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 9
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 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52
66
HISTORY OF SULLIVAN COUNTY
an office, eighteen years ago, aside from the time spent at the medical societies. He is a member of the Medical Society of Sullivan County ; the Indiana State Medical Society and American Medical Association, American Association for the Advancement of Science, Washington, D. C., becoming a member of the last named in 1895. He takes much interest in fraternal matters, and belongs to Carlisle Lodge No. 3, F. & A. M., the chapter and council at Sullivan, and also belongs to the Modern Woodmen of America.
He was united in marriage October 18, 1891, to Belle Julian, born in Indiana, December 23, 1867, daughter of Rev. B. F. Julian, now retired at Hymera, Indiana. Mrs. Pirtle is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. They are the parents of one son, J. Julian Pirtle, born July 12, 1896.
HERBERT A. BROWN, who is the general manager of the Carlisle Mill and Elevator Company, was born in Rockport, Spencer county, Indiana, December 9, 1860, son of Thomas H. and Martha (Jones) Brown. Thomas Brown was born in Russellville, Ohio, February 4, 1809, and died in Princeton, Indiana, April 2, 1900. He was of Penn- sylvania German descent. He was a drover and stock dealer, and also handled real estate. He came to Spencer county, Indiana, in 1818, with his parents, Conrad Brown and wife. They located on the bluffs and built a log cabin at a point where is now located the county seat of Spencer county. Conrad was a farmer. Thomas H. Brown lived in Spencer county until 1888, at which time he went to Princeton, Indiana, where he lived until his death. He was supporter of the Republican party and served three terms (six years) as sheriff. He was a member of the Masonic lodge and took much interest in Masonry. His wife was born in Spencer county, Indiana, September 7, 1830, and died April 21, 1900. She was of English descent and was a member of the Methodist Episco- pal church. They were united in marriage in Spencer county, Indiana, in 1852, and were the parents of six children, as follows: John Y., residing in Princeton, Indiana, where he is engaged in the livery business ; Adalie A., wife of Prelot Rounds, an electrical engineer, residing. in Providence, Rhode Island ; Herbert A. of this sketch; Harry T., residing in Los Angeles, California, and engaged as a contractor and builder ; Nora, wife of Charles Morris, residing in Troy, Ohio; he is a tobacco dealer : Mary, wife of R. L. Tichenor, residing in Princeton, Indiana, where he is engaged in the livery business.
Reared in Rockport, Indiana, and educated in the same place, Herbert A. Brown was sixteen years of age when he began to learn the miller's trade in his native town. He continued there three years, then went to Eureka, Spencer county, where he remained about six months. He next went to Hazelton, Gibson county, Indiana, where he remained two years, working as a miller. He then went to Carmi, Illinois, but remained there only a short time, when he moved to Sumner, that state, and lived there two years. The next six years he spent in Vincennes, Indiana, with
67
HISTORY OF SULLIVAN COUNTY
J. & S. Emison. He then went back to Hazelton and engaged in the milling business on his own account, remaining between four and five years. Thinking to better his condition, he moved to Webster, Missouri, remaining a few months and then went to Lawrenceville, Illinois, where he remained two years, going from there to Birds, Illinois, and engaging in milling for himself. Two years later, he went to Princeton, Indiana, and engaged with the Zenith Milling Company for three months. In the month of June, 1903, he went to Carlisle, Indiana, and operated the mill for Wiley Brenton for about two and a quarter years, since which date he has been operating the mill for the Carlisle Mill and Elevator Com- pany ; he is the head miller and general manager of the mill. This is a high grade flour-producing plant and the product is shipped to all parts. of the country. They also buy and ship all kinds of grain. The "Golden Eagle" brand of their flour is a trade-winner and has given Mr. Brown a wide reputation as a flour maker.
Mr. Brown is a Republican in his political views, and is a member of the Royal Arcanum lodge at Vincennes, Indiana; the Court of Honor in Carlisle ; No. 66 Tribe of Ben Hur at Carlisle, and the Mutual Pro- tective League Council No. 226, at Litchfield, Illinois, as well as holding membership with the T. P. A. at Vincennes. He was married August 27, 1881, to Laura Briscoe, born in Warrick, county, Indiana, May 17, 1860. She is the daughter of With and Adeline (Brown) Briscoe, both natives of Warrick county, and both now deceased.
Mr. and Mrs. Brown are the parents of three children, only one of whom is living: Agnes, born in Sumner, Illinois, November 13, 1882. She is still at home and is a graduate of the J. Smith Business College, at Vincennes, Indiana. For two years she was employed with Bay & Company's wholesale house in Vincennes, resigning on account of her mother's failing health. The other two children died in their infancy. Mr. Brown's wife and daughter are acceptable members of the Methodist Episcopal church.
