Source: North Manchester Journal, December 16, 1909

PIONEER CITIZEN PASSES AWAY
One of the Oldest Settlers of This Locality Passes to His Reward.

Reuben Abbott, a pioneer resident of the Eel River valley, died Sunday morning at the home of his daughter, Mrs. James Ramsey, in the west part of town. He was in the ninetieth year of his age and had been in failing health for a long time from troubles incident to old age. Funeral took place Tuesday forenoon at Pleasant Grove Christian church east of this city, conducted by Rev. J.W. Yantis in the presence of a large congregation.

Reuben Abbott was born in Preble county, Ohio, July 12, 1820. Died in North Manchester, Indiana, December 12, 1909, aged 89 years and five months. He was the son of James and Catharine Abbott and was the seventh son of a family of twelve children. He came with his parents from his Ohio home in 1834 and settled on Eel river east of the present town of Liberty Mills, the Abbott family being among the very first settlers in this section. This locality was his home all through life and he lived to see the transformation of the country from a wilderness into its present state of cultivation and prosperity. In 1843 he was married to Susan Myers, who died in 1865 survived by two children, Henry W. Abbott and Mrs. James Ramsey. Later in the year 1865 he was united in marriage to Sarah J. Carson and leaves one son, Alvah C. Abbott, of Huntington, by this marriage. Being one of the earliest settlers in this section Mr. Abbott was widely known by all the older people for miles around. Throughout his life he was an active and conscientious member of the Christian church and was the last of the charter members of the Eel River Christian conference to pass away. The conference was organized in 1844 and he was at all times one of its most active and liberal communicants. He was also a charter member of the Pleasant Grove and Sugar Grove churches. He was also a charter member of North Manchester lodge, No. 264, I.O.O.F. and was the last of the charter members to be called to his reward. Mr. Abbott was at all times recognized as a warm hearted, generous and upright citizen, always taking a stand for those things he deemed right and having a pleasant word for everybody. He is survived by a long line of relatives and leaves many friends of a life time to mourn his death.