USA > Indiana > Gibson County > History of Gibson County, Indiana : her people, industries and institutions > Part 93
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Although Mr. Kuester has been a life-long Democrat, he has never asked for office at the hands of his party. He has been content to devote all of his time and ability to his agricultural interests. However, he has kept pace with the various movements of his party and takes an active interest in its deliberations. Religiously, he is affiliated with the German Snake Run church and helps in the various activities of that denomination. He is a member of the lodge of Eagles at Princeton.
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Mr. Kuester is a good type of the American citizen who starts out with practically nothing and by the sweat of his brow has acquired for himself a comfortable home and laid by a sufficiency of this world's goods to insure his comfort in his old age. Too much credit cannot be given to the man who is thrown upon his own resources at an early age and by his own efforts is enabled to rear a family and supply them with all the comforts of mod- ern civilization. This is what Mr. Kuester has done and it is to his credit that in so doing he has not neglected the moral and civic welfare of his com- munity. Mr. Kuester is a genial and unassuming gentleman who has so conducted his affairs in the township as to win the confidence and esteem of his fellow citizens. His success has not been attained by any sudden stroke of fortune, but rather by unceasing industry and attention to his chosen vocation. Such men are a credit to any community, and were there more such men this country would be far better off. It is a pleasure to set forth in this brief sketch the life and character of such a man. He can pass on to his children and to his children's children the record of a life well spent.
THOMAS J. McELLHINEY.
There are no more highly esteemed citizens of Gibson county than the McEllhiney brothers. Born of sturdy Irish parents, they have inherited through generations of hardy ancestors all of those excellent qualities which belong to the people of Ireland. With few opportunities except what their own efforts were capable of mastering and with many difficulties to overcome, they have made an exceptional success in life, and the communities in which they live are proud to number them among their residents. All of them are progressive and enterprising and persevering and these qualities are sure to bring success if faithfully directed. They are men of strong and noble char- acter and have worked with zeal during their residence in this community for the moral, religious and social welfare of the locality.
Thomas J. McEllhiney, the second of the three brothers living in this county, was born March 15. 1862, in Ireland. His parents were John and Mary (Curscadin) McEllhiney, both of whom were natives of Ireland. The family history of the McEllhineys is specifically set forth in sketch of Cuna- cum McEllhiney elsewhere in this volume.
Thomas J. McEllhiney came with his parents to America when he was four years of age and settled with them in Gibson county, Indiana. Here he
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received his elementary education, but owing to the fact that it was necessary for him to start out early in life to earn a livelihood, his education was limited, although he has not let that hinder him in any way, but has kept himself well informed upon all the current topics of the day by reading the newspapers and magazines.
Thomas J. McEllhiney was married on July 22, 1886, to Rhoda Greek, the daughter of Joseph and Berilla ( Mills) Greek. He was born in Pennsyl- vania and his wife in Center township in this county. Joseph Greek was born in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, in 1822. His parents moved to Indiana early in his life, and he worked at various occupations and upon reaching the age of twenty-six he was married to Berilla Mills on March 14, 1848. They reared a large family of children to honored and respected manhood and womanhood and this family history is specifically referred to elsewhere in this volume in the sketch of Cunacum McEllhiney.
To Mr. and Mrs. Thomas J. McEllhiney have been born two children, Ruth and Robert R. Ruth, born November 13, 1887, is the wife of David Dunning, a farmer of this county. Mr. and Mrs. Dunning have three chil- dren : Elsie, Royal and Lela M. Robert R., born August 14, 1889, is still at home with his parents. Mr. McEllhiney purchased the farm on which he now lives, a tract comprising seventy-one acres, going into debt for the whole amount of the purchase price. Within five years, however, he had by hard work and strict application to business, succeeded in paying off the total indebtedness incurred by this purchase. Since then he has bought sixty-one acres more land and has paid for all of this from the products of the farm. In addition to his agricultural interests, he is financially interested in the Francisco Telephone Exchange, of which he is the president and manager. In this he has shown excellent business judgment and administrative ability and the service given by this telephone company has increased in value since he took charge of the work.
