USA > Indiana > Dearborn County > History of Dearborn County, Indiana : her people, industries and institutions > Part 100
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107
John F. Dittmer is well deserving of the success which fortune has dealt out to him. He has been considerate in his attitude toward his fellow men. and a good husband and father.
HENRY J. LONGCAMP, D. D. S.
Henry J. Longcamp was born in Clay township, near Dillsboro, Dear- born county. November 22. 1878. He is a son of Henry and Catharine ( Rull- mann) Longcamp, and was reared on his father's farm. He attended the district schools, graduating from the Dillsboro high school, after which he entered Moores Hill College. He then taught school for one year. when he took up the study of dentistry, graduating from the Cincinnati College of Dental Surgery in 1904, at the end of which year he began his practice in
Digitized by Google
1000
DEARBORN COUNTY, INDIANA.
Aurora, and has continued here ever since. Doctor Longcamp is a stanch Republican. He and his wife are members of the Baptist church, in which he officiates as assistant Sunday school superintendent. He belongs to Aurora Lodge No. 51, Free and Accepted Masons; the Improved Order of Red Men, and the Modern Woodmen of America.
Henry and Catharine (Rullmann) Longcamp, parents of the subject of this sketch, were early settlers in Clay township, Dearborn county. Henry Longcamp was born in Germany, May 14, 1843, and came with his parents to America while still an infant. The family settled in Caesar Creek township, Dearborn county, where Henry grew to manhood on a farm. He went to the Civil War as a private in Company A, Eleventh Kentucky Cavalry, serv- ing through the entire war; was a prisoner in Andersonville, Belle Island and Charleston for sixteen months. When the war was over, Mr. Longcamp bought a farm in Clay township, of ninety-six acres, where he followed agri- culture and reared his family, residing there for many years, finally disposed of his farm and moved to West Aurora, and bought a small tract of eighteen acres, which is now a part of the city of Aurora, and where he spent his last days, his death occurring in January, 1912, at the age of sixty-eight years and eight months.
Henry Longcamp and his wife both became members of the Lutheran church, and he was for a time a member of John Platter Post, Grand Army of the Republic. His wife, Catharine ( Rullmann) Longcamp, is a native of Indiana, and still survives him. They were the parents of three children, namely : William, deceased ; Henry J., of Aurora, and Anna, who became the wife of Edward Harves, of West Side, Aurora.
The paternal grandfather was Frederick Longcamp, and his wife was Mary (Sheibumb) Longcamp, natives of Germany, the former dying in Caesar Creek township, and the latter at Rising Sun in Ohio county, Indiana, well along in years. They had eight children, Mary, Frederick. Eliza, Will- iam, Henry, Louise, Minnie and Rosena.
The maternal grandparents of Doctor Longcamp were early settlers in Dearborn county. Indiana, where they cultivated a farm in Clay township, and spent the remainder of their days, dying at an advanced age. Their children were. Catharine, Margaret. Aaron and Henry.
Dr. Henry J. Longcamp was united in marriage on September 5, 1907. with Bessie Teaney, daughter of Frank and Olive (Writer) Teaney, to which union have been born two children, Virgil Henry and Wildas Olive. Mrs. Longcamp was born in Aurora.
Digitized by Google
1001
DEARBORN COUNTY, INDIANA.
Frank and Olive (Writer) Teaney, parents of Mrs. Longcamp, were born in Dearborn county, and now reside at Indianapolis. Their children were, Bessie. (Mrs. Longcamp) and Grace, now the wife of Jack Westfield.
.Doctor Longcamp resides on Decatur street, Aurora, where he and his wife make their home the center of much genial hospitality.
HERMAN H. MOELLER.
