History of Lawrence, Orange, and Washington counties, Indiana : from the earliest time to the present, together with interesting biographical sketches, reminiscences, notes, etc, Part 30

Author: Goodspeed Brothers
Publication date: 199-?]
Publisher: [Salem, Mass. : Higginson Book Co.]
Number of Pages: 954

USA > Indiana > Orange County > History of Lawrence, Orange, and Washington counties, Indiana : from the earliest time to the present, together with interesting biographical sketches, reminiscences, notes, etc > Part 30
USA > Indiana > Washington County > History of Lawrence, Orange, and Washington counties, Indiana : from the earliest time to the present, together with interesting biographical sketches, reminiscences, notes, etc > Part 30
USA > Indiana > Lawrence County > History of Lawrence, Orange, and Washington counties, Indiana : from the earliest time to the present, together with interesting biographical sketches, reminiscences, notes, etc > Part 30

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

GILEAD P. LEE. a native Hoosier, was born in Orange County, December 15, 152>, one of a family of eight children born to Spencer

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and Elizabeth (Tegarden) Loe, who settled in Orange County from the South at an early dav. Being among the first families to settle in that locality, Gilead P. only secured such education as the old backwoods cabin schoolhouses afforded. Farming has been his principal occupation through life, and with the exception of one year while a resident of Moultrie County. Ill., he has always reside l in Indiana. He became a resident of Lawrence County in November. 1865. and of Bedford in 1970. the first four years after moving to town being engaged in the agricul - tural implement business. He owns 2:30 acres of valuable land in Illinois. SO acres in Lawrence County and valuable town property in Bedford. His marriage with Eliza J. Finley was solemnized September 16. 1551. and to their nnion seven children have been born. these three named being the only survivors: Sarah M. (Mrs. Fish), Merrill S. and Carrie B. (Mrs. Giles). Both parents are members of the Christian Church. Mr. Lee belongs to the Subordinate Lodge of Odd Fellows. was first a Democrat in politics, but in 1561 became a Republican and in 1874 changed to the National party, with which he yet affiliates.

DAVID LONG is the fourth of twelve children of John and Eliza. beth (Martin; Long, and was born in Woodford County, Ky., October 26. 1823. His father was born near Richmond. Va., November 6. 1798. and his mother in Woodford County. Ky. They were married in ISIS. and came to this county in 1929. David remained at home until twenty. five years of age, receiving in youth limited schooling. Februar; 22. 1548. he was united in marriage with Sarah Fish. Eight children have blessed this union. five of whom are now living: Charlotte. Aretas W .. Eli A., Jesse R. and C. Edith Mr. Long is a farmer and owns ninety- one acres of excellent land in the famous Leatherwood District. He is a Republican, and he and wife are members of the Christian Church. His son Je-se R. is teacher of penmanship and phonography and type. writing at the Central Indiana Normal School. Eli A. is practicing short-hand nt Memphis, Tenn .. and Aretas W. is mining in Mexico. Grandfather William Long was a German, who first settled in Pennsyl- vania. thence moved to Virginia. thence to Kentucky. where his mar. riage occurred.

DR. HIRAM MALOTT was born in Lawrence County, Ind .. Decem- ber 2, 1823: one of ten children born to Otho and Margaret :Beaty Malott. who settled in Lawrence County in 1921. coming from Kentucky. where they lived till about three years before his death. which occurred in Kansas. where they had moved. Dr. Malott was reared to farming. and also taught school. In the fall of 1555 he began a course of medi- cine in the Eclectic Medical College at Cincinnati, afterward practicing at Heltonville. Ind. In 1961 he enlisted in Company G, Fiftieth Reg- iment Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and was elected First Lientenant. but resigned in 1863 and returned to Heltonville, where he remained till 1873. at that time moving to Bedford where he remained only one vear. when he located at Sullivan till 1983. at that time coming back to his native county and entering the drug trade. the firm being the sac. cessors of one of the oldest firms in Belford. May 16. 1544, he married Miss Eunice Peed. and three children have been born to them. only one living-William H. Mrs. Malott died in 1869 and in July. 1870, he married Mrs. Mary ( Riley; Morrow. Self and wife are members of the Christian Church. and he is an A. F. & A. M., both Blue Lodge and Royal Arch: is also a member of the G. A. R. and a Republican.

