Ansel Langdon 1831-1894 •••••••••••••••••
1831 ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Age 36, his father Gideon is the first settler in Steuben County, Indiana.
From the 1876 Illustrated Historical Atlas of the
State of Indiana:
The smoke from the first permanent settler's cabin first arose
within the present limits of Steuben County in the spring of 1831.
That settler was Gideon Langdon. His rude cabin was in the
southwest quarter of Section 5, Jackson Township, afterward
known as the Town farm.
Son Ansel is born 26 Jul 1831.
Asel’s Probate Files and Will 2015 •••••
JUST FOUND THESE 2015
Ansel Langdon’s Probate files and Will are online in FamilySearch. You might need to create a free account to view the images.
The Probate files start here:
His Will starts here:
A list of his family members with ages and residence is here:
Court Documents with Lineage •••••••
NOTES AND SPECULATION:
Ansel and Phoebe’s marriage. Their original marriage document is in the column at left. This was Ansel’s first marriage. Phoebe was Catherine Langdon’s sister. Her first husband died in the Civil War at Cold Harbor.
Here’s a link to her Civil War Widow’s Pension Files in Fold3.
(it requires a subscription)
UPDATES SOON
I have all 67 pages of the Pension files. Lot of interesting items, but for now here’s a link to birth dates and names for all of James’ and Phoebe’s children.
Here's a link to all 68 pages in a zip file:
1868 •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
"his only personal property consists of his clothing and a small amount of pocket money"
On 15 September 1868, Rufus used the above words to describe Ansel. It was sworn testimony as a "witness produced on the part of the plaintiff."
Ansel produced his own brother as a witness, and he ends up calling him a bum.
Not how you would normally like to be described, but it's a divorce. Here’s what he said.
(These are pages 24 and 25 of the above zip file for Ed Frtitts pension)
"Rufus Langdon, being sworn, says that he is well acquainted with the parties in this action."
"That the plaintiff (Ansel) is not the owner of any Real Estate in this State and but little personal property; that his occupation is a common laborer upon a farm; that some years since, he went to Oregon and is now talking of removing again to that territory; that he never owned any Real Estate in the State of Wisconsin; and that his only personal property consists of his clothing and a small amount of pocket money."
He goes on to describe Phoebe as living an extravagant lifestyle.
"the defendant at the time of her marriage was the owner of 15 acres of land which she has since sold for $750 dollars; that she was drawing a pension from the U.S. Government at the time of her mariage & had some and still has some personal property left her by a former husband."
Keep in mind that Phoebe is his wife’s sister. Not sure how all of this played out, but Phoebe followed them all to the Dakota territory and In the end, Phoebe ended up living in Oregon and is buried there.
The Ansel Langdon Family ••••••••••••••••
Source: "The Saga of the Kellogg Crescent - A History of the Land and People along Oregon's Umpqua River 1543-1988" by Leona Spayde Madison printed in 1989 by Crescent Press of Oakland, Oregon
The claim of Ansel Langdon was located about a half mile north of his brother, on land now owned by the Kestersons. Ansel had the distinction of hauling the first load of freight out of Scottsburg bound for Yreka, California. Ansel married Nora (Maupin) Bunch in 1879. They became parents of three children: Commodore; Dora, who married Everett Tooley of Coles Valley; and Rufus, who married Eunice Arnold.
Nora and Ansel lived on Ansel's Donation Land Claim #48 until
Ansel died in 1894. Rufus bought a place adjoining the home place. Down a hill from the home place was their spring from which they carried water and Nora had a spring house where she kept her mild, cream, and butter.
Nora had a daughter named Sarah by her first marriage to Dave Bunch. She had been married to Marion Allen and they had three children: Verne, Walter, and Myrtle. When Sarah remarried, the two boys, Verne and Walter, lived with the Langdon grandparents. After his father's death, Rufus bought the others out. In 1910, Rufus contracted to operate the Dimmick Ferry with Adna Goff to help. Nora and family moved down near the river at Kellogg and kept house for Rufus while he ran the ferry. It was at this time, while 11 year old Verne Allen was helping his Uncle Rufus with the ferry, that Verne fell overboard and drowned. He is buried in the Dimmick Cemetery.
Rufus also contracted to carry the mail on the Elkton-Oakland route through Kellogg from 1908 until 1912 with the help of his brother Commodore. Walter Allen, born in 1901, grew up in Kellogg and went to stay with his Aunt Mary (Maupin) Fisher in Oakland to attend high school. Walter worked for the railroad and lived in Eugene. Nora Langdon died in 1923 and is buried in the Dimmick Cemetery beside her husband.
Rufus III Langdon ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Rufus III and wife Eunice.
Son of Ansel Langdon. He ran a ferry across the Umpqua river. Born 31 Mar 1879 and died 25 May 1938 in Coos County, Oregon. Wife is Eunice Laverne Arnold 1896 – 1963.
Rufus III’s familysheet.
One of Rufus III’s descendants, Aleatha Wilkerson, was killed by a tornado in Oklahoma in 1999. Her story is here:
Centennial History of Oregon •••••••••••••
Gaston, Joseph. "The Centennial History of Oregon, 1811-1912." Vol. 4. Chicago, Clarke Publishing Co., 1912. p. 917.
