USA > Indiana > Clark County > Baird's history of Clark County, Indiana > Part 24
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Walter J. Holman lived at his birth place until he was five years old, when his parents moved, taking him to the farm four miles from Jefferson- ville, where he now resides and where he and his brother, H. A. Holman, carry on the various departments of farming with that discretion and indus- try that insures them a comfortable living from year to year. The farm con- sists of eighty acres, well tilled and highly improved, and on which a com fortable dwelling and convenient out buildings stand.
Mr. Holman received a fairly good common school education at Utica. He was united in marriage on December 5, 1900, with Carrie Wright, who represented a well known and influential family, and to this union two chil- dren, one of whom is deceased, were born. The living child is named W. B. Holman, whose date of birth occurred September 22, 1901. Mrs. Carrie Hol- man was born in Jefferson county, Kentucky, in 1874, and came to Clark county, Indiana, with her parents after she had reached maturity, meeting Mr. Holman after coming to her new home, and her domestic life was harmonious and happy for a brief period of four years, when she was called to her reward on April 7, 1904. Mr. Holman was again married September 23, 1908, to Myrtle Swartz, a native of Utica township, and daughter of George W. Swartz, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this volume.
Fraternally Mr. Holman is a member of the Modern Woodmen, and in his church relations he subscribes to the Christian denomination. Politically he is a Democrat, and he has never aspired to public office, being contented to spend his time on his farm and to lead a quiet life at home.
ISAAC N. HOLMAN.
Isaac N. Holman was born December 27, 1834, in Utica township, Clark county, and he died August 27, 1905. His education was obtained in the local schools after which he became a farmer, which work he followed in a successful manner for a period of six years. But believing that he was best suited to a business career he launched into general mercantile pursuits and followed this until his death, building up a good trade and maintaining a neat and well managed store at Utica.
He was the son of Andrew Holman, who was born in Utica township,
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and his mother was known in her maidenhood as Levina Bowman. They were people of influence in their community.
Isaac N. Holman was married to Julia A. Poillon on November 9, 1856. She was born July 21, 1835, in Utica township, Clark county, and she was educated in Louisville. They were married in Utica. Mrs. Holman is one of two children, her brother, John Poillon, having married a Miss Snyder, and they are living in Jeffersonville.
Julia A. Poillon was the daughter of Alexander C. Poillon, who married Harriet A. Middlecoff. The former was born in Utica, New York, in 1801 and died in 1890, and the latter was born in 1811 and died in 1901, her birthplace being Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
To Mr. and Isaac N. Holman the following children were born: Nettie, who remained single, died at the age of twenty-three years; Richard married a Miss Howes; Annie married Alonzo Brindle.
In religious matters Mr. Holman adhered to the beautiful principles of Unitarianism, and in politics he was a Republican but never aspired to public office. In his fraternal relations he was a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He was a man whom everyone liked and respected for he was courteous and honorable in his dealings with his fellow men.
GEORGE WILEY SWARTZ.
All classes recognize the fact that this venerable citizen of Clark county stands in the foremost rank of her worthy and substantial business men, being the owner of one of the finest landed estates in this county, and who, in the golden evening of his age can quietly enjoy his declining years, conscious that his life has not been spent in vain and that he has nothing to regret or retract.
George Wiley Swartz, as the name would indicate, is of German descent, and he was born in Utica township, this county, December 26, 1827. That - was during the pioneer period when the beautiful banks of the Ohio were yet covered with giant trees of the primeval forest and the first settlers were combating the red men, the obstacles of a new soil, and it is interesting to hear Mr. Swartz recite the many stirring happenings of those early days. Believing that this was one of the best countries on earth, he preferred to risk his chances at home, and he has seen this locality develop through the various gradations from the wilderness to its present solid prosperity.
He is the son of George Swartz, a Methodist minister, who was also born in Utica township, spending his long and useful life in this locality, becoming known as one of the greatest pioneer defenders of the Gospel, having been born January 13, 1803, and called to his reward August 11, 1890,
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at the advanced age of eighty-seven years. His wife was known in her maidenhood as Nancy Fry, a native of Jefferson county, Kentucky, where she was born March 29, 1804, and after a long and beautiful Christian life passed to her rest September 10, 1888.
