GEORGE R. ALSOP, president of the American National Bank in the historic and picturesque old City of Vincennes, Indiana, has the further distinction of being a scion of one of the old and honored families that was founded in Virginia in the early Colonial period of American history.

Mr. Alsop was born at Sperryville, Rappahannock County, Virginia, December 19, 1851, and is a son of Dr. William S. and Lavinia H. (Amiss) Alsop, both of whom were born in Rappahannock County, and both of whom passed their entire lives in Virginia, where Dr. William Alsop was for many years a leading physician and surgeon of Rappahannock and Spottsylvania counties, he having received his technical education in historic old Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Doctor and Mrs. Alsop became the parents of seven children, of whom George R., of this review, was the third in order of birth. Four of the children died in infancy. The son, John W. was long in service as general baggage master of the Chesapeake & Ohio Railroad, and the son Dr. Thomas E., was graduated in a Southern medical college, he having thereafter been engaged in the practice of his profession in Indiana and later at Carlisle, Illinois.

George R. Alsop was reared and educated in his native state of Virginia and has been a resident of Indiana since he was seventeen years of age. In the earlier period of his residence in Knox County, of which Vincennes is the metropolis and county seat, he gave his attention to educational work, and also taught in the schools of Sullivan, Indiana. He served four years, 1878-82, as trustee of Widner Township, and in the period of 1884-88 he was clerk of the Circuit Court for Knox County. In the spring of 1875 George Alsop graduated from the University of Louisville, with the M. D. degree, and from 1875 to 1883 was engaged in the practice of medicine. In April, 1888, he became one of the organizers of the German National Bank of Vincennes, and he served as cashier of that institution from the date of organization until 1911. In 1911 he was elected president of that institution, which position he has continued to hold. Mr. Alsop has long been one of the able and representative exponents of banking enterprise in this section of Indiana and his policies have been well ordered in connection with the substantial and important institution of which he continues the executive head. In the World war period he was instant and influential in the furthering of local patriotic movements and enterprises and was specially active in the Knox County campaigns in the sale of the Government war bonds, he having been a member of the committee in charge of the drives in support of these war loans, Red Cross work, etc.

The political allegiance of Mr. Alsop is given to the Democratic party, he and his wife are members of the Christian Church, he has been a trustee of the Vincennes Y. M. C. A., from the time of its organization to the present, he is a trustee also of Vincennes University, his basic Masonic affiliation is with historic Vincennes Lodge No. 1, A. F. and A. M., and in his home city he has membership in the Chamber of Commerce and the Harmony Society.

The year 1875 was marked by the marriage of Mr. Alsop to Miss Nancy J. McClellan, daughter of the late Abraham McClellan, who gave prolonged service as treasurer of Sullivan County, this state. Of the seven children of Mr. and Mrs. Alsop five are living: William M., was graduated in the University of Indiana, and thereafter served as superintendent of the public schools of Knox County. He is now engaged in the practice of law in this city, and he is president of the Vincennes Savings & Loan Association, the maiden name of his wife having been Cora J. Meyer. Eustis F., resides in Vincennes and is engaged with the Central Fiber Products Company. Byrd became the wife of Benjamin B. Sproat, who is now deceased, and she maintains her home in Vincennes. Edith V. is the wife Meredith P. Reed, of Vincennes. Jane is the wife of George G. Graham, who is now county superintendent of the public schools of Knox County.

Mr. Alsop has marked the passing years with large and worthy achievement and his activities as a citizen and man of affairs have inured greatly to the benefit of the community in which he has long maintained his home.

INDIANA ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY YEARS OF AMERICAN DEVELOPMENT Vol. 5
By Charles Roll, A.M.
The Lewis Publishing Company, 1931


LEANDER J. CULLY. The business interests of Brownsville are of sufficient importance to engross the attention of some men of more than ordinary ability, and among them none stands any higher than Leander J. Cully, merchant and banker, and one of the prime movers in everything that looks toward the advancement of the town and Union County. He is a native son of the county, born in Brownsville Township, October 26, 1864.

