USA > Indiana > Dearborn County > History of Dearborn County, Indiana : her people, industries and institutions > Part 71
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107
Digitized by Google
-
721
DEARBORN COUNTY, INDIANA.
21, 1839; John J., December 15, 1841; Peter, July 11, 1843; William, April 17, 1847; Henry, November 26, 1848. One of the brothers, John J. Faber, gave his life for his country, for he died as a result of having his leg shot off at the battle of Murfreesboro, December 31, 1862. This was after a year and a half of service in the army, he having enlisted as a private in the Thirty-second Regiment, Indiana Volunteer Infantry, Company Nine, in Au- gust, 1861. This was known as the "German Regiment," and he was under Captain Schwartz, the enrollment taking place at Lawrenceburg.
The subject of this sketch was educated at Lawrenceburg in the com- mon schools. After the death of his father, he managed the farm for his mother until she too was taken, her death occurring on October 25, 1887. He then bought out the other heirs and has followed the farmer's life from then until the present:
On April 25, 1872, Henry Faber was united in marriage to Louisa Knerr, daughter of George and Margarette (Fink) Knerr, the latter of whom is still living at the age of eighty-two. Both were natives of France. Mrs. Faber's birthdate is July 10, 1853, and she was educated in Jackson township, the place of her birth. Nine children have blessed this union, as fol- low : George William was born on September 19, 1872; John Jacob, October 14, 1874, and died on May 1, 1901; Jacob, June 21, 1877, and died on March 22, 1879; Albert Henry, April 1, 1879, died on May 29, 1888; Emma Mary, October 30, 1881; Jacob Henry, March 29, 1884, Lucy Margaretta, June 7, 1887, died on March 8, 1889; Mary Margaretta, March 1, 1890, died on June 14, 1891; Benjamin Charlie, September 9, 1892. died on August 19, 1896. The eldest son, George, married Jay Keppler. He is an employee of the street car company at La Salle, Illinois. Their daughter is Ruth Emaline. Emma Mary is Mrs. Walter E. Miller, of Sunman, Indiana, and the mother of two children, Ida Louisa and Howard Henry. Jacob Henry is farming on the old homestead, and is the husband of Ada Brumpter, their only child being Mary Louisa.
Henry Faber is one of the most enthusiastic Republicans in the county. The esteem in which he is held is made evident by the fact that he has been township committeeman of Jackson township a number of times. Like his father, he too, is a Lutheran, and much interested in the welfare of the church.
As a descendant from parents who were pioneers in the state, Mr. Faber lays claim to special respect, as well as by reason of his own merits as a man and as a loyal citizen.
(46)
Digitized by Google
722
DEARBORN COUNTY, INDIANA.
WILLIAM HORNBERGER.
William Hornberger has passed through that interesting and absorbing occupation of building up a business, and is now enjoying the fruits of his 'strenuous, busy life, which not only allow him the necessaries, but the luxuries, to which he is well entitled. The fine tract of over one hundred acres of good, rich land, all in a fine state of cultivation, now owned by Mr. Horn- berger, is evidence of his industry and good management.
William Hornberger was born on May 2, 1863, and is a son of Jacob and Rachel (Klein) Hornberger. He was educated at the public schools of the district, and remained at home until the time of his marriage, when he bought a tract of one hundred and four acres of fine land belonging to the old homestead, which he still farms, and in 1915, Mr. Hornberger bought a home at Lawrenceville, Indiana, consisting of five acres, and in addition to his farm and town home, he owns considerable stock in the Farmers' National Bank, at Sunman. In connection with his farming interests he has carried on a custom business in sorghum molasses, covering a territory of ten miles each way, and during his thirty-two years in this branch, has produced over fifty-five thousand gallons of molasses. Mr. Hornberger has always been a stanch Republican, and in 1914 was elected to the office of township trustee for a four-year term, winning over his opponent by a large majority.
