History of Vigo county, Indiana, with biographical selections, Part 70

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

USA > Indiana > Vigo County > History of Vigo county, Indiana, with biographical selections > Part 70

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JOHN T. BLAIR, farmer, Linton township, P. O. Pimento, was born in Jefferson county, Ky., September 17, 1840, and is a son of Robert and Sarah E. (Moore) Blair, natives of Kent, and of English descent, who were early settlers of this county, where they died. Their family consisted of nine children, of whom John T. is the fifth. Our subject was married February 2, 1867, to Bar- bara, daughter of John and Margaret (Harris) Reisenger, natives of Kentucky, and of German descent, the latter of whom died May 6, 1854; the father is still living. Barbara is the sixth in a family of eight children, and was born May 6, 1850. Mr. and Mrs. Blair had seven children, viz .: Murtie J., Sadie, Willis and Robert (died in infancy), Laura F., Ollie E. and Everett S. Mr. Blair devoted his time to farming, and owns a farm of forty-five acres. He enlisted in Company D, Forty-third Ind. V. I. for three years, and was in the gunboat service, taking part in the battle at Helena. After he had been out two years he was seized with typhoid-malaria fever, and was discharged. Coming home, he remained about six months and then re-enlisted in the same company, serving till the close of the war, being mustered out at Indianapolis, Ind. Mr. and Mrs. Blair are members of the Methodist Church.

F. G. BLEDSOE, dentist, Terre Haute, was born at Decatur, Ind., December 19, 1840, a son of Daniel and Georgia (Craig) Bledsoe, natives of Kentucky, and of English descent, former of whom was a farmer and merchant. They reared seven children. F. G. Bledsoe attended the common schools in Indiana, and studied dentistry in the office of Dr. Allen, at Cincinnati, after which, in 1860, he entered upon the practice of his profession at Seymour, Ind. Then practiced in Jackson county, same State, and also at Shel- byville, until 1880, when he came to Terre Haute and opened his

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office, which is located on Wabash avenue. Dr. Bledsoe has been twice married, first in 1868, to Miss Sarah, daughter of John Mussulman, and they had five children, viz .: William and Harry, both employed at the Electric Light Works; Albert, a puddler in the iron works, Terre Haute; Walter, studying dentistry with his father, and Edward, at home. The mother of this family died in 1878, and the Doctor was married in 1883 to Martha J. Harris, of Terre Haute, who died in 1890, a consistent member of the Presby- terian Church. The Doctor is a member of the Christian Church, and in politics he is a Democrat. He is one of the prominent citizens of Terre Haute.

PLEASANT BLEDSOE (deceased) was born in Tennessee, June 18, 1833, and was a son of Isaac and Margaret (McBroom) Bledsoe, also natives of Tennessee, the former of whom was of English, the latter of Irish descent. They moved from Tennessee to Greene county, Ind., in 1836, and there died, the mother in 1844, the father in 1863. They had a family of six children, all of whom grew up, and of whom Pleasant was the third in or- der of birth. He was twice married, first, October 28, 1858, to Mary A., daughter of Samuel and Amanda (Thomas) Welch, natives of Ohio and early settlers of this county, and who had one child, Mary A., who was born October 24, 1832. Mr. and Mrs. Bledsoe had born to them six children, viz .: Margaret J., wife of George French; Belle; J. W .; J. T .; Charles H., and Baby Bled- soe, born November 7, 1870, died December 8, 1870, Mrs. Bled- soe died November 23, 1870, a member of the Missionary Baptist Church, and Mr. Bledsoe was married November, 2, 1871, to Re- becca, daughter of Samuel and Margaret (Chambers) Welch. She is the eldest in a family of six children, and was born March 23, 1837. Mr. Bledsoe had by this marriage three children, as follows: Edward P., Rhoda and Taylor J.

Mr. Bledsoe was reared on the farm, receiving his education in the common schools of Greene county, Ind. After he grew up he commenced to learn the blacksmith's trade in Sullivan county, and on completing his apprenticeship he moved to Centreville, Pierson township, this county, where he worked at his trade until 1865, when he sold out his shop, and followed farming for about three years. He then bought out a stationary saw-mill, and followed saw-milling till 1871, in which year he moved to Pimento and erected a grist-mill, which he carried on till 1877, when he engaged in the grain and hay business, and also handled agricultural implements. Mr. Bledsoe died March 17, 1890. Politically he was a Democrat, and served one term as assessor, five years as township trustee, and was a justice of the peace at the time of his death. He was a

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HISTORY OF VIGO COUNTY.

