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 55
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CHARLES ALEXANDER was born near the place where he now lives July 24, 1828. He is the eldest of nine children, and is a son of William and Eleanor ( Allison) Alexander. He remained with his parents until twenty-four years old, when he married and settled on his present farm of 257 acres. August 19, 1852, he was joined in wedlock to Hannah Alldredge, who bore him four children: Leander, Sarah O., William E. and Emma. She died August 28, 1859, and October 25, 1860, his marriage to Hannah Anne Gill was solemnized. They have one son, Joseph G. Charles is a member of the Masonic fraternity
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and has always been a Republican. He has held the office of township trustee and been justice of the peace for sixteen years. He is one of the prominent men of the county and is one of its most successful farmers, and is known to possess an irreproach- able moral character. His parents were natives of Kentucky and Tennessee respectively. The father was born in 1806. He was raised in this county and followed the occupation of farming. He became the possessor of 1,000 acres of the very finest land. He died in 1866. The mother was born in 1804 and came to Indiana in 1818. She is still living and resides with our sub- ject.
WILLIAM D. ALEXANDER is one of nine children born to the marriage of William Alexander and Eleander Ellison, who were natives of Kentucky and Tennessee respectively. The father came to Indiana with his parents when about six years old. He was a farmer and his death occurred in 1866. The mother is still living and is over eighty-four years old. William D., our sub- ject, was born near his present residence, May 20, 1837. When about twenty-one, he married, and in 1859 located on his present farm. He started in life with but very little capital, but now owns 420 acres of very fine land. He has an elegant home, situ- ated in a very beautiful location. From his residence may be seen timber land in two different counties in Illinois, two in Kentucky and three in Indiana. Mount Vernon, ten miles dis- tant, is in plain view. Smoke from steam-boats can be traced from Evansville to the mouth of the Wabash and up that river above Grand Chain. Besides farming extensively he also deals extensively in live-stock. March 12, 1857, he was married to Phoebe Ann Wilson, daughter of Dr. P. D. Wilson of Virginia. She was born in Ohio in 1839. To them were born ten children, seven living: Philip, Eva, Eugene, Flora, Charles, Julius and Lucius. Mr. Alexander and his family are stanch Republicans. His father was a Whig. He is a prominent man of the county, and may be envied by any farmer the beautiful situation of his home.
JAMES J. BAILEY may be mentioned as one of the promi- nent farmers of Posey County, Ind. His parents, John A. and Cynthia (Stallings) Bailey, were born about 1800 and 1802 re- spectively. They were married in this county, where the father
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followed the calling of a farmer. He died about 1863 and the mother about 1871. James is a native of this county and was born in 1827. He received about nine months' schooling and obtained that under many difficulties. He followed the profes- sion of teaching for about seventeen years and ranked high in that profession. In 1856 he purchased forty acres of land which he has since increased to over 800 acres. In 1862 Sarah J., daughter of Andrew and Emeline (Stallings) Defur, became his wife and the mother of his six children: Mary A., Fannie, Ida, John A., Thomas H. and Lawrence W. In 1880 Mr. Bailey was elected county commissioner and has since filled that position to the entire satisfaction of all. Although he has been a cripple all his life and in frail health, yet he has surmounted all these diffi- culties and is now one of the largest landholders in the county. He is a faithful officer and a citizen who is widely known and re- spected.
LARDNER C. FRENCH was the fifth of a family of nine children of Doris and Sarah (Thomas) French. The father re- moved from New Jersey to Kentucky when quite young, and at the age of fifteen years he came to what is now Posey County, Ind. He was, in all probability, one of the very first in Lynn Township. He was born in July, 1792, and came to this county in 1807. He was a farmer and a very prominent man in the set- tlement of the county. He died about 1855. The mother was born in Tennessee in 1801. She was a sister of G. W. Thomas of Mount Vernon; her death occurred in 1885. Lardner C. French was born February 28, 1830, in Posey County. He remained at home with his parents until twenty- two years of age, when he married and settled on the land where he now lives. He has met with well deserved success and owns 300 acres of very good land. Elizabeth Wilson became his wife November 30, 1851. To them were born thirteen children, eleven now living: James W., Luke, Catharine, Maria, Nellie, Walter, Sarah, Alexander, Fannie, Ralph and Louis C., Mr. French's political views are Democratic. He has never aspired to office and never would accept any. He is a prominent and en- terprising man and an excellent farmer and citizen.
