A History of Clay County Indiana (Volume 2), Part 49

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

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George W. Jackson was a mere infant when brought to Indiana and but five years old when left fatherless. At the age of ten years he began to be self-supporting, working on different farms until after attaining

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man's estate. Soon after that time he assumed possession of forty acres of land which he inherited from his father, and to this he subsequently added another small tract, and in the little log house standing upon it brought his bride, installing her as housekeeper and home maker. Energetic, industrious and an excellent manager, reaping profitable harvests each season, Mr. Jackson was encouraged from time to time to add to his holdings until he had a farm of two hundred and forty acres. Early in 1906 he went to Texas, and in Horton county bought a plantation, in- tending to take up his residence there. Not satisfied, however, with his future prospects, he sold out in the fall of 1907 and returned to Van Buren township to resume operations on the farm which he had pur- chased in 1902 on section four. And here, realizing that in no other part of the United States is there a better agricultural region, he is living happy and contented.

Mr. Jackson married, in 1868, Margaret Armstrong, who was born in Union township, Carroll county, Ohio, a daughter of Hugh and Eliza- beth (Alle) Armstrong. Further history of her parents may be found on another page of this work, in connection with the sketch of William Armstrong. Mr. and Mrs. Jackson became the parents of ten children, three of whom are living, Charles, who married Margaret Thomas; Thomas, who married Sarah Doanes; and Grover. The deceased are, William, David J., James, Elizabeth, Agnes, George and John. Politically Mr. Jackson is a strong advocate of the principles of the Democratic party, and religiously Mrs. Jackson is a consistent member of the Metho- dist Episcopal church.

HAMILTON B. McMILLAN, the popular and efficient chief of police of Brazil, is one of its most useful and honorable citizens, having earned a substantial reputation as a mechanic, mechanical engineer and architect. He is also the inventor of the well known John T. McRay Multiple Duct Conduits, which he designed while residing in Chicago and after- ward manufactured in Brazil. While living in the latter city he has been influential in its civic affairs, and has enjoyed an honorable public service elsewhere. Both his private and his public career, covering such a varied experience and bringing him in contact with so many classes, well fit him for the head of the department which he honors. Executive talents, decision of character, the ability to handle men smoothly and skillfully, and keen judgment of human nature, are the qualities most required in a chief of police, and those which he decidedly possesses.

Mr. McMillan is a native of Washington, Washington county, Penn- sylvania, born on the 26th of August, 1855, being a son of John A. and Margaret ( Hamilton) McMillan. His father was a native of that county, and spent his life in Pennsylvania busily engaged at his trade as a stone cutter and brick mason. He died at Scenery Hill, that state, in 1877, at the early age of forty-four years. The widow is a native of Erie, Penn- sylvania, and is now a resident of Pittsburg. Her marriage to John A. McMillan occurred in Washington county, and four sons and one daugh- ter were born to their union, of whom the following are living : Hamilton B .; William E., and Elizabeth, wife of Thomas A. Brockman. Ross A. and Gilbert B. are both deceased.

Hamilton B. McMillan received his education in the public schools at Waynesburg, Jefferson and Brownsville, Pennsylvania, spending the winter of 1866-7 in his father's stone yard, rubbing stone and making

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McMillan.

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LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS

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himself generally useful. In 1868 he became a regular apprentice at the trade of stone cutting and brick masonry. After a service of six years in subordinate positions he commenced to follow his trade as a master, and thus continued until 1892. He had removed to Danville, Illinois, in 1881, and there gained considerable influence as a Republican and a man of affairs, being elected a member of the Board of Supervisors of Vermilion county and serving one term as chairman of the committee on public buildings and grounds. In June, 1890, Mr. McMillan became a citizen of Brazil, and his first work there in the line of his old trade was the construction of the kilns and general equipment of the Brazil Fire Brick and Sewer Pipe Company. The plant is now operated by the Paving Brick and Block Company. After conducting a contracting and building business for about a year Mr. McMillan bought an interest in The Brazil Pipe Company, remaining identified with the business for eight years, a portion of the time as mechanical engineer. The years 1894 and 1897 he spent in Chicago as manager of the business there, and it was during that period that he designed the McRay conduits, already men- tioned, his company taking up their manufacture upon his return to Brazil. Upon selling his interest in the business he removed to Mineral City, Ohio, where he was associated for a year with C. Edward Holden in the erection and operation of a plant for the manufacture of window glass and bot- tles. He was the mechanical engineer in charge of the construction and equipment of the works, and after they were completed acted as super- intendent of the manufactory. On account of his wife's ill health he returned to Brazil in February, 1903, and entered into the business of architecture, for which his experience well adapted him. Among the buildings which he designed prior to his appointment to his present municipal office were the Carnegie library and the residences of William Richardson (at Walnut Hill), Benjamin Mershon (Orchard Place), and C. E. Wilder, as well as the Presbyterian parsonage and the First Chris- tian church. His appointment as chief of police was made September 5, 1906, and the honor came to him entirely unsolicited. He had previously served as deputy assessor and as a member of the City Council. He was elected to the municipal board in 1898, serving as chairman of the com- mittees on streets and alleys and water works department.

