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 48
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 48
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HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY.
In 1829 he was married to Harriet Shepherd, daughter of John and Mary (Kipp) Shepherd, natives of Kentucky. He owns 500 acres of land and rears stock. His children's names are Louisa, William A., Edmond. Charles, Mary (deceased), Horace and Helen (deceased). Mr. Polk has always taken an active part in the educational interests of his township. He has been justice of the peace ten years, and held the office of county commissioner three years, and has been assessor and trustee of the township. He cast his first presidential vote for Henry Clay. He is a mem- ber of the Christian Church, as was his wife, and is one of the old pioneers of the county. There has not been a death in his family for fifty-one years. His son, Edmond Polk, was born in Knox County, Ind., February 25, 1836. He resided on his father's farm until twenty-one years of age, and secured a common school education. December 23, 1858, Sallie Salter became his wife, and they located on the farm where they now reside, and he owns 165 acres of land. October 25, 1864, he was drafted in Company C, Forty-fourth Indiana Infantry, and served one year. He was at Chattanooga and Knoxville, and was discharged in July, 1865. He has always been a Republican, and cast his first vote for Lin- coln. He has held the office of justice of the peace, and is at the present time director of the Knox County Agricultural Society, and belongs to the Masonic fraternity. His wife is a member of the Christian Church.
CHARLES POLK was born in Knox County, Ind., December 14, 1849, and is one of twelve children of Isaac Polk. He was reared on a farm and resided with his parents until thirty years of age. He acquired a common school education, and December 18, 1879, was united in marriage to Miss Sartor, daughter of James and Eliza Sartor, natives of Knox County, Ind. To their union two children were born: Myrtle and Claud. Mr. Polk's political views are Republican, and his first vote was cast for Gen. U. S. Grant. He is not a member of any secret society or church. He has been quite prosperous in his business under- takings, and owns 280 acres of land, 150 acres being under culti- vation. His wife is a member of the Christian Church.
WILLIAM J. RIDGWAY is a native of the "Hoosier State," born in Sullivan County January 20, 1831, son of Benjamin and
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Catharine (Trunnel) Ridgway, natives of the "Blue-grass State." The father was born in 1801, and after attaining his majority came to Indiana. The mother was of Scotch and German descent, and bore her husband eight children, our subject being the third. He secured a common school education, and after farming for himself two years was married, March 8, 1855, to Malinda Bick- nell. He then farmed on the old place two years, and then pur- chased eighty acres of land two miles east of Oaktown, on which he lived until 1880, when he sold out and bought fifty acres where he now lives. He rears considerable stock and is doing quite well financially. He and wife became the parents of these children: Theresa, Benjamin, John T., Willis, Hammet and Arean. Mr. Ridgway is a Democrat politically and cast his first vote for Buchanan. His wife has been a member of the Christian Church for fifteen years.
WILLIAM RITTERSKAMP is the eldest of eight children of John and Julia (Kircher) Ritterskamp, natives of Prussia. The father came to the United States in the fall of 1849, and landed at New York. They came overland to the Indiana line and finally at Linton, Ind .; owing to a misunderstanding the man who was assisting them on their journey abandoned them, and Mr. Ritterskamp was obliged to depend on his own resources. He hired another team and soon after reached Freelandsville and located on a farm near the village. Our subject was born August 16, 1844, in Prussia, and was reared with his parents on an Indiana farm and made his home with them until eighteen years of age, when he went to Evansville and clerked in the general merchandise store of William Rahm. A year later he returned home and assisted his father on the farm two years, and then clerked for William McCord and the La Plante Bros., of Vin- cennes, for fifteen months. May 10, 1866, he was united in marriage to Louisa Heithecker, daughter of Adolph and Fred- erick Heithecker, natives of Lieppe Detmold, Prussia. Mr. Ritterskamp farmed one year after marriage and then took an interest in his father's general merchandise store in Freelands- ville, and he and his brother, John E., still continue the business and carry an excellent stock of general merchandise, and deal also in grain. They are the proprietors of the Freelandsville
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HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY.
Flouring-Mills, which have a capacity of seventy-five barrels per day. His wife died January 11, 1872, having borne these chil- dren: William J., Julius F. and one deceased. May 21, 1874, Mr. Ritterskamp wedded Wilhelmine Heins, daughter of Gerhard and Wilhelmine (Ottensmeier) Heins. To their marriage were born these children: Laura, Louisa, Hellena, John (deceased) and Gottfried. Our subject has always been a Democrat. He is a member of the Evangelical Church, and he, father and brother own 900 acres of land.
