USA > Indiana > Clark County > Baird's history of Clark County, Indiana > Part 35
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Charles W. McCulloch, eldest of the children, was born at New Albany, Floyd county, Indiana, February 1, 1857. He received his early education in the public schools of New Albany and also attended the high school there. He early decided to devote his life to farming pursuits and at once began this line of work with a zeal that has subsequently led to eminent success. He is at present the owner of a large and valuable farm near Jeffer- sonville, which is highly improved with a fine residence and excellent out- buildings, everything indicating progressiveness, thrift and prosperity.
On April 21, 1880, he was married to Mary E., daughter of Nathaniel Strong and Melissa (Smith) Matthews, of Jeffersonville. Their children are, Arthur Nathaniel, born February 16, 1881, and died September 23, 1906; Charles Raymond, born September 12, 1883; Laura Ethe!, born September 12, 1888.
Mrs. McCulloch was born January 2, 1858, in Illinois. Mr. McCulloch is a member of Hope Lodge, Knights of Pythias, Company 9, of the Uniform Rank, and Jeffersonville Lodge, No. 362, Benevolent and Protective Order of
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Elks. In politics he is a Republican. He and family are members of the First Presbyterian church at Jeffersonville.
JOHN SCHELLER.
Southern Indiana obtained its share of the much desired German immigra- tion which was at its full tide during the two decades preceding the Civil war. Wherever these Germans located they left their impress for good on the community and when they were present in numbers, their power for prog- ress was marked. About sixty years ago New Albany received one of these families consisting of the father and several stalwart sons and a daughter. Among the sons was John G. Scheller, who was born in Bavaria, Germany, September 1, 1811. His first business venture was as a grocer, but later he became a farmer and real estate dealer. He was active in Democratic politics, prominent in various local connections, dealt largely in live stock, retired from business at the age of sixty and died November 14, 1896. He had learned surveying in his native land, where he also obtained a good education and his main object in coming to America was to escape army service, it being neces- sary to smuggle him out of the country to avoid the sharp-eyed forces look- ing for conscripts. In 1845 he married Nancy Ann McCurdy, who was born at Balle Castle, Ireland, in 1807, and died February 28, 1901. They had four children : Anna Jane, now Mrs. Brown; John, William and James.
John Scheller, the second child, was born at New Albany, Floyd county, Indiana, January 29, 1848. He received but a limited education in the poorly equipped schools available during his childhood, became a farmer in early man- hood and has spent most of his adult life in agricultural pursuits. He has held many offices of trust and profit and discharged all their duties with efficiency and integrity. He served as postmaster of Sellersburg for eight years, presi- dent of the Town Board, treasurer of the School Board for many years and by election and re-election was County Commissioner for three terms. The last of his nine years of service in this responsible office expired on the first of January, 1909. Though he resides in Sellersburg, his farm, which lies just outside of the town limits, occupies the principal part of his attention. His life has been one of unusual activity and he is one of the best known men in the county.
On June 10, 1872, Mr. Scheller married Mary Jane, daughter of Alfred Farrabee, who came here from North Carolina. Her mother was a daughter of Moses Sellers, who gave the town of Sellersburg its name and he built the first house in the village, the fact that it was constructed of brick making it rather noteworthy for those days. Moses Sellers was a preacher and rail-
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splitter, but also engaged in the huckster business and had a big store at Sellers- burg. For years he enjoyed a large trade and by the time of his death had accumulated a considerable fortune. To Mr. and Mrs. Scheller five children have been born: Harry, deceased in infancy; Anna Belle, Maggie Ellen, Daniel and Nora. The family are members of the Christian church. Mr. Scheller is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and donated the lot on which their local hall stands. Owing to the vigor of its various members and their success in various callings to say nothing of their personal popularity the Schellers have long been regarded as one of the prominent and influential families of the county.
WILLIAM SAMPLE.
William Sample, of Henryville, Clark county, is a venerable citizen of the township in which he lives. His settlement in his present location dates from the close of the Civil war in which he took part and sustained a wound. Since that time he has become familiar to his neighbors as a man of rigid honesty ; and as one who has ever been interested in the industrial progress and moral advancement of the community.
