A History of Clay County Indiana (Volume 2), Part 18

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

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Davis, who was born in Caseyville, Illinois, daughter of David and Ann Davis, both of whom were natives of Wales. Her father was a coal miner by occupation. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph S. C. Sowar are as follows: Gertrude, wife of George Reifenberg, who resides in Brazil; Blanche, Catherine, Charles, David, Edwin and Elizabeth, also living in that city. Two children are deceased.

JOHN I. BRYAN, who is numbered among the prominent farmers of Posey township, was born on the farm on which he now resides in section 24, June 18, 1847. His father, Morgan H. Bryan, was for many years identified with the agricultural interests of this community, but was born in Henry county, Kentucky, May 5, 1812. After attaining to mature years he came to Indiana and located south of Terre Haute, but after one year there came to Clay county and entered forty acres of land in Posey township. He built his log cabin thereon, but after a short time moved from there to Billtown and worked on the National road for about two years, and at the close of that period returned to his former home in Posey township and built another log house, also cleared forty acres of his land. With the advancing years he added to his original purchase until he be- came the owner of one hundred and sixty acres, of which he cleared about one hundred and twenty acres and made the farm one of the best in the township. He married a native daughter of Montgomery county, Kentucky, Lydia Williams, born and reared there, and she was of English descent, while her husband was of Irish descent. They became the parents of eight children, all born in Posey township, three sons and five daugh- ters, and five of the number are now deceased. Mr. Bryan, the father, gave his political support throughout life to the Democracy, and he died on the old farm which he had cleared and improved here September 29, 1869, a valued and worthy member of the Predestinarian Baptist church.

John I. Bryan spent his boyhod days on the old Bryan farm here, attending the district schools of Posey township, and on the 25th of March, 1877, he was married to Minerva A. Triplett, who was born in Ohio, and departed this life February 1, 1905. She was reared in Dick Johnson township of Clay county, where her parents, French and Sarah Triplett, were prominent farming people. The eight children of this union are: Nora, Nellie, Luella, Charles W., Edna Pearl, Minnie, Ethel and Anna, all of whom were born on the homestead farm, and one, Min- nie, is now deceased. The Bryan farm contains eighty acres, a part of the homestead of his father, and he has cleared about twelve acres of this tract, and during the past five years he has operated a saw mill,; conduct- ing the mill during the winter months and farming in the summers. He gives his political allegiance to the Democratic party.

ROY L. SHATTUCK .- In the last half century the lawyer has been a pre-eminent factor in all affairs of private concern and national import- ance. The man versed in the laws of the country, as distinguished from business men or politicians, has been a recognized power. He has been depended upon to conserve the best and permanent interests of the whole city and without him and the approval of his practical judgment the effort of the statesman and the industry of the business man and mechanic would have proved futile. The reason is not far to seek. The professional lawyer is never the creature of circumstance. The profession is open to talent and eminence or success cannot be obtained except by indomitable

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HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY

energy, perseverance, patience and strong mentality. Moreover, the analytical power and inductive train of thought necessary to the lawyer enables him to readily understand any situation and to combine its parts into a whole. Possessing the requisite characters of the able lawyer, Mr. Shattuck has attained distinction at the bar and, moreover, is a factor in corporate business interests, while in public life as mayor of Brazil his service has been characterized by all that is progressive in municipal affairs. His record stands in contradistinction to the old adage that a prophet is never without honor save in his own country, for Mr. Shattuck is a native son of the city which has honored him by election to its chief office and which through the consensus of public opinion accords him prominence as a representative of the legal fraternity.

Mr. Shattuck was born June 2, 1871, his parents being Volney B. and Henrietta Bessie (Pearce) Shattuck. The father, a native of Vigo county, Indiana, was born March 10, 1846. His paternal grandfather, Benjamin F. Shattuck, was born in New York, June 4, 1813, and in 1820 became a resident of Vigo county, Indiana, whence he removed to Clay county in 1847. His first wife died June 25, 1851, and on the 18th of May, 1852, he wedded Marian James, a native of Monroe county, Ken- tucky, born November 20, 1830. By his first marriage he had seven chil- dren. He resided in Williamstown, Clay county, until the autumn of 1855, when he took up his abode upon the present site of the city of Brazil, purchasing a large tract of land. As the years passed he pros- pered in his business pursuits and left to his family a valuable estate. By his second marriage there were born eight children. The death of the husband and father occurred June 14, 1871, and for some time he was survived by his widow, who managed the business interests of the estate. The family are all members of the Christian church and the name of Shattuck has in this county been synonymous with progress in material, intellectual and moral lines.

