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 33
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Mr. Green has been twice married and is the father of eight chil- dren, two sons and six daughters, two by the first marriage and six by the second. In 1867 he wedded Elizabeth Van Cleave, who was born in Clay county, Indiana, but her people came originally from Ohio. For his second wife he wedded Eliza Hamilton, September 3, 1874, and six children were born to them, one son and five daughters, all living: Mina, wife of Ray Lee; Nellie, wife of Alonzo Wilson; Ola, wife of Ray Shults ; Hallie, wife of William Hudson; Opal, wife of Clinton Baker, and Glen, who is with his parents. Mrs. Green, the mother, was born in Vigo county, August 15, 1853, a daughter of James and Louisa (Thurston) Hamilton, both of whom are deceased. Mrs. Green was educated in the common schools.
WARREN LIGHT .- Riley township numbers Warren Light not only among its leading farmers and stock raisers, but its native sons as well, his birth occurring here on the 3Ist of August, 1861. His father, George W. Light, was for many years one of its prominent agriculturists, and was born in Clay county, Indiana, in November, 1833, but the family were originally from Kentucky, where the grandfather was born and died. When a young man George W. Light came to Riley township, Vigo county, and both before and after his removal he worked at the cooper's
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trade. In 1862 he bought what is now known as the Light homestead, buying eighty acres at that time, and he lived during his remaining years on this farm, clearing, improving and cultivating it. He was a Democrat politically, and his death occurred in 1891.
In 1855 George W. Light married Clarissa Mewhinney, whose father, Benjamin Mewhinney, was one of the early pioneers of Riley township, which became the birthplace of Mrs. Light October 21, 1838. Mr. Me- whinney was born and married in Ohio, Emily Wythe becoming his wife. She was a representative of the Wythes of Revolutionary fame, and the name was also among the signers of the Declaration of Independence. She was born in Virginia. Mrs. Light was one of five children, and the family came from Ohio to Indiana in about 1832, locating in Riley town- ship, where Mr. Mewhinney entered a farm of eighty acres. He cleared this little tract from its timber, improved it and added to its acreage until he became the owner of an estate of one hundred and twenty acres. His death occurred in this township when he had reached the advanced age of eighty-four years. His political affiliations were with the Democracy. Mr. and Mrs. Light became the parents of three children, two sons and a daughter-Warren, Benjamin and Flora, but the second son is deceased.
On the 22d of March, 1885, Warren Light was united in marriage to Rose Lee Jordan, the daughter of one of Pierson township's leading farm- ers, William F. Jordan. He was born in Ohio, but his daughter claims Riley township as the place of her nativity, born October 14, 1862. Two daughters have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Light: Audrey, born January 5, 1886, and Gladys Blanche, born March 17, 1893. The family home is a fine estate of one hundred and twenty acres in Riley township. Mr. Light is one of the well known educators of Vigo county, having taught in its township of Riley for fifteen years, and among his pupils in that time were his wife, one sister, three brothers-in-law and one daughter. Mrs. Light also taught for four years in Pierson township. They are members of the Methodist Episcopal church and politically Mr. Light up- holds and supports the principles of the Democratic party. Mr. Light has one of the oldest deeds found in Vigo county, a parchment, executed by President Andrew Jackson. It bears the date of October 7, 1835.
WILLIAM P. HOLMES, a prominent and well known agriculturist of Riley township, was born in the township of Linton, Vigo county, In- diana. December 10, 1837. His father, Matthew B. Holmes, was one of the pioneer farmers of that locality, but was born, reared and married in Kentucky, Nancy Howard, a native daughter of the Blue Grass state, becoming his wife. They became the parents of seven sons and four
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daughters, and four of the number were born before the removal of the family to Indiana. It was during an early period in its development that the little family came to Vigo county, where the husband and father bought and cleared a tract of land, but selling that farm he moved to Honey Creek township and later to Riley township, where he purchased two hundred and eighty acres of land. He cleared and improved the greater part of that tract, but finally traded it for property in Terre Haute and moved there. After the death of his wife he lived with his children until his own life was ended in death. He was first a Whig and then a Republican in his political affiliations, having cast his vote for the first Republican president, General Fremont. He was a member and for over forty years a class leader in the Methodist Episcopal church, and was a devout and faithful Christian. His death occurred at the advanced age of ninety-one years.
