USA > Indiana > Vigo County > Terre Haute > Greater Terre Haute and Vigo County : closing the first century's history of city and county, showing the growth of their people, industries and wealth > Part 30
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Mr. Blockson married Catherine Rigney on the 17th of October, 1872, and they have two sons. The elder, Walter R., married Ethel Pickard and lives in Vigo, Texas. William F. married Iva Cornell and resides with his father. He has two living children. Ora W. and Clyde C., aged respectively nine and seven years. Both Mr. Blockson and his
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younger son support the principles of the Republican party, and Mr. Blockson, Jr., has membership relations with the Odd Fellows, the Knights of Pythias and the Grange.
William A. Blockson, a brother of Ulysses, was born February 14, 1856, in section 24, Honey Creek township, Vigo county, and after his father's death, when he was a lad of eighteen, he remained with his mother for two years. He then started out in life for himself on a little tract of eighty acres which had been left to him by his father, but with the passing years he has added to this little homestead until its boun- daries now include one hundred and eighty-five cares and is a well known farmer and stock dealer. He is a well educated man, having supplemented his common school education by a course at the Prairieton public schools, and he is a Republican politically. He married, October 20, 1886, Susannah B. Walker, a daughter of Daniel D. and Mary Ann (Corbin) Walker. The mother is still living, but the father died in 1868, leaving three children-Susannah B., William Daniel and Maud A. Four chil- dred have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Blockson-Mary C., aged nineteen ; Herman W., seventeen years of age; Boyd H., fifteen, and Edith, twelve. Mrs. Blockson is a member of the New church. During the past nine years the family have spent the winter months in Terre Haute.
HENRY C. JORDAN was born on his father's farm in Honey Creek township, March 26, 1837, a son of George and Judith H. (Bennett) Jordan, the former of whom was born in Pennsylvania, April 5, 1798, and the latter in Barren county, Kentucky, February 23, 1806. In the early year of 1819 George Jordan came to Indiana and built and conducted a flatboat on the Wabash river, and from that occupation he later trans- ferred his activities to agricultural pursuits, continuing to cultivate and improve the old Jordan homestead in Honey Creek township until his death, January 20, 1881, and eighteen years later, May 1, 1899, his wife was also laid to rest. In their family were eight children: Isaac L. and Mary M., deceased ; Eusebia E., who became the wife of William Casto and lives in Woonsocket, Rhode Isand ; George W. and Martha M., also deceased; Elizabeth H., who was twice married, first becoming the wife of a Mr. Griffin and later of a Mr. Graham, but both are now deceased and she is living in Van Wert, Ohio, and Clara, who is living with her brother on the old home farm.
Henry C. Jordan, one of the eight children, remained with his father on the old homestead farm until the latter's death, receiving his education in the nearby country school, and with his sister Clara he yet maintains his residence on the old place which was the home of his parents for so
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many years. The farm consists of one hundred and sixty acres of rich and fertile land. When the Civil war was inaugurated Mr. Jordan offered his services to the Union cause and became a member of what is known as the one hundred days' service, enlisting May 17. 1864. with the One Hundred and Thirty-third Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and continued as a valiant soldier until his services were no longer needed. He has since affiliated with the Republican party and in the olden days his father supported and upheld the principles of the Whigs.
FRANK HULMAN .- During many years the grocery trade of Terre Haute found an able representative in the late well known German- American citizen, Theodore Hulman, who took up his abode in this city in the early fifties and continued as a grocery merchant in company with his two brothers. Frank and Herman, for ten years. Throughout the period of his residence here he was prominently identified with its indus- trial activity. and his death occurred on the 19th of April, 1903, but his widow, who bore the maiden name of Sophie Roderick, still survives him and yet maintains her residence in Terre Haute. Of the nine chil- dren born to them, the following are living: Sophia, Theodore, Anna. Frank. Josephine and Gertrude. Josephine married Charles Trowbridge and is living in this city.
Frank Hulman was born on his father's farm in Honey Creek town- ship. Vigo county. December 13. 1878, and after graduating from the high school of Terre Haute in 1893 he worked for the Hulman Company as their city salesman in the liquor department for about six months. and during the two following years was the foreman of their tin depart- ment. After his father's death he assumed charge of his farm in section 7. Honey Creek township. and in addition to this valuable property of seven hundred and fifty-six acres the estate consisted of a lot one hun- dred and fifty by three hundred feet. a two-story brick building with a thirty-foot front and three double houses three hundred feet front and seventy-five feet deep, in Terre Haute.
