USA > Indiana > Franklin County > History of Franklin County, Indiana : her people, industries and institutions > Part 134
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The paternal grandfather of Peter Hittel was Philip Hittel, who came to America in an early day and settled at Wolf Creek, Franklin county. He arrived in this country about 1825 and later moved to Oldenburg, where he died. He operated a saloon at Wolf Creek, but later retired and lived in Oldenburg. The maternal grandfather of Peter Hittel was John Weigan, a native of Germany, who was a school teacher in his native land. He went to Cincinnati in 1840 when Philip Hittel's mother was sixteen years old. He was employed to teach school in the parish school at St. Peters, this county, and moved there where he taught for many years. Later in life he moved to Tell City, Indiana, and there spent his last days with his daughter, Mrs. Lizzie Hess.
George Hittel, the father of Peter Hittel, was six years old when he was brought to America. He learned the wagon-maker's trade at Brook- ville and married at Wolf Creek. Later, during the war, he moved to Ken- tucky, remaining there nearly two years. Just at the close of the Civil War he came to Hamburg and started a wagon shop which he operated for
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many years. He later sold out and bought a farm at the northern edge of Hamburg, consisting of fifty-four acres, later adding forty acres, all in Salt Creek township. He and his wife died on this farm which he greatly improved before his death.
Peter Hittel was educated at the Hamburg parish school and farmed until 1901 on the old place. He then entered the saloon business at Ham- burg and is still active in that business. Mr. Hittel's parents are Catholics and have been devout and earnest members of this faith for many genera- tions. Mr. Hittel is a respected citizen in the community where he lives, en- terprising and interested in all good works.
LEO SCHMIDT.
The sawmill is almost a bygone institution in this state because of the scarcity of timber. In some sections, however, where the timber still re- mains, the operation of the sawmill is a most important industry. Franklin county still has considerable timber, and one of the large sawmills of the county is operated by Leo Schmidt, the subject of this sketch, who is also a farmer.
Leo Schmidt was born in Oldenburg, this county, August 9, 1883, the son of Joseph and Josephine ( Lamping) Schmidt. His mother is a daughter of Dietrich Lamping, who was a native of Germany and who came to America many years ago and engaged in farming.
Leo Schmidt not only operates a sawmill, but is a successful farmer. He was educated in the common schools of Franklin county.
Mr. Schmidt was married September 2, 1908, to Clara Gehring, the daughter of William and Lena (Koch) Gehring, and a sister of John B. Gehring, whose sketch, elsewhere in this volume, gives her family history. After his marriage Mr. Schmidt lived for two years with his father. He now owns one hundred and twenty acres of land in Ray township, which his father gave to him and on which he built a new house four years ago. He lives a quarter of a mile outside of Oldenburg proper.
Joseph Schmidt, the father of Leo, owned two hundred and twenty acres of land in Franklin county until recently, when he gave it to his children. Mr. Schmidt was a thresher for many years in Franklin county. He and his wife were the parents of four children, Edward, Leo, Joseph, deceased, and Amanda. Mrs. Schmidt died October 5, 1905. Mr. Schmidt survived
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her until February 11, 1915, when he, too, was called to his eternal home. He was an earnest member of the Catholic church.
The grandfather of Leo Schmidt was Gerhardt Schmidt, who is referred to in the biographical sketch of Henry Schmidt, presented on another page of this important historical work.
Leo Schmidt is one of the most highly respected citizens of the com- munity where he lives, a distinction which he has gained by a long record of honest and careful dealings with the people of his community.
JOSEPH TEBBE.
Farming and stock raising has proved a very profitable combination in recent years. One of the most successful men in Franklin county, who has combined farming and stock raising, is Joseph Tebbe.
Joseph Tebbe was born January 18, 1871, in Butler township, Franklin county, Indiana. His father was a native of Germany, who came to America when a young man and settled in Franklin county, where he worked on a farm until he reached the age of twenty-four years, when he started farming on his own account in Ray township. He is the owner of two fine farms, one of one hundred and sixty acres and the other of one hundred and fifteen acres, both in Ray township.
