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

Simeon Noble was born February 14, 1833, at Lewisville, Ohio, whither his father, David Noble, had located when as a young man he left his home in Pennsylvania. After locating in Ohio, he took as his wife Rebecca Phillips, a native of New Jerse}', whose family had originally come from England.. The family of David Noble was of German descent. He remained in Ohio until 1857, when he removed his family to Knox county, Indiana, where he purchased a farm, which he greatly improved, and there engaged in agricultural pursuits for many years. During the latter years of his life he lived in Alt. Carmel, Illinois, in retirement from active labors, and there he died in 1862. His wife had died some years before him, having passed away in 1857. They reared a family of six children, as follows: John, who lived and died in Ohio; Francisco, deceased, who made his home in Mt. Carmel, Illinois ; Simeon, the subject of this sketch ; David, who lived and died in Ohio, and Joseph, deceased, whose earlier home was also in Ohio, but who later resided in Knox county, Indiana, and who served during the Civil war in the Eighth Indiana Cavalry. The youngest child was Addie, deceased, who was the wife of John Easton, of Mt. Carmel, Illinois. The

Simeon Noble attended the county sch.H,ls ai I.ewisville, Ohio, and later received instruction in the West Bedford Academy in Ohio fur two terms. He remained at home with his father until he enlisted in the army in July, 1864, as a private in Company M, Third Rei,dment Kentucky Volunteer Infantry, at \'incennes, Indiana. He was lirst sent to Owensboro. Kentucky, where he was in camp for some time and was then sent to Tallahousa and on to Nashville. He did scout duty all of the time, lie was with the Army of the Cumberland and was in several battles and skirmishes. Stone's River, Pittslnirg Landing, Resaca and others. He was discharged in 1S63 and re-enlisted in the same compan_\- and regiment and was sent to Resaca. He was with General Sherman on his famous march to the sea anfl remained under his command until the close of the war, taking part in all engagements which that famous command encountered. He was mustered out of service at Raleigh. North Carolina, in the fall of 1865. Having served all during the war and in so many engagements, it is a remarkable fact that he came out of service almost unscathed so far as ]5ermanent disability is concerned. He was shot in the hand while guarding a train and also shot in the leg.

In 1864 Air. Xoljle was united in marriage with Adelaide 'i'hurgood, of Roscoe, Ohio, though a native of England. To tliem were born two children, Frank, a stationary engineer at Princeton, who makes his home with his father, and Beatrice, who has always resided at home. Mrs. Noble died on March 19, 1898.

After Mr. Noble was discharged from the army, he went to X'incennes, Indiana, where he engaged in the flouring null business and contimied at that place for a number of years. He later came to i'rinceton, where he engaged in the same line of business for a number of years before his retircmeiU from the active duties of life, having amassed a competence.

Mr. Xol)le is a meml)er of Post No. 2S. Grand Army of the Republic, at Princeton, and his religious affiliation is with the Methodi.st l-^piscopal church, to which he contributes of his time and means. Mrs. Noble was a member of the Presbyterian church. Simeon Xoble is a man well known in Princeton, and in fact all over Gibson county, where he has won and holds a Large number of friends. The years of his residence here have made him known as a man of honor and integrity, one who stands for all that is ui)lifting for the betterment of the community. He is a man well i)reserved for his years and takes pleasure in keeping posted on all (piestions r,f the day

It is a pleasure to investigate the career of a successful, self-made man. Peculiar honor attaches to that individual who, beginning the great struggle of life alone and unaided, gradually overcomes unfavorable environment, removes one by one the obstacles from the pathway of success and, by the master strokes of his own force and vitality, succeeds in forging his way to the front and winning for himself a competency and a position of esteem and influence among his fellow men. Such is the record of the popular citizen of Oakland Cit\- to a brief synopsis of whose life the following lines are devoted.

Fred Butler, a well known citizen of Oakland City and the present popular and efficient trustee of Columbia township, was born near Millersburg, Warrick county, Indiana, on September 22, 1862. He is the son of John A. and Anna (Hall) Butler, both of whom were natives of England, of sterling families of that merry little isle, and who came to America in 1 85 1, locating at Evansville, Indiana. Subsequently they located at what was known as "Nine Mile House," and later removed to the vicinity of Millersburg, Warrick county, where they remained until 1866, when they came to I'ike county. Indiana, where they spent the remainder of their years, their deaths occurring on the farm to which they had given their attention.

