USA > Indiana > Vanderburgh County > Evansville > A history of Evansville and Vanderburgh County, Indiana : a complete and concise account from the earliest times to the present, embracing reminiscences of the pioneers and biographical sketches of the men who have been leaders in commercial and other enterprises > Part 37
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Henry H. Babcock, the son of Henry O., succeed him in business, and extended the same so that it covered many states. He displayed great business tact and ability in the management of his affairs. He was a man of high character, and had many qualities which attracted people to him, and was a man of fine presence. He died in the full flush of business success at the early age of forty-two years. He left surviving him his widow-a daughter of Gillison Maghee-many years a resident of Evansville, a son Gillison and a daughter Mary.
THE GAVITT FAMILY.
In many respects the several members of the Gavitt family have ยท been remarkable, not more for their patriotic services to their country than for their singularly clear perception. No one but remembers John Smith Gavitt, whose heroic death on the battle-field fired the hearts of all who ever knew him and called forth commendations from General Grant and others.
This brief history of the Gavitts is in no way commensurate with the importance of the characters. It is difficult to trace their lineage beyond the shores of America, so long have they been citizens here. Indeed they were in at the founding of the republic, and have been among its staunchest supporters ever since. On the Gavitt side they are of Scotch and English extraction. The name seems originally to have been of French origin, and at one time the family spelled it Gavit.
Rev. William Gavitt was a Methodist minister and died at Gran- ville, Ohio, in 1837. Rev. Gavitt seems to have gone from Virginia to Ohio. His son, John Gavitt, was born in 1788. He married Miss Alice Smith on July 13, 1815. She was born at Fairfax Courthouse,
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Culpepper county, Virginia, in 1793, and died in this city in August, 1867. They removed from Virginia to Ohio, and then to Louisville, Kentucky. In the short stay there John Gavitt died, February 28, 1832. To them seven children were born. William was born Janu- ary 21, 1824; John Smith was born March 18, 1826; Miriam mar- ried Dr. Isaac Hutchinson and both' are now dead. Alice married Captain Joel F. Sherwood, January, 1847, and she is now living here, aged 69 years. Atlanta died at Madison, Indiana, April 27, 1816. Arillio also died there July 6, 1819. Hannah died at Little Rock, Arkansas. She was married to David Swing, August, 1839.
After the death of the father Mrs. Gavitt took her family to Madi- son, Indiana, and again changing her habitation came to Evansville in 1840. She was long known here as "grandmother" Gavitt, and died here where her children had grown up, and where she had raised her grandchildren, Smith Gavitt's orphan boys, John, William and Joe, in August, 1867. It may be said that Mrs. Alice Gavitt felt the hard lines of life in common with all pioneers, and particularly the diffi- culties that widows experience in rearing a large family in a respect- able manner. She was a good Christian mother, and loved her family, and they were devoted to her.
William married Miss Nancy Burns on April 18, 1846, and she died in November, 1846. William was a dashing, fearless young man, and he joined Captain Walkers' company and set out for the Mexican frontier. He was under command of General Joseph Lane, and knew him intimately before he became a soldier in his command. During this service William lost his life in a singular manner. News traveled with a snail's pace in those days, and it was some time before the fact was known to his family, and the particulars of his death are very meagre. It seems that he and a comrade named Walden, the son of a widow who lived in Cincinnati, were detailed to capture and return two deserters. They succeeded in capturing them, and were returning to the post with their prisoners. While encamped in the woods, Walden, whose duty it was to stand guard while Gavitt rested in sleep, also fell asleep. The prisoners, seeing their opportunity, fell upon the two sleeping men and killed them. This tragedy was enacted about Octo- ber 15, 1848, near Sonora, Mexico. The best evidences now point to this place as the spot of the horrible fatality. As soon as John Smith Gavitt heard the shocking news of his brother's awful death, he quickly packed his grip and without a word to any one, except to his family to tell them not to mourn for him, as the world was too small to hold him and the murderer of his brother, he left. For two
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years not a word was heard of him. It is known that he pursued the object of his search through every difficulty, neglected no opportunity to find him, even cut down trees to cross streams that he could not swim and kept his ceaseless purpose in view day and night. At last he returned almost as unexpectedly as he had gone away. All he ever revealed of his tireless search for vengeance was that "he was satis- fied." It was learned, however, in a half traditional way that he killed the man in a ten pace duel somewhere in California.
