History of Dearborn County, Indiana : her people, industries and institutions, Part 50

Author: Archibald Shaw
Publication date: 1915
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 1123

USA > Indiana > Dearborn County > History of Dearborn County, Indiana : her people, industries and institutions > Part 50

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earth. In the lick on Wilson creek, where he then lived, Cheek's father had killed at least thirty deer. A bear once came into a neighbor's cabin on the creek, and sat himself down in the corner of the room-the family slipping out the back way as the bear came in, gave the alarm and the bear was shot, and killed in the cabin.

"Cheek, in company with several other hunters, once camped near the house now owned by Marion Elwell, where the Aurora and Lawrenceburg pikes join, when they shot a wild turkey for supper and in the morning they pursued their way out the ridge much the same as the pike now goes. At the old Howertown place, near where Wrights Corner is now, their dogs struck a game trail and followed it off to the westward down Elk run toward North Hogan when they brought up; rounding up five bears, three panthers and one wild cat, which the hunters killed."

IN A WOLF DEN.

The judge tells a wolf story that was related to him by Col. Johnson Watts: "The Colonel resided in Caesar Creek township on Laughery creek and when he, with his father, Judge John Watts, first moved from Tanners Station (Petersburg, Kentucky) to the creek, they were bothered much with wolves that would destroy their sheep, eat the young pigs and create a lot of loss with their stock. They had destroyed a number of them but there was one cunning old she-wolf that would elude them in spite of all their attempts to get her. A noted hunter in the country came to their house to stay all night and being informed of the old wolf said he would catch her. So to use the Judge's words, 'Johnson and the hunter put out into the forest and struck up a camp for the night. Then to cut the cobwebs from his throat the hunter took a good swig of old "bald face" and went out and raised a long, heavy howl that would have beat any wolf all hollow, when forthwith from a distant knoll same back a wolf's response. "There she is," said the hunter, and took another dram, then laid down and took a nap. About midnight he got up and went out and howled again. Back came the howl from the same direction. "Her den is there," said the hunter. At early dawn they started off in that direction, remaining within hearing dis- tance of each other. The Colonel came to a narrow beaten track, saw that it led into a hollow tree that had fallen down. He called the hunter, who, on seeing the tracks and where they led, said, "It is the wolf's den." The hunter closed the mouth of the log and then placing Johnson at the entrance

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went into the log with his knife in hand. However, he only found the old wolf's six young ones which they killed-all but one which they kept to punish and make howl to bring the mother to them. The old wolf answered in a moment and came running round and round at a distance then disappeared and was never seen in that neighborhood afterwards.'"

Judge Cotton tells in his book this story of the early times concerning Nicolas Cheek, who settled on Wilson creek about 1794. Cheek's widow, Mrs. Barbara Cheek, lived to be one hundred and our years old, and told this story concerning her husband :

"A few poles set up and covered with bark constituted their first habita- tion in the wilderness. Surrounded both by day and by night with wild beasts which had to frequently be kept at bay with fire and at other times by shooting. The Indians, though withholding the tomahawk and scalping knife, would seize and carry off any and everything that might please their fancy, either to eat, drink or wear-would sometimes try to intimidate and terrify by reporting some of their acts of barbarity and cruelty. One time three of them carried this matter of boasting so far that her husband, 'Old Nick.' as he was familiarly called, could stand it no longer. His brother, Tavner, be- ing present, he rose up, squared himself for the onset, and then with his bony fist and sinewy arm felled the main speaker at a blow, like a slain bullock, gave him a good drubbing, and then ordered him to make tracks soon. The Indian forthwith gathered himself up and put out, but shortly appeared in company with eight, all painted as a signal for vengeance and asking for 'Nick Nick had hid and Mrs. Cheek had sent, by one of her children, word to Judge John Watts, who had charge of a small garrison at Petersburg, who shortly came to the rescue with eighteen men, took the Indians by surprise and ordered them to wash off their paint and be off."

MORGAN'S RAID STORIES.

