USA > Indiana > Clark County > Baird's history of Clark County, Indiana > Part 18
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On April 22, 1889, Mr. Myers was married to Elizabeth Means, a na- tive of Louisville, Kentucky, and of English descent. Her parents, Edwin and Sarah Means, were born, reared and married in England, but came to this county in early life, the father dying January 10, 1908, aged eighty-six. and the mother died July 6, 1908, also at the age of eighty-six years. Mr. and Mrs. Myers have three children, Helen, Perin and Richard B. Mr. Myers ranks high in the business world as a man of affairs and action, who
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know how to get things done. He has taken the initiative in several enter- prises of risk, but so managed them as to make valuable properties. In the political arena Mr. Myers has developed the skill and judgment that give value to those in active management and his associates rely on him as a wise advisor. He has filled such official positions as have been entrusted to his charge in such a way as to show integrity of character and a firm grasp on details. Socially his standing is among the best and he has developed the rare faculty of both making and holding friends.
HENRY F. BURTT.
Amasa Burtt purchased a tract of land in Utica township, Clark county, Indiana, July 21, 1821, which after the lapse of nearly one hundred years, is still in possession of his descendants. The original tract of one hundred seventy acres, mostly wild woodland, was increased by subsequent purchases until in the course of generations it was converted into a productive and valu- able farm. Amasa Burtt, who became a prosperous farmer, spent his whole life in Utica township and finally ended his days in December, 1853, on the homestead he had established. He was succeeded as owner by his son, Eli, who spent the eighty years of his life on the place of his birth, and died there July 7, 1897. He married Pauline Hardin, a native of Oldham county, Ken- tucky, who came with her parents to Clark county when a girl. Her death occurred at the Utica township homestead, September 25, 1871, after becom- ing the mother of eleven children, of whom seven are living. These are: Mollie B., widow of Noah R. Dale; Henry A .; Laura, wife of Thomas Spauld- ing; Benjamin H .; Joseph B .; Balie L., and Rose T., wife of Daniel Hollo- way.
Henry Adolphus Burtt, second of this family, was born in Utica town- ship, Clark county, Indiana, October 8, 1852. He grew up in the old home- stead, established by his grandfather, got a limited education in the public schools, and when sixteen years old became a pupil at the Brownsboro Acad- emy, in Oldham county, Kentucky, which he attended for two years. From there he went to the State University, at Bloomington, Indiana, and was graduated June 12, 1878. At intervals during his college life he taught school for several years, and the sickness and death of his mother caused protracted absence from college before he secured his degree. Immediately after this event he entered the law office of Ferguson & Marsh at Jeffersonville, but later took a course in the Louisville Law School, from which he was grad- uated with the class of 1880. On April Ist of the same year he opened an office at Jeffersonville and has been in continuous practice ever since.
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In July, 1885, he formed a partnership with James E. Taggart, and this firm has never been dissolved. Burtt & Taggart are familiar names on all court dockets around the Falls Cities, as they have had their full share in all the important litigation. Mr. Burtt has always affiliated with the Democratic party, but while he has done his part of the work he has never been an aspir- ant for office on his own account, preferring to occupy that post of honor known as the private station. He is content to do his duties as a good citizen and has found ample employment for all his faculties as a devotee of that "jealous mistress," known as the law. He stands well in his profession and is regarded as well informed both as to the history and practice. He is com- petent as a trial lawyer and in that class of work which belongs to the office and as an all around practitioner is able to hold his own with the best. In 1904 Mr. Burtt was elected Mayor of Jeffersonville, but retired after serving two years.
In November, 1880, Mr. Burtt was married to Marietta Robertson, a native of Utica township and a descendant of one of the early settlers of Clark county. Her parents were William F. and Malinda (Carr) Robertson, who were born and reared near Charlestown, Clark county, Indiana, and ranked among the pioneer farmers to whom the agricultural development of this section is due. Mr. and Mrs. Burtt have six children: Ernest E., car- toonist on a Knoxville newspaper; Ella Irene, Eunice R., Amos Henry, Esther H. and Lora Josephine.
JOHN HUTCHINSON BALDWIN.
