Counties of Clay and Owen, Indiana : Historical and biographical., Part 48

Author: Blanchard, Charles, 1830-1903, ed
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Chicago : F.A. Battey & Co.
Number of Pages: 982

USA > Indiana > Clay County > Counties of Clay and Owen, Indiana : Historical and biographical. > Part 48
USA > Indiana > Owen County > Counties of Clay and Owen, Indiana : Historical and biographical. > Part 48

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ALEXANDER JOHNSON was born in West Virginia, June 11, 1820. His father was of Irish descent, born in 1788, his mother of German, born in 1792, in Virginia. They had seven sons, of whom five are living. Alex- ander is the second. At the age of eighteen he and a brother commenced merchandising in Calhoun County, W. Va., continuing about eight years. He then spent two years on a farm, but, as his inclinations did not turn in that direction, he learned the carpenter's trade, which he has followed ever since. In 1859, he moved to Clay County, Ind., where he has since resided. He has been married three times, first to Judith Bennett, September 4, 1845. To this marriage were born four children-Levi W., born December 31, 1846 ; Elizabeth, born June 18, 1848 ; Perry, born December 6, 1852, and Sylvanus. Mrs. Johnson died in 1855. His second marriage to Frances A. Modesitt, occurred September 18, 1858. She died November 12, 1862, leav- ing no children. His third marriage was to Sarah Jane Shepherd, aged six- teen years. She had two children, an infant (deceased) not named ; and Charles W. They have not lived together since 1873. Mr. Johnson has been a member of the Masonic fraternity, and is a member of Y Lodge, No. 1982 of the Knights of Honor.

ETNA LAWRENCE is a native of Illinois, born February 18, 1832. His father was Lyman Lawrence, born in 1799, died February 27, 1879.

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His mother, Rhoda (Onley) Lawrence, born in 1810, died in 1864. When Etna was about a year old, his parents removed to Ohio, where he was raised and educated. In 1856, he moved to Posey Township, a short dis- tance from where he now lives, and engaged in manufacturing measures, one-half bushels, etc. He was successful in this business, making enough to enable him, in 1878, to buy a farm with the proceeds, where he now lives. It is a farm of ninety acres, well cultivated and with substantial improve-

ments. He was married, December 9, 1855, to Eliza Wickiser, born April 21, 1832. The following-named children have been born to them : Ovid O., born October 12, 1857 ; George D., June 29, 1860 ; Lyman E., October 8, 1862 ; Ida May, May 15, 1865 ; infant (unnamed), born September 3, 1870, died November 26, 1870 ; Mattie B., born December 7, 1872. Mr. Lawrence in his younger days took deep interest in politics, being a Repub- lican. He is a prominent member of the Methodist Church. He is a mem- ber of Marion Grange, No. 1426, and is General Superintendent of the fair conducted under the auspices of this grange. Mr. Lawrence is a warm friend of education, and is giving his children a liberal education. His old- est son, Ovid O., is present principal of Montrose School, Terre Haute, Ind. Ellsworth graduated June 23, 1882, at the Terre Haute High School, and was editor of the High School Review, at Terre Haute until 1882. Ellsworth is the inventor of a farm gate, which is patened and is likely to become pop- ular.

MICHAEL LEHNER, general grocery and saloon, Staunton, Ind., was born in Germany, October 23, 1823, and emigrated to America in 1854, land- ing in New York City after a voyage of forty-two days. From there he went to Dunkirk, Ohio, thence to Toledo, then to Terre Haute; on the Erie Canal he worked in a brick yard as a day laborer. During the winter of 1854, he worked at coal-mining in Clay County, Ind., returning to Syra- cuse, N. Y., in 1855, where he worked at his trade, stone-cutting, for two years. During this time he was married, February 26, 1856, to Besina Cas- enhuber, born in Germany, but coming to this country when a little child with her parents. After his marriage he returned to Staunton, working at coal-mining two years. By this time he had saved from his hard years of toil, a few hundred dollars, which he invested in forty acres of land in Sec- tion 16, Posey Township, paying one-half down. Two years after he was at- tacked with a spinal disease, from which he is still an invalid. In 1872, he commenced the grocery business, and after two years returned to the farm, where he remained one year, again coming to Staunton, and purchasing the property he now occupies as a residence and store, doing a successful busi- ness, still owning his little farm, upon which a coal mine has been opened, yielding largely. He and his wife are members of the Lutheran Church. They have had seven children, five of whom are living-Mary E., Anna Bar- bara, George, Catherine and Charles. Politically he is a Republican.

