USA > Indiana > Clark County > Baird's history of Clark County, Indiana > Part 30
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In later years Captain Duffy became a large stockholder in the Louisville Ice Company and he established the ice plant in Jeffersonville. He at one time owned large interests in French Lick Springs, Indiana, but sold out to Thomas
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Taggart, of Indianapolis. He was regarded as one of the leading and best known river men in the country, at one time having control of the coal harbor business at this point and at the time of his death he had numerous interests, including the Cincinnati Packet Company, the Louisville & Evansville Packet Company, and the Louisville & Jeffersonville Ferry Company. He was also interested in the Jeffersonville City Railway.
Captain James T. Duffy was always a man of fine personal appearance, enjoying good health, principally due, no doubt, to his temperate habits, never using tobacco or liquors in any form, and his lamented death was untimely, having been sick but a short time. He was taken to the hospital at Rochester, Minnesota, where he died from the effects of an operation, November 24, 1905, his demise being a matter of keen regret throughout the country, news- papers all over the United States giving eulogistic and extended notices of his death. His funeral was from the St. Augustine church in Jeffersonville.
An interesting chapter in the history of Captain Duffy is that bearing on his happy domestic life, which began September 21, 1871, when he was united in the bonds of wedlock with Miss Nora V. Robinson, of Jeffersonville, the ceremony having been performed in the rectory of the cathedral in Louisville, the Rev. Father Bouchet, subsequently vicar-general, officiating. Mrs. Duffy was the daughter of Hamilton Robinson, a sketch of which well known pio- neer appears in another part of this volume. Eight children blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. James T. Duffy, two of whom are deceased, Sarah and Mary ; John Thomas and James Thomas are still members of the family circle; Nora is the wife of Dr. C. F. C. Hancock, of Jeffersonville, and Marguerite Fay is the wife of O. H. Wathen, of Louisville; James Hamilton married Miss Emma Howard; Leta married Dr. C. W. Shropshire, of Birmingham, Ala- bama. Mrs. Duffy is a woman of gracious personality and has long been a leader in social circles in Jeffersonville, where she is held in high esteem as are also her children, whose daily lives reflect the wholesome home environment and uplifting influence in which they were reared. She always took a great interest in the affairs of her husband and much of his business prosperity was no doubt due to her encouragement and counsel. She took an especial interest in the development of their fine farm and presides with rare dignity over the · attractive Duffy residence.
James T: Duffy was a devout Catholic all his life, and in his political re- lations he supported the Democratic party, although he never sought public office, preferring to devote his entire attention to his private business affairs and to his home. However, his interest in the welfare of Jeffersonville and com- munity was deep seated and abiding and he gave liberally toward the support of all movements calculated to improve the material, social and moral interests of the same.
By reference to the foregoing review the life of Captain Duffy appears
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to have been a very strenuous one, filled to repletion with duty ably and faith- fully performed and characterized throughout by a devotion to principle, above reproach and a sense of honor defying adverse criticism. He has a capacity for large undertakings and his eminently interesting career not only com- mended him to the people of his own county and state, but gave him a reputa- tion much more than state wide and an honorable name among the leading men of his day. He was a man of fine sensibilities and a high sense of justice and honor, it being his aim to be on the right side of every question with which he had anything to do and to lose sight of self or selfish interests in the noble endeavor of striving for the greater good of the greater number. Broad-minded, public-spirited, fervidly patriotic and taking liberal views of men and affairs he impressed his individuality upon the community and coun- ty as an enterprising, large-hearted, progressive American citizen of the best type, while among his immediate friends he will always be remembered as a man without pretense and a courteous gentleman whose integrity and loyalty would bear the closest scrutiny.
COLUMBUS J. BOTTORFF.
That he has attained a competency through his individual efforts is nat- urally a matter of pride with Mr. Bottorff. His opportunities to store his mind with knowledge were limited, but he procured a fair education in the township schools, and early in life began to perform the arduous duties that devolve upon the boy who is reared on a farm. Mr. Bottorff has been very successful in agricultural pursuits, his crops, as a rule, being abundant. He is a native of Jackson county, where he was born February 13, 1851, coming to Jef- fersonville with his parents when but an infant. He was married long after he reached manhood's estate, taking unto himself a wife 'in May, 1893.
