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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

JOHN W. OSBORN (picture). A biographical sketch written by the late S.B. GOOKINS of the pioneer editor of the Wabash Valley. The editor and proprietor of the first newspaper published in the town of Terre Haute, Indiana, was born at St. Johns, New Brunswick, February 7, 1794. He was the second son of Capt. Samuel OSBORN, a gallant and accomplished officer in the British navy. His grandfather and eldest brother, Capt. William OSBORN, were also both officers in the service of his majesty the king of England. Also his maternal grandfather, for whom he was named, held a captain's commission and was an intimate friend of Gen. BROCK, acted as commissary general, etc., and filled many places of trust. William OSBORN, the eldest son of Capt. Samuel OSBORN Jr., was promoted to a captaincy very young for bravery during several sharp engagements at sea. Thus by the divine right of inheritance and early associations Mr. John W. OSBORN was fitted for the struggles and difficulties of pioneer life which need a brave heart, untiring devotion, progressive and aggressive, to the principles of right. Mr. OSBORN's mother was Alice WILSON, the daughter of John WILSON and Rebecca THIXTON, his wife. She was born on Staten Island. She was educated in New York, where the family lived always a part of each year, her father being an officer in the British army, loyal to his king. They left the United States and made a new home in Canada, living sometimes at Halifax, Quebec, Montreal, Canancoqua, and finally settling down at Toronto, buying land and laying, as they supposed, a permanent foundation for a home. Col. WILSON sent to Scotland and brought out a hundred families and settled them upon his lands in Canada, and, believing in the magic power of the press to enlighten and civilize, he sent to England and had a printing press, type and men to do the work sent out to the almost wilderness. Col. Joseph WILLCOX, who was a member of the provincial parliament, an ardent politician, an educated Irish gentleman and a republican, was associated with Mr. OSBORN in publishing the "Upper Canada Guardian and Freeman's Journal." Mr. OSBORN late in life spoke of Col. WILLCOX as one whose name he loved, and, referring to his association with him, said: "I then and there drank in the principles of free government which have remained with me until this hour, and which changed the whole course of my life." Mr. OSBORN's devotion to republican institutions and his belief in the justness of the American cause led him, on the breaking out of the war of 1812, to espouse, with all the fire and energy of his nature, the side of free government. On August 14 he left country, home, kindred and friends, and crossed Lake Ontario from Toronto to the United States, when he joined the American army, at which action of his he alienated and grieved his relatives, especially his grandfather, who disowned and disinherited him. Mr. OSBORN did not anticipate giving up his love and interest in Canada, but was sanguine in his belief that Canada would become a part of the United States, would be annexed, when he intended to return there. He was induced, through the representation of Mr. DENNY, a book publisher, of Albany, to go to Homer, Cortland county, New York, where he took charge of and edited the Cortland "Republican," a paper still published there. He, however, soon removed his office to Cortlandville, the county seat, for a time. His paper was ardently devoted to the United States government. He continuted the publication until 1816. In that year Indiana was admitted to the Union as a sovereign state, and the spirit of adventure, at that time rife in the land, led him, with many others, to the inviting fields of the then Far West. In 1817 he came to Vincennes, and soon afterward secured the office of the "Western Sun," the first newspaper published in Indiana. At that time the slavery question was much discussed. The ordinance of 1787, excluding slavery from the territory northwest of the Ohio river, was almost universally disregarded. Slaves were held in Vincennes and other places, and were bought and sold. Indiana had just been admitted to the Union, and having by a clause in her constitution prohibited slavery, the holders of slaves became uneasy, and as a consequence as scheme was adopted for making what profit they could out of the stock on hand, which was to be carried out by running the negroes off to the slave states and selling them. Adventurers were found who were willing to go into the business of kidnapping for a profit. This was winked at by many of the most popular and influential men, and for anyone to espouse the cause of the slave was to subject himself to the odium, not to say contemptuous persecution, of a majority of the people in that region. But the proscribed race were not without friends, and one of the most active of these was Mr. OSBORN. Having suffered immeasurably from seperation from home, kindred and friends on account of his devotion to the principles of freedom, he did not propose to accept a mere sham and pretense for the precious boon he sought at so great