USA > Ohio > History of the Ohio falls cities and their counties : with illustrations and bibliographical sketches, Vol. II > Part 96
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But Mr. Dickey's cheerful labors were at times wholly interrupted by the alarming diseases in such new settlement, and before one year had passed his family were prostrated, and on Octo- ber 23, 1816, Mrs. Dickey died. He remained in the field four years and then moved to New Lexington, Scott county, Indiana. Previously, however, April 2, 1818, Mr. Dickey had married Miss Margaret Osborn Steele. He became pastor of the New Lexington and Pisgah churches.
His installation over these two churches was the first formal Presbyterian settlement in the
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HISTORY OF THE OHIO FALLS COUNTIES.
Territory. He served these two churches a period of sixteen years, at the same time was home missionary for the southwestern portion of the State, and often his mission work extended to the "regions beyond." His custom was to make a tour of two weeks, preaching daily, and then for an equal length of time remain at home laboring in his own parish. For these sixteen years he received a salary averaging $80 a year. In some way he secured forty acres of land near the center of Pisgah church, and subsequently added eighty more.
His wife shared his trials and successes for nearly thirty years, and was the mother of eleven children. Much of his usefulness must be at- tributed to her, for the maintenance of the family she gave her full share of toil and self- denial, often living alone with her children for months together, disciplining them to industry and usefulness, while their father was absent upon long and laborious missionary journeys. She made frequent additions to the exchequer from the sale of cloth manufactured by her own hands. She cultivated a garden which supplied house- hold wants. In every work she was foremost, gathering supplies for the missionaries, caring for the sick or unfortunate at home. In the absence of her husband the family altar was maintained, and the Sabbath afternoon recitations from the Shorter Catechism by no means omitted. Such was her trust in God, fear never seemed to dis- turb her peace. Her death occurred October 27, 1847.
Of the children nine are still living-Margaret W. (by his first marriage), wife of Dr. James F. Knowlton, Geneva, Kansas; Jane A., wife of Dr. W. W. Britan, on the homestead, near New Washington, Clark county, Indiana; Rev. Ninian S. Dickey, for eighteen years pastor in Columbus, Indiana; John P. and James H. Dickey, in Allen county, Kansas; Nancy E., wife of Mr. Mattoon, Geneva, Kansas; Martha E., wife of Thomas Bare, Esq., Hardin, Illinois; Mary E., wife of James M. Hains, New Albany, Indiana; William M. Dickey, a graduate of Wabash college, a student of medicine, a pris- oner of Andersonville, and now a resident of Oregon. The oldest son died at the age of seventeen while a student for the ministry.
The character of the man was indicated in his early and bold advocacy of temperance refornı.
It has been asserted that he preached the first sermon in Indiana against intemperance.
He was also an earnest anti-slavery man; for several years he cast the only ballot in his town- ship for free-soil principles.
He was famous for discussing these questions in private and debating societies, and ultimately won over nearly all his people to temperance and anti-slavery sentiments. The name of "the old Abolitionist," which those of the "baser sort" gave him, rather pleased him. He said it would one day be popular.
The services Mr. Dickey rendered to the cause of education were important. His own opportunities for study had been secured amidst manifold difficulties, and he sought to provide for his children, and neighbors' children, an easier and better way.
Chiefly through his influence a wealthy Eng- lishman, Mr. Stevens, a member of Pisgah church, and now a resident of Louisville, Ken- tucky, was induced to establish and maintain a female seminary near Bethlehem, Indiana. In a suitable building erected for that purpose by Mr. Stevens, Mr. Dickey resided several years, providing a home for the teachers, and securing educational privileges for his children, and much was accomplished by the school for the whole surrounding region.
There was no subject engaging the attention of the world that he did not ponder thoroughly. He was informed on questions of policy, and sometimes addressed communications to those in power, urging that "righteousness exalteth a nation." These communications were kindly re- ceived, and often elicited respectful replies. It is not surprising that a life so variously useful, and a character so strikingly symmetrical. elicited affectionate eulogies. Says one: "He was al- ways spoken of with great reverence." "I met him in presbytery," writes another, "and I well remember that the impression of his goodness derived from others was heightened in me by the first day's observation." "I was never with one whose. flow of feeling savored so much of Heaven," says another. He has left a name which suggests a wise counsellor, a true worker, a thoroughly honest and godly man.
