History of Franklin County, Indiana : her people, industries and institutions, Part 126

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

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The paternal grandfather of George H. Brady was William Brady, a son of Samuel Brady. Samuel Brady and his wife were the parents of two sons and several daughters, the two sons being William and Joseph. William Brady came to Indiana in 1817 and entered one hundred and sixty acres of land in Franklin county. He had previously married Sarah Thurston, and had three children when he located in the county. He settled in Bath town- ship and farmed there until his death. Eight children were born to William Brady and wife, John P., Samuel, Rachel, Susanna, Joseph, Emmeline, Mary Ann and Elizabeth.

The children of John P. Brady by his second marriage were educated in the schools of Springfield township and have never felt any desire to leave the township of their nativity. After the marriage of George H. Brady he settled down on a farm in this county, and for many years has been renting his present farm of one hundred and fourteen acres.

Mr. Brady was married August 15, 1888, to Lillie Zink, a daughter of James and Susan (Grove) Zink, and to this union has been born one son, Zerley, who was born June 8, 1889, was graduated from the Brookville high school, became a student of Indiana State Normal at Terre Haute, and is now teaching school in this county. He was married May 27, 1914, to Mabel Stanley.

To James and Susan (Grove) Zink were born four children, Sarah, Mary E., Jennie and Lillie. Sarah was the wife of Joseph Henderson, of Marion, Indiana, and has three children, Clinton, Clifford and Ora. Mary L., now deceased, was the wife of James Minor, and left her husband with three children, William, deceased, Edith and Olie. Jennie, the wife of David Spencer, has seven children, Arthur, Pearl, Minnie, David, Mattie, Roy and Wilmer. James Zink was a skilled blacksmith, a resident of Mixersville, this county. He was a son of William Zink, a native of Virginia, and an early settler of Franklin county, and died December 2, 1913.

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Mr. Brady is a member of the Knights of Pythias and the Improved Order of Red Men. His wife belongs to the Methodist Episcopal church at Bath, and gives it her hearty support. While Mr. Brady is not a member of the church, yet he is a firm believer in the Baptist faith and subscribes of his means to the support of the denomination. Mr. Brady's clean and wholesome life have won for him the respect and esteem of his fellow citizens to a marked degree.

ELMER GIFFEN.

Although he was not born in Franklin county, Indiana, Elmer Giffen has been a resident of the county since 1870, when he came to this county with his parents from Butler county, Ohio. His father was an unusually successful farmer and he has followed in the footsteps of his worthy ancestor. He now owns a well improved farm of one hundred and ten acres in Spring- field township, where he carries on a diversified system of farming and stock raising.

Elmer Giffen, the son of David and Martha (Wiekard) Giffen, was born in Butler county, Ohio, November 12, 1859. His father was born in the same county and lived there several years after his marriage. He came to Franklin county, Indiana, about 1870 and settled in Springfield township, where he bought a farm of one hundred and sixty-five acres. He and his wife had only one child, Elmer, whose history forms the theme of this narrative. David Giffen died November 6, 1914, his wife having died December 26, 1905.

The paternal grandparents of Elmer Giffen were Stephen and Elizabeth (Smith) Giffen. Stephen Giffen was an active worker in the Methodist church, and a man who was highly esteemed in his community. Six children were born to Stephen Giffen and wife, David, John, Stephen, Jr., Samuel, Mary and Martha. Of these children, Stephen, Jr., served in the Civil War and is the only one now living. He makes his home at Dayton, Ohio.

Elmer Giffen received part of his education in the schools of Butler county, Ohio, and completed his education in Franklin county, Indiana. He was about eleven years of age when his parents located in this county and his whole career since that time has been spent here. After his marriage, in 1884, Mr. Giffen rented land in Bath township for about two years. He then bought his present farm of one hundred and ten acres in Springfield town- ship and has been living on the same for more than twenty years. He built

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his present commodious residence and has placed many other improvements on the farm, which have not only added to its value but have added to its general attractiveness.

Mr. Giffen was married February 14, 1884, to Emma Appleton, the daughter of Thomas and Martha Appleton.

Mr. Giffen has never cared to take an active part in political affairs. Nevertheless, he always gives his support to all measures of general welfare and in every way indicates that he has an interest in the life of the com- munity about him. Personally, he is a man of genial manner and kindly dis- position and charitable to the faults of others, and such has been the charac- ter of his life that he merits the high esteem in which he is held by those who know him.

