USA > Ohio > History of the Ohio falls cities and their counties : with illustrations and bibliographical sketches, Vol. II > Part 95
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He was chosen representative in Congress for the Jefferson district at a very alarming period- just before the War of 1812-and was one of the staunchest friends of the administration during that trying season.
During the war he served for a short time as aide-de-camp to General Armstrong.
In 1817 Judge Ormsby was one of a com- mittee of gentlemen selected by the citizens of Louisville to visit Philadelphia, and solicit the establishment of a branch of the United States bank at the former place. The mission was successful, and Judge Ormsby became the first president of the bank. After several years in the latter situation, he withdrew to private life forever.
Colonel Ormsby found himself, at his father's death, in the possession of a magnificent estate. He had received a liberal education at Lexing- ton, and had prepared himself for the profession of the law, of which his father was so distin- guished an ornament, but he found the care of 65*
this property so engrossing a responsibility as to compel the devotion of his entire time. Hence, though a man so well fitted for public life, the world knew him only as a quiet country gentle- man, whose money was always freely devoted to the aid of the needy; whose servants preferred slavery with him to freedom with another master, and whose family was devoted in its attach- ment to him.
At his death, which occurred on the same farm where he was born, and his life spent, at the age of sixty years, Colonel Ormsby left nine of a family of twelve children, by his wife, Martha Sherley Ormsby.
Of these the eldest, Mr. Hamilton Ormsby, is now the owner of the home farm. He married Edmonia Taylor, daughter of Edmund Taylor, and has six children: Edward and William Ormsby, twins; Nanine, married R. W. Herr; Stephen S. and J. L. Ormsby, and a second daughter named Edmonia for her mother.
Colonel Ormsby is, like his father, a farmer; like his father, also, he is a hospitable, liberal and cultivated gentleman.
FREDERICK H. C. HONNEUS.
The subject of this sketch was born in Ger- r. any on the 24th day of March, 1824. In 1833 he came to the United States with his mother and step-father-his father having died during the early infancy of the boy. After remaining in Baltimore, where they landed, for about one year, the family came to Indiana and settled on a farm about three miles from Charlestown. The family at that time consisted of Frederick and two half-sisters, and he, as the only son, was called upon to assist to a considerable extent in the work of the farm. Hence his early educa- tion was to a degree fragmentary, being obtained at the schools of his district in the intervals of labor. When old enough, the young man sub- stituted teaching for study, assuming charge in turn of the school near Charlestown, which he himself had attended, and of another near Utica, Indiana, at a place called Dark Corner. The death of his step-father, which occurred about two years after the settlement in Indiana, placed heavy responsibilities upon the boy, and he bore them manfully, never, however, for a moment
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faltering in his determination to acquire a liberal education and profession. In pursuance of this resolve he entered the college at Bloomington, Indiana, remaining but a portion of the course, then removing to Louisville to pursue his med- ical studies. After his graduation from the med- ical college he settled in practice at Bennetts- ville, Clark county, where he remained in active employment until his death.
In 1865 Dr. Honneus was elected to the Leg- islature of Indiana almost without opposition, and at the expiration of his service was earnestly urged to become again a candidate, but de- clined so to do. He was at that time, and for many years thereafter, a Democrat, but in 1873 he became an Independent. On March 7, 1873, Dr. Honneus married Emily Robertson Prether, widow of John L. Prether. By her he had two children-Frederick, born November 2, 1875, and Emma, born February 18, 1877.
During the latter months of his life Dr. Hon- neus was an invalid. He was compelled, in November, 1878, to succumb to weakness, and from that time until January 6, 1879, was con- fined to his bed. On the last named day he died, a victim to cancer of the stomach. His widow and children now meside at New Albany.
HON. D. W. DAILY.
