USA > Indiana > Clark County > Baird's history of Clark County, Indiana > Part 43
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Joseph L. Carr was born in Charlestown township, Clark county, on the 6th of February, 1852, and was the son of Andrew Jackson Carr and Sarah Whiteman, his wife. Andrew Jackson Carr was also born in Charlestown township, Clark county. He was a soldier of the Mexican war, who went through the most critical stages of that conflict. He was also a civic figure of importance and served as Treasurer of Clark county for the period of four years. He also served as private secretary to Governor Whitcomb, and was later a representative of Clark county to the state Legislature. He was a farmer by occupation and a wealthy man. His death occurred in 1885. In his lifetime Andrew Jackson Carr was an influential man in the Masonic fraternity in his part of the county. He was a genial and kind-hearted man and was well known in his township for his liberality and charitable traits.
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He and his wife had four children born to them, of whom Joseph L. was the eldest. The two other sons, Richard and George Dunlap, are deceased. Mary Neal, a daughter, resides in Denver, Colorado. The mother of these chil- dren died on the old homestead in Charlestown township in November, 1902.
Joseph L. Carr was reared in Charlestown township. He attended the district school in his youth and afterwards worked on the farm of his father. He is now in his fifty-sixth year and has lived an industrious and active life. In politics he is an avowed Democrat and a loyal supporter of his party. For six years he was Assessor of Charlestown township, after which he was ap- pointed superintendent of the county infirmary, in which capacity he served for nearly eight years. He married Ida E. Baldock, daughter of George W. Baldock, of Charlestown township. His marriage, which has proved a happy one, brought him seven children, namely: Emmett R., who served as a soldier in the Spanish-American war; Benjamin F., who also served three years in the army, taking part in the Spanish-American war; Josie E., who is the wife of Wesley Buck, of Pomeroy, Ohio; Bessie I. is the wife of Clyde Hawes, of Utica township; Sadie S., Georgia E., Ella D., all three are at home with their parents.
Joseph L. Carr and all the members of his family are members of the Christian church and are active and faithful in all things pertaining to the further success of the local congregation of their faith. Mr. Carr has now held his position as superintendent of the county infirmary for the period of nearly twelve years.
EDWIN B. BENTLEY.
Edwin B. Bentley, of Charlestown township, Clark county, is a well known farmer in the township in which he lives, and is one of those men whose lives, placid and well-ordered, are an open book to their neighbors. He comes of an old and respected family, the Bentleys of Ashbourne, Derbyshire, England. He has lived the life of an honest, energetic and industrious farmer, one who has never looked for nor expected anything beyond the return which his labors justly merited.
He was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, on the 15th of July, 1860, the son of Francis W. and Catherine (Taylor) Bentley. The former was born on the Solan Young farm, in Charlestown township, in 1831. Our subject's grandfather, James T. Bentley, was born in Ashbourne, Derbyshire, England, and came to this country in 1820. He lived in the South until 1829, when he came to Clark county, Indiana, In New Orleans he married Mary A. Johnson, of Boston, Massachusetts, in the year, 1826, and with the proceeds of both their savings they started a dairy farm and owned slaves, who after-
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wards came with them to Indiana. About the year 1833 they bought the farm which Edwin B. now owns. Here James T. Bentley remained until his death, which occurred in 1878. He was a man of pleasant disposition, and was well and favorably known. He and his wife had four children, namely : Mary Anna, Mary Elizabeth, Francis Wilson and Sarah Mariah.
Francis W. Bentley was reared upon his father's farm and received his education in the Clark County Academy. In the year 1856 he married Cath- erine Taylor, a native of Cincinnati, Ohio. Mrs. Bentley was born on the 24th of May, 1838, and was educated in Cincinnati, where she attended pri- vate school. She further pursued her studies at the Shelbyville (Kentucky) Female College, at which she graduated in the year 1855. She and her hus- band had four children, namely: John T., born March 4, 1857, who died March 1, 1904; James T., born August 20, 1858, lives in Kansas; Edwin B., who is the subject of this sketch, and Frank T., a resident of Chicago, who was born May 2, 1862. Francis W. Bentley died on the 3d of February, 1888, and was a man well liked. He belonged to the Presbyterian church and was a deacon of that church. He was politically a Republican, though he never took an active part in politics.
