USA > Indiana > Washington County > Biographical and historical souvenir for the counties of Clark, Crawford, Harrison, Floyd, Jefferson, Jennings, Scott, and Washington, Indiana > Part 40
USA > Indiana > Harrison County > Biographical and historical souvenir for the counties of Clark, Crawford, Harrison, Floyd, Jefferson, Jennings, Scott, and Washington, Indiana > Part 40
USA > Indiana > Crawford County > Biographical and historical souvenir for the counties of Clark, Crawford, Harrison, Floyd, Jefferson, Jennings, Scott, and Washington, Indiana > Part 40
USA > Indiana > Clark County > Biographical and historical souvenir for the counties of Clark, Crawford, Harrison, Floyd, Jefferson, Jennings, Scott, and Washington, Indiana > Part 40
USA > Indiana > Scott County > Biographical and historical souvenir for the counties of Clark, Crawford, Harrison, Floyd, Jefferson, Jennings, Scott, and Washington, Indiana > Part 40
USA > Indiana > Floyd County > Biographical and historical souvenir for the counties of Clark, Crawford, Harrison, Floyd, Jefferson, Jennings, Scott, and Washington, Indiana > Part 40
USA > Indiana > Jennings County > Biographical and historical souvenir for the counties of Clark, Crawford, Harrison, Floyd, Jefferson, Jennings, Scott, and Washington, Indiana > Part 40
USA > Indiana > Jefferson County > Biographical and historical souvenir for the counties of Clark, Crawford, Harrison, Floyd, Jefferson, Jennings, Scott, and Washington, Indiana > Part 40
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By his universally acknowledged skill as a physician and surgeon Dr. Burney has
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built up a very large and profitable prac- tice, having as his patrons many of the best families of the city, and being often called to adjoining counties in difficult cases of surgery and severe cases of illness, particularly those of a chronic character.
He is the owner of fine real estate, hav- ing in 1888 erected an elegant office and residence. He is unmarried.
In 1886 he was elected a member of the city Board of Health. He became a mem- ber of the Floyd County Medical Society in 1880. In 1884 he was elected vice-presi- dent of the society and became president through the death of the regularly elected president.
He has been engaged in the publication and editing of two newspapers published in the interest of the colored race, the New Albany Review, at New Albany, Ind., and the Ohio Falls Express, published at Louis- ville, Ky. He is also a contributor to sev- eral leading newspapers and medical journals.
He was, in 1884, appointed assistant honorary commissioner for the State of Indiana by the Board of Management of the World's Industrial and Cotton Centen- nial Exposition at New Orleans, on the recommendation of Hon. B. K. Bruce, chief of the department of colored exhibits, and served most acceptably and with honor to his State. While Dr. Burney is a colored man, he enjoys in an eminent de- gree the respect and confidence of the white people of New Albany and Floyd county, and numbers among his personal friends and patrons very many of the best white citizens and families.
He is a practical and splendid example of what education and integrity of charac- ter will do for the colored race.
MAJOR THOMAS CLARK was born in New Albany, Ind., December 29, 1837, and was reared and educated in that city, where he now resides. At the age of 17 he was apprenticed at the L., N. A. & C. machine shops, to learn locomotive boiler building, serving three years. Before the war he was captain of the National Zouaves, one of the best drilled companies in Indiana, and whose parades and drills created great excitement. At the breaking out of the war he recruited a company and joined the Twenty-third Indiana Infantry, serving three years, and being in all the engagements of that famous regiment until detached and placed upon the staff of Gen. W. Q. Gresham.
He was severely wounded in the battle at Champion Hills in the Vicksburg cam- paign. At the expiration of his term of enlistment he was honorably discharged, and returned home and recruited another company, and joined the One Hundred and forty-fourth Indiana Infantry, of which he was commissioned major. He served in this regiment until the close of the war.
His wound, disabling him from following his trade, he learned the trade of sheet iron worker, but this also he had to aban- don on account of his wound. He then engaged in blacksmithing, which he still follows as contracting blacksmith of the DePauw American Glass Works.
