USA > Indiana > Dearborn County > History of Dearborn County, Indiana : her people, industries and institutions > Part 81
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The paternal grandparents were John Henry and Margaret (Rullman) Nolte, both born in Hanover, Germany, the former on September 16, 1829, and the latter on November 23, 1833. John Henry Nolte came to this country when a young man and located on a farm in Cæsar Creek township, where he passed the remainder of his days. His death occurred on December 19, 1882, when fifty-three years old. Margaret Rullman, wife of John Henry
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Nolte, was brought to this country by her parents when she was a little girl ·of ten years. They located in Cæsar Creek township, and in the schools near her home she received her education. There she met and married Mr. Nolte. She was a daughter of Harmon and Mary (Bushman) Ruhlman and was one of a family of five children, the others being Henry, Ernest, William and Catherine. John Henry and Margaret Nolte had a family of three children, Charles, Louisa and William, all born and reared in Dearborn county.
John Henry Nolte is one of a family of four children, being the eldest of the family. The other members are Edward, Laura and Wesley. John Henry Nolte received his education in the common schools of Clay township, and remained with his father until the latter's death, assisting him with the work of the homestead. . After his father's death he took over the farm of his grandmother Nolte.
John Henry Nolte was married on January 6, 1904, to Catherine Anna Stoever, daughter of John P. and Sophia (Lange) Stoever, residents of Cin- cinnati. Catherine was born in Washington township, this county, on March 20, 1883. To this union has been born one child, a son, Wesley Christo- pher, born August 2, 1907. Both Mr. and Mrs. Nolte are members of the Lutheran church. His political support is given the Democratic party. Mr. Nolte is a man of progressive tendencies and enterprising spirit and enjoys the sincere regard of the entire community in which he lives.
LOUIS B. RUHLMAN.
Dependent very largely upon his own resources from youth, Louis B. Ruhlman, successful farmer of Clay township, Dearborn county, Indiana, has attained no insignificant success, and though he has, like most men of affairs, encountered obstacles and met with reverses, he has shown himself resource- ful and full of energy, and has succeeded well in his undertaking. His tenacity and fortitude are due, no doubt, in a large measure to the worthy traits inherited from his sterling ancestors, the example of whose well-regu- lated lives he has sought to follow in all the relations of life.
Louis B. Ruhlman was born in Clay township on July 8, 1869, a son of Henry H. and Eliza (Dulweaver) Ruhlman, both natives of Germany ; the former was born in 1838. When a child Henry was brought to this country by his parents, who settled in Clay township, and in the schools near his home he received his education. He assisted his father with the work (52)
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of the farm home until such time as he made the purchase of a farm on his own account, this being located in Clay township, and on which he remained but a short time when he disposed of it and bought another in Claw town- ship, on Hayes branch. That farm contained fifty-nine acres, and there he continued to live until 1895, when he moved to a farm near Dillsboro, con- taining one hundred and five acres, and there passed the remainder of his life, his death occurring in June of 1903, when he was sixty-five years old. Henry Ruhlman was a devout member of the Lutheran church, and his po- litical support was given the Democratic party. In all things he was an hon- est and upright man who had a great many friends who highly esteemed him.
Henry Ruhlman was one of a family of four children, the others being Charles, Fred and Minnie. These all came to this country with the parents about the year 1843, and settled in Dearborn county.
Eliza (Dulweaver) Ruhlman, mother of the immediate subject of this sketch, was a daughter of Bernard Dulweaver and was born in Germany, coming to this country with her parents, who first settled in Cincinnati and later came to Dearborn county. locating on a farm in Cæsar Creek township, where they passed the remainder of their lives. There were but two children in the Dulweaver family, the other child, a son, met his death during the Civil War, from starvation while a prisoner in Andersonville.
Henry and Eliza Ruhlman were the parents of four children, Anna, Louis, William, and one child who died in infancy. Anna became the wife of William Cline and lives in Cincinnati. William married Ellen Nelson and lives in Sparta township. They have five children, Clifford and Allen, de- ceased ; Harry, Ernest and Bertha. Eliza Ruhlman's death occurred the same month as that of her husband, in June of 1903.
