Harrison Township
View a history of Terre Haute.

Under this head we propose to give extended biographies or personal sketches of a large number of the leading citizens of Terre Haute and vicinity, not only of early settlers, but also of the more modern. The items have been obtained, as far as possible, from the parties themselves, or their intimate friends, and are believed to be perfectly reliable. Many of the subjects have already been mentioned in the preceding pages, but we believe it will add vastly to our work as a book of reference and as a basis for the future historian, to give to this department a most minute detail. As far as practicable, the sketches have been arranged in chronological order or rather than in the order of coming to the township or county.--[Ed.

HISTORY OF VIGO AND PARKE COUNTIES Together With Historic Notes on the Wabash Valley
H.W. Beckwith - 1880
Terre Haute - p. 159

C.P. STAUB, livery keeper, Terre Haute, who is now proprietor of one of the largest and most completely equipped livery, feed and sale stables in the city, has been a resident of Terre Haute but about four years, though he has had about sixteen years’ experience in the livery business. He was born in Jefferson county, Virginia, October 6, 1836, and when still a boy his people moved to Champaign county, Ohio, where he resided and worked with his father, who was a miller, until he was twenty-five years old. A year or two previous to leaving home he was married, and in 1863 went to Illinois and located at Greenville, where after a short time he began in the livery business in a small way, and continued it there for about thirteen years. For four years during this time he also ran a stage line between Greenville and Carlisle. In 1876 he removed to Terre Haute and opened a stable, and now he has about fifty head of horses on hand, and a suitable number of vehicles to correspond, and gives employment to about twenty men. In addition to his livery, feed and sale business, in the spring of 1880 he bought the ‘bus line of T.J. GIST, consisting of five ‘buses, two close carriages and the mail wagons. The building up of this extensive business has been the result of the natural energy, enterprise and good financiering ability of which Mr. STAUB is possessed, as when he was married, in 1861, he had not a dollar in money nor a dollar’s worth of property, and even borrowed money with which to buy a suitable suit of clothing in which to get married. Now he is one of the substantial, prosperous business men of the city.

HISTORY OF VIGO AND PARKE COUNTIES Together With Historic Notes on the Wabash Valley
H.W. Beckwith - 1880
Terre Haute - pp. 355-356

J.P. STAUB, liveryman, Terre Haute, though he has been in the business but a short time, has built up and established a good trade, which is probably due to his having an establishment that is fitted up and equipped with everything neat and tasty in the line of vehicles, to which he has to correspond some of the best driving horses in the city. Mr. STAUB is an old traveling man, he having for eight years been in the employ of the Singer Sewing Machine Company as general agent, during which time he had occasion to patronize liverymen in all parts of the country. This experience gave him many practical ideas of just what a man needs who is dependent upon livery teams much of his time for conveyance. His establishment is located at 310 Cherry street. He keeps on hand from twenty to twenty-five fine horses, and in dealing with the public he has established a straightforward and honorable course in all his transactions. He has now been a resident of Terre Haute since 1877, and though he began the livery business on a somewhat limited scale, he has gradually increased his facilities until now his receipts are but little, if any, behind the old established firms of the city. Mr. STAUB is a native of Champaign county, Ohio. He has been entirely dependent upon his own resources, and whatever he has succeeded in accomplishing financially is due to his own enterprise.

HISTORY OF VIGO AND PARKE COUNTIES Together With Historic Notes on the Wabash Valley
H.W. Beckwith - 1880
Terre Haute - p. 360

NICHOLAS STEIN Jr., dealer in boots and shoes, Terre Haute, of the firm of Stein & Heckelsberg, No. 421 Main street, is a native of Germany. He was of a family of seven brothers, and was born October 8, 1844. When sixteen years old he came to Terre Haute, in 1859, and at once found work in the line of business he has always been engaged in. His business education completed, and circumstances being favorable, he went into business on his own account. Mr. STEIN is essentially a self-made man, and his present prosperious circumstances are due entirely to his own integrity and industry. Mr. STEIN does not approve of frequent changes in location, hence we find, and his customers find, him very near his original location, never having removed from the block in which he first established himself. May 10, 1866, he married Miss Katherina MAY, and has four children. He is a member of two orders, Masons and Odd-Fellows.

