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 68
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 68
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HISTORY OF DAVIESS COUNTY.
Federalist, Whig, Abolitionist and Republican. He was married three times; the first time to Sarah Rodick, who bore him these children: Seth H., Minerva, John R., Joseph W. and Elizabeth. Only John is now living. His second wife was Elizabeth Bruce, who became the mother of one child, Martha (deceased). His third marriage was to Sarah Carnahan, born May 21, 1813, in Kentucky, daughter of Jane and Elizabeth (Aikman) Carnahan, born in Virginia and Pennsylvania. Mr. and Mrs. Cruse were married March 5, 1837, and became the parents of these children: James P., who was a soldier in the war and died at Washington of typhoid fever, and Charles F. who died in infancy. The sons were all Masons. Mr. Cruse died June 16, 1885, in the ninetieth year of his age. He was respected by all and was a thoroughly self-made man. He owned eighty acres of land, and property to the amount of $6,500. He was a valuable citizen and was noted for his kindness and charity to the poor. Mrs. Cruse is an active and intellectual old lady of seventy years. She presented a flag to the first company of Daviess County soldiers that left for the war, and delivered the memorial oration, which was noted for its eloquence.
NELSON CUNNINGHAM, dec'd, was a native of Clark Coun- ty, where he was born June 17, 1821. His parents, Thomas and Martha (Mathews) Cunningham, were natives of Virginia and South Carolina, respectively. Our subject attended the common schools, and remained with his parents until twenty-one years old. In 1844 he was married to Mary M. Little, to whom were born three children: Sarah A., Nancy I. and Martha E., all now deceased. His wife died in 1851, and he was married to Eliza- beth Johnson, January 18, 1854. She is a daughter of James and Mary (Miller) Johnson, and was born in Pennsylvania and reared in Kentucky. Mr. Cunningham settled near Odon, Da- viess County, soon after marriage, where he remained nine years, and then removed to the place where Mrs. Cunningham now lives. These five children were born to them: James, Mary E., Charles A., Maggie A. and Bluford (deceased). After settling in this county they engaged in farming and stock raising. Mr. Cun- ningham died May 26, 1870, of pneumonia. He was not a mem- ber of any secret society, but was a member of the Christian
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Church a number of years. He owned 140 acres of land. The wife was also a member of the Christian Church.
ELIAS L. DAGLEY, M. D., of Washington, Ind., was born in Scotland, Greene Co., Ind., May 4, 1845, and was one of eight children born to James A. Dagley and Martha A., his wife, for- merly Barker, natives respectively of England and Greene County, Ind. The father came from England with his parents when he was an infant, they locating in Greene County. There he grew up, mar- ried and practiced medicine until his death, about twelve years ago. The subject of our sketch remained at home with his par- ents until sixteen years of age, obtaining such an education as was then afforded by the common schools. He then left home and engaged in the drug business in Tipton, Mo., where he re- mained four years. He then returned home and studied medi- cine with his father eighteen months, when, on account of failing health, he spent the next two years in traveling in the West. In 1868 he returned home and married his present wife, Caturah E. Odell, a native of Greene County, Ind. After marriage he en- gaged as clerk in the drug business at home and in Missouri. In 1872 he attended a course of lectures at the College of Physi- cians and Surgeons at Indianapolis, and during the four subse- quent years practiced his profession in Greene County. He at- tended Miami Medical College at Cincinnati, Ohio, graduating thence in 1875, and then came to Daviess County and practiced at Odon until 1883, when he removed to Washington, where he has since resided, engaged in the practice of his profession and meeting with very flattering success. In 1863 he enlisted in Company K, One Hundred and Seventeenth Regiment, Indiana Volunteer Infantry, serving as a private during his term of enlist- ment-six months. In politics he is a Republican, and is an Odd Fellow. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, while Mrs. Dagley is a Baptist. Mr. and Mrs. Dagley have had five children, four of whom are living: Martha C., Susan E., Ella May and Craggy.
JOHN DOWNEY, attorney at law, Washington, Ind., was born . in Martin County, Ind., January 10, 1855. He is one of a fam- ily of twelve children (eleven of whom are now living) born to Michael and Julia (Doyle) Downey. The father was born in
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HISTORY OF DAVIESS COUNTY.
