USA > Indiana > Vermillion County > Biographical and historical record of Vermillion County, Indiana : containing portraits of all the presidents of the United States from Washington to Cleveland, with accompanying biographies of each; a condensed history of the state of Indiana; portraits and biographies of some of the prominent men of the state; engravings of prominent citizens in Vermillion county, with personal histories of many of the leading families, and a concise history of the county and its villages > Part 36
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OSIAH C. JACKSON, one of the lead- ing business men of Hillsdale, was born in Helt Township, Vermillion County, Indiana, November 30, 1843, a son of John and Lydia (Short) Jackson, the father being a native of Kentucky. He was one of the early pioneers of this county, settling right in the woods of Helt Township in 1832, where he built a small log cabin in which he lived many years. He died on the land on which he first settled, April 3, 1853. IIe
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was the father of seventeen children, nine of whom grew to maturity. Josiah C. Jackson, whose name heads this sketch, was reared on the home farm, and received such educational advantages as the subscription sehools of that early day afforded, attending schools taught in log cabins with puncheon floors, clapboard roofs and slab seats. During the late war he enlisted in Company D, Eighty-fifth Indiana Infantry, remaining in the service of his country almost three years. Among the en- gagements in which he participated may be mentioned the battles of Resaca, Lost Monn- tain, Kenesaw Mountain and Peach Tree Creek. Ile was taken sick after the last mentioned battle, which was the last engage- ment in which he took part. He returned to his home in Vermillion County and engaged in farming. November 6, 1867, he was married to Miss Priscilla C. Shane, daughter of James D. Shane, of Effingham County, Illinois. They are the parents of eight chil- dren-James C., Lela, Ida B., Ira E., Cyrus, Bertha, Adaline and Ethel C. Mr. Jackson engaged in his general mercantile business in 1883, and now carries a capital stock of $3,000, doing an annual business of $5,000, and also deals extensively in stock and grain. He still lives on his farm, where he is en- gaged in farming and stock-raising. His farm contains 120 acres of fine land, and is located on section 4, Helt Township. In politics Mr. Jackson is a staunch Republican, but never seeks official honors. Ile is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, and takes an active interest in that organiza- tion.
OBERT B. SEARS, one of the leading citizens of Vermillion, is the present State Senator of the district comprising Parke and Vermillion counties, being elected
on the Republican ticket in the fall of 1886, receiving a majority of 623 votes over his opponent, Joseph L. Boyd. He is a son of George H. Sears, who was born in Harrison County, Indiana, in Angnst, 1818, eoming to Vermillion County with his father, Jacob Sears, when a boy. Jacob Sears was a native of North Carolina, removing thence to Ken- tneky, and from there to Harrison County, Indiana. On coming to Vermillion County he settled in Vermillion Township, three miles southwest of Newport, where he cleared and improved a farm, on which he resided until his death. George Sears was one of the representative citizens of Vermillion County, and long one of the prominent mer- chants of Eugene. In 1854 he was elected treasurer of the county, but died before his first term expired, although not before he had received the nomination for a second term, the date of his death being July 30, 1856. IIe left at his death a widow and three sons, all living at the present time but his youngest son, George O., who died at the age of eighteen years. Robert B. Sears, whose name heads this sketeh, was the eldest son in his father's family, and was born in Engene, Vermillion County, January 6, 1844. Ile was about twelve years old when his father died, and after his death the family re- turned to the homestead farm. At the age of eighteen years our subject enlisted in Company I, Forty-third Indiana Infantry, and after serving in the ranks about a year and a half he was promoted to Orderly Ser- geant, and soon after to First Lientenant, and June 24, 1865, he was mustered out as Cap- tain of his company. He was constantly in active service, and participated in all the en- gagements in which the Forty-third took part, and during the last twenty months of his service he commanded his company. After the war he was engaged as clerk in a
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wholesale clothing store. In 1868 he re- turned to Vermillion County, and began the study of law with the law firm of Eggleston & Harvey, and in 1870 was admitted to the" bar at Newport. In 1872 he was elected prosecuting attorney for the counties of Parke, Vermillion, Vigo and Sullivan, serving as such two years. In 1881 he was elected assistant secretary of the State Senate, and in January, 1883, received an appointment as clerk in the Treasury department at Washing- ton, D. C., but on reaching that eity he was transferred to the Pension and Interior de- partment. IIe resigned this position six months later, and returned to his home in Newport and resumed his law practice. In 1884 he was elected to the lower branch of the General Assembly of Indiana, and, as above stated, became State Senator in 1886, in which position he is serving with credit to himself and satisfaction to his constituents. Mr. Sears was united in marriage, March 20, 1870, to Miss Ivy Aston, a daughter of Ure Aston, who was a prominent merchant in the early history of Newport. He died in 1863. Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Sears, of whom three died in early in- fancy. Claud, their only surviving child, was born February 29, 1873.
