USA > Indiana > Vanderburgh County > Evansville > Evansville and its men of mark > Part 34
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In 1865, Mr. Van Riper took it into his head to marry, and soon found a mate in Alice, daughter of Col. James G. Jones, one of the oldest citizens of Evansville She was the belle of the city. Three children have blessed that union, two of which (twins) are living. They are with their parents in Europe.
Our subject has been very successful in life. He has accumulated enough to make his family safe from want. He enjoys good health and enjoys life. We hope that some day his Evansville friends will not be too proud to say : "that he did something for them."
JOHN N. SILVERTHORN.
John Newton Silverthorn.
RIVER AND RAILROAD EDITOR OF THE EVANSVILLE JOURNAL.
AS born on the 12th of September, 1821, in Brooke, now Hancock County, West Virginia, in what is denominated the Pan Handle, Hancock being the extreme northern county of the State.
He was the son of Henry and Hannah Silverthorn, and the youngest of eleven children, nine of whom reached maturity. His father was a native of New Jersey, near Logs- jail-town, now Johnsonburg. His mother was a native of Easton, Pa., her maiden name being McCracken. His paternal grand-parents were Oliver and Abagail Silverthorn.
His parents moved to Western Virginia about the year 1800, and settled in the wild wilderness ; their nearest neigh- bors living four miles distant. Here they built a log house and a blacksmith shop, and by hard work and economy, opened their farm and accumulated some property.
J. N. SILVERTHORN was of delicate health till twelve years of age, but received a common English education at the common schools of the country-which were very common indeed- working on the farm, in the blacksmith shop or the grist and saw mill, which his father had built on Tomilson's run, about the time his youngest son was born. At the age of fifteen, Mr. Silverthorn went to work to learn millwrighting and car- pentery. After three years, he went on the river, his first expe- rience in steamboating being on the "North Star." He soon retired, and returned to the farm; but an earnest desire for education, and a passion for reading, led him to study the lan- guages and mathematics with Rev. R. M. White, pastor of the Presbyterian Church, in the vicinity. When his means were
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exhausted, he commenced teaching school. His first effort as a pedagogue was in Beaver Co., Pa. He afterwards taught school in Paris, and near Cross Creek village in Washington Co., Pennsylvania.
In 1845, he went to the Florence Academy in Pennsylvania, taught by Prof. John A. Smith. After a few months he was induced by a friend to come West, and landed at New Albany about the 1st of September, 1845. He took charge of the pre- paratory department of J. B. Anderson's Collegiate Institute, but the position not proving profitable, he went to Oldham Co., Ky., and taught school for six months, when, meeting Rev. Dr. Scoville, President of the Hanover College, he was induced to go to that institution, where he remained till the 1st of Jan- uary, 1849, with the exception of six months, while in charge of the Ripley County Seminary.
On the 3d of January, 1849, he was married to Miss Harriet J. Dinwiddie, of Hanover, Ind., and after spending the Summer at the old homestead in Virginia, he returned to Indiana in August, 1849, and again took charge of the Ripley County Seminary, remaining till March, 1852, when his health failing, he engaged for active, out-door exercise in selling clocks in Western Indiana and Eastern Illinois, in which business he con- tinued for three years, and achieved an enviable reputation, as a " live Yankee,"
Mr. Silverthorn next took charge of the editorial depart- ment of the American, published in Terre Haute by Isaac N. Coltrin, while that gentleman made a visit to Kansas, and after a few weeks, Mr. Silverthorn and Isaac M. Brown, late of the Sullivan Co. Union, bought the American office, and conducted it successfully for a few months, when Mr, Silverthorn sold his interest to Col. R. N. Hudson, who had just purchased the Wabash Express, with which the American was blended. For nearly a year Mr. Silverthorn pursued various occupations, when he was engaged in the freight office of the T. H. & R. R. R., but after a few weeks was transferred to the Superintendency of a book bindery and job printing office owned by Sam'l Craw- ford, Chas. Wood and C. W. Ferguson-Mr. Ferguson having left hurriedly-the first two gentlemen being President and Secre- tary of the T. H. & R. R. R. Here he remained three years,
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when he became city editor of the Wabash Express, in the fall of 1858, and continued with it till March, 1862 ; having almost full control of the paper during 1861, and up to March, 1862, Gen. Cruft, the then proprietor, being absent in the army.
