Robert R. Orr, who for twenty-nine years has been an esteemed resident of Gibson County, and is one of the leading contractors of Princeton, was born in Livingston County, New York, March 10, 1841. His father, Collin Orr, was born in Scotland in 1805, and after a long, useful life as a farmer died in Caledonia, New York, in 1891. He married Jennie Robertson, who died in 1850, leaving the following named children: William, deceased; Jennie, wife of Daniel Elyea, of Jewell City, Kansas; Lucy, wife of William McIntyre, of Caledonia, New York; Angus, of Michigan; and Mary A., deceased wife of John Cameron. Robert R. Orr was reared on the home farm, and assisted in its cultivation until twenty-six years of age, when he came to Princeton. In the meantime he had aided in the preservation of the Union, as a member of Companies F and K of the Eighth New York Cavalry. He participated in the battles of Beverly's Ford, Middleburg, Gettysburg, Boonesboro, Brandy Station, Stephensburg, Rappahanock, the Wilderness, Spottsylvania, Cold Harbor, Petersburg, Wilson's raid, Winchester, Cedar Creek, Fisher's Hill, Woodstock, Waynesboro, Richmond and Appomattox. He was under fire in fifty battles, and his loyalty and bravery were fully tested. He enlisted as a private, and was discharged as quartermaster sergeant. Mr. Orr learned the carpenter's trade under S.J. Wallace, of Princeton, with whom he continued business for twenty-four years. He aided in the construction of the Methodist Church, the residences of Sam Reaves, S. Benson, Albert Martin, Tom Walters and W.H. Evans, and has done a large and successful business, his efficient workmanship and faithful fulfillment of his part of a contract securing him a liberal patronage. On the 8th of February, 1871, Mr. Orr was united in marriage with Anna, daughter of Thomas Paul, who came to this county from Tennessee. They have one son, Charles A., born in 1873. Mr. Orr belongs to the Ancient Order of United Workmen and to the United Presbyterian Church. His life has been one of industry and usefulness and his duties of citizenship are performed with the same loyalty that characterized his career as a soldier.

History of Gibson County, Indiana, Elia W. Peattie, 1897, pg. 47-48.
Submitted by Andrea Dougan

W.R. STEELE, a prominent citizen and business man of Princeton, was born in Gibson County, April 24, 1845. His father, Robert Steele, a native of Kentucky, came to this county when a young man, and was married here to Eliza, daughter of William Reavis. Their children were John Q.A., who was first lieutenant of Company F, Twenty-second Indiana Infantry, and was killed in battle; James M., a prosperous farmer of Columbia township; Tabitha V., deceased wife of Samuel Dodds; Martin L., of Gibson County, who was a soldier in the First Indiana Cavalry; Alonzo M., who belonged to the same regiment and is living in Gibson County; Mary E., wife of John A. Farmer; Robert L., who served in Company F, Fifty-eighth Indiana Infantry; W.R., of this sketch; George W., of Gibson County; Dicy, wife of Dr. Lucius Wilson; and Lewis, of Vanderburgh County, Indiana. W.R. Steele was reared in his father's home and the quietude of a farm life was first interrupted by the country's call to arms. He enlisted as a member of Company A, First Indiana Cavalry, was mustered in at Indianapolis, and with his regiment was stationed much of the time in Arkansas, where they engaged largely in scouting. As the regiment was mustered out before his time expired, he was transferred to the artillery service and continued at the front until honorably discharged at Duvall's Bluff. When the war was over he had not yet attained his majority, but his youth was no limit to his bravery, and with the loyalty worthy of the cause he faithfully performed the duties allotted to him. Mr. Steele returned to the plow and continued his farming operations until the fall of 1890, when he removed to Princeton to assume the duties of County Recorder. He was nominated and elected for that office on the Republican ticket. In 1895 he began dealing in carriages and in connection now carries a line of agricultural implements. He is one of the wide awake and progressive business men of the city, and his reliable methods and straightforward dealing, combined with great energy, have secured him a large business and a comfortable competence. On the 1st of March, 1868, Mr. Steele married Maggie E., daughter of Alex. Holcomb. Mr. and Mrs. Steele have eight children - Festus A., a Methodist minister of Evansville, Indiana; Gustus A., a partner in his father's store; Charlie; Walter; Roy; Maude, deceased; Nellie and Myrtle.

