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 47
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 47
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JAMES R. WILLIAMS was born April 27, 1853, in Knox County, Ind., and is the only son of two children born to
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Ebenezer and Anna (Burris) Williams. The father was of Scotch-Irish descent, born December 25, 1814, in Knox County. He was married in 1849, and was a farmer by occupation. He located on sixty-six acres of land in Steen Township, and his father gave him 100 acres more. Here he lived until his death. He was married four times, and was the father of four children. The mother was born in Steen Township, and died in 1854, leaving James, a child eighteen months old. At the age of fourteen he, in company with his father and several others, went to Kansas. Near Vandalia, Ill., a gun in James' hands was accidentally discharged, the shot taking effect in the right arm of Mary E. Chambers, a young lady of the company. The wound proved so serious that further traveling was impossible. They rented and remained in a schoolhouse about three weeks. James' father then returned home. He died in the spring of 1867. James then made his home with his uncle, Joseph Will- iams, until he was eighteen years old. In 1874 he purchased forty acres of land, but owing to ill health sold out and took a trip westward to the Pacific coast. He remained in California about six years, and then returned to his native heath. January 20, 1881, he married Elizabeth King, born January 28, 1853. They have two children: Leonard Lesley and Stella Elizabeth. After marriage Mr. Williams lived in Lawrence County, Ill., one year, and in 1882 returned to Knox County and purchased 145 acres of land. He is energetic and enterprising, and is a Repub- Jican in his political views. His wife, is a member of the Lu- theran Church.
JAMES D. WILLIAMS, one of the enterprising young farmers of Harrison Township, was born August 25, 1863, in Knox County, Ind. He is one of five children born to George W. and Rachel M. (Reed) Williams. The father was born Jan- uary 27, 1832, in Knox County, and was a farmer by occupation. His father, James Douglas Williams, ex-governor of Indiana, was born in Pickaway County, Ohio, January 16, 1808. He came with his parents to Indiana in 1818, and settled in Knox County, near the historic city of Vincennes, where he resided until he went to Indianapolis to assume control of the State government. The little education he received was in the pioneer schoolhouse
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at times when his services could be spared from the farm. His father died when he was twenty years old, and as he was the eld- est of the children the care of the family devolved upon him. Three years afterward he married Nancy Huffman, who lived un- til 1880. They had seven children, only two now living: John and Eliza. The public career of Gov. Williams has been a long one, and, with the exception of his term in Congress, has been identified with State interests. In 1839 he was elected justice of the peace, and in 1843 was first elected to the State Legislature, and served seven years in the House and twelve years in the Senate. In 1855 he was elected a member of the State Board of Agriculture, being a member sixteen years. In 1874 he was elected to Congress from the Second Congressional District, and before his term expired was nominated by the Democratic party as candidate for governor. The contest between him and Gen. Harrison resulted in the election of the former by a plu- rality of over 5,000 votes. He died November 20, 1880, be- fore his term expired. He was buried in the Walnut Grove Cem- etery, near the site of his old home. July 4, 1883, the monu- ment thirty feet high, which was erected to his memory, was un- veiled in the presence of a large concourse of people. Daniel Voorhees, B. Harrison, ex-Senator McDonald and other promi- nent men of the State were among the speakers. He was careful and painstaking, and very self-reliant, and probably consulted fewer persons in regard to his official duties than any of his pre- decessors for generations. He was simple and economical in his tastes, and accumulated a handsome competency. George Will- iams was a resident of Knox County at the time of his marriage, and always made that county his home. He owned 267 acres of land, and died February 9, 1875. The mother was of German descent. She was born in the county in 1842, and died October 5, 1871. James D. Williams was educated in the district schools, . and in addition attended Purdue University at Lafayette, Ind., finishing the course in 1882. September 23, 1885, he married Mattie, daughter of Anderson and Caroline Nicholson, She was born November 25, 1859. James D. owns 179 acres of the old home place of ex-Gov. Williams, his grandfather and name- sake. He is a young man of push and energy, and is a mem-
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ber of the Democratic party, and cast his first vote for Grover Cleveland. His wife is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
WIDNER TOWNSHIP.
