USA > Indiana > Franklin County > History of Franklin County, Indiana : her people, industries and institutions > Part 118
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George M. Barber was educated in the public schools of Franklin county and worked in the mill with his father until it was abandoned. The Barber family owns and operates several hundred acres of land and are accounted among the most progressive farmers in Franklin county.
George M. Barber was married December 24, 1900, to Roxie Barton, the daughter of John C. and Mary M. (Hood) Barton, both natives of Kentucky, the father having been born in Bourbon county and the mother in Fleming county, Kentucky.
For thirty years Mrs. Barber's father was a general merchant in Milroy, Indiana, and for some time was a farmer in Laurel township, and after that was engaged in the hotel business in Laurel, Connersville and Indianapolis. His wife died in Indianapolis and he now lives at Milroy.
To George M. and Roxie (Barton) Barber one son has been born, Carl J., born December 11, 1909.
In 1890 George M. Barber and F. R. A. Jeter were the only members of the Improved Order of Red Men in Franklin county, Mr. Barber having joined Hiawatha Lodge at Indianapolis in that year. George M. Barber is a
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member of the Free and Accepted Masons, Andersonville Lodge No. 96, which he joined. April 6, 1910. His brother, Emmet Barber, has been a member of the Andersonville Lodge of the Free and Accepted Masons about thirty-five years. The latter also is a member of the Knights of Pythias at Laurel. Emmet Barber is unmarried and lives with his mother on the old home place.
Mr. Barber is a Republican and served as trustee of his township from 1909 to 1915, discharging the duties of that office with great honor and effi- ciency. Mr. and Mrs. Barber are well known residents of Franklin county, honored and respected by every one with whom they are acquainted, their unostentatious and effective participation in the good works of the neighbor- hood having gained for them the highest esteem of all.
HERMAN GURR.
Franklin county is essentially a farming community and has assisted ma- terially in establishing the reputation of Indiana as one of the great agricul- tural states of this nation. Franklin county was settled very early and some of the oldest farms in the state are found in this county. One of the well- known farmers who resides here is Herman Gurr, of Springfield township.
Herman Gurr was born in Springfield township January II, 1886, the son of William and Mary (Updike) Gurr, who was the second wife of Wil- liam Gurr. Herman Gurr was one of three children by the second marriage, the others being Orpha and Hazel. Orpha was married to Charles Robertson and Hazel married Paul Merrell.
William Gurr, father of Herman Gurr, was born in Dearborn county, Indiana, of English descent, his family originally coming from England and immigrating to this country, where they settled in Ohio. He is one of six children, the others being John, George, Harriet, Mary and Emma. John lives in Whitewater township and George in Butler county, Ohio. Harriet married James Craig and lives at Mount Carmel, Indiana. Mary married Samuel Garrsion and resides at Brookville, Indiana. William Gurr was edu- cated in the district schools and is regarded as a very substantial farmer, own- ing two hundred and forty acres and always has taken an active part in the affairs of the community. His first wife was Ellen Selfridge, upon whose death he married, secondly, Mary Updike, who died November 28, 1912. Mr. Gurr belongs to the Presbyterian church, of which he is a devout member, taking an earnest part in its various local beneficences. The grandfather of
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Mr. Gurr was born in Kent, England, and after immigrating to America he came west, where he took up land in Indiana and Ohio. He also was a mem- ber of the Presbyterian church.
Herman Gurr is known as a progressive farmer, and has had unusual success. He moved to his present location seven years ago, where he erected a new house and also a new barn. His farm of eighty acres is mainly devoted to general farming and stock raising.
On December 25, 1907, Mr. Gurr was married to Florence Sheppard, of Springfield township, the daughter of Job and Eliza (Burden) Sheppard. Job Sheppard was born in England April 9, 1860, and died in Hood River, Oregon, August 11, 1912. His wife was also born in England, October II, 1861, and is still living. To them were born seven children, as follows: George, Bessie, Beatrice, Florence, Charles, William and Mary. Accom- panied by their children, Mr. and Mrs. Sheppard moved to Hood River, Ore- gon, in 1907. The children who accompanied them to that place were George, Charles, William and Mary. George married Evelyn Bell, of Colorado. Bes- sie married Albert Clark and resides at Brookville, Indiana. Beatrice married Glenn Luse, and also lives at Brookville.
