USA > Indiana > Vanderburgh County > Evansville > Evansville and its men of mark > Part 35
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Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35
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Of the old man's relations of whom I know and have heard from other members of the family, I can only name the late Nathaniel Pitcher, once Governor of New York, and the late Dr. Zena Pitcher, of Detroit Michigan, both cousins. This mat- ter of kindred might be generalized by saying that relationship embraced about half of New England and New York.
I have given you about all the light upon the kindred subject, of which I am capable.
Very Respectfully,
MT. VERNON, IND., Oct. 16, 1873. H. C. PITCHER.
Joseph Devin.
OSEPH DEVIN, son of Alexander and Sarah Devin, was born the 22nd of May, A. D. 1805, in Warren Co., Kentucky. His father was a Baptist minister. He moved from Kentucky to Indiana, and settled near Princeton, Gibson Co., when Joseph was about five years old. There were few settlers in the county at that time. His father and mother reared a large family on a farm, two and a half miles south-east of Princeton.
At an early age, Joseph commenced business for himself, first farming, then teaching, afterwards clerking for Mr. John Brownlee, one of the oldest merchants in Princeton. In a few years he went into mercantile business, and finally became one of the largest dealers in produce and merchandise, in the county.
The 17th of September, A. D. 1833, he married Nancy Robb, daughter of Major David and Nancy Robb. His father-in-law was one of the old settlers of Gibson County. He participated in the battle of Tippecanoe, as Captain of a company of infant- ry. Joseph and Nancy Devin settled in Princeton, one square North of the public square, and continued to make that their home during his life. There they reared six children, three
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sons and three daughters. He was very cheerful, kind and indulgent, in his family. He was always considered an upright man, had the confidence of the community, always ready to assist those who were willing to assist themselves, and ever ready to help the poor, and was often called the "poor man's friend."
For years there was not a bank in Princeton; the Treasurer deposited the money of the county, with Joseph Devin, taking his receipt for it ; so he was virtually the banker of the county. In politics, he was termed a Whig, during the existence of that party. He served one year in the Legislature, and three years as County Commissioner.
In the Spring of 1861, he made a profession of religion, and lived a consistent Christian. He labored faithfully for the suppression of the Rebellion of 1861, and contributed largely of his means ; in fact, never seemed to allow an opportunity to pass, without assisting in word and deed. His great anxiety for the suppression of the Rebellion, seemed to hasten his death. He died the 10th of March, A. D. 1864, and was interred in the cemetery in the north-east part of Princeton.
Charles C. Schreeder.
F the young men who have carved out their own for- tunes, and attained an honorable position in society, is the subject of this sketch. He was born in Berlin, Prussia, on the 19th of January, 1847. His father, Charles Frederick Schreeder, was a Democrat, and was engaged in the rebellion of '48, and participated in those noted fights in the streets of Berlin.
His mother started for America on the 3d of April, 1852, as a passenger on the sailing vessel Adolphphena, and on the 16th of August arrived in Baltimore. On the voyage, Mrs. Schreeder was dangerously ill, and at one time her life was almost despaired of. Having friends in Huntingburg, she
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immediately started for that destination, and arrived there on the 1st of September. After a few months' residence in Hunting- burg, Mrs. Schreeder was married to the Rev. Frederich Wiet- haup, a well known minister of the German Evangelical church, and the family removed to Evansville, where Mr. Wiethaup had charge of a congregation of that denomination, and continued in his labors till 1855. The reverend gentleman now resides at Huntingburg, in the enjoyment of good health.
Our subject's school privileges were exceedingly limited. He attended the common schools several terms at Evansville and other places where his father was stationed. In 1860, while his father was stationed at Dayton, Ohio, he attended one term at the California school of that city.