DANIEL ROBBINS was born in Knox County, Ind., Janu- ary 29, 1839, and is the third of seven children. He was reared and educated very near where he now lives, and assisted his father on the farm in every way that he could. In March, 1864, he was united in marriage to Miss Martha A. Miller, and to them were born five children. His first wife died, and he took for his second wife- Miss Mary Freeland, who was a daughter of Robert Freeland, the founder of Freelandsville, Ind., and to their marriage one child was born. Mr. Robbins is a Democrat in politics, and took no part in the late war, although his sym- pathies were with the union of the States. He has never offered his name as a candidate for any office, and is not a member of any secret organization. He and family are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and he is one of the representa- tive farmers and stock raisers of his township.
G. W. SIMONSON was born in Daviess County, Ind., Au- gust 27, 1842, and is the eldest of nine children born to Alfred Simonson, also a native of Daviess County, born in 1815. The mother, whose maiden name was Sarah Perkins, was born in 1817. Our subject received the education and rearing of the average farmer's boy. At the age of twenty-three he was married to Lois Warren, born in Greene County, Ind., April 26, 1849, daughter of William and Ann (Johnson) Warren. The father was a native of the "Emerald Isle," and the mother of Louis- ville, Ky. To Mr. and Mrs. Simonson were born nine children, viz .: Cora L., Alfred W., Daisy, George L., Anna L., Bessie F., Chester, Bonnie and Charlie. After his marriage, which occurred March 22, 1866, Mr. Simonson moved to Knox County, and settled on the farm of 530 acres of laud where he now
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lives, 250 acres being under cultivation. He is a Democrat, and cast his first vote for McClellan. He has been a member of the Masonic fraternity for sixteen years, and is considered one of the best and most successful stock raisers in the town- ship. His wife is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
HENRY WAGNER is a native of Germany, born March 16, 1850, and is the youngest of four children born to John and Dora (Struf) Wagner. The father died when Henry was but eleven years of age, and he then made his home with his uncle until nineteen years of age, when he embarked for the. United States, and reached Baltimore after an uneventful voyage of three weeks. He came directly to Vincennes, Ind., and worked for about two years on a farm for his brother. November 9, 1871, he was united to Hannah Grava, born in Knox County, Ind., January 21, 1852, daughter of J. H. aud D. Grava, of Westphalia, Germany. To them were born these four children: Christ, Dora, John and Willie. Mr. Wagner has always been a tiller of the soil, and on December 8, 1882, he purchased the farm of ninety-six acres upon which he now lives. He has seventy-five acres under cul- tivation, and is doing well. He is a Republican, and cast his first vote for Grant. He and family are members of the Evangelical Church. Mr. Wagner has been very fortunate, as his worldly possessions consisted of 50 cents when he first reached Vincen- nes, Ind.
DECKER TOWNSHIP.
LUTHER M. ANTHIS was born and reared in Decker Town- ship, Knox Co., Ind., and was born October 25, 1849. He is the second of eight children born to the marriage of Leander D. Anthis and Maria Coughran. The father was a native of Knox County, Ind., born in 1820. His father, Jacob Anthis, was a na- tive Tennessean. Leander Anthis was twice married-the first time to Martha Horner, who bore him two children. After her death he married our subject's mother. Luther M. was reared on the farm, and has always followed the occupation of farming.
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HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY.
After attaining his majority he was married to Sarah J. Mull, daughter of Peter Mull. The marriage occurred in 1872, and in September, two years later, his wife died. March 25, 1877, he took for his second wife Isabel Bickman, born November 9, 1859, daughter of Peter Bickman. Five children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Anthis. They are quite well to do financially, and own 100 acres of land. Mr. Anthis' father and grandfather were among the very early settlers of Decker Township.
J. M. J. CARNAHAN was born in Knox County, Ind., Jan- uary 10, 1859, and is a son of J. M. Carnahan, who was born in Daviess County, Ind., in 1828, where he remained until eleven years of age, when his father, William Carnahan, a native of Ireland, died, and he then made his home with J. McKinley. When twenty- one years of age he began farming for himself, and four years later was married to Lucretia Steffey, our subject's mother, a native of Virginia, and daughter of Joseph and Mary Steffey. The mother died, and the father again married, and reared two children. From 1839 to 1883 the father resided in Knox County, and since the latter date has lived in Kansas and in the Cherokee Nation, Indian Territory. Our subject received a common school educa- tion, and spent his boyhood days on a farm. At the age of twenty- one he was married to Jennie Wright, daughter of J. V. B. Wright, To them have been born three children, namely: Lillie P., Myrtle L. and John Noble. Mr. Carnahan has resided in Knox County, Ind., all his life with the exception of eighteen months spent in Kansas with his family. He owns 100 acres of good land, and has always followed the life of a farmer. He is a member and an earnest worker of the Methodist Episcopal Church, as is his family.