The subject of this sketch was reared on the home farm in Pike county and secured his education in the public schools of that locality. He continued the cultivation of the home farm until about seven years ago. In 1885 Mr. Butler bought a farm northeast of Pleasantville, Pike county, and in 1S91 he bought a farm six miles southeast of Oakland City, to which he removed and to which he has added until he is now the owner of one hundred and si.xty acres of fine land. In 1902 Mr. Butler left the farm and took up his residence in Oakland City, where he has since remained. Mr. Butler was nut only successful as an agriculturist, but for about twelve years he engaged extensively in the buying and shipping of live stock, in which also he met with considerable success. His farm is rendered particularly valuable because of the fact that it is underlaid with a strata of petroleum and gas, the biggest oil well in the state of Indiana being located on his farm, it testing six hundred and thirty pounds pressure.

From his youth Mr. Butler has taken an active interest in local public affairs, and before he had attained his majority he was nominated for the position of constable and was elected three successive terms while residing in Pike countv. Soon after coming to Oakland City he was elected a member of the cit)- C(,aincil fnmi the lliird ward. Tiiis posilinn, liciwcvcr. liv ivsigiicd in 1909 ill order to accept the office of trustee of Columbia township, to whicli he had been elected the previous year. lie is a stanch Democrai in his political views and has for many years been active in liehalf ^f his pari}-. Fraternally. Mr. liutler is a member ui the Independent Order of Odd l-'ellows and of the Conrt of Honor, Ijeing a charter n;eml)er of tbc killer ori^anization. In the Odd Fellows he lielongs In the sulxirdinatc lud^^e ant! encampment, and is also a memlier of the Daui^hlers of Rel)ekah. Religiously, he is a member of the Primitive F.-iplisl cliurch al ( )akland City, as is his wife, ^^'hen Mr. Butler was elected townsliip tnislee the norm;d Ueiiublican majority in Columbia township was one hundred and hfty-tive, but .Mr. Butler overcame this majority and was elected by thirty-four votes, die sa. e conditions prevailing when he was elected a member of the city council, when he received a Democratic majority of sixty-fi\-e in a town which h;id a normal Republican majority.

On August 15, 1884, Mr. Butler was married to Sarali A. I''rance. the daughter of William C. and Elizafjcth bVance, of Pike county, wiure she was born anil reared To this unicjn June been born two children, Curtis, born in 1887, and Lillie. Ixirn in i88(;. Curtis married Etta Ilert, and they have one child, Dorothy Jean; Fillie became the wife of brank I'.illarl, and they live at Oakland City. Through all the years of his residence here Mi- Butler has held the confidence and respect of the people with whom he has mingled and who have esteemed him because of his genuine worth. Of genial disposition, possessing honesty of purpose, genius for devising and executing the right thing at the right time are the chief characteristics of the man and are the concomitants which have insured his success.

Henry J. Brademeyer

A citizen of the United States can bear no greater badge of honor than the distinction of having served the government in the memorable four years of war between the states. It is a sacred family inheritance, to be prized like a jewel by all future descendants and kept bright and untarnished by other acts of valor, patriotism and loyalty in the interests of free government. Even in this day when there are many of the old soldiers living, no one can sec them dressed in their faded uniforms wn'thout feeling a glow of pride and without showing them studied deference. But the ranks of the old phalanx are fast going down before the only foe they can not defeat, and ere long none will be left to recount the actual experiences of that memorable four years of sanguinary history. In the meantime, while they are still with us, let us pay them suitable honor for their sacrifices, patriotism, gallantry and sufferings. One of these honored veterans is Henry J. Brademeyer, whose active and useful life furnishes the material for this brief biographical review.

Henry J. Brademeyer was born April 6, 1846, in Burlington, Iowa, the son of William and Henrietta (Rotherl) Brademeyer, natives of Germany. William Brademeyer was born in the Fatherland in 1812 and came alone to America in 1828, locating first at Cincinnati, Ohio, where he engaged in draying for seven years, having been a shepherd and mail carrier before lea\ing- his nati\e land. Subsequently he removed to Louisville, Kentucky, remaining there for fifteen years, and then coming to New Albany, Indiana, he was employed as a watchman for three years. While residing in Louisville, William Brademeyer was married to Henrietta Rotherl, who came from Germany to America in 1830, first residing at Wheeling, \A'est Virginia, later at Cincinnati, Ohio, and finally at Louisville. In 1836 Mr. Brademeyer's father and mother removed to Burlington, Iowa, where he drove a stage and engaged in draying until 1848, when they went overland to California, and in the Golden state the elder Brademeyer drove pack mules for the miners and hauled provisions for a period of three years. They then returned to Burlington, Iowa, and in 1854 removed to Nauvoo, Illinois. Establishing his family comfortably here, William returned to California and engaged in hauling lumber between Sacramento and San Francisco, making his headquarters at Sharkey Flats. He spent three years and seven months at this occupation, and in 1858 he rejoined his family at Dubois, Indiana, they having removed to that place in 1856. Here he engaged in farming the remainder of Iiis life, he and his wife dying in the same year. To them were born the following children : Amanda, of St. Louis, Missouri ; Caroline, of Minneapolis, Minnesota; John and Henry were twins and John is living in Huntingsburg, Indiana; William H., of Pokers Point, Arkansas; Josephine, of Huntingsburg, Indiana; John Wesley and Margaret were twins and both are deceased; Henry J., with whom this narrative deals,

