USA > Indiana > Montgomery County > History of Montgomery County, together with historic notes on the Wabash Valley; gleaned from early authors, old maps and manuscripts, private and official correspondence, and other authentic sources > Part 48
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stone steps of the Capitol, and also on the east steps of the White House. This was during Jackson's administration. Hearing there was to be a new state house erected in Indiana, he started for that place in a spring wagon over the mountains and rough roads. On arriving at Indianapolis, in 1834, he learned to his sore disappoint- ment that the building was to be of material different from what he had supposed would be used. Disappointed, he wandered over the northern part of the state, and decided to locate at Crawfordsville, which he immediately did by bringing his family hither. News came to him that North Carolina was to have a new state house. He immediately set out on foot and walked to Raleigh, North Carolina, via the Cumberland Gap. While there he superintended the con- struction of that edifice. He planned the stairs and patented the in- vention. After completing his work he returned to Crawfordsville on foot. During his absence Mrs. Speed had purchased the town property now occupied by their son, Bruce Speed, and also a large piece of land in Parke county which he had expressed his desire to own when he was looking for a location, on account of the stone he might obtain, but he never quarried it. After returning he superin- tended the construction of the national macadamized road east of Terre Haute, but the failure to secure appropriations caused the proj- ect to be abandoned, and the road thus far constructed was left in an uncompleted state. He closed his career January 1, 1873. He had toiled all through life, yet through his extreme liberality he had amassed but very little of worldly goods. In politics he was a radi- cal Jackson democrat, then became an intense abolitionist, then a whig, and finally a republican. He favored the freedom of the slave, took a large interest in the underground railroad scheme, and in the garret of his house many of those downtrodden people have found shelter from the hand of tyranny. At one time the garret was so full that to prevent suspicion that he was harboring anyone he bought twenty-five cents' worth of bread, then required his children to pur- chase a like amount each, until he obtained sufficient food for his attic visitors. At the first election for an abolition president, John Speed and Fisher Dougherty cast the only votes in support of that candidate in the county.
Mr. Speed was a man of a wonderful memory ; was a great lover of history, a fair architect; was moral, liberal, strict in integrity and true to his country, and was a member of the early lodge of Odd-Fellows of Crawfordsville. Mr. Speed left wife and children. Mrs. Speed died March 1, 1878. She was raised a Scotch Presby- terian, but later in life leaned toward the Church of England, into
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which church she had her children baptized. Their children were Margaret (now Mrs. Jesse Cumberland), Cecelia and Frank (deceased), Sidney and Robert Bruce, living in Crawfordsville. Sidney was born June 25, 1846, in Crawfordsville. He was educated in the common schools, also attended Wabash College in 1860 and 1861. In June, 1862, he enlisted in the 18th Ind. Bat. and served three years. He was in the army of the Cumberland, Wilder's brigade, whom the rebels called " Wilder's Hellians." This brigade was transferred to Cook's division, Wilson's cavalry corps. Mr. Speed was in all the battles of the Cumberland army except Nashville and Stone River, as well as a few others. Returning home in 1865, he entered college again, but in 1867 he went west. Returning shortly, he em- barked in the manufacture of drain tile, then became a sewing ma- chine agent, then manager of the Howe Sewing Machine company in the cities of Terre Haute, Frankfort, and Logansport, successively. In 1875 he began his present business in stone-cutting and dealing in marble and granite tomb-stones. Later he was also engaged in stone masonry. He was married June 25, 1872, to Margaret Seim- antel of Lawrenceburg, Indiana. They have one child, Mabel.
George W. Hutton, farmer, Crawfordsville, was born January 18, 1825, in Rockbridge county, Virginia, and here resided until he was six years old, at which time he was taken to Green county, Ohio, where he remained three years, at the expiration of which time he came to this county. His education is such as might be obtained by an observant scholar at the common schools. He began farming for himself at the age of twenty-one. March 5, 1846, he was married to Minerva J. McDaniel, whose parents, John and Elizabeth McDaniel, came from Kentucky. Mrs. Hutton was born September 4, 1824, and died March 17, 1873. She was first a member of the Methodist church, and then the Christian. They had three children, William P., Tilman H. and Martha E., first two of whom are dead. Mr. Hutton married again, March 25, 1874, Miss Mary E. Deitrick, who was born March 29, 1840. She is a member of the Christian church. Mr. Hutton began farming with comparatively nothing, but by energy, economy and industry he has been quite successful, being the pos- sessor of 173 acres of splendid land. In 1871, when the Crawfords- ville and Concord turnpike was built, he invested $500 in the stock, and has continued to purchase shares until he is the owner of over four-fifths of the capital, the whole being worth over $5,000. The road was built for the purpose of giving to the citizens a highway that was in a good condition to be traveled upon any season of the year, and has proved a success, having paid for itself and its repairs.
