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 9
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GEORGE L. MASTERS.
Among those of the present day who, by their own efforts, have attained the position in our county of active and promi- nent business men none are more worthy of mention than George Lafayette Masters, whose career, in many respects, is interesting and remarkable. He was born on a farm in the " flats" of Cy- press creek, in Warrick county, on August 25th, 1845. His father, Joseph Masters, was a quiet, unassuming man, and a farmer by occupation. His mother's maiden name was Eliza- beth Hudspeth, and her parents were among the first settlers of Warrick county.
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The boyhood days of George Masters were spent on his father's farm, and, as a farmer's boy, he was accustomed to the hard work by which farm life is usually attended. Even in those days of limited educational advantages his opportunities for ob- taining an education were poorer than those of most boys, and when in the very prime of his boyhood, and when others of his age were in the school-room, he sacrificed his only chance for obtaining an education and responded to the call of his country for soldiers to put down the rebellion.
On September 20th, 1861, when only sixteen years of age, he enlisted in the Forty-Second Indiana Regiment, Company K, which was commanded by his brother, Captain James H. Mas- ters. In the engagement with Bragg's army at Perryville, Ken- tucky, on the 8th of October, 1862, he was wounded through the abdomen, and was consequently confined to the hospital sev- eral weeks. While yet unable for duty he was placed in the head- quarters of the medical department at New Albany, Indiana, as chief clerk, which position he filled satisfactorily until he had recovered sufficiently to return to the ranks of his company.
In August, 1863, he returned to duty in his regiment. In the battle of Rasacca, Georgia, on the 14th of May, 1864, he was wounded in the shoulder and also through the lower lobe of the right lung by a one and a quarter ounce ball, while making a charge on the enemy. When picked up by his comrades they supposed he was dead. For a long time he laid in the field hospital, and his death was regarded by his friends as inevitable. Finally he was taken to Nashville, and placed in the hospital at that place, where he remained for several weeks. As soon as able to travel he was furloughed, and returned home. He par- ticipated in the battles of Perryville, Ky., Lookout Mountain, Chicamauga and Mission Ridge, besides numerous little skir mishes. He held an appointment as postmaster of his regiment
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George L. Masters.
at the time he was wounded, but he would never take advantage of it to shirk duty. In May, 1865, he was honorably dis- charged.
In 1866, in partnership with his brother, Thomas N. Masters, he purchased the stock of clothing, boots, shoes, etc., owned by Nicholas C. Allen, and, having no capital whatever, but a repu- tation for honesty and good credit, gave promissory notes to the amount of $1,800 for payment for the goods. July 4th Thomas Masters died, leaving George with the entire business to control, and a debt of $1,200 to pay off. To the inexperi- enced young business man, upon whose shoulders a burden was now resting to which most men would have succumbed, this was doubtless the gloomiest period of his life; but his cares he kept safely buttoned within his own vest, and even his most intimate friends never suspected the fears which " hovered like a blight over his spirit," and caused him many sleepless nights Although without experience in business, and compelled to strive against established competitors, he succeded by shrewd management in making all payments on the promissory notes which he and his brother had given, and paid all outstanding debts.
In the fall of 1866 Jasper Hargrave, then a resident of Evans- ville, visited Boonville, and calling on Mr. Masters, after pass- ing the customary remarks of the day, commenced negotiations for the purchase of an interest in his store. Within ten minutes afterwards the doors of the store were closed and the two were invoicing the stock. A partnership was summarily consummated, which continued until January, 1868, when their store was des- troyed by fire. The remnants of the stock were sold to Huds- peth Brothers, with whom Masters accepted a position as clerk, which he held about three months. He then opened a store on the east side of the public square in Boonville, which was known as the "Red Front," his stock consisting of boots and
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shoes only. Jasper Hargrave, his former partner, again ap- proached him one day, stating that he had purchased the build- ing adjoining the St. Charles hotel, and proposed a partnership in the clothing, boot and shoe business, to which Mr. Masters assented. In a short time the two were in their new quarters and again doing a prosperous trade. This partnership continued until about 1870, when Hargrave retired, and Masters shortly afterward sold the stock of goods to E. W. Bethell and Thomas J. Downs. During the following summer he engaged in farm- ing, but in the fall returned to town and bought Bethell's inter- est in the clothing store, when the firm became Downs & Mas- ters. This partnership continued until 1871, when Downs retired and the business was for a short time conducted under the firm name of G. L. Masters & Co. In 1872 Colman Miller purchased an interest in the store and the firm became Masters, Miller & Co., which was dissolved in the latter part of 1874, G. L. Masters becoming the sole proprietor of the establishment.
