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 76

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 76
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 76
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 76

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EORGE LEONARD KEMPF was born in the grand dukedom of Hesse- Darmstadt, Germany, May 6, 1823. His parents were Andrew and Bar- bara (Keil) Kempf, both natives of the above country, where the father died in 1850 at the age of sixty-eight years. He was a free-holder and for many years was engaged in the manu- facture of flour, but at the time of his death was practically retired from business. Mrs. Kempf came to America with her son John in 1852, and died at the home of the subject of this sketch in Clinton county, two months after her arrival in the United States, aged seventy-three years. Andrew and Barbara Kempf were the parents of thirteen children. all deceased except George L. ; two of the sons and two of the daughters came to the United States, and the rest died in their native land.

George Leonard Kempf gained a fairly good education in Germany, and, like his father, early became a manufacturer of flour. For seven years prior to coming to the United States Mr. Kempf was engaged in selling flour

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OF CLINTON COUNTY.

and grain, and did a fairly remunerative busi- ness. In 1848 he came to America, landing in New York on the twenty-third day of May of that year, and after a brief sojourn in that city went direct to Pittsburg, Pa., where he spent a little less than a year among friends, who had previously come from the old country. From Pittsburg he went to Cincinnati, thence to Springfield, Ohio, where he remained about one year, spending the greater part of the in- terim in a flouring mill. Mr .. Kempf's next mnove was via the Erie canal to La Fayette, Ind., where he remained but a few days, ow- ing to his inability to secure employment; then came to Clinton county, Ind., and accepted a position in a flouring mill, about three miles north of Frankfort, operated by a Mr. Beyers. Later he started a new mill for Mr. Beyers, and remained with that gentleman in the ca- pacity of miller about one year. On the nine- teenth of February, 1850, Mr. Kempf was united in marriage to Sarah Jane Gray, daugh- ter of John and Sarah Gray, and about six months thereafter moved to Wyandotte, Tippe- canoe county, where, for a period of about six inonths he had charge of a large flouring mill. Severing his connection with his employer, Mr. Kempf next purchased a mill near Ross- ville, which he operated five years, and after- ward exchanged the property for a mill near Frankfort, which he ran very successfully for a period of fifteen years, it being the first mill of the kind in the vicinity of Frankfort. He operated it first by water, and afterward sup- plied machinery by which steam could be used as motive power. In the meantime, Mr. Kempf embarked in the grocery business at Frankfort, and for a number of years did a fairly successful trade with a miscellaneous as- sortment of merchandise, except dry-goods, closing his career as a merchant in 1870. During the war he was largely engaged in handling livestock, packing pork, etc., and

shipping the same to the eastern markets. In 1870, he erected a large flouring mill in the western part of Frankfort, on the Vandalia railroad, which he operated for ten years, dis- posing of his interest at the end of that time on account of failing health and practically re- tiring from business life.

By reference te the foregoing facts, it will be seen that Mr. Kempf has had a very active career, and, like the majority of men, he has had his successes and met with about the usual number of financial reverses. He owns a com- fortable home on West Clinton street, and while not wealthy in the sense in which the term is usually understood. is possessed of suf- ficient means to enable him to spend his re- maining days in comfort, owing no debts and being no one's creditor. He is a faithful mem- ber of the Presbyterian church, of which his wife, a most faithful companion and kind mother, is also a communicant. They have the following children: Andrew B., William L., Dora B., Fanny and Ella.

NDREW B. KEMPF, son of George L, and Sarah Jane Kempf, and senior member of the firm of Kempf Bros., proprietors of the leading bakery and restaurant of Frankfort, was born December 29, 1850, in Clinton county, Ind. When he was six years old, his parents removed to Frankfort, in the schools of which he pursued his studies until his sixteenth year, and then accepted a position in the grocery business with his father, and was thus employed until 1870. From the latter year until 1872 he managed a boot and shoe store in Frankfort for Mr. Ki Hoover, and from the latter year to 1876 was employed by his father in the milling business. In 1876 Mr. Kempf engaged in his recent business, and, as already stated, is now one of the proprietors of one of the

