Gibson County, Indiana - Chapter with an unread heading (no. 3 of those read), 1914

Chapter with an unread heading (no. 3 of those read)

To the ])resent inhaljitants, whose ancestcjrs were pioneers in Gibson county, this chapter will Ije of unusual interest. The mere mention of names and families will bring to mind some story often related by father, mother or grandparents concerning the hardships endured by pioneers. Yet not all was hard work and trials, for the pioneer had a cheerful heart and his family growing up around liim looked into the future with a hope that made life worth living every day. The simple life, simple diet and the easy-going customs of our forefathers made health and strength, and character as well.

From the pen of J. R. Strickland, in the centennial numljer of the Princeton Clarion-News, March, 1913, appeared the following graphic account of the county's first actual settler, John Severns, and, with the permission of the publishers, we here quote the same :

The wholesouled honesty and manly honor of John Severns are the two principal things that enabled him to lay claim to the proud distinction of being the first white settler to tread the soil now comprised of Gibson county. These two characteristics were demanded of him by the Indians and John Severns was equal to the occasion. It was a test that taxed the power of human endurance. However, in the confidence game of Indian versus White Man this fellow Severns was a close rival to the great Williaui Penn.

The coming of the first white settler to Gibson county was preceded by a thrilling and tragic incident, the scene of which was enacted in Virginia. A natives of Wales, Severns came with his parents to America several )'ears before the Revolutionary war. When the war for independence was declared, John Severns answered the trumpet's call for volunteers. On the occasion of the first visit home with his parents, some months later, a band of bloodthirsty Indians swooped down on the family one evening and took them prisoners. The father, mother, sister and younger brother were killefl, while John and an elder brother were kept as prisoners.

John Severns remained a prisoner seven long years. At divers times he sought to escape, but his captors were too cunning for him, and under threats of death Secerns was compelled to adjust himself to the new life and its environments. In adopting the garb and manners of the Indians, John Severns undoubtedly presented an amusing spectacle. He was a short, heavy-set man, of powerful build, and the feathers and paint furnished liim by the Indians did not help his appearance as a red man !

The years rolled on, but Severns was none the less watchful fur the favorable moment of escape and one day, at the close of his seventh year in the captivity of the Indians, he made the use of an opportunity to break for liberty. It was several hours before the chief of the tribe discovered the absence of Severns. The old chief dispatched a number of his fleet-footed warriors along the route supposed to have been taken by the escaped prisoner. However, they failed to strike the trail. Severns knew the value of time. He made for the borders of civilization with all possible haste. He arrived in Pennsylvania some months later. His brother continued to live with the Indians and finally wooed and married one of the squaws and reared a family of children.

Soon after Se^'erns arrived in Pennsylvania lie married. Prior to his capture l_iy the Indians he had Iieen carefully instructed in mathematics by his father and, following his escape, Severns acquired a knowledge of surveying and assisted the government surve3^ors in ]\Iar}dand and Kentuckv. In 1789 he penetrated the wilderness of the Northwest territory with his family and settled on the south bank of the Patoka river, at a place now known as Severns Bridge. The family resorted to the caverns of the rocks for protection against inclement weather and bands of savage Indians. The family lived as cave dwellers for several months, before the Indians permitted Severns to construct a rude hut of boughs, skins and other materials.

By his knowledge of dialects and their customs and habits, Severns was enabled to make friends of the Indians inhabiting that region. On the opposite bank of the Patoka river was an Indian village, the remnants of a Shawnee tribe. Old Trackwell. chief of this tril)e, was morose, cruel and vindictive in nature. His imperial residence consisted of a numlaer of wigwams. He studiousl}- avoided the formality of an introduction to Severns and had not the first white settler possessed a great address and an honorable l^earing, as well as a commendable degree of the spirit of forgiveness, old Trackwell would have succeeded in routing Severns and his family. But the first white settler was a post-graduate in the confidence-winning game aiul so successful was he in applying the arts of peace and harmony that ukl Trackwell descended from his liigh perch and sought an understanding with his pale-faced stranger.

Severns was allowed to continue his residence in that region and to establish a ferry upon the conditions that he keep "hre water" for the Indians ,and allow them the free use of his ferry. Severns readily and willingly agreed to the conditions imposed upon him by the Indians. He had no desire to violate the obligation with his neighbor. It was his nature to be upright and honorable in all his dealings with his fellow men. The whole-souled honesty and manly honor of John Severns deeply impressed the Indians upon more than one occasion. He smoked a council pipe with them frequently and his influence with the ditf'erent tribes was largely instrumental in preserving peace after the arrival of other white settlers.

Severns was often called upon to act as inlcri)reter for the triljc and negotiate with the Indian agent. In due time he became an indispensible quantit}- with all the tribes that roamed and hunted (ner the vales of Gibson county. He rarely refused an opportunity to join the different chiefs and their warriors on fishing and hunting expeditions. .SeAcrns took an active part in Indian sports and, according to traditions, he and old Trackwell engaged in a friendly sprint one day and when Se\'erns was declared the winner old Trackwell was enraged and danced about Severns, giving several terrifying war whoops. Another race was run and old Trackwell, through the kindness of Severns, won easily. The envious old chief was pacified.

The Miamis claimed ownership to part of the land in the connnunity where the first white settler established his home. They had a fort on the south side of the r.iver. a short distance from the present site of the ]'at(jka bridge. Old Xever-Sleep. the grand sachem of the Miamis, allowed the coming of the while man to disturb him but little and while he was friendly to Severns. the old chief did not go out of his way to increase liis acquaintance with the settlers.

When Severns came tri Gibson county he brought apple and peach seeds from Kentucky and cultivated a few trees and ])rior to 1S02 he had apple and peach trees in bearing.

Severns was made a Mason in ^\^illiamsburgh, A'irginia, in 1776. One of his descendants has a certificate of Lodge No. 457. issueil to Severns by that lodge, June 20, 1776, and it is signed by William W'addell. worshipful master; John Rowsay, senior warden: John Dixon, junior warden. Severns

A son of Severns acquired a know ledge of the Indian tongue and acted as one of the interpreters for General Harrison during the Indian troubles and at the battle of Tippecanoe. For this service a small tract of land was afterward awarded his children by the general government.

Following John Severns, the next settlers in Gibson county were Gervas and Daniel Hazelton and their families. Gervas Hazelton kept a ferry on White river and was a well known pioneer. The town of Hazelton is named in his honor.

Before going into details regarding the various pioneer families, it will be best to state that in 1802 John Johnson and family moved to Gibson county from Kentucky on pack-horses and settled a mile west of the present city of Princeton. In 1803 William Flargrove and family came from Kentucky on pack-mules and took up a tract of land to the north of Princeton. In the same year Joseph Milburn, of Kentucky, settled in the northern portion of the county, lietween Patoka and ^Yhite rivers. In 1805 came James ^Ic- Clure, with his mother and family; also the following year with their families : Thomas Montgomery, Judge Isaac Montgomery, Gen. Robert M. Evans, Joseph Neely, Jesse Kimball, James Wheeler, and possibly a few more. Among those who located near Princeton in 1807 were William Harrington, John Woods, Thomas and William Archer, John Benson, Jesse and Asa Music, Mathias and Smith Mounts. Capt. Jacob Warrick settled near Owensville in the same year. In 1808 came in Rev. Stephen Strickland, William Clark, Rev. Alexander Devin, Gary and William Wilkinson, Major James Smith, John Braselton and others. Robert McGary and John Armstrong came to the county in 1809. About this date. settlers began to come in more rapidly. Some of those whose descendants are *best known in Princeton at this time were Eli Strain, who settled in Gibson county in 1810, and Jesse Emerson, James Knowles, Elisha Embree and Andrew Gudgel, 181 1. After this time the country was settled so rapidly it is hard to mention all of those who here sought a home.