One of the well-known. citizens of Caesar Creek township, Dearborn . county, Indiana, is Herman H. Moeller, the subject of this short biograph- ical sketch. Mr. Moeller is a native of Hanover, Germany, born, February 3, 1883, and was brought to this country by his parents when a babe of but six months. He is a son of Henry H. and Louise (Schliebaum) Moeller, both natives of Hanover, the former born on May 28, 1839, and the latter on May 7, 1854. Upon their arrival in this country they came directly to Dearborn county, locating at Farmers Retreat, where the subject of this sketch received his education. They purchased a farm of one hundred and twenty acres and were actively engaged in farming for a great many years.
The subject of this sketch is one of a family of nine children, namely : William (deceased), Louisa, Sadie, Henry (deceased), Herman, Elizabeth, Carrie, Emma and Fred. Sadie married Henry Niederbaumer and has two children, Ruth and Willard. Elizabeth became the wife of John Vinup, liv- ing in Cincinnati, Ohio. Carrie married Edward Rohr and also resides in Cincinnati, Ohio. Emma is the wife of Alva Schulenborg and they live in Caesar Creek township.
After his school days were over, Herman H. Moeller assisted his father in the work of the farm home and then in 1913 he purchased the place for his own and has continued to reside there. He was married on February 3, 1907, to Carrie Linkmeyer, who was born at Farmers Retreat, August 30, 1879, a daughter of Henry and Emma Linkmeyer, both of whom were born in this section. There were four children in their family, Hannah, Martin, Carrie and Matilda. Carrie was educated in the schools near her home and after her school days were over she went to Cincinnati, where she secured employment and remained for two years, returning home for her marriage. Hannah married William Thomas and lives at Ludlow, Kentucky. She has one daughter, Esther. Martin married Anna Bobrinck and lives at Law-
Digitized by Google
1002
DEARBORN COUNTY, INDIANA.
renceburg. They have had four children, two of whom died in infancy. the others are Catherine and Carol. Matilda became the wife of Jesse Booster, who lives at Dillsboro, and she has three children, Francis, Edith and Evelyn.
To Mr. and Mrs. Herman H. Moeller have been born three children, namely : Martin, who was born on December 5, 1908, and is attending school; Paul, November 11, 1910, and Lucile, September 12, 1912. The entire fam- ily are members of the Lutheran church. Mr. Moeller gives his support to the Republican party. In all the essential elements of good citizenship Mr. Moeller is a man among men, and by his earnest life, sturdy integrity and strict regard for the highest moral ethics, he has earned and retains the warm regard of those who know him.
ROBERT R. GARDNER.
Robert R. Gardner was born at Lawrenceburg, Indiana, September 14, 1891, a son of George M. and Luella (Ruter) Gardner. Since he was six months old his home has been in Aurora, where he attended the public schools and spent three years in the high school, when his health obliged him to dis- continue his studies. While attending school, Robert R. was employed by the Bell Telephone Company as a collector, and in May, 1912, he started for himself in the electrical contracting and supply business, in which he is still engaged, and is conducting the most successful business in his line in the city. To this business he has added plumbing work. Mr. Gardner is a member of the Presbyterian church, in which he is a deacon. He belongs to the Aurora Commercial Club, and is a member of the Society for Electrical Devel- opment in the United States.
George M. and Luella (Ruter) Gardner, parents of the subject of this sketch, are natives of Indiana. George M. Gardner was reared at Lawrence- burg and learned the mechanic and wood-worker's trade, working for sev- eral years in the old furniture factory, and later in the factory of the Ohio Valley Coffin Company at Lawrenceburg. He came to Aurora in October, 1891, and has been employed in the coffin factory here ever since, where he is now general foreman. Mr. and Mrs. George M. Gardner are the parents of five children, Robert R., Marguerite, Juanita, George and Nel Gene.
The paternal grandfather was Martin Gardner, and his wife was Ange- line (Fisher) Gardner. The former was of French descent, from Alsace-
Digitized by Google
1003
DEARBORN COUNTY, INDIANA.
Lorraine, and the latter was of German ancestry. They came to America in 1849, settling at Lawrenceburg, where Mr. Gardner carried on the tailor's trade. Mr. Gardner died at the age of sixty-four years, and his wife at the age of seventy-seven, and both are buried at Lawrenceburg. They had a large family of children, as follow : William, George, Edward, Henry, Jose- phine, who died in infancy, Rose, Yettie, Luella and one who died in infancy.
