A History of Clay County Indiana (Volume 2), Part 16

Author: William Travis
Publication date: 1909
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 631

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committee for two years. The Greggs have descended from Scotch-Irish stock, and the characteristics of that sturdy people are still seen in the present-day generation.

John C. Gregg was married to Anna L. Martin, May 13, 1891. She was born in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania in February, 1872, a daughter of Jacob E. and Addiline ( Keys) Martin, both natives of Pennsylvania, and whose children were twelve in number, the older being Mrs. Gregg. Her father served in the Civil war four and a half years, going out with a Pennsylvania regiment. He is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, and in politics, a staunch Republican.

Mr. and Mrs. Gregg have become the parents of four children, two of whom are living, Joseph W. and Susan Alsina. John Carson, died aged seven years; Mary E., died aged five years. While the family is not in possession of a true and correct genealogy, it is known that the subject's great-grandfather, John Brown, came from Scotland at a very early date and that he was a Revolutionary soldier. Mr. Gregg's maternal ancestors are of German stock, descending from the old Kumler family, who were pioneers in the settlement of Ohio.

NICHOLAS DAVIS ORME .- Distinguished as a native born citizen of Clay county and as the representative of an honored pioneer family, Nicholas Davis Orme is eminently worthy of representation in a work of this character. A son of John Orme, he was born February 13, 1853, in Van Buren township, and has here spent his entire life. He was named for his grandfather, Nicholas Davis Orme, whose father, it is supposed, came from England to America with a brother, from whom he was soon after separated and never again saw. The grandfather lived for many years in Lewis county, Kentucky, from there coming, in 1827, to Indiana, becoming one of the very early settlers of Hancock county. Re- moving a few years later to Johnson county, he was there employed in tilling the soil until his death, at a good old age. He married Penelope Pell, by whom he had several children. . Born in Kentucky, John Orme lived there until eight years old, when he came with his parents to this state. He obtained a limited knowledge of books in the pioneer schools of Hancock and Johnson counties, and this, with the lessons in honesty, thrift and industry that he received from his parents, became the foundation for his future success. About 1840 he bought eighty acres of heavily timbered land in Clay county, paying one dollar per acre for it. Building a small log house, he began the im- provement of the land, living there a few years. Selling them, he pur- chased in section eight, one hundred and sixty acres, on which a few acres had been cleared and a set of log buildings erected, the house being the one in which his son Nicholas, the subject of this sketch, first opened his eyes to the light of this world. Clearing and improving a good farm and erecting a substantial set of farm buildings, he lived there until his death, March 25, 1899. A man of undaunted courage and industry, he met with deserved success in his undertakings and assisted his children to secure homes for themselves. His first wife, whose maiden name was Margaret Russell, was born in Marion county, Indiana, October 8, 1823, and died in the fifty-sixth year of her age. Eight of her children grew to maturity, namely: Rebecca E., Hannah A., James, Zenobee, Nicholas Davis, Charles C., Jossa Ann and Andrew. The father married for his second wife Mrs. Indiana ( Webster) Woods, by whom he had two

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children, Robert O. and John S. A brief sketch of the life of Mrs. In- diana Orme may be found elsewhere in this volume.

Brought up on the home farm, Nicholas Davis Orme obtained the rudiments of his education in the old log schoolhouse of pioneer times, while under the wise teachings of his father he acquired a thorough knowledge of the various branches of farming. Taking upon himself the cares of a household, he bought the farm which he now owns and oc- cupies, and in the log house which stood upon it began housekeeping with his bride. Continuing his agricultural labors, he has cleared the land, set out fruit trees, erected a substantial set of buildings, and has now one of the best appointed and best cultivated estates to be found in the vicinity.

Mr. Orme married first, in 1881, Mary Jane Turner, who was born in Van Buren township, a daughter of James and Sally ( McMillan) Turner, pioneers of Clay county. She died in 1887. Mr. Orme married second, in 1889, Susan J. Pruett, who was born in Parke county. Her father, Frederick Pruett, was born in Kentucky, but when a young man migrated to Parke county, Indiana. After the breaking out of the Civil war he enlisted as a soldier, and died while in his country's service. His wife, whose maiden name was Ellen Spurgeon, was born in Ohio, a daughter of James Spurgeon, who was born in Germany, emigrated to the United States, and spent his last years in Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Orme have no children of their own, but Loucetta May Barnett, a young lady of fifteen, has lived with them since her infancy and knows no other home. Both Mr. and Mrs. Orme are consistent members of the United Brethren church.

