bios

ST. JOSEPH COUNTY INDIANA BIOS

Kara Azek Tapley Auten. 5-05-1855 to 8-02-1929.

Husband was Mahlon Auten. 12-15-1840 - 11-17-1897

Mr. Elgie Able Garthwaite, husband of Edith (Auten) Garthwaite wrote this in 1929 for the Dubuque newspapers:

"Mrs. Kara Auten was born in Plymouth, Indiana May 5, 1855 and died at the home of her youngest daughter, Mrs. Edith Garthwaite. Wednesday morning, August 2, 1929 at Dubuque, Iowa.

At the age of 18 she was united in marriage to John Chambers, at which time they moved to Wisconsin, amidst the early pioneers and Indians. Ever willing to do her part in the toils and struggles that were required of the early settlers in order to have a little place they could call their home.

This marriage lasted 8 years after which time she moved back to Plymouth, Indiana and in the year 1884 married Mahlin Wharton Auten. Five children blessed the union, 4 daughters and one son, but on November 17, 1897 the father was called, leaving the rearing of the family in the hands of the mother. The youngest child being about one year old.

From thence on the mother worked untiredly to keep the family together, sacrificing all that a mother knows how, but her efforts were repaid for she kept the home intact until the children were married and had homes of their own. Her later years being spent at the home of the younger daughter, now a resident of Dubuque, Iowa

Three of the children Elmer, Mabel Stanley and Florena Wurtsbaugh, have preceded her to the Great Beyond. One sister, Mrs. Rettie Richards of Elkhart, Indiana and two daughters, Mrs. John Hill of Claypool, Indiana and Mrs, Elgie Garthwaite of Dubuque, Iowa, thirteen grandchildren and her many friends remain to mourn her loss.

All the following information was acquired at the South Bend Indiana Library, Fall 2000 by Janet Ribbens
Page 60 (book unknown at this time)

The subject of this sketch was born in St. Joseph County, Indiana, three miles southwest of South Bend, Indiana about the year 1841. His father, Abram Auten, being one of the early pioneers of St. Joseph County and an excellent citizen. John enlisted at the first call of the President for troops as a private in Co. I of the 9th Regt. Ind. Vols., being then about nineteen or twenty years of age and an adventurous, chivalrous spirit, and cheerful disposition. As a soldier he proved to be obedient and brave to a fault, it is said by his comrades.

During the last day of his life he was with the skirmishers of his regiment, lying behind a log in the field west of the Staunton pike, near chafing with impatience. Auten who was described as of slender form with handsome, rather boyish face, and curling locks, grasping a revolver he had taken the day before from a dead rebel officer, sprang from behind the log he was hiding behind, and darted across the road into the thicket. Just then rang out two shots and immediately his comrades were startled by the death shriek of brave young Auten. And rallying together, a little group of skirmishers dashed across the road and bore back the lifeless form of their daring comrade. His remains were sent home for burial, and were interred in South Bend cemetery, where on Memorial day loving hands heap more floral tributes upon the grave of the first martyr of St. Joseph County in the war for the Union, than is bestowed upon any other comrade's grave. That his memory is cherished by his comrades is evidenced by the fact that Auten Post No. # 8 G.A.R. of the city of South Bend, Indiana, is named in honor of the youthful hero. It is claimed by many of his comrades that John Auten was the first man in the Ninth who fell by a rebel bullet. But as apparently authentic documents place his death at July 10th, and that of Wm. T. Gerard, of Co. G, at July 7th, 1861, the latter being killed near Elliott's farm, in a skirmish the first morning after the Union column under Gen. Morris, (with the Ninth Indiana Regiment in the advance) begun its march, it is more than probably that Gerard was first to fall.

The father of John Auten died in January, 1885, the mother having died some years before, and as a testimonial of their love and respect for him as the father of their gallant comrade, a large delegation from Auten Post No. 8 G.A.R. marched at the head of the funeral procession to the City cemetery in South Bend.

<>From all representations it is apparent young Auten was a young man of good character, and fine personal appearance, and of the stamp of many of the chivalric and patriotic young volunteers who were the first to spring to the defense of an assailed flag, and an imperiled nation.

John Auten, whose portrait appears on the front page of this issue, was a native of Northern Indiana, born in St. Joseph county. He was one of those brave men who responded to President Lincoln's first call to defend the Union. Company I, Ninth Indiana regiment, under command of Captain Andrew Anderson left South Bend for Indianapolis four days after the President's call. The Ninth regiment, under the command of Colonel Robert H. Gilroy, was the first to leave the state, departing for Wet Virginia, May 29, 1861. On the afternoon of July 10, 1861, John Auten was killed in a scouting expedition, an account of which is here reproduced from a letter written by Capt. Andrew Anderson, from Bealington, Virginia, dated July 11, 1861.