PHILIP L. HOOVER .- Enterprising, energetic, and possessing rare business ability and tact, Philip L. Hoover, of Carlisle, Sullivan county, is widely known as head of the firm of P. L. Hoover & Bros., which has exclusive control of the manufacture and sale of Dr. Cox's Barbed Wire Liniment, one of the best and most wonderful articles of the kind in existence. A native of Sullivan county, he was born, July 22, 1869, in Haddon township, which was, likewise, the birthplace of his parents, John M. and Ann T. (Cartwright) Hoover. He comes of pioneer stock, his grandfather, Philip L. Hoover, first, for whom he was named, having been one of the early settlers of this township.
Coming from Pennsylvania, his native state, to Sullivan county, the grandfather, Philip L. Hoover, took up land, entering about six hundred acres. He was a tailor by trade, and worked at it some in connection with farming. He served as a soldier in the Mexican war, and after his return from the army devoted his attention almost entirely to agriculture,
68
HISTORY OF SULLIVAN COUNTY
becoming one of the leading farmers of this part of the county, his home- stead property being near Carlisle.
Born on the home farm in 1845, John M. Hoover succeeded to the occupation in which he was reared, and as a general farmer and stock- raiser was successful. As a man and a citizen, he was held in high re- spect, and his death, which occurred May 5, 1889, was a loss to the community in which he had spent the greater part of his life. He married Ann T. Cartwright, who was born June 27, 1835, and is now living, making her home in Carlisle, Indiana. Her father, William C. Cartwright, was born in Virginia, from there coming to Sullivan county soon after the arrival of the first family of Hoovers. He subsequently married Sarah Ledgewood, who was born in this county in 1804, being the first white child born within its precincts. In politics, John M. Hoover was a steadfast Republican, and in religion his wife was, and is, a consistent Methodist. Five children were born of their union, namely : Nolan C., of Carlisle, a member of the firm of Hoover Brothers, and its traveling agent, married Sadie Vance, a native of Haddon township, and they have two children; May, born April 5, 1866, died in childhood ; Philip L., of this sketch ; Elmer G., born June 19, 1872, is also traveling for the firm, his home, however, being in Carlisle; and Hester A., born May 9, 1874, is a member of the firm of P. L. Hoover & Brothers. All of these children were reared on the farm. Elmer and Hester both at- tended the Indiana University, at Bloomington. Hester also took a course of study at the State Normal school, and for two years was a teacher in the graded schools of Carlisle.
Remaining on the home farm until twenty years old, Philip L. Hoover then accepted a position as clerk in the drug store of W. J. Curtner. Subsequently going to Terre Haute, he was for a time similarly employed in Jasper D. Denison's drug store, where he formed a familiar acquaintance with the details of the business. Forming a partnership, then, with A. M. Morris, he embarked in business in Carlisle, becoming junior member of the firm of Morris & Hoover. While thus engaged this firm formed a separate business in company with Dr. Cox, of Car- lisle, placing before the public the Barbed Wire Liniment formulated and manufactured by the doctor. Two years later, Mr. Hoover bought out Mr. Morris, and for four years managed the drug business alone. In 1895, he admitted his brother Elmer to partnership, and later the re- maining members of the family were admitted to the firm, his mother, his sister Hester, and his brother Nolan all becoming equal partners in the business, the name of the firm being P. L. Hoover & Brothers. In 1900, this enterprising firm sold out its drug business, and also the tele- phone exchange, which Mr. Hoover had for some years managed in partnership with Charles Griffin. In 1897, Mr. Hoover bought out Dr. Cox, and since 1900 the firm has manufactured Dr. Cox's famous Barbed Wire Liniment, and in placing it on the market has been very successful. By extensive advertising its merits are widely known, and it is now sold in large quantities throughout the West and South, being found in all of the leading drug and general stores of Kansas, Oklahoma, Florida,
69
HISTORY OF SULLIVAN COUNTY
Washington, Iowa, Nebraska, Michigan, Minnesota, Georgia, Alabama, California, Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Missouri, Ohio, Tennessee and Texas. The use of this liniment in this'vast territory of states is a sure proof of its medicinal virtue, and bespeaks the energy and enterprise of the firm that handles it, and the great advertising ability and knowledge of its members.