Queens County, Ireland, and the mother being also of Irish de- scent, though born in New Jersey. Michael Downey came to the United States in 1845, and for some years followed coal mining in Pennsylvania. About the year 1850 he came to Martin County, Ind., and entered a tract of land where he has since resided, en- gaged in farming. The subject of this sketch was raised on the farm with his parents, securing a good literary education and preparing himself to teach school, which profession he followed from the time he was nineteen years of age until he was twenty- two. His services were rendered in district schools, in the nor- mal school at Dover Hill, and in Loogootee public schools. In the intervals of teaching he was improving his education by at- tendance upon the public schools of Loogootee, the normal school at Valparaiso, Ind., and the Notre Dame University at South Bend. While teaching he also began reading law, with the view of mak- ing that his profession. In 1880 he entered the law office of Gardi- ner & Taylor, of Washington, and continued reading with them until the close of that year, when he entered the office of Bynum & Padgett, becoming the latter's partner after the former's re- moval. He has since been engaged in the practice of his pro- fession in Washington, meeting with well-deserved success. On the 1st of July, 1885, he dissolved partnership with Mr. Padgett and entered into partnership with J. C. Billheimer. In politics Mr. Downey is a Democrat, and has been deputy prosecuting at- torney at Washington three years. He has been attorney for the city of Washington for the past two years, and is attorney for the Industrial Savings and Loan Association, of Washington. He was married, May, 1, 1882, to Miss Rose A. Hughes, a native of Daviess County, by whom he has one child, George A. Downey.
JOHN W. DOYLE, reverend father of St. Simon's Church, Washington, Ind., was born in Madison, Ind., August 1, 1851, and is a son of John and Ellen Doyle, both natives of Ireland. Father Doyle was raised with his parents in his native place, and obtained a fair education at the local parish school. At the age of sixteen he entered St. Meinrad's College, in Spencer County, Ind., where he began his studies for the priesthood. Two years later he attended St. Thomas' and St. Joseph's Colleges, at Bards-
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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
town, Ky. He began his theological studies at the Grand Sem- inary of Montreal, Canada, and completed them at Indianapolis, Ind., where he was ordained priest by Bishop St. Palais, May 25, 1875. He then took charge of St. Vincent's Orphan Asylum, near Vincennes, Ind., remaining there, however, only a short time, when he took charge of St. Mary's Church, in Barr Town- ship, Daviess County. In 1879 he was transferred to Washing- ton as priest in charge of St. Simon's Church of that city, where he still remains the efficient and popular priest.
JEREMIAH EGAN. The Egan family are the descendants of Irish ancestors, and the older ones of the family now living were natives of Ireland. In the fall of 1837 Patrick Egan and his family came to the United States. They landed in New Or- leans, but came on to Indiana and settled in Daviess County. The entire family did not come at first, but after selecting a loca- tion they sent back for the rest of the family, who came in 1838. Patrick was born in 1792. In Ireland he was a merchant, but after coming to America he became a tiller of the soil. The mother's, Bridget (Louregan) Egan, death occurred in Febru- ary, 1873. They were the parents of twelve children, three of whom are now living: Catherine, Martin and Jeremiah. Martin was born probably in 1820, although no record of his birth has been preserved. He was about eighteen when he came to the United States, and was reared on a farm, securing a limited education. He has been afflicted ever since a small boy with "white swelling." He has never married, but makes his home with his brother Jeremiah, who was born in the " Emerald Isle " June 5, 1827, being the seventh of the family. Like his brother he secured a limited education, and his father died when he was young. He remained with his mother until his marriage, when she made ber home principally with him, and died at his resi- dence. At the age of thirty-one he married and settled where he now lives. He has developed his farm of 280 acres from a wilderness to one of the best farms in the county. September 13, 1858, he married Jane E. Juigley, a native of the county, born February 21, 1838. They became the parents of nine children, six now living: Bridget, Patrick, Joseph, Martin, Catherine and Anna. The family are Catholics, and our subject has always
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HISTORY OF DAVIESS COUNTY.
been a Democrat politically, and is one of the prosperous farmers of the county.
