Alvah Edmund Mogle, deputy state inspector of weights and measures, with home and headquarters at Terre Haute, is a man of varied and interesting experience, has been a farmer, has been in various lines of commercial endeavor and has given many years to public affairs in different county and municipal offices.
    He was born on a farm in Fulton County, Indiana, July 16, 1864, a son of Thomas and Mary Jane (Sparks) Mogle. His grandfather, Jacob Mogle, spelled the name Mokel and was of German ancestry. The maternal line is of English ancestry. Thomas Mogle was born in Marion County, Ohio, and was brought to Indiana when a boy, while Mary Jane Sparks was born in this state, and her father, Rev. Jesse Sparks, was widely known as a pioneer Methodist Episcopal minister. Thomas Mogle and wife were married in Fulton County, located on a tract of unimproved land, which he cleared up and made into a farm, and was identified with its cultivation until his death in 1896. The mother passed away in 1913, at seventy-one. Of their five children three are living. Mary Frances is the widow of Adam Grube, of Fulton County, Indiana. Orpha, the youngest of the children, is the wife of Ernest Reimanschneider.
    The boyhood days of Alvah Edmund Mogle were spent on the old farm in Fulton County. The training he received in the local schools was supplemented by a thorough course in the Indiana State Normal at Terre Haute, and he also attended a business college. In 1883 he married Miss Mamie Miller, daughter of Elias and Amanda Miller, of Fulton County, Indiana. Mrs. Mogle is a graduate of the State Normal School of Terre Haute and has been very active in club and social life. She is state secretary of the Ladies' of the Grand Army of the Republic.
    After his marriage Mr. Mogle took up farming and also taught school in Fulton County during winter terms. About 1890 he came to Terre Haute, taught school in this city one term, and then for fourteen years was in the local post office. He was also connected with various county offices, including the county treasurer, the county auditor, and the county assessor's offices. For one summer he was engaged in general construction and contracting work. Mr. Mogle was appointed to his present office of deputy state inspector of weights and measures in August, 1914, and brought to his duties unusual qualifications and has given exceptional service.
    For twenty-seven years he has been affiliated with the Knights of Pythias and is also a member of the Modern Woodmen of America. Mr. and Mrs. Mogle have one daughter, Leila B., wife of Walter S. MacNabb. Mr. and Mrs. MacNabb are at present in India, where Mr. MacNabb is connected with the Tata Iron & Steel Company.
Indiana and Indianans: a history of aboriginal and territorial ..., Volume 4 By Jacob Piatt Dunn, General William Harrison Kemper


This gentleman, who is the present very efficient Trustee of North Bend Township, Starke County, Indiana, may be justly regarded as one of the enterprising, reliable and substantial citizens of the county, in the affairs of which he has always shown a decided interest, and which he has aided, both by money and influence. He was born in Monroe County, Ohio, April 11, 1854, a son of Michael and Margaret (Baker) Exaver, who came from Germany to America many years ago, the father's attention throughout life being devoted to tilling the soil. George W. Exaver was a resident of his native county until he had reached the age of twelve years, when his parents removed to Indiana, settling in Fulton County, where George grew to manhood and learned the details of farming. He attended the common schools in the vicinity of his rural home for two or three months during the year, but as at that day, they were not conducted in a very commendable manner, his progress in the paths of learning was not as rapid as it otherwise would have been. In February, 1881, he moved and settled on a farm of eighty acres in North Bend Township, Starke County, Indiana, and on this farm he has since continued to make his home, although he has, through industry and good management, greatly improved it in the way of buildings, fences, etc., and put it in a high state of cultivation. In 1888 he was elected a Trustee of his township, and, at the expiration of two years, was re-elected for four years, which term will expire during 1895. He has been an efficient and competent official, as his long tenure of office would indicate, and has many friends among those who differ, as well as among those who agree with him politically. On the 24th of September, 1878, he led to the altar Miss Samantha Pontions, a native of Fulton County, Indiana, and settled on a farm in Fulton County, Indiana, and, on the 6th of February, 1884, bought land in and moved to Starke County, Indiana. By his wife he has six children, as follows: Mary A., George W., John A., Charles F., Frank L., and Philomena .J., the latter of whom died April 18, 1894. Mr. Exaver is a member of the K. O. T. M., at Monterey, Indiana, and is M. A. of Tent No. 69. The principles of the Democratic party have always found in him a warm and active supporter and he has always been a patron of causes calculated to benefit the section in which he makes his home. He and his wife are worthy members of the Catholic Church.
Pictorial and biographical record of La Porte, Porter, Lake and Starke ...


