing have gained for him considerable celebrity as an author; two of his papers, written at the request of the America Medical Association, before which they were read, have been extensively copied by leading journals of the United Sates, receiving favorable comment where ever they appeared. He has also written numerous articles which have been read before the County and Northeastern Indiana Medical associations, which never failed to elicit meritorious praise for their conciseness and logic. There is in all his productions a style peculiarly laconic and terse, yet so comprehensible as to be entirely devoid of ambiguity. Of all the above societies he is a valued member, and of the last mentioned he is ex-President. Socially the Doctor is urbane and complaisant in speech and manner; never indulges in sophism nor pedantic generalities; is methodical and systematic in all his doings; and his conclusion are always founded on honest convictions, and if ever wrong he has the moral courage and frankness to admit his error. He is an uncompromising antagonist to immorality of every kind for a quarter of a century he has been an acceptable, active and consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal church---a greater portion of which time he has served on the official board. In the religious, as in every other relation of life, the Doctor is no laggard, shirking responsibilities and content with the small “portion” passive inactivity always begets, but an energetic worker, whose reward is always commensurate with the efforts made to secure it. He stands perfectly erect; is of medium height; solidly or compactly built; his movements are quick and graced with a business-like air that gives weight to his presence; is fluent and intelligible in conversation, the whole combining with an agreeability that makes him justly popular with all. He has been twice married. To his first wife, Hattie G., daughter of Eli B. and Fannie Smith, of Fredericksburgh, Ohio, he was united in marriage in 1863. One child is the fruit of their union--Fannie R. Mrs. Casebeer departed this life Jan. 28, 1869, aged twenty-seven years, nine months and eleven days. His second marriage was celebrated with Sarah E., daughter of William and Margaret (Carr) Nycum, of Fort Wayne, Ind., June 4, 1873, by whom he has had one child---Hattie E., an unusually sweet-tempered and intelligent, lovely little girl.

Submitted by: Arlene Goodwin
Auburn, Indiana
History of De Kalb County, Indiana.
Inter-State Publishing Company, Chicago, 1885.

John Casebeer, deceased, was born in Virginia, Dec. 24, 1799. When he was sixteen years of age his father, John Casebeer, moved with his family to Tuscarawas County, Ohio, and settled near Canal Dover. When he was eighteen years of age he began to learn the trade of a blacksmith at which he worked the greater part of his life. In 1840 he came to De Kalb County and settled in Troy Township, on the Ohio line, his land at that time being all heavily timbered. In addition to clearing his land and making a farm, he made cow-bells and maple sugar and traveled over the country with them, sometimes going forty and fifty miles, selling them to farmers for provisions. He cleared a farm of 120 acres on which he lived till his death. In 1871 he moved his house just over the line into Williams County, Ohio, where his son George now lives. He was married Jan. 11, 1821, to Nancy Smiley, a native of Washington County, Pa., daughter of George Smiley. To them were born twelve children, but nine are living---William, Ann, Jane, Sarah, George, Kate A., Rachel, John F., and Nancy. One son, Jacob, was killed when twenty-one years of age by a horse falling on him. Robert died when twenty-four year of age. Mr. Casebeer and his wife were members of the Methodist Episcopal church from their childhood. Mrs. Casebeer died May 4, 1870, and he subsequently made his home with his children till his death, Sept. 4, 1881. They were among Tory’s most esteemed citizens; charitable and kind to all, and will long be remembered by many for their many virtues and honorable, upright lives.

Submitted by: Arlene Goodwin
Auburn, Indiana
History of De Kalb County, Indiana.
Inter-State Publishing Company, Chicago, 1885.

John F. Casebeer, section 21, Troy Township, was born in Tuscarawas County, Ohio, Sept. 11, 1839, a son of John Casebeer, who settled where our subject now lives in 1840. He was reared a farmer, and received a good education in the district schools of his township. He remained at home till after the breaking out of the war of the Rebellion, and in June, 1863, enlisted in Company E., Eighty-sixth Ohio Infantry, and was appointed Corporal, serving till discharged in February, 1864. Since his return from the war he has engaged in agricultural pursuits, and now owns a fine farm of seventy-two acres, all well improved. He was married in August, 1866, to Harriet Weitz, daughter of Adam Weitz, of Edgerton, Ohio. To them have been born six children---Lulu, Curtis, Frances, Howard, Daniel and Hattie. Mr. and Mrs. Casebeer and their daughter Lulu are members of the Methodist Episcopal church.

Submitted by: Arlene Goodwin
Auburn, Indiana
History of De Kalb County, Indiana.
Inter-State Publishing Company, Chicago, 1885.

Benjamin Casey, farmer and stock-raiser, section 26, Franklin Township, was born in Holmes County, Ohio, Sept. 4, 1835, a son of Benjamin Casey. Benjamin Casey began to learn the carpenter’s trade of his father and worked at it eight years. In 1848 his parents moved to Steuben County, Ind., where he lived with them till the spring of 1864, when he came to De Kalb County, and lived in Wilmington Township three years and a half. He then moved to the farm he now owns, where he pays special attention to stock-raising, having many fine grades. His Poland-China and Chester-white hogs are unexcelled in the county. In addition to attending to his farm he also works at his trade. Mr. Casey was married Feb, 11,1858, to Sarah A. Mathews, a native of Chester County, Pa., daughter of Noble Mathews. Mrs. Casey is a member of the Odd Fellow’s order.

Submitted by: Arlene Goodwin
Auburn, Indiana
History of De Kalb County, Indiana.
Inter-State Publishing Company, Chicago, 1885.

