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 49
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 49
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WALTER SISCO is a native of Decker Township, Knox Co., Ind., born in November, 1829, son of Peter and Eliza Sisco. The father was born in New Jersey, and came to Indiana when
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but a child, and lived for some time in Vincennes, but afterward located permanently in Decker Township. They were among the early settlers, and the father died in 1864. Walter was one of five children. His mother died when he was quite young, and he was reared on a farm by his father until seventeen years of age. He then went to Mississippi, where he worked one year, and was soon married to Elizabeth Frederick, daughter of Isaac and Eliza Frederick. Since his marriage he has lived in his present neigh- borhood. To their marriage eight children were born, only two of whom are now living: Daniel B. and Francis M. Mr. Sisco owns thirty-five acres of very good and well-cultivated land, and is in sympathy with the Democratic party.
STEWART THOMPSON was born in Gibson County, Ind., August 17, 1832, son of Henry and Nancy (Cunningham) Thomp- son, who were born in West Virginia and Indiana in 1803 and 1807, respectively. The father came to Gibson County, Ind., in 1818 and was married in 1829, and in 1853 moved to Illinois where he died the same year. The mother died in Gibson County in 1850. In 1851 our subject began farming for himself, and September 2, 1858, was married to Margaret Jones, daughter of Wiley and Margaret Jones, natives of North Carolina. Nine children were born to them: Florence, Alice, Eleanor, Thomas H., Nancy A., Maggie, Willie, Emma J. and Mary R. All are living except Alice, Nancy and Maggie. Mr. Thompson has always been a warm Democrat and cast his first presidential vote for Buchanan. He was assessor of Madison Township, Pike County, from 1860 to 1862, and was justice of the peace in Washington Township, Gibson Co., Ind, from 1866 to 1868, and held the same office where he now lives eighteen months. He was elected trustee of Decker Township in 1882 and re-elected in 1884, and is still holding that office. He is not a member of any secret order or of any church. He is a farmer and owns 118 acres of land. He moved to Decker Township in 1872, and is one of its first-class citizens.
J. M. TURNER is a son of Elias Turner, who was born and reared in Illinois. Our subject was one of six children and was born in the "Sucker State " September 15, 1840. When he was sixteen years old the family broke up, and after working about
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six months in Illinois, he came to Indiana, and here his father died in 1872. His mother's death occurred in Illinois in 1857. After coming to the " Hoosier State " he engaged in agricultural pursuits, and has ever since been a tiller of the soil. On the 9th of February, 1868, he was united in marriage to Rosa H. Moore, a daughter of Thomas Moore, and in 1884 located on the farm where he now lives. He owns 100 acres of excellent farming land and is laying up his share of worldly goods. Mr. and Mrs. Turner became the parents of the following children: Mary Louisa, Margaret, Joseph C. (deceased), Harry R. and Emma Carbin. Mrs. Turner died September 20, 1880, and Mr. Turner took for his second wife Arena Starnater, a native of Gibson County, Ind., and daughter of R. E. Starnater. To them was born one child, viz .: Ada Rosa. Mrs. Turner's father has been a resident of Decker Township for twenty-five years, and was an old settler of the township. He died in 1876.
JOHNSON TOWNSHIP.
ABRAHAM BAREKMAN was born in Pennsylvania in 1774. At the age of ten years he was brought to Indiana, where the par- ents in time acquired 800 acres of land. They settled on it, and after a short time the Indians went on the war path, and they were obliged to take refuge in Vincennes for protection. Here they lived about ten years, and while there the father died. The mother lived several years longer. Abraham, his brother, and two other parties left the fort on a hunting expedition, and while in camp one night were surprised and captured by a party of Indians, and taken to the head waters of the White River, where they were kept about six months. The braves were away at war, and they were left under the care of the old men and women. Taking advantage of this circumstance they made their escape, and returned home and went to work on the farm where his chil- dren still live. In 1799 he was married to Elizabeth Anthis, born in 1775, in Virginia. In their family were seven children: Mar- garet, Susan, Catharine, Isaac, Abraham, Jr., William and An-
C
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drew. The father served as one of the minute men in an early day. He, as well as all the boys, was a stanch Democrat. He was a farmer, and worked at that and blacksmithing and gun- smithing. He died in 1850 and his widow in 1871. Abraham and Andrew Barekman have lived on the old homestead ever since. The former was born in 1811, and the latter in 1817. They obtained their education in the old-fashioned log school- house, and have since led a quiet, unassuming life. Abraham is a bachelor. Andrew was married in 1847 to Louisa J. Fitch, who bore him seven children: Abraham, John, Lewis, Angeline, Laura, Andrew and Ellis R. Mrs. Barekman died in 1883. Abraham and Andrew have excellent health, and have the confi- dence and respect of all who know them.
