USA > Indiana > Clay County > A History of Clay County Indiana (Volume 2) > Part 14
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Cornelia, the oldest child of Mr. and Mrs. Ahlemeyer, born August 22, 1852, died March 2, 1883. She married Albert Nees, and of their five children but one is living, Armeda Aletta, wife of Edward Frazier. Edward Ahlemeyer, born June 6, 1854, died July 24, 1857. Otto, born
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August 16, 1856, died April 3. 1882. Theodore F., born October 31. 1858. died December 16, 1880. William Calvin, born December 2. 1860, died August 18. 1888. He married. November 18, 1883. Mary Ann Pierce, who was born in Vigo county, Indiana. December 7. 1862, a daughter of Alvin and Adeline ( Cashner ) Pierce, natives respectively of New York and Pennsylvania, and they became the parents of three children, namely : Victor Odell, born September 6, 1884: Edith Lenora, born August 22, 1886, wife of Walter Shopmeyer, of Illinois; and Otis Frederick, born December 31. 1887. lives in Terre Haute. Since the death of her hus- band Mrs. Mary Ann ( Pierce) Ahlemeyer makes her home with her mother-in-law on the Ahlemeyer homestead. Carl Ambrose, twin brother of George E., died eleven days after his birth. Laura Lenora, born Sep- tember 24, 1865. married Rev. Otto Jorvis, and died October 1, 1885, leaving no children. Oscar, born October 21, 1867. died November 20. 1868. Mr. Ahlemeyer was a strong Democrat in politics, and for several terms rendered excellent service as township trustee. Religiously he was a valued member of the German Reformed church. Socially he was an active member of the local grange while it was in existence.
NICHLES SIEGELIN .- This gentleman, who is actively identified with the agricultural interests of Van Buren township, is pleasantly located in Knightsville, and is there successfully employed in the prosecution of his chosen calling. He was born October 6, 1848, in Germany, which was likewise the birthplace of his father, Michael Siegelin. His grand- father Siegelin was a life-long resident of that country, but his grand- mother Siegelin, after the death of her husband, came to America and died in Cincinnati soon after her arrival in that city.
After learning the butcher's trade in his native country, Michael Siegelin served three years in the German army. In 1852, accompanied by his wife and their four children. he emigrated to the United States, coming across the ocean in a sailing vessel and being forty days on the water. From New York City he came directly to Clay county, locating in Jackson township, where he bought a tract of government land. Clear- ing a space in the dense forest, he built a house of round logs, which was the family domicile for some time. In common with the other pio- neers he suffered all the trials and privations incidental to life on the fron- tier. Neither telegraph, telephone nor railway lines were then in evidence, and the nearest depot for supplies was Terre Haute, while the present site of Brazil was then a wilderness through which the wild beasts roamed at pleasure. Clearing his land and replacing the primitive log cabin by a frame house, he there carried on farming until his death. His wife, whose maiden name was Sabilla Fishharber, was born in Germany and spent her last years on the home farm. Eight children were born of their union, as follows: George, Phillip, Margaret, Nichles, Palus, John, Eva and Benjamin.
Four years old when he came with his parents to Jackson township. Nichles Siegelin here obtained his early education, walking two and one- half miles to the rude log schoolhouse in which he learned to read and write. Under his father's instruction he became familiar with the various branches of pioneer farming, including the clearing of the land, remaining a member of the parental household until his marriage. For some time he subsequently worked by the month as a farm laborer. afterwards being engaged in coal mining for twenty years. In 1894, deciding to change
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his occupation, Mr. Siegelin purchased his present farm, which lies within the corporate limits of Knightsville. He has sold quite a tract of his orig- inal purchase, having at the present time one hundred and twenty acres of productive land in his farm, and this, with its good set of buildings and its other improvements, is one of the most attractive estates of the neigh- borhood.