He was married in 1859, to Miss Phobe Curran, daughter of James Curran, of New Albany. Six children have been born to them, viz: William, Hettie L., George L., Malden W., Mary R. and Pearl P.
He is a son of William and Elizabeth (Pister) Clark, both natives of Philadelphia, who came to New Albany in 1819, when there were but a few houses in the town.
Thomas Celuike
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His father was a ship carpenter and a very prominent citizen, being mayor of the city from 1844 to 1847; he was also a member of the City Council for two years. He was extensively engaged iu steamboat building, and operated a pump and block factory in connection with steamboat building. He was born in 1797, and died in 1856.
Maj. Clark's mother was born in 1799 and died in 1873, leaving three sons-Thomas, William and Joseph. William died July 13, 1886. Joseph resides at Birmingham, Ala. Maj. Clark, in 1886, was the Re- publican candidate for the Legislature against Hon. Charles L. Jewett, Democrat, and although the county was Democratic by 1150 majority, Maj. Clark was defeated by but 275 votes, receiving the largest vote ever given a Republican in the county for that office.
Major Clark is the patentee of the process for converting cast iron into steel, and has succeeded in forming a company in Louis- ville with a capital of $1,000,000, known as the Falls City Malleable Iron and Steel Works, located at Logan street and Bear- grass Creek. He is a superintendent of of the works, and they are now making edge-tools of all kinds.
BENJAMIN F. CLINE, a native of Penn- sylvania, was born January 18, 1835. He learned the trade of a carpenter in Phila- delphia, and coming West settled at New Al- bany in 1848, following his trade for some time, and then engaging in the' grocery and produce business. In 1871 he sold out the grocery store and engaged in his present business, that of a large dealer in all kinds of lumber. Mr. Cline, who pos- sesses excellent business sagacity, found that his acquaintance with the carpenter trade was a great help to him in his lumber
business, as it enables him to know just what his customers need, and gives him a thoroughly practical knowledge as to the quality of lumber and timber, and what is necessary to make up the material for a building, no matter of what size. Mr. Cline has always been enterprising as a business man and citizen. He has served, most acceptably, several terms as a mem- ber of the City Council. He has been twice married. In 1860to Miss Sallie A. Payne, of New Albany, who died the same year of her marriage. In 1864 he was the second time married, his wife being Miss Delia Lynn, of New Albany. Two children are the result of this marriage- Edward M. and Mabel. Mr. Cline is a member of the I. O. O. F. and Knights of Pythias. He is a Presbyterian-a mem- ber of the Third Church.
FREDERICK D. CONNOR was born in Perry county, Ind., February 17, 1841, and reared and educated in that county, attending the common schools and after- ward teaching school for two years. He gave up teaching when the war broke out, and enlisted, in 1862, in Co. K, 34th Kentucky Volunteers, serving until the war ended, going in as a corporal and coming out in the same position.
During the war he lost an eye from ty- phoid fever maltreatment. In 1865 he went into the Pension Office, at Indianap- olis, as a clerk under Col. John W. Ray, serving two years. He then went into the insurance business.
He came to New Albany in 1870, and accepted the appointment of Deputy In- ternal Revenue Collector of the First Dis- trict, under Col. H. Woodbury, continuing in the same position under Gen. James C. Veatch after the consolidation of the First
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and Second districts, and Maj. W. W. Car- ter, on consolidation of the First and Sev- enth districts, retiring on the election of President Cleveland.
In 1884 he was appointed Traveling Auditor of the Lake Erie & St. Louis Rail- way, holding it until 1887, when he was appointed Assistant Secretary of the New Albany Forge and Rolling Mill, being a stockholder and director in the company.
He was married in 1871 to Miss Hattie, daughter of Charles Sackett; two daugh- ters, Edna and Alma, being born to them.
He is a member of the Masonic frater- nity of the K. T. degree, and a Past Grand Master for Indiana of the A. O. U. W. and representative to the Supreme Lodge. He is a member of Wesley M. E. Church.