HISTORY OF VIGO AND PARKE COUNTIES Together With Historic Notes on the Wabash Valley
H.W. Beckwith - 1880
Terre Haute - p. 275

T.W. STEWART, freight agent of the Vandalia railroad, Terre Haute, has been agent for the company at the Terre Haute freight office for about five years, but his connection with the road dates back to the building of the extension from Terre Haute to St. Louis. He began work for them then as freight agent or station agent, and was changed by the company from place to place until he took charge of his present office. He first began at railroading on the Hamilton & Dayton railroad, which he continued but a short time, and then accepted a position with the American Express company, he being stationed first at Indianapolis and afterward at Terre Haute, where he continued in the employ of that company until he was succeeded by Mr. McELVAIN, the company's present agent. Altogether he was in the employ of the American Express company about twelve years. He now has the supervision of about sixteen men, and is one of the busy department managers of the "Van line". Mr. STEWART is a native of Madison county, New York, where a part of his early life was spent. During the rebellion of 1861-65 he entered the army, enlisting in 1861 in Co. A, 11th Ind. Vol. Inf., he being one among the first to answer the call for troops. He remained in the service about six months, from which he received an honorable discharge.

HISTORY OF VIGO AND PARKE COUNTIES Together With Historic Notes on the Wabash Valley
H.W. Beckwith - 1880
Terre Haute - p. 268-269

J.S. STRONG, farmer, Terre Haute, is the son of William and Jerusba (CLARK) STRONG, who were natives of Tennessee, and came to Parke county in 1828, and settled at what is now known as Judson's Station, where they remained for some time. They then removed to Adam's township, three miles southwest of Rockville, where they resided until the death of the father, who died in 1878; the mother died in 1864. J.S. STRONG was a resident of Parke county the most of his life, and by his industry has become the possessor of two fine farms, one in Parke county and one where he lives in Vigo county. In 1854 he married Miss Nancy BEAL, daughter of Jeremiah BEAL, who was one of the early settlers of Parke county.

HISTORY OF VIGO AND PARKE COUNTIES Together With Historic Notes on the Wabash Valley
H.W. Beckwith - 1880
Terre Haute - pp. 179-180

B.F. SWAFFORD, physician and surgeon, Terre Haute, who is now one of the oldest practicing physicians in Vigo county, was born in Randolph county, North Carolina, in 1888. The name of SWAFFORD is of Welsh origin. That branch of the family of which the doctor is a descendant, dates its first emigration to the United States back to 1728. About 1835 the doctor’s people left North Carolina and settled in Illinois, locating in Edgar county, near the Indiana line. The doctor has been dependant upon his own resources since the age of thirteen years. He succeeded in getting a fair education, and at the age of seventeen years applied for a certificate to teach school. To obtain this he was obliged to undergo an examination by S.B. GOOKINS and R.N. HUDSON. Finding him competent, they granted the certificate. He taught school about two years, and then, at the age of nineteen years, began the study of medicine at Paris, Illinois. At the age of twenty-two years he began practicing in New Goshen, Indiana, and at twenty-five became a graduate at the Rush Medical College of Chicago. During his last two terms of attendance at the Rush College, he held the position of prosector to the chair of anatomy. Returning to New Goshen, he resumed the practice of medicine, which he continued until 1874, when he removed to Terre Haute. In 1864 he entered the army as assistant surgeon of the 11th Ind. Cav. He was afterward promoted to surgeon, and remained in the service until the close of the war, in 1865. The doctor has been a member of the Esculapian Medical Society of the Wabash valley since 1855, and is one of the four oldest members of that society, and is one of its ex-presidents. He is a member of the State Medical Society and of the American Medical Association. He has held the office of president in the Vigo Medical Society, of which he is a member, and in 1874, at the organization of the Tri-State Medical Society, he was made its president. He is well known throughout Vigo county and has the respect and esteem of the better class of citizens of Terre Haute, where he has resided since 1874.

