USA > Indiana > Dearborn County > History of Dearborn County, Indiana : her people, industries and institutions > Part 56
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John H. Stier does a very large undertaking business, having buried to date nearly eighteen hundred persons and his painstaking efforts and com- mendable methods in all his business ventures are largely responsible for his present success.
Mr. Stier and his wife are members of the Methodist church. Mr. Stier belongs to Aurora Lodge No. 51, Free and Accepted Masons; Aurora Chap- ter No. 13, Royal Arch Masons; Chosen Friends Lodge No. 13, Independent Order of Odd Fellows; Bethlehem Encampment, Tribe No. 229, Improved Order of Red Men; Union Lodge No. 34, Knights of Pythias, and served for two years as grand regent of the Royal Arcanum of the state of Indiana. Originally, Mr. Stier was a Democrat, but is now giving his support to the Republican party. He served as Sunday school superintendent for several years, and was on the official board of the church. He was president of the Dearborn Club of Aurora, in 1914, and is a member of the Aurora Commer- cial Club.
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JOSEPH LEONARD AXBY, D. V. S.
Although the parents of Dr. Joseph Leonard Axby were natives of Indiana, he is of English descent on his paternal side, both of his paternal grandparents having been born in Devonshire, England. On his maternal side he is of Pennsylvania-Dutch descent. Two generations of the Axby family already have been prominent in the political and civic life of Dearborn county. Dr. Axby's father was a .well-known citizen and held many offices of trust and responsibility in Dearborn county. Doctor Axby himself has filled no inconsiderable niche in the political and official life of Lawrenceburg. As a veterinary surgeon he has during the period of nearly fifteen years enjoyed a large practice in this section of the state. In fact he is regarded as one of the foremost veterinary surgeons in southern Indiana, though his practice is not confined to the state of Indiana alone. An evidence of his professional equipment was his long service as a lecturer in the Cincinnati Veterinary College. A farmer by proxy, Doctor Axby has given his best thought and attention to the profession into which he came from educational work.
Joseph Leonard Axby was born on July 28, 1876, in Miller township, Dearborn county, Indiana, and was reared on his father's farm in Miller town- ship. He attended the district schools and completed his education at the National Normal University, at Lebanon, Ohio, and the Southern Indiana Normal School, now extinct, at Mitchell, Indiana: After a successful career as a school teacher, which profession he followed for six years, he entered the Chicago Veterinary College, at Chicago, Illinois, and was graduated with the class of 1903. Beginning the practice of his profession immediately after graduation he located in Lawrenceburg and has lived in this city and prac- tised his profession ever since. During the period of 1903 to 1911 he was a lecturer in the Cincinnati Veterinary College. Dr. Joseph Leonard Axby belongs to the Indiana, Ohio and National Veterinary societies, and for many years has been a prominent member of these organizations.
Among the successful farmers of Dearborn county, who by reason of efficient service and genial relations with the public arose to positions of prominence in the political life of Dearborn county, was John Axby, who married Melissa Grubbs, and who was the father of Dr. Joseph Leonard Axby. After having been reared on the farm in Dearborn county, John Axby began farming on his own account, owning a sixty-acre farm in Miller township, which he very greatly improved and where he reared his children. Being a
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good judge of horses and mules he became an extensive dealer, and this busi- ness brought him into contact with a great many people. His popularity grew from year to year, and after serving two terms as township assessor of Miller township, he was elected a member of the board of county commis- sioners of Dearborn county, and subsequently was elected sheriff, which office he held for two terms. Afterwards he removed to the farm, and passed away the day after having reached his sixty-fifth year, November 4, 1914. Eight years previously his loyal and devoted wife, Mrs. Melissa (Grubbs) Axby had passed away at the age of fifty-three. Her death occurred on February 22, 1906. It is a matter of interest that their two children, both sons, are now veterinary surgeons. Dr. William A. Axby is a veterinary surgeon, located at Harrison, Ohio; Dr. Joseph L. is the subject of this sketch. The parents were both members of the Methodist church.
The cholera epidemic of 1849 took away many men and women in the prime of life and among the victims of this dread plague was Joseph Axby, the founder of the Axby family in America and the paternal grandfather of the subject of this review. Having come to this country to engage in farm- ing, he arrived in the spring of 1849, and died in the fall of the same year. His wife, Mary Axby, lived to be seventy-five years old, and was married, secondly, to William Brown, by whom she had no children. John Axby, the Doctor's father, was the only child born to the first union.