George W. Swartz's paternal grandfather was John Swartz, who was born November 1, 1767, and his grandmother, Elizabeth Swartz, was born January 20, 1775, in Pennsylvania.
George WV. Swartz was one of a family of twelve children, of which he is now (1909) the only surviving member. He received what education he could in the primitive schools of his native township. After spending his youth attending school and assisting in the work about the home place Mr. Swartz launched in the mercantile business in 1845, in Jeffersonville, Indiana, handling a stock of dry goods, but believing that a freer and more successful life existed for him in agricultural pursuits he moved to a farm in 1863 in Utica township, where he has since resided, developing it into one of the model farms of the southern part of the state. It consists of nearly two hundred acres of fertile land, and it is in a high state of improvement, and on it stand a beautiful residence and splendid out buildings and in its fields roam all kinds of carefully selected live stock.
Mr. Swartz has been twice married, his first wife having been Elizabeth Butler, whom he married March 29, 1853, and who bore him four children, named in order of birth as follows: Sally, who died February 18, 1894 ; Belle, Kate, Anna, who died in childhood. The subject's first wife was born Decem- ber 25, 1828, and passed to her rest October 25, 1861. He was married to Maria Lentz on August 26, 1862. She was born in Utica township, Clark county, April 17, 1836, and she was called to the other shore July 8, 1902. Four children were also born to this second union, namely: Charles, who is a farmer living on a part of his father's land; William, who is a teamster ; Ella, deceased, and Myrtle.
Mr. Swartz is a member of the Masonic fraternity, also the Odd Fellows, having become a member of the former when a young man. In religious matters he subscribes to the Methodist creed, and in politics is a Democrat.
NICHOLAS LENTZ.
Nicholas Lentz was born in Utica township, Clark county, Indiana, December 27, 1830, and he has preferred to spend his days in his native community. His birth occurred on the same farm where he is now ( 1909) living, having lived here until 1847, when he went into the harness and saddle business at Louisville, at which he made a success, but gave it up when his
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mother died and returned to the farm, having lived with his father and min- istering to his wants in his old age for ten years prior to his death, having bought the home place and managed it on his own account. His father, a man of influence and high integrity, was Samuel Lentz, who was born in Philadelphia, in 1802, who came to Utica township, this county, when he was fifteen years old. The subject's mother, Eleanor Shafer, a kindly and industrious woman, was born in Germany and came to America when she . was thirteen years old and married Samuel Lentz in Utica, this county. The father was called to his rest in 1875, having been preceded to the silent land by his wife in 1865. They were the parents of ten children, four of whom are living at this writing as follows: Katherine, Ellen, Christian and Nicholas.
Nicholas Lentz spent his early youth much in the same manner as other boys in his community, attending what schools the times afforded and in' working on the old homestead during the remainder of the year until he reached man's estate. He delights to tell of the early days, remembering the wild game which was in abundance and also most distinctly the Indians but who were then fast passing away from this locality.
Mr. Lentz has always carried on general farming. His farming property consists of two hundred and twenty-five acres on the home place, another farm adjoining of two hundred and twenty-five acres, fifty-one acres in another farm and another farm two miles away of two hundred and seventy acres, all of the seven hundred and seventy acres under a high state of cultivation . and well improved. The fields are well drained and well fenced, mostly with wire, in fact, everything about these farms shows thrift, prosperity, and that a man of modern agricultural ability has managed them. Mr. Lentz has also always handled some live stock of an excellent quality, being a good judge of all kinds of stock, especially horses and cattle. Early in his busi- ness career he assumed a debt of fifteen thousand dollars, but that was long ago paid, and he has been remarkably successful in his dealings in the busi- ness world. On his lands are to be found as substantial and modern build- ings as anywhere in the county, and he lives in an up-to-date residence, having every convenience. The grounds in which it is located are well kept.
The domestic life of Nicholas Lentz dates from 1862, when he was mar- ried to Margaret Carr, the representative of an influential family, and after a most congenial married life of forty-three years, passed to her rest in 1905.