The father of David W. Daily removed from Kentucky to Indiana in the year 1796, settling at a point some two and one-half miles south of Charlestown, in the then wilderness of this locality, which was chiefly inhabited by Indians. At that time all of the country lying between the mouth of Fourteen-mile creek and the Falls of the Ohio was covered by forest and dense under- growth of cane. Not only savages, but wild beasts made their abode herc. The panther, bear, and wolf added to the dangers which met the hardy and brave pioneers on the threshold of their frontier life in those days. On the 16th day of August, 1798, David W. Daily was born in a log house in which his father lived, on what is called the old homestead. A few years later, about 1801, his father commenced to build a new house-the first hewed log in this portion of Southern Indiana. In this house Mr. Daily spent his early days. The house is still standing .
and in very fair repair, although over three- quarters of a century have elapsed since its construction. The first school he attended was situated on what was called "Bald hill," near what is now called Buffalo lick, or Denny's lick, about one mile and a half from this place, and about three miles from where the "old homestead" is situated. The danger was so great from wild animals that his mother was ac- customed to go with him a part of the way to school, and to meet him on his return in the evening, carrying a younger child in her arms. He subsequently attended another school near where the union church stands. It was only in the winter time, and but for a very limited time, that he was permitted to attend school at all. School facilities in those days were very limited at best, and of a very inferior character. It was amid the toils and hardships and dangers which surrounded the first settlers and native born inhabitants of this country that Mr. Daily spent his boyhood and developed into a vigorous manhood. It is related of Mr. Daily that in 1809, at about eleven years of age, when the first sale of lots in the town of Charlestown took place, he attended that sale with a stock of nice apples procured from the orchard planted by his father on the old homestead-probably the first orchard in this part of the country-which he sold to the people attending the sale. This was his first experience in trade. He was married to Miss Mary A. Shirely, the daughter of a pioneer who lived near to his father's place of residence,on the 30th of August, 1818-the day of his funeral being the sixtieth anniversary of his wedded life. He became the father of eleven children, five boys and six girls, all of whom lived to be grown. Captain D. W. Daily, who died a few years since, forms the only break in the circle of children. There are thirty-one of his grandchildren and eighteen of his great-grandchildren living. He has also two sisters living.
He made several trading excursions to New Orleans in flat-boats before engaging in busi- ness at Charlestown, on one occasion piloting his own boat over the Falls of the Ohio. At one time he took Mrs. Daily and his oldest son, Col- onel Harry Daily, then a lad, with him, remain- ing South about eighteen months.
In 1826 he removed to Charlestown and cn -* gaged in merchandising. His first stock of goods
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was purchased at auction in Cincinnati. Al- though inexperienced in business of this kind, his natural good sense served him in this as in many other emergencies all through his varied business experience. He closely inspected the various business men competing for bargains at this sale, selecting as his guide the one his judg- ment pointed out as the most reliable, and when a lot of goods that suited him were up cautiously kept a shade in advance of his shrewd competi- tor. By this means he obtained a stock of goods upon which he was enabled to make a fair profit, and deal justly with his customers. In his long and successful experience in merchandising, he always maintained his integrity and retained the confidence of all who dealt with him by honora- ble and fair dealing, and by pursuing a liberal policy towards his customers. By his financial ability and his disposition to accommodate he became a tower of strength and usefulness to the community in which he did business. In all of his long business life as a merchant and trader, and subsequently as a man of means to loan to his neighbors at reasonable rates of interest, no men can say that D. W. Daily ever oppressed them, or took any legal technical advantage of them. On the other hand, there are numerous instances of his having offered voluntary and time- ly financial aid to struggling and poor men-in- stances where men who needed money, and could not find men who were willing to join in their notes as surety, were not coldly rebuffed by him, but kindly assured he would confide in their hon- or, furnishing the needed help without security. In the death of D. W. Daily this community uni- versally and deeply realize that one of the best and most useful of men has been removed from them.
The high esteem in which his fellow-citizens held him caused them to make demands upon him as a public servant. He was elected sheriff of Clark county in 1828, and was re-elected to the same office in 1830, serving two terms. In 1835 he was elected to fill the unexpired term of John M. Lemon in the State Senate, Mr. Lemon having been appointed receiver in the land office. At the expiration of this term Mr. Daily was re-elected to the State Senate from the joint district composed of Clark and Floyd coun- ties. During this term of service the notoricus and fatal internal improvement bill passed the
Legislature of Indiana. Mr. Daily, to his lasting honor, with but ten other members of the Senate, bitterly opposed its passage. Finding themselves in a hopeless minority, they determined to bolt and thus prevent the passage of the measure by breaking a quorum. Their horses were ordered for their departure from the State capital, when, through the influence of Tilghman A. Howard, one of the eleven bolters, they finally deter- mined to remain and make the best fight possi- ble in the Senate against the measure.