Mr. Brademeyer's early education was acquired under the most adverse circumstances, he being compelled to walk about four miles to school. Remaining on the home farm until he reached his majority, in the fall of 1863 he enlisted in Company M, Tenth Indiana Volunteer Cavalry, his brother, John, joining the same company. From Louisville, Kentucky, the company was sent to Nashville and Pnlaski, Tennessee, and then to Decatur and Stevenson, Alabama, where he did a great deal of guard duty. From this point they were dispatched first to Athens, Alahania, then to I'lilaski and Gravel Railroad, near Nashville, Tennessee, and were in all the battles and skirmishes in wliicli tlie Sixtcenlli .\rmy Ccirps was cngai^od. spendin.i,' tlie winter at Gardner Springs. At the end of this trying period they were sent by boat to Vicksburg and then to New Orleans. From there they crossed the Gulf of Mexico on the transport "George Peabody" to Alabama and invading the northwestern part of Florida, where they took part in the siege of Spanish Fort. Later they were in the siege and capture of Fort Blakely. They then came back north through the northern part of Florida and southern Georgia and Alabama and finally crossed the Tallahama river at Georgetown, Georgia. They were at the latter place when they heard the news of the assassination of Abraham Lincoln. From Georgetown they went to Montgomery, Alabama, and thence to Columbus. They then went to Vicksburg, Mississippi, where their horses were turned in and they did guard duty for four months, at the end of which period their command was mustered out of the service.

At the close of the war Mr. Brademeyer and his lirother John went to Dubois county, Indiana, and fanned for several years. subsc(|uenlly learning the brick mason's trade at Holland. Indiana. John married Lottie Stillwell *nd engaged in agricultural pursuits in Pike county, Indiana, which he followed for several years, and then went to Holland, Indiana, and worked at his trade, later locating at Huntingsburg, where he now resides.

In 1 871 Mr. Brademeyer went to Pike county, Indiana. He married Mary E. White, .of Warrick county, Indiana, the daughter of Henry and Nancy (Long) White, of near Boonville. Her father was a member of Company K, Fifty-eighth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and died while in the service. His wife passed away in her fifty-fifth year. Tn Mr. Brademeyer and wife were born: William, who married Emma .Moore, and live.s in Cairo. Illinois, where he follows the trade of miller; Alice, the wife of Robert Kendie, of Princeton; Nancy, who married William Wilges, both deceased: Hattie, the wife of Jesse Starky, of Peru, Indiana; David, who married .Annie Fields, is a fireman at the electric light plant at Princeton.

After his marriage Air. Brademeyer farmed in Pike county, Indiana, for four years and then removed to New Port. Arkansas, and later to Greenville, Missouri, where he engaged in agriculture, subsequently returning to Indiana and locating at Holland. Dubois county, where he entra^ed in team- ing and later worked at his trade as a brick mason. While in Holland he served as deputy sheriff two terms and also as constable for nine years. In November, 1892, Mr. Brademeyer came to Princeton, Gibson county, and bought his present home at 629 East Christian street, since then working at his trade.

In political affairs, Mr. Brademeyer has always given his support to the Republican part}-. He keeps posted on current events, is a man of excellent memory and is remarkably well preserved for his age.

Samuel Nathan Knowles

Among the representative farmers of Gibson county is Samuel N. Knowles, who is the owner of two hundred and eighty-seven acres of fine land in Montgomery township, Gibson county, and is carrying on the various departments of his enterprise with that discretion and energy which are sure to find their natural sequence in definite success. He has always been a hard worker, a good manager and a man of economical habits, and, being fortunately situated in a thriving farming community, it is no wonder that today he stands in the front rank of the agriculturists of this favored community.

Samuel Nathan Knowles, who has been eminently successful in the pursuit of agriculture in Montgomery township, this county, and who has at* tained a relative degree of prominence in his county by faithful public service, was born June 3, 1864, near Mounts Station in Montgomery township, on the southeast quarter of section 2t, and is today living on this same site. He is the son of John Lowery and Patsy (Montgomery) Knowles, his father being born in Gibson county on the same section of land where Samuel A. now lives. His mother, who was a daughter of Colonel William Montgomery, was born about three miles south of Owensville.

John Lowery Knowles, who was born March i, 1823, was reared near where Mounts Station is now located, and was the son of James Knowles by his second wife, being the only child of that marriage, while James Knowles had a numerous family by his first wife. James Knowles came to Gibson county in the early pioneer days, when Indians were thick in this community, selected the land he desired and received his government patent, dated December 23, 1815, making over to him the southeast quarter of section 23, as above stated. On this land James Knowles and wife passed the remainder of their lives, and were laid to rest near Mounts Station, where their tombstones can still be seen, giving dates of birth and death.

