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 48
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enterprise that he has undertaken. In notic- ing his successful career any one will readily conclude that " good luck " is a fiction, and that good management and persistent effor constitute the lever of victory. Mr. Collett is also known for his many aets of kindness and benevolence which he has performed in his peculiarly quiet manner. He is a leader in all public-spirited enterprises that come within his scope of action. On the death of Mr. Rose, so widely known for his munifi- cence, it was found that Mr. Collett had been appointed one of the excentors of his will. The latter was also elected one of the trustees of Rose Polytechnic Institute at Terre Haute, and is president of the board. In his political principles our subject is a Republican; in manner, quiet and unobtru- sive; toward strangers, reticent; to friends, a genial and whole-souled companion. He has also a scientific taste, being particularly inter- ested in geology and archaeology, and having one of the finest archaeological collections in the west, in some respects the best in the world, comprising over 12,000 of the finest specimens of the stone age.
EORGE W. JACKSON, farmer and stock-raiser, resides on section 10, Ver- million Township, where he owns 300 acres of valuable land. He was born in Cler- inont County, Ohio, July 3, 1816, a son of Joseph and Mary (Newkirk) Jackson, his father a native of Virginia, of English de- scent, and his mother of Pennsylvania, of German descent. In 1832 his parents came to Indiana and located in Vermillion Town- ship, Vermillion County, where the father died in 1847. They had a family of eight children, but two of whom are living- George W. and Edward, of Dana. George
W. Jackson was reared a farmer, an occupa- tion he has thus far followed. His first start as a farmer for himself was on 100 acres, to which he has added until he now owns his present valuable farm. He was married in 1845 to Mary Driver, a native of Ohio, born in Parke County in 1822, a daughter of Abram and Mary (Rogers) Driver, carly set- tlers of Vermillion County. Mr. and Mrs. Jackson have had five children-Joseph mar- ried Mary Lorman, and has two children-" Fray and Free; Manford married Ella Fir- man; Sarah, wife of Silas V. Morgan, has two children-Mande and Claude; Charles and Harry are at home. Mr. Jackson is a member of the Masonic fraternity. In poli- tics he is a Democrat.
ILLIAM II. HOOD was born in Eugene, Vermillion County, Indi- ana, February 23, 1840, a son of Durham Hood, who was a native of Tennes- scc, and an carly settler of this county, com- ing here when the surrounding country was principally inhabited by Indians and wild animals. He followed flat-boating for many years, going to New Orleans more than twenty times, and in later years he worked at the blacksmith's trade. William II. Hood, the subject of this sketch, was brought up in Eugene, and was educated in the schools of this place. He enlisted in the late war in Company M, Second Colorado Cavalry. He was in the service two years, taking part in a number of engagements, all of them being with the Indians. He with his company was sta- tioned at Fort Douglas, Utah, guarding the overland mail route and telegraph at that place, and were sent to arrest some Indians who had murdered some white people, and in their struggle sixty-seven men out of 140
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were killed or wounded, and of 300 In- dians all but one were killed. Mr. Hood was wounded in this engagement, and sent to hospital, where he remained three weeks. He returned to his home in Engene in 1863, and for eight or ten years following followed the butcher's trade, and also worked in the pork packing houses at Newport, Eugene and Dan- ville, Illinois. He is now living retired from active business life. He was married Sep- tember 16, 1883, to Mrs. Evaline Craig, a daugliter of John Holtz. She died July 18, 1885. She had three children by her first marriage, their names being John, Ella and Claude. Mr. Hood is a member of the Odd Fellows order, and is a comrade of the Grand Army of the Republic.
SCAR B. GIBSON, one of the rising young attorneys of Vermillion County, began his professional career in New- port, in the fall of 1880. In that year lie was admitted to the Vermillion County bar, and for one year following he was in the law office of Jump & Ward, of Newport. He then became associated with J. C. Sawyer, which partnership continned until the pres- ent firm of Ward & Gibson was formed in November, 1886. Mr. Gibson is a native of Vermillion County, Indiana, born in Helt Township in November, 1859, a son of Ed- mond Gibson. He received his primary education in the common schools of IIelt Township, and subsequently was a student at Asbury University at Greencastle, Indiana. for four years. For his wife Mr. Gibson married Miss Hattie Elder, a daughter of James A. Elder, a resident of Helt Township. Mr. Ward is an active and public-spirited inan, and is always interested in any enter- prise which has for its object the welfare of
the public, and every movement calculated to aid in building up his town or developing its business interests, has his encouragement and assistance.