Mr. Silverthorn came to Evansville and entered upon duty as local and river editor of the Journal, March 28th, 1862. Having a strong constitution, and willing to work, for the first year or two, in addition to his duties as river and city editor, he copied nearly all the telegraph reports which were then taken on paper, the old-fashioned way, there being no "sounder" in the office.
From the first day's labor as river editor, Mr. Silverthorn has made a strong impression upon those connected with the river business, and this impression has only been increased by time. He is better posted upon subjects connected with the steamboat business, than any man in this section. His manners are easy and courteous to all. From the roustabout to the captain-all regard him as their warm friend and champion. As river editor of the Journal, Mr. Silverthorn has won an enviable reputation, To him much credit is due for the rapid increase of newspaper matter connected with the river. His labors have not been in vain, as his achievements in the past have made him, in a measure, the " King of River Editors."
His family consists of a wife and three children, two sons and one daughter ; having lost two sons and one daughter, his first two and last child. Now at the age of fifty-two he is vig- orous and lively. He has had but one serious spell of sickness during the last thirty-five years. He has had an abundance of fun, " if he has not saved much money."
Mr. Silverthorn was a Democrat till 1854 ; since 1860, a sturdy unfaltering Republican. He voted for Filmore in 1856. He was the first to place the name of Abraham Lincoln at the head of a paper, for President in 1860.
Alexander Marconnier.
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AS born in the City of Bidarieux, Department of Lherault, France, on the 25th day of December, 1822. His parents being in humble circumstances, he did not enjoy the advantages of any other education than that which was afforded him at home, during leisure hours. At the age of thirteen, he was apprenticed to a hatter for two and a half years, at the expiration of which, he began traveling in the capacity of journeyman hatter, visiting all the principle cities of France, reaching Paris in the month of March, 1841, where he remained until September 12th, 1843, having at that time perfected an engagement with a Mr. Janin of New Orleans. He embarked at Havre de Gras, September 20th, on board the ship Taglioni, and sailed to the land that was to be his future home, arriving at New Orleans November 5th of the same year, which place he left in July of the year following. Passing through Cincin- nati, he determined to remain there, providing he could find employment there. In this he was successful. During the Winter of 1846 and '47, an Opera Manager passing that way, heard of his vocal abilities, and offered him an engagement in a French Opera Troupe, then at New Orleans. He accepted, and made his appearance as the First Premier Tenor in the troupe. As a singer, the papers of that day were fulsome in their praises of his talent, and vied with each other in heaping encomiums upon his career. His career as a singer was of short duration. As he had no opportunity to obtain an instructor in music, he returned to Cincinnati, and there, for the next five or six years following, held the position of foreman in several of the largest shops. In 1852, he established himself in business with Vinsent & Hibbard, wholesale and retail hat manu- facturers, and with whom he remained until July, 1853, when he removed to this city. He entered into co-partnership with
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Mr. P. Vautier in the hat, cap and fur business, and established the first hat store in the city. In 1854, he married the sister- in-law of Mr. Vautier, Miss Adele Brack, a Swiss lady, who bore him five children ; two boys, Louis and Alphonse, and three girls, Clotilde, Rose and Emma. In 1867, he purchased the interest of Mr. Vautier, who now resides in New York, and continued the business on his own account. During the years 1870, '71 and '72, he was one of the Directors of the Merchants' National Bank.
Mr. Marconnier has not only obtained an enviable position as a citizen and a leading merchant, but also, as the father of Evansville's favorite songstress-"the Nilsson of Indiana"- Miss Clotilde Marconnier-of whom we expect a bright and successful career.
Major Jesse W. Walker.
AS born in Evansville, Indiana, April 5th, 1841. His grand-father, Capt. Wm. Walker, was killed at
Buena Vista. His father, John T. Walker, M. D., was a Surgeon in the Mexican War, and also, Surgeon in the 25th Ind. Reg't, during the late war, and died soon after leaving the service. His older brother, Col. Wm. H. Walker, died in service, during the late war.
