USA > Indiana > Clark County > Baird's history of Clark County, Indiana > Part 32
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BAIRD'S HISTORY OF CLARK CO., IND.
namely : John, born December 1, 1834, died about 1886, in Texas; Henry, of this review ; Emily and Ellen (twins), were born October 1I, 1838, and Emily died when ten years old; William, who was born in 1840, died at the age of twenty-one years; Samuel, born in 1844, lives in Lawrence county, Indiana ; Thomas was born March 10, 1846, and died when forty-two years of age; Jesse, born in 1849, lives at Borden; Elizabeth, born in 1851, lives in Wood township; James, born in 1857, lives in Wood township.
Henry Packwood received only a limited education in the subscription schools of the early days. He can remember when there was plenty of game and wild animals in this township, the country being very wild when he was a boy. He has no military record, but three of his brothers were soldiers in the Civil war. He built the first frame school-house in Wood township. He started in life for himself when he was married to Katherine Warman, when he was about twenty-three years old. She was the daughter of Abraham and Mary Warman. Her people were among the early settlers in this part of the county, having come from Kentucky. Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Henry Packwood, namely : Laura, born October 19, 1863, lives at home; Ellen, born May 26, 1867, died in 1888. Mr. Packwood's second wife was Rebecca Nicholson, the daughter of Joseph and Mary Nicholson. Rebecca was born in 1839 and she passed to her rest in Wood township in 1900. Two children were born to the subject by his second marriage, Joseph E., born September 4, 1875, married Bertha Gorman; they live in Wood township and are the parents of one child. Charles H., the second child, was born Septem- ber 8, 1877, lives with the subject.
Henry Packwood has been a farmer and a small fruit grower most all his life. He has lived to see the township cleared of its wilderness and he is a well preserved old man, although he has been a hard worker all his life. He has made all the improvements on the place where he now lives, in Wood town- ship, section 27. He has developed a valuable farm. Mr. Packwood served eighteen years as Trustee of his township in a most praiseworthy manner. He also served six years as County Commissioner. He is a Democrat. He and his family are members of the Church of Christ, and no family in the township bear a better reputation for honor, industry and hospitality than his.
GEORGE W. BELL. -
The gentleman whose name appears above is one of the honored resi- dents of Wood township, Clark county, being a native born of Clark county, where he was elected to spend his entire life, believing that greater advantages were to be had here than elsewhere, and the success he has achieved through
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BAIRD'S HISTORY OF CLARK CO., IND.
his persistent labors in farming would lead one to believe that he made a wise decision. .
George W. Bell was born in Wood township April 20, 1838, the son of Elias and Jemina (Mckinley) Bell, the former having been born in 1808, in Pennsylvania, who came to Clark county in 1812, settling in Wood township. Elias Bell was the son of Thomas and Rachael (Dunbar) Bell. Grandfather Bell entered part of the land where George W. now lives and where Elias Bell lived until his death, in 1860. He was an extensive stock raiser and dealer. He was a very religious man and was a deacon in Pleasant Ridge church, which he helped establish, which is located about one mile from where George WV. Bell lives. This church was established in about 1847 or 1848. It was first an old log house. Hiram Green was among the first men to preach there. Elias Bell, Joe Nicholson and Jerry Mckinley were the first trustees of this church. Elias Bell was one of the best known and most influential men of this community in his day. Jemina Mckinley was born about 1810 in Ken- tucky and she died in Wood township, Clark county, in 1888. Nine children were born to them, our subject being the only survivor.
George W. Bell helped to clear off a great deal of the land on his father's farm when he was young, the country being heavily timbered. He received a limited education in the subscription schools, having never attended the free schools.
Mr. Bell was married to Fanny Mccutchen January 5, 1864. She was born December II, 1842, in Floyd county, to which county her people came from Kentucky in the early days, having the Indians for neighbors. She was the mother of five children, namely : Charles H., born October 3, 1866, lives in Wood township; William J., born January 21, 1868, married Lulu Brown; they live in Wood township and are the parents of three children; Elias J., the third child, was born December 1, 1871, married Lilly Morris ; they have three children and make their home with the subject. Ida, the fourth child, who was born January 13, 1873, married Gilbert Gillispie, lives in Indianapolis, and is the mother of three children ; George T., who was born June 10, 1879, married Carrie Scott, and they are living in Floyd county.