Chief McMillan is among the leaders of fraternal and industrial progress in this section of the state. First, in virtue of the trade which lies at the basis of his individual advancement, he is a member of the Brick Layers' Union No. 17. In the order of Masonry he has filled all the local chairs, being past master of Centennial Lodge No. 541, A. F. & A. M. He was initiated as a Knight of Pythias in Damascus Lodge No. 89, Danville, Illinois, and was a charter member of the Uniformed rank of Brazil, of which he was captain for two years. In this order he also served as district deputy grand chancellor under Merill E. Wilson and as grand chancellor under George W. Powell of the Thirteenth Pythian dis- trict of Indiana. Mr. McMillan was the first defender of the Order of Home Defenders No. I, being elected to the office for three consecutive terms. On January 1, 1908, he commenced his term as financial secre- tary. For two terms he was presiding officer of Clay Lodge No. 33, Knights and Ladies of Honor. He is an Elk, belonging to Lodge No. 762 of Brazil. In his religious belief he is a firm and earnest Presbyte- rian, still retaining his membership in the First Church of Englewood (Chicago).

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On May 15, 1878, Mr. McMillan was united in marriage with Miss Rebecca Cowan, a native of Washington county, Pennsylvania, born on the 15th of August, 1850, daughter of Joseph W. and Elizabeth ( Barie) Cowan. The parents were both natives of Pennsylvania, the father dying at the age of sixty-seven years, and the mother, at sixty-five years of age. In his younger manhood years Joseph W. Cowan was a stage driver on the old Philadelphia Pike and the National road, and afterward became a shoemaker in West Bethlehem township, Washington county. He was industrious, thrifty, intelligent, honest and popular, and became the owner of considerable land near Scenery Hill, also obtaining a substantial stand- ing in the community as a man of public affairs. For a number of years he served as a justice of the peace, as well as supervisor of Washington county, and in both these capacities his daughter ( Mrs. McMillan) was of material assistance to him in. the keeping of his books and records. For seven years he was an active member of Battery A, I. N. G., of Danville, Indiana. The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Joseph W. Cowan consisted of four daughters, of whom Margaret and Angelina are still living. Rebecca (Mrs. McMillan) having died September 7, 1908. Mr. and Mrs. McMillan have had two children, but one is deceased-Anna May, who died at the age of two years. A son, Harry Joseph, is a mason and contractor. He married a daughter of Albert D. and Mary E. Lemon, of Brazil, Miss Nina B., and they have two sons, Howard Elmer and Louis Hamilton.

WILLIAM HARRISON VAN SANDT, M. D .- Devoting his time and attention to his professional duties, William H. Van Sandt has built up an extensive and remunerative practice, and is widely known as one of the most skilful physicians of this part of the county. A native of .Ohio, he was born May 20, 1840, in Butler county, about twelve miles above Cincinnati, being a son of John N. Van Sandt.

