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 43
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 43
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SAMUEL A. BUNTING, a prominent pioneer farmer of Vigo Township, Knox Co., Ind., was born in New Jersey August 24, 1817, and is the only child of Samuel and Elizabeth (Matlic) Bunting, who were of English descent. The father was born in
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New Jersey in 1788, and was a tiller of the soil. In 1831 he came to Knox County, Ind., and purchased 160 acres of land. Several years afterward he returned to his birthplace and died January 14, 1856. The mother died when quite young. Samuel A., our subject, was educated in the subscription schools of New Jersey. He came to Indiana when fourteen years old, and remained with his father until attaining his majority. In Sep- tember, 1845, he married Elizabeth Scott, daughter of Archibald and Catharine Scott. She was born in Knox County, November 23, 1823, and has borne thirteen children, twelve now living: Samuel A., Sarah E. (wife of Thornton McClure), Thomas S., John M., Daniel, William H., Mary (wife of Lewis Knowland), George W., Fannie and Halleck (twins), Rebecca and Eliza (wife of Charles Stewart). After marriage Mr. Bunting located on the old home place which his father gave him and where he has since resided. He has been very industrious and owns over 600 acres of land. He has a fine brick residence and good barns. His political views are Republican and he cast his first vote for Harrison.
HON. CHARLES E. CRANE, attorney, collector and insur- ance agent, is a son of Edwin D. and Sarah B. (Keyes) Crane, and was born in Palmyra, N. Y., February 14, 1836. The father was born in New York in 1812. He was married in 1832 and moved to Michigan in 1838, where he tilled the soil. He died in 1868. The mother was of Puritan stock, born at Plymouth Rock, Mass., in 1813. She was taken to the "Empire State" when a child. After her husband's death she lived with her son-in-law, John D. Smead, at Blissfield, Mich. She died June 28, 1884. Our subject was reared on a farm and received his early education in the graded high school at Adrian, Mich. At the age of fifteen he entered the State Normal School at Ypsilanti, Mich., and at- tended two years. In 1854 he began teaching, and a year later became principal of the high school at Hudson, Mich. In 1856 he went to Tennessee and had control of an academy at Liberty, where he remained two years, when he was given charge of the academy at Auburn, Tenn. He was a successful educator, and while teaching studied law. May 2, 1861, he wedded Amanda E. Seay, daughter of William B. and Mary F. Seay. Mrs. Crane
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was born December 28, 1837. They have one child, Charles J. Owing to political excitement and interrupted traveling, they went to Michigan in a two-horse carriage, making the trip in nineteen days. He was one of the "boys in blue," and in 1862 was commissioned quartermaster of the Twenty-sixth Regiment Michigan Independent Volunteers. In 1863 he resigned and re- turned home. He began buying wholesale walnut timber and shipping East. In 1869 he came to Knox County, Ind., where he has since resided. He formed a partnership with Mr. Drewey in the saw-mill and stave-factory business. They had a large trade with good success. In 1873 they moved the machinery to Illinois and continued the work. Three years later he abandoned that work and began tilling the soil. He possesses more than ordinary business ability, and owns 260 acres of land, besides four houses and lots in Sandborn, where he is at present keeping a first-class hotel. He is a Democrat and was nominated and elected for the State Legislature in 1874. In 1881 he was appointed drainage commissioner, and held the position four years. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and his wife is a member of the Christian Church. During his life in Ten- nessee he was a correspondent for two Northern newspapers, and was a fluent and ready writer for the Detroit Free Press while in the army.
ROBERT CURRY is one of eight children born to the mar- riage of Thomas Curry and Catherine Barren, who were born in Durham County, England, in 1809 and 1812 respectively. The father was a coal miner in his native country, and after coming to America followed mining a few years and then became a tiller of the soil. He and wife came to the United States in 1833 and located in Kentucky. He lived there and in Cannelton, Ind., about seven years, and in 1880 moved to near Huntingburg, Ind., where he bought eighty acres of land. In 1854 he sold out and came to Knox County and resided near Edwardsport until his death-April 23, 1876. The mother died September 18, 1877. Robert was educated in the district schools and lived with his parents until twenty-two years old, working on the farm. April 8, 1866, he married Margaret Walker, who was born in Daviess County, Ind., May 31, 1841, daughter of John and Anna (Smiley)
30
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Walker. They have two children: Kittie and Orris Asa. Mr. Curry was a farmer and miner of Edwardsport for some time, and then moved to Loogootee, where he bought the livery and feed stable of Hugh Barr, but a year later returned to Edwardsport and resumed farming. In 1879 he and his brother James bought 180 acres of land in Vigo Township, where our subject has since lived, with the exception of a short time spent in Edwardsport. He is a man of excellent reputation and is a skillful farmer, now owning 260 acres of fertile land. He was a soldier in the late war, enlisting July 4, 1863, in Company A, One Hundred and Eighteenth Regiment Indiana Volunteer Infantry, for six months. He remained in the field until March, 1864, when he was dis- charged. The same year he enlisted in Company F, One Hun- dred and Thirty-seventh Regiment Indiana Volunteer Infantry for 100 days. He then returned home. He is a Republican in politics and cast his first vote for U. S. Grant. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity and I. O. O. F. of Edwardsport. His wife is a member of the Christian Church.
