History of Gibson County, Indiana : her people, industries and institutions, Part 4

Author: Stormont, Gil R
Publication date: 1914
Publisher: Indianapolis : B.F.Bowen
Number of Pages: 1284

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GIBSON COUNTY, INDIANA.

One of the most distinguished of the early families of Gibson county were the Hargroves. William Hargrove, the pioneer, was a South Caro- linian by birth, born in the year 1775, and while still a lad moved with his parents to Pulaski county, Kentucky, where he grew to manhood and mar- ried Sarah Jaspar. A few years later, concluding to change his location. he set out with his wife and three children for the West, with the few worldly goods he possessed loaded on pack mules, on which his wife and children also rode. Their destination was Missouri, but after arriving in the vicinity of the present site of Princeton, and admiring the beautiful country here, they concluded to go no farther, and in the early part of November, 1803, settled on section 36, township I south, range 11. Here he erected a small cabin and lived for a time and then settled on a tract of land, afterwards known as the Isaac Woods farm, north of Princeton_ in township 2 south, range 10. William Hargrove was a noted Indian hunter of Kentucky and also here. He was a brave and plucky man. The following incident will illus- trate the heroic quality of the pioneer. One time when the neighbors were congregated at a log rolling an Indian came along and a little dispute arose, and Hargrove told the Indian he lied. This exasperated the latter and he raised his tomahawk to attack him, but one of the bystanders knocked him down. The Indian, though keenly feeling the insult, arose and left, and the next day, bent on mischief, he returned to the settlement, and at one of the cabins, finding the men folks absent, he led his horse within the cabin and, besides insulting the wife of the settler, he broke up what little furniture there was, and turned things topsy-turvy. The lady found means of escape and ran over and informed Mr. Hargrove, who, with rifle in hand, imme- diately started after the redskin. Arriving at the cabin, the Indian was not there, but he saw him at a spring a short distance away. He at once cut a large hickory whip and noiselessly slipped up on the savage, seized him, and gave him a severe whipping, then knocked him into the creek, pointed his rifle at him, and told him to begone. The Indian needed no second invita- tion, being glad to get off with his life. Hargrove kept the horse until after the Indian had made reparation for the broken furniture in pelts. Then the horse was returned to him, when he mounted and rode off, and never after- ward returned to the settlement.

Hargrove was at two different times in the ranging service, and de- serves much credit for his woodcraft and bravery in assisting to repel the early Indian attacks, and in his share in driving the Indians from the borders of Indiana territory, thereby making it safe for the habitation of white

GIBSON COUNTY, INDIANA.

settlers. He raised a company of rangers and was made their captain and with them fought bravely in the battle of Tippecanoe. He had a family of fourteen children, seven sons and seven daughters. One thing rather peculiar in regard to his children, and of which the old pioneer was very proud, was that there were seven red headed and seven black headed, all of whom grew to manhood and womanhood. In the year 1836 Mr. Hargrove settled in the neigh- borhood of Oakland City, where he was a resident until his death, about 1846 or 1847. His wife died about the sanie time. The most prominent of the sons of Mr. Hargrove and wife was John Hargrove, born in Pulaski county, Kentucky, November 29, 1793. He came to Indiana with his parents in November, 1803. He married Isiphina Latham, daughter of William Latham. The marriage took place December 31, 1818. She was born in Virginia in 1798. She removed with her parents to Kentucky in 1805, came here in 1807, and died March 14, 1877. Her husband died in October, 1874. They had born to them five sons and seven daughters. John Hargrove was for many years a prominent and influential citizen of the county. He filled many official positions of honor and trust, and in early days was an ardent Democrat, and was the recognized leader of the party in this county. In 1825 he was elected justice of the peace and served five years, and at that time was member of the county board of justices. In 1829 he was assessor of the county, in 1831 he was elected as a representative of the county and subsequently represented the district in the state Senate. He held other official positions which are shown in the roster of the county officials.

The Milburns became residents of the county in 1803. They were for- merly of Virginia, though they lived a short time in Kentucky. Joseph Mil- burn and wife brought with them the following children: Robert, John, David, Sally, Jonathan, William, with his son-in-law, Robert Mosley. They settled in the northern part of the county between Patoka and White rivers. The elder Milburn died in 1815, at the age of sixty years, his widow in 1845, at the age of ninety years. One of his sons, John, was captain of a ranger company under the territorial administration of General Harrison, and in 1812 was stationed at Fort Lanotte, on the Wabash river. For this service he was made a pensioner. His death occurred at the age of seventy-six. He left five children, Felix, Irene, Rose, Sarah (Arbuthnot) and Carrie Mil- burn. David Milburn died in 1861, aged seventy-two, also leaving several children. Another son, Robert, was born in the Old Dominion, and came to this county with the balance of the family. In 1812 he married Nancy Archer. He carried on the trade of hatter for years, afterward becoming

GIBSON COUNTY, INDIANA.

interested in the old steam mill company. He died in 1847, aged sixty two, leaving several children.