Joseph Tebbe received his education in the public schools of Ray town- ship, and started to farm as a young man on his father's farm in the same township. In 1889 he bought eighty acres adjoining his original farm, and in December, 1912, he bought his present farm of one hundred and fifteen acres. In addition to general farming and stock raising, Mr. Tebbe keeps a herd of ten milch cows which he finds very profitable. Mr. Tebbė was mar- ried in May, 1900, to Elizabeth Lamping, the daughter of August and Anna (Midendorf) Lamping, and to this union the following children were born : Alvin, born July 20, 1901 ; Laura, born October 24, 1902 ; Clara, born May 25, 1904; Cora, born January 24, 1906; Josephine, born May 8, 1908; Adella, born May 16, 1910, died October, 1910; Mary, born June 2, 1912, and Joseph, born January 1, 1914.
Mr. Tebbe's father married Josephine Ferkinghof, the daughter of Theodore and Catherine (Koenick) Ferkinghof. Their children were: Mary, born in 1852, who married Henry Fisher; Josephine, born 1854, who mar- ried John Ertel; John W., born 1857, who married Anna Grinker; Elizabeth, born 1860, deceased, was the wife of Frank Shepper; Anna, born 1864, is the
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wife of John Brockman; John Theodore, born 1868, who married Mary Con- ray; Joseph, the immediate subject of this sketch, and Teresa, born in 1874, now deceased, was the wife of Harry Houser. Mr. Tebbe, Sr., was a Demo- crat in politics, while; religiously, he and his family were all devout members of the Catholic church. Mr. Tebbe, Sr., died in May, 1897.
Joseph Tebbe now lives on his farm, less than a half mile north of Olden- burg. His mother is still living and makes her home with her son Joseph. His farm adjoins the one his father owned, and which now belongs to the mother and heirs. The eighty acres which Mr. Tebbe bought first adjoins his mother's farm and Mr. Tebbe operates his mother's land along with his own. He is a progressive farmer and stock raiser and keeps a large amount of stock.
Mr. Tebbe is not identified with any particular political party, and takes little interest in partisan affairs, preferring to devote his time and attention to his agricultural interests. The family are all loyal and devoted members of the Catholic church, and contribute liberally of their means to its support.
Mr. Tebbe is held in very high esteem by all the citizens in the commun- ity where he has spent practically all of his life, and this esteem is not unde- served. Perhaps his rather remarkable physique is responsible to a large ex- tent for the splendid and genial temperament of the man, and he counts his friends and acquaintances among all those who know him.
JACOB HIRT.
No occupation gives a man the same independence in life or brings ,him closer to nature than farming. In pioneer times farming was very much of a drudgery, but with all the modern improvements the farmer is relieved of much of the hard work which was the portion of his forefathers. Likewise, farming has risen in dignity until it is now more a profession than an occu- pation. Fifty years ago the science of agriculture was in its infancy. To- day, not only the colleges are teaching agriculture, but the science of agri- culture has transformed the curriculum of the secondary schools and agricul- ture has become one of the established subjects taught especially in the rural high schools. Franklin county, Indiana, has many splendid farms and many progressive and enterprising farmers, but few have been more successful than Jacob Hirt.
Jacob Hirt was born on a farm in Ray township, Franklin county, In- diana, January 16, 1849, the son of Joseph and Theresa (Schreiber) Hirt,
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proprietor of a general store in Oldenburg, moving to Batesville in 1909, as he was interested in the bank in that place and of which he is now president. His father was an influential business man of the early days, and was the father of six children, A. A., Joseph, H. G., Mary (who died aged twelve) and two who died in infancy. Of these children, A. A. Hackman was mar- ried twice, his first wife dying December 3, 1903, and some time afterward he married, secondly, Katharine (Baumer) Hoelker.
Peter S. Kellerman and his wife are members of the Catholic church, and can always be relied on to aid any worthy movement. Peter Kellerman is possessed of good business acumen, and has the respect of the entire com- munity in which he lives. His place of business is maintained in an orderly and decent manner, thus strengthening Mr. Kellerman's place of respect in the opinions of his fellow men.
CHARLES O. HANNEBAUM.
The twentieth century farmer knows very little about the disadvantages which surrounded the pioneer farmer of this state. He is no longer com- pelled to engage in the arduous labor of former times. Now, with improved machinery, he can do as much work in a half day as his father fifty years ago could do in a whole day. The present generation of farmers have no forests to clear, very few swamps to drain, and hundreds of inventions have lightened their labors. Among the present generation of prosperous farmers in Salt Creek township, Franklin county, Indiana, who are taking advantage of modern improvements, is Charles O. Hannebaum, a well known and high- ly respected citizen of the community where he lives.
