A biographical history of eminent and self-made men of the state of Indiana : with many portrait-illustrations on steel, engraved expressly for this work, Volume I, Part 8

Author:
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Cincinnati, Ohio : Western Biographical Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 1038

USA > Indiana > A biographical history of eminent and self-made men of the state of Indiana : with many portrait-illustrations on steel, engraved expressly for this work, Volume I > Part 8

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growth and development of Boonville. His early life was spent in the rugged wear and tear of pioneer civil- ization. He had practically no advantages of schooling, for to be three months each year on a slab bench, with slate in hand, was hardly proof against the forgetfulness of the other nine-clearing lands, burning brush, and doing hard manual labor. The care exercised in pro- viding a family with the sustenance of life, in those days of general scarcity, was considerable; so that old settlers who weathered through and built up for them- selves comfortable, pleasant homes, as Mr. Hudspeth has done, deserve appreciative notice for having been a blessing to their neighbors and the country as well as them- selves. Mr. Hudspeth began life for himself as a dry- goods merchant about the year 1843, and has continued in that business ever since. He has been successful in his enterprises and has done much towards the general wel- fare of his town. He built the second brick store- house ever put up in Boonville, and afterwards built the large tobacco warehouse, three other store-houses, and two large flouring.mills, one of which was burned down in 1859. He has also built other houses, but of less magnitude. Mr. Hudspeth has been married twice, the first time to Mrs. Edwards, of Tennessee. She was a woman highly spoken of by those who knew her, and was regarded as one of the most exemplary women of the whole country. She was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and was always doing good both in and out of season. During the late Civil War she and Mr. Hudspeth both contributed largely and freely to the | soldiers' wives, with food, clothing, and so on. Their house was a refuge for them, and there they often went. Mr. Hudspeth himself furnished them clothing and other things from his own store for a long time upon credit, not knowing how the war would terminate, and this, too, under circumstances very embarrassing to himself financially. At that time he was again starting in busi- ness, and while he had credit himself he had but little means of his own; however, notwithstanding this fact, the soldiers' wives, not being able to get goods on trust at any other store in the town, flocked in swarms to him, and were never dismissed without getting what they wanted. Fortunately, in the course of time they received money, and most of them paid up, and Mr. Hudspeth was saved in his business. During the war he loudly advocated Union principles, and for so doing many times received abuse. He himself was watched : on the wayside. Several attempts were made to take his life, and even pistols clicked in his face, but while he was always a fearless and daring man, he always came out unscathed. His brothers, three in number, have been in different ways and times connected with him in business. They were a loving quartet, never having had an unkind word. They kept no account among themselves, but shared their gains and losses

equally. To this day they have had no settlement, and probably never will have, although they have handled money by the tens of thousands. These brothers are known East and West. Mr. Hudspeth has, however, suffered financially to a great extent by others, through misplaced confidence when trying to help them.

ENGLE, JOHN, junior, of Evansville, late president [ of the Evansville and Terre Haute Railroad Com- pany, was born in Somersham, Huntingdonshire, England, January 29, 1812. His father, John Ingle, senior, was born at the same place, in 1788, and came to America in 1818, arriving at Evansville in August of that year. He bought a farm in Scott Township, at a place now known as Inglefield, and was appointed post- master of the township by President Monroe, retaining that office for over forty-five years. He died in 1874, at the advanced age of eighty-six years. John Ingle, junior, was his eldest son. At the age of twelve he attended the common schools of Princeton, Indiana, remaining a year and a half. He served an apprentice- ship at the trade of cabinet-maker, partly at Princeton and partly at Stringtown, and in 1833 started South. He worked at his trade at Vicksburg, Mississippi, New Orleans, and Philadelphia. He toiled ten hours a day ; and, having determined to become a lawyer, he devoted all his leisure time to the study of law in the office of Thomas Armstrong, afterwards eminent for his legal attainments. He had as fellow-students George R. Graham, afterwards editor of Graham's Magazine, and Charles J. Peterson, since publisher of Peterson's Ladies' Magazine. He was admitted to the bar in Philadelphia in March, 1838, and soon after removed to Evansville, Indiana, where he opened an office with Hon. James Lockhart. This partnership continued for a year, when Mr. Ingle became associated with Charles I. Bat- tel, and secured and retained a large practice. He became popular as an attorney, and acquired a high reputation as a leading lawyer. In 1846 he formed a partnership with E. Q. Wheeler; and, three years later, Asa Iglehart was admitted as junior member of the firm. i In 1850 Mr. Ingle retired from practice to take the man- agement of the construction of the Evansville and Crawfordsville Railroad, of which he was one of the originators. Evansville was then a small place, and, the Wabash and Erie Canal project having failed, the fu- ture of the city depended upon the construction of a railroad line which should afford direct and quick com- munication with northern points; and it was evident to the leading citizens that this must be done immediately. Mr. Ingle determined to take hold of the enterprise and to carry it forward to completion. The city issued bonds to the amount of one hundred thousand dollars,

