USA > Indiana > Brown County > Counties of Morgan, Monroe, and Brown, Indiana. Historical and biographical > Part 74
USA > Indiana > Monroe County > Counties of Morgan, Monroe, and Brown, Indiana. Historical and biographical > Part 74
USA > Indiana > Morgan County > Counties of Morgan, Monroe, and Brown, Indiana. Historical and biographical > Part 74
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the K. of P., and also of the Methodist Church. He is a Republican, - and is highly respected as a citizen, and his legal advice is greatly sought after.
WALLACE HIGHT, farmer, was born in Bloomington, Monroe Co., Ind., May 28, 1832, and is the fourth child born to John and Elizabeth Hight. John Hight was a native of Kentucky, and after his marriage came to Bloomington in 1818. He was a saddler by trade; finally built a a tavern, and in 1836 a grist and woolen mill. He built the first flat- boat that went to Salt Creek. He died in 1878, much respected, and his wife preceded him in about 1868. Wallace was reared on a farm, and at the age of twenty learned the tanner's trade, in which he continued until the war broke out, when he had made and mounted a six-pounder bronzed cannon at his own expense, and on going to Indianapolis received a commission of Second Lieutenant in the Ninth Indiana Bat- tery. Lieut. Hight took part in a number of hard-fought battles, and when his time expired, in 1864, he went out as a sutler until the close of the war. Since his return, he has engaged in farming. His farm con- sists of 155 acres. In 1880, he was census enumerator for this town- ship, and was also.the one who circulated the first petition for building pikes in the county. He has also aided in petitioning for other improve- ments. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and a Republican. On February 26, 1852, Mr. Hight married Emily Hook, who was born in Indiana on September 22, 1832. Mrs. Hight was a daughter of Thomas and Jane (Dye) Hook, natives of Kentucky, who settled in Indiana in 1829. Mr. and Mrs. Hight have three children-Annie J., Mary J. and Wallace. They have also given a home to James Krohn, an orphan.
NATHANIEL U. HILL, one of the most prominent and successful citizens of Bloomington, was born in Clay County, Ind., June 21, 1852. He was the fourth son of six children born to Abel S. and Almira (Usher) Hill, and was reared in Brazil, Ind., where he received a good education in the public schools. When sixteen years of age, he entered the academy at Ladoga, Ind., where he remained two years. In 1870, he came to Bloomington, remaining one term in the freshman class of the State University, after which he spent one year in " Harvard College" at Kokomo, Ind. In the spring of 1872, he again entered the State Uni- versity, where he graduated with honors in June, 1875, and during the same year, took a junior law course, graduating in June, 1876. He im- mediately thereafter began the regular practice of law at Brazil, con- tinuing until July, 1878, at which time, he entered the employ of Bryson & Hill, hardware merchants of Brazil. He remained in their employ until December 31, 1879, when he was married to Miss Anna M. Buskirk, daughter of George A. Buskirk. To crown the happiness of this union, there have been born two children-Nathaniel U. and Philip K. After his marriage, he was prevailed upon to come to Bloomington and take charge of the settlement of the estate of his father-in-law (deceased), which was at that time very much complicated, through litigation and bad management. He was at once elected a Director of the First Na- tion Bank, the controlling interest of which was owned by the estate. In January, 1881, he was elected Vice President of the bank, and at present is in the discharge of his duties as such. He successfully settled up the estate, and taking the bank in its weakened condition, occasioned by the " panic," the stock having depleted until only worth in market 85 cents on the dollar, he, by untiring energy and industry, succeeded in bringing
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it to its present thrifty and substantial condition. The stock is now worth $1.25, and the bank has accumulated a surplus fund of $20,000, its capital stock being $120,000. He is a prominent member of the Ma- sonic fraternity and a stanch Republican.