Politically, Mr. McEllhiney is a Progressive and sees in that party a chance to bring about certain reforms which will be of benefit to the nation in general. In his religious affiliations he is found in the Methodist Episcopal church, where he takes an active interest in the various departments of the work of that denomination.
Mr. McEllhiney, because of his many excellent personal qualities and splendid influence which his life has shed over the locality in which he has lived, is a man who has won a host of friends throughout the township. His high moral character and persistent industry have brought him a meed of fame which he rightly deserves.
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WALTER T. GALLIGAN.
The most elaborate history is necessarily an abridgment, the historian being compelled to select his facts and material from a multitude of details. In every life of honor and usefulness there is no dearth of incident and yet in summing up the career of any man the writer needs touch only the salient points which give the keynote of the character, but eliminating much that is superfluous. Thus in giving the life record of Walter T. Galligan, suffi- cient will be said to show that he is one of the enterprising, influential and progressive citizens of Gibson county, Indiana.
Walter T. Galligan, junior member of the firm of Kell & Galligan, mer- chants at Oakland City, is a native son of the old Hoosier state, having been born in Terre Haute, Vigo county, on July 13, 1869. His parents were Michael and Mary (Troutman) Galligan, the father a native of Ohio, and the mother of Kentucky. Michael Galligan, who was a railroad engineer by vocation, came to Oakland City in the employ of the Southern railroad, with which company he was connected for many years, proving one of the most faithful and trusted employes. He is now retired from active work and lives in Louisville, Kentucky. After the death of his first wife, he married Mollie Wilson. The subject of this sketch was the only child by his first union.
Walter T. Galligan received his education in the public schools of Oak- land City and Louisville, Kentucky, and in 1888 he became a salesman in the store of John D. Kell & Company at Oakland City, the company being Mrs. Nannie Duncan, of Princeton. In 1890 Mr. Galligan purchased Mrs. Duncan's interest in the business, since which time the firmn name has been Kell & Galligan, the store being known as the "Why" store. A large and complete stock of clothing, shoes and general furnishings for men are carried in this store. Three years ago they established another department under the name of the "When" store, containing a complete stock of dry goods. The "When" is a stock company, of which Mr. Galligan is the president, Mr. Kell, vice-president, and C. J. Powers, secretary and treasurer. The business has been very successful, and is now numbered among the leading com- mercial houses of this locality. Mr. Galligan has been very successful in everything to which he has applied himself, and is vice-president of the Creek & Heldt Hardware Company, a corporation at Oakland City, and a director in the Columbia State Bank, one of the successful and influential financial concerns of Gibson county. A man of earnest purpose and upright
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life, he has so ordered his actions as to win and retain the confidence and esteem of the entire community, and he is rightfully numbered among the representative men of Gibson county.
Mr. Galligan was married to Essie M. Bucklin, of Princeton, the daugh- ter of T. M. and Ann Bucklin, and to them have been born two daughters, Helen and Margaret.
Religiously, Mr. Galligan is a member of the Presbyterian church, while fraternally, he is a member of the Masonic order, in which he has taken the degrees of the York Rite, holding membership in the commandery of Knights Templar at Princeton, and in Hadi Temple, Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, at Evansville. He is a self-made man and has made his way in life unaided. Personally, he is a man of pleasing address, obliging, genial, a good mixer, makes and retains friends without effort, and he is in every way worthy of the high esteem in which he is universally held.
MOSES McELLHINEY.
No more substantial and moral citizens have ever come to this country from foreign lands than the sons of Ireland and wherever they have settled they have become honored and respected citizens. As a race they are char- acterized by industry and a patience which overcomes all obstacles and thus insures them success in whatever undertaking they choose to follow. Gib- son county has been honored by having several of the sons of the Emerald Isle as citizens, but no family of Irish descent has ever occupied a more prominent place in the material development of the county than has the Mc- Ellhiney family.
