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 67
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 67
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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
SAMUEL M. NASH, born May 13, 1838, in Westi moreland County, Penn .. is a son of Zenas and Rebecca ( Wilson ) Nash, who were also natives of Pennsylvania. The father's death occurred in 1871, and the mother's in 1878. The family came to Crawford County, Ind., in 1859. Samuel M., our subject, received but little education iu boyhood, and remained at home until he wa- twenty-three years old, when he enlisted in the army, joinit ._ Company H. Twenty-third Indiana Infantry, and remained in t !. field over four years, and was in many battles. At Fort Hett and Shiloh he received a shell wound in the left temple and a? He participated in the battles of Corinth, Bolivar, Mempli- Like Providence, Milligan's Bend and Grand Gulf, and also the- siege of Vicksburg. March. 1864, he came home on a thirty day's furlough, but returned and was with Sherman in his march to the sea. He staid with Sherman's troops till the regiment was sent to Louisville, and then came to Indianapolis, Ind., wh-r- he was discharged. He received considerable injury by exposure. but was in the hospital only three days of the whole term. After his return, he engaged in farming in Crawford County, Ind., and remained there until 1878. From there he went to Pike County. where he remained until 1882, and then came to Birdseye and engaged in hotel business, at which he has been very successful. He was united in marriage to Susie C. Blank, September 29. 1870. Her grandfather was one of the first settlers of Harrison County, Ind. Mr. Nash is a Freemason and a member of the G. A. R. since 1884. He is a Republican in politics, casting his first vote for Abraham Lincoln.
JOHN O. NASH, brother of Samuel M. Nash ( elsewhere written ), was born November 23, 1840, in Westmoreland Coun- ty, Penn. The subject of our biography left home at the early age of thirteen. He received a very limited education, owing to the scarcity of schools in his neighborhood at that time. At the age of fifteen he began driving carts on the railroad for $8 per mouth, his wages afterward being raised to $10 and $13 per month. At the age of twenty-three he was married. and began farming for himself on forty acres of land which he bought in Crawford County, Ind. In 1880 he moved to Dubois County and bought a farm of sixty-four acres adjoining Birdseye, which he has since increased to 193 acres, besides owning houses and lots in Birdseye. Mr. Nash trades extensively in lumber for Ingle of Evansville, handling over 2,000,000 feet of lumber in the last four years. He was married, in 1863, to Rachel Blunk, who bore him two sons: John and Thomas. His wife died in 1870, and in 1873 he took for his second wife Alta Hughes, the result of this union being five children: Alice, Hat- tie, Aumie (.Iconseil :. and Heber and Herman (twins ). Mr.
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HISTORY OF DUBOIS COUNTY.
Nash has been very successful financially. He is a Democrat, although the rest of his people are Republicans. He is a mem- ber of the Masonic fraternity and the I. O. O. F. His father was among the first settlers of Crawford County.
PETER NEWTON, attorney, of Birdseye, Ind., was born in 1825, in Crawford County, Ind. His parents, James and Mar- garet (King) Newton, had fourteen children, of which only four are living. They still reside on their farm near Birdseye, and are enjoying the fruits of their labor. Our subject received but little education, but aided his father in his store. By the assist- ance of a brother he was taught to read, and learned the funda- mental rules of arithmetic. At the age of eighteen he began driving a peddling wagon for his father, who sold goods near Birdseye, and traded in venison, wild turkeys and the skins of various wild animals, such as deer, coons, etc. At the close of seven years he was married to Nancy M. Harmon, March, 1847, the result of this union being five children, four now living: James W., Joseph B., Peter B. and Louisa J. After the mar- riage he engaged in merchandising, and continued in this business till 1875. He was entirely broken up in business twice, but, at last, was financially successful. He retired and bought his father's farm of 160 acres, which he had once lost in one of his failures. In 1878 he began the practice of law and still con- tinues in that profession. He is a member of the Reformed Methodist Church, and a local minister, serving in that capacity for twenty-three years. He is a member of the Masonic frater- nity and a warm Republican. He enlisted in the Forty-fourth In- diana Infantry, and volunteered twice, but was rejected, but was accepted in 1864. He was on garrison duty at Chattanooga most of the time, and received an injury for which he now receives a pension.