JAMES T. LUCAS, agent for the Vandalia R. R. Co. at Staunton, was born at Cloverland, Clay County, February 3, 1850. His father was a pioneer in the county, and was instrumental in developing its resources. James was a teacher in the public schools some years ; was appointed to his present position in 1873. In 1879, he was married to Irene Bookhaut, of Cedarville, then telegraph operator for the Vandalia R. R. at that place. They have one child, Stella. Mr. Lucas is a member of the I. O. O. F., and a devoted friend to the fraternity. He is an active local politician, working with the Democrats. He has served two terms, from 1880 to 1882, as a member of the Town Board of Trustees, and as Town Clerk from 1882 to 1883. He is at present one of the Trustees.

JOHN M. LUCAS was born in Lawrence County, Ind., October 12, 1841. His parents, James M. and Celia (Cook) Lucas, moved in 1844 to Vigo

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County, locating at Terre Haute, where his mother died December 3, 1847. In 1849, he removed with his father to Clay County, locating in Cloverland, where the father still lives at an advanced age, having been born in 1816. Here John remained until he was twenty-one, engaged in teaming and farming. He then enlisted in Company M, Fourth Indiana Volunteer Cavalry, in July, and was mustered into service in August, 1862, and served until the close of the war. At Dalton, Ga., he was captured May 9, 1864, and held a pris- oner nine months. All this time he was confined in the prison hells of An- dersonville, Ga., and Florence. He is yet suffering from the ill treatment he received there. At the close of the war, he returned to Cloverland, and has resided there or in the vicinity ever since. In 1865, December 7, he mar- ried Elizabeth, daughter of Thomas Conacher, one of the pioneers of Posey Township. The following named children have been born to them : Charles E., born May 20, 1867, died December 15, 1869 ; Carrie E., October 30, 1868 ; Nancy C., January 10, 1871 ; Elva J., October 19, 1872 ; Rosa B., August 10, 1874 ; Laura M., May 13, 1876. Mr. Lucas settled on the farm, where he now lives, in 1867, it being unimproved land, but by hard labor he has developed one of the finest farms in this part of Posey Township. He takes an enthusiastic part in politics, giving his support to the Democrats. He was elected Justice of the Peace in 1876, and served four years. He took an active part in having the county seat changed from Bowling Green to Brazil. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity.

C. G. MCCLINTOCK, Trustee of Posey Township, is a native of the town- ship, having been born there February 3, 1840. His father, a native of Kentucky, moved to Indiana in 1833. After stopping a short time in Put- nam and Vigo Counties he settled in Clay County, where he remained until his death, which occurred in 1855. His wife survives, at the age of eighty- four years. C. G. McClintock was the tenth of twelve children, four of whom are living. His advantages of education were meager, but by application he has acquired a good business education. He followed the avocation of farming until 1881, when he moved to Staunton, where he still resides. He was married, in 1881, to Victoria Veach, aged nineteen years. In the spring of 1878, he was elected Township Assessor, and served two years. While holding this office, in 1880, he was elected Trustee, and in 1882 re-elected. He has under his charge eleven schools, all first-class. In 1862, August 18, he enlisted in Company D, Sixth Indiana Cavalry, serving three years. He was with Gen. Sherman in his " march to the sea," leaving the main army, however, at Atlanta, to proceed against Gen. Hood, and was not again under Sherman's command. He participated in the following engagements : Rich- mond, Ky., Buzzard Roost, Burnt Hickory, Cassville and Resaca.