AMES DUZAN, a representative of one of the early pioneer families of Ver- million County, is a native of Kentucky, born in Mason County, July 31, 1818. His father, William Duzan, was also a native of Mason County, Kentucky, and there grew to manhood, and married Miss Sarah Williams, a daughter of Charles Williams, who was a soldier in the war of the Revolution. William Duzan settled with his family in Ver- million Township, Vermillion County, Indi- ana, in February, 1835. He made his home in this county for upward of twenty years, when he removed to Parke County, Indiana, and engaged in farming, and was also post- master at Howard, that county, for a number of years. Both he and his wife died in Parke County. They were the parents of eight children, of whom only three are now living-James, their eldest child, and our subject; Peter E., living at Dora in Wabash County, and Catherine, widow of Dr. Sur- baugh, residing at Harveysburg, Fountain County, Indiana. James Duzan, whose name heads this sketch, was seventeen years of age when he came with his father to this county. Ile learned the carpenter's trade with his father, and has followed that pursuit much of his life. Ile also ran a cooper's shop in Vermillion Township for twenty-six years. Ilis wife, whose maiden name was Sarah Ann Myers, was born in Mason County, Kentucky, and died in this county in August, 1880, leaving a family of five ehildren- Mary Jane, Jolın, Fred, Maria and Lizzie. In politics Mr. Duzan was formerly a Whig,
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but has been a Republican since the organi- zation of that party. In religion he was reared a Methodist, but is not identified with any church.
EWIS COIL, a representative of one of the old and respected pioneer families of this part of Indiana, was born at Eugene, Vermillion County, November 28, 1836, a son of Jonas and Olive (Smith) Coil. IIis father was a carpenter by occupation, and worked quite extensively at bridge- building. In the early days of the county he also followed teaming, hauling goods from Evansville, which at that time was the only mode of transportation. He was of German origin, and was reared in the State of Ohio, his family coming from Pennsylvania in an early day. Ile was married in Ohio to Miss Olive Smith, who was also reared in that State, and to them were born six children, of whom three died in early childhood. Those yet living are-Lewis, the eldest, and the subject of this sketch; Mary, wife of R. W. Winders, of Scotland, Illinois, and Myrick, living in Vermillion County, Illinois. The father came with his family to Vermillion County, Indiana, about 1830, settling in Eu- gene Township. Ile resided at Eugene until about 1842, when he went to Champaign County, Illinois, dying there some two years later. His widow subsequently married James Burk, who died at Engene not long after their marriage. She was a third time married to James Johnson, who is also deceased. She has one son by her last marriage, John S. Johnson, living in Missouri. With the ex- ception of a three years' residence in Mis- souri, and four years spent in Kansas, Lewis Coil, onr subject, has spent his life in Ver- million County. He was a brave and gallant 29
soldier in the war of the Rebellion, enlisting in September, 1863, in Company C, One Hundred and Twenty-third Indiana Infantry, and on the organization of the company he was made First Duty Sergeant. He served in the army of General Sherman the greater part of his term of service, in the Twenty- third Corps, and was in the Atlanta cam- paign, his regiment taking an active part in that campaign. Ilis regiment then served under General Thomas in the Nashville campaign, thence up the Ohio River to Cincinnati, and from there by railroad to Washington. From Washington the regi- ment went to Fort Fisher, North Carolina, by steamer, down the Atlantic coast, thence to Newbern. Later the division to which our subject belonged had a severe engage- ment near Kingston, North Carolina, with the Confederate General Bragg. July 1, 1865, Mr. Coil was commissioned Second Lieutenant by his company. He joined General Sherman at Goldsboro, and from there went to Charlotte, where he was inus- tered out of the service with his regiment August 25, 1865. Ile received no wounds while in the army, and during his two years' service was in the hospital only one night. After the war he engaged in agricultural pursuits. March 19, 1868, he married Miss Lizzie Eberhort, who was born in Crawford County, Ohio, in 1846, a daughter of Jacob and Elizabeth Eberhort. The parents of Mrs. Coil are natives of Germany, the father born May 20, 1820, and the mother born February 8, 1826. On coming to America they first settled in Ohio, removing thence to Missouri, and are still living in Monitor County, that State. They have had born to them ten children, as follows-Mary, born in 1844; Lizzie, in 1846; John, in Feb- ruary, 1849; Rosa, born in 1850, died Oeto- ber 24, 1856; Ilenry, born in 1852; William,
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in 1854; Rosina, in 1858; Martha, in 1860; Sarah, in 1862, and Amelia, in 1870. Mr. and Mrs. Coil have two children-Leora E., born in Missouri, October 15, 1873, and Annie C., in Illinois, December 9, 1876. Mr. Coil now makes his home at Newport, where he has held the position of agent for the American Express Company since 1883.