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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY

largest and best equipped bakeries and restau- rants of Frankfort, and his success ever since embarking in the enterprise has been most encouraging and fully up to his expectations. The place of business is on west Washington street, a short distance from the public square, and by carefully studying the wants of the public and sparing no pains or expense in meet- ing the same, he has succeeded in building up a very extensive business, which is constantly increasing. As a business man, Mr. Kempf has been directed and controlled by wise fore- thought, and success, such as few attain in a much longer career, has attended his efforts. He was married in 1873 to Miss Julia Milani of Frankfort, which union has been blessed by the birth of two daughters: Lizzie and June. Politically Mr. Kempf is a republican and as such was elected to represent his ward in the common council of Frankfort in May, 1894. Since becoming a member of that body, Mr. Kempf has been active in promoting import- ant municipal legislation and is proving him- self a true guardian of the interests of the people. He is a member of the Presbyterian church and belongs to the Pythian order, in the latter of which he is an honest and enthusiastic worker.

J AMES V. KENT, ex-state senator, a lawyer of more than local fame, with residence at Frankfort, Ind., was born May 29, 1847, within the limits of Clin- ton county, Ind., and is a son of George A. and Sarah (Boyle) Kent, the former of whom was born in Connecticut, in 1819, and was a son of Anson and Lucinda (Starkweather) Kent. In 1832 Anson Kent came to Clinton county, Ind., located near Michigantown, and was of great assistance in pushing the state road through the woods. He was there engaged in agriculture until his death, in 1846, on a farm

of 160 acres, of which he was the owner. His widow survived until a good old age, when she died in the state of Iowa, in 1864, at the home of a daughter. George A. Kent was reared a farmer, and at the age of twenty-five years married and engaged in farming in Johnson township, Clinton county, on a farm of 160 acres, which he had entered on his first arrival, and here he died in March, 1859. His widow, Sarah A., now residing with her son, James V., is a daughter of William and Anna (Vencil) Boyle, natives of Virginia, who early settled in Clinton county, Ind , where they passed away their remaining years in peace and comfort. Their eight children are named Byron, a farmer of Nebraska; William, of White county. Ind .; Hon. James V. ; Mary E., deceased; Martha J., wife of John D. Frazier, attorney of Burling- ton, Kas .; Emma L., inarried to D. P. Dow, of Nebraska; Minerva A., wife of William Jen- kins, Clinton county, Ind .; and Adrian B., a farmer of Clinton county, Ind.

James V. Kent received a very good public school education. In 1864 he entered the Lebanon Presbyterian academy for one term; in 1865 studied one term in Dayton, Ind .; when but seventeen years of age he commenced teaching, and for fourteen terms was a peda- gogue. At the age of twenty, however, he be- gan the study of law under Morrison & Palmer and read until 1867. In 1869 he opened an office in Michigantown, Ind., and in 1870 was elected district attorney for Boone and Clinton counties by the democratic party, of which he is one of the stanchest adherents. The district at that time was strongly republican, but Mfr. Kent was so very popular that he was elected by 388 majority. He then took up his permanent residence in Frankfort. In 1872 he was candi- date for the office of prosecuting attorney, but although he ran far ahead of his ticket, the stronger republican faction succeeded in de- feating him. About this time he was in the

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OF CLINTON COUNTY.

active practice of his profession in partnership with D. S. Holman and the Hon: H. Y. Mor- rison, but a year later he withdrew from this firm and joined the Hon. Leander McClurg in a law partnership, but this firm was dissolved ten years later. In 1876 Mr. Kent was elected to the state senate over the Hon. Perry W. Gard, republican. At that time Mr. Kent was the youngest member of the honorable body to which he had been elected, but he performed the duties of the responsible position with as much tact and wisdom as were manifested by the most venerable senators, and became, in fact, a leader and a decided factor in controll- ing legislative affairs and legislative action.

The marriage. of Judge Kent took place May 8, 1873. in Frankfort, with Miss Jannett E. Steele, a native of the city, born Novem- ber 27. 1853, and a daughter of Joseph K. and Mary A. (Shortle) Steele, natives, respectively of North Carolina and Virginia. This union has been blessed by the birth of three chil- dren, viz : Ada M., Cora J., and Frederick S., of whom the last named is deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Kent are sincere members of the Methodist Epicopal church, of the Sunday- school of which Mr. Kent has been a teacher of the same class for over twenty-three years. Theology, also, has been a favorite study of his for at least twenty-five years, and his pro- fundity in both theology and legal lore are seemingly equal. In his capacity as a jurist he has been appointed special judge to preside over what is known as the Paris case, quite a famous bank embezzlement trial at Frank- fort, in September, 1894. Fraternally, Judge Kent is a bright Mason; is a K. of P. and a member of the I. O. R. M. At one time he was an Odd Fellow, but does not now affiliate with that fraternity. At the early age of twen- ty-two he was made vice-grand of his lodge in the latter order, and was elevated to this office the night after his initiation. He was only

twenty-two, likewise, when he represented his lodge in the grand at Indianapolis. Mr. Kent is in a substantial condition, financially speak- ing, owning, as he does, much valuable proper- ty in the city of Frankfort and farms inside the limits of Clinton county.

