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 37
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 37
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murder for killing Edward Barlien, and after a hard fight suc- ceeded in saving his client's neck. This was the most noted criminal trial ever held in southern Indiana, and the ill-feeling against the defendant was intense. During its progress Mr. Williams was frequently threatened with assassination if he did not abandon the defense, and his refusal to do so made him many bitter enemies, some of whom have not yet, and perhaps never will, forget their hatred. Mr. Williams comes of a Democratic family, and has been on the stump in every campaign in In- dian beginning with 1872, when he cast his first vote for Thomas A. Hendricks for governor. He takes pride in the fact that he has never scratched a Democratic ticket. In 1877 he was nominated in a primary election, by the Democrats, for mayor of the city of Vincennes, and was defeated by reason of a split in the party on local issues, and the election of an inde- pendent. In 1882 he was nominated by the Knox County De- mocracy for Representative, defeating in convention W. H. De- Wolf, Esq., and Hon. C. E. Crane. He was elected, and was again nominated, without opposition, and elected in 1884. In the Legislature he was an active and zealous worker for his county and his party. In the session of 1885 he was the leader of the majority on the floor of the House, and served on more commit- tees, introduced more bills, resolutions and motions than any other member. He took active part in all important debates, and was chairman of the Democratic organization caucus. He was a candidate for speaker of the House in 1885, and had sixteen votes, but withdrew in favor of his personal friend, Mr. Jewett. Many of his bills passed, among them being a bill to reorganize the judicial circuits of the State, so as to constitute Knox County a circuit of itself. The highest reputation he made was over the introduction of his telephone rate bill, the passage of which he secured in the face of the strongest opposition from the Bell Tel- . ephone Company, the Western Union Telegraph Company, many of the ablest lawyers in the State, and the major part of the State press. Mr. Williams is a bachelor, a teetotaler, an Episcopalian, and a good judge of men and cigars. Young, active, full of en- ergy, and positive in his convictions and ideas, he has many warm friends and some bitter enemies. He is a charter member of
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Lodge No. 936, K. of H., and Post Grand Protector of Indiana of the order K. & L. of H.
HIRAM WILLOUGHBY is a son of Charles and Elizabeth (Bernard) Willoughby, and was born in Beaver County, Penn., March 30, 1818, of French and English descent. His boyhood days were spent on a farm in his native county, where he se- cured a limited education. At the age of fourteen he left home, and served an apprenticeship at the tailor trade eighteen months, and then completed his trade in West Virginia. At the age of eighteen years he started West as journeyman tailor, working in various parts of Indiana and Ohio. In 1840 he was married to Sarah Ann Miller, of Carroll County, Ohio, and resided there three years, and then located in Madison, Ind., and worked at his trade until 1862. He then came to this city and worked at the merchant-tailoring business on a small scale with William Huey, continuing eight years. In 1870 Mr. Willoughby purchased Mr. Huey's interest, and in company with his son and present partner, Aurelius M., has conducted the business with marked success to the present time. The firm carries a large and select line of goods, and also deals in hats, controlling a large share of the trade in city and county. Mr. Willoughby's wife died in 1849, leaving these three children: Aurelius M., Elizabeth M., wife of D. M. McKee, and Hester E., wife of Dr. Hiram T. Clarry. Mr. Willoughby took for his second wife Hannah Lytle, who died in 1879, leaving two children: Fannie N. and Ida M. Our subject is a Republican in politics, and a member of the I. O. O. F.
BENJAMIN M. WILLOUGHBY, attorney at law, of Vin- cennes, Ind., was born in Ripley County, Ind., May 8, 1855, and is a son of Milton and Phoebe (Osborn) Willoughby. He is the second in a family of eight children and is of English descent. His father was born in Pittsburgh, Penn., in 1828, and the mother in Batavia, Ohio, in 1834. Many years ago the family moved to Indiana, and the parents of our subject now reside in Ripley County. Our subject's early years were spent in his native county. In 1873 he moved to Trimble County, Ky., where he followed the occupation of pedagoguing about two years. He came to Vin- cennes, in 1875, and for one year attended the Vincennes High
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School. He was made principal of the grammar department of the Petersburgh High School in 1876, and began the study of law in the office of Capt. George G. Reily, in the spring of 1877. In the winter of 1877-78, he taught school at Sandborn, Knox Co., Ind., and in the spring of the latter year, resumed his legal stud- ies and attended the Cincinnati Law School, graduating in 1879, and was immediately admitted to the Knox County bar. In 1882 he formed a partnership with Lewis A. Meyer, and they now con- stitute one of the most successful law firms in the city. He is a warm Republican in politics, and cast his first presidential vote for Hayes. He became a member of the Masonic fraternity Feb- ruary 14, 1880.
WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP.
HIRAM ANTIBUS, one of the farmers of Washington Town- ship, is son of Conrad and Catherine Antibus; both parents were natives of Maryland. There they grew to years of maturity, were married and lived for some years, when they moved to Pennsyl- vania. From Pennsylvania they went to Ohio, and later in life moved to Owen County, Ind., where the father died about 1835. After the war the mother went to Illinois with a daughter; there died in 1866. By occupation the father was a blacksmith, which calling he followed during his entire life. The mother was a mem- ber of the Christian Church. The father was a Whig in politics. He was a soldier of the war of 1812, and while in Pennsylvania, filled the office of sheriff. Hiram's ancestors on his father's side were English, on his mother's German. Of such ancestry was born the subject of our sketch in 1834, in Owen County. In boyhood he went to school but little, on account of having to support a wid- owed mother, but since he has improved himself by reading. He lived with his mother until twenty years of age, when he took a trip West, visiting Dakota, Nebraska and Kansas. After an absence of five years he returned, considerably better off finan- cially. After returning he ran an engine in the mill in Edwards- port, and from that went to saw-milling. In 1861 he enlisted in Company I, Nineteenth Indiana Infantry; he volunteered to
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sacrifice his life for the Union. He was at Bull's Run, Antietam, South Mountain, Wilderness and Gettysburg. At Petersburg, Va., he received a flesh wound from a minie-ball, but remained at his post. After three years of faithful service he returned, bear- ing an honorable discharge. Having come home he resumed his trade as sawyer, at which he has worked from time to time since. In 1871 he bought 120 acres of land in this township; since, by hard work and good management, has increased his farm to 196 acres, all under fence. In 1872 he was married to Laura Miller, born in 1852; they became the parents of these children: Anna, Sallie, Rebecca, Nellie, Brigham and Robert. Politically he is independent, voting for the man regardless of party
JOSEPH BAIRD, the oldest man now living who was born in Knox County, is a son of Thomas and Jane (Johnson) Baird. The father was born in 1749, in Pennsylvania. The mother, a native of the same State, was born in 1764; both had been mar- ried once before. After their companions were taken away both moved to Kentucky, where they were married 1791. Having lived there till 1801 they came to this county, where they spent the remainder of their days. The father was a farmer, owning 200 acres of land. In this family were fifteen children, the mother having three by her first marriage; the father six, and by their marriage also six. Both were members of the Presbyterian Church. He was one of the sturdy old patriots who fought in the Revolu- tionary war. In 1834 he died at the ripe old age of eight-five. The mother died in 1850. Joseph's ancestors, on both sides, were of Irish descent. He was born in 1805 in Vincennes Township. In boyhood he had only the advantage of the old time subscription schools. He lived with his father till twenty-eight years of age; was then married, in 1833, to Nancy L. Johnson, born in 1811, in Ken- tucky. She is a daughter of Samuel and Mary (Martin) John- son. To them two children were born: Thomas J., and Samuel J. Thomas died when a child. Samuel was one of the brave boys of Company H, Fifty-first Indiana Infantry. Husband and wife are members of the Christian Church. Mr. Baird has been one of the most active and trustworthy business men of his vicinity, having been guardian for thirty-four orphan children, and turned over to them more than $60,000. Soon after marriage
26
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HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY.
he settled on the farm of 196 acres, where he now lives. When he located it was nearly all in the woods and destitute of buildings. By hard work he has put it all under fence, and has 100 acres in cultivation. As a farmer he has been quite suc- cessful. He is a man ever ready to support the worthy enter- prises of his community, and as a citizen he is widely known and highly respected. Mr. Baird is a stanch Republican. He voted first for J. Q. Adams.