JOHN OTT was born December 21, 1820, in Belmont County, Ohio, and is the eldest son of five children born to Mar- tin and Mary (Gossett) Ott. The father was born in Germany and came to Ohio when a small lad. The mother was of German descent, born in Pennsylvania and came with her parents to Ohio when quite young. They were married and lived in that State until their respective deaths. Martin Ott was a farmer, and a good and worthy man. His death occurred in 1853, his wife dying thirty years later. The subject of our memoir was raised on a farm and received a common school education. When twenty years old, he began building fences for Ohio farms, con- tinuing in this business five years, then began working on a rented farm in Ohio. He moved to Dubois County, Ind., in October, 1865, and in 1866 he bought 120 acres of land near Birdseye, where he has since lived. He now owns 100 acres, well stocked
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and improved. He was married in 1851, to Rachel Edwards, of Ohio, to which marriage four children have been born, three now living: Thomas B., Lewis M. and John W. Mr. Ott is a Repub- lican, and he and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
JOHN PRUITT, of Mentor, Ind., was born December 24, 1844, in Orange County, Ind. He is a son of John and Nancy (Grimes) Pruitt, natives of Kentucky, who came to Birdseye, Ind., about 1840, and still live there where they own eighty acres of land. Our subject's educational advantages were limited, as the schools at that time were very imperfect. His boyhood was spent on a farm, and at the age of twenty he began working on a farm of his own, where part of Mentor now stands. He continued farming until 1880, on eighty acres of land and made a success, financially. He then began the general merchandise business in Mentor, in connection with farming. He carries a capital line of goods, and is doing well. He was married in March, 1864, to Malinda A. Blunk, the result of this union being eight children, five now living: William L., Nancy M., Joseph, Charlotte and Matilda. Mr. Pruitt is a Democrat, and was township trustee for three terms, the first being in 1874 and closing in 1880. He is a leading politician and a worthy citizen.
CHARLES RESS of Mentor, Ind., was born February 12, 1861, in Germany. He is one of six sons born to Francis and Mariana (Kliem) Ress. The father has been a farmer all his life, and still lives in Germany. The mother died August 7, 1879. Our subject received a good German education, and came to the United States January 31, 1883, landing in New York. He came to Tell City, Ind., and began working in a furniture factory for his uncle, with whom he remained about four months, then went to St. Meinrad, Ind., and engaged in the wagon-making business for himself. He continued there over a year and then came to Mentor, where he still resides and is doing a paying business. He was married April 29, 1884, to Frances Mehling, who was born and raised in Spencer County, Ind. The result of this union- is one child, a boy, Frank August. Mr. Ress and wife are members of the Catholic Church, and he is a Democrat in poli- tics. 1
JAMES E. SANDERS was born January 7, 1820, in Spencer County, Ind. His parents were Thomas and. Frances (Kason) Sanders. The father was a native of Tennessee and came to In- diana a short time after he was married, and was among the early settlers; he was a cripple and was obliged to rely upon James E. for the family support. James remained with his father until after he was married. His education is quite limited, his boy- hood having been spent hard at work on the farm. December 17,
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HISTORY OF DUBOIS COUNTY.
1844. he married Martha Heinlein, the result of their union be- ing ten children, eight now living. For his second wife he mar- ried Sarah Messer, who bore him four children, only one now living. Our subject lived for some time on a farm west of Schnellville, Ind. He sold this and bought a farm of 160 acres two miles cast of that place and commenced farming. He began life a poor boy, but by industry he became the possessor of 242 acres of good land. He has divided it among his sons and now has about thirty-five acres of his own. In politics he was a Whig. but since the organization of the Republican party he has been one of its supporters. During the war he enlisted in Company I. Forty-ninth Indiana Volunteers, but served only about nine months, owing to sickness. He and wife are members of the Christian Church.