Few men of his age have accomplished more than the bright and popular young physician whose name heads this sketch. Though not much beyond his thirty-second year, he ranks among the successful practitioners of his community, and as a promoter and organizer of educational agencies for the general uplift and enlightenment of his fellow men. He has a natural talent as an organizer, one of the rare gifts among men and has made a success of everything he has undertaken in this line. In fact he is a feature of Jef- fersonville social life and a factor of importance in all that concerns medi- cal progress. Suave in manner, clean of life, full of energy and enterprise, he is valued as a counsellor and sought after by all who are contemplating movements along educational and progressive lines.
Edward Baldwin, the doctor's father, was a pilot on a Mississippi river gun-boat during the stirring days of the Civil war, when these vessels were causing such terror among our rebellious friends along the banks of the great "Father of. Waters." It took a man of skill and courage to engineer
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one of these queer crafts up and down the streams that penetrated the Con- fer!eracy. Edward Baldwin proved equal to the task and did his full share in suppressing the great uprising that threatened the integrity of the Union. He married Susan E. Spitler, whose ancestry was German, but came to New Albany from Virginia.
John Hutchinson Baldwin, a child by this union, was born at New Al- bany. Floyd county. Indiana, in October, 1876. He went through the city schools and graduated from the high school in 1894. Shortly afterward he entered the Southwestern Homeopathic Medical College and Hospital, from which he was graduated at the head of his class in 1897. Being appointed interne at the Louisville City Hospital, he served there during the years 1897 and 1898, but in the summer of the latter year removed to Jeffersonville, where he has since actively engaged in the practice of medicine. In 1908 he built an office of concrete, the first erected in the city exclusively for office pur- poses. In the fall of 1903 Doctor Baldwin promoted the organization of the Jeffersonville Chautauqua Association and the first assembly was held from August 5th to 14th in 1904, continuing annually ever since. Speakers of national reputation and varied pursuits have spoken at this summer assem- blage and make it one of the most notable of the West. Among the celebrities who have appeared on this platform are William Jennings Bryan, Champ Clark, Sam Jones, Maud Ballington Booth, Bishops J. R. McIntire and Edwin Holt Hughes, Lorado Taft, the sculptor, and other of world-wide reputation. Doctor Baldwin is president of the association, with Adam Heimberger, of New Albany, as vice-president; James E. Taggart, of Jeffersonville, as sec- retary, and George H. Holzbog as treasurer. Professor Charles A. Prosser. superintendent of the New Albany public schools, is superintendent, and the directors are John C. Zulauf, A. A. Swartz, H. M. Frank, and the general officers. The doctor's activities, social, religious and fraternal, are in keeping with his enterprising temperament. He is ruling elder in the Presbyterian church, member of Clark Lodge, No. 40, Free and Accepted Masons, and examining physician for Hoosier Camp of the Modern Woodmen of America. For ten years he has been a member of the faculty of the college from which he graduated and holds the important position of professor of the principles and practice of medicine. He is a member of the Indiana Institute of Home- opathy and for awhile held the position of vice-president of that institution. In addition to all this he is a member of the Falls City Homeopathic Medical Society, member of the staff at Deaconess Hospital and visiting physician at the Louisville City Hospital. Although among the younger physicians of Jeffersonville, none stand higher or are regarded as more useful than Doctor Baldwin. He has a large and extensive practice among the best people, who entertain profound respect for his professional opinions.
Doctor Baldwin owns and lives in a handsome home which he recently
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erected. As an organizer his qualities are such as to make him much sought after and in all his undertakings of a public character he has been recognized as a leader and usually becoming president of the association.
On January 30, 1900, Doctor Baldwin married Cora G. Peckenpaugh, a native of Leavenworth, Indiana, and daughter of Judge N. R. Peckenpaugh, who formerly presided over the Supreme Court of Alaska. They have three children, Edward Nicholas, Ruth Elizabeth and Dorothy May.
DAVID C. PEYTON, M. D.
