My Genealogy Hound

CALEB D. BELLVILLE, merchant, Postmaster and Notary Public, Kumler; born in Belmont Co., Ohio, Aug. 12, 1823; he was the oldest son of Samuel Bellville, who was born in the State of Delaware, Nov. 22, 1778; he located in Belmont Co., Ohio, in 1806, where he lived until 1831, when he located in Rush Co.. Ind., and died in Vigo Co., Ind., March, 1867, at the age of 89 years. His marriage with Phoebe Dille was celebrated April 9, 1820; she was born in New York, May 23, 1800, and died in Vigo Co., Ind., in 1845; the Bible from which this record was taken was presented to her by her father upon her marriage, in 1820, and is now held by Mr. Bellville very valuable as an heirloom. Caleb D. Bellville remained with his father, attended school, and followed farming and merchandising until 18 years of age, when he went to Galena. Ill., and. after working there one year, with the proceeds of his wages attended the select school six months. He then went to work at carpentering, devoting all his spare time to the study of surveying, which he continued four years, during which time he had some practical experience in surveying In 1853, he went to Richland Co., Wis., where he lived three years, during which time he was elected Clerk of the Circuit Court, and Deputy County Surveyor; he then went to Crawford Co., where he was appointed Deputy County Surveyor, and assisted to lay out the town of Belle Center, and used every effort to secure the county seat. In 1859, he returned to Richland Co., and, in 1862, was elected County Surveyor for two years, and, in March, 1864, enlisted in the 38th Regt., Wis. V. I.; he was detailed upon the detective service, and, after serving one year was, on account of disability, from rheumatism, contracted while in the army, discharged. He then went to Vigo Co., Ind., and followed farming three years, and in the fall of 1868, he came to McLean Co., and located in Oldtown Township, where he lived two years, when, upon the completion of the I. B. & W. R. R.; he built the first building erected upon the town plat of Downs, and opened the first stock of goods at that place; here he remained in trade, during which time he was Postmaster until 1875, when he again moved upon his farm, and, in 1877, he erected the first building at Kumler Station; was appointed the first Postmaster and put in the only stock of goods at the station. His marriage with Mary J. McClurg was celebrated Sept. 24, 1843; she was born in Hancock Co., Ind., July 10, 1825; she died in Vigo Co., Ind., Oct. 14, 1867, leaving four children, viz.: Elizabeth J., born May 14, 1847, now Mrs. Perry Orendorff; Andrew, born June 24, 1852; Olive L., born Aug. 17, 1854, and Martha A., born Aug. 19, 1860. He was united in marriage with Rebecca E. Laughlin, June 20, 1869; she was born in Westmoreland Co., Penn., April 26, 1831. They have one child by this union, viz.: Flora M., born May 9, 1870.