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 74
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 74
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CAPT. GREEN McDONALD, son of Francis and Asen- ath (Allen) McDonald, was born in Daviess County, Ind., in 1829. After attaining his majority he took charge of the home farm, caring for his parents until their death. In 1853 he mar- ried Maria J. Sparks, born in 1834, daughter of Daniel and Hannah (Sears) Sparks. She is a worthy member of the Chris- tian Church. In 1861 Mr. McDonald enlisted in Company C, Sixth Indiana Infantry. After three months' service he returned home and helped organize Company H, Fifty-eighth Indiana Infantry, and as first lieutenant went out with it. He was soon promoted to captain and held that position till the close of the war. He is a Republican in politics and cast his first vote for Scott. He owns 160 acres of land, eighty acres of which was inherited from the estate. His father and mother were born in Kentucky and Ohio, respectively, the former born in 1806 and the latter in 1810. The father came with his parents to Indiana and settled on the farm where Green now lives. A few months before his death, which occurred in 1847, he was elected to the office of justice of the peace. The mother died in 1882.
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SAMUEL MCKNIGHT is a native of Daviess County, Ind., where he was born in 1838. His parents were James and Rosann (Ginn) McKnight, born in Kentucky in 1796 and 1802 respect- ively. They were married and lived in Kentucky until 1833, when they came to Indiana, locating in the woods of Daviess County. The father died in 1866 and the mother in 1877. 'Sam- uel received the education and raising of the average farmer's boy. At the age of twenty he began working for himself among the farmers in the neighborhood, continuing to earn his living in this way for six years. He then began farming on the home place, and after buying out the other heirs to the property, he became sole proprietor. He is the owner of 146 acres and is well to do financially. In 1866 he married Malinda Dickerson, born in 1837, daughter of Zadock and Elizabeth (Cole) Dicker- son, born in Maryland and Kentucky in 1795 and 1793 and died in 1877 and 1842, respectively. Mr. and Mrs. McKnight became the parents of three children: Laura B., Suda (deceased) and Lizzie (deceased). Both husband and wife are members of the Christian Church, and Mr. McKnight is a Republican in politics. He enlisted in Company I, Twenty-fourth Indiana Infantry, in 1861, and was a faithful and courageous soldier while in the serv- ice. After serving eleven months he was discharged on account of disability. He has prospered well as a farmer and is one of the first men of the county.
LAWRENCE C. MEEHAN is a son of Thomas and Mary (Wierman) Meehan. The father was of Irish descent born in Pennsylvania, the mother of German descent born in Virginia. They were married in Virginia, where they lived until 1841, when they came to Indiana and kept boarding house near New Albany. Later they purchased eighty acres in Daviess County, Ind., and lived there one year, when the father died. The mother's death occurred in 1880. Lawrence C. was born in 1834, in Pennsylvania. He received but very little schooling, but being very quick to learn, he obtained a fair education. He lived with his parents and took care of them as long as they lived. In early life he worked on a flat-boat, plying between Mt. Pleasant and New Orleans, and during the winter worked in a pork pack- ing establishment. In 1864 he enlisted in Company F, Thirteenth
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Indiana Infantry, and served his country faithfully for about six months. He is a Democrat and a member of the Catholic Church, and has succeeded well in his financial undertakings.
ABEL T. MORGAN is a son born to the marriage of Jesse Morgan and Elizabeth Cane, who were born in Pennsylvania in 1783 and 1788, respectively. The father was bound as apprentice to a blacksmith at Pittsburgh, but in a short time ran away to Kentucky. There he married and in 1819 came to Daviess County, Ind., and settled on the farm where Abel now lives. In 1833 he built him the finest brick house in the township, which is still in good preservation. He died in 1858 and his wife in 1860. Abel T. was born in Indiana in 1815. He obtained a somewhat limited education at the old time subscription schools, and at the age of eighteen began flat-boating, working at that in the spring and farming in summer time. He followed the river for twenty-three years and became pilot of a steamboat. In 1852 he was married to Rispha Sutten, born in 1834, daughter of Roland B. and Agnes (Smart) Sutten. Ten children were born to their union: Emily A., Elizabeth, John D., Lewis C., Eliza E., Lillie M., James A., Ada F., Rebecca A. and one unnamed. Mr. Morgan was constable of Barr Township for six years. He is a Democrat and is well to do financially, owning at one time 600 acres of land, but giving all to his children except about 120 acres.
