History of Vigo county, Indiana, with biographical selections, Part 100

Author: Bradsby, Henry C
Publication date: 1891
Publisher: Chicago : S.B. Nelson & co.
Number of Pages: 1032

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The Doctor received his early education in the common schools of Orange county, Ind., then attended DePauw University at Green- castle for a year, beginning the study of medicine in 1857, in Spencer county, Ind., under Dr. Milner, and remaining with him two years. He then attended Louisville Medical College one term, and began the practice of medicine in Gibson county. Here he re- mained a short time, and then went to Pike county, Ind., and from there to Shelby county, Ill., where he practiced during the summer

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of 1861, his next move being to Warrick county, Ind., and there he practiced three years. The Doctor then enlisted in Company B, One Hundred and Forty-third Ind. V. I., was placed on the medical staff, and served as hospital steward .. He was mustered out in October, 1865, and after coming home from the army he traveled in Kansas for one year. On his return, the Doctor located in this county, and has been engaged in the practice of medicine to the present time, being very successful. His political party is the Republican.

J. SMITH TALLEY, president and general manager of the Coal Bluff Mining Company, P. O. Terre Haute, was born at Wil- mington, Del., May 23, 1840, and is a son of George W. and Levina (Beeson) Talley, who were of English descent. The father, wlio was a prominent farmer and stock-grower, died in 1888. The family consisted of ten children, of whom our subject is the second in order of birth. His young life was that of the average farmer's boy, as- sisting with the work and going to school, and after leaving school he engaged in teaching for a short time. In 1862 he enlisted in the First Independent Battery, Light Artillery, of Delaware, in which he served until the close of the war in 1865. When the battery was first organized he was made first sergeant, and was pro- moted to second lieutenant, in which capacity he served for nearly a year. At the close of the war he again engaged in teaching in Illinois, after which he became interested in the coal business. In 1867 he was elected secretary of the Litchfield (Illinois) Coal Com- pany ; in 1875 he became one of the owners and also the secretary of the Coal Bluff Mining Company, in Vigo county, and in 1885 he was elected president and general manager of the company. He is also president of the Chicago & Indiana Block Coal Company, of Clay county. The Coal Bluff Mining Company employ 200 men in Clay county, and 500 in Vigo county, the business being one of the most prosperous in the county. The company owns about 1,500 acres of coal land, and arousing all the improved methods of mining. The importance of this industry to Vigo county will be seen when the fact is stated that they ship 15,000 car-loads of coal annually. Mr. Talley has had to rely upon his own resources and efforts in life, and the development of this vast business has been accomplished largely through his individual efforts.

Mr. Talley was married in Wilmington, Del., in 1867, to Miss Mary A. Beeson, a lady of English descent, and their union has been blessed with four children, as follows: George E., Homer B., Nellie M. and Walter B. Mr. and Mrs. Talley are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and he is a member of the board of trustees of the same. He is a Master Mason, and in politics is a Republican.

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CHARLES E. TEMPLE, of the Central Manufacturing Com- pany, Terre Hante, was born in Washington county, N. Y., April 30, 1846, and is a son of Joseph and Emeline (Norton) Temple. The father, who was a native of Vermont, when quite a young man went to New York, where he remained until 1857, when Beaver Dam, Penn., became his home. He remained there three years, and then went to Canton, Ohio, and in 1863 to Oregon and Wisconsin. In 1864 he came to Terre Haute, where he died in 1880, aged fifty- four years. He had taken most of the degrees in Scottish Rite Masonry, and was a member of the Baptist Church; politically he was a Republican. His first wife (the mother of our subject) died when quite a young woman, and then Josephine Frazier became his wife. There was one daughter who died in girlhood. Charles E. spent his school-days in New York, and at the age of sixteen he com- menced to learn the pattern-maker's trade under his father. In 1864 he came to Terre Haute, and commenced as engineer in the roundhouse. One year later he connected himself with the Eagle Iron Works, where he remained three years, at the end of which time he became fireman on an engine in the fire department. Some time after he was employed in the spoke and wheel factory as fireman, and was promoted to general superintendent of the factory. In 1883 he formed a partnership with Sidney and Walter Temple, and started the extensive business of which he is now superintendent. After the first year in business, Jesse Robertson became his part- ner, and after a short time Adam Bell became associated with him in business. At the end of another year Fred Goetz became con- nected with the firm, and Mr. Bell retired. In a short period another change took place, and this time. a joint stock company was organized, with Charles E. Temple as its manager. This is quite an extensive concern, which, under the guiding hand of Mr. Temple, is increasing in magnitude. The firm give employment to sixty men, and manufacture all material used in the building line.

