USA > Indiana > Dearborn County > History of Dearborn County, Indiana : her people, industries and institutions > Part 66
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MISS EVA. BAYLY.
Miss Eva Bayly is one of the bright, intellectual women of Dearborn county, Indiana, possessing great executive ability throughout her life work. Always equal to emergencies, and never at a loss for the right word for those in trouble and distress, always kind and considerate of those serving her, and gentle and sympathetic toward the sick, and at home wherever fate has de- creed she should be.
Miss Eva Bayly, Cold Springs, Dearborn county, Indiana, was born on July 26, 1844, at Moores Hill, and is a daughter of James and Anna E. Wills Bayly. She was educated at Moores Hill College, after which she taught school in her home town for three years, and later at the Union school, near Cold Springs, and one year at the Mulford school. At the death of her father, Miss Bayly took over the farm, and after disposing of a portion of it, she now has forty-one acres, which she continues to manage, and for a change from farm duties, does sewing for her friends. She is an earnest Christian woman, having joined the Methodist Episcopal church when twelve years of age, and is interested in all church enterprises.
James Bayly, father of the immediate subject of this sketch, was born on February 8, 1820, at Wilmington, Indiana, moving to Cold Springs with his parents when quite young, remaining with them until his marriage, and then bought a part of his father's farm, as well as seventy-three acres adjoin- ing. In 1852 Mr. Bayly had the gold fever, and went to California with a party, remaining there two years. On the return trip the boat sank, and he nearly lost his life as well as the most of his gold. He followed farming all his life, and died on April 9, 1873, aged fifty-three years. Mr. Bayly was always a loyal Republican. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. His parents were Obadiah and Margarette (Brannon) Bayly. His wife, Anna E. (Wills) Bayly, was born on July 24, 1822, at Lexington, Kentucky, and moved with her parents to Dearborn county, when quite young, and was married here. She died on November 2, 1912, aged ninety years. Mr. and Mrs. Bayly were the parents of four children, Maggie, Eva, Zachary and Marcellus.
Obadiah and Margarette (Brannon) Bayly, the paternal grandparents. were natives, the former of England, and the latter of Pennsylvania. When Mr. Bayly emigrated from England he settled on a farm at Cold Springs which he had entered from the government. They were the parents of nine children, Theopholis, Obadiah, George, Thomas, James, Valeria, Lititia, Vic- toria and Mary.
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Miss Eva Bayly is highly esteemed and well beloved for her beautiful character and Christian spirit, and many citizens of the township have tender memories of her patience in imparting knowledge in days gone by.
CHARLES L. VOSHELL.
One of the most prominent stock raisers of Dearborn county, and a man 'who has a large circle of friends because he deserves them, is Charles Leonidas Voshell, of Sparta township. Mr. Voshell has given so many years to the occupation of stock raising and trading that in this community he is con- sidered an authority on the subject, and his advice and opinion is often sought by others in the same line of work. Mr. Voshell was born in Sparta, of this state, on April 14, 1865. He is the son of George Cornelius and Mahala Jane (Johnson) Voshell, the former being a native of Petersburg, Boone county. Kentucky. . He was born on November 18, 1833, and lived in his home county until he was married.
After his marriage, George C. Voshell removed to Sparta township, and purchased a farm consisting of eighty acres, and besides carrying on general agricultural pursuits, he traded in farms until he made his home in a village not far from Sparta, where he and his family lived for several years. But often their thoughts would wander longingly back to the old place in Kentucky, where a happy childhood had endeared every foot of ground, and finally the family returned to the old homestead in Boone county, Kentucky, where they lived for eight years. At the end of this time, the land was equally divided among the heirs, and after the death of his wife, Mr. Voshell made his home with his son, until his second marriage. His second wife being Dorotha (Beckett) McConnell. The newly married couple removed to Aurora, Indiana. Mr. Voshell is a Democrat.
Mahala Jane Johnson, who afterward became the wife of George C. Voshell, was born in Sparta township, where she lived until her marriage. She is the daughter of John D. and Sarah (Brumblay) Jolinson. The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Voshell were six in number, these being, Harry, Frank, Elizabeth, Dana, Charles L. and Anna, who passed away in infancy. Harry married Mamie Stalder, and is living in Indianapolis, where he is a member of the fire department. They have three children, Bernice, Helen and Dorothy. Frank became the husband of Eliza Lowes, and they have since occupied a
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farm in Belleview, Boone county, Kentucky. Their only child is a son named Leroy. Elizabeth is the wife of James White, and their home is the old Voshell homestead in Petersburg, Kentucky. They are the parents of four children, William, Alice, George, who is deceased, and an infant also deceased.