On March 15, 1874. Mr. Siegelin married Caroline Sanderson, who was born in Jackson township July 1, 1851, a daughter of William Sander- son, familiarly known throughout the community as "Uncle Billy." Mr. Sanderson was born in Philadelphia, and, being left an orphan at an early age, was bound out. Not being well used, he ran away to join some cattle drovers, with whom he lived two or three years. Going to West Vir- ginia, he there found a home with a widow, whose daughter, when he was eighteen years old, he married. This wife lived but a few years, dying in. early womanhood. Mr. Sanderson subsequently married for his second wife Mrs. Elizabeth ( Pullen ) Moore, an attractive young widow. She was of English ancestry, both her father, Thomas Pullen, and her grand- father, Joseph Pullen, having been born in England. Joseph Pullen came with his family to the United States just before the Revolution, and served bravely in the great struggle for independence. Settling in Rockbridge county, Virginia, after the war, he spent the remainder of his life there, being engaged in agricultural pursuits. After coming to America Thomas Pullen learned the trades of a cooper and a shoemaker, and worked at both during his earlier years. In 1839 he migrated to Indiana with his family, making the journey overland with two heavy wagons, one being drawn by six horses and one by four horses. He located in Clay county and in 1842 he bought land in Jackson township and spent the remainder of his years there, busily employed in clearing and cultivating the land. He married Betsey Groves, who was born in Holland and came to this country with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Leonard Groves, who settled in Rockbridge county, Virginia. where her father carried on general farming until his death, while her mother, being left a widow, came to Indiana and died in Union county.
After his marriage with Elizabeth (Pullen) Moore, William Sander- son came to Indiana and settled as a pioneer in Jackson township, where he bought a tract of land that was in its original wildness. Clearing a space in the dense wilderness, he built a house of round logs, and this was subsequently replaced by a more pretentious structure made of hewn logs. Industrious and persevering, he improved a good homestead, on which he spent his remaining days, passing away at the very advanced age of ninety-six years. He was a man of exceptionally fine character, kind- hearted and generous, and was loved and respected by all who knew him. His wife survived him, dying at the age of seventy-six years. They reared seven children, of whom but one besides Mrs. Siegelin is now living.
Mr. and Mrs. Siegelin have three children living, and three have passed to the life beyond, William and George having died in infancy and Michael B. at the age of ten years. Those living are Margaret, born February 22, 1881 ; John Nichles, born September 15, 1884; and Emma, born November 6, 1890. Margaret, who married Hugh McShanog. has three children, Oliver Ray, born August 17, 1901 ; Viola, born March 17, 1903; and John Nichles, born May 9, 1905. John N. married Emma Lawson, and they have one child, William Edward. Mr. Siegelin is a member of several fraternal organizations, belonging to Colfax Lodge
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No. 612, Independent Order of Odd Fellows ; to Brazil Tribe, Improved Order of Red Men; to Knightsville Lodge, Knights of Pythias; while both he and his wife belong to the Daughters of Rebekah and the Pythian Sisters. Religiously the family are Methodists.
BERNARD NORTON .- Although yet in the prime of life, Bernard Nar- ton of Clay City is widely known as a veteran contractor, being one of the oldest, if not the very oldest, railroad contractor in the United States, his work in this line having extended over a large part of the country. A son of the late Bernhard Norton, he was born March 25, 1850, in Stockbridge, Massachusetts, of Irish-Scotch ancestry.
A native of Ireland, Bernhard Norton was born and brought up in Roscommon County, and there resided until after his marriage. Subse- quently he was one of six brothers and a sister that emigrated to Amer- ica, their names being James, Patrick, Thomas, Dennis, John, Michael, and Ellen, who married John Stanton. He brought his wife with him, and having settled in Stockbridge. Massachusetts, was there for a time employed in the iron mines. Ambitious, however, to engage in some independent work, he migrated to Iowa, and in that state began his career as a railroad contractor. At that time there was no railway west of Iowa City, and his first contract was on the road extending from that place to Cedar Rapids. Later, as a contractor on the Chicago, Burling- ton and Quincy Railroad, he built a part of the first road that touched Marshalltown, subsequently taking a contract on its extension to Grinnell. He then built a part of the road extending to Plattsmouth, Nebraska, that being the first road to cross the Missouri river. He was afterwards an extensive contractor on different railroads in Nebraska, and spent his last days in that state, dying at the age of eighty-two years and seven months in Beatrice. His wife, whose maiden name was Bridget Moray, was born in Scotland, and as a child was taken to Roscommon County, Ireland, where her father operated a fulling mill and a distillery. She survived her husband, and died at Fort Smith, Arkansas. at the advanced age of eighty-two years. She reared nine children, as follows: Patrick, William, Bernard, James, John, Winifred, Ellen, Mary Ann, and Bridget.