Charles O. Hannebaum, the son of Henry Hannebaum and wife, was born in the township where he now lives. February 12, 1875. He is a brother of John H. Hannebaum, a biographical sketch of whom, elsewhere in this volume, gives details of the family history.
Mr. Hannebaum received his education in the public schools of Salt Creek township, and as a young man began farming on the farm owned by his father. In 1906 he purchased one hundred and thirty-six acres in Salt Creek township, near Peppertown, adjoining his mother's farm, and Mr. Han- nebaum operates both farms. He is engaged in general farming and stock raising, making a specialty of the breeding of thoroughbred Poland China hogs, and has found this to be a very profitable adjunct of his farming op-
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erations. Mr. Hannebaum also acts as agent for the Farmers Fertilizer Com- pany, of Indianapolis, in this district.
Mr. Hannebaum was married to Clara Reifel, the daughter of Jacob and Mary (Kershbaum) Reifel, who is one of four children born to her parents, the others being Almond, William and Huldah, all of whom are living.
To Charles O. Hannebaum and Clara (Reifel) Hannebaum four chil- dren have been born, Alma, Carl, Gertrude and Virgil. The family are all members of the Lutheran church at Peppertown, in which they take an active and interested part. Mr. Hannebaum is allied with the Democratic party and has served one term on the county election board as inspector. He takes an active interest in all public questions, especially pertaining to the welfare and common good of his home community, and he and his wife are highly esteemed residents of Salt Creek township and have a large circle of friends and acquaintances.
JACOB WERNER.
Among the younger agriculturists of Franklin county, Jacob Werner occupies an enviable position, as he is full of enthusiasm for his work and enjoys it thoroughly, thus removing the idea of drudgery and insuring high- ly creditable results. Add to this quality that of public spiritedness and the ideal of the farmer as he should be is realized. Mr. Werner is willing to stand his share of any expense involved in advancing any worthy public cause.
Ray township, Franklin county, was Mr. Werner's birthplace, and the date was September 20, 1878. He is the son of Mathias and Regina (Druhe) Werner, who were also the parents of Henry, deceased, Lewis, Joseph, Fred- erick and Mathias, Jr., the last three mentioned deceased, and Jacob, Theresa, Lena and Frank.
The paternal grandfather of Jacob Werner was Louis Werner, who was a native of Strassburg, in Alsace, Germany, and came to America sixty-eight years ago, bringing with him his son Mathias, the father of Jacob, then aged seven, and three other sons and two daughters, all of whom are deceased but Mathias and Seraphine. Louis Werner died two days after arriving in this country. Mathias became a farmer, now owning eighty acres in Ray town- ship. He and his wife are devout and active members of the Catholic church of Oldenburg. His wife was a native of Westphalia and came to America in 1869 at the age of twenty-six. Both have lived to a good old age and are now living with their son Jacob.
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The youth of Mr. Werner was spent in alternately working on his fath- er's farm and in attending the public schools of Oldenburg. By all training as well as inclination, Mr. Werner was to be a farmer, as he is, owning one hundred and sixty acres adjoining his father's farm. He makes his home with his father. Although Mr. Werner does general farming, he specializes in the breeding and raising of Poland China hogs.
On January 15, 1908, Jacob Werner led to the altar Elizabeth Nunlist, the daughter of Aloysius and Emma (Bernholt) Nunlist. She was born at Minster, Ohio, and at the age of sixteen removed to Middletown, Ohio, with her parents, and there her mother died. Her father now lives at Rome City, Indiana, where he cultivates a farm. Aloysius Nunlist came from Germany with his parents when he was three years of age; his wife also came from Germany. They were members of the Catholic church. The two are the par- ents of eleven children, namely: Charles, Elizabeth, Bernard, Pauline, Isa- belle, Anthony, Helen, Robert, Emma, Christopher and Joseph, the latter of whom is deceased. To the union of Jacob Werner and Elizabeth Nunlist have been born five children: Mathias, Leo, Anna, Joseph, deceased, and Henry.
As a young man who considers agriculture a business and proceeds ac- cordingly, Mr. Werner has attained a flattering success. He has won the re- spect of all those with whom he has had dealings, and by reason of sheer merit is given the commendation of his entire community.
GEORGE M. SCHEBLER.