January 13, 1869, Mr. Temple was married to Mary, daughter of Elisha Baker, and born in Vigo county, Ind., October 11, 1850. To their marriage there have been born three children: Frank E., Floyd L. and Nellie. Mrs. Temple is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, Mr. Temple of the Baptist Church. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity.

MICHEAL TEVLIN, farmer and stock-grower, Sugar Creek township, P. O. St. Mary's, was born in Edgar county, Ill., Febru- ary 15, 1858, and is a son of Micheal and Mary (Kegan) Tevlin, natives of Ireland, who came to America in 1854, and located in Paris, Ill., where the father carried on farming. Micheal, who is the youngest of six children, was reared on the farm, attending the

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common school, and afterward followed farming. He was united in marriage with Anna, daughter of Peter Dermody, who was a wealthy and influential farmer, and an early settler of this county. This union has been blessed with three children: Fred Albert, Otto Vincent and Mary Mayant. The family are members of the Catholic Church. In politics Mr. Tevlin is a member of the Dem- ocratic party.

ALFRED G. THOMAS, farmer and stock-grower, Sugar Creek township, P. O. Macksville, was born May 16, 1824, in Hardin county, Ky., and is a son of Isaac and Mary ( Watts) Thomas, natives of Kentucky and of Welsh and Irish descent, former of whom was a tanner and farmer. They came to this county November 16, 1829. The family consisted of eight daughters and five sons, Alfred G. being the third son. He was reared in this county, where he obtained his schooling, and spent his childhood and youth on the farm. Our subject is a regular graduate of the old-fashioned log school-house, and the school which he attended for a time then stood where Centerville now is. There his father farmed and carried on a tanyard for years, but his parents subsequently moved to Harrison township, this county, where Alfred G. also attended school. He learned the cooper's trade, which he followed for about thirty years in Harrison township, and in 1875 he bought a farm; since when he has devoted the most of his time to farming and stock-growing, and he is now the owner of a well-improved farm in Sugar Creek town- ship, where he resides. His success in life is due to his industry and energy. He has been twice married, the first time to Miss Martha, daughter of Joseph Giesham, and of German descent. Of this union there were six children (of whom five are now living) : Alva Curtis; Charles; H. F .; Mary, wife of G. W. Shank; Ralph L .; Nellie, wife of William Murphy. Mrs. Thomas died in 1867, and Mr. Thomas married, in 1868, the widow of D. S. Jenks. They have two children: William B. Jenks, and Olive, who married M. A. Murphy. Mrs. Thomas' maiden name was Margaret Braden, and she is a daughter of Edward and Martha (Meadows) Braden, and of German descent. She is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church; Mr. Thomas of the Baptist; in politics he is a Republican. He is a grandson of Gen. John Thomas, who was a general in the War of 1812, and who had nine sons, all of whom were soldiers in that war. Mrs. Thomas' grandfather, Edward J. Braden, was a lieutenant in the War of 1812, was wounded, but survived many years after the close of the war. Mr. and Mrs. Thomas rank among the best citizens of Vigo county.

JOHN J. THOMAS, blacksmith, Terre Haute, is a native of Licking county, Ohio, born August 14, 1841, and is a son of James

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and Anna (Philips ) Thomas, natives of England, who came to Ohio in 1839; in 1850 they removed to Crawford county, Ill. The father, who was a horse shoer, died in the spring of 1852, and the mother in the following fall. John J., who is the fourth in a fam- ily of seven children, received a common-school education, and commenced his trade in 1857, which he followed until the breaking out of the war of the Rebellion when he enlisted in the State Militia for thirty days, re-enlisting May 11, 1861, in the Eleventh Regiment, Mo. V. I. He took part in thirty-three regular engage- ments, some of which were the first and second battles of Corinth, Vicksburg and Island No. 10, and he was in the Red River expedi- tion. Being mustered out at Memphis, Tenn., in July, 1864, he came to Terre Haute, and worked as a journeyman until 1871, when he began the horse-shoeing business for his own account, and has continued in same ever since. In 1873 he erected a brick shop, and in 1874 he put up a dwelling-house in the rear of the shop, building, in 1887, an addition to his shop. He has made his way in the world unaided. Mr. Thomas was married in Terre Haute, Ind., in October, 1866, to Caroline, daughter of John Klouse, and a native of Germany, and they had born to them four children: Loyd, Nora, Edward and John C. Mrs. Thomas is a member of the Ladies' Relief Corps. Mr. Thomas is a member of the Masonic fraternity, Social Lodge No. 86; is a Republican in politics, and was elected a member of the city council in the spring of 1889.

