USA > Indiana > Union County > Biographical and genealogical history of Wayne, Fayette, Union and Franklin counties, Indiana, Volume II > Part 61
USA > Indiana > Fayette County > Biographical and genealogical history of Wayne, Fayette, Union and Franklin counties, Indiana, Volume II > Part 61
USA > Indiana > Franklin County > Biographical and genealogical history of Wayne, Fayette, Union and Franklin counties, Indiana, Volume II > Part 61
USA > Indiana > Wayne County > Biographical and genealogical history of Wayne, Fayette, Union and Franklin counties, Indiana, Volume II > Part 61
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JOSEPH SCHWEGMANN, SR.
Mr. Schwegmann has for almost forty-five years been prominently iden- tified with the agricultural interests of Butler township, Franklin county, and has always been numbered among its most useful and valued citizens. His early home was on the other side of the Atlantic, his birth occurring in
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Hanover, Germany, December 26, 1837. In 1855 his parents, Joseph and Catherine (Neiport) Schwegmann, accompanied by their children, emigrated to the New World, and on the 17th of June of that year located in Butler township, Franklin county, Indiana, where the father first purchased forty acres of land, but later added to it two tracts, -one of forty, the other of one hundred acres. Upon that farin he continued to make his home until called from this life, in 1879, at the age of seventy-nine years, while his wife died at the age of seventy-eight. In their family were three children: Frank H., a resident of Decatur county, Indiana; Katherine, wife of Joseph Schowbrock, of Cincinnati, Ohio; and Joseph, the subject of this sketch.
Our subject remained at his parental home, assisting his father in the labors of the farm until his marriage, which was celebrated November 5, 1861, Miss Elizabeth Whitty becoming his wife. Her parents were Nicholas and Catherine (Strotman) Whitty, of Butler township, where the father died from sunstroke, while binding oats, at the age of sixty-two years; and the mother passed away at the extreme old age of ninety years. Besides Mrs. Schwegmann there are three others of the Whitty family living: Henry, now a resident of Cincinnati; Katherine, wife of Theodore Reichter, of Butler township, Franklin county; and Jane, wife of Henry Brandice, of Indian- apolis. Those deceased are Conrad, John (Ist) and John (2d). To Mr. and Mrs. Schwegmann have been born the following children: Mary, who mar- ried Henry Schroder and died in January, 1899, at the age of thirty-six years; August, a resident of Butler township; Henry, of Ohio; Joseph and John, of Butler township; Benjamin, of Ohio; and Conrad, Charles and Anna, all at home.
Although Mr. Schegmann has given liberally of his landed possessions to his children, he still has a fine farm of one hundred and eighty acres, on which he has made his home since since 1869. This he has placed under a high state of cultivation and improved with good and substantial buildings. He is a thorough and systematic agriculturist, a broad-minded and liberal man and a devout Catholic, holding membership in the church of St. Mary's of the Rocks ..
FRANCIS MCKEOWN.
Among the well known and highly esteemed citizens of Metamora town- ship, Franklin county, who have passed away, was Francis Mckeown, who was for many years prominently identified with the agricultural interests of this region. He was born in Ireland, June 16, 1816, and was a lad of about fifteen years on the emigration of the family to America. The father, Francis Mckeown, Sr., brought his wife and children to Franklin county, Indiana, and located in the southern part of Brookville township, where he improved a farm and spent the remainder of his life.
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Our subject assisted his father in clearing and cultivating the home place until his marriage, which was celebrated January 8, 1845, Miss Catherine Harding becoming his wife. She is a native of Franklin county, born in Highland township, June 10, 1827, and is a daughter of John and Jane Harding. Her father settled here with his parents when but a child, the family being pioneers of Cedar Grove, Highland township. After their marriage and previous to becoming residents of Metamora township, Mr. and Mrs. McKeown resided for a number of years in Brookville township, but in 1855 settled on the farm in the former township where the widow still resides. Here for many years he and his worthy wife labored untiringly to make a home for themselves and children, and at length their labors were crowned with success,
On the 3d of December, 1877, while Mr. Mckeown was returning home from Laurel with a loaded wagon, the latter was overturned and a hearthstone, which was a part of the load, fell upon him and he was fatally injured, living only about an hour after the accident. This sad event cast a gloom over the entire neighborhood, as he was held inhigh regard by all who knew him. He was a man of good judgment, one to whom his friends and neighbors often came for advice, and he was a liberal contributor to any enterprise which he believed calculated to advance the moral, social or material welfare of his community. The Presbyterian church, of which he and his family were members, found in him a liberal supporter, and his untimely death was not only an affliction to his family but a loss to the community in which he lived.