William P. Holmes, the fourth son and fifth child born to Matthew B. and Nancy Holmes, obtained his education in the early pioneer schools of the county. It was in the fall of 1857 that he purchased and moved to his present homestead of eighty acres in Riley township, which he has since cleared, improved and cultivated. In political matters he upholds the principles of the Republican party, but votes independently at local elections, and has been quite active in the public life of his community. For three years, elected in 1898, he served his county as one of its com- missioners. During two years he served as master of Riley Lodge, No. 290, Free and Accepted Masons. In 1862 he enlisted in the eighty-fifth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, Company E, and served as a corporal for three years in the Civil war. In that time among many others he took part in the battle of Spring Hill, Tennessee, where his entire brigade was captured and taken to Libby prison. His incarceration lasted for fourteen days and nights, and returning thence to Tennessee he served as a guard until the following fall. He participated in the entire campaign from Atlanta to the sea, and although he was never wounded he was often in the thickest of the fight and had many narrow escapes from death. He was mustered out at Indianapolis in 1865, and returned to his home in Vigo county.
In 1855 Mr. Holmes married Mary Green, who was born and reared in Vigo county, a daughter of Alexander and Anna Green, early pioneers of the county. She became the mother of two children, Anna and Eliza Rudella, and died in August, 1866. In 1868 Mr. Holmes wedded Anna S. Bratt, who came from her native land of England to the United States when young, and with her parents. Martin and Mary Bratt, located in Vigo county. Their two children were Morton H. and Mary. Three
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years after the death of his second wife he married, in 1888, Matilda J. Lawson, born in Tennessee in 1847, and when fifteen years of age she came with her parents, William and Katherine Lawson, to Clay county, Indiana, from whence the family later came to Vigo county. William Lawson was a Methodist minister for many years, and he had one son who served as a soldier in the Union army during the Civil war and died from exposure in a southern prison. He was also on the famous Sultana at the time of its explosion and saved his life by swimming. Mr. Holmes is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.
JAMES M. PICKENS .- For many years James M. Pickens was num- bered among the leading farmers of Riley township, but since 1905 he has lived retired in the town of Riley. His father, James Pickens, Sr., was one of the pioneer farmers of Riley township, but he was born and reared in North Carolina, removing from his native state to Kentucky with his father. It was in the Blue Grass state that he was married to Francis Coward, who also moved with her parents from her native state of North Carolina to Kentucky, and from there she came with her hus- band to Orange county, Indiana. During an early day in its history they established their home in Vigo county, locating on a farm of eighty acres in Riley township which Mr. Pickens entered from the government. and he at once began to clear and cultivate his land, but died before the completion of his work. His wife is also deceased.
James M. Pickens, the fifth child and youngest son of their eight children, three sons and five daughters, was born on his father's farm in Riley township March 13, 1832, and there he grew to years of matu- rity and received his education in the nearby district schools. In time he became the owner of a farm of one hundred and forty-five acres, which he has cleared and improved, and he continued its work until he laid aside the active cares of the farm in 1905 and removed to Riley. He sold his farm at that time and bought property in the city. He is an active worker in the local ranks of the Democratic party, and during the Civil war he enlisted for service in Company E. Fifty-seventh Indiana Volunteer Infantry, with which he served from 1864 until 1865, and in the mean- time participated in the battles of Spring Hill, Franklin and Nashville. Tennessee, and from Nashville he went with his regiment to Texas.
On the 31st of December, 1867, Mr. Pickens married Ellen Pringle, the daughter of one of the pioneer farmers of Pearson township. Vigo county. James Pringle. Mrs. Pickens was born, reared and educated in Pearson township. The only child of this marriage died in infancy, but they have an adopted son, Frederick H. Lee, whom they have reared from
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infancy. Mr. Pickens is a member of the Christian church. Mrs. Pickens died March 19, 1898.
JOHN REECE, a farmer and stock raiser of Riley township, was born in Clermont county, Ohio, January 24, 1825, and is a son of John and a grandson of John Reece. The grandfather was born, reared and married in Pennsylvania, Miss Susan Moredock becoming his wife, and she was also a native of the Keystone state. They became the parents of nine children, four sons and five daughters. In an early day in its history John Reece, Sr., moved with his family to Ohio, and settled on a farm in Clermont county, where he followed his trade of wagon making. In his later life he came to Indiana, and entering land in Clay county he spent the remainder of his life there. His political affiliations were with the Democracy.
