History of Gibson County, Indiana : her people, industries and institutions, Part 73

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

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JONAH G. LE GRANGE.

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in Patoka township and died there; Peter died in youth; Richard was the father of the subject of this sketch; Ann became the wife of a Mr. Mounts, of Patoka township; the ninth became the wife of Joshua Embree, and lived and died in Wabash township, this county; Polly Ann became the wife of Rev. T. M. Strain, of Fort Branch. Richard LeGrange, father of the subject, had only a common school education, being a self-learned man, but becoming widely informed on general questions. After his marriage he located four miles west of Princeton in Patoka township, where, on section II, he located and cleared a fine farm, and there reared his family. Subse- quently, having gained a competency, he retired from active labor, and moved to Princeton, this county, where his death occurred in 1872. For his second wife he married Mrs. Mary Thornburg, of Newburg. He was widely known throughout this section of the county and was respected by all who knew him. An old-line Whig in his early political proclivities, later he be- came allied with the Republican party, to which he gave stanch support dur- ing the rest of his life. Religiously, he and his wife were members of the General Baptist church. By his marriage to Hannah Tichenor he became the father of five children : Ann Eliza, deceased, was the wife of Lewis Bink- ley, of Princeton ; Clarence, deceased. married Nan LeGrange, who now lives in Princeton; Jonah, the subject of this sketch; George, now deceased, mar- ried Lillie Whittaker, who, after his death, became the wife of Oscar La- Grange, of Patoka township.

The subject of this sketch received his education in the home schools and at Fort Branch, and lived at home until he was twenty-two years of age. He has followed agricultural pursuits throughout his active life, with the exception of a period of thirteen years, when he lived at Princeton, engaged in the mercantile business, which he later sold to George Skelton. In all the enterprises to which he has given his attention he has been eminently suc- cessful and for many years he has been numbered among the progressive and successful business men of the county. He is the owner of a fine farm of two hundred and twenty acres besides the home place in Patoka township, and also of one hundred and sixty acres in Union township. He carries on a general farming business, and also gives considerable attention to live stock, raising a good many Duroc Jersey Red hogs, Hereford cattle and Percheron horses. He has always bought and sold large numbers of live stock, and has found it a very profitable source of income.

When about twenty-two years of age, the subject of this sketch was (47)

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married to Margaret Ayres, of Patoka township, this county, the daughter of James and Sarah Ann ( Davis) Ayres. Her father came early to Gibson county with his family, settling south of Princeton in Patoka township, and was numbered among the first settlers. They located in section 31, where the father successfully followed farming pursuits, and was numbered among the leading citizens of his locality. To Mr. and Mrs. LeGrange have been born three children, George, who died young, one who died in infancy, and Clarence, born February 21, 1894, who remained at home. He is a graduate of the Princeton high school, with the class of 1913, and is an estimable and promising young man.

Politically, Mr. LeGrange has given a life-long support to the Republican party, and while a resident of Princeton rendered efficient service as a mem- ber of the town council. Religiously, he and his family are identified with the General Baptist church, to the support of which they contribute liberally. Fraternally, Mr. LeGrange is an appreciative member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, belonging to the subordinate lodge at Princeton.

Mr. LeGrange has performed well his part in life, and it is a compli- ment worthily bestowed to say that this locality is honored in his citizenship, for he has achieved eminent success through his own efforts and has always stood for what is best in life, giving his support to all movements having for their object the betterment of the public welfare. Because of his genial dis- position and unassuming manner, he has gained and retains the friendship of all who know him.

HUGH D. McGARY.

Among the honorable and influential citizens of Gibson county, Indiana, is the subject of this review, who has here maintained his home for many years, winning a definite success by means of the agricultural industry, to which he has devoted his attention during the years of an active business life. His career has been without shadow of wrong or suspicion of evil, and thus he has ever commanded the confidence and esteem of his fellowmen.

