USA > Indiana > Pike County > History of Pike and Dubois counties, Indiana : from the earliest time to the present, with biographical sketches, reminiscences, notes, etc. : together with an extended history of the Northwest, the Indiana Territory, and the state of Indiana > Part 36
USA > Indiana > Dubois County > History of Pike and Dubois counties, Indiana : from the earliest time to the present, with biographical sketches, reminiscences, notes, etc. : together with an extended history of the Northwest, the Indiana Territory, and the state of Indiana > Part 36
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HON. WILLIAM HAWTHORN, a prominent citizen of Po- tersburg, Ind., was born in Lancaster County, Penn., May 29, 1816, and is one of eleven children born to Samuel and Margaret (Mo- Cally ) Hawthorn, natives of the same place. The father was a farm- er and lived, married and brought up his large family in his native county. He came to Indiana in 1840 and located on his present farm where he died the same year. Chia mother's desth occurred
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about the close of the war. Subject studied civil engineering and in 1837 left home and came to Indiana, locating in Tippe- canoe county, where he remained one year. He then came to Pike County and was appointed county surveyor. Two years later he built & saw-mill on Patoka River and continued there four years and held the surveyor's office fifteen years. In 1846 he engaged in the general merchandise business in Petersburg and continued in that business until 1882. In politics he has always been an Independent and takes an active interest in the political affairs of the nation. He was elected to the State senate in 1852 by the Democratic party, and has held a number of other offices in town and county. He has been very unfortunate in married life, hav- ing lost two wives and ten children. He has two children living, one by each wife: Margaret and Grace E. Mr. Hawthorn has been an active member of the Methodist Episcopal Church nearly half a century. He is a warm advocate of temperance. He con- tributed $700 for a'railroad in the county.
ISAAC M. JOHNSON, grocer, Petersburg, began business in 1881 where he is now located. He carries a well selected stock of goods and has built np a good trade. He is a native of this county, having been born here in January 25, 1848. His father, Laban Johnson, was born in either Daviess County, Ind., or in Georgia, from which State his parents moved. He married Nancy A. Coan, and two years later bought a farm in Jefferson Township which he owned for several years. He afterward went to Illinois, where he remained two years, after which he returned to this county, and is now living. upon a farm. I. M. Johnson remained at home until November, 1863, when he enlisted in Company F, Tenth Indiana Cavalry, with which regiment he served until August, 1865; after his return from the war he was engaged in farming in this county until 1869, when he went to Missouri, remaining in that State two years. He then returned to Illinois and worked at manual labor until 1880, when he re- moved to Patoka, Ind. He remained at that place until engag- ing in his present business. He chose for a wife, Mary Thomas, to whom he was married April 14, 1867. They have one child, Henry, born January 17, 1868. Both he and wife are members of the Methodist Church. He is also a member of the Masonic fraternity, and is a Republican in politics.
JOHNSON & LANE, grocers, began business as the above firm in 1884, when Isaac Lane bought a one-half interest in the store from J. W. Lee. They carry a well-selected stock worth about $2,500, and have a good trade from the town and surrounding country. E. Johnson, senior member of the firm, is a native of Pike County, born October 12, 1853. He is the elder of two chil- dren in the family of Ja. es and Jane (Ainley) Johnson, na-
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tives of Indiana, and England, respectively. The father, who was a farmer, died when our subject was quite small, and the mother married John D. Coonrod. At the age of sixteen he learned the carpenter's trade, at which he worked until 1880, when he en- gaged in the grocery business. He has since continued in the business with the exception of one year when he was in Illinois. He has met with many discouragements, but has overcome them all, and is now doing a prosperous business. He chose for a wife, Elizabeth Sargent, to whom he was married November 22, 1874. They have had three children, two of whom, Blythe and Guy are living. Isaac Lane was born in Bedfordshire, England, June 22, 1830. His parents, John Lane and Mary Clark, never left their native country .. He remained at home until he was seventeen years old, when he came to the United States and located at Buffalo, where he worked in a harness shop until 1851. In that year he went to Rockford, Ill., where he worked in a shop, and conducted a business of his own until 1876. He then resided at Pecatonica in the same State until coming to Pike County in 1884. May 28, 1878, he married Sophia ( White) Sargent, also a native of England.
