USA > Indiana > Clark County > Baird's history of Clark County, Indiana > Part 2
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 | Part 53 | Part 54
MAURICE COLL.
The subject of this sketch is a native of Ireland, where his birth occurred on November 27. 1833. having first seen the light of day at the ancestral home in County Donegal. His parents, John and Mary (Boyle) Coll, who were also born and reared in the above county, came to America in the prime of life, bringing a family of three sons and two daughters and settling in Pitts- burg, Pennsylvania, where Mr. Coll secured renumerative employment as a machinist. Two of the children of this estimable couple died in Ireland, the following being the names of those who accompanied their parents to the new- home in the United States and grew to maturity: Charles, who departed this life about the year 1903; Maurice. of this review, and Bernard J., who lives in Pittsburg and who served with an honorable record in the Civil war being remembered by surviving comrades as an excellent soldier, ever ready for duty. He married Bridgett Burns, of Pittsburg, and has an interesting family of four children, who answer to the names of Charles, Mary, Eddie and Maurice. In early life Bernard J. Coll was a machinist and worked at the trade for a number of years in Pittsburg, but since the war has held various official positions under the municipal government of that city and is still in the public service. The two sisters of Maurice Coll died in early child- hood. the only survivors of the family at this time being Bernard J. and Maurice.
Maurice Coll spent his early life in Pittsburg, where in due time, he be- came a skillful machinist, which trade he followed for a number of years as an employe of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company. After a long and arduous service with the above company at Pittsburg and Jeffersonville, Indiana, where he removed in 1869, he resigned his position with the railroad and entered the car works in this city and continued with the same until retiring from active life a few years ago.
4.10
BAIRD'S HISTORY OF CLARK CO., IND.
Mr. Coll was married at Louisville, Kentucky, on the 8th day of March. 1860, to Maria Herron, a native of New Orleans, but reared in Louisville. to which city she was brought when a child. This marriage has been blessed by the birth of the following children: John P., a prosperous grocer of Jeffersonville: Bernard A., a shoe merchant of Jeffersonville, and one of the city's representative business men (see sketch); Annia M .. wife of Cornelius McNamara, of Keokuk. Iowa; George, an attorney-at-law. practicing his profession in Dallas, Texas; Nellie, wife of Doctor Edelin, of Louisville; Edmund, a bookkeeper in that city; Ernest J., in the employ of the Louisville & Nashville Railroad, with headquarters in Louisville. and James, who is engaged in the drug business at Seymour, this state. Three sons are unmarried and still live with their parents and constitute a happy and prosperous household. All are practically educated, having wisely fitted themselves for the duties of life and are doing well in their respective lines of effort, two being prosperous business men, one a rising lawyer and the other three holding important positions in the railway service in one of the state in- stitutions. and with a large business firm respectively. The daughters married men who stand high in their places of residence and are succeeding admirably in the fields of endeavor to which their time and energies are devoted.
Like his father, who was a leading Democratic politician and an active and influential campaigner, both in the ranks and on the stump, Mr. Coll has long devoted much attention to political and public matters, being a Democrat in all the term implies, an active participant in party affairs, but not a seeker after office, nor an aspirant for leadership.
Mr. Coll is by birthright a Catholic, and has ever been true to the church and its teachings, rearing his family under its influence. All of the family in Jeffersonville worship at the St. Augustine church, of which they are com- municants and take an active part in all lines of good work under its auspices.
HON. JONAS GEORGE HOWARD.
This name suggests a flood of reminiscenses, carrying one back to the early settlement of Southern Indiana and the days of struggle, adventure and hardship. incident to the pioneer period. In fact, the Howard family was practically coeval with the organization of Clark county and have been prom- inently connected with all of its subsequent history and development. Jonas Howard, the pioneer founder, was a native of Vermont, of English descent and started for the West before Indiana had been admitted into the Union as a state. The route traveled was by way of the Allegheny river to Pittsburg and thence down the Ohio river on rafts and flat boats. When they landed at
441
BAIRD'S HISTORY OF CLARK CO., IND.