LINZEY CROW was born in Gibson County, Ind., November - 23, 1812, and is one of nine children born to the marriage of James Crow and Annie Kirk, natives respectively of Georgia and Kentucky. The father came to this State when a small boy, and here resided until his death. The mother died when our subject was nine months old, and he lived with his father, who married again, until he was twenty-one years old, when he worked around on neighboring farms, and in 1836 was married to Nancy Glass, of Indiana, and they became the parents of seven children: James, John, Polly, Clark, Annie, Isabel, Martha, and two who died in
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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
infancy. All are now deceased but Annie and Martha. Mrs. Crow died in 1856, and a year later he was married to Lucinda Curtis, widow of William Curtis, who bore him six children: Nancy (de- ceased), Celia, William, Perry and Vincent. Mr. Crow has lived where he now resides for twenty years, and has always been a farmer, but is now retired from active life. He is a Democrat politically, and his son, John, was in the late war, in Company A, Fifty-sixth Indiana Infantry, and was wounded in the battle of Chickamauga.
HENRY CROW was born near Hazelton, Gibson Co., Ind., May 13, 1821, and is a son of James and Polly (Philips) Crow, natives of Georgia and Virginia respectively. Our subject lived with his father until sixteen years old, when they broke up house- keeping, and he was then obliged to depend on his own resources to obtain a livelihood, and worked on the neighboring farms. In 1836 he led to Hymen's altar Sarah Jane Williams, daughter of John and Mary Williams, of Ohio. To them were born the fol- lowing children: Nancy, Joseph, John, Mary, Nellie, Jane, Delia, Julia Ann, Emma and Rachel. John, Mary, Delia and Rachel are deceased. Mrs. Crow died the 6th of August, 1879, of heart disease. Mr. Crow is a strong supporter of Democratic princi- ples, but has never held any office or had his name before the public for patronage. He has always been a farmer and stock- raiser, and has succeeded well financially, and now owns 600 acres of land, 300 of which are under cultivation. He belongs to no secret organization.
JOSEPH CROW was born in Gibson County, Ind., in 1831, and is one of five children of Henry and Patsey (McGray ) Crow. The father came to Gibson County when quite young, but the mother was a native of the county. Our subject made his par- ents' house his home until he attained his majority, when he be- gan doing for himself. When twenty-two years old he took for his companion through life Emeline, daughter of John Cannon, who was a native of Kentucky, and came to Indiana when a young man and settled in Knox County, where he worked at agricultural pursuits and blacksmithing. Joseph Crow, our sub- ject, came to Knox County in 1858, and in the winter of 1865 enlisted in Company C, One Hundred and Forty-third Indiana
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HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY.
Volunteer Infantry, under Capt. Bishop, and served in Tennes- see. He enlisted too late to participate in any battles, and was discharged at Indianapolis in 1865. He located on his present farm in the spring of 1874, where he owns 100 acres of land. He became the father of nine children, four of whom are living: Joseph, Charlie, Mary Alice and Emma Jane.
ABNER DECKER, son of Alfred and grandson of Isaac Decker, was born in Knox County, Ind., November 22, 1837, and is one of twelve children. The father was born in the county in 1813, and died May 22, 1878. The mother was Olive P. Alney, who died when Abner was quite young. He re- sided with his father until eighteen years of age, when he be- gan working on neighboring farms, and at the age of twenty- three was married to Patience Kuykendall, daughter of George Kuykendall. She died in 1868, leaving four children: Gemma, Mary Ann, Isabel and Alfred H. All are deceased save Alfred. Mr. Decker took for his second wife Mary Robinson, daughter of Samuel Robinson, who died February 9, 1876. Mr. Decker was married to Margaret E. Rodgers July 16, 1881. She is a daugh- ter of William R. Field and the widow of William Rodgers. To them was born one child, who died in infancy. Mr. Decker lo- cated on his present farm in 1881. He owns 120 acres of fertile land, and engages quite extensively in stock raising.