Of the eleven children born to Mr. and Mrs. McKeown, six are still living, namely: Francis Truman, Sarah M., Robert Emmett, James Edward, Kate M. and Amanda Belle; and those who have passed away were Mary Jane, John, George W., Alldora and one who died in early infancy. Mrs. Mckeown, the wife and mother, is still living on the old homestead in Metamora township. She is a most worthy woman, who greatly assisted her husband in his lifetime and has ever had in view the bringing up of her children in such a way that they would become good citizens and useful members of society. Her efforts have been crowned with success and the family is one of the highest respectability in the community where they reside.
FRANCIS BARBOUR.
Francis Barbour, whose postoffice address is Springfield, Franklin county, Indiana, was among the earliest men to effect a permanent settle- ment in this section of the commonwealth; hence he is very justly found in this biographical record, to be made a part of the permanent historical rec- ords of the state; for be it remembered that biography is true history.
Mr. Barbour hails from the Emerald Isle, born in county Sligo, that 67
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country, about 1813. In company with his parents he emigrated to this coun- try about 1831, landing in New York city, and from that city came by boat to Cincinnati, part of the way by canal and part on the Ohio river. His father was John and his mother Eliza (Anderson) Barbour, who were mar- ried in Ireland, and there their children were born. The father was a farmer and trader in the old country. Determined to rear his family where they could have freedom and good homes, he finally settled in the wilds of the Hoosier state. Cincinnati was but a small place at that date, having but a few cabins. The family finally reached Springfield township, where he bought one hundred and ten acres of land, near where the village of Spring- field now stands. There were bnt a few settlers in the county at that tinie. He left Ireland with a considerable sum of money, but the long tedious voy- age exhausted much of his cash. The country had no roads then and travel was slow. He located his family in the heavy forest land; and to make a farm meant hard work; but he was equal to the emergency, and, with his team of two boys, he soon " got things to going," and his family self-supporting, and he had some means to spare. Marketing was done at Cincinnati and the difficulty in getting there was due to the bad roads; so the pioneer had to muster all possible courage. He got a large farm opened and added to it so that he would have homes for all of his children. His wife survived him a few years and then gave up the burden of life, while with her daughter in Kansas. In the old country they were Presbyterians, but upon coming here were Methodists. Politically, he was a Whig and Republican. Their chil- dren were: James, Joseph, Francis, the subject of this sketch, Mathew, John, and Eliza, who is in Kansas. Mr. Barbour well recalls conditions in Ire- land before he left that country. He grew up here among the pioneers and knows all about deprivations and true hardships, for he, with his father and brothers, helped to improve the pioneer farm. At the age of twenty-seven he married. Prior to that time he had been south and manufactured molasses barrels for the large planters, in the winter season, and came home to work in the summer. After his marriage he settled where he now lives, on land his father bought as heavy timber land. He built a two-room house and then commenced the struggle of life .. He had no money, but having a stout heart he let hard work conquer. He soon had a self-supporting farm and has been able to give each of his children one, too. Besides farming he has con- structed a great extent of turnpike road through the country. He purchased some road stock and superintended the building of most of the roads in his country. To him is ascribed a high standard of honor. He has been gener- ous to a fault and some have taken advantage of him and caused him to lose quite heavily.
Among the important events in this man's life was his marriage to
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Mary Dridwell, the daughter of Thomas Dridwell, of North Carolina, who came to Indiana territory when the Indians held full sway. He entered and improved a good farm, where he spent the best years of his life. His chil- dren were: Joan, Elizabeth, Mary, the wife of the subject of this sketch; Celia, Sarah A., Lavina, Kate, John, Robert, Thomas and Christopher. The father was a strong Democrat.
Mr. and Mrs. Francis Barbour have the following children: Elizabeth; Alice; Francis, a farmer on the old homestead; John E., a farmer; Effa and Melissa. Mrs. Barbour died about 1884, a consistent member of the Pres- byterian church.
In conclusion, let it be said that our worthy subject has retired from active life and remains at the old homestead at the sundown of a well spent life, with his son Frank. He has lived sixteen years beyond the usual time of man's life, he being now eighty-six years of age.
