USA > Indiana > Gibson County > History of Gibson County, Indiana : her people, industries and institutions > Part 51
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107
John K. King was born in Gibson county, Indiana, October 30, 1833, and died at his home in Princeton on September 2, 1911. He was a son of John and Sarah ( Kirkman) King, his father a native of North Carolina, his mother an orphan who was reared by Judge Henry Hopkins, the man who gave the land for the site of the present city of Princeton. The original King family came from Virginia. Samuel King. the father of John King, came from North Carolina to Indiana and settled in Gibson county near Fort Branch when that place was only an Indian post. At that time the father of the subject of this sketch was a babe in arms. Here he was reared to manhood and here married Sarah Kirkman in 1818 and immediately after their mar- riage they entered government land near King's Station. To Mr. and Mrs. John King were born ten children, only two of whom are living, Henry, who lives at Mitchell, South Dakota, and Jane who lives with John K. King's widow. The other eight children are as follows: George W., born in 1820; Nancy Ann, 1821 ; Samuel, 1823; Robert, 1825; William, 1827; Caroline, 1831 ; John K., 1833: Henry, 1835; Louisa. 1839: James, 1840.
John K. King received a very limited education, his schooling being con- fined to the district schools. He was reared to the life of a farmer and fol- lowed that occupation throughout his life. At the outbreak of the Civil war
.
528
GIBSON COUNTY, INDIANA.
he enlisted in Company A, Eightieth Regiment Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and served throughout the entire war as a private. He saw service in some of the hardest fought battles of that memorable struggle, and was wounded at the battle of Resaca, Georgia. Immediately after the close of the war he returned to Gibson county, where he was married in 1866 to Helen Hopkins, and bought his father's farm from the rest of the heirs and continued to operate this farm until he retired from active life in 1897 and moved to Princeton. To Mr. and Mrs. John K. King were born four children, all of whom are living in the city of Princeton at the present time, Charles K., J. Herbert, Roy P. and Mrs. Ruth Mulhall.
Throughout his long life Mr. King was a stanch supporter of the Re- publican party and was a prominent figure in the local campaigns of his party. He was never an applicant for public office, but upon one occasion he was induced to accept the office of township assessor and discharged the du- ties of that office in Patoka township to the entire satisfaction of his fellow citizens. The only organization with which he was connected in a fraternal way was the Grand Army of the Republic, and in this he took a great deal of interest. His religious affiliations were with the Methodist Episcopal church. It is needless to say that Mr. King worked hard and honorably and the reputation which he enjoyed as one of the public-spirited citizens of his locality was honestly earned, and his name will ever be linked with that of the community so long honored by his citizenship and whose interests had no more zealous and sympathetic supporter. He lived a life of which his children may well be proud and it is to their credit that they are carrying forward nobly the work which characterized the whole life of their father and are doing their full share towards elevating the moral and civic life of their community.
MRS. SARAH A. YOUNGMAN.
Wholly devoted to home and domestic duties, doing through all the best years of her life the lowly but sacred work that comes within her sphere, there is not much to record concerning the average woman. And yet, what station so dignified, what relation so loving and endearing, what offices so holy, tender and ennobling as those of home-making wifehood and mother- hood. A man's equal in every qualification except the physical, and his superior in the gentle, tender and loving amenities of life, she fully merits
MRS. SARAH A. YOUNGMAN.
529
GIBSON COUNTY, INDIANA.
a much larger notice than she ordinarily receives, and the writer of these lines is optimistic enough to indulge in the prediction that in no distant future she will receive due credit for the important part she acts in life's great drama and be accorded her proper place in history and biography. The foregoing lines are prompted by a review of the life of one of Princeton's grand old ladies, Mrs. Sarah A. Youngman, who is numbered among the most respected and esteemed residents of this favored community.
George Forbes, father of Mrs. Youngman, was born in Ireland. When a young man he came to America, and finally took up his abode in Prince- ton, being one of the pioneers of the community. He was engaged in farming all of his life. His wife was Ann Kirkman, and to them were born six children: Jane, who married Logan Gathway, both deceased; Elizabeth, who became the wife of Alexander Span, and both are now dead; Mary, who married David Snyder, both deceased: Abner, the sole son of the family, who never married. He was a farmer; Emily, who became the wife of Warren Hudspeth, and both have died; Sarah Ann (Mrs. Younginan) was the third child, and was born in Princeton on October 22, 1827. Mrs. George Forbes was a great worker in the Methodist Episcopal church and reared her family in strict accordance with its tenets. Her death oc- curred in 1842, the same year as that of her husband.
