USA > Indiana > Clay County > Counties of Clay and Owen, Indiana : Historical and biographical. > Part 100
USA > Indiana > Owen County > Counties of Clay and Owen, Indiana : Historical and biographical. > Part 100
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was promoted to a Captaincy. He served during the whole war, and took part in the following engagements: Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, the second battle of Bull Run, battle of South Mountain, Antietam, Gettys- burg, battle of the Wilderness, Spottsylvania, Cold Harbor, Petersburg and a number of others. He was married, 1843, to Mary Warner. By this union there were five children, four of them still living. He was afterward married to Mahala Howe, daughter of Thomas Howe, an old pioneer of Owen County. By this union there were three children, all of whom are still living. Capt. Patrick had as brilliant a record as a soldier as any man in Owen County, and his death, which occurred Au- gust 16, 1881, was greatly lamented by all who knew him.
ALBERT O. PATRICK is a native of Ohio, born in Bainbridge, February 22, 1846. His parents, Capt. Chauncey B. and Mary (Warner) Patrick, natives of Indiana and Ohio respectively, were married in 1843, at Bainbridge, where they remained until 185S. They then went to Cal- ifornia, where, shortly after their arrival, the mother died. The father returned to his native State, and settled in Spencer, Owen County, where he died August 16, 1881. Albert O. is the eldest child in a family of four, and until twelve years of age lived in Bainbridge, Ohio. He went with his parents to California, and remained a short time, returning thence to Indiana. In February, 1864, he enlisted in Company I, Nineteenth In- diana Volunteers, under his father, Capt. Patrick. He took part in the battles of the Wilderness, Spottsylvania, Cold Harbor, North End, Peters- burg, and a number of others, and was present at Lee's surrender. After his return from the war, he began learning the carpenter's trade with his father, and is at present one of Spencer's ablest and best workmen. He was married to Louisa A. Thorneburg in 1873. He is a member of the K. of H., and also of the Baptist Church. He is politically a Republican.
W. B. PATRICK is a native of Spencer, Owen Co., Ind .; was born in 1854, and is the son of Capt. C. B. and Mahala (Howe) Patrick. He was first taught the carpenter's trade, and subsequently learned painting, at which latter business he is now engaged, and in which he is a proficient. In 1877, he married Miss Belle Snodgrass, of Spencer, who has borne him two children-Earl G. and Florence.
SAMUEL O. PICKENS, attorney at law, is a native of Indiana. He was born in this county April 26, 1846. His parents, Daniel and Eliza Pickens, were natives of Kentucky, and came to Putnam County, this State, in 1836. In 1840, they removed to Owen County and settled in Montgomery Township, seven miles north of Spencer, where Mr. Pickens died in 1881, at the advanced age of eighty-one years, and where his widow still lives. He was a very successful farmer and stock-trader, and was a leading man in that part of the county. Samuel O. Pickens is the fifth in a family of fourteen children, and was reared in Owen County. He obtained a good education in the common schools, and also attended the State University at Bloomington for some time. He read law for about three years, and in 1873 graduated from the law department at the State University, and immediately afterward com- menced the practice of law in Spencer, and he is now the senior partner in the firm of Pickens, Moffett & Pickens. In 1876, he was elected Prosecuting Attorney of the Fifteenth Circuit, and in 1878 was re-elected by a large majority. In May of the same year, he was appointed general solicitor for the Pennsylvania Company, operating the Indianapolis & Vincennes Railroad, which position he at present fills. Mr. Pickens is a
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member of the K. of P. and of the A. F. & A. M. He married Virginia, eldest daughter of Judge W. M. Franklin, of Spencer, in September, 1872. By this union there are three children. Mr. Pickens' success as a lawyer is due in a great measure to his candor with his clients. He excels as a counselor, and in general is deemed one of the best attorneys in Owen County, and has attained a high place in the popular regard.
