Armstrong Township

Armstrong Township

settlement probably rests with the territory along the river border. The first settlements in Armstrong township were in the northern part, but just when the first cabin was built or the first clearing made, can not now be determined. The first settlers were representatives of the class already frequently mentioned as squatters.

Thomas Saulsbury and Maj. Selser were typical representatives of this class. They were both well-known in early days, and even by the survi\ing generation are not entirely forgotten. Thomas Saulsburj' was a " pretty wild chap" ; he came in as a hunter, made no pretensions as a farmer, and remained rough and uncouth as long as he was in this locality- He accumulated no property, being desirous of satisfying onl}- his daily wants, without thought of the morrow or the da3-s which might come when he could neither hunt or work. He built a cabin, however, and cleared a few acres of land. When the game began to get scarce he grew restless and pushed on to other and better hunting grounds. Disposing of his improvements to 'S(juire McDonald for a small amount, and gathering his family, his dogs, and the few necessary household goods together, he left the scenes of his oftrecounted exploits and was never heard of more. Maj. Selzer was of the same type. Joseph Caters, John Livingston, and John R. Kitchens were also known as followers of the game.

It is impossible to name the pioneers in the priorit}' of their coming. Among the earliest were James Martin and his two sons. Thomas and Charles, who came from South Carolina in a ver}- early day, and afterward became well-known in all parts of the county. The elder Martin was a Regular Baptist preacher of the early backwoods style, uneducated; and yet with homely illustrations and powerful speech, backed by an upright life which all men admired, he was a power for good among the pioneers. Charles Martin was a progressive man, and a good farmer for those days. He was one of the first to build a horse-power mill in the township, which served in a great degree to ameliorate the hardships of life in the woods. On the 8th of November, 1819, he was licensed to keep a tavern, the first in Armstrong township. For many years his hospitable house was a favorite place w'ith all who went that way. The rates fixed by the county commissioners as permissible to be charged by him, were as follows: Each diet, 37/^ cents; keeping horse, 50 cents; lodging, 12}-^ cents; one-half pint of rum, brandy or wine, 50 cents; one-half pint of gin, peach, or apple brandy or bounce, 25 cents; one-half pint of whiskey, 12 }i cents. John Armstrong, sr., for whom the township was named, was another of the early settlers. He. had been a sailor, and came with some ready money, unlike most of the early settlers, and entered considerable land. It seemed strange that one, so much of whose life had been spent on the ocean, should at last settle in the wilds of the interior where he could not even hear the dashing of the waves upon the coast. He was a veritable " salt," full of stories, and never happier than when surrounded by attentive listeners. The monotonous life of the forecastle had prepared him for the monotony of pioneer life in the woods. Here he found a people glad to hear his constant talk about the sea. They had not heard his stories a thousand times, as had his shipmates no doubt. In the lonely cabins of the pioneers with the great backlog filling every recess with its illuminating glory he was wont to become an attractive figure to all, from the boy whose life was just budding into hope, to the old man whose source of greatest joy was retrospection. Mr. Armstrong was in- dustrious and pushing, though not particularly prominent. He was respected by all and died when about ninety years of age, in the township bearing his name.

Immediately following the occupation of Armstrong township by civilized men few were more prominent than David Brumfield. Far above the average in intelligence, he was recommended to the governor for appointment as justice of the peace, by the iirst court held in Warrick county in 1813, and afterward when Vanderburgh county was organized, he was chosen by the electors as one of the first county commissioners. He maintained an honorable prominence throughout his entire career. The early elections were held at the house of Zadok McNew, which stood in section 32, township 4 south, range 11 west, was a small double log house, one and one-half stories high, and remained well preserved for manyyears. Zadok McNew was an early settler, not particularly able or prominent, but at one time a justice of the peace. He became a well-known citizen and raised a respected and honorable family. One of his daughters was married in early times to James Patton, who secured a tolerably fair education and taught school in various parts of the county. Patrick Calvert was distinguished among the old-time folks as a shrewd trader. He came into the township in 1816 and accumulated considerable property by trading in live-stock. He was wellknown in all the county as the leading stock dealer in that section, and his judgment was considered remarkably good. He and his descendants have built for their family name an honorable place in the history of the township.

