USA > Indiana > Gibson County > History of Gibson County, Indiana : her people, industries and institutions > Part 66
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Jonathan E. Clark was born August 25, 1848, at Henry Duncan Hill, Patoka township, Gibson county. Indiana, the son of Cornelius and Mahala (Young) Clark. The father was born near Bardstown, Nelson county, Ken- tucky, and the mother in Christian county of the same state, the elder Clark being a son of Thomas Clark, of Fairfax county, Virginia, and Mahala Young's father was Caleb Young, of Union county, Pennsylvania.
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GIBSON COUNTY, INDIANA.
The subject's great-grandfather Clark was born in the lowlands of Scot- land, emigrating to America and, as stated, locating in Virginia, while one of his brothers who accompanied him to this country settled in the South. The grandfather, Thomas Clark, was a farmer. During the struggle for inde- pendence he enlisted from Fairfax county, on October 10, 1777, and was as- signed to the Tenth Virginia Regiment, Captain Conrad's company. This command spent the following fall and winter at Mt. Vernon, protecting the estate of Gen. George Washington. In the late summer of 1778 they were transferred to Pennsylvania, and took part in the battle of Brandywine, where Thomas Clark was wounded. At the conclusion of two years' faith- ful service in the colonial army he received an honorable discharge, ranking as an orderly sergeant at the time of his muster out, the seriousness of his wound precluding his further service in the struggle. Subsequently he was married to Eleanor Mansfield and they emigrated to Kentucky, where he pre- empted land on a soldier's certificate in the district known at that time as Taggart county, but which was later subdivided. Many of his comrades at- tempted to enter land on soldiers' certificates, but their claims were not recog- nized on account of some fault in their papers. His being perfect, however, he secured his land, established a home and there passed the balance of his life, being a prominent man in his community, known familiarly among his friends as "Uncle Tom" Clark. He died in his fifty-sixth year, in 1806. His sons were Abe, Thomas, Zachariah and Cornelius. Of these, two, Thomas and Zachariah, were with General Jackson at New Orleans. Thomas took part in the Indian wars in Indiana during Tecumseh's time. Zachariah, at the time he joined General Jackson, was but seventeen years of age and not subject to draft, but he went as a substitute for a "brave" man who was drafted but didn't want to go. The man for whom he substituted gave him one hundred dollars and forty acres' of land.
The subject's father, Cornelius Clark, who was well acquainted with General Jackson and had met him personally many times, came to Indiana in 1821 and settled on Henry Duncan Hill, Gibson county, his wife passing away two or three years after his arrival in the Hoosier state. He remained on the "Hill" for twelve years, when he removed to Marsh Creek, west of Turkey Hill, where he passed the remainder of his days. Being a great reader and having a remarkable memory, he was the historian of the dis- trict, his neighbors looking to him for the records of the early days. His death occurred in his fifty-seventh year as the result of an accident. Of a family of eleven children whom he raised, four are now living.
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Jonathan E. Clark, the subject of this sketch, was the eighth child and spent his boyhood days in Patoka township. At the age of eighteen years he decided to strike out for himself and went West, and the next eight years of his life were spent in Nebraska, where he was employed in carrying the mails on horseback. While thus engaged he had many exciting experi- ences, on two different occasions being attacked by highwaymen, but both times he was successful in reaching his gun first and putting the would-be robbers to flight. After leaving Nebraska he spent a month in Wyoming, which was "wild and woolly" at that early date, then returned east, stopping several months in northern Illinois, and finally coming back to Gibson county, Indiana, where he engaged in farming.
On October 25, 1874, the subject was united in the holy bonds of matri- mony to Mary F. Montgomery, daughter of John Montgomery, of Mont- gomery township, Gibson county, the son of Robert Montgomery, who was born in Delaware, later removing to Georgia and finally to Gibson county, Indiana, in 1910. To the subject and wife have been born two children, Cora, who married John A. Boren, and Essie, who is living at home.
