History of Northeast Indiana
LaGrange, Steuben, Noble and DeKalb Counties
Editorial Supervisors: Ira Ford [LaGrange], Orville Stevens [Steuben],
William H. McEwen [Noble] & William H. McIntosh [DeKalb]
The Lewis Publishing Company
Chicago and New York City
1920

ROBERT C. MCNAUGHTON is one of the oldest business men of the village
of Ray in Fremont Township. Associated with other members of the
McNaughton family, who were prominently identified with the pioneer
settlement of this section of Steuben County, he had been a grain
merchant and dealer for a quarter of a century or more.
Mr. McNaughton was born in Fremont Township November 17, 1865, a son
of Joseph and Jeanette [Duguid] McNaughton. His father was born in New
York State in 1830, a son of Alexander McNaughton, and of Scotch and
Irish ancestry. The McNaughton family came to Steuben County in 1836
and were among the first settlers in Fremont Township. They were
prominent in the early organization of the Reformed Presbyterian Church
in that section of the county.
Robert McNaughton, who was one of the four children of his father's
first marriage, grew up on the home farm, attended the district schools
and the high school at Fremont. As a young man he did farming and has
owned several different farms in the county. About 1890 he engaged in
the grain business with his brother Theodore. Since 1905 he has been
associated with his half brother, Leslie, in the lumber business at
Ray. Mr. McNaughton is independent in politics, was reared in the
Reformed Presbyterian Church but he and his wife are now members of the
Methodist denomination.
In March, 1899, he married Miss Elnora Griffin, a daughter of Edward
and Mary [Magnus]* Griffin, a well known old-time family of Steuben
County. Her father is still living. Mr. and Mrs. McNaughton have four
children: Brock Waldo, born March 27, 1900, a graduate of the Fremont
High School, now in the sophomore class of DePauw University; Geraldine
Pearl, born in 1904, a sophomore in high school; Rosamond Fern, born in
March, 1905; and Frederick Lavern, born in March, 1916.

*Menges [d/o Peter and Salome Menges]

Submitted by: Joey Pedigo