In 1867 he held the position of deputy treasurer of Warrick county under his brother, Capt. James H. Masters.
April 25th, 1867, he was married to Irene A. Williams. The fruits of this marriage has been four children-two boys and two girls.
In February, 1878, he received the appointment as postmas- ter of Boonville without seeking the position or having thought of the matter. At the time he took charge of the office it was in a bad state, but under his management it has improved, until to-day no postoffice of like proportions stands higher at the Postoffice Department in Washington. The mail handled and revenue receipts have increased to an amount somewhat remark- able for an interior town, and the system with which the office works is highly satisfactory to our citizens generally.
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George L. Masters.
Mr. Masters never took an active part in politics until the compaign of 1880, when he demonstrated considerable sagacity and influence as a party leader. Politically he is a Republican, and is recognized in his party ranks as an indispensable factor.
REV J. W. YOUNGBLOOD.
Rev. J. W. Youngblood was a South Carolinian by birth, having been born in the Abbeville District, in 1796, and is now in his seventy-seventh year. His parents were Samuel and Jane Young- blood. The father was an old Revolutionary soldier, and suf- fered much in that war, often being robbed and plundered by the Tories. There were ten children in the family-seven sons and three daughters-most of them living to be grown, our sub- ject being the eighth one of the family. The mother died when he was about twelve years old, and his father then broke up housekeeping, leaving his children without the kindly influences of a living mother. They had no education, for their father was poor and in a slave country, where the common class had little opportunity to better their condition. Understanding these dis- advantages, and hearing of the new territories opened up to emigration, the father concluded to bring our subject and his youngest brother to Tennessee to live among some acquaint- ances and some kinsfolk. They left South Carolina with only one horse for the three, came through the State of Georgia, where they stopped a short time to recruit, they then turned through the Cherokee country, and had an opportunity of seeing a great number of these Indians every day. They were gener- ally friendly when they were not drinking, but when intoxi- cated could not be trusted. Rev. Youngblood calls up often to his friends many incidents that happened as the party passed through this nation. His father was quite a hunter, and had got
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a large bell to put on their horse, so that when camping out they would take a couple of hickory withes and plait them together and make what was called hopples, and fasten the bell upon the horse for the night. Game was plenty in the nation, and the father had brought his rifle with him, and would often give his sons the large bell to rattle along the road, while he would look for a deer through the brush. One day as they were rattling the bell along the road, the father stayed out hunt- ing for so long a time that the boys became uneasy lest some- thing had befallen him, and they concluded to turn back. Being alarmed, they continued to ring the bell, and commenced shouting at the top of their voices. The noise soon gathered a large crowd of Indians, and one of them spoke to the boys very roughly, and wanted to know what they meant by so much fuss. They were quieted, however, as soon as the lads were able to explain their situation.
Their journey proceeded, and they entered the State of Ten- nessee some time in August, 1811, where they remained about one year, and then came to Kentucky, staying there also about a year.
At this time the subject of our sketch came to Indiana Ter- ritory, this part of the country at that time being very thinly settled, but the people were very friendly, and dependent much on each other, the rules of good neighbors being observed very generally.
The face of the country resembled, however, a wilderness: the Indian moccasin tracks had hardly disappeared. The game, such as bear, deer, elk, wolves and panthers, were in great abundance, and their meat served largely to feed the people.
About the fall of 1813, our subject came to this section, and was married September 2 1st, 1815, to Ann Musgrave, the cere- mony being probably one of the earliest performed in our im- mediate vicinity.
