History of Vigo county, Indiana, with biographical selections, Part 95

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 95

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).

J. IRVING RIDDLE was born September 7, 1847, in Fulton county, Ohio, a son of James S. and Matilda (Siddons) Riddle.

909

HISTORY OF VIGO COUNTY.

He had two sisters (one now deceased) and three brothers (one now deceased ). Our subject was educated in the common and high school, and graduated at the business college at Wauseon, Ohio. He lived on the farm, and taught school in winter until of age. He chose insurance as a profession because he liked it, and it was about the only thing a young man could do at the time. He walked over 3,000 miles the first year or two, soliciting insurance, be- cause the business did not warrant the expense of a horse and buggy. He has now been in the business about twenty-five years, and has been State agent for Indiana for the Phoenix Insurance Company, of Brooklyn, since the first day of January, 1874, during which time the business of this company has grown in Indiana from an annual income of $33,000 to over $200,000, the aggregated premiums received during that time being nearly $2,000,000, and losses paid, over $1,000,000. September 30, 1873, he came to Terre Haute, and has been connected with the firm of Riddle, Hamilton & Co., ever since. His ancestry dates back to the year 803, being of Scotch and English descent. His ancestors lived at Rid- dell Castle, near Edinburgh, Scotland, where their descendants still reside; he has an interest in the estate which is in process of settlement in the court of chancery, England, and there is a rea- sonable prospect of his getting a share of the estate, which amounts to several million pounds. Our subject was married in Detroit, Mich., September 7, 1873, to Fannie M. Joy, a native of St. Law- rence county, N. Y., and they have three children living, viz. : Herbert W., Vinita Belle and Don Carlos. Mr. Riddle has been a member of the Christian Church for twenty-five years, and an officer in the same for many years; is a Knight Templar, and in politics is a Republican, but in local affairs he always votes for the best man, regardless of party. Mr. Riddle is a strong friend, and believes thoroughly that a man should not live for himself alone, but for the benefit of humanity in general, and should be always ready and willing to assist in any enterprise for the benefit of the community in which he resides, especially in church and charities. He has decided views on matters pertaining to his profession, and on religious dogmas, which he does not hesitate to express when called upon. Mr. Riddle has written quite a number of articles for publication for the insurance press, and perhaps knows more people throughout the State of Indiana than any man of his age residing in the city of Terre Haute.

SAMUEL W. RIGNEY, farmer and stock-grower, Honey Creek township, P. O. Terre Haute, was born October 19, 1817, in Orange county, Ind., where he spent his early life as a farmer, and subsequently removed to Paoli, and served two terms as sheriff

910

HISTORY OF VIGO COUNTY.

of Orange county, Ind. Before the close of his second term he came to Vigo county, and settled in 1856 in Honey Creek township, where he has carried on farming. He is owner of 400 acres of valuable land, well improved and stocked. Mr. Rigney is the son of John and Ruth ( Wible) Rigney, former of whom was born in Virginia, latter in Kentucky; they were of Scotch-Irish and Ger- man descent, and the father was a farmer. Samuel W. is the second in the family of ten children, two of whom survive. The father died in 1833, leaving considerable real estate. Samuel W. was married in Washington county, Ind., in March, 1841, to Miss Mary S., daughter of Hugh and Martha ( Mckinney ) McPheeters, who were of Scotch-Irish descent. Mr. and Mrs. Rigney have three children: Martha J., wife of John Ferguson, (they have four children: Cora., Alice, Thomas and C. R.) ; Charles B., and Frank, a farmer (he has one child, Nellie). Mr. and Mrs. Rigney are members of the Baptist Church, and he is church moderator. They had one daughter, Kattie, who was the wife of U. Blocksom; she died in 1877, leaving two children: Walter and Willie F. Mr. Rigney has always been a stanch Democrat.

