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 II > Part 42
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Louis Most July- &co . Neteller
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ter of a neighboring farmer. They lived happily and peacefully together, and reared and educated a family of six children, four sons and two daughters. Of the sons, Lucas is an attorney-at-law, Alonzo is a druggist, E. H. Nebeker is a contractor and capitalist, and Reu- ben, the eldest, is a farmer. All are valuable citizens. The daughters are both married: Lizzie, to John M. Part- low, of Danville, Illinois ; Hannah is the wife of Thomas M. Rinn, of Covington. September 7, 1870, occurred the saddest event in the experience of Mr. Nebeker's life, in the death of his beloved wife, helpmate, and companion. November 15, 1871, he was married to a most excellent lady, Mrs. Louisa Moore, widow of Captain William Moore, of Terre Haute, and grand- daughter of a brother of Dean Richmond's father, late of New York, noted as a great political manager, and having control over some of the most important railroad companies of the country. Mr. Nebeker is fortunate and happy in securing so congenial and worthy a com- panion. Mrs. Moore had lost by death all her family except one son, Edward F. Moore, who graduated from the schools of Terre Haute, and afterward took a col- lege course at Asbury University. He is one of the most prominent of the society of Odd-fellows, and attained the most exalted office in the order at a very early age. He is now living in California, where he is the confi- dential secretary of the largest importing and publish- ing house of San Francisco. Visits to the eastern and western coasts of the United States have been included in Mr. Nebeker's list of travels, with trips to the White Mountains, Niagara Falls, Washington, New York, Phil- adelphia, and all other cities of note. He is withal a gentleman of liberal ideas, correct observation, and good judgment, a man who wins the regard and retains the respect of the community in which he dwells.
VERTON, JOHN GILLMORE, was born in Jasper County, Indiana, August 18, 1837, and at this date is the oldest person now living that was born in that county. His grandfather, Reuben Over- ton, was born and lived in Richmond, Virginia, and afterwards in Campbell County, Kentucky, where the father, William Overton, was born. His mother, Cath- erine Lefler Overton, was born near Pittsburgh, Penn- sylvania, on the Alleghany River. Her father subse- quently came to Indiana, and was one of the early settlers of this state. The Overton family seem to possess a re- markable tenacity of life, the father and mother being still alive, as well as their four sons and one daughter. The daughter has ten children, one of the sons six, another two, while still another has but one child. There is one son unmarried. In all this numerous fam- ily not a single death has occurred. This tenacity of
life was characteristic of the families on the mother's side, John's great-grandfather, whose name was Glore, having lived to be one hundred and four years of age. Mr. Overton, the subject of this sketch, spent his life on a farm until he had reached manhood, during which period his father had permitted him to occupy his spare time in learning the carpenter's trade. After he was of age he worked at this employment through the summer seasons, and teaching school during the winter months. His education was acquired to some extent in the common schools, but he was mainly self- taught. He continued teaching most successfully in the public schools, with an occasional summer term, for twenty years, becoming one of the prominent educa- tional men of the state, thoroughly identified with all the progressive movements inaugurated for the improve- ment of the public schools. Possessing a strong desire to travel, he started in 1864 on a journey to the Rocky Mountains, visiting the mining regions of that far-off portion of the country, and occupying nearly two years in the enterprise. He traveled over the Yellowstone country, and on his trip home came down that no- table river in a small boat eight hundred and thirty miles, and thence on the Missouri to Omaha. Subse- quently, he traveled through the Western States. In April, 1866, he made a definite location at Crawfords- ville, where he has since lived. He was elected in June, 1875, county superintendent of schools, being re- elected to the office two years later. He is now serving on his third term, performing the important duties of the office to the satisfaction of those who appointed him to the position. In 1860 he was married to Miss Indi- ana Gray, eldest daughter of Robert Gray, an early inhabitant of Clarke and Jasper Counties. The fruits of this marriage are two interesting children. Mr. Over- ton is prominent in religious matters, being a member of the Christian Church, and having occupied the posi- tion of an elder for the past ten years. He is also an active and eminent member of the Masonic Fraternity, having been in the order since 1863; is at this date High-priest of the Chapter and Principal Conductor of the Works of the Council in his city. Mr. Overton is stalwart, well-proportioned, hale, hearty, frank, and open. He is active, energetic, and intellectual; and evidently well adapted for the arduous duties of his position.
