USA > Indiana > Vanderburgh County > History of Vanderburgh County, Indiana, from the earliest times to the present, with biographical sketches, reminiscences, etc. > Part 84
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88
641
UNION TOWNSHIP.
well-known smithy and one of the first in the township.
The early settlers used the mortar and pestle for crushing corn, and later went to mill at Red Banks, or that favorite place, Negley's, on Pigeon creek. Andrew Sirkle built a horse-mill about 1830, and operated it for ten or twelve years. William Gray- son, of Kentucky, bought the mill and moved it over the river. There were no saw-mills in the township until thirty or thir- ty-five years ago. Mat Burns constructed the first stationary mill, though previously many portable mills had worked in the town- ship, and in early days many logs were taken from here to Audubon's mill at Red Banks. As late as 1840, it was common to use the whip-saw. The logs were first hewed to the desired size, lines were struck, it was elevated to a scaffold and with one man above and another below, the saw was slowly worked through it.
Thus brief mention has been made of the earliest settlement of the various parts of the township. The names of many of the pioneers, well worthy of honorable mention, are forever lost. The development of this township-its growth following the settle- ment - was very gradual. In 1828 there were but twenty-three voters in the town- ship. There was never any rush of foreign- ers or colonists. The lands were taken by settlers that drifted in singly, mostly from Kentucky, and by the descendants of the first settlers. Much of the land in the town- ship is held by non-residents, who purchased it from the government or from the unfortu- nate or reckless descendants of the pioneers. Of those who came in afterward, not as earliest settlers, but still what may now be called an early day, there were the Aster- holts, the father and his sons Frank and Jo- seph, Andrew Hoppe, Charles Kamp, Christian Schneller, John Gerloch, John
Roth, and many other well-to-do, good citi- zens. Carroll Saunders and his descend- ants and relatives have occupied a leading place in the township. Samuel Barker, one of the wealthiest and most prominent men of the county, has been since 1832 a resident of the township. He is a man of great worth, intellect, character and influence. He served the public as county commissioner, and in all the walks of life has commanded" the esteem of his cotemporaries.
A Squatter .- One of the most typical representatives of that class of easy-going, free-from-care pioneers, who rejoiced in the excitement of the chase, and ever loved to recount their exploits, was " old man Flat, the yarn-teller," as the settlers often spoke of him. His chief delight was to pass away time in spinning yarns, many of which had not a grain of truth in them. He was a hunter in the woods most of the time, and the owner of a vivid imagination. He kept many a fire-side circle laughing with good humor at his unreasonable stories, and thus served a useful purpose. To this day the young folks of Union township are amused at the stories of old Flat, which have lost nothing in all these years, though told so often. Some of them surpass, in their por- trayal of desperate hunts, and the wonder- ful achievements of the narrator, the most thrilling recitals of Baron Munchausen. There were many of these squatters who lived in the woods and went away when the game was thinned out. They lived for the day, and did nothing to perpetuate their names. A generation passed and they were forgotten.
Incidents .. The trying experience of Philip Cheaney and Harvey Wheeler during the high water of 1884, was equal to any which might have beset. the path of the pioneer. In that year the water was higher than it had been since 1832, and caused
642
EARLY SETTLEMENT.
great destruction to property and stock as well as much suffering among the families in the low lands. These two men were in a house dangerously situated, and making up their minds that the house was bound to be swept from its foundation and probably dashed to pieces by the swift current, the the wind and waves, they put out in a skiff in the darkness and storm, and at length reached a small pine tree into which they climbed for safety. Here they remained all night through intense suffering. The night was so cold that hogs in some parts of the township were frozen to death. Though almost exhausted they were res- cued soon after the dawn of the day follow- ing their terrible exposure. Their miraculous escape was attributed in part to the fact that the rolling waves frequently dashed en- tirely over them and kept them so actively engaged that freezing was avoided. About the same time three men saved themselves from death by climbing into a pecan tree near the Henderson ferry, and remaining over night.
congregation, among whom as its chief supporters, perhaps, were Samuel Barker and John Walden. About three miles be- low the Henderson ferry there were a Bap- tist church and a Methodist church. The high water of 1884 swept both of these away. Since the disasters wrought by this high water, there has not been a church kept up by these old-time denominations. The people worship at various places out- side of the township.
