Milton Van Cleve

    Milton Van Cleve was born in Washington Township, Blackford County, Indiana, August 7, 1857, and Rebecca Van Cleve was born in the above named township December 10, 1841, these two being the surviving children of Ashur and Margaret Van Cleve. Ashur Van Cleve was born in Bedford County, Pennsylvania, November 3, 1808. He (Ashur Van Cleve) was a son of William and Rebecca (Powell) Van Cleve. The former was born October 23, 1768, and the latter July 6, 1773. The grandparents having originally emigrated from New Jersey into Pennsylvania when quite young. William Van Cleve grew to manhood in Pennsylvania, and was twice married, his first wife being Rebecca Powell, who died April 24, 1821. He then married Alice Van Buskirk, who was also a native of Pennsylvania, this marriage taking place April 27, 1823. He died November 17, 1829, and his widow subsequently removed to Ohio, where she died about 1857.

    Ashur Van Cleve was a son of the first marriage. He was reared in Pennsylvania, and when a young man, in 1838, came to Blackford County, Indiana, in company with his brother Joseph, they locating in the then woods of Licking Township. Joseph was quite a hunter, and as game of all kinds was plentiful he had abundant means for indulging in this sport.

    Ashur Van Cleve did not care so much for hunting, preferring to work on his land. In 1840 he went to Wells County, and August 6, of that year, he was united in marriage to Margaret Stahl, whose parents were among the pioneers of Wells County. They kept house on the land on which Joseph and Ashur had lived, until March, 1841, when they moved into a round log cabin which Mr. Van Cleve had built, on a tract of 160 acres in Washington Township, Blackford County. This land was covered with timber when they settled on it, and comparatively little improvem4ent had been made on the place. Their milling in those days was done at an old tramp mill, and some times they went beyond Muncie, a distance of forty miles, and even to more remote points. there were no roads at that time, and in wet weather they would sometimes have to unload the wheat from the wagon and carry it on their shoulders quite a distance through swamps. The nearest post office was Muncie, a distance of twenty-two miles. Their round log cabin was soon replaced by a hewed-log house, of which they afterward made a two-roomed house, and later built a frame addition, and ion 1862, Mr. Van Cleve erected a fine brick residence, the bricks for this building having been made right on the place. Coming here as they did when the country was a wilderness, they lived to see it transformed into a well settled and prosperous community.

    Mr. Van Cleve was bereaved by the death of his faithful wife, who had shared his joys and sorrows for over forty years, her death taking place January 10, 1874. He removed to Hartford City in September, 1882, where he died April 15, 1885. Mr. Van Cleve was a member of the Baptist Church, and a highly respected citizen of Washington Township. In politics he was formerly an old-line Whig, and affiliated with the Republican party from its organization until his death. He served his township as trustee, and was also county commissioner.

    Mr. and Mrs. Ashur Van Cleve were the parents of seven children, of whom five are deceased -Sarah, born November 4, 1843, and died June 11, 1873; Abraham, born August 8, 1845, died June 21, 1876; William, born April 12, 1847, died March 8, 1887; Joseph J., born August 13, 1850, died September 27, 1855, and Jesse B., born February 17, 1853, died April 1, 1854. Those yet living are Rebecca and Milton, whose names head this sketch. They purchased their present handsome residence in Hartford City in 1886, beside which they own the large brick store building, containing handsome store-rooms and offices, this property having been bought by William Van Cleve and his father. It is centrally located for business on the corner of the square, and has a frontage of forty feet. Their property contains all the modern conveniences and bears the marks of considerable enterprise.

Source: Biographical and Historical Record of Jay and Blackford Counties, Indiana by The Lewis Publishing Company, 1887.