Mr. Hulman married Goldie (Sachs) October 14. 1903. She was born September 18. 1879. a daughter of Henry and Dora Sachs, resi- dents of this city and members of St. Benedict's church. The father. born in Marshall, Illinois. October 23. 1861, began railroading when a boy of sixteen years. and from an oil boy he was later promoted to a call boy and was finally made an engineer. his present position. Mrs. Sachs was born April 13. 1864. and by her marriage has become the mother of two children-Goldie and Don R. The son is unmarried and is in the employ of the Vandalia Railroad Company. Mr. Hulman is a Democrat in his political affiliations.
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MARY ISABELLE WEIR is the widow of the late John L. Weir, for many years one of the most prominent farmers and business nien of Honey Creek township. Vigo county, where his busy and useful life was ended in death on the 3d of April, 1903. His birth occurred on the 13th of October, 1850, a son of John Weir, Sr., who was born January 13. 1807. in Ireland, but in his boyhood days came to the United States and to Virginia, from whence he removed to Curry township. Sullivan county, Indiana, and later to Honey Creek township, Vigo county, where he be- came the owner of what was afterward known as the old Weir home- stead in section 20. There were thirteen children in his family, but only one, Sarah (Weir) Fitch, is now living. John L. Weir was a farmer throughout his entire business life.
Mrs. Weir was born in Honey Creek township May 25, 1855, a daughter of Robert and Martha (Williams) Kennedy. The parents were married in Otter Creek township, Vigo county, March 4, 1851, and be- came the parents of Sarah, who died at the age of ten years; Mary Isabelle Weir, and Alice, the widow of M. Aquilla Rogers. Mary Isabelle, in 1880, gave her hand in marriage to John L. Weir, and they became the parents of four children, but the first born died in infancy, and the second, Robert Ernest, when but a year old. The two daughters of the family, Ethel C. and Mildred A., are aged respectively fourteen and eleven years. Mrs. Weir resides on her estate of eighty acres in Honey Creek township, and on this farm a specialty is made of the raising of Duroc hogs, of which they sell from one to two hundred head each year. Mr. Weir upheld the principles of the Republican party.
THOMAS L. DURHAM, a successful and well known farmer and stock raiser of his native township of Honey Creek, is a member of one of the oldest and most prominent of the county's early residents. His paternal grandparents, Daniel and Martha ( Falkner ) Durham, were both natives of the Old Dominion state of Virginia, where they were farming people. In 1816 they embraced the Quaker belief, which strongly opposed the institution of slavery, and they accordingly set about fifty of their slaves free. This made it necessary for them to leave their Virginia home, and during the following two or three years they resided in Kentucky, from whence, on the 21st of June, 1821. they came to Vigo county. Indiana. purchasing one thousand acres of land in Honey Creek township. Many of their slaves came with them to their northern home, and during the first year of their residence here one died and was buried back of their barn lot. this starting the Durham cemetery, which is now a public bury- ing ground. David Durham was a Whig in his political belief, and the
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principles of this grand old party has been embraced by his descendants as one generation has followed another.
Thomas Durham, Sr., a son of this early Vigo county pioneer, was born in the old home in Jamestown, Virginia, June 2, 1801, and accom- panying his parents on their removals northward he came with them to Vigo county, Indiana, in 1821. In time he grew away from the beautiful old Quaker belief of his parents and joined the Methodist Episcopal church, and in its faith he passed from this life on the 2d of January, 1872. Just fourteen days later his wife was laid to rest by his side. She bore the maiden name of Jane Clem and was a daughter of George and Polly Clem, both of whom were born in Butler county, Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Durham became the parents of nine children, namely: Arabella, Frank, George, Ransom, Sarah, Harriette, Walter, Martha and Thomas L.
Thomas L., the youngest of the family and the only one now living, was born in section 8 of Honey Creek township, Vigo county, January 21, 1852, and he remained at home with his fathe until the latter's death. In time he became extensively interested in the raising of fast horses, and is now the owner of Grimalkin, whose registered number is 2482, and Jersey Wilkes, No. 2516. He also has a fine estate of six hundred acres of land. He married, September 26, 1872, Clara M. McPheeters.