John Smith Gavitt was born at Madison, Indiana. For a long time he was marshal of this city. He was also sheriff of Vanderburgh county, and a faithful administrator of the law, and a terror to evil doers. They both respected and feared him. When the civil war broke over the land with a palsying shock and made all patriotic hearts beat with excited rapidity, he was quick to answer the call to arms. In an eloquent and stirring appeal to his friends to unite with him in defense of his beloved country, he sounded a note of no uncer- tain character. His stirring words had a powerful influence in those doubtful times and undecided moments, and caused a tide to set in for the defense of the Union. He was major of the 1st Indiana cavalry under Colonel Conrad Baker. At Frederickstown, Missouri, while lead- ing a gallant charge against Brigadier-General Jeff Thompson's forces he fell, pierced by five bullets. His death occurred on October 21. 1861. It was said that he was utterly without fear, and fought with the coolness of one who reckoned it sweet to die for his country. Hc fell fighting to the last. His body was brought to this city and interred. As a tribute to him the people assembled in one of the largest corteges ever witnessed here. His valiant, triumphant death fired the hearts of the people of Indiana. He was Evansville's famous and favorite character, and his funeral was a historic event in this portion of the state. It cast over all a gloom, and they seemed to go into mourning. He always had a large place in the hearts of his countrymen, and even at this writing his name is cherished and his fame is a proud memento of Indianians. In a word, it is a part of national history. He was among the bravest in the history of this country, and long hence his bravery and good character will be men- tioned with grateful pride. It is hoped that at an early date the general government will erect a monument to his memory here in this city. This would be a fitting tribute to him by a generous nation, and is certainly due his record. The government owes it to him for his services so willingly and readily given, and for the great sacrifice he made on his country's altar. In truth, the yielding up of one's life is
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the grandest sacrifice that can be made. He lives in the hearts of the people, and a monument would be a just recognition of his supreme services. The Gavitt tamily have made sacrifices for their country which the government has been tardy to recognize and reward. They are history makers. Every one who enjoys the blessings of this country to-day owes something to the memory of this patriotic family.
He was popular with all classes, and his frankness, open hearted- ness and generosity were common remarks. Ot a kind disposition, quick to read human nature, and correct in his conclusions, he was a man who would unhesitatingly lay down his life for his friends. No one ever approached him for aid and went away empty-handed. His generosity, indeed, knew no bounds. His heart was as brave as a lion's and gentle as a woman's. Both the rich and the poor loved him. He was always ready to do whatever circumstances might de- mand.
General U. S. Grant, in a letter to Colonel J. B. Plummer, under date of October 27, 1861, states : "But little doubt can be entertained of the success of our arms, when not opposed by very superior num- bers, and in the action of Frederickstown they have given proof of courage and determination which shows that they would undergo any fatigue or hardship to meet our rebellious brethren, even at great odds. The friends and relatives of those who fell can congratulate themselves in the midst of their affliction, that they fell in maintaining the cause of constitutional freedom and the integrity of a flag erected in the first instance at a sacrifice of many of the noblest lives that ever graced a nation." (History of the Rebellion, vol. 3, page 209, issued by the war department.)
General J. B. Plummer, in his report under date of October 31, 1861, in speaking of Major Gavitt's death, says: "It was there that fell one of Indiana's noblest and bravest sons." (History of the Re- bellion, vol. 3.)
Colonel Conrad Baker, in his report dated October 22, 1861, says : "The death of Major Gavitt cannot be too deeply regretted, but it is consoling to know that he fell in the front of the battle gallantly de- fending the flag of his country."
John Smith Gavitt was married to Frances A. Lamphere, in Gray- ville, Illinois, July 2, 1850. This estimable wife and mother was of French descent, and she died March 14, 1859. Out of this union was born three children-John Smith, (nicknamed "Mitch,") on June 12, 1851, now living in St. Louis; William, on June 19, 1855, now re-
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siding in this city, and Joseph Don, on March 24, 1858, a present resident of Colorado Springs, Colorado.