In 1863, at the age of sixteen, he enlisted in Co. D. of the 2nd Ohio, and was engaged in chasing Morgan. After six months' service, he was discharged, and immediately thereafter came to Evansville, and endeavored to learn the saddler's trade. His health not permitting, he did not continue that occupation. In the month of January, 1865, he again enlisted, this time in Co, E. 143d Reg't, Ind. Vol., under the command of Col. J. F. Grill. On the 17th of August, he was wounded while scouting, and was disabled for life. He returned home in October, 1865, and went to work for C. Decker & Sons.
He was married on the 12th of April, 1868, to Miss Louisa C. Behrens, daughter of Herman Behrens, one of the first set- tlers, and also, the first merchant of Huntingburg.
In January, 1869, he was appointed Deputy Real Estate Appraiser of Vanderburgh County, and served in that capacity with credit to himself, and profit to the county. In April, 1870, he was elected City Assessor, and held that office one term. From January, 1870, to April, 1870, he was also Deputy Township Collector, with Wm. Warren, Sr. In the fall of 1870, he was elected Township Assessor, and held that office till April, 1872, when he was elected City Clerk, and retained that position till April, 1873. His official career was honorable, and if a high-minded management of his business was any criterion, Mr. Schreeder was a successful official. Since Spring, Mr. Schree- der has been engaged in various mercantile operations.
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CLOTHING PALACE
DR
STROUSE & BROS.
SEMAINEIST
TROC
STROUSE & BROS.' CLOTHING PALACE.
Robert Stockwell.
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S ON of Samuel and Ann Stockwell, was born in Wash- ington County, Pennsylvania, on the 27th of Decem- ber, 1785. He was the youngest of six sons, and next to youngest of eleven children. His parents emigrated to Ken- tucky in 1786, and settled in Bourbon County. In 1792, they removed to Fleming County, where the family obtained a per- manent home. Kentucky was a wilderness, but our hardy pioneers went bravely to work, and made pleasant homes for their families. His father died in 1794, and his mother in 1817.
In December, 1815, our subject went to- Pittsburg, pur- chased a stock of goods, loaded a flat-boat, and floated down the Ohio. In January, 1816, after a long and tedious voyage, he landed at what is now known as Evansville. Hugh McGary had a double log cabin on the bank, and his family assisted in dragging the goods out of the way of the water, and extended to him many courtesies. Mr. Stockwell had an acquaintance at Princeton, and he immediately started for that point, then only two years old, and containing twenty cabins. A Court House built of salmon brick and common mortar, was the pride of the village. In company with J. W. Jones, father of the late Judge Jones, he sold dry goods, etc., for over four years. Till 1846, Mr. Stockwell remained in Princeton, and his store was the headquarters of nearly all the settlers. For many years he was county agent and overseer of the poor. He cared not for polit- ical preferment, but rather sought the quiet walks of life, where in an unostentatious manner, he cared for the poor and needy, and exemplified the truths of that religion he professed to believe. In January, 1825, he was married to Miss Sallie A. Barnes, sister of Robert Barnes. This worthy lady died in September, 1826, leaving an only child, now Mrs. Elizabeth A. Stockwell.
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In 1846, our subject removed to Lafayette, which is at pres- ent his place of residence. For many years he was in the whole- sale grocery line, but of late he has engaged in banking and the building of railroads. Mr. Stockwell, though nearly eighty- eight years of age, is in the enjoyment of good health, and is free from the diseases which generally attend the aged. His handwriting is as firm as a youth's, his conversation is interesting to all, and we can truly say that the pioneer bas kept up with the times, and is as alive to-day on the great questions of inter- nal improvements as he was forty years ago.
Hugh Henry Patten.
CON of James Patten, Sen., was born near Clarksville, Montgomery County, Tennessee, on the 30th of April, 1796. His father's family came from England to Pennsylvania while it was a colony.
