History of Gibson County, Indiana : her people, industries and institutions, Part 78

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 78

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).

In September, 1892, Mr. Deutsch married Elizabeth Martin, of Oakland City, this county, the daughter of Jackson and Virginia Martin, and to them have been born two children, Magdalen and Robert.

Politically, Mr. Deutsch is a Democrat, while his religious affiliation is with the Presbyterian church. Fraternally. he is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons and the Knights of Pythias. having attained to the degree of Knight Templar in the first named order. He is deeply interested in every- thing pertaining to the welfare of the community in which he resides and is now rendering efficient service as president of the Oakland City school board. The store conducted by him is one of the most popular and most extensively patronized stores of its kind in this locality, its large success being very largely due to the able management and wise business discernment of the subject, who is a progressive. alert and careful business man and who has his affairs under superb system, his customers always receiving courteous and honest treatment. Mr. Deutsch is deserving of great credit for what he has accom- plished. for he is a self-made man in the truest sense of the word and has accumulated the competency which is his through his own unaided efforts. Because of his sterling qualities of character and his high standing in the community, he occupies an enviable position among his fellow citizens.

(50)

786

GIBSON COUNTY, INDIANA.

JAMES A. BLACK.

The gentleman whose life history the biographer here takes under review is one of those strong, sturdy characters who have contributed largely to the welfare of the community where he lives, being a business man of more than ordinary sagacity and foresight, and as a citizen, public spirited and progressive in all that the term implies. He is a native son of the old Hoosier state, having been born in Monroe township, Pike county, Indiana, on March 27, 1843. He is a son of David and Martha (Coleman) Black, the former of whom was a native of Georgia, born in 1812, and the latter born in Crab Orchard, Kentucky. David was a son of William Black and came as a small boy with his parents to Indiana, locating in what is now Monroe township, Pike county. They were among the first white settlers in that vicinity and made their location right in the midst of the primeval forest with Indians and wild beasts all about them. Here they commenced the arduous task of making a home, and after years of hard work they con- verted that once forest home into well cultivated fields and buildings and there they reared their family. William also served in the War of 1812, prior to conting to Indiana, and was a man highly respected in those early days. William Black and wife were the parents of five children, namely : Robert, who lived near Decker Station, Indiana : William, who went early to Missouri; John, who became one of the first settlers in southeastern Illinois ; David, father of the immediate subject of this sketch, and the only daughter, Betsy, who was the wife of Richard Barrett and lived at Oakland City and later in Center township, Gibson county.

David Black received his education in the early subscription schools, whose advantages were very limited, reading, writing and arithmetic being about the only branches taught. He was ambitious to own land in his own right and when a young man he obtained a tract of government land in Patoka township, Pike county, which he cleared and where he made his home. The old log cabin he erected is still standing on the place. He ac- quired one hundred and twenty acres of good land and always engaged in farming. He was an old-line Whig and was active in the affairs of his party. He was also a member of the General Baptist church and did much to further the interests of that society in the new territory. He was a man who took interest in public affairs and was much looked up to and respected. He died on his home farm at the age of seventy-three years and his wife passed away at the age of sixty-seven. They were the parents of fourteen children,

787

GIBSON COUNTY, INDIANA.

namely : Robert and William, both deceased, were engaged in farming in Pike county. The former married Malinda Lowe and the latter's wife was Mary Ann Davis. Henry died unmarried, and David, who was a farmer in Pike county, married Celia Pierson. John, deceased, married a Miss Crowe. When but sixteen years of age he enlisted in Company F, Eighteenth Regi- ment Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and served throughout the war. After its close he engaged in the saw mill business at Wheeling, Indiana. Samuel was also a soldier of the Rebellion, a member of Company I, Forty-second Regi- ment Indiana Volunteer Infantry. Three months after enlisting, he con- tracted measles and died in the hospital at Louisville, Kentucky. He left a widow, Mary Jane Coe. Frank, who resided on the old home place, married Elizabeth Coe. James Aaron is the immediate subject of this sketch. Re- becca became the wife of John Davis, of Pike county ; both are dead. Martha is the widow of W. M. Christeson and resides in Pike county; Mary Ann, deceased, was the wife of M. Chumnry, and Nancy married George Face, and both of them are dead. Henry died in Illinois. Rebecca married Con- rad Slater, who was killed in the Civil war.

