USA > Indiana > Clay County > Counties of Clay and Owen, Indiana : Historical and biographical. > Part 35
USA > Indiana > Owen County > Counties of Clay and Owen, Indiana : Historical and biographical. > Part 35
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release, he was returned to the Union lines at City Point, thence to An- napolis, Md., where he received care and clothing, and thence to Camp Chase, Ohio, where he was discharged September, 1865, by reason of his disabilities, but in about two months he re-enlisted in the Third Penn- sylvania Cavalry, in which regiment he served until the close of the war. For nearly four years he was a soldier, and as one of his country's de- fenders he has left a brilliant record. After his return home, he worked as a printer in various places until 1872, when he purchased the Watch- man, at Tamaroa, Ill. After nearly one year's publication, he sold the office and again worked as journeyman, and in 1873 was made foreman of the Shelbyville Leader, and remained there until 1874, when he, with a partner, became publisher of the Newton Press; at the end of a year he went to Olney, Ill., and took the foremanship of the Times; thence to Greencastle, Ind., where he assumed the management of the Banner, remaining there five years ; thence to Terre Haute, Ind., where he pur- chased an interest in the Saturday Night. In a short time, however, he came to Brazil, and engaged as a printer on the Clay County Enterprise, where he is now. On April 21, 1872, he was married to Louisa Arnold, a native of Illinois, born May 13, 1853. They have two children, viz., Joseph Albert and Carrie Edna. He had one child by a previous mar- riage-Walter Benson. Mr. Levis is a leading member of the I. O. G. T .; is industrious and attentive to business.
W. D. LONG, proprietor and manager of the Clay Hotel, Brazil, Ind., was born in Shelby County, Ky., in 1820, and came to Indiana in 1854, and farmed until 1865, when he embarked in the mercantile trade at Bowling Green. This he followed for eight years, when he ran a hotel at the same place for two years, when, with a view of giving his children better educational advantages, he moved to Greencastle, Putnam County, where he also continued in a hotel. At the end of three years he returned to Bowling Green, and remained there until 1882, when he moved to Brazil and took the management of the Clay Hotel, which hostelry he is now conducting with profit to himself and satisfaction to his patrons. His house is a popular resort for the weary traveler.
ARCHIBALD LOVE, County Commissioner of Clay County, was born in Scotland January 15, 1826, and is the eldest of seven children of John and Agnes Love, both of Scotch extraction. The father was a miner, and Archibald was reared as one, and has followed that occupa- tion to within the last seven years. In 1845, he was married to Jeannette Hamilton, who was a Highland Scotch lassie. To them were born six children, four of whom are living, viz., John, Charles, Agnes and Jesse. Mr. Love emigrated to the United States in 1839, and located not far from Pittsburgh, Penn., following mining for about three years; then he was a contractor on the tunnels of the Pennsylvania Central Railroad; also superintended a tunnel on the Steubenville & Indiana Railroad. In 1854, he removed to Cloverland, Vigo County, remaining there one year, when he purchased some land in Jackson Township, Clay County ; remained on it seven years, still following mining, however. He opened a mine on his farm, where he lost, during the years 1873 and 1874, be- tween $3,000 and $4,000. Never yielding to reverses, however, he, in 1861, moved to Brazil, where only one mine had yet been opened in the vicinity, and was employed as a miner for one man nine years. In the meantime, he purchased an interest in a mine, but disposed of it about the year 1869, but still continued the management of mines for
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some time, when, in 1873, he retired from the business entirely, and oc- cupied his time in looking after his various investments in town proper- ty and land, owning two small farms and a number of pieces of property in Brazil, which, through industry and strict economy, he had accumu- lated. His wife dying March 28, 1876, he married for his second wife Mrs. Calasty Ward. This event occurred January 1, 1877. Mrs. Love, bis present wife, has borne her husband three children, viz., Mary, Anna and Martha. In 1880, Mr. Love became the candidate of the Republican party for County Commissioner, and was elected. He has always been a stanch Republican in politics. He has been a consistent member of the Presbyterian Church since he was twenty years of age; is also a member of the Universal Brotherhood. He is an upright citizen, a good neigh- bor and a worthy official.
