USA > Indiana > Daviess County > Living leaders, an encyclopedia of biography : special edition for Daviess and Martin counties, Indiana > Part 27
USA > Indiana > Martin County > Living leaders, an encyclopedia of biography : special edition for Daviess and Martin counties, Indiana > Part 27
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and John Chenoweth entered into a part- nership and engaged in stave business. For two years they operated a stave fac- tory together, and then Mr. Kiger bought the interest of his partner and increased the capacity of the factory a hundred thous- and staves per month. The business flourished from the start and increased, but as years went by other factories sprung up in almost every section of the country, and by an aggregation of capital large factories were established and the results amounted almost to a trust. The business of smaller factories grew gradually less, and for the past year or so Mr. Kiger's factory has not been steadily operated. However, his suc- cess in the business has enabled him to become the possessor of a large and com- fortable home situated on a conspicuous eminence in West Shoals, Ind., where is also located his factory, which is one of the most complete and modern stave fac- tories in this section of country. He also owns other residence property in West Shoals and farm land in Martin County.
Mr. Kiger was born in Muncie. Ind., August 13, 1839. His father, William Kiger, was a mill man. He was born in Indiana, and died in 1884. He married Sarah Gibson, who died in 1870. William Kiger and wife had fourteen children, all of whom were at home at one time, and of the fourteen ten are now (1897) living. Valentine Kiger is the oldest but one of these children. He grew to manhood in Muncie, his native town, and in boyhood began learning the miller's trade. He completed it and followed the trade till the civil war came on. In July, 1861, Mr. Kiger enlisted in Company E, Nineteenth Indiana Volunteers. With his regiment he went to Washington, D. C., took the typhoid fever and lay sick for many weeks and was even carried out for dead. His recovery was very slow and it was believed he would never be fit for duty again, and was discharged. He returned home where he remained under the tender care of his home folks during the winter of 1861-2. Regaining health Mr. Kiger re-enlisted in service in the fall of 1862, in Company B, Sixty-ninth Indiana Volunteers, which reg- iment joined the Western Army and parti- cipated in the initial manoeuvres against Vicksburg, ineluding the bat- tles on the Yazoo River, the Ark-
ansas Post fight, the digging of the famous canal in front of Vicksburg, and all the noted engagements in the rear of Vicksburg, and even in its capture. About this time Mr. Kiger was taken sick and was soon after shipped to Jefferson Barracks, St. Louis. He was furloughed home, recovered and returned to his regi- ment, which was then abont to start on the Red River Expedition. On the regiment's return to Morganza Bend, Mr. Kiger again furloughed home, and on returning to the army he went to New Orleans and to the vicinity of Mobile, and on to Pensacola, Fla., and on his return to Mobile aiding in the building of fifty-four miles of corduroy road. The seige of Ft. Blakely followed and after its capture the command went to Selma, Ala., but after a brief sojourn returned to Mobile and then went to Galveston, Tex., and there retained for six months on quarantine duty. Mr. Kiger's time expired October 16, 1865, when he was honorably discharged.
His military services ended Mr. Kiger returned to his family at Muncie, Ind., and soon afterward engaged in saw milling.
Mr. Kiger married Margaret Driscoll, daughter of William and Emeline Driscoll of Muncie, Ind. This marriage occurred in December, 1860, and has resulted in the birth of the following children : Charles R., deceased ; Minnie May, wife of Grant Luzadder; Lucus L. and Luln A. (twins), the former is married to Kizzie Jenetta Hamilton ; and the youngest child's name is Warren D.
In politics Mr. Kiger is a Republican. He enjoys the respect of his fellow towns- men and is au honest and upright citizen.