THOMAS WELLS ROYSE .- The agricultural interests of Honey Creek township. Vigo county, find an able representative in Thomas W. Royse, who has been identified with its interests since 1858. His birth occurred in Hanover township of Butler county, Ohio, and he is a brother of John Royse, in whose sketch in this work will be found much of the family history.
Remaining at home until reaching the age of eighteen years Thomas W. Royse then went to Lafayette, Indiana, where he learned the harness- maker's trade and remained for two years, while a similar period was then spent at work at his trade in Ohio, during the following year was a resident of Anderson, Indiana, and coming thence to Vigo county in 1858 he, with three brothers, conducted the old Royse farm in Honey Creek township until he sold his interest to his brothers in 1864 and bought a tract of eighty acres in section 16. It was not until 1869, how- ever, that he removed to this farm. He now owns a little over three hundred acres in the county. Although many years have been added to the cycle of time since Mr. Royse started out in the world to battle for himself he still gives an active supervision to the work of his land and has long been classed with Vigo county's leading agriculturists and busi-
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ness men. The many large and substantial buildings which now adorn his farm represent his untiring efforts, and he has succeeded in clearing all but twenty-seven acres of his land. His residence is located on a natural building site and the Seventh street electric road runs past the home, a beautiful grove of beech trees separating the road from the house. Mr. Royse is a Democrat politically and has held the offices of assessor four years and trustee five years.
On the 12th of May, 1870, he was united in marriage to Sarah L. Balding, born in Richland county, Ohio, October 29, 1841, to Nathan and Lucinda (Yoho) Balding, who claimed Ohio county, Virginia, as the place of their nativity, but they were reared in Monroe county, Ohio, and died in Otter Creek township of Vigo county, Indiana. Mrs. Royse received her educational training in the public schools of Vigo county, and remained at home until her marriage, which has been blessed by the birth of three children: Martha, born April 22, 1871, and died Sep- tember 3, 1872; Mary, born November 29, 1872, and died January 15, 1889, and Samuel, born June 11, 1875, and died July 18th of the same year. Mrs. Royse is a member of the Christian church.
EDWARD H. BALL .- During many years, from its earliest pioneer record, the Ball family were prominently identified with the professional life of Terre Haute, for Edward V. Ball, the grandfather of Edward H., was one of the first physicians of this city, and for over fifty years he practiced his profession here. The work was then carried on by his son, Dr. Lawrence S. Ball, who practiced almost continuously in Prairie- ton. He was born on the 15th of March, 1831, in Terre Haute, and he was first married to Frances A. Burr, who was born in August, 1831, and was a direct descendant of Aaron Burr. The Balls are members of the same family as Martha Washington. Mrs. Ball died in April, 1875, after becoming the mother of three children-Edward H., Agnes and Preston, but the last named is deceased. For his second wife Dr. Law- rence S. Ball married Clara A. Kelsey, and their three children were Bertrand, Clarence (deceased) and Helen. Dr. Ball was a graduate of the Georgetown Military Academy and also of the School of Medicine of Cincinnati, Ohio. During the war he served as captain of a company and was stationed at Indianapolis to guard the prisoners sent there.
Edward H. Ball remained with his father until he reached the age of sixteen, and for two years thereafter was a clerk in C. C. Oakey's store-"The Bee Hive"-after which he returned to his father's home and remained there for a number of years. For some time he was with J. G. Heinl, and then, on account of failing health, went to Kansas, this
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being when he was twenty-three. In the spring of 1882 he began gar- dening in Honey Creek township, and this has ever since been his voca- tion. During the first five years he operated rented land, and he then became the owner of twenty-one acres, while at the present time his estate consists of fifty acres. He ships a large part of his product to the Chicago market.
On the Ist of November, 1883, Mr. Ball married Carrie O. Wyeth, a daughter of George and Mary (Kester) Wyeth, the former of whom was born on the 21st of January, 1842, and the latter on the 29th of June, 1840. In their family were six children-Carrie, Audria, Minnie, Willard, Edwin and Daniel, but Audria and Daniel are deceased, as is also the wife and mother, who died May 12, 1897. The father is now living at the Soldiers' Home. He served three years during the Civil war. The four children of Mr. and Mrs. Ball are Lawrence S., Mar- garet, Eugene and Christene, all at home. Mr. and Mrs. Ball are mem- bers of Honey Creek Grange, No. I, the first grange in Indiana.
