History of Dearborn County, Indiana : her people, industries and institutions, Part 99

Author: Archibald Shaw
Publication date: 1915
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 1123

USA > Indiana > Dearborn County > History of Dearborn County, Indiana : her people, industries and institutions > Part 99

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For fifteen years, from 1878 to 1893, Major Larimer was the editor and publisher of the Lawrenceburg Press. One of the best-known editors in Indiana said of him, "He entered the profession with a modest sentence and ended with a 'stick-full,' but in that time he had become the best political counsellor in southeastern Indiana." While editor of the Press he did two things that were worth while. By a sincere and respectful appeal through many months to the Democracy of the county he induced them to break up a regular system of robbery of the people by county officers through illegal fees. He also gave Lawrenceburg the first idea it ever had that it could get a government appropriation for a levee against floods. He studied the question deeply in all the books he could find in order to be of service to the town, hoping to make it a secure and good place to come to.

On August 15, 1865, James Elmer Larimer was married to Rhoda

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Amelia Ward, daughter of 'William S. and Sarah (Doyle) Ward. One daughter, Laura, who was graduated from the Lawrenceburg high school and who took two terms at Indiana University, at Bloomington, was born to this marriage. She married Benjamin R. Smith and lives in Park Ridge, Illinois. They have four children, Sara Mildred, Jessamine, Larimer and Mary.

Mrs. Larimer's father, William S. Ward, was one of the best-loved men in that community. He and her mother (who was born in Poughkeepsie, New York) were married in New Jersey, and came to Yorkville, Dearborn county, Indiana, in 1816. Both died in Dearborn county, the father in 1858, and the mother in 1908, at the age of ninety-eight years. They were the parents of eleven children, Isaac, William, Charles, Richard, George, Jane, Sarah, Caroline, Mary, Adelaide and Rhoda. Mrs. Larimer was born at Yorkville, Indiana, in 1843. She was assistant editor of the Press and there developed an attractive and successful literary capacity.

Major Larimer is a Republican. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias and the Grand Army of the Republic. For many years he has been a director of the Ohio Valley Coffin Company, which he helped to organize.

As one of the older residents of Lawrenceburg and Dearborn county, Major Larimer is especially well known in this section of the state, a man of splendid bearing and of happy, genial disposition. His favorite sport is baseball. His church-all of them. His Bible-"The Book" and Emerson. His reading-everything, but preferably scientific. His friends-every good man or woman. His hopes-the best of what he has been. His hates-a human skunk or fox. His pride-that he has lived through seventy-five years of more valuable achievement by man than all the race had previously accomplished.

JOHN THEOBALD.

A Civil War veteran, township assessor for a period of seventeen years, elected to the office of squire and constable, the subject of the present sketch is worthy of more than passing mention, and his family relationships are so extensive as to make him a man of wide acquaintance and influence. He was born in New Alsace, Kelso township, Dearborn county, September 22, 1842, and is the son of Mathias Theobald and Magdalena (Keichler) Theobald.

Mathias Theobald was born in Rheinum, Alsace, France, in 1800, living

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there until his thirty-sixth year, when he came to America', going directly from New York to Cincinnati. Buying forty-three acres one and one-half miles northeast of New Alsace, he resided there for twelve years, and then moved to Oldenburg on a farm of eighty acres. In 1852 he purchased a farm of eighty acres near Lawrenceville, Jackson township, later adding to this forty acres, so that at the time of his death in 1880, he owned in all two hundred and forty-three acres. He died in Jackson township. During his residence in Germany he was a soldier in the Bavarian army, serving for six years. All of his life he took an interest in public affairs. He was a mem- ber of the Catholic church at St. Peters, New Alsace and Oldenburg, and voted the Democratic ticket.

Magdalena, wife of Mathias Theobald, and mother of the subject of this sketch, was born in Bavaria, and lived there until 1836, when she came to this country with her husband. She was the daughter of Lenard and Katherine Keichler, both of whom were born in Bavaria, Germany, and came to the United States in 1836. The former was a tailor. Both lived to be ninety-one years of age. Mathias and Magdalena Theobald were the par- ents of the following children : Christian, Joseph, Elizabeth, Peter, Jacob, John and George. Christian, a farmer of New Alsace, married Catherine Red, and their two children are Jacob and John. Joseph married Frances Plumb, of Cincinnati, and they live on their farm of eighty acres in Spencer county, Ohio.

