Gibson County, Indiana - Biographical sketches, 1914 (part 15 of 20)

Edward ^Veisgerber attended the schools of his home neighborhood, remaining with his parents until 1894, when he took up the vocation of farming for himself at Tafttown, Patoka township. There he continued to be engaged in this line with splendid success until INIarch 13, 1913, when he took charge of the Lotus celery farm in Patoka township for William J. Ritterskamp, proprietor of the Princeton gardens. He had started to work for Mr. Ritterskamp in 1899 ^""^ '^^'^^ '^'^'ith him for four years, when he took up gardening on his own account until again joining Mr. Ritterskamp. The Lotus celery farm, which is located five miles southwest of Princeton, is one of the noted celery farms of this section of the state, and a large portion of its success is due to the personal efforts of Mr. Weisgerber.

Edward Weisgerber was married on May 15, 1894, to Gertrude L. Malone, of Patoka township, Gibson county, Indiana, the daughter of Hugh Malone, and to this union have been born six children: Gladys C, George Herbert, Ruby Catherine, Isabelle, Rudolph and Delbert. Politically, Mr. Weisgerber is an earnest advocate of the Republican doctrine, and has been active in the support of this organization for many years. Fraternally, he is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, having his membership in the subordinate lodge at Princeton for the past seven years. He is also a

Fraxk Re A Vis

It is always pleasant and i)rolnal)le to re\ie'.v the career of a man who has won a definite goal in life, whose career has been such as to command the honor and respect of his fellow citizens. In these days a man cannot live a secluded life, but if he is to be a part of the community in which he li\es he must subserve his interests to those of the community at large. 'Ihe most valuable citizens to any community are the men who not only are aljle lo manage their own affairs successfully, but also to take an intelligent part in the affairs of the community. No man lives entirely to himself and a man's \'alue to the public is measured by the .service tii his fellow men. The suljjeet of this sketch has been one of those men who ha\e not only been success fnl in their own private business, but he has. when called upon In- his fellow citizens. been a prominent factor in contributing to the welfare of the district in which he lives.

Frank Reavis, the only child of Alexander and Louisa ( Palmer) Reavis, was born January 13. 1861. in Center township, this county. His parents also were both natives of Gibson county, and were among the pioneer settlers of the county. Frank Reavis received his education in the district schools of his neighborhood, and his early life was divided between his school duties and the various chores on the farm which fall to the lot of the average country lad. On the farm he learned all those details which must be mastered 1)\- the farmer before he can be able to command any degree of success in ai^ricultural lines. Some one has said that the information which a farmer nnist have would fill a \olume of several hundred pages and he who has tried to operate a farm without previous experience will readily acknowledge the fact. Our schools today are giving courses in agriculture and trving to teach it from a scientific standpoint. However, it is undoubtedly true that many a college graduate with a degree in agriculture can go home to his father, who was reared on the farm and get information which he never received from books.

Mr. Reavis was united in marriage on October 18, 1881, to Sarah L. Wood, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Wood, and to this union there have been born two children, Durbin C, who has had a very successful career as an educator. After finishing his elementary education in the township schools of his county, he graduated from the Francisco high school, and then took the three-year course in the Oakland City College. He followed this by taking the course of study provided for in the University of Chicago. His teaching experience has been very extensive, starting from the bottom and continuing on up through the various grades of teaching experience until he is now the superintendent of the St. Louis. Missouri, schools. He has been the superintendent of the high schools at Hazleton, Indiana, and Francisco, Indiana ; later of the Oakland City College and now, as before stated, has charge of the schools at St. Louis. Such a career is certainly worthy of emulation and should be a source of great gratification to his parents and friends. The second child of Mr. and Mrs. Reavis is Mrs' Nellie D. Shanor, who now lives at Oakland City, this county, her husband being superintendent of the Oaktown schools. Mr. and Mrs. Shanor are the parents of one child, Charles Reavis.

Mr. Reavis is the owner of one hundred and seventy acres of fine farming land in Center township, though he is living in Francisco. Fie has brought his farm to a high state of cultivation and has equipped it with all the modern appliances necessary for the successful farmer. He has always taken a very prominent part in the material advancement of his county and his ability was recognized several years ago by the county commissioners when they appointed him as superintendent of the rock roads of Center township. It costs about three thousand dollars a mile to build a rock road and there are now about twelve miles of this splendid road in Center township. As superintendent of the roads he has given universal satisfaction to the citizens of the township, and the roads which he has constructed are a credit to the community.

Mr. Reavis has been an active member of the Democratic party, but has held no other office than that of superintendent of the rock roads of his township. He feels that in this office he can perform a very useful service for his community, and is content to exercise all his talents along this particular line. He has made a study of road building and is recognized as one of the count}''s best qualified men in roadbuilding. He and his family are members of the General Baptist church of Francisco, and take a prominent part in all the acti\ities of that denomination. He is a member of the Tribe of Ben-Hur at Francisco. He is a man of high moral character and strictest integrity, persistent industry and excellent judgment, and as such he has wdu the esteem of all with w horn he has come in contact. While he has heen advancing his individual interests, he has never lust sight of his ohligation to the community in general, where fur man) years he has held a high place in the popular confidence and esteem.

The great English poet, I'upe, has said that proper study uf mankind is man," and no truer statement was ever niatle. To be able to trace one's ancestry back through the past generations and find that they have occupied high and honorable positions in the history of their country, is a source of genuine satisfaction and deep graitfication. There is no one who would not like to have it said that his ancestors fought in the Revolutionary war, the Mexican or the Civil wars; and to be a descendant of a signer of the Declaration of Independence or a president of Princeton University is an honor which falls to very few people. There is, however, one family in Cibson county which can claim as distinguished ancestry as any in the state of Indiana, an ancestry which includes some of the most honored names of Revolutionary fame and which has continued down through the years of our country's history as a family of high ideals and patriotic devotion to their land. The Witherspoon family has seen one of its distinguished ancestors as the friend of Washington and Madison and Franklin and a signer of the Declaration of Independence, others as valiant soldiers in the Revolution, others as heads of great educational institutions, others as leaders in the Civil war, and all members of the family as high-minded citizens and patriots who loved their God, their country and their homes,

William P. Wither.spoon was born near Patoka, Gibson county. Indi.ina, at the Witherspoon homestead on February i i. i8j8, being the sixth child of William P. and Parmelia (Berlin) Withersi)oon. This family of \\ither- .spoons is a branch of the Witherspoons of Xew Jersey, who were ])roniineni of William P. Witherspoon, Sr., was born in 175'). and was a surgeon in the Continental army, serving three years, and also attained to the degree of Doctor of Medicine. His uncle. Tc>hn AX'itherspoon. was a signer of the Declaration of Independence, a member of the Continental Congress, and afterwards president of Princeton College, New Jersey. After the close of the Revolutionary War, one branch of this family moved southward and William P. Witherspoon, Sr., the father of the subject of this sketch, was born in Alabama in 1808, and, leaving his native state twenty years later, went north to southern Indiana. In 1833 he married Permelia Berlin, and two years later purchased the farm where he resided until the time of his death, which occurred in 1892. His daughter, Zella, cared for him the last eleven years of his life. The wife and mother died in 1878. Their family consisted of nine children, seven boys and two girls, five of whom are now living. Mr. Witherspoon pursued his first lessons in the Patoka schools and later attended school on the old Tippecanoe battle field, north of Lafayette, Indiana. He was but a lad when the Civil war broke out, and three years later, at the age of sixteen, he entered the ranks of the Union army, enlisting in Company G, One Hundred Forty-third Regiment Indiana Volunteer Infantry, in which he was first color guard, which place he occupied until the close of the war. He was mustered out at Nashville on October 17, 1865. Three of his brothers also ser\'ed in the Union army: John was a member of Company H, Seventeenth Regiment Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and re-enlisted after the expiration of his first term of enlistment; Moses and James were in Company A, Eightieth Regiment Indiana Volunteer Infantry. After the war Mr. Witherspoon lived with his father on the home farm until October, 1868, when he went to Vermillion county, Illinois, and took employment in the store of his cousin, J. R. Witherspoon, of Fairmount, where he remained for eighteen months. He then returned to Patoka for one year, and in 1870, in company with his brother, Moses, opened a store of general merchandise at Patoka, which they conducted until the spring of 1872.

On the I2th day of March, 1872, Mr. Witherspoon was married to Esther, daughter of Major and Martha (Thompson) Burroughs. Major Burroughs' father was born in Kentucky, and his mother in Pennsylvania. Mrs. Burroughs' father's parents came to this country from the northern part of Ireland and settled in Erie count}', Pennsylvania, where Mr. Thompson was born, grew to manhood and taught school for several years, later coming to Indiana, where he followed the same profession. He was married to Esther Payne, of Orange county. New York. From there they moved to Danville, Illinois, where he again took up the profession of teaching and continued in this line until five of his own children had attended school under his teaching. After he gave up this profession he was appointed register of the land oflice by the I'rosidcnl of the L"nitLHl States, selhni^' all the go\'crnnient land in Chanipai.yn and WTniillidU counties. Illini)is, durini;- those years. He died in iy()3, his widow surxixin;.;- him thirtv-nine years, her death occurring in 1902, at the advanced age of ninety-two years.

