s/o Smith Hadley and Mary VanNorman His first name is sometimes spelled Chauncy or Chancey on the censuses and may have appeared as Chauncey on some records.
The Fort Wayne Journal-Gazette, Sunday Morning, April 30, 1905 five years after his death in Iowa the following was published in this Indiana newspaper.
Early Days in Whitley County
How Charley Hadley figured in the History
Struggle of Pioneers - Three Children of a Whitley County Man Drowned in Saint Marys River Here
-Prominent Early Settlers-
I have read with much interest Mr. William M. Gillespie's historical notes that have that have recently been published about the early settlement of Jefferson township, and I hope that he will continue to write on this subject. What he can tell will be of great interest to those who are interested in the history of the early settlement of this part of the country. There are only a few of the early pioneers left and it is to be hoped that their accounts of the early struggles of the settlers may be preserved or the future historian will find the history of Whitley county very indefinite indeed.
The question as been asked as to how Jefferson township received its name. I was intimately acquainted with Chancy Hadley, who is credited with naming the township and he often conversed with me about the early settlement and organization of the township and the circumstances that gave it the name. In the spring of 1845 a number of residents of the territory petitioned the Board of County Commissioners to organize the township for civil purposes and when the petition was being circulated, several names were suggested. Some proposed "Raccoon Village". In the southeast corner of the township on the Wabash Canal; others favored "Polk" as James K Polk was then the President of the United States. I think it was Moses Fairchild the first permanent settler of the township , who was a native of Fairfield county Ohio, that suggested the name of "Fairfield". Mr. Hadley was the last to sign the petition and after writing his name he wrote the words "Jefferson". When the petition was presented to the County Commissioners the name Jefferson was adopted.
As Mr. Hadley was closely identified with the early history of the township, a sketch of his life will perhaps be in place here. Chancy Hadley was born in Knox county Ohio. November 22 1813; was the youngest of a large family and distantly related on his mother's side (I think) to Major Ethan Allen of the Revolutionary fame. He was raised on a farm and was at one time deputy under his older brother Isaac Hadley, who was postmaster at Mt. Vernon, Ohio. At the age of nineteen and one-half , in May, 1833 he was married to Mary Bell, of Richland county Ohio. The eldest daughter of Rev. Z. Bell a Westlyn Methodist Minister, and for the next eleven years made his home in or near the town of Bellville. In August,1844, Mr. Hadley with his wife and family of five boys, the eldest a lad of ten years, moved to Whitley county by way of Toledo and the Wabash canal. When they arrived at Racoon village it was night and raining and as they and their goods were unloaded, the captain of the boat told that on his return trip he would be ready to take them back for surely a very brief stay in such a God forsaken country would suffice. Obtaining shelter for the night, Mr. Hadley early the next morning set out on foot for Maring's settlement: to obtain means to convey his family and goods to the cabin of his brother in-law Robert S. Bell, who had settled the year previous on the southwest quarter of section 20, where John W. Bower now lives. Arriving in the settlement, he secured Calvin Maring with his ox team and wagon to perform the service. But the oxen were grazing somewhere in the woods and by the time they were found and the trip made to Racoon village it was night again. After loading the goods Mrs. Hadley and the children in the wagon, some doubts were expressed as to making the return trip as it would soon be very dark, and only a trail to follow through the dense woods, but Mr. Maring declared that he could "lick them through" if Mr. Hadley and Mr. Lafever who accompanied them from the settlement, would walk on each side of the wagon and hold it from upsetting as stumps and logs were run over.
The trip was made in safety and and after a few days prospecting, Mr. Hadley purchased the west half of t he northwest quarter of section 18, which was afterwards owned by the late Samuel Rather and now owned by Jacob M Kaufman. After purchasing the land, Mr. Hadley and his two oldest boys went one day to begin clearing a building site, and cut logs for a cabin. After working all day they returned to Mr. Bell's and the next morning and started for the scene of the previous day's labor, but were unable to find it. After wondering about the wilderness for sometime they came to the cabin of Leonard S. Maring, and Mr. Maring guided them to their clearing.