Jacob Hornberger, father of the subject of this sketch, was born on August 28, 1816, at Steinweiler, Rheinpfalz, Germany, and on arriving at the age of young manhood, came to the United States in 1837, landing at New York, from whence he came directly to Lawrenceburg. Mr. Horn- berger here followed the carpenter's trade for a few years, and in 1842, he moved his family to Jackson township, where he bought eighty acres of land, to which he later added one hundred and four acres more. He died on April 24, 1904. His wife, Rachel (Klein) Hornberger, was born on March 6. 1821, at Minden Rheinbaiern, Germany, and came to the United States in 1832 with her parents, who settled at Cincinnati, Ohio, and later moved to Jackson township, Dearborn county. She was educated in Germany and Cincinnati, remaining with her parents until her marriage, November 23, 1843. This union was blessed with seven children, Jacob, Michael, John, Peter, Frank, Emma and William. The parents of Mrs. Jacob Hornberger were Peter and Katherine (Hey) Klein.
William Hornberger was united in marriage on April 3, 1884, with Katherine M. Holzberger, daughter of Michael and Julia Ann (Adams) Holzberger. She was born in Ripley county, Indiana, September 3, 1863,
Digitized by Google
723
DEARBORN COUNTY, INDIANA.
and attended the township schools, remaining with her parents until her marriage. This union has been blessed with four children, Clara, married Harry Weiderman, and is living at Ridgeway, Iowa, on a farm; they have two children, Mildred and Vern; Earl, married Augusta Heilbeck, and follows farming in Jackson township; they have one child, Avilla; Ada, married Peter Probst, is living in Jackson township on a farm, and is the mother of two children, Arnold and Walter; Sarah lives at home.
Michael Holzberger, father of Mrs. William Hornberger, was born at Diespeck, Neustadt, Baiern, May 8, 1833, and his wife, Julia (Adams) Holzberger, was born on March 27, 1842, at Williamsburg, Pennsylvania. They resided for many years in Jackson township, Mr. Holzberger dying on June 3, 1891, aged fifty-eight years, and his wife died on August 24, 1907, aged sixty-five years.
The Hornberger family are members of the German Methodist Episcopal church, at Lawrenceville. Mr. Hornberger is well known throughout the county, and has a wide range of customers for his molasses trade, which has proved a successful and remunerative business-the result of honest business principles,-and his fine farm of one hundred and two acres is one of the best in the county.
CHARLES L. VAN OSDOL, D. D. S.
No man in the medical profession, in this neighborhood, has given more careful study or been more successful than the gentleman whose name intro- duces this sketch, and no one is more entitled to enjoy the fruits of his efforts and sincere interest in a subject of such vital interest to humanity at large.
Charles L. Van Osdol was born on May 12, 1854, in Cass township, Ohio county, Indiana, near New Hope. His parents were Nathan A. and Elizabeth (Crowley) Van Osdol. He was reared on his father's farm in Ohio county, where he was sent to the district school, and, after leaving school, he assisted his father on the farm until he was twenty-two years of age. He learned the carpenter trade and followed it, in connection with farming, until he earned enough to pay his way through college. He was graduated from the Miami Medical College, Cincinnati, in 1885, and imme- diately began practicing medicine at Allensville, Switzerland county, where he formed a partnership with his brother, Dr. John W. Van Osdol, and after a period of over twelve years he moved, in 1890, to Dillsboro, Indiana, and
Digitized by Google
724
DEARBORN COUNTY, INDIANA.
began the practice of dentistry, which he followed for twenty-five years. He had previously passed an examination before the Indiana State Board, in 1889. This branch has been more to his liking, and he has given it the same careful attention that he gave to his work as a physician and surgeon. In 1911 Dr. Van Osdol moved to Aurora, still retaining his office at Dillsboro, and continued to practice in both places until December, 1914, when he sold his office at the latter place, since which time his entire attention has been devoted to his practice at the Aurora office, where he enjoys a large and profitable practice. Dr. Van Osdol is a Republican, and he belongs to Chap- man Lodge No. 78, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and the Aurora encampment, and is also a member of the State and National Dental As- sociations.
