A History of Clay County Indiana (Volume 2), Part 28

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

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JAMES A. MCCULLOUGH .- Prominent among the leading citizens of Clay City, Indiana, is James A. Mccullough, a trustee of Harrison township and an active and influential member of the Democratic party. He was born, May 7, 1858, in Washington township, Putnam county, In- diana, and there grew to man's estate. He is a son of Wesley and Rachel J. (Paul) Mccullough, of whom further notice may be found in connection with the sketch of W. H. Mccullough, which appears else- where in this volume.

In the days of his boyhood and youth James A. Mccullough assisted his father in clearing and improving a homestead, watching with grati- fication its gradual development from a wilderness to a rich and fertile farm, yielding bountiful harvests. Continuing in the occupation to which he was reared, he was engaged in agricultural pursuits in Putnam county until 1885, when he located in Clay county. In 1891 Mr. Mc- Cullough embarked in mercantile business at Eel River Station, where for eleven years he dealt in general merchandise and grain. Coming from there to Clay City in 1903, he conducted a livery and feed stable until elected to his present position of township trustee. In this office, for which he is well fitted, he is rendering excellent service, winning the approval of all concerned.

In 1884 Mr. Mccullough married Melville Mace, who was born. in Clay county, Indiana, a daughter of Henry J. and Harriet (Stigler) Mace. Mr. and Mrs. McCullough are the parents of four children, namely : Maud, Mern, May and Earl. Fraternally Mr. Mccullough is a member of Clay City Lodge, No. 562, F. and A. M., of Clay City, Ind.

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JOSEPH W. COLTHARP .- One of the valuable and attractive home- steads of Jackson township is the property of Joseph W. Coltharp, who has been identified with the farming and stock raising interests of this county for a number of years. He located on his present farm in the fall following his marriage, purchasing at that time eighty acres, and with the passing years he has cleared and improved his land. During the winter months he follows coal mining.

Mr. Coltharp was born in Putnam county, Indiana, August 18, 1868, a son of Preston Coltharp, whose genealogy appears on other pages of this history. He obtained his educational training in the district schools of Jackson township, and on the 7th of April, 1895, was married to Viola Vickroy, who was born in Jackson township, Clay county, Indi- ana, and they have three children,-Otis, Mary and William,-all born on their father's present homestead. Mr. Coltharp gives his political alle- giance to the Democracy, and is a member of the Knights of Pythias fraternity.

William T. Vickroy, the father of Mrs. Coltharp, is a retired farmer and stock raiser of Jackson township, and was born in Bedford county, Pennsylvania, May 3, 1841, a son of James Ross Vickroy, who was born, reared and married in that commonwealth, wedding Elizabeth Sliger, who was also born and reared in that state. In their family were eleven children, six sons and five daughters, of whom William T. is the fifth child and second son. Mr. Vickroy, the father, supported the principles of the Democratic party throughout his mature years, and was a soldier of the Civil war. His death occurred in Pennsylvania.

William T. Vickroy came to Clay county, Indiana, in 1866, and bought eighty acres of land in Jackson township, a part of which he cleared and improved, and for a time he also lived in Harmony, engaged in the mercantile business and at the carpenter's trade, following the latter occupation for many years. During six years he farmed in Coles and Cumberland counties, Illinois, and then, returning to Clay county, he located on the farm which he now owns, renting the land during the first seven years. The homestead contains eighty acres of fertile and well improved land.

He married, on the 26th of December, 1869, Mary Addison, who was born in Muskingum county, Ohio, August 31, 1837, a daughter of Jacob and Angelesa (Thomson) Addison, natives, respectively, of Dela- ware and Virginia. Mrs. Vickroy is the eldest daughter and second child of their three children. Her father was a farmer in Muskingum county, Ohio, for a number of years, and after his death, which occurred when she was young, her mother married John Elmore, by whom she had six children, four sons and two daughters. Mr. Elmore came with his family to Clay county, Indiana, in 1861, purchasing a farm of eighty acres in Jackson township, and he spent the remainder of his life here. Five daughters have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Vickroy: Cora Ellen, deceased; Viola, who became the wife of William Coltharp; Molly and Minnie, both also deceased; and Welmenta, the wife of Walter Maurer. Mr. Vickroy affiliates with the Democracy and is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.

