USA > Indiana > Shelby County > Chadwick's History of Shelby County, Indiana, Vol. 1 > Part 50
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FRANK J. REMBUSCH.
The Rembusch brothers have long been familiar names in Shelbyville. In- dianapolis, and other cities of the state, owing to their devotion to music and success in various departments of that popular art. In fact, they were a family of musicians. inheriting the love for music and devoting a large part of their lives to achieving proficiency in its expression. No band or orchestra at Shelby- ville was considered complete without them, and they acquired fame for skill in particular instruments as well as in concert work. The family in this country was founded by Peter Rembusch, who was born at Metz. France. January 25. 1825. He was a soldier in the French army, and became in turn a mechanic. tailor, farmer and cabinet-maker. He came to this county early in life and eventually located at Batesville. He married Margarette Schnieder, a native of Franklin county. Indiana, by whom
The father died September 5. 1898. and the
he had nine children. mother April 1. 1881. In order of birth the children were as follows: John. Peter. Anna. George M. (deceased). Nicholas. Joseph. George A .. Frank J. and Margarette, deceased. John, who married Teresa Straub, is a traveling salesman and lives at Shelbyville. Peter M. married Barbara Eck- stein. now deceased, and he is working as an interior artist at Indianapolis. Nicholas, who married Tillie Ziegler. is conducting a piano store at Lafayette. Joseph is a resident of California, and is also in the piano business. George A., who lives at Shelbyville, is connected with the Crystal theater.
Frank J. Rembusch, youngest of the living children. was born at Bates- ville. Ripley county, Indiana, October 10. 1876, and was only about four years old when he lost his mother by death. After coming to Shelbyville he was a pupil in St. Joseph's Catholic school. He went to work in a small way when thirteen years old, and during the next seven years became an expert in the
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furniture factories. Meantime, he devoted his leisure to study and practice of music, becoming a fine performer on various instruments, including the violin. clarinet and mandolin. In 1895 he went to Connersville and spent several years in the business of making mirrors, and after acquiring the trade returned to Shelbyville in the summer of 1899. In company with John Ainsley, an Englishman, he organized a factory and started it in operation November 1. 1901. It was incorp rated and more suckholders taken in, who, from time to time, were bought out by Mr. Rembusch, until in 1904 he had become an equal partner in the company's stock. Mr. Rembusch is also owner and lessee of the Crystal moving picture theater in this city. Meantime figuring con- spicuously in music, he had organized and was the conductor of an orchestra, and was a leader of an orchestra which played at the dedication of the city hall. and condreted the Saengerfest when St. Joseph church was first opened to the public. Mr. Rembusch is a member of the Knights of Columbus, the Elks and the Music Study Club, of twenty-one members, being treasurer and vice-president of the latter. Ile is also leader of the choir in the Catholic church, of which he has been a life-long member. He was a member of the National Guard and the Indianapolis Military Band of forty members, in 1904.
May 29. 1900, Mr. Rembusch married Grace, adopted daughter of Wil- liam and Cecilia Crawford. To Mlc. and Mrs. Rembusch two children have been born, of whom only Cecilia M. line. six years old. is living. The family resides at 167 South Harrison street, and are well and favorably known in the social, business and musical circles of Shelbyville.
PETER JULIU'S THEOBALD.
In the present volume are found the biographies of many prosperous Ger- man citizens that have contributed much to the prosperity and advancement of Shelby county. Am ng this number we include Peter Julius Theobald, who was born in this county. November 10. 1859. His father. Jicob Theobald, was a native of Germany, who came to America when thirteen years of age. A common route for immigrants into the Middle West was to come by way . of New Orleans, and by this route Mr. Theobald entered. He ascended the river from New Orleans to Cincinnati, and from there came to Shelby county. where he became an early settler and a substantial farmer and citizen. He is still living in Union township. His wife, Margaret ( Baker ) The bald is also of German descent. her father being one of the county's early German settlers. She became the mother of fifteen children : Mary and Barbara, the first two. are deceased: Julia became the wife of Fred Gayheimer, of Union town- ship: John has his home in Alexandria : Caroline married Michael Gayheimer.
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P. J. THEOBALD AND FAMILY.
