50 - MEMOIRS OF THE LOWER OHIO VALLEY politics, but at all times an independent voter. The Overby family is of English extraction, the first of the family in America settling in Virginia. Alexander Overby, the grandfather of the subject of this sketch, came to Kentucky late in life and passed the remainder of his days near Henderson. William Henry Overby is the fourth child in a family of nine children, four of whom are still living. He received his primary education in the common schools and then took the high school course in the Henderson high school. Then, after teaching for a year, he entered the Hopkins grammar school, at New Haven Conn., where he prepared for Yale university, and took the classical course in that institution. He completed his education in 1885, returned to Kentucky, and for the next two years was principal of the Union academy; at Morganfield. He was then elected principal of the high school at Henderson and taught there for two years, when he was appointed deputy collector of United States internal revenue. After eight months in this position he was appointed postmaster at Henderson and served four years in that capacity. In 1898 he was again appointed deputy collector of internal revenue and held that office until July, 1904. Mr. Overby studied law while still a young man and in 1894 was admitted to the bar. Since that time he has devoted the greater part of his time to the practice of his profession. For several years he has been active in political matters and stands high in the councils of the Republican party. In 1895 he was nominated for state senator and in 1904 he was the Republican candidate for Congress from the Second district. In 1887 he was married, at Franklin, Ky., to Miss Fannie B. Moore, a native of Todd county. Three of the children born to this marriage are living, viz.: Harry Moore, Yeaman Moore and William Henry, Jr., the first two dying in infancy. Mr. and Mrs. Overby are both attendants of the Methodist Episcopal church, and take a commendable interest in its good works. N. POWELL TAYLOR, attorney at law, Henderson, Ky., and county attorney for Henderson county, was born on a farm in that county, Jan. 2, 1864. He is a son of William H. and Mary (Powell) Taylor, the former a native of Tallahassee, Fla., and the latter of Henderson county. John S. Taylor, the grandfather, was a native of Virginia, but went to Florida soon after his marriage, lived there until some time in the forties, when he came to Henderson county, there bought a farm and passed the remainder of his life. One of his brothers, B. Waller Taylor, was one of the first United States MEMOIRS OF THE LOWER OHIO VALLEY - 51 senators from the State of Indiana. Upon the death of John S. Taylor his son, William H., took charge of the farm and still conducts it, being regarded as one of the successful farmers of his neighborhood. His wife, the mother of the subject of this sketch, died in 1900. She was a devoted member of the Baptist church, to which her husband still belongs. They had two children: J. Stokes, a farmer of Henderson county, and N. Powell. After obtaining a high school education in Henderson, N. Powell Taylor entered the law office of Judge J. L. Dorsey of that city and read under him from 1886 to 1889, when he was admitted to the bar. He commenced practice at Henderson and has won for himself an honorable position at the bar by his industry and native ability. Like his father before him he is a Democrat and takes an active part in shaping the affairs of his party. In 1895 he was elected to the state senate, where he made an enviable record, and in 1897 was elected county attorney. To this latter office he was re-elected in 1901 and again in 1904. These repeated re-elections to an important position attest his fidelity and popularity better than any complimentary language that could be used in writing a sketch of his career. Mr. Taylor was married in 1897 to Miss Alice, daughter of George and Alice Augusta (Thompson) Partridge. Her father is a wholesale oil merchant. To this marriage there has been born one son, N. Powell, Jr., now in his third year. Mr. Taylor is a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the Improved Order of Red Men, and both he and his wife belong to the Presbyterian church. WILLIAM W. W. WILSON, M.D., a promising young physician of Henderson, Icy., was born at Mount Sterling, in that state, Dec. 27, 1878. He is a son of Henry C. and Frances (Barnett) Wilson, the father a native of Mount Sterling and the mother of Virginia. The grandfather, George R. Wilson, was a Virginian, who came to Kentucky in pioneer days and for many years operated a distllery, accumulating considerable property. Doctor Wilson's father is a farmer and stockman, now living at Roachdale, Ind., retired from the active cares of business. He is a Democrat in his political faith and a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Three children were born to Henry C. Wilson and his wife, all of whom are living. George is in the Klondike, Charles is a contractor and builder at Ladoga, Ind., and the subject of this sketch. Doctor Wilson received his primary education in the common schools of Barnard, Ind., after 52 - MEMOIRS OF THE LOWER OHIO VALLEY which he graduated from Wabash college, at Crawfordsville, in the class of 1897. He then spent a year at Yale university and in 1899 entered the Kentucky school of Medicine and graduated as valedictorian of his class in 1902. During the summers of 19o1 and 1902 he studied in Europe, notably in England, Ireland and Germany, holding a position at the time under his uncle, Harry Walters, as inspector of cavalry horses for the Boer war. He also took instruction in the celebrated medical schools of Glasgow and Edinburgh. Upon receiving his degree he engaged in hospital work in the United States marine hospitals, and was thus employed until Jan. 1, 1904, when he located at Henderson, where he has done well in establishing himself in practice and has demonstrated his success in the treatment of disease. Politically Doctor Wilson is a Democrat, but he is not an active politician. In fraternal circles he is well known, being a member of the Free and Accepted Masons, the Knights of Pythias, and the Improved Order of Red Men. On Oct. 14, 1903, he led to the altar Miss Lulu Mullins, a native of Covington, Ky., and a highly accomplished young lady, having graduated in 1902 from the Bartholomew-Clifton school of Cincinnati. HENRY P. BARRET, tobacco exporter, of Henderson. Ky., was born in that city Sept. 2, 1865, his parents being James R. and Lucy F. (Stites) Barret (see sketch of James R. Barret). He was educated at the Central university, Danville. Ky., where he attended from 1880 to 1883. He then worked for the well known tobacco firm of John H. Barret & Co. for five years, and in 1888 embarked in business for himself as an exporter of tobacco. He first established himself at Roberts' Station, but went from there to Owensboro, where he continued in business for several years. He then opened large rehandling establishments at Wickliffe and Providence, and it is said he now handles as much tobacco as any other individual buyer in the world, if not more. Mr. Barret's success in his line is due to the fact that he keeps in close touch with his business, studies the market conditions, and is always to be relied on to carry out his agreements. He owns 2,500 acres of fine land and is reputed to be one of the wealthiest men in the county. Mr. Barret is a prominent Mason, being a thirty-second degree member of the Scottish Rite and a Knight Templar. On Oct. 20, 1904, he was elected Grand Junior Warden of the Grand Lodge of Kentucky. In 1901 he was united in marriage to Miss Marian Worsham, a native of California and a daughter of A. J. Worsham, now of Henderson. MEMOIRS OF THE LOWER OHIO VALLEY - 53 WALTER BRASHEAR, a contractor and builder, of Henderson, Ky., was born in that city April 28, 1867. He is a son of Barack and Sarah Brashear, both native Kentuckians, and a great-grandson of that Capt. Richard Brashear who was with Gen. George Rogers Clarke in the conguest of the Northwest, and who served with distinction in the Revolutionary war. At the close of the war he received a captain's allotment of seven sections of land in Clark county, Ind., which can be seen in the "Original book of surveys" in the clerk's office at Jeffersonville. He married Lucy Phelps, it being the first marriage in Louisville. She survived him, being ninety-one years of age at death. Captain Brashear came to Kentucky in the days of Daniel Boone and located near Shepherdsville, where he owned a large tract of land. There his son Richard, the grandfather of Walter, was born and reared, and there passed his whole life, being a prominent farmer and an influential citizen. Barack Brashear became a contractor and builder on reaching manhood, and was for some time located in Louisville. About 1840 he came to Henderson, where he carried on the same business until his death in 1887. He was an enthusiastic Odd Fellow and was one of the charter members of Henderson lodge. He was politically a Democrat. His wife died in 1875. During her life she was a devoted member of the Baptist church. They had eight children, only three of whom are now living. Robert is a wholesale paper dealer in St. Louis, Mo. ; Ella is the wife of S. W. Gibson, of Corydon, Ky. ; and Walter is the subject of this sketch. He received a common school education, learned the business of his father, and at the age of twenty years commenced contracting for himself. Today he is one of the best known contractors in the Lower Ohio Valley. He has built several court houses in Kentucky; done a large amount of government work at Jeffersonville, Ind., and has erected buildings of various kinds in Kentucky, Indiana, Tennessee, and Alabama. Mr. Brashear is a Democrat in his political views, served as a member of the city council in 1896-97, and though always willing to do what he can to further the interests of his party, he can scarcely be called a politician. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias, and with his wife belongs to the Baptist church. He was married in 1892 to 54 - MEMOIRS OF THE LOWER OHIO VALLEY Maude, daughter of Monroe and Jennie Johnson, of Henderson, and has had three children. Jennie died in infancy ; Walter, Jr., is five years of age, and Sarah is still in her first year. CHARLES G. HENSON, one of the oldest and best known residents of Henderson, Ky., was born in the city of Evansville, Ind., Aug. 4, 1830. His parents were both born in England. His paternal grandfather came to this country in 1816 and located first at Georgetown, D. C. Two years later the father of Mr. Henson came to Evansville. Ind.. where he was married in 1820. He and his wife celebrated their golden wedding there in 1870. Two years later he died and she followed him in 1882. During his life his father was a contractor and builder. In early life he was a Whig and was later a Republican. Both parents were members of the Cumberland Presbyterian church, in which the father was an elder for fifty years. They had a large family, only three of whom are now living. Charles G. Henson received a common school education and after leaving school learned the carpenters' trade, which occupation he followed in Evansville until 1853, when he came to Henderson, where he continued to work at it until 1860. He then became interested in photography and followed that business until 1878, since which time he has been engaged in the real estate business. He now lives practically retired from active affairs, lookIng after the rentals of his houses, of which he owns several, both in Henderson and Evansville. Mr. Henson is seventy-four years old and is hale and hearty for one of his age. He laconically attributes his good health to the fact that he "never aspired to office." He has been a great student of music, especially vocal music, and was for over thirty years the musical director of the Presbyterian church. During most of that time his first wife, who was also proficient in music, was a member of the choir. Mr. Henson has been twice married. His first wife was Miss Frances A. Tileston, of Evansville, to whom he was married in 1853. His second marriage was in 1890 to Martha L., daughter of J. M. and Nancy L. (Calvert) Higgins, of Caldwell county. Nancy Calvert was a granddaughter of Spencer Calvert, who served in the Revolutionary war. came to Kentucky in the time of Daniel Boone, returned MEMOIRS OF THE LOWER OHIO VALLEY - 55 to Maryland, where he married, and then came back to Kentucky and there passed the rest of his life. His father, who was also named Spencer, was a relative of Lord Baltimore, and came with him to the United States. J. M. Higgins was born Dec. 15, 1822, and died Jan. 28, 1899. He was a very successful and prominent citizen of Princeton, though he suffered financially by the war. Three children born to Mr. Henson died in infancy. HARRISON WILSON (deceased), who in his day was a well known citizen of Henderson county, Ky., was born in Union county of that state and died near Henderson in 1869. He was a son of Ambrose Wilson, whose father came from Illinois to Kentucky at an early date, and there the family for several generations were tillers of the soil. Harrison Wilson grew to manhood in Union county. In 1859 he was married to Miss Phoebe E. Taylor, of Henderson, a daughter of Brooking and Ann (Gale) Taylor, both of whom were natives of Virginia. Brooking Taylor and his wife came to Kentucky in pioneer times, settling first in Franklin county, and in 1848 came to Henderson, where they passed the remainder of their lives. Harrison Wilson was a man who pursued "the even tenor of his way" under all circumstances, doing his duty as he saw it without regard to the consequences. In his political affiliations he was a Democrat of the Jacksonian school, firm in his convictions concerning questions of public policy, and yet of such a temperament that he readily commanded the respect and friendship of his political opponents. He and his wife were both members of the Baptist church and were consistent practitioners of the tenets of their religious faith in their daily conduct. They had a family of five children : Sophronia is deceased; William A. is a banker at Kansas City, Mo.; Sally E., Mary G., and Phoebe T. still live at home. The daughters were all well educated and Mary has taught school. The three sisters have a cozy home in the city of Henderson where they live in the enjoyment of each other's companionship and the respect and friendship of their neighbors and acquaintances. CHARLES L. KING, farmer, merchant and banker, of Corydon, Ky., was born in the county where he now resides, March 12, 1838. His parents, Jaynes H. and Caroline (Brinkley) King, both natives of Virginia, were married in that state and came to Kentucky about 1824, locating first in Union but two years later coming to Henderson county. The father bought a tract of wild land about five miles 56 - MEMOIRS OP THE LOWER OHIO VALLEY southeast of Corydon, cleared a farm and built a whipsaw mill and an old fashioned buhr grist mill. In 1856 he sold out there