ROLLIE LEE.

It is interesting to note that Franklin county was one of the thirteen counties which petitioned Congress for an Enabling Act in 1815. At that time Franklin county had a total population of 7,370, with a voting population of 1,430. The county was the next largest in the territory, Knox county having less than a thousand more inhabitants. It would be difficult to enu- merate the heads of the families who were living in Franklin county in 1815, but it certainly is interesting to know that the county was next to the largest in the territory at that time. It is probable that the Lee family, worthily rep- resented in this section by Rollie Lee, settled in Franklin county before 1815.

Rollie Lee, the son of Minor and Sarah (Crawford) Lee, was born in Bath township June 5, 1883. His parents had seven children, Charles M., Mary E., Ernest, Arthur, Rollie, Lura and Luther. Of these children, Lura and Luther are deceased. Charles M., a farmer of Franklin county, Indiana, married Fannie Samuels and has five children, Raymond, Wilbur, Lena, India and Harry. Mary E. has been twice married, her first husband being Ernest Welliver, who left her with one daughter, Bessie, and her second hus- band being William Wadleigh, two children being born to the second mar- riage, Lee and Harry. Ernest, the third child of Minor Lee and wife, mar- ried Della Wade and has three children, Mildred. Georgie and Florence, de- ceased. Arthur married Clara Stibbons and has three children, Hilda, Helen and Robert.

Minor Lee, the father of Rollie, was born in Franklin county May 17. 1849, and was reared on the Lee homestead. After reaching his majority he

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married Sarah Crawford, a daughter of Charles and Mary N. (Gibble) Crawford. Charles Crawford, the father of Mrs. Minor Lee, was a son of Robert and Elizabeth (Chaber) Crawford, of Butler county, Ohio. Charles Crawford was twice married, his first wife being Mary N. Gibble, to which union were born five children, Harriet, Nelson, Robert, Willard and Sarah, the latter of whom was the wife of Rollie Lee's father. The second wife of Charles Crawford was Phoebe Watson and to this second union five children were born, Martha, Nellie, Eve, Lena and Laura.

The paternal grandfather of Rollie Lee was Jordan Lee, who was born in Franklin county and lived his whole life here. He was a member of the home guards during the Civil War, but was never called out for duty. Jordan Lee married Dashiby Martin, the daughter of John Martin and to this union eight children were born, Rebecca, Samuel, Minor, Joseph, Marion, Melissa, Louisa and Lincoln. Four of these children are deceased, Samuel, Melissa, Louisa and Lincoln. The first wife of Jordan Lee died and he married, sec- ondly, Rebecca Circle, to which second marriage were born two sons, Sher- man, deceased, and Hugh.

The paternal great-grandfather of Rollie Lee was Abraham Lee, who was one of the early settlers of Franklin county, coming here from Kentucky. He entered one hundred and sixty acres of land and became a man of in- fluence in his community. He was a Republican in politics, a Baptist in relig- ion and a man active in all local affairs. He was married in Kentucky and he and his worthy wife were the parents of six children, William, Jordan, Runyan, Simpson, Margaret and Eunice.

Rollie Lee, the third in direct line of the Lee family to be born in Frank- lin county, was educated in the district schools of Bath township. His boy- hood days were divided between the school room and the work on the farm and thus he had manual along with his mental labors. Since his marriage he has been managing A. W. Lewis' farm of one hundred and eighty acres in Springfield township and although he has had charge of the farm only a few years he already has demonstrated the right to be included among the representative farmers of the township.

Mr. Lee was married January 28, 1909, to Emma Bossert, the daughter of Henry Bossert. Mr. and Mrs. Lee have one daughter, Elsie.

Mr. Lee is a Republican, but while taking an intelligent interest in the welfare of his party, has preferred to devote all of his time and attention to his agricultural affairs. He and his wife are members of the church and are interested in all community good works.

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JOSEPH C. SCHAF.

