ORLENZO S. LIGHT OBITUARY

Orlenzo S. Light

The subject of this sketch was born in Allegany county, New York, April 9, 1842, and died at his home in Scott township, Steuben county, Indiana, Jan. 30, 1918, aged 75 years, 9 months, and 21 days.

When a small boy he came to Steuben county, where he grew to manhood, and in answer to his county's call, enlisted in the Union Army and was mustered into service on August 2, 1862, in the 74th Indiana Regiment, Co. H, and served until the close of the war, taking part in the battles at Chickamauga, The Wilderness, Missionary Ridge and in Sherman's march to the sea.

Mr Light was known by his comrades as a good soldier and won and held their respect to a large degree.  He was mustered out June, 9, 1865, he was joined in marriage with Selena Button, and to this union were born six children, three of whom had preceded their father in death.  Mr Light was always interested in the welfare of his fellowmen and ready to lend a helping hand where needed, and his honesty was never questioned by anyone.  Jovial in disposition, he was always looking on the bright side of life, and never complained.  He was a hard worker and an excellent provider for his family.

In the fall of 1916 he made the good confession and obeyed his Master in baptism, and later united with the North Scott Christian church and found great comfort in the promises of the Gospel.  

He leaves to mourn their loss his wife and three children, Mrs. Mary Myers and Mrs. Addie Sowles, of Scott township; and William Light, of Pike Lake, Mich., and many other relatives and friends.

Services were held on February 2, conducted by his pastor, Elder D. C. Ford.

Steuben Republican February 13, 1918

Mr. Light is buried at South Scott Cemetery per Steuben County Cemetery book.

Taken from the book "War Record of Steuben County, Indiana" by Jesse H. Carpenter

 Our company casualties were fortunately light. Robert Warren was wounded and once Orlenzo Light dropped as though killed, but on examination we found a bullet had passed through eight folds of his blanket and stopped at the ninth and last. It was a narrow escape with life, but many close chances occur in war."

SMALL FIRE! BIG SMOKE!

Fire about four o'clock yesterday afternoon came near destroying the old Eagle House, one of the oldest landmarks in Angola.  The fire originated in a room occupied by Councilman Frank Bassett as a storage room for hay and straw in connection with his feed store in the same building.  The blaze was first discovered by Mrs. Bassett in its incipiency, and in a few minutes smoke enough belched forth to make people think the whole block was on fire.  The firemen were soon on hand and quenched the flames in fine shape.  The building is owned and occupied by Miss Louisa Orten, who is in very poor health..  She was carried from her cot to the Hotel Hendry across the street and placed in a chair in the office room where she sat and watched the fire laddies save the old landmark, with more coolness than a girl girl of sweet sixteen.  Had the fire occurred at night, the entire building along with Watson's restaurant and the J.A.J. Sowle saloon building would probably have gone up in smoke, as they are all old wooden structures and as dry as punk.  The corner room of the old hotel building is occupied by John Walker, the cobbler and Timothy Gay, the tailor, both of whom kept cool and saved their "last goose."  Mr Bassett estimates his loss at $50.00.  It is claimed that a little 5 year old boy was playing with matches and started the fire, as he was seen to run away from the building a few moments prior to the discovery of the blaze. 

Steuben Republican October 23, 1901

DISASTROUS FIRE HITS ANGOLA

Destructive Fire

On last Monday night occurred on of the moat destructive fires that ever befallen this place.  The property destroyed will, we are assured, not fall short of eight or nine thousand dollars.  The Eureka building and the greater portion of all the property contained in it was entirely consumed.  (Located where former First National Bank Building and Masonic Building is on the southeast corner of the square)  The fire originated in that part of the building occupied by Wm. Roades as a grocery and saloon, and when discovered the inside of the room was a bed of coals, the flames darting out of the windows and siding above the door.  Any attempt to stay the progress of the devouring element being useless, the citizens went to work with a will to clear the building of its contents.  A large amount of furniture was saved, but a still larger amount was destroyed.  Fortunately there was little or no air stirring, or the loss would necessarily have been much greater.Even with the air so still it was only through the united efforts of the citizens that the Dry Goods store of Hendry and Merriman, the Angola House, and Woodhull and Croxton's Law Office was saved.  The last named building sustained considerable damage.  The Drug Store of L. E. Carver, and Harness Shop of Israel Kemery were stripped of their contents, and the archives of the county removed from the County Offices, but through the superhuman efforts of the citizens the further progress of the fire was arrested at Woodhull and Croxton's office and the danger in that direction averted.