The first settler in Joshua township was Joshua Moores, who immigrated to Sangamon county, Illinois, in 1819, and to Fulton county in 1824. Mr. Moores settled on the place well known as the Moores farm, west of Canton five miles. Mr. Moores was accompanied by his son-in-law John Walters, who was killed at Stillman's defeat in 1832. Mr. Moores was a Methodist, and at his house were held many of the earliest Methodist meetings. Here, surrounded by a few of the pioneers, David W. Barnes, the Sergeants, the Buffums, John Hannan and his family, old Father Fraker, John Owens, Jacob Ellis, and a few others, Rev. Randall, Smith L. Robinson (the one-eyed preacher) and Peter Cartwright would preach sermons full of primitive fire and religious zeal. At his house were held the class-meetings and love-feasts, and here were held the merry-makings wherein those present had rarer sport than is known to the silk and velvet gentry of the present fast age.

Joshua Moores gave his name to the township in which he resided, and died in 1853.

John Walters left a widow and four children, who still survive him. Jennie Walters will be remembered by all the old settlers as a devoted Methodist, a warm-hearted, impulsive woman, a strong Democrat, and a good neighbor. The author desires here to express his obligation to her for valuable information furnished for this work. Mrs. Walters now resides in Rushville, Illinois
Source: Canton Its Pioneers and History by Alonzo M. Swan


In 1834 Samuel Porter came to Canton. He was originally from the City of Boston. Mr, Porter was a painter by trade, but, finding very little business in his line among the log-cabins of the pioneers, with true Yankee adaptability to circumstances, he turned his attention to wagon-making. Porter lived on Main street, on the lot now occupied by Heald's boarding-house. He went into partnership with a man by the name of Davis, in a distillery which was located in Utica, at some time between 1834 and 1838, but did not long continue in it. Mr. Porter was said to have brought the first violin to Canton. When he came he brought with him a well-supplied medicine chest, and furnished many indispensable articles to Drs. Donaldson and Newton. Mr. Porter also traveled, during his residence here, as a land-agent, in the employ of Timothy Gridley, a noted land-speculator of that day. He was a Universalist in religious belief He removed from Canton in 1838.
Source: Canton Its Pioneers and History by Alonzo M. Swan

A native of Kentucky, who landed in Canton in October, 1836, has been, since his residence here, probably more frequently a pioneer in important improvements and public enterprises' than any other individual who has resided here. On arriving at Canton, he immediately purchased from Ira Baker his blacksmith shop, located on Lot 46, Jones's Addition, corner of Jones and Main streets, and began business at his trade —blacksmiths. For many years after he carried on the largest shop in town.

In June, 1837, Mr. Culton set up on this lot the first carding machine in Canton. His machinery consisted of two stands of cards, and was operated by two horses on a tread-wheel. This establishment was successful, and drew trade from distant parts of the country, which otherwise would have gone elsewhere. In 1841 Mr. Culton took into partnership in the carding business his brother-in-law, Arche Henderson, at the same time adding two additional stands of cards and increasing his power to four horses. The establishment continued in operation until about 1842, when it was discontinued.