John N. Van Sandt was born in Fleming county, Kentucky, of Dutch ancestry, being descended from one of three brothers, natives of Holland, who emigrated to America directly after the Revolution and settled in New Jersey. Learning the trade of a millwright when young, he followed his trade in different places and had the distinction of building the first grist mill ever erected in Cincinnati. An ardent abolitionist, his house was the first underground railway station north of the Ohio river, and through it many a slave passed to freedom, among others being Eliza, whose story is so vividly portrayed in Uncle Tom's Cabin. In the book Mr. Van Sandt is known as "Van Trump." Owning a farm in Butler county, he resided on it until his death in 1848. He was twice married, by his first wife, whose maiden name was Priscilla Northcut, having seven- teen children, seven of whom grew to maturity, as follows: Northcut. Elisha, Nathan, John, Benjamin, Nancy and Jane. He married second Nancy Bowen, who was born at Maysville, Kentucky, a daughter of Robert Bowen. She survived her husband; and in 1849 came with her family to Indiana, locating at New Maysville. Jackson township, Putnam county, where she spent the remainder of her days. Of her six children four grew to maturity, namely: William Harrison, Lewis, Hiram and Lydia.

A boy of nine years when he came with his mother to this state, William H. Van Sandt clearly remembers his early home in Ohio and the thrilling scenes of those trying times when slaves were fleeing from

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their pursuers, and when to be an abolitionist meant ostracism and perse- cution. Mrs. Stowe and other noted abolitionists were frequent visitors at the Van Sandt home, and the boy William often assisted the slaves by carrying them food when they were in hiding. After coming to Indiana he attended a pioneer school which was taught in a roughly constructed frame building, the seats being made of saplings split in halves, with wooden pegs for legs. Completing his studies in the common schools, he began the study of medicine with Dr. Long, of Maysville, subsequently attending lectures at Rush Medical College in Chicago, Illinois. Dr. Van Sandt then began the practice of his profession at Maysville, in the meantime, in 1869 and 1870, pursuing his studies at the Indiana Medical College in Indianapolis, where he was graduated with the degree of M. D. in 1870. From 1868 until 1871 the Doctor was located at Brunerstown, Putnam county, but since that time has been in active practice at Carbon. He has won an excellent patronage, his wisdom and skill in dealing with the many cases entrusted to his care having gained for him the confidence of the community in which he has so long resided.

Dr. Van Sandt married, April 17, 1867, Orlena Ellis, who was born in Bainbridge, Putnam county, Indiana, a daughter of James and Sally (Ogle) Ellis, and they became the parents of three children : Mary, who died in youth; Vallie and James W. Vallie, the wife of Thomas Steven- son, has one son, Menzies. James W. is a member of the Sophomore class at De Pauw University. Doctor and Mrs. Van Sandt are highly esteemed by their neighbors and friends, and are valued members of the Baptist church.

JOSEPH A. KILLION, one of the leading farmers of Sugar Ridge town- ship, is numbered among the native sons of Clay county, and within its borders he has spent his entire life. Born on the 16th of March, 1857, he is a son of Aaron L. and Rebecca ( Pursinger) Killion, natives of Ohio. The father, born March 19, 1826, was a son of Gabriel and Elizabeth (Biggs) Killion. He was quite an extensive traveler in his early life, and finally coming to Clay county he was married here in about 1852, and with his young wife made his home in Jackson township for a few years. They then located two miles west of Bowling Green in Washington town- ship, where Mr. Killion died on the 12th of January, 1905, surviving his wife for a number of years, her death occurring January 14, 1898. She was born June 30, 1830, and was a daughter of George and Elizabeth ( Brueder) Pursinger, natives of Virginia. Mr. Killion was a Civil war soldier, enlisting, September 25, 1864, in Company G, Fifty-seventh In- diana Volunteer Infantry, and he was honorably discharged June 27, 1865, after taking part in the battles of Shiloh and Gettysburg. For several weeks during his army life he was also confined as a prisoner of war in Andersonville prison.

Joseph A. Killion, the third of the ten children, six sons and four daughters, born to Aaron L. and Rebecca Killion, remained at home with his parents until his marriage, and he then established his home in Ashboro and bought property there. Later on he rented and leased farm land and also cleared the timber from twenty-eight acres. Two years later he bought forty acres of timber land in Sugar Ridge township, which he cleared and sold after four years, buying then his present farm of sixty acres in section 7, township I, range 6 west, which had been partially improved, and in addition to this property he also owns a lot in Seelyville.

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He has erected a number of fine buildings on his farm, and has thoroughly improved his land.