Moses McEllhiney, the youngest child of John and Mary J. (Curscadin ) McEllhiney, was born in Ireland February 15, 1861. His parents were born. reared, married and spent several years of their married life in their native land. Moses was given his elementary schooling in the sod schoolhouses of Ireland, and his subsequent education has been gathered in the wide school of observation and experience, and his success of today is convincing proof that he has been an apt student. When Moses was a young boy he came with his parents to the United States and settled in Princeton, Indiana. John McEllhiney was a millwright in Ireland and when he came to Gibson county he took up the same trade. For some years he was also a watchman at the
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engine house in Princeton, and a more efficient and faithful employee the railroad company never had. Some years before his death he engaged in farming and was engaged in this occupation at the time of his death. To Mr. and Mrs. John McEllhiney were born nine children, among whom were Moses, Cunacum and William J., three brothers who are now living in Gibson county, Indiana.
Moses McEllhiney is a fine example of the truly self-made man, for he has won his way through his own unaided efforts. He received a very meager education in Ireland and as soon as he came to this country he started out to help make a living for the family, and since that time has been a man who has literally earned his bread by the sweat of his brow. His first work in this country was in a saw mill with his brother, where he worked about two weeks, and received one hundred pounds of flour for his labor. His father then bought for him a horse and wagon and he started into the dray business in Princeton, his first job being the delivering of a sack of flour to John Oswald, for which he received five cents. His second and his next call was for J. J. Hartman, for whom he hauled some hardware from the depot for fifteen cents, the total for his first day's work being twenty cents. With this inauspicious beginning he laid the foundation for his future success, and at the end of two years he sold his draying outfit and went on a farm where he worked for his father for about fifteen years. He then went to Colorado, where he became the foreman of a cattle ranch and remained in that state for five years, at the expiration of which time he returned to Gibson county, where he and his brother purchased eighty acres of land. After his mar- riage in 1898, he rented the farm of Harvey Greer and lived on this place for eleven years, when he purchased his father-in-law's farm of twenty-six and one-half acres. He proceeded to build a new home on this farm, which is one of the handsomest country homes in the county. He also has good out- buildings of all kinds, and is now in a fair way to become a landowner of some prominence. Shortly after building his new house, he bought sixty acres of land from Alexander Mooney, and to his rapidly growing farm he later added twenty-three acres of land which he bought from his brother, Robert, and twenty acres of his brother Cunacum's farm, making him a total at the present time of one hundred and thirty-five acres of good farm- ing land. As a day laborer he never made more than twenty-seven dollars a month, and he can now look back with some satisfaction on a career which has been marked by good, honest hard toil.
Moses McEllhiney was married to Carrie Rinehart. September 7, 1898,
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the daughter of Frank and Lena Waltz, he a native of Gibson county, while his wife was born in Germany. Mr. and Mrs. Rinehart were the parents of six children : Carrie: John, deceased : Mrs. Sophronia Weidenbender, who lives in Princeton, Indiana ; Mary, at home ; Louis, of Bloomington, Illinois; and Daniel, who lives in Princeton. To Mr. and Mrs. McEllhiney have been born six children : John, born November 9, 1899: Henry, born June 10, 1902; Venito, born November 2, 1904; Daniel, born May 4, 1907: Mary. born August 24, 1909, and Mabel, born October 28, 1911. who lived only two weeks.
Mr. McEllhiney has been a strong Democrat in his political views, but has never taken an active part in politics. Much of his time has been spent outside of the state, and while he was working in Indiana, he had neither the time nor the means to indulge in the game of politics. He and the members of his family are devout adherents of the Catholic church and contribute liberally of their substance to this denomination. Mr. McEllhiney's career abounds in honest work, persistent effort and a perseverance which has never forsaken him during all the years of his endeavor. His life and labors are worthy of emulation and show what can be accomplished by a man who starts out with the intention of making an honest living. He is rearing his family to lives of usefulness and intends to give them that education which will fit them for the affairs of life. He is highly respected and honored by all who know him.
FELIX N. WESTFALL.