THOMAS J. BECKES is a son of William P. and Margaret (Jordan) Beckes, who were born in Indiana and Kentucky, in 1790 and 1793, respectively. The mother came to Indiana when but a child, and here her marriage took place in 1810. By oc- cupation the father was a farmer, and in connection made large quantities of apple and peach brandy for a number of years. He was a Democrat, and held the office of justice of the peace a num- ber of years, and both were working members of the Presbyterian Church. The father died in 1858 and the mother in 1853. Thomas' ancestors on his father's side were of Scotch-Welsh descent, and on his mother's Dutch-Irish. Subject was born in Knox County, Ind., in 1823. He received a somewhat limited education in the old subscription schools, and at the age of twenty years began working for himself. In 1848 he was married to Sarah Mail, born in 1828. She was a daughter of Isaac and Julia (Springer) Mail, and died in 1857, having borne four children: Thomas C. and Isaac W., and two infants, deceased. In 1858 Mr. Mail took for his second wife Massa A. Mail, sister of his first wife, by whom he had three children: Julia O., Herschel R. and Lyman M. His second wife died in 1864, and the same year he married his present wife, Keturah Conger, born in 1838. To them nine children were born: Laura A., Homer M., Horace C., Florence M., Ellis H., Norman E., Leroy D., Olive A. and an infant deceased. Julia, Thomas and Isaac are school teachers. Lyman M. is studying medicine. In 1864 he was chosen ap-
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praiser of real estate of Knox County, and also held the position of township trustee and clerk with great ability. His father as- sisted him in life by giving him 100 acres of land, which he, by industry and economy, increased to 275 acres. He has been a successful farmer, and takes a deep interest in the intellectual and moral advancement of his community.
JACOB P. CATT, one of the early settlers of Johnson Town- ship, is a son of George and Rebecca (Pea) Catt. The father was a native of Georgia, and when a mere boy came with his parents to Knox County, Ind. He followed the occupation of farming and in connection operated an old horse-mill. He was trustee of the township in early days, and after a long and well- spent life died at the age of seventy-six years, and the mother at the age of sixty-eight. Subject was born in 1819 on the old farm, and in boyhood attended the old subscription schools. At the age of twenty-two years he was married to Elizabeth A. Case, born in Dubois County, Ind., in 1821. To their union these five children were born: Martin, Amanda, Jacob, George W. and Rebecca J. Soon after marriage they located on their present farm, and here the father spent much of his time at milling. Politically the family are Democrats, and for over twelve years Mr. Catt served as township trustee and for sixty-six years has been a citizen of the township. In 1867 Mrs. Catt died. His son, George W., is one of the rising young farmers of the town- ship, and was born in 1851. He secured a common school education, and at the age of seventeen began to battle his own way in the world. In 1873 he was married to Eliza A. Glass, born in Johnson Township in 1851. Her father, Joseph Glass, died of small-pox in the late war. George and his wife are the parents of these children: Etta, Ellis G., Royal E., Laura, Nora and Bertha. Mrs. Catt is a member of the Cumberland Presby- terian Church. Mr. Catt was elected to the position of township trustee in 1882, and has held the position with ability to the present time.
JAMES H. CURRY, farmer, is a son of Andrew and Rebecca (Price) Curry. He was born in Knox County, Ind., in 1821. He had only the advantages of the subscription schools in boy- hood. He remained with his parents until twenty-four years of
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age and then worked for about four years at the carpenter's trade. In 1847 he was married to Nancy A. Baker, born in Knox County in 1823. She is a daughter of N. and Rebecca (McBain) Baker. The father was born in Germany and the mothier in Kentucky. To Mr. and Mrs. Curry were born four children: George W., Helen, John W. and James H. Soon after their marriage they settled on a farm of 120 acres. Here the father died in 1882. He was a Republican. The mother yet resides on the home place. The father was a man of great integrity of character and his death was universally lamented. Since his death his wife and the only living children (John and James) have been living on the home farm. John is unmarried, but James is married to Clara Yates. The Curry family has long been identified with the interests of Knox County, and is one of high respectability.