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and lives in Madison county: Louis is deceased, and Peter was the next child in the order of birth, following whom were August, Jacob, deceased ; Emma. Clara, wife of William Hill: Alexander, and three other children that died in infancy.
Peter received a common school education, attending the Moberley school. At the age of twenty-one he left the homestead and began his career by farm- ing on his own responsibility. At the age of thirty he was married to Roseita Hensley, daughter of Andrew and Dorothy ( Wicker ) Hensley. Rosetta was born February 26, 1809, in Union township, this county. Two children have been born to this tinion, viz: Josie Pearl, born November 10, 1889, and later became the wife of Leander M. Hachl, now living in Rush county : Estie William was born February 4. 1895, and is at home.
Mr. and Mrs. Theobald are members of the Union Township German church, and are well known in this community. Their farm is modern and well improved, showing all the marks of intelligent management. Mr. Theo- bald is a Republican, but has never sought office. He is a man of firm con- vietions, sound judgment. and is a thoroughly sincere citizen.
In all of his business and social intercourse, he has the full confidence and respect of those with whom he has dealings and the homestead is one that is the scene of many pleasant social cecasions.
LOUIS HOOVER.
Among Shelbyville's business men none rank higher and none have de- served better as architects of their own fortunes than Louis Hoover. If not a case of the survival of the fittest we certainly have in him a sample of the tri- umph of the competent. He started without means, was compelled to work for years as an employe, but he rose gradually until he became a proprietor and at present is ranked as one of the leading merchants of the city. This is never done without merit and Mr. Hoover's merit has consisted in the possession of those rare qualities which never fail to bring success in all the relations of life. Competent, reliable, trustworthy, always in his place, always ready to share, he soon endeared himself to those for whom he worked and enjoyed their full confidence. With all this went the personal qualities which are such indispensable means in rising in the world, such as sobriety, good habits, pa- tience and geniality of address. The family is of German origin. Joseph Hoover left the old country before the Civil war and went to Cincinnati, where he married Christina Young, also of German birth. He joined the navy in his younger days and served on a gunboat under Captain Gettey, being later pensioned as a veteran. He had several children and his two daughters hoth
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married well. Mary, now the widow of Levi Todd, has a worthy son named Louis, who is with his uncle in the store. Another daughter married James HI. Sparks and the family with three children. Harry. Minnie and Mary, are residents of Shelbyville.
Louis Hoover was born at Shelbyville. Shelby county. Indiana in 1865. As he grew up he attended the public schools occasionally, but also had the benefit of one of the excellent Catholic schools. His first business engagement was as a clerk in the oldl and popular dry goods establishment of the S. B. Morris & Company, which has been the training school of many successful mer- chants. He remained with Mr. Morris for thirteen months and then accepted a position with Julius Joseph, whose long tenure of the store in the northeast corner of court square made it one of the landmarks of the city. He learned the clothing business from the ground up. made himself complete master ri all the details and when an opportunity offered to become proprietor he was ready to take advantage of it. So when Julius Joseph decided to sell out and retire some eleven years ago. Mr. Hoover became the purchaser of his hold- ings. Still later, when Jonas Joseph sold out, Mr. Hoover also absorbed his interests and thus realized the ambition of every young man to be "sole pro- prietor." At present he owns and presides over a large establishment in a building of two floors filled from top to bottom with men's and children's cloth- ing, furnishing goods of all kinds, the line of ready-made wear being com- plete in every department. Mr. Hoover is a director of the Farmers' National Bank, and is recognized as one of the progressive business men of the city.
MATTHEW R. MONTGOMERY.
A busy life, with constant effort in various lines of endeavor, has brought the reward that always comes to those who wait and work. Though hardly beyond the prime of life as yet. Mr. Montgomery may look around with satis- faction and pardonable self-complacency on what he has done and what he has to show for it. This is a good deal. as he is recognized among the class of citi- zens usually denominated "solid." and is a figure of importance in the business as well as financial circles of Shelbyville. The family on both sides of the house is of Ohio origin. William Montgomery having been born in the Buckeye state on January 14. 1801. While growing up on a farm he managed by working at odd times to perfect himself as a carpenter and his natural turn for me- chanics made him one of the most skillful workmen of his day. He studied draughting. made many of his own tools and drew all his own plans for houses and barns. many of which he built during the days of his activity. At one time he owned a large farm north of Shelbyville, which he afterward sold and
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CHADWICK'S HISTORY OF SHELBY CO .. IND.
