USA > Ohio > History of the Ohio falls cities and their counties : with illustrations and bibliographical sketches, Vol. II > Part 91
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Davis Floyd was an officer under General George Rogers Clark, and achieved distinction in the border Indian wars. He became one of the first settlers here, but the exact date of his arrival is unknown. He probably settled here before the beginning of the present century, as he was one of the trustees of the town of Jeffer- sonville at its inception. He was a leading citi- zen, and prominent in early affairs. At the time of Burr's conspiracy, Major Floyd, with others, was brought before the court at Jeffersonville charged with being an instigator in an enterprise against the Spanish possessions in America, but on trial nothing could be proven to tarnish his fair fame, and he was acquitted of the charge. His home in Jeffersonville was on the lot now owned by John Adams, where he died. He was buried in a corner of the lot, near an alley, and it is doubtful if his grave can now be found. Major Floyd kept one of the first ferries across the Ohio at this place. He was licensed to keep tavern here in 1801.
Among the early school-teachers was Charles R. Waring, a man of considerable education ob- tained in the East. His school was held at various places at different times, and was well patronized in those days. He lived on the lot now owned by Charles Friend, on Front street, between Clark and Mulberry, and there he died, and was buried on the same lot.
John Fischli, a man of some means, came here early, and became the owner of five hun- dred acres of land north and west of the city. He was energetic in pushing various enterprises, among others the Jeffersonville canal, which never succeeded, and could not on the plan pro- posed, though had the matter been engineered right and brought to a successful issue it would have proved of much more benefit than the one constructed on the opposite of the river.
Among early merchants the name of Rhoder- ick Griffith is remembered as a dealer in the articles kept in those days. He had a store on Front street, near Clark.
Alexander Thomas and John Wilson built a large brick house on the corner of Mulberry and Front streets in 1813, for use as a store. The brick for this building was made on the same square, and near by. This old building is now owned by the heirs of Judge Reed.
Charles Fuller was a member of the Fourth
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Massachusetts regiment, which came to the West to assist in protecting the frontier. He partici- pated in the battle of Tippecanoe, and afterwards came here and received a license to keep tavern, which was located on the corner of Clark and Front streets. This place was once known as "buzzard's roost," and was then a notorious den. Mr. Fuller became a victim of the seductive influences of his own bar, and died from the effects of drink.
Basil Prather had a store on the corner of Mulberry and Front streets in 1813.
Governor Thomas Posey was the last of the Territorial Governors. He came to Jeffersonville in 1813 or 1814, and built a house on lot No. I of the old town. His dwelling was considered a good one in that day. The lower story was of brick, and the upper a frame. It had a porch sixty or seventy feet in length, and was well ap- pointed. The Governor went to Harrison county after the election for the first State Governor, which was decided in favor of his competitor, Jennings. Governor Posey was commissioned Territorial Governor after Harrison received the appointment of general of the Western armies. He came originally from Tennessee.
Charles Sleed was one of the pilots of the Falls as early as 1810. He married into the Bowman family. A brother, Reuben Sleed, was also a pilot. He went to New Orleans during the War of 1812, was present at the battle of New Orleans, and never after heard from.
Andrew Gilwick was here early, and was a magistrate many years. He was by trade a tan- ner, and had a yard in Jeffersonville.
James Fisher married a daughter of one of the Bowmans and kept an early tavern here. He is said to have built the first three-story building erected in the State.
Peter Bloom, a Pennsylvania German, lived below the cement mill, at the Falls. He was killed in Jeffersonville at an early celebration of Independence day, by the bursting of a cannon he was firing.
Thomas Pile was also among the first to settle here, some time about 1798. He was a river man, and had charge of flat-boats trading with New Orleans.
William Patrick was a ferryman, laborer, and at the time of his death a Falls pilot. He also came with the early settlers.
The Ingram family, James and Nancy, came from Kentucky to Jefferson county, Indiana, in 1816, and there raised a family of three sons and two daughters. William Ingram came to this county in 1841, and located in Jeffersonville in 1864, where he died in 1871. He lived some years in Charlestown, where he held the office of sheriff and recorder. James N. Ingram served one year in the Mexican war, participating in the battle of Buena Vista. In 1848 he came to Jef- fersonville, where he has since lived. Before the breaking out of the civil war he was captain of a militia company, most of the members of which entered the service. In 1862 he was commis- sioned colonel in the Eighth Indiana Legion, which was organized for home protection at the time General Kirby Smith made his raid into Kentucky, but soon after resigned his commis- sion. He has served as member of the city council several years, and is now serving his nineteenth year as school trustee.