The father of the subject, William Jackson Bottorff, was born in Clark county, near Charlestown, while his mother was a native of Kentucky. There were four children besides himself, William E., Ida, who married David Hos- tetter, and is now dead; Samantha, wife of Wallace James, and Lily, wife of John Collins.
The land owned by C. J. Bottorff consists of one hundred and fifty acres, and he engages in general farming. He is a Seventh Day Adventist, and po- · litically a. Democrat. He never held office, and is not a member of any fraternal order.
Mr. Bottorff is a very genial man of sterling honesty, and in his dealings with his neighbors observes the golden rule. He is thoroughly practical and has broad views upon all subjects in which the people of today are interested.
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WILLIAM ADAMS.
Owing to the great number of changes that take place in the population of our counties it is now only occasionally that we come upon a person of advanced age that has been born upon native soil. One, however, is to be found in William Adams, who was born in Clark county, this state, on May 16, 1836. His ancestry includes in its roll some of the sturdy settlers of Ken- tucky, where were born his parents, Martin and Jane (Davis) Adams, who were among the earliest pioneers of Clark county. They were staunch Presby- terians and each lived to the advanced age of ninety-two years. Of this family there are still surviving besides William two brothers and one sister, the broth- ers living at this time in Indiana and the sister in Denver, Colorado.
The domestic life of Mr. Adams has not been one of the uninterrupted smoothness inasmuch as his home has been repeatedly invaded by visits from the death angel. His first wife, Charlotte Kisler, was not permitted to live to see her children grow to maturity, but five of these are still living. The three children of the second wife, Sarah S. Swartz, have also joined their mother in the great beyond. Following this Mr. Adams was married to a sister of his second wife, Eliza Swartz, after whose death he was joined in marriage to Sarah Heuser. The children now living refered to above are Anna Belle Scott, Jennie Gilmore, Elizabeth Ogg, Martin A. and Minnie Smith.
Mr. Adams is well known as a splendid business man and an aggressive, public-spirited citizen. He has been called upon by his fellow citizens to serve them in many public capacities. In 1880 he served as Township Assessor and filled the office in a praiseworthy manner. In 1895 he demonstrated his ability as a party figure, assisting to bring about a complete change in the political complexion of county affairs, the ustal Democratic majorities being wiped out and the county offices placed into the hands of the Republicans. In wag- ing this fight Mr. Adams used as his instrument the columns of the New Albany Tribune.
Mr. Adams is a loyal Methodist in his religious affiliations, as were also his wives. He has for a long term of years been a most faithful and helpful worker in promoting the growth and progress of church life in the community. He has been a member of the board of trustees of the New Chapel Methodist · church since 1883, and served as president of the same for twenty years. He was also president of the building committee, which constructed one of the finest church edifices in Clark county in 1883, every dollar for the same passing through his hands, for which a strict and satisfactory account was given.
The farm now occupied by Mr. Adams consists of one hundred and * thirty-one acres, and has been his home since 1857. Two of his children, Mrs. .Gilmore and Mrs. Scott, occupy nearby farms to that of their father. In addi-
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tion to this farm Mr. Adams owns tracts of land in Utica and Washington townships. He is a man well preserved, is keenly alert to the questions of the day. He has lived to see many changes in the community where he has maintained his residence for over fifty years. There are only two heads of families now occupying the same houses they did in 1857 in his neighborhood. He recalls the days before the use of coal for fuel on the river. Andrew Van Dike, a pioneer wood hauler, furnished the ferry with its fuel in those days, and in after years assisted Mr. Adams in threshing grain.
AMOS B. STACY.
