History of Franklin County, Indiana : her people, industries and institutions, Part 58

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 58

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Mr. Gordon was married February 14, 1883, to Madge Monroe. She is the daughter of Col. George and Mary (Cunningham) Monroe. Her father was colonel of the One Hundred Twenty-third Regiment, Illinois Volunteer Infantry, of the Civil War, and was killed in the battle of Farm- ington.

Mr. and Mrs. Gordon are the parents of two children, Donald Monroe and Janet. Donald M. was born November 25, 1885, and married Carolyn Hopkins, of Indianapolis. He now lives in Metamora and assists his father in looking after the latter's extensive farming interests. Janet was born July 2, 1890, and is still living with her parents.

Mr. Gordon is a stanch Republican in politics and has always taken an intelligent interest in the welfare of his party in local affairs. He served as trustee of Metamora township for four years and gave excellent satis- faction during his tenure. He built his present comfortable home in Meta- mora in the fall of 1888. He served as postmaster at Metamora from 1907 to 1913. The family are all loyal workers in the Methodist Episcopal church and Mr. Gordon is now a trustee and steward in the local denomination at Metamora. Fraternally, he is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons

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and belongs to the Commandery at Connersville. Mr. Gordon is a worthy representative of one of the sterling old pioneer families of the county, and it seems particularly fitting that the career of the Gordon family be preserved in this history of the county.

I. A. POPPER.

The people of Jewish birth are proverbially successful in whatever line of, business they undertake, and the career of I. A. Popper, who has been connected with the business interests of Brookville since 1878, strikingly illustrates this fact. Born and reared in Bohemia, he left his native land when a youth of fifteen, to come to America. For many years he suffered from poor health, and had many discouragements, but he persevered and plodded steadily along until he was able to establish himself in business.

I. A. Popper, the son of Albert and Elizabeth (Popper) Popper, was born in Leibling, Bohemia, May 25, 1848. His parents were born at Rad- nitz, Bohemia, in 1805 and 1808, respectively. His father was a cattle buyer and breeder, and every spring bought skins for the Bohemian govern- ment. Mr. Popper died when he was forty-five years of age, being drowned while on a trip through the country buying grain to feed his cattle. His widow never remarried and lived the remainder of her days in Bohemia. Mr. and Mrs. Albert Popper were the parents of fourteen children, five of whom are now living: Benedict, a cattle buyer of Bohemia; August, of Regian, Bohemia; Fannie, the wife of Israel Abelisk, a cattle buyer and large land owner living in Hochliblin, Bohemia; Louis, a retired merchant of Cincinnati, Ohio; and I. A., of Brookville, Indiana. It is interesting · to note that the maternal grandparents of I. A. Popper lived to an extreme age, his grandfather being one hundred and six years old at the time of his death, and his grandmother one hundred and four. They lived all of their days in Bohemia.

I. A. Popper attended the public schools of his native land until he was about twelve years of age. He then spent three years learning the machinists' trade, specializing in the making of guns and locks. As a youth he was ambitious to become a man of affairs and, when only fifteen years of age came to America to seek his fortune. He landed at New York City and lived there with some of his distant relatives for about a year and a half. He worked for his board during the day, and in the evening at- tended night school. When he was about sixteen and one-half years old

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he went to Louisville, Kentucky, and worked for two weeks at the machin- ist trade in that city. He then secured employment with the firm of Sable Dinkelspiel, and worked for this company for nine years, as buyer of coun- try produce. He was then taken sick, and for twenty-seven months was confined to his bed with rheumatism. His money became exhausted, and he was finally transferred to the Jewish hospital at Cincinnati, where he was placed in the charity ward. He was there two months before he was able to get up, and was then in a badly crippled condition and not able to do any kind of manual labor. He planned to return to his old home in Bohemia, but a fortunate acquaintance with an old negro woman changed the whole course of his life. She had what she claimed was a specific cure for rheumatism, and in his despair he allowed her to treat him. The result was marvelous, as his rheumatism left him and he was soon able to return to work.

The next position of Mr. Popper was in Levi's cafe, on Central avenue, in Cincinnati, where he clerked at night. The work there was hard on his eyes and he soon became nearly blind. His physician told him that he would have to quit the cafe and get out of doors or he would lose his eye-sight altogether. At this juncture he started to become a peddler, feel- ing that in this way he would be able to make a living, and at the same time retain his health. He started through the country on foot, carrying a bundle of notions on his back, and for the next few years was thus en- gaged. He not only regained his health, but laid by a small sum of money, which enabled him to start in business for himself.

