USA > Indiana > Warren County > Biographical history of Tippecanoe, White, Jasper, Newton, Benton, Warren and Pulaski counties, Indiana, Volume II > Part 41
USA > Indiana > Jasper County > Biographical history of Tippecanoe, White, Jasper, Newton, Benton, Warren and Pulaski counties, Indiana, Volume II > Part 41
USA > Indiana > White County > Biographical history of Tippecanoe, White, Jasper, Newton, Benton, Warren and Pulaski counties, Indiana, Volume II > Part 41
USA > Indiana > Newton County > Biographical history of Tippecanoe, White, Jasper, Newton, Benton, Warren and Pulaski counties, Indiana, Volume II > Part 41
USA > Indiana > Pulaski County > Biographical history of Tippecanoe, White, Jasper, Newton, Benton, Warren and Pulaski counties, Indiana, Volume II > Part 41
USA > Indiana > Benton County > Biographical history of Tippecanoe, White, Jasper, Newton, Benton, Warren and Pulaski counties, Indiana, Volume II > Part 41
USA > Indiana > Tippecanoe County > Biographical history of Tippecanoe, White, Jasper, Newton, Benton, Warren and Pulaski counties, Indiana, Volume II > Part 41
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During the civil war Mr. Maibauer manifested his loyalty to his adopted land by enlisting at Lafayette, June 15, 1862, as a private of Company M, Fourth Indiana Cavalry, to serve three years. He was honorably discharged at Edgefield, Tennessee, August 17, 1865, after having participated in the battles of Madisonville, Shelbyville, Smithfield, Bridgeport, Selma, West Point, Montgomery, Fair Grove, Chickamauga and the great Atlanta cam- paign, in which the Union troops were under fire for nearly four months. He also took part in the battles of Resaca, Kenesaw mountain, Atlanta, Macon,
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Lavergne, Nashville, Waterloo and Gravel Springs. He was bugler of his regiment, and on one occasion a bullet pierced his bugle. At Tyrone, Tenn- essee, he was wounded in the left hip by a spent ball, on account of which he was forced to remain in the hospital at Nashville for three months. He was a faithful defender of the old flag on the long marches, on the skirmish line or on the field of battle, and was detailed to carry dispatches for Gen- eral Rosecrans from Nashville to Murfreesboro, a distance of thirty-two miles, which was traveled by night on account of the danger from guerrillas. He performed his mission most ably, and at the close of the war returned home with an honorable military record of which he may be justly proud.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Maibauer have been born six children: Frederick, Ida, Gertrude (who died at the age of seventeen years), Minnie, William C. and Ralph G. C. The family is one of prominence in the community, having a large circle of earnest friends in Pulaski county. Mr. Maibauer has led a busy, useful and active life, characterized by honor in all its walks, and his name should be inscribed high on the roll of Pulaski's leading representatives.
HIRAM KESSINGER.
Hiram Kessinger is one of the substantial farmers of White Post town- ship and is a respected and faithful citizen who, at the time of the great civil strife which rent the country in twain, went to the defense of the Union and aided in establishing the supremacy of the stars and stripes over the entire land. He is a representative of the worthy German element that has been such an important factor in the settlement of America. The family was founded in Maryland at an early day and Captain Jacob Kessinger, father of our subject, was born in Washington county, that state. By trade he was a tanner. In his native county he married Margaret Beard, who was born in the same county, in 1788. They took up their abode in Smithburg, Mary- land, where he engaged in merchandising, and afterward built a large pottery and factory in which he engaged in the manufacture of copper and tinware. He prospered in his dealings and succeeded in building up a large business, sustaining an unassailable reputation in trade circles. In 1837 he removed to Harrison county, Indiana, settling on a farm of one hundred and sixty acres. He at once began its improvement, but died in September of the same year, at the age of seventy. During the war of 1812 he loyally served his country and won his title as commander of a company in the American service. His fine sword, silver mounted, is still in possession of our subject. In his polit- ical views he was a Democrat and in religious faith a Lutheran. He served as justice of the peace for a number of years and discharged his duties in a most prompt and capable manner, -in fact was ever true to all public trusts
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and to his obligations of citizenship. He was twice married, the children of the first union being Euphemia and Otilda. For his second wife he married a widow, whose maiden name was Margaret Beard, and who by her former marriage had two sons, Daniel and Andrew. The children of the second union were Jacob, Theodore, Benjamin, Hiram, Luther, Mary, Margaret, Lucinda and George. The mother lived to the advanced age of ninety-five years and eight months, her death occurring in Harrison county, Indiana, December 26, 1884.