John Reece, his son and namesake, and his third child and eldest son, was born in Greene county, Pennsylvania, in January, 1796, and from his native state he went with his parents to Clermont county, Ohio, and thence in 1835 to Clay county, Indiana, where he entered three hundred and twenty acres of land. In time he cleared the most of his land and developed it into a beautiful homestead, dying there at the advanced age of eighty-one years. He was married in Clermont county, Ohio, to one of the state's native daughters, Nancy Lindsay, born in February, 1803, and they became the parents of nine children, four sons and five daughters.
John Reece, Jr., the eldest of the nine children, was a boy of eleven years when his parents moved from Ohio to Clay county, Indiana, and in its public schools he completed his education. In the spring of 1850 he came to Vigo county, and in Riley township purchased a farm of six ' hundred and sixty acres, of which he cleared about three hundred acres. He resided there until his removal in 1883 to his present farm of eighty acres, which he has brought to a high state of cultivation, and on this valuable little estate he has one oil well.
On the IIth of May, 1845, Mr. Reece married Nancy Ferrell, who was born and reared in Vigo county, and their three children, two sons and a daughter, are all deceased, as is also the wife and mother, who died January 25, 1850. In October, 1852, Mr. Reece wedded Elizabeth Jane (Gummery) Mason, the widow of John Mason, who served as a soldier in the Mexican war. She was born in Guernsey county, Ohio, but was reared in Clay county, Indiana, and became the mother of three children, two daughters and a son, but one of the number is now deceased. Mrs. Reece died October 16, 1868. and on the 24th of May, 1869, he married Emilie C. (Gomery) Webster, the widow of Joe Webster, of Clay county,
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and of their two sons one is now deceased. The mother died in March of 1873, and on the 30th of January, 1875, Susan (Grey) Hickson, the widow of David Hickson, of Vigo county, became his wife. Of the two daughters born of the last marriage one is now deceased. Mr. Reece has been a life-long Democrat, and since 1869 has had membership rela- tions with the Masonic fraternity, belonging to Lodge No. 390, at Riley, Indiana.
JOHN C. MOYER .- To the Moyer family belongs the honor of hav- ing been one of the first to locate within the borders of Vigo county, and they trace their descent to the Empire state of New York, the birth- place of David Moyer, the founder of the family in Vigo county. It was in 1818 that he cast his lot among the first settlers of Honey Creek town- ship, and he followed his trade of a millwright there during the remainder of his active life. In his old age he returned to New York and there died. Mr. Moyer was married in Ohio to one of the state's native daughters, Susan Lutz, and of their family of five children two were sons and three daughters, all born in Vigo county, but one died in infancy.
Linus Moyer was their third child and eldest son and was born in Otter Creek township, August 3, 1823, and in his youth he passed through the period of pioneer life in Vigo county. He first farmed for himself in Riley township, on a little tract of forty acres, but later he became the owner of eighty acres in another part of the township, which he cleared and improved and at the same time added to its boundaries until it now contains one hundred and ninety-nine and a half acres. He was but a poor boy when he started out in life for himself, forging his way to the front by his own unaided efforts, and during the past few years he has been able to lay aside the active cares of a business life and live retired. He learned the carpenter's trade in his early manhood and followed it as a vocation for several years. He has been a life-long Democrat, and for about thirty-two years he served as a justice of the peace in Riley township. Mr. Moyer's wife bore the maiden name of Nancy Mallory, and was born and reared in Vigo county, of which her father, Ira Mal- lory, was also one of its early pioneers. This union was blessed by the birth of four children, two sons and two daughters, Mary Jane, John C., Ira A., and Anna, but the two daughters, the oldest and youngest of the children, are deceased.
John C. Moyer was born in Riley township June 23, 1848, and he remained on his father's old homestead farm here until his marriage. He then established his home on his present estate of eighty acres, which he has cleared and placed under an excellent state of cultivation. His
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marriage was celebrated on the 20th of November. 1873. Mary E. Holston becoming his wife. She was born in Clay county, Indiana, March 6, 1852, and is a granddaughter of Andrew Holston, another of the early and honored pioneers of Vigo county. He was born, reared and married in Pennsylvania, Castello McKee becoming his wife. After coming to Vigo county he entered land in Riley township, but subse- quently removed to Clay county, Indiana. Mrs. Moyer was eighteen years of age when she came with her parents from Clay county to Riley township. Vigo county, where her father, David Holston, bought a farm, and also followed his trade of a wagon-maker in both Clay and Vigo counties, and he resided here until his death at the age of eighty-two years. Mrs. Moyer has a glass tumbler that belonged to her parents, which is nearly a century old. Mr. Moyer is a Democrat and a member of the Masonic Order, Lodge No. 390, and his wife is a member of Eastern Star Lodge, No. 22.
