History of Franklin County, Indiana : her people, industries and institutions, Part 116

Author: Reifel, August J
Publication date: 1915
Publisher: Indianapolis, Ind. : B.F. Bowen
Number of Pages: 1648

USA > Indiana > Franklin County > History of Franklin County, Indiana : her people, industries and institutions > Part 116

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James Clinton Harley was born on the old homestead in Laurel town- ship, June 25, 1824, the son of John C. and Jane (Lewis) Harley, the former a native of Virginia, born February 7, 1787, and the latter a native of Ten- nessee, born December 27, 1790.

John C. Harley was a teacher in the early days and came to Laurel town- ship, Franklin county, entering land in IS13, for which he received a patent in 1818. The tract comprised one hundred and sixty acres. Here he died March 5, 1846, and his wife died January 29, 1846. She was the daughter of David and Mary (Hawkins) Lewis, the latter being a sister of David Crockett's mother. In politics John C. Harley was a Whig. He was mar- ried in 1813, and he and his wife were the parents of nine children: Mrs. Mary Colter, David Lewis, Mrs. Sarah Secrist, Joseph Hagar, Mrs. Rebecca Barber, James Clinton, Mrs. Nancy Jane Hoffman, Elizabeth and Eliza Ellen.

James Clinton Harley, the subject of this sketch, was born and reared and died on the old homestead, which all his life was his home. He was educated in the public schools and was a farmer throughout his life, owning the old homestead of one hundred and sixty acres.

Mr. Harley was married September 12, 1852, to Mary Hoffman, born in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, February 12, 1833, the daughter of Daniel and Sarah (George) Hoffman, whose history is given elsewhere in this work. To Mr. and Mrs. Harley the following children were born: John Daniel, Clara Viola, Henrietta, Ellen, George Spencer, David Lewis, Sarah Jane,

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Edgar Wilson, Emma Louisa (known to her friends as "Daisy") and Cora Gertrude.

John Daniel Harley was born on the old homestead, December 27, 1853, and was educated in the public schools and at Ladoga Normal school. He taught school for seventeen years and later, for about seven years, engaged in farming in Franklin county, later going to Delaware county, Indiana, where he farmed about three years. He finally went to Wells county, Indiana, where he is now engaged in farming and where he has resided for the past six years. He was reared as a Democrat, but for the past twelve years has been a Prohibitionist. He is a member of the Free Methodist church. He was married April 26, 1885, to Missouri Baker, who was born November 16, 1865, in Franklin county, Indiana, the daughter of Oliver and Catherine (Brown) Baker, whose family is mentioned elsewhere in this volume. To this union two children have been born and one child has been adopted : Amory Dean, who married William L. Thompson and has two children, Lo- gan and Nellie; Charles Deverne, who married Ethel Merkey and has one child, Elizabeth; and Ellis Leonard Thorne, the adopted son, who is still at home.

The second child of Mr. and Mrs. James C. Harley, Clara Viola, was born April 13, 1856, and is the widow of the late Joseph Davis, of Zion City, Illinois, to whom were born ten children: Harry Clinton, Rollie James, Mary Ella, Clara Viola, Emma Gertrude, Joseph O'Donal, George, Russell, Charles and Ernest, of whom Joseph O., George and Russell are now deceased. The father of these children died September 4, 1910.

Henrietta, the third child, was born March 6, 1858, and is the wife of Charles Dawdy. They have had three children : Oscar, Mary (deceased) and Dora. The fourth child of Mr. and Mrs. Harley, Ellen, was born Septem- ber 6, 1860, and is the wife of Gideon Parker, to which union one child was born, Wilma Marie, who is now deceased. George Spencer, the fifth child, was born December 23, 1862, and is unmarried. David Lewis was born May 9, 1865, and died March 24, 1889. Sarah Jane, born April 25, 1868, is the wife of Frank Lockwood, a sketch of whose career is given elsewhere in this work. Edgar Wilson, born January 15, 1871, married Elizabeth Parker and has one son, Clyde. Daisy, the ninth child, was born August 3, 1873, and is the wife of Phon Lockwood, who was born in Laurel township, Frank- lin county, April 9. 1871, the son of Samuel and Margaret (Young) Lock- wood. Samuel Lockwood was a son of Isaac Lockwood, mentioned else- where in the biographical section of this work. Phon Lockwood and wife have five children: Glenn, Gladys, Howard, Clifford and Carl. Cora Ger- trude, the youngest child of Mr. and Mrs. James C. Harley, was born June II,

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1879, and is the wife of Walter Sherwood, a farmer near Laurel. They have six children : Harley, Raymond, Esther, Ruth, Kenneth and Mary Myrtle.