PHILIP BROWER was born in South Carolina, October 26, 1822, and is a son of John and Catharine (Keller) Brower, of Pennsylvania, born in 1787 and 1791, respectively. The father was a millwright, and in 1845 came to Indiana and located in Sullivan County. Our subject, in June, 1846, enlisted in the Second Indiana for seven years in the Mexican war, and was in the battle of Buena Vista. He was discharged June 30, 1847, at New Orleans, and returned home July 4, of the same year, and farmed until the breaking out of the Rebellion, when, in October, 1864, he was drafted in Company F, Thirty-eighth Indiana In- fantry, and participated in many battles in the Southern States. He was in the last battle of Nashville, Tenn., and was mustered out at Louisville, Ky., June 15, 1865, and received his discharge at Indianapolis. He then returned to farming, and June 7, 1849, he was married to Charlotte Dean, daughter of John and Nancy Dean, natives of Virginia and North Carolina, respectively. To them were born these children: Nancy C. (deceased), Susan, James, John Wesley, Robert M., Rosetta R. (deceased), Albert R., Louis S. Mr. Brower located on the farm of forty acres where he now lives in 1851. He also rears stock. He is a Re- publican in politics, and cast his first vote for James K. Polk.
REV. PHILIP A. FROHNE was born in Prussia, Septem- ber 21, 1839, and is one of two children born to Ernst and Wil- helmina (Schirre) Frohne, natives of Germany. Our subject sailed from Bremen to the United States with his mother and sister, his father having died when Philip was only seven years of age. They landed at New Orleans and came to Evansville, Ind., where they lived a few weeks, and his mother was married to Louis L. Luetkemeir. They then moved to Knox County, and settled near Edwardsport, where they purchased the farm upon
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which our subject was reared. He gained a common school edu- cation, and in 1861 attended the Evangelical German School at Marthaville, Mo., from 1861 to 1866, preparing for the ministry. After finishing his education he went to Howard's Grove, Wis., and was pastor of that place for thirteen years. In February, 1869, he was united in marriage to Frederica Olm, daughter of John and Frederica (Peterson) Olm. Since 1879 he has had charge of his present congregation. Mr. Frohne and wife have been members of the church since very early childhood, and have reared their children in the same belief. To them were born the following children: John, Emma, Theodore, Louisa, Martha, Hulda, Pauline and Amanda.
WILLIAM P. HOLLINGSWORTH, farmer, was born very near where he now lives August 28, 1823, and is one of eleven children of Bernard and Nancy A. (McKeigh) Hollingsworth, natives of South Carolina and Kentucky, respectively. William P. lived with his parents until twenty-five years of age, and was reared on the home farm. He secured a good common school education. June 6, 1850, he led to the hymeneal altar Miss Louisa Stephenson, a native of Indiana and daughter of Samuel Stephenson. Eight children were born to them, named Ferdi- nand, Jeannette and Eliza are deceased, Amanda, Lavina, Alexander, and two who died in infancy. Mr. Hollingsworth was not in the late war, but did service in the Home Guards. After his marriage Mr. Hollingsworth's father presented him with fifty acres of land, which he has increased to 103 acres, all under cul- tivation. He is a Republican in politics, and cast his first vote for Harrison. He and family are members of the Christian Church, and he is a good citizen and farmer.
N. D. JOHNSTON, farmer, is a son of Insley D. and Sarah (Pearson) Johnston, who were born in the "Keystone State," in 1782 and 1794, respectively. The father was one of the first set- tlers and the first postmaster of the town. The mother died in June, 1833, and the father married again. Our subject received a good common school education, and at the age of nineteen attended Kenyon College for one year. He then learned the tan- ner's trade, and January 3, 1838, was united in marriage to Sarah Arbuckle, born November 17, 1817, daughter of John and Eliza-
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beth (Lowther) Arbuckle, natives of Pennsylvania. After his marriage he lived in Ohio until 1846, when he moved to Indiana and followed his trade for about ten years, and then returned to Ohio, where he lived twelve years. In 1846 he returned to the "Hoosier State," and settled at Worthington. After residing in different parts of the State he moved to Knox County in 1875, and settled on his farm of 160 acres. He became the father of these children: William Wiley, Sarah E., Mary A., John I., Eliza C., Martha, Angeline and Ella. Martha and Mary A. are deceased. Mr. Johnston is a Republican, and cast his first vote for Harri- son. He and wife are members of the Presbyterian Church. His son, William, was assistant surgeon in the Eighty-fifth Iudiana Regiment, and is yet practicing that profession. Subject was born in Martinsburgh, Knox Co., Ohio, October 22, 1820.