bought another south of town, and finally moved to Shelbyville. He died on August 23, 1868. He married Mary Young, who was born in Butler county, Ohio, on March 12. 1820, and came in 1825 with her parents to Rush county before Rushville had been established. She is full of reminiscences of the old days and though now in her ninetieth year. is still bright and cheerful .. Her memory is excellent and she can recite favorite lines of poetry. One of her favorites is the poem of Rev. William Farinbro, describing the falling meteors on November 13, 1833, which Mrs. Montgomery declares was one of the most appalling and majestic sights ever witnessed in the heavens. William and Mary Montgomery became the parents of seven children, William L., living : Alfred K. died in infancy : Cyrus W .. Amos H., Emma .A., wife of Charles W. Johnson, of Rush county : Johanna and Martha E., both unmarried, have the care of their aged mother at the home on West Mechanic street. They are expert seamstresses and busily engaged in dressmaking. By the father's first marriage there were three children : Robert and James, deceased, and Jane. who married Samuel Sleeth, of Nebraska: George H. lives at Des Moines, Iowa. and Mary Ann, who first married Jefferson Huleh, deceased, and then Daniel Meloy, also dead, lived at St. Louis with her children: she. too has since died.
Matthew R. Montgomery was born in Marion township. Shelby county. Indiana, February 21. 1854. As he grew up he worked with a half- brother on his farm and began to support himself when fourteen years old. He saved his money and in 1875 went to Hartsville College, where he paid his own way. So eager was he for an education that he almost ruined his health by over- study, but qualified himself so as to be able to pass the necessary examinations and obtained an eighteen months' license to teach, which showed a two-years' grade. The next ten years were spent in teaching schools in the county ani at Shelbyville, meantime devoting three years to diligent study at the Danville Normal. He soon achieved high reputation as a teacher and his ability in that line brought him more offers of employment than he could fill. In fact. he was universally recognized both within and outside the profession, as one of the most competent educators the county ever had. While busily engaged he was requested by Taylor Winterrowd to take charge of a fire insurance com- pany, doing business at Shelbyville, and in the county, which offer he finally accepted for five years, did a prosperous work. Eventually he added real es- tate and loans, having a partner for a brief period. but most of the time con- ducting his business alone. Being a hard and persistent worker, full of pash and the enterprise for enlargement and improvement he finally established his business on a solid basis, which for years has steadily increased in volume and profit. His dealings are largely in Shelby county lands and farms and his judgment of values in this kind of property is not surpassed by any of the county's business men.
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May 10. 1877, he married Sarah J .. daughter of Benjamin and Malinda Hiestand, by whom he had four children : Bennie. Alberta, Charles R. and Arthur. All of these are dead but Charles R., who was born July 5. 1882. and is an employe in his father's office. November 27. 1904. he married Fay, daughter of N. F. and Cora L. Johnson, farmers and stock raisers in Phillips county, Kansas. Charles R. is well educated and an expert typewriter, own- ing a nice fifteen acre farm near the city and is a young man of excellent busi- ness standing. Mrs. Montgomery died June 5. 1888, and on December 20. 1889. Mr. Montgomery married Lulu, daughter of James and Barbara C. (Kessler) Carlisle, of Jennings county. By his second marriage Mr. Mont- gomery has one daughter, Grace Elizabeth, who was born at Shelbyville on August 5, 1892. She is a student in high school and shows a natural talent for elocution and historical investigation. Mr. Montgomery served one term in the City Council and has often been appointed executor and administrator of estates. He is a director in the Farmers' National Bank, and also in the Union Building and Loan Association of Shelbyville. His fraternal relations are with the Elks. Odd Fellows. Red Men and Knights of Pythias, and he and his family worship at the First Presbyterian church.
THOMAS D. WILSON.
