History of Gibson County, Indiana : her people, industries and institutions, Part 71

Author: Stormont, Gil R
Publication date: 1914
Publisher: Indianapolis : B.F.Bowen
Number of Pages: 1284

USA > Indiana > Gibson County > History of Gibson County, Indiana : her people, industries and institutions > Part 71

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Isaac I .. Mounts spent his boyhood days on the farm and received what meager schooling the district schools of the township afforded. At the open- ing of the Civil war he heard his country's call and responded with all the enthusiasm of youth, throwing his fortunes in with the thousands of young men who were ready to endure all dangers for their country's sake. He enlisted in Company F, Fifty-eighth Regiment Indiana Volunteer Infantry, on November 25, 1862. His company was attached to the Army of the West and immediately after his enlistment he was transferred to Tennessee, where he participated in the second day's battle of Shiloh. It is not possible in this connection to detail all the fights and skirmishes through which the gallant Fifty-eighth fought. Among the more important engagements in which Mr. Mounts was a participant were Shiloh, Chickamauga, Chatta- nooga, Missionary Ridge, Stone's River and the siege of Knoxville. At Knoxville his company was organized into a pontoon train, and from that time until the end of the war they were building bridges and doing guard (luty. After joining the pontoon brigade he engaged in no more battles, serving as a non-commissioned corporal from that time until the close of the war. He was mustered out at Indianapolis July 25. 1865. It is interesting to note at this place that the history of the Fifty-eighth Indiana Regiment has been compiled by Colonel Gil R. Stormont, of Princeton, the editor of this work.

After the close of the war Mr. Mounts returned to his home in Gibson county. He had gone through the whole war without being wounded' or

718

GIBSON COUNTY, INDIANA.

having his health impaired, proof of which is evidenced by his good health at the present time. The fifty years which have elapsed since the close of the war have been spent in agricultural pursuits in this county, where he has brought his farm to a high state of cultivation. He is a very quiet, pleasant and unassuming man, keen of memory and progressive in his methods of business.

Mr. Mounts was married January 1, 1871, to Sarah E. Pritchett, the daughter of Elijah and Elizabeth (Rutledge) Pritchett, and to this union has been born one son, John, who is unmarried and lives at home with his parents : Ada, deceased ; and Jessie, deceased.

Mr. Mounts is a man who by his own unaided efforts has worked his way from a modest beginning to a position of influence in his community. His life throughout his whole career has been one of unceasing industry and perseverance and the systematic and honorable methods which he has fol- lowed have won for him the unbounded confidence of his fellow citizens of Gibson, whose interests he has ever had at heart. His career presents a notable example of those qualities of mind and character which have ever overcome obstacles and won success, and his example is eminently worthy of imitation.

ROBERT A. ALLEN.

Among the men who have led an eminently active and useful life in this county for the past fifty years the name of Robert A. Allen is prominent as one who has been identified with the life of the community in which he has- lived. His career is that of an able and conscientious worker and his friends know him as a man of tireless industry and unafraid to carry out his convic- tions. As a man of high integrity and genial, affable nature, he has won countless friends among the good people of his locality, where he has lived so many years.

Robert A. Allen, the son of John and Letitia (Cook) Allen, was born in Gibson county, Indiana, on May 15, 1863. John Allen was born in Ireland in 1824 and it was there that he met and wooed the girl who became his wife, who was born in 1825. They came to America in 1851, landing at New Orleans and later moved to Princeton, where they remained for about ten years. They then moved to a farm in this county, just west of Princeton, known as the "Cherry Grove" farm, which they operated for about ten years,

719

GIBSON COUNTY, INDIANA.

after which they moved on the farm where Mr. Allen now lives. John Allen died on December 9. 1899, and his wife followed him to the other land on April 3, 1909. Mr. and Mrs. John Allen were the parents of a large family of eight children : Mrs. Catherine Sprow, who lives near Douglas Station ; Andrew D., who resides in Alton, Missouri: Mrs. Letitia A. Lathrop, of Princeton ; Mrs. Mary J. Knowles, who lives in Nebraska ; Thomas, a farmer in this county; Mrs. Rebecca Schlamp, whose husband is a farmer in this county : Robert A., and James, who lives on a farm in Patoka township.