Master Mason, a member of Lodge No. 292, Pimento, and served as secretary for fourteen years. Mrs. Bledsoe is a member of the Baptist Church.

LON BLOCKSOM, farmer and stock-grower, Honey Creek township, P. O. Terre Haute. This enterprising young farmer and business man was born in Honey Creek township, this county, February 24, 1856, a son of William and Edna (Atkinson) Block- som, the former of whom was born in Ohio, the latter in Virginia, and they were of English descent. The father was an early settler of Vigo county, and was a leading farmer and business man, suc- ceeding in accumulating a handsome fortune. He lived a life well worthy of the imitation and admiration of the rising generation-a good man and true. He died in 1874, the owner of 394 acres of valuable land at the time of his death. His family consisted of four sons and four daughters, our subject being the youngest, and six of the children are now living and doing well. Lon Blocksom received a good education in the English branches, wisely choosing his father's occupation, and he has one of the best arranged barns for the stock business in the county; he is an extensive farmer and stock-grower, and also breeds fine horses. Mr. Blocksom was mar- ried in this county to Susie B., daughter of Daniel D. and Mary (Corbon) Walker, and of Scotch and English descent. Her father, who was born in 1830 in Vigo county and died in 1870, was a promi- nent business man and of good education, being a regular graduate of Greencastle College. His father was engaged in shipping by flatboat to New Orleans at an early date, and this was the founda- tion of his fortune.

JOHN D. BODINE (deceased) was born in Edgar county, Ill., March 14, 1845, a son of Thomas and Margaret (Reynolds) Bodine, the former born in Maryland, the latter in Kentucky, both being of French descent. The father was a farmer all his life, and died in Edgar county, Ill., in 1852. His family consisted of five children, of whom John D., the second in order of birth, was raised in Vigo county, Ind., but attended the district schools in Edgar county, Ill. He as a farmer made his own way in the world, and was successful in his business transactions, being at the time of his death owner of the farm where he resided, consisting of seventy- three acres of well-improved land. He was married in 1868 to Miss Ellen, daughter of Jacob Wrightnire, who is of Irish and French origin, and the children are Charles Alonzo, Mary R., John F., Albert E., Anna Blanche and Irene Estella. The family are mem- bers of the Catholic Church. In politics Mr. Bodine was a Demo- crat. His grandfather, Barney Reynolds, who was a soldier in the war of 1812, came from Kentucky to Vigo county in 1818, where

HISTORY OF VIGO COUNTY. 685

he died in 1855. His wife, who saw Gen. Washington, lived to be ninety-six years old.

A. H. BOEGEMAN, dealer in boots and shoes, Terre Haute, was born in Enochsburg, Franklin county, Ind., July 28, 1851, and is second in the family of five children of Frank and Elizabeth (Wacker) Boegeman, natives of Hanover, Germany. He was united in marriage July 28, 1872, with Frances A. Cooley, a daughter of Silvester and Mary (Partlow) Cooley, natives of Illinois. She is the second in a family of five children, and was born in Clark county, Ill., July 11, 1854. Mr. and Mrs. Boegeman have had born to them four children, as follows: Frank, Catharine, William and Nona. Mr. Boegeman received his education in the common schools, and learned the shoemaker's trade, at which he worked in Oldenburg, Franklin county, three years. In 1870 he removed to Terre Haute, and worked at his trade here about seven years; then engaged in the boot and shoe business, which he has since followed with success. He has made his way in the world by his own ex- ertions. Mr. and Mrs. Boegeman are members of the Christian Church, in which he is a deacon. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., No. 51, Terre Haute, and of the Encampment. Mr. Boegeman re- sides one mile east of Terre Haute.

PETER BOLLIG, grocer and baker, Terre Haute, was born in Germany, August 1, 1836, and is a son of William and Magdelena (Kohn) Bollig, natives of Germany. His father, who followed the same trade, and was also a farmer in Germany, was a leading man in the city where he resided in the Fatherland, and was mayor of same, an important and high office in that country. Peter, who is the youngest in a family of ten children, six of whom reached the age of maturity, was reared in his native place, where he attended the common school and assisted his father in his work, naturally adopting the same line of business. When he reached his majority he came to the United States, and has carved out his own way in the world. He has resided in Terre Haute since 1869, and such was his industry, energy and economy, that he was not long a citi- zen before he was able to commence business on his own account, at first on a small scale, which has constantly grown into its present proportions. He is eminently qualified for the business, having spent most of his life in the same line he is now engaged in. He was married in Germany, in 1868, to Miss Margaret, daughter of John and Margaret Ann Sheiderick. Mr. and Mrs. Bollig are mem- bers of the Catholic Church, and he has served as trustee of the Catholic Benevolent Association, and also as treasurer of the church. In politics he is identified with the Democratic party.

