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 51
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JACOB HEKMANN was born in Bavaria, Germany, De- cember 22. 1836, and is one of two children born to Peter and Elizabeth (Capis ) Hekmann, who were born in the same country as our subject. The father's birth occurred in 1807. He fol- lowed weaving as an occupation. The mother's death occurred in 1837. The father then married again. Our subject received a very good German education in his native country, attending school until he was fourteen years old. As he was enterprising and ambitious, he came to the United States when seventeen years old, and located in Posey County, Ind. He hired out to Aaron Robb as a day laborer and worked for him six years. November 19, 1859. he married Mary Ann Huebner, daughter of Lawrence and Elizabeth Huebner. She was born in Posey County, April 29, 1842. They became the parents of eight children, six of whom are living: Louisa E., Margaret, Emma, John, Anna and
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Martin. Mr. Hekmann owns 252 acres of land and is well fixed financially. He is a member of the I. O. O. F. and a Democrat in politics.
MICHAEL J. HOFMANN is a native of Bavaria, Germany, where he was born January 24. 1545. He is a son of Michael and Eva (Meder) Hofmann, who were born in Germany in 1805 and 1$19. and died in 1550 and 1574. respectively. When our sub- ject was but two years old his father died. He attended school until fourteen years of age and afterward attended a normal school at Kissinger four hours per week for five years. acquiring a thorough knowledge of the higher branches. He began learn- irg the carpenter's trade at the age of fourteen, and worked at it until 1872. with the exception of three years spent in the army. At the latter date he came to the United States and located in Gibson County. Ind .. where he worked at his calling. February 15. 1573. he was married to Mary A. Meyer, born January, 1856. in Indiana. They have five children: Celie, Rosa, Johnnie, Willie and Laura. In 1$$1 Mr. Hofmann moved to Poseyville, Ind. He entered into partnership with Joseph Joest and Dr. Young in the saw and planing-mill and stave factory business. Six months later Mr. Young withdrew, and the business has since been successfully carried on by the other two men. Mr. Hofmann is an excellent carpenter and has erected most of the business houses in the town. He is a Democrat and he and wife are mem- bers of the Catholic Church.
GEORGE HUEBNER. farmer. was born in Poser County. Ird .. February 1. 1541. son of Lawrence and Elizabeth (Hein) Huebner. who were natives of Bavaria. Germany. The father was born in 1515, and when twenty-one years old entered the regular army. being in the Crown Prince's regiment. Later his father purchased his discharge and sent him to America. He located in Poser County on eighty acres of land, where he resided until his death. A few days after reaching this county he hired out as a day laborer to Henry Caser. an old bachelor who lived near where Stewartsville now is The next day he and two other men went to see Caser. and on arriving found him dead. with three ugly flesh wounds in his breast. On looking around they saw a man by the name of Joel Ferguson, an outlaw and the terror of the community. coming rapidly toward them, brandishing a large
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knife and threatening to kill them. Lawrence's companions fled, but he stood his ground, and after a short contest Ferguson was overpowered and made prisoner, but before his trial was called lie contrived to make his escape and was last heard of in Oregon. Lawrence was a well to do farmer and died in 1877. The mother is yet living. Our subject attended the district schools in boy- hood, and March 8, 1866, married Mary L. Fitzgerald, born De- cember 23, 1848. To them were born five children: Louisa E., John H. and William L., Nancy L. and George E. His wife died February 1, 1880, and August 15, 1882, he married Cassandra Clark, born July 10, 1856, and died June 29, 1885. Mr. Hueb- ner was one of the boys in blue, and served in Company F, Thirty-eighth Indiana Infantry. He is a Democrat and a member of the I. O. O. F., also of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
WILLIAM W. HUNTER, one of the enterprising farmers of Posey County, Ind., was born January 1, 1851, and is a son of John and Lucinda ( Wade) Hunter, who were natives of Posey County, Ind. The father was a farmer by occupation and at the time of his marriage, which occurred in 1850, he lived in Posey County on his present farm. He is the owner of 420 acres of land and is one of the leading farmers of the county. William W. was educated in the district schools and resided with his people until he was nearly twenty-one years of age. September 3, 1871, he took for his life companion Serilda Ackman, daughter of William and Lucretia Ackman. She was born in the State of Kentucky October 13, 1849. To their union one child has been born named Ida, born February 5, 1872. Mr. Hunter is a Repub- lican and cast his first vote for U. S. Grant.
