COL.J.W.EGELSTON, retired, Clay township, was born in Steuben County, N.Y., May 28, 1802. His parents were Samuel and Hannah (TRIPP) EGELSTON, natives of New York and Pennsylvania, respectively. The former was a a son of Amos Egelston, who in an early day settled in steuben County, N.Y., where he resided until his death. He was a Revolutionary soldier, and for many years previous to his death was a minister of the Baptist Church. He was the father of nine children, viz.: Benjamin, Abbie, phebe, Ephraim, Deborah, Amos, Joseph, Jonathan, and Samuel. He and Hannah TRIPP were united in marriage in Pennsylvania, and subsequently settled in Steuben County, N.Y., where they resided until the spring of 1814, at which time they immigrated to what is now Kenton County, Ky., where he died in the following year, leaving a family of eleven children, viz.: Hannah, Lydia, Benjamin, Jacob W., Charles, William, Silas, Sarah, Amos, Mary and Clarissa. His widow subsequently married John CLEMENT, and had by him three children, viz: Joseph, ALbert and Mahlon. Col. J.W. Egelston went with his parents to Kenton County, Ky., and after his fathers death was bound out to a farmer by the name of Scott, for $25 per year. In about 1820 he began as an apprentice to the carpenter trade, which he completed, and engaged in the occupation for a number of years afterward. In October, 1824, he came to Dearborn County, Ind., where he as united in marriage October 24, 1824 to Desire Corbin, a widow. In 1825 he and I. Bisbee, erected a flouring and saw-mill, on what is known as Laughery Creek, near Milton, which they continued to operate two or three years, after which Mr. EGELSTON again worked at his trade, and in 1830 purchased a farm in Clay Township (the same farm on which he now lives), where he moved and began the improvements, also working at his trade. In about 1834 he moved to Dillsborough, engaged in mercantile business, and also carried on a blacksmith shop. In 1838, he removed back on his farm, where he has since resided. His wife died June 29, 1855, having born him three children, viz.: Hiram W., John Q., and Charles B. April 25, 1858, our subject married Fanny Martin, a native of Clermont County, Ohio where she was born, April 24,1836, to which marriage were born three children, viz: Harry C., Cassius C., and Jessie W. In 1827 Mr. EGELSTON was commissioned by Gov. Ray as colonel of the State militia, and in 1838 he was elected to the State Legislature from Dearborn County. In 1862 he entered teh war, enlisting August 11, as captain of Company B., Eighty-third Regiment Indiana Volunteers, and as such served until April, 1863, when he was promoted to the rank of major, and as such served until May 17, 1864 when he resigned and returned home. In 1872 he was commissioned as government store-keeper, which he held three years, after which he was put on the retired list. Col. EGELSTON is deserving of more than a passing notice. He came to the West when the country was in its primitive state. He was not college-bred, neither had he riches, but being disposed to do, he improved his time and talents, was industrious, and so lived as to have left his impress upon the community in which he has moved, and which to-day points with pride to his worth as a citizen, friend and neighbor, He has long been identified with the people of Dearborn County and with her growth and progress. He helped in clearing away her forests, building up her institutions of learning, her churches, and his name is connected with her various internal improvements. He has occupied civil positions of honor and trust, and enjoyed the full confidence of the people in his official relations. Col. EGELSTON is a patriot. His love of country was so great as to leave home and loved ones for the tented field, when his hair was silvered by the frosts of three-score winters. He was a good soldier, served his country faithfully, has been a good citizen, a kind friend and neighbor, and a useful man. He was a strong anti-slavery man, and since the organization of the Republican party has been in this line of politics. He is modest and unassuming. He is a member of the Presbyterian Church and of the Masonic Order.
"HISTORY OF DEARBORN AND OHIO COUNTIES, INDIANA-1885"
SUBMITTED BY: Jackie DeCamp
A.M. ELLIOTT, dealer in agriculture impliments, wagons and buggies, corner of Second and Judiciary Streets, Aurora, was born in Ohio County, January 12, 1848, wehre he enjoyed common school privileges. His father, John H., was born in Ireland, and his mother Elizabeth (SHANNON) ELLIOTT, in West Virginia . Mr. ELLIOTT was raised on a farm and farmed up to 1875, at which time he was appointed sheriff of Ohio County and served for two years. IN 1877 he came to Aurora and engaged in his present business, and in 1881 opened a butcher shop, on the corner of Third and Judiciary Streets. He was married Septermber 7, 1871, to Miss Anna B. DOWNEY, a native of Ohio County, who was born June 20, 1850. To them have been born five children, namely: Daniel O., June 5, 1872; Harry E., born February 9, 1877; Nelly M.., born June 20, 1878; Rufus G., born October 9, 1879; Edwin C., APril 7, 1884. His wife belongs to the Methodist Episcopal Church.