The maternal grandfather was Capt. Raynaldo Robert Ruter, a native of Lexington, Indiana. His wife, Sophia (Defore) Ruter, was born at Vevay, Switzerland county, Indiana. Captain Ruter was a physician and surgeon of considerable prominence. He died in February, 1884, aged fifty-four years, and Mrs. Ruter died on November 4, 1900, at the age of sixty-four years. This couple had five children, Alma, Nellie, Luella. Rhea and Frank. Captain Ruter was a veteran and a captain in the Ninety-third Regiment, Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and a surgeon in the Civil War, serv- ing without pay. He was a prominent physician, and was well known throughout Dearborn county.
Calvin Defore, the great-great-grandfather of Robert R. Gardner. on his mother's side, was one of the first pioneers of Switzerland county. Indiana.
Robert R. Gardner is an expert in his line of work, which accounts for his prominent position in his vocation, and his large circle of social and business acquaintances esteem him highly for his substantial qualities.
WILBUR A. WILLIAMS.
Wilbur A. Williams, United States storekeeper-gauger, of Lawrenceburg, Indiana, was born at Ellisburg, Jefferson county, New York, March 12. 1841. His parents were William and Jerusha (Plummer) Williams. He grew to maturity on his father's farm, and attended the district schools, going later to Bassett's Commercial College at Syracuse, New York. When the Civil War broke out he enlisted in the Tenth New York Heavy Artillery, serving three years. He was on picket duty just prior to the battle of Petersburg, and in a skirmish was wounded in the left leg, and also met with the loss of his left eye. He enlisted as a private for three years, and was promoted to sec- ond lieutenant on September 1, 1863. He served through the entire war and was discharged August 26, 1865.
After the war, Mr. Williams spent a year on the Great Lakes, and then
Digitized by Google
1004
DEARBORN COUNTY, INDIANA.
taught school for a period of seventeen years in the graded schools of Ohio, finally returning to the soil, where he superintended a stock farm for two years, and later moved to Brookville, Indiana, interesting himself in a gro- cery. Not finding this to his liking, he took a civil service examination and entered the revenue service in the sixth district of Indiana, in which he was appointed storekeeper-gauger in 1898 and which position he still occupies.
Mr. Williams is a Republican, and while in Ohio he served as township treasurer of Middleton township, Wood county. He was reared in the faith of the Universalist church, but at present is not identified with any church. He is a Master Mason, and belongs to the Grand Army of the Republic.
William and Jerusha (Plummer) Williams, parents of the subject of this sketch, were natives of Brattleboro, Vermont, where they followed farm- ing until they moved to Pierrepont Manor, New York, where Mr. Williams combined farming with real estate deals. He purchased what was known as the Webster farm in Jefferson county, where he lived until his death in 1888, which occurred in his eighty-second year, his wife dying a year prior, in 1887. They were members of the Universalist church, and were the parents of five children, namely : Lawson B. born November 1, 1833, died, August 24, 1907 ; Nancy E., who married Lewis Tallman, and died on May 6, 1862; Wilbur A., of Lawrenceburg; Pardon C., who resides at Watertown, New York, where he follows the practice of law, and was judge of the appellate court for a number of years; and William Oscar, who was born on October 1, 1849, at Pierrepont Manor, and died on April 8, 1914.
The paternal grandfather was William Williams, and his first wife was Sally Mixer, who was born at Brattleboro, Vermont, May 20, 1779, and died on December 5, 1826. His second wife was Eunice Plummer, who was born on March 25, 1783, at Brattleboro, Vermont, and died on July 24, 1865, in Ellisburg, New York. William Williams was engaged in agricultural pur- suits. He belonged to the state militia, but it is believed he was a soldier in the War of 1812. He moved with his family to Jefferson county, New York, where he spent his last days, which ended at an advanced age. Mr. and Mrs. William Williams were the parents of the following children : Mrs. Celinda Brown, Mrs. Nancy Brown, Mrs. Eastman, Mrs. Joseph Allen, Will- iam, John and Roswell.
