History of Gibson County, Indiana : her people, industries and institutions, Part 91

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

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James W. Key is a native of Gibson county, born on the Ioth day of March, 1832, near Hazelton. He is a son of William and Sarah (Bruner) Key, both of whom were natives of Kentucky and were among the earlier settlers of Gibson county. They were married in 1831 and William Key died August 12, 1836, leaving his young widow and three small children, the eldest of whom was James W., the subject of this sketch. William Key was born in 1804 and his death occurred on August 12, 1836. His widow after- ward became the wife of John Ewing, who was of Irish stock and a pioneer settler in Gibson county, Indiana, owning a good farm in White River town- ship Mr. Ewing died on November 27, 1859, and was survived many years by his widow, who died on August 5, 1896, when past eighty-eight years of age. To Mr. and Mrs. Ewing were born two children, namely: Mary, who became the wife of Samuel Argrove, of Pike county, and who died on March II, 1885; she was the mother of two children, Minnie and John E. The other child, John W. Ewing, who was born February 14, 1850, in Gibson county, Indiana, died in February, 1909. The marriage of William Key to Sarah Bruner occurred in 1831, and at the time of his death he left, besides his widow, three small children, the eldest of whom was James W., the im- mediate subject of this sketch.

The subject's paternal grandfather, William Key, Sr., was a native of Kentucky, and to his marriage with Hannah Level were born a large family of children. William Key, Sr., was a man of industrious habits and was a genius in that he could do many things and do them all well. He was by trade a millwright, and after coming to Indiana made his home at Princeton. While

MR. AND MRS. JAMES W. KEY.

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building a mill on South Hart street, that city, he fell forty feet, sustaining injuries, from which, however, he recovered and lived to be past eighty-five years of age. In later life he took up shoemaking and coopering. He was a man of cheerful and jovial disposition and was widely known and well liked by all who knew him.

James W. Key is the only one of his father's family who is living today, and he has attained an advanced age well preserved in mind and body and with a keen interest in current events. His schooling in his youth was lim- ited, partly owing to the limited circumstances of his mother and partly to indifferent opportunities at best. When quite young he took up the vocation of farming, which he has followed all his life and is at present living on his farm in White River township, Gibson county, in retirement from the active affairs of life, surrounded by his family.

On September 28, 1858, Mr. Key was married to Ellen J. McClure, daughter of Joseph E. and Katherine ( Devin) McClure, both of whom were natives of Gibson county and passed their entire lives within its borders. To their union were born ten children, namely: James and Joseph P., deceased ; Luella, Ada J., Sarah F., Katherine A. and Charles F., all of whom reside at home with the parents, the latter having charge of the operation of the farm for. his father. William F. is engaged in farming in White River township, Gibson county ; his wife was Eva Gouff, of Kentucky. Margaret E. is the wife of John Stewart, a farmer of Gibson county, and Robert S., whose wife was Geneva Harvey, is engaged in agricultural work in Patoka township. On September 28, 1908, Mr. and Mrs. Key celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of their marriage in a fitting manner and are still spared to each other. They have many interesting incidents to relate of the earlier life in the county before many of our present-day conveniences were thought of. Mr. Key has lived in the same place since he was three years old and well remembers when the first railroad was built through this section and when wood was the fuel used on the locomotive The house they occupy was built in 1874. The sub- ject and his wife have twelve grandchildren.

Mr. Key is a stanch Republican of the old school who has always been interested in the affairs of the party, and his religious membership is with the Methodist Episcopal church, in the progress of which society's affairs he takes great pleasure.

Personally, Mr. Key is a man of clean character and has ever exerted a healthful influence in the community, giving his support to every movement

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which promised to advance the welfare of the community in any way. Be- cause of his genuine worth and the success which has crowned his life's efforts, he enjoys the sincere respect of all who know him and he is eminently entitled to representation in a work of the character of the one in hand.

DR. JOHN M. WILLIAMS.