Mr. and Mrs. Gurr are members of the Presbyterian church. They take great pride in their farm, and Mr. Gurr has the reputation of being a very prosperous farmer, as well as being an active participant in the good works of the neighborhood in which he lives, works to which Mrs. Gurr also lends her earnest support.
ALBERT FEY.
The young men are the hope of this country. Their fathers have done a noble work, clearing the wilderness, draining the soil and building sub- stantial roads. This work must be carried forward by the present generation of young farmers until this land is a garden, luxuriant with growing grain and teeming with the good things of the earth. The young farmers see their responsibility and recognize their opportunities. Among the progressive young farmers of Franklin county who are fully alert to present-day op- portunities is Albert Fey, one of the best known of the younger men of affairs in Posey township.
Albert Fey was born in Posey township, Franklin county, Indiana, where his mother still lives, May 7, 1881, the son of Adam and Sophia (Kutzen- dorfer) Fey, both natives of Germany, who, shortly after their marriage there, came to America and settled where the widow now lives. Here they
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acquired a farm of one hundred and twenty acres, all of which at that time was covered with a virgin forest. When the parents of Albert Fey first arrived on this farm the conditions were so purely primitive that for some time they were under the necessity of using a poplar log for a bed. Later the land was cleared and a splendid farm was developed. Adam Fey died on this farm. He and his family were members of the Catholic church. They had eight children, John, Andrew, Joseph, Edward, Bena, Mary, Albert and Caroline.
Albert Fey was educated in the public schools of Franklin county and has always been a farmer. He rents one hundred acres adjoining the home farm and lives on it. He operates the home place and also sixty acres across the road from where he lives.
Albert Fey was married in August, 1909, to Martha Barber, the daugh- ter of William Barber, formerly a farmer of Posey township, but now de- ceased. To Mr. and Mrs. Albert Fey one son has been born, Wayne.
Mr. and Mrs. Fey are highly respected citizens in the community where they live, interested in the happiness and prosperity of their neighbors and willing to contribute their time to the development of a superior community spirit.
WILLIAM W. MARLIN.
Among the citizens of Franklin county, Indiana, who have built up comfortable homes and surrounded themselves with many personal comforts and conveniences, William W. Marlin, a progressive farmer of Salt Creek township, must be counted. With few opportunities except what his own efforts were capable of mastering, and with many discouragements to over- come, he has achieved a reasonable measure of success, and has the gratifica- tion of knowing that the community has been benefited by his presence and his counsels.
William W. Marlin was born on the farm where he still lives in Salt Creek township, Franklin county, Indiana, August 18, 1879, the son of John and Caroline (George) Marlin, the latter born where William W. now lives, and the former born on a farm which is now a part of this place.
The paternal grandparents of William W. Marlin were Samuel and Charity (Amack) Marlin, the former a native of New Jersey, and the latter likewise probably born in New Jersey. Samuel Marlin came with his parents to a farm near Peppertown, where his father also conducted a blacksmith
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shop and here Samuel learned the blacksmith trade at his father's forge. This blacksmith shop was located on the forty acres where John Marlin was born and for years was a gathering place for the farmers of that neighbor- hood. Samuel Marlin later sold his farm and he and his wife moved to Johnson county, Indiana, where they both died. His sons, John and Martin Marlin, were soldiers in the Union army during the Civil War. John Marlin was a member of the One Hundred Twenty-third Regiment Indiana Volun- teer Infantry, while Martin Marlin belonged to the Fifth Indiana Cavalry. Martin Marlin was brought home sick and died before John entered the army, the latter's service beginning in 1863, at the age of nineteen. John Marlin never was wounded or taken prisoner, though he suffered from the typhoid fever for a period of eight weeks.
After returning to peaceful pursuits upon the close of the war, John Marlin worked on a farm for a time, but presently married and began work- ing for himself, spending the rest of his life on the farm where William W. Marlin now lives. Here he operated two hundred acres, which he devoted to general farming and stock raising. He was a prominent man in his com- munity and was at one time appointed a member of the advisory board of the township. John Marlin was an enthusiastic supporter of the Republican party, and made a very close race twice for township trustee, in a township which is very heavily Democratic. His wife was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.
