A portrait and biographical record of Boone, Clinton and Hendricks Counties, Ind. : containing biographical sketches of many prominent and representative citizens, together with biographies and portraits of all of the presidents of the United States, and biographies of the governors of Indiana, Part 70

Author:
Publication date: 1895
Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : A.W. Bowen & Co.
Number of Pages: 1080

USA > Indiana > Boone County > A portrait and biographical record of Boone, Clinton and Hendricks Counties, Ind. : containing biographical sketches of many prominent and representative citizens, together with biographies and portraits of all of the presidents of the United States, and biographies of the governors of Indiana > Part 70
USA > Indiana > Clinton County > A portrait and biographical record of Boone, Clinton and Hendricks Counties, Ind. : containing biographical sketches of many prominent and representative citizens, together with biographies and portraits of all of the presidents of the United States, and biographies of the governors of Indiana > Part 70
USA > Indiana > Hendricks County > A portrait and biographical record of Boone, Clinton and Hendricks Counties, Ind. : containing biographical sketches of many prominent and representative citizens, together with biographies and portraits of all of the presidents of the United States, and biographies of the governors of Indiana > Part 70

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P REDERICK GEIGER, one of the prominent business men of Edna Mills, Ross township, Clinton county, Ind., is proprietor of the mills from which the village takes its name. He was born in Wittemburg, Germany, and is the son of Jacob and Mary (Snider) Geiger. His father was stage driver for the German govern- ment, and, soon after marriage, came to America, first settling in York, Pa., and then moving to Butler county, O. He came to Indiana in 1844, and settled in Tippecanoe county, five miles south of Mulberry, and bought 160 acres of land and there passed the remainder of his days. He and wife were the parents of Catherine, Frederick, George,

Jacob, William and Mary; of these, George was in the Seventy-second Indiana volunteer infantry, serving nearly four years, and was in many battles; he is now deceased.

In politics Mr. Geiger was a democrat; in religion he was a member of the Lutheran church, to which his wife also belonged. He lived to the age of seventy-two years and died on his farm. By sterling industry and thrift · he became a substantial farmer. He rode to Indiana, and, refusing to settle on prarie land near Dayton, at $5. 50 per acre, located in the heavy timber of Indiana, paying $10 per acre, and it took almost the remainder of his life to make a home. He was a man of integrity of character and had no enemies.

Frederick Geiger was born March 6, 1828, and was three years old when brought to America by his parents. At the early age of thirteen years he began to work for George Hoffman, a miller of Middletown, Butler county, Ohio, and received for his services one dollar per week and his board. He took hold of the business readily, and was able, by the fall of 1843, to operate the mill. The miller being sick at that time, he made a boat load of flour and sent it by river to Cincinnati, and only three barrels of it were scratched, which was unusual. He saved $160 of his wages, which he paid to his father. In 1844 he came with his father and family to Indiana, imme- diately went to work in the LaFayette mills as a miller, and then was at the Weia mills for two and one-half years, and then leased a mill in Warren county in the fall of 1848 and re- mained until the fall of 1852, and in January, 1853, he took charge of the Merchant mills, afterward the Star City mills, and remained there until June, 1883. He bought a half in- terest in this mill in 1855, and in January, 1867, bought the entire plant. He was very successful during and immediately after the Civil war.

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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY

In September, 1851, he married Rachael, daughter of James McComb, a farmer of Tip- pecanoe county, and an old settler. To Mr. and Mrs. Geiger were born four children: Francis J., Mary E., Frederick and John, the latter dying young. Mrs. Geiger is a member of the Methodist church. In politics Mr. Geiger is a strong republican, having voted with the party since its organization. He is a respected member of LaFayette lodge, No. 151, I. O. O. F., and has held all the offices, including noble grand, and was one of the charter members of the I. O. R. M. of La Fayette. In 1885, Mr. Geiger came to Edna Mills with a view of putting in order the mill property, and soon engaged in milling and has since remained, doing a prosperous business. Mr. Geiger is a thorough miller and under- stands the business fully. He did a large business in La Fayette, averaging for several years 30,000 barrels for shipment, and is the oldest miller in this part of the state. He has always been well and widely known as a man of integrity and strictly moral character.