The subject of this biographical sketch was born on March 12, 1832, in Scott county, Indiana, and was the son of Robert and Jane ( McClain) Sample. Both parents were of Kentucky families. Robert Sample was born in 1792, in the Blue Grass state and was a gunsmith by trade. He came to Indiana about the time of his marriage, located first in Ripley county, removing to Scott county and later to Jackson county, where he died in 1844. He took part in the War of 1812. In politics he was a pronounced Whig, but took no strenuous part in the politics of his day. His wife died in Scott county, having attained to her seventieth year. She and her husband had eleven chil- dren, of whom our subject was the eighth in order of birth.
William Sample began his career on his own resources at a very early age and from that time has been solely engaged in the farming business. In 1852 his marriage to Abigail Gray, the daughter of Orin C. Gray, of Scott county, took place. The Gray family came from New York to Scott county. Mrs. Sample was born on the 3d of February, 1836. She has led a happy life and has borne her husband ten children, namely : Alice, born October 24, 1853, died in infancy ; Thomas B., born March 27, 1855, also died in infancy ; Watson, born May 2, 1857, died June 12th of the same year; Annis, born June 15, 1858, died October 1, 1859; Alexander, born August 1, 1860, mar- ried Anna Cramer ; they have one child and live in Indianapolis. Lilly, born April 11, 1863, married Martin Hosteter and lives in Monroe township; they 47 1
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have seven children. Orin C. was born April 19, 1866, and was killed while coupling cars at Frankfort, Indiana, August 12, 1887. Charlotte R., born in May, 1868, married James Shear ; they live in Scott county. Mary J. was born June 25, 1871, married Charles Whittinghill; they live in Memphis, In- diana, and have seven children. The youngest member of our subject's family, Eleanora S., was born September 29, 1875, married Alexander Carter, and lives with our subject.
In 1862 William Sample enlisted in the Union army at New Albany, Indiana, August 14th, under command of Captain Howard and Colonel Cald- well. Stone River and Chickamauga were the most important fights partici- pated in; and in the latter engagement he received a wound which caused him to be confined in a hospital for a long period. At Perryville he received his baptism of fire and as his place on the field was amongst the scouts he was practically fighting all the time in skirmishes with the enemy. In consideration of his war services he is in receipt of a pension from the government.
At the close of the war Mr. Sample engaged in farming and stock raising in Clark county and in which he has been eminently successful. Educational facilities were slight in his youth and he did not have much schooling. In politics he is a Republican and a member of the Christian church. He is a well preserved man for his age though unable to participate actively in work any longer. He lives in comfortable surroundings on his land in section 241.
JOHN M. KIRK.
John M. Kirk, of Otisco, Clark county, Indiana, is well known as a pros- perous farmer and cooper in his section of the county. He comes from an hon- orable line of ancestry ; his great-great-grandfather coming to this country in the first emigrant ship that set out from Scotland prior to the Revolutionary war and he, together with eight of his sons, fought in that struggle. Our sub- jest is now close to his seventy-ninth year and has led a life of activity, which has ever gained the admiration of his friends and neighbors.
John M. Kirk was born on the 18th of September, 1830, in Washington county, Pennsylvania, and was the son of Jesse and Nancy ( McSherry) Kirk. Jesse Kirk was born on the Ist of October, 1805, in the same county and be- came a farmer in the Kirk settlement in Western Pennsylvania. He was the son of a soldier of the Revolution who had served seven years in that historic conflict. After the Revolution he was given a section of land-the Kirk set- tlement referred to. It was settled by his comrades of the war as was also the surrounding territory. Even so far east as Western Pennsylvania the Indians caused much trouble in those days. When Jesse Kirk came to Clark county
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the surrounding country was in its state of primitive wilderness. Settlements were few and far between, and deer, wolves, and many kinds of wild animals roved at will through the timber. Jesse Kirk bought land in section 208 and made all the improvements on same. Though not a public man he was well known in his part of the county. He came here from Pennsylvania with a small colony of pioneers, coming from Wheeling to Charlestown, Indiana, on the river, and rode the rest of the way over the blazed trail. This was in the year 1846 and with them was his wife and the subject of our sketch. Jesse Kirk became a large farmer and stock raiser in Clark county and died in 1881. He was a well known man and a member of the Presbyterian church. His people were famous for their longevity; his mother lived to the age of one hundred and three, and his father reached the century mark previous to his death. Nancy (McSherry) Kirk was born in 1803 in the same settlement as was her husband. in Pennsylvania. Her parents were natives of Ireland. Her marriage took place in Washington, Pennsylvania, in 1828, and eight children were subsequently born, of whom John M. and three sisters survive. Presi- dent Monroe, whose name is enshrined on the roll of those who have held, in the early days, office as chief executive of the nation, was a near relation of the Kirk family. He was an uncle of Jesse Kirk, our subject's grandmother being his sister.