FRANCIS M. SANDERS. of Mentor, Ind., was born Oeto- ber 8, 1826, in Tennessee. His parents were Thomas and Fran- ces (Kason) Sanders, who were natives of Tennessee and Virginia, respectively. The father was a farmer by occupation, and died in 1853, and the mother in 1835. Our subjeet passed his boyhood on a farm and endured many of the hardships of pl- oneer life. In 1849 he married Elizabeth Osborn, the result be- ing two children, only one now living: Mary T. In 1852 the wife diedl and in 1856 he married Nancy Hayes, of Pike County, Ind., who has borne him six children, five now living: Elizabeth (Cox), Jane, Ellen, Nora Anne, Susan and James F. After his first marriage Mr. Sanders took some government land in Spencer County and lived on it four years, and then traded it for another farm in the same neighborhood, where he remained eight years. In 1866 he came to Dubois County and bought a farm where Mentor now stands .. He laid out the town and donated a lot for the first building in the town. He was raised a Whig, and now is a rigid Republican, casting a vote for every Republican Presi- dent of the United States, only two being lost-for Fillmore and Blaine. He and wife and one daughter are members of the Christian Church. Mr. Sanders spent one year, from 1853 to 1854, flat-boating on the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers.
MARTIN SANDERS is a son of James E. Sanders, and was born March 17, 1850, in Spencer County, Ind. He passed his boyhood on a farm, but owing to his being needed at home lie received but very little schooling. He remained at home until he was twenty-five years of age, working most of the time for his father. At the age of twenty-five he married Laura Main, November 30, 1875, to whom were born four children, three now living: Samuel S., Martha J. and James O. The wife was born in Knox County, and raised in Dubois County, Ind. Just before marriage Mr. Sanders bought forty acres of land, and his father
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ELACRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
increased this by twenty-five acres. He now has 100 acres, abont seventy of which are under good cultivation. He and his wite are members of the Christian Church, and he is a Republican in politics.
JOHN P. SALB, of Schnellville, Ind., was born June 8, 1854, in Vinesburg, Ohio. He is a son of John and Barbara (Hauser) Salb, and is the second of three children born to them. The parents were natives of Germany. and came to the United States in 1851. settling first in New York, then in Vinesburg, Ohio, and lastly in Jasper. Ind .. where the mother died in 1877. and where the father still lives. Our subject received a common school education, mostly in German. After support- ing himself for some time he attended the medical depart- ment of the Butler University two terms, and received a di- ploma. He began practicing medicine in Schnellville in 1550. and still continues at that work, and is the only doctor in the town. He has a good practice, and owns two lots and a residence. He is a Democrat in politics, and he and wife are members of the Catholic Church. He was married July 24. 1883, to Miss Maggie B. Betz, of Schnellville, the result of their union being two children: Mary and August.
HENRY SCHNELL, of Schnellville, Ind .. was born O .; - ber 22, 1821, in Germany. He is a son of Henry and Mari- (Schnell) Schnell, who lived and died in Germany. Henry. our subject, remained in Germany until he was twenty-five years old. where he received good educational advantages in German. He then came to the United States, and worked on the railroad. steamboats and Erie Canal for three years. He then returned to Germany, where he remained nine months. At the end of that time he came back to America and settled in Dubois County. Ind .. where he bought forty acres of land. He sold out at the end of the year, and went to Louisville, Ky., and worked about as of yore. He returned in three years and began keeping a country store, and in 1858 bought a farm and sold it again in 1859. In 1861 he bought another and engaged in farming. He enlisted in Company I. Forty-ninth Indiana Volunteers, and served three years. He was at the siege of Vicksburg and the battles of Port Gibson, Champion Hill and numerous others. Returning from the war he began farming, at which he has continued ever since. In 1865 he laid out a town on his land. and called it Schnell- ville. In 1876 he built a large saw and flouring-mill there, which he gave to his two sons in 1882. He owns between 500 and 600 acres of land, besides town property in Schnellville. He was mar- ried in Germany in 1842, but when he revisited the scenes of his boyhood his wife was dead, leaving two sons, one now dead, and the other living in Kansas. In 1831 he wedded Theresa Hil-
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HISTORY OF DUBOIS COUNTY.
