USA > Indiana > Dearborn County > History of Dearborn County, Indiana : her people, industries and institutions > Part 59
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Henry C. Busse was united in marriage, April 27. 1854, to Miss Anjel- ica Gessel, a native of Germany, who was born on March 22, 1833. by whom he had nine children, namely : Henry P., born on June 27. 1856; Caroline, December 4, 1858; William F., January 31, 1861; John, March 27, 1868; Louisa; Anna, May 16, 1870; George; Abalona, June 20, 1872 ; Matilda, Janu- ary 4, 1875. Henry P. is a farmer at Wilmington, Indiana, and is married to Louisa Oehlman, by whom he has had six children, Arena, Frederick, Bertha, Henry, Lydia, and Christopher. Caroline is the wife of Henry I. Meyers, and lives on a farm near Lawrenceburg, Indiana. She is the mother of five children, Henry, Anna, Louis, Edward and George. John P. mar- ried Anna Reinking, who died, leaving three children, Edna, Walter and Elizabeth. This family lives in Hogan township. on a farm. Louisa became the wife of Theodore Droege, a prosperous grocer, of Aurora, Indiana, and is the mother of two children, Sona and August. George was united in marriage with Mary Reinking, and is doing general farming in Hogan township. Only one child has been born to this union, but they have adopted two other children. Anna is the wife of John Peters, a farmer, near Aurora, Indiana, and is the mother of one child, Martha.
The paternal grandfather of our subject was Christian Busse, who was born on November 11, 1806, in Prussia, and was married in that country, December 27, 1826. They came to America in October, 1844, locating in Manchester township. In 1846 he was ordained as a Lutheran Evangelical minister, his first pastorate being St. Stephen's church, Manchester town- ship, where he preached for twenty-eight years. His wife, Dorothy (Poos) Busse, was also a native of Prussia, and was born on March 10, 1806.
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They were the parents of four children as follow: Dorothy. born in 1827, and died in 1831 : Christina, February 24. 1832, died June 24. 1850: Johanna, now Mrs. Henry Engelkinge. and Henry C. Christian Busse was one of the founders of the Lutheran church in Dearborn county.
William F. Busse was married to Anna Bidner, by whom he has had eight children, namely : Emma. Ida and Alma, twins. Herman. Edwin, Doro- thy, Minnie and Gusta. Emma is now the wife of Henry Reinking. and lives on a farm in Manchester township: to this couple have been born two chil- dren, Evelyn and Esther. Ida became the wife of Walter Renter. a veterinary surgeon, and lives in Cincinnati. She is the mother of two girls. Laverne and Martha; Alma is married to George P. Steinmetz, a successful lawyer of Indianapolis, where she lives with her husband and one boy. Orsa George. Herman is at home, assisting his father on the farm. Edwin is working in Illinois. Dorothy is also at home. Minnie and Gusta are both attending the Manchester township schools.
Mrs. Busse was born on October 18, 1860, in Manchester township, and is a daughter of Peter and Dora (Fillanworth) Bidner. For the genealogi- cal record of the Bidner family the reader is referred to the sketch of Peter Bidner, presented elsewhere in this book.
Mr. Busse is one of the leading and active citizens of the township, and is highly respected by all who know him.
ADOLPHUS W. BENNETT.
One of the well-known and prosperous farmers of Manchester township, Dearborn county, is Adolphus W. Bennett, who ably manages the farm on which he is comfortably situated.
Adolphus W. Bennett was born on January 22, 1855, at Wright's Corner, Indiana, and is the son of John and Phoebe (Duncan) Bennett. He re- ceived a good common-school education in Manchester township, and be- ing interested in the subject of agriculture, took charge of his father's farm. After his marriage, Mr. Bennett commenced housekeeping on the place, in order that he might look after the wants of his father, as well as the in- terests of the farm, which later became his own property. This farm con- sisted of fifty acres, to which Mr. Bennett has since added thirty acres more, and has done a general farming and stock-raising business, in which he
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has been rewarded with more than ordinary success. He is a stanch Republi- can, although he has never sought public office. His religious views are with the Free Baptist church. Mr. Bennett is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons, and was master of Manchester Lodge No. 503, for three years, and is now serving his third term as worshipful master of Burns Lodge No. 55.