IIILO HOSFORD, one of the early pioneers of Eugene Township, is a native of Ontario County, New York, born September 18, 1811, a son of Ambrose HIosford, a native of Connecticut. The father removed to Dearborn County, Indiana, with his family in 1821, settling in Lawrenceburg, and died near there in 1824. Philo HIosford eame with his twin brother, Milo, to Craw- fordsville in 1832, and in the spring of 1833 to Engene, where he has sinee made his
home. He was married November 4, 1841, to Miss Evaline Wigley, a daughter of Joseph Wigley, and of the six children born to this union three are yet living-Monroe C., Rich- ard W. and Eliza. One son, Charles C., and a daughter, Naomi, died after reaching ına- turity. Mrs. Hosford died June 18, 1883. She was a member of the Presbyterian church. Milo Hosford, twin brother of our subjeet, was married the November following his ar- rival in the county, to Miss Maria Holtz, and to them were born two children-Henry H., and Lucy, now the wite of Prof. David Meade, of Danville, Illinois. Mr. Milo Hos- ford lived at Engene until his death, which oeeurred Jannary 22, 1880. He was a mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal church, and one of the most respected men of Vermillion County.
OMER LUSADDER, residing on section 22, Highland Township, is one of the representative citizens of Vermillion County. His father, John Lusadder, settled on the place now occupied by the subject of this sketcli, in 1856. He was born in Ohio, December 18, 1819. He resided many years in Fountain County, Indiana, before settling in Vermillion County, and was married while a resident of the former county, to Mrs. Sarah Ann (Beers) Prevost, who was born April 1, 1817, and died July 13, 1867. To them were born six children, two of whom are deceased. The names of those yet living are -Snowdon, Homer, John and Franklin. John Lusadder married for his second wife, Miss Mary J. Nabors, and to this union a daughter, named Lura, was born. He died April 4, 1872, in his fifty-third year. His widow still survives. Homer Lusadder, whose name heads this sketch, is a native of Foun-
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HISTORY OF VERMILLION COUNTY.
tain County, Indiana, the date of his birth being March 17, 1853. He was about three years of age when brought by his parents to this county, where he has since lived. His father being a farmer, he was reared to the same occupation, becoming a thorough, prac- tieal agriculturist. He now owns and occupies the homestead farm which contains 150 aeres of well improved and highly cultivated land.
UGH DALLAS, deceased, was one of the well known pioneers of Vermillion County. He was born in Knox County Ohio, in 1813, a son of Alexander and Sarah Dallas. He commeneed life in moderate circumstances. He came to Vermillion County in 1840, and bought a large amount of land which increased in value and at the time of his death he was one of the wealthies men in Vermillion Township. He was an honorable, upright business man and gained the confidence and esteem of all with whom he had any deal. He died September 17, 1875, leaving a large number of friends to mourn his loss and his memory is revered by all who knew him, especially the old settlers who remember his many kindly aets and hearty assistance in their times of need. Mr. Dallas was married in Ohio County, Virginia, in the year 1834, to Miss Sarah Hardesty, who was born in Knox County, Ohio, in 1815. To them were born nine children, eight of whom lived till maturity, and five are now living. The children in order of their birth are as follows-Mary C. T., deceased; Spencer II., Hugh A., deceased; William Henry Harrison, Sarah R., Mrs. Virginia C. Hain, deceased; Martha J., wife of James Chips; Ruth A. and an infant son, deceased. James Chips and wife have had born to them seven children-Mary, Lnra,
William Spencer, Samuel, and three who died in infancy. They reside in Newport.