In the summer of 1810 the people became alarmed on account of the conspirac}- of old Tecumseh, the famous Indian chieftain who lived in the north part of the state. The Indians said the white people were taking all the land away from them and were trying to drive them out of the state and everyone was afraid the Indians would make a raid on the towns and settlements all over the state. In order to protect themselves, the people built forts or stockades, where they could all get together and defend themselves against the savages. Three forts were built in Patoka township at that time. Fort Branch, Fort Hopkins, near the old Archer cemetery, northwest of the city of Princeton, and the stockade at William Harrington's, on the McCurdy place, a mile and a half west of Princeton. Although no fighting took place with the Indians in southern Indiana at that time, yet the fear of being killed b)- an' Indian kept many people from settling here during 1810 and 1811.

Now, to give more in detail the circumstances under which the settlement was made in this county, it may be stated that David Robb was the pioneer of the Robb family in Gibson county. In the year 1800 he settled with his family on a tract of land a half mile south of the present town of Hazelton. He began housekeeping in a camp; subsequently cleared a small ])iece of land, erected a log cabin and made a farm. He \\as a native of Ireland. His father, James, and mother, Margaret Robb (nee Barr), with their two small children, Thomas and James, took passage in a sailing vessel at a port in Ireland for America in the year 1773, and landed in Philadeljjhia. It was their intention t(» bring young David, then two years of age, with them, ])ut his grandfather Barr, just at the moment when the stage-plank was being removed and the \essel spreading her canvas to sail, picked up his little grandson David and carried him ashore. He kept him at the okl house until the vear 1776, when, accompanied by his nurse, he sent him over to join his parents, who were then living in Philadelphia. During the Revolutionary struggle they in different places in Pennsylvania until the year 1786, when they removed to Kentucky. They settled about ten miles from the Falls of the Ohio, now the site of Louisville, at a place not far from Mann's Lick. Here David was employed a few years assisting to make salt, his father engaged in farming, and in 1800 he followed his son to Indiana Territory and settled near Severns' Ijridge, then Severns' ferry. The tract of land on which he settled was afterward known as Yellow spring, and it was there that the wife of James and mother of David Rolib died in the year 1807. He lived there a number of years, then moved to Posey county, and finally returned to Jefferson county, Kentucky, where he died in the year of about 1825, at the residence of his son, Henry Robb. James Robb and wife were persons of education and refinement. David Robb was born in Ireland, July I-', 1 771; his early education was mostly attended to by his parents and after coming here he formed the acquaintance of General Harrison, then governor of the territory, whose residence was at X'incennes. The

General frequently loaned him books from his library, and by this means he was able to improve his education. In later years he became on quite intimate terms with Harrison, who would occasionally call and spend a night at his residence. He was married March 20, 1800, in Jefferson count}-, Kentucky, to A'ancy Eckley, the daughter of Joseph and Susan ( Rickerts ) Eckley. The original home of the Eckleys was in Maryland in what is nuw the District of Columbia. Mr. Eckley was killed in a battle with the Indians prior to the Revolutionary war. His widow anrl family subsecjuently moved to. Kentucky. David Robb and wife, soon after marriage, started on horseback for the then wilds of Indiana; they were accompanied by Samuel Cleans and wife, who settled north of Vincennes. They drove with them a few head of stock and, of course, camped out of nights. After arriving at their destination, they lived for the first two months in a camp which was constructed by felling a large walnut tree, that served for the back of the camp, and by means of poles and bark they constructed a rude hut. It furnished shelter for them from the heat of the sun anrl the rain. The front was open and there the fires were made which served to cook their frugal meals and as warmth during the chilly nights in their humble home. Thus was the haliitation of the hardy pioneer and his youthful and happy bride.

During the summer and before the winter set in. Mr. Rolib succeeded in constructing a fairly comfortable small log house, in which they spent the winter. When he and his wife came here in 1800 the}- found John Se\-ern and Daniel Hazelton and their families. Mr. Robb and his wife had l)orn to them a family of ten children, and as the children were born pioneers of the county we give their names in order of birth as follows :

Achilles, born .August 13. 1801. The second child was Eleanor. l)orn December 21. 1803, married Elislia Embree, and li\-ed in Princetoii. James, born May I, 1806, died at the age of twenty-two. Susan R., born ]\la}- 18, 1808, married Rev. Hiram A. Hunter. Nancy, born June 8, 1810. married Joseph Devin. Elizabeth E., l)orn September 12, 1812, married A\'illiam McClure. Sally Ann, i)orn Xovemljer 22. 1814, died October i, 1S35. Eranklin, born Eebruary 15, 1817, lived at Robinson, Illinois. Charity, Ijorn April 30, 1819, first wife of Dr. V. 1^ West, died August 31, 1841. Cordelia, born May 8, 182 1, second wife of Dr. V. P. W'est.

David Robb was a brave and gallant soldier during the earl}- Enlian troubles. He was captain of a company at the battle of Tippecanoe, afterward Ijecame a major of militia. He and his neighbors constructed a lilock house at his residence prior to the Indian war, to which the families of the settlers of the neighborhood could resort in the event of an attack from the savages, which attack was, however, fortunately not made. Mr. Robl) was a man of considerable enterprise. In 1814 he established a saw and grist-mill on Robb's creek, propelled by water ])(nver. He also carried on a blacksmith and carpenter shop, and a small distillery. The three last business enter- ]5rises were begun about nine or ten years after the liuilding of the mill. In 181C) he built a brick residence, which was the second lirick house built in that part of the county. Tie was also a surveyor and farmer, one of the justices of the peace, when the county formed part of Knox counts-, and after the organization of Gibson county he held at intervals offices for se^-- eral years. He was also a member of the Territorial Legislature, and of the first Constitutional Convention, anrl subsequently a memlier of the State Legislature. Under the administration of Andrew Jackson he was registrar of the land office of this district, with headquarters at Laporle. He was one time a slaveholder. He died April 15, 1844. His widow sur\ive<l him until July 29, 1S35. Numerous descendants of the Robb family still reside in the county.

In the fall of 1802 members of the Johnson family Ijecame residents of this county. The family consistefl of nine persons: John and his wife, Sarah, and their seven children, Rebecca, Betsey. Mary, Hannah, Jacob, David and John. The parents and of the elder children were natives of \'irginia. In 1798 they removed to Kentucky, and four years later crossed the Ohio at McGary's cabin, now the site of Evansville, and made their way north on pack horses to the tract of land since known as McCurdy's farm, a mile west of Princeton. Here they Inu'lt a shanty and wintered. During the journey the horses got away and started for their old home in Kentucky. One of the boys, Jacob, started in ])ursuit, liareheaded. through the forest, keei)ing their trail and caught them near where they crossed the Ohio river in coming. The boy encountered no habitation nor person and, fearless and alone, pursued his way and accomplished his purpose. When spring opened they built a log cabin on the old place where their grandson, David, resided, a few miles northeast of Princeton. The male members of the family were quite celeljrated as hunters and travelers. Jacob enlisted in 181 3 in Hargrove's company of rangers. He also assisted in the survey of seminary lands as campkeeper. He first married a Stewart, and upon her death a Skelton, a daughter of John .Skelton. Of the first union there were two cbilrlren, James Johnson, of ^It. Carmel, and Mrs. Mch'etridge. V>y the second wife there were six children, John, Jackson, ?ilrs. Fairlield. Mrs. McCre;iry, Lvdia and Davdd.

