ANGOLA DONS YULETIDE GARB

CHRISTMAS TREES, BRIGHT LIGHTS, FINE WINDOWS

Spread Christmas Spirit with Lavish Hand--Formal Opening Thursday Night

 Angola is being decorated in holiday attire this week, ready for the formal opening of the Christmas shopping season on Thursday evening, Dec 8.  At 7:00 o'clock the lights will be turned on and windows unveiled, it will be seen that the well known reputation of the city for its beautiful holiday decorations has been fully maintained.  New lighting equipment was supplied this year, and the arrangement for lighting the monument with flood lights has been turned to advantage to enhance the beauty of the public square.  Four fine trees have been placed on the mound in the square with four strands of colored lights.  Street lighting posts have been turned into Christmas trees with various colored.  Thursday evening at 7:00 o'clock, the Legion band will come out and lead the procession of happy people who will officially welcome in the Christmas season. All the lights will be turned on, Santa Claus, we are told, will be here, and the Christmas windows will be lighted, and the Old Man Gloom will be routed.  The Psi Iota Xi Sorority  and the High School Girls a Capella Choir will sing.

For the entertainment of the children during the Christmas season, the merchants have arranged for three free matinees on Saturday afternoon, Dec. 10,17,and 24 at the Brokaw Theater.  Parents are invited to leave their children there while doing their Christmas shopping.

Sugar Distribution Saturday

The free distribution of sugar which has been carried on during the past few weeks, will be continued
on Saturday afternoons at 2:00 o'clock with many fine gifts added.

Stores Ready for Season

The stores of Angola are blossoming out in full Christmas attire.  Fine stocks of merchandise are ready and suitable gifts for everyone can be found.  The prices this year run lower than for many years, and the public will be surprised how cheaply Christmas cheer may be provided.  The new lines of Christmas toys are very unique, with a tendency toward the substantial and useful.  Purses, jewelry, man and women's wear, furniture, hardware novelties and electrical equipment are all available at very reasonable prices this year.

Fine programs are being arranged in the schools and churches, opening Sunday afternoon with the College Chapel in the Christian church auditorium to which the public is invited.



Steuben Republican December 7, 1932

A. W. HENDRY OBITUARY

Alanson Wellington Hendry

The subject of the following sketch was born in Erie county, N.Y. March 22, 1820, and in 1828 removed to Geneva, Ashtabula county, Ohio and departed this life at his home in Angola, Ind., Sunday evening, Nov. 23, 1902, aged 82 years, 8 months and 1 day.  In 1834 he moved with his parents to Carlisle where he attended the public school and assisted his father at blacksmithing.  In 1841 he began the study of law in the office of  of J.D. Benedict at Elyria.  He depended upon his own efforts for his support and education, teaching school and working hard.   

Mr. Hendry came to Indiana in 1842, locating at Orland, Steuben county, where he taught school during the winter of 1842 and 1843.  He was admitted to the bar and began his profession at Angola, Ind, in August 1844 and continued with marked success until 1865, reaching the head of his profession, trusted by his clients and respected by his brethren and neighbors.  He was a moving force in the construction of the Fort Wayne, Jackson and; Saginaw R R.  He contributed to its building with money and time and it was largely through his influence that the railroad was built through Angola.  He was always interested in all that benefited his town or community and gave liberally to its advancement.  He was elected a member of the Indiana State Senate as a Whig in 1852 in the then strong Democratic district of Steuben and DeKalb and re-elected in 1856.  In those stirring times he moved to full discharge of his duties, regardless of the threats and flatteries of men.  He served with distinction on committees of judiciary, education and elections, and stood unmoved amid the ravings and wrangling of party strife, defying Lieutenant Governor Willard, and foiling his effort to organize a fraudulent Senate. 

In his later years he has lived a less strenuous life, but no less active in his charities and public spirit. 

