USA > Indiana > Vanderburgh County > History of Vanderburgh County, Indiana, from the earliest times to the present, with biographical sketches, reminiscences, etc. > Part 82
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CENTER TOWNSHIP.
He has held the office of supervisor for two years. Mrs. Volkmann's father was sheriff of the court in the old country, was highly educated, and filled that position nearly all his life.
MICHAEL WEBER was born in Germany, July 2, 1839. He is the son of Jacob and Catherine (Hoomel) Weber, the former of whom was born in Germany, August 3, 1812, and the latter about ISO1. In 1852, the family, which consisted of the parents and four children: Nicholas, Michael, Mary and Catherine, landed at New Orleans, and reached Evansville June 7. In August of the same year, his father settled in Center township. Here they chopped cord-wood out of all the available timber, made rails, and prepared thirty acres for agricul- ture. In the spring of 1856 they bought fifty-two acres of land, where Michael now resides. They afterward bought eighty acres more of woodland. This land is now all cleared, except about four acres, and the Webers did the greater portion of the work themselves. Michael's mother died Octo- ber 3, 1861, but his father still lives at Evansville. Michael Weber and Miss Mary Schmidt were married December 10, 1867. She was born in Pennsylvania September 18, 1850, the daughter of Michael and Chris- tina Schmidt. Her parents removed from Pennsylvania about 1855, and settled in Center township, where they still reside. Mr. Weber has been frequently called upon to act as administrator in settling various es- tates, and he has given entire satisfaction in this regard. He and wife are the parents of five children : Jacob, Michael, John, Mary and Michael. The first named Michael was killed by a horse when only one year, three months and three days old. In 1881 Mr. Weber's health failed, and he took a trip to Germany, where he remained three months,
but after he returned he suffered a relapse, and then took a trip to Alabama and Flor- ida. He and family are members of the Evangelical Lutheran church. He has been a member of Crescent Lodge, No. 122, I. O. O. F., for about thirteen years.
BENJAMIN S. YOUNG, ex-county commis- sioner, was born December 18, 1830, in Chatteris, Cambridgeshire, England. He is the son of William and Ann ( Briggs) Young, natives of England, who came to America about 1835. They landed at New Orleans, and at Vanderburg county, in the spring of 1836, first settling on the Kratzville road in this township, thence moving to the Blue Grass flats. From there they came to the farm where Benjamin now resides, and the father purchased jointly with his brother, eighty acres of land from Ephriam Hall, pay- ing $200 for what is now worth $60 an acre. William Young died a year or two later, from the kick of a horse. In a few years Mrs. Young married William Skeels. Mr. Skeels took a trip to California, accom- panied by Benjamin, where he remained some five or six years. On his return, the family removed to the eastern part of Cen- ter township. At the breaking out of the war, Mr. Skeels enlisted in the sixty-fifth regiment, Indiana volunteers, and was taken prisoner and died in Andersonville prison. His widow died at the home of her son, in 1882. Benjamin spenthis early life in work- ing on the farm, saw-milling, and steamboat- ing, on the Ohio and Mississippi rivers. In the latter part of 1854, he returned to Evansville, and on April 25, 1855, wedded Miss Harriet Lawrence, daughter of Freder- ick and Elizabeth (Cartwright) Lawrence, natives of New York. Mr. Young bought out the other heirs to the old homestead, where he and his wife have since resided. They have had eleven children, nine of whom are living: Mary, Olivia, Anna J.,
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Charles S., Fletcher, died in infancy, Robert L., John H. (Francis, twin brother of John, died in infancy), Laura, Katie, Emma, Esther. Mr. Young was elected constable about 1863, and served in that capacity for about eight years. In 1872 he was elected county commissioner, which office he filled with honor and credit for three years. Mr. Young and family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. In politics he is a republican. He cast his first vote for president for Gen. Scott. Mr. Young is a popular and worthy citizen.
Knight township, prior to 1840 and after the establishment of Vanderburgh county, formed a part of the extensive township of Pigeon. It is now bounded on the north by Center township and Warrick county, on the east by Warrick county, on the south by the Ohio river, and on the west by Pigeon township. Along the river border the sur- face is low and subject to inundation. Here are found the rich alluvial lands of the river bottom. Along the old canal bed, or the present line of the L. E. & St. L. R. R. are rich lands, at one time swampy, but now, through modern system of drainage, con- sidered as good as any lands in the county. In the greater part of the township, aside from the localities named, the surface is gently undulating and the soil of a produc- tive character. In early times the entire township was covered with dense forests, but these have disappeared. The north border of the township is washed by Pigeon creek, but no considerable streams traverse its interior.