One of the most distinguished of the early famihes of Gibson county were the Hargroves. WilHam Hargrove, the pioneer, was a South Caroh'nian by birth, born in the year 1775, and while still a lad moved with his parents to Pulaski county, Kentucky, where he grew to manhood and married Sarah Jaspar. A few years later, concluding to change his location, he set out with his wife and three children for the West, with the few worldly goods he possessed loaded on pack mules, on which his wife and children also rode. Their destination was Missouri, but after arriving in the vicinity of the present site of Princeton, and admiring the beautiful country here, they concluded to go no farther, and in the early part of November, 1803, settled on section 36, township i south, range 11. Here he erected a small cabin and lived for a time and then settled on a tract of land, afterwards known as the Isaac Woods farm, north of Princeton, in township 2 south, range 10. William Hargrove was a noted Indian hunter of Kentucky and also here. He was a brave and plucky man. The following incident will illustrate the heroic quality of the pioneer. One time when the neighbors were congregated at a log rolling an Indian came along and a little dispute arose, and Hargrove told the Indian he lied. This exasperated tiie latter and he raised his tomahawk to attack him, but one of the bystanders knocked him down. The Indian, though keenly feeling the insult, arose and left, and the next day, bent on mischief, he returned to the settlement, and at one of the cabins, finding the men folks absent, he led his horse within the cabin and, besides insulting the wife of the settler, he broke up what little furniture there Avas, and turned things topsy-turvy. The lady found means of escape and ran over and informed Mr. Hargrove, who, with rifle in hand, immediately started after the redskin. Arriving at the cabin, the Indian was not there, but he saw him at a spring a short distance away. He at once cut a large hickory whip and noiselessly slipped up on the savage, seized him, and gave him a severe whipping, then knocked him into the creek, pointed his rifle at him, and told him to begone. The Indian needed no second invitation, being glad to get off with his life. Hargrove kept the horse until after the Indian had made reparation for the broken furniture in pelts. Then the horse was returned to him, when he mounted and rode off, and never afterward returned to the settlement.

Hargrove was at two different times in the ranging service, and deserves much credit for his woodcraft and l)ravery in assisting to repel the early Indian attacks, and in his share in driving the Indians from the borders of Indiana territory, thereby making it safe for the habitation of white settlers. He raised a company of rangers and was made their captain and with them fought bravely in the battle of Tippecanoe. He had a family of fourteen children, seven sons and seven daughters. One thing rather peculiar in regard to his children, and of which the old pioneer was very proud, was that there were seven red headed and seven black headed, all of whom grew to manhood and womanhood. In the year 1836 Mr. Hargrove settled in the neighborhood of Oakland City, where he was a resident until his death, about 1846 or 1847. His wife died about the sante time. The most prominent of the sons of Air. Hargrove and wife was John Hargrove, born in Pulaski county, Kentucky, November 29, 1793. He came to Indiana with his parents in November, 1803. He married Isiphina Latham, daughter of William Latham. The marriage took place December 31, 1818. She was born in Virginia in 1798. She rem.oved with her parents to Kentucky in 1805, came here in 1807, and died March 14, 1877. Her husband died in October, 1874. They had born to them five sons and seven daughters. John Hargrove was for many years a prominent and influential citizen of the count>-. He filled many official positions of honor and trust, and in early days was an ardent Democrat, and was the recognized leader of the party in this county. In 1825 he was elected justice of the peace and served five years, and at that time was member of the county board of justices. In 1829 he was assessor of the county, in 1831 he was elected as a representative of the county and subsequently represented the district in the state Senate. He held other official positions which are shown in the roster of the county officials.

The I\Iilburns became residents of the county in 1803. They were formerly of A'irginia, though they lived a short time in Kentuck\-. Joseph Milburn and wife brought with them the following children: Robert. John, David, Sally, Jonathan, William, with his son-in-law, Robert Mosley. They settled in the northern part of the county between Patoka and White rivers. The elder Milburn died in 181 5, at the age of sixty years, his widow in 1845, at the age of ninety years. One of his sons. John, was captain of a ranger company under the territorial administration of General Harrison, and in 1812 was stationed at Fort Lanotte, on the Wabash river. For this service he was made a pensioner. His death occurred at the age of seventy-si-x. He left five children, Felix, Irene, Rose, Sarah (Arbuthnot) and Carrie Milburn. David Milburn died in i86r, aged seventy-two, also leaving several children. Another son. Robert, was born in the Old Dominion, and came to this county with the balance of the family. In 18 12 he married Nancy Archer. He carried on the trade of hatter for years, afterward becoming

John Hinemann and family settled in the northern part of the county in 1803. He was a nati^'e of Pennsylvania, 1)orn in 177S. He subsequently moved with his parents to Kentucky and thence here. His deatii took place in 186,^, at the age of eighty-five years. His widow afterward died at about the same age.

Another pioneer name here was that of tlie AlcClure family. James Mc- Clure was born October 6, 17S5, in Maryland, and at the age of twelve years he removed with his mother and the balance of the family to Kentucky. His father was a soldier in the Revolutionary war and was killed in one of tlie last battles of that eventful struggle. In the fall of 1805 Mrs. AlcClure removed with her family to Indiana territory, and settled on section 13, township 26 south, range 11 west. Her son James had the year previous, in 1804. made a trip to spy out land and he selected the above place as being suitable to making a settlement. Here he made improvements and went back to Kentucky and brought his mother and the balance of the family ; besides his mother was his sister Martha. She was the wife of Isaac Montgomery, who afterward became prominent as a citizen of the county. When James Mc- Clure came here in 1804 the country w^as only sparsely settled in the localitybordering on Patoka and White river. James McClure married Martha Ann \\'arrick. She was born May 24, 1788: her father died in Kentucky and her mother, Mrs. Ellen Warrick, removed with her family to this locality in the year 1806. James McClure and wife had born to them eleven children, ten sons and one daughter: Albert P., March 29, 1809; Edwin, April 7, 1811: James B., November 14, 1812; Ellen J., June 6, 1814; Joseph P., October 6, 1815; William M., February 7, 1819; Henry, May 9, 1820: David H., May 8, 1822; Robert, March 16, 1825; George W., February 22, 1827; John W., December 28, 1830. All of the sons grew to manhood. The first tanyard established in the county was by James McClure, in 1806. He was an active, energetic man, and as an early settler did much to promote the growth and development of the county. He and his wife lived to a good old age. Joseph P. AlcClure was married February 13, 1834, to Catherine Devin, the daughter of Rev. Alexander Devin.

Another old settler was James Wheeler, who also had a large family, a wife, five sons and four daughters. He was a peculiar sort of a man, fond of fun, and occasionally enjoyed taking part in a hand-to-hand fight, and at gatherings, such as log rollings or n-iuster days, Wheeler was sure to iml^ibe quite freely, ami then get intu a misunderstanding with some erne, which would generall)' result in a fist fight. Wheeler, though a man of small stature, was ver}' spry and active, and mostly came out A-ictoridus. He settled in the timber east about five miles from Princeton in the summer of 1805, where he erected a cabin, cleared a small tract of land, but his subsistence fur himself and family for the first }-ear was gained principally by hunting, as he arrived too late in the summer to make a crop. He become quite a noted hunter, and proved himself to be quite a valuable acquisition to the settlement. He was foremost in repelling any Indian aggressions and frequently boasted that he was not afraid of the redskins, and he proved it. because on the breaking out of Indian troubles he promptly enlisted, as did three of his sons, and participated in the battle of Tippecanoe. The war over and peace declared, he returned to his country home, where he lived the quiet life of a farmer for a number of years, and he and his wife died after filling in usefulness their allotted time. They left numerous descendants who still reside in the count}^