FREDERICK HANNAMAN is a son of Frederick and Clara (Lincomeyer) Hannaman, who were born in Hanover, Germany, where they were raised and married. In their family were three children-two sons and one daughter. All the family, save our subject and his sister, died in Germany. Frederick was born in the same province as his parents in 1816, and was educated in the German language. His sister preceded him to America, and was keeping a grocery and bar in connection when he arrived. He clerked in the store about eleven years, and then went to Cin- cinnati, Ohio, and after several changes finally settled in Knox County in 1865. In 1849 he wedded Mrs. Catharine Willey, born in Hanover in 1816, by whom he had these four children: John Frederick, John Harmon, John Henry and Charles D. Mr. Hannaman and his son Charles belong to the Democratic party. As a farmer he has been quite successful, and now owns a good farm of 191 acres. Charles, the only child living, was born in Madison County, Ind., in 1858, and was educated in both En- glish and German. He remained with his parents until 1880, when he was married to Caroline Meyer, born in 1858, daughter of Caspar Meyer. They have two children: Anna aud Lydia. They have a large farm of 300 acres, and he is one of the rising young farmers of the county, and promises to excel his father as a business man. He and wife are members of the Lutheran ' Church.
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THOMAS JOHNSON, the leading farmer of Johnson Town- ship, is the youngest child of Thomas and Catharine (Catt) John- son. His father was one among the earliest settlers of this town- ship, the township being named in his honor. After remaining here a short time he returned to Louisville, Ky., where he mar- ried Miss Catt. Returning to this county, they settled in. the woods, which were then full of Indians and wild animals. Here they cleared up their farm, and spent the remainder of their days in agricultural pursuits. He was always an industrious farmer, and a stanch Democrat. He died at the age of eighty- eight, and she at seventy-seven. He was of English descent and she of German. The subject of this sketch was born in 1823, within a hundred yards of where he has lived ever since. His early advantages for obtaining an education were very limited, the school he attended being four miles distant from his home. At the age of sixteen he commenced life on his own account, managing his father's farm for some time. He then bought a couple of small fields, and received a few acres from bis father. Since then he has increased his possessions to over 2,300 acres of land. In 1848 he was married to Caroline Lane, born in Johnson Township in 1831. They were the parents of four chil- dren: Abram, John, Clark and Thomas. < Mrs. Johnson died in 1854. He was married the second time to Frances Roderick. born in 1834. Five children were the result of this marriage: Paton and Victoria (twins), Riley, Bryant and Levi. His second wife died in 1866, and in 1868 he was married to Harriet Rod- . erick; who was born in this township in 1835. To them have been born three children: Fannie, Harry and Commodore. Mr. Johnson has always been a Democrat, casting his first vote for James K. Polk for president. In 1868 his house and six out- buildings were destroyed by fire, and on the ruins of the old house a fine brick one has been erected. Notwithstanding the losses by fire and flood, he has succeeded in rising to the owner- ship of one of the largest tracts of land in the county. For some years he has been a large stockholder in the Knox County Fair Grounds, and has held the position of director in the association. Mr. Johnson has been a citizen of Johnson Town- ship for sixty-three years, and for thirty years has been in-
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terested in the keeping of a deer park, which now contains twenty deer.
JOHN JOHNSON, a prosperous young farmer of Johnson Township, Knox Co., Ind., is a son of Thomas and Caroline (Lane) Johnson and was born in said county in 1850. In boyhood he had poor advantages for education, owing to the de- mand for his services at home. At the age of twenty-three he concluded that it was not good for man to live alone and accord- ingly, in 1874, was married to Miss Mary Bailey, born in Illinois in 1851. Her parents were John G. and Louisa (Beauno) Bailey. To Mr. and Mrs. Johnson were born these children: Llewellyn, Edith, Thomas, Estella and John. In politics he is a stanch Democrat and cast his first vote for Greeley. He has been quite successful, as he started in life with almost nothing and has suc- ceeded in obtaining a good start. As he is industrious and eco- nomical he is certain to succeed in his endeavors. Mrs. Johnson is a member of the Catholic Church.