All honor is due the gallant veterans who are still living today. They are fast answering the last roll call, and within a few years they will all have passed away, leaving nothing but the memory of an heroic life spent for the love of their country. When the news of the fall of Fort Sumter was flashed across the country the hearts of the North were fired by patriotism which augured well for the nation. No Northern state had a more patriotic governor than Indiana, and had every governor done as much to help President Lin- coln as did Governor Morton the war would not have lasted as long as it did. No other state furnished as many men in proportion to its population as did Indiana; no other troops were sent into the field as well equipped and as well drilled as were the Indiana soldiers. More than two hundred thousand men enlisted from the state of Indiana alone, and in every engagement in which they participated they were never found lacking in that fine enthusi-
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asm which is conducive to victory. Whether upon the battle field or in the camp, whether in the prison pen of the South, they were always found faith- ful and loyal to the country which was supporting them. Amid the sound of shrieking shell they never faltered, but obeyed every command of their superior officers. Often wounded, they left the hospital and fought on until the end. Thousands who were made prisoners rejoined their companies and were often captured again, but it is to their credit that they never wavered; they never showed the white feather. No county in the state furnished braver or better men than did Gibson county, and of the thousands of men who went from this county, the seventeen-year-old youth whose name heads this sketch was fired by as pure a patriotism as was shown by any of the recruits who went to the front.
Felix N. Westfall, a Civil war veteran and prominent citizen of this county, was born September 18, 1844, in Owensville, this county. His par- ents were Calvin and Juliana (Cormick) Westfall, the father born in Harri- son county, Indiana, and the mother a native of Gibson county. Calvin West- fall came to Gibson county when he was about eight years of age with his parents and lived on his father's farm until he was about twenty-two years of age. He received his elementary education in Harrison and Gibson county schools and as a youth enjoyed all those advantages which fall to the lot of the ordinary country lad. After his marriage he bought a farm in this county, which he operated and improved, and where he lived for the remainder of his life. To him and his wife were born nine children, of whom Felix N. was the fifth in order of birth.
Felix N. Westfall was reared on the paternal farmstead and received his education in the district schools of Gibson county. On August 10, 1862, when he still lacked one month of being eighteen years of age, he enlisted in Com- pany F. Eightieth Regiment Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and served throughout the remainder of the great conflict, being discharged on June 22, 1865, at Salisbury, North Carolina. He left Princeton with his company on the 8th day of September, 1862, and on October 8th of the same year he engaged in his first battle in Kentucky. Here he was severely wounded, but quickly recovering, he again joined his company. The corps to which his company was attached followed the Confederates to Danville, Kentucky, where they (the Confederates) were going to encamp for the winter. On this forced march he was disabled and sent to the hospital, where he remained from the 27th of November, 1862, until March 20, 1863, when he was again able to rejoin his regiment. Within a short time he was again disabled and
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was this time sent to Louisville, Kentucky, to recuperate. As soon as he was discharged from the hospital, he rejoined his regiment at Lebanon, Kentucky, and was then in active service until the day on which he was mustered out. We cannot give too much credit to those gallant boys in blue who followed wherever their commander led them, who never questioned an order, but fought through the bloodiest of conflicts without ever flinching.
Immediately after being mustered out of the service Mr. Westfall re- turned to Center township, Gibson county, and started to work on the farm. On December 13, 1867, he was united in marriage to Rosalie Dougherty, the daughter of Frank and Jane (Montgomery) Dougherty, and to this union there were born eight children: William, deceased. December 26, 1912; Melissa Edith, who died in infancy; Hiram T., who lives in Oregon; Marion O., who lives in Nebraska; Mamie A., who died in infancy; Mrs. Mary J. Combs, of Princeton, Indiana; Mrs. Julia A. Hyslop, whose husband is a farmer in Center township, and Orville, who died in infancy.
At the time of his marriage Mr. Westfall bought a farm of eighty acres in Center township, this county, and continued to operate this tract until a few years ago when he moved to the town of Francisco. As a farmer he was very successful in raising all the crops common to this section. He gradually improved his farm and kept it well stocked with the latest farming machinery, thereby materially increasing the value of his farm. He has been a life-long Republican in politics, but has been satisfied to devote all of his time and attention to his agricultural interests and for this reason has not taken a very active part in politics. However, he keeps himself well informed on all the public questions of the day and can discuss them intelligently. He and his family are faithful and earnest members of the General Baptist church, and have always taken a prominent part in the activities of this denomina- tion. Mr. Westfall is a prominent member of the Grand Army of the Re- public post at Princeton, and takes a great deal of pleasure in being present at the meetings of Archer Post.
