USA > Indiana > Warrick County > Warrick and its prominent people : a history of Warrick County, Indiana from the time of its organization and settlement, with biographical sketches of some of its prominent people of the past and present > Part 11
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Mrs. M. J. Husk
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I. E. Youngblood ..
he has introduced many valuable new ideas and rules into the system of school government. He was re-elected to the office of county superintendent upon the expiration of his term in 1879.
In July, 1879, he purchased the Boonville Standard, but on account of his duties as county superintendent preventing him from giving the paper his attention, W. W. Admire was made its editor, until it became necessary for Mr. Youngblood to assume full control in June, 1880. The Standard is the only Republi- can paper in the county, and Mr. Youngblood succeeded in placing it on a sound financial basis while under his manage- ment. In July, 1881, he sold the paper to R. M. Graham.
Mr Youngblood is not yet in the prime of life, and being a man of extraordinary stability of character, tenacity of will and perseverance, promises a future of usefulness.
MRS. M. J. HUSK.
While in the lives of women we do not find the achievements of the soldier or statesman, still we do find many representatives of that sex whose lives have been devoted to the amelioration of those around them, and whose attainments in life are equally as commendable and deserving of chronicling.
Mrs. Mary Jane Husk nee Kallams, the subject of this brief sketch, was born January 20th, 1836, near Harrodsburgh, in Mercer county, Kentucky. Her parents died when she was an infant, and she was adopted and reared by the family of James Curry, a gentleman in affluent circumstances, of Harrodsburgh, Kentucky. The orphan and her adopted relatives became greatly attached to each other, and she was treated very kindly. At fifteen years of age she entered the female academy at Har- rodsburgh, which she attended for some time.
She was united in marriage to George K. Husk, in Hancock
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county, Kentucky, September 12th, 1849, and in 1852 they removed to Skelton township, Warrick county, where Mr. Husk engaged in farming. At the breaking out of the late war Mr. Husk enlisted in the army and the management of the farm came into the hands of his wife. She managed it with great care and economy, which demonstrated her extraordinary executive ability. On her husband's return from the army, he found his farm bearing every evidence of thrift. In 1875 they remov- ed to Boonville and opened the Prince Albert hotel, of which Mrs. Husk is still proprietress. April Ist, 1880, her hus- band died, after an illness of only fifteen days. Mrs. Husk is a devout christian and charitable lady. The hungry never appeal to her in vain. She has a warm heart and her charitable deeds are a noteworthy characteristic. As an instance, we would mention her having reared two orphans, giving them a comfort- able home and every advantage for improvement. She is ben- evolent to a worthy cause. It is to her frugality that Mrs. Husk mostly attributes her success. She is a very intelligent and refined lady, whose life has been one of extraordinary use- fulness in her sphere.
JOHN A. REYNOLDS.
John A. Reynolds is known " far and wide " by his bold and original ideas upon theology. Once a pupil of the Sunday school and a member of the church, to-day he declares himself an atheist. Although a farmer by occupation-a successful one, too-he has devoted his life to the study and investigation of theological and kindred subjects. He is always willing to give his reasons for his singular convictions to those soliciting them, and in defense of the position which he has assumed he offers to discuss the question with any one, at any time and place.
John A. Reynolds was born at Thompson, Geauga county,
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John A. Reynolds.
Ohio, July 9th, 1819. He was left an orphan and at four years of age he was bound to Enoch Scott, a farmer, but he purchased his freedom when nineteen years old for $50. His career has been a remarkable one. In 1840 he settled in Warrick county. October 9th, 1842, he was married to Percilla Houghland, of this county.
He has been an assiduous student of theology from boyhood, and has read nearly every work worthy perusal pertaining to the subject. While his bold atheistic declarations astonish his neighbors, all respect him, and he is regarded as an upright citi- zen, a kind husband and father. He affirms that he is the strongest atheist in the world. The singular views he holds upon some questions he expresses in the following words:
" I believe that this earth is a part of the central sun; I believe that Nature, the natural forces or causes, such as air, water, etc., produce all animal and vegetable life upon earth ; I believe the doctrine of a Supreme Being is a fallacy ; I believe that Nature never steps out of her routine, and that she don't know the cry of an infant from the howl of the hyena." He is a zealous advocate of the unlimited freedom of speech. He is now sixty-two years old, hale and hearty, but he has retired from the active work of life, and is awaiting, to use his own words, the " end of his existence." He has written his own epi- taph, which tells the story of this strange man's life in the fol- lowing words :
"Death is an eternal sleep. Here moulders in the dusk abode One whom to faith no homage showed. By moral law, his life he tried, While social duty was his guide, And pure philanthropy the end of all he did, Or could intend
"Prayer he pronounced impiety -- Vain prompter of divine decree, That oft implores with erring zeal For boon subversive of its weal."
