USA > Indiana > Sullivan County > A history of Sullivan County, Indiana, closing of the first century's history of the county, and showing the growth of its people, institutions, industries and wealth, Volume II > Part 18
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He was united in marriage, in 1872, to Mary Jane Mckinley, who
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was born in Knox county, a daughter of Steward and Mary (Wolfe) Mckinley. Mary Wolfe was the sister of Thomas J. Wolfe, so well known in Sullivan county. Five children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Tucker: Aquilla P., born in 1873, residing at Carlisle, a mail carrier ; Ira P., residing on his father's farm; Mary J. and Nancy J. (twins) ; the latter died in infancy and Mary Jane married John Hallett and resides in Gill township; Leacie E. is the wife of Isaac Cox, and they reside on the farm with the parents. Aquilla P. has four children: Gilbert, Ber- nice, Bertha and Phena. Ira P. has two children: Orvil and Opal. Mary Jane has one daughter-Geneva. Leacie E. has two children: Dora Marie and Gladys May.
CHARLES E. KNOTTS, perhaps one of the most extensive, as well as successful, melon raisers within the limits of Sullivan county, Indiana, whose farm is situated in Haddon township, is a native of the township in which he now resides, born May 10, 1868, a son of George and Sarah J. (Parrette) Knotts. The father was born in Pennsylvania, December 25, 1816, and died December 12, 1898, in "Haddon township. The mother was born in Fayette county, Ohio, November 13, 1830, and died February 3, 1898. This worthy couple were united in marriage in Fayette county, Ohio, and came to Haddon township, Sullivan county, in the latter part of the sixties, locating a half mile west of Carlisle, on a farm containing two hundred and ten acres which they bought of William Akin. George and Sarah Knotts remained in Haddon township until their death. The father was a firm defender of Democratic party principles and in his fraternal affiliations was a Mason. His wife was a member of the Chris- tian church. Their children were: George C., died December 30, 1893, aged thirty-one years; Lucy B., born March 25, 1864, died April 22, 1888; Charles E., of this notice.
Charles E. Knotts was reared on a farm and educated in the public schools, remaining at home until he reached his majority, when he began farming for himself in Haddon township. In 1891 he moved onto the farm he now occupies and owns, inheriting a part and purchasing the interests of the remaining heirs, thus making his present farm one hun- dred and twelve acres, all within Haddon township. Here he carries on an exclusive melon culture farm. For seven years he produced water- melons alone, but for the last seven years has grown muskmelons, which product finds ready sale within the state, including the large cities and smaller towns, within shipping distance. In his political views Mr. Knotts is in perfect accord with the Democratic party, but prefers that others hold the local offices, while he attends strictly to his own business, trusting in his fellow citizens to administer the laws within his county and state.
He was married March 25, 1887, to Rachel T. Carmichael, born in Greene county, Indiana, April 26, 1869, and she received a good education within the county of her birth. Her parents were George W. and Nancy Carmichael. Her father was born in Greene county, Indiana,
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and is now residing in Terre Haute. The mother was born in Ohio and died when Mrs. Knotts was but eleven years of age. Mr. and Mrs. Knotts are the parents of seven children, as follows: Bessie M., born November 15, 1888, unmarried, a graduate from Brown's Business College at Terre Haute; Jesse M., born March 14, 1890; Carl R., born January 9, 1892; George R., born March 13, 1894; Charles V., born February 26, 1896; John A., born April 22, 1898; Henry Herbert, born March 24, 1900.
JAMES H. WILSON, one of the enterprising agriculturists whose attractive farm home is situated within the bounds of Haddon town- ship, Sullivan county, Indiana, was born November 28, 1851, in Han- cock county, Indiana, on his father's farm. He is the son of Jacob and Hannah (Emmons) Wilson. The father was a native of Kentucky and the mother of Pennsylvania. They came to Indiana with their respective parents and located in Hancock county. In that county the parents of James H. were united in marriage and there the father followed farming until 1863, when the family went to Knox county, locating in Widner township, where he bought eighty acres of land, upon which he and his wife lived the balance of their lives. He died in November, 1880, and the mother in January, 1875. Eight children blessed their marriage union : Samuel, deceased; Robert, residing in Carlisle; Lewis, also of Carlisle ; James H., of this biographical narrative ; Silas, of Pleasantville, Indiana; William, of Los Angeles, California; Paul, a twin to Silas, died at the age of eight years ; and one who died in infancy.