WILLIAM T. CRANE, of Martin County, is a son of Wm. T. and Elizabeth B. (Flood) Crane. His father was a son of Richard H. Crane, born on Chesapeake Bay, Maryland, and emigrated to Indiana. Richard Crane was twice married. His wives were sisters, and their maiden name was Gardner. He became the father of fourteen children, of whom Wm. T., the father of our subject, was the third. He was born in Monroe County, Ind., February 10, 1828 and came to Martin County in 1849, entering land and remaining about one year. He then returned to Monroc County and married Elizabeth B. Flood, November 12, 1850. She was born in
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Shelby County, Ky., May 17, 1827. Her father, Henry Flood, was a Kentuckian, and a son of Joshua Flood, a Virginian. Elizabeth B. Flood's mother's maiden name was Mary Todd, a sister of Samuel Todd, the father of Mary Todd, who be- came the wife of the immortal Abraham Lincoln.
Soon after their marriage they settled in Martin County on the land Mr. Crane had previously entered, and there lived till they passed to their final rest. He died July 27, 1882 and her death occurred April 1, 1895. They had eleven children, viz : Re- becca, deceased; Mary E .; Hester, deceased; Richard H., deceased; Sarrh L .; Wm. T .; Nancy N .; Amanda, deceased; Alice A .; Margaret E., deceased, and Robert L.
Wm. T. Crane, the immediate subject of this sketch, was born in Martin County, Ind., Nov. 12, 1859. He married Nov. 18, 1883, Mary C., the daughter of Syrenus and Sarah N. (Porter) Walton. She was born in Martin County May 14, 1861. The above marriage has given issue to the following children : Syrenus L., born Jan. 15,1887; William W. born May 11, 1889; Robert S., born May 14. 1891; Richard E., born May 6, 1894 and died July 17, 1896.
Mr. and Mrs. Crane are members of the M. E. Church. He is an I. O. O. F. and a member of the Farmers Mutual Protec- tive Association.
THOMAS WALKER is a native of Ken- tucky and was born in Spencer County July 4, 1822, and came with his parents, Bennett and Nancy (Clarke) Walker, Martin County in 1827. He was married in Martin County in March, 1842, to Mar- tina, daughter of Thomas and Terissa (O'Brien) Queen. She bore him three children, viz: James E., Elizabeth and one that died in infancy, not named. This lady died in 1848, and in 1851 he married Mrs. Mary Halbert, widow of John Halbert, who bore him five children, viz: Susan, Wm- E., Thomas R., Harry and George A. In 1852 Mr. Walker was elected to the office of Treasurer of Martin County, and was re- elected in 1854, holding the office four years. He and family are members of the Catholic Church.
PATRICK B. LARKIN, of the firm Larkin Bros., dealers in general merchandise at Loogootee, Ind., was born in Martin Coun- ty November 14, 1860, and is a son of Pat-
trick and Mary E. (Montgomery) Larkin, who came to Loogootee in 1861. He re- ceived a good common school education, and completed his classical course at the Notra Dame University, and in 1882, in partnership with brother, engaged in their present business.
He was married at Loogootee April 29, 1885, to Annie C. Reynolds, who has borne him two children, viz : Bernard J. and Earnest.
He and family are members of the Catholic Church.
THOMAS N. GOOTEE is a native of Mar- tin County and was born March 22, 1835. His parents, Thomas and Nancy (Silvers) Gootee emigrated from Kentucky to Mar- tin County in 1818, he having came here the year previous and entered the land where the city of Loogootee now stands. He became quite wealthy and before he died owned over 600 acres of land, a part of which is now the sight of Loogootee. He subdivided and laid out the town and nam- ed it Loogootee. He was a man of more than ordinary intelligence and held many offices of trust during his life. Was coun- ty judge for a number of years and was a member of the Constitutional Convention that formed the present constitution of In- diana, and was elected to the legislature in 1852.
He was twice married and was the father of eleven children, of whom Thomas N., our subject was next to the youngest by the first marriage. He received a good com- mon school education, which he completed in the State University and afterward en- gaged in teaching school for a number of years.
