USA > Indiana > Dearborn County > History of Dearborn County, Indiana : her people, industries and institutions > Part 82
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John and Sara Dashiell were the paternal great-grandparents, the former having been born on April 17, 1751, and died on December 15, 1816. Sara Dashiell was born on June 11, 1751, and died on November 1, 1843, in her ninety-third year. Amelia (Duncan) Dashiell was born on February 17, 1794, in Worcester' county, Maryland. She was a daughter of Thomas and Fannie Duncan. John and Amelia (Duncan) Dashiell were the parents of eleven children, namely : Sallie Q., Elizabeth, Emaline, John Thomas. Fan- nie C., Mary, Charles R., William M., Drusilla, Amelia J. and one who died in infancy.
John William Dashiell was married on November 19, 1872, to Fannie Myers, daughter of Peter and Rachel Myers, of Jeffersonville, Indiana. She was born on December 21, 1852, and was educated at Jeffersonville and Moores Hill, getting the degrees of Bachelor of Surgery and Master of Arts. She was a very fine musician. This union was blest with twelve children, as follow: Thomas Myers, Emma Amelia, Newton Hayman, Edward, Lawrence Basil, Rachel, Fannie, Edith, John Frederick, Stanley, Leland Elder and Mary Locke. Thomas Myers was born on September 30, 1873, was married to Marie Boyle on June 21, 1899, in Chicago, Illinois, and lives at Los Angeles, Califor- nia. Emma Amelia was born on December 7, 1874. Newton Hayman was born on September 6, 1876, married Rhoda K. Adams on June 12, 1900, in In- dianapolis. They lived at Minneapolis and have two children, Joseph Adams and Newton Hayman, Jr. Edward was born on May 1, 1878. Lawrence
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Basil was born on February 9, 1880, married Anna Wright, of Pittsburgh, in 1909. Rachel was born on April 19, 1882, married J. D. Sediner on November 4, 1913, and lives at Hope, Indiana. Fannie was born on Septem- ber 25, 1883, married O. N. Orebaugh on June 12, 1914. and lives at Louis- ville, Kentucky. Edith was born on August 18, 1885. John Frederick was born on April 30, 1888, was united in marriage on September 17, 1912, with Sylvia Knowles. He is professor of philosophy at Minnesota University. Stanley was born on January 11, 1890, died in 1898, at Aurora. Leland Elder was born on June 9, 1891. Mary Locke was born on February 24, 1894. Mrs. Fannie Dashiell died on March 20. 1910.
The immigrant ancestors of the Rev. John William Dashiell landed in Maryland in 1651. They were French people and could trace their ancestry back to families of great prominence, and the subject of this sketch has lost none of the aristocratic bearing long associated with his ancestry.
GEORGE L. P. SQUIBB.
The Squibb name in Dearborn county is conspicuously associated with the distilling firm of W. P. Squibb & Company.
George L. P. Squibb, the present secretary of this company. was born at Aurora, Indiana, on November 13, 1869, spending his youth and attending the public schools there until his family removed to Lawrenceburg, Indiana, in March, 1884, where he continued his education in the public schools of Lawrenceburg until 1885 when he commenced working. at the age of fifteen years, at the distillery owned and operated by his father and uncle; so to speak, "growing up" with the business, and has continued with it ever since.
On May 17, 1900, George L. P. Squibb was united in marriage to Mina Louis Brand, the daughter of John and Margaret Cook Brand and niece of A. D. Cook, of Lawrenceburg, to which union five children have been born, Francis P., Margaret C., Ella Louise, Alta Virginia and George R. Mrs. Squibb was born at Lawrenceburg, but spent the early years of her life at Louisville, Kentucky, where she received her education. Her parents, both of whom are now deceased, had come to the United States from Germany at an early age.
Mr. and Mrs. Squibb are members of the Episcopal church and Mr. Squibb is at present serving his third term as school trustee of the town of Greendale, which, though a separate corporation, is virtually a part of Law- renceburg.
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JESSE RUETER.
Clay township, Dearborn county, Indiana, can well point with pride to the quality of her young manhood, for she can number among her citizens many young men who came from some of the older families here, who are filled with the worthy ambition of filling useful places in the world and have been, or are being, especially fitted for the line they have chosen to fol- low. An especially gratifying fact lies in the number who have elected to remain in their native community and for this reason the history of Dear- born county bids fair to be much greater in the future than it has in the past, pleasing as that has been. Among the young men who have chosen the pro- fessional field for their endeavors, the name of Jesse John Henry Rueter, who has fitted himself for the calling of a veterinary surgeon, stands promi- nent.