bert, who has borne him twelve children, eight now living. He and his family are Catholics, and he is a Democrat. He was township trustee from 1865 to 1875, and county commissioner from 1879 to 1882.
MARTIN SCHNELL, son of Henry Schnell, was born Sep- tember 7, 1859, at Schnellville, Ind., where he received common school advantages in the English language. His boyhood was passed on his father's farm, and at the age of seventeen he began working in his father's flouring-mill, where he remained until he reached his majority. He was married, October 9, 1884, to Rosa Striegel, the result of this union being two children: John H. and Martin C. Mr. Schnell now owns a one-half interest in the mill with his brother. It is refitted with roller process, and has a capacity of seventy-five barrels per day; also a saw-mill attached with capacity of 7,000 to 8,000 feet per day. Mr. Schnell and family are members of the Catholic Church, and he is a Democrat, born and raised as such.
SAMUEL C. TAYLOR was born April 3, 1837, in Perry County, Ind. Obediah and Deborah (Main) Taylor were the parents of fifteen children, subject being the thirteenth. The father and mother were natives of Virginia and Pennsylvania. They were married in Indiana, and moved to Dubois County in 1838, where they followed the occupation of farming. Mr. Tay- lor's death occurred in 1858. The mother still lives at Hunting- burgh, Ind., with her daughter, and is eighty-five years old. Our subject received a very limited education, never having the priv- ilege of attending a free school. At the age of twenty-one, he began working on an eighty acre woodland farm which he cleared. He now owns 220 acres, of which 140 acres are under good cul- tivation, and the rest in timber land. He was married, June 22, 1858, to Mary Anne Davenport, of Knox County, Ind., the re- sult of that union being ten children, nine now living; Lucretia, the eldest,is now married to Elijah Cates; David is also a married and living near his father. Mr. Taylor is a Democrat, and a member of the Masonic lodge of Newton Stewart, Ind. He and wife are members of the Christian Church.
JOHN A. VAETH was born October 4, 1834, in Bavaria, Germany, and is an only child of Vitus and Barbara (Deppisch) Vaeth. Our subject lived in Germany until he was thirty years of age, when he came to the United States, landing at New York. He came to Tell City, Perry County, Ind., and worked for one year in a brickyard, thence to Rockport, where he worked at the same business. He then went back to Tell City and worked there another year. At the age of thirty-three, he began operating a shingle machine at Rockport, and then went to Kentucky and operated his machine for seven years. From there he came to
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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
Indiana, thence to St. Meinrad in 1877, thence, in 1881, to Mentor, Ind. He cuts about 10,000,000 shingles annually. Our subject has been in poor health for the last four years, and thereby lost all his property, yet he is again accumulating money. and is worth about $3,000. He was educated in Germany, learn- ing the native language. He learned English since coming to America. He was married May 9, 1870, to Sophia Ballis, the result being five children, three now living: John, Ida and Te- resa. He is a Democrat in politics, and lie and family are mem- bers of the Catholic Church.
