USA > Indiana > Knox County > History of Knox and Daviess Counties, Indiana : from the earliest time to the present; with biographical sketches, reminiscences, notes, etc. ; together with an extended history of the colonial days of Vincennes, and its progress down to the formation of the state government > Part 34
USA > Indiana > Daviess County > History of Knox and Daviess Counties, Indiana : from the earliest time to the present; with biographical sketches, reminiscences, notes, etc. ; together with an extended history of the colonial days of Vincennes, and its progress down to the formation of the state government > Part 34
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MASON J. NIBLACK, son of William E. and Eliza A. Nib- lack, was born in the city of Vincennes, Ind., April 14, 1857, where he resided until he was nearly fourteen years of age, when he went to Cazenovia, in Madison County, N. Y., to live with his grandfather, William Sherman, on a farm. He remained on the farm for four years, and then attended school at Cazenovia Semi- nary at Cazenovia, N. Y., from which institution he graduated in 1878. During the school year of 1878-79 he attended school at the university of Ann Arbor, Mich. He began the study of law at Cazenovia, N. Y., in June, 1879, with D. W. Cameron, and in September of that year returned to Vincennes and continued the study of law. He graduated at the university of Michigan Law School in 1882, and received the degree of LL. B. He is now the junior member of the law firm of Viehe & Niblack, the senior member being Hon. F. W. Viehe.
LOVELL M. NICHOLSON, book-keeper and cashier for B. Kuhn & Co., is a native of Clark County, Ind,; born February 10, 1838, son of George A. and Eliza (Chowning) Nicholson, and is of Welsh origin. The parents were born in Trimble County, Ky., in 1805 and 1812 respectively. The paternal grandfather, Thomas Nicholson, was a Virginian by birth, and the family moved from Kentucky to Missouri in 1840, remaining there nine years, and then moved to Indiana and settled at New Albany. They moved to Indianapolis in 1850, and made that city their home eleven years. At that time they moved to Marshall, Ill., and there the mother of our subject died in 1868. The father
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died in Vincennes, January, 1875. Our subject is a graduate of the Indianapolis Commercial College (graduating in 1858). He taught school for five years, and in 1860 entered the employ of M. Meyer, of Jeffersonville, and remained with him ten years. He came to Vincennes from Louisville in 1873, and was employed by B. Kuhn as book-keeper, and this position has since retained. He was married, in 1867, to Miss Emma Smith, of Madison, Ind. Mrs. Nicholson died March 25, 1882, and April 2, 1885, Mr. Nicholson married Miss Clara H. Montgomery, of Orleans, Ind. born in 1852. He is a Republican, and joined the Masons in 1864. He is a member of the Unitarian Church, and his wife of the Christian Church.
WILLIAM J. NICHOLSON, boot and shoe merchant, of Vincennes, is a native of Knox County; born October 14, 1851, and is a son of Simon A. Nicholson, who lives near Wheatland, this county. William J. spent his boyhood days on a farm. He secured a very good education and prepared himself for teaching, which occupation he followed three years in the county. In 1875 he began reading medicine with the view to making it a profes- sion, and in 1876 engaged in the drug business in Wheatland, but abandoned the study of medicine and conducted the drug store successfully there until 1881, when he came to this city and en- gaged in a similar business here, continuing two and a half years. He then sold out his store and became connected with the Vin- cennes Commercial in the capacity of city editor, in which he re- mained but six months. He then opened his present store, and has conducted the business very successfully since that time, and controls a large share of the trade in city and county. He still retains an interest in the drug business in Wheatland, which is managed by his brother and partner in the business, Anderson C. Nicholson. Mr. Nicholson is unmarried. He is a Republican in politics, and was postmaster of Wheatland five years. He is a member of the I. O. O. F. and K. of P. fraternities, and a mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
JAMES T. ORR, commissioner of Knox County, Ind., and manufacturer and wholesale and retail dealer in general saddlery, is a native of the "Emerald Isle," born in 1835, son of Thomas and Catherine (Farrel) Orr, and is of Scotch-Irish descent. The
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Orr family came to America from Ireland in 1837, and settled in North Vernon, Ind. Our subject came to Vincennes in 1843, and this has been his home since that time. In 1852 Mr. Orr went to Louisville, Ky., and worked for four years as an apprentice at the saddler's trade. In 1855 he began the saddlery business in Vin- cennes, and has continued at that work ever since, meeting with good success. His political views are Democratic, and he served as a member of the Vincennes city council for seven years. He is president of the Vincennes Draw Bridge Company, and in 1885 was elected county commissioner of Knox County. He was mar- ried in 1872 to Miss Mary Beckes, daughter of Thomas P. Beckes. They have four children: Thomas G., Mary E., James B. and John E. Mr. Orr has been very prosperous in his busi- ness enterprises, and is one of the leading and prominent men of the city and county. He is a member of the Catholic Church.