The Morgan raid was prolific of good stories, but when they occurred matters were too serious to be considered funny. Many a person excited by the presence of the invaders did things that in their calmer moments would not have been done and things that afterwards seemed extremely comical. Valuables were hidden, sometimes so securely that those hiding them would forget the location after the raider had departed and the excitement had passed. Horses were taken from the stables or from the pastures where it was thought they would be found and not knowing where or from what direction

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the raiders would come, they would suddenly find themselves with their string of horses right in the midst of a squad of the invaders, only to lose them at once. On such occasions, and they were common, the chagrin of the farmer would be too deep for utterance.

Others would conceive that if they expressed a sympathy with the Con- federate cause they would not only get off with no damage but would be protected. On such occasions the raiders would invariably take all the sympa- thizer had that they could use, remarking with something of a tinge of sar- casm that any person sympathizing with their cause ought to even be thank- ful to have this opportunity of assisting such a worthy cause.

It is told of a rather prominent gentleman in Logan township that as the raiders passed he was busy picking cherries. The Union forces under General Hobson were so close on the heels of the rebels that it was not always easy to distinguish Morgan's rear guard from Hobson's advance. This gentleman, thinking to jolly the Confederates in their dusty march, shouted from his cherry tree. "Hurrah for Jeff Davis." It proved to be the advance of Hob- son's Union forces and at once a squad was around the tree, and the luck- less citizen was called a lot of names that were anything but eulogistic. and was compelled to march ahead of the squad some seven miles into Harrison just clothed as they found him in the cherry tree. There he was imprisoned for a time and then told to go his way with a parting admonition to be more careful in his shouting hereafter.

It was said of Rev. Franklin Ferris that he did not hesitate to inform Morgan just what his views were on the preservation of the Union. Morgan camped for the night. Sunday evening it was, close to Mr. Ferris's resi- dence. After they had their camp arranged Mr. Ferris called on the rebel chieftain and had quite a conversation. He asked about the protection he might expect from the army camped on his land. then told Morgan that he need not be in doubt in regard to his loyalty to the government and assured the commander that he was very anxious to see him captured and the south- ern Confederacy conquered as speedily as possible. and that it was his belief that this country ought not to be divided: that slavery was wrong and when it was all over the South would be better off without slaves. and much such talk. The Confederate commander appeared to admire such courageous talk from Mr. Ferris and it is claimed ordered a guard put around his property and nothing was destroyed that was unnecessary. On the contrary. it was told that a neighbor who expressed sympathy with the Southern cause was told that if this was true they would give him an opportunity to help by

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using his corn and hay and shocks of wheat which stood in a field nearby. Accordingly they used about all the corn, wheat and hay the man had. Be- sides this, one of the gentle.nan's sons was placed on a horse and told to guide them along the best roads to Harrison, and language was used that told the young man what would happen in case he led them astray.

The unfortunate engagement between the rear and advance portions of the Union regiment at Hardintown, in which some five or six were killed and a number wounded, created much excitement. The home guards, of Lawrenceburg, were rallied and started in the direction of the firing on the double quick. When they came to about where the entrance of Greendale cemetery now is, they were told to lie down and await developments while scouts were sent ahead to learn what they could concerning the firing. Rus- sell Hollister, a noted local wag, thirty years after, said that he was sure he could find the exact spot where he was lying, he lay so close to the ground.

Many of the younger men would assemble in a squad with their horses and joining Hobson's forces ride off with them until the riding became much more of a duty than a picnic; then not being mustered in they would leisurely wend their way homeward. In that way it would be several weeks before the country through which Morgan trailed was once more back to the quiet routine of farm life.

But these volunteers that went to the assistance of their comrades at Hardintown after the scouts returned and reported the cause of the firing were ordered forward to the scene of the engagement and were assistance in car- ing for the wounded, who were all brought to this city and nursed back to health by the patriotic women of the city.

It was remarkable that at the time of the firing occurred Morgan was in camp at Loveland, Ohio, on his way to eastern Ohio. It only showed the state of uncertainty concerning his movements that existed at that time. and it will be remembered that there were no telephones in those days and the telegraph was not in general use. Much of the information had to be secured from scouts and citizens along the route of march.

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Eng. dự E. G. Milana &.Br.NO

Henry P. Shaech

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BIOGRAPHICAL.

CAPT. HENRY PHILIP SPAETH.