Nathan A. Van Osdol, father of the subject of this sketch, was a native of Pennsylvania and was born in Fayette county, May 25, 1813. He was a son of Benjamin and Rebecca Van Osdol, and came to Indiana with his parents in 1816, settling in Ohio county. For several years during his early life he did flatboating, going as far as New Orleans, and later bought gov- ernment land, and from that time until his death, made farming his principal business. Tradition has it that he started out in life, at the age of sixteen years, with a capital consisting of one calf, the sale of which brought him the magnificent sum. of one dollar. During the winter season, when the river business was dull, he employed his time at coopering, and by thrift and in- dustry, he eventually became the owner of one hundred and sixty acres of valuable land, which he cleared and improved. He was a veritable pioneer, and ended his days on the home farm, where he had reared his family. He was seventy-four years old at the time of his death, his wife surviving him eight years. She died at the age of seventy-six years. Nathan A. Van Osdol was united in marriage on June 30, 1836, to Elizabeth Crowley, a daughter of James and Elizabeth Crowley. Mr. and Mrs. Van Osdol were active members of the New Hope Methodist Episcopal church, and were the parents of twelve children, as follow: Melissa became the wife of Peter Richmond, of New Hope, Ohio county; Boston W. moved to Greensburg, Indiana; John W. became a successful practicing physician at Allensville, Indiana, for thirty years; William Wesley is a resident of Rising Sun, Indiana; Charles L., of Aurora; Mary Elizabeth became the wife of Andrew J. Sedam, and is now deceased; Benjamin Franklin is living at Bascom, Ohio county; Margaret Ann, who grew to maturity and died single; Nancy Jane, who died young; David A., Nathan Allen and Clara, all of whom died in infancy.
Digitized by Google
725
DEARBORN COUNTY, INDIANA.
The paternal grandfather was Benjamin Van Osdol, of Holland Dutch ancestry, and was a native of Pennsylvania, and brought him family down the river in a flatboat, in 1816, landing at Rising Sun, Indiana, where he followed the trade of cabinetmaker, in which line he was a finished workman. His wife, Rebecca Van Osdol, was also a native of Pennsylvania. They both ended their days on the home farm of their son, Nathan A. Van Osdol. To this couple were born four children, John, Nathan Allen, Jane A. and Mary Sutton.
James Crowley, the maternal grandfather, was born in Virginia, and was drowned from a raft in 1817, while on his way to Ohio county, Indiana, with his family. His widow, Elizabeth Crowley, came on with her children and settled at Rising Sun. Their children were, Van S., Margaret Jane, Mary Ann and Elizabeth. Being still a young woman, Mrs. Crowley was married, secondly, to David Hufford, and settled in Ohio county, near Dillsboro, where she died, February 6, 1868, aged seventy-seven years.
Charles L. Van Osdol was married on May 1, 1878, to Sadie A. Flem- ming, daughter of Robert and Susanna (Harbert) Flemming, who was born on February 26, 1854, in Ohio county, and died on March 22, 1898, aged forty-four years. Doctor and Mrs. Van Osdol have had three children, Ernest F., Harry M. and Robert C. Ernest was graduated from the Indiana Dental College, of Indianapolis, and is now practicing at Warsaw, Indiana. He was married to Pearl Wheeler, by whom he has one son, Cortes Dean; Robert C. was graduated from the Ohio Dental College, of Cincinnati, and is established in a good-paying office at Tiffin, Ohio. His wife was Hildal Kattenhorn.
Robert and Susanna (Harbert) Flemming, parents of Mrs. Van Osdol, were natives of Indiana, the former dying at Aberdeen, Indiana, and the latter at Dillsboro. Their children were, John W., Sadie A., and Lydia.
The maternal grandfather of Mrs. Sadie Van Osdol was Caleb Harbert, whose wife was Sarah (Downey). Harbert, to whom were born the following children: Susanna. Emma, Malissa, Mary and Sophia.