F. B. MCCULLOUGH, M. D., is a native of Montgomery County, Ky., born October 30, 1829. His father was of Scotch-Irish extraction, his mother of German. His parents moved to Clay County when F. B. was one year old, locating in Dick Johnson Township. They were among the pioneers, and endured many hardships in clearing up a farm. He was the fourth in a family of ten children, five of whom are living. His early life was spent on a farm, where he enjoyed the advantages of the common country schools. He began teaching in 1847, which fact identifies him with the early teachers of the county. He taught until 1860, when he began the study of medicine under Dr. Wardlaw, of Williamstown. He continued his studies four years, attending one term of lectures at Rush Medical College, Chicago. He has practiced in this county since 1864. In 1862, he married Mary, daughter of Archibald Johnson (who represented Montgomery and Parke Counties in the State Legislature from 1878 to 1880), and an accomplished lady. Five children have been born to them, two of whom are living. In

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his early days he took an active part in politics. He is a prominent mem- ber of that branch of the Christian Church known as " New Lights."

DR. J. C. McGREGOR is a native of Jefferson County, Ohio, born February 25, 1821, and son of Samuel and Margaret (Curry) McGregor. His early youth was spent on the farm where he attended the common school until about fifteen years of age, when he entered Cove Academy, West Vir- ginia, where he remained until eighteen, after which he taught in the common schools of Ohio four years. He then began the study of medicine under Dr. J. E. Charles at New Cumberland, Tuscarawas Co., Ohio, pursuing his studies three years, when he entered the office of Dr. E. Swift, at Cincinnati, and attended the Ohio Medical College, in that city, where he graduated in the spring of 1845. In the same year he commenced the practice of medi- cine in the neighborhood of his old home, remaining two years, then moving to Holmes County, thence to Illinois, where he had an extensive practice, remaining until 1866, when he moved to Clay County, Ind., locating in Po- land, where he practiced until the fall of 1880, when his health failed and he retired from practice, and moved upon the farm where he now lives. He has a well-improved farm of 100 acres. He has acquired most of his wealth by speculating in land and grain. He has also owned an interest in several mercantile establishments. While buying wheat in Bolivar, Ohio, he met with a loss of several thousand dollars by the burning of his store and ware- house. He also lost $1,000 by the burning of the Buckeye State (a steamer on which he had goods in transportation from New York to him at Bolivar, Ohio.) He was married, April 2, 1846, to Caroline Scott, born in Washing- ton County, Penn., February 14, 1828. They have had three sons, all liv- ing in Brazil, Ind., and engaged in active business-Leonidas L., born March 29, 1847 ; Samuel M., January 17, 1849 ; Winfield Scott, February 5, 1851. Mr. McGregor takes a deep interest in public enterprises. In his younger days he was an active politician, working with the Democratic party. In the fall of 1868 he was elected to represent this county in the lower branch of the General Assembly of the State of Indiana. He left his seat when the Fifteenth Amendment came before the House for adoption, and returned home. He was re-elected at the special election in the spring of 1869, and served the remainder of the term. Dr. McGregor and wife are members of the Presbyterian Church.

R. H. MODESITT was born in Posey Township, Clay Co., Ind., Novem- ber 4, 1854. His parents were William and Letitia (Crabb) Modesitt. He remained upon the farm with his parents until he was nineteen years of age, attending the district schools until he had acquired sufficient knowledge to admit him to the Indiana State Normal School (a professional school for training teachers), which he entered in the spring of 1875, teaching in Vigo County the following winter, again attending school in the spring of 1876, also of 1877. He commenced teaching in the common schools of Clay County the winter of 1876-77, where he continued seven consecutive win- ters. He was married, June 6, 1880, to Mary E. Lehner, born June 5, 1857. She was an accomplished lady and teacher in the public schools of Posey Township for several years. She fell a victim to consumption, and died July 8, 1883, greatly mourned. Mr. Modesitt moved, in June, 1882, to Seelyville, Vigo County, where he now lives, engaged in grocery business. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church ; is also a member of the I. O. O. F., having joined in 1878. Politically, he is a Democrat. He was a Justice of the Peace at Staunton, Ind., from 1880 to 1882.

