Capt. Joseph C. Abbott

    Capt. Joseph C. Abbott is a native of Henry County, Kentucky, was born June 5, 1881. Came to Milton, Kentucky, with his parents at five years of age. He was raised in Milton, Trimble County, Kentucky, attending the city schools of Madison, Indiana. Afterward he went to college at Carrollton, Kentucky. After finishing his education he engaged as clerk on the steamboat "Leonora," packet between Carrollton, Madison and Louisville, and continued as pilot and clerk for about two years. then he took a trip down South on a flatboat. In 1874 he built the steamer "St. Francis Belle" at Cattlettsburg, Kentucky, and ran her in the St. Francis River, Arkansas, and afterward ran her in the White River, Arkansas from Memphis, Tennessee to Jacksonport, Arkansas. In 1876 he brought her up and ran her from Louisville, Kentucky to Leavenworth, Indiana. In 1877 he took her to New Orleans and sold her.

    He came home in 1877, and his father retired from the ferry business, and turned it over to him; he has continued in that business ever since. Mr. Abbott's parents were John M. and Mildred (Garriot) Abbott. His father was a native of Culpepper County, Virginia, born September 11, 1803, and came to Kentucky in 1816. Is now living in Milton, and is very active for one of his age. His mother was a native of Trimble County, Kentucky. She died in 1875, at the age of 63.

    Capt. Abbott was married in 1876 to Miss Elizabeth, daughter of Capt. Nat. Williams, of Madison, Indiana. He removed to Madison in 1876, and has resided there ever since. Capt. Abbott is a member of the Second Presbyterian Church. He belongs to Masonic Order, and has taken the Thirty-second Degree in Masonry, is a member of Union Lodge, No. 2, in Madison, and belongs to the Consistory at Indianapolis. The Captain is also a member of the I. O. O. F., Madison Lodge, No. 72; also of Madison Lodge, No. 21, K. of P.; also of Red Men and Knights of Labor. Was chairman of the Democratic committee for eight years.

Source: Biographical and Historical Souvenir for the counties of Clark, Crawford, Harrison, Floyd, Jefferson, Jennings, Scott and Washington, Indiana. By John M. Gresham & Co., 1889.