History of Jackson County, Indiana, Part 58

Author: Brant & Fuller
Publication date: 1886
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 759

USA > Indiana > Jackson County > History of Jackson County, Indiana > Part 58

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KASPER SCHAFER is a native of Germany. He was born April 20, 1828. He began life as a baker, having apprenticed himself to that trade at the age of fourteen. He continued at this employment until the age of twenty-four. In 1852 he em- barked for America, landing at New York. Going thence to Louisville, he came from there direct to Seymour. In 1853 he located upon a farm in the suburbs of Seymour, where he still resides. His principal business has been that of supplying the city of Seymour with ice and fish. He has a large pond of pure water upon his premises adjoining which is a strong and com- modious ice-house for the storage of ice. He has been very successful in his enterprises and now enjoys a large and lucrative patronage. June 26, 1854, he was married to Josephine Rhea- hart, who was a native of Jennings County, Ind. To them seven children have been born, six of whom are living: Lewis, Mary, George, Anna, Lizzie and Nicholas. Mrs. Schafer died May 14, 1872. He next married Catharine McCaffrey, a native of Jen- nings County, November 6, 1873. He and his wife are members of the Catholic Church. In politics Mr. Schafer is a Democrat.

REV. ANTHONY A. SCHENK, whose portrait appears elsewhere, is the pastor of St. Ambrose Catholic Church, at Seymour. He was born in Posey County, this State, February 12, 1849, being one of nine children born to Theodore and Frances (Schenk) Schenk, who were natives of Westphalia, Germany, and came to America when quite young. Being farmers, their son Anthony was brought up in agricultural pur- suits until sixteen years of age, when he began a course of study at St. Meinrad's College, where he completed the classics in three years, and then for two years he studied philosophy at St. Joseph's College, at Bardstown, Ky .; following this with a three years' course in theology, at St. Meinrad's, he was ordained a priest at that place November 2, 1873, by Bishop Maurice de St. Palais. December 6, following, he took charge of St. Ambrose Church, at Seymour, where he has ever since continued; and during his pastorate here the membership of his church has increased to 115 families. In the meantime he has built St. Ambrose Academy and Day School at a cost of $10,000; also a parsonage has been purchased at a cost of $1,000, and a $3,000 addition

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made to the church edifice. Total expenditures for buildings, etc., about $16,000. The remaining indebtedness is only $1,500. These works are a standing monument of Father Schenk's faith- fulness, industry and ability; and his standing is such as to command the highest respect both of Catholics and Protestants. The schools are in charge of five Sisters of Providence, and have an attendance of about 175 pupils.

FREEMAN E. SCOTT, a native of Vermont, was born November 12, 1844. His parents Oshea and Susan E. (Corse) Scott were natives of the same State. At the age of eight years he removed with his parents to the State of Massachusetts. It was here the subject of our sketch acquired the rudiments of an education in the common schools. At the age of seventeen he apprenticed himself to a machinist where he learned the trade. He removed to Indiana in 1866, and was variously employed until 1873, when he engaged in the saw-mill business in which he continued for three years. Leaving this he was next employed at his trade in the car shops of the Jeffersonville, Madison & Indianapolis Railroad, at Jeffersonville, where he remained four months, taking, at the expiration of this time, an engine on the road, which he ran for four years. In the spring of 1871 he took charge of the car shops on the Jeffersonville, Madison & Indianapolis Railroad. at Indianapolis, which position he held for two years. It was in the year 1877 that he began the erection of, a stave manufactory and saw-mill at Chestnut Ridge, located on the Jeffersonville, Madison & Indianapolis Railroad, in Jack- son County. His brother, F. M. Scott, is associated with him in this enterprise. They now manufacture about 2,000,000 staves a year. They also saw about 400,000 feet of lumber a year. They give employment to about twenty men and boys. In De- cember, 1883, he was married to Miss Gerrish, the daughter of Dr. J. W. F. Gerrish. He has one child by a former marriage. He is a member of the orders of K. of H. and K. of P. In religion he is a Presbyterian, in politics a Republican.

MEEDY WHITE SHIELDS, late of Seymour, was born in Sevierville, Sevier Co., Tenn., July 8, 1805. He was the son of James and Penelope (White) Shields, and a grandson of Stock- ton Shields, of Virginia. a captain in the Revolutionary war.