ILLIAM H. GHERE, an enter- prising farmer, was born in the city of Frankfort, Clinton county, Ind., August 16, 1849, and is a son of Aaron and Elizabeth (Lucas) Ghere, being the eldest of a family of four children. He attended the district schools, but his present comprehensive education was acquired by hard study at home. He was reared on the home farm, and until the age of twenty-three made his home with his parents, and then, October 17, 1872, married Miss Cynthia, daughter of William and Elizabeth Gaskill, and a native of Clinton county. The result of this happy marriage has been two children, named Aaron Roy and Perry Oliver. Just after his marriage, Mr. Ghere settled on a farm about five miles

north of Frankfort, which he has improved with good buildings and placed under a first- class state of cultivation, and, although he be- gan with nothing to speak of, in a financial sense, now owns 140 acres of unexcelled prop- erty. In the spring of 1890, Mr. Ghere took charge of the county farm, which he still man- ages with admirable judgment and with satis- faction to the public. Mr. Ghere is an ardent republican, is a member of the Improved Order of Red Men and of the Knights of Mac- cabees. He and his family enjoy the esteem of the citizens of the city, township and county at large, being noted for their strict integrity and hospitable disposition.

AVID GILBERT, a leading pho- tographer of Frankfort, is a native of Ohio, born in the county of Co- lumbiana on the twentieth day of August, 1850. His father, David Gilbert, was born in the same county and state in the year 1812, and there married Catherine Crum- backer, who bore him the following children: Samuel, deceased; Sarah, deceased; Emanuel, deceased; Susan, wife of John Lewis, of Toledo, Ohio; Elizabeth, wife of M. Jackson, of Noble county, Ind .; Solomon, deceased; David, the subject of this biography, and Eli, a well known citizen of the county of Noble. David Gilbert, Sr., remained in his native state engaged in farming until 1832, at which time he migrated to Indiana, settling in Noble county, where he continued to reside until his death, which occurred in the month of March, 1874. Mr. Gilbert was a man of much more than ordinary energy, possessed a well bal- anced mind, and by honorable and successful business management accumulated a handsome competence, owning, at the time of his death, a large and well improved farm of 300 acres lying in one of the finest agricultural districts

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OF CLINTON COUNTY.

of northern Indiana. A Methodist in his re- ligious belief, a republican from conscientious convictions, a kind father, an indulgent hus- band, and a representative citizen of his neigh- borhood-such in brief is the honorable tribute which the world pays to the memory of this most excellent man. His widow, a woman in every respect worthy to be the companion of such a husband, is still living in Noble county, beloved and honored by her descendants and respected by all who know her.

David Gilbert, the subject, was reared on the home farm, received in the common schools a practical English education, and re- mained with his parents, looking after their interests, until twenty-four years of age. He then entered the photograph gallery of E. W. Poston at Fort Wayne, where he remained two years, devoting himself assiduously, in the meantime, to the study of photography, in which he became skillful and proficient. Shortly after leaving Fort Wayne, he located at Frankfort, Ind., in 1885, in which city he has since remained actively engaged in his chosen calling and meeting with success such as few attain in a much longer period of time. He is now proprietor of a gallery on West Clinton street, and his place is extensively patronized by the best people of Frankfort and Clinton county. Mr. Gilbert is a true artist, keeps abreast of the times in all the latest im- proved appliances of photography. and is thoroughly familiar with every detail of the profession. Financially, he has met with most encouraging success, doing a large busi- ness, and socially enjoys great popularity in the city. He was married at Fort Wayne, Ind., May 7, 1885, to Anna Myer, who was born in that city on the fourteenth day of Oc- tober, 1864, the daughter of George and Anna Myer. One child has been born to this union -Catherine-a bright girl and the pride of the home. In politics Mr. Gilbert is a repub-

lican, 'but has never sought for official honors at the hands of his fellow-citizens. Mrs. Gil- bert is a member of the Lutheran church, be- longing to the Fort Wayne congregation.