and removed to Hickman county, where he followed the milling business until hIs death in 1864. His wife died the previous year. He was a stanch Union man and opposed to secession but died before he saw the Union arms victorious in the Civil war. He and his wife were both members of the Christian church and were widely known for their deeds of Christian charity. They had a family of ten children, viz.: George W., now a resident of Sebree; John m., died at the age of twenty-two years ; Nary J., wife of J. L. Luttrell of HIckman James, deceased; Charles L., the subject of this sketch; Martha, who married a man named Buckman and now deceased ; Alexander, residing at Sturgis, in Union county; Edward, a resident of Corydon; Sarah, now dead, was the wife of C. L. Harness, manager of the Anchor roller mills at Corydon; Harbart A., associated with Charles L. in business at Corydon. He attended Princeton college and married Miss Annie Dorsey. Charles L. King was associated with his father in business from the time he left school until 1863. He then engaged in the mercantile business at Hickman, for about a year, when he removed to, Mount Vernon, Ind., and conducted a store there until after the war, when he went to Cairo, Ill. In 1866 he returned to Hickman and remained there until the following year, when he came to Corydon. At that time he had the only store in the place and in 1876 he erected the largest building for mercantile purposes in the town. In 1878 he and his brother formed a partnership tinder the firm name of C. L. & H. A. King, which still exists. In 1894 the Corydon deposit bank was organized with a capital of $25,000 and C. L. King was elected president, which office he has held ever since. In addition to his banking and mercantile interests Mr. King is the owner of a thousand acres of fine land, and is one of the progressive farmers of his section of the state. His farm is especially noted for its fine, full-blooded Hereford cattle, of which he makes a specialty in the way of stock raising. While Mr. King is entitled to be called a public spirited citizen, and one who takes an interest in public affairs generally, he belongs to no political party, preferring the exercise of his suffrage according to his own convictions. He was married in 1864 to Mrs. Sarah Sheffer, nee Powell, a daughter of Harrison A. Powell, and to this union there were born the following children: Annie Lee, now the wife of Ben. T. Davis, a lawyer of Hickman; Ada, wife of V. G. Conway, a farmer of Hickman county; Maud, widow of Dr. W. B. Cook and now lives MEMOIRS OF THE LOWER OHIO VALLEY - 57 with her father; Harbart L., a graduate of Central university, of Dan.. ville, Ky., with the degree of LL.B., was admitted to the bar Sept. 5, 1904, and has begun practice at Corydon. The mother of these children died on March 28, 1902. During her life she was a devoted member of the Christian church, and her widowed husband still holds his membership in that denomination. ELIJAH SELLERS, a well known farmer, living four miles from Henderson, Ky., and one of the heaviest taxpayers in the county, was born in Henderson county, Oct. 15, 1824, his parents being Isham and Lydia (Barr) Sellers, both natives of North Carolina. Soon after his marriage Isham Sellers came with his wife on horseback to the wilds of Kentucky, carryIng their household effects on pack horses, and began life in true pioneer fashion. The clapboards that formed the roof of their log cabin were fastened on with wooden pegs, as nails in that day were a luxury hardly to be thought of for such purposes. There this couple lived until their deaths, rearing a large family of children. He was a member of the old Baptist church and his wife was a Methodist. Elijah Sellers received such an education as the public schools of that day afforded and at the age of twenty-one bought 154 acres of wild land on credit and commenced life for himself by building a log cabin in the wIlderness. He cleared a farm and in 1849 was married to Minerva Osborn, daughter of Randolph Osborn, one of the pioneer settlers of Henderson county. To this marriage there were born ten children, viz.: Orrie Belle, now Mrs. Andrew Thornberry of Webster county, Ky.; Frances, now dead, was the wife of A. D. Milton; Jane, now Mrs. Jack Milton ; Isham J., a farmer of Henderson county ; Annie, widow of Joseph Hargiss; Robert Lee and Randolph, both farmers in Henderson county; Addie, wife of William Mitchison, a farmer of Henderson county; Elijah, Jr., and Rufus, both occupying farms near the old homestead. At one time Mr. Sellers owned 2,500 acre of land. After giving each of his ten children a good farm he has about 800 acres left. Since 1879 he has lived in his present location, where he has one of the finest brick farm-houses in the county. While he has conducted a general farming business he has given a great deal of attention to tobacco, which has been one of his prIncipal crops. After the death of his first wife he was married to Mrs. Mary Poor, nee Norris. She too passed away and he was married to his third and present wife, Mrs. Mary A. Vogle, whose maiden name was Rockencamp. His first wife was a member of the Methodist 58 - MEMOIRS OF THE LOWER OHIO VALLEY church; his present wife is a Lutheran; and he belongs to the Episcopal church. In his political opinions Mr. Sellers has always been a Democrat, though he has never been a seeker after office nor an active politician. He is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons and in earlier years was a regular attendant at the lodge meetings. Besides his fanning interests he is a stockholder in the Planters' bank. ROBERT T. HICKMAN, farmer and hardware dealer, of Henderson, Ky., is of Scotch descent, the first of the family to come to America, settling in Virginia. In 1809 James Hickman, the great-grand-father of Robert, came from Winchester, Va., with his family of seven sons and one daughter, and passed the remainder of his life in Shelby county, Ky., in the immediate vicinity of Shelbyville. Joseph Hickman, one of the seven sons and the grandfather of Robert, married Elizabeth Tolbert, daughter of one of the pioneers of that section, who came from Maryland. In 1832 they went to Shelby county, Ill., and there both died some years later. One of their sons was James W. Hickman, the father of the subject of this sketch. He was born in Shelby county, Ky., Aug. 8, 1813, there grew to manhood and learned the blacksmiths' trade, which he followed for over forty years. More than half of that period he had a shop in Shelbyville. In 1866 he came to Henderson county, where he rented and managed a farm, though he continued to work at his trade. In early life he was an ardent Whig, but after the downfall of that party he became a Democrat. He is still living with his son Robert, hale and hearty, at the age of ninety-two years. While living at Shelbyville he frequently went to Louisville, and remembers when that city was but little more than a village. He married Lucy G. Eubank, who was born in Clark county, Ky., March 21, 1821, and died March 20, 1891, lacking one day of having reached her three score and ten years. For many years they both belonged to the Methodist Episcopal church together, and he still retains his membership in that denomination. They had five children: Harriet E., Mary Alice, Claude Thomas, Robert T. and Harry Buckner. Harriet married J. B. Marshall, and both she and her husband are dead; Mary died at the age of sixteen years; Claude is a dentist in Henderson, and MEMOIRS OF THE LOWER OHIO VALLEY - 59 Harry died in infancy. Robert T. Hickman was born at Shelbyville, Ky., Nov. 16, 1854. He received a common school education and at the age of twenty-two years went to Vanderburg county, Ind., where he rented a farm and conducted it successfully for two years. He then employed teams and was engaged in railroad construction for a time, after which he went on the road as a sewing machine salesman, and was later employed in the same capacity with the Dayton Hedge Fence Company. In 1886 he located on his present farm, where he has continued to live ever since. Mr. Hickman is one of the most scientific and progressive farmers in Western Kentucky. In addition to his own farm he rents quite extensively and carries on a general farming business, though he makes a specialty of apples. In this line his orchard products are the equal of any in the country. His house and barn are said to be the bestequipped and most modern of any in the county. A gasoline engIne supplies water to every room in the house and for watering stock in the barn. Of the three automobiles in the county he is the owner of one, and is the only farmer in the county to own one of these modern vehicles. On Nov. 1, 1904, in connection with J. H. and H. P. Alves, he organized the Alves & Hickman Hardware Company, which does a general hardware and agricultural implement business. He makes his daily trips from his country home to his place of business in Henderson in his automobile. Mr. Hickman is a Democrat in his political views, is a member of the Tribe of Ben Hur, and of the Presbyterian church. He has never married. THOMAS B. BOOK (deceased), a native of Henderson, county, Ky., was born Aug. 5. 1858, and died Feb. 28, 1899. He was a son of James R. and Bennette Book, who were pioneers of Kentucky, his father being one of the foremost farmers of his neighborhood in his day. Thomas was reared on the farm and received his education in the public schools. When he was but eighteen years of age he went to Henderson, where he engaged in business for a short time, but soon tired of city life and returned to the farm. In 1880 he bought a tract of 60 acres on Frog Island, in Henderson county, and commenced farming on his own account. Shortly afterward he sold his place to a good advantage and bought a large farm near the city of Henderson. This farm he sold in 1894 and bought 98 acres, to which he soon after added 43 acres more, and it is upon this farm that his widow now lives. Mr. Book was marred on Oct. 25, 1881, to Miss Julia Lockett, a daughter of Thomas J., and Martha J. 60 - MEMOIRS OF THE LOWER OHIO VALLEY Lockett, old and honored residents of Kentucky. The father of Thomas J. Lockett was Capt. Francis Lockett, of Virginia, who settled in Kentucky in an early day. Mr. and Mrs. Book had two children. Annie, born March 3, 1885, is now the wife of J. N. Sites of Henderson. Their marriage occurred June 2, 1904. Lockett R., born Dec. 7, 1891, lives on the farm with his mother. Both parents were members of the Baptist church, to which Mrs. Book still belongs and is a regular attendant. He was a Democrat in his political affiliations, though he never was an aspirant for public office. Since his death his widow manages the farm and has one of the coziest country homes in Henderson county. STRACHAN BARRET, manager of the Henderson, Ky., plants of the Imperial Tobacco Company, of Kentucky (incorporated), was born near that city, July 8, 1856. He is a son of William T. and Bettie (Towles) Barret, the former a native of Louisa county, Va., and the latter of Henderson county, Ky. (For the early history of the Barret and Towles families see the sketches of John H. Barret, deceased, and Walter A. Towles.) William T. Barret came to Kentucky in 1840. For several years he was engaged in the tobacco trade, after which he followed the vocations of pork packer and wholesale grocer, and was also the owner of a large farm in the county. His brother, Alexander B., died in 1861, leaving an estate of over three millions of dollars, and he was named as one of the executors, his brother, John H., being the other. In the settlement of this large estate he displayed good judgment and a high order of ability, as no lawsuits nor ill will among the legatees resulted. Politically he was a Democrat of the Jackson school; was a prominent member of the Free and Accepted Masons; and both he and his wife belonged to the Episcopal church. He died in 1897, and his widow now makes her hone with her son Strachan. They had four children : Thomas T., Strachan, Bettie T., and Alexander B. Thomas is a farmer in Henderson county, president of the society of equity and a member of the Democratic committee; Strachan is the subject of this sketch; Bettie married Fred L. Eldridge, now vice-president of the Knickerbocker Trust Company of New York; Alexander is one of the Johnston, Barret Wholesale Dry Goods Company, of Los Angeles, Cal. After leaving school Strachan Barret became interested in the tobacco trade, with which he has ever since been connected. The company he now represents had five establishments in operation during the year 1904. The plants at Hen- MEMOIRS OF THE LOWER OHIO VALLEY - 61 derson handle most of the tobacco in the city, the annual product running from five million to six million pounds, all export goods. Mr. Barret is a director in the Planters' State bank, of Henderson, and owns a fine farm of nearly three hundred acres, upon which he resides, and which receives a portion of his time and attention. He is especially interested in raising Oxford Down sheep and fine cattle. The farm is the one settled by his grandfather Towles in an early day. In his political affiliations he has followed in the footsteps of his worthy sire and allied himself with the Democratic party. So, in choosing his religious associations, he has adopted the faith of his parents and Belongs to the Episcopal church, of which his wife is also a member. Mr. Barret was married, Dec. 3, 1884, to Miss Maggie Rudy, daughter of John and Margaret Rudy, old residents of Henderson county, where her grandfather, John Rudy, was one of the pioneers. Mr. and Mrs. Barret have four children: Strachan, now a student at the Kentucky military institute, where he holds the rank of lieutenant; Thomas T..; John R.; and Heyward R. ELIJAH SELLERS, Jr., one of the enterprising and successful young men of Henderson county, Ky., was born in that county, April io, 1875. He is a son of Elijah Sellers, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work. During his boyhood he attended the public schools, where he received his primary education. In 1888-89 he went to the West Kentucky college, in 1891 he entered the Louisville school of pharmacy and graduated the following year. Upon leaving school he embarked in the drug business at Sturgis, in Union county, where he remained for five years, after which he was for three years in Corvdon and two years in Henderson. In 1902 his father gave him one hundred and fifty acres of land from the old homestead and since then he has been engaged in farming and stock raising. He carries on a general farming business, but inclines to the buying and feeding of stock as a specialty. In this line of work he has displayed good judgment and has been quite successful. In his political views Mr. Sellers is a Democrat and takes a laudable interest in all questions of public policy, particularly those of a local nature. On Dec. 10, 1902, Mr. Sellers was united in marriage to Miss Maude, daughter of Walter and Rena Lockett. Her father is one of the substantial farmers of Henderson county. Mr. and Mrs. Sellers are both members of the Second Presbyterian church of Henderson. 