He is the son of Tarrence Connor and Nancy Tate, both natives of Indiana, his father being a prominent farmer of Perry county at his death, at the age of 50, in 1859. His mother died at the age of 56, in 1880. He has three brothers and five sisters, as follows : John T., editor, Toledo, Ill .; Tarrence, book-keeper, Baxter Springs, Kan .; George H., lawyer, Idaho, with whom Addie, a sister, lives; Eliza J., wife of B. E. Scribner, farmer and stock-raiser, Putnam county, Ind .; Mary C., wife of Wm. Wilson, Roachdale, Ind .; Emma, wife of Ransom Walls, U. S. mail agent, Greencastle, Ind., and Andro M., wife of Elijah T. Hawn, Leavenworth, Ind.
EDWARD CRUMBO is a native of Prus- sia, Germany, and was born in 1841. He is a son of Henry and Willemina (Hebner) Crumbo, who came to the United States and settled in New Albany, Ind., in 1846. The former was a stone-cutter, and opened a quarry on the Knobs in 1854, before the Bedford and Salem quarries were opened.
He is still living in Tippecanoe county. In 1870 Mr. Crumbo was succeeded in business by his son, and retired from active work. He served two years in the Common Council and was a hard working, honest active member. He fought the Gas Com- pany on a new charter at their price. He was married February 5, 1861, to Phobe Elizabeth Gardner, of Pulaski county, Ind. Nine children is the result of this marriage, four boys and five girls. He is a member of I. O. O. F., K. of P., A. O. U. W., Red Men, and German Benevolent Society. He has gone through the chairs of the So- ciety of the Red Men, and has been trustee for eight years; has also passed through the chairs of the A. O. U. W.
In national elections he votes the Dem- ocratie ticket, but for local elections he votes for the best man. He built the court house at Salem, and a good many other public buildings, too numerous to mention.
PERRY N. CURL was born in Morrow county, Ohio, January 30, 1855, and was reared in Ohio until 22 years of age, when he located at New Albany, Ind. He at- tended the public schools of his native county and then graduated from the Com- mercial College at Delaware, Ohio. He was reared upon a farm.
He located in New Albany in 1877, and engaged in the grocery trade with J. R. Droyer for a partner. Starting with a capi- tal of $700, the firm continued until 1880, when he purchased Mr. Droyer's interest. Since then he has pushed his business with great good judgment and untiring enter- prise, adding dry goods, boots and shoes, and a line of agricultural implements, and is doing both a wholesale and retail busi- ness to the extent of $125,000 yearly.
He has purchased his store-house, a
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large livery, sales and feed stable adjoining it, and owns a great deal of other real estate; this is the result of his liberal and and energetic business methods. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias.
In 1878 he was married to Miss Mary A. Mckibben, of Morrow county, Ohio, and has two boys, Walter and Arthur. He is the son of William H. Curl and Rebecca John- son, both natives of Ohio.
His mother died when he was nine years old. His father is still living, and resides at Cardington, Morrow county, Ohio.
CHARLES A. DANZ, a native of New Albany, Ind., was born Dec. 9, 1859. His father, Andreas Danz, a native of Germany, came to America in 1847, and located at New Albany, where he engaged in the man- ufacture of soap on an extensive scale, which business he continued till his death, which occurred in 1877. His mother, Barbara Franck Danz, is the daughter of the late Capt. John P. Franck, one of the early settlers of the city, and one of its most enterprising and respected citizens, starting the first soap factory in the city, and commanding a company here during war of the Rebellion. He died at New Albany in 1864. Three children were born to Andreas Danz and Barbara Franck Danz, of whom Charles A. Danz is the only survivor. Charles A. Danz was educated in the public schools of New Albany, and graduated from the Commercial College of this city at the age of 17 years, taking charge of his father's large soap factory at his graduation, being a man of great busi- ness push and industry. In 1880 he engaged in the saloon business on Pearl street, which he continues at No. 113. He has been twice elected to the City Council from the Fourth Ward of the city, and is
now serving his second term. He was married in 1880 to Miss Minnie Shea, of New Albany, daughter of John Shea, and has two children, Andreas and Anna.