M. S. BOSTON, Pierson township, P. O. Lewis. This gentle-

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man, who is assessor of Pierson township, was born in Spencer county, Ky., October 23, 1837. His parents, Edward and Sarah (Stout) Boston, were natives of Maryland and Kentucky, respect- ively, and his father, who has celebrated his eightieth birthday, is now a citizen of Clay county, where he located in 1878. When Edward Boston was thirteen years old his parents emigrated from Maryland to Spencer county, Ky., and this was his home until 1840, when they came to Vigo county, but in a few years returned to their old home in Kentucky. In 1855 the family again came to this State and located in Sullivan county. He is a typical pioneer, and his life has been spent in the woods, clearing land and improv- ing farms. His wife, Sarah (Stout), was born in 1815, and died in Sullivan county, Ind., in her sixty-fifth year; both were active members of the Missionary Baptist Church. In politics, while there was a Whig party, he affiliated with it, and after it passed away he became a Democrat. The father was of English and Irish descent, and the mother of German. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Boston was blessed with a family of eleven children, six of whom are liv- ing: James W., who is a hotel-keeper in Terre Haute; Maston S .; Harriet, wife of Leander Trinkle; Josephine, wife of Ewing Lan- ning; Lois, wife of Elisha Powell, and Jesse P. Our subject spent his school days in Kentucky, and, for his meager advantages, his education is liberal. He remained with his father, assisting him on the farm, until he gained his majority, when he undertook to learn the blacksmith's trade, which he abandoned after about one year, and then turned his attention to farming on the border line of Vigo and Sullivan counties.

In 1872 J. S. Bryan became his partner in mercantile trade at Pimento, and three years later their stock of goods was destroyed by fire, but they continued as partners in farming. In 1878 they again embarked in mercantile trade, this time at Centreville, and in 1887 Mr. Boston sold his interest in the store to his partner on account of his farming interests demanding all his time. He has an improved farm in Sullivan county, near Centreville, and also an interest in a farm in Clay county, dealing extensively in stock. On December 13, 1864, he volunteered in the Thirty-fifth Ind. V. I., and served until disabled by rheumatism, when he was transferred to the quartermaster's department; he was discharged in November, 1865. In 1886 Mr. Boston was elected assessor of Pierson town- ship, his success as a business man being an assurance that he was well fitted for the position, and his friends were not mistaken in their surmise. May 15, 1868, he married Miss Mary F., a daughter of William H. Bryan, and born in Clark county, Ill., January 14, 1844. To this union five children have been born, viz .: Nellie,

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Elmer B., Edward H., Cecil D. and Ethel B. The family are mem- bers of the Missionary Baptist Church. Mr. Boston is a member of Cruft Post No. 284, G. A. R., and is now serving as J. V. C .; he is treasurer of the F. M. B. A. Politically he is a Democrat, and is a Prohibitionist, having totally abstained from intoxicating drink since 1865, and he has used no profane language since his eight- eenth birthday. Mrs. Boston died February 22, 1890.

CULBERTSON BOYLL, retired farmer, Linton township, P. O. Pimento, was born in Spencer county, Ky., February 10, 1807, and is a son of Henry and Sarah (Park) Boyll, former of whom was of Scotch descent, and latter of English. The father was a native of Loudoun county, Va., and the mother of Jefferson county, Ky. They died in Kentucky. Their family consisted of five boys and three girls, all of whom grew to maturity, Culbertson being fourth in order of birth. He married September 28, 1837, Nancy, daugh- ter of Robert and Nancy (Thurman) Hedges, her father being a native of Virginia, and her mother of Spencer county, Ky., both of English descent. They died in Kentucky. Their family consisted of two children, Nancy, the younger of the two, having been born February 4, 1818. Mr. and Mrs. Boyll had born to them fifteen children, as follows: Sarah A., who first married Louis Cornell and afterward David Fisher; Robert H., who married Ruth D. Cornell; Alfred H., who married Lucretia A. Hedges; Mary E., wife of John R. Cupps; David M .; Eury M .; Sophia, who married Joseph Mc- Grew; Rosey C .; Rebecca J., wife of Otho Taylor; Alice, wife of Enock Mckinney, who lives in Harper county, Kas .; William, who married Mary E. Whittacker; Elizabeth, who died in infancy ; Susan B .; Thomas D., who married Nettie Moore, and Joseph, who died in infancy. Mr. Boyll, who has followed farming all his life, was one of the pioneer settlers of Linton township, having first entered eighty acres of timber land, where he resides. He has made his own way in the world, and now owns a farm of 240 acres of choice land. Both he and his wife are consistent members of the Baptist Church, of the Sabbath-school of which he has served as superin- tendent. Politically, he is in sympathy with the Republican party. He has in his possession a wooden clock, which belonged to his father, and which has been running over seventy years, still keep- ing good time.

