RUSSEL BROWN, born January 24, 1805, is a native of Stephenstown, Rensselaer Co., N.Y. When quite young, moved with his father, Elijah Brown, to Berkshire County, Mass., and when about eighteen accompanied his parents to Cayuga County, N.Y., where he was married, in 1828, to Miss Laura Sweet, a native of Saratoga County, N.Y., born January 31, 1805, and daughter of Wm. Sweet, of Massachusetts. In 1835, they removed to Onondaga County, N.Y., residing one year, thence to this township, arriving July 14, 1836, and settling on Section 26. Mr. Brown, by diligent application, acquired quite a thorough education, and followed teaching a number of years, previous and subsequent to his arrival here, at which time he had about $2,000. Mr. and Mrs. Brown are parents of five children - Philena, when her parents came to this county did not accompany them, but remained with her gradfather, Sweet, and died at the age of fifteen; Ezekiel is a farmer of Steuben County, Ind.; Warren is a resident of this township, engaged in farming; Erastus is an attorney at Lincoln, Neb., and President of the Gage County Bank. He, while residing in New York, raised a military company, and was commissioned a Lieutenant in the late war; William the youngest, is an attorney at law, and formerly practiced at Lincoln, Neb. Mr. Brown has served as Justice of the Peace, Township Trustee, and County Surveyor. In November, 1855, Mr. Brown moved to Orland, where he has since resided, and where Mrs. Brown died, April 18, 1879. The father of the subject was born in Killingly, Conn., in 1773, of English descent. His maternal ancestors were Irish, and their descendants, for a number of generations, resided in Rhode Island, his grandfather on that side being a noted sea captain. His great-grandfather, William Smith, was compelled to flee from Ireland, and subsequently became a Lieutenant in the Revolutionary war.

Source: "1882 History LaGrange County, Indiana" by F.A.Battey & Co.., - Springfield Township



JOSEPHUS BUMPUS, son of John Bumpus, a native of New York, of Welsh descent, was born October 25, 1825, in Richland County, Ohio. Mr. Bumpus is a cooper by trade, and came to this county in the spring of 1846, locating at Ontario, where he was employed the first season at his trade, then in his shop until 1849, when he rented the "Widow Newton" farm, north of Ontario. About a year later he purchased land in this township, that has reached its present improved state by Mr. Bumpus' industry. December 10, 1848, Mr. Bumpus was married to Mary A. Sears, who was born in New York, June 10, 1832. She came to this county with her father, Chancey Sears, in about 1836, and lived with Judge Luther Newton from the age of six years until her marriage. Mr. and Mrs. Bumpus have seven children - Savilla, Viola, Roderick, Nellie, Carrie, Joseph and Cora.

Source: "1882 History LaGrange County, Indiana" by F.A.Battey & Co.., - Springfield Township



Z.M. CARR is a native of Washington County, N.Y., where he was born April 6, 1822. His father, Daniel Carr, a native of Rhode Island, moved to St. Joseph County, Mich., with his family in 1835, and two years later came to Pretty Prairie, this county, thence to English Prairie, then to Steuben County in 1843, where he died in 1844, leaving a wife - Martha (Mason) Carr - and seven children, the subject being the oldest son living. He assisted in caring for the family until twenty- eight years old; then with $240 came and purchased 50 acres of land in this township, making the rest of the payments ($160 in all) on time. His farm is now enlarged to 145 acres, and is well improved. In 1851, Mr. Carr and Miss Angeline Golden, who was born in Seneca County, N.Y., August 6, 1828, were united in marriage. Her father was Nathaniel Golden, a native of Nova Scotia, and her mother, Elizabeth (Tuttle) Golden, of New York; in 1836, they came with family to Steuben County, where their deaths occurred. Mrs. Carr died in 1872, January 15, leaving her husband and five children to mourn her loss; they are James B., Ella, Jarvis, Frank and Nellie. Mr. Carr is an enterprising Republican.