Hugh D. McGary was born on February 7, 1839, in Montgomery town- ship, Gibson county, Indiana, and is a son of Harrison and Nancy (Pritcard) McGary, the father a native of Kentucky, and the mother a native of North Carolina. Harrison D. McGary, who had been a soldier in the war of 1812, accidentally came to Gibson county where he entered a tract of land in Mont-

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gomery township, to the clearing and cultivation of which he devoted his attention until his death, which occurred in 1845. He was survived several years by his widow. They became the parents of three children, namely : William H., who was killed in the battle of Stone's River, January 31. 1862; Joseph K. and Hugh D., both of whom were also veterans of the Civil war. Hugh McGary was reared on the paternal homestead, where he remained until 1884, when he removed to Princeton. Four years later he returned to the farm, and the following year went to California, where he remained two years. Then returning to Gibson county, he located at Fort Branch, where he now resides, although he has business interests in Princeton. Both as farmer and business man Mr. McGary's record has been characterized by per- sistent industry, sound business judgment and wise discrimination in the conduct of his affairs, so that he was enabled to accumulate a competency which has made his later years free from care.

Mr. McGary has a most honorable military record, he having enlisted on May 24, 1861, for a period of three years, at a time when the greater number of enlistments were for only three months, and Mr. McGary now claims that no one outside of his regiment enlisted at that time for the three-year period. His command was assigned to the Western army, in which he saw much hard service under Col. R. H. Smith, participating in all of the campaigns for which the western army was noted and including the terrible battles at Shiloh. Stone's River, Chickamauga, Chattanooga and Atlanta. He is now a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, where, with his comrades, he keeps alive the memories of days gone by. In 1884 Mr. McGary was elected sheriff of Gib- son county, and was re-elected in 1886. In 1898 he was elected to represent Gibson county in the Indiana Legislature, performing his duties to the satis- faction of his constituents. He has for many years taken a prominent part in local public affairs. His political affiliations have always been with the Republican party, while religiously he has long been an earnest and devoted member of the General Baptist church at Fort Branch.

On September 26, 1867, he was married to Sarah C. Weed. a native of Gibson county, and to them have been born three children: Zenas C., who lives on the old home farm in Montgomery township; Clyde C., who lives in Vinita, Oklahoma; and Maud, the wife of John Lucas, of Sedalia, Missouri, who is chief clerk for the superintendent of the Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railroad. In all that constitutes true manhood and good citizenship, Mr. McGary is a worthy example, and none stands higher than he in the esteem and confidence of the circles in which he has moved.

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WILLIAM B. BINGHAM.

To a great extent the prosperity of the agricultural sections of our country is due to the honest industry, the sturdy persistence, the unswerving perseverance and the wise economy which so prominently characterize the farming element of the Hoosier state. Among this class may be mentioned the subject of this life record, who, by reason of years of indefatigable labor and honest effort, has not only acquired a well merited material prosperity, but has also richly earned the highest esteem of all with whom he is as- sociated.

William B. Bingham was born in Patoka, Gibson county, Indiana, on March 20, 1864, the son of Gordon Byron and Minerva (Stockwell) Bing- ham, the former a native of Baltimore, Maryland, and the latter of Princeton, Gibson county. Indiana. Gordon B. Bingham, Sr., was the son of a Gordon Bingham, also, who was a successful merchant in Baltimore, Maryland. During the Civil war period, the subject's father played an important part in caring for the business interests of the family at home, and eventually became the owner of extensive mercantile interests, comprising a store, flour mill, packing house, distillery, etc., and was very successful in the management of these enterprises. His death occurred in 1876 and that of his wife in 1907. Of the eight children born to these parents, but four are now living : W. B .; G. B., of Patoka; Mrs. W. P. Casey, of Patoka ; and Mrs. S. G. Ingle, of San Diego, California. The city of Princeton, Gibson county, Indiana, was named in honor of the Prince family, to which the subject's maternal grandmother belonged. The family has been prominent and active for many years in various business interests, its various members having attained high reputations for probity of character, sound business judgment and progressive dispositions. William B. Bingham attended the public schools of Patoka, and also spent three years in the Evansville high school, thus receiving a good practical education. In 1883 he entered upon the active fields of life upon his own account as a farmer in the White River bottom in which he had im- mediate success and to which he has devoted his attention continuously since. He is associated in this enterprise with his brother, Gordon B., as well as in the grain business at Patoka, his brother having charge of the latter end of the business. By persevering efforts, persistent industry and sound business judgment in the handling of their affairs they have realized large returns in both lines of their business and today they are numbered among the enter- prising and substantial citizens of Patoka.