Mrs. Youngman's first husband was Lewis Carpenter. Their marriage was solemnized December 27, 1849, and he died in 1852. By trade he was a plasterer and bricklayer. One child came to this union, William Louis, a blacksmith of Princeton, Indiana, whose first wife was Dora Spain. His second wife was Lillie Williams, and to them have been born three children, Louis, Nellie and Lucille.
In 1854 Mrs. Youngman was married to William Thurston, a merchant of Pennsylvania. One child was born to this union, Emma Jane, who is the wife of Charles Small, of Evansville, Indiana. In February, 1867, she was married to Jacob C. Youngman, of Princeton, Gibson county, Indiana. He was engaged in the real estate business. He went to California later, and there died. One daughter, Katherine, was born to this union June 3, 1868, who is one of the leading music teachers of Princeton and makes her home with her mother.
Mrs. Youngman has always been an advocate of the highest and best in womanhood and, despite her advanced age, retains her mental and physical faculties to a marked degree, honored and respected by all who know her.
(34)
530
GIBSON COUNTY, INDIANA.
She was an active business woman for many years, having engaged in the millinery business for a period of twenty-five years, also conducting a hotel for many years. In the year 1876 she retired from active business life, hav- ing made a great success of her undertakings. Mrs. Youngman is now the oldest living woman who was born in Gibson county, Indiana.
FRANKLIN TURPIN.
The gentleman of whom the biographer now writes is widely known as one of the honored pioneers of Gibson county, and for almost three-quarters of a century has lived here, since reaching mature years having been a valued factor in the development of this community. His well-directed energies in the practical affairs of life, his capable management of his own interests and his sound judgment have demonstrated what may be accomplished by the man of energy and ambition, who, persevering often in the face of seemingly insurmountable obstacles, proves that he is possessed of those innate quali- ties that never fail to bring success if properly directed, as they have evi- dently been in the case of that honored and respected veteran of the Civil war and successful agriculturist, whose name heads this biographical review.
Franklin Turpin was born in Washington township, Gibson county, Indiana, April 8, 1840, the son of Alfred and Mahala (Mayhall) Turpin, natives of Kentucky, who came with their parents to Gibson county at an early date. Alfred was a son of William Turpin, of Ireland, who married a Miss Slavin. William came to America as a young man and first resided in Henderson county, Kentucky, removing to Gibson county, Indiana, in 1830, and locating in the forest in Washington township, where he wrested a home from the wilderness and lived the rest of his days. William Turpin and wife were the parents of six children, namely: Alfred, the subject's father ; Isaac, who lived in Washington township, but died in Knox county ; Jeffer- son and Calvin also lived in Washington township: Betsey and Sarah.
The subject's maternal grandfather, William Mayhall, was known as "Uncle Billy." He was a native of Kentucky and came to Gibson county about 1830, first settling in White River township and later in Washington township. He died on his place five miles north of Princeton. He was the father of two children by his first marriage: Mahala, the subject's mother. and Dudley, who lived in Washington township. William Mayhall was mar- ried a second time.
531
GIBSON COUNTY, INDIANA.
Alfred Turpin, the subject's father, grew up on his father's farm, ac- quiring but a limited education in the subscription schools of his boyhood days. On reaching mature years he acquired some wild land on the Patoka river near Hazelton, where he made a home and spent his days in farming, becoming widely known as a successful agriculturist and a well informed man. He and his wife died in 1846 within twelve hours of each other of what was known as 'black tongue," and both were buried in the same grave on the old Joe Milburn place northeast of Princeton. They were the parents of five children : Asa is retired and lives in Oakland City. He was a mem- ber of the First Indiana Volunteer Cavalry in the Civil war; Franklin ; Isaac, Jefferson and Elizabeth are deceased.
