History of Franklin County, Indiana : her people, industries and institutions, Part 139

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

USA > Indiana > Franklin County > History of Franklin County, Indiana : her people, industries and institutions > Part 139

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Godfrey Huber, the father of these fifteen children, was born in Ger- many, December 29, 1808, and married Margaret Zeigler, who was born April 19, 1810. Godfrey Huber was reared in Germany and Cincinnati, Ohio, to which latter city his parents moved shortly after coming to America. When

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he was eighteen years of age he sent to Germany for some books on veter- inary surgery and, after studying these for some time, began to practice. In 1833 he located in Franklin county, Indiana, where he bought one hundred and eight acres of land in Highland township, this being the farm where his son is now living. He undoubtedly was the first veterinary surgeon in Frank- lin county and, as far as known, had the honor of having been the first in the state. He continued farming and practicing his profession until his death in September, 1885. His wife died September 30, 1901. The family were loyal members of the Lutheran church .;

The paternal grandfather of Frank P. Huber was Henry Huber, who was born in Germany, as was his wife, Catherine Kuhl. Some years after their marriage they came to America, landing at New Orleans. Later, the family moved to Pennsylvania and lived in that state for one year. Grandfather Huber threshed for the farmers with a flail in that state during the summer he was living there. From Pennsylvania Henry Huber moved to Cincinnati, Ohio, where he spent the remainder of his days. Henry Huber and his wife reared a family of eight children, all of whom are now deceased, Godfrey, Lewis, John, Henry, Christopher, Rachel, George and Peter.

Frank P. Huber received a good common-school education in the schools of Highland township. His boyhood days were spent on his present farm and with the exception of a year and a half when he conducted a retail meat market in Muncie, Indiana, he has lived all of his life thus far on the farm. He now owns eighty acres of well improved land and carries on a general sys- tem of farming. He acquired from his father a good practical knowledge of veterinary surgery and has for many years had considerable practice in this line. He is recognized as an able practitioner and is frequently called upon by the farmers in the county.

Mr. Huber was married February 1I, 1884, to Catherine Hoff and to this union have been born ten children, Clem, Edna, Gladys, Ludwinia, Mil- ton, Rowena and Melvina (twins), Harvey, Mable and Carl. All of these children are still living. with the exception of Ludwinia. The eldest child, Clem, married Margaret Simmermeyer, while all the other children are still single and live at home.

Mrs. Huber was born in Dearborn county, Indiana, March 23, 1865, the daughter of Philip and Mary (Ail) Hoff, of that county. Philip Hoff was born June 13, 1826, and died January 1, 1908. His wife was born January I, 1828, and died April 1, 1899.

Mr. Huber is a member of the Democratic party and gives his support to all public-spirited measures which he feels will be of general benefit to the

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community in which he resides. He is an ardent believer in good govern- ment and for this reason takes an intelligent interest in all worthy measures. The family are loyal members of the Lutheran church.

PHILIP STUDT.

True success is not measured by the amount of property that one gathers together, but by the effect that life has on one's own character and by the lasting good accomplished. As a rule, material success follows in the steps of those who work for the advancement of themselves and others. Philip Studt has found success by living a life of quiet industry and helpfulness to others.

Philip Studt was born on the farm in Highland township, Franklin county, on which he now lives, August 7, 1868, the son of Philip and Dora (Gross) Studt. The elder Philip Studt's parents were natives of Germany, where they spent their lives. Dora Gross Studt's parents also were natives of Germany, although they immigrated to America, locating in Highland town- ship, this county, on the fifty-five acre farm now occupied by Philip Studt, Jr.

Philip Studt, Sr., came to America as a young man and located in Cin- cinnati, where he remained for some time and then went to South Gate, Franklin county, where he conducted a grocery and dry goods store. Still later, he purchased from his brother-in-law the farm on which his son, Philip Studt, Jr., now lives. After buying the place, he built the log house which now serves as a frame for the house on the property at the present time.

Going to school in the old school house near his home, and constantly familiarizing himself with agricultural methods, and especially those peculiar to his homestead, it was but natural that Philip Studt, Jr., should take up the tillage of the home acres, which he did with gratifying results, one of the notable improvements being the remodelling of the old house so thoroughly that it became practically a new structure. Mr. Studt has chosen general farming in preference to the specialization in any one crop.

