\* ^ +SS&W** - -y "yr- .\V , 'o& V •>» v \ V*> \>' <^„ ' "^ WARRICK AND ITS PROMINENT PEOPLE. «»» ■ tm » »» A History of Warrick County, Indiana, from the time of its organ- ization and settlement, with Biographical Sketches of some of its Prominent People of the past and present EDITED BY WILL FORTUNE 1831. TO THE PATRONS, Whose aid has encouraged the prosecution of this work, THIS VOLUME IS GRATEFULLY DEDICATED. *0f PUBLISHED BY THE COURIER COMPANY KVANSVILLE, INDIANA. Contents. HISTORICAL PART. PAGE Anderson township I s Boonville 21 Boon township 1^ County Courts 4-> Campbell township l y Company E, 120th Regiment Indiana Volunteers 49 Company E, 65th Regiment Indiana Volunteers 67 Company I, 25th Regiment Indiana Volunteers 51 Company I, 53d Regiment Indiana Volunteers 53 Company K, 42d Regiment Indiana Volunteers 64 Company H, 25th Regiment Indiana Volunteers 69 Darlington ' "' Early Enterprises 39 Folsomville ^ Greer^ Township 19 Hart Township 19 Lane Township 19 Lynnville 37 Millersburgh - 36 Newlmrgh 31 Ohio Township 20 Owen Township • 20 Primitive Inhabitants, Incidents of 9 Pigeon Township 20 Selvin 38 Skelton Township 20 Warrick County, Organization and Settlement of 14 Warrick County, Topography, Soil and Products of 7 Yankeetown 38 Contents — Continued. BIOGRAPHICAL PART. PAGE Barker, Dr W. L 107 I t< m >n, Ratliff 71 Bono. W. II '49 ( !abbage, .lames W 146 i Jockrum, John 15 1 ;, 1 I towns, r l\ .1 125 Fuller. Benoni S 105 Gordner, Charles, Sr 131 Handy, Judge John 13 95 llart.T. B 12:? Hargrave, W. .1 124 Husk, M rs. M.J 14:5 Keegan, C. J., M. D 135 Kelley, Commodore 148 Lane, Gen . Joseph 72 Matthewson, Dr. R. C 82 Masters, G. L 115 Moore, Judge .1. W. B 109 McVey, W H., M. D 152 Oatley, C. L 97 Perigo, Ezekiel 80 Phelps, A. M 88 Perigo, Robert 114 Parke, Charles. M. D 139 Reynolds, John A 144 Stales, William 86 Seitz, Jacob 100 Swint, William 101 Swint, Katie A 103 Scales, Hansel M 128 Scales, W. B., M. D 132 Sehreiber, Gustavus 133 Schneider, Charles, Sr 136 Taylor, John L 137 Tyner, S. L., M. D 129 Wbittmghill, William S 153 Youngblood, I . E 141 Youngblood, Rev. John W 119 RAPHIES. Jl PAGE 155 155 156 156 Dial, jvn 157 Dickey, F . J., M. D 158 Eckstein, Leonard 158 Ewen, George, M . D 159 Fuller, William W 160 Graham, Robert M 160 HeimJConstantine 161 Heim, Adolph W 162 Jones, T.B., M. D 163 McCoy, Josephs., M. D 164 Moore, R. D. 164 Patterson, F. W 165 Pelzer, F . W 166 Tilman, J. R ., M D 167 Wilde, G. 0. E 167 Whittinghill, W. Scott 168 PORTRAITS. Cabbage. James W 146 Downs, Thomas J ... 12o Hart, T. B 123 Husk, Mrs. M. J 143 Masters, George L 115 Oatley. C. L 97 Parke, Charles, M . D 139 Phelps, A M 88 Seitz, Jacob 100 Swint, William 101 Swint, Katie A 103 APPENDIX. County Superintendent's Report for 1880 172 Directory of Patrons 174 Population of Warrick County 171 Sheriffs of Warrick County 169 Table of Distances 173 Treasurer- of Warrick County 170 f REFAl No history extant is free from errors. They . ^lerally the result either of indifference on the part of those acquainted with the facts or the lack of information of the historian. This volume is doubtless one with many faults ; but it is offered to the patrons as the best that could be produced under the numerous disadvantages besetting its prosecution, and without entailing an unjustifiable expense upon the publisher. Care has been taken to make the historical part of the work correct, and, although it is doubtless incomplete, it is of extraor- dinary length and detail for a work of its character. The biographical part is chiefly a record of living men. These arc represented from all classes, professional, business and agricultural. To write the biography of a living person is a work of appalling deli- cacy. Speak ivell of him and his enemies call it servile flat- tery. Speak ill of him and his friends call it the grossest injustice. Thus, it is impossible for the biographer to escape censure from one of the two sources. The different biographical subjects of this work are not unlike all mankind. They all have faults, but it is not our prov- ince to hold those faults up to the public gaze for the gratification of a certain class that delight in the depreciation of their fellow-men. The sole endeavor lias been to do the subjects justice as near as possible in the slwrt space allotted. If the biographical part is incomplete, the fault can not be justly attributed to the editor. Trusting that the work will be given a just consideration and that it may be of some value or interest to the posterity of the prominent people of Warrick county of the present it is submitted to the public. WILL FORTUNE. Boonville, Indiana, 1881. TOPOGRAPHY, SOIL AND PRODUCTIONS OF WARRICK COUNTY Warrick county is situated in the southwestern part of Indiana, and is bounded on the east by Little Pigeon creek and Spencer county, on the west by Vanderburgh, on the north by Pike and Gibson, on the south by the Ohio river. Its area is about 088 square miles, or 248,320 acres This land is valued at about $3,000,000, and the improvements on it nearly $7,000,000. The surface of the country is mostly rolling or undulating, although there is a range of hills along the northern boundary. Along the course of Pigeon, Cypress and other streams with which the country is watered, are large tracts of flat, wet land. The soil of the bottoms, many of which are large, is very rich, and corn is cultivated on it with marked success. Most of the upland is perfectly arable and of good quality, annually yield- ing bountiful crops In the northern portion of the county is a fertile fruit-growing soil, though the farmers of that section have not given the cultivation of it much attention, producing only enough for home use Their neglect of this product is attributed mainly to the present ^inaccessi- bility to the markets, but if the railroad projects now pending are carried into effect, this disadvantage will be obviated. In the southern part of the county corn, wheat and hay are the staple products. The annual yields are large, for which the Ohio river affords convenient access to the markets Principally in the central part, but to a more or less extent over the entire county, tobacco is the chief product. The soil is peculiarly adapted to its cultivation, and it is a remunerative commodity. More to- bacco is raised in this county than any other in the State, and the yield some years has been as high as eight million pounds. The farmers mostly sell their tobacco to the tobacco establishments in Boonvflle, where it is stemmed and packed previous to its shipment to the eastern markets. To do this new a large number of people of both sexes and all ages are employ- ed from six to nine months in the year, many of whom depend wholly upon it for a livelihood From the sale of his tobacco the farmer realizes from one to ten cents per pound, according to quality ; the shipper from fifteen to twenty cents ; the manufacturer, who pays a duty of seventy-five cents per pound, from $1.20 to $1 40, and the retail dealer from $1.75 to $2.00. viii Topography, Soil and Productions of Warrick County. Cattle and sheep raising can be followed with impunnity, and is, though not extensively. Those who have engaged in it generally find it the most remunerative investment of capital and labor. A seam of good coal underlies all of Warrick county to a more or less extent, which can be reached by shafts of moderate depth It belongs to the class of bituminous coals, and possesses valuable properties as a fuel, both for manufacturing and domestic purposes. It kindles very readily and produces a strong heat. Experiment has demonstrated its high value as .1 steam-producing fuel. The low price at which this coal is sold and the almost inexhaustible supply, together with numerous other induce- ments, renders this a desirable place for the location of manufactories. Warrick county's greatest wealth lies in her coal fields. In the language of Col. Mullberry Selleis, " There's millions in it." At present the only place in the county where coal is mined to any great extent is at New- burgh, where, on an average, about 3,000 bushels are produced daily. Smaller mines are located at Boonville, Chandler, Millersburgh and other places in the county, but their shipments, compared with those of the Newburgh dealers, are not large. During the past few years several mineral springs have been discovered in tins county, and a thorough analysis and test of their waters has shown them to possess medicinal properties that are highly salubrious. These springs have become quite popular as summer resorts, and are annually visited by large numbers of people seeking health and rest. Geologists deem it quite probable that both salt and oil can be found in large quantities along the meanderings of Cypress and other small creeks in this section. In 1814 several men commenced digging salt wells near ( lypress creek, about three miles from the river, but owing to the lack of proper facilities for the prosecution of the enterprise it was abandoned. It is also asserted that another party, after going to the depth of 349 feet, near the mouth of Cypress creek, in quest of oil, came to water which was highly impregnated with salt. In short, Warrick county is rich in its mineral possessions and the fer- tility of its soil, and holds out excellent inducements to both capital and labor. INCIDENTS OF THE PRIMITIVE INHABITANTS. WARRICK COUNTY SEVENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO INDIAN VILLAGE AN INDIAN TRADITION CHIEF SETTEEDOWN MURDER OF ATHE MEEKS CAPTURE AND MURDER OF THE SHAWNEE INDIAN REMOVAL OF INDIANS FROM SOUTHERN INDIANA. Less than seventy-five years ago the territory which now com- prises Warrick county was a dense forest, and the only inhabi- tants were Indians and wild animals. The land which is now dotted over with peaceful and happy homes was then but a boundless field of trees, with here and there only a little path, beaten by wild animals, wending its way through the thick forest to some small stream or watering place. This whole section of country was then a wilderness, in which the red man reigned supreme, and his wild game was doubtless often chased through what are now the streets of thecapitol of Warrick coun- ty. Seventy-five years ago the rays of civilization had not pene- trated our forest and the advent of the white man was in the fut- ure. Scattered along the banks of the Ohio river and in the inte- rior of what is now Warrick county were the rustic, artless wig- wams of savages. These Indians were principally Shawnees. The abundance of game in this section of country made it a fa- vorite home with the Indians. Situated near the mouth of Cy- press creek, on the banks of the Ohio river, was an Indian vil- lage, which, for many miles surrounding, was their central point. This village numbered about one hundred wigwams, but it disap- peared soon after the settlement of white men and very little is known regarding it. 10 Warrick and its Prominent People. Other localities in Warrick also bear indubitable evidences of having at some time been the abiding place of the aborigines. It is evident that the southwestern part of the county was at one time a haunt of the race known as Mound Builders. In the neighborhood of Newburgh, skeletons, with tomahawks, pipes, and such personal property as was customarily interred with the dead bodies of Indians, have been exhumed. Among some people there was a fancy prevalent several years ago that much of the wealth of the Indians was secreted near the river in the neighborhood of the mouth of Cypress creek, which attained verisimilitude through a circumstance occurring at the time. A representative of the Shawnee Indians visited Warrick county in quest of gold and silver, which, according to an Indian tradition, had been buried by their ancestors near Cypress creek. The place described was found, but the efforts to find the hidden treasure were unsuccessful. The story created a little excitement at the time and obtained credence among the more credulous class of people, but the matter still remains a mystery. The Indians that inhabited this section of country were gener- ally friendly and peaceable. While they had a few disturbances, the only white man known to have been murdered by them in this county was a farmer named Athe Meeks Meeks was an old man and lived near where the iron bridge now crosses Pigeon creek. On the banks of the creek a short distance below stood an Indian wigwam, in which Setteedown, Chief of the Shawnee Indians, lived with his squaw and only son. Setteedown was a middle-aged man, of large frame, and he possessed great muscular strength. Like most savages, he pre- ferred to live in solitude, and had erected his wigwam remote from the village of his tribe. However, he is said to have been of a sociable disposition at times, always treating his pale-faced Incidents of the Primitive Inhabitants. 11 friends kindly and often participating in their amusements. If a shooting match was given, Setteedown was sure to be present, and as a participant he displayed remarkable skill. It is said he was very wealthy, and at the time of the settlement of the white men he owned a large herd of cattle and horses, and an exten- sive farm, the eastern boundary of which was along what is now Second street in Boonville. Setteedown's neighbor, Athe Meeks, was an honest old man, who supported a large family by farming, fishing and hunting. The white man regarded the indolent savage as a nuisance, and the Indian looked upon the white man as a trespasser. The two grew to disliking each other. Meeks was accused of molesting Setteedown's traps and nets. Meeks' pigs would disappear and Setteedown was charged with stealing them. Thus the hatred became bitter and the Indian plotted vengeance on his enemy. * Early one morning in 1811 several of Setteedown's war- riors, armed with rifles, stealthily crept to the skirts of the woods surrounding Meeks' house. While making preparations to attack the house one of the Indians met in the woods, Athe Meeks, Jr., a strong, athletic son of the senior Athe. Fearing he would give the alarm and thus thwart their purpose, the Indian at- tacked him with his tomahawk and endeavored to kill him. In the encounter young Meeks succeeded in throwing his antagonist to the ground and making his escape, although his arm had been bro- ken and badly mutilated while endeavoring to defend himself from the blows of the savage's tomahawk. Hastening on to the house the Indians were now determined to finish their bloody work. An unusual disturbance among the swine was heard and Meeks hastily dressed and started to learn the cause, but as he *There have been various stories told regarding this tragedy, but we have adopted the version of Gen. James C Veatch principally, believing it to be the most reliable. His information was all obtained from parti- cipants in the tragedy. 12 Warrick and its Prominent People. stepped out of his door he was shot through the brain. With a frightful yell the Indians made a rush for the body of the dead man for the purpose of scalping him, but Mrs. Meeks succeeded in getting it in the house before they reached it. The report of the rifle had aroused William, the eldest son of Meeks, who lived near by, and he now came to the rescue of his mother. The Indians fled and young Meeks followed them, killing one of the number, who was carried a short distance by his comrades and theii deposited in a hollow tree, where he was found several weeks afterwards. The young man, who was dressed only in his "night clothes," without hat or boots, started with all speed he possessed to the nearest settlement, to spread the news of his father's murder and procure assistance in capturing the hostile Indians. Almost completely exhausted he reached French Island, on the Ohio river, ten miles distant. Sam Perkins, the com- mander of a keel-boat managed by seventeen men, was at the Island when Meeks arrived with the news of the murder. Per- kins called his men together, told them about the outrage and urged all to go at once in pursuit of the Indians. The men all promptly volunteered, a few farmers joined them, and Captain Young, a farmer who lived near by, was made their command- er. Eight hours or more having elapsed from the time of the murder before it was possible for the men to start in search of the Indians the latter had sufficient time to get safely beyond the reach of their pursuers. When the men arrived at the Indian camp it had been deserted, and Setteedown and his followers were many miles away. However, a party of armed men secret- ed themselves in the ambush surrounding the deserted camp to watch for the return of any of the Indians. At nightfall an In- dian, who had been out hunting for two or three days, returned to the camp. He was not aware of what had been done in his absence and upon beholding the lonely and deserted camp he Incidents of the Primitive Inhabitants. 13 stood motionless with astonishment for a moment. Stooping over the dying embers of the camp-fire he stirred the ashes with a stick for the purpose of learning about how long his band had been gone. As he arose he heard the clicking of rifles around him and found himself a prisoner. He was placed under guard in a log cabin, near where Grandview now stands, to await the time for a preliminary trial. The settlers began gathering around the cabin at night, and William Meeks was noticed among the number. The Indian suspected his fate and he determined to die bravely. He sang the Indian song of death preparatory to his journey to the "happy hunting ground." As he took his last look at the setting-sun, he said, ' ' Indian see no more suns ; In-. dian die to-night. " When the sun rose the next day he was a corpse- Sometime during the night a rifle had been thrust through one of the cracks in the log cabin and a bullet was sent through the heart of the innocent savage, whose life was the penalty of his band's crime. There are various stories as to the manner and by whom this Indian was murdered. At the time it was generally believed he was killed by William Meeks, but it is also asserted that a man named Thomas Ewing committed the deed. Further, it is claimed by a descendant of Bailey Anderson that while the guards were absent getting water the Indian was bled to death by Anderson ; that it was a family secret, which he has known since 1846. After this tragedy the Indians soon disappeared entirely from this section of country. It is believed that Setteedown and his band joined the forces of old Tecumseh and the Prophet, and they were doubtless participants in the war of 181 2. From our forests the Indian has passed almost to extinction, but he has left among us the strange monuments and exciting traditions of a barbaric race, which will perpetuate his memory. His restless disposition cannot conform to the customs of civilized man. The wilderness is his home And there he will roam. ORGANIZATION AND SETTLEMENT OF WAR- RICK COUNTY. ORGANIZATION OF WARRICK COUNTY CAPTAIN JACOB WARRICK, IN HONOR OF WHOM THE COUNTY WAS NAMED REDUCTION OF TERRITORY REMOVAL OF CAPITOL FROM EVANSVILLE TO DAR- LINGTON FIRST CENSUS ENUMERATION REPRESENTATIVE IN THE CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION FIRST COUNTY AND STATE ELECTION ORGANIZATION OF VANDERBURGH AND SPENCER COUNTIES FIRST SETTLEMENTS. The rise and decline of Warrick county follow in quick suc- cession. Scarcely had it risen as the pioneer county of Indiana Territory ere the decline of its dominions was marked by the or ganization of a county on the east, one on the west, and so on, reducing its territory on all sides, until Warrick, with its present limits, only remained. At the session of the Territorial Legislature of Indiana in 1813 a law was enacted " organizing the county Warrick." The lim- its of this county, as described in the bill, were, " All that terri- tory which lies south of a line commencing at a point on the Wa- bash river at the southwest corner of Gibson county, and run- ning east to the western line of Harrison county, thence south to the Ohio river." This included all the territory which now comprises the counties of Posey, Vanderburgh, Warrick, Spen- cer, Perry, and a portion of Crawford. Evansville, which was then a mere village, was made the county seat. The county was named in honor of Captain Jacob Warrick, who was killed in the memorable battle at Tippecanoe. Little is known regarding the life of Warrick, except that he was one of the heroes at Tippecanoe, where he distinguished himself by his *\ Organization and Settlement of Warrick County. 15 bravery, as an illustration of which we quote from an account of the battle, in Dillon's History of Indiana, the following: "War- rick was shot immediately through the body. Being taken to the surgery to be dressed, as soon as it was over (being a man of great bodily vigor and able to walk) he insisted on going back to head his company, although it was evident he had but a few hours to live." The county, as organized under the act of 1813 embraced too much territory, and as the population increased the geo- graphical greatness of Warrick was reduced. In 1814 the Leg- islature passed an act creating out of its territory the county of Posey on the west, and Perry on the east. This limited Warrick to what are now Vanderburgh, Warrick and Spencer counties. The capitol was located at Darlington, then a promising settle- ment near the Ohio river, four miles above Newburgh. On December 4, 181 5, the first census of Warrick county was forwarded to the House of Representatives of the Territory of Indiana. The population was enumerated : "White males over 21 years of age, 285 ; total, 1,415." As the population was large enough the citizens of Indiana Territory were now clamoring for its admission to the Union as a State, and a memorial was prepared and forwarded to Jon- athan Jennings, who was Indiana's delegate in Congress, pray- ing that the boundaries might be fixed and the Territory admit- ed to the Union as a State. Mr. Jennings presented the mem- orial and had no difficulty in getting a bill passed in conformity with its requests. In compliance with this law an election was held on the 13th day of May, 18 16, and the people of Warrick county chose Daniel Grass to represent them in the constitution- al convention which convened at Corydon on the 10th of June following, for the purpose of framing a constitution for the new State. The residence of Mr. Grass was in what is now Grass 16 Warrick and its Prominent People. township (named in honor of him), Spencer county. He was distinguished in the convention as an active and valuable mem- ber, and was on three of the most important committees. On the first Monday in August, 1816, occurred the first coun- ty and State election under the new form of government. This election resulted in Daniel Grass being elected State Senator from the counties of Posey, Perry and Warrick. Ratliff Boon was elected Representative from Warrick in the State Legisla- ture. This was the debut of Ratliff Boon in public life. It was marked by no gushes of oratory, but by sound judgment and honest policy. He was afterwards elected to various offices of honor, among them that of Representative in Congress for sever- al terms and Lieutenant-Governor of the State. In 1 81 8 the Legislature of Indiana passed a bill organizing the counties of Vanderburgh on the west, and Spencer on the east, of Warrick, thus reducing the latter to its present limits. How- ever, Warrick still remains one of the largest counties in the State. FIRST SETTLEMENTS. The first white man said to have settled in Warrick county was John Sprinkle, a native of Pennsylvania, who founded the town of Sprinklesburg, which was superseded by Newburgh. Mr. Sprinkle removed from his native State to Henderson coun- ty, Kentucky, in the year 1772, where he lived until 1803, when he removed to where Newburgh now stands, and settled with a large family of children. During his residence in Kentucky he had received the title of Major of the State Militia, and was a man of honor and high social standing in his community. He died in 1821. Felty Hay and James Lynn also settled in this vicinity shortly after Mr. Sprinkle. Early in the year 1805 a man with the homely appearance of the pioneer arrived at the mouth of Cypress creek on the Ohio Organization and Settlement of Warrick County. 17 river. His entire baggage consisted of an axe, gun, and sup- ply of ammunition : limited, though useful. This man was Bailey Anderson, the first among prominent settlers of what now com- prises Warrick county. The surroundings pleased him and here he determined to make his home. He selected a place near the mouth of Cypress creek as a suitable site, and commenced the erection of a log cabin. At this time the country was very sparcely settled. There were intervals of miles between the lit- tle homes of the pioneers, and Bailey Anderson's cabin was far from those of his neighbors. The hardships of pioneer life were many and to the rising generation appear incredible. It is told of Bailey Anderson that while building his cabin, he lodged at night in a tree, which long afterwards was known as " Bailey's Roost." This novel couch was made by fastening pieces of timber across two substantial branches of the tree, and over it were spread the skins of wild animals to make it comfortable, and it was thus that Bailey Anderson is said to have first sought repose in his pioneer home. Following Anderson four other families arrived in a few months and settled not far from him. These were the Briscoes, Sheltons, Vannadas and Arnolds. They, too, were soon fol- lowed by others, whose names are more or less familiar to the people of the county, and since that time immigration has not ceased. The resources of the county have rapidly developed, the population gradually increased, and its progress in all mat- ters relative to the welfare of its citizens has been steadily on- ward. All this stands as a memorial to the brave, industrious and sturdy men who first cut roads through the almost impene- trable forests, cleared the land, tilled the soil, and gave to our county its first aspects of civilization. 3 ORGANIZATION AND SETTLEMENT OF THE TOWNSHIPS. ANDERSON — BOON — CAMPBELL — GREER — HART — LANE OHIO- OWEN — PIGEON — SKELTON. ANDERSON TOWNSHIP. Anderson township is situated in the southern part of the county, on highly elevated, though arable land, and borders on the Ohio river. The first settlement was made in this township in the year 1805 by Bailey Anderson, in honor of whom it was named. Among the early settlers were Solomon Vannada, Wil- liam Briscoe, Joseph Arnold, Daniel Rhoades, Daniel Bates, John W. Youngblood and the Sheltons. BOON TOWNSHIP. Boon, the central and largest township in the county, was one of the earliest settled. Its first resident was Ratliff Boon, first Representative of Warrick county in the Stale Legislature, and subsequently Congressman during sixteen years, and twice elect- ed Lieutenant-Governor, serving a part of one term as acting Governor. In honor of Mr. Boon the township was given his name. Among those settling shortly after Boon were Hudson Hargrave, Joseph De Forest, John Couts, Joseph Lawrence, Ja- cob Harpole, Joseph English, John B. Kelley, Joseph Adams, William Webb, Jacob Richardson, Edward Baker and Jacob Johnson. CAMPBELL TOWNSHIP. Campbell township, which lies in the western part of the coun- ty, was named in honor of its first resident, Thomas Campbell, a Organization and Settlement of the Townships. 19 man much esteemed by his fellow-citizens, and on whom was bestowed various offices of trust and honor. However, by some it is claimed that John Luce was the first settler of this township. Soon after Mr. Campbell's settlement, Isham West, Joseph Mc- Donald and Phillip Miller, whose names are frequently associat- ed with the history of the county, arrived and located in the same vicinity. GREER TOWNSHIP. Greer township, which lies in the northwest corner of the coun- ty, west of Hart and north of Campbell, is named in honor of Richard Greer. Mr. Greer was an early citizen of the township, and resided in it until his death, which occurred in 1866. Lar- kin Birchfield, a Baptist minister, was one of the original settlers of the township, having located in it in 1827, two years after Mr. Greer. John Hornet, John Barton, William Taylor, George Tay- lor, James Kell and Joseph Fields were also among the early settlers of the township. HART TOWNSHIP. Hart township, in the northwestern part of the county, was given the name of Hon. John Hart, an early settler, and who was once Associate Judge of the Circuit Court. James Hinman settled in this township in 1814. Among those who settled here early were Tubby Bloyd, Lane W. Posey, John McMurtry, Elijah Boyd, Charles Morgan, John Taylor, Henry Hopkins, Clem. Nutter, Isaac McSwane and the McCord family. LANE TOWNSHIP. Lane, adjoining Hart, Owen and Pigeon townships, in the northwestern portion of the county, was named in honor of Gen. Joseph Lane, who once represented this county in the State Sen- ate, and has a national reputation as the Mexican war veteran, and was once Governor of Oregon, and a candidate for Vice- President of the United States on the Breckenridge ticket in i860. 20 Warrick and its Prominent People. Its first settlers were Captain James Ashby, Stephen Hanby, Wil- liam Scales, David Whittinghill, Daniel Cook, Jasper Hanby and a Mr. Powers. On account of its smallness this township is sometimes called "Little Lane." OWEN TOWNSHIP. Owen township, which lies adjoining Lane, Boon, Hart and Pigeon townships, was organized in 1848 out of the territory of Skelton. In honor of Robert Dale Owen it was given his name. The first residents of the township were the families of Phillips and Gentry, which, by the way, have not failed to " multiply and increase " in accordance with the scriptural injunction. Matthew Gentry, ex-county commissioner, settled in this locality in 1822. OHIO TOWNSHIP. Ohio township, lying in the southwestern part of the county and bordering on the Ohio river, was first settled by John Sprin- kle in the year 1803. Felty Hay and James Lynn came into the township shortly after Mr. Sprinkle. Among others who settled here early were Gaines Roberts, John V. Darby, John Alexan- der, Daniel Frame, Isham West, and a family named Gay. PIGEON TOWNSHIP. Pigeon township lies in the northeastern corner of the county, and is indebted to Little Pigeon creek, on which it borders, for its name. The first settlement in this township was made by George Taylor in 182 1, and his brother, John Taylor, came in 1823. Nicholas Taylor also settled in this vicinity in 1821. Oth- er early settlers were John Greenaway, Samuel Ingram, Jesse Spradlin, the Skelton family, B. A. Ward, A. M. Jones, Jessie Isaacs, Morgan Chinn, P. N. Whittinghill, Hiram Brooner, John Beardsley and C. B. Allen. SKELTON TOWNSHIP. Skelton township is situated in the eastern part of the county. The territory of this township originally covered one third of the Organziation and Settlement of the Townships. 21 county, bur it has been reduced by die organization of Lane, Owen and Pigeon townships on the north of its dominions. As an honor to Judge Zachariah Skelton, a highly esteemed pioneer, and who was Associate and Probate Judge successively during a period of twenty-one years, the township was given his name. The earliest settlers of the township were John Phillips, Judge Skelton, Samuel Brashears, Isham Kelly, Isaac Powers and Thomas Herston. BOONVILLE. BOONVILLE AFTER WHOM NAMED — BOONVILLE IN EMBRYO FIRST SALE OF TOWN LOTS — REMOVAL OF CAPITOL FROM DARLINGTON TO BOONVILLE — EARLIEST RESIDENTS — FIRST COURT HOUSE — SECOND — FIRST JAIL — FIRST TAVERN — FIRST CENSUS — FIRST CHURCH COURT HOUSES BUILT IN 1 836 AND 1851 RAILROAD MEETING HELD IN 1843 BOONVILLE TRIBUNE AND BOONVILLE ENQUIRER EDUCATIONAL-BURGLARIZING THE COUNTY TREAS- URER'S OFFICE — NORTH AND SOUTH R. R. — BOONVILLE REPUB- LICAN — L. E. E. & S. W. R. R. NATIONAL BANK BOONVILLE STANDARD BAPTIST HERALD WARRICK CHRONICLE SOCIAL- LY, RELIGIOUSLY, EDUCATIONALLY, COMMERCIALLY, ETC. On May 15, 181 8, the official plat of Boonville was recorded by Chester Elliott, county surveyor. The town was given the name of " Boonsville," in honor of Jesse Boon,* father of Rat- liff Boon, in acknowledgment of liberal donations of land which he had offered the commissioners when they were prospecting for a site on which to locate the town. The land which Mr. Boon proffered was situated one mile west of where Boonville now *It has been asserted and is generally believed by the people that Boon- ville was named after Ratlitf Boon This is a mistake The story has obtained credence upon mere supposition, and is wholly unreliable, while, on the other hand, we have plausible reasons from the best authority for the belief that it was named after Jesse Boon. 22 Warrick and its Prominent People. stands, and why the commissioners refused to accept it is a moot- ed question. Boonville in embryo was a town of great promise. Being cen- trally situated the citizens of the county were not slow to per- ceive its advantages. Darlington was no convenient point for the seat of justice, where it was then located, and, therefore, af- ter the organization of the counties of Spencer on the east and Vanderburgh on the west of the territory of Warrick, the Legis- lature passed an act in 1818 removing the capitol of the latter county from Darlington to Boonville. This change was more satisfactory to the people and gave to Boonville an impetus which was not likely to result favorably to the progress of other villages in the county. Darlington, the former capitol, which had risen like Aladdin's palace, now as rapidly declined, and the once promising village was converted into a farm. On the 4th, 5th and 6th of June, 1818, John Hargrave, coun- ty agent, made the first sale of town lots at public auction. There was a lively demand for property in the new capital, and conse- quently the value of it was greatly enhanced. A large num- ber were present at this sale, some from abroad, and, it is said, there was close competition by the purchasers, and a lively inter- est manifested, though no ill-feeling prevailed. Fifty-six lots were sold at prices ranging from $25 to $141, and the aggregate amount of the sale was $3,057.75. The prices paid for these lots are indicative of the flattering view the purchasers took of the fu- ture of Boonville, and notwithstanding itsyouthfulness, then as- sumed rank as the leading town in the county. The " town " at this time consisted of a few log cabins situated promiscuously on a hill, the summit of which the f court house now stands on. The oldest of these cabins stood near what is now the northeast corner of the Public Square. It is said that " the citizens were frequently annoyed at night by the wolves that barked and growled around their residences." Boonville. 23 The earliest residents of Boonville were Nathaniel Hart, Adam Young, John Upham, James McCulla, Samuel Steele, Dr. Alva Pasco, and the Graham family, some of whom are familiarly known to the older citizens and have descendants still residing in the county. Dr. Alva Pasco was the first physician to locate in Boonville. He is said to have been one of the best of pioneer doc- tors, a good man, and to have enjoyed an extensive practice. He died in 1824. In 1818 a small and rudely constructed log cabin was erected near the center of the Public Square, in which the county courts were held, but after court convened in it a few times the build- ing was found to be very incommodious, and the erection of a brick court house, to be thirty-five feet square, was ordered by the county commissioners. However, the brick court house was never built. The enterprise was abandoned by general consent, and instead a frame building was erected, the architecture of which was, to say the least, very novel. A ditch two feet deep and two feet wide was filled with smoothly hewn logs to a level with the surface of the earth, on which was built a stone wall eighteen inches in height. This constituted the foundation and on it was built the the frame proper. However, this building was never completed. It was weather-boarded and roofed, but was neither lathed nor plastered, and thus it remained until 1836. While it was capable of holding more people than the log cabin it could only be used during the summer months. On the first Monday in October, 18 18, the county agent awarded to John Upham, the lowest bidder, the contract for building a jail in Boonville, of which the following are the speci- fied dimensions : " The jail is to be eighteen feet square, from outside to outside, to be built with a double wall of well-hewn timber twelve inches square, and to be raised in that manner so 24 Warrick and its Prominent People. as to bring the joints of the outside wall opposite the face of the logs of the inside wall, leaving a space between the two walls of six inches, to be filled up with rock and gravel. The first story is to be seven feet high, and the second to be eight," etc. This jail, which was constructed on the foregoing plan, was situated on the southeast corner of the Public Square, but, becoming in- commodious, a new one was built of brick, on Sycamore, between Third and Fourth Streets. It, too, was soon removed, and a third one erected in its place. This jail was two stories in height, built of brick, and was much larger and stronger than the previ- ous one, although prisoners frequently escaped from it. It still stands, though in a very dilapidated condition, and is used as a residence. On February 9th, 181 9, the board of commissioners granted Benjamin Knapp "a license to retail spirituous liquors and keep a tavern in Boonville ; provided, he would limit his rates to 12^ cents per pint for whiskey ; 50 cents per pint for rum and French brandy; 50 cents for feeding and lodging a horse; meals, 25 cents, and lodging, 12^ cents." This tavern is described as hav- ing all the characteristics of the old-time " country inn." It was a nucleus for travellers, idlers and lovers of the social glass, and a jolly, gossiping crowd could generally be found at " the tavern." At the April term of the county commissioners' court, 1819, John Upham and Adam Young were granted license to retail spirituous liquors in Boonville. In 1830, when the first census of Boonville was taken, the population numbered eighty-seven, while that of its rival — New- burgh — was only thirty-seven. At this time the town contained about thirty houses, scattered over considerable ground, and with a partially completed court house squatting on the hill, which the town surrounded, Boonville had begun to assume the aspects of a progressive settlement. Boonville. 