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 45
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48
456
HISTORY OF VANDERBURGH COUNTY, IND.
ing dry goods men of this city. Thus it was that Major Parsons, together with Captain C. E. Scoville and Colonel S. A. Moffett were persuaded to come to Evansville. These three young men had been comrades in arms and officers in the same regiment for nearly four years. This close relationship resulted in a mutual understanding that when the war was over they would enter into business together. So after being mustered out of service, they came to Evansville, arriving here in the latter part of August, 1865. October 12 they bought out William Riley, then doing a retail grocery and feed busi- ness at 124 Main street, and commenced business under the firm name of Parsons, Scoville & Moffett.
Since then Major Parsons' life has been an open book to the people of Evansville, except for the most part of the time from the summer of 1885 to the spring of 1893, while engaged in developing a salt in- dustry in Texas. Major Parsons was the pioneer in the salt business in that state, and in company with Mr. Frederick R. Blount, succeeded in building up a large and lucrative salt industry, which was incor- porated under the name of the Lone Star Salt Company in 1889, and which is now one of the large industrial enterprises of that great state.
The firm of Parsons, Scoville & Moffett took front rank in the re- tail grocery business of the city from the beginning. In the spring of 1871, Parsons & Scoville bought Colonel Moffett's interest in the business, and he moved to Chicago. The new firm of Parsons & Scoville gradually merged the wholesale business into their extensive retail trade until their warehouse, No. 127 Main street was inadequate to their growing business. They, therefore, July 17, 1881, sold a one- half interest in their retail business to Mr. Ezra Lyon and established the wholesale grocery house, corner of Second and Sycamore streets. July 1, 1882, they sold their other one-half interest in the Main street business to Davis Bros., and since then have conducted an extensive wholesale grocery business. In July, 1894, they incorporated under the name of Parsons & Scoville Company. It will be seen therefore that Parsons & Scoville have been associated in business here almost thirty-two years. Indeed, in this line of business no other firm in the city has been so long continuously in active operation as has this re- liable old house. Major Parsons is a man of progressive ideas, a clear thinker, a thorough business man, well read, active in all worthy en- terprises for the good of the city and the well being of his fellow citizens. He is a man of high moral principles and for many years has been a member of Walnut Street Presbyterian church. He is a comrade of Farragut Post, No. 27, Grand Army of the Republic; also
457
HISTORY OF VANDERBURGH COUNTY, IND.
a companion of the Indiana Commandery of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States.
ANCIENT DEED.
" Know all men by these presents; that I, Samuel Parsons, Senior, of Endfield, in the county of Hempshier, in New England, planter, for and in consideration of the great love and respect I bear unto my son, Samuel Parsons, have freely given unto my said son, Samuel Parsons, his heirs and assigns forever a certain percell or tract of home lott land situate, lying aud being in the township of Endfield aforesaid, containing by estimation twelve aeres, be it more or less, and is in length one hundred and sixty rods and in breadth twelve, and is bounded on the east by the street and on the west by the Great river and on the south by the land of James Pease, and on the north by William Randell, or by whatsoever bounds bounded or reputed to be bounded or name called, together with all woods, underwoods, river, water, water courses, profits, privileges, rights, commodities, heridita- ments and appurtenances whatsoever to the above said percell or tract of land belonging or in any kind appertaining or therewith now used, occupied, enjoyed, accepted or taken as part or member of the said traet of home lott, and to have and to hold the above said percell or traet of home lott land butted, bounded and containing as aforesaid with all other the above granted premises unto the said Samuel Par- sons, his heirs and assigns forever to his and their own sole proper use, benefit and behalf forever. And I, the said Samuel Parsons, Senior, for me, my heirs, executors and administrators do hereby covenant promise and grant to and with the said Samuel Parsons, his heirs and assigns in manner and form (that is to say) that at the time of the ensealing hereof and until the delivery of these presents, I was the true, sole and lawful owner of all the afore bargained premises and stood lawfully seiged hereof in my own proper right of a good, perfcet and absolute estate of inheritance in fee simple, without any manner of condition, reversion or limitation whatsoever so as to alter, change, defeet, or make void the same, having in myself full power, good right, and lawful authority to give, grant, sell, convey, assure the premises with their appurtanees and every part and percell there- of unto the said Samuel Parsons, Junior, his heirs and assigns forever, in manner and form as aforesaid; and that the said Samuel Parsons, his heirs and assigns, shall and may by force and vertue of thesc 29
458
HISTORY OF VANDERBURGH COUNTY, IND.