Volney Shattuck, father of our subject, was born in Vigo county, March 10, 1846, and was reared upon the home farm, early becoming familiar with all the duties and labors incident to its development. His educational privileges were somewhat limited owing to the primitive con- dition of the schools of that time, yet by industry and application he man- aged to acquire a fair business education and through reading and observa- tion as the years have gone by has constantly broadened his knowledge. In 1864, at the age of eighteen years, he responded to the country's call for troops, joining the One Hundred and Thirty-third Indiana Infantry, after which he was stationed at Bridgeport, Alabama, until the cessation of hostilities. When the war was over he returned home and engaged in teaming and in the livery business. Later he established a grocery store, but as the venture did not prove remunerative he sold out in 1877. He afterward filled the office of deputy under Sheriff Hagart and also under Sheriff Lankford, and subsequently was appointed to a position on the police force. In the spring of 1881, when the police force was reduced to two patrolmen, the choice of the board was for Mr. Shattuck and Charles Hutchinson. He has been an officer loyal to the public interests in every respect and over the record of his official career there falls no shadow of wrong nor suspicion of evil.

On the 16th of September, 1869, Mr. Shattuck was married to Miss Bessie Pearce, a native of Ross, Herefordshire, England. She was a mem- ber of the Christian church and lived a life loyal to its teachings, passing

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away on the 4th of July, 1895. By this marriage there were seven sons and two daughters: Roy L., whose name introduces this review ; Ralph. P .; Volta V .; Austin M .; Fred W .; Edna H., who is engaged in teaching school : Essa M .; Scott, who lost his life through coming in contact with an electric wire; and one who died in infancy. The father, Volney B. Shattuck, still survives and is a respected citizen of Brazil. He belongs to General Canby Post, No. 2, G. A. R., and gives stalwart political allegiance to the Republican party.

Roy L. Shattuck, educated in the public schools of Brazil, passed through consecutive grades until he completed the high-school course by graduation with the class of 1888. He then took up the study of law and after private reading pursued a special course in law in the University of Indiana at Indianapolis. On the 5th of June, 1898, he opened an office in Brazil, and during the years 1901 and 1902 was associated in practice with his brother-in-law, Howard C. Carter. On the 5th of May, 1904, the present law firm of Shattuck & McNutt was organized. This is recognized as one of the strong law firms of the city and a liberal clientage is ac- corded them, connecting them with the most important litigation tried in the courts of the district. Mr. Shattuck's success in a professional way affords the best evidence of his capabilities in this line. He is a strong advocate with the jury and concise in his appeals before the courts. Much of the success which has attended him in his professional career is un- doubtedly due to the fact that he prepares his cases with great thorough- ness and care, preparing as well for the defense as for the attack. He throws himself easily and naturally into the argument with a self-posses- sion and deliberation that indicates no straining after effect, but showing a precision and clearness in his statement, an acuteness and strength in his argument which speak a mind trained in the severest school of investi- gation and to which the closest reasoning has become habitual and easy.

Mr. Shattuck has not only gained prominence at the bar but has also made a record as mayor of the city which reflects credit upon himself and his constituents. He was elected to the office of chief executive of the city in May, 1903, by a large vote, and his first term of two years received public endorsement in the increased majority given him in No- vember, 1905, when he was re-elected by the largest vote ever given a mayor of Brazil. He entered upon his duties resolved that he would be mayor of the city and that he would be controlled by no machine or "boss" rule, and in the discharge of his duties has displayed a sense of conscien- tious obligation which is an indication of that seemingly universal move- ment toward cleaner and higher politics. He has advocated reform, has stood for progress and has secured the adoption of various measures which have been of direct value to the city. While a stalwart Republican, he has not been partisan in the discharge of his duties, and ever places the welfare of the community before personal aggrandizement. Believing firmly in the principles of the Republican party, he has ever done what he could for its success and growth as a patriotic American citizen, and in 1892 served as secretary of the Republican county central committee. Aside from his professional interests he is vice president of the Brazil Lumber Company and is president of the Brazil Amusement Company, which is capitalized for ten thousand dollars.