JOSEPH OLIVER was born in Butler County, Ohio, January 20, 1842. His father, Montgomery, was a native of New York, born December 26, 1811, his mother, Catherine (Harr) Oliver, was a native of Ohio, born Jan-

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uary 5, 1825, and is still living with her son Joseph. The father died No- vember 15, 1860. Joseph is the eldest of eight children, five of whom are living, one in Kansas, one in Illinois, the others in Clay County, Ind. He left Ohio at the age of fourteen years, coming with his parents to Clay County, Ind., settling on the farm where he still resides. Born and bred upon a farm, his inclination has always been in favor of farm life. He has only an ordinary education, but takes a great interest in current literature. October 7, 1861, he enlisted in the Nineteenth United States Infantry, and was assigned to Company D, where he served until after the battle of Chickamauga, when his company was so badly mutilated, the remnant was assigned to Company C of the same regiment. He participated in some of the most closely-contested battles of the war, displaying gallantry at Mission Ridge, Dalton, Resaca, Ga., and Kenesaw Mountain. He has the record of being a brave and uncomplaining soldier, never flinching from duty. He was honorably discharged October 8, 1864, at the expiration of the time for which he enlisted. At the battle of Jonesboro he received a slight wound. At the close of the war he returned to his agricultural pursuits in Clay County. In politics, he advocates the principles for which he fought, and votes the Republican ticket. He is a member of the G. A. R., also a mem- ber of the Masonic fraternity.

ALLEN F. PAYNE is a native of Spencer County, Ky., born July 13, 1826. His father, J. C. Payne, was of English descent, born in Prince Will- iam County, Va., in 1792, and died in 1838. His mother, Rebecca (Mercer) Payne, was born in Spencer County, Ky., in 1797, of parents of German and Irish extraction. Allen moved with his parents, in 1828, to Vigo Coun- ty, Ind., where he spent the early part of his life on a farm. In 1846, he left the farm and engaged as deck-hand on a steamboat running on the Wabash, Ohio and Mississippi Rivers. He next went as cook on a schooner, making several trips across Lake Pontchartrain. He returned to Vigo County, Ind., in the spring of 1847; worked in a lard factory in winter, and worked at boating wood and lumber on the Wabash and Erie Canal in sum- mer, until 1859. In 1859, he opened a coal slope in Vigo County, where he worked until 1862; when he moved near Staunton, Clay County, working still at mining coal till 1868, when he removed to Newburg, where he has been engaged in mining nearly ever since. On February 18, 1850, he mar- ried Mary Ann Jewell, who was born April 24, 1831. Six children have been born to them-John C., born February 22, 1851; William J., born April 10, 1855; Sophronia, born August 14, 1857; Thomas J., born Febru- ary 23, 1859, died October 6, 1878; Lincoln, born December 2, 1861, and Re- becca H., born August 12, 1869. Mr. Payne attended school but four months in his life, but by his own unaided efforts, has acquired consider- able information. He became a member of the Friendly Grove Baptist Church, in Vigo County, in 1849, but belongs to no church now. He is Chaplain of Staunton Lodge No. 27, I. O. G. T. He represented Staunton Lodge, No. 309, I. O. G. T., at the annual session of the Grand Lodge of the. State, in 1873.

