USA > Ohio > Memoirs of the lower Ohio valley, personal and genealogical : with portraits, Volume I > Part 12
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GEORGE W. NEVITT (deceased) was born at Lawrenceburg, Dearborn county, Ind., April 13, 1829, and during his day was one of the leading farmers of the county. His parents, David and Eliza (French) Nevitt, came from Pennsylvania some time in the twenties and settled at Lawrenceburg, where the father for some time followed his trade of hatter, but in later years engaged in farming. George W. grew to manhood in Dearborn county, obtaining his education in the old-fashioned log schoolhouse, and at the age of twenty-six years bought a farm of his own. To this first purchase he added from time to time until at the time of his death he owned 370 acres of good land, well improved and in a fine state of cultivation. On Jan. 27, 1857, he was married to Ann M. Stewart, a daughter of Silas and Mary (Hendricks) Stewart, who were also immigrants from Pennsylvania. Thomas Hendricks, the father of Mrs. Nevitt, came from Pennsylvania at an early date and was the founder of the city of Greensburg, Ind., where he passed his last days. George W. and Mary Nevitt were the parents of four children. The youngest died in infancy ; Stewart S. and his brother John D., the second and third of the family, live upon the old homestead; and David L. died in childhood. The father of these children died on June 27, 1886. Since
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the death of the father the two sons have added to the homestead until they now own about 600 acres of as good land as there is in Dearborn county, and are numbered among the progressive and successful farmers of Southeastern Indiana. They are on one of the rural free delivery routes, have telephone connection, etc., and get about all the comforts out of life that are possible. Both are Repub- licans in political matters though neither is particularly active in political work.
JOHN E. HEUSTIS, a farmer of Manchester township, Dearborn county, Ind., was born in that county, Aug. 14, 1839, and is a son of Elias and Sarah (Ellis) Heustis, the former a native of New York and the latter of Pennsylvania. They came to Indiana some time in the twenties, located in Dearborn county, bought a tract of eighty acres of wild land, and lived the life of the pioneers until their death. Elias Heustis at the time of his death in 1896 was the owner of 450 acres of good land. He was a Quaker and was one of the best men 'in the county. He was twice married, having one child by his first wife and a family of eight children by his second wife. Rhoda, the daughter of the first wife, married Absalom Hall and since his death makes her home with relatives. Of the second wife's children Lavinia is the widow of Sanford Mendell; Benjamin is deceased : William is a farmer of Dearborn county ; John E. is the fourth child and the subject of this sketch; Hannah married Jeremiah Watkins, now deceased, and lives in Kansas; Abigail married Thomas Johnston, a farmer of Dearborn county; Mary is the widow of T. T. Annis, who died in 1904, and lives in Lawrenceburg, and Oliver resides at Wilmington, Dearborn county. John E. Heustis has in his possession an old Bible, printed in 1793, which was the property of his paternal grandfather, and from the record it contains it can be learned that Elias was the fourth child in a family of eleven children born to William and Rhoda Heustis. The names and birth dates of the family are as follows: Oliver, Oct. II, 1793, Jesse, Nov. 22, 1794 ; Major, Aug. 24, 1796; Elias, May 27, 1798; James, March 6, 1800; Amy, Dec. 28, 1801; Sarah, Oct. 6, 1803; Henry, Nov. 11, 1805 ; George, April 22, 1809; Martha, March 12, 1811 ; and Hannah, Feb. 18, 1814. Mr. Heustis also owns a copy of an old newspaper con- taining an account of the death of Gen. George Washington. Elias Heustis was a soldier in the war of 1812. John E. Heustis is one of the wide-awake farmers of his community. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, as is also his wife, and he belongs to
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the Modern Woodmen of the World. In politics he is a Democrat and takes an active interest in furthering the interests of his party. Since 1902 he has been a member of the board of county commis- sioners of Dearborn county. On Oct. 14, 1869, he was married to Sara E. Walser, a native of Dearborn county and a daughter of James and Mary (Bailey) Walser, also natives of the county. For many years her father was engaged in flatboating on the Ohio river, but in later years turned his attention to agricultural pursuits and became one of the leading farmers of the county. Mr. and Mrs. Heustis have had born to them five children. Mary, the eldest, is now Mrs. M. I. Butterfield, and resides at Muncie, Ind .; Myrtle is at home with her parents; Pearl is attending the Indianapolis Business university ; John is married and lives in Indianapolis; and Scott is at home. Mr. Heustis is a believer in education and has practiced what he preaches by sending his children to school, thus giving them a good start toward solving the problems of life.