E. R. ESKRIDGE, harness and saddle-maker of Washington, Ind., was born in Kentucky January 17, 1829. He was the third of ten children born to Joseph W. and Fannie (Robinson) Eskridge, who were natives of Virginia, but were raised in Ken- tucky. Our subject worked on the farm and at the tanner's trade until he was eighteen years old. His father died about this time and he remained with his mother until twenty-three years of age, and aided and supported the family during that time. He then learned the saddler's trade, but was not devoted to any particular business for about three years. In 1855 he came to Washington, Ind., where he worked at his trade or any labor that presented itself. December 7, 1856, the nuptials of his marriage to Sarah M. Smythi were celebrated, and some time later he opened a shop of his own at Edwardsport, but remained there but a short time. In December, 1858, he began working at his trade in Washington, where he continued until January, 1865, when he sold his stock and residence and went to Burlington, Iowa, and thence to Oregon. He was absent about sixteen months looking for a location, but at last returned to Washington, Ind., where he continued the harness and saddlery trade. He keeps a fine stock of goods and has been very successful in his business enterprises. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., and politically has been a Democrat since the extinction of the Whig party. He cast his first presiden- tial vote for Winfield Scott. He is one of the prominent men of the county and is highly respected as an honorable and upright citi- zen. To his marriage five children were born, three of whom are living: Fannie M. (wife of J. T. Neale), Samuel C. and Lulu.
S. CICERO ESKRIDGE, of the firm of Neal & Eskridge, of Washington, Ind., was born in this city January 29, 1861, and is a son of Elijah R. and Sarah Matilda (Smyth) Eskridge. He was raised with his parents and graduated from the high school at this city. At the age of seventeen he began clerking in the grocery business in this city, continuing until 1882, when he engaged in the business for himself, and carried a fine line of dry goods, with John T. Neal as partner. He has continued in the business to the present time and has met with good success.
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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
October 12, 1882, he married Ida M. Mills, a native of Sandusky, Ohio, daughter of John R. Mills (deceased), who was a promi- nent stock dealer of this city. They have one child, named Harry M. Mr. Eskridge is a Democrat in his political views, and is recognized as one of the rising and successful business men of the city. He is a member of the K. of P.
JUDGE WILLIAM R. GARDINER, a prominent at- torney of Daviess County, was born January 18, 1837, in cen- tral New York, being the youngest of a family of thirteen chil- dren born to David N. and Susanna C. (Andrews) Gardiner, both of whom were natives of Rhode Island. He was reared to the age of seventeen on a farm in his native State and then went to Ross County, Ohio, and studied medicine two years, attending medical lectures at Cincinnati and Cleveland, Ohio. He had not completed his medical course when he came to Indiana, where he worked in the employ of the Ohio & Mississippi Railroad Company as carpenter, telegraph operator and ticket agent at different times, and also taught school in the meantime. In the fall of 1862 he entered the law office of J. W. Burton, in Wash- ington, and read law one year, having read two years before under direction of M. F. Burke. In fall of 1863 he opened a law office at Dover Hill, Martin Co., Ind., and practiced there one year, at end of which time he located in the practice of his profession in connection with William Thompson, at Washington, for a few months. In 1865 he was married to Laura A. Gibson, of Martin County, daughter of Thomas M. Gibson, a very prominent mer- chant of Loogootee, and for three years was at Loogootee in his profession. He then formed a law partnership with Col .. C. M. Allen and Hon. Nathaniel P. Usher, in Vincennes, where he remained till June, 1872, when he located at Washington, where he has ever since practiced law; with S. H. Taylor, one year; with Judge J. T. Pierce, two years; with William Armstrong, two years, and then with his former partner, S. H. Taylor, with whom he has been connected ever since. Mr. Gardiner's mar- ried life has been blessed with six children, but three of whom are now living: Charles G., William R. and Susanna A. (the two sons are now in the State University at Bloomington). He has, since the summer of 1864, been a very zealous Republican in
48
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HISTORY OF DAVIESS COUNTY.
politics, unless his vote for Mr. Greeley in 1872 is an exception. He has represented Daviess County for several years in Repub- lican State conventions. In 1884 he was a delegate from this congressional district to the National Republican Convention at Chicago, and is distinguished as being the only Indianian who addressed the convention. He was attorney for the town of Washington in 1864 and 1865. Was appointed prosecuting attorney for the district then including Knox, Gibson, Pike, Dubois, Martin and Daviess Counties, by Gov. O. P. Morton in 1866, to fill vacancy caused by the resignation of R. A. Clements, who was then elected judge of common pleas district court. On the death of R. A. Clements Mr. Gardiner was appointed by Gov. Baker to fill his unexpired term of judge. He made a race for judge of Knox and Daviess Circuit Court in 1882, carrying Daviess County, whose regular majority was about 200 Demo- cratic by 270 majority, Newton F. Malott, a Democrat, being his opponent in the candidacy. He belongs to the Masonic fraternity. He is a self-made man and has met with well deserved success.
