History of Vigo county, Indiana, with biographical selections, Part 93

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 93

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

891

HISTORY OF VIGO COUNTY.

T. J. PATTON is extensively engaged in the butcher business, and is the owner and proprietor of a large meat market in Terre Haute. He was born in Brown county, Ohio, September 15, 1845, and is a son of Samuel and Sarah (Sandsburry) Patton, former a native of Ohio, latter of Virginia, and who were of Scotch-Irish and Dutch descent. The father, who was a trader, was a member of the Seventh Indiana Light Artillery, and was killed at the battle of Murfreesboro. Our subject, who is the third in a family of six children, was reared in Brown county, Ohio, where he attended the common schools. In 1858 he came to Terre Haute, and followed farming until 1866, when he engaged in the meat business, which he has followed since with more than average success. He was married, in 1870, to Miss Emma, daughter of John Vest, and a relative of Senator Vest, of Missouri. This union has been blessed with four children: Ada, Frederick, Grace and Samuel. Mrs. Patton is a member of the Episcopal Church. Mr. Patton is a member of the Masonic fraternity; also of the I. O. O. F. He enlisted, in 1864, in the One Hundred and Thirty-third Ind. V. I., Company E, and became a non-commissioned officer. His success in life is entirely due to his own energy and perseverance.

JOSEPH PECK, farmer and stock-grower, P. O. Terre Haute. This gentleman is a retired farmer, residing in Section 2, Harrison township, where he owns fifty acres of excellent land, having also twenty acres in Section 11. He is a native of Yorkshire, England, and was born April 11, 1821, a son of Simeon and Jane ( Rutledge) Peck, both natives of England and of English descent. They came to America in 1834, and settled on the farm. The father died in Illinois, im 1870, and the mother in this county, in 1847. They were the parents of five children, two of whom are living: Richard, in Christian county, Ill., and Joseph. Our subject was reared on a farm, receiving but little early education. He was married in Vigo county, Ind., in 1842, to Miss Emily, daughter of Solomon Allen, and born in West Virginia in 1819. They had two children: William Harvey, born December 23, 1851, died July 5, 1852, and Simon Allen, born November 13, 1853, who was married to Martha Strong, a native of Parke county, Ind., and they are the parents of three children: Walter R., Bertha and Emily. Simon A. owns twenty acres of land in Section 10. Joseph Peck is a self-made man, starting in life poor, but by hard labor and good habits he has accumulated a nice property. He is highly respected in the neigh- borhood of where he resides. He is a modest and unassuming man, and has never sought or held any office.

ALFRED B. PEGG, P. O. Terre Haute. This is one of the old and respected pioneers of Vigo county. He resides on section

892

HISTORY OF VIGO COUNTY.

25, Harrison township, where he has fifty-eight acres of excellent farm land, with a comfortable residence and good outbuildings. He is a native of Guilford county, N. C., and was born June 22, 1821, a son of Wiley and Phira (Merideth) Pegg, who were mar- ried in North Carolina and there died-the mother when Alfred B. was two weeks old, and the father when he was six years old. Our subject was reared on a farm and has followed that vocation, except during the time he worked at the cooper's trade. He came to Indiana in 1831 with his uncle, Nathan Merideth, and to Vigo county in 1837. He was married in this county, in 1842, to Eva A. Brown, a native of Ohio. They have no children. Mr. Pegg is a Republi- can, and has held the office of county commissioner eighteen months. He was real-estate appraiser four years, also trustee of Lost Creek township, this county. The family belong to the Meth- odist Episcopal Church.