Elizabeth is the wife of Jacob Kurtz, a farmer living in Oldenburg. Their children are John, Maggie, Elizabeth, Mary, Lena, Emma, Josephine (who died at the age of eighteen). Christina (who died while young), Joseph, Nicholas and Adam. Elizabeth is Mrs. Jacob Brown Theobald, her husband being a farmer in New Alsace, his farm lands consisting of eighty acres. They have twelve children. Jacob married Agnes Schneider, and with their six children they live on the Theobald homestead in Jackson township. Their children are Elizabeth, John, Mary, Nicholas, Anthony and Martha. George became the husband of Elizabeth Schneider, and their home was in Cincinnati. The children born to this couple are George (deceased), Elizabeth, Rosa, Florence, John, Adam and Peter. After the death of his first wife, George married Rosena Keichler, of Cincinnati. Their only child is a daughter named Mary.

John Theobald received his education in the Jackson county schools, and lived at home, assisting his father on the farm until his marriage. When he was needed to defend his country, he was among the first to enlist. He was

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nineteen years old when the Civil War broke out, and enlisted in. Indianapolis on December 15, 1861. On January 28, 1862, he was mustered into Company B, Fifty-second Regiment, Indiana Volunteer Infantry, under Captain Strick- land and Col. J. M. Smith. So efficient was his service that he was pro- moted to the rank of corporal in 1863. He was discharged on February 26, 1864, at Canton, Mississippi, to rank as corporal, was re-instated, and finally discharged on September 10, 1865, at Montgomery, Alabama. John Theo- bald was noted for his bravery and took part in the following engagements : Ft. Donelson, February 14, 1862; Siege of Corinth, April 30, 1862; Der- kansville, Tennessee, September .17. He was then placed on garrison duty at Ft. Pillow, Tennessee, until January 18, 1864; took part in the raid on Meridian, Mississippi, in February, 1864; was stationed at Ft. Remsey, Pleasant Hill, Franklin, October 1; Ft. Scott, October 22; Nashville, on December 15 and 16; took part in the capture of Mobile, Alabama, on March 28, including Ft. Blakeley and Spanish Fort; remaining in Alabama until mustered out. At Montgomery and at Opalaca, Companies G and B were consolidated.

At the close of the war, John Theobald returned to his father's farm, and in 1867, was married to Elizabeth Henegan, who was born in Ripley county, Indiana. Moving to the old homestead, Mr. and Mrs. Theobald lived there until the latter's death on March 31, 1870. Their daughters are Elizabeth and Katherine. On November 22 of the same year, Mr. Theo- bald married for his second wife, Rosa Ensprucker, daughter of Michael and Monica (Cachmeier) Ensprucker, natives of Germany.

Six years later, John Theobald removed his family to Lawrenceville, where he opened a shoemaking shop, which he operated for the next fifteen years. In 1891, however, he decided to return to agricultural activities, and purchasing eighty acres in Jackson township, all timber land, he settled down there for permanent residence.

Mrs. Rosa (Ensprucker) Theobald belongs to a very large family. Im- mediately after their marriage, in 1848, her parents left their native Germany to seek a new home in the United States. They lived for ten years in Cin- cinnati, then moved to Franklin county, in 1853. taking up their new life on a farm of forty acres. Here they lived until the death of Michael Ens- prucker in 1899. when he was seventy-nine years of age. Mrs. Ensprucker passed away in 1897. at the age of seventy-five. Their children were as fol- low : John, Michael, Barbara, Rosa, Martin, Peter, George (deceased).

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Joseph (deceased), Susanna and Mary. John married Lotta Armstrong, of Indianapolis, and the couple made their home in Connersville. The children born to them are Sallie, Martin, William, Joseph, Grover and Bertha. Michael is the husband of Caroline Armstrong and they and their two children, George and Edith, are living on the homestead in Franklin county. Barbara is Mrs. Frank Hinegan, also living on the homestead place. Martin, who lives in Burlington, Ohio, is the husband of Mary Follie, their home being on a farm. They have a large family of children. Peter, a shoemaker liv- ing in Connersville, is married to Elizabeth Biddinger. Susanna is Mrs. Frank Fred, of Hamilton, Ohio, and their children are Katherine, Rosa, Phil- lip, George D., and Earl. Mary married Henry Steiger, a moulder, of Detroit, Michigan, and they have a large family.