James Clinton Harley was a Whig until the organization of the Repub- lican party, with which he became identified and voted for Abraham Lincoln. He was a Republican until 1872, after which he gave his support to the Demo- cratic party. He was a man who loved his family and was devoted to their interest. He made sacrifices willingly for them and when he died, February 10, 19.15, at the ripe old age of over ninety years, no man occupied a higher place in the esteem of the community than he. His memory will be kept alive by the loving children and grandchildren he left behind, as well as by the community at large, in which he was such an influential factor during his long and useful life. Mrs. Harley is still living on the old homestead. . She and Mr. Harley had been married more than sixty years when death severed the close bond whichi so long had held them in loving union.

THEODORE FERKINGHOFF.

The German immigrants who came to this country, many of whom located in Franklin county, Indiana, were, in the main, sturdy and well edu- cated and many of them were skilled artisans. Therefore, it was expected that their posterity would be of high quality and that this expectation was not unfounded is now being proved.

One of these immigrants was Theodore Ferkinghoff, Sr., the father of the man whose name stands at the head of this biographical sketch. In 1843 Theodore Ferkinghoff and his wife, who was Catharine Koenig, came to America with their family and located in Cincinnati, where they remained two years and then came to Franklin county. Although he was a shoe-maker by trade, Theodore Ferkinghoff took up farming in America and acquired one hundred and sixty acres of land near Peppertown, Franklin county. He was a member of the Catholic church at Oldenburg. He and his wife were the parents of six children, of whom Theodore, Jr., was about ten years old when he came to America with his parents, leaving Cincinnati for Franklin county with his parents when he was twelve years of age. In this county he became a farmer and acquired one hundred and twenty acres in Butler township, which his son, Henry, now owns, and where he died in 1913, his wife having preceded him to the grave several years, her death occurring in 1909.

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Theodore Ferkinghoff married Josephine Fasbinder, whose father was William Fasbinder, who came to America from Germany and went to farm- ing. Eight children were born to Theodore Ferkinghoff and his wife, as follow: Caroline, Elizabeth, deceased, Mary, John, Henry, Anna, Anna Josephine and Theresa. Of these children Caroline teaches school in St. Louis, Missouri. Elizabeth, who is now dead, was married to Henry Brach- mann, the two having one child, William. Mary is living in Cincinnati, the wife of Charles Westerkam, and has two children, Charles and Oscar. John married twice, first to Bernadine Fisher, three children being born to this union, Edward, William and Theresa; the second wife being Lena Riede- man, to which second union were born six children, Eulalia, Martha, Jeneve, Ralph, Joseph and Flechner. Anna Josephine married E. P. Little and lives in Spokane, Washington. Theresa is now in Kirkwood, Missouri.

Henry Ferkinghoff received the home farm as a legacy upon his father's death. This farm is well kept and is considered one of the best in the neigh- borhood.

DAVID P. MINNEMAN.

A pride that is very human and entirely pardonable comes as a result of success gained by continued effort and the persistent following of definite ambitions and high ideals, which are, after all, the mainsprings of any at- tainment that is worth while. The majority of the old sayings and mottoes prove fallacious upon examination, but the advice, "Hitch your wagon to a star," holds true under the closest analysis.

The constant belief in the above motto has been the cause of David Minnemon's notable success. He was born in Highland township, Franklin county, Indiana, November 9, 1862, on the first farm that his father owned. He is the son of Frederick and Wilhelmina Christina (Beckman) Minne- man, both of who were natives of Germany, the father being born January 22, 1819, and the mother May 23, 1825. She was the eldest sister of Will- iam Beckman, who still resides in the above township. To this union were born twelve children, nine sons and three daughters, of whom David is the youngest.

Frederick Minneman, who was the father of David, upon immigrating to America, located on what is now the Weidenbach farm, very probably clearing the land himself. At that time it contained eighty acres. Starting with eighty acres, with the aid of his sons, he gradually bought more land,

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eventually accumulating four hundred and fifty-four acres. Although a general farmer, he specialized to a certain extent in stock raising. He was a school director and an active member of the Lutheran Evangelical church.

The famous "old stone school house" was the source of Mr. Minneman's education. He began cultivating the soil while still very young, and with the exception of a few winters, has lived the rural life in Franklin county ever since. In 1887 he purchased eighty acres of his father's place, on which he built a barn and two silos, as well as completing the erection of the partly- built house. Ninety acres, purchased of the Hillenbrandt company and another eighty from the home farm has since been added.