About fifteen years ago a neat frame church 25x15 feet, and comfortably furnished, was built on section 16, on the old Sirkle farm, by the Catholics of that neighborhood. There were about fifteen families under charge of Father Sondermann, and services were held regularly, though in late years the congregation has been without a priest. The membership is not large, but efforts are now being made to have frequent service and to build up the church. Joseph Shenck, Adam Shenck, and Andrew Hoppe have been among the faithful and influential sup- porters of this church. The church was dedicated to the Sacred Heart and blessed in June, 1874, by Rev. P. McDermott, of Evansville.
Churches .-- In early times the Baptists and Methodists predominated in this town- ship. Early meetings were held at the houses of members, and such men as John The German Lutherans about ten years ago, built a neat country church on the old Schaffner place, afterward the Kamp farm. Leopold Kamp, Conrad Burgdorf, John Gar- loch, and John Roth, and their wives, were among the most active in bringing the church into existence. There is a large congrega- tion now under the charge of Rev. Veay, of Henderson, Ky., and a prosperous Sabbath school, with Leopold Kamp, as superin- tendent. Schraeder, Richard and Joseph Wheeler, Robert Parrett, for the Methodists, and Benoni Stinson, for the Baptists, preached to the people. As results of the faithful labors of these men, two churches were built. Zion Baptist church was near the Henderson ferry, and flourished for a number of years, doing much good, being the scene of many large meetings and good revivals. It has long since passed away. Victor chapel, a Methodist Episcopal church, was a mile or Towns .- There is not a town worthy of that name in Union township. Cypress has a postoffice, a blacksmith shop, and a small store. Joseph Shenck is postmaster and more above Zion. It continued from early times, until swept away by the high water of 1884, to be a favorite meeting place. It was supported by circuit riders, had a good | proprietor of the store. At two or three of
643
UNION TOWNSHIP.
the road-crossings there are a few shops, and places of refreshment, but none boast of themselves as towns. On March 1, 1820, Joseph M. McDowell laid out a town in the southeast quarter of section 21, township 7 , south, range II west, and called it Unionville. The village passed out of existence before the coming of the present generation.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
SAMUEL BARKER, ex-commissioner of Vanderburgh county, and one among its most prominent and substantial citizens, was born in Charleston, S. C., July 22, 1820, the son of William Rogers and Ann Maria (Johnson) Barker. His father was born in Newburyport about the year 1790, and was the son of Samuel and Betsy (Rogers) Barker, who settled in Massa- chusetts about twenty years previous, and served through the revolutionary war. Miss Betsy Rogers was the daughter of Capt. Rogers, of the continental army, in whose company Samuel Barker served, and at the close of the war the young soldier won the hand of his captain's daughter. While in the service, he was one of the sentinels who guarded Major Andre, the British spy. Samuel Barker was a farmer by occupa- tion, and spent nearly his entire life in the state of Massachusetts. He died in that state in about the year 1828. William R. Barker, the father of our subject, spent his boyhood and youth on a farm in the vicinity of Newburyport, Mass. At the age of twenty-one he left home and went to Bos- ton, where for several years he inspected mackerel. From Boston he went t Charleston, S. C., where for some ten or twelve years he was successfully engaged in the grocery business. In Charleston he formed the acquaintance of Miss Ann Maria Johnson, to whom he was married in about 1816. She. was born in Georgia, and was ]
about four years younger than her husband. Her paternal ancestry was Scotch. In the meantime, before going to Charleston, Mr. Barker had served his country as a soldier in the war of 1812. In Charleston he was doing a successful business, but after a residence of a few years, there arose an insurrection which partly de- termined him to remove from the place. The slaves had formed a conspiracy to murder all the whites, and a night was set for their bloody deed. Fortunately the plot was discovered before the night arrived. Twenty-two of the ringleaders were convict- ed, and all were hanged on the same gal- lows. William R. Barker was a member of the military company that was detailed to guard the convicted negroes, and he was a witness to their execution. He then enter- tained a belief which he frequently expressed, that the slavery question would bring about a civil war, and he preferred to have his family without its domain. Accordingly, in the year 1826, in a two-horse carriage, he removed his wife and six children across the mountains to Cincinnati. One of these children, a brother of Samuel, afterward be- came the well-known Dr. William S. Barker, of Boonville, for forty years a practitioner there, and during the war surgeon of the One Hundred and Twentieth Indiana. For four years after his arrival, William R. Barker was engaged in the dry goods business. In 1830, he removed to Law- renceburg, Ind., where Samuel Barker was a school-mate of ex-Gov. Albert G. Porter. In November, 1832, he removed to this county, and settled in Union town- ship, where both he and his wife spent the rest of their lives. Shortly after his locat- ing in this county, he was appointed one of the county. commissioners. He died in July, 1837, and his wife survived him until about 1852. Samuel Barker spent but a few years
6.44
EARLY SETTLEMENT.
