History of Franklin County, Indiana : her people, industries and institutions, Part 117

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 117

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Francis Boehle was born December 1, 1821, in Germany, and received a typical German education. He served his three years in the German army, worked two years as an iron miner and then came to Cincinnati at the age of twenty-eight. About one year before the beginning of the Civil War Mr. Boehle moved to the farm of his father-in-law. Mr. Boehle joined the Union army a few weeks before the end of the Civil War, but, as his wife was then quite ill, he secured a substitute, even after he was in service, and returned to the farm, where he carried on a cooperage business until he retired. During this time he bought fifty acres of his father-in-law, to which he later added ten acres, also erecting the buildings which are found on the land today.

Mr. Boehle and wife were the parents of the following children: Ra- gena, Henry, Theresa, Albert, Louisa, John, Joseph, Frank, Anna, Katharine and Magdalena. Anna, who owns the homestead, has always made it her home, and has added thirty acres to the original tract.

The Rippergers are members of the St. Joseph's Catholic church at St. Leon and are the kind of people who make any community the better for their residence. Mr. Ripperger is scrupulously fair in all his business dealings and is accordingly successful, especially as he is clear sighted and has good busi- ness sagacity, and he and his wife are counted as among the leaders in their circle.

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GILBERT N. SAMUELS.

The Samuels family was one of the first families to locate in Franklin county, Indiana, and during all of the years which have elapsed since they first settled here they have been prominent in every phase of the county's development. Gilbert N. Samuels, whose history is here related, was born in the year the Civil War opened, and his whole career thus far has been spent within the limits of the county. He received a good education and after his marriage, at the age of nineteen, he settled down to the life of a farmer and has been unusually successful in everything to which he has turned his at- tention. Not only has he been successful in his own personal affairs, but as a citizen in the community in which he resides he has taken an active part in everything pertaining to its welfare. Thus he merits the right to be in- cluded among the representative men of his county and in the brief biography which is here presented sufficient data is given to indicate that he is a man of ability and integrity.

Gilbert N. Samuels, the son of Gilbert and Rebecca (Lackey) Samuels, was born in Franklin county July 17, 1861. His parents reared four chil- dren, Merritt, deceased; James, who died in infancy; Anna M., deceased; Gilbert N., with whom this narrative deals. Anna M., who died in 1900, was the wife of James Smith, and the mother of four children, Catherine, Lula May, Harriett and Gilbert D.

Gilbert Samuels, the father of Gilbert N., was a son of James Samuels, and was born in Franklin county. James Samuels and wife were the parents of eight children, Abraham, Thompson, John, Joseph, James, Gilbert, David and Oliver. All of these children are now deceased with the exception of John and Oliver.

Gilbert Samuels, the father of Gilbert N., was educated in the common schools of Franklin county, and became one of the most successful farmers and stock raisers of the county. At the time of his death he was the owner of four hundred acres of valuable land in the county. H'e died May 2, 1893. He was a member of the Baptist church and greatly interested in church work.

Gilbert N. Samuels received a good common school education in the schools of his home county and later attended the high school at Lebanon, Ohio. After completing this course he returned to his father's farm, where he remained until his marriage, in 1880. He then began farming on the old home farm, and at his father's death inherited part of the paternal estate. To his inheritance he later has added until he now owns four hundred and

MR. AND MRS. GILBERT N. SAMUELS.

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thirty acres of well-improved land. He possesses one of the finest country homes in the county, all of the buildings on the place being of excellent quality and strictly modern in every respect. As a farmer and stock raiser he ranks high among the agriculturists of the county.

Mr. Samuels was married March 7, 1880, to Sarah Salmon, a daughter of William and Margaret (Meeker) Salmon, who were farmers living near Riley, Ohio. To this union was born one daughter, Lessie, who is the wife of Ernest Condo, and has two children, Naomi and Gilbert E.

The second wife of Gilbert N. Samuels was Emma E. Smith, to whom he was married January 18, 1893. She is a daughter of Joseph B. and Jane (Brown) Smith. The parents of Mrs. Samuels have three children, Dr. Walter J., Olive and Emma, the wife of Mr. Samuels. Dr. Walter J. Smith is a practicing physician at Riley, Ohio. He married Margaret Kitchel, and has one son, J. Kitchel. Olive, the one sister of Mrs. Samuels, is still single and living with her parents. The paternal grandparents of Mrs. Samuels were John W. and Catherine (Warfield) Smith, and they were the parents of nine children, Joseph, James, David, Harry, Eva, Rebecca, Phoebe, Mar- garet and Catherine.