MRS. INDIANA (WEBSTER) ORME .- A native of Indiana, Indiana (Webster) Orme was born in Parke county August 3, 1844, a daughter of Stewart Webster. Her grandfather, James Stewart Webster, was as far as known a native of Kentucky, but removed from there to Ohio, and for a number of years was engaged in agricultural pursuits near Cincin- nati. His wife dying, he came to Indiana to spend his last days with his son James, dying here in August, 1848.

Stewart Webster was born in Kentucky, went with the family to Ohio, and became familiar with the various branches of pioneer farming. About 1830, accompanied by his second wife and their four children, he came to Indiana, journeying overland with ox teams, a slow and tedious mode of travel compared with the rapidity with which we now speed across the continent. Securing a tract of heavily timbered government land in Raccoon township, Parke county, he cleared a space in which he erected a small log cabin, the house in which Mrs. Orme was subse- quently born. There were no railways in the state for many years after he came here, nor any conveniently located markets. Deer, wild turkeys, and game of other kinds were plentiful, furnishing food for the pioneers. The busy housewife of those days carded, spun, and wove the cloth for family use, Mrs. Orme as a girl each day accomplishing her stint in card- ing, spinning and weaving flax, wool and tow, and often says that she was a girl well along in her "teens" before she wore other than home- spun garments. Coffee was a luxury indulged in by none, the people of those days substituting a drink made of either corn or wheat; for tea using sassafras, sage, and spice wood, while their sugar and molasses were made from maple sap. After a few years Stewart Webster sold that land and purchased another tract near by, living there six months.

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Selling out, he then bought three hundred acres in Van Buren township, his purchase including the greater part of the present site of Carbon, and there resided until his death, October 18, 1873.

Mr. Webster was twice married. His second wife, the mother of Mrs. Orme, was Mrs. Lucy ( Sanders) Goodsell. She was born in Ken- tucky, a daughter of Charles Sanders, and died in Van Buren township August 3, 1873. By her first marriage she had one child, a daughter named Martha. By her union with Mr. Webster she had ten children, John J., Sanford, William Taylor, Hannah, Lizzie, Hester, Ann, Andrew, Indiana and Minerva J.

Indiana Webster obtained her early education in the pioneer log schoolhouse, remaining with her parents until 1861. On January 17, of that year, she became the wife of Samuel Woods, by whom she had one daughter, Hannah Mary. This daughter married Charles C. Orme, a son of John and Margaret ( Russell) Orme, and a brother of Nicholas D. Orme, of whom a sketch may be found on another page of this work. In October, 1879, Mrs. Woods married John Orme, whose life history is given in the above mentioned sketch. This union was blessed by the birth of two children, Robert O. and John S.

MRS. ELIZABETH SCHMALTZ BOTTERON .- The daughter of a pio- neer of Indiana and the widow of the late Emile Botteron, a much re- spected citizen of Harrison township, Mrs. Elizabeth S. Botteron is eminently deserving of mention in a work of this character. She was born November 7, 1845, in Wurtemberg, Germany, which was also the birthplace of her father, Gottlieb Schmaltz, and the life-long home of both of his parents.

Gottlieb Schmaltz served an apprenticeship at the blacksmith's trade when young, and followed it in his native country for a number of years. In 1846, with his wife and three children, he came across the ocean in a sailing vessel, and after a voyage of three months landed at New York City. Two of his brothers and four of his sisters also came to this coun- try, their names being Frederick, John, Mary, Elizabeth, Christina and Catherine. Mary, Christina and Frederick subsequently lived and died in Ohio, but John, Elizabeth and Catherine came to Indiana to live. Gottlieb Schmaltz proceeded at once from New York to New Bedford, Ohio, where his brother Frederick was living, and at once found employment with the Zoar Colony, receiving for wages six dollars per month, one half of which was to be taken in trade at the Colony store. At the end of two years he returned to New Bedford, where he continued at his trade until 1853. Coming then to Indiana, Mr. Schmaltz bought forty acres of land situated about one mile north of Marion township, and the log cabin standing on the place was the first home of the family in Owen county. He established himself as a blacksmith, and hired men to work and clear the land, he, himself, and his children, also assisting in his spare minutes. He was industrious, ambitious and thrifty, and met with great success in his undertakings, and added to his home estate until it contained one hundred and twenty acres of rich land. After acquiring a competency, Mr. Schmaltz gave up his trade, and for awhile gave his entire attention to his farm. Subsequently, in partnership with a son-in-law, he bought a flour mill, which he operated five years. Returning then to his homestead, he resided there, free from business cares, until his death, in the eighty; fourth year of his age.