ALLEN PIERSON, M. D., is a native of Ohio, and was born in Muskingum County December 19, 1849. His parents, David A. and Rebecca (McLain) Pierson, immigrated to Indiana from Ohio in 1874, and located in Bloomington, Monroe County, where they now reside. Allen Pierson is the eldest in a family of four children. He was reared in Muskingum and Licking Counties, Ohio. When seventeen years of age he went with his parents to Adams County, Ohio, and while there began the study of medicine, under Dr. J. E. Pidgeon. He also attend- ed the Indiana Medical College at Indianapolis, where he graduated in 1878, after which he went to Stinesville, Monroe Co., Ind., where he entered upon the practice of medicine, and remained there until 1880. He then came to Spencer, since which time he has been in continuous practice and has established a remunerative business. He is well read, and keeps up with the advancement of the times in all matters, as well as in his profession. Dr. Pierson is Secretary of the Owen County Medical College, and is now Health Officer. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., a prominent member of the Republican party, and is one of Spencer's most respected citizens. Dr. Pierson was married, February 14, 1877, to Celestia Mavity, daughter of John and Mary Mavity, Mr. Mavity being quite a popular Christian minister of Southern Indiana. They have one child by this union-Allie.
JAMES A. RAPER, whose parents, Jesse and Mary A. (Steele) Raper, natives of Kentucky, settled in Owen County at a very early day, was born in Jennings Township, Owen County, December 17, 1856. He is the second of a family of five children, and when eight years of age went to Putnam County with his parents, and remained for four years, when they returned to Jennings Township. When twenty five years of age he came to Spencer, where he still resides. He received a good edu- cation, and, in 1875, began teaching school, in which vocation he con- tinued for eight years, about six years of that time in Jennings Town- ship, and one year in Cloverdale Township, also one term in the Owen County Schools in Clay Township. He was married, in February, 1883, to Dora Rumple, daughter of J. W. Rumple. He is at present in the employ of J. W. Rumple, proprietor of the Spencer Transfer Line.
JOHN REBERGER, a native of Ohio, was born May 16, 1834. He is the youngest child in a family of eight children born to Christian and Catharine (Riley) Reberger. His parents came to Ohio from Germany in an early day. They crossed the ocean in a sail ship, and were wrecked on the coast of Norway. It was one year and ten days from the time they started until they landed at Baltimore, without money or friends. They were obliged to work their way through, but soon earned enough to take them to Ohio, where they remained for several years. They came to Owen County, Ind., about 1858, and settled in Washington Township on a farm, and remained there until their deaths-the father dying in 1859, and the mother in 1873. John was reared in Ohio, where he re- ceived a good education. When twenty years of age, he was married to Maria Adamson, daughter of Washington and Eliza Adamson. The
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wife died in Ohio in 1857, leaving two children. After her death, he came to Owen County, Ind., and settled in Washington Township, where he remained for two years. He then went to Pike's Peak gold-diggings. In about one year, he returned to Putnam County and purchased a farm, which he still owns. He has been largely concerned with the saw-mill business in Owen County. In 1872. he returned to Spencer, bought a store room and opened a bakery, which he ran for a short time, and then returned to his farm. Shortly after leaving town, his property was de- stroyed by fire. He immediately began burning bricks for a similar structure, and finally built three large brick buildings on the south side In 1882, he purchased the
of the square, two of which he still owns.
livery stable which is now owned by Mr. Merrick, but sold the same year and bought a stable near the depot, where he now does a lucrative business. He was married, July 18, 1861, to Nancy Deal, daughter of William and Nancy Deal. By this union there are seven children. Mr. Reberger is a highly respected citizen, and always ready to aid in any public undertaking. He is, politically, a Democrat.
HARLAN RICHARDS, a native of Clark County, Ind., born in 1815, is a son of Samuel and Elizabeth (Bonwell) Richards, natives of Maryland. They were married in Kentucky, and in 1812 came to In- diana and settled in Clark County. They remained there engaged in agricultural pursuits until the father's death, which occurred in 1821. The mother came to Owen County, Ind., ten years later, with her chil- dren, and located in Spencer, where she at present lives. Harlan, until fifteen years of age, helped his mother on the farm and attended the schools in his native county. Later on in Owen County, he bought a tannery, which he managed until 1847, when he sold out and engaged in the practice of law. In 1849, he was admitted to the bar, and continued in the duties of his profession until a few years since, when he retired from business. He has disposed of all his land and property, and is spending his old age in quiet and retirement. He is a stanch Repub- lican, but was formerly a Whig. In 1852, he was married to Sarah Hooper, a native of Maryland. She died in 1861, leaving four chil- dren-Samuel, who is in Munich, Bavaria, pursuing the studies of art; Benjamin, who is living in Kansas; Thomas, a farmer in Washington Township; and William, a citizen of Spencer, a genial and very popular young gentleman, and highly esteemed both for his moral and social qualities. Mr. Richards was next married, in 1864, to Sarah J. Alverson, a native of Owen County. Her parents came to Indiana from Kentucky at an early day, and settled in Owen County. By this union there is one child-James. Mr. Richards has always been a representative citizen, and one to help advance all measures of progress and reform. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and he and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and in good standing.