CLINTON M. HOUSTON, farmer, was born in Bourbon County, Ky., on September 29, 1828, and is the son of Samuel and Morning (Adams) Houston, who were natives of Kentucky, and farmers by occupation, which they followed in their native State until their death. The paternal grandparents of our subject were natives of North Carolina. They came to Monroe County in 1828. Here they both died-the grandfather at ninety-two, the grandmother at eighty-five years of age. The maternal grandfather was a Revolutionary soldier. Our subject's father died in 1838. Mr. Houston is a self-made man. He received a common school education, and resided on a farm in Kentucky until 1840, when he came to Monroe County with his mother. She afterward went to Illinois, where she lived until her death. In 1852, Mr. H. was married to Eliza- beth, daughter of Emsley and Elizabeth (Worley) Wood. Mrs. H. was Her father
born July 5, 1833, on the farm on which she now resides. was born in Floyd County, Ind., December 16, 1800, Her mother was born in Highland County, Ohio, on September 30, 1805. They came to Bloomington among the first settlers. In 1828, he entered the farm now owned by Mr. Houston. He was considered one of the practical farmers of Monroe County, and owned at his death a large tract of unimproved land. He died on June 7, 1844. His wife died on November 8, 1864. Our subject and wife are the parents of nine children-Nathaniel C., Richard W. (deceased), Charles D., Emma E., Emsley C., Samuel F., Luella, Eva and Maggie dying in infancy. Mr. Houston and wife, are members of the Christian Church.
JOSEPH M. HOWE, one of the oldest pioneers of Monroe County now living, was born in Nicholas County, Ky., June 20, 1805. He is the seventh son in a family of eleven children born to Samuel and Eliza- beth (Showel) Howe, natives of Maryland. He was reared in Kentucky until nineteen years of age, when he came to Bloomington, Monroe County, and entered the employ of his brother, Joshua O. Howe, a mer- chant of that village. He remained with him for ten years, at which time he purchased an interest in the business, continuing for about four years, when he sold his interest. In 1842, he opened a general merchan- dise store, continuing about five years. He then erected a building on the site of the one he now occupies, which was completely destroyed by fire in August, 1873. After the destruction of this building, he erected the present edifice, and taking his son, Alfred R., into partnership, opened an immense dry goods store, under the firm name of J. M. Howe & Son, dealers in dry goods, notions, boots and shoes, hats, caps, etc. Mr. Howe is recognized as one of the most prominent and successful citi- zens of Bloomington, and for forty-five years served as Treasurer of the Board of Trustees of the State University. He has also, for forty years, been Treasurer of the Monroe County Bible Society, and for about thirty years an active and efficient member of the Presbyterian Church. In olden times, he was a Whig, and at present is a stanch Republican. In 1845, he was married to Sophia W. Walker, daughter of Judge George Walker, of Athens County, Ohio. By this union there have been born to them three children, only one of whom is now living -- Albert R., who married, April 10, 1878, Mary Frazee, daughter of Dr. L. J. Frazee, of Louisville.
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WILLIAM J. JOHNSTON, farmer, was born in South Carolina February 10, 1822, and is the son of Peter and Isabella (Wood) John- ston, natives of Scotland. Peter was born in 1795, and his wife in 1800. They were married in Scotland, and in 1820 came to South Carolina, and in November, 1845, moved to Monroe County, Ind., and settled on part of the farm now owned by our subject. They were highly respected citizens, and belonged to the United Presbyterian Church. The father died on January 28, 1874, and the mother on November 26, 1878. Will- iam J. has lived in this county since 1845, and is a very successful farmer, owning 165 acres of land with good improvements. August 17, 1848, he married Elizabeth, who was born in South Carolina, April 26, 1823, and is a daughter of John and Margaret (Kenedy) White. Mr. White was born in South Carolina in 1779, and died there January 10, 1839. His wife was a native of Ireland; was born in 1783 and died in St. Clair County, Ill., September 7, 1858. Mr. and Mrs. Johnston are parents of four children-Maggie B., born July 22, 1855, now Mrs. Har- vey A. Kirk; Cassie J., born November 9, 1857, now Mrs. C. A. Junkin; M. Alice, born October 20, 1860; and Ida S. W., born May 13, 1863. The family belong to the United Presbyterian Church, and are highly respected.
