USA > Indiana > Gibson County > History of Gibson County, Indiana : her people, industries and institutions > Part 52
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Mr. Ewing has been active in Republican politics in Gibson county, and in view of the fact that he is the editor of the official Republican paper of the county, his influence is second to that of no other man in the county. He has served as precinct committeeman, county vice-chairman, and in February of 1913, was elected county chairman.
Mr. Ewing was married June 14, 1900, in Evansville, Indiana, to Louise Horrall, the daughter of Seth O. and Mary (Herrod) Horrall, and to this union has been born one daughter, Mary Eleanor.
MICHAEL McGOWAN.
The Emerald Isle has furnished thousands of good, substantial citizens for our great commonwealth, and the community which receives them may well count themselves fortunate. Wherever they go they are always found among the substantial citizens of the community in which they settle and the sunshine which radiates from their personality is proverbial throughout the world. A true son of Erin is a man who has the spirit of optimism developed
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to the highest degree and his good nature is welcomed everywhere. It is related of a man who was sick that when he was told that there were just two men left in the village who were not sick and that they were a physician and an Irishman, he at once said, "Bring me the Irishman." He probably felt that the Irishman would do him more good than the physician.
Michael McGowan, one of the self-made and highly respected men of Princeton, was born January 3, 1870, at Walnut Hill, Pennsylvania. His parents were Michael and Mary ( McNurtney) McGowan. His father was born in Brooklyn, New York, and died in Florida. He was a surface boss in coal mines. His wife was a native of Ireland, and her death occurred in Kentucky. They were the parents of four children, Kate, John, Michael and Charles.
Michael McGowan, the third child in order of birth, received a very limited common school education and early in life was put upon his own re- sources. He started to learn the machinist's trade and because he was an apt pupil he made rapid progress in acquainting himself with the details of the work. While still a young man he was a fireman on the Louisville & Nashville Railroad for a short time and later was promoted to the responsible position of engineer on the same line. The next seventeen years of his life were spent in the engineer's cab on the Louisville & Nashville Railroad, and during all that time his record was absolutely clear. The responsibilities which face the engineer in his cab every day are greater than those in any other occupation and only men of the steadiest nerve and clearest mind and eye can hold his position as long as Mr. McGowan did. After seventeen years of hard service on the railroad Mr. McGowan retired from the engineer's cab and took employment with the Southern Railroad Company in their shops at Princeton, Indiana, where he could be at home. He is still in the employ of this company in their shops, and is accounted one of the most capable workers which the company has in its employ today.
Michael McGowan was married on April 25, 1895. to Mary E. Christian, of Princeton. the daughter of Charles and Bridget ( McDaniel) Christian. Mrs. McGowan's father, better known as "Uncle Charlie," was born in Kil- kenny, Ireland, and settled in Princeton after coming to this country, build- ing the house which is now occupied by Mr. and Mrs. McGowan and family and her mother. Christian street in Princeton was named for Charles Christian, and when he died on September 25, 1889, his death was mourned by the whole city. He was a man who was well liked by everybody and was especially a great friend of the children. If a man is to be judged by the
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amount of good he does in this world, then "Uncle Charlie" will receive a great reward in the next world. His widow is still living with her son-in- law, at the age of ninety-three years, and is remarkably active and well pre- served for a woman of her age. Mr. and Mrs. Christian were the parents of four children : Mary, who died in infancy; Thomas, of Princeton, Indiana, who married Lizzie Shank; Mary E., wife of the subject, and John, who lives with Mr. and Mrs. McGowan. To Mr. and Mrs. McGowan have been born six children: Margaret, who died at the age of sixteen months; Irma, who died at the age of sixteen years ; Charles, Anna Mary, Thomas and Wil- mer. The family are devout Catholics and contribute liberally of their means to the support of this denomination. Mr. McGowan is a genial man, unassuming and quiet in his demeanor and easily makes and retains friends, and because of his high personal qualities he is eminently entitled to represen- tation in a work of the character of the one in hand
WILLIAM DONALD DOWNEY.
