USA > Ohio > History of the Ohio falls cities and their counties : with illustrations and bibliographical sketches, Vol. II > Part 97
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Eighth regiment, and served in the Legion. In this family there has been as yet no death in his own or that of his father.
Thomas J. Henley was one of Indiana's distin- guished sons; was the son of Jesse Henley, who emigrated from North Carolina to Clark county about the year 1800; was an enterprising farmer and accumulated considerable property; raised a large and respectable family. Thomas J. Henley was born in 1808; after having the advantages of the schools of that day, he entered the Indiana university, then presided over by Dr. Wiley. After leaving the university he was elected a Representative from Clark county, and re-elected for several years ; elected Speaker of the House in December, 1842; was one of the leading members of the Legislature; was one of the strongest opponents of the internal improvement system that was inaugurated in 1835-36. In 1836 he established the Indianian, a newspaper that advocated the election of Martin Van Buren and Colonel Richard M. Johnson. In 1843 he was elected a Representative to Congress, from the Second Congressional district of Indiana ; was re-elected in 1845-47. Went to California in 1849, for speculating purposes, and returned In 1853, when he moved his family to San Fran- cisco, California. Was appointed postmaster by President Pierce for the latter place, and was appointed afterwards naval agent for the same place; was a member of the California State Senate. Mr. Henley was an able debater, and possessed a strong mind. Joseph G. Marshall once said that he would rather meet Robert Dale Owen and Andrew Kennedy than Thomas J. Henley, in political discussion. Mr. Henley had a great many warm personal friends; he was a man that never forgot his friends; as a notable instance we refer to Mr. Henley's kindness to Mr. W. S. Ferrier, the publisher of the Clark County Record. In the spring of 1843 Mr. Ferrier engaged in the publication of the South- ern Indianian, which had been discontinued by John C. Huckleberry in 1841; during the sum- mer of 1843 Mr. Henley made his first canvass for Congress, running against Joseph L. White, the former incumbent. The Southern Indianian sustained Mr. Henley, who was elected. It was Mr. Ferrier's desire, who was then in his eigh- teenth year, to have an appointment as cadet at West Point. Mr. Henley reconimended him, and
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the War department tendered to him the ap- pointment to take effect at the expiration of the time of the then incumbent, Thomas Rodman, of Washington county, since General Rodman, and inventor of the Rodman gun. Prior to the expiration of Mr. Rodman's time, in the fall of 1844, circumstances developed which determined Mr. Ferrier to decline the cadetship. This ap- pointment was tendered to Mr. Ferrier not only on the account of personal friendship, but on the score of Mr. Henley's estimation of the per- sonal merits of a boy who had not a relative, or influential connections to wield an influence in his favor. Mr. Henley was selected on the 8th of January, 1840, as the Van Buren elector for the Second Congressional district of Indiana, and made a great many political speeches in In- diana and Kentucky.
Captain John Norris was one of the early settlers of Clark county, and had all the trials incident to a frontier life. He commanded a company at the battle of Tippecanoe. General Harrison, in his official report, complimented him and his company. He was also at Pigeon Roost when the Indians made the attack, and assisted old Mr. Collins in defending his house until night. When the Indians commenced to fire the neighboring cabins, Captain Norris and Mr. Collins left the house, Collins being killed. Captain Norris then took two children to a place of safety, went to Charlestown, gave the alarm, and then assisted in burying the bodies of those who were massacred. Captain Norris was a good citizen, an honest man, and a sincere Christian.
W. R. Kirkpatrick, an experienced and effi- cient teacher in Clark county, Indiana, was born in June, 1857. His father was chief of police in Louisville, holding that office very efficiently for several years. He was also superintendent of the workhouse for some ten or twelve years, and in all was a very prominent man. He died in September, 1880. W. R. Kirkpatrick received his education in the Bloomington college, Indi- ana, and has been teaching in all five years. His work as a teacher has earned for him some rep- utation, which he well deserves.
James Carr was born and raised in Clark county. He is the son of Joseph Carr, and a nephew of General John Carr; his mother was a daughter of James Drummond, one of the first settlers of Clark county. The mother of Mr.
Carr having been left a widow, with a large family of children, managed the farm, and ac- cumulated considerable property. Mr. Carr is a well-to-do farmer.
John Robertson is a grandson of Samuel Robertson, one of the early pioneers of Clark county, who settled near what was called the Gas- away church. He married a daughter of the late James Beggs, and is now living on the Beggs farm. He is a well-to-do farmer.