presents, from henceforth and forever hereafter lawfully, peacefully and quietly have hold, use, occupy, possess and enjoy the above granted premises with their appurtanees and every part and pereell thereof free and clear and clearly acquitted and discharged of and from all and all manner of former and other gifts, grants, bargains, sales, leases, mortgages, joyntures, dowers, judgments, exeentions, entails forfeitures; and of and from all other titles, troubles, charges, and in- eumbrances whatsoever had made, committed, done, or suffered to be done by me, the said Samuel Parsons, Senior, my heirs, executors, or administrators or assignes at any time or times before the ensealing hereof. In witness whereof I, the said Samuel Parsons, Senior, have hereunto set my hand and scal this twenty-second day of August, Anno Domini One Thousand Seven Hundred and Eighteen, and in the fifth year of the reign of our sovrain-Lord George, king over Great Britain.
SAMUEL PARSONS.
Signed sealed and delivered in the presence of us, JOHN WARNER, CHRISTOPHER PARSONS,
JONATHAN PEIRCE.
HAMPSHIER, October 30, 1718.
Samuel Parsons appeared in Endfield before me the subscriber, one of his majesty's justices of the peace for said county of Hampshier and aeknowl- edges this iustrument to be his aet and deed.
JOSEPH TURSORY."
THE IGLEHEART FAMILY.
The history of a family is always an interesting personal matter, and of all the families in Evansville at this time none are more inter- esting or inspire higher aims and ambitions than the Igleheart family. This race of worthy citizens is of German extraction, the first emi- grants landing in the vicinity of Baltimore, Maryland, in the first part of the eighteenth century.
Levi, the fifth son of John Igleheart, of Prince George's county, Maryland, was born August 13, 1786. He married Anne Taylor and settled in Ohio county, Kentucky, in 1816, where he resumed his ocenpation, that of a farmer. Here their eldest son, Asa, was born December 8, 1817. Seven years afterward, in 1823, the family moved
459
HISTORY OF VANDERBURGH COUNTY, IND.
to Warrick county, Indiana, near the stream that separated Vander- burgh and Warrick counties. In those days when the ax was the chief implement in the forest, and the family had to manufacture all its own conveniences, comforts and necessities, the schools were few and the chances for learning were meager. But the boy Asa had a natural love for books and learning, and his father stimulated this proper desire by spending the evenings in wise inquiries and sugges- tive propositions. Then the young men who made their mark in life were obliged to labor hard at physical work all day long, and then literally burn the "midnight oil" -- the lard-oil lamp or the candle- over some book or study. Study with those boys was a passionate delight. The M. E. circuit riders always found a welcome in the Iglehart home, and these men suggested and educated by their very lives. Aaron and Enoch Wood, and others who attained celebrity later, often found shelter beneath that hospitable roof. By these few helps at learning (the family library then perhaps consisted of no more than a dozen books) young Asa had acquired sufficient knowledge to teach school. His love of books was so strong that when at work in the field, he sometimes carried a book with him.
He married Anne Cowle, of Blue Grass, Vanderburgh county, in 1842. She was a lady of intelligence and refinement, possessing both literary and social accomplishments. To them were born Ferdinand, Eugene and Mrs. Annie Taylor. That romantic passion for study in- duced Mr. Iglehart to take up the study of law while yet upon the farm, and he was admitted to the bar at the age of thirty-two. In 1849 he located in Evansville and entered the law firm of Ingle & Wheeler, as junior partner. This association continued until Mr. Iglehart was appointed common pleas judge in 1854, a position he filled for four years. He was a man of great activity. He aided in bringing into existence the first state bar association, of which he was the first president. He assisted in establishing the bar association of the United States, and was an original member of it. For many years he contributed editorially to the " Central Law Journal." One of his literary labors was the revision of "McDonald's Treatise," and his crowning work was his " Pleading and Practice " in Indiana. These and other literary works were done in the midst of active legal prac- tice. He practiced in the supreme court of Indiana, in the federal courts, and in the supreme court of the United States. He was one of the most profound judges of the country, a man of remarkable and masterful penetration; a mind always reaching decisions in equity and and justice; a talent not excelled by the supreme judges of the st
460
HISTORY OF VANDERBURGH COUNTY, IND.