Judge John McCrary was selected b}^ the voters at the first election held in the county, to occupy a place on the bench as associate judge. He was a man of sterling worth.

and long occupied a prominent place in the annals of Armstrong township. Among the earliest settlers was Moses Pruitt, who came to the township prior to 1810. Simpson Ritchey was also well-known in this township. At an early date he built a horsemill. This, or the one built by Charles Martin, was the first in the township. Settlers at first used the mortar for pulverizing corn, and afterward went to David Negley's mill, in Center township, or to that of Joseph Wasson, in Gibson county. John Ferrell, Daniel and Joshua Rose, and many others whose names it is not possible to ascertain, were among the pioneers. Some of those who were not among the first, but who acted a conspicuous part in the early history of the count)', were Gen. Elisha Harrison, also an earl}' resident of Evansville, a man of great strength of character and personal worth, who occupied many positions of trust and honor; 'Squire Samuel McDonald, a Virginian, and a very promiment man, who for a quarter of a century held the office of justice of the peace; George W. Finch, a justice of the peace, and for four years a state senator; William Stewart, whose influence was ever for good, and many others. The lands in Armstrong township were taken gradually b}' the sons of the pioneers who became of age, and by others who, leaving their homes in the older states, after weeks and months of endurance and trial found a spot near some spring or settlement of good neighbors which their fancies selected as a good place to locate. Very few foreigners found their way here until 1S35. Over in the townships east of Armstrong, many were settling from beyond the ocean, but the ties of nationality had great effect on those early comers. Each sought out those from his native state or clime as any stranger might hunt out a brother in going to a new country. The public lands were soon taken, and the entire township became, almost as if by magic, a garden where it had been with few exceptions, wilderness, and soon, instead of the hunter's trail or the cartway from settlement to settlement, the best of roads were provided in all its parts. These industrious new-comers were principall\- from Germany, though man}' came from Pennsylvania and the older states of this countr}'. As a class they are economical, industrious and good citizens, and to their efforts is due much of the prosperity of the present.

lucidcii/s. - One of the most stirrin<f events of early times in Armstrong township was the kidnapping of the Gothards. Isaac Gothard was a poor Englishman, who drifted into the township and took his place in the community as a shiftless, easy-going, ambitionless fellow, with no particular mental or moral development. He had not been here long before his wife took the smallpox, and the entire neighborhood was alarmed for their safety. A mulatto was found who had passedsafely through a siege of the disease, and he was impressed as a nurse for the sick woman. He was so attentive to her wants that he soon ingratiated himself into her affections. During the patient's convalescence their intimacy increased, but when she had recovered, Isaac, the husband, took his accustomed place in the household, and the mulatto went his way. At length, however, in 1819, twins made their appearance in the Gothard household, and both were mulattos. Isaac made no complaints, and continued to live in peace and harmony with his faithless spouse. The children waxed strong as the years went by and began to be quite interesting to the communit)-, when one day much to everybod^-'s chagrin, they were kidnapped and carried to Diamond Island in the Ohio river, where Patrick Calvert, the Rogerses, Caters and others went to rescue them. While attempting the rescue, Mr. Calvert was struck on the head with a gun barrel by a desperado named Lynn, who was in league with the kidnappers, the blow causing a fearful cut which left a permanent, unsightly scar. Some time afterward Mr. Calvert was in Texas, when the scar attracted the attention of a ferryman to whom he related the story of the kidnapping. Somewhat excitedly the listener declared he had ferried the parties with the negro boys across the stream, and proceeded to give information which led to their discovery. They were brought back to Armstrong township as free children, and were bound out to Mr. Calvert and grew to manhood on his place. They were industrious, intelligent men; one was considered a genius as a cabinet-maker. In after years they removed to Illinois.

Churches. - Until 1876 there was not a church in Armstrong township. It must not be inferred from this statement, however, that the people of the township were not many of them pious, devoted worshipers of the Divine Father. In early times there was frequent preaching at the school-houses and at the cabins of the settlers. The Baptists, Methodists, Presb\terians, Christians and other sects kept up the struggle for supremacy here as elsewhere. The Regular Baptists were the most prominent in the township at first, but later gave way to the Cumberland Presb\terians. As the country became more thickly settled facilities for worship were supplied by churches built outside of the township and 3'et near enougii the borders to have a large portion of their membership within the township. Cynthiana, in Posey county, has been the most freijuented place by Armstrong township people.