Mr. Westfall can look back over a life well spent. As a soldier he per- formed his every duty with faithfulness and courage, and as a private citi- zen he has never fallen short of the dignity of true manhood. In all his business transactions he has so conducted his life that he has won the un- qualified approbation of all of his fellow citizens, so that when he answers the final roll call there will be no one but what can say "His life was gentle and the elements so mixed in him that the whole world might stand up and say, he was a man."
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JOHN N. McKEDY.
There is no occupation which gives a man the independence of life, which brings him closer to nature than does farming. In pioneer times farm- ing was very much of a drudgery, but with all the modern improvements, the farmer is relieved of much of the hard work which was the portion of his forefathers. Then, too, farming has risen in dignity, until now it is often referred to as a profession rather than as an occupation. Fifty years ago the science of agriculture was in its mere infancy, and to think that a man had to take a course in college in order to be a successful farmer would have been laughed at, but today our colleges are teaching agriculture as a science and are turning out thousands of young men who are well trained in the scientific methods of farming. Another advantage which the present day farmer commands which was totally unknown to his pioneer forefathers, is the matter of transportation. Good roads are threading every portion of our state today and the interurban and automobile keep the farmer in close touch not only with his neighbors, but with the life in the city as well. Gibson is one of the oldest counties in the state and consequently has many fine farms and good farmers within its borders. Among the enterprising and pro- gressive farmers of the county, there is no one who stands in higher esteem than does the gentleman whose name appears at the head of this sketch.
John N. McKedy was born April II, 1850, in Owensville, Indiana, the son of Thomas H. and Maria (Teal) McKedy, both natives of this county. They were the parents of seven children, the subject being the second child in order of birth. Thomas H. McKedy located in Center township on the farm where his son, John N., is now living. He cleared this land, drained and fenced it and put up a log cabin in the early days, where he and his good wife started to housekeeping.
John N. McKedy was reared on the home farm and received his early education in the district schools of his neighborhood and followed this by a course in the Oakland City College. That he took advantage of his educa- tional opportunities is shown by the fact that he took the state teachers' examination and secured a license to teach school in his county. Although he only taught one term of school he made a good record as a teacher that year and the teaching profession lost a good instructor when he decided to abandon teaching and engage in farming.
John N. McKedy was united in marriage on March 10, 1877, to Mary Madden, the daughter of Wright and Susan J. (Hollingsworth) Madden,
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both natives of the Hoosier state. To Mr. and Mrs. McKedy have been born two children, Homer V., who is now the chief clerk in the New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad at New Haven, Connecticut, and Mrs. Mary May Lagier, whose husband is a farmer in Center township; she has two children, May L., born April 4, 1909, and Madge, born June 23, 1912. The wife and mother died December 31, 1897.
Mr. McKedy is the owner of a finely improved farm of eighty-five acres, besides other land holdings in Center township. He has retired from active farm life and rents his farms out to tenants. As a farmer he was successful and was counted as one of the most progressive farmers of his community at the time when he retired from active labors on the farm. Politically, he is a firm adherent and believer in the principles of the Prohibitionist party, and has taken a very active interest in the deliberations of that party. He is a member of the Presbyterian church, and has always been prominent in the activities of that denomination. Mr. McKedy is a man who is well informed on all public questions of the day and keeps apace with the progress of civilization. He does a great amount of reading and takes pleasure in talk- ing over the problems of the day with his friends. He is a genial, unas- suming man whom it is a pleasure to meet, and all of his neighbors speak in the highest terms of his genial companionship. While he has been look- ing out for his material advancement, he has not neglected those higher inter- ests which go out after the welfare of his community, and accordingly he is in hearty sympathy with all movements looking toward the betterment of the community of which he is a resident.
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