The gentleman whose name heads the following sketch belongs to a class whose membership is limited and exclusive-the soldiers of the Civil War. Although of foreign birth, Captain Spaeth was prompt in showing his loyalty to his adopted country, responding immediately to the first call for soldiers in 1861. His worth was duly appreciated, and his promotions made accord- ingly. His bravery during those stirring times will always be a matter of the deepest possible interest to his descendants, and he has never ceased to en- joy relating his experiences, when sitting quietly behind rings of curling smoke, in whose clouds he again sees the battles as plainly as if they had taken place only yesterday.

Capt. Henry Philip Spaeth, now a well-known dealer in hardware at Aurora, this county, was born on December 25, 1838, in Wurtemburg, Germany, the son of Christopher and Julia Anna (Hornung) Spaeth, who brought him to America when but seven years of age. He grew to maturity at Cincinnati, where he attended the public schools, and his first employment was in a paper-box factory, receiving one dollar a week for his services at first, and was gradually rewarded with a better salary. His next position was in a chair factory, where he remained for a number of years, and at the President's first call for soldiers upon the outbreak of the Civil War, he enlisted and served in the Union army about thirty-eight months; enlisting at first for the three-months service, and then re-enlisting for three years. He was mustered in the three-years service as corporal; on the 24th of July, 1862, was made a lieutenant, and on the 13th of February, 1863, was pro- moted to first lieutenant. He participated in a number of the hard-fought bat- tles of the war. His regiment lost more men at the battle of Chickamauga than any regiment on the Union side in that engagement. After the war he was employed in a stove store, and in December, 1867, moved to Aurora, where he bought out a tin shop, later entering into partnership with his employee and brother-in-law, George L. Dennerline. They increased their stock by adding a line of hardware, and conducted a very successful business for about thirty-five years, under the firm name of H. P. Spaeth & Company,

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after which Mr. Spaeth bought the interest of his partner and entered into partnership with Paul Thomas, continuing with him two years, at the end of which time Mr. Spaeth sold his interest to his son, Frederick K., and re- tired from the business. Frederick K. Spaeth and Mr. Thomas conducted the business for two years, when the former's sister, Julia Ann, bought out Mr. Thomas's interest, and the business is still being conducted under the old name of H. P. Spaeth & Company. Politically, Captain Spaeth is a stanch Republican, and was a member of the Aurora school board for six years. He was formerly a member of the Lutheran church, but both he and his wife now belong to the Presbyterian church. His fraternal alliances are with Alamania Lodge No. 334, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of Aurora, to which he has belonged for about fifty years, he being the last charter member of that lodge; Aurora Lodge No. 51, Free and Accepted Masons; Ohio Commandery, Loyal Legion of America, and Platter Post No. 82, Grand Army of the Republic, of which he was commander for three terms. He is president of the Aurora State Bank, which was organized in 1910, with a capital stock of fifty thousand dollars. He also is president of the Aurora Furniture Company, which office he has filled since 1884, and was president of the Aurora Tool Works for a number of years. 'He is also president of the board of managers of the River View Cemetery Associa- tion, of which Aurora is justly proud. In addition to the interests already mentioned, Captain Spaeth is a large stockholder in the Wymond Cooperage Company and in the Indianapolis Chair Company, of Aurora.

Both Christopher Spaeth and his wife, parents of Captain Spaeth, were reared and educated in Germany, where the former followed the vocation of a farmer and nurseryman. They came to America in 1846, settling in Cin- cinnati, where Christopher Spaeth started a grocery. He lived but a short time after coming to America, his death occurring on June 24, 1849, at the age of forty-eight years, after an attack of cholera. His widow survived him many years and died in her eighty-eighth year. They were both devout mem- bers of the Lutheran church. Christopher Spaeth was a member of the city council in Schwabach, Germany, and had charge of the fire department there about twenty-six years. He and his wife were the parents of the following children : John F., deceased; Caroline, deceased, who married Jacob Pres- sler; Frederick, deceased; Henry P., Catherine, wife of James Miller, and three who died young.