JOHN D. MORGAN is the eldest son of Abel T. and Rispha (Sutten) Morgan. He was born in 1858 in the county where he now resides. In boyhood he acquired a good practical educa- tion in the common schools. At the age of twenty he began the battle of life for himself, and for about seven years traded in all kinds of stock. Since that time he has given his entire time and attention to farming. He has a nice farm of 107 acres in one of the best locations in the township. Besides this his wife owns eighty acres. In 1885 he led to the hymeneal altar Lizzie Honey, born in Barr Township in 1867. She is a daughter of John and Sarah A. (Spillman) Honey, both of whom were natives of. Indiana, born in 1826 and 1842, respectively. They were married in 1865, and located in Daviess County, where both died, the father in 1882, and the mother in 1874. Mr. Morgan is one
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of the rising Democrats of the township, and cast his first vote for Hancock. He is an energetic young business man, and is respected by all who know him.
EDWARD MORRISON is a son born to the marriage of Michael Morrison and Mary Gibbons, who were born in the Emerald Isle, the father in 1798. They lived in their native land until 1832, when they embarked for America and landed in Canada, where they lived about twelve years, becoming proprie- tors of 400 acres of land. The father sold out and removed to Iowa, where he purchased a still larger tract of land, and settled his children around him. While a resident in Canada he was inspector of hotels and liquor establishments. He died in 1878. The mother's death occurred before leaving Can- ada. Edward was born in Ireland in 1829. His educational advantages were limited, and at the age of fifteen he began working for himself. He left home and crossed into Ohio, and later came to Lafayette, where he worked for a short pe- riod at odd jobs, and then learned the wagon and carriage- maker's trade. He then repaired to Pittsburg, Ind., and began working at his trade, with John Campbell as partner. He sold out and took a trip to St. Louis, Evansville, and Louisville, and finally settled at Terre Haute. In 1850 he went to California, and after remaining there two years he returned via Aspinwall, Jamaica, and New York, and after many hardships, sickness, and shipwreck, reached home in safety. He owns 244 acres of very fertile land. In 1853 he married Mary Meehan, born in 1839 in Pennsylvania. They have one child, Thomas J. The family are members of the Catholic Church, and he is a Democrat in politics.
ABSALOM MYERS is a son of Absalom and Anne (Sher- man) Myers. The father was born in Pennsylvania during the Revolution, and when only nine months old was deprived of his father, who fell in that war. From infancy he was raised to man- hood by a farmer living in Pennsylvania. When twenty-four years old he married our subject's mother, by whom he had eight children. After living in Pennsylvania about twenty years he moved to Ohio, and died there in 1832. The mother lived till about 1875. Subject was born in Stark County, Ohio, in 1824. His services were very much needed at home in his boyhood
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days, consequently his educational advantages were limited. At the age of seventeen he began to support himself, and after work- ing several years at various occupations, was elected constable, which position he held for two years. He then gave his atten- tion to well-digging, and when twenty-eight years old took up the carpenter's trade, and since has made that his occupation. In 1861 he disposed of his property in Ohio and came to Daviess County, Ind., and shortly after purchased his present farm. In In 1848 he was married to Nancy Gorsuch, born in Ohio in 1828, daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth (Willard) Gorsuch. They became the parents of three children: Franklin A., Anne E. and Grant. Franklin is one of the three partners of the Washington Gazette. Mr. Myers is a Republican, and was ordained a min- ister of the United Brethren Church, his wife being a member.
GEORGE E. NORRIS, one of the prominent farmers of Daviess County, Ind., is a native of the county where he now resides, born in 1831. His parents, John D. and Elizabeth (Hays) Norris, were natives of Kentucky and Maryland, respect- ively, both born about 1808. They were married about 1829 in Daviess County, where they followed the lives of farmers. The mother died in 1854, and the father in 1880. Our subject's boy- hood days were spent on the farm and in attending the district schools. At the age of twenty-one he began farming for himself on a rented place, continuing about fifteen years. He then pur-
chased seventy-eight acres of land, and since that time he and his two boys have increased their farm to 340 acres. Besides this he owns a saw-mill and some very valuable machinery. In 1851 he was married to Julia A. Kidwell, born in Kentucky in 1836, daughter of Thomas and Theresa (Arvin) Kidwell. They became the parents of these children: John, James, Martha, Sarah, Theresa, Francis, Susan, Louis, George, Thomas, Mary, and an infant. The family are Catholic, and Mr. Norris is a Democrat, and cast his first vote for Buchanan.