AUL, GEORGE W., attorney-at-law, Crawfords- ville, was born May 18, 1837. His parents, John and Sarah (Gladden) Paul, died while he was yet in his infancy, leaving him to the cold mercies of the world. From early childhood he led a wander- ing life, with no one sufficiently interested in him to cultivate his mind or heart. At the age of eighteen he
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could not spell the simplest word, and did not know the alphabet. At that time he was fortunate enough to find employment with a Mr. Smith, in Erie County, Ohio, and more fortunate in finding an instructor in a daughter of his employer, who taught him to spell, and stimulated him to other study. He improved the inter- vals of rest by learning to read, and for years read and worked alternately, poring over the books that he found, adding to his stock of knowledge the necessary accom- plishment of writing. In the spring of 1865 he went to Shelby County, Indiana, and shortly after enlisted in the 156th Indiana Battalion, Colonel Smith, of Terre Haute, commanding, and was with it in the Shenandoah Valley until the close of the war. After being mus- tered out in July, 1865, at Indianapolis, he went to Vevay, Indiana, where he worked at farming, and stud- ied industriously another year. In 1867 he began the reading of law without an instructor. This was a hard task, and could only be accomplished by hard work. Mr. Paul purchased the first three law-books he owned with the money earned by cradling wheat. These were McDonald's Treatise and Gavin and Hord's Statutes. After a year of alternate farm labor and study, his services began to be in demand before Justice Courts, and at times in the Circuit Court. He struggled with fair success until 1870, when he removed to Hillsboro, Fountain County, Indiana, and soon engaged in a lucra- tive practice. He remained in Hillsboro nearly four years, and in 1874 removed to Crawfordsville, his pres- ent home, where he occupies an honored position at the bar. His law library, which in 1868 embraced three volumes earned by daily toil, is now the largest and most valuable in Montgomery County. It embraces all the more important text-books and reports. In politics Mr. Paul is an earnest and steadfast Democrat, and while in Hillsboro became a member of the Masonic Fraternity. Such are the brief outlines of the humble, but in many respects extraordinary, career of a man who is now an honored citizen of Crawfordsville, and whose career has been so marked by quiet, persistent energy, and invincible determination to succeed, that it may well be quoted as an example worthy of im- itation. He may be given as an example of the em- inent and self-made men of Indiana.
EIRCE, ROBERT B. F., attorney-at-law, of Craw- fordsville, was born at Laurel, Franklin County, Indiana, February 17, 1843. He is the son of Henry and Mary (Frazier) Peirce. His paternal ancestry were English, and his maternal Scotch. Dur- ing Mr. Peirce's boyhood he enjoyed the advantages of the common schools of the day, and at the age of. eighteen entered Wabash College, and graduated from
that institution in 1866. In the mean time he had enlisted in the three months' service, immediately pre- ceding the close of the war, in the 135th Indiana Vol- unteer Infantry, Colonel W. C. Wilson commanding. He had read law one year with B. F. Love, of Shelby- ville, Indiana, and then located in Crawfordsville in the practice of his profession. That he rose rapidly in public estimation is evidenced by the fact that he was elected three times in succession, in 1868, 1870, and 1872, to the position of prosecuting attorney for the judicial circuit comprising the counties of Montgomery, Boone, Clinton, Fountain, and Warren. In the dis- charge of the duties of this office he evinced a thorough understanding of the principles of the law, and a readi- ness in applying them that showed how thoroughly he was grounded in its science. In 1873 Mr. Peirce was appointed general attorney for the Logansport, Craw- fordsville and South-western Railroad, which position he still holds. It is worthy of remark that, in his capacity of prosecuting attorney, Mr. Peirce prosecuted five murder cases at the spring sessions of a single year, securing four convictions, to one of which was attached the death penalty. Mr. Peirce married Miss Hattie Blair, daughter of John W. Blair, November 28, 1866. This union was blessed with three children- Lois J., Frank H., and Edwin B. Mrs. Peirce died October 29, 1878. Politically, Mr. Peirce has been a stanch Republican; he is acknowledged as an earnest and efficient advocate of the principles of his party. June 23, 1880, he was nominated by the Republicans of the Eighth District as their candidate for Congress, and will undoubtedly make a strong run. His friends will rally around him. He is regarded as possessing largely the elements of personal popularity. He is a careful adviser in matters of business, and the trusts already reposed in him show that he has deserved well of his constituents and of those who have been in intimate professional relations with him. Very few young men have been more fortunate in securing the confidence of the better classes of the community, or in making their way in the world.