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Mr. Hutton is quite a stock raiser and grower of small fruits. His two-story dwelling erected last year is one of the most complete in the neighborhood. He is a member of the Christian church, and a stalwart republican. In January, 1878, he and his wife visited their old home in Virginia and heartily enjoyed the hospitality of many an old " chum." In 1875 he made an extensive tour through the west, and upon his return brought many new, practical ideas of hus- bandry, which amply repaid every expense.
Isaac Rich, farmer, Crawfordsville, was born in Randolph county, North Carolina, in 1812. In 1816 he went with his parents to War- ren county, Ohio, and lived there until 1834, when he settled in Montgomery county. He was once justice of the peace two years. He was married in 1833 to Emelia Hall. She died Angust 8, 1880, and was a member of the Methodist church. They have two chil- dren, James and Nancy. The latter was married to Samuel Irwin. He was a republican and a Methodist, and died in 1872, leaving four children : John, Isaac, Mary, and Maggie. Mr. Isaac Rich has 225 acres of land and has given each of his children eighty acres. IIe is a Methodist, a strong republican, and a much respected old gentle- man.
Alexander Thomson, retired, Crawfordsville, was born January 15, 1812, in Hamilton county, Ohio, in a small town called Spring- field, since Springdale. His parents, John and Nancy (Steele) Thomson, were among the early settlers of Crawfordsville, having arrived here some time in 1834. John Thomson was born in Penn- sylvania, whither his grandparents (Thomsons) had come from Ire- land. He then spent some years in Kentucky, and in 1800 emi- grated to Ohio, where he spent many years in the Presbyterian min- istry in Miami county. Here he labored in the early work of the church for thirty years, until he came to Crawfordsville. His life was unusually long, his death not occurring until he reached his eighty-sixth year. His wife, Mrs. Nancy Thomson, died in her sev- enty-fifth year. Both were highly respected citizens and earnest Christian people. Alexander Thomson, son of the above, passed many of his youthful days on a farm, but improved a part of each year in storing knowledge and fitting himself for a career of future usefulness. He attended Miami University. In 1835, on account of the sickness of his brother, he was called home to Crawfordsville, and although he had reached the senior year, he never returned to his alma mater. For several years Mr. Thomson clerked, then en- gaged in the county clerk's office, and afterward studied law, which he made his profession for thirty years, becoming one of the eminent
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members of the Crawfordsville bar. For nearly thirty years he has been connected with the board of trustees of Wabash College, and is at present financial agent and treasurer of the same, which position he has filled for fifteen years. Politically, Mr. Thomson was a whig, but with the advent of republicanism he became a staunch supporter of that party. On December 31, 1840, he was married to Miss Crawford, daughter of Alex. Crawford, an early settler of this city. She was born in 1812. They have three children : Ever- ett B., Henry R. and Edwin P. All the family are members of the Presbyterian church. Everett B., now a Presbyterian minister, is located at Piqua, Ohio. Henry R., professor of chemistry, is in Wabash College, and Edwin P. is studying for the Presbyterian ministry.
Samnel W. Austin, bookkeeper, Crawfordsville, a native of Gar- ret county, Kentucky, was born November 18, 1818. His father, John B. Austin, born in Virginia in 1787, was one of the early school teachers and a Baptist minister. He early went to Kentucky, and in October, 1828, came to Montgomery county, Indiana, and settled one and a half miles west of Crawfordsville. Ill health obliged him to follow light labor. In 1841 he was elected Montgomery county's first auditor, which office he honorably filled for fourteen continnous years. He was a democrat, but whisky or no whisky becoming the the issue, and the democracy advocating the former, Mr. Austin left his party and allied himself with the temperance party, which soon after merged into the republican party. He died in September 1868. His wife, Nancy (Vanhook), was born in Virginia in 1788, was also a member of the Baptist church. She died in February 1852. Samuel W. Austin passed the first fourteen years of his life on the farm, and then became a merchant's boy, and in 1841 was employed in the auditor's office with his father, remaining there until 1854. He then became bookkeeper for Campbell, Galey & Harter, and held the situation twelve years. On January 1, 1868, after having been idle for a time, he accepted the position of bookkeeper in the First National Bank of Crawfordsville, which is still his occupation. Although Mr. Austin has used the pen almost continually for over forty years, his nerves are still steady and strong. His knowledge of bookkeeping and commercial forms he has acquired in actual bus- iness, never having attended other than the common school, and since his fourteenth year two terms at the county seminary in 1836. Mr. Anstin was first a whig in politics and cast his first vote for Harrison, but with the germination of republicanism he adopted its principles, and will never mix his northern oil with southern water.