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The subject of this sketch attended school only three months in his life, but by his own energy attained a thorough English edu- cation. He removed to Corydon, Harrison County, in 1811, using pack-horses in making the journey. In 1816 the family went to Jackson County and settled on a farm that is now part of the city of Seymour. At this time there were only six white families in the county. From 1820 to 1832 Mr. Shields was en- gaged in running a flat-boat from the White River to New Orleans, and in managing his farm. In the early part of 1832, he enlisted in the army, was made first lieutenant, and in the fall of that year was promoted to a captaincy. At the close of the Blackhawk war, in 1833, he returned to Jackson County, where he married Eliza P. Ewing, the daughter of a wealthy farmer of Brownstown, of the same county. He then engaged in farming on the old homestead. In the fall of 1846 he was elected a mem- ber of the Legislature, and was re-elected in 1848. In October, 1852, he was elected State senator from the counties of Jackson and Scott. In November of that year he laid out the town (now the city ) of Seymour, and in 1853 opened a general store and also constructed eleven miles of the Ohio & Mississippi Railroad. He was a lover of fine stock, and manifested a great interest in the improvement of the cattle of the county, making the first importation of fine stock in the neighborhood. It was mainly through his efforts that the Ohio & Mississippi Railroad passed through the town of Seymour, as the road had been located two miles north, through the town of Rockford. In the fall of 1856 he was again elected to the State senate from Jackson, and Jen- nings Counties, and there introduced the bill compelling railroad companies to bring all trains to a stop at crossings of other rail- roads. In 1860 he was a delegate to the Democratic Convention at Charlestown which nominated Douglas for President. He was the father of eight children, two of whom, Ewing and Tipton, are deceased; Bruce T. and William H. are now farming; Sarah S. married John H. Blish in 1854, and Eliza S. married A. W. Dickinson in 1864. Mr. Shields was not a member of any relig- ious denomination, but gave liberally to several churches in their infancy, donating a lot to every church. His wife was a member of the First Presbyterian Church, and not only was a liberal con-

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tributor to the church at Seymour, but gave largely of her means to the support of Presbyterian Churches all over the State. The city of Seymour, in its rapid growth, its numerous railroad shops, its extensive manufactories, and its high school, which ' bears Mr. Shields' name, is greatly indebted to the energy, in- dustry, perseverance and influence of its founder. He died Feb- ruary 6, 1866, of inflammation of the stomach, and in his death the city suffered an irreparable loss. His wife departed this life November 14, of the same year. Mr. Shields left an estate worth $375,000, accumulated by his own energy, sagacity and industry. His brother, William Shields, in the year 1840 was a member of the Indiana Legislature, and died during his term of office. He was dearly beloved by the people, and was followed to the grave by an immense concourse of citizens. Appropriate resolutions in regard to his sterling worth were adopted by the house.

DR. JOHN TIPTON SHIELDS, a most prominent citizen of this county, residing at Seymour, was born in Jennings County, Ind., September 22, 1822, on Sand Creek, near where the first water-mill in that section was built. He was the son of James and Martha (McCasland) Shields, who were natives respectively of Counties Kerry and Dublin, Ireland. Both were represented in the Scottish war. They settled in Jennings County, this State, where they followed farming and merchandising at Vernon, in both of which pursuits the Doctor in his youth was reared. Receiving such training as the schools of his native town afforded, he commenced the study of medicine in the office of Dr. W. C. Thompson, now of Indianapolis. A year afterward, in 1833, he went to St. Charles, Mo., and continued his studies in a private office there until the winter of 1840-41; next he attended a course of lectures at the McDowell Medical College at St. Louis; and, returning to Vernon, after residing there a year, he opened an office at Dupont, Jefferson County, this State. During the winter of 1846-47 he attended a course of lectures at the Ohio Medical College at Cincinnati, and graduated with the degree of M. D .; then, after traveling over the greater portion of the United States, he finally located. in 1865, in Seymour, where he has since successfully followed the practice of his profession. The Doctor has taken an active part in public affairs, and, being

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a deep thinker, a fluent speaker and a man of well defined and honest principles, he has been elected by his party, the Democ- racy, to many important positions of trust. Accordingly, he represented Jennings County in the Legislature at its extra ses- sion of 1858, and regular session of 1859; also Jackson County in 1878-80, and has been ten years a member of the city council of Seymour. He is an active member also of the Masonic, Odd Fellow and Knights of Pythias orders; is benevolent, sympa- thetic, and never above assisting the needy. In August, 1843, Dr. Shields married Miss Eliza J., daughter of Huffman Barton, of New York, a well educated and talented lady, being a grad- uate of an Eastern college. The children of Dr. and Mrs. Shields, now living, are two in number, namely: Scott and Mrs. Elizabeth Ross. The latter is a graduate of Glendale, Ohio, and of the Cincinnati Music School, and is the possessor of a violin valued at several thousands of dollars.