The prestige of a county is to be determined not so much by the average of its citizenship, as by the very best and most successful citizens whom it nourishes. Great men have made otherwise obscure communities famous as the scene of their nativity. Wayne county, Indiana, while it has many claims to distinction, bases its greatest claim as the birthplace of Indiana's great war governor, Oliver P. Morton. While Franklin county has other claims to greatness, it cannot be denied that the business success of one of its noted sons, now a resident of Indianapolis, is sufficient to establish and maintain this fame. Franklin county was the birthplace of Joseph C. Schaf, undoubtedly one of the foremost commercial geniuses of the state of In- diana. In twenty years Joseph C. Schaf has arisen from comparatively humble financial circumstances to a position of great power in the financial and commercial world. In all this time he has never lost sight of his larger duties, because of the added power which wealth has given him, and has performed every civic and social duty in the spirit of one who knows that he is only the custodian of wealth to accomplish great and lasting benefits that are greater than wealth itself. Joseph C. Schaf is an affable, demo- cratic, whole-souled man of affairs, notwithstanding his great successes. In his youth he worked as a "news-butcher" on trains and transferred baggage to and from hotels in Brookville. He did all sorts of things that become a natural American boy and has not forgotten these humble services because they were the foundation of his later triumphs.

Joseph C. Schaf was born near Brookville on a farm, January 14, 1859, the son of Peter and Katherine (Scholl) Schaf. Peter Schaf was born about 1826 in Lorraine, near Strassburg, now a German province, but at that time a part of France, and died July 31, 1893. The father and mother of Peter Schaf were Nicholas and Marie (Haller) Schaf, both natives of Lor- raine. Nicholas Schaf and his wife both came to America. They were the parents of five children, two girls and three boys, only two of whom are living, Mrs. Elizabeth Lux, the wife of a wealthy farmer, living in Shelby county, and a brother, Nicholas, who also lives in Shelby county. Nicholas Schaf, Sr., was born July 21, 1797, and his wife was born February 14, 1801. After coming to America, in 1838, they settled in Dearborn county and here resided until Mr. Schaf's death. Mrs. Schaf died several years later at Madison, Indiana, at the home of a daughter.

Peter Schaf, after landing at New Orleans, worked on a steamboat on the Ohio and Mississippi rivers. He and Mark Twain were partners and

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cabin boys on the Mississippi. He remained on the river for thirty years and worked up from a cabin boy to the highest position. His uncle was, at one time, the owner of a packet line. Peter Schaf married Katherine Scholl at St. Mary's Catholic church at Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1850, the mar- riage- ceremony being performed by Rev. Father Hammer. Mrs. Schaf was a native of Bavaria, having been born in 1824. At the time of her marriage she was living in Cincinnati with her brother, Adam Scholl. After living in Cincinnati for some time, Mr. and Mrs. Peter Schaf moved to Franklin county, Indiana, January 1, 1870. They moved to Brookville, In- diana, and bought the Valley House, at that time one of the largest hotels in southern Indiana. Just prior to this time Mr. and Mrs. Schaf had lived on a farm in Franklin county. Peter Schaf became known as one of the most popular hotel keepers in the state. The old Valley House, which he operated so long, is still standing and is still owned by the family. This famous old hostelry was sold by Mr. Schaf in 1886 to his two sons-in-law, Michael P. Senefeld and W. A. Koehler, after which Mr. Schaf built a house in Brookville, where he lived retired the remainder of his life. In 1892 he was elected to the Legislature from Franklin county, against his will however, but served one term in the Indiana General Assembly in joint representation from Franklin, Union and Fayette counties. Mr. and Mrs. Peter Schaf were the parents of ten children, who are referred to elsewhere in this volume in the life sketch of Peter Schaf.

Joseph C. Schaf was educated in Cincinnati and in the commercial col- lege at St. Meinrad, Indiana. After his graduation from this college, he returned to Brookville. In 1879 he left Brookville and went west to Colo- rado, where he was engaged in railroad work. One year later he returned to Cincinnati and for some time traveled for a distilling company. He con- tinued in this work for six years and then went to Indianapolis in 1887. In this year Mr. Schaf entered into the brewing business and was connected with the C. Maus brewery until 1890, when it was sold to an English syndi- cate. Then Mr. Schaf organized the American Brewing Company and built the brewery of which he is the sole owner. Joseph C. Schaf is a part owner of the Waverly Electric Company and is a director and stockholder of the Fletcher American National Bank, of Indianapolis, and the Fletcher Savings and Trust Company, of Indianapolis. He is also a director of the Claypool Hotel Company. Mr. Schaf also owns much rental property in Indianapolis.