William J. Kirkpatrick was born and raised in Clark county, resides on the farm formerly owned by Governor Jennings, is a farmer and trader, has been engaged in teaching school, is a bache- lor, stayed with his mother and sisters as the head of the house, has been successful in trade, and is in good circumstances. He is an upright, honest man, and possessed of good conversational powers.
James Crawford came to Clark county, with his father, from the State of Virginia, in the spring of 1830. Mr. Crawford, by industry and economy, is now the owner of a good farm. He is a cousin of the Rev. Josiah Crawford.
C. C. White was a son of John White, who emigrated from Fayette county, Pennsylvania, in the year 1804, and settled near the Sinking fork of Silver creek. Mr. White was a tanner and carried on the tanning business for a great many years; raised a large and respectable family. He assisted in burying those who were killed at the Pigeon Roost massacre. C. C. White was born and raised in Clark county, and resides on the farm that was owned by his father. He is a well- to-do farmer, a well informed man, and a cordial, genial gentleman, and is highly respected by his fellow-citizens.
Professor John F. Baird is a native of Clark county, the son of Dr. John Baird, whose father emigrated from Ireland. Professor Baird was a graduate of Hanover college, is a Presby- terian minister, and now professor in Hanover college. He was an exemplary young man, and a close student, and bids fair to be useful in any position that he may be placed.
Mrs. Mary Ramsey was born and raised in Charlestown. She is the daughter of D. W. Daily ; was married to Howard Ramsey in 1847, is now a widow, and resides on a farm two miles south of Charlestown, it being her share of the large tract of land owned by her father.
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HISTORY OF THE OHIO FALLS COUNTIES.
George Huckleberry, Sr., was a native of Wurt- emburg, Germany. He came to America, and settled in Pennsylvania until the year 1784, when he moved to Kentucky, Jefferson county, near Abbott's station, where he had one son captured by the Indians. When the Indians found that they were pursued they killed the boy near the Twelve-mile island, which was the cause of the creek on the Kentucky side being called Huckle- berry. In the year 1796 he moved to Clark county, Indiana, near Charlestown Landing, where he purchased a large tract of land. He had seven sons and two daughters. His sons performed military duty on the frontier: Martin was in Captain Wells' company at St. Clair's de- feat; Henry was in the battle of Tippecanoe; George was one of the volunteers that went to the relief of Fort Harrison when Major Zachary Taylor, afterwards President Taylor, was besieged by the Indians. John C. Huckleberry was a son of George Huckleberry, Jr., born in 1810. He was a member of the Legislature several terms; was proprietor and editor of the Southern Indianian; postmaster from 1838 to 1841; was sheriff of Clark county from 1845 to 1847; re- moved to Missouri in 1867, and thence to Reno county, Kansas, and died August, 1879. George Huckleberry left five children, two boys and three girls. William P. Huckleberry, his youn- gest son, was born in 1819, and is now acting as a claim agent and notary public.
Andrew J. Carr is a well-to-do farmer near Charlestown, and was born in this county March 22, 1822. After completing his education in Greencastle and Hanover colleges he studied law, but never practiced the profession. He served as lieutenant in the war with Mexico, un- der Captain Gibson; was private secretary under Governor Whitcomb; was a member of the State Legislature; and about the time of the war was treasurer of Clark county four years. He was married to Miss Sarah Whiteman about the year 1851, and had by this union four children, three sons and one daughter. The oldest son, Joseph L. Carr, married Miss Ida Baldock.
M. B. Cole, merchant of Charlestown, was born in 1825 in Clark county. His father,» Christopher Cole, born in 1802, moved here in 1822, and was, during a period of sixteen years, assistant sergeant-at-arms in the House of Rep- resentatives. He also followed mercantile pur-
suits in Charlestown, but retired in 1846. Mr. M. B. Cole was educated during his early life to close business habits, and has, during his whole life, been a successful merchant, having followed that pursuit for forty years. During the war his sales run to almost an unprecedented figure, and since that time have continued good, and now he is ready to retire from active service for a quiet life. He owns a farm adjoining town, where he lives. In 1848 he was married to Miss Margaret Long. His two sons are married and in business with him.