In 1888 Mr. Minneman married Elilia Wesling, who became the mother of three children, Alfred, Lula and Omer. Alfred died in infancy. Febru- ary IS, 1897, Mr. Minneman married, secondly, Katharine Zimmer, of Highland township, the daughter of William Zimmer. To this second union were born eight children, Elvina Bertha, Elizabeth Edna, Christian David (died in infancy), Margaret Hannah, Minnie Elizabeth, Sarah Clara, Lydia Matilda and Irvin Henry.

Mr. Minneman stands for the best things in American citizenship, giv- ing his unconditional support to all movements which he perceives are mak- ing for social betterment. He does not scorn to make use of any practical suggestion, his open-mindedness being prominent among his other char- acteristics.

CHARLES W. HAWKINS.

One of the influential citizens of Salt Creek township, Franklin county, Indiana, is Charles W. Hawkins, who is a man of excellent endowment and upright character. He has been a valuable factor in the development of local conditions, and has ever commanded the confidence and esteem of the com- munity which he has so unselfishly helped to build up.

Charles W. Hawkins was born October 10, 1864, in Salt Creek town- ship, Franklin county, Indiana, the son of Alexander and Amassa (Amack) Hawkins, the former the eldest son of Reuben and Mary (Leforge) Hawkins (mentioned elsewhere in this volume in the sketch of David Hawkins), the latter born in Franklin county, the daughter of William and Maria Amack, who came to Franklin county in an early day from New Jersey. Alexander Hawkins was a farmer and stock dealer, and was the owner of eight hundred and forty acres of land. He was a Republican and a member of the Metho-

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dist Episcopal church. He and his wife were the parents of nine children : George, Mary E., Florence, Wilfred, Mary, Charles W., Edwin, Chester and Emery. Alexander Hawkins died in 1897, and his wife died in February, 1893.

Charles W. Hawkins' was reared on the farm and was educated in the public schools, and throughout his life he has been a farmer and stock dealer. He is the owner of two hundred and sixty acres of the old homestead.

Mr. Hawkins was married May 19, 1888, to Flora B. Foster, who was born in Butler township, Franklin county, Indiana, the daughter of S. B. Foster, of Butler township, and to this union five children were born: Cosie ; Flossie, who died in infancy ; Wayne; Corwin, deceased, and Claude.

Charles W. Hawkins is one of the leading farmers and stock dealers in Franklin county. He has a splendid, well improved farm and is one of the most progressive citizens of this section of the state.

Mr. Hawkins is identified with the Progressive party, having become affiliated with this party upon its organization in 1912, always having been a loyal and enthusiastic supporter of Colonel Roosevelt and his policies. Mrs. Hawkins is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.

Not only is Charles W. Hawkins one of the leading farmers and busi- ness men of his home county, but his influence as a private citizen is not surpassed. He takes a worthy interest in all public movements and contrib- utes of his time and money to the support of public enterprises. Mr. and Mrs. Hawkins are highly popular in Franklin county, where they are so well known, and very properly are regarded as among the leaders in the social, moral and civic life of the neighborhood in which they reside.

JOSEPH A. HANNA.

It is probable that no family of Franklin county has taken a more promi- nent part in its history than the Hanna family. Coming to Indiana and lo- cating in what is now Franklin county six years before the county was even created, they have been influential factors in every phase of the county's growth. Their names may be found not only in the annals of Franklin county history, but in the honored list of men who have taken important parts in the life of our states and nation as well.

Joseph A. Hanna is one of the many descendants of the Robert Hanna who located in what is now Fairfield township in 1804. He is the son of John Pinckney and Jane (Burke) Hanna, and is one of nine children born to his parents, the others being: Montana, who married Charles Mosier ;

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Henry C., unmarried; Robert L., whose history is presented elsewhere in this volume; William G., who married Emma Rose; Arthur B., unmarried ; James B., who married Catharine Smalley; Bessie, unmarried; Ethel, who married Henry Sunman.

Joseph A. Hanna has made his home in Brookville for many years, and has followed the occupation of a painter and carpenter since reaching his majority. He is a man of quiet and unassuming manner, interested in every- thing pertaining to the welfare of his town and is held in high esteem by those with whom he is associated.

CHARLES EVANS.

Two score years have elapsed since Charles Evans was born in Brook- ville township, and he has spent all these forty years within the limits of the township. Reared on the farm, he has made farming his life work, and his present well improved farm of ninety-six acres is ample evidence that he has been successful.

Charles Evans, the son of George Washington and Mary (Brate) Evans, was born in Brookville township, January 27, 1875. His father was born in Franklin county, January 31, 1842, and his mother in Butler county, Ohio, August 26, 1850. His parents had three children, the others being Albert and Jennie, Charles being the only one of the three now living. The mother of these children died May 8, 1906.

