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 43
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 43
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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
until he now owns 127 acres of good land, and has built upon it one of the best houses in the township. February 13, 1573, he married Lizzie Atkinson, a daughter of Andrew Atkinson (else- where written ). Both Mr. Hillman and wife are members of the United Baptist Church, and he is a member of the G. A. R., and a stanch Republican and good farmer.
LEWIS LOVELESS, one of the most prominent citizens and a native of Logan Township, Pike Co., Ind., was born March 10, 1834, and is the oldest in a family of four children born to Henry and Susanna ( Beck ) Loveless, who were natives of Pike County, Ind. The Loveless family settled in this county about 1811, and the Beck family came from Gibson County about four years later. Our immediate subject's mother died when he was but four years of age, and at the age of thirteen years he went to live with Lewis Beck. with whom he remained two years, and then made his home with his grandfather Beck, remaining with him until the latter's decease. Mr. Loveless always evinced a decided love for learning, and by dint of close application and without the aid of an instructor, had, at the age of eighteen, mas- tered the common branches. One year later he began teaching, and followed that occupation until 1854. March 14, 1855, he was married to Mahala A. Willis, and they became the parents of four children: Maria E., Jesse, Willoughby, and Ida M. September 6. 1862, Mr. Loveless realized the necessity of quelling the Rebell- jon. and accordingly enlisted in Company A, Fifty-Eighth Indi- ana Regiment, and served until 1863, when he was discharged on account of a disability arising from inflammatory rheumatism. While in the service he was captured by John Morgan at Bards- town, Ky. In 1964 he united with the Missionary Baptist Church, of which he is an ordained elder. In 1870 he removed to Knox County and was nominated by the Republican party to represent the Second District as member of Congress. The district was largely Democratic, but it may be said to his credit that he suc- ceeded in reducing their majority over 3,000 votes. In 1878 he returned to Pike County, where he has since resided. He is a pronounced Republican in politics, and manifests a warm interest in the affairs of the county. Most of his life has been passed on a farm, and he possesses eighty acres of improved land.
JOHN H. WILLIS, a prominent citizen of Logan Township, Pike Co .. Ind., is a native of North Carolina, where he was born, May 26, 1525. being the fourth in a family of nine children born to John and Elizabeth ( West ) Willis, who were born in the same State as their son, and resided there until 1\33, when they immi- grated to Indiana and located in Pike County, about one mile from our subject's present residence, where they lived until their deaths. John H., our subject, was reared on the home farm, and remained
464
HISTORY OF PIKE COUNTY.
there assisting his parents until he attained the age of twenty- two years. He received a very limited education, in consequence of the poor facilities of those days. December 24, 1546, his marriage with Eliza E. Marvel was solemnized. and to their union eleven children have been born, of which only these three are now living: Melissa ( wife of Joseph B. Miley ), Prentice and Sherman. Mr. Willis' occupation has always been farming. in which he has been very successful. He now owns over 500 acres of land, mostly improved. He also engages quite extensively in stock raising. He and wife are members of the Missionary Bap- tist Church, and in politics he is a Republican, and manifests a good, live interest in the political affairs of the day. He is much respected by all who know him, and is a member of the Pike County Agricultural Society.
CLAY TOWNSHIP.
GEORGE CHAMBERS was born in Pike County, Ind., August 15, 1828, and is a son of George and Edith ( Davidson) Chambers, who were the parents of five children. The father was of Scotch descent, and was born in Kentucky, where he lived until twenty-four years old. and then came to Indiana. The mother was of Irish extraction, born in Wheeling, W. Va., and came to this State about the same time as the father. They were married in 1818. The father died in 1842, and the mother in 1875. Our subject was raised on a farm, and received such edu- cation as could be obtained at that time. When George was but fourteen his father died, and he was forced to earn his own living. July 28, 1850, he married Mary Hornbrook. To them were born seven children, six now living: Elijah D., Sarah, Anna (Allen), Ella (Hill), Carl S., Nettie and Georgiana (deceased). About 1853 our subject began keeping general merchandise. continuing in that business for about ten years. He then enlisted in Com- pany I, Forty-second Indiana Infantry, February 15, 1864. He was at Resaca, Buzzard's Gap, in the battles before Atlanta, Ken- esaw Mountain and Nashville, Tenn. After coming home he began farming, continuing until 1881. when he purchased a half interest in the Union Mill. In 1983 he sold his interest in the mill. and engaged extensively in general merchandise, in connec- tion with his son, C. S. Chambers. They have an excellent line of goods, and control a large trade. George is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and a Republican in politics and an active worker in the party. He has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church since he was seventeen years old. He is re- spected by his friends and neighbors as a worthy and useful citizen.
