USA > Indiana > Vigo County > History of Vigo county, Indiana, with biographical selections > Part 28
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That boy probably learned more of the practical world on his way to school than he did in it. One of the differences between the old and the new is that then people traveled but little, and now you can find babes that have been across the continent, and others before they can talk have probably nearly encircled the globe. A man now goes to California or Europe and returns before his neighbors even learn that he has been out of town.
Here is another instance of less than fifty years ago: A farmer in a neighborhood but little more than twenty miles from the city was getting ready to go to the city with two or three wagon loads of farm products. The fact was known several days before he started for miles around. An enterprising lad living three or four miles away was the possessor of five cents, and finally prevailed on his parents to let him ride "Old Charley" over and send his money to the city by the neighbor for investment. He arrived at the man's house the afternoon before he was to start very early the next morning. He announced his errand and handed over his five cents, and accompanied it with instructions as to what he wanted bought about as follows: "A top, a dozen marbles with white alley, a fiddle, fishhook and line, a knife, a blacksnake whip with a tassel on the handle and a pony and saddle." The good man kept his face and promised to fill the important mission and return him the change. Of course it was easy enough on his return to give back the five cents with the story that before he got there some other boy had sent five cents and took all those kind of things there were in the city.
Now the children of that day, it must not be inferred, were fools, compared to the children of to-day. They knew less about some things than children now know, but about other things they knew a great deal more. So far as meeting and fighting the real battle of life goes, they were no doubt far in advance of the aver- age children of to-day. The young pioneer boy carried within himself resources and a self-reliance that would be phenomenal in a boy to-day, if we except the street gamins and waifs of the cities.
Sixty Years or More Ago .- The following list of old settlers, those who have been residents at least fifty years, and many of them much longer than sixty years ago, was furnished by Mr. Henry Warren, and was chiefly made up from the recollections and information he had from his uncle, Rev. Welton N. Modesitt, of New York. It is already a valuable list, but in a few years it will be far more valuable, and it will be turned to with still increasing interest as the centuries pass away: Thomas Rogers, Horace Baker, George W. Demense, Thomas Peters, Robert Harrison, B. M. Harrison, Noah Burnner, John Burnner, James Tribue, Gercham Jaques, John Prather, John Jones, William Hodge, Jonas Baker,
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James Thayer, James Rathbourn, - Dabney, Cushman Disbrow, John Neavlin, Dr. Holmes, Benjamin G. Gilman, Green McClure, George McHenry, Polly McClure, Eleasor Carter, Ed Carter, Ashby Holmes, George Lyons, Richard Ross, Cyrus Bishop, Mrs. Jonas See- ley, "Aunty" Bishop, Jonas Seeley, G. B. Duncan, - Skinner, - Jacobs, James Whitcomb (ex-governor ), - Henry (attorney-at- law ), Thomas Cone, Frank Cone, William Weatherwax, Samuel Hager, Rev. Hunneman, Dr. McDonald, Dr. Davenport, M. McClelland, S. G. Dexter, Sephas Holden, William Clark, Thomas Scott, James S. Baird, Edward Kirby, George Cunningham, Alexander Boatright, Alexander Hubbard, John Kirby, M. Tongate, W. Bush, John Mills, James K. Murry, David Sherwood, Elijah Stephenson, John Willis, John Ashpaugh, Solomon Cox, Levi Dodson, Thornton Ooley, Jabez Casto, John Reeves, Webster Casto, William McFad- den, M. Bilby, M. Oldham, W. Taylor, Deacon Taylor, W. N. Steele, Nathan Mills, Joseph Hussey, Margaret Hussey, Jesse Lee, Mrs. Lee, Ziba H. Wolcott, Henry Tracy, William Probst, Charles E. Taylor, Thornton Cooper, William Johnson, John McClorey, -- Gildwell, Thomas Briggs, James