FATHER T. O'DONAGHUE, pastor of St. Mary's Church, is a son of James and Mary (Tooney) O'Donaghue, who were born in Cork County, Ireland. Some time after their marriage they came to New York City, where they lived about two years, and then moved to Cincinnati, Ohio. In 1840 they came to Da-
52
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viess County., Ind., where they spent the remainder of their days in agricultural pursuits. They were the parents of ten children: Johanna, Mary, Margaret (deceased), Amelia, John (deceased), Timothy, James, Dennis, Michael (deceased) and Nora. Johan- na, Mary and Nora belong to the sisterhood of the Benedictine order, Amelia to the Sisters of Providence, and Dennis is pastor of the St. Patrick's Church at Indianapolis. All the family are members of the Catholic Church. The father's death occurred in 1874. The mother is yet living, at the age of seventy-five, and resides with our subject, who was born in Daviess County in 1844. He attended the common schools, and also the college at Bardstown, Ky., for three years, and eventually finished his course at St. Meinrad's College in Spencer County, Ind., graduating in 1878. He then took charge of the church at Montezuma, Ind., for two years, and then came to St. Mary's, where he has re- mained ever since.
JAMES O'DONAGHUE may be mentioned as one of the prominent farmers of Daviess County, Ind. He is a son of James and Mary (Tooney) O'Donaghue, and was born in 1848. He received the advantage of the common schools, and when twenty- seven years old, his father having died, he took charge of the home farm of 235 acres, which he has farmed successfully ever since. In 1874 he was married to Bridget Bradley, a native of Daviess County, born about 1855, daughter of Francis and Ann (Kelley) Bradley. Mr. and Mrs. O'Donaghue are the parents of these six children: Mary, Anna, Hannah, James, Francis and Timothy. The family are members of the Catholic Church. Our subject is a stanch Democrat, and cast his first vote for Greeley. He owns one of the best farms in the township, and is one who takes an active interest in all that concerns the welfare of the community.
ALBERT PERKINS (deceased) was a son of Alfred and Rebecca (Ellis) Perkins, and was born in Daviess County, Ind., in 1828. The parents were natives of Kentucky, where they married and lived until their removal to this county. The mother's death occurred in 1873, and the father's some years later. Sub- ject received poor educational advantages, but on reaching man- hood he began reading and traveling, thereby becoming a well-
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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
informed man. In 1851 he took a trip across the desert of America to California, and after about three years returned and purchased 160 acres of land, and began tilling the soil. By his industry he increased his farm to 230 acres, and furnished it with good buildings. In 1856 he married Hannah L., daughter of James and Mary (Waller) Honey, born in 1829. Her parents were natives of Kentucky. The father died in 1847, but the mother lived several years afterward. Mr. and Mrs. Perkins be- came the parents of eight children: Peter T., Mary E., Sarah J., Ulysses G., James, Millard, George W. and Albert M. Mr. Per- kins was a stanch Republican, and cast his first vote for Scott. The last nine years of his life was a period of constant suffering. He died in 1883, after a useful and well spent life. His widow and her two sons, Ulysses and James, have since taken charge of the farm.
JOHN W. PERKINS, hardware merchant at Montgomery, Ind., was born in the county where he now resides, in 1830. His educational advantages were limited, and he assisted his father on the farm until twenty years of age, when he married Kittie M. Dickerson, born in 1832, daughter of Zadok and Elizabeth (Cole) Dickerson. To Mr. and Mrs. Perkins ten children were born: Joseph P., Martha E., Mary L., Zadok, John W., Isaac D., David M., Robert, Lizzie and Abram C. In 1854 Mr. Perkins purchased his first eighty acres of land, and after farming it several years sold out and rented land until 1874, when he pur- chased the farm pre-empted by his grandfather, where he resided until 1882. He then moved to Montgomery and engaged in the hotel business for one year. Since that time he has been pro- prietor of the "Perkins Hardware Store." He has prospered in his business enterprises, and now owns a good store, dwelling- house and three lots. In 1862 he enlisted in Company E, Twenty-seventh Indiana Infantry, and fought bravely for the Union until he was honorably discharged in 1863. His parents, John and Eleanor (Jones) Perkins, were born in Bourbon Coun- ty, Ky., the father in 1790 and the mother in 1796. They came to Davies County, Ind., when it was an almost unbroken wilder- ness. Here the father farmed in summer and operated a distill- ery in winter. His death occurred in 1872 and the mother's in 1871.
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JUDSON PURCELL is a son of Jesse and Martha (Small) Purcell, natives of this county. The father, who was born in 1823, was a farmer, and died in 1885, and the mother in 1866. Judson's grandfather, Purcell, came to Daviess County in 1808, and located in Washington Township, where the old fort stood, which he helped to build. He lived to be over ninety-five years old. Judson was born in 1852, and was educated in the common schools. When twenty-one years old he began the battle of life for himself, and worked at various occupations for a number of years. In 1874 he was married to Elizabeth Davis, born in 1852, daughter of Milton and Mary (Robinson) Davis. Mr. and Mrs. Purcell have six children: William D., Mary J., Anna B., Maria, Sarah and Jesse. Mrs. Purcell is a member of the Christian Church, and her husband is a stanch Republican, and cast his first vote for Hayes. By hard work and good management they own 118 acres of very good land.