Mr. Culton was thus the pioneer carder. So, also, he was the father of the improved plow manufacturing. Having commenced blacksmithing in 1836, he in 1840 began the manufacture of the old-fashioned Diamond Plow, which was the progenitor of the steel mould-board plows of the present day. He also made the "Carey Plow" and the "Bar Share" breaking plow. His plows found ready sale, as they were well made by competent workmen. Wm. Parlin was one of his blacksmiths, and his wood-workers were Cornelius Van Middlesworth, Charles Rockhold, and Cyrus Coykendall. Mr. Culton also erected the first frame for shoeing oxen in Canton.

In 1848 Mr. Culton decided to go into merchandising, and accordingly associated with him in business a nephew, J. W. Culton, now of Chicago. Their place of business was on the ground now occupied by the portion of Union Block in which G. B. Vittum is doing business. This venture proved unprofitable, and the firm was dissolved and business suspended.

Mr. Culton has been a member of the Presbyterian Church since 1823, and an elder of the church for just a quarter of a century. He still resides here, on the ground where he first settled, on Main street between Jones and Walnut streets, a property on which he has lived for thirty-four years.
Source: Canton Its Pioneers and History by Alonzo M. Swan



J. W. INGERSOLL, of Ithaca, New York, came into the State of Illinois in the spring of 1837, in the employ of the State, which was at that time engaged in a stupendous scheme of Railroad building. Mr. Ingersoll was a civil engineer, and in that capacity was assigned to duty in the preliminary survey of the Illinois Central Railroad, from Lasalle south. After a few months' service, he was transferred to the survey of the Peoria & Warsaw Railroad, with headquarters at Canton, Joel Wright being at that time one of the State Commissioners of Internal Improvements.

Mr. Ingersoll remained in the service of the state until the fall of 1839, when himself and his brother H. F. Ingersoll entered into co-partnership, under the name of H. F. & J, W, Ingersoll, and, purchasing the stock of goods then owned by D. W. Vittum, began business as general merchants. The store-room was located on the southwest corner of the Public Square, in an old building—since removed—on the ground now occupied by the store of J. M. Fox. In the spring 1840 Mr. Vittum purchased a one-third interest in the business, and remained in the firm, under the style of Ingersoll & Vittum, until the fall of 1841, when he purchased the interest of the Brothers Ingersoll.

Ingersoll Brothers immediately began business again on their own account, under their old firm name of H. F. & J. W. Ingersoll, occupying a store-room on the northeast corner of the Public Square, on a lot now vacant, but long since known as " Bass's old stand," and continued in business in that location until 1843, when they removed to the lot now occupied by J. E. Bower, on the east side of the Public Square, where they remained until 1846, when they purchased a store-room of Wm. Bell—better known to old settlers as "Bill Bell the Tailor." This store-room was on the lot now occupied by that portion of Ingersoll's Block in which J. R. McQuaid is doing business. In the summer of 1868 Messrs. Ingersoll built the fine bushiness block, now occupied in part by them, on the west side, at a cost of 115,000. This is the three-story portion of the Ingersoll Block. During the season of 1869 they built the two-story portion of the same block, at a cost of $7,000.

The Ingersoll Brothers have from their beginning in Canton commanded a fair portion of the best trade of the county. During the early years' of their business they packed pork and shipped an immense amount of grain from Copperas Creek and Liverpool to St. Louis. They still remain in business.
Source: Canton Its Pioneers and History by Alonzo M. Swan


Among the occasional teamsters to the river was John Bevard, who drove four horses to an old-fashioned Pennsylvania wagon. He rode one of the wheel-horses and drove with a single line. One winter, while the roads were in a desperate condition and few teams •would venture upon the road, the Ingersoll Brothers received a new stock of goods at Copperas-Crcek Landing. Bevard with his four-horse team offered to bring one load, and Hiram Snow another. Snow had a three-hor-se team, and drove Yankee fashion with four lines. At night Bevard returned with his load, and was asked by John Ingersoll if he had seen any thing of Snow.

"Snow?" said he, "No, I hain't seen any thing of any body."

" Why," said Ingersoll, " you must have met him : he left here just after you did. He was driving three horses."

" Oh, yes," replied Bevard, reflectively, " I guess I did meet him, but he won't be back to-night."

