USA > Indiana > Posey County > History of Posey County, Indiana : from the earliest times 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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children named Thomas and John. Mr. Hutchinson is a stanch Republican in politics, a member of the I. O. O. F., and a prosper- ous business man of the town. His wife is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
HON. ENOCH R. JAMES (deceased), was born in Kentucky, July 4, 1800, son of Samuel and Frances (Randolph) James, both natives of Virginia. Subject came to Posey County about 1816, and after becoming of age, went to Louisiana, where he engaged in mercantile pursuits. Between 1830 and 1835 he returned to Posey County, where he followed a similar occupa- tion. He was a Democrat, and served as treasurer of Posey County, and was elected senator for that and Vanderburgh Coun- ties in 1859. During the Rebellion he was commissioned colonel of the First Regular Indiana Militia, and was a warm advocate of the cause of the Union. He also became a Republican at that time. He was married to Esther Lowry, a native of Baltimore, Md., who died June 21, 1849, leaving five children, who grew to maturity: Lawrence; De Witt; Juliet, widow of Gen. William Harron; Mary (died in 1863), wife of Gen. A. P. Hovey, and Cornelia (deceased). Our subject died August 11, 1863.
SILAS P. JONES was born February 21, 1850, in Posey County, Ind. His parents, John D. and Elizabeth (Green) Jones, were natives of Hamilton County, Ill., and Posey County, Ind., respectively. The father, born December 31, 1823, and the mother March 27, 1825. They were married in Posey County, and after making several changes of residence, finally located on a seventy-five acre farm in Black Township. Here the father, after an illness of fourteen years, died August 20, 1870. Silas remained at home aiding his mother until he was eighteen years of age. July 16, 1868, he married Louisa Platt, daughter of Jenison and Sarah Platt. She is a native of Posey County, and was born October 10, 1848. They have five children: John J., Columbus, Lulu, Herbert and Elizabeth B. Mr. Jones has been quite prosperous, and owns seventy-five acres of land, all under cultivation. He is a Democrat in politics, and cast his first vote for Samuel J. Tilden. He is an F. & A. M.
CHARLES P. KLEIN was born in Rhein Hessen, Germany, March 16, 1852, and is one of twelve children of Carl Joseph and
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Eliza (Pretorius) Klein, who were born in the same country. Here the father died in 1864. The mother still resides there. Charles P. was raised in the country of his birth and secured a good English and German education. At the age of sixteen years he came to the United States, and two years later located at Evansville, Ind., and began selling produce on commission. In 1877 he returned to Germany on a visit, and six months later came back and located in Henderson County, Ky., and engaged in the merchandise business, continuing there until 1881, when he came to Mount Vernon and engaged in the general grocery business, which calling he has followed ever since. He bought out the firm of C. & A. Wasem and carries on the business very successfully by himself. He has a select stock of goods and con- trols a large share of the trade in town and county. In 1878 he was married to Katie M. Schwerdt, a native of Evansville; they have one child named Otto Carl. Mr. Klein is a Republican and Mason.
JOHN C. LEFFEL, one of the proprietors of the Western Star, was born in Posey County, Ind., March 8, 1850, son of Daniel and Barbara (Richenbacher) Leffel, who were natives of Baden, Germany. The father, who was born in 1809, came to the United States when about twenty-three years of age, and fol- lowed the cabinet-maker's trade in New York City and Pennsyl- vania. He came to Posey County about 1845, and purchased large tracts of land where Blairsville and Wadesville now stand. In 1856 or 1857 he removed to Mount Vernon, where he engaged in the merchandise business a number of years and then retired from active life. He was a Democrat. His death occurred in 1873. John C. was raised in Mount Vernon, and secured a good English and German education. When fourteen years old he went to St. Louis, and served a five years' apprenticeship at har- ness-making. He then returned home and began learning the printer's trade in the office of the Mount Vernon Democrat, pub- lished by Thomas Collins, and later was its compositor and fore- man. February 1, 1876, he established the Western Star, and conducted it alone until 1881, when S. Jett Williams became his partner. In 1876 Mr. Leffel began publishing a German paper, but finding that it was detrimental to the Star, discontinued it. July 2, 1871, he married a daughter of Henry Brinkmann. Five
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Very Truly,
1880,
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children blessed their union: . Edward, Lillie, Herbert, Daisy and Otto. Mr. Leffel is a Mason, and belongs to the I. O. O. F. and A. O. U. W. and Harugari orders. He is a Democrat in politics, and his paper is devoted to the interests of that party ..
