Cale Canada

Cale Canada is one of the leading farmers of Jackson Township, Boone county, Ind., and is of English descent. His grandfather, David Canada, came to Indiana from North Carolina when a young man, and in 1831 assisted in the organization of Boone county where he had entered 160 acres of land. He had served in the War of 1812, and for gallant conduct was brevetted colonel. He first married, in Boone county, Martha Rugg, and had born to him the following-named children: David, Solomon, Caleb and William. For his second wife he chose Patsy Dwiggins. He was a trader in horses, and made several trips back to his native state in the interest of this traffic. He was a Jeffersonian democrat in his politics. His son William, the father of Cale Canada, was born in Boone county and was a great hunter. He married Nancy Martin, daughter of John Martin, and had born to him the following family: Solomon, Mary, Cale, Nancy, George, Catharine, David and Margaret C. Mr. and Mrs. William Canada were charter members of the first Methodist church established in Jackson township, of which Mr. Canada was a trustee, and he also hewed every log that was used in the erection of the first church edifice by that congregation. He died in this faith, and his remains were laid to rest in the Mount Zion cemetery.

Cale Canada was born in April 12, 1844, in Boone county, Ind., and when young was inured to toil. July 22, 1863, he enlisted in Company G, One Hundred and Sixteenth Indiana volunteer infantry, but was transferred from Indiana to Michigan for three weeks; was then sent to Dayton, Ohio; then to Cumberland Gap; was in the battle of Tazewell, Tenn., and in several severe skirmishes; was at Greenville, Tenn.; at Watkins' Ford the battle lasted a day and a half, and he had to wade the river in early spring, while the weather was yet cold, but the enemy was compelled to retreat. From this chilly wading, however, a severe cold resulted, and Mr. Canada was confined by it to the hospital for two weeks and was unfitted for further duty until after his honorable discharge, March 1, 1864, by Capt. J. R. Ashmead, of Company E, Forty-second Indiana Volunteer infantry. July 21, 1865, Mr. Canada became a recruit of the Forty-second regiment, and was transported from the field, via the ocean, to Wilmington, N. C., where the detachment of 4,000 men were landed, most of them having suffered from sea-sickness. Immediately they had a fight south of Raleigh, N. C. Here a shell exploded and tore off a wheel from a wagon under which Mr. Canada was lying, blew the wagon all to pieces, but did not injure him. He was then engaged in daily skirmishing for two months and on picket duty nearly every night, and in foraging for meat at intervals, and in the performance of the latter duty met with many humorous, as well as many dangerous, adventures.

Mr. Canada was united in marriage November 22, 1866, with Miss Maggie C., daughter of Benjamin and Hannah Lewis -- the former a prosperous farmer of Boone county and the owner of a good farm of 126 acres. The grandfather of Mrs. Canada, Charles Lewis, entered this farm, cleared and improved it. He was a soldier in the Revolutionary War and a prominent citizen of Montgomery county, Ind.; he married Nancy Adams, who bore him the following children: Washington, Fielding, Benjamin, John W., Charles, Preston, Sarah and Frankie. He came from North Carolina to Boone county, Ind., in an early day; here he has accumulated 200 acres of land for himself, and given to all his children eighty acres apiece. He and his wife died in the Methodist faith, and in politics Mr. Lewis was an old-line whig. Benjamin Lewis, son of Charles Lewis and father of Mrs. Canada, was born in North Carolina and came to Indiana when small. By his marriage with Hannah Hudson he became the father of the following children: Nancy, who died at the age of ten years; William; Lucinda; Maggie; John and Melissa. Mr. Canada bought his present farm of fifty-six acres in 1883 and made all the improvements, including a substantial frame house, barn, fencing and ditching. Mr. and Mrs. Canada are members of the Methodist church; both have taught classes in the Sunday school and both take an active interest in church and Sunday school work. In politics Mr. Canada is an ardent republican. He is a member of the Henry Howard post, G. A. R., No. 449, and also a member of K. of P. lodge, No. 294, at New Ross. Mrs. Canada is a member of the Pythian Sisters Temple, No. 74, and is a trustee of the same order. Both Mr. and Mrs. Canada stand deservedly high in the community in which they have so long resided and their amiable children -- Mollie K. and Belle Emmert -- are equally well thought of by their neighbors. Mollie K. has been a teacher in the Sabbath school for some time past, and is the present secretary. Belle Emmert was formerly a teacher and is the ex-secretary, and both are highly intelligent and accomplished.

Source: Unknown History/Biography book
Posted: September 25, 2008