History of Dearborn County, Indiana : her people, industries and institutions, Part 105

Author: Archibald Shaw
Publication date: 1915
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 1123

USA > Indiana > Dearborn County > History of Dearborn County, Indiana : her people, industries and institutions > Part 105

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).

Samuel Fuller, father of Mrs. Ruth Parrott, was born in Pennsylvania, and his wife was a native of Indiana. They settled in Ohio county at an early day. Mr. Fuller died in 1882, and his wife died three years later, aged sixty-four years. They had a large family, namely : John. deceased: Solomon, deceased; Herculaneum, Sarah, Belle, Alice and Ruth.

The maternal grandfather of Mrs. Parrott was Solomon Kittle, who was born in Wood county, Virginia, in September, 1793, and who, at the age of eighteen years went to Ohio. In 1814 he came to Ohio county, Indiana, where he spent the remainder of his life. His wife, Nancy (Gibson) Kittle, was born in 1795, and was a native of Kentucky. When he first came to Indiana Mr. Kittle landed at the mouth of Laughery creek, and rowed their

Digitized by Google

1049

DEARBORN COUNTY, INDIANA.

boat up that stream to Hanover Landing. This union was blessed with thirteen children and numerous grandchildren.

James W. Parrott has conducted his present successful boarding house since March 6, 1901, when he first settled in Aurora. He is a conscientious Christian man, and has the respect of all who know him. His wife is a faithful helpmate to him, and is also an earnest Christian woman.

EDWARD OTTO ROHLFING.

Edward Otto Rohlfing, farmer, son of William and Dora Rohlfing, was born on April 17, 1868, in Jackson township, Dearborn county, Indiana. His parents came from Minden, Germany, at an early day, to seek for them- selves a home in the new country. The father selected Cincinnati for his home and became a fireman on a steamboat, which line he followed for three years, and later became engaged in the lumber business. Being thrifty and careful, William Rohlfing saved enough for the purchase of a farm of eighty acres in Jackson township, Dearborn county, where he resided until the time of his death, which occurred about the year 1900, at the age of eighty-four years. His wife survives him, and is still living at the old homestead, at the age of seventy-seven years. They were the parents of five children: Henry (deceased), Edward Otto, Christopher, Mrs. Sarah Wolljung, and Clara, who resides at Cincinnati. Christopher, who still resides on the home place, was married and has had one daughter, Helen.

Edward Otto Rohlfing received his education at the public schools of Dearborn county, where he was an attentive student. On February 1, 1894, he was united in marriage with Louisa Bode, and went to Seward county, Nebraska, where he rented a farm, on which he lived three years. He then returned to Dearborn county and lived on his father-in-law's farm for eight years, and later rented a farm from Fred W. M. Meyer, in Manchester town- ship, for two years. Having accumulated sufficient funds, Mr. Rohlfing purchased a fine farm of one hundred and seven acres, located in Lawrence- burg township, about five miles northwest of Lawrenceburg.

Mrs. Rohlfing was born on February 23, 1871, and at the time of her marriage was twenty-three years old. She was a daughter of Dietrich and Margaret (Bortman) Bode, who came from Germany at an early age and settled at Cincinnati, where he was a gardener. They later came to Dear- born county, where they purchased a farm of one hundred and sixty acres

Digitized by Google

1050

DEARBORN COUNTY, INDIANA.

in Lawrenceburg township. He died in 1906, and his wife in 1873. They were the parents of eight children, Henry, John, Fred, William, Herman, Anna, Mary and Louisa.

Henry Bode married and has four children, Elmer, Albert, George and Henry. John Bode married and has four children, Edward, Emmet, Louis and Clara. Fred Bode married and resides in Nebraska, and has five chil- dren, Walter, Carl and three others. Mary became the wife of a Mr. Dief- enbaugh, and now resides in Nebraska. She has four children, Elmer, Elfert and two others. Louisa Bode became the wife of Edward Otto Rohlfing, and is the mother of eight children, Lydia, Anna, Fred, Clara, Carl, Luella, Matilda and Ora.

