USA > Indiana > Clark County > Baird's history of Clark County, Indiana > Part 36
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Faires Colwell, the only surviving son, was born in Dearborn county, In- diana, January 11, 1836. He was quite a young child when his parents came to Clark county and grew up amid the wild scenes characteristic of the coun- try of that day. Settlements were sparse, neighbors lived far apart, every- thing was forest without roads or means of transportation away from the
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river. Game abounded and on this the settlers relied almost entirely for their meat. Education beyond the most meager attainments was out of the question for most of the pioneer boys, as schools were rare and of the rudest kind, kept up by spasmodic subscriptions and usually poorly taught by wandering peda- gogues. So Faires was able to pick up but little book learning in his youth, though in after life he made up for this want by reading, attending public speakings and the observation of the world that is natural to the observant man. He engaged in farming in early manhood, and has devoted his entire life to agricultural pursuits.
On November 16, 1862, Mr. Colwell was married to Lucinda Allen, who was born in Monroe township in 1846. She was the daughter of James Allen and wife, who came to Clark county at an early period in its history: Two children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Colwell, both of whom are dead. Both the Colwells and the Burks were of Irish origin and as is often the case with that sturdy race were unusually long lived. Mr. Colwell after a long, laborious and blameless life is spending the evening of his life in repose, on the farm where he put in so many hard licks, during his working period. He has always ranked as a good citizen, doing his duty by his fellow men and obeying the laws of his country.
JOHN R. LANCASTER.
John Lancaster, father of our subject, was born in Lexington, Kentucky, located with his parents in Indiana at the age of seven years, his father being a farmer, also did some boating on the Ohio river. During the war Mr. Lancas- ter was intimately associated with Oliver P. Morton. He acted as private de- tective along the Ohio river, receiving his orders direct from Governor Morton. He was also captain of the Switzerland County Home Guards, and was promi- nent in the Morgan raid. Following this he was engaged in river traffic, which he followed until about 1873, when he went to Cass county, Missouri, and engaged in the grocery business which he followed up to the time of his death. The mother of John R. Lancaster, of this review, was a Johnson, her parents coming from England. She died at the age of seventy-four years. To them eight children were born, four boys and four girls, and all these are living but one.
John R. Lancaster, the only one of the family in Indiana, his brother and sisters all being in the West, was born in Switzerland county, Indiana, Janu- ary 14, 1853. When his father came to Jeffersonville he went to work in the shoe store of S. Goldbach as a salesman and retained this position for about six years, then resigning he opened a shoe store for Calvin W. Prather and continued in charge of this establishment for two years. His next move was
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to enter into partnership with Jacob Loomis, which firm was later dissolved and the business continued for a number of years by Mr. Lancaster alone. He erected the building in which the store was conducted and it is still running under the ownership of B. A. Coll. In 1906 Mr. Lancaster was appointed post- master of Jeffersonville, and a year later sold his shoe store in order that he might devote all of his time to his official duties.
On October 13, 1880, Mr. Lancaster married Sarah F., daughter of John McCulloch, a prominent and wealthy farmer residing northwest of Jefferson- ville. Mrs. Lancaster's mother was Martha A. Fry, member of the family of that name that is so well known in Utica township. Her father was John Fry, a prominent citizen of the county. To Mr. and Mrs Lancaster three children have been born, the eldest of whom died in infancy: Ralph J., the second child, was a young man of good education and fine promise, but while attending Purdue University was afflicted with a spinal trouble, which caused his death December 22, 1907, in the twentieth year of his age. Edwin R., the only survivor of Mr. Lancaster's little family, is employed in the plumbing business at Louisville, Kentucky. In politics Mr. Lancaster is a Republican and has always been active in the interest of his party, during campaigns. He is regarded as a wise counselor as well as an enthusiastic worker. In 1874 under the pastorate of Rev. J. M. Hutchinson he joined the congregation of the First Presbyterian church and has ever since been an enthusiastic and de- voted member. He also takes interest in fraternity affairs, being a member of Jeffersonville Lodge, No. 340, Free and Accepted Masons, Hope Lodge, No. 13, Knights of Pythias, and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. Mr. Lancaster enjoys local popularity.