His home life has been ideal, with no complaining or reviling on his part.  With malice towards none, he has grown weary in his long march, and now rests from his labors, but his works do follow him.  A good man has gone, a sweet home life is broken and a faithful wife, who hand in hand down the years, sits amid the scenes of that beautiful past and tries to be comforted.  Good bye.

Funeral services were held at the home Tuesday afternoon, Nov 25, Prof L.W. Fairfield of the Tri-State Normal college, officiating.  Burial in the family vault near Circle Hill.

Steuben Republican - November 26, 1902

 

DISASTROUS FIRE IN ANGOLA SATURDAY

NATIONAL MILLS TOTALLY DESTROYED

___________________

Fierce Blaze Battled For Hours by Fire Department - Severe Loss To Angola

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National Mill Before The Fire

Angola suffered the most disastrous fire in her history last Saturday forenoon when the National Mills was completely destroyed.  The fire was discovered about 9 o'clock in the forenoon, and was caused by spontaneous combustion in a dust collector on the third floor of the building.  The mill, including the building was owned by J.E. Page, who bought it last September from W.C. Sherburn.  The loss is estimated from $20,000 to $25,000 and the insurance was $14,000,  $8,000 of which was on building and machinery and the balance on the contents.

Taken soon after the roof and
upper  floor  fallen in.  Firemen can
be  seen  to the left on the
 roof of  the plant of the
Indiana Utilities Company

The mill was running a usual, and William Allen, the miller, had just been up on the third floor a few moments before the fire and noticed nothing out of the ordinary there at the time.  He had returned to the lower floor of the mill and within a couple minutes he noticed that the electric motor which drives the machinery was laboring under its load, and called Mr Page's son Joseph, who was loading an auto in preparatory to a trip to Orland, and they rushed to the motor and threw off the currant, and hurried up to the third floor, and by the time they arrived there found the upper floor so full of smoke and fire that they could not gain entrance. They immediately returned and turned in the fire alarm to the water and light plant which is located in the south one story addition to the mill.  The company responded promptly to the alarm, but the nature of the fire gave it such headway that it could not be controlled.  For about a half hour it looked as though the department could hold it in check and confine it to the third floor of the mill but it suddenly burst out of the roof and quickly spread to the lower floors and it was easily seen that the building could not be saved.  

Photo shows the fire
at it's height, when
the flames were mounting
100 feet in the air

The firemen labored heroically in their battle against the flames and at times were in exceedingly perilous
situations.  It soon became evident that the greatest effort must be exerted to protect the water, light and power plant of the Indiana Utilities  Company, which adjoins the mill, and with a strong wind blowing from the northwest, the heat about the power plant was intense, making the work there difficult and hazardous.  The pumps and engines in the plant were operating to the limit, and even then there were times that the water pressure was too low to reach above the second story of the building.  The heat from the fire was intense, and a number of buildings in the neighborhood caught fire, some of them repeatedly , and earnest effort of citizens was necessary to guard them.  The work of the Boy Scouts about the Sheldon hay barn was especially commendable, this building having caught fire five times, and at one time the fire went through into the baled hay, but a member of the organization stationed inside extinguished it.   number of residences in the surrounding locality were also guarded by their owners.  The Chester Crain residence, several blocks away, and on the way to the college, caught fire twice, but was quickly extinguished.

The owners of the mill were somewhat fortunate in regards to the contents.  They had a couple carloads of wheat in transit, one of them to arrive the next morning, and the stock of wheat was comparatively low.  They estimate that they had about 600 bushels of wheat in the mill, and nearly a car load of oats.  There was also about 100 bushels of flour, but Irvin Metzgar chanced to come upon the scene with his wagon and team soon after the fire started, and his wagon was hurriedly loaded with flour, and others following with wagons assisted in this work and the flour was practically all saved in good condition.