ALFRED DECKER (deceased), who was a well-to-do and successful farmer of Decker Township, Knox Co., Ind., was born in said county, and was reared and spent his boyhood days hard at work on a farm. He learned the carpenter's trade, and always worked at that and farming. In the year of 1865 he was united in matrimony to Elizabeth Catt, daughter of John and Elizabeth Crow, and widow of Ross Catt. To their union one child was born, who is yet living: Nancy Elmira, born in 1866. On May 22, 1878, Mr. Decker died, leaving his wife and daughter in good circumstances with 300 acres of land. Mr. Decker was an indus- trious, hard-working farmer, and his death was a great loss to the community.
JAMES DICK was born in Princeton, Ind., April 26, 1823, and is the eldest of six children born to the marriage of Alex- ander and Elizabeth (Buchanan) Dick, who were natives of Scot-
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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
land; married in 1821, and the following year came to the United States and located at Princeton, Ind. Here the father died when our subject was seventeen years of age, and he was then obliged to assist in the support of his mother and brothers and sisters. In 1846 the mother died, but the family continued together until our subject's marriage, May 22, 1850. He took for his life com- panion Sarah, daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth (Catt) Kim- mons, who were born in Holland and Indiana respectively. To Mr. and Mrs. Dick's marriage thirteen children were born: Eliza- beth (deceased), Joan (deceased), John A. (deceased), Thomas, James, Mary, John A., Henry, Wellington, Charles, David, Mag- gie (deceased), and one who died in infancy. Mr. Dick has always been a farmer with the exception of one year (1858) spent in merchandising in Decker Station. He owns 420 acres of land, 250 being under cultivation. He is a Democrat in politics.
N. B. EDWARDS was born in Knox County, Ind., November 20, 1822, and is one of ten children of James and Hulda (Congo) Edwards. The father was born in Tennessee, and came to Indiana in 1816 and located on the farm where he lived until his death in 1856. The mother was a native of Pike County, Ind., and died in 1845. Our subject was reared on a farm and received a com- mon school education. He learned the wagon and carriage-mak- er's trade of his father. When twenty-one years old he bought a small place in Johnson Township, and in 1848 was united in marriage to Sarah Almy, daughter of Seneca Almy, a native of the State, to which marriage were born ten children, four now living: James, Missouri, Lillie and Vincent. Mr. Edwards has resided in Decker Township since 1847, engaged in farming. In 1875 he was appointed postmaster at Red Cloud, and now holds that position. He has been justice of the peace since 1875 and has read law to some extent, but has never put it in practice. He is a Republican, and a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He was not in the late war, but helped to raise Com- pany K and Company D, Volunteer Infantry. He is the oldest citizen of the township and owns fifty acres of land. His wife is a member of the Christian Church.
GEORGE A. FIELD was born in Wabash County, Ill., March 10, 1828, son of George Field, who was a native of Can-
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HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY.
ada. He was married to Margaret Reedy, of Indiana, and died when our subject was but eight years of age. He resided with his parents on a farm, and in 1834 or 1835 came to Indiana and located on the Wabash River, in Decker Township. His mother died December 8, 1879. He was married to Julia Purcell, who bore him two children, Hiram and John, both now deceased. In 1856 Mrs. Field died, and he led to Hymen's altar Almira Crow, daughter of John Crow. They were married in March, 1857, and are the parents of ten children: John M., Margaret E., Mar- tha L., Robert, Julia E., Arilel J., Isabel M., Ruth F., Mary A. and George A. Only Isabel and Ruth are now living. Mr. Field located on the farm where he now resides in 1852. He cleared the most of his farm, and now owns 300 acres of fertile land. He has lived on a farm all his life, with the exception of five years spent in Vincennes, where he kept a livery stable three years. He is a Democrat in politics, and he and family are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
J. C. HURD was born January 31, 1849, in Knox County, Ind., son of J. C. and Harriet (Townsend) Hurd, natives of New Jersey and Illinois, respectively. The father was born in 1811, and came to Illinois in 1845. where he kept a tanyard, having learned the trade in New Jersey. In 1847 or 1848 he came to Indiana and settled where our subject now lives, and retailed liquors for about two years. He then engaged in farming, and continued that occupation until his death, and was also lock-tend- er for about sixteen years. He died April 8, 1873, and the mother February 12, 1883. Our subject received a common school education, and was married in 1878 to Mary Finger, daughter of John Finger, of Indiana. To them were born three children: Carlon, Clarence and Blanch. Mr. Hurd is a farmer, and owns 200 acres of land. He is a Republican, and has been a member of the Masonic fraternity for two years, and is also a member of the A. O. U. W. James V. Hurd, brother of our sub- ject, was born in Mount Carmel, Ill., October 3, 1847. He re- ceived a common school education, and in 1872 was married to Fanny Rees, who bore him these two children: Lelia and Hattie. In March, 1882, his wife died, and in 1884 he wedded Emma Orr, daughter of James Orr. He and J. C. Hurd own the home
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farm, and also the ferry at that place. He also belongs to the Masonic fraternity and A. O. U. W.