John Bennett, father of our subject, was born on September 30, 1823, in Warren county, Ohio, where he received a good public-school education. He was married to Phoebe Duncan, October 25, 1848, shortly after coming to Dearborn county. She was born on October 25, 1823, in Manchester town- ship, and met her husband while on a visit to Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Bennett started to housekeeping on a rented farm consisting of forty acres, and in two years' time were enabled to buy a place of their own. They located at Wright's Corner, where Mr. Bennett opened a shoe store, which he conducted, in addi- tion to his farm, a fifty-acre tract, between which he divided his time and at- tention until his death, which occurred on March 25, 1893. Mr. Bennett was a strong believer in the Republican policies, and was a member of the Free Baptist church, of which he was a deacon for several years prior to his death. Mrs. John Bennett was a daughter of William and Phoebe Duncan, pioneers of this section. She died on September 3, 1901. Their children were: Adol- phus, Hattie, who died in 1887, and five who died in infancy.
Adolphus W. Bennett was married on December 10, 1889, to Luella Darling, who was born in Dearborn county, where she was educated, and where she lived until her marriage. Mr. and Mrs. Bennett have had two children, Roy and Ivan, both of whom are at home. Mr. Bennett has al- ways been a devoted husband, and a kind and considerate parent, and has the respect of all who know him.
JOHN C. HALL.
The subject of this biography is a man in whom the citizens of his town- ship have the utmost confidence. He is descended from good old pioneer stock, whose children and grandchildren continue to make their homes where the first log cabins were built in the days when deer, wild turkey and prairie chicken were plentiful in this county.
John C. Hall is a son of Joseph and Ann (Collier) Hall, and was born on January 13, 1848, at Cincinnati, where he started his education. His
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parents moved to Manchester township, where he continued at school until his education was finished. Immediately after his marriage, Mr. Hall began the life of a farmer on a sixty-acre tract, which was only partially cleared, but in a short time he had the entire place in a tillable condition and cultivated it for twenty-six years, when he was appointed to the office of superintendent of the Dearborn county poor farm, serving in this capacity for three years, and then left it in charge of his eldest son. After giving up the supervision of the poor farm, Mr. Hall secured possession of his father's old homestead, buy- ing out the interest of the other heirs, since which time he has been a general farmer. Mr. Hall has always been an active, energetic man, and has devoted a portion of his time and talent to handling stock, which has always brought him a good living outside of his farming interest. In politics, he is a loyal Republican.
Joseph Hall was born in 1823, in Dearborn county, where he attended school and received as good an education as the facilities afforded in those days. Shortly before his marriage, Mr. Hall purchased an interest in a furni- ture store in Cincinnati, in which he was very successful for about fifteen years, when he disposed of his interest and moved to Manchester township, in 1861. Here, he invested in a tract of land, covering two hundred and forty acres, a portion of which was in timber, but he set to work and soon had enough cleared. for his needs, and then improved the place with good build- ings and did general farming for many years. Seeing a good opening, he left his son in charge of his farm, and went into the grocery business in Lawrenceburg, following this until his death, which occurred on December 21, 1881. Mr. Hall's wife, Ann (Collier) Hall, was born near Tanner's creek. She was educated in the township schools and remained at home un- til her marriage. Their family consisted of eight children, John C., Albert R., Elizabeth Emily, William H., Annie J., Mary F., Clara L., and Oliver M. William H. is married to Elvira Dunn, and is doing general farming at Muncie, Indiana. They have three children, Freeland A., Mary, and Ray- mond. Mary F. is the wife of Thomas Vaughn, and lives on a farm in Manchester township. They have had one child, Ethel. Albert R. was united in marriage with Alice Elliot, and moved to Kansas, where he is do- ing general farming. They have three children, Blanche, Nora and Mar- garet. Anna J. is the wife of Lee Elliot, and lives on a farm in Manchester township. She is the mother of one child, Alma. Oliver M. was married to Ella Martin. He divides his time between the practice of law and stock- raising, in Idaho. To this couple have been born three children, Carl, Mildred and Harold.
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The paternal grandfather of John C. Hall was Joseph Hall, Sr., who came with his family from Ohio to Manchester township at a very early date, and lived here long enough to see its forests disappear to make room for the more profitable pursuits of agriculture. His wife was Fannie Hall.
John C. Hall was married on February 11, 1869, to Mary L. Collier, daughter of Ralph and Mary D. Collier. She was born on June 9, 1848, in Manchester township, where she received a good education in the public schools. They have had three children, as follow : Herbert C., who died in 1906; Edgar A. and Edith L. Herbert C. was a general farmer, in connection with which he also conducted quite an extensive business in lumber. His wife was Kate Jolly. They have two children, Delores B. and Theron D. Edgar was married to Blanche Kelly, and is assisting his father on the home place. 'They have one child, Vera F. Edith L. is the wife of T. J. Martin, a veteri- nary surgeon, and lives at Aurora, Indiana. They have one child, Crayton J.