Early Settlers .- Most of the settlers here crossed over from Kentucky; indeed, it may be said that all of the earliest settlers in this township came from that state, to which many of them had previously emigrated from Virginia, the Carolinas, Tennessee, and other states of the south. About the
winter of 1806 Æneas McCallister, the pro- genitor of a large family of that name, made a settlement opposite the mouth of Green river. Though others may have preceded him, he was doubtless the first to settle in the township which afterward became identi- fied with the history of its growth and progress. He subsequently removed to what was known as the Knight settlement sonie four miles from Evansville in the direc- tion of Newburgh. His sons were, Jesse, Archibald, and Joseph, all men of great worth and good standing. Jesse McCal- lister's was a favorite place for the early religious workers to congregate. The camp grounds were on his farm, and he himself was a devout worker. Joseph, the youngest, was a clever man and had an in- fluence for good in his day, but the rougher traits of the pioneer were among his possessions. Between ISI0 and 1812 a number of pioneers braved the dangers of life in the woods, and came to share the ex- periences of the McCallisters. Daniel No- ble settled in the vicinity of Three Mile Island, and Daniel James, the uncle of Na- thaniel and John James, still below him. Next came Samuel Lewis and settled on the place afterward so well-known as the home- stead of Gen. Joseph Lane. These people claimed as their neighbors, John Sprinkle, William Briscoe, Solomon Vanoda and Julius Wiggins, though the cabins of these settlers stood as far away as the present site of Newburgh, the mouth of Cypress creek and beyond. Among other early settlers along the river were: Henry James, David Aikin and John Garrett. Here also lived the Lane family, Joseph, Jesse, Simon and Floyd, and their parents. These settlers did not come until 1818, though for some years they had lived on the opposite bank of the river.
This little settlement in Knight township
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gave to Vanderburgh county, to the state and to the nation a man whose name adorns the brightest pages of history. Gen. Joseph Lane came with his father in 1818 and set- tled a short distance below the foot of Three , Mile Island. In IS20 he married and be- came part owner of his father's land where his ten children were born and where his family resided until 1853. When but twenty-one years of age he made the race for the legislature and won, though pitted against such men as Gen. R. M. Evans and Judge William Foster. He was five times elected to a seat in the lower house of the general assembly and twice to the state senate. In shaping the legislation of the state he acted a conspicuous part, and by his vote and influence contributed largely to a satisfactory and honorable settlement of the financial com- plications which followed the downfall of the great internal improvement system of 1835. When war was declared against Mexico in 1846, he vacated his seat in the state senate, and enlisted to serve in the ranks under that gallant officer Capt. Walker. In rapid suc- cession he rose to the rank of brigadier general, and acted a military career which was without spot or blemish. In 1848, after his return from the field of battle, he was appointed by the president governor of Oregon, and subsequently represented that state in the United States senate. At the advanced age of seventy-nine years he died April 19, 18SI, at Roseburg, Ore.
Another settlement was made about IS13, some four miles above Evansville on the Newburgh road. There lived Isaac Knight, Martin Miller, Samuel Kinion, John Fickas, Adam Fickas, Robert Gibson, Humphrey Barnett and the McCallisters. John Beach settled near what is now known as Howard or Asylum farm. Peter Linxweiler lived north of the Knight settlement and near Pigeon creek; Ambrose Kelsey was be-
tween the settlement and the city. Isaac Knight received the honor of having his name perpetuated in the christening of the township. He became a freeholder in the township in 1815, and lived on the lands bought from the government until his death. His family was among the most respected in the township. The other pioneers named as residing in this settlement were sturdy men, skillful hunters and good citizens.
After the first settlements were made the growth and development of the township was for many years very slow. North of the Knight farm, out toward Pigeon creek, and especially through the lowlands, after- ward traversed by the Wabash & Erie canal, there was not a stick amiss. Indeed, it was not until 1830, and even later, that the land in this locality began to be cleared up and settled upon. Nor were there any 'settlements whatever in very early times east of Isaac Knight's and west of the county line, except that now and then along the Newburgh road a patch was cut out in the forests and a cabin was raised. With the great increase of population that was ushered in about 1835, Knight township re- ceived a very small proportion of the foreigners that came into the county. It, however, filled up with a good class of citi- zens. A considerable portion of the lands were entered by non-residents, the chief of these being the well-known Robert Barnes, who made the last entry of land made in the township. This outline of the condition of the township during its early existence is, of necessity, imperfect.