Dr. Charles L. Van Osdol was married, secondly, on October 9, 1901, to Alta M. Hanna, daughter of David A. and Mary J. (Barricklow) Hanna, of Union township. Two children have been born to this union, Leo Donald and Marie Elizabeth. Dr. and Mrs. Van Osdol are earnest members of the Methodist Episcopal church, of Aurora, Indiana.
David A. and Mary J. (Barricklow) Hanna were born and reared in Ohio county, Indiana, and now reside at Rising Sun, Indiana, where they are enjoying a peaceful, retired life on a farm.
Digitized by Google
726
DEARBORN COUNTY, INDIANA.
The paternal grandfather of Mrs. Alta M. Van Osdol was William Hanna, and his wife was Rebecca (Higbee) Hanna, natives of Indiana. Their children were, David, Charles, Josie, Ruth and Annabell, who died young.
The maternal grandfather of Mrs. Alta M. Van Osdol was Hiram Bar- ricklow, who was born in 1829, in Ohio county, and was a son of John Barricklow, born in 1800, whose father was Daniel Barricklow, a native of Pennsylvania. Hiram Barracklow was twice married, first, to Sarah A. Pate, daughter of William T. Pate, by whom he had the following children: Re- becca became the wife of Stephen Hastings; Mary J., mother of Mrs. Van Osdol; William Taylor was married to Agnes Fisher, January 30, 1881, daughter of John and Agnes G. (Flannigan) Fisher; George G. married Laura Turner; Anna M. became the wife of Lawrence Turner.
Doctor Van Osdol, through his ability as a dentist, has won for himself a successful practice in the community, and he and his wife have a large circle of warm friends, whose society they very frequently have the pleasure of enjoying.
FRED GRELLE.
The following is a brief sketch of the career of a plain, honest man of affairs, who by close application to the path he had marked out in life for himself, has succeeded not only along material lines, but in the better things of life also, being held in high esteem not only by those with whom he has business dealings, but also those who know him only in a social way. Mr. Grelle has long since proven that he is possessed of an untiring energy and indomitable will, and he stands to the younger generation as an example of what can be accomplished by any young man who will bring the best of his ability to his task.
Fred Grelle is a native of Cæsar Creek township, Dearborn county, hav- ing first seen the light of day within its borders on Christmas day of the year 1860. He is a son of Henry and Sophia (Froelich) Grelle, both natives of the German empire. Henry was born in the year 1825 and came to this country when a young man. He remained for a time in Cincinnati, where he had friends, and later came to Dearborn county to engage in farming. He purchased forty acres in Cæsar Creek township and when that was paid for bought twenty acres additional, and later on added a tract of sixty acres. He
Digitized by Google
1
727
DEARBORN COUNTY, INDIANA.
gave his attention to general farming and the raising of a small amount of live stock, and was gratifyingly successful in his undertaking. He died in 1904, at the age of seventy-nine years. Sophia Froelich, his wife, was born in 1829, and upon coming to America located in Cincinnati, where she met and married Mr. Grelle. Her death occurred on March 25, 1914, at the age of eighty-five years. She was the mother of twelve children, namely: Margaret, Louisa, Cynthia, John, George, Fred, Anna, William, Louis, Car- oline, Henry and George. Of this family, George, Louis, Caroline, Henry, George and Margaret have passed into the great beyond. Margaret married Henry Droege and lived at Laporte, Indiana. She was the mother of four children, Theodore, Louisa, Emma and Lena. Louise became the wife of William Hunche, living at Laporte, this state, and they also had a family of four, Emma, Martha, Edward, and Sophia, who died when a small infant. John married Lizzie Niederbaumer and they live at Seymour, this state. There are eight children in their family, Lulu, Clara, William, Augusta, Alma, Dorothy, Esther and Ruth, who died when a little child. Anna married Ernest Peters and they live in Elmwood Place, Ohio, where they are rearing their three children, William, Amelia (deceased) and Lulu. William married Annie Huseman and they are engaged in farming in Dearborn county. They have four children : Jesse. Amelia, Edward and Esther.