James H. Wilson, of this sketch, was reared on a farm and early taught the need of frugality and industry. He obtained his education after moving to Knox county. When he was but fifteen years of age he commenced to farm for others by the month, continuing until about twenty-three years of age and then began farming for himself. He continued to till the soil of Knox county for three seasons, coming then to Haddon township, in which sub-division of Sullivan county he has farmed ever since. He now owns a seventy-seven acre farm, which is in two tracts. He lives, however, on leased lands and farms about three hundred acres, including his own place and the rented grounds. Politically, he is a supporter of the Democratic party and is a firm believer in the principles of pure Jacksonian Democracy. In his fraternal connections he is a member of the Ben Hur lodge at Carlisle.
He was married September 28, 1873, to Alice Phillippe, born in Knox county, near Bruceville, Indiana, June 4, 1855, a daughter of William Johnson and Sarah (Minich) Phillippe. Her father was born in Virginia, and her mother in Haddon township, Sullivan county. She is a sister of Pleasant A. Minich, whose family history will be found in the sketch of W. F. Minich, within this work. William Johnson Phillippe came with his parents when a small boy to Knox county and the family located north of Vincennes. William Johnson Phillippe and wife moved to Haddon township when Mrs. Wilson was a small girl
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and here they resided until their death. They had a family of six children, as follows: Alice, Mrs. Wilson; Flora, widow of James M. Harber, residing in Knox county; William A., of Haddon township; Franklin M., of Bruceville, Knox county ; Martin J., of Oklahoma, now the editor of the Register, a local paper of Oklahoma; John M., of Los Angeles, California.
To Mr. and Mrs. Wilson were born the following children: Elvin, born August 12, 1875, married Eva McClure, and they reside in Haddon township and are the parents of four children; Denver, born December 28, 1876, married Lydia Kennedy, and they reside in Haddon township, and have one daughter ; Earle, born January 19, 1879, is unmarried and at home; Vernie, born April 29, 1881, wife of John D. Prose, residing in Carlisle, and they are the parents of two children; Flora, born May 28, 1884, married Miles Curry, residing in Terre Haute, and they have one son. Mr. Wilson's children were all educated at Carlisle. Elvin graduated from the high school and the Vincennes College, after which he returned to the farm, which has been his vocation ever since. James H. Wilson is quite an extensive hog raiser, and markets about one carload annually. The family attend the Methodist Episcopal church, of which the parents are exemplary members.
DAVID E. EVERHART .- Prominent among the most prosperous, energetic and sagacious agriculturists of Sullivan county is David E. Everhart, who owns and occupies a large and well improved farm in Cass township. He ranks high among the progressive farmers and sub- stantial business men of his community, and is everywhere respected as a man of honor and worth. A son of John Everhart, he was born March 5, 1855, in Lancaster, Owen county, Indiana, coming from Ger- man ancestry, his great-grandfather on the paternal side having emi- grated from Germany to Pennsylvania when young, and there married a Scotch-Irish lassie. (The original spelling of the name was Eberhardt.) David Everhart, grandfather of David E., was born and bred in Penn- sylvania. Emigrating to Ohio in early manhood, he became a pioneer settler of Tuscarawas county. Purchasing a tract of wild land, he began its improvement, and was there employed in tilling the soil until his death, when but thirty-five years of age. He married a Miss Hicks, who survived him many years.
A native of Ohio, John Everhart was born in Tuscarawas county in 1820. Learning the carpenter's trade when young, he followed it as a journeyman for a few years. In 1850, in company with a few neigh- boring families, he came across the country with teams to Indiana, and for a year lived in Wabash county. Returning then to Tuscarawas county, he located with his family on land given them by his father and was there a tiller of the soil for three years. Selling out in 1854, he again came with his family to Indiana, settling in Owen county. He purchased a tract of timber land, and in the log cabin which then stood
"FOREST HOME." RESIDENCE OF MR. AND MRS. DAVID E. EVERHART
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upon the place, his son David E. was born. This section of Indiana was then almost a wilderness. Settlers were few and far between, and the forests were filled with an abundance of game of all kinds. He began the improvement of a homestead, clearing a large tract of the land, and erected a frame house and a double log stable. In 1867 he sold that property, came to Sullivan county, purchased a quarter of a section of land in Jackson township, and was there successfully employed in farm- ing and stockraising until his death, in 1885. He married Martha Hoffer, who was born in Canton Berne, Switzerland, in 1825, and died in Jackson township in 1887. Her father, Alexander Hoffer, emigrated from Switz- erland to America in 1835, being accompanied by his wife and their two daughters. Locating in Coshocton county, Ohio, he bought forty acres of land, and there carried on general farming the remainder of his life. Eleven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. John Everhart, namely : Lavina, Adaline, Louisa, Sarah, Alexander, David E., Lucy A., Dan, John W., Ella and Ezra A.