.
at his native city of Charleston, but while there, at the age of five, he saw General Lafayette at the reception tendered him by that city in 1825. He was twelve years of age when his parents came to this county. The first settlement was made on the farm he now occupies and it has been his residence for fifty-six years. In early manhood he chose the vocation of a farmer, and aside from public service this pursuit has been his sole occupation. His life has been one of indus- try, and he now has a rank among the most wealthy farmers of Vanderburgh county, and is one of her most extensive free-hold- ers. While his long citizenship would natu- rally have given him a wide acquaintance, it has been in the capacity of a public man that he has become so familiar to the people of Vanderburgh county. In 1860 he was elected treasurer of his township, and served one year. In 1868. he was elected to the office of township trustee, which he resigned in 1869 to accept an appointment as a mem- ber of the board of county commissioners. He served out the unexpired term, and also served during the two terms which followed, being elected to the office in 1870, and re- elected in 1872. In 1880 he was again re-elected and served one term. During his incumbency, which covered a period of nine years, some of the most important events in the history of the county occurred. He helped to build the first gravel road in the county, and besides wielding an influence which led to the construction and improve- ment of many other roads of this class, he was the originator of the project which led to the removal of the Evansville and Hen- derson gravel road from the river bank to its present location. While he was county commissioner, by the authority of the entire board, Mr. Barker purchased the present orphan asylum, and it was while he was a member of the board that she died, and her husband, who arrived a
the site of the old infirmary building was sold and the present new building con- structed. Among the bridges built were the one at the salt well, one over Pigeon creek, and the iron bridge on the First avenue road. But perhaps by far the most important of all his official acts was the one which led to the construction of the new state hospital for the insane, that is now the pride of every citizen of Vanderburgh county. While president of the board, Mr. Barker drafted, introduced, and secured the adoption of a set of resolutions in which he eloquently set forth the great need of an institution for the incurably insane of the state, and setting forth reasons why Evans- ville should be selected as the site of such institution. While much credit is due to the county's representatives in the state legisla- ture for their diligent efforts in behalf of the measure and to the citizens generally for the gallant manner in which they strengthened the movement, the credit of originating it belongs entirely to Mr. Barker. On the 2d day of July, 1847, Mr. Barker was married to Mary A. King, daughter of James and Susan King. Her parents were natives of Virginia, in which state she was born November 25, 1824. She came with her parents to Union township in the year 1831. Their marriage has resulted in the birth of three children, William R., Francis A., and Ann Maria, of whom the eldest and youngest are deceased. Francis A. Barker was born December 2, 1850, and is the only child living. The daughter, Anna Maria Barker, was married to Dr. Henry S. Bell, at eighteen years of age, and some four or five years later she and her husband settled at Paris, Ill. Mrs. Bell died September 20, 1887, at Pasadena, Cal., whither she had gone for her health. Her father, mother and brother Francis, were with her when
645
UNION TOWNSHIP.
few hours later, brought her remains to this county, and interred them in Oakhill ceme- tery. She left two children, Samuel B. and Robert N. Mrs. Barker joined the Methodist Episcopal church at eighteen years of age, and . has been a member ever since. Mr. Barker has been a devoted member of the same church since the twenty-seventh year of his age. He was formerly a whig in politics, but since 1856 he has ardently supported the principles of the republican party. During the war of the rebellion he was a member of the company of home guards that was commanded by Capt. B. F. Will- iamson. Mr. Barker's record for honesty, integrity and uprightness is one which pos- terity can well emulate and admire.
