USA > Indiana > Clark County > Baird's history of Clark County, Indiana > Part 52
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until February, 1865, when he re-enlisted, this time in the One Hundred and Forty-eighth Indiana Regiment, in which he served until the close of the war. He then returned to his native Clark county, where he still lives. On the 21st of February, 1867, his marriage to Sarah E. Covert took place. His wife was born in Oregon township, June 22, 1845, and was the daughter of Henry and Mary Covert. Mrs. Evans went to the district school in her township and obtained a fair education. At the time of their marriage Sargent W. Evans and his wife were not in good financial circumstances. He built a house pre- vious to his marriage on his father's farm, near Otisco, and there he and his wife lived until 1872, when he removed to Otisco. In Otisco he and his brother, James C., built the store building in 1872, where he now does business, and, having borrowed one thousand five hundred dollars to start them, they ran the store jointly until 1876, when our subject bought out his brother's in- terest. On November 26, 1908, Sargent W. Evans celebrated the thirty-sixth year of his business life in his store. To Mr. and Mrs. Evans the following children were born : Lillie D., born on May 16, 1870; Henry C., born Decem- ber 19, 1871 ; W. W. Evans, born October 25, 1873: C. M. Evans, born Au- gust 19, 1875; Richard, on December 6, 1879; Harriett B., on April 6, 1881, and Julia on March 1, 1883. Richard is the only deceased member of the family, his death occurring on the 3d of August, 1884.
Sargent W. Evans since he became active in the life of Otisco has been a money maker and something of a benefactor to the town. He built a cooper shop, which in 1876 was destroyed by fire. In 1896 he built a fine flouring mill which ran successfully for nine years, at which time it was also destroyed by fire. In 1902 he erected a canning factory, in which tomatoes, principally, are canned, and which accordingly gives the neighboring farmers a local mar- ket for products of this kind. Our subject in addition to his own business con- cern superintends this industry himself. He is a Knight of the Golden Cross in fraternal life, and carries insurance in the order of which he is a prominent local member. In politics he is a Democrat, though he has never held any political office. He was a candidate for the office of Sheriff of Clark county on his party's ticket, but was defeated for the nomination. At the November election of 1908 he supported William Jennings Bryan for the third time for the Presidency.
CHARLES M. BOTTORFF. M. D.
The name of Dr. Charles M. Bottorff, of Charlestown, Cl: k county, is al- most synonymous with a high degree of medical skill and with accuracy in the compounding of drugs and in the making-up of prescriptions. Doctor Bottorff has been a medical practitioner in Charlestown for very many years and the
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years in their onward course have seen him achieve a standard of success com- mensurate with his ability. His drug-store, to which he has given much of his time and attention, is always replete with an up-to-date stock of merchan- dise.
Dr. Charles M. Bottorff was born in Washington township, Clark county, Indiana, on the Ist of October, 1860, and was the son of Cyrus and Eliza Jo- sephine (McGee) Bottorff. Cyrus Bottorff was also a native of Clark county, but his father, John Bottorff, was a native of Pennsylvania, who migrated to Kentucky, and thence to Clark county, Indiana, at a very early date. John Bottorff reared a large family and was twice married. His son, Cyrus, was born in Clark county. He had three children : William P., a farmer of Wash- ington township; Charles M., and Nora, who is single, and who lives at the edge of Charlestown.
Doctor Bottorff was reared upon the parental farm and received his edu- cation principally in winter time. In the summer months farm work demanded his attention. In this manner he attended the district school in Washington township until his nineteenth year. In 1880 he entered Hanover College, and emerged a graduate in 1886, with the Bachelor of Arts degree. In the spring of 1887, he entered the Kentucky School of Medicine from where he grad- uated in June, 1888, with the degree of Medical Doctor. In the fall of 1888 he began the practice of medicine in two different places, and in 1890 bought a stock of drugs in Charlestown, and in connection with this store he practiced ever since, gradually devoting the greater part of his time to his drug business.
On the 6th of June, 1890, he married Katie Piatt, a native of Boone county, Kentucky. Miss Piatt had formerly been a classmate and a co-gradu- ate of Doctor Bottorff, at the Hanover College. Eight children have been born to them, five of whom are now living.