Occupying an enviable position in the ranks of his profession and enjoy- ing the respect and esteem of everyone in the community, the subject of this sketch merits personal mention in a work of the character of this volume. David C. Peyton was born near Charlestown, Clark county, Indiana, on Oc- tober 12, 1860 He is a son of John M. and Susan (Clarke) Peyton, both also natives of this county. The father was a farmer and stood well among his fellow men. The paternal grandfather, Daniel Peyton, was commissioned a major of Indiana militia by Governor Jennings in 1816, the year that In- diana was admitted as a state, and the following year he was commissioned colonel of the Twenty-second Regiment, Indiana State Militia. He was a member of the rescue party at the Pigeon Roost massacre and had also taken an active part in the War of 1812. John M. and Susan Peyton were the par- ents of eight children, seven sons and one daughter, and of these four of the sons and the daughter are now living in Clark county, the brothers of the subject all being engaged in farming.
David C. Peyton received his preliminary education in the common schools of his native county and then took a three-years' course in a normal training school. He was engaged for a year in teaching school, and then, having decided upon the medical profession as his life work, he took up his professional studies in the office of Dr. J. M. Rey- nolds, of Memphis, Indiana. He then entered the Ohio Medical College, of Cincinnati, Ohio, where he graduated two years later, and then entered the University of Louisville, where he graduated with the class of '86. He is also a graduate of the Medico-Chirurgical College of Philadelphia, class of '99. The doctor has besides taken much post-graduate work and is thus well fitted by training for the work which he has so successfully carried for- ward. He first entered upon the active practice of his profession at Henry- ville, Clark county, but a few months later came to Jeffersonville and has since been constantly in the practice here with the exception of nine months during the Spanish-American war. At the outbreak of that brief but
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decisive conflict the doctor was commissioned a major and brigade surgeon by President Mckinley, his commission being issued in June, 1898. His first service was as assistant chief surgeon of the Second Army Corps at several points in Pennsylvania, and at Camp Meade, that state, he was relieved from that duty and transferred to Philadelphia, where he assumed the duties of chief medical officer of the state, performing these duties until the close of the war. He then returned to his practice at Jeffersonville, to which he has given an earnest attention and undivided interest, so that at this time he enjoys one of the most extensive medical practices in this section of the state. The doc- tor takes a deep interest in his profession and is a member of the Clark Coun- ty Medical Society, the Indiana State Medical Society, the American Medi- cal Association and the Mississippi Valley Medical Association. He is now serving as president of the state society, was a member for five years of the judicial council of the American Association, and a member for five years of the "house of delegates" from Indiana to the latter society. Among other positions of professional responsibility which he has held may be mentioned his membership on the city board of health and three years' service as secre- tary of the County Board of Health. He also served three years as surgeon of the Prison, South, now known as the Jeffersonville Reformatory. He was also surgeon for several corporations and railroad companies.
On June 26, 1883, Doctor Peyton married Henrietta S. Hay, a daughter of George W. and Susan Hay, of Charlestown, this county, where she was born. Mrs. Peyton was reared and educated there and is also a graduate of Barnett Academy. The doctor maintains fraternal relations with the Free and Accepted Masons, and has risen to the rank of a Knight Templar. His religious membership is with the Presbyterian church. Politically he is a zealous and active Democrat, though not an aspirant to political offices. He has, however, given six years efficient service as a member of the city board of school trustees.
A man of fine attainments and of strong social instincts, Doctor Peyton has won a host of warm personal friends. He is a constant and careful stu- dent of everything pertaining to his profession and keeps in close touch with the latest advances in the healing art.
THOMAS MULLEN.
When the tide of immigration was setting in strong during the middle decades of the last century, the Emerald Isle was contributing by the thou- sands to the bone and sinew so necessary to building up the great republic. Most of these emigrants became common laborers on the railways and canals
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then being constructed and others were scattered all over the country as me- chanics in various industrial establishments. It was about 1852 that the elder Thomas Mullen, after marrying Bridget Castelo in Ireland, came with her to seek his fortunes in the states of North America. Two years later he found himself seeking employment in Jeffersonville, which he subsequently found at the big mill on the river west of the Pennsylvania bridge and here he re- mained at work until the time of his death. There were seven children by this marriage, of whom those now living are John, Thomas, Mary, James and Julia. John married Mary Cummings, of Jeffersonville, who died in 1908. leaving three children of her own, besides they had adopted one. Mary, James and Julia live with their mother at present, James being a pattern-maker at the car works.