LESLIE D. THOMAS, attorney, Terre Haute, was born in Vermillion county, Ind., June 21, 1848, and is a son of Philemon and Catharine (Custer) Thomas, former a native of Kentucky, of Scotch-Irish descent, and latter of Virginia, of German lineage. They were early settlers of Vermillion county, where the father was a farmer, and the old home farm has been in possession of the family over sixty-seven years. Leslie D., who is next to the young- est in a family of eight children, was reared on the farm, attending the district schools, and worked and assisted his parents until he was eighteen years old, when he went to Wabash College, where he graduated in the regular classical course in 1873; then entered the law office of Col. R. W. Thompson, Terre Haute. In 1875, being admitted to the bar, he commenced the regular practice in Terre Haute, and has met with deserved success. He is not a member of any secret society except the college fraternity. Politically he is a Republican ; is one of the park commissioners in Terre Haute, and takes an active interest in educational matters. He is a mem- ber of the board of trustees of the Polytechnic Institute, and is also trustee of Coates College. Mr. Thomas was united in marriage at Crawfordsville, Ind., October 28, 1875, with Miss Hattie Caven,

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who is of Irish descent, and born at Crawfordsville, Ind. They have one child, Leslie C. Mrs. Thomas is a member of the Con- gregational Church.

CLINTON M. THOMPSON, secretary of the Board of Trade, Terre Haute, was born at Rockford, Jackson Co., Ind., October 12, 1829, and is a son of John and Elizabeth (Elsey) Thompson, former born at Lexington, Ky., and latter in Virginia, both of Scotch-Irish and German descent. The father was a farmer and hotel keeper, and lived to the age of eighty-nine years, dying at Bowling Green, Ind. Our subject is the sixth in a family of eleven children, eight of whom attained to their majority. He was reared on the farm, and when properly prepared he entered Wabash College. Early in life he found employment as a salesman in a store at Bowling Green, Ind., where he subsequently embarked in mercantile trade, carrying on a general store. He afterward bought the Clay County Democrat, assuming editorial charge, and conduct- ing it seven years. He was elected in 1860 and served four years as recorder, and four years as county clerk of Clay county. He then embarked in mercantile trade, which he carried on until coming to Terre Haute in 1887, when he accepted his present position. Mr. Thompson was married in Clay county, in 1856, to Miss Nellie, daughter of Alexander Brown, a lady of Scotch-Irish descent, and this union has been blessed with six children, as follows: Paul R., who is a salesman; Hallie, wife of E. E. Talbott; Earl, Emmitt, Ethel and Andrey. Mrs. Thompson is a member of the Presby- terian Church, he of the Christian Church, of which he has been trustee, deacon and superintendent of the Sabbath-school, in Clay county, Ind. Politically he is a Democrat, and served as post- master for five years at Bowling Green. He is a Royal Arch Mason, also a member of the K. of P. He was the chief officer of the Knights and Ladies of Honor.

JOHN C. THOMPSON (deceased), late physician and surgeon, Terre Haute, was born in Philadelphia, Penn., March 10, 1832, and was a son of C. and Sarah (Langton) Thompson, natives of Eng- land. His father, who was a foundryman, went from Philadelphia to Dayton, Ohio, where he established a foundry, and carried on that business until his death in 1863. Our subject, who was the youngest in a family of five children-four sons and one daughter --- was reared in Ohio, where he spent his childhood and youth. After taking an academic course in Dayton, Ohio, he commenced the study of medicine in the office of Dr. Cook; subsequently went to Baltimore, where he studied medicine in the office of Mason R. Smith, and commenced the practice as an undergraduate at Baltimore, where he was physician of the Alms House. Subse-