JOHN M. LOCKWOOD, a prominent pioneer of southern Indiana, was born in Westchester County, N. Y., April 24, 1809. His father, Isaac, who was a hatter by trade, settled in West- chester County and followed his trade there a number of years. In 1818 he came West with his family, arriving in Evansville in June of that year. He then went North, and entered 160 acres of land near Princeton, Ind., where he died in 1820. His wife died the year before, thus leaving our subject an orphan at the age of twelve years. John M. was then taken to raise by James Evans (a brother of Gen. Evans), with whom he remained as a bound boy until he was of age. Mr. Evans was a kind master and employer, and gave our subject all the advantages accorded to a member of the family. Thus he secured a fair education and received a thorough knowledge of farm life. He spent a considerable portion of his time at work on Mr. Evans' carding machines, and kept books for his employer and took full charge of the machines after he had attained his fifteenth year. At the age of twenty-one he began working for his employer, receiving one-sixth of the income from the carding machines. By the next fall he had saved a considerable sum, and in addition had $100, which was given him by Mr. Evans when he attained his majority. He and Dr. Neely purchased a flat-boat and took it South loaded with corn. At Bayou Sara they disposed of the corn, and here Mr. Lockwood had an attack of yellow fever. After a fortnight's illness, he returned to Princeton, and in Sep- tember, 1831, he entered into the grocery business in Evansville with a capital of $250. By hard and incessant labor he suc- ceeded well in that business, and in 1834 he added a stock of dry goods, continuing in this with success until 1836. He was in- strumental in organizing a branch of the State Bank of Indiana, at Evansville, and in 1834 was one of the managers of the famous "Canal dinner " given at Evansville. In politics he is a Republican, but is not radical in his views. He was a member of the Evansville city council in 1833-34, and was instrumental in securing the right of way, voting for the tax in Prairie Town-
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ship, Vanderburg County, for the Evansville & Crawfordsville Railroad. In 1836 he removed to a farm near Evansville, and resided there and in the city until September, 1852, when he re- moved to Mount Vernon, where he has since resided. He has taken an equal interest in private and public enterprises in Posey County, and was one of the founders of the First National Bank, of which he is a large stockholder. He was president of the bank for fifteen and a half years. He has also contributed freely to the cause of Christianity, and is well and favorably known in the county as one of its wealthiest but most generous citizens. In 1834 he married Caroline C. Newman, his present wife, who is a daughter of James Newman, who settled in Evans- ville in 1819.
CAPT. ABSALOM MACKEY, a prominent pioneer citizen of Posey County, Ind., was born in Monroe County, Ohio, May 15, 1824. He is the eldest of eight children born to Thomas and Matilda (Sutherland) Mackey, natives respectively of Vir- ginia and Ohio. The father came with his family from Ohio to Posey County, Ind., in 1839, and farmed until his death in 1846. The mother died six years previously. Our subject's boyhood days were spent on a farm. He received but little schooling, but by contact with business life in later years he has overcome this to a considerable degree. At the age of sixteen he began flat- boating on the river, and later became connected with steamboat trade as pilot and captain. He owned an interest in the "Idaho" and "Tom Scott," and in 1877 he built a steam ferry boat, which he now plies on the Wabash River at Ashworth's Ferry. The Captain has been quite successful in life from a financial stand- point, and in addition to his river trade he has given considerable attention to farming, and now owns about 1,200 acres of good land. In 1847 he married Margaret Rowe, who died in 1851, leaving two children: Henry C. and Sarah. He took for his second wife Elizabeth Ashworth, who died in less than a year after marriage. In 1859 he married Mary K. Weever, his pres- ent wife. They are the parents of two living children: Absalom and Edith L. Capt. Mackey is a Republican, and a warm advo- cate for the principles of his party. In 1861 he enlisted in the United States Navy, serving on the gunboat "Conestoga," plying on the Mississippi, Ohio, Cumberland and Tennessee Rivers four
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months, when he was taken sick and then served irregularly as a pilot till the close of the war. He is a Mason and a member of the I. O. O. F., and is recognized in the community as a success- ful and upright citizen.