History of Gibson County, Indiana, Elia W. Peattie, 1897, pg. 56.
Submitted by Andrea Dougan

Robert Archer Woods is one of the most prominent representative of the Knights of Pythias fraternity in Indiana, and one of the leading citizens of Princeton. He was born on a farm near Princeton, January 5, 1861, a son of Deno Brown and Lucinda C. (Archer) Woods. The former was born in Gibson County in 1835. The later was a daughter of Robert Archer, who came to this county at an early day. Both the paternal and maternal ancestry of our subject were natives of South Carolina, and descended from sturdy Scotch Covenanter stock, who have formed a substantial element in American citizenship. Leaving the South because of their belief in the injurious effects of the system of slavery, then came to Indiana, and located in the Scotch settlement in Gibson County, becoming prominent in its development and upbuilding. The grandfather, Samuel H. Woods, was one of the pioneer farmers of this locality. The father of our subject here spent his entire life, and during the Civil War joined Company A, Fifieth-eighth Indiana Infantry. With his regiment he went to the front and gave his life in defense of his country at the battle of Resaca, May 14, 1864.

Robert A. Woods was educated in the public schools of Princeton and the Indiana University, where he was graduated in 1881, with the degree of Bachelor of Science. Later he studied at the University Liepsic, Germany, and after his return to his native land, was engaged for a short time in the study of law, but abandoned that pursuit to accept the position of deputy clerk of the Gibson Circuit Court. He was thus engaged until a recent date, when he resigned in order to accept a responsible position in the People's National Bank of Princeton.

In September, 1889, Mr. Woods wedded Mary Hall, of this city, and they have an infant son. Mrs. Woods' father was John B. Hall, a son of Judge Samuel Hall, ex-Lieutenant Governor of Indiana. Mr. Woods is a Republican in politics, and warmly advocates the party principles. He served as secretary of the first building and loan association organized in Princeton, and was a prominent member of the Business Men's Association, now the Commercial Club.

Mr. Woods was a charter member of Ascaton Lodge, No. 155, of Princeton, organized October 19, 1886, and in January, 1890, became past chancellor. His first appearance in the Grand Lodge was in the session of 1892, and he was there made a member of the finance committee for the ensuing year. In the session of 1893 he was made deputy grand chancellor for the Fourteenth Pythian District of Indiana, and is now serving his third year in the capacity. He is also a prominent member of the Masonic fraternity, being a Knight Templar and thirty-second-degree Mason, and holds the office of grand king in the Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons in Indiana.

History of Gibson County, Indiana, Elia W. Peattie, 1897.
Submitted by Andrea Dougan

John M. Smith has passed the allotted age of three score years and ten, and now in his declining life is resting in the enjoyment of the fruits of former labor. There are few to-day in Gibson County who have so long been residents of this locality, but he is one of the native sons of the county, and a representative of a prominent pioneer family. He was born on the old family homestead, then situated on the frontier, October 10, 1822, and is a son of Andrew and Ezina (Stone) Smith, the former a native of Kentucky, and the latter of Virginia. They located in Gibson County in 1818, and were esteemed members of the pioneer community. John M. Smith was reared here amid the wild scenes of pioneer life and with the family, consisting of parents and eleven children, experienced the usual hardships and trials incident to establishing a home in the far west. As soon as old enough to handle the plow he began farming and has turned the furrows in many a field, preparing it for the spring planting. Throughout his life he has been connected with agricultural pursuits and his farm, by its neat and thrifty appearance has given indication of his thrift and enterprise. In his early manhood Mr. Smith married Miss Sallie McCray, but after a short time she was called to her final rest and on the 16th of March, 1848, he wedded Miss Elizabeth Mauck, by whom he had three children - Menoia, William H., and James T. For his third wife, Mr. Smith married Miss Rhody Malone, and they had three children - Howard, Sallie and Bettie. They also had a step-child, William A. Mauck. His last wife died July 5, 1892. Mr. Smith has long given his political support to the Democracy, but has never sought or desired political preferment, desiring rather to give his entire time and attention to his business interest, in which he has met with a fair degree of success. He holds membership in the Baptist Church, and his life is in harmony with his professions . Those who know him esteem him highly for his many excellent characteristics, and he has many friends.

