USA > Indiana > Posey County > History of Posey County, Indiana > Part 32
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many. August Bender was born in 1822 and came to America at the age of forty-three. Valentine Bender is one of a family of six brothers and one sister: Philip, Vanderburg county ; John, now dead; Fred died at Mt. Carmel, Ill .; Barthel, Vanderburg county ; Valentine, subject ; and Henry, who also lives in Vanderburg county, and Catherine, who married Henry Will, of Poseyville, Ind. All the brothers are farmers except Henry and Barthel. Mr. Bender is one of the most progressive farmers of Posey county.
Jesse J. Shelton, son of Thomas D. and Keziah (Murphy) Shelton, of Robb township, was born in that township May 14, 1873. He was edu- cated in the country schools, in the Poseyville High School, where he graduated, and in the University of Kentucky at Lexington. After leaving the university he came to Cynthiana, where he engaged in the drug business for two or three years. He then farmed and bought grain for a time and later was employed for about a year with the Cum- berland Telephone Company. In 1907 he returned again to the farm in Robb township, where he has remained ever since. He is an auction- eer, devotes a part of his time to that business and is making a success of it. He farms ninety acres of land, making a specialty of Hampshire hogs, and has for several years been a promoter of pure-bred stock in Posey county, being an active member of the Breeders' Association. He was a member of the executive committee of the First District Corn School for a number of years. He belongs to the General Baptist church, is a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons and of the Modern Woodmen of America. In politics he is a Democrat. Mr. Shelton was married, March 26, 1896, to Miss Marvel, daughter of Thomas Marvel (see history of Marvel family). They have two chil- dren: Van Thomas, born September 23, 1899, and Imogene, born Jan- uary 19, 1903. Both children are attending school in Poseyville. Mrs. Shelton is a member of the Christian church at Cynthiana.
Samuel M. McReynolds, a member of an old established family, and son of Revolutionary ancestry, was born in Smith township, Posey county, Indiana, August 22, 1840. His parents were Joseph and Elizabeth (Compton) McReynolds, the former also a native of Smith township and the son of Samuel McReynolds, the son of Joseph McReynolds, who enlisted in the Revolutionary war at the age of seventeen years and served seven years. He was a native of Tennessee and of Scotch- Irish ancestry. The first of the family to come to this country from the highlands of Scotland were James and John McReynolds, and this sketch deals with their descendants. Joseph McReynolds, the Revo- lutionary soldier, came to Posey county, Indiana, before the State was admitted to the Union, and his grandson, Joseph, the father of our subject, was born here in 1816. In coming to the new home from Ten- nessee the wife of Joseph McReynolds was drowned in crossing Barr's
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creek in Smith township. Samuel McReynolds attended the common schools of his township in a log building with puncheon seats and desks made of a plank fastened to the sides of the room. There were no blackboards, charts or other facilities for instruction. Later a better school house was built and better equipment installed. After his fa- ther's death he worked for his board among the farmers while attend- ing school. After saving a little money he went to school at Owens- ville, then a graded school of two rooms. After completing this course he began teaching school and continued for four years, at the same time studying penmanship, in which he later completed a course in Indianap- olis. After this he taught penmanship at night in addition to his day duties as teacher and saved about $2,000. He then married and went to farming on the Wabash bottoms. The first year the floods destroyed all crops and he went to Kansas in 1869, where he settled on Osage Indian land, twelve miles south of Eureka in Greenwood county. With the exception of two neighbors, one living one-half mile away and the other four miles, there were no settlers in the vicinity. At that time Indians were numerous and buffalo roamed the plains in thousands. On one occasion Mr. McReynolds went buffalo hunting with his neighbors. While hunting near Medicine Lodge, about 150 miles west of his home, they were warned that the Indians were about to raid that part of the country, and as they were about through hunting they went home at once. Two weeks later they heard news of the terrible Indian raid. There being no railroads the news traveled slowly. He remained in Kansas about three years, when he sold out and brought his family back to Posey county. On their return his wife's father gave her eighty acres of swamp land. He improved this property and lived on it seven or eight years, farming and raising stock. He then bought his present farm of 253 acres of land in Smith township and continued in farming and stock raising until 1891, when he retired from active