Trudging three long, weary miles over the hills, David E. Everhart obtained his rudimentary knowledge in the district schools of Owen county. He subsequently attended the rural schools of Jackson town- ship, afterwards completing his early studies in the graded schools of Sullivan. Beginning then a professional career, Mr. Everhart taught school for twenty-six years, all but three years of the time being so located that he was enabled to board at home. As a teacher he was successful and popular, gaining an excellent reputation as an educator and as a disciplinarian. Always interested in agriculture, he has of late years turned his attention almost entirely to agricultural pursuits. Resid- ing in Cass township, he has in his home farm five hundred and thirty- five acres of rich and fertile land, the greater part of which is under fine cultivation, and is well equipped with substantial buildings, and all of the appliances for doing the necessary farm labor after the most approved modern methods.
On June 7, 1883, Mr. Everhart married Laura E. Patton, who was born in Jackson township April 16, 1860, a daughter of William Nelson Patton, Esq. Mr. Patton was born in Carlisle, Sullivan county, Indiana, but was reared in Jackson township. As a young man he was extensively engaged in farming, owning upwards of five hundred acres of land. Subsequently removing to Sullivan.he, in company with his son, embarked in mercantile pursuits, and is now one of the leading merchants of that place. Mr. Patton married Harriet Rebecca Magill, who was born in Cass township, Sullivan county, in 1837, a daughter of Thomas and Mary (Hall) Magill, and they reared five children, namely: Laura E., wife of Mr. Everhart; Clara, Cora E., Oscar M., in business with his father, and Bertha L. Mr. Patton is quite active in public affairs, and for twelve years served as justice of the peace. A history of the Magill family, to which Mrs. Everhart belongs, has been written by Robert Magill, of Maryville, Tennessee. Religiously Mr. and Mrs. Everhart are members of the Presbyterian church. The pretty country seat of Mr. and Mrs. David Everhart in Cass township is known as "Forest Home."
Vol. II-10
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MOSES H. GREGG, well known in farming circles of Haddon town- ship, Sullivan county, is a native of this township, where he was born September 20, 1839, three miles south of Carlisle, Indiana, a son of Elijah and Nancy (Pell) Gregg. The father was born in North Carolina in 1800, and died in 1876. The mother was born in Virginia and married in that state. They drove overland to Wayne county, Indiana, where they located for a while, but later removed to Sullivan county, locating south of Carlisle, where they remained until their death. Elijah Gregg was a Republican and a public-spirited citizen, who always tilled the soil for his livelihood. He owned one hundred and eight acres at the time of his death. The children born to him were as follows : Eveline, deceased; William, residing in Montana; Henry, of Haddon township; Lott B., deceased; Galvin, of Montana; Oliver P., of Mon- tana ; Moses H., of this notice; Elijah, of Montana; Milton, residing in the west.
Moses H., the seventh child in the family of Elijah and Nancy (Pell) Gregg, farmcd with his father until thirty-five years of age, and then began to farm independently, continuing until the present time. He has chosen to live the life of a bachelor and farms his forty-acre farm. Politically, he is a believer in the principles of the Republican party. He is thoroughgoing and methodical in all he undertakes, as can be observed by an inspection of his well cultivated fields.
FRANK B. RIDGWAY, farmer and stock raiser, whose excellent farm property is situated in Haddon township, Sullivan county, is a native of Widner township, Knox county, Indiana, where he was born Feb- ruary 12, 1862. He is the son of John H. and Rachel (Watson) Ridg- wav. The father was born in Kentucky and the mother in Sullivan county, Indiana, where they were united in marriage. They resided in Knox for a long term of years, then removed to a section south of Carlisle, where they spent the remainder of their lives. The father was a successful farmer. Politically, he favored the Democratic party, and he held the office of county assessor for one year. The children born to John H. Ridgway and wife were as follows: Frank B., Hester, Benjamin (deceased), William and Minnie (twins) : William is deceased and Minnie is the wife of Harry Shaver, of Kansas, Illinois; Bert (deceased), and two who died in infancy.