CHARLES B. RIGNEY, farmer and stock-grower, Honey Creek township, P. O. Terre Haute, was born in Honey Creek township, Vigo Co., Ind., in 1857, the eldest son of Samuel W. and Mary S. (McPheeters) Rigney. He was reared on the farm, attending the district school, and has made agriculture the main business of his life. In 1878 he was married to Miss I. A. De- baun, a lady of French descent, who died in 1882. They had two children: Kattie S. and Freddie. Mr. Rigney is a Democrat in politics, and was elected township trustee in 1884, serving two terms. He completed his schooling at the high school at Prairie- ton, and for a time was engaged in teaching school; at present he devotes his time to farming. He is the owner of a farm consisting of eighty acres of land in this county.

H. C. ROBINSON, farmer and stock-grower, Sugar Creek township, P. O. Macksville, was born in Fauquier county, Va., May 12, 1835, and is a son of Moses and Elizabeth (Campbell) Robinson, latter of whom was a relative of the present Gov. James E. Campbell, of Ohio. They were of Scotch and Irish origin. The father, who was a farmer, came to Indiana in 1850, and spent the remainder of his life here, dying in 1862. His family con- sisted of six children-four sons and two daughters-of whom our subject is third in order of birth. He was reared on the farm, receiving his education in the common schools, and became a farmer. He has resided in Sugar Creek township since 1859, and is the owner of a well-improved farm containing 230 acres of valuable

911

HISTORY OF VIGO COUNTY.

land, well improved and stocked. He was married in Sugar Creek township in 1859 to Miss Louise, daughter of Abraham and Eliza- beth ( Wood) Sheept, former of whom, who was a blacksmith, was born in this county, latter in Virginia. Their children are Eliza- beth, wife of William Williams; Martin D .; Virginia; A. W. and Eva. Mr. Robinson is identified with the farmers' party, and is a Master Mason.

JOHN F. ROEDEL, ex-county commissioner of Vigo county. This gentleman has been among the prominent business men of Terre Haute, and for many years has been one of the city's leading merchants. He was born in Germany, February 30, 1832, and is a son of Jolin Roedel. He was reared in the parental home in Germany, receiving a fair education, and early in life he was apprenticed to learn the saddler's trade, serving the regular term. In 1851 he sailed for the New World, and reaching Cincinnati, Ohio, he found employment until 1852, when he went to Louisiana; thence proceeded to Memphis, Tenn., where he opened a grocery store. This he continued until 1857, when he changed to the har- ness and saddler's business, which he followed until 1862, and remained in Memphis until he removed to Terre Haute in 1864, and established his present business, to which he added in 1884 a flour and feed store. Mr. Roedel has met with moderate success, and by his own exertions has accumulated a fair share of this world's goods. He was married in 1854, and has six children. Mr. Roedel is a member of the K. of H., the K. of P., A. O. U. W., and L. & K. of H. He is a Democrat in politics, and served as a member of the city council from 1875 to 1877; he was one of the county commissioners when the new court-house was built. In 1871 he went on a visit to Germany.

HARRY ROSS, retired, Terre Haute. This gentleman is now among the oldest living settlers of Vigo county. He is a native of Saratoga county, N. Y., born March 2, 1801, and is a son of Ephraim and Ann ( Wells) Ross, former a native of Nova Scotia, latter of Connecticut and of English descent. Mr. Ross' grandfather, a Scotchman by birth, was a lieutenant in the British army, and was stationed at Halifax, N. S., where some of the Tory families from this country moved during the Revolution. Among them was a young lady whom the Lieutenant fell in love with and married, and of their several children Mr. Ross' father was one. The latter subsequently went to New York, where he was married and had a family of twelve children, Harry being the fifth in order of birth. Our subject spent his childhood and youth in the State of New York, working on the farm and attending the common school and the academy in Onondaga county, and was with his parents on the

912

HISTORY OF VIGO COUNTY.