busi- ness, and has since devoted his time to looking after his interests. Mr. McReynolds is an example of a self-made man, having hired out on a farm, clerked in drug and dry goods stores and taught day and night to get his start in life. In his life on the plains he was never afraid of the Indians, although his great-grandfather and great-grandmother Compton were killed by the savages in Illinois while hunting bees. In 1864 Mr. McReynolds enlisted in Company I, One Hundred and Thirty- sixth Indiana infantry, and served until the close of the war. In politics he is a Democrat. On June 5, 1868, Samuel McReynolds married Miss Elizabeth J. Young, daughter of Greenberry and Barthenia (Sinclaire) Young, and a native of Smith township, Posey county. Her father was a native of Posey county and his father, Jackson Young, came to this county from Virginia at an early date. Greenberry Young was a farmer in Robb township on the line between Smith and Robb townships, and
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here the wife of our subject was reared and attended country schools, and later the schools at Owensville. She taught school one term before her marriage. Mr. and Mrs. McReynolds became the parents of three children, one of whom died in infancy. Two daughters are.living: Min- nie Ettie, who married Dr. George C. Smith, of Poseyville, has one child; Elva Aline married I. E. Wilkinson and they live in Cynthiana, where he is a retired farmer. They have one child.
Ellison Cale, one of the prominent farmers of Smith township, Posey county, Indiana, was born December 31, 1866, on the old family home- stead where his father was born. He is the son of Joseph and Eliza (Jolly) Cale. His grandfather, who also was named Ellison Cale, was born in Kentucky and came to Posey county at an early date and estab- lished the family residence here. Joseph and Eliza (Jolly) Cale had five children, of whom our subject was the fourth. He first attended the country schools and later graduated from the Cynthiana schools. After finishing his education he worked on the farm with his parents until the death of his father, in 1902. His mother then removed to Poseyville, and our subject is now in possession of the old homestead and additional land to the total amount of 270 acres located about the center of Smith township. It is not only one of the largest farms in the township, but is one of the best improved, having a large brick dwelling house, built before the death of the father. It is one of the prettiest and best kept country places in Posey county. Mr. Cale has made a specialty of hogs, raising the Poland China stock, and raises horses and cattle for farm purposes, making no specialty of thoroughbred animals. Ellison Cale was married October 28, 1892, to Miss Manervia E. Fletchall, daughter of Isaiah and Emma (Stevens) Fletchall, of Posey county, of which they are natives, and where Mr. Fletchall engaged in farming and stock raising. Mrs. Cale was born in Posey county and attended the schools of Poseyville until her graduation. She is a member of the Christian Science church of Evansville, Ind.
Rev. Francis B. Luebbermann, of Mt. Vernon, was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, in June, 1857. He attended the Christian Brothers' School of that city and at the age of fourteen began the study of languages, classics, finally philosophy and theology at St. Meinrad's Seminary. He was or- dained in 1880, and was located at Evansville, Ind., as assistant in Trin- ity church, and remained there until 1883. He located in Mt. Vernon in December, 1883, and after a brief respite returned in 1884, under perma- nent appointment to St. Matthew's church, and has remained ever since. He has a congregation of 250 families, but, when he came, he had seventy- eight families only, an increase of 172 families. Rev. Father Luebber- mann has been indefatigable in his labors to advance the prosperity of St. Matthew's parish, and being a gentleman of scholarly attainments. and eloquence, and withal possessed of a genial temperment, he has won
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the sincere affection and esteem of his flock, and these amiable qualities have proven to be no small factors in the successful prosecution of the good work he has set before him. His zeal in church labor is untiring and unflagging. He was appointed to the parish when in his early prime, and no clergyman could well have been found to carry out, with as favor- able prospects for the desired results, the commendable, yet arduous duties to the performance of which he was assigned. Besides his parish duties Father Luebbermann has always been engaged in literary work of some kind, writing or translating books of historic interest. From 1888 until 1907 he published two monthly magazines, "The Poor Souls' Advo- cate," and "Der Armen Sulin Freund"; also started the "Knights of St. John's Journal," and in July, 1913, began the publication of the "Parish Record of St. Matthew's Church." The publication, now in its fifth month, is well edited, handsomely typed, and has a general circulation among the families of the parish.