JOHN A. OSTENDORF, jeweler, was born in the northern part of Germany, December 14, 1834, son of John H. and Cather- ine (Bockman) Ostendorf. He is the third of nine children, and is of German descent. The parents were natives of Germany, born in 1803 and 1807, and died in this State in 1862 and 1847, respectively. Subject came to America in 1853 and settled in this city. He began learning the jewelry business in the old country, and completed the trade in Vincennes under Asa Wash- burn. He began business for himself in 1855, and continued alone until 1863, when his brother, Harmon H., became a part- ner in the business. They have the oldest jewelry store in the city, and have succeeded well in the business. They have now four times the amount of capital they had in 1861. John A. was married in 1862 to Caroline M. Duesterberg, a daughter of G. H. Duesterberg. She was born in 1839. They have two children: Catherine and Henry. Mr. Ostendorf is a Democrat, and a mem- ber of the German Catholic Church.
HARMON H. OSTENDORF was born in Germany in 1838, and came to America in 1855, and went to Cincinnati, Ohio, and learned the jeweler's trade. He came to Vincennes in 1861, and two years later formed his present partnership. He was married October 17, 1865, to Christina Memmering, a native of Knox County, who died January 21, 1871, leaving one child, Annie.
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Mr. Ostendorf married Caroline Belgenorth November 24, 1873. She was born in this county in 1848. They have three children: Bernard, Caroline and Ella. ' Harmon H. is a Democrat, and a member of the German Catholic Church. They are one of the most reliable and oldest firms in the city, and do an extensive and paying business.
CHARLES W. PADGETT, dealer in drugs, was born in Daviess County, Ind., July 6, 1851, and is a son of William B. and Minerva J. (Seals) Padgett. His parents were born in Har- din County, Ky., and his paternal grandfather, Charles Padgett, was a native Virginian. About one-half century ago the family removed to Martin Co., Ind., and there the grandfather still re- sides, on the farm which he entered on coming to "Hoosierdom." The parents are residents of Washington, Ind. Our subject spent his boyhood days on a farm, and attended the country schools. In 1867 he engaged in the grain business at Edwards- port, and in 1882 he came to Vincennes and engaged in the wine and liquor business, but began keeping a drug store in 1884, and has continued to the present. He was married, July 6, 1884, to Miss Carrie M. Spees, a native of Ohio, born in 1867. She is a daughter of David F. and Julia M. (Show) Spees. Mr. Padgett is a Democrat, and cast his first presidential vote for Horace Greeley. He is one of the leading young business men of the city, and he and his wife are members of the church.
JOHN B. PAGE, JR., dealer in harness, saddles, collars, etc., is a native of Vincennes, born June 13, 1847, and son of J. B. and Elizabeth (Millet) Page, and is of French descent. His father was born in Vincennes October 15, 1815, as was also the mother, in 1820. The grandfather was Dominick Page, also born in this city, in 1783. He was a soldier in the war of 1812, and died in 1868. The great-grandfather was a Canadian by birth and came to Vincennes about 1860. Our subject's parents still reside in this city. John B. was educated in the public schools and the Vincennes University. When about fifteen years of age he began the harness-maker's trade in this city with the firm of Page & Orr. In 1882 he began the business for himself, and has continued with marked success to the present time. He was married, April 22, 1872, to Miss Mary Brouillette,
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a native of Vincennes, born February 16, 1847. They have two daughters and a son: Laura, Paul and Emma. Mr. Page be- longs to the Democratic party, and is a representative of one of the old families of the city.
WILLIAM H. PENNINGTON, county superintendent of schools, was born in Knox County June, 1855, son of William and Rebecca Robinson Pennington, who were born in Kentucky and New Jersey in 1821 and 1819 respectively. The family came to this county in 1829, and here the father died in 1863. Our subject was reared on a farm and first attended the country schools, next the high school, and lastly the State Normal School at Terre Haute. He then taught school in the country for six years, and in 1878 was made principal of the Edwardsport schools. In 1879 he taught the Bicknell schools. In 1883 he was elected superintendent of the schools of the county, and was re-elected in 1885 without opposition, thereby showing the high estimation in which he is held. He moved to Vincennes in 1883, and is a Democrat and cast his first presidential vote for Hancock. He was married August 21, 1879, to Anna Shively, a native of Du- bois County, born in 1860, daughter of William F. and Alice Shively. Mr. and Mrs. Pennington are the parents of two chil- dren: Alice and Helen. They are members of the Christian Church, and he is much respected by all who know him.