Joseph McCombs, deceased, was born in 1814 in Clark county. His father, William McCombs, came to the county before the year 1800. In 1845 Mr. McCombs and Martha Simpson were united in marriage, and afterwards moved upon the farm now owned by Mrs. McCombs. This is a beautiful farm, consisting of one hundred and twenty eight acres of land under a high state of cultivation, with an elegant dwelling house upon it. By this marriage Mrs. McCombs is the mother of six children, three married and three single. Mrs. Mary Eweng, one daughter, lives in Missouri. Mrs. Anna Carr and Mrs. Adaline Wilson live in Clark county. One son and two daughters are as yet unmarried.
John Morrow, one of the successful and ex- perienced teachers of Clark county, was born in Charlestown June 16, 1837, in which place he grew to manhood, in the meantime receiving his education and qualifications as a teacher. He began his profession during the winter of 1858- 59, teaching in Charlestown, since which time he has had the principalship of those schools. His father, William Morrow, came from Kentucky about 1820. He was a man of more than ordinary ability, and served as magistrate of the town about thirty years. He died in 1873 at the advanced age of eighty years. His second wife, Jane Manly, mother of Professor Morrow, died in 1859. Mr. Morrow was married in the spring of 1859 to Miss Lucy Jane Collins, and has three sons and one daughter.
General John W. Simonson, lately deceased, was many years in active service in the United States army, but was retired many years ago. He had been a citizen of Clark county thirty-five years, and was well and favorably known throughout the State, and especially in South- ern Indiana. For several winters the General
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HISTORY OF THE OHIO FALLS COUNTIES.
spent his time in Florida, that climate being more favorable to his health. He was a gentleman of the old school, ever courteous, polite, and kind to all with whom he came in contact. After an illness of some time he died in December, 188r, at the advanced age of eighty-two years.
William McMillen was born in Winchester, Virginia, July 7, 1793; when eighteen months old he was brought by his parents to Fayette county, Kentucky. When eighteen years of age he learned the cabinet trade, and in 1813 became a member of Colonel Dudley's regiment to serve on the Canadian frontier; was captured by the Indians, sold by them to a Frenchman, and turned over to the British, and with sixty others exchanged after Perry's victory after an imprison- ment of one year and eight days. Returned to Lexington, Kentucky, and followed his trade. In 1817 came to Charlestown, where he con- tinued his calling until 184r, and then went to his farm where William C. McMillen was born in 1837. The latter, in 1854, married Miss Mary F. Brentlinger, and by this marriage is the father of four children. He owns a farm of two hundred and eighty-five acres of good land.
Professor A. Campbell Goodwin, superintend- ent of Clark county schools, was born in Utica, Clark county, June 3, 1846. He received his education in the schools of his township, and in 1863 was placed in charge of Number Seven hospital, Jeffersonville, as hospital steward. In 1864 he resigned and took a course in Boyd's Commercial college, Louisville, Kentucky, and completed the course in half the usual time, and was offered a principalship in the institution, but refused, and became clerk in the freight depot of the Jeffersonville, Madison & Indianapolis rail- road. He afterwards spent one year in the Ken- tucky university, and then taught in the Jefferson- ville schools. In 1869 he taught a district school with marked success, and was afterwards solicited by the patrons to remain at the same salary, $75 per month. He afterwards taught again in the Jeffersonville schools with great success. He also served as county examiner, and in 1873 was elected county superintendent, and with an exception of one year has filled the office down to the present. His official career has been in every particular satisfactory as well as successful. The length of the school term under his super-
intendence has been extended from fifty-five days to sixty-eight, and the standard of qualifica- tion has been gradually exalted. His Teachers' Manual and blanks for teachers' reports have been warmly praised by some of the best educa- tors in the land. In 1880 Professor A. C. Good- win became the Democratic nominee for the office of State superintendent.
James L. Veazey, a farmer in good cir- cumstances, lives above the town of Charles- town on Fourteen-mile creek. Mr. Veazey was married a few years since to Miss Sarah Walker. He is a good farmer, and has every convenience to promote ease and comfort. He has closely attended to the wants of his business, and has taken no part publicly in politics.
