History of Gibson County, Indiana : her people, industries and institutions, Part 79

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 79

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Although Mr. Brown has been a lifelong Republican, lie has never sought any political preferment at the hands of his party. He takes an intelligent in- terest in the great political questions of the day and is able to discuss them intelligently. He and his wife have long been members of the White General Baptist church. He has been a member for more than fifty years of this denomination and for a number of years was treasurer of the church, but resigned on account of his age. He is still a trustee of the denomination. Mr. Brown is one of those progressive, self-made men who are thoroughly in harmony with the spirit of the advanced age in which he lives. In all his business affairs he has conducted them in such a manner that stamps him as a man who has a natural aptitude for successful management. He has not per- mitted the accumulation of his comfortable competence to affect in any way his actions toward those less fortunate than he, being a most sympathetic and broad-minded man and one who has a host of warm and admiring friends throughout the county.

JOSEPH D. HUSSEY.

Among the oldest and most highly respected families of Gibson county, Indiana, is the Hussey family, which came to this county in 1821. Richard Hussey, the founder of the family bearing his name in Indiana and other states in the West, was born in Lebanon county, Maine, May 24, 1789, and died April 15, 1851. He was married on October 4, 1811, to Alpha Mills, of Kennebec county, Maine, her birth occurring on January 27, 1791, and her death on May 29, 1841. This worthy couple reared a large family of thir- teen children : Elizabeth MI., born July 9, 1812, died April 27, 1878; Julia Page, boin January 22, 1814; Zazhariah, born October 25, 1815; James Madison, born June 8, 1817, in Kennebec county, Maine; George B., born May 17, 1819, in Washington county, Ohio; Ansel .Alexander Hamilton, born November 16, 1821; John Hibbard, born July 26, 1822, in Gibson county, Indiana; Clara, born March 19, 1824; Charles Wellington, born May 18, 1826; Elizabeth Ann, born April 11, 1828; Richard Perry, born April 4. 1830; Martha M., born March 24, 1833; Alpha Louisa, born October 15, 1835. In 1817 Richard Hussey and wife, with four children, left Kennebec county, Maine, and traveled overland to Washington county. Ohio. Here he followed the trade of a cabinet maker for four years and in 1821 the family left Ohio and came to Gibson county, Indiana, locating five miles east

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of Princeton in Center township. Here Richard Hussey and his sons put up a cabin and blacksmith shop, and here the family lived for several years, the mother's death occurring on this farm. Mr. Hussey's shop, in which he did both iron and wood work, was the center of a large community and the people from far and near came to him to have their work done. In this way he formed a large acquaintance and probably no man in the county was better known in his day than Richard Hussey.

James Madison Hussey, the son of Richard Hussey, and the father of the subject of this review, was one of the children who were born in Maine and left that state when he was an infant. He received the meager schooling which was afforded in Gibson county in the twenties, and since he was the oldest child in the family, he early took up the burden of helping to support the family. He remained on the home farm helping his father in his shop until he was married : then he rented a part of his father's farm. James M. Hussey married Sarah Patterson, of Allegheny City, Pennsylvania, a daugh- ter of Robert and Rebecca ( Wilson) Patterson. Sarah Patterson had come from Pennsylvania to Xenia, Ohio, when a small child with her parents, and later came with them to Gibson county, Indiana, where they settled in Center township, near the Hussey homestead. There were four of the Patterson family : James, who lived in Princeton; Harriett, who married a Mr. Shaw and went back to Pennsylvania, where her death occurred; Sarah, the wife of James M. Hussey ; and one who died in infancy. To James M. Hussey and wife were born eight children: Henry W., who lives in Canada and married Mary J. Harbison; Robert Dale, who married Eliza J. McClellan, was in the Civil war and served three years in Company G, One Hundred and Twenty-eighth Regiment Indiana Volunteer Infantry. After his death, in 1872, his widow married L. B. Wallon, a druggist at Francisco, Indiana ; Richard Lewis, whose sketch is given elsewhere in this volume; Franklin C., deceased: Ella Maria, the wife of Lon C. Dilday, of Princeton; James M., who married Isabelle Ingram, is a farmer in this county; Joseph Devin, the immediate subject of this sketch, and Arabella, the widow of Isaac N. Eby. of Princeton. He was a farmer, and died December 8, 1898, leaving his widow and two children, Earl and Allan Dale.