Jeffersonville, the surrounding country was still clothed in primeval forests. Jonas Howard, who had been a farmer in his native state, lived but a few months after reaching Indiana Territory, his life being shortened by an attack of bilious fever. He, however, left a son and namesake, who was sixteen years old at the time of his father's arrival and proved worthy to take up and carry on to success the work mapped out by the old pioneer. Jonas Howard, Jr., remained in Clark county tintil 1824. when he removed to Floyd county and began farming. Six years later he returned to Clark county and engaged in the manufacture of brick. a highly important industry in the early settlement of a country. In association .with a younger brother he made the brick that entered into the construction of the court-house at Louisville and the first and second buildings of the Galt house. In fact, the bulk of the brick used in building at Louisville during the late thirties came from the yards at Jeffer- sonville. Jonas Howard was also engaged quite extensively in farming and owned a large amount of land in Clark county. He died in 1849. at the com- paratively early age of fifty-one years, after a life of unusual activity and business success. He married Margaret. daughter of George F. Helmer, a native of New York and of German parentage. He came to Clark county by the usual river route, but lived only a short time after arrival. His daughter. Margaret, who was born in Herkimer county, New York, was about fourteen years old when her parents disembarked from the flat boat at the Falls, after a long and tedious trip from the East. She survived her husband many years and died January 1, 1866. She was the mother of nine children, who grew to maturity, but of these only two are now living. Jonas George Howard. eldest of the sons, was born in Floyd county. Indiana. May 22. 1825. and was consequently about five years old when his father returned to Clark county. He was reared and educated in Jeffersonville, but spent much of his time on the farm, his early experiences being similar to thousands of other boys whose life began in the pioneer period of the state. When twenty years old he entered old Asbury University at Greencastle, Indiana, but after remaining there three years was called home while a senior on account of the ill health of his father. One of his classmates at Asbury was the afterwards celebrated Daniel W. Vorhees, between whom and Mr. Howard a friendship was formed which continued throughout their lives. Shortly after returning home Mr. Howard began reading law, but as the eldest child. much responsibility of taking care of the family fell upon his shouklers. In 1848 he entered the law school at Louisville and later was a student in the law department at Bloomington, Indiana, University, from which he was graduated in the class of 1851. being now the sole survivor of those who figured on that occasion. He immediately entered upon the active practice of his profession at Jeffersonville and continued without intermission until his voluntary retirement in 1905, at the age of eighty years. In 1867 he formed a partnership with John F. Reed, which
442
BAIRD'S HISTORY OF CLARK CO., IND.
during its continuance of thirty years, was one of the most successful legal firms in the state. Aside from their strictly professional work, Howard and Reed did much to promote the industrial development of Jeffersonville. A signal achievement in this line was their promotion of a corporation which finally resulted in building the bridge across the Ohio between Jeffersonville and Louisville, now known as the Big Four bridge. Another important in- dustry promoted by this firm was the plate glass works, which was successfully operated for nine years under the presidency of Mr. Reed.
Mr. Howard's political career was in keeping with his achievements at the bar, as he has been recognized as one of the leaders of the Democratic party for over a half century. He was elected to the State Legislature in 1862 and re-elected in 1864, thus going through two of the stormiest sessions of that body during its history. In 1868, Mr. Howard was chosen as one of the Democratic electors and was given a similar honor during the exciting campaign of 1876. On both occasions he made a canvass of his district on behalf of his party. In 1884 lie was nominated as Democratic candidate for Congress from the Third District and also again made the race as elector, this time being successful and having the pleasure of casting a vote for Grover Cleveland in the state's electoral college. After serving one term in Congress satisfactorily, Mr. Howard was re-elected in 1886 and ranked during the four years' service among the leading representatives in the Lower House. Since 1852 Mr. Howard has not missed canvassing his district in the interests of his party at every election period and always paid his own expenses. As late as the campaign of 1908, this old "wheel-horse" was still found in harness and at the age of eighty-three displayed all the vigor of his earlier years, making numerous speeches and keeping in good voice during addresses that consumed two hours' time. He is a man of remarkable vigor, one of the best preserved of all our older statesmen.