John Hinemann and family settled in the northern part of the county in 1803. He was a native of Pennsylvania, born in 1778. He subsequently moved with his parents to Kentucky and thence here. His death took place in 1863, at the age of eighty-five years. IIis widow afterward died at about the same age.

Another pioneer name here was that of the McClure family. James Mc- Clure was born October 6, 1785, in Maryland, and at the age of twelve years he removed with his mother and the balance of the family to Kentucky. His father was a soldier in the Revolutionary war and was killed in one of the last battles of that eventful struggle. In the fall of 1805 Mrs. McClure re- moved with her family to Indiana territory, and settled on section 13, town- ship 26 south, range II west. Her son James had the year previous, in 1804, made a trip to spy out land and he selected the above place as being suitable to making a settlement. Here he made improvements and went back to Ken- tucky and brought his mother and the balance of the family; besides his mother was his sister Martha. She was the wife of Isaac Montgomery, who afterward became prominent as a citizen of the county. When James Mc- Clure came here in 1804 the country was only sparsely settled in the locality bordering on Patoka and White river. James McClure married Martha Ann Warrick. She was born May 24, 1788; her father died in Kentucky and her mother, Mrs. Ellen Warrick, removed with her family to this locality in the year 1806. James McClure and wife had born to them eleven children, ten sons and one daughter: Albert P., March 29, 1809; Edwin, April 7, 18II; James B., November 14, 1812; Ellen J., June 6, 1814; Joseph P., October 6, 1815; William M., February 7, 1819; Henry, May 9, 1820; David H., May 8, 1822; Robert, March 16, 1825; George W., February 22, 1827; John W., December 28, 1830. All of the sons grew to manhood. The first tanyard established in the county was by James McClure, in 1806. He was an active, energetic man, and as an early settler did much to promote the growth and development of the county. He and his wife lived to a good old age. Joseph P. McClure was married February 13, 1834, to Catherine Devin, the daughter of Rev. Alexander Devin.

Another old settler was James Wheeler, who also had a large family, a wife, five sons and four daughters. He was a peculiar sort of a man, fond of fun, and occasionally enjoyed taking part in a hand-to-hand fight, and at gatherings, such as log rollings or muster days, Wheeler was sure to imbibe

GIBSON COUNTY, INDIANA.

quite freely, and then get into a misunderstanding with some one, which would generally result in a fist fight. Wheeler, though a man of small stature, was very spry and active, and mostly came out victorious. He settled in the timber east about five miles from Princeton in the summer of 1805. where he erected a cabin, cleared a small tract of land, but his subsistence for him- self and family for the first year was gained principally by hunting, as he arrived too late in the summer to make a crop. He become quite a noted hunter, and proved himself to be quite a valuable acquisition to the settle- ment. He was foremost in repelling any Indian aggressions and frequently boasted that he was not afraid of the redskins, and he proved it, because on the breaking out of Indian troubles he promptly enlisted, as did three of his sons, and participated in the battle of Tippecanoe. The war over and peace declared, he returned to his country home, where he lived the quiet life of a farmer for a number of years, and he and his wife died after filling in use- fulness their allotted time. They left numerous descendants who still reside in the county.

The Montgomerys are among the families whose settlement and history date back several years prior to the organization of the county. They were prominent here for years in political and official circles. The pioneer of this family in this county was Thomas Montgomery. He was one of ten children and the youngest of seven sons born to Hugh Montgomery and wife. Hugh Montgomery was an Irishman by birth, who emigrated to Virginia many years before the Revolutionary war. The seven sons, Thomas among the number. served in the Revolutionary war. In 1793 Thomas Montgomery emigrated to Kentucky and settled in a little town called Mt. Sterling, in Montgomery county, which county, however, was not named until after he settled there, and was so called in honor of his name. Having met with reverses in Kentucky, by not having a good title to his land, he removed to Indiana, in 1805, and settled on section 13, township 3, range 12, on the west bank of Black river, in what is now known as Montgomery township. He married, while yet a resident of Virginia, Martha Crockett. She was a sister of Col. Joseph Crockett, who served under Washington in the Revolutionary war. She was also a first cousin of the famous Davy Crockett, of Tennes- see and who so gallantly gave up his life at the Alamo, bravely fighting for Texas independence. Thomas and Martha Montgomery had born to them three daughters and five sons. Their sons were Hugh, Joseph, Thomas, Isaac, Walter; the daughters were Polly, Jennie, Patsey. Joseph married Nancy Davis in Kentucky, and emigrated with his father, as did all the other chil-