The walls of the building remain standing, but the interior was completely gutted, and everything is a total loss,  It was built in 1895 by Kinney & Croxton, and soon passed to Croxton & Pilliod, where the milling business was conducted for some time in connection with the power plant, and since its erection it has changed hands a number of times, and it has always been used for the milling business.  It was a substantially built structure of three stories and a basement, two stories being of brick, and the upper story of frame with steel siding.  It was one of the best of the industrial buildings of Angola, and the loss is keenly felt, it probably being the most disastrous fire in the history of the city.

Steuben Republican March 7, 1917

BITS AND PIECES

A Few short human interest items taken from
columns in the Steuben Republican

One evening this week a certain grass widow and another young woman of this village, who no doubt have a great affinities for mankind dressed themselves in men's array and paraded our street to their own satisfaction.  Now this grass widow, is waiting the action of our Court, to get a divorce, and it looks as though she was in a great hurry to attract the attention of the men, that she soon would be in market again for matrimony. We think such conduct is very unbecoming, and no one claiming to be a lady would ever be seen with men's clothes on the street, with the intention of attracting the attention of men.  We would advise them to lay aside their men's attire, roll up their sleeves and take a turn at the wash tub and perform the duties necessary to the keeping of a clean healthy kitchen, and think that that kind of business would be more honorable to the, and satisfactory to the world.

Steuben Republican April 7, 1860

The trustees of the Old Cemetery (Old Angola) wish that people who have occasion to bury their dead in that place would see Jacob Stealy, the secretary, before digging graves.  The men who dug Will Brode's grave last week , by mistake opened up another one.

Steuben Republican  January 14, 1903  

West Maumee street is becoming quite popular as a race track these days, nad the racing is not confined alone to those who may think they own fast goers.  Nearly every day there is one or more races on this street and Sunday is no exception.  Last Sunday afternoon three young bloods, each driving a farm horse, raced from Hotel Hendry to the depot, the one in lead yelling at his horse like a Comanche Indian.  One little girl near the Christian Church was nearly run over, and many others hurried from the street. People living on this street are greatly annoyed and kept in constant anxiety fir the safety of their children, and if there is a remedy for the evil it ought to be used.

 Steuben Republican August 12, 1903

COMMUNITY GYMNASIUM - 1922

This year, through the co-operative help of all liberal minded citizens of the community, one epoch in the history of the Angola Schools was brought to a close and another of of broader usefulness to the community was ushered in.

The plan of the Board of Education to construct a new vocational building, incorporating a gymnasium and auditorium, could not be realized, due to the fact that the cost of construction exceeded the bonding capacity if the School City by more that 20,000.

Community Gymnasium 1923 before brick facade

The demand on the part of the students and patrons of

Community Gymnasium 1924 after brick facade 

the school for a gymnasium was very general, but hope for obtaining the coveted object was waning when a courageous citizen voiced the sentiment of the community and called a meeting of those interested in building by voluntary subscription a gymnasium for the use of the school and various organizations if the community.  It took the prophetic vision of Major Guy Shaughniss to foresee the possibility of actually building a community gymnasium.  He had a plan drafted and called a meeting at the court house of all citizens.  The fact that only a few people attended the meeting was no indication of a lack of interest.  The plan was presented and served as a basis for discussion.  A committee consisting og C. A. Redding, chaiman; Guy Shaughniss and H.B. Allman was then selected to determine the actual needs and to revise the plans.  A few days later, a second meeting was called, where the building committee presented more detailed plans.  Attorney A. C. Wood recommended that a corporation to be know as the Angola Community Building Company be organized.  Major Shaughniss was selected as president, and the previous building committee was endorsed and instructed to proceed with the completion of the plans and the erection of the building.  A finance committee consisited of F. A. Emerson, Ed Williamson, and Herb Metzenberger, to whom was delegated the task of raising funds.

The building committee then employed W. A. Bunker as superintendent of construction.  During fair week vacation, boys of the high school volunteered work and began excavation for the basement, and dug trenches for the foundation and walls.