HISTORY OF VIGO AND PARKE COUNTIES Together With Historic Notes on the Wabash Valley
H.W. Beckwith - 1880
Terre Haute - pp. 346-347

E.A. SYKES, hatter, Terre Haute, who since he has been able or old enough to attend to the store has done business in the hat store of his father, until in 1878 he began trade on his own account. His place of business is now No. 28 South Fourth street, where he is occupying a building 19x100 feet, which is stocked with every class and variety of goods pertaining to the hat and cap trade. Mr SYKES is a native of Wheeling, Virginia, and is now a man of thirty-one years of age. His parents are of English birth, and his father has now been engaged in the hat trade in Terre Haute for twenty-seven years. In engaging in business on his own account Mr. SYKES did so with a full understanding of the difficulties to be overcome and the errors to be avoided. Many men with less enterprise would have hesitated to embark in a trade so well represented, but believing "competition to be the life of trade," he has fitted and stocked up an establishment that compares favorably with the older houses in the city in his line. The two years that he has now been in business has proved his success beyond an experiment.

HISTORY OF VIGO AND PARKE COUNTIES Together With Historic Notes on the Wabash Valley
H.W. Beckwith - 1880
Terre Haute - pp. 240-241

JOHN H. SYKES, hatter, Terre Haute, has been a resident of Terre Haute for the past twenty-five years, and for twenty-two years has been identified with the hat trade. He was born in Huddersfield, Yorkshire, England, in 1840. In 1843 he came to the United States with his people, who settled in Ohio. John H., after having received a good education, began learning the trade of a printer, at which he spent one year in Ohio and three years in Terre Haute prior to engaging in his present line of business. He is occupying the premises No. 419 Main street, which is 20 feet front by 100 feet in depth, and three stories, all of which room he has stocked with everything pertaining to the hatter's business. In addition to his business, Mr. SYKES is a member of the firm of Keyes & Sykes, manufacturers of the Keyes "and Sarvan" patent wheels, which is one of the largest manufacturing establishments of the city, a more complete description of which is found in the sketch of H. KEYES.

HISTORY OF VIGO AND PARKE COUNTIES Together With Historic Notes on the Wabash Valley
H.W. Beckwith - 1880
Terre Haute - pp. 257-258

CAL THOMAS, watchmaker and optician, Terre Haute, who in the last six years has become so well known in Terre Haute and vicinity, was born November 19, 1837, in Delaware county, Indiana. His early life was spent on a farm. The facilities for obtaining an education during his boyhood were very meager, being what is known as the old subscription system. The particular college which he attended during this time was one of the old log school buildings fitted up with fireplace, puncheon floor and benches, and greased paper for windows. He would probably still have been farming but for an accident which caused the partial loss of the use of his right arm when he was about sixteen years old. He then went to Cincinnati and began learning the trade of a watchmaker, serving an apprenticeship in all of five years, during which time he became a very skilled optician. From Cincinnati he went to Crawfordsville and engaged in business on his own account. From Crawfordsville he went to Montezuma, and in the fall of 1874 he removed to Terre Haute. His specialty is optics and watchmaking, though he also carries a large stock of jewelry, watches, clocks, etc. He is located at No. 527 Main street, and is occupying a room 20 x 60 feet.

HISTORY OF VIGO AND PARKE COUNTIES Together With Historic Notes on the Wabash Valley
H.W. Beckwith - 1880
Terre Haute - pp. 347-348

L.D. THOMAS, of the firm of Tenent & Thomas, though a member of the Vigo county bar since 1874, has already established a reputation as a lawyer of good judgment and ability. Though he has had but about six years’ practice in Terre Haute, his name is already mentioned among the representative attorneys of the Vigo county bar. He is also attorney for the Evansville, Terre Haute & Chicago railroad. He is a native of Vermillion county, Indiana, his people being among the early settlers of that county. His grandfather, Thomas, was a slave-holder in one of the southern states, but in 1822 he freed his slaves and came north. L.D. is a graduate of the Wabash College. He began the study of law with Col. R.W. THOMPSON, the present secretary of the United States navy, though he finished his course with the firm of Allen & Mack, and was admitted to the bar in 1874. His office is located at No. 330½ Ohio street.

