History of Vigo county, Indiana, with biographical selections, Part 68

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

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ISAAC BALL, undertaker, Terre Haute. This gentleman ranks among the oldest and most prominent business men of Terre Haute, one who stands well among his neighbors on account of both his enterprise and his liberal public spirit. Mr. Ball was born in New Jersey, August 29, 1826, and is a son of Nelson and Ester (Hull) Ball. The former was born in New York, the latter in New Jersey, and both of English descent. They removed to Ohio when our subject was six years of age. The father, who was a manufacturer of pot- tery, came west, and died in Indiana, in 1852, Isaac Ball, who was the eldest of three sons, had the advantage of a moderate education in the public schools of Ohio. In early life he was apprenticed to the cabinet-maker's trade, but after serving part of his time his em- ployer sold out and bought a farm. Isaac could not see much of a chance to learn the cabinet-maker's trade by working on a farm, so he quietly made a change of base. Getting together his little fort- une, a few clothes and all his cash, consisting of the princely sum of 10 cents, he departed for " green fields and pastures new." He assumed now the whole responsibility of his own life, and on foot trudged along in light marching order, with more ambition and hope than either cash or clothes. He proceeded to Dayton, Ohio, and for a time worked at whatever he could find to do. Subse- quently he went to Indianapolis, where he remained two years working in a cabinet-maker and undertaker's shop. In 1847 he came to Terre Haute, and opened a business for himself in that line of his trade, and has grown and prospered with the growth of the city of his adoption. In those days everything was done by hand, as there was but little machinery in use. Mr. Ball has been prompt to use and apply every advanced idea or invention in his trade. He was the first to offer the trade in Terre Haute the modern improved wooden casket now in general use. In his line he has had many rivals since 1847, but no successful leaders. Mr. Ball married in Terre Haute, in 1850, Caroline, daughter of William Taylor, and a descendant of one of the early families of Vigo county. Her mother, who was of English descent, molded bullets for the soldiers of the Revolution. Mr. and Mrs. Ball have been blessed

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HISTORY OF VIGO COUNTY.

with two children: Matilda E., wife of Augustus Hess, and Frank H. The family worship at the Baptist Church, of which Mr. Ball is trustee. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., and of the Grand Lodge. He is a Sir Knight Templar, and in politics is a Repub- lican.

WILLIAM C. BALL, editor, and senior member of the firm of W. C. Ball & Co., publishers of the daily and tri-weekly Terre Haute Gazette, was born in Terre Haute, Ind., in 1846, and is a son of William J. and Julia ( Creighton) Ball, natives of Virginia and Ohio, respectively, and of English descent. William J. Ball had received, in his native place, a higher education, and came west a civil engineer, competent in every way to supply a want here that arose with the building of the canal and the railroads, in many of which enterprises he was chief engineer. He was one of the most valuable acquisitions to Vigo county in his day. In 1840 he came to Terre Haute, and died in 1875. His family consisted of seven claildren-three daughters and four sons-of whom our subject is the second in the order of birth. He attended the public schools, and then became a student in the State University, at Bloomington, Ind .; then went to Amherst College, Massachusetts, where he graduated in 1868. He afterward taught in St. Louis High School, three years, from 1868 to 1871, during which time he studied law. In 1871 he returned to Terre Haute, and entered on the practice of his pro- fession. In 1872 he purchased the Gazette, and became its editor and proprietor in company first with John S. Dickerson, and later with his brother, Spencer F. Ball. He writes strong and vigorous English, and his paper rings with Democratic editorials. He and his brother Spencer F. are first-class newspaper men, and they have elevated the Gazette to a high-grade newspaper-strong, newsy and breezy, and they have planted it on a solid foundation, The editor and his paper are a recognized power throughout the State, and indeed throughout the west. W. C. Ball has taken a prominent part in promoting the cause of education, and his service on the school board has been invaluable to the city schools. He is a member of the board of managers of the Rose Polytechnic Insti- tute. He is all that goes to make a valuable leading citizen, and is frequently called for by his friends and neighbors.