Mr. Dickey was for twenty-five years afflicted with pulmonary disease, but his endurance was remarkable.
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He had published, under the directions of the synod, a brief history of the Presbyterian church of Indiana. This small pamphlet it was his earnest desire to enlarge and complete. At the last he was feeble in body but vigorous in mind, and sat at his table and wrote as long as he was able. " Industry was his characteristic," so says his son; " I never saw him idle an hour, ' and when forced to lay down his pen it cost him a struggle. At his request I acted as his amanu- ensis, and prepared several sketches of churches, of which he said no other man knew so much as he." All was, however, left quite unfinished. He lived but a day or two after laying aside his pen. Though suffering intensely in the closing hours his peace was great. He finally fell asleep November 21, 1849.
The Rev. Philip Bevan, at this time supplying the New Washington church, officiated at the funeral. On the following Sabbath the Rev. Harvey Curtis, of Madison, preached in the New Washington church a commemorative discourse -text, Acts XI : 24.
His remains lie besides those of his second wife and three of his children in the cemetery of Pisgah (now New Washington) church. His tombstone is a plain marble slab, inscribed with his name, age, date of his death, and the text of the commemorative discourse. He was a good man, full of the Holy Ghost and of faith, and "much people was added unto the Lord."
COLONEL JOHN ARMSTRONG.
Colonel John Armstrong was born in New Jersey April 20, 1755, and entered the Conti- tinental army as a private soldier at the com- mencement of the Revolutionary war; was in a short time made sergeant, and from September II, 1777, to the close of the war served as a commissioned officer in various ranks. On the disbanding of the army he continued in the ser- vice. He was commandant at Wyoming in 1784, at Fort Pitt in 1785 and 1786, and from 1786 to 1790 commanded the garrison at the Falls of the Ohio, the fort being known as Fort Finney and afterwards as Fort Steuben. He was in the expeditions of Generals Harmar and St. Clair against the Indians, after which he was in command at Fort Hamilton until the spring of
1793 when he resigned. During the Revolu- tionary and Indian wars he served seventeen years, and was in thirty-seven skirmishes, four general actions, and one siege. Among these were the battles of Stony Point, Monmouth, Trenton, and Princeton, and the siege of York- town.
In 1797, Colonel Armstrong, with several other families, made a settlement opposite the Grassy flats (eighteen miles from Louisville) at what was called Armstrong's station, but in a short time he returned to Columbia, Ohio, where he resided until the spring of 1814, when he moved back to his farm at the station, and died February 4, 1816, and was buried on the farm.
While in command at Fort Finney (situated on the Indiana bank at the lower end of what is now known as the old town of Jeffersonville), the Indians made frequent incursions into Ken- tucky, and with a view to prevent the savages from fording the Ohio at the Grassy flats and Eighteen-mile Island bar, at both of which, par- ticularly at the Flats, the river was fordable at a low stage, Colonel Armstrong built a block-house at the mouth of Bull creek, on the Indiana shore. While his men were engaged in building the block-house, he, with his tomahawk, girdled the timber on about three acres of land on top of the hill opposite the Grassy flats and planted peach seeds in the woods. When the first set- tlers came to the Illinois Grant and landed at the big rock, or Armstrong's station, in the fall after Wayne's treaty, they found the timber dead and fallen down, and the peach trees growing among the brush and bearing fruit. The settlers cleared away the brush, and this woody orchard supplied them with fruit for some years.
WILLIAM PLASKET
was a member of one of the five families that made the settlement in 1797 at Armstrong's sta- tion, and was one of those sturdy, reliable, brave men who assisted in settling Clark county and lived to see the fruit of his labors, dying at an advanced age in 1854, at Bethlehem, the town which he had assisted in laying out in 1800.
In a letter dated September 9, 1812, Mr. Plas- ket, writing from the station to Colonel Arm-
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strong, refers to the attack made by the Indians on the settlement on the frontier of the county (known as the Pigeon Roost massacre) on the 3d instant, in which he states twenty-one persons were killed and one wounded. The killed were mostly women and children, only two men being killed, some seven men making their escape, who supposed they killed two or three Indians before they left the ground. Six houses were burned by the Indians. The Indians fled in haste, but were followed and overtaken the next evening by a party of rangers at the Driftwood fork of the White river, who killed two Indians and wounded one and recaptured three horses loaded with plunder that had been taken the evening before. "The alarm was so great the people fled in every direction. The cowards fled across the river; the heroes flew to the field of battle. There were a hundred good fellows there in a few hours after the alarm was spread."