There is no class to whom greater gratitude is due from the world at large than the self-sacrificing, sympathetic, noble-minded men whose life work is the alleviation of suffering and the ministering of comfort to the afflicted, to the end that the span of human existence may be lengthened and a great degree of satisfaction enjoyed during the remainder of their earthly sojourn. There is no standard by which their beneficial influence can be measured; their helpfulness is limited only by the extent of their knowledge and skill, while their power goes hand in hand with the wonderful laws of nature that spring from the very source of life itself. Some one has aptly said, "He serves God best who serves humanity most." Among the physi- cians and surgeons of Gibson county who have risen to eminence in their chosen field of endeavor is the subject of this review, whose career has been that of a broad-minded, conscientious worker in the sphere to which his life and energies have been devoted and whose profound knowledge of his pro- fession has won for him a leading place among the most distinguished medi- cal men of his day and generation in the city of his residence.

Dr. John M. Williams, the son of Simon and Lavina (Sharer) Will- iams, was born January 25, 1857, in Vanderburg county, near the city of Evansville, Indiana. His father was a native of Posey county, Indiana, and was a son of Bennett Williams, while his mother's birth occurred in Gibson county. Mr. and Mrs. Simon Williams began their married life in Van- derburg county, but removed to Gibson county, Fort Branch, in 1870, where Mr. Williams lived a retired life until his death, three years later. His wite survived him several years, living with her son in Owensville, where her death occurred in 1896.

Doctor Williams lived with his parents in Vanderburg county on the home farm until 1870, at which time he removed with his parents to Fort Branch. He attended the common schools of that village, graduating from the high school in due course of time, after which he took a course at In-

DR. J. M. WILLIAMS.

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diana University at Bloomington. He had always been a close student, and after graduating from the high school, secured a license to teach and taught one year before he entered the State University. For the next three years he taught during the winters and attended the university during the spring and summer seasons, completing his education in 1878.

While still in school at the university, Mr. Williams began the study of medicine at Fort Branch by reading in the office of one of the old practi- tioners there. He thought that in the practice of medicine there were greater advantages for doing good in his community than by following the pro- fession of teaching. By the fall of 1879 he had saved enough money to warrant him going to Cincinnati and starting in to take the regular medical course in the E. M. Institute of that city. He was a student at this institution for the next two years, graduating in 1881. Immediately after graduation he opened an office in Fort Branch, in Gibson county, but in the fall of that year he moved to Owensville, where he has practiced continuously since. In Owensville and vicinity his name is a household word, for not only has he treated the children of the community in their infancy, but he has seen them grow up, marry and then has ministered unto their children. With rare skill and resource, with quick perception and almost intuitive judgment, he has made a name for himself in this community. His ability to make a correct diagnosis and then prescribe the proper treatment to be used has brought him a practice second to none in the county. During all the years he has been a close student of medical science, keeping in touch with the latest advances along that line and thereby has won the complete confidence of the whole community. His wide practice has been remunerative and he has shown the same ability in his business affairs which has brought him success in the medical profession. He assisted in the organization of the First National Bank of Owensville in 1900, and has been a director in that institution continuously since. In addition to his banking interests he has made large investments in land, owning at the present time several hundred acres of the best land in Gibson county. This success in his business affairs has been owing to his steady persistence, sterling integrity and excellent judgment, and yet he has not allowed his material success to blind him to the interests of the community at large. He has always been a contributor to everything having for its object the moral, social or educational advance- ment of his community.

Doctor Williams was married November 1, 1883, to Margaret Mont- gomery, a native of Owensville, the daughter of James and Louisa (Lucas)

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Montgomery. Her father was a very successful grain merchant of that city and one of its leading citizens, and his death occurred in that place in 1891. Doctor Williams and his wife are the parents of one child, Gertrude, who is at home with her parents.