Major Burroughs, Mrs. Witherspoon's father, enlisted as a private in August, 1862, in Company E, Seventy-third Regiment Illinois Infantry, which was organized at Fairmount, that state, and was called the "Preacher Regiment" on account of every regimental officer being a Methodist minister. At the time of the organization of this company Air. Burroughs was elected captain and one year later the major of the regiment died and Captain Burroughs was promoted to the rank of major. lIowe\er, Captain Burroughs commanded the regiment until the chjse of the war, as Colonel Jacques was absent most of the time, acting as spy for President Lincoln. Major Burroughs was with his regiment in every battle except one, he lieing sick in the hospital at that time. He recei\ed a personal letter from General Thomas commending him upon his braxery in time of action. Major Burroughs and wife were Cumberland Presb\terians, he being superintendent of the Sabbath school for fourteen years and elder in the church from the time of its organization until it merged into the Presbyterian church in 1911, a period of forty years. Six children were born to Major and Mrs. Burroughs, two of whom survive, N. W. Burroughs, of Fairmount, Illinois, and Airs. \\'illiani P. W'itherspoon.

Mr. and Airs. W'itherspoon purchased a farm in N'erniillion county, Illinois, and remained in that state for thirty-three years, the last ten years of whicli period they resided in Homer. Champaign county, Illinois. During that time Air. W'itherspoon ser\ed on the board of education at Homer for ten years, was one of the first incorporators of the Homer Fair Association and was a member of the Vermillion County Fair Association for sixteen years. He is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, Archer Post of Princeton, and also belongs to the Ahjdern W'ooflmen of America, with which order he has been prominently identified for the last twenty-one years. In 1905, although still havyig interests in Illinois land, they came to Gibson county, Indiana, and purchased the home where they now reside, the Hudleson homestead, and also invested in land in the White River lx)ttoms. Air. and Airs. Witherspoon have three children: Stella, who married Charles AI. Cessna, a farmer and stock raiser and dealer of South Charleston, Ohio, and who has four children, C. Russell, Esther Lou, Florence and William Harold: Wilson W.. who resides at Patoka, Indiana, married Cornelia French and they are the parents of two children, Wilson French and Esther Margaretta. Wilson Witherspoon is interested in farming and stock raising in connection with his father; Myrtle M., who became the wife of James E. Hall, a mail clerk between Evansville and Chicago; they have one son, Edward Gerald, and reside in Princeton, Indiana. Mr. Witherspoon has one hundred and seventy-two acres in the home farm, two hundred and eighty acres of bottom land in this county and eighty-five acres in Vermillion county, Illinois.

Edward Rickard

The life of the farmer of today is the most independent existence which can be enjoyed, and with all the modern inventions to facilitate farming, it is rapidly losing those objections which have always appeared so ominous to the average farmer lad. Then, again, the public school has taken cognizance of the subject of farming and today in the schools of Indiana farming is being taught and given as much attention as arithmetic. Our colleges are granting degrees in agriculture and farmers' short courses are being given everywhere throughout the state. The last Legislature of Indiana created a new county official for the sole benefit of the farmers of the state and the county agent promises to be a wonderful help to the farmers. No better farming land can be found in the state than in Gibson county and among the many good farmers of the county there is none who has made more of a success of this timehonored occupation than Edv^ard Rickard.

Edward Rickard, the son of Henr\- and ^lary (Hill) Rickard, was born December 25, 1854, in Columbia tovvuship, Gibson county, Indiana, on the farm where he has lived all of his life. His father was a native of North Carolina and came to Gibson county with his parents when he was a boy of seven years of age. Henry Rickard grew to manhood in this county and became one of the most substantial farmers of the township in which he lived. He was twice married, his first wife being Mary Hill. To the first marriage were born two children, Edward and Mrs. Amanda Jenkins, deceased. The second marriage of Henry Rickard was to Mrs. Elizabeth Wigs, and to this union were born two children, Mrs. Minnie Robb, of Gibson county, and Mrs. Amelia Beoshears.

Edward Rickard received the practical education which was furnished by the district schools of his township and has supplemented it by a wide range of reading and close observation of men and events. - He has lived a plain, unostentatious life, free fmni .ill tlie worries of the business man, and reared his children to spheres of usefulness. He inherited two liundred acres of land from his father and h;is added foriy acres, niakin.c;- him a lutal <>f iwn hundred and forty acres.

Mr. Rickard was married November 12. 1878. to .America J. .\shl)y, the daughter of Tames and Cynthia A. (Atkins) .\shby, of Pike county, and U> this union there ha\e been born five children : Lloyd, deceased ; Clyde, deceased; Beryl, deceased; Effie, who is a graduate of the Oakland City high school, and still at home; Garrett E., the youngest child, who is also now staying at home. Garrett is making an enviable record in the teaching ])rofession, having been principal of the Oakland City high school for the past four years. After graduating from the Oakland City high school he entered the State University at Bloomington where he graduated in June, 1913, with the degree of Bachelor of Arts. He has also taken work in the Uni\ersity of Chicago and expects to complete the work in that institution leading to the degree of Master of Arts. He is meeting with pronounced success in his chosen field of history teaching and, judging from the past, the future holds additional honors for him.

The first wife of Edward Rickard died January 22, 1900, and on December 3, 1902, he was married to Bertha A. Williams, the daughter of lulward and Bertha (Gorlets) Williams. Both of her parents were natives of Germany and reared a family of five children : Mrs. Cora Klenck, Lucy Kelle, deceased, H. Edward, Mrs. Edward Rickard and Mrs. Anna Baker.

Mr. Rickard has carried on a system of diversified farming and by a skilful rotation of his crops has been able to keep his land in a high state of productivity. He has all the latest implements and tools necessary to the up-to-date farmer and is classed as one of the m()st scientific farmers oi the county.

Mr. Rickard has been a Democrat, although not a partisan in the strict sense of the word. In local elections he prefers to vote for the i)est man, irrespective of his party afiiliations. Mr. Rickard was elected to the office of township trustee in his home township in 1905 and filled that important ofifice to the entire satisfaction of the citizens of the township. In his church relations he has long been a member of the General Baptist church, while his wife maintains her membership in the Presbyterian church. Mrs. Rickard is a woman of intelligence and culture and is afifable and pleasant in all of her social relations. Mr. Rickard is the kind of a man who wins the respect and esteem of all of those with whom he is associated.

It is not alwaj'S easy to discover and define the hidden forces that move a Hfe of ceaseless activity and large professional success; little more can be done than to note their manifestation in the career of the individual under consideration. In view of this fact the life of the successful physician and public-spirited man of affairs whose name appears above affords a striking example of well-defined purpose, with the ability to make that purpose subserve not only his own ends but the good of his fellow men as well. Doctor McGowan holds distinctive prestige in a calling which requires for its basis sound mentality and intellectual discipline of a high order, supplemented by. the rigid professional training and thorough mastery of technical knowledge, with the skill to apply the same, without which one cannot hope to rise above mediocrity in ministering to human ills. In his chosen field of endeavor Doctor McGowan has achieved a notable success and an eminent standing among the medical men of his county. In addition to his creditable career in one of the most useful and exacting of professions, he has also proved an honorable member of the body politic, rising in the confidence and esteem of the public, and in every relation of life he has never fallen below the dignity of true manhood nor in any way resorted to methods that have invited criticism or censure.

J. W. McGowan is a native of the old Blue Grass state, having been born at Monticello, Wayne county, Kentucky, on January 22, 1855. His parents. Dr. W. J. and Delila J. (Ramsey) McGowan, were also natives of Wayne county, but they moved to Gibson county, Indiana, in 1862, locating at Princeton. During the Civil war Dr. W. J. McGowan was a hospital or contract surgeon, but after his return from the scenes of war he entered upon the practice of his profession at Oakland City, where he remained until his death, which occurred on March 13, 1895. He was a graduate of the University at Louisville, and was a man of marked intellectual attainments. He was a member of the lower house of the Indiana State Legislature about 1870. being a Democrat in his political world. His widow, who is now seventy-eight years of age, makes her home with the subject of this sketch. He was one of four children, the other three dying in childhood.

The subject of this sketch received his elementary education in the public schools of Oakland City. His father M^as engaged in the drug business in this city and for a while young McGowan was employed in this store, thus gaining first hand much \aluable infonnatiuii relative to chemical ami plianiiaceutical matters. In 1877 young McGowan matriculated in the medical department of the University at Louisville, where he was graduated in 1881 with the degree of Doctor of Medicine. He was then for four years a student at Northwestern University at Chicago, graduating in 1885. He took several postgraduate courses, including one in 1889 at the University at Louisville, and in 1896 at the Post-Graduate Medical School of Chicago. Doctor McGowan began active practice of his professitjn in 1878 at Eureka, Spencer county, Indiana, but six months later came to Oakland City where he has been engaged continuously in the practice since, with the exception of the years 1889 and 1890, when lie was surgeon of the Montana Territory prison at Deer Lodge, Montana. Lie is a member of the Oakland City Medical Society, of which he is president, and of the Gibson County Medical Society, the Indiana State AFedical Society and the American Medical Association. He is surgeon for the Southern Railway and a member of the Association of Surgeons for the Southern Railway. He specializes in surgery and has performed successfully many difficult operations. He possesses a well-equipped office in every respect, including a large and well selected library of professional literature and keeps closely in touch with the most advanced thought relative to his profession. He has been successful in his material affairs and is the owner of a splendid farm a few miles north of Oakland Cifr}. where he makes a specialty of breeding and raising trotting horses, having a strong love for those animals.