farm until they moved to Illinois, in 1820. In 1824 he came to Terre Haute, which was then a straggling little village, and he has lived to see a flourishing city take its place. His first business here was farming, and he afterward engaged in the manufacture of brick, which he successfully followed. When the town was growing there was a great demand for brick, which he and his brother supplied. He also made judicious investments in other branches of business; he engaged in merchandising, which he carried on until 1861, when he retired from active labors. He is one of the directors of the Vandalia Railroad Company, and for a quarter of a century has been a director of the First National Bank at Terre Haute. He often talks of the time he came to Terre Haute, when there were only about two hundred people here, and forty houses all told, the greater number of them being log houses. Mr. Ross has been twice married, the first time, in 1827, to Miss Mary Seeley, who died soon after marriage. In 1838 he was united in marriage with Miss Emaline Ross, and their children now living are as follows: Edwin W .; Julia A., wife of L. Ford Perdue; Sarah Rose, wife of Edwin R. Bryan. In politics Mr. Ross was first a Whig, and afterward, on the formation of the party, a Republican. He is a deacon in the Congregational Church. J. W. ROSS, brick manufacturer, Terre Haute, is a nephew of Harry Ross, the pioneer manufacturer of brick in Terre Haute. He was born in Clark county, Ill., August 19, 1835, and is a son of William B. and Cinderilla ( White) Ross, former a native of New York and latter of Ohio, both being of Scotch-Irish origin. J. W. Ross is a grandson of Bateman Ross, who was a brick manufact- urer, in company with Harry Ross, when Terre Haute was a village. William B. Ross died in 1864, the father of four children, of whom J. W. is the eldest. Our subject was reared in Terre Haute, attending the common schools, learning his trade of brick- making with his father, and has made this county his home for over half a century. He takes an active interest in the affairs of Terre Haute. He is a Republican in politics, but has never held any office (although often solicited to do so by his party friends) as he devotes all his time to his business. His yards are situated south of Wabash avenue, where he owns fourteen acres of land, part of which is surveyed in lots, and he employs eighteen laborers in his yards, making between 12,000 and 15,000 brick per day. Mr. Ross was married in Terre Haute, Ind., April 15, 1872, to Miss Lucy, daughter of John Vest. Mrs. Ross died in 1885, the mother of two children, one of whom is yet living, Edwin R., a student in the high school. Mrs. Ross was a member of the Christian Church. Mr. Ross is an active member of the I. O. O. F., and he is a temperance man.

913

HISTORY OF VIGO COUNTY.

I. H. C. ROYSE, attorney and loan and insurance agent, Terre Haute, is a native of Kingwood, Preston Co., W. Va., where he was born November 23, 1838, and is a son of John and Sarah (Matthews) Royse, natives of Pennsylvania. The father, who was of English and Welsh descent, was a civil engineer; in the latter years of his life, however, he retired to the quiet of farm life. He died in Preston county, W. Va., in 1863. Mr. Royse, who is the seventh in a family of eleven children, remained in his native place until he was fifteen years of age, when with his father he removed to Washington county, Ohio, where he obtained such education as the public schools afforded. In 1860 he removed to Macon county, Ill., where, in August, 1862, he enlisted in the One Hundred and Fifteenth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, Company E, and in May, 1863, for meritorious service he was promoted to second lieutenant, only serving a short time as a non-commissioned officer. He was in the Fourth Army Corps, and was at the battles of Chickamauga, Tunnel Hill, Resaca (Ga. ) and Nashville and Franklin ( Tenn.). He commanded his company for several months, and at different times served as adjutant of his regiment and as A. D. C. on the brigade staff, continuing in service till the close of the war. On his return from the army, he became a student in Michigan University at Ann Arbor, in the law department, where he graduated in 1868, and, at once locating in Kansas City, Mo., he opened a law office. After a short time he removed to Paola, Kas., where he remained five years, then, in 1874, came to Terre Haute, and formed a law partnership with Andrew Grimes. The firm was in active practice until 1878, when he formed a partnership with his brother, B. F. Royse, who was largely engaged in real estate and insurance. B. F. Royse died in 1881, since which time Mr. Royse has been alone in the practice of the law, and has continued the firm's additional business of insurance and loans, which has had a steady prosperity to the pres- ent time. Mr. Royse affiliates with the Republican party, but is not active in politics, and single-mindedly devotes his whole atten- tion to his large and increasing business. In January, 1890, he was tendered and accepted the office of member and secretary of the board of trustees of the Indiana State Normal School. Mr. Royse was married at Ann Arbor, Mich., March 31, 1868, to Sarah Jackson, whose parents were of the sturdy English stock. Of this happy union are three children: Minnie, Clarence and Herbert. Mr. and Mrs. Royse are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which he is steward, trustee and assistant Sabbath-school superintendent. Mr. Royse is a member of the G. A. R. and the Loyal Legion. This is one of the pleasant families of the prairie city, prominent in its social life and highly esteemed by an extended circle of friends and acquaintances.