Edwin B. Bentley was reared upon the family farm in Charlestown town- ship, and attended the schools of the district and the Barnett Academy at Charlestown. He married on December 29, 1891, Lena V. Reeves, a daugh- ter of M. D. Reeves, of Charlestown. Mrs. Bentley went to school at Charles- town, and like her husband, attended the Barnett Academy. Both she and her husband are members of the local Presbyterian church, in which he is an elder. They have no children.
Fraternally Mr. Bentley has interested himself in two organizations. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias Lodge, and of the Modern Woodmen of America. In politics he is a Republican. He owns a farm of one hundred and seventy acres which is worth sixty dollars an acre. He has an up-to-date dairy on his farm, the milk from which nets him a good revenue.
JOSEPH M. HAYMAKER.
Joseph M. Haymaker, of Charlestown township, Clark county, is well known throughout his township and county as a breeder of shorthorn cattle and as a large land owner. He is a prosperous member of the community and has been markedly successful in all the ventures with which he has connected himself.
Mr. Haymaker was born in Oregon township, Clark county, in the year 1844, and was the son of John Haymaker and Anna Crum, his wife. To
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his parents eight children were born, namely: John W., Eliza J., Katherine, George W., Isaac N., James M., Amanda, and the subject of our sketch. There are only three members of the family now living, namely: Isaac N., Amanda, and our subject, Joseph M. In the year 1874 Joseph M. Haymaker married Sallie Beggs, who was born in Charlestown township on the 17th of December, 1849. Six children have been born of their marriage. They are: Nettie B., William M., deceased; Anna F., Lulu M., John G., and Carrrie F.
Mrs. Haymaker comes of an old and honored family. She was the daughter of the late John Beggs, who father, James, was the son of Judge John Beggs, of Rockingham county, Virginia, and who came to Indiana in 1797. Her mother was Louisa Work, the daughter of Samuel Work, whose father, Henry Work, came to Indiana in 1804. Mrs. Haymaker's ancestors were prominent in the public and private life of the country for over a cen- tury. Mrs. Haymaker and the members of her family are members of the Christian church and are all influential and practical church workers.
The subject of our sketch is a member of Blazing Star Lodge, No. 226, of the Free and Accepted Masons of Charlestown. In political affairs he is a Democrat and a staunch upholder of his party. He is a successful breeder of shorthorn cattle and owns seven hundred acres of excellent farming land on a part of which stands a stone house still in a good state of preservation, which was built in 1811 by its owner, the Hon. James Beggs, president of the Legis- lative branch of the territory, and a great-great uncle of Mrs. Haymaker. Joseph M. Haymaker is a stockholder of the bank of Charlestown and is in- terested in that concern to a considerable extent. He also holds stock in the First National Bank of Jeffersonville, Indiana.
Joseph M. Haymaker and his wife live on section No. 57, on a bluff over- looking the classic Ohio river, seventeen miles above the Falls, and in the shadow of a monument erected to the memory of Col. John Armstrong, a hero of Revolutionary fame. They are now advanced in years and can well afford to enjoy the declining period of life surrounded by all the comforts of a prosperous home in that picturesque portion of Charlestown township. The Haymakers have made many staunch friends in the course of their long lives and have a host of acquaintances who sincerely wish them prolonged life.
JAMES CARR.
