History of Vigo county, Indiana, with biographical selections, Part 92

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

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HISTORY OF VIGO COUNTY.

WILLIAM D. NEVINS, farmer and stock-grower, Nevins township, P. O. Fontanet, was born November 23, 1840, within less than a mile of where he now resides, and is a son of James and Elizabeth (Denman) Nevins, natives of Indiana, and of Scotch de- scent, former born in Fort Harrison in 1813. William Nevins, grandfather of our subject, was truly a pioneer of this part of the State, being here among the Indians. The family have usually been farmers, and generally met with success. James Nevins, fa- ther of William D., died in Parke county, Ind., where he spent the greater part of this life; he was twice married, William D. being by.first wife. Our subject was reared on the farm where he was born, attending school in his native district. He can remember when his father used the old wooden moldboard plow. He was married in Vigo county, in 1867, to Miss Nancy, daughter of Sam- uel and Tamsey (Roe) Elliott, and is descended from the Dutch, who settled New York nearly 300 years ago. Mr. and Mrs. Ne- vins' children are James, Samuel, Isabella, Ellen, Dora, John, Maude and Lillie. The family worship at the Baptist Church, of which Mr. Nevins is a deacon and regulator, and in politics he acts with the Democratic party. He is one of the self-made men of the country ; when he was married he could neither read nor write, but by diligence and the help of his wife, he mastered the rudiments of English, and he keeps himself posted with the important events of the day. Mr. Nevins is owner of the farm where he resides.

JAMES NICHOLS, manufacturer and grocer, Nos. 400 and 402 South First street, Terre Haute, was born in Yorkshire, England, March 21, 1845, and is the second in the family of five children of Edward and Jane (Ellis) Nichols. Our subject was reared in Yorkshire, and received his education in the public and private schools, and there learned the trade of weaver of woolen fabrics. In June, 1865, he came to Terre Haute, and followed his trade in the Wabash Woolen Mills, about five years, then went to the Indian Territory, and built a woolen-mill near Baxter Springs, Kas. Here he remained about three years, and lost what capital he had accumulated. Returning to Terre Haute, he accepted the position of receiving clerk in the wholesale grocery house of H. Hulman, with whom he remained about five years. He purchased the prop- erty, and erected a new brick building, and engaged in the grocery and meat trade on his own account, in which he has a large and growing business. In 1882 he embarked in the manufacture of lumber, staves, headings, barrels and boxes, and now employs about seventy-five men. The factory is located on First street, between College and Vine. Mr. Nichols has had to depend entirely on his own resources, and the building up of this extensive trade has been

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HISTORY OF VIGO COUNTY.

the result of his own energy and good financiering. He was united in marriage, January 18, 1871, in Terre Haute, with Mary A. Kirtley, a daughter of James and Sarah Kirtley, natives of Kentucky. She is the sixth in a family of seven children who grew to maturity, and was born in Terre Haute, May 18, 1845. Mr. and Mrs. Nichols had born to them four children: Edward, Nettie G., Charles and Bertie. The parents are members of the Baptist Church, and he is trustee of the North Mission, and of Maple Avenue Union Protestant Church. He is a member of the K. of P., Occidental Lodge No. 18, and a charter member of the Uniform Rank. He is lieutenant-colonel in the Seventh Regiment, and has served as first and second lieutenant and captain of the Uniform Rank; was quartermaster of the first Uniform Rank organized in the State. He is a Royal Arch Mason, and a Knight Templar, also a member of the National Union. He served five years in the British army. In politics Mr. Nichols is a Republican.

FIRMIN NIPPERT (deceased) was born September 25, 1819. a native of Guinglange, a little town in the department of Moselle, France, near the city of Metz. His father was Bernard Nippert, a teacher, whose sons were Bernard, Firmin, Nicholas, August and Martin. Firmin Nippert came to this country in 1839, landing in New Orleans, whence he went to Portland, Ky., and became a clerk in a general store. He commenced merchandising at Patoka, Ind., and afterward sold goods at Salem, Ind. In 1844 he removed to Terre Haute, and opened a store on the northwest corner of Second and Ohio streets, called the French store. From 1863 to 1869 Mr. Nippert was not actively engaged in business. During this period he made the tour of Europe, and visited the Orient. On his return, in 1869, he became connected with the Nail Works, his management of which reflected great credit on him. So well pleased with his care of the property were the stockholders that in 1888, on the occasion of his retirement from his office, the board voted him in addition to his salary the sum of $3,000. This he declined to receive, but caused it to be distributed among his sub- ordinates. The resolutions were engrossed and signed by D. W. Minshall, G. W. Bement, Demas Deming, Henry S. Deming and Benjamin Wilhelmn, and are as follows:

WHEREAS, Mr. Firmin Nippert has this day presented his resignation of the presidency of the Terre Haute Iron and Nail Works:

Resolved, That the Board of Directors, with sincere regret for the necessity that compels this action and the severanee of his long and successful official eon- nection with this company, desires to express, in accepting this resignation, the complete satisfaction and thanks of the company, for the very able, efficient and suceessful manner in which all of the duties of the position have been discharged.