On December 20, 1899, Mr. Studt married Amelia Magdalena Keller, who was born near Harrison, Ohio, the daughter of Nicholas and Sarah (Smelzle) Keller, both native to Germany. No children have been born to this union.

Mrs. Studt's paternal grandparents came to America when Nicholas Keller was a small child. They located in Dearborn county, Indiana, near Harrison, Ohio, and they and their son Nicholas farmed the place on which

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they located. Mrs. Studt's maternal grandparents were never in America, as they lived their entire lives in their native land, Germany.

The Studt family have been Lutherans for many generations, the Luth- eran church at Klemmes Corners counting Philip Studt and his family among its most loyal supporters. Mr. Studt is a plain, unassuming man who is at all times ready with his moral or material support for any worthy cause or project. He is a Republican and gives a good citizen's attention to the polit- ical affairs of his neighborhood and county. It is such men as Mr. Studt who form the foundation of our civilization.

JOHN J. MESSERSCHMIDT.

The Messerschmidt family was one of the first German families to locate in Franklin county, Indiana, the father of John J. Messerschmidt having come to this county with his parents in 1838. The various members of the family have engaged in agricultural pursuits and, with that characteristic thrift and frugality for which the German people are noted, they have been uniformly successful. John J. Messerschmidt owns a farm of eighty acres in Highland township and has so directed his energies and so managed his affairs as to provide a comfortable living for himself and family.

John J. Messerschmidt, the son of John and Constena (Gieger) Messer- schmidt, was born in Highland township, Franklin county, Indiana, January 6, 1849. His parents were both born in Germany, his father being born December 28, 1830. His parents had eleven children, Catherine, Nicholas, Herman, John J., Elizabeth, Felix, Martin, Susan, Rose, Amelia and Magda- lena. Of these children, Nicholas, Elizabeth, Rose and Magdalena are de- ceased.

John Messerschmidt, the father of John J., was eight years of age when he came with his parents from Germany to the United States. The family at once came to Indiana and settled in Highland township, Franklin county. John Messerschmidt cleared most of the timber from the eighty acres which his father bought in Highland township and continued to reside there until his death.

John J. Messerschmidt was educated in the common schools of Highland township and from his earliest boyhood days helped his father with the work about the farm. He was industrious as a youth, frugal in his habits and invariably applied himself with that determination which always brings success. Consequently, when he started in to farm for himself, he had no

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difficulty in making a good living. His well-improved farm of eighty acres, on which he is now residing, produces a bountiful harvest year after year. He raises some live stock and finds that this is one of the most profitable phases of farming.

Mr. Messerschmidt was married February 17, 1890, to Elizabeth Kunkel and to this union have been born eleven children, Frank, Catherine, Lilly, Anna, William, George, Mary, Clara, Emma, Jacob and Joseph. All of these children are still single and living at home, with the exception of Frank and Jacob, who are deceased.

The wife of Mr. Messerschmidt was born December 14, 1867, daughter of Adam and Elizabeth (Risert) Kunkel. Adam Kunkel was born in Ger- many, February 13, 1829, and died April 2, 1914. His wife also was born in Germany, February 5, 1842, and died November 23, 1909. Adam Kunkel came to America before his marriage and later settled in Franklin county, where he owned a farm of one hundred and sixty acres at the time of his death. Mr. Kunkel and his wife had a family of twelve children, Catherine, Mary, Jacob, Joseph, Elizabeth, Magdalena, John, Lena, Emma, Frank, Adam and one who died in infancy. All of the other children are still living with the exception of Frank.

Mr. Messerschmidt and his family, as well as his wife's family, are loyal members of the Catholic church and are generous in their support of this denomination. They belong to the parish at St. Peters, in their home town- ship.

SARAH ANN HANNA.

The Hanna family came to what is now Franklin county, Indiana. from South Carolina and, in the summer of 1804 located within the present limits of Fairfield township. The family are of Scotch-Irish descent, the original Scotch ancester being a native of Galloway, Scotland, and a set- tler in county Down, Ireland. The two sons of this first member of the family who settled in Ireland were Robert and Hugh. On account of the antipathy of the king, Charles II., towards them, Robert and Hugh Hanna sought an asylum in the New World and settled in Wilmington, Delaware. Later, Joseph Hanna, their uncle, settled in the Laurens district in South Carolina, whither they soon followed him, and on the farm which he bought, the battle of Cowpens was fought during the Revolutionary War.