Mr. Bell has been a farmer all his life on the same place, which he has greatly improved and made it yield abundant crops. He has a pleasant and comfortable home, four miles south of Borden, on the Greenville road, his land being located in section 22.
Mrs. Bell passed to her rest October 21, 1894. The subject has been As- sessor of Wood township for five years, giving entire satisfaction to his con- stituents in this capacity. He has also held some other minor offices in the township. He is a Democrat and a member of the Christian church at Pleasant Ridge. He is known as a man of honesty, industry and force of character, and he has many friends in this county.
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BAIRD'S HISTORY OF CLARK CO., IND.
JOSEPH NICHOLSON, SR.
One of the progressive and well known agriculturists of Wood township, Clark county, is the gentleman whose name initiates this paragraph, who has spent more than a half century, his entire life, in fact, in this locality, conse- quently everybody here not only knows but respects him, for his life has been one of integrity as well as of industry.
Joseph Nicholson was born in Wood township, March 14, 1841, on the same place where he now lives, the son of Joseph M. and Mary (Graves) Nich- olson, the former a native of Randolph county, North Carolina, where he was born in 1795, from which state he came to Crawford county, Indiana, in 1816, settling among the ploneers in October of that year. He lived in Orange county for a while and then came to Clark county, in 1832, settling on the place where the subject now lives, in section 21, being a prominent farmer and tobacco raiser for those early days, and later launched in the dairy business. He was a Democrat and was Trustee of the township for one term. He was reared a Quaker, but he became a member of the Christian church. He mar- keted all his tobacco in Louisville. He also found a market in New Albany, where he sold his dairy products. He died in March, 1876. He made several trips to New Orleans to sell stock. He was the son of Zachariah and Mary (Harvey) Nicholson, who settled in Crawford county, Indiana, in 1816. Mary Graves was the daughter of Benjamin and Mary (Fincher) Graves. Mary Graves was born in 1800, in Randolph county, North Carolina. The subject is the youngest of thirteen children. He assisted with the farm work when a boy and attended the subscription schools of sixty day terms, receiving only a limited education.
Mr. Nicholson likes to tell of the days of his boyhood and recount the stories told by his father of the first settlers, there being many deer and bear when he first came here.
When about twenty-three years old Joseph Nicholson was united in mar- riage with Mary Goss, who was born in Clark county, her parents being pio- neers of Wood township. Mary was born in November, 1841, the daughter of John and Mary (Mckinley) Goss. John Goss was born in 1816 in Clark county. Nancy Mckinley was born about 1820.
Mr. Nicholson was a hard worker in his youth, the country being wild and covered with brush he did much in assisting to clear the land. When five years old he made a trip to North Carolina and back with his parents in a wagon. It took fifteen days each way to make the trip.
Mr. Nicholson lives five and one-half miles from Borden, in section 21. He has an excellent farm which he has spent his life in improving until it is today quite productive and well kept. He has a comfortable home with beau- tiful surroundings, which stands back from the road for some distance. He is a good manager and his fields yield bounteously under his skillful care.
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BAIRD'S HISTORY OF CLARK CO., IND.
Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Nicholson, namely: John W. is single and living at home; Leanora is single and living at home; Charles A., born April 3, 1876, died in 1900.
Mr. Nicholson has been a farmer all his life and has devoted much atten- tion to stock raising, always keeping a good variety of excellent stock, mostly hogs and Jersey cattle. This family has borne an excellent reputation since the first members settled here upwards of a hundred years ago.
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JOHN BERNARD KOETTER.
Among the sterling Germans who have done so much for the upbuilding of Clark county, establishing good homes and taking an interest in public affairs, lending what assistance they could in the promotion of movements looking to the general good, the subject of this sketch, who is now deceased, must be mentioned for he was long an honored resident of this locality.
John Bernard Koetter was born in Prussia, January 16, 1826, about twenty miles from the Rhine river. He came to the United States in 1845, locating in Cincinnati, where he remained seven years and where he married, in 1852, to Bernadina Bergman. She was born June 5, 1827, in Oldenberg, Germany, and she came to the United States in 1850, locating in Cincinnati. He followed cabinet-making while he lived in Cincinnati. He left that city and came to Clark county to engage in farming in Wood township, in section 22. The land was pretty well settled up when he came here. He hauled all his produce to New Albany and Louisville, where he found a market. He was one of Wood township's best known men, but he was not a public man. He stayed close at home and was a money maker. He was a Democrat, but never an office seeker. It was 1852 when he came to this county. He died in Sep- tember; 1894, while living in Wood township. He was a strict Catholic. His wife makes her home with William F., her son. She is a fine old lady, and in comparatively good health for one of her advanced years. She has an ex- cellent memory. The wife of the subject was the daughter of John and Eliza- beth (Rosemeier) Bergman. Her father died in Germany when about sixty years old, and her mother died in Cincinnati when seventy-six years old.
