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 34
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Edith W., all born in Riley township, Vigo county. The elder daughter is the wife of Frederick C. Harper, of Terre Haute. Dr. Brunker is an active Democrat of considerable local influence, having been the nominee of his party for coroner of the county. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and a strong and elevating force in many fields of life.
FRED SANKEY is numbered among the successful farmers of Lost Creek township, Vigo county, and in its township of Riley he was born on the Ioth of December, 1860, to George and Elizabeth (Lambert) Sankey. Riley township was also the birthplace of George Sankey, who followed agriculture as a life occupation and was successful in the voca- tion. As a stock raiser he was also quite prominent, raising principally Short-horn and Durham cattle, which won many prizes at the county fairs. At the time of his death, in 1872, he owned an estate of one hundred and sixty acres in the home place, all well improved land, and other land in that neighborhood. He voted with the Democratic party. Mrs. Sankey was born near Clinton, in this state, and was a member of the Baptist church. They became the parents of eight children: Louise, deceased; Patience, the wife of L. Rockwood, of Vigo county; Frank, a prominent farmer of Riley township; Freeman, of Lost Creek township; Thomas P., deceased; Fred, the subject of this review, and the two youngest died in infancy.
On the homestead farm in Riley township Fred Sankey attained to years of maturity, and remaining at home with his mother until he was . twenty-nine years of age, he then moved to a tract of forty acres in section 32, Lost Creek township, which he had previously purchased. This was the beginning of his present estate, which now contains ninety- nine acres, and he carries on general farming. Mr. Sankey upholds the principles of the Democratic party, and for two years he served his county as a member of its council. He has membership with the Fra- ternal Order of Red Men, Lodge No. 152, of Terre Haute.
On the 6th of November, 1889, he was united in marriage to Dora Reed, who was born in Clay county, Indiana. Her parents, Daniel D. and Symanthia (Watts) Reed, were both born in Indiana and are now living retired in Terre Haute. Mr. Reed was a grocery merchant in Clay county. Mrs. Sankey is a member of the Baptist church.
OSCAR LEMUEL SOULES .- During three generations the Soules family have been prominently identified with the agricultural life of Vigo county. William Soules was one of the first to establish a home in Harrison town- ship, where many years ago he entered land from the government, and
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his son, Lemuel B. Soules, later became one of the prominent residents and farmers of Lost Creek township. He was born in the state of New York on June 15, 1824, but during his early boyhood days came west with his father, and his death occurred in Lost Creek township, September 1, 1863. At his death he left an estate of two hundred and forty acres, all on the Bloomington road in Lost Creek township, and also eighty acres on the same road. He was married to Sarah Anna McKinzie, who was born on April 8, 1828, and their marriage united two of Vigo county's early pioneer families. She was but eight years of age when she came from her native state of Ohio to Indiana with her father, who entered a quarter section of land in section 31 of Lost Creek township, and there he spent the remainder of his life. Mrs. Soules died February 5, 1897, after becoming the mother of these children, namely: William, deceased ; Almira, deceased; Alvira; Alonzo, a farmer in Rockville, Indiana; Horatio L., deceased; George W., deceased ; Melissa, the wife of H. C. Miller, a carpenter in Terre Haute, and Oscar L. Mr. Soules, the father, gave his political allegiance to the Republican party, and his wife was a member of the Methodist church.
Oscar L. Soules was born on his father's farm on the Bloomington road, in Lost Creek township, October 18, 1862, and when a lad of sixteen years he started out in life for himself, first working at farm labor by the month. In the spring following his eighteenth birthday he began farming for himself in Otter Creek township, while later, in 1890, he bought ninety-six acres in Lost Creek township, but in 1900 sold that land and purchased his present farm in the same township. His estate consists of one hundred and twenty acres, and he carries on general farm- ing, and he also owns a section of land near Dickinson, in North Dakota. He is the president of the Soules-Cooper Oil Company, whose fields are located in Johnson township, Clark county, where they have thirteen producing wells.
On the 24th of December, 1889, Mr. Soules married Rella Hughes, who was born in Lost Creek township, March 7, 1864, a daughter of Peter and Ellen (Dickerson) Hughes, who were numbered among the early pioneers of Vigo county, but both are now deceased. They raised a large family of thirteen children, namely: Samuel Dickerson, de- ceased; Sarah E., Rachael E., George W., and Hannah L., deceased ; James J., deceased ; Levi G., John H., Mary D., deceased ; Martha J., Emmet P., Lourella T. and Stephen C. Mr. Soules is a Republican and an Odd Fellow, affiliating with Lodge No. 51, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of Terre Haute.