JEREMIAH RANEY. James Raney, the father of our sub- ject, was born in Kentucky in 1809. When nine years old he came with his parents to Martin County, Ind., where he grew to manhood, and lived for nearly sixty-four years on the same farm. He was a farmer, and owned at one time 1,000 acres of land. He married Mary Holland, born in Ireland in 1820. He died in 1882. Subject was born in Martin County in 1843, and aided his father on the farm until twenty-seven years old. In 1870 he led to the hymeneal altar Elizabeth A., daughter of Joseph and Rose Anne ( Hayden) Arvin. She was born in 1847, and bore her husband six children: James, Helen, Mary, Charles, Anne and Margaret. All the family are Catholics, and Mr. Raney is a stanch Democrat. He received eighty acres of land from his father, and purchased forty more, but soon after sold out, and purchased 147 acres in this county, on which he built a residence. His house caught fire and was consumed shortly after, and after building another house he found he was in debt $1,900. By in- dustry and good management he has increased his farm to 213 acres. He keeps a strict account of all receipts and expenditures, and at the end of each year takes an invoice of all stock, imple- ments, growing grain, etc.
MICHAEL SAUSE is a son of James and Ellen (Stokes)
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Sause, natives of County Tipperary, Ireland. They came to Amer- ica in 1838, and located on eighty acres of land in Daviess County, Ind. The father died in 1852, and the mother in 1857. Michael was born in the same county as his parents, in 1826. His educational advantages were limited to the common schools, both in the old country and America. When nineteen years old he purchased forty acres of land, and at the death of his father fell heir to eighty acres more. At a later date he sold his land and purchased his present farm of 160 acres, since increased to 240 acres. In 1852 he married Margaret Downey, born in Ire- land in 1834. Her father was also a native of the Emerald Isle, and in 1845 came to America, locating in Pennsylvania. He died in 1846, and the mother, in Indiana, in 1872. Mr. and Mrs. Sause became the parents of eight children: Mary O., Alice, Catharine, James T., Agnes, Margaret H., Matthew M. and Michael R. All the family are members of the Catholic Church. Mr. Sause is a Democrat, and cast his first vote for Cass.
SAMUEL J. SCOTT, druggist, of Montgomery, Ind., is a son of Thomas J. and Elizabeth (Kennedy) Scott, and was born in Wayne County, Ky. At the age of fifteen years he began the battle of life for himself, working as a farm laborer. About four years later he entered the dry goods store of J. C. Montgomery as salesman, continuing at that occupation for about fifteen years, the greater part of the time being spent in a drug store. In 1883 he began selling drugs on his own responsibility, carry- ing a $2,000 stock of goods. In 1877 he was married to Anna Doane, who bore him three children: Florence E., John and James. Since 1880 Mr. Scott has been clerk of the town of Montgomery, and has filled that position very creditably. He is a leading Republican of the township, and cast his first vote for Grant. He is a good business man, ever ready to aid the poor and distressed, and is well fixed financially. His father was a native of Kentucky, and the mother of Virginia. They were married and lived in Kentucky until the war, when they were compelled to leave that State by the persecution of the rebels, as the father was a strong Union man. They came to Indiana, lo- cating in Daviess County, where the father followed the occupa- tion of farming, and also worked at the stone-cutter's trade to
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HISTORY OF DAVIESS COUNTY.
some extent. At his death he left about 1,500 acres of land in Kentucky to be divided among his four children. The father's death occurred in 1865, and the mother's, in Pike County, in 1885.
ROBERT A. SHIRCLIFF is a son of Thomas and Cather- ine (Cissel) Shircliff. The parents were natives of Kentucky, the father born in 1803 and the mother in 1806. The father was a farmer, and owned 420 acres of land. He died in 1857, and the mother in 1863. Robert was born in Daviess County, Ind., in 1832, and had only the advantages of the old-time subscrip- tion schools, but improved every opportunity in order to acquire a better education. He taught school two terms and received 87g cents per day. Since that time he has given his attention to farming. In 1855 he purchased 100 acres of land, which by industry he has increased to 350 acres. In 1857 he wedded Mary E. Summers, born in 1836, daughter of Benjamin and Catharine (Nalley) Summers. To Mr. and Mrs. Shircliff eleven children were born: Catherine A., Sarah A., Thomas K., Benja- min, Joseph R., Vincent, Mary, Robert, John, Basil and Philip. The family are Catholics. Mr. Shircliff is a Democrat, and for two years during the war served as justice of the peace.