THOMAS J. HYNE, farmer, was born in Posey County, Ind., February 19, 1849, and is one of eight children of George and Matilda (Stallings) Hyne. The father was of German birth, born in 1822, and came to the United States about 1840 and began tilling the soil in Posey County. He resided in different parts of the county and finally settled on his 160 acre farm, where he now resides. He has been industrious and owns one of the finest houses and best farms in the county. His wife was born December 25, 1818, in Posey County. Thomas received a com- mon school education and in addition attended the Commercial
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College at Evansville, receiving his diploma May 7, of the same year. February 4, 1872, he married Lizzie Boyle, daughter of Hugh and Augusta Boyle. She was born May 9, 1846, in Posey County. They have two children living, named Alfred and Grace. After his marriage Mr. Hyne purchased 100 acres of land in Robb Township, where he has since made his home. His political views are Democratic. He cast his first vote for Horace Greeley.
J. BENJAMIN HYNE is a son of John and Caroline Hyne. The father was born in Bavaria, Germany, May 27, 1819, and followed the life of an agriculturist. At the age of nineteen he left his fatherland and came to the United States with his brother and sister. He married Rachael M. Overton in 1843. She died in September, 1844, and January 6, 1849, he wedded Caroline Carbie, born in Brunswick, Germany, in 1826. To them were born three children: James M., Margaret and our subject. Ben- jamin attended the common schools and made his home with his people until he was twenty-two years old. April 10, 1880, he married Mary Robb, daughter of John and Mary (Montgomery) Robb. She is a native of the county, born March 9, 1859. They have one child named Carl. Mr. Hyne is a Democrat and cast his first vote for Grover Cleveland.
LEWIS HYNE, one of the promising young farmers of Robb Township, was born April 2, 1852, in Posey County, Ind., son of George and Matilda (Stallings) Hyne. Lewis attended the common schools, and also the Asbury University, now De Pauw College, in the winter of 1870. He made his home with his parents until 1882. He gave considerable attention to stock buying, meeting with fair success. In 1875 he purchased eighty acres of land in Robb Township. He is now cultivating his farm and also 310 acres in Gibson County. He employs, on an aver- age, eight men during the summer season. He is very energetic and enterprising, and will undoubtedly be one of the first farmers in the county. In politics he is a Democrat, and cast his first vote for Horace Greeley.
HON. THOMAS C. JAQUESS was born in Posey County, Ind., December 10, 1821, and is one of eight children born to Jona- than G. and Mary (Smith ) Jaquess. The father was of French birth, born in Cynthiana, Ky., in 1793. Coming to Indiana in
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1815, he followed the life of a farmer, receiving 160 acres of land from his father. He was married in 1817, and was one of the few men who have made the county what it is. His death occurred in 1842, and on the same day of the month as his birth. The mother was also a native of Kentucky, born September 11, 1796, and died September 20, 1862. Thomas C. received his ed- ucation in the district schools near his home, and after the death of his father assumed control of the farm. February 11, 1852, he was married to Elizabeth Whittlesey, born in New York in 1827. They became the parents of six children, five of whom are living, named Mary P., Horace G., Thomas J., Harry E. and James S. Mary is a teacher in Mount Vernon; Horace and Harry are in the West, and Thomas and James are farming near home. The same year of his marriage Mr. Jaquess moved to Owensville, where he remained eighteen months merchandising. He then came to Poseyville, where he followed the same calling, and also kept a shoe store, tanyard and saddle shop, and from 1856 to 1874 operated a steam grist-mill. At the latter date he abandoned all his former occupations and resumed farming. In 1879 he again began merchandising, continuing until 1883. Since that time he has speculated in grain. In politics he is a Republican, and cast his first vote for Henry Clay. In 1866 he was elected by the Republican party to the State Senate, rep- resenting Vanderburgh and Posey Counties, it being the first and only time Posey County ever went Republican. Mr. and Mrs. Jaquess are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