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LYMAN ROCKWOOD, a farmer in Lost Creek township, was born in Jericho, Vermont, August 28, 1840. a son of Reuben and Lucy (Rice) Rockwood, both also natives of that commonwealth. Reuben Rockwood, born in 1806, removed with his family to the west in 1854, and for two years worked as a brick mason in Terre Haute. Shortly after his arrival there he erected with a partner the National block. After a two years' residence in that city he bought the old Hussey farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Lost Creek township, and there he spent the remainder of his life and died in 1865. He gave his political allegiance to the Republican party. Eight children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Rock- wood. namely: Hannah and Harmon, both deceased ; Stella, the widow of George E. Caswell, and a resident of Europe: Josephine, who has never married. and resides in Santa Barbara, California; Lyman, the subject of this review; Reuben, who died while in service in the war; Clara, the widow of W. H. Atkins and a resident of Chicago, and Burton S., the proprietor of a grocery store on South Fourth street in Terre Haute. All but one of the children were born in Vermont.
When he had attained the age of seventeen years Lyman Rockwood began farm work by the month, and so continued until he left for the war, joining, in August, 1861, the Eleventh Indiana Infantry, under Lew Wallace. His services with that regiment continued until in May, 1864, and he was discharged as a sergeant. He was then in the quarter- master's department, driving a government team, until the fall of 1865, when he was mustered out, he having in the meantime participated in the battles of Shiloh. Vicksburg and the Red River campaign. While at New Orleans he had his right thigh broken, and for the hardships and privations he suffered as a Union soldier he now receives a pension of twelve dollars a month. After returning from the war Mr. Rockwood secured work on the Union Pacific Railroad in the northwest, but after one year with that company he went to Nebraska, where he worked on a farm during the summer, and then returning to his old home in Vigo county purchased one hundred and twenty-four acres in Lost Creek township. He became the owner of this farm in 1870, and in 1882 he erected a pleasant and commodious residence, while in 1907 he built a dairy barn and windmill.
On the 15th of February, 1870, Mr. Rockwood married Patience Sankey, who was born in 1848 in Riley township, where her parents, George and Elizabeth (Lambert) Sankey, were early pioneers. Five children have been born to this union, namely: Fred, an engineer in Texas ; Josephine, the wife of Henry Collens, of Harrison township; Mary, the widow of Owen Overpeck and a bookkeeper at the Columbia
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Laundry in Terre Haute: Roy, who has charge of his father's dairy ; Clara, the wife of George Whitlock, of Riley township. Mr. and Mrs. Rockwood also have three grandchildren. Mr. Rockwod gives his polit- ical allegiance to the Republican party, and his wife is a member of the Baptist church.
WILLIAM SOULES was born on the old Soules homestead in Lost Creek township. June 10. 1857. a son of Origin and Frances ( Watkins) Soules, the father born in Harrison township of Vigo county, July 20, 1826, and the mother was born in Virginia in May, 1826. The father died on February 12, 1908. The mother is living in Lost Creek town- ship, where they made their home for over fifty years. Mr. Soules has been a life-long farmer and owns over one thousand acres of land in this vicinity, also city property in Terre Haute. The father was a Re- publican and a member of the Masonic lodge at Terre Haute. The mother is a member of the Christian church. Of their family of eight children seven are now living: Julia, the wife of Frank Sankey, of Riley township, Vigo county ; William, the subject of this review ; Mary, at home : James, a resident of Dickinson, North Dakota: Eliza, the wife of W. J. Woolen, a merchant in Terre Haute; Charles, a farmer in Lost Creek township: Frances, deceased, and Warren, also of Lost Creek township.
When he had reached the age of twenty years William Sonles left the old Soules homestead here and went west to Kansas, but after a short time returned and has ever since lived in this vicinity. During the early part of the eighties he began farming, and this has ever since continued his principal occupation, although for about nineteen years he has been interested in the coal mining business and now operates a mine in Lost Creek township. As was his father, Mr. Soules is a Republican and a Mason, a member of the lodge at Terre Haute.