John M. Kirk started on his own account in the farming and coopering business directly after his marriage to Mary Kemple. This event occurred in 1853 .. His wife was born in Ohio and was of Virginian extraction. Her par- ents were William and Leana (Davis) Kemple. Mrs. Kirk was born on Jan- uary 7, 1834, and died several years ago. She bore her husband the follow- ing children : Leana, born in 1834, married Francis Prall; they have nine chil- dren and live in Henryville. Addie was born in 1855 and married Philip Hartman ; they have three children and live in Clark county. Sarah Jane, born March 4, 1859, married John W. Huffman ; they live in Clark county and have two children. Lucretia May was born September 1, 1861, and married Jacob Kahl; they live in Clark county and have five children. Rebecca, born October 31, 1863, died when young. Jesse, born May 25, 1865, married Emma Hughes ; they live in Clark county. Alice Ebbie, born January 26, 1869, lives at home; and Cora, born January 20, 1872, married Alora B. Barber and lives in Louis- ville.
As previously stated Mr. Kirk is a cooper by trade. He owns land in section 226. In politics he is a Republican and voted for the first time for Franklin Pierce for the Presidency. In religion he is a member of the Presby- terian church. He did not get very much of an education in his youth, attend- ing but four winter terms. This, however, did not hinder his achieving success in the school of practical experience. He is a well preserved man for his age and lives in security and comfort in the family- homestead. Rheumatism in a
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severe form precluded him from seeing active service in the Civil war much to his regret. Had it been otherwise, this relative of the illustrious expounder of "The Monroe Doctrine" would assuredly have taken a man's part in the service of his country.
EDWARD L. PERRINE.
Edward L. Perrine, of Henryville, Clark county, is one of the most in- telligent and experienced farmers in his section of the county and a man who has taken an acute interest in the public affairs of the township. He is now in his sixty-second year and during his career fought as a soldier in the Civil war, taking part, among other engagements, in Sherman's famous march to the sea. Outside of his farming activities he has been active in political circles and has a large number of friends in Clark county.
The subject of our sketch was born in Scott county, Indiana, on the 5th of November, 1846, and was the son of D. C. Perrine and his wife, whose maiden name was Mahala Finley. D. C. Perrine was born in 1812, in Staten Island, New York, and was a cooper by trade. In his twenty-second year he came to Scott county, Indiana, where he married a short time after. He was in the mercantile business in the county for a number of years. In the political arena of his day he became a Whig and took an active part in the public life of Scott county. He died in 1879 at New Albany, having retired from busi- ness in which he engaged in that city during his later years. Mahala Finley was born in 1817, in Kentucky, and was the daughter of John and Matilda Finley. She and her husband had eight children. D. C. Perrine was mar- ried twice and our subject was a son by the first marriage. The elder Perrine was a great friend of old Major English, although they agreed to differ politically.
When about fourteen years old Edward L. Perrine learned the shoemak- ing trade and at the outbreak of the Civil war enlisted in Company D, Fifty- third Indiana Infantry, under command of Capt. William Howard, of Jeffer- sonville, and Colonel Gresham. He figured in the Georgia campaign and served until the close of the war, at which time he was in a hospital. On re- turning home, having obtained his discharge, he went to Hartsville University, took a scientific course, and came to Monroe township, where he taught school for sixteen years at the old Beckett school-house. At the close of his teaching career he became a farmer on the place where he now lives, in section 257. He married Mary Dieterlen, born on June 15, 1849, in Rochester, New York. She was the daughter of Christian and Caroline Dieterlen. Her father died when she was an infant, her mother remarried and came to Clark county about 1857. Edward L. Perrine and his wife have led a happy married life. The
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following eleven children were born to them: Victor Hugo, born October 8, 1870, who married Nettie Monroe, has six children, and lives at Memphis, In- diana ; Louisa was born February 18, 1872, and died October 24th of the same year ; Minnie, born April 7, 1874, who married the Rev. Harvey Park, lives in Huntington county and has one child : Alice, born June 11, 1876, mar- ried Dr. Bine Whitlatch, located in Pierceville, Indiana, and they have one child; Rose, who was born April 18, 1878, married Lewis Monroe, living in Jeffersonville and they have four children ; Ella, born May 6, 1880, who mar- ried James Doyle, has one child and they live in Oklahoma : Edward H. was born May 26, 1883, and resides at home; Millie, born March 14, 1885, also resides with her parents; Tomaline, born October 29, 1887, lives in Indian- apolis : Charles F., born August 13, 1889, lives at home, and Arthur F., born April 3, 1893, died on the 6th of September. 1895.