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W. B. Bingham has been twice married, first, in 1886 to Jennie Hewlett, the niece of Dr. John F. Howard, well known in this locality. Her death occurred on December 3. 1889, and in 1892 Mr. Binghani married Laura Hewlett, the daughter of John W. Hewlett and a sister of his first wife. To this union have been born four children: Jennie, Minerva, Bernice and William B., Jr.

Politically, Mr. Bingham has long been a supporter of the Republican party, and is a man of great public spirit, and takes a deep interest in every- thing which promises to benefit the community and his fellowmen in any way. Fraternally, he is affiliated with the Modern Woodmen of America. In all the relations of life Mr. Bingham has commanded the confidence and respect of those with whom he has been brought into contact and a biographi- cal history of his locality would not be complete without a record of his career.

H. A. MILBURN.

It is with a large degree of satisfaction that the biographer takes up the life history of the gentleman whose name forms the caption of this article, a man widely known as one of the honored citizens of Gibson county, and who, though a comparatively young man, has already become prominently identified with the varied interests of his community. His well-directed efforts in the practical affairs of life, his capable management of his business interests and his sound judgment have brought to him prosperity, and his life demonstrates what may be accomplished by the man of energy and ambition, who is not afraid to work. In all the relations of life he has commanded the respect and confidence of all with whom he has been brought in contact, and the history of Gibson county would be incomplete without a record of his career.

Herbert A. Milburn, for many years a prominent citizen and successful business man of Patoka. Gibson county, Indiana, and the postmaster of that thriving town, was born on November 23. 1872, the son of Edgar and Mar- garet L. (Sellers) Milburn. He is descended from a long line of sterling ancestors, the family having been residents in the state of Virginia for many years. His paternal great-grandfather came from the old Dominion state to Indiana, establishing a splendid homestead east of Patoka, Gibson county. Here the subject's grandfather, Felix Milburn, was born and reared and later married Margaret Brazelton, also a native of Gibson county. Among their children was Edgar Milburn, who, on attaining mature years, engaged in mer-

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cantile business at Hazleton, which he conducted successfully for several years, and also was connected with . Bingham's distillery in Patoka. His death occurred on April 24, 1875, when the subject of this sketch was but two years old, and he was survived many years by his widow, whose death occurred on December 13, 1909. They were the parents of six children, namely: Electa, who became the wife of Alonzo Hinkle, who is now de- ceased; Clarence, a druggist of Patoka; Blanche, the wife of Robert A. Dixon, of West Summerville, Massachusetts; Felix O., a druggist of Patoka ; Edgar E., one of the proprietors of the Sun of Springfield, Ohio, and Her- bert A., the immediate subject of this sketch. The mother of these children, who was left a widow when all of the children were young in years, courag- eously took up the burden thus thrown upon her shoulders, and by teaching school managed to support her family and give all her children good practical education. She was a good woman in the best sense of the term, conse- crated to her children, and of her the subject of this sketch says that all he is and hopes to be is due entirely to his mother's help and influence. She was a refined, cultured woman of noble aims and ideals, and instilled in her children those principles calculated to develop in them upright manhood and woman- hood. Her father, Preston Sellers, was for many years a well-known lawyer of Georgetown and Ripley, Ohio.