OSE, CHAUNCEY. Conspicuous among the names of philanthropists whose acts of charity and deeds of benevolence will be appreciated from gener- ation to generation, and of those who have left to live after them enduring monuments of their kind- ness of heart and works for the good of mankind, will be found that of Chauncey Rose. His was a long life, full of worthy labor, and crowned at last by a benefaction to the people of his community greater than any ever given in the United States be- fore, in proportion to the size of the place, in which
Channing Rose
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he had lived for so long a time. He was a native | of the means to construct it, and when it was completed of Connecticut, and was born at Wethersfield, De- cember 24, 1794. His father, John Rose, was a far- mer, an influential and patriotic citizen, of moderate means. He had a family of seven sons and one daugh- ter. Of these, George and John Rose acquired consider- able wealth ; Henry was successful until he lost his health, which required him to give up active life ; Roswell, Will- iam, and Samuel died early. The daughter, Mrs. Israel Williams, was perfect in her character, a model woman in all the virtues that adorn and dignify. Chauncey sur- vived his brothers and sisters (all were without children), and when he died, at a venerable age, August 13, IS77,
declined the honor of further service as president. The material assistance he rendered in the construction of the Evansville and Terre Haute Railroad was of great value, and is greatly appreciated by the present owners and the public. It was his means and influence that caused the construction of the Evansville, Terre Haute and Chicago Railroad. All enterprises of general interest had his aid, and they are too many to be now enumerated. He did more than any other one person to build up and de- velop the resources of his community and promote the prosperity of those among whom he lived. The large fortune he acquired he used to bless others ; he gave he was the last of his immediate family. A brief period | freely, his hand being always open to the poor and at the ordinary schools in his native state, energy, good health, a strong, active intellect, and the strictest integ- rity and honesty of purpose, comprise the preparation and capital upon which he entered the business of life. At a meeting of the old settlers of the Wabash Valley, held October 5, 1875, at Terre Haute, he submitted a statement in which he said that in the fall of 1817 he traveled in the states of Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, Ken- tucky, Tennessee, and Alabama, looking for a desirable place in which to reside and engage in business; that he spent several days at Terre Haute, which had been laid out the year previous, and, being favorably impressed with the location and people, he became a resident in April, 1818. The first settlers, he added, were intelli- gent and worthy pioneers, a very superior class of men and women. For five years, from 1819, he resided at Roseville, Parke County, engaged in milling. He sawed and furnished the lumber for the court-house at Terre Haute. He was afterwards, from 1824, for a number of years a popular and enterprising merchant at Terre Haute. His life was always an active and busy one, and financially successful. The fortune he amassed was princely, every cent being acquired with rigid honesty and the most scrupulous integrity. He employed it for the public interest, and with as little selfishness as can he claimed for any one over the foibles of humanity. The reasons for his success are comprised in the facts that he attended to his business intelligently, with en- ergy, and inspired confidence by meeting all obligations. He made judicious investments, and by care turned them to profit. After he retired from the business of a mer- chant he erected the Prairie House, now the Terre Haute House, which enterprise contributed materially to the advanced life, generous hospitality, and assured improve- ment of Terre Haute. He also cultivated a farm upon the improved plan, working it profitably to himself, and giving an example that was availed of by others. He purchased for his farm the finest stock that could then be procured. He organized the Terre Haute and In- dianapolis Railroad in 1847, and was the first presi- dent. He contributed and obtained the principal part needy, for charity's sake, from the purest sentiments and principles of the loftiest