There are individuals in nearly every community who, by reason of pro- nounced ability and force of character, rise above the heads of the masses and command the unbounded respect and esteem of their fellowmen. Pos- sessed of a spirit of perseverance and a genius for directing, qualities that never fail, such men always make their presence felt, the vigor of their strong personalities serving ever as a stimulant and incentive to the young and rising generation. To this energetic and enterprising class George M. Schebler very properly belongs. Mr. Schebler devoted a considerable portion of his life toward a given end. His commercial success is a fitting tribute to his indus- trial genius. He has succeeded far beyond the attainments of most men, but has never permitted his personal success to interfere with his larger duties and greater obligations to mankind. Mr. Schebler's mechanical and financial rep- utation extends throughout the length and breadth of this country, but he is
Eng by E G Willams & Bre.NY
Gro. M. Solubles
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still loyal to the interests of Franklin county, Indiana, the county of his na- tivity.
George M. Schebler, the inventor of the well-known carburetor which bears his name in connection with the name of the man who was associated with him in manufacturing this important device, was born at St. Peters, Franklin county, Indiana, September 29, 1865. He is the son of John and Katherine (Thalheimer) Schebler, the former of whom was a native of Germany and the latter of whom was born in Cincinnati, Ohio.
John Schebler was educated in Germany and came to America when a young man, locating at St. Peters, in Franklin county. Here he was united in marriage with Mrs. Katherine (Thalheimer) Ripberger, the daughter of Adam and Margaret (Fischer) Thalheimer, natives of Germany, who came to Cincinnati and later to St. Peters. Adam Thalheimer was a tailor. His wife was first married to Anthony, Ripberger, by whom she had one child, Mrs. Katherine Bedel.
The father of George M. Schebler was a farmer. He moved to a farm near Hamburg, Franklin county, in 1866, and here spent the remainder of his days. Five children born to him and his wife grew to maturity: John, George, Elizabeth, Peter and Margaret. Others died in infancy. · The fam-' ily are all members of St. Anne's Catholic church.
George M. Schebler was educated at the parish school at Hamburg. Until he had reached his majority Mr. Schebler was engaged in farming on the old home place. He then went to Muncie, Indiana, and worked as a car- penter for one year. From Muncie he went to Indianapolis where he worked in a music store as a general repair man of small musical instruments. Dur- ing this time he invented the carburetor which was to bring him fame and fortune. Throughout his life Mr. Schebler has been inclined to mechanical pursuits. The preliminary work on this carburetor was done in the two years subsequent to 1900. Various improvements were made on this device until in 1904, when Mr. Schebler began its manufacture in connection with the Cen- tral Motor Car Company, a corporation then in existence. This company had charge of the manufacturing end of the business for one year. Upon the completion of the first year, Mr. Schebler formed a partnership with Frank H. Wheeler. This partnership continued until recently, when Mr. Schebler sold out, having realized a handsome profit upon his invention.
George M. Schebler continues to make Indianapolis his home, although he spends a great deal of time on the old home farm near Hamburg with his brothers.
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Mr. Schebler is a devout member of the Catholic church. Few men in Indiana are better known commercially than George M. Schebler, and few men command the respect of a greater number of people than he. He is one of those men whom Franklin county delights to honor because of his splendid achievements. He has brought a large measure of fame to the county of his origin, it is true, but his career as a citizen of sterling worth is not surpassed by his record as a mechanical and commercial genius.
PETER ETTER.
The Etter family has been connected with the history of Franklin county for three generations. Peter Etter, the grandfather of the subject of this article, came from Germany and entered forty acres of government land in Franklin county, which land he later bought, acquiring in all one hundred and twenty acres in Butler township. His numerous descendants in this county afford proof that his struggles and hardships were not in vain.
Peter Etter, the immediate subject of this review, was born in Butler township, Franklin county, on December 1, 1848, the son of George and Elizabeth (Pistner) Etter, the former born in Germany January 15, 1800, and the latter the daughter of Conrad Pistner, a native of Germany, who came to America and farmed in Franklin county. He was a member of the Catholic church of Oldenburg. His daughter Elizabeth, wife of George Etter, died in 1898, aged sixty. George Etter was educated in the common schools and cultivated one hundred and sixty acres in Butler township, where he spent his life. He was a member of the Catholic church of Oldenburg. He and his wife were the parents of the following children: Peter, Catharine (deceased), Margaret, Mary, Elizabeth (deceased), Eve (deceased), Joseph, John (deceased) and George.
The paternal grandfather of Mr. Etter, Peter Etter, brought his family to America from Germany. He landed at New Orleans and for some time worked on a boat as engineer, later coming to Franklin county, as related in the first paragraph of this biographical sketch.