Fred Grelle received his education in the school at Farmers Retreat, and then for a few years after his studies were over he assisted his father in the work of the home farm. In 1887 he made his first independent busi- ness venture, this being the purchase of forty acres of land in Cæsar Creek township. In 1906 he purchased one hundred and twenty acres adjoining and again in 1913 he purchased twelve acres, making one hundred and seventy- four acres, all of which he has converted into an up-to-date stock farm and he has met with more than ordinary success. In the year 1900 he purchasedl a complete threshing outfit and for the following fifteen years he operated that throughout this community.
On May 23, 1889, Fred Grelle was married to Louisa Huseman, born in Ripley county, December 23, 1864, a daughter of William and Mary (Weach- man) Huseman. Mary Weachman had been previously married to William Oesting, by whom she became the mother of three children, Henry, John and Louise. Henry and John are deceased. After the death of Mr. Oesting his widow married Mr. Huseman. Both Mrs. Grelle's parents were born in Ger- many, and immigrated when young to this country, locating in Cincinnati, where both worked for a few years. After their marriage they came to Brown
Digitized by Google
728
DEARBORN COUNTY, INDIANA.
township, this county, where they remained for some time. To William and Mary Huseman were born seven children, Henry, Mary (deceased), Amelia, William (deceased), Louisa, Anna (deceased) and Anna Mary. Henry mar- ried Rieke Forncamp and became the father of four children, Bertha, Allie, William (deceased), and an infant who died early in life. The family lives in Ripley county, where they are engaged in farming. Amelia became the wife of Frank Henchen and the mother of five children, Gustof, Elmer, Clayton, Edna and Hilda.
Mr. and Mrs. Fred Grelle are the parents of seven children : Clara, born on March 23, 1890; Harry, July 10, 1892; Walter, October 27, 1894; Charles, May 14, 1897; Alfred, January 29, 1900; Howard, January 10, 1904; and Martin, October 25, 1909.
Fred Grelle is one of those broad-minded men who not only are alert to their own best interests, but who also desire to serve their community whenever possible. He is one of the staunch Republicans of his community and for thir- teen years has most efficiently served his party as superintendent of road work. He has also been a member of the township school board for a number of years, and is keenly interested in all that concerns the educational advan- tages for the youth of the township. He and his family are devout members of the Lutheran church, giving generously of their means and time toward the work of the local organization.
ALBERT V. DIETZ.
Being a man of excellent character and business qualifications, the sub- ject of this biography is in every way worthy of the responsible position which he occupies as cashier in the German American Bank, of Lawrenceburg. Being present at the organization of the bank, he has had the pleasure of watching it grow, until he now feels almost a paternal interest in its welfare.
Albert V. Dietz is a son of John and Mary (Bauman) Dietz, and was born on July 8, 1866, at Brookville, Indiana, where he attended the parochial and public schools, going from there to the Central Normal, at Danville, and later entered the State Normal School. at Terre Haute, working his way through. He then became clerk in the United States revenue service, at Law- renceburg. and for twenty years has been a resident here. In 1905, when the German American Bank was organized, he became its cashier, which
Digitized by Google
729
DEARBORN COUNTY, INDIANA.
position he still holds. This bank was organized with a capital stock of twenty-five thousand dollars. Mr. Dietz is a Democrat, and is a member of the Catholic church. His fraternal membership is with the Knights of Columbus.
John Dietz was a native of Germany, where he was reared and received his education. He served an apprenticeship of five years with a wholesale and retail merchant, and was afterward employed as clerk in the same estab- lishment for 'ten years. Coming to America in 1850, he located at Brook- ville, where he engaged in merchandising. He died there in 1884, aged sixty- six years. His wife, Mary (Bauman) Dietz, was a native of Ohio. She died in 1894, aged fifty-nine years. They were both members of the Catholic church, and were the parents of eight children, namely: Theressa became the wife of Philip Hartman, of Brookville; Frank also resides at Brookville; Catherine died when two years of age; John and Elizabeth reside at Brook- ville; Albert V., of Lawrenceburg; Irene was married to Frank Tulley ; Will- iam C. makes his home at Greenville, Ohio.