GIBSON COUNTY, INDIANA.

dren, to Indiana. Joseph settled on what was known as the Major Smith farm. His children were Isaac, William (who served in the Legislature two years), Patsey, Jefferson, Polly, Betsey and Nancy. Thomas Montgomery, Jr., married Betsey Warrick in Kentucky, and they came and settled on what is known as the old James Stewart farm. His children were: Polly, wife of James Skelton; Nelly, wife of Joseph Roberts; Moses; Nancy, wife of Joseph Skelton; Jacob and Thomas. His wife died, and then he married Katie Teel, and by her he had the following children: Julia, who married Thomas Summers; Lucy, who married a Mr. Mounts; Isaac; Henry; Min- erva, who married Joseph Summers, and Katherine.

Judge Isaac Montgomery married, in Kentucky, Martha McClure, the daughter of James McClure. They came in 1805 and settled on what was known as the James Finney farm near Princeton. It is said that he built at that date the first horse grist-mill of the county. He was very prominent here in the early days, was one of the county commissioners, and also was a representative in the state Legislature for twelve years. His children were: Jane, who married John I. Neely, who for many years was a county official; John R., also a well known citizen, county clerk for eight years; Joseph; Archilaus; Thomas; Eliza, who married a Mr. Johnson; Maria, who mar- ried a Mr. McGrady. Judge Isaac Montgomery probably attained the most prominence in the county of any of the family. He was a large, athletic man, and in physical appearance was one of the best looking men in the county. He was fond of hunting and was regarded as the best shot in the county. He had a large gun made in Princeton on purpose to kill bears with. In 1852 Mr. Montgomery and wife and eldest son removed to Texas, where he died a few years later. Walter Montgomery married Nancy Roberts in Indiana, and remained on the old farm settled by his father. Their children were: Margaret; Thomas; Warrick, who served two years in the Legisla- ture; Joseph; Isaac; John R .; Martha, wife of Louis Barr; Nellie, wife of Joseph Knowles; Walter; Robert ; William; Andrew J .; Polly, who married Smith Mounts. Her children were: Smith; Thomas; Steven; Hugh; Joseph; Nancy, who married A. Emerson; Betsey, who married Henry Ayres; Celia, who married a Mr. Hunt; Jane, who married Capt. Jacob Warrick. Her second husband was Dr. Maddox, of Kentucky, and they had three children. Some years after old Thomas Montgomery emigrated to Indiana, his brother Samuel came and settled on the east side of Black river. He married Polly McFarland of Kentucky, and their children were Polly, James, Robert, Benjamin, John, Samuel, Rachael, Dorcas and Katie.

GIBSON COUNTY, INDIANA.

Gen. Robert M. Evans was one of the most conspicuous men in the early history of Gibson county, being clerk and agent, and, in fact. managing all of the affairs of the county for several years. He was born in Frederick county. Virginia, in 1783. When a small boy, his parents removed to Ken- tucky, and in 1790 to Tennessee, where, at the age of seventeen, he acted as deputy county clerk in the county in which he was reared. He was married in Kentucky in 1803, to Jane Trimble, sister to Judge Robert Trimble, of the United States supreme court. In 1805 his family removed to Indiana territory, settling two miles north of where Princeton now stands. At the first sale of government land in 1807, he purchased the tract upon which he had settled, and continued to reside there until 1800, when he moved to Vincennes and kept a hotel on Market street. This was the favorite stop- ping place for all of the old pioneers of Indiana. After two years he re- turned to the old settlement. At the breaking out of the Indian war in 1811 he joined General Harrison's army, and participated in the battles of Tippe- canoe, Thames and other less important engagements, and acquired the repu- tation of a brave and sagacious commander. He was commissioned briga- dier-general and commanded a large body of militia. His brother, William, was killed by the Indians at the battle of Tippecanoe. After the war he re- turned to his old improvements and it was very soon after that Gibson county was organized. The value of one with his experience and education was soon realized in the manipulation of affairs of government, and he was elected county clerk, and appointed agent for the transaction of the county's business. He continued to hold these positions for several years with satis- faction to the people and honor to himself. He was one of the original pro- prietors of Evansville and did much toward the carly building up and prog- ress of the place. In 1824 he left Princeton and made his home in Evans- ville. He was, however, a resident of New Harmony for a short time. He returned to Evansville and was a resident there until his death in 1844. His wife passed from this earth in 1840.

