USA > Indiana > Franklin County > History of Franklin County, Indiana : her people, industries and institutions > Part 142
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mann who arrived in this country were Katherine, John, Andrew and Mary, others of the family having died during the voyage to America. The farm that formerly belonged to John Weinmann is now the home of William H. Biere and family. Mr. and Mrs. Weinmann were members of the German Lutheran church.
To Mr. and Mrs. William H. Biere have been born two children : Simon L., born February 17, 1883, now a farmer of Fairfield township, and Katherine F., who was born July 22, 1893, and lives at home. Mrs. Adolph Biere, mother of William H. Biere, still lives at Brookville. Mr. Biere and his family, as were his forefathers and their families, are splendid addi- tions to the life of Franklin county. They are well regarded by all who know them and may easily be counted among the best families of this county.
JOHN FLIEHMANN.
He who lives the life of an agriculturist will unconsciously gain some of the attributes of his surroundings-patient from waiting year after year for his crops to grow and ripen, broadmindedness coming from the effect of the wide horizon, and true solemnity gained from results of much thinking while alone in the field or through the long winter days. John Fliehmann was not uninfluenced by the ennobling influences which surrounded him, as will be seen by a review of his life.
John Fliehmann was born in Stepstone, Kentucky, December 12, 1854, the son of Jacob and Celia Fliehmann. He was one of a family of six children, Mary, John. Rosa, Emma, Henry and William. His father was a fine example of the Teuton immigrants who have so materially enriched this country. Born, reared and married in Germany, he came to this coun- try and located at Sudansville, Ohio, where he took up the occupation of a farmer. He later moved to Stepstone, Kentucky, where he bought a farm and still later moved to Foster, Kentucky, where he bought a farm of four hundred acres and engaged in tobacco farming. It was at Foster that he died.
John Fliehmann received his early education in Kentucky. As a young man he worked on his father's farm, eventually buying seventy acres of it. This he farmed for some time and then sold it to his brother, Henry, and bought the farm where he is now located. This farm contains two hundred and fifty acres and was bought March 3, 1912. To some extent he fol- lowed general farming, but his inclination was to specialize in tobacco rais-
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ing, which, although it involved much arduous labor, brought a handsome profit.
Mr. Fliehmann was married, in 1880, to Kate Rodenheimer, a native of Ohio. Mr. Fliehmann and wife are the parents of eight children, John, Eva, William, Joseph, Anna, George, Frances and Lucile. All of these chil- dren are still living except Joseph and George. Eva married Kemp Cooper. Visitors in his vicinity are sure to learn of Mr. Fliehmann's unquestionable character when they are so fortunate as. to meet him personally and carry away with them an agreeable impression which is hard to efface.
JOSEPH H. STURWOLD.
One of the younger farmers of Franklin county, Indiana, is Joseph H. Sturwold, who has been engaged in general agriculture in Brookville town- ship since his marriage. Mr. Sturwold holds worthy prestige as a citizen and is a successful représentative of that large and eminently respectable class of people who, by deeds, rather than words, give stability to the body politic. Because of his sterling qualities of character and his close attention to his own personal affairs, he has won an enviable reputation among those who best know him.
Joseph H. Sturwold, the son of Frank and Mary (Mersch) Sturwold, was born in Highland township. Franklin county, Indiana, August 29, 1884. His father was born in Dearborn county, Indiana, in 1856, and his mother in Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1863. His parents, who are now living in Cincinnati, reared a family of nine children, Joseph H., Emma, Carne, Luella, Gertie, Lillie, Ida, Melia and Anna.
Frank Sturwold, the father of Joseph H., was reared in Dearborn county, Indiana, and later moved to Franklin county, settling in Brookville township. He farmed there a few years and then moved to Cincinnati, Ohio, where he is employed in an abattoir. In politics, Frank Sturwold is a stanch Democrat, while, in religious belief, he and all of his family are members of the Catholic church.
The paternal grandparents of Joseph H. Sturwold were early settlers of Dearborn county, Indiana, and both died in that county. The maternal grandparents were Joseph and Benedena (Backhouse) Mersch, early settlers in Cincinnati, Ohio. They kept a boarding house in that city for several years and later located in Franklin county, Indiana, where Grandfather
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Mersch had a general store. He died in Highland township in September, 1908, at the age of about eighty-four years, while his wife died in 1900.