WILLIAM F. BANDY, farmer and stock-grower, Fayette Township, P. O. Libertyville, was born in Breckinridge county, Ky., August 10, 1825, and is a son of William and Elizabeth (Jor- dan ) Bandy, natives of Old Virginia, and of English descent. The father, who had been a farmer all his life, came in 1830 to Vigo county, where he died. His family consisted of ten children, of whom William F., the seventh in order of birth, was reared on the

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HISTORY OF VIGO COUNTY.

farm, attending the common schools. He became a farmer by choice, and is now the owner of 120 acres of land. He was mar- ried in Edgar county, Ill., to Miss Jerusha Esom, who was of English descent, and who died in 1879, a consistent member of the U. B. Church. They had ten children, as follows: Foster E .; Anas, wife of William Brokaw; William A .; Elizabeth, wife of M. F. Rice; Elzira, wife of Albert Sellers; Isabella, wife of John Bojarth; Angeline, wife of William Lancy; Jerusha, deceased; Martha Jane, wife of Augustus Wolfe; Angelette P., deceased. Six of these are now living. Mr. Bandy married for his second wife, in 1886, Mrs. David Vail, a widow, nee Carrie Hitchcock, who was born in Pennsylvania of Welsh descent. Mr. and Mrs. Bandy are members of the U. B. Church. In politics Mr. Bandy is a Democrat, and has been road supervisor and school director.

HON. CROMWELL WOOLSEY BARBOUR died at his home in Fayette township, Vigo county, Ind., Sunday, May 5, 1889, in the eighty-first year of his age. He had been a prominent young lawyer in much of that work that was merely organizing Vigo county, and at his death was probably one of the oldest male settlers in the county. He had helped to make Vigo county, originally, and had lived to see it grow, prosper and become rich, and a great community to take the place of the few squalid barba- rians that were here when he came, a well-grown lad merely. He came with his father's (Daniel Barbour) family in 1817. The Barbours were a strong and vigorous race of men. The old gentle- man advanced well toward one hundred years, while, as seen above, his son lived here a long and useful life. He was but a little over nine years of age when he came, and the county was not then in existence. The town of Terre Haute had just been laid out. The family settled in Sugar Creek township, and here they always made their home. Daniel Barbour had advanced, and had as clear ideas of what was due his children in fitting them for useful lives as had then any man in the country. There was a higher and better sphere of life, to his mind, than the mere gathering in of broad acres, even of this rich soil, and leaving a great inheritance of groveling greed and low-born desires.

Cromwell W. Barbour was born in Jefferson county, N. Y., but coming here young he was wholly a western man-a Vigo county man, whose home was in Sugar Creek township. . He was reared on the Wabash, in the time, too, when there was a dearth of schools here, and while it was even yet an unsolved problem with the pioneers that in the " fever 'n' ager " they had not met a foe so in- comparably worse than savage wilderness and its savage people, that it was an uninhabitable land-a Tadmor, as Capt. Earle has

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HISTORY OF VIGO COUNTY.

said, where brooded destruction and death. It was in the face of such surroundings that Daniel Barbour reared his family and deter- mined to give them all the advantages in the line of a better educa- tion that lay in his power. He sent his son to the State University at Bloomington, where, young as he was, he soon came to be re- garded as a remarkably bright and promising boy. After leaving school he took a course of reading in the law office of Judge Black- ford, Indianapolis, and in 1835 commenced the practice of law in Terre Haute. Soon after he formed a partnership with Hon. R. W. Thompson, and the firm of Thompson & Barbour, without the say- ing, was known as one of the strongest law firms of the State. Mr. Barbour was eminently a lawyer, and to a strong judicial mind he added a tireless industry. The dry and abstruse technicalities of the old common law were but "grists to the hopper " in his legal mind; and hence in the argument of law questions in the court he met few equals and no superiors. He was soon noted for always stating the law to the court so accurately that his statements were accepted by the court and the opposing attorneys without further question. The profession regarded him as their best common law expounder at the bar. He was the county commissioner for the school lands of the county, and the records show that in behalf of our present system of free schools he laid the whole foundation. He had charge of the sale and care of the school lands, and he pointed out the defects in the old law in the management thereof, and was chiefly instrumental in effecting the important change that bettered them. In his first reports to the county commissioners are to be found his suggestions and recommendations in reference to the affairs of his office. In 1850 he was elected a member of the constitutional convention, and the impress of his genius is yet a mark of that fundamental State law. In the matter of public edu- cation he was the spokesman and leader in that body. The results of his labors here will continue to flow out to the coming genera- tions for all time. In all matters he stood among the foremost of that body of eminent men, and on his return to his home he received the universal thanks of the people. In 1852, when the Prairie City Bank was organized in Terre Haute, Mr. Barbour was elected presi- dent, and served as such until he retired to his beautiful farm across the river from the city, where he remained until his death.

