USA > Indiana > Daviess County > History of Daviess County, Indiana : Its people, industries and institutions > Part 55
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Politically, Mr. Small supports the policies of the Democratic party. Personally, he is a man of clean character and of genial impulses, so that, unconsciously, perhaps, and without effort, makes friends with all who come into contact with him. He enjoys the respect and esteem of his fellow citizens and is regarded by all as one of the substantial and worthy citizens of the community in which he lives.
JOHN KOLLER.
Agriculture has been an honored vocation from the earliest ages, and men of honorable and humane impulses, as well as of energy and thrift, have been patrons of husbandry. The free out-door life of the farm has a decided tendency to foster and develop that independence of mind and self-reliance which characterizes true manhood, and no greater blessing can befall a boy than to be reared in close touch with nature in the healthful, life-inspiring surroundings of the fields. It has always been the fruitful soil from which have sprung the moral bone and sinew of the country, and the majority of our nation's great warriors, renowned statesmen and distinguished men of letters were born on the farm and were indebted largely to its early influences for the distinction which they subsequently attained.
John Koller was born on August 6, 1878, on his present farm, in Wash- ington township, Daviess county, Indiana, and is the son of John and Mary (Smith) Koller. His father was born on March 22, 1842, in Alsace-Lorraine, Germany, and came to this country when a very young man, settling in Daviess county, Indiana. His first marriage was to Alberdina Sum, and resulted in the birth of two children, Frank and Mary, deceased. His second wife, Mary Smith, was a daughter of Peter and Elizabeth (Dor- nauf) Smith, both natives of Germany, who came to this country in 1869, and settled in the state of Pennsylvania, afterward removed to Daviess county. Indiana, and where they died in a few months. To them were born : Jacob, Peter, Mary, John and Elizabeth. John Koller's mother was
(37)
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born near the river Rhine, Province of Nassau, Germany, on September 8, 1849, and died on June 28, 1910, in Daviess county. She came from Pennsylvania to Daviess county. Subject's father owned the place which he now occupies and up to the time of his death had cultivated the soil for the raising of garden products. The father had acquired a complete knowl- edge of the shoemaker's trade, but did not follow it in this country. He died on July 18, 1895, on his place in Washington township, this county. He had always supported the Democratic ticket and belonged to the Catholic church.
John Koller received his early education in the parochial Catholic schools. and spent a while in attending the public schools, then followed in the foot- steps of his father and continued the truck farming business. In this he has been very successful and gives considerable attention to dairy products, having as many as ten cows to look after at this time. Subject farms the. original twenty-five acres owned by his father, and also farms about fifty acres near Washington, Indiana. On January 22, 1907, Mr. Koller was married to Theresa Harter, who was born on March 30, 1879, in Germany, and who is the daughter of Ignatius and Christena (Baerle) Harter, both born in Germany, the former on January 17, 1843, and the latter on February 3. 1853. They were engaged in farming in the old country, but upon coming to America, in 1881, they settled in the town of Washington, Indiana, and Mr. Harter worked in the coal mines until his retirement from active busi- ness life. Politically, he was an independent voter, not taking sides with either of the leading parties, but preferring to vote as he thought best. Religiously, he was a devout member of the Catholic church and the family were brought up in that faith. To Mr. and Mrs. Harter were born five children, as follow: Joseph, Theresa, Caroline, Charles and Lena, all living. To the subject of this review and wife was born one child, John, on Decem- ber 15. 1907.
Personally, Mr. Koller is a man of wide and accurate information on the questions pertaining to gardening and makes a careful study of this line. He is a keen observer and his success in gardening is due to his intel- ligent management, thrift and industry. Politically, he supports the Demo- cratic party and is a firm believer in its policies. Religiously, he and his wife are members of the Catholic church and to that denomination lend their hearty support. Socially, Mr. Koller has the reputation of being a kind and pleasant gentleman and enjoys the respect and esteem of all who know him. His life in this community has been one above reproach, because of his honorable methods and satisfactory dealings with his fellow men.
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EDGAR L. COVALT.
Among the citizens of Daviess county who have attained to positions of, distinction in the community, in which their interests lie, is Edgar L. Covalt, who has lived in this county for so many years and has led an emi- nently active and busy life. This well-known gentleman has long ranked among the progressive agriculturists of this county and has always strived to fill his part in connection with local life and local activities. Not only has he achieved considerable success, in his chosen field of labor, but he has also established an imperishable reputation for uprightness in all the relations of life.