JOHN C. ROBINSON, of Spencer, Owen Co., Ind., son of Osmyn and Nancy Robinson, was born in Rush County, Ind., February 29, 1840. His father, a man of great natural ability, was elected to the Legislature in 1839, where he served with distinction. He died in 1847, leaving his wife with the care of seven children, the eldest being but thirteen years of age. Mrs. Robinson, who was a woman of extraordinary endowments, succeeded, however, in properly training, educating and preparing her children for careers of usefulness. She died in June, 1876. Her son, John C. Robinson, was prepared for college at Fayetteville Academy,
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under the instruction of Prof. William M. Thrasher, now of Butler Uni- versity. He entered the Indiana State University in 1847, and graduated in 1861. During his early years, he spent much time in working on his father's farm, and it was there that he laid the foundation of that fine physical constitution which he now enjoys. During that time, however, he was developing mind as well as muscle, reading thoroughly all the leading literature of the day. He read to such purpose that, while in the academic and collegiate courses, his opponents in debate found him a for- midable adversary. After leaving college, he taught school during the win- ter months, reading at night and during odd hours, so that he might be pre- pared for the legal profession. In 1865, he commenced the practice of law in Spencer, where he now resides. During the fall of 1865, he was appointed Deputy District Attorney, in which capacity he served until 1866, when he was elected District Attorney in the district composed of Putnam, Clay, Owen and Greene Counties. In the fall of 1868, he was elected Prosecuting Attorney in the circuit composed of Morgan, Monroe, Putnam, Clay, Owen and Greene Counties, and was re-elected in the fall of 1870, by an in- creased majority. The State was never more ably represented than dur- ing Mr. Robinson's term of office. In 1872, he received the nomination of the Democratic party for Reporter of the Supreme Court, but was de- feated by Hon. James B. Black, of Indianapolis, the result of the ill- timed action of the Democratic party in attempting to defeat Grant with Horace Greeley. In 1876, he received the nomination for Judge of the Fifteenth Judicial Court, composed of Morgan, Owen and Greene Coun- ties, and was elected by the largest majority ever given to any person in the circuit, receiving over his competitor a majority of 1,300 votes. In this position, Judge Robinson displayed great legal ability. As a jurist, he ranks among the first lawyers of the State, and on the bench he was dignified in his bearing and just in his decisions. He is a man of gen- erous impulses, social and warm-hearted. After the expiration of his term of office-November, 1882-he formed a partnership with Inman H. Fowler for the practice of law, and is at present so engaged. In March, 1883, he was appointed one of the Commissioners for the location and erection of the new State Insane Asylum, and is now discharging the duties of that office. He is a consistent member of the Christian Church. For a number of years, he was President of the Indiana State Christian Sunday School Association, and took a deep interest in the success of Sun- day schools. In April, 1869, Mr. Robinson was married to Miss Martha J. Cooper, of Spencer, a lady of unusual intelligence, and a daughter of J. J. Cooper, Esq. This union has resulted in three children, two of whom are living.
JOHN W. RUMPLE, a native of Owen County, was born in Clay Township November 2, 1842. His parents, Andrew and Elizabeth (Moore) Rumple, both natives of South Carolina, came to Indiana in an early day and settled in Owen County, where they remained until their deaths. John is the eldest in a family of three children, and lived in Clay Township on the farm until his mother's death. He then went into the employ of J. Johnson, of Monroe County. He remained with him for one year, and then went to live with his grandparents in Owen Coun- ty. He continued working in this county until he was twenty-one years of age, when he enlisted in Company G, One Hundred and Fifteenth Indiana Volunteers, under Capt. Holbert. He served until March, 1864, when he returned to Owen County and went to work for Judge Franklin,
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on a farm near Spencer. In 1866, he was married to Emma J. Lansing, of Owen County. By this union there were six children, three of whom are living now. Mr. Rumple is now proprietor of the Spencer Transfer and Dray Line. He is politically a Democrat, and is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He is of good standing, and well respected by the citizens of Spencer.