Ebenezer Morgan came from Connecticut to Utica in this county, in 1820 or 1821. A few years later he removed to Jeffersonville, and en- gaged in mercantile business, keeping a general stock of everything from a goose yoke to a second-hand pulpit. Here he reared a family consisting of two sons and two daughters. The eldest son, John K., was a river pilot for a num- ber of years, and then became connected with the ferry, continuing there ten or twelve years, when he moved to the country and died in 1856. His son, William H. Morgan, has been township trustee for five years, retiring from that office the spring of 1882. The wife of John K. Morgan was Indiana C. Bowman, daughter of Captain William Bowman. Of the remaining children of Ebenezer Morgan, Mary married Charles Keller, and after his death John H. Anderson. Sarah married Sylvester P. Morgan, member of another family of the same name. William A. was a cripple and died when forty-two years of age.
S. H. Patterson was born in Tennessee in 1806, and in 1826 came to Indiana, living at Paoli and Indianapolis ten years. At the latter place he married Mrs. Sarah Ann Ray, and they have had a family of ten children, of whomn four now live. In 1836 they came to Jeffersonville, where they have since lived. Mr. Patterson has been connected with many of the business in-
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terests of the city, and has done much toward building it up. During his residence in Indi- anapolis he built the first three-story business house in that city.
Among the early settlers along the Ohio river were the Prathers, who came from Maryland in 1801, and settled above Jeffersonville, in the pres- ent township of Utica. There Basil Prather liv- ed and died. Aaron Prather passed many years of his life there, and then went to Putnam county, where he yet lives, having witnessed the changing scenes of life in this country nearly a century. Isaac Prather was born in Utica in 1805, where he endured the hardships and reaped the rewards of a pioneer's life. The last four years of his life were passed with his son, Calvin W. Prather, in Jeffersonville, where he died in 1875. During his life he amassed a comfortable fortune. Born in the wild woods, and brought up amid hard- ships, he died surrounded with every comfort.
Gates Thompson came from the State of New York and settled in Memphis, this county, in 1810, where he died in 1876, having passed his life as a farmer. Three of his sons are now in bus- iness in Jeffersonville: G. R. Thompson in gro- ceries and produce, M. R. in a feed store, and E. M. in the boot and shoe trade. Their stores are side by side, on Spring street near the corner of Eighth.
Morris Cohn is a native of Germany, and came to America in 1861. Soon after he arrived he enlisted in the Sixth Missouri cavalry, and for three years and three months did service on the frontier. After the war he went to Cincinnati, and from that city to Jeffersonville, where he en- gaged in selling dry-goods, notions, boots and shoes, and now has a clothing house. He manages three stores here, and has built his busi- ness up by his own exertions seconded by a faith- ful wife.
M. V. McCann, a native of Baltimore, Mary- land, came to Cincinnati in 1840, and in 1855 settled in Franklin county, Indiana, where he followed farming. In 1858 he engaged in the mercantile business in Henryville, and in 1868 was elected auditor of the county. During his term of eight years in office he lived in Charles- town. He was succeeded by his son, and on his retirement came to Jeffersonville in 1876, where he engaged in the coal business after a year's leisure. He now has a large coal trade,
his principal office being on the corner of Mar- ket and Pearl streets.
Major William Lewis, a Virginian, settled on the "high bank" near Chillicothe, Ohio, in 1800. In 1821 he removed to Indiana and made a home in Union county, where he remained eight years. In 1829 he came to Jeffersonville and served as register of the land office under President Andrew Jackson, after which he retired from active life. Felix R. Lewis, his son, has been an active and prominent citizen of the place during his life, taking great interest in every project that promised to aid in building up the industries of the city. In the course of his active life he has accumulated a competence.
Isaac H. Espy was born October 27, 1822, in this county. His father, Hugh Espy, one of the first settlers in this section, participated in the battle of Tippecanoe, serving under General Bartholomew. General Bartholomew was the grandfather of Isaac Espy on the mother's side. Mr. Espy has a good farm, and is a worthy citi- zen. He is a sound Republican. In 1847 he married Miss Ann Sabine, of Clark county.