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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
CARL S. CHAMBERS, son of the above, was born January 6, 1861. He was educated in the common and graded schools of Union, Ind. He worked with his father until 1881, when he worked at the carpenter's trade for one year, and then engaged as a clerk in a store in Union, continuing with them until Janu- ary 1, 1883, when he commenced the general merchandise busi- ness for himself, and was soon joined by his father. They still continue together, and are doing well, financially.
WILLIAM W. COLVIN is a native of Pike County, Ind., born April 22, 1883, and son of William and Elizabeth (Hill- man) Colvin, who were the parents of seven children. The father was born and raised in Ohio, and when about twenty-four years old, came to Pike County, Ind., and engaged in farming. His death occurred May 20, 1845. The mother is a native of Kentucky, and came to Indiana about the same time as the father. She still lives on the old farm, and is seventy-eight years old. Our subject received a limited education in his boyhood days; he remained at home until twenty-eight years old, and then mar- ried and enlisted in the army in Company I, Forty-second Indi- ana Volunteers. He served about eighteen months. He has followed the life of a farmer since coming from the army, and has met with very good success. He now owns 127 acres of land, besides his share in the father's estate. June 25, 1861, he mar- ried Colisty Coleman. They have two living children: Fannie and Ametia. Mr. Colvin is a member of the United Baptist Church, and an ardent Republican in politics.
HON. JOHN HARGROVE, father of Samuel Hargrove, is a son of the old pioneer of Gibson County, William Hargrove, who was among the very early settlers of Indiana. He raised a com- pany to take part in one of the Indian wars, and participated in the battle of Tippecanoe. John was born November 29, 1793 in Kentucky, and was of Dutch descent. In 1803 the family came to Gibson County, Ind., when there were but two settle- ments between the Patoka and Ohio Rivers. He married Isi- phena Lathom, and they became the parents of twelve children. Mr. Hargrove was a farmer and merchant of Princeton and Ow- ensville. He was a leading Democrat of the county, and filled the office of associate justice, assessor, and represented Gibson County in the State Legislature from 1832 to 1834. In 1836. he was elected sargeant-at-arms of the House, and in 1837 Gov. Noble commissioned him as probate judge to fill a vacancy. He was elected to the Senate from Pike and Dubois Counties, and served six terms in that body. He was also recorder and clerk of the county one term.
HON. SAMUEL HARGROVE was born in Gibson County, Ind., April 16, 1843. He was raised on a farm, receiving common
HISTORY OF PIKE COUNTY.
school advantages, and attended the Bloomington University -ix months as freshman. and he then enlisted in Company E Eight- heth Indiana Infantry. July 29, 1862. and served until July .. 1×65. He was at Perryville. through east Tennessee, in the It- lanta campaign, and returned to Nashville and Franklin after Hool. His regiment was then taken to the coast and joined Sherman's column. On his return from the war. he engaged in farming on his father's old place. In 1866 he purchased land and moved into Pike County. where he now lives. He was mar- ried to Mary Ewing September 6, 1866. They have two chil- ‹Iren: Minnie and John E. The wife, who died March 11, 1×S5. owned 400 acres of land, they owning, in all, 550 acres. He has a good two-story frame residence, with an evergreen lawn in front. and a good barn and granaries. Besides farming, he deals extensively in cattle, horses and mules. In politics he is a Dem- ocrat and all his family, with but one exception. were Democrats. In 1880. he was elected to the House of Representatives. repre- senting Pike and Dubois Counties, and served one term. He has been president of Pike County Agricultural Society for four years, and a member of the State Agricultural Society, six years. He is a trustee of Purdue University, and a Mason, and is one of Pike County's most respected and influential citizens. His wife was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
DR. JOHN KIME was born in Pike County, Ind., March 24. 1828. son of Michael and Lucy ( Hutchison) Kime, who were the parents of ten children. The Doctor was raised on a farm and received a somewhat limited education. When nearly twenty-one years old he attended school at Newburg, Ind., and obtained a fair education. He then taught school for some time and on reaching his majority, he went to Tennessee and con- tinned teaching. He attended the Nashville Medical College and married in that State and soon after went to Kentucky and re- turned to Indiana in 1861. To his marriage with Ellen Mor- rison, November 16, 1854, three children were born, two of whom are living: James F and Rufus R. His wife died March 21, 1861, and September 18, 1862, he married Casanner (Jones) Gardiner. They became the parents of six children-five sons and one daughter. Dr. Kine came to this State about the begin- ing of the war and in consequence lost all his property. He mustered a company of soldiers and while in camp at Paducah, was taken ill and compelled to return home. He began the practice of medicine and continued in that profession until two years previous to his death. He died of cancer August 28, 1884. He lived at Union twenty-one years, where he had built up a good practice. He owned fifty-two acres of land besides some town lots. He is a very liberal Democrat and was an elder in the
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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
Cumberland Presbyterian Church, of which he was a member for thirty-five years. He was noted for his skill as a physician and surgeon and for his generosity to the unfortunate and the soldiers.