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MR. AND MRS. EMILE BOTTERON

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Mr. Schmaltz married Barbara Elizabeth Bonnet, who was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, where her parents, Martin and Eva Bonnet, spent their entire lives. She died in the eightieth year of her age. Mr. and Mrs. Schmaltz were the parents of seven children that grew to maturity ; namely : Mary; Eva Ann; Elizabeth, now Mrs. Botteron; Christina; Paulina; Sophia; and George. Mary, who married Stephen Maegerlein, of Patricksburg, Owen county, died, in January. 1902, aged sixty-three years, and left ten children, George, John, Lizzie, Alice, Lottie, Bertha, Mollie, Arthur, Ernest and Florence. Eva Ann, wife of Henry Sinders, of Marion township, has thirteen children, Elizabeth, John, Ellen, George, William, David, Charles, Irvin, Ray, Mollie, Priscilla. Frederick and Annie. Christina married first David Klinger, also of Marion township, who at his death left her with four children, Elizabeth, Kate, Emma and Rheinhold. She married second John Reymond, of Brazil, and they have two children, Ethel and Mary. Paulina, wife of Henry Haas, has eleven children, Charles, Clara, Elizabeth, George, Lula, Alice, Ernest, Fred- erick, Guy, Ruth and Venton. Sophia, wife of Fred Fatch, has six chil- dren, Cora, George, Gertrude, Clara, Carl and Bonney. George married Clara Shaley, and they have five children, Carl, Herman, Ernest, Edward and Arthur.

Elizabeth Schmaltz was but an infant when her parents brought her to America. She attended school one term in Ohio, afterwards continuing her studies in the schools of Owen county. In common with her sisters and brother, she began when quite young to assist her parents, working both indoors and out, being well trained to habits of industry and use- fulness. At the age of twenty-one years she married Emile Botteron, who was born in Canton Berne, Switzerland, May 13, 1837. His father, Abraham Botteron, a native of the same canton, was there reared, edu- cated and married. Coming with his family to the United States in 1837, he settled at Becks Mills, Holmes county, Ohio, where he purchased the land on which he resided until 1852. Selling that property, he then came to Clay county, Indiana, and having bought a tract of wild land in section 22, Harrison township, at once began its improvement, his first step in that direction being to cut down trees to make room for a log cabin. Having his family installed in the cabin, he cleared the land, put a large part of it in a good state of cultivation, and subsequently erected a fine set of frame buildings in place of the first ones made of logs. There he carried on general farming most successfully until his death, in 1874, at the age of seventy-nine years. Although not a graduate physician, he had acquired considerable knowledge of medicine and surgery, and was often called upon in emergency cases. He was four times married, and reared four children, namely : Julia, Sophia. Emile and Mary.

Emile Botteron was brought across the ocean by his parents while in infancy, and was brought up and educated in Ohio, remaining at home until his parents removed to Bowling Green, when, for four years, he had charge of the home farm. He then purchased the farm on which Mrs. Botteron now resides. There were at that time about forty acres of it cleared, and on it was a frame building which had been erected for a meeting house, and into this he and his wife moved, occupying it as a dwelling until 1877, when he built a commodious frame house. An in- telligent, progressive and practical agriculturist, always ready to inves- tigate newer methods of carrying on his work, Mr. Botteron brought his farm to a high state of cultivation, and added to its improvements by

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building a frame barn and two tenant houses. In 1892 Mr. and Mrs. Botteron moved to Terra Haute and there built a beautiful home, but it was while he and his wife were visiting in Patrick burg. Indiana, that he died, January 19. 1897. Mrs. Botteron has since that time occupied the house. but rent- the land. She was reared and confirmed in the German . Lutheran faith. but, with Mr. Botteron, subsequently united with the Reformed Church, of which she is a valued member.

