History of Vigo county, Indiana, with biographical selections, Part 98

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.

ELLIS E. SOUTH, general ticket and freight agent, “Big Four " Railroad lines, Terre Haute. This successful railroad man has gained his advancement by his energy, integrity and prompt- ness at every post of duty. He is a native of Indiana, born No- vember 11, 1851, and is a son of Daniel B. and Martha (Duncan) South, natives of Ohio, and of English descent, former of whom was a prominent man, having served a number of years as treas- urer of Hendricks county, Ind. He died at Danville, Ind., in 1862. Ellis E., who is the elder of two children, was reared at Danville, Ind., where he attended school for a time, subsequently becoming a student at the college at Greencastle, Ind. He learned telegraphy at Danville, and was thus employed by the " Big Four " Railroad lines from 1871 to 1877, during which time he became ticket agent. He was appointed ticket agent, January 1, 1882, and in 1886 was promoted to general freight and ticket agent, with head- quarters at Terre Haute. Mr. South was married in St. Louis, to Nettie C., daughter of George P. Cook, and of German descent. They have one child, Mary E. Mrs. South is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. In political matters Mr. South affili- ates with the Republican party. He has taken the thirty-second degree in Masonry, and is also a Shriner, being a member of Murat Temple of Indianapolis.

A. W. SPAIN .. physician and surgeon, Terre Haute, was born in Gibson county, Ind .. November 22, 1837, and is a son of Archi- bald and Sarah (Garwood) Spain, former a native of Virginia, of English descent, latter of Kentucky, of German descent. The father came to Indiana Territory in 1815, and located near Vin- cennes, Knox county. The Doctor, who is the eighth in a family of ten children, was united in marriage May 22, 1866, at Noblesville, Ind., with Viola, daughter of Fredric and Martha (Dale) Cole, former of whom was a native of Rodmar, Jefferson Co., N. Y., and latter of Noblesville, Hamilton Co., Ind. Mrs. Spain, who is the eldest in a family of six children, was born in Shelby county, Ind., October 29, 1845. Dr. and Mrs. Spain have had born to them three chil- dren, as follows: Mattie D., Gertie A. and Robert T.

Dr. Spain was reared on a farm, and received his early educa- tion in the common schools of Gibson county, Ind. He then at- tended the Academy at Patoka, that State, two years, after which he taught in the public schools in New Harmony, Ind., and vicinity, four years, and then read medicine under Dr. J. W. Rawlings of that place. In 1861 he attended the Cincinnati College of Medi- cine and Surgery, graduating there in 1863. He was then ap- pointed assistant-surgeon in the Eightieth Ind. V. I., remaining in the service until the close of the war. He then located in Posey-

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HISTORY OF VIGO COUNTY.

ville, Ind., where he practiced medicine fifteen years. In 1879 he took a special course of lectures at the College of Physicians and Sur- geons, New York. In 1880 he came to Terre Haute, and has here practiced since. He has had to depend on his own resources, and has made a success in his profession. The Doctor is a member of the Indiana State Medical Association; the Mississippi Valley Medical Society; the Esculapian Medical Society of the Wabash Valley; also the Vigo County Medical Association, and served as president of the Vigo Society in 1879. He is secretary of the city board of health. Dr. and Mrs. Spain are members of the Christian Church. He is a member of the Terre Haute Science Club, and of the G. A. R., Morton Post No. 1; also a member of the I. O. O. F., No. 157, and is a past grand; he is a member of the Encampment, and is a past patriarch; is also a member of the Knights and Ladies of Honor.

EDMUND T. SPOTSWOOD, M. D., Terre Haute, was born in Richmond, Va., October 10, 1827. He is a direct descendant of Sir Alexander Spotswood, who was a major-general in the British army and subsequently colonial governor of Virginia, from 1710 to 1723. The latter was of Scotch parentage, and was born in the port of Tangier, on a British man-of-war. He was reared in the army, served under the Duke of Marlborough with distinction, and was wounded at the battle of Blenheim while acting as deputy quartermaster-general. He was sent to America by the king of England as governor of Virginia, and no name is more prominently connected with the colonial history of Virginia than his. He de- veloped the first iron mines and erected the first iron furnace in America, and was the first to introduce iron in the colonies for which he was called the "Tubal Cain" of Virginia. He was the first to bring the writ of habeas corpus to America, and in 1739 he was appointed deputy postmaster-general of the colonies, and it was he who promoted Benjamin Franklin to the postmastership of the then province of Pennsylvania. Gov. Spotswood died at An- napolis, Md., June 7, 1740, while on his way to. Central America to take charge of the British troops in that country.