THOMAS LEE was born in Pike County, Ind., July 4, 1823. Thomas and Eve Lee were the parents of nine children. They were natives of North Carolina and came to Indiana when there were but few settlements, and when the woods abounded in In- dians and wild animals. He located and began clearing his farm, but before having accomplished much he died. He was a great hunter and made the most of his living in that manner. His wife died when our subject was an infant. Thus the family was broken up. Thomas made his home with George Colvin until he was twenty-five years old when he located on seventy acres of land which he had purchased with $50, his portion of his father's estate. He built a log hut and began clearing his land and putting in crops. He continued farming and now owns 102 acres of very fertile land. He has been a successful farmer and deals in live stock to some extent. Catharine Frederick became his wife January 20, 1848. Their marriage remained childless, but they have raised several orphan children. Mr. Lee is a member of the I. O. O. F., and is a member of the Methodist Church. His wife died November 22, 1884, and he yet lives on the old home place with two of his nieces. He is a Republican in politics.
ALBERT L. MASTERS was born in Pike County, Ind., December 20, 1821. His parents were Richard and Elizabeth ( Fowler ) Masters, who were born and raised in Kentucky. They came to Pike County, Ind., about 1819 and settled on a farm, previously entered, and began clearing it. The father died when our subject was two years old. December 12, 1826 his widow married John Butler. When he was about thirteen years old his step-father died and he then remained with his mother until he was twenty-three years old and then began farming for himself on land where his father had lived. About 1849 he purchased the farm where he now lives. He has been quite successful in his enterprises and owns 191 acres of land, 223 acres which he owned in Logan Township he gave to his children. December 18, 1846 he married Catharine Grubb and they became the parents of eleven children, nine now living. The wife died June 1, 1882. and Mr. Masters is living on the old home farm with his chil- dren. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., and has been a member of the Methodist and Cumberland Presbyterian Churches. He was born and raised a Democrat but after the war he became a Republican. He enlisted in Company G. Sixty-fifth Indiana Volunteers, July 15, 1862, but was discharged in February, 1864. on account of disability. He was in several battles and skirm- ishes. He is now sixty-four years old and is yet hale and hearty.
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HISTORY OF PIKE COUNTY.
MONROE TOWNSHIP.
JESSE H. CLIFFORD, farmer, son of Allen W. and Susan (Moore) Clifford, was born July 12, 1841, in Pike County, Ind. The father was born in Kentucky, March 25, 1816, and came to this county in his boyhood, and located in Lockhart Township. About 1835, he married and settled in Patoka Township, where he lived until 1840, when he removed to Lockhart Township. Some time after he started to Indianapolis to transact some busi- ness, his son taking him to Oakland City. Whether he ever arrived at his destination or not, is not known. His fate remains a · complete mystery. He left. a wife and son, a good farm and pleasant surroundings. The mother's death occurred August 7, 1852. Our subject who received a limited education in youth, was married July 25, 1861. to Tasa L. Davis, born December 14, 1842. To them were born six children: Joseph W., Mary E., Sarah K., Nancy C., Charley W. and Tasa L. Thirteen years later his wife died, and August 14, 1876, he married Ruth Lane, born December 24, 1855. They are the parents of four chil- dren: Eddie, Allen W., Julia B. and Ella F. The parents and the three oldest children are members of the Baptist Church. Mr. Clifford is a Republican, and cast his first vote for Lincoln.
H. B. SHIVELY, merchant, of Pleasantville, Ind., is the son of Byrom and Harriet Woods Shively. The father kept hotel in Huntingburgh, Ind., where he remained until 1861, when he enter d the army. He enlisted in Company F, Fifty-third Indi- ana Volunteers. From a private he rose to the rank of captain. which office he ably filled. At Atlanta he was struck with a ball and killed, thus giving his life for his country, August 23. 1864. The mother died the year following. Capt. Shively was a son of Jacob Shively, a leading minister of the Christian Church. Our subject was born September 11, 1857. He received a fair education, and when twenty years old, began clerking for J. H. Taylor & Co., with whom he remained three years. He is now one of the two partners of the house of H. B. Shively & Co .. and is doing a lively business. September 30, 1883, he married Emma Cox, born March 15, 1866. To them was born one child, Elvy. Mr. Shively is a Democrat and cast his first vote for Cleveland. He is also a member of the I. O. O. F., and has passed through all the degrees. He is a good business man and citizen.