Politically, Dr. McGowan is a stanch advocate of the Democratic partv, and has served as a member of the council of Oakland City and was treasurer of that corporation. Fraternally, he is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons, belonging to the blue lodge, the chapter of Royal Arch Masons, the council of Royal and Select Masters at Oakland City, the commandery of Knights Templar at Princeton, while in the Scottish Rite he belongs to the Lodge of Perfection at Evansville and the Consistory, thirty-second degree, at Indianapolis. He is also a member of the Knights of Pythias, the Tribe of Ben-Hur and the Modern Woodmen of America. Religiously, he is an earnest member of the Methodist Episcoi)al church, to which he contributes liberally. He is a man of many sterling characteristics of head and heart and among his contemporaries it would be hard to find a record as replete with dutv faithfullv performed in all the walks of life, while his career in the (57) humble sphere of private citizenship has been such as to commend him to the favorable consideration of the best people of Gibson county, where he has long maintained his residence.

Among the self-made men of Center township, Gibson county, who started in life with practically nothing and have attained to a position of affluence and prominence in the affairs of their locality, is John H. Berger, the proprietor of a one-hundred-and-sixty-acre farm in Center township. He is a type of the farmer who, without money or friends to start in with, relied upon his own determination and ability to gain his success.

John H. Berger was born in Armstrong township, Vanderburg county, Indiana, May 6, 1852, and received a good, practical common school education in the schools of his home county. Early in life he was left to his own resources and worked at any honest toil which offered him a fair return for his labor. In addition to working by the day, he learned the carpenter trade and was in a fair way of making a success of this when his health compelled him to abandon the profession. He then came to Gibson county and began farming in what is now Union township. Later he came to Center township and purchased one hundred and sixty acres. After he had bought his farm he began to improve it in various waj's and by a skillful system of crop rotation he increased the productivity of the soil so that he was enabled to realize a handsome return on his farming each year. In addition to raising all the crops of grains common to this locality, he also stocked his farm and added not a little to his annual income from the sale of stock.

Mr. Berger was married on October 24, 1877, to Wilhelmina Haag, the daughter of John and Christina (Schillinger) Haag. His wife's parents were natives of Germany and came to the United States and settled in Vanderburg county, Indiana, among the early settlers of that part of the state. They came to this county before their marriage and were later married in Vanderburg county, w^here they lived and reared a family. John Haag died as a soldier of the Civil war in Louisiana. Mr. and Mrs. Berger are the parents of four children: John G., a general contractor of this county; Dora M., who married William Strunck, a merchant of Buckskin, Indiana; Emma C, the wife of William H. Block, a farmer of Center township, and

Walter, who is still at huinc with his parents. About twenty years aj^'o Mr. Berger was severely injured as the result of a fall, and since that time has not been actively engaged in farming, liis son. Walter, is now operating the farm under his father's superintendence.

Mr. Berger has been a member uf tiie Republican party since reaching his majority and has been honored by his party on more than one occasion. \\'hen he was only twent}-six years of age he was elected township assessor of his township, and discharged the duties of that office in a highly satisfactory manner. In 1900 he was elected county assessor and held that important office for six years, filling it to the entire satisfaction of the citizens of the count}-. His work as assessor was of such a nature as to render him one of the best men in the employ of the United States census bureau in 1910. He took the examination under the civil service rules and passed with a high grade, and was assigned to Center township.

Religiously, the Berger family are members of the German Evangelical church and contribute lilierally of their time and means to its support. j\lr. Berger has lixed a busy and useful life in this county, and as a private citizen and as a public official he has measured up to the full standard of American citizenship. For this reason he is justly regarded as a representative man of his township and countv.

Dr. William P. Welborn

The success of men in business or any v(Kation depends u]jon character as well as upon knowledge, it being a self-evident proposition that honesty is the best policy. Business demands confidence and where that is lacking business ends. In every community some men are known for their upright lives, strong common sense and moral worth rather than for their wealth of political standing. Their neighbors and acc|uaintances respect them, the younger generation heed their example, and when they "wrap the drapery of their couches about them and lie down to pleasant dreams" posterity listens with reverence to the story of their quiet and useful lives, .\mong such men of a past generation in hnliana was the late Dr. William P. Welborn. of Princeton. Gibson county. Indiana, who was not only a progressive man of affairs successful in material pursuits, but a man of modest and unassuming demeanor, well educated, a fine type of the reliable, self-made American, a friend to the poor, charitable to the faults of his neighbors and alwavs ready to unite with them in every good worii and active in the support of laudable public enterprises. He was proud of Princeton and of the grand state of Indiana and zealous of their progress and prosperity. He was a man who in every respect merited the high esteem in which he was universally held, for he was a man of public spirit, intellectual attainments and exemplary character.

Dr. William P. Welborn was born near Owensville, Indiana, on February 14,- 1837, and died at his home in Princeton, on February 12, 1898. His father, Samuel P. Welborn, was one of the early settlers of Gibson county and during his active years was one of the most prominent men in the public affairs of the community. He was the father of eleven children.

Dr. William P. Welborn was reared on a farm and early became accustomed to labor of the most strenuous kind, which, probably more than anything else, fitted him for the battles of his later life, giving him a good physical constitution and habits of industry, perseverance and energy, which contributed largely to his later success. He secured his early education in the district schools and academies and then attended one term in the State University at Bloomington, Indiana. He had early entertained an ambition to become a doctor and with that end in view he began the reading of medicine in the office of Doctor Cook at Owensville. this county, after which he took a full course in a medical college in Philadelphia, where he graduated a year or two prior to the opening of the Civil war. He immediately entered upon the acti\-e practice of his profession at Owensville, but upon his country's call for helpers he enlisted in 1862 as assistant surgeon of the Eightieth Regiment Indiana Volunteer Infantry, with which command he remained until the close of the war. That he was faithful in the performance of his duty was the unanimous testimony of those who were familiar with his army record and he retired from the ser\ice with the consciousness of duty well done. His natural kindness of heart prompted him to do even more than the strict regulations required of him, ministering to the needs of the sick and wounded soldiers. This unremitting service brought ser-ious sickness to himself during his army service and to this sickness can be mainly attributed the disease which remained with him in after life and which eventually resulted in his death. After the close of the war. Doctor Welborn came to Princeton and engaged in the practice of his profession, which commanded his attention until 1870. In that }"ear he was nominated by the Democratic party as a candidate for county clerk, to which office he was elected and entered upon the discharge of his duties. So satisfactory was his administration tlial lie \va^ iv-flectcfl in 1874 and thus completed a service of eight years in the office. Dtn-iut; llie latter part of his official term Doctor Welborn was appointed recei\er for the Gibson County Bank and in addition to his official duties as county clerk, he successfully handled and settled up the affairs of this defimet institution. Upon the expiration of his official term. Doctor U'elborn associated with W. D. Downey in the dry goods business, which they carried on for several years, but in the meantime, having Ijeen elected cashier of the People's National Bank and finding that the duties of the position required practically all his time, he disposed of his mercantile interests. For over fifteen years prior to his death he served efficiently as cashier of the People's Bank, and the splendid success which attended this institution was largely due to the wise direction and personal influence which he gave to the bank. A deep student of financial questions, his accurate judgment and wise counsels were considered invaluable to those in need of advice and in many ways he contributed largely to the success of several business institutions in this locality. For nearly two decades RTr. Welborn was a member of the city school board and contributed to the extent of his ability to the success of our educational system.

Religiously, Doctor \^'el]Jorn was a life-long member of the Preslnterian church, with which he became affiliated upon his return from the army, and shortly after which time he was made a ruling elder, serving faithfully and efficiently in this capacity during the remaining years of his life. In this service, as in all others to which he was called, he gave his most sincere and healthy effort. He was devoted to his church and delighted himself in its ordinances. Well and truly has it been said. '"The serene, silent beauty of a hol\- life is the most powerful influence in the world, next to the might of God."

The announcement of Doctor W'elborn's death came as a distinct shock to the community which he had so long honored by his residence, though it was well known that his health had been in a precarious condition for several weeks, but he had in so large a measure filled a place in the communitv that for the time being it seemed as if the loss was irreparable. The funeral services were held at the late home of the deceased on South Hart street. Princeton, on February 14, t8q8, the sixty-brst anniversary of his birth, and was attended by a vast concourse of friends and citizens who thus desired to pav their last tribute to the honored dead.

.\s a marked testimonial to the high standing occupied bv Doctor W'e)- born in the community was the public memorial which was held bv the con- gregation of the First Presbyterian church on Sunday, February 20, 1898, the occasion thus giving civic expression to the congregation's sense of loss as well as a tribute to the character and worth of one who had borne so great a part of the work of the church for many years. Among the splendid tributes paid to Doctor VVelborn on this occasion the following words are quoted :

"As pastor of the church in which he was for many years a ruling elder, and which he loved, and which he knew i loved, I was closely associated with him for almost three years. I saw him in times of perplexity and sorrow as well as in seasons of comfort and satisfaction and joy, and my estimation of him enlarged and my love for him deepened as the months went on.