In 1861 he enlisted in Company I, 24th Indiana Volunteer Infantry and at the ex- piration of nine months was promoted to second lieutenant in which capacity he serv- ed till December 1864, when he was dis- charged and returned home.
He was married in Martin County in 1864, to Sarah A., daughter of Joseph and Mary (Martin) Forden, who has born him five children, viz: Anna M .; Louis T .; Martha E .; Sarah C. and Elizabeth.
GEORGE V. ROUTT is one of the oldest native born citizens of Daviess county, his birth occurring April 11, 1822. His par- ents, William H. and Lucy (Furnece) Routt, settled in Daviess County in about
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the year 1808, where they afterward resided until death. They were the parents of ten children, viz: Byron F., Jephthah G., James, Louisiana, Wilhelmina, William J., Mary, George V. Winneford and Elizabeth.
Mr. Routt, of this review, was married in Martin County, September 30, 1847. to Martha J., daughter of Barney and Mar- garet (Raney) Reily, who bore him seven children, viz : Margaret L., William B., Jephthah, Emma, George A., Warren A. and Reily.
This lady died in 1872, and in 1873 he married Mrs. Azuba Graham, widow of J. D. Graham, who bore him three children: Lewis, Mary W. and Anna.
Mr. Routt enlisted in the service in Janu- ary, 1865, in Company B. 143d Ind. Vol. He is a member of the G. A. R., and he and wife are members of the Christian Church.
AARON HOUGHTON is one of the oldest living pioneers of Martin County. He is a native of Kentucky and was born in Mason County, March 9. 1807. His par- ents, William and Celia A. (Mckay) Houghton, were among the early pioneers of Kentucky, and settled in Daviess Coun- ty, Ind., in the year 1819. Our subject was next to the eldest of nine children and came with his parents to Daviess County when twelve years of age. In 1839 he went to New Orleans, La., where he married Catherine Robert- son, and in 1834 moved to Martin County and purchased and settled on the same farm on which he now lives, where he has resided ever since. His wife died in 1843, having borne him three children, viz: Victoria, Jeanette and Phoebe. In 1846 he married Catherine Agnew, who bore him six children, viz : Inis, H. Clay, Robert, Kittie, Doda and Eula. In 1840 Mr. Houghton was elected to the legislature and afterward served three terms in the Senate. He and wife are members of the Christian Church.
JOHN J. REINHART is a native of Ken- tucky, and was born in Washington Coun- ty, September 14, 1824. His parents, Caleb and Eunice (Farris) Reinhart, were natives of Pennsylvania and Kentucky, re- spectively, and settled in Martin County, Ind., in 1827. They were the parents of eight children, viz : Elhanan, Stephen, Amanda, Artamesa, William, Anna; a 7
daughter died in infancy not named, and John J., our subject, the eldest member of the family. He came with his par- ents to Martin County in 1827, and has resided here ever since with the ex- ception of about three years in Missouri.
On July 7, 1845, he married Minurva Davis, who was born in Martin County March 16, 1826, and was a daughter of Hiram and Rebecca (Lundy) Davis.
In about 1850 Mr. Reinhart settled on the farm, on which he now resides, and has made it his home ever since. Mr. Reinhart has been Justice of the Peace, Township Trustee and County Commis- sioner of Martin County. He is the father of two children, viz: Kissie and Augustus. He is a Mason.
ROBERT WILDMAN is a native of Ohio and was born in Columbiana County, Janu- ary 12, 1831. His parents, Jonas and Mary (Burton) Wildman, were natives of Virginia and Pennsylvania respectively and of Scotch-Irish and German extraction. They were married in Ohio and moved from thence to Martin County in 1840, where they afterwards resided until death. They were parents of thirteen children, viz: William, Maria, Elizabeth, Arms- ted, Valentine, Robert, Joseph, Jesse, Levi, Mary, Taylor, and two that died in infancy and not named.