THOMAS FRENCH was born March 10, 1835, in Posey County, Ind., near where he now lives. His parents, Doris and
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Sarah (Thomas) French, were born in Kentucky and Tennessee respectively. The father was born in 1792 and came to Posey County about 1807; his death occurred August 27, 1853. The mother was born in 1801. Thomas, our sub- ject, passed his boyhood days on a farm and received the schooling of the average farmer boy of that period. When twenty years old he married and settled on the farm where he now lives. He has been very successful in his business enter- prises and now owns 245 acres of very fine beech land, on which is erected an excellent two-story frame residence. In 1855 he was united in marriage to Angeline Calkin who lived but thirteen months after her marriage. March 15, 1857, he wedded Julia A. Greathouse. They have one son, Gustave, who is now mar- ried and living with his father. Our subject and wife have also raised an orphan, Ella Harshman. Mr. French has always been a warm Republican. He has never aspired to office but is a prominent man in his community.
ROBERT W. HIGHMAN was born August 21, 1849, son of John and Mary Ann ( Wilson) Highmon. The father, who was a farmer, was born and raised in Posey County, Ind. He died when our subject was about four years old. The mother was a native of the Keystone State, and came to Indiana when quite young, The subject of our sketch was raised on a farm, and re- ceived a limited education. He made his home with his mother until thirty-three years old, when he married, and settled on the farm where he now resides. He has been a successful farmer, and owns 285 acres of very fine land, well improved. Politically he has always been a Democrat. He is now holding the office of township trustee, which position he has held for five years to the satisfaction of all. April 9, 1882, his marriage with Sallie Alex- ander was celebrated. To them have been born one child, a daughter, named Mabel. Mr. Highman is one of Posey Coun- ty's enterprising and successful young farmers, and is a citizen of whom the county may be proud.
EDWARD E. HIGHMAN was born in Lynn Township, Posey Co., Ind., in 1851. In boyhood he attended the common schools, and later went to the New Harmony High School for two years. On reaching mature years he and his brother took charge of the home farm until the latter's marriage. He inherited about
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forty acres of land at the death of his father, and by persistent effort has now a farm of 240 acres, about 170 acres of which are cultivated and furnished with good buildings. In 1884 his mar- riage with Kate M. Schnee was celebrated. She was born in 1858 in New Harmony, and is the daughter of David M. and Nancy (Travers ) Schnee. Edward E. is a Democrat, and cast his first vote for Tilden. His parents, John and Mary A. ( Wilson;) Highman, were born in 1810 and 1815, respectively. They were married in 1836, and were the parents of eight children. The father was a farmer and Republican, and held the office of justice of the peace for fifteen years. His death occurred in 1854. His widow is still living.
CHARLES HOEHN may be mentioned as a prosperous young farmer of Posey County, Ind. He was born in Germany October 20, 1853, and when but three weeks old was brought by his parents to the United States. He remained with them until their deaths, and then continued farming on the old homestead. He has done well financially, and now owns about 200 acres of very fine land, nearly all of it being under cultivation. He is unmarried, and two of his sisters (one a widow) live with him. He has a nice home in a good location, and his farm is well im- proved. He and sisters are members of the Catholic Church, and he is a Democrat. His parents, Blasius and Josephine (Feaster)
Hoehn, were native Germans. They and a family of five chil- dren came to the United States and located in New Harmony, Ind., in the Rappite settlement. They lived there five years and then moved to Point Township and finally located on the farm where Charles now lives. The father was a farmer, born Feb- ruary 4, 1821, and died April 18, 1869. The mother was born in 1823 and died in 1875.
HENRY C. KIVETT may be mentioned as one of the promi- nent farmers of Lynn Township. He is a son of Peter and Margaret (Cowgill) Kivett, and is a native of Posey County, Ind., where he was born in 1844. The parents were born in 1819 and 1816, respectively. They were married in 1836 and lived in Lynn Township until 1874, when they moved to Illinois. Two years later the father, who was a farmer and justice of the peace for sixteen years, died. The mother is still living. Henry C. worked faithfully on the farm until the breaking out of the
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Rebellion, when he enlisted in Company H, Ninety-first Indiana Infantry, and served eight months, when he returned home. In February, 1865, he re-enlisted, this time in Company K, One Hundred and Forty-fourth Indiana Infantry, and served until the close of the war. He flat-boated for some time on the river, and in 1866 married Matilda Noble, born in 1843, daughter of Louis and Christina (Smith) Noble. To Mr. and Mrs. Kivett were born five children: Inez, Enos, Eunice, Earnest and Birdest. Both husband and wife are members of the Methodist Church. Mr. Kivett is a Republican. He is quite well off, financially, owning 162 acres of good land.
