USA > Indiana > Warren County > Biographical history of Tippecanoe, White, Jasper, Newton, Benton, Warren and Pulaski counties, Indiana, Volume II > Part 59
USA > Indiana > Jasper County > Biographical history of Tippecanoe, White, Jasper, Newton, Benton, Warren and Pulaski counties, Indiana, Volume II > Part 59
USA > Indiana > White County > Biographical history of Tippecanoe, White, Jasper, Newton, Benton, Warren and Pulaski counties, Indiana, Volume II > Part 59
USA > Indiana > Newton County > Biographical history of Tippecanoe, White, Jasper, Newton, Benton, Warren and Pulaski counties, Indiana, Volume II > Part 59
USA > Indiana > Pulaski County > Biographical history of Tippecanoe, White, Jasper, Newton, Benton, Warren and Pulaski counties, Indiana, Volume II > Part 59
USA > Indiana > Benton County > Biographical history of Tippecanoe, White, Jasper, Newton, Benton, Warren and Pulaski counties, Indiana, Volume II > Part 59
USA > Indiana > Tippecanoe County > Biographical history of Tippecanoe, White, Jasper, Newton, Benton, Warren and Pulaski counties, Indiana, Volume II > Part 59
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Matthias Kuhn, the father of C. W. Kuhn, is a native of Germany, and for the past forty-six years he has dwelt in the United States, establishing his home in this county in the spring of 1860. A sketch of his family and ances- try appears elsewhere in this work; and suffice it here to say that great ju- dicious care and training were bestowed upon each of the boys as he grew to manhood. When Mr. Kuhn arrived at maturity the generous father gave him a start in an independent career, by deeding to him a farm of ninety-five acres, situated on section 32, Harrison township, this county. An old house stood on the place, and now, after being remodeled and enlarged, it provides a comfortable home for the little family which it shelters. Mr. Kuhn is con- stantly making improvements upon his place, and is accounted one of the progressive farmers of this locality. Following in the political footsteps of his father, he is a stanch Democrat.
For a companion and helpmate along the rugged journey of life, he chose Miss Sarah Burns, a daughter of Martin Burns, and their marriage took place on the 6th of May, 1891. Mrs. Kuhn, now in her thirtieth year, like her
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husband, was reared in the faith of the Catholic church. They have a little son and daughter, namely: Celia D., born April 9, 1893; and Martin Mat- thias, born February 18, 1897. They have many sincere friends and well wishers in this community, and all with whom they have an acquaintanceship speak of the young couple in the highest terms.
JOSEPH A. ENGLE.
In the story of the small beginnings, the manly struggles, the honest successes of the self-made man, there is always something essentially inter- esting. Because it typifies the history of human development and progress, it appeals strongly to the human heart and excites to human endeavor. Such a story is that of the somewhat remarkable career of the man whose name appears above.
Joseph A. Engle is a son of Daniel and Sylvia (Hubbell) Engle, and was born in Dearborn county, Indiana, April 18, 1853, was brought by his parents to Pulaski county in 1856, and was reared amid all the environments of pio- neer life. He remembers the county when most of it was a veritable hunt- ers' paradise. Until he was eleven years old he went to school in Salem township, two miles and a half across the prairie and over the township line from his father's home in White Post township, and walked the distance night and morning. Afterward he attended the winter schools at Frances- ville, and when he was ready to undertake the battle of life he had the equip- ment of a good common-school education. He had become familiar with farming as it was carried on in that day and in that part of the country, and he had passed so much of his spare time in the woods and on the prairies that he had a great liking for hunting. Any man who makes the conditions among which he lives tributary to his money-making has solved the first problem in the lesson of success. This Mr. Engle did while yet only a lad of sixteen, by becoming a hunter for the market in the woods round about his home. He had been a good shot with the rifle even before he was strong enough to hold his "shooting iron" out straight, and during the preceding two years his brother, John C. Engle, had made a success at this work. They were employed by W. S. Valentine, who was a hunter and game-buyer for the New York markets, and were paid a regular monthly salary for their services. When Joseph began to shoot he received the sum of sixteen dollars a month and board, and was provided with a shot-gun, ammuni- tion and everything necessary to make his outfit complete. This was considered very good pay for a boy in those days, and the work was healthful and exciting and appealed strongly to the liking of a venture- some young fellow like Joseph Engle. Game was so plentiful that its
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amount and variety can scarcely be comprehended by residents of the county who were not within its borders at that time. Geese, ducks, prairie chick- ens, snipe, plover, in fact game birds of all kinds, were so numerous every- where that expert hunters killed them in very large quantities. Mr. Engle relates that he so often killed one hundred prairie chickens in a day that he grew to think little of it. He excelled as a wing shot and killed many birds on the wing. Once a party of four, Mr. Engle one of the number, while hunting on the Kankakee marshes, killed five hundred birds in one week. Four men could easily kill one hundred ducks in a day in the marshes of Rich Grove and Jefferson townships, Pulaski county. When Mr. Engle was a boy By the time he had grown deer were plentiful and he killed many of them.