Franklin Turpin received such schooling as was common in those days and grew up on the home farm. On August 16, 1861, he enlisted in Com- pany F. Thirty-third Regiment Indiana Volunteer Infantry, at Princeton, Indiana, and after being outfitted and drilled at the camp at Indianapolis, was sent to Camp Dick Robinson, from which place they marched to Wild Cat Mountain and were in battle there. From that point they went to Crab Orchard and from there to Lexington, Kentucky, where they were stationed until April. 1862, when they marched to the Cumberland mountains, and from that locality were dispatched to Greenspoint, Kentucky, on the Ohio river. Under the command of Gen. George W. Morgan, of Ohio, they went to Cincinnati, crossed the river to Covington and marched to Lexington, from there to Danville, then to Nashville and Franklin, Tennessee, and were engaged in the battle at Thompson's Station on March 5. 1863, when Mr. Turpin and his comrades were captured by the Confederates and taken to the famous Libby prison. Being paroled after spending seventeen days in that place, the subject returned to Indianapolis on a ten days' furlough, and after his exchange went to Franklin, Tennessee, and subsequently was in the fighting at Murfreesboro, Geier's Gap. Tallahassee and Christiania. His orig- inal term of enlistment having expired, Mr. Turpin re-enlisted and, after a thirty days' furlough spent at home, he rejoined his command and was in the fighting around Chattanooga, Buzzard Roost and Snake Creek Gap. then being sent to Atlanta and taking part in the Atlanta campaign. during which he was seriously ill for about six days. The subject was with Sher- man on his famous "march to the sea." and subsequently leaving Savannah, Georgia, his command crossed the river and marched through South Caro- lina to Bentonville, North Carolina, where Mr. Turpin was again captured and taken back to Libby prison. After enduring many hardships in that
532
GIBSON COUNTY, INDIANA.
bastile, he was returned on parole to Indianapolis, and through Governor Morton secured a thirty days' furlough and returned to his home, being hon- orably discharged from the service of his country August 6, 1865.
On September 3, 1868, the subject was married to Jane Moore, of Washington township, Gibson county, the daughter of John C. and Elizabeth (Dawson) Moore, he a native of South Carolina and she of Kentucky. John C. Moore was a son of John C., who married Anna Boyles. John C. Moore, Sr., came from Kentucky at an early date and settled in Washington township, Gibson county, where he cleared land and made a home at a point where Moore's bridge is located, he and his wife spending the remainder of their lives there. To them were born five children: John C., the father of Mrs. Turpin; Joe, Ed, Rachael and Joann. Elizabeth Dawson was the daughter of John and Mary (Dere) Dawson. John was a soldier in the Black Hawk war, under General Scott, of Vincennes. He settled in pioneer times in Washington township, Gibson county, where he lived the rest of his life. He was the father of six children, Elizabeth, Shelton, Thomas, Logan, Smith and Jane. The children of John C. and Elizabeth Moore were: (I) Ann is the widow of David McMillan and lives in southern California. He was a member of Company B, First Indiana Volunteer Cavalry. (2) Eliza- beth, deceased, married Michael Turpin and they had one son, Henry. She was married a second time, to Benjamin Fields. (3) John C., deceased, mar- ried Mary Phillips, who also is deceased. (4) Rebecca married Lewis Van Coupen, who served three years and ten months in Company F. Thirty-third Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and they had three children. Both are de- ceased. (5) The subject's wife. (6) Joe, a retired farmer living at Prince- ton, married Harriett Turpin and they have three children living. His sec- ond marriage, with Mary Phillips, resulted in the birth of two children, who are living. Joe was in the One Hundred and Forty-seventh Regiment In- diana Voulnteer Infantry. (7) Ed is a farmer in Center township. He was married three times, first to Nettie Page, second to Jane Icloup, and third to Ann Withers. (8) Celia, deceased, was the wife of Thomas Jones and they had four children. (9) David, deceased, married Mary Key, and they had two children. He was a farmer in Washington township. (10) Sarah Ellen is deceased. (II) Emma is deceased.
To the subject and wife have been born six children, as follows: Maude, who died in her thirty-fourth year, was the wife of Green Patrick, who also is deceased; Lon, a farmer in Patoka township, married Rose
533
GIBSON COUNTY, INDIANA.
Blair and they have four children; Ruth married Oak Blackest, of Patoka township, and they have six children; Celia married James McIntire, a Pa- toka township farmer, and they have two children; John, a conductor on the Vandalia railroad, and formerly with the Southern railroad for ten years, lives in St. Louis. He married Lillian Parks and they have one daughter ; Eliza married Henry E. Crane and they have three children.
After his marriage, Mr. Turpin and wife located in Knox county, In- diana, where he had a saw-mill for two or three years, and then returned to Washington township, this county, and took up farming, continuing at this until 1897, when they moved to Princeton, where he has since been engaged at carpenter work. In political matters, Mr. Turpin has ever given his sup- port to the Republican party, while in his religious affiliations he is a con- sistent member of the Cumberland Presbyterian church.
DANIEL N. TICHENOR.