This family is of Scotch origin, though the descendants of the emigrant ancestor have long been domiciled in various states of the Union. The original David B. Wilson was born at Glasgow, Scotland. in 1707. arrived in America in 1820. and located in Kentucky, where he died in 1881. He married Cor- delia A. Brown, of Virginia, by whom he had several children. David B. Wil- son, Jr., his best known son, was born in Montgomery county. Ohio. November 27, 1836. When sixteen years old be removed to Paducah, Kentucky, and spent four years as an apprentice in the carriage-trimming trade. After work- ing a year or two at various points he located at Shelbyville in 1872, and worked a number of years as trimmer in a carriage manufacturing establish- ment. earning a high reputation in this line. In 18So he embarked in the u'- ยท dertaking business and prosecuted it with such success and profit as to make it the leading establishment of the kind in the city. Mr. Wilson was always a man of boundless energy. excellent business judgment and an industry that knew no tiring. Ever since he cast his first vote for James Buchanan in 1856. he has been an enthusiastic Democrat and in his prime was recognized as one of the party's most active workers. His services were recognized in 1879 and 1880, when after a spirited struggle he was elected door-keeper of the Indiana House of Representatives. Previously he had served as whisky inspector under
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CHADWICK'S HISTORY OF SHELBY CO., IND.
the administrations of Johnson and Grant, but aside from these instances held! 10 political office. He is a member of the Masonic Order and Knights of Pythias. August 16, 1858, he married Ellen, daughter of Thomas and Maria (Stewart) Bogan, natives of Ireland, where Mrs. Wilson was also born. The children by this union were a daughter and son. Emma C. married Charles W. Ward, now dead, and later, William H. Deal, a landscape artist and deen- rator of Chicago. Their son, Burnal. lives with his grandparents at Shelby- ville, and is an electrician.
Thomas D. Wilson, the only son, was born at Middletown. Ohio. Octo- ber 31, 1862. After finishing his schooling. he spent two years as trimmer in a carriage factory, entered his father's undertaking office in 1880, and became a full partner in 1803. He took a full course in embalming under Professor F. A. Sullivan at Chicago and received his diploma October 22. 1892. Wils m & Son were the first to do arterial embalining at Shelbyville and they have neglected no opportunity to introduce all the modern improvements in their line. In July, 1901. Thomas D. attended the Indianapolis school board of embalmers and the diploma he received was the second of its kind issued to Shelby county. His father is a stockholder in the Farmers' National Bank. and both father and son are stockholders in the Forest Hill Cemetery Associa- tion, also the Indiana National Insurance Company.
January 24. 1883. Thomas D. Wilson married Margaret May. daughter of Lando IJ. and Sarah A. (Cotton) Bronson. Mr. Bronson was a successful farmer of Shelby county, of which he was a native and long a leading citizen. He served as Trustee of Union township for fourteen years and taught school for forty-six years, holding a life certificate and being regarded as one of the county's ablest educators. His wife, who was also a native of Shelby county. and a member of one of its prominent families. died June 3. 1883. Mr. and Mrs. Thomas D. Wilson have one daughter, Edith Hazel, who was born May 21, 1884. and after growing up became a student of music. She was married to Herbert C. Mccullough, a druggist of Franklin, June 29. 1904. Mr. Wil- son is a member of the Elks. Knights of Pythias. Pocahontas, Red Men. Ben Hur. Protective Home Circle and Eagles. He also belongs to the Under- takers' Association at Indianapolis, and with his wife is a member of the Presbyterian church.
JOSEPH B. HAMILTON.
When Frank D. Blanchard came to Shelbyville in the eighties it was soon found that the city had gained an unusually enterprising citizen. Full of energy, of popular address, and possessed of unusual business sagacity. his name soon became familiar in the business world. while his family, consisting
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of the mother and several children, were conspicuous figures in the social world. Mr. Blanchard was a man of affairs, taking a hand in everything that came from business to politics, from religion to the whirl of social intercourse. His energies culminated about 1897 in the establishment of the Blanchard Novelty Works, which he was conducting at the time of his death in 1901. On September 10, 1901, a party of capitalists took over the property, incorporated and established it on a larger scale. Joseph B. Hamilton was made president and general manager, besides treasurer and ex-officio board of directors. Ar- thur J. Thurston was elected vice-president and Zervah Blanchard. secretary. The capital stock is thirty thousand dollars, fully paid up, and no surplus is allowed to accumulate. It does a business of some one hundred and forty thousand dollars a year, as disclosed by the annual invent ories and casting up of the books. The first building used. a small affair of some fifty by one hun- dred feet frontage and two stories high, has grown greatly. In 1904 a third story was added, and also an addition of thirty-two by fifty feet, with three stories. In July, 1907, a wing thirty by ninety feet, three stories high, was added. also a basement and supply room one story high, forty by fifty feet. The buildings are of brick on wood covered with sheet-iron, are sanitary, well- lighted and fully fire protected. Sixty men are employed in making combina- tion desks, library cases and china closets, ranging in prices fr un cheap to me- dium, all of plain quartered sawed oak in the various shades, styles and fash- jons. Modern conveniences are used in the shipping department. and the factory's products are sent to all parts of the country.