Dr. Edmund T. Spotswood is a son of Robert and Eliza L. (Hening) Spotswood, former of whom died in 1832, when the son was but five years old; the mother, who was of English descent, was the daughter of William Waller Hening, a prominent attorney of Virginia, and an author of a number of law books. She was possessed of high scholarly attainments, and was a poetess of high rank, several of her poems being used in the text books for public schools. After the death of her husband she married Rev. John F. Schermerhorn, of New York. They were pioneer settlers of

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HISTORY OF VIGO COUNTY.

Carroll county, Ind., and the mother died at the home of Dr. Spots- wood, in Perrysville, Ind., March 8, 1873, at the advanced age of seventy-three. Dr. Spotswood spent most of his life in Indiana, having come to this State when he was fourteen years old. His childhood and youth were spent on the farm, and he received his literary instruction from his mother. He studied medicine at Rush Medical College, Chicago, and graduated in 1852, locating same year at Perrysville, Vermillion Co., Ind., where he re- mained in the active practice of his chosen profession until 1888, being then the oldest practicing physician in Vermillion county. In April, 1862, after the battle of Shiloh, Dr. Spotswood volun- teered his professional services to help to take care of the wounded, He went to Evansville where he found a large number of the wounded had been sent to Indianapolis, whither he went, and was offered a position as surgeon by Gov. Morton, but did not accept it. In August, 1862, he was appointed surgeon of the Seventy-first Ind. V. I., which became the Sixth Indiana Cavalry, and served in that capacity for eighteen months, when he was compelled to resign on account of disease of the eyes, acquired in the discharge of his official duty, and from which he has never recovered, He returned to Perrysville, where he did office practice. Dr. Spotswood repre- sented Vermillion county one term in the legislature. He is a sneaker of marked ability, and is independent in politics. He inherits of his mother poetical genius, and has written several very creditable poems. The Doctor was elected to the General Assem- bly from Vermillion county, Ind., in 1854, and was next the young- est member in the House of Representatives. He was the first to advocate a State normal school for Indiana, and while a member of the legislature he introduced the first resolution to establish the State Normal School of Indiana. The resolution reads as follows:

Resolved: That the committee on education be instructed to inquire into the expediency of establishing a State Normal School, in which persons who desire to make teaching a profession shall receive instruction free of charge, provided they bind themselves to teach for a specified term of years within the State of Indiana; and also if it is deemed expedient to establish such a school, whether it would be practicable to establish it on the Manual Labor Plan so as to make it a self-support- ing institution as near as possible. With leave to report by bill or otherwise.

The Doctor was the first to agitate a State bureau of statistics. Dr. Spotswood was married May 17, 1853, to Miss Sarah, daughter of Rev. John F. Schermerhorn, of the State of New York, and they had five children, as follows: Edith, Welford and Bernard are de- ceased, and Edwin and Mary are living in Terre Haute, Mary being married to H. B. Rhoads. Dr. Spotswood is a Methodist.

PATRICK W. STACK, owner and proprietor of the Chestnut Street Hotel, Terre Haute, This energetic and successful business

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HISTORY OF VIGO COUNTY.

man was born in Ireland August 24, 1848, and is a son of William Stack, who was a farmer, and died in the old country. The family consisted of eight children, of whom Patrick W. is the fifth. He crossed the ocean in 1852, and was reared in America, attending the common schools at Pittsburgh, Penn., where he also worked in the machine shops some years. In 1866 he removed to Terre Haute, and was employed by the Indianapolis & St. Louis Railroad Company as engineer, and has since made this city his home. In 1875 he embarked in the hotel business, and has carried on, at the same time, other business enterprises. He has dealt extensively in real estate, and is the owner of nine dwellings in addition to his hotel and other real estates in Terre Haute, also valuable property in Illi- nois-a highly improved stock-farm, where he breeds and deals ex- tensively in draft horses. He has made his own way in the world. Mr. Stack was united in marriage in Coles county, Ill., in 1876, to Miss Mary A., daughter of I. O. Sullivan, and born in Clay county, Ind., of Irish descent, which union has been blessed with seven children, viz. : Will. D., John W., Anna Mary J., Margaret A., May Patrick, Helen and Catherine. The family are members of the Catholic Church, and Mr. Stack is a member of the Hibernian So- ciety, also of the C. K. of A., having served as treasurer and presi- dent in the order. He is a member of three of the building and loan associations of Terre Haute, and occupies the position of ap- praiser in all of them. He does all he can to advance the interests of the laboring man, and to help to build up the city. Mr. Stack is a con- sistent and active member of the Democratic party, though never a blind dogmatic partisan, and in 1880 was a candidate before the Democratic convention for county treasurer. It is the welfare of his country and fellow-man that always actuates his every action.