But eight years old when his parents went from Massachusetts to Iowa, Bernard Norton there received his early education. In 1864, before the existence of either railroads or bridges, he crossed the Mis- souri river on ice. He subsequently began his railroad work on the Union Pacific Railroad, the first to cross the state of Nebraska. At that time buffalo were to be seen in large herds, and deer and antelope were very plentiful. On attaining his majority Mr. Norton became a sub-contractor, and until his father's death was in that capacity asso- ciated with him. Then, continuing the work on his own responsibility, he filled large contracts in Nebraska, Kansas and Missouri. In 1893. returning to New England, Mr. Norton took the contract for building the road extending from Bar Harbor, Maine, down the Atlantic coast. Coming from there to Bloomington. Indiana, he began contracting on the Monon road, and has since that time confined his contracting to Indiana.
In 1883 Mr. Norton married Bridget O'Connor, who was born in Canada, near Montreal, a daughter of James and Bridget O'Connor, na- tives of Ireland. Mrs. Norton died in 1902 at Kansas City, Missouri.
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JOSEPH N. HUDSON, a leading farmer located in section 35, Wash- ington township, Clay county, is by birth and marriage connected with perhaps the best known pioneer families of that locality-the Luthers and the Hudsons. His maternal grandfather, William Luther, as early as 1827 entered a farm which Mr. Hudson now rents, and his father, Jacob Hudson, was brought to a locality near Bowling Green from North Carolina about the same time. The elder Mr. Hudson was then but four years of age, but is still alive and in fair health and his career is so notable that a full review of it is presented in other pages.
Joseph N. Hudson, who is the son of this oldest living pioneer of Washington township and Margaret J. (Luther) Hudson, his second cousin, was born in the township mentioned. On May 3, 1896, he mar- ried Miss Clara M. Orman, of Owen county, Indiana, who was born January 2, 1878, daughter of Jacob and Margaret (Loncer) Orman, of Marion township, that county. The year following his marriage he removed from the parental homestead to the farm owned by his sister, Nancy Zurcher, and after spending a like period there bought thirty- four and a half acres in section 35, Washington township, adjoining his father's property. He also rents eighty acres of a farm belonging to his parents. The property was entered by William Luther, his ma- ternal grandfather, in 1827, and has never been alienated from the family possessions. At the time of renting the land was cleared but unimproved, and since then Mr. Hudson has erected on it a substantial dwelling house and commodious barns and granaries, transforming it into a fine homestead. Mr. and Mrs. Joseph N. Hudson have become the parents of four children-Harvey H., Herschell L., Kenneth B., and an infant deceased. Mr. Hudson is a member of the Church of Christ of Bellair, and in politics adheres to the Democracy.
JAMES L. BURNS, present county auditor of Clay county, Indiana, was born in Putnam county, Indiana, September 18, 1870, son of Thomas B. and Sarah C. (Carrithers) Burns. The father was born in Illinois and is now a resident of Clay county, Indiana. His boyhood days were spent in Coles county, Illinois, and Putnam county, Indiana. He has been a farmer in Cass township, Clay county, and at one time owned two hundred acres and about the same amount in Putnam county. He carried on general farming operations and was a trustee of Cass town- ship four years. Politically, he is a Democrat and in church faith ad- heres to that of the Christian denomination. The subject's mother was a native of Clay county, Indiana, and they were united in marriage in the county of her birth. The children born of this union were nine in number, eight of whom still survive and are as follows: Hardy W .; James L. ( subject ) ; Lucretia E., wife of Emery Jenkins; William C .; Susan B., wife of John M. Fisher; Candace; Annice; Sarah A.
James L. Burns remained at home with his parents until he was seventeen years of age and then went to work for D. N. Barnett in a general merchandising store, at Hoosierville, Clay county, during the summer months, and attended school in the winter season for two years. When about eighteen years old he commenced school teaching, which he followed one year and then attended school at Danville, after which he taught another year. He next attended school one year at Valparaiso College. He was appointed county surveyor, on account
Vol. II-7
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of the death of John J. Hayden. The date of his appointment was April, 1892, and in the fall election, he was elected county surveyor for Clay county. In the month of January, 1893, he was made deputy clerk of Clay county circuit courts, so in April, 1893, he resigned the office of surveyor and filled the office of deputy clerk up to 1895, when he was made deputy county auditor, holding that office from 1895 to 1899. September, 1899, he removed to Greencastle, Indiana, and at- tended De Pauw university until January 1, 1903, and then returned to Brazil and again entered the auditor's office as deputy, which position he held until 1906, when he was elected county auditor and is still filling the office with credit to all interested.
