USA > Indiana > Gibson County > History of Gibson County, Indiana : her people, industries and institutions > Part 65
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JOHN W. RITCHIE.
One of the influential citizens of Princeton, Indiana, is the gentleman to whose career the attention of the reader is now directed who is ranked with the city's leading merchants and representative citizens. A man of ex- cellent endowments and upright character, he has been a valued factor in local affairs and has ever commanded unequivecal confidence and esteem, being loyal to the upbuilding of his community and ever vigilant in his efforts to further the interests of his city along material, moral and civic lines.
John W. Ritchie was born in Gibson county, Indiana, on January 25, 1879, and is a son of William and Vitula (Benton) Ritchie, the father a native of Crawford county, Indiana, and the mother of Gibson county. On the paternal side the subject is descended from Alexander Ritchie, a native of Glasgow, Scotland, who, after emigrating to this country, came to Leavenworth, Indiana, where he established a blacksmith shop. Eventu- ally he moved to Crawford county, this state, where he continued his busi- ness and there spent the remainder of his days. The subject's father, who has been a life-long farmer in Gibson county, is still living, as is his wife, their residence being at King's Station, this county. To them were born twelve children, all of whom are living, namely: John W., the immediate subject of this sketch; Alexander, Katherine, William, Melvin, Myrtle, Charles, Clifford, Levi. Flora, Mary and May.
John W. Ritchie was reared under the parental roof, securing his education in the common schools of his home locality and completing his studies at Oakland City College. During the following six years he engaged in teaching school and then took a business course in the Indian- apolis Business College. Upon the completion of his technical studies he entered the employ of the R. P. Moore Milling Company as bookkeeper and has remained with this concern continuously since, having for the
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past six years served as secretary and treasurer of the company. He has been an important factor in the splendid success which has accompanied this business and is one of the most trusted and valued employees of the concern.
On May 24, 1908, Mr. Ritchie was united in marriage with Eva A. Williams, the daughter of Thomas P. and Tilitha (Wallace) Williams, both natives of Gibson county and representatives of early pioneer families.
Politically, Mr. Ritchie is a stanch Democrat, and fraternally he is an active member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Princeton. His religious connections are with the General Baptist church, to the support of which he gives liberally of his time and means. He has strongly sup- ported every measure or movement which has promised to be of benefit to his community, and, because of his upright life, marked business ability and progressive tendencies, he has earned and enjoys the respect and confidence of the entire community.
THEODORE SASSE.
One of the best remembered business men of the past generation in Gib- son county, Indiana, was the late Theodore Sasse, at the time of his death one of the largest landowners in the county. Of Mr. Sasse personally, it may be said that he was a man of strong and active sympathies ; his temperament was warm and ardent, his feelings deep and intense, and these and other attractive characteristics unconsciously drew him an unusual number of de- voted friends, upon whom, under all circumstances, he could rely, and who, now that he has passed from earthly scenes, revere his memory. He was a close student of human nature and comprehended with little effort the motives and purposes of men, and he was a lover of the truth and sincerity. In brief, he is remembered as a manly man, of pleasing but dignified presence, a student of many subjects and an influential man in the circles in which he moved. Of sound character and unflagging energy, he stood as a conspicuous example of symmetrically developed American manhood and his position as one of the community's representative citizens was conceded by all who knew him.
The late Theodore Sasse was born March 31, 1830, in Germany, the son of Rev. Christian and Louise (Kuestring) Sasse, neither of whom ever came to America. Theodore was educated in the schools of his native country and came to America when he was twenty years of age. He first landed at New Orleans, and then came up the Mississippi river and settled in Evansville, Indiana, where he clerked in a drug store for some time. With true German
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thrift he saved his money and within four years he was in a position to open a general store at Buckskin, Gibson county, Indiana. He had the foresight to see that this rising village was a good trading point, and especially since the Chicago & Eastern Illinois Railroad was being projected through the place at that time. In fact, Mr. Sasse was one of the promoters of the rail- road, which was surveyed through in 1854, but owing to financial reverses the railroad was not built at this time; nevertheless the general store that Mr. Sasse started at Buckskin proved very successful. In addition to the general merchandising business which he carried on, he made money by buying and selling tobacco. He kept in operation a tobacco press and was probably the largest shipper in the county. His tobacco was shipped to Evansville by way of the Wabash and Erie canal until that canal was closed. By close application to his business affairs, Mr. Sasse acquired a very comfortable competence, but he did not allow his success as a business man to blind him to the moral and educational interests of his community. He took a great deal of interest in all the churches, and was a very generous giver to all the new churches in his community. He contributed heavily to the building of the first Evangelical church at Buckskin, which was the first church in that town.