Mr. and Mrs. Rohlfing are both members of the Lutheran church.

WILLIAM HOLMAN MCKINNEY.

William Holman Mckinney, whose grandfather, Col. James M. McKin- ney, founded the family in Dearborn county, was born on April 23, 1870, in Lawrenceburg township, the son of Thomas and Priscilla Anne (Miller) Mckinney. After being educated in the public schools of Elizabethtown, Ohio, to which place his father moved during his youth, he was married on January 26, 1893, at the age of twenty-three, and coming back to Dearborn county has resided here since that time. He lives on a farm of four acres located in Hardingtown, Dearborn county.

Col. James M. Mckinney, who married Abigail Miller, was a colonel in the Mexican War and a farmer by occupation, and also operated a general store at Hardingtown. He and his wife had two children, Mrs. Lucy McKim and Thomas. Colonel Mckinney died about 1839 and his wife about 1892, at the age of eighty-four years.

Thomas Mckinney, who married Priscilla Anne Miller, was born on February 19, 1832, in Hardingtown, Dearborn county, Indiana. He lived in Dearborn county until 1875, when he moved to Elizabethtown, Ohio, where he is still living at the age of eighty-three. At the age of twenty-five he was married and immediately after his marriage settled on the Miller homestead in Lawrenceburg township, where he lived for eighteen years. He and his wife had nine children : Silas Van, who married Ruth Ann Guard and had seven children, Mrs. Ollie May, Robbin, Alta, Thomas, Frank, Dana and one who died early in life; Lucy Eldora, who married Frank Guard and both are

Digitized by Google

IO51

DEARBORN COUNTY, INDIANA.

now deceased; Abbie, who is the wife of Bailey Guard; and had four chil- dren, Ruben S., Lewis, Lucy and Jerry, deceased; William H., the subject of this sketch; Mrs. Cora Ann Tebow, who has one child, Lee; and four who died in infancy.

William H. Mckinney married Katie Priscilla Hayes and to them have been born thirteen children, four of whom are deceased. The nine living chil- dren are William H., Jr., Hallie Iva, Edward Francis, Eldora L., Helen Theo- dore, Melville F., James Chester, Silas Van, Jr., and Hazel Fern Hester.

Mrs. Mckinney is the daughter of Bailey H. and Hester Ann (Cregg) Hayes. Her father, who is a native of Elizabethtown, Ohio, still lives there. His wife was a native of Logan, Dearborn county. Indiana. Bailey H. Hayes was a soldier in the Civil War and served on a torpedo boat called the "Nymph." A farmer by occupation, he now owns several tracts of prop- erty in Elizabethtown, Ohio. He and his wife had ten children: Mrs. Sallie Hayes, Rollie B., Horace, Mrs. Katie Mckinney, Mrs. Pearl Swango, Mrs. Carrie Whitney, John, Cole, Clementine and one deceased. Mrs. Sallie Hayes has six children living, Corine, Irene, Marie, George. Laura and Jacob, and one deceased. Rollie B. married Mary Martin and they have seven chil- dren. Horace married Lillian Welch and has five children. Katie. Earl. Enoch, Hilda and Louise. Mrs. Pearl Swango has had two children. Thorn- ton and Theodore, deceased. Mrs. Carrie Whitney has two children, Ruth and Carl. John married Rosetta Van Gorder and has one child, William B.

Mr. Mckinney is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church at Home- stead, in which the Mckinney family are prominent workers. He is a mem- ber of the Knights of Pythias Lodge No. 602, at Cleves, Ohio. Mr. Mc- Kinney is one of the prominent citizens in the vicinity of Hardingtown. He is a man of honorable and upright instincts and for a number of years has been prominent in the civic life of this locality.

WILLIAM F. DUNCAN, M. D.

William F. Duncan, son of Josiah Duncan and Melissa (McMullen) Duncan, is a native of Manchester township, his birth occurring on Decem- ber 28, 1864. His early life was spent in Manchester township. where he attended the public school, and in due time entered the normal school at Aurora, Indiana, where he spent one year, finishing at Moores Hill College. After teaching through four terms in the schools of Dearborn county Mr.