R. S. BRIGHAM, M. D.
R. S. Brigham, M. D., of New Albany, In- diana, was born in Bradford county, Pennsyl- vania, June 16, 1832, and grew up among the hills of that rough and mountainous region of the State. His father was a farmer, and like many of the owners of small farms in this rough and rocky country, was unable to give his chil- dren many of the advantages of an education, and the doctor being the eldest of a family of nine children, was early trained to hard daily work upon the farm ; but this sort of a life being illy suited to his tastes, he, at an early period in life, resolved to acquire an education, fully realiz- ing the great task before him, and that he must depend upon his own resources and energy, and also must aid in supporting his younger brothers and sisters, as his father was a poor man and in poor health. But having inherited from his mother a great desire for knowledge in regard to the phenomena ever being displayed in the beau- tiful physical world around us, and therefore with enthusiasm and determination to succeed, he commenced the study of various branches of philosophy. In early youth, being compelled to work hard all day upon the farm, and though at night weary and needing rest, he would neverthe- less study late and early. And often after a hard
day's work, when puzzled with abstruse questions in his algebra or geometry he would walk over three miles to talk with and get instructions from a teacher friend, and return in the morning in time for the day's work. He worked on in this way until he had fitted himself to teach public school. His studious habits now well established, -enabled him to fit himself for college, and at the age of twenty-one entered college. And he recol- lects no happier period in all his past life than when riding on the railroad toward old Dickin- son college. After leaving college Dr. Brigham engaged again in teaching in high schools for a year or two, and then spent several years in giv- ing public lectures upon scientific and philosoph- ical subjects, in the meantime spending all his leisure in studying his chosen profession, that of medicine. He attended his first course of medical lectures at the Medical college of Ohio in Cincinnati.
In 1857 he made the acquaintance of Miss Mary Goe, daughter of one of the leading farmers of Greene county, Ohio. The amiability and genial character of this young lady won his heart, and he gave her his hand in marriage, and April 10, 1860, their fortunes were united, and they have journeyed along life's pathway as husband and wife from that day to this, and so happily that his love is more earnest than when first they started, for his truly good and noble wife. Six children have been the fruit of this union, five of whom are now living-four boys and one girl.
During the war of the Rebellion Dr. Brigham enlisted in the United States navy on the Missis- sippi river, and by promotion was made an act- ing assistant surgeon. After the war closed, and after graduating in the Homeopathic Medical college of Missouri, he established himself in general practice of medicine in Cairo, Illinois. Close attention to business made him successful, and enabled him to accumulate a handsome property in the course of ten years. A seeming tempting offer came to him now to go to Indi- anapolis, Indiana, and here, though successful in the practice of medicine, he committed the greatest financial mistake of his life by permitting himself to become involved with a fellow-phy- sician to such an extent as to cause the loss of all his property, which so discouraged him that he quit for a time the practice of medicine, and
66*
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HISTORY OF THE OHIO FALLS COUNTIES.
went to Cincinnati, Ohio, as agent for a loan as- sociation, which proved a sham, and while in Cincinnati he improved the time by attending the hospitals and colleges, both allopathic and homeopathic, and received a general brushing up in the medical sciences in this Athens of the West. He now determined to return to the practice of medicine, and upon looking around- for a field and writing to his many friends in reference thereto, he concluded to cast anchor in New Albany, Indiana, being advised to do so by his friend, the eminent Dr. W. L. Breyfogle, of Louisville, Kentucky.
He came to New Albany in April, 1880, and by his affability as a gentleman, and skill as a phy- sician, very soon obtained a large and lucrative practice which is constantly growing.
Dr. Brigham is truly a self-made man, having in his youthful days not only to educate himself but to aid his father in the support of a large family, because of the poor health of his father who was also a poor man, and over $2,000 of money, his first earnings, were freely given to aid in supporting and educating his brothers and sisters. He has ever maintained an unsullied reputation as a gentleman, and always been a highly respectable citizen in whatever community he has resided. He is a progressive man who, by hard study and careful reading, endeavors to keep apace with the advancement of medical science and the general scientific progress of the day. He has been a lecturer upon scientific subjects, and frequently by invitation read papers before scientific and literary bodies upon physi- ology, astronomy, biology, evolution, and kindred topics. He is a member of the American Institute of Homeopathy, the Indiana Institute of Homeopathy, and the Morris County Home- opathic Medical society, and also has been a member of many literary and scientific associa- tions.