AVID HORLACHER .- Among the successful men of Clinton county who have overcome serious obstacles, and by industry, skillful management and sheer force of character succeeded in gaining a competence and establishing an honorable reputation in the community, the subject of this mention occupies no second place. David Horlacher was born April 22, 1838, in Butler county, Ohio, and is the son of Levi and Re- becca (Brelsfoard) Horlacher, natives respect- ively of Pennsylvania and Ohio and of German descent. Levi Horlacher was born in the year 1814, early learned the tailor trade, and, going to Ohio in his youth, remained in that state until his removal to Clinton county, Ind .. in 1839. On coming to this county he opened a tailor's shop at the town of Jefferson, at that time a very flourishing place, and worked at his trade for some years in connection with the hotel business. He disposed of his shop in 1849 and purchased a piece of land, which he cleared and improved and upon which his death occurred in 1890; his wife died in 1893. Mr. and Mrs. Horlacher were the parents of six children, namely-David, John, Ephriam, Daniel C., Levi (died in 1849), and Ann, whose death occurred in 1876.

David Horlacher being the eldest of the family, was early initiated into the work of the farm, and he assisted his father right manfully until thirty years of age. In 1865 he purchas- ed a tract of ninety acres, and by hard work succeeded in bringing the greater part of it under cultivation in due season, and from time

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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY

to time added to his place until he became the owner of 38.3 acres, all of which was the fruit of his own industry. He has devoted his en- tire life to agricultural pursuits and ranks with the most intelligent and successful farmers of Washington township. Mr. Horlacher has been a liberal promoter of all public enterprises and has taken much interest in the internal improvement of the county, especially in the matter of gravel roads, having at one time served as superintendent of one of the princi- pal thoroughfares leading to Frankfort.

In early life, Mr. Horlacher attended the common schools, and with such assiduity did he pursue his studies that, when a young man, he was enabled to secure a license entitling him to teach. He taught one term in his neighborhood and earned the reputation of a successful instructor, and had he continued in the profession he no doubt could have gained distinction as an educator. On the twenty- second of September, 1868, Mr. Horlacher entered into the marriage relation with Lavinia B. Watt, daughter of James and Elizabeth H. (Bogue) Watt, the result of which union was five children: James L., born May 27, 1870; Mary, borr August 29, 1871; David B., born February 24, 1874; Syvia L., born June 22, 1879, and Alby, born February 22, 1881. Politically Mr. Horlacher is a democrat, and as such has represented his township on the county central committee. He has been frequently importuned by his friends to accept official honors, but has always refused to enter the arena of partisan politics. He is a mem- ber of Jefferson lodge, No. 136, F. & A. M., and also belongs to an association the object of which is the detection of horse-thieves, Mr. Horlacher, having reaped, to an advantage, the harvest resulting from his assiduity in pur- suing his own early studies, has seen to it that his children have not been backward in the pursuit of knowledge for their own profit.

3 AMES S. KEYS is a native of Indiana and was born August 30, 1836, in the county of Clinton. His father, Joseph Keys, was born in Delaware, of Scotch- Irish parentage, and was married in that state to Ann Sparks, soon after which he emigrated to Ohio, where he was engaged in agricultural pursuits until his removal to Indiana in 1835. On coming to the Hoosier state Joseph Keys located in Montgomery county, where he re- .mained three years, at the end of which time he became a resident of the county of Clinton, locating first in Washington township and later moving to what is now Center township, where he departed this life in the year 1860. Mrs. Keys died in 1850 and is remembered as a woman of many excellent traits of character. To Joseph and Ann Keys were born eight children, whose names are as follows: Rachel. wife of Wm. Ostler; John, a resident of Boone county: Benjamin, who resides at Frankfort: Rebecca, widow of John Fruits, of Wayne- town, Ind., Thomas, a citizen of Frankfort; James S., whose name introduces this sketch, Mary, deceased, and Job, who lives in the town of Enterprise, Kan. Joseph Keys was a man well respected by all who knew him. a democrat in politics, and while not as suc- cessful as some in the accumulation of worldly wealth, accumulated a moderate competence and always endeavercd to set an example for his children worthy of imitation.