Prominent in the affairs of Gibson county and distinguished as a citizen whose influence is far extended beyond the limits of the community honored by his residence, the name of William Donald Downey stands out a con- spicuous figure among the successful business men of the locality of which this volume treats. All of his undertakings have been actuated by noble motives and high resolves and characterized by breadth of wisdom and strong individuality and his success and achievements but represent the result of fit utilization of innate talent in directing effort along those lines where mature judgment and rare discrimination lead the way.
William Donald Downey, who for over a half century has been num- bered among the leading business men of Gibson county, and who is now prominently identified with one of its most influential financial institutions, was born on March 18, 1834, in Posey county, Indiana, the son of Rev. Alex- ander and Nancy Downey. These parents, who were also natives of Posey county, were of Scotch-Irish descent. They were reared and married in their native community, where the father became an active and forceful minister of the Cumberland Presbyterian church. He also owned and operated a large farm. In 1839 he went to Dubois county, Indiana, and settled on a two-hundred-acre farm west of Jasper, but eventually moved to Newburg. Indiana, in order to educate his children, and was there living when his
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death occurred, on May 17, 1848. His wife died on November 7, 1854. They were the parents of five children, James Porter, born February 6, 1830, was a farmer, but is now deceased. Alexander Lowery, born January 19, 1832, was a merchant, but is now retired and lives in Princeton. William Donald, the immediate subject of this sketch. Elizabeth Ann, born August 27, 1837, is the widow of John DeBruler, and is living in DuBois county, this state. Francis Marion, born August 30, 1840, was a soldier in the Civil war and was a member of the Sixty-first Regiment Indiana Volunteer In- fantry, which became a mounted command, and Mr. Downey was wounded during active service, from the effects of which he died.
William Donald Downey, after completing his common school course, entered the Newburg Academy, at Newburg, Indiana, where he completed the course. His first active effort in life on his own account was as clerk in a store in Evansville, Indiana, where he was employed until 1851, when he came to Princeton and opened a general store on the southeast corner of the square. He was successful and later took in a partner, the firm being known as Downey & Wilburn for many years. Eventually he bought the interest of his partner and conducted the store himself until August, 1912, when he disposed of it and retired from active life. Thus for a period of over half a century he was closely identified with the business interests of Princeton, and because of his eminent success, sterling qualities of character and his genial disposition he has enjoyed the respect and esteem of the entire community. Mr. Downey was one of the organizers of the Farmers Bank at Princeton, and was the first president, serving in this capacity for many years, but eventually, owing to the demands of his private business, he de- clined the chief office in this institution and became vice-president, a position which he now holds, and a large share of the success which characterized this popular institution being due to the personal efforts and influence of the subject of this sketch.
On October 24, 1868, Mr. Downey was united in marriage to Octavia Hall, a daughter of Judge Samuel and Elizabeth Prince Hall, natives of Princeton, but of French extraction. Judge Hall was for many years a lead- ing lawyer of Princeton, and was a man of high character and widely rec- ognized ability. His wife was the daughter of William Prince, who was either the first or the second settler in Princeton, and after whom the town was named. He was a prominent man in his day, and served efficiently as an Indian agent for the government, as well as in other important official capacities. Mrs. Downey died on January 14, 1911. To Mr. and Mrs. Downey were born three children, Samuel Russell, who is a traveling sales-
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man living in New York City, married Mary Stratton. Winchester Hall, who died on July 21, 1911, had been engaged in business with his father. He married Minnie Benham, and to them was born one child. Mrs. Downey now lives in California. Celeste Prince became the wife of Floyd J. Briggs, a druggist at Princeton, and they have one daughter, Nancy Celeste.
In his political views Mr. Downey has always stood allied with the Republican party, and has taken an intelligent interest in all public questions, on which he is well informed and regarding which he holds decided opinions. Religiously, he has for many years been a member of the Presbyterian church of Princeton, and has been an elder for a long while. Mr. Downey has been a valued factor in the development of the community with which he has been so long identified, and has given his support unreservedly to the movements which have promised to benefit the community, educationally. morally, etc. His well-directed energies in the practical affairs of life, his capable manage- ment of his own business interests and his sound judgment have denon- strated what may be accomplished by a man of energy and ambition, who, persevering in the face of obstacles, proves that he is the possessor of those innate qualities that never fail to bring success if properly directed. He is a man of splendid personality and enjoys to a marked degree the esteem and respect of the community in which he resides.