LI JEFFERSON GOAR, the leading druggist of Kirklin and one of its most prominent citizens, comes from sturdy Irish and German stock. The first member of the family of whom we have any record is Henry Goar, who lived in Shenandoah county, Va. He was twice mar- ried and one of his sons for seventeen years represented his district in the state legislature. By his second wife, Catherine Kelley, he had five children: The eldest of these, Joseph, married Martha Pine, by whom he had eleven children; the remaining four were Robert, Nancy, James and Henry. The grandfather of our subject, Joseph Goar, was born in Vir- ginia, in 1810, and freeing his slaves removed to Pennsylvania, where he married Catherine Goar, a third cousin. They afterward emi- grated to Tipton county. Ind., and purchased 300 acres of land. Mr. Goar served as coun- ty judge, and was a prominent and influential citizen. The family numbered fifteen chil- dren, and with one exception all are living. They are James M : Sallie, wife of John Epard; Jefferson; Martha, wife of Jeremiah Batterton, died at Bowling Green, Ky., in 1862; Eli J., born March 20, 1839, married Emily Mott; Levi V., born March 20, 1839, married Delilah Fisher: Nancy L., born Jan- uary 25, 1841, married Isaac Paul, who died in 1893; Benjamin F., born April 1, 1843, married Laura Thompson; Amanda J., born May 19, 1845, is the wife of Curt Parker; Louisa, C., born May 19, 1845, is the wife of John Kelley of Harrisburg, Ark. ; Emily M., born September 22, 1847, is the wife of Aaron White; William H., born March 31; 1849;

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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY

Matt A., born September 1, 1851, married Ada Fullerton, and after her death wedded Hattie Moses; John Jessie, born November 15, 1854; and Catherine C., married July 4, 1883; to Fred Mekum. The father of this family was a democrat until 1856, when he became a whig, and later a republican. He represent- ed his district for one term in the state legis- lature, and since 1869 he has resided in Min- nesota. His wife died in 1886.

James M. Goar, father. of E. J., was born in Tipton county, Ind., and lived at home un- til twenty-two years of age, when he went to Iowa, and secured property with land warrants of the war of 1812. After locating 160 acres he returned to Indiana, and in 1858 married Priscilla Batterton, who was born in Shelby county, in 1840. By their union they had two children : Joseph W., who was born Septem- ber 17, 1859, and married Emma Robbins; and Eli Jefferson. On the twenty-seventh of April, 1861, James M. Goar enlisted in com- pany B, Seventy-fifth Indiana infantry, and died at Murfreesboro, February 6, 1863. His remains were interred in Hill cemetery in this county. His brother-in-law, Jeremiah Bat- terton, also died in the army, and was buried at the same time. Mr. Goar belonged to the Baptist church, was a man of quiet and gener- ous disposition, a good citizen, and had the respect and confidence of the entire communi- ty. In 1872, his wife wedded A. C. Littleton, by whom she had one son, Thaddeus S., who died at the age of four years. Her death oc- curred in October, 1887. The husband is still living in Sugar Creek township. Her brother, Jeremiah, served as a second lieuten- ant during the late war and was wounded at Mill Springs, Ky., from the effects of which he afterward died. Her brother James enlist- ed as a private in 1861, served throughout the war, and was twice wounded in battle.