He married, August 24, 1882, Bertha Fraza, born in Clay county, Indiana, June 28, 1861, a daughter of Henry and Caroline ( Harsh) Fraza, both now deceased. The mother was born in Ohio and the father in Germany. Of the six children born to Mr. and Mrs. Soules, five are now living. The eldest, Gertrude, born February 18, 1885, is teaching in Vigo county. She is a graduate of the Terre Haute high school and of the State Normal with the class of 1907. Jessie, born July 4. 1887. is at home. She graduated in what is now the Brown Business College, and is a court stenographer in Terre Haute. Lulu, born March 17, 1889, is attending high school, as is also her sister Esther, born May 10, 1894. George was born October 29, 1891, and is now in the United
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States navy, on board the ship Montana. Mrs. Soules is a member of the Methodist church.
EDWARD HEIN, a farmer in Lost Creek township, was born on the 8th of January, 1854, in northern Germany, eight miles north of Berlin, a son of Peter and Dora ( Freda) Hein, both of whom died in . the fatherland. In 1877 young Hein came to the United States and his first home here was in Rochester, Minnesota, but after a year's residence there he came to Terre Haute and secured employment in Hullman & Fairbanks' distillery. He worked for two years there, and after a similar period in Hullman's wholesale grocery house he embarked in the dairy business and was thus engaged until in 1906. In 1888 he bought ninety- two acres of land in section 30. Lost Creek township, and by subsequent purchases, one in 1899 of fifteen acres and another in 1903 of ninety-six acres, he has become the owner of the largest fruit farm in the county, sixty acres of his farm being set apart for the raising of apples, pears, plums, quinces, berries, etc., and his market is in Terre Haute. Mr. Hein gives his political support to the Democratic party and fraternally is a member of the Blue Lodge of Masons, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Order of Ben Hur, all in Terre Haute. He was a German soldier and belongs to their lodge here.
In June, 1881, Mr. Hein was united in marriage to Lavina Weedner, who was born in Marshall, Illinois, in June, 1860, and her parents, both from the fatherland of Germany, are now deceased. Eleven children have been born to bless this union: Edward, Mamie, Lillie, Lulu, Wil- liam, George, Gertrude, Charlie, Eva. Henrietta and Rose. The eldest son, Edward, attended the Garvin Business College in Terre Haute and is at home. Lillie is the wife of Walter Schultz, and they reside in Lost Creek township. Mr. Hein is a member of the Lutheran church, and his wife and children are members of the Baptist denomination.
WELK TRIPLETT, a farmer in Lost Creek township, was born in this township November 2, 1870, and throughout his business career he has been interested in its agricultural pursuits. He is a son of Greenberry and Susan (Grenslade) Triplett. The father was born in Ohio, April 5, 1840, and when a young man of sixteen he came to Indiana, and eleven years afterward. in 1867. to Vigo county, where he remained until his death, dying in Lost Creek township February 28, 1900. In Clay county, Indiana, he married Susan Grenslade, born in Marion county, this state, in October, 1841, and she survived her husband for two years. She was a member of the Christian church. Mr. Triplett followed farm-
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ing as a life occupation, and he was a stanch Democrat in his political affiliations. Of their family of nine children five are now living: LeRoy, a farmer in Lost Creek township; Welk, the subject of this review ; Viola, the wife of Aetna Whitecotton, of Lost Creek township; Rosa, the wife of Harland P. Price, and Lou, wife of John Mitchell, both Mrs. Price and Mrs. Mitchell being also residents of Lost Creek township.
Welk Triplett remained in his parents' home here until reaching the age of twenty-six years, and he has since then farmed for himself, first as a renter and later on a tract of forty acres which he bought. Selling that he became the owner of his present eighty acres in section 27, Lost Creek township.
On the 2d of November, 1896, Mr. Triplett married Delia Spears, who was born in 1879, and died on the 15th of March, 1902, leaving to survive her her husband and three daughters, Irene, Ethel and Ona. Mr. Triplett votes with the Democratic party.
CHARLES THOMAS SMITH, one of the leading agriculturists of Vigo county, was born on the old Smith homestead in Harrison township, November 6, 1862, a son of Joseph and Emma (Hall) Smith. The father was also a native son of Harrison township, born in 1816, and the mother claimed England as the place of her nativity, where she was born in 1837. She came with her parents to the United States during her childhood . days, the family locating in Harrison township, Vigo county, and there she still resides on the old homestead, long surviving her husband, who died in 1863. He was a Republican in his political affiliations, and was a life-long tiller of the soil. Of their family of four children, three are now living: Julia, the wife of James Kitner, who resides near Terre Haute ; Joseph W., a farmer of Lost Creek township, and Charles Thomas, the subject of this review.