SYLVESTER SMITH was born in Daviess County, Ind., in 1823, and is a son of James and Martha (Mattingly) Smith. He received a limited education, and at the age of twenty began as a farmer on a rented place. Some three years later he pur- chased twenty acres of timber land, on which he built his first log house. He now owns a good frame dwelling, surrounded by 409 acres of very fine land. In 1843 he married Martha A. Gootee, born in 1825, who bore him fifteen children: James, William, John, Martha, Sarah, William, Barbara, Charles, Mar- ion, George, Thomas, Lee, Francis, Catherine and Augusta. The family are members of the Catholic Church. Mr. Smith deals extensively in stock, and during the last four years has given almost his entire attention to stock trading. In 1874 he purchased a thoroughbred Norman horse at a cost of $2,750, and in 1883 purchased another which cost $1,800. He has held the positions of director, vice-president and superintend- ent of the Martin County Fair Association. He is a Demo-
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crat, and as a farmer has been very successful. Mrs. Smith is a daughter of Silas and Barbara (Walker) Gootee, who were born in Kentucky. They both died in 1848, within four weeks of each other.
ANDREW SOEDER is a native of Bavaria, Germany, where he was born in 1825. His parents, John and Anna (Faulstich) Soeder, were born in the same place in 1798 and 1800, respectively. The father served sixteen years in the reg- ular army of Germany as musician. He died in 1842, and the mother in 1855. Our subject was educated in the German schools, and in 1856 he bade adieu to home and native land and embarked for the United States. He worked by the month in Switzerland County, Ind., for over two years, and then he and his brother purchased 120 acres of very poor land. He soon after purchased his brother's share, and later sold out the entire farm at a good profit, and in 1870 came to Daviess County, where he bought 113 acres of the farm where he now lives, since increased to 277 acres. In 1851 he was married, in Germany, to Mary Rost, born in 1832, who bore him thir- teen children: Monika, Andrew, Ferdinand, Barbara, Joseph, John, Anna, Regina, Mary, Paul, Simon, Rosa and Lawrence. All the family are members of the Catholic Church, and Mr. Soeder is a Democrat. He has been quite prosperous and is much respected by his friends and neighbors.
ELIJAH TODD is a son of Nathan and Esther V. (Hooks) Todd, natives of Virginia, where they married and lived until 1810, when they came West, traveling through Kentucky, Indiana and Illinois, but three years later returned to Virginia, and there spent the remainder of their lives. The father was a farmer, and was also quite a noted hunter and Indian fighter. Elijah was born in Virginia in 1817. He received no educational ad- vantages, for during the winter seasons the schools were too dis- tant to permit his attending, and during the summer his services were needed at home. When seventeen years old he began work- ing for himself. He joined his brother in Illinois, and with him worked on the Mississippi River and its tributaries for about three years. After coming to this State, in 1840, he worked on flat- boats, and made twenty-one trips to New Orleans. While working
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on the Mississippi, in 1838, he was one of the men who took Jackson to New Orleans to celebrate the battle fought by him at that place. Mr. Todd owns 127 acres of good land, and in 1844 was married to Senath Burrass, who bore him seven children: Elizabeth, Susan, James, Mary A., John, George and Rebecca. Both parents are members of the Christian Church. Mr. Todd was one of the most distinguished hunters of his township, and killed numerous buffalo, bear, wolves, deer, turkeys and panther.
ANDREW J. VEST was born in 1844 in Greene County, Ind. He remained at home until sixteen years old, when he began to work his own way in the world and worked by the month for about a year. In 1861 he enlisted in Company B, Twenty-seventh Indiana Infantry and fought for the preservation of the Union for three years. He was at Chancellorsville and Gettysburg, and in that famous series of battles from Ringgold to Atlanta. At the battle of Winchester he was taken prisoner and for four months was an inhabitant of the loathsome prisons of the South. After his return home he attended school for some time, and in 1865 was married to Miss J. Parsons, born in Daviess County, Ind., in 1846, daughter of Dr. I. J. and Mary (Patterson) Parsons. Mr. and Mrs. Vest became the parents of these eight children: Mary, John, Olive, Susan, May, Martha, James and Edith. Both husband and wife are members of the Christian Church and he is a Republican. He purchased his first forty acres in 1867, but now owns 240 acres. His parents were Andrew J. and Elizabeth (Wilson) Vest, natives of Virginia and Tennessee, born in 1815 and 1818, and died in 1845 and 1873, respectively.
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