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Rev. J. W. Youngblood.
Eleven children were born to them, one daughter only dying in infancy, the rest growing up to be heads of families, and all but three are still living.
It may be interesting to the reader to know how the people managed to live in this country at that early day. Of course they were comparatively poor and moneyless. They did not live so fast nor so extravagant as they do at the present time.
There were no mills and every man made his own mill and ground his own meal, and baked his own bread, sometimes in the ashes, and sometimes on a board before the fire, and again in what we called a " dutch oven." And no complaints against fortune went up from their rude tents.
For clothing, they exchanged their merchandise, transported by pack horses to the Cotton States, where they purchased the cotton, brought it back with them, and the women would card, spin and weave it by hand. One of these home-made garments would outwear three of the factory work.
The men in cold weather dressed in skins of deer and other animals, which they were first compelled to kill.
Buckskin pants were considered elegant The first time our subject ever saw Governor Ratliff Boon he remembers that he was dressed in his buckskin hunting apparel.
There was no church or school-house throughout the entire region. The people were rough, and the only way they heard the gospel in their smoky cabins was when some minister who was pioneering in the western wilds would come into their settle- ment and assemble a congregation.
And God often wonderfully blessed the labors of those faith ful men. They had much to contend with, for the new coun- try was sorely infested with horse thieves, counterfeiters and housebreakers.
Many amusing incidents can be related by our subject in 11
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regard to the rough pioneer life of these early days ; and no one can listen to him without feeling a profound reverence for this reverend gentleman himself, who, after a life of noble deeds, calmly awaits the call of his Master.
No one is more eloquent and sanguine than he in regard to the progress of our country, the clearing of a wilderness and the cultivation of the soil ; the building of churches ; the establishing Sabbath-schools for the benefit of the young. The rise and pro- gress in the arts and sciences, even during the last half century ; from all the inconveniences of the early days, he has lived to see railroads, steamboats and the electric telegraph.
The life of this worthy gentleman is so intimately connected with the hardships of a by-gone generation, that a description, as given, was necessary, in order that the reader could properly appreciate trials. After his father had settled his boys in Ten- nessee, he left them to their fate and returned to Carolina, where, while settling up his business, he died. Shortly after his marriage our subject joined the Methodist Episcopal church, and not very long afterwards the church gave him authority to preach; and for some forty years he has labored zealously in the cause of Christ, doing much good throughout this section. He has often labored with his own hands for his support, and never coveted any man's silver and gold, or apparel-preaching the truth, as it is in Jesus.
He is now the last one of the old ministers that is yet living. Almost all of the old settlers who were living when he began his ministerial labors have died or removed to distant lands; but the reputation of Rev. J. W. Youngblood, for kindness to the poor, for generosity to his fellow-men, as well as his fervent piety and devotion to the cause of his Master, will never be forgotten. -From Evansville and its Men of Mark.
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T. B. Hart.
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T. B. Hart.
T. B. HART.
Thompson B. Hart, the fifth of a family of ten children of William and Sallie Hart, was born April Ist, 1836, five miles north of Boonville. His father, who was a soldier in the war of 1812, was a native of Mercer county, Kentucky, and he came to Warrick county with the grandfather of the subject of this sketch at a very early day. His mother was a native of South Carolina, and was a very pious and consistent lady. She was a member of the Christian church for a number of years. She took great care to instill in the mind of her children lessons of moral and social duty, and she endeavored to " raise them up" in the way she desired they should live.
The education of the subject of this sketch was such as could be obtained in the common schools of Warrick county during his boyhood. He was compelled to walk two miles to school, and at that time it was the custom for pupils to recite their lessons in the order in which they arrived. The "simple rule of three " was the limit of education. He attended the school at Boonville one year, and this comprised all his schooling. However, he has read much desultorily, and has thus obtained a general and practical knowledge not commonly met with in those who have had to contend with like disadvantages.