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Warrick and its Prominent People.
JAMES W. CABBAGE.
James Willis Cabbage was born September 12th, 1830, in Rus- sel county, Kentucky. His parents are John and Nancy Cab- bage. The father of John Cabbage died when he was quite young, leaving the family in poor circumstances, and it became his duty to help support his widowed mother ; hence, he was ostracized from all educational advantages, and it was not until the subject became old enough to teach him that he learned to read and write. He came to Warrick county in 1832, settling in Hart township, where he remained until his removal to Ala- bama many years ago. He was a farmer, and was a man of unquestioned integrity, strong common sense and unflagging in- dustry.
James W. is the eldest of nine children. His father felt the need of an education, and was determined that his children should have the full benefit of such advantages as were afforded in this part of the country at that time, which were, of course, very limited. James was, accordingly, sent to such " subscrip- tion schools" as were taught in the neighborhood, where he learned reading, writing, orthography and arithmetic-the only branches taught by the " Hoosier schoolmaster" of that time. In his twentieth year, he was granted license and commenced teaching school in Hart township. He taught seven successive years. During 1855 he attended Delaney Academy, at New- burgh.
August 30th, 1856, he was married to Tillitha Lowe, whose father, Captain Simon P. Lowe, was a man of prominence in county affairs for several years. He held the office of county
James W. Cabbage.
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James W. Cabbage.
treasurer and county commissioner, and was representative in the State Legislature for a number of years. The result of this union has been nine children-six boys and three girls-all of whom are living, except one. After his marriage, Mr. Cab- bage engaged in farming, where he now lives, which he pursued successfully, without intermission, until called upon by his fel- low citizens to represent them in the State Legislature.
He has always taken an active interest in all great political issues, and although an adherent of party, he entertains, and does not fear to express, ideas of the most liberal and conservative character. He is a friend, but not a slave to party. During the late war he advocated the cause of the Union, " Because," he says, " I believe that equal rights and freedom of all mankind is a divine law, and the government our forefathers gave us we must protect."
Mr. Cabbage is, and always has been, a Democrat. He cast his first vote for Franklin Pierce, and there has not been a Dem- ocratic convention, or an election in Warrick county since he at- tained his majority, that he has not attended. In 1878 his name was placed before the Democratic primary election for repre- sentative of Warrick county, but he was defeated. In 1880 he was nominated for the same office and elected. His career in the Legislature is known to the people throughout the State. He went there with the hope and intention of doing good. How far he succeeded, his constituents may judge. He originated and secured the passage of one bill alone, which will be a last- ing benefit to the State, i. e .: the law for the protection of timber. Governor Hendricks said of it: " It is one of the most sensible, practicable and timely measures that has been brought before the Legislature." Mr. Cabbage is a plain man-a man of the people-knowing by experience their wants and these he gave
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his attention, so far as possible, during the crowded session of 1881. While he does not claim to be infallible, there is nothing in his official record that he is ashamed of.
The predominant trait in Mr. Cabbage's character is his hon- esty ; and
"An honest man is the noblest work of God."
COMMODORE KELLEY.
Among the younger successful business men whose lives have been beset by disadvantages, Commodore Kelley, present trus- tee of Owen township, merits attention. He was born March 3Ist, 1844, in Skelton township. He is the fifth son and eighth child of Isham and Eliza Kelley. His father was born in Anderson county, Kentucky, in 1810, and he came to Warrick county with his uncle in 1820. He has lived in Skelton and Owen townships since and has reared a large family. As one of the industrious pioneers to whose labors the present state of development of these townships is due, Mr. Kelley is entitled to remembrance.