Among the well-to-do and progressive farmers of Clark county, Indiana, must be mentioned Amos B. Stacy, who operates a farm of two hundred and forty-two acres in Jeffersonville township. He was born in the city of Jeffersonville in 1844, and received his early education in the public schools of that town. He is the son of Amos B. and Elizabeth N. Stacy, both born "on the banks," as they say, of Southern Indiana. The family consisted of thirteen children, a number which, whether "lucky" or not, is one that is rarely equalled by the families of the present day. Amos B. was the second in the order of birth, and nine of the number are still living. The names of the chil- dren are herewith appended: Hulda, wife of John W. Crandall; Margaret, wife of David R. House ; Jonas D., unmarried and now in Colorado; William O. and John H., the latter in Cripple Creek, Colorado; Edward D., living at Upper Sandusky, Ohio; Katie A., wife of James H. Walker, and both now deceased; Anna D., deceased, wife of John C. Enteman ; Emma R., deceased; Howard N., living in Albuquerque, New Mexico; Augusta, deceased; Gauda- loupe V., in Los Angeles, California.
Mr. Stacy after finishing his schooling in the Jeffersonville schools, de-, cided to leave the city for life on the farm and brought with him the experience and training obtained through close contact with business affairs in the town. He made use of his training in broadening his outlook on life, and in fully preparing himself for the task of operating a farm in such a way as to bring about profitable results. In this he has demonstrated his ability to measure up to the requirements, for he has been eminently successful as a farmer. He has made a close study of the problems of the soil and understands fully how to manage the rotation of crops so that the best results may be obtained with the least exhaustion of the soil. In conjunction with this he has developed good judgment in the selection of seeds and their varieties, demonstrating that this is a very important factor in achieving successful production.
Mr. Stacy is a member of the Methodist denomination and contributes
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willingly to its support, maintaining at all times a quiet and unassuming atti- tude. Politically he adheres to the tenets of the Democratic party, but does not place party above principle. From 1886 to 1888 he served as Supervisor, but beyond this has not consented to run for public office of any kind, prefer- ring rather to act his part as a citizen by ruling his life in harmony with the requirements of unimpeachable patriotism.
FRANK KEISER.
Mr. Keiser is now reaping the reward of a career of industry, having en:barked upon the battle of life with little or no capital, and now being the owner of one of the most productive truck farms in Clark county. Landing on the shores of America from a foreign country, without even a smattering of the English language he was confronted with many difficulties, but he had come to the new world filled with a determination to better his condition, and persevered until he had realized his ambition to become a land owner.
Frank Keiser was born August 31, 1855, at Frankfort-on-the-Main, Germany, and came to this country when in the twenty-fourth year of his age, after having served three years in the army of the Fatherland. He was the son of Wilhelm and Marie (Hoch) Keiser. The former was also a native of Frankfort-on-the-Main, while the mother of the latter was born at Naples- town, Germany. Frank Keiser attended the schools of his native country for several years, and then learned the butcher's trade, at which he worked in Baltimore shortly after his arrival in the United States. He did not remain in the East long, however, but started out in the direction of the setting sun, having been informed that there were great opportunities for energetic young men in the Middle West. For twenty years he lived in Louisville, being en- gaged in the meat business, but he never lost his desire to become a cultivator of the soil, and nine years ago he purchased his present place, which is located on the middle road, near Jeffersonville, and which consists of one hundred acres, and is very productive.
Frank Keiser was married in 1886, in Louisville, to Emma Foreman, of Jasper, Indiana. Mr. and Mrs. Keiser are the parents of six children, Charles, William, Maggie, Lily, Rose and Frank. The first named is a resident of Kansas, while the others make their home with their parents. The subject is a member of the German Lutheran church, and he is very faithful in his atten- ance upon religious services, as are also the members of his family. Politically he is a Democrat, but does not actively participate in politics, nor has he ever filled any public office. Mr. Keiser and his wife are highly esteemed by their neighbors.
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HARVEY JOINER.
Lovers of art and readers of pages devoted to this subject in the press will readily recognize in this name one of the best known painters of the Middle West. From earliest boyhood Harvey Joiner developed a taste for art and a . most commendable ambition to succeed as a painter which no discipline could repress and no misfortune entirely check. By persistence and the exercise of his natural talent he not only achieved a fair measure of fame but success in a financial way, though as usual with artists perhaps not equal to his deserts. He is a son of Oscar and Elizabeth (Tophouse) Joiner, the former of whom located in Charlestown in 1840 and engaged in the cooperage business. Harvey Joiner was born in Charlestown, Clark county, Indiana, April 8, 1852, and in due time beame a pupil at 'Possum Trot school near his native place. Even at this early period the innate inclination manifested itself in pictures drawn on the blackboard or any other receptive surface, the teacher being unable to curb the irrepressible instinct or interest the embryonic artist in routine studies.