For a long time he was counselor of the E. & T. H. railroad, and ably advocated many of the canal suits in behalf of the city of Evans- ville, and he managed them so skillfully as to win great eommeuda- tion. In the higher courts his great force and skill was very apparent.
His labors were great, his pains in the preparation of a ease infinite, and his striet systematie methods of work enabled him to accomplish what seemed to be beyond the scope of man to do. But he was not a man to negleet the smallest thing that would aid his eanse. By his persuasion the Indiana supreme court overruled Judge Redfield, a leading American legal text writer. His personality was sublime, his faith in God as simple as that of a little child. His Christian charae- ter mirrored forth his soul in all its purity and nobleness. He was a man of firm physical proportions, and a giant in that well-balanced and massive intelleet that marks the man of superiority and execution.
In educational matters he took a lively interest, and for several years he was trustee of the public schools of Evansville, and also a trustee of DePauw University.
His death occurred February 5, 1887, and it fell upon his multitude of friends and acquaintances in the nature of a blow-a publie calam- ity. Two sons and a daughter, children of Asa Iglehart, are now living, Rev. Ferdinand, Eugene and Mrs. Annie Taylor. Ferdi- nand is a minister of renown in Brooklyn, N. Y., and Eugene is one of the leading attorneys in this city. He and his brother-in-law, Edwin Taylor, constitute the firm of Iglehart & Taylor, the sueeessor of Asa Iglehart. Their legal practice is large, which shows the esti- mation in which they are held by the people, as well as compliments their talents and great legal learning.
Levi was born March 8, 1820, in Ohio county, Kentucky ; moved to Warriek county, Indiana, in 1823, where he grew up, married and lived till 1853.
In 1844 he married Susanna Ingle, daughter of John Ingle, and in 1853 he moved to Evausville and established the Canal flour mills, on the site more recently occupied by Ellis & Knauss. At this time the Wabash and Erie canal was the great water way, which was expected to be the means of receiving grain and shipping flour. In 1856 he sold his interest here to Little Bros., and with his brothers, William and Asa, the latter a silent partner, established the Southern mills on its present site, which was also then located on the eanal.
A personal sketch of Levi Iglehart, published iu the "North western Miller", of January 22, 1892, the leading milling journal of the west, with a front page portrait, contains the following:
461
HISTORY OF VANDERBURGH COUNTY, IND.
"The subject of this sketch is the senior member of the firm of Igleheart Bros., Evansville, Ind. He was born in Ohio county, Ky., in 1820. He moved with his parents to Indiana while a small boy, and grew up on a farm in Warrick county. In 1855, during the Crimean war he moved to Evansville, Ind., and built a small mill. At that time so little wheat was grown in Southern Indiana that it was difficult to get a sufficient supply to keep a 100-barrel mill run- ning. In 1856 he sold out and went into partnership with his two brothers, Judge Asa as silent partner and W. T. Iglehart as active partner, under the present name and style of Igleheart Bros., and built what has been known ever since as the "Igleheart's flouring mills." The firm was the first to use the purifier on winter wheat, also one of the first who adopted the use of rolls on such wheat.
"Prior to the war the universal custom was to consign flour to New Orleans for sale, and for a number of years after the war the custom of consignment of mill products to the eastern markets prevailed. About 1866-7 Iglehart Bros. determined to sell the product of their mill before it left their warehouse and ship goods on direct orders only. To accomplish this object at that time was no small under- taking, but by push and energy and fair and honorable dealing on the part of the firm, and the uniform high grade of their flour, it was but a short time until their products were so well and favorably known in New England, the Atlantic cities and throughout the southern markets, that they could not meet the demand, though their terms were invari- ably sight draft with bill of lading attached. This state of things made it necessary for them to enlarge and increase the capacity of their mill.
"This firm were pioneers in milling in Southern Indiana, but have kept abreast of their competitors in all the modern improvements in milling and the best methods of purchase and sale of their goods, and there is to-day probably no milling firm in Indiana better or more favorably known to the flour trade, both east and south, than Igleheart Bros., their flours being prominent among winter wheat flours where- ever known.