DR. J. H. PAYNE, practicing physician, Newburg, Ind., was born in Sul- livan County, Ind., June 29, 1853. His parents. W. J. and Caroline Payne, moved, when he was four years old, to Vigo County, near Centerville, where. he remained until manhood. He attended the common schools until about sixteen years of age, when he entered the high school, at Sullivan, Ind., and con- tinued until within a short time of graduation. He then commenced teaching, attending Normal School in the spring and summer, and teaching in winter. He taught six years also pursuing the study of medicine with Dr. F. M. Pickens, a graduate of Rush Medical College, Chicago, continuing his studies

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until 1880, when he began practicing medicine in Vigo County, near Seely- ville. Here he remained until the fall of 1882, when he entered upon a suc- cessful practice at his present location. He was married, August 6, 1882, to Rosetta, the accomplished daughter of George C. Ruggles, a prominent farmer of Vigo County. Mr. and Mrs. Payne are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Centerville, where they have held a membership sev- eral years. He is a prominent member of the I. O. G. T., at Staunton.

HENRY M. PIERCE, EsQ., proprietor of the stone quarry at Newburg, is a native of Bradford County, Penn., born September 9, 1844, and the eld- est of five children of Chester and Harriet (Lilley) Pierce, all of whom are still living. He spent the early part of his youth on a farm in Pennsylvania, where he acquired most of his education. His first start in business was as assistant book-keeper in a coal office at Elmira, N. Y., his employer being President of the north branch of the Pennsylvania Canal. Here he remained one year, then went to Pittston, Penn., where he was collector in a collec- tor's office, remaining there until 1863, when he came to Clay County, Ind. Here he taught school in the winter of 1863 and 1864, enlisting in the spring in Company K, One Hundred and Thirty-third Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and serving four months. On his return from the army he again taught school in the winter of 1864-65, at Center Point, Clay County. In January, 1865, he re-enlisted in Company D, One Hundred and Forty-ninth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, serving one year, the full time of his enlistment. On his return, he was employed as clerk one year for J. Wardlaw, at Staun- ton, after which, in connection with his brother-in-law, W. H. Carpenter, he started a store of general merchandise in Center Point where he remained six years, serving also as Postmaster during his stay. He was married, April 23, 1867, to Mira J., daughter of Martin H. Kennedy, one of the early settlers and prominent farmers of Clay County. To them have been born the following children-Elmer C. and Elmo M. (twins), born December 17, 1867; Harriet S., November 8, 1869, died October 25, 1882; Ida L., born April 3, 1872; Guy H., born September 3, 1876, died October 16, 1877; Leo A., born August 16, 1879, died August 22, 1879; baby (unnamed), born February 27, 1882. From Center Point he moved to Newburg, where he dealt in general merchandise, and was Postmaster. In 1877, he left mer- cantile business and went to farming, also giving his attention to the stone quarry. In 1882, he quarried 10,000 cubic feet. The stone is a blue sand- stone of a fine quality; lies in five ledges from one to one and one-half feet thick, with from three to seven feet of stripping. He is also a contractor, employ- ing masons to lay walls of the stone. His principal market is at Brazil, Ind. He owns one-half interest in the Brazil marble works. He formerly owned three-fourths of the stock of the U. M. Coal Company's shaft, being one of the proprietors. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, also of I. O. O. F., and the G. A. R., and the Knights of Honor. Mr. Pierce takes an active interest in politics, being identified with the interests of the Re- publican party. He is Justice of the Peace, having been appointed by the County Commissioners in 1880.