Mr. Hadley resided in Jefferson township for about twenty-one years, except a short time that he lived in Fort Wayne. He cleared up his farm and served a term as township trustee.
I think it was in the spring of 1862 that he decided to rent his farm and move to Fort Wayne, where his children would have a better school privileges. But on June 14, 1862, a calamity occurred that cast a gloom over the remainder of Mr. Hadley's life, and Mrs. Hadley's mind was so affected that she never fully recovered. Their three youngest sons, Horace Rowse, age fourteen: Millard Fillmore, age eleven, and John Wesley, age nine years, were drowned while bathing in Saint Marys river and were buried in one grave in Lindenwood Cemetery.
After the terrible affliction Mr. and Mrs. Hadley returned to their farm in Jefferson township where they resided until the spring of 1865. When they sold their farm and moved to Mahaska, county Iowa, where they spent the remainder of their days. Mrs. Hadley died in the fall of 1887, and Mr. Hadley died on September 26, 1900. aged eighty-six years, ten months and four days. Mr. and Mrs. Hadley were the parents of ten children, all boys, only two of whom are now living. They are Milton Hadley Tonkasoxi, Kan. and Zephaniah Hadley of Oskaloosa, Iowa.
Chancy Hadley was a man of very positive nature and firm in his convictions. Although he loved political and religious liberty he always desired to age fair play. An accident which occurred while he was town trustee will illustrate this trait. A lecture on a religious subject, was announced to be delivered at t he old Maring school house but as the position of the lecturer was understood to be in opposition to the sentiments of many of the residents of the vicinity, quite a feeling was stirred up, and when the congregation assembled to hear the lecture, it was discovered that the school house door was locked and nobody seemed to know where about's of the key. Mr. Hadley arrived a little late, and learning the situation he calming walked to a near by fence and securing a good size rail, the door was promptly forced and the speaker proceeded
with his lecture.
The Fort Wayne Journal-Gazette, Sunday Morning, April 30, 1905 five years after his death in Iowa the following was published in this Indiana newspaper.
Early Days in Whitley County
How Charley Hadley figured in the History
Struggle of Pioneers - Three Children of a Whitley County Man Drowned in Saint Marys River Here
-Prominent Early Settlers-
I have read with much interest Mr. William M. Gillespie's historical notes that have that have recently been published about the early settlement of Jefferson township, and I hope that he will continue to write on this subject. What he can tell will be of great interest to those who are interested in the history of the early settlement of this part of the country. There are only a few of the early pioneers left and it is to be hoped that their accounts of the early struggles of the settlers may be preserved or the future historian will find the history of Whitley county very indefinite indeed.
The question as been asked as to how Jefferson township received its name. I was intimately acquainted with Chancy Hadley, who is credited with naming the township and he often conversed with me about the early settlement and organization of the township and the circumstances that gave it the name. In the spring of 1845 a number of residents of the territory petitioned the Board of County Commissioners to organize the township for civil purposes and when the petition was being circulated, several names were suggested. Some proposed "Raccoon Village". In the southeast corner of the township on the Wabash Canal; others favored "Polk" as James K Polk was then the President of the United States. I think it was Moses Fairchild the first permanent settler of the township , who was a native of Fairfield county Ohio, that suggested the name of "Fairfield". Mr. Hadley was the last to sign the petition and after writing his name he wrote the words "Jefferson". When the petition was presented to the County Commissioners the name Jefferson was adopted.