The Cully family was established in Union County at a very early day by the paternal grandfather of Leander J. Cully, Joseph Cully, a native of North Carolina, who married, after he located here, Sarah Elizabeth Levison, born in Union County. The maternal grandparents were Maj. William and Rhoda (Seaton) Watt. Major Watt was born in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, December 6, 1776, and he was a hatter by trade. Coming to Brownsville when it was the county seat of Union County, he became the first hatter of the place, and was engaged in this line of business for many years.

The parents of Leander J. Cully are Leander and Margaret (Watt) Cully, both born in Union County, he in 1838, and she in 1836. They were farming people, and he died in 1882, and she in 1911.

Growing to manhood amid strictly rural conditions, Leander J. Cully attended the district schools and learned to farm, and later was a student of the Brownsville schools. When he was twenty-four years old Mr. Cully embarked in a general mercantile business at Brownsville, and has built up a large and valuable trade which extends over a wide territory. He also owns a fine farm of 160 acres in Liberty Township, and bank stock. In fact it has been his practice to invest his earnings in local enterprises, as he believes all good citizens should do, in this way building up strong home concerns.

In 1888 Mr. Cully was married to Miss Carrie E. Bell, born in Union County, a daughter of Jacob and Margaret (Thomas) Bell, of Union County. The paternal grandparents, John F. and Anna (Carr) Bell, were early settlers of Union County. The maternal grandparents were John and Margaret (Whitinger) Thomas, of Welsh descent. The Whitingers are prominent in Pennsylvania, and have been for several generations. Mr. and Mrs. Cully have no children.

The Methodist Episcopal Church holds Mr. Cully’s membership, and he served it as trustee for many years. Always taking an active interest in Democratic politics, he has been elected to a number of local offices, and served as treasurer of Brownsville from 1901 to 1903, and he has also represented the city or county in party conventions a number of times. A Mason, he served as worshipful master of the Blue Lodge ten terms. He represented Union and Franklin counties in the State Legislature, 1901 and 1903, sixty-second and sixty-third sessions of the General Assembly.

As a matter of history it is interesting to note in connection with Mr. Cully's biography, because of the long residence in Union County of his people on both sides of the house, that the land on which Brownsville now stands was bought from the United States Government by Aaron Ashbrook and Charles McCathlin, in October, 1815. The town was platted and laid out in 200 lots for Thomas Constant by James Levison, surveyor. Later a Mr. Smith made an addition to the town. This town of Brownsville was the first laid out in Union County, and belonged to Fayette County until 1821, when, from Franklin, Fayette and Wayne counties, Union County was created. Bazilla Trail, with a band of men, began cutting the timber for the houses of Brownsville in 1818, and the town continued to be the county seat from December 31, 1821, until 1824, when the county offices were moved to Liberty by act of Legislature. A jail was built at Brownsville in 1822, by order of the county commissioners, and it cost $246. The town was incorporated December 24, 1853. In many of these proceedings, and all of the later ones, members of Mr. Cully's family participated, and he is continuing the good work today of furthering the town's interests as far as lie in his power.

INDIANA ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY YEARS OF AMERICAN DEVELOPMENT Vol. 5
By Charles Roll, A.M.
The Lewis Publishing Company, 1931


JOSEPH MICHAEL DATTILO. The produce business has one essential advantage-it is an absolute necessity. Nevertheless, too many individuals trade upon this fact, and, as a consequence, are a long way removed from the hustling resourceful citizen known the world over as the twentieth-century produce man. As in all lines of business, a financial creed is necessary in order not to fall behind in the procession. No one is better qualified to advise on the subject than Joseph Michael Dattilo, president of the Dattilo Wholesale Produce Company, of Vincennes, and his experience should be worth much to the young man who thinks he fits into a similar groove in business life.