James A. Black attended the early schools of Pike county and resided under the parental roof until the age of nineteen years, when, on August 22, 1862, at Rockport, Indiana, he enlisted in Company I, Forty-second Regi- ment, Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and was sent to Indianapolis to be fitted out for service. From there he was sent to Louisville, Kentucky, and from there his company marched to join their regiment at Salt River. Kentucky. He was on a three days' march from Louisville to Bardstown when he was taken down with measles and was sent to Hospital Number Four at Bards- town. This hospital was established in an old woolen factory and during his month's illness there he almost died. Before leaving there he was cap- tured by General Morgan, after having suffered from typhoid fever and diph- theria in addition to the original sickness of measles. At enlistment he had weighed one hundred and forty-six pounds and after leaving the hospital his weight was reduced to eighty pounds. As soon as he was able to be re- moved, his brother Frank came and took him home and he was discharged for disability in the spring of 1863. It took him fully two years to con- valesce and for some time after that he was not strong.

In 1867 he was married to Harriet Harkness, of Hardin county, Ken- tucky. and to them were born eight children, three of whom, Zada, Annie and William, are dead. John L. is in the restaurant business at Oakland City, . Indiana. His wife was Stella Pipes. Charles, who married Eliza Coleman,

788

GIBSON COUNTY, INDIANA.

is a farmer in Pike county ; Clarence farms his father's homestead in Pike county. His wife was Ella Green. Della remains at home, and Hettie, . the fourth child in order of birth, is the wife of William Leinhart, of Patoka township, Pike county.

After his marriage, Mr. Black purchased a forty-acre tract in Monroe township, Pike county, which was their original home and to this he has added from time to time until he now owns two hundred and forty acres of finely located land, which he himself has cleared and on which he has made all the improvements. He has always engaged in general farming and in addition has raised considerable stock, devoting especial attention to regis- tered Poland-China hogs. He has also dealt extensively in cattle in addition to what he has raised. In 1902 he and three of his sons went to Williams county, North Dakota, and entered land. Mr. Black disposed of his holdings there in 1905 and on his return located in Oakland City, where he has since resided in retirement from active business. Mr. Black's religious sympathies are with the General Baptist church, to which he gives liberally of his means. He is a stanch Republican of the old school and also a member of the Grand Army of the Republic. Mr. Black has been engaged in hard work all his life, has used his brain as well as his hands, and has reaped the reward which comes to those who so toil. He is well and widely known, has a large circle of friends in both Pike and Gibson counties and is honored and respected by all. He has always taken an interest in public affairs and has always been quick to array himself on the side of right and good for the community at large. He served nineteen times as a juror under Judge Welborn.

ISAAC R. BENNETT.

It is with a great degree of satisfaction that biographers revert to the lives of those who have made the rough path of life smooth by their untiring perseverance, and have attained success in any vocation requiring definiteness, consecutive endeavor and determined action. Such lives, whether they be of calm, conservative routine, or of sudden accomplishments, must abound in botlı lesson and incentive and prove a guide to young men whose fortunes are yet matters for the future to determine.

Isaac R. Bennett was born in Morgan county, Illinois, June 6, 1837, the son ot Isaac R. and Mary (Jones) Bennett, he of Bourbon county, Kentucky, and she of North Carolina. The subject's father was one of the pioneers in

789

GIBSON COUNTY, INDIANA.

Morgan county, Illinois, where he lived all his life, his death occurring in 1881, in his eighty-first year. ITis wife died in 1864, aged fifty-six. He was a prominent man in his day and had the respect of all who knew him. As early as the year 1818 it is recorded that he sat on a jury, probably one of the very first juries in his community. He followed farming and was a justice of the peace for forty years, was an associate judge and a member of the Legislature in 1854. Having a close acquaintance with the immortal Abra- ham Lincoln, the subject's father took a great interest in the political suc- cesses of the martyred President. He served all through the Mexican War. To Isaac R. Bennett. Sr., and wife were born eleven children, namely : John, William, Clayburn Jones and Elizabeth are deceased; Jane is living in Mor- gan county, Illinois; Sarah and Mary, twins, are deceased; the subject ; Rob- ert lives in Morgan county, Illinois ; Richard and James K. Polk are deceased.