After the Revolutionary War, in which he took a great interest, and in which he spent his whole fortune, he went to Tennessee ; from thence he removed to Indiana, about 1804. He settled on Green River Island, above Evansville, but an unusual flood in the Ohio River drove the Islanders from their homes ; drowning their stock, sweeping away their houses and crops, leaving them perfectly destitute. His father was totally ruined, having lost stock, crops and house, and everything in it. He sought and found high land where Evansville now stands ; he landed, and camped near the spot where Barnes' store stands. The weather was very severe, and the several families suffered much from its inclemency. A German by the name of Links- wiler, with a large family of his own, who lived on high ground below where they were encamped, came in a canoe and took off about, fifteen children, and sheltered them in his cabin, where he and his good wife treated them as kindly as if they had been their own. Fortunately, there was plenty of game in the
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forest, and they lived principally on wild meat. As for bread, they had none, except what was made by beating corn in a mortar, scooped out of the stump of a tree. Their main sub- stitute for bread was lye hominy, made by boiling corn in strong lye till the skin peeled from the grains ; then washing the lye out and boiling till tender.
At that time, there was not more than one or two houses between the Ohio River and Vincennes. Almost every man, when he left his cabin, was armed with his gun, butcher knife and tomahawk, accompanied by his dog; and occasionally, women were seen, traveling with the same precautions against danger, and many of them were as expert in the use of those things as the men. They were not then harrassed by the Indians, though their were more of them than of the whites. A great part of the men's clothing was of the skins of wild animals, particularly of the deer. This enabled them to pass through the brush and briers of the forest, with more ease and comfort, than any other material. At a later period, the Indians gave them much trouble and constant watching, and some fighting. Two Chiefs, Trackwell and Setadown, had a town between Evansville and Boonville. Their people mur- dered part of the Meek family, near where Newburgh now stands. In those days they suffered many privations, which would now be considered very grievous ; but we verily believe they enjoyed life then quite as much as they do now.
The early part of our subject's education, was acquired with Revs, James McGready and Daniel Comfort of Henderson, Kentucky. He entered Nassau Hall, Princeton College, New Jersey, in 1816, and graduated in 1820, and received from the College a full diploma of A.B., and from the American Whig Society, a literary and scientific institution, a diploma confer- ring on him the degree and title of F A. W.S. Soon after grad- uating, he was called to take charge of the Warren County Seminary, in Warren County, Ky., which was afterwards char- tered as a College, in which he was elected Professor of Mathe- matics. After remaining in the College for several terms, he resigned his Professorship.
On the 16th of October, 1822, he was married to Jane Moore, daughter of Samuel Barclay, Sen., of Bowling Green, Ky.
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After resigning his professorship, in 1823, he was ordained a minister of the Gospel, by the Presbytery of Muhlenburg, of the Presbyterian Church. In 1824, he removed to Tennessee, and remained in that State till 1831, when he again removed to Kentucky. He served the Board of Domestic Missions, under the care of the General Assembly, until his health failed from labor and exposure, about 1832. In 1834, he removed to Indiana.
He commenced the practice of medicine about 1838, and continued the practice till about 1868, and although he prac- ticed medicine, he continued to preach occasionally, as long as he was able. His success in all his callings, has been as great as men in like occupations usually meet with. He has only one child living, Dr. James C. Patten, who has six children living ; their oldest, a daughter, died in 1840, aged sixteen years.
And now, having lived nearly four-score years, he wishes to record his constant and unwavering belief in the truth of the Christian Scriptures, and the sufficiency of the Christian Religion to meet and supply all man's spiritual wants, and to inspire a lively hope of a glorious Resurrection, and a future life of holiness and happiness in Heaven.
Charles E. Marsh.
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AS born in Waterford, Washington Co., Ohio, on the 10th of April, 1835. William Marsh, the ancestor of the American branch of the family, and the heir and owner of the manor of Stone Hedge, in Kent County, England, emi- grated from there in the year 1635, and landed at Salem, Mas- sachusetts. At about the same period, his mother's ancestors emigrated from England and settled at Boston, Massachusetts, one head of the family, Gregory Stone, including in his landed posessions what is now Mt. Auburn Cemetery, near Boston.