JAMES Z. CURRY, a farmer of Edwardsport, Ind., is a son of Thomas and Catharine (Barren) Curry, and was born in Dubois County, Ind., May 5, 1848. His boyhood days were spent in as- sisting his parents on the farm and in attending the district schools, where he secured a fair education. He resided with his parents until twenty-three years old, and April 8, 1871, married Mary F., a daughter of Simpson and Elizabeth (Patton) Hulen. Mrs. Curry is a native of Daviess County, Ind., where she was born December 8, 1853. They became the parents of six chil- dren, viz .: John T., Lora E., Chester C., Mabel P., Ralph and Maud. Mr. Curry resided with his parents two years after mar- riage, but at the expiration of that time moved to Edwards- port, where he has since resided, with the exception of two years spent on the farm near the village. He owns 200 acres of land, 175 being under cultivation, and also owns an excellent house and lot in Edwardsport. He has been successful as a farmer and is highly esteemed as an honest and upright man. In politics he is a Republican, and cast his first vote for U. S. Grant. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity and I. O. O. F., and his wife is a member of the Christian Church.
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GEORGE W. DONALDSON, merchant of Bicknell, is a son of Winthrop F. and Jinsey Ann (Goodman) Donaldson, and was born in Knox County, Ind., February 11, 1856. The parents were born in Indiana in 1827 and 1833, and died in 1876 and 1862 respectively. The father was a farmer and owned consid- erable land in Knox County. He was twice married, and was the father of eleven children. Our subject was reared without a mother's care, but made his home with his father until he was twenty years old. He was educated in the district schools and attended the high school of Vincennes one year. When only seventeen years of age he began teaching and continued that work twelve years, with the exception of one year when he farmed. His teaching was confined to Steen and Vigo Townships, and he was superintendent of the graded schools of Bicknell his last two terms. He was an excellent educator, and made many friends. October 10, 1878, he wedded Sarah A., daughter of Isaac H. and Hannah Gilmore. She was born in Knox County December 19, 1858, and has borne her husband three children: Myrtle, Bessie and Madie. In the spring of 1885 Mr. Donaldson purchased the general merchandise store of George Fuller, of Bicknell, and has carried on the business very successfully to the present time. He carries the largest stock of goods in the town, and owing to his courtesy and honesty is doing a paying business. He is a Democrat, and cast his first vote for Hancock. In 1885 he was commissioned postmaster of Bicknell, and is giving satisfaction to all parties. He is a member of the I. O. O. F. lodge, No. 292, of Wheatland, Ind.
J. H. FARIS is one of nine children of John and Emily (Red- mond) Faris, and was born in Woodford County, Ky., April 20, 1829. The father was of Irish lineage, born in Kentucky in 1800. He was a tiller of the soil, and at the time of his marriage lived in Lawrence County, Ind., but after living in his native State for some time he returned to "Hoosierdom," and settled in the same county as before until 1852, when he came to Knox County, where he died in 1878. The mother was of French descent, and was born in the same State and year as her husband. She died in 1875. Our subject received a limited education, owing to the scarcity of free schools and shortness of the terms. He resided
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at home until twenty-two years old, and January 11, 1853, married Mary Jane McMurray, who was born in Knox County in 1831. She died November 20, 1875, and July 11, 1877, he married Je- mimah Guthrie, born November 7, 1846. She was a daughter of Hiram and Anna Guthrie. Mr. Faris was a farmer of Vigo Town- ship, where he owned 320 acres of good land. He sold out in 1879 and purchased 120 acres in the same township, where he now lives. In 1884 he erected himself a nice dwelling house, and is very well fixed financially. He is a Democrat in politics and cast his first vote for Franklin Pierce. He and wife are mem- bers of the Christian Church.