Mr. Samuels is a stanch Democrat, but has left political matters to others, preferring to devote all his energies to his own affairs. He is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons, while he and his wife are both devoted members of the Presbyterian church.

AARON G. AILES.

In the year 1837 the Ailes family first came to Franklin county, Indiana, and since that year the various members of the family have taken an active part in everything pertaining to the general welfare of the county. Aaron G. Ailes has given his active energies to the pursuit of agriculture and is now thus engaged on his farm in Laurel township.

Aaron G. Ailes, the son of Jehu and Violet (Gillis) Ailes, was born September 5, 1852, in Franklin county, Indiana. His father was born May 28, 1819, in Washington county, Pennsylvania, and his mother was born January 30, 1818, a daughter of Robert and Nancy Gillis. Jehu Ailes and wife were the parents of six children: Robert P., born January 20, 1850; Elizabeth I, born July 28, 1851 ; Aaron G., born September 5, 1852 ; James M.

(75)

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and William M. (twins), born June 1, 1854; Nancy C., born March 15, 1856, died January 30, 19II.

Jehu Ailes, the father of Aaron G., was born and reared in Pennsyl- vania. When a young man he farmed and also followed the carpenter's trade. After coming to Franklin county, he followed this dual line of activity, al- though he gave most of his attention to carpentry. He owned a small farm in Salt Creek township, where he lived.

The paternal grandfather of Aaron G. Ailes was Aaron Ailes, who was born in Pennsylvania, December 25, 1790. He was a farmer in Pennsylvania, and after his marriage to Elizabeth Duvall came to Franklin county in 1837 and settled on a farm. He and his family were sturdy pioneers and contrib- uted in no small measure to the early prosperity of Salt Creek township. In addition to carrying on general farming, he taught subscription schools in his home neighborhood. He also opened his home for religious services and itinerant preachers always found a hearty welcome at his fireside. Aaron Ailes, Sr., and wife were the parents of a large family of children, all of whom are now deceased : Anna, born May 17, 1813; Alexander, born April 21, 1815; Sarah, born March 9, 1817; Jehu, born May 28, 1819; Amos, born September 12, 1821; Abigail, born November 26, 1823; William, born Feb- ruary 23, 1825; Rachel, born June 19, 1828; Marjory, born August 7, 1830; Fletcher, born May 12, 1835, and James Clinton, born November 19, 1838.

The paternal great-grandfather of Aaron G. Ailes was Amos Ailes, a son of Stephen Ailes. Amos Ailes was born in Chester county, Pennsylvania, in 1752, and died February 13, 1836. Before his marriage he moved to Wash- ington county, Pennsylvania, and there married Anna Brown and settled in East Pike Run township. Amos Ailes and wife were the parents of several children, among whom were the following: Joseph, born December 2, 1787; Mary, born May 17, 1789; Stephen, born December 26, 1790; Aaron, born May 14, 1792 ; James. born March 21, 1794 ; Isaac, born November 30, 1795; Amos, born January 30, 1799, and Sarah.

Aaron G. Ailes was educated in the public schools of Salt Creek and Laurel townships, and it was natural that he should follow farming, as all of his early training was received on the farm. After his marriage he leased his present farm and has since engaged in general farming and stock raising. His well improved farm in Laurel township yields a comfortable income for himself and family.

Mr. Ailes was married March 8, 1876, to Inez Gard, who was born No- vember 17, 1855, a daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth Gard, and who died June 28, 1906. Mr. Ailes and his wife had two daughters, Stella Edith and

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Fannie May. Stella Edith was born July 15, 1879, and died November 14, 1886. Fannie May, who was born July 11, 1882, became the wife of Wil- liam Redmond. Mr. Ailes now shares his home with his daughter and her husband.

Mr. Ailes always has given his hearty support to the Republican party, but has never become candidate for a public office. Fraternally, he is a mem- ber of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Mr. Ailes is a man of straight- forward, unassuming and obliging manner, who, while advancing his individ- ual interests, has never neglected his general duties as a citizen of the com- monwealth, and his counsels are received with respect on the part of his neighbors, who are pleased to regard him as one of the leaders of the com- munity.