CHARLES E. MARSH is entirely of English descent, and is aware of having no ancestor coming from England later than
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two hundred years ago. He was educated principally by his mother, at an exceedingly early age. He spent one term, how- ever, at an academy in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and two years at Antioch College, in Ohio. At fifteen years of age, and before going away from home to school, he commenced by himself to read law -a study which, although followed in a desultory manner, he never entirely abandoned. He arrived at Evansville directly from college, in the Spring of 1859, and on the 15th of October following, commenced at the bottom round again to study law methodically, with Governor Conrad Baker, under whose tuition a consciousness (to use Mr. Marsh's words) began to dawn on his mind that the former estimates which he had made of his legal acquirements were a trifle too high -- in fact, that he knew just enough, that if he had been in practice, to get into all sorts of trouble, but not enough to ever get out again. In September, 1861, he was admitted to the bar, and owing to his preceptor, then Col. Baker, having gone into the army, found himself with a full practice on his hands. Much success attended the disposal of the large number of cases which fell to his lot to manage at this time. He was indebted to Judge Igle- hart, Gen. James E. Blythe, Hon. Thos. E. Garvin, Major A. L. Robinson and John J. Chandler, Esq., for many courtesies. These gentlemen kindly, and often without fee, aided with their counsel the young lawyer when he sadly needed their assistance. He contrived to gain an immense amount of law from Judge Iglehart during those days, making a good use of the same on many an occasion. Of late years his practice has been princi- pally in the U. S. Courts, and in this branch of the practice has gained considerable distinction.
Mr. Marsh is not only a fine lawyer, but he is also a lover of the solid literature of the day. He is familiar with all the Reviews-English and American-and can speak by the hour, con amore, on the leading topics of "Blackwood" or the "Atlan- tic." He was married in 1863, to Miss Mary E. Denny of Vin- cennes-a lady of the bighest culture, and a fit help-mate of a scholar and professional gentleman.
Our space forbids us to speak at length, but yet we will say that our subject is a jolly companion, and that "time flies on wings" when spent in his company.
William E. French.
AS born near Patoka, Gibson County, Indiana, on the 26th of January, 1825. His father, Wm. French, and his mother, Mary Breading, were both natives of Fayette County, Pennsylvania. They were married in March, 1822, and moved shortly afterwards in a flat-boat down the Monon- gahela and Ohio Rivers to Evansville, (then a mere river land- ing) where they disembarked and went directly to a farm near Patoka where their family was born. This consisted of four sons ; first, David, who was accidently killed by a runaway team, March 7th, 1838, aged sixteen years. Our subject was the second. Nathaniel B., formerly a merchant in Princeton -- during the war was Major of the 42nd Ind. Reg't, and is now living in Princeton, and Lucius S., now owning and living on the old family farm. His father was accidently killed by a tree, on Sunday, in October, 1844, while riding along the road near his residence, and while returning from church at Prince- ton, in the fiftieth year of his age. His mother is still living on the farm with his brother, and is now almost eighty years of age, and in the enjoyment of excellent health.
Our subject was educated first in the common schools of the country, near his father's residence, and then for a year at the Princeton Academy. Afterwards he attended Hanover College, near Madison, Indiana. At his father's death, the cares of the family devolved upon him, but after remaining at home one year, he went to the State University at Bloomington, where he graduated in the Scientific Course in 1846. He returned home, and for several years he was engaged in farming and tra- ding in produce, which he transported in flat-boats out of Pato- ka into the Wabash River, and thence down the Ohio and Mis- sissippi Rivers to New Orleans. On May 10th, 1849, he was married to Miss Mary H. Stockwell, daughter of Dr. W. H.
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Stockwell of Patoka, and sister of Geo. H. Stockwell and Nathan H. Stockwell of Evansville, and Minerva Bingham, wife of G. B. Bingham, of Patoka, Ind.