up they had become quite scarce, but a party with whom he hunted one day killed four deer and a wolf in the Kankakee marshes. It is not probable that there were many localities in which game was so abundant. During the winter months mink and muskrats were killed and trapped for their furs. After he had worked awhile for Mr. Valentine, young Engle decided to go into the business on his own account. He employed hunters and shipped his game to New York and sold it in the market there. He gave his attention to hunting for twenty years, and it was in that business that he laid the foundation of his subsequent fortune.
When game began to grow scarce Mr. Engle engaged in the real-estate business. At twenty he had bought a lot in Francesville, on which he built a house. Later he operated successfully in land. After a time he turned his attention to banking and established the first bank at Francesville. He retired from banking some time since, but in partnership with W. R. Jones carries on an extensive business in loans and insurance. While engaged in other enterprises he bought game and shipped it to the New York markets, dealing principally in snipe and plover; and he handles these birds still, though the supply is small and the prices are correspondingly high.
In the earlier days, when game was plentiful, he often made twenty-five dollars by a day's hunting, and when he employed others to hunt for him he sometimes made much more. In 1882 he erected a refrigerator for the cold storage of his game awaiting shipment. In company with H. W. Bledsoe, he built the Francesville Opera House, in which he is still interested. He owns several residences and other valuable town property and much farming land, including a fine eighty-acre farm. He acquired real estate somewhat extensively before drainage was introduced, and it was by that means increased in value quickly and considerably, and afforded him good profits when sold. Mr. Engle was married August 3, 1876, to Julia A. Byers. (See sketches of John C. Engle and Lewis W. Hubbell.)
Mr. and Mrs. Engle have two sons living,-Walter M. and Otto D.
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Freddie B., the second born, is deceased. In July, 1898, Walter M., the eldest, enlisted as a private in Company I, One Hundred and Sixty-first Regiment National Infantry, for service in the Spanish war, and was pro- moted to be a corporal. In camp at Jacksonville, Florida, he became sick. with malaria, and was a sufferer for some time. In December following he went to Cuba with his regiment, and was assigned to the Signal Corps, Thir- teenth Company, and was in that service until the end of the war. He served longer than his regiment, and until May, 1899, and then returned home, bringing many interesting relics of a conflict which must ever mark an era in our national development.
Mr. Engle is a Democrat, and as such is a factor in local politics. He has been a member of the town council of Francesville, and is now town treasurer. His career is one to which any man in his part of the state might point with pride, and the spirit which has animated him through all his years of success has been a spirit of fairness, which has made him a living exemplar of the policy of "live and let live." His public spirit is active, and always wisely directed.
JOHN H. MALLON.
Prominent among the wide-awake, enterprising and progressive business men of Pulaski county is John H. Mallon, a well-known merchant of Frances- ville. He is an important factor in business circles, and is public-spirited and thoroughly interested in whatever tends to promote the moral, social or material welfare of his town or county.
A native of Pennsylvania, Mr. Mallon was born in Washington county December 16, 1838, a son of Neal and Bridget (Bradley) Mallon. The father, who was a native of Ireland, was a farmer, stone-mason and con- tractor by occupation, and built the first stone bridge for railroad purposes on the line of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad. It was also one of the first stone railroad bridges in the United States, if not the very first. He was a successful and prosperous business man, and at one time owned eight hun- dred acres of land in Pennsylvania. In 1842, with his family, he moved to Morgan county, Indiana, where he purchased two hundred acres of land covered with a heavy growth of timber, and in the midst of the forest devel- oped a fine farm. He was one of the most prominent and influential citizens of his community, had the confidence and high regard of all who knew him, and held the office of township trustee. He died in Morgan county in 1858, at the age of fifty-two years. Of his children there were: Mary A., John H., Elizabeth, Rebecca, Isabelle, Francis T. and Susannah.