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He sent one son, Archelaus, to the civil war. He has been married three times, lastly, March 5, 1870, to Matilda, daughter of John Swearingen, of Crawfordsville. His first family numbered five children, and his second one child. He is a member of the order of Odd-Fellows.
Joseph Smith, farmer and stock raiser, Crawfordsville, was born near Lebanon, Warren county, Ohio, June 14, 1821. His father, Robert Smith, was born in 1799 and died in 1865. He was a native of North Carolina, but when about twelve years of age, he with his parents, moved to Warren county, Ohio, about ten miles east of Leb- anon. His father's name was John and his mother's Phœbe. John died in Ohio, while his wife died in Montgomery county, at the home of her son. Mr. Smith came to this county in 1835, previous to which time he had been engaged in farming and teaming. The journey was made in wagons, occupying] fourteen days. Upon his arrival he settled three quarters of a mile southwest of Yountsville, where he had purchased 240 acres of land at $16 per acre, and here lived until his death. At the age of eighteen he married Hannah Williamson, who was born in Shenandoah county, Virginia, in 1790 and died in 1870 a member of the Methodist church. They became the parents of ten children, five of whom came from Ohio in the wagon. Joseph Smith lived with his parents until his twenty-fourth year, and after his marriage moved on Sec. 16, where he re- sided eighteen months. He then returned to the home place and was engaged in farming fourteen years, having previously purchased the north half of it. He then traded this land and some other prop- erty for 433 acres on Mill creek, known as the Herron farm, valued at $16,000. After residing upon it eight years he moved to his present beautiful and finely located home, in February 1870. The fall of 1873 he erected one of the finest dwellings west of the city, two stories high, 32×46 feet, and other improvements amounting to $6,000. The home place consists of 212 acres. He also owns 148 acres of the Herron farm, having given the remainder to his chil- dren. May 6, 1845, in Ripley township, he was married to Martha J. Gass, who was born in October, 1821, in east Tennessee. They became the parents of six children : Margaret, Howard, Hannah, John B., George W. and Frank, all of whom are married save John and George. Mrs. Smith died May 19, 1870, a member of the United Brethren church. Mr. Smith married a second time, October 20, 1873, Lydia Steel, in Henry county, Indiana, near Knightstown. They became the parents of one child, Claud, who died January 14, 1876. He is a democrat and his wife a member of the Presbyterian church.
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William R. Stitt, farmer and stock raiser, Crawfordsville, was born April 3, 1835, in the place where he now lives. He had a common school education and has always been a farmer. He has 120 acres of land one and a half miles from the city. He is a Ma- son, Odd-Fellow, Good Templar, republican, a member of the De- tective Association, and of the Methodist church. Mr. Stitt and his sisters, Sarah R. and Rebecca J., live together on the " old home- stead." His father, Judge James Stitt, was the oldest son of Robert and Jane Stitt. He was born in Grayson county, Virginia. He came west at a very early day, and had gone on through the south. He bought land in Washington county, then went to Vir- ginia, and afterward came back to Indiana. He entered 160 acres in this county, where his son now lives. It had upon it a good mill- seat, and he soon built a mill which he ran till the Black Hawk war. He was associate judge of Montgomery county for twenty-one years, and was elected for seven years more, when he died in 1844. He was an able judge, a member of the Methodist church, a strong temperance man, and an honored citizen. He had a good education for his day, and was a man of extensive information. He was mar- ried in 1818 to Miss Mary F. Richardson. She was a member of the Methodist church and died in 1871. They had seven children. The Stitts came from Ireland to this country at an early day, and the grandfather of Judge Stitt was in the revolutionary war, and was put in prison, where he suffered much and was liberated by his uncle, an officer in the British army.