JOHN STEELE DAVIS (deceased), of New Albany, was born in Dayton, Ohio, November 14, 1814. His father, John Davis, was a merchant, and for many years magistrate of the county in which he re- sided. He married Elizabeth Calcier, of Princeton, N. J. He took an active part with General Wayne in the Indian war, after the defeat of General St. Clair. Judge Davis' grandfather, Capt. Joseph Davis, emi- grated from Wales, and settled near Prince- ton, N. J. He participated in the struggle for independence, and was with General Washington at the battles of Monmouth and Princeton ; at the latter place he lost a leg. John Steele Davis early gave his attention to study and entered Miami University at the age of 16; a short time afterward his father failed in business, which necessitated him to return home. He was now thrown upon his own resources for acquiring an education, and was obliged to assist in the support of his father and family. He after- ward read law with W. J. Thomas, of Troy, Ohio, and was admitted to the bar. He im- mediately came to Indiana, settled in New Albany in 1836, where shortly after his arrival he commenced the practice of law. As a counselor and jurist, few men can claim a higher record; he was constantly engaged in his profession for a period of over forty years, and never prosecuted a man, nor allowed himself to be engaged to prosecute. He probably defended more men for high crimes and misdemeanors than any other man in the State, and was almost in- variably successful. He was the first city clerk of New Albany, having been elected in 1839,
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and was chosen city attorney in 1846. In 1841 he was elected to the State Legislature for the first time, and later served his county repeatedly in both branches, about twenty years in all. He was elected with- out opposition, in 1876, judge of the crim- inal and civil courts of Floyd and Clark counties, an office he did not seek, and only accepted at the earnest solicitation of friends. Judge Davis was an ardent Whig until that party ceased to exist. He was violently opposed to "Know Nothingism," and for a long time stood aloof from parties, but finally united with the Democracy. In 1843 he was the Whig candidate for Congress against Thomas J. Henley, Democrat, and in a district overwhelmingly Democratie was defeated by only thirty-seven votes. He was presidential elector for President Taylor; and in 1852 was a member of the National Convention that nominated Gen- eral Scott for President. In 1860 Judge Davis was independent candidate for Con- gress against James A. Cravens, Democratic nominee, and was defeated by a very small majority. He was a warm supporter of the war for the Union, and had two sons in the war. The younger, John S. rose to the rank of captain, the other son, William P., to the rank of lieutenant-colonel in the Twenty-third Indiana Volunteers.
Judge Davis' death occurred some nine years ago.
HON. JOHN S. DAY, born in Floyd county, May, 20, 1842, son of Cook Day and Margaret Hanger. His father is a native of England, coming to New Albany, with his parents, in 1828, at the age of . seven years, his father being the first ex- tensive pork packer in this city, and he, when old enough, engaged in the business with his father, Christopher Day, and sub- sequently for twenty years freight agent of
the New Albany & Salem (L., N. A. & C.) Railroad, being among the earliest of the employes of that road.
Margaret (Hanger) Day is the daughter of Frederick Hanger, a soldier of the War of 1812, and who in 1814 entered 160 acres of land six miles west of New Albany. She is a native of Floyd county, although her father was a Pennsylvanian.
John S. Day was reared and educated at New Albany. At the age of 15 he com- menced life for himself as a messenger boy on the L., N. A. & C. Railroad; he was a good messenger boy and by a series of pro- motions he was sent to the front-from one grade to another-until in 1870 he had reached the position of general superin- tendent of the "Monon."
In 1880 he built the Monon branch from Delphi, to Chicago; prior to this time in 1865, he superintended the building of the J., M. & I. Railroad between New Albany and Jeffersonville, and was for three years agent of that line. After the completion of the "Monon" he retired from railroad service.