"HISTORY OF DEARBORN AND OHIO COUNTIES, INDIANA-1885"
SUBMITTED BY: Jackie DeCamp
P.J. EMMERT, proprietor of one of the leading mercantile establishments of Lawrenceburgh, is a native of Bavaria, Germany, where he was born in 1841. When about five years of age he immigrated with his parents to the United States, and resided with them in Maryland and Delaware till about 1854, when they came to Lawrenceburgh, in which place he began selling goods, in his thirteenth or fourteenth year. He has ever since continued in the mercantile business, and has now sold goods longer than any other merchant of that place. His store occupies the corner of High and SHort Streets, where he keeps an immense stock of dry goods, notions, carpets, boots and shoes, clothing, gents' furnishing goods, etc, and is doing a large business. He is a cautious, energetic business man, and fully merits the extensive patronage which his fair dealing through a long period of years has won for him. He began operations in 1869, by buying out the firm of Lewis & Moore, the former at one time one of the foremost business men of Lawrenceburgh. Mr. EMMERT was married in 1865, to Miss C. HODEL, who died about one year later. He subsequently married Miss Mary M. DUESCHLE by whom he has one son - Edward, aged thirteen years.
"HISTORY OF DEARBORN AND OHIO COUNTIES, INDIANA-1885"
SUBMITTED BY: Jackie DeCamp
MARTIN C. EWBANK, Miller Township, one of the oldest farmers of Dearborn County, was born in Yorkshire, England in November, 1804. He is a son of John and Ann (CHAPMAN) EWBANK, both of English parentage. In 1806 John EWBANK left his native country for America on a prospecting tour, leaving his family behind till he should determine the chances for their better support in their new country. He landed in New Jersey, where he began work immediately as an overseer of a farm belonging to one of his countrymen, and in the following year he sent for his wife and children who joined him in New Jersey, where they resided till the autumn of 1811, when they migrated westward and located in Dearborn COunty. Here he entered land on which he resided till his death in 1832, his wife surviving till 1848. Until the death of his father, Martin C. EWBANK resided on the farm with his parents. In 1826 he married Rebecca CLARK, a daughter of George Clark , who was a native of Ireland and immigrated to America in his earlier years and located in Virginia, where he reared his family, subsequently moving to this state. By this wife, who died in 1838, two children were born: Sarah and Margaret. October 12, 1841 Mr. EWBANK was again married, this time to Mary HUNT, daughter of Robert HUNT and five children resulted from this union: Matilda, Francis, Robert J., Martin L, and Sarah, all now living with homes in different parts of the United States. January 19, 1852 his second wife departed this life, and in August, 1854, Mr. EWBANK was joined in marriage to his present wife, whose maiden name was Hannah LIDDLE, daughter of Stephen LIDDLE, one of the earliest settlers of Miller Township. Five children were born to this union: Findlay, Ida, Russell, Raper, and Florence. On the death of his father, in 1832, Mr. EWBANK came into possession of a portion of the old homestead, which he has since cultivated, making some addition by later purchases. He now owns 140 acres of valuable land from which he derives a comfortable support in his declining years. Mr. EWBANK has always engaged in farming, in which occupation he has been moderately successful, though he has met with some reverses. He is remarkably strong and active for one of his age, the writer finding him in th woods on a cold December day busily engaged in chopping, perched upon a log more than two feet in diameter, which he had twice severed by the the well directed and vigorous blows of his ax. Mr. and Mrs. EWBANK are both members of the Methodist Episcopal Church and this organization Mr. EWBANK has been associated with most of his life.
"HISTORY OF DEARBORN AND OHIO COUNTIES, INDIANA-1885"
SUBMITTED BY: Jackie DeCamp