Capt. Henry Philip Spaeth was united in marriage on March 16, 1871, to Sophia Kastner, who was born on May 28, 1848, daughter of Anthony

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and Eliza (Stewart) Kastner, and to this union were born two children, Julia Anna and Frederick K. Julia Anna Spaeth was graduated from the Aurora high school and later attended the normal school at Cincinnati, after which she taught school in Aurora for eighteen years. Frederick K. Spaeth married Maggie Hubbard, to which union there has been born one daughter, Catherine. Anthony Kastner, father of Mrs. Sophia Spaeth, was a native of Bavaria, Germany, and his wife, Eliza Stewart, was born near Trenton, Ohio. They were early settlers at Aurora, the former dying near Harrison, Ohio, of cholera in 1848, and the latter- at Aurora, in 1912, aged about eighty-four years.

Mrs. Sophia (Kastner) Spaeth died on August 10, 1874, at the age of twenty-six years and on February 5, 1880, Captain Spaeth married, se- condly, Mary E. Smith, which union has been without issue.

Captain Spaeth was a thorough soldier, and it is claimed that no regi- ment in the Civil War was superior in training to the one to which he belonged. He has always taken a great interest in matters of general benefit to his home city, and is one of its most prominent and progressive citizens, where he has a host of warm friends, the list of which is not con- fined to the city limits. He is now seventy-seven years of age, possessing all his faculties, and is a vigorous, wide-awake and successful business man. He is honored and highly respected by the citizens of Aurora, and is recog- nized as being largely instrumental in the development of Aurora.

AMBROSE E. NOWLIN.

Teacher, farmer, banker and man of affairs, Ambrose E. Nowlin, the president of the Dearborn National Bank at Lawrenceburg, this county, is one of the best known citizens in southeastern Indiana. Mr. Nowlin comes from an old and distinguished family of this section, one which has always been governed by a high sense of obligation to the public generally and by a high standard of private morals. His father was one of the influential citizens of Dearborn county, one of the most extensive farmers in southern Indiana, and Ambrose E. has had no small personal responsibility to live up to the standard set by his worthy parent. In this section the Nowlins have been known for their sturdy independence and practical initiative. Himself the organizer of the Dearborn National Bank, auditor of Dearborn county for nearly two years and collector of internal revenue for this district for nearly eight years,

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Ambrose E. Nowlin is an enterprising citizen, well worthy to bear the name his father gave him.

Ambrose E. Nowlin, whose claim to distinction in this section of Indiana consists in his prominence as a banker, his success as a farmer and his long and efficient service as a public official, was born in this county on August 6, 1843. His progenitors, who came largely from Indiana and Kentucky and perhaps one of the New England states, have been prominent for two or three generations in this part of Indiana. Zachariah Nowlin, the paternal grandfather of Ambrose E., a native of Kentucky and a pioneer in Dearborn county, where he died in middle life, was the father of six children: Jere- miah, Silas, Henry, William, Delilah and Betsey. After his death his wife married a Mr. Lemming, to which union two children were born, Hiram and Mary Jane. Jeremiah Nowlin was thirteen years old at the time of his father's death and, being the eldest of the family, bore the worst of the misfortune. Having come from Kentucky to Indiana with his parents, he remained at home with his mother until grown and then engaged in farming on his own account, his venture proving very successful. At the time of his death, 1873. when he was sixty-seven years old, he owned fifteen hundred acres of well-improved land in Dearborn county.

Jeremiah Nowlin married Permelia Blaisdel, who was born in this state, and they reared their family in Miller township. His wife died in 1881, at the age of seventy years. To this union seven children were born, namely : Enoch B., now deceased; Ferris J., of Miller township; Ambrose E., of Law- renceburg; Jacob Z., deceased, and three who died early in life. The mother of these children died in 1881, at the age of seventy years.

On the maternal side, Mr. Nowlin is descended from the Blaisdels, the family having been established in Dearborn county by his great-grand- father, who built the first grist-mill on Tanners creek, a mile and one-half east of Guilford, and which formed the basis of the hamlet of Cambridge, which at one time consisted of eight houses, a store, a shoemaker's shop, a mill and a blacksmith shop, not one of which buildings is now standing. Enoch Blaisdel, the maternal grandfather of Ambrose E. Nowlin, who married Susannah Ferris, sister of Dr. Ezra Ferris and Colonel Ferris, was also an early settler in Dearborn county, a leading resident of Miller township, where he died at the age of about seventy years. Among the children in their family were Permelia, Polly, Franklin, Ferris, Sherwood, John, Ambrose and New- ton. Both Enoch Blaisdel and his wife were of English descent, the family having come to Dearborn county from one of the Eastern states, possibly one of the New England states.