Hiram Kessinger, Pulaski county's well known representative of this family, was born in Washington county, Maryland, February 23, 1823, and there acquired his education. His father was a well-read man and the possessor of a good library, from which Hiram gleaned much valuable knowledge, which largely supplemented his school privileges. He came to Indiana when fifteen years of age and for eighteen months studied medicine in Harrison county, but abandoning his plan of preparing to enter the med- ical fraternity he learned the trades of carpentering and house-painting. As a companion and helpmeet on life's journey he chose Miss Martha Har- riet Glasgow, who was born April 12, 1827, their wedding being celebrated in Harrison county, December 10, 1844. To them was born a son, John L., whose birth occurred October 31, 1845, and who is now a resident of Harrison county, Indiana, and a daughter, Martha H., who was born Decem- ber 8, 1847, and died in infancy. The mother died in Elizabeth, Indiana, December 15, 1847, at the age of twenty years, and on the 16th of April, 1848, Mr. Kessinger was married, in Harrison county, to Miss Mary Ann Fravel, who was born December 30, 1829. They had a daughter, Laura J., born February 23, 1850. Mrs. Kessinger died on the 29th of November of the same year, and in Shippingport, Kentucky, January 19, 1851, Mr. Kessinger wedded Clarissa Bailey, whose maiden name was Newman, and who was born May 31, 1817. Two children graced this union: Cornelia B., born December 13, 1853; and Hiram Newman, born September 28, 1855. The death of Mrs. Clarissa Kessinger occurred June 8, 1858, when aged forty-two years and eight days, and on the 17th of July, 1859, in Elizabeth, Indiana, Rev. James A. Hudson performed the marriage ceremony which united Hiram Kessinger and Roweney Eads Gaither. Her father. Wesley Gaither, was one of the early settlers and substantial citizens of Harrison county, Indiana, where he owned one hundred and sixty acres of good land. He married Eleanor Bell, a native of Winchester, Kentucky, and a daughter of William Bell. They became the parents of three children: Ellzabeth Jane, Mary Ellen and Roweney Eads, the last named born in Harrison county, Indiana, September 3, 1827. The father of this family died in 1828. Unto Hiram and Roweney Kessinger were born four children:
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Thomas Gilmore, born June 21, 1860; Cornelia Armilda, born February II, 1867 ; Walter Scott, born September 3, 1868; and Margaret Virginia, who was born in Pulaski county, March 8, 1872, and died March 26, 1873.
For some years Mr. Kessinger was a resident of Elizabeth, Indiana, where he followed the carpenter's trade. Later he engaged in merchandis- ing at that place, and for fourteen months carried on the same business in Shippingport, Kentucky, an Ohio river port. On the expiration of that period he engaged in trading and in supplying wood to the steamboats, after which he returned to Elizabeth and erected a grist and saw mill, at a cost of eight thousand dollars, being associated in the enterprise with James Farnsley. Eighteen months later he sold out to his partner and resumed merchandising, and when the civil war broke out he had a trading boat stocked with goods to the value of five thousand dollars and land valued at three thousand dol- lars, owning seven hundred and twenty acres in Walker township, Jasper county, Indiana, and a residence, located on a ten-acre tract in Elizabeth, Harrison county, the same being a fine place. He sold his goods at the dif- ferent points along the Ohio, and did a good business; but realizing that hos- tilities would interfere with his enterprise, and feeling that the country needed his services, he put aside all personal consideration and joined the boys in blue.
Mr. Kessinger enlisted at Elizabeth as a private of Company D, Fifty- third Indiana Infantry, to serve three years. On the expiration of his first term he re-enlisted as a veteran at Hebron, Mississippi, February 24, 1864, and continued at the front till mustered out at Louisville, July 21, 1865, being honorably discharged two days later, at Indianapolis. He participated in the siege of Corinth, in April, 1862; Hatchie river, October 5, 1862; siege of Vicksburg, in June and July, 1863; Jackson, July 12; Harrisonburg, Sep- tember 4; Meridian, February 14, 1864; the Atlanta campaign, where for nearly four months the Union troops were under fire; Kenesaw mountain, June 27, 1864; Nickajack, June 10; Peach Tree creek, July 20-22; the siege of Atlanta, in August; the battle of Jonesboro, August 30, 1864, and the greatest military march in history,-Sherman's march to the sea. He was also in the battles of Savannah, December 10, 1864; Orangeburg, February 2, 1865; Braxton Bridge, February 4; Columbia, February 17; Bentonville, North Carolina, March 21; and Raleigh, April 17, 1865. His company was organized and mustered into the United States service at New Albany, Indi- ana, February 24, 1861, and re-enlisted and mustered in, February 24, 1864, at Hudson, Mississippi. They traveled many thousands of miles during those years, the aggregate distance traveled in the principal marches being seven thousand, five hundred and thirty miles. The colonel of the regiment was Hon. Walter Q. Gresham, afterward United States secretary of state,
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with whom Mr. Kessinger had been personally acquainted for a number of years. Our subject was a soldier loyal and true, and no duty was entrusted to him that was not faithfully performed. After the battle of Corinth, in 1862, he was detailed as hospital nurse and promoted to the position of hos- pital steward and ward master. He was in the field in all the active cam- paigns with his regiment, caring for the sick and wounded, and was frequently detailed to remove the wounded to different hospitals. During his service he sustained injuries from which he has never recovered.