The Montgomery's are among the families whose settlement and history date back several years prior to the organization of the county. They were prominent here for years in political and official circles. The pioneer of this family in this county was Thomas Montgomery. He was one of ten children and the youngest of seven sons born to Hugh Montgomery and wife. Hugh Montgomery was an Irishman by birth, who emigrated to A'irginia many years before the Revolutionary war. The seven sons. Thomas among the number, served in the Revolutionary war. In 1793 Thomas Montgomery emigrated to Kentucky and settled in a little town called Mt. Sterling, in Montgomery counfy. which county, however, was not named until after he settled there, and v.'as so called in honor of his name. Having met with reverses in Kentucky, by not having a good title to his land, he removed to Indiana, in 1805, and settled on section 13, township 3, range 12, on the west bank of Black river, in what is now known as Montgomery township. He married, while yet a resident of Virginia, Martha Crockett. She was a sister of Col. Joseph Crockett, who served under Washington in the Revolutionary war. She was also a first cousin of the famous Davy Crockett, of Tennessee and who so gallantly gave up his life at the Alamo, bravely fighting for Texas independence. Thomas and Martha Montgomery had born to them three daughters and five sons. Their sons were Hugh, Joseph, Thomas, Isaac, Walter: the daughters were Polly, Jennie. Patsey. Joseph married Nanc}' Davis in Kentucky, and emigrated with his father, as did all the other chil- dren, to Indiana. Joseph settled on what was known as the Major Smith farm. His children were Isaac, William (who served in the Legislature two years), Patsey, Jefferson, Polly, Betsey and Nancy. Thomas Montgomery, Jr., married Betsey Warrick in Kentucky, and they came and settled on what is known as the old James Stewart farm. His children were: Polly, wife of James Skelton; Nelly, wife of Joseph Roberts; Moses; Nancy, wife of Joseph Skelton; Jacob and Thomas. His wife died, and then he married Katie Teel, and by her he had the following children: Julia, who married Thomas Summers; Lucy, who married a Mr. Mounts; Isaac; Henry; Minerva, who married Joseph Summers, and Katherine.

Judge Isaac Montgomery married, in Kentucky, Martha McClure, the daughter of James McClure. They came in 1805 and settled on what was known as the James Finney farm near Princeton. It is said that he built at that date the first horse grist-mill of the county. He was very prominent here in the early days, was one of the county commissioners, and also was a representative in the state Legislature for twelve years. His children were: Jane, who married John I. Neely, who for many years was a county official; John R., also a well known citizen, county clerk for eight years; Joseph; Archilaus; Thomas; Eliza, who married a Mr. Johnson; Maria, who married a Mr. McGrady. Judge Isaac Montgomery probably attained the most prominence in the county of any of the family. He was a large, athletic man, and in physical appearance was one of the best looking men in the county. He was fond of hunting and was regarded as the best shot in the county. He had a large gun made in Princeton on purpose to kill bears with. In 1852 Mr. Montgomery and wife and eldest son removed to Texas, where he died a few years later. Walter Montgomery married Nancy Roberts in Indiana, and remained on the old farm settled by his father. Their children were : Margaret ; Thomas ; Warrick, who served two years in the Legislature; Joseph; Isaac; John R. ; Martha, wife of Louis Barr; Nellie, wife of Joseph Knowles ; Walter ; Robert ; William ; Andrew J. ; -Polly, who married Smith Mounts. Her children were : Smith ; Thomas ; Steven ; Hugh ; Joseph; Nancy, who married A. Emerson; Betsey, who married Henry Ayres; Celia, who married a Mr. Hunt; Jane, who married Capt. Jacob Warrick. Her second husband was Dr. Maddox, of Kentucky, and they had three children. Some years after old Thomas Montgomery emigrated to Indiana, his brother Samuel came and settled on the east side of Black river. He married Polly McFarland of Kentucky, and their children were Polly, James, Robert, Benjamin, John, Samuel, Rachael, Dorcas and Katie.

Gen. Robert iNI. iM-ans was one of the most consjiicuous men in the earlyhistory (if Gibson county, being clerk and agent, and, in fact, managing all of the affairs of the county for several years. Tie was born in h'rcderick count}', \'irginia, in 1783. When a small l)oy, his parents removed to Kentucky, and in 1790 to Tennessee, where, at the age of seventeen, he acted as deputy count}- clerk in the county in which he was reared. He was married in Kentucky in 1803. to Jane Trimble, sister to Judge Robert Trimble, of the United States supreme court. In 1805 his family remo\-ed to Indiana territory, settling two miles north of where Princeton now stands. At the first sale of government land in 1807, he purchased the tract upon which he had settled, and Cdutinued to reside there until 1809. when he mo\ed to A'incennes and kept a hotel on Market street. This was the favorite stopping place for all of the old pioneers of Indiana. After two years he returned to the old settlement. At the breaking out of the Indian war in 1811 he joined General Harrison's army, and participated in the battles of Ti])pecanoe. Thames and other less important engagements, and acquired the reputation of a hra^-e and sagacious commander. He was commissioned Ijrigadier-general and commanded a large body of militia. His brother, William, was killed by the Indians at the battle of Tippecanoe. After the war he returned to his old improvements and it was very soon after that Gibson county was organized. The value of one with his experience and education was soon realized in the mani])ulation of affairs of government, and he was elected county clerk, and appointed agent for the transaction of the count}-'s business. He continued to hold these positions for several years with .sati.sfaction to the people and honor to himself. He was one of the original proprietors of Evansville and did much toward the early l>uilding up and progress of the ])lace. In 1824 he left Princeton and made his home in pA-ansville. He was, howe\'er, a resident of New Harmony for a short time. He returned to Evansville and was a resident there until his death in 1844. His wife passed from this earth in 1840.

In 1810 James, Alexander Lile and Thomas Jefferson Evans, brothers of Gen. Robert M., became residents of the county and afterward of Princeton, where they engaged in business. Thomas J. moved to Iowa in 1840 and was appointed to a judgeship. He died there in the same year. Alexander L. was engaged in the cooper business in Princeton until 1836 when he removed to Evansville. Pie died there in 1844. Herman S.. a printer in Illinois, is another son. James I'A-ans limit and operated a wood carding (4) mill on Main street in 1818, and which business he continued until his death in 1832. He was also largely engaged in farming, and owned the land upon which the suuthwestern portion of I-'rinceton now stands. He was for many years justice of the peace. Eliza A. married Dr. Andrew Lewis. She died in 1878. W. L. Evans was a merchant in Princeton from 1853 to 1873, and afterward president of the Princeton National Bank, which position he held until his death, which occurred in 1899.