Robert A. Allen received the best education afforded by the district schools of his neighborhood and spent his childhood and early manhood working on the home farm. He has devoted his whole life to agricultural pursuits and has met with success commensurate with his efforts. Ile is practical and methodical in his labors and gives his personal attention to every detail of his farm work with the result that he has an enviable standing in the community because of his ability and success in his chosen vocation. In addition to the raising of grain and fruits, he also gives some attention to the breeding and raising of live stock, which he has found to be a profitable source of income. His farm of sixty-six and two-thirds acres is well im- proved in every respect. His substantial and attractive residence, com- modious and well arranged barns and well kept fences all bear evidence to the wise discrimination and excellent taste of their owner.

Robert A. Allen was married March 22, 1900, to Rosa Laib, daughter of Lewis and Sophia ( Blessing) Laib. Lewis Laib was born in Baltimore, Maryland, and it was there that he met his future wife. They came to Gibson county, Indiana, in 1857 and he has been a farmer in this county during all these years and is still living on his farm of one hundred and fifty-five acres near Princeton. His wife died January 7, 1914, and is buried in the Odd Fellows cemetery at Princeton. Mr. and Mrs. Laib were the parents of ten children : Edward, of Jackson, Tennessee ; Jacob, of Evansville, Indiana ; Rosa. wife of Mr. Allen; John, of Princeton, Indiana; Sophia, who lives at home with her father; Louis, who resides on his father's farm; Joseph, of Princeton ; William, deceased September 18, 1897; Mrs. Maggie Park and Mrs. Nellie Bruce. Mr. and Mrs. Allen are the parents of three children, William L., Floyd R. and Hazel. Mrs. Allen is a lady of many kindly graces of head and heart, who has by her kindliness of manner and excellent qualities endeared herself to a large circle of friends.

Mr. Allen gives his ardent support to the Republican party and takes a deep interest in public affairs, although he is not in any sense a seeker after

720

GIBSON COUNTY, INDIANA.

public office. He and his wife are consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal church, Hights Chapel, and take an active part in supporting all worthy movements which have for their object the welfare of their fellow citizens. Mr. Allen has never shrunk from his duties as a citizen and his obligations to the church, his neighbors and friends. To him home life has been a sacred trust and nothing has happened which could swerve him from the path of rectitude and honor. He easily wins friends and always retains them and enjoys a marked degree of popularity in the county where so many of his active years have been spent.

THOMAS WARK.

Though many years have passed since the subject of this sketch passed from the life militant to the life triumphant, he is still favorably remembered by many of the older residents of Gibson county, and because of his many excellent personal qualities and the splendid and definite influence which his life shed over the entire community in which he lived many years, it is par- ticularly consistent that specific mention should be made of him in a work containing mention of the representative persons of the county. A man of high moral character, unimpeachable integrity, persistent industry and ex- cellent business judgment, he stood "four square to every wind that blows," and throughout the community he occupied an enviable position among his fellow men.

Thomas Wark was born July 12, 1811, in the township of Orbeg, county Donegal, Ireland, and died August 25, 1895, at Fort Branch, Gibson county, Indiana, at the age of eighty-four. He was a son of Joseph and Martha Wark. An ancestor of the subject removed from Scotland to Ire- land and received a grant of land from the British government. According to the best information, this was about two hundred years ago, and the descendants of this ancestor have continued to hold this same land.

In 1832 Thomas Wark emigrated to America, landing at New Orleans and, coming up the Mississippi and the Ohio rivers, located at or near Evansville, Indiana, where for some years he was engaged in trading alone the river in eggs, chickens and produce. He later purchased land in Gibson county and farmed for some years. He had three brothers and one sister, the sister now being the wife of Joseph McClay. Stephen and Joseph en-

RESIDENCE OF MISS ELIZABETH IRWIN.

ISABELLA IRWIN.

721

GIBSON COUNTY, INDIANA.

listed on the Union side during the Civil war, Joseph having been a member of the Home Guard during the famous Morgan raids. Stephen, who had previously engaged in farming in Illinois, went to the front from that state, but Thomas, the immediate subject of this review, was in such a poor state of health that he could not enter the service of his country, much to his regret. About the close of the Civil war Thomas Wark moved to Fort Branch and made it his home the rest of his days, selling his farm and building an elegant modern residence in the town, which is now occupied by his grand-nieces. the Misses Irwin.