"What he was as a personal friend thousands can testify. His kindness was so unvarying and so wide in its reach that people went to him as a matter of course, sure of sympathy and aid. His wisdom in business affairs was so conservative, in the sense of that word, so sound that men learned to trust him as a brother, and young men went to him as they would go to a helpful father.

"And now another name, and, I must say in all calmness, one of the truest and greatest in the whole city directory, is added to the number who have gone up to join the company triumphant. He is among those who, having finished their course and kept their faith, are assembled with the apostles and prophets and martyrs and saints in the City of God. What a glorious host! I mourn with his beloved family, with you, with my own family; but I also rejoice with you all because we have another representative among that noble multitude who see God face to face.

"I do not know of any better recommendation of the church of Christ in Princeton than Doctor Welborn. His estimate of the \alue of Christianity was shown :

( 1 ) By his devotion to the church. He was not a man to devote himself lightly or blindly to anything, but he did devote himself to his church. He was always in his place on the Sabbath day. He loved the services of the sanctuary and allowed them to exercise their due influence upon his life.

(2) He carefully brought up his family in the same way. He led them to the House of God. They didn't wander hither and thither as their miniature fancy might choose. He saw the supreme value of personal re- liyiuu to each ui them, and what the power of the church is in human h\es, and he rejoiced at seeing his four boys fellow members with him in the told.

(,3) His gifts, then, became the natural expression of religion in liis heart. He gave largely and liberally to his own church, but his interest went beyond his own. I suppose there were few churches in the whole county that did not share his bounty. But his gifts w-ere not limited there. He appreciated the great work of giving the Go.spel to the destitute parts of our land and to the people whose lot is cast under foreign skies, and he gladl\' contributed to their salvation.

Welborn was a frequent representative of his church in the presbytery, where his counsel was highly appreciated, and he was sent more than once to both the state synod and national general assembly, as a fitting man to take part in church affairs that were of world-wide importance.

"When we contemplate the career of hiin whose name is on our lips today, we are constrained to say that 'Life is worth living,' and W(jrth living it like steadfast men with Christian faith and trust.

"He was not only a successful man in handling the various temporal affairs with which he was connected all along his life, but gave many years to the most zealous service of the Lord. He was faithful beyond measure to every service of the sanctuary, and seldom indeed was he ever missed from his accustomed place on the Lord's day, from Sabbath school, from prayer meeting, from meetings of the oflicial Ixjards of this, the First Preslnterian church, he loved so well. Loving his church with all the strength of wellgrounded principles, he was nevertheless liberal and charitable to the conscientious convictions of those who differed from him.

"As a man he was kind, courteous and warm-hearted; faithful in the discharge of all his duties; earnest and consistent in his devotion to principles; and, ahvays helpful to others, he lived a <|uiet, useful and godly life.

"He w^as indeed a man 'diligent in business, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord.' In him we have a noble example of man, citizen, soldier, merchant, public servant. Christian; and of him we ma> on this <iccasion speak rather in the language of a psalm of life than in words befitting a tribute to the dead."

"Whereas, It has pleased Almighty God, in His great wisdom and lo\e, to call from our church to the church triumphant, our esteemed and much loved brother and elder. Dr. \\'illiam P. Welborn ; and,

"Whereas, The session of this church, recognizing well the valuable and lasting service he so nobly rendered this session and this church, by his Christian life and conduct and by his prudence and wisdom in its highest coimcils; and being deeply sensible of the loss sustained by this session and this church, he served so faithfully and so well; and recognizing that in all positions which he held he worked earnestly for the advancement of the church and the great cause of his Master, with untiring zeal and devotion. Therefore, be it

"Resolved, That this, the session of the First Presbyterian church of the citv of Princeton, Indiana, give this expression of its deep appreciation of his life and labor, and of the love and esteem borne him, who has passed from us, and that it extend its sincere Christian sympathy to his family in their sad bereavement, in the death of a true, loving Christian husband and father, and that these resolutions be spread upon the minutes of this session and a copy be furnished the family."

On May 5, 1869, William P. Welborn was united in marriage with Mary Jerauld, daughter of the late George N. Jerauld, who for so many years was a prominent merchant of Princeton. To that union were born six children, of whom two daughters died in infancy, while four sons survived their father, namely: Jerauld, Oscar, Maurice and Charles.

John White

Clearly defined purpose and consecuti\e effort in the affairs of life will inevitably result in a due measure of success, but in following out the career of one who has attained success by his own efforts there comes into view the intrinsic individuality which made such accomplishment possible and thus there is granted an objecti\e incentive and inspiration, while at the same there is enkindled a feeling of respect and admiration. The qualities which have made the subject of this sketch one of the prominent and .successful farmers and public officials of Gibson county have also brought him the esteem of

John White, one of the most prominent farmers of Center township, Gil)son county. Indiana, was born January 7, 1S59. in l-^vansville, Indiana. His parents were Alfred and Milliscent (Inwood) White, both of whom were natives of England, and his father is still living and at the present time is residing in California at the ad\anced age of eighty -iour years. Mr. and Mrs. Alfred White were tlic parents of tive children, all of whom arc living except one daughter.

John W'hite received his early education in the district schools of \'anderburg county, this state, and passed his boyhood days in the city of Evansville, performing all those mutitudinous chores which fall to the lot of the average boy. Here he was given that practical, out-door education which has stood him in such good stead in after life. On August 28, 1881, he was married to Sarah J. Scott, and to this union were born six children, Mrs. Laura P. White, of Princeton ; Albert, deceased : Caroline, deceased : Frank lives in Terre Haute, Indiana; Mrs. Frances \auglin lives on a farm near Petersburg, Indiana; Milliscent, of Evansville. Mr. White was married a second time to Pauline George, on (October 24, 1909. She was a daughter of John M. and Pauline (Bass) George, her father being a native of France, while her mother was a nati\e of Indiana. Mr. and Mrs. George were the jjarents of nine ciiildren. Mrs. White being the eighth child in order of birth.

Mr. White is engaged in di\crsilied farming and successfully raises all the crops common to this section of the state. He is well read on ail the latest and most improved methods of agriculture and does not hesitate to keep himself well supplied with the latest farming implements and machinery. As a result he is justly regarded as one of the most progressive and up-todate farmers in the township. He has so conducted his affairs that he has been fortunate to lav aside a competence which insures him comfort in his old age. He is a stockholder and director in the Francisco State Bank. Mr. White has always taken an intelligent interest in political affairs. Fraternally, he is a member of the Tribe of Ben-Hur, of Francisco. He and his wife are faithful and earnest meml)ers of the Regular Baptist church, and are interested in all the activities which that particular church fo.sters. .Mr. White is a genial, straightforward man, one who has the greatest sympathy for his fellow man, and is always ready to aid and encourage those who are struggling to aid themselves. He is a man of .strong convictions and when he believes that he is on the right side nothing can swerve, him from it. Home life with him is a sacred trust and friendships are inviolable. A man of gentle and unassuming demeanor, he has by his strict integrity won the esteem of a large circle of friends and acquaintances in the community which has been honored by his citizenship for so many years.

Henry F. Broadwell

Those who faced every danger and death itself upon the battle fields of the Civil War and bore suffering and made sacrifices for their country's sake are especially deserving of mention in these annals. The younger generation should never forget that to them is due a debt of gratitude which can never be repaid, as the prosperity, liberty and happiness which we now enjoy is the direct outcome of their labors and loyalty. Among the honored veterans who have answered the last roll call, the late Henry F. Broadwell was one who gave three of the best years of his life to the ser\ice of his country and then returned to his home and lived a life of usefulness and honor until his death, on September 26, 1908.

Henry F. Broadwell, the son of Henry and Elizal^eth (Poison) Broadwell, was born October i, 1838, in Warrick county, Indiana. His father was a native of North Carolina, while his mother was born in Virginia. His father was one of the earliest settlers of Warrick county and was identified with the agricultural interests of that county all his life.

The subject of this sketch was reared upon the home farm in the usual inanner of boys of that period and received the meager schooling which the country schools afforded at the time. When still quite young he began to assist in the duties on the farm, working in the fields from the time of early spring planting until after the crops were harvested in the late autumn. When the news of the fall of Fort Sumter was flashed throughout the country he felt that his first duty was to his country, so he donned the blue uniform of the nation and went south in defense of the Union cause. He was a member of Company A, Fifty-eighth Regiment of Indiana Volunteer Infantry, which was recruited in Gibson county, and served with gallant distinction throughout the war. He saw hard fighting and underwent all of those hardships which fell to the lot of every soldier, thus demonstrating his fidelity to his beloved country.

