USA > Indiana > Gibson County > History of Gibson County, Indiana : her people, industries and institutions > Part 58
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Returning to Terre Haute, the scene of his former labors, Mr. Pritchett engaged in mining, following that vocation for some years, and then removed to Gibson county, where he took up farming and followed it until his retire- ment.
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W. H. Pritchett was married three times, his first wife having been Indiana Pursell, and to them were born two children, John W., who is in the telephone and telegraph business, and Gertrude, deceased. After the death of his first wife Mr. Pritchett was united in marriage to Martha Funkhauser, and to this union were born two children, Medie, who lives in Union town- ship, and James Calvin, of Clinton, Indiana. The mother of these children having passed away, Mr. Pritchett was married to his present wife. who was Jessie Reed, and they are the parents of four children, Agnes, Jerry, Hovey and Floyd.
The subject is an honored member of Steven Meade Post No. 187, Grand Army of the Republic.
LYCURGUS L. KERN.
For many years the subject of this brief biographical review has occu- pied a very conspicuous place among the agriculturists of Gibson county. His career has been that of an honorable, enterprising and progressive man, whose well-rounded character has also enabled him to take an active interest in social and moral affairs and to keep well informed concerning the moment- ous questions affecting the nation. In all life's relations he has commanded the respect and confidence of those with whom he has come in contact, and his upright life has been an inspiration to the many friends who know him well and are familiar with his virtues.
Lycurgus L. Kern was born February 18, 1839, at Cynthiana, Posey county, Indiana, the son of Nicholas and Mary (Boyle) Kern. The father was a native of Pennsylvania and came to Indiana in pioneer times, engaging in teaching nearly all his days, he being a scholarly man and one who com- manded the respect and admiration of his fellow men. He died in Putnam county while the subject was young, Lycurgus Kern being his only child.
After securing such education as could be obtained in the primitive schools of those days, the subject learned the tinner's trade, and engaged in this vocation until about twenty-six years ago, when he became interested in the coal business. He has also to some extent engaged in agriculture, being the owner of one hundred and sixty acres of good land in Patoka township, three miles from the town, which his son Joseph rents and cultivates.
In 1865 Mr. Kern was united in the holy bonds of matrimony to Joan-
LYCURGUS L. KERN.
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etta Wallace, daughter of Thomas Wallace, who also was numbered among the sturdy pioneers of this section of the state. Thomas Wallace, who was a farmer and miller, is now deceased. To the union of the subject and wife have been born eight children, namely: Ella; Joseph N., as before men- tioned, runs the home farm: Emma L., who is living at home, is employed as a clerk in Gilbert's store : Marie married a Mr. Bucklin and lives in Prince- ton; Anna, who was the wife of Ned Holbrook, is deceased; Curtis is de- ceased; Jesse has succeeded to the coal business formerly run by the subject ; Edith married John Gibson.
Mr. Kern was a member of the band connected with the Fifty-eighth Regiment Indiana Volunteer Infantry during the dark days of the Civil war. He attempted enlistment three different times, but on each occasion was rejected or account of bad eyesight, so he finally got into the service by join- ing the band. He served with this organization during 1861 and 1862, and his persistency in the efforts he made to join the Union army and his eventual accomplishment of that desire is but an example of his tenacity of purpose and faithfulness to ideals which has made him so successful in the battle of life.
Fraternally, Mr. Kern is a faithful and appreciative member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, while his family are attendants on the services of the United Presbyterian church. Mr. Kern takes an abiding interest in whatever tends to advance the interests of his community, and be- cause of his honesty and habits of strict attention to his business affairs, together with his neighborly friendliness, he is held in popular favor, as is also each member of his family.
JOHN MANGRUM.
As long as history endures will the American nation acknowledge its indebtedness to the heroes who, between 1861 and 1865. fought for the preservation of the Union and the honor of that starry banner which has never been trailed in the dust in a single polemic struggle in which the country has been involved. Among those whose military records as valiant soldiers in the war of the Rebellion reflect lasting honor upon them and their des- cendants is the gentleman whose name forms the caption for this paragraph. He is a well known citizen of Gibson county, where he has long maintained
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his home and won an honored name by virtue of his consistency to truth, honesty and right living. Therefore he is eminently qualified for a place in the present work.