During his lifetime the subject made several trips to the Emerakl Isle, and on his first visit brought with him on his return Isabella Irwin, daughter of his sister Isabella. She made her home with him and was of great comfort and help to the subject in the declining years of his life. On a later visit to his native land Mr. Wark brought back with him a grand-niece, the grand- daughter of his sister, Isabella Irwin, the child being but four and one-half years of age when she arrived in this country. She received a good education in the schools of Fort Branch and is now occupying the Wark residence, her parents having been John and Euphenie ( Fawcett) Irwin, and her given name Elizabeth.

Mrs. Isabella Irwin came to join her sister in the summer of 1898 and still resides with her. The Irwin sisters are faithful members of the Metho- dist church and are charming and cultured ladies. They possess a beautiful home and have a splendid library and their social activities are confined to the most refined circles of their community.

Mr. Wark was a Republican and very stanch in his political views. He cast his first vote for William Henry Harrison and his last vote for Benjamin Harrison.

JOHN A. SPENCE.

In examining the life records of self-made men it will invariably be found that indefatigable industry has constituted the basis of their success. Of course there are other elements which enter into and conserve the advance- ment of personal interest, but the foundation of all true success is earnest. persistent endeavor. John A. Spence, the subject of this sketch, is one of those self-made men who has achieved his success only by bringing to bear those sterling qualities of strict honesty and uprightness which are sure to

(46)

722

GIBSON COUNTY, INDIANA.

bring success Starting in life with practically nothing, he has by his own unaided efforts, won a very comfortable competence, and now lives in a fine home surrounded by all the modern conveniences of life.

John A. Spence, the son of Gabriel and Martha (McWilliams) Spence, was born in Gibson county, March 6, 1861. His father was a native of Ireland and his mother was born in Gibson county, Indiana. Early in life he was a steamboat man on the Hudson river in New York, but later came to Indiana and settled in this county, where he married. To Gabriel Spence and wife were born five children: John A., the immediate subject of this sketch; Mrs. Emily Finney, who lives at Princeton, Indiana ; James M., de- ceased; Jennie. who lives with her mother in Princeton, and Mrs. Cora Halfaker, who lives in Missouri. Mrs. Gabriel Spence, the mother of the subject, is still living in Princeton, her husband having died in July, 1901.

John A. Spence was educated in the district schools of Gibson county and worked on his father's farm until he was twenty years of age. On the day before he was twenty years of age he was married to Lottie E. Lock- hart, the daughter of William and Minerva (Burton) Lockhart. Mr. Lock- hart was a native of Ireland, while his wife was born in Indiana. To Mr. and Mrs. Lockhart were born seven children.

Mr. and Mrs. Spence started out in life with only one asset, in addition to their own good common sense and ability to work. This was a trotting mare, and they still have the old mare, now twenty-eight years of age. After their marriage they bought eighty acres of land two miles and a half south- east of Princeton, where they now live, and went into debt for all of it. How- ever, by hard work and good management they succeeded in paying for this farm many years ago. Mrs. Spence has contributed no little to the succcess of the family and deserves an equal share of credit with her husband for their splendid home which they now enjoy. They have a. fine, new modern house and all the conveniences of a city home. In addition to a general sys- tem of farming, Mr. Spence deals in blooded horses and also raises a con- siderable amount of hogs and milch cows.

Mr. and Mrs. Spence have reared an interesting family of five children, all of whom are still under the parental roof : Bertha, born September 8, 1892 ; Lester, born August 7, 1894 : James, born. November 22, 1895 ; Robert, born March 2, 1898, and Walter, born March 4, 1900.

Politically, Mr. Spence is an adherent of the Republican party, but has never sought any public office at the hands of his party. He and his family are loyal members of the Cumberland Presbyterian church in Princeton, and

723

GIBSON COUNTY, INDIANA.

contribute liberally to the support of that denomination. Fraternally, Mr. Spence is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America. He is regarded by all as one of the representative and progressive men of his county, and has been a man of tireless energy and strong courage and thus has won and holds the unqualified esteem of his fellow citizens. He is known as one of the most active citizens in his agricultural and stock raising interests, and his labors have been a potent force in making this county known throughout the state for its excellent farms. His success can be attributed to his untiring energy and the exercise of the ordinary qualities of common sense, persever- ance and sterling integrity.

RICHARD M. PARRETT.