- EORGE B. SPARKS, one of the leading citizens of Clinton Township, has been identified with Vermillion County since May, 1859. He was born in Lawrence County, Ohio, November 9, 1830, the only son and the second of three children of John and Sarah (Sinton) Sparks. His father was born in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. His mother was a native of Ireland, but was reared from a child in the United States. They were married in Adams County, Ohio, and after their marriage settled in Lawrence County, where the mother died in 1833, and the father July 31, 1847. They had three children. The eldest daughter is Mrs. Mary Jane MeCauslen of Steubenville, Ohio, and the youngest, Sarah B., died in childhood. George B. was reared by his maternal grand- mother. Mrs. Mary Sinton, in Adams County, Ohio. When his father's estate was settled although it was not large he received enough to be of material benefit to him when he started in life for himself. From the time of his first starting in the business life he was for many years connected with iron produc- tion, and when he came to Vermillion Coun- ty, in 1859, he bought a controlling interest in the old Indiana Furnace, six miles west of Clinton, which was one of the early enter- prises of the Wabash Valley. Under the firm name of G. B. Sparks & Co. the pro- duction of iron and the foundry business was
continued until 1864 when the mine was aban- doned and has fallen into disuse. The build- ings which at one time were occupied by hundreds of miners and their families have been torn down or have by gradual decay. become things of the past, and the 1700 acres which are still owned by Mr. Sparks are devoted to agricultural purposes. Mr. Sparks is an enterprising progressive man and his farm is one of the best in the township, having all the most modern conveniences for carrying on his work, and thus saving labor and increasing his products. He came to Vermillion County, a single man, and con- tinued in the state of celibacy until Novem- ber 25, 1875, when he was married to Miss Margaret Brown, a daughter of John and Mary Brown, who settled in Vermillion County, in 1853, remaining residents of the county until their death. She was born in Ireland and was brought to America when but five years of age, living in Pennsylvania four years and coming thence to Vermillion County. Mr. and Mrs. Sparks have one child-Edward M., born September 23, 1876. In polities Mr. Sparks is an ardent supporter of the principles of the Republican party, casting his first presidential vote for John C. Fremont. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, Jerusalem Lodge, No. 99, and Terre Haute Chapter, No. 11, and has passed all the chairs of his lodge.
ROF. GEORGE L. WATSON was born in Lenawee County, Michigan, March 4, 1855, a son of Levi Watson, who has been a resident of Westfield, Illinois, since December, 1867. The subject of this sketch received his education in Westfield, graduat- ing from the college in that city in 1874, and subsequently followed the teacher's profession
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with eminent success for ten years. For one year he was principal of the schools of Tower Hill, Illinois, and for two years was the teacher of mathematics in the Green IIill Seminary (Indiana). He came to Eugene, Vermillion County, Indiana, in 1880, and for four years was principal of the schools of this place. In 1883, one year before he aban- doned his profession, he engaged in the hard- ware business in Eugene, which he has since followed, being associated with Mr. Fultz under the firm name of Watson & Fultz. This firin carries a full line of hardware, furni- ture, and farm implements, their capital stock valued at from $4,000 to $5,000, and their annual sales amounting to $12,000. Professor Watson was united in marriage May 23, 1878, to Miss Ada E. Evans, and to this union three children have been born named-Essie Glenn, Frank and Lucile. While a resident of Illinois Mr. Watson served as township and village clerk for several years, and in 1880 was nominated on the Republican ticket in Warren County, Illinois, for the office of county surveyor, which honor he declined, coming to this county before the election. Both he and his wife are worthy members of the Presbyterian church, and among the respected citizens of Eugene.