62 - MEMOIRS OF THE LOWER OHIO VALLEY ABBOTT VEATCH, inspector of steamboat hulls, Evansville, Ind., was born on a farm in Posey county, of that state, July 4, 1861,, his parents being Virgil S. and Margaret (Oatman) Veatch. The paternal grandfather, Thomas Stone Veatch, was an old settler in that portion of Indiana known as "The Pocket." On the maternal side quite a number of the family were river-men, though the grandfather of Mr. Veatch, Jesse Oatman, was a well-to-do farmer of Posey county. Virgil S. Veatch is a printer by trade, and when Abbott was about seven years of age the family removed to Evansville, where both parents are still living, and where the father follows his occupation. Abbott grew to manhood in Evansville,whichh city has always been his home, since his parents came there. Perhaps he inherited a love for the river from his mother's people. At any rate, when he was twelve years of age he became a dishwasher on one of the Ohio and Mississippi river steamers, and since then he has filled various positions in the steamboat navigation of those streams. His long experience gave him the essential qualifications for the position he now holds. Steamboat captains have faith in his ability to make inspections and the general public have faith in his honesty to know that his duties will be faithfully, fearlessly and impartially performed and the safety of the ravelingg public Be thereby greatly enhanced. JOHN P. WALKER, of Evansville, Ind., county treasurer of Vanderburg county, was born at Richview, Washington county, Ill., July 21, 1866. He is a son of William H. and Mary A. (Phillips) Walker, both natives of Washington county, Ill., the father born Jan. 8, 1827, and the mother on July 15, 1826. They were married on Feb. 15, 1848, and are still living, having celebrated their golden wedding in 1898. During the war the father was a captain and later a major in an Illinois regiment. In 1871 the family removed to Evansville, in 1888 the parents went to Kansas and now live in Pasadena, Cal., where the father is a retired Baptist minister. John P. is the eighth in a family of nine children, seven of whom are still living. James R. is a physician at Pine Ridge, S. D.; Sarah L. is now Mrs. Summers of Oklahoma City, O. T. ; Rhoda is the wife MEMOIRS OF THE LOWER OHIO VALLEY - 63 of P. E. Sherrill of Bennettstown, Ky.; Emma is Mrs. Richardson of Oklahoma City; Laura married F. M. Saunders and lives at Los Angeles; Simeon O. lives at Buena Park, Cal. Those deceased are Mary, who died as the wife of a Mr. Allman of Evansville, and Anna, who died when only six years of age. John P. Walker was but five years old when his parents came to Evansville. After attending the public schools he learned the printers' trade in the office of the Evansville Courier; was for a time mailing clerk in the Evansville post office; went to Kansas City about 1887 and was there employed for two years in the accounting department of the Fort Scott & Memphis railroad; returned to Evansville in 1890 and entered the accounting department of the Mackey system of railroads, including nearly all the lines centering at Evansville, as well as some others. Mr. Walker continued in this position until Mr. Mackey lost control, after which he was with the Peoria, Decatur & Eastern, and Louisville, Evansville & St. Louis roads until 1897, at which time he was chief clerk in the auditor's office of the latter road. In March of that year he met with a railroad accident that necessitated the amputation of both legs. This would have caused many a man to become downhearted, but the cheerful disposition of Mr. Walker was now worth a great deal to him in helping him to keep up his spirits. He entered politics, and in the fall of 1898 was elected coroner of Vanderburg county. At the close of his first term he was re-elected, serving four years in all, and in 1902 was elected treasurer of the county on the Republican ticket by a majority of over 2,000. It is possible that some people voted for Mr. Walker because of his misfortune, but a large majority of his supporters gave him their suffrages because they knew he was both capable and honest. His skill as an accountant makes him competent to meet any problem in bookkeeping that may arise, and the taxpayers of the county know that the records will be kept straight under his supervision. Mr. Walker is a Royal Arch Mason, a Knight of Pythias and a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. On Oct. 4, 1888, he was united in marriage to Miss Mary E. Burch, of Evansville, and they have three children living, viz.: Margaret B., Sherrill P., and Helen F. SIDNEY W. DOUGLAS, the pioneer photographer of Evansville, Ind., and one of the leading artists in that line of work in Southern Indiana, was born in Clinton county, N. Y., March 25, 1840. In 1873 he located at Evansville, where he established himself in the business. His studio soon came to be popular, the result of his years 64 - MEMOIRS OF THE LOWER OHIO VALLEY of study and experience. It is the little details that make a great photographer, and in these Mr. Douglas is well fortified. GUILD C. FOSTER, clerk of the circuit and superior courts of Vanderburg county, Ind., was born in the city of Evansville, Sept. 11, 1870. His father, James H. Foster, is an old and honored resident of the city and now holds the position of treasurer of the Evansville Gas and Electric Light Company. He is a native of Pike county, Ind., but came to Evansville in childhood with his parents, Matthew W. Foster and wife. James H. Foster married Henrietta Riggs, a native of Sullivan county, Ind., but like her husband, came to Evansville in childhood. Guild isthe second of three children, all boys. Riggs, the eldest son, died in his youth, and Matthew W., the youngest, is now employed in the Evansville city engineer's office. Guild C. Foster is a splendid example of the younger generation of men who have made their own way in the world. After attending the city schools until he finished the grammar school course and the high school for two years he decided to map out his own career. At the age of sixteen he went into the offices of the Evansville & Terre Haute railroad company as a clerk. After nearly two years there he went to California, where for two years he was connected with the Southern Pacific railroad as a clerk in the offices at Los Angeles, San Francisco and San Diego. In 1890 he came back to Evansville, remained there a short time, and then went to Chicago for a year and a half as a clerk for the Wabash route. During the next two years he was with the Louisville, Evansville & St. Louis (now the Southern) railway, being employed in the offices at St. Louis, Louisville, and Princeton, Ind. In the fall of 1894 he returned to Evansville to stay. He became deputy clerk of the superior court in 1895, and when, about a year later, Charles Sihler was appointed to the vacancy in the county clerk's MEMOIRS OF THE LOWER OHIO VALLEY - 65 office, caused by the death of Charles Boepple, Mr. Foster took the clerkship of the circuit court, made vacant by Mr. Sihler's promotion. In this position he soon demonstrated his ability and became one of the most popular men who ever held it. The result of his long clerical experience and the many personal friendships he formed was his nomination, for the office of circuit clerk, on April 7, 1904, by the Republicans of Vanderburg county, and on November 8th was elected by a large majority. In fraternal circles Mr. Foster is one of the best known men in Evansville. He is a member of Evansville Chapter, Royal Arch Masons, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the Modern Woodmen of America, the Fraternal Order of Eagles, the Ancient Order of United Workmen, and the Royal Arcanum. On Jan. 24, 1896, he was married to Miss Emma Heberer, of one of Evansville's leading families, and to this union there have been born, two children, Henrietta, aged seven, and Edward, aged four. CHRISTIAN W. KRATZ, of Evansville, Ind., sheriff of Vanderburg county, was born within two miles of that city, July 2, 1855, his parents being John and Louise (Buechtele) Kratz, both natives of Germany. The father was a son of John and Elizabeth Kratz, was born in 1830 and came with his parents to this country when he vas but four years of age. After a residence of four years in Pittsburg the family came to Vanderburg county and located on the quarter section of land in German township, on which Meyer's station, on the Illinois Central railroad, is now situated. Some years later they removed to Centre township, where both the grandparents passed the remainder of their lives. Louise Buechtele was born in Wurtemberg, July 3, 1831. When she was ten years old she came with her parents to the United States and settled in Armstrong township of Vanderburg county, where her father, Peter Buechtele, died at the age of sixty-one. John Kratz learned the trade of blacksmith and followed that occupation in Centre township the greater part of his life. On Aug. 10, 1854, he and Louise Buechtele were married, and Christian is the oldest child in a family of eight, three of whom are dead and the others all live in Vanderburg county. Elizabeth is the wife of William A. Elmendorf; Christine is the wife II-5 66 - MEMOIRS OF THE LOWER OHIO VALLEY of William Aleon; Charles is the partner of the subject in the dairy business, under the firm name of C. W. & C. Kratz, and Martha is the wife of Henry Heiwinkel. Louise died at the age of twenty years. John R. learned the blacksmith trade and died on April 18, 1902, and Peter died in infancy. The mother of these children died on Dec. 19, 1875, and the father on Feb. 24, 1891. The settlement that grew up about the blacksmith shop of John Kratz, north of the city of Evansville, took the name of Kratzville, which it still retains, an honor to one of the early settlers in that part of the county. Christian W. Kratz received a common school education, after which he learned the blacksmith trade with his father. Upon reaching manhood he and his brother John succeeded their father. in the business and conducted the shop for something like twenty years. Mr. Kratz became interested in politics early in life. When he became a voter he cast in his lot with the Republican party and soon became a recognized leader among the voters of the township, because of his wide acquaintance, his general good fellowship, and the central location of his shop, which made a gathering point for the neighborhood. He was elected trustee of the township in 1888 and two years later was re-elected, holding the office altogether for a period of seven years and four months. In 1893 he formed the partnership with his brother Charles in the dairy business, which still exists. They own one of the best appointed dairies in the county. About a year after retiring from the trustee's office Mr. Kratz received the nomination of hs party for the office of representative to the state legislature. He was elected by a majority of 1,345, and the journal of the house for the session of 1897 shows that he did his duty by his constituents. In 1902 his name, with several others, was submitted to a public primary for the shrievalty of Vanderburg county. The vote which he received on that occasion tells the story of his popularity better than words. His majority for sheriff at the November election was 1,718, and on April 7, 1904, he was re-nominated without opposition. Mr. Kratz is a Royal Arch Mason, an Odd Fellow, a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the Ancient Order of United Workmen, the Knights of Honor, the Frontiersmen, the Buffaloes, the Eagles and the Tribe of Ben Hur. He was married on Nov. 3, 1880, to Miss Minnie Schemet, of an old family of the county, and they have two children living : Cora May and Clara Anna. Two children, Irene and Edwin, died in childhood. MEMOIRS OF THE LOWER OHIO VALLEY - 67 CHARLES SIHLER, of Evansville, Ind., clerk of the circuit court of Vanderburg county and ex-officio clerk of the superior court, was born in that city, Aug. 30, 1869, and has lived there all his life. His parents, Louis and Charlotte (Sixt) Sihler, were both natives of Germany, both came to America the same year, 1853, became acquainted in Evansville and were married there on Feb. 22, 1860. Charles Sihler was the sixth child in a family of ten, himself and four sisters being the only survivors. The sisters are Mrs. Edward Stickleman and Misses Henrietta, Margaret and Clara Sihler, all living in Evansville. The father was twice elected recorder of Vanderburg county and died while in that office, Jan. 8, 1890. His wife survived him but a short time and entered her final rest on March 25th of the same year. Charles was educated in the Evansville public schools until he was about fourteen years of age, when he started in to learn the jewelry trade. While working at this business hi; father fell ill and Charles left the jeweler's bench to attend to the duties of the recorder's office. He continued as his father's deputy for nearly four years, or until the latter's death as already mentioned. An uncle of Charles, Otto Durre, was appointed to sere-(, until the next election, Charles not being of age at the time of hi father's death. He attained his majority, however, in the following August, and was nominated by the Republicans to serve the remainder of the term, the election occurring in November, 1890. This proved to be a Democratic year and young Sihler was defeated with the rest of his party ticket, only one man, the candidate for auditor, being elected. Upon retiring from the recorder's office in January, 1891, he entered the treasurer's office as a deputy and remained there for thirteen months, becoming deputy clerk on Feb. 22, 1892, and remaining in this place until Aug. 22, 1896, when he was appointed clerk to fill a vacancy. Mr. Sihler has since then been twice elected to the office, in 1896 and 1900, each time for four years. As a county official few men in Indiana are better qualified by nature, training or experience than Mr. Sihler. For twenty years he has been in the court-house, in that time he has come in contact with every county office and understands the manner in which the office should be conducted. He is one of the most efficient and popular county officers in Evansville and has a host of friends for whom he has at some time or another done some favor that makes them remember him. Mr. Sihler is a Mason, an Odd Fellow, a Knight of Pythias, an Elk and a Knight of Honor, and is a popular member in all those orders. He was married on April 17, 1895. to Miss Maria Haas, in 68 - MEMOIRS OF THE LOWER OHIO VALLEY Evansville and they have two children, Louis F., aged eight, and Charlotte K., aged five. HON. CHARLES G. COVERT, mayor of Evansville, Ind., was born at Washington, Daviess county, of that state, Sept. 4, 1864. He is a son of Jacob and Maria Catharine (Gooldy) Covert, both natives of the Hoosier State, the former of Wells and the latter of Lawrence county. Jacob Covert is a newspaper man by profession and now holds a responsible position in the government printing office at Washington, D. C., where he and his wife now reside. He was born in Wells county on Aug. 13, 1831, and is said to have been the first white male child born in the county. He was married on Sept. 26, 1859, and Charles G. is the second child of a family of two sons and two daughters. Harriet is now the wife of Grant L. Austin of Washington City; Martha Is Mrs. Charles P. Beard of Evansville; William H. is married and lives in Cleveland, O.    