USA > Indiana > Clark County > Baird's history of Clark County, Indiana > Part 5
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Captain Howard was married to Laura Burke, a native of Louisville, Kentucky, on January 6. 1863. Their two sons, Clyde and James, are both interested in the business with their father, Clyde being the secretary and treasurer of the concern and James the vice-president.
Besides Captain Howard's business at the local ship yards and Marine Ways, he is a director in the First National Bank, and the Citizens' National Bank of Jeffersonville.
In politics he is a Democrat, and while a resident of Jeffersonville, served as Councilman from his ward for several years. During the War of the Re- bellion he served as a member of the Home Guards, but participated in no
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active service. He and his family are members of St. Paul's Episcopal church. where he served as vestryman for a number of years.
Captain Howard's residence in Port Fulton, just above Jeffersonville, and overlooking the ship yards, is one of the finest in Southern Indiana, and the grounds which surround it, including one whole city block, are evidence of a love of home which is one of his strong characteristics.
Elsewhere in this volume will be found the history of the Howard Ship Yards from 1834 to 1909.
REV. FRANCIS MARION BROCK.
This name is well known in Wood township. Clark county, where Rey- erend Brock has maintained his home all his life, where his parents were nun- bered among the pioneers.
Francis Marion Brock was born in Wood township in 1849, the son of Michael and Elizabeth (Stover) Brock. Michael Brock's father. George Brock. is believed to have come from North Carolina. He was a Baptist minister and a man of considerable prominence in his time. His wife was Elizabeth Mckinley before her marriage. Elizabeth Stover was the daughter of Daniel Stover, of Virginia, who located in Jackson township, Washington county. Indiana, where he died, having reached the remarkable age of one hundred and four years. His wife was Polly Ann Carvia before her mar- riage. All these ancestors of Francis Marion Brock were influential in their respective communities and were people of much sterling worth, and many of the admirable traits which they manifested are today exemplified in the gen- tleman whose name introduces this sketch.
Francis Marion Brock has lived in Wood township all his life. He was educated in the public schools and at May's Academy at Salem, Indiana. He was an ambitious student and applied himself to his studies in the most arduous manner which resulted in his receiving a good education. Early in life he decided that his true "bent" was in teaching and accordingly began to pre- pare himself for this profession, which he followed with unqualified success for a period of seventeen years, at the same time preaching the Gospel in such a manner that he became one of the most useful men of his locality. His services as an educator were eagerly sought after and he was in constant de- mand in the various capacities of a minister. He is still a minister in the Christian church and is at this writing pastor of Chapel Hill church in Floyd county. He also preaches at Canton, Washington county, and at Old Zog's, Scott county. Wherever he preaches he is always greeted by large congre- gations.
Reverend Brock's domestic life began in 1872 when he was united i ::
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marriage with Abigail Brown, a native of Wood township. She is the daugh- ter of Henry and Nancy Brown, and to this union three children have been born, namely : Thomas J. Brock, an attorney living in Jeffersonville and John B. Brock. who is teaching school in Wood township. One of the subject's children is deceased.
Reverend Brock is a member of New Providence Lodge. No. 237; Free and Accepted Masons. He is one of the oldest Masons in this lodge, and his daily life gives evidence that he believes in fostering the sublime principles taught by this ancient order. He has filled all the offices in the local lodge.
Mrs. Brock is the representative of a Southern family, her mother hav- ing been a native of Tennessee, and her father, who was the son of Isaac and Nancy Brown, were from North Carolina and Virginia, respectively. Mrs. Brock's mother's maiden name was Nancy Rippy. Her father was John Rippy, a native of Tennessee, and her mother was Elizabeth (Robinson) Rippy. also a native of Tennessee.
ELI M. LINDLEY.
The paternal branch of Mr. Lindley's family has been identified with the South from a very, remote period, the genealogy being traced through a number of generations to the early history of Virginia and North Carolina. in both commonwealths the name appearing in connection with the founding and growth of various localities. Maternally he is descended from ancestors who moved from the North in an early day and settled in the Middle West and a few years prior to 1820 his mother's parents located in Clark county. Illinois, and became actively identified with the history of the old town of York on the Wabash, at that time the metropolis of the southeastern part of the state and a place of much importance and promise.