HISTORY OF VIGO AND PARKE COUNTIES Together With Historic Notes on the Wabash Valley
H.W. Beckwith - 1880
Terre Haute - p. 342

Prominent amoung the citizens of Vigo county is Hon. RICHARD W. THOMPSON. Mr. Thompson having, as a member of the Indiana legislature, member of congress and secretary of the navy, acquired a national reputation, all will be so much the more interested in knowing something of his private history. Mr. THOMPSON is a native of Culpepper county, Virginia. He was born June 9, 1809. He came west in 1830, and after a short stay at Louisville, Kentucky, settled at Bedford, Lawrence county, Indiana, in 1831. The first service he rendered to the public was that of an educator, first as teacher of a private school, and then as principal of the Lawrence County Seminary. In 1833 Mr. THOMPSON turned his attention to the study of law. He was admitted to the bar in 1834 upon examination and license signed by Hon. John F. ROSS, president judge of the second judicial circuit, and Hon. Amory KINNEY, president judge of the seventh circuit. Almost at the beginning of Mr. THOMPSON's professional career he embarked upon the troubled waters of the political sea, and has been afloat almost ever since, his present exalted position as secretary of the navy being but a natural and appropriate culmination of his voyage of life. In August, 1834, he was first elected to the lower house of the Indiana legislature, and again in 1835. In 1836 he was elected to the senate, and while there he was chosen president of the senate and ex-office lieutenant-governor, the then incumbent, Hon. David WALLACE, having resigned. He held the office of acting lieutenant-governor under the administration of Hon. Noah NOBLE, governor of Indiana, until the next session of the legislature, when a successor was chosen. In 1841 he was nominated for congress by the whig convention of the second congressional district, and was elected over Hon. John W. DAVIS. In that congress Mr. THOMPSON served on several important committees, and was considered an able member. He declined a renomination to that important position in 1843, and in that year removed to Terre Haute and engaged actively in the practice of law. In 1847 he was again elected to congress by the whig party over W.A. WRIGHT, afterward governor of Indiana. He was prominent in congress and at its close retired from public life. In 1849 he was appointed United States minister to Austria by President TAYLOR, but declined to accept the position. He was tendered several other appointments by the general government, all of which he declined. During the war for the Union, Mr. Thompson was active and rendered valuable services to the country. He was commandant of Camp Dick Thompson, near Terre Haute, and also served as provost marshal of the district. For several years subsequently he lived a strictly private life, declining all political offices tendered him, engaging in no business except as attorney for several railroads. In 1877 he was again called from his quiet home at Spring Hill, near Terre Haute to fill the office of secretary of the navy. This office, tendered him by President HAYES, he accepted, and at the present writing is filling the same in an able and efficient manner. During his whole life he has taken a deep interest in all educational affairs, and as president of the board of trustees of Asbury University, and member of the board of trustees of the Indiana State Normal School, has rendered good service in the cause of education in the state.

HISTORY OF VIGO AND PARKE COUNTIES Together With Historic Notes on the Wabash Valley
H.W. Beckwith - 1880
Terre Haute - pp. 185-187

JAMES H. THORPE, painter, glazier and grainer, Terre Haute, was born in Gibson county, Indiana, in 1819, and came to Terre Haute in September, 1848. He was first married in 1835 to a Miss Julia GRAHAM, who was born in North Carolina. They had eight children, seven of whom are dead. They were divorced, and he afterward, in 1878, was married to Amanda SCHWARTZ, of Vigo county. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity here, and is one of the founders of the order in Terre Haute. He enlisted in the last war, but just as the regiment was about to leave he had the misfortune to fall from a scaffold where he was at work and broke his collar bone, at Capt. POTTER's residence. He is now living in his own residence on South First street.

HISTORY OF VIGO AND PARKE COUNTIES Together With Historic Notes on the Wabash Valley
H.W. Beckwith - 1880
Terre Haute - pp. 367-368