When Charles G. was about five years of age his parents removed to Evansville and there he was reared and educated. His father founded the Evansville Tribune, which he continued to publish for a number of years. In the office of this paper the son learned the printers' trade, after graduating from the high school at the age of sixteen, and afterward "held cases" in the office of the Evansville Journal for several years. He left this office to become the city editor of the Tribune in 1887 and remained connected with the paper until December, 1894, the last five years of the time being managing editor. His resignation was brought about by his election to the shrievalty of Vanderburg county in November preceding. In 1896 he was re-elected sheriff and served two full terms, being but twenty-nine years of age when he first entered upon the duties of the office, the youngest man ever elected to the position. His majority on his second election was nearly 2,000 votes, while President McKinley carried the county at the same election by only 926. In 1899 he was the Republican nominee for the mayoralty, but was defeated by the small margin of fifty-two votes. In the spring of 1901 he was again chosen as the Republican standard bearer in the municipal campaign, and this time was elected by a majority of eighty-eight, the office in the meantime having been made a four year office by legislative enactment. Mayor Covert is a member of the Masonic fraternity, the Knights of Pythias, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the Improved Order of Red Men, the Ancient Order of United Workmen, the Royal Arcanum, the Knights of the Ancient Essenic Order, the Buffaloes and MEMOIRS OF THE LOWER OHIO VALLEY - 69 the Foresters. He is a director in the White Oak Handle Factory and the Evansville Electric Plow Company. On Oct. 26, 1887, Mr. Covert was united in marriage to Miss Grace L. Tucker, and they have one daughter living, Jeannette, aged nine years. EMIL G. HEEGER, president of the board of water works trustees of the city of Evansville, Ind., was born in that city, May 10, 1862. His father, Andrew Heeger, was a native of Germany who came to the United States in early manhood and located at Evansville, where he was for many years a prominent musician, being a member of the well known and popular Warren's band. Here he married Doretta Kollenberg. Two of their eight children died in infancy and the other six, with the mother, are still living. John C. is a member of the Evansville detective force; Frederick is a member of the celebrated Third regiment band of Kansas City, Mo.; George holds a responsible position with the Goodwin Clothing Manufacturing Company of Evansville; Emma conducts a dressmaking establishment in the same city, and Eleanora is a teacher of German in the Evansville public schools. Emil G. Heeger attended both the English and German schools of his native city, after which he took a complete course in a commercial college there, graduating at the age of sixteen years. He then spent four years and a half in the Heilman and the Kratz machine works of Evansville, learning the trade of machinist, at which he worked as a journeyman in the different machine shops of the city. Turning his attention to the vocation of stationary engineer he soon became proficient in that line, owing to his thorough knowledge of machinery, and for five years he was first engineer at the Fulton avenue brewery. In 1890 he accepted a similar position with George Brose, at the Sunnyside flour mills, where he is still employed as chief engineer. In 1901 he was appointed by Mayor Covert to a place on the board of water-works trustees, of which he is now the senior member and president, having been elected to that office in July, 1904, upon the resignation of Alexander Gilchrist. Mr. Heeger is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the Woodmen of the World, and the Evansville branch of the National Association of Stationary Engineers, 70 - MEMOIRS OF THE LOWER OHIO VALLEY of which he has been secretary for the last twelve years. Through his efforts the national convention of the association met in Evansville in 1903. At that time he was elected to the office of national conductor in the order and was chairman of the committee on reception, arrangements, etc. In connection with his sub-committees the arrangements for the entertainment of the delegates were so perfect that those who attended the convention expressed themselves as having been better taken care of in Evansville than had the delegates to any previous convention. They all recognized the guiding hand of Mr. Heeger in the work and as a token of their appreciation presented him with a fine silver service, suitably engraved—something that had never before occurred in the history of the organization. He is also president of the Indiana association of engineers. Mr. Heeger was married on Feb. 25, 1885, to Miss Elizabeth Kramer, and they have three living children: Edward is an electrician, Frederick and Helen are students in school. Mr. Heeger is an unwavering Republican in his political views and is always ready to do his part to win a victory for hs party, yet in his political work, as in his private and official life, he never stoops to underhand methods, but makes a clean, open fight on the principles involved. Consequently his personal friendships are not limited by party lines, many Democrats in the city recognizing him as a worthy, honest and manly tnan. G. NETTER WORTHINGTON, president of the board of public safety, Evansville, Ind., was born in Spencer county, that state, July 30, 1862. He is the son of Henry H. and Laura (Ray) Worthington. His father is still living and is now in his eighty-second year. His mother died Nov. 2, 1904. Mr. Worthington was the third of five sons, the two eldest of whom died in infancy. Of his brothers living Charles V. is a newspaper artist, but at the head of the advertising department of the Keith-O'Brien Company, department store, Salt Lake City, Utah, and George W. is a clerk in the Evansville postoffice. Mr. Worthington learned the printers' trade in Sedalia, Mo. Taking up his residence in Evansville, for the second time, in 1879, he completed his education in the public schools and then became a typesetter on the old Evansville Argus, MEMOIRS OF THE LOWER OHIO VALLEY - 71 now defunct. Later he was employed as a compositor in the newsroom of the Evansville Courier, but after about a year with that paper he went into the composing room of the Evansville Journal, and a few months later became a reporter for the paper, a morning publication, and for about three years was the only city news gatherer it had. He then became city editor of the paper, continuing until 1892, when an afternoon edition was started and was known as The News. Mr. Worthington was its first city editor, remaining in the position for a year, when he returned to the morning publication as the night editor, and held that position until the two papers were consolidated in, 1900 under the name of the Journal-News. Mr. Worthington then became city editor of the "hyphenated" daily and is still filling the duties of that position. This paper is the only afternoon daily in Evansville. The local department under the trained hand of Mr. Worthington is bright and replete with well and carefully prepared news. Politically Mr. Worthington is a Republican and has shared in the work that has brought party success in Southern Indiana. The extent of his office holding has been brief. One term, a few years ago, he was secretary of the board of public safety, and in 1900 was one of three men, selected by Mayor Covert to compose the board of which Mr. Worthington was elected president in 1902. In this position he has displayed rare tact and ability in handling delicate questions in connection with police affairs of the city, and has fully demonstrated the wisdom of his selection. He is a Mason, belonging to three branches of the order—the Blue Lodge, the Royal Arch Chapter and the Commandery of Knights Templars. He is also a Knight of Pythias. On the last day of January, 1884, Mr. Worthington was united in marriage to Miss Harriet McReynolds, only daughter of a former prominent steamboat owner and captain, Joseph McReynolds, now deceased. Two children, blessed this union, a son, Roy, now nineteen years old, and a daughter, Jessie Marie, who died in 1903 at the age of eleven years. Mr. Worthington holds membership in the Methodist church. JOHN F. HARTH, of the firm of Harth Bros., Harth Pros. Grain Company, and the Harth-Ames Company, of Caseyville and Paducah, Ky., was born in Dekoven, Ky., Nov. 4, 1859. He is the son of Leopold and Annie (Kieful) Harth, the former a native of Germany and the latter of France. Both came to America in an early day and settled in Union county, Ky. The father of John F. first followed the occupation of butcher in Union county, and afterwards that of 72 - MEMOIRS OF THE LOWER OHIO VALLEY merchant at Dekoven, Ky. He was a Union man, a Democrat and a communicant in the Catholic church. This family had six children, all living. The father died in 1868, and his widow still survives, being a resident of Caseyville, Ky. John F. Harth was reared and educated in Dekoven and Caseyville, Ky. Beginning as a clerk, he has spent his life in the mercantile business. For twenty years he has done a thriving general store business in Caseyville, utilizing the two floors of a brick building whose dimensions are seventy-five by eighty feet, and three warehouses. The firms of which Mr. Harth is a member also buy and sell grain, owning their own boats and barges and an extensive livery business. They own and cultivate four farms located in Union and Christian counties. The Curlew coal mine they lease to the Bell Union Coal and Coke Company. The names of the brothers associated with him in this extensive business are Joseph and Leopold. While Mr. Harth has always taken an active part in politics, he has never sought an office. He is a Democrat and a Knight of Honor. He married Miss Jennie Gregory. She is the daughter of John W. and Virginia (Henry) Gregory, both of whom spent their lives in Union county. Mr. Harth and wife have four children, named John Gregory, Lucile, Joseph and Charles P. PROF. JAMES F. ENSLE, of Evansville, Ind., superintendent of the public schools of Vanderburg county, was born on Slim Island, in the Ohio river, March 1 , 1872. This island is Kentucky soil but his parents were really residents of Vanderburg county, being at that time on the island temporarily to look after the planting of a large crop of corn there. The father, Young E. Ensle, and his wife were both natives of Vanderburg county, where he followed the occupation of farmer for many years. Aside from three years, between the ages of six and nine years, when the family lived in Henderson, Ky., the entire life of Professor Ensle has been, passed in that county, where he now owns a farm, upon which he resides, a short distance from the city. He was educated in the Evansville schools, graduating from the high school in 1892. For the next five years he taught in the country schools, one year in Posey and four years in the county of Vanderburg. The school year of MEMOIRS OF THE LOWER OHIO VALLEY - 73 1895-96 he spent at the State university and in 1897 he was elected superintendent of the Vanderburg schools, being at that time only twenty-five years old, the youngest man to ever be selected for the position. At the end of his two year term he was re-elected for four years, the tenure of office having been changed by the legislature, and in 1903 he was again elected for four years. As a student in school Professor Ensle imbibed modern ideas regarding education and those ideas he has brought into play in his management of the schools under his charge. The result is that the public schools of Vanderburg county will compare favorably with those in other parts of the state, while the progress is still going on toward a higher standard. The teachers under his supervision have a high regard for his character and ability and their relations are most cordial, one of the essential pre-requisites to good work in, the school room. Professor Ensle is a prominent Knight of Pythias and a member of the County Superintendents' Association of Indiana, as well as the Southern Indiana Teachers' Association,. He was married in September, 1899, to Miss Ella Clippinger, of Vanderburg county, and to this union there have been born three children: Charles, Mary and Ruth. Charles died in infancy and the others are still living. GEORGE D. HEILMAN, one of the best known and most popular young attorneys of Evansville, Ind., was born in that city, May 15, 1873, and is a son of Daniel Heilman, a stockholder in and superintendent of the Heilman Machine Works. He attended the Evansville schools, leaving the high school at the age of sixteen years to learn the trade of machinist in his father's factory. In all, he spent about six years in the works, meantime taking a complete course in the Evansville Commercial college.  