ILEY JONES, section 34, Helt Township, was born in Stokes Conn- ty, North Carolina, March 27, 1824, a son of Philip Jones, a native of the same county who came to Vermillion County, Indiana, with his family in 1832, and settled in Helt Township. When Mr. Jones came to Indiana he had a family of sinall children and was $45 in debt. Ile sold a pony to pay his indebtedness but was then left without
even a cow or pig. He and his wife and children were obliged to work hard to make a living. Wiley Jones was reared on the pioneer homestead, in the log cabin, and now has one of the puncheons which composed the floor. IIe has always given his attention to agriculture, and now owns seventy-three and a half acres of good land. Ilis land has a fine vein of coal underlying it and he has leased three mines, which yield a good quality of coal. Mr. Jones was married January 29, 1846, to Elizab Dawes, daughter of William Dawes, of Hillsdale. They have had thirteen children, seven of whom are living-William F., John N., Benjamin F., Harrison, Charles A., Ozias and Sarah A. Mr. and Mrs. Jones are members of the United Brethren church.
ILLIAM C. GROVES, section 16, Vermillion Township, where he is engaged in farming and dealing in stock, owns a fine farm of 370 acres, all in a high state of cultivation. When he settled on his farm it was wholly unimproved, but he went bravely to work and now has one of the best farms in the township, bis improvements testifying more than words can to the thrift and enterprise of the owner. Ile was born in East Tennessee November 4, 1817, a son of Jacob and Mary (IIarlan) Groves, natives also of Tennessee, of German descent. Ilis parents came to Indiana in 1831, and settled in Vermillion Township, where the father died December 9, 1843. He was born Octo- ber 17, 1794. The mother survived her husband thirty years, her death occurring in 1873. They reared a family of eight chil- dren, but two of whom are living-Rachel and our subject. William C. Groves was fourteen years old when his parents came to Indiana, and here he was reared amid pioneer
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HISTORY OF VERMILLION COUNTY.
scenes, and has lived to see the many changes that have transformed the wilderness into the present prosperous county. Ile was married in 1841 to Elizabeth E. Bozart, a native of East Tennessee, born in 1819, a daughter of Henry Bozart. To this union have been born four children, three are living Julius C., who married Louisa Wade, and has one child, Clarence; John B. married Hattie Davis, and Ella, wife of J. D. Hun- ter, of Illinois, has three children-Collett. Florence and Columbus. Mr. Groves started the first tile factory in the county in 1867, and has carried on this business quite exten- sively, employing six men the greater part of the year. Mr. and Mrs. Groves are members of the Methodist Episcopal ehureh. In poli- tiees he affiliates with the Democratic party.
ARRY E. SANDERS, one of the active young business men of Engene, and a representative of one of the old and honored pioneer families of Vermillion County, was born in Highland Township, this county, March 13, 1863, a son of Ezekiel Sanders, a native of the same county, his father being one of Vermillion County's early settlers. Ilarry E. Sanders was reared in his native county, and received his educa- tion in the common sehools of his neighbor- hood. Ile worked as a farm hand until December, 1885, when he came to Eugene and established his present livery business, in which he is meeting with good snecess. Ile has now two stables, one located at Eu- gene and another at the railroad erossing in Cayuga, and keeps on hand nine good horses, five buggies and carriages, besides two spring wagons, and by his fair and reasonable prices and accommodating manners he has gained many customers and established a married in 1855, to Miss Martha Clark, born
good business. Mr. Sanders was united in marriage to Miss Aliee Hildren, December 30, 1886, she being a daughter of the late Charles Hildren. Mrs. Sanders was born in Fountain County, Indiana.
ANIEL SEARS, retired farmer, resides on section 4, Vermillion Township, where he owns a farm of sixty aeres of land. He was born in Bourbon County, Ken- tucky, June 20, 1808, a son of Jacob and Mary (IInffstutter) Sears, natives of North Carolina and Pennsylvania, respectively, and both of German descent. They eame to Ver- million County, Indiana, in 1830, and lived until their death on the land on which they first settled, the mother dying in 1856, aged about eighty years, and the father dying in 1859, at the age of eighty-five years. They reared a family of eight children, but three of whom are living at the present time- Daniel, our subject; Elizabeth, widow of Andrew Shoults, and Julia, widow of Manson Meriman. - Daniel Sears was reared to the voeation of a farmer, and in his boyhood re- ceived such education as the farmer boys of his day. He was first married in Harrison County, Indiana, in 1831, to Miss Sarah Soppinfield, who was born in North Carolina, in 1808, and to them were born eight chil- dren, only two of whom are now living- George II., of Missouri, who married Nancy M. Alexander, and has five children, and Jackson A., of Newport, who married Rosa A. Filson, and has two children. George served three years in the war of the Rebell- ion, and although he participated in many hard-fought battles he returned home at the close of the war withont a scratch. Mrs. Sears died in 1848, and Mr. Sears was again
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in Butler County, Ohio, in 1827, a daughter of Ezra and Nancy Clark. Mrs. Sears is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. + here with his parents, and remembers quite Mr. Scars belongs to the Christian church. Being one of the old pioneers Mr. Sears has witnessed the surrounding country change from a wilderness to its present prosperous condition, and has become well and favorably known throughout the county. In polities he is a Democrat. Postoffice, Newport.