Mr. Clark has made several trips to the homes of his ancestors and has in his possession a number of very valuable relics, among them being a cane cut on the estate of General Jackson, also some corn grown on the same place, the Jackson home place now being kept up by the Daughters of the Revolu- tion. During one of his trips to this historic spot, the subject met the last surviving slave of the general, an old negro named Alfred, who was ninety- eight years of age when Mr. Clark met him. He was quite an interesting character, being full of reminiscences and being able to name all of the Gen- eral's famous visitors and to give the history of the heirlooms. The subject has always taken a keen interest in the history of pioneer days and his re- markable memory and wide reading have equipped him as an authority on these matters.
Mr. Clark has a fine farm of one hundred acres, under a good state of cultivation, and takes justifiable pride in his live stock and horses. He has never taken an active interest in politics, being content to exercise his fran- chise for the candidates who in his judgment will make the best public serv- ants, and leaving the oftentimes unreasoning enthusiasm of the struggle for office to those so inclined. He is a Democrat. The subject's wife is a mem- ber of the Cumberland Presbyterian church.
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GEORGE WASHINGTON SHULL.
The respect which should always be accorded to the brave sons of the North who left homes and the peaceful pursuits of civil life to give their services, and their lives if need be, to preserve the integrity of the American Union is certainly due the gentleman to a brief review of whose life the fol- lowing lines are devoted. He proved his love and loyalty to the government on the long and tiresome marches in all kinds of situations, exposed to sum- mer's withering sun and winter's freezing cold, on the lonely picket line a target for the unseen foe, on the tented field and amid the flame and smoke of battle, where the rattle of musketry, mingled with the terrible concussion of the bursting shell and the deep diapason of the cannon's roar, made up the sublime but awful chorus of death. Among these valiant defenders of the Union and Old Glory was the subject of this sketch, and he is eminently entitled to representation in a work of this character.
George Washington Shull was born in Cedarville, Ohio, January 26, 1841, the son of Daniel and Margaret (Good) Shull, natives of the Keystone state. Daniel Shull's father was named George Shull, and he was a son of a soldier in the Revolutionary war. George Shull moved to Virginia, where he remained the rest of his days, following farming, the subject's father being a boy at the time of the family's removal to the Old Dominion. He spent his early life there, reached maturity and was married, and after three children had been born to this union they removed to Ohio, in which state seven more children were born, making a family of ten, five sons and five daughters. The father spent an active life and was employed at various occupations, reaching the extreme age of ninety-three years.
The subject of this review was the sixth child in the family, and passed his boyhood in Ohio, remaining at home until August 13, 1862, when he enlisted in Company D, Forty-fourth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, commanded by Col. Samuel Gilbert and Capt. L. W. Tully, the company being mustered in at Springfield, Ohio. The regiment had been organized eleven months previous to Mr. Shull's enlistment, and those who enlisted at the time Mr. Shull did were to serve and retire at the same time that those did who had joined previously. However, when the three years expired the subject and those who entered the service with him had nothing to show that their term was also completed. They were permitted to return to their homes for a visit, but had to rejoin the army and complete the balance of their time.
From Springfield the troops with which Mr. Shull was enlisted were
MR. AND MRS. GEORGE W. SHULL.