Commodore worked on his father's farm until eighteen years old. His educational advantages were the very poorest, being limited to a few weeks in all of irregular attendance at the very inferior schools of that time in Skelton township. He received instruction in reading, writing and arithmetic, and the rest of his education has been obtained by close self-application and observation. At the breaking out of the late war his patri- otism was aroused and he determined to risk his life in defense of the union, although he had not reached his eighteenth year- the age required by the regiment being organized at that time. However, he was not to be debarred the privilege of enlisting because he lacked a few weeks of being old enough, and sohe represented to the officers that he was eighteen years of age. He
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Commodore Kelley.
enlisted in company E, of the sixty-fifth Indiana regiment on August 11th, 1861. He was detailed as a teamster and was promoted to wagon-master of the regiment while in North Caro- lina in 1863. He held this position until the close of the war. In 1862 he was seriously injured while riding a spirited horse, from the effects of which he has never fully recovered. He was in nearly all the engagements of his regiment. In July, 1864, he was mustered out of the service. He then worked on his father's farm two years, after which he engaged in farming for himself in Skelton township. December 9th, 1867, he was mar- ried to Mary E. Skelton, whose parents were among the earliest settlers of the county. They have three children-two girls and one boy. In 1873, Mr. Kelley moved to Folsomville. In 1879, in partnership with Marion Folsom, he opened a grocery, dry goods, drug and general merchandise establishment. He is also proprietor of the hotel, livery stable and steam thresher at that place, and is an extensive dealer in cattle. He is a Democrat, and is a leader of his party in Owen township. In 1880, he was elected trustee of Owen township. By energy, enterprise and strict integrity he has attained the position among his fellow-citi- zens of a leading business man, and by his always courteous dis- position, has won an enviable popularity.
WILLIAM H. BONE.
William H. Bone was born May 24, 1837, in Warrick county. His parents were John and Arty M. Bone. His father was a native of Kentucky, but he came to Warrick county at an early day. The school advantages of the subject were limited and very poor. He was left an orphan when only eleven years old, and he has had to work his way up in life. The only schooling he received was nine months' attendance at a school taught by
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Warrick and its Prominent People.
James W. Cabbage, the present representative of Warrick county. What other knowledge he has acquired has been with- out the aid of a teacher. When seventeen years of age he ob- tained employment as a clerk in the dry goods store of Abraham Chambers, at Lynnville, where he remained some time. He taught three terms of school in Pike county and two in Warrick county. In 1860, he was elected constable of Owen township. October 30th, 1859, he was married to Abthia F. Burris, and the result of this union was eight children. In 1861, he removed to Crowville, Warrick county, where he was employed in the dry- goods and tobacco establishment of Bethell & Floyd until 1862, when he moved to Boonville. He remained there until 1864, in the capacity of clerk in the grocery store of J. W. Thompson. February 8th, 1875, he enlisted in company D, 143rd regiment of Indiana volunteers, and remained in the service until August, 1865, when they were mustered out. He then lived at Crow- ville four years. In 1869, he removed to Folsomville and took charge of the tobacco establishment of Hudspeth & Shryock. He remained in their employ until 1873, when, in partnership with W. H. Pancake, he purchased the establishment. However, he sold his interest the year following to Benjamin Folsom, who was the founder of Folsomville, and engaged in farming the next two years. In 1877, he made a " purchase of tobacco " in Camp- bell township, for Jacob Seitz, Esq., and, in 1878, he made an- other "tobacco purchase" under the firm name of W. H. Bone & Co., at Winslow, Pike county. In 1879 he returned to Fol- somville and engaged in the dry goods and grocery business. He again purchased the large tobacco factory at that place, and is now engaged solely in buying and shipping tobacco. Mr. Bone is a " self-made man," and he is one of the foremost citi- zens of Owen township.
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John B. Cockrum.
JOHN B. COCKRUM.
John Barrett Cockrum was born September 12th, 1857, at Oak- land, Gibson county, Indiana. His grandfather, Col. J. W. Cockrum, was a Colonel of the Indiana State Militia during the Mexican war. He settled in Gibson county at a time when the country was a wilderness, and was the founder of the town of Oakland. The father of the subject, Col. William M. Cock- rum, was reared in the vicinity, where he still lives, and was for a time an extensive speculator in tobacco in Gibson county. When the late war broke out he organized company F, of the 42d Indiana regiment, and was chosen first lieutenant, while his uncle, Captain Barrett, was made captain. However, Bar- rett resigned, and Mr. Cockrum was chosen captain to fill the vacancy. He was seriously wounded at the battle of Chicka- mauga, and for seventeen days laid on the battle-field, receiving attention from no one except the Confederate surgeons. He was then taken to Libby prison where he lay seven months. Upon his recovery he was made commander of the post military prison at Nashville, which position he held one year. He was also one of the party that had charge of the notorious Captain Wirz, of Andersonville fame, and conducted him from Nashville to Washington, D. C. In 1864, he was promoted to Lieutenant- Colonel of the 42d Indiana regiment, which position he held until the close of the war. He then returned to his home, at Oakland, Indiana, where he still lives.