W. O. Tretheway is one of the substantial citizens of New Harmony, who enjoys a well earned reputation for honesty, uprightness and good citizenship. Mr. Tretheway is a native of England, born February 28, 1848, at St. Stephens, forty-one miles from Lands End, in the county of Cornwall. His parents, Thomas and Ann (Columb) Tretheway, lived in the mother country, and are both now deceased. Young Tretheway was educated in the schools of his native land, and in early life was appren- ticed to learn the blacksmith and wagon making trades. He served five years and his princely salary was $5.00 and his board and clothes. But pay was not the prime object of his endeavor. He was there to learn his trade, and he learned it thoroughly. When a young man of nineteen, in 1867, he immigrated to America, locating in New Harmony, where he had a brother and sister living at the time. Here he worked at his trade for a time, when he went to Mt. Vernon, where he remained seven years, working at his trade. Then on account of ill health he was advised to go west and accordingly went to Stockton, Cal. He soon gained his health in sunny California, and remained there working at his trade until the spring of 1878, when he returned to New Harmony and engaged in gen- eral blacksmithing and wagon making, which has claimed his attention ever since. He has built up an extensive business and constantly em- ployes two assistants and sometimes more. Mr. Tretheway was married November 17, 1869, to Miss Sarah Baldwin, of Mt. Vernon. To this union have been born six children: Mary Leora, married John Arm- strong ; William A., blacksmith and wagonmaker, New Harmony ; Grace, married Nelson Felch, New Harmony; Clara, married William Ward, New Harmony ; Hattie, married Fred E. Cook, New Harmony, and Gar- field, died in 1904, at the age of nineteen. Mr. Tretheway has always taken a keen interest in political affairs and is a Republican. He has served with credit in the city council. He is a member of the Independent
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Order of Odd Fellows, the Encampment and Rebekahs, and takes a prom- inent part in the State organization, as well as the local lodge. While Mr. Tretheway takes a deep interest in the welfare of all public insti- tutions, perhaps his devotion to the fire department of New Harmony is paramount. He has served as chief for twenty-seven consecutive terms and has been identified with that organization for thirty-five years. His long experience as a fire fighter, coupled with his ability to handle men, places him in the front ranks of the volunteer fire chiefs of the State. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and has served as superintendent of the Sunday school for twenty-five years.
Joel W. Hiatt, one of the most highly respected citizens of New Har- mony, is a native of Indiana, and has been a resident of Posey county for nearly forty years. Joel Hiatt was born June 10, 1850, in Hamilton county, Indiana. His parents were Harmon and Mary (Harris) Hiatt, both natives of North Carolina, and early settlers in Randolph county, Indiana. They later removed to Hamilton county. The father was a physician and practiced his profession many years in the State. The Hiatts came from Quaker stock, and the maternal side of our subject's ancestors were Virginians of English descent. Both parents are now de- ceased, and their mortal remains rest in the cemetery at Crawfordsville, Ind. Joel Hiatt's early life was mostly spent in Crawfordsville, where he attended the public schools and later entered Wabash College, where he graduated in the class of 1873, with the degree of Bachelor of Arts, and in 1888 the college conferred upon him the degree of Master of Arts. After graduating from Wabash College, Mr. Hiatt entered Harvard Uni- versity as a Divinity student, pursuing the study of philosophy for a time, but upon due reflection decided that an ecclesiastical function in life was not to his liking. He then abandoned that course and turned to teaching and accepted the position of principal of the Mt. Vernon High School, a position which he held two years. In 1876 he came to New Harmony as superintendent of schools there, a position which he filled with entire satisfaction two years. In 1885 he was appointed document clerk of the House of Representative, Washington, D. C. He served in this capacity until 1895, except an interval of two years. Mr. Hiatt was . united in marriage in 1878 to Francis Owen Fitten, an estimable lady of culture and refinement. She is a daughter of William Owen. Politi- cally, Mr. Hiatt has never wavered in his allegiance to the Democratic party. He is a man of deep convictions, and a lover of justice and fair play. He has ever been a student of men and affairs, as well as of books, and is a profound scholar. His duties while at Washington, D. C., brought him into close and intimate relation with many of the leading men of the Nation, whose acquaintance in many instances ripened into lasting friendships, which have afforded him much pleasure. He is an ardent supporter of every institution which tends for the uplifting of
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humanity and the betterment of his fellow men. Mr. Hiatt is a member of the Working Man's Institute, and has taken an active interest in its welfare. A few years ago he led and won in the movement for cata- loguing the books of that institution by the card index system. He also secured the services of a public accountant and devised a system which was introduced. He is a member of the park commission, and for eight years has been superintendent of the parks of New Harmony. Mr. Hiatt is a great lover of nature and his work in connection with the parks is an agreeable task, and the beauty and well kept appearance of the city parks certainly bear mute testimony of the magic touch of a master hand. The writer of this sketch has known Mr. Hiatt intimately and well can testify to his many manly excellencies.