As Mr. Hadley was closely identified with the early history of the township, a sketch of his life will perhaps be in place here. Chancy Hadley was born in Knox county Ohio. November 22 1813; was the youngest of a large family and distantly related on his mother's side (I think) to Major Ethan Allen of the Revolutionary fame. He was raised on a farm and was at one time deputy under his older brother Isaac Hadley, who was postmaster at Mt. Vernon, Ohio. At the age of nineteen and one-half , in May, 1833 he was married to Mary Bell, of Richland county Ohio. The eldest daughter of Rev. Z. Bell a Westlyn Methodist Minister, and for the next eleven years made his home in or near the town of Bellville. In August,1844, Mr. Hadley with his wife and family of five boys, the eldest a lad of ten years, moved to Whitley county by way of Toledo and the Wabash canal. When they arrived at Racoon village it was night and raining and as they and their goods were unloaded, the captain of the boat told that on his return trip he would be ready to take them back for surely a very brief stay in such a God forsaken country would suffice. Obtaining shelter for the night, Mr. Hadley early the next morning set out on foot for Maring's settlement: to obtain means to convey his family and goods to the cabin of his brother in-law Robert S. Bell, who had settled the year previous on the southwest quarter of section 20, where John W. Bower now lives. Arriving in the settlement, he secured Calvin Maring with his ox team and wagon to perform the service. But the oxen were grazing somewhere in the woods and by the time they were found and the trip made to Racoon village it was night again. After loading the goods Mrs. Hadley and the children in the wagon, some doubts were expressed as to making the return trip as it would soon be very dark, and only a trail to follow through the dense woods, but Mr. Maring declared that he could "lick them through" if Mr. Hadley and Mr. Lafever who accompanied them from the settlement, would walk on each side of the wagon and hold it from upsetting as stumps and logs were run over.
The trip was made in safety and and after a few days prospecting, Mr. Hadley purchased the west half of t he northwest quarter of section 18, which was afterwards owned by the late Samuel Rather and now owned by Jacob M Kaufman. After purchasing the land, Mr. Hadley and his two oldest boys went one day to begin clearing a building site, and cut logs for a cabin. After working all day they returned to Mr. Bell's and the next morning and started for the scene of the previous day's labor, but were unable to find it. After wondering about the wilderness for sometime they came to the cabin of Leonard S. Maring, and Mr. Maring guided them to their clearing.
Mr. Hadley resided in Jefferson township for about twenty-one years, except a short time that he lived in Fort Wayne. He cleared up his farm and served a term as township trustee.
I think it was in the spring of 1862 that he decided to rent his farm and move to Fort Wayne, where his children would have a better school privileges. But on June 14, 1862, a calamity occurred that cast a gloom over the remainder of Mr. Hadley's life, and Mrs. Hadley's mind was so affected that she never fully recovered. Their three youngest sons, Horace Rowse, age fourteen: Millard Fillmore, age eleven, and John Wesley, age nine years, were drowned while bathing in Saint Marys river and were buried in one grave in Lindenwood Cemetery.
After the terrible affliction Mr. and Mrs. Hadley returned to their farm in Jefferson township where they resided until the spring of 1865. When they sold their farm and moved to Mahaska, county Iowa, where they spent the remainder of their days. Mrs. Hadley died in the fall of 1887, and Mr. Hadley died on September 26, 1900. aged eighty-six years, ten months and four days. Mr. and Mrs. Hadley were the parents of ten children, all boys, only two of whom are now living. They are Milton Hadley Tonkasoxi, Kan. and Zephaniah Hadley of Oskaloosa, Iowa.
Chancy Hadley was a man of very positive nature and firm in his convictions. Although he loved political and religious liberty he always desired to age fair play. An accident which occurred while he was town trustee will illustrate this trait. A lecture on a religious subject, was announced to be delivered at t he old Maring school house but as the position of the lecturer was understood to be in opposition to the sentiments of many of the residents of the vicinity, quite a feeling was stirred up, and when the congregation assembled to hear the lecture, it was discovered that the school house door was locked and nobody seemed to know where about's of the key. Mr. Hadley arrived a little late, and learning the situation he calming walked to a near by fence and securing a good size rail, the door was promptly forced and the speaker proceeded
with his lecture.
s/o Smith Hadley and Mary VanNorman His first name is sometimes spelled Chauncy or Chancey on the censuses and may have appeared as Chauncey on some records.