a sacrifice. He not only protested, but defended, the negro, and pursued the kidnapper and rescued his victims. He, cooperating with others like minded, carried the question to the supreme court, and obtained a decision which set at rest forever the question of slavery in Indiana. In 1828 Mr. OSBORN came to Terre Haute and established the "Western Register." The first number was printed July 21, and created quite a sensation. A newspaper really and truly printed in the wilderness! Men, women and children came from all the country around to see the great wonder, especially on publication days. The "Western Register's" motto was "No dupe to party tool of power, nor slave to minions of an hour." The paper was conducted upon all questions of home and foreign government, and the development of our rich and lovely valley of the Wabash. Mr. OSBORN was contemporary with Robert OWEN, RAPP, FLOWER, and many others of less note, would-be reformers, but all his teachings had the true ring of patriotism and Christianity. During the summer of 1828 Mr. OSBORN made one of his characteristic exploring trips on horseback up the Wabash river, intending to visit Fort Dearborn, now Chicago. Early one lovely morning he arrived at the Tippecanoe battle-ground, where he discovered that after the soldiers had left the field the Indians had returned and dug up the remains of the brave heroes and stripped, scalped and tomahawked them and left them to be devoured by wild beasts, and the bones had lain bleaching in the sun and storms for twelve years. When Mr. OSBORN returned to Terre Haute he had an interview with Capt. Nathaniel HUNTINGTON, and induced him to proceed with his company of cavalry, the Wabash Greens, to Tippecanoe. The remains of the brave men were carefully collected by them and reinterred with military honors. Mr. OSBORN was ever ready to render honor to the generous, noble and brave, and quick scorn and flashing indignation for the mercenary and selfish. One summer day in the year 1828 he was passing by the court-house square, and, laying partly concealed by some hazel bushes, he saw a man senseless, apparently dead. The man was only drunk! Mr. OSBORN had known him in Toronto a prominent merchant, an honored man. He covered the poor wretch's face to protect it from sun, insects and the derision of passers-by. From that hour he was an uncompromising temperance man. His heart swelled with indignation toward the man who for a few cents would see a fellow man degraded and wallowing in the dust, and from this incident probably the first temperance movement in the country originated. Education, free education, was another subject of intense interest to him. During the year 1829 his health gave way, caused by his untiring exertions, and he retired from the editorial chair and went upon his farm, five miles south of the city, from which he received great benefit. In 1834 his old feeling in regard to the power and importance of the "press" returned, and feeling that there was great value in the knowledge and talents that he possessed, he looked about him for a field of action, and decided up Greencastle, Putnam county, considering it a healthy, desirable region of country. He purchased a printing office and sent out his paper, the "Ploughboy," broadcast, and inclosed (sic) in it a small temperance paper which he published in pamphlet form, of eight pages, and sent to his subscribers gratuitously, called the "Temperance Advocate," the first temperance paper ever published in the west. Temperance in those days was as unpopular as warning against slavery, and required unbounded moral courage and a trace of "fighting blood," both of which he inherited in good measure from a brave and chivalrous ancestry. This paper was devoted to the interests of agriculture, education and temperance, in the promotion of all which he was a zealous and efficient laborer. In Greencastle he was surrounded by congenial associates, Dr. Alex STEPHENSON, Dr. TARVIN and Judge COWGILL, REES, HARDESTY and others. To Mr. OSBORN's exertions were due in a great measure the establishment at Greencastle of the Indiana Asbury University, the leading educational institution of the state of the Methodist denomination, of which he was a conscientious, active member. He was one of the first trustees of Asbury University. In 1838 he removed his establishment to Indianapolis, changed the name to "Indiana Farmer and Stock Register," was elected state printer, also continued the publication of his temperance paper. At the close of his term of office he retired from the press on account of ill health, but was a contributor to various local journals during most of his life. When the war of the rebellion broke out, too old to take the field and too zealous a supporter of the government to permit of his remaining idle, he went to Sullivan county, and published a war campaign paper under the title of the "Stars and Stripes," where he rendered invaluable service to the Union cause. This was his last venture in journalism. His health continued to decline until his death, which occurred in Greencastle on November 12, 1866. His latest hours were marked by painful disease, patient resignation and Christian faith.