JOB FREEMAN was born in England October 4, 1844, and is the fourth of a family of six sons and one daughter of Joseph and Susan (Manley) Freeman, natives also of England, born in ' 1815 and 1816, respectively. The father was a coal miner and came to the United States in 1849, locating in Ohio. His family came the next year. At the time of his death in 1856 he was re- siding near Briar Hill, Mahoning Co., Ohio. After the father's death the mother resided on the home place until the last few years, when she has lived in Edwardsport, and is now residing in Liverpool, Ohio. Our subject was six years old when he came to America, and worked in coal mines until twenty years old. He was one of the "boys in blue," and in May, 1864, enlisted in Com- pany D, One Hundred and Fifty-first Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, for 100 days. The company went to Norfolk, Va., and into North Carolina through the Dismal Swamp and back to Washing- ton. He then received his discharge and returned home. In 1864 he went to Illinois and passed the winter, but returned to the "Buck- eye State," and in the fall of 1865 went to Washington, Daviess Co., Ind., and resumed work in the coal mines. March 8, 1868, he wedded Martha Jane, a daughter of William and Margaret Tranter. She was born August 20, 1849, and bore her husband six children, four now living: William J., Clarence J., Grace M. and Mabel G. The family moved to Edwardsport in 1872, where he was made inside foreman of the coal mine of Shepard & Has- let. In 1877 he purchased an equal share in the mine, the firm being known as the Edwardsport Coal Company. At times they employ 130 men, and mine on an average about 40,000 tons per
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year. In 1884 they bought the Bicknell coal mines, and are known as the Indian Creek Coal Company. Mr. Freeman is full of push and energy, and is a thoroughly honest business man. He is a Republican and cast his first vote for U. S. Grant. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity and I. O. O. F., and his wife is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
JOHN R. HADDAN is a son of Jesse and Elizabeth (Piety) Haddan, and was born in Sullivan County, Ind., November 20, 1819. At the age of twenty-three, November 18, 1842, he mar- ried Martha Ross, daughter of Hugh and Sarah Ross. She was born in the same county as our subject in 1821. She died in June, 1853, leaving one child, named Mary (wife of Richard Johnson). Mrs. Haddan died in June, 1853, and October 25 of the next year Mr. Haddan married Angelina Piety, daughter of William and Sally Ann Piety. She was born June 12, 1831, and has borne her husband ten children, only these four now liv- ing: Helen (wife of John Stevenson), May (wife of William All- gord), Jesse B. and Rachael. Mr. Haddan lived on the old home place two years, and then came to Knox County in 1845 and bought 241 acres of land in Vigo Township. He has 160 acres under cultivation, and in 1871 erected him a fine brick dwelling- house and added other improvements. He is a successful farmer, and is considered a good and honest citizen. He is a Republican and cast his first vote for Henry Clay. He was postmaster of Edwardsport fourteen years, commissioned under Fillmore. He and wife are members of the Christian Church. Our subject's father was of Irish descent, born in West Virginia in 1792. He was a farmer, came to Indiana when sixteen years of age and settled in Sullivan County. He was quite prosperous, and at one time owned 392 acres of land. He was in the war of 1812 and in the famous battle of Tippecanoe. He was twice married, the second time to America (Nash) Benefield. The father died in Sullivan County in January, '1870. The mother was born in Hardin County, Ky., in 1794, and died in the fall of 1856.
CAPT. BENJAMIN HARGIS is one of the prominent farmers of Vigo Township. He is of Irish and German lineage, was born in Perry County, Ind., January 25, 1825, and is one of a family of five sons and four daughters of William
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and Elizabeth (Kepler) Hargis. The father was born in Hardin County, Ky., in 1805, and followed farming and also did flat-boat- ing on the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers. At the time of his mar- riage in 1823 he was a resident of Perry County, Ind. He re- sided eighteen years in Daviess County, and in 1858 sold out and moved to the "Lone Star State," where he died October 9, 1863. He was twice married and was the father of thirteen children. His second wife, whose maiden name was Eliza Robbins, has lived with her children since his death. She is now residing in Knox County. Our subject's mother was born in Indiana January 8, 1807, and died October 5, 1852. Benjamin received a fair education and worked on the home farm until twenty-seven years old. Sep- tember 11, 1859, he married Martha J., a daughter of Isaac and Eliza Robbins. She is a native of Knox County, born January 20, 1843. They lived for some time in Edwardsport, where he and his brother John purchased a grist-mill, but sold it at the end of five years and purchased a saw-mill, which they operated about the same length of time. In 1875 he purchased fifty-five acres of land in Vigo Township, where he has since resided, and now owns 135 acres. He was a soldier in the war, enlisting July 20, 1861, in Company B, Twenty-sixth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, for three years, or during the war, and was commissioned captain in the regiment, and while waiting at Indianapolis was taken sick, but joined his regiment at Georgetown, Mo., but was again taken sick and was honorably discharged in 1882, and owing to his weak constitution, never returned. He bears an unsullied reputation, and is an excellent neighbor and citizen. He is a Republican, and cast his first vote for Gen. Taylor. He is a mem- ber of the I. O. O. F., and he and wife belong to the Missionary Baptist Church.