The subject of this sketch was only three years old when taken by his
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parents to Morgan county, Indiana, where he received a good common-school education, and for three years he subsequently engaged in teaching school there. Later he followed farming and then mercantile pursuits, as a clerk in a store at Tuscola, Illinois, whither he went in 1864. The following year he came to Francesville and for about three years clerked for Samuel Reish- ling. He then embarked in general merchandising on his own account, as a member of the firm of Mallon & Daseke, but two years later succeeded to the entire business, which he has since conducted with marked success, hav- ing built up a large and profitable trade. In 1872 he erected a store build- ing at the corner where he now does business, but in 1893 it was destroyed by fire, together with a large portion of its contents. As he carried but light
insurance his loss was very heavy, amounting to ten thousand dollars.
His
present brick block, which is a modern structure, two stories in height, was built by him in 1899. He carries a large and well assorted stock of general merchandise, and as a reliable and conscientious business man he is meeting with well deserved success, receiving a liberal share of the public patronage. He is the oldest merchant in years of continuous business in Francesville, and is widely known and highly respected by the entire community. Polit- ically he is a Prohibitionist; and socially is a prominent member of Monon Lodge, No. 208, F. & A. M., of Francesville, in which he has filled all the principal offices and has served as master for eleven years.
On the 28th of March, 1862, Mr. Mallon married, in Morgan county, Indiana, Miss Delilah Williams, a native of Kentucky, who died a few months later, leaving no children. He was again married, May 30, 1865, in Francesville, his second union being with Miss Minerva J. Brewer, a daugh- ter of John C. Brewer, and to them have been born two children: Urban C. and Ada Belle.
JOSEPH J. FREDERICK.
On the list of the honored pioneers of northern Indiana appears the name of Joseph J. Frederick, of Medaryville, who has long been prominently con- nected with the educational, agricultural and mercantile interests of this part of the state. He has been a most active factor in the substantial develop- ment and progress, and in all the walks of life his fidelity to duty and his trustworthiness have been so manifest as to win him the highest regard and confidence of his fellow townsmen. He taught the first school in the village of Medaryville, and is now one of its enterprising merchants.
Mr. Frederick is of Welsh and German descent, and his people were early settlers of Kentucky. His grandparents, Joseph and Sarah Frederick, were early settlers of that state, and there reared their family of four 68
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children, namely: George, Margaret, Catherine and Richard S. The last named, the father of our subject, was born in Kentucky in 1810, and was mar- ried February 17, 1831, in Sullivan, Moultrie county, Illinois, to Melinda A. Roney, who was born January 12, 1813. In 1836 they removed to Morgan county, Indiana, where in the midst of the forest the father cleared and de- veloped a farm of one hundred and twenty acres. He died October 3, 1841, and his wife passed away July 1, 1846. Their children were: George W., born March 22, 1833; Joseph J., February 23, 1835; Sarah J., June 30, 1837; Levi W., April 23, 1839, and Elvira S., born in February, 1842. The parents were faithful members of the Christian church, and did all in their power to promote the work of the church and advance the cause of Christianity among men. The mother of Richard S. Frederick married a second time, becoming the wife of Hezekiah Woodsmall.
Joseph J. Frederick was born on a farm in Moultrie county, Illinois, February 23, 1835, and was only a year old when brought by his parents to Indiana. He was reared in Morgan county, and in a log school-house ac- quired his preliminary education which was supplemented by six months' study in a college in Edinburg, Indiana. In the winter of 1856 he began teaching school, and followed that profession for seventeen consecutive winters, being first connected with the schools of Morgan county. In the spring of 1857 he removed to Medaryville and taught the first school in the village. The building utilized was an old log structure, formerly used as a saloon, but the young teacher, aided by some of the citizens, cleared it out and supplied it with such primitive furniture as could be obtained. The writ- ing-desk was a board placed upon some wooden pins that had been driven into the wall, and the seats were of slabs supported by wooden pins; but the young people of the community seemed to be anxious to avail themselves of educational privileges, and there was an average attendance of sixty pupils, many of them young ladies and young men. The school was a success. Most of the students took up the work with zeal and energy, and an important feature at the close of the day's work was the " big class," as it was called, consisting of all pupils who could spell, forming a circle around the entire room; the words were given out to the pupils in turn, and proud indeed was the student who could maintain his position at the head of the class for several successive days. Frequently, however, some strong young man of great size was " spelled down " by a rosy-cheeked little maiden, for the girls were good spellers and not infre- quently held the position of honor in the class. At the close of a term of school an "exhibition " would be held in the old Methodist church, and from miles around the farmers with their families canie to attend the enter- tainment, which would be opened by a solemn prayer by the minister, fol-
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lowed by a few introductory remarks by the young teacher, and then a program of declamations, recitations, dialogues and music. These were noted exhibitions in pioneer days, and are fondly held in memory by many of the old settlers. Among the pupils in Mr. Frederick's school were many who have become prominent in the active walks of life.