HENRY HAAS .- The mercantile circles of Vigo county number among its representatives Henry Haas, the proprietor of a general store in Riley. He entered upon his mercantile career in Lancaster. Owen county, In- diana, where for about eight years he conducted a general store, and then for one year returned to the work of the farm. Preferring a mer- cantile to an agricultural life, however, he opened a store in Bowling Green, Indiana, which he conducted for about five years and then sold. After another period of farming, this time of about four years, he be- came a merchant in Corey, Indiana, and after five years there he, in 1896, came to Riley to become the proprietor of a general mercantile establishment here. He handles all articles usually found in a general store, and in addition he is largely engaged in the sale of wagons and farm implements. He still has his store in Corey, and also owns one hundred and sixty acres of fine farming land in Vigo county and three hundred and eighty acres in DuBois county. He is a life-long Democrat.
Mr. Haas' father was for many years one of the prominent farmers of Owen county, Indiana, but was a native son of Germany, coming from his native land to the United States when a young man of eighteen and at once established his home in Owen county. He was married in Ohio to one of the commonwealth's native daughters, Elizabeth Berger. and they became the parents of six children, two sons and four daughters. Mr. Haas was a second time married, wedding Miss Miller, and they had three daughters and a son. He was a member of the Lutheran church.
Henry Haas was born in Ohio. November 24, 1846, the eldest of his parents' six children, and he received his education in the public schools
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of Owen county, Indiana. He was also married in that county to Paulina Schmaltz, a native of Indiana and of German descent. They have become the parents of twelve children, six sons and six daughters, and all were born in Indiana.
JESSE H. WILSON .- One of the first families to become identified with the history of Vigo county were the Wilsons, and from those early days to the present time its members have been prominently connected with its agricultural interests. The founder of the family here was James S. Wilson, the grandfather of Jesse H. He was born and reared in Maryland, of Irish descent. He married a German girl named Susan Decker, they becoming the parents of nine children. James S. Wilson was a carpenter and shipbuilder in his younger years, but in an early day in its history brought his family to Washington county, Indiana, and entered land from the government. He continued to clear and cultivate the land until his removal, in 1833, to Vigo county. He came with five of his children and located in Riley township, both entering and pur- chasing land, and he continued to farm here until his death, leaving an estate of two hundred and forty acres. He was a Democrat and a member of the Baptist church.
Joseph Wilson was the youngest of his nine children and was born in Virginia, August 9, 1806. In time he became the owner of one hun- dred and seventy acres in Riley township, Vigo county, which he brought to a high state of cultivation and spent the remainder of his life on his valuable homestead. He was a life-long Democrat, serving for a number of years as a justice of the peace, and was a member of the Christian church. The death of this prominent early resident of Vigo county oc- curred in 1864. In Washington county, Indiana, he married Mary Hart- ley, who was born in North Carolina. October 24, 1812, a daughter of Tilman Hartley, one of the well known pioneer farmers of Riley township, Vigo county, where he had entered land from the government. Five children, four sons and a daughter, were born to Mr. and Mrs. Wilson: Jesse H., William Henry, Martin V., Thomas C. and Julia Ann, but the third born, Martin V., and the only daughter, are deccased. All were born in Riley township.
Jesse H. Wilson was born within sight of his present home on October 17, 1833, and in the schools of Riley township he received his carly educational training. His father, in an early day, was one of the educators here. At the time of his marriage the son moved to his present homestead, a valuable estate of one hundred and twenty acres in Riley township, on which he has made all of the improvements. He is
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identified with the Democracy, and aside from his agricultural labors has taken some part in local politics.