Early Settlement

19, township 4 south, range 11 west, in 1876, which is free to all Christian denominations, though used chiefly by the Cumberland Presbyterians and the Christian order. The community believing it had been without a church long enough, took the matter up and soon after determining to build, the edifice was erected. It was named by the trustees " Calvert Chapel "' in honor of Mr. Leroy Calvert, much being due to his very munificent gifts in behalf of the building enterprise. The structure is a frame, 30x50 feet, nicely furnished, and cost about $1,600.00. Rev. J. B. Hadlock was the first to preach to the Cumberland Presbyterian organization now using Union church. He was followed by Revs. N. F. Gill and H. D. Onyett, D. D. At the expiration of Dr. Onj-ett's ministry Mr. Hadlock was again called to the church. For the Christian order congregation Rev. Collins was the last minister in charge. His predecessor was Rev. D. M. Schumaker. A union Sabbath school with about thirty-five attendants, superintended by Mr. Leroy Calvert, meets every Sabbath in this church.

In and about St.Wendell's, a village on the line between Vanderburgh and Posey counties, reside a great number of Roman Catholics, whose house of worship is in Posey county. As early as 1841 a log church was erected there. Rev. Roman Weinzopfel regularly visited the church up to May, 1842. Rev. Conrad Schneiderjans became the first resident pastor in October, 1842. Afterward, in 1845 and 1846, Rev. Charles Opperman and Rev. Martin Stable now and then visited the church and in April, 1846, Father Weinzopfel returned and accomplished much good by his labors, remaining until August, 1S58. The old church soon became too small for the rapidly increasing congregation. April 17, 1853, Bishop de St. Palais laid the corner-stone for a handsome new edifice, and blessed the new church October 22, 1854, assisted by the pastor, Rev. E. J. Durbin, Rev. A. Deydier, Rev. J. B. Chasse, and the Rev. Benedictine Fathers, Bede O'Connor and Ulrich Christen. The edifice cost, e.'^clusive of much labor and material contributed, $5,600. The congregation is in a flourishing condition. Its pastors have been: Revs. Paul Wagner, J. Kauffman, J. H. Deistel, J. B. Merl, Fr. M. Andres, C. Exel, N. Galweiler, Aloysius Daennhoffer, Joseph Schuck, John Stoltz and M. Heck.

TcKviis. - Armstrong township boasts of no important towns. St. Wendell's, partly in the township and partly in the adjoining count}' of Posey, is the largest. It has a flouring mill, a store, blacksmith shop, and such other conveniences as are usualh' demanded by an agricultural neighborhood. Raben & Sons are the principal business men, conducting the mill and the leading store. Joseph Ammon is the proprietor of the only store in the town, which is in Armstrong township. In the village are centered the religious and educational facilities for the Catholic church in this part of the county.

Aniistroiig, a station on the P., D. & E. R. R., was brought into existence b}' the construction of the railroad. William Kneer is the postmaster, and proprietor of the only general store at this point. Probably as early as twenty years ago, near the present railway station, a little village called Arm- Strong Cross-roads grew up. It is now wholly abandoned. It consisted of a postoffice, a small store and a blacksmith shop.

Biographical

Hon. Leroy Calvert was born February 4, 1 819, two miles north of Armstrong. His parents, Patrick Calvert, born in Tennessee in 1784, and Sarah Martin, born in