The loss sustained by the destruction of the Eureka is estimated about as follows : L.A. Russel & Co, proprietors of the building, loss $6,000, insured for $2,000 ; Myron Hord, Billiard Saloon in same building, loss $1,200, insured for $500 ; Jacob Stealy, Marble Shop in same building, loss $200, no insurance ; William Rhoades, Grocery Store, in same building, loss $1,200, insured for $600.

It is not known how the fire originated, but it is supposed to have been the work of an incendiary, as there is evidence to confirm this belief. 

Steuben Republican July 12, 1866

DR. THOMAS J. CREEL SUDDENLY STRICKEN

PROMINENT CITIZEN AND PRACTITIONER DIED THIS MORNING

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Death Probably Caused by Injury Sustained a Few Weeks Ago
Was Prominent Mason

    Dr. Thomas J. Creel was suddenly stricken while in the reception room at his office this morning just before eight o'clock, and died within a half hour.  The news came as a severe blow to his many friends about the city where he had lived the most of his life.  For several months Dr. and Mrs. Creel had taken on their residence in the rooms just over the office, and he had gone down stairs and started the fire, not yet having eaten his breakfast.  Just as he was about to return upstairs he was stricken, and Mrs. Creel hastened to his side, and seeing the serious nature of the attack summoned Dr.
    Dr. Creel was born near Parkersburg, W. VA., in a prominent family and was 56 years of age.  He attended Tri-State College and later at Rush Medical College and entered into practice in the office of Dr. T. F. Wood, and had been a prominent practitioner for 30 years, and was local surgeon for the New York Central Railroad.  He was a thirty-third degree Mason, that honor having been conferred upon him at the September meeting in New York City.  He also was a member of all the Masonic bodies in Angola and the Scottish Rite Masons and Shrine at Fort Wayne.  He was also a past Grand Patron the the Eastern Stars of this state. He served as mayor of the city for a term and his administration will ever be remembered for its excellent accomplishments. He has also been active head of the Steuben County Chapter of the Red Cross for several years, and has been active in many other ways for the good of the city and community.  He was a member of several social clubs, including the Rotary club and his death is keenly felt by the entire community he served so well.  President E. D. Long in college chapel this morning said that no man in Angola was a better friend of the students of Tri-State than Dr. Creel.  Besides his widow he leaves a son Donald, and a daughter, Mrs. Joyce Eastburn , of Indianapolis, besides several members of his parental family.

Humphreys, who also directed that more assistance be sent for.  Mrs. Creel then phoned to her brother, A. C. Wood, to hasten to the office with her father, Dr T. F. Wood, and Dr. Sutherland was also summoned but it was readily seen that Dr. Creel was beyond assistance.  Death was probably caused by thrombus at the heart, which was occasioned by an injury to a vein in the leg, which was sustained by Fr. Creel when he jumped from a wagon at the Wood farm east of the city before Thanksgiving, and from which injury he had been confined to his home until the last few days. It is also quite probable that the exercise which he has taken in the last few days about the streets contributed to the circulation of the blood clot.  Dr. Creel was almost entirely conscious to the moment of his death, and seemed to fully realize his condition.  In appealing to Dr. Humphreys that something he done for him he asked if the trouble was not thrombosis, indicating that he realized the gravity of the situation.  Hypodermics were given but apparently had not taken effect at the time of his death.  He apparently suffered no pain other than the suffocation attendant upon such heart attacks.

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

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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