Catterson - Robert - Montgomery InGenWeb Project

Robert CATTERSON, whose home is on Section 14, Sugar Creek Township, Parke County, has been a resident of this state since his 11th year and has passed over 40 years of his life in Parke County in the same township which is still his place of abode. He is one of the many examples this country affords of the man, who, starting out in life without means has overcome the hindrances which are ever found in the pathway leading to success and has only used such obstacles as stepping stones to something higher. The birth of our subject occurred in Henry County, Kentucky in the year 1832, his parents being Robert and Mary PETTETT Catterson. Grandfather James Catterson was born in Donegal, Ireland where he was reared to manhood and married. He was a farmer by occupation and his means being limited he determined to try his fortunes in the New World. Accordingly, about 1790 he came to America, settling at once in Kentucky. Robert Catterson was born in Ireland about 1790 and was only two months old when his parents took passage in a sailing vessel bound for the United States. He was brought up near Lexington, Kentucky. He was one of the following children: Patrick; James; William; Sarah; Elizabeth and Jennie. Being ambitious as a student, our subject's father, by close application and industry, prepared himself as a teacher, which calling he followed more or less all his life. For many terms he taught for $12.00 per month. He was only about 18 when he married, his wife being 3 years his junior. They had 10 children: James; Hiram; Robert; William; John; Berry; George; Rachel; Sarah and Ruth. George received severe injuries from the effects of which he died, by falling in to the old fashioned open fireplace. About the year 1843 Robert Catterson, Sr. with his family removed to Montgomery County, Indiana and a few years later made a home in Sugar Creek Township, where he passed the reaminder of his life. When not engaged in teaching he devoted himself to agricultural pursuits. He served for six months in the War of 1812, fighting under General Jackson. He was a Jacksonian Democrat and fraternally, a member of the Ancient Free & Accepted Masons in Ky. He died in the faith of the Missionary Baptist Church June 3, 1847, aged 62. Remaining under the parental roof until 18 our subject then went to work for neighhboring farmers at 25 cents per day. At length he ventured on renting a farm and fainlly by economy and industry was able to buy 60 acres of party cleared land. Following his father's example he was only 18 when he married Miss Jane WOMAN (sic - should be WARMAN) who was a native of Ky, becoming his wife. His possessions at the time amounted to only a gun, a two year old colt, while his wife had only her clothes. The first spring after renting the farm our subject cleared 18 acres which he sowed with corn and the next spring raised a wheat crop that nearly paid for the place. From that time his success seemed assured and he now is the owner of 410 acres, over 200 of which he has cleared himself. He has met with a great many reverses, losing considerable by going as security on others' bonds and once had $500 stolen from him. Two brothers of our subject were in the Mexican War, namely Hiram and William, the latter died in the City of Mexico with the yellow fever, while Hiram returned home and then joined the regular army. He afterward went to Oregon where he spent 5 years and then took a position on the mail service in California at $100 a trip and was supposed to have been killed by Indians. In May 1875 our subject's first wife died, leaving one child, William. He afterward married MIss Mary HAGAN by whome he had six children: Cynthia A; Sarah J; Daniel V; Patrick H; Minnie A. and Zurilda. Politically our subject is a Democrat and has held a number of local offices in the township. In former days he was very fond of hunting and won a reputation as a fox hunter second to noen in the county. - typed by kbz