In 1810 James, Alexander Lile and Thomas Jefferson Evans, brothers of Gen. Robert M., became residents of the county and afterward of Prince- ton, where they engaged in business. Thomas J. moved to Iowa in 1840 and was appointed to a judgeship. He died there in the same year. Alexander L. was engaged in the cooper business in Princeton until 1836 when he re- moved to Evansville. He died there in 1844. Herman S., a printer in Illinois, is another son. James Evans built and operated a wood carding

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GIBSON COUNTY, INDIANA.

mill on Main street in 1818, and which business he continued until his death in 1832. He was also largely engaged in farming, and owned the land upon which the southwestern portion of Princeton now stands. He was for many years justice of the peace. Eliza A. married Dr. Andrew Lewis. She died in 1878. W. L. Evans was a merchant in Princeton from 1853 to 1873. and afterward president of the Princeton National Bank, which position he held until his death, which occurred in 1899.

We append the following as a recollection of the venerable Patsey Ralston (nee Neely), widow of Andrew D. Ralston. In regard to the early events she seemed to possess a remarkable memory. She is fifth of a family of nine children born to Joseph and Martha Neely. Her parents came to this county in March, 1805. They made a short stop with John Latham's father, who was then living where Princeton now stands. Subsequently they moved to a farm about three miles from where David Robb and family were living south of White river. Joseph Neely and wife were natives of Pennsylvania. In 1790 Mr. Neely and family moved to Kentucky and lived about two years near Lexington, in that state. They moved to Mercer county, Kentucky, where Mrs. Ralston was born October 17, 1792. The Neely family are of Irish origin. The grandparents of Mrs. Ralston on both her father's and mother's side were born in Ireland. Her father, Joseph Neely, died in 1806 and her mother in 1811. After the death of her parents Mrs. Ralston returned to Kentucky and lived with her sister in Bath county. Here she became acquainted with and married Andrew D. Ralston, November 18, 1817, remaining in that vicinity until May 1, 1818, when she returned to this county with her husband and settled in Princeton. He was a blacksmith and worked at his trade about eight years. In 1826 they moved on a farm one inile southeast of Fort Branch. There Mr. Ralston died January 4, 1829. At that time their family comprised five children: Dr. W. G., Evansville physician; Martha J. Hopkins, Nancy Holcomb, Elizabeth Hemmenway. Third child was accidentally.killed on the farm, and the fifth lived in Boon- ville, Indiana. Mrs. Ralston's two brothers, Gen. John I. and Thomas Neely, were both in the war of 1812. John served as aide-de-camp, and he remained until the close of the war. At the battle of Tippecanoe his horse was shot from under him, and his spur shot from his boot. On his return home at the close of the war he was made a general of the state militia. He was for many years one of the most noted men of the county. He was a son-in-law of Judge Isaac Montgomery. His death occurred about the close of the Civil war. Both of the brothers, when young, assisted in surveying lands

REUNION OF THE WOODS FAMILY AT TURKEY HILL, 1912.

GIBSON COUNTY, INDIANA.

in this part of the state. They were lads of sixteen or seventeen years. John I. was county clerk for a period of about fifteen years. Joseph, an- other brother, was sheriff of the county one term. When Mrs. Ralston first settled in Gibson county the people went to Kalts mill, located on a stream called river DuShee, to get their grist ground. This mill was about eighteen miles from where they lived. The mill ground corn only. Wagons were not much in use, and people carried their corn on horseback or on a home-made sled. The first preacher Mrs. Ralston heard was Mr. Nixon. When her parents left Pittsburgh they embarked on a large flat boat, which was located with flour and horses for a New Orleans market. They came on down the Ohio as far as. Marysville, Kentucky, and thence to Evansville.

About 1804 or 1805 came Jesse Kimball, with his family, and settled on section 24, township 3 south, range 12, six miles south of Owensville. The place was then the site of an Indian village. Kimball raised his humble cabin near a large spring. He was a native of Connecticut, born in 1760, and was a Revolutionary soldier. About 1795 he emigrated to Red Banks, now Henderson, Kentucky, and a few years later came here. His nearest neigh- bor was six miles away. About 1810 he built a water mill on Black river, a distance of two hundred yards from his cabin. He afterwards built a horse mill, which he operated as late as 1840. He had three sons and two daugh- ters : Elisha, Mary- Gates, Sarah Jones, Enoch, Isaac. William B. and Jesse C: are sons of Elisha Kimball, who was born at Red Banks in 1796. Isaac had one son, William, who lived where his grandfather settled. The old pioneer, Jesse Kimball, died November 18, 1857, and is buried on the old homestead. He was very fleet of foot and frequently had foot races with the Indians, and one occasion in a trial of speed he beat a chief running, which so disgusted the latter that he declared that he would never run again.