GEORGE E. McCONNELL was born near Cynthiana, Posey Co., Ind., June 24, 1858, and is the youngest in a family of six children born to the marriage of A. R. McConnell and Mary C. Davis. The father was a farmer and now lives at Cynthiana-a very old man. The mother died in the fall of 1881. George E. remained on the farm until he was ten years old when he began attending school in Cynthiana. In 1876 he entered the college at Merom, Ind., and took a two years' course. He then began teaching school and continued at that work for about five terms, meeting with the best success. He then clerked for a general merchandise store in Solitude, Ind., and in 1883, purchased the proprietor's stock of goods and began business on his own re- sponsibility. Besides his store he deals in grain, farm produce and coal. His marriage to Kate E. Hanchette was celebrated December 30, 1880. They have a daughter, Lotta Estelle, born July 26, 1883. Mr. McConnell is a member of the A. O. U. W. and a Republican politically. He is an agent at Solitude for the Evansville & Terre Haute Railroad and is also postmaster of that place.
JAMES M. McFADDIN, a native of the county in which he lives, was born February 27, 1834. He was raised on a pioneer farm and can remember when the country was almost a wilder- . ness, inhabited by Indians and wild animals. At the age of twenty-eight he took for his life companion Julia A. Redman, a native of Black Township, Posey Co., Ind., born November 14, 1836. To them were born four children, three of whom are living: Noah F., Sallie J., David O. (deceased) and James O. After marriage Mr. McFaddin began tilling the soil on the farm
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of 180 acres where he now lives. His wife is a member of the Baptist Church and he has always been a Democrat in politics and is recognized as an honorable and leading citizen. His par- ents, Noah and Sarah ( Albright) McFaddin, were natives of the Blue Grass State where the father was born in 1802 and the mother in 1804. The McFaddins are of Irish descent, our sub- ject's grandfather being a native of the Emerald Isle. Noah was a farmer, in which occupation he was very successful. His death occurred August 27, 1879, and the mother's February 17, 1868.
PHILOCLES P. McFADDIN is a son of Noah and Sarah (Albright) McFaddin (see sketch of James McFaddin), and was born November 4, 1844. He received a limited education while at home on the farm, but afterward attended three winter terms of school at Mount Vernon, where the mother and a part of the family had moved for the purpose of educating the children. When eighteen years old, he attended a term of school at Owens- ville, Ind., and a year later married and settled on his father's farm near his present place of abode, on which he moved a year later. He owns 320 acres of well improved and fertile land. May 15, 1864, he wedded Malinda Bundy, daughter of James and Louisa (Weir) Bundy. She was born January 8, 1845, in Posey County. Her mother was born in 1814, and came with her parents to this county in 1818, where she lived and died. Mr. and Mrs. McFaddin became the parents of six children: James F., Enoch W., Benoni, Noah, Idellia and Lemuel P., who died when quite young. Mr. McFaddin belongs to the Masonic fraternity, and both husband and wife are members of the Gen- eral Baptist Church. He is a Democrat and a wide-awake farmer.
RILEY NOBLE was born in Ohio, March 30, 1807. After reaching the age of fourteen years he left home and began earn- ing his own living. When twenty he began working on flat- boats on the river, continuing at that work until 1848. In 1840, he purchased the farm where he now lives, but remained on the river eight years longer, and at the same time carried on farming. He owns eighty acres of good land, having lately sold one half of his farm. April 2, 1839, our subject took for his life compan- ion Matilda Seward, born in Ohio, December 11, 1817. She came
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to Indiana in 1825. Their marriage has remained childless, but they have raised several orphans. They are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and he has always been identified with the Whig and Republican parties. He is now about seventy- nine years old, and is a prominent and respected old man. His parents were Elijah and Anna (Bishop) Noble, who were natives of Connecticut. The father was a trader and farmer, and came to Indiana in 1820. He died in 1838, and the mother in 1812.
HON. WILLIAM C. PITTS (deceased) was a son of Juddy ·and Elizabeth (Kelton) Pitts, and was born in Robertson County, Tenn., in 1814. He came to Posey County, Ind., in childhood, and there he grew to manhood. Not having the advantages of good schools he was obliged to supply the deficiency by much desultory reading and study, and in this manner became one of the best informed men in his community. During the greater part of his life he devoted his time to agricultural pursuits. In 1861 he was elected by the people to represent them in the State Legislature, and filled the duties of that office with great ability. In 1838 he was married to Mrs. Jane (Lynn) Brown, born in Hopkins County, Ky., in 1818. To this union were born eight children: Juddy, Edward A., Esther, Warren, Mary C., Magnus C., Alvin P. and one unnamed. Mrs. Pitts had two daughters by a former marriage: Seraphine and Angeline. Mr. Pitts was a Democrat. His death, which occurred in 1884, was cause for great regret among his relatives and friends. His wife still lives on the old homestead, and although sixty-seven years old, mana- ges the farm of 135 acres with great ability and credit to herself.