Mr. Sasse was married twice, and has one daughter by his first wife, Albertine. She is a nurse in a hospital at Cincinnati, Ohio. Mr. Sasse's second marriage occurred on November 18, 1871, to Annette Buskuhl, the daughter of Frederick and Minna (Rieso) Buskuhl. Her father was a professor in the German schools. To this union four daughters were born, Mrs. Dr. V. H. Marchand, of Haubstadt, this county; Louise, who is living at home with her mother; Freda H., who is also at home, and Selma. The last three daughters live with their mother at home and have general charge of the large farm of more than thirteen hundred acres left by their father. Mr. Sasse died April 3, 1908, leaving an extensive estate, which is being suc- cessfully operated by his daughters, who also have the care of their invalid mother.
Mr. Sasse was a life-long Democrat, but had never sought any political office at the hands of his party. He was affiliated with the German Evangel- ical church religiously, and always contributed liberally to its support, taking an active interest in all the departments of its work.
Theodore Sasse had one brother, Emil, who came to this country in 1852, and subsequently entered into partnership with the subject of this sketch. They at one time owned more than two thousand acres of land in Bartholo- mew township. Several years ago Emil Sasse went back to Germany on a visit, and upon his return to this country, the ship caught fire and he and a
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friend of his jumped into the water and swam for about eleven hours, when they were rescued by a passing vessel. Emil Sasse was married in 1883 to Caroline Dickmeyer. He always took a prominent part in Democratic poli- tics and served during the seventies as trustee of Barton township, this county. Some time later he was elected to the office of county treasurer of Gibson county, and discharged the important duties of that office to the entire satis- faction of the citizens of the county. He and his brother, Theodore, were very successful in the general store which they operated for so many years at Buckskin.
The life of Theodore Sasse was such as to place him in a conspicuous position in the public eye of his township, and that which he did during his long life is too far-reaching to be measured in metes and bounds. He was certainly born to leadership, and the study of such a life cannot help but be an incentive to greater activity and higher excellence on the part of the coming generation. He was a long time one of the most prominent commercial fac- tors in the affairs of his community, and in all his business enterprises he stood as an admirable type of the strictly self-made man, and left a name which all men who knew him delight to honor, owing to his upright life and his habits of industry.
GEORGE R. WELBORN.
This utilitarian age has been especially prolific in men of action, clear brained men of high resolves and noble purposes, who give character and stability to the communities honored by their citizenship, and whose influence and leadership are easily discernible in the various enterprises that have added so greatly to the high reputation which Gibson county enjoys among her sister counties of this great commonwealth. Conspicuous among this class of men whose place of residence is in this county is the progressive citizen whose name appears at the head of this brief review.
George R. Welborn, son of Francis M. and Lenora (Robb) Welborn, was born April 7, 1868, at Owensville, Indiana. (See sketch elsewhere in this volume of Francis M. Welborn.) George R. Welborn grew up in Owens- ville, completing his education in the common school and high school of that town, after which he entered DePauw University, from which institution he graduated in 1891 with the degree of Bachelor of Arts. He afterwards took a law course and graduated with the degree of Bachelor of Laws, after which he went to Indianapolis to open up practice at the bar, but his father's health
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failing, he returned to Owensville in 1894 and took charge of his father's business. He was very successful from the start, and in 1900 the business had so increased that he felt justified in erecting a modern business block. In that year he built a handsome brick two-story business block, all of which is devoted exclusively to general merchandising business. His store is equipped with all the latest improvements in the way of show cases and fixtures and conveniences which are used by stores in much larger towns.