Abraham Lindley, Eli M.'s father, a native of Virginia, was born in ISOI. married when still a young man, Maria Curtis, whose birth occurred at York, Illinois, in the year 1820, this couple spent the greater part of their married life in Powhattan, Arkansas, and it was there that their respective cleaths occurred, the father's in 1865. the mother's in the year 1875. Of their family of five sons and two daughters but three are living, namely: Mrs. Callie McNaughton, of Jeffersonville, Indiana : T. J. Lindley, a success- ful merchant and prominent citizen of the same place, and Eli M. of this review.
Eli M. Lindley was born at Powhattan, Arkansas, on the 15th day of September, 1851, and until his sixteenth year, lived on a farm and became familiar with the rugged duties and wholesome discipline of outdoor life in
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the fields, meantime attending the public schools during the winter months and by diligent application made substantial progress in his studies but was unable to finish his education by reason of entering upon an apprenticeship at the age indicated to learn the tinner's trade. After serving five years at Powhattan and Pocahontas and becoming a proficient workman he was mar- ried on February 5, 1871, to Elvira Rainwater, of Alabama, but since her child- hood a resident of Lawrence county Arkansas, immediately following which event he set up his domestic establishment on a farm and during the ensuing six years devoted his attention to the pursuit of agriculture. At the expira- tion of that period he discontinued tilling the soil and moving to Jefferson- ville, Indiana, entered the employ of his brother, T. J. Lindley, who had pre- ceded him to that city by ten years and who, during that time, had been en- gaged in the mercantile business.
After remaining with his brother two years Mr. Lindley in 1885 re- signed his position and established the business in which he has since been engaged, the hardware trade, including stoves, house furnishings, tin and sheet iron and in connection with the commercial line he also conducts a large manufacturing establishment devoted to all kinds of tin and sheet iron ware and general repair work. He began operations by purchasing the stock of Gibson & Neal, who, at the time designated. had a fairly well established trade, but since then he has greatly enlarged the scope of the business, in- creasing the stock from time to time. adding new lines and building up a patronage second to no other enterprise of the kind in the city and earning much more than local repute in industrial and commercial circles. In addi- tion to the lines of trade indicated above he is now doing an extensive and far- reaching business in the manufacture of pumps and pump fixtures, this with his other manufacturing interests affording steady employment for twelve mechanics, but during the busy seasons he is frequently obliged to employ a much larger force in order to meet the demands of the trade.
He has been one of the Democratic leaders of Jeffersonville and Clark county, having represented his city as City Treasurer for a period of four years besides rendering valuable service to his party during the progress of campaigns. Another evidence of his enterprising spirit is his membership with the ancient and honorable order of Masonry, in addition to which he also belongs to the Elks and Odd Fellows, having been honored with im- portant official positions in their different fraternities. In his religious belief he subscribes to the creed of the Methodist Episcopal church, South, but is liberal in his views, believing all churches to be agencies in the hands of God for the redemption of the race and assisting by his means and influence in disseminating the Gospel among men both at home and abroad. In a financial way he has met with well earned success, being the possessor of an ample competence and admirably situated to enjoy the fruits of his many years of
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"labor and good management. owning a beautiful and attractive home in Jef- fersonville.
Mr. and Mrs. Lindley are popular in the social circle in which they move. Of their three children, two are living, a daughter by the name of Lillian, who is the wife of Jefferson D. Rainey, a business man of Jeffersonville. A son. Roy I., a young man of twenty-one, a graduate of the New Albany Busi- ness College and at the present time bookkeeper in his father's business es- tablishment. William, the second in order of birth. died when five years old. Mrs. Rainey, the daughter, is not only an accomplished business women, but is also a lady of fine domestic tastes, besides being the mother of three bright and interesting children, who answer to the names of Fern. Josephine and Kenneth.
JAMES E. TAGGART.