He has never felt it necessary or best for him to unite with any church organization, always believing that a religious life was best set forth in an uniform devotion to becoming better and wiser every day of life, and that all humanity must work out salvation by deeds instead of creeds; that is, show the Christian virtues by works, fit offerings upon the altar of a true and upright life. He has endeavored to be a kind husband and father and true friend.
WILLIAM SANDS,
born in Harrison county, near Laconia, February 20, 1838, located in New Albany, Indiana, Floyd county, in the year 1865. Mr. Sands was raised upon his parents' farm, until he was twenty years of age. He then married Miss Margaret Spen- cer, of Harrison county, and located in the southern part of Illinois. He then embarked in the wagon-making business, and remained in that business a short time. He then taught school for one session. The late war broke out between the North and South. Then Mr. Sands came back with his family to his old home in Harrison county. Mr. Sands then enlisted as a soldier in the Thirty-eighth regiment Indiana volunteers, Colonel Scribner commanding. Mr. Sands took part in quite a number of hard fought battles. Amongst the principal ones were Stone River, Chickamauga, battle of Perryville, battle of Missionary Ridge, battle of Peach-tree Creek, and the siege of Savannah. Mr. Sands was a true soldier, always ready for duty, and battled bravely as a good soldier for his country and its flag. Mr. Sands then returned in 1863, one year before his term had expired in his first en- listment. In 1864 his regiment came home on a furlough, and remained a short time, and then returned back to the field of battle. He was with General Sherman on his march to the sea. The last battle that Mr. Sands took part in was at Jonesboro. It was a hard fought battle. It lasted eight hours. He witnessed the surrender of General Johnston's army, the flower of the Southern Confederacy. He took part in the grand review at Washington, D. C., which was one of the United States of America's proudest days. Then the Fourteenth army corps came to Louisville, Kentucky, in which Mr. Sands be- longed. Then his regiment went to Indianap- olis, and was mustered out of service. He then received his honorable discharge, July 15, 1865. He then returned home in Harrison county, and remained a short time. He then came to New Albany and located permanently, in 1865, and embarked in the huckster business. He carried on that business for some time, then, in 1868, he established a grocery and produce business, which he still carries on. His business house is located on Main street, between Lower Eighth and Ninth. Mr. and Mrs. Sands have had nine chil- dren, three of whom are dead.
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HISTORY OF THE OHIO FALLS COUNTIES.
JOSIAH GWIN.
Josiah Gwin was born in the village of Lanes- ville, Harrison county, Indiana, January 28, 1834. At the age of eight years he removed to New Albany, Indiana, with his father's family. His education was limited to the grammar grade of the common schools of the city, and in 1850 he quit school to join a surveying party un- der Captain E. G. Barney, who was employed by the then New Albany & Salem railroad to extend the road to Michigan City.
In the spring of 1852, at the death of his father, Thomas Gwin, then sheriff of Floyd county, the subject of this sketch accepted em- ployment under Martin H. Ruter, as clerk in a grocery store. In the year of 1853 Mr. Ruter was appointed postmaster of New Albany under Franklin Pierce's administration, but died shortly after his appointment and before he had accepted the place. Phineas M .. Kent was appointed in Mr. Ruter's place, and Josiah Gwin was selected as his clerk. Mr. Kent held the office but a short time, and Frank Gwin, a cousin of Josiah Gwin, was appointed, and the latter was con- tinued as clerk until the year 1856, when he was nominated as the Democratic candidate for county recorder. Mr. Gwin was elected by a majority of one vote, but owing to the intensity of party spirit and the closeness of the vote, the election was contested, and Mr. Gwin was un- fairly defeated.
In the fall of 1856 Mr. Gwin accepted the city editorship of the New Albany Ledger, and con- tinued in that capacity until the summer of 1860, when he was again nominated for recorder of Floyd county. He was elected over his opponent, who contested his election four years before, by a majority of nine hundred and eighty-one votes. In the fall of 1864 he was re-elected by a large majority and held the office until November 16, 1869.