Upon the death of his uncle, William Heilman, who left a large estate, George D. Heilman was selected by the widow as her private secretary and to aid in the settlement of the estate. The position was one of great responsibility, yet he filled it for several years to the entire satisfaction of his aunt, his counsel frequently proving a great advantage in the solution of delicate problems in connection with the estate. While in this position, he was thrown in contact with litigation of various sorts which 74 - MEMOIRS OF THE LOWER OHIO VALLEY aroused in him a desire to become an attorney. Accordingly, he resigned his place as secretary and entered the law department of the Indiana State university, from which he graduated in 1900. He immediately entered upon the practice of law in his native city, becoming associated with Andrew J. Clark, an association which still continues to the mutual satisfaction of both parties. Mr Heilman's practice extends all over Southern Indiana and into Illinois and Kentucky, although he has been engaged in the active work of his profession for only about four years. In politics, he is one of the active and enthusiastic Republicans of his section of the state. In fact, his political acquaintance and labors extend all over Indiana and into Illinois. While a student at the State university, he organized a Republican club among the students and was elected its first president. In 1898 he was vice-president of the American Republican college league, which embraced Indiana and Illinois. He has served as county manager of the Lincoln League, has been vice-president of the same organization for the First congressional district, and is now serving his second term as secretary of the State league. He was also elected assistant clerk of the Indiana house of representatives in 1903 and again in 1905. Mr. Heilman is a member of the Evansville Bar association. He is a Master of his Masonic lodge; a Royal Arch Mason; also a Knight Templar, being a member of La Vallette Commandery No. 15, and belongs to the Delta Tau Delta and Phi Delta Phi college fraternities. In his fraternal societies and secret orders, he is popular because of his genial disposition and general good nature. In his practice, he commands the respect of both bench and bar by his dignified manner and great earnestness as well as his ability. In his political work, he is recognized as a fair fighter and one who keeps fully informed on the political questions of the day. Mr. Heilman is a young man, yet with the best years of his life before him. With a sound physical constitution, a bright mind and a laudable ambition, there is no doubt greater honors await him in the future. PROF. FRANK W. COOLEY, M.S., superintendent of the public schools of Evansville, Ind., and a member of the Indiana State board of education, was born on a farm in Green county, Wis., Nov. 21, 1857, his parents being William B. and Mary A. (Bussev) Cooley, the former a native of Vermont and the latter of Fayette county, Ind. His father, who was a first cousin to Judge Thomas M. Cooley, the celebrated legal author, died in 1875 and his mother MEMOIRS OF THE LOWER OHIO VALLEY - 75 in 1899. Professor Cooley graduated from a high school in Green county at the age of eighteen; entered Lawrence university at Appleton, Wis., and graduated with the degrees of B.S. and M.S. in 1881 was superintendent of the schools at Stevens Point, Wis., from that time until 1890; then superintendent of the Janesville, Wis., schools for three years; president of the State Teachers' association of Wisconsin for one year; took charge of the schools at Calumet, Mich., in 1893 and remained there until he came to Evansville at the beginning of the school year in 1902; was president of the Upper Peninsula Teachers' association of Michigan in 1900, and vice-president of the National Education Department of Superintendents during the years 1901-02. While at Calumet he supervised the erection and equipment of a manual training school and since coming to Evansville he has introduced manual training in the public schools of that city. Although something of an innovation in that city it was a success from the start and has added to the already well established reputation of Professor Cooley as an educator. He has introduced other important changes in the city's school system, among which are departmental teaching in certain grades and the exemption from quarterly examinations of those pupils who show good deportment, good work and regular attendance, which has improved the attendance and character of the recitations. e has been twice re-elected since coming to the city and one of the Evansville papers said recently of his work: "Evansville schools seem to be taking on new life, and to be moving forward in accordance with the new industrial life which has taken possession of the city. The outlook is encouraging." During the twenty-three years of Professor Cooley's experience as a superintendent he has been employed in but four different cities—a reputation of which any man might justly feel proud. In Evansville he has about two hundred and fifty teachers under his supervision, yet his ability as an organizer is such that all work in harmony, without jealousy, friction, or any of those bickerings that so often mar the relations and destroy the effectiveness of organized bodies of workers in a common cause. The Evansville schools are well provided with buildings, etc., the office building having recently been erected at a cost of ten thousand dollars. By virtue of his office Professor Cooley is a member of the State board of education, so that his influence as an educator is felt beyond the confines of the city where he is regularly employed. He is also a member of the Indiana State Teachers' association, is a Royal Arch Mason and Knight Templar, and a Knight of Pythias. He was 76 - MEMOIRS OF THE LOWER OHIO VALLEY married at Stevens Point, Wis., Nov. 27, 1881, to Adelaide Rugg, a native of Green county of that state, and they have the following children: Beaumont B., aged nineteen; Russell R., aged fourteen; Albert F., aged eleven; and Will B., aged nine. JULIUS A. ESSLINGER, of Evansville, Ind., deputy clerk of the Vanderburg circuit court, was born in that city, March 31, 1865, and is a son of Capt. Isidor Esslinger, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work. Julius attended both theGerman and English schools of his native city and can read, speak and write both the English and German languages with fluency. After completing the course in the city schools he graduated from the Evansville commercial college at the age of seventeen years and for thirteen years, prior to 1896, he was employed as bookkeeper at the Evansville union stock yards, where he discharged his duties with signal ability and fidelity. Ever since attaining his majority he has taken an interest in political affairs as a Republican and in 1896 he was appointed deputy clerk of the circuit court. He assumed the position on the first day of September of that year and for the past eight years has been a familiar figure in the office, where he is recognized by officials and the general public as one of the most efficient deputies in the Vanderburg county court house. Mr. Esslinger is a member of the Knights of Pythias, the Fraternal Order of Eagles and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, in all of which he is a popular fellow and a welcome attendant at the lodge meetings. THE OLD STATE NATIONAL BANK, of Evansville, Ind., which commenced business under its present name on Dec. 23, 1904, is the successor of the Old National bank, one of the oldest and best known financial institutions in the state. It began business in 1834 when a charter was granted to the State Bank of Indiana. For the first three years the bank was located at the corner of Main and Water streets, but in 1837 it was removed to the site now occupied by the present bank. The State Bank of Indiana was succeeded in 1855 by the branch of the Bank of the State of Indiana, and the business was conducted under this name until 1865, when it was re- MEMOIRS OF THE LOWER OHIO VALLEY - 77 organized as the Evansville National bank, under the national banking act, and chartered for twenty years. Upon the expiration of the charter the bank was again reorganized and rechartered as the Old National bank, which occupied the same quarters at Nos. 20-22 Main street. The Old National had a capital and surplus of $700,000, and the new bank started off with a capital of $500,000 and a surplus of $100,000. For many years the bank has been recognized as one of the substantial concerns of the city of Evansville, and as the new institution is in the hands of the same men who made the old bank a success, it is safe to predict for it the same prosperity and conservatism that marked the career of its predecessor. The officers of the new bank are R. K. Dunkerson, president; Henry Reis, vice-president and cashier ; the directors are, in addition to the two officers above named, Alexander Gilchrist, Allen Gray, Henry Wimberg, Sidney L. Ichenhauser, James L. Orr, William H. McCurdy, William M. Akin and Marcus S. Sonantag. GEORGE A. CUNNINGHAM, a successful lawyer of Evansville, Ind., was born on a farm in a log house, just south of Enon church in Gibson county in that state, April 4, 1855. His parents, Joseph and Mary J. (Arbuthnot) Cunningham, moved a few years later to what afterwards became and still is known as the Cunningham residence, just south of King's Station on the Evansville & Terre Haute railroad, where the subject of this sketch lived until he was grown. His early life was spent on the farm, attending school alternately at the old Gourley and Ayers school houses, where he acquired the rudiments of his education. Later he attended the graded school at Fort Branch a number of terms, walking during one term a distance of about four and a half miles morning and evening. After teaching school one year he entered the Sophomore class (classical) at Asbury (now DePauw) university, where he spent one year, completing the Sophomore year in addition to "doubling" in one or two studies. Being unable to continue his college course he resumed teaching, which he followed until he came to Evansville. In the spring of 1876 he taught at Lynnville in Warrick county and in the fall of that year was made principal of the public schools at Haub- 78 - MEMOIRS OF THE LOWER OHIO VALLEY stadt, on the conclusion of which in the spring of 1877 he removed to Evansville and began regularly the study of law in the office of the Hon. Thomas E. Garvin, one of the Nestors of the profession. Mr. Cunningham was admitted to the bar in 1878 and continued his association with Mr. Garvin for many years, Mr. Thos. E. Garvin, Jr., now deceased, being afterward admitted to membership in the firm. For a considerable number of years Mr. Cunningham has been, alone in the practice and has perhaps as large and valuable a clientage as any lawyer in Southern Indiana. He is a member of the American and Indiana Bar associations and has a deservedly high standing as a lawyer, not only at home but throughout the state. For many years he was the regular attorney, as well as more recently a director, in the First National bank, and on the expiration of its charter in 1902 was one of the organizers, and is now attorney for, as well as director in the City National bank, generally considered to be Evansville's strongest financial institution. In fraternal circles Mr. Cunningham is a familiar figure not only in Evansville but throughout the state. In college he was a member of the Phi Kappa Psi fraternity and still maintains a close affiliation with the members of that order. He is also one of the older members of the Knights of Pythias, a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and a Mason, having recently taken the degrees of Knight Templar and Knight of Malta. Notwithstanding his extensive business Mr. Cunningham has found time to mingle actively in politics and for twenty-five years has been an, active party worker in the Republican party, believing that all good citizens should, instead of criticizing, take part in and help to elevate politics. For a number of years, in fact practically the entire period Mr. Hemenway has been in congress, Mr. Cunningham has been a member of the state committee from the first district and is now vice-chairman of the committee. In 1904 he was placed on the ticket as one of the two electors at large from Indiana, and received over five thousand more votes than any other elector, due largely to the fact that his name was first on the ticket. He has never been charged with being an office seeker, but on the contrary has declined on one or two occasions to be a candidate when the opportunity for success seemed favorable. He is at this time a candidate for the nomination for Congress to succeed the Honorable James A. Hemenway, recently elected United States senator for Indiana, and has a large following of friends and admirers who will push his candidacy with great vigor. Mr. Cunningham was married on Nov. 10, 1881, to Miss MEMOIRS OF THE LOWER OHIO VALLEY - 79 Susan Shaw Garvin, daughter of his former law preceptor and partner. She died July 24, 1904, leaving three children: Mrs. Ralph A. Lemcke of Indianapolis, Marie G. and George A. Cunningham, Jr., who live with their father in Evansville. COL. JOHN RHEINLANDER, secretary and treasurer of the People's Savings bank, Evansville, Ind., is a native of Germany, having been born at Heiligenstadtt, Prussian Saxony, April 26, 1828. In 1844 he came with his parents, Godfried Rheinlander and wife, to America. The family lived for about a year in Cincinnati and then came to Evansville. In the spring of 1846 the son, who was at that time living in Covington, Ky., enlisted in the Second Kentucky regiment for service in the Mexican war. He fought with General Taylor at Monterey, where he was severely wounded in the left leg, and was afterward at Buena Vista. After a year's service in Mexico he was discharged and joined his family in Evansville, where he engaged in the manufacture of cigars. In a few years he built up a good business and at the beginning of the Civil war he had a large patronage as a wholesale manufacturer. But the military instinct was too strong in Colonel Rheinlander to permit him to pursue a peaceful vocation when a war was in progress. He therefore left his factory and raised a company, of which he wascommissionedd captain, and which was mustered into the service as Company B, Twenty-fifth Indiana infantry. On the first day's fight at Fort Donelson he and Captain Saltzman were sent forward as skirmishers, where they protected the main body of the regiment from the Confederate rifle pits and silenced some of the enemy's artillery that was brought to bear on the flank. On the third day Captain Rheinlander's company was the first to scale the walls of the fort, but having no flag the Second Iowa was the first organization to hoist its banner over the fallen stronghold. At Shiloh his company was constantly on the skirmish line and afforded some five or six hundred of General Prentiss' men an opportunity to escape. He fought at Corinth, where he won the rank of major, and was soon afterward promoted to lieutenant-colonel. At Hatchie River he was shot in the right knee, which for a time prevented him 80 - MEMOIRS OF THE LOWER OHIO VALLEY from participating in the active service of his command. Upon his recovery he took part in the Atlanta campaign until his disabilities became so great that he could not mount his horse, when he resigned, his resignation being accepted Aug. 18, 1864. He returned to Evansville, resumed the cigar manufacturing business, and during the years 1866-67 served as treasurer of Vanderburg county. He was one of the active organizers of the People's Savings bank, and has been one of the directors almost from the beginning. The bank was organized under a state law and opened its doors for business on Thursday morning, May 5, 1870. At that time the officers were J. M. Shackelford, president; John D. Roach, secretary and treasurer. The trustees were J. M. Shackelford, Eccles G. Van Riper, Dr. M. Muhlhausen, John Laval, James Steele, Fred Lunkenheimer, Christian Hedderich and James W. Lauer. The bank is one of five organized under the same act, the other four being located at Lafayette, La Porte, South Bend and Terre Haute. Of these five banks the People's is the second largest in the amount of business transacted, the one at South Bend leading by about $100,000. The first day's deposits in the People's bank amounted to three dollars, two dol lars of which was deposited by one man and one by another. From that modest beginning it has grown until on June 30, 1904, the deposits amounted to $2,605,132.80, the number of depositors reaching eight thousand, and the