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WILLIAM P. MALOTT is a native of the town and county where he now lives and was born February 16, 1840. His father. Michael A. Malott, was one of the earliest settlers and business men of Bedford. In early years William P. attended the public schools of Bedford, and when sixteen years old hecame u clerk in his father's store, where he remained until the breaking ont of the Rebellion. July 21. 1861, he enlisted his services in his country's cause and was made leader of the Twenty-first Regiment band, serving as such until he was honorably discharged Sep- tember 11, 1863, near New Orleans. He participated in the Butler campaign around the coast of New Orleans and also in the capture of that city and Baton Rouge. After his return home he again engaged in merchandising. and for some time was in partnership with a brother. In October. 1874. he took charge of the woolen mills at Bedford and operated them eight years. then. having become a stockholder in the Bedford Bank, he was elected Cashier in the winter of 1952, and has since served in that capacity. In politics Mr. Malott is a stanch Democrat. He is the Quartermaster of the G. A. R. Post at Bedford. andl a Camp Degree Odd Fellow. June 20. 1865. he was united in wedlock with Miss Florence O., daughter of Jesse A. Mitchell, of Bed. ford. and these three named of their six children are now living: Frank E .. Charles M. and Attie L. Both parents together with the two oldest of their children are members of the Christian Church.

WILLIAM H. MARTIN, a son of Col. Roger Martin, appropriate Lention of whom is made elsewhere herein, was born May 7. 1848. Until fifteen years of age he resided at Salem, Ind .. and for the succeed. ing two years was employed as a clerk at New Albany. He then began the reading of law and did not relinquish his studies while acting as shop book-keeper in the Pennsylvania Central Railroad office at Pitts. l urgh. Early in 1565 he came to Bedford and for a time studied in the office of Wilson & Voris, but in October, 1860, he moved to Paoli. and opening an office began the practice of his profession. He remained at Paoli until ISS1, since when he has resided in Bedford. where he has acquired a lucrative practice. Mr. Martin is a Republican. a member of the I. O. O. F. and Masonic fraternities and was married on his twenty- sixth birthday to Miss Mattie F. Dougherty, of Liberty, Mo .. by whom he is the father of one living child-Roger.

JAMES M. McDOWELL, a native of Lawrence County, Ind .. of which be is now Sheriff, was born July 31. 1843. one of nine children born to John and Ann (Owens) McDowell, who moved from North Caro- lina to Indiana when it was yet a Territory. James MI. received a com- mon school education in youth and was raised a farmer, which occupation he has principally followed since. March 1. 1874, he was married to Miss Ellen Armstrong and to their union four children have been born. three of whom are living-Edith J., Gail H. and Lena M. Mr. and Mrs. McDowell are members of the Christian Church at the Popcorn Society near Springville, and Mr. McDowell is a member of the Knights of Pytbias, having a demit card from that order. He is a Republican in politics and as a candidate of his party has been elected Justice of the Peace in Perry Township, and in 1992 Sheriff of his county where he is now serving. In ISSO he was the census enumerator of Perry Township. Mr. McDowell has recently purchased a hardware store and Lotel at Owensburg, where he expects to move early in 1\55 and devote l:is entire time and attention to looking after his interests in that place.

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CHARLES McFADDEN, when six years old, lost his father by death and his mother when he was seventeen. The parents were Andrew and Margaret McFadden. the mother coming to Indiana about 1838. Charles was born in South Carolina September 21. 1834, and remained with his mother nntil her death, receiving little education. August 7, 1862, he married Sarah, daughter of Richard and Elizabeth Bivins, who has borne himu four children: Mary, Kate, Lizzie and Grace. Mr. McFadden bas been successful in his occupation of farming and owns a farm of 170 acres. In politics he is a Democrat. Richard Bivins. father of Mrs. Mcl'adden. was born Jannary 7. 1799, in Frederick County, Md. He was taken to Kentucky at the age of three years, and remained there until twenty-eight, when he came to Lawrence County. The McFaddens are well known and respected.

