History of Franklin County, Indiana : her people, industries and institutions, Part 120

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

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Mr. Sagel's paternal grandparents were Gerhart Henry and Mary J. Sagel. farming people. the latter of whom died in Germany, after which her husband came to America to live with his children. and died in Covington. Kentucky.

John B. Sagel lived in Cincinnati seven years. where he worked as a laborer. He then moved to Reading, Ohio. where he began farming. He came to Indiana in 1859, and purchased a farm of eighty acres near Olden- burg. Late in life he lived with his son. G. H. Sagel. his death occurring while in the latter's home.

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George H. Sagel received his education in the public schools of Reading, Ohio, and always followed the occupation of a farmer. He worked for twelve years as a farm laborer and then began farming for himself. He has placed many improvements on his present farm, having erected all of the buildings, and has added to his land holdings until he is now the owner of one hundred and fifty-seven acres.

Mr. Sagel was married in 1870 to Mary Margaret Hileman, who was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, a daughter of Herman Hileman, a native of Ger- many, who settled first in Cincinnati after coming to this country and later moved to Munster, Ohio, where he lived the remainder of his life. He mar- ried Margaret Vorholt, also a native of Germany, who came early in life to Cincinnati from her native land. To George H. and Margaret (Vorholt) Sagel were born eight children, Mary, Benjamin, George, John, Frank, Al- bert, Anna and Adelaide.

Mr. Sagel is an adherent of the Democratic party and has long been prominent in local public affairs. He has been real estate appraiser for the school fund for eighten years and for thirteen years has served as supervisor in these important positions, discharging his duties in a manner entirely satis- factory to the citizens of his township and county.

Mr. Sagel and his family are devout members of St. Anne Catholic church, to which they are liberal contributors of their time and means. Mr. Sagel and his family are highly esteemed in the community where they have resided for so many years, Mr. Sagel justly being regarded as one of the solid and substantial citizens of Salt Creek township.

HERMAN KLINGWORTH.

One of the well known German farmers of Salt Creek township, Frank- lin county, Indiana, a man who has lived on the farm he now owns since he was fourteen years of age, is Herman Klingworth, who has long been identi- fied with the history of the community where he lives and who richly de- serves the eminent respect in which he is held by his fellow citizens.

Herman Klingworth was born October 28, 1862, in Schlegel, near Roth- enburg, Hanover, Germany, the son of Albert William and Mattie Mar- garetta (Roger) Klingworth, both natives of Germany .. Albert William Klingworth brought his family to America in the spring of 1868, locating in Hamilton county, Ohio. There he worked as a day laborer until the year

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1876, when he came to Franklin county, Indiana, locating upon the farm where Herman Klingworth now lives. At first Albert Klingworth purchased fifty-five acres and put up the buildings which are now standing, and here he spent the remainder of his life, his wife also dying on this farm. They were the parents of five children, Catherine, Herman, John, William and Mattie.

Herman Klingworth received all his education in Ohio, but has lived on the farm he now owns in Salt Creek township ever since the family came to Franklin county. He has added to this farm until he now has one hundred and thirty-two acres. He carries on a general system of farming and stock raising and is meeting with a degree of success commensurate with the efforts he has put forth to bring his acres to their present high state of culti- vation.

Herman Klingworth married Mary Beinke, the daughter of Frederick and Anna Mary Elizabeth (Brinkman) Beinke, both natives of Germany. The parents of Mrs. Klingworth came to America before their marriage, set- tling first in Cincinnati, where their marriage took place. Mrs. Klingworth's paternal grandparents lived and died in Germany. Her maternal grand- father, Frederick Brinkman, remarried after the death of his first wife, and again upon the death of his second wife. After this he came to America, locating at Batesville, Indiana, where his death occurred. In his native land he had been a wooden-shoe maker, and in addition to following this form of handicraft also operated a small farm after coming to America. He was one of the first members of St. John's Lutheran congregation at Huntersville.

Mrs. Klingworth's father, Frederick Beinke, learned the blacksmith trade in Germany and followed this occupation in Cincinnati and also in Batesville. He also was a stationary engineer and operated the first engine in Batesville. For many years he was employed as an engineer at the Union furniture factory. He and his family were members of the same congrega- tion as that of which his father was a member. Thus the Beinke family have been identified with the history of St. John's Lutheran church for more than sixty years. Frederick Beinke and wife were the parents of ten chil- dren, Fred, Christopher, Henry, Lizzie, Herman, Louisa, Otto, Mary, John and William. Of these children, Henry, Lizzie and Otto are deceased.

Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Klingworth, Sena Ossie and Roy Albert. The family are all active members of the Lutheran church, and contribute liberally to its support, and are properly regarded as among the leaders in their neighborhood circle.

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JACOB GILLMAN.

The farmers of Franklin county rank well with the tillers of the soil to be found in other parts of Indiana. Whitewater valley has been noted for a century as one of the garden spots of the state and its farmers have been raising excellent crops here for more than a hundred years. They have introduced crop rotation, scientific fertilization and the latest methods of agriculture. It has been truly said that anyone could raise good crops on virgin soil, but it takes scientific farmers to get good results from land which has been under cultivation for a long period of years. Brookville township has many excellent farmers and among this number may be mentioned Jacob Gillman, who owns one hundred and eight acres of land in this township.

Jacob Gillman, the son of Philip and Mary (Harstman) Gillman, was born in Franklin county April 11, 1870. His father was born in Germany and came with. his parents, Philip Gillman, Sr., and wife, to America when he was eighteen years of age. Philip Gillman, Sr., and wife had five chil- dren, Peter, Jacob, Dorotha, Margaret and Philip, Jr., the father of Jacob. Two of these children, Peter and Margaret, are still living.

Philip Gillman, Jr., the father of Jacob, with whom this narrative deals, received his education in Germany. As soon as he came with his parents to Franklin county, Indiana, he began to work on his father's farm and so con- tinued until his marriage. He accumulated one hundred and twenty-seven acres of land in Highland township and became one of the influential men of his community. Philip Gillman and wife were the parents of seven chil- dren, Philip, Peter, Emma, Anna, Mary, Jacob and Hannah.

Philip Gillman, Jr., married Rose Schuck and has four children, Jacob, Anthony, Anna and Charles. Peter, a farmer of Highland township, married Lottie Schlemmer, and has one daughter, Marie. Emma is the wife of Simon Zahn, of Indianapolis. Mr. and Mrs. Zahn have seven children, Frank, Magdalena, Mary, George, William, Edward and Marie. Anna is the wife of Michael Roell, of Harrison, Ohio, and has nine children, Frank, Rosie, John, Joseph, Lena, Lillian, Nora, Maggie and Albert. Mary is the wife of Frank Roell, a brother of Michael, and lives in Harrison, Ohio. They have eight children, William, Leo, Emma, Minnie, Anna, George, Clarence and Ralph. Hannah married Lewis Schuck, of South Gate, Indiana, and has three children, George, Rosa and Frank.

Jacob Gillman was educated in the public schools of Franklin county and from his earliest boyhood days worked on his father's farm. After his marriage he rented a farm in Dearborn county for a few years, but in 1901

JACOB GILLMAN AND FAMILY.

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returned to Franklin county and bought his present farm of one hundred and eight acres. He has placed all of the buildings on this farm and by ceaseless industry and good management has so conducted his affairs as to rank among the progressive farmers of the county.

Mr. Gillman was married May 30, 1899, to Margaret Wilhelm, to which union have been born four children, all of whom are still living at home with their parents, Catherine, Albert, Rosa and Clarence.

Mrs. Gillman is a daughter of John H. and Catherine Elizabeth (Han- dorf) Wilhelm. Mr. and Mrs. Wilhelm have four children, Margaret, the wife of Mr. Gillman; Mary, who became the wife of John Bleill, has four children, Louisa, Edward, Norbert and Henry; Minnie, who married Henry Wesseler, has one daughter, Marie; and Edward, who is still single.

Mr. Gillman and the members of his family all are devoted members of the Catholic church, in the various activities of which they take an earnest in- terest and likewise are interested in all good works in their neighborhood, few families in that neighborhood being held in higher regard or more gen- eral esteem than they. Industry and ceaseless attention to the sound prin- ciples of living have brought to Mr. Gillman their invariable reward and he very properly is regarded as one of the leading men in his part of the county. He is a Democrat and takes an intelligent interest in local politics, but never has had aspirations for public office, preferring to give his undivided atten- tion to the proper administration of his own affairs.

MARTIN LAMPE.