Horace Pestalozzi Owen, president of the New Harmony Banking Company, and one of the active financiers of Posey county, is the only male representative of the Owen family now living in New Harmony. He is a son of Col. Richard Owen, esteemed mention of whom is made elsewhere in this volume. Horace Owen was born in New Harmony, November 2, 1842, received his education in private schools and the Western Military Institute at Blue Lick Springs, Ky., an institution owned by his father and Gen. Bushnell Johnson, which later became the University of Nashville. About this time the sectional feeling that pre- ceded the Civil war was growing more and more bitter, and on this ac- count his father came north. Colonel Owen was State geologist at the time and Horace accompanied him in his work in that connection, and assisted him for the next two years. Then the great Civil war came on and in the fall of 1861 he enlisted in Company F, Sixteen Indiana in- fantry, and was commissioned first lieutenant. Afterwards he was ad- jutant of the regiment and later served as adjutant of the First brigade, Tenth division, Thirteenth army corps, Army of the Mississippi. He was at Chickasaw Bayou, Arkansas Post, Jackson and the siege of Vicks- burg. Mr. Owen saw much hard fighting and fortunately escaped serious injury. His narrowest escape was at Arkansas Post, where he was ren= dered unconscious by the explosion of a shell. In 1863 Mr. Owen re- signed his commission to return home and care for his mother, while his father remained in the army. After he returned to New Harmony he turned his attention to the business world, and in a short time engaged in the hardware and implement business with Victor C. Duclos as a partner. , He continued in this business two or three years, when he engaged in the drygoods business until 1872, when he went to Terre Haute, where he engaged in the grain business for two years. In 1874 he returned to New Harmony and again entered the hardware and imple- ment business with his brother, E. F. Owen. They sold the first binder south of the Baltimore & Ohio railroad in Indiana. He became cashier of the New Harmony Banking Company at the organization of that in-
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stitution, and in 1879 became its president, in which position he still serves. Mr. Owen is of the banker's temperment, safe, sane and con- servative, always bearing in mind how he can give the best service to his patrons, and at the same time serve the best interests of his institution. Horace Owen is a man of genial disposition, who makes friends and keeps them. He is naturally of a generous nature and kind hearted. He takes a deep interest in the progress and welfare of his town and county. For twenty-five years he has been president of the school board, and has served as president of the Working Man's Institute for ten years. He is also president of the New Harmony 1914 Centennial Commission. He has always been an active Republican, but has never aspired to hold office. Mr. Owen was united in marriage May 8, 1867, to Miss Natalie Burroughs Mann, who is also a native of New Harmony. She belongs to a highly respected family, being the daughter of Dr. Josiah Stockton Mann, who came west from the Genesee Valley, New York, at an early day. Mrs. Owen is prominent in the social world and possesses the true nobility of American womanhood. To Mr. and Mrs. Owen have been born three children: Nora Edgeworth, married Arthur DeBois Arm- strong, Memphis, Tenn .; Aline Dale, married Dr. Benjamin F. Neal, New Harmony, and Richard Dale, a successful real estate dealer of Los An- geles, Cal. Mr. Owen is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows, Knights of Pythias, and the Grand Army of the Republic, of which he is past commander. The family are communicants of the Episcopal church, of which he has been senior warden twenty-five years.