Mr. Dattilo was born in Sicily, Italy, August 13, 1879, where he attended public school until reaching the age of eleven years. In 1890 he came to the United States and first settled at Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, where he completed his education, his next location being Nashville, Tennessee, where he remained for three years. Subsequently he lived for a time at Hopkinsville, Kentucky, and then took a trip to Europe, but returned to the United States in 1900 and remained at Hopkinsville until January, 1902. In that year he engaged in the wholesale and retail fruit business, under the firm style of J. M. Dattilo Wholesale Fruit Company, at Vincennes, Indiana, and three years later became the prime mover in founding the firm of Dattilo Brothers, with his brothers, Charles S., and Anthony. This connection flourished until 1926, when Joseph M. Dattilo sold his interests and founded the wholesale produce business of Dattilo & Balsamer Company, which has since been changed to its present style, Dattilo Wholesale Produce Company, of which he is the president. This has been developed into one of the largest enterprises of its kind in the state, and the company ships in carload lots only. Early in his career as a produce merchant Mr. Dattilo found that there was money to be made in specialization, and for some years he has specialized in new turnips and early tomatoes grown in Knox County. Other produce favored by him include canteloupes, watermelons and New Jersey sweet potatoes, and at the peak of the season he ships apples and peaches in 200 carload lots. He has a large trade at Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and also ships to eastern and northern markets, and is widely and favorably known to the trade as a business man of high character and honorable dealing. He maintains his business office at 920 Vigo Street, and has large warehouse facilities at Vincennes. Quick turnover, cool judgment, quick grasp of opportunities and hard, earnest work have achieved a full meed of well merited success, and Mr. Dattilo is accounted one of the leading business men of his city. He is a Republican in politics, but has not troubled with political affairs, although maintaining a high position as a citizen of public spirit and civic pride and a contributor to all worthy movements. His religious faith is that of the Catholic Church, and he is a past navigator of the Knights of Columbus, fourth degree, belonging also to the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and the Fraternal Order of Eagles, in all of which he is very popular. During the World war he was a generous contributor to the loan drives, buying heavily of Liberty Bonds and being active in all community war work. During an active and varied career he has touched life on many sides, and in each of his connections has maintained a reputation for honorable and upright conduct.

Mr. Dattilo on April 25, 1900, in Sicily, Italy, was united in marriage with Miss Maria Lazzara, of Sicily, Italy, and to this union there have been born three children: Marguerite, who married Charles Panzica, of Chicago Heights, Illinois, and Augustine and Maria. Augustine is a graduate of the Catholic high school at Vincennes and Maria is a student in the St. Rose Catholic Academy at Vincennes.

INDIANA ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY YEARS OF AMERICAN DEVELOPMENT Vol. 5
By Charles Roll, A.M.
The Lewis Publishing Company, 1931


LOUIS L. ROBERTS was born in the interesting old town of Carlisle in Sullivan County, Indiana, April 26, 1891. His father, James Nelson Roberts, was a native of Virginia, followed merchandising, and died May 2, 1922. His mother, Caroline Long, was born in Evansville and is still living. There were three children. The son Raymond R., born in 1889, is a farmer in Sullivan County, and Charles E., born in 1894, is in the investment department of the Northwestern Life Insurance Company, in charge of their Saint Louis office.

Louis L. Roberts attended public school at Carlisle, the Assumption Parochial School, the Evansville High School and Culver Military Academy. From there he entered Wabash College at Crawfordsville, graduating A. B. in 1912. At Wabash he was a member of Phi Delta Theta and Tau Kappa Alpha, and was elected to the honorary scholastic fraternity, Phi Beta Kappa. After college he taught two years, and in 1914 was awarded, after competitive examination, the first Knights of Columbus scholarship for Indiana at the Catholic University of America at Washington. In 1915 he was awarded the Master of Arts degree, and during the following year continued graduate study and was instructor in American constitutional history. He received his law degree in 1916.