JAMES RUSSELL ALLEN, D. D. S .- A well-known and popular resi- dent of Clay City, James R. Allen, D. D. S., is an excellent representative of the dental profession of Clay county, which, perhaps, better represents the swift advance of science at this time than any other professional call- ing. Dentistry is an important branch of surgery, because of its required application at some period of life by almost every member of the human family. A native of Indiana, the doctor was born October 1, 1870, at Shel- burn, Sullivan county.

James Thomas Allen was the doctor's father. Learning the trade of a harness maker when young he followed it in various localities, including Logansport, Indiana, where he spent his last years, dying there in 1897. He married for his second wife Joan McManus, whose mother before marriage was a Miss Shelburn, whose ancestors were pioneers of Sul- livan county, and in whose honor the town of Shelburn received its name. She died in early womanhood. Mr. Allen had married for his first wife a Miss Lane. By his second marriage he was the father of four children, as follows : Cora, James Russell, Alma and John.

During his youthful days James R. Allen attended school very regu- larly, and during vacations assisted his father on the farm. At the age of sixteen years, desiring to develop his natural mechanical skill, he entered the employment of the Central Manufacturing Company at Terre Haute, where he continued four years. He then began the study of dentistry with Dr. C. F. Williams, and was subsequently graduated from the Indiana Dental College in Indianapolis, receiving the degree of D. D. S. from that institution in 1897. He settled immediately in Clay City, and has since remained here, having by his acknowledged skill and close attention to his professional duties built up a large and remunera- tive practice.

In May, 1898, Dr. Allen married Grace Zook, a daughter of Dr. David Isaac and Emma ( Minner ) Zook, and they have one child, Joan. True to the religious faith in which she was reared, Mrs. Allen is a Presbyterian. Fraternally the Doctor is a member of Clay City Lodge, No. 131, Knights of Pythias; and of Clay City Camp, Modern Woodmen of America.

LAFAYETTE WILLIAMS .- As an important factor in promoting the agricultural interests of Clay county, and as the descendant of two pio- neer families of prominence, Lafayette Williams, of Van Buren town- ship. is eminently worthy of representation in a work of this character. He is an excellent representative of the native-born citizens of this place. his birth having occurred July 10. 1851, on the farm he now owns and occupies. His father. John H. Williams, was born in Randolph county, North Carolina, and his grandfather, George Williams, was born in North Carolina of Welsh ancestry.

In 1830, accompanied by his wife and six children, George Williams

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came to Indiana, making the overland journey with a pair of oxen and a cart. He brought with him all of his worldly possessions, which were but few, and like all other emigrants of that time cooked and camped by the way. After arriving in Clay county he first occupied a log cabin situated on land owned by John Graves, and located in the northeast corner of the southeast quarter of section fifteen. Very soon after he entered the west half of the northeast quarter of section twenty, and in the unbroken wilderness built for himself and family a log cabin, which had a puncheon floor and a chimney made of earth and sticks. Deer, wild hogs and turkeys, fattened by the walnuts, beechnuts and acorns found everywhere in the thick woods, furnished plenty of food for the family, and were cooked by the good wife before the open fire, she never in her life using a stove of any description. He kept sheep and raised flax, from which his wife carded, spun and wove the homespun with which she clothed the household. Both he and his wife, whose maiden name was Sarah Presnal, lived to a good old age, dying on the homestead which they redeemed from the forest. They had six children, as fol- lows : John, Eliza, Ferby, Lucinda, Edward and George.