OSHUA LEWIS, general merchant, Cayuga, is a native of Vermillion Coun- ty, Indiana, born in Highland Township, January 1, 1843, a son of James J. Lewis, a native of Maryland, who settled in Highland Township in 1837, where he still resides. Our subjeet was reared to the avocation of a farmer, and his edneation was received prin- cipally in the Perrysville graded school. Ile subsequently engaged in teaching school, which he followed for fifteen years, teaching seven years in Cherokee County, Kansas. He served two years in the late war in Company II, Twentieth Indiana Infantry, and during his terin of service participated in the battle of Fort Hatteras, the seven days in front of Richmond, and other engagements. He also witnessed the fight between the Monitor and the Merrimac. March 30, 1865, he was married to Miss Marinda Harrison, a daugh- ter of Thomas HI. Harrison, one of the old pioneers of this county, who made his way up the Wabash from Vincennes by poling a flat- boat. Mr. and Mrs. Lewis are the parents of five children-Frank E., Cassie, Henry W., Marinda E. and William J. Mr. Lewis engaged in the mercantile business at Gessie, this county, in 1881. He established his present business at Cayuga in 1886, removing his family to this place in June, 1887. He is now associated in business with his son Frank who is also assistant postmaster. They carry a full line of dry-goods, groceries, pro- visions, glass and queensware, their capital stock being valued at $3,500, and their annu- al sales amounting to abont $8,000. While living in Kansas Mr. Lewis lacked but two votes of being elected Probate Judge on the
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Republican ticket, and at the same election the county went 300 majority for Greeley for President. In politics he still affiliates with the Republican party. He is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic. Both he and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and respected members of society.
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LIVER P. M. PONTON, engaged in farming on section 2, IIelt Township, is a worthy representative of an old and honored pioneer family who settled in Ver- million County in the early days of the county. He was born on the family home- stead in IIelt Township, one-half mile from liis present residence, the date of his birth be- ing December 23, 1861, and is a son of the late Jolin Ponton, who was born near Chilli- cothe, Ohio, being brought to this county when but four years of age. The father be- ing a farmer, our subject was reared to the same avocation, which he has made his life work. He received his education in the common schools of the county. IIe was united in marriage September 30, 1885, to Miss Mary A. Amos, a daughter of William H. Amos, a resident of Montezuma, Indiana, and to this union one child has been born, named John W., who died at the age of six months. Mrs. Ponton is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church at Montezuma.
EWIS II. BECKMAN, engaged in the grocery business at Clinton, and one of the active and enterprising business men of the town, is a native of Vermillion County, Indiana, born November 16, 1841. His par- ents, Henry and Mary Beckman, were born,
reared and married in Germany, coming to the United States soon after their marriage. They landed at New Orleans, where they formed the acquaintance of James Davis, whose home was near Newport, Vermillion County. The father was a blacksmith by trade, and being induced to come to this county, he followed that avocation in Ver- million Township until a short time before his deatlı, which occurred in 1844. His wife had died the year before. Lewis H. Beck- man, whose name heads this sketch, believes himself to be the only living representative of his branch of the family in America. His brother, John, who was born while his par- ents were at New Orleans, shortly after their arrival in America, died at the age of twelve years. After the death of his parents, the subject of this sketch found a good home with the family of James L. Wishard, of Helt Township. He received such educa- tional advantages as the district schools of that early day afforded. In June, 1862, while in his twenty-first year, he volunteered in defense of the Union, enlisting in Company A, Seventy-first Indiana Infantry. August 31 his regiment was in battle at Richmond, Kentucky, and in that engagement Mr. Beck- man was shot through the left leg. Many of the unhurt of his regiment were captured and paroled, and all of the wounded, Mr. Beck- man with those paroled, being sent North, and soon after recovered from the effects of his wound. The regiment was exchanged, and was again in the field before the close of the year 1862, and several months following was engaged in guarding rebel prisoners at Indianapolis. In the summer of 1863 the regiment was recruited and reorganized, and became known as the Sixth Indiana Cavalry. During the operations at and around Knox- ville in the winter of 1863-'64 the regiment made part of General Burnside's force. At
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HISTORY OF VERMILLION COUNTY.