FRANCIS H. KELLEY, M. D., of Stewartsville, Ind., was born October 1, 1835, in Kentucky. His parents were Robert and Charlotte (Walton) Kelley. The father, who was a farmer, was born in Virginia in 1797. At the time of his death in 1864 he was a resident of Missouri. The mother's birth occurred in 1863, and her death in Missouri in 1877. Our subject remained with his parents until 1859. He attended the district schools, but his mother was his principal instructor until he was sixteen years of age. He attended a high school for two years, and then entered the Georgetown, Ky., College, where he spent about two years. He then began studying medicine under Dr. Suddarth, and was also a pupil of Dr. Orndoff. In 1858-59 he studied at home and did some farming, and at the latter date entered the
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University at Charlottsville, Va. When the war broke out, he was attending medical lectures at Nashville, Tenn. He joined the Southern Confederacy and was commissioned captain, and at a later period was promoted to the rank of major. He was in the battles of Fort Donelson, Shiloh, Vicksburg, Corinth, Mur- freesboro and Chickamauga. While in a skirmish at Danville, Ala., in 1864, he was taken prisoner and sent to Indianapolis, Ind., where he was released in 1865. He was without money or friends. He went to Orange County, Ind., and began working in a saw-mill. He had been there but a short time when it was learned that he had a knowledge of medicine, and he was called to prescribe for a sick man. His treatment was successful, and he was soon brought into notice by the citizens, and has since practiced his profession very successfully. In 1867 he married Rhoda E. Stone, who bore him one child-Albert Lee. His wife died in June, 1870, and March of the same year he graduated as an M. D. from the Louisville Medical College. He then came to Stewartsville and married Mary Alice Robb in 1873. She was born in 1853, and is a daughter of John W. and Mary (Mont- gomery) Robb. Five children were born to them, two of whom are living: Mary A. and Elenora. The Doctor is a Democrat, and a member of the I. O. O. F. and Masonic fraternities.
JESSE KIGHT, one of the prominent farmers and old set- tlers of Posey County, Ind., was born in the county where he now resides, May 11, 1822, son of Ezekiel and Rebecca (Mur- phy) Kight, who were born in North Carolina in 1787 and 1788, respectively. The father moved from his native State to Ken- tucky, and in 1810, came to Indiana and entered 160 acres of land in Posey County. He took an active part in defending his home from the Indians, and participated in the famous battle of Tippecanoe. At the time of his death, in 1841, he owned 440 acres of land. The mother died in 1870. Jesse obtained his education in the district schools near home, and when twenty- three years old, married Polly Ann Murphy, who died February 19th, of the same year. October 17, 1850, he wedded Malinda Boyle, born January 9, 1831, daughter of Robert and Nancy Boyle. To their union nine children were born, named Robert F., Silas C., Minerva Jane, Sarah E. (deceased), James S., Olive L., William B., Rosa L. and Anna M. Mr. Kight, by his energy
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and close attention to business, increased his farm until he now owns 260 acres of good land, furnished with a large frame house and substantial barns. He is a prosperous farmer, and is upright in all his business dealings. His wife is a member of the Chris- tian Church, and he is a Republican.
CHARLES KIGHTLY, postmaster and druggist, of Posey- ville, Ind., is a son of John P. and Mary (Goodliff) Kightly, who were natives of England, the former born in 1816, and the latter in 1817. The father was a farmer, and came to the United States in 1852, and settled at Evansville, where he died June 29, 1856. The mother is yet living in Evansville. Charles, who was born in England, May 9, 1850, was but six years old when his father died. He obtained a very good education and attended the Evansville High School one year. At the age of thirteen he was compelled to fight the battle of life for himself, and worked in an art gallery and clerked in a book store two years. At the age of eighteen, he took a full business course at the Commer- cial College in Evansville, and then kept books for one year, and followed clerking again for five years. He then went to Gibson County and commenced the study of medicine, and in connection clerked in a general store for about five more years. May 15, 1878, he married Eva M. Gardner, who was born in Indiana, April 17, 1850. They have two children: Blanche G. and Edith May. In 1881 he moved to Poseyville and commenced in his present business. May 4, 1885, his store caught fire, and was consumed, together with most of its contents. He immediately rebuilt, and now has a very fine store-room. He is a warm Dem- ocrat, and August 8, was appointed postmaster of Poseyville, un- der the new administration. He is a member of the Episcopal Church, and his wife is a Methodist.
