Remembering William Dean

There is a new veteran’s grave marker in Etna Green Cemetery. Even though the bronze plaque is new, the man it honors is not newly deceased. In fact, this marker is 144 years overdue.

William Dean died around 1879 but there is no record of his death or place of burial. His final resting place has been a mystery for many years, and the last person who knew his whereabouts, his adopted son, died in 1931.

I am not related by blood to William Dean. My connection to him is through his guardianship of my great-great-grandfather, James Dean. But William Dean made a great impact on my family and honoring him on Memorial Day seems an appropriate way to thank him for his role and service.

My great-great-grandfather’s story is deeply intertwined with William Dean’s, so I will share some of his story here. James Dean was born to an unknown family in Morrow County, Ohio, in 1848. In the 1850 U.S. Census, he lived with William Dean and his wife, Hannah. His name in the census was listed as James W. Snow. The family story I was told as a child was he was the youngest of nine children of the Snow family. They were pioneers travelling west across Ohio and couldn’t manage the infant so they left him with the Deans.

Hannah and William had just lost a baby so perhaps they were a likely couple to take James. There is no record of a formal adoption, and frankly, I doubt the story of the Snow family At any rate, James spent his childhood with the Deans and by the 1860 census, he was using their last name, so the arrangement was a permanent one.

William Dean enlisted in the 3rd Ohio Calvary Co. M in September, 1861 in Morrow County, Ohio, and he was discharged 15 months later. He was with the 3rd Ohio at the Battle of Shiloh. He was discharged on Dec. 10, 1862, in Nashville, Tenn.

By 1863, William recovered enough, the family could move to Whitley County. William bought and sold several pieces of land in Whitley County over the three years they lived there but they did not settle there permanently.

James enlisted in the Indiana 152nd Infantry in Columbia City on Feb. 22, 1865. William had to vouch for James to join the Union Army, as he was underage. William’s signature appears on James’ enlistment papers and he lists himself as James’ “guardian.” James was discharged in August 1865. By the time James departed to join the 152nd Infantry, the war was over.

Between 1863 and 1866 William and Hannah took in another child, Catherine Hill. Catherine was the only child of Cyrus and Ruby Hill of Whitley County. They were neighbors of Hannah’s sister. Ruby died and Cyrus was unable to care for Catherine, so the Deans raised her until her death in 1873 at the age of 15. She was buried next to Hannah Dean at Etna Green Cemetery. The Deans provided her with a large headstone that has fallen over.

The family moved from Whitley County to Etna Green in 1866. William purchased several lots in the town of Etna Green and 80 acres of land north of Etna Green. He operated a livery stable and a boot and shoe shop, employing two people. He also farmed.

Sixteen months after his discharge and the close of the Civil War, James Dean enlisted again, this time in the U.S. Army 36th Infantry on Jan. 8, 1967. His division followed the construction of the transcontinental railroad over the next three years.

James married Amanda Miller in 1870 and had three children, including John, my great-grand- father. He was a member of Post 126 of the GAR, an organization for veterans. He had the distinction of being the last surviving Civil War veteran of his group.

Hannah Dean died of typhoid i 1875. William put a beautiful marble obelisk in her memory in Etna Green East Cemetery.

Soo after his wife’s death, William sold his lots in town. He apparently retired from his businesses at this time. By 1879, his farm was sold to a local land speculator. The deed was signed by James Dean who signed it with an X. Because of the sale of the farm, I assume that William Dean had died by this time. No will or probate has been found and there is no record of where or when he was buried.

James used his father’s name interchangeably with his own. His middle name was William.

In fact, after William’s death, he went by Bill of Billy exclusively. He worked as a field butcher and had a cattle dehorning business.

James’ wife, Amanda, divorced him in 1910. James remarried two more times. He was well known in tow and at times the subject of local ridicule due to his tall tales. He lived 83 years, dying in 1931. Given what we know of the colorful but somewhat unreliable James Dean, it seems possible he did not arrange for a headstone or proper remembrance for his adoptive father. My interest in making the arrangements to get a veteran’s plaque for William Dea was to remedy this.

I wish to honor William for his contributions; for raising four orphan children and for providing a home for his wife’s aging mother. He helped soldiers in Union Army hospitals and contributed to his communities in Morrow, Whitley and Kosciusko counties. He was a founding father of Etna Green, a business man, and a farmer. He deserves to be remembered.

I want to acknowledge several deceased family members. My mother, JoAnn (Dean) Kehr, my grandparents, Paul and Hazel (Pippen) Dean, my aunt, Diane (Dean) Rhine and my greatuncle, Thoedore Dean, whose passion of the Dean family story kept Wiliam and his family alive in our memories. I hope William’s memorial honors all their contributions.

Editor’s Note: Many people helped in making the memorial happen, including the Veteran’s Administration, and many local individuals along with genealogists in many counties and the National Archives.

‘Mommy v. Son: Nerf War’ erupts in Warsaw July 10

The Warsaw Parks and Recreation Department is inviting moms and sons to meet on the Nerf battlefield Monday, July 10.

Three hour-long battles will take place that day from 10-11 a.m., 2-3 p.m. and 6-7 p.m. during the “Mommy v. Son: Nerf War” in the Pete Thorn Youth Center gym, 800 N. Park Ave., Warsaw.

The Nerf battlefield will be equipped with barricades to hide behind as participants take on their opponents.