Seven children have been born to the subject and wife, as follows: Hen- rietta, age fifty-five, married Bernard Schmidt; Anna, age fifty-three, married Herman Voor, and they have six children, three living and three dead; they live in Louisville; John Bernard, Jr., died at the age of twenty-three years, in 1881; Joseph I., who married Ida Vanolman, died in 1900, at the age of thirty- eight years ; John H., who is forty-four years old, married Barbara Engel, lives in Wood township and they have five children living and three dead; William
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BAIRD'S HISTORY OF CLARK CO., IND.
F., who is forty-one years old, married Katie Verst, daughter of Henry Verst, who lives in Floyd county. Her mother was Caroline (Tennis) Verst, who has been deceased for twenty-five years. William F. and wife have four chil- dren, namely : Mary B., born May 16, 1900; Joseph B., born. May 21, 1903; Edward John, born May 29, 1905; Anna Roseline, born July 26, 1908.
William F. Koetter has a well improved farm in Wood township and one of the finest homes in the township, much of which he has made himself, being a man of thrift and good judgment. His farm is located in section 14, four and one-half miles from Borden. He is like his father in a business way. He keeps good stock. He is well known in this locality and is a man of excellent business principles and is honest and straightforward in his dealings.
BENJAMIN SCHMIDT.
Among the sterling class of German citizens who have done so much toward the upbuilding of the great Hoosier state, none in Clark county deserve special mention more than Benjamin Schmidt, who is one of her best agricul- turists and honored citizens, having been born in Prussia, April 4, 1845, the son of Harmon and Mary (Krier) Schmidt, his father having been a farmer in the old country. The subject's grandfather and grandmother on his father's side of the house lived to advanced ages, reaching nearly ninety years. Har- mon Schmidt lived to be between seventy and eighty years of age and his mother died at the age of seventy-three. They were Catholics. They never came to America. However, two brothers and one sister of Benjamin came to this country. One of them, Henry Schmidt, lives in Covington, Kentucky; the subject's sister, Theresa, who married Frank Vinker, lives in Covington, Ken- tucky. Benjamin is the third of five children. His brothers and sisters that came to this country are all living. They represent a typical and substantial old German family.
Benjamin Schmidt came to the United States in 1865, first locating in Covington, Kentucky, later coming to Clark county, Indiana. He has been living on his present place for a period of thirty-one years. He is a carpenter by trade, but he quit carpentering about fifteen years ago and has since de- voted his attention almost exclusively to his farm, which is located four miles south of Borden, in section II. He has a good farm, which he has made equal to any in the community through hard work and careful management until it produces excellent crops and yields a good income. He has cleared a great deal of the land and his fields show that a man of industry and sound judgment has had their management in hand. He has a substantial dwelling and a convenient barn. He keeps stock and poultry of various kinds.
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BAIRD'S HISTORY OF CLARK CO., IND.
Mr. Schmidt was married in 1873 to Henrietta Koetter, daughter of Barney and Dina Koetter. Her father was born in Germany in the Rhine river country. Her parents were among the first settlers of Clark county. She was born in Cincinnati, August 15, 1853, and came to Clark county, Indiana, when four years old. Being the oldest of the family she had to stay at home and assist with the household duties and therefore did not receive much edu- cation. The subject was educated principally in Germany. To Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin Schmidt the following children have been born : Benjamin, Jr., born on July 6, 1875, married Lizzie Lightheart ; they are the parents of three chil- dren and are living in Floyd county. Joseph, the second child, was born Au- gust 4, 1878, married Agnes Gill; they have two children and are living in Floyd county, this state. Henry, the third child of the subject, was born Janu- ary 17, 1881, and died at the age of seventeen years ; Dina and Frances (twins), were born June 30, 1883. The former married Jacob Engel; they live in Kan- sas City and are the parents of two children. Frances, who married Theodore Verst, lives in Floyd county, and they are the parents of two children. Her- man, who was born December 14, 1886, is single; John, who was born March 27, 1888, is also single; Phillip, who was born January 4, 1890, is single; Rosa, who was born July 17, 1892, is living at home. The subject's wife has two brothers and one sister.