25 The first church in Boonville was erected by the Congrega- tionalists, and was situated just north of where the Cumberland Presbyterian church now stands. It was a small frame struc- ture, and after its desuetude as a place of worship was used for a time as a blacksmith shop, but it is now unoccupied. In 1836 the unfinished court house was removed, and a new brick building, forty feet square and two stories high, was erect- ed in its place. The offices of the county clerk and treasurer were in the second story. Compared with more modern edi- fices of the kind this court house would have a somewhat anti- quated appearance. In a few years this building also became too small to accom- modate its litigant patrons and the present court house was erect- ed in its place in 1851. In 1843 a meeting was called for the purpose of discussing the feasibility of building a railroad from Boonville to Evansville. At the appointed time a large crowd assembled at the court house. Speeches were made by several citizens, all favoring the immediate erection of a railroad, and the audience was becom- ing very enthusiastic for the proposition, when " Uncle Chester " Elliott, one of the early settlers of the county, was called out to give his views on the matter. He commenced his remarks by stating very emphatically, " I am heartily in favor of it." The audience applauded. He then proceeded to speak at some length on the superiorr esources of the county, and concluded by settling the railroad problem as follows: " If this railroad is built it must be with the strictest economy, and, therefore, I think I can submit a proposition which would prove the most profitable. (Cries of ' What is it ?' and ' Hear him !') The most economical railroad connection at this time would be a single track and a wheel-barrow." Laughter and applause followed, and the meet- ing unceremoniously adjourned, without any further appoint- ments for railroad meetings. 26 . Warrick and its Prominent People. The first newspaper published in Boonville was the Boonville Tribune, the printing material of which was removed from New- burgh to Boonville in 1857. The Tribune was owned by a stock company composed of Dr. W. L. Barker and others. Edward White was its editor for a while, but he was soon succeeded in that capacity by Chas. Dalrymple, who, after a short time, sold the Tribune to John Fleming, a printer, and Judge J. W. B. Moore. The name of the paper was changed to the Boon- ville Enquirer, and Judge Moore assumed editorial control. Po- litically the Enquirer advocated the principles of the Democratic party, and, being the only paper published in the county, was very prosperous. In December, 1865, John Fleming was succeeded in its publication by E. L. Crawford, the paper being then conducted under the firm name of Moore & Crawford. In January, 1868. Judge Moore, being aged and in feeble health, retired from the editorial management of the Enquirer and sold his interest in it to Thomas H. Martin. Crawford & Martin continued its publication, with Martin as editor. In March, 1870, William Swint purchased the Enquirer from them, and as- sumed full control as editor and publisher. The paper has con- tinued under his management and is one of the most prosperous rural weeklies in the State. Up to 1866 educational matters received little attention in Boon- ville. The onlv schools known were the subscription schools taught about three months in each year, to which parents would subscribe a stipulated amount as tuition for the instruction of their children in arithmetic, spelling, reading and writing. The youth that knew the "single rule of three " and obtained a smattering of the English language was considered educated. In 1866 the Boonville Graded School was instituted, and the present school house erected, which, however, has since been greatly improved by additions and alterations. Professor Forrest, an efficient in Boonville. 27 structor, was chosen principal of the school, and under his man- agement it was very successful. The school consists of six grades — one German — in which are taught all the primary and common branches, and a few of the higher. The attendance at present is between four and five hundred pupils, and through the efficient services of a good corps of instructors it has attained the rank of a first-class public school. Monday night, April i, 1867, the County Treasurer's office, in the court house, was forcibly entered and robbed of $8,000 — $6,000 in greenbacks, and $2,000 in county orders. When the robbery was discovered and made known the town was thrown into the most intense excitement. Groups of astonished men would gather on the streets and discuss it, and the news of the daring outrage was a shock to the entire county. James H. Mas- ters, County Treasurer, offered a reward of $500 for the re- coveryof the money, and $500 for the apprehension of the robbers — $1,000 for both — but no clue to the thieves or money was obtained. Following this event came a series of similar occurrences. Several houses fell prey to the incendi- ary and stores were burglarized. The town seemed infested by a I »and of daring villains, and the people were now thoroughly aroused to vigilance. Watchmen patroled the streets night after night for several weeks, and every person was on the alert. However, beyond the hanging of a supposed incendiary until almost dead in trying to extort a confession of guilt from him, this detective force failed to bring to justice any of the criminals, but their vigilance had the effect of preventing further depre- dations. In 1868 the proposed North and South railroad, which was to pass through Boonville, was voted assistance in the sum solicited. However, the project was abandoned and tax refunded. Finale of Boonville's R. R. No. 2. 28 Warrick and its Prominent People. In July, 1873, tne publication of the Boonville Republican, D. D. Doughty, editor and publisher, was commenced. The paper was a six column folio, advocated Republican principles, and en- joyed an average circulation. After a laborious existence of a little over two years the Republican " succumbed to a natural fate." After much talk and a mature "boom " the Lake Erie, Evans- ville & Southwestern railway was completed to Boonville, a dis- tance of seventeen miles, on Monday, August 4, 1873. The last rail was laid at 2 o'clock in the afternoon, and at 3 o'clock the first locomotive — the wonder of the town — arrived in Boonville with a large delegation from Evansville. There was rejoicing, in which all classes participated alike, with a grand dance and feast, prepared especially for the occasion, and bumpers were drank freely to the success of Boonville's new railroad. The road was originally intended to run from Evansville to Bellefontaine, Ohio, but until the year 1880 was not extended beyond Boonville. In 1879 the name was changed to the Evansville & Eastern R. R. In the fall of 1880 the Local Trade railroad was built from Boonville to Gentry ville, where it connects with the Rockport & Jasper road, and the Evansville & Eastern and Local Trade railroad companies were consolidated on November 15, 1880. This railroad has been very beneficial to Boonville in more fully developing her resources, and it is at present in a very prosper- ous condition. In November, 1874, the Boonville National Bank was organ- ized with a capital of $50,000. In November, 1875, appeared the first number of the Boon- ville Standard, M. B. Crawford, editor, and the Boonville Stan- dard Publishing Company, publishers. The Standard is the organ of the Republican party in this county, and was originally owned by a stock company. During a period of three years — from 1876 Boonville. 29 to 1879 — ^ was owned and edited successively by Crawford & Berkshire, J. B. Berkshire, Wertz & Wagstaff, Wertz & Stinson, and C. F. Wertz. In July, 1879, C. F. Wertz sold the paper to I. E. Youngblood. During the first nine months of the latter's proprietorship it was edited by W. W. Admire, who was suc- ceeded in that capacity by Mr. Youngblood himself. In estab- lishing the Standard many difficulties, to which all new enter- prises are subject, were encountered, and for a time it was in an unhealthy state, but it has run the gauntlet of these trials, and is now on a sound financial foundation. In July, 1881, Mr. Young- blood was succeeded in the management of the Standard by R. M. Graham. In 1876 the General Baptist Herald, the organ of the General Baptist denomination in the United States, was removed from Oakland City, Indiana, to Boonville. The Herald w»s published weekly by the General Baptist Board of Publication, and edited by Jesse G. Lane. In 1878 Mr. Lane was succeeded in the editorial management of the paper by Dr. T. J. Hargan. The Herald suspended publication in 1878. In March, ot the same year, W. W. Admire commenced the publication of a five-column folio newspaper named the Warrick Chronicle. After an existence of three months it was consoli- dated with the Boonville Standard, Admire becoming editor and I. E. Youngblood, proprietor. We have endeavored to chronologically trace down to the pre- sent some of the most important events and enterprises in the history of Boonville, and thereby can best be judged the pro- gress of the town. Socially and educationally Boonville has, of course, materially improved during the last decade. Religiously, it has deteriorated, but the numerous organizations and societies instituted have 30 Warrick and its Prominent People. all been more or less successful in the development of the people socially and intellectually. Thus far in the history of Boonville religion was at its zenith ten years ago. There are at present six churches in town. Of these six two are German — the Evangeli- cal Lutheran and Methodist — one Catholic, one Baptist (colored,) Cumberland Presbyterian and Methodist Episcopal The Catholic church is not yet completed, and is without a pastor. Among the many prominent societies and organizations are three lodges of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, two of Free and Accepted Masons, one Knights of Pythias, the Ancient Order of United Workingmen, the Boonville Building and Loan Fund Association, the Warrick Building and Loan Association, etc. The latter are saving institutions, and in that way have been the means of some benefit to the citizens and the upbuilding of the town. During the last ten years the growth of Boonville has been rapid for an interior town. New business establishments have sprung up here and there, dwelling houses have been erected on all hands, and the population has increased nearly double what it was twenty years ago. Boonville is the central business point of the county and surrounding neighborhood, and its shipments of produce are becoming largei each year. In short, Boonville is a prosperous town, and the indications are that it will continue to be such. NEWBURGH. FIRST SETTLEMENT SPRINKLESBURGH — MT. PROSPECT — FIRST EARLY BUSINESS MEN — SURVEY OF NEWBURGH — CONSOLIDATION OF NEWBURGH AND SPRINKLESBURGH FIRST CENSUS ENUMER- ATION FIRST CHURCH AND FIRST SCHOOL DELANEY ACADEMY — THE CHRONICLE AND WARRICK DEMOCRAT — FIRST COAL MINE NEWBURGH TRIBUNE — WARRICK HERALD NEWBURGH LED- GER AND OTHER NEWSPAPERS COMMERCIALLY, EDUCATIONAL- LY, RELIGIOUSLY AND SOCIALLY. Newburgh. — In 1803 John Sprinkle purchased land along the bank of the Ohio river, where the principal portion of New- burgh is now situated, and settled on it soon after. In 181 7 Chester Elliott laid out for him the town of Sprinklesburgh, which composed the territory within the following limits in what is now Newburgh: Posey street on the north, Monroe street on the east, Ohio river south, and Washington street on the west. Although officially recorded as "Sprinklesburgh,'' for several years the town was called "Mount Prospect," and in a few legal documents this name is used. Sprinklesburgh, or Mount Prospect, was a town of some promise at the time of its incipiency, and transact- ed considerable business compared with neighboring pioneer towns. In 1 818 the county commissioners granted a license to Jacob Keel " to run a ferry across the Ohio river, opposite the foot of Monroe street, in Mount Prospect." The first men engaging in mercantile business in this place were Abner Luce and Abraham M. Phelps. Also, among the early business men, were Chester Bethell, William Shelby, Al- bert Hazen and W. Fuquay. 32 Warrick and its Prominent People. On October 23, 1829, Abner Luce purchased the land lying east of State street, which is now known as Gray's Enlargement, and had the town of Newburgh laid out. Thus, two towns, Sprinklesburgh and Newburgh, were situated within a stone's throw of each other, yet the two consolidated, although called towns, literally speaking, would hardly have been entitled to the name. Lying between these two "towns" were about three acres of ground of a triangular shape, with the appearance of a wedge cutting in twain that which should be one. In 1837 the Legislature passed an act consolidating the two under the name of Newburgh, the wedge included. The growth of Newburgh up to 1830, when the first census was taken, was very slow. The population at that time num- bered only thirty-seven, and a few ( small houses scattered along the river bank constituted the town. However, during the next The first church in the town was established by the Presby- thirty years, it improved and progressed far more rapidly, terians in 1837, and Chester Elliott is said to have taught the first school in an old log building in Sprinklesburgh. Delany Academy, chartered by the State, was organized in 1844, under the supervision of the Presbyterian church, Rev. Berry Hall, Abraham M. Phelps and other influential members of that denomination having been instrumental in securing its es- tablishment. This Academy was conducted by learned and thor- ough instructors. Under their efficient management it attained a wide popularity, and was attended by a large number of pupils from abroad. Delany Academy was of great benefit to New- burgh, both pecuniarily and educationally; but after the estab- lishment of the Newburgh Graded School the Academy was sus- pended. The first newspaper published in Warrick county was the Chronicle, established at Newburgh in 1848, R. S. Terry, editor Newburgh. 33 and publisher. Politically, the Chronicle was Whig. In 1850 it was succeeded by the Warrick Democrat, Calvin C. Frery, ed- itor and publisher. It was an advocate of Breckenridge Demo- cratic principles. In 1857 the Democrat was removed to Boon- ville. In 1850 the first coal mine, know as the " Phelp's Coal Bank," was opened on the banks of the Ohio river. The enter- prise proved profitable, and the opening of other mines soon fol- lowed, which were also remunerative to the proprietors. These mines now ship a large amount of coal to manufacturers and consumers along the river, besides supplying steamboats and the home demand. A large number of persons are employed in the mines, and Newburgh may appropriately be called a "mining town." In 1854 the publication of the Newburgh Tribune was com- menced, with Isaac Falls as editor and publisher. It was Know- Nothing politically, and ceased publication at the end of one year. The publication of the Warrick Democrat was again com- menced a few months after its suspension and continued until 1862, when it again suspended. On May 9, 1867, the publication of the Warrick Herald, an " anti-Rebel-Ku-Klux-Dcmocrat" paper, was commenced, with Jacob V. Admire as editor and publisher. The Herald was ably edited and flourished for a while, but was finally forced to sus- pend from want of sufficient patronage. Several other papers have appeared and disappeared in Newburgh during the last twelve years. The Newburgh Ledger was published successively by Wm. Corwin Root and Keith & Slaughter. The Newburgh Times was also published for a while by Geo. Swint. But, alas ! all have passed away, leaving not even an old " file " for the ed- ification of posterity. If the appreciation is to be measured by the support given a home paper Newburgh is best satisfied with her present condition in that particular. 4 34 Warrick and its Prominent People. In a business point of view Newburgh is now in a lethargic condition, from which the more enterprising and energetic citi- zens are endeavoring to arouse it. Fifteen years ago Newburgh reached her greatest prosperity, since when it has gradually been retrograding. Its present condition is attributed to the indiffer- ence of the citizens in not taking advantage of the opportunities for securing a railroad commercial outlet and several extensive manufacturing establishments. The town is admirably situated on the Ohio river, nine miles above Evansville, and is the best shipping point on the river, thus offering extraordinary induce- ments for the location of manufacturing establishments. Her supply of coal is inexhaustible and is sold at a low rate. The town is surrounded by rich farming land. At present it con- tains about seventy places of business, professional, mechanical and mercantile, a population of 1,282, according to the last cen- sus, five churches, one lodge of F. & A. M., one I. O. O. F. , one I. O. G. T., one K. of P., one D. O. H., a Graded School, with a High School commission from the State, and, besides, contains more line residences than any other town of the same size in this part of the State. In her natural resources alone Newburgh will find her greatest wealth, and the " open sesame " to the development of these is a little enterprise and "Yankee pluck." VILLAGES IN WARRICK. DARLINGTON. DARLINGTON MILLERSBURGH — LYNNVILLE FOLSOMVILLE SEL- WI,\i YANKEETOWN, AND OTHER VILLAGES. Darlington:. — This once promising village was situated about four miles above Newburgh, and less than one mile from the Ohio river. In 18 14 the county seat was removed from Evansville to Darlington, which gave to the latter considerable importance in county affairs. The property owners in the place donated a large tract of land to the county, and on July 15, 1814, Wm. Briscoe, the county agent, sold the first " town lot," Jno. Sprinkle purchas- ing it for $30. On July 26, 1816, the official plat of Darlington was recorded. Being the capital of a county covering a large area of rich land, and as a commercial point admirably situated, Darlington was then regarded as a town of great promise, and pioneer speculators were eager to own land there. Town lots sold readily, and it is recorded that Hon. Ratliff Boon, on November 15, 1 816, paid $42 for lot No. 42. One of the first churches in the county was built at Darlington. Rev. Hobbs, of the Baptist denomination, the pioneer preacher of Warrick, located first at Darlington. Rev. John Youngblood erected a church near Darlington in 1825, which is now used as a stock pen. In 1 81 5 Daniel Deckrow, the lowest responsible bidder, was awarded the contract for building a court house in Darlington, which is described as follow: "Twenty by twenty-five feet square of well hewn logs, not less than one foot square, to be one story and a half high, the upper half story to be six feet high, 36 Warrick and its Prominent People. three windows large enough to receive eighteen lights of sash, two floors, one staircase, bar, jury box and judge's bench, two doors, shingle roof, and one partition above, with a door through the same, two windows above of the same size as the window be- low, completing the same with locks, bolts and hinges, etc." The cost of this court house was $290. In 1818 the seat of justice of Warrick was removed from Dar lington to Boonville, by enactment of the Legislature, and the owners of land in the former place were granted the privilege of taking in lieu thereof lots in the latter. To Darlington this was a death warrant. The "town," consisting of a court house and about a dozen houses, soon disappeared, and the ground on which the capitol of Warrick county once stood is now a prolifiic farm, all evidences of a town having long since passed away. MILLERSBURGH. Millersburgh, a village situated in Campbell township, about nine and a half miles northeast of Boonville, was laid out for the heirs of Phillip Miller, who was one of the earliest settlers of the township. The village is chiefly notable for its early enterprise and what it once was. In 1824 Phillip Miller built a small mill at this point, but in those days it was regarded as a great enter- prise. It is claimed that Luke Grant also built a mill here at about the same time, hence, the appropriateness of the village's name is susceptible of more reasons than one. It was truly a Miller's-burgh. The first merchant of whom anything is remem- bered was John Rasor. Samuel Parker and Moses Condit were the first to teach school in this vicinity. In 1859 the M. K. church was erected, and in 1873 the present school house. The old Wabash and Erie canal passed by this place, and at the time of its operation Millersburgh was most prosperous. The aban- donment of the canal and remote situation of the village from any commercial outlet, have been impediments to its growth. Villages in Warrick. 37 However, it is a prosperous village, contains about thirty houses, two churches, a school house and a Masonic hall. The enumer- ation of the business pursuits is, viz.: Two dry goods stores, one tobacco warehouse, one blacksmith shop, one bar-room, a grist mill, a coal mine, and three physicians. Population, 105. LYNNVILLE. Lynnville, situated about ten miles north of Boonville, in Hart township, was laid out by John Lynn, after whom it was named. Lynn opened a saddle and harness shop in the place in 1839, and Daniel Zimmerman opened a store in 1840. Among the early business men were the Kirkpatrick brothers, Vanada broth- ers, James McGill, and Hubbard Taylor. The first chinch was erected by the Methodists. The village, which is one of the largest in the county, contains two churches, Methodist and Bap- tist, I. O. O. F. and Masonic hall, together with a good repre- sentation of the various business pursuits. Population, 304. FOLSOMVILLE. Folsomville, lying in the southeastern part of Owen township, about eight miles northwest of Boonville, was laid out on land owned by Riley Rhoads and Benjamin Folsom, on the 27th day of January, 1859. In honor of its principal owner the village was named Folsomville. The first to engage in business here was Daniel Rhoads, who was soon succeeded by a man named Duncan. Among the early business men were Folsom & Crow, George Colman, Bright & Dimmit, Isaac Houghland, J. G. Shryock, Brown & Wright, and Houghland & Fisher. A mill and carding machine was erected in 1866 by Pemberton & Lee, and in 1868 Folsom & Carnahan also built a flouring mill. A lodge of the I. O. O. F. was organized here in 1876. Religion in this locality, until recently, was at a low ebb, and the only church the village ever had was built by the Baptists about the year i860, which has long since disappeared. Folsomville contains 38 Warrick and its Prominent People. a graded school, two dry goods stores, one drug store, two sa- loons, one mill, a blacksmith shop, two carpenter shops, and five physicians. Population, 194. SELVIN. Taylorsville, lying in the northeast part of Pigeon township, fif- teen miles northeast of Boonville, was laid out on land owned by Geo. Taylor, on the 13th day of July, 1839, by Hansel Ingram, [sham Hale and V. L. Morris. The village was called Taylorsville in honor to George Taylor, and even now is best known by that name; but there being another post office in Indiana bearing the same name, the former was changed to Polk Patch, which was also changed to Selvin in 1881. Among those who first engaged in business here were George Taylor, Mark Reavis, Joseph De- vin, Green Lasefield, Henry Evans and Joshua Whitney. A Methodist church was founded here at an early day, and its first pastors were Rev. Wm. Webb and Rev. Isham West. Near the site of the present M. E. church the first school house was built, 111 which Joseph Hungate was the first to teach. The Catholics erected a church here in 1865. A flouring mill was established at an early day by Messrs. Galley & Day, which is now owned by J. F. Katterjonn. The village contains four stores, two drug stores, a Graded School, two blacksmith shops, two cooper shops, one steam flouring mill, two hotels and four physicians. Popu- lation, 222. YANKEETOWN AND OTHER VILLAGES. Yankeetown, situated in Anderson township, ten miles south of Boonville, was laid out by Thomas Day on April 9, 1858. The early inhabitants were principally Yankees, hence the name. The place has a church, Masonic hall, school house, several places of business, mechanical, mercantile and professional, and its general prosperity is parallel with that of other villages in the county. Population, 178. Elberfield and Chandler are both embryo villages, but are at present only known as post offices. EARLY ENTERPRISES. FIRST MAIL ROUTE — DISCOVERY OF SALT IN 1814 — FIRST COAL MINE MODES OF GRINDING CORN IN EARLY DAYS MILLS FIRST FLOUR BROUGHT TO COUNTY-FIRST CHURCH IN COUNTY- WABASH AND ERIE CANAL WARRICK COUNTY AGRICULTUKAL ASSOCIATIONS. Surrounded by the fruits of modern invention and discovery, with a convenient hitch to everything, the present generation of readers are unable to obtain anything like a real idea of the early privations and disadvantages of their pioneer ancestors, and are inclined to treat the accounts or such either with incredulity or indifference. Seventy years ago and less, when the territory which now comprises Warrick county was not inhabited by a dozen families, the main implements of defense and support we re the rifle, axe and plow. Machinery of any kind was unknown, and all work was performed by manual labor. In 1 81 2 the first mail route through this section of country was established, which was from New Harmony to Louisville via. where Boonville now stands. The mail was carried on horse- back by John Williams, two weeks being required to make the round trip. The carrier was frequently delayed by severe weather, high water, etc., and would often have to swim streams of water, the result being wet and badly soiled mail, which it re- quired great care to preserve. The name of the postmaster is now unknown. However, it is said that he could read ' ' writin'. " There was really no post office, but the mail was either carried in the postmaster's pocket or kept at his home until called for. On Evansville being made the county seat the mail route was changed, so that it was from New Harmony to Evansville via 40 Warrick and its Prominent People. Boonville to Louisville. Soon after a new route was established between Evansville and Corydon. In 1814 a party of men undertook an enterprise which, accoi cling to the theory of eminent scientists, would have proved pro- fitable if vigorously prosecuted. Between two and three miles from the Ohio river, on the bank of Cypress creek, they made a bore for salt, their attention having been attracted to the enterprise by the indubitable evidences of the exis- tence in that region of salt — the lickings of deer and other ani- mals. After boring to a considerable depth without any satis factory results the men engaged in the work became discouraged and abandoned the enterprise. Up to 1 81 8 the great mineral wealth underlying Warrick county had not been discovered, and in that year the first coal mine was opened on the bank of Pigeon creek, two miles from the Ohio river. However, coal was taken from it only in very small quantities, and the mine being of no pecuniary benefit to the proprietors it was abandoned. Soon after a second was opened on the same tract of land, which, although more profitable than the first, was abandoned because of its distance from the river. Tn 1850 the first coal shaft was sunk on the bank of the Ohio river in Newburgh, and was known as "Phelp's Coal Bank." Numerous large mines have since been opened and operated in the county with profit. The early settlers were not afforded the advantages of such a thing as a flouring mill, and even if they had their corn ground at all they would have to go to a Mr. Vannada's, the owner of a rude, old fashioned "hand-mill" in Kentucky. Sometimes they were compelled to go to Panther Creek, Kentucky, to "have a little grinding done." In 1816 a small "horse-mill" was built in Spencer county, and even it was hailed with joy by the farm- ers throughout this part of the State. About the year 1820 a Villages in Warrick. 41 flouring mill was erected at Henderson, Kentucky, and the farmers in the neighborhood of Darlington having raised some wheal, (tubbed together and carried about seventy-five bushels in canoes to Henderson, and had it ground for their own use. Bread made of flour was almost unknown and seldom used in those days. The first bread of the kind now known to have been used in the county was about the year 1819, when a trader came down the river with thirty or forty barrels of flour, among other merchandise, and after trying in vain to exchange it for anything the settlers possessed, except corn or corn-meal, finally offered to trade one barrel of flour for three dozen chickens. The news of this offer being circulated among the settlers, they would hasten to make the trade, and soon nearly all the chickens in the county had been exchanged for flour. Eight or ten families near Boonville sent six dozen chickens to the trader and received in return two barrels of flour, which was equally divided, and it is said that the flour lasted over two years, being used only on rare occasions, and then sparingly. As the county, developed mills became more numerous and convenient. Among the first in Warrick county was a small one in Campbell township, erected in 1824 by Phillip Miller. Christianity has had its adherents in Warrick county from the time of the first settlements. In the earlier days services — " meetin' " it was then called — were conducted in winter at the homes of the church members by the itinerant preacher or cir- cuit rider; in warm weather, generally under the foliage of the forest. In those days the devotion of the people to their religion was not controled by the weather or circumstances. As the county became more thickly settled the people were enabled to erect churches and permanently secure the services of pastors. In 1824 the first church was built. It was constructed of logs, and was situated west of Boonville, near where the fair ground 42 Warrick and its Prominent People. now is. It was never completed and could be used only during the summer months. The first preacher of the gospel in Warrick was a Baptist, whose name is not now known. In 1825 John Youngblood erected a Methodist church near Darlington, and he was also the first to preach that doctrine in Warrick. The Wabash and Erie canal, which passed through Warrick, was one of the most important enterprises and for several years the principal means of travel and freight transportation in the county, but the railroad has superseded it, and all that now re- mains of the canal is its bed. In 1856 the Warrick County Agricultural Association was or- ganized and incorporated. Suitable ground, one mile west of Boonville, was purchased and inclosed. A large amphitheatre, capable of seating 3,000 persons, with several other necessary buildings, were erected, and a good half mile race track was made. The success of this association from the time of its or- ganization has been something remarkable, and to the commer- cial interests of the county it has been worth thousands of dollars. It is in a perfectly sound condition financially, and gives promise of continuing a source of pleasure and profit to the farmers of \V irrick. The preceding brief narrative of some of the first enterprises of Warrick county is indicative of its progress in that direction, a id also of a few of the disadvantages and hardships endured by the pioneer settlers. However, Warrick has not escaped die con tagious progressiveness of the age, and being now liberally sup- plied with the fruits of Yankee ingenuity we live with more ease. COUNTY COURTS. FIRST COURT OF COMMON PLEAS — OFFICERS FIRST GRAND JURY — INDICTMENTS — VARIOUS SESSIONS OF COURT ADMISSIONS TO THE BAR — TOMMY HIGGINS' DRUNK — SALARIES OF OFFICERS OF COURT — FIRST CIRCUIT COURT COURTS AND COURT HOUSE AT DARLINGTON — JUSTICES OF THE PEACE— 'SQUIRE SHANE'S DE- CISION. One month after the organization of Warrick county, April 9, 1813, the first term of the Court of Common Pleas of Warrick County was convened at the residence of Bailey Anderson, near the mouth of Cypress creek. There were no public buildings then, hence the courts were held in the cabins of the settlers, and, it seems, Bailey Anderson's cabin being centrally situated and the most commodious, was generally the place selected for holding such meetings. The process of administering justice was quite different in those days from the present. The law at that time required three Judges — one Chief Justice and two Associate Judges — to preside over the court. The Associate Judges were generally men more remarkable for their honesty and desire to do justice than for their technical legal judgment or knowledge of the law. Their duties consisted principally in convening and adjourning court, hearing cases of minor importance in the absence of the Chief Justice, etc. Their awkwardness in the performance of these duties and ignor- ance of legal terms frequently led them into ludicrous blunders. As an instance, it is related that on one occasion while court was in session at Darlington, the two Associate Judges, in the absence of the Chief Justice, were compelled to occupy the bench and assume its grave responsibilities. The docket was being disposed 44 Warrick and its Prominent People. of with comparatively little trouble, and, with the exception of the customary awkwardness and slowness, business was moving smoothly, when a case was called up for hearing in which the at- torney for the defendant moved that "the case against his client be thrown out of court on account of some defect in the trial be- low." ' After hearing the argument on the proposition, the two Associates retired to a corner of the room. After a whispered consultation of several minutes they resumed their seats and the elder Associate, gathering up the papers filed in the case, threw them out-doors, and with much gravity announced that they " guessed the darned thing would have to go out!" The officers of the first Court of Common Pleas of Warrick County were as follows : ^Eneas McAhster, Chief Justice ; Jas. Mars and Bailey Anderson, Associate Judges; Nicholas Clay- pool, Clerk; and Samuel Mars, Sheriff. Thus organized, the courl proceeded to impanel a grand jury of "fourteen good and lawful men" to apply the thumbscrews of the law to evil do- ers in Warrick county, but failing to return any indictments they were discharged. At this session of court, and also the two fol- lowing terms, no criminal cases were tried. The business con- sisted principally in hearing petitions, allowing bills due from the county, and other matters, such as now are the duties of the board of commissioners. Criminal cases were very rare then. Of the early sessions of court the most important was held on October 1 8th, 1813, at the residence of Bailey Anderson, when the first criminal case was tried — James Craw vs. Preston Ga- forth, for damages — by a jury of twelve men, who rendered a verdict in favor of the plaintiff, allowing him, with extraordinary mathematical precision, the sum of $32. 80. Atthisterm William Prince, who afterwards became a judge and gentleman of some distinction, and G. R. C. Sullivan, were admitted to the bar as practitioners. At this term of court the grand jury returned County Courts. 