FRANK ZIMMER, of Birdseye, Ind., was born December 6, 1846, in Prussia, Germany, and is one of seven children born to John and A. (Weiand) Zimmer, who were natives of Ger- many, and came to this country when our subject was six months old, landing at New York, and coming by way of Erie Canal to Chicago, then a small town. They finally settled in Lake County, Ind., where the father owned 120 acres. Both parents are still living. At the age of eighteen, our subject went to Chicago, and began the tinner's trade, being an apprentice three years. He then worked at the trade six or seven years in St. Louis and Cincinnati, and, in 1872, he began business in connection with Herman Koerner, in Lake County, continuing in this business about twelve years. The latter part of 1884, he moved to Birds- eye, Ind., and engaged in general merchandise with William Koerner, owning a one-half interest in the business. He was mar- ried, June 23, 1884, to Miss McNabb, of Lake County, Ill., the result of their union being one son, George Francis. Mr. Zim- mer is & Democrat, and was postmaster under Republican ad- ministration. He is a member of the Catholic Church.
MADISON TOWNSHIP.
MARTIN L. ANDERSON, son of James und Isabella (Mosby) Anderson, natives of Kentucky, was born December 15, 1830, in Dubois County, Ind. The father, who was of Irish de- scent, was a blacksmith by trade, and in connection, carried on farming. In 1830 he came to Dubois County, and purchased 440 acres of land in Madison Township, on which he located and remained until his death, which occurred April 15, 1879. His wife died September 24, 1869. Our subject was educated in the district schools near his home. September 1, 1859, he married Judy F. Lemmons, daughter of Abraham and Margaret Lem-
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HISTORY OF DUBOIS COUNTY.
mons. She was born March 17, 1839, and is a native of Dubois County. They are the parents of these children: William E., Lola B. (wife of C. J. Mosby), Achsa (wife of Lewis Horton), Annie and Effie Jane. Mr. Anderson settled on the old place where he now lives. He is industrious, and now owns 299 acres of land. He is one of the old settlers of the county, and has lived to see it transformed from a wilderness into well cultivated farms. In politics he is a Republican, casting his first vote for Filmore. He is a Mason, and he and wife are members of the Presbyterian Church.
JOHN H. ANDERSON, farmer, of Madison Township, Du- bois Co., Ind., born in Indiana, May 28, 1832, is a son of Will- iam and Elizabeth (Harris) Anderson, who removed to this county in 1816. and settled on 160 acres of land which they be- gan to clear and on which they built a good home; they suffered many of the privations incident to those early times, but by in- domitable courage they overcame many of them. The father died June 16, 1843. The mother was of Welsh descent, born May 17, 1800, and died February 18, 1877. John H., our subject, passed his early life on his parents' farm, and, when twenty- six years old, married Aurelia Traylor, daughter of Spartan and Mary Traylor, born July 1, 1838, in Indiana. They are the par- ents of five children: Laura, Cordelia (deceased), Elmer (de- ceased), Oscar (deceased) and Mary. Mr. Anderson purchased eighty acres of land which, by industry, he has increased to 177 acres, having inherited twenty-five acres. He has good buildings on his farm and in all respects is doing well. In politics he is a Republican, casting his first vote for Fillmore. He and wife are members of the Presbyterian Church.
ANDREW M. . ANDERSON, an enterprising young farmer of Dubois County, Ind., is a son of John and Elizabeth (Arm- strong) Anderson who were natives of Kentucky, and was born February 26, 1852. The father came to this State in his youth. Here he married and afterward lived for some time, running a grist-mill, but afterward sold out and bought a farm of 400 acres in Dubois County. His death occurred March 13, 1860. The mother is yet living. Our subject was raised at home, and re- ceived a fair education in the district schools in his neighborhood. He has always made his home with his parents, and is at present living with his mother on the old place. In politics he is a Re- publican, casting his first vote for R. B. Hayes. In 1881 he was nominated and elected assessor of Madison Township for a term of four years, and has given the best of satisfaction. Mr. An- derson, who is a young man of energy and enterprise, owns eighty acres of good land, and as his share of the estate has the old homestead.