It is not possible within the limits of this biography to trace the various

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lines of descent in the Hanna family. About 1798, the Hannas and other families in their neighborhood in South Carolina decided to come to the Northwest Territory, where they might bring up their children in surround- ings where the curse of slavery was unknown. The leaders of this band of immigrants were Robert Hanna and Robert Templeton, while their chief followers were John Templeton, John and Joseph Hanna, William and John Logan, Robert Swan and George Leviston. In the spring of 1801 this sturdy group of pioneers packed their belongings in large cumbersome wagons, carefully stowed their wives and children amidst the household furniture and set out on the long overland trip which was to bring them finally to what is now Franklin county, Indiana.

This Robert Hanna was the grandfather of Sarah Ann Hanna, with whom this narrative is directly concerned. He entered the southeast quar- ter of section 28, town 10, range 2, and the northeast quarter of section 33. town 10, range 2, and on September 24, 1804, received his deed for this half section of land. This tract lies in Fairfield township and has been in the Hanna family from the day it was entered.

Robert Hanna became one of the most influential men of Franklin county, and he and his good wife, Mary Parks, reared a family of nine children, all of whom grew to maturity, married and reared families of their own. These children, in the order of their birth, are as follows : John, who married Sarah Jones; Mary, became the wife of John Temple- ton; Joseph, who married Sarah Adair; Margaret, the wife of William Byrd; James, who married Mary Laird; Janet, the wife of Solomon Man- waring; Katherine, who became the wife of John Hitch; Robert, who first married Sarah Mowery and, after her death, Olive Catherwood; David G., who first married Agnes Taylor and, after her death, Mary Mckinney.

Sarah Ann Hanna, with whom this biography deals, is one of the ten children born to David G. and Mary (Mckinney) Hanna. Her brothers and sisters are as follows: Mahala, who married J. Ferman Dickerson and had three children : Theophilus L., Douglas F. and Lauretta A .; James M., who married Elizabeth Susan Burton; Eleanor Jane, who married William A. Flood; Robert V., unmarried; Henry Clay, unmarried ; Mary Malvina, who became the wife of James Blew ; Catharine L., who became the wife of John A. Cruikshank: John P., who married Jane Burke; Iantha Missouria, who died March 13, 1905, and Sarah Ann, who is now living on the old Hanna homestead in Fairfield township.

Sarah Ann Hanna was born on the farm where she is now living and

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has made it her life-long home. She has always been very much interested in the genealogy of the Hanna family, and in 1906 published a volume en- titled "The House of Hanna," which is one of the best family histories every issued in the state. This interesting volume not only contains the various branches of the Hanna family, but also a large amount of valuable information on the early history of Franklin county.

HENRY HASELWANDER.

Twelve million Germans, who have enriched our population, have given us more than we will ever be able to repay. Thrifty, frugal, industrious, prolific, they rapidly became assimilated into our civilization and took their places as leaders in the various phases of art, industry and government. Statistics today show that the citizens of German birth or of German descent are almost invariably temperate, intelligent and law-abiding. The average number of Germans who are in our insane asylums, prisons and almshouses is remarkably low in comparison to other races. Of German descent, Henry Haselwander well exemplifies those solid virtues which characterize his race.

Henry Haselwander was born in Hamilton county, Ohio, July 28, 1873. He was the son of Philip,and Anna (Schultz) Haselwander, both of whom were natives of Germany. Philip Haselwander received a good German education and while still single came to America to make his fortune. As did so many of his countrymen, he enlisted in the Union army at the begin- ning of the Civil War and served for two years and nine months. He was a brave and patriotic soldier, bringing to the service that knowledge of mili- tary life and conditions which he received in the 'Fatherland. In 1873 he bought eighty acres of land in Blooming Grove township and brought to bear his knowledge of intensive farming as practiced in Germany with re- markable success. He married Anna Schultz in Cincinnati, she having also come from Germany single and meeting her husband after coming to this country. Nine children were born to the union, but only one, Henry, grew to maturity. Philip Haselwander died in 1881 and his widow still lives on an eighty-acre farm adjoining the farm of her son.