HON. F. J. S. ROBINSON, a native of Fayette County, Ind., was born September 19, 1845, his parents being James and Eliza (Sutcliffe) Robinson. When six years old, his parents moved to Clay County where they remained four years upon a farm, going then to Greencastle, thence, in 1855, to Mis- souri, where the mother died on November 27, same year. After a stay of two years, the father returned with his family to Clay County, Ind., locating in Harmony, then a small hamlet of four houses, where he engaged in mer- chandising until 1865, when he sold out and moved to Cloverland ; managed a flour mill until 1867, when he emigrated to Kansas, his son remaining in

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Cloverland, where he has resided ever since. At the age of twenty years, he entered the college at Westfield, Ill., and remained two years, then clerked a year. In the winter of 1868-69 he taught, and in the spring bought a half interest in the store where he had been salesman, continuing this partnership until 1876, when Mr. Robinson became sole proprietor. His partner had been Postmaster, and on his retirement, Mr. Robinson received the appointment, and filled the office until he sold his store in 1881. He has since been engaged in farming, having a nice farm and the finest house in Cloverland. August 21, 1870, he married Laura, the accomplished daughter of George Carpenter, an early settler of Posey Township. The following-named children have been born to them : Archie Cliffe, born January 28, 1873, died September 10, 1874; M. Telulah Nye, born October 23, 1875 ; James A., born April 10, 1878 ; George H. W., born August 3, 1880, died September 13, 1881 ; Fred L., born October 19, 1882. Politically, Mr. Robinson advocates the ideas of the Greenback party, having assisted in the organization of that party in this county in 1874, and has ever since been one of its active workers. He appeared in 1878 as the National candidate for Representative of Clay County, but was defeated. In the campaign of 1880, he was the National candidate for Presidential Elector of the Eighth Indiana Con- gressional District, but failed to receive the requisite number of votes. In 1882, he reappeared as the National candidate for Joint Representative of Putnam, Hendricks and Clay Counties. The Democrats being largely in the minority put no candidate in the field, but indorsed the nomina- tion of Mr. Robinson, giving him their support at the polls. This time he defeated the Republican candidate, and served in the Fifty-third Session of the General Assembly of the State of Indiana, with honor to himself and satisfaction to his constituents. Mr. Robinson is an enterprising and progressive man, favoring all things which tend to elevate humanity. He is a prominent member of the United Brethren Church at Cloverland. He is a charter member of the Grange Lodge, No. 1,674 ; also a charter member of Lodge No. 1,083, of the Knights of Honor.

GEORGE RINGO, one of the oldest residents of Posey Township, is a native of Henry County, Ky., born December 19, 1819, and the second of ten children of Major and Elizabeth (Bryan) Ringo, five only of whom are living, three sons and two daughters, the sons living in Posey Township, the daugh- ters, one in Jackson County, Ill., the other in Boone County, Ind. The par- ents came to Clay County, Ind., in 1833, April 23, settling in Posey Town- ship, near the home of George Ringo. The country was then a wilderness, covered with woods, and wolves were very numerous, making night hid- eous with their howling. By hard labor and the aid of an industrious family, he developed a farm of great excellence. Mr. Ringo's early educa- tion was limited, owing to meager opportunities, but being ambitious and studious, he succeeded in obtaining sufficient education to start in business for himself at the age of twenty-one years. He has been twice married ; first, April 15, 1841, to Amanda Beaty, who was born January 14, 1820, died April 26, 1856, leaving eight children, all living in Posey Township- Finley and Corrinna, twins, born December 11, 1841; Angeline, March 27, 1844 ; Warren, February 14, 1846 ; Morgan H., December 10, 1847 ; Caro- line, December 27, 1849 ; Elizabeth, July 25, 1852 ; Allen, July 1, 1855. His second marriage occurred October 22, 1857, to Judith, daughter of Brooks and Nancy Modesitt, old settlers of the county. Mrs. Judith Ringo was born April 20, 1817. Mr. Ringo is one of the leading farmers of this region, his farm consisting of 346 acres, well improved. Politically, he is a Democrat, and takes an active part in politics, and the success of his party

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Counties of Clay and Owen, Indiana : Historical and biographical., Part 48

Author: Blanchard, Charles, 1830-1903, ed Publication date: 1884 Publisher: Chicago : F.A. Battey & Co. Number of Pages: 982

Author: Blanchard, Charles, 1830-1903, ed
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Chicago : F.A. Battey & Co.
Number of Pages: 982