Laney, Harvey Rea, John Rine- hart, Edward Rinehart, A. E. Rinehart, Arthur Patterson, George Smith, Alexander Ross, Harry Ross, James Ross, Ephraim Ross, John Ross, Thomas Pugh, Ishmeal Pyle, Isaac Lambert and chil- dren, Ned Hanyan, Thomas Reeves, Sile Hanyan, Andrew Wilkins, Jeremiah Rappalyle, Robert Sturgis, Maj. Chunn, Ralph Robbins, Wait Robbins, Charles Prathers, William Buxton, Sr., William Bux- ton, Jr., Jonas Baker, John Barton, William Barton, William Kan- non, Stephen Larnard, William Murfur, John Jenckes, James Jenckes, Bowes Jenckes, Thomas Fry, W. H. Sage, Cyrus Finch, - Finch, Satty Brown, Anson Wright, Lester Wright, Solomon Wright, Stephen Havens, Robert Havens, John Brown, W. W. Noaill, James Staggs, W. Bradford, William Gibson, Caleb Crawford, Thomas Case, Capt. Hudson, James Hudson, C. T. Hayden, Will- iam Musette, - Richards, J. R. Cunigham, J. R. Edmiston, James McConnell, James McGravy, Stephen Larned, Maj. Miller, Alexander Miller, Jefferson Lovelace, William Mass, -- Harris, Joseph Brown, Jonathan Osborn, B. W. Osborn, Thomas E. Sangster, W. F. Pettit, John R. Serrend, Sr., John R. Serrend, Jr., James Serrend. John R. Wheelock, E. Elkin, Jarathmeal B. Jenckes, Jacob Sick- ford, John Collett, Stephen Collett, Richard Blackman, -- Groen- endyke, Silas Haskins, Peter B. Allen, - Lawrence, James Mus- selman, Edward Musselman, Samuel Musselman, Conrad Schat, C. Patrick, - - Kockner, Harry Rea, Thomas Durham, - -- Potts, William Durham, John Dickson, John Chesnut, John Reinhard, G. McClure, William McClure, George Smith, James Smith, Zenas Smith, David Smith, John Smith, Jr., John Lyons, Isaac Elston,
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George Mickleberry, James Mickleberry, Henry Smith, James Hick- land, William Goodman, Cagy Goodman, John Hamt, George Rams dell, James Hurst, Michael Ward, Peter Crine, George Hager, Sr., George Hager, Jr., Samuel Hager, Jonas Seeley, William Rankin, W. C. Linton, David Linton, Henry Earle, Capt. William Earle, George Brasher, Henry Brasher, Ransom Brasher, William Brasher, Joseph Miller, Ransom Miller, William Miller, Joseph Parsons, Dr. Par- sons, Hiliary Parsons, Harry Buckingham, William Boswell, Hack Bosworth, -- Wilson, Daniel Johnson, Ralph Wilson, George Hus- sey, Jesse Lee, Stacy Winter, W. Peters, Major Cochran, George Cochran, James Cochran, Hathaway Sadler, William Probst, Will- iam Brannon, John Davey, James H. Bilbey, Dr. Hitchcock, Mar- cus Hitchcock, James Hitchcock, G. F. Cookerly, Daniel Barbour, Orson Barbour, Cory Barbour, Wolsey C. Barbour, Sam Ever- sole, Joseph Eversole, Sr., Joseph Eversole, Jr., Dr. E. V. Ball, Stephen Trogden, John F. Craft, W. B. Krumbahrs, William Pound, Thomas Pound, Capt. John Strain, Solomon Goodrich, John Roatledge, Sr., John Roatledge, Jr., James Roatledge, Thomas Roatledge, William Steele, Rev. Welton M. Modesitt, James A. Modesitt, W. D. Wood, Jolin Greno, John Hemmely, James McCall, William McCall, Henry McCall, Munson Gosnell, Jack Gosnell, Cyrus Egitant, Daniel Miffins, Jeff. Miffins, Robert Anderson, George Anderson, Ned Miles, Andrew Rhodes, Isaac Madden, Isaac Whit- lock, Dr. McDonald, Dr. Davenport, Stephen G. Dexter, Enoch Dale, and sons, Dexter Dale, C. M. Dale, James Dale, Stephen Wooley, Horace Manse, Sephas Holden, J. G. Baird, Thomas Scott, Edward Kirby, George Cunigham, N. F. Cunigham, Frank Cunigham, M. Tongate, William Bush, Elijah Stephenson, John Miles, D. Mel- lens, Nathan Mills, David Sherwood, John Willis, John Ashpaugh, Solomon Cox, Levi Dodson, L. G. Warren, Chauncy Warren, W. B. Warren, Henry Warren, C. M. Warren, Joseph H. Blake, Curtis Gilbert, Dr. C. B. Modesitt, Chauncey Rose, Henry Rose, Demas Deming, Scott Bump, Gen. Charles Cruft, Capt. Edward Cruft, Oldham, William Taylor, Ziba H. Wilcott, Henry Tracy, Thornton Cooper, W. Johnson, John McClory, Robert Glidwell, - Gildersleeve, Thomas Briggs, James Long, Albert Long, Harvey Rea, John Greno, James McCall, Cyrus Egitant, William McCall, Henry McCall, Robert Anderson, George Anderson, Harrison Ander- son, Edward Wiles, Major Whitlock, N. Beemer, John Beemer, James Tribue, William Hogue, Jonathan Osborn, Jacob Sickford.