Joseph H. Sturwold was educated in the parochial schools and spent his boyhood days on the farm. He worked in his grandfather's store at Highland Center during his younger days, but after his marriage devoted all of his time and attention to farming. He now owns one hundred and four acres of land in Brookville township, on which he carries on a diversified system of farming and stock raising.
Joseph H. Sturwold was married July 2, 1907, to Lena Mahley, and to this union have been born five children, Bertha, Irene, Tillie, Helen and Frances.
Mrs. Sturwold was born in Highland township, Franklin county, In- diana, August 1I, 1881, and is a daughter of Henry and Carrie (Eschen- brener) Mahley, both of whom were born in Highland township. Her father was a son of Henry Frederick and Wilhelmina (Reubish) Mahley, both natives of Germany and early settlers in Highland township. The maternal grandparents of Mrs. Sturwold were Fred and Madora Eschen- brener, natives of Germany and pioneer settlers of Highland township.
Mr. Sturwold is a stanch member of the Democratic party and is now serving as supervisor of his district. He was reared in the Catholic faith and still subscribes to the belief of that church. He is a man of pleasing personality, kindly in disposition, and is well and favorably known through- out the community where he has spent so many years.
JOSEPH FRANK KNECHT.
The family to which Joseph Knecht belongs has been actively concerned with the affairs of Highland township for three generations. Mr. Knecht was born on his father's farm and still lives there. The date of his birth is May 3, 1877, the place Highland Center, and he is the son of Herbert and Frances (Mackelreed) Knecht, both born in Germany.
Mr. Knecht's paternal grandparents were natives of Germany, who settled in Highland township in the early days, when Herbert Knecht was but twelve years of age. The maternal grandparents also were Germans, who settled in Highland township as pioneers.
Herbert Knecht, at the age of twenty-four years, became a justice of the peace, which position he held for fifty years, at the same time doing an
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extensive law business in Brookville and surrounding towns. Herbert Knecht owned three hundred and: thirty acres in Highland township, but lived the greater part of the time where his son Joseph now lives. Herbert Knecht died at St. Leon in June, 1913.
A substantial, common-school education was obtained by Joseph Knecht in the schools of Highland township, and he has tilled the soil all his life, maintaining a threshing outfit for ten years. Mr. Knecht owns eighty acres at Highland Center and one hundred and thirteen acres nearby.
On January 12, 1898, Mr. Knecht married Josephine Bath, the daughter of Peter Bath, and to Mr. Knecht and his wife have been born the following children : Earnest, Paul, Maggie, Albert, Andrew, Charles, Harry, Clifford and Raymond.
A member of the St. Peters Catholic church, Mr. Knecht has at all times been observant of his religious obligations, and, as a mark of the esteem in which he is held by his fellow citizens, he held the position of constable for two years. Mr. Knecht is a friendly, whole-hearted man, who fully de- serves the respect which is accorded him.
ARTHUR H. ROCKAFELLAR.
One of the first families to locate in what is now Franklin county was the Rockafellar family, the paternal grandparents of Arthur H. Rockafellar locating on the west side of White Water in 1895. The family entered gov- ernment land in what is now Highland township and they have, therefore, been connected with the history of the county for one hundred and ten years. Arthur H. Rockafellar began to work in his father's store in Brookville when still a youth, and after reaching his majority he started in the mercan- tile business in the county seat for himself. He continued in the active pur- suit of business until he was appointed postmaster, in 1898, and after his re- tirement from that office, in 1906, he laid aside business cares and has since been leading a retired life in Brookville.
Arthur H. Rockafellar, the son of John S. and Maria (Heap) Rocka- fellar, was born in Cedar Grove, Franklin county, Indiana, September 22, 1856. His father was born at the old Rockafellar homestead in Highland township November 1, 1824, and died in Brookville on October 29, 1875. His mother was born in Highland township in 1825 and died in Brookville in 1890. His parents reared a family of eight children: Edwin, a con- tractor of Bunker Hill, Indiana; Arthur H., of Brookville: Emerson B., a
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merchant of Rising Sun, Indiana; Sylvia, born in 1860 and died in 1902; Luzanna, who died at the age of two years; George, a furniture dealer of Connersville, Indiana, who married Florence Lewis; Flora May, the wife of Wayne Smalley ; and Rollin J., born in 1871 and died in 1910, who mar- ried Edna Harrell.