Edgar L. Covalt was born on August 16, 1869, in Steele township, Daviess county, Indiana, and is the son of Cheniah and Louisanna (Will- iams) Covalt. His father was born on October 16, 1842, in Henry county, Indiana, and his mother was born on December 12, 1838, in Franklin county, Indiana. After their marriage, and in February, 1867, they settled in Daviess county, where the father and mother died, July 26, 1913, and June 25, 1891, respectively. Subject's paternal grandparents, Cheniah and Elizabeth (Echelbarger) Covalt, came from the state of Ohio, and were early settlers in Henry county, this state, where both died and are buried near the town of Mooreland, Henry county. Mr. Covalt's father was a soldier with the Union forces, enlisted for the war in 1861, and assigned to Company C, Thirty-sixth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, with which he remained until the close of the war. He took part in the fiercest engagements of the Civil War, principally in the battles of Shiloh, Chickamauga and Lookout Moun- tain. The father was twice married, the first time to Lemoa Anna Williams, who gave birth to Lillian and Edgar L., and by his second marriage, to Ola Lucas, became the father of four children, Ferdinand, Hoyt, Myrle and Mildred.
Edgar L. Covalt received his early education in the township schools and later attended school in the town of Washington, Indiana, after which he engaged in farming and has continued in that business ever since. At the present time, he is the owner of one hundred twenty-seven acres of fine land in Washington township, and cultivates the soil in a general way and raises cattle and horses.
On November 26, 1889, he was married to Fannie M. Keith, who was born on April 22, 1868, and is the daughter of George H. Keith, Sr., and Sarah Jane (Willeman) Keith. The former was born in Daviess county, in the year 1828, and the latter was born in the same county in 1838. Her
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father was a son of George and Abierilla (Perkins) Keith, whose life record is given elsewhere in this work. To the union of George H. Keith, Sr., and wife were born the following children: Mary; John; Grant; Fannie, who is subject's wife; Charles; Abbie; George, and Louis H. The father died on March 17, 1914, and the mother died on March 24, 1910. The maternal grandparents of Mrs. E. L. Covalt were Hiram and Margaret (Crawford) Willeman, who came to Daviess county in an early day and settled on a farm in Washington township, where they died. To subject and wife was born one child, Nellie, on May 5, 1901, and who died on August 5, 1904.
Politically, Mr. Covalt is a stanch supporter of the principles of the Republican party and an ardent advocate of the progressive ideas set forth by that party. Religiously, he and his wife are members of the Methodist church in Washington, Indiana, and to which they lend their unstinted sup- port. Personally, Mr. Covalt is honest and upright at all times, and he is not only held in high esteem for his sound business ability, but for his wholesome private and social life, and his position is established as one of Daviess county's most respected citizens.
HENRY ALBERTY.
Numbered among the people of Daviess county, who began their lives in an humble station and by sustained perseverance, well-directed energy and industry, attained positions of honor and responsibility, is the man whose name forms the caption for this review and whose life record has been brought to a close by the inevitable fate that awaits all mankind. The career of this gentleman was a strenuous and varied one, entitling him to honorable mention among the representative citizens of his day and genera- tion in the county with which his life was so closely identified.
Henry Alberty was born May 22, 1866, in Germany, and was the son of Louis and Phillipena Alberty. both natives of Germany, and where his mother died. The father was born in the year 1841, and the mother was born on February 18, 1841, and died in 1880. His father was married a second time in Germany some time prior to their arrival in the United States. By the first marriage were born five children: Henry, Phillip, Louise, Louise, deceased, and Carrie. By the second marriage were born : Hen- rietta, Minnie and Kate. Together with his second wife and all living children, subject's father arrived in this country and settled on a farm in
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Washington township, this county, and continued to farm until about the time of his death, June 11, 1895, at the age of fifty-four years. He became an ardent advocate of the principles of the Democratic party, and was a member of the Presbyterian church.