We append the following as a recollection of the venerable Patsey Ralston (nee Neeh'), widow of Andrew D. Ralston. In regard to the early events she seemed to possess a remarkable memory. She is fifth of a family of nine children Ijorn to Joseph and ^Martha Neely. Her parents came to this county in IMarch. 1805. They made a short stop with John Latham's father, who was then living where Princeton now stands. Subsequently they moved to a farm about three miles from where David Robb and family were living south of ^Vhite river. Joseph Neely and wife were natives of Penns}'lvania. In 1790 Mr. Neely and family moved tn Kentuck}- and lived about two years near Lexington, in that state. They moved to Mercer county, Kentuck}', where Mrs. I'ialston was born October 17, 170-'. The Neely family are of Irish origin. The grandparents of Mrs. Ralston on both her father's and mother's side were born in Ireland. Her father, Joseph Neely, died in i8n6 and her mother in 181 1. After the death of her parents Mrs. Ralston returned to Kentuck}- and lived with her sister in Path county. Here she became acquainted with and married _\ndrew D. Ralston, November 18, 1817, remaining in that vicinity until May I, 1818, when she returned to this county with her husband and settled in Princeton. He was a blacksmith and worked at his trade about eight years. In 1826 they moved on a farm one mile southeast of Fort Branch. There Mr. Ralston died January 4, 1829. At that time their family comprised five children: Dr. W. G., Evansville physician; Martha J. Hopkins. Nancy Holconil), Elizabeth Hemmenway. Third child was accidentally -killed on the farm, and the fifth lived in Boonville, Indiana. Mrs. Ralston's two brothers. Gen. John I. and Thomas Neely, were both in the war of 181 2. John ser\ed as aide-de-caiu]), and he remained until the close of the war. At the battle of Tippecanoe his horse was shr,t from under hiiu, and his spur shot from his boot. On his return home at the close of the war he was made a general of the state militia. He was for nianv vears one of the most noted men of the county. He was a son-in-law of Judge Isaac ^Montgomery. His death occurred alxnit the close of the Civil war. Both of the brothers, when voung, assisted in surveving lands in this part of the state. They were lads of sixteen or seventeen years. John I. was county clerk for a period of about fifteen years. Joseph, another brother, was sheriff of the county one term. When Mrs. Ralston first settled in Gibson county the people went to Kalts mill, located on a stream called river DuShee, to get their grist ground. This mill was about eighteen miles from where they lived. The mill grciund corn onl}-. \Vagons were not much in use, and people carried their corn on horsel)ack or on a home-uKule sled. The first preacher Mrs. Ralston heard was Mr. Nixon. When her parents left Pittsburgh they embarked on a large flat boat, which was located with flour and horses for a New Orleans market. They came on down the Ohio as far as Mary.'^villet Kentucky, and thence to Evansville.

Vhout 1804 or 1805 came Jesse Kimball, with his famil}-,- and settled on section 24, township 3 south, range 12, six miles south of Owensville. The place was then the site of an Indian village. Kimball raised his humble cabin near a large spring. He was a natix-e of Connecticut, ijorn in 1760, and was a Rex'olutionary soldier. About i/QS he emigrated to Red IJanks, now Henderson, Kentucky, and a few years later came here. His nearest neighbor was six miles away. About 1810 he built a water mill on Black river, a distance of two hundred yards from his cabin. He afterwards Iniilt a horse mill, which he operated as late as 1840. He had three sons and two daughters : Elisha. Mary Gates, Sarah Jones. Enoch, Isaac. William B. and Jesse C. are sons of Elisha Kimball, who was born at Red Banks in 1796. Isaac had <me son, \\'illiam, who lived where his grandfather settled. The old pioneer, Jesse Kimliall, died November 18, 1857, and is Iniried on the oU\ homestead. He was \-cry fieet of foot and freciuently had foot races with the Indians, and one occasion in a trial of speed he beat a chief running, which so disgusted the latter that he declared that he would never run again. The Woods family was the largest to come to the county. Joseph Woods, the pioneer, was born in Ireland in 1745, and reared in \'irginia, where he married in 1768 and reared a large number of children. From that state he came to Kentucky at a very early day, and in 1807 came to the territory of Indiana, his first stopping place being on river DuShee in Knox county, where, after a residence of one year, he made his settlement in Gibson, on Turkey hill, section 21,. township 2, range 11. His sons. John. James, Patrick, Isaac, ^\'illiam P., David L., Sanuiel II., and daughters. Peggy, Jane and lUizabeth, came to this count\- w itli him. Their mode of conveyance was on horselxick and in wagons, crossing the Ohio at Red Bank. All of the sons and daughters were either married or married soon after the\' came here, and settled around the old gentleman, except William P., who followed school teaching and died an old bachelor. The neighborhood was known as the Woods settlement. It is relatetl that at the early elections the Woods and Montgomery families, by putting their members together, might elect any candidate whom they chose for office. Samuel H. and Isaac Woods were at Tippecanoe. Joseph L. Woods, another son of the old pioneer, came with his family in 1811, and settled in the southeast quarter of section 21. He had six sons and two daughters: Patrick, born in Tennessee in 1809, lived in Princeton; William L. lived on the old homestead; Mary Stone of iMirt Branch. (For further particulars of the Woods genealogy, see the biographical sketches of different members of the family.)

William Harrington was one of the first judges of the courts of Gibson county, and the first session of the court held in the county was at his house in May, 1813. Judge Harrington was a nati^-e of North Carolina. From there he moved and settled near Nashville, Tennessee, residing there a short time, then became a resident of Kentucky, and in 1807 removed with his family and settled in the vicinity of Fort Branch, Indiana, where he made a crop, and the next season purchased a small improvement of John ji.hnscw a short distance west of Princeton William Harrington was a bra\e and gallant man, and participated in the battle of Tippecanoe. Of his two sons, James Harrington was afterward killed by the Indians in the ranging service at Fort Flarrison, and Charles, his brother, was also wounded at the same place. The Indians surprised them at daylight and the young men endeavored to get to the fort, when the former was killed and the latter wounded. Judge Harrington had a large family of children, some of whom came to manhood and womanhood, among whom were James, Charles, Thomas and William, Elizabeth Truesdell, Sarah Casey, Jane Brownlee, Mary died young, Irene Jerauld, and Emily. Judge Harrington died in 1831, having been for many years a prominent and conspicuous iigure in the early history of the county.

Among the settlers the Carolinas supplied were Thomas and William Archer, brothers. They were natives of Chester district. South Carolina, and came here in 1807. The>' left their native state in the fall of 1806, and the following spring raised a crcjp in Kentucky, and late in the fall made their way here. Their mode of conveyance hither was made by four-horse wagons. They crossed the Ohio river at Red Banks. Thomas Archer first located near the clearing of James Robb, north of Patoka, and entered land. The following year William Archer returned to South Carolina, and brought back with him his father. Rol^ert, and liie balance of the family. The old man had been a soldier in the Re\-()lutionar)- war and was an invalid when he came here and died about ten years later, tlis home was located on a hill near the Archer cemetery, east of Robert Howe's place. William and Thomas were the only sons of Robert Archer who came. William was single when he came, but it was not long until he married Anna Peters. Her parents were among the early settlers. They reared a family. He was a farmer and resided near Patoka. Robert Archer had six daughters. They all came with their parents. Their names were Isabella, Mary, Rosa, Catherine, Nancy, Margaretta. They all married in this county and many of their descendants are yet living. Mary ( Aunt Polly, as she was familiarly called) lived to the age of eighty-four. Thomas Archer was married, and his daughter, ^Mary N., was born in 1800. His other children who came here with him were Robert and John. Those liorn after arri\-ing were Samuel. Thomas. David. Sarah, William, Calvin and Beza.