Mr. Daily died Thursday, August 29, 1878, aged eighty years and thirteen days. He was an extremely kind and indulgent father and affec- tionate husband, a good citizen in every true sense of the word, a most faithful friend and ac- commodating neighbor.
EDMUND ROACH.
Edmund Roach (deceased), of Charlestown, was born November 4, 1795, in the State of Ken- tucky. His parents were natives of Virginia and came to Kentucky in an early day, settling in Louisville, where they owned property.
Mr. Roach received his education in Bards- town and afterwards learned the hatter's trade, which he followed successfully many years, or until the importation of hats injured his business and he quit. He was, during this time, in Bards- town, and at this place became united in matri- mony to Miss Sarah Sturges, December 30, 1830, and had seven children by this marriage, all of whom are now dead. This wife was born De- cember 2, 1809, and is now dead also.
He was married to his second wife, Miss Edith Hammond, January 29, 1850, by the Rev. Gates, of Louisville. She was born in Virginia, Feb- ruary, 1817, but her parents came to Clark coun- ty very soon after, and settled near Charlestown, where she was raised and received her education.
After this marriage Mr. Roach carried on bus- iness in Jeffersonville for a number of years, was a good business man, and an honest, upright, Christian gentleman, and had been for many years a useful member in the Baptist church of that place.
By this marriage he had two children, only one of whom, Charles Cecil Roach, is living. He was born January 5, 1851, was raised and
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HISTORY OF THE OHIO FALLS COUNTIES.
educated in the Charlestown schools, and fol- lows farming, living upon the old homestead, near Charlestown. He was married, in April, 1873, to Miss Laura Stuard, relative to the well- known and prominent family of Hedges, of England. Her father, John C. Stuard, was a prominent settler of the county.
Mr. Charles Roach, the only living representa- tive of Edmund Roach, is most comfortably sit- uated on a good, large farm, the old Hammond homestead, and is a thrifty, energetic, and well- to-do farmer.
Mr. Edmund Roach lived in Louisville after his second marriage, until about the year 1852, when he removed to Jeffersonville and where he died in 1861. After Mr. Roach's death, Mrs. Roach removed to the town of Charlestown, where she owns considerable property, and where she has since resided. Mrs. Edith Roach is the daughter of Rev. Rezin Hammond. He was born in Libertytown, Frederick county, Maryland, April 15, 1788. He was a descendant of Major- general John Hammond, of the Isle of Wight, Great Britain, and emigrated to America be- tween the years 1680 and 1690, and settled near Annapolis, Maryland. He was buried in 1833, on a farm owned by Brice Worthington, which is about seven miles from Annapolis.
Rezin Hammond's father was Vachel, his grandfather was John H., his great-grandfather was Thomas John, his great-great-grandfather was John H., and his great-great-great-grand father was Major-general John Hammond.
Rev. Rezin Hammond joined the church when twelve years of age, and was licensed to preach and joined the Baltimore conference when nineteen years old, was ordained deacon and elder at the usual period both times by Bishop Asbury, traveled nine years under the following charges: Ohio, Fellspoint, Stafford, and Fredericksburg, at the last named place with Beverly Waugh as junior preacher; Stanton, Frederick, Annapolis, Montgomery two years, and then located. He was married to Miss Ann T. Williams by William Cravens on New Years day, 1811. He moved to Indiana in 1821 and settled in the vicinity of Charlestown, and it is said preached the first sermon ever preached in Indianapolis. He was of commanding appear- ance, possessed a fine voice and was a very pop- ular preacher, and was a man of far more than
ordinary ability, and if he had continued in his regular work no doubt would have ranked high in the church, as many of his compeers have lived to see the entire race of his membership and preachers of his generation pass away, and see the Methodist Episcopal church and her off- shoots increase from 144,599 to 3,000,000, and the annual conferences from seven to seventy- two, not naming the branches. What a history of events in a lifetime. He died at his residence in Charlestown, Indiana, November 5, 1871, after a lingering and painful sickness, but always confiding in the merits of his Lord Jesus Christ, and sometimes breaking out in expressions of Joy in contemplating his rest in Christ.