In his political relations Mr. Schmidt supports the Democratic ticket, hav- ing always been affiliated with this party, but he has never sought public office. He and his family are faithful Catholics and belong to St. John's church of Wood township They all bear good reputations.
JONATHAN WADE.
This venerable agriculturist is one of the sterling characters of Clark county who have come down to the present from the pioneer era, and no man has done more in his community for the upbuilding of the same than has Mr. Wade.
Jonathan Wade was born in Wood township, Clark county, December 18, 1832, on the place where he now lives, the son of Lindsey and Margaret (Carlisle) Wade, the former a native of Randolph county, North Carolina, where he was born in November, about 1812. He was brought to Clark county, Indiana, by his mother when about three years old, settling in the wilds, with Indians and wild beasts as neighbors. Lindsey Wade was the son of James and Belle Wade. He was a farmer and stock dealer until his death, in 1887. He was a well known man in this county. He was a Demo- crat, but never would accept public office. The country was very wild in
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BAIRD'S HISTORY OF CLARK CO., IND.
Lindsey Wade's time. Land here was taken up about 1819. It was all tim- ber. The land where Lindsey Wade lived when the subject was born was first settled by a family named Clark. The father of the subject dealt exten- sively in horses. The subject's mother was brought to this county by an uncle, James Johnson, from Pennsylvania. Her parents died when she was an infant. The mother and father of Jonathan Wade were born in the same month and the same year, only one day's difference. The mother died in 1895. To Mr. and Mrs. Linsey Wade six children were born, only three of whom are living ; besides Jonathan his brother, Henry, is living in Floyd county, and his sister, Elizabeth, who married a Mr. Stolzer, is living in New Albany.
Jonathan's education was limited, but he attended the old time subscrip- tion schools, taught in log houses, and he educated himself, after he was mar- ried, by night study. He started in life for himself when he married, May 9, 1854, Elizabeth Nicholson, who was born June 6, 1832, in Wood township, Clark county, the daughter of Joseph and Mary (Graves) Nicholson. Mary Graves was born December 29, 1799, in Randolph county, North Carolina. Joseph Nicholson was born January 30, 1794, in North Carolina. Their par- ents were from England. Joseph and Mary Nicholson came to Clark county, Indiana, about 1817. Joseph Nicholson died in March, 1876, and his wife passed away in April, 1888. Mrs. Joseph Nicholson brought cotton seed from North Carolina, which she planted here and used the cotton she grew from it to spin a bed cover that the subject's wife still owns. The cotton was picked by Mrs. Nicholson and carded by hand.
The following children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Jonathan Wade: Lindsey, born May 31, 1855, married Rebecca Clark, who lives in Wood township, and they are the parents of four children; Mary, born February 28, 1857, married James Keas, and her second marriage was with J. B. LaDue. Mary had one child by her first husband and two by her second. She lives in Kansas. Richard H., the subject's third child, was born July 15, 1859, and married Nora Schreiber. They live in Michigan and are the parents of five children living and two deceased. Margaret R., the subject's fourth child, was born January 19, 1861, and died when two years and eight months old; Carrie, born November 28, 1864, married Frank Rush, living in California, and they are the parents of one child; Henrietta, born in April in 1866 or 1867, is married and is living in Peru, Indiana ; Eliza, born February 5, 1869, mar- ried Will Schleicher, living in Wood township, this county, and they are the parents of one child living and three died in infancy ; Omega, born March 26, 1871, married Jacob Smith, living in New Albany, and they are the parents of four children ; Sarah, born August 30, 1873, married Robert H. Clark, living in Louisville, Kentucky, and they are the parents of two children ; Byron J., born July 5, 1877, married Minnie Hunt. They live with the subject of this sketch and are the parents of three children.
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. BAIRD'S HISTORY OF CLARK CO., IND.