Digitized by Google

1052

DEARBORN COUNTY, INDIANA.

Duncan began the study of medicine, under Dr. House, at Kyle, Indiana, and in the fall of 1889, entered the Miami Medical College at Cincinnati, from which he was graduated in the spring of 1892. Doctor Duncan practiced for a short time at Sparta, and then went to Kyle, where he enjoyed a lucrative practice for nine years, when he met with a severe loss by fire. After this misfortune, Doctor Duncan decided upon Manchester, Indiana, as being a location more to his liking, in many respects. It offered a larger field for his line of work, and accordingly, in 1902, he moved his family and all his worldly belongings to that place, and has made it his home to the present time. He now has one of the finest modern homes in Manchester, and occupies the office formerly owned by Doctor Craig. Doctor Duncan is a stanch believer in the policies advocated in the platform of the Democratic party, although he has never sought public representation. His religious membership is with the Christian Union church, to the support of which he is a liberal contrib- utor. He is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America, and is a past grand in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.

Josiah Duncan, father of William F. Duncan, was a native of Sparta township, Dearborn county. He was born in 1837, and was educated in the schools of the township. At an early day he learned the cooper's trade which he followed to the time of his marriage to Melissa McMullen, which took place on October 13, 1861. They at once went to housekeeping on a rented farm in Manchester township, and, being economical and saving, it was not long ere they were able to buy a farm of their own, on which they lived until 1893, when they moved to Holman Ridge, and, later, to Kyle, where Mr. Duncan died on September 4, 1899. His political beliefs were Democratic, and his religious sympathies were with the Christian Union church. He was a man who stood well in the estimation of his neighbors, and did everything in his power for the betterment of the conditions of his township, in which he held the office of trustee for five years and was superintendent of public highways for two years. He was always a booster for good roads. He was public spirited, and a good Christian man. His wife was Melissa McMullen, who was born on July 30, 1841, in Manchester township, and is a daughter of William and Melvina (Ketchum) McMullen. She was given a good edu- cation in the public schools of the township in which she was born and reared and where she lived until her marriage. To Mr. and Mrs. Josiah Duncan were four children, James, William, Elizabeth and George, who died in youth.

James Duncan became a very successful physician of Pawnee, Illinois, where he died. He was born in Manchester township, where he attended the

Digitized by Google

1053

DEARBORN COUNTY, INDIANA.

public schools, and then entered Moores Hill College, after which he taught school for three years prior to his attendance at the Miami Medical College, where he graduated in 1892. He was a Democrat, and a member of the Christian Union church, and, at the time of his death, was president of the town council. Dr. James Duncan was a member of the Masonic order, Mod- ern Woodmen of American, Order of the Eastern Star, and Royal Neigh- bors. He was united in marriage with Elizabeth Brunk. She and their only child, William Thomas, survive him.

Elizabeth Duncan, the only sister of the subject of this sketch, is now the wife of Robert Withered, a well-to-do farmer of Manchester township. and has two children, George and Lester.

The paternal grandparents were James and Mary Duncan, both natives of Maryland. They came to Dearborn county in the early pioneer days, and many are the times they have interested their children with stories of the dangers and difficulties which went hand-in-hand with a life in the wilder- ness. By his first wife Mr. Duncan had six children, John. Henry. William. Joshua, Ann and Eliza. By his second wife, Mary, he had four children. Josiah, James, Robert and Thomas.

Dr. William F. Duncan was married to Mrs. Mary (Bidner) Becker, whose first husband was Harry Becker, an engineer on the Big Four railroad, at Lawrenceburg, Indiana. Mrs. Duncan was born in Manchester township, April 12, 1865, and is a daughter of Peter and Dorothy (Fillenworth) Bid- ner. Mr. and Mrs. Duncan have two children, Stanley and Ruby.

Through his charitable and humane dealings, and the skillful ability with which he handles his cases Doctor Duncan stands high in his profession in Dearborn county.

ERNEST GRANT OERTLING.