AMES M. NICHOLS, of Newport, is a son of William Nichols, an old and respected pioneer who settled in Vermillion Town- ship, about 1833. The father was born in Amherst County, Virginia, May 1, 1795, and when a young man went to Mereer County, where he was married June 11, 1818, to Rhoda Martin, a native of North Carolina, born February 13, 1798. Thirteen children were born to this union, cleven of whom reached maturity, and of these only four are now living-James M., who was their eldest child; Jeremiah, Sarah and Lueinda. When the father eame to this county his family consisted of his wife and seven children. They made the journey in a wagon drawn by five horses, being about three weeks on the road. The father lived in this county until his death which oceurred October 11, 1876, his widow surviving nntil Angust 25, 1881. He was a man of energy and mneb force of character, and highly respected throughout the community in which he lived. He always followed agrienltural pursuits, and at different times owned considerable land. In early life he was a Whig, and later a Republican. Both he and his wife were consistent members of the United Brethren church for many years. James M. Nichols, whose name heads this sketch, was born in Mercer County,
Kentneky, June 19, 1819, and has made his home in Vermillion County, since coming
well how the country looked almost sixty years ago. He was married May 11, 1843, to Miss Cassandra Arrasmith, born in Engene Township, this county, May 25, 1824, a daughter of Alexander and Jane (Gray) Arrasmith, who were natives of Kentucky, and North Carolina respectively, the father being of German parentage. The parents of Mrs. Nichols settled in Engene Township in 1817, and there their eight children were born four of whom are still living-Thomas G., James A., William B. and Mrs. Nichols. Mr. and Mrs. Nichols have had born to them eight children all living and married but one who died in infancy. They are as follows- Martha Jane, wife of Daniel Wise; Richard E .; Isabel, wife of AAlexander Frazer; Rhoda M., wife of David Jones; Lucinda, wife of John Q. Adams; America A., wife of Joseph M. Wimsett and George Omar. Mr. Nichols has made farming his life work although in the early days of the county he taught school about seven years. His homestead is on seetion 33, Vermillion Township. Ile also owns his father's homestead, his real estate consisting of 224 acres of land. Both he and his wife have been worthy members of the Methodist Protestant church for forty years, and all that time have taken The Telescope, the organ of that church. In politics Mr. Nichols is a Republican.
ON. JOIIN WHITCOMB, one of the leading citizens of Vermillion County, and of Western Indiana, is a native of Ohio, born in Preble County, August 26, 1821, a son of Benjamin R. and Anna (Snt- ton) Whitcomb, the father being a native of
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HISTORY OF VERMILLION COUNTY.
Vermont. The mother was a daughter of one of the old pioneers of the Buckeye State, and was born in Preble County in 1804. Benjamin R. Whitcomb, in 1813, when fifteen years of age, emigrated with his father from Vermont to Preble County, Ohio, where he was married. In 1827 he bronght his family to Indiana, and for two years lived at Terre Haute, where he engaged in packing pork, shipping down the river. From Terre Ilante his business was trans- ferred to Roseville, Parke County, and carried on there one season. In 1830 he became a resident of Clinton, Vermillion County, en- gaging in business at this place the same year. He was the pioneer merchant of Clin- ton, and was in the strictest sense of the term a self-made man. A man of strict in- tegrity, his word was considered as good as his bond, and often was worth as much to him in business as large capital was to other men. Ile was active and enterprising in business matters, and was always successful. The capital which he brought with him to this county was mainly invested in salt, then worth more than money. Ile brought herds of cattle from the East, which he soll to good advantage in the new country. Ile also dealt extensively in pork as a packer and shipper, and made many trips to New Or- leans on his own flat-boats, and was generally the strongest as well as the jolliest man in the crew. lle never forgot a favor nor the name or face of any man with whom he had any dealings. No man has ever been more favorably remembered by the pioneers and early settlers than he. In politics he was first a Whig, and later a Republican. He was an ardent supporter of John C. Fre- mont, with whom he was personally ac- quainted. In his later years he was a consistent member of the Methodist church. Ile died in 1861, the death of his wife
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