Rev. James Cather, section 6, Stafford Township, is a native of Guernsey County, Ohio, born Aug, 25, 1819. His parents moved to Frederick County, Pa., where he was educated, and subsequently attended the Lutheran Literary and Theological Seminary at Gettysburg. He began preaching in the Allegheny Mountains while there recruiting his health, and in 1842 came West and preached a year in Stark and Tuscarawas counties, Ohio. He came to De Kalb County in 1844 and settled near Butler. He was employed as a missionary by the English synod of Ohio, and to organize churches, and in September, 1844, organized the Kepler church. He also organized the Wittenberg, Melborune Station, Denmark, and Spencerville churches. He was engaged in the work of the ministry thirty years, and in 1872 retired to agricultural life, although he still preaches occasionally to fill vacancies. He settled in Stafford Township on a farm where he owns 120 acres of choice land. He was married Jan. 1, 1847, to Lydia Norris. They commenced married life with nothing but their clothes, a horse and $3 in money. Mrs. Cather lived at home till he could buy an acre of land in Franklin Township. He then built a log house, which at that time was the best one in the county. He taught one winter and preached on the Sabbath and at night hunted raccoons, at which he made more money than both his other occupations. He has made his home in De Kalb County since 1844, with the exception of three years spent in Elkhart. He has experienced all the trials and hardships of a pioneer preacher, but has been rewarded for this toil by the consciousness that his labor has not been in vain. To him and his wife have been born nine children, but three of whom are living---Isabella, now the wife of Rev. J.B. Hawkins, of Ashland, Ohio; Charles F. and Pitt. Elizabeth, William, Kate, Susannah, James and Josephine are deceased. Mrs. Cather’s father, Charles Norris was a pioneer of this county, and laid out the town of Butler. He was a native of New England, a soldier in the war of 1812, and died at an advanced age.

Submitted by: Arlene Goodwin
Auburn, Indiana
History of De Kalb County, Indiana.
Inter-State Publishing Company, Chicago, 1885.

Benjamin A. Chaffie, Postmaster, Corunna, was born Oct. 11, 1815, in Tompkins County, N. Y., a son of Benjamin and Clarissa (Brefford) Chaffie, the former a native of Massachusetts, the latter of New York. In 1836 he removed to Medina County, Ohio, and Nov. 25 of that year was married to Caroline, daughter of George Story. In 1845 he settled in Fairfield Township this county, on forty acres of land entered from the Government. He changed locations several times, but continued farming pursuits till 1858, when he engaged in the mercantile business at Turkey Creek, which he followed till 1861, when he came to Corunna, where he was similarly engaged till 1869. In 1873 he received the appointment of Postmaster and Express Agent, position he still holds. To him and his first wife, who died Feb. 4, 1864, were born three children---Orlin, Lacisa (deceased), and Albert O. April 30, 1865, he married Mrs. Mary Conway, whose maiden name was Thompkins. At the first election held in Fairfield he was elected Trustee, and while living in Steuben County, Ind., served as Magistrate two terms. He is a member of the United Brethren church. He casts his suffrage with the Republican party.

Submitted by: Arlene Goodwin
Auburn, Indiana
History of De Kalb County, Indiana.
Inter-State Publishing Company, Chicago, 1885.

James N. Chamberlain, M.D., is a native of Cayuga County, N.Y., born March 22, 1922. His father, Samuel Chamberlain, was a native of Adams County, Pa., near Gettysburg, and when a young man went to Cayuga County, where he met and married Mercy Cotton, a native of Vermont. To them were born twelve children, nine of whom lived till maturity. The father died in 1865, and the mother in 1881. James N. was educated in the district school and than academy in Cayuga. In 1844 he went to Ohio and taught school in Richland and Huron counties several terms. In the spring of 1845 he began the study of medicine, and subsequently attended the Western Reserve Medical College at Cleveland, graduating with honors in February, 1849. He located in Seneca County, but soon after returned to Plymouth, Richland County, where he remained till 1852. Then lived a year in Huron County, and in the fall of 1853 came to Indiana and located at Auburn, and in 1865 removed to Waterloo where he has built up a large practice. He is one of the most prominent physicians of the county, and is held in high esteem, not only by the public, but by his brethren in the profession. He is a member of the Northeastern and the De Kalb County Medical societies. In 1860 Dr. Chamberlain was elected Sheriff of De Kalb County and served two years. In the early part of 1865 he entered the United States army as Surgeon of the One Hundred and Fifty-second Indiana Infantry and served till the close of the war. Dr. Chamberlain has always taken an interest in local affairs outside his profession and has been an active member of the Agricultural Society; was the first President of the society, and served nine consecutive years. He is a man of more than ordinary ability, and one capable of filling acceptably any position to which he may be called. Dr. Chamberlain was married March 29, 1849, to Catherine H. Brink, a native of Ohio. Two of their four children are living---Ida, wife of Judge R.W. McBride, and Ella E., wife of John W. Baxter, of Auburn, Laura married John M. Somers, of Waterloo, and died Aug. 27, 1884. Mrs. Chamberlain died March 26, 1861. She was an active member of the Presbyterian church, and was highly respected by all who knew her. In 1862 Dr. Chamberlain married Sarah Thomas a native of Wayne County, Ohio. They have two children---Harry D. and Nettie E. Politically Dr. Chamberlain is a Republican.

Submitted by: Arlene Goodwin
Auburn, Indiana
History of De Kalb County, Indiana.
Inter-State Publishing Company, Chicago, 1885.