The maternal grandfather was a Mr. Plummer, and his wife was Eunice (Frazier) Plummer, who afterwards married William Williams. This grand- father and grandmother Plummer were natives of Brattleboro, Vermont, and moved into Jefferson county. They had four children : David, who resided at
Digitized by Google
1005
DEARBORN COUNTY, INDIANA.
Boston; a son, who was killed while on his way west by stepping off a mov- ing train; Roswell, who was in the com. ission business in New York City; and Jerusha, the mother of the subject of this sketch.
Wilbur A. Williams was united in marriage on October 22, 1866, with Leonora J. Close, daughter of Solomon and Sybid E. (Graves) Close, who died on March 31, 1885, aged forty-two years, leaving one child, Nellie May. Nellie May Williams became the wife of Frederick W. Quellhorst. They live near Carmel, Indiana, and have three children, William L., Henry W., and Carroll.
Mr. Williams was married secondly, on the 12th of December, 1887, to Ethel L. Close, a sister of his first wife, to which union was born one daugh- ter, Catherine L., who is now the wife of Edward Hauck. They reside at Greendale, and have one daughter, Ethel Juanita. Mrs. Ethel L. Williams was born on March 1, 1848, at Henderson, Jefferson county, New York. and was formerly a member of the Swedenborgian church.
Solomon and Sybil E. (Graves) Close were natives of Dutchess and Jef- ferson counties, New York, respectively. Mr. Close followed the trade of a brick and stone mason, and died at Lawrenceburg, Indiana, in January, 1897, a little under eighty-three years of age. His wife died at Brookville, Indiana, in 1889, aged sixty-eight years. To this union were born six chil- dren, namely : Leonora, deceased; Frances A., deceased; Adelaid, who makes her home at Lawrenceburg; Emily M., deceased, and a son, who died in infancy.
The paternal grandfather of Mrs. Ethel Williams was Jonathan Close, whose wife was Louisa ( Wetmore) Close, natives of New York, where he followed agricultural pursuits. This union was blessed with three sons and two daughters, Alonzo, Lucinda, Solomon, Sanford and Ruth.
The maternal grandfather of Mrs. Ethel Williams was Joseph Graves. and his wife was Cynthia (Tousley) Graves, natives of Jefferson county, New York, where they followed farming. Mr. Graves died at the age of eighty-four years, and his wife at past middle age. This union was blessed with a large family of children. Joseph, Sidney, Orin, Alanson, Mosely. Smith, Elvira, Emily and Melissa.
Mr. Williams has been a lover of music from boyhood, and is a violinist of a high order. At present he is conductor of the Sunday school orchestra of the Church of Christ at Lawrenceburg; and for the last half century has conducted orchestras in various cities throughout the country, during which
Digitized by Google
1006
DEARBORN COUNTY, INDIANA.
time he has delighted thousands of people with the quality of the music he has rendered. He takes the greatest possible pleasure in adding to the hap- piness of others in this way, and both he and his wife enjoy a large circle of friends, who esteem their acquaintance highly.
VANDEN B. CANFIELD.
Vanden B. Canfield was born on January 2, 1880, at Maysville, Ken- tucky, a son of Oliver T. and Henrietta (Vanden) Canfield. At the age of four years Vanden B. was brought to Aurora, which place has since been his home. He attended the public schools, and when through, engaged his serv- ices on a farm for two years, and then went into the grocery business with his father, which partnership lasted over a period of fourteen years. He is at present engaged in the automobile repair and sales business, in partnership with Nieman & Linkmeyer. As salesman for this firm he has been very suc- cessful, placing a large number of automobiles in Dearborn county. Mr. Canfield is a stanch Republican, and his religious membership is with the Methodist Episcopal church. He belongs to Aurora Lodge No. 51, Free and Accepted Masons ; the Improved Order of Red Men, and the Modern Wood- men of America.
