Biography of Charles Henry Bangs, pages 210 / 211/ 212. History of Northeast Indiana; LaGrange, Steuben, Noble, and DeKalb Counties, Vol. II, under the editorial supervision of Ira Ford, Orville Stevens, William H. McEwen, and William H. McIntosh. The Lewis Publishing Company, Chicago and New York, 1920. Charles Henry Bangs, of the Bangs homestead in Richland Township, DeKalb County, is a member of "The Edward Bangs Descendants,” one of the colonial families which traces its lineage back to 1297, at which time the early English records show the crossing of the family from France to England. They lived there until their descendant, Edward Bangs, came to America to establish the new branch in 1623. The early church records of England indicate the same family tendency as shown in its history in America, that of following the learned professions. “The Edward Bangs Descendants” numbers among its members such celebrities as John Kendrick Bangs, Governor Eugene Foss, Professor Francis S. Bangs of Columbia University; Congressmen Foss and Ireland, George D. Bangs, superintendent of the Pinkerton Detective Agency whose father, in the same capacity, planned and carried out the protection of Abraham Lincoln on the first momentous trip to Washington, together with many other notables in the professions. The American lineage in brief is as follows: Edward Bangs, born in Chichester, England, 1591, died at Eastham, Massachusetts, 1678. He came to America in “Ye Goode Ship Anne” in July, 1623; settle at Plymouth and superintended the building of the first bank there; was made a freeman in 1633; settled at Eastham, Cape Cod, 1644; town treasurer, 1646-1665; selectman and deputy to Colony Court, 1652. Was married first to Lydia, daughter of Robert and Margaret Hickes, and second to Rebecca. Jonathan, sea captain, second son of Edward, born 1640, married July 16, 1664, Mary Mayo. Seal of early ancestors used and still preserved. Captain Samuel, fourth child of Captain Jonathan, born at Harwick, Massachusetts, July 12, 1680, died June 11, 1750, married first January 13, 1703, Mary Hinckley, daughter Samuel H. She died January 7, 1741, at Harwick; married second Widow Mary Rider, April 1, 1742, leaving one son. David Bangs, third child of Samuel, born March 29, 1709, at Harwick, married Eunice Stone, daughter of Rev. Nathaniel Stone, son-in-law of Governor Thomas Hinckley. Moved to Wilmington, Windham County, Vermont, where he died in April, 1803, aged ninety-four years. His wife, born September 23, 1721, went to see her sixteen sons enlist in the Revolutionary war. At death she was aged one hundred and four years and nine months. Azariah Bangs, sixth child of David B., was born April 8, 1740. Nathaniel Bangs, son of Azariah, was born May 4, 1770, died at Bakersville, Vermont, January 14, 1867, carpenter, cabinetmaker, millwright. Children of his first marriage were: Amos Parker, born December 29, 1794, died September 21, 1856, and Azariah, born December 7, 1797, died March 7, 1875. Married second Judah Elwell, having two children. Sally Georgia Lyons, born September 26, 1809, died December 10, 1893; and Heman. The mother was drowned in the Erie canal at Lockport, New York while on her way to visit her son Heman. From 1842 to death, Nathaniel Bangs lived with his son Azariah. Heman Bangs, youngest child of Nathaniel and Judah (Elwell) Bangs, born in Shaftsbury, Vermont, June 14, 1813, died May 31, 1902; went to live with Robert Madison, neighboring farmer at eleven years and at fifteen accompanied him to Genesee County, New York. Started out with $100, purchased farm in 1837 of Holland Company in Niagara County, New York, sold farm in 1839, spent winter in Kalamazoo, Michigan. On March 13, 1840, settled on the Bangs homestead in DeKalb County, Indiana. He was a carpenter, joiner and farmer and a man who was liked by every one and became very prosperous. He was married November 22, 1842, to Catherine Elmira Chaffy, born March 7, 1821, died August 21, 1899, a daughter of Joshua and Polly (Bowers) Chaffy. The Chaffy family came to DeKalb County from New York in 1838, then moved to LaGrange County. Their children were: Eunice L. (Showers), Nathaniel, John H., Matilda (deceased), Winfield Scott, Caroline L. (Vian) and Charles H. Heman Bangs joined the Methodist Protestant Church in 1841, and later both he and his wife united with the United Brethren. Politically he was a whig and then a republican. In 1840 he helped build the first schoolhouse in the township, made the first coffin for the first death in the township, and made the first loom in the county in 1840. Charles Henry Bangs, youngest child of Heman and Catherine E. Bangs, was born May 26, 