Rosa (Ensprucker) Theobald, who was born on February 10, 1853, at Cincinnati, Ohio, lived with her parents until her marriage. She is the mother of fifteen children, these being Mary, Frank J., Rosa, Peter C., Magdelena, Emma A., Susie A., John G., Joseph P., Andy J., Jacob WV., Charlie H., Elnora Bertha, who died on April 10, 1915, and John Edward and Rosena, who died in infancy. Mary married Henry Henkel, of Hamilton, Ohio. Two of their children, Harry and Walter, are dead. The living are Edgar and Harvey. Rosa became the wife of Jacob Steinhauser, of Cin- cinnati, he being a grocer. Their children are John and Frank. Peter C. married Clara Smith, and the couple is living in Indianapolis, where Mr. Theobald is engaged in the grocery business. Their children are Charles, Clarence and Robert. Magdalena is Mrs. Otto Wissel, of Batesville, Indiana. Their children are Hilda, Alvin, Leo and. Agnes. Emma A. married Martin Ward, a grocer of Indianapolis, and their children are Helen and Roy. A general store of Lawrenceville is owned and managed by Harry Haff, who is the husband of Susie A. Their three children are named Ohrim, Ruth and Roy. John G. is married to Clara Frencemeier and is a farmer of Greens- burg, their children being Edward and Arthur. Joseph P. married Mary Fitzgerald and their home is on a farm in Helmuth, Indiana. They have an only son, named Joseph, Jr. Andy married Mary Smith. Their home is on a farm near Milton, Indiana. Their children are Thalma and Lawrence. Lizzie married a carpenter named George Bucker, of Cincinnati. Katherine also married a carpenter of Cincinnati, his name being Frank Harpering. Their six children are Daniel, Maria, George, Katherine, Frank and Rosella.

John Theobald, the subject of this sketch, is a Democrat, and his prom- inence in his party is indicated by the fact that he was for seventeen years (63)

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assessor of Jackson township, having been elected in 1878. Although elected squire and constable, Mr. Theobald never qualified and so did not serve. He is a prominent member of the St. Peter's Catholic church, and in the church as in the community, is a man of importance.

EDWARD BARKER.

Edward Barker was born on August 25. 1853, in Kelso township, and is the third child of Robert and Susan (Dunn) Barker. He was educated at Kelso, where he grew to manhood, and has since resided. At the age of eighteen he learned the wagon-maker's trade, which he followed for ten years, when he made up his mind to try farming, and accordingly purchased a forty-acre tract in Kelso, to which he later added eighteen acres, making fifty-eight acres in all, which he still cultivates. Mr. Baker has always given his support to the Democratic party, and has taken great interest in all questions concerning the general benefit of the citizens of his county. As an evidence of his popularity he was elected, in 1891, to the office of township trustee, serving four years, and in 1908 he was elected by a large majority to the office of county commissioner, which called for a six-year term, which ends in 1915. Mr. Barker is a member of St. John's church. at Kelso, to which he is a liberal contributor of his worldy goods.

Robert Barker, father of Edward Barker, was born in England, in 1823, and while still a small lad came with his mother to the United States, his- father having died in his native land. His mother settled in Kelso township. where she was finally laid to rest. Robert was given as good an education as the schools of those times afforded, and after being left alone at the death of his mother, he bought sixty-four acres of land, which he cultivated until the war of 1861, when he was drafted and served four months, during which time he was taken ill and died at the age of thirty-eight years. He gave his support to the Democratic party, and contributed liberally to the Catholic church, of which he was a loyal member. His wife, Susan J. (Dunn) Barker, was a native of Kelso township, and was born in 1837. She moved to Kansas during the latter part of her life, and died there. To this union were born four children, Mary Elizabeth, Edward, Emma and John. Mary Elizabeth became the wife of Joe McCain, and lives in Cin- cinnati. They have one child, Florence. Emma is married to Charles Den-

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nison, who also lives in Cincinnati. To this union have been born three children, Grace, Arthur and Florence.

Edward Barker was married to Julia Lally, daughter of Anthony and Mary (Lyness) Lally, natives of Ireland. Mrs. Barker was born on October 18, 1857, at Florence, Boone county, Kentucky, and remained at the home of her parents until her marriage, which took place February 5, 1880. To Mr. and Mrs. Barker were born nine children, as follow: Mary, Robert, Florence, William, Charles, Susan, Anna, George and one who died in infancy.

Mary Barker became the wife of Elmer Grogan, who is following the carpenter's trade at Cincinnati. They have three children. Harry, Edith and Ada. Robert Barker was united in marriage with Bridget Reilly, and moved to Portsmouth, Ohio, where his wife died in a short time. He was again married, and is now in the insurance business at Washington C. H., Ohio. By his first wife, he had one child, Edward, and one by his second wife, Margary. Charles Barker was married to Naomi Schilling, who was a school teacher at Greendale, Indiana.

Edward Barker has lived a clean, wholesome life, and is in every way worthy of being esteemed as one of the representative men of his township.