Judge Melville C. Hester, of Charlestown, is a grandson of John Mathias Hester, who was born in Hanover, Germany, July 4, 1767, emigrated to Philadelphia in 1772. His father not being able to pay for this family passage (price sixty pounds), they were sold into servitude for a term of years to pay the debt. The family remained in hard and cruel bondage for the space of twelve months, and after serving a year, the cruel tyrant compelled him to pay the sixty pounds money he had borrowed before he would grant him and his family their freedom. John Mathias Hester emigrated to Kentucky when nineteen years old, and descended the Ohio on a flat-boat, making narrow escapes from the Indians. On one occasion a party of them headed by a white man, after failing to decoy them ashore, fired many shots into their boat. After arriving in Louisville, Mr. Hester teamed a great deal, and on one occasion, in removing two families from the Pond settle- ment to Shelbyville, were fired on at a place called Benny Hughes station, by a party of Indians, two of the company wounded, and Mr. Hester shot above the left eye with a rifle ball, which broke his skull, but did not enter the brain. He immediately dismounted, and would have escaped, being fleet of foot, but the stream- ing blood from his wound obstructed his sight, and after a run of one hundred and seventy-five yards he was overtaken, tomahawked,* and scalp- ed, from which he, however, survived. Eighteen months after this event, he was married to Miss Susan Huckleberry, and in 1799 moved to a
* The ax glanced, only chipping the skull.
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HISTORY OF THE OHIO FALLS COUNTIES.
tract of land adjacent to the present site of Charlestown, and a mile and a half from Tuley- town, known afterwards as Springville. He raised a large family of children, of whom Rev. George K. Hester, the father of Judge Hester, was the oldest son. He became a minister of the gospel in the Methodist Episcopal church, and con- tinued as such until his death, a period of fifty- six years. He died September 2, 1874. Craven P. Hester, the second son, became a distinguished lawyer, and judge of the circuit court in the State of California. Uriah A., another son, was a physician. Milton P., another son, became a farmer in Illinois. There were also two daughters who married prominent men. Rev. George Knight Hester married Miss Briggs in 1820, and had seven sons, two of whom died in infancy. Four of them, Francis A., Mathias A., William M., and Andrew B., became Methodist minisers, and have served with a zeal worthy of their calling. Judge Hester, the youngest of the family, was born in Scott county, Indiana, January 20, 1834. He was educated at Asbury university, Indiana, in 1855, and attained to the highest average class standing for scholarship and deportment, but graduated at the University of Bloomington, Indiana. He studied law, and engaged in the practice of his profession in 1857, in partnership with Judge Baker, afterwards Governor Baker, and in 1859 removed to Charlestown, where he has since remained. In 1870 he was appointed by Governor Baker as prosecuting attorney of the Twenty-seventh judicial circuit, and after- wards appointed judge of that circuit court to fill an unexpired term of six months. He was married to Miss Mariah S. Williard, of Vander- burg county, Indiana, December 27, 1855, and his children by this marriage are all living. His mother, Bence Briggs, was born in Scotland, December 12, 1789, and died at his house Sep- tember 9, 1878. In 1820 she and Judge Scott organized a Sunday-school, said to have been the first in the State, in the old court-house. She was a well-educated woman, and had a re- markable intellect, and was held in high esteem by those who knew her.
S. Conner, of Otisco, owner of the Otisco Champion mill, was born in Clark county, March 24, 1837. Learned the blacksmith trade and followed that pursuit until April, 1863, then with the earnings saved started a general store,
which he kept in operation until 1879. He then built the large Champion mill, for the man- ufacture of staves and heading, and put in the latest and most approved machinery, his saw being the largest used. He runs a force of six- teen men in this shop, also sixteen men in his shop at the Louisville Cement company, for whom he is manufacturing this year on a contract forty thousand barrels. In 1860 he was mar- ried to Miss Mary A. Reid, and has eight chil- dren. He is a self-made man and has always been successful in business.
Dr. W. W. Faris, a native of Clark county, was born in 1822; received a good education at the academy of Charlestown, afterwards gradu- ated in Hanover college; attended the Louis- ville Medical university in 1849 and 1850, and practiced his profession for two years, after which he carried on farming. He served his county as surveyor from 1856 till 1874, and is deputy county surveyor at this time. He was married in 1850 to Miss Sarah Comb and has three chil- dren. His maternal grandfather was John Work, one of the earliest settlers of the township and the builder of the famous tunnel at his mill, one of the first in the county. He also originated the name, the Nine-penny mill, by building it him self, taking, as help from his neighbors, but nine- pence from each.
Charles Long, a native of Clark county, is a son of Benjamin Long, an old resident born and raised in the county. About the year 1843 he was married to Miss McCormick and from this union has thirteen children, four of whom are now married. Mr. Charles Long is an active, industrious young man, twenty-three years of age, and still remains on his father's large farm, _ consisting of some four hundred acres of choice land near Charlestown. He is unmarried.