When hostilities had ceased, Mr. Kessinger returned to Indiana and was appointed deputy sheriff of Harrison county and also served as tax collector for five years. In December, 1870, he came to Pulaski county, and located on his present farm, purchasing one hundred acres of land, of which only ten acres had been cleared. He removed the timber and brush from the re- mainder and transformed the tract into rich and fertile fields, and also im- proved the place by the erection of substantial buildings. He has his farm well drained and under a high state of cultivation, it being one of the most desirable country homes in the locality.
In politics Mr. Kessinger is a Democrat, and for twenty-two years he has been supervisor of his township, his long service plainly indicating his superior ability and faithfulness in office. He was formerly a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and now belongs to Guild Post, G. A. R., of Medaryville. In his business affairs he has prospered, having through dili- gence, perseverance and capable management acquired a handsome property which classed him among the substantial citizens of the community. Many are his commendable characteristics-qualities which have won him a place among the leading residents of his adopted county.
THOMAS M. McDONALD
As a well known contractor and builder of Earl Park, Indiana, many notable examples of the skill of Mr. McDonald may be seen at various points in this region. Thoroughly reliable in all things, the quality of his work is a convincing test of his own personal worth, and the same admirable trait is shown in his conscientious discharge of the duties of different positions of trust and responsibility to which he has been chosen in business and political life.
Mr. McDonald was born December 27, 1851, near Kittanning, Armstrong county, Pennsylvania, of which county his parents, Hugh Alexander and Katherine (Bowers) McDonald, also were natives, and there their marriage was celebrated in 1837. The father, who was born in 1818, followed the occupation of farming throughout life, operating his mother's farm, which was
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inherited by his children. He died in Jefferson county, Pennsylvania, in 1893, but his wife is still living, and now makes her home on a small farm of eleven acres, northeast of Kittanning, in Armstrong county. Her parents were of German birth, but the paternal grandfather of our subject, Hugh A. McDonald, was a Scotch-American, and his wife was a Pennsylvania German.
The subject of this sketch is the sixth in order of birth in a family of nine children, the others being as follows: James, still a resident of Armstrong county, Pennsylvania; Ann, wife of David Cook, a stone-mason of the same county; Susan, wife of Absalom Rupert, of Allegheny county, Pennsylvania; Margaret, widow of Samuel Sheasley, and a resident of Armstrong county; John WV., a carpenter of Lexington, Nebraska; Frank, a carpenter of Paw- nee City, Nebraska; Park, a resident of Corvallis, Oregon; and Rees, a painter of West Newton, Pennsylvania.
The early education of Thomas M. McDonald was such as could be ac- quired by attending the district schools of Burrell township, Armstrong coun- ty, Pennsylvania, for twelve terms of four months each. At the age of nineteen he was apprenticed to Cyrus Linsenbirgler, a contractor of Elder- ton, Pennsylvania, with whom he remained for two years. The next year was spent with John Spencer, and he completed his apprenticeship in Alle- gheny county, that state. He next worked as a journeyman, and afterward engaged in contracting and general job work, which he has continued to the present time with good success. He remained with his mother in Arm- strong county until 1880, when he became a resident of Earl Park, Indiana. He first bought a small shanty, located in the southeast quarter of the town, but in 1882 purchased a lot and built thereon his present comfortable home, to which he has since added various improvements. He has also increased his real-estate holdings by buying three and a half lots adjoining his place.