The committee than called for bids and let the contracts for the foundation and materials for construction.  C. A. Redding, chairman of the building committee, took charge of the work in person, and the success of the project is due to his tireless efforts to get the building enclosed and ready for use during the present year.  Much credit is due to carpenters and helpers, whose interest in the undertaking prompted them to put in extra hours and expend extra energy to hasten the work.

The dedicatory ceremonies were held on January 27-29.  On the opening evening the school children gave a program.  This was followed on the next afternoon and evening by a series of basketball games, with the formal dedication at a mass meeting Sunday afternoon. 

Since the day if the opening the building has been in constant use.  Extensive improvements have been made in staging and scenery.  The building can be changed quickly from am attractive auditorium with a seating capacity of 2,000, to an excellent gymnasium with a playing floor fifty by eighty feet, and room to adequately accommodate 1500 spectators.

Through the contributions of citizens, $6,300 was raised, of which $5,200 has been paid.  The total cost of the building to date is approximately $12,000.

The lot on which the building is located is leased to the Community Building Company.  The Board of Education then rents the building from the Community Corporation.  The building is still unfinished, and as soon as the funds are available the brick will be put around the outer walls.

The Annual Key 1922
Angola School Yearbook

LOST VILLAGES OF STEUBEN COUNTY

Steuben (Steubenville)

The town of Steubenville was the first town or village established or platted in Steuben County, and was by far the largest and most prosperous of all the vanished towns of the county.  The town was located on the Old Defiance and White Pigeon Trail, about three-quarters of a mile north of the main street of what is now Pleasant Lake, and was on the east and west sides of the present road (150 W).

1831 Survey Map

Isaac Glover, who entered the land on the west side of the road and who purchased land on the east side of the road from Reuben Warnick, entryman, had the town surveyed by John Kroner, Surveyor, in October 1835, and dedicated the plat to the public November 12, 1835.  The first plat consisted of of fifteen blocks of eight lots each, three of which blocks, 1,3, and 7, were marked "blank" on the plat and in the dedication, it stated that these three blocks were "set off for public use."  This plat is recorded in the Deed Record Volume 2, page 130 of LaGrange County, which included Steuben County at that time. 

The street furthest west was called First Street and it is shown adjacent to the mill pond on the plat.  The north and south streets were marked First to Sixth Streets.  There were four east and west streets named Joseph, Armstrong, Mary and Glover Streets.  (Joseph and John Armstrong purchased the first lots, so evidently the two north streets were named for them, Mary Street evidently was named after Mary Glover, wife of Isaac Glover, and Glover Street for the founder).

1856 Map of Steuben County

The ford across Pigeon River, where the old road crossed, and which ford is mentioned in the written accounts of Abner Winsor and other early settlers, was located about thirty rods down the stream from the village, according to Giles T. Abbey, who came to Steuben in the fall of 1838; this ford was the only place that Pigeon River could be crossed by team for several miles and was used for some years until a bridge could be built.  (The first bridge in Steuben County was built on this old road where it crossed between Silver and Hog Back Lake).

A large number of lots were sold in this village and some forty or fifty houses were erected, some of logs, a few of brick, but mostly frame houses.  Dr. Conant built a large two-story store building near the bank of Pigeon River, but the building was never used as a store for some reason.

The Tavern was on the west side of the highway opposite the house later built by Dr. Alonzo P. Clark.  This tavern was kept by Seth W. Murray, one of the very early settlers of the county.

Evidently there was quite a boom in this village in the early part of the year 1837, for the town was replatted on March 27, 1837, by Isaac Glover, and several more blocks added with several additional streets included, and the shape of the town was changed considerably.

The future prospects of this center of civilization must have been very bright in the years 1835 and 1836 but something happened in the year 1837 that broke the spirit of the founders and inhabitants of this early metropolis, and the promoter, Isaac Glover, lost his entire property and moved away.