Joseph B. Hamilton, the popular head of this concern, and its chief stock- holder, was born at Indianapolis, January 14. 1877. He was a son of Joseph D. Hamilton, a wholesale boot and shoe dealer in the capital city, who died in 1879. Some years later his widow whose maiden name was Emma F. Fay, married Samuel Hamilton, the wealthy banker at Shelbyville, and since the latter's death has been prominent in the social and business world. Joseph B .. who was only two years old at his father's death. received his early education at Shelbyville. He spent three years in the Ohio Military Institute at College Hill, Cincinnati ; the Culver Military Academy and the Howe Military School, where he was graduated in 1896. The following year was spent in travel through the eastern United States and Europe, and several years after his return he became principal officer of the Blanchard-Hamilton e meern above described. Mr. Hamilton is an affable and pleasant gentleman, with a natural turn for business, a well trained mind and altogether a fine sample of manhood, both physically and mentally. Methodical and accurate, well posted in all the details of his business, courteous to all and prompt in action, it is not strange that he has made a conspicuous success in life. He is a charter member of Shelbyville Lodge, No. 457. Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and re- sides in a comfortable home at 19 East Polk street.
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June 6, 1901. he married Lucy, daughter of Frank D. Blanchard, and a lady of accomplishments which introduce her favorably into the best society. After graduating in the Shelbyville high school, she became a student at Pur- due University and in 1801 took her degree there with notable class honors. She and her husband are favorites in Shelbyville society. Mrs. Hamilton has one sister, the wife of Dr. G. S. Row, an oculist, residing in Indianapolis.
GEORGE E. KENT.
The family of this name is of honorable origin and distinguished lineage. A coat-of-arms now in the possession of descendants shows kinship with an old and illustrious house, which was long identified with English history. Eventually a representative found his way across the waters and in colonial days established a branch in Vermont which, by multiplication and ramifica- tion, in time had descendants in various American states. Perhaps the most notable was Eliphalet, son of Cephas Kent, who was born in Dorest. Vermont. March 17. 1800. In early manhood he was married at Tinmoth, in his native state. to Fannie Capron, and later migrated to Indiana, where he enjoyed a long and useful life, which was terminated in Shelbyville. March 6, 1893. at the venerable age of ninety-three years. He had four brothers and five sisters. several of whom became prominent in various ways. William Kent. one of the brothers and eighth child of the family, became a Methodist minister and earned a high reputation in that noble calling. Deantha, one of the daugh- ters, married Stephen Martindale, well known for years as a Congregational minister.
George E. Kent. son of Eliphalet, was born at Shelbyville. Indiana. Sep- tember 14. 1836. His preliminary education was received in the high school and this was supplemented by four years in the regular courses at Wabash College. After finishing his studies he took charge of a farm belonging to his father, two and one-half miles from Shelbyville, and continued in this line until 1866. In that year he removed to Shelbyville and engaged in the grain business with his brother-in-law. F. W. Hill. The location was on Broadway. where the Strout Lumber Yards is now situated, and at that time there was no elevator or facilities for loading and unloading the grain senoped out by hand. After four years the building having burned. Mr. Kent joined Christo- pher Gorton in the new grain elevator business. but after three years there was another conflagration, which destroyed the elevator. He then became a partner in the Shelby Water Mills, on North Harrison and Elizabeth streets. now known as the Billman Mills. Mr. Kent continued with this concern for twenty-three years, during which time he witnessed the evolution in flour-
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