The results shown by the statements this day made of operations under his management is a marvelous exhibition of progressive growth and successful opera- tion, and this company desires to recognize in the fullest manner. the high busi- ness capacity which has brought about these extraordinary results.

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HISTORY OF VIGO COUNTY.

Firmin Nippert died in Terre Haute on Sunday morning, November 3, 1889. He never rallied from the attack of pneumonia with which he had been stricken on the preceding Tuesday. At the time of his death he had but one brother living, Mr. August Nippert, of California, but there are several heirs of his deceased brothers and sisters. It was a great surprise to his friends that he made no will, as it was clearly his intention to do so. He left a large estate with no direct heirs. Thus ended the life of one of the most prominent business men and valuable citizens of Terre Haute. He was the intimate and special friend as well as the confidant of Chauncey Rose, and was his trusted representative in the distribu- tion of his great benefactions. He was president of the board of managers of the Rose Polytechnic Institute. Immediately after his death the board met and passed a series of resolutions expres- sive of the sentiment of the entire community, as follows:

This board has lost a valuable coadjutor; the cause of education a liberal, but unpretending friend; and this community a public-spirited and upright citizen. Therefore it is proper that we put upon record our sincere regret for the loss we have sustained, our appreciation of his services in the management of the trust in which he took sueh a lively interest, and our acknowledgment of his uniform courtesy and deference to the opinion of his associates-the unfailing mark of a true gentleman.

The board of directors of the Iron and Nail Works held a meet- ing, and among other things, said: " For a number of years he was the efficient president who brought success and character to this company, by his untiring energy and unblemished integrity. A good citizen-with a tender heart and open hand-his work ex- tended to the whole community. This board sincerely deplores his death." Mr. Nippert occupied many other positions of trust and responsibility with characteristic energy, ability and fidelity. He was president of the Rose Dispensary, president of the Terre Haute Gas Light Company, Director of the National State Bank; director of the Terre Haute & Indianapolis Railroad, and had much to do with the administration of many important public and private trusts. The Fort Harrison Club adopted the following resolutions :

Mr. Nippert was a citizen of Terre Haute for more than forty years. He was all the time engaged in business, and through all his career his integrity was never even the subject of diseussion. In the death of Firmin Nippert, Terre Haute has lost a valuable citizen, and this club one of its urbane and generous members. We mourn his loss as citizens and as members of this club.

The earthly record of Firmin Nippert closed forever, without one spot or stain to mar its fair page. In every relation of life, he was a just and true man. He was faithful and conscientious in the discharge of every duty. His aims were just and his methods honorable. He had business transactions with thousands of people, which, in the aggregate, amounted to vast sums of money, but no

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HISTORY OF VIGO COUNTY.

one ever impeached the honor or questioned the integrity of Firmin Nippert. An ill-gathered dollar never soiled the palm of his hand. He was kind, gentle and modest, and "had a tear for pity and a hand open as day for melting charity." He was unostentatious but liberal in his benefactions, and paid generous tribute to every charitable enterprise. He was the friend of the friendless and the unfortu- nate, and "sent no one empty away." His employes and assistants honored, loved and revered him, and not one of them ever claimed to have been wronged or neglected by Mr. Nippert. Such a well- rounded character furnishes a noble example for imitation and emulation.

E. W. NOEL, with C. Schmidt & Co., No. 651 Wabash avenue, Terre Haute, is a native of Mount Vernon, Ind., born March 19, 1853. His parents were W. J. L. and Harriet (Nettleton) Noel, natives of Indiana. Mr. Noel's grandparents were pioneer settlers of Posey county, Ind. His grandfather was born in Pennsylvania, June 16, 1792, and died in Mount Vernon at the age of ninety-five. He served as fifer in the War of. 1812. Mr. Noel's grandmother, whose maiden name was Johnson, was born in Ireland, June 24, 1792, and died at the age of eighty-eight years. His father is a retired merchant, a resident of Mount Vernon. His mother died in 1876. Mr. Noel is the youngest of two children that grew to matu- rity, two having died in infancy. He received a public-school edu- cation in Mount Vernon, then clerked in his father's dry-goods store until he grew to manhood, when he engaged in the music business, which he followed in his native home for about six years. He came to Terre Haute in the spring of 1890 with C. Schmidt & Co., and they opened their music store, May 1, 1890, where they handle a full line of musical merchandise. In pianos they handle the George Steck, William Knabe, Behning and Wheelock; in organs, Neuman Bros., Wilcox and the White. Mr. Noel was married in Mount Vernon, June 8, 1883, to Miss Ida B., daughter of George Dismer, of Mound City, Ill., a native of Germany. She is the fifth in a family of eight children, born in Mound City in 1864. Mr. and Mrs. Noel have one daughter, Harriet E. Mr. Noel is a member of the K. of P., No. 125, and is also a member of the A. O. U. W., at Mount Vernon, No. 81. In politics he is a Republican.