Up to his seventeenth year, John B. Cockrum, the immediate subject of this sketch, attended the Oakland Normal Institute, where he graduated. The three subsequent years he taught
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Warrick and its Prominent People. .
school during the winter, and in the summer read law, with Hon. J. E. Mccullough, of Princeton. In 1878, he entered the Cin- cinnati Law school, and graduted with the degree of Bachelor of Laws, on May 14, 1879. He was married January 22, 1880, to Fannie C. Bittrolf daughter of George A. Bittrolf, Esq., of Evansville. In August, 1879, he located in Boonville, and en- tered into a partnership with Charles W. Armstrong in the prac- tice of law. He conducts a case with tact, and is an advocate of ability. He has been successful in the short time that he has been practicing, and is one of the most promising young members of the Warrick county bar.
WILLIAM H. McVEY, M. D
William Henry McVey, a well-known medical practitioner at Selvin, and the subject of this sketch, was born June 22, 1842, in Grass township, Spencer county, Indiana. His parents were Samuel and Permelia McVey, both of whom were natives of Virginia. They came to Spencer county in about 1832, where they spent the remainder of their lives. The father of the sub- ject was a farmer, and commenced life in poor circumstances, but through successful management and hard work had accumu- lated sufficient to live in ease at the time of his death, which oc- curred when William was only a small boy.
The opportunities of William for obtaining an education were limited to the common country schools of Spencer county, which, however, he had the full benefit of. When eighteen years old he commenced teaching school in Spencer county. He pursued school-teaching in winter, and during the summer studied med- icine. Dr. Perragrine, of Centerville, Spencer county, was his preceptor.
In 1864, he entered the Eclectic Medical College, of Cincin- nati, and graduated in 1868.
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William H. Mc Vey, M. D.
He subsequently located at Crowville, Warrick county, where he held a wide and successful practice for seven years. In 1875 he moved to Taylorsville, (now Selvin), where he has since re- mained, enjoying an enviable professional patronage.
July 6th, 1865, Dr. McVey was married to Martha Thomp- son, who is a native of Kentucky, but at that time was a resi- dent of Warrick county.
Doctor McVey is a Democrat, and is an influential member of of his party in his section of the county. In 1878 he was a candidate for the nomination for representative of Warrick county, but was defeated. He was elected trustee of Pigeon township in 1880.
In the practice of his profession Doctor McVey, as already stated, has been very successful, and, although interested in the mercantile business, he has earned his all in this way. As a physician and citizen he stands high among his fellowmen, and his social qualities are such that have won him a large circle of friends.
WILLIAM S. WHITTINGHILL.
William Stuart Whittinghill was born June 16th, 1852, in Pigeon township, Warrick county. His grandfather settled in Lane township as early as 1815, where his father, Pleasant N., was born. He is of German-Scotch descent. The subject worked on his father's farm until he was eighteen years old. The rudiments of his education were obtained in the common country schools of Warrick and Spencer counties. In 1871, he attended the Boonville Graded School, and afterward spent a term of twelve weeks in the Normal Institute, at Oakland, Indiana. He also attended school at Gentryville, Spencer county, ten months, and in September, 1872, entered the sophomore class
13
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Warrick and its Prominent People.
in the State University, at Bloomington, Indiana. He graduated in 1875, receiving the degree of Bachelor of Science. In 1876 he was chosen principal of the high school at Huntingburgh, Indiana. While at college he had studied the German language about five months, and after his removal to Huntingburgh, where nearly the entire population is German, he became so far familiar with the language, through his associations, that he was enabled to teach it with success and now speaks it very fluently.