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and the county raised an equal amount, and with these as collateral sufficient money was obtained to complete the road to Princeton, and it was soon in active opera- tion. Mr. Ingle first acted as superintendent of the railroad, and proved himself a skillful manager, an able financier, and a man of unusual executive abilities. He was soon after chosen by the directors as president. This office he held until 1873, when, on account of ill- health, he resigned. He died October 7, 1875. The construction of this road was very largely due to the in- domitable perseverance of Mr. Ingle, who, with many perplexing trials and discouragements, labored to bring it to a successful completion. The labor was so severe as to injure his health, and for two years before his death he was unable to do much active business. He will long be remembered in Evansville as one of her most enterprising citizens, who accomplished as much for her future prosperity as any other one man. He was married, at Madison, Indiana, in 1842, to Miss Isa- bella C. Davidson, daughter of William Davidson, of Scotland. Seven children are the fruits of this union, all of whom are living.

RWIN, JOSEPH W., a prominent physician and surgeon of Evansville, Vanderburg County, Indi- ana, was born February 3, 1850, in the parish of Killymard, county of Donegal, Ireland. He was the youngest son of Francis and Isabella Irwin, whose maiden name was Wark, who were of Scotch and En- glish ancestry. The rudiments of his education were ob- tained in the national schools of his native place, after which he was sent to a private school, and finally en- tered upon a course of higher studies in the University of Dublin. His advantages for knowledge were now greatly increased. He became a diligent student, and so earnestly did he apply himself to his books that in consequence his health became somewhat impaired, and he began to show signs of debility. Having become thoroughly acquainted with the history of the United States, he felt a longing desire to see a land of which he had read so much, and with the consent of his par- ents he determined to try his fortune in America, though but a lad of seventeen. He took passage for New York April 19, 1867, and the 3d of May following he arrived in that city, after a pleasant voyage of four- teen days. He then proceeded to Pennsylvania, and thence to Indiana, where he had relatives. He was fa- vorably impressed with the climate and country, and especially with its commercial advantages, and was not long in deciding that Indiana should be his future home. He took a course of business training at a commer- cial college in Evansville, with the intention of engag- ing in commercial pursuits, but having in the mean

time become acquainted with a Doctor Runcie, a prominent and successful physician in the city of Evansville, he was prevailed upon by him to commence the study of medicine. This was a new idea for our young student, as his early tastes and inclinations had been toward the legal profession ; but, being urged by Doctor Runcie to take the step, he changed his idea of a commercial life, and entered the doctor's office in August, 1868. Here he devoted himself earnestly to the study of medicine, in which he soon became deeply interested, and in three years' time he was conversant with the practice as well as with the theory of medicine. In August, 1871, he entered Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Here he soon became known as the ablest student of his class, and was ap- pointed its chairman. Two years later he was ap- pointed chairman of the graduating class, consisting of one hundred and fifty-one members, among which were students from thirty-eight different states and countries. This class was graduated March 12, 1873. After receiv- ing his diploma he returned to his adopted place, the city of Evansville, and entered into a copartnership with his preceptor. After eighteen months of successful practice, this connection was dissolved by the ill-health of Doctor Runcie, which resulted in his death a few months later. Our young physician had already estab- lished the reputation of being a successful and skillful practitioner, and was rewarded with a large and lucra- tive business from the beginning. This has steadily in- creased up to the present time, until it is generally con- ceded that his practice is as large as any physician's in the city. This has been brought about by close appli- cation to business, constant study, and the faculty to readily diagnose a case. His services are sought after in the surrounding portions of Illinois, Kentucky, and several adjoining states. Not only does he enjoy the reputation of being a skilled physician among his pa- tients, but the fraternity recognize in him an able counselor, and a gentleman of high culture and attain- ments. He was the first physician to remove a cata- ract by extraction, and the first to perform the op- eration of lithotrity in the city of Evansville. He is a member of the Alumni Association of Jefferson Medi- cal College and Vanderburg County (Indiana) Medical Society, and is also a Mason. His religious views con- cur with the doctrines and teachings of the Episcopal Church. In politics he has ever taken an active part, but not more than a good citizen ought to show. He has always voted the Republican ticket since becoming a naturalized citizen of the United States. He takes a lively interest in the growth and prosperity of Evans- ville, and contributes to all public improvements. As a citizen Doctor Irwin has been successful in gaining the confidence and esteem of all who know him, by an ear- nest, upright, and manly life. He is a gentleman of

