USA > Indiana > Gibson County > History of Gibson County, Indiana : her people, industries and institutions > Part 55
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further education and started to high school, where iligent study trying to prepare himself for the min- the ministry he taught school for three years, when sionary and preached for some years. His health, f the best, was now severely injured by a sunstroke. por health, he continued his studies and took charge is zeal for doing good was so strong within him that and consequently he reached the point where he was ther work in the ministry. Upon giving up his min- irned to the farm where he has continued to reside. the farm has not kept him from active participation fring all the years which he has lived on the farm he 'e interest and part in all the church work of his
4, David B. Montgomery was married to Nancy Jane of John Martin Smith. Mrs. Montgomery died on. This union were born two children, Martin A., the im- sketch, and Leana A., the wife of George R. Simpson,
Finding Doctor Alvarado'a office waa losed, as he had anticipated, O'Reilly roceeded to the doctor's residence. 564 'here was some delay when he rang he beil, but eventually the dentist imself appeared. O'Reilly recognized Her parents wim from his resemblance to his rother. He addressed him in English. Her father's de "I come from Felipe," he began.""He Mr. and Mrs. Eeli remembers the day you whipped friends are in na im to keep him from golng to the 'en Years' war."
high regard of :The languor of Doctor Alvarado's esta vanished. He started, his eyes idened.
"Who are you?" he muttered.
"My name is O'Reilly. I am an Amer- :an, a friend, so don't be alarmed. he man you see approaching is fol- ›wing me, but he thinks I have come Fortunate > you with a toothache."
more than three "What do you want?"
"I want your help in joining the in- trace their genearrectos."
of the Montgom By this time the detective had come 'Ithin earshot. Making an effort at enth century anGif-possession, the dentist said: "Very They are found ell. I will meet you at my office in country, and who half-hour and see what can be done." hen he bowed.
the community. O'Reilly raised his hat and turned descendants of onay.
Doctor Alvarado's dontiati -8-2-
THUPEN GAME OF PANIENIS
Surgeon General Blue Tells What to Do for Persons Sick With Spanish Influenza-Use Gauze Masks Recommended.
Washington .- In an effort to reduce unnecessary calls on the over-worked physicians throughout the country be- cause of the present epidemic of in- fluenza, Surgeon General Blue of the United States public health service calls upon the people of the country to learn something about the home care of patients ill with influenza. Phy- sicians everywhere have complained about the large number of unnecessary calls they have had to make becaus» of the inability of many people to dis- tinguish between the cases requiring expert /medical care and those which could readily be cared for withont a physician. With Influenza continuing to spread in many parts of the coun- try, and with an acute shortage of doc- tors and nurses everywhere, every un- necessary call on either physicians or nurses makes it so much harder to meet the urgent needs of the patients who are seriously IIl.
Present Generation Spoiled.
"The present generation," said the ourgeon general, "has been spolled by
Thomas Montgomery, the great-great-grandfaving had expert medical and nursing Montgomery, was the original settler of that name the days of our grandmothers, when are readily available, It was not so was known as "Pretty Old Tom." He came to Gilvery good housewife was expected to and looked over the territory open for settlement ar now a good deal about the care of the ck. "Every person who feels sick and of land for entering.
It is interesting to note briefly the origin of appears to be developing, an attack influenza should at once be put to Their genealogy has been worked out along several ed in a well-ventilated room. If hiss family and David B. Montgomery has spent several ywels have moved regularly, It is not Decessary to give a physic; where a branch of which he is an honored member. In 1902ysic is needed, a dose of castor oil of his researches, in which he showed briefly the hist' Rochelle salts should be given. "The room should be cleared of all members of the family. The origin of the name imnecessary furniture, bric-a-brac, and most likely from "Mons Gomeris" or "Gomers Megs. A wash basin, pitcher, and slop been traced back through the descendants of the Unitind, preferably in the room or just wwl, soap and towel should be at Ireland, through Europe down near the Loretto in Itside the door.
many generations the name has had no less than fo spelling until the adoption of the present spelling. "If the patient Is feverish a doctor would be called, and this should be Fone in any case if the patient appears has been traced back to Robert D. Montgomery, whery sick, or coughs up pinkish (blood-
Montgomery, the great-great-great-grandfather of
gomery, was born in Ireland of Scotch-Irish descent "Most of the patients coughi up con- member of this branch of the family to come to Amuch mucus discharged from the nose
tained) sputum, or breathes rapidly nd painfully.