Doctor Bottorff and his wife and family are members of the Presbyterian church, and are actively interested in church work. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias. He was also a member of the United Order of the Golden Cross, an organization which has an insurance feature, and in which he carries a substantial policy on his life. In civic and social affairs he is well to the fore in Charlestown and vicinity.
D. H. COOMBS, M. D.
Dr. D. H. Coombs is a well known figure in the daily life of Charlestown, Clark county, Indiana, and, we might add that the name of Coombs has been inseparably associated with the medical profession in Charlestown for nearly sixty years. His father, whose death took place in 1896, was for many years Charlestown's premier physician, and an esteemed, respected and genial citizen.
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. Dr. D. H. Coombs has inherited all the professional ability of his father and has also had the advantage of the rapid strides and advancement made in the therapeutic and surgical sciences in recent years. Doctor Coombs is a man well fitted in temperament and training for his life work, and he has already a reputation which extends beyond the borders of Clark county.
He was born in Charlestown, Indiana, on October 17, 1870, the son of Dr. D. H. and Sarah (Goodwin) Coombs. His father, Dr. D. H. Coombs, senior, was born in the township in 1824 and died in the year 1896. The late Doctor Coombs was a graduate of Jeffersonville Medical College. He was a first-class doctor and was a practitioner in Charlestown for years. He was well-to-do and prominent in local affairs. He was a Republican in politics and an influential member of the Masonic fraternity. Our sub- ject's mother's family were also old and esteemed residents of Clark county and prosperous citizens. Dr. D. H. Coombs was twice married. Seven children born of his first marriage survived infancy; three of whom still live, namely: Amos, who lives in Vincennes, is a traveling salesman; Jesse is the wife of Walter Bowen, of Charlestown, and D. H. is the third.
Dr. D. H. Coombs attended the graded schools at Charlestown, and com- pleted the course there. He went from there to Hanover College, where he took a three years' literary course in 1888. He then entered the Louisville Medical College, graduating in 1894. He at once began to practice as an as- sistant to his father, and remained in that role until 1896, when his father died. Since then he has practiced with growing success on his own account. In 1902 his marriage to Mayme Beeler took place. His wife is the daughter of a prominent merchant, George T. Beeler. Mrs. Coombs received her education at Oxford, Ohio, and in the schools of Charlestown. To their marriage has been born one child, Margaret, born February 26, 1906. Doctor and Mrs. Coombs and their little one lead a very happy domestic life, and are influential in social circles in Charlestown.
Doctor Coombs has for years been active in fraternal work. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity ; prominent in the Knights of Pythias, and a past chancellor of that influential order ; he is also a member of the Modern Woodmen. In all the orders with which he is associated he has a great many staunch friends. In the political world the doctor as a member of the Repub- lican party has taken quite an animated interest in the local political arena, and were political preferment to hold a place in his ambitions at any time, there is hardly a doubt but that they would be swiftly realized. Doctor Coombs is a member of the Christian church congregation. H. is a very active man and popular in his profession, and one whose disposi' n gains for him the co: i- dence of all. He is a member of the Clark County and American Medical societies, and is a past presdent of the former. He is as yet a young man, and judged by present standards, his future success seems to be assured.
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JAMES HOWARD.
James Howard, of Charlestown, Clark county, Indiana, was a well known citizen of the community in which he lived a long and upright life, which has now closed. Few men in Charlestown were more widely known or had a wider circle of friends and acquaintances. His career was one in which the charac- teristics of industry and honesty were admirably blended, and in such a way as to command the respect of all classes. He died in Charlestown May 7, 1909, in his eighty-fourth year of his life, of which all but the first ten years were spent in Charlestown.
He was born in Jefferson county, Kentucky, on the 22d of March, 1826, and was the son of George and Catherine (Hoke) Howard, George Howard was of English descent, and a native of Maryland. He came to Indiana with his family in the year 1836, where he remained ever afterwards. George Howard's wife's family, the Hokes, are presumed to be of Pennsylvanian origin.