Jonathan Wade has spent his life in Wood township farming and stock raising which he has made a success. He has always been a great lover of horses and some good ones are to be found on his place at all times. He is regarded as a good farmer in every sense of the word. He is a loyal Demo- crat, and has been Trustee and has held several other township offices. He and his wife are members of the Christian church. The subject has been an elder and a deacon in the same for many years. He has a beautiful and com- fortable home in section 23, six miles from Borden. They are fine people of the old-fashioned type. They still use the old-time fire-place and burn wood in it.
JOHN W. HUNT.
The Hunt family has been known in this section of Indiana from early pioneer days and it has always borne an excellent reputation and its members have done their full share in the development of Clark and the adjoining county of Floyd, and John W. Hunt is a worthy descendant of his well known ancestors. He was born May 30, 1865, in Floyd county, Indiana, the son of William and Sarah (Smith) Hunt. They are still living in Floyd county, their ages in 1909 being about seventy-one and sixty-eight, respectively. Wil- liam Hunt has been a farmer all his life. He was born June 26, 1836, in Floyd county, the son of James Hunt, who was born March 3, 1791. He was a farmer and blacksmith by trade. He married Massa Fitzpatrick. They were both natives of Virginia. The latter was born June 1I, 1800, and died in 1881. James Hunt died March 7, 1853. The father of William Hunt came to Clark county in 1836. He was one of the early settlers of Floyd county. The subject's father entered government land in Floyd county. William Hunt married Sarah Smith in 1860. She was born June 25, 1842, the daughter of Reuben and Elizabeth (Shaver) Smith. She was born in Floyd county, but her people were natives of Kentucky, being early settlers in Floyd county. William Hunt had three brothers and four sisters. In politics he was a Demo- crat. He received his education in the old log school-houses, having never at- tended the free schools.
The following are the names of the children born to Mr. and Mrs. Wil- liam Hunt : Elizabeth, who married Robert Meeks, is the mother of one child and lives in New Albany ; John W., of this review ; Norris, who married Katie Cochran, is the mother of three children and lives in Floyd county ; Jacob C. is a school teacher and makes his home with the father of the subject, in Floyd county ; Ella married John Stone and she is the mother of one child, making her home in New Albany; Minnie, who married Byron Wade, is the mother of three children and is living in Clark county; Charles is living with the par- ents of these children, in Floyd county.
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BAIRD'S HISTORY OF CLARK CO., IND.
John W. Hunt started in life for himself when about sixteen years old, hav- ing attended the Floyd county public schools for a few years prior to that time. He has always been a farmer. He has become a fruit grower on quite a large scale. He has an excellent farm, which is kept well improved and everything shows careful management. He has made most of the improvements on his place. He has a comfortable and nicely kept house upon one of the highest knobs in this locality. He deserves a great deal of credit for what he has accomplished for he has done it all unaided, having started life in a small way when merely a boy, but he has the qualities that always make for success when rightly applied.
Mr. Hunt was united in marriage with Emma E. Fenwick, daughter of Thomas and Margaret (Jenkins) Fenwick, well known people of Floyd county. Mrs. Hunt is one of six children. Her father is still living, but her mother has joined the great majority in the silent land.
John W. Hunt lived all his life in Floyd county up to about eighteen years ago, when he came to Clark county, locating in section 13, where his present splendid home is located. He and his wife are the parents of three chil- dren, namely : William T., born December 26, 1891 ; John Albert, born March 10, 1894; Clara, born February 12, 1897.
Mr. Hunt has always been a Democrat, and he is prominent in politics in this part of the county. He is at this writing ably serving his community as Township Trustee, the first office he has ever tried to secure. He is regarded by all who know him as a man of honest principles.
JOSEPH ROSENBERGER.
Joseph Rosenberger is of the second generation of Germans in this coun- try, having been born in Harrison county, Indiana, January 20, 1849, the son of John Adam and Anna M. Rosenberger, the former having been born Novem- ber 30, 1800, in Germany, who came to the United States when thirty-seven years old, he and his bride having come here to get married and they imme- diately settled in Harrison county, Indiana. He was a blacksmith by trade but always followed farming in this country. They were Catholics in their reli- gious life. Joseph, who is the seventh of ten children, was three years old when his parents came to Wood township, Clark county. They settled on the place where the subject now lives. John Adam Rosenberger died on this place Oc- tober 5, 1890. The country roundabout was very wild when they came here, mostly all in timber, which necessitated the clearing off of all their land. There was much wild game and animals here then. The farm of the subject once lay in the great peach belt, but principally small fruits are raised on it now.
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