SAMUEL MCKNIGHT was born in Lawrence County, April 25, 1824, being the second of eight children born to Christopher and Rebecca (Von trece, Mcknight. The father was a North Carolinian, and came to Indi- ana on the day of the battle of Tippecanoe. settling first on Lost River. Orange County, but going to Lawrence about the year 1814. The mother was a native of Shelby County, Ky. Samuel remained on his father'- farın, securing in youth merely the rudiments of an education. October 26. 1548. he married Samantha P. Ikerd, and they are parents of the following children: Robert E .. who married Ellen Kinnick: Theophilus F. we wife war America Jones: Eliza J., who married Thomas Rags. dale: Mary E .. who is the wife of P. H. Ikerd; James D .. who married Nancy A. Younger. deceased: Rebecca A .. nnmarried: Harriet K .. who is the wife of John Alexander: Samantha E., who married William Lanier: William E., Massie E., Susan E. and Sarah I., the last four un. marrie.l Mr. Mcknight comes of an old and prominent family. He is a successful farmer, owning 250 acres of land. He deals to some extent in the stock. He is a Democrat and his wife is a member of the Meth- odist Church.

WILLIAM M.KNIGHT. born in Shawswick Township. December 6. 1542. the youngest of nine children of Christopher and Rebecca :Vou- trece, MeKnight. lost his father when quite young und passed his youth with his mother. His father was a native of North Carolina and his mother of Kentucky, both families being early settlers in Indiana. His mother died October 20, 1876. Educational advantages to him were almost wholly lacking. November S. 1576. he married Anna Smith. who bore him six children, five of whom are living: Ella, Alice. Clara, Lott.r and Bossie. Their little boy Hugh, died March 19, 1553. a sad lo-s Mr. MeKnight has been and is a successful farmer. and owns 327 acres of good land. In 1961 he enlisted in Company B. Eighteenth Regiment. and served for about two years, being discharged April 18. 1vil, by reason of a severe wound received at l'ea Ridge. Mr. Mcknight is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and a member of the G. A. R. He is a member of the Democratic party. aud is a good citizen.

DAVID W. M. KNIGHT was born in Shawswick Township, February 24. ! 34. being the eighth of twelve children born to George and Polly A (Metiee) Meknight, he being a native of North Carolina. born in 174%. coming with hi- parents to this State about 1515. In 1820 be marral Mis- McGee, and settled down to farming, and afterward owned 350 acres of land; he died September 10. 156>: hi- wife was a native of Vitamin, and died April 30. 15;3. Subject received an ordinary educa.

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tion. and February 26. 1860. married Sallie A. Johnson, and six children bave been born to them. five of whom are living: Inez, Elmer G., Lonisa E .. Sarah M. and Jesse J. MIr McKnight's occupation has always been farming and stock-raising, making a specialty of Berk-hire hogs. Durham or short-horn cattle, and mammoth jacks. Mr. M'K. and family are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and he is a Mason and a Republican: is also Superintendent of Subbath-school. He owns 422 acres of good land. His daughter. Inez. has been teaching school for the past three years.