James Howard was reared on the family farm and was of much assistance to his parents, obtaining such education as was to be had at the neighboring schools in his day. In the year 1849 he married Marietta Fry, and after a happy married life his wife died in the year 1888. They had five children, namely : Amanda C., George F., James N., Laura and Eva. Two years afterwards, on January 8, 1890, our subject married Mrs. Anna Hikes, widow of George G. Hikes, and a member of an old and illustrious New England family. The sec- ond Mrs. Howard's maiden name was Putnam. She was the daughter of El- bridge G. and Eunice (Wolton) Putnam. The Putnam family came to Salem, Massachusetts, from across the broad Atlantic about the year 1634. The American descendant of the family was named John Putnam. The Putnam ancestry came down to Mrs. Howard through successive sons: Thomas Put- nam, who was a son of John; Edward, a son of Thomas; Isaac, a son of Ed- ward; Nathan, a son of Isaac. Zadock Putnam was the great-grandfather of Mrs. Howard and was one of those who figured prominently in the Revolu- tionary war, and fought at the battle of Lexington. Elbridge, Mrs. Howard's father, was the son of John Putnam, and a grandson of Zadock. Mrs. How- ard came with her father to Louisville, Kentucky, in the year 1838, and lived there with him until his removal to Kankakee county, Illinois, where he farmed until his death. Mrs. Howard attended the schools in Louisville, where she obtained a good education and was afterwards a teacher for a short time. In 1856 she married George G. Hikes. She had two children : Edwin, born De- cember 9, 1858, and Walter S., born Novembe 25, 1861. Edwin died on June 3, 1860. George G. Hikes died October 27, 1877. January 8, 1890, Mrs. Howard entered upon her present married life. Mrs. Howard is now in her seventy-sixth year, having been born on the 4th of November, 1832.
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In politics James Howard was a Democrat and a man who took a great interest in the political progress of his party. In religious life he was a mem- ber of the Christian church and active in church affairs. His widow belongs to the Presbyterian faith.
WV. F. WORK, M. D.
The subject of this sketch is among the leading representatives of the medical profession in Clark county, Indiana, for earnest, persistent labor and close application have been so co-ordinated with distinctive technical ability as to gain him marked prestige in his chosen profession, his residence being in the attractive and quiet little city of Charlestown, where his circle of friends is coincident with that of his acquaintance, having for many years successfully practiced medicine throughout the county in such a manner as to gain the un- qualified confidence and respect of everyone who knows him.
Dr. W. F. Work is a native of Clark county, Indiana, having been born here August 27, 1850, the son of William and Mary ( Fouts) Work, and he has spent his entire life in this county, where he has prospered. The Work family came to America from Ireland as early as 1720, settling in Philadelphia and Lancaster county, Pennsylvania. The great-grandfather of the subject, Henry Work, came to Jefferson county, Kentucky, in. 1800, and lived there until 1802, in which year his death occurred. The subject's great-grand- mother came to Clark county in 1802 and settled at Work's Landing, on the Ohio river, which derived its name from the Work family. She was the mother of three children, Samuel, Henry and Sarah. The daughter was the wife of a Mr. Parr. Samuel was the grandfather of the subject of this sketch. He married Elizabeth Henley and they reared ten children. William H. Work, father of the subject; Andrew J., Jesse H., Alexander C. and Samuel M. were their sons, and their daughters' names follow : Clarissa, Malinda, Eliza- beth, Louisa and Sarah. All are now deceased but Sarah, who married a Mr. Eversole, and who now lives in Illinois. William H. married Mary Fouts. They were the parents of Henry F., Mary Elizabeth, and W. F. Henry F. is a farmer in Washington township, Clark county ; Mary E. is the wife of William H. McIlvaine, of Henry county, Kentucky. William F. Work was reared on the farm, and at an early age he attended the district schools and in the summer months worked on the farm until he was about seventeen years old, when he entered Hanover College, taking a three years' literary course. Be- lieving that a medical profession was best suited t. his tastes he began the study of medicine, making rapid progress from the first with Dr. S. M. Work, of Charlestown, Indiana. He entered the medical college at Cincinnati, Ohio,
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from which he graduated in 1875, having made a splendid record there for scholarship.
After leaving school our subject began practice in Charlestown, then he graduated from a medical college in Louisville, Kentucky, in 1885. He began practice in 1875, his success having been achieved from the very first and his business steadily grew until he had a very liberal patronage, taking high rank as a physician and surgeon. Doctor Work has not been in active practice since 1902.