A Rmstr Ono To Wnship

South Carolina in 1783, were married in Tennessee in 1804, and removed to Gibson count}' in 181 1, making their home for five years near Owensville, and then moving to the site of the farm on which Mr. Calvert now lives. The father was a soldier of the war of 181 2, under Gen. W. H. Harrison, and was in the famous engagement of Tippecanoe. After the war he resumed agriculture and followed that pursuit until his death, in i860. The mother died in 1840. Leroy Calvert was the seventh of ten children, of whom he and a younger brother alone survive. His earl}- life was spent in attending the common schools and working on his father's farm, and at the age of twenty-four he was married to Miss Penelope Shelton, January 13, 1843. She was born in Mason county, Ky., September 24, 182 1, and was brought to Indiana by her parents, when two years old. They have had seven children, Sarah E., Catherine J., Minerva J., Maria H., Andrew J., Henry T. and Luella F. Three of the daughters are deceased. In religious affiliations Mr. Calvert is a Cumberland Presbvterian, and he is a prominent member of the Masonic order and K. of P. His political career has been a notable one, and throughout such as to reflect credit upon himself. He was a staunch democrat until 1884, when he voted for St. John for president. Under the old constitution he served as clerk of the board of trustees. In 1848 he was elected justice of the peace, and served for two years, when he resigned to be a candidate for countv commissioner, to which office he was elected in 1850. During the erection of the court-house, in 1852, he occupied the responsible position of president of the board. From 1856 he served as township trustee until his election in i860 as county treasurer. He was a most popular officer, and was re-elected to a second term. On the expiration of this he returned to his farm, but was chosen by the people of his township as trustee again, and in 1868 was elected representative in the general assembly. In the session following his election, during the attempt to pass the fifteenth amendment, Mr. Calvert, with fifty-five of his fellow-democratic members, resigned and came back to their homes. A special i;lection was called by Gov. Baker, and Mr. Calvert was re-elected, and returned to the assembly, but the attempt being renewed at a special session, he felt it his duty to resign a second time, and he came home to stay. Upon his affiliation with the prohibition part}-, he was made their first nominee for congress in the First district, in 1884, and proved to be a strong candidate. In 1888 he was selected as candidate for presidential elector for the First district on the ticket of the prohibition party.

George Hoefling, sr., was born in the village of Stettin, Germany, December 26, 1S29, and came to this county with his parents when he was eleven years of age. He was the third of nine children of Antony and Theresa (Lamprecht) Hoefling. The father was born April i, 1803, at Stettin, and the mother. May S, 1805, in the same country. They were married in Germany, and emigrated to America in 1840, coming direct to Evansville. They lived one year in German township, and then came to Armstrong, near St. Joseph, where they have resided ever since. The mother died in 1877, at the age of seventy-two, but Antony Hoefling was still living, April, 1888, the oldest man in his township. George Hoefling, sr., until he was sixteen, worked on his father's farm, then for ten months was engaged in the Hvery stable of E. Garnett, at New Orleans, after which he followed steamboaling for about seven years. Then he returned to his father's farm, and remained until he was twenty-three when he was married to Christine Behm, September 27, 1853. She was a native of Westphalia. To them were born six children: Mary F., Anna W., George A., Fred A., Catherine C. and Mary A. Mrs. Hoefling died in 1S75, ^^ the age of forty-one, and October 12, 1876, he was married to Barbara Drunk, who was born in Bavaria, September 15, 1846. The children of this union were Joseph A., John L., Louisa J., and John W. and Mary T., twins. He was elected township trustee in 1878, but soon after resigned. From 1878 to 1880, he held the important position of president of the Mutual Fire Insurance company. He is a member of St. Joseph congregation of the Catholic church, and has held many prominent positions in that organization, and is at present on the committee for the construction of a new church at St. Joseph.

Christof Hoffman, one of the leading farmers of Armstrong township, was born September 15, 1835, '" Rhine-Pfalz, Bavaria. Eleven years later his parents came with their family to America, and settled at Evansville. After a year or more there, they removed to Armstrong, and thence to Mount Carmel, 111., where the father died in 1877, and the mother in 1887. There were eleven children, of whom Christof was the fifth, and five of them are still living. He gained his education in the schools of his native land and afterward in this countr}', and since attaining manhood, has alwaj's pursued the occupation of farming. Politically he has been a republican, honored in the councils of the party, and in the way of social organizations, has been a member of the I. O. O. F. On November 12, 1861, he married Elizabeth Frippon, and they had eight children, five of whom are living. His first wife died in 1876, and in 1882, he was united in marriage with Cathine Kolle, of this township, and they have