DAVID A. ANNIS, farmer, near Law- renceburg, Ind., was born in Dearborn county, of that state, Jan. 9, 1829, his parents being Thomas D. and Rhoda Annis, the former a native of New York and the latter of Massachusetts. The maternal ancestry can be traced back to Jonathan Fayerbanke, who came from England in 1633 and settled at Dedham, Mass. Thomas and Rhoda Annis came to Indiana in 1821 and settled at Law- renceburg. The father was a carpenter by trade and followed it for a short time, then entered a tract of land in Miller township, cleared and improved it, and followed farming for the remainder of life. They had a family of seven children, three of whom died in infancy and four grew to maturity. Thomas T. died in later life at Lawrenceburg, and the subject of this sketch is the only one now living. David A. Annis received a good practical education in the Lawrenceburg schools, took up the work of a surveyor and followed it for some time in his early life. In the fall of 1850 he went to Iowa, where for a few months he engaged in teaching school. Subsequently he returned to Indiana, and in 1862 bought a farm of 120 acres, part of the old homestead, in Dearborn county. In February of that year he was
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married to Mary E. Pearson, a daughter of Joseph A. Pearson, a farmer of Indiana, and they had a family of seven children, five of whom, grown to manhood and womanhood, are now living. The mother died Dec. 25, 1903. Mr. Annis has been a successful farmer, not that he has amassed wealth, but that he has cultivated a farm on the hills of the Ohio river near Lawrenceburg for forty-five years, and this farm today is more productive, in better condition and a higher state of cultivation than ever before. This is what he calls successful farming. The subject of this sketch is unassuming, charitable in disposition, and well respected by his neighbors.
WILLIAM ALONZO COTTINGHAM, a member of the firm of Cottingham & Ingham, dealers in general merchandise, at Bright, Dearborn county, Ind., was born in that county, Feb. 3, 1840. His parents were Thomas and Sarah Mills Stohms Cottingham and his paternal grandfather was George Cottingham, a member of one of the old families which came from England and settled in Maryland. He lived and died in that state, there married a woman of German descent, who, after his death, came with the family, consisting of three sons and a daughter to Cincinnati. At that time the city con- sisted of a few scattering houses and the widow Cottingham found herself upon what seemed to be the outermost edge of civilization. After a few years in Cincinnati the family came to Dearborn county, locating near Logan creek, where two of the sons, Thomas and William, opened up a farm. The third son, George, went to Illinois and there farmed until his death. William also went to Illinois and in later life to Kansas where he died in 1902, at the age of ninety- four years. Thomas remained in Dearborn county, where he was one of the typical pioneers. He died March 31, 1897, aged eighty-six years. Game was abundant. Mr. Cottingham saw bears chased by hounds, and wolves preyed upon the live stock of the early settlers. He received his education in the little log schoolhouse, with the huge fire place and puncheon floor. In addition to pulling stumps and driving oxen on the farm he learned the trade of blacksmith, which he followed for many years with a marked degree of success. In politics he was a Jackson Democrat. He and his wife were both members of the Christian church and were active in promoting its good works. They had the following children: Eliza, who married William Liddle and now lives a widow at Bright; Charlotte, deceased; William A., the subject of this sketch; Sarah, now Mrs. Joseph Haddock, lives at Harrison, O .; Jacob, deceased ; Thomas B., whose