At Fowler, Indiana, in 1875, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Mc- Donald and Miss Ella Freeland, daughter of Anthony and Ellen (Duna- gan) Freeland, both of whom died in Benton county, Indiiana, aged ninety-six and eighty-six years, respectively. The father was a na- tive of Glasgow, Scotland, and the mother, though born in Ireland, was reared in Scotland. He landed in New York, and his first work on American soil was on the canal at Lockport. He purchased one hun- dred and sixty acres of land near that place, which he sold some time later and bought the same amount in Benton county, Indiana, where he afterward made his home. In his family were eight children, namely: Alexander, now a retired coal-miner of Odell, Illinois; Mary, wife of John McKanna, a retired farmer of Fowler, Indiana; John, also a retired farmer of that place, near which town he owns nine hundred and eighty acres of land; Katherine, wife of John Lyons, a farmer of Odell, Illinois; Edward, a farmer living
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near Manilla, Iowa; Rose, wife of Hugh Tracy, of Morocco, Indiana; Ellen, wife of our subject; and Daniel, a resident of Hughes county, South Da- kota. Mrs. McDonald was formerly the wife of John Stapleton, of Lock- wood, Illinois, by whom she had three children: William, who died in in- fancy; Rose, now the wife of James Hennessy, of Indianapolis, Indiana; and Laura, wife of C. G. Holtam, of Earl Park. Mr. and Mrs. McDonald have two children: William, born March 29, 1876, is at home; and Norris A., born June 20, 1878, has recently graduated from the Indianapolis Busi- ness College, having completed a short-hand and business course.
Mr. McDonald attends the Lutheran church, to which his parents be- longed, and socially he has affiliated with the Masonic fraternity for the past nine years. In politics he is a Democrat, and has served his town as school trustee since its incorporation, about seven years ago, being president of the board at the present time.
WILLIAM H. RHOADES.
An ex-soldier of the civil war and a well-known citizen of Rensselaer, Jasper county, Indiana, Mr. Rhoades is one of the city's wealthy and influ- ential men. He was born at Winslow, Kennebec county, Maine, about six- teen miles from Augusta, in the same county in which his father was born, in 1813. The maiden name of his mother was Mary Ann Duren, and she was born in 1814. Our subject was the eldest of a family of seven children, all of whom grew to mature years. He received a good education, enter- ing the Bryant and Stratton Business College, of Buffalo, New York, when but a youth, and graduating from that institution with honor. He was selected from a large list of graduates to teach bookkeeping and penman- ship in the school at Lockport, New York, at a salary of one thousand five hundred dollars per year. During his vacation he made a visit to his parents in this city, to which they had moved in 1855, and was so well pleased with the place that he was induced to remain here and engage in business. He afterward accepted a position as bookkeeper for a mercantile firm in La Porte, Indiana, but soon relinquished it to enlist in the army. He became a non- commissioned officer in Company G, Ninth Indiana Regiment, of which two of his brothers, Charles and Marshall D., also were members. The regi- ment was sent to West Virginia, placed under General McClellan, and took part in the battles of Philippi, Laurel Hill and other engagements. As their enlistment was for but three months, they returned in July to Indian- apolis, and at once re-enlisted for three years' further service. The first officers of the new Company G were: Captain, Joshua Healey; first lieu- tenant, William H. Rhoades; second lieutenant, John O. Cravens. They were
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soon sent to West Virginia and saw active service. They were transferred to Buell's army in February, 1862, and moved to Nashville, Tennessee, where they were assigned to General Nelson's division, and took part in the battle of Shiloh. They took part in most of the important events of the war, and their record during the entire service was most creditable. From the post of lieutenant our subject was promoted to the rank of adjutant of the regiment, a position he held until a change was made in the command of the regiment, and he returned to his company. One of the saddest duties of the entire service was bringing home the bodies of his brother Charles, Orderly Sergeant Gordon and Asa Porter, who were killed in the battle of Cheat Mountain, and who were the first men from Jasper county to lose their lives in their country's service.
Mr. Rhoades returned from the army badly broken in health, and still feels the effect of the hardships and privations then endured, as he has never regained his former robust health. He once more engaged in business in this city, and erected the Rhoades Block, but has been practically retired for several years. He was married to Miss Fanny O. York, a daughter of John G. York, and their home is one of the most beautiful in the city. He is an honored member of the Grand Army of the Republic, and his favorite colors, the red, white and blue, are to be seen in "Old Glory," which is given a prominent place in his home. The splendid portrait accompanying this sketch was made from a photograph taken some years since.
FREDRICK KNEBEL.
