USA > Indiana > Vigo County > History of Vigo county, Indiana, with biographical selections > Part 76
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ISIAH DONHAM, Terre Haute, was born May 12. 1810, near the Ohio River, about twenty miles above Cincinnati, in Clermont county. With the exception of one term passed in a grammar school in Hamilton county, his education was obtained in the com- mon schools of the neighborhood, and around the hearthstone at home. At the age of twenty-two he began teaching school, a vo- cation he followed but a short time-only two terms. February 28, 1833, he was married to Martha Ann Crossley, of his native county, who was five years his junior, and on March 28, same year, they began the journey in a covered wagon drawn by two yoke of oxen, across the country to Western Hooseirdom. April 7, at 12 o'clock, noon, they called a halt in the woods about twelve miles southeast of Terre Haute, built their camp fire by the side of a big log, and thus laid the corner-stone of their new home with a good hearty meal. Mr. Donham here began the task of making a farm from the uncultivated lands of the prairie and the forests hitherto untouched by the hand of the white man. Since then he has
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brought about 700 acres to a high state of cultivation, and subjected the land to the sickle and the share. Except a resi- dence of seven years in Clay county, he has lived continuously in Riley and Pierson townships, Vigo county, and has followed the honest and honorable calling of farmer and stock-grower. In 1834, when military companies habitually held their regular muster days, a rather novel election occurred, in which Mr. Donham was the recipient of the honors. He and another member were placed in nomination for the lieutenancy of the company. The two men were to march side by side along the line of the company and the voters were to fall in line behind their favorite man. When the last man had fallen in behind Mr. Donham, his opponent turned around and said " them's my sentiments too," and with a hearty laugh dropped in line, making the vote unanimous. Between the years 1852 and
1870, he served fourteen years as trustee of Pierson township. He was elected to the lower house of the State Legislature in 1870, serving one term, and in 1876 he was elected to the State senate. From 1860 to 1870 Mr. Donham dealt extensively in stock, feeding for market every year from one to two hundred cattle, and generally an equal number of hogs. By this traffic, coupled with extensive farm industry, honest labor, untiring zeal and industry, Mr. Don- ham has gathered around him quite a competence of this world's goods. His religious and political principles, are those of the old school Baptist, and Jacksonian Democracy, from which he has never wavered, not even in the dark and direful Greeley days of 1872.
The name of Donham is of Spanish origin, and dates back to about the middle of the seventeenth century, when one Singleton, a Don of Spain, having been banished from the Spanish court by the king, because of his liberal principles, took up his abode in the Highlands of Scotland, in a beautiful valley which has ever since borne the name of Donham. There he dropped the name of Singleton, retaining the title Don, and added the Saxon suffix Ham. Thus was originated the name which until the nineteenth century was written as two names, the latter half beginning with a capital "H." From this valley, about the seventeenth century, the great- grandfather of Mr. Donham came to the colonies, and settled in New Jersey. Nathaniel Donham, Isiah's grandfather, removed to Ohio about the year 1795. Isiah's mother was a Ferguson, of Scotch and Irish descent. The Fergusons came from Ireland to the colonies, settling first in Maryland and then removing to the Monongahela river, in Pennsylvania, and from there to Kentucky, near the Ohio river, where Isiah's mother was born. She died in 1877, at the advanced age of ninety-five years. Isiah Donham's family consisted of ten children, four of whom are yet living, viz. :
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Mrs. Louisa Ferguson; H. Z. ; I. H. ; and Thomas F. Mrs. Fergu- son is a widow, and lives on a farm in Pierson township; H. Z. and Thomes F. are partners in the law and real estate business in Terre Haute; I. H. is a carpenter, and resides at present in Terre Haute; Thomas F. has been a member of the city council, and is an active worker in the Democratic party. In 1890 Mr. Donham removed from his farm to the city, and is now residing with his son, Thomas F.
JAMES F. DRAKE, M. D., Prairieton, was born in Prairieton, Vigo county, Ind., February 25, 1865, and is a son of Thomas G. and Eliza (Ferguson) Drake, natives of Indiana, and of English descent, former of whom is a prominent physician of Terre Haute. They are both living. They had a family of five children, four of whom are living, and of which James is the eldest. He is a mem- ber of the old school Baptist Church. The Doctor was married August 24, 1887, to Ida Belle, daughter of John and Mary ( Mas- sey ) Gunn, natives of Indiana and of Irish and Welsh descent. Her parents are living in Little Rock, Ark., her father being a car- penter by trade. They had two children, of whom Mrs. Drake is the elder, and was born August 13, 1867. Mr. and Mrs. Drake have one child, Paul S., who was born November 22, 1888. The Doctor received a common-school education at Prairieton, and at- tended the State University at Bloomington, Ind., one year, then went through the sophomore year at De Pauw University, Green Castle, Ind. He next attended Rush Medical College at Chicago, Ill., and graduated there in the spring of 1886, commencing the practice of medicine in Prairieton, where he is located at the pres- ent time. The Doctor, in his political preferments, is Democratic.