The marriage of Mr. Killion and Mary Stiles was celebrated October 31, 1878. She was born in Martinsville, Morgan county, Indiana, July 30, 1858, a daughter of Jesse and Katherine ( Mosier) Stiles, who were also born in that county. Her grandparents were William and Mary Stiles and John and Mary (Lookenbill) Mosier, natives of Ohio. Jesse Stiles died March 4, 1891, but his widow is yet living and resides with a son in Morgan county, having reached the advanced age of eighty years. Mrs. Mosier, the grandmother of Mrs. Killion, lived until recently in Morgan county and attained the remarkable age of one hundred and three years, dying August 26, 1908. Mr. and Mrs. Killion have had no chil- dren of their own, but have made a home for one, Lyda Harrington. Mr. Killion affiliates with the Republican party and is a member of the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows, a member of the encampment at Bowling Green and of the Rebekahs at Ashboro. Mrs. Killion is also a member of the Rebekahs. He was a trustee of the lodge at Ashboro, and erected the hall at a cost of $2,500. During many years he has been an active church worker, a member of the Methodist Episcopal, and he has served as its trustee and erected the Ashboro church.

JOHN W. SCHOPMEYER was for many years a leading farmer and land owner of Washington township, was active in the work of the church and the public affairs of the township, and his death April 2, 1905, cut off a most useful and honorable life and removed from the ranks of the Ger- man-Americans a most sturdy and representative figure. He was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, on the 6th of October, 1852, and received his education in the common schools of the township. His parents, Henry and Catherine (Lecamp) Schopmeyer, were natives of Germany who, in 1856, came from the fatherland and bought a tract of timber land in Washington township. This was cleared and cultivated, improved, and molded in the passing years into the form of a comfortable and pleasing homestead. There, also, they both died, after the father of the family, aided by the faithful labors and wise counsel of his wife, had increased his possessions by many acres. The three children of their family-John W., Elizabeth and Mary-are now all dead.

John W. Schopmeyer resided with his parents until their death, living with them all that period except two years, when they made their home on another farm. He was industrious and frugal, a man also of good judgment, and besides purchasing land himself inherited many acres of agricultural property, all in Washington township. He was also active in many respects outside of the development of agriculture and the landed interests of the township. He was an official leader in the work of the German Reformed church; was a stanch Democrat and held office as township trustee; and as a strong' fraternalist was identified with the Masons of Bowling Green and the Knights of Pythias of Poland. But the last thoughts of the deceased were given to his church and his family. On the morning of his death he attended divine services, and soon after his return to the loved ones of his household passed away very suddenly and quite peacefully.

The deceased was married February 6, 1879, to Miss Henrietta God- frey, born in Washington township May 5, 1860, and daughter of James and Georgiana (Graves) Godfrey, natives of Kentucky. The nine chil-

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dren of their happy union, who are all alive, are as follows: Clifford, living at home and in charge of the old farm; Della, now Mrs. Arthur Kattman, of Poland, Indiana ; Mearl, who married Fred Kaiser, a resident of Washington township; and Alice, Otis, Dora, Hallie, Roy and Esther, who are all living with their widowed mother as her solace and pride.

PERRY ALLEN MORGAN .- Classed among the leading agriculturists of Clay county is Perry Allen Morgan, who owns a good farm in Perry township and is prosperously engaged in its management. Active, intel- ligent and honest, he well deserves the good fortune which has come to him in tilling his fertile acres and reaping his abundant harvests. He is a native and to the manner born, his birth having occurred in Posey town- ship April 15, 1859. His father, John Newton Morgan, was born in Henry county, Kentucky, October 29, 1827, and his grandfather, Russell Morgan, was, it is thought, born in Virginia.

Spending his earlier life in Kentucky, Russell Morgan there married Harriet Bryan, and in 1834 came with his family to Indiana, and was one of the earliest settlers of Posey township. Returning to Kentucky a few years later, he bought a farm in Henry county, and there he and his good wife spent their remaining days.