Not only are the farmers the backbone of this nation, but Franklin county farmers are hardly surpassed anywhere in the world. Among this number Martin Lampe is eminently deserving of recognition in this volume, and it is a pleasure for the biographer here to present a brief sketch of his career.

Martin Lampe was born November 12, 1864, in Cincinnati, Ohio, the son of Henry and Catherine (Holtmeyer) Lampe, the former born June 23, 1835, and the latter born September 7, 1839. Henry Lampe died March 22, 1914. He was a native of Germany, and his wife was born in Holland. He was a wagon-maker by trade in his native country, and came to America as a young man, settling in Cincinnati, where he worked at his trade. He re-

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mained in that city until 1865, when he moved to a farm of eighty acres, which he bought in Butler township, Franklin county, Indiana, and farmed there the remainder of his days.

To Henry and Catherine (Holtmeyer) Lampe were born: Catherine, who became the wife of Anthony Evers, and lives in Cincinnati, Ohio; George, who married Eliza Fuchtman and lives in Shelbyville, Indiana; Mar- tin, with whom this narrative deals; Sophia, who married John Game; Mary, who is the wife of Joseph Smetting and lives in Cincinnati; Frank, who was never married, was a carpenter, and was killed by a fall from a building in Cincinnati; Henry, who died at the age of twenty-three, married Elizabeth Finigan and lived in Benton county, Indiana; Charles, of Kanka- kee, Illinois, who married Kathryn Garrity; Anna, unmarried, lives in Cincinnati, Ohio; Margaret. unmarried, also lives in Cincinnati; Anthony, single, lives at Connersville, Indiana. The family were all devout members of the Catholic church at Oldenburg, Indiana, while politically, the sons were all Democrats. Henry Lampe was supervisor in Butler township for eight years and discharged the duties of that office with great honesty of purpose.

Martin Lampe received his education in the Catholic schools at Olden- burg. As a young man he started farming, purchasing the farm where he now lives, consisting of one hundred and twenty acres of good farming land. In 1913 he built the house in which he now lives and has otherwise improved and developed his farm until it is one of the best in the township. He is engaged in general farming and stock raising, meeting with a fair degree of success in his efforts. In addition to his farming, Mr. Lampe also raises some fine live stock, not only cattle and hogs, but good horses, for which he finds a ready market. One of his fine horses is a large Belgian stallion called "Jud," a remarkably well-trained and valuable animal.

Mr. Lampe was married in 1892 to Mary Etter, the daughter of Peter and Barbara (Gauch) Etter. Mrs. Lampe was born August 5, 1867, and is one of nine children born to her parents, the others being Michael, Carrie, Rose, Frank, Edward, Anna, Albert and Clara, all of whom are living. Peter Etter was born at New Orleans and died December 27, 1914, at the age of seventy-three, at his home southeast of Oldenburg, this county. He was brought here when eight months old by his parents, Peter and Catherine Etter, who located on a farm southeast of Oldenburg and there he spent the rest of his life. His wife; who was Barbara Gauch, was born June 1, 1845, at St. Nicholas, in Riley county, and still lives in the old Etter home near Oldenburg.

To Martin and Mary (Etter) Lampe eight children have been born:

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Clara, born March 9, 1893; Rose, born May 17, 1895; Frank, born February 17, 1897; Harry, born October 31, 1899; Alma, born November 29, 1901 ; Martin, born December 2, 1903; Anna, born March 8, 1905; Lauretta, born September 7, 1908.

Mr. Lampe and family are all members of the Catholic church at Olden- burg, while politically, he is identified with the Democratic party, but has never taken an active interest in political affairs, preferring to devote his at- tention to his farming interests. Mr. Lampe and his family are highly re- spected citizens in the community where they live and have a large circle of friends who admire them for their many good qualities of head and heart.

FRANK D. BELTER.

The best title that may be established to the high and generous esteem of an intelligent community is a protracted and honorable residence in that community. Frank D. Belter, one of the better known and most highly esteemed men of Ray township, Franklin county, has resided in the same lo- cality all of his lifè. His career has been a most commendable one in every respect and well deserves to be perpetuated in the pages of a historical work of this kind. He is a man of well defined purpose and has become the owner of a splendid farm, which he cultivates with good skill and rare management.

Frank D. Belter was born on the farm where he now lives in Ray town- ship, Franklin county, Indiana, October 16, 1867, the son of Frederick Will- iam and Charlotta (Rotafelt) Belter, both of whom were natives of Germany, the former born in 1824. His father died on June 5, 1910, and his mother died August 5, 1909.