PETER N. STAFF, No. 913 Main street, Terre Haute, was born in Henry county, Ind., January 26, 1844, and is a son of Fredrick S. and Catherine (Napp) Staff, natives of Baden, Germany. Peter N., who is the sixth in a family of ten children, was married in Terre Haute October 27, 1881, to Martha E., daughter of Joseph C. and Catharine (Sasseen) Strole, who were of German descent. Mrs. Staff is the eldest in a family of four children that grew to maturity, and was born in New Goshen, Ind., February 13, 1854. Mr. Staff was reared in Raysville, Ind., and received a common-school educa- tion; he worked on a farm, also in a brick yard, and was railroading about nine years. In September, 1861, in response to the call of his country, he enlisted in Company K, Thirty-sixth Ind. V. I., and among the important engagements he participated in may be mentioned the battles of Shiloh, Corinth, Stone River, Chicka- mauga and the Atlanta campaign. At Ringgold, Ga., he was slightly

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HISTORY OF VIGO COUNTY.

wounded with a sabre, and was captured, but made his escape. He was mustered out at Indianapolis in September, 1864, and after his return from the army he attended school three years at Raysville. and Knightstown. He came to Terre Haute in 1870, and en- gaged in business. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., No. 382, and of the Encampment, No. 17. He is a Republican in politics.

CHARLES STAHL, member of the firm of Zimmerman & Stahl, manufacturers of pants, overalls and shirts, No. 30 North Sixth street, Terre Haute, is a native of Vienna, Austria. His father, Edward Stahl, who held a government position, died in Vienna at the age of sixty-five years, and his widow, whose maiden name was Anna Zimmerman, is yet living in Vienna. Charles, who is the eldest in a family of seven children, received his education in the highest institutions of learning in Vienna. Having attended school fifteen years, he began his career in the railroad business as telegraph operator and station agent, and was thus employed five years, when he accepted a position in the Exchange Bank of Vienna, where he remained two years, when he resigned and went into the largest bank in Vienna, whose capital was $90,000,000, having control of $100,000,000 of State funds. Mr. Stahl remained in that institution nine years. He emigrated to America, locating in Terre Haute, Ind., November 9, 1886, and owing to the illness of Mr. Zimmerman, his father-in-law, he took charge of his business; resigned his position in the bank in 1887, and took an interest in the factory. Mr. Zimmerman died in May, 1888, and Mr. Stahl has had entire charge of the concern since that time. The business was organized by Mr. Zimmerman in 1872, and had a steady growth until his sickness, when its affairs declined; but under the manage- ment of Mr. Stahl, who is an enterprising, thorough business man, it has grown until they now have a larger trade than ever. This factory is one of the important enterprises of Terre Haute, and gives employment to about 250 girls and about twenty men. Mr. Stahl was united in marriage, in Vienna, Austria, July 9, 1883, with Rosa, the younger of the two children of Charles Zimmerman, and a native of Bohemia. Mr. and Mrs. Stahl had born to them two children: Charles and Elsa, latter deceased.

REV. JAMES D. STANLEY, rector of St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, residence No. 215 North Seventh street, Terre Haute. This gentleman is a native of Georgia, being a son of Augustin and Rebecca (Dowdell) Stanley, also natives of that State. The father was an Episcopal minister, and also a physician and surgeon, having been graduated at Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia. The family removed from Georgia to Tennessee in 1871, and remained there until 1879, when they became residents of Evansville, Ind.

HISTORY OF VIGO COUNTY. · 941

His father was rector of the Church of the Holy Inuocents in that city, and died in January, 1881, at the age of forty-nine years. Our subject, who is the eldest in a family of six children, received his preparatory education in Georgia and Tennessee, and entered Trinity College, Hartford, Conn., in 1873, where he was graduated, in 1877, with the degree of Bachelor of Arts, three years later receiving that of M. A. He was awarded the oratorical medal at the college in 1876. In the fall of 1877 he entered the General Theological Seminary, New York City, being graduated in 1880. At the Commencement that year he was one of the two appointed essayists. He was ordained to the ministry in June, 1880, at St. Paul's Church, Evansville, Ind., by Bishop Talbot. Here he offi- ciated for a short time, and in October, 1880, took charge of the Church of the Epiphany, Cincinnati, Ohio. He became rector of St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, Terre Haute, in October, 1886, and has served on a number of important committees in the diocese. In 1889 he was one of the four Clerical Deputies from the State to the General Convention of the Episcopal Church held in New York City. He is Past Chancellor of Oriental Lodge, No. 81, K. of P., and Prelate of the Commandery, K. T. No. 16, Terre Haute, and in May, 1890, was elected Grand Prelate of the Grand Commandery of the State of Indiana.