WILLIAM A. PEKER, of the firm of Peker Bros., dealers in staple and fancy groceries, Terre Haute, was born in Bismarck, Germany, August 27, 1848, and is the second in the family of four children, of Carl and Louisa (Schmidt) Peker. Our subject was married in Terre Haute, Ind., April 17, 1877, to Rosa, daughter of Frank F. and Ida (Nonnenbruch ) Schmidt, natives of Germany. Mrs. Peker is the eldest in a family of four children, and was born in Terre Haute, August 30, 1857. Mr. and Mrs. Peker have three children: Eda, Carl and Ottelia. Mr. Peker first learned the blacksmith's trade in the Vandalia Railroad shops, and followed same six years; then clerked in a queensware store for three years, and was afterward engaged in the coal-oil business for ten years, and then embarked in the grocery business where he is located at the present time, and where the firm have an extensive and grow- ing trade. In politics Mr. Peker is a Democrat.

FRANK F. PEKER, township trustee, Terre Haute, was born in Bismarck, Germany, and is the youngest in the family of four chil- dren of Carl and Louisa (Schmidt) Peker. He was married Oc- tober 27, -1881, in Terre Haute, to Matilda, daughter of Jacob Seitz, and who died September 12, 1886. Mr. Peker came from Germany to Clark county, Ill., when he was five years old, and re- mained there until 1866, when he moved to Terre Haute. He re- ceived his education in the schools of that city, and clerked in a grocery store for a short time; also worked as hostler for Judge Mack, about seven months; was in the picture-frame business, nine months, and was with H. G. Richardson in the queensware trade, three years. He then engaged in the coal-oil business, which he followed for seven years; from 1874 to 1881; was in the saloon busi- ness from 1881 to 1887, and, selling out, he embarked, in company

893

HISTORY OF VIGO COUNTY.

with his brother, in the grocery business in 1888, but sold his in- terest in same year, having been elected township trustee. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, Humbolt Lodge, No. 42, also of the K. of P., Oriole Lodge, No. 81; the Knights of Honor ; the Red Men and of the Occidental Literary Club, in which latter he has held all the offices. He is a member of the Terre Haute Liquor Dealers Association, and of the Nest of Order of Owls; in politics he is a Democrat.

ALLEN PENCE, M. D., Terre Haute, was born September 8, 1819, near Urbana, Champaign Co., Ohio, the second in a family of three children of Joseph and Sarah (Rector) Pence, natives of Virginia and Kentucky, and of German and English descent, re- spectively. The family were agriculturists, and here Allen grew to manhood, giving the schools of the neighborhood about the usual attendance of a farmer's boy. He was studious and apt, and used the out-of-school hours to such advantage that at the age of sixteen he was considered qualified to teach, and accordingly he opened a school in Logan county, Ill. When eighteen years old he com- menced a course of reading medicine, and completed his reading when aged twenty-one. He taught school but a short time, then read medicine in Springfield, Ill., in 1837, and in 1844 he came to Terre Haute, where he opened his office for the practice of medi- cine, patriotically on the 4th of July, and is now the oldest practic-

ing physician in the city. In May, 1852, he laid in a small stock of drugs, and his new enterprise began to thrive, this stock being increased little by little as the wants of the trade demanded, and he has in his employ at all times two or three practical drug clerks. His business is located at the southwest corner of Second and Ohio streets, in what is known as Pence's Hall, a three-story brick struct- ure. Pence's Hall or the third story, is 44x75 feet in size. In the rear of the main building is a three-story brick structure 25x65 feet, the first floor of which is devoted to office purposes. Dr. Pence was elected alderman by the Democrats in 1858 and by the Republicans in 1862; also held the office of city commissioner in 1872. Dr. Pence opened his first office in Danville, Ill., and from there came to Terre Haute. He has been twice married, and his present companion was Louise Weinhardt. She is one of the prom- inent and active workers of the Ladies' Aid Society.

