USA > Indiana > Dearborn County > History of Dearborn County, Indiana : her people, industries and institutions > Part 86
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Joseph A. Bennett was born in Dillsboro and was one of a family of eight
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children, his birth occurring on July 18, 1865. He received his education in the schools of Dillsboro, and during vacations and all spare time, assisted his father in the work of the farm home. For a while he was railroad black- smith at Dillsboro, and later gave up that occupation for the life of a farmer, operating the farm of one hundred acres located near Dillsboro, belonging to his wife. Mr. Bennett's death occurred on January 18, 1915, when fifty years of age. He was a man held in high esteem by all who knew him, public spirited and deeply concerned in all that related to the best interests of his community and country. He left his widow and one child, Paul Esmond Bennett. Mr. Bennett's fraternal affiliation was held with the Knights of Pythias, in the workings of which order he took an appreciable interest. His political support was given the Republican party. He led a quiet, well regulated and honest life and was worthy the degree of confidence which he inspired in all who knew him. Mrs. Bennett was a worthy helpmeet for such an excellent man and is held in high esteem throughout the community.
ROBERT LEWIS BROWN.
Among those persons who by virtue of their strong personal qualities have won their way to a high standing in the estimation of their fellow citizens and have by the manner of their living proven that they are men of honor and good parts, the subject of this sketch is entitled to mention in a volume of the character of the one in hand.
Robert Lewis Brown was born near Dillsboro, Dearborn county, Indiana, December 28, 1852, a son of John and Elizabeth McDowell, both natives of the state of Virginia. John McDowell and wife came to Dearborn county, where they remained but a short time, returning to their native state of Virginia. Their little son was but six weeks old at the time they left Indiana, and he was given into the care of his uncle, William Brown, who reared him as his own son and whose name he took. Robert Lewis received his education in the schools of Clay township, and after leaving school, as- sisted his uncle in the work of the farm home. William Brown departed this life on October 11, 1889, at which time the farm of sixty-seven acres descended to his foster son, Robert Lewis Brown. Robert Lewis has con- tinued to make his home on the place, carrying on general farming together with some raising of live stock.
Robert Lewis Brown was married on February 25, 1872, to Alice Bruce, (55)
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a daughter of Torrance and Tamar (F. ... , Bruce, of Clay township, and the parents of a family of twelve children. These were Phoebe, Francis, Rachael. Mary Ann, Annie, Nancy, Alice, William, Simeon, Clarence, Charles and one which died in infancy. William married Mary Howard and had a family of four children, Frances. Alice, Allen and Stanley, the first two named being deceased. Simeon married a Miss Warner and became the father of two chil- dren. Clarence married Mattie Lockshaw and has four children. John, Will- iam, Louis, and Minnie, deceased. Charles married Sophia Shurman and had one son by her. William. Upon her death he married Cora Bright and by her had two children, Ralph and Hattie. Phoebe became the wife of Will- iam Greene and the mother of two children. Torrance and James. Frances married a Mr. Pate. Rachael became the wife of Thomas Windsor and raised a large family, Belle, Anna. James, Filbert and Lottie. Mary Ann married Allen Miles. Annie married Henry Powell and reared a large fam- ily, David, Rachael .. Laura, Morton, William, Mary and Fannie Nancy be- came the wife of Robert Murray and had two children. Hiram and Calvin. Alice, wife of the immediate subject of this sketch. was born on February 25, 1853, on the family homestead near Dillsboro, and received her education in the schools of Sparta township.
To Robert Lewis and Alice ( Bruce) Brown has been born one son. Will- iam C., who was born on the family homestead in Clay township. December I, 1872. On January 25, 1911, William C. Brown was united in marriage with Della Van Osdol, a daughter of William and Mary E. (Chase) Van Os- dol, the former of whom was born in Ohio county, and the later was born in Switzerland county. this state. October 5. 1866. Della Van Osdol was born on March 14. 1891, in Clay township. William Brown and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. In politics he votes an independent ticket, choosing his men rather than endorsing any party ticket. His fraternal af- filiation is held with the Red Men of America, having served his local society as sachem.