Reminiscences .- Adam and Eve Fickas settled near Race creek, in Henderson county, Ky., in the winter of 1806, and thence removed to the Kentucky bank of the Ohio river, opposite Three Mile Island, in 1808, where they remained until IS17, at which time they removed to a farm in War-
·
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EARLY SETTLEMENT.
rick county, in recent years known as the Simon Lane farm, now owned by Frank Staser. Jacob B. Fickas was one of nine children born to these pioneers. From an account of his recollections of early times in Knight township, the following brief extract is made: "I have vivid recollections of the earthquake which, in ISII, upset the town of New Madrid, Mo., and caused the earth to sink to such an extent that a lake ap- peared where before the town had stood. The shaking up reached even this part of the country: the shock was sensibly felt all along our river settlement. In consequence a religious furore seized upon the minds of the people and they thought of little else than attending religious worship. About this time James McGrady, who was the founder of the Cumberland Presbyterian church, appeared in this section and preached to the people. Phineas Ewing and Hiram A. Hunter followed McGrady, and under their inspiration the camp meet- ing system sprang into existence. A camp ground was opened on the farm of Jesse McCallister in 1815 or 1816. In about two years it was removed to the farm of Isaac Knight in the same neighborhood. The next season the Baptists had a camp meeting in the upper bayou settlement on the farm of Jesse Lane. This system of religious worship was kept up year after year for a period of thirty or forty years.
John T. Bates, then pastor of the church. The class had been organized about ten years prior to this time, probably by Rev. William Lynn. The early meetings were held at what was afterward known as the Terry school-house. Among the ministers to this charge, besides those named, have been : Revs. Ritchie, White, Bowden, Cleve- land, Darby and Miller, the present pastor. Prominent among the early members were: Mrs. Julia Terry, John Hall, Sqiure Vann, John Fickas and Isaac Knight. The con- gregation is now in a prosperous condition, though its membership is numerically small.
Christian Order .- Through that part of the township called in early times the upper bayou settlement, or along the river near the Three Mile Island, there has grown up a strong society of those who worship ac- cording to the faith of the Christian Order. This sect is an offshoot from the Christian church as established by Alexander Camp- bell, and was founded by John McCrary, Joseph Wasson and John Boren. The Rev. George Grimm first came preaching in this neighborhood. He was succeeded by Rev. Tibbetts, and he in turn by Rev. John T. Phillips, who for several years has been the faithful pastor in charge. Preaching was first held in the district school-house, but in 1868 a neat frame church was erected. Mrs. Elizabeth Aikin is recognized by all as probably the most devoted and earnest sup- porter of this church. The congregation is very large, and the Sunday school is in a prosperous condition.
Churches .- The Cumberland Presbyte- rians from the earliest times have been strong in Knight township. But at the pres- ent time there is but one organized class of Little Sisters of the Poor. - A branch of this order was established in Evansville in 1887, through the kindness and charity of Mr. John A. Reitz, the generous millionaire, and thoroughly practical Catholic. He donated seventeen acres of land on Lincoln avenue, in Knight township, one half mile this denomination in the township, that on the Newburgh road called Hebron. The church was first called Nebo, the name being changed after the erection of a house of worship. The church edifice is a small, neat, frame structure, built about 1858, mainly through the instrumentality of Rev. from the city limits, whereon was erected a
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KNIGHT TOWNSHIP.
.
splendid and spacious building, fitted with all modern improvements, to be the home for the aged poor in charge of the Sisters. The land and building are worth more than $50,000. The building is of brick, three- stories, 225x75 feet in dimensions, with two wings half the size of the main building. A statue of St. Joseph, the gift of Mrs. John A. Reitz, ornaments the front of the structure. Sister Albertine is the Superior, and has eight assistants. At present there are forty-seven inmates (male and female), of all nationalities, ranging from sixty to ninety years of age. No needy person who conforms to the mild rules of the institution is excluded, regardless of color, condition, or religious belief.