On the 7th of October, 1894, Mr. Shattuck was married to Miss Olive Carter, who was born in Bowling Green. Clay county, Indiana, March 17, 1871, a daughter of Major William W. and Lucy (Campbell)

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Carter. Her parents were married on the 16th of June, 1869, and had two children: Mrs. Shattuck, and Howard Carter, who engaged in the practice of law in partnership with Mr. Shattuck until his death, which occurred December 6, 1903.

Mr. and Mrs. Shattuck have become the parents of three children, but the second, Carter B., died in infancy. Those still living are Lucy E. and William B. In social circles Mr. and Mrs. Shattuck occupy a promi- nent position, while their own home is justly celebrated for its gracious and warm-hearted hospitality. Mr. Shattuck belongs to Centennial lodge, No. 541, A. F. and A. M .; Brazil chapter, No. 59, R. A. M .; and is a charter member of Elks lodge, No. 762, of which he has been exalted ruler for two terms. He is supreme counsel of the Home Defenders of America, and is a member of the Sons of Veterans. Throughout Brazil he is spoken of in terms of admiration and respect. His life has been so varied in its activity, so honorable in its purposes, so far-reaching and beneficial in its effects that it has become an integral part of the history of the city.

MAJOR WILLIAM W. CARTER was born in Warren county, Ohio, Sep- tember 10, 1836, a son of John and Jemima ( Patton) Carter, the former a native of Virginia, the latter of Indiana and of English and Welsh lineage. His paternal grandfather served as one of the heroes of the Revolutionary war and was with the forces under General Washington at the surrender of Yorktown. For a short time his father was a teamster in the second war with Great Britain. In October, 1837, he removed with his parents to Clay county, Indiana, the family home being established in Posey township, which at that time was an almost unbroken district. While spending his boyhood days in that pioneer home Major Carter learned the use of the axe, the mattock and the hoe, and in the primitive school of the neighborhood mastered the elementary branches of English learning. He was ambitious for an education, however, and at the age of seventeen eagerly availed himself of the opportunity offered of becom- ing a pupil in the literary department of Asbury University, where he remained for two years. He then determined to become a member of the bar, and to this end studied under the direction of Hon. R. W. Thompson and Hon. H. D. Scott, the former at one time secretary of the navy, while the latter was a member of congress and judge of the circuit court. In order to replenish his greatly depleted funds Major Carter again took up the work of the farm and when he had acquired a sufficient sum of money to enable him to continue his studies he matriculated in the law department of the Asbury University in 1857 and was graduated with honors in the spring of 1859. He located for practice in Bowling Green, then the county seat of Clay county, and a few months later formed a partnership with Hon. D. E. Williamson, of Greencastle, Indiana. He made rapid advance- ment at the bar and also attained prominence in public life. At that time Clay county was largely Democratic and Major Carter established the first Republican paper of the county-the Hoosier Patriot-which had an existence but a few months, however, from January until December, 1860.

After the outbreak of the Civil war Major Carter put aside all busi- ness and personal considerations, offering his services to the government as a private of Company D, Seventy-first Indiana Volunteer Infantry, on the 22nd of July, 1862. He was mustered in on the 18th of August and went immediately to the front. At the first call for seventy-five thousand