Thomas Mullen, second in age of his father's surviving children, was born at Jeffersonville, Indiana, November 25, 1862, and as he grew up at- tended the Catholic schools of the city. Later he took lessons in mechanical drafting at Louisville and in 1878 secured a job at the car works to do general labor such as was suited to a boy. When he was older and more experienced he was put to work with tools as a car-builder, later made patterns and fi- nally was promoted to the passenger car department. By degrees he rose to be assistant superintendent and has under his care all the work pertaining to passenger cars. He has held this position for ten years, has a large number of men under his charge and has given entire satifaction to his employers by his prompt and efficient discharge of duties assigned him. Mr. Mullen is a member of St. Augustine's Catholic church at Jeffersonville and is connected with the fraternal orders of the Elks and Knights of Columbus.
In 1900 Mr. Mullen married Julia B., daughter of Nimrod C. and Cyn- thia (Weathers) Beckham, and is a second cousin of the late Governor of Kentucky. Mrs. Mullen has reason to be proud of the long and honorable genealogy by which she can trace her ancestry through famous families of this and other countries. Her mother was a daughter of William and Eliza- beth (Graham) Weathers, the former being a prominent citizen of Nelson county, Kentucky, where he owned two thousand acres of land. His wife was a sister of Dr. Christopher Columbus Graham, who was born October 10, 1784, and was more than one hundred years old at the time of his death, at Louisville, in 1885. He enjoyed the distinction of having been present at the marriage of the parents of Abraham Lincoln. His father was James Graham, a Deputy Sheriff of Augusta county, Virginia, when twenty years old, who afterwards came west with Gen. George Rogers Clark and fought with old warriors at Kaskaskia. One of his fellow soldiers was Colonel Edward Worthington, with whom after the military campaigns he settled in Boyle county, Kentucky, and later married the sister of Colonel Worthington.
James Graham traced his descent from the noble House of Montrose,
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so celebrated in the annals of England and Scotland, since the twelfth cen- tury. The Grahams, or Graeme, pedigree goes even farther back to the time when one member of the family fought so valiantly at the Roman Wall in the fifth century, that it was ever afterwards called after his name. Mrs. Mullen is a bright and intelligent woman, talks enthusiastically of the historic events connected with the history of her family, with which she has become familiar by reading and tradition. Mr. Mullen is faithful and reliable in business, a man of steady habits and much devoted to his home circle. Their only child is a boy, whom they have named Alvin, and who gives promise of being a worthy descendant of a distinguished ancestry.
HON. GEORGE H. VOIGT.
In no profession is there demanded a more conscientious and careful mental training or a more thorough appreciation of the absolute ethics of life than in that of law. In this profession success comes only as the result of capability and earnest and unremitting effort.
The subject of this sketch, who has in many ways become closely identi- fied with the varied interests of Jeffersonville, has lived there all his life. He is the son of Ferdinand and Eva K. Voigt, natives of Germany, who came to this county early in life and lived in Jeffersonville many years.
George H. Voigt received a good preliminary education in the schools of Jeffersonville, and then, having decided upon the legal profession for his life work, entered the law department of the University of Louisville, where he graduated. Entering at once upon the active practice of his profession, Mr. Voigt met with immediate success and was quickly recognized as a young man of promise.
In 1885 he was elected City Attorney and discharged the duties of this position to the entire satisfaction of the people. In the following year he re- signed to accept the office of Prosecuting Attorney of the Fourth Judicial Circuit, to which he had been elected. The circuit at that time comprised thie counties of Clark and Floyd and the position was one requiring much work and responsibility. He performed the duties of the office without fear or favor and retired after serving a second term with a well earned reputation for absolute fidelity to the interests of the people.
Afterwards he was again elected City Attorney of Jeffersonville, but after several years of service resigned the office, the salary not justifying him in de- voting the necessary time to the discharge of its duties.
For many years Mr. Voigt has enjoyed a large and lucrative business, his practice being a general one excepting, however, criminal law, the practice
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of which he discontinued some years ago. His law library is one of the larg- est and most carefully selected in the state.