A Centenarian .- And now past her hundredth year by nearly three years, according to her own count, and past it by over two years according to the count of her friends.
Mrs. Anna Baldy, "Aunty Baldy," as she is better known to this and the past two generations, is still one of the notable individuals
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of Terre Haute. The true record is: Born October 24, 1789, and has spent nearly the century of her life, or, rather, much the larger part of it, in Terre Haute. And, all things considered, is wonder- fully strong and vigorous, mentally and physically. Serene and pleasant, with a life of much sunshine and happiness, she has out- lived her kith, and in that is alone, but not lonely, as she has kept her heart full with the young generations that have come on to know her and to venerate and respect her.
October 24, 1889, the people celebrated her centennial birthday, when she received her friends at the Home for Aged Women. These friends had made up a purse of one hundred gold dollars. each one giving just one dollar, the total representing one hundred years of her life, and each dollar representing one cent for each year. Of course, one of her chief visitors was Mrs. Sarah Tilletson, in her eighty-seventh year at the time. These two old ladies had been acquaintances and friends much longer than it is permitted most persons to live. The visitors were greatly enter- tained at the many reminiscences of these two venerable ladies-the most recent gossip of theirs was of things that happened more than sixty years ago. "Aunty " Baldy, when the day came and she realized that she was one hundred years old, met the realization as in a profound and silent revery; her mind evidently going back to her well-remembered babyhood and those who had been dead for nearly a century, but this soon passed, and when there was but a few minutes until the clock would strike the hour, she would still say, " If I live twenty minutes more I'll be a hundred." Evidently for many years she had been prepared to go at any moment; when she got up in the morning it was in her mind, " if I live till night," and when she went to bed it was, "if I live till morning." She has long neither feared nor courted death-come when it may, it will simply be the tired child sweetly going to sleep.
Among the friends that called on the occasion were: Mrs Sarah Tillotson, Mrs. McEwan, Mrs. Samuel McKeen, Mrs. Huston, Mrs. John Vaughn, Mrs. W. H. Stubbs, Mrs. Mann, Mrs. Jessie Lee, Mrs. M. S. Durham, Mrs. J. O. Jones, Mrs. J. A. Parker, Mrs. Dia- mond, Mrs. Peter Miller, Mrs. Hessler, Mrs. W. H. Gloyd, Mrs. John Katzenbach, Mrs. Shannon, Miss Bidaman, Miss Mahon, Miss Jennie Same, Rev. J. W. Crum, Mr. William Jones, Mrs. John Reagan, Mrs. J. H. Briggs, Mrs. E. A. Hess, Mrs. J. H. Turner, Mrs. Eiliff, Mrs. C. Miller, Mrs. E. Whittaker, Mrs. William Fre- mont, Mrs. D. F. Hayes, Mrs. Dan Davis, Mrs. J. G. Hicklin, Miss Guerineau, Miss May Hussey, Miss E. B. Warren, Miss Douglass, Mrs. C. M. Warren, Mrs. Hague, Miss Brasselton, Miss Adamson, Miss Alice Jackson, Miss Chrissie Katzenbach, Mrs. Dale, Mrs. Bidaman, Mrs. Bannister, Mrs. Dr. Mahon, Mrs. Clemens, Mrs. C.
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E. Fuller, Mrs. Henry Bugh, Mrs. Isaac Ball, Mrs. R. N. Hudson, Mrs. McCoy, Mrs. Geddes.