One of the old and distinguished families of Gibson county, Indiana, which has left its impress upon the material and moral life of the county is the Parrett family. Robert Parrett came from England to America in 1814. He was born, reared and married in his native country and his oldest daugh- ter, Mary Anne, was born on board ship on the voyage to this country. The ship in which they came to this country was called the "Mary Anne" hence the name of the first born daughter. Mr. and Mrs. Robert Parrett were the parents of ten children, only one of whom, Eva, is now living. These chil- dren in order of their birth, are as follows: Mary Anne: John W., born 1818, who was a circuit-rider Methodist minister, farmer, lawyer and justice of the peace, and died in 1913, at the age of ninety-five ; Richard M., deceased 1908; William F., who was judge for thirty years and a member of Congress for the Evansville district ; Robert, was an attorney of Lagrange, Indiana; he was a major in the One Hundredth Regiment Indiana Volunteers, and was killed during a windstorm while at the front, a tree falling across his tent. He was brought back to his native state for burial: Mrs. Martha Roberts; Mrs. Sarah Reed, who was the wife of Rev. Hiram Reed, and lived at Evans- ville (he was at one time the pastor of the Englewood Methodist Episcopal church at Evansville, Indiana) ; Jane, who married Alva Johnson, an attorney of Evansville; Joseph was also a resident of Evansville; Eva, the only child of the ten living, married Union Bethel, of Newburg, Indiana, and is now past eighty years of age.

Robert Parrett, the father of Richard Parrett, the subject of this sketch, landed in New York on his way from England and went overland to Pitts-

724

GIBSON COUNTY, INDIANA.

burgh, Pennsylvania, and thence down the Ohio river to Cincinnati, Ohio. From thence he traveled overland to about fifty miles east of Vincennes, Indi- ana, where he remained for about a year. He then located near Blairsville, in Posey county, this state, where he lived for two or three years, after which he moved to Evansville, Indiana. Here he entered a large tract of land in the upper part of what is now Evansville, and he and his sons burned the brick and built the first Methodist Episcopal church in that city. He was a local preacher of that denomination and always took a great deal of interest in the establishment of new Methodist churches and was more or less of a circuit- riding preacher all of his life. He was one of the Methodists who was instru- mental in establishing Asbury College at Greencastle, this state, now known as DePauw University.

Richard M. Parrett, the immediate subject of this sketch, received his early training in the district schools of Vanderburg county, this state, and later with his brother, John, he attended Asbury College at Greencastle. While they were in attendance at Asbury College they wished to come home for vacation, so they walked from Greencastle to Terre Haute, and then took a little boat to Mt. Carmel, and from thence they again walked to Evansville to spend the vacation between terms. After Richard had finished his educa- tion, he and his brother, William F., went overland to Oregon. Both the brothers were married at this time, and took their wives with them on the long trip to the far west in 1842, and both of their wives died in that state. William Parrett only stayed a short time in Oregon, but Richard remained and taught the Indians for some time. He received an appointment from the government as governor of the Indian agency and remained there for two years among the Indians. He then returned to Indiana and married a second time. Upon his return to this state he settled in Evansville and engaged in the manufacture of brick and later his father and his mother's father helped him to buy a farm at Patoka, in Gibson county. He drove through from Evansville to his new home, his wife and son making the trip on the train, being among the first passengers to make the trip on the new railroad, which only ran as far north as White river. He resided on this farm from 1853 until 1862, when he sold it and moved to Henry county, Indiana, where he settled on a farm near Dunreith. After a residence of two years in Henry county, he sold out and bought a farm south of Princeton, this county, and three years later he traded this tract for a farm north of Patoka, where his son, Charles, now lives. He continued to reside on this farm until he sold it to his son and removed to Patoka. where his death occurred in 1898, his

725

GIBSON COUNTY, INDIANA.

wife surviving him ten years. Richard M. Parrett was twice married. His first wife died in Oregon during his stay in that state. His second wife was Anna Eliza Hudelson, of Gibson county, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James Hudelson, whom he met while coming home for his vacation from Asbury College, where he was attending school. There were two children by the first marriage, both of whom are deceased. By the second marriage there were six children who lived to maturity : Robert N., born in Evansville. December 3, 1849: Estella, who married Willoughby Witherspoon, and lives in Indian- apolis ; Frank H., a farmer living near Oakland City : William F., a banker of Patoka, Indiana ; Charles K., who is living on the old homestead near Patoka ; and Bessie, the wife of E. H. Jenne, of Greencastle, Indiana.