Mr. Perrine is a Republican in politics. He was Assessor of the town- ship for six years. In 1890 he stood as his party's candidate for Auditor, but suffered defeat. He is at present Deputy Sheriff under Oscar Johnson. He with the members of his family belong to the Methodist Episcopal church. He belongs to the Masonic Order. Edward L. Perrine owns a very fine family residence three miles east of Henryville. His land was formerly the property of a daughter of Gen. William Preston of the Confederate army. The Prestons were cousins of Gen. George Rogers Clark and owned the land which was known as Preston tract, No. 257, from the time of the survey here.
AARON N. WARMAN.
In the first quarter of the nineteenth century a young Englisman appeared among the pioneers of Southern Indiana. He was secretive as to his private affairs and no record was left of the time or place of his birth. He entered government land and later bought some school land and spent the working period of his life in clearing and improving his possessions. Scott and Clark counties, in which Aaron Warman figured, were at that time a wilderness filled with deer and other wild game, while wolves made night hideous by their dismal howling. The settlers, however, were of a sturdy race and noth- ing daunted them in their efforts to make homes and better their conditions. So Aaron Warman, full of English pluck and indomitable will, struggled on until he had his wild land reduced into respectable shape. He was inclined to be religious, was long an active member of the Methodist church and be- came well known in the section where he lived. He married Jane Cox, daugh- ter of an old pioneer Kentucky family. Her father, John Cox, left her with her grandfather and went over into Indiana at the time of the celebrated Pigeon Roost massacre. He was an Indian fighter of note, having gained
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experience in "The Dark and Bloody Ground," and he helped to drive the red- skins out of Southern Indiana after the bloody scenes at Pigeon Roost. His father lived to the remarkable age of one hundred and ten years. About one year subsequent to the massacre his granddaughter, Jane, then a mere child, followed her father to the state north of the Ohio. By their marriage, in 1830, Aaron and Jane (Cox) Warman had sixteen children, consisting of fourteen boys and two girls.
Aaron N. Warman, the only survivor of the above mentioned large family, was born December 31, 1830, on the banks of the Ohio river, in Clark county, Indiana. There were no public schools in those days and like all other boys he had to pick up his learning as best he could. He began farming for himself at the age of eighteen and soon had a good farm, which he managed success- fully. At the breaking out of the Civil war he enlisted in Company K, Sixty-sixth Regiment, Indiana Volunteer Infantry, which was eventually as- signed to the command of Gen. John A. Logan. In the battle of Richmond his regiment suffered severely, the survivors being captured, paroled and sub- sequently exchanged. They were sent to Corinth and from there joined Sher- man in his campaign from Dalton to Atlanta, thence in the famous march to the sea, up the coast and on to Washington for the grand review. Mr. War- man was in nearly all the great battles of this campaign and saw much of arduous service during his three years as a soldier under the Union flag. After the war he served as postmaster at Underwood under Presidents Mckinley and Roosevelt, meantime conducting a grocery business, but owing to advanc- ing years he resigned the office in 1906 to live a retired life. He has always been an active politician on the Republican side but never sought office. He recalls with pleasure that he helped to build the first school-house in Vienna township, Scott county. Religious in his temperament he has long been a mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal church, in which he has been an enthusiastic worker and class leader for over fifty years and a licensed exhorter for more than thirty years. He is highly respected as one of the old-time pioneers of the county and one of the few remaining whose recollections reach back in the thirties long before the Mexican war. He received a pension as an hon- orable recognition of his devoted services during the Civil war and is a mem- ber of the Scottsburg Post, Grand Army of the Republic.
On February 19, 1852, Mr. Warman was married to Katherine C., daugh- ter of William and Cynthia (Collins) Anderson, who was born in Clark coun- ty, in 1832. They were the parents of ten children: Lorenzo D., James G., Zebulon G. (deceased), Jane Alice (deceased), William N., Mary, Aaron E., George Anna, Oliver (deceased), and Milford C. His first wife dying in 1902, Mr. Warman married in 1904 to Mary M. Guynn, who was born in Ger- many, August 21, 1849, and came to America when about four years old. Few men are better preserved for the evening of life than Mr. Warman.