Those who made up the purse of one hundred dollars as a memorial gift so eloquent of their love and respect for the old lady, and which affected her most profoundly and warmed her heart as had seldom been in life by the precious token, were the following among others: Eliza B. Warren, Lucy C. Wonner, Joseph Gilbert, Mrs. Joseph Gilbert, Mrs. C. E. Fuller, J. H. Turner, James Ross, Mrs. L. Surrell, W. E. Donaghoe, Mrs. J. H. Sykes, E. W. Kemp, P. J. Kaufman, W. W. Kaufman, Jacob Baur, Joe Miller, Mrs. H. D. Milns, Mrs. C. M. Warren, Mrs. J. A. Parker, Harry Don- ham, Mrs. Jennie C. Turner, Mrs. Isaac Dale, A. E. Meyzeek, Mrs. Samuel McKeen, Mrs. Samuel Reese, Henry Warren, Mrs. Robert Geddes, S. C. McKeen, J. F. Gulick, James Hunter, S. Swope, Theodore Stahl, J. Q. Button, Mrs. Robert Huston, Miss Guerineau, Mary E. Whittaker, Mrs. R. N. Hudson, Harry Ross, John Brake, R. W. Thompson, Mrs. H. Fairbanks, Mrs. C. Fairbanks, Mrs. Persis Jones, C. F. Putnam, Dr. Young, T. J. Griffith, G. E. Brokaw, F. C. Danaldson, W. S. Rea, Buntin Drug Company, J. E. Somes, L. B. Martin, F. C. Buntin, M. S. Durham, G. W. Bement, Mrs. W. B. Warren, Mrs. Washington Johnson, A. Z. Foster, Mrs. Isaac Ball, Mrs. N. Filbeck, Mrs. A. J. Crawford, Miss Mary Hickcox, Mrs. Mary Weiss, Mrs. Sarah Deming, J. H. Sykes, George M. Allen, Daily News, W. H. Albrecht, W. H. Sage, George Buntin, Edward O'Boyle, J. T. H. Miller, Mrs. Mann, J. W. Miller, J. W. Crum.
The following names were signed to a call upon the old settlers to organize an old settlers' society. It was stated in the call, which was issued in May, 1885, that all were included who had been here forty years and over: H. Ross, Griffin Gray, Grafton F. Cookerly, C. W. Brown, H. D. Scott, R. N. Hudson, Preston Hussey, Joseph S. Jencks, E. N. Wyeth, J. B. Hager, C. M. Warren, Demas Deming, Thomas B. Carr, Lemuel Surrell, John B. Goodman, Jacob Seitz, J. L. Dickerson, W. A. Ryan, William Clark, D. E. Paddock, Nat. Allen, Samuel McKeen, C. T. Noble, Sr., John Prather, E. D. Carter, H. T. Rockwell, James Ross, J. W. Hunley, Jesse Lee, David Rippetoe, James M. Phillips, William A. McClure, James L. Davis, Peter Hughes, Helmsly Simmons, William Dur- ham, J. O. Jones, L. W. Dickerson, E. W. Chadwick, Solomon Franklin, R. W. Thompson, William R. McKeen, Joseph Gilbert, William Peppers, S. M. Young, E. H. Tillotson, W. F. Walmslye, William H. Brown, Thomas Beauchamp, A. M. Buckingham, Isaac S. Calvert, John Surns, W. W. Casto, John G. Brake, Reason Meek, Jackson Cox, P. M. Donnelly, James H. Turner, Eli B. Hamilton, T. P. Murray, M. S. Durham, John D. Chestnut, F. C.
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Crawford, G. E. Hedges, R. H. Thomas, P. S. Westfall, W. H. Sage, C. C. Knapp, J. L. Humaston, Marion McQuilkin, James Hook, R. J. Sparks, D. W. Cropling, J. H. Blake, William G. Jencks, George E. Farrington, C. T. Noble, Jr., T. C. Buntin, Harmon Blood, D. W. Rankin, G. F. Smith, George W. Carrico, S. K. Allen, James L. Beard, William Paddock, F. Nippert, D. S. Danaldson, J. B. Hedden, Samuel Connor, C. Gartrell, D. Gartrell, William F. Schaal, James D. Sankey, M. C. Rankin, John Carter, James Schee, A. B. Trueblood, H. Evans, William P. Pugh, G. G. Boord, J. D. Bell, S. S. Finch, H. Haynes, Allen Pence, Edward Cruft, M. G. Rhodes, E. W. Ross, S. H. Potter, S. Musselman, M. W. Sedam, William Slaughter, A. B. Pegg, E. M. Gilman.
