Genealogy Trails

INDIANA GENEALOGY TRAILS
FLOYD COUNTY BIOGRAPHIES


FRED AILER, was born in Baden, Germany, in 1822 , the son of Dennis and Barbara Ailer, natives of that country. The family came to America in 1829 and located in Baltimore, where the elder Mr. Ailer worked on a railroad at fifty cents a day. Two years later they moved to another part of the State where Mr. Ailer was engaged in the lumber business, which he followed for three years. Then they removed to the Alleghany mountains where he kept a boarding house for a year and a half. The family then moved to Ohio, where they lived two years then came to Floyd county, Ind., and kept a boarding house on the Paoli Pike, near Mooresville; then moved on a farm in Daviess county, near Washington; from there they went to Celestine, Dubois County, where he kept a grocery.  The elder Mr. Ailer died in 1845.
    Fred went to the Mexican War and served in the First Regiment of Indiana.  In 1847 he returned from the war to his home in New Albany and was engaged in contract work.
On January 9, 1847 Fred Ailer was married to Nancy A. Brands, daughter of Tobias and Violet MacFarland Brands, of Floyd County. They have one adopted child, Hattie, wife of Edward C. Burton of Indianapolis.
( Contributed by Mary Hoegh greshoeg@metc.net )

STEPHEN J. ALEXANDER, was born in York county, Pa., February 10, 1812.  His father Robert Alexander, was a native of Pennsylvania, and belonged to an old Scotch family.  His mother, Elizabeth McKinley, was a native of York county, Pa.
    When Stephen was ten years of age his parents moved to Belmont County, Ohio, where he was educated in the common schools until he was old enough to enter the study of medicine, in which he graduated with honor in 1839.  He then took up his residence in Clermont County, Ohio, where he practiced his profession until 1853, when he located at New Albany, where he remained.  During the war he ranked high as a hospital surgeon, in which capacity he served, during its continuance, in the hospitals at New Albany.
Dr. Alexander has been married three times, and ten children were born to him during these marriages.  For forty years he has been a member of the Masonic Fraternity.
( Contributed by Mary Hoegh greshoeg@metc.net )
JACOB ANTHONY (deceased) was born in Paris, Ky., on March 25, 1799,  he died in New Albany, Floyd county, Indiana on January 5, 1878.  Mr. Anthony came to New Albany around the year 1820.  He was married to Sarah A. Marsh on July 21, 1822.   He was a business man, at one time a dry goods merchant, also in the grocery and livery stable business.  He served two terms as sheriff of the county, one term in the Legislature and was collector of customs at this port under both administrations of Lincoln and both terms of Grant.  He held the office up to the time of his death at which time the office was abolished.  He left six children.
( Contributed by Mary Hoegh greshoeg@metc.net )
 
SARAH A. MARSH ANTHONY was a daughter of Samuel Marsh.  She was born in Middletown, N. J., on August 4, 1805.  The family moved from New York City to New Albany in September, 1814, where she has resided ever since.  The Marsh family traveled from New York in wagons to Cincinnati, from Cincinnati to New Albany in flatboats.  New Albany was at this time a very small village of log cabins.  Mrs. Anthony is reported to be the oldest living resident in New Albany at the time of this writing.  Her father, Samuel C. Marsh, was born in Amboy, N. J., May 16, 1777, and died in New Albany December 21, 1858.  He was engaged in boat building until disabled by age.  Her mother was Martha Seabrook, born in Middletown, N. J., April 27, 1787; she died in New Albany April 12, 1878.
( Contributed by Mary Hoegh greshoeg@metc.net )

JAMES APPLEGATE , born in Jeffersonville, September 29, 1838.  His grandfather, Aaron Applegate, came to Indiana in 1806.  His great-grandfather was a soldier in the Revolutionary army and also in the "Whisky  Rebellion," and for forty years afterward a Hardshell Baptist preacher.
      James Applegate was educated in the common schools and attended three years at Indiana University.  He read law and was admitted to the bar.  He served two terms as Recorder of Clark county, and for the past sixteen years he has been one of the editors and proprietors of the New Albany Ledger. Those that are married have homes and families of their own and all live in Floyd county, with the exception of Hester, who married a Mr. Beard and lives in Illinois.
    He is presently a member of the Indiana House of Representatives for the district composed of Clark, Floyd, and Jefferson counties.
( Contributed by Mary Hoegh greshoeg@metc.net )

WILLIAM R. ATKINS, was born May 23, 1844 in Lafayette township, Floyd county to John A. and Emma Jackson Atkins.  His parents were natives of the same township.  His grandfather, Harvey Atkins, was a native of Nelson county, Kentucky and was among the early settlers, coming to Floyd county when Indiana was still a territory.  His grandparents, on his father's side, John and Nancy Chew, came into the county in 1810 and were among the first settlers in Lafayette township, and the family still reside in the county.
    William R. Atkins was raised on his father's farm, and educated in the schools of the county.  In 1862 at the age of 18 years, he enlisted in Co. C., Eighty-first Indiana Infantry and served to the close of the war in 1865.  On his return from the army he again took up his former occupation of farming.  In 1876 he was elected trustee of Lafayette township, serving four years.  In 1880 he was elected commissioner of Floyd county which position he served for four years.  In 1884 he was elected county treasurer of Floyd county and re-elected to the same position in 1886. 
    He is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic and takes an active interest in the organization. In 1866 he was married to Miss Hannah Mitchell, of Floyd county.  Three children have blessed this marriage.
( Contributed by Mary Hoegh greshoeg@metc.net )