J. M. SADLER was born in Monroe County, Ind., in February, 1837. His parents, W. C. and Mary C. (Wharton) Sadler, natives of Kentucky, came to Monroe County, Ind., and settled in Clear Creek Township at an early day, and continued living there until the father died in 1872. The mother is still living in Monroe County. Mr. Sadler is the eldest child in a family of thirteen children, and was reared in Monroe County, where he received a good education, and at the age of sixteen went to Louisville in the employ of Garwin, Bell & Co., a whole- sale dry goods firm of that city. He remained with that firm about five years, and then went into the general merchandise business for himself, at Solsberry, Greene County, Ind. He remained there until 1872, when he went into the notion business at Indianapolis, under the firm name of Sadler, Pee & Co., and continued there about five years. and in 1877 closed out his stock. In 1878, he came to Spencer and went into the dry goods business with his brother, and purchased an interest one year later in the grocery firm of Green & Co. In 1881, he sold his interest to Messrs. Green & Ellis, and immediately started the largest dry goods store in Owen County. He has an enormous line of dry goods, clothing, boots and shoes, hats, caps, etc., and is at present doing a lucrative busi- ness. He was married, in 1861, to Carrie R. Richey, daughter of Rev. George Richey, a prominent citizen of Licking County, Ohio. They have three children. Mr. Sadler is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and is a worthy citizen in the community in which he lives.
W. H. SECREST, second child in a family of ten, was born in Owen County, Ind., March 14, 1853. His father was born near Gosport, and lived there until about four years ago, when he died in December. W. H. Secrest was reared on the old home farm until he was eighteen years of age, when he left home to teach school near Stinesville, which he did for several years. He afterward clerked for W. H. Fritts & Son, in Gos- port, for about three years, when he removed to Spencer. In 1880, he was elected Constable, and filled the office for two years, when he was re-elected in 1882, and still holds that position. In February, 1882, he went into the saloon business with T. Keene, and is now in the same business with M. F. Branam, Mr. Keene having sold his interest. Mr. Secrest has been extensively engaged in raising hogs for several years, and financially has been quite successful. He is a member of Lodge 192, A. F. & A. M., at Gosport.
GEORGE E. SMITH, editor of the Owen County Journal, was born in Allegheny City, Penn., August 27, 1855. His father, Samuel Smith, was born near Uniontown, Penn. His mother, Elizabeth A. Bomen, was born in Baltimore, Md., and was married, October 11, 1836, at Allegheny City. George was the eighth son, and was reared in his native place until thirteen years of age. He theu came to Spencer with his mother, and has since made it his home. He has been engaged in various kinds of business in Spencer, but since May 1, 1880, he has edited the Owen County Journal, and with great success. He belongs to no religious de- nomination, but is a stanch and active worker in the Democratic ranks.
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He was married in May, 1882, to Stella Allison, daughter of Judge N. and Emma D. Allison, of Spencer, Ind. Mr. Smith is a man in good standing, and a worthy citizen. He is liberal in his dealings with all, and is highly esteemed.
JOHN M. STEWART, blacksmith, was born in Carroll County, Ohio, May 14, 1838. His parents, Joseph and Elizabeth (Moffett) Stewart, were residents of Carroll County, Ohio, for many years. His father, a native of Pennsylvania, died in 1842. The mother died in Owen Coun- ty, Ind., in 1866. John M. is the second in a family of four children, and was reared in Carroll County. He came to Owen County wben eleven years of age with his mother, and settled in Marion Township, where he remained until 1855. He then went to Ohio, and remained for nearly three years, learning the blacksmith trade. Late in 1857, he returned to Owen County, worked at his trade in Lancaster until July, 1862, and then enlisted in Company F, Seventy-first Indiana Volunteers, under Capt. Dyer. Eleven days later, he was wounded in the battle of Richmond, Ky., between the shoulders. He was captured, and held as a prisoner of war at Richmond until November, when he was sent to his home. He received his discharge on account of disabilities December 2, 1862, and for two years was almost helpless. He served part of this time as agent in different kinds of business. From 1866 to 1868, he filled the office of Postmaster at Lancaster. He then came to Spencer, where he went into partnership with a blacksmith, for the Indianapolis & Vincennes Railroad, for two years. He worked at dressing tools for a bridge company at Attica, and then returned to Spencer, where he now resides, unable to do much work on account of ill-health. He was mar- ried, July 3, 1861, to Louisa J. Rockwell, of Owen County. They have two children-boys. He is a member of the I. O. O. F. and of the G. A. R., also of the Christian Church.
