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 7
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Mary Ann Ferree was married twice, the first husband being Will- iam Linder Pirtle, to whom she was married when she was twenty years of age. Her husband, who was a son of Jacob and Lydia Pirtle, was a tanner, associated for a time with Isaac Shannon, and was a man of industrious and sterling character. He died in August, 1853, leaving Mary Ann and Margaret Olly, the latter being the mother of Edley W. Rogers, and still living. Another daughter of this family, Clara Jane, died in infancy. The second marriage occurred May 26, 1856, when Mary Ann Ferree became the wife of Isaac Newton Markee.
Mr. and Mrs. W. Q. Rogers were married at Vincennes, Indiana,
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HISTORY OF SULLIVAN COUNTY
but never resided there, going at once to Loogootee, where they still reside, and where the husband is engaged in the real estate business. The elder Mr. Rogers is a Republican, belonging to the Masons and Odd Fellows fraternities, and both he and his wife are active members of the Christian church. The second of their six children, Alba, died at the age of three years, the other members of their family being still alive are: William L., a grocer of Carlisle; Aimee Nora, living at home; Charles Q., a resident of Seymour, Indiana, where he is employed as a freight conductor on the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad; Edley W., of this sketch ; and Halstead P. Rogers, a student of the Loogootee high school.
Edley W. Rogers received his education at Loogootee, his birthplace, graduating from its high school in 1902. He then completed the mastery of the printer's trade, which he had commenced two years before, and continued this as his steady employment until he removed to Carlisle. He was first employed on the Martin County Tribune and the Shoals Republican, and during 1905-6 was in partnership with his brother, Will- iam L. Rogers, at Beaumont, Kansas, where he was engaged in general merchandising. In November, 1906, Mr. Rogers went to Sullivan to assume a position on the Democrat and Times, and remained in that capac- ity until his purchase of a half interest in the Carlisle News, during April, 1907. His associate in the enterprise was H. T. Alumbaugh, who remained with him until April 6, 1908, when Mr. Rogers became the sole proprietor. His publication is a non-partisan, independent weekly newspaper, having a circulation of eight hundred copies. It is a clean, newsy, well edited journal, and reflects decided professional credit upon its able and popular proprietor. Its editor is a firm Republican in poli- tics and, fraternally, is a member of Carlisle Lodge, No. 3, F. & A. M., at Carlisle, Indiana; Jerusalem Chapter, No. 81, R. A. M., at Sullivan ; Sullivan Council, No. 73, R. S. M., at Sullivan; also of Carlisle Chapter, No. 185, Order of the Eastern Star, at Carlisle.
WILLIAM J. CURTNER, proprietor of the well equipped drug store at Carlisle, was born January 14, 1854, in Carlisle, Indiana, son of James A. and Symira (Ledgerwood) Curtner. The father was born in Kentucky and came to Carlisle, Indiana, when a young man, remaining there until his death, which occurred January 31, 1864. He served in the army during the Mexican war. He was of Scotch and German descent. By trade he was a harness and saddle maker, and conducted his business on the spot where his son's drug store now stands. He is said to have been an exceptional workman at his trade, and his workmanship was known far and near for both its beauty and quality. He voted the Republican ticket and was a charter member of Carlisle Lodge, No. 50, of the Odd Fellows order, at Carlisle. Both he and his wife were members of the Methodist Episcopal church.
The mother of William J. was born one mile southwest of Carlisle, on the old Ledgerwood homestead, which was the first place settled upon anywhere north of Vincennes. The great-grandfather, James Ledger-
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HISTORY OF SULLIVAN COUNTY
wood, was a native of South Carolina and located in Kentucky when a young man and came to Indiana in the spring of 1793, and in the fall of that year returned to Kentucky, intending to move his family the follow- ing year, but on the banks of the Ohio river he was captured by the Indians, who took him to a point near Detroit, Michigan, and there held him a prisoner for seven years. He then returned to Kentucky and got his family, coming to Carlisle in 1803. Here he built him a cabin of logs, a mile southwest of the town. He was granted some land west of Car- lisle by the government on which to build a mill, which he operated until his death. This grist-mill was willed to his son William, who operated the same until his death, giving it to three of his sons, Thomas, Joseph and William, Jr. William and Joseph died soon after their father's death, when the property fell to Thomas, who operated it until his death, when the old pioneer landmark was sold to Benjamin Watson, and he in turn sold to a Mr. Abbey, who moved it to near Dugger, where it now stands, although abandoned for milling purposes. A wonderful story of early days could be told had this old mill but the power of speech. James Ledgerwood and wife reared a family of five children and one of their sons, Samuel, united with the Christian church of Sullivan county at about the date of its organization.