45 their first indictment, which was against John May for passing counterfeit money. Joshua Elkins was also indicted for "selling liquor, or strong water, without license." While investigating the latter case one of the jurors, Tommy Higgins, got beastly drunk and caused a disturbance in the jury room. He was brought before the court next day on the charge of " drunken- ness and disorderly conduct," and lined $5.00, after which the Judge lectured him on his disgraceful behavior and the hideous- ness of intemperance, and, it is said that Tommy Higgins was never afterwards known to drink intoxicating beverages. The penalty and judge's rebuke made a deep impression upon his mind, and it was a lesson that he never forgot. At a special session of court held at Evansville on November 15, 1813, an allowance was made to Nicholas S. Claypool, of $30 for one year's service as Clerk of the court ; Samuel R. Mars, for one year's service as Sheriff, $50 ; Wm. Johnson, one year's service as Prosecuting Attorney, $25; while ^Eneas McAlister and James Mars were each allowed $22, and Bailey Anderson, $18, as Judges of the Court of Common Pleas of Warrick for one year. Here is an item for the political economist to ponder over. Tracing down the proceedings of the different sessions of court we find that on May 23, 1814, Daniel Grass was recommended to the Governor to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Bailey Anderson as Associate Judge. Mr. Anderson's reasons for resigning are unknown. His successor was one of the most influential pioneer citizens, and afterwards figured quite promin- ently in local politics. On the 27th day of March, 1815, the first circuit court of War- rick county was convened at the residence of Daniel Rhoades, in Anderson township, with Judge Isaac Blackford on the bench. The session was uninteresting and very little business was trans- 46 Warrick and its Prominent People. acted other than the grand jury returning a few indictments of minor importance. For two years the different sessions of court had now been held alternatively at the cabins of a few of the settlers. These places were incommodious and attended by numerous disadvan- tages. The county needed a court house and the people began to demand one. Therefore, at the next term of court, August 15, 1815, it was ordered that a court house be built at Darling- ton, and the following contract describing the plans and terms for the erection of the same was let to Daniel Deckrow, the low- est bidder: "Twenty by twenty feet square, of well hewn logs, not less thun one foot thick, to be one story and a half high, the upper story to be six feet high. Three windows, large enough to receive eighteen lights sash, two floors, one staircase, bar, jury box and judges' bench, two doors, shingle roof, and one parti- tion above, with a door through the same, two windows above of the same size as the windows below, completing the same with loi ks, bolts and hinges, and in a workman like manner on or be- fore the first day of March, 1816." This building cost the coun- ty $290. On April 10, 181 7, Joseph Arnold, Isaac B. Wright and Jos. Robinson, the first board of commissioners of Warrick coun- 1) , met at the court house in Darlington. Their first business was to order the election of justices of the peace in the different townships. The writer has in his possession the docket of James McCulla, Justice of the Peace of Boon township, during 1822-3. The volume consists of about 150 sheets of old style paper, legal cap size, bound in deer skin. It has suffered severely from old age, yet most of the writing in it isperfe< tly legible. Among the many curious cases in this docket is one dated December 21, 1822, where John Welch brings suit against Ephraim Young- County Courts. 47 blood to recover twelve and one half cents. However, the most ludicrous feature of the case is that it was decided in favor of the defendant, and the court ordered the plaintiff to pay costs. Another noteworthy case recorded in the old docket is one dated September 13, 1823, which reads : " Ratliff Boon vs. Joseph De- Forest— debt 75 cents." The verdict was rendered in favor of the plaintiff. Among the justices of the peace in Warrick county sixty years ago was a large corpulent man, called Squire Shane, who had gained considerable local notoriety as an adjuster of grievances. Illustrative of his ability to effectually convince the litigants in his court the following is related : "A man named Rice lost a cow one spring, and discovered her several weeks afterwards in the enclosure of a neighbor named Bond, about eight miles distant. Rice demanded the animal, but Bond declared that he purchased the cow and would not give her up. Consulting an attorney m regard to the matter Rice was directed to procure a writ of replevin from Squire Shane and endeavor to recover his property through the process- es of the law, which he did. Shane was somewhat illiterate, but extremely tenacious of his honor, and was egotistic enough to believe that he could mete out "equal and exact justice." In due time the constable returned the writ, and a trial followed. The plaintiff proved beyond cavil that the cow belonged to him, and the court rendered a decision accordingly. The defendant w is ordered to surrender the property and pay costs. It would probably be proper to state just here that after the cow had left Rice's possession, and before legal proceedings were instituted for h :r recovery, she had given birth to a calf. After announc- ing his decision Justice Shane commenced entering judgment on his docket, and Bond complacently remarked to a friendly by- stander, in hearing of His Honor, that "There was nothing said 48 Warrick and its Prominent People. in the trial about the calf, and I'll be d — d if I give it up." Upon hearing this rebellious remark Squire Shane coolly dropped his pen, arose from his seat and walking deliberately up to Bond, fastened the iron grip of his left hand upon his throat, and said in a very determined manner, "Give up that calf or I'll choke h — 1 out of you." Bond, badly frightened, promptly, though rather incoherently replied, "I will! Squire, I will!" Squire Shane was a man not to be trifled with, and he would have either choked those words or the life out of that man." WARRICK IN THE WAR. At the beginning of the war in 1861 Warrick county was one of the foremost in responding to the rail for soldiers to put down the rebellion, and 4 ' being a border county, the danger and ex- citement were consequently great. Those who did not, or could not, in consequence of old age or other infirmities, participate in the trials and dangers of the camp and field, were unable to do more than to protect and subsist themselves and the wives and families of those who did." However, further than being badly fright- ened by Col. John Morgan's guerrillas, Warrick county suffered no serious intrusion from the enemy. Many of the soldiers from Warrick county belonged to com- panies organized in other parts of the State, but of the volunteer companies composed almost wholly of soldiers from this county we are enabled to present the following accounts of their respec- tive movements : COMPANY E, I20TH INDIANA VOLUNTEERS. Company E went into camp at Vincennes in February and was mustered into the service about the first of March, 1864. The following named persons were elected the officers of the company : Captain — Thos. J. Downs. First Lieutentant — Wm. Helder. Second Lieutenant — James Dailey. Orderly Sergeant — Daniel W. Brown. It then went to Indianapolis and after remaining there a few days went by way of Jeffersonville to Louisville and thence to Park Barracks, about three miles from the city, where it remained 6 50 Warrick and its Prominent People. a short time anil then went to Nashville about the first of April. As the regiment left the depot it became very dark, and by the time we reached a suitable place to camp a heavy rain was fall- ing. Some put up no tents at all, but wrapped their blankets about them and laid down on the damp earth to rest their weary bodies. The company remained in camp but a short time until orders were received to go to Charleston, Tennessee, on the Hi- wasa river. This march lasted several days and it almost wore " the boys" out. On the march through Tennessee the soldiers threw away considerable clothing and blankets to lessen their burdens. From Charleston the company went into the campaign which resulted in the taking of Atlanta, Georgia. They then went into camp at Decatur, Georgia, about ten miles from At- lanta, and from there they moved to Altoona, but were too late to participate in the heavy skirmish which took place at that point. The regiment next started in pursuit of General Hood, following to Dalton, Georgia, where it took the cars for Nashville and from Nashville went to Pulaski, Tennessee. There it took the hack track lo Lynnville, Tennessee; thence to Columbia, in the same State, where we stopped a few days, during which time details from our own company were engaged in some heavy skirmishing with the enemy. During a skirmish one morning, facob Rheinhart, of our company, was killed. We fell bark l<> Spring Hill, Tennessee, where the right wing of our regiment, including our company, was engaged in a heavy skirmish. From there we moved to Franklin, Tennessee, after night, and were engaged in the battle at that place from 4:30 o'clock until 1 1 o'clock at night, after which we went to Nashville, this time with General Hood in our rear, where we were engaged in battle two days. We then went to Franklin again in pursuit of the en- emy, and from there to Columbia, where we waited several days for orders. Orders came to move to Clifton, Tennessee, Warrick in the War. 51 and there we embarked on board a steamer for Cincinnati, and from there we went to Washington, D. C, where we again awaited orders, which came at last. We then took passage for Morehead, N. C, and from there we proceeded up the country to Newburn, thence to where we were engaged in considerable of a battle near Kinston, N. C. From there we proceeded to Goldsboro, and on up the road to Raleigh, the capitol. Then we took up our line of march for Greensboro, where General Joe E. Johnson was in camp, and where he finally surrendered. We stayed here but a short time when orders came to proceed to Charlotte, which we did by rail. We were stationed there a month or so and were then ordered back to Greensboro, where we remained at least two months. Then we returned to Raleigh, where we staid nearly all winter, and it was here that we received orders to repair to the capitol of our State to be mustered out of the service. COMPANY I, 25TH INDIANA VOLUNTEERS. Campany I, of the 25th Indiana Volunteer Regiment, was or- ganized in Newburgh, Indiana, on the 8th day of July, 186 1, and went into Camp Vanderburgh the next day. It was mus- tered into the United States service by Major Wood, on the 9th day of August, 1861, and was transferred, with the regiment, to St. Louis, where we remained in camp for instruction about one month. While in St. Louis the captain resigned, and James S. Marks was elected to fill his place. We then moved to Jefferson City, Missouri, remaining there but a few days. We were then ordered to relieve the garrison at Lexington, Missouri, but on ar- riving at Georgetown we learned that the Fort had surrendered. We remained in camp about Georgetown and Otterville until the ' movement against Springfield, Missouri. We joined the main army at that place, and started upon the return march the next day. We participated in the capture of the Blackwater prison- 52 Warrick and its Prominent People. ers, and were assigned the duty of guarding them to St. Louis. Here the first lieutenant of the company resigned and Robert Brodie was appointed to fill the vacancy. About the middle of January, 1862, we were transferred to Grant's army at Cairo, Illinois, and embarked up the Tennessee river to Fort Henry. We lead the first assault on the works at Fort Donaldson and after its fall marched to Shiloh and participated in the two days' light- ing. In this battle three of our men, John Ingle, John Taylor and James Connell were killed, while three others, Jacob Rash, John Ranee and A. J. Goad, received fatal wounds. First Lieutenant Robertson was slightly wounded and Second Ser- geant West, severely. After the battle the captain and first lieu- tenant resigned, and second lieutenant J. P. Johnson was pro- moted to the captaincy, J. S. Robertson, first lieutenant, and H. C. West, second lieutenant. We were in the seige of Corinth, Mississippi, and after its evacuation we marched to Holly Springs, Mississippi, thence to Lagrange and Memphis, Tennessee, where we were kept on provost duty for eighl months. We joined General Grant's movement against Vicksburg by way of Canton and Jackson. Our regiment was left at Davis' Mills, twenty-five miles from Holly Springs, to hold the railroad and keep open communication with the army. While here we were attacked by Van Dorn with 5,000 men, whom we repulsed with heavy loss, without losing a single man ourselves. We again marched to Bolivar, Tennessee. While at Bolivar the rebels, under Price and Van Dorn, attacked our forces at Corinth, and thej were put to flight. The forces at Bolivar, under Generals Hulbuit and Veatch, were sent in pursuit of Lhe Confederates. The)- over- took and again routed them on the Hatchie river, about sixty miles from Bolivar, Tennessee. Being now cleared of Confed- erates we were ordered to Memphis, where we embarked on steamers for Vicksburg, Mississippi. Arriving at Vicksburg Warrick in the War. 53 we started immediately on the march for Meridian, Mississippi. On our return the company re-enlisted at Canton, Mississippi, on the 1 8th of February, 1864, and came home on a fifty days' fur- lough in March, 1864. The regiment again re-organized below Evansville and embarked on the steamer Armada for Cairo, Il- linois, where we were ordered to Nashville, Tennessee, from whence we were sent to Decatur, Alabama, and there we re- mained until the first of August, 1864, when we joined the army in front of Atlanta. After the capture of Atlanta, Captain John- son resigned and First Lieutenant Robertson was appointed to fill the vacancy. We took part in the battle at Jonesboro, Geor- gia, and the chase after Hood, and fought at Snake Creek Gap, and we went with Sherman to the sea. At Bentonville, South Carolina, John Fritenberg was killed. Captain Robertson re- signed and was succeeded by W. F. Martin, and Peter Saber- cool was made first lieutenant. We marched through North and South Carolina, and Virginia to Washington, D. C. , and were then sent to Louisville, Kentucky, were we were mustered out. The company lost during the service sixty-six men, killed, wound- ed and died of disease. — From Edwin Adams' History of ]l',n rick County. COMPANY I, 53D INDIANA VOLUNTEER INFANTkV. The original organization of this company consisted of seven- ty-two enlisted men, two musicians, eight corporals, live ser- geants and three commissioned officers — a total of ninety men. During the term of service in the field one hundred and one ad- ditional recruits were assigned to the company to fill up the places in the ranks made vacant by death, discharge and desertion. The total number of men who were identified with the company during our term of service was one hundred and ninety one. The company was recruited in the fall and winter of 186 1-2 for Col. Wm. Jones' 62d regiment, but owing to a failure to recruit 54 Warrick and its Prominent People. a full regiment the 621! was consolidated with the 53d, W. Q. Gresham, receiving the position of colonel and Wm. Jones the lieutenant colonel's. The organization of the company was as follows : WM. S. LANGFORD, Capt. BEN'J. FULLER, 1st. Lieu! DAVID WHITE, 2d. Lieut. S. M. DAVIS, 1st. Serg t. CHAS. DILLINGHAM, 2d Serg't. WM GERHART, 3d Se NATH. MATHEWS, 4th Serg't. G. P. WILLIAMS, 5th Serg'1 The following named persons, all of Boonville, were corporals of the company : Samuel A. Stroud, Israel Mills, Phillip Nonweiler, S. F. Mc- Laughlin, B. F. Small, Moses Shaul, J. S. Lowe and S. G. Clut- ter. Albeit Rowe and Wesley Wilson were the musicians. Our first camp was near Rockport, on a Mr. Jeff Snider's farm. It was known as "Camp Reynolds." The barracks were of our own build, made from logs, cut in an adjacent wood, put up, covered, chinked and daubed in old pioneer style by the members of the company. The winter up to the latter part of February, [862, was spent in this camp recruiting and drilling preparatory to entering the field. About the 20th of February, 1862, we were ordered aboard the steamer John T. M( Combs for Camp Noble, near New Albany, for consolidation, final mus ter and completion of our regimental organization. Company B of the 62d was assigned the position of Company I, 53d. At ter leaving New Albany on the 24th we went to Camp Morton, Indianapolis, to guard the prisoners from fort Donaldson, where we staid about one month. We went from then- to St. Louis on the railroad, and from St. Louis to Savannah, Tennessee, on the Tennessee river, at which place we arrived about the last of March and remained about one month. We were at this point when the battle ofShiloh was fought — in hearing of the battle all Warrick in the War. 55 day Sunday and Monday. General Grant's headquarters were at this point, together with considerable government stores, which our regiment was left to guard. Wra. Horger died at this place June 20th. Nothing of special interest occurred during our stay at Savannah. Peter Collins was detailed as a clerk at General Grant's headquarters. Several of the boys took French leave, among the number some of our non-commissioned officers, and visited Pittsburgh Landing. The consequence was the non- commissioned officers were reduced to ranks and the privates put on extra duty from Savannah. We went to Pittsburgh Landing, arriving at night. Peter Barth, in stepping from our boat to an- other, missed his footing and fell between the boats. Having his knapsack and cartridge box on he sunk at once and was drowned. Our regiment was now assigned to General Veatch's brigade, in General Hulburt's division. We at once joined the army in die advance on Corinth. At a camp known as "Pea Ridge," Nathan Sutton died. Ail the month of May was spent in the advance on Corinth. Governor Morton visited the Indiana troops during the month, inquiring after the welfare and needs of the men. He was hailed everywhere with cheers that awoke the " sleeping Johnnies." On the night of May 29th Captain Langford came through the company and ordered every man to sleep with his clothing and cartridge box on and his gun by his side, as in the morning 5,000 Indians were going to charge our works and that we might expect bloody work when they came, but it seemed that the Captain was more alarmed than the men. The Indians did not come. Next morning, May 30th, our last advance was made, works thrown up and a general sharp skirmish kept up all day. Just as our works were finished a deer came bounding out of the rebel lines through our picket line, jumped the breast works and lit among the men in the line. He was soon killed and furnished a dainty morsel for a hungry 56 Warrick and its Prominent People. soldier. At night the Confederates evacuated the stronghold, and on the 2d of June we marched through the town of Corinth and started in the direction of Memphis. James Sims died June 20th at Corinth. We camped a few days ten miles west of Corinth, where we received our first pay, in greenbacks, gold and silver. Our march was continued west to Grand Junction, where we went in camp one mile south of the town. At this camp William Marts died. From here we went to Holly Springs, and returning spent our Fourth of July in the town. We went from there to La- grange and camped at a place called the Sand Hill, west of town on Wolf river. We made another march to Holly Springs, dis- tant eighteen miles, in search of Chalmers, " the guerrilla chief." Our next march was to Memphis, where we arrived some time during the last of July, so ragged that it was almost a breach of common decency to march through the city in daylight. We camped first five miles below the city on the bluff opposite Pres- ident Island. At this camp Lieutenant Ben Fuller left us on ac- count of sickness, and he resigned soon after. Lieutenant David White had been transferred to General Veatch's staff; Captain Wm. S. Langford was the only officer in command. We drew clothing, changed our camp and started out on a scouting expe- dition to Noncomah creek, on the Hernando road. We made several other reconnoisances from Memphis. About the first of September we were ordered to Bolivar, Tenn., at which place we remained until October 4th, when we were ordered to march in the direction of Corinth to intercept Price, who was retreating before General ( '.rant. October 5th, we met the enemy and fought a battle at Davis' bridge, on the Hatchie river. Company I lost in this engagement two killed and five wounded. James Moore was struck in the legs by a grape shot and died in a few minutes. Solomon Severs was shot through the heart and killed instantly. Captain Langford, Nathan Matthews, John Warrick in the War. 57 Hotchkiss, Norman Taylor and Hiram Ellis were wounded, but all recovered. The Confederates were driven back with a loss of their wagon train, a battery of artillery and 1,000 stands of arms. On the 7th we started on our return for Bolivar, where we remained in camp until about the tst of November, when we started south through Lagrange, Holly Springs, W.iterford and Oxford to Coffeeville, Miss., where we remained but a short time until we returned to Waterford station, at which place we re- mained about two weeks. Our Christmas was spent at this place, and a dreary Christmas it was. Our supplies had been destroyed by Van Dorn and we were compelled to live off the country. Salt was not to be found in that part of Dixie, so we scraped up the salt that had been in the salt-beef and pork bar- rels and thrown away on our trip down, to season the cow peas that now constituted the principal article of diet with us. We also got a little meal which was ground from corn obtained in the country. About the end of the first week in Janu- ary, 1863, we again started north, passed through Holly Springs and Moscow. We made two or three trips between Moscow and Lafayette, and finally went to Collierville, where we guarded the railroad until the middle of March. At Collierville we were again paid off. Steven Vincent died here of small-pox. From here we went to Memphis. We next embarked on transports for Vicksburg to join in the seige and battles around that place. We landed at Young's Point, marched across the point, got on board the boats below and went to Grand Gulf; but Grant was too far on the road to Jackson to catch up with him. We returned to Young's Point and went up the Ya- zoo river to Haine's Bluffs. From there we went to the extreme southern part of the line investing the city, where we took our position and held it until the final surrender July 4, 1863. Im- mediately after the fall of Vicksburg our company went with the 58 Warrick and its Prominent People. expedition to Jackson, Miss., which place was evacuated by the ( 'mi federates on the night of July 16. We returned again to Vicksburg, where we remained but a few days until we were or- dered to Natchez, Miss. The balance of the summer and fall were spent at this place. On several occasions Company I was sent out scouting in pursuit of guerillas and cotton burners. We went on an expedition to Louisiana, a distance of sixty miles, captured Fort Beauregard, on Washitaw river, destroyed it, and returned. Our camp at Natchez was first on Mr. North's farm, a short distance from the town, but we soon removed to the bluff in Juniper Park. Uncle John McDaniel died at Natchez. This was the most beautiful camp we oc- cupied during the war. We were again paid off here. Sev- eral members of Company I were detailed to guard prisoners to New Orleans. At the mouth of Red river the boat was fired into by a 12 gun rebel battery. The boat was disabled, but was rescued by the U. S. gunboats before the Confederates could des- troy it. From Natchez we again went to Vicksburg and camped eleven miles east, at what was known as Camp Hebron In the early part of 1864 we joined Sherman's expedition to Jackson and Meridian. During this expedition and after our return to Camp Hebron thirty-five of the original ninety re enlisted and were granted a thirty days' furlough and started north for God's country. While on the boat we were again paid off. At the ex- piration of our furlough we reported to New Albany ; from there- by steamer to Cairo, Illinois ; thence to Paducah, where we waited two or three days for all our fleet to come up. While lying at Paducah, Albert Rowe, our drummer, got into a difficulty with a drunken man who was imposing on him, when Albert drew his revolver and shot him twice, not dangerously, however. From here we went to Clifton on the Tennessee river, where we disembarked and started overland to join Sherman's army, then Warrick in the War. 59 advancing from Chattanooga. Our line of march was through Pulaski, Huntsville, Decatur, Rome and Cartersville, to Ack- worth, where we joined the army and went on the line at Big Shanty, Georgia, (the place where General Mitchell's scouts stole the locomotives from the Confederacy and attempted the breaking up of their communication) when sharp and earnest work commenced. After driving the Confederates from their temporary line at Big Shanty, their next stand was at Kenesaw mountain. Our position was just to the left of the Chattanooga and Atlanta R. R. A constant skirmish and artillery fire was kept up by both sides until the morning of June 27 th, when Gen eral Sherman ordered a general assault along the whole line, but in our front only the picket line advanced. Company I was on picket that morning when the brigade commander sent orders to Lieut. David White, who was in command of the Company, to deploy his Company and charge the mountain at ten o'clock. All on the line knew the terrible consequences of such an order, but like true soldiers, when the order was given, "Attention, Company ! as skirmishers, to the right and left deploy. Forward, double quick, march !" they bounded from their hiding places, formed in line almost like magic and away through the broom sage and small sassafras, across the railroad track, over a rail fence almost to the rebel picket line, when the order was given to " Halt ! and lie down." On looking the field over after the evacuation it seemed almost impossible that any man could make that charge and live. This was truly a day of sorrow for Com- pany I and many tender hearts here in Indiana were made to bleed over the fearful consequence of that bloody days' work. Company I jumped from the skirmish pits on the reception of the order to advance with thirty-two men and two commissioned offi- cers. Of that number eighteen came back unhurt. Lieut. David White, one of the most promising young officers in the regiment, 60 Warrick and its Prominent People. the joy of a widowed mother's home, the favorite of a large cir- cle of young people, truly one of nature's noblemen, was mortally wounded, and when the order was given to retreat, lie implored one of the boys in passing t<> shoot him and end his terrible suf- fering at once. He died on 'lie spot where he fell. His re- mains were subsequently brought hack to Indiana by his cousin, John T. White, who succeeded him as commander of the com- pany. Thomas Vincent, Robert Wilkinson, Conrad Mann, \\'il liam H. Raisch, Jno. S. Knight, Drummond Carse and Duncan Neeves, were killed; William Gerhart, Henry Lang, Nicholas Keith, James M. Ikard and Lieutenant Charles H. Dillingham were wounded. Boon Laslie, James Lee and Ben Whittinghill were captured. Lee and Laslie both died in prison and Whit- tinghill was so emaciated by ill-treatment and starvation that he could scarcely walk when he got out of prison. This day's work left us with but eighteen- men and no commissioned officer. Sergeant John T. White now assumed command of the company. From this point we went to the extreme right of the line on what is called the Sand Town road. On the 5th if July we formed a line of battle in the morning and advanced live miles in line over the roughest, bushiest, hilliest country in Georgia. We started up Joe Brown and his Georgia militia two or three times dur- ing the day. Aboul an hour before sunset we came on the en- emy in pretty strong force. A general charge was ordered, but a deej), impassable creek, called Nick-a-Jack, just in front of a heavy line of works, put an end to the charge. We fell back a few rods and threw up fortifications. On the evening of the 10th, just at sun-set, the whole of the rebel artillery was turned loose on us at once, and here we got the most furious shelling we had during the war; but little damage to life was done, however. From here we went to the extreme left of the army and crossed the Chatahoochee river at a little town called Roswell. On the Warrick in the War. 61 20th and 21st of July we were engaged in heavy skirmishing. On the 21st Phillip Nonweiler was wounded in the hip, from which he died. Arnold Wcstfall was also wounded. On the following day, July 22d, was fought the severest battle of the ram paign. In this day's battle Company I lost James A. Keith, Thomas Leech and James K. Crowder, killed ; Moses Shaul, Romey Perigo, and Nicholas Taylor, wounded. Nicholas Taylor was captured and died in prison. Samuel Crow and Na- than Matthews were also captured and taken to Anderson vi He prison. Crow died in prison. Col. Win. Jones was killed by a cannon ball (which struck him in the head, leaving not a spoon- full of brain in the cavity of the skull. The ball struck just above the eyes, leaving the face recognizable, but tearing away the en- tire skull) after being wounded in the leg by a musket ball. This was the day McPherson, the " beloved of the army," fell. John A. Logan succeeded to his command, winning the gratitude of the arm) for his conduct during the remainder of the day. From this position we were again transferred to the extreme right of the line, where we laid in one position for thirty days. July 20th Geo. Shepard and Amos Hart were wounded. At this camp Captain Langford resigned at the request of the company. August 28th Peter Korb was wounded in the arm. Our company moved with the army that passed to the rear of Hood and fol- lowed him to Lovejoy station. After the evacuation of Atlanta we followed Hood in his march North to Galesville, Alabama, where we retraced our steps to Merietta, where we were paid off, and on the 13th of November we started on Sherman's famous march to the sea. Sam McLaughlin, who had been detailed with the 7th Ohio battery, was captured by bushwackers, just as we were ready to start, and taken to Anderson prison, where he was kept until March following, when he made his escape and joined the company near Cheraw, South Carolina. Nothing 62 Warrick and its Prominent People. of special interest occurred during the march of thirty days through an enemy's country with no communication with the outside world. We fared well on the march — no sickness, but little lighting and plenty to eat. Arrived at Savannah December 13; it was evacuated December 20. We staid but a short time at Savannah until we were transferred to Beaufort, South Carolina, which place we left January 27, I865, and on the 30th we came nn to the Confederates at Pocotaligo station, on the Savannah and Charleston R. R. We drove them away. Our march was continued on to Columbia, at which place we arrived on the morning of February 27th. The bridge over the Congoree river was burned and Wade Hampton occupied the city. Company I was detailed as skirmishers to go down imme- diately to the river bank and ascertain if it was possible to wade the river, which we soon found to be an im- possibility. Pontoon bridges were built during the day and by night all had crossed over. During the night the city was burned, and in the morning our march was resumed through South Carolina to Fayetteville, N. C, where we met a gun- boat from Wilmington, which brought us our mail — the first since January 30th, this being March 13th. Our march was resumed in the direction of Goldsboro. At Bentonville, on the 19th, we met Joe Johnson, and a part of the army became warmly engaged, but our company failed to get into the en- gagement. At night the Confederates retreated in the direction of Raleigh. Our column was headed for Goldsboro, where we met the army of Scofield from Wilmington. At this camp, those who did not re-enlist were discharged and started for home. After a short stay we started in pursuit of Johnson, who had stopped at Raliegh; but when we reached the city Johnson had retreated to Greensboro. At this point we received the news of President Lincoln's assassination. We recived the news of Warrick in the War. 63 the surrender of Gen. Lee, on the march from Goldsboro to Raleigh. After the surrender of Johnson we started overland, by way of Petersburgh, Richmond, Fredericksburgh and Alex- andria, for Washington, where we camped but a short time until we were ordered to Louisville, Kentucky, by way of the Bal- timore & Ohio railroad, to Parkersburgh, Virginia, thence by boat to Louisville, where we staid until July 21st. At this camp, John T. White was commissioned captain ; John S. Lowe, first lieutenant; Norman Taylor, second lieutenant, although they had been filling the respective positions for some time. Charles Dillingham was appointed first and Nathan Matthews, second lieutenants, but owing to disability from wounds received by both, and imprisonment of Matthews, neither of them were mustered in and qualified for their respec- tive appointments. From Louisville we went to Camp Carring- tun, near Indianapolis, where we were paid off August 5th, 1865. After four years association, as members of Company "I," we separated. In this hastily written sketch there are doubtless errors, and some matters that would be of interest omitted, but considering the fact that it is nineteen years ago since the beginning of this narrative, the survivors will pardon errors and omissions. To those members of the company who are living it will be a mat- ter of interest to them as being almost a personal history, and perhaps a fuller one than will ever be written of their almost four years' service in the army. To the relatives of those who died of disease while in the service and since their return home, and especially to the relatives of those who were killed 64 Warrick and its Prominent People. on the field of battle, or died in the prison pen ; to the rela- tives of JAMES MOORE. THOMAS LEECH, DAVID WHITE, DUNCAN NEEVES, SOLOMON SEVERS, MtUMMOND CARSE, ROMEY PERIGO, THOMAS VINCENT, PHILLIP NONWEILER, WILLIAM H RAISCH, ROBERT WILKINSON, CONRAD MANN. JAMES A. KEITH, JAMES K. CROWDER, who were killed in action or died shortly after being wounded ; to the relatives of Boon Laslie, James Lee and Nicholas Taylor, who died in prison, this sketch will be of especial interest. Respectfully, W. WILSON, Late a member of Company L Fifty-third Indiana. COMPALY K, 42I) INDIANA VOLUNTEERS. Was organized on the 20th of September, 1861, and mus- tered into service on the 11th of October, 1861, with the follow- ing officers : DANIEL G.THOMPSON, Capl LAMMS II. MASTERS, 1st. Lieu! THOS. L. DENNY, 2nd Lieut. ED. M. KNOWLES, 1st. Serg't. NOYCE WHITE, 2nd Serg't. LEM'L W. FRENCH, 3rd Serg't. EMORY JOHNSON, III: Serg't. J. E. CARNAHAN, 5th Serg'I Whole company, ninety-eight men. Routes, first year — ("amp Vanderburgh to Henderson, Ken tucky; thence to Calhoun; thence to South Carrolton, and re- turned to Calhoun; thence to Owensboro, and from there to Nashville, Tennessee, on transports, where Lieutenant Denny resigned and Edmud M. Knowles was promoted Second Lieu- tenant. Thence the regiment followed in the wake of Gen. Mitchell's division, to Huntsville, Alabama. On this route, at Wartrace, Tennessee, a part of the company were in a fight Warrick in the War. 65 when Sergeants White and Carnahan, and Christopher Bra- shears, George VV. Floyd and others were wounded — the last three mentioned, so as to be discharged and disabled for the balance of the war. After lying at Huntsville until the 23d of August, 1862, came the long notorious retreat of Buell to Louisville, Kentucky, ar- riving there on the 20th of September, 1862. Then they com- menced the pursuit of the rebel army under Bragg, and on the 8th of October, 1862, the battle of Perry ville was fought, and there was killed of company K, on the field, Oliver Buzzing- ham — some died of wounds. Three of the wounded, James Humphrey, George L. Masters, and Young Reed are yet living. Second Year's Routes and Changes — On the 8th of Novem- ber, 1862, James H. Masters was promoted Captain, vice Daniel G. Thompson, resigned ; Edmund M. Knowles was promoted First Lieutenant, vice Masters, promoted ; Emory Johnson was promoted Second Lieutenant, vice Knowles, promoted, and Tilotson M. Neves was made First Sergeant. Then came the march via Nashville to Stone river, where, on the 31st of December, 1862, commenced that sanguinary conflict known as the battle of Stone river. Company K, lost —killed — on that day, almost at the same instant, Rinaldo Ed- wards and Warrick Clifford. Among the seventy wounded on that day were Alvis Ashley, John Coleman, John Ross and Martin. After this battle we remained with the main army until we moved forward under Gen. Rosencrans through Northern Alabama and Georgia to the great battle of Chicka- mauga, where Miles Matthews and First Lieutenant Edmund M. Knowles were made prisoners of war. Miles Matthews, one of the best of soldiers, died in Andersonville prison, and Lieutenant Edmund M. Knowles was killed outright while a prisoner of war. 66 Warrick and its Prominent People. Third Year's Changes — Next came the sweeping victory of Lookout Mountain and Missionary Ridge, of which our com- pany, as a part of the First Brigade, First Division, Fourteenth Army Corps, took part. Among the wounded were Thomas W. Lacer, dangerously, and Ephriam Y. Perigo, slightly. On the last of January, 1864, our company re-enlisted, and there were still able for service twenty-seven men out of the ninety-eight who were first enrolled — all of whom veteranized, when we had a short furlough home, and then went back to the front at Chattanooga, Tennessee. In April, 1864, our company and regiment commenced ad- vancing with Gen. Sherman on that almost unceasing battle from Goldsboro to Atlanta, Georgia. Among the veterans of company K, on the nth of April, 1864, Ephraim Brash ears was wounded in the leg and made a cripple for life. On the 14th of May, George L. Masters was seriously wounded in the right lung and through the right shoulder, and made a cripple for life. On the 22d of July, 1864, Captain James H. Masters, was crippled for life by a gun-shot wound in the right shoulder, and Lieutenant Emory Johnson was killed almost instantly by a ball passing through his lungs. In a (ew days afterwards, per- haps on the 7th of August, Sergeant Win. Stuckey and Pleas- ant Shepherd were also killed. So rapidly fell the veterans of of our company that the late history of the company is not so exactly known. The company, however, was recruited and started in on its fourth year, when Tilolson M. Neves was promoted Captain, vice Masters discharged; Ephraim Y. Perigo was promoted First Lieutenant, vice Knovvles, killed; John D. Linxwiller, promoted Second Lieutenant, vice Johnson killed. The company was discharged at an early period by the dis- bandment of the army after the surrender of Lee. Warrick in the War. 67 Among those that died of disease contracted in the army, were Wesley Spillman, Reason Barrett, Lewis, C. M. Williams, Absalom B. Hendson, and Joseph D. Lemasters. — [Edwin Adams' History of Warrick County. COMPANY E, 65TH INDIANA VOLUNTEERS Was mustered into the United States service on the 18th of August, 1862. The original company organization was as fol- lows: EDWARD A. BAKER, Capt. JOHN W. HAMMOND, 1st Lieut, THOS. N. MASTERS, 2d Lieut. ROBERT BRODIE, Orderly Serg't. JACOB V. ADMIRE, 1st Serg't. JAMES B. CARTER, '2d Serg't. SALVIN COLLINS, 3d Serg't- REES YOUNG, 4th Serg't- Corporals — First, William Selby ; Second, Thomas A. Low- rance; Third, Jessie Willis; Fourth, George W. Jones; Fifth, Wm. R. Stephens; Sixth, Charles E. Jarrett; Seventh, Daniel A. Bohanan ; Eighth, Adolphus W. Walden. Musicians — Martin S. Harmon and Alexander Jordon. Wagoner — Robert R. Baker. Company E served one year in Kentucky, with headquarters at Henderson, during which time the company guarded 1,000 prisoners to Camp Chase and Johnson's Island. In April, 1863, the company were mounted by order of Gen. Boyle, and received marching orders for East Tennessee, and were among the first troops to enter Knoxville on the 1st of September, 1863. J. W. Hammond was promoted to Captain of Company K; Ser- geant J. V. Admire was promoted to Second Lieutenant in April, 1863, and March 1st, 1864, to First Lieutenant; Sergeant J. B. Carter was promoted to Second Lieutenant. September 21st, 1864, Lieutenant J. B. Carter was discharged on surgeon's certificate of disability, and Martin S. Harmon was promoted from Sergeant to First Lieutenant. First Sergeant Bailey Hick- man was promoted to Second Lieutenant. 