the opening of General Sherman's campaign against General Johnston's rebel army which culminated in the capture of Atlanta, thie Sixth Indiana Cavalry joined the former at Buzzards' Roost, Georgia, and did hard work and gallant service during that campaign. The regiment also took part in the ill-starred raid of General Stoneman at Sun Shine Church, south of Atlanta, where many were killed, wounded and taken prisoners. Among the latter was Mr. Beckman, who was shot through the left thigh, and his sufferings from this serious wound were rendered more than ordinarily severe by lack of proper care. For four weeks he was confined in Macon, Geor- gia, over one month at Andersonville, and at Charleston and Florence four and a half months. He was finally paroled and returned to his home. After being exchanged, April 19, 1865, he rejoined his regiment at Pulaski, Tennessee, and in June, 1865, he received an honorable discharge from the army, after which he returned to Vermillion County and engaged in agricultural pursuits. September 10, 1868, he was united in marriage to Miss Laura E. Crane, a native of Vermillion County, born in Helt Township, April 26, 1853, a daughter of Carlton Crane. Mr. and Mrs. Beckman made their home in IIelt Township until he was elected to the office of county sheriff in October, 1872, when he moved to Newport. He was re-elected to the same office, serving in that capacity four years, and in 1876 returned to his farm in Helt Township. He remained on his farm until the spring of 1884, when he removed to Clinton. In January, 1885, he established his present grocery business, and by his genial and accommodating manners, and strict attention to the wants of his customers he has built up a good trade, his sales amount- ing to over $13,000 per annum. In politics Mr. Beckman is a Republican, and is promi-
nent in the councils of his party. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity. He is a member also of Owen Post, No. 329, G. A. R., and in 1887 he was elected commander of the post. Both he and his wife are mem- bers of the Methodist Episcopal church. Four children have been born to thein, of whom three are living, named Alice, Charles and Ray. Their third child, Lena Belle, died at the age of nine months.
OHN W. PARRETT, of Newport, is a representative of one of the pioneer fami- lies of Indiana. His father, Rev. Robert Parrett, was born in England, February 14, 1791, and was married in 1814 to Martha Mason. In 1816 they sailed from Hull, England, and after a voyage of ninety days landed in New York. They spent a few weeks in New Jersey, then came west and located near Lawrenceburg, Indiana, and two years later removed to Vincennes, where they lived about a year. In the meantime he entered eighty acres of land in Posey County, to which he removed, and built a log cabin, making his home there six years. In De- cember, 1824, he moved to Evansville and bought forty-five acres near that city, and several years later, bought 160 acres adjoin- ing, and of this made a homestead, living on it until his death in 1859. His wife survived him about ten years. A part of his land is now included in the site of Evansville, and is known as Parrett's addition. Mr. Parrett was a Christian gentleman, and the founder of Methodism in Evansville, and a memorial window has been placed in Trinity church, that city, in his honor. He was a successful business man, acquiring considerable wealth, which he used freely in the support of the Gospel and all worthy enterprises. He was
MAT
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one of the founders of the old State Bank of Indiana, which afterward became the Evans- ville National Bank, and was one of its direc- tors for many years. At his death he left a record of which his descendants may well be proud. He was not a man of liberal educa- tion, but of great natural ability, and was always greatly interested in the cause of education, and was one of ten who gave $1,000 each toward the founding of Asbury College at Greencastle, Indiana. IIe and his wife were the parents of ten children who grew to maturity, all of whom became worthy and influential citizens. Three sons and two daughters are yet living, John W. being the eldest of this number. The second son, Rev. Richard M. Parrett, is a citizen of Patoka, Indiana, and William F. is judge of the First Judicial Cireuit, his residence being at Evansville. Jane is the wife of Hon. Alvah Jolinson, of Evansville, and Eva M. is the wife of Hon. Union Bethel, of Newburg, Warren County, Indiana. The eldest of the family, Mary A., was born on the ocean while the parents were en route for America. She became the wife of Hon. John S. Ilopkins, and died at their homestead in Evansville in 1885. The third son, Robert, was a successful attorney, a graduate of Asbury College, and at one time a member of the State Legislature. Ile was Major of the One Hundredth Indiana Infantry, and was killed at Vicksburg in 1863. The youngest son, Joseph B., died at the age of thirty years, and Mrs. Martha Roberts and Mrs. Sarah Reed, died several years ago. John W. Par- rett, whose name heads this sketeh, was born
at Lawrenceburg, Indiana, Angust 10, 1818, and was reared at Evansville from his sixth
year. Ile joined the Methodist church when twenty years of age, and in 1842 entered the work of the ministry, and for nineteen years was a member of the Indiana Conference.