Iderable mucus; In some, there Is ad throat. This material should not collected in handkerchiefs, bat tther in bits of old rags, or tollet pa- er, or on paper napkins. As soon as sed, these ragy or papers should be aced in a paper bag kept beside the d. Pocket handkerchiefs are out of ace in the sick room and should not Onsed . hanatlanta"
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GIBSON COUNTY, INDIANA.
the progenitor of this American branch of the Montgomery family in this country. He settled near Jamestown, Virginia, but later moved to Roanoke, North Carolina. His sons, Samuel and Thomas, left Virginia for Ken- tucky, and later went on to Indiana, where they settled in Gibson county. Thomas Montgomery took part in the war of the Revolution previous to his coming west. The two brothers, Samuel and Thomas, located in Mont- gomery township, Gibson county, on the line between Union and Montgom- ery townships, where they entered adjoining farms from the government, and here they spent the remainder of their lives and reared large families.
Dr. Martin A. Montgomery, the immediate subject of this sketch, is the fifth in direct descent from the Thomas Montgomery who served in the Revolutionary war and came to Gibson county in 1804. Martin A. Mont- gomery's father, David B., was born October 20, 1845, his father being John R., Jr., born May 4, 1817. John R. Montgomery's father was Walter C., born at Roanoke, Virginia, in 1784, his father being Thomas Montgomery, the same who fought in the war of the Revolution and came to Gibson county in 1804.
David B. Montgomery spent his boyhood on the homestead farm and when he was three years of age the family moved to the place where he has since resided. He was educated in the district schools of his township and grew to manhood under the parental roof. When he reached his twenty-first year he felt the need of further education and started to high school, where he spent two years in diligent study trying to prepare himself for the min- istry. Before entering the ministry he taught school for three years, when he became a home missionary and preached for some years. His health, which had never been of the best, was now severely injured by a sunstroke. However, despite his poor health, he continued his studies and took charge of several churches. His zeal for doing good was so strong within him that he neglected his health and consequently he reached the point where he was compelled to forego further work in the ministry. Upon giving up his min- isterial charges, he returned to the farm where he has continued to reside. However, his work on the farm has not kept him from active participation in church work, and during all the years which he has lived on the farm he has taken a very active interest and part in all the church work of his community.
On October 1, 1874, David B. Montgomery was married to Nancy Jane Smith, the daughter of John Martin Smith. Mrs. Montgomery died on March 24, 1899. To this union were born two children, Martin A., the im- mediate subject of this sketch, and Leana A., the wife of George R. Simpson,
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GIBSON COUNTY, INDIANA.
and they have one child, Darwin D., who is now attending school at Oakland City College. David Montgomery is still actively associated with the Gen- eral Baptist church of Owensville and has been secretary of the home mis- sion board for the past thirty-nine years. At the present time he is also president of the board of trustees of Oakland City College. Mr. Mont- gomery has always taken an interest in the welfare of the General Baptist church, and in 1882 he published a comprehensive history of this denomina- tion, tracing its growth from its organization in 1611 up to 1882. His sec- ond volume was "The Montgomerys and Their Descendants," which was published in 1903 by J. P. Cox, of Owensville. This volume was followed by "Life of Dr. A. D. Williams," late president of Oakland City College. He is now engaged in the preparation of his fourth volume for publication, entitled "John Roberts and His Descendants."