The name of James Carr, pioneer resident and wealthy farmer of Charles- town township, is one that carries great weight and influence when mentioned in connection with the progress of Clark county. Beyond and above his ma- terial wealth, James Carr is entitled to the respect of his fellow citizens, for
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he is the descendant of an illustrious family, his grandfather, Thomas Carr, being one of the original framers of the constitution of Indiana, and a man who was a native of Pennsylvania and one of the first to note the possibilities of the Hoosier state. 1
James Carr was born on grant No. 154, Charlestown township, Clark county, October 18, 1827, and was the son of Joseph and Nancy (Drummond) Carr. Joseph Carr was a native of Pennsylvania, where he was born Febru- ary 7, 1796, and his wife in Kentucky. Joseph Carr's father, the grandfather of our subject, came from Pennsylvania and arrived in Indiana in 1806 in Charlestown township. Here he lived until his death. He served one term in the Indiana Legislature. Joseph Carr married Nancy Drummond about the year 1818, and they were the parents of twelve children, of whom there are four now living. James Carr was reared upon the grant above mentioned. He helped his parents and attended the district schools. His father died at the age of forty-eight, about the year 1844, and James had to lend his help in managing the farm, which he did until his thirty-fifth year, or some time near 1862. He then married Sarah M. Stricker, daughter of William Stricker, of Charlestown township. Mrs. Carr was born on July 9, 1842. Her father was born in Frederick county, Virginia, and came with his parents when he was but six years old to Clark county, Indiana. He married Phoebe A. Bower, and had nine children, three of whom are still living. Mrs. Carr worked during her youth as a country girl and many times worked in the fields for her father. She, however, got a good common school education. William Stricker as he advanced in life became a financier and the owner of two thou- sand acres of land. When he first started he bought one hundred one. acres of land and even went in debt to obtain it. In his earlier years it was his cus- tom to personally take his farm produce to New Orleans via the river, and on arrival there he used to sell his boat as well as his farm produce, and walk back home. As time went on and as prosperity came to him he became of great benefit to the community. He helped the poor and needy and, though not a member of any church, was a liberal subscriber to those of all denomina- tions. He was known to raise a large amount of stock. His death occurred in 1886; while his wife lived to a very old age. His estate at the time of his death was estimated to be worth something like one hundred thousand dollars.
James Carr and Sarah M. Stricker were the parents of the following children : Emma, the wife of Charles D. Nicholson, of New Albany, Indiana ; Charles Carr, of Charlestown township ; William J., also of Charlestown town- ship; Nancy Ann, the wife of John P. Nicholson, of Oldham county, Ken- tucky; Mamie M., who died at the age of sixteen; John T. Carr, who is at home: Katie S., who became the wife of Frank Bottorff, is deceased; and an infant that died at the age of fourteen months. They as well as their parents are members of the Christian church at Stony Point on Silver Creek.
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In politics Mr. Carr is an ardent Democrat. He is the owner of sixteen hundred acres of land, one thousand of which lie within the borders of Clark county. In 1880 he built the fine residence in which he and his family reside. It consists of eleven large rooms firmly built upon a picturesque site on five hundred and twenty acres of land, three miles northwest of Charlestown, Indiana.
James Carr has many friends among all classes in the community. He has always possessed many characteristics which have been known to engender mutual good will and fellowship, and this no doubt is the secret of much of his popularity. He is now leading a life of semi-retirement in keeping with his years, although he is still hale and hearty and one in whose veins the fires of youth have not burned themselves out.
WILLIAM J. BARNETT.
William J. Barnett, of Charlestown township, Clark county, is a well known and respected native born resident of the township in which he lives. He is now the prosperous owner of as fine a farm as there is in Charlestown township, the soil of which is estimated to be at least worth seventy dollars an acre, and the high state of perfection which the property has reached is due mainly to his own industrious efforts. William J. Barnett had the ad- vantages of a first class education in his youth and was excellently fitted to meet the needs of life in his chosen avocation. He comes of a family, the members of which always possessed the characteristics of industry and adapt- ability.
William J. Barnett was born near Charlestown, Indiana, on the Ist of September, 1853, and was the son of Allen and Edith (Jacobs) Barnett, the former a native of Pennsylvania, and the latter of Clark county. Allen Bar- nett was a mechanic of more than ordinary skill. He patented the first cook- ing stoves of the fire above the oven variety. He made some money by this and came to Clark county from Louisville, Kentucky, and dealt in land. He entered much land from the government not only in Indiana, but in Illinois and Iowa. The time of his coming to Clark county was in the spring of 1840, when he located near Charlestown. He married Edith Jacobs in Clark county, his marriage with her being his second. Nine children were born to them, seven of whom are still living. At the time of his death Allen Barnett owned a large amount of land. During his life he was a member of the Presbyterian faith and was a trustee of the local Presbyterian church, of which he was ever a liberal financial supporter. At the close of the Civil war he became a Republican in politics. Allen Barnett's children were :
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Samuel J., Edward A., William J., our subject ; Clarence C., Barton A., Ella S., wife of J. L. Cole ; and Edith R., the wife of Judge W. H. Watson. All are living.