Mr. Welborn was married in 1893 to Lillian Heston, daughter of Joseph Heston, and was born and reared near Princeton, and to this union was born one child, who died in infancy. Mrs. Welborn died on March 22, 1910. In January, 1913, Mr. Welborn married Anna Siebras, a native of this county.
Fraternally, Mr. Welborn is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons and Knights of Pythias, and takes an active interest in the affairs of both organizations. He is an example of the modern business man who brings into his business relations all those qualities which stand for better citizenship. His college career is of undoubted advantage to him and places him in a posi- tion which enables him to do a great deal for his community. He has no ambition for public position, but devotes all of his time and attention to his increasing business. He has contributed much to the material advancement of his locality, while his admirable qualities of head and heart and his upright, straightforward daily life have helped the moral standing of the circle in which he moves, and gives him a reputation for integrity and correct conduct among the citizens of the community favored by his residence.
I. C. PATTEN, M. D.
A review of the life of the honored subject of this memoir must of. necessity be brief and general in its character. To enter fully into the inter- esting details of the career of the late J. C. Patten, M. D., touching the strug- bles of his early manhood and the success of his later years, would far transcend the limits of this article. He filled a large place in the ranks of the active, energetic and public-spirited citizens of his day and generation, and the memories which attached to his name and character form no incon- siderable chapter in the history of the county where he did his work and achieved his success.
J. C. Patten was born November 28, 1823, the son of Dr. Hugh Henry Patten. The father was born April 30, 1796, the son of James Patten, Sr ..
DR. AND MRS. J. C. PATTEN.
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the latter having been born November 6, 1744, and died February 3, 1818. James Patten, Sr., emigrated from England in early colonial days with his family and settled in the state of Pennsylvania. He was deeply interested in the struggle for the independence of his adopted country and spent his entire fortune in behalf of the cause of our forefathers. After the close of the Revolutionary war he removed to Tennessee, in which state Dr. Hugh Henry Patten was born, his birth occurring near Clarksville, Montgomery county. In 1804 the family removed to Indiana and settled on Green River island. above Evansville, where they started the making of a home, when an unus- ually destructive freshet came down the river, sweeping over the island, de- stroying crops, drowning cattle, and leaving the settlers there destitute. The Patten family, seeking higher ground, camped for a while on the site of Evansville's business district, where they endured great suffering in the severe weather of that winter. However, game was plentiful and they lived princi- pally on it and corn-bread made of corn beaten in the hollowed-out stump of a tree. Lye hominy was added to this fare. At this period there were but one or two houses on the river between Evansville and Vincennes, and the pioneers of that time on leaving their cabins went heavily armed and gen- erally accompanied by their dogs as a protection against the Indians. The women also carried guns with them whenever they ventured any distance from the cabins, and many of them became expert in the use of these wea- pons. While the red men were greatly in the majority in this community at that time, they never gave any serious trouble, later, however, becoming more hostile as the number of settlers increased. Men's clothing was made principally of hides, the skin of the deer being generally chosen, as it was the best suited for traveling through the dense underbrush.
The subject's father received his elementary education under the tutelage of Rev. James McGready and Daniel Comfort, of Henderson, Kentucky, and later, in 1816, entered Napan Hall, Princeton College, New Jersey, and on graduating in 1820 received the degree of Bachelor of Arts from the uni- versity and the American Whig Society conferred on him the literary and scientific degree and title of Fellow of the American Whig Society. Fol- lowing the completion of his college course he took charge of the Warren County (Kentucky) Seminary, later chartered as a college, in which he was professor of mathematics. After several terms as an educator, the subject's father resigned, and on October 16, 1822, he was united in marriage with Jane Moore, the daughter of Samuel Barclay, Sr., of Bowling Green, Ken- tucky. After his resignation from the professorship, he was ordained a min-
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ister of the Presbyterian church and served on the board of domestic mis- sions until his health failed, owing to hard labor and exposure. In 1834 Dr. H. H. Patten removed to Indiana and in 1838 commenced the practice of medicine, which he continued until 1868, taking time from his professional duties to preach whenever the occasion appeared.