Eli J. Goar, whose name heads this record,

was born in Tipton county, Ind., April 27, 1861, and remained upon the farm until eight- een years of age. He attended the common schools and the high school at Frankfort, then entered the Danville Central Normal college, and at the age of eighteen began teaching, which he successfully followed for a time. In connection with his brother he then embarked in general merchandising at Pickard's Mill, where for three years they carried on a suc- cessful business. Mr. Goar was married March 12, 1882, to Orpha Louisa King, who was born July 23, 1861, and is a daughter of James and Polly (Mary Winship) King. They have three children-James Vernon, born December 27, 1882; Everett Logan, born November 13. 1886; and Edith Lou, born December 2, 1891. In 1884, Mr. Goar sold his store and removed to the farm belonging to his father-in-law, which he continued to cultivate until 1891, when, on account of his wife's failing health, he left the farm. During the succeeding year he taught school at Forest, and in 1892 came to Kirklin. Being appointed deputy county treasurer, he then removed to Frankfort, where he remained until December, 1893. when we again find him in Kirklin. Here he formed a partnership with G. T. Williams, under the firm name of Goar & Williams, and purchased the drug stock of W. W. Wild. They have a finely appointed store, handle every thing found in a first-class establishment of the kind, and now have a large business. Mr. Goar also owns a farm of ninety-two acres, under a high state of cultivation and well improved with all modern conveniences. He is a member of the Masonic lodge, and of the camp of the Sons of Veterans, both of Kirklin. In politics he is a republican, and takes a deep interest in the success and growth of his party, but has never sought office.

William King, grandfather of Mrs. Eli J. Goar, was born in Rockbridge county, Va.,

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OF CLINTON COUNTY.

October, 1, 1777. He removed from Virginia to Rock Castle county, Ky., about 1795 and was married to Mary Evans in 1799 He re- moved from Kentucky to Rush county, Ind., in 1833, and died December 7, 1837. Mary, wife of William King, was born in North Carolina April 16, 1785, removed to Kentucky when about twelve years old, there married, and removed from Kentucky to Rush county, Ind., in 1833, and in 1839 to Clinton county, Ind., and died April 10, 1847. The children born to Mr. and Mrs. William King were named as follows: James, born December 20, 1808, in Pulaski county, Ky .; Mary, born in Fayette, Ind., January 17, 1817. James and Mary Winship were married March 5, 1835: Thomas S. born January 25, 1836, and died May 4. 1859. William L., born March 21, 1838, and married August 26, 1863. Jesse W .. born June to. 1841, married October II, 1866, died December 16, 1890. Celia, born October 22, 1843, and was married May 4, 1869 Mary J., born January 16, 1847. mar- ried November 21, 1883. Louisa, born De- cember 25, 1849, married October 4, 1874. Martha A., born June 29, 1852, died Febru- ary 1, 1853. John C., born November 15, 1856, married November 9, 1879. Orpha L. is now Mrs. E. J. Goar.

Jesse Winship, the maternal grandfather, was born in the state of New York, April 22, 1787, and moved to Brookville, Ind., when about twenty years of age and married Celia Leforge in 1811, then moved to Connersville, Ind , and in 1821 he moved to Rush county, Ind .; died November 18, 1854. Celia (La- forge) Winship, born in New Jersey, May 23. 1793, died August 12, 1854, was the mother of ten children, six sons and four daughters, who were living at her death, which was the first broken link of the family circle. The fam- ily always stood deservedly high in the com- munity.

0 AVID GOCHENAUER, one of the prominent farmers of Owen town- ship, Clinton county, Ind., and a re- spected citizen, springs from sterling German and English stock. His ancestors were early settlers of Pennsylvania, and mem- bers of the German Baptist church. John Gochenauer, grandfather of our subject, was a farmer of Shenandoah county, Va., his farm being on the banks of the Shenandoah river. His wife was Miss Fisher, and to them were born Katie, Sallie, Betsey, Polly, Levi, John, Benjamin and William. Mr. Gochenauer had a good farm of 160 acres, and was a sub- stantial farmer. William Gochenauer, father of David, was born in Shenandoah county, Va , on his father's farm, and received a com- mon education. He married in Shenandoah county, Va., Mary A. Hoffmann, of English descent, and to them were born six children, who lived to maturity: Harrison, Noah, David, Cyrus. Elizabeth and Polly. Mr. Gochenauer moved to Preble county, Ohio, in 1837, and resided on rented land until 1842, when he came to Indiana and settled in Clinton county, Ross township, where he bought eighty acres, all in the woods. He cleared this up, and by hard work and great industry, earned the means to buy forty acres more, thus owning 120 acres in all. He was a very honest man, and a consistent member of the German Bap- tist church.