Frederick W. Belter came to America when a young man and settled first in Cincinnati, Ohio, where he remained five or six years. About the year 1844 he came to Franklin county and bought a farm of eighty acres in Ray township, where he spent the rest of his life. His farm was not cleared when he came to Franklin county and he put up rough buildings. He kept buying land until at the time of his death he owned three hundred and twenty acres. He was always engaged in general farming and stock raising. He and his wife were the parents of thirteen children: August, who died at the age of twenty-one; Minnie, who married Dr. Ernest Timmerman ; John, who married Louisa Hasse; Carrie, who married Bernard Stickfort; Henry, who married Sophia Brakence; Louisa, who died in childhood; Dora, deceased, who married Fred Weatman; Elizabeth, who married John Traves ; Louis,

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who married Hannah Wert; Frederick, who married Minnie Miller; Frank, the subject of this sketch; Anna, who married William Paunne, and Lilly, who married Fred Bosse. The family are all members of the Lutheran church at Huntersville, and in politics the men are Democrats.

Frank D. Belter was educated in the public schools of Ray township, and as a young man began farming on the farm where he now lives. He rented it of his father for a time and bought it in 1911. The farm consists of one hundred and sixty acres. Mr. Belter engages in general farming and stock raising.

Frank Belter was married in 1897 to Mary Bosse, the daughter of Clemens and Louisa (Schwegman) Bosse, and to this union two children have been born : Albert, born March 31, 1899, and Eleanor, born August 7, 1903.

Mr. Belter and family are members of the Lutheran church at Hunters- ville, and he is a Democrat, although he has never held office, preferring, rather, to devote his energies to his private business than to hold office. He and Mrs. Belter are highly respected in the community where they live.

ANTHONY WILLIAM WAECHTER.

There are many enterprises which bring almost immediate success, but few such successes are lasting. It is not thus with farming, however though prosperity in this line of endeavor comes only with long years of labor, 'of almost desperate struggles against the elements and unforeseen enemies. The German farmers have taken hold of these difficulties firmly and have over- come them. By frugal habits of living and by constant pushing forward they have built splendid homes on fine farms and have, in their old age, been able to retire, living comfortably on the returns of their labors. Anthony William Waechter, one of the enterprising farmers of Ray township, Frank- lin county, Indiana, although little past middle age, has acquired a comfort- able competence and is able to enjoy the remainder of his life as he chooses.

Anthony William Waechter was born on the farm where he now lives in Ray township, Franklin county, June 1, 1863, the son of Herman and Sophia (Lampen) Waechter, the former born in November, 1818, in Hano- ver, Germany, and the latter born in 1823 in the same place. Herman Waechter died May 12, 1905, and his wife died February 28, 1905.

The paternal grandfather of Anthony William Waechter was Edward Waechter, who was born in Germany, and came to America to live with his

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sons, who were already in this country. He lived the remainder of his life with his sons in Ray township, Franklin county, Indiana.

Herman Waechter was educated in the public schools of Germany and came to America at the age of eighteen. He worked on flat boats between Cincinnati and New Orleans about two years and later, for another period of two years, drove a huckster wagon between Oldenburg and Cincinnati. He then worked two years on the canals in Ohio and in railroad construction, after which he bought a farm of sixty acres in Ray township in 1844 and lived there the remainder of his life. He erected the first building put up on this farm. In 1860 he bought fifty acres adjoining his home. Herman and Sophia (Lampen) Waechter were the parents of seven children: Henry, who died single at the age of twenty-six; Theresa, who married Henry Buck- er, died at the age of fifty-two; Mary, who died unmarried; Elizabeth, now deceased, was a nun at Oldenburg; Bernard, who died at the age of seven ; Anthony, the subject of this sketch, and Philomina, who died at the age of three. Herman Waechter was a Democrat in politics and he and his family were members of the Holy Family Catholic church at Oldenburg.

Anthony William Waechter was educated in the public and parochial schools at Oldenburg. As a young man he started to work on a farm and began farming for himself in 1897. He now owns an excellent farm of one hundred and twenty-two acres, where he engages in general farming and stock raising.