ISAAC M. BAKER, was born March 8, 1825 in Floyd county, Indiana and is the son of Benjamin and Margeret Miller Baker.  Benjamin Baker came from Virginia to Indiana in 1813. Margeret Miller arrived in Indiana from Virginia about the same time and both parents were of German origin. 
  Isaac M. was brought up on the farm and also learned the trade of a cooper, a business he worked at for thirty years.  He was married in 1849 to Miss Mary M. Wolf, daughter of David and Mary Utz Wolf; the former a native of Kentucky, who came with his parents to Indiana about 1807 and farmed in Floyd county; Mary Utz originally came from Virginia.
    Mr. and Mrs. Baker are the parents of twelve children: Louisanna, Hester Ann, Maggie, Ettie, Sally, Clay, Clara E., David, Jennie, Alta, Rosetthia and Isaac, of whom Louisanna, Maggie and Sally are dead. 
    Mr. Baker retired from the coopering business and bought a farm and has since devoted his time to tilling the soil.  He owns fifty acres of well improved and productive land in Floyd county which is well adapted to small fruits.
    Mr. Baker is a member of the United Brethren Church, and is opposed to all secret orders.
( Contributed by Mary Hoegh greshoeg@metc.net )
JOHN F. BAKER, son of John B. and Jane D. Crump Baker,  was born at New Albany, Indiana May 22, 1850.
His father was born in Belgium, in 1826 and came to the United States in 1832, locating at Louisville, Kentucky and then moving to New Albany in 1848.  He was engaged in farming until 1853 when he began the trade of steamboat building.  Jane D. Crump was the daughter of Thomas Crump and was born in Hart county, Ky., coming with her father and family to New Albany where he was a carpenter.
    John F. Baker attended public schools of New Albany and in 1868 apprenticed himself to the cigar manufactures, Jacob West and Wm. Laughman who were businessmen in New Albany.  After serving his apprenticeship he went to Louisville, Ky., and worked in the factories of Jacob Schmidt, Lapold Bros. and John Homyre, these being the leading cigar factories in the city.  In March of 1872 he returned to New Albany and assumed the superintendence of James H. Draper's factory and retail store.  He then went to Owensboro, Ky., and again went to work as a journeyman in the factory of Adolph Helmke.  In this employment he soon was promoted to the position of confidential clerk and business manager in the manufacturing, wholesale and retail departments of that establishment.  He held this position until October 1876 when he returned to New Albany and engaged in the manufacturing and wholesale and retail cigar trade.
    In August 1884 he sold his business to Caspar Feiock, but continued as superintendent for that business until March, 1885 when he embarked in the saloon business at No. 100 Pearl street, known as the Centennial saloon.  Mr. Barker is also connected with the Mammoth Insurance Agency which does a general insurance in life, fire and accident risks.
September 10, 1873 Mr. Baker married Miss Mary E. Grouse, daughter of Clemence Grouse, of Owensboro, Ky., and was born in Germany. Three children have been born to the marriage, Walter E. and Arthur L. being born in Owensboro, Ky., and Gertrude O. in New Albany.
Mr. Baker is an encampment member of the I. O. O. F., a member of the endowment rank Knights of Pythias and a past junior sagamore of the Independent Order of Red Men, president of the Brewer and Liquor Dealers Association, also president of the Democratic Union Club of New Albany.
( Contributed by Mary Hoegh greshoeg@metc.net )
DONALD D. BLANCHARD, born October 14, 1863 in Louisville, Ky. He has been a resident of New Albany since the age of three, where he graduated from the High School and the New Albany Commercial College.
His father, John L. Blanchard, also a native of Ky., was for many years engaged in the clothing business at Louisville.  For several years before his death, which occurred in 1870, he held a position at the New Albany Rail Mill. His mother, Sallie H. McDonald, was a daughter of the late Hon. John S. McDonald, of New Albany.  Her father being a wealthy banker and pork packer.After graduation, Mr. Blanchard took a clerical position in the office of the L. & N. R. R Co., of Louisville, but returned to New Albany and entered the office of the DePauw American Plate Glass Works. In 1880 he engaged in the coal business which is located on Bank Street, between Main and Water.  He has built up a large business dealing in Pittsburgh,, anthracite, and Connellsville coke and Blossburg smithing coals.
( Contributed by Mary Hoegh greshoeg@metc.net )