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quently he entered the University of Maryland, at Baltimore, gradu- ating in the regular course, and in 1856 he came to Terre Haute, where he opened his office in the regular practice, which grew with more than average success. In 1861 he enlisted in the Eleventh Indiana Zouave Regiment, and was appointed first assistant surgeon of the same. He was present at the first battle of Bull Run, also at Fort Henry, Fort Donelson and at Shiloh. Soon after the last- named battle he resigned and returned to Terre Haute, where he resumed his practice. The Doctor was a member of the County and State Medical Associations and a member of the United States Board of Pension Examiners. For many years he had a lucrative practice and succeeded in accumulating a fair share of this world's goods. He was a Republican, and a prominent Freemason-a Sir Knight Templar and a member of the Scottish Rite. Dr. Thomp- son was married in Baltimore, in 1858, to Miss Elizabeth C., daughter of David Pierce, and of Scotch descent. Their children are Gertrude, who is now Mrs. Harry Skinner, of Baltimore, and Frances. Mrs. Thompson is a member of the Congregational Church.

HON. RICHARD W. THOMPSON. Some years ago the writer was roused up at his hotel in an Illinois town to take the 4 o'clock A. M. train on the Van road going west. It was an ugly damp February morning, and one that would add to the cross, crabbed feeling travelers always experience on having to commence the day at that hour when we all are inclined to sleep the soundest. He made his way to the smoking car, and there were the usual first symptoms of men in their painful, twisted, nightmare sleep; some half awakened and cross, tired and drowsy, and others with their heels on the back of seats close to some fellow's snoring nose. The new arrival found a seat, and in front of him was a gentle- man sitting bolt upright, his eyes bright and fresh as though he had waked and had his morning coffee, and as he could not read the paper he held in his hand, was ready to be sociable with all the world. He looked wistfully at the fresh arrival, whom he noticed had come to the car from the lunch counter where he had had a cup of coffee. Some commonplace remarks passed when the new arrival, it is not now remembered how it came about, made some reference to " Uncle Toby." This fairly electrified the pas- senger and started his tongue to going surely on his favorite sub- ject, and with scarcely a break, the elegant stranger's talk of the rare characters in Lawrence Sterne's book was 100 miles long, that is, while the train was going that distance. He had the eager attention of the listener, who, although fresh from the reading of " Tristam Shandy," heard the character, especially of " Uncle Toby," discussed in new lights and beauties unfolded which had in his reading the book escaped him.

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Who was this interesting stranger? was the question that came stronger and stronger as he continued to talk. Who could it be? Not to know the man with such a face, eye, and, above all, tongue, was to confess your own ignorance. Here was no common man, in- deed. One that would never tire you, and it seemed could talk on forever, and invest trivial subjects with the deepest interest. He was neatly dressed in broadcloth of stylish make, with faultless standing collar and cuffs, of a little more than medium size and height, upright as an Indian, with a rather large round face that was smooth-shaven, skin fresh and baby pink, with a clear dark twinkling eye, with beetling brows that were dark and strongly con- trasted with his snow-white silky hair brushed back from a strong massive forehead, giving his face a little of the Jacksonian flavor. Looking at his silken white hair he was an old man, but as you ran your eyes down the forehead and came to the eyebrows, jutting promontories over those bright and kindly eyes that seemed to give character to the whole face that beamed with wit, humor and kind- ness, this made him a comparatively young man. In his younger days he had evidently been of a dark complexion, hair and eyes, and now in perfect health he had reached that age that pure white and pink were the glowing contrasts of as expressive and handsome a face as you ever met. A characteristic of the man that added force to the interest of the person he was so delightfully entertaining was, that in three hours of talking he had made not even a remote allusion to himself, as to where he lived, who he was, or what he did. This struck the listener with peculiar emphasis under the circumstances; it was an index to the man's character that added to its rarity. If the writer has succeeded at all in conveying his idea to the reader, then should he proceed in this brief sketch to the end without nam- ing the man, there are but few people in Indiana and all the well- known men in the country at large, but would recognize the man, without further naming him, who had so interested and puzzled the traveler on that early morning ride.

Hon. Richard W. Thompson is a Virginian by birth, a native of Culpeper county, that particular part of the Mother of States and Statesmen, especially distinguished by its sons of whom it is a say- ing that a man is not only a Virginia gentleman of the old school, but the climax was reached when it would be added " of Culpeper county." His father's family were of Scotch-Irish, and the family name on the mother's side was Broadus. Both families came to Virginia soon after it was colonized. Both his grandfathers were soldiers in the war for independence. The paternal grandfather was a major. The Colonel's mother died when he was but ten years of age, in 1819, leaving children-two boys and two girls, Col.