The Woods family was the largest to come to the county. Joseph Woods, the pioneer, was born in Ireland in 1745, and reared in Virginia, where he married in 1768 and reared a large number of children. From that state he came to Kentucky at a very early day, and in 1807 came to the territory of Indiana, his first stopping place being on river DuShee in Knox county, where, after a residence of one year, he made his settlement in Gibson, on Turkey hill, section 23, township 2. range JI. His sons, John. James, Patrick, Isaac, William P., David L., Samuel H., and daughters. Peggy, Jane and Elizabeth, came to this county with him. Their mode of conveyance was on horseback and in wagons, crossing the Ohio at Red Bank. All of the sons and daughters were either married or married soon after they

GIBSON COUNTY, INDIANA.

came here, and settled around the old gentleman, except William P., who fol- lowed school teaching and died an old bachelor. The neighborhood was known as the Woods settlement. It is related that at the early elections the Woods and Montgomery families, by putting their members together, might elect any candidate whom they chose for office. Samuel H. and Isaac Woods were at Tippecanoe. Joseph L. Woods, another son of the old pioneer, came with his family in 1811, and settled in the southeast quarter of section 21. He had six sons and two daughters: Patrick, born in Tennessee in 1809, lived in Princeton; William L. lived on the old homestead; Mary Stone of Fort Branch. (For further particulars of the Woods genealogy, see the bio- graphical sketches of different members of the family.)

William Harrington was one of the first judges of the courts of Gibson county, and the first session of the court held in the county was at his house in May, 1813. Judge Harrington was a native of North Carolina. From there he moved and settled near Nashville, Tennessee, residing there a short time, then became a resident of Kentucky, and in 1807 removed with his family and settled in the vicinity of Fort Branch, Indiana, where he made a crop, and the next season purchased a small improvement of John Johnson a short distance west of Princeton William Harrington was a brave and gal- lant man, and participated in the battle of Tippecanoe. Of his two sons, James Harrington was afterward killed by the Indians in the ranging service at Fort Harrison, and Charles, his brother, was also wounded at the same place. The Indians surprised them at daylight and the young men endeavored to get to the fort, when the former was killed and the latter wounded. Judge Harrington had a large family of children, some of whom came to man- hood and womanhood, among whom were James, Charles, Thomas and Will- iam, Elizabeth Truesdell, Sarah Casey, Jane Brownlee, Mary died young, Irene Jerauld, and Emily. Judge Harrington died in 1831, having been for many years a prominent and conspicuous figure in the early history of the county.

Among the settlers the Carolinas supplied were Thomas and William Archer, brothers. They were natives of Chester district, South Carolina, and came here in 1807. They left their native state in the fall of 1806, and the following spring raised a crop in Kentucky, and late in the fall made their way here. Their mode of conveyance hither was made by four-horse wagons. They crossed the Ohio river at Red Banks. Thomas Archer first located near the clearing of James Robb, north of Patoka, and entered land. The following year William Archer returned to South Carolina, and brought

GIBSON COUNTY, INDIANA.

back with him his father, Robert, and the balance of the family. The old man had been a soldier in the Revolutionary war and was an invalid when he came here and died about ten years later. His home was located on a hill near the Archer cemetery, east of Robert Howe's place. William and Thomas were the only sons of Robert Archer who came. William was single when he came, but it was not long until he married Anna Peters. Her parents were among the early settlers. They reared a family. He was a farmer and resided near Patoka. Robert Archer had six daughters. They all came with their parents. Their names were Isabella, Mary, Rosa, Cath- erine, Nancy, Margaretta. They all married in this county and many of their descendants are vet living. Mary ( Aunt Polly, as she was familiarly called) lived to the age of eighty-four. Thomas Archer was married, and his daughter, Mary N., was born in 1800. His other children who came here with him were Robert and John. Those born after arriving were Samnel, Thomas, David, Sarah, William, Calvin and Beza.

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History of Gibson County, Indiana : her people, industries and institutions, Part 4

Author: Stormont, Gil R Publication date: 1914 Publisher: Indianapolis : B.F.Bowen Number of Pages: 1284

Author: Stormont, Gil R
Publication date: 1914
Publisher: Indianapolis : B.F.Bowen
Number of Pages: 1284