In 1868 he was one of the originators and stockholders in the New Albany Steam Forge-now the New Albany Steam Forge Rolling-mill-which was first organized with $50,000 capital, and now has $175,- 000 capital, Mr. Charles Sackett being president.
Mr. Day has also managed extensive lumber interests. He has not however been engaged in very active business dur- ing the last five years.
He was twice elected to the City Council from the second ward, and distinguished his terms in that body by his vigorous work in favor of municipal economy and honesty.
In 1884 he was elected to the State Senate from the counties of Floyd and
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Washington, and was chairman of the com- mittee on Congressional and Senatorial Ap- portionment for the redistricting of the State in 1884.
In the session of 1886 he was chairman of the Committee on Railroads was on the Committee on Corporations, on Swamp Lands and Claims. He had served on all these committees in the session of 1884-5, and on the Committee on Banks and County and Township Business.
He has been an Odd Fellow since in 1862.
In 1866 he was married to Miss Mary A. Hangary, a native of Pennsylvania. Two sons and a daughter have born of this union ; all are living.
JOHN DINKLE was born in Floyd county, Ind., Dec. 14, 1867, and WILLIAM DIN- KLE was born March 7, 1862. They are sons of Henry W. and Malinda (Rue) Dinkle, natives of Germany, who came to America some half a century ago. They came when sailing vessels were the mode of travel between the Old World and the New, and were six weeks in making the voyage. When Mrs. Dinkle's parents settled in Floyd county, there had been few improve- ments made in the face of the country. Hence the changes that have taken place since then are wonderful in the extreme. Their children were Lizzie, Malinda, Henry, Will- iam, John and Maggie. They all live in Floyd county. John and William Dinkle were brought up on their father's farm, and were educated in the common schools of the county. The Dinkle boys, as they are familiarly called, are young and intelligent men, and enterprising farmers. They are considerably interested in the culture of fruit, and their farm near Edwardsville is a model of neatness, and contains 38 acres
in a high state of cultivation. They also own 95 acres in Georgetown township. They are fast accummulating wealth, and are among the most prosperous men of their neighborhood.
NORTON B. DUNCAN was born in Floyd county, Ind., on tlie 23d of Novem- ber, 1835, and is a son of James T. and Kitty (Bateman) Duncan, the former born in Jefferson county, Ky., and the latter in Indiana. The Duncan family' can be traced back to the Duncans of Westmore- land county, Va. The father of James T. was Charles Duncan, a son of Henry Dun- can, born in Virginia, and whose father, Coleman Duncan, was one of the pioneer's of Kentucky. He was a zealous Whig when that title was applied to the patriots in contradistinction to the Tories, during our Revolutionary period. He was a sol- dier in the war of the Revolution, and came to Kentucky about 1793. His father, Henry Duncan, was the first of the family born in America (born 1710, and died in 1790), and from him descended, directly or indirectly, the Braggs, Asburys, Browns, Lewises, Whites, Hutts, etc. His parents came from Scotland, where, as all who are familiar with Scottish history, know the family was not only one of prominence, but noble, with the blood of kings coursing in their veins. Duncans have even occu- pied the throne of Scotland. The subject of this sketch, Norton B. Duncan, was brought up on the farm, and received his education in the common schools of the county. He learned the tanning business, which he followed until 1866, when he sold out to his brother Charles. He then made a trip west as far as Iowa, where he remained three years; then returned to In- diana. Later he removed to Illinois, but
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still not satisfied he again came back to Indiana, and accepting the tradition that "a rolling stone gathers no moss," he set- tled down permanently where he now lives. In April, 1858, he was married to Miss Jennie Garrison, a daughter of Gamaliel and Priscilla (Daily) Garrison, the former a native of New Jersey, and who came to Indiana in a very early day. He was a surveyor and did much surveying in Floyd county, and lines and corners established by him are still considered indisputable. Priscilla Daily Garrison's family was of English descent. Mr. and Mrs. Duncan have never had any children, but have raised two children, viz : William B. Hink- ley, now agent of the American Express Company at New Albany, and James Dun- can, from infancy to manhood. Mr. Dun- can has 52 acres of highly improved land, and upon which he cultivates small fruit. He belongs to the Masonic fraternity, and is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