Given the name of his grandfather, Peter Etter was reared on the home farm and educated in the local schools. He was aware of the opportunities at home and has always lived on his farm. He now owns one hundred and sixty acres in Butler township, plants and harvests the crops indigenous to his locality, and has a very pleasant home, the residence being a handsome brick structure.
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Mr. Etter married Frances Seifert, the daughter of Dominick Seifert, who was a native of Germany, coming to America and locating on a Franklin county farm. He was a Catholic. Mr. Etter and his wife are the parents of six children: John, Clara, Emma, Carrie, Carl and Adeline. Of these chil- dren, John lives with his parents, and with the aid of his youngest brother, Carl, cultivates the home farm. He and Carl are unmarried. John Etter is a robust man of engaging manners, who applies keen intelligence to any un- dertaking he enters upon.
Clara, the second child in order of birth, married Anthony Kreienbaum. She and her husband live in Emporia, Virginia, and have three children, Ar- thur, Vernon and Helen. Emma married Quirin Volz, has two children, Urban and Linus, and lives in Indianapolis. Carrie resides in Cincinnati, the wife of Conrad Peters and the mother of Howard, Almira and a baby girl. Adeline is unmarried.
The Etter family are members of the Catholic church at Oldenburg, and Mr. Etter is a member of the Catholic Knights of America. Peter Etter has left the stamp of his personality upon his community, and his family show the results of his wise influence. By genuine merit he has won the respect of a large circle of friends and acquaintances and is regarded as one of the lead- ers in the neighborhood in which he was born and in which he has spent all his life.
JOSEPH KELLERMAN.
Success is measured by its effect upon the morals and temperament of those who achieve it. Joseph Kellerman, who has been truly successful in his chosen field of endeavor, is the possessor of a genial temperament and his character is unquestioned, while he commands the confidence of all those with whom he has business dealings. Thoroughly interested in the development of a genuine civic consciousness, he does all that is possible in that direction by a good example.
Joseph Kellerman was born in Oldenburg, June 9, 1876, the son of John and Margaret (Etter) Kellerman, and is one of a family of nine children, the others being George, Francis, Anna, Peter S., John, Frank, Louisa and Leon.
Born in Germany, December 28, 1838, John Kellerman came to America alone in 1865. He choose Kentucky as his first home in the new country, ac- cordingly settling in Shiloh in that state. In Shiloh he followed the barber's trade for some time, and then came to Franklin county and established a
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saloon and barber shop at Oldenburg, which he operated for the rest of his life. He was a member of the Catholic church, and his death occurred Feb- ruary 6, 1907.
The mother of the subject of this sketch was the daughter of George Etter, a native of Germany, who migrated to America to better his condi- tion and who located on a farm in Butler township in this county. Mrs. Kel- lerman is now residing with the family of her son Peter.
The common schools of Franklin county were, even in an early day, it seems, of unusual quality, as they furnished the early training of a remark- able number of prominent business men, farmers, professional men and so on. Among these men is Joseph Kellerman, who received a sound element- ary schooling in the public schools. Joseph Kellerman is now the well-known and popular meat merchant of Oldenburg, where he maintains a shop which is a credit to himself and to the community in which he lives. The shop is spotlessly clean, and with a well-established reputation for fair dealing, it is not cause for wonder that Mr. Kellerman does a thriving business.
On October 19, 1899, Mr. Kellerman married Clara Haverkos, the daugh- ter of Joseph and Mary (Drees) Haverkos. Four children have blessed the union of Joseph and Clara (Haverkos) Kellerman, namely, Elmer, Della, Marie and Lillian.
Genial, straightforward and thorough, Mr. Kellerman has gathered about him a host of true friends, who recognize the sterling virtues which char- acterize his every action. No history of Franklin county would be complete without an account of those men who, like Mr. Kellerman, compose the civic heart of the community.
HENRY SCHMIDT.
The descendants of the many German families who have come to Amer- ica are found among the very best citizens of this country. They have al- most invariably been industrious and law-abiding, easily responding to the re- quirements of our self-governing institutions. The thrift of the German peo- ple is proverbial. They constitute a large percentage of our population and have added greatly to the stability of our republican institutions and the hap- piness of our people generally. Henry Schmidt, who is descended from a long line of German ancestry and whose success is typical of his countrymen gen- erally, was born in Oldenburg, Franklin county, Indiana, August 26, 1853, the son of Gerhardt Schmidt, who was born in Germany, October 9, 1820, and died in this county, February 2, 1894.
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