MICHAEL N. MESSICK. one of the oldest business men of Bed- ford, was born March 6. 1530. in Orleans. Orange Co., Ind .. one of s.x children born to Michael N. and Laurinda (Ramsey) Messick, who were among the earliest settlers of Orange County, Ind .. from Kentucky. M. N. Vessick. Jr .. came to Bedford in 1935 with his mother, who was a widow with six children. He received a common school education in the schools of that early day. and at the age of twelve years began to learn the printer's trade in the office of the Bedford Sun, which he followed for three years, and at the end of this time began work on the Lyn-ville Democrat. From there he went to Paoli. Orange County. where he learnel the cabinet trade. and remained three years: then local-i at Point Commerce in Greene County, where he did n general furniture trade for eighteen months, and then returned to Paoli. May 1. 1852. he was married to Sarah J. Jolinson, and by her is the father of tive children, only two now living: Elizabeth C. and Carrie V. (Webb). Iu 1852 Mr. Messick began working at his trade in Bedford: then clerked for a time. and in December, 1856. in partnership with William Dnucan and Dr. J. W. Newland. embarked in the hardware trade. From :54 to December. 1873, he was actively engaged in this business in Bedford with different partners, but since that time he has been alone, and is how the leading merchant of hardware in the place. He is one of the so ;?. inade men of the place. beginning life poor. and by diligence and indes. try acquiring a comfortable income. April 24. 1957. his wife died. and for a second wife he married Mrs. Sarah J. (Davis) Simpson on the 24 of June. 1SBS. To this union have been born four children. named: Sally. Lanrinda. Mary and Michael H. Mr. Messick was President of the first Board of Trustees of Bedford; is a Republican, a member of the F. & A. M .. and he and wife belong to the Methodist Episcopal Church.

ELIJAH H. MILLER. born July 11. 153S. is the eldest of two chil- dren of John W. and Susan J. (Utterback) Miller, both natives of Ken- tneky. the father coming to Indiana about the year 1535. When Elijah was eighteen years old his father died. and being the only male child he took charge of the old farm and of his mother. The latter died in June. 1852. Elijah received a limited schooling in youth, and on the Ist of March. 1966. was united in marriage with Eliza Scott, who has presented him with the following family: Effie M .. Enuna C .. John B., Elgin J. and Robert H. all of whom are at home vet with their parents MIr. Miller has followed farming during life, and now has a good farm of 150 acres. all quite well improved. He has dealt and is at present dealing in live stock. Mr. and Mrs. Miller and their two daughters are members of the Christian Church, and all are exemplary members of society. Mr. Miller affiliates with the Republican party.

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JESSE A. MITCHELL. Among the prominent men and pioneers of Lawrence County was Robert and Martha (Suter) Mitchell, parents of the subject of this sketch, who settled here in 1819. Mr. Mitchell was an active citizen of the county, served as County Sheriff and Clerk, was a Colonel of State militia, and during the Mexican war was Assistant Adjutant-General. He died of camp fever at Matamoras and was there buried. Jesse A. Mitchell was born September 11, 1822, in Lawrence County, and was here raised and educated. He early began clerking in his father's store, but in 1840 began in business for himself at Spring. ville, subsequently continning at Heltonville. In 1842 he returned to Bedford, which has ever since been his home. For the past forty years he has been engaged in a variety of pursuits, and beyond a doubt has been one of the most active business men in Lawrence County during that time. Merchandising, pork packing. stock dealing, speculating and dealing in real estate bas absorbed the greater part of his time, and at present he owns and controls over 3,000 acres of land in Lawrence and Pike Counties, besides valuable town property. Mr. Mitchell began in life poor, and deserves much credit for the signal success his energies have met with. and his boast is that he has never been sued on his own account. April 28, 1842, Miss Clarrissa Houston, a native of Bourbon County, Kentucky, became his wife, and to them have been born eight children, six only being yet alive, whose names are Alice M., Florence O., Robert, Jesse H., Martha and William A. Both parents belong to the Christian Church. Mr. Mitchell has been a life-long Democrat, and in the Masonic fraternity has advanced to the Chapter.