WILLIAM P. KNIGHT, editor and publisher of the Pike County Democrat, was born in Boone County Ky., October 24, 1844. He is a son of Joshua Knight, a native of Lynchburgh, Va. The latter, when a boy, came with his parents to Cin- cinnati, Ohio, where he in time married Amanda Winans. Soon after that event he removed to Boone County, Ky., but remained there only a short time. He then returned to Cincinnati where he remained three years, after which he removed to Franklin County, Ind. He died there in 1852, and his widow con- tinued to live in that county until 1872. William P. remained at home with his mother until the breaking out of the Rebellion, when at the first call for troops, he enlisted in the army, and was enrolled in Company H, Sixteenth Indiana Volunteer Infantry. He served with that regiment for one year. In August, 1862, he was mustered into service again as a member of Company B, Fourth Indiana Cavalry, which he had assisted in raising. He continued with this regiment until mustered out June 23, 1865. He took part in the battles of Chickamauga, Resaca, Mur- freesboro, the siege of Atlanta, and was with Wilson's cavalry at the capture of Selma and Montgomery. After his return from the war, he located at Cambridge City, Ind,, where he learned the carpenter's trade. In 1867, he came to Petersburg and worked at his trade until 1872, when he purchased the Democrat, which he has since published, with the exception of one year, when he was publishing a paper at Tell City, Ind. December 7, 1871, he married Ella S. Harvey, by whom he is the father of five
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children, only two of whom: Cassie M. and Edna M. are living. Both Mr. Knight and wife are members of the Methodist Church. He is also a member of the I. O. O. F. (Encampment), A. O. U. W., K. of P. and K. of L.
EDWIN R. KING was born in Mecklenburgh County, Va., October 1, 1832, and is the only child of Richard R. and Rebec- ca N. (Rainey) King, natives respectively of North Carolina and Virginia. They lived and died in the mother's native State. Edwin R. was raised on a farm in his native State, and when eighteen years old began learning the carpenter's trade. After attaining his majority and mastering his trade, he followed car- pentering in Virginia and also in Maryland and Kentucky until 1862, when he came to Indiana and worked in various counties and also in Omaha, Neb., until 1869, when he came to Peters- bnrg. A year later he engaged in the planing-mill business, but abandoned it in 1873, and began keeping a furniture store. In 1881 he discontinued business on account of ill health, and spent three winters in Florida. In the spring of 1885 he resumed business, and now has an excellent stock of furniture. He came here with little or no capital, but by hard work and economy and business tact and integrity, has now a comfortable competency. He owns some valuable town property, besides 200 acres of good land in Orange County, Fla. In 1867 he married Julia A. Smith. They became the parents of five children: Capitola, Neva ( de- ceased ), Minnie, Eugene and Raymond. Mr. King is a Demo- crat and a member of the I. O. O. F. He is one of Pike County's most worthy and intelligent citizens. Both his grandfathers were soldiers in the Revolutionary war. His grandfather Rainey served seven years in that war, and was at the surrender of Cornwallis.
STANTON LAMB (deceased), formerly a prominent farmer of Pike County, was born in North Carolina July 9, 1802. His father died when he was only four years of age, and his mother having married again, he came with his uncle, Hosea Smith, to this county in 1810. They located on a farm at what is known as White Oak Springs. He continued to live with his uncle until a year after his marriage, when he bought fifty acres of the farm upon which he continued to reside the remainder of his life. At the time of his death, he was the owner of 315 acres of fine land, and was known as a successful farmer and a courteous, Christian gentleman. He was twice married. He chose for his first wife, Elizabeth Bright, who died. leaving seven children, of whom Joseph, Leslie, Alvina and George are deceased; Harbard D .. Emory and Theophila, now Mrs. William Gladish, are living. November 23, 1857, his marriage with Lavina Smith was sol- emnized. She is a daughter of John and Penina (Chappell ) Smith, both very early settlers of the county. She still survives
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her husband, who died March 24, 1884. To their union were born six children: William E., Mclellan, Charles, Webster, Anna and Franklin S. Since the death of her husband Mrs. Lamb, assisted by her son William E., has managed the farm.