Doctor Work was happily married September 27, 1876, to Ella Dedrick, the daughter of Reuben Dedrick, a wholesale grocer of Jeffersonville. She was a graduate of St. Mary's College at Madison, Indiana. The date of her birth was March 19, 1859, and after a happy wedded life she was called to lier rest in July, 1984. To Doctor Work and wife two children were born: Ruby, who is the wife of L. L. Robinson, of Jeffersonville, and William H., who was born March 19, 1883, and was married to Leona Coombs, daughter of the late Dr. David Coombs, also of Charlestown. He is a graduate of the linotype school of Chicago, and is employed on The Louisville ( Kentucky) Herald. Our subject was married in 1905 to Mrs. Graham, widow of Dr. T. A. Graham, of Jeffersonville.
Doctor Work in his fraternal relations is a member of Blazing Star, No. 226, Horeb Chapter ; Commandery, No. 66, at Jeffersonville ; Jennings Lodge, Knights of Pythias. He is past master of the Free and Accepted Masons. In politics he is a Democrat, however, he has never taken a leading part in his party's affairs. He is a member of the Clark County Medical Society, the State Medical Society, also the Mississippi Medical Society, in all of which he holds high rank. He is a very pleasing man to meet, bearing a reputation for honesty of purpose and always ready to do what he considers his just share in promoting the welfare of his county.
HON. WILLIS L. BARNES.
The Hon. Willis L. Barnes, of Charlestown, Clark county, needs very little introduction to the people of Southern Indiana. Situated as he is at present he is in a position to enjoy a leisurely existence and engage in pur- suits of a studious and scientific nature, which he always had an attraction for him, but which were necessarily denied him the ceaseless activity o' his public life. Success has crowned his business ve. tres, and his political aspira- tions have all been fulfilled. As Joint-Senator of Clark, Scott and Jennings counties he was of value to the community at large, and a powerful acquisition to the standard of his party.
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He was born in Jefferson county, Indiana, on April 3, 1840, the son of McGannon and Rebecca (Fouts) Barnes, and came of sturdy stock. His grand- father, John Barnes, was a native of Culpeper county, Virginia, and of English and Irish ancestry. Hon. Thomas J. Hanley, formerly member of Congress from the Third district of Indiana, was an uncle of our subject, and a pioneer of Clark county. John Barnes was a substantial farmer and a pioneer of Jef- ferson county, Indiana. His wife, whom he married in Indiana, was originally named Sarah Law. He settled down, farmed extensively, and died in Jefferson county. His son, McGannon Barnes, moved to Washington township, Clark county, in 1860, and became a leading farmer in that section. He died late in life, July 5, 1894, aged eighty-five years. His wife died in the year 1887. Their family consisted of the following children : John C. Barnes, of Illinois; Jacob F. (deceased) ; Thomas B., of Washington township, Clark county ; William E., also of Washington township; George D. (deceased); Edward C. (de- ceased), and Willis L.
The Hon. Willis L. Barnes was reared on his father's farm, and upon his arrival at the customary age helped and assisted in the farm work. In winter time he attended the district schools. He received sufficient education to be- come a teacher through attending Hanover College, and was for several terms a teacher in Clark county and in Kentucky. He was naturally inclined towards mechanical pursuits and therefore switched himself into the saw-mill industry, in which business he interested himself for several years, and built his own mill. He then began to figure in political life, being a Democrat. In 1884 he was nominated for the Legislature and served in the session of 1885, and, upon being again nominated and elected by an increased majority, served in the session of 1887. In 1885 he was appointed chairman of the Committee on Claims, and acted in the same capacity in the session of 1887; he was also prominent in other committees. In 1888 and 1889 he was nominated and elected deputy warden of the Jeffersonville prison. His political worth was not. however, appreciated until he had been nominated and elected a joint Sen- ator of Clark, Scott and Jennings counties, when he filled the office with much credit and dignity in the sessions of 1891-1893. Since then he has led a com- paratively retired life. He is a civil engineer and surveyor and does much work of this nature. He is an astronomer of no small ability, and is the pos- sessor of a good telescope, with lens of the approved type, and with which he makes many astronomical investigations. Mr. Barnes has devoted much time of later years to the study of astronomy, and has recently developed an improved method of determining the elements of double-star systems, by which the intricate process is reduced to a mathematical and geometrical formula, and has received the endorsement of the highest authorities engaged in that branch of stellar astronomy.
In 1874 he married Lydia Buxton, of Jefferson county, Indiana. They
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have a family of five children. The family residence at Halcyon's Hill is capacious and substantial and an ideal home, and there, in fitting surroundings, Mr. Barnes enjoys his retirement.