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sent first to Cincinnati and from there up the Ohio river to Maysville, Ken- tucky, proceeding from there to Lexington, having a skirmish below Mays- ville, and joining their regiment at Lexington. went with it to Frankfort, where they were encamped for the winter. The following summer was spent in various parts of the Blue Grass state, putting down frequent uprisings, they being mounted infantry at the time. In September, 1863, they were or- ganized in a division of some twenty thousand men, under General Burn- sides. After a number of skirmishes, they were hemmed in at Knoxville, Tennessee, by a force under General Longstreet, where they were forced to remain inactive for five or six weeks. However, expecting General Sherman to arrive soon with reinforcements, General Longstreet decided to delay no longer and made a charge, hoping to take them prisoners before the arrival of Sherman. This attack was decidedly unsuccessful, he being repulsed with great loss, and, Sherman coming nearer next day, Longstreet withdrew into Virginia, being hotly pursued by the forces under Burnsides. On the return from this chase to Strawberry Plains, Tennessee, the term of enlistment of the Forty-fourth Infantry had expired, but with very few exceptions the men of the regiment re-enlisted, they being mustered in this time as the Eighth Ohio Cavalary, under command of Capt. Frank E. Moores. Returning for a brief period to Camp Dennison, Ohio, to complete the reorganization, they were then sent to Charleston, West Virginia, and from that city to various parts of the state, being constantly on the march and having at least one skirmish a day. At Bunker Hill, between Winchester and Martinsburg, the subject was wounded on September 3, 1864. a bullet practically going entirely through his body. He was taken to Martinsburg, and, his case being con- sidered hopeless, he was practically given up for dead. However, he re- covered sufficiently in about two months to be removed to Sandy Hook, Mary- land, from there being transferred to Little York, Pennsylvania, where he was given a furlough of twenty days to go home, which he did. When the time was up, however, instead of returning to the hospital at Little York, he proceeded to Beverly, West Virginia, and rejoined his regiment. The fol- lowing morning they were attacked by the Confederates and four hundred and eighty men were taken prisoners, Mr. Shull being among the number. They were taken by their captors to Staunton and then to Richmond, where they were thrown into Libby prison, being in that noted place but a short time, when they were removed to Crew & Pemberton's tobacco warehouse, just across the street from the prison. In this typical Southern prison pen the
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subject and his comrades were confined for about three months. Food was scarce, conditions unsanitary and treatment bad, and it is astonishing that Mr. Shull, in his weakened condition, due to his wound, stood it. After three long and trying months they were exchanged and taken to Annapolis, Mary- land, and from there sent to Camp Chase, Ohio, where they were granted a furlough of thirty days. Even after this long period the subject's wound was seriously troubling him, pieces of bone continuing to come out of his side. At the expiration of his furlough, Mr. Shull and his companions rejoined their old command at Beverly, Virginia, but, their term of enlistment soon expiring, and the war being practically over, they were sent to Columbus, Ohio, where Mr. Shull was honorably discharged as corporal of Company D, Eighth Ohio Calavry, and was mustered out. Mr. Shull was in the follow- ing battles: Lewisburg, Virginia, Mossy Creek, Lynchburg. Winchester, Beverly, Harper's Ferry, Martinsburg, Blain's Cross Roads, Bunker's Hill, Moorfield, Piedmont, Flat Rock, Kentucky, Hickman, Dutton Hill, Cumber- land Gap, Tennessee, Louden, Knoxville and Cedar Creek. Aftr spending a month at his home, he came to Indiana and located at Princeton, Gibson county, where he engaged in agricultural pursuits, which he followed con- tinously up until his retirement.
On March 7, 1866, Mr. Shull was married to Minerva L. Finney, daugh- ter of J. K: and Laurina Finney, who were early settlers in the Hoosier state. To this union were born six children, namely: John K. resides in Indian- apolis; Nellie L., now Mrs. Lowe, lives in Evansville, Indiana; Addie is now Mrs. Henry Lowe, and lives at Fort Branch; Burton O. makes his home in Belleville, Illinois ; Zella Z. is Mrs. Blessing, and resides in Cleveland, Ohio; Lola C. is at home.
Mr. Shull has taken an active part in the affairs of his county and has been honored by his fellow citizens many times. He served as supervisor of his township and for four years was a member of the town board, having also been treasurer of Gibson county for one term, in all of which positions of trust he acquitted himself in a creditable manner and to the entire satisfaction of his constituents. For the last twenty-five years Mr. Shull has taken an active interest in the Gibson County Agricultural Fair Association and has held all the offices in that body with the exception of president and general superintendent. He is a member of the local post of the Grand Army of the Republic. His interest and activities in so many lines are all the more re- markable when it is noted that he has suffered a great deal on account of the wound received while in the army. However, his mind has risen superior to
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this bodily handicap and he has filled a large and important place in his com- munity.