William J. Barnett was reared upon the parental farm near Charlestown and helped on the farm, attending the common school in winter time. At the close of his common school education he entered DePauw University, at Greencastle, Indiana, but owing to ill health he had to retire. He afterwards married Sallie O. Swartz, who was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, on the IIth of March, 1854. Mrs. Barnett in addition to a common school education had the advantages of an academy training. Their married life was happy and they were blessed with three children. They were named: Nellie B., born March 30, 1879, who is the wife of H. B. Smith; Arthur S., born March 25, 1882, and died August 15, 1908; and Charles A., born June 1, 1885, who is stenog- rapher of a large concern in Kansas City, Missouri. Mrs. Barnett passed to her reward February 18, 1894.
Our subject and the members of the family belong to the Methodist Epis- copal faith. He is steward and one of the trustees of the Charlestown Meth- odist Episcopal church and an influential and active church attendant.
In politics William J. Barnett has consistently stood for the Republican party, but he has taken no active interest in machine work. He lives quietly with his family in the substantial family residence and has a host of friends and well wishers.
FRANK P. McCORMICK.
Frank P. McCormick, of Charlestown township, Clark county, comes of a Virginian family of Irish extraction while from his mother he has inherited the rich red blood of old Kentucky. He is a believer in the strenuous life, and he is not one of those whose preaching's belie their practice. Day in and day out for many years he has led a life of energetic endeavor. He is now in a position to enjoy the full fruition of his labors and can leisurely spend the declining years of his life in peacefulness, and without surrendering his inde- pendence or self-respect, upon his well stocked farm.
He was born in Charlestown township, Clark county, on grant No. 77. He was the son of Joshua and Christina ( Brentlinger) McCormick. Joshua, McCormick was also born in Clark county and was of Irish extraction. Grandfather McCormick came here at a very early date, presumably from Virginia, and lived and died on the present McCormick land. Joshua Mc- Cormick married Christina Brentlinger, of Kentucky. They owned about five hundred acres of land and reared many children. Their names were: William E. McCormick, C. B. McCormick, Theodoscia, wife of Doctor Miller,
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of Princeton, Kentucky; J. B. McCormick, F. P. McCormick, and Willie, Stella and Millie McCormick, the last three dying when young. Frank P. McCormick is the only member of the family now left in Clark county. Here he grew up, obtaining his education at the district schools.
In after life he married Nannie Bowen, of Charlestown township, Clark county. Mrs. McCormick came of an old and respected Clark county family, and was born in September of the year 1875. She obtained a good common school education and was well fitted to be the wife of a well-to-do farmer, and the mother of children. Two children were born to Frank McCormick and wife. They are H. L. McCormick, born in June, 1901, and Clifton K., born in November, 1907.
Frank P. McCormick resides on his father's farm, the Joshua McCor= mick estate, of which he is the superintendent. He owns forty acres of prime land. He has been quite a large raiser of mules, and has the distinction of having the finest span of mules to be seen in Clark county. He also raises large numbers of sheep, hogs and cattle.
In politics Mr. McCormick is a Republican, and though he has never taken an active part in the political doings of township or county, nevertheless he is an enthusiastic partisan of the party with which his sympathies lie.
Both Frank P. McCormick and his wife are considered first class neigh- bors and have many sincere friends in Charlestown township. They live an ideal home life, and they are good, religious, industrious and strictly honest members of the community.
DR. JOSIAH L. TAGGART.
Dr. Josiah L. Taggart, late of Owen township, Clark county, was ex- tensively engaged for over twenty years in breeding short-horn cattle, and he was most successful in raising stock of this description. His father, the late Dr. William Taggart, very successfully combined the exacting duties of an extensive medical practice with farming and stock raising interests on a large scale. Both father and son enjoyed much confidence and friendship in public as well as private life; and the much lamented deaths of these noted doctors were serious losses both to their family and friends.
The subject of our sketch was born in Owen township, Clark county, on the 27th of August, 1847, and was the son of Dr. William and Mary (Craw- ford) Taggart. The Taggart family were natives of Ireland, Dr. William Taggart being born in the Emerald Isle. He came with his parents to America when about eight years old, and located with them in Tennessee, later coming to Indiana. Dr. William Taggart was a graduate of Louisville University,
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and a prominent medical practitioner. He lived on his farm and practiced, and in 1848 he. removed to Charlestown in order to obtain better educational facilities for his children, remaining there until 1856, when he returned to his farm in Owen township. Here he had an extensive practice and became wealthy. To himself and his wife there were born six boys and three girls, of whom there are now living two boys and three girls.