J. F. JOHNSON is one of thirteen children born to the marriage of Chilton and Margaret (Haver) Johnson, and was born in Greene County, Ind., April 6, 1839. The father was a Virginian, born in 1800. In 1804 they came West, and finally settled in Sullivan County, Ind., near Carlisle, where they lived two years, and then settled permanently east of Carlisle. The mother was born in 1804, and after living in Greene County until 1854 they moved to Knox County, and purchased the farm where our subject now lives. The father died March 15, 1882. He was a Republican, and cast his first vote for John Q. Adams, and his last for James A. Garfield. The mother died in July, 1877. At the age of sixteen our subject came with his parents to Knox County, where he has since lived. He was married, October 1, 1868, to Elvira Wampler, daughter of Stephen and Rebecca (Meyers) Wampler. Mr. Johnson always resided with his par- ents. He has followed the occupation of farming all his life, and now owns 120 acres of land, 100 acres being under cultivation. He is a stanch Republican and cast his first vote for Lincoln. He and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Of his father's family these children are now living: Harriet, Wampler, Amanda, Robins, John F., Thomas H. and William C. -all good, substantial citizens.
WILLIAM G. KEITH was born April 21, 1823, in Knox County, Ind., son of W. and Elizabeth (Storm) Keith. The
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father was born in Kentucky and immigrated to Indiana in 1819, where he farmed. The mother was also a native of Kentucky. Our subject secured a common school education, and resided on the farm until eighteen years of age, when he flat-boated to New Orleans, following that occupation about seven years. March 21, 1846, he wedded Perthena Stone, daughter of Dudley and Mary Stone, who were natives of the "Blue-grass State." After his marriage Mr. Keith began farming eighty acres of land, which he cleared himself, and has kept adding others until he now owns 120 acres. To them were born these children: Alonzo, Lavina, Annie, Alice, Mattie and Wilmetta. At the breaking out of the war Mr. Keith enlisted in Company H, Fifty-first Indiana Vol- unteer Infantry, and did service in Kentucky, Tennessee, Ala- bama, Georgia, and was in the battles of Shiloh, Perryville, Stone River, Chickamauga and Atlanta. He was in a provisional brigade, and together with 1,300 comrades was taken prisoner at Rome, Ga., and held for seventeen days on Belle Isle, when they were exchanged. At Columbia, Tenn., his hand was crippled making breastworks, and after remaining at the hospital at New Albany three months he was discharged in 1865. He has since followed farming. He is a Republican and cast his first vote for Clay. He and family are members of the Christian Church.
JOHN MABES was born in Westmoreland County, Penn., July 27, 1834, and is a son of Christian and Mary Mabes. When but four years of age his parents moved to Dearborn County. Ind., and here he was reared on a farm. After attaining his majority he left home and worked at saw-milling in Ripley County, Ind. In 1858 he was married to Kate Hornberger, daughter of John Hornberger, a native of Germany. After work- ing in the saw-mill for some time he moved to Dearborn County, and commenced farming. In 1871 he removed to Knox County, and located on the farm where he now lives. He purchased 220 acres of land and has added to this till he now owns 520 acres of good farming land, 300 acres being in a good state of cultiva- tion. He and wife became the parents of these children: John, Mary, Martha, Frank, Albert and Benjamin living, and Christ, Edward, George and Samuel are dead. He is a Republican in his political views, and he and wife are members of the Evangel- ical Church.