Jesse Rueter was born in Clay township on May 13, 1893, son of Au- gust and Minnie (Kuhlmier) Rueter, both natives of Switzerland county, this state. August Rueter was born on July 6, 1862, a son of Bernard and Catherine (Buchstetter) Rueter, both of whom immigrated to this country from Germany. They came when in middle-life and settled in Cæsar Creek township, Dearborn county, where for a number of years they gave them- selves to arduous agricultural labors. In later life they retired from such active labors and removed to Farmers Retreat, where they passed their de- clining years in peace and plenty. They were the parents of nine children : Anna, Carrie, Henry, Harmon, August, Fred, Benjamin, George and Will- iam. Bernard Reuter passed away when eighty-seven years of age and Catherine died previously. This excellent couple won many warm friends after becoming residents of this community, and in memory are held in high esteem by many who knew them best.
August Rueter received his education in the school at Farmers Retreat and after completing his education, he took up farm work, working out by the month among the farmers of his community. He did this for four years, when he went out west and remained until 1891, when he returned to this section and was married. He bought a farm of ninety acres located about two miles south of Dillsboro and there lived until the time of his death on Oc- tober 23, 1911. August Rueter married Minnie Kuhlmier, a young woman who had been born near his birthplace on Bear Creek, in Ohio county. When five years of age, her parents moved to Farmers Retreat, and there she re- ceived her education, and later they took up their residence in Aurora, where she was married on March 8, 1891. August Rueter was a devout member .
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of the Lutheran church and was one of the charter members of Trinity Luth- eran church, at Dillsboro, serving that society as a trustee for a number of years. His political support he gave to the Democratic party, being inter- ested in its welfare. Mr. Rueter was a man who was interested generally in all matters which concerned the public welfare of his community and na- tion, keeping well posted on current events and throwing his influence al- ways on the side of the right. He was a strong, clean man who counted the best citizens of his community as his friends.
Jesse Rueter is one of a family of six children, being the second child of the family in order of birth. The eldest is Carl and then after Jesse came Frank, Anna, Dora and Paul. Both Carl and Anna died when children.
Jesse Rueter received his elementary education in the common schools of Clay township, later attending the German schools at Dillsboro and Far- mers Retreat. He was a good student all through his younger years and for special training in his chosen profession, he matriculated in the London Veterinary College, graduating therefrom in 1914, at which time he returned home. Jesse Rueter is a young man of excellent parts, who bids fair to win success in life. He has had the advantage of good training all his life and is therefore, fitted above some others, to cope with the affairs of life. As the years bring him greater opportunity and experience, it is safe to say he will take advantage of every possible good means, and advance rung by rung up the ladder of success.
BEN R. MACELVAIN.
One of the most resourceful, and consequently one of the most success- ful men of Dearborn county, is the gentleman whose sketch is here presented. Being a true son of Indiana, he has never wandered about from state to state. He knew that opportunities awaited him within the limits of this state and set himself to work to meet them giving to each due consideration, until now he finds himself filling the vocation in life for which he is no doubt best fitted, and in which he has been quite successful.
Ben R. MacElvain, sales manager and cashier of the Lawrenceburg Roller Mill Company, at Lawrenceburg, this county, is a son of Edgar P. and Henrietta (Frey) MacElvain, and was born on June 1, 1872, at Seymour. Indiana, where he attended the public schools. At the age of eighteen years he became a telegraph operator, and at the age of twenty-three, went to Law- renceburg, where he married and settled down, being employed by the Balti-
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more & Ohio Railroad Company. When twenty-nine years of age, he entered the employ of the company, with which he is now engaged and has been thus engaged for the past fourteen years, first as bookkeeper, and then for the past ten years, as sales manager and cashier. Mr. MacElvain is a strong believer in Democratic policies, and has always given his vote to that party. He is a member of the Presbyterian church, to which he is a generous contributor, and his fraternal alliances are as follow: Lawrenceburg Lodge No. 4, Free and Accepted Masons; Lawrenceburg Chapter No. 59, Royal Arch Masons, Aurora commandery, Knights Templar, Indiana Consistory, Scottish Rite Masons at Indianapolis, and to Murat Temple, Ancient Arabic Order, No- bles of the Mystic Shrine, at Indianapolis.