James H. Watson, carriage-maker, Crawfordsville, is one of the enterprising firm of Watson, Coutant & Co. This firm manufac- ture all kinds of carriages and buggies, employing twelve workmen. Their trade has assumed such proportions that they can but little more than supply ordered work. Their establishment is on Green street opposite the city buildings. Mr. Watson is a native of Craw- fordsville and was born November 9, 1836. His father, William P. Watson, a tanner by trade, was a native of Ohio, and his mother, Eliza A. (Westlake), was born in New York. In 1836 he came to Crawfordsville and engaged in the dry-goods business. In 1842 he was appointed postmaster, which office he held for ten or twelve years. Leaving the postoffice he opened a tannery, which he con- tinued for ten years, then engaged in the saddlery and harness trade. He died in November 1875. He was a democrat all his life and served two terms as county commissioner. James H. spent fifteen years with his uncle, James Watson, of Crawfordsville, in the pork packing business. In 1861 he enlisted in Co. G, 10th Ind., under
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Capt. Manson. Mr. Watson entered the service as first lieutenant, but Capt. Manson being promoted to the position of colonel the first lieutenant was promoted to the captaincy. He enlisted for three months, but was not discharged for four months, or after the battle of Rich Mountain. Leaving the army, Mr. Watson worked one year in a tobacco house in Louisville, returned to his home, and soon after was engaged as clerk for Robins & Reynolds in the hotel at Terre Haute. He then became deputy in the auditor's office, and in November, 1871, was elected county auditor, which office he held till 1879 with honor and credit. After three weeks' vacation he associated himself with his present partners in the carriage business. He has been a life-long democrat. Mr. Watson was married Janu- ary 15, 1867, to Elizabeth Reynolds, of Fountain county. He is now an officer in the Montgomery County Agricultural Society, and an influential citizen.
Willis Jackman, farmer and stock raiser, Crawfordsville, was born in Union township February 12, 1836. His father, James A. Jackman, settled in this county about 1830. He was a millwright, and built about all the wooden mills on Sugar creek. He learned his trade in Pennsylvania and then emigrated to Indianapolis, Indi- ana, where he traded for four acres of land which is now the central portion of the city. It was afterward sold for taxes, together with two or three dwellings that had been erected upon it. He was born September 1, 1794, and departed this life February 21, 1878. He was a gallant soldier in the war of 1812, and a man of firmness and positive convictions. IIe was a staunch member of the Christian church and a member of the whig party until its death, in 1852, at which time he united with that conscientious set of men who after- ward joined together and formed the republican party, and was one of the strongest supporters of this organization until his decease. His mother, Hannah (Reed) Jackman, was born in Gerard county, Kentucky, and is still living at the advanced age of seventy-four years. She is also a member of the Christain church. Mr. Jack- man's entire life has been spent upon a farm. His educational ad- vantages were meager enough. Only the roughest days of winter was he permitted to sit upon the old slab benches in the pioneer log cabin school-room. He commenced farming for himself at twenty- two, and was married in 1858 to Miss Susan Flanigan, who was born February 26, 1838, and is now a member of the Christian church. By this union they have become the parents of eight children, three of whom are dead : James A., Lillie I., Harrison M., Charles, John M., Frank, Carrie and Archibald. Mr. Jackman began life with
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nothing, but now owns 156 acres of land six miles from Crawfords- ville and three from Darlington. He is a Good Templar and a member of the Detective Association. Mr. Jackman claims never to have entered a saloon in his life. He is a member of the Chris- tian church and a member of the national party, formerly a republi- can. He is a well posted, thinking man, quite a reader, and one alive to all questions of public concern.
Samuel M. Hutton, farmer, Crawfordsville, was born near Lexington, Rockbridge county, Virginia, October 23, 1821. At an early age he moved with his parents to Green county, Ohio, and lived there three years, and in 1836 settled on Sec. 28 in Union township. They came in a four-horse wagon, over muddy roads, rough hills, and through the woody wilderness, being twenty-one days on the road. His father's name was William, and he was born in 1777, and died in 1837. He was a member of the Presbyterian church, a Jackson democrat, and was in the war of 1812. His mother's name was Mary. She was born in 1790, and died in 1846. Mr. Hutton's grandfather, William Hutton, was in the revolutionary war. Mr. Hutton having always lived on the farm, had such limited advantages of education as could be obtained from the old log school- house, with its antiquated schoolmaster. He began farming for him- self when twenty-one years old, with very little means, but now has a good farm of 202¿ acres of good land, and is a successful and enter- prising farmer. He was county commissioner three years, is an elder in the Christian church, and in politics is an enthusiastic republican, although he was raised a democrat. When he came to this county the people did all their marketing at La Fayette. Mr. Hutton took two shares in the New Albany railroad, and paid for them in ties hewn from his own timber. He was married February 9, 1843, to Miss Mary Ann Harland, who was born in 1825. They have seven children, James G., Alexander P., John M., Mary M., Emily J., Martha F. and George W. Mr. Hutton has a nice residence, and has lived on his present place twenty years, and is a respected and valued citizen.