HENRY B. MILLER.
Perseverance in a legitimate line of business rarely fails to bring success or some measure of prosperity, and thus it has been in the case of Henry B. Miller, a respected citizen and business man of Cambridge City, Wayne county. He is of Scotch and German ancestry, while his parents, John and Mary Ann Miller, deceased, were natives of Ohio.
Henry B. Miller was born in Darke county, Ohio, May 27,- 1852, the fourth in order of birth of nine children. The brothers and sisters are as fol- lows: George, of Greenville, Ohio; T. B., superintendent of the Darke county (Ohio) infirmary, at Greenville; Martha, wife of Alfred Hill; Bella, Mrs. C. W. Moore, of Winchester, Indiana; Margaret P., widow of Luther Black, of Honolulu, Ohio; Emma, wife of Dr. Griffiths, of Fountain City, Indiana; John, of Seven Mile, Ohio; and Minnie, deceased.
After having gained a liberal public-school education Henry B. Miller embarked in his present line of business, and since 1873 has successfully car- ried on a restaurant and confectionery store in Cambridge City. He strives to please his patrons, and the neatness and homelike appearance of every- thing about the place prove a great attraction to many of the local popula- tion, as well as to travelers and strangers in town.
Mr. Miller has served for some time as a member of the town board of officials, having first been elected in 1895, and re-elected in 1898. He is public-spirited and thoroughly interested in local affairs, casting his vote on the side of improvement and progress along all lines. He was married in his native county December 4, 1877, to Miss Cassada Paul, and they have one child, a daughter, Marie. They have a pleasant home and stand well in the estimation of the townspeople.
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SMITH SCOTT.
For almost three-quarters of a c. ntury Smith Scott has been living in the vicinity of his present home, Andersonville, Franklin county, and no citi- zen here is more genuinely liked and respected. He is a son of William H. Scott, who, in 1830, left his old Virginia home and, coming to Indiana, founded a new one in Rush county, near the boundary line of this county and about two and a half miles southwest of the present town of Anderson- ville. His birthplace was at Staunton, Virginia, and his ancestors were from Scotland and were early settlers in the, Old Dominion colony. When he arrived at man's estate, he chose for a companion and helpmate Ann Hous- ton, who was a cousin of General Sam Houston, of Texas fame. They were Presbyterians, rearing their children in a firm yet kindly manner, and instill- ing into their youthful minds high principles and noble aims, from which they never departed in after years. The father survived the wife and mother about three years, passing to his reward April 1, 1845, after having dwelt for many years on his Rush county homestead. Mrs. Ann (Houston) Scott died March 22, 1842.
Sınith Scott, whose birth occurred in Virginia, August 22, 1823, is the youngest of the five sons of William H. Scott, the others being John H., Thomas, William L. and Robert Houston. Their sisters were Sarah A., who became the wife of John Hall. Mrs. Esther Jackman, Mrs. Mary A. Solomon and Mrs. Jane Lewis. Of this large family only two are now liv- ing, -our subject and Mrs. Lewis, of Connersville, Indiana.
Reared to the life of a farmer, Mr. Scott has performed his share in the clearing and developing of this portion of Indiana, and has had a long and successful career as a business man. Much of his attention has been given to the raising of live stock, for which he always commands the highest market prices.
In 1845 Mr. Scott married Miss Sophronia Larue, and after a happy life together of almost half a century's duration, she was summoned to the better land, in March, 1894. Their only child is Seneca L. Scott, who has an attractive home in Andersonville, and since the death of his wife, our sub- ject bas dwelt with his son.
Soon after the discovery of gold in California, in 1849, Mr. Scott and a number of young men from this section started on the long and exceedingly perilous trip across the plains and mountains of the west. The present gen- cration can form no idea of the magnitude of such an undertaking, and it was especially so to this little party, as they were among the first to make the attempt, and much of the way before them was a totally unexplored country, swarming with hostile Indians and wild beasts. After six months of such
-
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hardships and experiences as only the strongest and bravest of men could have survived, Mr. Scott and his friends arrived at Sacramento, being of the first overland train to reach that point. Leaving those who so willed to to seek gold, he and a man by the name of Banks engaged in merchandising, having a general store in partnership, at a place called Auburn, located about forty-five miles from Sacramento, up the American river. Mr. Scott bought his goods at the city and hauled them to Auburn, where his partner had charge of their store. Two years were spent in this manner, during which period many interesting experiences fell to his share. He returned home by way of the isthinus of Panama and Cuba, -a trip which had much of interest and will never be forgotten. In numerous ways his mind has been broadened and liberalized by his wide observation and experience, and he is an enter- taining and instructive consversationalist.