JAMES F. BROTHERS, dealer in agricultural implements, garden field and flower seeds as well as fertilizers, was born March 28, 1838 in Orange county, Indiana.His father, Wilson Brothers, was born in 1775 in North Carolina, being one of the early pioneer settlers. He lived to the age of 90 years, dying at the home of his son, Henry at Reynolds, White county, Indiana in 1865.  His mother, Sarah Lewis, was a native of Indiana, and died in Orange county in 1840 at the age of 60 years.  In 1858, after receiving a public school education, James F. Brothers was united in marriage to Miss Rosalie Beswick in Harrison county, Indiana.  She was a daughter of Thomas and Sallie H. Beswick. In 1861 he enlisted in Co. G., Twenty fourth Indiana Infantry, and was in the campaign through Western Missouri, fighting at Fort Donnelson and Fort Henry.  From Fort Henry he was sent to an army hospital at Cincinnati where he was ordered home by Governor Morton. After his health improved he returned to the army in time to take part in the battle at Shiloh.  Again he was sent to a hospital at Keoukuk, Ia., from where he was transferred to a hospital at St. Louis and then sent home being honorably mustered out. He came to New Albany in 1866 and engaged in the real estate business, buying, building and selling houses.  In 1874 he engaged in the notion business, continuing in that trade until 1880 when he started his present business.  Mr. Brothers is a member of the M. E. Church and also the I.O.O.F.
( Contributed by Mary Hoegh greshoeg@metc.net )
FREDERICK D. CONNOR, born in Perry county, Indiana on February 17, 1841.  He was reared and educated in that county where afterward he taught school for two years. In 1862 he enlisted in Co. K., 34th Kentucky Volunteers, serving until the end of the war. During the war he lost an eye due to typhoid fever maltreatment.  In 1865 he went into the Pension Office, at Indianapolis, as a clerk where he served two years.  He then went into the insurance business. Mr.. Connor came to New Albany in 1870, and accepted the appointment of Deputy Internal Revenue Collector of the First District, continuing in this position after the consolidation of the First and Second districts. In 1884 he was appointed Traveling Auditor of the Lake Erie & St. Louis Railway, holding that office until 1887, after which he was appointed Assistant Secretary of the New Albany Forge and Rolling Mill.  He was a stockholder and director in the company. In 1871 he was married to Miss Hattie Sackett, daughter of Charles and Josie Gresham Sackett, her mother being an aunt of Judge W. Q. Gresham of the U.S. Courts of Indiana, Illinois and Wisconsin.  Two daughters were born to this union, Edna and Alma.
He is a member of the Wesley M. E. Church, the Masonic fraternity of the K. T. degree, a Past Grand Master for Indiana of the A. O. U. W. and a representative to the Supreme Lodge.
He is the son of Tarrence Connor and Nancy Tate, both natives of Indiana.  His father being a prominent farmer of Perry county at his death, in 1859.  His mother died in 1880.  He has three brothers and five sisters as follows: John T., editor, Toledo, Ill.; Tarrence, book-keeper, Baxter Springs, Kans.; George H., lawyer, Idaho, with whom Addie, a sister lives; Eliza J., wife of B. E. Scribner, farmer and stock raiser, Putnam county, Ind.; Mary C., wife of Wm. Wilson, Roachdale, Ind.; Emma, wife of Ransom Walls, U. S. mail agent, Greencastle, Ind.; and Andro M., wife of Elijah T. Hawn, Leavenworth, Ind.
( Contributed by Mary Hoegh greshoeg@metc.net )
EDWARD CRUMBO, was born in 1841 and is a native of Prussia.  He is the son of Henry and Willemina Hebner Grumbo.  He came with his parents to the United States and settled in New Albany in 1846.  The father was a stone-cutter and opened a quarry on the Knobs in 1854, before the Bedford and Salem quarries were opened.
Mr. Crumbo was married on February 5, 1861 to Phoebe Elizabeth Gardner, of Pulaski county, Indiana.  Nine children were born to this marriage; four boys and five girls.  He is a member of I.O.O.F., K. of P., A.O.U.W., Red Men and has been trustee for eight years and has also passed through the chairs of the A.O.U.W.
He built the courthouse at Salem, as well as many other public buildings which are too numerous to mention.
( Contributed by Mary Hoegh greshoeg@metc.net )
PERRY N. CURL, the son of William H. and Rebecca Johnson Curl was born in Morrow county, Ohio on January 30, 1855.  He was reared on a farm in where he attended public schools in his native county and then graduated from the Commercial College at Delaware, Ohio.
In 1877, at the age of 22 he located in New Albany and engaged in the grocery trade with J. R. Droyer for a partner.  The partnership continued until 1880 when he purchased Mr. Droyer's interest.  At this time dry goods, boots and shoes and a line of agricultural implements were added to the inventory.  He is doing both a wholesale and retail business to the extent of $125,000 yearly. Mr. Curl has purchased his store-house, a large livery, sales and feed stable adjoining it, and owns a great deal of other real estate.  He is a member of the Knights of Pythias.
He was married in 1878 to Miss Mary A. McKibben, of Morrow county, Ohio and they were blessed with two sons, Walter and Arthur.
His mother died when he was but 9 years of age.  His father is still living, at the time of this writing, and resides at Cardington, Morrow county, Ohio.
( Contributed by Mary Hoegh greshoeg@metc.net )