William W. Marlin was one of four children born to his parents. The eldest child, George, died at the age of three years. Nancy Ellen, the wife of Joseph Fey, of Rush county, Indiana, is the eldest living child. William W. is the second son born to his parents, while Chester A., the third son, lives at Wiseberg, Indiana.
William W. Marlin's maternal grandparents were Andrew and Nancy (Adams) George, the former a native of Virginia, and the latter of North Carolina. Andrew George came with his father to Franklin county at an early day, the elder George probably entering the land where Oldenburg is now situated. The elder George later moved to Bartholomew county, In- diana, and there both he and his wife spent the rest of their lives. Andrew George first located on a farm near Metamora, but about 1833 purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land at the point where William W. Marlin now lives. A part of the house in which Mr. Marlin now lives had already been erected at that early date. Scarcely any of the land had been cleared. About twenty-five acres of bottom land constituted the chief part of the soil used for growing crops. Andrew George had one son, William, who was a sol-
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dier in the Union army during the Civil War. He survived the war and after it was ended went west and afterward was found dead along a railroad track. The Marlin family, including William W., the immediate subject of this sketch, were all educated in the local public schools, and all became farmers. William W. always has resided on the home farm. He has be- come a successful dairyman and makes a specialty of Jersey and Shorthorn cattle.
Mr. Marlin was married February 26, 1905, to Cora Pauline Hunsinger, the daughter of George Hunsinger, a biographical sketch of whom is pre- sented elsewhere in this volume. To this union has been born one son, How- ard Kenneth.
Mr. Marlin is identified with the Progressive party and Mrs. Marlin is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Marlin is a good citizen in every sense of the word, being deeply interested in public questions and in the welfare of his neighbors and friends. He is possessed of a genial dis- position and is industrious, economical and prudent in his private habits, well deserving of the high esteem and honor with which he is regarded in his home community and county.
JOHN F. MOELLER.
Franklin county has many young farmers of German descent who are prospering far beyond that measure of success which their years generally warrant. Among those farmers should be mentioned John F. Moeller, who is a man of splendid attainments for the vocation he has chosen in life and if his past success is to be accepted as a criterion, it is only nautral to assume that a larger measure of success is to follow.
John F. Moeller was born in Salt Creek township, two miles east of Hamburg, April 12, 1884, the son of Frank and Ann (Neihoff) Moeller, both of whom were born in Salt Creek township.
The paternal grandparents of John F. Moeller were John and Katherine (Ricke) Moeller, both of whom were born in Germany, the father in Prussia and the mother in Hanover. They came to America while yet unmarried and first lived in Cincinnati. Later they moved to near Hamburg and were · likely married at that place. John Moeller was a farmer and owned the farm adjoining the one on which John F. Moeller was born. He purchased two hundred and forty acres, cleared about one-half of it and improved it. His wife died there and after her death he married, secondly, Mrs. Katherine
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Fischer. He was a man of considerable influence in the politics of Franklin county in his day and served as trustee of Salt Creek township for two terms. He and his wife were the parents of six children, Conrad (who died in in- fancy), Frank (the father of John F.), John, Josephine, Elizabeth and Kath- erine.
Frank Moeller, the father of John F., was educated in Oldenburg and was a farmer on the old home place. He first rented it, but later bought the place and lived there the remainder of his life. His wife is still living at Hamburg and the farm is operated by her son, Bernard. Frank Moeller was a supervisor and a man of local political influence. He died at the age of fifty-two. Mr. and Mrs. Frank Moeller were the parents of five children, John F., Herman (deceased), Josephine, Bernard and Rosa. They were all members of the St. Anne Catholic church and all the children were educated in the parochial school.
The maternal grandparents of John F. Moeller were Herman and Cath- erine (Peters) Neihoff, the former born in Hanover and the latter born in Wietmeisen, Germany. Herman Neihoff came to America while yet un- married and first settled in Cincinnati, going thence to Louisville, Kentucky, which city he left during the Civil War. He was married in Louisville, how- ever, before coming to Indiana. He first resided on what is known as the Lewis Braumlage place, in Ray township. Later he moved to a farní two miles northeast of Hamburg. He cleared the whole farm of seventy-five acres and improved the land. He died on this farm, but his wife still lives with a daughter, Theresia Harpring, of Salt Creek township. .