James Chambers, deceased, was born in Loudoun County, Va., near Harper’s Ferry, Sept. 3, 1787, a son of William Chambers, also a native of Virginia, of English descent. He was married in 1811 to Sarah Barrack, and soon after moved to Jefferson County, Ohio, and settled in the woods with Indians and wild animals for neighbors. Subsequently he moved to Carroll County, Ohio, where he followed farming till the fall of 1844, when he came to De Kalb County and settled on section 15, Wilmington Township, making another home in the woods, where he lived till Sept. 15, 1860. His wife died July 2, 1881. They were members of the Methodist Episcopal church. They had a family of eleven children, seven of whom are living---Lucinda, Catherine, Melinda, Robert, Mary, James and William. Lucinda is the widow of Samuel Hankins, and has had four children, three living. Melinda married A.T. Packer, and has had seven children; five are living. James married Sarah Griffith. One daughter, Delilah, who died in 1864, was the wife of T.T. McCurdy. Another daughter, Elizabeth, died Jan. 27, 1885. She was the wife of Nicholas Minich, of Massillon, Ohio, and had six children, four of whom are living. Robert, William, Catherine and Mary live on the old homestead, which contains 105 acres of valuable land.

Submitted by: Arlene Goodwin
Auburn, Indiana
History of De Kalb County, Indiana.
Inter-State Publishing Company, Chicago, 1885.

James Chambers, Jr., was born in Carroll County, Ohio, May 2, 1830, a son of James and Sarah (Barrack) Chambers, and in 1844 came with his parents to De Kalb County, Ind., and settled on section 15, Wilmington Township, where he grew to manhood. He in early life learned the mason’s trade, which has been his occupation since arriving at man’s estate. He was married Oct. 12, 1851, to Sarah Griffith, daughter of Hezekiah Griffith, who settled in De Kalb County in 1850. Mr. and Mrs. Chambers have had five children, but two of whom are living---Calvin D. and Flora. A son, Walter W., died Dec. 8, 1880, in the twenty-first year of his age. Mr. Chambers has been Constable of Wilmington Township four years. He is a member of the Masonic Fraternity.

Submitted by: Arlene Goodwin
Auburn, Indiana
History of De Kalb County, Indiana.
Inter-State Publishing Company, Chicago, 1885.

Rev. H. W. Cherry was born in Erie County, N.Y., July 16, 1828. His father, Rev. Henry Cherry, was a native of Canada, and in 1841 brought his family to De Kalb County and settled on a farm in Wilmington Township, a mile south of Butler. He was a minister of the Free-Will Baptist church, but the latter years of his life had no regular appointment. Our subject was reared on a farm, but received a good education, and in 1854 entered the ministry of the United Brethren church. He was engaged in the regular work about twenty-five years; two years of the time was in Steuben County, two years in Hampdon County, Mass., and sixteen years in Wauseon, Ohio. In May, 1882, his health failing, he retired from the regular work and located in Butler. In 1883 he received a injury in his hip, from the effects of which he will probably never recover. He is a liberal supporter of his church and all its interests, and has given his farm near Butler, valued at $6,000, to endow the Greek chair in the Union Biblical Seminary at Dayton, Ohio, reserving the income for his use till his death. Mr. Cherry was married in March, 1851, to Louisa French, a native of New York State. Their only child is deceased.

Submitted by: Arlene Goodwin
Auburn, Indiana
History of De Kalb County, Indiana.
Inter-State Publishing Company, Chicago, 1885.

Lyman Chidsey was born in the State of New York, and is his youth removed with his parents to Medina County, Ohio, whence in 1841 he came to this county, where till his death, a period of nearly forty years, he resided. Jan. 11, 1844, he was married to a daughter of the late John Somers, Eliza, who survives him. Shortly after their marriage they moved upon the farm adjoining Auburn, on which he breathed his last. Mr. Chidsey was a quiet and retiring man, and because of his early removal to new and unsettled portions of the country, had not the advantages of early education as our youths now have. He was a man of many virtues in his character, of a sound judgment, and of enlarged views of man and his obligations. His mind was always open for information and to reason, and when made up was firm and unswerving, as was his attachment to family and friends. His neighbors and associates always knew his convictions, which he maintained with reason and judgement, and always on the side of morality and in the interest of and for the good of society. His neighbors and friends realized these good qualities in our friend and neighbor, as was evidenced by the large concourse who, regardless of the severe inclemency of the weather, attended the funeral from the Presbyterian church, of which denomination he had been a member for several years. Thus lived and died a good man (God’s noblest work), a pioneer of the county, leaving to mourn his loss, a widow and one child, Mrs. William Ashleman, and hosts of friends and neighbors.

Submitted by: Arlene Goodwin
Auburn, Indiana
History of De Kalb County, Indiana.
Inter-State Publishing Company, Chicago, 1885.

Willard Childs is a native of New York, born in Oneida County, Feb. 15, 1811, the second son of Phineas and Theodosia (Evans) Childs, the former a native of Massachusetts, of English descent, and the latter of Connecticut, of Welsh descent. In 1813 his parents moved to Jefferson County, N.Y., and thence in 1826 to Onondaga County. When he was fifteen years of age he began to work by the month for farmers. In 1837 he came to De Kalb County, Ind., and bought 120 acres of land, and after paying for it had 73 cents left. He then went to Ft. Wayne and earned the money with which to return to New York. In 1846 he moved his family to De Kalb County, landing in Fairfield Township, Aug. 24. He moved into a log cabin, belonging to B.A. Chaffee, and a short time after bought the land on which it stood. There were but fourteen families in the township when he settled here, and the land was mostly heavily timbered. He has added to his first purchase till he has 286 acres of land, which comprises one of the best farms in the township. 125 acres of this he has cleared an improved himself. He has seen De Kalb County change from a forest to one of the most prosperous counties.

Submitted by: Arlene Goodwin
Auburn, Indiana
History of De Kalb County, Indiana.
Inter-State Publishing Company, Chicago, 1885.