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troops for three months he had raised at his home a company, but the call was filled and he was compelled to disband his company. From that time until he became an active soldier at the front he was engaged in raising troops. The first engagement in which he participated was the battle of Richmond, Kentucky, August 30, 1862, on which date he and a large number of the regiment were captured, the battle resulting in defeat to the Union troops. After the prisoners had been paroled the regiment went to Camp Dick Thompson at Terre Haute, Indiana, and remained there until the last of December, 1862. An exchange of the prisoners was effected in the preceding September, and the regiment again went into active service. At Richmond, Kentucky, Major William Conkling had been killed and on the 13th of December, 1862, there occurred a remark- able incident of commissioning a private soldier to the command of the battalion, Private Carter being thus promoted over the heads of commis- sioned and non-commissioned officers to the rank of major. From Jan- uary, 1863, until the 4th of July the regiment was stationed at Indian- apolis, guarding rebel prisoners. It was then recruited and became the Sixth Indiana Cavalry. When Morgan made his raid into Indiana and Ohio, the Seventy-first Indiana was sent to the Ohio river to intercept the movement. During the succeeding September and October the battalion was stationed at Mount Sterling, Kentucky, and in November at Somerset and in December in eastern Tennessee, where they suffered greatly on ac- count of insufficient food and clothing. They then returned to Mount Sterling and afterward proceeded to Paris and to Camp Nelson, becoming a part of General Sherman's army, joining the main army near Dalton, Georgia, about the 10th of May, 1864. Major Carter's command re- mained with General Sherman's forces until they reached Atlanta, partici- pating actively in most of the great battles of that memorable campaign, after which they returned to Nashville. There orders came to proceed to Pulaski, Tennessee, where they participated in a hotly contested engage- ment with the Confederates under General Forrest. Major Carter there commanded a brigade and was complimented for his gallantry on the field by General Croxton. Major Carter returned to Nashville, but soon afterward became ill and for several weeks was confined to his bed at home. He rejoined his command soon after the battle of Nashville and in March, 1865, was ordered with his regiment from Edgefield to Pulaski, where, on the last day of June, they were mustered out and sent home. Major Carter was a brave and gallant officer, inspiring his men with his own valor and loyalty.

Returning to the north after the close of the war, Major Carter resumed the practice of law in Bowling Green and attained prominence in other lines. In 1868 he was the Republican candidate for congress and was defeated by a very small vote, running far ahead of the party ticket. In 1868 he became a law partner of Hon. Silas D. Coffey, which continued until March, 1881. In May, 1877, they removed to Brazil, which became the county seat of Clay county. In 1878 he was the Republican nominee for representative. He was always recognized as one of the prominent members of his party and stood loyally by its interests, although he well knew that it was the party of the minority in Clay county. On the 5th of April, 1883, he was appointed and commissioned by President Arthur as collector of internal revenue for the Seventh district of Indiana. The position is a most responsible one, but Major Carter discharged its duties with the same ability and dispatch which marked him as an able soldier.

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He deserves classification with the eminent lawyers of the state, being recognized as a leader at the Clay county bar, while his abilities qualified him to cross swords in forensic combat with the most distinguished mem- bers of the profession in the state. His death occurred August 8, 1891, in Brazil, and thereby the county lost one of its representative and honored citizens. His widow still survives and is yet living in Brazil.

ROBERT HENKEL, owner and publisher of the Daily Times of Brazil, which he established in 1888, was born in Germantown, Ohio, September 20, 1866. His parents, E. M. and Sarah J. Henkel, were also natives of Ohio and the father, who was a veteran of the Civil war, was associated with his son Robert in the newspaper business for sixteen years. The ancestry of the family is traced back to Count Henkel, who was father confessor to the Queen of Norway but espousing the cause of Martin Luther he was forced to flee to America and settled at Newmarket, Vir- ginia. The family has been connected with newspaper interests and the printing business for over a century. The grandfather of Robert Henkel was an artist, who engraved seals of states and did other art work. In 1806 he established at Newmarket, Virginia, a newspaper called The Shenandoah Valley, which paper has since been published by members of the family. He was also prominent in the moral development of the various localities, established many Lutheran churches in Ohio and was the first president of the Ohio State College at Columbus.

