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 70
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 70
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JAMES JOHNSON, the subject of this sketch, was born in Pennsylvania in the year 1752, was of Scotch parentage, and at the age of about thirty-eight, immigrated to what was then the Ter- ritory of Indiana. He, with nine other families, ran down the Ohio River, on what was known as keel-boats, until the Wabash was reached. Then those few pioneers poled, pulled, and rowed up the river until the little French town of Vincennes was reached, where they disembarked, and for a time mingled with the French and Indians. These were the first Americans that made a per- manent residence in Knox County, if not the first in the State. These people had moved to the New World with the hope of bet- tering their condition in life, and they, being farmers by occupa- tion, were satisfied with the outlook near Vincennes, and soon be- came settled on Government land, cleared the forests and were
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rewarded by successfully reaping largely of their growing crops. This colony was composed of brave and daring spirits, and most of that company lived to a green old age. Mr. Johnson was blessed with a family of thirteen children; the greater number of them lived to settle in life before their father's death, which occurred about 1833, being buried with the honors of war, he having for three years been a soldier in the Revolutionary war. So fell this man of toil, who was willing to leave home, nativity, and all that he held dear, that in the wilds of the far West, he might rear a home and leave a competency for his family. His ashes lie in an almost forgotten and neglected family burying ground in Knox County, and according to his religious belief will rest until he shall " meet the Lord in the air." He has many descend- ants yet living.
JOHN L. JOHNSON, the eldest son of the above sketch, was born in 1782, and when a small youth with his father, shared the wilds of a Western life; he could at the age of ninety years, name each one of the ten families, who together, in 1790, came to the "territory of Knox;" he retained to a remarkable degree his memory to the day of his death. He died to the advanced age of ninety-two years ; for sixty-five years he lived continuously in the same home in Daviess County; his companion during all this time, sharing his trials and joys, died two months later. He was a soldier in the war of 1812, and participated in a number of impor- tant engagements, and at the time of his death was a pensioner on the Government, because of services rendered in that war. His politics were those of his father, Whig, and later Republican; his religious sympathies were with the Methodist Episcopal Church, he having been identified with that denomination from boyhood. "He now rests from his labors." One of his brothers, Friend, moved West with the retreating Indians; he was a silversmith by trade. He died near Muscatine, Iowa. Another brother, Eli- jah, who was born in 1796, met his death by a falling tree in 1848, in Daviess County, Ind. His religion and politics were the same as his elder brother's. He left a family of nine children, eight of whom are still living, and whose average age is fifty-four years. William Johnson, a brother, was said to be the first American child born in the State of Indiana; in politics he differed from
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the rest, as he died a Democrat. George, the youngest, is at this writing alive, being the only one left of the large family. His seventy-seven years sit lightly upon him; he now lives near Sum- ner, Ill.
ALFRED E. JOHNSON, farmer, was born in Washington Township, March 2, 1840, son of Elijah and Mildred (Horrell) Johnson. The family is of Scotch origin, and the father was born in what is now Knox County, Ind., in 1796, and the mother in South Carolina, in 1802. The grandfather was Peter Johnson, a Pennsylvanian, born in 1758, and immigrated to what is now Indiana in 1790. He was a Revolutionary soldier and died in Daviess County at a ripe old age. The mother died in 1855. Alfred E. grew to manhood on the old Johnson homestead, and secured a common school education. In July, 1861, he enlisted in Company I, Twenty-fourth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, for three years or during the war. He was at the siege of Vicksburg, Champion Hills, Edwards' Ferry, Jackson, Miss., and Mobile. He was wounded at Champion Hills, and received his discharge in 1865. He has since farmed and owns seventy-four acres of well- improved land. He was married, October 13, 1870, to Miss F. E. Bachelor, a native of Washington Township, born in 1824. They have four children, viz .: Hugh C., Elva M., Edie L. and Grant C. He is a Republican, a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and has been a member of the I. O. O. F. since 1864.