William Gavitt was partly educated in the public schools and St. John's school of this city, and partly in college at Teutopolis, Illinois, and was a student at Notre Dame, Indiana, and afterward electrician at that celebrated institution of learning. When a mere boy he was upon the western plains, during the Black Hills gold excitement, as one of the advance telegraph operators. In 1887 he was appointed special agent for the United States treasury department, in charge of St. George Island, Behring Sea, one of the seal islands. He was com- plimented by the United States senate in reports read before them and by Hon. C. S. Fairchild, his superior officer, then secretary of the treasury. Mr. Gavitt's efforts in behalf of the oppressed natives of Alaska have been well known and have been properly complimented. He will do his duty as he finds it, regardless of consequences. He was arbitrator in the great railroad strikes here, when capital and labor were in anger arrayed against each other. In brief, these sort of differences, because of his high sense of fitness and justice, were usually referred to him, and he did the public much good by his wise decisions and timely services. He was a citizen who was well known.
It is a characteristic of the Gavitt family that they never forget their friends or their enemies. True to trust, they would scorn anything dishonorable. They love their noble country and its glorious flag, and its grand institutions. When right, they will go the end. Unfalter- ing in purpose, unswerving in principle, always striving to be right, one who aims, in the old Latin adage, "esse quam videri," William Gavitt is one whose acquaintance and friendship are privileges to be desired.
JOHN J. PENNINGTON, M. D.
Dr. Pennington was born in 1805 in Mecklenburg county Vir- ginia, and came to Indiana in 1818. The author first became acquainted with him in 1837. The doctor was at that time living in Princeton, Indiana, and had au extensive practice at that place. He also practiced at Evansville and often made trips down here to see his patients. He had many friends and the more they knew him the greater was their admiration for him. He was very genial and we talked about old Virginia life whenever we met. Dr. Pennington was a specimen of man in statue, was about six feet and one inch in height and finely proportioned, and was also a born orator, his
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speeches being eloquent and intelligent. He bore a striking resem- blance to General Scott, and everybody who had known or seen the general in Virginia noticed the likeness. The doctor said that he and the general were raised in the same part of the country and had often met.
The author spent the summer of 1836 in Richmond, where he saw General Scott at the Fourth of July celebration. The general headed the great military procession on horseback, and was the center of attraction to all the people. He was a fine specimen of an officer.
As Doctor Pennington bore a facial resemblance to General Scott, so he resembled him in character. He was a brave, just, generous and sympathetic man. His character was replete with all that is admirable in human kind. He married Miss Elizabeth Ann Snethen, of Louisville, Kentucky, in 1831, and settled at Princeton, Indiana. Their family consisted of three sons and four daughters : Nicholas S., Walter B. and Charles C. Pennington, and Miss Susan M. H., Miss Belle D., Mrs. B. L. Groves (deceased) and Mrs. R. J. Harp.
Dr. Pennington came to Evansville in 1855. His career was one of great activity and application, conducting a large and successful medical practice. During the civil war he was surgeon of the first general hospital, for sick and wounded soldiers, established by the United States government at Evansville. He departed this life in 1891, his beloved wife having preceded him five years. He was a noble man and mourned by all who knew him.
THE HOPKINS FAMILY.
The Hopkins race came orginally from England. Edward Hopkins, the pioneer in Evansville, lived at Truxton, New York. He and his brother Stephen eventually settled in the neighborhood of Evansville, when it was a pioneer village. In those early days farming was the chief occupation of the settlers, however, Edward, who with his family located in Evausville in 1819, was a merchant trader.
His son, John S. Hopkins, was born in Truxton, New York, on the 28th day of October, 1811, so that he was only eight years old when his father settled in Evansville. Early in life he started in com- mercial affairs, and all along in the history of the town he has been one of the leading, public-spirited citizens, prominently identified with its material growth from its very founding to the day of his death. His schooling was secured in the imperfect schools of his
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early day, and it was not such as the young people of to-day obtain. But he was a man of superior intellect, and the experience of a busy life were all valuable lessons, developing in him a vivid and clear conception of men and affairs and fixing his great force of character. His course towards all men was praiseworthy and gained him the esteem of his friends and acquaintances. For many years he was actively engaged in mercantile pursuits, and amassed a considerable fortnne in that business. A mind ever ready to receive imformation from whatsoever sonrce and open to every form of human activity and experience, he gained a wide practical knowledge of all that pertained to the general welfare of his fellowmen. Add to this his strong con- victions of right and his courage to defend them, he was natually placed in positions of trust and honor.