James M. Hussey, the father of Joseph D., enlisted in the Civil war in Company B, Sixty-fifth Regiment, Indiana Volunteer Infantry, on August 2, 1862. As first lieutenant he helped to raise two companies. Shortly after going to the front he died, and in November, 1862, his body was brought from Henderson, Kentucky, and buried in the cemetery near Princeton with

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all the honors of war. His widow lived at the old home place until her death, in 1898. She was of a deeply religious temperament and an earnest worker in church circles. She was a consistent and devoted member of the United Presbyterian church for fifty-five years, and a woman who was loved and respected by all who knew her.

Joseph D. Hussey was born in Center township, Gibson county, Indiana, August 1, 1859, and received a very limited education in the common schools of his home township. He continued to reside on the home farm until he became of age, when he removed to Francisco and engaged in business in that place. Three years later he removed to Princeton, where he continued in business until 1910, when he retired. In 1906 he bought his splendid home on North Seminary street, where he is now living a retired life, surrounded by all the comforts and conveniences of modern life.

Mr. Hussey was married in 1883 to Jemima E. McFetridge, of Center township, in this county, and she died in August, 1887, leaving one child, Sarah Mabel. The daughter married Eugene B. Smith, a wireless operator for the United States government at Porto Rico during the Spanish-Ameri- can war, and now lives at Belleview, Ohio, where he is engaged in the dairy business Mr. and Mrs. Smith are the parents of two children, Katherine Elizabeth and Joseph Eugene. Jemima E. McFetridge, the first wife of Mr. Hussey, was the daughter of Scott and Sarah (Johnson) McFetridge, an old family of Gibson county. They came to this county in 1821, before the Hussey family. The Johnson family, headed by David Johnson, a soldier of the War of 1812 and a hero of the battle of Tippecanoe, came to this county before 1800.

Mr Hussey was married a second time to Mary Roselle Langford, in March, 1894, and to this marriage was born one daughter, Josephine Madge, who is still with her father. The second wife of Mr. Hussey, who died in February, 1900, was the daughter of John and Sarah (Young) Langford, of Warrick county, Indiana. The Langfords are of English ancestry, and Richard Langford, the grandfather of Mrs. Hussey, was one of the earliest settlers in the state, arriving in the vicinity of Evansville in 1815.

On April 2, 1906, Mr. Hussey married Emma J. ( Westfall) Hochhalter, the daughter of George and Jacobena ( Brigius) Westfall. Her parents were both natives of Germany and Mrs. Hussey was born before her parents came to this country. She was eleven years of age when her parents came to America and settled in Warrick county in this state. Mr. Westfall was a blacksmith by trade and at the opening of the Civil war enlisted in the Union

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army and served four years at the front. Emma J. Westfall was married on March 30, 1882, to Phillip Hochhalter, a cooper, of Newburg, Warrick county. He died February 13, 1891, leaving his widow with one son, Louis C Hochhalter, who married Emily Webber. Louis and his wife have one son, Harold, and live in Evansville.

BENJAMIN F. BENSON.

It is the farmer who makes it possible for men in any other occupation to live. Farming was the original occupation of man, and it is the only pro- fession which could exist independently of any other. Indeed, every other occupation is dependent upon the farmer. The products of the farm have made our railroads what they are today, and the great bulk of manufactur- ing is made necessary because of the farmer's needs. The people of the city could not live a week without the farmer's products. He holds not only the purse strings of the nation, but even the very life itself of the people. For this reason the farmer has in reality the most important profession of all. Gibson county has as fine farms and as good farmers as can be found any- where in the state, and among them is the subject of this review.

Benjamin F. Benson is the son of Sylvester and Nancy (Ewing) Ben- son, and was born February 3, 1871, about four miles northwest of Owens- ville. His father was a native of this county, being born on his father's farm July 10, 1823. He was a very influential farmer and citizen, and one of the most widely known men in the county. He took an active part in Re- publican politics and was elected to the office of county commissioner for three terms. He was president of the board of county commissioners at the time the first court house in Gibson county was built, and by his integrity and devotion to public duty he rendered valuable service at that time. He took a great deal of pride in the Benson family history and at one time wrote the family history, but unfortunately lost it by fire at the time his residence was burned. He is now living with his daughter, Mrs. William Scott. Some time ago he suffered a paralytic stroke, which has rendered him speechless and deaf and unable to finish his family history. He was the son of William and Margaret Benson, his grandfather being a native of Ireland. The mother ot the subject of this sketch was a native of Dubois county, Indiana, and died March 12, 1898. Mr. and Mrs. Sylvester Benson were the parents of eight children : Columbus; James; Benjamin F., the subject of this sketch ; John;

born in 1783

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Luella, who died at the age of three; Luther; Mrs. Margaret Johnson, and Mrs. Lillie Scott.