Isaac R. Bennett, the subject of this review, received the meager edu- cation afforded the children of pioneer times in the subscription schools. He and his brother, Clayburn Jones, purchased the old home place and lived on it until 1877, when the subject came to Gibson county, and, March 10, 1864, was married to Nancy S. Lathom, of Patoka township, born October 26, 1843. the daughter of Jonathan and Elenore ( Brown) Lathom, her father born July 9. 1805, in Prince William county, Virginia, and her mother born in September, 1804. in Caswell county, North Carolina. Jonathan Lathom came to Indiana with his father, William, in 1809, and the family entered land near Oakland City. Mrs. Lathom's parents arrived in this county in 1825, and the parents of the subject's wife were married in October. 1827. William Lathom had a farm two miles north of Patoka which was originally covered with heavy timber. This was cleared and made into a good home place. William married Nancy Norman, and both are long since deceased, he passing away at his daughter's home north of Princeton, and she on the home place. Their children were: Ollie, killed by the Indians at Vincennes, Indiana ; Elenore, Mrs. Bennett's mother ; Isephena, the wife of John Har-, grove, of this county ; Elizabeth, the wife of Hudson Brown, of Patoka town- ship: Polly Ann was first married to a Mr. Hodgpath and then to John Key and they lived in Patoka township: Nancy married William Kirk and lived near Hazleton.

Elenore (Brown) Lathom was a daughter of James Brown, of Caswell county, North Carolina, who came to Gibson county in 1825, and followed agriculture in Patoka township. His children were: Millie, who married. Clark Hargrove and lives near Oakland City; Elenore, Mrs. Bennett's

790

GIBSON COUNTY, INDIANA.

mother ; Hudson, who lives on the old home place in Patoka township and was first married to Elizabeth Lathom and then to Caroline Utter.

The children of Jonathan and Elenore (Brown) Lathom were: William J., born July 17, 1828, married and was a merchant and farmer in Morgan county, Illinois. His second wife was Jane Bennett, who lives in Morgan county, Illinois, he being deceased; Elizabeth and another daughter died in infancy; James Colman, born February 20, 1830, was a farmer in Gibson county. He married Julia Davis, of Morgan county, Illinois, and is now de- ceased; Jonathan died in his nineteenth year; Isephena, born in December, 1838, married Barney Morrison and lived in Center township, Gibson county ; Sarah Ellen, born February 3, 1842, married James Lownsdale and lived first in Pike county and later in Center township, Gibson county, both now being deceased; Nancy was born October 26, 1844: George Norman, born August 21, 1846, married Sallie Welborn, both deceased; Richard N. died at the age of seven.

The subject and wife have been the parents of four children, namely : ( I) Mary Elenore was born February 5, 1865, and married John Hitch, a merchant of Princeton, this union resulting in the birth of four children : Robert, born February 14, 1891; George, born October 24, 1892; Bennett, born November 7, 1893, and died in February, 1913; Pauline, deceased; (2) Jonathan Lathom was born March 9, 1867, and is an engineer on the South- ern railroad at Princeton. He married Mary J. Sutton and they have had three children : Maurice was born July 13, 1888; Mabel was born June 4, 1890; Mary was born June 21, 1901, and died February 8, 1907. (3) Christina N. was born October 9, 1875, and is the wife of J. W. Cunning- hatn. a farmer, now retired and living in Princeton, who is referred to else- where in this work. (4) James Elmer was born July 30, 1878. For years he was employed with the Southern railroad, but is now a motorman in Cin- cinnati. He married Jennie Robinson.

Before Mrs. Bennett's father married he carried brick in the construc- tion of the old seminary building, receiving twenty-five cents a day and saving this money with a view of getting married. He followed farming all his life and was well known and respected in his community. As a young man he entered government land south of Francisco in Center township, and erected a log cabin with no door and a stick chimney and fireplace. He took a lot of young pigs to raise on the place, but they were carried off by bears. He was a member of the General Baptist church and a stanch Republican, having served as assessor for nine years.

791

GIBSON COUNTY, INDIANA.

After their marriage Isaac R. Bennett and his wife first lived in Morgan county, Illinois, but in 1877 sold their land there and removed to Patoka township. Gibson county, Indiana, where they farmed until August, 1911. At that time they came to Princeton and located at their present residence at 611 North Hart street, still, however, owning their farm and renting it.