HUGH BARR, one of the leading farmers of Washington Township, is a son of Robert and Hannah (Johnson) Barr. His father was born in Bourbon County, Ky., in 1792, and his mother was born in the same county in the same year, and there they grew to years of maturity and were married. In 1810, soon after their marriage, they immigrated to Daviess County, Ind., but from fear of massacre by the Indians, returned to their native county, Mrs. Barr carrying her first born on horseback. Not long after this, however, they returned to Daviess County and settled in Barr Township, where they lived until 1856, when they removed to Knox County to spend the remainder of their days with their son Hugh. They were the parents of eight chil- dren-six boys and two girls, all of the former except Hugh being farmers, in this respect following in the footsteps of their father. He was a member of the Christian Church, joining it at the age of sixty-three, a rare instance of conversion at an old age. Mr. Barr was a member of the Mississippi Baptist Church. Politi- cally he was an old line Whig until the organization of the Republican party, when he became a supporter of its principles. Grandfather Barr was probably a native of Ireland, and served as a soldier in the Revolutionary war, being taken prisoner when Gen. Gates was defeated. Grandfather Johnson also fought in the same war and was a native of Germany. Of such ancestry was born the subject of this sketch in Barr Township in 1817. In boyhood he enjoyed very limited educational advantages, not having attended school in all more than five months, and during that time scarcely learned to read and write. At the age of six- teen he was hired out to work in a still-house, in which he re- mained seven years, notwithstanding which experience he did not contract a bad habit. Having accumulated a capital of $281,
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he desired to engage in merchandising. During the seven years he worked in the still-house he so won the confidence of his employer that now he invested some $600 with Mr. Barr's $281, and entrusted the management to him., With this small capital he stocked up in 1840 in Bruceville. Two years later Mr. Barr became sole proprietor. Some time after he engaged in flat-boating to New Orleans, making eight trips. For thirty years he continued the mercantile business in Bruceville, and for two years he ran a store at Bicknell. About 1846 Mr. Barr purchased seventy acres of land, and by close attention to business and good management he increased the number of acres to 350. In 1842 Mr. Barr was married to Martha B. McClure, a na- tive of Washington Township, Daviess County, and a daughter of Joseph and Mary (Gowens) McClure. Both parents were from Kentucky, being among the early settlers of Knox County. To Mr. and Mrs. Barr have been born eight children: Daniel J., Rob- ert N., Alice; Henry C., Ann B., Mary F., Joseph H. and John L. Those living are Henry C., one of the proprietors of a large flouring-mill at Princeton; Joseph H., a farmer of Washington Township; Alice, Ann B. and Mary F. Mrs. Barr died in 1882. Three years afterward Mr. Barr was married to Kate (Beckes) Nugent, who was born in 1833 in Johnson Township. Mr. Nu- gent was a Presbyterian minister, and both Mrs. Nugent's par- ents were natives of the county. Mr. Barr is a stanch Repub- lican, and cast his first vote for Gen. Harrison for President. Both himself and wife are professing Christians, he being a member of the Christian Church and she of the Presbyterian. When the Hyatt & Co. Savings Bank failed two assignees were appointed, Mr. Barr and William Hyatt. Mr. Hyatt having died Mr. Barr was left to perform the arduous task alone.
ROBERT P. BARR, one of the prominent farmers of Wash- ington Township, and a son of Robert and Hannah (Johnson) Barr, was born in 1827 in Daviess County, Ind. In boyhood he had limited advantages for education, attending only the old subscription schools, and to them would go about two days and stay at home three. At the age of twenty, his parents be- ing poor, young Robert paid his father for the remainder of the time his services were due, and began to battle his own way in
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the world, working by the month. For five years he thus worked, saving $90 in the meantime. On such a capital he set up house- keeping. In 1851 he was married to Matilda Gude, born in Wash- ington Township, 1829. She is a daughter of Jesse and Ann (Farris) Gude. To Mr. and Mrs. Barr five children were born: Martha J., William, Robert, Alfred and Mary. Robert is one of the rising young teachers of Washington Township, and also car- ries on farming. Martha is the wife of George Elliott, a farmer of the township. Husband, wife and two of the children are members of the Christian Church: About 1854 Mr. Barr pur- chased 160 acres of land where he now lives, going in debt for the entire amount, his brother Hugh promising to aid him. He was then taken sick, and so remained for one whole year. So thoroughly discouraged was he that he went to Hugh and offered to give a mortgage on the farm, thinking he could never pay for it; but his brother said for him to try again, he was not afraid of his failure. Thus encouraged he began, and not only paid for that land but has increased his farm to 260 acres, of which some 200 acres are under cultivation. As to political views Mr. Barr is a stanch Republican and cast his first vote for Taylor. As a farmer he has been quite successful. He is an example of what a young man of determination can do.