AUGUST HENRY SCHROER, a prominent farmer and live stock raiser of Washington township, Clay county, was born in the township named, on the 31st of July, 1854, and is a son of Henry T. and Margaret Ann

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(Fraza) Schroer. The parents were natives of Westcaple, Teclenburg, Prussia, the father born February 19, 1812, and the mother, March 8, 1817. Henry T. Schroer came to the United States in the fall of 1833, arriving at St. Louis, where he first resided, on the 4th of August of that year. His future wife became a resident of the city October 11, 1837, and on the 19th of September, 1839, the Rev. Mr. Wall united them in marriage. For about three years following his arrival in St. Louis, Henry T. Schroer was employed in a saloon, but after his mar- riage he removed to Washington township and bought eighty acres of timber land and commenced the founding of a homestead. He cleared the tract and placed the land under cultivation, but after residing thereon with his family for thirteen years bought a farm of four hundred acres in section 10 of the same township, forty acres of which lay in the rich Eel river bottom. The last place he purchased was timber land entirely, which he also improved, thoroughly cultivating the land and erecting new buildings, spacious and convenient for the operations of the farm. The father died on the 7th of September, 1889, and his wife on the Ist of March, 1895. Eight children were born to them, three of whom died in infancy, and all were born in Washington township. Fred, the eldest of the family, died in Terre Haute, Indiana, on the Ist of January, 1905, at the age of sixty-three years. Sarah married John D. Kattman, while Herman and August, the third and fourth of the family, are farm- ers of Washington township, and Mary C. became Mrs. Ford Kord, also of that township.

August H. Schroer attended the district schools of Washington town- ship, and resided with his parents on the home farm as long as they lived. As a step toward independence he first purchased twenty-five acres on Eel river bottom, and fifteen acres south of Bowling Green, and after the death of his parents he purchased from the other heirs the home- stead and one hundred and fifty-five acres of the family estate. He has since developed his property so as to continually elevate it in value and attractiveness, and has devoted it both to general farming purposes and the raising of live stock-horses, cattle and hogs. He has also been deeply interested in the work of the German Reformed church, his promi- nent connection with it being somewhat indicated by his service of two years as deacon and six years as trustee.

Mr. Schroer's marriage to Miss Sophia Kettler occurred on the 26th of February, 1881, his wife being a native of Cincinnati, Ohio daughter of John and Mary Kettler, who were both born in Germany. Their child, Laura Anna, born January 3, 1882, married Scott Burford, of Rockville, Indiana. The wife and mother died on the 26th of February, 1883, and on January 3, 1889, Mr. Schroer contracted a second marriage with Mary Jane Albright. She was born in Jackson township, January I, 1867, a daughter of William and Catherine (Wilds) Albright, the father being a native of North Carolina, and the mother of Greene county, Indiana. The children of the second union are: Dora Louisa, born October 12, 1889; Dennis Alvin, August 30, 1891 ; Elmer Everett, July 24, 1893 ; Zella Ruth, August 28, 1895; Laurine Rodel, October 14, 1897; Francis Elbert, July 19, 1902; and Annis Mearl, January 4, 1906.

JOHN TRIPLETT .- A self-made man in every sense implied by the term, winning success in life by persevering industry, keen foresight and excellent management, John Triplett is closely identified with the agri-

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cultural interests of Clay county, owning and occupying a well improved farm in Van Buren township. A son of French Lewis Triplett, he was born October 3, 1832, at Virginia Ridge, near Roseville, Muskingum county, Ohio. His grandfather, Thomas Triplett, was born near Hatch- ers Mill, Loudoun county, Virginia, being, according to tradition, the descendant of one of two brothers, John and Thomas Triplett, French Huguenots who came to America in colonial days to escape religious persecution. He had two sisters, Mary Ann and Sarah, and. two broth- ers, Greenbury and Frederick, who emigrated to Kentucky, becoming pioneers of Breckenridge county, where many of their descendants are still living. The grandfather, a life-long farmer in his native county, married Phebe Luncford, a daughter of Rolla Luncford, also a life-long resident of Loudoun county. She survived her husband many years, and came to Indiana to spend the closing days of her life, dying at the home of her son, near Brazil, in 1857, at the advanced age of ninety years. She reared eleven children, namely: Burr, Sabra, Nancy, Mahala, Eliza- beth, Sanford, Delilah, French L., Maria, Leroy and Jane.