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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
W. (. BRITTAIN is a native Hoosier, born in Dubois County, Angust 22, 1836, and son of Smith and Sarah ( Brown ) Brittain. Smith Brittain was born in North Carolina, August 1, 1806. He came to Indiana when the country was a wilderness. and passed his life among the Indians, wild animals, and in par- ticipating in the discomforts of pioneer life. His death occurred November 10. 1850. His wife was a native of Kentucky, born October 22, 1806, and died January 16, 1877. Our subject was raised on a farm and remained at home until he was twenty- eight years old. He was married to Samantha Mathis, born Sep- tember 25. 1843, in Indiana. They are the parents of four chil- (Iren: Eva. Egro C., Iona Idelia and Evertt Guy. Mr. Brittain received forty acres of land from his father, to which he added 160 acres more. On this farm he lived about ten years. He then sold out and purchased 246 acres in Madison Township, where he now lives. He has built him a fine residence and erected good barns, and is prepared to pass the remainder of his life in: ease. He is a Democrat in politics, casting his first vote for Buchanan. In 1882 he was appointed county commissioner to fill an unexpired term, and in the same year he was elected to fill the office again for three years. He is a Mason and memh -! of the A. O. C. W. He and wife are members of the Cumberla: Presbyterian Church.
JOSIAH COLVIN. merchant, of Ireland, Ind., was bri May 17. 1539, and is a son of William and Elizabeth ( Hilhnal Colvin, respectively of Ohio and Kentucky. The father bough; a farm of eighty acres in Pike County. Ind .. and worked there until his death, which occurred in 1845. The mother is yet liv- ing on the old place. Our subject's education was meager, and was gained amid the disadvantages of frontier life. in log school- houses. His father died when he was six years of age, and he remained at home until he was seventeen, when he commenced as an apprentice learning the carpenter's trade, at which he worked until 1861, when he enlisted in the Union Army, in Company I, Forty-second Indiana Infantry. He took an active part in the battle of Perryville, and was discharged in 1863, owing to disa- bility to perform active duty. September 1, 1863, he wedded Jane Selby, to whom four children were born: John W., Lillie May, Emma C. and Ella D. For some years after marriage he worked on his mother's farm, and carried the mail from Peters- burg to Washington for eighteen months, and from Oakland to Princeton one year. In 1874 he commenced the mercantile business in Oakland City, where he remained seven years ; thence to Petersburg, remaining four years: thence to Ireland, in 1885, where he is now carrying on the mercantile business. In politics he is a Republican, casting his first vote for Abraham Lincoln. He is a Mason and member of the I. O. O. F.
30
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HISTORY OF DUBOIS COUNTY.
ASHBERRY ALEXANDER (deceased) was born in North Carolina, September 8, 1812, son of Isaac and Charlotte Alexan- der, who came to Indiana in 1815, and settled in Dubois County, where the father entered a large tract of land south of Ireland. He was among the first settlers, and came here when the country was an unbroken forest. He endured many of the privations in- evitable to pioneer life, but by industry he soon had a good home. He died December 27, 1851. The mother was born in 1779. The subject of our biography was reared at home, receiv- ing a common school education. He made his home with his people until twenty-eight years of age, when he married Eliza Ann Dotson, a native of Indiana. She died in 1843, and he took for his second wife Nancy Armstrong, born October 9, 1811. To them were born four children: Charlotte, Isaac, George M. and Elizabeth. His second wife died August 10, 1858, and Jan- uary 18, of the next year, he married Nancy Ellen Haskins, born April 27, 1838. They are the parents of eight children: Thomas Ashberry (deceased), Johanna (deceased), Morton, Brittannia Ellen. Mary. Permelia D., Ida May and Naomi. After his first marriage he located near the old home, and began farming. By economy and prudence he became the possessor of 900 acres of land of excellent quality, all in one tract. His death occurred December 7, 1876. In 1880 his widow married Stephen T. S. Cook. Our subject was a Republican and a member of the Cum- berland Presbyterian Church.
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