JAMES C. BOYLL, farmer and stock-grower, Linton township, P. O. Pimento, was born in this county, September 7, 1832, and is a son of David and Ruth (Carr) Boyll, natives of Kentucky, the father of English and the mother of Irish descent. David Boyll was an early settler of this county, coming here about the year 1830, and was a farmer by occupation. He had a family of nine children,

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seven of whom grew to maturity, of whom James C. is the fifth. Our subject was married January 3, 1856, to Elizabeth, daughter of Elijah and Lida (Drake) Pound, natives of Ohio, and pioneer set- tlers of this county, coming here from Ohio about the year 1817. Their family consisted of six daughters and three sons, of whom Elizabeth, the seventh in order of birth, was born April 28, 1833. Mr. and Mrs. Boyll had born to them a family of eight children viz: Everett, married to Dora Gillen; Emma, a school teacher; Sarah E. deceased; Mary, married to John Vandyke; Odis, deceased; Ruth and Addie, school teachers, and James H. Mrs. Boyll died March 30, 1885, a member of the Baptist Church. Mr. Boyll re- ceived his education in the common schools of Linton township, has always followed farming, and now owns a farm containing ninety- five acres of land in a good state of cultivation. Mr. Boyll is a member of the Baptist Church, of which he is a trustee. He is a member of the Union Grange of Vigo county, and of the F. M. B. A.

MOSES C. BOYLL, farmer and stock-grower, Linton township, P. O. Pimento, was born in the township where he now resides, October 24, 1847, and is a son of Arthur and Catherine (Carr) Boyll, natives of Spencer county, Ky., former of whom was of Irish, and latter of Scotch descent. They were pioneer settlers of Linton township. Arthur Boyll was born January 10, 1802, and died August 8, 1873; Catherine Boyll was born June 26, 1811, and died February 21, 1858. They were married June 24, 1829, and had a family of six children, of whom Moses C. is the youngest. Our subject was married October 28, 1884, to Rebecca, daughter of John A. and Jane F. (Hampton) McGee, her father a native of Kentucky, born September 10, 1821, and her mother of Vir- ginia, born February 28, 1835; they were of Irish descent. Their family consisted of two children, of whom Rebecca, the youngest, was born April 17, 1861. Her father died October 29, 1886, in Kansas, while visiting his brother there; her mother is still living. Mr. Boyll received his education in the common schools of Linton township, has made farming his business, and owns a farm contain- ing fifty acres in a good state of cultivation. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., No. 485, Pimento.

Harvey W. Boyll, brother of Moses C., was born November 12, 1844, on the farm on which he resides. He is the fifth child in the family, and received his education in the common schools of Linton township, and wisely chose farming as his occupation, now owning a well-cultivated farm of fifty-three acres.

SAM L. BRIDWELL, secretary of the Terre Haute Iron and Steel Company, Terre Haute, was born in Elizabethtown, Ky., Sep- tember 29, 1848, and is a son of Henry L. and Amanda (Shy)

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Bridwell, natives of Kentucky. Sam, who is the fourth in a family of nine children, came with his parents to Louisville in 1850, and was a resident of that place about four years. From there they went to New Albany, Ind., where our subject received the principal part of his education. They remained there until 1860, when they moved to Mattoon, Ill. Mr. Bridwell worked for his father about two years, and then followed teaming about two years. In August, 1864, he went to work for a grain and commission house in Mat- toon, remaining with them until February 28, 1869. He then came to Terre Haute, and secured a position as check clerk for the Indianapolis & St. Louis Railroad, which he held six months. He then accepted the position of ticket agent, and, after having charge of the ticket office seven months, he was appointed freight agent for the White Line Central Transit Company, continuing in the em- ploy until May 1, 1871. He then accepted the position of shipping clerk for the Terre Haute Iron and Nail Works, and in March, 1876, he was elected secretary; he has also served as treasurer most of the time. The company changed hands in September, 1889, and altered the title from "Terre Haute Iron and Nail Works," to " Terre Haute Iron and Steel Works." This is one of the im- portant enterprises of Terre Haute, and the number of men em- ployed has contributed materially to the growth of the city.