DAVID STARR JORDAN, Professor of Natural Sciences in Indi- ana University, graduated from Cornell University in 1872, with the de- gree of Master of Science, and from Indiana University in 1875 with the degree of Doctor of Medicine. In 1877, Butler University conferred up- on him the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. Previous to going to college, his life was spent on a farm at Gainesville, N. Y., where he was born (January 19, 1851), and was little different from that of other farmer boys except that he took a livelier interest in the things around him and early learned to know every fish, fowl and flower within his range. He made his own way through college by teaching winter school while on the farm, by being table waiter in a hotel while a freshman, general factotum and floor-sweeper while a sophomore, and by being awarded in a competitive examination the privilege of representing his county at Cornell. During the last two years of his college course, he served as instructor in botany. He gained his impulse to do original scientific work from being a student under Prof. Hart, then in the chair of Geology in Cornell. After graduation, he was elected to the chair of Natural Science in Lombard University, Galesburg, Ill. After teaching there one year, and a year at Appleton, Wis., he came to Indiana in 1875. After teaching natural history one year in the Indian. apolis High School, he was called to fill the chair of Natural History in Butler University, which place he held until elected to his present posi- tion in 1879. During the summer of 1873, he attended the " Harvard Summer School" at Penikese, where he availed himself of special in- struction under Prof. Louis Agassiz, who was quick to recognize in him a growing naturalist, and so recalled him to serve as teacher of bot- any at Penikese and Cumberland Gap in the summer schools held there in 1874 and 1875. After Prof. Agassiz's death, these summer schools were discontinued. Then began, under Prof. Jordan's direction, the well known "Summer Tramps " for scientific exploration, those of 1876, 1877 and 1878 being confined to interesting sections of the United States; those of 1879, 1881 and 1883 extending through the principal countries of Europe. In 1880, as special agent of the United States
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Census Bureau, he made a thorough investigation of the marine indus- tries of the Pacific coast; and as naturalist associate of the United States Fish Commission and the United States National Museum, made a full collection and an exhaustive study of the fish fauna of the same region. At various times, in the same capacity, he has made valuable collections on the Atlantic and Gulf coasts and in the West Indies, as well as from the fresh waters of the United States. The results of these investigations have taken permanent shape in a "Synopsis of the Fishes of North America" (an octavo volume of 1,100 pages prepared by Jordan and Gil- bert) published by the United States in 1882; and in upward of 200 technical papers and memoirs, chiefly on ichthyology. His "Manual of Vertebrates " (500 pages, 12mo), first published in 1876, and now in the third edition, includes much original scientific work aside from that on fishes, and is the first and only systematic key to the study of vertebrates, and is regarded as the best text book yet produced on the subject, being used as such in Michigan University, Cornell University, and many other universities and colleges. In recognition of these acquisitions to knowledge, and as a testimonial of the value of his services to science, he was awarded one of the three gold medals given to Americans by the London Fisheries Exposition in 1883, for excellence in original scientific work .-- W. W. S.
MOSES KAHN, the only son of Adolph and Gertrude Kahn, was born in Frauenburg, France, October 12, 1850. He was reared in his native town, and at twelve years of age entered the public schools in the city of Metz, remaining about four years. In July, 1866, he came to Bloomington, Monroe County, entered the State University, and contin- ued one year. He then entered the employ of Isaac Kahn (his uncle), a well-known clothing merchant of Bloomington, with whom he remained two years; then entered the employ of Levi Tannenbaum, a clothing merchant, remaining for eight years. In August, 1875, he formed a partnership with Solomon Tannenbaum in the clothing business, contin- uing successfully until March, 1883, when their store was completely destroyed by fire. Mr. Kahn, being a live business man, in less than a week resumed business, and at present has an extensive and lucrative trade, and carries a mammoth stock of clothing, gents' furnishing goods, hats, caps, etc. October 30, 1878, he was married to Miss Celia Hirsch, daughter of Felix and Emma Hirsch, citizens of Cincinnati, Ohio. To crown the happiness of their married life, there have been three children born to them- Gertrude, Felix and Edgar. He is an active member in the order of the K. of P., and at present fills the chair of Past Sachem of the I. O. R. M., and is Treasurer of the K. of H.
JAMES KELLY, eldest son and fourth child of John and Catharine (Finnegan) Kelly, was born in 1844, in Sligo, Sligo County, Ireland. He was reared in his native place, where he was educated on a farm and in the neighborhood. When fifteen years of age, he came to the United States, and when he landed at Castle Garden, New York City, he had but 12 cents, and remained there until his sister in Cincinnati, Ohio, sent him money enough to bring him there. He then went to Greenville, Miss., and was pressed into service in the confederate army. In May, 1861, he enlisted in Company B, Thirteenth Arkansas Volunteers, and served for about eighteen months. He took part in the following engage- ments: Belmont, Mo., Corinth, Miss., Richmond, Ky. (in which battle he was shot in the left side, and was in the hospital for three months), and
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Chattanooga, after which engagement he deserted, and came to Bloom- ington. He then began learning the currier's trade in a tannery of John Waldron, where he was engaged for eighteen years. In December, 1883, he opened the saloon, where he is at present engaged, doing a lucra- tive business. On October 17, 1867, he was married to Miss Mary Mahoney, a daughter of Timothy Mahoney, a citizen of Ladoga, Ind. They have five children-Annie, John, Joseph, James and Katie. Mr. Kelly is a Republican, and a prominent member of the Catholic Church.