benevolence. He did not pro- claim his charity; to him the act was sacred. How much he gave away others can only conjecture ; he gave while he lived, and did not hoard his wealth. His brothers, George, John, and Henry, had lived at Charles- ton, South Carolina, and there were reasons known alone to him why he endowed sundry charitable schemes in that city. He provided liberally for the Newsboys' Home and other charities in the city of New York. At . one of them, the Institution for the Relief of the Rup- tured and Crippled, on the evening of his death the managers promptly assembled and passed resolutions of deep regret. In a grateful tribute to his memory they express the peculiarity in his gifts in these truthful words: "That during his life-time (he) exercised care- ful discrimination, guided by a broad Christian phi- lanthrophy, and ever accompanied by a loving spirit, which made his gifts doubly precious ; while so retiring was his disposition that he always avoided any open ac- knowledgment of his generosity." He established and endowed the "Ladies' Aid Society " of Terre Haute. How much comfort to sorrowing hearts and relief to the distressed he provided for through that organization can not readily be estimated. That society, in its memorial of sincere respect, says: " That heart so often touched by others' sorrows is still in death; but his work goes on, and in it he lives. His is a blessed memory, and the cheer we shall, through his generous gift, carry to the poor and suffering, will keep it green. May his spirit pervade our work." He furnished the means to estab- lish the valuable library at the State Normal School, and paid the expenses of a large number of deserving women, to enable them to attend that institution to qualify themselves as teachers. He contributed gener- ously to the support of Wabash College. To Provi- dence Hospital he gave a large sum ; and when those in ownership found it expedient to change the institu- tion to an orphan asylum, that there might be no ques- tion as to his gifts being devoted to so charitable a purpose, and this becoming more serviceable than it
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promised to be as a hospital, he readily consented. He endowed the Vigo County Orphans' Home, and provided also, under the excellent management to which he intrusted it, for the care and support of aged and crippled persons. He left means in his will for the maintenance of a dis- pensary at Terre Haute, medicines to be furnished to the poor and advice given them free. The physicians of Terre Haute and members of the Vigo County Med- ical Society assembled, and expressed by resolutions their unanimous approval of this noble charity, and their grateful respect for his memory. Pursuant to his will, the corporation to establish the dispensary has been formed, under the appropriate name of "The Rose Dispensary." He established and endowed the "Rose Polytechnic Institute," under the name of the "Terre Haute School of Industrial Science." He would not use his own name, but the public did. The architect and contractors for the academical building so called it, not from design, but because that name was the one naturally suggested. His co-managers changed it at a meeting when he was not present, and afterwards ob- tained for it his protesting consent. The design of this institution is humane, and when put in operation it will render a great service in qualifying young men to en- gage in the several activities of life skillfully, with honor and profit. Chauncey Rose lived a useful life, protracted beyond the allotted period, and his loss is felt by many. With prudent foresight for the inter- est of those who were to come after him, he disposed of much of his wealth during his life. He acted as his own administrator as far as he could. He pos- sessed strong, positive traits of character, which natu- rally produced antagonism. In what he did there was no guile; he bore no malice. Those who knew him best know him to have been a man of strong attach- ments for friends, bearing the truest and deepest affec- tion towards those who had kindred with, or claims of friendship or gratitude upon, him; he was true to all obligations. Some of the conflicts of life are unavoid- ably embittered, as every active man in the business relations of life realizes. In all, he was the just man. " An honest man's the noblest work of God." His deeds are the best line to measure his life; his works make his enduring monument.