James S. Keys was educated in the schools of Clinton county, and on his father's farm early became inured to honest labor, in the dignity of which he has ever been a true be- liever and which has been his motto through- out life. He remained under the parental roof until the breaking out of the rebellion, when, actuated by the spirit of patriotism which fired the heart of the country, he laid aside the peaceful pursuits of the farm and proffered his services for the defense of the national

David. Horlacher.

Lavinia B. Horlacher

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OF CLINTON COUNTY.

honor, enlisting, in 1862, in company K, Sev- enty-second Indiana volunteer infantry, with which he shared the fortunes and vicissitudes of war for three years. During his period of service Mr. Keys took part in all the battles in which his regiment was engaged and nobly earned the reputation of a gallant soldier, who did his whole duty and never shrank from or shirked a responsibility, however dangerous. After his discharge Mr. Keys returned to Clin- ton county and accepted a clerkship in a grocery house at Frankfort, where for a period of twenty-four years he remained in the employ of a single firm, which fact is certainly a very strong testimonial of his hon- esty and efficiency as a salesman and success- ful business man. Severing his connection with the grocery business, Mr. Keys next en- gaged in buying and selling poultry and prod- uce, which he has since continued and in which line of trade he has met with the most encouraging success, his sales at this time av- eraging over $12,000 a year. In business matters he is painstaking and methodical, and his reputation as a dealer is strictly first-class, and he is rated among the substantial and well- to-do men of Frankfort. Mr. Keys is a prom- inent member of the G. A. R., in the deliber- ,ations of which he takes an active interest, and in politics is a supporter of the republican party. He was married August 16, 1870, in Frankfort, to Miss Elizabeth Aughe, a native of Clinton county, Ind , born April 6, 1843, and the union has been blessed with one child, Walter L., whose birth occurred on the seven- teenth day of November, 1871. Walter L. Keys is one of the popular young men of Frankfort, a graduate of the city schools, and at this time holds the position of captain of the local organization, Sons of Veterans. The social standing of Mr. Keys and family is an enjoyable one, and one, indeed, of which he may well feel proud. 36

J OSEPH W. KEYS, proprietor of the bottling works of Frankfort, was born in Clinton county, Ind., March 25, 1860, and is a son of Thomas P. and Martha E. (Furgeson) Keys. Thomas Keys is a native of Montgomery county, Ind., and a son of Joseph Keys, who moved from Mary- land, in an early day, and became one of the pioneers of the county of Montgomery. The Keys family is of English origin, and several of the name came to the United States a great many years ago and settled in Maryland, where descendants are still to be met with. Thomas Keys, the subject's father, was a soldier in the late war, enlisting August 6, 1862, in company I, One Hundredth Indiana infantry, with which he served until honorably discharged at Indianapolis on the twenty- third of June, 1865. He shared the vicissitudes and fortunes of war in a number of battles, twenty-eight in all, and nobly did his part as a defender of the flag in the dark days when treason threatened to disrupt the country.

Joseph W. Keys is one of six children and was educated in the schools of Frankfort, where he made commendable progress as a student. At the early age of thirteen, he be- gan the battle of life upon his own responsi- bility, accepting a clerkship in a business house of Frankfort, in which capacity he continued with varying success until after attaining his majority. His first independent business venture was as a poultry dealer in Alton, Ill., which he conducted for about six months, and in the fall of 1890 purchased the bottling works of E. H. Whittaker, at that time a small affair, but which under his successful management has since become one of the most extensive establishments of the kind in central Indiana. As a business man, he has nobly earned the success which he now enjoys and has built up a trade in his line second to but few enterprises in Frankfort. The out-put of

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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY

his works has a large sale throughout Indiana, and the superior quality of his goods has earn- ed for him a reputation extending beyond the limits of the state. Mr. Keys was united in marriage September 16, 1891, to Miss Nellie Taylor of Logansport. He is a member of the Loyal Order of Moose and also of the I. O. R. M., in the deliberations of both of which fraternities he is a potent factor.