John Mangrum was born January 9, 1842, in old Johnson township, Gib- son county, Indiana, the son of Trafton Mangrum, of Johnson township, and Eunice (Boren) Mangrum. of the same locality. The subject's grandfather, William Mangrum, came from Lynchburg, Virginia, to Indiana in 1816, at that date there being but two log cabins on the site of the present city of Evansville, William Mangrum helping to saw the first lumber sawed in that city. He took up government land about three miles west of Haubstadt and, clearing away the dense timber, built a home. In addition to his labor on his land he was engaged in the freighting business, driving a six-horse team be- tween Evansville, Vincennes and other points. The maternal ancestors were also pioneer settlers, they having located about a half mile west of the land entered by the grandfather. The maternal grandfather was John Boren, who was born in Tennessee.
William Mangrum and wife reared a large family, his death occurring in his fifty-seventh year. Some of his children settled near the homestead, one of them, however, going to Iowa. The subject's father got a place of his own in Johnson township in what was then and is now known as Froggery. He continued to reside there until his death, at which time he was seventy- one years and seven months old. One of the successful men of his neighbor- hood, active in church and school matters, he was a good citizen in every sense of the term. Of a family of six children, one died at the age of twenty-two, one at twenty-three and one at the age of two years. The three now living are : John; Caroline, the widow of W. F. Martin, of Cynthiana, Posey county, Indiana : James T. lives at Haubstadt.
The boyhood days of the subject of this review were spent in attending school in the primitive log educational institutions of those days and in assist- ing his parents in the cultivation of the farm. On President Lincoln's call for troops to defend the Union, he enlisted, on August 16, 1862, in Company F, Eightieth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, under Colonel Brooks and Capt. R. J. Showers, being mustered into the service at Princeton, Indiana, on September 8, 1862. After remaining at the mustering point a few days, the regiment was ordered to proceed to Covington, Kentucky. via Indianapolis, that place being threatened by Gen. Kirby Smith. Stopping at Covington for a week or more without getting sight of the enemy, the force proceeded to Louisville, Kentucky, and joined the army under General Buell. October Ist they joined in what was known as the Bragg-Buell campaign, and on the 8th of that
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month took part in their first engagement at Perrysville, Kentucky, where the divisions of Jackson and McCook bore the brunt of the fighting, Mr. Mangrum being in Jackson's division. During this engagement General Jackson and the brigade commander, Colonel Webster, were killed and the regiment lost one hundred and fifty killed and wounded. Bragg retreated that night, and the troops following drove him out of Kentucky. The command with which the subject was enlisted remained in Kentucky and had a number of skir- mishes with General Morgan's cavalry. On August 18th the regiment left Kentucky and, with General Burnsides' army, marched across the Cumber- land mountains into the state of Tennessee and occupied Kingsville and Knox- ville. An active campaign followed, and on October 7th they took part in the battle of Kingston, and in January, 1863. they were engaged at Mossy Creek with Morgan's old command and with Wheeler's cavalry, the Union arms being triumphant in this battle From this time on until the spring of 1864 they were busily engaged, marching and fighting almost continually, skirmishes being of almost daily occurrence, and, as the subject has remarked, "fighting was more regular than meals." In the spring of 1864 the regiment left Tennessee with the Twenty-third Army Corps, under General Scofield, and joined General Sherman's army. They went into camp at Red Clay, Georgia, and on the 9th of May went in the direction of Dalton and took part in all of the important engagements from Dalton to AAtlanta, including Resaca, Kenesaw Mountain, Peach Tree Creek and all the fights before At- lanta. At the battle of Resaca the subject's regiment went into the engage- ment with four hundred and forty-eight men in line, and in a few minutes lost two hundred and forty-eight killed or wounded, Mr. Mangrum being among those disabled. He was first sent to the field hospital and then to Chattanooga, where he remained two days, then to Nashville and placed upon the hospital boat on which he was removed to New Albany, Indiana, from which place he was, after six weeks, transferred to Evansville. After re- maining at Evansville for a time, he recovered sufficiently to rejoin his com- mand at Columbia, Tennessee; and subsequently took part in the battles at Franklin, Spring Hill and Nashville. After the battle of Nashville they drove Hood's force back into Alabama. After being sent to Washington to be refitted, they were ordered to Smithville, North Carolina, and then up the Cape Fear river, where they captured Fort Anderson and drove the Con- federates on to Wilmington Joining Sherman's army at Goldsboro, they pro- ceeded to Raleigh, North Carolina, where they witnessed the surrender of Johnson. From this point the subject was sent to Salisbury, North Carolina,
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where he was honorably discharged and mustered out at a place within two miles of the birthplace of his maternal grandmother Boren. Returning to Indianapolis, he was given his final discharge.