LAFAYETTE DRAKE, P. O. Prairie Creek, was born in Ed- gar county, Ill., September 6, 1833. His father, Henry Drake, was born near Bardstown, Ky., in 1803, and was a son of William Drake, also a native of Kentucky, where he was reared and married, emi- grating in an early day to Ohio from his native State. He soon after came to this county, being one of the first white men to settle
in the same. He subsequently moved to Edgar county, Ill., where he died in 1844. Lafayette's father, Henry, was reared mainly in this county where he was married, afterward moving to Edgar county, were he died in 1844. He was always a farmer. His wife, Elsie (Paddock), was born in 1807, in Ohio, and died in 1873, in this county, the mother of four daughters and two sons, two of the daughters dying in 1848, and the other two in 1856. Lafayette, who is the only child now living, never went to school after he was ten years of age, but remained with his mother till he had attained his majority, and since he has been earning his own living he has secured a good practical education. February 15, 1845, the family
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returned to this county, where Lafayette has ever since resided. March 29, 1855, he was married to Miss Sarah Ann Shattuck, who was born in Prairie Creek township, this county, and they have had the following named children: Mary E., deceased; Francis; Sarah Ann, deceased; Elsie, wife of Alvin Yeager; Grant, deceased, and H. Greeley (twins) and Richard L. Our subject began life for himself without a penny, but by industry and thrift he has be- come one of Vigo county's most prosperous farmers, having 1872 acres of well-improved farm land, 178 acres being in a tillable con- dition, and nine acres on Wabash River bottom. His farm is situ- ated fifteen miles southwest of the county seat. Mr. Drake is a member of the Masonic fraternity, Fairbanks Lodge No. 373, Sul- livan county. He was formerly a Republican in politics, casting his first vote for John C. Fremont, but is now a Prohibitionist. Mr. Drake is a member of the Baptist Church.
OTTMER DREHER, farmer and grape-grower, Fayette town- ship, P. O. Tecumseh, was born at Wurtemberg, Germany, Novem- ber 16, 1832, and is a son of Valtazer Dreher. His parents were natives of Germany, where they passed their lives, his father hav- ing been a cooper and farmer. They raised a family of eight chil- dren, of whom our subject is the third. He was reared in Ger- many, attending the public schools, and early in life learned the cooper's trade with his father, but subsequently learned brewing, which business he followed five years. In 1853 he immigrated to the United States, locating in the State of Ohio; thence came, in 1854, to Vigo county, and January 11, 1885, to Fayette township, where he has resided ever since. Here he first worked at coopering and farming, but afterward became engaged in grape culture, having at present nearly ten acres in grapes, and he makes a considerable quantity of grape wine. Mr. Dreher was married in 1856 to Miss Pauline, daughter of Stacey Miller, and also of German birth. The children born to this union are six in number, viz .: Laura, Sophia, William, Lewis, Mamie and Joseph. The family are members of the Catho- lic Church; in politics Mr. Dreher is a Democrat.
ALONZO C. DUDDLESTON, city clerk, Terre Haute, was born in Terre Haute, Ind., November 3, 1859, and is a son of Charles and Hettie M. (Smith) Duddleston, the latter a native of Indiana. The father, who was born in Ohio, and was a carpenter by trade, came to Vigo county, and settled in Terre Haute, where he followed contracting and building many years; was a member of the One Hundred and Forty-ninth Ind. V. I .; he died in 1885. Alonzo C. attended the schools at Terre Haute, and graduated from the high school in 1876. He then learned the printer's trade, serving the regular apprenticeship on the Saturday Evening Mail.
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He then worked at the newspaper business for a time, and subse- quently became city editor of the Terre Haute Express, which posi- tion he held several years. In May, 1887, he was elected city clerk of Terre Haute, and was re-elected in 1889, his term of office expir- ing in September, 1891. Mr. Duddleston was united in marriage in Chicago, in 1884, with Miss Josephine Hunt. Mr. Duddleston is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and is chancellor, commander and captain of the Uniform Rank of the K. of P. of Terre Haute.