The subject of the present biographical sketch was educated in Boone county, Kentucky, and after school days were over, was a valuable helper of his father on the farm, until his marriage. After his marriage, he and his wife went to live on the old home place in Kentucky, remaining there for eight years. Events then shaped themselves so that their best interests were served by a residence in this county, and returning, they have resided there ever since. Mr. Voshell purchased a fine tract of land consisting of one hundred and fifty acres, attended to its cultivation, and engaged in the business of stock raising. Later he added seventy-four acres, this giving him in all two hundred and twenty-four acres.
On October 4, 1887, Charles L. Voshell married Ida May Canfield, daughter of Holman and Hannah (Shuter) Canfield. Holman Canfield was born in Manchester township on August 29, 1841, and later moved to Hogan township, and was married in 1864, and bought a farm in Sparta township, where he engaged in general farming the remainder of his life, which was a useful one and one which gained the respect of all who knew him. Holman Canfield was an ardent Republican, a member of the Baptist church, and a Mason. He died on January 31, 1905, at the age of sixty-four. Hannah (Shuter) Canfield, his wife, was born in Manchester township, living there until her marriage. The date of her birth is January 10, 1846. The children born of this union were: Ida May, George W., Orville, Eugene and Cora Etta. The eldest son, George W., married Ella Slater, and took up their home in Frankton, Indiana. Their children are, Ethel and Roy. Orville E. married Maggie Mendel, and is living now in Sparta township. Their only daughter is named Flossie. Cora Etta is the wife of Louis Pritchard, also living in Sparta. They are the parents of two children, Leslie and Mable.
Holman Canfield was the son of Cyrus and Mary (Richardson) Canfield, the former of whom was born in 1818, and died in 1892. Cyrus Canfield was the son of Noyes Canfield, born in 1818, and Fanny (Taylor) Canfield. Noyes Canfield's father was Phineas Canfield, son of John Canfield, and his mother was Amy Newton.
Ida M. Canfield was born in Sparta township on November 3, 1864, and was educated in the common schools of that county. She was a dutiful daugh- ter, and during her lifetime at home, which was until her marriage, she did (43)
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much to lighten the burdens of her parents, who lived the strenuous life inci- dent to those engaged in farm work.
The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Charles L. Voshell are as follow : Mahala, born on October 4, 1888; Purnell, May 18, 1897; Beatrice, December 27, 1900; and two children who died at the age of ten years. Mahala mar- ried Clarence Whitefield, and lives in Sparta. They have two children, Charles and Jennie.
Mr. Voshell is a Democrat, and is so much of a Democrat that one does not have to know him very long before finding out this fact. Politics is a very vital part of his life and he gives much time to its study and discussion. Mr. Voshell is a member of the Baptist church, and an enthusiastic and earnest. member. He is also connected with the Odd Fellows lodge and the lodge of Modern Woodmen.
Mr. Voshell is well known in the community in which he lives. He takes an active part in the subjects that interest him, and in the organizations which represent these subjects. and is sparing neither of time nor thought nor money where he feels that these can be profitably used to promote the welfare of the community.
FRANK BITTNER.
North New Alsace lies in the southwestern corner of Kelso township, a few miles north of the Big Four railroad, the first settler in which is thought to have been Anthony Walliezer, a native of France, who came to this country in 1833. George Voglegesang, a native of Bavaria, settled here quite early, and was the first village smith, thus starting the business that later grew to be of considerable importance at this point. Among those who soon followed in the footsteps of Anthony Walliezer were, John Decker, who opened a grocery store, and James Cannon, who did a successful dry-goods trade. The first postoffice was opened in 1840, with John B. Kessler as postmaster, and it was not long ere the township was well represented by churches and schools.