FRANK LOCKWOOD.

To own and live on a farm which one's father owned and the farm which one's grandfather also owned and lived upon should be a source of rare per- sonal pride. Frank Lockwood, an enterprising farmer of Franklin county, owns the farm which his grandfather purchased in an early day and has made a remarkable success of the vocation handed down to him by his grandfather and his father.

Frank Lockwood was born on this farm in Laurel township, Franklin county, in 1866, the son of Isaac and Eleanor (Enyart) Lockwood, the former of whom was born in 1816 in New York and the latter in Indiana about 1822.

The paternal grandfather of Frank Lockwood was Jarred Lockwood, a native of New York, who migrated to Kentucky in an early day and later located in Posey township, Franklin county, Indiana, north of Andersonville. Some time later he moved to Iowa, where he and his wife died.

Isaac Lockwood was taken to Kentucky with his parents when he was about two years old, and a little later to Posey township, Franklin county. He attended the public schools, but was educated principally by home study. He was a teacher in the early days and taught school near where Frank Lock- wood now lives. He owned the farm upon which Frank Lockwood lives, which consists of two hundred acres of well improved land. He died in 1900.

In the early days Isaac Lockwood was a Whig, but became a Republican upon the organization of that party. He was twice married, first to Jennie Jenks, and after her death he married Eleanor Enyart. He and his first wife were the parents of five children : Sarah, Phoebe, Ruth, Samuel and Isaac. By his second marriage were born Mary, Rachel, William, Jessie, George,

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Alonzo, Jasper, Frank B. and Frank. The mother of these latter children died in August, 1882. Of this large family, Phoebe, Ruth, Jessie and Frank are the only ones now living.

Frank Lockwood was educated in the public schools of Franklin county and has been a farmer all his life. He makes a specialty of thoroughbred stock, and has been quite successful, being counted among the leading farmers of his part of the county.

Mr. Lockwood was married in June, 1893, to Sarah J. Harley, who was born in Laurel township, Franklin county, in 1868, the daughter of James and Mary (Huffman) Harley, of Laurel township. No children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Lockwood.

At the formation of the Progressive party, Mr. Lockwood identified himself with this organization and has been active in the councils of his party in Franklin county since its formation. He takes a worthy interest in public affairs, and his influence is an important power for good in the township and county where he lives, and where he and his wife are held in the highest re- gard by all who know them.

WILLIAM H. PETERSEN.

The sixty-five years which have elapsed since William H. Petersen was born have all been spent within Franklin county, Indiana. In his younger days he learned the harness maker's trade, but has given practically all of his active career to general farming and stock raising, and has acquired a compe- tency which insures the material comfort of himself and family. He has at- tained success through his own efforts, having been dependent practically upon his own resources since reaching manhood.

William H. Petersen, the son of Charles and Henrietta (Harrencamp) Petersen, was born in Brookville township, Franklin county, Indiana, March 31, 1850. His father was born in Hanover, Germany, March 18, 1814, his mother also being a native of Germany, born in 1818. They reared a family of eight children : Louis, William H., Frederick, Rosina, Anna, Carrie, Mary and Wilhelmina.

Charles Petersen came from Germany to Franklin county in 1847 and located in Brookville township. He was not married until after he came to this county. After his marriage in Brookville township he settled there permanently, and at the time of his death in 1876 had accumulated one hun- dred and thirty-eight acres. His wife survived him many years, her death

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not occurring until in 1902. Charles Petersen was a Democrat in politics and the whole family were members of the Lutheran church.

William H. Petersen was reared on the old homestead in Brookville township and has never left the confines of the township where he was born. Early in life he was apprenticed to a harness maker and learned the trade, but decided to devote all of his time and attention to farming. His well im- proved farm of one hundred and nineteen acres is a glowing tribute to his success along agricultural lines. He has now practically retired from active work and turned the management of his farm over to his son. He was su- perintendent of the infirmary of Franklin county for a year and a half and gave universal satisfaction in the administration of its affairs.

Mr. Petersen was married in 1875 to Christina Horstmann, who was born in Franklin county, the daughter of William and Christina (Christian) Horstman. To this union nine children were born: Charles, Anna, Emma, Mary, Carrie, William, George, Philomena and Hattie.