Five children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Lentz, named in order of their birth as follows: Samuel, Oma, Walter and Webster. Elden, the oldest of the family, died in infancy.
Mr. Lentz has never held public office, being content to devote his time and attention to home life and his private business. He is a Democrat.
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Fraternally he belongs to the Masonic Order and the Odd Fellows and is liberal in his religious views.
He has led an eminently useful life in his community and his influence has ever been exerted on the side of right and morality.
CAPT. HENRY ORMSBY HOFFMAN.
Capt. Henry Ormsby Hoffman was born in Allegheny county, Pennsyl- vania, September 2, 1847, the son of George and Sarah ( Hutchinson) Hoff- man, both natives of Allegheny county, in the old Keystone state, where their successful and influential lives were spent, both reaching an advanced age, and rearing a family of five sons and one daughter, all living at this writing except two of the sons. Their names follow : Samuel, William, John, George, Sarah and Henry.
Mr. Hoffman was educated in the public schools of his native county, and he remained at home until he was twenty-one years of age, when he departed from his parental roof and entered river traffic, emigrating to Jeffersonville, Indiana, and becoming a river pilot, soon evincing an adaptability for this work that placed him in the front rank of pilots, even performing his duties with as much caution and discretion as the oldest men in this line of work on the Ohio, and he has been engaged in the navigation and coal business nearly all his life, having made a marked sucess of both. He was a pilot around the Louisville harbor for twelve years.
Mr. Hoffman is the owner of one hundred and ninety-seven acres of land at his homestead which are under a high state of cultivation. The improve- ments of the place are first class in every respect and a general air of thrift is plainly discernible. The Hoffman residence is one of the most modern and elegantly furnished of any farm house in this part of the state and surrounding it are elegant grounds well laid out and tastily maintained. Mr. Hoffman also owns a valuable farm in Mercer county, Pennsylvania.
The domestic life of Mr. Hoffman dates from 1871, when he was united in the bonds of wedlock with Angeline Stewart, a native of Pennsylvania. She was a woman of gracious demeanor, who, after a happy wedded life of thirty- four years, was called to her rest in October, 1905. To Mr. and Mrs. Hoff- man three daughters were born, namely: Nellie, Irene and Ruth, all well educated, and of a charming personality.
In his fraternal relations Mr. Hoffman is a member of the Knights of Pythias and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. His political affilia- tions are with the Democratic party, the principles of which he has ever sought to foster when an occasion demanded. However, he has never found much
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time nor inclination to deal extensively in politics .. Religiously he subscribes to the Christian faith and is a liberal supporter of his local church.
BENJAMIN F. SWARTZ.
The emigrant ancestors of the large and well known family of this name in Clark county were members of the German yeomanry who did so much during the nineteenth century to populate and push forward the development of the United States. John and Elizabeth (Oldweider) Swartz, who were born in Germany shortly before the American revolution, emigrated in early life and located in Pennsylvania. From that commonwealth they came to Indiana in time to be numbered among the first settlers of Clark county, and from them have descended a long and constantly ramifying line which by its inter- marriages, is connected with a wide social circle in Southern Indiana. The original arrivals were among the founders of the second Methodist church, South, in Indiana, known as the New Chapel Methodist Episcopal church of Utica circuit, Clark county. They were the parents of four sons : Jacob, John, George and Leonard, all of whom with the exception of the second became local Methodist preachers. Jacob was the father of A. A. Swartz, president of the First National Bank of Jeffersonville. Rev. George Swartz married Nancy Fry, of Jefferson county, Kentucky, daughter of George Fry, who was born in Virginia in 1796. A son by this marriage was John Franklin Swartz, who married Alice A Cole. Benjamin F. Swartz, a child of this union, was born in Clark county, Indiana, in May, 1865. He was reared on a farm and attended the old Fry school near Watson. He became a farmer after reaching maturity and was engaged in agricultural pursuits until the early nineties. About 1891 Mr. Swartz removed to Louisville and engaged in the wholesale commission business, dealing chiefly in fruits and vegetables .. Subsequently he admitted C. L. Drane into partnership and the business was continued under the firm name of B. F. Swartz & Company. In 1905 Mr. Swartz brought his family to Jeffersonville and re-established himself in a large home on East Chestnut street. As previously stated the entire Swartz family of the older days were pioneer Methodists and to this religious faith most of the descend- ants have adhered. The subject of our sketch joined many years ago and has for a number of years been regarded as one of the pillars of Methodism. He is also a member of the Travelers' Protective Association, but beyond this has not extended his fraternal relations.