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fine appearance, quiet and unostentatious in his de- meanor, yet affable and pleasing in his conversation. He is yet a young man, being in his thirty-first year, and we predict for him a long life, full of usefulness and much prosperity. He was married, May 28, 1879, to Miss Stella Idalette, daughter of Rev. D. D. Mather, of Fostoria, Ohio; but the happy union was early brought to a close by the sudden death of Mrs. Irwin, on the 11th of July following, by the accidental dis- charge of a pistol in her own hands.

ERCHEVAL, ROBERT TRUE, of Rockport, was born in Campbell (now Kenton) County, Kentucky, April 3, 1824. His grandfather Ker- cheval was a tenant on one of General Washing- ton's farms. His son, the father of the subject of this sketch, was a native of Culpepper County, Virginia. He removed to Mason County, Kentucky, and when quite young was married to Miss Longly. Of the four children who were the issue of this marriage, but one, Mrs. Julia Threlkeld, the eldest of the family, survives. She is now living in Kansas City, Missouri. The second marriage was to Miss Ann Dicken, of Culpepper County, Virginia. Fourteen children, five sons and nine daugh- ters, were born to them, making eighteen children in all. Robert True, the youngest son by the last mar- riage, never saw his step-sister, Mrs. Threlkeld, until he was thirty-five years old, when by accident he was intro- duced by her own daughter. One brother of Mr. Ker- cheval lives in Cincinnati, and is a prominent merchant of that city. Mr. Kercheval's maternal grandfather, Dicken, came to Kentucky at an early day, and his family was one of the five original ones which settled in Campbell County. He was a Revolutionary soldier, and served from the beginning till the close of hostili- ties. His own father was in the War of 1812. He was born in 1784, married to Miss Ann Dicken in 1811, and died in 1839, at the age of fifty-five years. He had been an anti-slavery man during his life, and those principles were inherited by his children. It is useless to remark that they were all Union men. Mr. Dicken conveyed by deed a negress to his daughter when she was married ; but Mr. Kercheval released her from the bonds of servitude immediately, although she remained ever afterward as one of the family, and until the par- ents were both dead and the children grown up and scattered. She is still living, and at this time is very aged. At the time Mr. Kercheval came to Campbell County, Cincinnati only contained three thousand inhab- itants. The subject of our sketch, Robert True Ker- cheval, had no particular advantages in beginning life. His father was poor, the country was thinly settled, and there were no educational facilities save a log school-house,

three miles off, in a deep ravine, into which only the midday sun could penetrate. Here for a few winters, for three months only each year before attaining the age of twelve, he was permitted to attend school, and learn to read and cipher. He remained at home until he was seventeen years old, when he apprenticed him- self to a blacksmith, to learn that trade, remaining in that business for twelve years. In 1847 he was married to Miss Ann Silverthorn, of Accomack County, Virginia, and continued working at his trade until 1853, when he moved to Spencer County, Indiana, and there taught school for four years succeeding, having during his previous leisure hours in years preceding so utilized his spare moments as to thoroughly ground himself in the principles underlying an education. After this he was elected Justice of the Peace, and served in that capacity for four years. During this time, while teaching, he studied law, and practiced with General Veatch five years. In 1861 he was given a position as route agent between Louisville and Cairo, and was assigned to duty between Evansville, Indiana, and Cairo, Illinois. The appointment was made through solicitation of his friends, and was unexpected to him. This was in April, 1861. In the latter part of that same year he was made an agent of the Treasury Department, and held both commissions until 1864-an official fact, probably, not to be found elsewhere in the archives of the govern- ment. For three years, as an officer in the secret serv- ice of the government, for such he was in truth, he had many experiences, and met with many thrilling adven- tures. We can give here but faint ideas of such a stirring period in his life. In these three years an age was condensed, it being continually replete with astound- ing events. His services to the government were of in- calculable benefit, situated as he was on the border line of rebeldom. Probably more information was given to the authorities at Washington of the enemy, its forces, movements, etc., through agencies known only and subservient to him, different in character and pur- pose, than from any other one source. His boat, known as the "Floating Battery," had many escapes. It had become notorious for three counties deep-all along the Kentucky border-and Mr. Kercheval him- self had been eagerly watched and waited for by rebel ruffians. At Uniontown over four hundred of these border guerrillas had assembled, and when the boat landed made an attempt to mob the crew, but through the coolness of Captain Dexter they were saved. The leader of this band, as soon as the boat drew along side the wharf, boarded her and demanded that the flag, that had always floated night and day, should be taken down, saying that it was an insult to Kentucky, and at the same time threatened summary vengeance unless his wish was then and there immediately complied with. To this Captain Dexter, squaring upon hisantagonist with