1857, on the Bangs homestead in Richland Township, DeKalb County, Indiana. While a young man he became deeply interested and was a leader in the lyceums of that day and had a reputation as a debater. He was a musical director, also a teacher in the old singing schools of the tune-ford days. He pursued successfully the mercantile business for a number of years, when, due to the advancing age of his parents, and for the benefits of a rural environment for the home to be so soon established, he gave up the business of a merchant, for which he was well fitted, for the farm. Mr. Bangs was married June 25, 1885, to Virginia (Jennie) H. Reynolds, who was born October 8, 1862, at Fairfield Center, a daughter of Jerome and Barbara (Eckert) Reynolds, who died eleven weeks apart in 1884. They had the following children: Owen Roscoe, Guy Reynolds, Clare W. H., Gladys May and Faye Edna. Owen Roscoe Bangs was born June 14, 1886, secured the degrees of B.S. and A.B. from the Tri-State College, has taught in all departments of the public schools, has been superintendent of schools for eight years and is now studying in the department of education, Columbia University. He was married November 19, 1911, to Bessie E. Fried, born February 12, 1886, died March 7, 1919. Their son, Rex D., was born January 9, 1913. Guy Reynolds Bangs was born December 9, 1887, received degrees from Tri-State College in Accountancy, was for five years superintendent of schools, two years as accountant, and has been professor of education and registrar in Huntington College. He was married August 21, 1912, to Mabel G. Husselman, who was born January 22, 1893, and they have two children: Una Joyce, born January 23, 1914; and Kenneth Leon, born May 5, 1916. Clare W. H. Bangs was born May 5, 1890, received the B. Pd. and A.B. degrees from Tri-State College; A. M. from Huntington College; student in King’s School of Oratory, Indiana University and Chicago University; completed course in civil engineering; superintendent of schools three years; professor of sociology and philosophy three years. President of Huntington College four years, resigning to enter law, member of general board of education for the United Brethren Church; general secretary of education of denomination; member of American Academy of Political and Social Science; Fellow Royal Society of Arts of London; member of Association of American Colleges, charter member of Edward Bangs Descendants; investigator of social problems, Chicago and St. Louis, and at various times a Chautauqua and commencement lecturer. He was admitted to the bar July 5, 1919. He was married July 18 1917, to Nellie A. Binning, born November 7, 1881, and their son, Charles Edward was born October 12, 1918. Gladys May Bangs was born August 18, 1892, received Bachelor of Music degree from Tri-State College; student of voice and piano, Pittsburgh; student in King’s School of Oratory. Studied piano under Roy David Brown of Chicago; is a graduate of Huntington College Academy and department of Domestic Science. For two years Miss Bangs has been associate teacher of piano with professor Roy David Brown in the Huntington College Conservatory of Music. Faye Edna Bangs, the youngest daughter, was born September 13, 1897; is a graduate of the Tri-State College Academy, also of King’s School of Oratory; student in Huntington College; has taught in all departments of the public schools; was supervisor of music and art for four years in high schools; and has done commercial designing and platform work. Mr. and Mrs. Bangs have interested themselves largely in civic betterment and movements for civic advancement. Feeling keenly the lack of educational facilities in their youth, they have worked for a better school system and have inspired and aided their children to secure the best education possible. They have always been active moral reform and religious work. Their convictions upon the foundation principles underlying character have been clear, definite and fearlessly followed. Mr. Bangs has been an active organizer in the republican party. For fourteen years he was an officer in the DeKalb County Farmers Mutual Insurance Company, during thirteen years of which he was actuary, through which capacity he has formed a wide acquaintance through the county. Early he became interested in the study of soils and soil fertility, and for fourteen years has been the official district crop reporter for the United States Department of Agriculture, making surveys that include farm labor, costs, crop conditions, varieties of wheat, etc. For twelve years he has been a notary public of Indiana. Submitted by: Arlene Goodwin Auburn, Indiana Agoodwin@ctlnet.com