increase in deposits in the preceding two years amounting to $500,000. Since the beginning accounts have been opened with 32,371 different depositors from various parts of the country, and the bank has paid in, dividends a total of $953,668.79. The last dividend of four per cent was declared June 30, 1904. The assets of the bank amount to $2,866,145.92, and it has a surplus of $250,000. From $300.000 to $400,000 is kept constantly on hands' to satisfy the ordinary demands of banking business, and the affairs of the institution have always been conducted in a conservative manner, with a view to thoroughly safeguard the interests of the depositors. During three periods of financial depression the bank has stood like the Rock of Gibraltar, and the result has been a large increase in its volume of business, because of the confidence established in its management in times when other financial institutions were in distress. The present organization of the bank is as follows : Dr. M. Muhlhausen, president; Col. John Rheinlander, secretary and treasurer; Frank Schwegman, cashier; Henry V. Bennighof and James P. Walker, vice-presidents. The directors, together with their period of service, are as follows: Dr. M. Muhlhausen, from MEMOIRS OF THE LOWER OHIO VALLEY - 81 the beginning; Col. John, Rheinlander, from 1870; H. V. Bennighof, from 1871; James T. Walker, from 1893; Frank Schwegman, from March, 1899; Dr. Edwin Walker, from May, 1899; Charles F. Hartmetz, from December, 19o1. Dr. Muhlhausen has been president since May 31, 1884, and Colonel Rheinlander has occupied his present position since May 14, 1888. Colonel Rheinlander is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons and the Ancient Order of United Workmen. He has been married three times. In 1849 he was married to Miss Maria Darling, and to this union were born four children: Eva, Alice, Florence and John W. The mother of these children died in 1862 and three years later Miss Margaret Barg, of Cincinnati, became the wife of Colonel Rheinlander. To this marriage was born one son, Alexander. The second wife died in 1872 and some years later he was married to Miss Christine Hedderich, by whom he has two children. One son, Albert, is an assistant in the bank. ALFRED BUTSCH, junior member of the law firm of Posey & Butsch, Evansville, Ind., is one of the best known and most promising of the younger attorneys of that city. He was born there, April 3, 1874, of German parentage, his father, Philip Butsch, being a prominent Evansville contractor and builder. Mr. Butsch learned to speak the German tongue from his parents, afterward learning to read and write the language in school. He also attended the English schools, graduating from Evansville high school when he was eighteen years of age. Upon leaving school he became associated with his father in the building business and in time became a first class carpenter. After six years in, this business he decided to study law and in 1894 he entered the office of Posey & Chappell, one of the leading law firms of the city, where he prosecuted his studies until 1898, when he was admitted to the bar. He at once began practice in the office where he had been a student. In September, 1901, Mr. Chappell retired from the firm and Mr. Butsch took his place, the firm name being changed to Posey & Butsch. The partnership thus formed still continues and is one of the strongest law firms in Southern Indiana, where Colonel Posey has been II-6 82 - MEMOIRS OF THE LOWER OHIO VALLEY a prominent figure in legal circles for years. Their practice extends to all the State and Federal courts and they have a large and growing clientage. Besides his law business Mr. Butsch is interested in a number of other enterprises, particularly mining property in the vicinity of Evansville. Mr. Butsch is also the foremost of building block manufacturers in this city, having been the first to introduce and manufacture cement building blocks in this locality, and is now doing a large and prosperous business in that line. He is a member of the Evansville Bar association, and one of the active Republicans of Vanderburg county. On Oct. 10, 1901 Mr. Butsch led to the altar Miss Emma Stoermer, of Evansville, and to this union there have been born two sons, Alfred. Jr., and one who at this writing is unnamed. DR. CHARLES E. PITTMAN a leading dentist of Evansville, Ind., and president of the Business Men's Association, was born in Posey county, Ind., Feb. 17, 1854, his parents being Robert E. and Parthenia Ann (Ross) Pittman. Dr. Pittman's father, who was an expert machinist, met with an accidental death in 1857, and soon after the close of the Civil war the widowed mother came to Evansville, where she passed the remainder of her life, entering her final rest on July 14, 1898. Charles E. Fittman grew to manhood in Evansville, where he attended the public schools until he was nineteen years of age, after which he was employed for several years as a clerk in a shoe store and subsequently in a clothing house. In 1876 he took up the study of dentistry under the late Dr. Isaiah Haas, of Evansville, with whom he pursued his studies for three years. Mr. Pittman immediately began the practice of dentistry in Evansville, where he has continued for a quarter of a century, and it is perhaps no disparagement to the other dentists to say that he is the leader of the profession in that city. He is a member and ex-president of the State Dental association and was for two years a member of the State board of dental examiners. His skill as a dental operator is known from one end of the state to the other. He is a prominent member of the Knights of Pythias and is the first professional man to be honored by an election to the MEMOIRS OF THE LOWER OHIO VALLEY - 83 presidency of the Evansville Business Men's Association, to which he was elected in June, 1904. Dr. Pittman was married on Nov. 16, 1881, to bliss Anna Knowles of Clinton, Ind., who is popular in the social life of Evansville. BENJAMIN BOSSE, secretary and treasurer and general manager of the Globe Furniture Company, of Evansville, Ind., was born on a farm in Scott township, Vanderburg county, Nov. 1, 1874. His parents, Henry and Caroline (Schlensker) Bosse, were both natives of Germany. Henry Bosse became in subsequent years one of the leading farmers of Scott township, and was also prominent in local political affairs. He is now deceased, and his widow resides in the city of Evansville. They had twelve children, viz.: William, Louisa, Mary, Frederick, John, Henry, Louis, Benjamin, George, Ella, August and Amelia Eight of the children are still living; Louisa, Mary, Frederick and August being dead. Benjamin lived on his father's farm until he was fourteen years of age, attending the parochIal schools during the winter seasons, where he obtained his primary education. When he was fourteen he came to Evansville and found employment in a grocery business at ten dollars a month and his board. Here he worked for some time, saving his money until he had enough to enable him to take a course in the business college, from which he graduated at the age of seventeen. He then was employed for two years with a wholesale grocery house and at the age of nineteen embarked in the retail grocery business for himself. After six years in this business he sold out to become one of the organizers of the Globe Furniture Company, of which he was elected secretary and treasurer. That was in, 18999, in which capacity he has continued to serve up to the present time. Besides the interest in this company, Mr. Bosse is vice-president and treasurer of the Evansville Cooperage Company, which was organized in 1903 director in the Karges Wagon Company, which he helped organize in the same year; a director in the Evansville Hoop and Stave Company; president of the Posse Furniture Company and is stockholder in several other manufacturing enterprises. He is the president of the West Side bank. This bank commenced business Jan. 1, 84 - MEMOIRS OF THE LOWER OHIO VALLEY 1903, and Mr. Bosse has been president of it ever since its organiza. tion. He has won the confidence of the business men and especially of the furniture manufacturing industry ; having served for the past four years as president of their association, and previously as secretary and treasurer. He is also a member of the Evansville Business Men's association, the Evansville Manufacturers' association, and vice-president of the Traffic bureau of this city. Mr. Bosse is one the active members of the German Evangelical Lutheran church. On Sept. 2, 1896, he was united in marriage to Miss Anna Riechmann, daughter of the late Frederick Riechman.n. HON. FREDERICK WASHINGTON COOK, president of the F. W. Cook Brewing Company, of Evansville. Ind., and a prominent citizen of that city, was born at Washington, D. C., Feb. 1, 1832. His parents shortly afterward removed to Port Deposit, Md,, then to Cincinnati, and in 1836 located at Evansville. There Mr. Cook received his education, afterward attending the Anderson collegiate institute at New Albany. About a year after the family came to Evansville Mr. Cook's step-father, Jacob Rice, in connection with Fred Kroener, bought a site in Lamasco, near the terminus of the Wabash & Erie canal, and erected the "Old Brewery"—the first in Southern Indiana. Mr. Cook began his business career as a clerk in the dry goods store of L. W. Heberd, on Main street, but after being there two years his brother died, he was taken home by his parents and soon afterward started in to learn the brewing business. In 1853 he, in conjunction with Louis Rice, a brother of his stepfather, built the "City Brewery" on the site occupied by the F. W. Cook Brewing Company at the present time, though the place was then a cornfield. Their capital consisted of $330.00. Mr. Rice took charge of the brewing department, while Mr. Cook looked after the business management. Four years later Mr. Rice sold his interest to his brother Jacob for $3,500 and a new beer cellar was at once put in, the company soon afterward beginning the manufacture of lager beer. An extensive malt house was also added to the plant. Jacob Rice died on May 3, 1872, as the result of an accident some weeks before, and the mother of Mr. Cook died on Nov. 6, 1878, when MEMOIRS OF THE LOWER OHIO VALLEY - 85 he became sole heir to the property. The business was continued under the old name of Cook & Rice until 1885, when it was incorporated under the laws of Indiana, as the F. W. Cook Brewing Company, with F. W. Cook as president. On Dec. 3, 1891, the brew house and offices were destroyed by fire, but were immediately rebuilt and in March, 1893, the company boasted of one of the most complete brew houses in the United States. The brewery now has a capacity of 300,000 barrels annually and is known all over the country as one of the first class breweries of the United States. Mr. Cook has been for years a prominent member of the National Brewers' association, which is said to be the wealthiest co-operative body in the world. While Mr. Cook has been identified with the growth of the brewing business in Evansville he has also been closely connected with several other great enterprises, such as the Evansville, Newburg & Rockport railway, of which he is president; the F. W. Cook Investment Company, which owns as part of its property Cook's Park, one of the finest resorts about Evansville. He is president of this company, is a director in the Citizens National bank, the Ohio Valley Trust Company, the Evansville Trust and Savings Company, as well as other important corporations. Besides his large and growing business interests Mr. Cook has found time to devote to the public welfare. In April, 1856, he was elected councilman for the Fifth ward and in 1863 was elected to represent the Eighth ward, from which he was re-elected the succeeding year, but resigned to accept a scat in the Indiana legislature, to which he had been elected in the fall of 1864. In both the municipal and state legislatures he evinced a grasp of public questions that fully demonstrated the wisdom of his selection. He afterward represented the Fourth ward in the city council. Mr. Cook is the architect of his own fortune. Yet as he built up his own fortune he has not been unmindful of others, and has been a potent factor in the upbuilding of the city's most praiseworthy institutions. His pleasant face and sympathetic nature are known all over the city where he has passed nearly his entire life of more than threescore and ten years, and where thousands of people have benefitted by his public spirit, charity and benevolence. Mr. Cook was married in 1856 to Miss Louise Hild, of Louisville, Ky. She died in February, 1877, and in November, 1879, the was united in marriage to Miss Jennie Himeline, of Kelley's Island, Ohio, who died in January, 188~. 86 - MEMOIRS OF THE LOWER OHIO VALLEY ALBERT F. KARGES, who has for several years been prominently identified with the furniture manufacturing interests of Evansville, Ind., was born on a farm in German township, Vanderburg county, ten miles from that city, Nov. 3, 1861. His parents, Ferdinand and Rosa Karges, were both natives of Germany, who came in early life to the United States and were married in Vanderburg county. Ferdinand Karges was a cabinet maker, and when Albert was about two years of age, he went to Evansville, where he embarked in the manufacture of furniture, first as a member of the firm of Miller & Karges, and later as a member of the Evansville furniture company, which was organized in 1869. This corporation was the pioneer furniture manufacturing concern of Evansville. Some years later he sold his interest in the business and spent his closing years on a farm. He died at the age of fifty-six, his wife having died some years before at the age of thirty-two. Albert F. Karges was educated in the public schools and at the Evansville commercial college, from which he graduated at the age of seventeen years. For the next six years he was bookkeeper for the wholesale notion house of William Hughes. Then for a few months he was engaged in the lumber business, and in February, 1886. he formed a partnership with Henry Stoltz, under the firm name of Stoltz & Karges, for the manufacture of furniture. He continued in this connection for three years, when he bought out Mr. Stoltz's interest and incorporated the concern as the Karges Furniture Company, with Frederick Bockstege as president, and Mr. Karges as secretary and treasurer. Since that time the company has had a very successful career, and is today probably the largest furniture manufacturing establishment in the city, its specialty being high grade bed room suites. Mr. Karnes was one of the organizers of the Globe Furniture Company, of which he is president. He is also president of the Karges Wagon Company; vice-president and director of the Evansville Mirror and Beveling Company, and a director in the Bockstege Furniture Company, the Jourdan & Loesch Furniture Company, the Evansville Metallic Bed Company, the Ohio Valley Seed Company, the Bosse Furniture Company and the City National bank. In numerous was Mr. Karges deserves to be classed with the most