Henry Alberty was but a lad of fourteen when his parents arrived in Washington township, and having received an early education in the home country, at once sought work and was employed in 1889 as a fireman on the Baltimore & Ohio Southwestern railroad, and remained in that capacity until the year 1897, when he received promotion to the position of loco- motive engineer. This occurred on March 17, 1897, and he held the position until the time of his death, October 6, 1913. In June, 1888, he was married to Anna M. Jones, who was born in Wales, July 24, 1866, and a daughter of Henry B. and Jane (Edwards) Jones, the former born in Wales in 1841, and the latter born in England in 1843. Her parents were married in Wales, April 6, 1862, and remained there until the year 1870, when they came to this country, first settled in Pennsylvania, and in 1873, came to Washing- ton, Indiana, where the father worked as a coal miner and died here, Octo- ber 14, 1914. The mother of subject's wife also died in Washington, October 20, 1914. Henry B. Jones became affiliated with the Republican party, although never active in party affairs. He and his wife and family were members of the St. John's Episcopal church of Washington. To them were born the following children: Harry L., Jessie C., Harriet, and Eugene. To the subject of this review and his wife were born four children: Harry, a tinner in the Baltimore & Ohio Southwestern railroad shops; Jesse C., a machinist; Harriet, a bookkeeper in the Hammersly store, and Eugene, who attends school.
Henry Alberty's brother, Phillip C. Alberty, was born on May 9, 1869, in Germany, and after coming to this country in 1882, with his father, went to work in the shops of the Baltimore & Ohio Southwestern railroad in Washington, Indiana, for a while, and then went to work as a coal miner. In November, 1893, he was married to Martha E. McAtee, who was born in Daviess county, Indiana, October 16, 1875, and is a daughter of Marce and Mary (Spaulding) McAtee, both natives of this county and wherein they died. To their union were born the following named children : John, Lizzie, Vina, Lucy, Martha and Daniel. Phillip McAtee's paternal grandfather was Daniel McAtee, a pioneer settler of this county. To Mr. and Mrs. Phillip Alberty have been born the following children: Katie, the wife of Martin Hochgesang, of Washington, Indiana; Alma; Louis Carl, who
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attends high school; Harry, Theresa, Walter, and two others, Roy and Mary, deceased.
Henry Alberty during his life was looked on as a man of exemplary habits, steady and industrious, and his character was such as to reflect the highest credit upon himself. All in all he was a worthy representative of the steady and progressive class. Politically, he was a Democrat in his views, but gave his support to the side whose policy he considered the best. Religiously, he was brought up in the Lutheran faith and his wife is a Catholic. Personally, he was generous-hearted, conscientious, fair and square in his business dealings, and a good provider for his family.
WILLIAM H. NEAL.
The student, interested in the history of Daviess county, does not have to carry his investigations far into its annals, before learning that William H. Neal has long been one of the most active and leading citizens in the stock-raising interests of this community. While attending to his large business, particularly dealing in horses, he has also found ample opportunity to assist in the material and civic welfare of the county. His life has been such as to elicit just approbation from those who know him best, owing to the fact that he has an established character for upright and honorable dealings with his fellow men, and thus becomes entitled to notice in a review of this kind.
William H. Neal was born on January 29, 1855, in Lawrence county, Indiana, and is the son of Asa and Anna (Fulton) Neal, the former a native of Kentucky, born in 1818, and the latter born in the state of Indiana. His father, who died in Kentucky, came, with his mother, to this state in the year 1820, and lived under the parental roof, received his education in the public schools of Lawrence county, and later farmed. He was a member of the old Whig party, later a Democrat, but voted for Abraham Lincoln. His wife was a devout member of the Baptist church and died in the year 1887, surviving her husband just three years. To their union were born the fol- lowing children: Sarah, Maria, Alexander (deceased), Margaret (deceased infant), William H., Robert (deceased infant), Mary, James, Charles and Jane.
The subject of review was reared on his father's farm in Lawrence county, received his early education in the public schools, and made
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a business of farming, but gave special attention to live stock, particu- larly horses. He continued to deal in stock until the year 1882, and at one time owned the fastest pacing mare in the world, known by the name of "Flora Bell." In 1880, he came to Washington, Daviess county, where he engaged in the hotel business in 1884, in what is known as the Meredith House, and was proprietor of this hotel for several years. After disposing of this business, he went to the town of Olney, Illinois, where he engaged in the livery business the following year, then sold out and returned to Wash- ington, Indiana, and for the past eighteen years has devoted his time and attention to dealing in live stock and has been always a great lover of horses.