COMMODORE CHAUNCEY TWADDLE, as he is familiarly called on account of his having followed the river and boating for the greater part of his life, was born in Attica, New York, in 1817. His father removed from there when Chauncy was about one year old, by going down the Ohio river on an olean boat, or a small flat-bottomed boat, with the upper part enclosed. He made a stop at Cincinnati one year, then removed to Madison, Indiana, where Chauncey lived about fourteen years, after which he followed the occupation of a river boatman for a number of years. He came to Terre Haute in September, 1834, and after that he made forty trips to New Orleans on flat-boats, making one trip in twenty-one days, staying until the boat and cargo were sold. He worked eight years for old Charley HAYNES and Alexander HARRIS. They built about sixteen flat-boats per annum of about 21x100 feet in size, and capable of carrying 1,600 barrels of pork. He commenced work for the Terre Haute & Alton Railroad Company as watchman of their bridge over the Wabash river, June 10, 1856, and remained with that company for fourteen years. Then he engaged with the Vandalia Railroad Company as watchman of their bridge over the Wabash, in August, 1860, which position he still holds, which illustrates the confidence that his employers repose in him. He was married in 1845 to Miss Elizabeth PORTER, of Vigo county, Indiana. They have four children living, and have buried nine. The names of the living are Alice, James, Martha and Chauncey. He usually keeps a flotilla of small boats for the use of pleasure seekers, and has one, the Crumbs of Comfort, with which he has made ten trips down the Wabash. He is now building a steamboat to ply on the Wabash. He is also an extensive reader, and is a close student in his leisure hours, and is a well informed man for one who has never had the advantage of schooling.

HISTORY OF VIGO AND PARKE COUNTIES Together With Historic Notes on the Wabash Valley
H.W. Beckwith - 1880
Terre Haute - pp. 181-182

WILLIAM VAN BRUNT, watchman for the Vandalia Railroad Company, Terre Haute, was born in Otsego county, New York, near Cooperstown, in 1820. When he was four years old his father moved to Troy, New York, where he remained until 1847, when he removed to Schenectady, where he remained until 1854. At the latter date William came to Terre Haute. He was married in Troy, New York, in 1846, to a Miss Harriet M. GIBENY, a daughter of William GIBENY, of Troy. They have had seven children, four of them living. Mary died at nineteen years of age, Sarah died at sixteen years; James A., at twenty-two, was killed on the railroad by being crushed. Those living are William, Elizabeth, now the wife of Godfrey ARN, of the city post office; John A., who is married and lives in the city, and Harry, who is in Colorado. Mr. William VAN BRUNT has been for many years in the employ of the Indianapolis and St. Louis and the Vandalia railroads. He was elected city marshal for one term. He was chief of the fire department for three years, and is a member of the A.F. and A.M. He is comfortably settled in life. His father, James A. VAN BRUNT, was born in Otsego, New York, and moved to Troy, New York. Afterward, on May 4, 1852, while on a visit to his son, William VAN BRUNT, in Schenectady, he was killed by being crushed by the cars on the railroad. His grandfather, William VAN BRUNT, was born in Monmouth county, New Jersey, and died at Lockport, New York, in 1853, at the age of eighty-seven.

HISTORY OF VIGO AND PARKE COUNTIES Together With Historic Notes on the Wabash Valley
H.W. Beckwith - 1880
Terre Haute - pp. 247-248