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sketch appears on another page of this work; Matilda, now Mrs. W. S. Fagaly, of Lawrenceburg; Louisa, who died in girlhood; and two children who died in infancy. William A. Cottingham began life for himself at the age of sixteen years. Commencing at the bottom of the ladder as a farm hand at small wages he saved his money until he had accumulated a few hundred dollars, when he married and rented a farm. He prospered from the very beginning and after three years he bought ninety acres in Miller township, of Dearborn county, upon which he lived for four years, when he sold it to a good advantage and bought sixty acres adjoining the village of Bright. Shortly afterward he embarked in the mercantile line by purchasing a half interest in a general store at Bright, which he sold after four years. Some years later he formed a partnership with Robert Ingham, and they are now conducting a general store at Bright, Mr. Cottingham also managing his farm. In political mat- ters Mr. Cottingham has followed in the footsteps of his honored father and votes the Democratic ticket. He has been elected township trustee, serving with credit to himself and greatly to the advantage of the township. He has also held other minor offices. He and his family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. In Septem- ber, 1863, Mr. Cottingham was united in marriage to Miss Jane Haddock, daughter of Robert and Jane (Hargitt) Haddock. Both the Haddock and Hargitt families were among the pioneers of Dearborn county. Mrs. Cottingham's parents were born and married in
1 England; came to America in 1821, after a tedious voyage of seven weeks on a sailing vessel, and located in Dearborn county. During their long and tedious voyage a fellow-passenger declared he would agree to eat the engine of the first steamer that ventured to cross the ocean, supposing that to be an utter impossibility, though Fulton's steamboat had been plying in the waters of the Hudson river for several years. Robert Haddock was a man of fine education and native ability as a teacher and in his day was a local preacher of considerable renown in the Methodist Episcopal church. To Mr. and Mrs. Cottingham there have been born the following children: Belle, wife of B. R. White, agent of the Canadian Pacific railway, and resides in Cincinnati; Daisy, wife of M. L. Rechenbach, resid- ing at Harrison, O .; Hattie, at home; and Clyde H., who lives in Cincinnati. Mrs. Cottingham died on Aug. 21, 1902.
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FRANCIS SWALES, retired farmer and veterinary surgeon of Dearborn county, Ind., was born near London, England, May 6, 1822. His parents were George and Mary Swales, both natives of England. His father, after years of study, graduated in medicine, veterinary surgery and chemistry, and in his day was re- garded as an authority on all questions relating to live stock. In 1831 the fam- ily came to America on a sailing vessel, the voyage lasting nine weeks. They landed in Canada and from that country came to the State of New York, later descending the Ohio river on a steamboat to Lawrenceburg, Ind. Locating in Harrison township, Dearborn county, the father there practiced medicine and followed farming until he met his death by drowning in the Whitewater river. Both parents were members of the Presbyterian church. Francis studied veterinary surgery under his father; learned both the cooper and blacksmithing trades, and followed these occupations for a time, when he bought eighty acres of land and began farming. At one time he owned over 600 acres of improved land, but has given each of his children a farm. Since 1845 he has devoted the greater part of his time to the work of veterinary surgery, though in 1856 he put up a saw mill, which he operated for several years. Mr. Swales was married in 1845 to Miss Hannah Grubbs, a daughter of James Grubbs, and they had a family of four children: Sarah is now Mrs. Edward Judson; David is a farmer in Kansas; Eveline died as the wife of William Haddock; and William has a farm, that his father gave him, near the village of Bright. He is also a veterinary surgeon, making the third generation of the family to follow that calling. Mr. Swales and his family are members of the Presbyterian church. In politics he is a Democrat of the Andrew Jackson type, and is one of the best informed men in his township. He is a member of the Masonic fra- ternity and although past the age of four score still takes an interest in the work of the order. He is still hale and hearty for one of his age and believing that the laborer is worthy of his hire never asks his hired man to do unreasonable tasks. In this he shows the spirit of justice that has been his ruling motive through life, and which thas won for him the confidence and regard of his neighbors and acquaintances.