WILLIAM I. STARK, physician and surgeon, Nevins town- ship, P. O. Fontanet, was born in Sullivan county, Ind., June 30, 1857, and is a son of Elijah and Curmellar (Weeks) Stark, former a native of Indiana, latter of Kentucky. They were of Scotch de- scent. The father has been a farmer all his life, and resides on a farm in Sullivan county. Dr. Stark, who is the sixth in a family of nine children, was reared on a farm, and received his early edu- cation in the common schools, subsequently attending the high school at Sullivan. He then studied medicine with Dr. Higbee, at Sullivan; afterward went to Cincinnati, Ohio, where he took a full course in the Homeopathic College, graduating in 1881. He then entered on the practice of his profession in Vigo county, and has been a practitioner here ever since. The Doctor was married, Sep- tember 24, 1886, to Miss Malinda, daughter of Daniel H. and Eliz- abeth Markin, and of German descent. Dr. and Mrs. Stark are members of the Presbyterian Church. In politics he is a Demo- crat, and has served an unexpired term as justice of the peace; afterward he was elected, and served a full term in the office. They are members of the Knights and Ladies of Honor, of which order Mrs. Stark is financial secretary. The Doctor is a member of the Knights of Labor.

WORTH B. STEELE, lumber dealer, Terre Haute, is secre- tary of the Wabash Lumber Company, and is one of the represent-

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HISTORY OF VIGO COUNTY.

ative citizens of Terre Haute. He was born in Crawford county, Ill., July 22, 1851, and is a son of Nenian and Martha J. (Harris) Steele, former a native of Virginia, latter of Illinois, and both of Scotch descent. The father was a physician, and engaged in the practice of his profession in Crawford county, Ill., where he died in 1861. Worth B., who is the third in a family of five children, was reared in Illinois, attending the graded schools, and early in life was engaged as a book-keeper. He came to Terre Haute in 1868, and served as secretary of the Terre Haute Lumber Company. In 1889 he became a member of the Wabash Lumber Company, and has since served as its secretary. He was married in Clark county, Ill., in May, 1872, to Miss Delia A., daughter of John and Susan Pat- terson, and a native of Maine, born of English descent. This union has been blessed with three children: Malcom, John and Alma. Mr. Steele is a member of the Christian Church, Mrs. Steele of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He is a member of the city council; is a Master Mason, and a member of the I. O. O. F. He is trustee of the National Union Society, Terre Haute. Politically he is a Republican.

NICHOLAS STEIN, of the firm of Stein & Heckelsburg, No. 513 Wabash avenue, Terre Haute, is a native of Hesse Darmstadt, Germany, born October 6, 1843, and is a son of Nicholas and Eliz- abeth (Huebner) Stein, natives of Germany, who immigrated to Missouri in 1858, and came to Terre Haute in the spring of 1860, where they now reside. The father is a wood-turner by trade. Our subject, who is the second in a family of seven children, received a common-school education, and served an apprenticeship at the shoe- maker's trade, which he followed until May, 1864, when he enlisted in Company I, One hundred and Thirty-third Ind. V. I., in the four months' service. They were put on guard duty at Bridgeport, Ala., to guard railroads and bridges, and Mr. Stein was mustered out at Indianapolis in September, 1864. He then returned to Terre Haute, and engaged in the boot and shoe business, forming, in March, 1879, a partnership with Mr. Heckelsburg. This is one of the leading shoe firms of the city, and they have built up a large and growing trade, making a specialty of first-class lines of goods. Mr. Stein

has had to depend on his own resources. He was married in Terre Haute, May 11, 1867, to Miss Catharine, daughter of Charles F. and Hannah (Seebergher) May, natives of Baden, Germany, who died in this county. Mrs. Stein is the third in a family of seven chil- dren, and was born in Baden, Germany, September 21, 1843. Mr. and Mrs. Stein have four children: Charles F., Edward E., Gertrude M. and Katy May. The parents are members of the German Lutheran Church. Mr. Stein is a member of the Masonic fraternity,

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HISTORY OF VIGO COUNTY.

Humbolt Lodge No. 42, also of the I. O. O. F., Goethe Lodge No. 382, and has passed the chairs. In 1880 he was elected school trustee by the city council, and served six years. In politics he is a Democrat.