Mrs. Mary E. Austin was born in 1814, and has always resided in this vicinity. Her father was William Bowman, an early settler in this county. Mary E. Bowman was married in 1833, to Henry Harrod, of Clark county. He died in 1841. They had three children-William, Thomas, and Sarah. William and Thomas are deceased. Sarah married Jesse Crook, and re- sides in Jeffersonville township. Mrs. Harrod was married again in 1851 to John Austin, a na- tive of Virginia. She resided at New Albany from 1851 till 1874, and has since lived in Jef- fersonville township.
E. S. Dils was born September 15, 1824, at Parkersburg, Virginia, and came to Indiana in 1829 with his father, Peter Dils, who died the same year. Mr. Dils has farmed all his life, with the exception of five years, when he was mining in California. He married, in 1851, Miss Nancy E. Stockton, daughter of Robert Stockton, of Ship- pensburg, Pennsylvania. They have had ten children, nine of whom are living. Mr. Dils is a Free Mason. He has recently been elected county commissioner.
William Stauss was born in Hesse Darm- stadt, Germany. In 1847 he came to the United States, and located in Louisville, Ken-
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tucky, where he remained some eight years, when he moved to Jeffersonville, which has been his home ever since. Here Mr. Stauss has been en- gaged in keeping a boarding house, which is to-day one of the oldest in the city. He now occupies a large brick building on the corner of Front and Spring streets. Mr. Stauss has been very successful since he came to Jeffersonville, owning to-day some very valuable real estate.
John Craig, deputy warden of the Southern Indiana State prison, was born in the county of Mayo, Ireland, May 4, 1840. In 1843, in com- pany with his parents, he emigrated to America, landing in Quebec. He went to Kingston, thence to Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, where he remained for some seven years, then to Wheeling, West Virginia. Here he engaged in superintending the mining of coal and iron. At the breaking out of the late civil war he enlisted in company A, First Virginia volunteer infantry, taking an active part in recruiting this company, which was made up principally of a fire company known as the Rough and Ready Fire company, afterward the Rough and Ready Rifle company, and was mustered into service May 10, 1861. Our subject entered as a private, was soon after made first sergeant of his company, and participated in the en- gagement where Colonel B. F. Kelly was killed. After serving three months he re-enlisted in the First Virginia, company E, of which company he was made second lieutenant, then first lieutenant, and soon after captain. Captain Craig has been in thirteen prominent battles, besides numerous smaller engagements. He took an active part in the battles of Bull Run, Port Republic, Win- chester, etc. He was slightly wounded at the battle of Winchester. He was taken prisoner in West Virginia in a skirmish in 1863, confined in Wilmington (North Carolina), Libby, and Dan- ville prisons, and released at the close of the war in 1865. While captain of company E he was presented with an officer's sword by the com- pany; he also has a bronze medal of honorable dischage as a brave soldier. At the close of the war he returned to Wheeling, and soon after en- tered the iron business in Newcastle, Pennsylva- nia, where he remained up to 1870, when he en- tered the contracting business, taking an active part in building the Louisville, New Albany & St. Louis air line railroad. He was then made superintendent of the Southern Indiana Coal and
Iron Mining company, located at Shoals, Indi- ana. In 1875 Captain Craig was made deputy warden under Captain Howard, which office he has filled ever since with acknowledged ability. Captain Craig married, in Wheeling, West Vir- ginia, Miss Mary Dorsey, by whom he has had five children.
B. Lousman was born in Baden, Germany, January 5, 1823, where he learned the shoemak- ing trade. He then, in 1847, came to the United States, landing in New Orleans, and thence to St. Louis, working at his trade. In 1851 he moved to Jeffersonville, and engaged in the man- ufacturing of boots and shoes, which business he carried on up to 1871, being the oldest shoe- maker of this place. He came here very poor, but with hard work and good management he is to-day in good circumstances. Mr. Lousman married, August 16, 1847, Miss G. Schenler, of Germany, and has five children. Mr. Lousman has been a resident of his present place ever since 1853.