PETER THOMAS LUTHER, junior member of the law and real es- tate firm of Matson & Luther, was born in Harrison Township, Clay Co., Ind., October 18, 1844, and was the eighth of eleven children of William and Charlotte (Stroud) Luther, and of German descent. The father came from North Carolina to Indiana in 1818, and settled on a farm in Crawford County. The subject of this sketch is the only sur- viving member of the family. He attended common school until nine- teen years of age, then taught school until he attained his majority, when he entered the university at Bloomington, Ind., where he remained until 1866. After his return home, he was elected by the Democrats to the office of County Surveyor, and filled the place two years. Before the ex- piration of his term, he was nominated for County Recorder, and, his past official record being satisfactory, was elected by a handsome major- ity, and served faithfully four years. His party, confiding in his ability and integrity, placed him, in 1872, upon their ticket for Clerkof the Circuit Court, but there being a political revolution, the whole Demo- cratic ticket was defeated. He then formed a law partnership with Samuel M. McGregor, at Bowling Green, which continued until 1874, when he assumed the management of the Clay County Herald, the Dem- ocratic organ, leaving it in 1875 to become editor and publisher of the Weekly Echo at Brazil, which he ably and profitably managed two years, when he left the journalistic field to again enter the political arena. He served as Deputy Clerk one year, and as Deputy Sheriff two years. He then resumed the law, also making abstracts of title of Clay County, in partnership with Bowman, who retired in 1882, when the present firm
was established. Prior to the year 1873, he had accumulated a hand- some fortune, which was swept away in the panic of that year. Mr. Luther was married, August 29, 1867, to Mary E. Crist, of Clay Coun- ty. Five children have been born to this union, viz., Minnie R., Will- iam Pitt, Nellie and James Crist (deceased), the other dying in infancy. Mr. Luther holds to the faith of the Seventh-Day Adventists. He is a member of many of the leading secret societies, and a strong advocate of temperance.
SALEM H. LYBYER, son of Daniel S. P. and Rachel (Carpenter) Lybyer, was born in Vigo County, Ind., September 9, 1845, being the third in line of eight children. His parents immigrated from Pennsyl- vania and settled in Terre Haute, Ind., in 1839, and in the sixth year of his age the family moved to Putnam County in same State, which still continues to be the family home. His father being a farmer, his early years were spent in the toil and hardships so peculiar to farm labor in
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pioneer days. In the winter months, he had the advantage of the public schools to which he walked a distance of two and one-half miles, the terms being only from two to three months in length, and the teachers being remarkable more for their skill in the use of the rod than for their great scholarship. At the age of ten, he commenced the study of Ray's Higher Arithmetic, and, as was the usual custom, he continued this study for five consecutive years, each term commencing again at the beginning of the book for the benefit of the new scholars and those entering from the pri- mary class, and at the end of the fifth year the class had been so thor- oughly drilled in the mysteries of "vulgar fractions," that there was nothing the big boys were more familiar with, unless it was " playing mar- bles," " three-cornered cat," or " bull pen." Vivid recollections of the master's skill in the use of the rod appear to be indelibly stamped at least upon his memory, especially upon one occasion when he was in- vited to remain after school hours in the evening, but concluded to take "French leave;" the teacher being, however, the faster runner of the two, he was again returned to the schoolhouse, where a double dose of witch-hazel was freely administered. The greater part of his youthful education was, however, received at home, sitting by the fireside, reading and studying by the dim light of the fire place or a tallow dip. On the 21st of August, 1863, and in the seventeenth year of his age, he enlisted as a recruit in Company C, of the Sixth Indiana Cavalry, his brother Andrew being a member of this company, and it having already been in service about eighteen months. Being so small, so youthful in appear- ance, and of such light weight-only weighing 117 pounds-they hesi- tated to accept him. He, however, was enlisted as a bugler for the com- pany, but, on being mustered in, peremptorily refused to act in this capacity, giving as his reason that he did not propose to blow a horn at the rebels while they were shooting bullets at him. Within a week after joining the regiment, they were ordered by rail to Lexington, Ky., and from there marched eastward some forty miles to Mount Sterling, where they were detailed to look after the " bushwhackers " and " illicit distilleries." From here they were ordered in November about 100 