The paternal grandparents died in Germany when John was an infant. They were farmers, and were the parents of three sons and four daughters, all of whom came to this country and died here.
The maternal grandparents were Fedalia Bauman and wife, natives of Germany. They came to America and were early settlers at Brookville, when the wolves were in the forest, and spent their remaining years here. Mr. Bauman died aged eighty-two years, and his wife died at the age of seventy- six. To this union were born five children, Mary, Anthony, Catherine, Theressa and Julia.
Albert V. Dietz was married on September 17, 1895, to Mary Sattler, daughter of Joseph and Agnes (Graff) Sattler. Mrs. Dietz was born at Cedar Grove, Franklin county, Indiana. To Mr. and Mrs. Dietz were born four children, Agnes, Gertrude, Elizabeth and Albert. Agnes died aged eight years, and Albert died in infancy.
The father of Mrs. Dietz was a native of Austria, and his wife of Cedar Grove, Indiana. She died in 1894. Mr. Sattler was a private in the Civil War, and is still living. There were ten children born to this union, as follow : Mary, Peter, Anna, Joseph, Bernardina, Philip, John, George, Frank and Edward.
The paternal grandparents of Mrs. Dietz were natives of Austria, where they died.
Mr. Dietz enjoys the respect, friendship and confidence of a large number of people, both in the immediate and surrounding territory.
Digitized by Google
730
DEARBORN COUNTY, INDIANA.
CHARLES EDGAR TORBET.
Education and progress have formed the outlines along which the sub- ject 'of this sketch, a well-known and influential man in school work, has traveled all his life. Mr. Torbet has made an earnest and sincere study of his profession, and advocates and follows the principles of perpetual research work. He has never reached the point of feeling that there is nothing more to be gained by study, wherein lies the secret of his great value in educational work.
Charles Edgar Torbet was born on July 22, 1871, near Shreve, Holmes county, Ohio, and is a son of James and Laura (Becker) Torbet. He was educated at the public schools of his district, the high school at Frederick- town, and the college at Delaware, Ohio, graduating in 1897, after which he was professor of Latin and Greek at West Farmington, Ohio, Western Reserve Seminary, remaining three years, and then took a post-graduate course at the Ohio Wesleyan University, of Delaware, Ohio, coming in Sep- tember, 1901, to Moores Hill College as professor of English and history. Professor Torbet is a stanch Republican, to which party he has given his loyal support, and shown public spirit by holding some of the local offices. He has been secretary of the school board for the past three years, and he is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, of which he has been recording steward for a number of years. Professor Torbet is greatly interested in church work, and has for many years been a teacher in Sunday school work. He belongs to Delta Tau Delta, of the Ohio Wesleyan University Chapter Mu.
James Torbet, father of the subject of this sketch, was born on Decem- ber 16, 1847, in Holmes county, Ohio, where he attended the public schools, of that locality, and was engaged in teaching for five years. He remained on his father's farm until two years after his marriage, when he entered the ministry of the Methodist Episcopal church, in the North Ohio conference, in 1873, where he spent the greater portion of his ministerial life, two years of which were spent in the Northwest Iowa conference. Mr. Torbet retired in 1911, after thirty-eight years of active service, and is now living at Shelby. Ohio. He is an independent voter. His wife, Laura (Becker) Torbet, was born in 1846, in Fostoria, Ohio, where she was educated in the public schools. Mr. and Mrs. Torbet were the parents of five children, Charles Edgar, Howard L., John E., Robert D., and Mary K. Howard L. Torbet was married to Edith Patterson, of Adelphi, Ohio, and is pastor of the Park Avenue Congregational
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.