Josiah Kightly

Immediately after the close of the war he returned to this county and married Sarah A. Downing, the daugliter of James and Sarah E. (Drysdale) Downing. Plis wife's father was born in Posey county and her mother in Kentucky. Mr. and Mrs. Eroadwell were the parents of a large family of eight children: Mrs. Belle Mead; Mrs. Mary D. Mandis; D. S. Broadwcll; James L., deceased; Rufus A.; Mrs. F.nima C. Witherspoon : Mrs. Elizabeth E. Boyd; and John W. After the death of her husband, in 1908, Mrs. Broadwell went to live with her son, D. S. Broadwell, and they are udw residing on the old home place in Center township. Her sun is unmarried and she is still able to do a considerable amount of work despite her advanced age. They are both members of the ^^lelhodist Episcopal church.

The late Mr. Broadwell was a life-long Republican and at one time was elected assessor of Center township, an oliice which he filled to his credit and to the universal satisfaction of the entire township. He always took a very active part in all the deliberations of his party and was frequently consulted by the leaders of his party. His whole life was marked by strict integrity and hone-^t endeavor and he fdllowcd a course from which nothing could swerve him as long as he belie\ed he was in the right. This determined loyalty to what he thought was right was one of his strongest and most commendable traits of character and enabled him to command the confidence and esteem of all.

Francis J. Rightly

The life history of him whose name heads this sketch has been for more than three score years closely identified with the history of Gibson countw Indiana. Throughout the years his life has been one of untiring activity and it has been crowned with a degree of success obtained by cmiparativelv few- who aspire to leadership in their calling. Years of conscientious work as a farmer have brought him not only a comfortable competence, hut the knowledge that he has been of great benefit to the social and moral welfare of his community as well. By a straightforward and honorable course he has been successful to a marked degree and his life afifords a splendid example of what an American youth plentifully endowed with good common sense, integrity and determination can accomplish when accompanied by good moral principles. As a citizen he is public spirited and enterprising, and as a friend and neighbor he combines the qualities of head and heart that have won confidence and commanded respect throughout the county. His entire accomplishments represent the results of the utilization of the innate talents which are his and the directing of his efforts along those lines where mature judgment and rare discrimination have led the way. As a representative of one of the oldest families of the county, he has a heritage of all those good qualities which go to make up a good citizen.

Francis J. Kightly, the son of Josiah and Elizabeth Kightly, was born August 13, 1849, in Evansville, Indiana. His parents were both natives of England, the father's birth occurring January i, 1822. His father was twice married. After the death of his first wife. October 29, 1865, he married Sarah Wroe on April 8, 1867. To the first marriage were born the following children : I-'rancis Josiah, the immediate subject of this sketch : William Wroe ; Sarah Jane : Mary Elizabeth ; Samuel Wroe ; Emma K. and John Russell. The second union was blessed with the following children : Lucy, Alice May, John AMlliam. Mr. Kightly's second wife died January 11, 1898. The sketch of William S. Ennes, elsewhere in this volume, gives additional facts of the Kightly family.

Francis J. Kightly, the eldest son by the first marriage, was educated in the district schools of Gibson county, and in his younger days worked on the farm and has spent his whole life in agricultural pursuits. As a farmer he has adopted all of the modern improvements in that line of endeavor and has five hundred acres of as well improved land as can be found in the state. At the present time he has several tenants on his farms and ha.s retired from the active duties of farm life.

Mr. Kightly has been twice married. His first wife was Lucinda Edwards, of this county, to whom he was married on September i, 1880. After the death of his first wife he was united in marriage, on ^Vpril 28, 1903, to Dell Brimer, the daughter of James and Cynthia (Key) Brimer. Mr. Key is a native of Kentucky and his wife of England.

Mr. Kightly has been a life-long Republican, but the fact that his township and county is overwhelmingly Democratic has kept him from being an ofifice holder. He has been a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Hazelton for more than thirt3'-five years, and has always taken a prominent part in the deliberations of that order. He has always affiliated with the Methodist Episcopal church at Hazelton and has been a liberal contributor to the support of that denomination. Mrs. Kightly is a member of the General Baptist church.

and has always been strong iuv right Hving and indiistriuus habits, fur eilucation and morahty, for loyalty to the government and for all that contributes to the welfare of the comnuinity. Sheer force of personality and determination, coupled with soundness of judgment ani! keen discrimination, has brought him the success which he so rightly deserves, lie has proved an honorable meml)cr of the body politic and in e\ery relation of life has never fallen below the tnio dignity of manhood, nor in any way resorted to methods that invited the censure of his fellow citizens. As tiie scion of a most excellent family he has niainlaincd the prestige ol all the honored descendants of that family.

Maryfield M. Coleman

It is a well authenticated fact that success comes as tlie result of legitimate and well applied energy, unflagging determination and perseverance in a course of action, when once decided upon. She is never known to smile upon the idler or dreamer and she never courts the loafer, and only the men who have diligently sought her favor are crowned with her blessings. In tracing the history of the influential farmer and representative citizen of Oakland City, Gibson county, whose name forms the captif)n of this review, it is plainly seen that the prosperity which he enjoys has been won by commendable qualities and it is also his personal worth that has gaineil for him the high esteem of those who know him,

Maryfield M. Coleman first saw tiie light of day on Marcli S. 1N43. in Monroe township, Pike county. Indiana, being a son (jf Conrad and Xeili, Coleman. Conrad Coleman was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in 1809 and his wife was born in Pike county, Indiana, in 1812. When a boy Conrad Coleman went with his father, Joseph, to Barren county, Kentucky, where thev got wild land which they cleared and established their home. Josej)!! Coleman was a prosperous farmer in his day, and was the owner of considerable land.

When a bov of four years. Conrad Coleman lost his lower left arm, i)eing injured in an old corn mill lie attended school at Glasgow. Kentuckv, receiving an excellent education for those days. lie remained under the parental roof until he reached the age of twenty-one years, and in 1830 he came to Indiana, locating in Monr'ie township. Pike county, where he got wild land. In all. he acfpiired six hundred and forty acres, and had a large portion of it cleared. He raised and dealt extensively in live stock, cattle, horses, sheep, mules and jacks. He seemed to be but slightly handicapped by the loss of his arm and in his prime could use an ax and accomplish as much hard work as one whole in body. He was a man of great energy and ability who took a great interest in the progress of affairs in his county. It was he who made the first assessment of the whole of Pike county and did a great deal of other tedious clerical work in the same cause. At the age of forty-five, his health failed him, probably due to the ceaseless demands upon his strength, and he then retired from active labor for the rest of his life. His death occurred July IQ, 1855, and his wife lived until the fall of 1880. He was originally a Whig, but at the dissolution of that party, gave his earnest support to the Republican party. He was a consistent member of the Baptist church and did much to further the cause of that society in his community. To Conrad Coleman and wife were born ten children, namely: Jane, deceased, married John LeMaster and had three children; Mary Emily, deceased, the wife of Jackson Pancake, deceased; Luvina, deceased, the wife of John Mason, who died at Nashville, Tennessee, during the Civil War; Joseph V., a retired farmer living in Oakland City, who married Barbara Beatty; Henry, deceased, a farmer in Pike county, who married Elizabeth Parker; Mahala, deceased, who married John English; Maryfield M., the immediate subject of this sketch; Joshua, deceased, who married Nancy Deter, of Pike county; Nancy Ellen, the wife of James Gillman, residing in the same county, and Susan, who died when small.

IMarvfield M. Coleman received but a small amount of schooling when a lad, and remained with his parents until seventeen, when he started out in life for himself. On April 5, 1866, he was united in marriage with Catherine Nossett, of Columbia township, Gibson county, a daughter of William Nossett, who had come from Ohio originally, and was one of the first settlers in Columbia township. He was a farmer and also a blacksmith, and Ixjth he and his wife closed their lives at the home they had made when coming to Giljson county. To Mr. Coleman, by his first marriage, were born five children, the eldest being Warrick, druggist and trustee, at Winslow, Indiana: Lucy, the wife of George Duncan, of Pike county, Indiana; Edgar, who is a breeder of fine cattle and jacks, at Muren. Indiana. His wife was Carrie Humsucker. The fourth child is Millard, who is in the livery business at Oakland City. His wife was Zillie Reed. The fifth child was Ada, who died when sixteen years of age. Catherine Nosr.IHSON COUNTY, INDIANA. 9II sett Coleman died July 25, iSgo, aiul he was married for the second lime, on July 30, 1901, to Catherine Martin, of I'ike county. She was the widow of Adam Martin and a daughter of Joseph and Margaret (Kime) Loveless. The mother was originally from 'rennessec, while the father is a native of Pike county, whose father was one of the first settlers there, coming from South Carolina. Joseph Loveless died March jS. iS/,:;, ;md his wife's death occurred July 22,, 1901.

Maryfield M. Coleman was only twenty years of age when he returned from the war and settled in Monroe township. Pike county. He secured a tract of heavily timbered land which he cleared oft" and started to make a comfortable home. Here he lived for thirty years and had two hundred and seventy acres of land under cultiA-atinn. On July 10, 1895, he left his home and mmed to Oakland Cit_\', where he has since resided. Tie clerked for a while and also suld clothing and dr}- goods for two years.