ALBERT HENRY KAMMEYER.

With the advantage of the rural delivery. which Uncle Sam has so generously provided, no man is so independent as the farmer, and none so much to be envied, for he can snap his fingers in the face of hard times. The modern farmer has advantages of which his pioneer ancestors never dreamed. In addition to the many useful improvements in farm machinery, after his day's work is finished, he is enabled to keep in touch with the news of the world through the daily paper, which is brought to his door. the same as it is to that of his city cousin.

Albert Henry Kammeyer, farmer, son of Cortson and Adeline (Barg- man) Kammeyer, was born on December 1, 1860, in Miller township, Dear- born county, Indiana. His parents were natives of Germany, near Hanover, and came to America when quite young, settling in Manchester township. His father followed the occupation of a farmer all his life, and at the time of his death owned a farm of one hundred and thirty acres. Mrs. Adeline

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Kammeyer died in August, 1914. They were the parents of nine children, namely : Mrs. Anna Wilson (deceased), Mrs. Alice Schwitzer, Albert Henry, Mrs. Margaret Schlater, Mrs. Mary Hillman, William, Charley, Mrs. Jo- sephine Kasens and James.

Albert Henry Kammeyer received his education at the public and German schools of Dearborn county, where he has lived all his life. He is a member of the Lutheran church, and in politics is a Democrat.

On April 10, 1890, Albert Henry Kammeyer was married to Anna Dorothy Hiller, by whom he has had the following children: Lydia, William, Alma, Anna, Otto, Sophia, Amelia, Albert, Viola, Lucille and Josephine, who died when four years old. Mr. Kammeyer lives on his own farm of eighty acres, located in Lawrenceburg township, about four miles west of Law- renceburg.

Mr. Kammeyer's grandfather came from Germany when middle-aged, and resided in Dearborn and Ripley counties until the time of his death, which occurred about 1882. His grandmother died in 1886.

Mr. Kammeyer's wife is a daughter of John Henry Hiller and Mar- guerite (Moorsehlodt) Hiller. She was born on December 16, 1866, in Lawrenceburg township, where she attended the German schools. Her parents were natives of Germany, and on their arrival in America settled in Dear- born township, Indiana. Her father died about 1894, and her mother still lives on the home place. Two unmarried brothers live with her. There were seven children in this family, as follow: Mrs. Anna Kammeyer, Mrs. Mar- guerite Bode, Mrs. Sophie Oelker, Henry, John, William and Louis.

DAVID E. JOHNSTON, M. D.

David E. Johnston was born on January 27, 1873, at Indianapolis, In- diana, and is a son of James and Mary (Russell) Johnston. His early edu- cation was obtained at Indianapolis and the public schools of Dearborn county and he later attended Moores Hill College. In 1900 he was graduated from The medical college of Indiana, now a part of the Indiana University. After graduation he served as house physician and surgeon in the Deaconess Hos- pital, at Indianapolis, for one year, and after practicing for one year in Indianapolis he came to Moores Hill, where he has established himself in a good-paying practice. Doctor Johnston is a Democrat, to which party he

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has always given his enthusiastic support, being elected in 1910 as coroner of the county, and re-elected in 1912, and again in 1914. He was president of the school board of Moores Hill for six years. Doctor Johnston belongs to the Masonic Order, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and Independent Order of Foresters. He is a member of the Dearborn County, the Indiana State, and American Medical Associations, a member of the Fourth Councillor District Medical Association, of which he is president, and also a member of the Baltimore & Ohio Association of Railway Surgeons. He is a member of the Baptist church.

James Johnston, father of David E., was born on June 10, 1831, near Johnston Mill, on Hogan Creek, and was educated in Dearborn county. After school he worked on the home place, and operated the old mill which belonged to the family. When about thirty years of age, he went to Indiana- polis, where he engaged in the real estate business, in connection with the erection of houses, etc., which he followed up to the last three years of his life, when he was stricken with apoplexy. He was a Democrat, and held some of the township offices, among them being that of justice of the peace for a period of seven years. His parents were George and Catherine (Karney) Johnston. His death occurred on August 26, 1902. Mary (Russell) John- ston, his wife, was born on Little Hogan creek, Manchester township. Dear- born county. October 28, 1844. She was a daughter of James Allan and Elizabeth (Barclay)' Russell. James Allan Russell was born in County An- trim, Ireland, and died on March 15, 1885. Elizabeth Russell was born in County Antrim, Ireland, May 15, 1815, and died on November 22, 1902.

To James and Mary (Russell) Johnston were born four children, Nor- man, Allen, Elizabeth and David. Mrs. Mary Johnston died on November 25, 1879. at Indianapolis. Indiana.