Louis B. Ruhlman received his education in the schools of Clay town- ship and after completing his studies assisted his father in the work of the farm home for a short time. He was filled with an ambition to see something of the world and first went to Kansas, where for a year he followed his occu- pation of a farmer. He then came back east, locating in Chicago, where he worked as a lineman for the Western Union Telegraph Company, out of Chicago. He went from there to Cincinnati, where he was connected with the Cincinnati Telephone Company, remaining with them three years, when he received such injuries as made necessary a change in his manner of labor. He reverted to his original life as a farmer and came back to this section, where he purchased the old homestead of his father, near Dillsboro. He began his farming in a small way and gradually paid off the purchase price of the place. When he had it clear he purchased an additional tract of fifty-
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nine acres, later on disposing of four, and on the balance he has continued to make his home. Mr. Ruhlman has long since demonstrated the fact that he is possessed of more than ordinary business ability, for he manages his inter- ests very well indeed. He is a large stockholder in the Dillsboro Sanatorium, being also one of its original incorporators, and much of the success of that institution is due to his foresight and business ability.
Louis B. Ruhlman was married on April 12, 1905, to Ella R. Johnson, a daughter of William and Ella (Risinger) Johnson, born on March 8, 1872, in Napoleon, Ripley county, in which town she also was educated. William Johnson was born in Batesville, Indiana, February 6, 1842, and was engaged in agricultural work all his life. After marriage he lived for a time at Na- poleon and after selling his farm there, moved to Osgood, Indiana, where he remained two years, coming to Dillsboro in 1910. William and Ella (Ris- inger) Johnson were the parents of four children, Sylvia, who died young, Alma, Harry and Ella R. Alma became the wife of G. William Niebrugge and lives in Dillsboro. They have three children, Ella Ruth, Floyd and Lester Charles. Harry married Barbara Crane and lives in Osgood.
To Louis B. Ruhlman and wife have been born two daughters: Sylvia E., born on July 21, 1908, and Goldie A., November 2, 1910. Mr. Ruhlman is a man who takes a keen interest in all matters pertaining to the welfare of the community, and is a strong supporter of the principles of the Demo- cratic party. He most efficiently served Clay township as assessor for four years and takes much interest in the affairs of his party in other than local matters. His fraternal affiliation is held with the Knights of Pythias and he is a past chancellor of his local lodge. He is a faithful member of the Presbyterian church, giving generously of his means toward the support of the local organization. In all the affairs of life, Mr. Ruhlman has shown himself a man who stands "foursquare to every wind that blows," and he is, therefore, eminently entitled to mention in a volume of the character of the one in hand.
HENRY GEAR.
Among the older citizens of Clay township, Dearborn county, Indiana, none stands higher in the esteem of his fellow citizens than the gentleman whose name forms the caption of this sketch. Henry Gear has long been engaged in agricultural pursuits in this section and the years of his residence here have but strengthened the feeling of honor and respect on the part of
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his fellow men, owing to the worthy life he has led and the example of in- dustry and frugality he has set the younger generation.
Henry Gear is a native of Germany, having been born in Deepholtz, Hanover, on November 1, 1833, a son of Frederick and Hannah (Finke). Gear. Frederick Gear was born on January 2, 1811, and Hannah Finke on September 18, of the same year. In the year 1845, with their young family, they immigrated to the United States, coming directly to Dearborn county, where they found many of their nationality. They secured a tract of eighty acres in Clay township, near Dillsboro, paying seven hundred dollars for their homestead. There the family was reared and the old folks passed their re- maining days. Frederick Gear departed this life on April 4, 1880, and his wife lived until December 31, 1898.
Henry, the immediate subject of this sketch, was the eldest of their family of six children, the others being Frederick, William, Mary, Lizzie and Louisa. William, Mary and Lizzie are deceased. Frederick chose Barbara Steple as his wife and she has borne him five children, Will, Fred, Laura, Ruth and Lulu. William married Mary Miller and died childless. Mary became the wife of Fred Gartemman and has three children, Harry, Kate and Laura. The family lives on a farm in Ripley county. Lizzie became the wife of William Kamman and has one son, Horace, junior. Louisa is the wife of Henry Reinhardt and has four daughters, Clara, Rose, Lulu and Augusta.