HAW, COLONEL BENJAMIN COREY, of In- dianapolis, Treasurer of the state, was born at Ox- ford, Butler County, Ohio, February 3, 1832. His father, a native of North Carolina, was a farmer, who died at Oxford, Ohio, in 1845. Colonel Shaw's grandfather was long widely known as a surviving sol- dier of the Revolutionary War; and belonged to a family which has numbered among its connections some
of the first men of North Carolina. On his mother's side he belonged to the Graham family, also widely and favorably known in the "Old North State." The mother of Colonel Shaw is still living, at the advanced age of seventy-eight years. She resides with her only surviv- ing daughter, the wife of William P. Woodward, Esq., of Franklin County, Indiana. The Serrings family, of which Mrs. Shaw is a member, is well known, both in Ohio and Indiana, as a long-lived, industrious, thrifty, and honorable race. The educational advantages of Colonel Shaw were limited to common school instruc- tion. Early in life he apprenticed himself to an elder brother in Greensburg, Indiana, to learn the wagon and carriage making trade. After a few years spent in perfecting himself in the knowledge of the business, he married Elizabeth A. Coy, of Greensburg ; and soon after opened a carriage factory of his own. He was subse- quently associated with J. H. Conner until 1863; and made his home at Greensburg until, in the fall of 1873, he removed to Indianapolis. In the spring of 1861, upon the first call for volunteers in the Civil War, he enlisted as a private; and assisted in organizing for the three months' service Company F, of the 7th Regiment Indiana Volunteers, in which he served as first lieuten- ant. He took part in the engagements of Laurel Hill and Carrick's Ford. In the latter, after the regiment had stormed the first position of the enemy-capturing a battery and routing its defenders-and before the regi- ment was re-formed for the advance, the young lieuten- ant, with a portion of the company, made a raid and captured forty eight of the enemy's wagons and drivers. Placing a portion of his men to guard them, he joined the advance at the second ford with only six men. He, with his squad, was the first footman to cross the river in Garnett's attempt to stay the onslaught of the impetuous Indiana troops. For his services in that cam- paign he received the personal thanks of the gallant Colonel Dumont. At the subsequent battle of Greenbrier, he received the public thanks of the colonel, and was placed at the head of Company G, on the right of the regiment. Later, he was awarded the high honor of pro- motion to the office of major, by request of nearly every officer of the regiment, several captains of which outranked Captain Shaw. At the terrific battle, at short range, with Stonewall Jackson, the first battle of Winchester, Virginia, Major Shaw performed gallant service in the thickest of the fight. His horse, pierced with five bullets, became frantic, and so badly injured the Ma- jor, by dashing him against a tree, that he was re- ported among the killed. On his recovery the com- manding officer gave him honorable mention in his official report, and in a few days he joined his regi- ment. His sufferings, however, were intense, and as his injuries were believed to be permanent he reluctantly resigned his commission and returned home. He was
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engaged in all the active service of his noted regiment, in Western Virginia and over the Blue Ridge to Fred- ericksburg. On reaching home, the old War Governor, Morton, justly valuing his abilities as a military man, appointed him to the command of the recruiting serv- ice of the Fourth Congressional District, with the rank of colonel. The headquarters were at Greensburg. Although enfeebled and depressed, Colonel Shaw en- tered upon his duties with an activity that made his canvass for recruits second to that of no other officer in the state. He organized the 68th Regiment in an incredibly short space of time, and was then ordered on duty to Kentucky. It was expected that he would take command of the regiment he had raised and organ- ized; but he declined to assume the responsibility while his health was still precarious. He accepted the office of lieutenant-colonel, and the Governor, at the request of Colonel Shaw, appointed Lieutenant-colonel King, of the 19th Regulars, as the colonel of the 68th. On taking the field this regiment participated in the defense and surrender of Mumfordsville, Kentucky. On this occasion the preservation of the flag was due to the exertions of Colonel Shaw. He declared that the ban- ner presented by the ladies of Greensburg should not be surrendered, and suggested that he would wear it during the necessary imprisonment. At the request of Colonel King, however, the latter wore the flag wrapped around his body throughout his captivity, and, to the delight of his numerous friends of the regiment, brought it back, eventually, to the patriotic ladies who were its spirited donors. It is now preserved among the battle-torn flags of the state. While the Federals, including the above-named regiment, were prisoners to Bragg's army, to the number of four thousand two hundred, General Jefferson C. Davis attacked the Confederate outposts. To annoy and distract General Davis, the paroled prisoners were drawn up in front of the Confederate lines, then forming for battle. Colonel Shaw demanded of General Buckner to know who ordered this unusual and unwarranted proceeding, and, when informed that it was by the orders of General Bragg, Colonel Shaw made a vigorous protest in the name of the government and the paroled prisoners, asking that his protest be carried to General Bragg. This was done, and in a few minutes General Buckner returned and gave the com- mand of the paroled prisoners over to Colonel Shaw. The latter immediately marched the latter a mile down the river and went into camp. On being exchanged the regiment was ordered into Tennessee, Colonel Shaw accompanying it. While going from Louisville to Nashville, as guard to a fleet of thirty-seven supply boats for Rosecrans's army, they were attacked by a force under General Forrest; but the boats were safely taken through to their destination, with two disabled boats lashed beside the "Fort Wayne," and were res-
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