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an eagle look, replied: "Repeat the shortest prayer you know, for if you move I'll kill you." This frus- trated the leader, and the boat was permitted to be drawn out into the middle of the river before a word was spoken or a yell given. At Paducah also the trai- tors at one time planned a murderous attack. Their cannon were planted and their men armed. The boat was also well manned, not only with cannon on the fore deck, but with sixty loaded guns. Bayonets were fixed, and a hose had a nozzle attached for throwing hot water from the boilers. Here as elsewhere Kerche- val was the object aimed at. The boat was to land for giving and receiving the mail only. It drew up, not along side, but touching only at the bow, while the mob were standing on the wharf. Every man on the boat was at his post. The cannon were pointed and the guns loaded, while scalding water was ready for the mob of a thousand men, if they attempted to carry out the threat they had uttered. It was with some misgiv- ings Mr. Kercheval stepped ashore. He was gone for a moment, but during that space of time an attempt was made. It proved a failure. An old rebel captain drew his revolver, and with an oath to clinch his de- termination remarked that "they 'd shoot him any way." A thousand lives were probably saved here by the timely interference of a Mr. Given, a citizen of Paducah, a rebel at heart, but wise enough to restrain the captain, who remarked that he surely did not want their town burned down. In consequence of these outrages the rebels were deprived of their mails for some three weeks. They soon experienced the inconveniences resulting therefrom, and sued for peace. After this all went well. In 1864, by request of Judge De Bruler, a leave of ab- sence was given Mr. Kercheval for six months, and he returned home and assisted in the canvass of Spencer County, for the re-election of Mr. Lincoln. He was himself a candidate for county treasurer, and was elected. The whole Republican ticket was chosen, for the first time in the history of the county. In 1866 he was re- elected to the same office, and in 1868 to the Lower House of the state Legislature from Spencer County, and served during the regular and the called sessions of that memorable period when the fifteenth amendment was ratified, the Democrats resigning in both sessions to pre- vent it. By reference to the brevier reports of the Gen- eral Assembly of Indiana, for the special session of 1869, we find a prominent incident in Mr. Kercheval's history. A bill was prepared by Governor Baker, and introduced at his request into the Lower House, petitioning for a reformatory institution for the relief of friendless women. The bill had excited some considerable opposition, and at one time was lost by an overwhelming majority. Mr. Kercheval had, with his friends, worked until all efforts seemed fruitless; but, being on the alert, saw an oppor- tune time and submitted a motion, which was adopted,

that the speaker invite Mrs. Sarah Smith, manager of the Association for the Relief of Friendless Women, now present in the hall, to address the House on this matter, and for this purpose she be invited to a place at the speaker's table. This heroic woman, availing herself of this opportunity to do good, made a well-timed speech bearing directly on the point, after which, and before all eyes were dried, a vote was taken, which resulted in the passage of the bill-yeas sixty-two, nays fourteen. And thus, through the influence of a woman speaking on a pending bill, a thing unknown before in the history of any Legislature, a home for outcast women was obtained for Indiana. Mr. Kercheval also became distinguished in his debates on the finance question; not only in the Legislature (see speeches in special sessions of 1869, Volume XI, pages 131-133), but also in many speeches made throughout the First Congressional District in dif- ferent canvasses. He has always been a stanch Repub- lican, fully indorsing Sherman's financial policy, and has ably seconded it throughout his district in his telling speeches. He was born a patriot, and has honestly and sincerely fought for the great principles of right. In 1869 he, in company with others, established the Rock- port Banking Company, and he himself has been its cashier and principal business manager ever since. He was a delegate to the Cincinnati convention that nom- inated Hayes for the presidency, and has been frequently urged by his many friends to run for offices of trust, but has steadily refused. His life has been character- ized by many public-spirited acts, and his friends feel proud of him as a citizen and as a useful member of so- ciety. He has worked himself up from nothing to ease and affluence, and has made for himself an enviable rep- utation throughout Southern Indiana.