LEOPOLD A. KAMP was born in Prussia, January 9, 1831, and is the son of Christopher L. and Renetta Kamp. In youth he was employed in his father's flouring mill, and was in the service of the government two years, guarding the government's wood- lands. Since coming to the United States he has been farming, but has also taught German school two years. He was married May 2, 1864, to Sarah Lauer, who was born in Perry township, December 19, 1845, a sister of James H. Lauer, postmaster at Evansville. She died March 10, 1865. August 28, 1867, Mr. Kamp was married to Elizabeth Bauer. She was born in German township, July 10, 1846, and died January 13, 1871. On July 29, 1880, he married Mrs. Louisa Gaertner, who was born in Prussia, March 11, 1840, the daughter of Adolph Pepmiller. She immigrated with her parents by way of New Orleans, and while on the Mississippi river her mother died with cholera. Her father settled at Newburgh. September IS, 1858, Miss Pepmiller married Peter Gaertner, a native of Hesse, Germany, who died March 31, 1873. By his wife, Louisa, Mr. Kamp had land was elected county commissioner in
two children, Katie B. A. and Louis W. (deceased). By her first husband Mrs. Kamp had eight children: George (de- ceased), John, Louis, Caroline (deceased), Lonisa (deceased), Augusta E. (deceased), and Catharine. Mr. and Mrs. Kamp are members of the German Lutheran church. He is a member of the D. O. H. lodge. He was elected assessor in 1876, and served four years. He was again elected in 1886. He has been an active member of his church, and has labored with the children in the Sabbath school almost every Sunday for many years.
JAMES L. KING, member of the board of county commissioners, was born in this township February 17, 1844, the son of John F. and Judith B. (Neale) King. All his early life was spent on the old King homestead, where he was born. In August, 1862, he enlisted in the Union army in Com- pany H, Eighth Kentucky cavalry, with which he served nearly two months. Feb- ruary 6, 1864, he entered Company F, One Hundred and Twentieth Indiana, and served with this until the close of the war. He was mustered out at Raleigh, N. C., January 8, 1866, and was honorably dis- charged at Indianapolis a few days later. He was in the battles of Resaca, Peach Tree Creek and the campaign of Atlanta. He was married January 29, 1869, to Louisa L. Long. She is a native of Union township, born September 12, 1847, the daughter of Simeon and Mary W. (Har- rington) Long. They have had six children: Richard W. and Judith B. (twins), Ida M., Nettie A., Ora A. and Amy L., of whom Richard W., Judith B. and Ora A. are de- ceased. Mr. King is a member of the K. of H., the A. O. U. W. and the G. A. R., and in politics he is a republican. He served as justice of the peace ten years,
646
EARLY SETTLEMENT.
November, 1886, and is performing the du- ties of that position in a creditable manner. His friends are only limited by his acquaint- ances, and his integrity and honesty of pur- pose are unquestioned.
MRS. SOPHIE EDMOND was born in Ger- many, September 20, 1836, and is the daughter of Julius and Christina (Evers) Burgdorf. Her father came to America in 1847, and his family joined him at Evans- ville in 1850, after a remarkably prolonged voyage. When Miss Sophie was fifteen years old she spent several months with an aunt at New Orleans, and while she was there her father removed to Posey. county, soon, however, returning to this county. She was married to John Edmond, October 10, 1858. He was born in Somerset county, Penn., June 8, 1799, and was the son of George Edmond. In 1808, George Edmond moved with his family to Kentucky, and in IS15 to Vanderburgh county. They settled in Union township, of which John Edmond was afterward an influential and honored citizen. He died October 12, 1876. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. and Mrs. Edmond had six children : Lula C. (deceased), John F., Julia W. (de- ceased), Augusta M., Olive L., and Mineola (deceased). Mrs. Edmond is a member of the Lutheran church. She owns 108 acres of good land, and resides in a comfortable home.
was married February 10, 1885, to Delia Cullin, who was born in Hardin county, Ky., April 1, 1861, daughter of John and Eliza- beth (Tabor) Cullen. When she was eight years old her parents located in Gibson county, and in 1875, came to Union town- ship. Her mother is still living, in Missouri. Mr. and Mrs. Edmond have two children: Bertram, born November 12, 1885, and John O., born October 29, 1887.
MICHAEL EDMOND, who is probably the oldest living native-born citizen of Vander- burgh county, was born within the present limits of Perry township, near the site of Ingle's coal mine, about the middle of November, 1815. He is the son of George and Susan Edmond, who were born, reared and married in Pennsylvania, but who emi- grated to Kentucky about 1808, and in 1815 came to Vanderburgh county. Mr. Ed- mond spent the greater part of his life in Union township. He was married July 20, 1845, to Jane C. McCorkle; she was born in North Carolina, May 4, 1826, the daughter of Thomas and Mary ( McIntyre) McCorkle, who, when she was but six weeks old, moved to Gibson county. Five or six years later they came to Vanderburgh county. Mr. and Mrs. Edmond have had ten child- ren: Mary A. (deceased), William H., James A., John F. (deceased), Margaret E., Laura J., Michael L., Susan M., Robert W., and a daughter that died unnamed.