John N. Clark, farmer and stock-raiser, section 16, Franklin Township, was born in York County, Pa., May 26, 1822. His father, David Clark, was born in Lancaster County, Pa., Dec. 13, 1799, and in the spring of 1846 moved to De Kalb County, Ind., and settled on section 17, Franklin Township, where he lived till 1875; them lived with our subject till his death, Sept. 8, 1879. John N. Clark moved to De Kalb County in the fall of 1846, and lived with his father till March, 1847, when he moved to the farm where he now lives. He was the first settler on section 16. He has cleared 200 acres of land, 130 of which he owns. In 1847, ’48 and ’49 he planted his corn without plowing the ground, chopping holes and dropping corn in them. He was married December, 1843, in Stark County, Ohio, to Mary M. Hamman, daughter of Daniel Hamman, and early settler of De Kalb County. To them were born nine children, six of whom are living---Levi, Martha A., Joanna, Olive , Fietta and Phila. Mr. Clark owns 240 acres of valuable land, with a good residence and farm buildings.

Submitted by: Arlene Goodwin
Auburn, Indiana
History of De Kalb County, Indiana.
Inter-State Publishing Company, Chicago, 1885.

Orrin C. Clark, a pioneer of De Kalb County, was born near Beldingsville, Onondago Co., N.Y., May 6, 1825, a son of Henry and Betsy (Tappen) Clark, with whom he lived at his birthplace till seventeen years of age. In 1842 they came to Indiana and settled in Butler Township, De Kalb County, had but limited educational advantages, but by private study and observation he acquired a reasonable business education. He remained at home till twenty year of age, but in the meantime had worked for the neighboring framers, and although a part of the time he had been paid but $11 a month, he had been economical and in 1845 had saved enough to buy eighty acres of wild land in Butler Township. He continued to work out for two years, mostly at chopping, and at odd times worked on his own land, and by the time he was married, in 1847, had considerable of it cleared. He lived on different farms in Butler Township till 1882, when he retired from agricultural pursuits and moved to Auburn. He has served several terms a Justice of the Peace and Assessor of Butler Township, and two terms as Trustee of Keyser Township, and has been the nominee of the Republican party for Sheriff, Commissioner, and Representative to the State Legislature. Oct, 17, 1847, he was married to Serena, daughter of Paul and Susannah Long, of Butler Township. She was born in Champaign County, Ohio, Oct. 14, 1832, and came to De Kalb County, Ind., in 1841. They have eight children living at this date, and have buried three. Those now living are---Harriett, wife of John Huston; Harvey, a farmer; Frank, a dealer in live-stock and butcher at Garrett; Nettie, Elmer, Origin, Mary and Roxanna at home. Mr. and Mrs. Clark are members of the Protestant Methodist church. He is a member of the Masonic lodge at Garrett; was one of the charter members, and has served as Treasurer. For thirty years he was a strong Abolitionist, and now an earnest, active Prohibitionist.

Submitted by: Arlene Goodwin
Auburn, Indiana
History of De Kalb County, Indiana.
Inter-State Publishing Company, Chicago, 1885.

Thomas Jefferson Clark was born in Richland County, Ohio, Sept. 9, 1850, the eldest son and second child of George and Delilah (Schaffer) Clark. In 1851 his parents moved to De Kalb County, Ind., and here he was reared and educated. When he was ten years of age he began to assist his father in running a threshing-machine, working for the farmers in harvest. He has been successful in his business transactions and is one of the most prosperous young men in the county. He owns 110 acres of choice land, all well improved, with a pleasant residence and good farm buildings. Mr. Clark was married in 1871 to Harriet Weaver, daughter of David Weaver, of Auburn, Ind. To them were born two children---Mary M. and Aldie May. In 1876 Mrs. Clark was burned while lighting a fire with kerosene, and lived but a few hours. Feb. 27, 1879, Mr. Clark married Dorothea Ann Cochran, daughter of Thomas Cochran, of Keyser Township. They have two children---David E. and Walter S. Politically, Mr. Clark is a Republican.

Submitted by: Arlene Goodwin
Auburn, Indiana
History of De Kalb County, Indiana.
Inter-State Publishing Company, Chicago, 1885.

Cassius J. Coats, attorney, Butler, Ind., commenced the practice of law at this place Sept. 6, 1880.

Submitted by: Arlene Goodwin
Auburn, Indiana
History of De Kalb County, Indiana.
Inter-State Publishing Company, Chicago, 1885.

Dr. Noyce Coats was born in Warren, Pa., in 1822, and died in Wilmington, Ind., in 1877. He had no educational advantages beyond a few terms in a district school in Green, Trumbull Co., Ohio, and the home instructions of his father and mother, Rufus and Mercy Coats, who, when their son was in his fifteenth year, in 1837, migrated to the woods of Indiana. Here Noyce grew to manhood as a farm laborer, but never without a book in his pocket or fastened on the plow he followed in a convenient place for his eyes to glance upon it that he might memorize that which proved, afterward, of great service to him, for in the succeeding years we find him employed as a teacher in the log school-houses of De Kalb County. He had a memory disciplined by methods not taught him by others, and an intellect that expanded for something more. In 1860, with his family consisting of his wife (Rebecca Culp, born in Youngstown, Ohio, in 1827, and died in Wilmington, Ind., in 1881) and three children---Cassius J., George W. and Letitia A.-he removed from this county to Ann Arbor Mich., where he attended a full course of lectures. He received the appointment of Surgeon in the army during the Rebellion and served till the close of the war, when he returned to Indiana where he resided, in the practice of his profession. His manners were genial, his affections warm, his conversation instructive, his temperament cheerful, his gayety overflowing, and the poor and destitute of the community lost a liberal and humane benefactor by his death, which occurred after an illness of four days, of inflammation of the lungs.

Submitted by: Arlene Goodwin
Auburn, Indiana
History of De Kalb County, Indiana.
Inter-State Publishing Company, Chicago, 1885.