914

HISTORY OF VIGO COUNTY.

ZORA B. RUKES, farmer and stock-grower, Nevins township, P. O. Rosedale, Parke county, was born December 26, 1843, on a farm near where he now resides, and is the son of William and Mary (Adams) Rukes, former by occupation a farmer. The family have usually been farmers. Mr. Rukes' grandfather, Zora B. Rukes, came from Maysville, Ky., to Indiana, settling in Vigo county, being among the early pioneers, and entered about 800 acres of land in Nevins township and Parke county. He lived to an old age, and died in 1885. Mr. Rukes' father was married four times, and was an active member of the Christian Church. Mr. Rukes was the eldest child by the first wife, and had three full brothers and two sisters. Zora B. Rukes was reared on the farm, attending the common schools, and is the only one of the immediate family who makes farming his regular business. He is the owner of 103 acres of land, cultivating, however, about 300. He was married in 1865 to Miss Jane, daughter of John and Elizabeth (McKee) McGrahanan, who were of Welsh and English descent, and early settlers in Harrison township, Vigo county. The mar- riage of Mr. and Mrs. Rukes has been blessed with five children: William, Charles, Dora, Della and Edward. Mr. Rukes enlisted August 14, 1862, in the Eighty-fifth Ind. V. I., Company G, and was discharged February 12, 1865. He was wounded in an en- gagement near the Kenesaw Mountains, being struck by a minie ball in the left thigh, and was discharged for disability in 1864. He is a popular man and has many friends, especially among the old veterans of the Civil war. In politics he is a Republican.

HARRY RUSSELL, of the firm of Russell & Ravell, builders and contractors, Terre Haute, is a native of Withern, Yorkshire, England, born February 21, 1851, and is a son of Cornelius and Eliza (Elliott) Russell, also natives of Yorkshire, England, who immigrated to Rochester, N. Y., in 1853. From Rochester they went to Toronto, from there to Port Hope, and thence to Lindsay, Canada, where the father, who was a bricklayer and plasterer by trade, died in 1861, in his forty-seventh year. The family came to Terre Haute in 1863, and the mother died in Sedalia, Mo., May 25, 1875, in the sixtieth year of her age. Our subject, who is the seventh in a family of eleven children-four sons and seven daugh- ters-received a common-school education, and then worked at canal-boating, as railroad brakeman, and at various other things until 1862, when he served an apprenticeship at his present trade. In 1872 he engaged in business with Herman Blood, and in the fall of 1874 he formed a partnership with Mr. Ravell, his present part- ner. This firm thoroughly understand their business, and have erected several good buildings in the city. They built the county

915

HISTORY OF VIGO COUNTY.