Edgar P. MacElvain, father of Ben R. MacElvain, was a native of Cin- cinnati, where he was reared and educated. After growing to manhood there he became a locomotive engineer on the old Ohio & Mississippi rail- road, which vocation he followed for many years, dying at Cincinnati, at the age of seventy-five years. His wife, Henrietta (Frey) MacElvain, was born at Seymour, Indiana. They were the parents of two children, Ben R. and Anna, the latter of whom became the wife of A. N. Rinehart, of St. Paul, Minnesota. Mrs. MacElvain survives her husband, and is living with her daughter in St. Paul. Both Mr. McElvain and his wife at an early date became members of the Presbyterian church. Grandfather MacElvain, who married Minerva McManaman, was an early settler of Cincinnati, where he and his wife lived to a round old age. Among the children of this ex- cellent old couple were Edgar P., Alonzo, Charles, Belle and Josie.
On June 1, 1895, Dr. Ben R. MacElvain was united in marriage to Anna Harsch, who was born at Lawrenceburg on October 25, 1874, daughter of Christian and Julia (Brunson) Harsch, to which union were born the follow- ing children : Ford, Bernice, Merline, Inez and Esther. Ford was graduated from the Lawrenceburg high school and is now an art student in Cincinnati. The other children are all in school, with the exception of Esther, who died at the age of three years.
Christian and Julia (Brunson) Harsch, parents of Mrs. MacElvain, are natives of Cincinnati and Milford, Ohio, respectively, and now reside at Law- renceburg. They have four children, Anna, Christian, George and May. Christian Harsch, Sr., is the son of Gottlieb and Elizabeth (Schaeffer) Harsch, both natives of Germany, and both now dead, who reared a large family of children. Julia (Brunson) MacElvain is the daughter of James and Eliza (Varguson) Brunson, natives of New Jersey and Pennsylvania, respectively, whose children were Mary, Julia and James. Upon the death
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of her husband, Mrs. Brunson married secondly, Martin Knapp, to which union were born two children, Emma and Alice.
Ben R. MacElvain by his fine executive qualities and careful attention to business details, as well as by his consideration for the interests of those with whom he is associated, has won for himself an enviable position and is one of the substantial citizens of Lawrenceburg.
WILLIAM P. SQUIBB.
The Squibb family has been prominently identified with the business and commercial life of Dearborn county for more than three-quarters of a century and within that period has contributed materially to the growth and prosperity of the county. The father of William P. Squibb, was Robert Packingham Squibb, who was well known in his day and generation and an influential and highly respected citizen. He lost his life in an explosion which occurred on the occasion of the celebration, by the people of Aurora, of the running of the first train over the old Ohio & Mississippi railroad, when it was first built to Aurora.
William Pinckney Squibb was born on Laughery creek, Ohio county, Indiana, on January 15, 1831, the son of Robert Packingham and Eliza (Cummings) Squibb, to whom were born two other children, Alta M., who was married to Louis M. Foulk, and George WV. Squibb.
On December 25, 1860, he was united in marriage to Mary Frances Plummer, the daughter of Samuel and Mary Posey Plummer and sister of Sewell and Sidney Plummer, and to them were born ten children : Mary A., who married A. F. Geisert; Alta F., who died after she had attained young womanhood; Robert L., Ella R., George L. P., Florence L., who married J. P. Carter; William P., who died in infancy; Nathaniel E., Horace G. and Samuel T., who died at the age of nineteen. All of these who are living reside in Lawrenceburg, except Mrs. Carter, who lives at Cincinnati. Mrs. William P. Squibb died in 1888 in her forty-fifth year.
After having been reared on a farm and, by the death of his father, thrown on his own resources at a very early age. William P. Squibb, a per- son of powerful personality, great determination and much brain power, started in business in a small way at Aurora, Indiana, when but seventeen years of age, being joined some years later by his younger brother, George W. Squibb, forming the firm of W. P. Squibb & Company and doing a whole-
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sale liquor and rectifying business at Aurora, this county. By hard applica- tion and sound business principles, the brothers prospered and in 1869, started the present distilling business at Lawrenceburg, this county, continuing together, with their descendants until after over fifty years of steadfast and congenial association, the death of George W. Squibb occurred in February, 1913, in his seventy-fifth year. William P. Squibb survived his brother by only eight months, dying on October 15, 1913, in his eighty-third year.