JOSEPH KIMMONS is a son of Peter and Eliza (Purcell) Kimmons, both natives of Knox County, Ind., and born in 1813. Here they grew to years of maturity and were married in 1839. They soon after located on the farm where Joseph now lives, and there spent the remainder of their lives in agricultural pursuits. He was an industrious farmer and, at the time of his death in 1870, owned over 400 acres of land. He was a Republican. Since that time Mrs. Kimmons has lived with her children. Our subject was born in Johnson Township in 1852 and in boyhood received a common school education. At the age of eighteen he began to battle his own way in the world. He received fifty- seven acres of his father's farm, which has since been increased to 200 acres. In 1878 he was married to Alice Todd, born in Clark County, Ill., in 1854, daughter of James and Elizabeth (Stogsdell) Todd. They have two children named William O. and Herbert L. · Mr. Kimmons is a stanch Republican and his first presidential vote was cast for R. B. Hayes. He has been a prosperous farmer and is much esteemed by all who know him.
SAMUEL LANE, a prosperous farmer of Johnson Township, Knox Co., Ind., is a son of Daniel and Sarah (Purcell) Lane. The father was born in 1810, in the house where Samuel now
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lives. The mother was also a native of this township and was born in 1809. They were married in 1828 and began farming. They spent their lives in Knox County and became the parents of eleven children, all of whom died except two. Both father and mother were for many years members of the Presbyterian Church. During the early part of the father's life he was a pilot on flat-boats, but afterward abandoned this for farming, and owned at the time of his death (1876) 250 acres of land. The mother lives with our subject and has reached the ripe old age of seventy-six. Samuel was born in the same house as his father in 1833. He received limited educational advantages and resided under the parental roof until nineteen years of age, when he was married to Maria Baker, who died after a married life of four- teen months, leaving one child, Winfield. In 1858 he took for his second wife Mrs. Margaret Robb, by whom he had three children: James M., Ellis and an infant deceased. In 1863 he married his third wife, Ellen Bayer, by whom he had this fam- ily: Claudie, Frankie, Eva, Edgar, Gussie, Daniel, Oscar, Stella · and Bertha. In 1876 Mr. Lane moved on the old homestead, where he has lived ever since. He is a stanch Republican and cast his first vote for Scott. He has been quite prosperous as a farmer, and for fifty-three years has been an esteemed citizen of Knox County.
ISAAC P. LANE is a son of Danforth and Mary (Fail) Lane. The father was a native of Knox County, and after some years of married life moved to Lawrence County, Ill., where the mother died. A short time afterward he married Martha Garner and moved to Wabash County, Ill., where he died. He was a farmer and stock raiser, and during his life was an active, industrious man. He was of Irish-German origin, and the mother's ances- tors were German. Isaac was born in Lawrence County, Ill., in 1840. He had almost no advantages for schooling, not having attended more than eighteen months. When ten years of age he was obliged to do for himself, and after living with his kindred until nineteen years of age, when he began working by the month, and continued until 1861, when he shouldered his musket and went to the war. In Company K, Twenty-fourth Indiana In- fantry, he volunteered his services, and participated in the bat-
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tles of Shiloh, Cornith, Vicksburg, Grand Prairie, Champion Hill and Port Gibson, and other battles of lesser note. After three years' service he returned home with an honorable dis- charge. He then continued farming, and in 1869 was married to Mary Scott, by whom he had two children, Danforth G. and an in- fant deceased. After a brief married life of three years Mrs. Lane died. Mr. Lane took for his second wife Jane Jordan, born in Tennessee in 1840. She was married twice before, first to A. S. Parker, by whom she had these two children: Alonzo and Will- iam P. The second husband was Ephraim Jordan. To this union one child was born, Jesse G. Mr. and Mrs. Lane have two children: Mary E. and Daisy J. Subject is a stanch Republican, and cast his first vote for Lincoln. He has been a successful farmer. Mrs. Lane is a member of the Presbyterian Church.
JOHN MAIL, one of the leading farmers in Johnson Town- ship, is a son of Isaac and Julia (Springer) Mail. The father was born in 1797 in Knox County, Ind., and the mother in the same place in 1807. After their marriage they settled in John- son Township, and here spent the remainder of their lives in ag- ricultural pursuits. In their family were ten children-five sons and five daughters. The father was a member of the Democratic party. His farm consisted of 100 acres of timber land, which by his industry he increased to over 500 acres. His death occurred in 1845 and the mother in 1877. From such ancestry sprung our subject. He was born in Knox County in 1827. His early opportunities for education were very limited, as he was obliged to walk four miles to the nearest log schoolhouse. At the age of seventeen his father died, and he then took charge of the en- tire farm until his brothers were grown. In 1852 he was mar- ried to Margaret Holmes, born in 1827, daughter of Josiah and . Margaret (McClure) Holmes. Mr. and Mrs. Mail became the parents of these children: Louisa, Isaac, William R., John F., Julia and Lizzie. William, after graduating at the State Normal School in 1880, was made principal of the Edwardsport schools, and later of the Clinton schools. In the spring of 1885 he com -. pleted the course at the Philadelphia Dental College, and is now located at Terre Haute. Mr. Mail is a stanch member of the Democratic party, and cast his first vote for Lewis Cass. He is
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a man ever ready to support worthy enterprises, and he and fam- ily are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church.