Here’s a link to it online: LINK
Here’s an image of it. LINK
RUFUS LANGDON
Is manager and owner of two of the most important ferries over the Umpqua river, and in conjunction with his brother, Commodore P. Langdon, is operating a stage and mail route. He is bringing to these activities the same progressive and straightforward characteristics which made him a successful farmer since he was old enough to hold the plow and which influenced and hastened the agricultural development of the state. Mr. Langdon is a native son of Oregon and was born in Kellogg precinct, Douglas county, March 31, 1879. He is a son of Ansel and Leonora (Maupin) Langdon, the former a native of Green Lake county, Wisconsin, and the latter of Greene county, Illinois. Mr. Langdon's father crossed the plains to Oregon, making the journey from Illinois to this state with the Dimmick family in 1852. The mother of our subject made the trip across the plains with her parents when she was yet a girl. Their marriage occurred in Douglas county, and immediately afterward Ansel Langdon took up a fractional donation claim in the bend of the Umpqua river five miles south of Elkton, and here operated one of the model farms of the district. He later took up a homestead claim and in addition to this bought sixty acres of railroad land, making his holdings aggregated almost five hundred acres. He was an active man in the early years of his life but later suffered much from illness. He was one of the early freighters in Douglas county and hauled the first load of freight out of Scottsburg bound for Yreka, California. He was a veteran of the Indian wars and a man who took an active part in every phase of pioneer development in the section in which he located. He died in 1892 in his sixty-second year and the event deprived Douglas county of a thoroughly representative, honorable and upright man. His widow is still living and makes her home with the subject of this sketch.
Rufus Langdon was reared upon his father's farm and acquired his education in the public schools of Douglas county. He was but thirteen years of age when his father died but he had been taught the principles of farming from his early childhood . When he was sixteen years of age he assumed the entire responsibility of the operation of the extensive property which his father left and subsequently purchased the homestead. It comprised at that time one hundred and eight acres, his father having disposed of all the remaining property previous to his death. Mr. Langdon still retains ownership of this well improved farm and for many years made its cultivation the principal activity of his life. In 1906, however, he secured the contract for the operation of the south ferry over the Umpqua river and was successful in this line for two and one-half years. In 1910 he added to his activities by contracting to run the Dimmick ferry, in the operation of which he is still successful and active. He has recently joined with his brother, Commodore P. Langdon, and purchased the Oakland and Elkton stage and mail route, which they are now running successfully.
In his political views Mr. Langdon is a republican and a progressive and liberal thinker upon public affairs. He has never sought office, preferring to devote his attention to agricultural and business enterprises. He is a member of Elkton Lodge, No. 192, I.O.O.F., and also belongs to Elkton Camp, No. 5786, M.W.A. His business career had been marked by a policy of thorough integrity and strict honor. He carries on all his activities along broad and progressive principles which are a heritage from his father and are contributing factors in the development of the American northwest.
1831 ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Born 1831 in Indiana. (I believe LaPorte. Need to find a source)
1st Marriage
In 1866 he married Catherine Langdon’s sister Phebe Ann Stickles. This was her 2nd marriage. 24 Mar 1858, she married James E. Fritz. James was killed in action during the Civil War at Cold Harbor. Link below is image of his Civil War pension index card.
CIVIL WAR RECORD OF JAMES FRITTS (FRITZ):
Name: James Fritts
Residence: Manchester, Wisconsin
Enlistment Date: 29 Feb 1864
Service Record: Enlisted as a Private on 29 February 1864.
Enlisted in Company B, 36th Infantry Regiment Wisconsin on 29 Feb 1864.
Killed Company B, 36th Infantry Regiment Wisconsin on 1 Jun 1864 at Cold Harbor, VA.
1866 Marriage of Ansel and Phebe
Marriage Date: 11 Nov 1866
Groom's Name: Ansel Langdon
Groom's Birthplace: Indiana
Bride's Name: Phebe A. Fritz
Marriage Place: Green Lake, Wisconsin
Groom's Father's Name: Gideon Langdon
Groom's Mother's Name: Betsey Langdon
Bride's Father's Name: Jacob Stickels
Bride's Mother's Name: Ann Stickels
Family Search Record of their marriage.
(Island comes from the man listed to the left of Ansel. That man was born in Rhode Island. Ansel was born in Indiana)
Image of Register
2nd Marriage
Leonora "Nora" b. 21 Sep 1846 MO - d. Jan 1923 Salem, OR
Her 1st marriage: 6 Nov 1864 David BUNCH
Her 2nd marriage: About 1879 Ansel LANGDON
Image of their Marriage Certificate
Image of Wedding Document. Witness states that Ansel and Lenora are of legal age to marry, with no impediments in the way of said parties conducting a legal marriage.
Assorted Ansel Info •••••••••••••••••••••••••
Ansel’s Headstone.
His wife Lenora’s Headstone
Map of Dimmick Cemetery Plots
Executor’s Notice of Ansel’s Death
Ansel is the Grantee in a land sale with the O&C Railroad, Co.
Ansel’s wiow Lenora sells land.
1966 Survey of Ansel Donation Land Claim #48
Ansel Langdon Individual Report
Ansel’s Land in Wisconsin 1851
Date: 1 Dec 1851
Location of Registry: GL Deed Book E, p 259
Grantor: John Chapel & wife caroline
Grantee: Ansel Langdon
Residence Marquette Co. WI
Consideration (Price): $20
Type of Deed: warranty
Date of recording: 2/21/1851
Description of Property: Lot 4 Block one in Village of Granville (l/4 acre).