EUGENE DUENWEG, manager for the Joseph Schlitz Brew- ing Company, Terre Haute, is a native of the Province of the Rhine, Germany, born March 15, 1844, and is a son of P. J. and Fredrich (Mebus) Duenweg. Eugene is the tenth in a family of eleven children. He received his education in the common and high schools, and first learned the carriage and harness-maker's trade, which he followed four years. He enlisted, in 1862, in the Prussian army, and served four years, being. in the Austrian war of 1866. He came from Germany to Terre Haute in 1867, and first began work in the city by accepting a position in the lumber yard of the Vandalia Railroad shops. Leaving the shops, he began work with Bement & Co., wholesale grocers, and continued with them three years; then was with Hulman & Cox, wholesale merchants, one year, when he resigned to accept the position of manager for the Moses Ester Brewery. He had not been in the brewery quite one year, when, in 1877, he was appointed to the office of deputy city treasurer, which position he held six years. During the time he was treasurer he accepted the position of manager for the Joseph Schlitz Brewing Company, and since he left the treasurer's office, has devoted all his time and energies to the management of the company's business, and inspects agencies for them .. Mr. Duenweg was united in marriage in Terre Haute, March 8, 1873, with Minnie Glass, a daughter of Fritz and Mary (Trantner) Glass, natives of Germany. Mrs. Duenweg is second in a family of four children, and was born in Germany, January 20, 1853. Mr. and Mrs. Duen- weg had born to them eight children, viz .: Mary, Toni (deceased), Alma, Max, Frieda, Minnie, Eugene and Carl. Mr. Duenweg is a member of the Masonic order; in politics he is a Republican.
JOHN MASON DUNCAN, president of Coates College. This gentleman ranks among the distinguished educators of Terre Haute, a city noted the Union over for its institutions of learning. He is a lineal descendant of the most noted of Scotchmen, John Knox, the rugged old Presbyterian, and also of Ralph Erskine. His given name is from his granduncle, Rev. John M. Mason, D.D., LL.D., perhaps the most noted American pulpit orator of his day. The parents of Prof. Duncan were Richard and Roselle (Lafayette)
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Duncan, latter of whom was a grandniece of Marquis de Lafayette. The mother was a native of Paris, France, and the father of Balti- more, where the son was born April 20, 1853. Richard Duncan, the father, died in October, 1855, leaving two children, of whom our subject is the elder; the mother died in October, 1858. John Mason Duncan was reared in his native city to the age of twelve years, receiving instructions from private tutors and in the private schools. At the rather unusual age of twelve he essayed the world on his own account, and traveled northward, heroically assuming all responsibility as to himself and his future. He engaged in work on a farm during the summer months, and would attend school, working his way, in the winter; and thus he passed four years. When he was fifteen years and six months old he commenced to teach school, and he then taught and continued his studies under private tutors, until he reached the age of his legal majority, when he was elected to the chair of Latin and Greek in a classical academy at Bellefonte, Penn. He was connected with this institu- tion four years, during all which time he was continuing his studies under private tutors, and was amply prepared to pass a regular col- lege examination when he retired from the Bellefonte Seminary. He received at that time a warm invitation to found a high-grade classical Presbyterian school at Mifflintown, Penn. He was at this place three years, and prepared students for college, and sent many to Harvard, Yale and Lafayette. He next went to the city of Cum- berland, Allegany county, Md., and took charge of the Allegany County Academy, the largest in the State. Under his direction the institution was at once registered among the accredited acad- emies of the east, and students were prepared to enter the sopho- more class in college or university. At the end of four years Prin- cipal Duncan was made president of Coates College for Women, August 20, 1888, and came and took charge of the school in the fall of that year. His first administrative touch awakened the institu- tion, and it at once sprang into action, and with heroic energy swiftly defined the outlines of its present standard courses. President Duncan's master's degree was conferred, first, by the College of New Jersey, at Princeton, and secondly, by Lafayette College at Easton, in Pennsylvania.
President John Mason Duncan and Rebecca Duffield, of McCon- nellsburgh, Penn., were married September 28, 1881. She was the niece of the eminent divine, Rev. Dr. John T. Duffield, professor of mathematics in the College of New Jersey. Of this union there is one child, Duffield Knox, a bright-faced little boy of six summers. The wife and mother died February 28, 1885, and June 20, 1887, President Duncan and Sarah McCleave, of Cumberland, Md., were
46
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joined in marriage. She is the daughter of Judge Robert H. McCleave, of that place, a long time connected with the post-office department of Washington. The maiden name of her mother was Sarah Hall, and both the parents were natives of Virginia and of Scotch-Irish descent. A brother of Mrs. Duncan is solicitor-general for the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, at Pittsburgh, Penn. She is the fifth in order of birth in a family of nine children. The eminent qualification of President Duncan for the responsible position he now holds is manifest in the advances of the institution of which he is the head. [The reader is referred to the chapter on " Schools " on a preceding page.]