Some four years since, the silent partner, Judge Iglehart, died, and L. T. and A. W., sons of Levi Igleheart, were admitted to the firm, but the firm name was not changed. The old members of the firm, though in fairly good health, begin to feel the wear of nearly half a century of active business life, and are gradually shifting the work and cares of the concern upon the shoulders of the junior members, who have been brought up in the trade and are fully capable of maintain- ing and perpetuating the high standard of the house.
462
HISTORY OF VANDERBURGH COUNTY, IND.
"Mr. Igleheart, our subject, has a host of friends in New England and the Atlantic cities, where he is well known, and he is held in high estimation by the trade in all sections of the country."
In natural ability, foresight and rugged traits of character, developed in a life of self-reliance and energy, covering almost the entire period of growth and development of this section, Levi Igle- heart has been recognized as one of the leading men in the community and in the commercial world where he worked. In his association with leading millers and manufacturers of the west and south, he has always been recognized as a leader.
No other institution in this city has done more to elevate and main- tain the standard of commercial honesty than the firm of which he is the head. This is properly the result of the private life and character of its members, and here Levi stands, and has always stood, as high as any man in the community.
His tastes and habits have never brought him into public view, be- yond ordinary commercial transactions, and the sphere of action of a private citizen of broad, philantrophic and Christian character. While modest and retiring in ordinary life, in all questions involving correct business methods, as well as questions of right and wrong, he is very aggressive and able to defend his views with clear and persuasive logic. He had three sons, Leslie T. and Addison W., who, on the death of his brother Asa, purchased the interest of the latter in the business; also John L., who is engaged in the same business. All his children are married and have families.
Wm. T., the youngest son of the family, was born in 1825 and died in 1895. The history of the milling firm, of which he was a member, is a history of his business life after he left the farm in 1856. In many traits of character he resembled his brothers Asa and Levi. Like them, he had a strong personality and believed in maintaining the highest standard of commercial and private honesty. To his ability and energy much of the success of the firm has been due. He left surviving him a widow, Mrs. Florence B. Igleheart, and a son, Wm., who is married and lives at Salt Lake City; also a daughter, Eleanor.
The other members of this family, all dead, who left descendants, are: Harriet, who married John Erskine, and left a large family; Elizabeth, who married Mark Wheeler and left one son, Robert, and one daughter, Ann, both married; Mary Ann, who married William Odell, and left a large family; Kitty, who married John Johnston, and left several children, and Eleanor, who married Amos Wright, and- left a large family.
463
HISTORY OF VANDERBURGH COUNTY, IND.
The family name is variously spelled Iglebart and Igleheart. The eastern branch and part of the western branch, including the family of Asa, adopting the former method, while most of the Kentucky branch and the families of Levi and William adopt the latter method of spelling.
JAMES D. PARVIN.
James D. Parvin, now a resident of the city of Evansville, is a descendant of Mark D. Parvin, a sturdy pioneer, who was born at Reading, Pa., October 20, 1770, and early settled in Gibson county, Ind. There, in 1810, at the homestead of General Robert M. Evans, he was married to Miss Martha Evans, a sister of the distinguished general. His name was identified with the early days of Gibson county, where his death occurred December 29, 1830. The father of Capt. J. D. Parvin, James M. Parvin, was born at Winchester, Ky., March 22, 1818. When twelve years of age he settled in Gibson county, Ind., and there learned the trade of blacksmithing in the shop of William Howe. He came to Evansville in 1840, and was engaged as a mechanic for about fifteen years, at the end of which time he moved to Carlisle, Ind. During the period that he lived here he worked at his trade, that of blacksmithing, and joined his business interests with Varney Satterlee. Afterward it was Parvin & DeGarmo, blacksmithing and wagonmaking; and it was Messrs. Parvin and Satterlee who built the first buggy, both the wood and iron work, that was ever built in this county. The citi- zens were greatly pleased that they had at least one establishment that could turn out a handsome vehicle, and a kind with all compartments strictly homemade. That buggy was built for the well known citizen, Thomas Scantlin, now residing on Washington avenue, and who is spending his days not idly, but actively engaged in the foundry business, and has been for many years. As Mr. Scantlin was very liberal, his friends got the benefit of many rides in that memorable buggy.