The biographies of successful men are instructive as guides and exam- ples, as well as incentives to those whose careers are yet to be achieved. The examples they furnish of patient purpose and consecutive endeavor strongly illustrate what is in the power of each to accomplish. The gentleman whose life story herewith is briefly set forth is a conspicuous example of one who has lived to good purpose and achieved a definite degree of success in the special sphere to which his talents and energies have been devoted.
Daniel N. Tichenor was born in Nelson county, Kentucky, on March 24. 1820, the son of Ehenezer and Susan ( Bull) Tichenor, both also natives of Nelson county. His mother died in 1840, but the father had come to Gibson county, Indiana, by wagon, about 1833. settling in Montgomery township. where he acquired a rough piece of unimproved land, the soil being wet and almost uncultivable. Here Mr. Tichenor stayed for a while, finally securing land near White church, in Patoka township, southwest of Princeton, where he built himself a log cabin and started to clear a permanent home. Some time after the death of his first wife. he married Peggy Barker, a native of Indiana. He was a hard-working man and succeeded in improving his farm into one of the best in his locality. He and his wife both died on that farm .. Politically, he was a Democrat, while his religious membership was with the General Baptist church, holding membership in this church in Patoka town-
534
GIBSON COUNTY, INDIANA.
ship. By his first union were born the following children: Elizabeth, who was twice married, first to John Burton, and second, to William Simmons, and she now lives near Fort Branch, Indiana; Daniel M., the subject of this sketch; Hannah, deceased; Jacob, deceased. To the second union were born the following children: Charity, deceased, who was the wife of Wesley Johnson; William, deceased, formerly of Patoka township.
After the death of the subject's mother, he took the other children back to Kentucky and lived for a while with a family by the name of Brewer on Green river, and later with an uncle, Collier Tichenor, for a while. He had no opportunity to secure a school education and learned mainly by habits of observation of men and events. Subsequently he came back to Gibson county and worked out at farming labor until after his first marriage, when he bought his father's old homestead farm, on which he has since lived and to which he has added until he is now the owner of three hundred and fifty-one acres in Patoka township, located near the White church, and which is one of the best agricultural tracts in the township. He has always followed farm- ing and has been a hard-working man, his industry and perseverance being rewarded by the splendid success which has attended his efforts. He and his wife started in life in a small way, but have achieved a most pronounced suc- cess and enjoy the esteem of all who knew them, because of their honest and successful efforts. In the fall of 1901 Mr. Tichenor retired and moved to Princeton, buying an attractive residence at No. 404 North Spring street, where he now lives, enjoying the fruits of his former labor. He was a prac- tical agriculturist during his active years and in addition to raising diversi- fied crops, gave a good deal of his attention to the raising of fine horses, among which was the noted stallion, "Lexington." also raising with equal success many fine cattle.
Daniel Tichenor first married Eliza Jane Brown, of Gibson county, In- diana, to which union was born a son, Albert, who died in youth. On Janu- ary 27, 1855, Mr. Tichenor married Eliza Jane Mounts, who was born on August 4, 1835, in Edwards county, Illinois, and to them were born the fol- lowing children: Lewis, who died in infancy; George, born September 19, 1867, is a farmer in Patoka township, and married Melvina Sweppy; Julia, born September 3, 1860, died on May 25, 1864; Louisa, born October 4, 1863, became the wife of Thomas Richards, but is now deceased, leaving three children, Lora, Harvey and Essie; James, born November 13, 1866, and who is a farmer in Patoka township, married Cora West ; Olive O., born in June, 1872, became the wife of George Benton, an interurban motorman; Elmer, born October 1, 1876, followed farming for a while, but is now em-
535
GIBSON COUNTY, INDIANA.
ployed in the Southern railroad shops at Princeton. He married Pearl Smith. Mrs. Tichenor is the daughter of Thomas and Ann ( Lagrange) Mounts, both of whom were born and reared in Kentucky, in Nelson county, her father being a pioneer settler of Edwards county, Illinois, where he suc- cessfully followed farming. To himself and wife were born seven children, namely : Mary, Henry, William, Nancy, Betty, Eliza Jane and Isaac, all of whom are deceased, excepting Mrs. Tichenor.