ISAAC MAIL, son of John and Margaret (Holmes) Mail, was born in Knox County, Ind., in 1855. His education was ob- tained in the common schools, and after remaining at home until twenty-four years of age, he married and began life on his own responsibility. He was married in 1881 to Miss Mattie Reel, who was born in Knox County in 1857. She is a daughter of David and Margaret (McCoy) Reel. They have one child, Royal S. Both Mr. and Mrs. Mail are members of the Cumberland Presby- terian Church. Politically he is a member of the Democratic party, and his first presidential vote was cast for Hancock. After marriage he erected a fine dwelling-house, in which he now lives, on a tract of land given him by his father. He has been quite prosperous as a farmer, and is a wide-awake young business man of the county.
JOHN F. MAIL, farmer, of Johnson Township, is a son of John and Margaret (Holmes) Mail, and was born in said town- ship in 1860. He spent the life of the average farmer's boy, and obtained an ordinary education in the common schools. He made his home with his parents until twenty-five years of age, when he married Anna Johnston. She was born in Knox County, Ind., in 1862, and is a daughter of William G. and Nancy A. (Reel) Johnston, who are both members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Mr. Mail is a stanch Democrat in politics, and cast his first vote for Hancock. After his marriage they settled on a farm of 136 acres, where they now live. Both husband and wife belong to the first families in the township, and he is a young man of good habits and has the confidence and respect of all wlio know him.
TOWNLEY N. REDFERN is a son of Solomon and Jane (Cox) Redfern. The father was a native of North Carolina, born in 1788. When a young man he went to Ohio, and there met his wife. The father was a farmer, and was a minister of the Gospel in the Methodist Episcopal Church. Two of his sons are minis- ters of the same church as himself, and two are ministers of the United Brethren Church. Though seventy-three years of age, he bravely offered his services to his country at the breaking out
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of the Rebellion. The father was of Scotch descent, and the mother of Irish. Of such ancestry was born our subject, born in Ohio in 1835. He received a common school education, and re- mained with his parents until twenty-one years of age. He then came to Indiana and located in Vanderburg County. In 1865 he was married to Ellen V. King, born in 1847. To them were born six children: George W., Elmer E., Martha L., James H., John and Louis V. Mr. Redfern was a soldier in the late war, enlisting in Company E, Twenty-fifth Kentucky Infantry in 1861. He was at Fort Donelson and Shiloh, and after nearly two years' faithful service he was honorably discharged, on account of chronic rheu- matism. After his return he rented land, and in 1875 purchased seventy-five acres, where he now lives, and which he has increased to 104 acres. He is a prosperous farmer, and takes great interest in the moral advancement of the community.
JAMES M. RODARMEL is a son of Abram and Nancy (Hannah) Rodarmel, who were born in Pennsylvania in 1784 and 1794 respectively. Both parents came to this county when chil- dren. Soon after marriage they settled in Harrison Township, Knox County, where they spent the remainder of their days. The father was a farmer and carpenter, and for a number of years owned and operated an old-fashioned whip-saw. The last house he built is still standing, and lumber he sawed is still in use. The father died in 1833. The mother married again, and after that husband's death she returned to the old homestead, where she died in 1858. James' paternal ancestors were Germans, and his mother's people were of German-Irish origin. He was born in Knox County, Ind., in 1829. Owing to the sparsely scattered schoolhouses at that period, his educational advantages were somewhat limited. At the age of eighteen he began working for himself on the old home place, and in 1857 was married to Har- riet S. Johnston, born in Knox County in 1838, daughter of Lorenzo D. and Ann (Gibbony) Johnston. The mother was a native of the "Emerald Isle," and died in 1865. The father died in 1849. Mr. and Mrs. Rodarmel became the parents of thirteen children: Caroline F., John J., Marshall, Lizzie, Ann G., Miner- va, Mary, Dora, Charles, Rachel, Lula, Lillie and Hattie. The husband and wife and four children are church members. Mr.
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