Frank B. Ridgway was reared on his father's farm and began working for himself at the age of twenty-one years at farm labor and has been engaged in such work ever since. His farming operations have always been carried on within Haddon township, where he now owns a well improved farm of one hundred and twenty acres, upon which he lives. This place is situated four miles to the south of Carlisle. Both grain and stock raising are methodically carried on here by Mr. Ridgway, and he raises and feeds from four to six carloads of stock per annum. His farm gives evidence in every part of being one con-
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ducted by a man who thoroughly understands his business. Politically he affiliates with the Democratic party.
February 22, 1883, Mr. Ridgway was married to Anna (Wortman) Pearce, who was born in Haddon township, a daughter of Philip G. Wortman, a farmer of this section. Mrs. Ridgway's father was born in Wayne county, Indiana, and his wife, Nancy Gregg, was born in Patrick county, Virginia, September 16, 1822. She came with her parents to Hendricks county, Indiana, when young. Philip Wortman came to Haddon township with his mother, his father being dead at that time. Philip always followed farming pursuits, in which he was very successful. He served as a private soldier at the time of the Civil war, in Company D, Twenty-first Indiana Regiment.
Five children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Frank B. Ridgway, as follows: Mabel, born December, 1883, wife of Henry Hale, of Haddon township; Rush W., unmarried and at home; one who died in infancy; Rachel, deceased; and Ivin. Rush was graduated from Carlisle high school with the class of 1906, after which he returned to the farm, being thoroughly equipped for a better understanding of agriculture or any other vocation he may later select.
DAVID C. WORTMAN, one of Haddon township's worthy and enter- prising citizens, follows farming, and is also connected with the saw- milling business, as well as threshing. He was born February 20, 1845, in Gill township, Sullivan county, Indiana, a son of John C. and Alvira (Gregg) Wortman. The father was a native of Ohio, born July I, 1813, and died January 16, 1899, in Haddon township. The mother was a native of Virginia. This worthy couple were numbered among the pioneers of Sullivan county. Their children were as follows: John P., deceased ; Mary C., deceased ; Nancy, wife of James O'Haver, resid- ing in Haddon township; David C., of this sketch; Julia A., wife of Alonzo Colton, of Haddon township; William C., deceased; James Mar- tin, residing with his brother, David C .; Emeline, deceased ; Elizabeth, of Oaktown, Knox county, Indiana.
Reared on the farm and receiving his primary education at the district schools, David C. Wortman continued to reside at home until he reached manhood. He then started out in life for himself as a farm hand, which occupation he pursued until 1881, when he saw a more independent way of gaining his livelihood, by tilling the soil on his own account. He purchased forty acres of land, in 1876, where his farm buildings now stand, but did not remove to the place until 1881. He now owns a splendid farm, consisting of an even one hundred acres of choice land. Late in the nineties he retired from the activities of his farm life, but still resides there. In 1888 Mr. Wortman was engaged in the livery business at Oaktown, but at the same time he conducted his farm. In 1892 he engaged in the saw-mill and grain-threshing
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business, he superintending the operation of this combined business. The saw-mill was sold in 1905, at the same time that his threshing machine was sold. Mr. Wortman has always led the life of a bachelor, his brother James and family having lived with him for the last twenty- seven years. Politically he affiliates with the Republican party.
JOHN A. LISMAN, who is well known as the farmer of Haddon township who pays especial attention to raising horses, is a native of Scottsville, Haddon township, Sullivan county, Indiana. He was born January 28, 1864, a son of John Wesley and Margaret (Lovelace) Lisman. The mother was a native of Kentucky and came to Sullivan county when young. The father was born near Carlisle, Indiana, in September, 1814, and died in 1871, in Scottsville, near Carlisle. The grandfather, Andrew Lisman, was born in Germany and came to this country when but a child. He located near Carlisle and was a well-to-do farmer and reared a large family. John Wesley Lisman, the father of John A., of this notice, was a carpenter, but worked at farming in his later years. He performed much work at his trade in New Orleans and Natchez and other southern cities. He was noted for his integrity and strict honesty of purpose. Politically he affiliated with the Repub- lican party and had the honor of voting for Abraham Lincoln in his first presidential campaign, in 1860. John W. Lisman's father and three of his brothers, were at the battle of Tippecanoe. The children of John Wesley and Margaret (Lovelace) Lisman were eight in num- ber. The mother was of the Campbellite religious faith.