During the summer months, when not engaged with the duties of the school-room, Mr. Frederick engaged in farm work. He first rented land, and in 1863 purchased a farm, a mile and a half south of Medaryville, consisting of eighty acres. He continued to operate that land until 1872, when he began merchandising in Medaryville, where he has since conducted his store with good success. He carries a large and well selected stock of goods, and his honorable dealing and uniform courtesy lave secured to him a liberal patronage.
On August 14, 1856, in Hall, Morgan county, Indiana, Mr. Frederick was united in marriage to Parthenia A. Brewer, who was born in that county, January 31, 1839, a daughter of John C. and Elizabeth (Wilhite) Brewer. (See sketch of Mr. Brewer toward the close of this article.) Mr. and Mrs. Frederick have been life-long members of the Christian church, and he has held the office of elder for fifteen years, prior to which time he had served as deacon from the time of the organization of the church in Medaryville. He was one of the founders of the church here, aided in building the house of worship, has ever contributed liberally to the church work, and is most act- ive in promoting the cause of the gospel among men. He and his wife extend the hospitality of their home to all the ministers of the church who visit Medaryville, and their house is known as the "preachers' hotel." It is also the place of entertainment for temperance lecturers and for others who are devoting their lives to the betterment of mankind. Mr. Frederick is a very warm friend of the cause of temperance, and has voted the Prohibition ticket since 1886. He has all his life been an opponent of the saloon, and in ante-bellum days was a stanch advocate of abolition and aided in forming the Republican party in Pulaski county, heartily endorsing its prin- ciples, to prevent the further extension of slavery. His life has been well spent in a continuous devotion to all that is best and most elevating. In business he sustains an unassailable reputation, and his word is as good as his bond. Educational, material and moral interests owe their advancement in no small degree to his labors, and no man in all Pulaski county is more deserving of the regard of his fellow men than Joseph J. Frederick.
Mr. and Mrs. Frederick are the parents of three children, -Olivinia, born June 10, 1858; John Richard, February 11, 1861; and Mary Evange- line, August 28, 1871. John R. Frederick received a good practical educa- tion and in his early youth became his father's assistant in business, subse- quently becoming a most successful commercial traveler. He is now one of
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the leading business men of Medaryville, where, on the 27th of August, 1882, he was united in marriage to Miss Mira Harris. They have had six children, namely: Guy W., Grace F., Melvin Earl, Jessie Pearl (who died in infancy), and Willard D. Our subject's elder daughter, Olivinia, received excellent educational advantages, attending the normal school at Valparaiso, after which she was for six years engaged in school-teaching in the vicinity of her home. Since resigning her pedagogic work she has been an efficient and faithful business assistant and companion to her father. She has given much attention to religious and literary work, having been one of the foremost and most zealous workers in the Christian church from her early childhood. She was superintendent of the Sunday-school for many years, is a deaconess in the church, a member of the W. C. T. U., and an active worker in the tem- perance cause. Mary E., the youngest daughter, became the wife of Charles E. Hershman, a merchant of Rensselaer, this state, he being a deacon in the Christian church. Of this union two children have been born, -Norvin E., and Frederick, who died in infancy.
John C. Brewer, the father of Mrs. Frederick, is one of the venerable citizens of Francesville. He is a native of North Carolina, born four miles southwest of Raleigh, in Randolph county, April 7, 1817, a son of William and Elizabeth (Cavaness) Brewer. William Brewer was the son of Nathan, who was of the old colonial stock of that state, and a farmer of Chatham coun- ty, same state. The children of Nathan, so far as remembered, were Carroll, Willis, Daniel and William. William Brewer, also a native of North Caro- lina, was a farmer by occupation, who married Elizabeth Cavaness, a daugh- ter of Frederick Cavaness, who was a native of England, of English ances- try, and emigrated to this country, settling near Halifax, Culpeper county, Virginia, and afterward in Randolph county, North Carolina. In Virginia he married Sarah Hollingshead, who was of Holland Dutch stock. He, Mr. Cavaness, was a farmer, owning a good farm of two hundred acres in the Old North state, and he died in that state, at an advanced age. His chil- dren were Elizabeth, Walker and Nancy.