ALEXANDER LESLIE, M. D., an old and prominent phy- sician of Petersburg, was born in Camden County, North Carolina, January 8, 1815. He is the youngest of a family of six children born to the marriage of Alexander Leslie and Elizabeth Aydelotte. The father, who was a native of the "Old Dominion," died before the subject of this sketch was born, and the mother died only seven days after his birth. He was placed with a nurse, with whom he remained until he was five years of age. He then went to live with his sister at Norfolk, Va., remaining five or six years, after which he went to Baltimore, where another sister re- sided. In the schools of that city he obtained a good English education, and studied medicine in the University of Maryland, during the sessions of 1832-33 and 1836-37. Meanwhile he had come to Petersburg and engaged in the practice of his profession. After 1837 he returned to Petersburg, where he has since been administering to "the ills that flesh is heir to." During the past year, on account of ill health, he has retired from active practice. For over fifty years he has enjoyed the confidence of the county, and is widely known as a skilful and successful physician. He is a Democrat, and was for eight years county treasurer. April 4, 1841, he was joined in marriage with Rowene Hewins, a native of Ashtabula County, Ohio, by whom he is the father of four children: Ella, the widow of Henry C. Jerauld; Anna, now Mrs. William Bott; Alexander, a real estate agent in Washington, Ind .; and George, a resident of Chicago, Ill.
GOODLET MORGAN was born in Dubois County, Ind., February 26, 1825. He is one of the best known men in the county, and at one time carried on a very extensive business. He owned large tracts of lands, handled a large amount of live stock and produce, and also conducted one of the largest general mer- chandise stores in the town. In 1877 he became financially embar- rassed, and since that time he has confined his attention to his farm, upon which he has an elegant residence. Mr. Morgan is the fourth of eight children born to the marriage of Simon Mor- gan and Rose E. Reed. The father, who was born in Virginia, removed when a young man to Ohio. After a short residence in that State he started for St. Louis, but upon reaching Dubois County, Ind., he was taken sick and was obliged to remain for some time. While there the county was organized, and he was prevailed upon to accept the office of county clerk, a position which he filled until his death in January 12, 1841. In his early life he studied medicine, and graduated at a college in Philadel-
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phia. In addition to his professional knowledge he had a fine literary education. His wife died in March, 1836. Goodlet was reared at home until he was fourteen years old, when he came to Petersburg and lived with Judge Foster for nine years. During that time he was employed in a general merchandise store. Af- ter leaving Foster he went to Evansville and opened a store which he conducted for seven years. During his residence in that city November 24, 1848, he was united in marriage with a daughter of George H. and Mahala ( Wyatt) Proffit. In 1851 he returned to Petersburg. He is the father of eight children, only three of whom are living. They are Simon, Proffit and Ralph, all of whom are married and living near home.
CAPT. WILLIAM L. MERRICK was born in Petersburg, January 31, 1832. His parents Malachi and Lydia (Ogden) Merrick, were born in Virginia and Pennsylvania, respectively. The father came to Pike County with his parents in 1812, locating near White Oak Springs. He spent several winters in building a block-house at Dicksburg and Vincennes, in order to evade the Indians who infested the region plentifully at times. The father passed the greater part of his life in Pike County, and was en- gaged in the cabinet-maker's and undertaker's business until his death by cholera in 1852. The mother died in 1866. William L. secured a fair literary education and prepared himself for the profession of book-keeping, working in Jonathan Wilson's em- ploy for seventeen. years in this capacity. In 1858 he en- gaged in the general merchandise business for himself, con- tinuing till 1861, when he organized Company H, Twenty- fourth Indiana Volunteers, and served as its captain for six months. He then resigned on account of rheumatism contracted during service. After regaining his health, he worked"at farm- ing and stock-raising for seven years. He owns two valuable farms in Clay Township. He has given a great deal of time and attention to buying and shipping grain largely by flat-boat in early times. Since the establishment of the railroad, he has dealt largely in grain, and handles on an average 100,000 bushels of wheat and 50,000 bushels of corn and other cereals annually. He is a Republican and a member of the I. O. O. F., and has been very successful financially.
