Local History and Genealogy

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

GYPSY QUEEN DIES IN CANTON HOSPITAL

     Gypsies, in traditonal mourning garb, thronged about Canton, Ohio, last week to pay final homage and mourn their queen, Stella Mitchel who died in a canton hospital where she was taken by ambulance plane on Tuesday afternnon last week from the Cameron hospital here in Angola, where she had been a patient about a week suffering from a heart ailment.
     The Brazilian gypsies, who had been encamped east of Angola most of them housed in house trailors, formed a caravan which proceeded from here to Canton following the removal of the queen to the hospital there,  According to reports, one of the largest gypsy encampments in this country is centered in Canton, and the tribe apparently wished their queen to be surrounded by friends and relatives.

Steuben Republican September 5, 1951


Thursday, August 11, 2011

JACOB STETLER

     Jacob, son of William and Sarah (Raeber) Stetler, was born in Thompson Township, Seneca County, Ohio, April 18, 1840.  He came with his parents to Otsego Center, Steuben County, Ind. in 1852.  He was united in marriage with Orelia Ruth Pixley on May 27, 1866.  In August 1862, he enlisted in Co. H. 74th Regiment, Indiana Volunteer Infantry, for the service of his country in the Civil War.  He participated in all the twenty-four battles in which his regiment was engaged and was honorably discharged from the army on June 9, 1865.
     In an evangelistic meeting conducted near his home, he confessed his  faith in Christ as his Savior and was baptized into Christ by Evangelist R. C. Snodgrass of Michigan City, Ind. on July 25, 1889.  He died at his home in Ashley, Ind. at 7 p.m. November 26, 1921, aged 81 years, 7 months and 8 days.
     Mr. Stetler is survived by his wife and by his children as follows:  Mrs. Alverda Snowberger of Port Huron, Mich., Mr. Merton Stetler of Burlington, Mich., Mr. Edgar A. Stetler of near Angola, Mr. John Stetler of San Diego, California, W. D. and Roy Stetler of Pleasant Lake, Ind, one brother, Mr. James Stetler of Fremont, Ind., seventeen grandchildrren and four great grandchildren, with his surviving comrades of the Grand Army of the Republic, and a host of neighbors and friends to remember him as a good citizen, a true patriot and soldier, and a good man in all the relations of the home.  As the end drew near he looked forward by faith without fear to the Heavenly Home, and said, "I am ready to go when I am called."
     Funeral services were conducted in the Baptist Church at Pleasant Lake on Wednesday at 2:00 p.m. by Elder J. O. Rose, of Angola, and the burial was in the Pleasant Lake Cemetery.

Steuben Republican, Angola, Indiana, December 7, 1921.

JOSIAH OSCAR BENNETT

     Josiah Oscar Bennett, son of Abram and Mariah Bennett, was born Feb. 13th, 1847 in Republic,
Seneca County, Ohio, and when a small boy he came with his parents to Indiana and settled on a farm in Otsego Township, Steuben County.  When a little less than seventeen years of age he answered his country's call and enlisted in Co. A, 129th Regiment, Indiana Volunteer Infantry, where he served until the close of the war, a period of nearly two years when he was honorably discharged.
     On his return from the Civil War he was united in marriage to Miss Eleanor P. Johnson, of Otsego Township, this county, and to this union were born five children, one son and four daughters.  On October 2, 1882, his beloved wife passed away, and on Feb. 14, 1884, he was united in marriage to Hattie Kibble of Otsego Township.  No children were born to this union, and on Oct. 24, 1910, she was called in death.
     On March 5th, 1914 he was married to Elva Bunker of Otsego Township.  About thirty years ago he moved to Pleasant Lake where he has been a continuous resident ever since.  For some time he has been in poor health due to heart trouble, and on September second he departed this life aged seventy- four years six months and nineteen days.  The deceased was at one time a member of the M.E. Church of Otsego Center, and just before his death expressed to his companion that he was going home.  He is survived by his wife, four daughters, Mary Champion, of near Angola, Mina Knight of Sturgis, Mich., Nellie Ebel of Lansing, Mich., Millie Wheeler of Brooklyn, Iowa, one son Edward J. dying in infancy.  Besides these there remain twenty-eight grandchildren and ten great grandchildren, also one brother, Asa Bennett of Fort Wayne, besides many other relatives and friends.
     Funeral services were held at the home in Pleasant Lake Sunday afternoon conducted by Rev. F. B. Parker, pastor U.B. Church, and interment was in Pleasant Lake Cemetery.

Steuben Republican, Angola, Ind., September 7, 1921.

Monday, August 8, 2011

Samuel Augustus Moss

 Samuel Augustus Moss was born in Milldale, New Haven Co., Conn, March 27, 1829.  He was the eldest child of Aaron and Abigail Moss,  His oldest sister, Mrs Cornelia L. Morse, lives in New Haven, Conn.  One brother died in infancy and one sister a year ago.  Besides the two sisters, Moss leaves two sons, Warren E and Collins A., both of Angola, and two grandchildren, Earl W., son of Mr and Mrs Collins Moss, and Ellen C, daughter of Mr and Mrs Warren Moss.

Mr. Moss' parents were sturdy New England farmers.  He received his education in the schools of Milldale, Conn., and afterwords worked upon his father's farm until he was thirty-five years of age. On Dec. 1st, 1852 he was united in marriage with Ellen Amelia Hitchcock, of Cheshire, Conn.  To them were born two sons, Warren and Collins, and a daughter Rosaline, who died in infancy.  For thirty years Mr Moss was blessed with the companionship of his wife who died suddenly April 29, 1885.  When he was thirty-five years of age he abandoned farming and went to Ashtabula, Ohio, to engage in manufacturing shafts, which business he maintained for three years.  In 1868 he came to Angola and entered mercantile business with his brother in-law Thomas B Morse, the firm being known as T.B. Morse &; Co.  Later Mr Morse died and the firm was organized as Moss, Osborne &; Field; then S.A. Moss; then S.A. Moss &; Son; finally S.A. Moss &; Sons.  For thirty-seven years Mr. Moss was identified with the business located for all these years in the same building in Angola.  The firm retired from business on Jan. 1, 1904.

Mr Moss, until the closing years of his life, was very closely identified with Angola's business and the commercial interests of Steuben county.  He was a hard worker, an astute business man, careful and thrifty, entering into enterprises with all his might and making a success where many might have failed.  In his early life he became a member of the First Congregational Church of Southington, Conn.  He was an active member of the Sunday School class taught by Elihu Burritt, the learned blacksmith, who became famous for his speeches and writings on arbitration between the nations and as an American linguist and reformer. In early years, he took and active in Angola church affairs, being a member of the Congregational church and contributed quite liberally towards the erection of the church building, the parsonage and pastor's salary.  Long after he had lost his hearing he was found in his place, regularly attending the services.  During the last four years he had not cared to participate in public gatherings. The encroachments of age and decreasing  strength he continued to fight the fight, complete the course, and to keep the faith, until at length he entered into the rest that remaineth,  He was a kind father and honored citizen and honest in all his dealings.

The funeral was held at his late home on North Wayne street, Thursday March 10, at 2:00 p.m., conducted by Rev. John Humfreys.  Interment at Circle Hill.

Steuben Republican March 25, 1908