Asher W. Coburn, deceased, was born in Ontario County, N.Y., March 3, 1803, and died in De Kalb County, Ind., July 11, 1874. He was a son of Asher and Esther (Whitney) Coburn, who moved to Trumbull County, Ohio, about 1818, where he lived with them till manhood. He was by occupation a farmer, following it in Ohio till his removal to De Kalb County, Ind., March 1, 1836. Here he entered 240 acres of Government land on sections 23 and 24, Concord Township, which he cleared and improved and made his home till his death. He was married June 13, 1823, to Hannah Headley, daughter of Samuel and Rachel (James) Headley, who came from Pennsylvania to Ohio in an early day. To them were born three children---Phoebe, wife of Jacob Dermott; Francis, deceased; Roxanna, widow of Harvey Ackley. His wife died Sept. 8, 1857, aged fifty-three years. He afterward married Mrs. Susan Shull, now resident of Allen County. He was a member of the Disciple church. In politics he was at first a Whig but after its organization voted with the Republican party.

Submitted by: Arlene Goodwin
Auburn, Indiana
History of De Kalb County, Indiana.
Inter-State Publishing Company, Chicago, 1885.

Charles M. Coburn, farmer and stock-raiser, was born in Trumbull County, Ohio, Nov.21, 1827, son of Ebenezer and Deliverance (Wilson) Coburn. In August, 1838, his parents moved to De Kalb County, Ind., and settled in Concord Township, where he was reared, his youth being spent in assisting his father clear and cultivate a frontier farm. When seventeen years of age he began to work for the farmers by the month, and when nineteen years of age he was married, and then for several years rented land in this township. In February,1855, he bought forty acres of timber land which he cleared, and to which he has since added thirty acres. This he has brought under a good state of cultivation and now has a pleasant home and is surrounded with all that makes life comfortable. He was married Nov. 15, 1846, to Almira Milliman, a native of New York, daughter of John and Mary (Warren) Milliman. To them were born eight children, five of whom are loving---Helen A., Emma A., William H. H., Charles Marcellus and Otis B.. Harriet E., Agnes B., and Rosalie F. are deceased. Mrs. Coburn died Feb. 12, 1871, and Feb. 5, 1874, Mr. Coburn married Jane E. Allen, daughter of William and Elizabeth (Brownley) Allen. They have five children---Allen E, Clarence A., Ella C., Caroline B., and John H.. Mr. Coburn is a member of the Disciples church. Politically he is a Republican.

Submitted by: Arlene Goodwin
Auburn, Indiana
History of De Kalb County, Indiana.
Inter-State Publishing Company, Chicago, 1885.

Ebenezer Coburn, deceased, was one of the most esteemed pioneers of De Kalb County. He was born in Vermont, Oct. 8, 1794, son of Ebenezer and Sybil (Robinson) Coburn, the former born July 4, 1752, of Scotch parentage, and the latter Sept. 14, 1755, of English descent. His parents were married Nov. 22, 1777, and when he was a child moved to New York State, where he grew to manhood. Sept. 13, 1813, he was married to Phoebe Henry, who died July 1, 1815. They had one child---John H., deceased. Sept. 17, 1815, he married Deliverance Wilson, and in the fall of 1827 moved to Trumbull County, Ohio, where he engaged in farming, and also worked at the shoemaker’s trade. In 1835 he entered 160 acres of Government land in Concord Township, De Kalb County, Ind., and in August,1838, moved his family to their new home in the woods. He cleared and improved his land, remaining on it till his death, Aug. 9, 1847. His wife survived him till May 14, 1864. They had a family of ten children, six of whom are living---Otis R., Russell G., Charles M., Henry W., Chauncey, and Caroline. Phoebe H., William W., Eliza J., and Anna A., are deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Coburn were members of the Disciples church. In politics he was an old line Whig. He served his township as Justice of the Peace four years.

Submitted by: Arlene Goodwin
Auburn, Indiana
History of De Kalb County, Indiana.
Inter-State Publishing Company, Chicago, 1885.

Henry W. Coburn, merchant, Newville, Ind., was born in Trumbull County, Ohio, March 15, 1830, a son of Ebenezer and Delia (Wilson) Coburn, his father a native of Burlington, Vt., and his mother of Massachusetts. In 1838 his parents moved to De Kalb County, Ind., and settled in the Coburn settlement in Concord Township, where he was reared and educated. In 1857 he was married and moved to Newville, and located on the lot where he has since lived. In 1864 he built his residence. He worked at the carpenter’s trade a few years, and in the spring of 1863 bought a half interest in the Newville saw-mill, which he ran four years. He then worked at his trade till the spring of 1870, when he engaged in merchandising in company with A.A. Fetterer, under the firm name of Fetterer & Coburn. In 1876 he bought his partner’s interest and has since carried on the business alone. He carries a capital stock of $5,000, consisting of dry goods, groceries, boots, shoes, hats, caps crockery, hardware, etc. He keeps constantly on hand a complete stock of everything in his line and has a good trade, doing an annual business of $10,000. In 1881 he built a new store 24 x 50 feet in size, which is one of the neatest and most conveniently arranged in the town. Mr. Coburn was married Nov. 27, 1857, to Sophia Mathews, a native of Concord Township, daughter of John Mathews, a pioneer of De Kalb County, now deceased. Mr. Coburn is one of the representative business men of Newville, but is quiet and unassuming in his manner, and never seeks fficial honors, preferring to attend strictly to his own affairs, and leaving the cares of office to others. He and his wife are members of the Christian church.

Submitted by: Arlene Goodwin
Auburn, Indiana
History of De Kalb County, Indiana.
Inter-State Publishing Company, Chicago, 1885.