WILLIAM G. PENNINGTON, farmer and stock-grower, Fay- ette township, P. O. Sandford, was born in Vigo county, Ind., Jan- uary 8, 1836, and is a son of Henry and Hannah (Gannon)-Penn- ington, former born in North Carolina of English descent, latter in Kentucky, of Irish. The father died in 1888; the mother still sur- vives. The father was a successful farmer, owner of a considerable

894

HISTORY OF VIGO COUNTY.

estate at the time of his death. He was an industrious man, and made his own unaided wav in the world. The maternal grandfather, William Gannon, who was a soldier in the Revolutionary war, and a pensioner, died in 1845. William G. is the eldest in a family of eight children, all of whom survive, and, as is often the case, he was the "first boy " with his father while he was working to accumulate his possess- ions, doing his share of the labor on the farm from the time he was quite young, and before he was full grown he generally worked as a full farm hand. He has literally followed in the footsteps of his father, and naturally has chosen farming as a business; he has met with more than average success, and has a farm of 300 acres., He at- tended the district school, and also the high school of Terre Haute. Mr. Pennington was married in 1860 to Miss Martha Wiles, of German origin, daughter of Joseph and Margaret (Ray) Wiles, former having been a farmer during his life. Mr. and Mrs. Penn- ington have eight children : Joseph Henry, George, Mary, Emma, Eva, Olive, Rosa and Oka. Mr. Pennington is among the oldest men now living who were born in Vigo county-an honest, indus- trious and highly respected citizen. His father, by his will, gave all his property to a younger brother, and William G. had from the start to rely upon himself, alone.

J. B. PENNINGTON, farmer and stock-grower, Fayette town- ship, P. O. Sandford, was born in Edgar county, Ill., March 3, 1842, and is a son of Henry and Hannah (Gannon) Pennington, former of English latter of Irish descent. The mother is still liv- ing. The father, who was a successful farmer, died in 1888. The mother, who is the daughter of a Revolutionary soldier, is now in her seventy-ninth year. They reared a family of seven children, Jabel B. being the fifth in order of birth of those now living. He was reared on the farm, attending the district school of the neigh- borhood, and is now a successful agriculturist, the owner of a farm of 163 acres. He has been twice married, the first time, in 1872, to Laura, daughter of James Pickerel, and of German origin. She died in 1887 leaving four children viz .: Marion; Mary, deceased; Ella and Susan. Mr. Pennington's second wife was Miss Mattie, daughter of William Parker, and of German origin. Our subject has taken charge of his parents in the declining years of their lives. He has always been industrious and energetic, and as a con- sequence has been successful in his undertakings.

JOHN ALLEN PETERS, an old and prominent citizen of Pierson township, was born in Henry county, Ky., August 7, 1825, and is a son of Joseph and Frances M. (Cheatham ) Peters, former of whom was a son of John Peters, a native of England, and a farmer. Joseph Peters, who was a successful farmer, and in poli-

895

HISTORY OF VIGO COUNTY.

tics a Democrat, died in Boone county, Ind., in August, 1870, when about seventy-two years of age; his widow would be eighty-six years of age in 1890. They were for many years members of the Baptist Church, she for seventy years or longer. They had six sons and five daughters, John Allen being the third in order of birth, and four sons and two daughters are still living, viz .: James M., John Allen, Joseph T., Wesley C., Martha C. and Dolly Ann. John Allen Peters spent his school days in Kentucky, and March 7, 1840, came with his parents to Boone county, Ind., where he remained on his father's farm until twenty-three years of age, when he located on the Miami Reserve; a year later he sold to good advantage, and went to Tipton county. After four years he sold and came to Vigo county, when Pierson township was sparsely settled, and the splendid farm of 240 acres which he now owns was timberland. By great industry and perseverance this has been cleared and improved. August 7, 1845, Mr. Peters mar- ried Elizabeth, daughter of George Johns, and born in Harrison county, Ind., in 1817, and died September 3, 1870; she had been a member of the New Light Church many years. She was the mother of seven children, four of whom are living: George W., trustee of the township [See his sketch. ]; Joseph T., Jr .; Sarah F., wife of George W. Taylor, and John S .; those dead are William H., Will- iam P. and Eliza A. In April, 1871, Mr. Peters married Eliza, daughter of Joseph Orr, and born in Switzerland county, Ind., No- vember 20, 1828. Mr. and Mrs. Peters and one son, Ira W., are members of the U. B. Church, of which he is a trustee. He is a member of the F. M. B. A., and is one of the influential leaders of the Democratic party in his township, always taking an active part in the councils of his party.