Mr. Burns is a member of the Masonic fraternity, belonging to Brazil Lodge, No. 264, F. and A. M .; the Improved Order of Red Men, Indianola Tribe, No. 61; Modern Woodmen of America, Lodge No. 3418; Order of Home Defenders of America, No. 1. Mr. Burns is a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal church and in his polit- ical affiliations is a Democrat.
He was united in marriage September 11, 1892, to Codelia B. Jenkins, born near Center Point, Clay county, Indiana, December 28, 1872, the daughter of William T. and Nanoma S. (O'Brien) Jenkins, both natives of Clay county. Her father was born June 30, 1832, and is now residing in Clay county and farms in Sugar Ridge township. He spent his youthful days in Owen county, Indiana. At one time he owned one hundred and fifty-two acres, but sold forty to his son. He is engaged quite extensively in breeding pure-bred hogs and full-blood cattle, mostly short-horns. Politically, he is a Republican and has been member of the school board at Center Point several terms. His wife died aged forty-three years in 1883, and was the mother of four daugh- ters and two sons, five of which children are now living, as follows : James P .; Laura A., wife of S. E. Brown; Sadie E., who died aged twenty-four years, wife of James D. Hicks; Emery S .; Gertrude, wife of Rev. Charles F. Spray, who is a minister of the Methodist Epsico- pal church in Wisconsin. Mr. and Mrs. Burns are the parents of the following children: Ray Leland; Verna Choline; Dane Emery ; James Dudley.
GEORGE ADAM NUSSEL is a native son of Posey township, born on the farm on which he now resides in section 24 April 23, 1854, and is of German parentage. His father, George Nussel, was born and reared in the fatherland, and coming to the United States about 1844 he made his way to Indiana and first bought eighty acres of land in Posey town- ship, Clay county, to which he added from time to time until his estate. numbered two hundred and fifty-five acres, all of which he cleared with the help of his sons and placed the land under an excellent state of cultivation. He at one time also owned forty acres which is the present Apple Grove, but sold that tract, and also owned land in Jack- son township. He died April 15, 1892, on the old Nussel homestead, now the home of his son George A. In Clay county he married Anna Barbara Fleishman, born and reared in the fatherland of Germany, and their family numbered eight children, six sons and two daughters, George Adam being the sixth born, and all with the exception of the eldest was born in Clay county, Indiana. Mr. Nussel, the father, was a Republican.
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In his early life George Adam Nussell assisted his father in clear- ing his land, in the meantime attending the district schools of the neigh- borhood, and he is now the owner of eighty acres of the old homestead farm, on which he has made many and valuable improvements, and al- though his residence has twice been destroyed by fire he has each time rebuilt and now has a pleasant and attractive home. He raises and sells stock and is engaged in general farming pursuits. In politics he upholds the principles of the Republican party, but votes independently at local elections.
In Posey township, February 10. 1878, Mr. Nussel was married to Wilhelmina Heck, a native daughter of Indiana, where her father was a coal miner. Nine children have been born to bless this union, six sons and three daughters, all of whom had their nativity on the Nussel homestead. The family are members of the United Brethren church.
IGNATIUS JARBOE, who for seventeen years has been at the head of the Citizens' Building & Loan Association as its secretary and who was one of the organizers of the company, was born in Vigo county, Indiana, August 15, 1841. His parents were Peter and Ann (Elder) Jarboe, both natives of Kentucky. The father was born in 1800 and departed this life in 1875, while the mother passed away at the age of fifty years. Peter Jarboe was a farmer by occupation, following that pursuit in the Blue Grass state until 1832, when, thinking that he might have better business opportunities in Indiana, he came to Vigo county. The conditions that prevailed here were those of the frontier, com- paratively few settlements having been made by white men, while much of the land was still in possession of the government. The father en- tered claim and became one of the pioneer farmers of Sugar Creek township, establishing his home in the midst of the green woods, where he built a log house out of round logs. Later he erected a two story hewed log house, which was quite a pretentious home for that day. He took an active part in the early development and progress of the county, belonging to that class of representative pioneer settlers who laid the foundation for the present upbuilding and prosperity of this portion of the state. He belonged to the Roman Catholic church, while his early political support was given to the Whig party and upon its dissolution he joined the ranks of the Democracy. Unto him and his wife were born fourteen children but only two are now living, the elder being Charles S., who resides in Dayton, Ohio.