As a boy he made his own colors from poke-berry juice, milkweed, wash bluing, pot-black and pounded grass, which combination he used like water colors. His first effort in oil was made at Artic Springs, of the Louisville water works, painted on a piece of pine board. This crude sketch he gave away and lost track of, but he afterward regretted its loss, and would now prize it highly as a souvenir of his early days. About this time he held out between two opinions, being undecided between a theatrical and artistic career, though he had some ability in both lines. The love of drawing finally pre- vailed and he abandoned all ambition to shine in the Court of Thespis. His first serious efforts consisted in drawing sketches of negro characters dancing Jim Crow on the plantations of the South. Here he spent three years sketch- ing and steamboating, the beautiful surroundings giving many ideas for the accumulations of material for subsequent landscape and woodland scenes. In 1873 Mr. Joiner made his first serious sketch in oil and located the next year in St. Louis, where he began painting portraits with Hoffman, the noted Ger- man artist. Later he established a studio in the Courier-Journal building at Louisville, Kentucky, which, for twenty-seven years was a mecca for the art loving world. Visitors came for miles to attend his annual exhibitions which did much to cultivate a taste for art in the South. His methods are peculiar to himself. He paints most of his woodland scenes at a single sitting, first making a sketch in brown and laying all color upon another until the entire picture is completed. He has made a special study of sunlight effect and his beautiful beechwoods scenes give a distinction to Mr. Joiner's work that is not equalled by the work of any other artist. The daily press of Louisville has teemed with praise of his contributions to the world of art and his worth as a leader in educating the public taste. His first figure picture, six by ten
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feet, was completed in 1877, the same being a life-size painting in oil and now hangs in the Christian church at Utica, Indiana, the subject presenting "Ruth Gleaning in the Field of Boaz." It was a very creditable effort though done in his early career. Since 1896, when he exhibited at the Nashville Centennial Exposition, Mr. Joiner has held annual exhibitions of his landscape paintings and of late has confined his attention exclusively to painting beechwood scenes in Kentucky and Indiana. After having resided in Jeffersonville since 1864, Mr. Joiner located in Louisville in 1902. On August 29, 1907, his studio was entirely destroyed by fire and ninety-eight pictures were consumed in the flames, which, in part, consisted of an accumulation of thirty years. Prac- tically all the sketches he had done from his boyhood, including newspaper and magazine notices, and a mailing list of five thousand names including pa- . trons from San Francisco to New York, were irreparably lost. Among the paintings lost was a marine scene of compelling interest, showing a limp and lifeless figure of a beautiful girl in the semi-nude left by the receding tide on the barren rocks. Mr. Joiner's studio is at present located in the Equitable Building, Louisville, Kentucky.
In 1878 Mr. Joiner married Nettie Kane, daughter of Capt. John W. Kane, both now deceased. Two children were born to this union, Mrs. Earl Lewman, a resident of Charlestown township, Clark county, and Harvey, an only son, being employed at Denver, with the Colorado Fuel & Iron Company, also the Rocky Mountain Timber Company. He inherited his father's artistic temperament but has made no serious effort to develop his talents along that line. In the last fifteen years Mr. Joiner's paintings have become widely known and are owned by art patrons in all the principal cities of the United States.
JOHN TALLEY.
John Talley was born in Columbia, South Carolina, February 14, 1833. His father, Stephen Talley, was born in England, and came to America when still a young man. After arriving here he married Eliza Brown, who was born in South Carolina, and was of German extraction.
Stephen Talley deserves mention as one of our country's patriotic sons, ' who, although English born, nevertheless took up arms in the American cause during the War of 1812, and fought nobly and well in behalf of the land of his adoption. He was a member of Company C, of the Second South Carolina Infantry, under the command of Captain Hancock.