The Hon. Willis L. Barnes has the reputation of a gentleman of the high- est type, cultured and courteous. He is a member of the Universalist church.
EDWARD C. HUGHES.
Edward C. Hughes, attorney-at-law, of Charlestown, Indiana, is a law- yer of prominence in his native township. He comes from that stock from which America has ever drawn her foremost lawyers-the tillers of the soil. His grandfather came to Clark county in its early days and engaged in ag- ricultural pursuits. We find his father following the same vocation, and Ed- ward C. began life in the same strenuous fashion.
Edward C. Hughes was born in Charlestown township, Clark county, on the 28th of October, 1864, the son of Hiram K. and Nancy J. (Lewman) Hughes. Grandfather Eleven Hughes was of English birth, born in the year 1795. In after life he emigrated and settled in Kentucky. He fought as a soldier in the War of 1812, and was captured by the enemy on the defeat of Dudley. He escaped, however, by running the gauntlet through the Indian lines and came back to his home in Bourbon county, Kentucky. He settled in Clark county, Indiana, in 1830, and in that county the remainder of his life was spent in farming. Grandfather Hughes was known through life to be a man of sturdy and upright character. He belonged to the Methodist church and was a Democrat in politics.
Hiram K. Hughes was a lad when he came to Clark county, Indiana, with his father, from Bourbon county, Kentucky. He assisted in working the . parental farm, and in after years married Nancy J. Lewman. His wife was born and reared in Utica township, Clark county. Six children were born of the marriage, of whom there are three dead and three living. The surviving members of the family are: W. Clay Hughes, who is a well-to-do farmer : Court S. Hughes, who is a contractor in Florida, and Edward C.
Edward C. Hughes was reared upon his father's farm, assisting in the farming work as best he could in summer and in winter time attended the dis- trict school. He later took up his studies at the Charlestown high school, and afterwards entered Depauw University. He graduated in the law department of that institution on June 13, 1894. In September of the same year he opened a law office at Charlestown, and later in the same year was appointed County Attorney, an office in which he served for four years. At the present time he is the chairman of the Clark County Council, and while in this capacity has been instrumental in reducing the tax levy of the county.
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Edward C. Hughes is a close student of fraternal work and is a member of many orders, including the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, having passed the chairs in that organization. He is a past master in the local Ma- sonic lodge, and takes an interest in local religious affairs, being an active member of the Christian church.
Attorney Hughes married Maude Robertson, the daughter of John S. and Matilda (Beggs) Robertson, who are among the oldest residents of the county. The marriage took place on the 10th of April, 1901. Mr. Hughes is a business man of ability and firmness. In politics he a good type of the present-day Democrat, anxious and active for the success and further progress of his party. His financial ventures have been lucky and he is beginning to experience the prosperity which his energetic years have merited.
JAMES NOBLE WOOD.
James Noble Wood was born in South Carolina, December 26, 1768, and was married to Margaret Smith September 27, 1794, at Clarksville, Indiana. He died at Utica, Indiana, March 25, 1826, aged fifty-eight years.
Margaret Smith was born in the state of Pennsylvania March 5, 1777, and she died at Utica, Indiana, March 5. 1854.
From Clarksville, Indiana, on Christmas day, 1795, James Noble Wood and several friends went to what is now Utica, Indiana, eight miles above Clarksville, in a pirogue, taking with them the few tools necessary to fell and shape the timber and build a log cabin; this they did in one day. It was built about ninety yards above what is now the northernmost street of Utica. The cabin was near the river bank, as was the two-story log house built later, and nearer the town. His nearest neighbor lived on Harrod creek, Kentucky, two and a half miles from the Ohio river. The only building in what is now Jeffer- sonville was the block-house occupied by soldiers. In the spring of 1796, he, with his wife, moved into the cabin. Their table was the top of a poplar stump, having felled a tree, four feet in diameter for clapboards for the roof and pun- cheons for the floor ; later enough of the timber was cut away to form a well- shaped center table.
Wood employed two men to assist in clearing a few acres of land in the river bottom, planting corn and vegetables. In December the men wished to go to Shippingsport, Kentucky, to remain during the winter months. They hunted two days, killed several bears and a few deer and sold the game at Shippingsport. Game was then very plentiful.
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