HISTORY OF VIGO AND PARKE COUNTIES Together With Historic Notes on the Wabash Valley
H.W. Beckwith - 1880
Terre Haute - pp. 169-175

JOHN CLIFFORD ROSS (picture), deceased, was born in Prospect, near Belfast, Maine, on the Penobscot bay, in 1809. Until he reached the age of nineteen he remained on his father's farm, attending school at such times as he was able. From the age of nineteen until he reached the age of thirty he was engaged in his native place in the lumber and other lines of the mercantile business, mostly in connection with the light shipping of that day. He was married in 1833 to Sallie Rebecca KIDDLE, who died in 1860. He was married subsequently a second time to Mary H. KINNEY, the widow of Judge Amory KINNEY, who survives him. In 1839 he moved to Oxford, Ohio, where he was engaged in merchandising until 1848, at which date he moved to Terre Haute, having, however, sent a stock of goods ahead in 1844. He remained in business until 1865, when the effects of his early activity began to tell on him, and he retired from active life. He died in Terre Haute, September 5, 1870. He lived a quiet, though very active life, and never meddled in politics. He was a member of the Congregational church.

HISTORY OF VIGO AND PARKE COUNTIES Together With Historic Notes on the Wabash Valley
H.W. Beckwith - 1880
Terre Haute - pp. 269-270

LUCIUS RYCE, merchant, Terre Haute, whose portrait appears in this work (picture), is one of Terre Haute's oldest, and during the period of his most active business career, also one of her most prominent, merchants. Mr. RYCE is a native of Chittenden county, Vermont, where he was born in 1803. He was reared on a farm, and until about the age of nineteen was a hard-working farmer boy. Here he gained those habits of industry and self-reliance which in later life made him one of the most successful business men in the west. After leaving the farm he sought, and obtained through his own efforts by teaching winters and attending the academy the balance of the year, a good education. After completing his school course he studied law, and practiced about four years in Franklin county. In 1844 he came to Terre Haute with S.H. POTTER, with whom he had entered into partnership in the hardware trade in this city. Mr. RYCE, however, devoted most of his attention to the dry-goods trade. This was the beginning of a long, honorable and prosperous business career, embracing in its scope both the wholesale and retail trade, and at one time the wholesale dry-goods firm of Ryce, Berry & Co., composed of L. RYCE, W.S. RYCE and Edwin A. BERRY, was the largest mercantile house in the city. After a few years, the firm being dissolved, W.S. RYCE established the famous Buckeye cash store, which in its time was one of the most extensive enterprises and finest establishments of its kind in the west. Mr. RYCE, our subject, continued the wholesale trade, doing a large and successful business. His excellent business management and good financiering carried him along on the tide of prosperity until his name stood among those of the most prominent men of the city in financial affairs, as it had already stood as an aid to all enterprises pertaining to the welfare of the city and her people. Later in life, through his generosity in acting as surety, he sustained very heavy losses. He is still interested in the mercantile trade as the senior member of the firm of Ryce and Walmsley, one of the best house-furnishing establishments in the Wabash valley, though no more an active merchant. Mr. RYCE is not only well known to the citizens of Terre Haute, but to those of the surrounding country, all of whom have borne him the highest respect as a generous, enterprising and honest gentleman.