The value to a community of a well-conducted book store hardly can be estimated, so far-reaching are the consequences of a proper distribution of books. The treasures of literature. through such a medium, are thus made easy of access and all the community is benefited thereby. The city of Law- renceburg is favored in this respect by the establishment in that city of a book-selling and stationery shop, so amply stocked and so wisely conducted as to have had a large influence throughout the whole county of Dearborn, and it is but proper that a brief biography of the owner and manager of the same

Digitized by Google

1054

DEARBORN COUNTY, INDIANA.

should be presented in this volume of history and biography covering the his- tory of the important events in this county and the lives of the leading men and women of the same.

Ernest Grant Oertling, book-seller and stationer, of Lawrenceburg, Indiana, was born in that city, August 25, 1864, the son of Herman and Mar- garet (Fahrenholtz) Oertling, both of whom were natives of Germany, the former of whom was born in the province of Brandenburg, and the latter in the province of Bremen. Both Herman Oertling and Margaret Fahren- holtz were reared in Germany and received their education there. He came to this country in 1862, she having preceded him here in the year 1859. Both located in Lawrenceburg and there they were married on September 10, 1863.

Herman Oertling was one of the four children born to his parents, the others being Ernest, William and Mrs. Nabotz, the latter of whom died in early womanhood. His father was a blacksmith and expert horse-shoer and to this trade Herman Oertling was reared. Upon arriving at Lawrenceburg he opened a blacksmith shop, which he conducted for many years with much success, up to within about ten years of the time of his death, at which time he opened a grocery store and was engaged in the management of the same the rest of his life. His death on December 9, 1895, was due to an accident, he having fallen from a ladder, being then sixty-three years, two months and twenty days of age. His widow, who was born on September 6, 1839, still survives, she being now about seventy-eight years of age. Mr. and Mrs. Oertling were among the charter members of the Zion Evangelical church at Lawrenceburg and among the most highly esteemed residents of the city. The widow Oertling, who was the only child born to her parents, was bereft of her mother when but a few weeks old and was tenderly reared by an aunt, Mrs. Kemper, who brought her to America.

Ernest G. Oertling was reared in Lawrenceburg, Indiana, the town of his birth, and was educated in the parochial and public schools. His first work was as a clerk in a grocery store, which occupation he followed for sev- eral years, after which time he opened the first steam laundry ever operated in Lawrenceburg, which, in partnership with Fred Pfalzgraf, he conducted for two years, at the end of which time he sold out to Wingate & McWethy and in 1894 opened another steam laundry, which he styled the "Favorite," and which, in partnership with his brother, Herman, he operated until 1905, in which year the brothers bought a steam laundry at Springfield, Ohio, which they put on a paying basis and operated for nine months, at the end of which time they sold it. Ernest G. Oertling then returned to Lawrenceburg and for one year was engaged as a clerk in the hardware store of E. Barrott &

Digitized by Google

1055

DEARBORN COUNTY, INDIANA.

Son, at the end of which time he bought his present book and stationery store, which he has since conducted with much success and to the great benefit of the entire book-reading community, few merchants in the city being better known or more popular than he.

On February 1, 1905, Ernest Grant Oertling was united in marriage with Alice Frederika Madaka, daughter of Henry and Sydna Anna (Smeed) Madaka, to which union has been born one child, a son, Ernest John. Mrs. Oertling was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, December 13, 1869, her father having been brought to this country from Germany when three years of age, his parents locating in Cincinnati. John Henry Madaka, Mrs. Oertling's paternal grandfather, bought property in Cincinnati and died there, his property still remaining in the possession of the Madaka family. Mrs. Oertling's mother was of Scottish descent, her parents, Bernard and Mary (Kinneman), having settled in Virginia upon coming to this country from Aberdeen, Scotland, later moving to Dayton, Ohio, in which city Sydna Ann Smeed was born on August 7, 1834. The Smeeds of an earlier day were known as MacSmeed. Mrs. Oertling's great grandmother Creaghead was a McFatridge. Henry Madaka and Sydna Ann Smeed were married at Hamilton, Ohio, immediately thereafter, locating at Cincinnati, in which city Mr. Madaka engaged in busi- ness, which he is still conducting, at the advanced age of seventy-eight years. He was born on March 25, 1837, and in his young manhood was a carpenter. His wife died on September 14. 1902, at the age of sixty-eight years, she having been born on August 7, 1834. They were the parents of but two children, both daughters. Mrs. Oertling's sister. Catherine, died in infancy. Mrs. Oertling's mother had been twice married, several children having been born to her first marriage, with Michael Milligan. among whom are noted Willard Milligan, a well-known attorney, formerly of Cincinnati, later of Denver, Colorado, and Mrs. John Retteg, of Cincinnati.