Our subject was educated in the common schools of Evans- ville, and in Indiana University. He left the University in 1849, and was for two years Deputy Clerk of the Circuit Court. He entered the army in the Spring of '62, at the age of twenty- one. Soon after, he was appointed Adjt. 25th Ind. Reg't, by Gov. Morton. In '63, he was detailed by order of Gen. Grant, to report to Maj. Gen. Alvin P. Hovey, as Aid. In '64, he was appointed by the President Major and Ass't Adj. Gen., for ser- vices in the field. He resigned in the fall of '55, and com- menced the practice of law, in partnership with Hon. M. S. Johnson, Esq., who was shortly after elected Judge. Since that time he has continued in the practice of law.
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Major Walker is of a retiring disposition, and seeks no notoriety. He is heartily liked by the citizens of Evansville. His many qualities of heart and word have secured for him not an enemy. We hope that he may live long to enjoy his taste for literature and the fine arts.
John L. Stanage.
AS born in Logan County, Ohio, December 25th, 1844. His father, John Stanage, was a local Methodist minister of the Gospel, who died at the age of fifty-four years, on the 17th day of July, 1849. His mother, Mrs. Malinda Stanage, a faithful and loving wife, died July 24th, of the same year, leaving the third son, John L. Stanage, an orphan at the age of four and a half years, and also, two older brothers, aged respectively fifteen and eleven years, and a younger one, aged nine months.
After being left an orphan, John L. Stanage was placed under the care of his uncle, James Stanage, a highly respectable citizen of West Liberty, Logan Co., Ohio, who was engaged in manufacturing woolen goods. He made that his home until his sixth year, when he exchanged it for one at his aunt's, a sister of his father, who resided in Elkhart County, Indiana, where he remained nearly two years. At the age of seven years, he returned to Ohio, and took up his abode with a cousin, a daughter of his uncle James Stanage, which place he made his home, and entered school in the pleasant little village of West Liberty-the home of the great "Piatt" family, one of the most notable and hospitable families of Ohio. After school and hours of leisure, he would be engaged in selling newspapers and fur- nishing subscribers with dailies published in Cincinnati, Ohio. He there became known as little " Johnnie the news boy." A few years later he engaged in the produce business, and remained in that until he became clerk in the Post Office of the village, in 1861, where he remained for three years. He then
JOHN L. STANAGE.
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went South, where he acted in the capacity of citizen clerk in the Department of Commissary of Subsistence, in command of James O. Stanage, Capt, and C. S, who was succeeded by Capt. Robt. L. McQuilquin, and he by Col. G. C. Kniffin. With all three he remained until he was ordered to Atlanta, Georgia, where he ranked as Commissary of the field, until Sherman s march to the sea. He then left Atlanta, Ga., and came to Murfreesboro, Tenn., where he re-entered the Commissary De- partment, under Col. G. C. Kniffin, as cashier of that depart- ment, in which he remained until December 17th, 1865, when he left Murfreesboro for Cincinnati, Ohio.
He there took a position as book-keeper in the house of Wm. A. Webb & Co., a well known firm of that day, engaged extensively in the wholesale stationery and blank book manu- facturing business, which position he held until 1868.
He then became connected with the collection department of the Singer Manufacturing Co.'s office at Cincinnati, and final- ly had full charge of that department, for the Cincinnati office. His duties in this position made him acquainted with all the details of their immense business. He was often detailed to attend to important business, not only in the Cincinnati office, but also, in other districts, On account of his abilities as a man- ager, he was placed in charge of the Evansville branch, in July, 1873. Few persons have any idea of the magnitude of the Sewing Maching business. The Singer, as the leading company, is among the leading corporations of this country, Their sales for the last year (219,758 machines, and 48,000 in excess of any other machine) amounted to nearly $24,000,000. The business of the Evansville branch this year, will amount to over $200,- 000. There are over seventy employees connected with the Evansville branch, and over forty wagons are supplied from this office. The office of the company is fitted up in first-class style, and has the reputation of being the finest in Southern Indiana. This company has adopted the lease system, in order to have their machines fully represented in every community. Under this manner of doing business, the closest care is requi- site, in order to do a safe and profitable business. Over a thou- sand persons to-day are paying for machines on the above plan. That Mr. Stanage, though only twenty-eight years of age, is the
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right man in the right place, is amply demonstrated by his skillful management of this extensive business, and though we may think that their business is small, yet it ranks among the leading interests of the city.
There is not a more skillful manager in the country, than John L Stanage, and we bespeak for him one of the most suc- cessful careers of any man in the country. What is strange for a sewing machine man, he is modest and retiring in his demeanor. He is a gentleman in every sense of the term, and his many friends regard him as a " boon companion whose con- versation is replete with interesting anecdotes of citizen and soldier life."