Mr. Wildman, of this review, came with his parents to Martin County in 1840 and has resided here principally ever since, with the exception of about three years spent in California in mining. He married in Mar- tin County March 20, 1861, Miss Mary A., daughter of Nicholas and Hannah (O'Don- nell) Walten, who bore him three children, viz : Alice, Kisiah and William.
This wife died in May, 1867, and June, 1876, he married Amanda MeGonagle, who bore him one child, viz: Hugh R.
Mr. Wildman is among the early pion- eers of Martin County, and is highly es- teemed by all who know him.
JAMES E. SMITH, the popular pharmacist of Loogootee, Ind., was born in Daviess County, Ind., March 3, 1845. He came to Loogootee in 1872 and purchased a small drug and paint stock of James Me- Glaughlin, and has engaged in the busi- ness ever since. He now owns the best and most extensive stock of goods in his line in the eity, and also owns the building,
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a fine two-story brick structure in which he does business. He was married in Martin County April 7, 1868, to Mary A., daugh- ter of James and Catherine (Harper) Mosier, who bore him eleven children, viz : William S., Annie J., James W. Eugene S., Charles M., Frank E., Francis S., George D. E., James E., Mary A. and John H.
M. J. CARNAHAN, President of the firm of M. J. Carnahan & Co., of Loogootee, is a native of Indiana and was born at Wash- ington; Daviess County, February 10, 1844.
His parents, Robert and Eliza (Graham) Carnahan, were both natives of Kentucky and emigrated from thence to Daviess Connty at an early day.
He enlisted in the service in 1862, in Company C, 55th Indiana Volunteer In- fantry and at the expiration of his term of service with this company, re-enlisted in Company K, 117th Indiana Volunteer In- fantry and served nine months. He then came to Loogootee and engaged in the clothing business, and about two years later sold out that business and engaged in the general mercantile business for about three years, then begun the hardware busi- ness which he has engaged in ever since.
He was married at Louisville, Ky., in 1872, to Hattie Dunn, who died in 1885, and in 1889 he married Margaret Trippet, who has bore him two children, viz : Helen and Ramona.
JAMES B. LOVE, of the firm of T. K. Shirchiff & Co., dealers in furniture and undertaking, Loogootee, Ind., is a native of Martin County, and was born October 5, 1844. His parents, Harvey A. and Anna B. (Wood) Love, settled on land near Loogootee at an early day and after- wards resided there until death. They were the parents of six children, of whom James B. was the eldest. He was reared on a farm and engaged in that business un- til the breaking out of the war. In Feb- ruary, 1864, he enlisted in Company F, 65th Ind. Vol. Inf., and served until August 1866, at which time he was dis- charged and returned home. In August of 1866 he came to Loogootee and began the cabinet making trade under S. A. Wood, serving an apprenticeship of three years. He then did journey work until 1873, then leased the establishment in partnership with C. J. Berry, and subse-
quently purchased the stock and engaged in the business until 1892, at which time they sold out, but in 1894 Mr. Love pur- chased a third interest in the establishment again and has engaged in the same since.
He was married in Martin County, April 28, 1870, to Frances L. Killion. who has borne him four children, viz: Hattie M., Freddie, Etta and Ethel.
Mr. Love is a member of the Masonic Order, an Odd Fellow, a member of the K. of P. and G. A. R.
WINEPARK FIELDS, ex-Recorder of Martin County, and the leading general merchant of Cale, is widely known through- ont this county as a thoroughgoing and substantial citizen. He is a native of the Hoosier state, being born in Lawrence County, August 6, 1851. His father Jno. M. Fields, came to Martin County the same year and settled in Baker Township, three miles southeast of Owensburg. There Winepark was reared amid humble sur- roundings and educated in the primitive way. Upon taking np the battle of life for himself he adhered to the farm and con- tinued it uninterrupted and undisturbed till the year 1880 when he left it to take up the duties of a public officer of his coun- ty. He was elected the foregoing year to the office of County Recorder by a majority of 499 votes and when his first term had expired his administration of the office had been so efficient as to merit an endorse- ment hy his party, and it came in the form of a re-election in the fall of 1881.