Ignatius Jarboe was the thirteenth in order of birth in his father's family. He spent his boyhood days upon the old home farm and at the usual age began his education which he pursued in the district schools to the age of seventeen years. He afterward engaged in team- ing in Terre Haute until August 15, 1862, when he put aside all busi- ness and personal considerations and, prompted by a spirit of patriotism, offered his services to the government, enlisting as a member of Com- pany C, Eighty-fifth Regiment of Indiana Volunteers for three years, or during the war. . He was mustered in at Terre Haute and spent the winter of 1862 in Kentucky, after which he went to Nashville and was in the Third Brigade, Third Division of the Twentieth Army Corps. He was a member of Sherman's army on the Atlanta campaign and was wounded in July, 1864, at Dallas Woods, Georgia. He afterward re- turned to Louisville, Kentucky, thence went to Moorehead City, North Carolina, and to Raleigh, North Carolina. Later he proceeded to Wash-
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ington and was one of the great army's victorious men who marched through the city in grand review when over Pennsylvania avenue swung suspended a banner bearing the words "The only debt which our coun- try cannot pay is the debt which she owes her soldiers." He was dis- charged near Washington on the 21st of May, 1865, and was mustered out at Indianapolis, Indiana.
When the war was over and the country no longer needed his aid, Mr. Jarboe returned to Terre Haute and entered the employ of the American Express Company in the spring of 1866. The following two years were spent in Tennessee and Arkansas in farming and carpenter- ing. August 3, 1868, he came to Brazil and was in business with his brother William as a grocer until June, 1876. He then turned his attention to the insurance business and secured a good clientage in that line. On the ist of March, 1891, however, he withdrew from that field and became one of the organizers of the Citizens' Building & Loan As- sociation, of which he has now been secretary for seventeen years. In this position he has largely had executive control of the business of the association, which under his guidance has become a profitable invest- ment of the stockholders and at the same time has proven of great substantial benefit to the city and those who haven taken advantage of its opportunities for securing homes of their own through the assist- ance gained from the association.
On the 14th of June, 1878, Mr. Jarboe was married to Miss Nancy E. Lightfoot, a native of Edgar county, Illinois, born March 23, 1842. They traveled life's journey together for about twenty-seven years and were then separated by the death of the wife January 30, 1905. She had many friends in the community, so that her loss was deeply regretted. Mrs. Jarboe was a daughter of Thornton and Margaret (Burdien) Lightfoot, both of whom were natives of Kentucky. On leaving that state her father removed to Edgar county, Illinois, stopping near Paris in the early '20s. There he lived for some time but spent his last days with his children. His political allegiance was given to the democracy.
Mr. Jarboe is also a stalwart Democrat in politics but has never cared for office, preferring to concentrate his time and energies upon his business affairs, in which he has met with gratifying success. He is a member of the Roman Catholic church and is interested in all that pertains to the welfare of his community in material, social and intellect- ual lines. In his business he has made steady progress and as a result of close application, unwearied diligence and carefully directed labor has gained a creditable place in business circles, while from his labors he has derived substantial benefits.
JAMES F. LANKFORD .- Among the valued and highly esteemed resi- dents of Harrison township there is no one better known in its history than the gentleman whose name appears at the head of this sketch. He has the distinction of being a veteran of the Civil war, and ex-sheriff of Clay county and an important factor in advancing the material in- terests of this part of the state, as a general merchant at Middlebury carrying on an extensive business. A native of this township, he was born July 8, 1845, a son of Harvey Lankford. On the paternal side he comes of sturdy Scotch ancestry, his great-grandfather having emi- grated with his wife from Scotland to this country, settling in North Carolina, where Walker Lankford, the next in line of descent, was born.
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