Mr. Wilson married, March 29, 1855, Cynthia Roll, the daughter of Edward and Nancy Roll, deceased farmers of Pierson township, Vigo county, the birthplace of their daughter Cynthia, on July 6, 1838. The Roll family came from Ohio to Indiana in an early day, and Mrs. Roll was formerly Nancy Beard, of Kentucky. Mrs. Wilson was the second born of their eight children, four sons and four daughters, all born in Pierson township. Five sons and a daughter have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Wilson: Edward J., John A., Henry T., Stephen F., Mary and George, all born and reared in Riley township. For thirty years and more Jesse H. Wilson has been a minister in the Christian church, and in that time has joined in marriage about two hundred and seventy couples.
GEORGE F. SANKEY .- The name of George F. Sankey is familiar to the residents of Riley township, for here he was born and has spent his entire life, and in his later years has taken an active part in its local political history. His birthday was the 26th of June, 1853, and his father, George Sankey, one of the prominent early residents of this community, and it was on his farm in Riley township that the son, George, spent the early years of his life, assisting to clear and develop it. In 1876, the year following his marriage, he located on his present farm of one hun- dred and twenty acres.
Mr. Sankey married, September 22, 1875, Julia E. Soules, a member of another of the prominent old families of Vigo county, born and reared in Lost Creek township, a daughter of Origin B. Soules. Their three children, two sons and a daughter, are Charles O., Fannie May and Raymond, all born in Riley township, and the daughter is the wife of Pearl Ripley, also of Lost Creek township. Mr. Sankey takes quite an active part in local politics, voting with the Democracy, and in 1902 he was a nominee for the office of county commissioner. He is a member of Social Lodge, No. 86, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, of Terre Haute, and both he and wife are members of the Baptist church in Lost Creek township.
JAMES W. BRUNKER, M. D., a leading physician and surgeon of Vigo county, who resides in the village of Riley, comes of an old and substantial English family. His father, James D. Brunker, was born in Westbury, Wiltshire, England, on the 16th of March, 1827. He was reared and educated in that portion of England, coming to America as a soldier of the Twenty-third Royal Welsh Fusileers and serving the
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latter part of his term of enlistment in the Dominion of Canada. He had previously been stationed on the Isle of Wight. It was in 1849 that he came to Vigo county, Indiana, buying forty acres of timber land in Pierson township, on which he built a pioneer's log cabin and from which he commenced to clear the forest. In 1854 James D. Brunker had arrived at such a state of worldly prosperity that he married Martha T. Wilgus, born in Vigo county in 1835, and daughter of Thomas Wilgus, who at an early day entered land and farmed in Riley towns hip. The Wilgus family was of German and Scotch descent. and Mrs. Brunker was one of nine children, all of whom were natives of Vigo county, and six sons, soldiers in the Civil war. In the family of Mr. and Mrs. James D. Brunker were six sons and one daughter: Anna E., James W., Charles D., George Thomas, Albert V., Edward and Theodore. The father of the family was a man of strong character, devoting most of his time to the work of cultivating his farm, improving his homestead and engaging generally in agricultural pursuits. For a number of years, however, he was engaged in the manufacture of brick. At the time of his death, in his sixty-seventh year, he was the owner of a fine estate of. 117 acres, and a citizen of substance both in worldly goods and character. He died a devout member of the New Light Christian church, and active in the fraternal work of Odd Fellowship.
The district schools of Pierson township and a normal establishment of a private character furnished James W. Brunker with his early educa- tion. He then taught for four winters in the township, and in 1878 commenced to study medicine with Dr. F. M. Pickins. In 1884 he graduated from the Indiana Medical College, and at once established the practice which he has extended over the entire eastern portion of the county, and which has brought him both profit and honor. Dr. Brunker attended the New York Post-Graduate Medical School in 1906, has served as president of the Vigo County Medical Society, and is a mem- ber of the American Medical Association, the Indiana State and Aescula- pian Medical societies. He is among the most progressive and honored members of his profession in the locality of his residence and practice. Of the fraternal and benevolent organizations, he is identified with Riley Lodge, No. 390, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons ; Lockport Lodge. No. 500, Independent Order of Odd Fellows; Charity Lodge, No. 171. Knights of Pythias, and Pawhuska Tribe, No. 122, Independent Order of Red Men. On the 20th of March, 1884, at Hymera, Sullivan county, Indiana, Dr. Brunker married Miss Willa C. Welty, who was born and reared in Greene county, Indiana, and is a daughter of Dr. John Welty. The children of Dr. and Mrs. Brunker are Ethel G., Herschel V. and
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