R. E. GEETING & BRO., watch-makers and jewelers, Washington, Ind. This firm consists of Royal E. and George C. W. Geeting. They bought their present business of J. C. Farron in 1880, starting at that time with small stock and limited capital, but by strict attention to business, economy and integrity, they have succeeded in building up a flourishing business. They carry a full line of watches, clocks, jewelry and silverware, and control a large share of the trade in this line in Daviess County. Royal E. Geeting was born in Hamilton County, Ohio, September, 1856, and is a son of Isaac and Caroline (Watson) Geeting, natives, respectively, of Maryland and Hamilton County, Ohio. Isaac Geeting removed to this city with his family in 1868, and he has since resided here, engaged in contracting and building, being a carpenter by trade. The subject of this sketch worked with his father at the carpenter's trade until he was twenty-one years old, when he entered the jewelry store of N. H. Jepson, of Washing- ton, where he learned the watch-maker's and jeweler's trade, and continued with Mr. Jepson over three years. He then worked at his trade four months in Sullivan, Ind., when he returned to Washington and established his present business. Mr. Geet-
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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
ing is a Republican in politics, and is justly recognized as one of the enterprising and successful business men of Daviess County, and as a moral, upright man. In November, 1881, he was mar- ried to Maggie Wright, a native of this county, by whom he has one son, named Otis K. Geeting.
GEORGE C. W. GEETING was born in Hamilton County, Ohio, May 26, 1853, and is a son of Isaac and Caroline Geeting. He was reared on a farm in his native county by his parents, and secured the usual common school education of the time. He came to Washington with his parents, and was for ten years engaged as clerk in the grocery and dry goods business. In 1880 he took an interest in his present jewelry business with his brother, and since 1882 has been actively engaged in connection therewith. He is a member of the K of P., and is a Republican in politics.
JOSEPH H. GILL, of the firm of Bonham & Gill, was born in Bond County, Ill., July 30, 1840, being a son of Joseph and Elizabeth Gill, who died in Illinois when our subject was ten years old. Immediately after their death he left the home farm, and at that tender age began life's battle for himself. He worked at manual labor in that State until he was sixteen years of age, when he came to Indiana and began learning the cabinet-maker's trade, at Princeton. Having mastered his trade he came to Washington in 1858, and entered the employ of Mattingly & Mulholland, remaining with them until 1861, when he enlisted as a private soldier in Company H, Twenty-fourth Regiment Indiana Volunteer Infantry, serving in the army until the close of the war, and being in all the battles in which his division, under Gen. A. P. Hovey, was engaged. After being discharged, at Galves- ton, Tex., he returned to Washington and entered the employ of Mattingly & Bonham, working for them until 1872, when Mr. Mattingly died. He continued with Mr. Bonham until 1874, when he purchased one-half interest in the business, and has since been a partner in the firm of Bonham & Gill. Mr. Gill is a Repub- lican in politics; is a member of the I. O. O. F., of K. of H., and of the G. A. R., and is an enterprising, successful business man. In 1868 he was married to Mary E. Carnahan, a native of Da- viess County, by whom he has six children, named Jennie, James, Charles H., Laura, Helen and Joseph.
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HISTORY OF DAVIESS COUNTY.
JOHN J. GLENDENING, book-keeper for Cabel, Wilson & Co., Washington, Ind., was born in Allegheny County, Penn., October 13, 1845, being one of a family of six children, three of whom only are living, born to Joseph and Martha (Strauss) Glendening, natives of Pennsylvania. In 1853 they removed from Pennsylvania to Jefferson County, Ind., where the father died, and where the mother still resides. The subject of this sketch was reared by his parents in Pennsylvania and in Jefferson County, Ind., and obtained a good literary education. He was engaged in teaching school from 1865 to 1870, when he came to Washington and entered the employ of Cabel, Wilson & Co., in the capacity of book-keeper, which position he has ever since filled in a faithful and efficient manner. He was married, October 13, 1875, to Miss Harriet E. Wright, of Daviess County, by whom he has three children: Harriet E., Pearl and John. Mr. Glendening is a stanch Republican, and has served one term as member of the city council. He is a Royal Arch Mason, and W. M. of Charity Lodge, No. 30, of Washington. He is also a mem- ber of the Odd Fellows Lodge, and is universally recognized as a moral and upright citizen of Daviess County.