In his political belief, Mr. Bennett has always given his support to the Democratic party, while in religious matters, he is a member of the Re- formed Baptist church.

GEORGE STRAIN.

George Strain, who, after a long, busy and useful career, is now living retired in Fort Branch, was born at Patoka, Gibson county, Indiana, on March 4. 1851, the son of Rev. Thomas M. and Polly (Lagrange) Strain. When Thomas M. Strain was but a lad his father was killed by a tree falling on him. The subject's maternal grandfather was Erin Lagrange. Thomas M. Strain was reared in Gibson county, remaining on the homestead until at- taining mature years. He was reared in the Presbyterian faith, and after professing religion he joined the Baptist church, of which his wife was a member. In that body he was ordained to the ministry, in which he was actively engaged for many years, having preached near his home farm and at Princeton. In September. 1852, he opened a store at Fort Branch, in partnership with his brother-in-law, Charles Harrington, and at the same time continued his ministerial duties. He cleared a place in the grove, con- structing such seats as was possible under the conditions then existing, and continued this as a religious meeting place for many years, or until the old red school house was built, at which the different denominations miet, and where the Protestant churches of that section were first started. He was successful in his mercantile enterprise, and also engaged in the buying and shipping of pork, having a small packing house, the products of which he mostly shipped to New Orleans on flat-boats. The partnership continued a number of years, when he bought Mr. Harrington's interest and conducted the business alone for a number of years. He was widely known as a suc- cessful business man, upright citizen, and enjoyed the generous respect and esteen of his fellow citizens, and was looked up to as an authority, possess- ing rare judgment and foresight. He was a leader in the Baptist denomina- tion, being a pioneer of the faith in his community, and the early church in

792

GIBSON COUNTY, INDIANA.

this section is much indebted to his earnest and energetic efforts in its behalf. He was a self-taught man, and later taught school, and in after years was a man of good education and a great Bible student, a convincing speaker and able man. Late in life his eyesight failed, and his death occurred in July, 1906, at the age of eighty-nine years. Of the family of six children born to Thomas M. and Polly Strain, George, the immediate subject of this sketch, was the youngest. He passed his youthful years in Fort Branch, where he graduated from the high school and then engaged in farming, in which he continued for several years, or until his health failed, when he came to Fort Branch and engaged with his brother in business. Later he bought the latter's interest and continued the business until his retirement after twenty-six years' steady employment as a merchant, and with fair success.

On April 14, 1886, he married Mrs. Mary Wingate, of Gibson county, the daughter of Amosie D. Pioneer, a man of prominence in the community, who served as probate judge for twelve years, and was a justice of the peace for many years. being known widely throughout the country as Squire Fos- ter. He was the owner of a good farm in Patoka township, where he lived with his family. Mr. and Mrs. Strain are members of the Baptist church, to which they give a liberal support. Fraternally, Mr. Strain is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, being a past grand of his lodge and a delegate to the Grand Lodge. He is also a member of the Tribe of Ben- Hur The children born to Thomas M. and Polly Strain are as follows : Louisa, the wife of Dr. William R. Genung, who is represented elsewhere in this work; Lucinda, the widow of Samuel Sands, of Indianapolis; A. F. and Sylvester, who are partners in business at Fort Branch ; Andrew J., who died in 1909, at the age of fifty-eight years, and George, the immediate subject of this sketch.

JOHN L. BROWN.

The history of the loyal sons and representative citizens of Gibson county would not be complete should the name that heads this review be omitted. When the fierce fire of rebellion was raging throughout the Southland, threatening to destroy the Union, he responded with patriotic fervor to the call for volunteers and in some of the bloodiest battles for which that great war was noted proved his loyalty to the government he loved so well. During a useful life in the region where he lives he has labored diligently to promote the interests of the people, working earnestly and with little regard for his

MR. AND MRS. JOHN L. BROWN.

793

GIBSON COUNTY, INDIANA.

personal advancement or ease. He has been devoted to the public welfare and in all of his relations his highest ambitions have been to benefit the com- munity and advance its standard of citizenship.