The Grubbs family, from which Doctor Axby is descended on his ma- ternal side, came from Pennsylvania, and are believed originally to have come from Holland. Allen Grubbs, the maternal grandfather, and his wife, a Miss Beule, natives of Pennsylvania, were pioneers in Dearborn county, In- diana, where he owned and operated a little farm and where he was a cooper. Although he died in Dearborn county, and his wife in Rush county, both were buried in Dearborn. They lived to rear a family of six children : Me- lissa, Susan, Joseph, John, Eva and Nettie, and to see them grow to man- hood and womanhood and establish homes of their own. Allen Grubbs had been married formerly and by the previous marriage had one son, Joshua.
Joseph Leonard Axby was married on September 12, 1906, to Dollie J. Watts, daughter of Warren and Martha (Parsons) Watts, and they have one daughter, Mary Elizabeth.
Mrs. Axby's father is still living. Her mother passed away in June, 1914, at the age of fifty-three years. Mrs. Axby has one brother, Albert.
Doctor Axby is a member of the Methodist church and Mrs. Axby is a member of the Christian church. He belongs to Lawrenceburg Lodge No.
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4, Free and Accepted Masons; Lawrenceburg Chapter of Royal Arch Masons; Aurora Commandery No. 17, Knights Templar ; and to the Modern Woodmen of America. A Democrat in politics, Doctor Axby served a term of four years, 1910 to 1914, as mayor of Lawrenceburg. He resides at 131 Elm street, Lawrenceburg.
Possessed of a lucrative and enjoyable profession, a substantial competence to insure all the comforts and most of the luxuries which a man might crave, the honor and respect of his fellow townsmen and the confidence of the public generally, Dr. Joseph Leonard Axby is well and favorably situated to enjoy life. Naturally possessed of an optimistic temperament and a friendly, approachable manner, he is a sterling type of the aggressive, shrewd and far- seeing American. He is a worthy representative of a family whose name is highly honored in this section.
FRANK ANDREW SCHIPPER.
Having grown up at Aurora, Indiana, the place has become familiar in- deed to him whose name starts this sketch, and no place holds such tender memories of fishing-pole days, or has offered better inducements in his more advanced years. From his boyhood to the present time, Mr. Schipper has never left the friendly little city that served as his birthplace. It has done its duty, in supplying him with an education necessary for a successful business career, and remaining faithful through all his more mature years, after his entrance into the business world.
Frank Andrew Schipper, shoe merchant, Aurora, Indiana, is a son of Bern- hard and Catherine Schumm Schipper, and was born on September 27, 1848, at Aurora, Indiana, where he has always lived. He attended the parochial schools of the town. At the age of thirteen, during the Civil War, he began to learn the shoemaker's trade, which he has followed ever since. About 1885, he formed a partnership with John Neff, and they opened a shoe store under the firm name of Neff & Schipper, which was later dissolved, and since 1893 Mr. Schipper has conducted a shoe business alone, and is now one of the oldest merchants in Aurora. He was the organizer of two military bands, and a ladies' orchestra composed of eighteen members; at the present time he leads a quartette. He is an exceptionally fine clarinet player. and a natural- born musician. Mr. Schipper is a Republican. In addition to his shoe
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store, Mr. Schipper is proprietor of the Lange Machine Works, which is now being run by three of his sons.
Bernhard Schipper was a native of Bavaria, Germany, where he was reared and received a good common-school education, and came to America with his mother when a lad, his father having died in Germany. They set- tled at North Bend, and in 1846 came to Aurora, where he grew to man- hood and where he engaged in burning lime and stone-quarrying. He died here at the age of seventy years. His wife, Catherine (Schumm) Schipper, also a native of Bavaria, survived him six months, and died at the age of seventy-three. They were both members of the Catholic church, and had the following children: Catherine, widow of John Gerhardt Martin; John (de- ceased) ; Mary, who became the wife of George Weitner, and lives at the old home place in Aurora; Frank A., of Aurora; Benjamin, Elizabeth, Emma, William, and Rose, who is now the wife of Jacob Pfiester, all of whom reside in Aurora, Indiana.
Frank Andrew Schipper was married in April, 1871, to Emma Doerr, daughter of Nicholas and Christina (Martin) Doerr. She was born on August 28, 1851, in Carrollton, Kentucky, of German parentage. Mr. Schipper and his wife are attentive members of the Catholic church. They have had twelve children, namely : Agatha, Alexander, Gustav, Adam, Paul-, ine, Harry, Frank, Irene, George, Walter, Everett and Alfred.