"Why not?" queried Ingersoll.

"Why, h—1! its impossible! I could hardly get through with four horses and one line ; how in h—1 do you suppose he can get here with three horses and four lines?"
Source: Canton Its Pioneers and History by Alonzo M. Swan

Cheeny Jones, as he was familiarly called, came to Canton in the spring of 1835. He married, soon after, Martha Ann Stewart, a daughter of Rev. Robert Stewart. Mr. Jones was a chair maker by trade, and carried on that business for many years at the corner of Jones and Main streets. Mr. Jones occupied the position of chorister in the Congregational Church for many years He was an industrious man and a man of singularly pure life, commanding the confidence and esteem of the community to a very remarkable degree. lie died January 29th, 1854. The Congregational Church Choir have erected a neat marble slab to his memory in the cemetery.
Source: Canton Its Pioneers and History by Alonzo M. Swan


On the 4th day of July, 1836, Parley C. Stearns, then a young man of twenty-three years, landed in Canton. Mr. Stearns came in company with John Rawalt from Yates county. New York, making the trip overland in wagons.

Mr. Stearns was a cooper by trade, and for a few years worked at that business. The same year of his arrival he married Miss Hannah Rawalt, a daughter of John Rawalt.

In 1837 Mr. Stearns was elected constable for Orion township, then known as 7—5; but he did not qualify. In 1839 Mr. Stearns was elected Justice of the Peace, and with two short intermissions has acted in that capacity from that time until the present.

Mr. Stearns was admitted to the bar in 1849, since which time he has been busily and successfully engaged in practice.

In 1846 Mr. Stearns was elected one of the County Commissioners of Fulton county for the term of three years. In 1849 he was elected one of the Associate Justices that formed the county board under the Constitution of 1848.

Mr, Stearns was appointed Postmaster of the City of Canton in the summer of 1853, which position he retained until 1857.

Mr. Stearns was a Democrat in politics until the rebellion began, when he became a War-Democrat, and at a later period a Republican.

Mr. Stearns was largely influential in the organization of the 103d Regiment, and was elected Lieutenant-Colonel of that regiment, but was taken sick soon after joining his regiment at Peoria, and lay sick several months, which forced him to resign.

Mr. Stearns was closely identified with the earlier movements looking to the building of the Jacksonville & Savanna Railroad, and has ever been among the foremost to promote all schemes of public utility and improvement. He is now, at the age of fifty eight, in the full vigor of life, and has lost none of the eloquence which made him prominent in the early days as one of the best stump-orators in the county. He is a true friend, a genial gentleman, and no man stands higher in the home of his adoption than does Parley C. Stearns.
Source: Canton Its Pioneers and History by Alonzo M. Swan


from Allegheny county, New York, was one of the immigrants who came in during the latter part of the year 1835. He was a worker in metal, maker of edge-tools, augers, hammers, etc. His shop was established on Cole street, where he did general blacksmithing. To Mr. Coykendall is due the credit of doing the first casting ever done in Fulton county. This job was a pair of small burrs for grinding flax-seed, and was done for the McPheeters Oil-Mill. His furnace was an ordinary blacksmith's forge with two pairs of bellows. In this forge was fixed an immovable crucible, made with ordinary brick clay. The crucible had a hole and plug for letting out the metal. His moulds were constructed from ordinary sand, and 'it is said that he succeeded in doing a very creditable job. When the pioneer blast was made, nearly the entire population of the village were present to witness it.