French Lewis Triplett, born December 12, 1806, was a young boy when his father died, and but sixteen. years old when his mother migrated with her family to Ohio, making the removal with teams, a mode of travel necessarily slow and at times dangerous, and settled in Muskingum county. Selecting farming as his life occupation, he subsequently bought his father-in-law's homestead of two hundred acres located in what is now Clay township, residing there until 1856. Selling out in that year, he came to Clay county, Indiana, and purchased a partly improved farm situated two miles from Brazil, in Van Buren township. After living there a while he sold his land to a coal company and bought a farm in Dick Johnson township. A few years later he sold that farm and moved to Brazil, where he spent the remainder of his life, passing away March 2, 1887, in the eighty-first year of his age. He married Sarah Baird, who was born in Adams county, Pennsylvania, a daughter of John Baird, who was born in the same state, of German stock. Mr. Baird moved with his family to Ohio, locating in Muskingum county as a pioneer. Securing a tract of timbered land at the head of Brush Creek, he with the assist- ance of his sons cleared a farm, and while still owning that he bought another ranch near Zanesville, on which he resided a number of years. Having in the meantime acquired a competency, he sold that land and moved to the city of Zanesville, where he lived retired from active busi- ness cares until his death, at the age of seventy-six years. His wife, whose maiden name was Margaret Baumgartner, was born in Pennsyl- vania, of German ancestors, and died at a good old age in Zanesville. Mrs. Sarah (Baird) Triplett died on the home farm in Dick Johnson township when sixty-four years old. She bore her husband eleven chil- dren, as follows: John, the special subject of this sketch; Thomas; Deli- lah; Martha; Greenbury ; Burr; Bushrod; Lucinda; Elizabeth; William ; and Minerva A. Three of the sons, Thomas, Burr, and Bushrod, served as soldiers in the Civil war.

Attending the subscription schools of early days, at a time when from sixty to seventy-two days, according to the money raised, consti- tuted a school year, John Triplett obtained a practical common school education. Subsequently assisting his father in clearing and improving the land, he remained at home until after attaining his majority. In June, 1854, beginning life on his own account, he started on a westward

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trip, going by rail first to Chicago and then to Rock Island, where he took a Mississippi steamer to Burlington, Iowa. Going then by rail ten miles, which was as far as the railroads had been extended west of the Mississippi, he took a stage at the railway terminus and proceeded to Jefferson City, Missouri, where he found work in the harvest fields. Going from there to Oskaloosa, he worked there for a time, and then went to Wayne county, Iowa, where he entered a quarter section of government land. Locating then in Davis county, Iowa, he engaged in teaming until March, 1855, when he went on foot to Keokuk, where he embarked as a deck passenger on a steamer for St. Louis. There he took cabin passage on a Pittsburg boat, and returned to Ohio to resume farm work. In the ensuing fall Mr. Triplett rented a piece of land, bought a pair of oxen, and put in a crop of wheat, which he harvested the following year. On the 21st of September, 1856, Mr. Triplett married, and on the Ist of October started with his bride for Iowa, while en route stopping in Clay county, this state, to visit his parents. Continuing his journey westward, he located in Davis county, Iowa, where he farmed on rented land until September, 1858, when on account of the ill health of his wife he sold his crops and stock and returned to his old home, near Roseville, Ohio.

Renting land there, Mr. Triplett began farming, but the late frosts so injured his crops that he became discouraged, and in June of that year again started west, being at that time a hundred and forty-four dollars in debt. Coming across the country with his wife and child, he settled near Brazil, this county, renting a small place just west of the village, and engaged in farming and hauling coal, stone, shingles and lumber, the shingles being mostly rived by hand. He received a dollar and a half a day for himself and team, and in a year's time he had paid his indebted- ness and was square with the world. Borrowing money, then, Mr. Trip- lett bought eighty acres of land in Van Buren township. A small por- tion of this was cleared, and in the hewn log house, with its earth and stick chimney, he lived a few years, in the meantime engaging in the coal business, hauling coal from his own land to Brazil, Donaldsonville and Harmony.

On Christmas day, 1865, Mr. Triplett bought one hundred and sixty acres of land adjoining Harmony on the north and platted a part of it as an addition to the town. A small part of the land had been cleared, and it was further improved by a two-story hewn log house and a small stable which the former proprietor had erected. Taking possession of the place in March, 1866, he set to work in earnest to clear the remainder of the timber from the land, and for eight years was there prosperously employed in general farming and stock raising and dealing. Leasing the property in 1874 to the Watson Coal Company, he still resided on the place until February 13, 1880, although during the time he sold the land, retaining, however, his interest in the coal beds. In February, 1880, having sold a part of his farming implements and stock, he bought two hundred and ten acres of land adjoining the town of Humboldt, Richard- son county, Nebraska, and there engaged in tilling the soil. In the fol- lowing June, Mr. Triplett rented that land and moved to Savannah, Mis- souri, where he rented a home. In October of that year he bought a farm of ninety acres lying one mile from the village, moved on to it, harvested the fruit, and lived there until the next spring. Selling then at an advance, he rented a place of twenty acres, lived on it till June, then purchased a tract of twenty-five acres adjoining Savannah, on which he