R. N. Parrett received his education in the primitive schools of his county, his first school house being a log structure at Miller's Station. Later he attended school at Patoka, and when his parents moved to Henry county, this state, he was in school during their residence there. Upon their return to Gibson county, he entered the Gorley school south of Princeton and other schools in his township. He finished his education by taking a course in the normal school at Lebanon, Ohio. After finishing his schooling he went into the sawmill business and continued to follow this occupation in Patoka and White River townships for the next thirty years. He was very successful in this business and accumulated a very comfortable competence, and in 1900 he bought a half interest in the Princeton Light and Power Company. In 1901 he moved to Princeton and has continued to reside in that place since. The Princeton Light and Power Company was incorporated in 1893 with a capital stock of one hundred thousand dollars. At the present time H. C. Barr is president ; John M. Parrett, secretary and treasurer, and R. N. Parrett, super- intendent .. In 1890, R. N. Parrett helped to organize the Farmers Bank at Princeton, and he has been connected with this financial institution since the date of its organization until charter expired. He is also a director in the People's National Bank of Princeton, and helped organize the Princeton Tele- phone Company, of which he is now president. He was also at one time connected with the Hazleton bank, but disposed of his interests there in order to devote more time to his interests in Princeton.

R. N. Parrett was twice married, his first wife being Maria Gorley, of Patoka township, whose death occurred in 1872, leaving two sons, John M., of Princeton, who is secretary-treasurer of the Princeton Light and Power Company. John married Nettie Berger. The other son by the first marriage is Fred R., who is manager of the Princeton Independent Telephone Com-

726

GIBSON COUNTY, INDIANA.

pany. He married Cora Caterjohn. R. N. Parrett's second wife was Nancy

E. Little, of Patoka, Indiana, the daughter of Robert and - (Hartin) Little, and to this union there have been born eight children : Mable, the wife of L. K. Redman, who is now general agent for the Chicago & Eastern Illinois Railroad Company, which has headquarters at Terre Haute, Indiana; Nell, deceased, March, 1914, who married Arthur Book, shoe merchant of Princeton; Richard R., who is now with his father ; Jessie, deceased; Mary, who is still at home; William Fletcher, who is connected with the Chicago & Eastern Illinois Railroad Company at Terre Haute; Morton Chester, who is attending the high school at Princeton, and Catherine, also attending school.

R. N. Parrett has been a life-long Republican, but has never been a seeker after any political office. His extensive business interests have ab- sorbed all of his time and attention and he has never felt that he had the time to indulge in the game of politics. He is a consistent member of the Meth- odist Episcopal church at Princeton, and for many years has been a trustee in the church. Mr. Parrett is a man of excellent endowments and upright char- acter and has been a valued factor in local affairs in Gibson county for many years He has ever commanded the entire confidence and esteem of his fel- low citizens and has been vigilant in his efforts to further the interests of his city and county along material, moral and civic lines.

WILLIAM .A. WHITSITT.

One of the enterprising and successful farmers of Gibson county, who has succeeded in his chosen vocation through his courage, persistency and good management is William A. Whitsitt, who comes from a distinguished family of this county. He has not only attained to a definite degree of suc- cess in agricultural pursuits, but at the same time he has stood for those things which make for the benefit of the community in which he lives, and for this reason is one well worthy of mention in a biographical volume of this nature.

William A. Whitsitt, the son of William B. and Margaret (McClure) Whitsitt, was born on July 15, 1880, in Princeton, Gibson county, Indiana, both his parents also being natives of this county. His father, William B., still resides with his son on the old home farm. His mother's death occurred January 14, 1908. William B. Whitsitt has followed the occupation of a

727

GIBSON COUNTY, INDIANA.

farmer all his life and is one of the most successful and highly respected old veterans in the county. At the time our country was in danger during the Civil war, he enlisted and went to the front with the Tenth Regiment of Indiana Volunteer Cavalry and served for about one year and a half, being mustered out in June, 1865, at Vicksburg, Mississippi. Immediately after the close of the war he returned to Gibson county, and in 1869 he was mar- ried to Margaret McClure, the daughter of Joseph and Catherine N. (Devine) McClure, and to this union were born four children: Samuel C., Joseph P. and Anna B., who are all deceased, William A., the immediate subject of this sketch, being the only surviving child.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Gibson County, Indiana : her people, industries and institutions, Part 71

Author: Stormont, Gil R Publication date: 1914 Publisher: Indianapolis : B.F.Bowen Number of Pages: 1284

Author: Stormont, Gil R
Publication date: 1914
Publisher: Indianapolis : B.F.Bowen
Number of Pages: 1284