NELSON JOHNSON, a representative of one of the first Indiana families, farmer, and one of the leading stockmen of this county, vice-president of the Daviess County Agricultural Society, was born in Veal Township, this county, January 3, 1835, son of Elijah and Mildred (Horrell) Johnson, and of Scotch descent. Of eight children he is the sixth. At one year of age he was, by his parents, removed to where he now lives, on what is known as
the old Johnson homestead, which consisted of eighty acres. He came into possession of the homestead in 1855. He engaged in farming in early life, and has since continued, and now owns 285 acres of good land. For fifteen years he has been paying attention to stock and stock raising, and has made several trips to Canada in stock interests. He has many fine Cotswold sheep and Clydes- dale horses. He was married, in 1854, to Miss Martha E. Hum-
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HISTORY OF DAVIESS COUNTY.
mer, a native of Knox County. They have five children: Theodore, William S., Hayden H., Emmons and Dovie. He is a Republican, and joined the Methodist Episcopal Church at fourteen years of age. His wife is a member of the same church. He has been very successful and is one of the representative farmers of the county.
CAPT. ZACHARIAH JONES, a highly respected citi- zen of Daviess County, was born in Pottsville, Penn., Septem- ber 28, 1841, and is one of five living children of Renna and Louisa (Madara) Jones, natives, respectively, of South Carolina and Pennsylvania. His father came to Daviess County with his par- ents at an early day and lived here until he had arrived at the age of manhood, when he returned to Pennsylvania, married and lived in that State until 1861 .. He then returned to Daviess County, and has since resided here on a farm. The subject of this sketch was reared on a farm and secured a common school education in his youthful days. At the age of ten he began learning the cigar-maker's trade, which he followed until 1861, when he en- listed in the Sixth Pennsylvania Infantry, serving out the time of his enlistment-three months. He then came to Daviess County and enlisted in Company H, Fifty-eighth Regiment Indiana Volun- teer Infantry, serving until the close of the war. He was promoted from orderly sergeant to second and first lieutenant, and was bre- vetted captain at the close of the war. After the battle of Stone River he was appointed to the staff of Gen. Buell, and was serving on Gen. Hooker's staff when mustered out of service. He re- turned to Washington and engaged in the cigar and tobacco busi- ness, which he continued with good success until 1873. This business he resumed in 1876 and conducted until 1885, when he engaged in the general grocery business, which he is now con- ducting with a fair measure of success. He carries a full and select stock of goods and enjoys .a large share of trade. He has always been a stanch Republican, and in 1878 was elected by his party sheriff of Daviess County, serving one term faithfully and efficiently. He is a Mason and a member of the I. O. O. F. In 1865 he was married to Eliza A. Eads, by whom he had four children, three of whom are now living: Alfred C., Cora C. and Lucy May.
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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
WILLIAM H. JONES, a prominent farmer of Daviess County, Ind., was the second of eight children, whose parents were Thomas H., and Ruth L. (Freeland) Jones, who were natives of this county. The father was born in Reeve Township, in 1824, and followed the occupation of farming all his life, and proved very successful in that calling. At the time of his mar- riage he was $50 in debt and at his death, in 1876, was worth probably $20,000. The mother was born in 1832, and died in 1882. They were married in 1849. The paternal grandfather, William Jones, was one of the early pioneer settlers of Daviess County, Ind., and was a native of North Carolina. The immediate subject of this sketch was born in Reeve Township, September 18, 1852. He secured a common school education, and attended a six months' term at Washington. He remained with his parents until twenty-two years of age, when he married and located on the farm where he now lives, which was then part of the father's farm. He has been exceptionally prosperous as a farmer, and his farm is under excellent cultivation. October 25, 1874, he was married to Mary Jane Isnogle, a native of the county, born Sep- tember 17, 1852. Five children were born to them: Oscar (de- ceased), Ophia, Gertrude, Florence (deceased) and Jacob. Mr. Jones and wife are church members, and he has always been a Republican politically, and is one of the first men of the county.
JARIT KEITH, a very prominent farmer and native of Da- viess County, Ind., was born January 22, 1821. He is the fourth of eleven children born to the marriage of George H. Keith and Abbariller Perkins. The father was born in Georgia in 1790, and died in 1858, and the mother born in Kentucky in 1795, and died in 1879. The father was a farmer, and came to this county as early as 1819, and was one of the first men of the county. Jarit was reared on the home farm, but only secured such educa- tion as could be obtained in the schoolhouses of pioneer times. At the age of twenty-three he began farming for himself, and two years later located near Edwardsport, where he remained one year, and then purchased land in Knox County, where he re- mained until the spring of 1860, and then moved to his present place-the old homestead farm. He has been very prosperous in his enterprises, and now owns over 1,600 acres, nearly all of
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HISTORY OF DAVIESS COUNTY.
which is very fine land. He has large barns and a commodious two-story frame residence with convenient surroundings. Decem- ber 25, 1844, he was united in marriage to Rhoda Jane Lester, a na- tive of the county. To them were born ten children, seven now living: William H., George, Isaac H., Julia A., Louis, Martha and Mary J. His wife is a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Mr. Keith is and always has been a zealous Repub- lican, but has never aspired to office. He is a good example of the self-made man, as he started in life a poor boy, and now is one of the wealthiest land holders in the county. Besides this he has the good will and respect of all who know him.