In August, 1850, he moved to Evansville, and in connec- tion with Fielding Johnson, then of Bowling Green, Ky., entered into the wholesale and retail dry goods business, under the style of Johnson & French. In 1856, Mr. Johnson retired from'business on account of ill health, and Mr. French purchased his interest, and Mr. Johnson moved to Topeka, Kansas.
Mr. French then formed a co-partnership with Sylvester I. Jerauld, of Patoka, and for three years the style of firm was French & Jerauld. He then changed the business to that of wholesale clothing, and till the commencement of the Southern Rebellion in 1861, Mr. French sold goods in Kentucky, Indiana and Illinois, under the style of Wm. E. French & Co. He sus- tained heavy losses, in the way of bad debts, and retired from business for one year, in order to settle the affairs of the house. After the passage of the new Internal Revenue Bill, he was appointed Deputy Collector for this division of the First Dis- trict of Indiana, and served three years in that capacity. Many of the maimed soldiers of the war returned home, and believing that the civil offices under the patronage of the Government should be held by the returned veterans, who had risked their lives for its support, on the field of battle, he resigned his office in favor of Wm. Warren, Jr., an honorably discharged private of the 25th Ind. Reg't, who had returned home to Evansville with the loss of his right arm. He recommended his appoint- ment, was on his bond, and assisted him in gaining a knowledge of the various duties of the office.
In 1863, Mr. French again entered into the wholesale dry goods business, with J, S. Jaquess, under the style of Jaquess, French & Co. They had a large and profitable business for five years, during which time, the firm opened the carpet business, in the second story of their store. By mutual agreement, the business was then divided. The dry goods portion was sold to Hudspeth, Smith & Co., and Mr. French, in connection with Charles Klinglehæffer, went into the general carpet and house- furnishing business exclusively, and from that time to the pres- ent, have been doing a large business in that line, Their
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spacious and elegant store, No. 205 Main Street, contains one of the largest and most beautiful stocks of carpets, etc., to be found anywhere in the whole West, and would attract attention in any city in the United States. Buying direct from the man- ufacturers, the firm is enabled to meet the views of the closest buyers, and sell against all competitors, East or West. On this account, Evansville has become proverbial as the Cheapest Car- pet Market west of the Alleghany Mountains, and this house has been the head-quarters for supplies for dwellings, steam- boats and hotels. The St. George Hotel is now being furnished entirely by this house, and will be a model hotel for comfort, elegance and good taste.
Mr. French has five children, two of whom, Wm. S. and Harry B., are associated with the management of the establish- ment.
The partner of Mr. French, MR. CHARLES KLINGLEHOEF- FER, was born at Hesse Cassel, Germany, June 29th, 1830, and emigrated to Evansville in 1850. He understands his business thoroughly, and is deservedly one of the most popular salesmen in the city.
The upholstery department of the house of Wm. E. French & Co., is under the control of Louis Stolz, whose taste and work- manship have never been equalled in Evansville. The paper and decoration work is done by W. V. Ramage, of Dayton, Ohio, and C. J. Hollis, recently of Memphis, but formerly of Phila- delphia. Their work is equal to any, and excelled by none, for beauty of design or style of execution.
Christian Kratz.
ROMINENT among the most respected citizens of Evansville, stands CHRISTIAN KRATZ. The facts of his life furnish a sufficient encomium of his character.
Mr. Kratz was born in Hesse Cassel, Germany, on the 5th day of September, 1823. His parents were John and Elizabeth
C. KRATZ.
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Kratz. In 1834, his father, with his family, being greatly in- volved, sold his farm in the Old World, to seek his fortune in the New, landing in this country in September of the same year, in Baltimore, with a five-franc piece. Soon preparations were made, and the father, together with his family, took the National Turnpike for Pittsburg. At this place the father, with his eldest son and Christian, went into a foundry, where they labored until the Spring of 1837. In the month of April of the same year, they removed to Evansville. His father, then satisfied with having gone West far enough, entered one hun- dred and sixty acres of Government land in German Township, at one dollar and twenty-five cents per acre, all of which was heavily timbered. In two years' time, this land was in good arable condition.