Doctor Williams and his family are members of the General Baptist church, to which institution they contribute liberally of their means, and in which they have always taken an active interest, and have been the means of doing an incalculable amount of good in their church work. As a member of the Owensville Medical Society and the County Medical Society, Doctor Williams has been no inconsiderable factor in advancing the medical interests of the town and county. With his professional skill he combines rare sym- pathy and thereby adds to his efficiency as a practitioner. He is devoted to his chosen vocation and has lent honor and dignity to the medical profession, having due regard for the highest standard of professional ethics and ex- hibiting marked skill in the treatment of diseases. Such men are blessings to every community in which they live.

JAMES H. COCKRUM.

In examining the life records of the citizens of Gibson county it is grati- fying to note that so many of her people have been born and reared here; in fact, have spent their entire lives in this vicinity. It proves the stability of the people and also indicates that this is an excellent place to live and that a livelihood may be here obtained with the least expenditure of labor possible, so that we have a quiet, satisfied, law-abiding and worthy citizenship and a fair and prosperous country, equal to any in the sisterhood of counties in the great Hoosier commonwealth. The Cockrums are among the honored pioneer citizens here and they have done their full share of the work of furthering the development of the county.

James H. Cockrum, a well known citizen of Gibson county and a former postmaster at Oakland City, was born in the city now honored by his resi -- dence, on April 23, 1868, a son of James M. and Sarah Frances ( Thomas) Cockrum, the father a native of Gibson county, and the mother of the state of Kentucky. James M. Cockrum was a farmer, merchant, attorney and in early life a successful shipper. In all the avenues of life's activities in which

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he engaged he was successful and because of his persevering industry, sound judgment and integrity of character, he not only enjoyed success in life's affairs, but what was of more value, the confidence and esteem of the people with whom he mingled. His death occurred in 1903. He had served as postmaster at Oakland City under the administration of President Harrison, and in 1907 represented Gibson county in the state Legislature. He was a prominent supporter of the Republican party in this locality and exerted considerable influence in local public affairs. Religiously, he was a trustee of the General Baptist church at Oakland City for many years, while frater- nally, he was identified with the Free and Accepted Masons and the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows. He was a veteran of the Civil war, having served as a private in the Forty-second Regiment Indiana Volunteer Infantry and rendered valiant service for his country. His widow now lives at Oak- land City. They were the parents of eight children, namely: Sallie E., de- ceased, December 10, 1913 : James H. ; Charles V., of Kansas City, Missouri ; Edna, the assistant postmistress at Oakland City; Thomas R., of Princeton, and Ralph N., of Kansas City.

James H. Cockrum was educated in the public schools of Oakland City. and his first efforts in life on his own account were as a farmer and stock raiser, operating a farm adjoining the city on the north. He has been suc- cessful in this vocation and still lives on the farm which he formerly operated. On February 22, 1910, Mr. Cockrum was appointed postmaster of Oakland City, and discharged the duties of that office in a manner which won for him the commendation of his superiors in the department and the favor of the patrons of the office. He retired from the postoffice on April 1, 1914. Politically, he is a stanch supporter of the Republican party, and has for many years been prominent and active in political work. Religiously, he is a member of the General Baptist church, while fraternally, he is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, in both subordinate lodge and encampment, and the Modern Woodmen of America.

On February 28, 1906, Mr. Cockrum married Ada Burba, the daughter of R. C. Burba, of Oakland City, and to this union have been born three daughters: Esther Grace, Jennie Frances and Jessie Leee. Mr. Cockrum has always been interested in the welfare and progress of his native county and in the development of its resources he gives his assistance and influence to all laudable means and measures toward these ends. He. possesses a force- ful personality and is well liked by all who know him.

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WILLIAM DANIEL KENDLE.

A review of the life of the honored subject of this memior must of necessity be brief and general in its character. To enter fully into the interesting details of the career of the late William Daniel Kendle, touch- ing the struggles of his early manhood and the successes of his later years, would far transcend the limits of this article. He filled a large place in the ranks of the active, energetic and public-spirited citizens of his day and generation and the memories which attach to his name and character form no inconsiderable chapter in the history of his native county, where he passed his life, doing good to all whenever possible.