JOSEPH A. LEONARD, editor and proprietor of the Po- seyville News, was born April 8, 1836, in Alabama, and is a son of Patrick and Frances A. (Brownley) 'Leonard. The father was a farmer by occupation, and at the time of his marriage lived in his native State. His death occurred about 1843. The mother was born in Virginia, about 1819, and was married at the age of fifteen. After her husband's death, she married one Charles Bishop, with whom she lived until her death, May 14, 1859. Joseph A. was reared at home. but without a father's care
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or guidance. He received a common school education, and ob- tained a rudimentary knowledge of Latin, in the Mount Vernon High School. He came to Posey County when about sixteen years old, and began working as an apprentice in a carriage shop. He became quite skillful as a carriage painter, and continued that occupation the greater part of twenty-five years. In 1859 he located in Poseyville, and in the fall of 1860 began teaching school. He was a strong Union man, and June 12, 1861, enlisted in the Seventeenth Regiment Indiana Volunteers. His regiment was sent to Virginia, where they remained about seven months, and then went to Kentucky, where the regiment was discharged, and he returned home. August 10, of the same year, he re-en- listed in Company A, Ninety-first Indiana Infantry, which was organized at Evansville, and he was appointed corporal, and a few days later, was given the position as sergeant. Before entering the field, he was appointed sergeant-major of the regiment. He participated in following Morgan on his famous raid, and crossed the Cumberland Mountains during the cold winter of 1864, He joined Sherman in May, and remained with him until the fall of Atlanta. He was afterward in the battles of Franklin, Nashville and numerous minor engagements. In September, 1864, he was commissioned first lieutenant and adjutant of his regiment, and later, was transferred to the One Hundred and Twenty-fourth Indiana Infantry. He remained on duty until hostilities ceased. After his return home he resumed teaching, and two years later went to Gibson County where he followed the same vocation. December 13, 1869, he married Amanda M. Bucklin, born January 19, 1844. They have one son, Horace Patrick. He located in Poseyville after marriage, and in 1882, launched upon the journal- istic sea. December 7, of that year, he issued the first copy known as the Poseyville News. It is a newsy and spicy paper, and is independent in politics. Mr. Leonard has built up his pa- per until it now has a circulation of about 450 copies weekly. Our subject is a member of the I. O. O. F., and his wife is a mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
SAMUEL D. McREYNOLDS, attorney at law, of Posey- ville, Ind., was born October 1, 1848, in Posey County. Until seventeen years, he remained on the farm with his parents and manifested much interest in agricultural pursuits. At the age of
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eighteen he entered the teacher's profession, thinking to use it as a stepping stone to something more remunerative and congenial. In this calling he remained several years, reading law and the- ology during vacations. In 1869 he entered the law college at Lexington, Ky., and in 1871 was admitted to the bar, at Evans- ville, Ind. He was dependent upon his own exertions, and being in need of funds, published an arithmetic entitled the "Light- ning Arithmetic," and traveled in several States selling his work, which he disposed of at $2 each. Unlooked for contingencies arose, such as the loss of health and the entire care and support of his mother and sisters, which prevented the purchase of the necessary law library. In 1877 he became editor of the Posey- ville Sun, and later accepted a similar position on the Western Star, published at Mount Vernon, by John C. Leffel. After see- ing the paper established on a solid foundation, he severed his connection therewith, and in 1878 embarked in the mercantile trade in Poseyville, and remained in that business until the build- ing of the Peoria, Decatur & Evansville Railroad, in 1880. He then formed a partnership with V. P. Bozeman, to furnish 40,000 cross ties for the road, and afterward occupied the positions of superintendent of construction, contractor, paymaster and book- keeper on the Nickel Plate, the Indianapolis & Evansville, the Louisville & St. Louis Air Line and the Evansville & Terre Haute Railroads. He then settled down to the practice of law in 1883, and has met with good success, and is fast becoming one of the leading lawyers of the county. He is a Democrat in politics, but liberal in his views. He has devoted much time to the study of theology, and in belief is a Free Thinker or Liberal.
AARON T. MURPHY is a native of Posey County, Ind., where he was born June 21, 1848. He is one of five sons and five daughters born to Aaron and Amelia (Williams) Murphy. He is of Irish extraction and was born in Kentucky, in 1810. He came to Posey County when only three years old. After his marriage, in 1828, he began farming on an eighty-acre tract given him by his father. He lived for some time in Gibson County, Ind., when he returned and located on a 160 acre farm where he resided the remainder of his days. He owned at one time 742 acres of land. He was the father of seven children: Joseph, Sarah, James B., John C., Keziah, Aaron T. and Lizzie.