In 1840 Mr. Barbour was united in marriage with Derexa, the accomplished daughter of Benjamin Whitcomb, a merchant, and a niece of Ex-Governor and Ex-United States Senator James Whit- comb. A large family of children blessed this union, and no man was more happy in all his domestic relations. His real enjoyment was his old rural home and his family. Here was one of the most

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beautiful farms and happy homes in Vigo county. R. N. Newton was a law student in the office of Mr. Barbour, and on the occasion of the latter's death he wrote:

No man stood higher for integrity and manly honor in this community than C. W. Barbour. His word was always as good as his bond. No man ever im- peached his integrity, for no man ever had reason for so doing. In his delightful home, surrounded by all the pleasures of domestic life, a devoted and loving wife, with children who reverenced him and he loved, has passed away our dear old friend and early preceptor. May the life which he so nobly lived open to him all the joys and blessing of the other and better world.

A few years before his death Mr. Barbour received a paralytic stroke from which he never fully recovered, his left arm remaining entirely useless. He retained, however, his mental faculties fully, and transacted all his ordinary business affairs almost up to the last day. Although his death was not unexpected, the news came to the whole people almost as a personal sorrow-the friend, the good man was gone.

The family of children of Mr. and Mrs. Barbour were as follows: James W., who died, aged twenty-one, in 1862; Anna E., who died in her fifth year; Emma C., who married Morton Smith, of Dayton, Ohio; Mary, the wife of W. H. Coffman; Sarah Louise, teacher in the high school, Terre Haute; Susan W., who is at the parental home; Raymond W., who is a hardware merchant in Paris, Ill .; Albert, married, and has resided on the family homestead since his father's death; Jennie, the wife of N. R. Moore, of Paris, Ill., and Florence, who is at the old home. Mrs. Barbour is a member of the Congre- gational Church. Her family came to Vigo county in 1829; they worshiped at the Methodist Episcopal Church.

DANIEL BARBOUR, Fayette township, P. O. New Goshen. Among the descendants of the distinguished pioneer settlers of Vigo county is Daniel Barbour, bearing the same name as his worthy father, who came in 1817 to the new country, and who lived an honored life of nearly one hundred years. The history of Dan- iel Barbour, Sr., is a part of the history of Vigo county, closely interwoven with it from the first to the day of his death. The son is a.representative farmer and stock-grower of Vigo county; the possessor of over 500 acres of land. He has retired from the active duties of the homestead, but still superintends all the business con- nected with his large farming interests. He is a native of Vigo county, born December 2, 1820, and is the son of Daniel and Eliza- beth (Taggert) Barbour, former a native of Connecticut, latter of Rhode Island, and both of English descent. The father was a pio- neer to this county in 1817 (as already stated), and settled in Fayette township in 1818, ou a farm where he spent nearly sixty years of his useful life, and died in 1875 at the advanced age of

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ninety-four. He had lived to see this county change from a wilder- ness to fruitful fields of plenty. Daniel, the youngest of a family of eight children, spent his life in farming pursuits in the immedi- ate vicinity of where he was born. He was married in Edgar county, Ill., to Miss Martha Cobble, of German descent, daughter of Jacob Cobble, her parents having been natives of Kentucky. This union has been blessed with five children: Nellie, Elizabeth, Lewis, Fannie and Faith. Mrs. Barbour is a consistent member of the U. B. Church. In politics Mr. Barbour is a stanch Republican. Cromwell W., an elder brother, was for many years a prominent attorney of Vigo county, was superintendent of public schools, and to a large extent was the founder of the present splendid schools, and systems of education. He died May 5, 1889, aged eighty-one years.

JOHN V. BARBRE, of the firm of Barbre & Cummins, dealers in drugs and hardware, Middletown, was born in Sullivan county, Ind., May 9, 1863, and is a son of Jesse and Lydia E. (Vandeveer) Barbre, former of whom was born in Indiana in 1823, and died in Sullivan county in 1875. The great-grandfather of our subject was a native of France. . Seyborn Barbre, father of Jesse, came to this county before Terre Haute was thought of, and entered a tract of land in Sullivan county, near the line of what is now this county, being one of the first settlers in this section of the country. He died on the farm he entered. The country being new, Jesse's chance for an education was very poor, but being ambitious he began to cut cord-wood, thus earning enough to pay for his schooling. He afterward became one of Sullivan county's leading physicians, receiving diplomas from the medical colleges of Philadelphia and Cincinnati, and an honorary diploma from Chicago. He practiced four years in Terre Haute, and traveled seven years, making a spe- cialty of diseases of the eye. He was a prominent member of the Baptist Church, and always took an active part in public enterprises pertaining to the welfare of the community. His wife was born in Orange county, May 30, 1839, and died in December, 1882. She reared two sons and one daughter, all living, viz .: Mary Belle, wife of George E. Harris ; Thomas J. and John V. Mary Belle and Thom- as J. were school teachers at one and the same time. Our sub- ject's principal education was received at Farmersburg, Sullivan county, Ind., and he has been making his own way ever since he was twelve years of age. He began as clerk in a store, and afterward was on the railroad for a few years. When nineteen years of age he was employed as a drug clerk at Farmersburg, subsequently coming to Middletown where he was employed as clerk in a general store for Mr. Yeagre, then for his brother-in-law, Mr. Harris. In May,