WILLIAM V. BARR, one of the merchants of Bruceville, is a son of William Valentine and Sarah J. (Piety) Barr. The father was born in 1825, in Daviess County. The mother is a native of Washington Township, Knox County. When young he came to this county, and, having married, settled in Bruce- ville, where he spent the remainder of his days in tailoring, be- ing quite successful in business. In 1854 the father died. Some ten years later the mother married J. M. Woodruff. Since her marriage she has lived in Johnson County. . Subject is the youngest of the two children of his father. Born in Bruceville, in 1854, he grew to manhood under his mother's care. His educational advantages were limited to the common schools and a term's work at Butler University. At the age of nineteen he began to battle his own way in the world by working on the farm for wages. After thus working for some four years he pur- chased a farm of 140 acres of land and began farming for him-
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self, continuing till 1883, when he sold his land and took a half interest in the store known as Willis & Barr. In 1877 he was married to Rebecca Willis, born in 1856 in Washington Town- ship. She is a daughter of Clark and Nancy J. (Simpson) Wil- lis. To Mr. and Mrs. Barr four children were born: Jennie, Walter C., Elsie M. and Myrtle. Both husband and wife are members of the Christian Church. Mr. Barr is a supporter of Republican principles, and cast his first vote for Garfield. As a business man he has met with fair success, having a good share of the respect and confidence of the community.
JOSEPH H. BARR, one of the rising young farmers of Knox County, Ind., is son of Hugh and Martha (McClure) Barr, and was born in Washington Township in 1861. He had good educational advantages in his younger days, and completed his course at the Bruceville High School. At the age of twenty-one he began farming for himself on his father's place, and a year later was married to Susie .B. Kelso, born in 1861 in Dubois County, Ind. She is a daughter of Lemuel S. and Sarah (Chap- pell) Kelso. Mr. and Mrs. Barr are the parents of these two children: Hugh and Sarah. Mrs. Barr is a member of the Cum- berland Presbyterian Church, and Mr. Barr is a stanch Repub- lican, casting his first vote for Blaine. After marriage they moved on a farm of 186 acres given them by Mr. Barr's father. In ad- dition they have charge of 189 acres, which makes them a good farm. Mr. Barr devotes much of his time to raising cattle, dis- posing of about 150 yearly. He has met with good success, and promises to make a business man equal to his father.
HERMAN B. BARROWS was born in Albion, Ill., in 1823. His parents, Herman and Mary (Kurtz) Barrows, were born in Massachusetts and Pennsylvania in 1788 and 1798, respectively. The mother, at the time of her marriage in 1811, was attending a boarding school, where girls were supposed to have very deli- cate appetites. Though only thirteen years of age, she contrived to make her escape, and married our subject's father. They soon after came to Evansville, Ind., where the father worked at brick- making, and erected the first court house ever put up in that city. They finally settled in Illinois, where they lived until the father's death. On a trip down the Mississippi he was taken with yellow
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HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY.
fever, from which he died, in 1828. The mother was afterward twice married. She died in 1870. In boyhood our subject at- tended the subscription schools, and when only eleven years old hired out as cabin-boy on a boat plying on the Wabash and Ohio Rivers, and was afterward engaged as cook on a small boat. At the age of fifteen he began learning the tailor's trade, and as compensation was to receive a quarter's schooling and a suit of clothes. At the end of that time he made tailoring his chief calling for about eleven years. In 1844 he was married to Eliza C., daughter of John and Mary (Hunter) Hunter, natives of North Carolina and Tennessee, respectively. In 1852 he pur- chased forty acres, but soon sold out and purchased 100 acres in Washington Township. He now owns 450 acres. He at first knew but little about farming, but is now considered one of the first farmers in the county. Mr. and Mrs. Barrows became the parents of nine children: William W., Marshall H., Mary, John E., George E., Anne, Inez, Emma and Nora. William and Mar- shall were in the late war. George has prepared himself for the ministry at the Bible College of the Kentucky University. The family are members of the Christian Church. Mr. Barrows is conservative in politics.