Ralph Collier, father of Mrs. Hall, was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, October 7, 1819, and is of English lineage. His parents were John and Jane (Hodgson) Collier, and he was an infant when his parents came to Dearborn county, where he was reared and where he enjoyed the best educational ad- vantages afforded in those days. Finishing school, he began teaching under the old regime when subscription schools were in vogue. His wife, Mary, was a daughter of Reuben and Betsey L. (Goodwin) True, to whom he was married on October 8, 1840, when he began farming on a tract of one hun- dred acres of excellent, well-improved land. Their family consisted of ten children, as follow: George G., who moved to Missouri; John T., William G., R. Frank, S. P. Chase, Clara J., Mary L., Sebra E., Harriet B. S. and Susie E. Ralph Collier was a Republican, and a member of the Methodist Protestant church, with which he was connected about forty years.
The paternal grandfather of Mrs. Hall was John Collier, a native of England, born in 1775 and was the only son of John Collier, who lived and died in England. In 1817. while still single, he visited America on a pros- pecting tour, returning home the same year. In 1819 he was married to Jane Hodgson. and accompanied by two sisters, Mrs. Ann Hansell and Mrs. Jane Cornforth. again crossed the water, and came to Dearborn county. Mr. Collier died at his home on Tanners creek, in 1848. aged seventy-two years. His wife died in 1858. in her seventy-first year. They had two children.
The position occupied by Mr. Hall is an evidence of his character and popularity as a representative citizen-a truly good man.
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ELIJAH FULLER.
The success of a man in any vocation in life depends upon the force of character, and the business confidence which he is able to send forth. Mr. Fuller, whose name heads this sketch, believed that his native state afforded him as many opportunities as could be found elsewhere, and with that thought in view he set to work with the determination of carving for himself a future and a fortune, and has always been alive to his business interests, neglecting nothing of importance, keeping always well within the lines of straightforward methods.
Elijah Fuller, farmer, Sparta township, Dearborn county, was born on November 10, 1835, a son of Elijah Fuller, Sr., and Azubah (Gloyd) Fuller. He was educated in the common schools of Sparta township, where he was born. After leaving school, he assisted his father in agricultural pursuits, and when his father died, he took over the farm, running it entirely alone. Mr. Fuller has always given his loyal support to the Republican party. He is a member of the Presbyterian church. Mr. Fuller has always been greatly interested in all matters concerning the welfare and advancment of his town- ship.
Elijah Fuller, Sr., was a farmer, and was born on May 19, 1783, in the state of New York. His wife, Azubah (Gloyd) Fuller, was born on Decem- ber II, 1798. Their marriage took place on June 15, 1823, in Dearborn county. Mrs. Fuller was a native of Massachussetts. Mr. Fuller came to Dearborn county, where he followed agriculture and engaged in saw-milling. He later bought a boat-load of corn and took it to New Orleans, but the trip proved an utter failure, necessitating his return without a cent. He after- wards saved enough to make a new start, and built the first saw-mill in Sparta township, which was run by water-power, and later built two more, on Hogan creek, which he sold, and then bought a fine tract of one hundred and sixty acres of timber land on the hill, which he cleared and farmed until his death, which occurred on August 8, 1858. Mr. Fuller was a Whig. He was a member of the old South Sparta Free Will Baptist church, which he and Mr. Oathoudt built. Mr. Fuller practically keeping up the church. His wife, Azubah (Gloyd) Fuller, was a daughter of Asa Gloyd, and lived in Massa- chussetts until twenty-three years of age, coming overland with her parents until they reached the Ohio river, and came down the river from Pittsburgh to Cincinnati by boat. To this union were born six children. Amanda. Eliza, Truman. Martha, Emily and Elijah. Mr. Fuller had one child. Sarah, by his first wife.
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Amanda Fuller became the wife of Frederick Snyder, and lived in Sparta township. They had one child, who died young. Eliza is the wife of Benja- min Hartley, and lived at Moores Hill. They had one child, Frank, who died in the army of the Civil War. Martha became the wife of James Daughters, and lived in Sparta township. Their one child died in infancy. Emily mar- ried John M. Larabee, and lives in Jennings county. Mr. Larabee is now deceased. He was a soldier in the Civil War. They had three children, Wal- lace, Minnie and Hugh.