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1887, he and his brother opened a general store, continuing in part- nership until October, 1889, when the present firm was formed. They carry a stock of over $2,000, and are enterprising mer- chants. Mr. Barbre was married May 26, 1889, to Miss Mattie J. Blythe, who was born in Gibson county, Ind., a daughter of James S. and Sarah Blythe, latter of whom died in this county, where Mr. Blythe still resides. Mr. and Mrs. Barbre are members of the Missionary Baptist Church, of which he is secretary and trustee. He is a public-spirited and enterprising citizen.

THOMAS E. F. BARNES, whose residence is 215 South Thir- teenth street, Terre Haute, was born in Maryland, February 13, 1811. His father, Zadock Barnes, who was a farmer and carpenter, was a native of Maryland, born May 23, 1767, and came of an English family. His father, Philliman Barnes, was born in England. Mr. Barnes' mother's maiden name was Elizabeth Paulson, and she was born August 24, 1772, in Maryland, where she died, the mother of five sons and six daughters: Rachel, Slingsby L. and Thomas E. F., being the only ones now living. Our subject was reared in Maryland, where he lived until he was twenty-three years of age. He, like many of the pioneer children, when .but little more than a toddler, trudged his way two and one-half miles to school, and then received only a limited education. About 1835 he left his native State, and went to Montgomery county, Ohio, near Day- ton, where he was engaged in farming three years, and from there he moved to Miami county, where he worked on a farm for one year. In 1840 he went to Clay county, Ind., entered 320 acres of land, and began to improve a farm. In 1842 he returned to Mont- gomery county, Ohio, and married Miss Sarah Hosier, a native of that place, and a daughter of Abram and Lucy (Key) Hosier, who died in Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Thomas E. F. Barnes have two daughters living, and had one son, deceased, viz .: Lavina E. widow of Joseph F. Morris; Loyd N., who died in 1877, and Mary Jane, wife of T. E. Woollen, who resides on a farm in Vigo county. Mr. Barnes resided in Clay county eighteen years, when he disposed of his farm and came to Vigo county. He purchased forty acres of land, which he farmed until 1878, since which time he has resided in Terre Haute. He has one vacant lot on Sixth street, and a house and lot where he resides ; also owns fifty-three acres of valuable land. He cast his first presidential vote for Adams, and was always affil- iated with the old Whig party during its time. Since the Repub- lican party has existed he has acted with it in political matters.

WILLIAM BAUGH, engineer, Terre Haute, is a native of Wythe county, Va., born February 22, 1818, a son of David and Catharine (Kensler) Baugh, former of whom, who was a farmer and

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carpenter, was a native of Virginia, and the latter of Maryland. The family removed in the spring of 1829 to Madison, Ind., where the mother died in 1845. The father was wounded at the battle of Shiloh, and was brought to Evansville, Ind., where he died a short time afterward. William, who is the eldest in a family of seven children, received a common-school education, and followed boating about eight years, starting in as cabin boy, then becoming deck hand, striker and engineer in succession. In the spring of 1843 he went on the Madison & Indianapolis Railroad as fireman, and was promoted to engineer in 1844. He continued with the company until the spring of 1851, when he came to Terre Haute and went to work for the Terre Haute & Indianapolis Railroad Company. Mr. Baugh is one of the oldest employes of the Vandalia Railroad Com- pany, and ran the first regular train over the road from Indian- apolis to Terre Haute, the trip being made March 4, 1852. He continued as engineer on the road until 1870, when he retired on account of age, and went to work for the Vandalia Railroad Com- pany at the roundhouse, where he is still employed. Mr. Baugh has been twice married, first in Madison, Ind., September 14, 1840, to Miss Mary Godfred, a native of Vernon, Ind., who died January 16, 1869. To this union were born six children, viz .: Sarah (deceased) ; William C., who married Ruth Grubbs (they are resi- dents of Sioux City, Iowa) ; Angelona, wife of L. D. Sirona; Mary, wife of Clift Porter (they reside at Lexington, Ky. ); Edward and Harry. Mr. Baugh was married, the second time, in Terre Haute, August 18, 1873, to Margaret Hathaway, a native of Bloomington, Ind. Mr. Baugh is a member of the Masonic fraternity No. 86, and also of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, Division 25. In politics he is a Republican.