John Lowery Knovvles passed his boyhood on his father's farm, assisting in clearing the land and establishing comfortable surroundings, and on November 15, 1846, was united in marriage to Patsy Montgomery, who was born May 4, 1828, daughter of William Montgomery and Peggy (Stone) Montgomery. Her father was born in 1801, the second child of Joseph Mvjntgomery, Sr., and was a very prominent man in the early history of the state. He was a colonel in the early state militia, was county commissioner from 1837 to 1842 and was a member of the state Legislature 1843-4. He was an extremely fine looking man, of excellent bearing and dignity, and was possessed of unusual shrewdness and ability. His home was near Owensville, where he carried on farming in addition to his public duties.

After his marriage in 1846, John Lowery Knowles settled down near Mounts Station on section 23, where he carried on farming the rcsi nf liis life. His death occurred October 17, 1905, in his eighty-third year. There were fifteen children born to John Lowery Knowles and wife, live nf uhfini died in childhood and the other ten grew to maturity and made iionies for themselves. Of these, Cordelia is the wife of Har\ey Liuas; (lenrLre is countv commissioner and lives in the southern end nf Montgimicry tnwiishii); Henry lives on section 26, near Mounts Station; Xatiian lives in tiie nMrtliwest quarter of section 2^, while Francis M. resides on the nortii side of liie same section; Nina is the wife of Jesse Lucas and lives alxmt a mile west <>\ the old Knowles homestead. The mother is still living and makes her home with her children.

At the death of his father, James Knowles, John Lowery Knowles inherited from his estate eighty acres of fine farm land, to which he added from time to time, until at his death he stood ix)ssessed of seven hundred acres of fine land. He was an excellent man, full of life and energy and possessed of unusual Inisiness ability. Lie was of happy temperament and highly appreciated a good joke. Desiring to keep his sons by him, he instituted a cooperative svstem in the ciperation of his farming interests and thus secured the help of his sons and they shared in the benefits of tlieir united efforts. which proved a most satisfactory arrangement all around. W'liiie nd an active man in church circles, he attended public worship :iiid the principle- of his life were drawn from the highest source.

Samuel Nathan ICnowles remained with his father until his marriage in 1886 to Mary Zerelda Martin, who was born in the southern part of Montgomery township, Gibson county, a daughter of William Asbury and Patience (Knowles) Martin. She was linrn and reared on section 27. and her father before her was Iwrn and reared on the same sp.,t, his father being the original owner of the land. At his father's death, the mother and rest of the family removed to Illinois, while William Asbury bought the home farm and passed the remainder of his life there. He had one hundred and sixty acres in one tract and fifty-eight in another. Mrs. Knowles is one of ten children in the Martin family, five of whom are still living. Philip and John are farmers in Montgomery township; Ed lives at Lincoln, IJIebrastia; Julius resides at Buckskin, about nine miles east of Fort Branch, Indiana. Patience (Knowles) Martin, the mother of Mrs. Knowles, was reared just west of the Black River school in Montgonien' township and was the daughter of Edward Knowles and wife;))t<tH4y wz*^^^«1^Jk4^

After his marriage in 1886. Samuel T^Iathan Knowles continued to assist his father in his work for some four or five years, at wliich time he desired to possess land for himself and purchased from his father the northwest quarter of .section 23, where he has since residecl. This particular tract of land is what was known in the early days as the Hullam Jones place. The land was entered by Jones, who had a grist mill there in pioneer days.

Mr. Knowles is much interested in politics and gives his stanch support to the Democratic party. In 1902 he was nominated for county treasurer by his party against F. D. S. Knowles and, thdugh he made an excellent race, he met defeat owing to the fact that it was a Republican victory clear through. However, he made an enviable record for himself in that he reduced the nominal Republican majority of some four hundred to ninety-four, and considers that he broke the backbone of the Republican strength. The salient point in his campaigning was his advocating that the interest on all county funds should revert to the county treasury, and this principle has since been adopted.

Mr. Knowles is of the finest type of manlinod, honest and upright, widely and favorably known. Into his business of general farming and the raising of good strains of live stock, he puts good judgment and business ability and success is inevitable. Mr. and Mrs. Knowles are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, to which they give liberally of time and means. Mr. Knowles' fraternal affiliation is with the time-honored body of Free and Accepted Masons, and in this work he has attained to the council degree. Mr. Knowles is a busy man, but he finds time and opportunity to take an interest in matters pertaining to the progress and growth of the community and county, keeping abreast of the times on all questions of vital interest and being regarded by all as a leading citizen in the locality honored by his residence.