The Fort Wayne Journal-Gazette, Sunday Morning, April 30, 1905 five years after his death in Iowa the following was published in this Indiana newspaper.
Early Days in Whitley County
How Charley Hadley figured in the History
Struggle of Pioneers - Three Children of a Whitley County Man Drowned in Saint Marys River Here
-Prominent Early Settlers-
I have read with much interest Mr. William M. Gillespie's historical notes that have that have recently been published about the early settlement of Jefferson township, and I hope that he will continue to write on this subject. What he can tell will be of great interest to those who are interested in the history of the early settlement of this part of the country. There are only a few of the early pioneers left and it is to be hoped that their accounts of the early struggles of the settlers may be preserved or the future historian will find the history of Whitley county very indefinite indeed.
The question as been asked as to how Jefferson township received its name. I was intimately acquainted with Chancy Hadley, who is credited with naming the township and he often conversed with me about the early settlement and organization of the township and the circumstances that gave it the name. In the spring of 1845 a number of residents of the territory petitioned the Board of County Commissioners to organize the township for civil purposes and when the petition was being circulated, several names were suggested. Some proposed "Raccoon Village". In the southeast corner of the township on the Wabash Canal; others favored "Polk" as James K Polk was then the President of the United States. I think it was Moses Fairchild the first permanent settler of the township , who was a native of Fairfield county Ohio, that suggested the name of "Fairfield". Mr. Hadley was the last to sign the petition and after writing his name he wrote the words "Jefferson". When the petition was presented to the County Commissioners the name Jefferson was adopted.
As Mr. Hadley was closely identified with the early history of the township, a sketch of his life will perhaps be in place here. Chancy Hadley was born in Knox county Ohio. November 22 1813; was the youngest of a large family and distantly related on his mother's side (I think) to Major Ethan Allen of the Revolutionary fame. He was raised on a farm and was at one time deputy under his older brother Isaac Hadley, who was postmaster at Mt. Vernon, Ohio. At the age of nineteen and one-half , in May, 1833 he was married to Mary Bell, of Richland county Ohio. The eldest daughter of Rev. Z. Bell a Westlyn Methodist Minister, and for the next eleven years made his home in or near the town of Bellville. In August,1844, Mr. Hadley with his wife and family of five boys, the eldest a lad of ten years, moved to Whitley county by way of Toledo and the Wabash canal. When they arrived at Racoon village it was night and raining and as they and their goods were unloaded, the captain of the boat told that on his return trip he would be ready to take them back for surely a very brief stay in such a God forsaken country would suffice. Obtaining shelter for the night, Mr. Hadley early the next morning set out on foot for Maring's settlement: to obtain means to convey his family and goods to the cabin of his brother in-law Robert S. Bell, who had settled the year previous on the southwest quarter of section 20, where John W. Bower now lives. Arriving in the settlement, he secured Calvin Maring with his ox team and wagon to perform the service. But the oxen were grazing somewhere in the woods and by the time they were found and the trip made to Racoon village it was night again. After loading the goods Mrs. Hadley and the children in the wagon, some doubts were expressed as to making the return trip as it would soon be very dark, and only a trail to follow through the dense woods, but Mr. Maring declared that he could "lick them through" if Mr. Hadley and Mr. Lafever who accompanied them from the settlement, would walk on each side of the wagon and hold it from upsetting as stumps and logs were run over.
The trip was made in safety and and after a few days prospecting, Mr. Hadley purchased the west half of t he northwest quarter of section 18, which was afterwards owned by the late Samuel Rather and now owned by Jacob M Kaufman. After purchasing the land, Mr. Hadley and his two oldest boys went one day to begin clearing a building site, and cut logs for a cabin. After working all day they returned to Mr. Bell's and the next morning and started for the scene of the previous day's labor, but were unable to find it. After wondering about the wilderness for sometime they came to the cabin of Leonard S. Maring, and Mr. Maring guided them to their clearing.