When nineteen years of age he commenced the study of medi- cine; but his father's last request, before dying, was that Thompson should take charge of the farm, and help support the widowed mother and younger children ; hence, after his father's death, he relinquished the study of medicine, and did as requested. Faithful to his trust, he remained on the home farm about nine years. Early in life he manifested a marked dispo-
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Warrick and its Prominent People.
sition to trade in stock, and this he has made his principal busi- ness, although he manages a very extensive farm.
January 15th, 1867, Mr. Hart was married to Susan K. Stone, a very intelligent lady, and daughter of Jehu Stone, Esq., one of the earliest and most extensive tobacco buyers of Warrick county. The fruits of this union has been seven children.
Mr. Hart is a quiet, unassuming man, and is no political aspirant, as his business has been sufficient to require all his attention. However, he was solicited by his friends to be a candidate for State Senator in 1878, and he was the nominee of the Democratic party. He was elected, and has been a member of the State Senate during 1878-80-81.
During his official career he has been a slave to the best inter- ests of his constituents, and an honor to the district which he represented.
W. J. HARGRAVE.
William Jasper Hargrave was born in Warrick county, two miles north of Boonville, on February 10th, 1833. He is a grandson of Rev. William Webb, one of the pioneer preachers, who came to Warrick county as early as 1816, and the nearest neighbor north of where he lived at that time was ten miles dis- tant. The educational advantages of Jasper, as he is familiarly called, were limited to the common schools of Warrick county at that time, and his boyhood was spent on the farm. He was married to Lou Ann Day, daughter of the venerable William Day, on June 8th, 1854. She died in January, 1877. The fruits of this union were six children, four of whom are now living.
In 1858 Mr. Hargrave engaged in the hardware, grocery and furniture business in Boonville with his father-in-law and Grant T. Dunnigan. He was also a member of the dry goods firm of
Thos. J. Downs.
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W. J. Hargrave.
Hudspeth, Adams & Co., (now Hudspeth, Curtis & Co.,) of Evansville, from January, 1866, until July, 1868, when he re- turned to Warrick county and engaged in business with G. L. Masters. He was also interested in the dry goods firm of I. W. Adams & Co. for some time.
His public career, which has been a notable one in Warrick politics, began in 1859, when he was elected county clerk. On account of ill-health he refused to be a candidate for re-election. - In 1872 he was the Republican candidate for county treasurer. Although the Democratic majority in the county at that time was about 350, he was elected by a majority of 75. He was re-el- ected by the overwhelming majority of 358. For several years he was the only Republican in Warrick county who could be elected to office. Since he retired from office in 1876 he has lived on his farm, but in July, 1881, he purchased the one-half interest of Thos. J. Downs in the Elk Horn flouring mill. Feb- ruary 3, 1878, he was married to Elvira E. Chapman. He is esteemed for his strict integrity, and has attained a popularity and reputation among his fellow-citizens which will live after him.
THOS. J. DOWNS.
In great and free America, where the power of wealth and glory of political and social distinction is open to all who have the talent and industry to attain them, the greatest pride of the people are self-made men-the fruits of a Republican form of government. Their rise from humble youth to the position of power and influence must stimulate the efforts of all who desire to better their condition. There are few whose histories better illustrate what can be accomplished by energy and integrity than the subject of this sketch. Thomas J. Downs is a true type of the self-made man.
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He was bron April 13, 1834, in Ohio county, Kentucky, where his grandfather, Thomas Downs, was an early settler. He was a minister in the Missionary Baptist church, and in his rounds had travelled over large portions of Indiana and Ken- tucky. He was generally considered a man of more than ordi- nary ability. He was one of two brothers of English descent, from which sprang all those bearing that name in this country. He died in 1850, in the seventy-sixth year of his age. His son William, the father of Thomas J., died two years previous. He was a farmer in comfortable circumstances, an honest, upright citizen, plain and simple in his manner, a man of few words, but tenacious of his opinions when he believed himself in the right. By the death of his father, which occurred when Thomas J. Downs, the immediate subject of this sketch, was but fourteen years of age, he was withdrawn from school, and cheerfully assumed, until he attained his majority, almost the sole respon- sibility of providing for the family. In 1855 he removed to Warrick county and worked at his trade as a carpenter. In 1861, at the breaking out of the war, he joined the 42nd Indiana Volunteer Infantry as a musician, but by general orders was mustered out of the service six months afterwards.