Source: "1882 History LaGrange County, Indiana" by F.A.Battey & Co.., - Springfield Township



ELISHA DEAL, son of Conrad and Elizabeth (Rawles) Deal, was born in 1830, in Marion County, Ohio. Both parents were Ohioans, and came here in 1835. His mother, who is residing at the home of her youngest daughter, Mrs. Holton, is in her seventy-sixth year. His father, after clearing a farm in Section 23, where they had lived many years, died in 1870. At the age of twenty-seven, Elisha Deal began farming for himself, having previously made his home with his father, and been engaged in running a threshing machine nine years. He purchased and improved land in Section 21, before locating on his present farm of 120 acres. Mr. Deal, although never a solicitor for office, has been chosen and served as Supervisor of Roads several times. Mrs. Deal is a faithful member of the M.E. Church. She was Catharine Millis, the daughter of Levin and Ruth (Leonard) Millis, natives of Maryland, where Catharine was born in 1834. She married Mr. Deal on the 14th of February, 1857, and they have two children - Augusta, now Mrs. Frank M. Smith, was born January 27, 1859, and Mary E., whose birth occurred on the 27th of August, 1863.

Source: "1882 History LaGrange County, Indiana" by F.A.Battey & Co.., - Springfield Township



HARRISON DEAL, the eldest born to Conrad and Elizabeth Deal now living, came to this county in 1835 with his parents, who located on Section 23. He was born April 20, 1828, in Marion County, Ohio, and from the age of sixteen to twenty-four was engaged a portion of the time as feeder for a threshing machine. Shortly after his marriage, January 5, 1851, to Miss Ellen Jones, he located on 80 acres of his present farm, the lease of which was given him by his father-in-law; but twelve years subsequently, he purchased that and 40 acres adjoining. He is now worth about $20,000. He has served as School Director and Pathmaster. Mr. and Mrs. Deal have had six children - Benjamin F., William H., Louis E., Charles H., (deceased), Carrie E. and Jennie M. Mrs. Deal's parents, Benjamin and Mary (Michael) Jones, were natives of Virginia. They came to this county in 1829, and located near Lexington, renting land until 1832, when Mr. Jones purchased 400 acres in Setion 20 and 21, at the first public sale of land in the county, upon which they settled. Mr. Jones was a leader in the La Grange Phalanx, and the first to introduce throughbred cattle into the county. Mr. Jones once went in search of his cattle and at the end of three weeks found them in the southern part of the State. In 8162, he moved to Kendallville, where he was familiarly known as "Uncle Ben". By reposing too much confidence in others, he lost a part of his property, and in 1875 moved to Fairbury, Neb., where he now resides, but expects to spend his remaining days at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Deal. Mr. Jones was born July 6, 1794, and is now in his eighty-eighth year. He served in the war of 1812, and was reared a Baptist; during his later days ha been a Spiritualist.

Source: "1882 History LaGrange County, Indiana" by F.A.Battey & Co.., - Springfield Township



HENRY DEAL came to this county with his parents, Conrad and Elizabeth Deal, in 1834. His birth occurred in Marion County, Ohio, February 22, 1832, and that of his wife, Helen, in this county, May 1, 1838. They were married on the 1st day of January, 1855. Her parents, Robert and Jane Wade, were English people. Mr. and Mrs. Deal have two children - Alice E., now Mrs. J.A. Spearow, and Willis H.; both are school-teachers. Mr. Deal, at the age of twenty-one, commenced carpentering, and continued that occupation until in 1857, whenhe invested in property in this township, 100 acres of wild land. That is now his hoome, and is all well improved. Mr. Deal, with his son, attended the Centennial Exposition at Philadelphia. He has held the office of Assessor four terms, being first elected in 1877, and also has served as Supervisor a number of terms, and has executed the duties satisfactorily.

Source: "1882 History LaGrange County, Indiana" by F.A.Battey & Co.., - Springfield Township



WILLIAM DUNBAR is a native of Summit County, Ohio, born in 1829, May 7. In Milford Township, on the 7th of September, 1838, Mary Perkins was born. She was the daughter of Jacob and Sarah A. (Phipps) Perkins, natives of Pennsylvania and Ohio, and of German and English descent. She was married to Mr. Dunbar, April 12, 1857. He is the son of David and Mary (Rhodenbaugh) Dunbar, both natives of Pennsylvania, and of Irish and English descent. David Dunbar, at the time of his death, was living at the home of his son William; the former first came to this county in the spring of 1853, and the subject came in the fall of the same year, remaining near Wolcottville until in March, 1862, when he located on the farm of 200 acres, entered by John B. Clark; he now owns 280 acres, and is worth probably $15,000. His dwelling-house was erected at a cost of about $3,000. From the clear, running spring on Mr. Dunbar's farm, the township received its name, and 'twas here the first town-meeting was held. Mr. and Mrs. Dunbar are parents of two children, Jacob and William A.