David Archer.
AVID ARCHER, is the son of Thos. Archer, of South Carolina, who left there in 1807 for Indiana Territory, but stopped in Tennessee and raised one crop, and then came on to this Territory.
David, the subject of this sketch, was born in 1814, May 24th, on a farm. His Mother died in 1836, his Father in 1840. Before his Father died, he was staying with his brother Samuel M. Archer, Merchant, the style of firm being at that time Stockwell & Archer, afterwards S. M. Archer. Continued in the store up to 1847, and then married Martha McCalla, when he set up a store in l'atoka, in connection with his brother ; continued one and one-half years at that place, and came back to Princeton and bought a small farm at the edge of town, which has since been incorporated and he sold it out in lots. In 1869, he engaged in the clothing business, with Mr. Crow, firm Archer & Crow, and doing good business, making clothing a specialty, the present firm being successors to Robert Duncan, the first clothing firm in the village.
He joined the Reform Presbyterian Church in 1840. The congregation united with the United Presbyterians. Two chil- dren are living, a son and a daughter, grown and unmarried.
B. B. Estes.
AME to Princeton, Gibson Co., Ind., in 1825, with his father, Samuel Estes, who came from North Carolina ; settled on a farm outside of the village, and raised a crop of corn, and died in 1827, leaving a wife and three children to mourn his loss. Not leaving any provision for his family, they lived with their grand-father.
The subject of our sketch, B. B. ESTES, was born in North Carolina, in 1818, being seven years of age when he arrived in Gibson County. Being young when his father died, he started out to battle with the world, quite early. He attended school during the Winter, and worked at all work. When seventeen years of age, his brother, G. P. Estes, and himself borrowed fifty dollars and entered forty acres of land, and moved their mother on it and farmed, keeping their mother until she married the second time. 'The following year, entered forty acres more of land, farming, and his brother worked out at four dollars per month, to furnish their bread and meat. They got along fairly until their mother married Mr. Holcomb, which broke up their home.
In 1844, B. B. Estes started out alone in the world, doing any and everything to make a living. In 1845, he married Miss Wheeler, and lived happy for four years, when she died, leaving him no children to console him in his misfortune.
He then engaged in the manufacture of Patent Wheat Fans, with some others, they locating at different places for awhile, making and selling all they could at one place, when they would pull up stakes and settle some place else. He trav- eled around for some time in that business, when he returned to Princeton, and married Margaret Ann Devin, daughter of Alexander Devin, in 1858, and carried on different trades, until when J. P. O'Lownsdial and himself opened a country store,
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and did well in that business. He afterwards went in with Sam. Devin, but his partner died in about three weeks, so he closed the business. Afterwards went into business with Ham- mond, the firm being Estes & Hammond. After a year's good trade, he bought his partner out, it being about 1866, His wife died two years afterwards, in 1868, leaving him three children, who are still living, strewing his path with kind atten- tion He has had many misfortunes, but is now in comfortable circumstances, and enjoys good health, which bids fair to pre- serve him for many years, selling dry goods and groceries to the Princetonians.
Jonathan Jaquess.
N the 25th day of September, 1805, JONATHAN JAQUESS, with his family, arrived and located in what is now Robb Township, Posey County, Indiana. He purchased the land now owned by his son, A. C. Jaquess. There being a small improvement on it, he paid eighteen hundred dollars in gold and silver, for the one hundred and sixty acres. He entered a quarter section of land, (paying two dollars per acre, that being the congress price at that time) for each child, his family con- sisting of James, Garrison, George, Wesley. Elizabeth, Ogden, Permela, Fletcher and A. C. Jaquess. As the boys and girls grew up and married, each went to his or her quarter-section of land, and commenced to clear up the dense and heavy forest, and in a few years they had quite a settlement, known all over the country as the Jaquess Settlement.
In religion, J. Jaquess and Rebecca, his wife, were Method- ists, both joining the church when young. The house was the home of all the circuit riders, as well as all Methodists. Indeed, it was called a Methodist town. The influence of J. Jaquess and his wife Rebecca, was always directed on the side of morality. They were the first persons to do away with whisky at log rollings, house raisings and corn huskings. In politics,
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he as well as all his boys, was of the Whig party, believing in Henry Clay's doctrine of home protection, and opposed to Slavery, that being one of the reasons he moved from Kentucky, to get out of the influence of Slavery.