Mrs. Ann T. Hammond, the wife of Rev. Rezin Hammond, was born in Rockingham county, Virginia, Septemper 16, 1794. She jomed the church and was baptised by Bishop Asbury in her twelfth year. She was married January 1, 1811, and after sharing the toils and privations of the itineracy of that early day, set- tled in the vicinity of Charlestown in 1821. She died Sabbath, March 24th, and was fifty-seven years a member of the Methodist Episcopal church in Clark's Grant, as it is called, and thus saw the church, in its infancy and was identified with its growth, bearing a large share in its strug- gles and rejoiced in its triumphs.
When because of age and infirmity no longer able to attend upon the public means of grace, being a great lover of the Bible, she made it her daily companion, and from it received great en- couragement during her last years of suffering and failing strength. Warmly attached to her church, her house was ever the welcome and pleasant home for the ministers of "good news," and her hands ever ready to minister to the wants and comforts of the needy. She would often remark during her last years of suffering that it would not be long until she would be re- leased and go to be with Christ, which is far bet- ter.
Out of fourteen children seven are now living. Her daughter, Mrs. Roach, has also been for many years a member of the Methodist Episco- pal church. She resides in the house where her father lived fifty years since, and like her parents is devoted to the church and cause of Christ.
REV. REZIN HAMMOND.
Edmund Roach
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HISTORY OF THE OHIO FALLS COUNTIES.
ARGUS DEAN,
the pioneer fruit-grower of this section of Indi- ana, is a son of William Dean, a native of Dutchess county, New York, and Sary Manly Dean, of Burlington, Vermont. After marriage they emigrated to Steubenville, Ohio, where their son Argus was born August 17, 1810. In 1811 the family removed to Cincinnati by flat-boat, and thence by land to Franklin county, some ten miles east of Columbus, Ohio, where Wil- lianı Dean engaged in farming and quarrying. The stone in this quarry proving of an inferior quality a removal was made, and stone obtained from a quarry from which Cincinnati was then supplied. In the fall of 1829 Argus Dean and his elder brother Minturn, floated a boat load of stone down the Ohio and Mississippi rivers to Natchez, where their cargo was sold at what was then considered a fair profit. They returned by steamer, the round trip occupying about six months. This business was continued until 1850, stone being prepared and loaded at Madi- son, Indiana, after 1832. During these years the father and his two sons had bought farms near Madison, which they managed in connec- tion with the stone business.
On the 27th of October, 1836, Argus Dean was married to Abigail Stow, of Switzerland, In- diana, a daughter of Jonah and Livia Stow. She was born in Cayuga county, New York, July 4, 1816, and came to Indiana with her parents in 1820.
In the summer of 1849 a deposit of marble was found near the line of Jefferson and Clark counties, Indiana. The following year Argus Dean moved his family to the vicinity of this quarry. By the opening of 1852 he had a large steam mill erected and was prepared to saw stone on a large scale, fifty men being cmployed, and at times as many as one hundred saws in opera- tion. But unforeseen circumstances conspired to defeat his purposes. The only outlet for this quarry was the Ohio river, and at the time the greatest demand existed for stone the water was low and transportation could not be had, while railroads were built to competing quarries, giv- ing them an outlet at all seasons. The enter- prise was therefore abandoned in 1856.
Mr. Dean for many years has taken much in terest in the subject of river improvement, and
first suggested the plan that was later appropri- ated by Captain Eads, for deepening the chan- nel at the mouth of the Mississippi river.
After giving up the business of quarrying, Mr. Dean traveled through several States with the object in view of engaging largely in fruit culture, but could find no place that seemed better adapted to this business than southern Indiana. In the spring of 1857 he set out sixteen hundred peach trees, comprising more than thirty varie- ties. From these in the years that followed he selected those best adapted to his purpose. It was several years after planting these trees that fruit was sent to Cincinnati, but since that time the peaches from Indiana have taken the highest place in the market.
Large canning and preserving works have been established in connection with these orchards, and the surplus product is thus cared for. Be- sides peaches, large quantities of apples are used, being made into jellies, apple-butter, apple mar- malade, vinegar, etc.