The Brown family has ever been considered among the representative families of this section, standing for all that is most worth while in life. Robert Lewis Brown is a faithful member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and has been an officer in the same for a number of years. His po- litical support is given to the Democratic party, and while not a seeker after office, he shows a commendable interest in his party's affairs. By a life of consistent action and thought, Mr. Brown has well earned the high standing which he now enjoys in the community.
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ALBERT HENRY MATHIAS.
Every community points with pride to its energetic and efficient young men, and it may well do so. for in them rests the hope of its future well-being. It is well when a youth can definitely decide along what line his future course shall be and so plan his studies and reading that when his opportunity comes, he can firmly plant his feet in the path he has decided upon. It is especially gratifying when a young man can follow in the footsteps of some older mem- ber of his family and in the present instance the young man to a short sketch of whose career the reader is now directed is following the same lines laid down by his maternal grandfather many years ago, but under vastly different conditions. Albert Henry Mathias, the efficient young funeral director of Clay township, Dearborn county, has been especially trained in his chosen field of endeavor and in addition to his education along professional lines, he is by nature most excellently equipped for the delicate duties devolving upon him and his sympathetic manner and forgetfulness of self render him of great assistance to those who need his services in an hour of grief and sorrow.
Albert Henry Mathias was born in Cochran. Dearborn county, In- Indiana, November 1, 1887, a son of William and Maggie (Whittenburg) Mathias. William Mathias was born in Chesterville, Indiana, July 12, 1858, and received his education in the schools of Cochran. At the early age of fifteen years he went into the Cochran chair factory. where he passed his working hours for the balance of his life. The explosion of a boiler in that factory on November 26, 1888, caused the death of Mr. Mathias at the early age of thirty years.
William Mathias was a son of Henry and Lena (Crugell) Mathias, both natives of Germany. Henry immigrated to the United States while still a young man, locating in this county at Chesterville on a farm. There he remained for four years, when he moved ot Cochran and secured employment with the Ohio & Mississippi Railroad Company, where he remained for the balance of his life, passing away when an old man on May 16. 1890. He was one of the good and substantial citizens of Cochran in his day and gave his assistance to whatever counted for the good of the community. He was a faithful member of the Methodist Episcopal church, serving his local society for many wears as one of its officers. In politics he was a Republican, and while not seeking office for himself was always anxious to see the right man put in the right place. Lena Crugell, his wife, came to this country when a young girl of sixteen years and was soon thereafter married. bearing
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her husband nine children, namely: William, Simon, Frederick, Ellsworth, Anna, Lena, Henry, Mary, and one child who died in infancy. Lena (Cru- gell) Mathias is still living at an advanced age, hale and hearty, in Kansas City, Missouri.
Maggie (Whittenburg) Mathias, mother of the immediate subject of this sketch, was born in Clay township, Dearborn county, January 10, 1860, and received her education in the district schools of her native township. She was married to William Mathias, at Dillsboro, September 1, 1886, and has but the one child. Mrs. Mathias is a daughter of Henry and Anna (Finke) Whittenburg, both of whom were born in Hanover, Germany, Henry's birth occurring on July 17, 1825, When twenty-two years of age he immigrated to the United States and settled first in Cincinnati, where he, for six years, worked at his trade of cabinet-maker. He then decided to come into Dear- born county where were others from his home locality, and so he purchased a tract of twelve acres in Clay township. On this he erected a small log hut of one room and there lived and farmed his land. Being expert in his trade, he formed fine tables, chairs and other pieces of furniture from the trees found on his own land, and, then to meet the needs of a rural community, he began making caskets in which the dead were laid to rest. These he fashioned from fine walnut timber, selling them for from four to six dollars and gradually as the community became more thickly settled, the duties of funeral director devolved upon him and he fitted himself for his work as best he could. He, however, continued to make caskets until forced by the infirmi- tives of age to give up that part of his labors. He was early left an orphan through the death of both parents and came to this country a lonely youth, but the years have wrought him many filial ties and he is still living at the age of ninety years, a fine old man. Anna Finke, his wife, was brought to Cincinnati by her parents, and there she met and married Mr. Whittenburg. To their union were born seven children: Anna, Charles, Christian, Maggie, Sophia (who died young), Mary and Carrie. Anna became the wife of Ezra McCracken, of Missouri, and there are three children in that family, Wilbur, Ida and Albert. Charles married Louisa Chamburg, who bore him eight children, Anna, John, William, Henry, Mary, Clara, Jerry and Maggie, all living .in Iowa. Christian married Maggie Brent and has five children, Adaline, Laura, Henry, George and Leona. Mary became the wife of Henry Ravenstein and has three children : Carrie, Arthur and Robert, all living at Bradford, Ohio. Carrie became the wife of George Woodruff, of Eaton, Ohio. She is the mother of two children, Ethel and Ida.