EDWIN O'BOYLE. Among the enterprising business men of Terre Haute, we make mention of this gentleman. He was born August 5, 1854, in Terre Haute, Ind., and although a young man has seen many changes in the city. He is a son of J. H. O'Boyle, a native of Winchester county, Va., who settled in Terre Haute in 1850, where he died in 1882. He was a leather dealer and a prom- inent business man. Edwin, who is the eldest in a family of six

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HISTORY OF VIGO COUNTY.

children, prepared for college in the Terre Haute schools, then en- tered the Wabash College, and took a full classical course. He was first a salesman in his father's wholesale leather store, and then took an interest in the business, which after his father's death he carried on alone for a time. He is now out of the leather business and is a partner in the pants manufacturing business of Terre Haute. In his political preferments lie is a Democrat.

JACOB W. OGLE, M. D., Prairieton township, P. O. Prairie- ton, was born in Butler county, Ohio, February 10, 1823, a son of Jacob and Sarah (Beatty ) Ogle, natives of Dauphin county, Penn., former of whom was of English and German descent, and latter of Irish. The father was a tailor by trade, and was engaged in mercan- tile business for some time, but during the latter part of his life he followed farming. They moved to Butler county, Ohio, in 1813, and remained there until 1839 when they moved to this county. The father was born October 9, 1791, and died June 28, 1867. The mother was born December 28, 1790, and died October 3, 1871. The grandfather of our subject was William, the great- grandfather was John, and the great-great-grandfather, surnamed " John, the Emigrant," came with Lord Baltimore from England, and had grants of land. Jacob and Sarah Ogle had a family of eight children, of whom Jacob W. is the fourth. He was married December 2, 1851, to Eliza J. Ferguson, daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth (Lee) Ferguson, natives of Butler county, Ohio, and pio- neer settlers of this county, her father being a farmer. He was of Scotch descent, and the mother of English. They had a family of eight children who grew to maturity, of whom Eliza J. was the youngest, born June 28, 1826. Dr. and Mrs. Ogle had born to them a family of six children, viz .: Mary M., deceased wife of Lamise White; Sarah E., wife of B. R. White ; J. B., deceased ; Fred H. L., who married Agnes Ball; Blanche, wife of William Farmer, and Frank F. The Doctor received his early education in the common schools of Butler county, Ohio; then attended the Miamoma Uni- versity at Oxford, Ohio, and graduated there in 1845. He worked for a short time on the farm, and then in 1846 began the study of medi- cine under his brother-in-law, remaining with him about three years. He next attended lectures at the Ohio Medical College during the winters of 1848-49. The Doctor went to California in the spring of 1849, and engaged in the practice of medicine, and also mined, until 1851. He then came back to this county, and turned his at- tention to farming, but was burned out in the second year. In 1863 he attended Rush Medical College, in Chicago, Ill., and grad- uated there; then practiced medicine in Prairieton two years, when he moved in 1865 on the farm where he now resides. He owns

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HISTORY OF VIGO COUNTY.

three well-cultivated farms of 400 acres. Mrs. Ogle died July 1, 1884, a consistent member of the Baptist Church. The Doctor is a Democrat, and has served two terms as township assessor. He has in his possession a small box made of copper and brass that has been in the family since some time before the Revolution; it was captured from the Indians, and the record that his grandfather left was that William Penn gave it to the Indians.

CHARLES ORTH, farmer and stock-grower, Otter Creek town- ship, P. O. Edwards, was born in Otter Creek township, Vigo Co., Ind., December 30, 1858, and is the son of Lewis and Catherine Orth. His father was a farmer during his lifetime, and came to Vigo county among the earliest settlers of Otter Creek, where he spent the remaining portion of his life, and died in 1877. His family consisted of thirteen children, of whom eleven are living, Charles being next to the youngest. He was reared on the farm, receiving his education in the district schools, and has been suc- cessful in his chosen vocation. He is the owner of a well-improved farm of 154 acres, where he now resides. He was married Febru- ary 27, 1884, to Miss Mary, daughter of Harrison and Luna L. Denny, natives of France, but who spent many years of their lives in this county. The mother was born in New York, the father in Otter Creek township, Vigo Co., Ind. Mr. and Mrs. Orth have two children: Herbert and Carrie. In politics he is a Democrat.

