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m. 4 Jan 1849
Facts and Events
[edit] Delilah Platz
Photo of Delilah with seven of her children Delilah Platz was born on 29 Dec 1826 at Stark Co., Ohio, United States, both parents born in Pennsylvania. In 1900 census she lsits born Dec. 1825, age 70. But if born in 1825 she would have been 74 in June when the census taker visited. On 4 Jan 1849 at DeKalb Co., Indiana, United States, at the age of 22 Delilah Platz married John Clark, son of Daniel Clark and Elizabeth Nunnamacher, by George Beard J.P. As of 4 Jan 1849, her married name was Clark. She appeared on the 1850 Federal Census of Steuben twp., Steuben Co., Indiana, United States, in the household of Elizabeth Clark. Delilah Clark and John Clark appeared on the 1860 Federal census of Fairfield twp., DeKalb Co., Indiana, United States, enumerated 15 Jun 1860, real estate value $50; personal property $400. They have six children, George, Henry, Elizabeth, Daniel, Mary, and a yet unnamed infant (will be Edward). According to Delilah Clarks pension records from the Archives in Washington, D.C., she and John had the following children: George W. Clark b. 2 Mar 1850. John H. Clark b. 19 Dec. 1851. Daniel and Elizabeth Clark b. 26 Dec 1853. Mary Clark b. 19 Feb 1856. Edward Clark b. 24 Jun 1857. Permelia Clark b. 14 Jul 1862. Lewis O. Clark b. 14 Nov 1864. Later she files another document changing these dates to corroborate the affidavits by people present at the births. Delilah married George Free 1872 and after he had taken everything she owned he abandoned her, she divorced him. No children by that marriage. (This page dated Feb. 2, 1865). She applied for a Civil War pension on 2 Feb 1865 at DeKalb Co., Indiana, United States, as a widow to John. After her application is approved she receives for a time, $8 a month and $2 a month extra for each child under the age of 16 commencing Dec 16, 1864. She signed her name as "Delila Clark" with no "H" on the given name, in 1860's, and then later, in 1902, had to sign a deposition explaining she did not know why she did that, as she had been taught to write her name with the "H."
Of some 22 cities and towns of the same name throughout the United States we this week salute one well-known to Steuben County residents. Hudson, Indiana, having reached its 100th birthday, will observe its centennial Thursday, July 31, through Saturday, August 2. Hudson's birth pains started in a spot designated as Millersburg. The very first business interest in this place was a sawmill erected in 1855 by Joseph and John Miller. The big "muley" saw was said "to go up one day and down and the next." later the mill was owned by John Ritter. About 1865 a small store was started near the mill by Michael Miller who later sold it to Ira Allerton. He enlarged the stock of goods and in 1867 sold to Keller and son. The original platting took place and August 14, 1869 by Elizabeth Clark, Peter Miller, Samuel Clark, Ephriam Davis, Delilah Clark, Philip Meese and others. It was named North Benton by Elizabeth Clark, great grandmother of Mrs. (Carl) Gail Pike Hardy of Hudson. This group caused this ground to be laid out in nine 1/2 acre lots and the southwest quarter, section 31, in Steuben Township. Been lots were platted and placed on record. Ira Allerton erected the first house on the plant which he sold to a man named Davis, who opened a small store in part of the house. At about the same time Mr. Keller erected a building on a lot purchased from Mrs. Clark and opened a store. Mrs. Clark lived on the east side of Main Street in what was known for years as the Bohner property. Keller's lived in the house now owned by Mrs. Ford Libey." in 1869 at Steuben Co., Indiana, United States. Delilah Clark appeared on the 1870 Federal census of Steuben twp., Steuben Co., Indiana, United States, enumerated 21 Apr 1870, real estate value $800. She and four oldest children are all listed as unable to read or write, but daughter, Elizabeth at 16, Daniel at 15, and Mary at 13 are "attending school". Also note that the rest of the children, though school age are not marked as attending school or unable to read or write so this is odd. At home are children John, Elizabeth, Daniel, Mary, Edwin (Edward), Permilia and Lewis. On 18 Jan 1872 at Steuben Co., Indiana, United States, at the age of 45 Delilah Platz married George Free by Rev. Joseph Miller, there were no children born to this marriage. Once Delilah married George, he was set as guardian to her four youngest children, those then under the age of 16. He received all the Civil War pension checks for their support as of March of 1872, which he spent before deserting her in 1889. The last supporting pension would have been received in 1880 when Lewis reached age of 16. As of 1872, her married name was Free. Delilah Free and George Free appeared on the 1880 Federal Census of Hudson, Salem twp., Steuben Co., Indiana, enumerated 25 Jun 1880, two of Delilah's children are at home, Lewis and Permelia. Delilah Free appeared on the 1900 Federal Census of Hudson, Salem twp., Steuben Co., Indiana, at Parsonage Street, enumerated 1 Jun 1900, renting her home. She is listed as married for 15 years (to George Free), but no husband with her. Delilah reports she is the mother of eight children with seven living. At home is son, Lewis. Also living there is her nephew, Jesse Clark. Also of note is the her son is listed as Lewis Free, instead of Lewis Clark. She and George Free were divorced on 27 Sep 1901 at Steuben Co., Indiana, United States, Delilah had depositions taken of her, Daniel Clark and Morgan Pike. They had to testify as to her residence and she had to testify as to the fact that George Free had left her to move to Michigan, with no notice or problems in their marriage to her knowledge. He had sold what little land she had and spent that money as well as all the pension money that had come to his hands as guardians to her minor children. When she filed for a divorce it had been 12 years since she had heard from him. He wrote to her only one time after he abandoned Delilah, and that letter arrived from Michigan. Later she heard from various sources that he moved on to Iowa and later even to Montana. Once the divorce was final, Delilah was restored to the name "Delilah Clark." Delilah had to file a great many pages of forms to renew her widow's pension with the government after her divorce from George Free. She was despondent and at the mercy of anyone who would donate funds for her support, such as her neighbors and children. Finally after months of depositions taken of family and old neighbors, she was approved and received $12 a month from Oct 14, 1901 until her death in 1909. In 1902, Delilah, in an effort to have her Widow's Pension re-instated had to supply a four page deposition and sign it. Attached is a copy of that signature, greatly changed over the years and certainly under stress of that day's deposition. She died on 18 Jul 1909 at Indiana, United States, at age 82. Delilah Platz was buried in 1909 at Circle cemetery, route 575, West of Ashley and Hudson, Steuben Co., Indiana, United States, in a family plot that includes her son, Daniel, and his wife, Lovina. Delilah was my 3rd Great-Grandmother. I have a photo of me next to her marker. Image Gallery
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