W. E. SWIGERT is a native of Indiana, born in Indianapolis July 3, 1860. His parents, Peter K. and Lucinda (Smith) Swigert, were for some time residents of Indiana. The father enlisted in Company D, Twenty-sixth Indiana Volunteers, and participated in quite a number of engagements, and at the last battle on the Atchafalaya River, he received wounds which caused his death October 18, 1863. The mother is still living in Missouri. W. E. Swigert is the youngest in a family of three children, and was reared in Indiana until eight years of age, when his mother was married to Joseph W. Buchanan. They then went to Mis. souri. Ten years later Mr. Swigert returned to Indianapolis, and having while in Missouri commenced to study dentistry, on his return to Indi- ana he pursued the study for another year. He then entered the Indi- ana Dental College at Indianopolis, where he graduated at the end of the first term. In March, 1880, he came to Spencer, opened and fitted up an office for the practice of his profession, and is at present doing a successful business here. In the winters of 1880-82, he was Demonstra- tor of Mechanical Dentistry in the Indiana Dental College. He was married, September 4, 1883, to Mary Coffey, daughter of Joel and Char- ity Coffey, old and respected pioneers of Owen County.
J. N. THOMAS, third of a family of seven children, was born in Washington Township, this county, May 25, 1842. He was reared on a farm, and lived with his parents, Fountain and Christina Thomas, both natives of Kentucky, until twenty-one years of age. When quite young, he, with his parents, moved to Spencer, where he received a good educa-
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tion. He enlisted in Company F, Fifty-fifth Indiana Volunteers, under Capt. Fair, and in the fall of 1864 he returned to Spencer. His mother died in Owen County in 1878. His father still lives in this county. Mr. Thomas was married in 1864 to Mattie Allen, whose parents were among the earliest settlers of Owen County. The issue of this marriage is six interesting children, After his marriage, he farmed for five years, and then began trading in horses, and has at present a reputation of be- ing one of Owen County's most successful farmers and horsemen. Mr. Thomas and wife are members of the Christian Church.
WILSON THOMAS, a native of Kentucky, was born June 4, 1825, and came with his parents, Joseph and Susan (Wilson) Thomas, to Owen County, and settled on a farm near Spencer. Wilson is the youngest in a family of nine children, and received a fair education in Owen County. During the war, he enlisted in the Fourteenth Indiana Volunteers, under Capt. John H. Martin. After a short term of service, he enlisted in the Fifty-fifth Indiana Volunteers, under Capt. Fair. Mr. Thomas was an ordained minister, and preached the Gospel for eight years. He was formerly a member of the Christian Church, but of late years he has been one of the most active members in the Methodist Episcopal Church. He was married, August 4, 1848, to Mary A. Collier, a native of Louisi- ana, who was reared by James Allison, of Spencer, having been left an orphan when quite young. She was a widow when Mr. Thomas met her. By this union there were eight children, six of whom are now living- Emma, Nancy J., Millard F., Zachariah, Zephmier and Laurel. His wife having died, Mr. Thomas married, in Spencer, Mary M. Rumple. There were seven children by this union, four of whom still live -- Henry W. A., Virgil, Polly and Sarah I. Mr. Thomas is an active member of the Republican party.
J. F. WALDEN is a son of Jesse Walden, who came to Owen County in 1828, and remained for many years, part of which time he farmed near Rattlesnake Creek in Washington Township. In 1850, he removed to Vigo County, where he farmed for several years. J. F. Walden, the youngest child in the family, was born in Owen County September 7. 1848, and was reared in Vigo County until in his fifteenth year. He worked in a livery stable in Terre Haute for two years, and was then em- ployed in the mercantile business as clerk in Knightsville, Clay County. After four years, he learned the barber's trade, and followed it in Clay County for some time. In 1875, he came to Spencer, and worked at various employments for three years. He then opened a barber shop in the old post office block, which he ran until July, 1883. He is at pres- ent doing a lucrative business in Spencer, on the north side of square. In 1876, he was married to Mary, a daughter of Zylphia Boon, one of the first colored residents of Owen County. Mr. Walden is a member of the A. F. & A. M., and politically, he is a Republican.
S. L. WALLACE was born in Carroll County, Ohio, July 7, 1847, and is the fifth child of John and Margaret (Wiley) Wallace, both na- tives of Scotland, the latter having come to this country when quite young, the former when about thirty years of age. They were married in Ohio in 1839, and in 1853 they came to this county, where they re- mained for about three years, when they went to Vigo County, where the mother died in 1874; three years later the father died in Clark Coun- ty, Ill. S. L. Wallace received a good education, and taught school for nine years in various places, beginning when but sixteen years old in
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