0 AVID J. KIMMELL .- Few citizens | of Perry township are as widely and favorably known as the gentle- man whose name introduces this sketch. Mr. Kimmell springs from German ancestry and the name is frequently found in Pennsylvania, where the family settled at a very early period in the history of the country. Tracing his lineage paternally, it is learned that his great-grandfather, Joseph Kimmell, was an early resident of the Keystone state and a man of intelligence and social standing in his community. Conrad Kimmell, son of the above Joseph and grandfather of David J., was also a Pennsylvanian and farmer by occupa- tion. Among his children was David Kimmell, whose birth occurred in York county, July 19,' 1803. Like his ancestors, David Kimmell was an agriculturist and followed his chosen calling for a number of years in his native state, where he was united in marriage to Chris- tina Oaks, whose father was a well known farmer of Bedford county, Pa. After his mar- riage David Kimmell emigrated to Ohio and settled in Tuscarawas county, and his death subsequently occurred in Hancock county, Ohio. He accumulated a handsome compe- tence, and gave his children the advantages of a good education and liberally assisted them to start in life. He was a whig in politics and always entertained decided opnions upon the leading questions of the day, which he had the

courage to express. He reared a family. of which the following are the names: George W., Lucinda E., Catherine, Samuel B., David J., Margaret J., Henrietta. Jacob A., Saman- tha and Elizabeth.

David J. Kimmell was born in Stark coun- ty, Ohio, May 22, 1838. His early educa- tional training embraced the common and high school courses in the city of Findlay, and after being sufficiently prepared, he engaged in teaching, which profession he followed with the most encouraging success for a period of seventeen years in his native state, earning, in the meantime, the reputation of a very careful and efficient instructor. He taught in both common and graded schools and his success is sufficiently attested by his frequent retentions in the same localities, never having had to look , far for good positions. He was married Octo- ber 29, 1863, to Elizabeth Carver, daughter of Joseph and Eliza (Cherry) Carver, and some- time thereafter engaged in agricultural pursuits in his native county, where he resided until his removal to Clinton county, Ind., in 1887. On coming to the county of Clinton, Mr. Kimmell bought his present farm of 265 acres in Perry township, beside which he owns other property being one of the well-to-do men of his community. His farm is a model in many repsects, the condition of his fencing, his fine and elegantly furnished residence, and all other improvement indicating the presence of a man of industry, intelligence, and taste. Mr. Kimmell and family stand deservedly high socially and number their friends by the score throughout Clinton county. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, in which he has taken a number of degrees, including those of chapter and Sir Knight, belonging to Vista lodge, No. 136, and Frankfort commandery, No. 29, in both of which he has held import- ant official positions. Religiously he adheres to the Methodist church, of which his wife is

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OF CLINTON COUNTY.

also an active member .. The following are the names of the .children, born to Mr. and Mrs. Kimmell : Laura E., Florence, deceased, Jesse M., Homer, Charles A., Catherine, and Morton G. His eldest daughter, Laura E., was educated at Findlay, Ohio, and has at- tained marked success as a teacher. Joseph Carver, father of Mrs. Kimmell, was a native Pennsylvanian and moved to Ohio in 1830, settling in Hancock county, of which he was one of the pioneers. Intellectually he was far above the ordinary, and he exerted a marked influence in various ways in his community. He was a strict member of the Friends' church, a republican in politics, and his death, which occurred June, 1891, in his eighty-third year, was felt as a personal loss by his many friends and neighbors. His widow is still living in Hancock county, Ohio.

A BRAHAM J. KLOPFER, merchant tailor and well known citizen of Frankfort, is a native of Germany, born October 10, 1838, in the king- dom of Prussia. His parents, Max and Matilda (Levi) Klopfer, were both born in Prussia, where all their lives were passed and both are now deceased. They had three children: one son, the subject of this mention, and two daughters, one of whom is living in Germany; the other died a few years ago in the city of Cincinnati.

Abraham J. Klopfer grew to manhood in his native country, was well educated in the schools of the same, and when fifteen years of age began learning the tailor's trade, in which he soon became quite proficient. He followed his chosen calling in Prussia until his twenty- sixth year, at which time, in 1864. thinking that the new world afforded better advantages than the Fatherland, he came to the United States, and during the succeeding eight years

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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