JOHN H. KIDWELL, recorder of Daviess County, was born in Washington County, Ky., June 12, 1844. In 1848 his parents removed to Daviess County, Ind., and settled on a farm near St. Mary's Church, Barr Township. On this farm the sub- ject of this sketch lived until he was twelve years old, when he went to Montgomery Station and clerked in a store about eleven years. In 1868 he was elected trustee of Barr Township, and served two terms. In 1878 he removed to Washington and be- came a candidate for the nomination to the office of recorder, and stood second on the list of about a dozen candidates, being de- feated by John Whitesides. After this defeat he clerked four years in the boot and shoe store of John Reinsel in Washington. In November, 1882, he was elected by the Democratic party re- corder of the county, over Solomon Williams, by a majority of 389. Mr. Kidwell was married, in 1865, to Miss Barbara E. Dant, by whom he has six children-four sons and two daugh- ters. Mr. Kidwell is a good officer, polite and obliging to all. He is an excellent gentleman and a member of the Catholic Church.
THOMAS J. LAVELLE, a prominent citizen and native of Daviess County, Ind., was born March 28, 1845, and is a son of Michael Lavelle, of this county. He was reared on a farm with his parents, and secured a good literary education. At the age of seventeen he began teaching in this county, and followed that occupation until thirty years of age, and met with good and well deserved success in this profession. In 1874 he was elected to the office of auditor of Daviess County, by the Democratic party,
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and removed to Washington, where he filled the office in a very commendable way. He was re-elected in 1878, being the only candidate on the Democratic ticket elected to office that year. In 1883 his brother, James C., was elected to the office, and since that time he has served as deputy under him. Mr. Lavelle is an unswerving Democrat in politics, and has taken an active inter- est in the political affairs of the county for the past two years. He is a member of the Catholic Church, and is recognized as one of the enterprising and successful citizens of the county. He is quite well-to-do, financially, and owns a one-half interest in the dry goods store of Menzel & Co., of Washington.
JAMES CALLISTUS LAVELLE, auditor of Daviess County, was born in Barr Township October 14, 1848. He worked upon his father's farm and attended the district schools of the town- ship until he was qualified to enter the Washington High School. After spending one term at this school, he spent a year at the State University at Bloomington, and a year at Notre Dame University, a Catholic institution in the northern part of the State. He taught school six terms in Barr Township and learned telegraphy in the Ohio & Mississippi office at Montgom- ery. For some time he had charge of the telegraph offices at : Eldorado, Shawneetown and Enfield, in 'Illinois, on the line of railroad then called the St. Louis & Southeastern. During the time he worked at telegraphy he studied medicine and acquired a knowledge of the profession, but never practiced ex- cept to attend a few cases with Dr. Campbell at Logootee, where he spent a year. In 1876 he became deputy auditor, under his brother, Thomas J. Lavelle, who had been elected to the office in 1874. He has been continuously in the auditor's office since that time, his brother having been re-elected in 1878. In 1882 he was nominated by the Democratic party as their candidate for county auditor, and after a hard-fought battle was elected over the Republican candidate, Milton Haynes, by a majority of 582, showing that he drew a large number of Republican votes. While he has been in the auditor's office he has invented and constructed several valuable forms for simplifying the office work, among them a record for school fund bonds and an apportion- ment record, the latter showing the settlement made by the au-
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HISTORY OF DAVIESS COUNTY.
ditor with the treasurer. This record has been largely adopted by auditors throughout the State. He has also invented a form of record for the use of assessors, a book containing both the as- sessments and statistical reports. This record has been patented and its general use would save thousands of dollars annually to the State. Mr. Lavelle was married, February 18, 1879, to Miss Mattie Thompson, only daughter of Ephriam Thompson. They have one child, a daughter. Mr. Lavelle is a member of the ancient order of Hibernians and of the Catholic Church.