The paternal grandfather of Charles Evans was Louis G. Evans, who came from Virginia to Franklin county during the early period of the county's settlement. He died in this county May 4, 1874, at the age of fifty-four years. Louis G. Evans married Susan Brumbarger, native of Vevay, Indiana, and an early settler with her parents in Franklin county, where her death occurred at the home of her son, Andrew. Louis G. Evans and wife were the parents of eleven children: William, George W., James, Monroe, Mil- ton, Andrew, Annie, Jane, Malinda, Mary and Rosa.

Charles Evans was educated in the districts schools of Brookville town- ship, and has spent his whole life on the farm where he was born. Farming appealed to him from his earliest boyhood days, and as soon as he was mar- ried he settled down to this time-honored occupation.

Mr. Evans was married April 24, 1903, to Nellie Bossert, and to this union have been born four children: Clifford, born in 1904; Elmer, born in 1906; Ethel, born in 1909, and Carrie, born in 1911. Mrs. Evans was born

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in Metamora township, March 15, 1883, and is a daughter of William and Carrie (Prifogle) Bossert. Her parents were both born in Franklin county, and are now living in Highland township. Mr. Bossert is a Democrat in politics, while the whole family are loyal members of the Lutheran church. The parents of Mrs. Evans have ten children living and one, Olive, deceased. The living children are Nellie, Florence, Irvin, Perry, George, Roy, Harry, Nancy, Vina and Esther.

Mr. Evans gives his allegiance to the Democratic party, but has never cared to aspire to official position, being entirely satisfied to give all of his time and energies to his own private interests. The family are members of the church and interested in everything pertaining to the welfare of the commun- ity in which they reside.

JOSEPH N. CRODDY.

The prosperity of Franklin county, Indiana, is due largely to the untiring struggle and ultimate success of the enterprising farmers who live in the county. These men have taken the wealth from the soil and converted it for the use of all the people. There are no better known farmers in all Franklin county than Joseph N. Croddy, one of the most prominent agriculturists of Posey township. He was born August 6, 1868, a son of George W. and Charlotte (Goble) Croddy.

George W. Croddy was born in Rockbridge county, Virginia, February 13, 1838, the son of Christopher and Katherine (Shafer) Croddy, both na- tives also of Rockbridge county.

The paternal great-grandfather of Joseph N. Croddy was John Croddy, of Rockbridge county, Virginia, who lived on the James river near the Nat- ural Bridge, where he owned a fine farm. He was the father of four sons, Archibald, John, Christopher and William. John was a major in the War of 1812. John Croddy drilled recruits for this war and was a prominent and influential man in his community. The four sons of John Croddy came to Indiana in 1842 and located near Richland, Rush county, and Christopher finally located on Cracker Ridge, Franklin county, and died there in 1851 of smallpox. His widow survived him many years, her death occurring April 24, 1894, at the advanced age of ninety-three years.

The maternal great-grandfather of Joseph N. Croddy was John Shafer, a native of Pennsylvania, of German descent. His father was drafted as a soldier in the Revolutionary War, and John Shafer took his father's place and served his time. Then he himself was drafted for the service, and he thus

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served from the beginning to the end of the War for Independence. John Shafer married in Pennsylvania, and went to Rockbridge county, Virginia, where he owned about one thousand acres of land, including the place where the Natural Bridge is located. He was an extensive slave owner, and was a Democrat of the old school in politics.

George W. Croddy was educated in the public schools of his home neigh- borhood in Franklin county. When the Civil War broke out he offered his services in defense of his country, first becoming a member of the Sixteenth Regiment, Indiana Volunteer Infantry, but did not get to go with this regi- ment, and later volunteered in the One Hundred and Thirty-ninth Regiment, Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and again failed to go, more men enlisting at the time than were needed. Just at the close of the war he was drafted, but was never notified to muster in. Mr. Croddy is an ardent Democrat, and during the Civil War was threatened with hanging for being a Democrat. He first voted for Stephen A. Douglas and has not missed an election since the Doug- las campaign, and, furthermore, has never scratched a ticket. He has been a farmer, carpenter and mason, and has lived in Franklin county ever since he first came here, with the exception of two years spent near Richland, Rush county, Indiana. He and his son own a farm of fifty-two acres.

George W. Croddy was married in 1866 to Charlotte Goble, who died March 27, 1878. She was born in Posey township in this county, the daugh- ter of Israel and Elizabeth (Jinks) Goble, the former born in Preble county, Ohio, November 3, 1817, died August 28, 1896, his wife dying October 12, 1903.