After attending the district schools of his native township of Har- rison, Charles T. Smith became a student in the Garvin Business College of Terre Haute and there prepared for the active duties of life. He remained at home with his parents until he had attained the age of twenty-three years, and he then began farming for himself in Harrison township, at first superintending the home farm for his mother. He then moved to his present farm of two hundred and six acres in Lost Creek township, this being in the year of 1899, and he is engaged in general agricultural pursuits. At one time he was quite extensively in- terested in the dairy business in Terre Haute.
On the 14th of January, 1886, Mr. Smith was united in marriage to Elva Belt, born April 16, 1867, in Terre Haute, and she received her
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educational training in the public schools of that city and in St. Mary's Academy, where she graduated with the class of 1884. She is a daughter of Carlton C. and Elizabeth A. (Balding) Belt, natives respectively of Vigo county, Indiana, and Alvin. Illinois. The mother was born on the 24th of June. 1847. and died August 29, 1906, and the father is now living in Vigo county, aged sixty-nine years. Mr. and Mrs. Smith had one child, Ida Belle, born November 7. 1886, and died October 16, 1889. Mrs. Smith is a member of the Maple Avenue Methodist church. He is a Republican in his political affiliations.
JOSEPH W. SMITH is well known throughout Vigo county, which has been his home throughout his entire life, and is a representative of a family early identified with its history. He was born in its township of Harrison, September 26, 1857, a son of Joseph and Emma (Hall) Smith. The father was also a native son of Harrison township, born in 1816, but the mother claimed England as the place of her nativity, born in 1837. She came with her parents to the United States during her childhood days, the family locating in Harrison township, Vigo county, and there she still makes her home. long surviving her husband, who died in 1863. He was a Republican in his political affiliations, and was a life-long tiller of the soil. Of their family of four children three are now living: Julia, the wife of James Kisner, who resides near Terre Haute; Joseph W., the subject of this review, and Charles Thomas, whose home is in Lost Creek township.
Joseph W. Smith is indebted to the public schools of Harrison town- ship for the educational training which he received in his youth, but later he became a student in the Garvin Business College of Terre Haute and graduated with its class of 1879. He remained at home with his parents until the age of twenty-one, and he then moved to the farm deeded to him by his father in Lost Creek township, section 6, and consisting of one hundred and six acres. He has ever since resided on this estate, and in the meantime has increased its boundaries to three hundred and seventy- one acres, all rich and well cultivated land and all in one body. There he is extensively engaged in general agricultural pursuits and also gives special attention to dairying, having sixty head of cattle, mostly Jerseys, and conducts a wholesale wagon in the city of Terre Haute.
Mr. Smith married, in 1879, Rosie E. Coakley, born in Orange county, Indiana. December 21, 1860, a daughter of John and Frances (Taggart) Coakley. both now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Smith have eight children : Olive F., born February 23, 1880, the widow of Charles Willis, and she, with her son and daughter, reside with her father; Robert Edgar, born
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July 6, 1883: William Arthur, born January 16, 1886; Mary E., born June 16, 1888: Lawrence S., born January 13, 1891: Joseph L. C., born February 16, 1895: Mabel E., born November 29, 1899, and Anna R., born November 7, 1903. The children are being educated in the schools of Terre Haute, and in that city the family are members of the Presbyterian church.
AARON L. FELLING is a native son of Vigo county, Indiana, born in Lost Creek township, September 14, 1859, to Frederick William and Augusta (Mattus) Felling. Frederick William Felling was born in Hanover, Germany, April 18, 1818, and in 1849 he came to the United States. For a short time after his arrival he worked on a canal in Ohio, and from that state came to Indiana, where, in 1850, he married Augusta Mattus, born in Saxony, Germany, June 21, 1828. She came to this country with neighbors of the old country, and worked for a time in Terre Haute. Mr. Felling was one of the first to take up his abode in Lost Creek township, where he followed farming during the remainder of his life with the exception of two years spent in the saw milling business west of Terre Haute. He was killed by a street car at Seeleyville, and died September 26, 1901. He was a Democrat in his political affiliations, and as its representative served in the office of road supervisor during one or two terms. He was a member of the German Lutheran church, as is also his wife, who still survives her husband and now keeps house for her son, Frederick H. Felling. Nine children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Felling, but three daughters and a son died in infancy, and those living are Frederick H., Aaron L., Clemins, Henry and Charles.