A few days after the completion of this buggy, Mr. Scantlin, his father, brother and the author christened it by taking it on a fishing excursion at the mouth of Green river. We left the city on a beauti- ful morning early in the fishing season, and went by what we call the Bayou road. After we had provided for our sturdy old horse and placed the buggy under the shade of the big trees, we took a skiff and went across the river, spending a pleasant day in angling, and catching some of the finest fish that ever inhabited that river. But toward
464
HISTORY OF VANDERBURGH COUNTY, IND.
evening the clouds became heavy, and we experienced there a veritable storm of rain and hail, which prevented us from getting back that even- ing. We spent a very uncomfortable night. The storm continued to rage all night and next day, so we really could not get away from there until late in the evening of the second day. During that time this new, highly-polished buggy was exposed to the elements. It is true, we had an abundance of fish and our lunch, and that is about all we had until we got back home. There were many others who came up to join us in that fishing party the next day, and they had about the same expe- rienee as we did, known in those days as " fisherman's luck."
James D. Parvin, one of the sons of James M. Parvin, was born in this city, where he spent his boyhood, moving to Carlisle, Ind., with his parents about 1855, where he lived up to the time of the breaking ont of the war of the rebellion. In May, 1864, he assisted in recruit- ing a company for the United States service, and was made second lieutenant of company G, 137th Indiana Volunteer Infantry (100 days men) May 25, 1864; discharged October 20, 1864; made captain of company G, 149th Indiana Volunteer Infantry (one year service) Feb- ruary 22, 1865 ; discharged September 27, 1865, by reason of the close of the war. He was elected auditor of Vanderburgh county Novem- ber, 1886, and entered upon the duties of this office December 1, 1886, serving two terms, np to December 1, 1894, since which time he has been employed in various kinds of work, such as settling up estates, ete., and having received the appointment of postmaster of this city, which gives general satisfaction, he will enter upon the duties of this office in the near future.
WILLIAM STORTON.
The author's acquaintance with William Storton began almost on the first arrival of the family in Evansville, and what he writes here is the result of elose knowledge and a degree of intimaey with him through long years. His father, William Storton, emigrated from England to America in 1854, and arrived in Evansville in the latter part of that year. As soon as he had collected a few dollars together, he entered the business of draying.
The son, William, was born at Somersham, county of Huntington, England, October 16, 1840. His boyhood was spent on a farm in his native land. His school privileges for an edneation were such as were afforded by country schools. At the age of fourteen, when life was just
465
HISTORY OF VANDERBURGH COUNTY, IND.
opening up in new, young beauty, his family moved to the New World to try their fortunes in a land of liberty, and a land possessing unlim- ited resources. It was a long journey, on the blue Atlantic, of sixty days in a sailing vessel. They landed at New Orleans, and in a short time resumed their journey up the Mississippi and Ohio rivers to Evansville-forty-two years ago. The subject of this sketch ever afterward made this city his home.
His first employment here was rendering assistance to his father in the draying business-before and after school hours. As an indus- trious lad, whatever his hands found to do, he did it, turning an honest penny wherever possible. His first regular employment was with James Steele, who operated a planing mill at or near the corner of Upper Second and Chestnut streets. There he remained, handling stock and doing other work, till he engaged with the Journal company, January 1866, where his life was developed and where he remained up to the day of his death-over thirty years of continuous, faithful, profitable service. His labors were in connection with the business department of the paper. He began as a mail- ing clerk and collector, and his faithful and effective services in these departments led to his promotion to the more responsible posi- tion of solicitor for the job and bindery departments and general adver- tiser. Here he remained till the ledger of his life was balanced on earth. As a necessary part of his position much of his life was spent "on the road." Here he naturally formed many acquaint- ances in the neighboring states of Kentucky, Illinois and Tennessee, as well as in Indiana. His business principle was to make his services as profitable to his employer as possible, and to this object he devoted all his talent and energy. He was, as a natural result, a successful business man. His character was such and his business methods so clear and defined that all men with whom he dealt had implicit confi- dence in his judgment and integrity. Everybody pronounced him an " honest man, the noblest work of God "-the highest tribute that can be paid to any one. His policy was for peace, not opposition or con- troversy. Herein lay his happy faculty of making friends. Every criticism in the paper was a pain to him, and he never mentioned any one in type but in proper commendatory terms-always helping rather than imposing needless pain. He neglected no fact or needed detail in a bit of news, that in his large, liberal view, was necessary to give the facts a proper setting and a truthful bearing. His sense of right and justice was fine and highly developed. His truly Christian char- acter shown clearly in his business life as well as in his church rela-
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.