In the fall of 1863 he enlisted a number of men for the 120th Indiana regiment (see history Company E, 120th regiment) and was unanimously elected captain. This body participated in the Atlantic campaign and in the hard-fought battles at Nashville and Franklin. They were then transferred to North Carolina, where, at the battle of Wise Fork he was wounded in the back of the head, and was mustered out of the service at Newbern in May, 1865.
In the fall of 1865 he was elected auditor of Warrick county on the Republican ticket by a majority of twelve votes over Adolph Miehle, the Democratic candidate, the majority of the
O
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Thomas J. Downs.
latter party having been from 150 to 200 prior to that time. At the expiration of his term of office he engaged in the mercantile business and farming for the next five years. In 1875 he pur- chased a half interest in the Elk Horn flouring mill of Boonville and continued in that business until July, 1881, when he pur- chased a large farm two miles north of Boonville, and now lives in the quietude of farm life.
He was married January 1, 1857, to Lydia M. Williams. They have six children, five boys and one girl.
His mother, who was a King, is still living, and now in her old age retains all her mental faculties to a wonderful degree. She possesses a master mind and has lived a consistent christian life, leaving to others a worthy example for emulation. She is a member of many years standing in the Predestinarian Baptist church.
From this brief outline of a busy life, furnished with commend- able modesty by Mr. Downs, a useful lesson may be drawn. Commencing the battle of life friendless and poor, at an age when most children are still in the nursery, he has lived to see him- self a power for good in the community where he dwells. Be- lieving at the outset that a good name is better than riches, with no ambition for public office, he has been governed since youth by those fixed principles of honor and rectitude which stamp him to-day as an honest man, an exemplary citizen and a kind husband. He is of a jovial, complaisant disposition, and to be liked needs only to be known. He is quick of thought and has a sound and original opinion upon every topic, and expresses himself in language that is marked by its simplicity and correct- ness. In a brief sketch of this kind the most that can be said of him is that he is pre-eminently one of the men of mark of Warrick county.
As a Republican Mr. Downs has rendered his party valuable
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service, and during the political campaigns in the years 1872, 1874 and 1878 was chairman of the Republican Central Com- mittee of Warrick county .- From American Biographical History of Eminent and Self-made Men of Indiana.
HANSEL M. SCALES.
As a self-made man and exemplary citizen, Hansel Ma- rion Scales, treasurer of Warrick county, deserves mention among the men of the present. He was born in Lane town- ship, Warrick county, November 30th, 1841. His father, John Scales, was a son of William Scales (see sketch), and was born in Gibson county, Indiana, in 1809. He was a farmer, and lived just within the county line (adjoining Warrick), in Lock- hart township. He was married to Louisa Bogan, whose parents were among the early settlers of the county, and they reared a large family of children-eleven in all. He was two or three times elected assessor of Lockhart township. He died in 1860. While a boy, Hansel worked on his father's farm, and was not even given the full benefit of the very poor school advantages at that time. When seventeen years old he was given a position as clerk in the store of Abraham Chambers, at Lynnville. In 1860 he taught school in Lane township, and after that engaged in farming. December 17, 1863, he was married to Lorenna Robinson, of this county. The result of this union has been four children. In 1867 he was elected jus- tice of the peace of Lane township, but shortly afterwards resigned. In 1870 he was elected assessor of Lane township on the Democratic ticket, and at the expiration of his term of office was re-elected. He was elected trustee of the same township in 1873, and held the office two terms. In 1880 he " received the Democratic nomination for treasurer of Warrick county, and was elected. It is to his own efforts that Mr.
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Hansel M. Scales.
Scales is indebted for his present good standing. He is a man that at once favorably impresses one by his plain, unaffected, honest manners, and sincere cordiality. He is well known throughout the county, especially in the interior part, and is highly esteemed. While he is not a politician, he has always been a staunch Democrat, and wields considerable influence in his party.
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