68 Warrick and its Prominent People. Company E participated in the pursuit of Colonel John Morgan and followed him as far as Louisville, Kentucky. *The first engagement in which the company participated was the battle of Blountville, Tennessee, in October, 1863, in which Geo. W. White was killed. The company was engaged at Been's Station, in November, 1863, in which engagement James Nickolson was killed. At the close of the East Tennes- see campaign, the company was dismounted and placed in the Third Division of the Twenty-third Army Corps, and fought through the Georgia campaign under Gen. Sherman. On the 28th of August, 1865, Captain J. V. Admire took command of the company, Captain Baker having been assigned to the com- mand of the regiment. On the 28th day of September, 1864, the company, with a small detail from the regiment, one hun- dred and twenty-five men, all told, under the command of Major Baker, fought five hundred rebel cavalry, near Decatur, Geor- gia, and repulsed them with heavy loss — the company bringing off their dead and wounded — among whom was Lieutenant Martin S. Harmon. For their gallant services on this occa- sion they received a complimentary order from General I. D. Cox. During the Georgia campaign the company participated in the following named battles: Resacca, Pumpkin Vine Ridge, Snake Creek Gap, Kenesaw Mountain, Ringold and Burnt Hickory. After the fall of Atlanta, the 65th Indiana was transferred to General Thomas' army, and made the campaign against Hood, in Tennessee, participating in the battles of Columbia, Spring Hill, Franklin, add Nashville, and followed Hood's retreating army to Clifton, Tennessee, where the company took a boat for Cincinnati, Ohio, thence to Washington City by rail. After re- *The first engagement of Company E was really with ;\ band of'guer- illasal Madisonvifle, Kentucky, on August 25th, 1862. Warrick in the War. o9 ceiving an outfit at Washington City the company was sent to Federal Point, North Carolina, and there led the advance at the storming of Fort Fisher, and participated in all the battles in North Carolina, under General Schofield, and was present at the surrender of Jo. Johnson's army. After the fighting was all over, the company lay in camp at Greensboro, North Carolina, until mustered out in July. From Greensboro, the company traveled by rail to Indianapolis, In- diana, where the men were paid and received their discharges, having been in the service two years and eleven months. The following is a list of the killed in battle : George W. White, James Nickolson, James Hale, James W. Clark, and Perry T. Moore. The following named members of the Company, died while in the service : George W. Biers, Isom Blankenship, Solomon Cox, James Donaldson, Abraham Eby, James Fields, Samuel Goodwin, Alexander H. Jordan, Joseph Lowrence, Jas F. Tur- pin, Nicholas Taylor, William Wallace and Joseph C. Wood. — [Edwin Adams' History of Warrick County. COMPANY H, 25TH INDIANA VOLUNTEERS Was principally enlisted at Newburgh, in the county of War- rick, and organized on the first day of August, 1861, by Col. Wood. The original company organization was as follows : JOHN H. DARBY, Capt. DOHUS FELLOWS, 1st Lieut, CHARLES LUCAS, 2d Lieut SPENCER WEBSTER. 1st Serg't. WM J KEITH, 2d Serg't JOSHUA P. DAVIS, 3d Serg't. V. L. CHAPMAN, 4th Serg't- E. L. WILLIAMS, 5th Serg't. Corporals — First, Henry W. Knowles ; Second, Samuel Alex- ander ; Third, Wm. L. Haynie; Fourth, Albert Cox; Fifth, Daniel W. Mernt; Sixth, George L. Robertson; Seventh, John Hawley ; Eighth, Jesse Hickman. Musicians — Isaac D. Hall and James A. McGill. Wagoner — Horace Walters. 70 Warrick and its Prominent People. Captain Darby resigned, August 20th, 1861, and Lieutenant Dorus Fellows was appointed to fill the vacancy, and the other promotions, in their usual order, were made. The company did its share of fighting, and underwent all the trials, and suffered all the injuries usual to a warm and active campaign. It veteran- ized and remained in the service until July 6th, 1865, when it was mustered out. — [Edwin Ada /its' History of Warrick County. BIOGRAPHICAL PART. RATLIFF BOON. Hon. Ratliff Boon, ex-Governor of the State of Indiana, and for sixteen years Representative from the First Congressional District in the National House of Representatives, was born in Georgia, about the year 1780. He was a cousin of the great pioneer, Daniel Boone, and was also a son-in-law to Bailey An- derson, one of the earliest settlers of this county. His parents moved to Warren county, Kentucky, while he was very young, and at Danville, in that State, he learned the gunsmith's trade. In 1809 he came to Indiana Territory, through the influence of his kinsman, Bailey Anderson, and was probably the first to set- tle in what is now Boon township, this county, which was named in honor of him. The land upon which he settled and lived during his residence in Warrick county is situated about two miles west of Boonville. Colonel Boon was one of the most prominent men in Indiana during its early days, and held some of the highest offices with- in the gift of the people. His education was limited, but he was a man of extraordinary tact and sagacity. He possessed great force of character and had a manner of making loyal friends and bitter enemies. For several years he was Colonel of State mali- tia. Upon the organization of Warrick, as a territorial county, in 1 813, as the law at that time required, he was appointed Treasurer, which office he held until 1820. In 181 6, when In- diana was admitted into the Union, Boon was elected to repre- sent Warrick county in the first State Legislature. This was the beginning of his career as a politician, and he afterwards held various offices, covering a period of twenty-five years. He was 72 Warrick and its Prominent People. twice elected Lieutenant Governor of Indiana, and during his lasi term in this office he filled an unexpired term as Chief Ex- ecutive of the State. He was elected to Congress eight different times, serving, in all, sixteen consecutive years. In 1839 he removed to Pike county, Missouri, and while a resident of that Stale he was defeated by Thomas H. Benton in caucus, as a candidate for United States Senator, after which he virtually retired from public life. However, he desired to live to see Polk elected President of the United States, and a few- hours after he received the news of his election, in 1846, he died. Colonel Boon was married to Miss Deliah Anderson, of Ken- tucky, daughter of Bailey Anderson. The fruits of this mar- riage were ten children, five boys and five girls, all of whom arc- now dead, except a daughter, living in Pike county, Missouri. The marked characteristics of Ratliff Boon's public life forci- bly reminds one of the back-woods statesman, Davy Crockett. It was his custom always to return home in the spring and "lay out" the corn rows for his sons, and he would then go back to Congress. In the annals of Warrick county history no man fig- ures more prominently than Ratliff Boon, and his career is one of which we may well be proud. GENERAL JOSEPH LANE. Few there are who have not heard of General Joe Lane, of Oregon, who, from an obscure fiat-boatman, on the Ohio river, has risen to some of the most prominent positions in the land. To-day he lives on the Pacific slope, far away from the scenes of his early struggles. He was born in North Carolina, in 1801, and was only six years of age when his father, John Lane, re- moved to Henderson county, Kentucky. What education he received was obtained, at intervals, in some log house, where a man, who knew his letters, acted as teacher. He was a sharp, General Joseph Lane. 73 quick-witted boy, more fond of hunting than books, and, withal, was very popular with the pioneers, on account of his accommo- dating disposition. In 1818 his father removed to Vanderburgh county, Indiana,* and purchased a tract of land about nine miles above Evansville. Here Joseph was invited by Judge Grass, who kept a store near Rockport, to proceed there and act as a clerk in his establishment. He was at once regarded with favor by all who had business at the store, as he was well posted in stories of frontier life, and was kind and obliging. He next, in company with his brother Simon, bought a flat-boat, sold wood to the steamboats, as they passed ; made many trips to New Orleans, carried on a farm; dealt in stock, etc., until the breaking out of the Mexican war, when he began to secure re- cruits in Evansville and vicinity. Soon a large number of the hardy yeomanry were mustered into the second regiment, and with our subject as their Colonel was off for the scene of the war. His regiment was placed in the division commanded by General Taylor, and his exploits immediately attracted the at- tention of "Old Rough and Ready," who showed his confidence in the Indiana pioneer by making Colonel Lane a Brigadier General. General Lane was not only a brave man, but he was possessed of a knowledge of the Mexican style of fighting, and was an invaluable officer in that vigorous campaign, so success- fully managed by General Taylor. After the close of hostilities the President appointed him Gov- *The land upon which Mr. Lane settled was really in Warrick county at that time, but Hon. Ratlitf Boon, fearing that Joe Lane, who was a very popular youth at nineteen years of age, would seriously interfere with his political aspirations in this county, caused a strip of land to be transferred from the southeastern part of Warrick to the territory of Vanderburgh county, which included the farm that Mr. Lane had settled upon, thereby making Joe Lane ineligible to office in this county. By reference to the map, the reader will observe this apparent encroachment upon Warrick county territory by Vanderburgh . However, General Lane afterwards represented Warrick and Vanderburgh counties in the State Senate several terms in succession —Ed. W. and its P. P. 9 74 Warrick and its Prominent People. ernor of the Territory of Oregon, and upon the admission of Oregon into the Union, he was elected a Senator. General Lane was a delegate from Oregon to the Democratic Conven- tion which nominated Franklin Pierce for President in 1852. In t86o, General Lane was nominated for Vice President on the Breckenridge-Democratic ticket and his career in that memorable campaign is a part of the records of the country. General Lane was married, while living in Vanderburgh county, to Miss Mary Hart, daughter of Matthew Hart. Ten children were the result of this union, of whom only one has died. Taking him us a rep- resentative pioneer, we have presented this brief sketch of his life. His public services are a permanent part of our national history. — Evansville and its Men of Mark. A LETTER FROM GENERAL LANE. The following letter, which we have slightly abridged, from General Joseph Lane, while living at Rosenburg, Oregon, to A. T. Whittlesey, Esq., Secrelary of the Vanderburgh County His- torical and Biographical Society, contains many interesting inci- dents of his own life and reminiscences of prominent men and important events in the early history of Warrick and Vander- burgh counties. From it, much information can be gained regarding the old veteran's residence in this section, which is not given in the foregoing sketch of his life: "In 1814 my father settled on the Kentucky bank of the Ohio river, opposite the mouth of Cypress creek; the place afterwards owned by the McCormicks, and for aught I know, still belong- ing to some one of the family; be that as it may. We suc- ceeded in clearing off the cane and small timber, chopping around the big trees so as to deaden them, and put in cultiva- tion ten acres of that rich bottom land. The first year we raised a good crop of con\, a good garden, and some six hundred pounds General Joseph Lane. 75 of cotton in the seed. Then, all families, not very rich, raised cotton and flax ; carded, spun, wove and made their own cloth- ing, sheeting and other necessary cloths. When our cotton was picked out of the boll and sacked, old Mr. Vanada, who lived on the bank of the river, three miles from us, proposed to furnish a skiff and with my help take the cotton of both parties to Hen- derson, then called Red Banks, where a Mr. McBride had put up a gin to pick the seeds from the cotton, and also a small carding machine to make the cotton into rolls, which, by the way, was at that time of great advantage to poor people. Well, in the fall of 1815, with our cotton loaded in the skiff, the good old gentleman and myself set out for Henderson. I did the rowing. "At nightfall we had reached the mouth of Green river; a slight head-wind prevailed, and finding myself a little tired I pro- posed to land ; but Mr. Vanada said : ' ' No, we must reach Hen- derson by morning." We ate a portion of our cold ham and corn bread, and I settled down to the oars, he held the tiller and on we went, rowing as hard as I could, the wind increased ; faithfully did I tug at the oars, but our progress was slow. As we commenced to turn McClain's point the wind took us fair, and the waves broke over the sides of our skiff. The old gen- tleman called out "Hard on the oars!" and headed our little boat quartering up the river. We made a landing not far from where Shanklin first opened his store. There we camped and slept till morning, the wind still blowing too hard for our little boat or the power that propelled it. As we could not go on, I took a ramble through the woods and brush, and for the first time looked over the land and site where now stands the beauti- ful and business city of Evansville, with its many churches, and school houses, and banks, and public edifices, with its daily lines of steamboats and railroads, and constant hurry and rush 76 Warrick and its Prominent People. of business, and with its high state of civilization. Then how little did I think of the great future of the site where then, alone, I rambled ; could I then have foreseen it, with my uniform good health and energy, what a large fortune could now be mine ; perhaps Heaven directs ! My life has been one of action, and not of speculation ; directed in a different sphere, and although in that sphere I experienced much hardship, deep anxiety and severe wounds, from which I suffer much pain and inconveni- ence, it was necessary for the protection of our pioneers and the rapid progress of civilization that soon followed and spread all over the Pacific slope. But enough of this. "In the winter of that year, 1815, I obtained permission to go out and work for myself. Early in 181 6 I obtained work in Darlington, the county seat at that time of Warrick county. It was located one mile from the Ohio river, between Pigeon and Cypress creeks, and bordered on a long pond, that in winter afforded fine duck shooting, and in summer plenty of mosqui- toes, ague and bilious fever; quite as sickly as any place between 1 .ouisville and New Orleans. "Myself, and several other young men, took a contract to cut, rili and deliver several hundred saw logs at Henderson, Ken- tucky, to Mr. Audubon, (subsequently known as the great ornithologist). lie had built and owned a very good steam saw mill, a little too soon for the times, which was one among other failures that caused him to quit business and turn his attention to that branch of science and literature in which he afterwards became famous. "It was while engaged in delivering logs and rowing back in our skiff that I got acquainted with every one who lived on the bank of the river, and especially did I get well acquainted with Col. Hugh Mc.Gary, and was rather pleased with him. He talked well on the subject of his town site and of the ultimate General Joseph Lane* 77 greatness of his prospective city. With him, I walked over a portion of the land. A portion of it I had walked over the year before, solitary and alone ; I found him quite in earnest about his town. Not long after this he put up his hewed log house not far from Mitchell's corner, I think, near the spot where, some time after, James Lewis built his dwelling house. Upon this occasion we camped near his house, and he spent most of the night with us, and talked much and complained bitterly of Col. Ratlirf Boon, who was, as^he held, the only obstacle to his suc- cess; that he, Boon, was opposed to the formation of a new county out of Warrick, Posey and Gibson, and so arranging the boundaries as to make his town site central. I was fond of Boon and did not like to hear him abused, but said nothing until after I had obtained employment in the clerk's office; then the first time that I saw Boon, I took the liberty of saying to him that perhaps he had it in his power, or if he wished he could have a new county formed out of the counties above named, and still have them large enough, and that by so doing he would make many friends. A few months after I happened to be present at a conversation held in the clerk's office, while our circuit court was in session, between Boon, McGary, Gen. Evans and Judge Daniel Grass, all leading men, in which the whole programme of a new county was fully discussed. Boon mentioned that such chipping of Warrick county would necessitate the re-loca- tion of the county seat and the probable point would be at or near Setteedown's village, where he, a Shawnee chief, had lived with his little band until 1811, and who, before he left to join his nation had killed some white people in French Island neighborhood. He was followed and killed by a party of citi- zens, among whom Boon figured conspicuously. The county seat was re-located and located as above mentioned or suggested ; and Boon's name is, and rightly should be, per- 78 Warrick and its Prominent People. petuated. Boonville is still the county seat of Warrick county. The boundaries of Spencer county were so fixed as to insure the location of the county seat at Rockport, a good location. Van- derburgh county was formed so as to make McGary's town site fit in exactly. General Evans had now become part owner ; the county seat was located and the name of the proprietor was per petuated in the now famous city of Evansville. In 1818 my father moved from the Kentucky side, to the Indiana side, of the Ohio river, in Vanderburgh county, a short distance below the foot of "Three Mile " Island. In 1820 I married and became owner of a portion of his land, where I lived till 1846 (my family remaining until 1853) and where our ten children had their birth. It is hardly worth while for me to mention the names of the early settlers and business men, lawyers, doctors, etc. You have among you those who knew them all. In 1822 I was first elected to the Legislature from the counties of Vanderburgh and Warrick. Gen. Evans and Dr. Foster were opposing candidates ; three of us on the track and one to be elected. Your humble servant had a plurality of fourteen votes over Gen. Evans, who was better qualified to represent the district than Foster and myself put together. That year the Legislature held its session at Corydon, then the seat of govern- ment, and continued to so be (if my memory serves me right) until 1825. After that, Indianapolis became the permanent seat of government. "In 1822 the House organized by electing Gen. G. W. John- son, of Knox county, Speaker, and Wm. Sheets, Clerk, Boon, Lieutenant-Governor, was President of the Senate, and Farnham, Secretary. At that session Governor Wm. Hendricks was elected to the United States Senate, and Boon became the acting Gov- ernor. Among the members of the House of that session, were some young men of promise that afterwards became prominent. General Joseph Lane. 79 To wit : Oliver H. Smith, Gen. Milton Stapp, Bullock and Pinckney Jones ; two of these became quite prominent. 1 sup- pose that it is safe to say that not a member (myself excepted) of either House of that session, is now living, or has been living within the last ten or fifteen years. On looking back, how sad one feels ! The only one left ! "As many of the older members of your society know, I served at intervals in one or the other House of our State Legislature, from 1822 to 1846, when I left vacant an unexpired term in the Senate, and volunteered, in that gallant old veteran, Capt. William Walker's company. From him I took my first lessons in company drill. "At Buena Vista, sword in hand, he fell, while nobly and gal- lantly battling for his country's honor. A truer and braver soldier fell not upon any battlefield, before or since. "The Speakers in the several Houses, in which I served after 1822, were Isaac Howk, Harbin H. Moore and Dr. John W. Davis; and if I remember correctly, each of these gentlemen served more than one term as presiding officer. "I was twice elected to the Senate, once only beaten for the House ; that was by Wra. T. T. Jones, a gallant, talented gen- tleman. Brown Butler run me close ; I beat him by only six votes. After that Butler was my colleague in the House while I was in the Senate. As you are aware, I did my part in bringing about a compromise between the State and her creditors, or bondholders; the adjustment saved us the disgrace of threatened repudiation, to which I was very earnestly opposed. During my whole service in the Legislature I did all I could for the pro- motion of the interests and honor of our State and the district that I in part represented. I have not, as was my intention when I commenced writing, given the names of the early business men of Evansville, the 80 Warrick and its Prominent People. mechanics, professional men and others that ought to have a place in history. I have endeavored to give the little 1 knew of the influence of the men who shaped and formed boundaries of counties and location of county scats, all of winch was under- stood, by the actors, a year or two before the great work was accomplished, all of them more or less interested, and still all they did resulted in great public good. Ratliff Boon, Daniel- Grass (the humorist) and Gen. Robert M. Evans, were more than ordinary men of their day and deserve a place in the his tory of Indiana. "With kind regards and best wishes for the health and success of all the Society, lam, sir, with much respect, your obdienl servant, Joseph Lane. The writing of this letter to the Vanderburgh Historical Soci ety was one of the last ants of General Lane's life. He died at Rosenberg, Oregon, on April 20th, r88i, in his seventy-ninth year. EZEKIEL PERIGO. Ezekiel Perigo, one of the early settlers and a prominent citi- zen of Warrick county, was born in Ohio county, Kentucky, August 6th, 1802. His father, Romey Perigo, was a native of Maryland, and was born in that State during the strife with Great Britain. At eighteen years of age he settled in Ohio county, Kentucky, and in t8oo, when twenty one years old, he was married to Miss Rhodia Hinman. He died about 1830. Mrs. Perigo was a woman of extraordinary bravery. She could handle a gun or shoot a wildcat as well as a man. She died by a stroke of palsy in 1822. In April, 1819, Mr. Perigo moved to Warrick county and settled south of where Ezekiel now lives. This was one year after Boonville had been laid out and there Ezekiel Perigo. 81 were not more than a half dozen houses in the place, and these were rudely built log cabins. Ezekiel's early advantages in instruction were limited to a few days each winter for two or three years while in Kentucky, and after his father's removal to Warrick county he attended a school two weeks, taught by George Hathaway. This comprised all his schooling. However, he obtained most of his education after his marriage by pursuing a regular and systematic course of study in the chimney corner at night by the light of a ''shell bark hickory " fire. In 1822 he was married to Miss Peggy Hudson, a life long member of the Methodist church, who died June 27, 1878, at the age of seventy-three. They had one son, Romey, who was killed in the battle at Atlanta, Ga., during the late war. Until fifty-four years of age Mr. Perigo pursued farming. He engaged in milling for about eighteen months, and then pur- chased a saddle and harness shop. He began mercantile busi- ness in Boonville in 1856 and continued until 1872. He finally retired from active business life and now lives on his farm south of Boonville, where he will spend the remainder of his days. During the late war he was a decided Union man and did much to aid the cause by helping to feed and clothe soldiers' families, and otherwise encouraging the work of fighting our battles. Politically, he was a Whig, having cast his first vote for John Quincy Adams for President, but when the Whig party was succeeded by the Republican he joined the latter. He has been a man of prominence in local politics and has held various offices. He was twice elected constable of Boon township. He has also been treasurer of Boon township four years and trustee four years. He was commissioner of the county seminary for six years and was also appointed commissioner of swamp lands, 82 Warrick and its Prominent People. but there were no duties attached to the latter office. In 1838 he was appointed county collector of taxes and was required to ride over the county and make personal collections. In this he was far more successful than his predecessors. He counted out the silver once after the year's work was done and threw it into one of Jackson's old-fashioned tin cups, which held about three pints, completely filling it. This was two years' salary and consisted of about $200. He has been administrator of forty-five estates and commissioner in petition of forty others. He has been a member of the M. E. church for a number of years, and is esteemed by all as an honorable and upright man. His admirable character appears to better advantage at his own fireside, and none know him but to like him for his sincerity and honesty. His career has been a very useful one, and, although very old, he still retains a wonderful vigor of mind. He has watched the progress of Boonville from the time it was a settle- ment of a half-dozen log cabins to a thriving town of two thou- sand population. To use the words of the venerable old gentle- man himself, ' 'his highest ambition is to so live that when this life's toils are over it may be truthfully said, he was always honest and honorable." DR. REUBEN C. MATTHEWSON. Of the prominent men of Warrick county that have passed away none covered a longer period of usefulness than Dr. Reu- ben Clark Matthewson, one of the pioneer physicians of Indiana and a gentleman of rare attainments, who settled in this county at a very early day. He was born October 16, 1804, in Steuben county, New York. His parents, Oliver and Agnes Matthew- son, lived to be very old. His father died very suddenly of apoplexy at the age of eighty-two, and his mother of heart dis- Dr. Reuben C. Matthew son. 83 ease at seventy-five years of age. His mother, whose maiden name was Clark, was a descendant of a highly intellectual family and was a lady of extraordinary intellect. It is thought that the subject of this sketch inherited from her much of the talent and ability which he displayed throughout his career from boyhood to old age. In 1817 the family moved from New York to Prince- ton, Gibson county, Indiana, where the parents ever afterwards lived and are now buried. Reuben was thirteen years old at this time and had attended school very little, but when quite young he evinced a love, if not a passion, for books and music, which he maintained till old age, although averse to the wishes of his father, who wanted him to be a carpenter, the trade which he himself followed. At about this time the son was sent to school to Dr. Ira Bostwick, a gentleman of scholastic attainments and polished manners Between the two there became a warm attachment, which continued until the death of Dr. Bostwick, many years after the manhood of his pupil. At a later period in life he received tuition in Princeton from William Chittenden, a gentleman of literary attainments, and doubtless it was here that he obtained most of his education. At this time he was twenty years old, quiet and reserved, evincing a marked passion for books, and reading much in solitude. He expressed to his father a desire to read medicine, but Mr. Matthewson tried to discourage him, telling him that he did not possess the capacity or scholarship to engage in such high notions. However, he was permitted to enter the office of Dr. Charles Fullerton, a practicing physician in Princeton of more than or- dinary ability for that time and place. Dr. Fullerton was also a fine musician and a teacher of both vocal and instrumental music. Here the student of medicine spent some of his leisure time in learning melodies and harmonies which were of great use to him early in life. He also studied the languages, particularly 84 Warrick and its Prominent People. Latin, French and German, and for several years he was a reg- ular subscriber and reader of a German newspaper. He was licensed to practice medicine at the age of twenty-one and at once located in Boonville. This wasin 1825, seven years after Boonville was laid out. It was a village of about fifty inhabitants at that time, and Dr. Matthewson was the only phy- sician, Dr. Pasco, who came first, having died in 1824. He was married February 16, 1828, to Lorinda Baldwin, a young lady of good family and a native of New York. Her parents were among the earliest residents of Boonville. She died August 19th, i860, a little more than forty-eight years old, after a lingering illness, greatly lamented by all her numerous friends and relatives. Their children were five in number, three sons and two daughters. Two of the sons died in 1847, before they had arrived at manhood. The surviving son is Mr. Charles Clark Matthewson, who resides at the old homestead and is engaged in the drug business in Boonville. He inherits to a large extent his father's love of music and books, and lives quietly in theenjoyment of hisfavorite pastimes. Isabella Helen, the second child and eldest daughter, was marriedin April, 1850, to Dr. W. G. Ralston, and now resides at Evansville. Lucy Maria, the other daughter and youngest child, the favorite of her father, and a beautiful and highly accomplished young lady, was married to John Brackenridge in April, 1876, and died two months afterwards. In some business speculations about 1832 or 1833 Dr. Matthewson became much involved financially. Therefore, he relinquished his practice in Boonville and went to Bardstown, Kentucky, where he was made professor of music of the college at that place. He filled the chair with entire satisfaction for several years and then returned to his home and the practice of Dr. Reuben C. Matthewson. 85 his profession, having made enough in the meantime to pay all his liabilities and start him anew. Dr. Matthewson was a hard student of medicine, as his books show by their marginal annotations. He was a very skillful, successful, and, consequently, popular physician. In his diag- nosis and prognosis of disease he excelled most practitioners ; hence, to his opinion was given great weight in critical and doubtful cases. He was not a graduate, having attended only a partial course of lectures in the Ohio Medical College, yet he knew more about the real and scientific principles and details of medical science than very many of the professors and teachers in the medical colleges of the day. He practiced his profession in Boonville with the exception of the time he was engaged in teaching music in Bardstown College, for nearly fifty years. He was a prudent and successful business man and was always regarded as honest and upright. He was for many years skeptical in religious matters, but later in life he often said that his former notions had undergone a change and that he now entertained the hope and belief that the soul was immortal and would live in the future. He was entertaining in conversation, having read almost every- thing that he considered worthy perusal. In physical appear- ance he was full and erect. His complexion was florid, and he had sparkling hazel eyes and red hair when young, which became almost white before his death. His weight was about 160 pounds and his height five feet ten inches. In politics Dr. Matthewson was a Whig and afterwards a Repub- lican. He was never a candidate for political favor, but he held the office of postmaster of Boonville from 1841 to 1845. During his career of active life, covering a period of fifty years, he was identified as foremost in everything tending to the busi- ness or social advancement and improvement of his town and 86 Warrick and its Prominent People. county. He was naturally looked upon as a leading citizen, and was held in the highest esteem by all. He. was of a sociable disposition and in a quiet way was very benevolent. During the last years of his life he was in a feeble state of health, which was doubtless a gradual softening of the brain, and on June 22, 1876, after a brief illness, supposed to be heart disease, the surroundings of his long, useful life, " Saw, in death, his eyelids close, Calmhy, as to a night's repose, Like flowers at set of sun." WILLIAM SCALES. William Scales, who was a pioneer of Indiana territory, and a man of conspicuousness in the early days of Warrick county, was born in North Carolina, in April, 1785. Early in the eight- eenth century a family named Scales was banished from Scot- land on account of their liberal ideas. They came to the United States, and it is probable that they settled in North Carolina. It is thought that William Scales was a descendant of this family. In 1803 he was married to Mary Skelton, of Georgia, and during the same year they emigrated to Warren county, Kentucky. In 1 807 he came to Indiana and settled in what is now Gibson county, near Princeton. The white men in this part of the country at that time were " few and far between." Settlers twenty miles apart were as neighbors. He constructed a hut of a right-angle triangular shape, with poles, bark and skins, the manner in which the houses of most pioneers were at that time built, and lived in it with his family for sometime, before the more substantial log cabin could be built. A tribe of Indians lived in close proximity to where Mr Scales had decided to settle and shortly after his arrival they came trotting over to his hut in single file to see him. One of the Indians approached William Scales. 