On November 23, 1854. Mr. Howard married Martha J. Roswell, a native of Clark county and member of an old pioneer family. Her parents, James and Drusilla (Dills) Roswell, came to Clark county from Virginia in 1829. To Mr. and Mrs. Howard three children have been born, the only sur- vivor being Anna L., wife of William T. Ingram, of Jeffersonville. His first wife dying in 1872, Mr. Howard subsequently contracted a marriage with her sister, Elizabeth Roswell, by whom he has two children: Jonas G., Jr .. who is an attorney at Jeffersonville, and Ethel, who remains at home with her father. Since his retirement from active practice Mr. Howard spends much of his time in reading. being especially interested in the study of history and politics, on which subjects his remarkably accurate memory makes him an authority.
443
BAIRD'S HISTORY OF CLARK CO., IND.
EDWARD G. DAVIS.
Mr. Davis is a native of Kentucky, born at the town of West Point on February 11, 1874. His father, the late Dr. Jacob T. Davis, of Jeffersonville, for many years one of the most distinguished physicians and surgeons of Kentucky and Indiana, was born in Littleton, Wiltshire, England. February 24, 1833, received his literary education in the land of his birth and became a resident of the United States February 25, 1855, graduating from the Louis- ville Medical College at Louisville, Kentucky, in 1872. Previous to receiv- ing his degree from the above institution, however, he practiced ten years in- cluding his service as assistant surgeon in the hospitals at St. Louis, Missouri, and at Madison and New Albany, Indiana, during the Civil war and also serv- ing as assistant surgeon of field hospitals while attending the army in the field. In looking after the wounded at the battle of Perryville, Kentucky, he re- ceived a very severe wound and for two nights and one day lay helpless and unattended within the enemy's lines, suffering untold agony from pain and thirst until discovered by a comrade. John Marx, late of Madison, Indiana, who bore him to a place of safety and ministered to his necessities. After the war he practiced his profession with marked ability at West Point. Kentucky, and while there achieved honorable distinction for his success in fighting an epidemic of cholera which raged with terrific violence in various parts of the state in 1873, especially in the cities and towns along the Ohio river, and he was equally fortunate in his treatment of small pox patients during the epidemic of that dread disease a few years later. Doctor Davis was not only a learned and skillful physician but was profoundly versed in many subjects, possessing fine literary taste and the ability to express his ideas fluently and forcibly with the pen. He contributed frequently to the leading medical journals of the country besides writing on general topics. Many of his manuscripts on various subjects are now in the possession of his son who holds them beyond price. He was the originator of the Jefferson County, Kentucky, Medical Society at Jffersontown in 1876, and was elected its first president. After ministering to the ills of suffering humanity until infirmities of advancing age together with the pain from the injury received on the battle field, rendered the active practice of his profession difficult, the doctor, in March, 1873. was appointed by Governor Leslie. Judge of West Point. Kentucky, the duties of which with his office business brought him a very comfortable and satisfactory income. He was a man of strong religious convictions and a devout member of the Meth- odist Episcopal church, South, and a number of years ago entered the public ministry of that denomination, being ordained a deacon April 20, 1879, in Jef- fersontown, Kentucky, by Bishop H. H. Kavanaugh, in which capacity he rendered effective service, preaching the Gospel among his fellow men. He was ordained elder by Bishop Joyce in Madison, Indiana, September 29, 1889.
444
BAIRD'S HISTORY OF CLARK CO., IND.
at a session of the Southeast Indiana Conference. About the year 1889 he re- moved to Jeffersonville, Indiana, where he continued his professional duties for a number of years, but finally on account of impaired health, due to ex- posure and injury while in the army he retired from the practice and from that time until his death on September 17, 1901, resided in Jeffersonville, being sixty-nine years old.
Sarah Catherine Earhart was a native of Jefferson county, Indiana, and daughter of John and Rosanna Earhart. She bore her husband thirteen chil- dren, five sons and eight daughters, and departed this life in Jeffersonville on the 17th day of June, 1908. at the age of seventy years. Ten of the children born to doctor and Mrs. Davis are living, two daughters dying in infancy and one at the age of fifteen years. The oldest of the family, Flora R., wife of Burdette Golay, lives in the town of Wirt. Indiana. The following in order of birth are: Harriet M., who married Thomas O. Ogden, of Paris. Indiana : Annie Laurie, now Mrs. Charles H. Hurlbut, of Jeffersonville : John W., a hardware merchant and bicycle dealer of Indianapolis; Thomas W. G., a car- penter and builder of that city: Maud L., unmarried, who makes her home with Mrs. Hurlbut; Edward G., of this review; Daisy Catherine, wife of Charles R. Rigsby, of Jeffersonville ; Nevaston F., a car accountant in the car accountant's office of the Louisville & Nashville Railroad, Louisville, and Al- mond H., city salesman for the Belknap Hardware & Manufacturing Company of the same city.
