Around The County With The Saidlas

By: Karen Zach

Not particularly a one-person article today, but more an overview of an interesting early Darlington area family. This family’s story begins with Johanna Adam Saidle who was forced into the German Army and did not want that for his own sons. He was born in Mockmuh and baptized 17 April 1790 in Senfeld, Baden, Germany, his parents John Adam and Barbara. He married Catherine (Kellar, I believe). Two sons were born to them while there, then they decided it was time to go!

When they arrived in America, his name became John Adam Saidla, although it was still often spelled the original way. Coming to the Darlington area, John purchased a total of 400 acres in Sec 14 and 23, Sugar Creek Township and someone in the family lived there for generations!

And, so it began! The generations to come of this family, of course, had their tragedies (little John, son of Adam, grandson of our originator drowned at age 5). John Henry, son of Philip Jacob was accidentally shot in the stomach when he and his hired hand were working in the field in 1880, just 24 years old. Quite a bit of a fence row was burned; good horses were lost.

Yet, there was a multitude of blessings we can overview here. For one thing, the Saidla’s were certainly up and coming. When phones became available, John and Will were a couple of the first in line to purchase one. UPS & Fed Ex had nothing on the Saidlas as Byrd opened a shipping shop “shipping all kinds” of things in Nov 1900. They kept their properties improved (new gate, new wallpaper at “the mansion” and such). Will purchased one of the first roadsters of the area as well.

Funny, but one of the biggest items I noticed as I researched this family was that they loved to entertain – for any and all occasions! They even let others use their large home for such (CWJ 9 Nov 1900) as did Ray Craver with Lulu and Hattie Pittman at Frank’s home for a masquerade ball with 50 young folks in attendance wearing striking costumes, having oysters and other light refreshments with games and music afterwards. “One who was there,” wrote: “We voted Mr. Craver and the Pittmans royal entertainers,” and thanks were given to the Saidlas as the guests departed at a late hour. Wedding parties, ice cream suppers, Women’s Aid Society (ice cream and a great variety of cake with foreign fruits and mild drinks) and musical get togethers – well, you name it – one of the families seemed to always be in the papers partying (good kinds of course).

The Saidlas (thanks to Nancy Pickel for the stone name) seemed to be hard workers, Adam being one of the first to put in his crops each year; Will building (Oct 1899) corn cribs for Joe Binford; John and Bert were the Darlington street sprinklers summer of 1896; and Byrd shipped 3,000 rabbits at the end of December 1900.

I’d say they didn’t mind going out on a limb, either, as did Stella when her Sunday School class made a silk quilt, selling for a 10 cent donation a place for your name. Stella wrote to President Benjamin Harrison asking if he’d like his name included. He wrote her back, not only sending the donation but postage as well telling her she could place his name on “the quilt if by so doing it will help you in a good cause!”

While I’m on the ladies, two especially were musically gifted, Joshua’s daughter, “the handsome and accomplished” Bessie receiving a piano in September 1894, having taken lessons and often entertaining. Then, Stella also Josh’s daughter attended DePauw, majoring in music – both doing a lot of playing.

Politics? Not too much other than in township politics, but most all were church goers, some such as Adam finding Christ not long before passing when Elder DC Campbell of the White Church baptized him in October 1897.

Service? I only found two – likely more – but John Adam would be happy that, John Saidla joined the US Navy at the end of May 1901 and cruised around the World; however, at his arrival in NY he was discharged due to his eyes deteriorating. He was perfectly satisfied with the experience though, but was glad to spend Christmas eating his momma’s home cooking in the “best place in the whole wide world – Darlington, Indiana!” Sadly, Collyn Saidla, Jr, a member of the Valparaiso Civil Air Patrol was fatally injured in Porter County when his 65-horse powered Piper Cub crashed. He is buried in Darlington. RIP.

Lastly, they were a close-knit family celebrating all occasions and having reunions for several decades, loving family memorabilia, as well. At their 18th reunion in 1916, the family bible having made the trip from Germany and a pair of eyeglasses that were over 200 years old were on display.

How I became interested in writing about the family is reading an article Martha F. sent me that Wayne Guthrie (loved his writings) wrote in his Indianapolis News column on 9 Nov 1953 about an interesting Saidla possession. The original John Adam Saidla using the timber from his land, built a distillery that at first set on the hillside south of the old log barn. Later, it was moved closer to Sugar Creek. Willard Anderson was the great grandson of John Adam and Catherine. In about 1900, Willard’s parents lived there and at that time the distillery was used to hold grain and in good shape. When Guthrie’s article was written there was no trace of it. In August of 1953, Willard Anderson decided he was finding a piece or two of it, the old home or something to represent the Saidla progenitors. Third time out searching was the charm, finding a nice piece but the wood was small, “yet he fashioned some 40 letter openers,” from it, noting “Souvenir, Old Saidla Distillery, 1840” and gave one to each of his living cousins. Hope they are all still in the family and I for sure have no doubt John Adam and Catherine would be quite proud of those family gifts!

– Karen Zach is the editor of Montgomery Memories, our monthly magazine all about Montgomery County. Her column, Around the County, appears each Thursday in The Paper of Montgomery County. You can reach her at [email protected].