David Gochenauer was born January 26, 1832, on a farm on Cedar Creek, Shenandoah county, Va., and was but five years old when he first left Virginia, yet he can still remember the old homestead and the journey through the wilderness from Ohio to Indiana when ten years of age, the trip being made with horses and wagons-he driving the cattle. He was brought up a farmer, was a school-teacher when a young man, and married, at the age of twenty-three years, Mary Revis, daughter of

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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY

Enoch Revis, of Ross township, and to Mr. and Mrs. Gochenauer were born seven chil- dren, who lived to reach manhood and woman- hood: Levi, Mary, Harrison, W. E., Susan C. (died a married woman, aged twenty-seven yers), Joseph Mc. and Jeremiah. After mar- riage Mr. Gochenauer settled in Ross town- ship, on his father's old homestead, and there remained until he bought a farm of eighty acres to the east, on which he settled in Sep- tember, 1864, it then consisting of 160 acres, and which he has since cleared and improved. Mrs. Gochenauer died February 17, 1874, and Mr. Gochenauer married, December 25, 1877, Margery H. Hurley, daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth (Daniels) Hurley. Thomas Hurley was of English descent, was an old settler of Washington county, Ind., and he and wife were the parents of two children, who lived to maturity-Sarah C. and Margery H. Mr. Hurley died at middle age, and his widow many years later married Henry H. Baxter of Mar- shall county, Ind. To Mr. and Mrs. Gochen- auer has been born one child, Annie E., and both parents are members of the Conservative German Baptist church. He is a democrat, is respected by the people, and has been super- visor and township assessor two terms in Ross township. He is noted for his honest purpose in life and sterling character, and it may well be said of him that his word is as good as his bond.

Levi Gochenauer, the son, now assisting his father in the management of the home farm, received a good common education and married Amanda, daughter of Buran and Mary J. (Lenon) Wyatt, to whom were born four children: Ada J., Bessie M., Ethel T., and David B. Mr. Gochenauer has taken an act- ive interest in having good schools, and was school director three years. Both father and son are public-spirited men and stand high in their township.

ARRISON GOCHENOUR is one of the old settlers of -Ross. township, Clinton county, Ir.d .. and a promi- nent farmer, and springs from sterling Pennsylvania-German stock. His grandfather, John, brought his wife with him from Germany, first settling in Pennsylvania, then moving to Shenandoah county, Va., where he died an aged man, in the faith of the German Baptist church, of which his wife was also a member To "himself and wife were born seven children -- John, Levi, Benjamin, Elizabeth, Sally, Polly and Mary. John was a substantial farmer on the Shenandoah river, owning a farm of 160 acres. In 1889 this farm was visited by our subject, Harrison Gochenour. John Gochen- our, the progenitor of the family in America, was a heavy-set, strong man, and his son John was considered the strongest man in Shenan- doah county. William Gochenour, the father of our subject, was born in Virginia and re- ceived the common education of his day. He was a farmer and married Mary Gochenour, and they were the parents of seven children- Sarah (died at five years). Harrison, Noah, David, Cyrus, Polly and Elizabeth. After marriage, Mr. Gochenour settled in Shenan- doah county, on the Shenandoah river, and all the children were born there except Elizabeth and Polly. He moved to Preble county, Ohio, in 1841, and settled on a large farm. In 1846 he came to Ross township. Clinton county, Ind , settled on a farm and here passed the remainder of his days. He owned a good farm of 120 acres and was a good farmer and re- spected citizen, and brought up an excellent family. He frequently served on the grand jury, and was well known for his integrity of character, and was also supervisor of his town- ship for several years. He died at the age of fifty-three years, a devout member of the Ger- man Baptist church, his wife also belonging to the same denomination.

695

OF CLINTON COUNTY.