He resigned in April, 1917, to enter the First Officers Training Camp at Fort Meyer, Virginia, and was commissioned a captain of the Three Hundred and Fifteenth Field Artillery, Eightieth Division, and in May, 1918, was overseas with the division. In October, 1918, he was returned to the United States to assist in training field artillery, and was enroute to France when the armistice was signed. He was honorably discharged at Camp McClellan, Alabama, and in March, 1919, came to Evansville, where he began the practice of law, with the firm Veneman & Welborn. In the same year he was taken into the firm as junior partner. In 1924 Frank H. Hatfield, W. C. Welborn and he formed a new partnership, and since January 1, 1929, he has practiced as a law partner of Mr. Hatfield, the firm name being Hatfield & Roberts.

Captain Roberts in 1921 organized at Evansville the first unit of the new National Guard, Battery F, One Hundred and Thirty-ninth Field Artillery, and is now the senior reserve national guard officer in Southern Indiana, with the rank of lieutenant-colonel. Colonel Roberts is a Democrat, a member of the Catholic Church, and for several years was district deputy of the Knights of Columbus. He is a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the American Legion, is a former vice president of the Chamber of Commerce and was elected its president in January, 1928, but was obliged to decline the honor He is a director of the local chapter of the American Red Cross and a director of the Vanderburg County Anti-Tuberculosis Society.

Colonel Roberts married, April 27, 1920, Miss Pauline Molony, daughter of James S. and Mary (Sullivan) Molony, of Crawfordsville, Indiana. Four children were born to their marriage: Caroline Mary, born September 1, 1921; Pauline, born October 2, 1922, and died the same day; Louis Nelson, born November 30, 1925; and James Alan, born July 12, 1930.

INDIANA ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY YEARS OF AMERICAN DEVELOPMENT Vol. 5
By Charles Roll, A.M.
The Lewis Publishing Company, 1931


ALONZO ERWIN is in the fullest sense worthy of special recognition in this history of Indiana, as he is one of the venerable native sons of Posey County, is a representative of families that were here established in the early pioneer days, and here he has marked the passing years with earnest and worthy achievement, through which he is well fortified in prosperity that enables him to pass the gracious evening of his life in retirement. He is one of the honored pioneer citizens residing at Mount Vernon, the county seat, where in former years he held various official positions and where he was engaged in business during the long period of over forty years. He is the further distinction of having represented his native county and state as a gallant young soldier of the Union in the Civil war.

On the parental home farm near Mount Vernon the birth of Alonzo Erwin occurred April 17, 1842, and in this county likewise were born his parents, John Howard and Elizabeth (McKinney) Erwin, of whose four children he is the eldest and the sole survivor; the daughter Penelope died in 1862, at the age of sixteen years; Caroline died at the age of twenty-seven years; Lawrence died at the age of thirty years. Caroline became the wife of Julius Patmore, a Posey County farmer, and they had three children. Lawrence Erwin was a farmer by vocation and was still a bachelor at the time of his death, when a young man. Both the paternal and maternal grandparents of the subject of this sketch were numbered among the early settlers of Posey County and through farm enterprise contributed their share to civic and industrial development and progress, the paternal grandfather, Samuel Erwin, having come to Indiana from his native State of Tennessee.

The early education of Alonzo Erwin was obtained mainly through the medium of the old-time private or subscription schools, and he was a sturdy youth of nineteen years when the Civil war was precipitated. His youthful patriotism moved him to almost immediate enlistment in a regiment of volunteer infantry that was recruited in this part of Indiana, and during his first two years at the front he served in turn in the commands of General Grant and General Fremont. Among the various engagements in which he took part was the historic and early battle of Shiloh. He and most of the other members of his regiment were poisoned by drinking from a spring into which the enemy had placed the poison, and the disability that he thus endured resulted in his receiving an honorable discharge at Sedalia, Missouri. After the close of the war he remained some time on the old home farm, and he also learned and followed the trade of carpenter. He remained on the farm until 1867, when he traded his farm for city property in Mount Vernon, where he established his home and engaged in business as a carpenter and builder. He here gave three and one-half years of service as jailor of the county jail, and he gave intervals of service as deputy sheriff. In 1891 he also engaged in the retail grocery business, and in this line of enterprise he was successfully established twenty years, at the expiration of which he sold the business, though he still owns the building in which the enterprise was conducted. He has since lived retired and is enjoying the rewards of former years of earning endeavor. In addition to his attractive home he is owner of other residence properties, as well as store buildings and lots in Mount Vernon, and he still takes vital interest in all that concerns the welfare and progress of his home city and native county. He is one of the few remaining veterans of the local post of the Grand Army of the Republic, his political alignment is with the Democrat party, he is affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and he has his membership in the Baptist Church, as did also is wife, who died July 26,. 1928.