87 him and said, "White man trust Indian, Indian trust white man," meaning that they would be his friend if he would trust them. They then asked that they might keep his eldest boy one day, promising to return with him when the sun went down. Afraid to refuse lest the savages should become offended he very reluctantly consented to the proposition after a consultation with his wife, and one of the Indians, taking the boy on his shoulders, they trotted away in the same direction they had come. For the father and mother alone in the wilderness, with no friend near, and wholly at the mercy of a band of savages, it was a day of painful anxiety. Now and then they shuddered with the fear that the Indians would prove treacherous, and that they would never again see their boy alive. Night was fast drawing near, and the sun was gradually sinking beneath the horizon. The father's hope began to grow weaker, and he impatiently awaited the end of the time allotted for their return. With fixed eyes he watched the sun disappear entirely in the west and he then turned in the direction the Indians had gone, ready to face any danger, but his face lighted up with a smile of sudden delight, and his heart beat fast with joy as he saw them in the distance coming with his boy. They came trotting up in the same man- ner they had left and deposited the son at the father's feet. The old Indian then patted the grateful parent on the shoulder, and said, "White man trust Indian; Indian white man's friend always." Forever afterward the Indians and William Scales were good friends. On account of the prevalence of wild animals at that time no stock could be raised, and hence, their meats consisted wholly of wild game, of which there was an abundance of all kinds. The manner of grinding or rather mashing corn for the purpose of making bread of it, was by hollowing out a stump in which it was mashed by a huge maul. Then the pioneers were intro- 88 Warrick and its Prominent People. duced to the " spring-pole," which was regarded as a marvelous improvement on the maul mode of mashing corn, and afterwards came the more convenient horsemill, which was thought the limit of mechanical invention in grain grinding. In 1811 Mr. Scales enlisted as first sergeant in Captain Har- grave's company in the war of 181 2, and he participated in the battle at Tippecanoe. After the close of the war he removed to what is now the northeastern part of Warrick county, settling near Selvin. His occupation was principally that of a farmer, although he taught school a great deal of the time. He was accustomed to reading, and possessed what at that time and place was a very uncommon education. Consequently, his ser- vices during the greater part of his life were of a public or official nature. He was twice assessor of Warrick county. In 1843 he was elected sheriff of the county and held the office two years. He was elected county treasurer in 1847 and was holding this office at the time of his death. He raised a family of sixteen children, nine girls and seven boys, and has a large number of descendants still living in the county. He was a man of fine physique and a true type of the " old Scotch gentleman." He was of a sociable, mirthful disposition, and possessed a fund of thrilling and amusing anecdotes of per- sonal experience in his early settlement. He died in Boonville in 1848, at the place where Hon. B. S. Fuller now lives. A. M. PHELPS. The marriage of Cadwell Phelps and Margaret Hamilton was consummated February 19th, 1775. Of this union four child- ren were the issue, among whom was A. M. Phelps, the subject of the present sketch, who was born January 6th, 1798, in Hart- ford, Windsor county, Vermont, where his father, who was of English extraction, had settled some two years previous. HW' •■to,; «. ;,- A. M. Phelps. A. M. Phelps. 89 At that period the country was almost a wilderness, and the newness of the territory, in connection with the father's limited means, made the education of his children rather a slender affair. To make amends for this the lad, A. M. Phelps, when released by his father at the age of nineteen, worked two years at ten dol- lars per month, then entered the Royalton Academy, Vermont, and was a student there for about a year. But long before this the fame of the great west had reached the green hills of Vermont, and had so gained the attention of young Phelps that at the early age of fourteen, when his father one day pointed out to him an adjacent tract of land on the south side of the farm, and which was then for sale, following it with the remark : ' 'Abraham, we must go to work and try to make money enough to buy that farm for you to possess when you be- come of age." His reply was: "Father, when that day arrives I am bound for the West." On the ioth of June, 1820, with wardrobe packed and slung over his back, and only thirty-three dollars in his pocket, he hade adieu to his New England home, and set his face westward so intensified with the idea of his land of promise that four hun- dred miles of foot travel was to him no dissuasion. Cleveland, Ohio, was his objective point, and between it and his old home were many long and weary miles. His start was on Monday, and on the following Sunday he came to a church on the Mohawk river, New York, where a congregation was worshipping inside, and a large number of boys playing ball outside, which, to him, looked oddly enough, coming, as he did, from the land of steady habits. In a few days he reached the Genesee country, New York, and saw in process of construction what was in that day sarcasti- cally termed "Governor Clinton's Ditch," the same which is now enlarged and known as the Great Western Ship and Barge Canal. 90 Warrick and its Prominent People. Shortly after this he reached Lake Erie at a point four miles below Buffalo, and called Black Rock, where the steamer Walk- in-the-water, the first and only vessel of its kind then running on western waters, was to make its departure on the next day. Steam navigation at that time was so crude and imperfect as to be akin to failure; therefore, on the appointed morning those concerned thought that to make the vessel walk in the water, a tow line from the steamer with four yoke of oxen hitched to it would make the feat more certain, and, besides, there were Niagara Falls not so far off as could be wished under the circumstances, 'whose current might give the boat a backward motion, notwith- standing its steam power. It would look as though the calcula- tion was well made, for when all was ready it was found that the combination of ox muscle and steam power made the boat :n Ivance at least two miles an hour. When the clanger of the current was passed and the oxen unhitched the boat had a speed of from four to five miles an hour, which enabled Mr. Phelps, who had taken passage in it, to reach Cleveland, distant two hundred miles, in fifty six hours. But steam power, as applied to navigation, was then in its infancy, and the novelty of calling oxen to the aid of steamers has long since become obsolete. An uncle and aunt who lived in the little town of Newburgh, situated some six miles back of Cleveland, induced a visit of two weeks. This town will not now be found on the map, for years ago the growth of Cleveland had absorbed Newburgh. Tins visit over, the young adventurer again set out with his face still westward, and his next stop was at Franklin, on the Big Miami, thirty-live miles north of Cincinnati, where he taught school in the same house two years and six months. He then hired as a hand on a flat boat bound for New Orleans, but before starting invested all his money in the purchase of flour and chickens. His funds enabled him to lay in forty barrels of A. M. Phelps. 91 flour and thirty dozen chickens. This was in April 1823. The Miami was the river of mill-dams, and the boat had to run over twenty-four of these before the Ohio could be reached, con- sequently a rise in the river must be had before the boat could start. The voyage down the Ohio was a very pleasant one, and his opportunities for examining the towns and country along the banks were quite good. Of the many places that came under his observation on this trip, Evansville attracted his attention most, and he selected it as the place of his permanent residence. While in Louisiana and Mississippi he had learned that the reeds used in weaving were so scarce as to command a very high price. This inspired his ingenuity, and on his return to Evans- ville, which was in June, he went into the manufacture of weav- er's reeds, the canebrakes of Kentucky being his chief field of supply, and so assiduously did he work at this that by the middle of November he had about one hundred of these articles ready for sale. The reeds necessitated the construction of a large skiff with a canvass covering to give shelter from the weather, and when completed, he, with a boy named Jones, whose mother's name was Abbot, made his second trip to the South, where his reeds were peddled out at from two to five dollars each, the pay being partly made in beef hides, deer skins and beeswax, which he sold in New Orleans. While making this second trip he became acquainted with a Philadelphia merchant at Vicksburg, who bargained with him to peddle goods for one year, Florence, Alabama, being designated as the place where the merchant would supply Mr. Phelps with the goods. To carry out this project his second return to Evans- ville was followed by a trip to Florence, where he prepared him- 92 Warrick and its Prominent People. self for his new undertaking, in which he was engaged some- thing over a year. His next movement was to sell his peddling equipage, retaining, however, the horse on which he travelled to Memphis. There he disposed of the horse, and took steamboat passage for Natchez. In this city he came in contact with a Mr. Wade, from Boston, with whom he contracted for a supply of goods, which he agreed to peddle out in a floating trip down the river, a skiff being used for the conveyance. When a return was desired a steamer was employed to take the skiff to Memphis, when a new supply was laid in and a new trip commenced. Five trips were thus made in one season which realized him in the way of profit about one thousand dollars. This he invested in a stock of dry goods, boots and shoes, and returned to Evansville, in June, 1827. On July 17th, 1827, he was married to Miss Frances Johnson, with whom he had formed an acquaintance about a year pre- vious. The following October he put all his goods in a small flatboat, employed a yellow man named Dave, who formerly belonged to Hugh McGary, one of the founders of Evansville, and again started down the river on a peddling expedition. He reached New Orleans in January, 1828, where he purchased a fresh stock of goods, and from this may oe dated his permanent estab- lishment in business, for on his return to Evansville he com- menced mercantile trade, in a frame house which then stood on the present site of Marble Hall. His first clerk was James G. Jones, the Judge, and beloved of after times, who was then about fourteen years old, and who lived with him some two years, when Mr. Phelps sold out his stock of goods. While in business he took in pork and nearly all kinds of produce, which he shipped to New Orleans in flat boats, making two or three trips a year. A. M. Phelps. 93 In 1830, after selling out his stock of goods, and finding him- self in possession of some two thousand dollars of United States paper, he resolved to visit his old home in Vermont, from which he had been absent ten years. On his return he stopped at New York, where all his money and some credit were invested in a fresh stock of goods, which he opened in Ncwburgh, Indiana, he having decided to make that town his future place of residence. This occurred about the 1 st of October, 1830. Since then he has travelled in the stage coach and canal boat more than forty times for the purpose of laying in goods, New York and Philadelphia being the places where he bought his heaviest stocks. In those days the whistle of the locomotive had not echoed among the passes of the Alleghenies, and the travel worn west- ern merchant found himself on the Atlantic seaboard for the pur- pose of laying in goods at an expense and fatigue that would astonish business men of the present times. For many years after the removal of Mr. Phelps to Newburgh his competition was very slight, while his means and credit soon established for him a heavy business. Though the town was at that time only a hamlet and the country very thinly settled, yet customers from Pike, Dubois, and Spencer counties made New- burgh their commercial center, and built up for Mr. Phelps a large produce business. In addition to this, of the settlers who were then living on Congress land, many of them got him to purchase their lands for them, allowing him a reasonable inter- est, and he giving them time to make their payments, and some- times rendered them further assistance by taking their produce and shipping it to New Orleans. This bartering business required the employment of several Hatboats every year to take off the produce that came into his hands, and the county records show 94 Warrick and its Prominent People. that about one tenth of the lands in Warrick county have passed through his hands. Of the many clerks who have been in his employ may be named his brother Cadwell Phelps, who, after two years of service start- ed a successful business in Boonville. There was also Neely Johnson, afterward Governor of California, Henry Williams, Albert Hazen, Union Bethell, Smith Hazen, Isaac Adams, John DeArmon, Tillman Bethell, D. B. Hazen and Robert Hall, the most of whom are living and doing well. In 1855, and indeed for some years previous, the coalfields of Southern Indiana were in process of development, and about this time the first coal shaft in the vicinity of Newburgh was sunk on Mr. Phelps' land. At a subsequent date in conveying this land to his children he reserved the coal privilege, though more recently he has entailed this upon his heirs. The magnitude of this business may be somewhat appreciated when it is stated that the royalty on the coal taken from these lands amounts to over two thousand dollars per annum. His religious career dates from 1834, and in 1837 he built the first church in the county. This house was located in Newburgh, and, after its completion and preparation for service, was donat- ed to the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, of which body Mr. Phelps was a member. It was afterwards donated to Indiana Presbytery for school purposes, and there are those now living and holding prominent positions in the church who can remem- ber that their initiatory was taken at Newburgh, and within the walls of Delany Academy, this being the cognomen of the house after its donation to the Presbytery. Mr. Phelps may be regarded as Newburgh's pioneer merchant, and his removal from Evansvillewas with the view to supply a need, in making it more convenient for the farmers of Warrick and Spencer counties to ship their produce and lay in the neces- A. M. Phelps. 95 sary supply of goods; and though the position was to him a lucrative one, and places him to-day among the wealthiest of his county, yet he has ever looked upon Evansville as the point for the great commercial emporium of Southern Indiana, and in consequence is to-day, as of yore, a warm advocate of railroad and other improvements that look to the enlargement of Evans- ville, and the growth of the surrounding country. In this sketch we have the farm-boy, the school-teacher, the fiatboatman, the peddler, .ind the merchant, and underlying all there is a tenacity of will, a fixedness of purpose, and a perse- verance in effort that finally achieves the desired success. The old gentleman is now in his eighty-fourth year, and though enfeebled by age, and so crippled in his lower limbs as to make locomotion slow and painful, yet his mental power remains unim- paired, thus proving, in part, that immortality to which all are hastening. He lives with his family, surrounded by his children and grand- children, a patriarch among his townsmen and friends, and, with- out any apprehension or regret, is daily looking for the call of the Great Master to another mode of existence. JUDGE JOFIN B. HANDY. A careful student, a successful lawyer, an able and just judge, is John Brackenridge Handy, Judge of the Second Judicial Dis- trict of Indiana. He was born at Washington, D. C. , on August 27th, 1828, and is the eldest of a family of eight children, of Edward G. and Attilia A. Handy, of which he and his brother, James H. , the second child, are the only survivors. He is of Irish-Scotch descent, and is a nephew of John A. Brackenridge, one of the ablest pioneer lawyers of Southern Indiana. In 1841 his father removed to Boonville ; resided on a farm in Hart township for a while, and finally settled three miles west of 96 Warrick and its Prominent People. Boonville. The monotony of farm life was not compatible with young John's nature, and, when about sixteen years old, he ran away from home, and sought more congenial employment. He hired to an old lady living on First street, in Evansville, to sell pies, cakes, pecans, oranges, fruits, etc., to the travellers on passing steamboats, and continued 1 in that delectable business until he became even more disgusted with it than farm life, when he returned home. To imagine the now grave judge once a "peanut boy," gives one an irristable sense of the ludicrous. He afterwards accepted a position as clerk in the store of his uncle, Thomas J. Brackenridge, at Carrsville, Livingston county, Ky. , which he held some time. As such things as schools were "few and far between" in that day, his education was chiefly obtained by his own efforts. However, he attended Delany Academy, at Newburgh, a short time, which was then regarded as one of the principal educational institutions in this section. He early manifested a great love of study, and determined to become a lawyer. Accordingly he read law some under his uncle, John A. Brackenridge, and in the fall of 1852 he entered the law school at Louisville, Ky. During the spring and summer of 1853 he attended a law school at Lebanon, Tenn., and in the following fall was admitted to the bar of War- rick county. He moved to Newburgh, and there commenced the practice of law. On the 28th of May, 1854, he was married to Amanda E. Muir, daughter of Dr. Muir, one of the earliest physicians of Boonville. The result of this marriage has been two children, both of whom are now living — Pinta, the eldest, is the wife of E. W. Bethell, cashier of the Boonville National Bank, and a son, Charles M. Handy. He resided at Newburgh until 1862, when, in consequence of the war breaking out, causing a general stagnation of business, he removed to the old homestead, three miles west of Boonville. In partnership with George W. Brackenridge, he commenced the practice C. L. Oatley. Judge John B. Handy. 97 of law in Boonville in 1862, but this partnership only lasted about one year, when it was dissolved, and the former removed to San Antonio, Texas, where he has amassed considerable wealth, and he is now President of the First National Bank of that city. In October, 1872, Mr. Handy was nominated by the Democratic party and elected Judge of the Court of Common Pleas for the district comprising the counties of Warrick, Van- derburgh, Gibson and Posey. In 1876 he was nominated by the Democratic party and elected Judge of the Second Judicial District, which is composed of Warrick, Spencer, Perry and Crawford counties. His present term will expire in October, 1882. Judge Handy is passionately fond of books, and spends what time he is free from judicial duties in his library reading. His library is one of the largest and best selected in this part of the State. He is a hard student of both law and general litera- ture. C. L. OATLEY. In the life of Christopher Lenhart Oatley, the subject of this brief sketch, we find a man devoted to his business, a useful cit- izen, and one highly esteemed. He was born at Zanesville, Mus- kingum county, Ohio, November 14th, 1835. and is of German decent. His father, James Oatley, was a farmer in ordinary circumstances. It is noticable that of the prominent men of public life and leading men of business at least fifty per cent were farmer's boys and spent their boyhood days on a farm. The boyhood of C. L. Oatley was much the same as most other farm- ers' boys. Above all else he was industrious. His opportuni- ties for obtaining an education were poor, but he availed himself of the advantages of the "district school," and there obtained all 98 Warrick and its Prominent People. his schooling. When seventeen years of age he apprenticed himself at Zanesville, Ohio, to learn the miller's trade, where he remained five years in that capacity. November 22, 1855, he was married to Belle C. Huston, the youngest daughter of J. C. and Patience Huston, of Zanesville. The fruits of this marriage has been three children, but the only one now living is the youngest, Miss May Oatley, a young lady of rare accomplishmens. Mr. Oatley started out in the world as a poor boy wholly dependent upon himself. After his marriage he moved from Zanesville, Ohio, to Sterling, Whiteside county, Illinois, where he lived three years employed as manager of the flouring mills at that place. In August, 1859, ne moved to Boonville, obtaining employment in the flouring mill of Dial, Seigel & Co., where he worked three years. In 1863 he removed to Taylors ville, War- rick county, and entered into a partnership in the milling busi- ness with Flavius P. Day. As Oatley possessed no capital at the time this partnership was one of experience vs. capital, and con- tinued until 1868, when Mr. Oatley sold his interest and removed to Edwards county, Illinois. He purchased a mill at this place and engaged in business, but on account of ill-health disposed of his property and returned to Boonville a year afterward. Here he bought a one-half interest in the Elk Horn flouring mill, and finally became sole proprietor, but admitted Thos. J. Downs to a partnership in 1875. ^ n J U ^Y» 1881, Mr. Downs was succeed- ed by W. J. Hargrave. Mr. Oatley is a lover of his business and is peculiarly adapted to it. He has improved the Elk Horn mill until it is now one of the foremost flouring establishments in the country, and their grade of flour is in demand wherever known. Milling, as carried on by Mr. Oatley, is more of a science than trade, requiring nice adjustments and complicated processes to C. L. Oatiey, 99 produce a fine quality of our staple article of food. Although his establishment already seems perfect, he is continually adding new improvements of unsurpassed utility and perfection of design. The Elk Horn mills have a capacity of one hundred and twenty- five barrels of flour per day, and frequently the press of business becomes so great that they nre forced to run day and night. This establishment is one of Warrick's most, if not the most, im- portant business enterprises and it has been brought up to this standing principally through the efforts of Mr. Oatiey. Although he has been solicited by his party at different times to become a candidate for office, Mi. Oatiey has never sought political favor, and, in fact, he has rather shunned it, his busi- ness being sufficient to content him. However, in his political belief he is what is termed a " radical Republican." He possesses what would be regarded as a strongly marked and admirable character. He is very independent, and, withal, liberal in his ideas, and is one of the last men in the world to be victimized by an illusion. He is open to conviction, but not to persuasion. He is endowed with remarkable firmness and self- reliance ; his will is indomitable and his word can always be relied on. Once a friend, he is a friend forever — in adversity as in prosperity. His benevolence is a marked trait, and in a quiet way he is very charitable. The better acquainted one becomes with Mr. Oatiey, the more the noble qualities of the man are admired, and in this brief sketch the writer feels his inability to pay him a proper or just tribute. Aside from his sterling per- sonal qualities he is a progressive citizen and an enterprising business ma|n. f£ t 100 Warrick and its Prominent People. JACOB SETTZ. Jacob Seitz was born January ioth, 1841, three miles east of Boonville. His father. George Seitz, was born at Weisenheim, Bavaria, April 5th, 1815, and emigrated to America in 1837. In 1838 he came to Warrick county, and settled in what was afterwards known as the "German Settlement" three miles east of Boonville. He was one of the first Germans to settle in Boonville. His father being in feeble health, and most of the time unable to work, the responsibility of the farm rested almost wholly upon our subject, and he was compelled to do the work of a man when only a small boy. The story of the hardships which he endured, as told by his venerable parents, is one of pathos. He learned the alphabet and reading by attending Sunday-school, and after his day's work, until late at night, he would read chapter after chapter in the Bible, which was his only book. He was sent to a writing school, held at night where he learned to write, and he afterward attended one or two terms of a sixty day school during the winter, but in all he never received more than nine months schooling. The rest of- his education he obtained without assistance, and by hard study. In October, 1858, he was married to Caroline Lacer, who died in 1875. I" J ^59 ne removed to Boonville, and obtained em- ployment in the flouring mill, of which his father was part proprietor, as engineer, without any previous knowledge of machinery, at a salary of $15 per month, and when he quit work he was receiving $35 per month: He afterwards leased his father's interest in the flouring mill, but remained in that busi" ness only one year. After engaging in several other pursuits, he Jacob Seitz. William Swint. Jacob Seitz. 101 was given employment in the tobacco establishment of Kerr, Clark & Co., as buyer and receiver, but retained it only a few months. He afterwards formed a partnership with George Cromeans, and, with $800 capital, they shipped tobacco on a small scale. They were quite successful, but after remaining in partnership three years dissolved. Mr. Seitz has since contin- ued in the business, but he now conducts it upon a much larger basis, buying grain as well as tobacco. In 1879 he paid out over $80,000 for tobacco and grain, and during 1880 purchased over 600,000 pounds of tobacco. He is one of the most extensive dealers in tobacco in Southern Indiana, and his estab- lishment gives steady employment to several men and boys. December 25th 1877, Mr. Seitz was married to Mary A. Grimm, of Huntingdon, Penn., a lady of rare scholastic attain- ments. Mr. Seitz is a man of fine physique and pleasing man- ners. In 1876, and also in 1880, he was nominated by the Republican party for Sheriff of Warrick county, and although defeated, he largely reduced the Democratic majority each time. No man is better known in Warrick county than Jacob Seitz, and no man is more generally liked by the people. WILLIAM SWINT. William Swint, editor and publisher of the Boonville Enquirer, was born at Jasper, Dubois county, Indiana, April 16th 1844. He is the fourth child and first son of a family of seven, four of whom still survive. His parents were natives of Germany and France, and were adherents of Catholicism. His father, Con- rad Swint, (Schwint) was born at Heidelburg, Germany, May 1, 1808, and was a graduate of the Heidelberg university. In 1830 he was married to Miss Adaline Lechner, and in the same year they emigrated to America. He died in April, 1859, at Troy, 102 Warrick and its Prominent People. Perry county, Indiana. William Swint's mother was born in January, 1812, and died at Troy in January, 1869, where she lies buried beside her husband. She was the daughter ot Franz Lechner, a soldier under Napoleon for twenty-four years, who died in this State at the age of eighty-nine. William Swint attended the common schools until twelve years of age, when he apprenticed himself in the Rockport Democrat office, where he remained until the breaking out of the civil war. He enlisted in 1861 in the Twenty-Fifth Indiana Regiment, serving as a pri- vate and non-commissioned officer in the capacity of Sergeant- Major, until mustered out of the service in 1864, being engaged in all the campaigns and battles participated in by the regiment. After his return home he was for a time employed in the clerk's office of Spencer county, where he again took up his old position in the printing office until 1868, when he removed to Louisville, Kentucky, where he was employed on the Louisville Journal until 1870. At that time he removed to Boonville, Indiana, purchasing the Boonville Enquirer, which he has continued the management of, making it a vigorous and influential journal in the county and district, and engaging actively in politics. He- has never aspired to any office, but has held a number of minoi offices through appointment. He was married by Rev. S. Rav- enscroft, in the spring of 1868, to Katie A. Dreher, youngest of four daughters of Ezra and Catherine Dreher. She was born .it Madison, Indiana, November 26th, 1849, and died of pneu- monia February nth, 1879, after an illness of one week, leav- ing three children, two girls and one boy. Her death was a sad stroke to her husband, and his grief has wrought a grave change in him. Mr. Swint has been a decided factor in the current political literature, and has been recognized of decided importance to the Democratic part)-, of which he is one of the most prominent leaders in the First district. — From Eminent Men 0/ Indiana. Mrs. Katie A. Swint. Katie A. Swint. 103 KATIE A. SWINT. Katie A. Swint, nee Dreher, spouse of William Swint, was born in Madison, Ind., Nov. 26, 1849, and was the youngest of four daughters of Ezra and Catherine Dreher. She removed with her parents to Rockport, Ind., at an early age, where she was married to William Swint, in 1868. The result of this union was three children — two girls and one boy. She died at her home in Boonville, on Tuesday, February 11, 1879, of pneumonia, after an illness of only one week, aged 29 years. The following tribute to her memory by one who knew her from childhood, tells the story of her life in language far more beautiful than any within our command: * * * "How rare, how beautiful, in all the virtues that adorn the character of wife, mother, daughter, sister — -only those may truly know who shared the sacred intimacies of her home life. How ardent and sincere it was in its friendships, how cheerful and sunny in its e very-day influences, how informal and illuminated with the spirit of self-sacrifice — many, many sorrowing hearts can attest! Her affectionate loyalty to her friends was one of the most distinguishing traits of her character, and her conceptions of duty in this particular were ample and generous. No demand which the sorrow or sufferings of her friends could make upon her time or patience ever went unan- swered. No night was too dark to keep her from the bedside of sickness or death; and she carried everywhere the sunlight of cheerfulness and hope. Looking always to the better side of human nature, she refused to think evil of her neighbors, and turned a deaf ear to the tongue of the slanderer. These were the qualities of mind and heart that endeared her to all with 104 Warrick and its Prominent People. whom she came in contact. It is literally true that none knew her but to love her. "But it was in the atmosphere of her own home that was devel- oped the perfect flower and consumation of her womanhood. Her devotion to her husband, in its tenderness, constancy, purity and trust, will never be excelled while the instinct of love abides in the human heart. He repaid it with all the affection of which a generous nature was capable. The attach ment between them, indeed, was peculiarly interwoven with the whole history of their lives, for it began when they were boy and girl. Long before marriage was possible, or even contem- plated, they loved one another. They loved as boy and girl, as youth and maiden, as man and woman; and their love grew and strengthened and brightened from first to last. It is the happy satisfaction of the writer that he knew of this attachment between them in their youth, and favored and encouraged it, when it was somewhat in his power to do so, because he had faith in them. ' 'That Katie was a most fond and devoted mother need not be said. Her love for her children was all pervading and intense. It is one of the saddest features of this untimely death that the three orphaned ones are too young even to realize the depth of their mothers love. But they must be taught to remember that only a few moments before she died — in the midst of a death- bed scene of wonderful beauty and serenity — their mother prayed that it might be a part of her occupation in heaven to guard the earthly footsteps of her children. "Her affection for her aged father and mother was touching in its freshness and constancy. They were ever in her foremost thought, and she always spoke of them with reverential fond- ness. Among her last words were, "A kiss for Pa, Ma." Katie A Swint. 105 "She is gone. Some of us who linger behind, bound to her by a thousand ties of love and gratitude, stand appalled before a calamity like this — home destroyed, children bereft, a life -plan thwarted on the very threshold of success. Pondering — vainly, perhaps — the problems of life and destiny; groping — blindly it may be — for the life of a higher faith, we cannot understand why it is that one so young, so good, so necessary to the happi- ness of others should be thus suddenly taken away. But to her was given that higher faith. In her conception of the moral government of the world, even this stroke of desolation had its appointed place in the scheme of that all-pervading problem, "That paints the hue upon an insect's wing, And sets his throne upon the rolling worlds." "In that faith she died — died breathing a prayer for her dear children, and responding with the last effort of earthly con- sciousness to the kiss of the broken-hearted husband." BENONI S. FULLER, Benoni Stinson Fuller was born in Warrick county, Novem- ber 13, 1825. His father, Isham Fuller, was a mechanic and well-to-do farmer, who was born in North Carolina, and came to Indiana as early as 181 6. He was a great lover of biblical and historical literature, and was remarkably well informed on these and kindred subjects. In 1842 he was elected Representative from Warrick county in the State Legislature, and held the office six consecutive years. He was born in 1798, and died Febru- ary 14, 1856. Mr. Fuller's mother was also a native of North Carolina, and was a very pious lady. From a sketch of Mr. Fuller's life in the " Eminent Men of Indiana," we quote the following: "Mr. Fuller, as a son of pioneer parents, had few advantages for securing an education, 106 Warrick and its Prominent People. but he had energy and industry, and soon mastered the rudi- ments. A few short months in the log cabin college each win- ter were the sum total of his early advantages, but he did much reading outside. Before he was twenty-one we find him in the school-room as a teacher, which, of itself, speaks for the way in which he spent his time. When a boy he did anything for a liv- ing, cut wood, mauled rails, burned brush, cleared land, and did all other work incident to farm life. His father gave him his time before he became of age, and he used it apparently to good advantage. He worked at home or abroad, by day or month, and was careful to husband his means and prepare himself for the future. His public life began when he was about thirty years old. At this time he was elected Sheriff of the county and served two terms, from 1857 to 1861. In 1862, during the beginning of the troubles with the South, he was sent to the State Senate. After this he was twice elected to the Lower House, once in 1866 and again in 1868. The last time he served he was unanimously nominated President by the Democratic caucus of its members. In 1872 he was again elected State Senator. In 1874 he was chosen Congressman over Heilman, and again elected to the same position in 1876. In 1878 he declined renomination." Mr. Fuller is the only man from Warrick county, besides Ratliff Boon, who has had the honor of representing the first con- gressional district in Congress, and his election over Heilman in 1874 was a glorious victory. Politically, his success has been something remarkable, but he says that he has now retired from public life, never to enter it again. Dr. IV. L. Barker. 