Agatha Schipper is married to Gustav Stoll. Alexander is a machinist in Lange Machine Works and married Lillian Cox, by whom he has two children, Alexander and Thelma. Gustav is following the trade of a machinist, and married Lulu Zimmerman, by whom he has three children, Helen, Harold and Frank. Adam was united in marriage with May Adler, and they reside at Turlock, California, where Mr. Schipper is employed as a machinist. Pauline is married to Harry Hogan, and is the mother of three children, Beatrice, Dorothy and Timothy; Harry is married to Clarissa Kinzer, by whom he has had one child, Donald, and they reside at Hamilton, Ohio, where Mr. Schipper is a successful jeweler. Frank, who clerks in his father's store, married Mary Agnes Green, and they have two children, Georgia Frances and Mary Agnes. Irene became the wife of William Ullrich, to which union have been born two children, Wilfred and Justina. George is also a machinist, and married Cornelia Spanagel. Walter died at the age of eleven years. Everett died when eighteen years old. Alfred is following the vocation of a pilot on the Ohio river, and lives at his father's home in Aurora.
The parents of Mrs. Frank A. Schipper were natives of Germany, her
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father from Alsace-Lorraine, and her mother from Saxony. They were early settlers in Kentucky, and for many years residents of Aurora, Indiana, where they died, well along in years. To this union were born the following chil- dren : William, Mary, Emma, Frank, Augusta, Charles, John and Theodore.
Mr. Schipper has arrived now at the age where he can look back over his mistakes and his successes, and feel that he has few regrets. He is one of the best-known residents of Aurora, where he has many warm friends.
ROBERT P. WILSON.
The biography of the gentleman whose name initiates this sketch will be of especial interest to his descendants, since it so clearly sets forth the re- sourceful character of one of the most successful citizens of Moores Hill. Although beginning in a modest way, Mr. Wilson, through his own efforts, industry and determination, has gained that success which many are seeking, but which few attain, thus permitting him to live a life of quiet retirement, with all the comforts and luxuries to make up for the long years of strenu- ous attention to business.
Robert P. Wilson, retired dentist, Moores Hill, Indiana, was born on February 5, 1838, near old Milan, in Ripley county, Indiana, and is a son of Golf M. and Amanda M. (Johnson) Wilson. He was educated in the public school of Ripley county, after which he took a course in dentistry with a practicing dentist, following this vocation nearly all his life, although not giving his entire time to his dental practice. He divided his time between his profession and teaching school for a period of some twenty years. Mr. Wilson went to the Civil War in Company D, Thirty-seventh Regiment, In- diana Volunteer Infantry, under General Rosecrans, participating in the battles of Stone's River, Missionary Ridge, Pumpkin Vine Creek, Lookout Mountain, and others, being severely wounded at Stone's River. He has always been an extremely active and busy man, conducting, in addition to his school work and dental practice, a successful farm near Moores Hill. Mr. Wilson has always been a loyal supporter of the Prohibition party. He is a member of the Baptist church, of which he is a licensed preacher, and was pastor of the Hogan Hill and other churches. His fraternal alliance is with the Grand Army of the Republic.
Golf M. Wilson, father of the subject of this sketch, was born on (37)
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October 29. 1811, in Maine, and when two years of age, came overland by wagon with his parents, who settled in Ripley county. He lived the balance of his life in Ripley county, dying on September 23, 1839, while still quite young. His wife, Amanda M. (Johnson) Wilson, was born on March 14, 1820, in Ripley county, Indiana. They were united in marriage on April 9, 1837, and were the parents of two children, Robert P. and Golf.
After the death of her husband, Mrs. Wilson was married to Reuben G. Wilson, February 20, 1843, to which union two children were born, namely : Clarence, born on July 30, 1854; and Cornelia, December 19, 1842. Clarence Wilson was married to Carrie D. Buchanan, and is now living in Dearborn county. Cornelia became the wife of George E. Parsons, May 24, 1860, a physician of Ripley county. They were the parents of three chil- dren, all of whom died young.
The paternal grandfather was Ami Wilson, a native of Maine, and was married there, prior to coming to Ripley county, where he entered land from the government near Old Milan, following the vocation of a farmer until his death, which occurred when he was seventy-eight years old. His wife was also a native of Maine, where she was reared and married. This union was blessed with the following children: Golf, Obed, Eliza. Agnes, James, Mary Jane and Thomas. Ami Wilson had four brothers and two sisters, Ira, Artis, Obed, who had three sons; Oliver, John M. and Obed. Oliver was superintendent of schools in Cincinnati at an early day; Obed married Sara Johnson, and they lived in Ripley county, Indiana, and were the parents of the following children: Martha Ann, Daley, Thomas E., Charlie, Emma and Alice.