Asa Gloyd, the maternal grandfather, was a Revolutionary soldier in a Massachussetts regiment. He came west with his family and died in Dearborn county, when quite old. He had a large family of children, Noah, Turner, Sara (Williamson), Nancy, Naomi, Abigail, and others. Noah married a Miss Johnson, by whom he had a number of children, John, Benjamin, Will- iam, James, and Jane. Sara became the wife of David Williamson, and is now deceased. Mr. Williamson was again married and lives south of Dillsboro. He has had one child by the second marriage, Sarah, and by his first wife he had two children, John and Henry. Nancy was the wife of Rufus Hol- comb, and lived in Sparta township, but both are now deceased. They had a large family, Daniel, Eithel, Luther, Eli, Turner, Rufus, Huldah, Nancy, Elizabeth, Lydia Lucinda, and one who died in infancy. Naomi became the wife of Elisha Brown, and lived in Sparta township. They had two children, Mary and Ezra. Abigail married John Aiken, and lived in Sparta township. They had one child, Narcissa.
Elijah Fuller was united in marriage on December 5, 1858, with Mary Jane Noble, daughter of Jonathan and Elizabeth (Dashiell) Noble. She was born on September 23, 1839, at Wilmington, Dearborn county, Indiana. To Mr. and Mrs. Fuller were born four children, Ella, John, Elizabeth and Anna. Ella was born on August 29, 1859, and became the wife of George Craven. They live in Kansas on a farm, and have four children, Elma, Viola, Berlin, and Bennett. John was born on April 15, 1862, and was married to Harriet Craven, by whom he has one child, Ivor. They reside at Milan, In- diana, where Mr. Fuller is engaged in the livery business. Elizabeth was born on December 13, 1864, and died on July 13, 1904. Anna was born on June 8, 1867, and was married to Benjamin B. Mulford, on April 19, 1891. Mr. Mulford first attended the common school, and later entered Moores Hill College. They lived on a farm at Cold Springs for several years, and then moved to Norwood, Ohio, where he became paymaster of the Globe- Wernicke Company, returning later to the old homestead. They have two
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children, Clarence E., and Idelle. Mr. Mulford is a Democrat. He is a mem- ber of the Presbyterian church. He belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Knights of Pythias.
Elijah Fuller possesses the qualities which not only gain friendship and respect, but hold them after being once gained, and he enjoys the confidence and esteem of all who know him.
MRS. NANCY L. VAN DOLAH.
Mrs. Nancy (Larrabee) Van Dolah, whose name introduces this sketch, is a woman whose biography it is a pleasure to add to those of the many other worthy citizens of Sparta township. Her life has been one of exem- plary principles, and she has done well her part in carrying out the duties en- tailed upon wifehood and motherhood, and has trained her children to be re- spected citizens of the community in which they live.
Nancy Larrabee was born September 28, 1858, in Ripley county, a daugh- ter of Richard D. and Mary C. (Stockwell): Larrabee. She was educated in Ripley county, and after arriving at the age of thirteeen years she earned her own living until she was married.
Richard D. Larrabee was born on November 24, 1830, in Dearborn county, Indiana, living in Ripley county later and now living in Nebraska. His wife, Mary C. (Stockwell) Larrabee, was born in Ripley county, In- diana, in 1837, and lived there all her life. To this union three children were born, Nancy L., Mary A., and one who died in infancy. Mary A. became the wife of Charles E. Shockley, and lived in Ripley county.
Nancy Larrabee was united in marriage with James Van Dolah, son of James, Sr., and Frances (Hall) Van Dolah. He was born on January 23, 1848, at Dillsboro, and was educated in Sparta township, Dearborn county, where he was reared by Benjamin Mulford, living with him until his marriage. He died on November 13, 1904, aged fifty-six years. After his marriage, he moved to Delaware, Ripley county, where they lived for two years, and then bought forty acres in Sparta township, Dearborn county, to which he later added fifteen acres more, dividing his attention between general farming and fruit raising, being the first successful fruit farmer in the town- ship. Politically, Mr. Van Dolah was an independent voter. He was a mem- ber of the Presbyterian church, of which he was an elder and one of the (39)
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organizers of the church in Sparta township. James and Nancy Van Dolah had two children, Mary Frances and Maggie May. Mary Frances became the wife of C. B. Rawlins, and is living on the old homestead. They have two children, Charles and Marion Francis, both going to school. Maggie May died when young.
Mrs. Nancy L. Van Dolah is a good Christian woman, and deeply sym- pathizes with those in distress and sickness, and is ever ready to lend a helping hand when it is within her power to do so.
BENJAMIN FRANKLIN BLOOM.