In 1892, Mr. Hoover married Xenia Anderson, who was born in Cass township, a daughter of Joseph Anderson, now a resident of Sulli- van. Mr. and Mrs. Hoover have two children, Glenn and Helen. Politi- cally Mr. Hoover supports the principles of the Republican party. Fra- ternally he belongs to Carlisle Lodge No. 3, F. & A. M., to which his brothers also belong; to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, being a member of both lodge and encampment; and to the T. P. A.
MARK LESTER .- A man of undoubted enterprise, industry and ability, Mark Lester, of Carlisle, is actively associated with the industrial progress of this part of Sullivan county, and as the owner of a sawmill is carrying on a substantial business. He was born, October 20, 1854, in London, England, which was also the birthplace of his father, Henry Lester. His grandfather, Mark Lester, who was for many years a captain in the Royal Navy, married a Scotch lassie, Isabelle Keeling.
In his earlier years, Henry Lester was engaged in the drug business in London. He was a man of talent, a genius in his way, and invented and patented the waterproof match. He then began the manufacture of matches in London, being a pioneer in that industry. Being burned out in 1855, he transferred his residence and business from London to Not- tingham, where he erected a match factory, which he managed until his death. He married Hepzibah Gimbert, who was born in Cambridgeshire, England, a daughter of Thomas Gimbert, a velvet weaver, and she, too, spent her last years in Nottingham. They were both active in religious work, and were prominent members of the Church of England. Eight children were born of their union, namely: Thomas, deceased; Harry died in Sullivan, Indiana; George is engaged in mining in Nottingham, Eng- land; Ruth, deceased; Mark, with whom this sketch is chiefly concerned ; Alice, wife of Joseph Hopkins, of Nottingham, England; William, a lace maker, resides in Nottingham; Jane died in infancy.
Receiving a limited education in the Nottingham schools, Mark Lester remained at home until eighteen years of age, when he enlisted in the British army, in which he served three years, and one hundred and ninety-five days, as a private. Returning home, he worked in the mines until 1879, when he emigrated to this country, locating October I, of that year, in Shelburn, Sullivan county, Indiana, where for three years he was profitably employed in mining pursuits. Going back then to Eng- land for a vacation, he staid there awhile, and then returned to Indiana, and during the summer of 1884 mined for coal in Sullivan. On April 17, 1885, Mr. Lester, in the employ of the Carlisle Coal Company, began
70
HISTORY OF SULLIVAN COUNTY
sinking a shaft about a mile north of Carlisle, and superintended its man- agement for nine years, after which he operated it on his own account for three years, from 1892 until 1895. In 1893, Mr. Lester, in company with Walter Bugher, embarked in the threshing business, and continued in it seven years, when his partner sold out to Mr. Lester. In 1896 these gentlemen established themselves in the milling business, carrying it on in connection with their threshing operations until 1900, when Mr. Lester bought the sawmill, and thresher, and has since conducted it most suc- cessfully. He does considerable custom work, and is an extensive shipper of lumber, having a prosperous trade, and in addition to his mill in Carlisle also has one in Knox county, which he has operated since 1906. He formerly owned a farm of twenty-four acres, but was burned out in August, 1894, and has since lived in Carlisle.
On September 9, 1878, Mr. Lester married Sarah Jane Rigley, who was born December 6, 1862, in Derbyshire, England, a daughter of William and Charlotte Elizabeth (Hardy) Rigley, life-long residents of England. Of the union of Mr. and Mrs. Lester, eleven children have been born, namely: Ernest M., deceased; Horace H., born in England, December 30, 1883, received his early academical education at Vincennes College, afterwards being graduated from the University of Minnesota with the class of 1905, was principal of the Anacortes high school in Washington, and is now Professor of Botany in Bellingham high school, Washington ; Ivan Jefferson, born February 22, 1885, was graduated from the Carlisle high school in 1905, and is now in partnership with his father-he is a Mason, from Blue Lodge to Council, the same as his father ; Grover died in infancy ; Bertram died in early childhood; Paulina C., born January 17, 1890, was graduated from the Carlisle high school with the class of 1908, is now a successful teacher in Haddon township; Albert Carroll, born March 14, 1893; Thomas William, born December 5, 1895; Raymond Kelling, born September 24, 1898; Elizabeth Eloise, born September 23, 1901; and Jennie Gretcham, born March 21, 1904. Politically Mr. Lester affiliates with the Democratic party. Fraternally he is a member of Carlisle Lodge No. 3, F. & A. M., of Sullivan Council ; and of Sullivan Chapter, R. A. M. Religiously, his wife, daughter and two sons are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mrs. Lester is a member of the Eastern Star at Carlisle.