WILLIAM T. PURCELL is a son of George and Emily (Told) Purcell, who were natives of Kentucky and Virginia, respectively. In 1825, they came to Mount Vernon, Ind., where the father followed the occupation of farming, and also worked at the plasterer's trade. In 1847 he moved to Iowa, where he spent the remainder of his days. William's grandfather Purcell, was a lieutenant in the French army, and with LaFayette, came to this country to aid the Americans in their struggle for liberty. Of such ancestry was born the subject of our sketch in Kentucky, in 1823. When nineteen years old, he began teaching the "young idea," and continued at that work for nine years, also fol-
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lowing the occupations of plastering and farming. In 1845 he was married to Esther Pitts, born in 1826, daughter of Juddy and Elizabeth (Kelton) Pitts. They became the parents of these children: Albion, Emma, Charles, Lawrence, Clinton, Jo. and Grace, all of whom are dead except Emma and Grace. Mr. Purcell is a well to do farmer, and owns 150 acres of land. He is a Republican, and held the position of constable for twenty-one years, and has been justice of the peace for some time. In 1852 he went to California to dig gold, and soon after set up a miner's supply store, continuing two years. After an absence of three years, he returned home, and has since lived in Lynn Township. He and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
ALFRED RECORDS is a son of Alex and Elizabeth (Al- dridge) Records, who were natives of Delaware. The father carried on farming on an extensive scale, and also operated a water-mill and a distillery after moving to Kentucky. His death occurred about 1822, and the mother's in 1855. Alfred was born in Boone County, Ky., in 1820. His schooling, all told, never amounted to more than three months, but he has since acquired a very good education. When fourteen years old he began work- ing among the farmers in his neighborhood. About eight years later, he moved to Greene County, Ind., and purchased 160 acres of timber land which he afterward sold, and purchased 280 acres. This he also sold, and then in 1857 moved to this county (Posey), and purchased a farm of 160 acres, which he has since increased to 380 acres, 200 of which he has given to his children. In 1841 he married Rebecca Gibson (died in 1853). To them were born these children: Minerva E., Francis M., Irvin T., Missouri A. and Thomas. In 1854 Mr. Records married Eliza Grange, daughter of Thomas and Margaret (Sherbrook) Grange. He is a Democrat politically, but cast his first vote for Harrison.
TAYLOR RECORDS is a native of Greene County, Ind., where he was born in 1846, and is a son of Alfred and Rebecca (Gibson) Records. He received a common school education, which he improved in later years by self application. He received forty-five acres of land from his father which he has since, by hard work and good management and the aid of his wife. in- creased to 160 acres. In 1867 he was married to Sallie A. Cox, ( born in 1849). To their union were born four children: Thomas
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E., Emma E., Ella V. and Clara E. In 1882 Mrs. Records died, and in 1883 Mr. Records took for his second wife, Mary Yeager (born in 1850), daughter of Absalom and Elizabeth ( Williams ) Yeager. Her father was born in Kentucky, and came to Gibson County in very early times. Both parents still live in that county, at an advanced age. Mr. and Mrs. Records became the parents of one child, Lester E. Mr. Records is a Democrat and cast his first vote for Seymour. Both wives were members of the General Bap- tist Church.
THOMAS A. RECORD, farmer of Lynn Township, Posey Co., Ind., is a son of Alfred and Rebecca J. (Gibson) Record, and was born in Greene County, Ind. in 1851. After attending the common schools near his home he spent some time at Farm- ersville, and later attended the graded school at Owensville, and in 1876-77 attended the State University of Indiana. After fin- ishing his education he returned home and remained with his father until twenty-seven years of age. In 1878 he took for his helpmate through life Mary J. Goad, born in Lynn Township in 1864. She is a daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth (Bundy;) Goad. Mr. and Mrs. Record are the parents of two children: Myrtle and Warren. Mr. Record is a supporter of Democratic principles but cast his first vote for Horace Greeley. He started in life with forty acres of land given him by his father and also 120 acres of cheap land in Illinois. He sold all of this at a good profit and purchased 180 acres of good land in Illinois, and is now one of the most prosperous farmers in Posey County.