The paternal grandfather of Mrs. Croddy was Isaac Goble, a native of · Morristown, New Jersey. During a part of his life Isaac Goble lived at Ben- nington, Vermont, where he was engaged in the iron business. He owned a horse-power trip hammer, a wonderful device in those days. As a conse- quence of financial losses, he came to Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1802, and there made axes. In 18II he moved to Preble county, Ohio, and in 1821 he came to Metamora township, Franklin county, Indiana, where he acquired a farm in the Whitewater bottoms. Here he erected a tavern in the early days, which he conducted for many years. Isaac Goble was a relative of Squire John Brookfield, who lived near Morristown, New Jersey, and it was in the latter's chestnut grove that Washington's army once wintered. The army arrived there barefooted, with a heavy snow on the ground. John Shafer, Joseph N. Croddy's maternal great-grandfather, was with the army at this time. In those days women living in New Jersey and having sufficient property were permitted to vote, and it is said that the ancestors of Mrs. Croddy in that generation all voted for Thomas Jefferson.

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Mr. and Mrs. George W. Croddy were the parents of four children : Anna, who lives on the old Goble farm in Posey township; Joseph N., with whom this narrative deals; Ada, who lives in Laurel township, and Elizabeth, who is a resident of Buena Vista.

Joseph N. Croddy is engaged in the culture of ginseng and golden seal roots and plants in Posey township, this county. Many years ago he worked on railroads, and also in factories. In his railroad work he handled freight and was in the train service. He handled freight at the Cincinnati, Hamil- ton & Dayton station in Connersville, Indiana, for four years, and just be- fore leaving the service of the railroad was with the freight department of the Pennsylvania Railway company at Anderson, Indiana.

Mr. Croddy is a member of the Andersonville Lodge No. 96, Free and Accepted Masons, and a member of Fayette Lodge No. 31, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, as well as Whitewater Encampment No. 33.

Mr. Croddy is a highly respected citizen of Franklin county and honored and respected by all who know him.

JACOB RIPPERGER.

A thoroughly progressive business man, and one of whom it is said in quiet sincerity "He is an honest man," is Jacob Ripperger, of South Gate, Franklin county, Indiana. Mr. Ripperger cultivates a ninety-acre farm. which belongs to Anna Boehle, but his main business is the selling of silos and lightning rods, of which he has sold more than any other man in this sec- tion of Indiana.

Mr. Ripperger comes of sturdy German parentage, as he is the son of Isador and Magdalena (Herbert) Ripperger, both of whom were born in Germany. The date of Mr. Ripperger's birth is March 25, 1876, and the place South Gate, Indiana.

Michael Ripperger, the paternal grandfather of Jacob, came to America about 1833, and settled near St. Peters on a farm, where he lived until his death. Mr. Ripperger's maternal grandparents, Conrad and Marie Herbert, also came from Germany about 1836 and settled near St. Leon, later moving to South Gate, and still later to Cedar Grove, where they died and are buried. Mr. Herbert was a merchant, and in later life retired.

Reared, educated and married in St. Peters, Isador Ripperger, father of the immediate subject of this biographical sketch, conducted a plow factory in

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Covington, Kentucky, which he later sold, whereupon he moved to near South Gate, Indiana, where he purchased an eighty-acre farm. He later retired and moved to St. Leon, Indiana, where he died.

Jacob Ripperger has succeeded without the aid of higher education, as he attended only the common schools of South Gate and early began farm work, which he continued on the rented farm mentioned above. Mr. Ripper- ger has gained especial local prominence in the silo and lightning rod business.

On August 17, 1898, Mr. Ripperger married Katharine Boehle, who was born on the Highland township farm on which Mr. Ripperger now lives, the daughter of Francis and Eleanor (Schultz) Boehle, who were native to Germany. To Jacob and Katherine (Boehle) Ripperger was born one child, Albert, who died November 9, 1902.

The paternal grandfather of Mrs. Ripperger, Anthon Boehle, lived and died in Germany. The maternal grandparents, Adolph and Louisa Schultz, were also natives of Germany, who came to America and bought the fifty- acre farm on which Mr. Ripperger now lives. Adolph Schultz paid for the land eight hundred dollars, buying it from Mr. Mintz, who operated a store on the farm. The last record of Mr. Schultz places him in Memphis, Ten- nessee.

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History of Franklin County, Indiana : her people, industries and institutions, Part 116

Author: Reifel, August J Publication date: 1915 Publisher: Indianapolis, Ind. : B.F. Bowen Number of Pages: 1648

Author: Reifel, August J
Publication date: 1915
Publisher: Indianapolis, Ind. : B.F. Bowen
Number of Pages: 1648