WILLIAM B. SHEPHERD .- Among the well-known residents of Had- don township is William B. Shepherd, who, as a liveryman, is carrying on a substantial business in Carlisle, having an extensive patronage. A son of the late William B. Shepherd, Sr., he was born in this township, May 24, 1863, and was here brought up and educated.
William B. Shepherd, Sr., was born in Sullivan, Indiana, in 1836, and died on his home farm, in Haddon township, in 1886. In the early '50s, following the trail of the gold seekers, he went to California, and for awhile was employed in mining, but without meeting with the antici-
71
HISTORY OF SULLIVAN COUNTY
pated success. Somewhat disappointed in the result of his venture, he returned to Sullivan county, and for awhile lived at Shaker Prairie. Subsequently, in company with Josiah Wolfe, he embarked in business as a general merchant and a grain dealer, being first located at Griswold, Knox county, and afterwards in Carlisle. Subsequently buying land in Haddon township, he was engaged in agricultural labors until his death. He was a Democrat in politics, a member of the local Grange, and be- longed to the Christian church, of which his widow is still a member. He married Elizabeth Summers, who was born in Sullivan, in 1842, and is now living on the old Shepherd homestead. Their union was blessed by the birth of seven children, namely: Thomas G., residing with his widowed mother on the home farm, in Haddon township; Solomon G., of Gill township; William B., of this brief sketch; Estella May, wife of Alonzo Pifer, of Gill township; John, deceased; Effie, wife of F. M. Bland, of Gill township; and Carrie J., wife of William Willis, of Hamil- ton township.
Educated in the district schools, and reared to agricultural pursuits, William B. Shepherd assumed the management of the home estate upon the death of his father, carrying it on for four years. Locating then in Carlisle, he embarked in the livery business, and a year later admitted to partnership Rush McCammon, with whom he was associated for two years as junior member of the firm of McCammon & Shepherd. Selling out his interest then to Frank Risinger, he was for twelve years engaged in the retail liquor business in Carlisle, closing out April 3, 1908. Two weeks later, on April 15, 1908, Mr. Shepherd and Mr. McCammon again entered into partnership, and are now carrying on a good business as proprietors of a livery and feed stable. Politically, Mr. Shepherd is identified with the Democratic party, and fraternally he belongs to Eagle Lodge No. 996, at Sullivan, Indiana.
On February 18, 1883, Mr. Shepherd married Elizabeth Wagner, who was born in Ohio, in 1864, a daughter of John Wagner, who came to Indiana about 1870, and located first in Gill township, later settling in Sullivan, where he spent his last years. Of the six children born to Mr. and Mrs. Shepherd, two are dead, the second child having died in infancy, and John, the third child, having also passed to the life beyond. Four are living, namely : Howard Floyd, born October 6, 1884, is engaged in the livery business with his father ; Paul, born September 24, 1888, was graduated from the Carlisle high school in 1907, and is now in the employ of P. L. Hoover & Brothers, in Carlisle; Hazel, born February 28, 1892, attends the Carlisle high school, belonging to the class of 1909 ; and Helen, born February 3, 1900. Mrs. Shepherd is a member of the Christian church.
JAMES D. HOWARD .- An honored representative of the brave, daring and energetic pioneers who came to this section of the country when it was in its primitive wilderness, and by heroic work actively assisted in developing it into a fertile and productive region, James D. Howard, of
72
HISTORY OF SULLIVAN COUNTY
Carlisle, is eminently worthy of especial mention in this biographical work. A son of Cornelius Howard, he was born September 4, 1844, in Jefferson township, Sullivan county, on the home farm. His grand- parents, Joseph and Sarah Howard, were born, reared, and married in North Carolina. They afterwards lived for awhile in Kentucky, and their first child was born in Daniel Boone's fort. Coming from there to Sullivan county in 1820, he took up land, and was there employed in tilling the soil until his death, in the fall of 1838. He was buried in the Indian Prairie Cemetery, in that township, his body being the first there interred.