While yet a student he had singled out the profession of law as his chosen pursuit, and began the study of it while attending college. He was admitted to the bar, in Spencer county, in 1877, and commenced the practice of law at Huntingburgh dur- ing the same year, being favored with a liberal patronage until his removal to Selvin, (formerly Taylorsville), Warrick county, in 1879, where he has since resided. In 1880, he was nomin- ated by the Republican party for representative of Warrick county, but was defeated by a majority of 151, the regular Dem- ocratic majority in the county having been from 350 to 400 prior to that time. Mr. Whittinghill is a gentleman of refinement and culture, and possesses ability of an extraordinary character. He presents a very handsome physique, and socially is a person whom it affords one pleasure to meet. He is now in his thirtieth year, and gives promise of becoming a leading member of his chosen profession.
BRIEF BIOGRAPHIES.
B ATES, BELA N., an old citizen of Boonville, was born in Hampshire county, Massachusetts, April 13, 1815. At an early age he learned shoemaking, but during the "hard times" about 1837 he shipped on board a whaling vessel for South Ameri- ca. On account of severe treatment from the commanding officer he left the ship at Brazil, where he remained about four months. He saw Dom Pedro when a boy and others of the royal family a number of times. In 1841 he came to Boonville and engaged in shoemaking. He did a successful trade for several years and retired. He was married to Jane Perigo, on March 12th, 1843 and they had three children, only one of whom, Mrs. G. H. Spen- cer, of Joplin, Mo., is now living.
C. AMPBELL, JAMES W., was born three miles north of Boonville, September 29th, 1852. His mother is a sister of Hon. Benoni S. Fuller. He taught two terms of school, but in 1879 gave up his school and accepted a position as clerk in the store of J. M. Hudspeth & Co. In 1880 he was nominated by the Democratic party for Sheriff of Warrick county and was elected by a major- ity of one hundred and sixty-eight votes over the three candi- dates-Jacob Seitz, Republican; W. A. Williams, Independent, and Isaac Boyer, National. This was an auspicious victory. Mr. Campbell is well-known throughout the county and is a popular and promising young man.
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Warrick and its Prominent People.
C OOK, FREDERICK, trustee of Greer township, was born May 18th, 1847, in Cambridgeshire, England. His parents, Jos- eph and Mary Cook, emigrated to America in 1851 and came direct to Warrick county, where the father engaged in farming. Frederick received his education in the common schools of this county. February 18th, 1862, when only fourteen years old, he enlisted in company C, sixty-third Indiana regiment of volun- teers and carried a musket and participated in all battles of his regiment the same as other soldiers. He never missed an hour of active duty on account of sickness or for other causes, excepting an eight day furlough. He was in the battles at Bull Run, Ra- sacca, Franklin, Nashville, Altoona Hills, Fort Anderson, and ten others of minor importance. He was mustered out of the service in May, 1865. Mr. Cook has been married twice-the first time on December 2, 1867, to Elizabeth Butcher, of War- rick, who died November 29, 1876, from drinking water pois- oned by Edward Leyer, the horrible particulars of which are still fresh in the minds of Warrick county people. April II, 1878, Mr. Cook was married to Mary A. Irons. His family consists of five children, four by his first and one by his second wife. Mr. Cook has twice been elected constable of Greer town ship. In 1880 he was elected trustee on the Republican ticket, which is an unprecedented occurrence in the political history of the township. He is a very courteous gentleman, and possesses an enviable reputation for strict integrity and he is one of the foremost citizens of Greer township.
AVIS, WILLIAM ROBINSON, was born September 9th, 1827, in Mercer county, Kentucky. His father, Rev. Thomas S. Davis, was a travelling preacher. His mother, whose maiden name was Robinson, died when he was four years old. He lived with his grandfather until eight years of age, when, his
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Brief Biographies.
father having married again, he returned to the "paternal roof." His father came to Warrick county in 1839 and settled where the subject now lives, which was at that time a dense forest. Al- though his opportunities were the very poorest, he possesses a practical education. The "rule o' three" is associated with his remembrance of schools in his boyhood as a very important branch-in the opinion of the old-time Hoosier school-master. To obtain money with which to purchase his books, pens, paper, etc., he would kill coons and sell their skins. Mr. Davis has always been a farmer and he is one of the most successful in the county. January 1, 1852, he was married to Mary Perigo, an exemplary wife and a pleasant, hospitable lady. She is a half-sister to Ezekiel Perigo, Esq. The fruits of this union has been but one child : a daughter now dead. However, they have raised several orphan children. Mr. Davis has been a Republican since the organization of the party and, although he takes an interest in politics, he never sought office. He is a leading farmer and has been a liberal supporter, according to his means, of every important enterprise in the county for the last twenty- five years.
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