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resided a year. During the time he bought three hundred and seventy acres of land two and one-half miles from Savannah, and resided there two years. Selling out then at a profit, he spent a short time in Savan- nah, from there going to Springfield, Missouri. Buying then one hundred and sixty acres of land in Taney county, Missouri, he embarked in sheep raising, and also dealt in real estate in Springfield. Two years later he sold the sheep ranch, returned to Savannah, invested in suburban prop- erty, and remained there about a year. Returning with his family to Clay county, Mr. Triplett lived for seven years in Brazil, during which time he operated coal mines in Vigo county. In April, 1893, having purchased two hundred acres of bottom land on Eel river, four and one- half miles northwest of Clay City, he for two years lived in the vicinity of that city. In April, 1805, Mr. Triplett bought the place which he now owns and occupies, it being advantageously located on the National Road between Harmony and Brazil. He has made substantial improve- ments, having rebuilt and added to the house and set out fruit, shade and ornamental trees, greatly enhancing the value of the estate.

On September 21, 1856, Mr. Triplett married Hester A. Underwood, who was born November 28, 1838, near Roseville, Muskingum county, Ohio, a daughter of William Brinkley and Elizabeth (Dorr) Underwood. Mrs. Triplett passed to the higher life on April 12, 1904. Ten children were born of their union, six of whom are now living, namely: Laura A., born April 11, 1858; William B., February 19, 1860; French L., Novem- ber 21, 1863; Sadie. April 22, 1867; Luelle, March 23, 1869; and Minnie, March 13, 1871. Warren, born November 14, 1865, died January 26, 1880; George W., born March 17, 1873, died October 22, 1894; and Alvin, born June 22, 1877, died November 19, 1900. Fraternally Mr. Triplett is a member of Clay Lodge, No. 368, Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Politically he is active in Republican ranks and served as the first Repub- lican trustee of Van Buren township.

BENJAMIN ADKINS .- Prominent among the older residents of Har- rison township is Benjamin Adkins, a man of venerable years, who has the distinction of having served his country in two wars. He is an honored representative of the early pioneers of Clay county, and a true type of the energetic, hardy and progressive men who have so ably assisted in the development of this fertile and productive agricultural region. A man of splendid physique, with mental faculties seemingly unimpaired, he bears with ease and dignity his burden of years, on his pleasant home- stead enjoying the comforts of life. He was born January 29, 1830, in Pulaski county, Kentucky, about seven miles east of Somerset, in the same county that the birth of his father, William Adkins, occurred on September 2, 1802. Roland Adkins, great-grandfather of Benjamin, was born in Wales, came with his family to America about 1775, settled in Virginia, and while serving as a soldier in the colonial army was killed during one of the battles of the Revolutionary war. He had eleven sons, one of whom, James, was born on the Atlantic ocean while the family were en route to America.

James Adkins grew to manhood in Virginia, was there married, and subsequently, in 1801, removed to Kentucky, becoming one of the early settlers of Pulaski county. He was a preacher in the Missionary Baptist church and very successful in his religious work, carrying the glad tidings of the gospel into remote places. He bought land near Somer-

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set, and on the homestead that he improved spent the remainder of his life, passing away in the seventy-seventh year of his age. When he located there the country roundabout was in its pristine wildness, deer, bear, wolves and game of all kinds being plentiful. Fond of the chase, he was a famous hunter, and during his lifetime killed over four hundred deer and more than twenty bears. He married Chloe Hargis, a native of Virginia. She came to Indiana after his death and died in Green county in the eightieth year of her age. She was the mother of twenty- one children, sixteen of whom grew to years of maturity.

Born and bred in Kentucky, William Adkins lived there until 1830, when, with his wife and six children, he came overland with teams to Indiana, settling in Monroe county, where he lived about nine years. Coming from there to Clay county in the fall of 1839, he purchased a tract of land in what is now Harrison township. Ten acres of it was then cleared and the remainder was covered with the virgin timber. The log cabin which stood in the opening became the first home of the family in this county. Having cleared almost the entire forty acres of his pur- chase, he sold at an advantage, bought land near by and here continued his residence until 1852. Selling out in that year, he migrated to Iowa, becoming one of the original settlers of Marshall county, locating there before there were any railways west of the Mississippi river. Buying a tract of government land, he commenced. farming, selling his surplus productions in Des Moines, which at that time was the nearest market. Meeting with success in his operations, he lived there many years, during which time he witnessed with gratification the development of Iowa into a well settled and wealthy state. Disposing of his Iowa farm in 1895, he moved to Missouri, and spent his last days in Cabool, Texas county, dying at the advanced age of ninety-three years. He married Polly Stogsdill, who was born in Virginia in 1803, a daughter of Benjamin and Sarah (Herron) Stogsdill, both natives of England. She died in 1838, in Monroe county, Indiana. Of her ten children, six grew to years of maturity, namely: Solomon, Eveline, Logan, Galathea, Benjamin and Mary.