AIRD, D. T., of Rockport was born on the 20th of February, 1816, in the territory of Indiana, which was admitted as a state on the 11th of December following. Jesse Laird, his father, was born in Ireland, emigrated to this country while a small boy, in the year 1799, and settled in the state of Pennsylvania. In the year 1807, Jesse Laird was married to Miss Mary Tharp, a lady of Greene County, Pennsyl- vania, of German parentage. In 1813 the young couple removed to the county of Dearborn, in the territory of Indiana, and settled there; building a cabin where that part of the town of Lawrenceburg called Newton now stands. The land at that time frequently overflowed, and was very unhealthy, and a few years afterward Mr. Jesse Laird moved about three miles further west, to Wilson's Creek, where he had entered land, and where he continued to live up to the time of his death, in 1867. His mother died in 1837. It was in the cabin

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above referred to that Mr. Laird was born. His oppor- tunities, when young, for obtaining an education were limited. His father, like most early settlers, was poor, and had a large family, and no means of support except his own labor. In 1830, at the age of sixteen, David left home and commenced work in the printing-office of the Western Statesman, published at Lawrenceburg by Milton Gregg; without book knowledge, except that he could read and spell. The education that he afterwards acquired was obtained by his own efforts, without the assistance of schools of any kind, by pursuing his studies on Sundays, and in the evenings and mornings before he was required to go to work. When about twenty years of age, having devoured all the standard histories, ancient and modern, within his reach, and studied En- glish grammar as well as could be done without a mas- ter, he began reading law; the Hon. George H. Dunn having kindly given him the use of his library, and ad- vice as to the books he should read at the outset. In 1833 he was employed as assistant engineer in survey- ing the Lawrenceburg and Indianapolis Railroad. It was almost the first railroad surveyed in the state under what was then known as the general internal im- provement system. Among his associates were many young men who have since acquired distinction and eminence, among whom were General Don Carlos Buell, Hosea H. Durbin, Henry Ward Beecher, James H. Lane, and many others. The distinguished men who yet live in his earliest recollection are Hon. John Test, James Dill, Hon. Pinckney James, Hon. Abel C. Pepper, Governor Noah Noble, General W. H. Harrison, Rev. Allen Wiley, Rev. John P. Durbin, and Rev. John N. Moffett. On the 8th of August, 1838, Mr. Laird was married to Clarissa P. Hayden, of Boone County, Kentucky, who is still living. They have six children, two boys and four girls, all of whom are married. In 1847 Mr. Laird moved from Lawrence- burg to Perry County and settled at Troy. At the Sep- tember term (1848) of the Perry Circuit Court, held then at Rome, the Hon. James Lockhart presiding, he made application to be admitted to practice as attorney- at-law, and on the motion of Hon. John A. Breckin- ridge, the court appointed that gentlemen, with Hon. Samuel Frisbe and Judge H. G. Barkwell, a com- mittee who, after examination, filed in the court their certificate of qualification, and he was licensed and admitted as an attorney-at-law. He began practice at the age of thirty-three years. In 1853 he was admitted as an attorney in the Supreme Court of the state and the Circuit Court of the United States for the District of Indiana. In 1857 he removed from Troy to Rockport, in Spencer County, where he has ever since resided. In politics, to which he has de- voted much study and thought, he was a Whig until that party ceased to exist, and since 1856 he has

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A biographical history of eminent and self-made men of the state of Indiana : with many portrait-illustrations on steel, engraved expressly for this work, Volume I, Part 8

Author: Publication date: 1880 Publisher: Cincinnati, Ohio : Western Biographical Publishing Co. Number of Pages: 1038

Author:
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Cincinnati, Ohio : Western Biographical Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 1038