A boy of seven years when he came with his parents to Posey town- ship, John Newton Morgan returned with them to his native state. Not being contented, however, with life in his Kentucky home, he soon came back to Indiana, purchased a tract of land in Posey township, married, and set up housekeeping in the small log house which stood upon the place when he purchased it. The country roundabout was then but sparsely populated, and bears, deer, wolves and other wild beasts of the forest were plentiful. His faithful wife performed her full share of the pioneer labor, with her own hands carding, spinning and weaving the homespun with which she clothed her family, and for many years doing all of her cooking by the fireplace. Thrift both indoors and out, coupled with good judgment, brought satisfactory results, and in course of time he bought more land, some in each of Posey, Perry, Sugar River and Harrison townships, a total of one thousand two hundred acres in Clay county, and the humble log cabin gave way to a commodious frame house. He also erected a business block in Brazil. On the farm which he so well improved he was actively engaged in agricultural pursuits for many years. Having acquired a competency, he bought a pleasant home in Brazil, and there he spent his remaining days in peace and plenty, his death occurring October 28, 1899. His wife still occupies the old home in Brazil, the com- forts and luxuries of her present life contrasting strangely with her former primitive surroundings.

The maiden name of the wife of John Newton Morgan was Eliza- beth Wright. She was born one mile east of Bowling Green, Clay county, Indiana, December 14, 1828. and is now the oldest native-born resident of this county. Her father, Elijah Willis Wright, was born in Tennessee. being the posthumous child of Elijah Wright, who died three months before the birth of this son. Elijah Wright married Jane Wright, a daughter of George Wright, who was born in Ireland, came to America in Colonial times, and served under General Washington in the Revolution. After the close of the war George Wright settled in South Carolina, and a few years later removed to Tennessee, from there coming to Harrison county, Indiana, as a pioneer. He was a weaver, and followed his trade

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for many years at his home, which was located about three miles from Corydon, where he spent the remainder of his remarkably long life, attain- ing the age of one hundred and six years. After the death of her hus- band Mrs. Jane (Wright) Wright returned to her father's home, and when the babe was born he was given for a middle name the maternal grandfather's surname, with the promise of an inheritance. Coming from Tennessee to Indiana when young, Elijah Willis Wright lived for awhile in Harrison county. In 1828 he took up land in Clay county, one mile east of Bowling Green, and there built the log cabin in which his daughter Jane was born. He cleared some of the land, and began farming there, but, unfortunately, the water from the Eel river overflowed his property, and not liking to gather his crops in a canoe he sold out at the end of two years. Then taking up government land in Posey township, he resided there for awhile, and then removed to Jackson township, and on land which he bought of Levi Cromwell lived until 1853. Going in that year to Missouri, he bought a farm and there lived until his death. He married Elizabeth Deal, who was born in Tennessee, and died in 1835, in Posey township, Indiana. She reared five of her children, as follows: Mary, Jane, Robert, Elizabeth, who married John Newton Morgan, and Hedge. Of the children born to Mr. and Mrs. John N. Morgan, the fol- lowing named grew to mature life: Thomas W., Harriet, Alice, Perry Allen, the special subject of this sketch ; John, Russell, Laura and Luna.

Brought up and educated in Posey township, Perry A. Morgan was well trained in the various branches of agriculture while young, and with the exception of two years when he was employed as a teacher in the public schools he has devoted his time and energies to general farming and stock-raising. At the age of twenty-three years he bought his present farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Perry township. About one half of the land had been cleared, and a small frame house and a log barn had been erected. Laboring with courage and good will, he has since cleared the land, with the exception of two natural groves of three acres each, and has erected a substantial set of frame buildings, the commodious house having some of the modern improvements. In the management of his estate Mr. Morgan has met with marked success, his farm being known as one of the most fertile and productive of any in Perry township, which means one of the very best in Clay county.

Mr. Morgan married first, October 22, 1885, Rella Miller. She was born in Vigo county, Indiana, a daughter of John N. and Sarah A. (Snepp) Miller. She died December 21, 1900. Mr. Morgan married sec- ond, December 15, 1901, Mrs. Rosa (Wood) Lloyd. She was born in Sullivan county, Indiana. a daughter of John and Elizabeth Wood, and married for her first husband Alpheus Lloyd. By his first marriage Mr. Morgan has four children, namely: Ray E., Roy G., Sarah M. and Wayne W. Mrs. Morgan has one child by her first marriage, Claude A. Politically Mr. Morgan is a loyal supporter of the principles of the Demo- cratic party, and religiously Mr. and Mrs. Morgan and their sons are members of the Missionary Baptist church.

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A History of Clay County Indiana (Volume 2), Part 49

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

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