Frank Bittner is a son of Frank, Sr., and Mary (Numeyer) Bittner, and a native of North New Alsace, Kelso township, Dearborn county. He was born on September 1, 1849, and attended the common schools of New Alsace. In 1869 he went to Missouri, learned the carpenter's trade, and in 1871 went to Indianapolis and worked at trade and got married. In about 1880
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went back to farming in Kelso township, and bought fifty-two acres near the old homestead in Kelso township, where he has since made his home. He has given his support to the Democratic party, and has held a number of the township offices, was elected assessor in 1886, serving a four-year term, when he was re-elected, and served ten years, in all. In 1900 he was elected town- ship trustee, and in 1914 was elected to the office of county commissioner for district No. 2, by a large majority, in which capacity he served a three-year term.
Frank Bittner, Sr., was born in Bavaria, Germany, in 1821, and at the age of twenty-five, in 1846, came to the United States, settling in Dearborn county. He bought eighty acres of land in section 21, Kelso township, to which he later added fifty-five acres more, and lived on the place until his death, in 1888, at the age of sixty-five years. His attention was divided be- tween general farming and stock-raising. Mr. Bittner was a strong supporter of the Democratic policies, but was modest, and never sought public office. In religion he was a loyal member of St. Paul's church, at New Alsace. Mrs. Bittner was born in 1824, in Bavaria, and died in 1911. To this union were born nine children, Mary, Michael, Frank, Martin, George, John, Joseph, Frederick and Lewis. Mary, now deceased, married Henry Wolfort, and they had six children. Frederick married Mary Feller, and is a merchant in Ripley county. Lewis lives at Cincinnati.
Frank Bittner was united in marriage with Elizabeth Cook, daughter of Henry and Katharina Cook. She was born in Decatur county, Indiana, in 1855, and lived there until her marriage. Mr. and Mrs. Bittner are the par- ents of eleven children, namely: Frank, Katharine, Anna, Louis, John, Eliza- beth, William, Mary, Henry, Robert and Leo.
Frank Bittner, eldest son of .the subject of this sketch, was married to Louisa Wilke, and is now living at Cincinnati. Katharine is the wife of Martin Knueven, and is living in Kelso township. They have five children, John, Robert, Clara, Frieda and Francis. Anna is married to Peter Hausser, and is living on a ranch in Colorado. Louis married Amelia Schetzel, and is living in Ohio. They have two children, Frank and Harry. John Bittner was married to Gertrude Parnell, and is superintendent in a rubber estab- lishment at Akron, Ohio. They have one child, Paul. Mary is married to Leo Roth, a contractor at Reading, Ohio.
Frank Bittner is one of the most prominent men in the community in which he lives, and is well liked by all who have the privilege of knowing him.
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HENRY HERMAN KNIPPENBERG.
Henry Herman Knippenberg, a well-known farmer of Lawrenceburg township, Dearborn county, Indiana, was born on April 23, 1866, in Wilming- ton, Dearborn county, Indiana, the son of Herman and Elizabeth (Seiker) Knippenberg.
The Knippenbergs have been prominent in Dearborn county for more than half a century. Herman Knippenberg, who was born in Germany and who served the required period in the German army, learned the stone mason's trade early in life, and after coming to America, about 1860, settled in Cin- cinnati, where he worked in a pork-packing house. Later he worked as a farm hand near Aurora until his marriage, which took place about 1865. He then rented a farm in Dearborn county and later purchased sixty acres in Manchester township, where he lived for eleven years. The remainder of his life was spent upon a farm on the Aurora road, in Lawrenceburg township, until his death on March 2, 1908. Mrs. Knippenberg was the daughter of Casper Seiker, who came to this country from Germany with his wife imme- diately after their marriage, and settled in Dearborn county, where he worked as a farm hand. He purchased sixty acres of land near Aurora and lived there for some time. Subsequently, he moved to Aurora and lived in that town until his wife's death in 1880. The last years of his life were spent among his children. He died in 1895.
After attending the district schools of Dearborn county and completing his education, Henry Knippenberg began working on neighboring farms as a farm hand. Subsequently he became a renter. During late years he has been very prosperous and is living on a farm of seventy-five acres owned by Jere- miah Hunter.
Henry H. Knippenberg was married on March 1, 1891, to Laura Hunter, who was born on July 10, 1861, in Dearborn county. After attending the public schools, she lived at home until her marriage. Mrs. Knippenberg is the daughter of Peter and Phoebe Hunter, the former a native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and the latter of Dearborn county. They had seven children : Jeremiah, William, John, and Laura, all of whom are living; and three daughters, deceased. Mrs. Knippenberg's father was a farmer all of his life, and at the time of his death owned a small farm of about eight acres. This eight acres is now owned by Mrs. Henry Knippenberg, Jeremiah and William Hunter, but is included in the farm owned by Jeremiah Hunter.