Herbert A. Milburn received his education in the Patoka public schools and was a student in Indiana State Normal School at Terre Haute, and of the Danville Central Normal College. He then followed teaching as a voca- tion for fifteen years, six years of which time he was assistant principal of the Patoka schools, and three years in the Francisco schools. being principal during one year of the time. He was elected principal for another year, but resigned in order to enter the drug business at Patoka, with which he was connected for two years. He then engaged in the general merchandise busi- ness at Patoka, which commanded his attention for five years, at the end of which time, in October, 1912, he sold his interest. In 1907 Mr. Milburn was appointed postmaster of Patoka, and is still the efficient incumbent of that office, discharging his official duties to the entire satisfaction of both his de- partmental superiors and the patrons of the office. Though starting in the world practically unaided, Mr. Milburn has, by the exercise of good judg- ment and wise economy, been enabled to accumulate a fair amount of this world's goods, including some valuable real estate, his residence property, the store building in which he formerly conducted business, several vacant lots, a livery stable in Patoka, and some valuable property in Princeton. He is

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numbered among the solid and substantial men of his community, and has borne his full part of the burden of carrying on the civic affairs of Patoka, giving his support at all times to such movements as promised to be of benefit to the community. He is a symmetrically developed man, discharging the duties of citizenship with an eye to the greatest good, and his popularity is only bounded by the lines within which he is known. Faithful to every trust reposed in him, the future may have for him other positions than that he now so capably holds.

On December 31, 1902, Herbert A. Milburn married Julia McConnell, the daughter of Alexander McConnell, of near Francisco.

Politically, Mr. Milburn is an ardent supporter of the Republican party. in the ranks of which organization he has been an active worker for many years. Fraternally, he is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons, the Order of the Eastern Star and the Modern Woodmen of America, while his religious connections are with the Presbyterian church, in the prosperity of which he is actively interested.

WILLIAM P. CASEY.

To present in detail the leading facts in the life of one of Patoka's busy men of affairs and throw light upon some of his more prominent character- istics, is the task in hand in order to place before the reader the following brief biography of William P. Casey. Though still in the prime of vigorous manhood, he has already won a distinguished place in the business world, besides impressing his strong personality upon the community where for a number of years he has been a forceful factor in directing thought and mold- ing opinion.

William P. Casey was born in Patoka, Gibson county, Indiana, on Febru- ary 5, 1861, and has spent practically his entire life in this immediate locality. His parents were William J. and Charlotte M. (Park) Casey, the former a native of Posey county. Indiana, and the latter born in New York state. William J. Casey became a merchant in Patoka, where for many years he successfully conducted business affairs and also served very efficiently as auditor of Gibson county, being one of the few Democrats who has served in that office up to the time of his term, which was about 1876. He was re- elected for a second term, but died before entering upon the term. He came to Gibson county in young manhood, locating in Patoka, and resided there

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continuously up to the time of his death, which occurred in February, 1878 or 1879. His widow is still living and resides in Princeton. They were the parents of four children, namely: Howard B., who died at the age of four years; Emma, who died at the age of twelve years; William P., the subject of this sketch; and Luella, the wife of L. C. Embree, an attorney at Princeton.

William P. Casey attended the public schools of Patoka, and was later, during 1878-1879, a student in old Asbury College, now DePauw Uni- versity, at Greencastle. After entering life's battle on his own ac- count, he was employed in various ways until, by rigid economy and per- severing industry, he got a start and finally became a clerk for T. H. Jerauld, in whose store he was employed for two years. Having ambition higher than that of a clerical capacity, Mr. Casey began reading law in the office of L. C. Embree, of Princeton, but a year later he was compelled to give up his studies. During the following year he was employed in a shoe store in In- dianapolis, but returned to Patoka and formed a partnership with Frank Parrett in 1883. buying the stock of Mr. Jerauld, who had died, and he has been engaged in business consecutively since, and has met with eminent suc- cess in the enterprise. About two years after starting he bought his partner's interest, and has since conducted the business on his own account. Sagacious and far-seeing in his business affairs, Mr. Casey has been enabled to build up a large and profitable trade throughout this community and is numbered among the solid men of his locality.