H. L. LOCHRIDGE, proprietor of the principal livery barn of the city, was born in Franklin, Tenn., March 24, 1857, and was the eldest of five children born to the marriage of William Lochridge and Elizabeth Horton, who were natives of South Car- olina and Virginia, and born in 1819 and 1822, respectively. They were married in Tennessee and have since made their home in Franklin, where the father dealt in general merchandise until recently, when he retired from active business life. Our subject was reared in his native town, where he obtained a fair education, and afterward attended college at Nashville for four years. At the age of seventeen he left home and began the agency business and later was a traveling agent for a clothing house. In December, 1884, he located at Washington, Ind., and engaged in the livery business, in which he has done well finan- cially. He has the best stock in the city and the leading trade. August 23, 1882, he was married to Leanore Smith, a native of West Virginia. They have one child, a daughter, named Leo, born November 27, 1883. In politics he is a Democrat, and is a highly respected business man of the city.
REV. T. A. LONG was born in Hawkins County, East Ten- nessee, November 15, 1832, son of William and Mary (Ball) Long, who were born in Tennessee in 1804 and 1799, respect- ively. His paternal grandfather was from Virginia, and his maternal ancestors were natives of Pennsylvania. He removed with his parents to Indiana when about ten years old and settled in Daviess County, about three miles from Washington. Here our subject was reared until of age. He received a common school education and afterward attended college at South Han- over, Ind., where he prepared himself for the ministry. After
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completing his studies he came home and entered the conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church. September 15, 1855, he was. appointed pastor of a circuit in Pike County, and was for thirty years a minister in Pike, Green, Daviess, Lawrence, Harrison and Washington Counties. September 14, 1854, he was married to Sarah J. Bachelor, a native of Daviess County, who died April 6, 1864, having borne these five children: Frank C., Martha A., Ida P. (deceased), John B. and Inda E. (deceased). Mr. Long married Mary Batchelor September 18, 1864, who bore him these children: Laura A., Enoch E., Ezra H. and Lillie M. Subject gave up the ministerial work in 1875, having broken down in voice, and returned to the farm. He was the means of bringing 1,000 souls into the church, and married 262 couples and preached 350 funeral sermons. He is a Republican and is an ancient member of the Odd Fellows. He has eighty-two acres of land, under which lie beds of coal. His wife is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church and both are beloved and re- spected by all.
JOSEPH C. LORD, superintendent Washington Gas Works, was born in Manchester, England, January 17, 1853, and is a son of Charles and Sarah (Ashton) Lord, both natives of England, where the former died and where the latter still resides. The subject of this sketch was brought up and educated in England by his parents. At the age of ten years he became engaged with his father in his present line of business, and remained thus en- gaged until 1873, when he came to the United States. At first he took charge of the gas works at Warren, Penn., and then in 1874 superintended the building of the gas works at Ashtabula, Ohio, and for a short time afterward had charge of them. He- then took charge of the gas-fitting department of the Shelbyville, Ind., Gas Works; then held the same position at Crawfordsville, Ind .; next at Anderson, Ind., and finally, in 1876, came to Wash- ington and took charge of the gas-fitting in the construction of the Washington Gas Works, and upon their completion was made superintendent of them, which office he has ever since continued to fill in a faithful and efficient manner. Mr. Lord also conducted the Meredith Hotel during the years 1882-83, but was compelled to relinquish the duties of this position in order to attend more
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HISTORY OF DAVIESS COUNTY.
closely to the duties of superintendent of the gas works. In 1875 he was married to Mrs. Esther Bonner, of Anderson, Ind., by whom he has two children: Charles P. and Esther. In pol- itics Mr. Lord is a Democrat.
THOMAS LYNCH may be mentioned as one of the promi- nent farmers of Daviess County, Ind. He is a son of Jesse and Martha (Bradford) Lynch, who were born and reared in North Carolina, and about 1814 came to Daviess County, Ind., with their parents. Here they married, lived and died. The father was a blacksmith, and had one of the leading shops in the city. He died when Thomas was quite a small boy. The mother lived un- til about 1870. Our subject was born and reared in Washing- ton, his birth occurring in 1824, but obtained a limited educa- tion. At the age of fourteen he began making his home with his uncle, and remained with him until his death. He then rented his uncle's land, and now owns 150 acres of the best farming land in the county. In 1855 he was united in marriage to Minerva Samples, a native of the county. To them were born these chil- dren: Emma (wife of Robert Brown), Della (wife of Andrew Palmer), Grace (wife of Dickson Carroll), George and William. All are doing well. Politically he has been a Republican all his life, and is a prominent man of the county.