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A generation ago it was by no means common for a young man to receive a college education, yet Ambrose E. Nowlin, after being reared on his father's farm and after attending the old-fashioned subscription schools and the com- mon schools of Dearborn county, was graduated from the scientific course given at Miami University. When the present generation of young men have passed the age of seventy, as has Mr. Nowlin, there will be a far larger num- ber of them who will have received a college education. Yet it was very rare for a young man to have this advantage during the generation of men and women now past sixty years of age. Mr. Nowlin's training in college, how- ever, must not be over-emphasized as an explanation for his successful career, Rather has his success been due to natural initiative and a native-born aggres- sive and persevering disposition. Several years ago, recognizing the need for another bank in Lawrenceburg, he himself organized and became the president of the Dearborn National Bank, and has remained at the head of this institu- tion ever since. It is a strong bank, capitalized, at its organization in 1905, with fifty thousand dollars. The vice-president is H. A. Bobrink and the cashier is L. W. Hill.

After leaving Miami University, Mr. Nowlin taught school for three terms and was engaged for several years as a farmer in Miller township. He still owns the Miller township farm. In 1880 he purchased a farm in Lawrenceburg township, situated a mile and one-half from High street, in Lawrenceburg, and now a part of the present site of the village of Green- dale, which has ever since been his home, and he is regarded as a large farmer in this section of Indiana.

Ambrose E. Nowlin was married on August 25, 1870, to Flora B. Baker, who was born in Manchester township, this county, in December, 1850, the daughter of William H. and Margaret (Collier) Baker. Her parents, who were natives of this county and now both deceased, had six children: Albert E., Doris J., Zachary Taylor, William H., Flora B. and Lucinda. To Mr. and Mrs. Nowlin two children have been born: Oakey B. and Margaret N. The former, after being graduated from Miami University, died at the age of twenty-two years of typhoid fever. The latter married Melvin Fisk, now de- ceased, and by this marriage had one daughter, Bernice E. After the death of her husband, she married J. Howard Asbury and now lives in Vincennes, In- diana.

Mr. Nowlin resigned the office of auditor of Dearborn county to become collector of internal revenue for the sixth Indiana district and held that posi- tion for eight years. He is an ardent Republican and has for years been

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recognized as one of the leaders of the party in southern Indiana. In 1890 Mr. Nowlin was supervisor of the census for the fourth congressional dis- trict. The Nowlins are members of the Presbyterian church at Lawrence- burg. Fraternally, Mr. Nowlin is a member of Lawrenceburg Lodge No. 4, Free and Accepted Masons, and the Lawrenceburg Lodge, Knights of Pythias. Ambrose E. Nowlin deserves to rank as one of the most valuable and enter- prising citizens of Dearborn county. He is a man of moderate wealth and has always used this wealth not only for his own personal comforts, but in be- half of the progress and prosperity of the county where he lives. He is to be found in the front ranks of those men in Dearborn county who lead its worthy public movements and he has well deserved the confidence and regard of his fellow townsmen. He is a patriot in the larger sense of the word, since he takes a just pride, not only in the welfare and happiness of those who are near and dear to him, but also in the widening of community spirit and in the greater fullness of social and civic life.

CLARENCE B. WILSON.

Standing at the head of various prominent institutions and organizations in Dearborn county, from time to time, Clarence B. Wilson, cashier of the Aurora State Bank, is one of the best known and most popular men in Aurora, where he has been instrumental in furthering the interest of that city, by helping to organize one of its leading banks, and otherwise identifying his name with prominent and successful industries in the community. Having started out in a very modest way in life, he has opened the pathway to his pres- ent enviable success through his steady force of will power and strength of character.

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History of Dearborn County, Indiana : her people, industries and institutions, Part 50

Author: Archibald Shaw Publication date: 1915 Publisher: Number of Pages: 1123

Author: Archibald Shaw
Publication date: 1915
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 1123