SAMUEL LOGAN SCOTT.
The genealogy of the Scotts is traceable through old Southern families on both sides of the house, and they were honorably mentioned in connection with the pioneer development of Southern Indiana. John Scott, a native of Kentucky, came to Clark county, Indiana, at an early day and left his mark in the community where his active life was passed. About the time of his arrival, James McKinley, a native of Old Virginia, joined the ranks of set- tlers in Clark county, and figured conspicuously in subsequent years of growth. He was a cousin of the late President McKinley's father, and a man of high standing in all the relations of life. Herbert Scott, a son of John, married Nancy, the daughter of James Mckinley, and thus brought about a union of two old pioneer families. Herbert Scott was born and reared in Clark county, became a farmer and spent his entire life in agricultural pursuits in the counties
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of Clark and Floyd. He survived until the advanced age of seventy-nine and his wife was seventy-four years old at the time of her death. They had fifteen children, nine sons and six daughters, all of whom grew to maturity and are still living except one.
Samuel Logan Scott, eighth in numerical order of this large family, was born near Borden, in Floyd county, Indiana, February 27, 1867. He was reared on the parental farm, attended the neighborhood schools and later was graduated from the high school department of Borden College, which was supplemented by a degree obtained by graduation from the college in 1889. With a view to preparation for educational work Mr. Scott entered the Ladoga Normal in 1890 and after graduating from that instiution practically com- pleted the course at the Indiana State Normal. In the meantime he had for ten years been engaged in teaching in the schools of Clark county and for three years was superintendent of the schools at Clarksville. In 1897 he was' elected superintendent of schools for Clark county and has been re-elected three times without opposition, which is a high tribute to popularity and efficiency. In 1902 he was nominated as a candidate for the office of State Superintendent of Public Instruction and although he led his ticket he went down in the gen- eral defeat which overtook his party that year. In recognition of his standing as an educator, Dr. Robert J. Aley, who was elected State Superintendent, in 1908, appointed Mr. Scott as first assistant in the office, but he declined the same. preferring to remain in his old position. In 1903 he served as a member of the board of inspectors for the Indiana State Normal, and was president of the County Superintendents' State Association in 1907. Mr. Scott is a mem- ber of the Masonic fraternity, and the Modern Woodmen.
In April, 1906, Mr. Scott was married to Emma Louise Schimpff, a na- tive of Jeffersonville, and member of one of the city's prominent families. Her father, Charles Schimpff, is a well known business man and now filling the office of City Comptroller. Mr. and Mrs. Scott have one child, a daughter, and by a former marriage Professor Scott has two children, a son and a daughter. He is a member of the Christian church, while his wife's religious affiliations are with the German Lutheran.
WILLIAM J. MORRIS.
The family of this name in Jeffersonville is one of American and Ger- man origin, and has been identified with the city from a time shortly succeeding the Civil war. Edward E. Morris was born in Maryland, near Baltimore, in 1843, but while quite young the family moved to Pennsylvania, and later to Pottsville, in that state, where Mr. Morris lived until 1878. In 1878 Edward
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E. Morris came to Jeffersonville and took employment with the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, with which he is still identified, at present serving it in the capacity of road foreman of engines. In 1862 he was married to Anna Cath- erine Marquardt, who was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, in 1842, and still survives. They had six children, of whom two survive.
Willliam J. Morris was born in Pottsville, Pennsylvania, July 20, 1868, and was ten years old when the family came to Jeffersonville. After complet- ing the course in the public schools he secured employment with the Pennsyl- vania Company, and remained with the same for fifteen years as its general timekeeper. In.January, 1901, he embraced an opportunity to go into busi- ness for himself, in which he has met with marked success. From the estate of George J. Liebel he purchased a jewelry and optical business, which by ex- tensive improvement and enlargement has become one of the features of the city. The establishment contains the largest and most varied assortment of optical supplies in Jeffersonville. There is a complete equipment for the grind- ing of lenses, which is a decided innovation, as such features are practically unknown outside of the large cities. The department devoted to the optical work is equipped with a complete and modern outfit. Especial attention is given to instruments for testing the eye, and supplying its needs with the lat- est and most scientific improvements. In addition to the optical department, a full line of merchandise is carried, and all kinds of repair work is done-a first class watchmaker and clerk being employed as assistants. Mr. Morris has infused into his business a spirit of energy and up-to-dateness. and as a result his establishment is one that not only elicits compliments from all patrons, but is a decided credit to the city, and compares very favorably with the best to be found in the larger cities.