107 DR. W. L. BARKER. For its growth and prosperity Boonville owes as much to Dr. William L. Barker as to any one man. For the last thirty-five years he has been prominently identified in every movement or enterprise tending to the advancement of the interests of the town, and his life is interlinked with the later unwritten history of its progress. He was born in Charleston, S. C. , October 7, 1818. His father moved to Vanderburgh county, Indiana, in 1832, anden- gaged in farming, but he was more generally known on account of his public services. He was Commissioner of Vanderburgh county for several years. His death occurred in 1837, when he was about sixty-one years old. The family has a war record as far back as it is possible to trace. Both grandparents of the Doctor were soldiers in the Revolutionary war and his father was in the war of 181 2. Dr. Barker himself was surgeon of the 120th Indiana Volunteers in the late civil war, being mustered into the service in Indianapolis. At Atlanta, Ga., his horse fell, caus- ing a rupture, on account of which he was compelled to resign. He returned home and was confined to his bed about four months. The patriotic and benevolent spirit which he mani- fested during the late war is praiseworthy, and is gratefully remembered by many yet living. No soldier's family or poor person suffered for food, clothing or medical aid, when in his power to alleviate their wants. He has a charitable, sympathetic heart, and in an unobtrusive way gives with liberality to the poor. Doctor Barker came to Boonville in April, 1846, and com- menced the practice of medicine. He is the oldest physician living in the county. 108 Warrick and its Prominent People. If the many enterprises depending upon the support of the citizens, which have aided materially in the upbuilding and im- provement of Boonville, were traced to the source of their suc- cess, Doctor Barker would be found foremost among the more liberal supporters. He was the largest stockholder in the first newspaper ever published in Boonville. He was one of the first contributors and supporters of the Lake Erie, Evansville and Southwestern Railway, built in 1873. He was also instru- mental in the organization of the Boonville National Bank, and was one of the largest stockholders. He is a leading mem- ber of the secret fraternities and was a charter member in the organization of the lodges of the Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows, Free and Accepted Masons and Knights of Pythias at Boonville. In 1847 Dr. Barker was married to Mary Williams, of Penn- sylvania, and from this union had four children. Two are now dead. The only son, Wm. L. Barker, jr , is connected with the Boonville National Bank, and the only daughter, Katie, is the wife of John L. Taylor, Esq. The career of Dr. Barker has been one of prominence in local politics. He was first one of the very few Whigs in this section and afterwards a Republican. He is strong in his likes and dis- likes, and a prominent characteristic is the tenacious, uncompro- mising spirit with which he adheres to his principles. This sec- tion of country has always been largely Democratic, and until quite recently it was impossible for a Republican to overcome the majority. Doctor Barker always conducted a vigorous cam- paign and he possesses ability as an impromptu speaker. He "stumped" Southern Indiana several times and used every hon- orable means in propagating Republican principles. Although formidable as a politician, he was highly esteemed as a citizen and gentleman of extraordinary intelligence by his political adver- Dr. W. L. Barker. 109 saries, and they speak of him in language highly complimentary. The growth of the Republican partv in Warrick county is doubtless as much due to the indefatigable efforts of this pioneer champion of the cause as to any other one man. He was sev- eral times pressed into candidacy for office by his party. In 1864 he was a candidate for State Senator from the districtcom- prising the counties of Spencer, Perry and Warrick. Benoni S. Fuller was his opponent and were citizens of the same county. They canvassed the district in joint discussion. Dr. Barker was, of course, defeated, but he ran ahead of his ticket between two and three hundred votes, besides receiving a majority in War- rick county. In 1868 he was again the opponent of Benoni S. Fuller for Representative of Warrick county. He was also nominated by his party as a candidate for Representative against Nathan Pyeatte, the Democratic nominee. Although defeated Doctor Barker's majority in Boon township alone was near two hundred, while he beat Pyeatte twelve votes in his own township. Although something of a politician Doctor Barker has not been an ambitious office-seeker, but has devoted his energies chiefly to his profession, in which he has enjoyed a large, lucrative practice ever since he located here thirty-five years ago. He is a physician of extraordinary skill and ability, and stands high among the medical practitioners of the State. JUDGE J. W. B. MOORE Judge Moore was born near Waterloo, Seneca county, N. Y., on the 5th day of November, 1801. He was an only child, and early left an orphan, his father having been lost ai sea, leaving him and his mother in limited circumstances, but pos- sessed of a small farm near Waterloo. The son worked on the farm in the spring and summer, and attended such schools as 110 Warrick and its Prominent People. the county afforded in the autumn and winter. He early obtained a thorough knowledge of the theory and practice of book-keeping, which was of great advantage to him later in life. When he was about eighteen years old he became very anxious to. read law with his uncle, Joel W. Bacon, then a distinguished lawyer of Western New York, but his mother had, from some cause or other, imbibed an unreasonable prejudice against the profession, and she determined that he should not in any event become a lawyer ; and, being a woman of more than ordinary firmness, she had her way. She afterwards induced him to apprentice himself, as was then the custom, to Dr. Wells, the leading physician and surgeon of that locality, with whom he remained some two years. His mother meantime marrying a second husband, and the profession of medicine being distaste- ful to him, he finally concluded to abandon it and come West. He had some difficulty in obtaining his mother's consent, who always had great influence over him, and for whom he always retained the greatest affection and reverence. This was, how- ever, at last obtained, and he started on horseback, with but a scant supply of money, and without any well defined notions where he should stop. His journey must have been inexpressi- bly tedious and lonesome. Shortly after he started he took the ague, with which he was afflicted at frequent intervals for some two years and more. The chill would come on frequently when he was in a wilder- ness, far from any habitation or human beings. At such times he would get down from his horse, unsaddle it and tie it to a limb, using the saddle for a pillow and the blanket for a cover- ing. When sufficiently recovered he would mount and pursue his journey. He traveled until he arrived at Indianaplis, which had been recently laid out, and designed for the capital of the State. Here he found an uncle, Seth. Bacon, who owned a Judge J. W. B. Moore. Ill saw-mill, and who gave him employment in it until something better should offer. His uncle was very kind to him, which the Judge afterwards had ample opportunity of repaying with inter- est. The uncle, in his old days, lost his property, and became broken in health and energy, with a large family on his hands to support. The Judge, hearing of his condition, visited him, and brought him from the central part of this State, and, after providing him with the necessary supplies, placed him on a good farm, where he remained until his death. Folsomville now stands on a part of the farm. After working awhile in the mill, as we have stated, he ob- tained a school, which he taught until he made the acquaintance of James Linton, of Charlestown, Clarke county, Indiana, where he afterwards moved. This gentleman was a merchant, and employed the Judge to sell goods and keep books. He went with Mr. Linton to Charlestown, where he remained several years. After remaining a while with Mr. Linton, he obtained employment of Mr. Austin, in the capacity of salesman and book-keeper. Soon after going to Charlestown he united him- self with the old school Presbyterian church, in which faith he had been reared. Finally, he went into business with Mr. Shockly, as a partner, receiving a part of the profits for his ser- vices as manager, salesman and book-keeper. On the third day of December, 1827, he and Orra M. Shelby were married. She was the eldest daughter of Isaac Shelby, who was then, and who had been for some years, clerk of the Clark Circuit Court. Soon after his marriage he moved his fam- ily to Rockport, Spencer county, bringing with him a small stock of goods, but no capital except unlimited credit at Louis- ville, which was then the emporium of this section. Having remained in business at Rockport about a year, he sold his stock of goods, and bought of John Williams the farm upon 112 Warrick and its Prominent People. which Henry Beeler, Esq., now resides. He immediately moved to his farm, and was, in the course of years, elected Probate Judge of the county, which he held until elected clerk of the Warrick Circuit Court, receiving his certificate of qualifications, which was then required by law before he could be commis- sioned, from Judge Goodlet, father of N. M. Goodlet, Esq., of Evansville. In 1844 he was re-elected clerk and recorder for seven years, and it was universally conceded that he was the best clerk in Southern Indiana. In 1856 he was elected Judge of the Common Pleas District, composed of this and Vander- burgh counties, and served a term of four years. In 1 86 1 when President Lincoln issued his first proclamation for 75,000 men, it created intense excitement in this locality. The President was pronounced as a tyrant and usurper, and the call was characterized as unconstitutional, and an outrage upon the South. Judge Moore took the side of his country, procured posters to be struck and put up, calling meetings all over the county, at which he appeared, justified the action of the Presi- dent, and urged the young men to enlist, to maintain the integ- rity of the Union. In 1862 he, notwithstanding hisage, enlisted as a private in Capt. Pace's Company, 1st Ind. Cav., Governor Baker commanding, and went with his regiment to the South- west, and participated in the battle of Frederickstown. He remained with his regiment nearly two years, but a soldier's life proved too much for his constitution, and he was compelled to accept a discharge, much against his wishes. He was a man of great firmness of will and energy of purpose in what he conceived to be right. When he moved to the farm we have mentioned, it, like almost all others, was incumbered with deadened timber, which had to be removed before it could be cultivated with any success or profit. It was then the uni- versal custom to have whiskey at all log-rollings, barn-raisings, Judge J. W. B. Moore. 113 etc. He determined not to have whiskey on his farm, and so expressed himself. His neighbors remonstrated, and assured him that he would not be able to get his logs rolled, barns raised, or harvesting done without it. He persisted in his deter- mination, and to the credit of the neighbors, be it said, not one refused to assist him. The good example he set was soon fol- lowed by all, and thus a pernicious, degrading custom was entirely abrogated. When he moved to this county he found no Presbyterian church, nor any Presbyterians ; but believing it to be his dutv to unite himself with some one of the numerous families of the church of God, he chose the Methodist Episcopal church, of which he remained a consistent and acceptable member from about 1830 until the time of his death. In those early days preachers were few, and church houses still fewer. His house was often used as a preaching place and has ever been a wel- come house to the itinerant: those moral heroes who worked out the way for the car of progress, and to whom we are so greatly indebted for our advanced positions, in respect to religion and intelligence. Thus lived and died an honest man, a sincere christian, a kind husband and an indulgent father, of whom it may be said that " his last days were his best days." He left as his widow the wife of his early years, two daugh- ters, Mrs. T. W. Hammond and Mrs. J. B. Ashley ; and two sons, Isaac S., and Robert D. O. Moore; several grandchild- ren, and a large circle of friends to mourn his loss. — From Boon- ville Enquirer. 114 Warrick and its Prominent People. ROBERT PERIGO. There are very few persons in Warrick county who don't know Robert Perigo. He has been a resident of the county over fifty years, and is one of its most prominent citizens. He was born in Ohio county, Kentucky, September 6th, 1818, and his parents were Jonathan and Isabella Perigo. His father was a farmer in good circumstances. He removed to War- rick county when Robert was six months old settling near Boonville. The first school he ever attended was held in the old court-house at Boonville, three miles distant from where his father lived, which he was compelled to walk daily. The teacher of this school was Thomas Fitzgerald, a man of rare scholastic attainments for the time and place, who was after- wards Lieutenant-Governor of Michigan, and a prominent poli- tician. Mr. Perigo was an apt student, and received what was regarded as a very good common school education at that day. When twenty years old he was granted permission to leave home and work at whatever he wanted to. He obtained employment with General Joe Lane, who at that time was proprietor of a wood-yard, situated just below Three Mile Island, in Vander- burgh county. Mr. Perigo's duties consisted of attending to the books and general business of his employer, who was fre- quently absent from home. He was, of course, very intimately acquainted with the affairs of Lane, who at that time was a very popular and influential man, and he can relate many interesting reminiscences of the illustrious veteran. He remained in Lane's employ about three years, and he remembers him as the most genial and sociable person he ever met. • George L. Masters. Robert Perigo. 115 September 12th, 1838, Mr. Perigo was married to Elizabeth Youngblood, a daughter of the Rev. John W. Youngblood. The results of this marriage were eleven children — nine girls and two boys — all of whom are still living, except two. After his mar- riage Mr. Perigo engaged in farming, where he now lives. He held the office of trustee of Boon township during the entire time the old congressional township division was in force. In 1864 he was nominated by the Democratic party for representa- tive of Warrick county, and was elected by a majority of 156 over James F. St. Clair, Esq., which was a notable victory at that time. He was an active member of the sessions of the Indiana Legislature in 1865-66. He was re-elected representa- tive in 1876, and was a member of the session of the Legislature of 1877. He has held various minor offices. As a parliamenta- rian he has few equals in Warrick county. He is a Democrat, and has never sustained a defeat but once for any office for which he was a candidate. His career has been a notable one in local politics. GEORGE L. MASTERS. Among those of the present day who, by their own efforts, have attained the position in our county of active and promi- nent business men none are more worthy of mention than George Lafayette Masters, whose career, in many respects, is interesting and remarkable. He was born on a farm in the " flats" of Cy- press creek, in Warrick county, on August 25th, 1845. His father, Joseph Masters, was a quiet, unassuming man, and a farmer by occupation. His mother's maiden name was Eliza- beth Hudspeth, and her parents were among the first settlers of Warrick county. 116 Warrick and its Prominent People. The boyhood days of George Masters were spent on his father's farm, and, as a farmer's boy, he was accustomed to the hard work by which farm life is usually attended. Even in those days of limited educational advantages his opportunities for ob- taining an education were poorer than those of most boys, and when in the very prime of his boyhood, ;md when others of his age were in the school-room, he sacrificed his only chance for obtaining an education and responded to the call of his country for soldiers to put down the rebellion. On September 20th, 1861, when only sixteen years of age, he enlisted in the Forty-Second Indiana Regiment, Company K, which was commanded by his brother, Captain James H. Mas- ters. In the engagement with Bragg's army at Perryville, Ken- tucky, on the 8th of October, 1862, he was wounded through the abdomen, and was consequently confined to the hospital sev- eral weeks. While yet unable for duty he was placed in the head- quarters of the medical department at New Albany, Indiana, as chief clerk, which position he filled satisfactorily until he had recovered sufficiently to return to the ranks of his company. In August, 1863, he returned to duty in his regiment. In the battle of Rasacca, Georgia, on the 14th of May, 1864, he was wounded in the shoulder and also through the lower lobe of the right lung by a one and a quarter ounce ball, while making a charge on the enemy. When picked up by his comrades they supposed he was dead. For a long time he laid in the field hospital, and his death was regarded by his friends as inevitable. Finally he was taken to Nashville, and placed in the hospital at that place, where he remained for several weeks. As soon as able to travel he was furloughed, and returned home. He par- ticipated in the battles of Perryville, Ky., Lookout Mountain, Chicamauga and Mission Ridge, besides numerous little skir mishes. He held an appointment as postmaster of his regiment George L. Masters. 117 at the time he was wounded, but he would never take advantage of it to shirk duty. In May, 1865, he was honorably dis- charged. In 1866, in partnership with his brother, Thomas N. Masters, he purchased the stock of clothing, boots, shoes, etc., owned by Nicholas C. Allen, ana, having no capital whatever, but a repu- tation for honesty and good credit, gave promissory notes to the amount of $1,800 for payment for the goods. July 4th Thomas Masters died, leaving George with the entire business to control, and a debt of $1,200 to pay off. To the inexperi- enced young business man, upon whose shoulders a burden was now resting to which most men would have succumbed, this was doubtless the gloomiest period of his life; but his cares he kept safely buttoned within his own vest, and even his most intimate friends never suspected the fears which ' ' hovered like a blight over his spirit," and caused him many sleepless nights Although without experience in business, and compelled to strive against established competitors, he succeded by shrewd management in making all payments on the promissory notes which he and his brother had given, and paid all outstanding debts. In the fall of 1866 Jasper Hargrave, then a resident of Evans- ville, visited Boonville, and calling on Mr. Masters, after pass- ing the customary remarks of the day, commenced negotiations for the purchase of an interest in his store. Within ten minutes afterwards the doors of the store were closed and the two were invoicing the stock. A partnership was summarily consummated, which continued until January, 1868, when their store was des- troyed by fire. The remnants of the stock were sold to Huds- peth Brothers, with whom Masters accepted a position as clerk, which he held about three months. He then opened a store on the east side of the public square in Boonville, which was known as the "Red Front," his stock consisting of boots and 118 Warrick and its Prominent People. shoes only. Jasper Hargrave, his former partner, again ap- proached him one day, stating that he had purchased the build- ing adjoining the St. Charles hotel, and proposed a partnership in the clothing, boot and shoe business, to which Mr. Masters assented. In a short time the two were in their new quarters and again doing a prosperous trade. This partnership continued until about 1870, when Hargrave retired, and Masters shortly afterward sold the stock of goods to E. W. Bethell and Thomas J. Downs. During the following summer he engaged in farm- ing, but in the fall returned to town and bought Bethell's inter- est in the clothing store, when the firm became Downs & Mas- ters. This partnership continued until 187 1, when Downs retired and the business was for a short time conducted under the firm name of G. L. Masters & Co. In 1872 Colman Miller purchased an interest in the store and the firm became Masters, Miller & Co., which was dissolved in the latter part of 1874, G. L. Masters becoming the sole proprietor of the establishment. In 1867 he held the position of deputy treasurer of Warrick county under his brother, Capt. James H. Masters. April 25th, 1867, he was married to Irene A. Williams. The fruits of this marriage has been four children — two boys and two girls. In February, T878, he received the appointment as postmas- ter of Boonville without seeking the position or having thought of the matter. At the time he took charge of the office it was in a bad state, but under his management it has improved, until to-day no postoffice of like proportions stands higher at the Postoffice Department in Washington. The mail handled and revenue receipts have increased to an amount somewhat remark- able for an interior town, and the system with which the office works is highly satisfactory to our citizens generally. George L. Masters. 119 Mr. Masters never took an active part in politics until the compaign of 1880, when he demonstrated considerable sagacity and influence as a party leader. Politically he is a Republican, and is recognized in his party ranks as an indispensable factor. REV J. W. YOUNG BLOOD. Rev. J. W. Youngblood was a South Carolinian by birth, having been born in the Abbeville District, in 1796, and is now in his seventy-seventh year. His parents were Samuel and Jane Young- blood. The father was an old Revolutionary soldier, and suf- fered much in that war, often being robbed and plundered by the Tories. There were ten children in the family — seven sons and three daughters — most of them living to be grown, our sub- ject being the eighth one of the family. The mother died when he was about twelve years old, and his father then broke up housekeeping, leaving his children without the kindly influences of a living mother. They had no education, for their father was poor and in a slave country, where the common class had little opportunity to better their condition. Understanding these dis- advantages, and hearing of the new territories opened up to emigration, the father concluded to bring our subject and his youngest brother to Tennessee to live among some acquaint- ances and some kinsfolk. They left South Carolina with only one horse for the three, came through the State of Georgia, where they stopped a short time to recruit, they then turned through the Cherokee country, and had an opportunity of seeing a great number of these Indians e /ery day. They were gener- ally friendly when they were not drinking, but when intoxi- cated could not be trusted. Rev. Youngblood calls up often to his friends many incidents that happened as the party passed through this nation. His father was quite a hunter, and had got 120 Warrick and its Prominent People. a large bell to put on their horse, so that when camping out they would take a couple of hickory withes and plait them together and make what was called hopples, and fasten the bell upon the horse for the night. Game was plenty in the nation, and the father had brought his rifle with him, and would often give his sons the large bell to rattle along the road, while he would look for a deer through the brush. One day as they were rattling the bell along the road, the father stayed out hunt- ing for so long a time that the boys became uneasy lest some- thing had befallen him, and they concluded to turn back. Being alarmed, they continued to ring the bell, and commenced shouting at the top of their voices. The noise soon gathered a large crowd of Indians, and one of them spoke to the boys very roughly, and wanted to know what they meant by so much fuss. They were quieted, however, as soon as the lads were able to explain their situation. Their journey proceeded, and they entered the Stnte of Ten- nessee some time in August, 1811, where they remained about one year, and then came to Kentucky, staying there also about a year. At this time the subject of our sketch came to Indiana Ter- ritory, this part of the country at that time being very thinly settled, but the people were very friendly, and dependent much on each other, the rules of good neighbors being observed very generally. The face of the country resembled, however, a wilderness: the Indian moccasin tracks had hardly disappeared. The game, such as bear, deer, elk, wolves and panthers, were in great alnmdance, and their meat served largely to feed the people. About the fall of 1813, our subject came to this section, and was married September 21st, 181 5, to Ann Musgrave, the cere- mony being probably one of the earliest performed in our im- mediate vicinity. Rev. J. W. Youngblood. 121 Eleven children were born to them, one daughter only dying in infancy, the rest growing up to be heads of families, and all but three are still living. It may be interesting to the reader to know how the people managed to live in this country at that early day. Of course they were comparatively poor and moneyless. They ^did not live so fast nor so extravagant as they do at the present time. There were no mills and every man made his own mill and ground his own meal, and baked his own bread, sometimes in the ashes, and sometimes on a board before the fire, and again in what we called a " dutch oven." And no complaints against fortune went up from their rude tents. For clothing, they exchanged their merchandise, transported by pack horses to the Cotton States, where they purchased the' cotton, brought it back with them, and the women would card, spin and weave it by hand. One of these home-made garments would outwear three of the factory work. The men in cold weather dressed in skins of deer and other animals, which they were first compelled to kill. Buckskin pants were considered elegant The first time our subject ever saw Governor Ratliff Boon he remembers that he was dressed in his buckskin hunting apparel. There was no church or school -house throughout the entire region. The people were rough, and the only way they heard the gospel in their smoky cabins was when some minister who was pioneering in the western wilds would come into their settle- ment and assemble a congregation. And God often wonderfully blessed the labors of those faithful men. They had much to contend with, for the new coun- try was sorely infested with horse thieves, counterfeiters and housebreakers. Many amusing incidents can be related by our subject in 11 122 Warrick and its Prominent People. regard to the rough pioneer life of these early days ; and no one can listen to him without feeling a profound reverence for this reverend gentleman himself, who, after a life of noble deeds, calmly awaits the call of his Master. No one is more eloquent and sanguine than he in regard to the progress of our country, the clearing of a wilderness and the cultivation of the soil; the building of churches; the establishing Sabbath-schools for the benefit of the young. The rise and pro- gress in the arts and sciences, even during the last half century ; from all the inconveniences of the early days, he has lived to see railroads, steamboats and the electric telegraph. The life of this worthy gentleman is so intimately connected with the hardships of a by-gone generation, that a description, as given, was necessary, in order that the reader could properly appreciate trials. After his father had settled his boys in Ten- nessee, he left them to their fate and returned to Carolina, where, while settling up his business, he died. Shortly after his marriage our subject joined the Methodist Episcopal church, and not very long afterwards the church gave him authority to preach ; and for some forty years he has labored zealously in the cause of Christ, doing much good throughout this section. He has often labored with his own hands for his support, and never coveted any man's silver and gold, or apparel — preaching the truth, as it is in Jesus. He is now the last one of the old ministers that is yet living. Almost all of the old settlers who were living when he began his ministerial labors have died or removed to distant lands ; but the reputation of Rev. J. W. Youngblood, for kindness to the poor, for generosity to his fellow-men, as well as his fervent piety and devotion to the cause of his Master, will never be forgotten. — prom Evansville and its Men of Mark. T. B. Hart. T. B. Hart. 123 T. B. HART. Thompson B. Hart, the fifth of a family of ten children of William and Sallie Hart, was born April ist, 1836, five miles north of Boonville. His father, who was a soldier in the war of 1812, was a native of Mercer county, Kentucky, and he came to Warrick county with the grandfather of the subject of this sketch at a very early day. His mother was a native of South Carolina, and was a very pious and consistent lady. She was a member of the Christian church for a number of years. She took great care to instill in the mind of her children lessons of moral and social duty, and she endeavored to " raise them up " in the way she desired they should live. The education of the subject of this sketch was such as could be obtained in the common schools of Warrick county during his boyhood. He was compelled to walk two miles to school, and at that time it was the custom for pupils to recite their lessons in the order in which they arrived. The ''simple rule of three " was the limit of education. He attended the school at Boonville one year, and this comprised all his schooling. However, he has read much desultorily, and has thus obtained a general and practical knowledge not commonly met with in those who have had to contend with like disadvantages. When nineteen years of age he commenced the study of medi- cine ; but his father's last request, before dying, was that Thompson should take charge of the farm, and help support the widowed mother and younger children ; hence, after his father's death, he relinquished the study of medicine, and did as requested. Faithful to his trust, he remained on the home farm about nine years. Early in life he manifested a marked dispo- 124 Warrick and its Prominent People. sition to trade in stock, and this he has made his principal busi- ness, although he manages a very extensive farm. January 15th, 1867, Mr. Hart was married to Susan K. Stone, a very intelligent lady, and daughter of Jehu Stone, Esq., one of the earliest and most extensive tobacco buyers of Warrick county. The fruits of this union has been seven children. Mr. Hart is a quiet, unassuming man, and is no political aspirant, as his business has been sufficient to require all his attention. However, he was solicited by his friends to be a candidate for State Senator in 1878, and he was the nominee of the Democratic party. He was elected, and has been a member of the State Senate during 1878-80-81. During his official career he has been a slave to the best inter- ests of his constituents, and an honor to the district which he represented. W. J. HARGRAVE. William Jasper Hargrave was born in Warrick county, two miles north of Boonville, on February 10th, 1833. He is a grandson of Rev. William Webb, one of the pioneer preachers, who came to Warrick county as early as 1816, and the nearest neighbor north of where he lived at that time was ten miles dis- tant. The educational advantages of Jasper, as he is familiarly called, were limited to the common schools of Warrick county at that time, and his boyhood was spent on the farm. He was married to Lou Ann Day, daughter of the venerable William Day, on June 8th, 1854. She died in January, 1877. The fruits of this union were six children, four of whom are now living. In 1858 Mr. Hargrave engaged in the hardware, grocery and furniture business in Boonville with his father-in-law and Grant T. Dunnigan. He was also a member of the dry goods firm of Thos. J. Downs. IV. /. Hargrave. 125 Hudspeth, Adams & Co., (now Hudspeth, Curtis & Co.,) of Evansville, from January, 1866, until July, 1868, when he re- turned to Warrick county and engaged in business with G. L. Masters. He was also interested in the dry goods firm of I. W. Adams & Co. for some time. His public career, which has been a notable one in Warrick politics, began in 1859, when he was elected county clerk. On account of ill-health he refused to be a candidate for re-election. In 1872 he was the Republican candidate for county treasurer. Although the Democratic majority in the county at that time was about 350, he was elected by a majority of 75. He was re-el- ected by the overwhelming majority of 358. For several years he was the only Republican in Warrick county who could be elected to office. Since he retired from office in 1876 he has lived on his farm, but in July, 1881, he purchased the one-half interest of Thos. J. Downs in the Elk Horn flouring mill. Feb- ruary 3, 1878, he was married to Elvira E. Chapman. He is esteemed for his strict integrity, and has attained a popularity and reputation among his fellow-citizens which will live after him. THOS. J. DOWNS. In great and free America, where the power of wealth and glory of political and social distinction is open to all who have the talent and industry to attain them, the greatest pride of the people are self-made men — the fruits of a Republican form of government. Their rise from humble youth to the position of power and influence must stimulate the efforts of all who desire to better their condition. There are few whose histories better illustrate what can be accomplished by energy and integrity than the subject of this sketch. Thomas J. Downs is a true type of the self-made man. 126 Warrick and its Prominent People. He was bron April 13, 1834, in Ohio county, Kentucky, where his grandfather, Thomas Downs, was an early settler. He was a minister in the Missionary Baptist church, and in his rounds had travelled over large portions of Indiana and Ken- tucky. He was generally considered a man of more than ordi- nary ability. He was one of two brothers of English descent, from which sprang all those bearing that name in this country. He died in 1850, in the seventy-sixth year of his age. His son William, the father of Thomas J., died two years previous. He was a farmer in comfortable circumstances, an honest, upright citizen, plain and simple in his manner, a man of few words, but tenacious of his opinions when he believed himself in the right. By the death of his father, which occurred when Thomas J. Downs, the immediate subject of this sketch, was but fourteen years of age, he was withdrawn from school, and cheerfully assumed, until he attained his majority, almost the sole respon- sibility of providing for the family. In 1855 he removed to Warrick county and worked at his trade as a carpenter. In 1 86 1, at the breaking out of the war, he joined the 42nd Indiana Volunteer Infantry as a musician, but by general orders was mustered out of the service six months afterwards. In the fall of 1863 he enlisted a number of men for the 120th Indiana regiment (see history Company E, 120th regiment) and was unanimously elected captain. This body participated in the Atlantic campaign and in the hard-fought battles at Nashville and Franklin. They were then transferred to North Carolina, where, at the battle of Wise Fork he was wounded in the back of the head, and was mustered out of the service at Newbern in May, 1865. In the fall of 1865 he was elected auditor of Warrick county on the Republican ticket by a majority of twelve votes over Adolph Miehle, the Democratic candidate, the majority of the Thomas J. Downs. \Tl latter party having been from 150 to 200 prior to that time. At the expiration of his term of office he engaged in the mercantile business and farming for the next five years. In 1875 ne pur- chased a half interest in the Elk Horn flouring mill of Boonville and continued in that business until July, 1881, when he pur- chased a large farm two miles north of Boonville, and now lives in the quietude of farm life. He was married January 1, 1857, to Lydia M. Williams. They have six children, five boys and one girl. His mother, who was a King, is still living, and now in her old age retains all her mental faculties to a wonderful degree. She possesses a master mind and has lived a consistent christian life, leaving to others a worthy example for emulation. She is a member of many years standing in the Predestinarian Baptist church. From this brief outline of a busy life, furnished with commend- able modesty by Mr. Downs, a useful lesson may be drawn. Commencing the battle of life friendless and poor, at an age when most children are still in the nursery, he has lived to see him- self a power for good in the community where he dwells. Be- lieving at the outset that a good name is better than riches, with no ambition for public office, he has been governed since youth by those fixed principles of honor and rectitude which stamp him to-day as an honest man, an exemplary citizen and a kind husband. He is of a jovial, complaisant disposition, and to be liked needs only to be known. He is quick of thought and has a sound and original opinion upon every topic, and expresses himself in language that is marked by its simplicity and correct- ness. In a brief sketch of this kind the most that can be said of him is that he is pre-eminently one of the men of mark of Warrick county. As a Republican Mr. Downs has rendered his party valuable 128 Warrick and its Prominent People. service, and during the political campaigns in the years 1872, 1874 and 1878 was chairman of the Republican Central Com- mittee of Warrick county. — From Americati Biographical History of Eminent and Self-made Men of Indiana. HANSEL M. SCALES. As a self-made man and exemplary citizen, Hansel Ma- rion Scales, treasurer of Warrick county, deserves mention among the men of the present. He was born in Lane town- ship, Warrick county, November 30th, 1841. His father, John Scales, was a son of William Scales (see sketch), and was born in Gibson county, Indiana, in 1809. He was a farmer, and lived just within the county line (adjoining Warrick), in Lock- hart township. He was married to Louisa Bogan, whose parents were among the early settlers of the county, and they reared a large family of children — eleven in all. He was two or three times elected assessor of Lockhart township. He died in i860. While a boy, Hansel worked on his father's farm, and was not even given the full benefit of the very poor school advantages at that time. When seventeen years old he was given a position as clerk in the store of Abraham Chambers, at Lynnville. In i860 he taught school in Lane township, and after that engaged in farming. December 17, 1863, " ie was married to Lorenna Robinson, of this county. The result of this union has been four children. In 1867 he was elected jus- tice of the peace of Lane township, but shortly afterwards resigned. In 1870 he was elected assessor of Lane township on the Democratic ticket, and at the expiration of his term of office was re-elected. He was elected trustee of the same township in 1873, and held the office two terms. In 1880 he received the Democratic nomination for treasurer of Warrick county, and was elected. It is to his own efforts that Mr. Hansel M. Scales. 