Mr. and Mrs. Oertling are both active in the good works of the city and are deservedly quite popular in the circle in which they move. Mr. Oert- ling is a member of the Zion Evangelical church and Mrs. Oertling is a mem- ber of the Protestant Episcopal church. Mr. Oertling is a member of Law- renceburg Lodge No. 4, Free and Accepted Masons, and of Lawrenceburg Chapter No. 56. Royal Arch Masons, and also is a member of Lawrenceburg Camp No. 7460, Modern Woodmen of America. He is a Democrat and takes a good citizen's part in the political affairs of the city and county, though he never has been included in the office-seeking class. The Oertlings reside in a pleasant apartment situated over the book store at 215 Walnut street.

Mr. Oertling is enterprising in business, genial in manner and public-

Digitized by Google

1056

.DEARBORN COUNTY, INDIANA.

spirited, and during the years he has been engaged in the book business in Lawrenceburg has very definitely established himself as one of the leading business men of the city, a man who has the best interests of the city and the county very closely at heart and who is interested in all movements having as their object the advancement of the common welfare in this section of the state.

ROBERT BARR CASS.

By his great force of character, and the zeal and energy in whatever he undertakes, as well as by the assistance of his valuable publication, the Aurora Bulletin, Mr. Cass has become a very potent factor in the home of his final adoption, Aurora, Indiana, where he also has a splendidly equipped plant for serving the public with a high grade of printing in all lines. All who know Mr. Cass, personally, and their name is legion, know him to be a man of high principles, and one in whom they may place the utmost confi- dence.

Robert Barr Cass, editor and publisher, Aurora, Indiana, is a son of George B. and Catharine Ann (Kline) Cass, and was born on April 3, 1875, at Ottawa, Putnam county, Ohio, where he attended the public school, and later attended Wooster University. After completing his education he returned home and superintended his father's three-thousand-acre farm for three years, and then, assisted by his brother, Levi, he became the publisher of the old Toledo Commercial (now the Toledo Times) for six years, when he sold out and moved to Warsaw, New York, and in partnership with his brother, Levi, purchased and published the Western New Yorker. A year later, Robert B. Cass returned home, and in 1906 went into the dry-goods business for a period of six months, trading the dry-goods store for the Aurora Bulletin, which he has published ever since. This paper was estab- lished in 1893 and Mr. Cass has one of the best equipped establishments in the neighborhood for general job printing, including catalogs and railroad printing. His office is one of the finest and neatest in the state. In addi- tion to his newspaper and printing interests, Mr. Cass is personally interested in several fine farms in Putnam county, Ohio. In politics, Mr. Cass is a Democrat, and in religion, he is an earnest member of the Presbyterian church, to which he is a liberal contributor.

George B. Cass, father of the subject of this sketch, was born in Pennsyl-

Digitized by Google

ROBERT B. CASS

Digitized by

Google

Digitized by

1057

DEARBORN COUNTY, INDIANA:

vania, but was reared in Wood county, Ohio, where he taught school in young manhood, which vocation he gave up and followed railroading for a time, and later went into the hardware business at Ottawa, and eventually became the owner of a number of valuable farms in Putnam county. His death occurred in 1905, at the age of fifty-eight. His wife, Catharine Ann (Kline) Cass, was a native of Ohio, and her death occurred in 1905, at the age of fifty-six years. They were both sincere members of the Presbyterian church, to the support of which Mr. Cass was a liberal contributor. Their children were: Levi A., of Warsaw, New York; Charles, of Ottawa, Ohio; Catharine, who is Mrs. C. C. McMichael, of Jackson, Michigan; Ora, the wife of Wil- lard Morrey, of Jackson, Michigan; Lucy, who became the wife of R. G. LeBlond, of Toledo, Ohio, and three who died in infancy.