Coykendall afterward removed, and for many years resided in Peoria county, but is now living at Farmington, in Fulton county, aged 74 years, and still quite hale and hearty. His sons, Duke B., A. J. and Jonathan, will be remembered by all the older residents. All are still living : D. B. and A. J. in Yates City, and Jonathan in Farmington, where he is a successful and enterprising business man.
Source: Canton Its Pioneers and History by Alonzo M. Swan


Came to Canton in 1840, and established himself in the mercantile business on the east side of the Public Square, in Neece's building, and remained there until 1841. In 1841 he and John G. Piper were in business together, making flax-seed oil, they haying rented McPheeters's oil-mill, which stood on Fourth street between Elm and Union. Mr. Hoblett was also a partner of Mr. Piper in the establishment of the carding machine which was the beginning of Piper's Woolen Factory. Mr. Hoblett left Canton in 1848, removing to Logan county. In 1857 he removed to Minnesota, where he remained until his death in 1868.
Source: Canton Its Pioneers and History by Alonzo M. Swan


Few of the early settlers were better known that John Coleman. He came to the state in the fall of 1826, from New Jersey, making the trip overland, bringing, in addition to his household goods and a family of twelve children—leaving two more in New Jersey—five wagon-loads of dry goods, groceries, etc., purchased in New-York City. Mr. Coleman settled at first in a log cabin which stood on the block now occupied by Mrs. N. B. Childs, on Wood street. Here he displayed for sale the first goods ever brought to Canton for sale. Mr. Coleman did not arrange his goods at first on shelves and sell them over counters, as is the custom to-day, but left his bales and boxes of goods under beds, beside the walls, and wherever he could find a place for them. His customers were, in addition to the few neighbors who were in the vicinity, Indians, and he had as many as two hundred red customers at one time, on certain occasions.

Mr. Coleman had bought, before removing to Canton, seven quarter-sections of land in one body, adjoining and north of the town-plat of Canton. On this land he erected a building, and about 1829 obtained a tavern license. He called his house the " Traveler's Rest," and no house in the Military Tract was better known to travelers.

Mr. Coleman kept a grocery and some goods on his farm until the storm in 1835, when his store-room was blown away, and a large lot of clocks and Mackinaw blankets from his stock scattered broadcast over the prairie. Mr. Coleman was a trading man, and as such had " a faculty." He made money while he lived, and left a fine estate to his children. He was a very powerful man, about 5 feet 10 inches in height, and would weigh about 200 lbs. He died in May, 1835 at the age of 63 years.
Source: Canton Its Pioneers and History by Alonzo M. Swan


Wm. Seavy, who may justly be called the pioneer of daguerreotype, ambrotype, melainotype, photograph business, came to Canton in May, 1851, and at once established himself in business. Mr. Seavy had been engaged in the business for ten years prior to his settlement here, traveling all over New England and Canada. The first pictures he took here included those of Deacon Nathan Jones, Joel Wright, Uncle Lyman Walker, Major Oliver Shepley, A. C. Thompson, and many others of the old settlers. In 1851 he married Miss Harriet E. Culton.

Mr. Seavy took the first ambrotype, the first melainotype and the first photograph ever taken in Canton. He exhibited his pictures at the State Fair at Springfield in 1854, taking the first premium over all competitors; also taking the first premium at the State Fairs held at Peoria in 1857, and Quincy in 1864. Mr. Seavy has been justly ranked among the first artists in the West in his chosen profession, and his work is fully equal to that of the first artist of the country, keeping pace with all modern improvements.
Source: Canton Its Pioneers and History by Alonzo M. Swan


Deacon Nathan Jones, who laid out the first and several subsequent additions to the Town of Canton, was a native of the State of New York. Jones there married Matilda Swan, and, in company with his brother-in-law, Isaac Swan, emigrated to Illinois in an early day. They came to Canton in 1824, and settled together. Nathan Jones was for the larger portion of his life a deeply religious man, and acquired a reputation for honesty, integrity, and the Christian graces, such as few men ever attain. He was universally respected during his life, and, although belonging to the Abolition party, which in an early day was exceedingly unpopular in this section, was one of the most popular men Canton ever had. Deacon Jones was the first postmaster of Canton. He built the first frame residence here, was for a long period school trustee, and held various offices of trust, which he filled to the entire satisfaction of the community. For a great many years the good Deacon led the Congregational Church Choir. None of those who knew him but respected him. He died in about 1850, and was sincerely mourned.
Source: Canton Its Pioneers and History by Alonzo M. Swan