Martin A. Montgomery, son of David B. and Nancy J. (Smith) Mont- gomery, was born June 20, 1875, two miles northeast of Owensville. When he was a small boy his parents moved two miles and one-half southeast of Owensville, where he grew to manhood. His early education was secured in the district schools of his township, and this was supplemented by a col- lege course at Oakland City College. After his graduation from this insti- tution, he entered the University of Louisville in 1895, and completed the medical course of that institution in the spring of 1898. Immediately upon his graduation he began the practice of medicine in Owensville, and has con- tinued in the active practice in this place until the present time. From the spring of 1904 to the fall of 1912 he was in partnership with Dr. J. R. Mont- gomery. As a physician he has built up a large practice and by his scholar- ship and his skill in treating those needing his services he is accounted one of the most popular physicians of the county. His work as a physician has been recognized by his town in his appointment as health officer by the town council. He has also served two years on the town council, and is now a member of the county pension board. He and Dr. J. R. Montgomery are surgeons for the Chicago & Eastern Illinois Railroad Company and, by virtue of this fact, are members of the American Medical Association of Railway Surgeons. He is also a member of the Owensville and Gibson County Medical Society, the State Medical Society and the American Medi- cal Association.
On October 1, 1899, Dr. Martin A. Montgomery was united in marriage to Josephine Strehl, the daughter of Sebastian and Sarah (Goolman) Strehl .. The father was a native of Germany, his birth having occurred on June
567
GIBSON COUNTY, INDIANA.
22, 1847, in Rhinefalz, Bavaria. He was a son of Sebastian and Barbara (Denlar) Strehl, and grew to manhood in his native country, where he fol- lowed the trade of a tailor. Upon reaching his majority, he came to Amer- ica, settling in Evansville, this state, later moving to Linnville, Pike county, this state, where his brother resided, and there spent about a year, after which he located at Boonville. Two or three years later he went to Rock- port, but soon returned to Boonville, where he continued in his work as a tailor for about three years. His health failing, he was compelled to give up indoor work and turn to outside occupations. At this time he came to Gibson county and settled on a farm near Owensville, where he has been engaged in farming since. In 1878 he was married to Sarah Goolman, a native of Crawford county, Indiana, the daughter of Joseph Goolman. To Mr. and Mrs. Strehl have been born four children, Josephine, the wife of the subject of this sketch; Frank, agent for the Chicago & Eastern Illinois Rail- road Company at Owensville; Daisy, the wife of Dr. Jesse Emerson, a den- tist of Owensville, and Belvia, deceased. Mrs. Martin A. Montgomery spent her girlhood on her father's farm near Owensville. After completing the course in the common schools she was a student in the college in Vincennes, and after her graduation from this university she taught two years in the pri- mary department of the schools at Owensville. To Doctor and Mrs. Mont- gomery have been born two children, Harold Martin and Maxine Lucile.
Fraternally, Doctor Montgomery is a valued member of the Tribe of Ben-Hur and takes an active interest in the deliberations of that order Mrs. Montgomery is a member of the Order of the Eastern Star. Mr. Montgom- ery is a member of the General Baptist church and Mrs. Montgomery is an earnest and faithful member of the Methodist Episcopal church of Owens- ville, and they have always taken an active interest in all that pertains to the welfare of these denominations. Doctor Montgomery is an honored citizen of his community, not only as a physician and public official, but as a citizen who takes an interest in every movement looking toward the betterment of his community. His value to the place honored by his residence cannot be estimated by the ordinary standard, since a physician in any community occu- pies a most peculiar position. As a conservator of public health he is the most important man in any community, and if to his duties as a physician he adds those of a public official he serves a double duty to his community. Not only has Doctor Montgomery been a valned physician and excellent town official, but in all those things which go to make up the typical good citizen, he meas- ures np to the highest standard.
568
GIBSON COUNTY, INDIANA.
JAMES B. GAMBLE.
Success in this life is almost always won by the truly deserving. It is an axiom demonstrated by all human experience that a man gets out of this life what he puts into it, plus a reasonable interest on the investment. The indi- vidual who inherits a large estate and adds nothing to his fortune, cannot be called a successful man. He that falls heir to a large fortune and increases its value is successful in proportion to the amount he adds to his possession. But the man who starts in the world unaided and by sheer force of will, con- trolled by correct principles, forges ahead and at length reaches a position of honor among his fellow citizens, achieves success such as representatives of the two former classes can neither understand nor appreciate. To a consid- erable extent the subject of this sketch is a creditable representative of the class last named, a class which has furnished much of the bone and sinew of the country and added to the stability of our government and its institutions.