Albert Henry Mathias received his elementary education in the public
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schools of Dillsboro and for special training in his chosen field of endeavor, entered the Cincinnati College of Embalming, from which institution he was graduated in the year 1913. This was the year of the disastrous floods along the Ohio river and young Mathias was sent by the city of Cincinnati to the flooded districts of Ohio to render his services to the communities where many lives had been lost by drowning. After discharging the duties thus thrust upon him, he returned to his home and took up the work begun by his grandfather. In 1914 he purchased the undertaking business of the Niebrugge company and maintains his office at Dillsboro.
Mr .Mathias is a devout member of the Lutheran church. In politics he votes an independent ticket, choosing his men rather than endorsing any party ticket. He is a young man of high ideals, sociable and of pleasing ad- dress and by virtue of his sterling qualities he will win his way along the best paths of life.
ENOCH HEADLEY.
Among the well known citizens of Clay township, Dearborn county, Indiana, is the respected subject of this sketch, now living in Dillsboro, where he has made his home for the past few years.
Enoch Headley comes from one of the old and highly esteemed families of this community and is a native of Dearborn county, having been born on April 16, 1847. in Cæsar Creek township. a son of James and Elizabeth (Cousins) Headley. The former was a native of the city of London, England, and immigrated to America when a young man. He located first in Baltimore, Maryland, where. however. he remained for a short time only. He then came westward and for the balance of his life was engaged in farming. being located on the farm which he purchased in Cæsar Creek township. This was a tract of forty acres, for which he paid one dollar and twenty-five cents per acre. His death occurred when he was thirty-nine years of age. He was a faithful member of the Methodist Episcopal church and did much to further the cause of that society in the early days of this section. In politics he was a stanch supporter of the Whig party. Elizabeth (Cousins) Headley, his wife, was a native of the state of Ohio, born in 1830, and when a child was brought to Cæsar Creek township by her parents. There she met and married James Headley while still a young girl. Their marriage took place in 1846, and to their union were born three children, Enoch being the eldest, followed by two girls, Rebecca Ann and Elizabeth. Rebecca Ann became the wife of Philip Helms, of Dillsboro, and the mother of four children, Vina, Lucy,
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Stanley and Florence. Elizabeth married Crist Ceiving, by whom she became the mother of two children, Katie (deceased) and Louisa. After Mr. Ceiv- ing's death, she became the wife of Isaac Waldon, by whom she became the mother of six children, Harvey, Louis, Charles, Earl, Clara and Benjamin, the latter two being deceased.
Enoch Headley received his education in the common schools of Cæsar Creek and Clay townships and was employed in farm work until the time of his enlistment in the army during the Civil War. On February 5, 1865, he volunteered as a private in Company I, One Hundred and Forty-sixth Regi- ment, Indiana Volunteer Infantry, serving until the close of hostilities. After the close of the war, he returned home and was engaged in farming. He pur- chased eighteen acres of the old homestead, which he farmed for two years and then sold. For a few years he then rented farms throughout the township, finally going to the farm of an uncle and aunt, where he remained for some time.
In 1869 Enoch Headley was united in marriage with Clarissa Helms, daughter of Alfred and Eliza (Jones) Helms, of Clay township, Dearborn county. To this union were born five children, Lora Ellen, Maggie May, Ada C., Melvin Eldo and Etta. The death of Mrs. Headley in 1884 left him with this young and growing family, the youngest child being but four weeks of age. These all, however, have grown to maturity and have taken their places in the world. Lora Ellen is the wife of William Ent, of Ripley county. and the mother of a son and daughter, Harold and Margaret Beatrice. Maggie May married Frederick Billinghearst and is the mother of seven chil- dren, Daniel, Fred, Melvin, Elmer, Frank, Dorothy and one deceased. Ada C. became the wife of Gus Cline, of Cincinnati, and has one child, John. Mel- vin married Anna Dearing and is the father of five children, Thelma May (deceased), Alma May, Viola, Melvin Eldo, Jr., and Thelma Ruth. Etta became the wife of William Schillinger and resides in Peoria, Illinois. In 1898 Enoch Headley married, secondly, Ida B. (Gloyd) Gilman, widow of F. Gilman. Mr. and Mrs. Headley are the parents of a daughter, Edna, who is now attending school.