John F. Coburn, deceased, one of the most prominent of the old pioneers, was born in Ontario County, N.Y., July 22, 1806, a son of Asher Coburn, and died in De Kalb County, Ind., April 8, 1879. He was ten years of age when his parents moved to Trumbull County, Ohio, and there he was reared on a frontier farm. Obtaining a practical education in the district schools, and by studying in his leisure hours. He learned the shoemaker’s trade in his youth, and worked at it till his removal to De Kalb County, Ind., March 1, 1836. He entered 120 acres of Government land, which he began to clear and improved, and also worked at his trade. He was elected County Clerk and Recorder, the first in the county, and made an efficient officer. He was an active member of the Disciples church, and took a great interest in the cause of Christianity. Politically he was first a Whig and later a Republican. He was married Nov. 25, 1830, to Minerva Twadell, who died Oct. 8, 1840. They had three children--- Jacob O., Laura E., and Edwin R. The sons were both soldiers in the war of the Rebellion. Jacob O. died in a rebel prison. Edwin R. is now a resident of Dushville, Isabella Co., Mich. July 11, 1841, Mr. Coburn married Alzada M. Gay, who died March 28, 1850. April 20, 1852, he married Betsey A. Wilmot, a native of Portage County, Ohio, born June 7, 1812. They had one child---Wilmot P. Mrs. Coburn and her son are living on the old homestead, which contains 160 acres of valuable land, under a good state of cultivation.

Submitted by: Arlene Goodwin
Auburn, Indiana
History of De Kalb County, Indiana.
Inter-State Publishing Company, Chicago, 1885.

Russell G. Coburn, a son of Ebenezer and Deliverance (Wilson) Coburn, was born in Ontario County, N.Y., Aug . 8, 1825, and was two years of age when his parents moved to Trumbull County, Ohio, and thirteen when they moved to De Kalb County, Ind. He remained with his parents, assisting in the cultivation of the farm, till his marriage, and then took charge of the old homestead and cared for his parents the remainder of their lives. For forty-six years he has lived on his farm, and has witnessed and materially assisted the development of the county. For twenty years he worked at the carpenter and joiner’s trade in connection with farming. He was married July 6, 1845, to Mary Milliman, daughter of John and Mary (Warren) Milliman. They have had a family of eleven children, nine of whom are living---Augustus B., Sarah J., Phoebe Eve, Elsie Ann, Mary E., Alva S., Warren W., Caroline E. and Harriet A.. Mr. and Mrs. Coburn have been members of the Christian church forty-five years. Politically he has been a member of the Republican party since its organization.

Submitted by: Arlene Goodwin
Auburn, Indiana
History of De Kalb County, Indiana.
Inter-State Publishing Company, Chicago, 1885.

Thomas Cochran, a son of John and Mary (Cubison) Cochran, was born in Perry County, Ohio, Aug. 24, 1815. His father was a native of Pennsylvania, and his mother of Ireland, coming to America in childhood. They were married in Pennsylvania, and soon after moved to Perry County, Ohio, being among the earliest settlers. Thomas was reared in his native county, making the old homestead his home for over forty years. After attaining his majority he bought the interests of the other heirs, to his father’s estate, and took care of his parents till their death. In September, 1858, he moved to Indiana, purchasing land in Richland, now Keyser Township, where he has since resided. He has been an industrious, energetic man, and prosperity has crowned his labors. He was married March 17, 1844, to Amanda Soine, born Jan. 18, 1826, daughter of Henry and Catherine Soine, natives of Maryland. They have had thirteen children---Hannah C., born Dec. 26, 1844; Edward T., born July 9, 1846, died July 17, 1850; Mary A., born Jan. 8, 1848; Emily M., born Aug. 22, 1849; William H., born May 15, 1851; Joseph P., born Jan. 8, 1853; David S., born Feb. 21, 1855; Dorothea A., born March 28, 1857; Eli T., born May 13, 1859; Benjamin F., born April 19, 1861; Ira A., born Dec. 25, 1862; died May 8, 1864; Ralph B., born Aug. 24, 1864; Charles K., born Sept. 14, 1867. Mr. and Mrs. Cochran are members of the Baptist church. Politically he casts his suffrage with the Democratic party.

Submitted by: Arlene Goodwin
Auburn, Indiana
History of De Kalb County, Indiana.
Inter-State Publishing Company, Chicago, 1885.

Herman N. Coffinberry, train master and traffic manager of the third, fourth and seventeenth district of the eastern division of the Wabash Railway, was born in Sherman Township, St. Joe Co., Mich., April 23, 1846, a son of S.C. Coffinbery, an attorney of Constantine, Mich. Our subject’s educational advantages were limited. At the age of fourteen years he was employed by John Putnam in his native county and worked as a farm hand at $10 per month for ten months, after which he spent a few months in his father’s office. In 1861 he went to Three Rivers, Mich., and worked as a mason for four months, and from there to Adamsville, Mich., where he worked two years for Hon. George Redfield. He then returned to Constantine, Mich., and was first employed in the freight-house of the Michigan Southern & Northern Indiana Railroad Company for one year, after which he had charge of the freight and ticket office until 1870. He then returned to Three Rivers, Mich., and took charge of the station there for the same company until February, 1873, when he went to Cleveland and was revising clerk in Addison Hill’s freight office three months. His health failing him he went of Osage, Iowa, where he remained till 1875, and during that time he was engaged in the mercantile business. He was also Deputy U.S. Marshal some time. He returned to Constantine with his stock of goods and carried on the business at that place a few months. In the spring of 1876 he went to Wabash, Ind., and was engaged as master of transportation for the Cincinnati, Wabash & Michigan Railroad, and in the fall of 1878 entered the employ of the Wabash Railway Company, taking charge of the yards at Fort Wayne until the fall of 1881, when he came to Butler, assuming the duties of his present position. March 20, 1878, he was married at Wabash, Ind., to Miss Elizabeth, daughter of William Ditlor. They have two children---William H. and John B. Mr. Coffinberry has been a Mason for eighteen years, and a Knight Templar fifteen years, and has recently had the Consistory degrees conferred upon him. His father was formerly Grand Master of Michigan and at one time held the office of Grand High Priest of the chapter.