Henry Haselwander received his education in the district schools of Franklin county. After leaving school he worked for the neighboring farmers when not engaged in working on his father's farm. This early training well fitted him for the fine farm of one hundred and sixty acres

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which he has operated for the last nineteen years. He practices general farming and puts into use many of the modern methods of land cultiva- tion. For the last nineteen years Mr. Haselwander has farmed his mother's place in connection with his own.

Mr. Haselwander was married in May, 1896, to Josephine Burkhardt. They have four children, Anna, Charles, Gilbert and Johnnie.

Mr. Haselwander identifies himself with the local political life, always lending his influence to the support of those measures which stand for the · best interests of the people. He filled the office of township road. supervisor with much credit to himself and satisfaction to all concerned. Mr. Hasel- wander is the type of man which every community likes to have in its midst. He and his family are loyal members of the Catholic church.

EDWARD STENGER.

Edward Stenger is widely known in Franklin county, Indiana, where he has been honored repeatedly by the people of that county with various important and responsible offices. Mr. Stenger is now the efficient chief clerk of the Indiana state board of tax commissioners, with headquarters in the capitol building at Indianapolis. His well-directed efforts in the practical affairs of life, his capable management of business interests and his sound judgment have brought to him a very gratifying degree of suc- cess. His life demonstrates what may be accomplished by a man of energy and ambition who is not afraid to work and who has the perseverance to continue his labors in the face of all discouragements. In all of the rela- tions of life, Edward Stenger has commanded the confidence and respect of those with whom his various activities have brought him into contact. A biographical history of Franklin county would not be complete without the life story of Mr. Stenger.

Edward Stenger was born July 6, 1866, at St. Leon, Dearborn county, Indiana, and is the son of Adam and Mary (Willman) Stenger. Adam Stenger was born in Germany, January 12, 1841, and was one and one-half years old when he came to America with his parents, Frank X. and Ger- trude (Roell) Stenger. They located near New Alsace in Dearborn county. Adam Stenger grew up there and married Mary Willman, who was born near Spades, Ripley county, Indiana, and is the daughter of Joseph Will- man and wife.

Subsequently, Adam Stenger moved across the county line into Frank-

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lin county and located at Southgate, where he still resides. He has a shoe store and harness shop and has been postmaster at Southgate for thirty- seven years.

Edward Stenger grew up at Southgate. From the age of twelve years he worked on the farm. After reaching maturity, he rented the farm upon which he worked and farmed for himself until 1895. He then removed to Brookville, the county seat of Franklin county, and was here engaged in Bossert & Federman's store until 1900. In the spring of 1900 Mr. Stenger made the race for county recorder and was nominated on April 7, of that year, on the Democratic ticket. In the following election he was victorious. In the race for nomination, he carried the county with such a majority that in the convention following he had no opposition. Mr. Stenger served a full term of four years and was renominated in 1904. He was thereafter re-elected and had no opposition for nomination in 1908, which in itself constituted a splendid endorsement of his previous services. By an act of the Legislature, Mr. Stenger's term was extended to January I, 1909. During the time Mr. Stenger was recorder of Franklin county he was secretary of the Democratic county committee from 1902 to 1904 and from 1904 to 1906 he was county chairman of the Democratic county central committee. Previous to this period he had served as precinct com- mitteeman in the township where he resided, and was always an active worker in the party organization.

When Mr. Stenger's term as recorder expired, he opened a law office and practiced law at Brookville until 1911. During this time he was also deputy prosecuting attorney of the thirty-seventh Indiana judicial district. On April 11, 1911, Mr. Stenger was appointed to his present position as chief clerk of the board of tax commissioners of the state of Indiana. He has made an efficient record in this position and during his residence in the capital city of Indiana he has gained a host of friends.

Edward Stenger was married October 29, 1890, to Rosa Glokner, who was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, and is the daughter of Roman and Eliza- beth (Maier) Glokner. Her father was a native of Bingen-on-the-Rhine, Germany, and her mother a native of Ohio. Mrs. Stenger was only about six years old when her parents moved to Southgate, but about five years later her father purchased a farm about two and one-half miles east of Brookville, where her parents spent the remainder of their lives. Her father died November 14, 1914, and was buried on November 17, which was his seventy-third birthday. Her mother died July 4, 1898, about six months before the death of Mr. Stenger's mother, who died in January.

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1899. Mr. and Mrs. Edward Stenger have eight children, Elizabeth, Mary, Claude Matthews, Genevieve, Edward, Jr., Urban, Gerald and Cletus.