The parents of Mrs. Petersen were both born in Germany and were early settlers in Franklin county, her mother coming here when a child of six years. Mr. Petersen's parents were married in Franklin county and lived in Butler township for many years. Later they located in Metamora township, where they spent the remainder of their lives.

Mr. Petersen always has given his support to the Democratic party and has taken an active and intelligent interest in its affairs. He has never held any official position save that of superintendent of the county infirmary. He always has been interested in the welfare of his community, and such meas- ures as he felt would promote the general welfare have always found in him an enthusiastic supporter.

JOSEPH HITE.

Very few men are able to identify their ancestors with the two earliest wars fought by this country when it still wore swaddling clothes. Joseph Hite, one of the oldest citizens of Posey township, Franklin county, and one of its most successful farmers, is descended from a long line of illustrious ancestors. Mr. Hite, now a venerable citizen of seventy-seven, is still in good health, despite his years.

Joseph Hite was born January 20, 1837, on Salt creek, in Posey town- ship, Franklin county, Indiana, the son of William and Sarah (Franker) Hite, both natives of Rockbridge county, Virginia.

James Hite (or his name may have been Henry Hite), the paternal

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grandfather of Joseph Hite, served in the Revolutionary War, and was present at the surrender of Cornwallis at Yorktown. He was an old man when he came to Indiana some time before 1828, and lived with his children in Rush county after coming here.

William Hite, the father of Joseph Hite, was educated in Virginia, performed able service in the War of 1812 and came to Indiana in the fall of 1828, entering land on Salt creek, in Franklin county, at the point where Joseph Hite was born. He entered two hundred and twenty acres of land in the dense wilderness, the roads not even having been surveyed at that time. This land he cleared and cultivated and improved in many ways and here, in the fullness of his years, his death occurred. William Hite and his wife were the parents of seven children: Greenbury, who was born in Virginia; Eliza and Mary, also born in Virginia; Katherine, born in Indiana; William, born in Franklin county, Indiana; Harriet, who is the only one of these chil- dren now living besides the subject, was born in Franklin county, and Joseph, of Posey township, in this county.

Joseph Hite never attended school but two days in his life. He acquired his education by home study and observation and is able to read and write well. He always kept well informed regarding current events, and is a most interesting conversationalist, a man of broad views and wide observa- tion, whose counsels, based upon a ripe experience and sound judgment, gain respectful consideration.

When Joseph Hite started farming for himself he bought fifty-four acres of land from his father. He remained with his mother until his mar- riage and then moved to his present farm in Posey township.

Joseph Hite was married December 31, 1862, to Ann Croddy, who was born in Rush county, Indiana, the daughter of Christopher and Catherine (Schaffer) Croddy, both of whom were natives of Rockbridge county, Vir- ginia, who lived near the natural bridge in that state. The paternal grand- parents of Mrs. Hite also were natives of Virginia, and her grandfather was a farmer of that place. Her maternal grandparents also came from.the same community in Virginia, and her maternal grandfather owned and operated a distillery. He was an extensive slave owner and died in Virginia. Mrs. Hite's father and his brother married Schaffer sisters and later came to In- diana, where they located permanently.

Mrs. Hite's father first came to Indiana in 1844, first locating in Rush county. He started to return to Virginia in the spring of 1849, but stopped in Metamora township, where he rented a farm, and there he spent the re- mainder of his life. His widow and children continued to live in Franklin

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county. The widow bought eighty acres of land in Posey township, the money with which this land was purchased having been brought to Indiana from Virginia by a brother from her father.

Just before Joseph Hite's marriage, he bought ten acres, where he still lives. He has added to this original tract from time to time until he is now the owner of one hundred and sixty-five acres. The larger part of this land he has rented out for several years past.

Three children have been born to Joseph and Ann (Croddy) Hite, Ellen, Kate and Johanna. The mother of these children is a devoted member of the Methodist Episcopal church, in the various beneficences of which she takes an active interest.

RICHARD NYCE.