FRANCIS M. GRIGSBY.
This honored veteran of the Civil war is to be designated one of the progressive and influential citizens of Gibson county, where for nearly three- quarters of a century he has maintained his home, figuring as one of the builders of the community and especially worthy of consideration in this work. He has, by his industry and sound judgment, not only gained a con- petency for his old age, but he has materially assisted in the general welfare of the community, in many ways lending his time and influence to the pro- mulgation of various uplifting movements.
Francis M. Grigsby was born in Gibson county, Indiana, August 18. 1842, the son of George and Eliza Lamasters. The father was a plasterer by trade and spent his entire life in Posey county, Indiana, as did his wife. He died in 1846, and his wife, who was born in Newburg, Indiana, passed away in 1844. To the subject's parents were born three children, namely : Robert, who was a farmer in White county, Illinois, is deceased; Elizabeth,
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deceased, was the wife of Joseph Reed; Francis M. The paternal grand- father of the subject, Simeon Lamasters, was a soldier in the Mexican war.
Until he reached the age of nineteen, Mr. Grigsby lived with an uncle and aunt, Joseph and Mary Makemson, who resided in Patoka township, six miles northeast of Princeton. The education of the subject was very meager and acquired in a short term in the old subscription school, which is still standing and is now part of a barn on the Adamon Makemson place. At the outbreak of the Civil war Mr. Grigsby was among those valiant sons of the North who went forth to preserve the Union. He enlisted at Prince- ton, Gibson county, September 16, 1861, in Company F, Thirty-third Regi- ment Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and after being mustered in and equipped at Indianapolis, the company was dispatched to Louisville, Kentucky, where they were for a brief period at Camp Dick Robinson, and were then sent on toward the front, taking part in battles and skirmishes at Wild Cat, London and Crab Orchard, Kentucky, and at Cumberland Gap. They were engaged in the fighting at Nashville and Franklin, Tennessee, at Thompson's Station (or Spring Hill) and many minor engagements. In the battle at Thomp- son's Station Mr. Grigsby, along with eleven hundred and fifty others, was captured and sent to Libby prison, where he was confined for thirty days, subsequently being paroled and returned to Indianapolis. After ten days' furlough, the subject rejoined the same company and regiment, and, after another leave of thirty days, was with his command in the Atlanta campaign and "marched to the sea" with Sherman. After taking part in the Grand Review at the capital, Mr. Grigsby and his comrades were honorably dis- charged in Louisville, Kentucky, July 21, 1865.
In the fall of 1867 the subject was married to Lucy Finney, daughter of James and Sarah Finney, who were pioneer settlers in Gibson county.
After their marriage the subject and his wife took up their residence on the McCullough farm, two miles west of Oakland City, Indiana, where they remained for one year and then removed to Patoka township, Gibson county, and there for eighteen years carried on agriculture. In 1887 they moved to Princeton, and Mr. Grigsby followed the trade of a carpenter for six years. At the present time the subject is holding the position of custodian of the public library and of the Methodist Episcopal church, which he has efficiently filled for the last eight years. To him and his wife have been born eight children, as follows: Sadie is the wife of W. P. Hill, of Los Angeles, California, and she is a trained nurse; John lives in Princeton and is a . carpenter; Ed is deceased; Lena is the wife of John Finney, of Princeton; Ben is deceased; Fern and Elizabeth are at home.
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Mr. Grigsby is a member of the Archer Post, Grand Army of the Republic, at Princeton, and belongs to the Methodist Episcopal church. He is a well known man in his community, is well preserved and keeps thoroughly posted on current topics of the day.
GEORGE BINHACK.
Specific mention is made of many of the worthy citizens of Gibson county within the pages of this book, citizens who have figured in the growth and development of this favored locality and whose interests are identified with its every phase of progress, each contributing in his sphere of action to the well-being of the community in which he resides and to the advance- ment of its normal and legitimate growth. Among this number was George Binhack, one of the leading farmers and stock raisers of Princeton, Gibson county, Indiana.