One of this county's experts on the subject of scientific agriculture is Benjamin F. Bloom, who was born near Peoria, Illinois, February 18, 1859. He is the son of A. J. and Caroline ( Roof) Bloom, the former of whom was born in Ohio, January 1, 1833. A. J. Bloom lived in Ohio until his eight- eenth year, when he came alone to Indiana, first stopping at Aurora, then going on to Hogan township, where he found employment, and from that time until his marriage worked by the month in the farming districts. After his marriage to Caroline Roof, in 1857 he removed to Illinois and lived there four years, and then returned to this state. He bought forty-nine acres in Sparta township. In 1877 he bought seventy-seven acres which com- prise the land where he now lives. Mr. Bloom, Sr., is a general farmer, a Republican, and a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.
The mother of the subject of this sketch was born in this county, in 1836, and has lived here since. The children of Mr. and Mrs. A. J. Bloom are Benjamin F., Samuel L., Edward and Harvey G. Samuel L. went to Cali- fornia to live a number of years ago. Harvey G. married Gertrude Zeise, and they live in Oxford, Indiana.
Caroline Roof was the daughter of Samuel and Olimphia (Kazine) Roof, the former of whom was a farmer and native of Pennsylvania, after- wards making his home in Virginia. Olimphia Kazine and her parents came to this state at a time when Cincinnati numbered only seven houses and Aurora two, and settled in this county. Mr. Kazine has the distinction of having helped to build the first road in the center of the county in Sparta township. Samuel Roof, like many others of his time, responded to the call to arms and served throughout the Revolutionary War and served in Hull's army in the War of 1812.
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On January 4, 1882. Benjamin F. Bloom was married to Sarah C. Pritch- ard, a native of Hogan township, who was born on September 28, 1859. Her schooling took place in the county of her nativity. Her father was Levin Pritchard, and her mother Catherine (Glass) Pritchard. Levin Pritchard was born in the state of Delaware, and came to Indiana while still a young man. He became a farmer, and this continued to be his occupation the remainder of his life. Six children were born to Levin and Catherine (Glass) Pritchard. as follow: John S. married Susan Livingston, and lives near Wilmington, their only child being a son, Ralph; Rebecca Ann married John Slater, of Sparta township, and her two children are named Ella and Warren; James R. married Ella F. Baker, of this township: Elizabeth married Jasper M. Slater, of Lawrenceburg, and to them two children have been born, Ora M. and Clayton J .; Sarah C. was the fifth child, and the sixth child died in infancy.
Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin F. Bloom are the parents of three children, namely : Stanley W., born on December 11, 1882, and married to Alma Cham- ber, is now farming near Wilmington, they have one child, Dorothy Kather- ine; Holley, July 9, 1885; and Irwin Waldo, July 9, 1889.
After their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Bloom lived on a little farm in Sparta township, this land having been purchased by them. In 1903, they bought two hundred and fifty acres, moved onto the new place, and later added fifteen acres to this:
Mr. Bloom has given his entire time and attention to agricultural ac- tivities, and has always been an honorable, industrious man. He is an inde- pendent voter, and is a member of the Presbyterian church. Mr. Bloom has made many improvements on his present place. He has erected a new barn and silo and is contemplating erecting a new residence.
WILLIAM L. ABRAHAM.
Prominent among the prosperous and thriving business men of Moores Hill is William L. Abraham. Mr. Abraham has built up a very successful and important business, and now owns the best equipped livery and undertaking establishment in Sparta township.
William L. Abraham was born on August 4, 1864, at Dillsboro, Clay township, and is a son of Lewis and Elizabeth (Gould) Abraham. He re-
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ceived his early education in the public schools, coming to Sparta township when quite young. In 1900 he moved near Sunman, and in 1904 bought a liv- ery and undertaking business from Jesse French which he conducts in partner- ship with W. H. Ulrich, under the firm name of Abraham & Ulrich. Mr. Abraham has always given his support to the Democratic party, and his fra- ternal membership is with the Masonic Order.
Lewis Abraham, father of the subject of this sketch, was born in 1826, at Dillsboro and lived there until 1866, where he followed the cooper's trade. Becoming dissatisfied with this line of work, he bought sixty-five acres of land near Moores Hill and lived there until 1900, when he moved to Ripley county on a farm. He remained there six years, and then moved to Moores Hill, where he died in September, 1906. His wife, Elizabeth (Gould) Abraham. was born on January 13, 1835, in Dearborn county, where she was educated and grew to young womanhood. She was a daughter of Levi Gould, whose wife was a Miss Keith, natives of Switzerland county. Mr. Gould was a pio- neer preacher of the Free Baptist church. He went overland to California, where he died.
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