MRS. J. L. MARMADUKE is the widow of Milton Marma -. duke, who was born in Mason County, Ky. His parents were na- tives of Virginia and Kentucky, and he was born April 31, 1823, and when nine months old was brought to Indiana by his parents and located near Washington. When Milton was about six- teen years old his father died, and he was left to assist his mother and care for his brothers and sisters, and was given the home- stead farm of forty acres, on which he lived until his death. A few years previous to his death he took an interest in the furniture business with his brother Silas, in Washington, continuing two years, when he sold out to John Cruse. His death occurred No- vember 22, 1877. February 10, 1853, he was married to Sallie Arthur, daughter of John and Nancy Arthur, who bore one child: Frank, now living in Kansas. His wife died in August, 1864, and he took for his second wife Jane L. Feagans, daughter of Derostos and Maria (Robinson) Feagans, of Kentucky. She was
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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
born August 10, 1836, and bore these five children: Will- iam W., Jesse D., James L., Carrie L. (deceased) and one who died in infancy. In politics Mr. Marmaduke was a Republican, and was a member of the Baptist Church from early life. At the time of his death he owned 200 acres of land, and had other valua- ble property. His widow and her three children now reside in Washington, and she owns seventy-six acres of the old home- stead, besides her town poperty.
FREDERICK A. MENZEL, druggist, of Washington, Ind., was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, June 1, 1854. His parents were Gustavus A. and Caroline Menzel, who were Germans by descent, but natives, respectively, of England and Germany. Our subject was raised in Cincinnati, Ohio, where he secured a good literary and business education. At the age of thirteen he engaged in the drug business in that city, acquiring a thorough knowledge of the business, and graduating from the Cincinnati College of Pharmacy in 1874. In March, 1875, he came to this city, and was engaged as clerk for S. T. Baldwin & Co. until 1883, when he purchased a one-half interest in the business, and has since conducted it very successfully under the firm name of Menzel & Co., Thomas J. Lavelle being his partner. They carry a full and choice line of drugs, oils and paints, in which they do an ex- tensive wholesale and retail business. They also keep a full line of fancy and toilet articles, books and stationery, and control a large share of the trade in city and county. Their goods occupy the first and second stories, besides a small warehouse near the depot. Mr. Menzel is a member of the Democratic party, and belongs to the Lutheran Church.
THOMAS MEREDITH was born in South Carolina in the year 1789. He served in the war of 1812, in a regiment from South Carolina. He immigrated to Daviess County, Ind., in 1815, and was married to Elizabeth Ruggles, who at the age of eleven years came to the same county with her parents and grand- parents from Maysville, Mason Co., Ky. The country was so sparsely settled, and the Indians so troublesome, they were com- pelled to seek safety in Purcell's Fort. Thomas Meredith continued to live in Daviess County till his death in 1859, aged seventy years. Thomas Meredith was the father of ten children,
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HISTORY OF DAVIESS COUNTY.
all of whom lived to manhood and womanhood except one. The house of Thomas Meredith was used for a place of worship until the Methodist Society could afford better accommodation. Grandma Meredith, who is still living at the age of eighty-seven, has the honor of having made the first carpet for the Methodist Episcopal Church in Washington. Of Thomas Meredith there are twenty-three living grandchildren, and eighteen dead, and of great-grandchildren seventeen are living, and eighteen are dead. The children of Thomas Meredith are William S. Meredith, born February 3, 1818; Burrill T. Meredith, born December 23, 1819; James H. Meredith, born January 28, 1822; Thomas A. Meredith, born July 17, 1825, died March 30, 1885; Rachel J. (Tate) Meredith, born December 3, 1857; Mary A. (Cloud) Meredith, born July 4, 1830; Elizabeth (Haynes) Meredith, born February 28, 1832, died February 24, 1884; Martha M. Meredith, born June 4, 1835, died July 15, 1835; Aaron H. Meredith, born September 18, 1836, died March 16, 1871; and Elisha A. Meredith, born July 1, 1839. Of the grandsons is W. R. Meredith, born February 28, 1845. Young Meredith began his business career by selling newspapers. He afterward engaged in the mercantile trade for a short time, and when the clash of arms came he volunteered into the service, and served through the war. After his return from the war he began trading in horses, mules, and selling carriages, and soon after engaged in the livery business, which he still follows. Mr. W. R. Meredith is now the owner of a good stable and several farms, and is considered one of the best financiers of the county.
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