A boy of nine years when he came with his parents to Clay county, Benjamin Adkins saw it when it was in its primitive condition, almost the entire section roundabout being a dense wilderness, with here and there an opening that had been made by the axe of the brave pioneer. Deer, turkeys and other kinds of wild game abounded and furnished a large part of subsistence of the few inhabitants. There were no rail- roads in this part of the country, and Bowling Green, the county-seat, was the largest town and the only postoffice in the county. There was but one store and no postoffice in Harrison township. In 1847 Mr. Adkins returned to Pulaski county to visit his grandfather, and while there enlisted in Company H, Fourth Kentucky Volunteer Infantry. Going with his command to the City of Mexico, he subsequently fought with valor in several engagements, including the memorable one at Cerro Gordo. After the signing of the treaty of peace in 1848 Mr. Adkins marched with his regiment to Vera Cruz, a distance of four hundred and eighty-six miles, then proceeded by sailing vessel to New Orleans, and from there going up the Mississippi in a steamer to Louisville, where he and his comrades were honorably discharged from service.

Returning to Clay county, Mr. Adkins worked for a short time as a farm hand, and then bought eighty acres of land in section thirty-two,

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township ten, range six ( Harrison township), and has since resided here. In February, 1865, he again offered his services to his country, enlisting in Company B, One Hundred and Forty-ninth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, which was ordered to Decatur, Alabama, where he served until after the close of the war, being honorably discharged in September, 1865. Indus- trious, thrifty and an excellent manager, Mr. Adkins was successful as a farmer, improving a valuable homestead for himself and assisting in advancing the agricultural prosperity of this vicinity.

On November 3, 1853, Mr. Adkins married for his first wife Mary Fis- cus, who was born in Owen county, Indiana, March 22, 1830, a daughter of Henry and Elizabeth Fiscus. She died November 9, 1876, while yet in the prime of life. Mr. Adkins married, second, April 8, 1880, Mrs. Mary M. (Snellinbeger) Owen, widow of Evan Owen and daughter of George and Elizabeth (Neff) Snellinbeger. Her parents, natives of Virginia, were pioneers of Indiana, locating first in Owen county and later in Clay county. Mr. Adkins' second wife died November 30, 1904, and the only child born of their union died at the age of two years. By his first marriage Mr. Adkins had eight children, namely: William Henry, Re- becca E., Sarah J., Perry A., Margaret E., Rachel M., Nancy A. and James B. William Henry married Amanda Sidel, and they have nine children : Rose, Mary, Curtis, Pearl, Harry, Flora and three others. Rebecca E., who has two children, Simon P. and Stella, the wife of Benjamin Cox. Sarah J. married Joseph S. Fuller, and they are the parents of nine children : Freddie, Edie and seven others. Nancy, wife of Samuel Miller, has fourteen children: Bernetta, Grace, Emma E., Benjamin, Harley, George, Faustina, Maud, Fred and five who are deceased. Perry died at the age of twenty-six years; Margaret died in infancy; Rachel lived to the age of five years; James B. died when eighteen years old. Since the death of Mrs. Adkins in 1904 Simon P. Adkins, Mr. Adkins' grandson, has lived on the homestead, caring for the place and for Mr. Adkins, making his home comfortable and pleasant. Simon P. Adkins married Anna Davis and they are the parents of four children, namely: Edith M., Edgar A., James B. and Kenneth G. Mr. Adkins has about thirty great-grandchildren, all living, as far as he knows. He has one of the old parchment deeds signed and executed by President Zachariah Taylor, which is a valuable heirloom in Clay county. He has as a curiosity a little Mexican coin which he brought from the City of Mexico, June 1, 1848, and there is possibly not another coin of this kind in the county of Clay. In 1849 Mr. Adkins was converted by Rev. William Sparks of the Missionary Baptist church, was baptized by Rev. James Beaman, and has since lived a consistent Christian life, being now the oldest member of Good Hope church, to which both of his wives belonged. For many years Mr. Adkins was an uncompromising Democrat, but now he is an ardent Prohibitionist.

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A History of Clay County Indiana (Volume 2), Part 28

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

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