DR. JAMES M. SHIELDS was the second born to James S. and Mary E. (Martin) Shields. His father, James S., was a na- tive of Jennings County, Ind. He was a physician by profession. Dr. James M. Shields, the subject of this sketch, was born April 10, 1859, at Mitchell, Lawrence County. He attended the com- mon schools of his section, and then graduated at the high school. In 1878 he entered the office of his father and Dr. J. T. Shields. He afterward attended the Kentucky School of Medicine, where he graduated two years later, in 1880. He was married, in Oc- tober, 1883, to Miss Emma Brown. One child has been born to this union-Frank B. He was appointed pension examiner of the board of examining surgeons of the Third Congressional District at North Vernon. He has also held the office of clerk of the board of health of the city of Seymour. He is at present presi- dent of the board of health of Jackson County. He is a member of the order of K. of P., holding the position of chancellor com- mander. The Doctor is rather retiring in disposition, affable and courteous in demeanor, and has a bright future before him. His wife is a member of the Baptist Church. In politics he is a Democrat.

LYCURGUS L. SHIELDS, of Seymour, was born in this county, May 19, 1834, the first son of M. W. and Eliza P. (Ewing)

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Shields. After attending the public school of his neighborhood and the private school of John I. Morrison, at Salem, Ind., a year, he was at the State University, at Bloomington, Ind., two years. At the age of twenty-six he married Miss R. J. Mccollum, and moved (in 1852), with her parents, to Seymour, when there were but two houses in the place. Of the ten children born to them six are living, namely: Ewing, Fannie, Nellie, Lycurgus, Dickinson and Meedy. The deceased are Eliza P., Swope, Meedy, Sarah and Lorne. Mr. Shields is a farmer and stock raiser. In politics he is a Democrat, and he is regarded as one of the influ- ential men of the county.

DR. NORBONNE N. SHIPMAN, a physician of Seymour, was born in New Orleans, La., September 21, 1829, being the fourth son of Louis and Sarah J. (King) Shipman, the father a native of Virginia. When he was two years of age his mother died, and when four years old his father emigrated with his chil- dren to New Albany, this State, where they were to be reared by his sister, Mrs. Sarah Mathews. When about seventeen years of age he engaged as clerk in the drug business for B. F. Scribner, and afterward, in the same capacity, for Winstandley & Newkirk. This relation terminated in 1857, when, December 28, of that year, he married Miss M. Ella Lawrence, a native of New Washing- ton, Clarke Co., Ind. At this time Dr. Shipman went into the drug business for himself at New Albany. A year afterward he went to New Washington, where he had an interest with his father-in-law in the tannery business, and began reading medi- cine. In 1863 he commenced attendance at the Ohio Medical · College, at Cincinnati, but at the close of one term he went to St. Paul, Decatur Co., this State, and practiced medicine there until 1876, in the meantime returning to Cincinnati and receiving his diploma. Previous to his entrance at college, however, he had a year's experience in the United States Hospital, at New Albany. In the year named he came to Seymour, where he has since suc- cessfully practiced his chosen profession. At present he is also United States examining surgeon for pensions. In his political views he is a Republican, and he is a member of the order of the K. of the G. R. He is also a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. The Doctor's children are Harry L. and William L. George E. died in infancy.

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HENRY J. SMITH, of Seymour, is a native of Clarke County, Ind., and was born June 6, 1842. His parents were William T. and Sarah (Wiseman) Smith, both natives of Kentucky. Henry's education is only such as the common schools of his time afforded. At the age of fifteen he began the saw-mill business, an occupation that he has followed most of his life. In 1858 he went to Louisville and remained for two years. He enlisted early in the war in the Forty-ninth Regiment, Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and served until September, 1865, when he was honorably discharged. During his term of service he was engaged in the battles of Vicksburg, Champion Hills, Port Gibson, besides a number of skirmishes. At the close of the war he returned to Louisville and remained until 1867. He then moved to Austin, in Scott Co., Ind., still pursuing the saw- mill business. Four years later he moved to Jackson County and located at Chestnut Ridge. From there in 1880 he came to Seymour, where he owns a mill. In addition to this he controls a mill at Austin and one in Kentucky. June 3, 1866, Martha E. Louis became his wife.