When John Talley was seven years old his parents removed to Georgia and there he grew to manhood. He received such education as the community afforded, being reared in Gordon county, near the city of Rome. After reach-
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ing maturity he learned the blacksmith's trade, and continued to make his home in the vicinity of Rome until after the close of the war.
Mr. Talley participated in the Civil war, and, being a resident of the South, his views were in harmony with the cause of the Confederacy. He be- came a member of the Sixty-fifth Georgia Infantry under the command of that intrepid and invincible hero of Southern soil, Stonewall Jackson. For some time also Mr. Talley was employed at Bragg's Arsenal No. 2, and gave to the cause he espoused the best service that he could command.
The war being concluded Mr. Talley removed from his Southern home and took up his quarters at Jeffersonville, Indiana. In 1858 he was joined in marriage to Emily Jane Conoly, who was a most estimable companion and mother. She departed this life in April, 1908. To this union were born eight children, four of whom still survive. They are: John, who was married to Maggie Houston ; Eugene, being still at home; Dennis, who became the hus- band of a Miss Smith ; and Effie, who is also at home.
Mr. Talley holds liberal views on all religious questions and believes in a large charity for all mankind. Politically his inclinations favor the Demo- cratic cause, his convictions being at all times his guide. He holds no prejudice toward those whose opinions do not coincide with his own, but he adheres strictly to what seems to him to be the right attitude to take on all public ques- tions. He has had no desire to fill public office of any kind. He is a Mason, having his membership in the Clark Lodge, No. 40, at Jeffersonville.
DANIEL J. BOWER.
Upon a comfortable and well equipped farm in Jefferson township, Clark county, Indiana, lives the interesting character whose name forms the caption of this biography. Mr. Bower was born near New Washington on the 3d of January, 1830. He was the son of Daniel and Elizabeth ( Hostetter) Bower, the former having been born in North Carolina, in 1800, and the latter in Ken- tucky, in 1802.
Our subject's father was a man of considerable daring and possessed great skill as a rifleman. The exigencies of the times created a great demand for men of that type to oppose the hostilities of the Indians, and Mr. Bower took an active part in the Black Hawk war and after his death his widow, who survived him. received a pension in recognition of Mr. Bower's services to the country. He was long connected with the militia.
Mr. Bower attended the district schools of the neighborhood and also the Charlestown school when conducted by Zebulon Sturgus. In addition to this he benefited by the rigid discipline .and the stern duties of his daily life, and grew to manhood with a good educational equipment.
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On December 22, 1859, Mr. Bower was united in marriage to Elizabeth Walford, who was born on the 7th of June, 1834. The house in which she was born stood upon the site of the present court-house in Louisville. She received a good general education in the district schools of Indiana and Ken- tucky and has proved to be a most estimable companion and competent mother. Her family of six children are: Minnie Alice, Annie Alene, Virginia Eliza- beth, George Franklin (deceased), Catherine May and Cora Lee.
As a member of the community Mr. Bower has commanded the confidence and trust of his neighbors and friends. For many years he has been Justice of the Peace and filled the place with credit and with entire satisfaction to his constituents. He also served as Deputy Assessor for two terms. He and his family are members of the Christian church and are held in high esteem by the membership on account of their loyalty to their faith and the sincerity of their daily life, In politics Mr. Bower affiliates with the Democratic party. He takes great pride in his family and has given his children all the opportunities that could be afforded. Three of his daughters, Virginia, Catherine and Cora, graduated from the Jeffersonville high school and later taught school. They are now married and each is presiding over a comfortable home.
AARON P. SCOTT.
A five mile drive to the east from Jeffersonville brings the visitor to the well kept and attractive country residence of Aaron P. Scott, whose family is one of the best known in this section of the county and is one that has been connected in a most intimate manner with the advancement and progress of the community along all important lines.
Mr. Scott was born in Utica township on the 22d day of March, 1856, the son of William Wascomb and Mary ( Seamster) Scott, the former a native of Utica township anl the latter of Marion county, Kentucky. They were peo- ple whom everybody was glad to have for neighbors, being at once obliging and free, lending a helping hand without question or hesitancy whenever oppor- tunity afforded.
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