JAMES K. P. STEPHENS, Pierson township. P. O. Lewis. This prominent farmer was born in Clay county, Ind., May 8, 1845, and is a son of James and Wealthy (Beeman) Stephens, both natives of Randolph county, N. C., former of whom was born in 1794 and died in Clay county in 1857, latter born in 1818, and died near Bowling Green, Ind., in 1888. The father served in the War of 1812, in Col. Ben. Dumas' regiment, participating in a great many battles, and during the time he was at the spot where Terre Haute now stands. In 1827 he, in company with others, left North Caro- lina and came and settled where the town of Bowling Green now is, where they farmed. In politics he was a Democrat. He was twice married, first to Elizabeth Jordan, by whom there were two sons and two daughters, two of whom are living. Mr. Stephens married the second time, and by this union were eight children, James K. P. being the seventh in the order of birth. Five of the eight are living, as follows: Elijah, Laborn, Nancy, James K. P. and Jacob E. James Stephens, the father of our subject, came from France with LaFayette, to join the colonists against the English, and took part in the battles LaFayette's army participated in. After the war he remained in North Carolina, becoming a citizen of the United States and an extensive planter.

James K. P. Stephens obtained his education in Clay county, Ind., and in March, 1863, he left home, enlisting in Company M, Sixth Ind. V. C. He took part in several battles-Tazewell, Walker's Ford, the siege of Knoxville and others. He was at one time very severely injured in time of action by his horse falling on him. He took part in all the engagements under Gen. Sherman from Chicka- mauga, Tenn., to Atlanta, Ga., such battles as Buzzard's Roost, Resaca, Turner's Ferry, Adairsville, Cassville, Cartersville, Altoona Pass, Big Shanty, Burnt Hickory, Brush Mountain, New Hope Church, Kenesaw Mountain, Culp's Farm, Smyrna, Chattahoochie River, Peach Tree Creek, Ezra Church, Atlanta, and was with Gen. Stoneman on his raid to Macon, Ga, ; was also in the battles at Pulaski and Nashville, Tenn. He was mustered out of the service at Mur- freesboro, Tenn., September 27,1865. After returning from the army he again commenced farming, and in 1867 he came to Pierson township, this county. May 17, 1866, he married Margaret F., a daughter of Peter Craft, and born in Ohio, August 30, 1846. Seven children have been born to this marriage, of whom those living are Bettie, Thaddeus, Pat, Maud, May, Sherman and Ethel. Mr. and

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HISTORY OF VIGO COUNTY.

Mrs. Stephens are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and he is adjutant of Gen. Cruft Post No. 284, G. A. R., of which he was commander three years; he is a member of Vigo County Lodge No. 29, A. F. & A. M .; also of the F. M. B. A. Lodge, No. 3254, Centerville, and in politics he is a Republican.

REUBEN N. STERLING, farmer and stock-grower, Honey Creek township, P. O. Terre Haute, was born November 30, 1846, at Paris, the county seat of Edgar county, Ill., and is a son of David A. and Mary Mahettable Sterling, former of whom was born in Blount county, Tenn., latter in Erie county, N. Y., and they were of English and Scotch descent. The father, who was a carpenter and cabinet-maker by trade, spent many years in the county, hav- ing come here when he was but seventeen years of age; he died in 1858, after living here nearly half a century; his widow lived to be seventy-two years of age, and died in 1885. Their family consisted of ten children, of whom Reuben N., the sixth in order of birth, was reared in Vigo county. He had the sparsest advantages of the schools, but has picked up the rudiments of an English education, and can transact his own business with accuracy. He has hewed out his own pathway in life since he was eight years old, and now rents a farm of 240 acres. He never goes in debt except for limited amounts, and has never asked anyone to go his security. Mr. Ster- ling was married in 1872 to Sarah J., daughter of Adam and Sarah J. (Drake) Kesler, and of German and English descent. Their children are May, Ada, Olive, Gertrude, Ralph, Matilda and Har- riet. In politics Mr. Sterling is a Republican. In 1862 he enlisted in the Fifty-fourth Ind. V. I., Company B, and was wounded and taken prisoner at West Point, but served his term out and re-enlisted in the One Hundred and Fifteenth Ind. V. I., serving six months. He then again re-enlisted, this time in the Eighteenth Indiana Battery, Capt. Beck's Light Artillery, and served until the close of the war. Returning home he engaged in coal mining for fifteen years, and then bought his present farm, and has since been engaged in farming and stock-growing.

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History of Vigo county, Indiana, with biographical selections, Part 98

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