ARTHUR M. POLLITT is one of the well known garden fariners of Honey Creek township. He was born in Shelby county, Indiana, August 25, 1848, a son of John M. and Susan (Meridith) Pollitt. He remained at home with his parents until reaching his twenty-first year, and he then began the battle of life for himself, first renting forty acres in Prairieton township, Vigo county. In 1876 he became the owner of a little tract of thirteen acres in Honey Creek township and began the trucking busi- ness. He has spent several winters in Florida and other states in the south, and on several of these trips he has bought tracts of timber land and sold them at an advantage.
On the 15th of January, 1873, Mr. Pollitt married Minerva Rider, and their two children, William and Minnie, are married and are living on their father's farm, assisting in the gardening. Mr. Pollitt follows in the political footsteps of his father and votes with the Democratic party. Mr. Pollitt has made a signal success of his business as gardener and he has the full confidence of the best citizens of Terre Haute.
ELIAS LITTLETON, a pioneer in the garden farming industry of Terre Haute, was born in Clermont county, Ohio, December 28, 1831, a son of Thomas and Catherine (Beckelheimer) Littleton, natives re- spectively of Kentucky and Pennsylvania. The mother was a resident of Ohio from the age of three years, and the father was twenty when he moved there from Kentucky, and both died in that commonwealth. Thomas Littleton operated a sawmill during the most of his active busi-
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ness career in connection with his farming and mechanical work, and Mrs. Littleton was one of the noted weavers of her time. Nine children were born to them, namely: Leanore, Betsy and John, all deceased ; Derius, who has never married and resides in Ohio: Elias, of this review, and Jane, Thomas, Barbara and Van Buren, also deceased.
Elias Littleton grew to years of maturity on his father's farm, and remained at home until his twenty-first year, when he married and estab- lished a home of his own, removing to Hancock county, Indiana, where he first purchased eighty acres and later twenty acres more. For eighteen years he was engaged in general agricultural pursuits there, but selling the farm then he came to Honey Creek township, Vigo county, in 1866 and . bought twenty acres, the nucleus of his present homestead. By a subse- quent purchase he became the owner of thirty-four acres, and here he has ever since followed gardening. He was one of the first to engage in that industry in Terre Haute, and he still drives his wagon during the summer months. Mr. Littleton is also a blacksmith and has made five wagons complete for his own use, three of them having worn out in the service and the remaining two are still in use. He is a Democrat politic- ally and has had fraternal relations with the Odd Fellows order.
On the 19th of November, 1840, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Littleton and Sarah Beckelheimer. She was born in Clermont county, Ohio, December 4, 1824, and died on the 23d of August, 1900. The only child of this union was Aaron S., who was born in 1841 and died November 5, 1880. leaving a wife and two children, Frank L. and Nettie M. The daughter is the wife of Thomas Cane, a lawyer, of Noblesville, Indiana. The son, Frank, received his education in the high school and DePauw University of Greencastle, and going then to Indianapolis he began reading law under the preceptorship of a Mr. Elliott, with whom he was also in partnership for about five years. Since then he has served as the attorney for the Big Four Railroad Company, with residence in Indianapolis. Mrs. Littleton subsequently became the wife of a Mr. Smith and resides in Noblesville, Indiana. Mr. Littleton, of this review, is a member of the Methodist church.
HIRAM ALEXANDER CROCKETT .- The Crockett family have long been identified with the interests and upbuilding of Vigo county, and in its township of Sugar Creek, Hiram A. Crockett was born to John and Susan ( Hiten) Crockett, April 9, 1837. The parents were natives re- spectively of Tennessee and Kentucky, but during their youths they came with their families to Vigo county, the paternal family locating two miles south of Sandford, while the maternal family established their
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home west of Terre Haute. John and Susan (Hiten) Crockett were married in Sugar Creek township, where the husband was identified with agricultural pursuits until his death in 1854, at the early age of thirty- seven years. His widow survived him many years and died in 1890, aged sixty-five. She was a second time married, wedding William Kirkendahl, and of their four children Nancy Alice and Harvey, the first and third born, are deceased, and Allen and Ann are living. Mr. and Mrs. Crockett had seven children: Hiram, of this review; Benjamin Franklin, de- ceased ; William Henry, of Missouri; John Wesley, deceased; Eliza- beth, the widow of Robert Ferris and a resident of Dennison, Illinois ; Catherine, deceased, and George, of Oklahoma. Mr. Crockett, the father. was a Democrat, and a member of the Christian church. His wife was also a member of that denomination until after his death, when she be- came a Methodist.