John H. Shue, grocer, Crawfordsville, was born March 29, 1821, in Onondaga county, New York, and is the son of Peter and Jane (Hendricks) Shue. His parents were natives of Germany, and came when children, with their parents, to America. Both families set- tled at Catskill, the Hendricks remaining there, while the Shues re- moved to Christian Hollow, twelve miles south of Saratoga. In 1836 Mr. Shue's parents came to Montgomery county and settled three miles north of Crawfordsville, where his father, Peter Shue,
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died of lung fever. His mother then returned to New York, where she died in January 1837. They were both members of the Bap- tist church. John H. was fifteen years old when his father died. He earned his livelihood by working on a farm, or anything he could get to do. At seventeen years he became clerk in the store of John Garvey, in the first building erected on the corner of Market and Washington streets. He then taught for a time, but being desirous of a better education, and learning that there was a good high school at Edwardsburg, Michigan, he determined to work his way into and through that institution. Accordingly he went to Edwardsburg, and entering a hotel inquired of the clerk whether or not he knew of any one who wanted some one to do chores for board while he (the boy) might go to school. The clerk replied he did not. A gentle- man, whose name John afterward learned was Thomas Edwards, jumping from his seat, asked the youth where he was from. Young Shue answered, from Indiana. "Why," said the gentleman, "do they want to learn anything down in Indiana? You were not born there, were you ?" Upon the answer that he was born in New York, the gentleman, pointing to a very nice residence, told the youth to call there at 4 o'clock, and perhaps he could stay there. At the ap- pointed time, young Shue called, and who should meet him at the door but the same gentleman whom he had met in the hotel. Here a pleasant home was found, and for three years John H. Shue lived and attended the high school. Returning to Crawfordsville, Mr. Shue worked for $10 per month, and taught school till he numbered his thirteenth term. In 1856 he bought the interest of John Robin- son in the dry-goods business. In 1866 the stock was burned, but insurance saved him. For the benefit of his health he engaged in farming, but in 1875 he purchased one-fourth interest in the Union Block and opened a grocery store. The firm is now Shue & Dennis. They transact a business of about $50,000 to $60,000 per year. Mr. Shue has been three times married ; lastly, to Cintha A. Vaughan, of Montgomery county, in 1865. They have one child, Anna. Mr. and Mrs. Shue are members of the Baptist church. He has been a democrat, but is now conservative, voting for men rather than party. He is a member of the Knight's Templar society.
W. J. Krug, sheriff of Montgomery county, Crawfordsville, was born June 3, 1814, in York, Pennsylvania, and is the son of William A. and Elizabeth (Jones) Krug. His father was born in Lancaster, September 17, 1790, and his mother in York, Pennsylvania. The latter died in 1855, but the former still lives in Montgomery county at a very advanced age. Mr. Krug Sr. is a saddler and harness
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maker by trade. He was early a whig but later a republican. He emigrated to Ohio in 1821, and to Montgomery county in February, 1838, and settled in Coal Creek township, where he bought a section of land. They had a family of nineteen children. Mr. and Mrs. Krug were Episcopalians. His father came from Germany, and his mother's people from England. William J., son of the above, spent part of his youth on the farm and part in the saddlery and harness shop, beginning the latter trade when fourteen or fifteeen years old. He worked at this for thirty years. For some time he solicited sub- scriptions for tombstones, as agent for Lewis & White, of Indianap- olis, and was very successful in the undertaking. In 1876 he was elected, by the republicans, sheriff, by 177 majority over William Lee, a very strong candidate, and in 1878 reëlected by a majority of over 700 votes, while the county was about 300 democratic. Mr. Krug is now tired of political life and will retire soon to his farm. During the late war Mr. Krug served about eleven months under Capt. Lily, as senior saddleman in the 18th Ind. Bat. Mr. Krug was married April 13, 1834, to Kezia, daughter of Robert McCain, of Butler county, Ohio. They have had ten children, two dead and eight liv- ing. He is a Mason, a Good Templar, and a Son of Temperance. His father was a strong churchman, and a man of strict integrity, whose word was as good as his bond.
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