JACOB ORTH, farmer and stock-grower, Otter Creek town- ship, P. O. Edwards, was born in Warren county, Ohio, near Leb- anon, May 1, 1842, and is a son of Lewis and Catherine Orth, natives of Germany, who came from that country to America, locating in Pennsylvania, and in 1832 removed to Ohio, thence came to Indiana, in 1856, and settled near Terre Haute, where he carried on farming; he died in Otter Creek township in 1877. Jacob, who is next to the eldest in a family of thirteen children, received his schooling in his native county, but for the most part was reared in Otter Creek township, this county. He chose farm- ing as a business, and has followed that all his life, having made his own way in the world, and is now the owner of 100 acres of well-improved land, where he resides in Otter Creek township. He was married September 4, 1872, to Miss Lucy E., daughter of Thomas Witham, and born in this county, of English descent. This union has been blessed with three children: Frank Lewis, Frederick J. and Charles W. In politics Mr. Orth is a Democrat, and has served as justice of the peace; has also been school director, and takes an active interest in the cause of education. He is a Master Mason, a member of lodge at Terre Haute.

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HISTORY OF VIGO COUNTY.

GEORGE C. OVERPECK, farmer and stock-grower, Otter Creek township, P. O. Terre Haute, was born in Preble county, Ohio, November 12, 1859, and is a son of J. W. and Sarah Jane (Randolph) Overpeck, natives of Ohio and of English and German descent. In early life the father was a carpenter and contractor, but later he followed farming. He came to this county in 1868, and settled on a farm in Otter Creek township, where he spent the remainder of his life, dying in 1887. His children are George C., Mack and Frederick, all energetic and industrious, and doing well. Mack owns the farm adjoining George's land, is married and has one son, Carl Clifton. George C. was reared on the farm, attending the common schools in the township, and, following in the footsteps of his ancestors, became a farmer. He owns a well-improved farm of seventy acres, on which he resides. Mr. Overpeck was married in this county, October 20, 1886, to Miss Mattie, daughter of E. A. Phillips, a farmer of Harrison township. She is of Irish and English descent. The union of Mr. and Mrs. Overpeck has been blessed with one child, Helen. In politics our subject is a Democrat.

F. M. OWEN, blacksmith, Terre Haute, is a native of Lawrence county, Ind., born August 1, 1840, a son of M. D. H. and Anna (Gainey) Owen, natives of Indiana, who moved to Greene county, in 1856. The father was a blacksmith, and died in the last named county in 1859, at the age of fifty years; the mother died in 1872, at the age of sixty years. F. M. Owen, who is the fourth in a family of seven children who grew to maturity, received a com- mon-school education, and learned the blacksmith's trade with his

father. He started a shop at Island Grove, Greene county, and worked there until the breaking out of the Civil war. July 6, 1861, he enlisted in the Twenty-first Ind. V. I. as musician, and was mustered out September 11, 1862, at Camp Carlton, New Orleans, La. In April, 1864, he re-enlisted in the Twenty-fourth Ind. V. I., again as musician, and was mustered out at Galveston, Tex., in November, 1865. Returning to Greene county he worked at his trade until 1871, when he moved to Bloomfield, Ind., where he remained until 1875, when he removed to Terre Haute, and has here since followed his trade. Mr. Owen was married in Greene county, Ind., April 30, 1868, to Miss Nancy McClung, daughter of James and Martha (Skurlock) McClung, natives of Ohio. Mrs. Owen is the eldest in a family of five children, and was born in Jackson county, Ohio, September 13, 1845. Mr. and Mrs. Owen had born to them seven children, viz .: Alex. T. (deceased) ; William H., Francis M. (deceased) ; Fred; Rollie, deceased; Ray and Oscar. The parents are both members of the First Baptist Church. Mr. Owen is a Re- publican in politics.

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HISTORY OF VIGO. COUNTY.