HARRY W. PORTER, dealer in staple and fancy groceries, was born iu Greenville, Floyd Co., Ind., in 1854. His parents, Henry and Mary (Brown) Porter, were of English-Scotch origin. They were born in New England. About 1850 the father came to New Albany, and a short time after moved to Greenville, where he died in 1859. The rest of the family came to Vin- cennes in 1863, and here the mother continues to reside. Our subject received a common school education and until 1877 was employed as a clerk. At that time he engaged in the grocery business in partnership with his brother, C. P. Porter, and the firm was known as Porter & Bro. In 1882 our subject took entire control of the business and has since continued very suc- cessfully. In 1878 he was married to Miss Leah N. Miller, a native of Illinois, born in 1855. They have two children, named
24
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Harry O. and Emma L. His political views are Democratic. He and wife are members of the Presbyterian Church.
JOHN T. POTTER is the third of eight children of George W. and Eliza (Mallory) Potter. The father was born in North Carolina in 1811, and when sixteen years old came to Knox County, Ind., with his father, who returned to North Carolina, leaving George W. here. He was a prosperous farmer, and at the time of his death was worth about $8,000. He was twice mar- ried, the first time to Rhoda A. Carothers, who bore him two children, one of whom is now living-Helena. His second mar- riage was to the mother of our subject. The father was a Re- publican and was assessor of the county one term, a member of the Presbyterian Church, and died May 14, 1865. John T. was born December 11, 1851, where he now lives. He received the education and training of the average farmer's boy and made his home with his mother until twenty-eight years of age. She died October 27, 1878. He was married, when twenty-seven years old, to Ida J. Colman October 24, 1877. She was born in the county October 5, 1853. They have these children: Bessie L., born May 20, 1878; Charles W., born May 21, 1881, and Harry E., born July 14, 1885. Mr. Potter is a member of the Presby- terian Church, and politically is a Republican. He is recognized as one of the prominent and highly respected citizens of the county.
ROYAL E. PURCELL, editor and proprietor of the Western Sun, is a native of Knox County, Ind., born July 26, 1849, son of William and Sophia (Beckes) Purcell, and is of Scotch-Irish lineage. His parents were born in Knox County in 1811 and 1817 respectively. The father died in said county in 1850, but the mother still resides near Vincennes. The paternal grand- father of our subject was John Purcell, a Virginian, who was a soldier in the war of 1812, and died in Knox County. Royal E. attended the common schools where he acquired the rudiments of a first-class education. At a later period he taught school in the county, and in 1870 entered the Hanover College (Indiana) and graduated from that institution in 1874 with the degree of B. S., and in 1883 received the degree of A. M. He began the study of law in 1874 and was a student of Blackstone for two years.
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In 1876 he purchased the Western Sun and became its editor, and in this capacity has since continued, meeting with the suc- cess and appreciation his labors deserve. He is an earnest and conscientious worker for the Democratic party and is largely in- strumental in shaping the politics of the county and Second Dis- trict. He is one of the leading editors of Indiana, and is in all respects a representative man. In 1879 he wedded Miss Mary Pidgeon, who died in 1880.
FRANK E. RAILSBACK, packer and shipper of poultry and eggs, at Vincennes, Ind., was born in Georgetown, Ill., Octo- ber 1, 1855, son of David and Adaline C. (Goe) Railsback, na- tives respectively of Warren County, Ind., and Pendleton, Ind. Our subject was raised in Illinois, and secured a very good pre- liminary education of his father, who was a teacher and educator of more than ordinary ability. The father died in Champaign County, Ill., September 30, 1865. Our subject then removed with his mother to Indianapolis, where Frank E. completed his education and engaged as clerk for some time, and later kept a grocery store in that city until 1879, when he engaged with J. E. Sullivan, in the poultry and egg business, as traveling agent un- til 1882, when he came to Vincennes and established his present business here in company with Mr. Sullivan. The latter gentle- man retired in 1885, and Mr. Railsback is now conducting his mammoth business alone, and meeting with good and well-deserved success. He ships about $300,000 worth of poultry and eggs to Eastern markets per annum, and purchases such products within a radius of 100 miles of Vincennes, and employs on an average twenty hands in killing and dressing poultry and packing eggs ready for shipment. In 1880 Mr. Railsback married Jessie S. Goe, a native of Indiana. They have two children: Albert Carr and Mamie Goe. In politics he is a Republican, and a member of the O. of C. F. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and one of the first business men of Vincennes.