Oliver T. Canfield was born in Dearborn county, and was rearer on North Hogan creek, two or three miles from Aurora, where he grew up on a farm, and was afterward a general merchant at Wilmington for a number of years. Leaving here, he went to Maysville, Kentucky, where he also did merchandising. and in 1884 he came to Aurora, following the same line of business until his death, with the exception of about four years spent in farm- ing, on account of ill health. He died at Aurora in May, 1912, aged sixty- nine years. Mr. Canfield was public-spirited, and held some of the local offices. He served on the Aurora school board for a number of years and was a member of the council several terms. At one time he was treasurer of the Union Building Association, and was one of its first directors. He was a Republican and was prominent in the councils of his party. His wife. Henrietta (Vanden) Canfield, was born at Maysville, Kentucky, and survives her husband at the age of sixty-two years. Mrs. Canfield was a member of the Christian church until late years when she has been an active member of the Baptist church. Mr. Canfield was a Methodist.
Digitized by Google
1007
DEARBORN COUNTY, INDIANA.
They were the parents of three children, Vanden B., of Aurora; Harry R., of Cleveland, Ohio, and Cyrus, who died when four years old.
The paternal grandfather was Cyrus Canfield, and his wife was Mary (Richardson) Canfield. They were natives of New York, and pioneer set- tlers in Dearborn county, Indiana, clearing and improving a farm in Hogan township, where they both died. Cyrus Canfield was over seventy years of age at the time of his death, and his wife was over eighty years of age. They left the following children : Oliver T., William W .. Marion, Arminda, Emma, Holman and George.
Vanden B. Canfield was married on June 8, 1904, to Lola M. Mathews, daughter of Thomas and Adelia (Day) Mathews. She was born at Cov- ington, Kentucky. Mrs. Canfield is an earnest member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and is the mother of one son, Thomas Vanden Canfield.
Thomas Matthews, father of Mrs. Canfield, was a native of Kentucky, and his wife, Adelia (Day) Matthews, was born in Indiana. They are both dead. They were the parents of two children, Lola and Henry, deceased.
Vanden B. Canfield is highly esteemed by his large circle of both per- sonal and business acquaintances in Aurora, where he is having such success in the automobile trade.
HON. WILLIAM H. O'BRIEN.
Hon. William H. O'Brien, president of the People's National Bank, Law- renceburg, Indiana, was born at Lawrenceburg, August 22, 1855, a son of Cornelius and Harriet Jane ( Hunter) O'Brien, natives, he of the town of Cal- lan. County Kilkenny, Ireland; she of Lawrenceburg, Indiana. Of their chil- dren, William H. is the only one now living. The father of the subject of this sketch was reared in Ireland and educated at the city of Waterford. At the age of eighteen he came to America and located at Dover (now Kelso), Indiana, where he clerked in a store for several years. He later became dep- uty county clerk under William V. Cheek, and was afterward elected county treasurer, in which office he served two terms. While county treasurer he was elected county clerk and served two terms. In 1858 Mr. O'Brien was elected to the state senate, where he served one term. He was elected dele- gate to the Democratic national convention that nominated Buchanan in 1856. Mr. O'Brien was nominated for clerk of the supreme court in 1860, but was
Digitized by Google
1008
DEARBORN COUNTY, INDIANA.
defeated in the land-slide of that year, after which he settled down to the practice of law. He died in 1869, aged fifty years. His wife survived him, and died in 1885, aged fifty-five years. She was an earnest member of the Methodist church.
William H. O'Brien is one of the foremost citizens of Lawrenceburg. and takes an active interest in its welfare and development. Being wide- awake and progressive, he saw possibilities in his home town that were over- looked by many of his friends, and is ever on the alert to do what lies in his power in promoting its interests, as well as taking a civic pride in anything pertaining to the advancement of the entire county and its citizenship.