In 1888 Mr. Morris was united in marriage to Carrie Dale Willey, mem- ber of an old and highly respected family of this county. Her father, Dennis F. Willey, who died recently, served during the Civil war as an enthusiastic soldier for the Union, and was a man much esteemed during his later life. Mrs. Morris's mother, Mrs. Amanda F. Willey, is a resident of Charlestown, in this county. Mr. and Mrs. Morris have five children : Kathryne Dale, Mary Amanda, Anna Ruth, Carrie Willey and E. Elbridge, all of whom still remain at home with their parents.
Mr. Morris is a prominent member of the Masonic fraternity, being con- nected with Clark Lodge, No. 40, Free and Accepted Masons; Horeb Chapter, No. 66, Royal Arch Masons; and Jeffersonville Commandery, No. 27, Knights Templar, and is also a member of the Murat Temple, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles Mystic Shrine, of Indianapolis, Indiana. His political affiliation is with the Republican party. The family are members of the Methodist church, and attend services at the Wall Street church, of which Mr. Morris is chorister.
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OLIVER CRONE.
The parents on both sides of the house of this worthy representative of the Crone family, were among the early pioneers of Indiana, Washington Crone, the father of Oliver, having come from the state of Virginia where he was born, to the Hoosier state when he was twelve years old, being accom- panied by his parents. The grandfather of our subject entered land in Har- rison county upon his arrival in the new country, which was then all a wil- derness, the principal towns in this part of the country being Louisville and Corydon.
The date of Oliver Crone's birth is recorded as July 22, 1847, having first seen the light of day in Harrison county, this state, the son of Washing- ton and Savilla (Riley) Crone, who lived on a good farm which they de- veloped. Oliver was only eight years old when his father died. Oliver Crone's maternal grandfather had the distinction of serving in the War of 1812, under command of Gen. William Henry Harrison. Savilla Riley was born in Har- rison county, this state, in 1827, and she passed to her rest in 1899. She and Washington Crone were married in Harrison county, and to them two chil- dren were born, Oliver and a daughter named Elizabeth, who died when three years of age.
The early education of Oliver Crone was obtained in the common schools of Harrison county, and in the County Academy ; a year was also spent in the high school of New Albany. After his school days were over he started in life for himself when about twenty years old, taking up farming which he has continued with unabating success to the present time. Upon coming to Clark county he at once resumed farming and he has remained here, developing an excellent farm and making a good living by his habits of persistent toil and good management, his valuable property, one hundred and forty acres of which is in cultivation, the rest being as yet in timber, is located in sections 200, 216 and 217. He has made all the extensive improvements on the place which today render it well up to the standard farms of Carr township. On it is to be seen a fine house with attractive surroundings and convenient out-buildings. Considerable attention is devoted to stock raising, good breeds of various kinds of live stock being kept on the place from year to year.
Mr. Crone was united in marriage with Mary A. Whalen in 1869. She is the daughter of Charles P. and Margaret J. (Slider) Whalen, and her birth occurred in Clark county, October 23, 1850. Her father was born Octo- ber 27, 1824, and after an eminently active and useful life, he passed to his rest in 1894. Margaret J. Slider was born October 3, 1828, and she joined her husband in the silent land in 1906. They were early pioneers of Clark county and were well known and influential people.
To Mr. and Mrs. Oliver Crone six children were born, named in order
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of birth as follows : Hattie, born December 29, 1869, married James W. Huff- man ; they are the parents of five children and they live in Clark county ; Lizzie, born April 10, 1871, married William L. Beyl; they are the parents of two children, and also reside in this county ; Alva, who was born October 8, 1874, died when four years of age; Charles P., born July 9, 1877, married Flora D. Beyl; they are residents of Clark county and are the parents of four children ; Oliver W., who was born January . I, 1885, married Clara Tolan; they are the parents of one child and are living in this county ; Mary Arnold, the youngest of the children, was born June 3, 1891. They have all received fairly good educations and are well situated in life.