REV. THOMAS MARTIN was born at Banfield Rath- friland, County Down, Ireland. He was a son of James and Elizabeth (Stranaghan) Martin. Our subject passed his boy- hood in the "Emerald Isle," and received his education in that country, attending the college at Belfast, and took a thorough course in the theological seminary. He with many of his countrymen, came to the United States in 1832. He attend- ed the theological seminary at Princeton, N. J., for one
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year, and was given the pastoral charge of the Presby- terian Church at Morgantown, Va., and later of Cahaba. Ala., and Brownsville. Tenn. His health began to fail, and he abandoned his ministerial duties and came to Petersburg, Ind., where he remained until his death, April 18, 1872. In 1838, he took for his companion through life, Jane Isabella Prentice, their union being consummated at Morgantown. They became the parents of four children, one son and three daughters: Eliza, Margaret (deceased), Anna (deceased), and J. Prentice, a promi- nent young citizen of Petersburg. Rev. Martin was for four years principal of the Monongohelia Academy of Morgantown, Va. He was an intelligent and worthy citizen and was much hon- ored by his friends and acquaintances.
CHARLES E. MONTGOMERY, a prominent merchant of Petersburg, Ind., and native of Pike County, was born August 5, 1849, and is one of nine children of Thomas L. Montgom- ery and Elizabeth Edmondson. The father who was born in Vir- ginia, came with his father to Indiana, and located near where Oakland City now is. Thomas L. married in Princeton, and about 1833 or 1834, came to Petersburg and engaged in the merchan- dise business, and also shipped produce on flat-boats to Southern markets. He was well and favorably known throughout the country as a successful business man, and a worthy Christian. He was a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and a Whig and Republican in politics. His death occurred July 19, 1870. The mother still survives him and is living with our sub- ject at the advanced'age of seventy-seven years. Charles E. was raised in Petersburg and learned the mercantile business from his father. At the age of seventeen years, he left home in order to improve his somewhat limited education. After completing a business course in college, lie returned home and took entire charge of the business. In 1867, he purchased an interest in the store, and on his father's death, he assumed entire ownership and control, and has conducted affairs successfully and well ever since. In 1878, he built the Champion Steam Flour-mills, which he has operated successfully. He has added many improvements and his mill has a capacity of seventy-five barrels per day. He owns a half interest in the hardware store of Billmeyer & Mont- gomery, and has engaged extensively for nearly twenty years in stock-trading, shipping produce and tobacco, and has a large amount of money invested in Lincoln, Neb. October 25, 1870, he married Alice M. Logan, who died September 24, 1871. He is a Republican, and has held various local offices of trust in town. He is a thoroughly self-made man, and a moral, upright citizen.
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JAMES L. MOUNT, superintendent of schools of Pike County, Ind .. is a son of James and Mary ( Miley ) Mount, and was born September 12, 1854. (See father's sketch ). James L. was reared by his parents in the country on a farm and secured only a common education in his boyhood days. He owes his present efficiency as an instructor to his own efforts in later years. Being a close, energetic student he has not only mastered the com- mon branches but also two languages besides his native tongue. At the age of nineteen he began teaching school in this county and has continued at that work ever since, meeting with the best of success. In 1885 he was elected to his present office and is now filling the requirements of that position greatly to his credit. December 27. 1882 he took for his life companion Fannie E. Taylor, his present wife. They have one child-Morris T. In politics Mr. Mount is a Democrat and he is also a member of the K. of P.
FREDERICK H. POETKER, treasurer of Pike County, Ind. was born in the kingdom of Hanover, February 1, 1844, being the eldest of six children born to the marriage of William Poetker and Elizabeth Dierker. The mother died in Hanover and the father married again and came to the United States in 1880, and took up his residence with our subject in this county, where he now resides. Frederick H. was raised in his native land and obtained a very good education in his native language. In 1860 he came to the United States and located in Dubois County, near Holland, where he remained until 1862 when he enlisted as a private in Company H, Sixty-fifth Indiana Infantry and served his country faithfully until 1865 when he and his regiment were honorably discharged. After returning home he clerked in a store in Holland about eighteen months. In 1867 he came to Pike County and engaged in the general merchandise business in Stendal in which he has remained ever since, meeting with good success. He is an unswerving Demoerat in politics and was trustee of Lockhart Township a number of terms, and in 1884 was elected to his present office and holds the position efficiently and acceptably. In 1868 he was married to Dena Catherine New- bridge, a native of Ohio. They have seven children: William F., Nora, Caroline, Louis. Flora, Mary and Oscar. Mr. Poetker and family are members of the Lutheran Church and he is recognized as one of the enterprising and successful business men of Pike County, and an upright official.