JOHN BEAL, farmer and stock-grower, Otter Creek township, P. O. Terre Haute, was born in Parke county, Ind., May 4, 1836, and is the son of Jeremiah Beal, who was born in Loudoun county, Va., March 5, 1807, and is now living a retired life, being as active in his eighty-fourth year as the average man of sixty. He is of four nationalities: Scotch, Irish, German and English. John Beal's pater- nal grandparents were Samuel, who was born in 1770, and lived to be fifty-four years old, and Nancy (Garner) Beal, natives of Virginia and farmers by occupation. John's father, who was the third in a family of five children, was reared on a farm in Jackson county, Tenn. He came to Vigo county in 1829, and the same year moved across the line into Parke county, where he resided until 1857, when he came to Terre Haute and engaged extensively in the real estate business, in which he has met with marked success. He was married in Jackson County, Tenn., February 21, 1829, to Rebecca,

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daughter of William Fuqua; her parents being of German and English descent. John Beal's father enlisted in the Mexican war, and his grandfather, Samuel Beal, was all through the war of 1812. The father is grand master in the Masonic fraternity.

The gentleman whose name heads this sketch is the fourth in a family of ten children. He was reared on the farm, receiving a common-school education, and has been a very successful agricult- urist, being the owner of a well-improved farm where he now resides in Otter Creek township, consisting of 160 acres of valuable land. He was united in marriage in Vigo county, Ind., January 5. 1865, with Miss Lucy C., daughter of Azariah and Nancy (Dudney ) Hopper, who were of German and Irish descent. Mr. and Mrs. Beal have had six children, of whom those now living are Frank G., an attorney in Terre Haute, and Jessie L., who is at school. Mr. and Mrs Beal are justly proud of their son, who is a graduate of the high school and the commercial school at Terre Haute. Mrs. Beal is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. The male members of the family are mostly Democrats. Our subject is a Mas- ter Mason. The names of his brothers and sisters are : William ; Rev. Samuel R. ; Nancy Ann, wife of John Strong ; Elliot ; Martin, who was a soldier in the Civil war; Mark, a farmer in Otter Creek township, and Wesley, who died at the age of twenty-two. Two died young.

MARK BEAL, farmer and stock-grower, Otter Creek township. P. O. Terre Haute, was born in Parke county, Ind., October 5, 1844. and is a son of Jeremiah and Rebecca (Fuqua) Beal. [For a history of his parents see sketch of Jolin Beal, also a prominent farmer in Otter Creek township and brother to Mark. | Our sub- ject is one of a family of ten children, seven of whom are now liv- ing. and was reared on the farm in Parke county, Ind., receiving a common-school education in that county. He is the owner of a valuable farm consisting of 272 acres in Otter Creek township, where he now resides. He was married in Parke county, Novem- ber 2, 1865, to Miss Margaret A., daughter of George and Lydia (Overpeck) Bailor, who were of German descent. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Beal are: Nettie Florence, a music teacher; Fred W., a graduate of the high school of Terre Haute, and now a student at the State Normal (he is eighteen years old) ; and Lizzie May, a student at the Terre Haute high school. Mrs. Beal is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Beal is an energetic farmer, his success in life being largely due to his energy, industry and economy. Mr. and Mrs. Beal take a great interest in the education of their children.

JOSEPH L. BEARD, farmer, Linton township, P. O. Pimento, was born in this county, May 29, 1857, and is a son of Stephen C.

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and Elizabeth (Wells) Beard, natives of Spencer county, Ky., who were of Irish descent. The father, who was a farmer, and taught school during his early life, moved from Kentucky to this county, about the year 1818, and died in Pierson township, August 3, 1880; the mother is still living. They had a family of six children that grew to maturity, of whom Joseph L. is the third. He married, October 7, 1879, Mary E., daughter of William and Lettie (Heddy) Little- john, natives of Kentucky, of Irish descent, and who were early settlers of this county. They had five children who grew to ma- turity, of whom Mary E. is the third, born March 9, 1857. Mr. and Mrs. Beard have two children: Stephen L. and William L. Mr. Beard received his education in the common schools of this county, has followed farming, and owns a well cultivated farm of forty acres of land.

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History of Vigo county, Indiana, with biographical selections, Part 68

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