Ed Austin, master car builder, Jeffersonville, Madison & Indianapolis railroad, the subject of this sketch, was born in New Albany, Indiana, where he received his early education. He soon after set out in learning his trade as a carpenter, working in Hardin county, Kentucky. We soon after find him in the employ of the Jeffersonville, Madison & Indianapolis railroad, working in the freight car department in building and repairing freight cars. He was then transferred to the . passenger car department, afterwards accepting a position as foreman of the truck department of the Southwestern Car works. After remaining there several months he accepted a position as yard master of the Louisville, Paducah & South- western railroad, located at Paducah. He re- turned to the Southwestern Car works and was made foreman of the works. In 1876 he ac- cepted the position as foreman of the freight car building department. In 1880 he was made master car builder, filling this position since, and to-day is recognized as being one of the finest car builders around the Falls. Mr. Austin is a son of Dr. Austin, one of the old pioneers of New Albany, Indiana.
William Swanston, master mechanic of the Jef- fersonville, Madison & Indianapolis railroad, was born in Scotland, where he learned his trade as a machinist. In 1848 he came to America and soon
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after located in Cincinnati, Ohio, where he re- mained for some seventeen years, during which time he was in the employ of the Little Miami rail- road, entering as a machinist and soon after made foreman of the machine shops. He then went to Sandusky, Ohio, and was master mechanic of the Cincinnati, Sandusky & Cleveland railroad for several years. He then went to Iowa and filled some position with the Burlington, Cedar Rapids & Northern railroad for one year. He then returned to Sandusky and engaged in the manufacturing of wooden ware, employing some thirty hands, which he found not profitable. He then returned to railroading, and was connected with the Little Miami railroad. In 1876 he was made foreman of the department of the Jeffer- sonville, Madison & Indianapolis railroad at In- dianapolis, where he remained for some four years, when he was transferred to Jeffersonville as master mechanic, filling this place with ac- knowledged ability.
George Holzbog, blacksmith, the subject of this sketch, is one of the oldest blacksmiths in Jeffersonville. He was born in Germany, where he learnt his trade as a blacksmith. In 1853 he came to Anierica and located in Louisville, Ken- tucky, and in 1854 moved to Jeffersonville, where he has continued at his trade ever since, being to-day one of the leading blacksmiths of Jeffersonville.
L. Henzler, wagon-maker. Among the promi- nent and industrious Germans of Jeffersonville is the above named gentleman, who was born in Germany, having learned his trade there; he came to America in 1851, and located in Buffalo, New York, then to Louisville, Portland, and New Albany, finally, in 1857, came to Jefferson- ville, where he has continued in the wagon-mak- ing business ever since, being to-day the oldest in this line in Jeffersonville, and located in the present brick building, two stories high, 24x40 feet, for the last fifteen years, where he is pre- pared to turn out the best of wagon-work.
Mrs. Mary Oswald was the wife of the late William G. Oswald; he was born in Ireland and came to the United States. He learned his trade as a brass moulder in Hartford, Connecticut; he came to Jeffersonville and was in the employ of the Ohio Falls Car works as brass moulder for some nine years, being a very faithful worker in their employ, taking a contract to do the brass
castings for this works; he was very successful, giving entire satisfaction. Mr. Oswald was a soldier in the late civil war, being a member of a New York regiment, serving faithfully until the close of the war, being honorably mustered out of service; he was a brave soldier, participating in a number of engagements with the Army of the Potomac. Mr. Oswald died in 1879, respected and honored by all. Since the death of Mr. Oswald Mrs. Oswald has been carrying on the brass foundry business, meeting with good success.
A. Dreidel, cooper shop. Among the leading cooperage works of Jeffersonville is that owned and operated by Mr. A. Dreidel, who was born in Germany, where he learned his trade as a baker. In 1852 he emigrated to America, and remained for a short time in New York, and Cincinnati, working at his trade. In 1861 he came to Jef- fersonville and has been one of its industrious and respected citizens ever since. Coming here in meager circumstances he entered the grocery business, which he has continued ever since. In 1878 he engaged in the cooper business, and to- day is doing a large business in that line, manu- facturing all kinds of barrels. Starting with fifteen hands, he now employs as high as thirty- five hands in his cooper business.
Joseph Zuerner, M. D. and druggist, was born in Baden, Germany, in 1847; came to the United States and located in Louisville in 1852. In 1853 he came to Jeffersonville, Indiana, and has been one of its honored citizens ever since. He read medicine under Dr. A. Seymour ; graduating from the Medical University of Louisville Feb- ruary 28, 1878, he began his practice of medicine in Jeffersonville In 1879. Dr. Zuerner engaged in the drug business which he has carried on since, meeting with a good custom.