Mr. Curtner's grandfather, William Ledgerwood, was born in Ken- tucky, coming with the family to Sullivan county when a mere lad. Here ยท he grew to man's estate and married and reared a family of twelve chil- dren. He married Catherine Jenkins, born at Chester District, South Carolina, November, 1792. She moved to Sullivan county, Indiana, when yet a girl. She started with her father and mother about 1804, and after being on the journey about two weeks, her father, Thomas Jenkins, died. The children of this family were: Sarah, Eliza, Catherine, William, Thaddius, Martha, John and Richard. The last named was killed by the Mexicans while in the army. The great-grandmother of William J. Curtner had a brother named William Gill, who came to Sulli- van county before she arrived. Gill township was named in honor of him, as was "Gill Prairie." Mr. Curtner's grandmother, Catherine Jen- kins, and her sisters and brothers located four miles southwest of Car- lisle. The mother joined the Shakers and took her daughters with her. Subsequently, William Ledgerwood married Catherine and took her from the Shaker society, which community bore an interesting part in the early day history of this section of Indiana. Grandmother Jenkins and her daughters, Sarah and Eliza, were among the division of the Shakers who went to Kentucky, locating at Shakerstown, which place is still in exist- ence. There Grandmother Jenkins died before the Civil war and Sarah became head eldress of the Shakers at Shakerstown, holding the position until incapacitated by old age, dying when about ninety-four years.
William Ledgerwood and wife reared twelve children-eight sons and four daughters ; only one of the sons, Wesley Ledgerwood, bore chil- dren. He died in Iowa, leaving a large family. The daughters all mar- ried and bore children: Martha married John Curry; Elizabeth mar- ried Col. W. D. Blackburn, who was killed in Louisiana during the Civil
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HISTORY OF SULLIVAN COUNTY
war; Nancy married W. G. Culberson; Symira married James A. Curt- ner and they were the parents of five children, as follows: two died in infancy ; John M., residing at Wabash, Indiana, was born June 20, 1851; he is a banker; William J., of this notice; Flora, born August II, 1857, died about 1880; she married Dr. R. L. Jenkins, now deceased, and their child was Amy, who now resides in California.
William J. Curtner was reared and educated at Carlisle and attended business college at the old Garvin & Heinley College in Terre Haute, Indiana. When nineteen years of age he entered the drug business, at first clerking in Carlisle, and later purchased an interest in the business, and has been thus engaged ever since. The business is now operated under the firm name of W. J. Curtner & Sons. They carry a full line of pure drugs, paints and wall paper. Mr. Curtner owns a part of the old Ledgerwood homestead-eighty-three acres-of which the deed has never been changed from the family. He also is interested in the Building and Loan Association, of which he is president. Politically, he is a Repub- lican and in fraternal societies he is a worthy member of both the Masonic and Odd Fellows orders at Carlisle.
He was united in marriage, September 14, 1876, to Emma A. Griffin, born in Sullivan county, January 6, 1859, a daughter of James L. Griffin, ex-county recorder, and a minister in the Christian church. The chil- dren born of this union are: James F., born July 6, 1878, married Ada M. Shepherd, born in Sullivan county; they have one son-William Ledgerwood; Ada M., born December 22, 1880, married William B. Akin, former editor of the Times, at Sullivan, but now of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, and they have one son, Edgar W., born April 2, 1886, unmarried and in business with his father; Flo, born January 4, 1892, unmarried and at home, and will be graduated from the high school in 1909. The eldest child of the family died in infancy. Mr. Curtner is a member of the Methodist church and his wife of the Christian church.
EDGAR W. AKIN, JR., cashier and one of the directors of the Peo- ple's Bank of Carlisle, Indiana, was born June 28, 1883, in Carlisle, Indiana, son of Edgar W. Akin, Sr., and Susan M. (Wiggs) Akin. The father was born in Bloomington, July 17, 1853, and the mother was a native of Kentucky, born May 20, 1852. Both parents of Mr. Akin are residing in Carlisle. (See sketch of C. T. Akin, in this work.)
Edgar W. Akin, Sr., was engaged in business with Charles T. Akin at Carlisle until about 1892. During that year he, with Josiah T. and Charles T. Akin, organized the People's Bank of Carlisle, with a capital stock of $25,000, and Edgar W. Akin, Sr., has been its president ever since. In 1902 the institution was reorganized and the stock increased to $35,000, and again in 1907 increased to $50,000. Politically, Edgar W. Akin, Sr., is a Democrat, and in fraternal connection is a worthy member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Carlisle. His wife is the daughter of Lorenzo D. Wiggs and wife, who were natives of
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HISTORY OF SULLIVAN COUNTY.