Another Centenarian .- John Dawson was born in Stafford county, Va., November 15, 1789, the son of George and Nancy Dawson, one of five children. He was a lad ten years old when Washington died, and can distinctly remember the thrill of sorrow that reached his backwoods home in Virginia on the announcement of the sad event. A number of Washington's relatives were his neighbors. His father owned his farm about ten miles from Dum- fries on the Potomac river. When John was seventeen years of age his parents removed to Kentucky-700 miles, and at that time a perilous voyage. He regards it yet as the leading event of his young life.
The trip was a severe one, and made under very great hardships. It was late in the fall, and during the entire trip, which was made in fifty days, continuous bad weather prevailed. There was a cold rain and sleet most of the time. To add to these discomforts the little party was often forced to remain in camp for several days at a time by the severe weather. They settled in Nelson county, Ky. At the age of twenty the subject of this sketch was married to Miss Sarah Robison, who died a few years after, leaving two children- one son and one daughter. The children all died. In the fall of the same year, 1812, came the announcement of the war, 1812-15. Dawson joined a regiment, the Seventeenth Kentucky Volunteers, and served through the war under Gen. W. H. Harrison. He made the campaign from Kentucky to Canada. His regiment did some skir- mishing, but was in no hard battles. Returning from the war in 1815, Mr. Dawson went back to Nelson county. Shortly afterward he was married to Miss Lucetta Bridwell, and two years later removed to Indiana, settling in Lawrence county. His migration occurred in 1817, and was but two years after the Indians had evacuated that part of the State. The State was then in its infancy, and Mr. Dawson devoted a great deal of his time at that period to hunting. Many the deer he has slain in that section, and many the hunting stories he can relate of his experiences at that time. It was at
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this period that he fitted himself for the position of school teacher. He has been a great man to change his location, and in the next forty years he taught school in perhaps a half dozen counties in this State. A great number of men who have come into promi- mence in commercial and political circles received from John Daw- son their rudimental education. He taught school until about thirty years ago, when he retired from the work.
Fifteen children came to bless Mr. and Mrs. Dawson's wedded life-five boys and ten girls. Of these only four are now living: Hilton Dawson, lives at Shelburn, Ind .; Frank Dawson, at Haw- ville, Ind .; Mrs. Elizabeth Douglass, at Terre Haute with her father, to whom she is a most loving and devoted daughter; and Mrs. Martha Douglass, of this city. Mrs. Dawson died in 1872. Fifteen years ago Mr. Dawson removed to Terre Haute, and has since resided here. Of grandchildren and great-grandchildren there are a large number. Some of them are not even known, having removed to distant sections of the country. As nearly as can be estimated there are thirty grandchildren, sixty-four great- grandchildren and seven great-great-grandchildren.
The great lapse of time since the birth of this republic has served to throw a halo of romance about all stories of revolution- ary days, but Mr. Dawson can recollect the times when the stern cruelties of those days were new, even fresher than those of the late war. He said: "Of course, as a boy, I paid particular atten- tion to war stories, and many times did I listen with bated breath to the recitals that were told by the old soldiers, my father's comrades. My father served the seven years of the war under George Washington, and while he was away my mother had a hard fight for life. While he fought for his country and freedom she fought so keep her children warm and to keep the wolf from the door. After I was born the veterans used to talk over old times together, and many times have I seen brave, strong men with tears running down their cheeks. The memories of their sufferings did what the actual war could not do, it brought them to tears.
Elisha U. Brown whose name is so prominent on the records as one of the organizers of the county, had settled on what is now known as Spring Hill farm-the present property and for some years the residence of Hon. Richard W. Thompson. Mr. Brown's family were relatives of John P. Usher, and were no doubt the cause of that gentleman's coming to Terre Haute to locate. Mr. Brown died at his home on Spring Hill in 1837.
Joel H. Kester, long familiarly known to everybody as " Uncle " Joel Kester, died September 28, 1881, aged seventy-seven years. He was one of the early settlers in Vigo county. He was born in Welby, now Spencer county, Ky., February 29, 1804, and came to
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Indiana in 1827 and settled in Prairie Creek township. In 1824 he was married to Naomi Carr, and had three children: John, who died a young man; Sarah married Gilbert Thomas, and Mary, widow of Virgil Sparks.