JOHN F. EDMOND was born in this town- RICHARD J. GERARD was born in this township October 22, 1842, son of Hamil- ton and Arena (Shook) Gerard, both of whom were born in the vicinity of Law- renceburg, Ind. He was reared on the old homestead, most of which he now owns. He was married to Mary M. Higgins, May 28, 1865. She was born in Georgia, June 6, 1845, daughter of John and Rebecca (Fain) Higgins. After his marriage his place of ship May 15, 1862, the son of John and Sophie (Burgdorf) Edmond, above men- tioned. He was born and grew to manhood on the old homestead. In the fall of 1879, he entered the Evansville Commercial Col- lege, in which he completed a business course and a course in penmanship. At the age of twenty-two he engaged in farming on his own account, and now owns 178 acres of good land in Union township. He residence has been on the old homestead,
647
UNION TOWNSHIP.
except from February, 1883, to September, 1887, when he resided in Evansville. He owns about 160 acres of land in Union town- ship. He and wife have had a family of nine children: Murta (deceased), Shelby, Minnie (deceased), Douglas M. (deceased), Charles, John (deceased), Mary (deceased ), Myrtle (deceased), and Mary. Mr. and Mrs. Gerard are members of the Methodist Episcopal church.
ANDREW HAPPE, a native of Germany, was born February 7, 1831, the son of John and Gertrude (Braker ) Happe. At the age of twenty-two he came to America. A brother, Louis Happe, preceded him two years before, and a sister, Theresa, came with Andrew. Andrew came to Vander- burgh county, and located in German town- ship, but three years later removed to Union township, where he has since resided. He owns 430 acres of first-class land, all in this township, and is regarded as one of the sub- stantial men of the county. He was married in November, 1858, to Gertrude Dornbush, who died December 25, 1863. About two years later he married Charlotte Becker, who died August 25, 1880. June 13, IS82, he married Christina Behr, now living. Mr. Happe has six children living: Peter, Anna, Lizzie, Lena, Diana and John. Mr. and Mrs. Happe are members of the Catholic church. Mr. Happe has been elected jus- tice of the peace several times but always declined to serve.
BERTHOLD A. KAMP was born in Ger- many, March 24, 1845, the son of Chris- topher and Renetta (Schroeder) Kamp, with whom he came to America in 1853. In August, 1861, Berthold entered Company K, Thirty-second Indiana volunteers, and served three years and two months. He was in the battles of Shiloh, Stone River, Chickamauga, Mission Ridge, the Atlanta campaign, besides many other smaller en-]
gagements. He was taken prisoner at Stone River, December 31, 1863, and was confined for two months, about half that time in Libby prison. He was honorably discharged at Indianapolis, October, 1864. He then returned to Union township, and for a number of years managed portable machinery, including a saw-mill. He also attended to his farming interests. As early as 1865, he and his brother Louis con- structed from an old separator a corn- sheller, and from 1865 and 1879 several other machines of this kind were con- structed by Berthold Kamp for his own use. In 1879, he invented and patented a new corn-sheller, and has since manufactured and sold this machine, which is known as the Kamp Corn-Sheller, and is one of the best. From 1884 to 1888 his manufactur- ing was carried on in Evansville. He also attends to his farming land, nearly 400 acres, all in Union township. Mr. Kamp was married December 17, 1869, to Susan E., daughter of James W. King. They have had five children: James W., Mattie, Minnie, Annie (deceased), and Nellie. Mr. Kamp is a member of the A. O. U. W. and the G. A. R., and is one of the influential and notable men of the county.
ALBERT C. KAMP is a native of Prussia, born June 6, 1837, son of Christopher L. and Renetta Kamp, above referred to. The family immigrated, and reached New York August 28, 1853, arrived at Evansville Sep- tember 16, and on the 8th of October set- tled on the farm Albert now occupies, in Union township. There the father died in July, 1863, and the mother in September, 1878. Mr. Kamp owns 290 acres in Union town- ship, including the old Kamp homestead, his residence. Since 1863 Mr. Kamp has been all the time interested in saw-milling, more or less. He was married November 15, 1863, to Anna Gramm, born in Germany Septem-
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.