Source: "1882 History LaGrange County, Indiana" by F.A.Battey & Co.., - Springfield Township



JOHN F. FRELIGH is a native of Ontario County, N.Y., and the son of John I. and Mary (Latta) Freligh; both parents were natives of New York, his father of German and his mother of Irish descent. October 29, 1823, John Freligh was born, and in the fall of 1845 came to this county, where he was variously employed until 1850, when he was married to Miss Susan A. Shepardson, the ceremony being performed by a Mr. Newton, Justice of the Peace. They soon after settled on her father's farm, that has since been purchased by the subject, and is yet their home. It comprises 187 acres of improved land. Five children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Freligh - Eva J., now Mrs. Joseph Geddes, of Oregon; Ida M., now Mrs. Richard Hopkins; Ella F., now Mrs. Fleming Barr; Arthur P. and Frank L. Mrs. Freligh is a native of Vermont, where she was born in February, 1832. Her parents were Otis and Susan Shepardson, of Vermont, and Sctoch and English ancestry. They came to this county in the fall of 1835, and lived the first winter in a log-house with puncheon floor and no windows. Mr. Shepardson died in 1843, of quick consumption, at the age of fifty-one, having secured a comfortable home for his wife and family of seven children. Mrs. Shepardson died at the age of eighty-four, in the fall of 1880. Mr. Freligh has served in the offices of Assessor, Road-master and School Director.

Source: "1882 History LaGrange County, Indiana" by F.A.Battey & Co.., - Springfield Township



ELSLEY W. FULLER is a native of Onondaga County, N.Y., where he was born January 10, 1818. In 1836, having saved $50, from laboring in the school-room, he started for the West, taking passage on the steamer "United States"; and while crossing from Dunkirk to Erie, the vessel struck a rock and sunk; but the passengers - eight hundred in number - were saved by being landed on a ledge-rock, where they remained all night, in a driving rani-storm. Mr. Fuller succeeded in reaching main land by means of a large tree that had fallen over the rock. He then proceeded overland to Erie, thence to Ypsilanti, Mich., where he taught one term of school; on to Calhoun County, Mich., then to this county, where he made a limited sojourn, returning to Gilead, Mich., to re-engage in teaching. Mr. Fuller was one of the members of the La Grange Association, at Lexington, until it disbanded. For seven years, or thereabouts, he lived on a farm in Milford Township, this county, that he bought in 1849; then purchased 260 acres in this township, but soon after found himself bankrupt. After having rented five years, he was able to buy the 100 acre farm where he yet lives, in this township. For many years Mr. Fuller has manufactured large quantities of cider jelly and sorghum molasses. He has been married three times; first to Keturah Sanders, of Branch County, Mich., in 1839. They had a family of three children - Mary J., Harriet M. and Melinda. After his wife's death, in 1852, Mr. Fuller married Mrs. Lois Hayward; she was the daughter of Stephen Severy, and died in 1878, leaving two children - Alice and Lucina. His present and third wife, to whom he was married in 1878, was Mrs. C.L. Rosell, the daughter of Abijah and Maria (Shoff) Brown. By her first marriage Mrs. Fuller had two children - Charles B. and Florence M., now Mrs. James L. Kingsbury, of Lima. Mr. Fuller is the son of Ezekiel and Eunice (Wyman) Fuller, natives of Massachusetts.