GEORGE W. FISHER is a native of Floyd county, Ind., and was born October 9, 1832. He is a son of Jacob and Jane (Thomas) Fisher, the former a native of Pennsylvania, but of German descent, and the latter a native of Virginia. Her fam- ily moved from there to Missouri when it was the frontier of civilization, and there most of them sickened and died. George W., the subject of this sketch, was raised on a farm, and educated in the common schools, his education being limited. In 1858 he was married to Miss Sarah E. Moser, born in 1838 in Floyd county, and a daughter of John Moser and Mary (Betty) Moser, the latter a native of Tennessee. She is still living, at the age of 75 years. She had four sons in the late Civil War, all of whom are dead, except one. Mr. and
Mrs. Fisher have had five children, viz : Catherine, born in 1859, married to George Jones, and lives in Texas ; Alice M., born in 1861, and married to John Govern; Georgiana, married to William Capper, and lives in Edwardsville; Horatio, born Sep- tember 11, 1866, and died at the age of five years, and Hattie B., still at home with her parents. Mr. Fisher enlisted in August, 1862, in Co. A, Eighty-first Indi- ana Volunteer Infantry, and participated in the following battles : Perryville, Edge- field, Murfreesboro, Chattanooga, Chicka- mauga, Missionary Ridge, Kenesaw Moun- tain, Buzzard Roost and Atlanta. In 1864 he was transferred to Louisville, Ky., and placed on duty there, taking men from one point to another. May 26, 1865, he was mustered out of the service, and hon- orably discharged.
CAPT. ANDREW FITE was born in Clark county, Ind., July 7, 1832, but was reared in Harrison county. He graduated from the Floyd County Seminary, at Green- ville, where he was an assistant teacher and where he received a certificate to teach. At the inauguration of the present school system of Indiana he began to teach, and continued as a teacher four years. In 1855 he commenced the business of a carpenter and joiner and house-building contractor, continuing at it till 1862, when he enlisted as private in Co. C, Sixty-sixth Indiana Infantry. He was in the battle at Richmond, Ky., with his regiment. He marched with Sherman to the sea, through Georgia, North and South Carolina, Vir- ginia, and to Washington City, taking part in all the battles of that memorable and brilliant campaign, and was honorably mustered out at Washington City in June, 1865.
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Since the war he has been doing noble work for the Grand Army of the Republic. He organized Sanderson Post, No. 191, at New Albany, and about twenty Posts in other parts of Indiana. He was senior vice-department commander in 1886, and is now department inspector. He was pro- moted during the war to orderly sergeant and declined a promotion to a captaincy tendered him. In 1854 he married Miss Nancy Speake, of Floyd county, Ind., who died in 1857, leaving one child, which sur- vived but a short time. In 1860 he mar- ried Miss Levinia Sappenfield, of Harrison county, Ind. They have no children. He is the son of John Fite, a native of Penn- sylvania, and Eliza Starr, a native of Kentucky. They came to New Albany in 1816, the year Indiana was made a State. The town then had but three business houses, one of these being the trunk of a large sycamore tree on the river bank, and there were not to exceed twenty residences.
SHERMAN FRISBIE was born at Mill- town, Crawford county, Ind., June 21, 1839. He was reared at Milltown until he was seventeen years old, when he was sent to the Bliss Academy, at New Albany, Ind., where he completed his education. After his graduation he secured a position as second clerk on a steamboat on which his brother Junius L. was chief clerk. He con- tinued as clerk on various steamboats for several years, running between Louisville and New Orleans. In 1864 he and his brother Junius L. purchased the steamboat Idaho, which they run in the Louisville, New Albany and New Orleans trade, selling this boat in 1865. He then quit the river and took the management of the large busi- ness of his father, who had removed from Milltown to New Albany. His manage-
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