Kentucky, emigrating to Carlisle in the fifties and conducted a hotel and a store there. They both died at Carlisle. They reared three children : H. R. Wiggs, residing at Carlisle; Susan M. (Mrs. Akin) ; Lillian, deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Akin are members of the Christian church, of which he has been a trustee for a number of years.
The three children of this couple are: Elouise, born May 20, 1876, now wife of James McConnell, residing at Carlisle; she was educated in Oxford College, Oxford, Ohio, and also attended a private college (Cotes) at Terre Haute, Indiana, and she took a literary course in both schools named; the second child died in infancy, and Edgar W., Jr., is the youngest. He was reared in Carlisle and attended the common schools, after which he entered the Culver Military Academy, in 1898. In 1900 he entered Lake Forest Academy, at Lake Forest, Illinois, and graduated with the class of 1902. He passed from the last named educa- tional institution into Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, where he spent one year, and then returned to Carlisle and began clerk- ing in the People's Bank. This was in 1903, and he continued as a clerk until 1905, when he became cashier, which position of trust he still holds.
Edgar W. Akin, Jr., was married September 14, 1904, to Elizabeth Irma Galt, born in Sterling, Illinois, a daughter of John M. and Eliza- beth (McPherran) Galt, both natives of Illinois. The father is deceased and the mother lives in Sterling, Illinois. The father was engaged in the banking business. Mrs. Akin was educated in the public schools of Sterling and later graduated from Ferry Hall Seminary, at Lake Forest. Illinois, with the class of 1902. She then went to Smith College, at Northampton, Massachusetts, where she spent two years ; she is a member of the Presbyterian church.
DR. IRVIN J. KEYS, representing the dental profession in a thor- oughly up-to-date manner at Carlisle, Indiana, was born July 7, 1872, at Verona, Kentucky, son of William and Elizabeth (McCauley) Keys. The mother was born in Pennsylvania in the year 1826, and died Sep- tember, 1907, at Lancaster, Indiana. The father was born at Piqua, Ohio, February 29, 1824, and died March 23, 1899, at Lancaster, Indiana. They were united in marriage in Ohio. Dr. Keys' paternal grandmother was a native of Ireland and the maternal grandparents were natives of Pennsylvania. Dr. Keys' father went to Cincinnati, Ohio, when aged about thirteen years, and grew to manhood in that city. He then went to Kentucky about 1860, remaining in that state until 1874, when the family moved to Lancaster, Indiana, where he and his wife both died. He was a machinist and followed this trade all of his active years. At Marysville, Kentucky, he owned and operated a foundry and employed about two hundred workmen. Upon moving to Lancaster, Indiana, he lived a retired life. Politically, he was an ardent supporter of the Repub- lican party, and he and his wife were members of the Presbyterian church. Seven children blessed their union, as follows: Charles, now
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HISTORY OF SULLIVAN COUNTY
a resident of Bedford, Indiana; William T., residing at Commiskey, a machinist; Mary, deceased; Elizabeth, wife of Charles A. Fewell, resid- ing near Lancaster, Indiana ; Robert R., residing at Linton, Indiana, and practicing dentistry ; Carrie Gertrude, wife of Nicholas Clashman, resid- ing near Lancaster ; Irvin J., of this review.
Dr. Keys received his education at the public schools and high schools at Lancaster, graduating with the class of 1889. He then attended the Normal at Danville, Indiana, and also one at Mitchell, after which prep- aration he attended the dental department of the Hospital College of Medicine, Louisville, Kentucky, one year and was graduated from the Kansas City Dental College with the class of 1897. After graduating, he practiced his profession in Kansas City a short time, and in 1899 located at Carlisle, Indiana, where he is the only dentist of the place and enjoys a large practice. Dr. Keys was superintendent of the schools at Dupont, Indiana, for two years, first in 1891, and was recalled in 1893 to the same position.
He is affiliated with the Masonic order, being a member of Carlisle Lodge, No. 3, A. F. and A. M. In addition to being a member of the Masonic order and Modern Woodmen of America, he is a member of the Supreme Tribe of Ben Hur and of the Order of the Easter Star Chapter of Carlisle, No. 185, of which order he is now worthy patron, being elected to this office the second time. He united with the Presby- terian church at Carlisle, January 30, 1908, and a short time after was elected to serve on the Board of Elders, of which body he is now clerk. Politically, the doctor is a Republican. He was married in 1902 to Car- rie Alberta Land, who was born in Carlisle, Indiana, and educated there. She also received musical instruction at the Conservatory of Music, Indianapolis, Indiana. She is the daughter of Jacob Land and wife. Her father, now deceased, was a member of the Sullivan county bar and served as a justice of the peace at Carlisle for a number of years.