William Brewer, after marriage, continued to reside in Randolph county, North Carolina, was a farmer owning one hundred and ten acres, and in 1828 emigrated to Indiana, settling in Morgan county, where he located a tract of land. A few years afterward he purchased more land, cleared it, and finally had a fine property of seven hundred and eighty acres. He con- tinued to reside in that county until his death, passing away at the age of sixty-four years. He was an industrious and exemplary citizen, a Democrat in his politics, and in religion a member of the Methodist church. His chil- dren were Sarah, Polly, Frederick, Walker, Nancy, Levin, Elizabeth, John C., Enoch, Anderson and Lydia.
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John C. Brewer was about twelve years old when he left North Caro- lina with his parents for Indiana. He received but little education, learned both the arts of agriculture and the trade of carpenter, at which latter he employed himself for eighteen years. For several years he was also engaged in mercantile business, and in 1856 he was postmaster. In 1857 he moved to Pulaski county, this state, locating upon rented land four miles north of Francesville. Soon he bought and improved a tract of eighty acres. In the fall of 1860 he moved to Francesville, still continuing the cultivation of his farm; but at length he again engaged in merchandising, which he continued a few years, and under President Harrison's administration he was postmas- ter for four years. He is now retired from active life, and is a highly re- spected citizen, venerable with age and great experience.
In Morgan county, this state, he was united in matrimony, April 6, 1836, to Mary E. Wilhite, who was born in Oldham county, Kentucky, December 9, 1816, a daughter of Noah and Polly (Williams) Wilhite. Noah Wilhite was a farmer and school-teacher, and his skill both in arithmetic and in pen- manship are well remembered. A native of the Old Dominion, he emigrated to Kentucky with his father, Aaron Wilhite, who also was a native of Vir- ginia and a pioneer of Kentucky, settling in Oldham county. His children were Lamech, Noah, Joseph, Enoch, Isham, Benjamin, Milton, Polly, Martha, Matilda, Ely, Nancy and perhaps others. Noah Wilhite and wife are the parents of Samuel, Elizabeth, Nancy, Jane, Aaron, Edward, Michael, Ma- tilda, Thomas, Noah, John, Eli and Melissa. Noah Wilhite settled in Old- ham county, Kentucky, and was a farmer. Moving in 1834 to Indiana, he located in Morgan county, where he purchased land, cleared it and reduced it to cultivation; he had a good farm of two hundred acres. He died near Hall, that county, at the age of seventy-five years, a member of the Chris- tian church, in which he had been an elder for many years. He was an up- right and highly respected citizen.
John C. Brewer and wife were the parents of the following children: Urban C., Parthenia A., Nancy J., Mary E., William, Cynthia A., Candasie, John, Theodosia and Melinda-all of whom lived to years of maturity. Mr. and Mrs. Brewer are both members of the Christian church, in which he has been an elder for more than twenty-five years. He was one of the organ- izers of his church in his community, and built their house of worship. In politics he is a Republican, and formerly he was an old-line Whig. He is well known as a straightforward and upright man. His son, Rev. Urban C. Brewer, is a minister of the Christian church, entering that ministry at the early age of seventeen years. He has been a preacher of the gospel in New York city for eight years, being there during the civil war. He is now set- tled in Danville, Hendricks county, Indiana.
ยท
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JOHN WENDT.
Germany has given to the United States a large class of its most industri- ous, thrifty, progressive and patriotic citizens, a class which constantly adds to the public wealth and is usually to be found on the right side of every important question, thoughtful, conservative and practically helpful in every way. Pulaski county, Indiana, has its up-to-date quota of German citizens, and one of the best known and most highly respected of the number is John Wendt, of White Post township.
A son of Christian and Mary (Garling) Wendt, John Wendt was born in the village of Rueest, Mecklenburg-Schwerin, Germany, November 9, 1836. Other children of Christian and Mary (Garling) Wendt were named John, Dorothea, Elizabeth and Sophia. Christian Wendt died in Mecklenburg, at the age of seventy-three years. He was an able man of affairs and a lifelong member of the Lutheran church.
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