Upon retiring from office Mr. Fields be- came associated with Noah Moser, of Loo- gootee, as a solicitor of pensions and for the next year and a half traveled through the west, soliciting claims from old soldiers in Missouri, Kansas and other states.
In October, 1891 Mr. Fields purchased from Roach & Sons, his present place of business and has since devoted himself as- siduously to building up a good business. He is a safe, conservative merchant, deals openly and squarely with his trade and is regarded very highly by his acquaintances.
April 24, 1884, Mr. Fields married Ad- dic, a daughter of Michael Shirey, of Shoals She died September 7, 1887, leaving a son, Frank Shirey Fields. February 1, 1893, Mr. Fields married Lina Cox, of Park County, Indiana. She died February 11, 1894, and on December 20, of the same
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year he married his present wife, nce Mary, a daughter of John W. May, of Bedford, Indiana. The only child of this union is Georgia May.
The father of Winepark Fields was born near Somerset, Ky., in 1820. His early opportunities were of the crudest sort. He married Elizabeth Moser, whose father John Moser, moved into Martin County from Tennessee with his widowed mother and settled at Sergeants Tanyard when he was nine years old. In after years he be- came a prominent merchant and farmer in the northeast corner of this county. He was Justice of the Peace for many years and to him belongs the distinction of hav- ing never had one of his decisions reversed by a higher court. He married Sarah Waggoner and died in 1868. Four of his twelve children are now living, viz: Noah Moser, of Loogootee; Miranda, wife of C. Williams, of Williams, Ind .; Jossie, wife of George Dye, of Green County, Ind .; and Mrs. Louisa Perkins of Effingham County, Il.
John M. Fields was the father of two children by his first marriage, Winepark and Mary J., wife of D. R. Donahue of this county. His second and last wife was nee, Telitha Harryman. The children of this union are : Ephriam S. and John C. at Owensburg, Ind .; Sarah C, deceased; and Rev. Theodore Fields, a minister of the Christian Church at Owensburg, Ind.
Our subject's grand-father was Stephen Fields. He was born in Virginia and came to Indiana in 1829 and settled in Lawrence County. He was fond of the frontier and indulged in many of the sports incident to those days, particularly that of bear hunting, with stories of which he de- lighted the ears of his grand-children in his old age. He was never sick, was a man of great industry, working up to within three days of his death, and died in September, 1862, at the age of ninety-one.
HON. R. SANFORD PATTERSON, one of Martin County's energetic and intelligent young men, was born in Daviess County, Ind., February 25, 1867. His parents, Ambrose and Hattie (Burch) Patterson, were natives of the same county, and had nine children, viz : Emma M., Anna, George W., R. Sanford, James C., Arlena, Hanorah, Phoebe A. and an infant, de- ceased.
Mr. Patterson, the subject of this per- sonal sketch, received a good common school education and then entered the Northern Indiana Normal College, at Valparaiso, where he graduated. In 1890 he began school teaching, which profession he has since followed with marked success. In March, 1896, he was elected Chairman of the Populist party's committee of the Sec- ond Congressional District. He became the candidate of his party for Representa- tive to the Legislature, and in November of 1896 was elected by a majority of 698 votes, the largest majority given to any man on the fusion ticket.
Fraternally he is a member of the order of Knights of Pythias, also ot the F. M. B. A., and holds a membership in the Roman Catholic Church.
Mr. Patterson has gained an enviable reputation as an educator; is a polished gentleman and a wide-awake politician.