In 1905, the two brothers had taken into partnership, Robert, George, Nathaniel and Horace, sons of William P. Squibb and Thomas and Alex- ander, sons of George W. Squibb and Louis H. Foulk, son of Alta Foulk, all of whom had been associated with the business since their boyhood days and assisted materially in building it up. After the death of George W. Squibb, in February, 1913, a corporation was formed to carry on the busi- ness under the same name, W. P. Squibb & Company, the present active members of the same being Robert, George, Nathaniel and Horace Squibb and Louis H. Foulk.
Several very large and substantial warehouses had been erected by the firm in the course of years, in which to properly store and mature their prod- uct, the present total storage capacity being about sixty thousand barrels of whiskey, and in 1915 the corporation completed and started to operate a new reinforced concrete and brick distillery and elevator, equipped with the most approved and economical apparatus for the handling of grain and the con- version of the same into the high-grade whiskey for which the company enjoys an enviable reputation in the channels of their trade throughout the United States, so that the small beginning made by William P. Squibb in 1848 is today one of the leading and substantial institutions of Dearborn county.
WILLIAM RUBLE.
William M. Ruble was born and reared to the life of a farmer. but like many another ambitious citizen. the lure of the city proved too strong, and the quiet neighborhood was abandoned for the more exciting atmosphere of the state capital. This move proving the other extreme, another change was made, and the happy medium was found in the growing town of Aurora, which he has since been satisfied to retain as his voting place, and where he is ever ready and anxious to please his many customers, in both his paint
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and wall-paper business, and in his barber shop, the latter of which is equip- ped with the latest and most up-to-date appointments.
William Ruble, now the well-known township trustee, barber, paint. and wall-paper dealer, of Aurora, this county, son of William M. and Hannah (McCune) Ruble, was born on July 14, 1873; at Dillsboro, Indiana, where he was reared and educated. At the age of nineteen he went to work on his father's farm, remaining there several years, at the end of which time his parents decided upon a change, moving to Indianapolis, but this still did not seem to be their liking and in 1892 the family moved to Aurora, which has since been their home. Mr. Ruble first engaged his services in a brick yard, but soon after learned the barber trade, which he has followed ever since, and for the past seventeen years, has owned his own shop. Politically, Mr. Ruble is a strong believer in Democratic policies, and has shown his public spirit by serving as township trustee, to which office he was elected in November, 1914, and which he now holds. Religiously, he is a member of the Baptist church, and his fraternal alliances are with the Independent Or- der of Odd Fellows, the Improved Order of Red Men and the Fraternal Or- der of Eagles.
William M. Ruble, father of the subject of this biographical sketch, was born in Butler county, Ohio, and lived there until seven years of age, when his parents moved to Dillsboro, and later to Aurora, Indiana. Mr. Ruble was a cooper by trade, and during the Civil War enlisted in the One Hundred and Forty-sixth Regiment, Indiana Volunteer Infantry, serving a little over seven months as a private. After the war, he moved to Ohio county, this state, and soon after his marriage settled at Dillsboro, where he followed the cooper's trade for several years, when he moved to a ten-acre farm in Clay township, remaining there about twenty years. William M. Ruble was married three times. His first wife died in Ohio county, leaving no children. second wife, Hannah (McCune) Ruble, mother of William Ruble, was a native of Dillsboro, Dearborn county, and died in 1876, while still a young woman. Two children were born to this union, William, of Aurora, and John, of Petersburg, Kentucky. William M. Ruble's third wife was Zerilda Gray, but no children have been born to this union. Both are earnest members of the Methodist church. Mr. Ruble belongs to John A. Platter Post, Grand Army of the Republic, and is a Democrat.
William Ruble's paternal grandfather was Leander Ruble, a native of Pennsylvania, and one of the early settlers of Aurora, where he was engaged both as a carpenter and a cooper. He was a soldier in the Union army during the Civil War, and died in Libby prison. His wife, Julia Ann (Smith) (53)
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Ruble, died during the war. They were the parents of five children, Ellen. Sarah F., William M .. Mary Jane and Emma. Mr. Ruble's maternal grand- parents, John and Lorinda (Beck) McCune, were both natives of Indiana and early settlers at Dillsboro. Mr. McCune was a justice of the peace, and an attorney-at-law. and was also a preacher of the Universalist faith. He died at the age of eighty-four, and his wife when past middle age. They were the parents of four children, Margaret, Elizabeth. Hannah and Cornelius.