George Binhack, though not a native of the country in which he now lives and in which he has had a very prosperous and successful career, is nevertheless one of the most loyal citizens of his adopted country, and has for many years been numbered among the respected and influential citizens of his locality. He was born in Muddersdorf, Bohemia, Austria, on August 1, 1855, the son of Martin and Anna (Moller ) Binhack, both of whom were also natives of the same place. The father was a tanner by trade. having a tan-yard in his home town, and he and his wife spent their entire lives there. They were the parents of eight children: Julia, the wife of Andrew Link, of Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Annie, deceased, who was the wife of John Huntzwurtz, of Ludington, Michigan; Frank, a farmer at home; Joseph, who died in his native land; George, the immediate subject of this sketch; Austin, a clothing salesman in Chicago, Illinois: Martin, a carpenter living in Washington, and John, who is a tailor in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
George Binhack attended the schools of his native country and received a good practical education. During his young manhood he learned the har- ness-making trade, at which he was employed until 1875. when he came to America. He located first at Fort Branch, Indiana, where he was employed in D. T. Wallace's flour mill. He remained in Fort Branch until about 1887, when he went to Barton township, where for two and one-half years he en- gaged in farming. In 1890 he came to King's Station, Patoka township, where for seventeen years he worked for the R. P. Moore Company as
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engineer. He bought ten acres of land, to the cultivation of which he de- voted himself so earnestly and with such good judgment that he was later enabled to buy forty-seven acres of the Griffith place in Patoka township after his retirement from the mill in 1907. During the past four years he has also farmed the Witherspoon place at King's Station. He has demonstrated agricultural ability of a high order and is achieving a splendid success at this calling. In addition to the raising of all crops common to this section of the state, he also gives some attention to live stock, raising cattle, horses, mules and hogs, and is likewise successful in this line of work. Coming to America a mere boy, he had practically nothing except a large stock of ambi- tion and industry and, with no influential friends to assist him, he has per- sisted in his earnest endeavors and has demonstrated what a young man of right principles can accomplish through hard work and good management.
In August, 1885, Mr. Binhack was married to Hester Frendenburg, a daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth (Fulling) Fredenburg, both natives of Germany, who, on coming to America, located at Fort Branch, following farming until the end of his life. He and his wife are both now deceased. To Mr. and Mrs. Binhack have been born eleven children, namely: Albert and Oscar ( deceased), Gertrude, George Leslie, Russell, Orville, Annie, Ray- inond, Grace, Elizabeth and Pauline.
Politically, Mr. Binhack has given his support to the Democratic party, and religiously his wife is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church which he also attends, being connected with Cunningham chapel at King's Station. Mr. Binhack is a man of splendid personal character and because of his straight life and genuine worth he has long enjoyed the good will and the confidence of his neighbors.
SAMUEL A. STEWART.
The gentleman to a brief review of whose life the reader's attention is herewith directed is among the foremost business men of Gibson and it has been his enterprise and progressive methods that contributed in a material way to the industrial and commercial advancement of the community. Possessing splendid executive and business ability, he has been successful in a material way, and because of his sterling qualities he is numbered among the representative men of the city in which he lives.
Samuel A. Stewart is the scion of one of the pioneer families of Gibson
MR. AND MRS. SAMUEL A. STEWART.
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county whose ancestors trace their descent in direct line to sterling Scotland ancestors. These progenitors, upon emigrating from the land of hills and heather to America, first settled in Virginia sometime prior to the Revolution- ary war, in which some of them took an active part. Thomas Stewart was born near Lynchburg, Virginia, on April 9. 1768, and married Tirzah Mor- rison on January 30, 1794, who was born in that same locality. To that union were born three children, William, Nancy and Samuel A. William and his brother came to Gibson county, Indiana, in 1818. settling first in Patoka and from there moved north to the lead mines at Galena, Illinois, where the former died. Nancy became the wife of a Mr. Lacky, with whom she moved to Kentucky.
