Fire at Scott Township School

On Tuesday Evening of last week while Sadie Showalter, teacher of school district No 1, Scott township, was sweeping the school room after the scholars had left for home, she heard a noise at the door and on opening it was met by a middle aged man whom she took for a tramp.  The man asked her if she was the teacher of the school and how long she intended to teach.  She told him that she was the teacher and that there were eight weeks more of the term. The man than said: "I will bet $50.00  that you will not teach the balance of the term," and then left the school house.  Miss Showalter was very much frightened, as there are no houses near the school grounds, and after securely locking the door went to her boarding place.  About seven o'clock of the same evening the school house was discovered to be on fire by two men who were passing, who giving the alarm succeeded in saving the building after but little damage had been done.  The tramp evidently got in through the window and started the fire in the wood box, and then made good his escape.  The school was dismissed for one week until the building could be repaired.

Herald Republican Wednesday May 7, 1890

John K. Folck - Scott Township

John K Folck a native of Pennsylvania, born April 30, 1823 died in Steuben County Indiana March 20, 1907.  When he was four years of age his parents, Abram and Hannah Folck, moved to Knox County, Ohio, and thence to Morrow County, where he was reared.

In 1841 he came to Steuben County, with a view of making it his place of residence. He made the journey alone and on foot, but returned to Ohio and in 1845 came again to the county and selected a tract of land and girdled the trees for future clearing. In 1847 he moved to the county and settled on the land where he lived until he died, on section XI, Scott Township.  His farm contains 160 acres of valuable land.
The brick schoolhouse of District No. 1 was located on the southwest corner of his land.

Mr. Folck was married in 1843 in Morrow County, Ohio, to Margaret Valentine, who was born in Seneca County, Ohio. She died in 1859, aged thirty-six years, leaving five daughters, Mrs. Sarah L. Weiss, Mrs. Hattie E. Myers, Mrs. Ann E. Dygert, Mrs. Mary A. Henny, Mrs. Rosa T. Fulmer.

In 1860 Mr. Folck married Mrs. Martha Rathbun, daughter of Samuel Nichols.  One son was born to them—Fremont.  Mrs. Folck died in 1863, aged thirty-five years.  

In 1870 he was married to Mrs Louisa Headley, widow of Daniel Headley, an early settler of Steuben County.  

Mr. Folck was a prominent citizen of Scott Township, active in promoting its material interests. He served as Assessor twice and was an Appraiser under the old system.  He cleared the farm with his own hands, and made it one of the best farms in Scott Township. In politics he was an old Abolitionist and became a Republican.  In religion he was liberal,  believing in all good work, and never used either whiskey or tobacco. 

History of Steuben County 1885 pg 639 
Steuben Republican March 27, 1907

A Remarkable Woman - Elizabeth Maugherman

     "Elizabeth Maugherman was a remarkable woman who lived to be 108 years young.  She is considered to be the only person to live to that age in this section of the country.
     Some of Mrs. Maughman's descendants are still around the area today, which isn't too surprising considering she had 17 children, and, at one time, had 150 living descendants.
     Elizabeth Maugherman was born at Bricelious X Roads, Pennsylvania, June 1, 1805, and was first married to John Conway, who was injured, had a leg amputated, and died the next day after their marriage.
     Later she married Adam Maugherman and there were born to them 17 children, among the number being two pair of twins.  The husband of one of her daughters was in the Mexican War.
     She lived when the first stove was brought to Indiana; before we had railroads or telegraphs, or telephones, or electric lights, or the wireless, or street cars, or automobiles, or flying machines.
     She lived when women made their own soap, moulded candles, wove cloth for their garments; used the distaff and spinning wheel.
     Her life reaches back to a time when people did not know of the wonders of the great universe as they do now, and never dreamed that man working with God's laws and elements would accomplish what is now the heritage of oncoming generations.
    Mrs. Maugherman died in Scott Township on Sunday, June 8, 1913, 108 years and seven days after her birth.
     She was a great-great aunt of Ken, Cecil, Fred, and Grant Maugherman, all still living in the Angola area.
     Can anyone top this old-timer?"
Steuben Republican, December 25, 1968