Since 1876 Mr. Crone has been active in politics. He served in a very acceptable manner for a period of fifteen years, as Township Trustee of Carr township; he was Assessor for a period of six years, and at this writing he is County Commissioner. He served for four years as deputy Sheriff, under P. C. Donovan. He has three more years to serve as Commissioner, having begun his term of office in 1909. He is keeping up his excellent record, es- tablished long ago as a public servant ; all the time he has served his constitu- ents they have never had occasion to complain at any of his work. In politics he is a staunch Democrat.
In his fraternal relations Mr. Crone is a member of Lodge No. 94, In- dependent Order of Odd Fellows at Charlestown; also a member of Hope Lodge, No. 13, Knights of Pythias at Jeffersonville. Mrs. Crone and family are consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal church. .
Our subject is one of the best known men in this section of Clark county. and he and his family are all popular with their neighbors, being people of the highest honor, courteous and kind-hearted.
HAMILTON ROBINSON.
The life of Mr. Robinson was such as to bear aloft the high standard which had been maintained by his ancestors who were among the early pioneers of this section of the Middle West, the life of the subject having been signally noble, upright and useful, one over which fell no shadow of wrong or suspicion of evil. Such was the type of men who laid the foundation and aided in the development of this and neighboring states, and to their memories will ever be paid a tribute of reverence and gratitude by those who have profited by their well directed endeavors and appreciated the lessons of their fives. In the early days when the great network of railways that now penetrate every section of the continent were not dreamed of, and steamboats practically had a monopoly on the transportation of both passengers and freight, Hamilton
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Robinson was one of the best known men along the Ohio river from Louis- ville to New Orleans. He was born in Pennsylvania in 1810, the son of John and Nancy (Archibald) Robinson, natives of the old Keystone state, and of Irish and English extraction, respectively.
John Robinson grew to maturity in his native state, married and engaged in farming there, later removing to Kankakee, Illinois, where he engaged in farming on an extensive scale, owning large tracts of land, and was known as one of the most prominent and substantial of the pioneers in that locality. although he was called from his earthly labors there when yet a young man, aged thirty-seven years. His family consisted of four children, three sons and a daughter. His widow afterwards married Absalom Kent, this family having also been among the early pioneers of that part of Illinois.
Hamilton Robinson was but a child when his parents located in Illinois, and he was a small boy when his father died. When a mere lad he was ap- . prenticed to the machinist's trade and when twenty years old he came to Jeffer- sonville, Indiana, and although having been well equipped to follow his trade his fondness for the life of a river man could not be overcome, and he gave up the machinist idea and won both fame and success from a financial stand- point, for many years his name having been a very familiar one on the steam- ers that plied the waters of the Ohio, during which time many interesting events transpired which he delighted to recount in his old age. Retiring from the steamboat business he established an iron foundry at Jeffersonville, which was conducted with gratifying results for a number of years. He later en- gaged in the milling business which also grew to large proportions under his capable management. In all his business life he showed rare innate ability and soundness of judgment, and was regarded as being very careful to guard the rights of others while advancing his own interests.
Mr. Robinson was married soon after coming to Jeffersonville, when about twenty years old, choosing as a life partner Sarah Lankiskis, a native of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, the daughter of John and Mary (Darst) Lankis- kis, the former a native of Poland, while the latter was of sterling Pennsylvania Dutch stock. Sarah Lankiskis was a young girl when she came to Clark county, Indiana, with her parents, who were early settlers here, having located on the farm east of Jeffersonville, now owned by Mrs. Nora V. Duffy, a granddaughter. John Lankiskis, who died while living on this farm, is buried in a small burying ground near there. His widow, who survived him several years, died at Jeffersonville.
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Hamilton Robinson and wife were the parents of the following children : John, James, Francis, Mary and Nora V., all deceased except the last named.