Hospital for the Insane .- This state in- stitution is located in Knight township, on what was formerly known as the Howard farm, on the Newburgh road, about three miles from the city of Evansville. The county records show that in 1882, Mr. Sam- uel Barker, then county commissioner, pre- sented resolutions to the board of commis- sioners setting forth the needs of additional accommodations for the insane in the state of Indiana. Through the efforts of Hon. William Rahm, jr., state senator, Hons. John F. Pruitt and J. W. Spain, representatives, the county and city officers and a committee of citizens composed of Capt. H. C. Good- ing, Hon. J. A. Lemcke, Dr. M. Muhl- hausen, and Mr. Thomas P. Byrnes, the state legislature was induced to visit Evans- ville with a view of selecting a site for such an asylum as the needs of the state de- manded. The legislature was handsomely entertained by the citizens of the city, and the advantages of the location were so clearly presented that favorable action was secured. A handsome edifice, built of brick, at a cost of about $250,000, and capable of accommodating 1,000 inmates, was erected
in 1886, by P. H. McCormick, of Columbus, Ind., contractor, under the supervision of the hospital commissioners, and after a design prepared by E. H. Ketcham, of Indianapolis, Ind., architect. The asylum farm cost $20,000.
Towns .- On April 1, 1837, William Walker laid out a town in the southeast quarter of section 13, township 6 south, range IO west, and called it Smyrna. The Wabash & Erie canal was expected to lift the place to greatness, but with the decay of that waterway, Smyrna was abandoned. At present there are no towns of importance in the township. Smythe's station on the L., E. & St. L. railroad is the site of Mr. Henry Smythe's extensive tile factory, which has been in successful operation for several years.
HENRY H. BARNETT, ex-trustee of Knight township, was born in this township Decem- ber 31, 1846, the son of Humphrey and Emily R. (Caldwell) Barnett. His father was born April 5, 1811, in this township, and was married to Emily R. Caldwell, April 12, 1838. He and two other men were killed by a stroke of lightning, in Knight town- ship, while moving a threshing machine, August 19, 1850. The mother was born in Kentucky, March 2, 1820. She was mar- ried to Nathaniel J. James, July 12, 1853, and died in 1866. The early life of Henry H. Barnett was spent in his native township, and in early manhood he adopted the voca- tion of a farmer. He has in connection with farming, dealt in live stock for a num- ber of years past. He was married Oc- tober 8, 1872, to Victoria Harper, a native of Knight township, born about 1853, daugh- ter of David and Elizabeth (Fields) Harper. She died January 18, IS77, and on May 21, 1878, Mr. Barnett was married to Nellie E. Harper, a sister of his first wife, born in Knight township, April, 1859. She died
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EARLY SETTLEMENT.
September 23, 1887. Mr. Barnett is the father of five children: Harry D. (de- ceased), Ivy M., Charles H., Nellie, and Rus- sell, of whom the last four are the children of his second wife. In 1882, he was elected assessor, which position he resigned in 1884, to accept the office of township trustee. He was re-elected to this latter office in 1886, and has lately retired from six years' creditable service.
respect and confidence of his fellowmen, and all of his dealings have been characterized by integrity.
JOHN J. BYRNE, trustee of Knight town- ship, was born in Beaver county, Penn., March 2, 1832. He is the son of Michael and Eleanor (O'Brien) Byrne, both natives of County Kerry, Ireland. His father was born in 1800, and was the son of Daniel and Mary Byrne. The father and mother emigrated to America in 1824, and located in Beaver county, Penn., but when John was about twelve years old, they removed to Allegheny county. He was married in Al- legheny county, Penn., March 13, 1862, to Margaret Riddle. She was born in that county July 12, 1837, and is the daughter of Samuel and Jane (Turner) Riddle. Her fa- ther was born May 4, 1794, son of Samuel and Jane Riddle. Her mother was the daughter of Samuel and Anna (Ewing) Turner, who came across the Allegheny mountains on horseback in a very early day. A pair of baskets was suspended across the horse's back in the form of saddle-bags, and in these baskets the children found a place to ride. For one year after their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Byrne resided on a farm in Allegheny county. In 1863 they emigrated to Vanderburgh county. They moved to their present home on the Washington av- enue road, section 35, in November, 1887. Mr. Byrne owns in all 140 acres of land, 100 of which lie in Knight township, and the remainder in Warrick county. The wife of Mr. Byrne is a member of the Chris- tian church, and he is a member of the Catholic church. In 1888 he was elected trustee, raising his party's majority from thirty-six to seventy-three.