Though busily engaged in the practice of his profession Mr. Voigt has become interested to a considerable extent in other lines of activity. He is a director of the First National Bank of Jeffersonville and interested in a num- ber of other local enterprises.
A staunch Democrat in politics Mr. Voigt has always taken an active in- terest in the affairs of his party, being influential in its councils and advocat- ing Democratic principles on the stump.
In 1890 he was elected a member of the House of Representatives of the Indiana Legislature from the district composed of Clark, Floyd and Jef- ferson counties. He was elected a Presidential elector in 1892 and in 1896 was sent to the Democratic National Convention as a delegate. Mr. Voigt takes a keen interest in the issues of the day and decided stand on the great questions before the American people.
He married Lora E. Hill, a daughter of William H. and Maria Hill. She is a native of Jeffersonville and a very attractive woman of rare accom- plishments.
JAMES H. DUFFY.
Through sheer industry and close attention to the smallest details of the affairs of the big concern of which he is the head, James H. Duffy has placed the City Ice & Cold Storage Company, 955 Maple street, Jeffersonville, Indi- ana, in the front rank of establishments of this character. Although compara- tively a young man Mr. Duffy possesses rare business acumen, and his career in the business world has been marked with signal success. He has been iden- tified and contributed his moral and financial support to many projects that had for their purpose the betterment of the conditions of the community in which he has spent his life.
Mr. Duffy has passed the thirty-fourth anniversary of his birth, having been born in Jeffersonville township, October 22, 1874. He is the son of Captain James T. and Nora (Robinson) Duffy, a history of whom will be found upon another page of this volume. James H. Duffy is the eldest of a family of eight children; six of whom are living. He attended the public schools of the place of his nativity, and being an apt pupil with a full realiza- tion of the advantages of a good education advanced very rapidly. For the first ten years of his manhood he worked on the river in connection with his father's business, and being of a saving and economical disposition accumu- lated sufficient money to enable him to go into business for himself. In the year of 1900 he became the owner of his present plant, purchasing the same
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from the Jeffersonville Brewing Company. Immediately upon assuming con- trol of the business he set about actively to making much needed improve- ments, and the business of the concern increased rapidly. Mr. Duffy is prin- cipally engaged in the business of manufacturing ice and his plant now turns out twenty tons daily, giving employment to four men. The cold storage de- partment has a capacity of three thousand to four thousand barrels, and every inch of its space is in use the greater portion of the time.
The subject, on June 27, 1900, was married to Emma Howard, daugh- ter of Thomas Howard, of Port Fulton. Mrs. Duffy is a native of New Orleans, but came to New Albany when a little girl, and was educated in the common schools of that city, and Louisville, Kentucky. One daughter was the result of this union, and she is now in the sixth year of her age, a bright child, who is idolized by her parents.
Mr. Duffy is very active in lodge work, being a member of the Elks and the Improved Order of Red Men. He is also a member of the Roman Cath- olic church, and takes a deep interest in religious affairs. He is an adherent of the principles of the Democratic party, having voted that ticket since he attained his majority. Because of his genial disposition and high sense of honor in dealing with his fellow men he is popular in Jeffersonville.
WILMER T. FOX.
Wilmer T. Fox, one of the rising members of the Clark County Bar and for over three years City Attorney of Jeffersonville, is the only living son of Prof. Charles F. and Mary P. Fox, and dates his birth from September 5th of the year 1881. His father was born at New Albany, Indiana, December 4, 1849, and is the son of Jacob Fox and Regina (Scholl) Fox. Jacob Fox was the son of George and, Margaret (Householder) Fox and was born at Batchdorff, Alsace, France, on May 29, 1820, emigrating to America in 1838. Regina C. Scholl was the daughter of Fred Scholl and Katherine (Schu- macher) Scholl, was born on November 30, 1813, at Upper Eslingen, Wur- temberg, Germany, and emigrated to this country in 1833. Her father was a soldier in the French army, served under Napoleon in the march against Moscow and on the return of the army from that expedition died from the effects of the terrible cold and exposure they had suffered.
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