The paternal grandparents were Lewis and Lucy Cass, both natives of Pennsylvania. Mr. Cass was a farmer by occupation, and lived in Wood county, Ohio, where he died about eighty-five years of age. Mrs. Cass was ninety-one years old when she died. Mr. Cass was a soldier in the Civil War. They were the parents of the following children : Louis, Levi, Daniel, George B. and Amanda and Lucy.

The maternal grandparents were Samuel and Catharine (Ami) Kline, natives of Pennsylvania. Mr. Kline followed the double vocation of black- smith and farmer. They were early settlers in Putnam county, Ohio, where Mr. Kline died at the age of seventy-eight, and his wife at the age of seventy- five. He was a soldier in the Civil War. To this couple were born the fol- lowing children : Samuel, Robert, Catharine, Octavia, Isabelle, Margaret and Isadore.

Robert Barr Cass was married on February 1, 1910, to Mrs. Alice Slater, daughter of Charles and Lida (Johnson) Moore. No children have been born to this union. Mrs. Cass had one daughter by her former husband, Agnes. Mrs. Cass was born at Aurora, and is a member of the Baptist church there.

The parents of Mrs. Robert Barr Cass were natives of Aurora. Her father died in 1910, and the mother still survives him. Mr. Moore was a baker and confectioner in Aurora, and their two children, Mrs. Cass, and one who died in infancy, were born there.

Having been so long identified with one of the leading enterprises of the city, Mr. Cass' influence has gained for him a wide circle of loyal friends.

(67)

Digitized by Google

1058

DEARBORN COUNTY, INDIANA.

PETER BIDNER.

Peter Bidner, farmer, of Manchester township, was born in Germany, April 25, 1834, and is a son of John Bidner. At the age of seven years Peter Bidner came to the United States with his parents, with whom he lived until he was married, when his father presented him with eighty acres of land in Manchester township. He lived here one year and then rented sixty acres nearby and moved onto the place, but had lived here only seven months when he decided to buy a farm adjoining the eighty acres originally given him by his father, consisting of one hundred and forty-eight and one-half acres, of which he afterward sold eighty acres, purchasing one hundred and one acres adjoining his place on the north, which he later sold to his son, John J., cultivating the balance of his farm up to within the past few years. when he retired. Mr. Bidner has always been a firm believer in the Demo- cratic policies, and is a regular attendant of the Lutheran church. to which he contributes liberally.

John Bidner, father of Peter Bidner, was a native of Germany, but like many of his countrymen, decided to try his fortune in America. Arriving with his family in 1841, he landed at Baltimore and came at once to Man- chester township, Dearborn county, Indiana. On their voyage across the water, Mrs. Bidner became very ill, and died five days after arrival in Dear- born county. Two years after the death of his first wife, Mr. Bidner was married a second time, but was later divorced. He then disposed of his prop- erty and went to Hamilton, Ohio, where he rented three hundred acres of land and cultivated that for two years, at the end of which time he took unto himself a third wife, Barbara Wise, a native of Hamilton, Ohio, return- ing immediately to Manchester township, Indiana, where he purchased eighty acres of land, to which six years later he added sixty acres more, all of which he tilled until he was quite old. Finding he was not physically able to continue the requirements of a farm life, he divided his land. giving eighty acres to Peter, and the other half to Michael, the children of his first wife. The last years of his life were spent in the home of his son John, dying at the age of sixty-seven years. He was a Democrat in his political views, and a loyal and liberal member of the Lutheran church, on whose board he served as one of its officers.

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.

History of Dearborn County, Indiana : her people, industries and institutions, Part 105

Author: Archibald Shaw Publication date: 1915 Publisher: Number of Pages: 1123

Author: Archibald Shaw
Publication date: 1915
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 1123