jail; two buildings for colored schools; the Bindley & Mack block; the Cook & Bell and the Anton Mayer blocks; also the Fairbanks Distillery; the Water Works, and the Fuel Gas Plant. Mr. Rus- sell was married in Rockville, Ind., September 21, 1874, to Miss Mary E., daughter of Harry and Hannah (Farr) Hargraves, na- tives of Yorkshire, England. Mr. Hargraves is a boot and shoe merchant at Rockville. Mrs. Russell is the youngest of three chil- dren, and was born in Bridgeport, Ind., September 13, 1856. Mr. and Mrs. Russell have two daughters: Jennie and Lillie. Septem- ber 8, 1880, Mr. Russell was appointed chief of police, and served about two years; he is now the nominee of the Republican party for sheriff of this county, election of 1890. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., No. 51, and politically is a Republican. Mrs. Russell is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

THOMAS RYAN, farmer and stock-grower, Honey Creek town- ship, P. O. Prairieton. This gentleman may properly be mentioned among the representative farmers of Vigo county as one who has made his way unassisted simply by energy and determination to succeed. He now resides in Honey Creek township on a well-im- proved farm, and is the owner of three farms in the county. He has devoted his time and attention to the business, never meddling much in politics, except in 1887, when his party nominated him for county commissioner. He accepted, made the race, but was de- feated by a few votes. He was born in Limerick, Ireland, in Au- gust, 1827, the eldest in the family of five children of Timothy and Mary (McCormick) Ryan, former of whom, who was a farmer, died in Ireland in 1849. Thomas was reared on his father's farm, and attended the parish schools of his native place. During seven years of his life he was engaged in the manufacture of gas, for six years was in the employ of a railroad company, and since 1852 he has farmed. In 1876 he came to Honey Creek township, this county. On his arrival in America he had but five cents left ; he then worked out until he saved up $1,000, when he made his first purchase of land, to which he has added, and at present he is the owner of 261 acres. Mr. Ryan was twice married, the first time, in 1832, to Miss Bell McGowan, who bore him three children (two of whom are now liv- ing ), viz. : May, wife of Jesse R. Enlow, Timothy and John. Three years after the death of his first wife Mr. Ryan married May, daughter of Anthony Campbell, and by her there are three chil- dren: Martha M., Maggie and Ellen. The mother died in 1889. The family are members of the Catholic Church. Mr. Ryan is a Democrat in politics; is a member of the K. of L., and is past master in the P. of H.

JOHN M. RYMAN, farmer and stock-grower, Honey Creek township, P. O. Terre Haute, was born in Honey Creek township,

916

HISTORY OF VIGO COUNTY.

Vigo Co., Ind., May 1, 1854, and is a son of Jacob and Mary ( Weir) Ryman, former of whom was born in Kentucky in 1823, of English descent. He was a leading farmer, and when a young man came to Vigo county, where he was married in 1853, his wife being of Irish extraction. John Ryman, grandfather of John M., was also a farmer. Our subject was reared on the farm, attending the com- mon schools of the vicinity, and has made farming his life occupa- tion. He is the owner of 153 acres of well-improved land. His father's family consisted of ten children, of whom eight are now living, and are all doing well. The father died in 1876, highly respected for his many excellent qualities of heart and head. He made his own way in life, and succeeded in accumulating a fair share of this world's goods. In politics he was a Republican, but never sought office or place.