Mr. Shull and his family occupy a splendid modern residence in Fort Branch, where he is now living in honorable retirement after a long life of strenuous and successful endeavor. Religiously, they are members of the Methodist Episcopal church at Fort Branch, while, politically, Mr. Shull has always been a Republican and active in local public affairs.
DAVID STORMONT.
Having been requested to contribute some reminiscences relating to the late David Stormont and his times, I have here endeavored to recount some of the happenings of past days and thus throw some light on many events which have probably passed from the memory of even those who knew of them.
As to David Stormont's relations with the "underground railroad," I have heard him say that he always fed the hungry and clothed the naked, and that when the slave came to his house on his way North, he fed and clothed him. I have heard father say that it was very hard for him to get No. 12 shoes sometimes, the fact that he often had to do without causing suspicion that he was not buying them for his own family. At one time two young colored men came to his house, and he put them to work hoeing corn with himself in a field not far from the house. Soon a stranger was seen riding up the lane and one of the young men said it was his master, who, however, rode on by without recognizing his slave. The colored boys told their story, which was to the effect that they had swam the Ohio river, their clothes being tied on the back of their necks. On reaching the northern shore and when about to redress, they were frightened by the approach of some one and ran away, leaving their clothes. They succeeded in getting other clothing else- where, and it was doubtless because of this change in their clothing that their master did not recognize them. At another time a colored refugee was in my father's back yard when he saw his master pass the house on horseback. At another time I remember a white man and a negro came to my father's and asked for a lot of things, especially money, but father, deeming them spies, gave them nothing. A man who had been directed to father's house was asked when he had first heard of this house as a station on the "underground railroad," and he said that he had heard of it back in Georgia before he left
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home. At another time father and mother went to spend the day with a friend some distance from home, and when they got there they found a slave tied in the kitchen. My mother got them to release him, but eventually he was sent back to his master. Many others, perhaps hundreds, passed by that way, all of whom he fed if hungry and clothed if naked. When the slave hunters or masters came along, he also fed them, and when they inquired as to directions he pointed them to the North star, but they got little informa- tion from him as to the next station on the "underground railroad." Some- times they threatened to take him out and whip him or kill him if he did not tell where he had negroes hid, and they watched his house for weeks at a time trying to get proof of his harboring negroes. At one time, it must have been about 1854 or 1855, he went one evening, just before dark, to see a sick neighbor. He was on horseback and suddenly came across a party of ten or a dozen men, whose horses were tied and who were plentifully supplied with whiskey. They were having a very social time and were feeling pretty good. While there, one of them confided in father that they were intending that night to go to his house, take him out and whip him in an effort to make him tell where he had negroes hidden. (As a matter of fact, he had none hidden at that time. ) He went on to see his sick Democratic friend, who was a true friend to him, and sat up with him a short time. He told what he had heard and seen and that he was going home. It was arranged that he should ride over fields and get into his house by the back way. However, after rid- ing part of the way, he turned his horse loose and proceeded the rest of the way on foot, succeeding in getting into the house in safety. He then ac- quainted my mother with the situation, and said that he would sit at the east window, with rifle in hand, and that as fast as he fired she was to hand him a loaded gun and reload the empty rifle. He said he would surely get some of them, for he intended to shoot to kill. The next morning the boys rode a ways up the road and found where the gang's horses had been tied, indi- cations being that they had remained there a good part of the night. Father had made arrangements to be away from home the next night, but some of us thought he had better not go. However, he said he intended to go about his business just as he used to. So he armed himself and went on his way as if he had nothing on his mind. During this time my mother never let the fire die out in the stove, for she said if their enemies came around and did not behave themselves just right she would scald their eyes out; to this end, she always kept a boiler full of hot water on the stove. However, they were never permitted to seriously molest father or any of his family, though some- times shots were fired over our heads from the big hill back of the house.
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About this time my brother Joseph was standing near a crowd of men in Princeton and father came along, stopping to shake hands and speak to each of the men, who said, "How do you do, Uncle David," as he was gen- erally known throughout the community. After he left one of the men said to another, "I could cut his heart out, the old abolitionist." Brother told fa- ther what the man had said, but would never tell him who said it.