Anthony William Waechter was married June 16, 1897, to Mary Bess- ler, who was born July 2, 1878, the daughter of John and Gertrude (Uhlen- brink) Bessler, of Millhausen, Decatur county, Indiana, and to this union were born seven children: Amelia, born March 25, 1898; Harry, born July 24, 1899 ; Leonard, born March IS, 1901 ; Leona, born November 1I, 1903; Gertrude, born August 19, 1905; Edwin, born March 18, 1907, died one week later, and Eleanor, born February 10, 1908.

Mrs. Waechter is one of two children born to her mother's first marriage. The other child, John, married Minnie Lecher. Mr. Bessler died in 1880 and his widow married Herman Boing in 1885. To this latter union two children were born: Catherine, who married Joseph Suttman, and Gertrude, who died at the age of twenty-three.

The Waechter family is one of the oldest and most highly respected families of Ray township. Mr. Waechter is a Democrat and served six years, from 1909 to 1915, as township trustee, performing the duties of that office in an entirely satisfactory manner. The family are members of the Holy Family Catholic church at Oldenburg. Mr. Waechter is not only

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thrifty as a farmer, but he is public spirited and possessed of a genial dispo- sition, which makes him universally popular among the people of that neigh- borhood, a community in which he is regarded as one of the leaders and in the various good works of which he and his family are active participants.

HARRY KOESTER.

Among the successful farmers of Ray township, Franklin county, In- diana, is Harry Koester, born February 23, 1870, on the farm where he now lives.

Harry Koester is the son of Hermann and Rosina (Dickman) Koester, the former of whom was born in Germany, April 4, 1835, and died in Frank- lin county, March 31, 1895, and the latter of whom was born April 23, 1844, and died January 6, 1906. Hermann Koester was one of eight chil- dren born to his parents : Dora, Hermann, Henry, Gesina, Louisa, Elizabeth, William and Henrietta. Hermann Koester and his wife were much beloved in Ray township, where they spent the greater part of their lives. Herman Koester came to America with his parents as a young man about sixteen years of age. Arriving in Baltimore, the Koesters came on to Cincinnati, and from there they came to Ripley county. When he began farming for himself Mr. Koester bought a farm of one hundred acres in Ray township. At this time the place was only partly cleared. He put up all the buildings on the place except the house. Three years later he went to live on his brother's place as a consequence of his brother's untimely death. Here he operated a saw mill for six years and then returned to the farm where he had formerly lived and remained there the rest of his life.

Eight children were born to Hermann Koester and wife: Harry, with whom this narrative deals ; Gesina, who married Albert Zierer, lives in Bates- ville and has two sons, Clifford and Reuben : Dora, who married Fred Borne- meier, of Batesville; Elizabeth, who died at the age of seventeen ; Louisa, who is a nurse in the Deaconess hospital at Indianapolis; Rosa, who is single and makes her home on the home farm with her brother Harry; William, who married Bertha Klusman; and Robert, who married Carrie Thielking and has one child, Luella.

Hermann Koester was a member of the St. John's Lutheran church at Huntersville, and in politics was identified with the Republican party. He had much to do with the early history of Franklin county, and while he lived was one of those noble men whose place in a community it is hard to fill.

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Harry Koester was educated in the public schools of Huntersville, as were his brothers and sisters. As a young man he worked on the home farm and has been managing it for himself during a period of twenty-five years. He has been unusually successful as a farmer and is regarded as a frugal and economical manager, enjoying the full respect and esteem of the com- munity where he lives.

GEORGE W. HARTMANN.

Germany has furnished thousands of good citizens for the state of Indiana and Franklin county. The descendants of these early German set- tlers in this state are characterized by the same thrift and economy which made their forefathers the leading farmers and business men of the various communities in which they settled. George W. Hartmann, one of the leading farmers and stockmen of Ray township, Franklin county, Indiana, is .a descendant of one of the early German settlers of Dearborn county, Indiana. During his long residence in Ray township, Franklin county, George W. Hartmann has won a warm place in the hearts of his neighbors and friends. He is unassuming and unpretentious, although decidedly progressive and enterprising.

George W. Hartmann was born August 30, 1865, in Dearborn county, Indiana. the son of John and Magdelina (Roll) Hartmann, the former a native of Germany and the latter of Dearborn county, Indiana. George W. Hartmann's grandfather, Henry Hartmann, spent all of his days in Germany, where he owned a small farm and reared a family of several children.

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History of Franklin County, Indiana : her people, industries and institutions, Part 120

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