In 1838, our subject worked on the canal, then in process of construction, at eight dollars per month. From the last date until the fall of the year 1847, our subject worked at various employments, when, by the most rigid economy, he had saved five hundred dollars. Having previously (in 1846) married Miss Mary Heilman, he now proposed to his brother-in-law, the present Hon. Wm. Heilman, that they engage in the foundry business, and the partnership was formed, and the small begin- ning was commenced of that immense business now carried on by the respective gentlemen.
Some of his travels, etc., are mentioned in the following lines:
In the Winter of 1838, he worked on the farm of Mr. Horn- brook, at eight dollars per month. In the Summer of 1839, he worked with his father in clearing. In the fall, he worked for Mr. Aiken, gathering corn, at ten dollars per month. In the same year, he went on a flat-boat to New Orleans. He shipped on the St. Louis Packet, Mary Tompkins, from his boat to Wes- ton, to take on one hundred barrels of flour. In returning, the boat sank. For forty-eight hours he was without anything to eat, pumping to save the boat. He then shipped on the Amazon. In four or five days she sank. He then went by the steamer West Wind to New Orleans, where he shipped on another boat, the Western Belle, a Cincinnati and New Orleans Packet, for the remainder of the season. What money was saved he took home to his parents, in 1840, where
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he worked during the Summer. Iu the fall, he went to Louis- ville and shipped as deck-hand and watchman on the steamer Grey Eagle, commanded by Captain Shelcross, at eighteen dol- lars per month; remained for seven months, when he came home again.
In the fall of 1841, he assisted his father in building a large, double two story log house on the farm, which now remains, and is owned by John Bowers. He cut his right ankle while finishing the house, with a broad axe. In the same fall, he went to Louisville to get a situation on a boat ; was advised by friends not to go on the river on account of his cut ; went into the foundry of Meadows & McGrane, at nine dollars per week ; staid six months, then went to another shop at piece word; and worked up to twenty-five dollars per week. He got his older brother to go to Louisville and engage in the same business, in 1845. His brother was engaged to be married Christmas, of the same year. He borrowed some money of Christian. The river froze over, so they could get no convey- ance, and they crossed the river and took it a-foot, making the trip to Evansville in four and one-half days. He lost four toe- nails, which never grew on again.
In 1846, he came back from Louisville, and soon formed the partnership as above stated, which terminated in the fall of 1864.
Since 1864, Mr. Kratz has managed the Southern Machine Works with great success. In 1870, the foundry was enlarged to its present capacity, which places it among the largest in this section, Personally, Mr. Kratz is plain and unassuming, He is not ashamed of his humble origin, and wears the same style of clothes to-day that he wore on his entry into business. He is kind to the poor-and keeps open house for many a score of friends-who regard our subject as "A hail fellow well met."
William Jerauld.
MONG the early settlers in southern Indiana, Wm. Jerauld, Esq., formerly of Princeton, but now of Patoka, Indiana' deserves a passing notice.
He was born in the town of Warwick, State of Rhode Island, July 3d, 1793. He was the fifth son of Dr. Gorton Jerauld. He received a fair common school education, for those days, and possessing a most wonderful memory he made good use of it. From his boyhood he was well versed in the politics and the history of the Country, and when the War of 1812 was declared, he was among the foremost to volunteer, enlisting and serving to the close of the war in Capt. Smith Bosworth's Company. He was married to Miss Adah Bucklin, of Pawtucket, R. I,, on the 14th of December, A. D. 1814.
Having become inured to toil, and full of that adventurous spirit which was so characteristic of the early settlers of this portion of the country, he started on a tour of observation to the far west, as it was then called, arriving at Evansville, Ind., then a little Trading Post, with perhaps one log cabin, in Dec- ember 1816. He stopped at Vincennes, Ind., the only place of any prominence west of Louisville, and spending the winter there, he started home in the Spring of 1817, going by water, via New Orleans, the Isle of Cuba and Boston-arriving home in the autumn of 1817, after being out seven months on the voyage.