John F. Moeller first farmer the old home place and in 1911 bought the Groete farm, one and one-half miles west of Hamburg, a tract of eighty acres. A new barn was erected the year he moved to the farm. He is en- gaged in general farming and raises a large number of hogs and cattle. He also operates a threshing machine and shredding outfit.
John F. Moeller was married October 10, 1909, to Katherine Meyer, the daughter of Bernard Meyer, to which union two children have been born, Anna and Frank.
Bernard Meyer, the father of Mrs. Moeller, was born in Cincinnati, December 27, 1851, the son of Frank J. and Agnes ( Encking) Meyer, both of whom were born in Germany and who came to Cincinnati before their marriage. He learned the shoemaking trade in Germany and earned enough while working on the ship on his trip across the Atlantic to pay for his passage. He followed his trade in Cincinnati and was there married, after which he came to Oldenburg in 1852 and started a shoe shop. This venture
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prospered and in 1863 he bought a farm in Salt Creek township, consisting of one hundred and twenty acres, where his son, George, now resides.
Frank Meyer, the father of Bernard, was drafted twice during the Civil War, the first time it costing him two hundred and fifty dollars for a sub- stitute and the second time four hundred dollars. He and his family all were devoted members of the Catholic church.
Mr. and Mrs. Frank Meyer were the parents of eleven children, Frank, Bernard, J'ohn, Anthony, Mary, Lizzie, Theresia, Anna, Joseph, Henry and George.
Bernard Meyer was educated in the Oldenburg and Hamburg schools and has always followed farming. He bought a farm of one hundred and thirty-eight acres in Salt Creek township before he was twenty-two years old. He has put up excellent buildings and otherwise has greatly improved this farm.
Bernard Meyer was married in 1872 to Louisa Middendorf, of Ray township, who was born in Cincinnati, the daughter of Barney Ben Midden- dorf, and to this union ten children have been born, Mary, Lizzie, Rosa, Eleanor, Cecelia, Katie, Edward, Benjamin, Aloysius and Louise. The fam- ily are members of the St. Anne Catholic church at Hamburg. During the last fifteen years Mr. Meyer has served on the advisory board of his town- ship, in which position he always has acted with the best interests of the community at heart and has proved a very valuable public servant. He is interested in all movements having the betterment of general conditions as their object and very properly is regarded as one of the most public-spirited and enterprising men in his part of the county, his judgments on public af- fairs being considered of much service to the public.
PERRY APPLETON.
Among the numerous active, aggressive and forceful families which have moved from Butler county, Ohio, into Franklin county, Indiana, few have been more influential in the affairs of their adopted county than has been the Appleton family, of which Perry Appleton, of Springfield township, is a descendant. The Appleton family has been located in this county a great many years, where its members have followed farming and have been con- sidered among the most substantial residents of the community in which they have played such prominent parts and in which invariably they have been held in the highest honor and repute.
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Perry Appleton was born in this county September 6, 1863. He is a son of Thomas and Martha Ann (Ardery) Appleton and was one of eight children, as follows: James, Cicero, Hannah, John R., Reuben T., William W., Perry and Emma. Of these, James, Cicero and Hannah are deceased. John R. married Emma Luse and resides in this township. Reuben married Carrie Luse and has one daughter, Dora. William married Mary Apple- gate, and to them were born three children, Riley, Amy and Martha. Emma married Elmer Giffin. The wife of Thomas Appleton, Martha Ann Ardery, was a daughter of James Ardery. She died October 9, 1905.
Thomas Appleton, father of Perry Appleton, was born in Butler county, Ohio, October 14, 1824. He was educated in the common schools of Frank- lin county, having come to this county when about three years old. During his lifetime he acquired about five hundred acres of land, all of which was heavily timbered. He was active in politics, being an ardent Democrat, and was honored by that party for his services by his election to the positions of county commissioner, township trustee and various other offices. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, in the various activities of which he was deeply interested. He died July 27, 1914, about nine years after the death of his wife. Thomas Appleton was a son of Amos Appleton, a native of Ohio, who married Sarah Grant, who bore him four children: Thomas, William, Abbie and Docia, all of whom are now dead.