James B. Gamble, the well-known attorney of Princeton, is not a native of Gibson county, although that is the locality with which he has identified himself so firmly, having first seen the light of day in Carmi, Illinois, on December 19, 1853. He is the son of Robert and Nancy ( Crowder ) Gamble. Robert Gamble was a native of Baltimore, Maryland, and the mother was born and raised in White county, Illinois. Mr. Gamble was early bereft of a mother's tender care, as he was but six months old when she died. There had been another child in the family, but it is also dead. The father took as his second wife a Mrs. Bradshaw, who bore him three children. Mr. Gam- ble's occupation was that of a carpenter. and when the Civil war began he enlisted in the Eighty-seventh Illinois Infantry, commanded by Col. J. M. Crebs. He was among the many unfortunate ones who never came home again, as he died in the service while his regiment was at Memphis, Tennessee.
James B. Gamble received his earliest instruction in the public schools of Carmi, Illinois, afterward coming to Fort Branch, Indiana, where he at- tended high school. It was his desire to fit himself as a school teacher, and in this he was successful, teaching in the Gibson county schools for five years. However, this young man had still higher ambitions and was received into the office of Judge William N. Land, of Princeton, where he took up the reading of law. After diligent application to his chosen profession he was admitted to the bar in August, 1877, since which time he has been practicing in Princeton with the exception of six years. This was from July, 1900, to
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GIBSON COUNTY, INDIANA.
July, 1906, during which period he was commissioned a special United States revenue agent.
Mr. Gamble early became interested in politics, identifying himself with the Republican party, and by this party was twice elected mayor of Princeton, sereving one term of four years and one term of two years.
On October 1I, 1883, Mr. Gamble was married to Naomi J. Land, daughter of Judge Land, with whom he had been associated in the early days of his profession, and who receives specific mention elsewhere in this work. To this union have been born three children, Vesper L., aged twenty- six, John H., aged seventeen. and William O., aged fifteen. All of the chil- dren are still at home, the family circle being unbroken. Mr. Gamble belongs to the time-honored body of Free and Accepted Masons, and has advanced in this as far as the chapter work. He is a member of blue lodge No. 231 at Princeton, and is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America.
Mr. Gamble is too well and widely known to make it necessary to add that he is a man of integrity and sterling worth, who holds the honor and respect of his community. He is one of that admirable body of men who can justly style themselves "self made," and have just cause for pride in their accomplish- ment. By his unfailing ambition and strict adherence to right principles, he has won for himself an enviable name and his wide influence is willingly ex- tended in behalf of every deserving enterprise that has for its object the ad- vancement of the moral welfare of the community.
SIMON FRENCH.
The gentleman whose name heads this paragraph is widely known in Johnson county and is one of the honored citizens of Union township, where he is living in honorable retirement after a strenuous life of activity in con- nection with agricultural pursuits. His well-directed efforts in the practical affairs of life, his capable management of his business interests and his sound judgment have brought to him prosperity, and his life demonstrates what may be accomplished by any man of energy and ambition who is not afraid to work and has the perseverance to continue his labors in the face of any disaster or discouragement that may arise. In all the relations of life Mr. French has commanded the confidence and respect of those with whom he has been brought into contact and a biographical history of this locality would not be complete without a record of his career.
570
GIBSON COUNTY, INDIANA.
Simon French was born March 5, 1846, on the old French farm in Patoka township, Gibson county, Indiana, and has spent practically his entire life in this locality. The father, Phillip French, was born on February 12, 1807, in the state of New Jersey. In early manhood he went to Danville, Kentucky, where he was employed at his trade of brick mason and plasterer. On October 7, 1837, in Kentucky, he married Ann DeMott, a native of that state, born on November 22, 1816, and eventually they came to Gibson county, Indiana, by wagon and he entered forty acres of wild land, on which they erected a typical pioneer log cabin. The land was covered with a dense growth of timber and efforts of the most strenuous character were necessary in order to put the land in shape for cultivation. Mr. French put a puncheon floor in his cabin, made a stick chimney. and in every respect their home was a typical frontier place. Mr. French cleared and improved this place and lived there until the end of his life, his death occurring on November 5, 1855. His wife survived her husband many years, dying in 1894. Mr. French was a successful farmer, raising also a great deal of live stock and, in addition to his agricultural pursuits, he was frequently employed by the neighbors as a mason and brick-layer. At the time of his death he was the owner of one hundred and forty acres of good land. He was a Democrat in his political views, and in religion his wife was a member of the General Baptist church. Widely known throughout this section of the country, he was highly re- spected and esteemed by his entire acquaintance. To him and his wife were born the following children: Peter, born September 11, 1838, lived in this county and also in Kansas, where he followed agricultural pursuits. He is now deceased. He married Melinda Keys, and after he died she became the wife of Squire Weed, of Fort Branch. John J., born January 15, 1839, died in early youth. Mary Ellen, born January 30, 1840, died unmarried. Martha Jane, who died April 24, 1841, became the wife. of William Landfair, of Maxim Station, Indiana. Ephraim, born November 24, 1843, died at the age of nineteen years. Simon, the immediate subject of this sketch. William, born December 29, 1850, is a farmer near Dyersburg, Tennessee. Philip B., born February 9, 1856, is a farmer in Union township, this county.