In those days it meant much to openly avow one's self in favor of abolition, and at first but few did so.
Regarding these incidents, I was asked the question, "What recompense was there for your father in all this? Why would he spend his time and money and risk his property and the lives of his family and himself for such a cause?" Now, to answer these questions, why was it that my forefathers left Scotland, at the time of the Reformation, when many Presbyterians were put to death because they would not worship according to the dictates of the King. They believed that they had the right to worship God according to the dictates of their own consciences. Their ministers were not allowed to preach or hold meetings, at the risk of being hunted down and shot to death or burned at the stake. It was then that my forefathers became Dissenters- that is, they neither voted nor held office. Then they entered into a covenant with God,. promising that if he would do certain things for them they would likewise perform certain things for God, and from this they became known as Covenanters. Then, rather than deny their God, or be persecuted for their belief, they left Scotland and settled in Ireland. Was not that done for prin- ciple's sake? And why was it that my grandfather, Samuel Stormont, at about the time of the Revolutionary war, left Belfast, Ireland, and settled in Chester district. South Carolina. And why was it that he did not accept a large estate willed to him by an uncle, General Stormont, a bachelor. Grand- father said he would have none of the ill-gotten gains of his uncle, who was on the wrong side, fighting for England against the United States, although at that time my grandfather, David Stormont, was poor and needed money badly? Then when grandfather saw the evils of slavery and when he came to his death bed, he said to his wife, "You make one sale and sell everything here and move to Indiana," for he did not want his family reared in a slave state. They disposed of everything excepting forty acres of land (and which they never afterwards realized anything on) and in the spring of 1811 started on their long journey. Their effects were loaded into a one-horse cart, and the family comprised eight children, the oldest of whom was a girl about twenty years old and the youngest, a boy of five years. Reaching Kentucky, they stopped for about a year at the home of a cousin, Mr. Hage-
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wood. In the fall of 1812 they came to Princeton, settling near where the Archer cemetery is now. Soon afterwards they bought land and located about a mile further west on land now owned by the writer. Father was then about ten years old, and, with the other members of the family, had to work very hard to make a living, for which reason also he had but little chance for securing an education. Then again, what caused my father, in 1833, when there was a separation in the Reformed Presbyterian church, to remain faithful to the old church, he and his wife being the only ones who did not join the New-Lights the first Sabbath. The second Sabbath he and his brother Robert and their families held prayer-meeting. Principle was back of all this. What caused my father to befriend the low, degraded, down-trodden negro? Was it for financial profit or the applause of men? No, for at that time the most unpopular doctrine imaginable was that of abolitionism, that all men are created free and equal ..
Well, you say, what kind of religion had he? What church did he belong to, and what was his doctrine and creed? He belonged to the Reformed Presbyterian church (Old Light ), the fruit of a long line of Dissenters, who neither voted nor held office. They neither held office nor voted because to hold office they had to take an immoral oath. The oath which the President is required to take does not contain the name of God, and the Constitution, as we believe, is unchristian. It says, "We, the people." and does not give God and Christ the glory that is due his name. We believe that Christ is King of Kings and Lord of Lords, and we think the Constitution should acknowledge Him as such. Then the laws are not in accordance with the laws of God. For instance, in slavery days they arrested a negro, who was trying to get to Canada, and tried him according to the laws of Indiana, which laws would send him back into slavery; whereas, we believed that the white man had no right to hold the negro as a slave, according to the word of God. As we were bound to obey God's law rather than those of men, we, as Dissenters, could not sit as jurors. As to taking the oaths of office, many of these oaths we could not take; for instance, that of county commissioner, who is sworn to carry out the laws pertaining to his office. There comes a man who has ful- filled the requirements of the law regarding his character, and the commis- sioner, under his oath, is bound to grant that man a license to sell liquor. We deem it wrong to deal in that which kills both soul and body, therefore we could not hold such an office, neither could we vote for some one else who would be conipelled to take an oath to do what we could not do ourselves. The question is asked why the undersigned did not vote in 1912 to put the saloons out of Princeton for the next two years, when I believe so strongly
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