progressive men of the city. MEMOIRS OF THE LOWER OHIO VALLEY - 87 He is a member of the Business Men's association, a director in the Young Men's Christian association, and an elder in the Cumberland Presbyterian church. On Dec. 8, 1885, he was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Hauck, of Evansville, and to this union there have been born four children, three of whom are living. They are Albert F., Jr., Edwin F., and Esther C. One son, Arthur W., died in the fifth year of his age. JOHN JOURDAN, secretary and treasurer of the Bockstege Furniture Company, of Evansville, Ind., was born in that city, Sept. 7, 1858, and is the eldest son of John and Eva (Heilman) Jourdan. The father as born and reared in France and upon coming to America settled first at New Orleans, but later made his way to Evansville, where he is still living at the age of seventy-five years. The mother, who is also still living, aged sixty-eight, is a native of Germany, and a member of the well known Heilman family of Evansville. They had a family of six children, two sons and four daughters, all of whom are yet living. John Jourdan was educated in the parochial schools of Evansville, in which he studied German and Latin. He mastered the English language by self-study, his only text book being the dictionary. Later he attended the Evansville Commercial college for one term. At the age of twelve years he began his business career as a cash boy in the dry-goods and notion house of Foster Bros. After a short season with this firm he went to a wholesale millinery store as errand boy, and remained with that concern for twenty-two years, rising by successive promotions to the position of head salesman, which he ably filled for several years before severing his connection with the house. In 1895 he engaged in the retail furniture business as the senior partner in the Jourdan & Loesch Furniture Company, which company still exists. In 1900 he was one of the incorporators of the Bockstege Furniture Company, and has been its secretary and treasurer ever since the organization. This company makes a specialty of fine oak and mahogany tables, and is one of the leading industries of the city. Mr. Jourdan is also a director in the Karges Furniture Company, and has interests in one of Evansville's leading banking institutions. He is a member of the 88 - MEMOIRS OF THE LOWER OHIO VALLEY Business Men's association and one of the trustees of the First Avenue Presbyterian church. On Sept. 27, 1882, Mr. Jourdan was married to Miss Carrie J. Thuman of Evansville, and to this union there have been born nine children, four sons and five daughters, viz.: Elsie, Eva, Sophia, Ruby, John, Jr., Florence, Arthur, Ralph and Russell. EDWARD BOETTICHER, president of the Boetticher-Kellogg Company, of Evansville, Ind., wholesale dealers in hardware, was born on a farm in Monroe county, O., Jan. 7, 1837. When he was about nine years of age the family removed to Cincinnati, where he grew to manhood and received his education. At the age of fifteen years he entered the well known hardware house of Tyler, Davidson & Co., where he served a five years' apprenticeship, at the end of which time he had acquired some knowledge of the wholesale hardware business. In 1857 he came to Evansville, which city has ever since been his home. He took a position in the wholesale hardware concern of Charles S. Wells, where he remained until the death of Mr. Wells in 1863. The following year the firm of Wells, Kellogg & Co. succeeded to the business and Mr. Boetticher acquired an interest in the new firm. Three years later his interest had grown to such proportions that the name of the house was changed to that of Boetticher, Kellogg & Co. The business was continued under this name until 1897, when it was incorporated as the Boetticher-Kellogg Company, with a capital stock of $ioo,000, all of which is held by the Boetticher and Kellogg families. Mr. Boetticher was made president when the house was incorporated and has held the position ever since. The death of Charles H. Kellogg occurred on Dec. 8, 1903, which ended their association as fellow clerks and partners that had existed for forty-five years, and his son, O. H. Kellogg, succeeded to the position of secretary and treasurer. Three sons of Edward Boetticher, viz.: William H., Oscar and Carl F., are connected with the company and hold responsible positions in its management. The house is the largest wholesale hardware concern in the city of Evansville, and the third largest in the state. It is a member of the National Hardware Association of America. Mr. Boetticher is connected with MEMOIRS OF THE LOWER OHIO VALLEY - 89 several other important enterprises in the city, being vice-president of the Evansville Trust and Savings Company, and a director of the Central Trust and Savings Company. He is a Republican in politics, but has never been an aspirant for office, though he has served as a member of the city council and is now president of the board of sinking fund commissioners of Evansville. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity and of St. John's German Evangelical church. He was married Nov. 27, 1859, to Miss Amelia S. Beste of Cincinnati, and they have three sons, already mentioned. MAJ. ALBERT C. ROSENCRANZ, president of the Vulcan Plow Company, of Evansville, Ind., was born in Baerwalde, near the city of Berlin, Prussia, Oct. 26, 1842. His father, C. F. Rosencranz, was a watchmaker by trade and a man of some prominence in the affairs of his native village. In the revolution of 1848 he took up arms against the king and was compelled to leave the country. Accordingly in 1850 he came with his family to America, settling first near Evansville, and a year later removing to the city, where he resumed work at his trade. In 1867 he returned to Europe and died there twenty years later, his wife, whose maiden name was Dorothea Nohse, having died in 1884. Albert Rosencranz received his education in private schools, devoting part of the time while attending school to learning the watchmaker's trade under his father's instructions. When the Civil war commenced he left the shop of his father, where he was employed, assisted in organizing Company A, First regiment, Indiana Legion, and was made orderly sergeant. In July, 1862, he recruited Company F, Fourth Indiana cavalry, and was commissioned first lieutenant. His first service in the field was as body guard to Gen. Ebenezer Dumont, after which he was in a number of battles, among them being the engagement at Chickamauga. He was promoted to captain in 1863, and in March, 1864, his regiment was ordered to join Sherman for the march to the sea. Near Buzzard Roost, while making a reconnaissance, he was slightly wounded and captured. He was kept a prisoner at Macon and Savannah, Ga., Charleston and Columbia, S. C., and Charlotte, N. C., until March i, 1865, when he was paroled, and on May 3, fol- 90 - MEMOIRS OF THE LOWER OHIO VALLEY lowing, was exchanged. Soon after his release from prison he was made major, his commission dating from May 1, 1865. As soon as he was exchanged he rejoined his regiment and was mustered out on June 29. Upon his return home he succeeded his father in busness, in which line he continued until 1868. In that year he married Miss Mary, daughter of William Heilman, and soon after his marriage accepted a responsible position in the office of the Heilman Machine Works. Confinement to office work impaired his health and in 18i3 he went to Missouri, where he engaged in stock raising. He was successful in this business until 1876, when the death of his two children led him to sell out his interests there and return to Evansville. On the first of the following January he took charge of the Heilman-Urie Plow Company, and when Mr. Uric retired in 1878 Maj. Rosencranz assumed the entire management of the concern. By his executive ability he has since that time quadrupled the capacity of the works to meet the constantly growing demand, and has added the manufacture of chilled plows to their steel goods. Upon the death of Mr. Heilman in 1890 the works were incorporated under the name of the Heilman Plow Company, with Major Rosencranz as president. This office he has continually held since that time, though the name of the concern was changed to the Vulcan Plow Company in 1898. In addition to his large business interests in the plow company he is a member of the hoard of trustees of Oak Hill cemetery, and for several years has been president of the board. He is also a member and ex-president of the Business Men's association, and a member and director of the Manufacturers' association. In the spring of 1887, when the question of settling the city debt was before the people for consideration, he was one of a committee appointed by the city council to consider the subject. In that capacity he demonstrated his ability for handling important public questions, and in April was elected to the city council from the Fifth ward. Upon the organization of the council he was made chairman of the finance committee and the satisfactory adjustment of the debt is due in a large degree to his valuable services. He also served as chairman of the water-works committee. Major Rosencranz was one of the largest contributors to the erection of the Young Men's Christian association building in 1890. He acted as treasurer of the building committee, and has since been treasurer of the board of trustees. He is a prominent member and officer in the Trinity Methodist Episcopal church: is a member of the Indiana Commandery of the Loyal Legion: Farragut Post, No. 27, Grand Army of the Republic; La MEMOIRS OF THE LOCKER OHIO VALLEY - 91 Vallette Commandery, Knights Temt)lars, and wields a potent influence in all these organizations for their healthy advancement. Politically he is a Republican. He has three living children : Olive, a graduate of Wellesley college; Richard, a graduate of Cornell university; and Gertrude, now a student at Irvington, N. Y HARRY H. OGDEN, cashier of the West Side bank, Evansville. Ind., was born, at Slaughterville, Webster county, Ny., Nov. 9, 1876, his parents being William C. and Margaret (Kuykendall) Ogden. The father was a merchant in Slaughterville, and died when Harry was about six years of age. The mother is still living at Slaughterville. Harry H. Ogden was educated in his native town. At an early age he learned the art of telegraphy and was for twelve years in the employ of the Louisville & Nashville Railroad Company at different points in the State of Kentucky. In 18b9 he left the railroad and went to Davis, in the Indian Territory, where for about two years he was assistant cashier in a private bank, known as the Bank of Davis. In the fall of 1900 he returned to, Kentucky and organized the Webster County bank at Clay. He was elected cashier of the bank and held the position until in 19o2, when he came to Evansville and organized the West Side bank, of which he was made cashier. The officers of the bank at the present time are: Benjamin Bosse, president; George W. Warner, vice-president; Harry H. Ogden, cashier; H. F. Riechmann, assistant cashier. The board of directors consists of August Rosenberger, Jacob Fischer, Jacob Folz, Jr., Benjamin Bosse, Thomas Macer, Leon Curry, Frank Lohoff, G. W. Warner and H. H. Ogden. The West Side bank has been prosperous from the start, much of its success being due to the energy and tact of Mr. Ogden. It fills a much needed want for the citizens in what is known as the West side, a district with a population of about 15,000 people. In 1904 Mr. Ogden organized a bank at Haubstadt, a thriving little town in the edge of Gibson county, a few miles north of Evansville. He still holds an interest in this bank, though he has no official connection with it. He also still retains his interest in the Webster County bank. Few men at the age of twenty-eight years 92 - MEMOIRS OF THE LOWER OHIO VALLEY can claim the distinction of having organized three banks, all of which have been successful, yet such is the record of Mr. Ogden. He is a born financier and has a keen instinct, amounting at times almost to an inspiration, for discovering the financial needs of a particular locality. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the Methodist Episcopal church, and the Evansville Business Men's association. The West Side bank belongs to the Indiana State and the American Bankers' associations. On Sept. 2, 1896, he was married to Miss Lissette McClusky of Florence, Ala., and they have one daughter, Jerrie Virginia, aged six years. JOHN C. ZUTT, secretary and treasurer of the Evansville Mirror and Beveling Company, Evansville, Ind., was born in the city of Louisville, Ky., March 25, 1866. His parents, Daniel and Louise (Geis) Zutt, were both natives of Germany. The father came to the United States in 1851 and the mother in 1859, and they were married at Louisville on March 5, 1863. For many years Daniel Zutt followed the trade of butcher in Louisville, and died there in 1898, leaving two sons, Daniel and John C., who with the mother are still living. Daniel is a druggist in Louisville. John C. Zutt received his education in the Louisville schools, and before reaching his majority began his business career as a bookkeeper in the Falls City bank, where he remained for eleven years, or until the bank went into liquidation. In 1895 he came to Evansville and organized the Evansville Mirror and Beveling Company, with John Weber as president and himself as secretary and treasurer. This introduced a new industry into the city of Evansville, and it has come to be recognized as one of the substantial manufacturing concerns of that busy place, its success being largely clue to the enterprise and bus-ness sagacity of Mr. Zutt. Besides his interest in this company Mr. Zutt is also connected with several other manufacturing concerns and holds stock in some of the leading banking institutions. He is a member of the Business Men's and Manufacturers' associations of Evansville, and is identified with every movement having for its object the advancement of the city's commercial standing. He was married on June 16, 1897, to Miss Elise Hartmetz of Evansville, and two sons have come to bless the union, viz : John Hartmetz, aged six years, and Daniel J., aged four. MEMOIRS OF THE LOWER OHIO VALLEY - 93 SAMUEL G. EVANS, head of the well known mercantile establishment of S. G. Evans & Co., 328-330 Main street, Evansville, Ind., was born in Jackson county, W. Va., March 19, 1839, and is the son of E. S. and Ruami (Wright) Evans, the former a native of Virginia and the latter of Pennsylvania. The father, who was born at Morgantown, Va., in the year i800, was an old time gentleman farmer. He died in his native state in 1876, and the mother died in Jackson county, W. Va., in 1882. Samuel G. Evans grew to manhood on his father's farm. After completing the course of study in the local schools he entered Washington college in Pennsylvania and graduated in 1861. For a short time after leaving college he studied law, and then came to Evansville as an employe of the Adams Express Company. In 1864 he took a position in the dry goods house of Jaquess, French & Co., with whom he remained for about two years, when he became the junior partner in the firm of Jaquess, Hudspeth & Co. In 1876, in connection with D. J. lackey, he opened the business at 211 Main street, under the firm name of S. G. Evans & Co., which did well for four years, when, in 1880, the house of Evans & Verwayne was organized. The business of this firm increased from the beginning. In 18q, Mr. Evans acquired the interests of his partner and removed to his present location on the corner of Fourth and Main streets, where he has since conducted the business under the name of S. G. Evans & Co. Mr. Evans is practically the sole proprietor. Politically Mr. Evans is a Democrat, but is one of the kind who never makes himself offensive to his opponents, although never swerving from his settled convictions. He is a prominent member of the Masonic fraternity, being a Knight Templar, and belongs to the Business Men's Association. For years he has been one of the trustees of the Willard Library, and belongs to several societies for the advancement of science, among them being the American Association for the Advancement of Science; the Indiana Academy of Science; and the National Botanical Association. In 1867 he was married to Miss Louisa Hornbrook, who was born near Evansville in 1842, and is a descendant of one of the pioneer families. 