MAGILL BROTHERS are blacksmiths, wagon, buggy, plow and harrow manufacturers, of Mount Vernon, Ind. Robert Ma- gill, senior member of the firm, was born in Mount Vernon, July 26, 1838, and is a son of James and Rebecca (Templeton ) Ma- gill, who were natives of Pennsylvania and North Carolina, respectively. The father came to Mount Vernon about 1820. He was a soldier in the war of 1812, and was a house carpenter by trade. He resided in Mount Vernon until his death in 1845. The mother died March 12, 1885. Robert began learning the blacksmith's trade, which occupation he followed until 1861, when July 26 of that year he enlisted in Company H, First Indi- ana Cavalry, and served three years. He then returned home, and in 1865 engaged in his present business with his brother,. The firm has succeeded well, and has a first-class standing in business circles. He was married to Mary Parks in 1870. She is a native of Tennessee, and he is a member of the G. A. R. James T. Magill, junior member of the firm, was born in Mount Vernon in the house where he now lives, June 14, 1841. He worked at the blacksmith's trade about eighteen months, and then flat-boated on the river to New Orleans until 1861, when he fol- lowed the occupation of farming in Posey County until 1865. In 1864 he married Martha Williamson, a native of Tennessee. They became the parents of ten children, eight of whom are liv- ing. Mr. Magill is a member of the I. O. O. F., and he and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Gilbert Magill, brother of Robert and James Magill, was born January 3, 1844. He received an ordinary education, and at the age of twenty learned the cooper's trade, and followed this and farming until 1878, when he learned the wagon-maker's trade, at which he has worked in his brother's shops ever since. In 1872 he married Margaret Hausser, a native of Germany. They have one living child, Arthur T. The three brothers are stanch Re- publicans in politics.
PHILIP MANN, merchant tailor of Mount Vernon, Ind., was born in Rhenish Bavaria, Germany, September 15, 1835, and
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is the youngest of four children born to John A. and Fredericka (Klein) Mann, who were natives of the same place, where they lived and died. Philip was raised in his native country until he was seventeen years old. He received the ordinary compulsory education of that country, and afterward learned the tailor's trade. About 1852 he came to the United States and worked at his trade two months in Philadelphia, and then came to Mount Vernon, Ind., and a year later went to Henderson, Ky., where he followed his trade until 1864, when he returned to Mount Vernon and worked at merchant tailoring in an establishment of his own. He began business on a small scale, but has increased his busi- ness and capital from year to year by integrity and economy, until he now has the largest establishment of the kind in the city or county. In 1860 he married Catharine Wittmer, a native of Germany. They are the parents of seven living children: Catharine, Anna, Mina, William, Charles, Susannah and Fred- ericka. Mr. Mann is a Republican, and a member of the city school board. He is a Mason, Royal Arch degree, and he and family are members of the Trinity Church.
WILLIAM M. McARTHUR, M. D., druggist of Mount Vernon, Ind., was born in Ohio April 30, 1827, son of Thomas and Nancy (Morton) McArthur, natives respectively of Ohio and Pennsyl- vania. The father always followed farming as an occupation. He married and raised his family in Ohio. He died in 1846, while on a visit to Tippecanoe County, Ind. Our subject secured an ordinary common school education and began teaching in 1848 to secure money to enable him to obtain a medical education. In 1852 he entered the Starling Medical College of Columbus, Ohio, and graduated from that institution in 1854. He then moved to Missouri and practiced his profession until 1855 when he came to Mount Vernon and engaged in the drug business, in which he has remained ever since. He has a large and select stock of goods and is doing a profitable business. In 1857 he married Mary D. Flower, who died in 1864, leaving two sons: Thomas and George F. In 1867 the Doctor married his present wife, who was Melissa A. Thomas, a native of Crawford County, Ind. They have one child, Mary A. Dr. McArthur is a Republican in politics and is a member of the Masonic and I. O. O. F. fraternities, and is one of Posey County's most prominent men.
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THOMAS M. McARTHUR, a prominent young business man of Mount Vernon, is the eldest son of Dr. William M. McArthur, of whom proper mention is made elsewhere. He was born in Mount Vernon, Posey Co., Ind,, January 10, 1860. He re- mained with his parents until his mother's death in 1864, and then made his home with an aunt living in Grayville, Ill., (Mrs. Rosamond Agniel), until 1868, when he returned home and en- tered school, completing the high school course in 1876. He then taught school in Mount Vernon and in Posey County from 1878 to 1882, and was principal of the West School building of Mount Vernon, three years. In June, 1882, he engaged in the book and stationery business, and has carried on that enterprise ever since with marked success. He has a select stock of goods, books, stationery, wall-paper, mouldings, musical goods, toys and fancy articles. He is a Republican in politics.