Mr. Bridwell was united in marriage in Terre Haute, February 6, 1879, with Euseba Beauchamp, daughter of Isaac and Ophelia (McCauldess ) Beauchamp, natives of Kentucky. Mrs. Bridwell is the youngest in a family of ten children, and was born in Sulli- van county, Ind., April 10, 1853. Mr. and Mrs. Bridwell have had born to them a family of four children: Mary L., Helen M., John F. and Frank M. The parents are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Bridwell is a member of the Masonic fra- ternity, Lodge No. 19, also of the Royal Arch Chapter No. 11, and has served as secretary three years. Politically he is a Repub- lican.

LEONARD S. BRIGGS, Terre Haute. This gentleman was born in Washington county, N. Y., December 21, 1836, and is a son of Spencer P. and Sally (Lamb) Briggs, former a native of New Hampshire, latter of New York, and both were of English descent. The father, who was a farmer, and a contractor on public works, came to the west, and died in Illinois in 1864. He was twice mar- ried, Leonard S. being next the youngest of seven children by the first wife. Our subject attended the district school, and at the age of sixteen commenced teaching a country school; he then worked on the canal in the summer time, and taught school in the winter. In 1855 he moved to Alton, Ill., where he engaged in the mercan-

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tile trade, and in 1861 he went south, and was appointed a suttler in the army. In 1864 he came to Terre Haute, which city he has since made his home. He worked six years for Mr. Reese in the lumber trade, and his first business enterprise here was operating a planing-mill. Since 1878 he has been engaged in the lumber trade, his son being associated with him in business, and they have a large and lucrative trade; in fact, Mr. Briggs has prospered well in all his business affairs. Our subject was married at Alton, Ill., August 14, 1857, to Anna M., daughter of Nicholas Shineberger, and of German origin. To this marriage were born two children: William J., who is a partner with his father in the lumber business, and Mary A. . Mrs. Briggs died in Terre Haute in 1888, a member of the Presbyterian Church. In politics Mr. Briggs is a Repub- lican, and he served two terms as a member of the Terre Haute city council. In Freemasonry he is a Sir Knight Templar, has re- ceived the thirty-second degree, Scottish Rite, and is a member of the Mystic Shrine.

DAVID BRONSON, hotel proprietor, Terre Haute, is also the enterprising proprietor of the "Exchange Bath House," one of the finest of the kind in the west. He is one of the quiet, unassuming business men of Terre Haute, one who has done much to aid in the prosperity and to extend the fame of the place, especially as a health resort. He was born in Ireland in October, 1831, and is next to the youngest in the family of five children of John Bronson. When ten years old he came with a relative to America, where he worked, attending, in Wisconsin, the district school a short time. When a mere lad he found employment as a clerk in a grocery store, where he remained until he reached his majority; then re- moved to Ohio, and for a time worked on a farm. In 1854 he came to Terre Haute, and has since made this his home. His occupa- tion was varied until he obtained enough means to embark in busi- ness, and for several years he worked for the railroad company. In 1867 he bought the hotel, which he has since carried on, and in 1878 built the " Bronson House," which has fifty rooms. He only rents rooms in this house, but the " Exchange," opposite the Union depot, is open to the world, and has a fine patronage. His bath house was opened in March, 1890, and is located on Tenth street, south of Chestnut. Mr. Bronson was a large stockholder when the company drilled, where the Exchange Bath House now stands, in the search for oil. Mr. Bronson continued to drill after the company had given up the oil hunt, until he struck the strong flowing waters, which are far more beneficial to humanity. The following analysis was made by Prof. Noyes.

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HISTORY OF VIGO COUNTY.

ROSE POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE, TERRE HAUTE, IND., October 2, 1889.

MR. BRONSON,

Dear Sir .- I have completed the analyses of the water from the Exchange well with the following results: Silica, .706 grains to the U. S. Gallon; Alumina, .053; Iron bicarbonate, .035; Strontium chloride, trace; Calcium chloride, 12.941; Calcium sulphide, 1.197; Calcium sulphate, .257; Calcium bicarbonate, 19.928, Calcium phosphate, trace; Magnesium chloride, 11.055; Magnesium bicarbonate, 15.344; Lithium chloride, more than a trace; Potassium chloride, 3.625; Borax, more than a trace; Sodium iodide, trace; Sodium bromide, more than a trace; Sodium chloride, 301.258; Hydrogen sulphide, 4.629. Total, 371.018.

WM. A. NOYES, Ph., D. Professor of Chemistry in the Rose Polytechnic Institute.

The house has been furnished elegantly at a cost of $20,000, and has forty-four rooms. There are rooms for vapor baths, also Turkish and Russian shampoo baths.

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History of Vigo county, Indiana, with biographical selections, Part 70

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