It was on December 9, 1861, that Mr. Coleman enlisted in Company D, Fifty-eighth Regiment Indiana \'olunteer Infantry, in Pike county. Indiana. He was sent to Ev"ansville, then to Indianapolis, and then to Camp Short, at Louisville. He was not there long and was sent on to Nashville, Tennessee, where his company engaged in the battle of Shiloh, and was afterwards in pursuit of General Bragg to Louisville, Nashville and Bardstown, Kentucky, and engaged in the battle of Perrysville. They were ordered on to Nashville and were in the important engagements of the war; the battle of Stone's River, Chattanooga, Chickamauga. and Missionary Ridge. They were later ordered to Chattanooga, and on May 12, 1864, his regiment started on the Atlanta campaign, with Sherman, and continued with him on his march to the sea. On January 20, 1865, they had reached Savannah, Georgia, on the return trip, and, jiassing on through the Carolinas and Virginia, participated in the Grand Review at Washington, I). C in May, 1865. He was then returned to Louisville and received his discharge on Tuly 25, 1865. He went to Indianapolis to be paid oft", and then returned home, having seen an unusual amount of active service and having gone through the various engagements unscathed. Mr. Coleman is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, at Oakland City, and his religious connection is with the Presbyterian church at that place.

On account of their many agreeable qualities, Mr. and Mrs. Coleman have endeared themselves to the people of Oakland City, and as he is a man of upright character, unalterably opposed to all forms of lawlessness. he holds an enviable position in the regard of the community.

James W. Key

The life- history of James W. Key, one of the well known and highly esteemed venerable citizens of Gibson county, now living in honorable retirement, shows what industry, good habits and stanch citizenship will accomplish in the battle for success in life. His record has been one replete with duty well and conscientiously performed in every relation of life. He has come down to us from the pioneer period and has noted the wondrous transformation from that time to this, playing his part in the drama of civilization. He has thus been an advocate of wholesome living and cleanliness in politics as well and has always stood for the highest and best interests of the community in which so many of his active years have been passed and which has been honored by his citizenship.

James W. Key is a native of Gibson county, born on the loth day of March, 1S32, near Hazelton. He is a son of William and Sarah (Bruner) Key, both of whom were natives of Kentucky and were among the earlier settlers of Gibson county. They were married in 1831 and William Key died August 12, 1836, leaving his young widow and three small children, the eldest of whom was James W., the subject of this sketch. William Key was born in 1804 ^nd his death occurred on August 12, 1836. His widow afterward became the wife of John Ewing, who was of Irish stock and a pioneer settler in Gibson county, Indiana, owning a good farm in White River township ]\Ir. Ewing died on November 27, 1859, and was survived many years by his widow, who died on August 5, 1896, when past eighty-eight years of age. To !\Ir. and Mrs. Ewing were born two children, namely : Mary, who became the wife of Samuel Argrove, of Pike county, and who died on March II, 18S5; she was the mother of two children, Minnie and John E. The other child, John W. Ewing, who was born February 14, 1850, in Gibson county, Indiana, died in February, 1909. The marriage of William Key to Sarah Bruner occurred in 183 1, and at the time of his death he left, besides his widow, three small children, the eldest of whom was James W., the immediate subject of this sketch.

The subject's paternal grandfather, William Key, Sr., was a native of Kentucky, and to his marriage with Hannah Level were born a large family of children. William Key, Sr., was a man of industrious habits and was a genius in that he could do many things and do them all well. He was by trade a millwright, and after coming to Indiana made his home at Princeton. While building a mill un South Hart street, that city, he tell forty feet, sustaining injuries, from which, however, he recovered and lived to be past eighty-five years of age. In later life he took up shoemaking and coopering. He was a man of cheerful and jovial disposition and was widely known and well liked by all who knew him.

James W. Key is the only one of his father's family who is living today, and he has attained an advanced age well preserved in mind and body and with a keen interest in current extents. His schooling in his youth was limited, partly owing to the limited circumstances of his mother and partly to indififerent opportunities at best. When quite young he took up the \ocation of farming, which he has followed all his life and is at present living on his farm in \\'hite River township, Gibson county, in retirement from the active affairs of life, surrounded by his family.

On September 28, 1858, Mr. Key was married to Ellen J. McClure, daughter of Joseph E. and Katherine ( r)c\ in ) McClure. bulh of whom were natives of Gibson county and passed their entire li\es within its Ik inters. To their union were born ten children, namely: James and Joseph 1'.. deceased; Luella, Ada J., .Sarah F., Katherine A. and Charles F.. all of whom reside at home with the parents, the latter having charge of the operation of the farm for. his father. William F. is engaged in farming in White River tcnvnship, Gibson county: his wife was Eva GoufY, of Kentucky. Margaret E. is the wife of John Stewart, a farmer of Gibson county, and Robert S., whose wife was Geneva Har\ey, is engaged in agricultural work in Patoka township. On September 28, 1908, Mr. and Mrs. Key celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of their marriage in a fitting manner and are still spared to each other. Thev ha\e many interesting incidents to relate of the earlier life in the countv before many of our present-day conveniences were thought of. Mr. Kev has lived in the same place since he was three years old and well remembers when the first railroad was built through this section and when wood was the fuel used on the locomotive The house they occupy was built in 1874. The subject and his wife have twelve grandchildren.

Air. Key is a stanch Republican of the old school who has alwavs been interested in the alifairs of the party, and his religious membership is with the Methodist Episcopal church, in the progress of which society's afifairs he takes' great pleasure.

Personally. Mr. Key is a man of clean character and lias ewr exerted a healthful inriuence in the cummunit\-. gixinj.;- his su])]jort to e\er\- nioxenient (58) which promised to advance the welfare of the community in any way. Because of his genuine worth and the success which has crowned his Hfe's efforts, he enjoys the sincere respect of all who know him and he is eminently erititled to representation in a work of the character of the one in hand.

Dr. John M. Williams

There is no class to whom greater gratitude is due from the world at large than the self-sacrificing, sympathetic, noble-minded men whose life work is the alleviation of suffering and the ministering of comfort to the afflicted, to the end that the span of human existence may be lengthened and a great degree of satisfaction enjoyed during the remainder of their earthly sojourn. There is no standard by which their beneficial influence can be measured ; their helpfulness is limited only by the extent of their knowledge and skill, while their power goes hand in hand with the wonderful laws of nature that spring from the very source of life itself. Some one has aptly said, "He serves God best who serves humanity most." Among the physicians and surgeons of Gibson county who have risen to eminence in their chosen field of endeavor is the subject of this review, whose career has been that of a broad-minded, conscientious worker in the sphere to which his life and energies have been devoted and whose profound knowledge of his profession has won for him a leading place among the most distinguished medical men of his day and generation in the city of his residence.

Dr. John M. Williams, the son of Simon and Lavina (Sharer) Williams, was born January 25, 1857, in Vanderburg county, near the cit}- of Evansville, Indiana. His father was a native of Posey county. Indiana, and was a son of Bennett Williams, while his mother's birth occurred in Gibson county. Mr. and Mrs. Simon Williams began their married life in Vanderburg county, but removed to Gibson county. Fort Branch, in 1870, where Mr. Williams lived a retired life until his death, three years later. His wite survived him several years, living with her son in Owensville, where her death occurred in 1896.

Doctor Williams lived Avith his parents in Vanderburg count}' on the home farm until 1870, at which time he removed with his parents to Fort Branch. He attended the common schools of that village, graduating from the high school in due course of time, after which he took a course at In- diana University at Bloomington. He liad always been a close student, and after graduating from the high school, secured a license to teach and taught one year before he entered the State University. For the next three years he taught during the winters and attended the university during the spring and summer seasons, completing his education in 1878.

While still in school at the university, Mr. Williams began the study of medicine at Fort Branch by reading in the office of one of the old practitioners there. He thought that in the practice of medicine there were greater advantages for doing good in his community than by following the profession of teaching. By the fall of 1879 'i^ 'I'l^l saved enough money to warrant him going to Cincinnati and starting in to take the regular medical course in the E. M. Institute of that city. He was a student at this institution for the next two years, graduating in 1881. Immediately after graduation he opened an office in Fort Branch, in Gibson county, but in the fall of that year he moved to Owensville, where he has practiced continuously since. In Owensville and vicinity his name is a household word, for not only has he treated the children of the community in their infancy, but he has seen them grow up, marry and then has ministered unto their children. With rare skill and resource, with quick perception and almost intuitive judgment, he has made a name for himself in this community. His ability to make a correct diagnosis and then prescribe the proper treatment to be used has brought him a practice second to none in the count \-. During all the years he has been a close student of medical science, keeping in touch with the latest advances along that line and thereby has won the complete confidence of the whole community. His wide practice has lieen remunerati\e and he has shown the same ability in his business affairs which has brought him success in the medical profession. He assisted in the organization of the First National Bank of Owensville in iqoo, and has been a director in that institution continuously since. In addition to his banking interests he has made large investments in land, owning at the present time several hundred acres of the best land in Gibson county. This success in his business affairs has been owing to his steady persistence, sterling integrity and excellent judgment, and yet he has not allowed his material success to blind him to the interests of the community at large. He has always been a contributor to everything having for its object the moral, social or educational advancement of his community.

Montgomery. Her father was a very successful grain merchant of that city and one of its leading citizens, and his death occurred in that place in 1891: Doctor Williams and his wife are the parents of one child, Gertrude, who is at home with her parents.