JOHN HARGIS is a son of William and Elizabeth (Kepler) Hargis (above mentioned), and was born in Perry County, Ind., August 8, 1827. He received about the same education as his brother, Charles F., and made his parents' house his home until he was twenty-two years of age. May 2, 1850, he married Susan McLin, daughter of George and Anna ( Morgan) McLin. Mrs. Hargis was born in Daviess County, Ind., May 1, 1830, and has borne eleven children, viz .: Alice B. (wife of James Logston),
.
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William H. (deceased), George W., Benjamin F. (deceased), John F. (deceased), Samuel J. (deceased), Dora B. (deceased), Hulda J. (deceased), Mary F., Anna K. and Charles B. Mr. Hargis located on the old homestead after his marriage, where he lived one year and then removed to Edwardsport and operated a saw-mill with his brother Benjamin for about five years. In 1859 they purchased the grist-mill at that place, and six years later sold out, and our subject purchased the old saw-mill, which he remodeled and worked until 1871. He then went to Tennes- see, where he purchased 500 acres of land and began farming. Three years later he sold out and returned to Hoosierdom and lo- cated on eighty acres of land in Knox County. He has increased his farm to 296 acres of excellent bottom land. In politics he is Republican, and his first vote was cast for Gen. Taylor. He be- longs to the I. O. O. F. fraternity, and his wife is a member of the Baptist Church.
CHARLES F. HARGIS was born in Daviess County, Ind., September 23, 1846, and is the youngest of nine children of Will- iam and Elizabeth (Kepler) Hargis. Charles was educated in the subscription and district schools near his home, and when nine years old went to Texas with his parents and lived about nine years. In the spring of 1867 he returned to his native state and located at Edwardsport, and worked in a saw-mill for his brothers, Benjamin and John. December 24, 1874, he married Angie Beal, born in Martin County, Ind., October 8, 1855. Her parents were John W. and Paulina (Philips) Beal. To their marriage these children were born; Benjamin Franklin, born April 2, 1878; Achsa Ethel, born November 10, 1882; and Mary Elizabeth, born July 25, 1885. After his marriage Mr. Hargis bought seventy-one acres of land near Edwardsport, where he lo- cated and lived until the freshet, in August 1875, when he was compelled to abandon his house and float away in a canoe. His entire crop of corn, wheat, oats, etc., was completely destroyed. In August of the same year he purchased 120 acres of land in the same township, where he has since resided. By good manage- ment he now owns 200 acres of good land. He is considered a good and honest citizen, and in politics is a Republican, casting his first vote for U. S. Grant. His wife is a member of the Bap- tist Church.
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THOMAS J. HILBURN, harness-maker and undertaker of Bicknell, Ind., was born November 23, 1851, in Green County, Ind., and is one of four children of Ezra and Mary (Chambers) Hilburn. The father was of Irish-Swiss descent, born in South Carolina in 1825. He was a teacher by profession, and was a resident of Bicknell when he died, in July, 1885. He was justice of the peace seven years and assessor of Vigo Township eight years. The mother was of Dutch-Irish lineage, born in Indiana in 1827, and since her husband's death has resided on the old home place. Thomas J. attended the district schools near home until sixteen years of age. When seventeen years old he left home and began doing for himself. He worked on the Ohio & Mississippi Railroad about five years, and was appointed as fore- man on a section on the Cincinnati & Vincennes Railroad, work- ing in that capacity three years. He then worked at the carpen- ter's trade in Bruceville two years and then continued railroad life again. He was fireman on an engine on the Evansville & Terre Haute Railroad for about three years. In 1884 he came to Bick- nell and commenced business as a harness-maker and undertaker, continuing the business ever since. He purchased the establish- ment of Andrew Cleveland, and took as his partner J. S. McClure, of Bruceville. They are thoroughly honest and are doing well financially. September 11, 1875, he wedded Mattie McClure, daughter of J. S. and Catharine McClure. Mrs. Hilburn was born June 6, 1857, in Knox County, Ind. They have four chil- dren: Elsie, Halcyon, Earl and Oscar Ross. Politically Mr. Hil- burn is a Democrat, and cast his first vote for Hancock. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity and his wife is a member of the Christian Church.