Perry Appleton was educated in the common schools of this county and . was reared on a farm. He continued to live on this farm, assisting his father in the management of the same, until he had grown to young manhood. On December 25, 1884, he married Florence Abbot, daughter of Joseph and Eleanor (Vanausdall) Abbot.
Joseph and Eleanor Abbot, parents of Mrs. Appleton, were the parents of five children: Winchester, Elmer, Rettie, Ellis and Clarence. Of these, Winchester is deceased. Elmer married Lou Cox and lives in Bath town- ship. They have two children, Mable and Roy. Rettie married Charles Stinger and lives in Springfield township. Ellis married Edith Morris and lives in Butler county, Ohio. Their children are Morris, Carl and Pearl. Clarence married Hazel Woodruff and lives in Springfield township.
The grandfather of Mrs. Perry Appleton was John Abbot, who mar- ried Eliza Smith. In his day he achieved the reputation of being a famous wood-chopper. He was one of the first settlers who went north of here and took up government land, taking up three hundred and twenty acres.
For twelve years Perry Appleton and wife have been living on their (76)
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present farm, where he has two hundred and fifty-four acres devoted to general farming. To them were born three children, Laura, Blanche and Wilma. Laura married Lloyd Seal and resides in Brookville township. Blanche married Ray Seal and lives in Springfield township. Wilma is still at home.
Mr. Appleton always has been active in the affairs of this community since reaching manhood and his fraternal affiliations have been with the Free and Accepted Masons. He is a third-degree Mason. Mr. Appleton always has been a Democrat, in the past campaigns of which party he has rendered valuable service, and the voters of this county, recognizing his fine executive ability and sound business judgment, elected him to the honorable and responsible position of county commissioner, which office he filled so acceptably, during a tenure of six years that a desire being expressed by many for his continuance in this important department of the public service, he was re-elected to succeed himself and has now entered upon his second term. Mr. Appleton not only is a progressive farmer who conducts his fine place according to the soundest principles of the science of agriculture, but in the administration of the affairs of the public conducts his office with the same regard to sound principles, with the result that his official acts have the heartiest endorsement of the public which he serves and to whose best inter- ests he is so devotedly attached. He and his excellent wife are held in the highest regard in the community in which they so long have lived and in whose affairs they take so deep and active an interest and are properly re- garded as among the most influential residents of that section of the county.
WILLIAM SIMONSON.
Men who take an active interest in public questions, adding to the wis- dom of the community their own counsels and helpfulness, are ever honored by the people for their worth. William Simonson, one of the prominent farmers of Franklin county, is likewise one of its most representative citizens, a man who has given much of his time to public service, wherein he has made a consistent and efficient record.
William Simonson was born May 22, 1845, in Posey township, Frank- lin county, Indiana, the son of William and Eliza (Hite) Simonson, the former born in Rockbridge county, Virginia, and the latter in New Jersey.
The paternal grandparents of William Simonson came to Cincinnati,
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Ohio, in an early day and afterwards settled near Harrison, Ohio, where they were pioneer farmers, and there they spent the remainder of their lives.
The maternal grandparents of William Simonson were William and Sarah (Franker) Hite, both natives of Virginia, who, about 1827 settled in Posey township on the farm where John Barber now resides. At this time Eliza (Hite) Simonson, the mother of William Simonson, was four years old. She died in 1914, at the advanced age of ninety-one. After settling in Posey township the grandparents of William Simonson entered land from the government and put up the first log buildings in that community. They cut through a road in the wilderness, improving and accumulating land until they had a large farm. William Hite served in the Mexican War.
William Simonson, Sr., the father of the subject of this sketch, was educated near Harrison, Ohio, and came to Posey township, Franklin county, Indiana, while yet unmarried. After his marriage he bought one hundred and sixty acres of land in section 14, township 12, range II, which William Simonson, Jr., now owns. He added to his holdings from time to time until he was the owner of quite a large farm. He was killed in 1846 while sowing wheat, being struck by a limb which fell from a tree. At the time of this tragic occurrence his son, William Simonson, was but one year old.
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