On February 3, 1884, Mr. Swartz was married to Cora Charlton, daughter of Jeremiah and Lizzie (Charlton), the former of Scotland, the latter's parents were natives of Ireland and of Protestant faith. Mr. and Mrs. Swartz
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have an only daughter, Elsa Charlton, and the family enjoy general esteem in the social, religious and business circles of the city.
JOHN H. HOFFMAN.
John H. Hoffman was born in Alleghany county, Pennsylvania, in 1844. His ancestors were Pennsylvania Germans, Scotch and Irish, who were established in America several generations ago. He was reared and educated in his native county. He came to Jeffersonville, Indiana, in 1859, but re- turned to Pittsburg in 1861, and feeling that her services were needed in the Union army, enlisted in Company I, Sixty-third Pennsylvania Volunteer In- fantry, in which he served with distinction for a period of three years in the army of the Potomac, having taken part in all the engagements of that historic army. He was wounded in the second battle at Bull Run, but returned to the front in time to take part in the first battle after the great engagement at Antietam. So gallant was his conduct that he was promoted to sergeant of his company. He was discharged at Pittsburg in 1864.
Mr. Hoffman ran a steamboat between Pittsburg and Nashville for one year, after which he located again in Jeffersonville. He was in the coal landing business from 1868 to 1891, when he sold out to the combine, after having become known as one of the leading coal men in this locality. After selling out Mr. Hoffman had charge of the business of the Monongahela Coal & Coke Company on the Indiana side of the river at Port Fulton. He became the owner of one of the finest farms in Clark county, comprising one hundred and twenty acres of well improved and highly productive land which under skillful management became a model twentieth century farm, on which stands one of the best residences in this part of the state, of beautiful archi- tecture, convenient, and having all modern appliances and equipment. It is located about a mile and a half above Port Fulton, overlooking the Ohio river.
Mr. Hoffman's domestic life dated from 1874, when he was united in marriage with Mattie Cook, a lady of culture, who is a native of Clark county, and the scion of a well known and representative family, her parents being Mitchell and Elizabeth ( Ballam) Cook. One son and two daughters were born to this union, namely : Bertha, who was called to her rest on March 29, 1896, at the early age of twenty-one years, much to the profound sorrow of a host of friends and acquaintances who prized her talent and amiability ; Bessie, the living daughter, a genteel young lady, is a member of the home circle, being much admired for her accomplishments . Samuel R., the son, is engaged in the automobile business at Denver, Colorado. He married Nellie Holmes, the representative of an aristocratic family of Indianapolis.
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Mr. Hoffman was a Republican in his political views, and was well forti- fied in his opinions in the political world, however, he never spent much time in local conventions or elections, but preferred to merely cast his vote for the men whom he deemed would best serve the public good. He was liberal in his religious views, believing that to do good comprises all religion. His family are Episcopalians. Fraternally he was a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Encampment, also the Masons, Royal Arch degree, Knights Templar and the thirty-second degree, and the Shriners. As might be expected from his war record he was a consistent member of the Grand Army of the Republic. He never held any official position.
In every relation of life Mr. Hoffman proved himself the possessor of such qualities as are bound to win in any line of effort and he won and retained the esteem of all who knew him as a result of his honesty of purpose, kindness of heart and courtesy of manner. His death occurred December 3. 1908.
OLIVER P. GRAHAM, M. D.