William Daniel Kendle was a native of Gibson county, born in Pa- toka township, on November 21, 1838, and he departed this life in Prince- ton, Indiana, November 29, 1898. He was a son of George Kendle, born April 7, 1812, in Washington county, Tennessee, whose first wife was Lucinda Denbo, born October 19, 1813. His second wife was Pauline Em- bree, born April 1, 1821. She was the widow of John Embree and a daughter of George Barker. He was a farmer who come to Gibson county and settled in Patoka township, west of Princeton. Here he obtained a tract of land which he farmed during the rest of his life.

George Kendle had come with his parents from Tennessee to Har- rison county, Indiana, in 1814, and he remained with them until February of 1837, when he started out for Gibson county. Upon his arrival here, he selected land about five miles west of Princeton, in Patoka township. Here he lived for many years and in 1872 retired from active work on his farm and moved to Princeton, where he passed the remainder of his life. His long years of residence in a community rapidly changing from the frontier to a thickly settled territory with all modern advantages, were for him years of activity and doubtless of enjoyment. He was ever found anxious to do anything that would advance the welfare of the community. George Kendle and wife were the parents of five children, namely: William Daniel, the subject of this sketch; John R., born September 14, 1840; Mary E., born October 18, 1842; Elizabeth, born August 28, 1844; Susan D., born April 15, 1846, and Sarah J., born July 22, 1848.

William Daniel Kendle received only a limited schooling in his youth, owing to the limited circumstances of his parents and the meager oppor- tunities offered at best, and he remained at his father's home until his mar- riage. He chose as his bride Mary Spore, born in Princeton, and a daugh- ,

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ter of David and Lucinda (Mauck) Spore. The mother was a native of Gibson county, Indiana, and the father came from Knoxville, Tennessee. When a young man he came on a prospecting trip to Gibson county, and was later joined by his father and mother and the other members of the family. They obtained a tract of wild land which they cleared, and on which they passed the remainder of their lives. He died in his sixty-fifth year and she was in her sixty-fourth. They were the parents of seven children, namely : Jacob, Henry, Robert, David, Elbert, Sallie and Betsy. The Spores were devout members of the Methodist Episcopal church.

David Spore and wife had nine children, of which Julius, who was a farmer living near Owensville, and whose wife was Mary McCrary, was the oldest; both are now dead; William, living in Princeton : Thomas, living near Oakland City, Indiana; Andrew, a retired farmer living in Owensville, In- diana; Isaac, deceased, was a farmer, near Owensville; Maggie married Baker Lucas, both deceased; Amanda married Isaac Woods, both deceased; John, deceased, lived in Patoka township Mrs. Kendle, widow of William Daniel Kendle, was the third oldest child of this family in the order of birth.

After their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Kendle settled down on his father's place, in Patoka township, and engaged in general farming, paying par- ticular attention to the raising of first class live stock. Here they remained until 1885, when they removed to Princeton, where he died. He was a man, quiet and unassuming and whose sterling worth won for him many warm friends. He was a kind and loving husband and father, and a man possessed of unusual business ability, as his activities showed. To Mr. and Mrs. Kendle were born four children, namely: Lucinda, born June 18, 1862, first married to William McCarty, of Princeton, and later to L. Wilhite, of Princeton. She is the mother of two children: Arthur, of Princeton, mar- ried Matilda Binkley and Florence, of Patoka township, married Lowell Westfall. Emma was born October 6, 1865, married Julius Gamble. She died June 1, 1904. Lizzie was born in 1870, and married John Massey, of Princeton. She has one son, Percy. Dovie was born in 1884 and mar- ried George B. Grigsby, of Princeton; they have one daughter, Isabelle.