Each participant must bring their own non-battery-operated Nerf gun. No battery-operated

Nerf guns will be allowed. Nerf darts will be provided to each participant. Only darts purchased by the parks department will be allowed during the games.

Registration for the event is required and runs through Friday, June 30, or until filled. Each participant must register, and the cost for each is $7. For example, the cost would be $14 for one mother and one son to enter the Nerf battlefield together.

To register, visit https://secure. rec1.com/IN/warsaw-in/catalog.

For questions or assistance, email parksevents@warsaw. in.gov or call (574) 372-9554.

Camp Crosley hosts ribbon cutting for new renovations

Fore more information, call (574) 834-2331 or visit campcrosley.org or facebook.com/CampCrosleyYMCA.

P Ublic A Uctions

Dodd Personal Property Auction

Saturday, June 10, at 1983 Old 33 Road, Ligonier. Antiques, furniture, appliances, outdoor and more. To see items go to auctionzip.com. Salazar Auction Service, (574) 457-6754.

Riffle Recreation

Land Auction

6:30 p.m. Tuesday, June 13, 1964 E. 1250N, Macy. 160 acres include home and pole barn, hunting, wetlands, stocked lakes, crop land. Photos and info at metzgerauction.com, (260) 982-0238.

Cropland Auction

6 p.m. Thursday, June 15, Mt. Tabor Hall, 8424 N. 800W, Etna Green. Farm located at 7165 W. 1050N, Nappanee. 120 acres offered in eight tracts from 1.5 to 20 acres. More info online at metzgerauction.com.

Real Estate and Personal

Property Live Auction

10 a.m. Saturday, June 17, at 14128 CR 38, Goshen. Open house: 5:30-6 p.m. Monday, June 12. Fourplus acres include ranch home and

The Kosciusko Chamber of Commerce hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony at Camp Crosley, North Webster, Thursday, June 1. The ceremony celebrated phase one of the recent renovations to the property.

The renovations cost $1.4 million, according to Mark Battig, Camp Crosley’s director. The renovations are being completed in four phases.

The hilltop cabins were outdated and inefficient. The upgrades include updated HVAC systems, and a connection to the new sewage and septic system provided by the local municipalities. Adding a bathhouse to the hilltop cabins provides close access, improved accessibility and more inclusivity for campers who may be dealing with body image and sexuality issues.

The hilltop cabins and new bathhouse serve a wide variety of ages and geographic area. During summer resident camp, youth ages 10 to 12 years old utilize the cabins. Lakeside cabins were built alongside the hilltop cabins.

Children not only from Delaware County, but all over the United States, use the camp. During the camp’s off season, the cabins are used for groups and retreats.

Located on the shores of Lake Tippecanoe, the camp opened in 1915. The camp welcomes about 300 campers per week and has 100 staff members.

In the past 100 years, Camp Crosley has offered values-based camping for boys and girls ages 6 to 15.

Camp Crosley has expanded, revitalized, and transformed through the years. Many things have changed over the last 100 years, but one thing has remained the same: Camp Crosley’s dedication to providing an unparalleled camp experience. Donors for the renovations include Ball Brothers Foundation and Dekko Foundation, among others.

The first day of camp is June 4.

REMINDER! Salazar Auction Personal Property of Dodds

NOTE: outbuildings. Three bedrooms, two bathrooms, full basement, two-car garage, heated shop, pole barn and bank barn. Antiques, household, cargo trailer, ZTR mower, Hallmark ornaments, vintage toys. More information at metzgerauction.com.

Philip Randall Property Auction

10 a.m. Saturday, June 24, at 18 EMS B28 A Lane, Pierceton. Antique and household furniture, miscellaneous. Check out pictures on auctionzip.com. Salazar Auction Service, (574) 457-6754.

Online Only Real Estate And Personal Property Auction

Wednesday, June 28. Real estate begins closing at 6 p.m., personal property at 7 p.m. Property located at 7114 E. South Barbee Drive, Pierceton. Open house: 5:30-6 p.m. Wednesday, June 21. Open concept, 1,764 square-foot home with three bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms and 180 feet of lake frontage. bidmetzger. com, (260) 982-0238.

Salazar Auction

Personal Property of Philip Randall

Location: 18 EMS B28A Lane, Pierceton, IN 46562

Saturday, June 24, 2023

Starting at 10:00 a.m.

AUCTIONEER’S NOTE: Some items are still in boxes more items still need to be posted! Check out pictures on auctionzip.com

ANTIQUES: Three piece early colonial walnut bedroom set; full size iron bed; full size bed; five drawer chest; dresser; desk w/chair; nice four piece oak table w/4 chairs; walnut marble top stand; walnut kneehole desk; oak commode w/marble top; small walnut drop leaf table; walnut hall tree; several living room lamps; lots of 33 RPM records; 5 gallon crock; several collectible wall pictures; porcelain figurines; clear crystal; pink depression dishes; dark blue carnival bowl; several cups & saucers; old porcelain bowls; lots of Coca Cola items; wall clock w/pendulum; pair of table lamps.

HOUSEHOLD: Full size sofa w/end recliners; 32” color

T.V.; sofa & love seat; wall decorations; oak chifferobe; 4 piece iron living room set; several living room tables.

MISC.: Patio set w/6 chairs; yard tools; decorative garden outdoor window; 5x10 floor rug; Coca Cola toy trucks. Much more to come!

NOTE: Look PicturesAtOn auctionzip.com

Owner, Philip Randall Personal Property