Mr. Hadley resided in Jefferson township for about twenty-one years, except a short time that he lived in Fort Wayne. He cleared up his farm and served a term as township trustee.
I think it was in the spring of 1862 that he decided to rent his farm and move to Fort Wayne, where his children would have a better school privileges. But on June 14, 1862, a calamity occurred that cast a gloom over the remainder of Mr. Hadley's life, and Mrs. Hadley's mind was so affected that she never fully recovered. Their three youngest sons, Horace Rowse, age fourteen: Millard Fillmore, age eleven, and John Wesley, age nine years, were drowned while bathing in Saint Marys river and were buried in one grave in Lindenwood Cemetery.
After the terrible affliction Mr. and Mrs. Hadley returned to their farm in Jefferson township where they resided until the spring of 1865. When they sold their farm and moved to Mahaska, county Iowa, where they spent the remainder of their days. Mrs. Hadley died in the fall of 1887, and Mr. Hadley died on September 26, 1900. aged eighty-six years, ten months and four days. Mr. and Mrs. Hadley were the parents of ten children, all boys, only two of whom are now living. They are Milton Hadley Tonkasoxi, Kan. and Zephaniah Hadley of Oskaloosa, Iowa.
Chancy Hadley was a man of very positive nature and firm in his convictions. Although he loved political and religious liberty he always desired to age fair play. An accident which occurred while he was town trustee will illustrate this trait. A lecture on a religious subject, was announced to be delivered at t he old Maring school house but as the position of the lecturer was understood to be in opposition to the sentiments of many of the residents of the vicinity, quite a feeling was stirred up, and when the congregation assembled to hear the lecture, it was discovered that the school house door was locked and nobody seemed to know where about's of the key. Mr. Hadley arrived a little late, and learning the situation he calming walked to a near by fence and securing a good size rail, the door was promptly forced and the speaker proceeded
with his lecture.
The Fort Wayne Journal-Gazette, Sunday Morning, April 30, 1905 five years after his death in Iowa the following was published in this Indiana newspaper.
Early Days in Whitley County
How Charley Hadley figured in the History
Struggle of Pioneers - Three Children of a Whitley County Man Drowned in Saint Marys River Here
-Prominent Early Settlers-
I have read with much interest Mr. William M. Gillespie's historical notes that have that have recently been published about the early settlement of Jefferson township, and I hope that he will continue to write on this subject. What he can tell will be of great interest to those who are interested in the history of the early settlement of this part of the country. There are only a few of the early pioneers left and it is to be hoped that their accounts of the early struggles of the settlers may be preserved or the future historian will find the history of Whitley county very indefinite indeed.
The question as been asked as to how Jefferson township received its name. I was intimately acquainted with Chancy Hadley, who is credited with naming the township and he often conversed with me about the early settlement and organization of the township and the circumstances that gave it the name. In the spring of 1845 a number of residents of the territory petitioned the Board of County Commissioners to organize the township for civil purposes and when the petition was being circulated, several names were suggested. Some proposed "Raccoon Village". In the southeast corner of the township on the Wabash Canal; others favored "Polk" as James K Polk was then the President of the United States. I think it was Moses Fairchild the first permanent settler of the township , who was a native of Fairfield county Ohio, that suggested the name of "Fairfield". Mr. Hadley was the last to sign the petition and after writing his name he wrote the words "Jefferson". When the petition was presented to the County Commissioners the name Jefferson was adopted.