Henry Gear attended the schools of his native home when a young boy and after coming to this country, attended the common schools of Clay town- ship. When seventeen years old he started out in life for himself, being em- ployed at farm work among the neighboring farmers at the rate of nine dol- lars per month and board. He labored in that manner for three years and then went to Aurora, Indiana, where he secured employment in the stables of the James Gaff Distilling Company, and soon became foreman of that division of their labor. There he remained until 1884, when he returned to Clay town- ship and purchased the old homestead from the mother for fifteen hundred dollars, and on that spot rich in association for him, he has since made his home. Mr. Gear devotes his land to agriculture such as is carried on in this section and is accounted one of the thorough farmers of his community.
On September 10, 1863, Henry Gear was married to Anna Rupker, a daughter of Henry and Anna (Hefflemeier) Rupker, both natives of Ger- many. The parents were married in the fatherland and brought their young family to this country, Anna being eight years old at the time the long jour- ney was made. They found their location in Ripley county, and there passed the remainder of their lives. There were three other children in the family,
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Eliza, Henry and Louisa. To Mr. and Mrs. Henry Gear were born three daughters, Maggie, Anna and Louisa. Anna became the wife of William Nintrup, a farmer of Dearborn county. Louisa married J. H. Schneider, of Cochran, this county, and is the mother of one daughter, Viola. Maggie lives in Clay township.
Mr. Gear is a faithful member of the German Lutheran church and has the distinction of having filled all the offices in that society. He takes a keen interest in its welfare and spares himself no pains to further its advance- ment. He gives his support to the Democratic party, standing always for what concerns the greatest good to the greatest number. Mr. Gear has many interesting stories to relate concerning the conditions throughout this sec- tion when they first took up their residence here, and he enjoys telling of his part in the work of getting the old Ohio & Mississippi railroad (now the Baltimore & Ohio Southwestern) in shape to handle passengers. It was of course a momentous day when the road was really put in operation and Mr. Gear had the privilege of hauling the first load of wood to the station in Coch- ran. Mr. Gear is a man of sterling character, scrupulously honest in all the relations of life and is held in the highest esteem by a large circle of friends.
WILLIAM SIEKERMAN.
Among the citizens of Dearborn county who have won a pleasing de- gree of success in their chosen field of endeavor is William Siekerman, the respected subject of this short biographical sketch. Mr. Siekerman gives much attention to agricultural pursuits and in this line is regarded as among the best farmers of the community. He is, however, perhaps best known as a plasterer and bricklayer of considerable ability and has the distinction of having plastered and laid the bricks for nearly all the buildings in Clay township and rendered the same service in connection with more than eighty of the buildings of Dillsboro.
Mr. Siekerman is a native of Dearborn county, having been born on January 1, 1857, a son of Garrett Henry and Eliza (Leavercamp) Sieker- man, she being the second wife of Henry. Henry Siekerman was born in Germany on March 17, 1815, and immigrated to America when quite a young man. He came to this section in the early pioneer days, being among the first white settlers. At that time there were no roads, only Indian paths, and the primeval forests still stood throughout this section of the state.
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Henry Siekerman grew fond of his home in the wilderness and as the first onrush of the tide of civilization reached this part of the country, he was eager to secure for his adopted home all possible benefits. His first farm consisted of eighty acres, for which he paid the government the sum of fif- ty cents per acre. He passed his remaining years in Dearborn county and as better dwellings than the first primitive cabins began to be erected, he re- verted to his old trade of plasterer and all of the earlier buildings through this community gave evidence of his ability in that line. Mr. Siekerman's first wife came with him from Germany, but died shortly after reaching the United States, leaving him with one daughter, Etta. His second wife was Eliza Leavercamp, who bore him two sons, William, the immediate subject of this sketch, and Henry. By his third wife he had six children : George, Amelia, Charles, Theodore, Lewis and Edward, all of whom are living. Henry Siekerman, brother of William, married Louisa Smalle and by her had seven children : Sam, Frank, Eva, John, Lyda, Walter and Clarence. Henry's death occurred in 1892.
William Siekerman received his education in the common schools of Ripley county and at an early age took up farm work. He continued at this for a few years and then learned the plasterer and bricklayer's trade and has combined his two lines of endeavor ever since. In 1885 he purchased a farm in Clay township consisting of thirty-six acres and to this he added twenty-five acres at one time and forty-one acres at another time, making his present holdings one hundred and two acres in all, this land well testi- fying to his ability as a farmer.