Samuel Ayers Stewart, who was born in Virginia on December 10, 1797, came to Indiana in 1818 and settled in Gibson county because of his acquaint- ance with former neighbors who had come here from Virginia. He first engaged in the milling business and in the winter months he taught school, being one of the first teachers in this section of the state. Soon after coming here he entered a tract of government land and from then on engaged in farming, which remained his principle occupation until his death, which oc- curred on May 24. 1849, at the age of fifty-two years. During his residence in this county he was active in all matters pertaining to the locality and be- cause of his activity, industry and good business management he succeeded in accumulating a competency and thereby bringing comfort and happiness for his family. He was of a religious temperament and early in life become affiliated with the Methodist Episcopal church. He soon felt called to preach the gospel and in 1830 he was licensed to preach and was so successful in his efforts that on October 5, 1834, he was ordained by Deacon Roberts at Mt. Carmel, and on October 10, 1847, he was regularly ordained elder by Bishop Waugh, at the conference which met in Evansville. Politically, Mr. Stewart was quiet and unostentatious, while holding firmly to his convictions on the great questions of the day. Strongly opposed to slavery, he left his native state in order to escape its baneful influences. During his active life he held a number of offices of honor and trust, among which was that of associate judge, to which office he was elected in 1837. In 1845 he was appointed by Governor Whitcomb probate judge to fill out the unexpired term of Judge French, and in August of that year he was elected to that position for the full term. In 1839 he was collector of county taxes, all of which positions he filled with credit to himself and to the entire satisfaction of his fellow citizens. .
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On January 29, 1824, Samuel Ayers Stewart was married to Lucinda Howe, who was the daughter of Robert Howe, and who was born in Ken- tucky in March, 1806, her death occurring on April 5, 1874. To this union were born eleven children: Thomas, the eldest and father of the subject of this sketch, born in Gibson county, Indiana, July 29, 1828, and died April 15, 1902. Here he was reared and received a limited education in the subscrip- tion schools of the time. On September 29, 1853, he married Susan L., the daughter of James and Elizabeth (Payen) Huddleson. She was born in Gibson county on November 30, 1830, and she lived her entire life in this community, dying on February 13, 1914, aged eighty-three years. Her par- ents emigrated from Kentucky to this state while it was yet a territory. Her maternal grandfather was a soldier under Gen. William Henry Harrison dur- ing the Indian wars. To Thomas and Susan Stewart were born six children, who, in order of birth, are named as follows: Samuel A., who is the subject of this sketch; Clara E., wife of M. S. Knaub; Florence A., now deceased, who was the wife of J. C. Danks; James W., Minnie (deceased) and John H.
Samuel A. Stewart was born in Patoka, Gibson county, Indiana, on July 17, 1854, and was there reared, receiving a common school education. After completing the public school course he entered a commercial college at Evansville, Indiana, where he received his diploma August 14, 1874. After his graduation he engaged in a business partnership with his father, which lasted until 1879, when the firm of Stewart & Danks was formed and which became one of the most important and successful enterprises of this locality. On the death of J. T. Lamb, in September, 1868, Mr. Stewart was appointed postmaster of Patoka, and served seven years to the entire satisfaction of the patrons of the office. For a number of years he has been successfully engaged in the real estate, insurance and loan business and because of his enterprising business interests, strict integrity and his congenial disposition, he has not only won the friendship of all with whom he has come in contact, but his full share of local patronage in his line. In 1894 Mr. Stewart was elected county clerk after an unusually hard fight made against him, against which he won out by a creditable plurality. So satisfactory was his discharge of official duties that he was re-nominated by acclamation and was again elected, this time leading the county ticket.
Politically, Mr. Stewart has been a life-long supporter of the Republican party, and has been active in its counsels and served as chairman of the Re- publican central committee for 1900 and 1902 and successfully conducted the campaign for both years. He was secretary of the county central committee
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for 1896 and in other ways through the years he has exerted a large influence in the organization of this character. Fraternally, he is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons and has taken the degrees of the Scottish Rite up to and including the thirty-second, holding his membership in the con- sistory at Indianapolis. It is worthy of note that his paternal grandfather, Samuel A. Stewart, was a member of Liberty Lodge No. 95, Free and Ac- cepted Masons, at Liberty. Virginia, and demitted from same in 1820 to identify himself with the lodge at Princeton. Religiously, Mr. and Mrs. Stewart are members of the Methodist Episcopal church.
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