BENJAMIN F. EGELSTON.
One of the old and honored citizens of Laurel township, Franklin county, is Benjamin Franklin Egelston, who is a native of Covington, Kentucky, where his birth occurred September 25, 1838. His boyhood was spent under the guidance of his parents, Benjamin and Margaret Egelston, who reared him to be a worthy, patriotic citizen.
On the 22d of July, 1861, Mr. Egelston enlisted, at Camp Dennison, in Company G, Thirty-fourth Regiment of Ohio Volunteer Infantry. This reg- iment won illustrious honors before the termination of the civil war, and was known as the l'iatt, or First Ohio, Zouaves. Until it was honorably dis- charged, at Camp Chase, Ohio, September 13, 1864, by reason of the expiration of its term of enlistment, it was almost constantly in the fore-front of battle, and actively participated in no less than forty engagements with the enemy. At first it was assigned to West Virginia, later serving in Virginia, and among the most important battles in which .it bore a gallant part were the following: Chapmansville, September 25, 1861; Princeton, May 15-18; Fayetteville, September 10; Cotton Hill, September 11; Charleston, Sep- tember 12, -- all in 1862; Averill's raid, August 25-30, 1863; Cloyd's Mount- ain, May 9; Lynchburg, June 17-18; Liberty, June 20; Salem, June 20; Win- chester, July 20; Kernston, July 23 ; second battle of Winchester, July 24; Martin- burg, July 25, and Hallstown, August 24-27, 1864. The hardships and expos- ure which undermined the health of a large proportion of the soldier boys who escaped the bullets of the enemy, made lasting impress upon the constitution of our subject. Once, in 1862, he suffered greatly with an attack of rheumatism, which painful disease has troubled him more or less ever since, -to a greater degree as the years roll by and he has less power to resist physical ills.
After his army service was completed Mr. Egelston went to Covington
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and engaged in working at his trade, that of a painter. In 1868 he came to Franklin county and has long been an esteemed citizen of Laurel township, where he owns a pleasant home. In political affairs he always renders alle- giance to the Republican party, and fraternally he is a valued member of John Secrest Post, No. 384, G. A. R., of which he has served as commander several times.
In 1860 Mr. Egelston and Sarah Belle Warwick were united in mar- riage, and of their four children but one survives, Clay Smith. In October, 1874, Mr. Egelston wedded Mrs. Sophia McQuality, who had four children by a former marriage: Alice, Mary Ann, Albert and Etta, all of whom are now married. Mrs. Egelston, who is a daughter of John and Mary Higgs, was born in Liverpool, England, in 1840, and nine years later came with the family to America. They settled on Little Duck creek, in Laurel township, and in 1857 the parents removed to Muscatine county, Iowa, where they spent the remainder of their lives. . Of their eleven children, one was buried at sea, when the family were on the voyage to this country, and nine are living in 1899. Mrs. Egelston is the only representative of her family now in Indiana.
ALEXANDER W. BIEGHLE.
One of the well known citizens of Franklin county, whose life has borne marked influence upon its intellectual development and progress, is Alex- ander W. Bieghle, who is now residing upon his fine farm in Laurel town- ship. He was born at Blairsville, Indiana county, Pennsylvania, November 4, 1826, and is of German lineage. The name was originally spelled Biegle, but with passing years has been changed to its present form. The paternal grandfather of our subject was the founder of the family in America. He was born in Germany and in early life crossed the Atlantic, after which he made his home in Pennsylvania.
Henry Bieghle, the father of our subject, was born in Lancaster, Berks county, Pennsylvania, October 18, 1782, and was one of a quite numerous family, but all of the representatives of that generation have now passed away. He was reared to manhood in the state of his nativity and there married Mrs. Jane Doty, whose maiden name was Crow, and who was born in Pennsylvania, March 13, 1804. In 1856 they removed to California to be near their children, who had preceded them to that state, and on the Pacific coast they spent the remainder of their days. They had a family of eleven children. One son died in infancy, and a daughter was born to the mother by her first marriage. The others are: Alexander W., who is the eldest; Hiram, of Montana; Mrs. Mary Laura Clough, of Seattle, Washington; Mrs. Madeline Tombs, of Fresno, California; William, of Stockton, California; Samuel Crow, who died in Blairsville, Pennsylvania; Minerva, wife of Dr.