In 1850 he removed to Terre Haute and engaged in business, keeping a grocery store for several years on the northeast corner of Fourth and Walnut streets. He was trustee of Harrison town- ship and served a term with credit in that office. In the death of Mr. Kester the entire community felt the loss of a good and an honorable man.
George Jordon, of Honey creek, was a representative of one of the oldest families in the county. He was born in Pennsylvania, April 5, 1798, of Scotch parents. When four years old his parents removed to Rose county, Ohio, where the son grew to manhood, and had the sparsest opportunities for an English education. In 1817 Mr. Jordon came to Honey Creek township and made a crop on Isaac Lambert's farm. In 1819 he walked back through the woods to Ohio. In 1824 he married Judith H. Bennett; they had eight children, all survived their father.
Samuel Sparks came here and cultivated a crop of corn in 1812. He attended an old settlers' meeting in 1875-ninety years old; born near Louisville, Ky., in 1786. He reported having seen much trouble with the Indians. One night seven horses were stolen, and he described the pursuit and recapture of fourteen stolen horses, by making a night attack on the Indian camp and killing seven of the red skins. He spoke of the early clothing all made of animal skins; of their cedar "poridgers," wooden dishes and forks; how he came as a "ranger " in 1812 and bought land from a man named Ross. [Can find no other tradition of R .- ] Samuel Sparks had been a preacher for forty years and had established a half dozen Baptist churches in this section.
Mr. St. Clair came in 1818 from Kentucky, first stopping near Buck creek, where were thirty Indian camps. He never had any trouble with the red men except on one occasion, when he and the Indian shot the same deer and "discussed " the right of prop- erty. Mr. St. Clair was eighty-two years old in 1875.
At this meeting a call was made for all present who had been in Fort Harrison for protection or were there immediately after the battle; one man responded-Mr. Richardson. Mrs. Ball, Mrs. Wilkin, Mrs. Johnson, Mrs. Haynes and Mrs. Wedding also indi- cated that they were in the fort. Mr. Richardson described the alarm given by the Indians; how they were encamped opposite the fort across the river, awaiting their annuities; the men had gone to Vincennes mostly from the fort and left the women and children but. poorly protected; the Indians suspected that they were to be
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cheated; in the night the traders awoke the people in the houses. outside the fort walls, including himself. . It was discovered that the fires of the Indians had been put out and their dogs were howling. The Indians danced their war dance and came over, but on seeing the people in the fort and prepared to defend themselves, they looked about and left, after stealing several horses and some articles from the houses outside.
Mr. Ray, aged eighty-one, said he came in the fall of 1818. He was an old soldier of the war of 1812.
Lewis Pucket was a younger brother of the noted Tom Pucket. He lived nearly his entire life in Vigo county, coming with his family in 1816. He lived in Honey Creek township, where he died August 16, 1873, aged sixty. He was a plain, unassuming farmer and known by all as an honorable good man.
Benjamin McKeen was born January 1, 1803, in that portion of Mason county that is now Lewis county; at the age of five years with his father's family, went to Adams county, Ohio, where he remained until 1811, at which time, young as he was, he came with his two brothers to Knox county, Ind. The family were Shakers and the boys stopped at the settlement in " Shaker Prairie " on Busseron creek.
In 1823, when Benjamin was twenty years of age, he came to Vigo county. The brothers were mechanics, but workmen with the brain as well as the brawn. Benjamin soon after coming to Terre Haute, engaged in the New Orleans trade, carried on then by flatboats from the Wabash to a large extent. He was prominent in county affairs, and served in different county offices, especially as county commissioner to the time of his death, which event took place in December, 1866. The aim and delight of his life was to realize the growth and prosperity of the country in this vicinity, especially Terre Haute. No man ever performed either his private or public duties more earnestly, promptly or efficiently. The records of the county court are the evidences of his labors in office. "It is not all of life to live, nor all of death to die." And this was as true of Benjamin McKeen as of any man who ever spent his active life in Vigo county.
Mr. McKeen left a widow and five children-three sons and two daughters-who are among the most estimable and prominent of the people of the county.
A Valuable Scrap of Early History .- A few years before his death Capt. William Earl, the first-born male white child in Terre Haute, who was left an orphan quite young, and when nearly fifteen years of age succeeded in filling the measure of his young life's ambition and went down to the sea in ships. The stout-hearted lad shipped before the mast, and about the time his old Terre
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