ANDREW DUNLAP, retired farmer, Terre Haute, was born in Knox county, Tenn., November 19, 1808, and is a son of George and Hattie (McBeth) Dunlap, who were of Irish descent. The father, a farmer by occupation, died in Knox county, Tenn. His family consisted of four sons and one daughter, Andrew being third in the family in the order of birth. He was reared in Tennessee, a plain farmer boy, and attended the common schools during the winter seasons. Early in life he learned the cabinet-maker's trade, at which he worked until coming to Illinois and settling in Clark county, where he farmed and engaged in stock breeding. He pushed his business with more than ordinary energy, and when he retired in 1880 he found himself the owner of nearly 600 acres of land. His success has been entirely due to his own enterprise, exertion and a determination to succeed. Mr. Dunlap is a Repub- lican in politics, and served sixteen years as justice of the peace in Illinois. He came to Terre Haute in 1880, and purchased city property, now owning several houses, the rental of which brings him a good revenue, as well as something to look after.
Mr. Dunlap was united in marriage, in 1833, to Miss Nancy H. D. Smith, a native of South Carolina, and this union has been blessed with a family of six children, as follows: Burns and James. well-to-do farmers; George, a resident of California; Thomas and Mary C., who are at the parental home; and Theodore, who is a prosperous farmer and stock-grower. Mr. Dunlap is a large real estate owner, and has succeeded in accumulating a handsome fortune, is one of the few men who seem willing to enjoy the fruits of honest toil in content. By nature of an unassuming disposition, he has never aspired to be exceedingly rich, great or wise, and now in the afternoon of life he can look back on the past and see but few changes he would make, even were he permitted to live his life over again.
R. B. DUNLAP, farmer and stock-grower, Sugar Creek town- ship, P. O. Macksville, was born in Clark county, Ind., and is a son
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of Andrew and Nancy (Smith ) Dunlap, former of whom is a wealthy retired fariner now residing in Terre Haute. Our subject, who is next to the eldest in a family of five children, was reared in Clark county, Ill., where he attended school and spent his youthful days. He came to Vigo county in 1879, and settling in Sugar Creek town- ship, where he now resides, turned his attention to farming, being now the owner of 356 acres of valuable land. He has made his own way in the world. Politically he sympathizes with the Repub- lican party, and he takes an active interest in the schools, having served as school director while in Clark county. In 1862 he en- listed in the Eighty-fifth Ind. V. I., Company F, and was discharged in 1863 for disability. Mr. Dunlap was united in marriage, in 1860, in Clark county, Ill., with Miss Nancy Galington, who is of German descent.
M. S. DURHAM, Terre Haute This gentleman was born in Vigo County, Ind., December 31, 1831, and is a son of Gabriel and Martha (Thornton) Durham, natives of Virginia, and of French and English descent. The father, who was a farmer, came to Vigo county in 1818, settling on Honey Creek, and died in 1836. William Durham, grandfather of our subject, was a mason and helped to build the first brick court-house in Terre Haute. [See family sketch in general history. ] M. S. Durham, who is the only child, was reared on the farm, and attended, in a limited way, the common schools of the neighborhood. He then entered DePauw University, where he graduated in July, 1852, and afterward became a student at the Bloomington Law School, where he graduated in March, 1853. In same year he opened a law office in the practice of his profession at Terre Haute. In 1858 he went into the county treasurer's office as clerk, where he remained until 1863, when he entered the employ of the Vandalia Railroad Company. He was freight agent five years, and was then in the secretary's office two years, after which he became auditor, in which capacity he served until 1874, since when he has acted as loan agent for several corporations, as well as for private individ- uals. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., and is identified with the Republican party. Mr. Durham was united in marriage at Greencastle, Ind., in November, 1854, with Miss Matilda J., daughter of Thomas Robinson, and born in Indiana. Her parents were natives of Kentucky and of English descent. Mrs. Durham is a member of the Centenary Methodist Church at Terre Haute.