OSCAR L. McCALLISTER, merchant of Mount Vernon, Ind., and native of the town was born May 28, 1850, and is the elder of two children born to the marriage of Alexander McCallister and Evelina E. Newman. The father was born near Evansville, Ind., June 4, 1822, and removed from there when a boy to near Hen- derson, Ky. Between 1836 and 1838 he came to Posey County with his parents and the family located on a farm in Black Town- ship. Soon after Alexander C. came to Mount Vernon and began clerking in stores and in 1837 or 1838 he and Noble Craig formed a partnership and engaged in the general merchandise business. They remained together in this connection until 1858 when he purchased his partner's share of the stock and carried on the bus- iness alone until 1871 when he took our subject into partnership with him. They remained in this connection until the father's death, November 23, 1884. He was well and favorably known as an enterprising and successful business man and an honorable and upright citizen, of this county. His wife still survives him. Oscar L. obtained a good education in the city schools, and since forming the partnership with his father he has done well finan- cially. He carries a full line of dry goods, boots and shoes, and other goods pertaining to his line of business. October 31, 1877, he married Lida Goshorn, a native of Cincinnati, Ohio. They have two children: Alexander C. and Alfred G. In politics Mr. McCallister is a Republican and an enterprising and worthy citizen.
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BRADDOCK McGREGOR was born in Virginia (now West Virginia) July 24, 1845, and is one of eight children born to James and Eliza Jane (Morrison) McGregor, who were natives of Scotland and Virginia, respectively. Braddock obtained the ordinary English education, and at the age of fourteen went to Ohio to live with his grandparents. At the breaking out of the war he enlisted in Company B, Seventy-seventh Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and served his country faithfully until 1866. He then came to Posey County, and purchased a farm near Mount Vernon. A year later he engaged in the saw-milling and steam-threshing business, and in 1873 returned to Virginia. Here he followed mercantile pursuits until November, 1876, when he returned to Posey County and took up his residence at Farmersville, and re- sumed the saw-milling business. In 1880 he and his brother, William A., bought a farm of 1,000 acres on the Wabash River. They have devoted their time to clearing this farm and sawing up the lumber. In 1883 he removed to Mount Vernon, and March 1, 1884, purchased a one-half interest in the saw-mill and stave factory owned by Ford & Vandergrift, retaining Ford as partner. They carry on an extensive business and employ fifty men in their factory. In 1869 Mr. McGregor was married to Kate Monroe. They have three children: Ollie, Inez and Charles M. Our subject is a stanch Republican, and is an efficient mem- ber of the city council. He is a Mason and a member of the I. O. O. F., and is director in the Mount Vernon Building and Loan Association.
HON. GUSTAVUS V. MENZIES was born in Boone County, Ky., December 24, 1844, and is a son of Dr. Samuel G. Menzies and Sally ( Winston) Menzies. The father was a native of Kentucky, born in 1810, and was a graduate in his profession. He served as surgeon of the First Kentucky Regiment, and during his serv- ice contracted disease which resulted in his death December 21, 1882. Our subject received a good education in the high school of Cincinnati, Ohio. In 1861 he enlisted in the First Kentucky Regiment, and served until September of the same year, when he was appointed midshipman in the naval academy at Annapolis, Md., graduating in 1864, and served on European, West Indian and South American squadrons. He was flag lieutenant on the staffs of Admirals Dahlgren and Turner, and temporarily with
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Poor during the insurrection in Cuba in 1869, and held various naval offices. During 1870-71, while instructor in the academy at Annapolis, he studied law, and in the latter year came to Mount Vernon and began practicing his profession with his father-in- law, Gen. A. P. Hovey. November 11, 1869, he married Esther, only daughter of Gen. Hovey. They have three children. Mr. Menzies is a Democrat, and was elected to the State Senate in 1878. He was delegate to the Democratic National Convention in 1884. He is a Mason and a K. of P.
MAJ. SYLVANUS MILNER was born August 24, 1833, in Stark County, Ohio. He remained in that State until he was eight years old, when he removed with his parents to Mount Ver- non, Ind. Here he received a very good education in the public schools, and also attended the State University of Indiana for some time. When but eighteen years old he was appointed deputy postmaster of Mount Vernon, and served under John Wil- son. Here he remained for two years. He then began learning the wagon-maker's trade, but, after serving an apprenticeship, never worked at the trade. From 1854 to 1862 he followed the occupation of merchant's clerk, and at the latter date was ap- pointed surveyor of Mount Vernon, and held this position until 1863, when he enlisted in the service of his country to quell the Rebellion. He organized Companies A and K, Indiana Volun- teers, and was made captain of the former company. He was soon made major of the regiment, and held that position until the close of the war. After his return from the war he engaged in the mercantile business for a short time, and then began manu- facturing brick. This led to the erection of the Masonic Temple, with which he is identified. He was appointed postmaster by President Grant in 1869, and held the position until 1882, when he resigned. He is a prominent Mason and a stanch Republican. He is a bachelor and a man of genial and friendly disposition.