Benjamin F. Benson was united in marriage on June 17, 1896, to Fannie Cleveland, daughter of John and Mary (Polk) Cleveland. Her father was a son of George Cleveland, a native of Vanderburg county, this state, where he spent his boyhood days before coming to Gibson county. He has always followed the occupation of a farmer and has ninety-six acres of excellent farming land near Owensville. He was born in 1844 and died in 1899. His wife was also a native of this county and died at the home of her son-in-law, Benjamin F. Benson, in 1906. Mr. and Mrs. John Cleveland were the par- ents of four children : Roger ; Fannie, the wife of the subject of this review ; Mrs. Flossie Lee and Charles.

Benjamin F. Benson spent his boyhood days on the farm and received the best education which the district schools of his locality afforded. He has devoted his whole time and energies to his farming interests and now owns two hundred and fourteen acres of excellent farming land in this county. He keeps well posted on all modern methods of scientific farming, and in this way has become one of the most successful farmers of the county. In addi- tion to his general farming he has made a specialty of raising live stock for the market, and takes a justifiable pride in his dwelling. fine home, barn and outbuildings, and has one of the best improved farms in this section of the state.

Mr. and Mrs. Benson have been blessed with six children, three of whom died in infancy. There are three sons still at home with their parents, Ronald, Burnell and William. It is needless to say that these boys are re- ceiving every advantage which modern education can give them, and that they will be well prepared to take their places in the affairs of the community later on.

Although Mr. Benson has always affiliated with the Republican party, he has never sought any political office, but has been content to devote all of his time and energies to the management of his farming interests. He and his wife are both loyal members of the General Baptist church and are inter- ested in all the activities of that denomination. Mr. Benson is a deacon in the church. He is a man of modest and unassuming disposition, a fine type of the reliable, self-made American: a friend to the poor, charitable to the faults of his neighbors, and always ready to unite with them in every good work. He is a man who in every respect merits the high esteem in which he is universally held.

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JAMES W. COCKRUM.

A review of the life of the honored subject of this review must of neces- sity be brief and general in its character. To enter fully into the interesting details of the career of J. W. Cockrum, touching the struggles of his early manhood and the successes of his later years, would far transcend the limits of this article. He has filled a large place in the ranks of the public-spirited citizens and successful newspaper men of his day, and that he has done his part well cannot be gainsaid, for his record has been such as has gained for him the commendation and approval of his fellows. His career has been a long, busy and useful one and he has contributed much to the material, civic and moral advancement of the community, while his admirable qualities of head and heart and the straightforward, upright course of his daily life has won for him the esteem and confidence of the circles in which he has moved.

James W. Cockrum, president of the J. W. Cockrum Printing Company and editor of the Oakland City Journal, is a native son of Gibson county, Indi- ana, having been born in Oakland City on August 22, 1861. He is the son of Col. W. M. and Lucretia (Harper) Cockrum, whose respective families are among the oldest and best known in this section of Indiana. W. M. Cockrum was born in Oakland City and his wife was a native of Pike county, Indiana. James W. Cockrum received his elementary education in the common schools and in the Oakland City high school, where he graduated in 1887. He then went on the road as a commercial traveler for a school supply concern and, being eminently successful in this line, he was induced to organize the Indiana School Furnishing Company of Oakland City, which from the start was a success and from the demands of this business Mr. Cockrum, in 1891, drifted into the printing business. In 1893 he established the Oakland City Journal, a weekly newspaper, which met with popular favor from the start, so that one year later he changed it to a semi-weekly issue. At that time two other news- papers were in the local field, but both have since retired. As editor, Mr. Cockrum wielded a forceful and trenchant pen, having that genuine instinct for news which characterizes successful newspaper men. The J. W. Cock- rum Printing Company, which is incorporated, is well equipped, and makes a specialty of commercial and bank printing, catering particularly to the latter trade and doing an extensive business all over the United States. Mr. Cock- rum has given his special attention to this work and is numbered among the successful editors and publishers of southwestern Indiana. He has long been a forceful and influential factor in this locality, not only in business, but also

JAMES W. COCKRUM.