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DR. M. M. McDOWELL was born in Jefferson County, Ohio, March 10, 1845, and is the eldest of five children born to the marriage of Dr. James McDowell, born in Pennsylvania in 1820, and Mary Moore, a native of Ohio, and daughter of Mordecai Moore, who established the salt works in Jefferson County, Ohio. Our subject resided with his parents until sixteen years of age. The war broke out about this time and he enlisted in Company G, Thirteenth Ohio Volunteer Cavalry, in the fall of 1862, and was soon after made surgeon of his company, and was in the battles of Perryville, Petersburg and at Appomattox Court House. He was slightly wounded at Petersburg; the ball which wounded him killed a comrade standing close by. He had his left leg broken by an accident at Nashville, and July 4, 1865, was mus- tered out and returned home. He worked one year with his father in Sullivan County, Ind., and then began reading medicine, and in the fall of 1866 began studying under his father. He attended the Kentucky Medical College in 1867-68, and then came to Freelandsville, where he has since practiced. In 1878 he graduated in his profession. September 29, 1870, he was mar- ried to Sarah B. McConnell, daughter of Andrew and Nancy McConnell, natives of Ireland and Indiana respectively. To. them were born these children: Mary C. and Leonidas (de- ceased), James, William, Bailey and Twiley. The doctor has had good success in his practice in Freelandsville, is the leading practitioner of his community, and owns 840 acres of land in Knox County and deals extensively in live stock. He is a Mason, and his wife is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
DR. A. J. McGAUHY is a native of Daviess County, Ind., born November 15, 1855, son of James P. and Mary Jane ( Wells ) McGauhy, born in North Carolina and Indiana, in 1815 and 1814 respectively. The father came to Indiana at an early day, and after his marriage farmed and taught school and also studied law, which he practiced in Knox, Daviess and Martin Counties. In 1844 he was elected to represent those counties in the State Legislature, and was candidate afterward for the Senate, but defeated. He continued the practice of law until his death, March 18, 1877. Our subject attended the common schools, where he secured a good practical education. At the age of four-
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teen he began learning the carpenter trade, at which he worked during the summer months and attended school during the winter seasons. At the age of twenty-three he began teaching the " young idea," and shortly afterward began the study of medi- cine. After reading four years he attended a course of lectures in the University of Medicine of Columbia, Mo., and then at- tended the university at Louisville, Ky., one course and graduated at this college in February, 1884. He then practiced at Sand- born, Ind., a short time, and then moved to Freelandsville, where he has since resided and practiced his profession. He is a Repub- lican and cast his first vote for Garfield in 1880.
CHARLES F. MEIR is a native of Germany, born July 11, 1824, son of Frederick W. and Catharine (Ottensmeyer) Meir, who were Germans by birth. Charles F. was the youngest of four children, and after attaining his twenty-first birthday was married to Christine Walting, daughter of Charles H. and Charlotte Walting. To them were born these children: Henry, Fred, Caroline, and one who died in infancy. In December, 1851, they embarked for the United States and landed in New Orleans, January 1, 1852, and came directly to Indiana, and five years later located permanently in Knox County where he now lives. He first purchased eighty acres of land and has added to it from time to time until he now owns 160 acres, 120 of which he has cleared and cultivated himself. Mr. Meir is a Democrat and cast his first vote for Buchanan. He and his wife are mem- bers of the Evangelical Church, and he is an excellent farmer and stock-raiser. In September, 1864, he was drafted in Com- pany E, Fourty-fourth Indiana Infantry, and was in the en- gagements at Nashville and Chattanooga, Tenn. He received his discharge in 1865 and returned home.
DR. HERMAN MEYER, was born in Westphalia, Prussia, July 29, 1822, and was one of eight children of Nicholas and Sophia (Meyer) Meyer. The father was born in Bremen, De- cember 29, 1775, and when very young began studying medi- cine at Geni, and at the age of twenty-two was married and made body physician to the Grand Duke of Weimer, and later to Jerome Napoleon. He died February 26, 1855, at Menden, Westphalia. Our subject was reared at Menden, and at an early age went to
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Berlin with his parents, and later entered the medical college of that city, where he graduated. He came to America in 1853 and landed at New Orleans. Previous to this he had traveled extensively in France and Belgium, and it was his intention to go to Peru, South America, but after staying one winter in New Orleans he went to Evansville, Ind., where he lived three years. He then came to Vincennes, where he lived two years, and then located at Freelandsville, where he owns ten acres of land and is the oldest practicing physician in the township. He has prac- ticed for thirty-two years and has done well from a financial stand- point. In 1855 he led to Hymen's altar Henrietta Datering, daughter of Henry and Minnie (Oberman) Datering, who were natives of Germany. To Dr. and Mrs. Meyer one child was born, viz .: Alma, born October 13, 1856.
CHARLES W. MILLER is a native of Knox County, Ind., son of Abraham and Jane (Ferguson) Miller, natives of Ken- tucky, born in 1807 and 1814 respectively. They were married in Knox County near where our subject now lives. He was twice married, the first time to Maria Lemmon and the second time to Jane Ferguson. He died October 13, 1867. Charles W. was born October 21, 1853, and was reared by his parents on a farm. He resided with his mother, and in January, 1875, he was married to Helen A. Nicholson, daughter of Reuben and Maria Nicholson of Indiana. Mr. Miller has resided on his present farm since his marriage, and became the father of four children: Herbert H., William O., Charles C. M. and Horatio. Mr. Mil- ler is a strong supporter of Republican principles and cast his first vote for Grant. He has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church since 1870, and his wife is a member of the same. He owns 220 acres of land, 180 of which are under cul- tivation, and takes considerable interest in raising stock. He took no part in the late war, but two of his brothers were in the service, one dying from the effects of a wound. The father had many thrilling experiences with wild animals in early times, and at one time had his nose broken by a wolf which he had caught in a trap.