Josiah L. lived on the farm and attended the common schools of the dis- trict and the Charlestown school. He became a teacher and taught school for a period of ten years. In 1865 he entered the Indianapolis Medical Col- lege and graduated at that institution in 1869. He then went to Washington territory and practiced there for eighteen months. On February II, 1886, he married Nannie Haymaker, a daughter of Dr. G. W. Haymaker, of Charles- town. Mrs. Taggart was born in New Market, Clark county, and was edu- cated in the common schools. Doctor and Mrs. Taggart lived a very happy married life, and one child was born to them, Ethel, who is a student at Hanover College.
In politics the subject of our sketch was a Republican and was elected Trustee of Owen township in 1904, an office which he held four years. He was a member of the Presbyterian faith and subscribed liberally towards the church. Mrs. Taggart is also a member of that church. Dr. J. L. Taggart had two hundred and fifty acres of choice land, on which he carried on his breeding and raising operations. In addition to the short-horn cattle which he raised, and of which he brought the first imported stock of that kind to Clark county, he also interested himself extensively in the raising of sheep.
When Doctor Taggart came into the trusteeship the tax levy was one dollar and seven cents. This he succeeded in reducing to sixty-four cents, and during his term of office all indebtedness of the township was wiped out. Dr. J. L. Taggart died May 16, 1909. He was a man of irreproachable char- acter and loved by all.
JOHN W. BOTTORFF.
The subject of this sketch has passed more than half a century, or his en- tire life, in the community of which this history treats and his habits have been such that during its entire span of years no one has spoken anything dis- paraging regarding them, and during this interval he has continued his efforts and labors in an untiring and well directed way, and is today carrying on gen- eral farming and stock raising in such a manner .'s to stamp him well abreast of the leading agriculturists of Clark county.
John W. Bottorff was born in Washington township, Clark county, April 23, 1853, the son of Fletcher and Mary J. (Robinson) Bottorff, the former a native of Kentucky, who came to Indiana when a boy and located in Wash-
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ington township where he worked a farm and where he married Mary J. Rob- inson, and to them were born: Emma J., the wife of John M. Bower, de- ceased ; Orie B., who is single ; John W., our subject ; Sudie E., who is single.
Fletcher Bottorff was a prosperous farmer and the owner of one hundred and eighty-six acres here and one hundred and sixty acres in another section. These farms now belong to his heirs. He died March 19, 1887, and his wife passed away in February, 1901. They were people of many commendable traits, and lived honorable lives.
John W. Bottorff was reared on the farm where he now lives and attend- ed the district schools of his own neighborhood and later entered a college at Eminence, Kentucky, where he remained one year, when he returned to Clark county and began farming which he has since continued with uniform success,
Mr. Bottorff married Belle Bower, a sister of John M. Bower, and a daughter of Tobias Bower. No children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Bot- torff. The latter is a member of the Christian church.
Our subject manages a good farm in such an able manner as to gain a comfortable living from year to year, and he always keeps some good stock of various kinds. In politics he is a loyal Democrat and has long taken con- siderable interest in the affairs of his party, desiring to see the best men possible placed in the local offices. He was elected Commissioner from the Third dis- trict, November 3, 1908, and will take office January 1, 1910. His election is regarded by his fellow citizens as a most fortunate one. He will succeed David Watson, of Oregon township, in this office.
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JUDGE GEORGE H. D. GIBSON.
There is no more widely known or influential citizen in Charlestown than Judge George H. D. Gibson, ex-Judge of the Clark county Circuit Court. He is the scion of an old and highly respectable family, and the son of a father who achieved success in many diverse callings and who was also a lawyer of distinction. The subject of our sketch has undoubtedly inherited all the legal acumen and forensic ability of his honored parent, together with his charac- teristics of courage, self-reliance and self-control. During his term on the bench of the Circuit Court Judge Gibson gave every evidence of his fitness for the office which he held. A man in whom the judicial temperament is highly developed, his verdicts displayed a nicety of distin. vion, a clearness of thought, and an impartiality which dispelled all doubts and logically settled all difficul- ties. In private practice at the present time he enjoys a large and extensive clientele.
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