EDWIN MONROE may be mentioned as one of the promi- nent settlers of Posey County. He was born May 30, 1815, in Cuyahoga County, N. Y, and is a son of Joshua and J. (Fairchild) Monroe, who were the parents of seven children. Our subject was educated in the district schools in his neighbor- hood. When he was but thirteen years of age his parents died, and he was then obliged to support himself. July 15, 1840, he
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married Miranda Jane North, daughter of Darius and Mary North. She was born July 18, 1824, in Posey County. To their union these children were born, namely: Julia E. (deceased), Darius, Mary J., Charles (deceased), Kate, Nathaniel D., Alvin H., Emma, William, Ira H., Emma M., Edmund S. and Ella. January 8, 1846, Mr. Monroe purchased 160 acres of land, and on this he has ever since lived. He is one of the old settlers of the county, and has lived to see it transformed from a wilderness to well cultivated farms. He is a Republican, and his first vote was for Harrison.
MRS. CHRISTENA MORLOCK, wife of Christian Mor- lock (deceased), was born January 27, 1845, in Germany. She came with her parents to the United States when but nine years of age. They located for a short period in Evansville, and then moved to a farm about ten miles from that city. Mr. Morlock was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, in November, 1830. He always followed the occupation of farming, and January 27, 1868, he led to Hymen's altar, our subject, Christena Willimann, daughter of Adam and Mary Willimann. To their union were born six chil- dren, named Frederick, George, Mary, John, Edward and Em- ma. In 1867 Mr. Morlock purchased eighty acres of land in Section 11, Black Township, Posey Co., Ind., and afterward added sixty acres more which made him a comfortable home. Af- ter his death which occurred March 4, 1880, his widow moved to Mount Vernon, where she remained four years and then pur- chased and moved on her present farm of eighty acres. She is a worthy member of the German Methodist Church.
GEORGE NAAS, a prominent merchant of Mount Vernon, Ind., was born in Vanderburg County, May 8, 1840, and is the eldest of ten children of Frederick and Malinda ( Weis) Naas, who were born in Germany. The father came to the United States in 1830, and located on a farm in Vanderburg County, where he remained tilling the soil until 1860, when he removed to Gibson County. That same year he volunteered his services for his country, and enlisted in the war of the Rebellion, and died during service at Nashville, Tenn., in 1865. The mother still resides in Gibson County. George was raised on a farm, and when fourteen years old he left home and began clerking in a store at Blairsville, and later at Saint Wendel. In 1861 he
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engaged in the general merchandise business for himself at the latter place and carried on a lively trade there until 1874, when he was elected treasurer of Posey County, and removed to Mount Vernon. He served two terms by re-election. In 1878, he en- gaged in the general merchandise business here in partnership with Anton Raben. They handle a large and select line of dry goods, boots and shoes, hats, caps, clothing, and a general stock of groceries. . They have the largest store of the kind in the county, and command the leading trade in city and country. In 1860 Mr. Naas took for his wife, Louisa Neff, who died in 1876, leaving seven children: Katie, Henry, Anna, Sophia, Peter, John and Mary. For his second wife he took Mary Greb, his present wife. They have two children: William and Adaline. In politics Mr. Naas has always been an unswerving Democrat. He was a member of the city council four years, and he and family are members of the Catholic faith. Mr. Naas is an honest and successful business man of the county, and a thoroughly moral citizen,
THORNTON W. NEALE, son of Thomas and Margaret (Winn) Neale, was born at Parkersburg, W. Va., November 20, 1817, and is the youngest of eleven children (only two of whom are now living). His parents were natives of Virginia, and after- ward moved to West Virginia where they resided until their re- spective deaths. Thornton W., passed the life of the average far- mer's boy but secured a limited education. As he was an ambi- tious and enterprising young man, he at the age of nineteen years, took Horace Greeley's advice and came as far west as In- diana and located on a farm about twelve miles below Evansville, on the river, here he remained until the spring of 1850 when he removed to Henderson County, Ky., and in 1853, came to Posey County and located on a farm which he purchased four miles north- east of Mount Vernon, where he followed farming exclusively until 1864, when he removed to Mount Vernon and has since given his attention to dealing in real estate and grain. Mr. Neale's life has been a success in every respect. He owns 300 acres of good farm- ing land and twenty-nine acres within the city limits. May 12, 1840, his marriage with Elizabeth Cloud was celebrated. She was a native of Indiana, and died in 1854, having borne six children, four now living: Harriet, the wife of Washington Hall; Thomas
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