FREDERICK OTTERMAN was born in Germany in Au- gust, 1826, and is a son of Frederick and Sophia (Fritger) Otter-
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man. He was one of eight children and resided with his parents and assisted them on the farm until he was twenty-one years of age, when he came to America in 1848. He sailed from Bre- men and landed at New Orleans in December of that year, and came almost immediately to Evansville, Ind., thence to Vincennes, where he worked at farming, and in 1851 was married to Hannah Bergherm, daughter of D. Bergherm. To them were born these six children, viz .: Minnie, Simon, Lida, Henry, Lany and August, all of whom are dead except August and Lany. Mr. Otterman located on his present farm after his marriage, and purchased forty acres of woodland. This he cleared, and now owns 100 acres of fertile and well-cultivated land. He is a good farmer and stock-raiser, and has endured many of the hardships which attended the early settlers.
HON. JAMES F. PARKER (deceased) was born in Virginia Oct. 29, 1819, son of Thornton and Elizabeth (Sheets) Parker, also natives of Virginia. In 1826 James F. came with his par- ents to Indiana, where he remained with his parents until 1842. He worked on the farm during the summer seasons and attended school during the winter. He was a student in the Wabash Col- lege at Crawfordsville, Ind., one year, and at the age of twenty- three went to Benton County, and August 25 of that year was married to Rachel N. Justice, born June 9, 1824, daughter of Bogie and Jane Justice, who were wealthy and respected citizens of Benton County. Her father helped organize the county and
was its first clerk. Our subject farmed for some time and then read law under Robert Gregory of Lafayette, and in 1853 com- menced practicing at Oxford, and became county auditor, com- missioner and clerk, and in 1854 was elected to represent Tippe- canoe and Benton Counties in the State Senate. In 1861 he helped organize Company D. Fifteenth Indiana Infantry, and went as its lieutenant and was promoted its captain at the battle of Shiloh. He fought at Shiloh, but on account of ill health re- signed in 1862 and returned home. He was elected county treas- urer in 1868, and in 1872 removed with his family to Knox County and settled on the farm of 223 acres. He was a member of the I. O. O. F., and died December 24, 1884, of cancer of the stomach. His wife has been a member of the Christian Church since thirteen years of age.
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JOHN PEARCE was born December 9, 1836, in Sullivan County, Ind., son of R. W. and V. (Haddan) Pearce. The father's people came from Kentucky and the mother's from Vir- ginía. John, the subject of this sketch, was reared in his native county and made his parents' house his home until twenty-three years of age, when he began teaching school, but also continued farming. September 13, 1860 he was united in marriage to Ada- laide Pearce, to whom these children were born: Afelia, Emma, Wesley, Ella and George. Mrs. Pearce died February 23, 1877, and in 1879 he was married to Ellen Ely, daughter of John Jacobs and widow of John Ely, and became the father of these children: William, Helen and John. Mr. Pearce has resided in Daviess, Sullivan, and finally settled in Knox County, where he now resides. Mr. Pearce was a soldier in the late war, enlisting September 1, 1862, in Company F, Fourteenth Indiana Volun- teer Infantry; in 1863 was sent to New York to quell the riot. He was in the battles of Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Get- tysburg, Boston Station, Morton's Ford and the Wilderness, where he was wounded in the right eye, losing the sight. He was in the hospital eleven months and received his discharge in 1865. He has since followed farming, and owns 115 acres of land, all under cultivation. He is a Republican, and cast his first vote for Lincoln. He has been justice of the peace since 1883, and he and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
JAMES POLK is of Scotch descent, and was born in Shelby County, Ky., September 5, 1804, son of Charles and Margaret (McQuaid) Polk. His ancestral grandfather was a native of Vir- ginia. The father came to Knox County, Ind., in 1806, and set- tled near Vincennes, where he died in 1845. James was reared on a farm near Vincennes, and in 1811 was taken by his father to Kentucky on account of Indian troubles, and there remained two years. He then returned to Indiana, and the most of his educa- tion was acquired in the forts, where he resided for protection from the Indians. He resided with his parents until twenty-two years of age, and then began farming on the land where part of Edwardsport now stands, and taught the first school at that place or on White River. Only two of his early scholars are now living.
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