GEORGE W. PETERS, trustee of Pierson township, P. O. Lewis. The people of Pierson township are to be congratulated on having for their trustee one who so ably fills that position at the present time. Mr. Peters is a son of John Allen and Elizabeth (Johns) Peters, and was born in Tipton county, Ind., December 9, 1847. His parents came to Vigo county when he was a child, and here he grew to maturity, attending the district schools when there were any, and working on his father's farm during the farming sea- son. At the age of twenty years life was begun by him in earnest, and farming became his principal occupation; for the next seven years land was rented, at the end of which time he purchased land, and he is now the owner of a well-improved farm near Centerville. In 1868 politics engaged a certain portion of his time, and he was then elected constable of the township, which office he filled in an acceptable manner, two years; again, in 1884, his friends saw fit to

896

HISTORY OF VIGO COUNTY.

give him the same office. In 1888 he was elected trustee of the town- ship, and was re-elected in 1890, for a term of four years. June 27, 1867, Mr. Peters was married to Miss Malissa D., daughter of Jacob Taylor, and born in this county, January 19, 1848. She died May 20, 1879, a member of the Christian Church. The union of Mr. and Mrs. Peters was blessed with five children, four of whom are living, as follows: Flora C., wife of George Johnson; Elizabeth E., James E. and Lou Eva, all at home; William T. died when about one year old. July 25, 1883, Mr. Peters married Elizabeth, daughter of William Alger, and born in Greene county, Ind., May 3, 1861, by which union there are three children: Grace, Herman A. and Arpie O. Mr. and Mrs. Peters are members of the Christian Church. He is clerk of Comet Lodge, No. 615, I. O. O. F., and has repre- sented it in the Grand Lodge of the State; is also a member of the F. M. B. A .; in politics he is a Democrat.

JOSEPH THOMAS PETERS, Pierson township, P. O. Pimen- to. Vigo county is one of the foremost in Indiana, and it owes this enviable position to the enterprise and industry of its inhabit- ants. One who has done much toward the upbuilding of the com- munity in which he lives is the gentleman whose name opens this brief sketch. He is a son of Joseph and Frances M. (Cheatham) Peters [See sketch of J. A. Peters. ], and was born in Henry county, Ky., June 28, 1838. He spent his school days in Boone county, Ind., grew to maturity on his father's farm, and at the age of twenty began farming and dealing in stock on his own account, In 1866 he removed to Pierson township, this county, where he now owns one of the best improved farms in the township. June 3, 1858, Mr. Peters was married to Miss Sarah A. Layton, a native of Howard county, Ind., daughter of Preston Layton, who was a native of Kentucky, and died in Kansas after living, for a time in Howard county, Ind. To Mr. and Mrs. Peters seven children have been born, as follows; Malisa, wife of J. L. Weeks; John W., a farmer of Pierson township; Malinda, wife of D. V. Weeks; Sarah E., wife of Henry W. Payne; Joseph P., at home; Clara E., wife of Ben Payne; and William T., at home. Mrs. Peters is a member of the Christian Church. Mr. Peters was elected assessor of Pierson town- ship, in 1868, and gave good satisfaction in his official capacity. Like all the Peters family he advocates and votes the straight Dem- ocratic ticket. As a citizen he is highly respected by all who know him.