On September 1, 1864, Mr. Mangrum was married to Mary E. Muck, of Harrison county, Indiana, the daughter of John and Ursula Muck, pioneers of Harrison county, who afterward removed to Gibson county. To this union were born five children, namely: Ella C. married Rev. M. W. Clark, of Ladoga, Indiana; Oscar A. lives in Dallas, Texas; W. V. resides in New Harmony, Indiana; Pearl M. married Lasalle Bryant and lives in Fort Branch; Carl W. lives at Princeton, Indiana.
The subject was actively engaged in farming until 1909, when he sold his place and he is now living in honorable retirement. Mr. Mangrum and wife are enjoying the best of health and take enjoyment in the social activities of their many friends. On September 1, 1914, they will celebrate their - golden wedding anniversary. Mr. Mangrum has efficiently served his county as commissioner two terms, is secretary of Company F, Eightieth Indiana Infantry organization, which position he has held for thirty years, and is an active member of the First Christian church, of Haubstadt, having served as superintendent of its Sunday school for the past eight years and been leader of the choir for nine years. He is also a member of Steven Mead Post, Grand Army of the Republic, occupying the position of adjutant of that body. Fraternally, Mr. Mangrum has been a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows for thirty-five years. He has always been a Repub- lican and has always taken a good deal of interest in local public affairs.
W. G. HOPKINS, M. D.
The medical man of today must needs be more than the medical man of a half century ago, even a decade past. He must be broader and more intelli- gent ; his sympathies must be more diverse, and his ideals must be placed high. The doctor of years past, if he practiced his profession for a length of time, reached a limit of excellence, not of his own accord, but by reason of the restrictions of medical science; and to prove this statement, it might be well to quote the words of Dr. Paul Ehrlich, the noted German scientist, who said "that more had been done, and more had been discovered, in the science of medicine during the past twenty years than in the past century." Specializa- tion has become necessary ; the theory of toxins and anti-toxins, serums, the
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study of bacteria and methods of combating these destructive forces, and many other things, have made the range of medical science almost beyond one man's power of learning in the brief space of time which is his allot- ment on earth. True it is that the doctor of the past endured more hardships, received smaller remuneration, and in many other ways deserves credit for his pioneer work, but the present physician is a specialist, an expert diagnos- tician, an idealist striving for the prevention of disease rather than the curing. a moral doctor as well as physical, and a man who does not confine his talents to his one profession, but exhibits his powers among the other works of man. In this day the labor a man undergoes is not counted, it is the result of his labor alone by which he is measured-his productive powers.
This is not laudation nor encomium, but a slight effort to picture the class of men who deserve even more praise, men of which class are living and working today in Gibson county, as well as in other parts of the world. The subject of this sketch is Dr. W. G. Hopkins, of Fort Branch, this county, a man well suited to the words which have been written above, not only because he has made a marked success in his chosen profession, but because he has given his thought and energy to other things, which may be better described in the course of the following brief narrative of his life.
WV. G. Hopkins was born August 1. 1844, in Middleton. Wayne county, Illinois, and was the son of Capt C. C. and Beulah ( Huddleston ) Hopkins. The father was from near Hopkinsville, Kentucky, and the mother was a native of Alton, Illinois. The subject's paternal grandfather was named John Hopkins.