In 1884, Mr. Neal was married to Della Harris, who was born on August 7, 1858, in the state of Wisconsin, but who was reared and educated in the town of Washington, Indiana. She is a daughter of William and Laura (Coval) Harris. Her father was a native of England, born 1832, and her mother a native of Daviess county, Indiana, born in Washington, August 31, 1837. William Harris immigrated from England to the United States and first went to Wisconsin. He was married in 1856 and came to Washington, Indiana, in 1859. It was here that he enlisted for service with the Union forces in 1861, and was assigned to Company E, Twenty-seventh Regiment, Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and served until the close of the Civil War; then returned to Washington. Indiana, where he took the pro- prietorship of what was then known as the Union Hotel and now called the Meredith House. He remained with the Meredith House until the year 1876. and then managed the Hyatt House of this town, until the year 1881, and where he died on June 10, 1882.
Mr. Neal's wife, Laura Coval, was a daughter of John and Delilah (Ruggles) Coval, both natives of Kentucky. They went to the state of Wisconsin in an early day and it was there that he died. She returned to Washington, Indiana, where she remained until her death, which occurred on September 28. 1893. Delilah Ruggles was a daughter of Thomas Ruggles and Rachael (Freeland) Ruggles, both natives of Kentucky, and who came to Daviess county, Indiana. in the year 1812, and, owing to conditions of the times and the continuous troubles with the Indians, they were obliged to live in a local fort. These grandparents were engaged in farming during their lives : the father died in 1813, the mother surviving until 1843. Both were members of the New Light Church. To their union were born, Elizabeth. Jacob, Delilah, Mary. Nancy and Aaron.
William H. Neal's great-grandfathers, Alexander Neal and Isaac
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Edwards, were soldiers in the Revolutionary War. They served through the war and returned to Virginia, where they lived the balance of their lives.
The subject of review and his wife have not been blessed with children, but have taken the responsibility of raising a grandnephew named Louis Waller, who is attending the public schools at the present time. Mrs. Neal is an active member of the Methodist Episcopal church of Washington, and to which denomination she lends her hearty support, in which her husband liberally joins her. Politically, Mr. Neal is a firm believer in the principles of Democracy and is ever active in his support of that party's cause. On two occasions he was nominated by the people of his community to occupy the office of county sheriff, but failed to be elected, though making a close run with his opponent. Fraternally, he is a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. Personally, he is a man of liberal views, believes in progress and improvement and does what he can to further these ends, taking a deep interest in whatever makes for the material advancement of the county and the social. intellectual and moral good of the people.
JOHN M. PEEK.
In the respect which is accorded to men who have fought their own way to success through unfavorable environment, we find an unconscious recognition of the intrinsic worth of character which cannot only endure so rough a test, but gain new strength through the discipline. The gentleman to whom the reader's attention is now invited has not been favored especially by inherited wealth or the assistance of powerful friends. In spite of this, by his perseverance, industry and economy, he has attained a comfortable station in life and has made his influence felt for good in Daviess county. Because of his honorable career and because of the fact that he is numbered among those patriotic sons of the North who assisted in preserving the integ- rity of the Union in the dark days of the Civil War, he is eminently entitled to a place in this volume.
John M. Peek was born on the farm where he now lives in Veale town- ship on April 14, 1845. He is a son of Levi and Sallie (Veale) Peek, the latter of whom was a daughter of James C. and Eleanor (Aikman) Veale. James C. Veale was a son of James C., Sr., and Melvina (Townsend) Veale. James C. Veale, Sr., emigrated from South Carolina to the territory of Indiana, in the spring of 1806, and settled on a creek which was afterward
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known as Veale's creek, and is so known to this day. When Daviess county was organized into townships, Veale township was named in honor of James C. Veale, Sr., who built a mill on the creek to grind wheat and corn, and a saw-mill to manufacture lumber. He was married to Melvina Town- send, and to this union eight children were born, as follow: William T., who married a Miss Stevenson, had two children, Watis and Emily; Watis emi- grated to Texas and there died at the age of sixty-two, and Emily married a Mr. Helphenstein, and is now living in Chico, California, at the age of eighty- three. Daniel married a Miss Coleman, and reared a family in Veale town- ship, this county. James C., Jr., hereafter referred to, is the maternal grandfather of John M. Peek. John T. married a Miss Hyatt, of Wash- ington, Indiana, a sister of Elisha and John Hyatt, early merchants of that city. Nancy married a Mr. Lett, and reared a family of several children. Elsie married a Mr. Wallace and reared a family. Katy married a man by the name of Arrell, who died, and she afterward married a Mr. Kilgore.