He was elected city collector in 1837. Three years later he became a member of the city council. Following this he was placed npon the municipal board. These were gradation steps to the higher position of mayor of Evansville, to which place he was elected in April, 1853, his term of office lasting for three years. In the times that tried men's souls-in 1861-he was in the Indiana legislature, and again in the same place in 1879. His record was honorable there and open as a book. He retired from the business of merchandising with a com- petence, but still his business career was not closed. On the organi- zation of the First National bank he was chosen its president, in which position he was retained until January, 1879. Even before this, it needs to be said, he was president of the old Canal bank. Great ability characterizes his thirty-three years' administration as president of the Evansville, Cairo and Memphis packet company, and in the last year of his life, when he had retired from nearly all busi- 'ness affairs, he served as director of several corporations. In many of the great enterprises of this city he was one of the first promoters, and he was director of the Evansville & Terre Haute railroad almost from its inception. When the sands of life had nearly run out for him he forgot not his Creator, whom he had remembered in the days of his youth. He closed his earthly pilgrimage on July 6, 1882.
In regard to his character it may be said that he never forgot a triend, and always extended a liberal hand to the needy and the insti- tutions around him that were designed for the betterment of mankind. He was jealous of the right and strict in the performance of his obligations to others. He neglected no duty and he rewarded every benefit rendered to him. He was an honest man and a benevolent citizen, and his place was never filled.
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He was married December 9, 1834, to Mary Ann Parrett, daughter of Rev. Robert Parrett, the founder of Methodism in Evansville. To them were born: Frank Hopkins, Mrs. Alexander H. Foster, John S. Hopkins, Mrs. Edward Twombler, Robert P. Hopkins, Jr., Mrs. Frank P. Byrnes and Edward O. Hopkins. The three sisters that survived him were Mrs. Charles Viele, Mrs. Charles Babcock and Mrs. Eliza Wheeler.
THE PARRETT FAMILY.
As heretofore noted Mary Ann Parrett was the wife of John S. Hopkins, and the mother of the present descendants bearing the Hop- kins patronymic. To recount briefly the Parrett family, as it related to the Hopkins lineage, is the purpose here now.
Rev. Robert Parrett was of English parentage, and he himself was born in England February 14, 1791. He was properly educated for a curacy, and later a benefice in the church of England, but his liberal trend of mind carried him to the doctrines of John Wesley. With his family he emigrated to the United States about 1816, and began a more active promulgation of his views and convictions. In 1819 he located in Posey county, and settled to the task of a pioneer farmer for the livelihood of his family, at the same time engaging in the work of founding Methodism in this part of the state. Rev. Joseph Wheeler and his brother Rev. Richard Whecler, both educated men, united with Rev. Robert Parrett and Rev. John Schrader in carrying the word of God into the newly established village of Evans- ville. Rev. John Schrader, a man of great enthusiasm and vast learning, a power in the pulpit, whose eloquence was almost resistless, on Saturday, December 12, 1819, in Hugh McGary's double-log ware- house, preached the first Methodist sermon ever delivered in Evans- ville. To attend this enthusiastic service Joseph Wheeler walked in from " Blue Grass " and heard Rev. Schrader. Rev. Parrett also attended the service. At this meeting it was arranged that Rev. Robert Parrett and the two Wheeler brothers should preach at this new point added to the Patoka circuit, so that there would be service every two weeks. In 1825 Rev. Parrett located permanently in Evansville, and never again lived elsewhere. On Sunday, May 19, 1825, Mr. Parrett organized a class here, the first, consisting of Mr. Parrett and his wife, Martha Parrett, Edward Hopkins and his wife Mary Hopkins, Jane Lewis, Abraham P. Hutchinson, Arthur Mc- Johnson and his wife Mary McJohnson, Hannah Robinson, Jane
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Warner and Mrs. Seaman. When the first church was completed in 1839, it was well-known that Mr. Parrett had done a liberal part indeed. His farm, lying in what is now the southeastern part of the city, supplied the brick which Mr. Parrett had burnt for that purpose on his farm. In this church he labored until the close of his useful life. He was a man of unction, a master worker for good always, and had an unfaltering faith in God and his eternal justice. His rare in- tellectual powers, his close reasoning, his wonderful judgment, his constructive talent, made him a man of power as well as of distinc- tion. In civil matters he was a man of wide reading and great com- prehension, as his speech, in 1827, on Adams and Jefferson, demon- strated. His long-time friend, Rev. Joseph Wheeler, was born near Oxford, England, in 1778. He was a man of great sweep of intel- lect, finely educated, and a nobleman in the cause of Christ. Rev. Parrett died January 29, 1860. About four years after his death Rev. Wheeler closed his earthly carcer and passed to his reward.