Submitted by: Arlene Goodwin
Auburn, Indiana
History of De Kalb County, Indiana.
Inter-State Publishing Company, Chicago, 1885.

Charles Coffrin, carpenter and joiner, Butler, Ind., was born in Whitley, Canada, thirty miles east of Toronto, Dec. 8, 1839, a son of Robert Coffrin, a native of Vermont, who moved to Canada in 1836 and died there in 1849. His mother is now the widow of Abraham Scott, and lives in Butler. In 1859 Mr. Coffrin went to Dodge County, Wis., and worked at his trade till February, 1862, when he enlisted in Company E, Nineteenth Wisconsin Infantry, and served three years, participating in the battles of Fortress Monroe, siege of Yorktown, where the regiment met with a heavy loss, Suffolk, Dreary Bluff and others. His brother Amasa was in the same regiment and was killed at Dreary Bluff. After his return from the war Mr. Coffrin came to Indiana, in June, 1865, and worked for W.W. Egnew, of Butler, two years making pumps; then worked at his trade a few years, when he bought a farm near Butler. In 1883 he returned to Butler, and has since paid the greater part of his attention to horses. He has one horse, Framers’ Pride, which is four years old and weighs 1,700 pounds; another, Canadian Jack, is five years old and weighs 1,750 pounds. Mr. Coffrin was married June 11, 1861, to Mary Howard, daughter of Morris Howard, of Steuben County, Ind. To them have been born two children, but one of whom is living---Evalena. She is a well-known teacher of Franklin and Wilmington townships, and is a graduate of Butler High School.

Submitted by: Arlene Goodwin
Auburn, Indiana
History of De Kalb County, Indiana.
Inter-State Publishing Company, Chicago, 1885.

Payne K. Coggswell, engineer for the Wabash Railway, Butler, Ind., was born in Litchfield County, Conn., Feb. 9, 1846, a son of Hiram H. Coggswell. He was educated in his native town, Canaan, remaining there till fourteen years of age, when he came West and went to work on the Illinois Central Railroad as newsboy, running from Chicago to Centralia. Two and a half years later he returned to Connecticut and followed the same business on the Housatonic Railroad till 1863, when he was employed on the same road as fireman; worked in that capacity two and a half years, and Sept. 19, 1865, was given charge of an engine. He was employed as engineer five years, and in 1870 was transferred to a new road, the Connecticut Western, on which he worked nine and a half years. He ran the engine on the first passenger train that went into Hartford on that road. In the summer of 1879 he entered the employ of the Wabash Railroad, running between Lafayette and Danville. In August, 1881, he was transferred to Butler, where he has since lived. Mr. Coggswell was married Nov. 3, 1869, to Minnie E., daughter of Mervin E. Lente, of West Point, N.Y. The have two children---Katie M. and Alice B. Mr. Coggswell is a member of the Masonic fraternity and the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers. He was Master of his lodge in Millerton, N.Y., six years.

Submitted by: Arlene Goodwin
Auburn, Indiana
History of De Kalb County, Indiana.
Inter-State Publishing Company, Chicago, 1885.

I. N. Cool, manufacture of buggies and carriages, Auburn, IN., is a native of De Kalb County Ind., born in Jackson Township, Oct. 12, 1850. He is the second son and third child of Isaac and Catherine (Snyder) Cool, natives of New York and early settlers of De Kalb County, coming here in 1843. He was reared on a farm, receiving his early education in the district schools and completing it at the Auburn Academy. While attending school he taught for a time. After reaching his majority he began to clerk in a general store in Auburn, and a year later became associated with his employer in the grocery department. He subsequently bought his partner’s interest and carried on the business alone two years. Then sold out and engaged in the livery business five years, and in 1881 established his present business. He manufactures all kinds of buggies and carriages, and does a general repairing business. Mr. Cool was married July 16, 1877, to Allie Fair, daughter of Abraham and Christina (Delong) Fair, early settlers of De Kalb County from Dayton, Ohio. They have three children---Vina F., Sidney M., and Franklin C. Politically Mr. Cool is a Democrat.

Submitted by: Arlene Goodwin
Auburn, Indiana
History of De Kalb County, Indiana.
Inter-State Publishing Company, Chicago, 1885.

John Cool, one of the prominent and reliable citizens of Jackson Township, resides on section 17, where he has a comfortable home and is surrounded with a happy family and kind friends. He was born in Yates County, N. Y., Aug. 1, 1828, moved to Sandusky County, Ohio, where his father soon after died. His mother then returned to New York with her five youngest children, her eldest, Daniel, remaining in Ohio. She died about a year later. When eleven years of age John returned to Ohio and lived with his brother Daniel, who was married, till 1843, when he came to De Kalb County with his brothers Christopher and Isaac, reaching the county Nov. 18. Both brothers died in this county, Daniel Cool and his family afterward moved to Jackson Township and later to Union Township, where he died in 1882. Another brother, Thomas Cool, came still later and now resides in Auburn. A sister, Mrs. Catherine Thrall, moved to Sandusky County, Ohio, and died there. John Cool remained in De Kalb County till 1850 and then visited Ohio and New Jersey where he had a sister, Mrs. Sarah D. Hunt, spending about a year, and while there, Oct. 8, 1851, was married to Sarah A. Wilson, a native of Sussex County, N.J., born April 5, 1831. They then came to his forest home and commenced housekeeping in the log cabin. Ten children have been born to them---James, Mary E., wife of W.S. Dancer; Alice, wife of Alpheus McClellan; Thomas; Clara, wife of J.S. Weaver; John, Jr., Viola and George W. Two are deceased, Perry and Charles P. Mr. Cool is a Democrat in political faith.

