Anderson D. Mittank
Few families of Grant County have been longer identified with the practical working of the farm, and with civic and social affairs than the Mittank's, whose residence here began nearly eighty years ago, and who as farmers, as business men, as faithful workers for church, morality, and good government, have been effective factors in their community. Anderson D. Mittank has spent practically all his life in Jefferson Township, is the owner of a beautiful rural estate in Section Twenty-nine, and is a man of practical energy and business ability, his standing in the community also being well indicated by the fact that he has served as president of the Farmers State Bank of Matthews, since the reorganization of that institution in 1910.
Mr. Mittank's grandfather was Christopher Mittank, a native of Bedford County, Pennsylvania, and of Pennsylvania parents and of Dutch ancestry. At one time the name was spelled Mettong, but suffered the usual American change to a form which is more easily pronounced. Christopher Mittank married a Bedford County girl, and after several children were born to them in that State, including David, father of Anderson D., the family moved in 1831 to Ohio, and in 1835 continued their pioneer migration as far as Delaware County, Indiana. Christopher Mittank found a home on a new tract of land in Washington Township, and went through all the experiences characteristic of pioneer life, in trying to improve his land and make satisfactory provisions for his growing household of children.
Christopher Mittank since died in Delaware County, and both he and his wife were past seventy years of age. They were active members of the New Light Christian Church, and honorable and upright souls, loved by all in their community. Besides David, there were several other children: John, Michael, and George, the last named being killed early in the war while fighting the battles of the Union Army. John and Michael are still living, the former in Pendleton, Madison County, Indiana, and the latter at Fairmount. Of the daughters, Hannah is the widow of George Kolp, of Bureau County, Illinois; Catherine died after her marriage to Coleman Sanders, leaving a family of children: Eliza is the wife of John Dunlap, near Fairmount, and they have no children: Mary died after her marriage to Albert McCoy, of Delaware County.
David Mittank, who was born in Pennsylvania, November 15, 1824, was seven years of age when the family went to Ohio, and four years later became a resident of Grant County. He grew up to manhood, in the midst of pioneer conditions, and his schooling was of the most limited character. After his marriage he started out to work out his salvation on a place in Jefferson Township. He first leased land, the old McPherren farm, the property of his wife's father, and situated on the Mississinewa River. There he lived, developed a good home, bought out the other heirs to the estate, and finally was possessed of a homestead of one hundred and thirty acres. His death occurred on that place, November 16, 1897. He came of age during the declining years of the Whig party, and probably supported that organization by his vote, and when the Republicans perfected a party organization in 1856, he was one of the supporters of its first candidates, and steadily voted that ticket until his death. However, he was reared in a family of Democrats, and according to the belief of that party. He was long an active member of the Shiloh Methodist Church, in Jefferson Township. Throughout his career he was known and respected for his uprightness, his honesty, his worthy citizenship, and his thrift and enterprise. While he had no early advantages in education, he became by self effort a thorough student, read history extensively, was constantly studying the Bible, and it is said that by virtue of his remarkable memory seldom forgot a fact acquired through reading or observation, the greater part of the words of the sermons which he heard. Few men have so splendid a natural endowment of intellect.
David Mittank was married in Jefferson Township, October 3, 1850, to Margaret McKeeber. She was born in Clinton County, Ohio, July 29, 1833, and when two years of age was brought to Grant County, so that practically all her life was spent in this section of Indiana. Her parents were Moses and Sarah (Moore) McKeeber, both natives of Virginia, but were married in Clinton County, Ohio, in 1832. Her father on coming to Grant County bought land in Jefferson Township, and settled in the rough log cabin which was almost the only improvement on the place. The cabin had no floor, and for a time the fleas were so numerous that the family suffered constant discomfort from their ravages. Moses McKeeber died on the old homestead in middle life, while his widow married a Rev. Mr. Wheat of the Methodist Protestant Church, and had one child by that union, and was afterwards twice married, but without children by either of her last husbands. Mrs. Margaret Mittank, wife of David, died June 16, 1900, at the home she had lived on practically all her life. She was for many years a devoted member of the Shiloh Methodist Church. Her children were as follows: John W. and Amanda, both of whom died in childhood; Amariah, who lives on a farm in Jefferson Township, is married and of her three sons and two daughters all are married, except one son; Mary Ettta is the wife of William Tibbett, of Marion, and they have four sons; Edward died in infancy.
Anderson D. Mittank was born on the old home farm, February 17, 1861, received a public school education, and as soon as he reached his majority, he started out on his own account, and has effected a generous prosperity. He now owns the old McKeeber homestead, where his father lived for so many years, comprising one hundred and thirty-three acres in Sections Twenty-one and Forty-eight, and half acres in Section Twenty-nine. All his land is kept up to the highest notch of modern cultivation and improvement, and in 1908 a comfortable rural dwelling of eight rooms, painted brown, and with all the modern furnishings and facilities was built. The barn is now about seventeen years old, and all the improvements show how progressive a farmer Mr. Mittank is.
Anderson D. Mittank was married at Upland in 1885, to Miss Clara Gadbury, who was born in Licking Township of Blackford County, Indiana, in September, 1861. Her parents were James and Mary A. McVicker Gadbury, the former of whom died on his father's farm in Licking Township in Blackford County, having been born April 25, 1833, and dying May 12, 1891; while his wife, who was born in Ohio, May 14, 1832, was brought in childhood to Blackford County and died there December 28, 1874. James Gadbury was an active member of the United Brethren Church, a Democrat in politics, and a prominent and influential citizen of his community. Mrs. Mittank, who was reared and educated in Blackford County, was one of six children, as follows: Hulda, who died when ten years of age; Mrs. Mittank, Emma, who died after her marriage to Henry Hanley, and left three children; Riley, who is a farmer in Licking Township of Blackford County, has two sons and three daughters; John, who lives on the old homestead in Blackford County, has five children; Jennie, who died when nine months old.
To the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Mittank has been born one child, William B., on February 21, 1886. His education was in the public schools, and since taking up the serious responsibilities of life he has proved a capable manager of his father's farm in Jefferson Township. William B. Mittank married Gertrude Sutton, of Jefferson Township, and to their marriage two children have been born as follows: Eva Marjorie, born March 28, 1909; and Opal C., born December 10, 1911. Mrs. Mittank is an active member of the Kingsley Methodist Episcopal Church.
Source: Centennial History of Grant County Indiana 1812-1912. The Lewis Publishing Co., 1914, page 926-27.