"On Tuesday and yesterday there was some irregular skirmishing between our pickets and those of the enemy, and at about the base of the Laurel hill. About 4 o'clock yesterday afternoon, John Auten and Charles Kelley, of my company, and some one or two men of another company, determined to ascertain what was the real condition of affairs on this hill. They drove in a picket of five men which the enemy had stationed at the base, and, then under cover of trees and bushes and stumps, crept up near to the top of the hill where they came in sight of a breastwork with a Cannon mounted on it. Kelley and Auten were about 10 paces apart, and advancing together, got out from cover of the trees and a volley was fired. Two shots were fired at Auten one of which struck him in the breast, when he screamed and fell dead. One shot was aimed at Kelley and went between him and a tree at his side.

The boys who were left retreated down the hill pursued by the enemy, but firing at them as they went down, called for help, raised a force of about 20 men in order to recover Auten's body. Lieut. Simons, of Company H, happening to be there, assumed the command, and his little force cautiously ascended the hill, keeping as much as possible under cover. Lieut. Simons gave the command "Battalions, Forward march." The enemy, thinking that the company was only an advance guard, reserved the fire for the battalion behind them, and the boys went directly to where the body was lying. Simons took Auten's arms, other men the body, and they had just started down the hill when a large body of the enemy's troops raised up from behind the breastworks and fired upon them. Our boys, returning the fire two or three times, killed two of the rebels, and brought the body and arms away safely. It was a bold exploit. At the time Auten was Killed, I was out of camp on a reconnoitering expedition with about half of the company, and got back in advance of the company just in time to hear the last volley and to meet the party bringing in the body.

"We made a coffin and buried him this morning at 8 o'clock. His last resting place was well marked so that the body can be taken home for re-burial.

In connection with John Auten, we also quote the following editorial from the St. Joseph County Register, of July 18, 1861, then the principal weekly publication of the county:

"John Auten, a member of Capt. Anderson's company, in the Ninth regiment of Indiana volunteers, who was killed in a scouting expedition July 10, at Laurel Hill, Va., was a son of Abram Auten of Portage township, of St Joseph County, Indiana and was in the 22nd year of age. His energy, patriotism and bravery were evinced by the fact that he was detailed to go with the expedition, but of his own accord, joined the scouting party, who were taken from another company. He could not brook the idea of being inactive when there was work to be done, or an enemy to fight. His death has been well avenged and his friends and relatives, in their anguish at his loss, have at last the consolation of knowing that he fell bravely fighting in the sacred cause of his country; 'with his feet to the field and his face to the foe,' he was loved and respected by all who knew him and his death is deeply mourned in this community. His body was sent home for interment and his funeral at South Bend on friday Aug 2, 1861 was attended by 5,000 people testifying their respect for the deceased and their sympathy for the noble cause in which he had sacrificed his life."
(This article is found in the History of St Joseph Co. Indiana by Chapman 1880 page 448 and 449."

In the Register of Aug 12, appeared the account of the funeral services of this young hero, the first of his company to fall in active service.

"The funeral of the brave and gallant John Auten, on Friday, Aug 2, was attended by at least 5000 of our citizens, testifying their respect for the deceased and their sympathy for the noble cause in which he had sacrificed his life. The services were held at the Court House, and an appropriate and eloquent sermon was preached by the Rev. J. C. Reed. The coffin was enveloped in the national flag and evergreen. His body was escorted to the grave by a large number of his brothers-soldiers, marching with arms reversed and to the sound of military music. Three rounds of eight guns were fired over his grave by the military squad and the vast assemblage then retired."

"John Auten's Anniversary - This County's First Hero Fell Forty-three Years Ago.

Sunday was the 43rd aniversary of the death of John Auten, the first hero from St. Joseph county to fall in the war of the rebellion. He was a young man and was one of the bravest of wsarriors. he was a son of the late Abram Austin of Portage township, and was killed in a scouting expedition on the afternoon of July 10, 1861.

Mr Auten was not quite 22 years old when he was killed and was a member of Co. I. Ninth regiment, of Indiana volunteers. The remains were brought to this city and a public funeral was held in the old court house, where the body lay in state. The remains were viewed by at least 5,000 people. Auten post No 8, G. A. R. was named after him as a mark of esteem and to perpetuate his memory and patriotic valor."
(Contributed by Sara Hemp)

Calvin Myler, sec. 24; P.O., South Bend; is a son of James and Olive Myler, and was born March 5, 1820, in Butler County, Ohio. His father was a native of Westmoreland County, Pa., and was born in 1797; and his mother was a native of New York. They were married in Butler County, Ohio, and came to this county May 11, 1836, and settled in this twp. Calvin Myler was married to Mary J. Scott March 26, 1842, who was born in Bartholomew County, Indiana, Dec. 24, 1823, and they have had 9 children, to wit: Wm. F., Catharine, formerly a school teacher, Martha A., Sarah, E.J., Geo. L., who is also a teacher, John S., attending college at Valparaiso, Alexander and Charles. Mr. Myler commenced in life a poor boy, and today he owns 221 acres of land, worth $90 per acre.

(From History of St. Joseph County Indiana, Chas. C. Chapman Co., Chicago, 1880, p. 969:)