At Mount Vernon, on the 11th of October, 1863 was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Erwin to Miss Angeline McFadin, who was born February, 27, 1846, in Posey County and who was a daughter of the late Zimri McFadin, a representative farmer in his day and generation, the family name of his wife having been Kennedy. Of the two children of Mr. and Mrs. Erwin one, a son, died in infancy. Amos was born April 1, 1869, was reared and educated in his native county and is now a successful and popular commercial traveling salesman. He married Miss Ida Mendenhall, of Evansville, Vanderburg County, and they maintain their residence in Mount Vernon, the elder of their two children being John Alonzo, born October 27,1906, who is a medical student, and the younger being Robert Amos, born October 10, 1908, who is a newspaper correspondent. By a former marriage Mr. Amos Erwin has another son, Edson L., born September 12, 1897, who has a responsible position with the Western Electric Company in New York City and has a Master's degree from Chicago University.

INDIANA ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY YEARS OF AMERICAN DEVELOPMENT Vol. 5
By Charles Roll, A.M.
The Lewis Publishing Company, 1931


CHARLES W. DOCKINS is an Indiana school man, has been a teacher for fifteen years and is superintendent of schools at Veedersburg, Fountain County.

Mr. Dockins was born in Orange County, Indiana, August 8, 1890. His father, John S. Dockins, was also born in Orange County, spent his active life as a farmer and died in 1914. He married Emily Pinnick, daughter of Volney Pinnick. They had three children: Volney T., of Bloomington, Indiana; Cora, wife of F. Roark, of Bloomington; and Charles W.

Charles W. Dockins was educated in the grade and high schools of Orange County, took some work at Indiana University, and was graduated with the A. B. degree from the Central Normal College at Danville, Indiana. Later he won the Master of Science degree at Purdue University.

Mr. Dockins began teaching in 1916 and has been superintendent of schools at Veedersburg since 1926. He is a member of the National Education Association, the Indiana Superintendents Association. He is a Methodist, and his fraternal affiliations are with Tippecanoe Lodge No. 452, A. F. and A. M., Lafayette, Indiana, the Scottish Rite Consistory and Shrine at Indianapolis.

He married, June 9, 1920, Miss Rosborough S. Kerlin, daughter of Wilson S. Kerlin, of Tippecanoe County. She was graduated from Purdue University in 1913 and for several years was a teacher in the public school. er grandfather was a soldier in the Civil war.

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INDIANA ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY YEARS OF AMERICAN DEVELOPMENT Vol. 5
By Charles Roll, A.M.
The Lewis Publishing Company, 1931


ELLIS H. TADE, Doctor of Medicine, has been engaged in the work of his profession in Southern Indiana for a quarter of a century. His home is at Bicknell in Knox County.

Doctor Tade was born in Knox County, Indiana, October 27, 1878, son of Samuel T. and Louisa C. (Williams) Tade, his mother being a daughter of John Williams, of a pioneer family of Knox County. His father was a son of John and Mary (Small) Tade, and John Tade was a son of Martin Tade, who came from Virginia and was a pioneer of Indiana. John Tade spent his active life in the milling business at Bruceville and Wheatland in Knox County. Samuel T. Tade was a farmer and cabinet maker, and died December 1, 1896. His widow still survives and resides in the old place three and one- half miles north of Wheatland.