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in public and civic life, and is numbered among the distinctively representative men of this section of the state.

Politically, an ardent Republican, Mr. Cockrum has long been numbered among the leaders of his party in Indiana, and has achieved distinctive recog- nition because of his ability and activity. He was appointed by Governor Durbin a member of the Louisiana Exposition commission from the first dis- trict, which handled an appropriation of one hundred and fifty thousand dol- lars for the purpose of giving Indiana proper representation at the World's Fair. He was chosen secretary of the commission and had supervision of the detail work in connection with the Indiana exhibit. In 1904 Mr. Cockrum was elected secretary of the National Editorial Association of the United States, serving four years, and rendering efficient service while acting in the interest of the association. He has also served as president and secretary at different times of the Indiana Republican Editorial Association and as presi- dent and secretary of the Southern Indiana Press Association.

Fraternally, Mr. Cockrum has long been active in the interests of Free- masonry, having taken all of the degrees of the York Rite, including that of Knight Templar, and thirty-two degrees of the Scottish Rite, being a mem- ber of the consistory at Indianapolis. He is also a member of Hadi Temple of the Mystic Shrine at Evansville. In the Knights of Pythias, Mr. Cockrum has achieved distinctive honors, having been past chancellor of Chevalier Lodge and has been a member of the grand lodge of Indiana for twelve years, serving on important committees during this period. Religiously, he is .a member of the General Baptist church, to which he gives earnest support.

On September 24, 1891, Mr. Cockrum was married to Agnes Pritchett, who was born at Fort Branch. Gibson county, but who at the time of her mar- riage was living at Carmi, Illinois. She was the daughter of Elisha L. and Martha E. Pritchett. To this union have been born two daughters, Dorothy Dale and one deceased. The Cockrum residence in Oakland City is one of the finest and most artistic homes in the community and here the spirit of true and old fashioned hospitality is always in evidence, the home being a favorite gathering place for the many friends of the family.

In such a man as Mr. Cockrum there is special satisfaction in offering in their life records justification for issuing a biographical compendium such as the one in hand, not necessarily that the career of men of his type has been such as to gain them wide reputation or the plaudits of men, but that they have been true to the trusts reposed in them and shown such attributes of character

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as entitle them to the regard of all and have been useful in their respective careers of action, at the same time winning the confidence and good will of all with whom they have come in contact.

ALFRED PRITCHETT.

No other county in Indiana furnished braver men for the Civil War than did Gibson county. This state sent over two hundred thousand men to the front during that memorable conflict and Gibson county contributed its quota without any difficulty, meeting every call of Governor Morton with a promptness which bespoke well for the patriotic zeal of her sons. They left their homes to save their country and hundreds of theni sacrificed their lives that the Stars and Stripes might continue to wave over a united nation. We cannot forget that they fought a brave fight for human liberty, and that they deserve all the praise which can be given them. They are fast answering the last roll call, and within a few years we can only honor their memory. It seems eminently fitting in this volume to set forth the lives of these gallant veterans who are still living. Among the brave boys in blue who enlisted from Gibson county there is none who is more worthy of an honored place in this volume than the subject of this sketch.

Alfred Pritchett, one of the best beloved citizens of this county, was born three miles southeast of Owensville, July 14, 1841, the son of Elisha and Elizabeth ( Rutledge) Pritchett. Elisha was a native of Kentucky, and came to this county with his parents when a young man, his father having entered land in this county when it was all heavily timbered and generally swampy. He followed the occupation of a farmer all his life and died in this county in 1853. His wife, Elizabeth Rutledge, to whom he was married in - 1821, was a native of Tennessee, coming to this county with an elder brother when she was eight years of age, her parents having died when she was four years of age. A few years later she and her brother made the trip on horseback to this county in 1811. Her death occurred November II,- 1897, at a ripe old age. Her mother died at the age of ninety-one years, leaving a family of ten children, all of whom are living but two. To Mr. and Mrs. Elisha Pritchett were born twelve children: John, deceased; Absalom, deceased ; William H., deceased ; James J .; Mrs. Serelda Richards ; Pressley, deceased ; Mrs. Polly J. West ; Charles, deceased ; Mrs. Eliza Adams ; Alfred,

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the immediate subject of this sketch: Mrs. Elizabeth Witherspoon and Mrs. . Sarah Mounts.