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THOMAS HARGITT, a farmer of Logan township, Dearborn county, Ind., was born in that county, Jan. 22, 1825, and is a descendant of one of the pioneer families. His father and grandfather, both of whom were named Thomas, were natives of Yorkshire, England. The father of the subject of this sketch came to this country in 1820 and the grand- father came a year later with his family. They located in Dearborn county, where the elder Hargitt bought government land for himself and sons. His wife was a Miss Jarvis, a member of one of the old English families. Thomas Hargitt, the father of the subject, married Ann Sutton, nee Mason, whose husband died on the voyage to America. She was also a native of Yorkshire. Thomas Hargitt, the subject of the sketch, attended such schools as they had in those days and by self-study, by associating with educated people at every opportunity, secured a good, practical education. His early life was passed as a farm hand or at work in a saw mill. In 1850 he purchased forty acres of land and began farming. Three years later he sold that farm and bought seventy-two acres in Logan township, to which he has added fifty-eight acres. Starting from the log cabin he has today one of the best improved farms in the county, comfortable residence, good barns and outbuildings, all telling the story of his industry and pros- perity. He was married on Sept. 8, 1850, to Mary Lynas. To this marriage there were born seven children. The eldest died young; Charles W. is now vice-president of the Syracuse university, Syra- cuse, N. Y .; Sarah is the wife of John Bonham, a Dearborn county farmer; George is a cattle raiser in Kansas; Elmer is a farmer in Jackson county, Ind .; R. N. is engaged in teaching; Jane is the wife of Howard Liddle, a Methodist minister. Mrs. Hargitt died on Oct. 20, 1870, and Mr. Hargitt married a second time, the second wife being Mrs. Sarah E. Dunn, nee Sweet, a daughter of W. P. Sweet of Butler county, O., and the widow of Dr. John G. Dunn, who died in 1885. By the second marriage his children are: Victor B., a grad- uate of Moore's Hill college and a minister of the Methodist church. In August, 1904, he started for India as a missionary. Romania, married and now living in Kansas City, Mo. Mr. and Mrs. Hargitt are both members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and for twenty-
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five years he has been superintendent of the Sunday school. In politics he is a Republican and is in every way a model citizen.
JAMES BOWTON, a well known farmer of Miller township, Dearborn county, Ind., was born in that township, Aug. 19, 1844, his parents being Charles and Nancy (Craig) Bowton. The paternal grandfather, Mack Bowton, came to the United States, with his fam- ily, consisting of a wife, four sons and one daughter, in 1832. He located in Dearborn county, where he bought a tract of wild land, which he improved and cultivated, and there lived the life com- mon to the pioneers of Southern Indiana. He was a cabinet maker by trade and died at the age of thirty-five years of cholera. All the boys had to make their own way in the world and at the age of nine- teen Charles Bowton, the father of James, left home and began life for himself. First he rented land for a few years, then bought 350 acres of his own. Later he bought land in the State of Illinois and at the time of his death owned about 500 acres in the two states. Two of his brothers still live in Illinois. Charles and Nancy Bowton had a family of five children: James, Mary J., Sarah, Elizabeth and W. W. Sarah and Elizabeth are deceased. The others are all married and are useful members of society. The father died July 15, 1902, his wife having passed away in 1888. Both were members of the Presby- terian church. James Bowton lived at home with his parents until he reached the age of thirty years, when he took charge of 100 acres of land, formerly belonging to his father, and to this he has added 50 acres more, giving him one of the best improved farms in the county. He carries on a general farming business and is regarded as one of the progressive men of his township. In politics he has followed in the footsteps of his honored father and is a Democrat. He keeps informed on the questions of the hour and votes intelligently on what- ever proposition may be submitted to the electors of the country. He was married in 1875 to Miss Ella Reese, a daughter of Jacob and Barbara Reese of Dearborn county. To this union there have been born two children: Reese C., aged twenty-eight, and Elma T., who died in 1903 at the age of twenty-four. Both were well educated, the daugh- ter being proficient in music, and the son has taught in the public schools. Mr. Bowton is a self-made man and all his success has come through his industry, his intelligence, and his habit of keeping fully in touch with the progress of the world, which enables him to take advantage of any emergency that is likely to arise.
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CHARLES WHITFIELD NOWLIN, a farmer in Miller township, Dearborn county, Ind., was born near where he now lives, Sept. 16, 1855, and is the son of Silas and Martha (Hargitt) Nowlin. The father was born in Kentucky but came with his parents to Indiana when a small boy, grew to maturity in Dearborn county, and there passed his entire life as a farmer and flatboatman on the Ohio river, following the latter occupation for a number of years when he was a young man. After giving all his attention to farming he became quite successful, but met with reverses in later life. He was twice married and reared a family of seventeen children -- seven by his first and ten by his second wife-Charles W. being the fourth child by the second marriage. Both parents died in the spring of 1891, the father on March 26, and the mother on May 17. Charles W. Nowlin attended the common schools during his boyhood days, there receiving the major portion of his education. He remained on the farm with his father until he was twenty-four years of age, when he bought the farm in Miller township where he now lives. This he has improved until he has one of the nicest and most productive farms in that part of the county. On Feb. II, 1880, soon after pur- chasing this farm, he was married to Miss Anna Judd, a daughter of Orin and Mary J. (Cook) Judd, both natives of Dearborn county, where Mrs. Nowlin's grandfather, Job Judd, was one of the pioneers. Mr. and Mrs. Nowlin have four children: Guy L., born on Nov. II, 1881, is now married, his wife having been Maude Boxell; Lulu B., born April 19, 1884; Clinton Otis, born Dec. 20, 1885; and Eva L., born May 27, 1886. The three younger children are at home with their parents. All have good educations and Eva is proficient in music. Both parents are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Nowlin believes in the farmer having some of the good things of this life as well as his city cousins. He has therefore managed to have many of the modern conveniences introduced into his home. He lives on one of the rural free delivery mail routes, giving him an oppor- tunity, which he is not slow to improve, to read the daily papers and thus keep in touch with the outside world.