Doctor Williams and his family are members of the General Baptist church, to which institution they contribute liberally of their means, and in which they haxe always taken an acti\e interest, and have been the means of doing an incalculable amount of good in their church work. As a member of the Owensville Medical Society and the County Medical Society, Doctor Williams has been no inconsiderable factor in advancing the medical interests of the town and county. With his professional skill he combines rare sympathy and thereby adds to his efficiency as a practitioner. He is devoted to his chosen vocation and has lent honor and dignity to the medical profession, having due regard for the highest standard of professional ethics and exhibiting marked skill in the treatment of diseases. Such men are blessings to everv communitv in which thev live.

Tames H. Cockrum

In examining the life records of the citizens of Gibson county it is gratifying to note that so many of her people have been born and reared here; in fact, have spent their entire lives in this \icinity. It proves the stability of the people and also indicates that this is an excellent place to live and that a livehhood may be here obtained with the least expenditure of labor possible, so that we have a quiet, satisfied, law-abiding and worthy citizenship and a fair and prosperous country, equal to any in the sisterhood of counties in the great Hoosier commonwealth. The Cockrums are among the honored pioneer citizens here and they have done their full share of the work of furthering the development of the county.

James H. Cockrum, a well known citizen of Gibson county and a former postmaster at Oakland City, was born in the city now honored by his resi-- dence, on April 23, 1868, a son of James M. and Sarah Frances (Thomas) Cockrum, the father a native of Gibson county, and the mother of the state of Kentucky. James M. Cockrum was a farmer, merchant, attorney and in early life a successful shipper. In all the avenues of life's activities in which he engaged he was successful and Ijecause of his persexering inckistry, sound judgment and integrity of character, he not only enjoyed success in life's affairs, but what was of more value, the confidence and esteem of the people with whom he mingled. His death occurred in 1903. He had served as postmaster at Oakland Cit\- under the administration of President Harrison, and in 1907 represented GibsDU cc unity in the stale Legislature. He was a prominent supporter of the Republican [)arty in tiiis localil)- antl exerted considerable influence in local public aff.iirs. Reli.i;i(iusly, he was a trustee of the Cieneral Baptist church at Oakland Lity for iiian_\- )-ears, while fraternally, he was identified with the k'ree and Accepted Masons and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He was a veteran of the Civil war, ha\ing served as a private in the Forty-second Regiment Indiana \'olunteer Infantry and rendered valiant service for his country. Mis wiilnw now li\es at Oakland City. They were the parents of eight children, namely: Sallie E.. deceased, December 10, 1913: James H.; Charles V'., of Kansas City, Missouri; Edna, the assistant postmistress at Oakland City; Thomas R., of Princeton, and Ralph N.. of Kansas City.

Tames H. Cockrum was educated in the pulilic schools of Oakland City, and his first eiTorts in life on his own account were as a farmer and stock raiser, operating a farm adjoining the city on the north. He has been successful in this vocation and still lives on the farm which he formerly operated. On February 22, 1910. Mr. Cockrtmi was appointed postmaster of Oakland City, and discharged the duties of that office in a manner which won ffir him the commendation of his superiors in the department and the favor of the patrons of the office. He retired from the postoffice on April 1, 1914. Politically, he is a stanch supporter of the Republican party, and has for many years been prominent and active in political work. Religiously, he is a member of the General I'laptist church, while fraternally, he is a member of the Independent Order of Odd I'elli ws. in both subordinate lodge and encampment, and the Modern ^\'oodmen of America.

On February 28, 1906. Mr. Cockrum married Ada Ihirba, the daughter of R. C. Burba, of Oakland City, and to this union have been liorii liirce daughters: Esther Grace. Jennie Frances and Jessie Leee. Mr. Cockrum has always been interested in the welfare and progress of his native county and in the development of its resources he gives his assistance and influence to all laudable means and measures toward these ends. He. possesses a forceful personality and is well liked by all who know him.

William Daniel Kendle

A review of the life of the honored subject of this memior must of necessity be brief and general in its character. To enter fully into the interesting details of the career of the late William Daniel Kendle, touching the struggles of his early manhood and the successes of his later years, would far transcend the limits of this article. He filled a large place in the ranks of the active, energetic and public-spirited citizens of his day and generation and the memories which attach to his name and character form no inconsiderable chapter in the history of his native county, Avhere he passed his life, doing good to all whenever possible.

William Daniel Kendle was a native of Gibson county, born in Patoka township, on November 21, 1838, and he departed this life in Princeton, Indiana, November 29, 1898. He was a son of George Kendle, born April 7, 1812, in Washington county, Tennessee, whose first wife was Lucinda Denbo, born October 19, 1813. His second wife was Pauline Embree, born April i, 1821. She was the widow of John Embree and a daughter of George Barker. He was a farmer who come to Gibson county and settled in Patoka township, west of Princeton. Here he obtained a tract of land which he farmed during the rest of his life.

George Kendle had come with his parents from Tennessee to Harrison county, Indiana, in 1814, and he remained with them until February of 1837, when he started out for Gibson county. Upon his arrival here, he selected land about five miles west of Princeton, in Patoka township. Here he lived for many years and in 1872 retired from active work on his farm and moved to Princeton, where he passed the remainder of his life. His long years of residence in a community rapidly changing from the frontier to a thickly settled territory with all modern advantages, were for him years of activity and doubtless of enjoyment. He was ever found anxious to do anything that would advance the welfare of the community. George Kendle and wife were the parents of five children, namely: William Daniel, the subject of this sketch; John R., born September 14, 1840; Mary E., born October 18, 1842; Elizabeth, born August 28, 1844: Susan D., born April 15, 1846, and Sarah J., born July 22, 1848.

William Daniel Kendle received only a limited schooling in his youth, owing to the limited circumstances of his parents and the meager opportunities offered at best, and he remained at his father's home until his marriage. He chose as his bride Mary Spore, horn in Princeton, and a daugh- tcr of David and Lucinda (Mauck) Spore. The mother was a native of Gibson county, Indiana, and the father came from Knoxville, Tcnnes.see. When a young man he came on a prospecting trip to Gibson county, and was later joined by his father and mother and the other members of tlie family. They obtained a tract of wild land which they cleared, and on which they passed the remainder of their lives. Me died in his sixty-fifth year and she was in her sixty- fourth. They were the parents of seven children, namely: Jacob, Henry, Robert, David. Elbert, Sallie and Betsy. The Spores were devout meml)ers of the Metiiodist Episcopal church.

David Spore and wife had nine children, of which Julius, who was a farmer living near Owensville, and whose wife was Mary McCrary, was the oldest; both are now dead; William, living in Princeton; Thomas, living near Oakland City, Indiana; Andrew, a retired farmer living in Owensville, Indiana; Isaac, decea.sed, was a farmer, near Owensville; Maggie married Baker Lucas, both deceased; Amanda married Isaac W^Dods. both deceased; John, deceased, lived in Patoka township Mrs. Kendle, widow of William Daniel Kendle. was the third oldest child of this fairiily in the order of birth.

After their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Kendle settled down on his father's place, in Patoka township, and engaged in general farming, paying particular attention to the raising of first class live stock. Here tiiey remained until 1885. when they removed to Princeton, where he died. He \v;is a man, quiet and imassuming and whose sterling worth won fur him many warm friends. He was a kind and loving husband and father, and a man possessed of unusual business ability, as his activities showed. To Mr. and Mrs. Kendle were born four children, namely: Lucinda, born June i8, 1862, first married to William McCarty, of Princeton, and later to L. W^ilhite, of Princeton. She is the mother of two children: Arthur, of Princeton, married Matilda Binkley and Florence, of Patoka township, married Lowell Westfall. Emma was born October 6. 1863. married Julius Gamble. She died June i. 1004. Lizzie was born in T870, and married Joim Massey, of Princeton. She !ias one son, Percy. Dovie w;is bcrn in i88.| and married George B. Grigs1)v, of Princeton; they have one daughter, Isabelle.

Mr. Kendle was a man of undoubted integrity who held the confidence of all who knew him. and because of his excellent (|ualitie? he was quite often called upon to settle estates of deceased friends and to see that orphans were properly provided for. and took pleasure in attending to duties thus imposed upon him. He gave his political sup])ort tiT the

Democratic party, but was not given to an}- active interest in its affairs. His religious sympathies were with the ^Vhite Baptist church, and he took great interest in the welfare of this societ}-. Altogether, his was a wellbalanced, rational life; the quiet, sane life whose influence is all on the side of good and cannot be estimated from any earthly standpoint. Like the ever widening circles from a pebble cast into a body of water, so the influence of good deeds, too. are ever widening circles, beating at last upon the shores of eternity.

Among the honorable and influential citizens of Gibson county, Indiana, is the subject of this review, who has here maintained his home for many years, winning a definite success by means of the agricultural industry to which he has devoted his attention during the years of an active business life. His career has been without shadow of wrong or suspicion of evil, and thus he has e\-er commanded the confidence and esteem of his fellow men.