Doctor Tade was the oldest and only son of three children. His two sisters are Fanme E., wife of Walter Hicks, and Anna, wife of Charles Myers. Doctor Tade was seventeen years old when his father died, and as the only son he had to take upon himself the responsibility for supporting the family. He conducted the farm, and it was only after discharging all his obligations to his family that he was able to carry out his cherished purpose of going to medical college. While in college he worked during the summer months to pay part of his expenses. Doctor Tade attended public schools in Knox County, the Wheatland High School, and was graduated in medicine from the Indiana Medical College, now the medical department of the University of Indiana, with the class of 1905, M. D. degree. Doctor Tade for twelve years practiced at Wheatland and since 1917 has practiced at Bicknell. While at Wheatland he served six years as township trustee and was health officer of Bicknell from 1920 to 1924. He is a member of the Knox County Medical Society and served one term as its president, a member of the Indiana State Medical Association, is a Democrat, is affiliated with Lodge No. 535 of the Masonic fraternity, and with the B. P. O. Elks of Bicknell.

Doctor Tade on August 17, 1904, married Ethel P. Black, of Knox County, daughter of Henry C. and Amanda (Donaldson) Black, both now deceased. Doctor and Mrs. Tade have four children: Lillian E. is the wife of Carl Jessup, of Frankfort, Indiana, and has a son, Billie Gordon; Marguerite is the wife of James Lawson, of Spencer, Indiana; Ellis Harold is a pre-medical student at the Indiana University; and Woodrow Wilson is a high school student.

INDIANA ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY YEARS OF AMERICAN DEVELOPMENT Vol. 5
By Charles Roll, A.M.
The Lewis Publishing Company, 1931


CHARLES C. SUTTER, physician and surgeon, is a professional man well known throughout Vanderburg County, and particularly in the City of Evansville and in his old home community of Howell.

Doctor Sutter, whose professional work gains added distinction by his service during the World war, was born at Evansville, November 8, 1888. His father, Charles I. Sutter, now living retired at Howell, is a veteran locomotive engineer. He was born in Illinois and entered the service of the Louisville & Nashville Railway Company in 1881. He had the distinction of piloting the first train over the Henderson bridge between Evansville and Henderson. He married Martha E. Culley, who was also born in Illinois. Of their five children three are living: James died at the age of three and a half years, and the youngest, Eugene, at the age of ten; Enola, born in 1886, is a teacher at Evansville; Doctor Sutter is the only living son; and Flora, born in 1890, is the wife of Fred Ware, a locomotive engineer, and they have a daughter, Martha Jane, born in 1923.

Dr. Charles C. Sutter attended public schools in Evansville, and was graduated from the medical department of the University of Indiana in 1910. He then returned to his home community and engaged in a general medical practice. From 1914 to 1917 he practiced at DePauw, Indiana, from there he joined the army for service in the World war on December 10, 1917, and went overseas with Unit I Hospital and was on duty at Base Hospital in France. He returned home after the armistice and received his honorable discharge at Camp Sherman, Ohio, July 21, 1919, with the rank of first lieutenant. Since the war he has given ten busy years to his professional duties in and around Howell and in Evansville.

Doctor Sutter is a director of Howell State Bank, director of the Howell Building & Loan Association, and is a real estate owner in Howell. He is a member of the Indiana State, Vanderburg County and the American Medical Associations, is a member of the staff of Saint Mary's Hospital, and is now President of the Lancet Club of Evansville. He belongs to the American Legion Post and the Kiwanis Club.

Doctor Sutter married at Evansville, June 12, 1923, Miss Margaret Blackman. Her father, J. W. Blackman, an Evansville merchant, was born in that city, and her mother, Virginia Bell (Vick) Blackman, was born in Tennessee. Doctor and Mrs. Sutter have one daughter, Virginia Bell, born October 10, 1925. Doctor Sutter is a Republican in politics, a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, is a thirty-second degree Scottish Rite Mason and member of Hadi Temple of the Mystic Shrine.

INDIANA ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY YEARS OF AMERICAN DEVELOPMENT Vol. 5
By Charles Roll, A.M.
The Lewis Publishing Company, 1931


Deb Murray