It is interesting to note the number of farmers of Brookville township who have spent their whole lives within the limits of the township. This shows that they have been satisfied with the conditions which have always surrounded them, and it is a tribute to the excellent farming land of the town- ship as well as to the general conditions under which the people live. Much of the best farming land of the county is within this township, and for this reason the farmers are loath to leave the land on which they were reared. Richard Nyce is now living on the farm where he was born a year before the opening of the Civil War. He now owns a well improved farm of one hun- dred and thirty-four acres and carries on a general system of farming and stock raising which has been attended with a flattering degree of success.

Richard Nyce, the son of George John and Emeline (Van Camp) Nyce, was born on the farm he now owns in Brookville township, December 29, 1859.

George John Nyce was born in Frederick, Pennsylvania, June 21, 1819, and his wife was born in Franklin county, Indiana, January 12, 1834. George J. Nyce was the son of George Nyce, a native of Frederick, Pennsylvania and a lifelong resident of that state, who was born in the year 1791 and died in the year 1828. His wife, Susanna Markley, was born in the year 1793 and died in the year 1876.

The maternal grandparents of Richard Nyce were Charles and Mary (Halstead) Van Camp, natives of New Jersey and New York, respectively. Charles Van Camp died at Metamora, as did his wife, the death of the latter occurring in 1869.

George J. Nyce, the father of Richard, came to Franklin county from

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Pennsylvania in 1840 and settled down to the life of a farmer. He owned one hundred and thirty-four acres of land, which is now in possession of his son Richard, the only child. George J. Nyce died July 10, 1910, and his wife passed away August 2, 1913. They were both members of the Presbyterian church, and Mr. Nyce was a stanch member of the Democratic party. They were highly regarded in the community in which they so long had resided and in the various good works of which they took such a prominent and use- ful part.

Richard Nyce received such education as was provided in the common schools of his boyhood days. He inherited the old homestead and has en- gaged in the life of a farmer, giving due attention to the raising of crops and live stock. Mr. Nyce has never married and he made his home with his par- ents until their death. He is a Democrat in politics, as was his father before him. He gives his hearty support to the Presbyterian church and is interested in all movements having as their object the advancement of the best interests of the neighborhood, being very properly regarded as one of the leaders in the local affairs of the community.

GEORGE M. BARBER.

In every community there are leaders in agriculture and in business, men who have been fortunate in their struggle for the material things of life and men who are the pride and the stays of the community where they live and in which they have attained success. Among the successful and progressive farmers of Franklin county is George M. Barber, of Posey township.

George M. Barber was born on a farm in the above township, September 20, 1868, the son of John and Mary Ann (Scott) Barber, both natives of Franklin county.

The maternal grandparents of George M. Barber were Thomas and Mary (Hogue) Scott, both born in Rockbridge county, Virginia, who lo- cated near Andersonville, in Posey township, Franklin county, at an cariy day. Thomas Scott was a son of William and Ann (Houston) Scott, both of Virginia, who came to Indiana and who, after living a short time at Lo- gansport, moved to Rush county and bought one hundred and sixty acres of school land, which they cleared and improved. They both lived there until their death.

John Barber, the father of George M., received his education in the public schools and was a saw-mill operator all of his life. He shipped lum-

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ber and ran a water mill until 1900. Most of his product was shipped on the canal from Laurel to Cincinnati. His mill was located on the farm where his sons now live. On this farm he erected the buildings which are still standing. The first steam train which John Barber ever saw was at Valley Junction. He owned four hundred and five acres of land. He was drafted during the Civil War, but escaped service on account of severe rheumatism.

The following children were born to Mr. and Mrs. John Barber : Thomas, a farmer of Posey township; Emmet, who lives on the home place ; Laura, who lives in Hancock county, and George M., the subject of this sketch.

An interesting history is connected with the saw mill operated by John Barber. The industry was originated by Simeon Barber, the paternal grand- father of George M., who started it as a steam mill on the present site of An- dersonville before the town was laid out, the survey having been made in 1837. This mill burned about 1840 and was rebuilt south of Andersonville as a water mill. It was later purchased by Simeon Barber and his two sons, John and Daniel. This mill was carried away by the flood of 1849. The two brothers again erected the mill on the land which now belongs to John Bar- ber's heirs, on the opposite side of the creek from where the last mill was located. Still later John Barber bought the entire mill and erected another near the present residence of George M. Barber, the remains of which are still standing. It was the last water mill in Franklin county to cease operation.

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History of Franklin County, Indiana : her people, industries and institutions, Part 117

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