GEORGE D. BOWEN, proprietor of the Crescent City Nursery, was born in county of Norfolk, England, October 6, 1837, the son of John and Harriet (Burton) Bowen, who spent their entire lives in that country. As early as twelve years of age he became employed in a nursery, and he has made the nursery work the vocation of his life. When seventeen years old he emigrated to Amer- ica, and at Rochester, N. Y., worked in a nursery from two to three years. He then went to Eaton Rapids, Mich., and was a partner in a nursery about two years. In the fall of 1858 he returned to Rochester, where he entered into a contract with ex- Mayor William Baker and his brother, Con- rad Baker, in pursuance of which in Novem- ber, 1858, he came to this county and established a nursery, which he conducted until 1863. It was styled the Crescent City Nursery by Gov. Baker in the spring of 1859. In 1863 Mr. Bowen became the pro- prietor of the nursery himself, and he has developed it into one of the best nurseries in the state, and his reputation is not con- fined to Vanderburgh county. He was married February 16, 1859, to Elizabeth Jackson, who was born in Daviess county, this state. Their marriage has resulted in the birth of one child, William C. Bowen, now ten years of age. Mr. and Mrs. Bowen G. W. CLARK was born in Posey county, this state, August 16, 1855, the son of Erastus A. and Sallie A. (Grant) Clark, are members of the Presbyterian church. He is a member of the A. O. U. W., and in politics is a republican. Mr. Bowen has the | the latter of whom was a second cousin of
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KNIGHT TOWNSHIP.
Gen. U. S. Grant. In 1861 his parents re- moved to Gibson county, and a year later located in Evansville, where, until he was a man, the subject of this sketch remained. During his boyhood and youth he was .variously employed. At twenty years of age, on August 15, 1875, he was married to Miss Ann D. Knapp. She was born on the farm where she and her husband now re- side, November 12, 1858, the daughter of William D. and Margaret A. (Housley) Knapp, the former of whom was born in Natchez, Miss., and the latter in Warrick county. Her father was the son of Artemus Knapp, once a prominent business man of Natchez, who died there of yellow fever prior to the war. Mr. and Mrs. Clark began housekeeping on the farm they now occupy. In November, 1884, they removed to Evansville, where for about two years he was engaged in the grocery trade. In 1886 they returned to their farm of fifty-three and one-third acres. They have four children: Vashti L., Lizzie A. (deceased), William A. and Rosa A. Mr. and Mrs. Clark are members of the Christian church.
MAJ. FRANCIS M. EWING was born in Knox county, this state, November 6, 1836, the son of Robert W. and Temperance M. (Cook) Ewing, who were respectively na- tives of Kentucky and Tennessee. His father was born February 22, 1808, the son of Robert and Elizabeth (Booker) Ewing, both natives of Virginia. Robert. Ewing was the son of James and Sarah (Edwards) Ewing. The Ewing family, of which the major is a descendant, fled from Scotland during the time of the persecution of the Protestants by the Catholics. They settled on the Foyle in Ireland, near Londonderry, where they suffered in common with others, all the horrors of the famous siege of that city some ten or twelve years prior to the American revolution, Three brothers,
named James, Alexander and Samuel, emi- grated and settled in Virginia. Francis M. Ewing is a descendant of the first-named James Ewing, who is his great-grandfather. His mother was born October 10, 1808, the daughter of Joshua Cook. She was married to Robert W. Ewing May 20, 1827. When Francis was eight years old his parents re- moved from Knox to Sullivan county, this state, and at fifteen years of age he accom- panied his parents to Edgar county, Ill., and located in the town of Paris. Shortly after- ward the family removed to Wapello county, Iowa, where his mother died. His father then returned with his children to Paris, Ill., in the vicinity of which Francis remained until the year 1861. In addition to a district school education, he was a stu- dent in an academy at Paris, Ill., two years. In April, 1861, he became a volunteer soldier and was mustered as a private in Company E, Twelfth Illinois infantry, with which he served until July 20, 1863, when he was promoted to the rank of captain and was placed in command of Company B, Fifty- fifth United States colored infantry. Sep- tember 19, 1865, he was promoted to the rank of major. He was honorably discharged at Baton Rouge, La., October 12, 1865. He performed faithful service at Fort Henry, Fort Donelson, Shiloh and the siege and battle of Corinth. In the engagement at Guntown, Miss., June 10, 1864, he re- ceived a painful, though not dangerous, gun- shot wound in the left lower limb. The ball lodged between the tibia and fibula bones, from which place it has never been extracted. For two years after the war he was engaged in the cotton business at Vicks- burg. Late in 1867, he went to Kansas, where he resided for five years, the greater part of the time in Neosho county, where he conducted farming interests. In July, 1872, he came to Evansville. During three
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