One of the distinguished and early settlers and Indian hghters was Capt. Jacob Warrick. He raised a company of rangers during the Indian troubles of 181 1 and, at the request of Governor Harrison, joined the main army at Vincennes and marched against the Indians, and while gallantly leading a charge at the battle of Tippecanoe was killed, being buried on the field. General Harrison, in his official report of that battle, took occasion to commend in the highest terms the braver}' of Captain \\'arrick. He was a Kentuckian by birth, and removed here with his family in 1807, settling in the northwest C|uarter of section 11, township 3, range 12, about two miles west of Owensville. For that period he was regarded as a man of considerable wealth. Pie brought with him several slaves, and was probably the first to introduce well-bred horses in this section of Indiana, .\fter his death, his family continued to reside there. One of his sons. John L'., began merchandising in Owensville in 1835, where he carried on an extensive business, besides being a large land owner. He also did a large business in shipping bv flat boats to New Orleans market, large c|uantities of corn, pork and other products. Pie also had a grist mill. He was a man of energ\- and good judgment and amassed considerable wealth. He died in January, 1847, leaving no children,

John Benson was born in Pennsylvania and in 1788 removed to Kentucky, where he married. In 1807 he emigrated to the northwest quarter of section 35, township 2, range 12, known as the .Sylvester Benson place, where he raised the usual humble log cabin. He was a soldier in the war of 1812:

He took part in the battle of Tippecanoe. He lived in the coimty until 1820, when he removed to Illinois. His brother, William, was born in Kentucky, March 31, 1783, and came to this county in 1816, married, and subsec|uently bought his brother's place. He was a wheelwright by trade, at which he worked in connection with farming. His children were Martha Smith, Ellen Wilson, Louisa Robinson, Sarah Miller, Lemira Montgomery, and Sylvester Benson, who was born in 1823 and lived on the old place. He was a prominent citizen of the county and served for some time as one of the commissioners.

Jesse and Asa Music, lirothers-in-law of John Benson, came with their families the same year and settled about a mile west of Benson. Jesse was mortally wounded in the battle of Tippecanoe, and when the army was marching back, died at Vincennes. About 1845 Asa Music removed with his family to Illinois. The brothers were from Kentucky.

Elisha, William, John and Jesse Barker, brothers, and James Stewart. a half brother, all natives of Kentucky, moved here in 1807, and settled in the Montgomery neighborhood near Owensville. They all had families when they came but Jesse. He married Elizabeth, daughter of William Key, who was one of the early residents of Gibson county. Jesse settled on the southwest quarter of section i, township 3, range 11, a little north of Owensville, where he lived until his death in 1863.

Another of the early settlers from Virginia was Thomas \Vaters, who, when a young man, went to North Carolina, where he married, then moved to Kentucky, where his wife died. He again married in 1807, and came with his family and settled on the banks of Maumee creek, in the northeast quarter of section 4, township 3, range 12, where he built a small log cabin and then proceeded to farm. He died about 1825. He had a family of six children on his removal hither, and their names were William W., James R., Thomas, Pathena, Sarah, Nancy. William W. was married and had two children on his arrival in this county with his father. Several were born to him afterwards and many of his descendants are now residents of the county.

The Mounts family in this county are descendants of John and Providence Mounts, natives of Switzerland. They were among the early residents of Philadelphia, and subsequently went to Virginia, and from there to Kentucky, where they became noted Indian fighters. Matthias and Smith, sons of John, became residents of this county in 1807. Smith settled on section 24, township 3, range 12, where he lived until his death. He, as well as his father, was a celebrated Indian fighter, and formed a part of General Wayne's command during the Indian war. He was fond of hunting and devoted much time to the pleasures of tlie cliase. He also fought in the battle of Tippecanoe. He had a family of eleven children. Matthias Mounts entered a farm later known as the John Hudelson place, and lived there until his death. None of the descendants live in the county at present.

About this time, 1807, came Thomas Sharp, Luke and William Wiley, with their families, and settled in the timber a short distance south of Owensville. A few years later the Wiley brothers moved to Posey county, where one of them was lost in the storm and froze to death. Thomas Sharp cleared a farm where he settled and he lived on it until his death. \\'illiam Sharp brought his family with him and located in 1808 in the timl)er s(juthwest of the town of Owensville, and the same \-ear George Sharp, son of Thomas, with his wife and children, erected a cabin two miles southwest of Owensville. He was the first clerk of the Salem Baptist church. His children married and settled in the neighborhood. His son, William, was captain in the militia, also a deacon in the church, and a man of considerable prominence in his neighborhood.

Rev. Stephen Strickland, minister of the Regular Baptist church, settled with his family five luiles southeast of Princeton in 1808. lie came from Kentucky, raised a family of five sons and four daughters. He was a \er\- devout Christian man and was one of the first to preach the gospel to the few scattering settlers then li\'ing near. His death i:)ccurred on July IQ, 1839. Elisha Strickland came in 1808, and participated in the battle of Tippecanoe.

Another early settler came in 1808, William Clark. He enlisted in the war of 18 1 2, and was stationed in .\labaiua at the time <jf the ])attle of New Orleans.

The Skeltons we"re also an old pioneer family. Jacob Skelton, Sr., and his brother Robert, and Z"* Skelton, came and located in what is now Gibson county a few years after their father came in 1810. The most prominent of the family was Jacob, a justice of the peace many years, who settled twelve miles southeast of Princeton. He raised a large family.

Rev. Alexander Devin, a native of Pittsylvania county, N'irginia, married Susan Nowlin, of the same county and state. They were married in 1793, and moved to Kentucky in 1798, and in the spring of 1808 came to Indiana territory. They settled on a tract of land half a mile north of Princeton, built a cabin and lived there until 1814. Then they moved to the northeast quarter of section 20, township 2 south, range 10. They had thir- teen children, twelve of whom grew up. The children were Elizaljeth, Lucy, James, Susan, Sarah, Alexander, Jr., Virginia, Joseph, Robert, Peyton, Nowlin, Mary and Catherine. Mr. Devin belonged to the Regular Baptist church, and was one of the iirst preachers of that denomination in the county. He was an excellent man, and he reared a useful family of children. He died January 3, 1827, and his wife died November 8, 1840.

The Wilkinsons were among the early settlers of the south part of the county. Cary Wilkinson and family came from Barren county, Kentucky, in the fall of 1808 and settled southwest of Fort Branch. He married Sarah Mangrum, tlaughter of William, Sr. They had eleven children and four died young. Those who grew up were Mary, Betsey, Nancy, William, Rebecca, Delilah, Balaam, Isaiah and Martha. The trip was made from the home in Kentucky in an old-fashioned Conestoga wagon.

Cary Wilkinson lived only a few years after coming here, dying in the fall of 181 3. ITe was survived forty-five years by his widow. In 1808 there were a few Indians in the count}-, and in the construction of the blockhouse at Fort Branch, William Wilkinson, then eleven years old, assisted in hauling together some of the logs of the fort. William was born December 18, 1800, and came here with his parents. The Wilkinson family are of English origin and the ancestors of Cary Wilkinson settled in North Carolina prior to the Revolutionary war. It was in that state that he was born, subsequently moving to Kentucky, then to this territory. William Wilkinson and wife had eleven children, .\l30ut 1830 Mr. ^^'ilkinson became a member of the Christian church, and he ever afterward remained a temperate man.

One of the early educators of Princeton was Major James Smith, a Virginian by birth, who removed with his father's family to Kentucky, and in 1808 to this county. Major Smith served on General Harrison's staff in the battle of Tippecanoe. When Capt. Jacob Warrick was mortally wounded and taken off the field. Smith, at the solicitation of the company, became its captain. Major Smith was one of the delegates from this county to the constitutional convention of the state in 1816. He was appointed the first commissioner of the seminary school township, and acted as such for twenty years. He also held the office of school commissioner for many years, also county surveyor. He married and reared a family, and died in November, 1855, at the age of eighty-two.

Another old settler, and early justice of the peace, was John Braselton, a native of Georgia, who went to Pennsylvania, where he married Elizalieth Brown. From there thev removed to Kentucky, and in 1808 came to Gib- son county on pack linrses and located in Pigeon Crove settlement, fonr miles northeast of Fort Ilranch. Piraselton brought with him a wife and sc\-en children, namely: Da\id B., Jacob. Jane F. Foster, \\'illiam, Ilannah Treble, John, James. In iSio, when the Indians became troublesome, he removed his family to Fort Hopkins north of Princeton. He went to the war as a mmeber of Captain Hargrove's compan}-. He v,as an early justice of the peace and performed many marriage ceremonies. After the war he settled south of Princeton.