WILLIAM E. COWLE, the present justice of the peace at Carlisle, Indiana, is a native of Vanderburg county, Indiana, where he was born on his parents' farm, November 30, 1837, a son of William and Julia A. (Ewing) Cowle. The father was born in England and came to America with his mother and a brother and sister when two years old. The grand- mother was a sister of Squire John Ingle, whose son, John Ingle, Jr., built the Evansville & Terre Haute Railroad through Carlisle. William E. Cowle's father and mother located in Vanderburg county, Scott town- ship, where the father died in 1838 and was buried in that township, in what is now an unknown cemetery. Mr. Cowle's paternal grandmother married Marcus Wheeler, who was also a native of England, and died in Vanderburg county, Indiana. William Cowle, the father `of William E., of this notice, was a thoroughgoing farmer throughout his entire life. Politically, he was an old line Whig. After his death, his widow mar- ried Joseph Harrison, who was of English birth, and who came to this
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HISTORY OF SULLIVAN COUNTY
country about the same time that her first husband came, and Mr. Har- rison was also buried in the township as was Mr. Cowle. By the first mar- riage two children were born: Sarah, now deceased, and William E. By the second marriage, Mr. Cowle's mother was the mother of the following children by Joseph Harrison: John; Thomas, deceased; Rich- ard, deceased; Henry; James, deceased; and Martha.
William E. Cowle was reared on a farm until fifteen years of age, when his mother died, and he went out to make his own way in life. For two years he worked at Memphis and Batesville, Arkansas, where he also attended school for a short time. In July, 1855, he went to Evans- ville, Indiana, and learned both land and marine engineering. He was finally licensed by the government as a river engineer and ran boats between Evansville, Indiana, and Cairo, Illinois, and also to Paducah, Kentucky. At one time he was interested in towing boats with Captain Henry L. Mitchell, continuing in this line of work until the autumn of 1870, when he went to Freelandsville, Indiana. In March, 1873, he located in Carlisle, where he erected a mill for sawing lumber, on the Thomas Davis place, one mile east of the town. He continued to operate this sawmill until about 1893, when he engaged in the windmill, pump and engineers' supply business, which he still carries on. July 19, 1902, he was appointed justice of the peace. He also is largely interested in the collection of accounts, having been elected collector by the Mer- chants' Association of Carlisle. He is very successful in the collection of such accounts as are turned over to him by the business men who com- pose this association. In his politics, Mr. Cowle is a Republican. He has served as town clerk and treasurer two terms. He is one of the active and honored members of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, being a member of the Carlisle Encampment.
For a time he was engineer in the United States Navy and held the rank of master, by reason of which he now draws a pension from the government. During the three and one-half years' service with the Federal army, his duties lay with the United States Navy. He was aboard the steamer General Thomas, belonging to the Eighth District, Mississippi Squadron, on the Tennessee river. While General Sherman was on his famous march to the sea, Generals Beauregard and Hood returned to Alabama along the Tennessee river, and at Gunterville, Ala- bama, there was a severe action, and the steamer General Thomas, whose captain was Gilbert Morton, under Commodore Forrest, was in this affray. Mr. Cowle received his honorable discharge at Evansville, Indiana, August 24, 1865, and returned to his home, once more as a civilian.
Mr. Cowle has been thrice married, first to America L. Guilkey, who was born in Indiana, and died leaving three children: Charles, who died at the age of seventeen months; the second and the third children both died in infancy. For his second wife, Mr. Cowle married Angeline Hopkins, born in England. By this union six children were born: Sarah, who now resides with her father; Julia, wife of Frank Sproatt, residing in Carlisle ; Luella, at home, the wife of W. F. Risinger, and they have five children; Anna, deceased; married Professor Gifford; William E.
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HISTORY OF SULLIVAN COUNTY
(twin brother of Anna), also deceased; an infant, deceased. For his third wife, Mr. Cowle married Susan Childs, born in Vanderburg county, Indiana, of English descent. There is no issue by this union. Mr. and Mrs. Cowle are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Among other business interests, Mr. Cowle is a stockholder in the telephone company and also in the First National Bank of Carlisle.