S. E. HOLLINGSWORTH may be mentioned as one of the prominent farmers of Knox County, Ind., and is a son of Abraham and Sarah (Dunn) Hollingsworth. He was born in the above named county October 25, 1826, and is one of six children of Ger- man-Irish descent. The parents were born in South Carolina and Kentucky, respectively, in 1797. The father went to the " Buckeye State" with his parents when quite young, and shortly after came to Indiana, about 1809 or 1810. Here the father had one brother killed in the battle of Tippecanoe, and one by the In-
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dians. They lived in a fort, but afterward farmed, where the father owned at one time 520 acres of land. He died December 18, 1872. The mother died April 10, 1869. Our subject at- tended the subscription schools, when an opportunity afforded, and assisted his father on the farm until twenty-five years of age. December 18, 1850, he married Nancy Jane Delay, daughter of Alexander and Rachel Delay. She was born in Lawrence County, Ind., February 18, 1832. They became the parents of seven children, three of whom are living: Malinda T., (wife of Thomas Howard), Mary A. and Joseph M. Malinda is residing in Kansas, and Mary and Joseph are at home. Mr. Hollings- worth has resided in Vigo Township since his marriage, and is one of its first farmers. He owns 447 acres of land, on which is erected a fine brick dwelling-house and good barns. He deals extensively in fine stock, especially the Poland-China hog, and makes his purchases of the first-class stock breeders of his own and neighboring States. . He has been very successful, ships to a large number of States, and makes his purchases regardless of price. He has taken many first premiums at different fairs, and deserved much credit for his energy in improving the breed of hogs in his neighborhood. In politics he is a Republican, and cast his first vote for Gen. Taylor. His wife is a member of the Baptist Church.
WILLIAM H. JOHNSON, principal of the Bicknell schools, was born in Wayne County, Ind., February 19, 1845, son of Levi and Primellar (Knight) Johnson, born in Xenia, Ohio, and Nash- ville, Tenn., in 1813 and 1820, respectively. In early life the father was a potter by trade, but later became a Methodist Epis- copal minister. He was married in 1833, and lived in Clarksburg until 1842, when he moved to Richmond. He preached for about thirty-six years in some of the principal cities of Indiana, and was the oldest minister in the Methodist Episcopal Conference when his career ended. He received a paralytic stroke, while de- livering a discourse, and died from the effects, January 12, 1884. He was one of the leading Methodist Episcopal ministers, and his death was a great loss to the church. The mother died in 1881. William H. received his education in the cities where his father preached, attending at Indianapolis, Evansville, Carlisle, New Al-
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bany and Bluegrass academies for two years each. At the early age of seventeen he began teaching, and has followed that calling to the present time. Between 1863 and 1877 he lived in Daviess County, with the exception of sixteen months, when he taught in the graded schools of Bloomington, Ind. He has taught in the graded schools of Washington, and ranks high as an educator and disciplinarian in all the schools he has taught. In 1877 he took charge of the schools of Freelandsville, remaining five years. He taught the "young idea" in Oaktown three years, and then came to Bicknell, where he is now stationed. His political procliv- ities are Republican, and he cast his first vote for U. S. Grant. August 2, 1866 he wedded Emma Singleton, daughter of William and May H. Singleton. She was born August 27, 1848, in Illi- nois. To them were born five children, four of whom are living: Levi Stanton, Mollie Cora, Carrie Mary and Charles Clarence. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
THOMAS E. JONES, farmer, is one of thirteen children of Joshua and Elizabeth (Conyers) Jones, and was born in Monroe County, Ind., January 21, 1833. He attended the public schools in boyhood, and made his home with his parents until thirty-five years of age. After attaining his majority he followed the occupation of farming. In April, 1870, he was married to Victoria Norris, daughter of Jameson and Martha Norris. Mrs. Jones was born January 18, 1844, in Kentucky. They have three children: Lulu, Edward A. and John R. In 1875 they located in Sandborn. Mr. Jones owns forty-four acres of land in Vigo Township. He is well respected and is honest and straight- forward in his business dealings. In politics he is a Republican, and cast his first vote for John C. Fremont. He was postmaster at Sandborn nine years, and in 1868 was elected justice of the peace of the township, and has held the position ever since, with the exception of one year. He was a strong Union man, and in 1861 enlisted in Company B, Twenty-sixth Regiment Indiana Volunteer Infantry, for three years. He was in the battle of Vicksburg and numerous minor engagements. He received his discharge in Sep- tember, 1864, at Indianapolis. He is a Mason, and he and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. His father
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