E. R. MURPHY is a native of New Albany. Ind, where he was born April 29. 1838. He is one of five children, and a son of Richard (+. and Elizabeth Murphy, who were natives respectively of Harper's Ferry. Va .. and Newark, N. J., and who settled in Indiana in 2835. E. R. Murphy was educated in the public schools of his native city. and December 2, 1861, enlisted in the Seventh Independent Battery of Indiana Light Artillery. He was an active participant in the battles of Perryville, Stone River. Lookout Mountain. Chickamauga, Resaca, Renesaw Mountain, Jonesborough and a large number of lesser engage- ments, and was honorably discharged December 2, 1>64. In 1868 Mr. Murphy came to Bedford, and having learned the business before the war. engaged in the stone-cutter's trade in partnership with W. H. Lane, which continned for two years when Mr. Murphy assumed the entire business alone. In 1879 he admitted Thomas H. Malott as a partner, and this continued until May, 1853, since then he has been associated with Arthur Fallen. This firm is reliably established and their annual sales reach $3.000. April 29, 1573. witnessed the marriage of Mary E. Butler to E. R. Murphy, and their union has been productive in the birth of two children. named Edith M. and Frank B. The parents belong to the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Murphy is one of the finest work- men on stone in the State, and makes a specialty in cleaving and drawing. In politics he is a Republican, and is a member of the Subordinate Lodge of Odd Fellows.

BENJAMIN NEWLAND, M. D., was born in Jackson County, Ind., July 19, 1821. the third of nine children born to W'm. and Susan C. ( Harold) Newland. early settlers of Indiana. Until he was twenty years of age Dr. Newland followed farming, although he taught school some. At the age of twenty-one years he entered the office of Dr. Elijah New.

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land at Salem. with whom he studied two years. and then took a course at the University at Louisville, Ky., graduating from that institution in 1847. In October. 1846. he married Miss Louisa A. Curry, and to their union four children have been born: Helen. Mary, Laura and Kate. The doctor is an A. F. & A. M .. Blue Lodge. Chapter and Commandery. being the present W. M. of Bedford Lodge. In politics he is a Democrat. tha: party electing him to the State Senate in 1852, which position he filled with credit to himself and constituency. During the late war be was Surgeon of the Twenty First Regiment Indiana Volunteer Infantry. remaining in the service eighteen months. There is no physician in the southern part of the State more emment in his profession than Dr. Now- land. He is prominently connected with all the local medical societies, and has a state reputation in extreme cases of disease. His convictions are deeply rooted, and his positions strongly taken. His portrait appears elsewhere.

JOHN W. NEWLAND. M. D., was born in Lawrence County. Ind .. July 26. 1527. one of eleven children born to John and Agnes i Allen) Newland, who came to Indiana in 1519 from Berks County. N. C .. he being a native of Virginia. After their location in this county they lived here till their deaths. his occurring August 14, 1535: and hers October 16. 1867. They were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Dr. Newland was raised on a farm. and at the age of nineteen began the study of medicine with Dr. Ben Newland. and afterward taking the course at Louisville Medical College, from which institution he graduated in March. 1850. immediately beginning the practice of his profession at Leesville, coming to Bedford in 1554. October 1. 1945. he married Sarah E. Duncan. The Doctor and wife are both members of the Christian Church, and he is a Republican, though never taking an active interest in politic -. He was a member of the Board of Trustees of Bedford for eight years.

H. S. OSBORNE. publisher of the Bedford Maguet, was born in Toronto, Canada, November S. 1549, the youngest of four children. one vet living. horn to Joun and Lydia (Jones) Osborne, both of whom died in Canada when H. S. was vet a mere lad. Until sixteen years old he resided with his paternal grandfather. the two succeeding years being passed at Trinity College in Toronto. On the death of his grandmother he inherited property in his native city which he exchanged for property on the Humber River. the product of which was largely used us rubble stone for macadamizing. Owing to inexperience and mismanagement he soon lost his quarries. In 1> 3 be located in Cincinnati, Ohio. where for a time he was connected with a dramatic company. and as such trav. eled extensively over the Southern and Middle States. The fall of 1-76 be located at Bedford. Ind .. where for a number of months he was employed as a typo on the Bedford Banner. For about one year. begin- ning in 1877. he published the Owensburg Gotoffe. then purchasing the material he removed the office to Bedford, and in company with C. L. Yockey published the Banner for two months. Early in the fall of 197> he began issning the Daily Magnet. then a four-column folio, which shortly thereafter was merged into tri-weekly. then a semi-weekly. and finally to a five column folio weekly. The weekly Magret has ever since continned. but with prosperity it has changed from its first weekly appearance respectively to a sis column. then a seven-columnn. and lastly to its present size, a five-column quarto. Mr. Osborne first began in the