Joseph W. Cunningham was born on Jul}- 2, 1853, at Giro, \Vhite River township, Gibson county, the son of John and Phoebe (Key) Cunningham, the former a native of White River township, Gibson county, and the latter born on North Hart street, Princeton. John Cunningham was a son of one of Princeton's township's early settlers, who came from Georgia about 1803, settling east of Hazelton, in the midst of heavy timber, which he cleared from the tract of land which he had secured and developed a splendid farm. His first home was a log cabin, and in this the family lived until able to erect a more substantial and attractive home. He was the father of five sons: Stewart, Samuel, Joseph, John and Giles, all of whon-i became farmers in White Ri^-er township, except Joseph, who finally located at King's Station, this county. They also had two daughters, Cynthia, the wife of Joseph Hayes, and another one who became the wife of Joseph Decker. John Cunningham received only a common school education, and as a young man engaged in the mercantile business at Buena Vista, Indiana, and also became connected with the pork packing industry. He shipped large quantities of pork, produce, corn, walnut lumber, etc., to New Orleans on flat boats, and acquired a considerable quantity of valuable farm land. He died in i860 while making a trip south with produce. His widow afterwards married

David Robb in 1864, and they lucaled seven miles norlli of Princeton, on the old Robb farm, where they both died. Tu John Cunnini,dKun and his wile were born the following chUdren : j-'avilla. deceased, the wife of Jasper X. Davidson, of Princeton: William ( ireen. deceased, who married Alary Hitch, now living in Patoka : Joseph W'., the immediate subject of this sketch: Arminta, deceased; John, who died at the age of twenty-one years. To Mr. and Mrs. Robb were born two children, Anna, the wife of Charles Parrett, of White River township, (jibson county, and Xora, the wife of Oscar Spare, who lives south of Princeton.

Joseph \y. Cunningham receixed the ad\antages of a common school education at Patoka and Deckard, Indiana. He lived at home with his stepfather and mother until he was twenty-three years of age, when he located on the Barnes place in White River township, to the operation of which he devoted himself continuously, and with splendid success, until .\ugust 6, 1^13, when he retired from the farm and mo\ed to Princeton, establishing himself in a home at No. 219 South Alain street. He is the owner of four hundred acres of land in White River township, which has been maintained at the highest standari! of agricultural excellence, being numbered among the best farming tracts of the county. In addition to agriculture, Mr. Cunningham was engaged for many years in the buying of grain and stock and also assisted in the organization of the bank at Patoka, being at this time one of the directors of that institution. Starting in life with practically no assistance, he has achieved this splendid success entirely bv his own efforts, and is entitled to his due share of credit for what he has accomplished.

W^hen twenty-three }ears old Mr. Cunningham was united in marriage with Xan Tribbett, a native of Gibson county, Indiana, who was born on the old Trililiett farm north of Princeton and whose death occurred in 1906. On Xovember 11, 1908, Mr. Cunningham married Christine Bennett, who was born in Jacksonville, ]\Iorgan county, Illinois, but resided in Gibson conntv at the time of her marriage. She is the daughter of Isaac and Martha (Latham) Bennett, her father a native of Morgan county, Illinois, and the mother of Gibson county, Indiana. By his first marriage, Air. Cunningham became the father of the following children: Byron, who died April 12, 1910, was a school teacher for many years, and later cashier in the Patoka National Bank at Patoka. Gerald, who was educated in the schools at Patoka and the public schools at Louisville, Kentucky, and Indianapolis. Indiana. is now a successful dentist at Princeton. Roy T. graduated from the Patoka schools, and later attended a technical school at Boston, Alassachu- setts, in which he took the electrical course, and also took the musical course in the conservatory at Warren, Ohio. He went to Washington, D. C, where he became the leader of the Fourth Regimental Band, being assigned to Fort Monroe, Virginia. There he took up military studies and was one of the class of four who graduated, receiving his commission as second lieutenant in the coast defense department. He has been stationed at Fort Morgan for the last two years, having charge of the Thirty-ninth Regimental Band. He is an excellent musician, being a splendid performer on almost all the band instruments. George, who is unmarried and remains at home, is the owner of a farm in White River township, in this county, and is interested with his father.

In politics, Mr. Cunningham has always been allied with the Democratic party, and has always taken an interest in Democratic affairs in this locality. Religiously, Mrs. Cunningham is a member of the First Presbyterian church at Princeton. Mr. Cunningham is a man of splendid influence in his community, having been a very industrious man and having had an honorable career, setting a worthy example to the younger generation of this community and giving his own children a splendid training". He is regarded as a public-spirited man. and can always ht counted on to support the right side of any mo^'ement involving the moral, educational or social welfare of his fellow citizens.

Samuel T. Heston

That life is the most useful and desirable that results in the greatest good to the greatest number, and though all do not reach the heights to which they aspire, yet in some measure each can win success and make life a blessing to his fellow men. It is not necessary for one to occupy eminent public positions to do so, for in the other walks of life there' remains much good to be accomplished and man/'opportunities for the exercise of talents and influence that in some way will touch the lives of those with whom we come in contact, making them better and brighter. In the list -of Gibson county's successful citizens, Samuel T. Heston has long occupied a prominent place. In his I'ecord there is much that is commendable, and his career forcibly illustrates what a life of' energy can accomplish when plans are wisely laid and actions are governed by right principles, noble aims and high ideals. In his public career, as well as in his private life, no word of suspicion has ever been breathed against him. His actions are the result of careUil and conscientiuus thought, and when once convinced that he is right, no suggestion of personal profit or policy can s\\cr\e him from the course he has decided on. Jn offering the following brief resume of his life it is believed that it will scr\e as an incentive to the youth whose careers are yet matters for the future to determine.

Samuel T. Heston was burn in Gil)son count}'. Indiana. .May u, 1866, the son of Joseph .S. and Margaret A. (Wallace) Hestou. 'Ibe father was born in Ellicot Cit)-. .M;iryland, antl came west in 1S53, following the business of milling for some time after his arrival in Indiana and later turning to farming and stock raising, in which he was very successful. To Joseph S. and ^largaret Heston were born si.K children: Samuel T., with whom this narrative deals; Olive B., who married John E. Joyce, of Princeton; Eunice E., who married Harry K. Stormont ; and three children who are deceased.

After acquiring an elementary education in the district schools. Mr. Heston attended Eastman College at Poughkeepsie, New ^'ork. later taking a course in the business college at Lexington, Kentuck\ . After completing this commercial course the subject was employed as bookkeejicr for the I\loore Alilling Company at King's Station, which occupation he followed f<uabout two years, and then helped to organize the Farmers Bank, in iSS<). and is still connected with that institution. He started in the bank as assistant cashier, then became cashier and eventually president. The institution has grown and prospered until it is one of the best banking houses of its class in the community. The capital stock is Siooooo, and the institutinu, which was a state bank for twenty years, w'as changed to a national bank. an<l ww is called the Farmers' National Bank.

In addition to his financial interests at Princeton. Mr. lle-ii of the Bankers National B.ank of E\ans\ille. Indiana, (organized in 1007. with a capital stock of ,'^230,000.

i"or four years Mr. Heston ser\cd as cit\- treasurer, and I responsible office in a manner that ga\e entire satisfaction to the t; .\mong Mr. Heston's other business connections, be is director and of the Mechanics Building and Loan Association and is also on the board of directors of the Perpetual Building, Loan_ and Savings Association, lie was one of the organizers of the Farmers' Oil Company and is still a stockholder, although not at j^resent holding an office in that cor|)oration. A\'hen the Evansville & Princeton traction line was projected, he was one of the prime movers and was its first treasurer.

In 1890 Mr. Heston was united in marriage to Sarah F. Grace, daughter of Benjamin and Merchans Grace, who h\'ed in Michigan and never moved to this state. To this union ha\e been born live children; Gladys G.. Joseph S., Darwin M., Edwin B. and George W., all living at home.

In politics Mr. Heston supports the Democratic party, while his religious affiliations are with the First Presbyterian church. The home of Mr. Heston at 603 South Main street, is a model of all that a modern, comfortable, hospitable home should be. His father died in 191 1, the mother having passed away five years before, in 1906.

The Heston family at one time owned fourteen hundred acres of land, and Mr. Heston and his sisters are now the possessors of twelve hundred acres.

George Wither Spoon

It cannot be other than interesting to note in the series of personal sketches appearing in this work the varying conditions that ha\-e compassed those whose careers are outlined, and the effort has been made in each case to throw well focused light on the individuality and to bring into proper perspective the scheme of each respective career. Each man who strives to fulfill his part in connection with human life and human activities is deserving of recognition, whate\-er may be his field of endea\'or, and it is the function of works of this nature to perpetuate for future generations an authentic record concerning those represented in its pages, and the value of such pul> lications is certain to be cunnilative for all time to come, showing forth the individual and specific accomplishments of which generic history is ever engendered.

George Witherspoon, the son of W. P. and Sitha A. (McDonald) Witherspoon, was born September 17. 1858, in Gibson county, Indiana, his father being a native of Tennessee, while his mother was born in Xorth Carolina. His father came from Tennessee when he was about eighteen years of age and settled in Cokmibia township, this county, where he taught school for a number of years. With the money saved from his teaching, together with what he earned in "the summers by farm work, he was enabled to buy a farm south of Oakland City. Later he disposed of this tract and secured a farm near Francisco, but in 1863, he moved to Illinois and lived on a farm in Vermillion county in that state, for the remainder of his days.