Submitted by: Arlene Goodwin
Auburn, Indiana
History of De Kalb County, Indiana.
Inter-State Publishing Company, Chicago, 1885.

Samuel Cornell, one of the substantial citizens of Jackson Township, was born in Carroll County, Md., June 29, 1821, a son of Smith and Mary Cornell. His father was a well-educated man and a teacher by profession, mathematics being his specialty. Samuel was the eleventh of his father’s family, seven of whom grew to maturity and lived to an advanced age. The youngest living to become sixty years of age. Mr. Cornell had a good educational advantage in his youth, which he well improved. He was taught mainly by his father, a most excellent preceptor, and also had the benefit of several terms at Gettysburg College. Mr. Cornell visited this county first in 1838 in company with his older brothers, Benjamin and John. The former settled in Williams County, Ohio, and the latter in Butler Township, this county. Both are now deceased. Samuel remained in this vicinity two years, then returning to Maryland, he taught the most of the time till 1848. Late in that year, again visited this township and selected the place he now occupies, spending a year here. He then returned to Maryland and taught two terms in Washington County, and March 26, 1850, was married to Mary A. Hawver, who was born in Frederick County, Md., March 9, 1830. The following June found them in their new home, having made the journey in a wagon, being three weeks on the road. Mr. Cornell commenced life in De Kalb County with very limited means, but industry combined with frugality has had its proper reward, and he now has one of the finest farms in this part of the county. His dwelling and farm buildings are unsurpassed and in his declining yeas he has promise of plenty of this world’s goods, which, combined with the love and esteem of his neighbors, insures him a peaceful old age. Mr. Cornell taught the first school in his district. He and his wife are members of the Lutheran church. In 1859 he was sent as a delegate to the General Synod convened at Pittsburg, Pa., to represent the Northern Indiana Synod, going via Albany and New York City that he might visit his brother, Rev. Nathan H. Cornell, then located at Ghent, Columbia Co., N. Y. He loves to relate the adventures his Hoosier appearance led to. One in particular which occurred in the streets of New York City. The Albany boat having reached the wharf at an early hour, he thought he would stroll uninterrupted as the streets were quiet. Walking up Cortland street, the only two men in sight seemed to see something in him worth developing. After some preliminaries one approached him from the front and the other from the rear. This to him meant robbery, but the dauntless bearing and unwavering course of Mr. Cornell caused a retreat of the ruffians, who upon closer inspection found they were mistaken in their man. Mr. Cornell served two terms of four years each as Director of Wittenburg College at Springfield, Ohio. He, as was his father, was a strong anti-slavery man prior to the war, and that in the slave State of Maryland. He is now an ardent Republican. Mr. and Mrs. Cornell have had a family of six children---Mary, deceased, wife of Alexander Freeman; Wesley Calvin, of Washington Territory; Hester V., wife of R. C. Provines; Martha E., wife of Thomas Elson; Laura, at home and George, who died at the age of thirteen months. Mattie Freeman, the daughter of their daughter Mary, has been adopted into the home of her grandparents.

Submitted by: Arlene Goodwin
Auburn, Indiana
History of De Kalb County, Indiana.
Inter-State Publishing Company, Chicago, 1885.

W.H.H. Cornell, son of William and Mary M. Cornell, was born in Maryland in 1840, and was ten years of age when his parents moved to Indiana, and has helped to bring Butler Township to its present state of cultivated farms from a state of timber and wild land. He now owns a good farm of forty acres, all well improved. In 1861 he enlisted in Company K, Forty-fourth Indiana Infantry, and was soon sent to the front. He participated in the battles of Shiloh and siege of Corinth, Perryville, Stone River, and others of less note. He served three years, receiving a honorable discharge. Mr. Cornell was married in 1870 to Eliza Timberlain, daughter of Isaac Timberlain, and old settler of ButlerTownship. They have two children ---Perry B. and Jesse O. In his political views Mr. Cornell adheres to the faith of his father, and is a staunch Republican. He has served as Constable of his township a year and a half. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church.

Submitted by: Arlene Goodwin
Auburn, Indiana
History of De Kalb County, Indiana.
Inter-State Publishing Company, Chicago, 1885.

William Cornell, deceased, was born in Carroll County, Md., Jan. 14, 1813, a son of Smith and Mary Cornell. The former died in Maryland, and the latter in Nebraska. He was reared in his native State and there married. In 1850 he came with his wife and five children to Indiana, making the trip with wagons. He bought eighty acres of land in Butler Township, DeKalb County, a part of which was cleared, and four years later bought eighty acres more. Of this land he made a good farm, residing on it till his death. When he came to Indiana he had $300 in money, and his team, wagon and household goods. He and his wife went bravely to work, and the farm is now one of the best in the county. He was a man of firm, upright principles, and won the confidence and respect of all who knew him. He was an exemplary member of the Lutheran church. Mr. Cornell died Feb. 16, 1882. Mrs. Cornell resides in the old homestead. Of the seven children born to them, five are living---W.H.H., Benjamin F., Sebastian H., Winfield S. and Ellen V., wife of Stephen Surfis. Two sons were soldiers in the war of the Rebellion---W.H.H. and Benjamin F. Both enlisted in Company K, Forty-fourth Indiana Infantry. At Shiloh, Benjamin received a slight wound, and at Mission Ridge a severe one. He veteranized and served until the close of the war.

Submitted by: Arlene Goodwin
Auburn, Indiana
History of De Kalb County, Indiana.
Inter-State Publishing Company, Chicago, 1885.