JAMES N. PHILLIPS, ex-county recorder, farmer and stock- grower, P. O. Terre Haute, was born in Terre Haute, Ind., May 14, 1839, and is the son of Aquilla and Matilda (Dudley) Phillips, na- tives of Maryland and of English descent. The father was a farmer all his life, coming from Maryland with his family in 1837, and

HISTORY OF VIGO COUNTY. 897

settling in Terre Haute. He subsequently moved on a farm in Harrison township, where he died in 1875. James N. who is the third in a family of eight children, attended the district school and the college at Greencastle, Ind., and Asbury University. He chose farming as a business, and has been successful. He is the owner of western land, and deals in real estate in Kansas; is also engaged in the salt business, and is vice-president of the Crystal Salt Works at Hutchinson, Kas. He owns valuable real estate in Vigo county, his farm in Otter Creek township consisting of 175 acres of valua- ble land worth nearly $100 per acre; it is situated four miles north of Terre Haute, on the Lafayette gravel road. He is a Democrat in politics, and has served eight years as recorder of Vigo county. In 1862 he enlisted in the Seventy-first Ill. V. I., Company F. When the company was organized he was elected second lieutenant, in which capacity he served until his term expired. When he re- turned home he resumed farming. He was married August 15, 1865, to Miss Julia E. Balding, daughter of Nathan Balding, and their family consists of seven children, viz. : Helen; C. A .; Ransom B .; Frank; Edith; Linnie and Wallace. Mr. and Mrs. Phillips are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and he is trustee of the Rosedale Methodist Episcopal Church. He is a Master Ma- son. Mr. Phillips has many friends in Vigo county.

JAMES M. PICKENS, retired farmer, Riley, was born in Riley township, Vigo county, Ind., March 13, 1832, and is a son of James and Francis N. (Cowherd) Pickens, natives of Virginia and South Carolina, and of English descent, former of whom was born in 1787 in South Carolina, latter in 1791 in Virginia. They came to this county in 1829, and settled on a farm, or rather, in the wilderness, where they made a farm. The father died in 1840 and the mother in 1885, at the advanced age of ninety-five, having lived under all the Presidents from George Washington to Grover Cleve- land. Of their eight children seven are living, James M. being the fifth. He was reared on the farm, received his education in the common schools in Riley township, and then followed farming until 1885, having made his own way in the world, since when he has resided in Riley. He still owns his farm consisting of 130 acres of well-improved land. Mr. Pickens was married in Riley township, in 1862, to Miss Eliza Arnold, who died in 1863. His present wife was Mrs. Williams, who has two children by her first husband, viz. : Jane, wife of James F. Pierce (they have two children, Zella May and Eva), and Josephine, wife of Phelix Roll (they have one child, Bert). Mrs. Pickens is the daughter of James and Eliza (Hartley ) Pringle, who were of German and Irish descent, and she was born June 27, 1832. Mr. and Mrs. Pickens are members of the Chris-

898

HISTORY OF VIGO COUNTY.

tian Church, and he is a Master Mason. In 1864 he enlisted in the Fifty-seventh Ind. V. I., Company E, and was in several battles, serving until the close of the war. Mr. and Mrs. Pickens have an adopted son, Fred Lee, who is now in the high school.

MOSES PIERSON, of the firm of Pierson & Brother, dealers in lumber, lath and shingles, No. 212 South Nine-and-a-half street, Terre Haute, is a native of Vigo county, and was born in 1842. His father, Moses Pierson, was born in Kentucky, and emigrated from his native State to Vigo county about 1825, where he entered land and commenced to improve it. In time he became one of Vigo county's most extensive farmers. In early days he engaged in the New Orleans trade-loading many boats with Wa- bash products for New Orleans, and buying in return sugar, molas- ses, rice and foreign goods. He died in 1845 at New Orleans, while there on business. He left a valuable estate which he had accumulated by his own efforts. He was a pioneer and prominent citizen of this county, Pierson township being named in honor of him. His father, Isaac Pierson, also a native of Kentucky, came to Vigo county several years subsequent to his son Moses. Moses Pierson was married in this county to Miss Mary Liston, who was born in Ohio, and died in Vigo county in 1888. She was the mother of five sons and seven daughters, of whom three of the former and four of the latter are living. Our subject, who is the eleventh child, was reared and educated in Vigo county. In his twentieth year he enlisted in Company C, Eighty-fifth Regiment, Ind. V. I., and went to the war, participating in all the battles of the Atlanta campaign, only receiving a slight wound. In March, 1863, he was captured at Spring Hill, Tenn., and taken to Libby prison, where he was confined thirty days. He was discharged from the army June 14, 1865, being then corporal, having been promoted. Soon after he was discharged he returned to Vigo county, where he remained until 1867, when he went to Owen county, Ind., where he engaged in general merchandising until 1882, when he returned to Terre Haute, and in 1884 formed a part- nership with his brother in their present business. The trade of this firm amounts to $75,000 annually. They are both enterprising and successful business men. The premises occupied for the busi- ness cover about three acres, and the firm sell both wholesale and retail.