SAMUEL J. ELLIS, the efficient and pro- gressive Trustee of Center Township, is one of the industrious and frugal young men of Martin County. He had not the advantages of a liberal education in his youth, the lack of which he has felt fre- quently as he has journeyed through life. Notwithstanding this fact he has succeeded far in excess of many who have begun life well equipped and under the most favorable circumstances. At the age of sixteen he began to trade and traffic, and by the time he had reached his majority he had learned the art of taking care of himself in any transaction he might be approached on.
In 1888 he left his old neighborhood near Dover Hill and in partnership with Law- rence Fields bought 304 acres of land about three miles southeast of Shoals. This farm has been greatly improved since it came into their possession and is one of the most productive and profitable on White River.
Mr. Ellis is a son of Isaac Ellis, who came from Columbiana County, O., to Mar- tin County, Ind., and settled near Dover Hill some time in the thirties. He was accom- panied by his father Gainor Ellis, who was one of the first Justiees of the Peace of Center Township. He entered land from the Government and of course was a pioneer.
Isaac Ellis married Abigail Barker for his second wife. She died 1879-three
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years after her husband. Her children were : Samuel J , John and Enos. There is a ha'f sister older than these, Mrs. Sid- ney A. Utterback, of West Shoals.
Samuel J. Ellis was born September 7, 1852. He is an active Republican and was elected to his office in November, 1894, by a good plurality. He discharges the duties ineumbent on him in such a manner as to gain universal praise. He is progres- sive and makes a good official. The school house in District No. 6 was planned and erected by him and is prononneed the most convenient country building in the county.
ISAAC T. CAROTHERS, Trustee of Mitch- eltree Township, Martin County, and a prominent young farmer of that township, has mingled among the citizens of this county as a business man only for the past four or five years. His birth occurred March 3, 1866, in Monroe County, Ind. He was brought into Martin County when young. He seeured his education from the district sehools, and left home at the age of 18 to enter the employ of the Adams Ex- press Co. at Cincinnati, O., as a messenger on the B. & O. S. W. R'y. He served that- company faithfully for seven years, and when he retired from the road, in 1892, it was to engage in farming in the vicinity of Trinity Springs. Being an ardent Republi- can and a strong partisan he was drawn early into polities and has made the ac- quaintance of and become prominent with many of the wheel horses of Martin county polities. He was a candidate for the nomination for County Auditor in 1896, but was not successful. He secured the nomination for Trustee and was elected in November, 1894, by a majority of 88 votes. He has been conducting the office for more than a year, and has shown that he has a thorough understanding as to the needs of his township. He has built one school house in district No. 4, and has placed State maps, temperance charts and globes into his eleven schools, a thing which alone will redound to his eredit for the next ten years.
Mr. Carothers was married in Bartholo- mew County, Ind., September 8, 1892, to Anna B., daughter of Theoph. Smith, M.D., of Columbus. Josie E. is the only child of this union.
Mr. Carothers is a son of the Rev. Isaac T. Carothers, one of the leading citizens
of Martin County. He was born in Jaek- son County, Ind., was graduated from the State University, and entered the ministry in the Missionary Baptist Church early in life. He enlisted in the service in the Mexiean war, and also served in the eivil war in Company G, 50th Regiment In- diana Volunteer Infantry, and was com- missioned captain.
Rev. Carothers married Elizabeth East. The children of this union are: Mary E., wife of Melvin Dillman, of Martin County ; Francis J, wife of Edward Smith, of Bloomington, Ind., G. W., of Blooming- ton ; Annie, wife of Alonzo Marley, of Mar- tin County, Ind., Isaac T., O. M., of Bloomington, Ind., and John C., of this county.
Rev. Carothers has passed his life in Southern Indiana, and was for some years stationed at Bloomington and at Bedford, and is now pastor of Boggs Creek and Huron Churches. He has been a most faithtul worker in the cause he represents and much good has resulted to the world from his efforts in many directions. His life has been one constant example of purity and morality and his presence a con- stant menace to the sin of the world.
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