Capt. C. C. Hopkins engaged in agriculture during his early life and in 1856 was elected a member of the Illinois Legislature on the Democratic ticket. However, in 1860, he renounced his affiliation with that party and supported Abraham Lincoln in the significant campaign of that year. At the opening of hostilities in 1860 between the North and the South he was com- missioned a lieutenant, later being promoted to the captaincy of his company, which was a part of the Fortieth Illinois Volunteer Infantry. His command took part in a number of important engagements and at the battle of Shiloh he received a wound in the neck. The records of the war department at Washington make specific mention of his bravery as a soldier. After being honorably discharged from the service he retired to his farm and was ap- pointed a deputy provost marshal, a position which, owing to the peculiar conditions existing at that time, caused him to make many bitter enemies among the element opposed to law and order. It is related that on one oc- casion he, in company with a few soldiers belonging to Captain Parker's
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company, went down to Wayne county, Illinois, in the bottom of a little river called "The Skillet Fork," where some Southern sympathizers had built a fort named Fort Shipley. Captain Hopkins sent one of his soldiers to demand their surrender and they agreed to do so. They were then taken prisoners, but owing to the feeling aroused over his having broken up the fort, Captain Hopkins was shot to death. This occurred in the year 1865. After fourteen years' search the subject and his brother. Wesley, located the man who fired the shot, finding him in Missouri. Taking along a deputy sheriff, they surprised him in bed and captured him without resistance, bring- ing him through to Middleton, Illinois, where neighbors helped guard him all night, he being placed in the county jail the next day, and subsequently tried and sentenced to the penitentiary for a period of fourteen to twenty- . one years.
To the subject's parents were born five sons and five daughters, namely : Wesley, the eldest son, served three years in the Fortieth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, when he was honorably discharged owing to an injury to his foot; John M. was a second lieutenant in Company I, Fortieth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, later reaching the rank of sergeant-major. He met his death in a boat which was burned by the Confederates at Vicksburg; Charles C. was a private and was killed in the battle of Shiloh; Elvira, deceased, was the wife of John H. Barnes, of St. Louis, Missouri; Hester Ann is the wife of James Alexander, also of St. Louis; Saleta, deceased, was the wife of Edward Flint of St. Louis; Sonora, deceased, was the wife of Doctor Trowsdale of St. Louis; an infant, deceased; Thomas S. was a physician, a graduate of Bellevue Hospital Medical College, New York City, and he died at Ridge- way, Illinois, in the fall of 1882; the subject of this review was fourth in order of birth.
W. G. Hopkins received his elementary education in the common schools of Middleton. In the spring of 1865 he enlisted in the One Hundred and Thirty-sixth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, under Colonel Johns and Capt. John Burke, being assigned to Company B of that regiment. This made the fifth member of this family to enter the service of their country, his father and three brothers having preceded him. He joined his regiment at Cen- tralia, Illinois, and while the command was engaged in no great battles, they participated in a number of skirmishes. After receiving an honorable dis- charge at the close of the war, Doctor Hopkins returned to the home farm, where he remained for about a year, and then took up the study of medicine with Dr. W. S. A. Cox in Belle City, Hamilton county, Illinois. The Doc- tor then attended the Evansville Medical College, graduating there. Then,
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in company with his brother Thomas, he took a course at Bellevue Hospital Medical College in New York City, both graduating from that institution in 1882. Previous to this time the Doctor had practiced at Ridgeway, Illinois, and about 1877 he located at Fort Branch. Gibson county, Indiana, where he has since continued and has built up a large and lucrative practice. Doctor Hopkins is a member of the White River District, the Ohio Valley and the Gibson County medical societies. Being a member of the county society, he is naturally affiliated with the State Medical Society.
Doctor Hopkins was married to Emma Porter, daughter of Capt. Brax- ton Porter, of Kentucky, and to this union have been born the following chil- dren : Willard T. graduated from the Fort Branch high school, after which he attended Indiana University at Bloomington, then taking up the study of law in St. Louis. Graduating from the law school, he opened an office in Princeton, Indiana, where he had a most promising outlook, when he was cut off in the prime of life by appendicitis. He was highly respected by his fellow members of the bar. as well as by the citizens of Princeton, and the bar association passed resolutions on his death, calling attention to his worthy life and works; Stella is deceased and Mabel is residing at home.