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Thompson now being the only survivor. His eldest sister lived many years in Washington City, where she died. His youngest sister lived and died at Louisville; his brother in Baltimore. His father married for his second wife a great-niece of George Wash- ington, Mildred Ball, a daughter of Col. Burgess Ball, who was a distinguished soldier of the Revolution. To this marriage were born three children-one sister only survives and resides near Washington, in Loudoun county, Va. He received a higher educa- tion, first being thoroughly grounded in the fundamentals of the English branches, upon which he has been diligently building all his years. He commenced life of that class of American youths who can not be deprived by circumstances of a wide and thorough education, both in the books, and better still a knowledge of men and things that are the main requisites of all intellectual superiority. The home surroundings of his child-life were of the most favorable kind. They were without display, and in a word would be most aptly described when they are designated as simple and pure. At his mother's knee he imbibed lessons that contributed largely to shape the actions of the man of whom after a long and active life, standing conspicuous on every round of the ascending ladder, it will be said and known that whatever may have been its mistakes, it is without a taint of impurity.

This Virginia boy, when hardly twenty years of age, left the old home and struck boldly out for himself, with that confidence in his own inherent resources that foreruns life's greatest successes. The lad came to Indiana, and founded the Lawrence County Seminary, at Bedford, having first stopped in Kentucky a period, and clerked in a store .. After teaching some time in the Academy he deter- mined to enter the mercantile trade, and as a preparation again entered as a clerk in a store. By accident, while in the store he became the possessor of a small law library, in which he had in- vested to accommodate a friend, and expected to be able to dispose of it in a short time. His relish for books led him to spend his even- ings reading these law books and, before he was aware of it himself, he made such progress in the study that his pursuit and profession in life had become permanently fixed. Three years had quickly past when a legal friend suggested that he had better apply for license. He was accordingly admitted to practice in 1834, and simul- taneously he was elected as a Whig to the Indiana legislature; re-elected in 1835 and in 1836, and was then elected State Senator. In either of these bodies lie was recognized as a safe and fearless leader, and some of the measures he pushed to a successful issue have remained a part of the fundamental laws of the State to this day. In the senate he served as President pro tem. in place of the

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lieutenant-governor who has resigned. His four years' service in the State assembly had carried his reputation and the knowledge of his. power to every remote district in the State, but as a mere politician he was without ambition. He would walk only on that higher plain, if at all in that line, that is a more difficult and enduring one of a broad and generous statesmanship. His first love was his pro- fession of the law, and here lay his supremest victories, but an im- patient public made demands upon him which at times he felt com- pelled to accept. And in the line of politics he always conceded to- these demands upon him reluctantly, and therefore he is one of the rare instances of a man who has held nearly all public positions and yet who was never an office seeker. With the expiration of his term as State senator he refused further nominations, and the next four years diligently devoted his time to the practice of law, and as a recreation from the musty tones of the black letter he gave his time to those literary studies that have given all his writings and speeches the classical finish and beauty for which they are widely

noted. Here were both circumstances and inherent tastes that gave to him the versatility that is only the strong mark of genius. In 1840, in that stormy presidential campaign of " Tippecanoe and Ty- ler too," he was forced to accept the position of elector, and here his power on the " stump " and his equal power with the pen were act- ively at work to the delight of his admirers and friends throughout the Union. The " Jackson men" of Indiana were at that time noted as able and astute political leaders, strong and hard fighters and who nailed their flags at the mast-head so they could not be hauled down. Mr. Thompson picked up the gauntlet thrown down by these men, and such a battle, though bloodless, will ever remain historical. And one fact that gives it a peculiar zest is that, even in those rough western pioneer times, the men he confronted before the mixed backwoods audiences were noted for their roughness as well as strength and tenacity, while the contrast was completed in the polishi as well as equal strength of the chosen champion of Gen. Harrison. His command of tongue and pen was equaled only by his command of passions either in himself or his followers. Indeed, is it not true that it is " he who feels no fear can feel no anger ?"

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History of Vigo county, Indiana, with biographical selections, Part 100

Author: Bradsby, Henry C Publication date: 1891 Publisher: Chicago : S.B. Nelson & co. Number of Pages: 1032

Author: Bradsby, Henry C
Publication date: 1891
Publisher: Chicago : S.B. Nelson & co.
Number of Pages: 1032