A member of the law firm of Burtt & Taggart, Jeffersonville, and one of Clark county's native sons is James E. Taggart, who was born in Charles- town on the Ist day of July, 1858. His ancestors on both sides were among the early pioneers of Southern Indiana. his maternal grandfather. Samuel McCampbell, settling in Clark county about the beginning of the last cen- tury, the Taggart family moving to this part of the state some years later. James Taggart was the subject's paternal grandfather. a native of Ireland. came to the United States in 1817 and after a brief residence in the city of Philadelphia migrated to Tennessee, thence to Kentucky and about 1833 moved to Clark county, Indiana, locating on a farm near Charlestown, where he resided until his removal to that town in the year 1850. He was a physician by profession and practiced the healing art in Clark county from the time of his arrival until advancing age obliged him to retire to private life. after which he spent the remainder of his days in Charlestown, dying in that town when eighty years of age.
Samuel C. Taggart, son of James and father of the subject, was also a physician and followed his profession in Clark county for a number of years. meeting with encouraging success in his practice. He graduated from the Medical College in Louisville, Kentucky, after which he devoted his attention to his chosen calling for about thirty years, having long enjoyed an honorable reputation as an able and skillful physician and surgeon.
Cynthia E. McCampbell, daughter of Samuel McCampbell, was born in Clark county, became the wife of Samuel C. Taggart when a young man and bore him three children. Charles, James E., of this review, and Jennie, now Mrs. C. E. Lewis, of Charlestown, the first named dying in infancy. Samuel C. Taggart was a man of high social standing in his community and for many
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years bore an active and influential part in the affairs of Charlestown and Clark county, having been Clerk of the Circuit Court from 18So to 188, inclusive, besides serving ten years as president of the First National Bank at Jeffersonville. He was originally a Whig, but after the old party of that name had fulfilled its mission and passed out of existence he became a Repub- lican and continued as such to the end of his days, wielding a strong influence in political circles and enjoying distinctive prestige as a leader of his party. He lived an active and eminently useful life and at the age of seventy-three was called from the scenes of his earthly trials and triumphs, his death being widely, lamented and felt as a personal loss by all who were favored with his friend- ship and acquaintance. Mrs. Taggart, a lady of estimable character and fit companion and helpmeet to her distinguished husband, departed this life at the age of sixty-two years. This excellent couple were deeply religious.
James E. Taggart attended the public schools in his youth and later pursued the higher branches of study in Barnett Academy at Charlestown. the training thus received being afterwards supplemented by a course at Hanover College, where he laid the intellectual foundation upon which his subsequent success in one of the most responsible and exacting of the learned professions was based. Having decided to devote his life to the law he began the study of the same soon after completing his collegiate course and in due time entered the College of Law at Chicago, where he made rapid progress in the profession and earned an honorable record.
Mr. Taggart was admitted to the bar of Clark county county in 1885 and immediately thereafter became associated with Henry A. Burtt, of Jef- fersonville, with whom he has since practiced, the firm thus constituted being one of the oldest law partnerships in the city as well as one of the best known and most successful. Ever since his admission to the bar his name has been connected with many of the important cases tried in the courts of Clark and adjacent counties. In his professional character he enjoys the confidence of his fellow members of the Jeffersonville Bar, and the general public. and his career, steady and substantial rather than spasmodic and brilliant, has been marked by continuous advancement and signal success.
His financial success has been commensurate with the ability and energy displayed in his professional career and he is today the possessor of an ampie competency and one of the financially solid and reliable men of the city in which he resides.
The domestic chapter in the life of Mr. Taggart dates from 1885. 01 September 24th of which year was solemnized his marriage with Nettie B. Winesburg, of Jeffersonville, daughter of John P. Winesburg, a merchant of the city and one of its well known and substantial business men. Mr. and Mrs. Taggart are the parents of two children, Jennie and Samuel Clarence. both at home, the former being a graduate of the Jeffersonville high schoni. and the latter now in the fifth grade of the Jeffersonville schools.
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In religious faith Mr. and Mrs. Taggart subscribe to the Calvinistic creed and for some years past they have been respected members of the First Presby- terian church of Jeffersonville. in which organization Mr. Taggart holds the position of elder.
CAPT. GEORGE W. COWARD.