Dr. J. C. Patten, the subject of this biographical review, was born in Russellville, Tennessee, and accompanied his parents when they came to the Hoosier state. His early education was acquired in the schools of Princeton, on the completion of which he began the study of medicine in the office of Dr. William G. Helm, a brother of Governor Helm, of Kentucky. He sub- sequently attended the Evansville Medical College, from which he graduated in 1850, and his first location as a practitioner was in Dale, Indiana, where he continued until the outbreak of the war between the states, at which time he volunteered his services and went to the front as a surgeon, being sent by Governor Morton to aid in caring for the Indiana troops after the battle of Corinth and later was commissioned assistant surgeon of the Fifty-eighth Regiment Indiana Volunteer Infantry, attached to Sherman's pontoon train. He served in this capacity from 1864 until the close of the war, after which he actively engaged in the practice of his profession, being very successful in building up a splendid practice. Of a modest and retiring nature, he was one of the successful men of his day and became the owner of considerable prop- erty, valuable farm lands in the Wabash valley being among his holdings.
On August 6, 1852, Dr. J. C. Patten was married to Louisa Marstella, who was born on May 30, 1835, in Baltimore, Maryland, the daughter of Capt. Ferdinand and Elizabeth (Walker) Marstella. The mother of the subject's wife first met Capt. Ferdinand Marstella while on the way across the ocean from England as a passenger on the boat which he commanded. On landing in America they were married. In 1844 the Captain was lost with his ship in the Gulf of Mexico and his wife died in Mexico.
To the subject and wife were born eight children, namely: Hugh died in infancy ; Samuel is engaged in business at Long Beach, California ; Morgan lives in El Paso, Texas, being employed in the railroad shops; Jane Moore is at home; Elizabeth married Grant Mason, who died April 28, 1913; Gilbert is deceased; Annie is now Mrs. Lockwood; Lewis lives in Denver, Colorado, and is a traveling salesman.
When the Doctor began the practice of medicine at the close of the Civil war the community was without roads or bridges, and the long trips through the wild country visiting patients were made on horseback, it not even being
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possible to use a buggy in the work. Undaunted by privations and hardships of this nature, the subject was ever faithful to his chosen vocation and event- ually became one of the leading medical men of his day.
In Mrs. Patten's family there were two children, of whom but Mrs. J. C. Patten is now living. Her brother, Leslie K. Marstella, who lived in Beebee, Arkansas, died on February 8, 191.4. he being but three years younger than Mrs. Patten. While in the Civil war he was aide to General Hovey, and while crossing in front of the enemy his horse was shot and fell upon him, causing him serious injury, from which he has suffered for many years, hav- ing been paralyzed for a long time.
LEMUEL EMMERSON.
It cannot be other than interesting to note in the series of personal sketches appearing in this work the varying conditions that have compassed those whose careers are outlined, and the effort that has been made in each case to throw well focused light on the individuality and to bring into proper perspective the scheme of each respective career. Each man who strives to fulfill his part in connection with human life and human activities is deserving of recognition, whatever may be his field of endeavor, and it is the function of works of this nature to perpetuate for future generations an authentic record concerning those represented in its pages, and the value of such publications is certain to be cumulative for all time to come, showing forth the individual and specific accomplishments of which generic history is ever engendered.
Lemuel Emmerson, who many years ago passed to that undiscovered bourne from whence no traveler returns, was born in Kentucky, and was the son of Hon. Jesse Emmerson. The latter came from Lincoln county, Ken- tucky, to Gibson county, Indiana, on April 10, 1809, locating on what is now known as the John Martin place, between Princeton and Owensville, being one of the earliest settlers of that locality. He and his family floated down the Ohio river on flatboats to Evansville, from there coming to Princeton, their first camp being on the present site of Judge Lamb's residence. At that time but little settlement had been made in that locality, the land being cov- ered by a dense forest. Jesse Emmerson had been born near Culpeper, Vir- ginia, in 1767, and it is noteworthy that one of his family, Henry T., is now an inmate of the Soldiers' Home at Lafayette, Indiana, being about eighty years of age ; thus two generations of this family have witnessed every change
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in the history of the American colonies and states since the war of the Revo- lution. Jesse Emmerson was a farmer by vocation and a man of considerable influence in his community, having served as the first judge of the county court. He married Elizabeth Emmerson, probably a cousin, and to them were born fourteen children, twelve sons and two daughters, of whom five were deaf and dumb, including the immediate subject of this sketch. Of these fourteen children, Henry T., above referred to, is the only one living. After the death of his first wife, Jesse Emmerson married Hetty Blythe.