Robert Henkel pursued his education in the graded schools of Craw- fordsville, Indiana, to the age of fourteen years, when he entered the printing office, there readily mastering the business until after a three years' experience he established what is now the Crawfordsville Daily Journal. He has been connected with newspaper interests for twenty-nine years, twenty-six years as a publisher, and is one of the well known repre- sentatives of journalism in Indiana. In 1879 he went into a newspaper office in Rockville, Indiana, and a year later entered the newspaper field at Crawfordsville. In 1883 he began the publication of the Crawfords- ville Daily Journal and in 1885 removed to Laporte, Indiana, where he established what is now the Laporte Daily Herald. A year later, how- ever, he sold that paper and removed to Coldwater, Kansas, where he was again in the newspaper business. In 1888 he established the Brazil Daily Times, having then but a capital of a dollar and sixty cents, and with no type, paper or any other supplies with which to establish the venture. However, he leased a small stock of type and turned his press by hand. The success which has attended the venture is indicated in considerable measure by the fact that he now has the largest newspaper plant in Clay county, while his printing office is thoroughly equipped with all modern devices known to the printer's art. Mr. Henkel has published an inde- pendent newspaper for twenty-five years. He has never been in politics nor championed the interests of the party, although he has stood loyally in defense of candidates whom he believed would prove capable, honest officials. He is now not only publishing the Daily Times, a most suc- cessful journal of Brazil, but is also supreme editor of the Home Defend- ers of America, in which connection he represents a fraternal insurance order, of which he was one of the founders. He is likewise treasurer of the Union Hospital Association of Brazil and he belongs to the Mod- . ern Woodmen camp and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. On the 18th of Febraury, 1890, at Coldwater, Kansas, Mr. Henkel

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was married to Miss Mary Josephine Cole, whose grandfather was the second resident of Minneapolis, Minnesota, and a director of the Henne- pin National Bank of that city at the time of his death. Mr. and Mrs. Henkel have two children living: Louise, born May 12, 1896; and Helen, born March 12, 1898. They lost one son, Frank, who was born in 1891, and died in 1898. Mr. Henkel has always been a man of broad and liberal views, a student of the signs and interests of the times, and yet fearless in defense of his individual opinions and honest convictions.

WILLIAM W. RISHER, the present superintendent and general man- ager of the Crawford Coal Company, was born in Pennsylvania within Westmoreland county, December 28, 1831, a son of John and Mary (Hawk) Risher. Mr. Risher's father was born near Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, in 1797 and died aged eighty-two years. The mother was born in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, in 1799 and died aged eighty-six years. John Risher was a thrifty farmer in Pennsylvania, and in his religious faith was a Methodist. Politically, he first supported the Whig and later the Republican party. but never cared to hold public office. His wife was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church for sixty years. They had 12 children, eight sons and four daughters, of whom but three now survive, George W. dying in March, 1908. They are: William W .; Isnid D., who resides in Sullivan county ; and Samuel, of Brazil.

When but eleven years of age William W. commenced to work on the canal, for which he received seven dollars a month, and held such position for six years. At the age of seventeen years he walked seventy- five miles, to Mercer county. This was in August, 1848, and he worked at coal mining for one man for six years. He married and after mining about one year went into business with Samuel Strain at Sharon, Penn- sylvania. From 1857 to 1873 he, with his brother, J. T., mined coal near Middlesex, and in 1864 came to Brazil, Indiana, and leased coal lands with Samuel Strain, A. L. Crawford and J. M. Crawford. In all they leased about eighteen thousand acres of block coal land. They also pur- chased the Pilling mines at Knightsville and built the first building in the place, the same being used as their office. In 1866 they sunk the second shaft, which was near where the Methodist church now stands: Finally, Mr. Risher sold his interest in the mines to Hitchcock & An- drews, of Youngstown, Ohio, after which he located in the mining busi- ness on the Ohio river, near Newburg. This adventure did not prove successful and he operated at a considerable loss. He next returned to Brazil, Indiana, and there purchased the Ashley shaft, in the autumn of 1872; he had previously bought the Bartlett farm near Brazil. He also leased coal lands of V. Burch, Dickson & Co. Subsequently, he bought the improvement of the Ashley shaft and continued to operate this mine up to 1880, when he sold to the Brazil Block Coal Company. The next. two years he followed farming, but being a thorough coal man, he drifted back into the mining business, associating himself with the Craw- ford Coal Co., where he has been acting as superintendent and general manager for the last twenty years.

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A History of Clay County Indiana (Volume 2), Part 18

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

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