The children of Rev. Robert Parrett were : Sons-Rev. John W., Richard Watson, Robert Bond, William F., John De La Fletcher and Joseph Parrett. Daughters-Mary Ann, wife of John S. Hop- kins ; Sarah, wife of Rev. Reed; Martha, wife of Rufus Roberts ; Jane, wife of Alvah Johnson, and Eva, wife of Union Bethell.
WATKINS F. NISBET.
The man who was to achieve distinction in many ways in Evansville traces his ancestry back through a line of active men, who settled in Kentucky from the Carolinas. The father of Watkins F. Nisbet was of Scotch-Irish descent, and possessed all the excellent traits and unyielding energies and splendid mental powers of that enterprising class of people. He settled in Kentucky in an early day-indeed, was one of the pioneers. Being skilled in the science of surveying, he helped survey and lay out the larger part of Hopkins county. He secured a farm and devoted his energies to the cultivation of the soil. The subject of this biography was born in Madisonville, Hopkins county, Ky., November 27, 1825, and reared upon a farm. There he learned the broad precepts that nature teaches and builded up that fine energy which in mature life carried him successfully through every business enterprise he undertook.
At about the time of his majority, with some money he had accu- mulated through his commendable habits of economy and thrift, he
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left the farm and started upon a new career. It seems that this career was not a dream, but a practical ambition, coupled with a strong reso- lution to succeed. From the farm Mr. Nisbet went to Madisonville, the county-seat of the county in which he had lived all his life, and engaged in the general merchandise business, about 1845. He remained in this business until the gold fever caught him in 1849. He, with four others, went to California to seek their fortunes in that great western state, which the "Pathfinder" had previously captured from Mexico for the United States. They arrived at San Francisco when it was only a village of a few dugouts and plain, low frame buildings -a real backwoods town. Without needless delay they went into the mining districts, and for one year dug gold from the mountains and the placers. Mr. Nisbet being a man of correct habits of life and always exercising his splendid sense of economy, met with fairly good success. But his partners dreamed of the ease at home, found the lite which Bret Harte describes in his " Luck of Roaring Camp " distaste- ful, and decided to return to the " states." Mr. Nisbet, of course, did not wish to be left alone in those tremendous wilds, and concluded to return with them. In those days the pathway home was a long one, far around. Many journeyed the perilous way there overland across the alkali desert, but the usual way home was either down the coast and across the Isthmus of Tehauntepec in Nicaragua, or far around the point called Cape Horn. Vessels from Boston and the east car- ried cargoes there, which were disposed of along the western coast, and returning, brought back passengers. Often these vessels were old unseaworthy craft, and it was Mr. Nisbet's ill luck to take passage home in one of that kind. The voyage was a hard and perilous one of several months' duration. On the way they encountered several storms, and suffered many hardships on account of the prolongation of the journey. Their drinking water finally gave out, and their food supply was exhausted. Then the tortures of hunger and thirst obliged the passengers to pay almost any price for the seep water obtained from the ship's hold. This was sold at so much a glass, just as drinks . are sold to-day over the bar. After a desperate struggle with wind and wave, and battling for life against starvation and death, they finally landed at British Honduras. They made an overland trip to the Gulf of Mexico, crossed the gulf and then came up the Mississippi river. After arriving at home, Mr. Nisbet again entered the business he had first begun. That same business energy that always character- ized him now brought him an enlarged trade and better returns, if possible, than ever before. He made his purchases for this Madison-
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