John H. Williams came with the family to Clay county and subse- quently bought from his father one hundred and twenty acres of land located in sections fifteen, twenty-one and twenty-two. On that part situated in section fifteen there was at the time of purchase a log house, in which his son Lafayette was subsequently born. The house, which has been removed to the southeast corner of that section, is still in good repair, notwithstanding that it is one of the oldest houses in the county. He cleared a large part of the land, and was employed in cultivating the soil until his death, November 17, 1851. He was one of the pioneer merchants of this part of the county, having soon after his arrival here opened a store of general merchandise in Brazil, the first in the place. John H. Williams married Mary Graves, a daughter of the John Graves mentioned above. Mr. Graves was a Virginian by birth, and lived in his native state until 1827. In that year he started with his family for Indiana, traveling across the country with ox teams. While on the way the family stopped at the foot of the Blue Ridge, and in the camp their daughter Mary was born. Upon arriving in Clay county, Mr. Graves entered government land in section fifteen, in what is now Van Buren township. The county was then but sparsely populated, and, in fact, none of the adjoining land had many settlements, the nearest post office being in Owen county. He subsequently entered another tract of land, that including the present site of Harmony. When the National Road was built he erected a commodious house and a large barn, and there kept a stage station for a number of years. Mr. Graves married Mar- garet Smotherman, a native of North Carolina, and both spent their last years in Harmony. After the death of her first husband, Mrs. Mary (Graves), Williams married his brother, Edward Williams. She died at the age of seventy-five years, in 1902. By her first marriage she had two children, Henry Clay, now living in Kansas; and Lafayette, the special subject of this sketch. By her second marriage she reared six children, namely : Thomas C., Armilda, Isadora, Benjamin F., Jane and Ulysses S.

A life-long resident of Van Buren township, Lafayette Williams succeeded to the ownership of the farm on which he was born and reared and is carrying on general farming with most satisfactory results. He has made improvements of great value and excellence, having enlarged

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and remodeled the house, set out fruit, shade and ornamental trees, and otherwise added to the attractiveness of the place, the farm, with its well- tilled fields, evincing in a marked degree the thrift, ability and excellent management of the owner. In this state, in 1833, while the woods were standing, was held the first Methodist camp meeting in Clay county.

Mr. Williams married, in July, 1881, Elizabeth E. Buchanan. She was born in Jefferson county, a daughter of George W. Buchanan. Her Grandfather Buchanan, who was of Scotch descent, was a pioneer settler of Jefferson county. Her father served in the Union army during the Civil war, after which he lived a few years in Jefferson county, coming to Clay county in 1869, he carried on farming until his death, in 1895. His wife, whose maiden name was Sarah J. Little, was born in Ohio, and died in 1882 in Indiana. Mr. and Mrs. Williams have three children, namely : Judge Leonard, Benjamin H. and Olonzo F. Judge Leonard married Artie Girton, and Benjamin H. married Loena Frost. Politically Mr. Williams casts his ballot in favor of the Republican party, and religiously both he and his wife are members of the United Brethren church.

WALTER B. RINGO .- Prominent among the more progressive and influential residents of Cass township is Walter B. Ringo, a leading agri- culturist and the representative of an honored pioneer family of Clay county. A man of keen business perceptions, wide-awake and alert, he has met with undoubted success in his undertakings, and is connected with many of the leading enterprises of this part of the state. A son of the late Morgan B. Ringo, he was born August 28, 1858, in Cass township, of Holland ancestry.

Major Ringo, grandfather of Walter B., was born in Kentucky, and from there came, in 1833, to Clay county, Indiana. Entering a tract of timbered land near Stanton, Posey township, he improved a farm which he afterwards sold at an advantage. He subsequently entered other tracts of land in Posey township, and there spent the remainder of his life, pass- ing away at a good old age. He married Elizabeth Brown, who was born in Kentucky and died in Posey township; Indiana.

A native of Kentucky, Morgan B. Ringo came with his parents to Clay county when young, and there grew to manhood. Soon after his marriage he bought land in Van Buren township, and there improved a farm, erecting substantial buildings and setting out fruit and ornamental trees. While living there he took a contract for work on the local rail- road, "The Vandalia," and constructed one mile of it. About twenty years after his marriage, he sold his first farm and secured a tract in Cass township, on the Eel river. He continually added to his original pur- chase, becoming owner of more than a thousand acres of choice land, and for a number of years was one of the largest farmers and stock-raisers in Clay county. He was very prominent in public affairs, and for two terms represented Sullivan and Clay counties in the state senate, being first elected to the position in 1872. He died December 1I, 1878, when but fifty-nine years old, his death being a decided loss to the community. He married Mary Ann Mckinley, who was born in Kentucky, a daughter of George G. and Barbara (Belk) Mckinley, natives of Kentucky, and of Irish descent. She survived him a long time, passing away January 6, 1900, aged seventy-six years. Four sons and four daughters were born of their union, and of these four children are now living, as follows : Nathan-

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A History of Clay County Indiana (Volume 2), Part 16

Author: William Travis Publication date: 1909 Publisher: Number of Pages: 631

Author: William Travis
Publication date: 1909
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 631