GEORGE G. RAMSDELL, superintendent of the Citizens' Gas Light Company, of Vincennes, Ind., was born near Provi- dence, R. I., April 30, 1848, and is a son of Ezra B. Ramsdell, of this city. George G. came to this city with his parents in 1860, and was educated in the Vincennes University. At the age of
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sixteen he began learning the machinist's trade, which he mas- tered and followed with Clark & Buck, of this city, acting as fore- man for them several years. He resigned his position there in 1879 to accept the superintendency of the gas company, which position he has filled in a very able manner. He has also acted as secretary and treasurer of the company since his connection with it. He has been prominent in all private and public enter- prises of the city for a number of years, and has been an active member of the Board of Trade of Vincennes since its organization, and was secretary of the same two years, and now holds the posi- tion of president. He is a Republican in politics, but has never aspired to office. June 10, 1884, he was united in matrimony to Mollie Hays, his present wife. He has two children-Sallie M. and Marion B .- by a former marriage. Mr. Ramsdell is a mem- ber of the Vincennes Commandery, No. 20, K. T., of which he is Recorder. He and wife are members of the Presbyterian Church, and he has led the choir for a number of years. He is recognized as one of the prominent business men of the city, and is one of its first citizens.
HON. GERARD REITER, ex-auditor of Knox County, Ind., was born in Vincennes, September 1, 1849, son of Caspar and Mary E. (Bultman) Reiter, and is of German descent. His father and mother were born at Osnabrueck, Germany, in 1823 and 1826, respectively. In 1847 they immigrated to America and located in Vincennes, where they yet reside. Subject at- tended the German Catholic schools until twelve years of age, and then spent three years in the public schools of Vincennes. At the age of fifteen he entered the county auditor's office as deputy, and served as such for ten years. In 1874 he was elected auditor of Knox County, and was re-elected in 1878, serving constantly in the office for eighteen years. His reputation for competency and accuracy secured for him the position of deputy auditor of the treasury, but he declined the honor. He served the three counties of Knox, Sullivan and Greene in the State Legislature. and proved to be one of the best working members of that body He was chosen by acclamation, and received a majority of 2,000 votes. He has always been an earnest Democrat, and has always manifested much interest in politics. In 1880 he was elected
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secretary of the Knox County Agricultural Society, and still serves in that capacity, and its great success is largely due to his untiring energy. October 24, 1871, he was married to Miss Ellen Green, a native of Belfast, Ireland, born June 14, 1853, daughter of Arthur and Margaret Green. Mr. and Mrs. Reiter are mem- bers of the St. John's German Catholic Church, and he is one of the prominent men of the Hoosier State.
FRANK G. REITER, deputy auditor of Knox County, Ind., is a representative of one of the prominent families of the county, and was born in the city of Vincennes, August 24, 1862, and is a son of Caspar and Mary E. (Bultman) Reiter, who were of Ger- man descent. Frank G. spent six years in the German Catholic schools of Vincennes, and two years in the public schools. At fifteen years of age he entered the county auditor's office as dep- uty, and served in that capacity with his brother, Gerard Reiter, ex-auditor, six and one-half years, and has been two years with the present auditor, James A. Dick. He is a Democrat in his political views, and cast his first presidential vote for Grover Cleveland. He is a most careful and competent official, and a prominent young man of the county.
JAMES REYNOLDS, SR. Of the many men who have for years taken an active part in the political affairs of the county, probably none deserve more prominent mention than the subject of this sketch. He is of Scotch-German descent, and was born in Somerset County, Penn., in 1826, son of William and Mary (Jones) Reynolds, natives respectively of Pennsylvania and Maryland. They both died in the old Pennsylvania Common- wealth. In 1852 James went to Louisville, Ky., remaining there one year, and then moved to Evansville, Ind., and in 1855 came to Vincennes, and here has since resided, and later was employed by the Adams Express Company, remaining with them until 1860, when he was elected sheriff of Knox County, and was re- elected in 1862. From 1864 to 1867 he was engaged in farming. In 1868 he was again elected sheriff, and re-elected in 1870, and afterward served as deputy sheriff two years. In 1874 he was elected treasurer of the county, and served two terms. For twelve years he held important offices in the county, and filled them with much credit to himself and to the entire satisfaction
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of the people. He is an enthusiastic Democrat, and is one of the first men of the county. In 1850 he was married to Mary Sterret, a native of Pennsylvania, by whom he had these three children: Elizabeth, Josephene and James. Mrs. Reynolds died in 1859, and the same year Mr. Reynolds married Mary U. Markley, who died in 1866. In 1867 he took for his third wife Mrs. Jane E. Bloom, formerly a Miss Watson, daughter of L. L. Watson, of this city. To their union these children were born: Samuel D., William H., Jesse L., Edith F. and Genevieve.