A view at the strenuous and honorable career of Capt. George W. Coward, United States Claims Attorney. Jeffersonville, and one of the well known and highly esteemed men of the city, shows him to be a Kentuckian by birth and one of five children, whose parents were Joel Milton and Char- lotte (Ellingsworth) Coward, natives of Tennessee and Indiana, respectively.
Joel M. Coward, whose birth occurred near Greenville, Tennessee, in the year 1815, was a mechanic in early life but later became superintendent of a large plantation in Jefferson county, Kentucky, in which capacity he served for a number of years. In 1854 he engaged in the hotel business at Jefferson- town, which he continued successfully until the breaking out of the Civil war when he located his family in Louisville in June. 1861, and the following Sep- tember he became a member of Company D. Thirty-fourth Kentucky Infan- try and was made second lieutenant, subsequently on account of meritorious conduct becoming captain of his company, which position he held until his dis- charge by reason of disability in March, 1864. Returning to Louisville on quitting the service he made that city his home the remainder of his days. dy- ing August 26, 1873, from the effects of injuries received while in the army. Mrs. Coward survived her husband thirteen years. departing this life at Charlestown, Indiana, on the 9th day of August, 1886. Of the five children of this estimable couple that grew to maturity the oldest is Mrs. Louisa K. Knight, who lives in the town of Vesta, Clark county. Mrs. Millie J. Tyler. the second of the family, died at Louisville, Kentucky, in the year 1896; George W., of this review, being the next in order of birth : William Wallace, a farmer living near Vesta, is the second son. and Mrs. Jessie B. Winter. who died in 1897 in Louisville, was the youngest of the family.
Capt. George W. Coward, whose birth occurred in Jefferson county. Ken- tucky, on the roth of October, 1842, received his early education in the sub- scription schools of his native state. Inheriting a tendency to study and an ardent love of books he availed himself of every opportunity to improve his mind, and while in the army he sought the assistance of those capable of in- structing him in certain of the higher branches, besides devoting every leisure moment when not occupied to the perusal of such books as he was enabled to secure. He served an apprenticeship at stone and marble cutting and after be- woning a proficient workman found employment in Louisville, where he was
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engaged until the breaking out of the rebellion, when he exchanged the tools of his trade for the death-dealing implements of war.
Soon after the beginning of hostilities Mr. Coward's employer, Lewis H. Ferrell. organized Company D of the Thirty-fourth Kentucky Infantry and was made captain of the same and it was in this command that George W. and his father enlisted, the latter serving with an honorable record for a period of three years and four months, during which time his regiment formed part of the Twenty-third Army Corps under General Schofield and took part in all of the skirmishes and battles of the East Tennessee campaign. George I. Coward was made a commissioned officer in April, 1863, and in due time rose to the command of his company before his twenty-first year, which fact speaks much for his efficiency as a soldier and for the trust reposed in him by his superiors as well as by the members of his company. In 1864. by unanim. vote of his company, he was chosen to command the same during the absence of the captain on detached service and held the position of captain and drew pay as such during the last six months of his service and in this as in other capacities proved a brave and gallant soldier until honorably discharged. Janu- ary 28, 1865. His record is without a blemish and one of which any defender of the national honor might well feel proud.
On retiring from the army Captain Coward engaged in the contracting for street paving and other kind of stone work in Louisville, where he re- mained until 1875 when he removed to Charlestown. After continuing con- tracting for four years in the latter city he abandoned the business and turned! his attention to the collecting and prosecuting of claims, pensions, back-pay and other legal work of similar character. in the meantime having been regu- larly admitted to practice before all the departments at Washington, D. C., and empowered to transact such business as came within the province of his profession. Since the year 1879 he has had all he could well do in the matter of claims, pensions, bounties, back-pay, etc., and his business is still large and. lucrative and takes very wide range, his clients coming from all parts of South- ern Indiana and Northern Kentucky and representing many thousands of dollars every year. In the prosecution of his business he is exceedingly care- ful and methodical, sparing no pains in looking after the interests of his clients and it's a compliment worthily bestowed to say that in no intsance has he proven unworthy of the trust which the people repose in his integrity and honor. Since July. 1900, he has maintained his office and residence in Jef- fersonville.