Professor George Nahstoll was born in Ger- many, December 15, 1849. After receiving an education he began teaching school in his native country at eighteen years of age. In 1867 Pro- fessor Nahstoll came to America, and soon after located in Jeffersonville, where he has been very prominently connected with its schools. He taught for several years as principal of the Ger- man Catholic schools, since which he has con- nected himself with the public schools of Jeffer- sonville, being principal of the German depart- ment, filling the place with ability. Profes-
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sor Nahstoll is the organist and leader of the choir of the German Catholic church of Jeffer- sonville.
J. H. Ballard, M. D., was born in Lorain county, Ohio, near Oberlin, March 3, 1852, moving to DeKalb county, Illinois, when young, where he prepared himself for school, entering the Oberlin, Ohio, school, where he remained about three years; soon after going to Nashville, Ten- nessee, and graduating from the Central Ten- nessee Medical college with high honors in 1879. Dr. Ballard in 1872 located in Jeffersonville, where he has been very prominently connected with the public (colored) schools as principal, filling this place with acknowledged ability.
William B. Cox was born in Clark county, March 4, 1824. Mr. Cox by profession is a pilot. He has followed the river for thirty-seven years, and has been a pilot on some of the largest steamers on the Ohio and Mississippi rivers. Mr. Cox is a genial gentleman. His beautiful home is on the Utica pike. His father, Isaac Cox, was one of the first settlers of this county. He was a man of influence. Mr. Cox did the first printing in this State at Corydon, once the capital of this great State.
F. C. Beutel located here in 1860, and has been in the grocery business ever since. His father printed the first German paper ever pub- lished in Louisville, Kentucky. His father died July 5, 1876.
Martin James located in Clark county in 1837. He has been a successful farmer. He was a supervisor for a number of years.
Valentine Kelly was born in Clarksville, Clark county, Indiana, June 15, 1827. He is a suc- cessful farmer and a man of influence. He has been trustee of the Ohio Falls city for a number of years, also school trustee, and supervisor.
John Beutel was born in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, September 12, 1837, and has been a resident of this county since 1867. When the late war between the North and South broke out, Mr. Beutel enlisted as a private soldier in the Third Kentucky cavalry, Major Murray com- manding, now General Murray, Governor of Utah. Mr. Beutel was in fifteen battles, and always proved himself to be a daring and brave soldier, and always at his post of duty. Mr. Beutel by trade is a blacksmith and printer. He prefers his present business, a grocery merchant.
He is a man of influence, and is genial and charitable.
J. D. Applegate was born February 16, 1812, in Clark county. He has been a successful farmer, with the exception of twenty years, when he was connected with a tobacco market in Louisville, Kentucky. He is a hospitable gentle- man. His father, Aaron Applegate, was one of the first settlers in this county. He was engaged in the War of 1812.
John McCullough was born in Floyd county, Indiana, January 3, 1821, and located in Clark county in 1872. He started in life a poor boy. He is to-day one of the wealthiest men in Clark county. He started as a teamster, and then a farmer. He then erected a saw-mill. He is largely interested in the rolling mill, gas works, and the largest flour mill in the city. He is one of the largest stockholders in the New Albany National bank. He served as councilman from the First ward for eight years. He served his ward and city well. Mr. Mccullough is also president of the Jeffersonville and New Albany turnpike. He is at present county commissioner of Clark county, and one of the most successful farmers. He owns in fine land over a thousand acres.
Anderson Stewart, born in Jefferson county, October 30, 1812, located in 1822 in Clark county. Mr. Stewart is a successful farmer. His father, Robert Stewart, settled here when this was a Territory. He was ninety-six years old when he died.
C. E. Clark was born in Jefferson county, New York, October 7, 1827. He located in Clark county in 1864, where he has been all his life on public works. Mr. Clark was the Sand Island dam builder, which cost $90,000. Mr. Clark was a contractor on the western division of the Ohio & Mississippi railroad. He has made several fortunes but by his good nature has lost them all. At present he is street con- tractor in Jeffersonville.
I. F. Whiteside was born in Clark county. Mr. Whiteside is a grocery merchant, and a young man of great business qualities. He is very successful in his present business. He suc- ceeded his father in business, and still occupies the old stand. Mr. Whiteside was for a number of years a member of the stock company at Ma- caulay's theater. He has supported some of the
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