129 Scales is indebted for his present good standing. He is a man that at once favorably impresses one by his plain, unaffected, honest manners, and sincere cordiality. He is well known throughout the county, especially in the interior part, and is highly esteemed. While he is not a politician, he has always been a staunch Democrat, and wields considerable influence in his party. S. L. TYNRR, M. D. Chance not only has much to do at times with furthering men's progress in life, but has frequently been the cause of their adopting those very callings in which they afterwards attain a high degree of excellence, and, in some cases, become famous. Sir Robert Wilson, a general of distinction, would, in all likeli- hood, have adopted the law as his profession had it not been for a chance introduction to the Duke of York, which changed what might have been an indifferent lawyer into an able general. Gen. U. S. Grant's entrance upon a military career is said to be due to a circumstance of chance when a boy by borrowing butter from a neighbor one morning. Dr. Tyner's adoption of the medical profession is due to a fortunate and somewhat amusing circumstance. At the close of the war, in 1865, ne returned home with the intention of engaging in farming. He began plowing the ground, and had doubtless been at work an hour or two when the horses, getting into a hornet's nest, ran away, tearing the plow and harness into flinders. Thoroughly disgusted, he went to the house, determined to engage in a more congenial business. After a conversation with his wife as to the stock of money on hand he decided to study medicine. Accordingly he entered Rush Medical College of Chicago, Sep- tember 28, 1865, and after attending the first course of lectures, commenced practicing at Somerville, Gibson county. In 1869 130 Warrick and its Prominent People. he again entered college, and graduated the same year. He returned home and engaged in practice at Lynnville until 1876, when he removed to Boonville, forming a partnership with Dr. Scales. However, he returned to Lynnville in 1878, where he has since remained in the enjoyment of a wide practice. Dr. Tyner was born in Cynthiana, Posey county, Ind., July 30th, 1838. His education was limited to fifteen months in the common schools of that time, and from his sixteenth to his twenty-second year he was engaged in blacksmithing. Septem- ber 20th, 1861, he enlisted in company K, 42d regiment Indi- ana volunteers, and participated in all the battles and skirmishes in which his company was engaged. At Goldsboro, N. C, he passed examination, and was commissioned as a surgeon in the army. He was mustered out of the service on July 28th, 1865. He is spoken of by his comrades as a brave and noble-hearted soldier, whose duty to his country as a patriotic citizen was ever uppermost in his mind. Dr. Tyner was married to Mary J . Zimmerman, of Warrick county, April 13, 1858. She died January 21, 1859, less than one year after their marriage. On the 30th of July, 1861, he was married to Jane Morrison, and by this union has had five children — four boys and one girl. Dr. Tyner is devoted to his profession, and he is esteemed for his ability and admirable personal qualities by his fellow physi- cians. He has attained considerable success as a medical prac- titioner, and in county affairs generally he is one of the fore- most citizens. Charles Gordner, Sr. 131 CHARLES GORDNER, Sr. A large per cent of the business men of Warrick county are natives of Germany. They are nearly all men who came here with almost nothing, and have acquired means by frugality and careful management. They are now the back-bone of the coun- ty. Charles Gordner, sr., is a worthy representative of this class. He is the son of Phillip and Louisa Gordner, and was born at Abendtheier, Birkenfeld, in Germany, January 17th, 1830. His father was a miller and in good circumstances. He received an ordinary school education, and at sixteen years of age was apprenticed for two years to learn blacksmithing. He travelled four years following his trade. He was married to Julia Eppinghouse, August 27th, 1852. The next three years he was engaged in business for himself. July 27th, 1855, he sailed for America, and landed at New York on August 27th. He came direct to Evansville, and when he arrived there he had only forty cents left, which he gave to a drayman for taking his baggage from the wharf-boat. The first man whose acquaintance he formed was William Heilman, who at once became his friend and gave him employment in the foundry. However, after working here several weeks he fell sick and lost his position. When he recovered he worked at whatever he could get to do until March, 1856, when he came to Boonville, and here formed a partnership with Phillip Schneider in the blacksmithing business, but it was dissolved a short time afterwards, leaving Mr. Gordner in debt. He then entered into partnership with McCoy Casey in the same business, but it, too, was soon dissolved on account of Casey's ill-health. Being now considerably in debt and much discouraged, Mr. Gordner went to Samuel Orr, of Evansville, who had been supplying him with iron, related his misfortunes and stated that with the little money on hand he wanted to pay off his indebtedness and 132 Warrick and its Prominent People. relinquish the business. Orr told him to return to Boonville and go to work ; that he (Orr) would supply him with iron, which he might pay for whenever able. Mr. Gordner did as he was advised and in this manner was enabled to continue business, owing Samuel Orr as high as two and three hundred dollars up to 1863. Mr. Gordner is now in easy circumstances, but he still feels grateful to William Heilman and Samuel Orr, who were his steadfast friends when in need. Physically, Mr. Gordner is of low stature, but corpulent and robust, and his physiognomy bears a close resemblance to that of William Heilman. Mr. Gordner has never sought office himself, but he is a strong Re- publican, and a very influential member of his party, as well as a leading citizen. WILLIAM B. SCALES, M. D. William B. Scales, a leading practitioner of medicine of Boonville, was born in Pigeon township, Warrick county, on October 9th, 1841. His father, Thomas Scales, was recorder of Warrick county from 1867 to 1875, and was an old resident of the county, having settled in this section with his father in 1807 (see sketch of William Scales), lie was married to Sarah Bogan, a native of Kentucky, in June, 1826, and they had five children — three girls and two boys — of whom the subject of this sketch is the youngest. Mr. Scales was a quiet unpretentious citizen, and a member of the Baptist church. He was born September 2, 1805, and died in October, 1876. At the age of seventeen years William B. Scales, like many other young men of the present, commenced teaching school for the purpose of earning money with which to qualify himself for his chosen pursuit in life, and taught several terms. He William B. Scales, M. D. 133 attended the academy at Dale, Spencer county, which was one of the best educational institutions in Southern Indiana, during 1859 and i860. His parents wanted him to become a lawyer, but he preferred the study of medicine, and he became a student in the office of Dr. Wra. T. Houghland, of Taylorsville, from 1864 to 1867, when he entered the Medical College of Ohio, at Cincinnati. After completing his first course in college he com- menced practicing at West Buena Vista, Gibson county, where he remained five years, and then moved to Boonville. In 1876 he formed a partnership with Dr. S. L. Tyner, and during the winters of 1877-8 he again attended the medical college, com- pleting his course. The partnership with Dr. Tyner was dissolved in 1878, and in January, 1879, another was formed with Dr. T. J. Hargan. In 1863 Dr. Scales enlisted in the 91st Indiana regiment, com- pany B, under Captain Bogan ; but on account of ill health was discharged, after being in the field three months. He was married to Emma Badger, on April 2, 1868. Dr. Scales has been remarkably successful in his profession. He has estab- lished an enviable reputation in this county as a skillful physi- cian, and enjoys an extensive practice. GUSTAVUS SCHREIBER. Gustavus Schreiber was born at Herford, Prussia, October 2, 1839. His parents, August and Albertine Schreiber, were in good circumstances, and his father was an officer of the probate court in his native city. Gustavus attended the high school at Herford, which was superior to many of our American colleges, where thoroughness is compulsory, and he obtained a good school education. At fifteen years of age he obtained a position as a clerk in the Transportation and Banking House at Minden, 134 Warrick and its Prominent People. Prussia, where he remained four years, and it was here he acquired much of the excellent business knowledge, which has been of great service to him in after years. He was afterwards a travelling salesman for wholesale hardware dealers in Prussia. In 1865 he emigrated to this country, arriving at New York on the first day of May in that year. He came direct to Evans- ville, Indiana, where he obtained employment with Topf & Long, wholesale saddle and harness dealers, as book-keeper for the firm, and he remained with them a little over a year. In the fall of 1866 he became acquainted with Victor Bisch, audi- tor of Vanderburgh county at that time, who offered him a posi- tion as clerk in the auditor's office, which he accepted in order that he might become more familiar with the English language. He relinquished this place after holding it one year, and in 1867 accepted a position with Major Blythe Hynes, at that time clerk of Vanderburgh county, which, however, he also relinquished at the end of five months, having been appointed by Victor Bisch as deputy assessor of Vanderburgh county. On account of the sickness of the assessor Mr. Schreiber was employed until May, 1868, in making the assessment. In 1868 he was married to Babetta Kuechler, of Evansville, a native of Hesse Darmstadt, Germany. In July of the same year he moved to Inglefield, Vanderburgh county, where he engaged in the grocery business. He removed to Buckskin, Gibson county, Indiana, in February 1869, and in partnership with his brother-in-law kept a grocery store. In January, 1871, Mr. Schreiber came to Boonville, and engaged in the hardware and grocery trade with Wm. Kinder- man, but in 1875 this partnership was dissolved, since when he has continued in the business himself, conducting it on a larger scale and enjoying an extensive patronage. Mr. Schreiber is an excellent accountant and possesses extraordinary business quali- fications. In 1878 he was chosen at the Democratic primary Gustavus Schreiber. 135 election as the candidate of that party for auditor of Warrick county, but was defeated by a very small majority. However, this defeat was not caused by personal unpopularity, but by odious issues sprung by the opposition at that time which had no individual relation whatever to him, and no such charge was even made during the campaign. He was renominated for the office by the Democratic convention in 1880, but owing to the annullment by the Supreme Court of the constitutional amend- ments, making the election of auditor unnecessary that year, the candidacy was of course abandoned. He has served four terms as councilman of Boonville, besides holding various minor offices of trust and honor, and some of the most important offices in the several secret societies of which he is a leading member. Mr. Schreiber is one of the best business men in Southern In- diana, and he has earned an excellent reputation for integrity. In political matters he has always taken an active part with the Democratic party. Mr. Schreiber's true worth is known only by those who have enjoyed his intimate acquaintance. He never talks to the public and hence the public knows nothing of the man. The freedom of thought and action is sacred to him, and honor and honesty guides him in his intercourse with men. C. J. KEEGAN, M. D. Dr. Charles J. Keegan, who has been a practicing physician at Millersburg for twenty-three years, was born in Vanderburgh county, January 15th, 1832. His parents, Patrick and Eliza M. Keegan, were natives of Longford county, Ireland, and came to this country in their youth. Dr. Keegan obtained a common school education, and commenced the study of medi- cine under Dr. M. J. Bray, of Evansville. In 1856 he entered the Rush Medical College at Chicago, where he graduated in 136 Warrick and its Prominent People. 1858. However, during a part of 1857 he practiced at Millers- burg with Dr. Runcie, and after his graduation he located there. March 16, 1858, he was married to Lucy H. Miller, a native of Cumberland county, Kentucky. Dr. Kcegan is a Republican politically, and is an active worker in his party. Religiously he is a Methodist Episcopa- lian. He has no aspirations outside of his profession, to which he devotes all his energies. He was one of the charter members of the Warrick County Medical Society, of which he was Presi- dent. He is a member of the State Medical Society, and also of the Tri-State Medical Society. He stands high in his profes- sion as a practicing physician of extraordinary skill and ability. He is a gentleman of fine personal appearance and pleasing address, and is highly esteemed by his fellow citizens and pro" fessional brethren. CHARLES SCHNEIDER, Sr. The subject of this sketch is one of the oldest and most prom- inent German citizens of Boonville. He is the son of John C. and Louisa Schneider, and was born June 17th, 1820, in Idar, Fuerstenthum, Province of Birkenfeld, in Germany. His parents were in comfortable circumstances, and he received a good com- mon school education. At thirteen years of age he was appren- ticed to learn the silversmith trade, and he travelled through Germany eight years following that business. In 1848 he emi- grated to America, arriving at New Orleans. He came direct to Evansville, and after spending a week there came to Boon- ville, where he remained with his uncle during the winter. He then returned to Evansville, and learned the gunsmith trade with Chas. Kellar, with whom he remained five years. August 25th, 1853, he was married to Phillipina Hepp. In June, 1854, Charles Schneider, Sr. 137 he removed to Boonville, and engaged in gunsmithing in a log cabin on the west side of the public square, where a row of brick business houses now stand. He has been a witness to and a participant in the business progress of the town for now almost thirty years. Last year he opened a large and well selected grocery store in Boonville, which he has intrusted to his son William. He has six children. The eldest, Charles Schnei- der, jr., is of the firm of Baker & Schneider, druggists, of Boonville. Mr. Schneider has lived a quiet, unpretentious life, and was never a candidate for political office. He is a leading member of the German M. E. Church of Boonville, and is a highly esteemed citizen. JOHN L. TAYLOR Among the very young men of Warrick county who have received honorable recognition at the hands of the people none of the present day are more prominent than John Lewis Taylor. He was born August 30th, 1850, in Anderson township, Warrick county, and is the eldest son of Peter and Jane Taylor. Until twenty-three years of age he worked on his father's farm, and his school advantages were very poor, but in 1869 his father moved to Boonville, and he attended the graded school at this place two years. In 1871 he taught school in Anderson township, and the following spring attended the Normal school at Oakland City, Indiana. In the fall of 187 1 he entered the freshman class for a scientific course in the State University at Blooming- ton, Indiana, and attended regularly three years, completing the junior course. He then returned home and during the winter of 1875-6 taught the graded school at Lynnville, this county. During the intervals of school hours he read law, and at the 138 Warrick and its Prominent People. close of his school in the spring of 1876 he entered the office of Judge John B. Handy and pursued his law studies with avid- ity. It was during this year that he first took an active part in politics, canvassing the county in company with Hon. Benoni S. Fuller, then a candidate for re-election to Congress, and speak- ing in the interest of Tilden and the Democratic party. During the winter of 1876-7 he was teacher of the grammar grade in the Boonville schools. At the close of his school he was admitted to the bar and formed a partnership with John T. Thompson, with whom he had studied law in Judge Handy's office. After practicing about one year this partnership was dissolved, and in October, 1877, Mr. Taylor entered the Cincinnati Law School, which he attended regularly until his graduation on the 20th of May, 1878. He returned home and two weeks afterwards was nominated by the Democratic party for representative of War- rick county. He was elected by an overwhelming majority, being by far the largest received by any candidate on either tick- et, which is an auspicious beginning of political life for one so young as the subject. January 5th, 1879, he was married to Katie E., daughter of Dr. W. L. Barker, a lady of extraordinary social qualities. Mr. Taylor's career in the Legislature is worthy of passing notice. While he was watchful of the interests of his constitu- ents, he made no attempt to display statesmanship or take rank as a leader, as is too often the fault with ambitious young men just entering public life, but by "allowing his light to shine with becoming modesty," and being faithful to his trust, he won the esteem of both opponent and constituent. He was a creditable representative of the county and his official record in the State Legislature is one that will bear the closest scrutiny. At the close of the session of the Legislature Mr. Taylor re- turned home and in partnership with W. H. Patterson again Charles Parke, M. D. John Z. Taylor. 139 commenced the practice of law. He has held the office of clerk of Boonville for two terms. In 1876 he was appointed deputy- prosecutor for Warrick county by G. L. Rheinhard, but on entering law school in 1877 resigned. On his return home from the Legislature in 1879 ne was re-appointed to the position, which he held until the expiration of the term in 1880. He was admitted to the bar of the Supreme Court in 1879. In 1880 he was appointed contingent Presidential elector for the First Congressional District by the Democratic State conven- tion. In the Presidential campaign of 1880 he took a very active part and was chosen as chairman of the Democratic cen- tral committee of Warrick county to succeed John Nester. He is recognized in his party as a leader and is very popular. Socially, Mr. Taylor is an affable gentleman, and those most intimately acquainted with him like him best. He is a lover of literature and reads much desultorily. A prominent character- istic is his fearless manner of expressing his convictions and the zeal with which he supports his cause. CHARLES PARKE, M. D. Dr. Charles Parke, of Millersburgh, was born in Westneath county, Ireland, the boyhood home of Oliver Goldsmith, on June 3rd, 1836. His parents, Robert and Catherine Parke, came to America when he was five years old, and settled in Vanderburgh county, where he was raised. His grandfather, George Simpson, was wounded at the battle of Waterloo, and was a pensioned soldier of the British government. The subject of this sketch received such an education as was afforded by the common schools, and he then taught school several terms to save money with which to attend college. He entered the State University at Bloomington, Ind., in 1853, and 140 Warrick and its Prominent People. was in the junior class at the time of beginning of the war. He enlisted in company C of the 6th Kentucky cavalry, under Col. Halisey, and was in the United States service three years, and the State service two months. He participated in the battles of Richmond, Ky. , Chicamauga, and nearly all the battles of the army of the Cumberland, besides having an almost daily skir- mish with the enemy. He was one of the seventy-five soldiers that defended themselves for over eight hours in the Rasacca court-house against an army of three thousand, which was one of the most heroic achievements of the late war. He was also one of the three that captured Col. Orton Williams, chief of artillery on Bragg's staff, who was a spy in the union camp at Franklin, Tenn. His war career was one of unusual exposure and active service, and he can recount hour after hour incidents of personal experience of thrilling interest. He enlisted Novem- ber 20th, 1 86 1, and was discharged December 2 2d, 1864. After the close of the war he commenced the study of medi- cine with Drs. Runcie and Hilliard, of Millersburgh. He graduated at the Miami Medical College, of Cincinnati, March 1, 1867, and at once commenced practicing in Millersburgh, where he has since resided. He was married June 24, 1869, to Mary A. Jarrett, of Warrick county, and they have three children, viz: J. F., Clara B., and Chas. A. Parke. Dr. Parke has always been a Republican, having cast his first vote for Oliver P. Morton and Abraham Lincoln. He is a member of the Episcopal church, and it is to his support that the building of Union church, of Millersburgh, is largely due. He is also a member of the Masonic order. He is strongly opposed to the manufacture and sale of intoxicating liquors, and the zealousness with which he has advocated these principles has stamped him as the champion of the temperance cause in this section. He enjoys a large, lucrative practice, is interested in various enterprises, and is a gentleman that generally leads and succeeds in whatever he undertakes. /. E. Youngblood. 141 I. E. YOUNGBLOOD. Israel Ephraim Youngblood, the third of a family of five chil- dren, was born August 5th, 1840, five miles south of Boonville, in Warrick county. His father, James W. Youngblood, was a son of the Rev. John W. Youngblood, the pioneer preacher, and was born in Warrick county. When the subject was only five years of age his father died, leaving the widow and a family of five children wholly dependent upon themselves for a livelihood. However, Mrs. Youngblood was a woman of rare energy and executiveness, and by industry and frugality she succeeded in rearing her little family in comfort, besides giving them such local school advantages as the county at that time afforded. By force of necessity our subject performed the duties of a farm laborer at a very early age, together with his two brothers, the fruits of their industry going toward the support of the family and the improvement of their home. When twenty-one years old a horse afflicted with fistula was given him by his mother, which he succeeded in curing, and sold at a fair price. His mother needing money at that time, he gave her all of the amount, in return for which she gave him a colt. He after- wards sold the colt to his brother for $125, and this money he decided to spend towards obtaining an education. Accordingly he entered the Indiana State Normal School at Terre Haute in March, 187 1. At the close of the spring term he returned home and raised a crop of tobacco during the summer, and sowed wheat in the fall. The proceeds of this crop were com- paratively large, and he was now able to repay borrowed money which he had used in defraying school expenses. After attend- 142 Warrick and its Prominent People. ing a second term of the State Normal School, he returned home and worked on the farm. In the winter of 1872-3 he taught school in Ohio township, and saved sufficient money, to attend the Normal School a part of the winter and all the spring term of 1873. The winter of 1873-4 he taught school in Boon township. With the money he had now saved, and after bor- rowing a small amount, he re-entered the State Normal School in the spring of 1874, and attended regularly until his gradua- tion in June, 1875. The perseverance here manifested in obtaining an education under such adverse circumstances deserves praise, and is a worthy example to the poor young man who would improve his condition. ., The young graduate now returned home, but being too ambi- tious to again teach a country school, borrowed $25 at twenty- five per cent, interest, and started out in the world to obtain a more lucrative position in his chosen avocation. He was chosen principal of a school of two grades at Oaktown, Knox county, Indiana, at a salary of $4.00 per day, and in the spring of the following year taught a normal school at Carlisle, Indiana. To earn money with which to visit the Centennial Exposition in 1876 he taught a select school in Bethel township, Posey county, during July and August of that year, after which he went on a tour through the East, visiting some of the principal cities and popular resorts. In the fall of 1876 he was chosen principal of the graded school at McCutchanville, Vanderburg county, and he here taught several branches with remarkable success which he had not studied while at the State Normal School. In June, 1877, Mr. Youngblood was elected superintendent of the schools of Warrick county. Under his administration there has been a marked improvement in the schools of the county, and they have advanced fully fifty per cent He was the first superintendent to grade the schools of the county, besides which Mrs. M. J. Husk L E. Youngblood.. 143 he has introduced many valuable new ideas and rules into the system of school government. He was re-elected to the office of county superintendent upon the expiration of his term in 1879. In July, 1879, he purchased the Boonville Standard, but on account of his duties as county superintendent preventing him from giving the paper his attention, W. W. Admire was made its editor, until it became necessary for Mr. Youngblood to assume full control in June, 1880. The Standard is the only Republi- can paper in the county, and Mr. Youngblood succeeded in placing it on a sound financial basis while under his manage- ment. In July, 1 88 1, he sold the paper to R. M. Graham. Mr Youngblood is not yet in the prime of life, and being a man of extraordinary stability of character, tenacity of will and perseverance, promises a future of usefulness. MRS. M. J. HUSK. While in the lives of women we do not find the achievements of the soldier or statesman, still we do find many representatives of that sex whose lives have been devoted to the amelioration of those around them, and whose attainments in life are equally as commendable and deserving of chronicling. Mrs. Mary Jane Husk nee Kallams, the subject of this brief sketch, was born January 20th, 1836, near Harrodsburgh, in Mercer county, Kentucky. Her parents died when she was an infant, and she was adopted and reared by the family of James Curry, a gentleman in affluent circumstances, of Harrodsburgh, Kentucky. The orphan and her adopted relatives became greatly attached to each other, and she was treated very kindly. At fifteen years of age she entered the female academy at Har- rodsburgh, which she attended for some time. She was united in marriage to George K. Husk, in Hancock 144 Warrick and its Prominent People. county, Kentucky, September 12th, 1849, and in 1852 they removed to Skelton township, Warrick county, where Mr. Husk engaged in farming. At the breaking out of the late war Mr. Husk enlisted in the army and the management of the farm came into the hands of his wife. She managed it with great care and economy, which demonstrated her extraordinary executive ability. On her husband's return from the army, he found his farm bearing every evidence of thrift. In 1875 tne Y remov- ed to Boonville and opened the Prince Albert hotel, of which Mrs. Husk is still proprietress. April 1st, 1880, her hus- band died, after an illness of only fifteen days. Mrs. Husk is a devout christian and charitable lady. The hungry never appeal to her in vain. She has a warm heart and her charitable deeds are a noteworthy characteristic. As an instance, we would mention her having reared two orphans, giving them a comfort- able home and every advantage for improvement. She is ben- evolent to a worthy cause. It is to her frugality that Mrs. Husk mostly attributes her success. She is a very intelligent and refined lady, whose life has been one of extraordinary use- fulness in her sphere. JOHN A. REYNOLDS. John A. Reynolds is known " far and wide " by his bold and original ideas upon theology. Once a pupil of the Sunday school and a member of the church, to-day he declares himself an atheist. Although a farmer by occupation — a successful one, too — he has devoted his life to the study and investigation of theological and kindred subjects. He is always willing to give his reasons for his singular convictions to those soliciting them, and in defense of the position which he has assumed he offers to discuss the question with any one, at any time and place. John A. Reynolds was born at Thompson, Geauga county, John A. Reynolds. 145 Ohio, July 9th, 1 81 9. He was left an orphan and at four years of age he was bound to Enoch Scott, a farmer, but he purchased his freedom when nineteen years old for $50. His career has been a remarkable one. In 1840 he settled in Warrick county. October 9th, 1842, he was married to Percilla Houghland, of this county. He has been an assiduous student of theology from boyhood, and has read nearly every work worthy perusal pertaining to the subject. While his bold atheistic declarations astonish his neighbors, all respect him, and he is regarded as an upright citi- zen, a kind husband and father. He affirms that he is the strongest atheist in the world. The singular views he holds upon some questions he expresses in the following words : "I believe that this earth is a part of the central sun; I believe that Nature, the natural forces or causes, such as air, water, etc., produce all animal and vegetable life upon earth ; I believe the doctrine of a Supreme Being is a fallacy ; I believe that Nature never steps out of her routine, and that she don't know the cry of an infant from the howl of the hyena." He is a zealous advocate of the unlimited freedom of speech. He is now sixty-two years old, hale and hearty, but he has retired from the active work of life, and is awaiting, to use his own words, the "end of his existence." He has written his own epi- taph, which tells the story of this strange man's life in the fol- lowing words : " "Death is an eternal sleep. Here moulders in the dusk abode One whom to faith no homage showed. By moral law, his life he tried, While social duty was his guide, And pure philanthropy the end of all he did. Or could intend "Prayer he pronounced impiety — Vain prompter of divine decree, That oft implores with erring zeal For boon subversive of its weal." 146 Warrick and its Prominent People. JAMES W. CABBAGE. James Willis Cabbage was born September 12th, 1830, inRus- sel county, Kentucky. His parents are John and Nancy Cab- bage. The father of John Cabbage died when he was quite young, leaving the family in poor circumstances, and it became his duty to help support his widowed mother ; hence, he was ostracized from all educational advantages, and it was not until the subject became old enough to teach him that he learned to read and write. He came to Warrick county in 1832, settling in Hart township, where he remained until his removal to Ala- bama many years ago. He was a farmer, and was a man of unquestioned integrity, strong common sense and unflagging in- dustry. James W. is the eldest of nine children. His father felt the need of an education, and was determined that his children should have the full benefit of such advantages as were afforded in this part of the country at that time, which were, of course, very limited. James was, accordingly, sent to such "subscrip- tion schools" as were taught in the neighborhood, where he learned reading, writing, orthography and arithmetic — the only branches taught by the " Hoosier schoolmaster'' of that time. In his twentieth year, he was granted license and commenced teaching school in Hart township. He taught seven successive years. During 1855 ne attended Delaney Academy, at New- burgh. August 30th, 1856, he was married to Tillitha Lowe, whose father, Captain Simon P. Lowe, was a man of prominence in county affairs for several years. He held the office of county James W. Cabbage. James W. Cabbage 147 treasurer and county commissioner, and was representative in the State Legislature for a number of years. The result of this union has been nine children — six boys and three girls — all of whom are living, except one. After his marriage, Mr. Cab- bage engaged in farming, where he now lives, which he pursued successfully, without intermission, until called upon by his fel- low citizens to represent them in the State Legislature. He has always taken an active interest in all great political issues, and although an adherent of party, he entertains, and does not fear to express, ideas of the most liberal and conservative character. He is a friend, but not a slave to party. During the late war he advocated the cause of the Union, " Because," he says, "I believe that equal rights and freedom of all mankind is a divine law, and the government our forefathers gave us we must protect." Mr. Cabbage is, and always has been, a Democrat. He cast his first vote for Franklin Pierce, and there has not been a Dem- ocratic convention, or an election in Warrick county since he at- tained his majority, that he has not attended. In 1878 his name was placed before the Democratic primary election for repre- sentative of Warrick county, but he was defeated. In 1880 he was nominated for the same office and elected. His career in the Legislature is known to the people throughout the State. He went there with the hope and intention of doing good. How- far he succeeded, his constituents may judge. He originated and secured the passage of one bill alone, which will be a last- ing benefit to the State, i. e.: the law for the protection of timber. Governor Hendricks said of it: " It is one of the most sensible, practicable and timely measures that has been brought before the Legislature." Mr. Cabbage is a plain man — a man of the people — knowing by experience their wants and these he gave 148 Warrick and its Prominent People. his attention, so far as possible, during the crowded session of 1 88 1. While he does not claim to be infallible, there is nothing in his official record that he is ashamed of. The predominant trait in Mr. Cabbage's character is his hon- esty ; and "An honest man is the noblest work of Uod." COMMODORE KELLEY. Among the younger successful business men whose lives have been beset by disadvantages, Commodore Kelley, present trus- tee of Owen township, merits attention. He was born March 31st, 1844, in Skelton township. He is the fifth son and eighth child of Isham and Eliza Kelley. His father was born in Anderson county, Kentucky, in 18 10, and he came to Warrick county with his uncle in 1820. He has lived in Skelton and Owen townships since and has reared a large family. As one of the industrious pioneers to whose labors the present state of development of these townships is due, Mr. Kelley is entitled to remembrance. Commodore worked on his father's farm until eighteen years old. His educational advantages were the very poorest, being limited to a few weeks in all of irregular attendance at the very inferior schools of that time in Skelton township. He received instruction in reading, writing and arithmetic, and the rest of his education has been obtained by close self-application and observation. At the breaking out of the late war his patri- otism was aroused and he determined to risk his life in defense of the union, although he had not reached hiseighteenth year — the age required by the regiment being organized at that time. However, he was not to be debarred the privilege of enlisting because he lacked a few weeks of being old enough, and so he represented to the officers that he was eighteen years of age. He Commodore Kelley. 