miles further southwest, to Somerset, Ky., and started on a raid to Jamestown, Tenn., some seventy-five miles distant, passing the battle- field of Mill Spring, where the gallant Gen. Zollicoffer fell; thence back to Somerset. From here Company C was ordered to Camp Pitman, where they met Maj. Gen. Foster, and acted as his escort to Tazewell, Tenn., where they arrived just after the battle of "Walker's Ford." Here the boy soldier, for he was the smallest and youngest in the com- pany, had the honor of being detailed to act as orderly and courier to Gen. Foster, a post not only of danger, but also of responsibility, and which he held until Gen. Foster was sent to Knoxville to relieve Gen. Burnside of the command of the Army of East Tennessee; the regiment in the meantime arrived at Tazewell, and were deployed as guards at the different fords on Clinch River, to prevent the enemy getting possession of Cumberland Gap, the only available place for miles to cross the mountains, and thereby protect the rear of our army at Knoxville. The Company was next detailed to guard a telegraph office at Thorn Hill, which connected with Foster's army, who were at this time being driven westward down Powell's Valley by Gen. Longstreet, and on the 14th of December, at 4 P. M., word was sent by the pickets that a body of the enemy's troops were coming westward down the valley on the north side of
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the mountain, and were only a few miles distant. A battle was raging on the other side of the mountain between the two armies only about six miles away, and the Captain ascended the mountain to get a view of the en- gagement, and in the excitement of the moment the Lieutenant in charge took the Company and advanced to meet the rebels coming down the valley, but they soon discovered that it was no Kentucky bushwhacking skirmishing that they had now on their hands. The rebel brigade was led by Gens. Carter and Jones, and in less than thirty minutes the com- pany was completely routed. Those who were not taken prisoners either crossed the mountains to the main army or found their way back to Tazewell, and only seven of the whole company saved their horses and camp equipage, the two Lybyer boys being among this number, although at one time being within seventy-five yards of the enemy; but while the horses of the enemy were tired and jaded, theirs were fresh and they made a safe retreat, dashing forward to the music of the bullets which the " Johnnies " sent whistling about their heads.
These seven heroes succeeded by a great effort in reaching the sum- mit of Clinch Mountain this same night, and there witnessed one of the grandest sights of the rebellion. Side by side in five parallel lines on each side lay the two great armies, their camp fires stretching for miles, and only apparently about one hundred yards distant from each other, and here while preparing their evening meal, there was kept up a contin- ual fire, from the guns of the skirmishers, with an occasional charge up- on one side and a stubborn resistance on the other, and the boom and flash of the heavy artillery was a sight long to be remembered. These seven cavalrymen of Company C here, upon the top of the mountain, spread their blankets and, tired and hungry, found refreshing sleep, and in the morning after a short council they determined to return on the south side of the mountain as far as the Clinch Gap, and if possible look up their com- rades, but to their surprise they found the Gap deserted. even by the One Hundred and Seventeenth Indiana, sixth months men, who had been detailed to guard it, and who had evidently abandoned the pass at the approach of the rebels, leaving behind them nearly all their camp equipage and retreating to the main army. Here the little band, who had been fasting for almost twenty-four hours, taking advantage of what the One Hundred and Seventeenth had left behind, had quite a feast, and supplied them- selves with rations for their future march. From this point they passed down the mountain road about two miles to the place where they had encamped the day before, but found the camp completely deserted. They remained here until about 9 o'clock in the morning, when they started toward Tazewell, but had gone but a short distance when they met Maj. Carter, who had been sent to their relief with a squad of about sixty men, and with instructions to scour the valley and find what had become of Company C. They however informed the Major that, so far as they knew, they seven were all that remained of the company. They joined the squadron and returned toward their old camping ground, but before reaching it they ran into a large body of rebels, who seeing their ap- proach, concealed themselves until the squadron was almost upon them, when they opened such a raking fire as compelled them to fall back and leave the enemy in undisputed possession of the valley. It was after- ward ascertained that the rebels who routed Company C, in continuing their raid also captured twenty-one of Uncle Sam's six-mule army wagons, loaded with sugar and coffee, which were being sent as supplies