Harrison Gochenour, son of above, was born in Shenandoah county, Va., April 1, about 1827, received a common education, and can well remember the old home on the Shen-' andoah river. He went with his parents to Preble county, Ohio, in 1841, and later came to Ross township, Clinton county, Ind., where he has since lived. He taught school in Owen township one term, then learned the carpen- ter's trade, and still works at it. He has built many of the houses and barns throughout this vicinity, and has built more barns than any man in the county, having put up seven in one summer. When he first began to work saw- mills were scarce, and he was obliged to hew the frames and even the ties and braces. He married Elizabeth, daughter of John and Lydia (Nehr) Skiles. John Skiles moved from Vir- ginia to Ross township, and was of sturdy Pennsylvania Dutch stock. He reared a fam- ily consisting of Henry, John, Daniel, David, Catherine, Elizabeth, Lydia and Ann. Mr. Skiles owned a fine farm, was a good farmer and an excellent citizen. He was a member of the German Baptist church, and was quite aged at his death. After marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Goche- nour bought and located on forty acres of land in the woods three and one-half miles west of their present home. This they cleared up by patient labor, and by thrift were able to add forty more. In 1862 Mr. Gochenour moved to his present farm, which then consisted of 160 acres, but he now owns 204 acres. He cleared much of his farm from the virgin woods and has erected a substantial brick house, two stories high, has built good barns and other outbuildings, and'is now a prosperous citizen. He and wife are members of the Conservative German Baptist church, in which he has been deacon twenty years. To Mr. and Mrs. Goch- enour have been born ten children-Lydia A. (deceased, aged forty years), Carl, Cather- ine, Mary, Susannah, Isaac, Manda, Eliza,

Ann and Amos, who died in infancy. Mr. Gochenour gave all his children good common educations. He has been a prominent con- tractor in Ross township for many years and still follows the business. His family are set- tled near him and are among the valued citi- zens of the county. Mr. Gochenour has al- ways been a hard-working and straightforward man, respected for his sterling worth and in- tegrity.

A MOS P. GOFF, an enterprising young farmer, was born in Johnson town- ship, Clinton county. Ind., December 7, 1850, and this is his present place of business. His great-grandfather, George W. Goff, was a native of Ireland, and a resi- dent of Kentucky; Amos Goff, son of George W. was born in Kentucky, but came to Indiana when a young man, and first located in Ham- ilton county, but later came to Clinton connty and entered 300 acres of swamp land at fifty cents per acre. The money he earned for this purpose by working on the canal in Tippe- cance county, Ind. He was a class leader in the Methodist church, and married Rosanna Smith. Charles .W. Goff, son of Amos, and father of Amos P., our subject, was born in Hamilton county, Ind., June 8, 1827. He married Hester Carey, daughter of Jonathan and Rebecca Carey, and to this marriage have been born the following children: Rebecca, Rosanna, P. P., Jonathan C .. Charles W., Mary A. and our subject. After marriage Charles W. Goff settled on a farm in Johnson township, and was closely identified with the township and county of Clinton until his death, April 6, 1864, aged thirty-six years, nine months, and twenty-eight days.

Amos P. Goff was educated in the old log school-house near the place where he resides. He first married Miss Mary J. Brown, daugh-

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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY

ter of David and Margaret (Baker) Brown. Their son Ellsworth, now a young man of twenty, survives his mother, who was a model wife as well as mother, and who died in Feb- ruary, 1873. Mr. Goff married for his second wife Amanda Spurgeon, widow of Josiah Spur- geon, and daughter of Newton and Delila (Gano) Tull, the former of whom died in the army. Mr. Goff resides in his wife's modern- built house on her farm of fifty-one acres, which farm is well improved in all respects. He also owns forty-three acres on the Indian Prairie, which land is very fertile. He is strong in his democratic principles, and works hard for his party. He is a member of the church of Christian Holiness, and is much respected for his upright walk through life.

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Author: Publication date: 1895 Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : A.W. Bowen & Co. Number of Pages: 1080

Author:
Publication date: 1895
Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : A.W. Bowen & Co.
Number of Pages: 1080