DANIEL KIRKWOOD. "When I die I want to go where Prof. Kirkwood goes," was the simple eulogy of one of his admirers. What- ever may be said of this sentiment, certain it is that during fifty years as a teacher, he has gained from his students such universal love and ad- miration as few men enjoy; and while, as a mathematician, he has made many valuable contributions to science, as a genial, temperate, and gen- uine man, he has solved the problem of gracefully growing old. Daniel Kirkwood is of Scotch-Irish descent, his grandfather coming from Ire- land in 1771, and settling in Delaware. His parents, John and Agnes (Hope) Kirkwood, were both born in this country. Prof. Kirkwood was born in Harford County, Md., September 27, 1814. His early life was spent on the farm, his first attendance at school being in his native county. Having little taste for farming, he entered the York County Academy at York, Penn., in 1834. He was elected first assistant and mathematical instructor of this institution in 1838. While here he trained many students in mathematics, one of whom, Samuel R. Frank- lin, was lately chosen Superintendent of the Observatory at Washington. Prof. Kirkwood resigned his position in 1843, to accept the Principalship of the Lancaster High School, Penn., and a few years later he became Principal of the Pottsville Academy. In 1845, he was married to Miss Sarah A. McNair, of Newtown, Bucks County, Penn. He was Pro- fessor of Mathematics in Delaware College from 1851 to 1856, the last two years of this period being its President. In the latter year, he ac- cepted the chair of Mathematics in the Indiana University. He filled the same position in Washington and Jefferson College, Penn, in 1866 and 1867, when he was recalled to his former place in Indiana. He re- ceived the honorary degree of Master of Arts in 1850, from Washington College, Penn., and Doctor of Laws in 1852, from the University of Pennsylvania. He was elected a member of the American Philosophical Society in 1851, and of the American Association for the Advancement of Science in 1853. He has been a frequent contributor to scientific journals and other papers. He is the author of a well-known work on "Comets and Meteors," as well as an earlier book on "Meteoric As- tronomy." Prof. Kirkwood was first introduced to the scientific world by the publication, in 1849, of his analogy between the periods of the rotations of the primary planets. The law announced by him, now known as Kirkwood's Law, was received with much interest, and was generally regarded as an important discovery supporting the nebular hypothesis. The law pertains to the revolution of the planets on their axes. Its exact and formal expression is not inserted here, as Prof. Kirkwood is understood to be engaged in its revision. When about fifty asteroids were known in the solar system, Prof. Kirkwood conceived the notion that in those spaces where simple commensurability with Jupiter occurs, there must be gaps in the asteroid zone. It was then, however, only a theory, as the number of asteroids sufficient for its verification were not
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known. Yet, on its first announcement it met with favor, and Mr. Proc- tor, the eminent astronomer, accepting Prof. Kirkwood's notion, wrote in 1870: "We may assume that when many more asteroids have been dis- covered, the law * *
* will appear more distinctly." The number of asteroids known were then sufficient only to indicate the law, now the number discovered and orbits computed, having reached 235, Prof. Kirk- wood has shown that these gaps actually exist and assigned a physical cause for them. He originally published his discoveries concerning these chasms in the Proceedings of the American Association for the Ad- vancement of Science in 1866. Circumstances, however, which need not here be stated, induced Prof. Kirkwood to give a resume of his discus- sions in the proceedings of the American Philosophical Society for 1883. From this paper the following is taken: "In those parts of the zone of minor planets, where a simple relation of commensurability would obtain between the period of an asteroid and that of Jupiter, the original plan -
etary matter was liable to great perturbations.
The result of such dis- turbance by the powerful mass of Jupiter was the necessary formation of gaps in the asteroid zone." Prof. Kirkwood was the first to show that the divisions of Saturn's rings are due to the same cause as the gaps in the zone of asteroids. The treatise of Dr. Meyer, of Geneva, on Sat- urn's rings, published last year, and leading to the same or a similar re- sult, is a gratifying confirmation of Prof. Kirkwood's discovery .- J. S., Indiana University.