Simon French had but little opportunity to secure a school education, but, being studiously inclined, he acquired a large and accurate fund of gen- eral information, being considered a well-informed man. He remained with his parents until he was twenty-five years of age, when he was married, and soon afterwards bought a farm of fifty-three acres in Patoka township. The land was partly improved, but Mr. French at once went to work and brought it up to a high standard of agricultural excellence. He also bought the old
571
GIBSON COUNTY, INDIANA.
homestead farm, on which he lived for ten years, when, in 1903, he moved to Fort Branch, where he is now living retired from active labor. He owns a number of valuable farms in this county, and has in all, in Patoka and Union townships, seven hundred acres of fine land, being numbered among the most substantial citizens of his section of the county. He has always followed farming and stock raising as a vocation, and has met with phenomenal suc- cess in both of these enterprises. Starting in life in a small way, he has, with most persistent industry, steady perseverance and good management, gained quite a competency and is numbered among the county's wealthy citizens.
In 1871 Mr. French married Louisa Davis, a native of Patoka town- ship, Gibson county, Indiana, the daughter of Samuel and Jane (Barker) Davis, the mother a native of Owensville, Indiana, and the father of South Carolina. The latter was a farmer during his active life, his later residence being in Patoka township, this county. They were the parents of six chil- dren, namely : George; Louisa; Bentley; Mary, who lives on the old home place : Ella, who married Frank Kimmer, of Princeton, and John, who also lives on the old home farm. To Mr. and Mrs. French have been born seven children, of whom six are living, namely: Rosie, the wife of Henry Martin, a farmer in Union township, this county; Vada, who died in early youth ; Jesse, who lives on a part of the old homestead farm; Samuel, also a farmer on part of the subject's farm; Stella, the wife of Owen Stephens, of Patoka township, this county; Mary, the wife of Wilbur Strickland, of Princeton, and Barney, a farmer in Patoka township.
Politically a Democrat, Mr. French has for many years been an active participant in local public affairs, though never actively seeking office on his own account. Religiously, he and his wife are earnest and faithful members of the Regular Baptist church. Personally, Mr. French is greatly esteemed by his neighbors, and his name stands for upright conduct and a high standard of manhood and citizenship.
WILLIS H. TICHENOR.
From the time of Tubal Cain the artificer in iron has been one of the most important factors in civilization. He it was who forged the first implements of the field and the weapons of war. The iron worker made possible the mail-clad knight of the Middle Ages and later the cannon which changed the whole course of civilization. In all the communities of Indiana
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GIBSON COUNTY, INDIANA.
the blacksmith made all the tools the farmer used, the axes, the saws, the hoes and the horseshoes. The blacksmith was the original iron foundryman, the first iron manufacturer, and without him no community could long exist. In the treaties which the United States entered into with the Indians of In- diana in the early history of the state, it was always stipulated that the Indians were to be supplied with a blacksmith. He was as essential to the community in its industrial life as was the minister to its religious life and the teacher to its intellectual life. Even to this day no community could dispense with the blacksmith, and for these reasons too much honor cannot be accorded this important occupation. Among the men of this occupation in Gibson county, no one stands any higher than does Willis H. Tichenor, the subject of this review.
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