JOHN STAUDT is a native of Prussia. He is a son of M. and Katrina (Mersche) Staudt. His father was a farmer and slate miner. Mathias Staudt and Katrina Mersche were married May 20, 1821. Nine children were born to this union-seven boys and two girls. This happy couple, after half a century of wedded bliss, celebrated their golden wedding in Seymour, May 20, 1871. However, most of their lives were spent in the dear old father- land. They immigrated to America in 1864, to meet their son, who had preceded them eleven years. John Staudt was born April 5, 1828, in Prussia. His early occupation was that of a farmer and slate miner. His education was obtained in the vil- lage school of his neighborhood. Becoming dissatisfied with the meager advantages offered a poor man for advancement in his native land, he immigrated to America in 1852. He settled in Jackson County in the latter part of 1853, his occupation at this time being that of a common laborer. He was married in 1856, to Ursula Zimmer. Three children blessed this union, only one of whom is living, G. M. Staudt, who is now a machinist and engineer of the new fire engine of Seymour. John Staudt, the

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subject of this sketch, served three years in the German Army, in the body-guard of the First Uhlan Regiment of Potsdam. He has been a member of the I. O. O. F., for twenty years, and has occupied the position of councilman of Seymour two years. He was chief of the fire department of the city of Seymour for years, which position he resigned in April, 1875, owing to a contemplated trip to Europe,. which country he visited, departing with his wife and son, April 27, 1875. The trip was taken for the benefit of his wife's failing health. He paid an extended visit to his native town of Bruchied Rhine, Province of Prussia. John Staudt celebrated his silver wedding May 28, 1881, in Seymour. He was in the employ of the Ohio & Mississippi Railroad, dating from 1853. He has been presi- dent of the Building and Loan Association of Seymour for two years. He is in the retail liquor trade near the junction of the Ohio & Mississippi, and Jeffersonville, Madison & Indianapolis Railroads. His father died in 1872, after a residence in Seymour of seven years and four months. His mother died one year later. They belonged to the Catholic Church. Mr. Staudt is also a member of the same church. . In politics he is a Democrat.

JOHN STOUT, livery and feed stable, Seymour, Ind., was born in Morgan County, Ind., March 8, 1838. He is the sixth of eight children born to Aaron and Sarah (Shannan) Stout. Aaron Stout married in Kentucky and came to Morgan County, Ind., in about 1820. He was an educated man and could speak seven languages. He was a sailor on the lakes for fourteen years, and was in the war of 1812. He practiced law in Morgan County. The latter part of his life was spent in farm- ing. He was drowned at Rockford, Ind., in 1848. His wife died in 1858. Our subject's early life was spent on a farm and attending the common schools in his native county. After the death of his father he went to live with his uncle, and at the age of fifteen he went to Missouri and clerked in a grocery. He worked at various occupations till the Rebellion, when he enlisted in Company F, Thirty-ninth Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and served fourteen months, when he was discharged on account of disability. After coming back to Indiana he followed farm- ing for a time, then embarked in the livery business at Browns-

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town for seven years, and for the last four years he has been engaged in the livery business at Seymour. He is now living with his fifth wife. In 1863 he married Caroline Able. One child was born to this union, George. This wife died in 1866. His fourth marriage was Hannah Winscott, who bore him four chil- dren, of whom two are living: John W. and Leo C. His fourth wife died in 1874. He then took for his fifth wife Melinda, daughter of William and Elizabeth (Bedel) McDonald, of Jack- son County. Mr. Stout is a Democrat in politics.

WILLIAM J. SWEANY, of Jackson Township, is the eldest of eleven children of Jairus and Harriet (nee Robinson) Sweany. His father, a farmer, was born in east Tennessee, on Last River, in 1803, and came to this county at the age of eleven years. The gentleman whose name heads this sketch was born July 26, 1826, in this county, and his early life, both at home and at school, was passed in the log cabin, with broad fire-place and puncheon floor, and his youth was inured to the heavy work of cutting down the trees of the dense forest, clearing the ground and following agricultural pursuits. During his life here he has been honored with public official trusts, as assessor of Jackson County, supervisor of roads for his section, etc. He is a mem- ber of the P. of H., and in his political principles a Democrat. Mr. Sweany was married on the 1st of August, 1850, to Annis S. Adams, and of their seven children only three are now living: Louisa, James and Thomas J. Mrs. Sweany died January 27, 1865.