John S. Rockafellar, the father of Arthur H., was reared on the old homestead in Highland township and, when a young man, started a general merchandise store in Cedar Grove, which he operated for several years. He disposed of it and for one year he engaged in general farming and stock raising. On October 29, 1865. he opened a general store, on the corner of Sixth and Main streets, Brookville, and there carried on business in the county seat until his death, in 1875. He was a Whig in earlier life and upon the organization of the Republican party, in 1856, he gave the new party his hearty support. He was a member of the Universalist faith, while his wife was a member of the Presbyterian church. John S. Rockafellar was twice married, his first wife being Mary Ann Gant, who died in 1849, leaving her husband with three children: John, deceased; Indiana, who- married Washington Sanford, of Keazy, Illinois, and Evelyn, deceased. The second wife of John S. Rockafellar was Maria Heap, whom he mar- ried November 9, 1851.
The paternal grandparents of Arthur H. Rockafellar were John and Mary (Thrope) Rockafellar, natives of Hunterdon county, New Jersey. In 1805 Grandfather Rockafellar and his family drove through from New Jer- sey to what is now Franklin county, Indiana. They settled on the west side of White Water, in Highland township. Two brothers, John and Samuel, came together. The old cabin, built in 1805, was one of the largest log cabins in that section of the state. It had two front doors and was a two- story structure, built in a most solid and substantial manner. John Rocka- fellar. the grandfather of Arthur H., was born May 8, 1779, and died in Franklin county in 1827. His wife, Mary Thorpe, was born May 21, 1780, and died in Franklin county, September 28, 1857. They reared a family of ten children : Eliza, who married J. Sparks; Anna, who married James Stewart; Elizabeth, the wife of Louis McClure; Ephraim K., who first mar- ried Sarah Quick and, later, Nancy Lewis; Rebecca. the wife of Reuben Cooley ; Henry T., who married Mary Jane Stewart; Mary, who married Peter Foster: Margaret, deceased; John S., the father of Arthur H., with whom this narrative deals; and Amanda F., who became the wife of John Bennett.
The maternal grandparents of Arthur H. Rockafellar were natives of England and early settlers in Highland township, Franklin county, Indiana.
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The paternal great-grandfather of Arthur H. Rockafellar was born in New Jersey, March 7, 1747, and died February 1, 1841. He lived all of his days in Hunterdon county, New Jersey, where he and his wife reared a family of thirteen children, of whom two, John and Samuel, came to Indiana. John Henry Rockafellar was in the American Revolution.
Arthur H. Rockafellar was a son of his father's second marriage. His boyhood days were spent on his father's farm and, when still a youth, he started to work in his father's general store at Cedar Grove and remained in the store for several years. When he was eighteen yars of age his father died and he then left school and began to clerk in a store in Brookville. He started a clothing store in the town in 1889 and operated it for the next thirteen years. After selling the store he was made the postmaster of Brook- ville, serving in this capacity from 1898 until 1906. After retiring from the postoffice, he decided not to re-enter business, having laid aside a suffi- cient competency to support him and his wife during his declining years.
Mr. Rockafellar was married May 4, 1881, to May Ella King. She was born in Brookville and is the daughter of John and Sarah (Barcus) King. Mr. Rockafellar and his wife have no children.
John King, the father of Mrs. King, was born in Cincinnati, and his wife, Sarah Barcus, was a native of Columbus, Ohio. They were married in 1842 and at once located in Blooming Grove, Franklin county, Indiana, where Mr. King became a merchant. He engaged in business in that place until 1856. In that year he moved to Brookville and managed the Valley House for one year. He then engaged in the dry goods and shoe business until 1880 and acquired a very comfortable fortune during the years he was in business. He bought several business blocks and built several resi- dences in Brookville. He and his wife were active workers in the Methodist church, and Mr. King was a steward and trustee in his denomination. He built the home on the corner of Eleventh and Main streets now owned by George Dickson. The death of Mr. King occurred December 14, 1914, his wife having passed away in 1902. Mr. King and his wife were the parents of five children : Elizabeth, deceased ; Rebecca A., the wife of D. W. Andre, a retired druggist of Connersville, Indiana; Minerva, deceased; Albert, de- ceased ; and May Ella, the wife of Mr. Rockafellar.