WILLIAM B. ROBINSON, of Vincennes, Ind., was born in Knox County, September 9, 1839, and was one of a family of four sons and four daughters born to William and Sarah (Nich- olson) Robinson, natives respectively of Ohio and Pennsylvania. The father came to this county about 1820 with his father, Ab- ner Robinson, locating on a farm in Palmyra (now Steen) Town- ship. Here our subject's father married and brought up his family on a farm. In politics he was an old line Whig, and took an active part in local campaigns. He was trustee of Steen Township several terms, and was widely and favorably known as a plain, unassuming, moral and upright citizen. His death oc- curred in 1858. The subject of this sketch was reared in Steen Township, on a farm, and obtained a good literary education in his early years. At the age of sixteen he began teaching school, and made this his profession for five years. He was connected about one year with the Vincennes High School. In the mean- time he had begun the study of law, with a view to making that his profession, and in 1866 he entered the law department of the State University at Bloomington, graduating in 1867. Return- ing to Vincennes he was admitted to the bar of Knox County, and was engaged in practice until 1876, when he accepted the office of clerk of Knox County, to which he had been elected by the Democratic party in 1874. He filled this office in so effi- cient and satisfactory a manner that he was re-elected, and served until 1884. Mr. Robinson was county school examiner three years previous to being elected clerk of the county, and he was mayor of the city five terms. In 1873 he was married to Mar- garet La Hue, a native of the county, by whom he has had four sons and one daughter. Mr. Robinson is a member of the I. O. O. F.
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SALYARDS & BURNS, dealers and importers of monu- ments, Vincennes, Ind., established their business in September, 1885, and are receiving much of the patronage of town and coun- ty. E. M. Salyards, senior member of the firm, was born in Portsmouth, Ohio, March 13, 1845, and is a son of Edward and Maria (Buffington) Salyards, of Ohio. Edward, our subject, was raised in Cincinnati, Ohio; New Albany and Orleans, Ind., learn- ing the marble-cutter's trade, and engaged first in the business for himself in Madison, Ind., and later in New Albany; then in Wash- ington, and from the latter place came to this city, where he conducted his present business. November 27, 1867, he married Ellen Anderson, a native of Indiana. They have three children: William E., Roy G. and Pearl. In 1861 Mr. Salyards enlisted in Company G., Twenty-fourth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, serv- ing three years, and was then veteranized, and served until the close of the war, participating in many of the most important actions. Peter J. Burns, junior member of the above named firm, is a native of Pittsburgh, Penn., born March 9, 1854, son of Pat- rick M. Burns. His mother died when he was three years of age, and his father when he was nine, consequently, he knows but little of his ancestry. He worked as a farm hand in Daviess County, Ind., after his father's death, until he began learning the marble-cutter's trade, which he mastered, and engaged in the business in Louisville, Ky., in 1876, and then moved to Sey- mour, Ind., and in 1885 engaged in the present business in this city. October 3, 1882, he married Mary Walter, a native of Scott County, Ind. They have one daughter, named Zella Z. Mr. Burns is a member of the K. of H. fraternity.
FREDERICK SAMONIEL, trustee of Vincennes Township, Knox Co., Ind., was born in Floyd County, Ind., near Cory- don, January 1, 1841, son of Frank J. and Margaret Samoniel, who were natives of Germany, born in 1792 and 1809 respect- tively. The father came to America in early life and settled in Cincinnati, Ohio, where he remained but a short time and then removed to Floyd County, Ind., but lived there only a short time when they moved to Louisville, Ky., where he lived until 1858. They then moved to Mt. Carmel. Ill., where the father died in 1860. The mother is yet a resident of that place. Our subject
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was the second of ten children, and what education he now has was obtained by his own exertions. In 1863 he came to Knox County, Ind., and in 1871 entered the employ of F. M. Fay, and remained with him five years. Since that time he has been en- gaged in the transfer business for himself. He is a Democrat, and was elected township trustee in 1882 and re-elected in 1884. He was married, February 13, 1872, to Miss Bridget Quinn, a native of the "Emerald Isle," born in 1849. They have four children, Mamie, Charles, Maggie and Helen. Mr. Samoniel has made his own way in life, and during the war supported his mother and her four children while two of his elder brothers were in the service. He is a member of the Catholic Church.
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