William H. O'Brien was reared in Lawrenceburg, where he attended the public school. He later entered Asbury (now DePauw)' University, finish- ing the sophomore year, after which he returned home, learned the printer's trade, and went into the newspaper business. He bought the Lawrenceburg Register and published it from 1877 to 1894. That paper was established in 1847, and is a Democratic weekly newspaper. Mr. O'Brien then became vice-president of the Citizens' Bank, which he established. He later bought the People's National Bank and consolidated the two. The People's National Bank was established in 1882, and the consolidation took place in 1905, with a capital stock of $125,000.
Mr. O'Brien is a Democrat, and has always taken the greatest possible interest in public affairs. That he is a wonderfully popular man, with a host of friends, is clearly shown by the following list of offices to which he has been elected, and which he has faithfully filled : He served five terms as mayor . of Lawrenceburg, and in 1902 was elected to the state senate, serving through two sessions. He was a delegate to the Democratic national convention in 1900 and 1904, and in each convention was a member of the committee to notify the nominee for President. He served two terms as state auditor- from 1910 to 1914; was chairman of the Democratic state central committee for six years, and treasurer of the Democratic national committee in 1908. Mr. O'Brien belongs to Lawrenceburg Lodge No. 4, Free and Accepted Masons : Lawrenceburg Chapter No. 56. Royal Arch Masons: Aurora Com- mandery No. 17. Knights Templar : also to Indiana Consistory, and is a thir- ty-second degree Scottish Rite Mason. He belongs to Dearborn Lodge No. 49 Knights of Pythias, and Tawana Tribe No. 301, Improved Order of Red Men.
On the 9th of May, 1882, William H. O'Brien was united in marriage with Harriet Hunter, who was born at Mexico, Missouri, and is a daughter of William D. H. and Frances A. (Cauthorn) Hunter. Mr. Hunter was born at Lawrenceburg. Indiana, and his wife at Tappahannock, Essex county,
Digitized by Google
1009
DEARBORN COUNTY, INDIANA.
Virginia. They resided at Lawrenceburg about twenty years. He was asso- ciated with his son-in-law in the publication of the Register, and was for- merly publisher of a paper at Mexico, Missouri. He died in 1898, aged sixty- six years. He was a member of the Missouri legislature, and at the time of his death was cashier of the Citizens National Bank. He was mayor of the city of Mexico, and was a delegate to the Democratic national conven- tion from Missouri, in 1868. He was collector of internal revenue for the Lawrenceburg district, in which capacity he served four years. Mr. Hunter and John B. Stoll, of South Bend, Indiana, established the Democratic Edi- torial Association of Indiana. Mrs. Hunter died in 1913, aged seventy-two years. They had two daughters, Mrs. O'Brien and Elizabeth, who became the wife of Herbert F. Patton, and resides at Cleveland, Ohio.
To Mr. and Mrs. O'Brien were born the following children : Cornelius, Frances, Robert Emmett, William H., Elizabeth, Harriet Jane and Ruth. Cornelius is associated with the A. D. Cook Pump Manufacturing Company. His wife was Anna Belle Cook, by whom he has had two daughters, Anna Belle and Mary. Frances is a graduate of Glendale College, Glendale, Ohio, and is unmarried. Robert Emmett graduated from the United States Mili- tary Academy at West Point, and is a first lieutenant in the Fifth Infantry, which is now stationed at Panama. He was united in marriage with Keturah Foulds, daughter of F. W. Foulds, of Highland Park, Illinois. They have one son, Robert Emmett, Jr. William H. graduated from the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis, and is now an ensign in the United States navy. He is an officer on the torpedo boat destroyer, "Paul Jones." Eliza- beth graduated from the Bartholomew Clifton School, and is the wife of Cal- vin W. Verity. They reside at Middletown, Ohio, and have a daughter, Elizabeth Jane. Harriet Jane also graduated from the Bartholomew Clifton School and Rye, New York, Seminary. Ruth died in infancy.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.