PART III.
HISTORY OF DUBOIS COUNTY
CHAPTER I .*
GEOLOGY-BOUNDARY AND WATER COURSES-RECENT DEPOSITS-THE DRIFT-PALEOZOIC FORMATIONS-SECTION OF THE COUNTY-FOSSILS -THE COALS-LOCAL DETAILS-ECONOMIC CONSIDERATIONS-MINING COMPANIES-OCHRE-CLAYS, ETC.
D UBOIS COUNTY is bounded on the north by Daviess and Martin Counties, on the east by Orange . and Crawford, on the south by Perry, Spencer and Warrick, and on the west by Pike, embracing an area of 432 square miles, of which one-tenth is river and creek bottoms, one-half modified drift and alluviam of ancient lakes and rivers and the remainder bold hills and elevated plateaus and knolls, overlaid with conglomerate sandstone. White and Patoka Rivers with their numerous branches drain the entire county. Many fine springs flow out from the junction of the al- luvium with the other deposits.
Recent Geology .- The surface deposits consist of pure clays, or those slightly mixed with gravel of the glacial drift, and loess with the subsequent lacustrine and alluvial deposits. Of these the alluvium is found in the river bottoms, and its origin is due to causes now in action. It is formed from the decomposition of the older rocks, contains their best elements, and is the most fertile land in the county. Lacustrine deposits consist of clays and impalpable intercolations of silicious material with occasional layers of quicksand. It is found in digging wells on the platean between Ireland and Otwell. The loess caps the highest hills of the county. It is a warm loamy sand, imperfectly stratified.
* Adapted to this work from the report of E. T. Cox, State Geologist, 1872.
15
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HISTORY OF DUBOIS COUNTY.
twenty to thirty feet in thickness, is rich in plant food and is called the "walnut level." Much of the richness of the loess has been removed by erosion. The glacial drift consists of white and blue plastie clays, spread out over the system of hills and valleys formed during the drift period. In the southern part of the county it is only a few inches thick, but on the north becomes about eight feet.
Paleozoic Geology .- The stratified rocks of the county belong mainly to the coal measures, with limited exposures of subcarbon- iferous limestone in the deep gorges at the head of Patoka River. The entire county is underlaid with coal, excepting only the highlands, commencing a short distance north of Birdseye and extending to the northern boundary. Even within this area oc- casional layers may be found on the hill tops. The following sec- tion exhibits the county coals and rocks:
Feet.
Shaly sandstone.
Black slate
1
Coal M 11
Fire clay 21
Silicious shales, part sandstone.
18
Coal L (?).
Fire clay with iron nodules
9
Hard flinty limestone.
1 to 10
Block slate with iron concretions.
2 to 8
Coal K with 2 inches sulphur band.
25
Fire clay, plastic. 1}
Fire clay, hard. 3
Laminated and ferruginous sand-rock 22
Massive conglomerate. 48 to 110
Gray silicious shale
2 to 24
Calcareous shale. 0 to 10
Bituminous shale. 0 to 2
Coal A (partly block).
1ł
Dark bituminous clay
14
Blue clay shale. 3
Silicious shale.
7
Bituminous clay shale. 21
Coal, rash
Fire clay, shaly
1+
Clay shale with iron nodules. 4
Archimedes limestone 10
Oolitic limestone. 50
The above section is made commencing at the hill north of Jasper. The two coals, M and L, are thin and are worked by strip-
Soil. 2 to 10 10
Silicious shales and covered 40
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HISTORY OF DUBOIS COUNTY.
ping. and toward Ireland are seen in outerop at the hill tops. They do not pay mining. Coal L is fifty to sixty feet above coal K. The heavy bed of silicious shale between coals L and K usually has a stratum of sand rock from two to five feet thick. At the base of this bed are leaves and stems of Veuropteris. Pecop- teris, Alethopuris, Asterophyllites, Flabellaria? and Cordaites and trunks of Sigillaria. Calamites and Lepidodendron, large and per- fect. are occasionally found. Coal K and the strata which ac- company it presents a marked group in the county. They com- mence on White River, thence ascend to the summit of the ridge dividing it from Patoka River. thence descend to the trough of the latter stream, thence again ascend. often fifty feet to the mile.