Eliza Wilson, the third child of Ami Wilson, was united in marriage with Seth Smith, a Methodist Episcopal preacher, and lived at Shelbyville, Indiana. Their children were, Sara Eliza, Martha and John D. Agnes Wil- son became the wife of John Tucker, a prosperous farmer of Ripley county, and had several children. James was married to Anne Harding, and made his home in Ripley county. Mary Jane became the wife of Benjamin Slack, of Ripley county. Thomas was united in marriage with Levina Bowldry, and resides in Ripley county. They have had the following children: Will- iam, Charles, Byron and one who died young.
Robert P. Wilson was united in marriage, in 1856, with Clementine (Cochran) Wilson, of Dearborn county, who was born on May 21, 1841, near Cincinnati, Ohio, by whom he had nine children, as follow: Edgar (dc- ceased), Ida (deceased), Horace, Lynn, Carrie (deceased), Stella, Clarence,
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Henry and Charles. Horace was married to Hattie Givan, and lives at Gary, Indiana, where he is preaching in a Baptist church. They have four children, Robert, Clementine, Russell and an infant. Lynn was married to Edith Owens, by whom he has had ten children, namely : Grace, Matthew, James, Lee, Emmett, Evan, Walter, Ethel, Evalyn and Hazel. Stella became the wife of Joe Moran, and is living at Cedar Falls, Iowa. They have no chil- dren. Clarence was married to Alice Garigus, and is residing at Aurora, Indiana, where he is in the banking business. They have three children, Norma, Esther and Helen. Henry was united in marriage with Mattie Sims, and is living at Parkersburg, Iowa. This union has been blessed with three children, Lorain, Horace and Claudius. Charles was married to Myrta Drain, and is living at Dumont, Iowa, where he is employed by the govern- ment as a mail carrier. They have one child, Neva.
Mr. Wilson's first wife, Clementine (Cochran) Wilson, died on March 29, 1878, at the age of thirty-six years, and Mr. Wilson was married, sec- ondly, on August 7, 1878, to Lucretia Shockley, who lived but a short time after her marriage. Mr. Wilson was married, thirdly, on July 27, 1880, to Margarette E. Dennison, daughter of Jacob and Elizabeth Zwickel, natives of Germany, who was born on November 6, 1846, at Lawrenceburg, to which union four children were born, as follow : Frank R., born on August 31, 1881, near Moores Hill; Clyde E., October 31, 1883, near Moores Hill; Jesse J., August 7, 1881, near Milan; and E. Myrtle, April 2, 1890, near Moores Hill, Indiana. Frank R. is a lawyer and resides at Muncie, Indiana. He was married to Leora Heaton, by whom he has had two children, Marjory and Herchal. Clyde E. is married and makes his home at Parkersburg, Iowa. Jesse J. is married to Lydia Ruble, and is following agriculture near Moores Hill. E. Myrtle became the wife of Grover Manlief, and resides on a farm near Moores Hill. They have two children, Ruth and Weldon.
Robert P. Wilson is one of the best-known citizens in and around Moores Hill, where his friends number as many as his list of acquaintances.
CLAY J. MILLER.
In the life of an earnest, industrious man, there are always lessons which might well be followed along the highway of endeavor. Not that there are striking incidents in the experience of a farmer's life, but the qualities neces-
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sary for the accomplishment of the desired end stand out as prominently in the rural districts as they do in the crowded cities.
Clay J. Miller, a farmer in Caesar Creek township, was born on August 14, 1872, a son of John R. and Margarette (Tholke) Miller. He was edu- cated in the district schools of the township in which he has always lived. After leaving school he assisted his father on the farm, at whose death he took over the management of the place for his mother. Mr. Miller has always given his earnest support to the Republican party. He and his family are all members of the Methodist Episcopal church.
John R. Miller was born on March 16, 1837, in Ohio county, Indiana, and received his education there. He was married on March 21, 1861, to Margarette Tholke, daughter of Frederick and Sophia Tholke. She came to the United States with her parents at the age of eight years, settling at Cincinnati, where she was educated. After their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Miller moved to Clinton, Iowa, where they lived for five years on a farm of one hundred and sixty acres, which they sold and came to Ohio county, and lived there one year, when they moved to Hartford, Indiana. They again sold out, and moved to Caesar Creek township, where they have lived ever since. Mr. Miller died in January, 1897. To this couple were born five children, Sophia, Laura, John, Emma, and Clay.