As Mr. Hadley was closely identified with the early history of the township, a sketch of his life will perhaps be in place here. Chancy Hadley was born in Knox county Ohio. November 22 1813; was the youngest of a large family and distantly related on his mother's side (I think) to Major Ethan Allen of the Revolutionary fame. He was raised on a farm and was at one time deputy under his older brother Isaac Hadley, who was postmaster at Mt. Vernon, Ohio. At the age of nineteen and one-half , in May, 1833 he was married to Mary Bell, of Richland county Ohio. The eldest daughter of Rev. Z. Bell a Westlyn Methodist Minister, and for the next eleven years made his home in or near the town of Bellville. In August,1844, Mr. Hadley with his wife and family of five boys, the eldest a lad of ten years, moved to Whitley county by way of Toledo and the Wabash canal. When they arrived at Racoon village it was night and raining and as they and their goods were unloaded, the captain of the boat told that on his return trip he would be ready to take them back for surely a very brief stay in such a God forsaken country would suffice. Obtaining shelter for the night, Mr. Hadley early the next morning set out on foot for Maring's settlement: to obtain means to convey his family and goods to the cabin of his brother in-law Robert S. Bell, who had settled the year previous on the southwest quarter of section 20, where John W. Bower now lives. Arriving in the settlement, he secured Calvin Maring with his ox team and wagon to perform the service. But the oxen were grazing somewhere in the woods and by the time they were found and the trip made to Racoon village it was night again. After loading the goods Mrs. Hadley and the children in the wagon, some doubts were expressed as to making the return trip as it would soon be very dark, and only a trail to follow through the dense woods, but Mr. Maring declared that he could "lick them through" if Mr. Hadley and Mr. Lafever who accompanied them from the settlement, would walk on each side of the wagon and hold it from upsetting as stumps and logs were run over.
The trip was made in safety and and after a few days prospecting, Mr. Hadley purchased the west half of t he northwest quarter of section 18, which was afterwards owned by the late Samuel Rather and now owned by Jacob M Kaufman. After purchasing the land, Mr. Hadley and his two oldest boys went one day to begin clearing a building site, and cut logs for a cabin. After working all day they returned to Mr. Bell's and the next morning and started for the scene of the previous day's labor, but were unable to find it. After wondering about the wilderness for sometime they came to the cabin of Leonard S. Maring, and Mr. Maring guided them to their clearing.
Mr. Hadley resided in Jefferson township for about twenty-one years, except a short time that he lived in Fort Wayne. He cleared up his farm and served a term as township trustee.
I think it was in the spring of 1862 that he decided to rent his farm and move to Fort Wayne, where his children would have a better school privileges. But on June 14, 1862, a calamity occurred that cast a gloom over the remainder of Mr. Hadley's life, and Mrs. Hadley's mind was so affected that she never fully recovered. Their three youngest sons, Horace Rowse, age fourteen: Millard Fillmore, age eleven, and John Wesley, age nine years, were drowned while bathing in Saint Marys river and were buried in one grave in Lindenwood Cemetery.
After the terrible affliction Mr. and Mrs. Hadley returned to their farm in Jefferson township where they resided until the spring of 1865. When they sold their farm and moved to Mahaska, county Iowa, where they spent the remainder of their days. Mrs. Hadley died in the fall of 1887, and Mr. Hadley died on September 26, 1900. aged eighty-six years, ten months and four days. Mr. and Mrs. Hadley were the parents of ten children, all boys, only two of whom are now living. They are Milton Hadley Tonkasoxi, Kan. and Zephaniah Hadley of Oskaloosa, Iowa.
Chancy Hadley was a man of very positive nature and firm in his convictions. Although he loved political and religious liberty he always desired to age fair play. An accident which occurred while he was town trustee will illustrate this trait. A lecture on a religious subject, was announced to be delivered at t he old Maring school house but as the position of the lecturer was understood to be in opposition to the sentiments of many of the residents of the vicinity, quite a feeling was stirred up, and when the congregation assembled to hear the lecture, it was discovered that the school house door was locked and nobody seemed to know where about's of the key. Mr. Hadley arrived a little late, and learning the situation he calming walked to a near by fence and securing a good size rail, the door was promptly forced and the speaker proceeded
with his lecture.
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