Captain Coward was married on March 17th of the year 1870, to Lucy McGarvey, of Middletown, Kentucky, a union terminated by the death the wife on July 14. 1873, after bearing him two children. Clyde S. and Johr Claude, both deceased. On September 7. 1886, the captain married his pres- ent wife, Jadna (Tyler) Ogleshey, daughter of William J. Tyler and widow
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of William H. Oglesbey. By her previous marriage Mrs. Coward had a son by the name of Tyler Oglesbey, who is now a lawyer practicing his profession in the city of Louisville.
In his political affiliations Captain Coward is a pronounced Republican and as such wields a strong influence for his party in Jeffersonville and Clark county. He is an active member of the local Grand Army of the Republic post, in which he has held every office within the gift of the organization and is also identified with the Order of the Golden Cross, in which he has been honored with important official positions from time to time. His activity and influence in the former society with which he has been connected for over twenty-five years has brought him prominently to the notice of the leaders in Indiana and other states, having held a number of offices in the department to which he belongs, including that of senior vice-commander of the depart- ment and attended many of the national encampments and other gatherings. Religiously the captain and his wife adhere to the Methodist faith and are members of the church in Jeffersonville.
CHARLES A. SCHIMPFF.
Charles A. Schimpff. the present efficient and popular comptroller of the city of Jeffersonville, was born March 18. 1847, in Rhenish, Bavaria, Ger- many, being one of eight children, whose parents, August Rudolph and Magdalena (Landes) Schimpff, were also natives of the Fatherland, as were their ancestors for generations beyond the memory of man. The father, a candle maker by trade and a most excellent citizen, departed this life on the 17th day of January. 1848, when but thirty-eight years of age; the mother survived him about eighteen years, dying at Louisville, Kentucky, in May, 1864, in her fifty-second year, having been a resident of that city from 1854 until her demise. Of the eight children born to August R. and Magdalena Schimpff. four survive, namely: Gustav A., confectioner, of Jef- fersonville; Susan M., wife of Louis Spelger, of Louisville, Kentucky ; Charles A., of this review, and August R., a bookkeeper for a real estate firm in San Diego, California. The deceased members of the family were Rudolph A .. a member of "The Louisville Legion" in the Civil war, killed at the battle of Chickamauga: Adolph G., also a soldier in the army of the Union during the great rebellion, who died at Dayton, Ohio, from injuries received in the battle of Shiloh: Augusta Neel died in Cincinnati, as did also a daughter by the name of Kate, who, at the time of her death, was the wife of Michael Schmitthenner.
Charles A. Schimpff spent the first cleven years of his life in the land of
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his birth and in 1858 came to America, locating; at Louisville, Kentucky, where, during the ensuing two years, he attended the public schools and acquired a fairly thorough knowledge of the English language. At the expiration of the period indicated he entered a confectionery establishment for the purpose of learning the trade and by diligent attention and consecutive effort in due time became quite a skillful workman, besides becoming familiar with every other feature of the business with the object in view of making it his life work.
In 1868 he came to Jeffersonville and opened a confectinery establish- ment, which he conducted with fair success during the ensuing seventeen years, but at the end of that time closed out the business and engaged in the book trade, starting in 1885, which, under his efficient management, soon grew into a large and important concern and became one of the leading com- mercial enterprises of the place. To this line of business Mr. Schimpff has since devoted his attention the meantime building up a large and lucrative trade in books, stationery, wall paper, office supplies, etc., of which he carries full and complete lines and his place is now one of the best known in the city. From a somewhat modest beginning he has gradually enlarged the scope of his operations, adding to his stock to meet the demands of the trade and at the present time his patronage takes a wide range, his establishment being the largest and most successful of the kind in Jeffersonville and the center of sup- plies for a number of other tradesmen in the city and elsewhere. He takes great pride in his business and has spared neither pains nor expense to make it meet the popular demand. Financially his success has kept pace with the energy and enterprise displayed in his business affairs and he is now classed with the solid men of the community.
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