HIRAM LINDLEY, born November 27, 1827, in Orange County, Ind., is the fourth son and seventh child in a family of nine born to William and Michael (Hallowell) Lindley, natives of North Carolina and South Carolina respectively. He was reared on a farm near Paoli, where he received the rudiments of a good English education in a Quaker school. In 1849, he purchased a water-power saw mill, which he ran for about three years. He then followed carpentering and farming in Orange County until 1857, when he removed to Paoli, and purchased a drug store. In 1869, he sold out, and for several years was engaged in various mercantile pursuits in Orange County. Removing thence to Bloomington, Monroe County, he formed a partnership in the drug bus- iness with M. F. Arnold, soon after which he purchased the other half interest, and at present enjoys a lucrative trade, having a stock of drugs, medicines, paints, oils, varnishes, stationery and wall paper, etc. He served four years as Assistant United States Assessor, and in 1874 he was Gov- ernment Storekeeper at McCoy's Distillery on Stamper's Creek, Orange County. June 23, 1859, he was married to Laura White, daughter of Dr. C. White, of Paoli. They had seven children -- Frank, Edmund, Walter, George, Mary, Ernest and Anna L. His wife died on April 12, 1878. November 27, 1879, he married Elizabeth Trueblood, daughter of William and Margaret Trueblood, residents of Orange County. They have one child, an infant. Mr. Lindley is a Republican, and he and wife are members of the Quaker Church.
JOHN H. LOUDEN was born November 24, 1837, in Juniata Coun- ty, Penn. His parents, James and Jane (Thompson) Louden, were na- tives of Ireland, and of Scotch-Irish extraction. They were reared in Londonderry County, where, in 1829, they were married, coming to this country four years later. They were in Pennsylvania for one year, and then came to Indiana, locating in Fayette County, near Conners- ville, where the father at present resides, the mother having died in 1846.
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The father is an Elder in the Reformed Presbyterian Church, and has done much toward maintaining its principles. John, the eldest son and child, was reared on the farm, in the winter attending the district school until eighteen years of age, when he entered Dunlapsville Academy. He remained for two years, when he came to Bloomington, Monroe County, and entered the State University. In 1861 and 1862, he taught school in Vienna, Rush County, during the winters, and in the summer of 1862 began reading law with Judge Read, of Connersville; he also assisted during the same summer in raising a company of volunteers for the Fifth Indiana Cavalry. He went to Indianapolis with them later on, but, being taken sick, was obliged to return to his home. In March, 1863, he married Lizzie C. Hemphill, daughter of James Hemphill. They have two sons and one daughter. In July, after his marriage, he took his wife to Bloomington, Monroe Co., Ind., with the intention of completing his studies. He had for some time charge of the Repub- lican, the only newspaper at that time published in Bloomington. In the meantime, he commenced reading law with Judge Hughes. In 1863- 64, he was in the Law .Department of the State University, and graduated in the spring of 1864. Immediately being admitted to the bar, he began the regular practice in Bloomington. He has been in partnership with Capt. John M. McCoy, now of Dallas, Texas, with Frank Wilson and the Hon. M. F. Dunn, and in February, 1876, he entered into a partnership with R. W. Miers, which firm still continues. He has never been a candidate for office, but devotes himself with the utmost zeal to his profession, and is one of Indiana's most eminent practitioners.
BENJAMIN McGEE, one of the oldest and most successful business men of Bloomington, was born in Spencer County, Ky., in 1819. He was the second son in a family of four children born to William and Charity (Riggs) McGee. When seven years of age, he was brought by his parents to Spencer, Owen Co., Ind., and while still a boy began learning the tailoring trade with his step-father, with whom he remained until he was sixteen years of age, at which time he engaged in the tailor- ing business in Spencer for himself, continuing successfully for several years. He then formed a partnership with R. G. Overstreet in the mer- chant tailoring and clothing business. In 1851, he came to Bloomington for his health, and was prevailed upon by his friends to locate here. He opened a tailor shop, and in 1852 formed a partnership with John W. Davis in the clothing business, running in connection with it a merchant tailoring department. Four years later, he purchased his partner's in- terest, and for twenty-eight years has conducted the business alone, and has at present an immense clothing establishment. His reputation as a successful cutter is known far and near, and he has a large foreign trade, sending suits to Washington, D. C., Eureka Springs, Ark., and many other cities. He married Verlinda Buskirk, daughter of Abram Buskirk, one of the earliest pioneers of Monroe County. By this union there have been born to them five children-Charles E., Florence, Ben A., Edward L. and ThomasE. He and his wife are active members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
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