Edward G. Davis spent his childhood and early youth at West Point. Ken- tucky, and received the greater part of his educational discipline at North Madison high school, where he made rapid progress and earned an honorable record as a student. When fourteen years of age he became day clerk of the Madison Hotel, which position he held for a short time and then accompanied his parents to Henryville, thence subsequently came to Jeffersonville, where he secured employment with the American Car & Foundry Company, then the Ohio Falls Car works, with which he remained four years, during which time he worked in the decorating and finishing departments and became quite a skillful artisan. Severing his connection with the above company at the expira- tion of the period indicated he accepted a position in the finishing department of the Harland Pump Works at Louisville, where he remained one and a half years and then entered the employ of the Bee Hive Furniture & Manufacturing Company of Jeffersonville, beginning in an humble capacity. but by the end of the first year had worked up through various promotions until he became man- ager of the business.
Mr. Davis's rapid advancement indicates business ability of a high order and during the three and a half years he was at the head of the company's in- terests in Jeffersonville his management was marked by wise discretion and rare foresight, while his correct methods and well directed policy added much
445
BAIRD'S HISTORY OF CLARK CO., IND.
to the reputation of the firm in the city and elsewhere. At the end of the time mentioned resigning the position which he had so ably and faithfully filled he accepted the management of the branch store at Jeffersonville, owned by the Denhard Manufacturing Company. At the expiration of one year he pur- chased the business of the Bee Hive Manufacturing Company and engaged in the manufacture of picture frames and art novelties, in which during the last eight years he has built up an extensive business, his establishment being the only one of the kind in the city. He not only manufactures all kinds of frames, but also conducts an establishment for the overhauling and repairing of furni- ture and mattresses. Besides carrying full lines of goods for the retail and wholesale trade his place of business is complete in its every department and an ": equipped to meet all the demands of the extensive trade which he now commands, and which is continually growing in magnitude and importance.
In connection with his business and industrial enterprises Mr. Davis has gained wide repute as the manufacturer of "Shinette," a furniture polish of superior quality which has an extensive sale and from which he derives no small share of his income.
The domestic history of the subject dates from the 30th day of December, 1897. when he contracted a matrimonial alliance with Ida May Smith, of Pee Wee Valley, Kentucky, daughter of the late James F. Smith of that place, the union being blessed with one child, Evelyn Christine, whose birth occurred on December 1, 1898.
In his fraternal relations Mr. Davis holds membership with the Knights of Pythias, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and Woodmen of the World and is also identified with the Travelers' Protective Association. The Methodist Episcopal church represents his religious creed and at present he serves as vice-president of the Methodist Brotherhood of the Wall Street Meth- odist Episcopal church. In his political allignment he is a Republican, but not partisan in the sense of seeking public position. He also maintains a lively interest in military matters and served three years in Company G. First Regi- ment Indiana National Guard, under Capt. Lewis C. Baird. during which time he became skilled in the manual of arms.
BERNARD A. COLL.
During a continuous residence in Jeffersonville of nearly forty years, practically all of his active life, Mr. Coll has earned important official position and a liberal amount of this world's goods. For a number of years he has been actively interested in commercial pursuits and is now one of the leading busi- ness men of the community, his establishment at 406 Spring street being one of the largest and most successful of the kind in the city.
446.
BAIRD'S HISTORY OF CLARK CO., IND.
On the paternal side Mr. Coll is of Irish descent, his father, Maurice Coll. being a native of the Emerald Isle as was also his grandfather, John P. Coll, whose ancestors for many generation lived in County Donegal. John P. Coll spent the greater part of his life in the land of his birth and died from the effects of an accident at the ripe old age of ninety-eight years, his wife. Nancy, departing this life in Jeffersonville, when ninety-five years old.