On September 3. 1889, William P. Casey was married to Mary S. Bing- ham, the daughter of G. B. and Minerva Bingham, of Patoka, and to this union there have been born three children, namely: William Bingham Casey, of Patoka, a commercial traveler ; Lucile Marie and Helen Agnes.

Fraternally, Mr. Casey is actively identified with the Knights of Pythias, the Modern Woodmen of America and the Tribe of Ben-Hur, in the work of which he takes a deep interest. Politically, he has been an active exponent of Democratic principles, and in the ranks of his party he has given efficient service. In 1898 he was nominated for the position of county auditor, and together with the rest of his ticket went down to defeat. Standing distinct- ively forward as one of the representative men and progressive citizens of Patoka, Mr. Casey owes his pronounced success in life almost wholly to his own efforts, and is freely entitled to the appellation "A self-made man." His life's story contains little outside of the ordinary, and his every act has been open to the scrutiny and criticism of his fellowmen, but few, if any, of whom have found anything to condemn.

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Verander A. D. MCCLURE.

The career of the well-remembered gentleman whose name forms the caption of this paragraph, was a strenuous and varied one, entitling him to honorable mention among the citizens of his day and generation in the county in which his life was so closely identified. Although his life has been brought to a close by the inevitable fate that awaits all mankind, his influence still pervades the lives of a wide circle of friends and acquaintances who revere his memory. As a business man or private citizen, he was always true to himself and his fellowmen and the tongue of calumny never touched him. As a soldier he proved his loyalty to the government he loved so well and the long and tiresome marches in all times and situations, on the tented field, and in the line of battle, where the rattle of the 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. To such as he the country is under a debt of gratitude which it cannot repay and future generations will commemorate their chivalry in story and in song.

A. D. McClure was born on December 22, 1837, near Princeton, Gibson county, Indiana, and was the son of Joseph P. and Catharine N. (Devin) McClure, the father of Scotch descent and the mother a native of the state of Indiana. A. D. McClure passed the major portion of his life in his native state and most of it in Gibson county, the exceptions being three years' resi- dence in Kentucky and a short time in Vincennes. He received a good, prac- tical school education in the public schools of that locality, and as soon as he was old enough, took upon himself the battle of life, in the course of which his efforts were rewarded by a well-merited competency. At the outbreak of the Southern insurrection, Mr. McClure gave practical evidence of his pat- riotism by enlisting as a private in Company H. Seventeenth Regiment In- · diana Volunteer Infantry, which was a part of the famous Wilder's brigade, and which served throughout the war, taking part in many of the most im- portant engagements and campaigns of that conflict. During a part of his war service, Mr. McClure served as a special scout for General Wilder. Upon return to peaceful pursuits, Mr. McClure engaged in various enterprises, and for about twenty-four years he operated the old mill at Patoka which had been established many years before, and which was one of the best known and most, popular mills in this section of the state. Mr. McClure gave close attention to every detail of his business, and owing to his accommodating disposition and his attention to the wants of his patrons, he enjoyed a large

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and profitable patronage for many years. His death occurred on March 6, 1907. His chief characteristics seemed to be keenness of perception, a tire- less energy, honesty of purpose and every-day common sense. He was suc- cessful in business, respected in social life, and as a neighbor discharged his duties in a manner becoming a liberal-minded, intelligent citizen of the state where the essential qualities of his manhood were duly recognized and prized at their true value. To write a detailed and full account of his long and use- ful life would require a much more elaborate article than the nature of this work permits or requires. Sufficient to say, however, that in his record there was much that was commendable and his character forcibly illustrated what a life of energy can accomplish when plans are wisely laid and actions are governed by right principles, noble aims and high ideals. His death removed from Gibson county one of her most substantial and highly esteemed citizens and the many beautiful tributes to his high standing in the world of affairs and as a man and citizen attested to the abiding place he had in the heart and affections of a host of friends.

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History of Gibson County, Indiana : her people, industries and institutions, Part 73

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