Mr. Kendle was a man of undoubted integrity who held the confi- dence of all who knew him, and because of his excellent qualities he was quite often called upon to settle estates of deceased friends and to see that orphans were properly provided for, and took pleasure in attending to duties thus imposed upon him. He gave his political support to the

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Democratic party, but was not given to any active interest in its affairs. His religious sympathies were with the White Baptist church, and he took great interest in the welfare of this society. Altogether, his was a well- balanced, rational life; the quiet, sane life whose influence is all on the side of good and cannot be estimated from any earthly standpoint. Like the ever widening circles from a pebble cast into a body of water, so the influence of good deeds, too, are ever widening circles, beating at last upon the shores of eternity.

J. W. CUNNINGHAM.

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 fellow men.

Joseph W. Cunningham was born on July 2, 1853, at Giro, White River township, Gibson county, the son of John and Phoebe (Key) Cunningham, the former a native of White River township, Gibson county, and the latter born on North Hart street, Princeton. John Cunningham was a son of one of Princeton's township's early settlers, who came from Georgia about 1803. settling east of Hazelton, in the midst of heavy timber, which he cleared from the tract of land which he had secured and developed a splendid farm. His first home was a log cabin, and in this the family lived until able to erect a more substantial and attractive honte. He was the father of five sons: Stewart, Samuel, Joseph, John and Giles, all of whom became farmers in White River township, except Joseph, who finally located at King's Station, this county. They also had two daughters, Cynthia. the wife of Joseph Hayes, and another one who became the wife of Joseph Decker. John Cun- ningham received only a common school education, and as a young man engaged in the mercantile business at Buena Vista, Indiana, and also became connected with the pork packing industry. He shipped large quantities of pork, produce, corn, walnut lumber, etc., to New Orleans on flat boats, and acquired a considerable quantity of valuable farm land. He died in 1860 while making a trip south with produce. His widow afterwards married

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David Robb in 1864, and they located seven miles north of Princeton, on the old Robb farm, where they both died. To John Cunningham and his wife were born the following children : Favilla, deceased, the wife of Jasper N. Davidson, of Princeton ; William Green, deceased, who married Mary Hitch, now living in Patoka; Joseph W., the immediate subject of this sketch ; Arminta, deceased; John, who died at the age of twenty-one years. To Mr. and Mrs. Robb were born two children, Anna, the wife of Charles Parrett, of White River township, Gibson county, and Nora, the wife of Oscar Spare, who lives south of Princeton.

Joseph W. Cunningham received the advantages of a common school education at Patoka and Deckard, Indiana. He lived at home with his step- . father and mother until he was twenty-three years of age, when he located on the Barnes place in White River township, to the operation of which he de- voted himself continuously, and with splendid success, until August 6, 1913, when he retired from the farm and moved to Princeton, establishing himself in a home at No. 219 South Main street. He is the owner of four hundred acres of land in White River township, which has been maintained at the highest standard of agricultural excellence, being numbered among the best farming tracts of the county. In addition to agriculture, Mr. Cunningham was engaged for many years in the buying of grain and stock and also as- sisted in the organization of the bank at Patoka, being at this time one of the directors of that institution. Starting in life with practically no assistance, he has achieved this splendid success entirely by his own efforts, and is en- titled to his due share of credit for what he has accomplished.

When twenty-three years old Mr. Cunningham was united in marriage with Nan Tribbett, a native of Gibson county, Indiana, who was born on the old Tribbett farm north of Princeton and whose death occurred in 1906. On November II. 1908, Mr. Cunningham married Christine Bennett, who was born in Jacksonville, Morgan county, Illinois, but resided in Gibson county at the time of her marriage. She is the daughter of Isaac and Martha (Latham) Bennett, her father a native of Morgan county. Illinois, and the mother of Gibson county, Indiana. By his first marriage, Mr. Cunningham became the father of the following children: Byron, who died April 12, 1910, was a school teacher for many years, and later cashier in the Patoka National Bank at Patoka. Gerald, who was educated in the schools at Patoka and the public schools at Louisville, Kentucky, and Indianapolis. Indiana. is now a successful dentist at Princeton. Roy T. graduated from the Patoka schools, and later attended a technical school at Boston, Massachu-

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History of Gibson County, Indiana : her people, industries and institutions, Part 91

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