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To Mr. and Mrs. Knippenberg have been born two children: Emery, who is a city mail carrier in the Lawrenceburg postoffice; and Everett, who is a shipping clerk for the Rossville distillery.
Not only is Mr. Knippenberg a well-known farmer in this county, but he is a man who takes a worthy interest in public questions and is considered by his neighbors as a well-informed man. He is a man of genial personality and is popular in the community where he has lived many years. His standing in this community is the best testimonial to his worth and merit.
THOMAS JOHNSTON.
Among the retired, successful citizens of Dearborn county is found Thomas Johnston, around whose family is centered a great deal of early history. Since the coming of the three Johnston brothers, David, George and Joseph, from Virginia to this county, they and their descendants have been first in many of the progressive improvements for the benefit of the general public. From the very beginning of their residence here, they have accomplished difficult things, setting an example for those of a less venture- some disposition. Coming to a country of woods and wilderness, they found it necessary to cut out a road by which to reach their land, and soon afterward they erected the first grist-mill in this section of the country.
Thomas Johnston was born on January 1, 1828, in Manchester township, and is a son of Joseph and Mary (Karney) Johnston. He grew up about the mill, and his early history is pretty well associated with that of the mill. His life has always been one of great activity, and the wealth which he acquired, and which enabled him now to enjoy life, is the result of the prudence and good management exercised in his early business career. In 1855 he be- came county treasurer. serving two and one-half years, and is probably the only one now living who held office here so long ago, at which time he was only twenty-seven years of age. He always had great executive ability, and dur- ing the latter life of the old mill. although much younger than his two brothers, he was head miller and manager. but the dust proved very annoying to him. necessitating a change to outdoor work. and resulted in his taking up the life of a farmer. although not confined exclusively to this line of work. His attention was directed to real estate to some extent, and he was public spirited
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enough to serve in some of the township offices. About 1880 Mr. Johnston was on two committees to go over the books of public officials.
Joseph Johnston, father of the subject of this sketch, was born on March 22, 1793, in Frederick county, Virginia, and was a son of David and Elizabeth (Kyle) Johnston. He immigrated to Ohio in 1810, when about sixteen years of age, in company with his mother and two brothers, David and George, his father having died in Virginia. In 1812 they went to Vincennes, Indiana, fording creeks and rivers, or building rafts where streams were too deep to ford. At this time the war with the Indians was threatening, just before the battle of Tippecanoe, so acting under the advice of General Harrison they spent only one season there. From Vincennes they moved to Dearborn county.
When Mrs. Johnston and her sons came to this county they settled on Wilson creek, near Aurora. In 1815 they moved to a site on North Hogan creek where Joseph Johnston and his two brothers built a grist-mill run by water power. They ground wheat, corn and buckwheat for the ยท pioneer settlers of that region. In 1845 Joseph Johnston bought his brothers' in- terests and became the sole owner of the mill. He continued in the business until his death in 1873, when his sons took charge of the mill. The mill had been overhauled and enlarged, and valuable improvements of the most ap- proved type were put in from time to time. In 1882, at a time when milling was being revolutionized, the mill burned down, and as the future was very un- certain they did not rebuild. At present, there is very little to mark the place, except the old brick smoke stack. The old mill served a territory from North Bend to Ripley county, and away south, having at times nearly a week's grinding ahead. Customers from a distance would be housed and their horses fed, which, although eating up the profits, served as an advertisement. In ad- dition to his mill, Joseph Johnston owned about two hundred acres of land which had been entered from the government in the name of an elder brother, David. Mr. Johnston's wife, Mary (Karney)' Johnston, was a native of Ken- tucky. To this union were born the following children: John, George, Thomas, David, Columbus, James and Joseph. David died in 1876; James died in 1858; Columbus was in the House of Representatives and also in the State Senate two or three times.