Source: "1882 History LaGrange County, Indiana" by F.A.Battey & Co.., - Springfield Township



G.F. HALL is a native of Clark County, Ohio, born April 2, 1832. His parents, William H. and Lucinda (Hull) Hall, came to this township in the year 1835, locating on Brushy Prairie. His father subsequently entered land in Section 16, also in Kosciusko County, which he traded for 130 acres near Lexington; increased this to 616 acres and sold for $27,000; his home at present is near Kendallville, where he purchased land in 1867. With $1,000, the subject, at the age of twenty-four, went to Michigan and contracted for a $10,000 farm. Through misfortunes he was compelled to resign this farm, and with $600 returned to Greenfield Township. Since coming to this township, in 1860, he has prospered, and is the owner of 256 acres ofland, improved. His residence was the first brick house built in the township and cost the owner about $3,400. The present Mrs. Hall, to whom he was married December 31, 1865, was a Mrs. Mary A. Appleman, the daughter of D.L. Popino. Flora is their only child. Mr. Hall's first wife died in December, 182; she was Lucinda Bradford, daughter of Elder Bradford, of this township. By their union which was consummated in Spetmember, 1857, three children were born, viz.: Charles, Franklin and Lucinda, deceased. Mr. Hall is a Republican and an enterprising man.

Source: "1882 History LaGrange County, Indiana" by F.A.Battey & Co.., - Springfield Township



GEORGE W. HALL, son of William H. and Lucinda (Hull) Hall, was born in Clark County, Ohio, in March, 1834. His father came to this township in 1835, and is residing now near Kendallville. The subject, in 1855, November 8, was married to Miss Margaret Pickles; her death occurred November 15, 1880; whe was born in England in 1833, and was the daughter of Robert and Jane Pickles. In the spring of 1856, Mr. Hall began farming on rented property, and two years later paid $1,600 for 120 acres of wild land in Greenfield Township; this he traded for other land in Greenfield and Springfield Townships; subsequently sold and purchased farm of eighty acres near Kendallville, that he finally exchanged for 160 acres in this township. Mr. Hall is living with his second wife, to whom he was married December 1, 1881; she was Mrs. Susan E. Selby, widow of Joseph Selby, by whom she had four children. Mr. Hall, by his first wife, had seven children. Although of limited education, Mr. Hall is behind the times in nothing, readily adopting new ideas and methods that are superior to old ones.

Source: "1882 History LaGrange County, Indiana" by F.A.Battey & Co.., - Springfield Township



WILLIS HASKINS is next to the oldest man in his township, and one of the oldest settlers; he came here with his parents, Erastus and Mary (Moore) Haskins, in August, 1836, and has ever since lived on the farm where they located. His father died at the age of seventy-two and his mother at seventy. Mr. Haskins is now in his eighty-fifth year; he has always been a leading farmer, and owns 208 acres of land, acquired by economical industry. He was one of the early Township Trustees. November 21, 1830, Willis HAskins and Miss Jane Jackson were united "for better or for worse". This lady died April 5, 1856, having borne her husband eight children, viz., Elizabeth, Franklin, Charles, George, Albert, Mary J., Edith and Willis. Mr. Haskins' second marriage was to Mrs. Clarissa L. Murray, daughter of John Kemp, October 25, 1858; they had two children, Eugene and Ella, deceased. Three sons of Mr Haskins served during the late war, Franklin, Charles and Albert; the former never lived to return, but rests in a soldier's grave at Nashville, Tenn. Previous to his advent to this county Mr. Haskins farmed in New York, his native State, being born in Cayuga County August 21, 1797.

Source: "1882 History LaGrange County, Indiana" by F.A.Battey & Co.., - Springfield Township



CHRISTOPHER L. HAWK, son of Christopher and Ellen Hawk, was born in Wurtemburg, Germany, in March, 1821. Mrs. Ellen Hawk died in 1823, and in 1825 Mr. Hawk was married to Lena Bopp. The subject, with his father and step-mother, came to America in 1831; after living three years in Holmes County, Ohio, they moved to Hancock County, thence in 1858 to De Kalb County, Ind., and after a sojourn of ten years came to the village of Mongo, where they are yet residing with their eldest son, the subject, at the respective ages of ninety-two and seventy-six. C.L. Hawk was married, in 1847, to Miss Sarah Wyckoff, the daughter of Casper B. and Catharine (Johnson) Wyckoff, New Jerseyites, of German descent. They had nine children, seven of whom are living: William C., a miller; Charles F., a merchant; John L., Eli Z., Mary E. (now Mrs. O.G. Long); Anna S. (now Mrs. Charles E. Dickenson), of White Pgeon, Mich., and Sarah E. Mr. and Mrs. Hawk are both members of the Baptist Church. Mr. Hawk is quite an experience miller, that having been his chief occupation since eighteen years of age; at that time he reeived $6 per month, and until 1845 gave all his earnings to his parents, and when he married had $60. In about 1850, he bought 80 acres of land, sold it in 1858 for $2,300, then came to this State and purchased a flouring-mill in De Kalb County, on the St. Joe River, previous to buying his saw and grist-mill and town property in the village of Mongo, where he is now located and respected as a prosperous business man and citizen.