Joseph C. Schaf was married in 1887 to Josephine (Maus) Schaf, who was born in Dearborn county, near Lawrenceburg, Indiana, and who went to Indianapolis in childhood. To this union two children have been born, Alice

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Louise and Joseph C., Jr., both of whom are still single and live with their parents in Indianapolis.

Mr. Schaf is a Republican, and has been an active worker in this party all of his life. He has held many important offices, both in his state and in the city of Indianapolis. Mr. Schaf is a member of almost all of the prom- inent clubs of Indianapolis and was formerly president of the Columbia Club. The Schaf family are members of the Catholic church. Mr. Schaf is well informed on all public questions and has traveled extensively, both in this country and abroad. His travels, however, have not interfered with his business career, for he is still active in business and expects to continue so for many years.

The career of Joseph C. Schaf has been no idle dream but it is to be remembered that he comes of good stock, his great-grandfather having been a general under Napoleon and his grandfather having been a fort keeper in the present war center of Europe. Despite his success, he is an unassuming and quiet man.

GEORGE PAX.

Many of the residents of this county are of German descent and, like their countrymen wherever found, are noted for their thrift and industry. The Germans have always been welcome immigrants to this country and have done much for the advancement of this community. Among those who were born in Germany and settled in this county is George Pax, of Spring- field township.

George Pax was born in Germany November 7, 1859, the son of John and Josephine (Ost) Pax, to whom were born seven children, as follow : John, Mary, George, Joseph, Lena, Anna and Fred. Of these, John, who was a millwright for twenty years, married Anna Wilhelm and now is a farmer in Mercer county, Ohio. Mary married Edward Fusner, both of whom afterward were drowned in Blue creek, which was overflowing its banks, when they attempted to ford it. This occurred twenty-two years ago. Joseph married Louise Wilhelm and lives at Mercer county, Ohio. Lena married John Hartmann, who was afterward killed by an accidental gun- shot while climbing a fence. Anna married Piris Piestner.

John Pax, the father of George Pax, came to America, bringing his family in 1863. He settled at Cleveland, Ohio, where he had kinsfolk and where he remained for a year, later moving to St. Peters, Indiana, where he

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located on and farmed forty acres. This he later increased by adding sixty acres. His wife died in 1877 and he died about ten years ago. John Pax and family were members of the Catholic church, to which they were de- voutly attached.

George Pax was but five years old when his father decided to come to this country. He attended school for awhile. After leaving school, he hired out by the month at various places, this being the custom in those days. He followed various 'occupations for about twelve years, three years of which time was spent in a flour mill. After coming to St. Peters, in this state, he married May Albaugh. They lived at the old home place for a year and then purchased a place. May Albaugh was the daughter of John and Theresa (Linder) Albaugh, the other children of whom were Lewis, Kate, George, Clarence, Martin, Earl, Stephen and two who died in infancy. Stephen married Catherine Reisert and lives at Ft. Wayne. Lewis married Elizabeth Brindle and lives at Brookville. Katherine is single and lives at Brookville. George married Elizabeth Piestner and resides in Minnesota. Eva married Stephen Bruder and resides at Ft. Wayne. Martin married Clara Hartmann and lives at Brookville and Clara resides at the old home.

George Pax is engaged in general farming on his well-kept place of eighty-six and one-half acres in Springfield township. Mr. and Mrs. Pax are lovers of music. They recently purchased a player piano and their home is the center of the music lovers of their neighborhood. They are fond of entertaining their friends and treat them to splendid musical programs. They have no children but have a large circle of young friends who visit them quite often. Mr. and Mrs. Pax are members of the Catholic church. Mr. Pax is public spirited and is very popular, as also is his wife.

ADAM SHUMAKER.

At all times considered the most important of life's vocations, farming never was on a higher plane than it is today. The farmer lives close to nature and not only is beset by fewer temptations but possesses more and larger opportunities for developing strength and ruggedness of character than has one who follows many of the other vocations. One of the most prominent farmers of this county is Adam Shumaker, who has followed this occupation the greater part of his life.

Adam Shumaker was born in Cleveland, Ohio, October 24, 1859, the son of Nicholas and Mary E. (Seipel) Shumaker. To Nicholas and Mary

ADAM SHUMAKER AND FAMILY.