Mr. Stenger and family are members of the Catholic church at Brook- ville. Mr. Stenger belong to the Knights of Columbus and also to St. Peter's Benevolent Society at Brookville. At present he is an active mem- ber of the Indiana Democratic Club and has been influential in the affairs of this great organization.

HARRY N. WILSON.

A prosperous merchant of Laurel, Indiana, is Harry N. Wilson, who has been engaged in the general merchandise business in that place since 1903. After reaching his majority, Mr. Wilson farmed until two years before the Spanish-American War and then clerked in a store at Gas City until he enlisted for service in the United States volunteer army. He served in the Philippines under General Wheaton and took an active part in quelling the insurrection stirred up by Aguinaldo. After returning from the Philip- pines, he engaged in business in Laurel and now has a general store and carries a complete line of groceries, dry goods, shoes and notions.

Harry N. Wilson, the son of Joseph H. and Sarah A. (Liggett) Wil- son, was born in Ripley county, Indiana, June 12, 1869. His father was born in. Virginia in 1835 and died in this county, May 30, 1913. His mother was born at Boonesboro, Maryland, in 1833, and died in August, 1903. His parents reared a family of three children: Josie, the wife of Clarence Roten; Georgia, the wife of Andrew Fey, a merchant of Laurel, Indiana, and Harry N., who is the youngest of the family.

Joseph H. Wilson, the father of Harry N., served in the Confederate army during the Civil War-in fact, his service began before the opening of that terrible struggle. When John Brown made his celebrated raid on Harper's Ferry in 1859, Mr. Wilson helped to pursue Brown and was one of the guards on duty at the time he was hung. During the war he was with Stonewall Jackson's brigade and among many of the battles he fought at Gettysburg, Chancellorsville, Fredericksburg and, in fact, all of the battles in which Jackson's brigade participated. After the Civil War, Joseph H. Wilson married and for a time followed the trade of a mil- ler. A couple of years later he came to Indiana and bought a farm in Rip- ley county on which he lived for a few years. He then farmed in Jennings county for a time and later in Jackson county. From Jackson county he

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moved to Mount Carmel, Ohio, where he was engaged in the mercantile business for nine years. In 1893 he moved with his family to Laurel, In- diana, where he retired and remained the remainder of his days. He owned a farm in Laurel township.

The mother of Harry N. Wilson was twice married. She was first married to a Mr. Garver, who died at the opening of the Civil War, leav- ing his widow with four small children: Ella, who now is at Morningview, Kentucky; William, a contractor of Indianapolis, Indiana; Philip, a cigar manufacturer of London, Canada, and Frank. The widow made a living during the Civil War as best she could. The little farm where she lived was near the battlefield of Antietam, and during that battle she hid her children in the cellar. After the battle was over she worked as a nurse among the wounded and shortly after the war was over she married Joseph H. Wilson, the father of Harry N.

The paternal grandparents of Harry N. Wilson lived all of their days in Clark county, Virginia, in the Shenandoah valley. His grandfather Wil- son was a large plantation owner and had a number of slaves. He was a wealthy man before the war, but during that struggle practically all of his property was destroyed and he died after the close of the war. The maternal grandparents of Harry N. Wilson lived and died near Booneboro, Mary- land.

Harry N. Wilson was educated in the public schools of Indiana and Ohio. After leaving the common schools he took a course in Barton's Busi- ness College in Cincinnati, Ohio, after which he returned to his father's farm in Laurel township, Franklin county, Indiana, where he lived until 1897. In that year he went to Gas City and clerked in a general store there until 1899. In September of that year he enlisted in the Thirty-eighth Regiment of United States Volunteer Infantry and was mustered out June 30, 1901, as a sergeant. All of his service was in the Philippines and he participated in all of the movements of his regiment which were made in an effort to apprehend Aguinaldo, the Filipino chief. After returning from the Philippines, Mr. Wilson opened a general store in Laurel with his brother-in-law, Andrew Fey. They continued in business together until April, 1911, when Mr. Wilson bought out his brother-in-law's stock and has since conducted the store alone. He keeps a full line of such commodi- ties as are usually found in general stores of towns of this size and has built up a business which speaks well for his energy and industry.

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History of Franklin County, Indiana : her people, industries and institutions, Part 139

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