Mr. Rockafellar has always been a stanch Republican in politics and has served as city clerk of Brookville. He is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons and has attained to the chapter degrees. He is also a member of the Knights of Pythias. He and his wife are both earnest work- ers in the Methodist Episcopal church.
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JACOB LEWIS SMITH.
The career of Jacob Lewis Smith contains no exciting chapter of tragic events, but is replete with well-defined purposes, which, carried to successful issue, have won for him an influential place in business circles and high personal standing among his fellow citizens. His life work has been one of unceasing industry and perseverance. The systematic and honorable methods which he has ever followed have resulted, not only in the confidence of those with whom he has had dealings, but also in building up a successful business career.
Jacob Lewis Smith was born August 21, 1868, in Brookville, Franklin county, Indiana, and is the son of Jacob and Frances (Peter) Smith. His father was born January 17, 1847, in Berlin, Germany, the son of Gregory and Mary (Goebel) Smith, who were born and reared in Berlin, Germany. They moved to the United States in 1849, when Jacob Smith was only two years old. Gregory Smith followed his trade of a stone mason after he arrived at Brookville until his death. He was an ardent member of the Catholic church. Jacob Smith grew up and was reared in Brookville. He learned marble cutting under H. A. Schrichte and, about 1872 he went into business for himself.
Jacob Smith was married October 10, 1867, at Brookville, at St. Mich- ael's Catholic church. His wife was born in Franklin county, near St. Peters, October 12, 1848, and lived in Franklin county all her life. She died March 17, 1910. Jacob Smith was one of the charter members of Uniform Rank No. 76, Knights of Pythias. He was also a member of the Knights of Honor. He died July 1, 1886.
Jacob Lewis Smith was the only child born to his parents. He attended both the parochial and public schools, including the high school at Brook- ville. After finishing school, Jacob L. Smith performed various kinds of work in Brookville until 1894, when he came to Indianapolis, where he entered the wholesale grocery business. After spending five years in In- dianapolis, he returned to Brookville, where he took up work with Thomp- son & Norris Company. remaining in the employ of this company for ten years. After closing this engagement he returned to Indianapolis and is now a successful bookkeeper.
Jacob L. Smith was married April 15, 1889, in St. Andrew's Catholic church, at Richmond, Indiana, to Catharine Sauer, the ceremony being pro- nounced by Rev. Father Seiberts. She was born at Ripley, Ohio, January (91)
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26, 1866, and lived at Ripley until she was ten years old, when she came with her parents to Richmond, where she was a resident until her marriage. Her father, Lawrence Sauer, was born in Germany, and her mother, Vic- toria (Esterbe) Sauer, was born in England. Mrs. Sauer is still living. To Mr. and Mrs. Jacob L. Smith four children have been born: Loretta F., deceased ; Raymond J., Henrietta M. and Jacob, Jr.
Mr. Smith has always taken an active part in local politics and is an ardent Democrat. He was a prominent member and worker in St. Mich- ael's Catholic church and one of the charter members of St. Peter's Benevo- lent Society, in which he still retains his membership. He was a member of the church choir.
Mr. and Mrs. Smith are well known and popular residents of Indian- apolis. They have a large circle of friends and deserve to rank as repre- sentative citizens.
CHARLES WILLIAM IRRGANG.
Among the many excellent farmers of Brookville township, Franklin county, Indiana, may be mentioned Charles William Irrgang, who is one of the many farmers of the county descended from German parentage. Since his marriage he has engaged in general farming and stock raising for him- self and now owns a farm of eighty acres, which he has brought to a high state of cultivation. While giving particular attention to his own individual interests, he has not neglected to bear his share of the burdens of commun- ity life and thus has been an intelligent factor in the life of the vicinity about him.
Charles William Irrgang, the son of John and Sophia (Koelner) Irr- gang, was born in Brookville township March 24, 1876. His parents were both born in Germany, his father being born on July 12, 1834, and his mother on March 20, 1836. They were married in Germany and came to Franklin county, Indiana, in 1872. His father bought a farm of eighty acres in Brookville township and settled down to the life of a farmer. John Irrgang and wife were both members of the Lutheran church, while in politics he was a stanch Democrat. Six children were born to John Irrgang and wife: Casper, Sophia, Mary, Lewis, Charles W. and Lizzie. The mother of these children died on April 1, 1914.