JAMES H. THOMAS is one of the prominent farmers of Posey County, Ind. He is a son of James and Mary (Eblin) Thomas, and was born July 28, 1817. The parents were natives of North Carolina and Virginia, respectively and both removed to Tennessee when quite young. Here they were married, and afterward came to Kentucky, and finally in 1814 to Posey County Ind., and located near Mount Vernon. A year or so later they moved near where James now lives. Here they built them a camp and commenced clearing the land. The father died in 1854 and the mother in 1839. Our subject was raised on a wilderness farm and when twenty-two married and settled on his present farm. Where he has continued ever since. He engaged quite extensively in grain and stock dealing and in 1875
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sustained a great loss on a grain deal, August 19, 1838, he was married to Lucinda Robinson, a native of Kentucky. They be- came the parents of eight children, six of whom are living: Mary, William J., Luna, George L. (deceased), Rimel L., (deceased), Samuel H., John M. and Roger R. Mr. Thomas is a member of the I. O. O. F. and was a Whig during the existence of that party, but has since been a Democrat. He has prospered ex- tremely well as a farmer, owning 294 acres of good land on which is an excellent two-story frame residence.
JAMES P. UTLEY is the eldest of five children born to the marriage of David H. Utley and Ellen Heltsley, who were natives respectively of North Carolina and Kentucky. The father removed to Kentucky when a child, and about 1833 came to Indiana, dur- ing its early settlement. He was a farmer by occupation and died in 1879, and the mother in 1863. Our subject was born in Todd County, Ky., December 16, 1831, and when but two years old, came with his parents to Posey County, where he has since risided. He remained at home until attaining his majority, when he married and began the carpenter's trade and continued at that business for twelve years. He then began farming on his pres- ent place and has been very successful, notwithstanding the many adversities he has had to encounter. July 30, 1853, Susan Mc- Lain became his wife. They are the parents of seven children, all of whom are living: Harrison, Mary, Martha, Emma, Nealie, Orila and Loretta. Mr. and Mrs. Utley and five children are members of the General Baptist Church. Our subject has al- ways been a Democrat and is a very prominent man in his com- munity. He is an honorable, religious and highly respected cit- izen, and is one of the trustees of the church to which he be- longs.
VINCENNES WALKER is a son of John and Sarah (Call) Walker, who were natives of North Carolina. He and wife came to Posey County, Ind., in 1811. He was a farmer and died in 1833 and the mother in 1847. Vincennes was born February 9, 1822. When sixteen years old he left home and began working for himself on steamboats. He worked as a cabin boy for two years and the following year worked on the home farm. He and his father took a load of produce by flat-boat to New Orleans, and after their return home the father died. Our subject then re-
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mained at home and some time later built another boat, but after loading it, it caught fire and was consumed. He then worked at the cooper's trade, but being unfortunate in that business he bought poultry and traded in New Orleans for three years. He worked for some time at the boat business in Missouri and then returned to Indiana, where he married Rachel Kivett, February 4, 1844. To their union ten children were born, six of whom are now living: John H., Mary E., Clarence L., Carrie M., Jessie Anne, Fremont and Minnie R. Both parents are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and Mr. Walker is a Mason and has always been a very ardent Republican. He is well to do in wordly goods and owns 130 acres of very fine land.
ELI WALKER is the son of John and Mary (Bird) Walker, who were born in North and South Carolina, respectively. They were married in the former State, and after a residence of a few years, came to Posey County, Ind., and for two years farmed the land where Mount Vernon now lies. They finally settled in the woods of Lynn Township on a 160 acre farm. Our subject was born in Lynn Township, Posey Co,, Ind., in 1830. At the age of eighteen he began farming for himself. In 1852 he pur- chased his first piece of land, amounting to 120 acres, for which he paid $1,200. He sold it soon after for $1,400, and invested the money in the farm of ninety-five acres where he now lives. In 1864 he enlisted in Company E, Thirty-first Indiana Infantry, and participated in the battles of Spring Hill, West Franklin, Nashville and Black Swamp. After fifteen months' service he returned home, honorably discharged. He has since devoted his time to farming and stock raising. In 1851 he was married to Phobe A. Walls, who died in 1854, leaving three children: Car- oline, Margaret A. and Martha A. Three years later he married Maria (Aldrich) Downey, born in 1826. To them were born four children: Martha A., William M., William S. and Mary. Mr. Walker is a Republican and cast his first vote for Scott.
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