As long as history is written will the name of the soldier who has fought for country or principles figure conspicuously on its pages, and his bravery awakens universal admiration. Among the loyal sons of the Union who aided in crushing out the spirit of the rebellion in the south was Fredrick Knebel, who was born beyond the sea, but no more loyal adherent of the old flag was found among the boys in blue. He is to-day a public-spirited and progressive citizen and one of the representative agriculturists of Pulaski county.
Mr. Knebel was born in Schonbach, Wurtemberg, Germany, March 17, 1839, and is a son of Jacob and Mary (Fisher) Knebel. His father was born in the same country, May 26, 1800, and the latter's father also bore the name of Jacob, and was a native of the same locality. The last men- tioned was a soldier in the German army, and by occupation was a farmer. He owned a small tract of land and was in comfortable circumstances. His wife was in her maidenhood Miss Wurchlich, and their only child was 58
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Jacob Knebel, Jr. They spent their entire lives in the land of their nativity, and the grandfather died at the advanced age of ninety-three years.
Jacob Knebel, father of our subject, was reared under the parental roof, and devoted his energies to agricultural pursuits in Germany until his emigra- tion to America. On the 19th of April, 1853, he bade adieu to his old home, on the 24th of May sailed from Darmstadt to London, England, and there took passage on a westward bound sailing vessel, which, after a voyage of forty days, dropped anchor in the harbor of New York, July 4, 1853. Taking up his residence in Crawford county, Ohio, he there engaged in farming until his removal to Fulton county, Indiana, February 24, 1857. He purchased seventy acres of partially improved land, which he transformed into richly cultivated fields, making his home thereon until his death. Ere leaving his native land he was married, May 26, 1826, to Miss Mary Fisher, who was born September 7, 1807. Their children were: Jacob J., born January 7, 1833; John, born January 1, 1835; Mary A., born March 1, 1837; Fredrick, born March 17, 1839; Rosa, who was born June 20, 1842, died in America after her marriage. There were also four children who died in infancy. Two of the sons served in the civil war, Frederick and Jacob, the latter having enlisted as a teamster in a Missouri regiment, with which he served two years. In his political views the father was first a Democrat and afterward a Republican, and in religious faith he was a Methodist. He died on his farm December 24, 1874, at the age of seventy-four years, re- spected by all who knew him, for his life had been an upright and active one, in which he faithfully performed every duty that came to him.
Fredrick Knebel acquired a good practical education in the public schools of Germany, and when fourteen years of age was confirmed in the Lutheran church. He attended school for only three weeks after his ar- rival in the New World, but through observation and experience in the prac- tical affairs of life he has become a well informed man. He was reared on the home farm, and assisted in its cultivation until after the inauguration of the war of the Rebellion, when on the 8th of February, 1862, he enlisted as a private of Company K, Sixtieth Indiana Infantry, being enrolled at a little school-house in Pulaski county, called "Pitch In." He served until he was honorably discharged, in order that he might re-enlist as a veteran, March 8, 1864, from which time he was in active duty until the stars and stripes were victoriously planted in the capital of the Confederacy, receiving his final discharge March 18, 1865. He participated in the battle of Munfordville, Kentucky, after which his company was mounted and detailed for scouting duty. They participated in many skirmishes and were in the following pitched battles: Lookout mountain, Vicksburg, White river, Arkansas Post, Jackson, Champion Hills, Black river, Vicksburg, and the battle of Grand
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Coteau, Louisiana, where the regiment lost one hundred and one men, while forty-seven were wounded and a large number were taken prisoners, leaving but sixty-eight out of the four hundred who went into the engagement. Mr. Knebel was a faithful soldier, always found at his post of duty, and was never taken prisoner or ill in a hospital, but was always with his comrades on the line of march, in the ranks of battle or upon the tented field, as duty called him. He received a bad fall at Vicksburg while, with some com- rades, he was engaged in undermining a fort. The rebels fired a sharp vol- ley into their ranks, and they were obliged to retreat to better shelter. While running along with a companion, whose hand he held, his comrade fell, pierced by three bullets, and died instantly. On another occasion Mr. Kne- bel also had another very narrow escape. He was forage master, and while out on a foraging expedition he was riding all alone, on horseback, when he suddenly came upon a party of about fifty guerrillas eating their dinner by the side of the road. They called to him to halt, and then fired a fusilade, but, instantly wheeling, he ran his horse for his life, and after a hot chase of three miles managed to elude his pursuers. He was promoted to the rank of sergeant for meritorious conduct, but did not accept the position, being content to go through the war as a private, satisfied with the knowledge that he had done his whole duty in defense of the land of his adoption.
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