In 1900 Mr. Headley took the United States mail route between Cross Plains and Dillsboro, carrying it for eight months, when he gave it up to go on a fifty-four acre farm which he had purchased. That, however, he re- tained but a short time when he sold it and moved to his wife's farm in Cæsar Creek township. In 1907 he purchased a farm of forty acres near Farmers Retreat, which he cleared and farmed for seven years and then sold it, pur- chasing property in Dillsboro, where he has since resided.
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Mr. Headley is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. He holds his fraternal affiliation with the Knights of Pythias and Post No. 189, Grand Army of the Republic, at Dillsboro. In politics he is a Republican and has served his party as road supervisor for two years. Throughout the years of his life in this section, Mr. Headley has always retained the confidence and good will of his large circle of friends.
WILLIAM SHUTER.
No class of citizenship in America is more solid or substantial than that to which the subject of this sketch belongs. Those who, by their own efforts, have built up for themselves and their families, a successful, remunerative business, form the bone and and sinew of our communities, and are deserving of admiration and appreciation. William Shuter, of Hogan township, Dear- born county, has achieved success as a farmer and has established a good repu- tation in this community.
William Shuter was. born on February 5, 1841, in Manchester township, this county, and is a son of Henry and Sophia ( Poos) Shuter. After his marriage, William Shuter followed farming on a rented place in Hogan town- ship, and five years later, in 1869, bought a tract of one hundred and forty acres in the northwest part of Hogan township, where he has since made his home. He has since added to his possessions by the purchase of the Huffman farm on the Aurora and Moores Hill pike, and again bought a farm of twenty-five acres, now owning, in all, two hundred and fifty-five acres, in addition to which he at one time owned the old home place of one hundred and forty-seven acres, which he deeded to his son, Oliver. Mr. Shuter has improved his place with valuable buildings, including a substantial, at- tractive house, good barn and other outbuildings, and now has one of the most prosperous-looking homes in the township. His attention has been di- vided between general farming and stock raising. Mr. Shuter is a member of the Baptist church. He had held some of the township offices, among them being that of township trustee, in which capacity he served over five years, beginning about 1900.
Henry Shuter, father of William Shuter, was born in Hanover, Ger- many, January 26, 1812, and was a son of Frederick and Mary Shuter. He came to America in his youth with his parents, who settled in Jackson town- ship, Dearborn county, in 1834. As a young man, Henry Shuter employed
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his time on a farm, although his first employment in America was that of a hod-carrier, at Cincinnati, Ohio, after which he began farming for himself in Manchester township, where he became the owner of several valuable farms, owning about three hundred acres, and was also the owner of several good farms in Illinois. He was a life-long farmer, and started at the bottom of the ladder and, unaided, earned all he possessed. At the beginning his only as- sets were thrift, economy and good management. Henry Shuter was a Democrat until 1852, and in 1856 began voting for the Republican party.
On January 14, 1840, Henry Shuter was united in marriage with Sophia Poos, daughter of Henry and Christina Poos, who was born on June 7, 1818, in Meslingen, Prussia. Henry and Sophia (Poos) Shuter were the parents of seven children, two of whom died in Germany: Arminda, who became the wife of John Rumsey and resided in Manchester township until her death; William, of Hogan township; Henry, who is living in the northern part of Cen- ter township; Hannah became the wife of Holman Canfield, who is now deceased, and resides in Sparta township with her children; Eliza is the wife of George Ragsdale, and lives in Manchester township.
The paternal grandparents were Frederick and Mary Shuter, natives of Hanover, Germany. and were the parents of two children, Henry and Fred- erick. After the death of his wife, Frederick Shuter was married, secondly to Margaret Imhoff, and came to America with his family, landing at Baltimore in 1830, coming in 1832 to Cincinnati, and in 1834 settled in Jackson town- ship, Dearborn county, Indiana, where they spent the remainder of their lives. This last union was blessed with two children, William and Sophia. Mr. Shuter was killed by a fall from a load of wheat. He and his wife were earnest members of the Lutheran church.