HON. FRANCIS B. POSEY, a prominent attorney of Pike County, was born in Petersburg, April 28, 1848. He is the young- est of six children, only two of whom are now living. born to the marriage of John W. Posey and Sarah Blackburn, natives of South Carolina and Kentucky, respectively. The father when a child came to Indiana in 1804 with his parents, who located in Knox
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County near Vincennes. In 1830 he came to Pike County, where he was engaged in the practice of medicine until 1855, when he retired from the profession. He was especially skillful in sur gery, and during the Rebellion was at Shiloh in charge of a field hospital a few months, and for a time was in charge of the marine hospital at Evansville. His death occurred Angust 12, 1884. His wife died August 12, 1851. As a young man he was noted for his remarkable feats of strength. He could lift a barrel of whisky by the chime, and place it in a wagon, and on one occasion carried six bushels of wheat up five flights of stairs. He was a man of great force of character and was fearless in the expression of his principles. He was one of the first to champion the cause of the slave, and his house was known as a station on the underground railroad. Previous to the organization of the Republican party he was a Whig. In 1844 he was elected to the office of county treasurer, and re-elected in 1846. He also served several terms as trustee of the township. He obtained his profes- sional knowledge in the office of Dr. Burnside, the father of Gen. Burnside. Frank B. Posey is a man of fine attainments and is widely known as an able lawyer, a skillful politician, and an elo- quent orator. His early education was obtained in the schools of the county. He afterward attended Asbury College completing the sophomore year. His professional education was obtained at the Indiana University from which institution he graduated in the class of 1869. Since leaving school he has been engaged in the practice of his profession in Petersburg with the exception of two years when he was at Vincennes. He is the owner of 300 acres of coal land bordering on White River and is operating what is known as the Blackburn Mines. January 17, 1878, he united in marriage with Emma Brown, a native of this county, and to their union have been born two children; Helen and Fran- cesco. In politics Mr. Posey is a Republican and holds a prom- inent place in his party in the State. In 1872 he was appointed prosecuting attorney by Gov. Baker; in 1880 was an elector on the Garfield ticket; in 1882 was a candidate for the senatorship from Pike and Warrick Counties. He was defeated by only 200 votes in a district which gave the State ticket a Democratic majority of 750 votes. In 1884, he was a delegate to the Repub- lican National Convention.
HON. EDWARD P. RICHARDSON, a prominent attorney of Petersburg, Ind., and a native of Pike County, was born May 23, 1849, being a son of Jefferson W. and Mary (Ferguson) Richard- son, natives respectively of Warrick and Pike Counties, Ind. The father removed from Warrick to Pike County when he was a young man, about the year 1847. Here he married and has followed the life of a farmer since that time. The mother died in 1864,
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having borne six children-three sons and three daughters. When eighteen years old our subject began serving in the auditor's office in Petersburg and attended school during the winter until 1873. In the meantime he had begun the study of law and luring the year mentioned attended the law school at Blooming- ington, Ind. He returned to Petersburg and was admitted to the Pike County bar and engaged in the practice of his profession in which he has acquired distinction throughout southern Indiana. He has always been a faithful Democrat and was chairman of the Democratic Central Committee in 1878, 1880 and 1884. In 1882 he was elected by his party to represent Pike and Warrick Counties in the State Senate, and served with honor and dis- tinction in the legislative halls during the sessions of 1883 and 1885. In 1875 he was married to Cammie Barrett, who died in 1878 having borne two children, both now deceased. In 1881 he married Emily Wheeler, his present wife, a native of Posey County, Ind. Mr. Richardson is a member of the I. O. O. F., and K. of P.
JOSEPH C. RIDGE, recorder of Pike County, Ind., was born in Marion County, Ky., May 28, 1843. His parents, Isaac and Margaret H. ( Nelson ) Ridge, were natives of Maryland and Kentucky, respectively, and the parents of eight children. Our subject passed his boyhood on a farm and received a fair edu- cation. At the age of sixteen he left his native State and made his home with a brother who was living in Daviess County, Ind., until 1865, when he came with him to Pike County and located in Marion Township where he soon after served two terms as assessor, and at their expiration he was appointed county com- missioner to fill a vacancy caused by death. In the meantime he resided on the farm and worked at tilling the soil. He has always been an enthusiastic Democrat in politics and in 1884 was elected by his party to his present office in which he is ably and efficiently discharging his duties. He is a member of the General Baptist Church, and is one of the enterprising and moral young men of Pike County and a trustworthy officer.
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