Source: "1882 History LaGrange County, Indiana" by F.A.Battey & Co.., - Springfield Township



JOSEPH J. HOLTON, son of James and Susan Holton, came to this township in about 1859, for the purpose of spending the winter with hs brother-in-law, Dr. Spalding; but, being please with the country, has made it his permanent abiding place. Since twelve years of age, he has been dependent on his own resources. During the summer of 1860, he learned the carpenter's trade, but the two years following was employed in painting at La Grange, then began farm work, in the employ of Mr. Seaburn. In 1866, he commenced farming for him on shares. Two summers previous, he worked for Mr. Millis. Since then Mr. Holton has been engaged in farming and stock-raising to some extent. At the time the war opened, he had $96,but paid $76 to exempt the township draft. March 13, 1869, Mr. Holton and Miss Sarah Deal were united in matrimony. His birth occurred in Morrow County, Ohio, in September, 1843, and hers in this county in 1845. Her parents - Conrad and Elizabeth (Rawles) Deal - were among the first to locate in this township, coming here in 1834. Their humble cabin home was adorned with home-made furniture and an orchard raised from seed brought here by them. They had a family of twelve children, eight now living, viz.: Harrison, Elisha, Henry, Melinda, Frank, Teressa, Hdley and Sarah. Mr. and Mrs. Holton have an only son, Frank Vern, born January 5, 1880.

Source: "1882 History LaGrange County, Indiana" by F.A.Battey & Co.., - Springfield Township



PHINEAS T. HUNTSMAN is the son of Jesse and Lucy (Jones) Huntsman, natives of Pennsylvania and Vermont, who moved with their parents at an early date to Ohio, and shortly after the event of their marriage, came to this township in 1831, where Phineas T. was born December 29, 1832. Mr. Huntsman, Sr., took an active part in the organization of the township and the La Grange Phalanx or Association. He first located on Section 28, but subsequently sold and moved to Sections 20 and 21. That was his share in an association farm when it disbanded. Here he died in December, 1860. His wife died in May of the same year. Phineas Huntsman, after his father's death, purchased the homestead farm of 220 acres and fairly improved. On the 1st of January, 1862, he was married to Orissa Jennings, whose birth occurred in Jefferson County, N.Y., October 25, 1832. Her parents - Benjamin and Eliza (Hunt) Jennings - came to this township in 1854. Mrs. Jennings waas born in Vermont. She is seventy-one years old and is living on the homestead farm. Pennsylvania was Mr. Jennings' native State. He died in Allegan County, Mich., in October, 1878, having lived there ten years, Mr. and Mrs. Huntsman have had two children. Mary E. (deceased) was born January 30, 1867, and Jesse L., born November 22, 1869. Mr. Huntsman is a Republican and a man of good standing in society.

Source: "1882 History LaGrange County, Indiana" by F.A.Battey & Co.., - Springfield Township



MRS. HANNAH E. KINGSLEY, the daughter of Hustis and Eliza Cronkite, of New York, was born in Orange County, N.Y., in 1826. Her parents were a mixture of English, German and French descent. In 1845, Miss Hannah Cronkite was married to Lorin Kingsley, now deceased. They removed from Monroe County, N.Y., to Orleans County, same State, thence to Indiana in 1857, and located on the old association farm, their goods being lost on the way, leaving them almost entirely destitute of bedding and cooking utensils. They moved into a house about two hundred feet long and lived there about six weeks. Mr. Kingsley, from a poor boy, became one of the leading farmers and stock dealers of the township, owning at the time of his death, December 10, 1879, $30,000 worth of property or more. He was a thoroughly good man, and is mourned by his family and a large circle of friends. Mr. and Mrs. Kingsley had six children - Nettie, Elizabeth, Carrie, Eva, Kate P. and Charles E. Mr. Kingsley was born in Monroe County, N.Y., May 20, 1814, and by his first wife, Mary Lilly, had five children, four living, viz.: Jennie, Marcia, Minnie and William H.