The maternal grandparents were Henry and Christina Poos, natives of Prussia, who immigrated to America and settled in Ripley county, Indiana, where they spent the remainder of their lives. They were the parents of eight children, two of which died in Germany. the only ones whose names are known being Frederick, Henry, Sophia and Hannah.
William Shuter was united in marriage in 1864. with Amanda Canfield, daughter of Cyrus and Mary (Richardson) Canfield. Amanda Canfield was born in Manchester township. Dearborn county. She was a member of the Methodist church. Mrs. Amanda (Canfield) Shuter died on March 24, 1911, leaving surviving her husband and six children, namely: Oliver P., who mar- ried Emma Weseman, and resides in Manchester township on the old home farm, and has three children. Raymond, Leslie and Oliver Ellsworth; Edith, who is the wife of William Abdon, and lives on the Huffman farm, has three
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children, Myrtle, Clyde and Earl; John lives near Wilmington, on the Moores Hill and Aurora pike, is married to Lydia Claus, and has one son, Eldridge; Flora E. became the wife of Martin J. Weis, and lives on a farm south of her father's home and is the mother of two children, Willard and Edward; Will- iam H. lives at Westwood, near Cincinnati, Ohio, where he is engaged in truck farming, he is married to Kate Reivers; Harry Raymond, who has charge of the home farm, was married to Edna P. Kimball, and they have two children, Louisa and Harriett.
Cyrus and Mary ( Richardson) Canfield, parents of Mrs. William Shuter, spent a great deal of their lives in Hogan township. Mr. Canfield spent the most of his life in the stone house, where his son, Marion Canfield, now lives. Two rooms of this old house were built probably one hundred or more years ago. There is a large fireplace, where they used to roll in big back-logs, too large to carry. The old house is still strong and durable. Mary (Richardson) Canfield was born in New York, about 1817, and was a daughter of Alfred Richardson and his wife. She was a little child when her parents moved to Hogan township.
An ancestral record of the Canfield family, going back many centuries, is given on another page in this history.
Mr. Shuter has, through his great force of character and determination, won many loyal friends in Hogan township.
HORACE G. SQUIBB.
Among the well-known business men of Lawrenceburg, Indiana, is the subject of this biographical sketch, who is a native of this county and member of a family which is well represented hereabout.
Horace G. Squibb is a son of William P. and Mary Frances ( Plummer) Squibb, and was born on August 25, 1880, at Aurora, Indiana, but moved from that little city, when but eight years of age, and settled in Lawrenceburg, where he has since resided. Here he secured his education at the public schools. At the age of fifteen, he was employed in his father's distillery, in which he eventually became a partner, and is now conducting the business in connection with his brothers, Robert, George and Nathaniel, and his cousin, Louis Foulk, under the firm name of W. P. Squibb & Company. Mr. Squibb is very domes- tic in his habits, and thoroughly enjoys his home and family. When not en- gaged at his distillery, he is generally to be found at his home, which he con-
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siders the best place on earth. In the distillery. he is superintendent of the cattle department. and is a fine judge of cattle, having had an extended ex- perience in this line.
For a fuller history of William P. and Mary Frances ( Plummer) Squibb, the reader is referred to the sketch of George L. P. Squibb. presented elsewhere in this volume.
Horace G. Squibb was united in marriage on October 21. 1908. with Edna Mae Weist. daughter of William D. and Lillian ( Geisert ) Weist, to which union has been born one son. Howard David Squibb. Mrs. Squibb was born at Mount Auburn. Cincinnati, Ohio.
William D. Weist, father of Mrs. Squibb, was born and reared in the state of New York, coming to Cincinnati when a young man, where he learned the tailor's trade, which he followed all his life. To William D. and Lillian (Geisert ) Weist have been born three children. Lillian Viola. William D .. Jr. and Edna.
The maternal grandfather of Mrs. Squibb was William Geisert. whose wife was Mary Geisert. natives of Germany. They came to America and settled in Dearborn county about the time of the Civil War, and both died here at an advanced age. Their children were Anna. Albert. Edward. Flora. Lillian and Amelia.
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