149 enlisted in company E, of the sixty-fifth Indiana regiment on August nth, 1 86 1. He was detailed as a teamster and was promoted to wagon-master of the regiment while in North Caro- lina in 1863. He held this position until the close of the war. In 1862 he was seriously injured while riding a spirited horse, from the effects of which he has never fully recovered. He was in nearly all the er ^ gements of his regiment. In July, 1864, he was mustered out of the service. He then worked on his father's farm two years, after which he engaged in farming for himself in Skelton township. December 9th, 1867, he was mar- ried to Mary E. Skelton, whose parents were among the earliest settlers of the county. They have three children — two girls and one boy. In 1873, Mr. Kelley movedto Folsomville. In 1879, in partnership with Marion Folsom, he opened a grocery, dry goods, drug and general merchandise establishment. He is also proprietor of the hotel, livery stable and steam thresher at that place, and is an extensive dealer in cattle. He is a Democrat, and is a leader of his party in Owen township. In 1880, he was elected trustee of Owen township. By energy, enterprise and strict integrity he has attained the position among his fellow-citi- zens of a leading business man, and by his always courteous dis- position, has won an enviable popularity. WILLIAM H. BONE. William H. Bone was born May 24, 1837, in Warrick county. His parents were John and Arty M. Bone. His father was a native of Kentucky, but he came to Warrick county at an early day. The school advantages of the subject were limited and very poor. He was left an orphan when only eleven years old, and he has had to work his way up in life. The only schooling he received was nine months' attendance at a school taught by 150 Warrick and its Prominent People. James W. Cabbage, the present representative of Warrick county. What other knowledge he has acquired has been with- out the aid of a teacher. When seventeen years of age he ob- tained employment as a clerk in the dry goods store of Abraham Chambers, at Lynnville, where he remained some time. He taught three terms of school in Pike county and two in Warrick county. In i860, he was elected constable of Owen township. October 30th, 1859, he was married to Abthia F. Burris, and the result of this union was eight children. In 1861, he removed to Crowville, Warrick county, where he was employed in the dry- goods and tobacco establishment of Bethell & Floyd until 1862, when he moved to Boonville. He remained there until 1864, in the capacity of clerk in the grocery store of J. W. Thompson. February 8th, 1875, he enlisted in company D, 143rd regiment of Indiana volunteers, and remained in the service until August, 1865, when they were mustered out. He then lived at Crow- ville four years. In 1869, he removed to Folsomville and took charge of the tobacco establishment of Hudspeth & Shryock. He remained in their employ until 1873, when, in partnership with W. H. Pancake, he purchased the establishment. However, he sold his interest the year following to Benjamin Folsom, who was the founder of Folsomville, and engaged in farming the next two years. In 1877, he made a "purchase of tobacco" in Camp- bell township, for Jacob Seitz, Esq., and, in 1878, he made an- other "tobacco purchase" under the firm name of W. H. Bone &Co., at Winslow, Pike county. In 1879 he returned to Fol- somville and engaged in the dry goods and grocery business. He again purchased the large tobacco factory at that place, and is now engaged solely in buying and shipping tobacco. Mr. Bone is a " self-made man," and he is one of the foremost citi- zens of Owen township. John B. Cockrum. 151 JOHN B. COCKRUM. John Barrett Cockrum was born September 12th, 1857, at Oak- land, Gibson county, Indiana. His grandfather, Col. J. W. Cockrum, was a Colonel of the Indiana State Militia during the Mexican war. He settled in Gibson county at a time when the country was a wilderness, and was the founder of the town of Oakland. The father of the subject, Col. William M. Cock- rum, was reared in the vicinity, where he still lives, and was for a time an extensive speculator in tobacco in Gibson county. When the late war broke out he organized company F, of the 42d Indiana regiment, and was chosen first lieutenant, while his uncle, Captain Barrett, was made captain. However, Bar- rett resigned, and Mr. Cockrum was chosen captain to fill the vacancy. He was seriously wounded at the battle of Chicka- mauga, and for seventeen days laid on the battle-field, receiving attention from no one except the Confederate surgeons. He was then taken to Libby prison where he lay seven months. Upon his recovery he was made commander of the post military prison at Nashville, which position he held one year. He was also one of the party that had charge of the notorious Captain Wirz, of Andersonville fame, and conducted him from Nashville to Washington, D. C. In 1864, he was promoted to Lieutenant- Colonel of the 42d Indiana regiment, which position he held until the close of the war. He then returned to his home, at Oakland, Indiana, where he still lives. Up to his seventeenth year, John B. Cockrum, the immediate subject of this sketch, attended the Oakland Normal Institute, where he graduated. The three subsequent years he taught 152 Warrick and its Prominent People. school during the winter, and in the summer read law, with Hon. J. E. McCullough, of Princeton. In 1878, he entered the Cin- cinnati Law school, and graduted with the degree of Bachelor of Laws, on May 14, 1879. He was married January22, 1880, to Fannie C. Bittrolf daughter of George A. Bittrolf, Esq., of Evansville. In August, 1879, he located in Boonville, and en- tered into a partnership with Charles W. Armstrong in the prac- tice of law. He conducts a case with tact, and is an advocate of ability. He has been successful in the short time that he has been practicing, and is one of the most promising young members of the Warrick county bar. WILLIAM H. McVEY, M. D William Henry McVey, a well-known medical practitioner at Selvin, and the subject of this sketch, was born June 22, 1842, in Grass township, Spencer county, Indiana. His parents were Samuel and Permelia McVey, both of whom were natives of Virginia. They came to Spencer county in about 1832, where they spent the remainder of their lives. The father of the sub- ject was a farmer, and commenced life in poor circumstances, but through successful management and hard work had accumu- lated sufficient to live in ease at the time of his death, which oc- curred when William was only a small boy. The opportunities of William for obtaining an education were limited to the common country schools of Spencer county, which, however, he had the full benefit of. When eighteen years old he commenced teaching school in Spencer county. He pursued school-teaching in winter, and during the summer studied med- icine. Dr. Perragrine, of Centerville, Spencer county, was his preceptor. In 1864, he entered the Eclectic Medical College, of Cincin- nati, and graduated in 1868. William H. McVey, M. D. 153 He subsequently located at Crowville, Warrick county, where he held a wide and successful practice for seven years. In 1875 he moved to Taylorsville, (now Selvin), where he has since re- mained, enjoying an enviable professional patronage. July 6th, 1865, Dr. McVey was married to Martha Thomp- son, who is a native of Kentucky, but at that time was a resi- dent of Warrick county. Doctor McVey is a Democrat, and is an influential member of of his party in his section of the county. In 1878 he was a candidate for the nomination for representative of Warrick county, but was defeated. He was elected trustee of Pigeon township in 1880. In the practice of his profession Doctor McVey, as already stated, has been very successful, and, although interested in the mercantile business, he has earned his all in this way. As a physician and citizen he stands high among his fellowmen, and his social qualities are such that have won him a large circle of friends. WILLIAM S. WHITTINGHTLL. William Stuart Whittinghill was born June 16th, 1852, in Pigeon township, Warrick county. His grandfather settled in Lane township as early as 181 5, where his father, Pleasant N., was born. He is of German-Scotch descent. The subject worked on his father's farm until he was eighteen years old. The rudiments of his education were obtained in the common country schools of Warrick and Spencer counties. In 187 1, he attended the Boonville Graded School, and afterward spent a term of twelve weeks in the Normal Institute, at Oakland, Indiana. He also attended school at Gentryville, Spencer county, ten months, and in September, 1872, entered the sophomore class *3 154 Warrick and its Prominent People. in the State University, at Bloomington, Indiana. He graduated in 1875, receiving the degree of Bachelor of Science. In 1876 he was chosen principal of the high school at Huntingburgh, Indiana. While at college he had studied the German language about five months, and after his removal to Huntingburgh, where nearly the entire population is German, he became so far familiar with the language, through his associations, that he was enabled to teach it with success and now speaks it very fluently. While yet a student he had singled out the profession of law as his chosen pursuit, and began the study of it while attending college. He was admitted to the bar, in Spencer county, in 1877, and commenced the practice of law at Huntingburgh dur- ing the same year, being favored with a liberal patronage until his removal to Selvin, (formerly Taylorsville), Warrick county, in 1879, where he has since resided. In 1880, he was nomin- ated by the Republican party for representative of Warrick county, but was defeated by a majority of 151, the regular Dem- ocratic majority in the county having been from 350 to 400 prior to that time. Mr. Whittinghill is a gentleman of refinement and culture, and possesses ability of an extraordinary character. He presents a very handsome physique, and socially is a person whom it affords one pleasure to meet. He is now in his thirtieth year, and gives promise of becoming a leading member of his chosen profession. BRIEF BIOGRAPHIES. Bates, Bela N., an old citizen of Boonville, was born in Hampshire county, Massachusetts, April 13, 181 5. At an early age he learned shoemaking, but during the "hard times" about 1837 he shipped on board a whaling vessel for South Ameri- ca. On account of severe treatment from the commanding officer he left the ship at Brazil, where he remained about four months. He saw Dom Pedro when a boy and others of the royal family a number of times. In 1841 he came to Boonville and engaged in shoemaking. He did a successful trade for several years and retired. He was married to Jane Perigo, on March 12 th, 1843 and they had three children, only one of whom, Mrs. G. H. Spen- cer, ot Joplin, Mo., is now living. Gampbell, James W., was born three miles north of Boonville, September 29th, 1852. His mother isasisterof Hon. Benoni S. Fuller. He taught two terms of school, but in 1879 g ave U P his school and accepted a position as clerk in the store of J. M. Hudspeth & Co. In 1880 he was nominated by the Democratic party for Sheriff of Warrick county and was elected by a major- ity of one hundred and sixty-eight votes over the three candi- dates — Jacob Seitz, Republican; W. A. Williams, Independent, and Isaac Boyer, National. This was an auspicious victory. Mr. Campbell is well-known throughout the county and is a popular and promising young man. 156 Warrick and its Prominent People. Gook, Frederick, trustee of Greer township, was born May 1 8th, 1847, m Cambridgeshire, England. His parents, Jos- eph and Mary Cook, emigrated to America in 1851 and came direct to Warrick county, where the father engaged in farming. Frederick received his education in the common schools of this county. February 18th, 1862, when only fourteen years old, he enlisted in company C, sixty-third Indiana regiment of volun- teers and carried a musket and participated in all battles of his regiment the same as other soldiers. He never missed an hour of active duty on account of sickness or for other causes, excepting an eight day furlough. He was in the battles at Bull Run, Ra- sacca, Franklin, Nashville, Altoona Hills, Fort Anderson, and ten others of minor importance. He was mustered out of the service in May, 1865. Mr. Cook has been married twice — the first time on December 2, 1867, to Elizabeth Butcher, of War- rick, who died November 29, 1876, from drinking water pois- oned by Edward Leyer, the horrible particulars of which are still fresh in the minds of Warrick county people. April 11, 1878, Mr. Cook was married to Mary A. Irons. His family consists of five children, four by his first and one by his second wife. Mr. Cook has twice been elected constable of Greer town ship. In 1880 he was elected trustee on the Republican ticket, which is an unprecedented occurrence in the political history of the township. He is a very courteous gentleman, and possesses an enviable reputation for strict integrity and he is one of the foremost citizens of Greer township. Davis, William Robinson, was born September 9th, 1827, in Mercer county, Kentucky. His father, Rev. Thomas S. Davis, was a travelling preacher. His mother, whose maiden name was Robinson, died when he was four years old. He lived with his grandfather until eight years of age, when, his Brief Biographies. 157 father having married again, he returned to the "paternal roof." His father came to Warrick county in 1839 and settled where the subject now lives, which was at that time a dense forest. Al- though his opportunities were the very poorest, he possesses a practical education. The "rule o' three" is associated with his remembrance of schools in his boyhood as a very important branch — in the opinion of the old-time Hoosier school-master. To obtain money with which to purchase his books, pens, paper, etc., he would kill coons and sell their skins. Mr. Davis has always been a farmer and he is one of the most successful in the county. January 1, 1852, he was married to Mary Perigo, an exemplary wife and a pleasant, hospitable lady. She is a half-sister to Ezekiel Perigo, Esq. The fruits of this union has been but one child : a daughter now dead. However, they have raised several orphan children. Mr. Davis has been a Republican since the organization of the party and, although he takes an interest in politics, he never sought office. He is a leading farmer and has been a liberal supporter, according to his means, of every important enterprise in the county for the last twenty- five years. >ial, John C, of Hart township, was born October 15, 1817, "in Clermont county, Ohio, near Batavia. His early educa- tional advantages were limited to about two months every two years in the backwoods schools of that time. He received the greatest part of his education by private tutorage and at a very early age was a master of Smiley's arithmetic as taught at that time and he was considered a critical grammarian by his instruc- tors. He was well acquainted with General U. S. Grant when the latter was a cadet at West Point and his reminiscenses of the illustrious warrior are interesting and amusing. Mr. Dial has been married three times. February 10th, 1842, he was married 158 Warrick and its Prominent People. to Isabella Brooks, of Clermont county, Ohio, and they had seven children. She died February n, 1856 On January 1st, 1857, he was married to Josephine Myrirk, also a native of Clermont county, Ohio, and the result of this union was three children. Her death occurred August n, 1865. February 27 ? 1866 he was married to Mrs. Rachel Edwards, nee Abshire — his present wife — who is a native of Warrick county. In 1842 Mr. Dial came to Warrick county and settled in Hart township, where he now lives. At that time there were no roads through that section of country between the Boonville and Lynnville and Boonville and Crowville roads and it was chiefly through his instrumentality that the present highways were opened. Wild game was plentiful and the country was very sparsely settled. Mr. Dial has always been a Democrat, rather preferring to serve his party than ask of it official favor. Bickey, Fines J., M. D., was born at Ridgeway, Gallatin county, Illinois, May 4th, 1854. In 1876 he commenced the study of homoepathy with Dr. E. J. Ehrman, of Evansville, and graduated at the Pulte Medical College, of Cincinnati, March 4th, 1879. He came to Boonville the same month and commenced the practice of medicine, and has been remarkably successful. He is the leading homoepathic physician in this section. "|T\ckstein, Leonard, a leading grocer of Boonville, was born JL^ in Jackson county, Indiana, in 1847. He came to Boonville in 1 87 1 in poor circumstances. He chopped wood and did team- ing for the Lake Erie, Evansville & Southwestern railroad, being built at that time, and afterward engaged in marketing. By strict Brief Biographies. 159 economy and close application to business he accumulated suf- ficient means to engage in the grocery business in 1877. To-day he is one of the leading business men in the county. His suc- cess may all be attributed to his sterling business principles. Mr. Eckstein was married, in 1870, to Louisa Price, of Jackson county, and they now have two children. £wen. George, M. D., was born in Philadelphia, on April 19th, 1832, and his parents were Jeddiah and Ellen Ewen. He received his education partly in the schools at Philadelphia, and partly in Delaney Academy, at Newburgh, where he at- tended four school terms. The summer of 1844 he spent on the Ohio river, in the storeboat business. His parents came to New- burgh in January, 1845. During 1849 and 1850 he was a clerk in the store of A. M. Phelps, Esq., and during the winter of 1850 and 1851 he taught school in Ohio township. In 1852 he went to Philadelphia for the purpose of learning the drug business, and served an apprenticeship of two years, with J. Bringhurst, returning to Newburgh in 1854. He then went to Evansville and was engaged as a clerk in the well-known whole- sale drug establishment of Keller & White. However, he re- turned home, and, during the winter of 1855 and 1856, again taught school in Warrick county. In 1856 he commenced the study of medicine under Doctor J. R. Tilman, of Newburgh, and during the winters of 1856 and 1857 attended medical lec- tures at Keokuk, Iowa. He was in the Marine Hospital, in Evansville, with Doctor M. J. Bray, from May, 1857, to March, 1858, when he formed a partnership with Dr. J. S. Houghland, of Eureka, Spencer county, Indiana, where he practiced medi- cine until 1866. In July, 1866, he came to Wheatonville, War- rick county, Indiana, and has been practicing there since. Doc- 160 Warrick and its Prominent People. tor Ewen is one of the oldest and most successful physicians in the county, being third among the oldest. Four years practical and skillful experience in compounding drugs, with a thorough course of instruction in medicine, qualified him in an extraor- dinary degree for the practice of his profession. rULLER, William W., superintendent of the Warrick county schools, was born July 29, 1856, in Hart township, War- rick county. His parents were Isham and Agnes Fuller, and he is a brother to Hon. Benoni S. Fuller. In 1874 he entered the Oakland Normal Institute, and attended two terms. He also attended the Worthington (Indiana) High School during 1876. He has taught school and been identified with the educational interests of the county for several years. In 1880 he entered the Indiana State University, and was a member of the sopho- more class at the time of his election to the office of county superintendent, in June, 1881. He is, doubtless, the youngest county superintendent in the State. Mr. Fuller is a young gentleman of rare ability and promise, and is very popular among the people generally. Graham. Robert M., editor and proprietor of the Boonville Standard, was born November 10th, 1849, in Boonville, where he lived with his parents until eleven years old, when they removed to a farm, in Hart township, Warrick county. His education consisted of such as he could obtain in the common country schools, after which he attended the Boonville High School one term. Possessing an insatiable thirst for knowledge, and a very retentive memory, he has, however, by a habit of desultory reading, gained an extensive knowledge of general Brief Biographies. 161 literature. July 26, 1872, he was married to Mary J. Hunsaker. In 1873, under the firm name of J. B. Graham & Son, he en- gaged in the drug business at Lynnville. In the meantime he taught school in winter, and studied medicine under Doctor S. L. Tyner. In 1876 he commenced practice in Spencer county, opposite Owensboro, Kentucky, where he remained one year. He also practiced at Folsomville one year ; after which he re- linquished medicine and engaged in school teaching. He taught the graded school, at Lynnville, in 1872-73, and has been prin- cipal of the Folsomville Graded School three terms. In 1880, he was defeated in a candidacy for superintendent of War- rick county. He left the teachers' ranks as one of the foremost educators of the county, and, in July, 1881, assumed full edito- rial and business control of the Boonville Standard. Although he has now been in the newspaper business but a short time, he has evinced considerable journalistic ability. He has been a contributor to the educational periodicals of the State and is the author of a work designed for use as a text book for youthful students, entitled "United States Rectangular Survey," which has been highly recommended by the leading educators of the State. eim, Constantine, one of the leading citizens of Campbell township, was born February 25, 1837, in Eisfeld. Duchy of Meiningen, Germany. He received his education at the Academy of Saalfeld, which he attended from his sixth to his twelfth year. In 1852 his parents emigrated to America and came direct to Vanderburgh county. His father's avocation was that of an apothecary, and, in partnership with John Laval, he practiced medicine at Evansville about ten months. In 1853 he came to Warrick county and engaged in farm- 162 Warrick and its Prominent People ing. January 6th, 1859, Constantine Heim was married to Minerva Lockyear, of Warrick county, and they had seven chil- dren. She died March 20th, 1874. Mr. Heim was married to Rhoba F. Herston on October 24th, 1874, and by this marriage has had three children. Mr. Heim has obtained an extraordin- ary knowledge of the English language by close application, and he speaks it with a fluency rarely met with in one of his nationality. Politically he is a Republican, and, in 1880, was the candidate of his party for treasurer of Warrick county, but was defeated by a greatly reduced majority. He is a very in- telligent gentleman, of a sociable, complaisant disposition, and he is highly esteemed by his fellow-citizens for his integrity and sterling worth. 'eim, Adolph Woldemar, trustee of Campbell township, was born June 12, 1839, in Eisfeld, Duchy of Meiningen, Germany. He received his education at the Academy of Saal- feld, in his native country, but left before graduating. His pa- rents came to America in 1852, and located at Evansville, where the subject attended a select school awhile, taught by a Yankee. This was the only English schooling he received. In 1853 he removed with his parents to Warrick county, and engaged in farming. However, his occupation of later years has chiefly been teaching. He taught district school No. 9, in Camp- bell township, from 1866 until 1881, successively, which, in point of continuity, is without a parallel in the school history of the county. He holds the highest attainable license, and his teach- ing is characterized by thoroughness, practicability, system and strict decorum. In 1880 Mr. Heim was elected trustee of Campbell township on the Republican ticket. There were three Brief Biographies. 163 candidates for the office, and although the township was largely Democratic, he received a majority of sixty-four, while the larg- est number of votes received by the opposition was ninety-four. He possesses in an eminent degree the qualifications requisite for the office, and fills it satisfactorily to his constituents. February 19, 1864, Mr. Heim was married to Letitia Lockyear. They have four children — three boys and one girl. Wones, T. B. , M. D., of Lynnville, was born November 28th, fJJ 1 84 1, in Spencer county, Indiana. The occupation of his father, Thompson M. Jones, was farming. The subject receiv- ed his education in the schools of Spencer county and at an early age commenced the study of medicine. August 26, 1861, he enlisted in company C, of the forty-second Indiana regiment, as a private, but was promoted to the rank of captain while in the service. He participated in all the battles of his company and was in the service until July 2d, 1865, when they were mustered out. In 1867 he entered the Ohio Medical College of Cincinnati and graduated in 1870. During the same year he located at Pleasantville, Pike county, and practiced there until March, 1873, when he removed to Lynnville and entered into a partner- ship with Dr. S. L. Tyner, which, with the exception of two years that the latter was at Boonville, has continued until the present. April 25, 1872, Doctor Jones was married to Emma Zimmerman, of Lynnville, and they have two children. Doctor Jones possesses in an eminent degree those qualities of mind and temperament which are required to meet humanity in its more delicate and sickly phases pleasantly, and his knowledge of med- icine is very thorough and practical ; hence, he is a very success- 164 Warrick and its Prominent People. ful physician. He is regarded as one of the leading physicians of the county and is highly respected and beloved as a citizen. 'cCoy, Joseph S., M. D., a successful medical practitioner of Wheatonville, Warrick county, was born April 6th, 1850, near Midway, Spencer county, Indiana. His parents were William and Fanny McCoy. His education was princi- pally obtained in the common schools of Spencer county, and during the terms of 1868 and 1869 he attended the academy at Grandview, Indiana. He taught school in Spencer county one year, and in Warren county, Kentucky, eighteen months. He commenced the study of medicine under Dr. J. R. Temple, but afterward studied under his brother, Dr. T. J. McCoy. He entered the Louisville Medical College in 1873, and graduated in 1876. In the same year he commenced the practice of med icine at Wheatonville, where he has since remained. Doctor McCoy is a genial young gentleman, warm-hearted and courte- ous. His acquaintance is easily cultivated, and he possesses the rare gift of bringing social sunshine, as well as medical skill, into the sick room. During the five years he has been at Wheaton- ville he has built up a wide practice, and has won the esteem of the people. He is now only thirty-one years old, and his career as a practitioner may be said to be only in the bud. Politically, he is a Democrat, and is one of the most influential members of that party in Greer township. 'oore, Robert Dale Owen, the youngest son of Judge J. W. B. Moore, was born in Boonville, February 25th, 1848. His education was limited to such advantages as were afforded by the local schools at that time, which were compara- Brief Biographies. 165 tively poor, owing, in part, to the unsettled condition caused by the war. However, he spent one year at Asbury University, at Greencastle, Indiana. In 1869, he commenced the study of law with his brother, Hon. Isaac S. Moore, one of the ablest law- yers in the State, and, in 1872, was admitted to a partnership. In 1878 he was nominated by the Democratic primary election for clerk of Warrick county, and was elected. Among the mi- nor offices which he has held was that of clerk of Boonville, in 1869; town treasurer, from 1871 to 1875, an d town attorney two or three years. He was married to Blanche Barkwell, of Rockport, Indiana, January 23rd, 1868. They have three chil- dren — two boys and one girl. Mr. Moore is a liberal, obliging gentleman, and is generally well known and well liked through- out the county. Politically, he is, and has always been, a Dem- ocrat. He is one of the most active members of the party in this county, meriting by his untiring services the honorable rec- ognition which he has received. Patterson, William H., was born September 17th, 1847, five miles south of Boonville. His father, Rev. Nicholas M. Patterson, was one of the earliest Methodist preachers in this county, and was one of the old-time circuit riders. He was one of the most successful revivalists in his day, was a good man, and generally beloved. After receiving a common school education, William taught school to obtain money with which to attend college. He attended Asbury University, at Greencastle, Indiana, for a short time, but afterward entered the Rockport Collegiate Institute, where he graduated in 1870. He again engaged in school-teaching, and read law at home in the mean- time, Judge Isaac S. Moore being his preceptor. He was ad- mitted to the bar in 1873. September 14th, of the same 166 Warrick and its Prominent People. year, he was married to Emma Taylor, daughter ol Robert Taylor, Esq., of Boonville. Becoming financially embarrassed, in 1875, ne accepted a position as principal of the graded school, at Poseyville, Indiana, at a salary of $75 per month. He taught Latin, higher mathematics, and the higher branches, which had never before been taught there, and gave general satisfaction. At the close of his school he returned to Boonville and again engaged in practicing law. In May, 1879, he entered into part- nership with John L. Taylor, and has been quite successful in his profession. He has twice held the office of attorney of Boon- ville, and one term as clerk. Mr. Patterson is very studious, and is one of the most promising young members of the Boonville bar. Pelzer, Frederick William, the subject of this sketch ,was born October 10th, 1843, at Osnabreck, Germany. His father was a blacksmith, and in good circumstances. After re- ceiving such common school education as was to be obtained in his native village, he served an appreticeship in his father's blacksmith shop. In i860 he emigrated to America, landing at New Orleans, and he came direct to Warrick county. He worked at his trade in Boonville, and on the farm, alternatively, until 1866, when he located where he now resides; and his resi- dence, by the way, is one of the finest and most convenient in the county. May 9th, 1872, he was married to Amelia Goett- lich, a native of Long Island. The result of this union has been five children. Mr. Pelzer belongs to the class of " self-made men," and is one of the most enterprising citizens of the county. The " His- tory of Warrick County," by D. J. Lake & Co., truly says : " He Brief Biographies. 167 is one of the foremost in all public as well as private enterprises." He is well informed on the general topics of the day, and he is a very genial and pleasant gentleman. While he has always been an active member of the Republican party, he has never sought political favor. He is also a very prominent member of the Masonic order. He manifests a great deal of pride in the county's development and progress, and is one of the kind that makes a thrifty community. Ulman, Doctor J. R., of Newburgh, was born August 8th, 1826, in Cumberland county, Kentucky. His grand- father was a native of Virginia and was born on a plantation adjoining Thomas Jefferson's home. The name at that time was spelled Tilghman. Doctor Tilman graduated at the Evansville Medical College in 1850 and at once commenced practicing at Taylorsville, Warrick county, where he remained seven years. He was instrumental in having a postoffice established at that place and was the first postmaster. After practicing in Newburgh three years he entered the Jefferson Medical College of Philadel- phia and graduated in i860. At the beginning of the late war he laid aside all business and devoted his time to the union cause. He was assistant surgeon in the sixtieth Indiana regiment and was seriously crippled for life, being compelled to resign after three months' service. Having the public interest always in view, he is one of the class of citizens who exert a marked influence for good in the community. 'ilde, Gottfried Otto Eugene, son of Carl J. G. and Franziska Wilde, was born in Schlochow, Pomerania, Prussia, May 15th, 1842. His parents were very wealthy. He 168 Warrick and its Prominent People. attended St. Peter's College at Danzig, Prussia, seven years, and graduated in 1858. He received a scientific education and i$ was here that he obtained his knowledge of chemistry. In 1869 he emigrated to America and in' the winter of 1870 enter- ed into the drug business in Boonville in the building he now occupies. He was married to Mary Sasse in 187 1. Mr. Wilde is a leading member of the German Evangelical Lutheran church at this place and is a highly esteemed citizen. 'hittinghill, Winfield Scott, was born October 28th, 1850, in Pigeon township, Warrick county. He is the eldest son of Pleasant N. and Abagail J. Whittinghill. He worked on the farm with his father until twenty-one years old and was eighteen years of age before he started to school. His education has been obtained principally in the common schools of the county. He attended the Oakland Normal Institute at Oakland City, Indiana, three terms and also attended two terms of a select school taught at Taylorsville, Warrick county, by Prof. Will Link. During the winter of 1873 he took a thorough course at the Evansville Commercial College. When twenty-one years old he commenced teaching school and has since taught seven terms in all, three of which were at the graded school in Pigeon township and two terms as principal of the Taylorsville graded school. In 1876 he was the Republican candidate for assessor of Pigeon township and, although the township has always been largely Democratic, he was elected. In 1880 the Republicans nominated him for trustee, but this time he was defeated. Mr. Whittinghill is one of the foremost young men of his section and he possesses the ability and tact to accomplish almost anything he undertakes. ' Appendix. 169 APPENDIX. SHERIFFS OF WARRICK COUNTY FROM 1813 TO 1883, INCLUSIVE. S. R. MARS. GULLILMUS WIGGINS. EPHRIAM BRASHEARS THEO. HUDSPETH. A. B. HUDSON.^ WILLIAM SCALES. NICHOLAS TAYLOR. BENONI S. FULLER. JOHN B. HUDSPETH. WILLIAM A. WILLIAMS.^ GURLEY TAYLOR, t JAMES W. CAMPBEI WILLIAM BRISCOE. MINOR LEEWRIGHT. WILLIAM BRISCOE.* JAMES C. GRAHAM. WILLIAM M. HUDSON.} CALVIN M. WILLIAMS. ISAAC W. ADAMS. WILLIAM P. HUDSON. WILLIAM P. HUDSON. DAVID L. HART4 WILLIAM A. WILLIAMS. L, (present incumbent.) *Died before term of office expired. JTwo terras successively . 170 Warrick and its Prominent People. TREASURERS OF WARRICK COUNTY FROM 1813 TO 1882, INCLUSIVE. RATLIFF BOON. *EPHRIAM BRASHEARS. JOHN McCONNEL. WILLIAM SCALES. EDWIN ADAMS. SIMON P. LOWE. JOSIAH BROWN, M. D. LEWIS J. MILLER. BRANNICK WILKERSON. JOSEPH ADAMS THOMAS HUDSPETH. EDWIN ADAMS. N. C. FOSTER. CALVIN M. WILLIAMS. ALVAH JOHNSON. JAMES H. MASTERS. W. J. HARGRAVE. HANSEL M. SCALES, (present incumbent.) *The three first treasurers were appointed, under the law in vogue at that time, by the board of county commissioners. Appendix. ' 171 POPULATION OF WARRICK COUNTY. CENSUS OP 1880. ANDERSON TOWNSHIP, INCLUDING VIL- LAGE OF YANKEETOWN 912 YANKEETOWN VILLAGE 178 BOON TOWNSHIP, INCLUDING TOWN OF BOONVILLE , 4,668 BOONVILLE 1,182 CAMPBELL TOWNSHIP 1,536 MILLERSBURGH VILLAGE 105 GREER TOWNSHIP 1,214 HARTTOWNSHIP 2,166 LYNNVILLE VILLAGE 304 LANE TOWNSHIP 1,165 OHIO TOWNSHIP 3,413 NEWBURGH 1,282 OWEN TOWNSHIP i,"5'*7 FOLSOMVILLE 194 PIGEON TOWNSHIP 1,927 SELVIN ........ 222 SKELTON TOWNSHIP 1,644 Total 20,160 172 Warrick and its Prominent People. COUNTY SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT FOR 1880. Name of Townships e ^ . $ 3,000 ■6fe j _i 1 Value of Apparatus 81 — 1 Average wages of a Teachers. 00 ! go ~ IT 5 H c" 4 ■1 Eh 1 £ 4; 6 3 CO ■-• 'u /. Q 6 6 V. C O _= CQ — O 'o 6 8,210 29 3,923 93 22,000 400 1 98 20 2 21 4,073 12 1,595 26 883 89 3,810 150 1 90 9 6 2 2 12 8 1 2,223 32 3,500 300 100 1 74 1,825 25 488 58 5,500 1 66 10 7 to 8 4 1 2 3 3 12 7 L0 8 in 11 2,126 25 1,550 50 1 78 Ohio 4,862 83 2,980 54 695 26 863 38 1,234 11 1,995 29 10,500 200 1 87 2,834 36 4,645 18 2,500 10 1 80 4,100 100 1 87 1 50 in 11 3,749 02 5,000 4,050 80 20,000 100 2 55 4 3 4 1 Newburgh 4,155 87 649 65 10,000 1,000 2 47 3 4 3 2 •umo^sjiub^ O u u t— I <; w u H co Q Pn O W ►J PQ < •3ni A uoiB3q^Y 'O 'd 91PM '9H|AS.I0[AVl fO ho CO o\ 'Wodsuaqdajg •qSinqAva^; •i{§jnqsj3niM M -' n ho -4- 00 r ""> CO •aniAuuXq M - M - w KM ON M •3HIAUIOSJOJ On CO ON •pp¥ j3 qia •3111AAY0J3 •i3ipuBq3 O On 1^- no' •aqiAuoog - M j : on rs -=! .T3 £ a a J5 „ cjo on ago " > V mouw^-iSiz; Ph CO ' Oh O B o Ph c/) o3 C/3 c O u o3 Ph b u Q jo a^Q | * 2 t»«drH(D«rtOO)t^l> 00 a s >> J5> j^r c*» p-> r O _p _o ^ o o ai' r ig.^°°a«u s -5 5 ,2 & ° -t 5 "* " wo O > .2§ rQ O 033 d «! o £ • O o 6)0 2*' H 2 £ ' H ' S " " s a ai * s «OccK>> oo coooooooco^£ OO OOOOOOOOp»iOO a r- w* *-> CO so -* •?? to to oc 00 GO 00 00 CO 00 O S c! 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