About t8o8 came Daniel Putnam and Zachariah Ta\lor, with their families. Putnam was at one time county commissioner. Among the old and respected pioneer families of the count}- are the McGarys. Robert McGary emigrated from Kentucky with his familx- in 1800. and settled in the timber, cleared a small tract of ground, erected a log cabin, in section q, township 2. range 11, and put out a small patch of corn. He did not raise much corn and had to depend that }-ear on his hunting and bees. As the name would indicate, the McGarys were of Scotch-Irish ancestry. Robert married a Miss Davis. They reared a large family, among whom were Hugh, Harrison D., Daniel. William H., Patsey Crow. The two first mentioned sons were quite noted in the early county. ITarrison D.. son of Hugh, was a soldier in the Indian war and fought in the baltle of Tippecanoe. He was a farmer by occu]3ation. He first married fm-tie Gudgel, and second, Nancy Pritchett, daughter of John, an old settler By this latter union there were three sons, Hugh D., William H. and Joseph K. William H. was a member of Company A, Fifty-eighth Regiment Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and was killed at the battle of Stone's River December 31, 1862. Hugh D. enlisted in Company D, Sixteenth Illinois Infantry, Josejih K. in Company E. Fortysecond Indiana Regiment. Harrison IMcGary's home was a half mile west of McGary's Station, where he died in 1847. ^^'^ wife died in 1879. They were members of the Methodist church.

About the \'ear 1809 to 1810 there was quite an inllux of settlers, among whom was John Armstrong, who was descended from Irish parents liorn in North Carolina. His parents died when he was young and at the age of fourteen he went to sea, where he made his home until he grew to manhood. During his sailor days he was shipwrecked three times. He cpiit sea-faring and married Mary Swayne. Her parents emigrated at an early period from Scotland and settled on Nantucket island. After his marriage Mr. Armstrong returned to North Carolina, subsequently moved to Kentucky and in 1809, with his family, came to Gibson county. He afterward moved to the north part of Vanderburg county, where he resided until his death. He had seven children, four sons and three daughters. One of his sons, ]^Iiles Armstrong, was a noted hunted and killed a great number of deer and bears. He served as a private soldier at the battle of Tippecanoe and after that war he was made captain of militia. Elsberry, another brother, was also in the Tippecanoe battle. By the marriage of Nancy, the Waters and Armstrong families were united. Other settlers to the county about this time were William Forbes, Charles Cross, Fielding, Zachariah and Oliver Lucas, with their families. Capt. Henry Hopkins settled on the Sanford Howe place. William Latham was an early settler and left many descendants who are residents of Gibson county. Absalom Linn and family also came in 1810. In 1810 Morgan Leathers located with his family in the' hamlet later styled Patoka. He had a wife and several children. He was a man of stalwart build and daring courage and was regarded as one of the strongest men of the county. Fist fights at that peri(jd were resorted to to settle most diiificulties and on a warm August day, a few years after he came here, and at a gathering in Patoka, he had a dispute with John Robb. A ring, as was then the custom, was soon formed and seconds chosen and then the fight began. Both were very powerful men and equally matched. They fought for a long time in the intense heat until both were exhausted and quit. Leathers died a few minutes afterwards from the effects of the severe struggle. His son, William Leathers, who later resided near the old Severns place, was ])orn in Kentucky in 1806 and came here with his parents in 1810 and after he grew up he married for his first wife Mary, the daughter of the pioneer, John Severns. Robert Slaven, with a large family, came in 1810, and carried on the first blacksmith shop at Patoka. His sons, John and Samuel, belonged to Llopkins" company and fought at Tippecanoe. Daniel McFetridge, a native of North Carolina, located in section 6, township i, range 10, at an early date. He had a family of four children by his first wife and five by a second marriage. John O. McFetridge is a son of his and Jemina, wife of W. A. Spain, is a daughter of his. Col. Smith Miller came to the county wnth the McFetridges, and grew to manhood here and married Susan Robb, daughter of James Robb. He was in the constitutional convention of 185 1 ; was a representative in the state Legislature and in 1856 was elected to Congress from this district and re-elected in 1858. He was a Democrat. He died about 1872. Eli Strain, who settled in the county in 1810, was a native of North Carolina. He located a mile and a half west of Princeton. He was in the ranger service and participated in the battle of Tippecanoe. He had a faniih- of seven children, only two of whom were li\'inti- in 1884. ( )ther early settlers were James Steward, John Roberts and William Leach with their families. The Overton and Vaughn families were also pioneers. One of the prominent settlers of 181 1 was Jesse Emerson, who came from Kentucky and located about five miles southwest of Princeton on the northwest quarter of section 28, township 2, range 11. He erected the usual log house of the day and began carving out of the wilderness a home for himself and family. Upon the organization of the county he was called upon to serve as associate judge of the court and afterward held other offices and places of trust. He was quite a conspicuous man among the early settlers. He flied abou 1837. Reuben Emerson, brother of Jesse, came to Gibson county in 1813 and settled in section 32, township 3, range 11, where he died in 1832. He reared a good sized famil}- and left a large estate.

Prettvman Marvel was born in Delaware in 1760. where he grew to manhood, married and had twn chiklren born to him and reni()\-ed to Georgia. From there in 1807 he came to Indiana territory, settling in the forest a short distance south of where Princeton was later located, where he resided until 1811. In that year he moved to the southern part of the county and two years later went to Illinois, where, in 1859, he died. His famil}- nuiubered nine children, one of whom was Patience, who lived to the old age of ninety years. Elisha Marvel, a cousin of Prettyman, brought his family here in 1809 and settled the Samuel Redman place in Johnson township. He had seven children, all deceased in 1884 except Sena Martin, near l""t. Ilranch. James Knowles, also from Delaware, came in 181 1, settling on the southwest quarter of section 2t,, township 3, range 12. He had nine children.

Elisha Embree was a native of Lincoln county, Kentucky, born in 1801, and in November, 181 1, came with his parents to Indiana territory; they settled on a tract of land about two and one-half miles southwest of Princeton. The name of his father was Joshua and his mother's name Elizabeth Embree (nee Edmonson). Joshua was by birth a Kentuckian; his wife of Virginia. It was a densely timbered district in which they settled and they erected a cabin and cleared a small farm. lie was a member of the Baptist and his wife of the Christian church ; he lived only two years after coming here. His widow subsequently married a Mr. Spencer and lived here until her death, in Tune, 1829. Elisha Embree received such an education as the district schools of that period afforded, read law with Judge Samuel Hall and began practice in Princeton in 1826. On March 15, 1827, he was married to Eleanor Robb, daugiiter of Robert and Mary Robb. Judge Eniliree for many years was a prominent man of Gibson county. He and his wdfe had born to them six children: Maria Louisa, James T., Ophelia (died in infancy), Ophelia, Elizabeth (died in infancy), David F. and Milton P. Judge Embree died in 1863. Plis widow lived to a ripe old age.