The subject owns an excellent farm of eighty acres east of Fort Branch. The ground is in an excellent state of cultivation, typical of the best farms of Gibson county. The subject has long taken an intelligent interest in the breeding of bloodled stock, specializing in standard bred trotting and pacing horses. At the present time he is owner of "Klatawah," race record 2:0572 at three years old, which is the world's record for a pacing stallion; "Strong- wood," the sire of over seventy in the list: "Jay Bool," which is also a great speed sire. All of these horses have national reputations.
Doctor Hopkins is a loyal member of the Grand Army of the Republic, and was a member of the United States pension board at Princeton for four- teen years. Fraternally, he is an appreciative member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
As a promoter of public enterprises for the good of Gibson county, Doctor Hopkins has displayed unusual interest and has devoted much time. He has aptly and rightly been called "the father of good roads" in Gibson county, due to his efforts in behalf of improved highways. Long before there was an improved road in the county, he was, by word of mouth and with his trenchant pen, spreading the gospel of progress in this line.
In literary work the Doctor has also "won his spurs." He is an able writer, and his forceful, virile style is well known to Gibson county and
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Indiana readers. He writes not only from a fund of knowledge, but upon his strong views regarding the current issues of the day. For instance, in the last two Presidential campaigns the Doctor has contributed many articles to the different newspapers throughout the country, some of his best and strongest being on the subject of protective tariff, a subject about which he has some very decided views. Dr. Hopkins is a Republican of the "first water," and in the face of adversity, as in November, 1912, buckles on his armor and fights all the harder. So, it is not strange that his fellows hold his name in respect and that his reputation is high as doctor, soldier, farmer and writer. And so the value of versatility is proved.
J. W. KURTZ.
An enumeration of the representative citizens of Gibson county. who have won recognition and success for themselves and at the same time con- ferred honor upon the community dignified by their citizenship, would be decidedly incomplete were there failure to make specific mention of the popu- lar gentleman whose name initiates this review, who has long held worthy prestige in business and social circles and has always been distinctively a man of affairs. He wields a wide influence among those with whom his lot has been cast, ever having the affairs of his county at heart and doing whatever he could to aid the general development of his native locality, thereby deserv- ing the applause which is today accorded him by all classes.
J. W. Kurtz was born in Gibson county, January 5, 1848, the son of William and E. I. (Arbuthnot) Kurtz. The father was born in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. in 1818, and emigrated to the state of Indiana in early days, locating first at Vincennes, later at Patoka and then at Princeton, Gibson county, where he worked in the newspaper business and took an active inter- est in political affairs, serving as auditor of the county for ten years and as a member of the school board for eighteen years. He was a public-spirited man, being allied with the Democratic party until the outbreak of the Civil war, at which time he transferred his allegiance to the Republican party, later in life, however, voting independently. To the subject's parents were born nine children, of whom three are yet living, namely: Joseph is residing in Princeton ; Clara married S. F. Brazelton, who is a township trustee; and J. W.
HENRY KURTZ.
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After J. W. Kurtz had completed his early education, acquired in the common schools, he clerked in a grocery store for about a year and then worked in a printing office for about the same length of time, at the end of which period he went into the grocery and fancy goods business and was so engaged from December 1, 1864, until 1895. In the latter year Mr. Kurtz took up the real estate and insurance business, which he still continues and in which he has been eminently successful. He handles the local business for some of the strongest and most reliable companies in the country, among them being the Fidelity-Phenix Insurance Company of New York, the Liverpool and London and the Globe Companies, the Germania Fire Insur- ance Company of New York, the Connecticut Fire Insurance Company of Hartford, the Queen Fire Insurance Company of America, and others equally as well known. In his real estate business he has confined his operations to city and county property.
In October. 1878, Mr. Kurtz was united in marriage to Ophelia C. Baldwin, daughter of Reuben and Nancy ( Harper) Baldwin, Reuben Bald- win being a well known old settler and merchant of Gibson county. To the subject and wife have been born two children: Fred B. is a physician and lives in Indianapolis ; Ralph B. is in business with his father.
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