Mr. Jerauld then took his young wife, his father's family bearing him company, and came back to make their home in the wilds of Indiana, landing at Evansville in the month of Janu- ary, A. D. 1818.
The family then consisted of the following persons: Dr. Gorton Jerauld and wife, who were the father and mother of Wm. Edward, Dutee and Sylvester T. Jerauld, with two
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daughters, Candace, who subsequently was married to Gordon Bingham, formerly of Baltimore, and was the father of G. B. S. J. and John Bingham ; and Phebe Ann Jerauld, who married Charles Harrington, who was well known in Evansville, Ind., as were the Bingham Bros, two of whom, G. B. and John survive, and are now among the most prominent business men of Evans- ville. His brother Edward, was the father of G. N. Jerauld of Princeton, Ind., who is one of the most wealthy and enterprising merchants of the place.
Wm. Jerauld settled in Princeton, Ind., on a lot where John Lagon now resides, paying $250 for it, which was all the money he had. But Mr. Jerauld was not long in making a good living for his family. His genial disposition and fine ad- dress, together with his business qualifications, made him "a man of mark" among the people, and he was nearly constantly employed in offices of honor or profit, or assisting those who were so enployed, insomuch that he became a general favorite.
But after taking a fair start towards becoming wealthy, he and his brother Dutee, on or about the year 1831, built a Cotton Factory in Princeton, which burned down soon after it was started, and there being no insurance, the loss was for a time ruinous. His freinds and creditors persuaded him to compro- mise his debts by paying fifty cents on the dollar. But he and his brother both refused to do this, asking only one year's time, during which they sold their homes in Princeton, and paid all indebtedness. After this Mr. Jerauld put up two Flouring Mills, in company with others. But not succeeding very well in these enterprises, he went to Patoka, four miles North of Princeton, and purchased a house and lot. This was about the year of 1842. He with his excellent wife spent many years .here, keeping Hotel, mainly for transient custom, and it is safe to say there was no better fare in Southern Indiana than was found here. Their table was not only loaded with all the choice luxuries the country could afford, but Mr. Jerauld's pleasant manners, and his natural friendly disposition won for him golden opinions from his guests.
Since the death of his wife, which took place many years ago, he divides his time among his children-staying a part of the time with a son in Missouri and a part with his daughter, the
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wife of Jesse T. Lamb, Esq., who lives on his former old home- stead in Patoka.
Mr. Jerauld is a man possessed of more than ordinary in- tellect and culture, and in his younger days he not only had an extraordinary memory, but his conversational powers, his wit, his inexhaustible fund of anecdote made him a universal favorite.
He was an old line Whig in politics, and a very warm poli- tical partisan. It was often the custom in the olden times, at the hustings or elections, to have one man on each side to have a sort of a street debate. On all such occasions Wm. Jerauld was not only ready to give his reason concerning the political hope that was within him, but he was the peer in argument of any man who might be pitted against him, of the opposite party. But he was not quarrelsome-he never got angry, and he was too good a story-teller to let his antagonist get out of humor. If he saw some rising cloud of anger in the countenance or tone of his opponent, he would suddenly tell some pleasing story which would convulse the whole crowd with laughter, and in this way good feeling was always restored. And although, now he labors under the weight of eighty years, he walks erect, con- verses intelligently, and his eyes beam with much of the old time luster they were wont to exhibit in his younger days. He can still amuse his friends with stories of olden times-tell them of the wilderness which has budded and blossomed as a rose, how the country was once beset with howling beasts and sava- ges, and how churches and school houses have sprang into being, and cultivation and progress have taken their places, and are now the order of the day.
And it is the hope of his many friends, that he may live long to enjoy the happiness of that freedom and general prosper- ity, which he has by his labor and example done so much to bring about.
B
FEB 1 3 1941
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