HEZEKIAH THOMAS is a native of Shelby County, Ky., and was born May 24, 1809. He was one of a family of eight children born to William and Mary (Seyfres) Thomas, who were natives of Virginia and Pennsylvania. At an early age he re- moved with his parents to Clarke County, Ind. They here en- gaged in farming, to which pursuit the subject of this sketch was reared. He received such school training as the schools of that day afforded. At the age of twenty-one he was married to Miss Polly Blunt, a native of Washington County. Nine children were born to this union; the first died in infancy: W. C., James A., Sarah Ann, Hezekiah, David B., Ezra, Louis C. and Mary; all are living, except Mary and an infant. Mrs. Thomas died at the age

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of forty. He was again married, in 1854, to Rebecca Prather, & native of Clarke County, Ind. There were born to them seven children: George, Ira P., Leutitia, Edgar, Edward, Mary, Olef and Charles E., all of whom are dead, except Mary and Charles E. The latter was born March 9, 1864. Charles E. Thomas received his elementary training in the schools of Seymour. He is now proprietor of the Lynn House, gents' furnishing goods store, where, by fair dealing and courteous bearing, he has built up a profitable business. Mr. Hezekiah Thomas was formerly in the hardware business; then conducted a livery sta- ble. He is a member of the order of A. F. & A. M., and also I. O. O. F. He and wife are members of the Methodist Episco- pal Church, of which he is at present a trustee. He is one of Jackson County's oldest citizens and most successful merchants.

GEN. JOHN TIPTON was born in Sevier County, Tenn., August 14, 1780. His father, Joshua Tipton, was a native of Maryland. When quite young, being impelled by a desire to participate in the excitements of pioneer life, he removed to Ten- nessee. He was one of the most formidable adversaries of Indian strategy, to which he finally fell a victim in 1793. In the fall of 1807 John Tipton, with his mother, two sisters and a half- brother, removed to Indiana Territory, and settled near a place on the Ohio River known as Brinley's Ferry. He purchased fifty acres of land, for which he paid by chopping and splitting rails at 50 cents a hundred. In 1811 he became a member of Capt. Spencer's company of mounted riflemen, known as Yellow Jackets. This company did excellent service in the campaign against the Indians on the Upper Wabash. In the battle of Tip- pecanoe, November 7, 1811, all the company officers above En- sign Tipton having been killed, he was promoted to the captaincy by Gen. Harrison in the hottest of the fight, and by his superior tact and courage maintained the reputation of his men. He con- tinued in service until the close of the war in that locality. Sub- sequently he was promoted, by regular gradations in the Terri- torial and State militia, to the position of major-general in 1822. At the first election under the State constitution, in 1816, he was made sheriff of Harrison County, and was re-elected in 1818. In 1821 he was chosen to represent Harrison County in the State

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Legislature, and during the same year was one of the commis- sioners that located the State capital of Indiana. In the session which followed he was apppointed commissioner on the part of Indiana to meet a like commissioner from Illinois to locate the boundary line between the two States. The duty was satisfacto- rily performed. In the spring of 1824, without his solicitation or knowledge, he was appointed by President Monroe to the Indian agency, then located at Fort Wayne, which embraced the Pottawattomie, Miami and other Indian tribes on the Upper Wa- bash and Tippecanoe Rivers. Soon after his appointment he re- moved to Fort Wayne, and remained until March, 1828, when, at his instance, the agency was removed to Logansport. He was one of the commissioners appointed by John Quincy Adams to superintend the treaties with the Indians in his jurisdiction, and to his eminent ability were chiefly due the important provisions of the treaties of 1826, whereby valuable lands were opened to the public. He continued in charge of the agency until Decem- ber, 1831, when he was elected United States Senator, to fill the vacancy occasioned by the death of Hon. James Noble. In De- cember, 1832, he was elected for a full term of six years, from March 4, 1833. As a senator he ranked high, distinguishing himself by his accurate knowledge of men and their relations to public affairs, and in working for the best good of the nation, without reference to politics. During the summer of 1838 he was delegated by the President to remove certain disaffected Pot- tawattomie and Miami Indians to the land which had been re- served west of the Mississippi River. Though these Indians had disposed of their lands, they were unwilling to emigrate, and the contractor had found it utterly impossible to proceed further. Gen. Tipton, however, readily comprehending the situation, over- came the difficulties by strategy, and, with a celerity scarcely anticipated, removed the remnants of the once mighty tribes. In March, 1839, he returned to his home in Logansport, and com- menced improving his vast landed estate on the Wabash. Had he lived to execute his plans for developing the immense resources of that locality, he would have given to Cass County in general, and Logansport in particular, a place in the industrial world un- equaled in Indiana. He died, April 5, 1839, from a sudden ill-

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History of Jackson County, Indiana, Part 58

Author: Brant & Fuller Publication date: 1886 Publisher: Number of Pages: 759

Author: Brant & Fuller
Publication date: 1886
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 759