William Ruble was married to Lydia Henry, who was born in 1873, daughter of Aaron and Sarah ( Powell) Henry, and to this union have been born three children, Lee Harold. Arnold Glenn and Shirley. Aaron Henry, the father of Mrs. Ruble, is a native of Indiana. as is also his wife. . They now reside at Aurora, where Mr. Henry is a park policeman. He served during the Civil War in the Eleventh Regiment. Kentucky Volunteer In- fantry. To him and his wife were born nine children. Susie, Laura, Annie. Lydia, Mary. James, Walter, Jesse and Albert. The paternal grandfather of Mrs. Ruble was Aaron Henry, Sr. He and his wife were natives of Dearborn county, Indiana, and both lived to old age, leaving three children. Jesse, Aaron and Lydia. Mrs. Ruble's Grandfather Powell was also a native of Dearborn county.
Mr. Ruble, by perseverance and good management, has added to his possessions, and now stands in line as one of the useful and substantial citi- zens of Aurora.
JOHN F. VINUP.
The gentleman whose name is noted above has been a resident of Au- rora, where he is a well-known general merchant, long enough to become a part of the force that makes the wheels of the city go 'round. Every man thus contributing toward the making of history is entitled to his full share of recognition in the biographical records of the county.
John F. Vinup was born on September 22, 1868. in Ohio county, Indiana, a son of Henry and Mary (Oatman) Vinup. He was educated in the dis- trict and parochial schools and remained at home on the farm until grown. when he was employed by the month at farm work until he was about twenty- seven years of age. Believing he would like a commercial life, he bought a general store at Bear Branch, in Ohio county, and in about seven years dis- posed of it, in 1901, and moved to Aurora, where he bought the old Maybin
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dry goods and general merchandise store, which was then owned by William Stiver, and moved to his present location, continuing in the business to the present time, covering a period of over fourteen years. He has built up a large and prosperous business and employs several clerks. Mr. Vinup is a Republican and both he and his wife are members of the Lutheran church.
Henry and Mary (Oatman) Vinup were natives of Germany. Mr. Vinup was reared and educated in his home town, and came to America with his parents when eighteen years of age, and located in Ohio county, where he engaged in farming, and became the owner of one hundred and sixty acres of land, where he reared his family. He died on the home farm in 1903, aged seventy-six years, seven months and nine days. His widow died in 1910, aged about seventy years. They were both members of the Lutheran church, and were the parents of eight children, namely : Henry, who makes his home in Ohio county; Caroline, who married Charles Luke, of Cæsar Creek township, this county; William, who lives in the same township: Anna. who married William Laker, of Clay township; John F., the immediate subject of this sketch; Sophia, the wife of Herman Berner, of Clay township; George, who lives on the home place in Ohio county, and Lucinda, the wife of Fred Ohlmanseak, of Cæsar Creek township, this county.
Mr. Vinup's paternal grandfather was a teacher and farmer. His wife died in Germany and he died in Ohio county, Indiana. They were the parents of the following children: Andrew, Henry, William and Catherine, the latter of whom is the only one now living. Grandfather Vinup was twice married and had two children by the second marriage, Charles and Jelta, both now deceased. Mr. Vinup's maternal grandparents, Frank and Mary Oatman, came from Germany and were among the early settlers of Ohio county, where he followed farming and where he spent his last days, dying at the age of eighty-five. They were the parents of the following children: Mary, Will- iam, Henry, Margaret, Louisa and Emma.
John F. Vinup was married to Amelia C. Luke, to which union one son has been born, Eugene, who died at the age of five years. Mrs. Vinup was born on July 8, 1867, in Cæsar Creek township, this county. The parents of Mrs. Vinup were early settlers in Dearborn county, and died on the home farm in Cæsar Creek township. They were the parents of the fol- lowing children: William, who was killed in battle during the Civil War; Caroline, John, Charles, Rosa, Hannah and Amelia.
John F. Vinup occupies a position of high esteem in the estimation of the citizens of his home town and is always courteous and anxious to please the public in every possible way.
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EDWARD HOLTHAUSE.
After various vicissitudes and misfortunes, the plucky man to whom the name at the head of the following biographical sketch belongs, has estab- lished himself in a prosperous and remunerative business, to the success of which he is thoroughly entitled. His undertaking and livery establishment, at Aurora, this county, is one of the best-equipped and most up-to-date in this community, where he has an extensive circle of friends and is well known throughout an area extending to a distance far beyond the precincts of his home town. His courteous attention to the wants of his customers has done much towards insuring the successful business which annually comes his way.
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