but finally descend at the southern line of the county. The black slate above coal K is marked, is often sulphurous, strongly bituminous. with heavy pyritous boulders. highly fossiliferous. coal plants. shells and marine animals. In one of the boulders was found near Holland the large fish bone, with saw-edged teeth, first supposed to be a jaw-bone but later pronounced a caudal or dorsal armature of a ray fish. Coal K underlies nearly two-thirds of the western part of the county, ranges from two to four feet thick, is usually coking but occasionally block. Un- der this coal is the soil which supported the life of the coal plants. Still lower is found the laminated and conglomerate sand rocks. It is prominent in the eastern part of the county. One of its spurs extends entirely across the county from east to west, south of Patoka River. It is coarse grained, massive or heavy bedded. and contains fine casts of Sigillaria, Stigmaria. Lepidodendron and Ulodendron. Under the massive conglomer- ate are found the gray, silicious shales, nbounding with plant re- mains, and eut with carbonaceous and pyritious partings. This shale becomes soft, and is washed away from under the massive stone above. thus forming the many "rock-houses" which occur. Coal A underlays the whole county except the highest conglomerate ridges on the eastern border. Analysis proves it rich in carbon : it is compact, generally splinty, has a vitreous luster, a conchoidal fracture, is very free from charcoal dust, and is prized for parlor use. Below coal A, twelve to eighteen feet, a brash coal eight or ten inches thick sometimes appears. Below all this is the subcarboniferous or mountain limestone, which is exposed only
472
HISTORY OF DUBOIS COUNTY.
in the valleye of the streams. Still lower is the fine Oolitie lim .. stone springs burst out from these rocks. accompanied by currents of cold air, proving the existence of caverns in the hill-
Local Details .- It will be impossible in a work of this nature to notice all the local features, but enongh will be given to show the character and value of the coal, stone, etc. Coals L and M are worked by stripping. At Section 1. Town 2, Range 5, Coal K. is two to three and a half feet thick. On Section 1. same town and range, it is from one to two and a half teet thick. In the limestone above are Productus semireticulatus, P. punctatus. Spiri- fer cameratus, Athyris subtilata, Pimmer and crinoid stems. On Sections 5 and 8, same town and range, Coal K is two feet nine inches thick, and the limestone above has the fossils last named besides Myalina. Discina, Cyrtoceras, Nautilus. Conulario. Plentomaria, Macrocephilus Peclen Indianensis, Near MeCine's. Township 1, Range 6, Coal K is three to four feet thick. This coal outerops around Portersville on almost every hill-side. On Section 24, in the bed of White River, Coal A is seen, brought np by an ancient ridge. On the Harris farm, Coal K is three feet four inches thick. On Section 26, Town 1, Range 5. Coal K is two feet two inches, and Coal A which appears is one foot seven inches. Around Haysville Coal K has been principally removed by dennding forces. Coal A is seen at the foot of the hills. Near the mouth of Wolf Creek, part of a mastodon's skeleton was di ... o ered. Coal K is very thin at Kellersville. Occasional banks two to three feet thick are worked. Iron ore appears in the bill tops near Ludlow. Farther east in Columbia Township, Coal A has been quite extensively worked, and is a good article, and is worked by stripping. Iron ores abound. Here is found an abundance of the choicese nimestone; MAou Ou Patoka River south. At Knoxville, Lepidodendron, Ligillaria, Alethopteris Serlii, Cardiates borassifolia, Calamites, Spirifer cameratus, Athyris subtilata, Productus costatus, Rhychnonella and Phillipsia are found. Conglomerate ores of iron are abun- dant. Coal K has been worked in this vicinity. At Jasper, Coal K is found at low water. Near Celestine, Coal A has been worked in a number of places. In numerous places around Schnellville, Coal A appears. Valuable ochers are found on Sec- tions 9, 14, 20 and 22, near there. On Section 33, Town 2, Range
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HISTORY OF DUBOIS COUNTY.
3. Coal A is three feet and three inches thick, and numerous openings to it are here made. Massive sandstone is well shown near Birdseye. Here Coal A has been often worked. "Rock houses" are frequent. Knolls of loess, rich and loamy, cap the hills of Town 2. Range 3, and here a stratum of bituminous lime- stone appears. At the foot of the hills, many springs burst out. Numerous outcrops of Coal A appear, several mines being worked. Near St. Anthony, this coal is three to four and a half feet, is rich in carbon, and is extensively worked. In numerous places throughout the entire county, fine glass-sand abounds. At Fer- clinand, Coal K is at the hill tops, while Coal A is at the water level.
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