Politically, Mr. Tichenor has always given his earnest support to the Democratic party, and, though taking an active and intelligent interest in local public affairs, he has been content with the casting of an honest ballot, but never aspiring to public office on his own account. Religiously, he and his wife are earnest and faithful members of the General Baptist church, to which they contribute of their time and substance. Dependent very largely upon his own resources from his early youth, Mr. Tichenor has attained no insignificant success, and though he may have, like most men of affairs, encountered obstacles and met with reverses, he has pressed steadily forward, ever willing to work for the end he has in view. He is a man of splendid personality, and because of his industrious hbaits and the success he has at- tained, he enjoys the esteem of the community in which he resides.
HENRY TICHENOR.
Among the prominent men of Gibson county who have made their im- press on the community in which they have lived is Henry Tichenor, the present postmaster of Princeton, Indiana. He was born March 10, 1858, about one-half mile west of Princeton, and has spent his whole life in the county of his nativity. His parents were William N. and Elizabeth (John- son ) Tichenor, his father being born in Kentucky, December 25, 1826. Will- iam Tichenor came to Gibson county with his parents. Daniel and Jane (Glover) Tichenor, when he was a small boy and at the time of his death was one of the most substantial citizens in the county. Mr. and Mrs. William N. Tichenor were the parents of a family of four children: James Albert, deceased; Daniel, deceased; Henry, the subject of the immediate sketch; Oliver Morton, deceased, who was postmaster of Princeton at one time. Mrs. William N. Tichenor is still living at the old family homestead on Emerson street.
Henry Tichenor attended the common schools of Princeton and after
5,36
GIBSON COUNTY, INDIANA.
his marriage began to farm in his home township. After farming for some years he moved to Princeton and engaged in the transfer business. He has always taken a prominent part in Republican politics and his party has sig- nally recognized his ability by electing him as county chairman on two differ- ent occasions. In recognition of his efficient service to the party, President William Howard Taft appointed him on April 13, 1910, to the postmaster- ship at Princeton, a position which he is still holding.
Mr. Tichenor was married on August 12, 1883, to Ida Teague, of In- dianapolis. They have no children. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Tichenor is a modest, unassuming man who takes a keen interest in the affairs of the day and because of the con- sistent conduct of his life has a large circle of friends and acquaintances throughout the county where he has spent his whole life.
FRED ROBERT EWING.
It is a well-known fact that public opinion really rules this country. It was the insistent cry of the public which forced through the last two amend- ments to the Constitution of the United States, and it was this same influence which led President Wilson to insist upon a reduction in the tariff and the passage of the new monetary bill through Congress. Public opinion, however, would be useless without it had the opportunity to find expression, and there is no way by which public opinion can find its full usefulness except through newspapers. For this reason it is not too much to say that newspapers of our country really are the rulers; that they have more power in the shaping of the destinies of our nation than Congress itself. Congress can do no more than voice the will of the people as set forth in the newspapers. There are very few towns in Indiana today which do not have a publication of some kind, and during the last year the newspaper directory gives nearly eight hundred publications of one kind and another in the state of Indiana. Among the leading Republican papers of the southern part of the state the Clarion News, of Gibson county, stands as one of the best papers in its class.
Fred Robert Ewing, the son of John William and Ella (Fellows) Ewing, was born December 28, 1876, in the town where he has lived all his life. His father was a native of this county, his mother being born in Greene county. Fred R. Ewing received his common school and high school educa- tion in the Princeton city schools, graduating from the Princeton high school
JOHN W. EWING.
FRED R. EWING.
537
GIBSON COUNTY, INDIANA.
in June, 1895. Immediately after graduation from the high school, he en- tered the State University of Indiana at Bloomington, where he took a promi- nent part in various college activities. While in attendance at the University he was a member of the Sigma Chi Greek-letter fraternity, and still takes an active interest in this organization. After leaving the university he began newspaper work as a reporter on the Princeton Daily Democrat, and six months later he joined the force of the Princeton Evening News. In 1901, in association with Samuel R. Adams and James W. Westfall, he purchased from Gilbert R. Stormont, the Princeton Daily and Weekly Clarion, Ewing becoming the editor and general manager of the paper. A year later the Clarion was consolidated with the Princeton Evening and Weekly News, Mr. Ewing still continuing as editor and manager. Under his management the paper increased in circulation and as a result its advertising increased until Mr. Ewing felt able to acquire a controlling interest in the Clarion Publishing Company, and since that time he has held the majority interest and control of the Clarion-News corporation. He owns the newspaper prop- erty, which is the official organ of the Republican party in Gibson county and exerts no small influence in local politics. Mr. Ewing has associated with him George B. Grigsby as business manager and Charles E. McCormick as city editor.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.