Hle was then granted a location and settled on a farm in Vermillion County which he had bought in 1850. Although not in the regular work of the ministry he is always ready to aid the cause of Christianity, and has many calls which he is glad to answer, to fill neigh- boring pulpits and perforin other duties de- volving on a Christian minister. From the De Pauw Advocate we learn that he was present at a meeting of the Northwest Con- ferenee held at Greencastle. Indiana, when the report of the committee on education showed a lack of about 85,500 on the amount assumed by the Conference on the De Pauw fund. The first meeting of the lay and eleri- cal conferences failed to raise the amount by $1,500. Colonel Ray delivered a long speech, followed by Doctor John in a short, compact speech, and then came the prince of beggars, Bishop Bowman, but the Bishop scemed to have lost his grip or the contract was too much for him. Things were dragging and failure seemed inevitable when Rev. John W. Parrett, then a local preacher from Newport, arose in the back part of the room, and strode forward in an awkward way, and began as nobody else could, to talk, taking the manage- ment of the meeting abruptly out of the hands of the Bishop, and by volleys of wit and wisdom, of aneedote, and sayings, wise and otherwise, now eloquent, now pathetie, and at times Indierous beyond description, he man- aged to raise the last $1,500. Mr. Parrett was first married to Miss Elizabeth W. Miek, a daughter of Judge John Mick, and to them were born three children-Richard W., Ed- mund J., who died at the age of nineteen years, and John W., who died aged seventeen years. Mrs. Parrett died in December, 1843, and in March, 1850, Mr. Parrett was again married to Miss Lydia Zener, a daughter of Adam Zener, one of the substantial men of Newport, and founder of the Methodist church
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of this town. To this union two children have been born, named Robert A. and Martha E. In politics Mr. Parrett is a pronounced Republican.
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HIOMAS KIBBY has been a resident of Clinton Township since 1830, and for many years one of its active and ener- getie citizens. IIe was born in Clarke Coun- ty, Indiana, February 8, 1810, a son of Lueius Kibby, a New Englander by birth. When young the father visited Canada, where he was seized and pressed into the British army, and was compelled to serve a short time be- fore he found an opportunity to escape and return to his home in New England. IIe was a son of Amariah Kibby, a ship carpen- ter by trade, which he also learned in early life and became proficient in all kinds of wood-work. He worked for a time at Fort Pitt, now Pittsburgh, and there built a flat- boat for himself, and with his family passed down the river to Fort Washington, now Cin- cinnati, Ohio, thence to the Falls of the Ohio, in Clarke County, where Thomas Kibby was born. Being of an adventurous spirit, he volunteered and fought under General Harri- son at the battle of Tippecanoe, November 5, 1811. During his residence in Clarke Coun- ty the Indians were hostile, and inany an ad- venture and narrow escape he and his family had with them. In 1814 he moved his fam- ily to the vicinity of Nashville, Tennessee, where he was engaged as a builder three years, and was defrauded of nearly $3,000 due on contract work, by his employer. In 1817 he left Tennessee, coming to Indiana, when he settled with his family near Terre Haute, in the Wabash Valley. He erected, under contract, the first frame building at Terre Haute. In 1818 he removed to Parke
County, Indiana, where he cleared a farm from the forest, remaining there a few years, when he went to Clark County, Illinois, and from there to Dubuque County, Iowa, where he lived until his death, at the advanced age of eighty-five years. Thomas Kibby, whose name leads this sketch, was the youngest of his four children, and is the only one now living. When he was quite young his mother died, and although his father married again, he hardly had a home. His schooling was very limited, and the eare and advantages so common to the boys of to-day were denied lim. At the age of thirteen years he left liis father's home and began the battle of life for himself, and his lessons were well learned in the school of experience. He early in life became a self-reliant man, strong both men- tally and physically. Like many of the ad- venturous youth of those years, he became a boatman, making his first trip to New Or- leans at the age of eighteen years. In 1831 he became a pilot, and began with increased wages to save money. He has made over sixty trips to New Orleans. August 4, 1833, he was married to Miss Jane Vannest, who was born in Ohio, August 6, 1812, and who died March 20, 1880. Her father, John Van- nest, was the first settler of Vermillion Coun- ty, having settled on section 9, Clinton Township, as early as 1816. To Mr. and Mrs. Kibby were born eight children, as fol- lows-John and Martin died in infancy; Isaac, living near his father; Sarah Jane died aged ten years; Elizabeth died aged twelve years; Stuart died in infancy; Thomas A., residing with his father, and Susan W., who was a school-teacher, died aged twenty-three years. Thomas A. was a soldier in the war of the Rebellion, enlisting October 9, 1861, and was in the service of his country for three years. March 12, 1882, he was united in marriage to Miss Josie Lyday, a native of
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