Mr. Siekerman's marriage took place in 1884, when on November 25 of that year he was united in wedlock with Clarabelle Worley, daughter of Robert and Caroline (Fowler) Worley, the former a native of the state of Kentucky and the latter born in Dearborn county. Robert Worley passed the greater portion of his young manhood in the state of Ohio and for many years operated a steamboat on the waters of the Ohio river. Robert Wor- ley and wife had the following children : Alice, Florence, Harry, Clarabelle, Annie and Fannie. Harry married Lizzie Steward and has two children, Eva and Vera. Annie became the wife of Harry K. Evans and they have had the misfortune to lose the entire family of three children.
To William Siekerman and wife have been born three children, two of whom died in infancy, but one daughter, Clara, remaining. This daughter became the wife of Harry Linkmeier and resides on a farm in this county. William Siekerman has all his life been a faithful member of the Lutheran
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church and lives his life in accordance with its teachings. His political sup- port he gives to the Democratic party, being especially interested in its af- fairs as relate to local matters. In all the relations of life Mr. Siekerman has proved himself a man among men and because of his sterling personal qualities and stanch integrity, he is deserving of the confidence which has been placed in him by his fellow men.
CHRISTIAN GOTTLIEB HARSCH.
Christian Gottlieb Harsch, concrete contractor, of Lawrenceburg, this county, is a son of Gottlieb and Elizabeth (Schaeffer) Harsch, and was born on December 22, 1851, at Cincinnati, Ohio. He was not two years old when his parents moved to this county in 1853, locating at Lawrenceburg, where he has since remained. He attended the public schools and the German parochial school and after leaving school did everything in the way of odd jobs, from driving a team for fifteen cents a day to railroading, having been employed in the bridge department for several years, after which he learned the plasterer's trade, which he followed for sixteen years, later going into business as a concrete contractor and for years past has been awarded contracts for most of the sidewalks of Lawrenceburg. Politically, Mr. Harsch is a stanch Republican, to which party he has given his earnest support, and shown his loyalty by serving in some of the city offices. He was city marshal for two terms and was treasurer of the fire department for twenty-seven years. Fra- ternally, he is a member of Dearborn Lodge No. 4, Knights of Pythias, Mr. Harsch owns a good home at 226 Mary Street, and is an attentive mem- ber of Zion Evangelical church.
Gottlieb and Elizabeth (Schaeffer) Harsch, were born in Wurtemburg, Germany. Mr. Harsch was reared and educated in Germany. and came to America about 1849, locating at Cincinnati, where he was employed in a pork- packing establishment, and where he died in 1851. To him and his wife were born two children, Anna, who died in infancy, and Christian G., the subject of this sketch. After the death of her husband, Mrs. Harsch married Matthias Hanselman and became the mother of four more children, name- ly: Mary and Matthias, both living in Lawrenceburg; Louis, who makes his home at Hamilton, Ohio, and one who died in infancy. Christian G. Harsch's paternal grandparents died in Germany, both having lived to be past ninety years of age. Among their children were Christian, Louisa and
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Gottlieb. Mr. Harsch's maternal grandparents also died in Germany, where- they were farmers, and had a large family.
Christian Gottlieb Harsch was united in marriage on January 25, 1874, to Julia Brunson, who was born at Milford, Ohio, on May 22, 1852, daugh- ter of James and Eliza (Varguson) Brunson, to which union five children have been born, Anna, Christian, Cora, Mae and George. Anna became the wife of Ben R. MacElvain, of Lawrenceburg, and is the mother of four children, Ford, Bernice, Merline and Inez; Christian is employed as an automobile trimmer at Detroit, Michigan. He married Inez Tebbs, to which union two children have been born, Lois and Clifford; Cora died in her third year; Mae became the wife of Richard Fieler, and is the mother of one daughter, Catherine Elizabeth Fieler; George is associated with his father- in the manufacture of concrete, and lives at home. His fraternal affiliations. are with the Knights of Pythias. Mrs. Harsch is a member of the Metho- dist church. Her father, James Brunson, was a native of New Jersey. He. died in 1855, aged thirty-five years, leaving four children, Samuel, Mary, Julia and James. His widow survived him and married secondly, Martin Knapp, a soldier in the Mexican War, by whom she had two children, Emma. and Alice. Mr. Knapp was drowned in 1861.