At the present time three of Mr. Dean's sons are married and in business for themselves. William has a fruit farm near his father's resi- dence in Clark county. Frank lives in Cincin- nati. Hiram P. has a fruit farm of his own near the old homestead in Jefferson county. The youngest son, Charles E., is at home, and super- intends the cultivation of the orchards, and in the summer, in connection with Frank, has charge of the sales of peaches in Cincinnati. Two daughters, Mary and Abbie, are also at home.
The wife and mother died of consumption on June 1, 1880. She was a woman of great en- ergy of character, possessing a mind remarkable for good judgment, and taught, both by precept and example, habits of industry and economy.
REV. JOHN M. DICKEY.
John McElroy Dickey was born in York dis- trict, South Carolina, December 16, 1789. His grandfather, of Scotch-Irish descent, came from Ireland to America in the year 1737. His father, David Dickey, was twice married, first on March 28, 1775, to Margaret Robeson, who died four months after marriage; afterwards to Margaret Stephenson, September 4, 1788. John
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HISTORY OF THE OHIO FALLS COUNTIES.
was the first and only son of the latter marriage; he had four sisters, one of whom died in infancy. His parents were in humble circumstances, but of excellent Christian character.
David Dickey was a man of unusual intelli- gence; for years he taught theneighborhood school and when John was three years old carried him to it daily. Of such a man his wife was a true helpmeet. Like Hannah of old she had given her son to God and devoted him to His service. Under such home influence the children all grew into habits of piety, and were unable to fix the time when their early religious experience began. It is said that John had read the Bible through at four years of age, and not much later he was acquiring considerable knowledge o f mathematics under his father's instructions. When still quite young he became familiar with the Scriptures, the Confession of Faith, and Form of Government of the Presbyterian Church, the reading books of those days. He eagerly improved his humble opportunities for study, until new'advantages opened to him by the removal of the family northward in 1803.
David Dickey, though reared in a slave State, looked upon slavery as a curse, and sought to deliver his family from its influence, but he found himself obliged by circumstances to remain in Livingston county, Kentucky. After assisting two or three years to clear and cultivate his father's farm, John went to study under the di- rections of his cousin, the Rev. William Dickey, about one mile from his home; here he read Virgil and the Greek Testament, remaining with his cousin eighteen months.
About this time a school was opened by the Rev Nathan H. Hall, two hundred and fifty miles distant, whither he determined to make his way. Though his father was quite unable to assist him, he mounted a pony that he owned, with a few dollars in possession, and set out upon the long journey.
After arriving there he sold his horse for board and lodging, and entered with zeal upon his studies. Soon he became an assistant teacher, thus supporting himself, and at the same time working hard at his own course of study. Here he remained two years, when he entered upon the study of theology with the cousin who had previously been his instructor, and with the Rev. John Howe, of Glasgow, Kentucky.
He was licensed to preach by Mechlenburg Presbytery in the year 1814, August 29th. Pre- vious to this, in the twenty-fourth year of his age, he had been married to Miss Nancy W. McClesky, November 18, 1813, of Abbeville, South Carolina.
In December, after his licensure, he made a visit to Indiana, and spent a few Sabbaths with a church-what is now Washington, Davis coun- ty -- that had been constituted in August, 1814, by the Rev. Samuel Scott, Indiana's first resi- dent Presbyterian minister.
There were but two other organized Presby- terian societies within the limits of Indiana Ter- ritory. He engaged to return to the Washing- ton congregation ; accordingly, in May, 1815, he set out for his home in the wilderness, with his wife and infant daughter, the family and all their goods carried on the backs of two horses. His library consisted of his Bible, Buck's Theolog- ical Dictionary, Pilgrim's Progress, and Fisher's Catechism.
Atter arriving at his destination the struggles and self-denials of pioneer life began. Corn was ground in mortars, wheat flour seldom seen, fruit rare, except what grew wild.
Mr. Dickey aided the support of his family by farming on a small scale, teaching singing-school, writing deeds, wills, advertisements; he also surveyed land, and sometimes taught school. He was handy with tools, and often made farm- ing implements for himself and neighbors. Much of this work was done gratuitously, but it secured the friendship of the people. Music he read with great facility, often supplying the lack of notes with his own pen, and on special occasions he would compose both music and hymns for the use of the congregation.
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