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ROBERT DUCK (deceased), formerly a prominent citizen of Dearborn county, Ind., was born in Lancashire, England, Dec. II, 1827. His father, whose name was also Robert, was a wealthy farmer of Lancashire. In 1829 he came with his wife and son to America ; located at first 'at Cincinnati, but after six months they came to Dear- born county and bought a farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Miller township. Here he improved his farm until it was the best in the neighborhood, and died there in 1841. Robert took charge of the farm after the death of his father, although but fourteen years old, and continued to manage it until 1862, when he removed to Lawrenceburg and embarked in the grocery and ice business, which he continued for several years. He then retired to his summer home, two and a half miles from Lawrenceburg, and lived there for some time when he again took up his residence in the city and died there in 1887. On April 2, 1860, he was married to Catherine Ann, daughter of David and Catherine (Balte) Perine, of Yorkville, Dear- born county. Her father was a native of New York and her mother of New Jersey. Robert and Catherine Duck had four children, all daughters, viz .: Jennie K., Nettie A., Ella May, and Lilly Belle. All received good educations by governess and later in the Lawrence- burg schools, Nettie being a graduate of the high school. They were all somewhat proficient and Jennie, who is the only one now living, studied art. In his day Robert Duck was considered one of the substantial men of his county. In politics he was a Democrat and he and his wife were both members of the Methodist Episcopal church. She died June 22, 1903, and her death was sincerely mourned by a large circle of friends.
FREDERICK J. WALDO, editor and proprietor of the Rising Sun Recorder, Rising Sun, Ind., was born at Vevay, Switzerland county, of that state, Jan. 25, 1831. He is son of Otis and Sarah (Smith) Waldo, the former a native of Ohio and the latter of New York. The Waldos originally came from England. Otis Waldo was a son of Frederick Waldo, of Connecticut, and in 1814 the father and son both came to Indiana, located at Vevay, where they ran a general store for a number of years. Two years later the maternal grandparents located in the same neighborhood. Otis and Sarah Waldo had three children. Otis S., deceased; Frederick J., the subject of this sketch; and Lois, who died in infancy. After attending the common schools until he was fourteen years old Frederick was apprenticed to the printers' trade at Vevay, and from that time he has been connected
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with the newspaper business, in almost every capacity from "devil" to editor and proprietor. In 1853, when he was but twenty-two years of age, he bought the Ohio Valley Gazette, at Vevay, and changed the name to that of the Vevay Reveille, which it has ever since retained. Mr. Waldo continued to conduct this publication for ten years, when he sold out and was postmaster at Vevay for over two years. He was then for six years assistant assessor of internal revenue at Vevay. In 1873 he came to Rising Sun and bought the Recorder, of which he is still the owner and manager. Ever since he became a voter Mr. Waldo has been a consistent and intelligent Republican. His paper has always stood up for the principles of his party. A half century has elapsed since he made his first venture into the field of journalism and he is today one of the oldest and best known newspaper men in Southern Indiana. In 1852 Mr. Waldo led to the altar Miss Martha, daughter of Benjamin and Margaret Egelston, of Covington, Ky. Her father was a farmer in early life but later removed to the city of Covington, Ky., where for years he held the office of justice of the peace. Mr. and Mrs. Waldo have had born to them ten children, viz .: Emerson G., now associated with his father in business; John F., deceased ; Martha; Io, deceased; William W .; Otis B .; Sarah ; Jessie : Mary and Margaret E., both of whom died in infancy. All the boys are practical printers. Both parents and all the children are members - of the Universalist church.
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