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1
Bedford, of Fresno, California; Thomas, who lost his life in a shaft while engaged in mining in the Golden state; George, of San Francisco; and Martha, a resident of Vancouver.
During his boyhood and youth Alexander W. Bieghle was an earnest and industrious student, and at the age of eighteen years we find him engaged in teaching in Fayetteville, Indiana. In 1847 he went to Laurel, where he successfully engaged in teaching until 1852. At that time vast throngs had crossed the plains to seek their fortunes in the land of gold, and still the rush to California was unabated. In the then undeveloped region supplies were difficult to obtain, and brought exceedingly high prices. Mr. Bieghle, with two of his brothers, Hiram and William, determined to cross the plains with a drove of cattle, believing that a large profit might be realized in such an enterprise. At Council Bluffs they crossed the Missouri to the present site of Omaha, Nebraska, with a drove of one hundred and twenty-five head of cattle, and thence journeyed westward, by way of Salt Lake City, to Mari- posa, California, being eight months on the trip. What is now a mere pleas- ure journey of four or five days was then a long and perilous trip, over hot and arid sands and across rugged mountains where danger threatened them on every hand. Indians were frequently on the war path and at all times were ready for plunder, but the party with which Mr. Bieghle traveled treated the savages kindly and received like treatment in return. This was notably the case in passing through the reservation of the Piute Indians, where their . kind treatment of the tribe won them freedom from attack, while trains that preceded and immediately followed them were badly harassed by that warlike band. The different trains were also quick to aid and assist one another in times of accident or danger. On one occasion a woman belonging to another train, while removing a gun from a wagon was severely injured by its acci- dental explosion. Her arm was badly mangled, and as there was no physician near preparations were made to hasten on with the woman to a place where a surgeon would probably be found. Such a procedure would doubtless have proven fatal to the sufferer, as the distance was great and the injury a severe one. In this emergency Mr. Bieghle came to the rescue and by the exercise of some skill and a good deal of common sense so treated the injured mem- ber that the woman eventually recovered nearly the entire use of her arm and hand.
The journey was finally ended, and with such success that, of the one hundred and twenty-five head of cattle with which the Bieghle brothers started, one hundred and twelve remained at the time they arrived at their destination. They then engaged in the dairy business, selling milk at a dol- lar per gallon, butter at a dollar per pound, cheese at one dollar and a half per pound and all other provisions at a similar rate. After about a year
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they sold their stock, cows which they had purchased for fifteen dollars bringing three hundred dollars. For a time our subject worked with three yoke of oxen, hauling quartz, and for this received sixteen dollars per day. He is the only one of the brothers who returned to the east. He sailed on the Star of the West from San Francisco to the isthmus of Panama, and then crossing to the Atlantic coast took passage to New York, where he arrived twenty-seven days after leaving the Golden Gate. ·
After visiting his parents at the old home in Pennsylvania he returned to Laurel, Indiana, where he resumed teaching, and in 1860 he accepted the position of principal of the schools of Metamora, where he remained until 1863, when, feeling that his duty was to his country, he enlisted as a private in the One Hundred and Twenty-third Indiana Infantry, going into camp at Greensburg, Indiana. When Company D was organized he was made orderly sergeant and authorized to engage in recruiting. In this way he was instrumental in forming Company K, and was made its first lieutenant. The regiment went directly to Louisville and thence to Nashville, Tennessee, and on to Charlestown, Tennessee, where Lieutenant Bieghle received orders to proceed to Knoxville to fit out an ambulance train. After doing this he rejoined his command at Resaca, Georgia, where he was detailed to serve on the staff of General Hovey, as chief of ambulance. When that general resigned, the One Hundred and Twenty-third Indiana was placed in another corps, and soon Professor Bieghle received orders to proceed to Knoxville for another ambulance train. After many narrow escapes· from capture by the enemy, with his train he safely reached the command in Marietta, Georgia, and was made chief on the staff of General J. F. Cox. From that time until the close of the war he served as chief of ambulance on the staff of that corps and a part of the time on General Schofield's staff.
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