JOHN T. BOYD was born in Chester District, S. C., in 1805. When young he removed to Virginia, where he was married in 1823, to Christena Arney, born in 1807. They came to Knox County, Ind., in 1832, and settled on a woodland farm. He in time became the owner of 1,250 acres of land. He was a house carpenter and cabinet-maker by trade. For a number of years he kept an agricultural implement establishment in Vincennes. For about two years he was township trustee and served as justice of the peace for some eight years. He was a man noted for his charity, and donated liberally to De Pauw University. He was a Republican and died in 1876. The mother's death occurred in 1885. Matthew S. Boyd, son of John T. Boyd, was born in Knox County, Ind., in 1848. He secured a good common school educa- tion, and remained with his parents until he was twenty-eight years of age, when he began his career as a farmer. He received 200 acres of land from his father's estate, which he cleared and improved and furnished with good buildings. In 1878 he was
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married to Violet Ruggles, born in 1851, daughter of Aaron and Mary M. (Wallace) Ruggles, born in 1813 and 1815 in Indiana and Kentucky respectively. They spent the most of their lives in Daviess County, Ind. The father was a miller all his life with the exception of a few years spent in farming. Both were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. The mother died in 1878. The father still lives. Mr. and Mrs. Boyd are the parents of two children: Stanley and Myrtle. Both are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and he is a stanch Repub- lican and cast his first presidential vote for U. S. Grant.
JOHN G. BOYD, a farmer of Knox County, Ind., son of John T. and Christina (Arney) Boyd, was born in 1839 in Wash- ington Township. In boyhood he had very good opportunities of attending the old-fashioned schools. Until twenty-five years of age he staid with his father on the farm. Then he was mar- ried in 1866 to Louisa Phillippe, born in 1840. She is a daughter of Peter and Rebecca (Fox) Phillippe. Soon after marriage Mr. Boyd settled on the farm where he now lives. Having bought 200 acres in woods on credit, he went to work to clear it up and make a farm. By hard work and good management he has not only paid for it, but has cleared 140 acres and put it in a good state of cultivation. To Mr. and Mrs. Boyd three children were born: David F .. Naomi A. and Flora B. Husband, wife and all the children are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Boyd is a stanch Republican and cast his first vote for Lin- coln. As a farmer he has been quite successful. He is an example of what a young man of industry and good habits can ac- complish.
WILLIAM BRUCE, one of the oldest settlers of Washington Township, was born in 1776 in western Pennsylvania, where he lived for eight years, and then with his parents moved to Ken- tucky near Louisville, then a mere village. In this State he grew to manhood, and was married in 1798 to Sallie Polke, born in 1782. She was a daughter of Charles Polke. Her mother, herself, and three older children were captured by the Indians, who would have scalped them, but they could get a higher price for prisoners than scalps. After remaining there about a year, enduring all the hardships imposed upon them by their savage
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HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY.
foes, they were redeemed and returned to their friends. Mr. Bruce by his first wife had fifteen children. Soon after marriage he bought a small piece of land, and after living on it for some time, an older claim deprived him of his farm. Thereupon he put his wife, four children and household goods on horses and started for Vincennes, Ind., in 1805. After remaining there a year he purchased 200 acres of timber where Bruceville now stands, the town taking its name from him. Having built a cabin, he set- tled among the few whites and many Indians. Here he spent the remainder of his days in agricultural pursuits. During the Indian troubles he was called upon to lead a company, as its captain, to the defense of Vincennes. From there he proceeded up the Wabash River, it being his duty to see that the enemy did not get in the rear of Harrison's army. A fort was constructed about this time on the farm of Mr. Bruce. The war being ended he returned to peaceful pursuits. In 1818 his first wife died, and in the following year he married Hettie R. Holmes, born 1794. She was a daughter of William and Elizabeth Holmes. To this second marriage eighteen children were born. Mr. Bruce's first wife was a member of the Baptist Church, himself also until some twenty years before his death, when he became a member of the Christian Church, being a very prominent mem- ber. He was a radical Whig in politics. In 1853 he died, and the mother in 1868. Of such parentage was born in 1826, John H. Bruce in Bruceville, he being the twentieth child. In boy- hood he attended the old-time subscription schools, and at the age of twenty-one went to Missouri and helped clear the ground where Kansas City now stands; having returned the same year and attended school for a short time, and ran on a flat-boat four trips down the Mississippi; then taught school about thirteen terms. In 1850 he was married to Angeline Threlkeld, born in 1825 in Washington Township. She is a daughter of James and Sallie (Handley) Threlkeld. Her father, born 1773, was a native of Virginia; her mother, born 1783, of Pennsylvania. In early life both moved to Shelby County, Ky. There they were married in 1801. In 1804 they moved to Knox County and settled near Vincennes. The father was taken from among the living in 1850; the mother in 1855. Both were members of the Christian
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