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The father died in 1868. The mother was born in 1810, and is at present living with her son, Aaron, on the old homestead. Aaron T., our subject, received a common school education, and October 20, 1870, he was married to Amanda Bennett, born May 21, 1847, in Posey County, Ind. They have three children: Le- Roy F., Clarence and Ivy May. Mr. Murphy owns 134 acres of land and in politics is a Democrat, casting his first vote for Horace Greeley. Both father and mother were members of the Regular Baptist Church.
ISAAC MURPHY was born in the county where he now re- sides, September 24, 1850, and is one of the nine children born to Noah and Elizabeth (Vandaveer) Murphy, natives of Indiana and Kentucky, respectively ; the former born in 1814 and the lat- ter in 1812. They were married in 1834 and resided in Posey County, where the father owned 160 acres of land. His death occurred June 30, 1869. Isaac, our subject, remained at home until twenty-one years of age. November 9, 1871, he married Martha Jane Smith, born June 15, 1851, daughter of James and Sarah Smith. They have three children: Charles Franklin, William Albert, and Noah Welzy. After marriage Mr. Murphy erected a log house on the east part of the old homestead, he owning eighty acres of land there. By industry and good man- agement, he was able, in 1880, to erect him a fine frame dwelling house, in which he is living at the present time. He is a Demo- crat and cast his first vote for Horace Greeley. His wife is a member of the Regular Baptist Church.
GEORGE W. MURPHY, an enterprising young farmer of Posey County, Ind., was born July 30, 1855, son of Noah and Elizabeth (Vandaveer) Murphy (elsewhere written). George received his education in the district schools near home. Novem- ber 23, 1878, he married Cornelia Ellen Wilson, who was born December 23, 1856, daughter of John and Sarah Wilson. To their marriage two children were born, named Ina May and Ora Wilson. Mr. and Mrs. Murphy located on the old homestead after marriage, eighty acres of the farm being willed to our sub- ject by his father. He is an enterprising and intelligent young farmer, and bids fair to be one of the first farmers of the county. He is a Democrat, and cast his first vote for S. J. Tilden. His wife is a member of the General Baptist Church.
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JESSE M. NEAL may be mentioned as one of the promi- nent farmers of Robb Township, Posey Co., Ind. He is one of thirteen children born to the marriage of Meeks Neal and Anna Williams, born in South Carolina in 1790 and 1792, and died in 1845 and 1846 respectively. Soon after his marriage, which occurred in his native State, he came to Indiana and purchased 160 acres of land in Posey County, where he located and lived only a few years, when he moved to New Harmony in order to educate his children. He was a carpenter by trade. Owing to the many disadvantages which existed in our subject's boyhood he received a somewhat limited education: He was born Decem- ber 24, 1825. February 25, 1848, he wedded Martha Ann Still- well, born in Gibson County, Ind., November 8, 1828, daughter of William and Patsey Stillwell. Mr. and Mrs. Neal have four children, named Thomas I., John Q., Mary and Emma. Mr. Neal rented property in Harmony Township for four years after his marriage, at the expiration of which he purchased his present farm of 135 acres. By business ability and industry he now owns 320 acres of good land. He is a Democrat, and cast his first vote for Lewis Cass. He is a member of the I. O. O. F.
JOSHUA NORRIS is a native of Posey County, Ind., his birth occurring January 3, 1828. His father, Edward Norris, was of German descent, born in 1790. He was married to Eliza- beth Wilkins, and about 1810 came to Posey County, where he followed the life of a farmer. He took an active part in defend- ing the white settlers from Indian attacks, and was in the battle of Tippecanoe, leaving his family in the block-house which stood near where Stewartsville now is. His death occurred in 1830, and the mother's two years later. Our subject was very young when his parents died. He was bound out to Josiah Colvin, and remained with him until attaining his majority, receiving for his services a horse, saddle and bridle, and a suit of clothes. He received no education, and on leaving Mr. Colvin's services could not write his own name. This deficiency he has overcome, how- ever, and is now able to write very well. October 19, 1851, he married Elizabeth Gwaltney, born in 1832, who died October 9, 1862, leaving four children: Sylvester (deceased), William E., Sarah E. and Joshua M. July 12, 1863, Mr. Norris married Fanny Gwaltney, sister of his first wife. She was born in 1838,
Of ferite
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and has borne her husband five children: Morton (deceased), Mary E., Cora M., Ida T. (deceased) and Rosa A. Mr. Norris owns 320 acres of land, and is well fixed financially. He is a Republican, and he and wife are members of the Christian Church.
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