Alfred Pritchett has spent all of his life in this county with the excep- tion of three years' service in the Civil War. He received the best education which the district schools of that day afforded, and has always been inter- ested in the intellectual welfare of his community. When the news of the fall of Fort Sumter was flashed throughout the country, he was filled with the same patriotic fervor which fired the hearts of hundreds and thousands of other young men of the North. When a company was being organized in the fall of 1862 in his county, he enlisted in Company C as a private on September 13th, his company being in the Forty-second Regiment, Indiana Volunteer Infantry. The first captain of his company was Captain French, who was succeeded later during the war by Captain Frank Emery. His first service was in Tennessee, and he later followed Sherman from Chattanooga down through the Georgia campaign to Savannah, taking part in all the en- gagements in that state ; from Savannah his company was with Sherman on his northward march through the Carolinas and was present at the time General Johnson surrendered to General Sherman, in May, 1865, in North Carolina. During the last three months he was detailed as one of an escort to General Davis and served in several minor engagements under his com- mand. Although he was present and took part in many severe engagements during his service, he was fortunate in escaping without being wounded and came out at the end of his service with his health unimpaired. However, in later years he has become blind, but is bearing this terrible affliction with great fortitude and courage.

After being mustered out at Indianapolis, in July. 1865, he returned to his home in Gibson county. He was first married, in 1867, to Katherine Summers, daughter of Richey Summers. Her death occurred in 1871, leav- ing two children, Aubrey, who is now deceased, and Mrs. Anna Alcorn.

Simeon Alcorn, the husband of Anna (Pritchett) Alcorn, was born November 23, 1863, three miles east of Owensville, the son of Elisha and Mary (Martin) Alcorn. Elisha Alcorn was a native of Vanderburg county, this state, and early in life was left an orphan and was reared by his grand- mother Marvel, spending his boyhood days with his grandparents. He came to this county at the age of twenty-one years and settled on a farm about two miles southeast of Fort Branch, later selling this farm and buying a tract of land near McGrary Station. He continued the occupation of a farmer throughout his life, his death occurring in 1901. His wife, Mary Martin,

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was also a native of Vanderburg county and her death occurred in 1910. To these parents were born eight children: Orphia, deceased; Mrs. Francis Elizabeth Sides; Sarah, deceased; Thomas M .; Simeon ; Mrs. Lucinda Sides; Mrs. Tilda Ellen Peacock and Mrs. Mary Alice Gibson. Simneon Alcorn was married October 6, 1887, to Anna Louisa Pritchett, daughter of the subject of this sketch, and is one of the substantial, progressive farmers of the town- ship, having two hundred and thirteen acres of well-improved land under a high state of cultivation. Mr. and Mrs. Alcorn are the parents of one child, Zella, who is the wife of Walter Simmons, a farmer of this township. Mr. and Mrs. Alcorn are both members of the Methodist Episcopal church and he is a trustee and steward of that denomination, and both of them take an active part in church work.

Alfred Pritchett was married the second time to Fannie Yeager, on July 28, 1875. She was a daughter of Nicholas and Julina ( Roberts) Yea- ger. Mr. Yeager was a native of this county, his parents being Daniel and Charity (Smith) Yeager, who were pioneers of the county. Nicholas Yea- ger kept a store in Owensville with his brother-in-law, William Crawford, for many years, but later purchased a farm east of Owensville, which he con- tinued to operate until his death, which occurred February 22, 1892. His wife was also a native of this county, her birth occurring December 6, 1828, four miles north of Owensville. She was a daughter of Thomas Roberts. Mr. and Mrs. Yeager were married April 9, 1848, and were the parents of seven children, William H., Mrs. Fannie Pritchett, Franklin, deceased, Mrs. Sarah Ellen Emmerson, Mrs. Cordelia Pritchett. who died in Arkansas in 1912 ; Daniel H., who died at the early age of two years, and George B. To Mr. Pritchett's second union were born two children, Eva, deceased, and Lester, who married Nellie Stone. Lester is a promising young farmer of this county.

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History of Gibson County, Indiana : her people, industries and institutions, Part 79

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