Maurice Coll. whose birth occurred in 1833. came to the United States when young and spent a number of years in Pittsburg. Pennsylvania, where he worked as a machinist, removing in 1868 to Jeffersonville, where he has since resided. The maiden name of Mrs. Maurice Coll was Maria Herron, a native of New Orleans, Louisiana, and she has borne her husband the follow- ing children, all living and doing well in their respective spheres of endeavor : John P. is a grocer of Jeffersonville: Mrs. C. A. McNamara, of Keokuk. Iowa: Charles J., chief clerk at the Indiana Reformatory : Edmund J., book- keeper for a wholesale grocery firm in Louisville; Ernest, a car builder em- ployed at the Louisville & Nashville Railroad shops of Louisville, and James, a chemist at Seymour, Indiana ; Bernard A.
Bernard A. Coll was born in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, on the 22d of Oc- tober. 1862, but at the age of seven years was brought to Jeffersonville by his parents and he has since made his home here. After attending the public schools of the city until completing the prescribed course of study he entered the grocery store of his uncle. Frank Voigt, where he remained for some time. subsequently engaging in the same capacity with another uncle by the name of P. Herron, in whose establishment he continued until engaging in business for himself. On resigning his clerkship he became a member of the grocery firm of M. Coll & Sons (consisting at the time of his father and brother), and was instrumental in building up the large and successful establishment at the corner of Chestnut and Fulton streets which his brother. John, now conducts and to which he devoted his attention until 1899. During the time thus engaged he made a careful study of the principles and ethics of mercantile life and laid the foundation upon which his subsequent success and present liberal fortune rest.
In the year indicated above Mr. Coll withdrew from the grocery firm to take charge of the County Treasurer's office, a position to which he was tri- mphantly elected in 1900 and the duties of which he discharged in an able manner for two terms, having been chosen his own successor in the year 1902.
At the expiration of his second term. January 1. 1905, he retired from office with the confidence and good will of the people of the county and accept- ing a position as traveling salesman with the wholesale firm of J. C. Hubinger & Brother, of Keokuk, Iowa, spent the ensuing two years on the road and built up an extensive patronage for his employers.
Severing his connection with the above house on January Ist of the year 1907, Mr. Coll purchased the boot and shoe store of J. R. Lancaster and has
447
BAIRD'S HISTORY OF CLARK CO., IND.
since devoted his attention to this line of merchandising, increasing his stock the meanwhile, and greatly extending his patronage until he now has the larg- est establishment of the kind in the city, having a well equipped store and giving employment to four regular clerks, a number he is obliged to increase during the busy seasons of the year. He owns in addition to his store a beautiful modern home and other valuable property, both real and personal, and is considered one of the solid and reliable men of the city whose credit has never been impaired.
As a representative Democrat few men in Clark county have been more influential. In party councils he has been a judicious adviser and in a number of hotly contested campaigns, it was by following his directions that victory was achieved. That his services have been fully appreciated by his co-workers is readily admitted and that he is entitled to still further recognition by his party is the general verdict of his many friends and fellow citizens.
Mr. Coll belongs to several fraternal organizations, in all of which he has been an influential worker besides holding important official positions from time to time. Among these societies are the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Improved Order of Red Men and Ancient Order of Hibernians, Knights of Columbus, and Catholic Knights of America, the last three being largely under the auspices of the Catholic church and designed to inculcate a religious and patriotic spirit and make for a higher standard of manhood and citizenship. He was reared within the fold of the mother church, and has ever been one of its loyal sons and true to its teachings, his wife and family also being members of the same body.
Mr. Coll's marriage was solemnized with Carrie Meadows, of Jefferson- ville, daughter of Galen Meadows. a well-to-do farmer and representative citi- zen of Clark county, the union resulting in the birth of three children : Edna. Louise and Bernard J., the oldest of whom is the only one living, the second dying at the age of eight years, and the youngest in infancy, at which time the mother was also called to her eternal rest. Edna, who is still a member of the home circle, was educated in the graded schools and high school of Jeffer- sonville, and is a young lady of pleasing personality and many admirable traits. being popular and moving in the best society circles of the city.
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.