C. Hufford was born in Woodford county, Kentucky, January 1, 1806. His parents died when he was quite young. At the age of four- teen he came to Indiana, settling soon after in Bethlehem. He received a common school edu- cation, and afterwards learned the blacksmith trade, though his principal occupation was that of a farmer. He was married in 1827 to Mary Cameron, daughter of Robert and Elizabeth Cameron, who came at an early date from Ken- tucky. Their family consisted of six children, four only of whom are living-Elizabeth, Isabelle,
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HISTORY OF THE OHIO FALLS COUNTIES.
James, and John. About the year 1840 he went to Iowa, where he remained about five years. His wife died in the year 1850. On the 28th day of September, 1852, he married Elizabeth J. Bell, a native of Kentucky, who was born there April 21, 1827. They had a family of two chil- dren; Francis A. is still living. Politically he was a Democrat, and was a member of the Pres- byterian church. He was retiring in disposition and honest and upright, and possessed the esteem of all. He was a kind father and good husband. He died October 10, 1880.
Jolın Hufford, the youngest son of G. and Mary Hufford, was born in Clark county, Indi- ana, March 25, 1841. He was educated in the common school, and is by occupation a farmer. He resided in Bethel township, Clark county, until about the year 1868, when he moved to Missouri, where he farmed about nine years. At the expiration of this time he sold his property there and moved to Switzerland county, Indiana, where he has lived until the present time. No- vember 10, 1861, he married Margaret, daughter of Franklin and Sarah Bradley. Their family consists of eight children: Elmer, Cornelius, Emma, Oscar, Walter, Sarah, Alice, and Mary.
Jacob Boyer was born near Lexington, Ken- tucky, March 11, 1803. When he was a boy his father, Philip Boyer, who was a saddler by trade, emigrated to the farm where his daughters now reside. Philip's wife was Barbara Liter. They reared a family of six children, Jacob being the eldest. Jacob Boyer was a shoemaker by trade, but devoted most of his time to farming. He was educated in the common schools, and spent the greater part of his life on the homestead. In November, 1833, he married Jane Kelly, daughter of Captain William and Margaret Kelly. She was born January 6, 1811. They had a family of eleven children, ten of whom lived to maturity. He was a consistent Christian and elder in the Presbyterian church. He was a man of rather retiring disposition, and though a Republican he never mingled much in politics. Mr. Boyer was an honored and respected citizen. His wife survived him only a short time, dying August 26, 1879.
William Kelly, Jr., was born in Bethlehem township August 26, 1812. He is the ninth child of William Kelly, who was born in Vir- ginia in 1773, and emigrated with his parents at 67*
the age of five years to Kentucky; there they remained in a fort riearly five years before they dared go out to locate farms. Though his ad- vantages for an education were those only afforded by backwoods schools, he certainly ini- proved his opportunities. Was raised a farmer ; married Margaret Kelly, a cousin, and a Virgin- ian by birth, and who was raised in Knox county, Tennessee. They have had born to them thir- teen children, four of whom died when they were small. At this writing two sons and two daugh- ters are living. In March, 1806, he emigrated to Clark county, Indiana, and entered the tract of land in Bethlehem township where his son William now lives. He was a Whig in politics and a man of worth and influence, and was a prominent factor in the settlement and organiza- tion of the county. He died. June 27, 1837, his wife surviving him until September 13, 1854. William Kelly, Jr., being the son of a pioneer, had poor opportunities for schooling, devoting all his time, from childhood up, to farming. On the 4th day of May, 1858, he married Elizabeth Ann Starr. They have one child, Rhoda G., born January 25, 1864. Mr. Kelly is politically a Republican. He is a consistent Christian and commands the highest respect of his neighbors.
John T. Hamilton was born in Bethlehem township, Clark county, Indiana, August 14, 1822. He is the oldest child of William Ham- ilton, a native of Franklin county, Kentucky, who was born in 1790. His father's name was Archibald Hamilton, and a native of Rockbridge county, Virginia. William received a common school education, and learned the tanner and currier trade, of his older brother, Robert. Wil- liam and his mother, whose name was Sarah, and two sisters, Elizabeth and Margaret, came to this county in 1812, landing March 25th. At that time it was in the woods. They located on the place where John now lives. He erected a tan- nery and engaged in that business, at the same time looking after the interests of the farm. In this he engaged till his death, which occurred March 19, 1845. Though he took an active part in politics as a Whig, he never sought nor held an office. He was an active man, and did well his part in building up the new county. On the 30th day of October, 1821, he married Mar- garet Byers, who was born near McBride's mill, Woodford county, Kentucky, April 14, 1795,
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