ยท John A. Lisman was born and reared on a farm and had the advan- tages of a common school education. His parents died when he was quite young, and he was reared by Simeon Yocum, near Carlisle, with whom he remained from the time he was ten years of age until he was thirty-one. After reaching his majority Mr. Lisman farmed for Mr. Yocum and subsequently farmed on his brother's place-Dr. Lisman's. He engaged in the horse business, and was the owner of "Old Frank," "Hambletonian," which valuable animal died. He now owns "George," a grandson of "Sun Rise Prince."
Mr. Lisman's sister, Maggie, kept house for him on his brother's farm for about five years, after which he returned to the old Lisman homestead, where he has since lived. In 1905 he replaced the old house with a new and more comfortable cottage and he now owns seventy- seven acres and makes a specialty of raising horses. Politically Mr. Lisman affiliates with the Republican party. He was united in marriage November 6, 1899, to Lillie E. Edwards, born in Illinois, and reared in Lawrence county, Indiana. The date of her birth was March 13, 1875, and her parents were William H. and Rachel (Johnson) Edwards, both of whom are now deceased, dying when she was a small girl. Mrs. Lisman is a member of the Christian church in Georgetown, Indiana.
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TILMAN B. WOLFE, of Haddon township, who was born and reared to agricultural pursuits, is a native of this township, born February IO, 188I, a son of George F. and Margaret (Pifer) Wolfe. Both of Mr. Wolfe's parents were natives of the same township in which the son was born. The father was born May 17, 1856, and is engaged in the hardware business at Oaktown, Knox county, Indiana, and the mother was born in 1859, in the same township as her husband. The grand- father, Uriah Wolfe, was among the early pioneer band who first effected a settlement in Sullivan county. George F., the father, always followed farming for a living, until February, 1899, when he engaged in the hardware trade at Oaktown, the firm being known as Snapp, Latshaw & Co. In his political views Mr. Wolfe is a Democrat. He is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America and Maccabees order. Both he and his wife are consistent members of the Christian church. The three children born to them are: Charles M., residing in Haddon township; Tilman B., of this biographical review; Della B., wife of Melvin Sproatt, residing in Knox county, Indiana. George F. Wolfe was married a second time to Ollie Heddon, a native of Illinois, who died a few years after their marriage. Four children were born of this union, and all are deceased except Paul, who is now with his father at Oaktown. For his third wife Mr. Wolfe married Amanda Owens, a native of Turman township, Sullivan county, who is now his companion at Oaktown.
Tilman B. Wolfe, son of George F. Wolfe by his first marriage, was reared on his father's farm and attended the district schools of Haddon township. He continued to reside at home until about twenty- one years of age, when he began farming for himself and has continued to the present time. . He inherited one hundred acres of land where he lives now, about five years ago, in 1903. Here he carries on an extensive farm and stockraising business. Like every true American, Mr. Wolfe has his decided opinions concerning political parties and their platforms. He supports the Democratic party.
He was married February 17, 1901, to Maude Kite, born in Honey Creek township, Vigo county, Indiana, August 27, 1880, a daughter of Edwin and Rettie ( Pickens) Kite; the latter is deceased. They moved to Sullivan county about 1895, locating in Haddon township. The chil- dren born to Mr. and Mrs. Wolfe are: Hershel, Robertine and Russell.
GEORGE WASHINGTON HALE .- One of the industrious agriculturists of Haddon township, Sullivan county, Indiana, is George W. Hale, who was born July 29, 1843, in Jefferson township, a son of Stephen C. and Ann (Howard) Hale. The father was born in Virginia in 1810, dying in Jefferson township, this county, in 1885, and the mother was born in Kentucky and died in Jefferson township May 2, 1862. Both paternal and maternal grandparents were numbered among the first settlers of Jefferson township. The father and mother of George W. were united in marriage in Jefferson township. The father always followed farm
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pursuits and owned one hundred and ninety acres of land at the time of his death. He was politically a Democrat. Both he and his good wife were members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Fourteen chil- dren were born of this union, nine of whom are still living, as follows : Mary Ann, widow of Robert Crawford, a resident of Sullivan ; George W., of this biography; Rebecca, widow of Michael Goodwin, of Greene county ; Martin, of Pleasantville, a merchant; William, residing in Nebraska ; Mildred, widow of Simeon Yocum, residing in Carlisle ; Amanda, wife of Louis Wilson, of Carlisle; Eliza, wife of Frank Wells, of Jefferson township; S. M., of the same township.
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