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printing business a poor man. but by diligence and economy he has cleared his paper of all encumbrances, and now issues one of the newsiest papers of Lawrence County. In politics he has faithfully advocated the principles of the Republican party, and as a journalist is esteemed by all his cotemporaries. To his marriage with Miss Annie S. McCormick. which was solemnized in 1877. two children were born, named Edith B. and Roy H. Mr. Osborne is now engaged in the publication of the Law- rence Mail, into which the Magnet was merged.

K. D. OWEN, a native of the county in which he yet resides. and son of John C. and Elizabeth (Dye) Owen, was born September 29, 1939. John C. Owen was one of the pioneer blacksmiths of Lawrence County. and plied that vocation many years. He died in May. 1875. but his widow yet survives him. Of their children these are still alive: K. D .. Mary (Williams), John W., Almira, George K., Eliza (Glover) and Frank. The eldest of these. K. D., has always made his home in his native county, and is one of Bedford's leading merchants. After receiving a fair education in youth he began the blacksmith's trade. following that five years in Bedford. and one year at Springville. but later he began clerking in a dry goods store at Bedford. About one year later he embarked in business with an uncle at Mitchell, which was discontinued about a year later. Mr. Owen returning to Bedford and clerking until the fall of 1860. In September of that year Anna A. Burton became his wife. and Wallace I., Carrie and Charles A. are the naines of their chil. dren. Until 1870 Mr. Owen was engaged in farming and working at the blacksmith trade: then re-commenced clerking. but in August, 1872. in company with V. V. Williams and John W. Owen embarked in the grocery and provision trade in Bedford. One year later Col. Williams retired from the tirm, since when K. D. Owen & Co. have continued the trade, and from a small beginning have increased in prosperity until they now own their brick store building and about 84,000 worth of gro- ceries, provisions, wooden, willow, glass and queensware. In 1872 they began the delivery system. which compelled their competitors to adopt the same plan.

JAMES W. PALMER, who was born March 18, 1826. in Fauquier County, Va .. is one of thirteen children born to Joseph and Elizabeth Fuller) Palmer, who came to Lawrence County. Ind .. at a very early day and entered Government land within six miles of Bedford, where they died at the advanced age of eighty. two and ninty-four years respectively. Joseph Palmer was one of the leading early settlers of the county, and during his life never sat on a jury or was sworn as a witness, a fact almost incredible. James W. Palmer received such schooling as was to lw had at that early day in Lawrence County. and in early life followed farming, but in 1552 opened a general merchandising store in Bedford. which he continued until 1-61, when he began dealing in clothing, at which he is still engaged. The winter of 1847, his marriage with Laura Newland was solemnized, and to their union two children were born. named Robert N. and Phetna. Mrs. Palmer's death occurring in March. 1852. Mr. Palmer was married July 31. 1856. to Miss Jane Johnson by whom he is the father of five children: Isaiah, James, Mary, Golda and Edward. Mr. Paliner was a Whig in early life but in 1550 allied him- self with the Republican party and during the war took strong grounds against slavery. Mrs. Palmer is a member of the Christian Church at Bedford.

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History of Lawrence, Orange, and Washington counties, Indiana : from the earliest time to the present, together with interesting biographical sketches, reminiscences, notes, etc, Part 30

Author: Goodspeed Brothers Publication date: 199-?] Publisher: [Salem, Mass. : Higginson Book Co.] Number of Pages: 954

Author: Goodspeed Brothers
Publication date: 199-?]
Publisher: [Salem, Mass. : Higginson Book Co.]
Number of Pages: 954