The paternal grandparents of Mrs. Harsch were James and Julia Brun- son, who lived to be quite old, and were the parents of the following chil- dren : Mrs. Julia Harmon, Mrs. Mary Usterhouse, Den and James. The ma- ternal grandfather of Mrs. Harsch died when a young man. His wife was. Catharine Varguson, by whom he had nine children, Charles, Lucinda, Han- nah, George, Eliza, and others whose names the biographer was unable to. obtain.
Having led an active business life, Mr. Harsch is a man of wise general: information and is highly esteemed by all who know him.
REV. JOHN WILLIAM DASHIELL, D. D.
As the sands of life trickle through the glass of time and record the. history of those who have performed their duty and accomplished things of importance, the subject of this biography, the Rev. John William Dashiell. may rest content in the thought that he has left nothing undone that has been within his power in making the lives of his fellow men happier and better through his interest and unselfish labor.
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Rev. John William Dashiell was born on October 8, 1844, at Moores Hill, Indiana. He is a son of John Thomas Dashiell and Elizabeth (Mont- gomery) Dashiell. He was educated at Moores Hill College, graduating in 1871, receiving the degree of Bachelor of Surgery. In 1872 he received the degree of Bachelor of Arts, and in 1875 the degree of Master of Arts. He has also received the honary degree of Doctor of Divinity. In 1871 he was junior preacher on the Melroy circuit, of which he later had entire charge. John William Dashiell went to the Civil War on August 8, 1862, in Company A, Eighty-third Regiment, Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and was dis- charged in February, 1863, disabled. He re-enlisted in Company D. Seventh Indiana Cavalry, August 6, 1863, and was discharged May 3, 1865. While in the cavalry he participated in many battles chiefly directed against Gen. Bedford Forest, the greatest Confederate cavalry leader. During this campaign Mr. Dashiell fought in west Tennessee, Mississippi, Louisiana, Arkansas and Kentucky, fighting all the way and engaged most of the time. He participated in the battles of Chickasaw and Arkansas Post, where seven thousand prisoners were captured. He preached for forty-three years, in the Methodist church, was retired in 1914, and is now enjoying a much- needed rest from active work. He is a Republican, and a member of the Free and Accepted Masons, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, San- dusky Lodge No. 856, the Grand Army of the Republic, and is commander of Adams Post No. 254.
John Thomas Dashiell was born on September 30, 1817, in Queen Anne county, Maryland, and when young came with his parents to Sparta township, attending school in the first school building in Sparta township, located near the present site of the Moores Hill postoffice. His parents later moved to Moores Hill where, from lack of educational facilities, he received the most of his education through study at home. He learned the cooper's trade and went into partnership in that business, losing all he had in one year, through the irregular business methods of his partner. Two years later he went into business alone, taking freight and produce to New Orleans, during which time he was stricken with typhoid fever and was ill for seven months, again losing all he had. This second entire loss so completely discouraged him that it was only through the efforts and kindness of his friend, John C. Moore, that he was again started on the road to success. Three years later he bought the farm belonging to his wife's parents, located in Ripley county, where he lived until he died, December 12, 1899. In politics Mr. Dashiell was a Re- publican, and in 1861 was sent to the Legislature from Ripley county, by the largest vote of any office on that ticket. He also served many times as
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township trustee. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. His wife, Elizabeth (Montgomery) Dashiell, was a daughter of Joseph and Jane (Sproul) Montgomery, and was born on September 28, 1820, in Ripley county, Indiana. To this union were born four children, Mary Jane, Noah Davis, Sarah Amelia and John William.
John Dashiell, the paternal grandfather, was born on February 27, 1786, in Worcester county, Maryland, and was united in marriage on July 6, 1809, with Amelia Duncan. They came to Sparta township in 1818, and slept under sheets spread on poles until their one-room log cabin was completed, which occasion was celebrated by John Dashiell taking down the family Bible and dedicating his new home. He later moved to Momence, Illinois, return- ing in 1863 to Moores Hill, where he bought his son's old home in Moores Hill, and lived on it until his death. Mr. Dashiell was a Methodist minister, known in those days as a "local preacher." He followed agriculture for a living, dividing his attention with that and live stock. He was originally a Whig, but later became a Republican. His parents were John and Sara Dashiell.
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