John L. Brown, the son of David and Elizabeth ( Kindle ) Brown. was born October 2, 1844, five miles southwest of Princeton, Indiana. David Brown was a native of Harrison county, this state, and was born in 1808. L'pon reaching the years of his majority he came to Gibson county, where he bought a farm for eight dollars per acre. This hie cleared of timber and drained the swamps and otherwise improved it until, when he was ready to retire from active farming, it was well worth eighty dollars an aere, which his son paid him for it, and it is now recognized as one of the best farms in the county. Elizabeth Kindle, the first wife of David Brown, was also a native of Harrison county, and her death occurred when the subject of this sketch was about five years of age. There were six children by this marriage, Will- iam K., deceased, who married Frances Polk, was a carpenter, and was also in the army. He was a minister of the Gospel in California for many years, and was the father of one child. James F., who married Dices Ann Summers, who died in Oklahoma in 1913, leaving a family of seven children, William, Perry, Charles, John, Anna, Ollie and one who died at the age of seven years ; Mrs. Eliza Tichenor, deceased : Mrs. Sarah Johnson, deceased : Jacob A., who died at the age of sixteen, and John L., the subject of this review. After the death of his first wife in 1849. David Brown married Elizabeth Stroud in 1852. She had four children, Lewis, deceased: Thomas, deceased; Mrs. Mary Woods and Mrs. Cassie Williams, deceased.

John L. Brown spent his early life on the farm and helped his father clear the heavy timber from off the land. When the Civil war broke out, John was only seventeen years of age, but he was fired with all the enthusiasm of youth and longed to throw his fortunes with the companies which were being re- cruited from his county. He did not succeed in getting enrolled among the first to leave the county, but in 1863 he enlisted in Company F, One Hundred and Twentieth Regiment Indiana Volunteer Infantry, for a period of three years. His first service was in southeastern Tennessee and from there he followed Sherman through Georgia to Atlanta and thence to the sea. He dis- played unusual heroism and bravery in many battles in which he took part, and fortunately was never wounded with the exception of being badly bruised when a bullet grazed his shoulder. He enlisted as a private, but was pro- moted to the rank of a corporal on account of bravery and later was made a sergeant and was mustered out as a sergeant in July, 1865, at Indianapolis.

794

GIBSON COUNTY, INDIANA.

After being mustered out of the service, Mr. Brown returned to his home county and worked on his father's farm for several years, at the same time saving his money and investing it in land. In the course of a few years he had accumulated a farm of two hundred and eighty acres, which is known as one of the finest farms in the township, if not in the county. In 1909 he built a large, modern barn, having lost his former barn by fire. There is no more progressive farmer in the county than he, and he makes it a point to keep well posted on all the latest agricultural methods. He always buys the latest im- proved farm machinery, and is thereby enabled to get the best results from his land. He is one of the most congenial, warm-hearted and best loved men in the county, and is known everywhere as a man absolutely square in all his business dealings. He has always been a believer in the Golden Rule and carries it out in all of his transactions with his fellow men. He can get more corn and wheat per acre than any other farmer in the county and is universally conceded to have the best success in raising grain. He also keeps live stock and has been very successful in raising horses and swine.

Mr. Brown has been twice married, first to Sarah Jane Clark, on January 17, 1869, the daughter of Jordan and Rachel (Mounts) Clark. Her father was a farmer and a native of this county. Her mother also was a native of this county, and both are now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Clark were the par- ents of a large family of children: Eliza, who married George W. Woods, and has two children, Carl and Hazel; Mrs. Woods teaches in the district schools of the township; Lizzie, the wife of Madison Knowles, a farmer in Center township, this county, has one child, Ovilla ; Arthur, who married Belle Tichenor, is a farmer near King's Station, Patoka township, and they have two children, Eunice and Mildred; Forney, who married Otto Hollis, a stock buyer living near Princeton, and they have three children, Barton, Jones and Herschell; Eva, the wife of Harvey McCarthy, a farmer near Princeton, has two children, Earl and Paul; Harvey married Amy Collins, and is now operat- ing the homestead farm of eighty acres, and has one child, Melvin; two chil- dren who died in infancy.

On February 20, 1895, John L. Brown married Melissa Clark, the daughter of William and Margaret, (Stone) Clark. William Clark was a native of this county and a General Baptist preacher, and his death occurred on November 8, 1899. in Owensville. His wife was also a native of this county and died in Owensville in 1905. The second marriage was blessed with three children, Zella, who died at the early age of three months; Arvel and Darwin, both of whom are still at home with their parents.

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 78

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