J. A. PARKER, iron manufacturer, Terre Haute. In the ranks of the successful business men who have accumulated a handsome fortune by their own energies and industry stands this gentleman. Mr. Parker was born in Kennebec county, Me., March 20, 1830, and is the eldest son of Jacob R. and Louise R. (Robinson) Parker, natives of Maine, and of Scotch-Irish and English descent. The father, who had been a hotel keeper, died in Kennebec county, Me., in 1879. His family consisted of six sons and six daughters, eleven of whom grew to their majority. Our subject received his education in his native county, where he remained until he reached his legal age, when he went to Boston, and learned his trade in the locomo- tive works. Having served his full time as an apprentice, he was employed on the railroad in Maine as a locomotive engineer. In 1851 he came West, and followed railroading two years, with head- quarters at Terre Haute. In 1852 he accepted a position as master mechanic at Greenville, Ohio, in the employ of the Greenville & Miami Railroad Company, where he remained three years. He then went to York, Ill., and was engaged in the lumber business for the following three years; then moved to Hudsonville, Ill., and con- tinued the lumber trade, in connection with which he estab- lished a planing-mill. Subsequently he purchased a farm of 600 acres, which he now owns, and which has every modern improve- ment; in this and the fine thoroughbred animals ( for he gives much attention to the raising of fine stock) he takes great interest. In 1871 he bought the Eagle Iron Works, Terre Hante, becoming the successor of W. J. Ball & Co. His long experience, skill and train- ing in the mechanical arts have eminently qualified him to become a successful iron master. He operated the mills until 1890, em- ploying from forty to fifty men. He is ably assisted by his two sons, George W. and Thacker A., young men of industry and ability, who are forging their way to the front ranks of active and prominent young business men. Mr. Parker was united in marriage, in Maine, to Miss Elizabeth Wentworth, a granddaughter of Ex- Gov. Wentworth, and this union has been blessed with five chil- dren, viz .: Gertrude, wife of R. Geddes; Mary J., wife of John C.

- Warren, county clerk of Vigo; George W. and Thacker A., who are with their father in business; and Beth. Mr. and Mrs. Parker are members of the Baptist Church, of which he is trustee, and of the Sabbath-school, of which he has been superintendent. He is a Sir Knight Templar, in politics a Republican.

G. R. PARSONS, general superintendent of the Coleman Heading Factory, Terre Haute, is a native of Delaware county, Ind., born June 11, 1846, and is a son of George and Martha (Shidder) Parsons, natives of Pennsylvania and Ohio, and of En-

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glish and Scotch descent, respectively. The family came west in 1832, and made their settlement in Delaware county. The father was a blacksmith in early manhood, but became a prominent Indi- ana farmer, improving a fine farm of a half section, a large portion of it being in the rich and fertile bottom lands; he died at his farm home in 1858. The family of children were seven boys, of whom G. R. is the third in order of birth. He grew to his majority in the family home, going to the neighborhood schools, and assisting at the farm work after the fashion of the average farm boy, who is taught at home as thorough lessons in industry and frugality as in the books at school. When sufficiently advanced, he became a pu- pil in the high school, and mastered well the rudiments of a sound English education .. His earliest launch in the wide world on his own behalf was to volunteer in the cause of his country, and go to war when but little over fifteen years of age-enlisting in Company E, Nineteenth Ind. V. I .; then re-enlisting at the end of this term of service, he remained in the army during the whole of those dark and bloody days, participating in many of the most sanguinary bat- tles of the war. He was at the second Bull Run, Antietam, Gettys- burg and many others, and was mustered out of the service Sep- tember 14, 1865. It is enough to indicate the nature of his service to say that he was a member of the "Iron Brigade," and was pres- ent at the charge of the bridge that ended the battle of Antietam.

G. R. Parsons and Catherine Kiger were united in wedlock in Delaware county, Ind., in 1868; she is a daughter of William Kiger, of Irish and German descent, and of this union are the fol- lowing named children: Martha J., William D., Mabel A. and Joseph M. When Mr. Parsons left the army he returned to his old home in Delaware county. During the past seventeen years he has been superintendent of the different Coleman heading factories, of which there are plants in Indianapolis, Vreederburg, Paris (Ill. ) and Terre Haute, the latter of which is now (September, 1890, ) in rapid course of completion. He has worked his way up the rounds of the ladder, a fine type and specimen of the American powers of adaptation-a good soldier while there is war, and a leading man in one of our most important industries when peace broods over the land. In political matters he affiliates with the Republican party. He is past commander of Major Anderson Post, No. 369, G. A. R., at Indianapolis; is a Master Mason, a member of the I. O. O. F., K. of P. and of the Christian Church, of which he and his wife are exemplary and valuable coefficients. Having a general superin- tendence of the system of factories, it is his intention to make Terre Haute his headquarters and permanent home, and the family will be a pleasant acquisition to the city's society.

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History of Vigo county, Indiana, with biographical selections, Part 92

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