During the last years of his life Hamilton Robinson made his home with his daughter, Mrs. Nora V. Duffy, and from there he was called to his reward in 1896, having been preceded to the silent land by his wife by twenty years.
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Early in life Mr. Robinson joined the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, being one of the oldest members of that order in Jeffersonville, having for years been very active in its affairs. He was a member of the Universalist church, and he was always a Democrat, although he never sought political emoluments at the hands of his party. Owing to his long life of fidelity to correct principles and his honesty, kindness and genuine worth he retained to the last the high esteem of all who knew him.
WILLIAM E. BOWER, SR.
In examining the record of this honored pioneer of Washington town- ship we find that laudable ambition for a competence was the potent force and incentive which led him forward, and that as a result of his strong purpose, determination and energy he has won a place among the substantial citizens of Clark county, being one of her representative farmers, having spent his long and useful life within her borders and played no inconspicuous part in the de- velopment of the general welfare of the section of his nativity.
William E. Bower, Sr., was born in Washington township, Clark county, October 19. 1833. Henry Bower, the great-grandfather of the subject, who died when eighty years old, was a native of Sweden, from which country he emigrated to the United States, locating in New York, later going to Penn- sylvania, thence to North Carolina. He served as a soldier in the Revolutionary war throughout that sanguinary struggle. He and his wife were the parents of eleven children. One of these was Andrew, who was the father of W. E. Bower. He married Polly Lawrence, and they were the parents of seven chil- dren, namely : Henry, who died when a small boy; Andrew J., George W., William E .. Eliza J., Mariah and Margaret C., who is the wife of James M. Bower. The father of the subject reached the age of ninety-four years, and his grandfather died at the age of eighty-four.
William E. Bower, Sr., our subject, was reared on the farm, just across the road from where he now lives and there he learned to swing the axe' and use the spade, attending school some during the winter months. He lived with his parents until their death. He later bought one hundred and sixty acres of the old farm and seventy acres west of the old homestead and he has always been actively engaged in farming which he has made a success. He has remained unmarried. As the poet Gray has said, "His sober wishes never learned to stray," for he has remained closely at home, having never been in but two other states, Kentucky and Ohio. He has made a great success, now owning over five hundred acres of land and is worth twenty thousand dollars. He keeps his farm in good condition in every respect.
W. E. BOWER, SR.
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In his political relations Mr. Bower is a Democrat, and he served as Trustee of Washington township from April, 1865, to October, 1876, continu- ously, having been re-elected from time to time, rendering the utmost satis- faction in this capacity. He was secretary of the grange lodge.
Mr. Bower has lived a quiet, inoffensive and straightforward life, a life that has resulted in no harm to any one and he is considered one of the sub- stantial men of his locality.
THOMAS F. PRALL.
The pioneer founders of this well known family of this name were Pennsylvanians, who came to Clark country about 1840. Thomas Prall, the first to identify himself with Southern Indiana interests, was a man of most excellent qualities, and noted for his patriotism and generosity. He bought and improved a lot of wild land, mostly timber, and at one time owned fif- teen hundred acres. When the Eighty-first Regiment of Indiana Volunteer Infantry was organized, Mr. Prall gave each man a dollar and as the enlist- ment ran well up towards a thousand it will be seen that this involved a large sum of money. He acted as a secret scout for the Union army and at one time was captured and held as a spy, but managed to escape. As a member of the Cumberland Presbytery he was quite active in church work and gave liberally whenever money was needed for missionary or local charities. When at the age of sixty-four years he was killed by a stroke of lightning, while sitting on his horse. He was mourned as one of the county's most enterprising men.
Before leaving his native state of Pennsylvania he had married Rebecca Sibert, and had two children when they settled in Clark county, a few miles southeast of where Henryville now is. Their trading was done at Charles- town, the nearest point for the purpose in those days. Altogether there were thirteen children in this family and three of the sons served in the Union army. David was a member of the Twenty-first Regiment, under Captain Ferguson; Elymes belonged to the Twenty-eighth Regiment Mounted Infantry, and Houston, when only fifteen years old, joined the Fifty-second Regiment. The eldest son was killed by sharp shooters at Richmond, Virginia, during one of the many severe battles fought around that city.
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