In the spring of 1871 he was appointed ap- praiser, to fix the value of real estate of New Albany.
During the latter part of July, 1871, in con- nection with James V. Kelso and Charles E. Johnson, Mr. Gwin established the New Albany Daily and Weekly Standard, which paper, about one year afterwards, absorbed and consolidated with the Daily and Weekly Ledger. The paper
was named The Ledger-Standard. Mr. Gwin was editor of the paper until the spring of 1881, when he sold his interest therein and for awhile retired from journalism.
On the 22d of June, 1881, Mr. Gwin again entered the journalistic ranks by founding the Public Press, a weekly newspaper, at New Al- bany, and is at this time its editor and pro- prietor.
Mr. Gwin was the first president of the South- ern Indiana Editorial association, which organ- ization was effected at Columbus, Indiana, in May, 1875. He was afterwards chosen as its treasurer.
In January, 1881, at the organization of the State Democratic Editorial association, Mr. Gwin was elected as its treasurer for one year.
CHAPTER XXXV.
CLARK COUNTY SETTLEMENT NOTES.
John L. P. McCune, a native of Jessa- mine county, Kentucky, came to Clark county in 1816, engaged in making shoes and boots; was engaged in farming part of his time, had a farm near Memphis on which he resided part of his time; was one of the gallant young Kentuck- ians that responded to the call of Governor Shelby, and marched to the Canada frontier, and was in Colonel Trotter's regiment, which was the first regiment in the battle of the Thames, on the 15th of October, 1813, when Proctor was defeated and Tecumseh was killed, which gave peace to the Northwestern frontier. Mr. Mc- Cune has arrived at the advanced age of eighty- nine, and is uncommon sprightly for a man of his age.
John Lutz was born in Lincoln county, North Carolina, in 1802. He came to Clark county in 1806 with his parents, David and Catherine Lutz, who were among the first settlers here. He has resided continuously in Charlestown township since 1806. He married Miss Barbara Dellinger, also of Lincoln county, North Caro- . lina. They have had ten children, five of whom are still living, viz: David (deceased), Nor- man (deceased), Albion, Oscar, John (deceased), Anna (deceased), Isaac, Frank, Mary (deceased),
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George K. Mr. and Mrs. Lutz have been mem- bers of the Methodist church for many years. In politics Mr. Lutz is a Democrat.
Avery Long was born in Scott county, Ken- tucky, in 1808, and came to Clark county, Indi- ana, in 1816, with his father, Elisha Long, who settled on the farm now occupied by Avery, the only surviving son. In 1829 Avery Long married Miss Mary Goodwin, daughter of Judge Goodwin .. She died in 1839. She was the mother of two children, Catherine and Willis, both deceased. In 1851 Mr. Long married Miss Sophia Bottorff. They have two children- Martha Jane, wife of James H. Peyton, of this township, and John Elisha. Mr. Long is a strong Democrat. He has held several local offices ; was county treasurer nine years, town- ship trustee three years, and county commis- sioner six years. Mr. Long has a large farm well improved.
James C. Crawford was born in Clark county in 1817, and has always resided here. His father, William Crawford, came from Virginia in 1814. He had married, previous to coming, Miss Sarah McCormack. They had three chil- dren born in Virginia and four in Clark county. Of these only three are now living, viz: Josiah, Mrs. Mary Ann Taggart, and James C. Mr. Crawford is one of the oldest of the natives of Clark county.
Sam P. Lewman, of Clark county, was born in Charlestown July 30, 1834. He early lived on a farm, and was educated in the country schools and in Oberlin college, Ohio; taught school two years. Was trained in the Jeffersonian school of Democracy, but under the exciting contest in the Kansas troubles, experienced what might be termed a change of heart, and voted and worked for free speech, free Kansas, and Fremont. Studied law under Thomasson & Gibson, in Louisville, Kentucky; took the junior course of lectures in the law department of the university of that city. He was married April 3, 1860, to Ann E. Holman, of Charlestown township, and then abandoned the law and went to farming. Was elected justice of the peace in 1864, and held that office seven years. Was nominated by the Republicans of his county for the State Leg- islature of Indiana, and in the contest reduced the Democratic majority from 1,290 to less than 700. During the war he was a private in the
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