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Shumaker were born six children as follows: Julia, Catherine, Elizabeth, Adam, Lena and Louisa.

Nicholas Shumaker, father of Adam Shumaker, was a native of Ger- many. Realizing that the advantages for individual progress in that country at that day were quite limited, he came to this country in 1852 and located in Cleveland, Ohio, where Adam Shumaker was born. In 1867 Nicholas Shumaker came to Indiana and settled in this county where he bought eighty acres of land. He lived here until 1888 when he moved to Muncie, Indiana, where his death occurred in 1899. He belonged to the Catholic church of which he was a very devout member. Like all of his countrymen he had the native thrift of the German and soon became pos- sessed of sufficient means to enable him to live comfortably. During his residence in this county he earned the respect and consideration of his neighbors. He had a wide acquaintance and endeared himself to all with whom he came in contact.

Adam Shumaker was quite young when he came to Franklin county with his father and the greater part of his schooling was secured in this county. He spent the early youth of his life assisting his father on the farm, where he gained the fine training and substantial foundation for suc- cess that have been of such invaluable aid to him in his life's struggle. On January 12, 1886, he was married to Catherine Walter, daughter of An- drew and Caroline (Grosman) Walter, of Ripley county. After his mar- riage he lived on his father's place for one year, at the end of which time he located in Bath township where he purchased a farm of sixty acres. He applied himself to developing this farm, devoting it to general agriculture and soon had a splendid farm. This he sold in 1905 and bought one hundred and sixty acres in Brookville township where he now lives. Mr. Shumaker has achieved considerable distinction in this part of the state as a cattle raiser. His fine drove of Duroc Jersey hogs and fine drove of Holstein cattle have given him more than a merely local reputation among those who give closest attention to the live-stock industry.

To Mr. and Mrs. Shumaker have been born six children, Mary, Rose, deceased, Anthony, Jennie, deceased, Adeline and Charles, the four who are still living, all of whom are remaining at home with their parents. Mr. Shu- maker and family are members of the Catholic church with which they are prominently identified, and he is a member of the St. Michael Society at Brookville. In his various activities of life Mr. Shumaker has devoted an interested attention to the more worthy affairs of this county that has com- mended him to the favor of his fellow citizens.

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IRA STOUT.

The history of many families in this county is teeming with interest. Many of those living here are descendants of persons who took a very active part in the affairs of the nation and who were very prominent and known as leading colonists as far back as 1620. There are some families in America and a few living in Franklin county who would be glad to consider them- selves included among what would be called the first families of America, those families that are able to trace their ancestry directly to someone who settled in America between 1620 and the Revolution. Among the families who are able to trace their lineage back to progenitors who were active in the early counsels of this nation and in its affairs, is the Stout family of this county, of which Ira Stout, of Brookville township, is a member. As early as 1620, when the Pilgrim party was just landing at Plymouth Rock, the Stout family already was known among the earlier colonists.

Ira Stout was born June 2, 1873, in Brookville township, Franklin county, Indiana. His father was John Stout, who also was born in this county May 7, 1835. John Stout was twice married, his first wife having been Maggie Wynn, a member of one of the oldest families in the county, to whom was born one child, who died in infancy. Upon the death of his first wife, Mr. Stout married, secondly, Jane Brady, the daughter of John P. Brady, and to them were born two children, Ira C. and Indiana. Indiana married Parry Elwell, of Franklin county, and has four children, and Ira is on the home farm.

John Stout, father of Ira Stout, was born and spent his early life on the homestead. He received the advantages of such meager educational facilities as the schools of that day afforded, but the lack of educational facilities only accentuated the greater abilities and intelligence of the pioneers of those days and John Stout, who had a great deal of energy and intelligence, soon became a man of substantial means. After his marriage he acquired addi- tional land and at the time of his death owned one hundred and forty acres of land in this county. He died December 7, 1898, a prominent citizen and highly respected by all who knew him.

The grandfather of Ira Stout was Ira Stout, who was a direct descend- ant of Richard Stout, the founder of the family in America. Richard Stout, according to all available records, settled in New York, which was then called New Amsterdam, having located in that place as early as 1618, two years before the Pilgrim party settled in America. His son, Jonathan, was a settler of Hopewell, New Jersey. A number of the Stout family followed

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History of Franklin County, Indiana : her people, industries and institutions, Part 126

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