HISTORY OF VIGO AND PARKE COUNTIES Together With Historic Notes on the Wabash Valley
H.W. Beckwith - 1880
Terre Haute - pp. 204-205

DAVID C. STUNKARD, deceased, former resident of Terre Haute, the subject of this sketch, and whose protrait appears in this work (picture), was, though not an old resident of Terre Haute, one of her well known, successful and enterprising business men. He was born November 4, 1824, in Auburn township, Richland county, Ohio, and was the son of Robert and Lavina STUNKARD. His early education was received principally at the district schools of Auburn township in his native county. In September, 1837, he removed with his parents to McDonough county; Illinois, where they remained but about four months, and then removed to (as stated in a brief history or sketch of his life, written by himself in 1847) "Onsconsin Territory, Rock Island, town of Davenport." On May 4, 1838, he again removed with his parents, their destination being Clay county, Indiana. There he became a resident of what is known as Dick Johnson township, where he resided with his parents till June 5, 1847, when he volunteered as a soldier for the Mexican war. June 12 he was mustered into the service of the United States in the city of Jeffersonville, Indiana, old Fort Clark of that place being their place of rendezvous. He was a member of Capt. COZHRAN's company of 2d Ind. Vols., and before the close of his enlistment he became the first sergeant of his company. At the close of the Mexican war he returned to Clay county, and, entering upon business pursuits, soon became prominent as a merchant and successful trader. He eventually became interested in the development of the coal mines of Clay county, and it is generally conceded that he contributed more toward ascertaining and disseminating knowledge or information in regard to the coal fields of that county than any citizen before or since his efforts in that direction. In May, 1864, he again entered the service of the United States as a soldier. He entered the service as second lieutenant of Co. B, 133d Ind. Vols., and remained in the service during the short term of his enlistment, which was 100 days. In 1866 he removed with his family from Brazil to Terre Haute, where he became interested in trading. His death occurred July 14, 1871, resulting from the accidental discharge of a revolver on the evening before, which he had carelessly put in his pocket. He was at that time proprietor of the Buntin House. He had been an active member of the order of A.F. and A.M., and upon the occasion of his death the Terre Haute Commandery, No. 16, Knights Templar, of which he was a member, passed resolutions in memoriam, and ordered the same to be recorded, published and a copy furnished to his family. Terre Haute Lodge, No. 19, A.F. and A.M., did likewise, as he had been a member of that lodge also. It was said by one who knew him well that he was a high-toned and honorable man in all his impulses, possessed of rare business judgement, fine sense, pleasant manners and indomitable energy, and that his death was deplored by all who knew him. Mr. STUNKARD was married April 11, 1850, to Miss Zerelda CROMWELL, who is a lineal descendant of six generations remove of Oliver CROMWELL, the English statesman. She was born in Monroe county, near Bloomington, Indiana. Their family consisted of four sons and two daughters at his death, all of whom give promise of filling honorable and respected positions in the community.

HISTORY OF VIGO AND PARKE COUNTIES Together With Historic Notes on the Wabash Valley
H.W. Beckwith - 1880
Terre Haute - pp. 305-307

Dr. J.C. THOMPSON (picture), who is among the best known physicians of Vigo county, is a native of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Before coming west he had studied medicine and become a graduate of the University of Maryland, at Baltimore, which is one of the prominent medical colleges of the east. In 1856 he began the practice of medicine in Terre Haute, which he has since continued, excepting the time spent in the army during the war of the rebellion of 1861-5. In April of 1861 he was commissioned surgeon of the 11th Ind. Zouave reg., three months' service. He served this period, and upon the reorganizatoin of the regiment he again accepted the position of surgeon. He was at the first battle of Bull Run and subsequently at the battles of Forts Henry and Donelson, and the battle of Shiloh. On account of exposure and overwork at the battle of Shiloh his health gave way, and at Henlin he resigned his commission and returned to Terre Haute, where he has since been engaged in the practice of his profession. He is a member of the Vigo County Medical Society, an honorary member of the Esculapian Society of the Wabash valley, a member of the State Medical Society, and also of the American Medical Association. In his practice of over twenty years in Terre Haute he has become so well known that the name of Dr. THOMPSON will long be remembered by the best families of Terre Haute.

HISTORY OF VIGO AND PARKE COUNTIES Together With Historic Notes on the Wabash Valley
H.W. Beckwith - 1880
Terre Haute - p. 261

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