SYLVESTER J. ST. CLAIR, farmer and stock-grower, Honey Creek township, P. O. Youngstown. This gentleman may also be classed among the manufacturers of Vigo county. He was born within four miles of where he now resides, in Honey Creek town- ship, July 25, 1840, and is a son of Nelson and Eliza J. (Evans) St. Clair, natives of Indiana, and of French and English extraction. His father, who had spent his life as a tiller of the soil, died in 1883. Our subject, who is his eldest child, attended the schools of Vigo county, and chose farming as a business. For a time, how- ever, from 1883 to 1889, he carried on a brickyard and tile factory, and then embarked in other lines of manufacturing in the city of Terre Haute. He became a member of the stock company known as the " Terre Haute Pottery Novelty Works," with J. B. Rhods, of Ohio, Mr. St. Clair being the general manager of the business. He is the owner of the farm where he now resides, comprising 202 acres of highly improved land. Mr. St. Clair was married in 1861 to Miss Nancy E., daughter of John M. and Margaret McCoskey, and of Irish descent. They have one child living, Lucian E., who superintends the farm. Mrs. St. Clair died in 1889. The family are members of the Baptist Church; in politics he is a Republican. He enlisted, in 1864, in the One Hundred and Thirty-third Ind. V. I., Company H, and served until the close of the war. He is a member of G. A. R. Post, No. 158. Nelson St. Clair was the second son of Eli St. Clair, who is now among the oldest men liv- ing in this part of Indiana. He was born in Maryland in 1793, of German descent, and has been a farmer, coming to Sullivan county, where he settled in 1818. He reared a family of six sons and six daughters, all of whom married and have prospered. He is a Re- publican in politics, formerly a Whig.

JACOB SACHS, engineer on the Vandalia Railroad, residence No. 427 North Thirteenth street, Terre Haute, is a native of Mon-

HISTORY OF VIGO COUNTY. 917

roe county, N. Y., born August 31, 1843, and is a son of John N. and Elizabeth (Scholler) Sachs, natives of Germany, who came to New York State about the year 1833. They resided there until 1853, when they moved to Terre Haute, where the mother died in 1865, and the father June 13, 1878. Jacob, who is the youngest in a family of eight children, received a common-school education, and May 10, 1860, commenced his railroad career as fireman on the Terre Haute & Indianapolis Railroad which vocation he followed about eight years, when he was promoted to engineer on the line. He ran on the east division about six years, then went on the Van- dalia line, and is engineer of the passenger train on the first line from Terre Haute to East St. Louis. He was injured in a collision while running the pay car August 28, 1873, and was off duty about ten months on account of his injuries, then resumed his position which he still holds. He owns a farm containing 120 acres in Fayette county, Ill. Mr. Sachs was married in Marshall, Ill., Jan- uary 1, 1866, to Johanna M., daughter of Christian H. Scheytt, and born in Germany August 15, 1844. Mr. and Mrs. Sachs had six children: George E., Charles F. (deceased), Dora M., Frank M., Violena C. and Nettie M. The mother died June 20, 1886, and April 10, 1888, Mr. Sachs was married in Caseyville, Ill., to Eliz- abeth, daughter of John T. and Helena (Herman) Holtmann, na- tives of Minister, Germany, latter of whom died in Illinois in March, 1869. Mrs. Sachs is the third in a family of seven children, and was born in St. Clair county, Ill., September 2, 1856. She is a member of the Catholic Church. Mr. Sachs is a member of the Masonic fraternity, Humbolt Lodge No. 42; also of the A. O. U. W., No. 66, and of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, No. 25. He has run 593,383 miles on the road. Mr. Sachs is a Re- publican, and served in the city council two years.

HIRAM SANKEY (deceased) was a son of Thomas and Han- nah (Morton) Sankey, who had a family of twelve children, of whom Hiram is the eleventh in order of birth. He was married, in 1847, to Miss Jemima W. Mckenzie, who was born October 13, 1820, a daughter of Thomas and Sarah (Harris) Mckenzie, natives of Delaware, her father of Irish and her mother of French and Scotch descent. Mr. and Mrs. Sankey had born to them three sons, viz .: Robert M., deceased; Hiram V., and Robert M., who ma- ried Harriet Speer. Mr. Sankey died August 8, 1888; he was a Master Mason. Mrs. Sankey has in her possession a copy of the National Journal, printed in Washington, D. C., on Saturday, July 8, 1826, published by Peter Force, giving an account of the death of Thomas Jefferson. It is in mourning after the old style of in- verting the rules.

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 95

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