Charles William Irrgang was reared on his father's farm in Brookville township and attended the public schools near his home. For many years
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he has been engaged in threshing and corn shredding, in addition to manag- ing his farm of eighty acres. He is a man of considerable mechanical genius and has had good success in handling his threshing and shredding outfit. He has all the work he can do during the season and adds not a little to his annual income in this way. He has built all of the buildings which are on his present farm and everything about the place indicates that he is a man of thrift and taste.
Mr. Irrgang was married November 27, 1907, to Sophia Schneider. She was born in Brookville township and is a daughter of Morton and Christina (Mangold) Schneider, both natives of Indiana. Mr. and Mrs. Irrgang have no children of their own, but have taken one boy to rear, Walter Lackey.
Mr. Irrgang and his wife are members of the Lutheran church. Politi- cally, he has always given his support to the Democratic party, but has never cared to take an active part in the political life of his township and county. He always gives his support to the best man, irrespective of his politics, par- ticularly in local affairs, feeling that in so doing he is best serving the inter- ests of good government.
JOHN ISAAC SMITH.
A highly respected citizen of Brookville township, who has met many discouragements, and yet has been able to overcome all difficulties, is John Isaac Smith, whose whole career has been spent in Franklin county. His grandfather was one of the early settlers of this county and his father, as well as his grandfather, served in the Civil War. Mr. Smith was engaged in general farming and stock raising since reaching his majority and with a success which speaks well for his efforts.
John Isaac Smith, the son of James and Eliza (Mason) Smith, was born in Bath township, Franklin county, Indiana, June 7, 1873. His parents were both born in this county, the mother being the daughter of Isaac and Eliza (Foster) Mason. Isaac Mason was a son of Jacob Mason, a native of Pennsylvania, and a pioneer settler of Dearborn county, Indiana, where he died. James Smith went west after the death of his wife and never re- turned to Indiana.
John Isaac Smith was reared by his Grandfather Mason and was given a good common-school education in the schools of Bath township. At the age of eighteen, he began to work for himself and has rented the Goudie
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farm for fourteen years. This farm contains one hundred and thirty-nine acres of excellent farming land and, under the skillful management of Mr. Smith, it yields satisfactory returns year after year. He is an extensive breeder of Duroc-Jersey swine and has been unusually successful in all of his live-stock interests. When he was eighteen years of age, Mr. Smith lost his right arm, but, despite this handicap, he has become a successful farmer and is able to do all kinds of work on the farm. He can husk over fifty bushels of corn in a day and can pitch hay with the best man in the harvest field and has put up two cords of wood in a day.
Mr. Smith has never married. He was reared as a Methodist, his grandparents being stanch members of this denomination. In every phase of life's activities in which he has engaged, Mr. Smith has performed his full part and, because of the clean and wholesome life he has led, he is de- serving of the high place he holds in public esteem.
CHARLES MISCHEL.
There are few residents of Franklin county, Indiana, who were born in Alsace-Lorraine, and one of this small number is Charles Mischel, who has been a resident of this county for the past thirty years. He was eleven years of age when his parents located in Franklin county and he has spent all of his active career since that time in Brookville township, where his parents located.
Charles Mischel, the son of Lawrence and Mary (Hennel) Mischel, was born July 31, 1873, in Alsace-Lorraine. His parents were both born in the same place, his father's birth occurring June 1, 1848, and his mother's on May 27, 1848. Lawrence Mischel and wife were the parents of five children, all of whom are still living, Charles, Annie, Mary, Kate and Law- rence.
Lawrence Mischel, the father of Charles, came to Franklin county in 1884 and located with his family on a farm in Brookville township. He lived for a time in Brookville, but spent most of his career in the county on his farm of sixty-nine acres in Brookville township. Lawrence Mischel died on March 14, 1907, and his widow is still living in the county. He was a soldier in the French army during the Franco-Prussian War of 1870.
Charles Mischel received most of his elementary education in the schools of Alsace-Lorraine, but attended the schools of Brookville township after
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his parents located in Franklin county. He was also a student in the paro- chial schools of Brookville for a time and also in the Oak Forest school. After leaving school he remained at home until after his marriage, assisting his father with the work on the farm. He now owns fifty acres and also manages the old homestead of sixty-nine acres. By dividing his attention between grain and stock raising, he has succeeded in acquiring a comfortable competence. His farm has good, improvements upon it in the way of a comfortable home, excellent barns and outbuildings of all kinds.
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