THOMAS B. GRAHAM, SR., deceased, a prominent citizen of Daviess County, was a Kentuckian by birth, and was one of eight children born to James and Jane (Mitchell) Graham, who were natives of Delaware and Pennsylvania, respectively. James Graham was born about 1772. He moved to Kentucky after attaining his majority, and there married the mother, who was about two years younger than himself. They came to Daviess County, Ind., in 1826. They both died in September, 1838, within four days of each other. Thomas B., Sr., was born December 1, 1806, and was reared in Nicholas and Bourbon Counties, Ky., and there learned the saddler's trade. After coming to Indiana he remained a resident of Daviess County up to the time of his death. His early business life was in the retail general merchan- dising, and was marked by that success which characterized his whole business life. At different times he was associated in bus- iness with Elisha Hyatt, Col. John Van Trees and John Fairchild. He was first married to Lydia McCormick, and after her death to Charlotte Foote, who also died. No children survive these
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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
wives. In 1847 he was married to Margaret Hyatt, daughter of Thomas Hyatt, an early pioneer of the county. To his last mar- riage seven children were born, five of whom are living: Laura, Edith (wife of Dr. J. N. Jones), Ziba, a prominent farmer resid- ing in the city, Lillie (wife of Warren Sherman, of Rossville, Kas.), and Thomas B. In politics Mr. Graham was a zealous Republican, but did not mingle in political schemes. He was a self-made and successful man, and has aided much in the progress of the county. Ziba F. Graham, son of Thomas and Margaret (Hyatt) Graham, was born August 30, 1853, and remained with his parents until twenty-four years of age. He then married Mar- garet A. Cabel, daughter of Joseph Cabel, of Washington, Ind. They have two children: Joseph B. and Robert C. Politically Mr. Graham is a Republican, and is a farmer and stock dealer by occupation. He owns 1,440 acres of fine farming land, about 1,000 acres of which are under cultivation. He is a prosperous and wide-awake young farmer.
RICHARD HENRY GREENWOOD, treasurer of Daviess County, was born in Madison Township December 20, 1836. In 1846 his parents moved to Greene County, where they remained five years, and then returned to Daviess County, and lived in El- more Township two years. They then settled in Washington Township, four miles southwest of Washington, where they still reside. The subject of this sketch was married February 2, 1860, and during that and the following year was engaged in farming -one year in Veal Township and the next in Reeve. On the 25th of August, 1862, he enlisted in the Twenty-seventh Regi- ment, Company D, under Capt. John Cassidy. He remained in the service until June, 1865, when he was mustered out, the war having come to a close. He participated in several of the hard- fought battles of the Rebellion, notably at Chancellorsville, An- tietam and Gettysburg, and through the Atlanta campaign and Sherman's march to the sea. At Antietam he received a bullet wound, which disabled him for active service for about six weeks. Upon his return from the war he became an employe of Elisha Hyatt, acting for a number of years as a kind of general overseer of Mr. Hyatt's business at Tom's Hill and vicinity. He then re- turned to his early occupation of farming, in Steele Township,
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HISTORY OF DAVIESS COUNTY.
and in 1880 was elected trustee of the township. Having filled this position creditably for two years, the Democratic party in 1882 nominated him for the office of county treasurer, and elected him over the candidate of the Republican party by a majority of 229. In 1884 he was re-elected to the same office, over Martin Nugent, a prominent and wealthy farmer of Elmore Township, by a plurality of 367. Mr. Greenwood is an honest and upright man, and an excellent public servant. He is a good citizen, and a representative of the laboring classes. He has a family of six children-five sons and one daughter-the latter of whom has been of much service to her father in the office of county treasurer.
ALEXANDER M. HARDY, attorney at law of Washington, Ind., was born in Ontario, Canada, in December, 1847, son of William and Sarah (Merrill) Hardy, who were natives of the same place. Alexander was reared with his parents, and secured a good literary education, attending the Victoria College of Coburg, Canada, and graduating from that institution. At the age of eighteen he began reading law, graduating from the Uni- versity of Toronto, Canada, in 1866. He then came to the United States and located at Natchez, Miss., where he practiced his profession, and also engaged in the newspaper business. He was appointed collector of customs at that place in 1875, under Grant. He left that city in 1877 and went to Washington, D. C., where he was employed in the law department of the pension bureau until 1881. He then located in Paducah, where he was employed by the United States authorities as superintendent in building the Government Postoffice and Custom House. In 1885 he removed to this city, and has since been engaged in the practice of his profession. He is a stanch Republican, and has taken an active part in national politics since his residence in the States. He stumped Mississippi with Hon. John A. Lynch, in 1876 (for Hayes), and was in the campaign of 1880 in Indiana and New York, and during the campaign of 1884 was in Ohio. He was married to Elizabeth Lee. He is a member of the I. O. O. F. and K. of H.
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