MARCUS DYER, farmer and grain merchant, New Goshen, is one among the successful business men of Vigo county. He was born in Vermillion county, Ind., January 2, 1853, and is a son of Joel and Lucy (Gideon) Dyer, former born in Tennessee, latter in Ken-
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tucky, both of English descent. The father, who was a success- ful farmer, died in 1883. His family consisted of seven children, the gentleman whose name heads this sketch being the third in order of birth. Our subject was reared on a farm in Vermillion county, Ind., attending the district schools, and chose farming as a vocation ; he has also successfully dealt in stock. He came to Vigo county in 1882, and settled in New Goshen, where he now resides, his farm, consisting of 220 acres, which he carries on with hired help, adjoining New Goshen. He has been engaged in the grain business in Terre Haute, since 1888, in company with Mr. Scott, also a resident of Fayette township, under the firm name of Dyer & Scott. These gentlemen are about the same age and size, and resemble each other so much that it is difficult for a stranger to tell them apart. Mr. Dyer was united in marriage December 25, 1877, with Miss Mary E., daughter of John N. Rhyan, and born of English descent, and reared in Vigo county, Ind. They have two children: Ethel and Earnest. Mr. and Mrs. Dyer are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which he is trustee. Polit- ically he is a Democrat, and has served one term as justicè of the peace. He is a Master Mason.
CHARLES O. EBEL, publisher, Terre Haute. This gentle- man publishes in other cities, but in Terre Haute is his main office, and the " Terre Haute Directory " is his largest and best work, one noted as very perfect, full and complete in every respect. He was born in Montgomery county, Ohio, March 31, 1855, and is a son of Jacob and Angeline (Summers) Ebel. His mother is of English descent, and the father (deceased) was born in Baden-Baden, Ger- many. Our subject, who is the youngest in a family of three chil- dren, was reared in Ohio, and received his education there. At the age of fourteen he left school to learn the printer's trade at his home in Germantown, Ohio, and at the age of seventeen he pur- chased the Germantown Times, the publication of which he contin- ued until 1874. He removed to Union City, Ind., in 1875, and took a position in the (then) Beehive ticket office. In 1876 he came to Terre Haute, and was employed on the Terre Haute Ex- press for nearly two years; part of the time as assistant business manager. In 1878 the job printing office of Ebel & Langen was established. He sold his interest to Mr. Moore in 1879, and pur- chased the routes of the Express, which he managed until 1880, when he established his directory enterprise, and has since published di- rectories in five different States, his work in this line being first-class in every particular. He also managed, in connection with his other business, the routes of the Daily Gazette from 1880 to 1887. Mr. Ebel was married November 29, 1874, at Union City, Ind., to Miss
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HISTORY OF VIGO COUNTY.
Lizzie W., daughter of John W. Warstler, and of English descent. Their children are Angie and Grace. Mrs. Ebel is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He is an active member of the K. of P. and Uniform Rank, has filled every office in the order, and is a member of the Grand Lodge; has also passed the chairs of the A. O. U. W.
WILLIAM EGGLESTON, attorney at law, of the firm of Eg- gleston & Haymond, Terre Haute. Judge Eggleston, as he is familiarly called, was born at Newport, Vermillion Co., Ind., No- vember 7, 1833, and is a son of Joseph and Nancy (Lindsey) Eg- gleston, former of whom was born in New York, in February, 1799, of English descent. His grandfather, Amos Eggleston, was a soldier in the Revolutionary war. When about sixteen years of age Joseph Eggleston came west with his mother (his father being dead) and settled near Portsmouth, Ohio. He grew to manhood in that place, and there married Miss Nancy Lindsey, a native of Ohio, and of English descent; in 1823 he removed with his family to Vermillion county, Ind., and here spent the remainder of his days, dying in 1852; his widow died five days later. William, who is the seventh in a family of ten children, attended the seminary at Newport, and studied law in the office of Gen. H. D. Washburn. In March, 1861, he enlisted in Company I, Forty-third Regiment Ind. V. I. He became a licensed lawyer in 1861, and has been in the active practice continuously, devoting his leisure hours to literary pursuits. He is a noted law writer, and his works on that topic are now text books in the courts. Judge Eggleston commenced life a poor coun- try school teacher; read law and engaged in the practice; wrote and published law books that are standards, and in 1876 he edited with much ability the Terre Haute Republican, advocating the elec- tion of Hayes vigorously and well. He has been a frequent con- tributor to the public press, always taking an active part in politics, and during the Lincoln campaign of 1860 he made many speeches. He was elected prosecuting attorney in 1864 for the Thirteenth Judicial District of the State of Indiana, running ahead of his ticket. He is noted for honesty and uprightness in all business transactions-a man of fixed principles and determined purpose.
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