Mr. Pierson was married in Monroe county, Ind., in 1874, to Miss Laura McNutt, a native of Tennessee, and they are blessed with three children: Mary, Charley and Frank. Mr. Pierson is a member of the G. A. R. He and his wife are members of the Bap- tist Church. He cast his first presidential vote for Seymour.

899

HISTORY OF VIGO COUNTY.

SAMUEL PIETY, P. O. Prairie Creek, a minister and evan- gelist of the Christian Church, resides on a nicely improved farm at Middletown, Prairie Creek township, the home of his birth, . which occurred March 6, 1853. His parents, James D. and Lau- rinda (Thomas) Piety, were early settlers of this county. James D. Piety was born in Hardin county, Ky., in 1796, and died in April, 1875, on the farm where Samuel now resides, and which the latter's father purchased in 1826. He was a successful farmer and enter- prising citizen, also a prominent member of the Christian Church. His father, Thomas Piety, who died in Knox county, Ind., was of English and Irish descent. Samuel's mother, who was of Welsh descent, was born in Vigo county in 1814, where she died in 1877. She was Mr. Piety's second wife, by which marriage three sons and six daughters were born, of whom two sons and four daughters are living, Samuel being the eighth child. When a boy our subject attended the common schools, subsequently the State University at Champaign, Ill., and Butler University of Indiana. Mr. Piety was married April 8, 1875, to Miss Mary R. De Baun, a native of this county, born in 1857, and they are blessed with three children, viz .: Marcus D., Edith B. and John H. Mr. Piety has been in the ministry since 1879, traveling in several different States as an evangelist. He is an active member of the Masonic fraternity. He was formerly a Republican, casting his first vote for R. B. Hayes, but is now a Prohibitionist. Mrs. Piety is a member of the Christian Church.

WILLIAM T. PITTENGER, farmer and stock-grower, Fay- ette township, P. O. New Goshen, is among the oldest settlers in his township. He was born in Ross county, Ohio, April 22, 1824, and is a son of James W. and Elizabeth (Browning) Pittenger, natives of Maryland, and of Scotch, German and English descent. The father, who was a farmer, located in Vigo county, in December, 1827, settling in what is now Otter Creek township, and died in 1834. The gentleman whose name heads this sketch is the eldest of four children, and was reared on the farm, attending the old- fashioned log school-house in Vigo county. He worked out to get his start, has made his own way in the world, and is now the owner of 280 acres of valuable land where he resides. He was married in Vermillion county, Ind., to Miss Harriet M., daughter of Daniel and Eunice (Cole) McColough who were of Scotch descent, her father being a farmer. Mr. and Mrs. Pittenger's children now living are H. M., and Lora, wife of Harry Morgan. Mr. and Mrs. Pittenger are members of the Baptist Church. In politics he is a Republican, has served as trustee of and justice of the peace in Fayette township, and is a member of the I. O. O. F. Squire Pit- tenger has the respect and best wishes of all who know him.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Vigo county, Indiana, with biographical selections, Part 93

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