ROBERT JACOBUS was born near where he now lives, July 29, 1829, son of Peter Jacobus, who was born in Indiana in 1795. He was a farmer, and died when Robert was but six years old, and the mother, whose maiden name was Margaret Warth, died when he was twelve years of age. He then made his home with his uncle, Jacob Jacobus, where he resided five years. He then began working for himself on neighboring farms, and made several trips to New Orleans on flat-boats. December 1, 1850, he wedded Mary Ann Anthis, a native of Indiana. He has always been a farmer, and in 1883 moved to where he now lives. To his marriage thirteen children were born: Harrison, Emily, Margaret, John R., Margarette, Peter, Annis, Robert, Howard, Rebecca, Thomas H., Adaline and Ida. In politics Mr. Jacobus is a Democrat, and cast his first presidential vote for Franklin Pearce. He was chosen assessor of Decker Township in 1858, and served fourteen years, and was then chosen town- ship trustee and served six years. Since that time he has not run for any office. Since 1872 he has been a member of the Ma- sonic fraternity. He owns 180 acres of land, mostly underlaid with coal, and takes considerable interest in stock raising. He is a good citizen, and is always ready to assist in promoting the welfare of the community.
ABRAHAM D. KIRK (deceased) is a native of Gibson County, Ind., where he was born January 3, 1824. He is a son of Edmond Kirk, who was a native of the "Blue-grass " State, and came to Indiana with his parents when only a small boy. In 1850 our subject came to Knox County, Ind., and here has al ways made his home. At the age of twenty-six years he was married to Mary Jane Mayhall, daughter of William Mayhall, a native Kentuckian. After marriage he located on his present farm and cleared 170 acres, owning 600 acres. To their mar- riage seven children were born, five of whom are living: Frank, Alice, Charles, Octavia and Drusilla. Mr. Kirk did not partici- pate in the late war. He died June 30, 1884, of cancer of the throat. His widow still survives him.
ALLEN MILLER was born in Decker Township, Knox
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HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY.
Co., Ind., August 31, 1847, and is one of two children of John and Sarah (Cunningham) Miller, who were natives of Illinois. The father was born in 1825, and was reared mostly in Decker Township, where he followed farming as an occupation. Allen remained with his people until twenty-one years of age, and re- ceived a common school education. April 12, 1866, he led to Hymen's altar Eliza Hall, who died March 1, 1880, having borne six children. June 9, 1881, Mr. Miller married Emma Small, who bore him two children. In February, 1864, he enlisted in Company K, One Hundred and Twenty-first Volunteer Cavalry, and was in the battles of Pulaski, Columbia, Franklin, Nashville, Spring Hill, and Sugar Creek. He was taken prisoner near Columbia, and also near Franklin, but managed to escape both times. He was mustered out at Vicksburg, Miss., in August of 1865, and was discharged at Indianapolis. He then returned home and resumed farming and stock raising, and owns thirty- five acres of land. He has held the office of constable since 1872. and has given good satisfaction.
MATHIAS PICKLE is a native of Washington Township, Knox Co., Ind., where he was born in 1845. He is a son of Henry Pickle, who was born in Wise County, Va., in 1796, and came to Indiana in 1814. After reaching this State he became a tiller of the soil, and was married to our subject's mother, Eliza- beth Lawson. He soon after located on the farm where Mathias was born, and cleared seventy-five acres of land. He died in 1850, and the mother in 1862. Mathias spent his boyhood days on a farm, and in 1866 was married to Mary Ice, daughter of Joseph Ice, and a native of Kentucky. After his marriage, Mr. Pickle lived in Illinois about six years, and then came to Knox County, Ind., and located in Decker Township in 1881. They are the parents of these children: Joseph H., Mary E., John F. and William E., and one child who died in infancy. Mr. Pickle is a supporter of Democratic principles. He and wife are mem- bers of the Baptist Church. He owns sixty-five acres of land, and takes considerable interest in the raising of short-horn cattle.
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