When Hiram A. Crockett was a boy of eighteen his mother married again, and he then started out in the world to battle for himself, working on a farm by the month until his enlistment for the Civil war, August 16, 1862, becoming a member of the Eighty-fifth Indiana Infantry, and as a private served until the close of the conflict. His first engagement was near Nashville, Tennessee, a siege of about twenty-four hours, and his next battle of any consequence was when Hood retreated to Nashville, after which he took part in minor skirmishes until he was stricken with smallpox and taken to the hospital at Stone River, February 14, 1864. He remained there until the 25th of July, and as a result of that ter- rible disease he lost the sight of his left eye, while during the last three years of his life he was almost totally blind. After leaving the hospital he did government duty until his discharge in July, 1865, having been mustered out at Washington on the 12th of July. His first pension was but four dollars a month, but this was increased from time to time until he drew seventy-two dollars a month.
After returning from the war Mr. Crockett began farming in Sugar Creek township, where he owned twenty acres of land and also farmed rented land until his retirement from active labor in the seventies, although he continued his residence on his little homestead until he came to Sandford in 1894, and since lived in this vicinity. He owned much valuable property in Vigo county, including a residence and three lots in Sandford, one hundred and seven acres in Sugar Creek township and two houses and lots and one vacant lot in West Terre Haute. In addi- tion to this he had twelve vacant lots on the Illinois side in Sandford. Mr. Crockett voted with the Republican party, and during his early life he served in the offices of constable and supervisor. He was a member
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of the Blue Lodge, No. 330, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, at Sandford, and of the Cruft Grand Army of the Republic Post at the same place.
On the 4th of October, 1860, he married Mary A. Reese, who was born in Sugar Creek township, March 30, 1839, a daughter of John Reese. They have had five children: Franklin F., born March 27, 1862, married Ida McElvain, deceased, and they had five children: William Wesley, born August 9, 1866, died October 9, 1883: John A., born December 11, 1868, resides on the old home farm in Sugar Creek town- ship; Emily Jane, born January 5, 1870, is deceased, and Rebecca L., born in October, 1874, died in June, 1880. The eldest son, Franklin F. Crockett, took up a claim in Oklahoma, but he makes his home in Kansas. Mr. and Mrs. Hiram A. Crockett were members of the Methodist church.
PHILIP LONG traces his ancestry on the paternal side to the mother country of England, from whence came its representatives to the new world and established their home in Virginia. The Old Dominion state was the birthplace of William Long. the great-grandfather of Philip, and he became the father of twenty-five children, fourteen' sons and three daughters by his first wife and eight sons by the second wife. Both wives were born in the same county in Virginia as their husband. One of this large family, Edward Long, born in Virginia, March 24, 1791, was the founder of the family in Indiana, where he entered a quarter section of land in several different tracts. He represented his country during the War of 1812 and at the time of his death, in 1874. was drawing a pension in compensation for his services. He was a National Democrat, a member of the Masonic order, and, although an unlettered man, was a Dunkard minister for a time. He was a man of many peculiarities, but of many virtues. Alexander Long, his son, and the father of Philip, was born in Kentucky in 1818, and his death occurred on the Sangamon river in Illinois, while on the circuit. He was also an efficient laborer in the cause of the. Master, and for many years was a minister in the United Brethren church. He accompanied his father on his removal to Indiana and received his educational train- ing in its schools, and for a time after attaining to mature years fol- lowed farming in connection with his ministerial labors, but after a time gave up the work of the farm to devote his entire time to his church, dying in its service.
Rev. Long married, in Fayette township. Vigo county, in 1839. Diana Whitesel, who was of German ancestry and a granddaughter of Peter Whitesel, who was born in Rockingham county. Virginia, in
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