James C. Veale, Jr., was born in 1786, in South Carolina, and died in the spring of 1858. He came with his parents early in life to Veale township. At Comer's Fort, which was located near old Maysville, he was married to Eleanor Aikman, who was born in 1791, in Shepherdstown, in the Shenan- doah valley of Virginia, and lived there during her early girlhood. Her family came west to the territory of Indiana in 1807, where she met James C. Veale, Jr. They were married in 1813, at Comer's Fort. There were a large number of Indians around that part of the country at that time, who made a great deal of trouble for the settlers. Most of the pioneers of that time lived either in or near a fort. James C. Veale, Jr., taught the first school ever located in Daviess county, the records of which show this fact. He was employed by the county commissioners. He enlisted in the Indiana Volunteers and served under Gen. William H. Harrison in the War of 1812. He was wounded while on duty near Vincennes, fighting the Indians, and when he died, the bullet was still in his body. James C. Veale, Sr., had also fought in the Revolutionary War.
James C. Veale, Jr., and Eleanor (Aikman) Veale were the parents- of the following children : William T. married and reared a family, and lived to the ripe old age of eighty-four years; John M. was lost at sea at the age of twenty-nine years, and was unmarried. He was on a vessel loaded with cotton, bound from New Orleans to Pensacola, Florida, where they encoun- tered a severe storm in the Gulf of Mexico, when the vessel took fire and burned to the water's edge, and all on board were lost; James A. married a Miss Newton for his first wife, and after her death, he married a Miss.
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Irons, of Huntington, Indiana; Sarah married Levi Peek, the father of John M. Peek, the immediate subject of this sketch; Julia died in infancy; Mary M. married a Mr. Johnson and reared a family; Elizabeth married a Doctor Whitton, of Washington; Eleanor died at the age of eight years; Anderson married a Miss Allen, a daughter of Moses Allen, and reared a family, liv- ing to the ripe old age of eighty-three years; George W., who now lives at Topeka, Kansas, was born on May 20, 1833. He married Nannie John- son. of Evansville, this state, on January 20, 1857, and after living a short time in Indiana, removed to the Territory of Kansas, where they have lived ever since. George W. and Nannie (Johnson) Veale are the parents of two sons, George W., Jr., and Walter Johnson. George W., Jr., lives in Topeka. Kansas, and Walter J. lives in California. George W. Veale, Sr., is the last surviving member of his father's family. At the time this was written, 1915. he is living at Topeka, Kansas, but his eyesight has failed and he can neither see to read or write.
Levi Peek, the father of John MI., was for many years a justice of the peace in Daviess county, and was always active in local affairs. The period of his career covers the years from 1812 to 1852, and during this period, he did much to promote the material progress and prosperity of Daviess county, and to make it a comfortable and inviting place in which to live.
John M. Peek received his education in the common schools of Daviess county, and at the age of seventeen, enlisted in Company I, Sixty-fifth Regi- ment. Indiana Volunteer Infantry, serving for three years in the Union army. After the close of the Civil War, he returned to the farm, where he has lived ever since. Mr. Peek has one hundred and seventy-six acres of land in his present farm. He has erected a fine group of buildings, a former group of buildings, equally fine, having burned. Throughout his life, John M. Peek has been extensively engaged in raising live stock for the markets. and in this has been very successful. For his declining years, he has a sub- stantial and comfortable competence and. if necessary, will be able to live in honorable and peaceful retirement. Mr. Peek was married on September 13. 1883. to Ella Chapman, who was born in Martin county, Indiana, the daughter of James and Matilda (Wallace) Chapman. The Wallaces were early settlers in Veale township. John M. and Ella (Chapman) Peek are the parents of four children. Mary. Joseph, Richard and Louise.
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