Andrew Gudgel, grandfather of the late Andrew Cudgel of Columbia township, was a man whose career is worthy of record in this connection. He was of Cerman origifi and settled in Pennsylvania. He was thrice married and was the father of seventeen children. The maiden name of his last wife was Elizabeth iCane. After the Revolutionary war had ended, he, like many of his day, concluded to emigrate to the "Far West," as this section was then styled. So in 1785 he set out with his family for Kentucky, a region then beingwrested from the savages by Daniel Boone and his heroic companions. After a tedious trip they arrived at Silver creek, a strip of country between the present cities of Lexington and Frankfort, where he erected a cabin and subsecjuently built a grist-mill on Silver creek, which was run by water ])nwer. He operated this mill many years. Owing to a defective land title in Kentucky he lost a farm of six hundred acres on which this mill was located. He came to Indiana territor}- in 181 1, settling in the big timber about two miles east of present Owensville. Here he cleared a small patch of ground, builta log cabin and subsequently built a better house in which he later died. While in Kentucky he, through exposure, lost the use of his legs, but, with his great energy, he would chop and clear up brush around his cabin for hours, while sitting in a chair. The following incident shows his pluck: During the Indian trouble of about that time his family all went to Fort Branch for protection, where there was then a strong block-house erected for the settlers. This plucky old pioneer would not go to the fort, Init insisted on remaining or staving at home in his own cabin to take care of things. The Indians frequently came to his place and would stroll into his cabin and, while the old man was sitting in his chair, fearless of danger, the wild savages would walk around him, frequently patting him on the head and, in their rude fashion, complimented him on his bravery. It is one of the peculiarities of the Indian character to admire bravery in those whom they regard as their foes. His last and third wifp surviyed him a ^'^irJ'SSff By his last marriage he had three children,^iTc'y,'^lvl^o marrie^'^r^^el, and Hetty, who became the wife of Harrison McCary. Both Teel and McCary were old and prominent settlers in that part of the county and many of their descendants

In 1812 William French married Mary Breading in Fayette county, Pennsylvania, of which they were both residents. Immediately after their wedding they gathered together their worldly goods, loaded them on a flatboat, Heated out of the Monongahela into the Ohio, down to the site of Evansville, and then made an overland trip to Patoka, where they sc[uatted on a tract of timber land, erected a cabin, and later built a good brick building. They reared a family of four sons, several of whom resided here a few years ago. l^eter Simpson, with a wife and seven children, moved from Kentucky to this county in 1812 ancl one of his sons, Richard, became a well-known citizen. One of the early merchants of the county was Roliert Stockwell, who came here 1S15; he did a large business in Princeton for man\- \ears. The Kirkman family, from North Carolina, included James, who came in 1806 to Christian county, Kentucky, and in January, 1813, settled in Gibson county, Indiana, west of Owensville, and the next year came to Princeton. He had ten children, the most prominent of whom was Joseph J. Kirkman. He was popular with the masses and was many times elected sheriff of the county. He was a crack shot, which accomplishment was then regarded very highly. He was a great story teller. He died March 9, 1879, in his seventyninth year.

Mrs. Xancy Stornmnt. wife of David .Stormont. who was l)i)rn in Ireland, and emigrated to America before the Revolution, came with a family of eight children and her mother, Mrs, Mary P)0y(l, to Indiana, in the spring of 1812. Mrs. Boyd was the first person buried in the .\rcher cemetery. She settled about three miles northwest of where I'rinceton now stands on the farm where later her son David lived and died. The names of the children were Martha, I\Iary. Robert. Esther, Samuel, Nancy, David and John. David was born August 7, 1802. Robert was a carpenter and died in Princeton. Nancy married Joseph Ilartin of Princeton.

Pioneer Customs

To the present generation the customs of the old days seem doulily attractive, and to these old people who are left the habits and modes of present-day life do not hold the beauty and fondness of the old-time manners. The generous spirit of hospitality that was inside every threshold in the days of our fathers is not here now. The traveler toda\-, no matter how stormv the night, must seek liis bed the best he can; every door is not open to him as it once was. The neighborly hospitality has disappeared. The predominance of wealth is a new element in American civilization, and with the coming of it there have flown many of the old virtues which are fostered only where common povert}- exists. The early settlers were not poor, for what they had was sufficient to make their lix-es comfortable, without useless luxuries. Their food was wholesome, their clothing warm, and there was nothing else to be desired in the simple routine of their lives. The ritle, the a.xe, the cabin, were the sole necessities, for with these in hand the forests yielded plentiful game, the streams an abundance of fish, and the strong arm of the pioneer supplied the rest.

The cabins were built by laying large logs down in position as bases. Sleepers were ])laced upon these, and on top of the sleepers were placed the rough puncheons which were to serve as floors. These were hewn by hand. The logs were then piled up the sides until the height for the eaves had 1:)een reached. Then poles were stretched across the tojxs, projecting about two feet beyond the wall line. On the projected ends were placed the "butting poles," which served to give the line for the first row of clap-boards. The clap-boards were split from logs and laid so as to lap a third over each other. After this was completed, the chinks and cracks were filled with sticks and clay. The fireplace at one end was, of course, indispensiljle, serving for both heating antl cooking purposes. Skins of animals were hung on the interior of the caliin, and thus helped to hold the heat. The inner bark of bass wood was sometimes used for the same purpose. Square win(l(n\s would l)e cut through the logs, and greased paper used as a covering. The furniture of the log house harmonized with the house itself, being made of logs, roughly shaped into chairs, benches, 1u-ds an<l tables. Butcher knives were often the only table ware, although knives and forks made of pewter were not uncommon.

The pioneer woman would be a curiosity to the twentieth-century lady, with her split skirts, cosmetics and studied airs. However, she would be a model worthy of emulation. Simplicity was the ke}'note of the pioneer woman's life. In her haliits, customs, work and pleasures, she was accustomed to the \-ery primitive, and she desired nothing else. Little luxuries of dress, elegant haliits and the trifles which we have been taught to believe are necessary to a woman's life, were unknown to the pioneer woman. Before the break of dawn these sturdy women were up, arranging the caljin and cooking the food for the day. The men Ijrought in the wild meat, and the wives, daughters and sisters prepared it. Coarse bread, Johnnv-cake, greens.

mush and milk, corn, jnimpkins, beans, squashes, potatoes, pot-pies, honey, and, most important, the meat of the forest, were the staple articles of food. JMaple sugar was much used. Besides the general cooking, the women wove all of the clothing. Linsey-woolsey was the common cloth of the woman. The chain of this cloth was of coarse cotton, and the tilling of wool. Blue, turkey-red and copperas were the favorite colors of this rather fantastic cloth. The loom was a necessary article of every household's furniture. Jeans and linsey-woolsey shirts were made for the men, and the women often gathered, ten or tweKe in one home, and had a sewing-bee. Head coverings were made from the skins of small animals. Moccasins and hea^-y hide shoes were worn, although the pioneers were not averse to going barefooted. Quilting bees, sewing circles, corn huskings, house raisings and log rollings were about the only means the settler had for social gatherings. The church buildings were few and miles between, and no regular services were held. Each family conducted its own religious ceremonies, generally before bedtime. The father read the Bible and offered a brief prayer, and never did they jiartake of a meal without the blessing. This custom is not now so common as it was with the pioneer.

Dancing \\-as indulged in often, and a barrel of li(|uor was generally on hand, although it was ne\'er drunk to excess. Corn huskings were held after the com had been gathered and piled in a heap at one of ibe homes. All the young men and young women would congregate and the rare was on. The young man finding a red ear among the yellow had the privilege, if he desired, of kissing the prettiest girl jiresent. These huskings usually ended with a dance, which lasted until sunrise. Skill in woodcraft, muscular develo])ment. accurate shooting, swiftness of foot, were athletic achie\ements which the young men strived for, and by these accomplishments they were judged by the fairer sex. Fights were not uncommon, Init they were fights good for the soul. Two men with a (piarrel to settle did not think of using anything but bare fists. They stood uj) and fought fairly, and after one was defeated the combatants were usually better friends than ever. The victor by custom poured water for the loser to wash the evidences of the li.nttle away, and then the loser performed the satne service for the winner.