J. Jaquesss, the subject of this sketch, was born in Middle- sex County, New Jersey, on the 28th of April, 1753. His wife Rebecca was born in Kent County, Maryland, on November 2d, 1762. He was a sailor when the great struggle for liberty- the American Revolution-broke out. He volunteered, and served during the war, most of the time on land, but part of the time on the sea. He was in the battles of White Plains, King's Bridge, Long Island and at the surrender of Cornwallis. After the war was over, he moved to Harrison County, Ken- tucky, remaining there several years, and from there to Indiana, at the point designated in the commencement of this article.
In 1865, the descendants of the subject of this sketch, had a Jaquess meeting, or a family re-union. The meeting was on the 25th of September, being fifty years since he landed on the farm now owned by his son, A. C. Jaquess. At that meeting there were over one hundred descendants and relatives of the subject of this sketch, and well might it be called a re-union, for many relatives met there that had never met before, and many met to renew their old acquaintance and talk of their past life and history. It was a meeting of joy and grief, for many a dear relative was gone to his long home, and in refer- ring back to the past, there was many a pleasant thought, and many a cause to bring a sigh and a tear.
In conclusion I would say, by a life of temperance and the blessing of God, Jonathan Jaquess lived to the good old age of ninety years, two months and one day, and his wife lived to be eighty-six years old.
ORDER OF BIRTHS IN JONATHAN JAQUESS' FAMILY.
Garretson, Elizabeth, George, Rebecca, Permela, Wesley, Ogden, Fletcher, Asbury.
LINDLEY'S
LINDLEYSO
NDLEY
BRO.195
The Lindley Brothers.
HOSE who observe the engraving upon the opposite page, will readily recognize the establishment of JAMES F. and HIRAM M. LINDLEY.
The above are of Hoosier birth. Their early lives were spent upon a farm, but they soon decided upon another and more lively field of operations. They each acted as salesman in New Albany, and other points. In 1874, the firm of J. F. Lindley & Brother was formed, and till 1870, the Lindleys were among the leading houses of New Albany.
In September, 1870, they removed to Evansville, and located at No. 79 Main Street. The requirements of their growing business made a change necessary, and in September, 1872, they removed to their present location, Nos. 305 and 307 Main Street.
As citizens, the above have been second to none in public spirit and enterprise, and their brief business career in this city, has gained the confidence of the public. Pleasant and inviting in conversation, honest in their sales, genial in appearance and disposition, they can not but succeed, as their motto is : " Hon- esty and one price for all."
Judge John Pitcher.
Editor Historical Publishing Company ;
DEAR SIR :
In reply to yours of the 5th inst., I have to say that I know very little of my father's past life or history, and cannot, therefore, present you with the information desired,
The old gentleman was born at Watertown in Connecticut, about seventy-eight years ago. His legal education was at Litchfield, under the instruction of Judge Reeves, a brother-in- law of Aaron Brown, and author of Reeves' Domestic Relations, aud of Judge Gould, author of Gould's Pleadings, both eminent men, and founders (I think) of the first law school in the Uni- ted States. Admission to the Bar was at Hartford, Conn., about 1815. Moved west soon after. First wife was Miss Gam- ble, a sister of Commodore Gamble, U. S. N., and Col. Jno. Gamble, U. S. Marines. Several other brothers were officers in the Navy. The family was from New Jersey.
Second wife was a Miss Cipna, daughter of Dr. Stephen P. Cipna, who was at one time, a medical officer in the army, and accompanied Gen. Clark's Expedition, etc. The doctor died at Rockport, Ind. Family was from Pennsylvania. Mrs. James G. Jones is, I have been told by the late Judge Jones, a relation of the late Dr. Cipna, and one daughter, Mrs. Crooks, widow of Col. Jno. W. Crooks, is still living. Dates, etc., I can't give you.
My father has attached but little importance to matters of pedigree, and I imagine, would not enlighten you much upon that subject, in a long conversation. His people were Yankees of pure English descent, who came to New England in 1719, (probably.)
Religion : Episcopalian. Confirmed by an Episcopal Bish- op, who was a brother of Lord Mansfield.
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