Thomas Johnston, the immediate subject of this sketch, was married in September, 1867, to Abigail Heustis, daughter of Elias and Sarah (Ellis) Heustis. She was born in February, 1843, in Manchester township, Dear- born county. To this union were born four children. Joseph E. died in infancy. Anna Mary died at the age of twenty-four years, when just finishing
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college at Moores Hill at the head of her class. She was graduated from the Lawrenceburg high school, at the head of her class. The two children now liv- ing are Robert C. and David T. Robert C. was born on December 25, 1868, and lives with his father in the eastern part of Hogan township. He is married to Luella Barkley, and has four children, Robert Preston, Stanley Maurice, Harold J., and Laird Barkley; David was born on June 11, 1876. He is un- married and is also at home with his father and mother.
Elizabeth (Kyle) Johnston, the paternal grandmother, died on August 21, 1819, aged eighty-three years. She was a daughter of Joseph Kyle, a native of Ireland, and a son of Robert and Margaret Kyle.
Elias Heustis, father of Mrs. Thomas Johnston, was a native of New York state, and located in Manchester township about 1818, and his wife, Sarah (Ellis) Heustis, was a native of Massachusetts. Mr. Heustis was a tavern-keeper along the much traveled road where he settled, and entertained many drovers and travelers.
It would be a difficult matter to find one more entitled to the comforts of a retired life than Thomas Johnston, who numbers among his sincere and earn- est friends an enviable list of the representative citizens of Dearborn county.
HENRY DIETRICH BOCKHORST.
There is something lacking in the man who can ride past a beautiful field of golden.wheat, a fine apple or peach orchard, or a drove of fine Holstein- Friesian cattle and not have a desire to be the possessor of a farm. The sub- ject of this biography is among those earnest folk who know from experience not only the attractive side of farm life, but the hardships and disappointments which accompany it.
Henry Dietrich Bockhorst, farmer, son of Henry and Mary (Elling- hausen) Bockhorst, was born on January 6, 1865, in Lawrenceburg township. He attended district school No. 6, and in 1885 was united in marriage to Alvena Leffler, who died in 1891. Two children were born to this union: Clara, now Mrs. Green, of Hogan township; and Ora, who lives with his uncle, William Bockhorst. His second wife was Mary Smith, to whom he was married on March 10, 1903. They have three children, Alton, Herbert and Robert. The last two were twins.
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Henry Bockhorst was born in Germany and came to America when quite young, settling at Spades, Ripley county, and was a farmer all his life. His wife also came from Germany at an early age, and after marriage located in Lawrenceburg township. They bought one hundred and forty-seven acres of land from his wife's father, and lived on the place the remainder of their lives. This farm now belongs to Henry Dietrich Bockhorst, he having pur- chased it from the heirs. There were ten children in this family: Mrs. Henry Leffler, Sophia, Mrs. Alice Engleking, William, John, Louis, Henry and three who are dead. Mrs. Henry Leffler has had sixteen children, eight of whom are living, namely: William, John, Harry, Louis, Luella, Luzena, Mary and Lena. Mrs. Alice Engleking has four children, Harry, Estell, Will- iam and another. Louis has three children, Rhoda, Harry and Omar.
Mrs. Henry Dietrich Bockhorst is a daughter of George and Margaret (Bolke) Smith. She was born in Hogan township, December 6, 1872, and secured her education in the public schools. She is a member of the Lutheran church. Her parents were born in Germany, and came to America when very young, settling in Ripley county. After marriage her father moved to Aurora, Indiana, where he was engaged in farming. He later went to Hogan township, where he rented a farm, and after living on it a number of years moved to Dillsboro, Indiana, where he bought a truck farm, which he sold in 1904 and went to Dinuba, California, where he has since resided. He served three years in the army. His wife, Margaret, died in 1895. He was married, secondly, to Alice Hehe, at Dillsboro. There were seven children by the first marriage, as follow: Harvey, John, who married and has three children, Carl, Russell and Clayton. Louis is married and has one child, Ray- mond; Frank is married and has one child, Lorene; Edward has one child, Hazel; Charles has four children; and Mrs. Bockhorst. By the second mar- riage there were three children, Rudolph, Lois and Harriet.
ALBERT TRAVANYAN GRIDLEY.
Albert Travanyan Gridley, former county surveyor and civil engineer of Dearborn county, an educator of many years' standing in the county, a gallant soldier of the Civil War and a citizen who is fully representative of the best life of the community in which well nigh his whole life has been spent, was born on a farm three miles east of Cleves, Hamilton county, Ohio, on September 6, 1847, the son of Francis Asbury and Caroline Elizabeth .
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