Sophia Miller became the wife of William Fisser, and is living in Cæsar Creek township, and they have two children, John and Maggie. Laura is mar- ried to Charles Hunger, and resides in Ripley county, and is the mother of two children, Robert and Elsie. John was united in marriage with Maggie King, and lives at Lockland, Ohio, and to this union have been born nine children, Clay, Clyde, Goldie, Gladys, Vanden, Emma, Robert, Orvil and Ralph.
Henry Miller, the paternal grandfather, was born in Pennsylvania. He died on January 23, 1889, in Ohio county, Indiana, at quite an advanced age.
The maternal grandparents were Frederick and Sophia Tholke, natives of Germany, who immigrated to America and settled at Cincinnati, and later purchased a farm in Ohio county, Indiana, where they remained until their death. They had three children, Margarette, Frederick and Henry.
Clay J. Miller was united in marriage on April 1, 1900, with Lida Rump, daughter of Charles and Lizzie (Burman) Rump. She was born on March 28, 1880, in Ripley county, and received her education there. Three children
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have been born to this union, namely : John, porn on June 27, 1901 ; Maggie, May 4, 1904; Willard, May 25, 1907.
Mr. Miller is one of the wide-awake farmers of Cæsar Creek township. and has the respect of the entire community.
HARRY E. FISHER.
With the sound habits of pioneer thrift instilled in his make-up, Mr. Fisher has taken good care that these valuable aids have lost none of their force through any fault of his. Starting out in young manhood, he so impressed those with whom he came in contact with his determination to win for himself a name, that his efforts met with good returns from the very beginning; since which time fortune has continued to smile upon him, not, perhaps, with- out some of life's clouds, which only added pleasure to the sunshine. His success is a source of pleasure and satisfaction to both himself and his friends.
Harry E. Fisher, of Lawrenceburg, was born on May 7, 1869, at Foster, Kentucky. He is a son of William S. and Laura (Downing) Fisher. His early education was secured at the district schools, after which he assisted his father on the farm, until grown, when he became ambitious for a more pre- tentious line of employment, and went to Covington, Kentucky, where he applied for a position as agent for the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, which he secured, and one year later was promoted to the office of assistant superintendent, and ten years later was still further promoted to the position of superintendent at Lawrenceburg. Mr. Fisher is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and belongs to Union Lodge No. 8, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and Dearborn Lodge No. 49, Knights of Pythias.
William S. Fisher was born and reared in Bracken county, Kentucky, where he engaged in farming. He was interested in all questions concerning the welfare of his county, and proved his loyalty by serving one term as county sheriff, and was then appointed United States storekeeper-gauger, in which capacity he served for four years. He then returned to his farm and resumed his agricultural pursuits. His wife. Laura (Downing) Fisher, was also a native of Kentucky. She died in 1910, aged sixty-two years, and Mr. Fisher now resides with his daughter, in Pensacola. North Carolina. To this couple were born four children, as follow: Frederick, deceased; Harry E., of Lawrenceburg. Indiana; Charles, of Colorado; Winifred, who is now the wife of Rush Alexander, of Pensacola, North Carolina.
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The paternal grandfather was James A. Fisher, a native of Kentucky and a pioneer farmer of Bracken county, who cleared a site for a home in the dense woods where he built a log cabin, and where he later had a well- improved tract of land. He belonged to the Methodist church, and was a member of the Free and Accepted Masons and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He never drank liquor, nor tasted tobacco. His life came to an end in 1910, at the age of eighty-nine years. His wife, Rebecca (Daw- son) Fisher, died two years prior, aged about seventy-seven years. Their children were: William S., Mary (Markley), Mattie (Duncan), J. Gates, George B., Lessie, and Edward, deceased.
The maternal grandfather was Charles Downing. He and his wife were natives of Kentucky, and farmers. Mrs. Downing died in middle life, and Mr. Downing well advanced in years. Their children were: Laura, Lou, Emma, Mattie and Charles E.
Harry E. Fisher was united in marriage on November 10, 1892, with Minnie M. Mefford, daughter of John and Mary C. (Hobbs) Mefford. She was born at Lenoxburg. Kentucky, and died on July 10, 1904. Mrs. Fisher was an earnest member of the Methodist church, and the mother of two children, Elwood and Altha Irene. Elwood is a graduate of the Law- renceburg high school, and has also taken a course in chemistry. He is now employed by the Industrial Appliance Company, Chicago, Illinois. Altha Irene is also a graduate of the Lawrenceburg high school. She has consid- erable musical talent, and leads the orchestra in the Church of Christ, at Lawrenceburg. She is the wife of William Kemp, of Aurora, Indiana.
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