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to the main army. The boys under command of Maj. Carter returned to Big Springs, six miles south of Tazewell, and went into camp. It was on Christmas afternoon, and just as Andy Lybyer had made a pot-pie out of a big Dominic rooster that had crowed at the boys the day before, and had baked a pan of nice biscuit, he was taken down with a severe chill, and, unable to eat any of the dinner he had so carefully pre- pared, was ordered back to the hospital at Tazewell. On the fol- lowing day the squadron having been ordered to Tazewell, S. H. Lybyer, on their arrival, went immediately to the hospital to see his brother, whom he found in a very neglected condition, having had nothing but a cup of water since the day before, and lying on the floor with a blanket for a pillow, and another for a cot. The case was reported, a Surgeon was called, the patient prescribed for, and S. H. Lybyer was ordered by the Captain to turn over his horse and go to the hospital and take care of his sick brother, who was one of the bravest and best soldiers in the company. The patient grew much worse during the night, having an attack of brain fever, and for forty-eight hours raved like a madman, but it gradually wore off, and he became more rational. He then advised his brother to lay in a good supply of rations, and take the best care of himself, and then sent home a loving message, which meant that his fighting of battles were over, and that death was most likely to claim an- other victim. . These were the darkest days in the history of the subject of this sketch. The strong arm and superior judgment of this elder brother had guided and protected him in many a time of peril and need, had stood by him on the skirmish line and on the battle-field, and when tired, hungry and faint, provided for his most pressing wants; it was that he might be near to him that he was anxious to enter this part of the serv- ice, and to lose him now was a trial which was more than he could bear. But through the kindness of a merciful Providence, his life was spared, and he was so far restored to health that after a lapse of about six weeks, when a raid was made upon Tazewell by the enemy, he with others was removed to Cumberland Gap, and was fully restored. Mr. Lybyer thinks that this part of the army was more neglected and suffered more than any other, many of them being young and raw recruits, and unaccus- tomed to the hardships of a soldier's life. Fortunately for our boy sol- dier, the three most severe months of the winter campaign were spent in waiting upon the sick and wounded in the hospital. In April, the regi- ment was ordered to Camp Nelson, where they were attached to Gen. Stoneman's cavalry corps, about 7,000 strong, and here equipped for the famous march across the mountains-a march of about 300 miles to Sher- man's army without hub or spoke-one of the most celebrated marches on record, considering the great disadvantages they had to contend with. Some of the principal engagements in which they took part were Dalton, Resaca, Adairsville, Kingston, Cartersville, Burnt Hickory, Altoona, New Hope Church, Pumpkin Vine and Pine Ridge. and were the first troops to scale the dizzy heights of Lost Mountain. They then drove the enemy in their front to the Chattahoochie River, and compelled them to cross. On the 4th of July, 1864, they were in saddle all day, and drove the enemy back six miles, and refused even to dismount for re- freshments until night admonished them to halt. At other times they made their meals upon the wild huckleberries which grew in such a spontaneous abundance, but were scarcely more numerous than the rebel bullets which whistled about their ears while they were picking and par.
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taking of them. On the day before the evacuation of Resaca by the rebels, two men from each company in Stoneman's command were se- lected as a detail, and ordered to report at headquarters. The Lybyer boys were selected from Company C. These 125 select men were taken in charge of by Maj. Keo, chief of staff to Gen. Stoneman, and one of the bravest aud most daring officers in the army, and on the next after- noon at 4 o'clock, this squadron, under the command of the gallant Major, and supported by a brigade of cavalry, found themselves upon the rear of the rebel army. With turpentine, balls, pitch and matches, they made a charge on the town opposite Resaca, and on the bridge connecting the two places, and over which the rebels would be compelled to retreat. They reached the bridge and fired it, and the rebels, seeing the great danger to which they were about to be exposed, charged with infantry upon them, turned their heavy guns, and opened with a raking fire of grape and canister upon the brave band, and compelled te m to retreat, and quenched the flames; and thus, with many other daring exploits, did they constantly harass the enemy during the four weeks of their raid, and before they were returned to their respective commands.