Source: "1882 History LaGrange County, Indiana" by F.A.Battey & Co.., - Springfield Township



EDWARD MILLIS is among the early settlers of Springfield Township. His father, Levin Millis, was a native of Maryland and twice married. By his first marriage there were born four children, and by his last wife - Ruth Leonard, also a native of Maryland - there were born three children. After his second marriage, Mr. Millis, in 1837, emigrated to Wayne County, Ind., where he had friends. After living in Wayne County two years, he moved to Springfield Township, where he engaged in farming until his death, August 2, 1840. His widow died March 9, 1874. Edward Millis was born February 6, 1831, in Talbot County, Md., to his father's second wife. He assisted in the labors of pioneer life at home, receiving but a common-school education, and was married March 28, 1855, to Eleanor M., duaghter of Robert and Mary (Pollman) Griffin,, who were natives of England and who came to the United States i 1829 and 1834 respectively. They came to La Grange County in 1841, and moved to Steuben County in 1842, where Mr. Griffin died the same year. His widow died in 1856. In 1856, Mr. Millis purchased a farm in Clay Township, but after four and a half years sold out and returned to Springfield Township, where he purchased a farm and resided until his removal to La Grange. By hard labor and economy,they have made additions unti they now own 210 acres of land on Sections 23 and 24. They are the parents of five children - Emma E. (deceased), Frank E., Marian M., Louis M. and one that died in infancy. In 1879, Mr. Millis moved to La Grange, for the purpose of giving his children better school advantages. They resided there until March, 1882, when they removed back to their place in Springfield Township, where they still reside. Mr. Millis is a Republican. He and wife are members of the M.E. Church. Mrs. Millis was born in Niagara County, N.Y., July 6, 1835.

Source: "1882 History LaGrange County, Indiana" by F.A.Battey & Co.., - Springfield Township



MATTHEW MYERS is a natie of Herkimer County, N.Y., and son of John F. and Elizabeth Myers, natives also of the same State. John Myers was a shoemaker, and his son Matthew naturally acquired a taste for that pursuit, and worked at it when a boy; but for some time previous to visiting Indiana, in 1853, he drove a stage team. Since coming to this township, in 185, with his family, Mr. Myers has accumulated property worth over $6,000. For the first two years after arriving here, he was engaged in stage driving, while his family kept the toll-gate on the plank road; subsequently worked at shoemaking seven years, then bought his farm of 150 acres that has proven a good investment. Mr. Myers has been three times married. By his first marriage, in 1836, to Lucy Hopkins, he had one child - William H. In 1852, he was married to Cornelia Dunham; they had an only son - Frank. His third wife was Zoe M. Scoville, daughter of Josiah Richard. They have an only daughter, Libby.

Source: "1882 History LaGrange County, Indiana" by F.A.Battey & Co.., - Springfield Township



SAMUEL H. NEWMAN was born in September, 1841, on the farm in this township where he has ever since resided. He was married in December, 1870, to Miss Emma Faulkner, a native also of this township, where she was born in November, 1841. Her parents were William P. and Nancy (Pearson) Faulkner, both natives of Maryland, and descendants respectively of the English and Irish; he came to this township in 1837 with his brother Elsby, locating on Section 31, where he was engaged in farming many years, subsequently removing to La Grange, where his death occurred in March, 1878; he was a member of the Methodist Church. Samuel Newman, when of age, started with a capital of $100; he rented the old homestead, until after the death of his father in 1876, when he purchased a portion of it, comprising 214 acres. For ten years past he has dealt largely in stock, buying and shipping in the spring. In 1881, he shipped two car loads of sheep that averaged 155 pounds per head, and one double-deck load that averaged 140 pouinds per head. For the past three years his farm has yielded an annual profit of $3,000. Mr. Newman is a leading farmer of his township, and is the son of Nicholas B. Newman, who came to this township in 1836, and was married to a second wife in 1840 - Susan Greenfield, the daughter of Robert and Ann (Austin) Greenfield, of Maryland, who moved to Ohio in 1818, thence to this township in 1835, where Mr. Greenfield died, leaving a wife and six children.

Source: "1882 History LaGrange County, Indiana" by F.A.Battey & Co.., - Springfield Township



Deb Murray