History of Gibson County, Indiana, Elia W. Peattie, 1897.
Submitted by Andrea Dougan

James E. Beloat - The one hundred and seventy-acre farm in Johnson township belonging to our subject is conspicuous for the manner in which it has been improved and cultivated, and is evidently the homestead of one of the most enterprising men of Gibson County. Throughout his entire business career he has engaged in agricultural pursuits, at first owning a farm of one hundred and twenty acres in Montgomery township, which he operated for six years, and then sold and purchased eighty acres of his present fine farm. With the exception of thirty acres received from his father's estate, his accumulations are the reward of his own perseverance, industry and energy. Mr. Beloat was born in Johnson township, April 8, 1853, a son of George W. and Martha (Reed) Beloat, whose births occurred in the same township, the former in 1828 and the latter in 1826. The father remained at home until his marriage at the age of twenty-three, when he began farming upon an eighty-acre tract which he entered from the government. Eight years later he embarked in the milling business, operating both a saw and flouring mill in Johnson township on the railroad for six years, when he again resumed farming. On the breaking out of the Civil war, however, he laid aside personal interest, enlisting in August, 1861, in the First Indiana Volunteer Cavalry, and for three years and three months followed the stars and stripes on southern battle fields, returning home in November, 1864, with an honorable war record. He then continued farming and stock-raising until his death, which occurred February 20, 1890. His faithful wife, who still survives him, is now living with a daughter in California. Both were members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, in which he served as elder for twenty-three years, and were earnest, conscientious Christians. In their family were eight children -- Henry and Susan, deceased; James, T homas, Martin, Catharine, George W. and Della. At the age of twenty-three he left home and began the battle of life for himself. He has always been an ardent Republican in politics, and religious belief both himself and wife are Methodists. On the 3d of February, 1876, he married America E. Brimfield, and they now have one daughter, Estella. The family is one of prominence, widely and favorably known throughout Gibson County.

History of Gibson County, Indiana, Elia W. Peattie, 1897. Pages 107-108.
Submitted by Andrea Dougan

ROBERT FREMONT WARNOCK is one of the extensive land owners of Gibson County, and a man whose prominent connection with the agricultural and industrial interests of this locality has made him a valued factor in the community. He is a western man by birth, training and interests, and possesses the true western spirit of progress and enterprise. Gibson County numbers him among her native sons, his birth having occurred in Patoka township on the 9th of August, 1861. In the home of his parents, Archibald and Malinda J. (Milburn) Warnock, he spent the days of his boyhood and youth, assisting in the labors of the fields through the summer, while in the winter he pursued his education in the common schools. On attaining his majority, Mr. Warnock began farming on his own account of a tract of land of seventy-six acres, which he had received as his share of the old homestead. His work has been diligently prosecuted and his labors have brought to him prosperity, so that he has been enabled to extend the boundaries of his farm, until it now comprises three hundred and fifty acres of rich land, all under a high state of cultivation. He is also interested in the coal business, and is now engaged in the manufacture of brick. His resourceful ability enables him to extend his field of operation beyond one line of business and thus while adding to his own prosperity he is also promoting the material welfare of the community. On the 11th of October, 1887, Mr. Warnock was united in marriage to Ada M. Wilson, daughter of William and Maria Wilson, of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. A little son, Archibald W., has come to bless their home. Mr. and Mrs. Warnock hold membership in the United Presbyterian Church, and their standing in social circles is enviable. Since attaining his majority he has been an adherent of the Republican party, and strongly supports the platform on which the recent Republican victory was achieved. With the except ion of a few months spent in California, he has always made his home in Gibson County, on the farm where he now resides, and is most widely and favorably known. He is still a young man, and the future undoubtedly holds in store for him still greater successes than he has hitherto achieved.

History of Gibson County, Indiana, Elia W. Peattie, 1897. Pages 41-42.
Submitted by Andrea Dougan

Deb Murray