Aaron L. Felling has spent his entire life in Vigo county, receiving his educational training in its public schools, and he remained at home . with his father until he had attained the age of twenty-six years, in the meantime, from the age of twenty-one, working for his father by the year. He then rented the home place for one year, and since his mar- riage he has superintended the old Nelson homestead, owning with his wife a valuable estate of two hundred and seventy-four acres in Lost Creek township. He is extensively engaged in the raising of Poland China hogs, registered, and also of coach horses, and he recently erected one of the finest homes in the township.
In 1886 Mr. Felling married Clara Nelson, born in Lost Creek township August 29, 1867, a daughter of John and Emma (Hartley) Nelson, who have been residents of this community since their daughter was six years of age. Mr. and Mrs. Felling have had four children : Ernest, born July 17, 1888, at home : Herman, born January 23. 1902,
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died in 1906; Ruth, born May 18, 1906, and one died in infancy, un- named. Mr. Felling exercises his right of franchise in the support of the men and measures of the Democratic party.
FRED CONWAY is a member of one of Vigo county's oldest and most prominent families, and throughout his entire business career he has been identified with its agricultural interests. He started out in the world to battle for himself when but twelve years of age, working on a farm by the month, and continued working for others for twelve years. At the close of that period he purchased a farm in Lost Creek township, and he is now the owner of one hundred and fifteen acres of rich and fertile land, the old Van Vactor homestead.
Mr. Conway was born in Clay county, Indiana, February 13, 1859, a son of John C. and Sarah Melissa (Schofield) Conway, natives re- spectively of Indiana and Ohio, and both are now deceased. The mother came to Indiana with her parents during her childhood days, and they married in Vigo county and continued their residence here during the remainder of their lives. During the early days here Mr. Conway was numbered among the county's educators, but farming was his main occu- pation through life. He voted with the Republican party. John C. Conway died August 6, 1860, aged twenty-three years and eight months He was born December 27, 1836. Sarah Melissa Conway was born November 5, 1840, and died in November, 1901. Their son, Fred, is the elder of their two children. His brother John, a grocery merchant in Terre Haute, was born in 1861.
Mr. Fred Conway married, September 10, 1883, Maggie Van Vactor, also representing one of Vigo county's early and honored pioneer families, and she was born on the farm on which she now lives in Lost Creek township, February 16, 1865. They have three children: Anna, born in October, 1884, is the wife of Jacob Miller, of Terre Haute, and they have one son ; Jesse L., born September II, 1885, is at home, and Charles, born February 21, 1891. The children have received excellent education advantages, having supplemented the training received in the public schools of Vigo county by attendance at the schools of Terre Haute. Mr. Conway votes with the Republican party, and is a member of the Odd Fellows and Knights of Pythias fraternities, affiliating with the former in Terre Haute and with the latter in Seelyville. The family are mem- bers of the Methodist church.
FREDERICK HENRY FELLING was born on the old Felling homestead in Lost Creek township, Vigo county, Indiana, October 4, 1856, a son
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of Frederick William and Augusta ( Mattus) Felling. Frederick William Felling was a native son of Hanover, Germany, born April 18, 1818, and in 1849 he came to the United States. For a short time after his arrival he worked on a canal in Ohio, and from that state came to Indiana, where, in 1850, he married Augusta Mattus, born in Saxony, Germany, June 21, 1828. She came to this country in the company of old neigh- bors of Germany and worked for a time in Terre Haute, Indiana. Mr. Felling was one of the first to take up his abode in Lost Creek township, where he followed farming during the remainder of his life, with the exception of two years spent in the sawmilling business west of Terre Haute. September 26, 1901. he was killed by street cars at Seelyville, Indiana. He was a Democrat in his political affiliations, and as its representative served in the office of road supervisor during one or two terms. He was a member of the German Lutheran church, as is also his wife, who still survives her husband and now keeps house for her five sons, of whom Frederick Henry is the eldest. Nine children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Felling, but three daughters and a son died in infancy, and those living are Frederick Henry, Aaron, Clemins, Henry and Charles.
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