William Martln was born January 30, 1814, in what was then known as Knox county, now Vanderburgh, near Armstrong. His father was Charles Martin, who was born in 1791 in South Carohna, and came to Indiana territory in 1805. In 181 2 he married Frankie Rook, who was born in South Carolina in 1797, and they settled four miles from Armstrong. William Martin is the oldest of thirteen children, three of whom survive. He still resides on the farm, where he has labored since 1833. Mr. Martin was married October 3, 1833, to Miss Nancy Robinson, who was born near Knoxville, Tenn., May 3, 1813, and came with her parents to Indiana in 181 5. They are the parents of thirteen children, of whom three died in infancy. There are living: M. D., Charles S., Abner N., James T., Thomas A., Susanna, Jasper, William F., Naomi J. and Joseph L. Mr. Martin is the grandfather of forty-nine children, of whom but seven are deceased. He served his community as constable and trustee for a number of years. Mr. Martin and his entire family are, in religious matters. Regular Baptists, his grandfather having been a minister of that denomination. Mr. Martin is one of the few men who are almost uniformly well and hearty, and by wise and simple living gives promise of added years of activity.

Hon. John F. Pruitt is the third of eight children born to William and Elizabeth Pruitt, among the earliest pioneers of the countv. The father was born December 10, 1806, in Allen county, Ky., and the mother, whose maiden name was Elizabeth A. Spain, was born in 1816, near Harper's Ferr}', Va. In 1810 William Pruitt came with his parents, Moses and Phoebe (Williams) Pruitt, to settle in the Indiana woods, and in his youth labored as the old settlers did, gaining also the education to be obtained in the log cabin schools of those days. He was count)- commissioner for nine years, and major of the militia, then necessary for protection from the Indians. He died May 9, 1S70, and his widow followed him on the 5th of the next July. That year is sadly memorable in Mr. Pruitt's famil}'. Not only his father and mother, but two of his sisters, died in the four months beginning Ma_v .9. The children of William Pruitt were: Mar}- J., born Januar\' 25, 1S31; Elizabeth E., born May 7, 1833; John F., subject of this sketch, born Ma}- 14, 1835: James C, born July 24, 1S37; Joseph A., born August 10, 1S40; Julia A., born October 14, 1S44; Susan L., born March 20, 1847, and Sarah E., born June 10, 1853. After receiving a common school education, Mr. Pruitt entered the grammar department of the E\ans\ille schools, and at the age of twent\-one began teaching school, and remained in that profession ten vears, also farming during the summer. Januar\ 16, 1862, he married Sarah E. Calvert, daughter of Leroy and Penelope Calvert, and to them were born four children: Emma L., Catherine J., Lerov E., and Ann R., of whom Emma and Leroy survive. Mrs. Pruitt died June 28, 1874, '^^^ '^" J'Tiuary 2, 1876, he was married to L\dia E. Wilkinson, who died November 5, 1877. Ilis lliird marriage was to Elizabeth A. Calvert, April 17, 1879. In politics Mr. Pruitt is an earnest democrat and is an active worker. In 1S57 he was elected township assessor, served two j-ears, and in i860 was chosen trustee for one term. To this office he was appointed in 1878, to fill a vacancy, and at the expiration of that term, was again elected, serving until 1882, when lie was elected representative in the general assembly by the overwhelming majority of 1,085. His distinguished services assured his re-election in 18S4, and as chairman of the agricultural committee, and author of several important bills, he filled a responsible position in the assembly. Mr. Pruitt is a prominent member of the Cumberland Presbyterian church, and belongs to the Master Masons. lie is still engaged in farming, with good health and constitution, and gives promise oi many more vears of usefulness.

WiLLi.\.M Ri;i.M.\NN was born nearReichenbach, Silesia, November 23, 1831. In 1S52 he came with his parents from Germany, and has e\er since lived upon the farm near Armstrong, which they settled upon. His father died in 1855, but the mother is still living and makes her home with her son. The parents had \\\*i children, three boys and two girls. Four of them are vet livin<r. and are residents of this county. Mr. Reimann was educated in the schools of Silesia, and has a fine knowledge of the German language. Since childhood he has followed agriculture, and has been very successful. He is a member of the German Evangelical church at Darmst.idt, and in politics is a republican.