On the 22d of July, the day on which the noble Gen. McPherson fell, and the Union forces lost 2,000 men, Mr. Lybyer was captured and taken to East Point, seven miles south of Atlanta, where he was kept with other prisoners on half rations for three days, when they were marched in the direction of Andersonville, Ga. On the morning of the third day's march, July 27, he performed one of the most daring feats of his army career-a decision prompted only by the feeling that from a rebel prison there was no escape save in death, and a life which was worse than death; and fully aware of the danger of the undertaking, he deter- mined, if possible, to make his escape, and through the kindness of a merciful Providence was successful, and very soon afterward fell in with a fellow prisoner, Lieut. George W. Bailey, of the Sixth Missouri Infantry, and whose method of escape was remarkably strange and pecul- iar. During the night while they lay in camp, he dug a shallow trench in which he placed himself, and with the assistance of his fellow prisoners so carefully covered himself that all suspicion of the living con- tents of the newly made grave was allayed, and as soon as the guard had departed with the prisoners, he resurrected himself and struck out for a more congenial clime. Of the 200 officers in the hands of the rebels, Lieut. Bailey was the only one who would undertake the perils necessary to make the escape. These two wanderers, Lybyer and Bailey, now set out to return to the Union lines, keeping on the east of the rebel lines, and after traveling two nights in the most cautious man- ner they found themselves on a plantation owned by John A. Clark, about ten miles east of Jonesboro, and about thirty miles south of Atlan- ta, and here they received the kindest attention from two old colored people, Uncle Pate and his wife, while waiting for Sherman's army to drive the rebels from Atlanta, or for a raiding party whom they might join; the only one they heard of being that of Gen. McCook, but being four miles south, and whose movements were so rapid on account of rebel pressure, that it was not deemed advisable to make the attempt. The owner of the plantation, Mr. Clark, was a true and faithful rebel, and every morning found him in Jonesboro, seeking for news, and on his re- turn one of his daughters, a very beautiful and accomplished young lady, would take the newspaper. and tripping over to the negro quarters. read
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them all the news, the negroes on our behalf being specially interested, and ten minutes later the news was delivered to the fugitives who were concealed in a thicket about 100 yards from the negro quarters. Here they remained about four weeks, their only amusement being an occasion- al fishing excursion, or lying in the cane patch and watching the darkies dancing in the back yards of their quarters. There was little danger of being molested so long as they remained in the woods, as the white folks never went there at that time, for fear of meeting a Yankee, and the most faithful friend of the Union man was the negro. Finally, becom- ing fearful that their presence might be discovered, Mr. Lybyer took some rations of corn bread in his haversack, and bidding good bye to Lieut. Bailey and his faithful colored friends, and having for a guide a power- ful young negro who belonged to the owner of the plantation joining Clark's on the east, but who feeling that he had been badly misused left his master about three years previously and secreted himself among his colored brethren of the adjoining plantations, but had even spent many a night with the negroes at home, he started out with a light heart. They took a northeasterly course, traveling all night and part of the next afternoon, and by sunset arrived at the south bank of South River, some sixty miles southeast of Atlanta, it being a point where a friend of the guide was known to cross the river at this hour, in a skiff, returning from his work. Finding their man, and dismissing the guide with thanks (for it was all he had to give), Mr. Lybyer crossed the river, and was guided several miles that same night, resting then until the evening of the next day, when he was again taken in charge by the negro who had rowed him across the river. They continued their jour- ney to a point where he was directed how to find the Georgia Railroad, running east from Atlanta, and which he struck about daybreak, and at a point about fifty miles east of Atlanta. Starting westward along this railroad, but avoiding the towns and villages, he traveled on the whole day, and in the evening reached Stone Mountain, just fourteen miles east of Atlanta, fully expecting to find the Union army near this, but was sadly disappointed, as upon inquiring of an old gentleman he learned that the " Yankees " had fallen back several days before, and were sup- posed to be still on the retreat.
Fearfully disappointed, but far from being discouraged, he took again to the woods, and started in the direction of the Chattahoochie River, a distance of twenty miles, and traveled until midnight; and weary by travel, and exhausted by hunger and want of sleep, he sank down on the grass under a small pine and immediately fell asleep. Awaking just before daylight and encouraged by the thought that before the setting of the sun, if no misfortune would overtake him, he should strike the Union lines, he started off at a brisk walk feeling perfectly safe at such an early hour, but he had gone but a short distance when he was startled by a whistle directly in front of him, and apparently very close, and a minute later a horseman rode up, and passed him unobserved on the left, and in a moment another horseman appeared on the scene, passing by on the right, but hidden among the briers. The first horseman halted near by, and returned almost to the spot where the boy lay concealed among the briers, but while the fugitive could distinctly see the enemy, he could not be seen by them, as it was scarcely light enough to discover objects lying on the ground. While the enemy were thus maneuvering, young Lybyer had quietly taken off his boots, and deliberately but cau-
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