94 - MEMOIRS OF THE LOWER OHIO VALLEY FREDERICK BOCKSTEGE, president of the Karges Furniture Company, Evansville, Incl., was born in Germany, April 16, 1862. He learned the trade of cabinet maker in his native land, and at the age of nineteen years came to America. For several months he worked at his trade at Akron, O., and from there went to St. Louis, Mo., where he remained for about six months, at the end of which time he came to Evansville. During the first three years he was in Evansville he was employed as a cabinet maker in the furniture establishment of Joseph F. Reitz. Upon leaving Mr. Reitz he was for some time with George Mutschler in the planing mill, and when Mr. Mutschler was succeeded by Schnute, Dubber & Co. Mr. Bockstcge remained about a year with the new firm. From that time until Feb. 1, 1889, he was in the employ of Stoltz & Karges. He then, in connection with A. F. Karges and John Jourdan, Jr., formed what has since become widely known as the Karges Furniture Compan);, of which he has been president ever since the organization. Mr. Bockstege started in life with the odds against him. When he came to America he knew no one in the country, and had no knowledge of the English language. A raw German boy, with no capital but his willingness to work and his mechanical skill, he has been almost phenomenally successful. His motto has ever been honest goods at reasonable prices, and the result is that the products of the Karges Furniture Company have found a ready sale on the market wherever they have been introduced. In 1898 Mr. Bockstege was one of the organizers of the Globe Furniture Company, of which he has been vice-president for the Iast three years. The following year he organized the Bockstege Furniture Company and has been president of it ever since. He is also interested in the West Side Bank, the Evansville Mirror and Beveling Company, and the West Heights Land Company. Few men in the city of Evansville occupy a higher place in the general esteem of the citizens than Mr. Bockstege. His industry and capacity for business are worthy of the highest emulation of young men, who can learn a useful lesson from his perseverance, which has been the secret of his success. Mr. Bockstege has been twice married. His first wife, to whom he was united on Oct. 30, 1884, was Miss Alwena Langele, of Evansville. MEMOIRS OF THE LOWER OHIO VALLEY - 95 She died in 1887, leaving one child, and subsequently he was married to Miss Mena Seeger, also of Evansville. He has five sons and three daughters, viz.: Fred, Jr., Herman, Henry, John, Benjamin, Clara, Ida, and Anna. He is a member of the German Lutheran church of Evansville, and a liberal contributor to its good works. JACOB MAYER, councilman at large, and one of the most popular caterers in the city of Evansville, Ind., was born at Rheinpfalz, Rhenish Bavaria, Jan. 8, 1850. During his boyhood he attended the schools of his native town, after which he learned the bakers' trade. Hence it can be seen that from his youth Mr. Mayer has been brought up to his business. After several years in his native town he determined to come to America and the latter part of 1868 found him in Evansville, which city has ever since been his home. The first ten years of his life in this country were spent as journeyman, working in the bakeries of Andrew Christ and Jacob Heblich. During that decade he saved his money and in 1878 started in the bakery business for himself at the corner of Second avenue and Ohio street. The genial German soon became popular with his customers and his business prospered in consequence. A few doors from his bakery he established a plant for making carbonated or mineral waters, which he operated for some time in connection with his bakery. Then he established the cafe and saloon at 317 Upper Second street, which soon came to demand so much of his time that he disposed of his other interests and devoted his whole attention to the café. While managing this popular resort Mr. Mayer formed acquaintances all over the city, and in 1897 he was induced to become a candidate for councilman at large on the Republican ticket. His service in the council added to his popularity and in 1902 he was re-elected for another term of four years, receiving the largest majority of any man on the Republican ticket. Mr. Mayer is one of the substantial citizens of Evansville and is the owner of considerable property. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, the Ancient Order of United Workmen and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, as well as some other fraternal organizations. Some years ago he was married to Elizabeth Schmidt of Evansville, and they have two chil- 96 - MEMOIRS OF THE LOWER OHIO VALLEY dren: Oscar and Carrie. The son is associated with his father in business, and Carrie lives at home with her parents. WILLIAM HEYNS, president of the Heyns Furniture Company, of Evansville, Ind., was born in Germany in the year 1848, his parents being Louis and Mary (Page) IHeyns. In 2866 the family came to America andlocated at Evansville. William began life as a cabinet maker and after coming to Evansville he found employment with the old firm of Bloomer & Honig, on Water street. Subsequently he was with Miller & Karges, now known as the Evansville Furniture Company, for about eighteen months, after which he went to St. Louis, where he was for two years with Aude Brothers. He then returned to Evansville and opened a retail grocery at the corner of Michigan street and Third avenue. Two years later he disposed of this business to accept a position as traveling salesman for the firm of Bloomer, Schulte & Reitman, selling furniture through the South. After three years on the road he resigned his position to become owner of a hotel at St. Wendell, Ind., which he successfully conducted for five years, when he returned to Evansville and started in the retail furniture business at 226 to 230 West Franklin street. That was in 1885, and he has continued in the business, adding to his stock until today the Heyns Furniture Company occupies the entire building from 224 to 230 West Franklin, besides a branch store at No. 208 Upper Third street. In the two establishments something like 60,000 square feet of floor space is occupied, and the stock of goods displayed is by far the largest and most varied of any similar concern in the city. The business was incorporated in igoi with Mr. Heyns as president, and his son, John W., as secretary and treasurer. William Heyns and his children own all the stock with the exception of a small portion donated to the employes of the house. The growth of the Heyns Furniture Company has been remarkable, and it is mainly due to the thorough knowledge of the demands of the trade, the untiring industry and the high order of executive ability of Mr. Heyns. Besides the retail establishment . the company also manufactures a line of high grade parlor furniture and is building up an extensive trade with the mer- MEMOIRS OF THE LOWER OHIO VALLEY - 97 chants in the surrounding towns. He was married in June, 1875, to Miss Anna Raben, daughter of Anton Raben. She died on Jan. 28, i8g1, leaving the following children: Mary, John W., Lina, Winnie and Nettie. Mary is the wife of Ray Lannert; John W. is secretary and treasurer of the furniture company; and Winnie is an artist of more than ordinary ability, her natural talent having been aided by study in the Cincinnati Art school, MARTIN KOEPKE, of Evansville, Ind., Indiana State agent for the Mountain Valley mineral waters, was born near the city of Berlin, Germany, Nov. 12, 1849. In 1865 he came to the United States and five years later located in Evansville, which city has ever since been his home. In early life he learned the trade of a harness maker, but in 1875 gave it up and embarked in the grocery and saloon business. Upon reaching his majority he cast in his lot with the Republican party, and has been an active worker in the cause of that organization. He was two years the councilman from the Third ward, and few men ever served in the city council who were more consistent, or more earnest in behalf of their constituents. In 1894 he was appointed deputy sheriff and in 1898 received the nomination of his party for sheriff. He was elected and at the close of his first term was re-elected, making eight years in all that he was in the sheriff's office, four years as deputy and four years as principal. His second term expired in 1902 and he soon afterward secured the local agency for the Mountain Valley waters, which come from a spring in the Ozark mountains, not far from Hot Springs, Ark., and have proved a fine remedy for stomach and kidney troubles, especially Bright's disease, as well asexcellent for table use. His Iocal trade grew to generous proportions and he was made state agent for the. springs. By his energy and tact he is building up a good patronage throughout the state, particularly in the country adjacent to Evansville. Mr. Koepke is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Knights of Honor, the Improved Order of Red Men, and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. He has been married three times, his first and second wives having died, and has five living children. II-7 98 - MEMOIRS OF THE LOWER OHIO VALLEY HARRY N. COOK, president of the Cook Grocery Company, Evansville, Ind., was born in that city, Nov. 8, 1857, his parents being Henry A. and Caroline J. (Clark) Cook, both natives of the State of New York. The family came to Evansville in 1852, where the father was for many years the leading retail grocer of the city. In 1901 the Cook Grocery Company was incorporated, with Harry N. Cook as president and William L. Hardigg as secretary and treasurer, and the official personnel of the company remains the same to the present time. The Cook Grocery Company is a model institution of its kind. Not only is it the largest and best appointed retail grocery in the city of Evansville, but it is certain it has no superior and probably not an equal in the State of Indiana. This superb establishment stands as a monument to the fine business qualifications, the indomitable energy, and the high integrity of character of Mr. Cook. In building up the concern Mr. Cook has given his city a wide advertisement and placed his name high on the roll of progressive business men of the country. For two years he was president of the Retail Merchants' Association of the state, and during the past three years he has been president of the Retail Merchants' Association of Evansville. MARTIN EMIG, JR., proprietor of the Manhattan saloon, Evansville, Ind., was born in Germany,July 15, 1856. His father, John Emig, was a nail smith by trade, but in his later years followed farming. He died when Martin was but four years of age. The mother died in Germany in 1903 at the age of eighty-two years. While still in his bovhood Martin came to America and landed at Evansville on July 27,. 1871, one day before he was fifteen years old. He had commenced to learn the blacksmiths' trade in his native land, but being young and rather small for his age, he was unable to obtain work in that line, so he sought and obtained a position as clerk in a dry goods store. He continued in this occupation for about eight years in Evansville, and in 1879 went to Piopolis, Hamilton county, Ill., where he conducted a general store for three years. At the end of that time he returned to Evansville and engaged in the retail grocery business for about five years, when he MEMOIRS OF THE LOWER OHIO VALLEY - 99 sold out to become a traveling salesman. On New Year's day, 1889, he opened a saloon on the corner of Third and Vine streets in Evansville. In 1894 he sold his business and for some time was a partner in a cigar manufactory. He then for some time had charge of Germania Hall, on Fourth street, and in 1899 purchased the elegant Manhattan saloon at No. 501 Main street, where he has since conducted one of the finest establishments of the kind to be found anywhere. Mr. Emig is a Democrat in his political associations and is always ready to do what he can to further the interests of his party. He is a member of the Catholic church, the Catholic Knights of America, and the Knights of St. John. As captain of the local company of the Uniform Rank, Knights of St. John, he won the first prize at the competitive drill at Columbus, Ohio, in 1903, and his company has frequently been awarded smaller prizes for its proficiency. He was married on May 11, 1881, to Miss Mary Jost, of Evansville, and they have five living children: Eva Catherine, Louisa, Rosa Barbara, Ferdinand J., and Henry A., aft at home. Two children, Joseph N., and Leo, are deceased, the former dying at the age of six years and the latter at the age of seven and a half. JOHN H. HUSTON, vice-president of the Kohinoor Laundry Company, of Evansville, Ind., was born on a farm in Miami county, O., June 9, 1840, his parents being David and Susanna Huston, both of whom are now deceased. He was reared on his father's farm in Miami county, receiving his education in the common schools. In August, 1862, he enlisted as a private in Company B, Ninety-fourth Ohio infantry, and served until the close of the war, being mustered out and discharged at Columbus in August, 1865, the regiment being one of the last to return home. While in the army he took part in the Atlanta campaign and in the famous march to the sea. At the close of the war he returned to the home of his parents, who had in the meantime removed to Paris, Ill., and for four years was a clerk in a grocery store there. He was then employed for about three years in the engineering department of the Louisville & Nashville Railroad Company. In 1874 he came to Evansville, his brother, E. P. Huston, being at that time the proprietor of the St. George hotel, the lead-