Henry Brown, clothier and general outfitter, New Harmony, Ind., whose name introduces this sketch, is a striking example of what indus- try and honest business methods will do for a poor boy who starts life in a strange land, empty handed and alone, with a determination to win by right methods. Henry Brown is a native of Germany, and was born April 12, 1853. He came to America when a lad of fourteen. After re- maining in the East about a year, he journeyed westward, coming to Evansville, Ind., in 1869. Here he spent ten years in mercantile business, and in 1879 came to New Harmony and engaged in the clothing and gents' furnishing business. He has conducted this business up to the present time, and is today one of the leading merchants of Posey county, and the only complete men's outfitter in New Harmony. For thirty-four years Henry Brown has done business with the people of New Harmony and from every part of Posey county, and his customers who regard his word as good as his bond, are legion. He has built up a business and a reputation of which he may be justly proud. While Mr. Brown has been successful in business, he has also cheerfully given his time to public affairs, in which he has taken a keen interest and an active part. He has served as president of the town board about ten years, and acted as clerk of that body about the same length of time. He was united in
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marriage October 14, 1879, to Miss Katie A. Adler, of Evansville. To this union have been born two children: H. L. and L. A., both prosper- ous manufacturers in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are owners and proprietors of the H. L. Brown Fence Manufacturing Company, who are extensive manufacturers of heavy wire goods. Henry Brown is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and the Knights of Pythias. For several years he took an active and prominent part in lodge affairs, and his politcal affiliations have been with the Democratic party.
Eugene W. Nash, one of New Harmony's representative business men, and descendant of a pioneer family of Posey county, was born five miles east of New Harmony, May 12, 1862. He is a son of Andrew and Julia (Smith) Nash, the former a native of Butler county, Pennsylvania, and the latter of Kentucky. Andrew Nash was a son of Jesse and Sarah (Cavett) Nash, the former a native of Scotland and the latter of Ireland. Jesse Nash came to New Harmony with his family from Butler county, Pennsylvania, in 1815. They came down the Ohio river on a flat boat. He and George Rapp were close friends back in Pennsylvania, and he was induced by Rapp's glowing accounts of the possibilities in Posey county to emigrate here with his family. He bought his first land from George Rapp and this same farm is still owned by his descendants. Jesse Nash was a cabinet maker, but devoted the latter part of his life to farm- ing. He was a conscientious, hard working man, and took a live interest in the affairs of his time. He was an old-time Whig. He died in 1844, aged eighty-two years, and was survived by his wife two years, who was also eighty-two at the time of her death. Andrew Nash, father of Eugene, came to Posey county with his parents in 1815. In early life he was a shoe maker, but later a farmer, and spent his life in Harmony township. He was one of a family of seven children, all of whom are now deceased. They all lived to ripe old ages. Three of the sisters passed the ninety-third milestone. Andrew Nash died April 24, 1900, aged ninety-one. His wife departed this life October 8, 1899, aged eighty- two. They were the parents of ten children : George, deceased; William, deceased ; Mary, married James H. Cox, Stewartsville ; John, resides on the old homestead; Edward, deceased; Martha, deceased; Nancy, mar- ried William J. Johnson, Harmony township; James, Harmony town- ship; Andrew, Harmony township, and Eugene W., the subject of this review. Eugene Nash was reared on the old homestead in Harmony township, educated in the district schools and the Poseyville High School. He remained on the farm until he was twenty-eight years old, when he came to New Harmony and engaged in the furniture and under- taking business, from 1890 to 1900. At this time he sold his furniture business, but continued in the undertaking business, and is still en- gaged in that occupation. He is also interested in the general insurance business. Mr. Nash has been twice married. On October 30, 1889, he
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was married to Aquilla, daughter of Dr. John J. Grigsby, of Petersburg. Ind. Two children were born to this union: Hercia and Kenneth. Mrs. Nash died May 25, 1900. September 15, 1909, Mr. Nash married Miss Emma, a daughter of Col. Charles C. Screeder, of Evansville, Ind. Po- litically Mr. Nash has always been identified with the Republican party and is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Knights of Pythias, and holds membership in the Methodist Episcopal church. He is one of the substantial business men of Posey county.
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