The family of this name in Clark county feel a native pride in their genealogy, which is ancient and honorable. The name, spelled in various ways, is constantly found in the old chronicles of England and Scotland and later in connection with the history of the New World. In the fifth century a noted warrior named Graeme fought so valiantly and effectively at the Roman wall in England that ever afterward it was called Graham's Wall, or Graham's Dyke. In the twelfth century, Sir William de Graham, of . Scot- land, ancestor of the great house of Montrose, in England, was a member of the Scotch nobility, and a close relative of King David I. His grandson, Sir John Graham, was called the "right hand" of Wallace, in whose arms he died at the battle of Falkirk. Many other illustrious Grahams, including lords, earles, marquis and finally the Duke of Montrose, most of them were soldiers for Scotland and later Scotch Covenanters. Under the Stuarts many of them were driven out by religious persecution and settled in the northern part of Ireland. In 1812 Duncan and Margaret Graham, descendants from the Cov- enanters, came from Ireland to America while the war with England was in progress. They had five sons : John, William, Duncan, James and Andrew. James was born in Ireland in 1780, and in 1815 married Sarah Cavan, who was born in Maryland in 1794. In 1822 James Graham and wife removed to Oho and a year later to Madison, Indiana, settling ten miles west of that place, near Kent. Still later they established a home in Salida township, Jef- ferson county, where they ended their days. They had seven children : Wil- liam, Margaret, Eliza, Andrew, Mary, Jane and Susan. William married
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Catherine G. Patterson, whose lineage is traceable to a Revolutionary ancestry. Major Giles, a soldier of the patriot army under Washington, had a daughter named Mary, who married James Fisher, a soldier of the War of 1812. After his death she married Robert Patterson and by him became the mother of Catherine G., wife of William Graham. To the latter were born eight chil- dren, whose careers are thus briefly sketched in the family records : Margaret Jennie married Harvey C. Allison, editor of the Franklin (Indiana) Jeffer- sonian, and died in 1866; Robert L. married Julia M. Mitchell, of Decatur county, in 1872, and resides near Maxon, Kansas; Thomas A. became a physi- cian at Jeffersonville, practicing medicine there for thirty-three years, probably visiting more homes in Clark county than any other man of his time. He was a member of the City Council, served two terms in the Indiana Legislature and took an active interest in public affairs until his death in 1901. He mar- ried Belle D. Haymaker, of Eminence, Kentucky. James M., the fourth child, married Anna O. Walker and lives near Mount Hope, Kansas. John A. was a druggist in Jeffersonville and a leading member of the Presbyterian church. He married Cora B. Fry and died June 1, 1901, leaving one son, Roy Allen. Ella G. married Dr. J. L. Reeves, of Edwardsport, Indiana, a member of the Legislature and otherwise prominent. She died in 1884. Emma D. maried Frank R. Allen, member of the wholesale grocery firm of Boniface, Webber and Allen, at Jeffersonville. He has charge of the branch house of his firm at Bedford, Indiana, and makes his home at that place. He was the father of three children, two of whom are living.
Oliver P. Graham, the eighth and youngest of his father's children, was born at New Washington, Indiana, March 29, 1864. His father died in 1872, and about ten years later his mother moved to Jeffersonville in company with her son. He attended school for awhile and took a course in Hanover College, and then entered the medical department of the University of Louisville, from which he was graduated in February, 1890. Shortly thereafter he began prac- tice in Jeffersonville and has continued without intermission until the present time. He has an extensive practice in the city and surrounding country and is regarded as one of the ablest and most successful of Clark county's physi- cians. He stands in the front rank in his profession and is popular with his fellow practitioners, taking an active part in anything that concerns the progress and growth of medicine as a science as well as the welfare of the in- stitutions devoted to the protection of the public health. A close reader and student, he follows the latest discoveries, experiences and theories concerning sanitation, hospital work and other branches of medical practice. Dr. Graham is a member of the State and County Medical societies, and the American Medical Association. His fraternal relations are with the Clark Lodge, No. 40, Free and Accepted Masons, Horeb Chapter Royal Arch Masons and Jef- fersonville Commandery, Knights Templar. He also belongs to the Elks,
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Hope Lodge, No. 13, Knights of Pythias, Jefferson Lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and Hoosier Camp Modern Woodmen of America, of which he is a charter member.
On December 11, 1906, Doctor Graham married Julia B., daughter of Thomas Paswater, a Justice of the Peace for Jeffersonville township. They have one son, Thomas Garland Graham, who was born October 29, 1908.
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