JAMES NELSON ROBERTS, who is well known in the community in which Carlisle is situated, having for many years been a dealer in hard- ware, lumber and grain at that point, and now retired from active busi- ness pursuits, is a native of the Old Dominion state, born in Frederick county, Virginia, October 28, 1849, son of Andrew and Sarah (Nelson) Roberts. The father was born in Ireland in 1816 and the mother in Frederick county, Virginia, in 1826. She died in Hancock county, Ohio, in 1859. Andrew Roberts came to this country alone, when about eight- een years of age, and lived in New York two years, then went to Wash- ington, District of Columbia, in which city he resided two years, going from there to Frederick county, Virginia, where he was united in mar- riage. In 1851 he removed to Hancock county, Ohio, and in 1868 to Car- lisle, Indiana, where he lived until his death in 1898. He was a farmer by occupation. He had been educated for a priest in Dublin, Ireland, and New York City, but finally abandoned the idea of priesthood. While living in Virginia, he had the sub-contract of constructing the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad grade. He possessed great energy and considerable skill. His mother's parents were both natives of Ireland, and died in Ohio, where they were farmers. Andrew and Sarah (Nelson) Roberts were the parents of seven children, as follows: Margaret, wife of Clark Hill, residing in Clinton, Illinois; the next child died in infancy; James Nelson; Mary Virginia, a widow, now residing at Columbus, Ohio ; Jennie, wife of C. E. Henshaw, residing in Wisconsin; Ella, deceased ; and Marion, a resident of Sullivan, Indiana. For his second wife, Andrew Roberts married the widow of Joseph Wolfe, who was reared in Car- lisle, Indiana. Politically, Mr. Roberts was a stanch defender of Demo- cratic principles. Both he and his wife were members of the Methodist Episcopal church, he having united with this church at Carlisle.
James N. Roberts, of this sketch, obtained a common school educa- tion in Ohio and began to work for himself when he reached his majority. He continued to do farm labor until 1879, when he went to Cherokee, Iowa, and there engaged in the grain and milling business with his brother-in-law, C. E. Henshaw. After two years he sold his interest and went back to Carlisle, Indiana, and embarked in the hardware business, with J. Frank Alumbaugh, operating under the firm name of Roberts & Alumbaugh. Their business comprised hardware, tinware, harnessmak- ing, lumber and grain. This continued until the fall of 1905, when the firm was dissolved, Mr. Roberts taking over the lumber and elevator business, which in the spring of 1906 he sold to James McConnell. Since
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HISTORY OF SULLIVAN COUNTY
that date Mr. Roberts has been looking after the interests of his farm. He is one of the owners of the old Roberts homestead, and is the treas- urer of the Carlisle Building and Loan Association. He is also one of the directors of the People's State Bank of Carlisle, Indiana. Politically, Mr. Roberts is a supporter of the Democratic party.
He was married, February 7, 1888, to Carrie Long, who was born- in Evansville, Indiana, and there educated. She is the daughter of Lewis and Mary Ann (Gantner) Long. Both of Mrs. Roberts' parents were natives of Germany, and were united in marriage in Vanderburg county, Indiana. Both are now deceased. They were well-to-do farmers. Mr. and Mrs. Roberts are the parents of three children: Raymond Andrew, born April 1, 1889, was graduated with the class of 1908 from the Car- lisle high school, and is now a student of Notre Dame (commercial course ), at South Bend, Indiana ; Louis Long, born April 26, 1891, grad- uated with the class of 1908, and is now a student in Wabash College, at Crawfordsville, Indiana; and Charles Elliott, born March 4, 1894, is now in the sophomore class. Mrs. Roberts is a member of the Roman Catholic church, and attends St. Mary's church at Sullivan, Indiana, of which Rev. Father James Bolin is the pastor.
CLAUDE A. ELLIS, of the firm of Risinger & Ellis, patentee of Hygiene Cabinets, and secretary of the Carlisle Business Men's Asso- ciation, was born November 17, 1868, in Haddon township, near Car- lisle, Indiana, son of Thomas Orlando and Eliza (Sproatt) Ellis. The father was born in Carlisle, December 19, 1835, and is of English descent. The paternal grandfather, John W. Ellis, was born in Virginia, and mar- ried Elizabeth Veech, who was also a native of Virginia. They were married there and soon afterward came to Carlisle, Indiana. He farmed several years, after which he took up the carpenter's trade and painting. In his latter days he was an undertaker. He was the first to carry on such business at Carlisle, and many times preached the funeral sermons for the deceased whose funeral he was hired to conduct. He was an old-fashioned Democrat and served as trustee of his township many years. Both he and his estimable wife were members of the Christian church, in which he was very active. He was married three times, and was the father of eighteen children by the three marriage unions. Eleven of his children still survive. His father (Claude A.'s great-grandfather Ellis ), named Louis, was a native of England, who on coming to America settled in Virginia.
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