George and Catherine (Karney) Johnston were the paternal grandpar- ents. The former was born on May 2.3 1790, and lived in Winchester, Vir- ginia. the most of his life, and then moved to Indiana, where he followed farming. Mr. Johnston built Johnston's Mill on Hogan creek, and lived there until his death. December 31, 1861, quite an old man. Catherine (Karney) Johnston, his wife. was born at Lexington, Kentucky. in 1800, and died on February 22. 1879. aged eighty years. This union was blessed with seven children, Henry, Nora, Lucy. George, Joseph, William and James.

Dr. David E. Johnston was united in marriage on March 26. 1908, with Clara B. Bigney. daughter of Lemuel and Sara (Van Doren) Bigney. She

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was born on October 6, 1867, at Moores Hill. Her education was obtained at Moores Hill, graduating from Moores Hill College.

Lemuel Bigney, father of Mrs. Johnston, was born in Nova Scotia, on February 22, 1826, and died on September 11, 1900. His wife was a native of New Jersey, born in Summerset county, November 13, 1831, and died on July 5, 1903. They were residents of Dearborn county, Indiana.

Doctor Johnston has won the confidence and respect of the entire com- munity in which he resides, and the large practice which he has built up speaks well for the high efficiency of his skill.

JOHN F. DITTMER.

John F. Dittmer, of Manchester township, is a native of Germany, where he was born on August 4, 1849, a son of Claus and Margaret Dittmer. He was educated in his native land, and after leaving school helped his father on the farm until he grew to young manhood. Hearing of the wonderful advantages in America, he was filled with a desire to have a share in these benefits, and at the age of eighteen he sailed for the new country, arriving at New York City, where he was employed several weeks, thus giving him time to select a permanent location. He immigrated soon after to Ripley county, engaging his services on a farm, where he remained three years, and then rented various tracts of land in Ripley and Dearborn. Tiring of paying so much of his hard-earned money to others for such a purpose, he determined upon investing his savings in a tract of land in Manchester township. consist- ing of one hundred and forty acres. His first payment on this property was a substantial amount in cash, after which he made payments as he earned the money. After this farm was paid for it was not long before he was in a posi- tion to purchase one hundred and fifty-six acres more, adjoining his own place. making in all. two hundred and ninety-six acres, all of which he con- tinued to cultivate for many years. A few years since Mr. Dittmer decided to retire from an active farm life, and rented his home place to his son, moving to Aurora, where he resided five years, and then made arrangements to return and take charge of the farm, retaining at the same time his residence in Aurora. Mr. Dittmer is a strong believer in Democratic principles, and in religion he is a faithful attendant of the Lutheran church.

Claus and Margaret Dittmer, parents of our subject, were natives of

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Germany. Margaret Dittmer died in Germany but Claus Dittmer came to this country and stayed with his son John, where he died in his eighty-second year.

John F. Dittmer was married, March 24, 1872, to Minnie Kreitlein, in Ripley county. She was born in Dearborn county, near Tanners creek, and is a daughter of Frederick and Mary Kreitlein. Mrs. Dittmer was reared and educated in Dearborn county, remaining at home until the time of her marriage. To this couple were born eleven children, namely : Fred, Maggie. Anna, Barbara, Carrie, Henry, John, Dora, Ida, and two who died in infancy.

Fred Dittmer married Myrtle Jackson, and is now a prosperous farmer of Manchester township, where he is one of its substantial citizens. Mr. and Mrs. Dittmer are the parents of six children, Guy, Rosie, Helen, Edward, William and Hazel. Maggie is now Mrs. John Rhinstidt, and resides on a farm in Ripley county. They have five children, Harvey, John, Frank, Rachel and Josephine. Anna became the wife of Eugene House, a farmer in Hogan township, and has seven children, Charles, George, Alma, Frank, Dor- othy, Elmer and Norma. Carrie was united in marriage with Isaac Peasley, and lives on a farm in Manchester township. They have no children. Henry is married, and is cultivating a farm near Jeffersonville, Indiana. His wife was Rena Dorman, daughter of John and Jane Dorman. John was married to Emma Dorman, and is farming in Hogan township. They have had two children, Marie and Avery. Dora was united in marriage to George F. Kaiser. They live on one of her father's farms. They have no children. Ida lives at home.

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History of Dearborn County, Indiana : her people, industries and institutions, Part 99

Author: Archibald Shaw Publication date: 1915 Publisher: Number of Pages: 1123

Author: Archibald Shaw
Publication date: 1915
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 1123