Cornelius Howard was born, June 13, 1805, in Oldham county, Kentucky, and died October 28, 1896, in Jefferson township, Sullivan county, Indiana. He was a farmer from choice, being engaged to a con- siderable extent in stock raising and dealing, and at one time was owner of four hundred acres of land. He married first, Nancy Jarrel, who lived but a short time after their marriage. He married second, Naomi Mayfield, who was born in Jefferson township, Sullivan county, June 20, 1819, and died in the same township, May 9, 1894. Her father, James Mayfield, who served in the war of 1812, married Amelia Hinkle, in Kentucky, their native state, and was subsequently one of the original settlers of Jefferson township. Of the marriage of Cornelius and Naomi (Mayfield) Howard, eleven children were born, as follows: Joseph T., of Jefferson township ; Naomi Elizabeth ; James D., of this sketch ; W. W., residing on the old Howard homestead; R. M., deceased ; Franklin P., deceased : John S., engaged in the fruit business in Florida ; Sarah E., wife of Edward C. Shake, of Haddon township; Wilton M., also of Had- don township; Jasper, deceased; and Daniel V., engaged in farming in Fairland, Indiana.
Brought up on the home farm, James D. Howard was given excel- lent educational advantages, attending first the district schools, afterwards continuing his studies at what is now the DePauw University, in Green- castle. He subsequently taught school three terms in Jefferson township, and was then in the drug business in Carlisle until 1870, when, in com- pany with James L. Berry, he embarked in the drug business in Carlisle, being junior member of the firm of Berry & Howard. In January, 1874, he returned to Jefferson township, and resumed work on his farm of one hundred acres, residing there until September, 1888. Locating in that year in Franklin, Mr. Howard was there employed in the grocery busi- ness for three years, when he traded one hundred and sixty acres in Jefferson township for a farm in Haddon township, an estate of two hundred acres, subsequently selling his store and property in Franklin, Indiana. Immediately assuming possession of his property, he engaged in agricultural pursuits in Haddon township from 1891 until 1905, as a general farmer and stock raiser, meeting with genuine success. Since that time, Mr. Howard has been a resident of Carlisle, where he is living retired from active pursuits, although he still supervises the manage- ment of his farm. He is highly esteemed as a man and a citizen, and is an influential member of the Democratic party, and belongs to the Inde-
73
HISTORY OF SULLIVAN COUNTY
pendent Order of Odd Fellows, into which he was initiated January 8, 1872. He has filled all of the offices of his lodge and encampment, and has been a delegate to the grand lodge.
On February 28, 1867, Mr. Howard married Nancy Jane Robbins, who was born in Knox county, Indiana, January 10, 1846. Her parents, John and Lucy (Bowen) Robbins, came from Kentucky, their native state, to Indiana, and were among the very first settlers of the northern end of Knox county. The father was a soldier in the war of 1812. He had a family of seven children, as follows : James, deceased; Julia, wife of William A. Perry, of Freelandsville, Indiana; Mary, deceased; Thomas, residing on a part of the Robbins homestead, in Knox county; Nancy Jane, wife of Mr. Howard; Isabella, deceased ; and Alexander M., living on a portion of the old homestead. Five children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Howard, namely: a child that died in infancy; Edward C., deceased ; Carrie B., deceased ; Flora E., born October 3, 1874, is the wife of Thomas A. Grizzle, of Carlisle; and Icie Nora, born April 11, 1877, married Frank Corbin, of Carlisle, and has one child, James V. Corbin. Forty-one years ago Mr. Howard united with the Missionary Baptist church, to which his parents belonged, and of which his wife is a member, and he has filled all of the offices connected with the church.
MRS. HANNAH F. (ALSOP) JERAULD .- A woman of culture and refinement, possessing excellent judgment and much executive ability, Mrs. Jerauld bravely assumed the duties devolving upon her when, many years ago, she was left a widow, and has ever been mindful of the interest of her household. She resides in Carlisle, Sullivan county, where her birth occurred, March 27, 1846, and is descended from an old English family, being the daughter of Joshua and Margaret (Calvert) Alsop.
Hon. Joshua Alsop, her father, was born in the town of Wall Hexem, in Northumberlandshire, England, on the fifth of September, 1807. In the year 1818, on the 18th of May, in company with his father, mother, two brothers and sister, he emigrated from the old world to the new, landing in Canada. Thence they moved to the state of New York, residing at Halls Corner for one year, and then starting for the west, via Pittsburg, sailing down the Ohio river to the mouth of the Wabash and up that river to York, Illinois. After a short stay at that place the family located at Carlisle, Indiana, in the fall of 1820, where Mr. Alsop remained until his death.
In the thirtieth year of his age, Mr. Alsop was married to Miss Margaret Calvert and shortly afterward commenced his career of busi- ness, which he conducted on the old-fashioned theory that the word of a mercantile man must be as good as his bond. So strong did he adhere to this principle that his name became a synonym of business integrity throughout the Wabash valley. Mr. Alsop early became satisfied that the facilities the river afforded for the transportation of produce and merchandise were inadequate to the development of Sullivan county.
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.