 Part II --- The County Seat Controversy

 In the year 1836 Thomas Gale came down the Defiance and White Pigeon trail from LaGrange county, and with four other men, established the town of Julius, six miles west of Angola.  He then went on down the trail to the town of Steuben, looked the situation over, and with his partner Cornelius Gilmore, tried to form a partnership with Isaac Glover and make a real town out of Steuben.  Mr Glover refused to have any business dealings whatever with Gale and GIlmore due to religious differences: Glover being a staunch member of one of the outstanding churches while Gale (and possibly Gilmore) was a Spiritualist (commonly called "Free Lover"), and this difference of opinion led to the controversy over the location of the county seat of Steuben County.

The County of LaGrange was organized February 2, 1832, and included all of the present County of Steuben and the north twelve miles of what is now DeKalb County.   Gale and Gilmore, failing to acquire an interest in teh thriving town of Steuben, came further north and east and decided to start an opposition town at the center of section 26, Pleasant Township, which section they entered at Fort Wayne Land Office April 4, 1836; this town they did estaableish June 28, 1836 as Angola.  Before they risked etablishin the town, however, they has to do some work bhind the scenes, for the town of Steuben, being nearer the center of the unamed territory, and having a fine start of buildings, enterprise and population, was the logical location for the county seat.

In the fall elections of 1836 Thomas Gale, by skillful work, was elected State Representative for LaGrange County, and at the January session, 1837, of the State Legislature of Indiana introduced a bill to establish the County of Steuben, to include only the present area of the county, and to drop off the two south tiers of townships.  The bill passed and Steuben County was organized as a separate county January 18, 1837.  Angola, then being somewhere near the center of the new county was selected as the county seat.  At that time the town of Angola had not been established, but had been platted, and the plat was introduced in evidence, together with a promise of a courthouse without cost to the county and a representation that there was a water power site in the east part of the village.

Isaac Glover, failing to get the county seat at the town of Steubenville, read the handwriting on the wall , and sold out his interest in the town and farm lands adjoining, to Dr Alonzo P. Clark and the town quickly declined, business ceased and eventually the village vanished.

Many of the buildings were moved to other parts of the county.  One was moved about one-half mile east to the James Long farm and was used for a school house for many years; two buildings were moved to the south part of Pleasant Lake, and occupied as dwellings; others were torn down and moved away, while some being obstructions to farming were burned down.

About all that remains to remind one of the towns is the remains of the old dam on the old course of the Pigeon River southwest of the town site; a few stones and brick from foundations that are occasionally plowed or dug up, and the old cemetery about one-half mile north of the town site where many of the first settlers in Steubenville are buried, but the graves of most of the pioneers are unmarked and unknown.

Note: For my authority in stating religious differences caused the downfall of the town of Steuben (Steubenville), I have a written statement to that effect by Giles T. Abbey, father of Mrs John B. Parsell of Angola, who states that he came to the town of Steuben, then called Steubenville in the year 1838 and taught his first term of school in the schoolhouse

Written by Orville Stevens for the Angola Herald January 16, 1942 and January 23, 1942

Letter From Civil War Camp to the Steuben Republican

Camp Nevin, Hardin Co.,
Dec 9, 1861

Messrs. Editors

It is with a sad heart, that I write you the first time.  Yesterday we buried the first man of Company A., who has yet died among us, James Gatehouse.  He died in the Hospital Dec. 7th at 4 o'clock A. M.  His remains were the next day followed to the grave by the whole Company, headed by the chaplain.  He was first taken with the measles and before he recovered from these, fully, by the lung fever.  He was a good soldier, and died lamented by all.

Always ready, and faithful, he enjoyed the confidence of his officers, and the respect of his comrades; but his place is now vacant in our ranks.  He lies far from home and kindred, beneath the soil of Kentucky.

Citizens of Steuben!  James Gatehouse died for you, and your homes -- for his country and posterity.  He periled his life in deference of the best interests of mankind, and lost it.

He lived for humanity, and died a hero.  May his countrymen, while they cherish his memory, not forget his wife and family.

Lieut. Melendy, U.S.A.

Steuben Republican December 21, 1861