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JAMES CALVIN GLOSSBRENNER.
Not the least interesting among the many beautiful waterways of the Middle West is the Ohio, rushing at times in rapids, or gliding in a calmer mood .around its many graceful windings. The bluffs and hills that grace its banks are marks of beauty, the fame of which has become a matter of more than local interest. Furthermore, when the season for overflows approaches, a new interest in the famous stream is at once awakened, for it is then that its turbulent waters become a menace to life and property.
On a beautiful spot overlooking this stream is the residence of James Calvin Glossbrenner, who, for the last ten years, has had an opportunity to beconie familiar with the varying moods of the river, being employed by the Jeffersonville & Louisville Ferry Company. Mr. Glossbrenner was born in Jeffersonville on the 16th of July, 1880, being the son of John and Rachael (Swartz) Glossbrenner, both of whom were natives of Clark county, Indiana. Our subject received his education in the city public schools and attended the ยท high school until he reached the age of eighteen, at which time he entered the employ of the company mentiond above.
On the 10th of April, 1902, Mr. Glossbrenner was united in marriage to Shirley Canter, who was born in Utica township on the 11th day of April, 1880. She is the daughter of L. A. and Jennie ( Brendel) Canter, both born in Clark county.
Mr. Glossbrenner and wife are members of the Presbyterian church and are held in high regard by their fellow workers, on account of their unobtrusive yet sincere devotion to the principles for which the denomination stands. In their social intercourse with friends and neighbors the same spirit is apparent and their beautiful home overlooking the river is often the scene of genial hospitality and social freedom.
Politically Mr. Glossbrenner espouses the Republican cause, but has had no aspirations for office or political prominence.
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JOHN ELLIS POTTER.
John Ellis Potter was born in Jefferson township, Clark county, Indiana, on the 13th of August, 1869. He was the son of John T. and Matilda (Miller) Potter, both natives of Kentucky, where they grew to maturity and were mar- ried before coming to Indiana. Their family consisted of seven children be- sides our subject, viz : Frank, Molly, Clara, Ella, George, Sallie and William. Frank became the husband of Mary Dils; Clara and Ella died when young ; George was married to Emma Smith; Sally became the wife of John Yar- brough; William departed this life when eighteen years of age.
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John Ellis Potter was educated in the public schools of Clark county and later took a business course at the New Albany Business College. At the age of twenty-one he decided to make farming his occupation in life and accord- ingly assumed control of a farm of two hundred and seventy-five acres in Utica township which he has managed very successfully ever since.
On the 22d of April, 1891, Mr. Potter was united in marriage to Emma Redding, his wife at that time living in the same house in which the groom was born. His wife was the daughter of John and Mary Redding. She was one of three children, having one brother, Floyd, and one sister, Ella.
Mr. and Mrs. Potter are the parents of two children, viz: Ivy, born Au- gust 28, 1892, and Hallie, born September 5, 1894. Mr. Potter is liberal in his religious views and affiliates with the Republican party.
FAIRES COLWELL.
The West was decidedly wild when John Colwell left his Maryland home to make the long trip to Kentucky then chiefly famous for Indian affrays and the sturdy character of the men who were trying to reclaim the rich lands along the Ohio river from the warlike red men. Daniel Boone was still living when he reached the "Dark and Bloody Ground," though he had transferred his abode to the distant region beyond the Mississippi. Simon Kenton and Lewis Wetzel were at the height of their fame as Indian fighters and Henry Clay had already entered upon the career which was to make him nationally famous. From Kentucky after a residence of some years John Colwell crossed the river into the newer and more promising territory of Indiana, taking up his residence first in Dearborn county. From there he came to Clark county, which was destined to be his permanent residence. He entered land in Mon- roe township and became a farmer and stock raiser. He lived to a very ad- vanced age, and was nearing the century mark when he passed away at the home where he had so long labored. In young manhood he had married Mary Burk, a native of Tennessee, where her parents had been early pioneers. She too was quite old at the time of her death. This venerable couple had twelve children, all of whom are dead but Faires and Rebecca, the latter, who lives with her brother, being over ninety-five years old and very feeble at this writing.
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