As it is a rare thing to meet with a member of what may be termed a family of physicians, and as few of the people of Terre Haute, whose ancestors were among the early settlers of the New England states, are able to trace the genealogy of their families back to the origin of the name in the United States, it is the more interesting to be able to give the following history of the VAN VALZAH, and more especially those who have had the M.D. added to their names. Dr. ROBERT VAN VALZAH, of Buffalo Cross Roads, Union county, Pennsylvania, was the father of four sons, two of whom were physicians; Dr. Robert, of Mifflinburg, Pennsylvania, and Dr. Thomas, of Lewistown, Pennsylvania. The former of these two had seven sons, five of whom were physicians, as follows: Dr. Robert F., of Spring Mills, Pennsylvania, Dr. Thomas, of Boalsburg, Pennsylvania, Dr. Jno. II., who did not practice, Dr. Samuel B., of Durand, Illinois, and Dr. S.L., of Mifflinburg, Pennsylvania. Of these five, Dr. Thomas VAN VALZAH had four sons, three of them physicians, as follows: Dr. Robert, of Freeport, Illinois, Dr. Howard, of Lewistown, Pennsylvania, and John VAN VALZAH, of Freeport, Illinois. Mr. Wm. VAN VALZAH, of Buffalo Cross Roads, had four sons, two of them physicians, as follows: Dr. Robert T., of Ashland, Pennsylvania, and Dr. William, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Dr. Robert F. VAN VALZAH, of Spring Mills, Pennsylvania, son of Dr. Robert VAN VALZAH, of Mifflinburg, and four sons, two of them physicians, as follows: Dr. Frank, of Spring Mills, Pennsylvania, and Dr. Harry, of Clearfield, Pennsylvania. Only three of the descendants adopted other professions. Among them is Robert VAN VALZAH, dentist, of Terre Haute, Indiana. This is the only family of the name in the United States. The father of Dr. Robert VAN VALZAH, of Buffalo Cross Roads, was among the Dutch settlers from Holland, in the State of New York, and Dr. Robert was the only son with children. From him, therefore, all the descendants in this country originate. Robert, of Terre Haute, is the son of William VAN VALZAH, of Lewisburgh, Pennsylvania, this Lewisburg, Union county, Pennsylvania, being the doctor's native place. In 1861 he began the study of dentistry, and in 1863 entered the Union army during the rebellion of 1861-5. He enlisted in Co. A, 28th Penn. Vol. Inf. His officers were Capt. T.R. JONES and Col. CHAMBERLAIN. In the spring of 1864 he became a resident of Terre Haute, where he has since resided, engaged in the practice of his profession, which he began shortly after his arrival. In 1868 he was elected a member of the city council of Terre Haute, which office he held one term. In 1871 he became an officer in the Grand Lodge of A.F. and A.M. of the State of Indiana, and in 1878 was made Grand Master of that body, retiring in May, 1879. In 1878 he was elected a member of the board of trustees of the city schools of Terre Haute for three years, he being president of the board. In 1878 he was also elected a member of the state legislature of Indiana, and is at present holding that office. In June, 1879, when the Indiana State Dental College of Indianapolis was organized, he was appointed clinical instructor. This position he still holds. He was also first vice-president of the Indiana State Dental Association. The doctor's office is located corner of Fourth and Main streets, in the opera house building, where he has fitted up an elegant suite of rooms. As a dentist, his reputation is of the highest order, while as a citizen, the many positions and offices of trust and honor that he has held and is holding, the confidence of the people in his honor and ability, are positive proof of his standing in the estimation of the citizens of Terre Haute and of the State of Indiana.

HISTORY OF VIGO AND PARKE COUNTIES Together With Historic Notes on the Wabash Valley
H.W. Beckwith - 1880
Terre Haute - pp. 296-297

JNO. R. VANCE, manufacturer of pumps, Terre Haute, who has for fifteen years been connected with the pump trade of Terre Haute, is a native of Highland county, Ohio, where he was born May 17, 1840. In 1851 he came to Terre Haute, where he remained but a short time and then returned to Ohio. In 1861 he again came to Terre Haute, where he has since resided. He spent some time at railroading, and during the war of the rebellion he enlisted in Company E of the 133d Ind. Vol. Inf., one-hundred-days service, under Col. R.N. HUDSON. Returning from the army to Terre Haute, he for a short time engaged in the grocery trade, which he gave up and began at manufacturing and dealing in pumps, which he has since followed as a business. His place of business is No. 113 North Sixth street, while his residence is No. 1123 North Eighth street. Mr. VANCE has been so long in the pump trade that he is well known to the citizens of Terre Haute and Vigo county. He is a member of Fort Harrison Lodge, No. 157, I.O.O.F., and of Court Sherwood Forest Lodge, No. 17, of Foresters. He was married in 1866 to Miss Rachel E. GUNN, whose people were among the old and prominent settlers of Vigo county. She is granddaughter of Judge Moses HAGGETT, the first judge of Vigo county, and one of the oldest settlers of Indiana. His youngest daughter married Mr. Jno. GUNN in 1843; they being the parents of Mrs. VANCE. Mr. GUNN was one of the pioneers of Prairie Creek township, Vigo county. She is also youngest of the late Morgan G. GUNN. Her parents died when she was quite young; after which she made her home with her uncle, Aaron HAGGETT, who resides near Prairietown.

HISTORY OF VIGO AND PARKE COUNTIES Together With Historic Notes on the Wabash Valley
H.W. Beckwith - 1880
Terre Haute - p. 229

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