Lemuel Emmerson, being a mute, had but little chance to secure an edu- cation, but being ambitious he became, through his own efforts, well informed and proved to be a man of more than ordinary intelligence. He possessed business ability of a high order and was successful in his own affairs, being an enterprising and progressive farmer of Patoka township, this county, where his death occurred on December 12, 1845. In 1832 Mr. Emmerson married Mrs. Nancy Harrell, the widow of Warner Harrell and daughter of James and Nancy (Drikey) Dugan. James Dugan died in Tennessee and later his widow came to Gibson county, and after the marriage of her daugh- ter to Lemuel Emmerson, she became the wife of Stephen Sanders, of Ken- tucky. By her marriage to Mr. Harrell, Mrs. Emmerson was the mother of two children, Hannah Minerva and Albert. By her union with Lemuel Em- merson were born the following children, Mary Elizabeth, born in Patoka township, was married in 1854, to Charles Mead, of Gibson county, a farmer. He enlisted in Company E, Eightieth Regiment Indiana Volunteer Infantry. and served his country valiantly for three years. After his return from the war he again farmed in Patoka township, and later went to Brown county, Nebraska, but eventually came back to Gibson county, locating first at Oakland City and later at Fort Branch, where his death occurred in 1908. He was a member of the Grand Army of the Republic at Fort Branch and, religiously, was affiliated with the General Baptist church. He was well known in this county and highly respected by all. On November 12, 1912, his widow moved to Oakland City, where she has since lived. They became the parents of four children, all of whom died young. James Reuben Emmerson, who was born on the old Emmerson farm in Patoka township on December 25, 1837, lived at Fort Branch, this county, and also in Wabash county, Illinois. In Noven- ber, 1912, he located with his sister, Mrs. Mead, at Oakland City. He has been a farmer and also for about sixteen years has done considerable carpen- ter work. On March 29, 1860, he married Amanda J. Montgomery, of Pa- toka township, this county, whose death occurred in 1903, and to their union
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were born eight children, namely: Ida E. was twice married, first to Josephi Jones, and second to Jacob Green, with whom she now lives at Evansville, Indiana : Charles W., who is a carpenter at Fort Branch, married Allie Rule; Lemuel M., of Riddle, Oregon, is a miner and is unmarried. He was a mem- ber of the United States army. Luey and Lillie died unmarried; Elzora Jane married Mr. Rice and lives at Evansville, Indiana ; a son and daughter died in infancy ; Hannah Jane, the third child born to Lemuel and Nancy Emmerson, became the wife of George A. Rutter, of Oakland City, and is now deceased; Melissa is the wife of Henry Vickers, a Civil war veteran, and she now resides at Oakland City: Lemuel O., of Oakland City, is referred to specifically elsewhere in this volume. All the members of this family are affiliated with the General Baptist church, and are Republican in their political views.
Perhaps the dominant and most notable characteristic of Lemuel Emmer- son was his fidelity to truth and honor. He invariably sought the things that were honest and of good repute, teaching his children that honor and truth- fulness were of such commanding worth that self-interest should never under any circumstances set them aside. His life was an inspiration to all who knew him and his memory remains to his children as a blessed benediction of a noble and upright life.
JONATHAN E. CLARK.
The following is a brief sketch of one who, by close attention to busi- ness, has achieved marked success in the world's affairs and risen to an hon- orable position among the enterprising men of Gibson county, with which his interests have long been identified. Jonathan E. Clark is one of those estimable characters whose integrity and strong personality must force them into an admirable notoriety, which their modesty never seeks, who command the respect of their contemporaries and their posterity and leave the impress of their lives and their individuality upon the age in which they live.
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