The next chapter in the interesting history of Mr. Popper finds him married in 1878, and established in a small dry goods store in Brookville, Indiana. He started with a capital of one hundred and thirty-five dollars, and such has been his industry and devotion to his business, that he is to- day one of the most substantial men of the city. He certainly well merits the success which has come to him since he met with so many discourage- ments in his earlier career. His first store in Brookville was located on Main street, where the Harry B. Smith Dry Goods Company is now situ- ated. In his early business career in Brookville he was twice burned out and suffered heavy financial losses both times. In both cases the fire started in an adjoining building. After his second fire, he located where the Charni dry goods store is now situated, the building being especially built for Mr. Popper. In 1898 he sold out his dry goods department to Mr. Charni and moved his clothing store to its present location, where he is

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doing a prosperous business. He was a director of the Brookville Business Men's Association, and has always taken an active interest in everything per- taining to the welfare of his city.

Mr. Popper was married January 16, 1878, to Laura Wise. She was born in Steingrop, Austria, in 1855, and is the daughter of Samuel and Hannah Wise, both of whom are deceased. Her father was for many years a dry goods and notions merchant in Cincinnati. Mrs. Popper is a niece of the late Dr. A. M. Wise, one of the most noted rabbis of the Jewish church. Mr. and Mrs. Popper are the parents of four children: Rozella, who is now a cashier in Cincinnati; Ruby, private secretary of the president of the Phoenix Fire Insurance Company; Hannah May, who is a teacher in Brookville; and Arthur L., who is now working in his father's store.

Mr. Popper is a Democrat in politics and has always taken an intelli- gent interest in local political matters. He has served as president of the city school board and favored every measure which he thought would bene- fit the city schools in any way. Fraternally, he is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons of Brookville, and also of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Knights of Pythias, and Improved Order of Red Men. In 1887 Mr. Popper bought his present home in Brookville.

The career of Mr. Popper is a striking example of what may be ac- complished when a man plans his work and carries it forward with energy and discretion. It is safe to say that no man in Brookville is held in higher esteem among his fellow citizens, and it seems eminently fitting that his career be included among the representative men of Brookville and Franklin county.

HARRY, MANLEY.

On Christmas day, 1849, the parents of Harry Manley located in Frank- lin county, Indiana, and there they lived the remainder of their days. Mr. Manley has spent most of his life in Laurel and for the last twenty-five years has operated a stone quarry near the town.

Harry Manley, the son of Edward and Louise P. (Whipple) Manley, was born in Laurel, Indiana, August 24, 1856. His father was born in Ashtabula, Ohio, October 31, 1817, and died in Laurel October 16, 1893. His mother was born in Oil Creek Franklin county, Pennsylvania, July 4, 1828, and died in Laurel March 9, 1893. His parents reared a family of

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seven children : Frances Louise, the wife of B. E. Lippincott, president of a brokerage firm in Portland, Oregon; Edward, of Laurel, Indiana; Harry, with whom this narrative deals; Charles, who makes his home with his brother, Harry; Guy, who died May 20, 1894; Florence, the wife of Otis Freeman, a farmer of Rush county, Indiana; and Clifford, an employe of the National Biscuit Company, with headquarters in Richmond, Indiana.

Edward Manley, the father of Harry, was a sailor on the Great Lakes during his early years and later became a boatman on the Ohio and Mississ- ippi rivers. He attained the rank of river captain, and it was while on one of his trips that he met his future wife in Cincinnati, where she was visiting her sister. They were married February 29, 1849, and shortly afterwards he took a four-horse team, bought a load of goods in Cincinnati and started through Indiana, selling and trading to the people along the road. On Christ- mas day, 1849, he drove into Laurel and decided to locate here. He engaged in the fire insurance business and followed this line of activity until his death.

The paternal grandparents of Harry Manley were Jabez and Dorcas Manley, natives of Massachusetts, and early settlers in Ashtabula, Ohio. Jabez was a cooper by trade and after his son, Edward, settled in Laurel, Indiana, he removed to this state and lived here the remainder of his days. Jabez Manley and his family were all strict Presbyterians. The maternal grandparents of Harry Manley were probably born in Franklin county, Pennsylvania, of Scotch-Irish descent. His grandfather Whipple was a shoe- maker and employed many men in his shop. He died in middle age as a result of a blow from a stone thrown by a boy on the street. His wife died many years afterwards in Washington, D. C., having moved there to make her home with one of her daughters.

Harry Manley was educated in the public schools of Laurel and, when eighteen years of age, became a stone-cutter in the quarry yards of Laurel. After working in the yards for four years he decided to learn the occupation of a telegrapher. He went to Connersville and, after one year of apprentice- ship there, became station agent and operator for the Big Four railroad at Laurel, retained this position for ten years, when he returned to Conners- ville to live for two years. The close confinement undermined his health and he was forced to resign his position. At that time he and his brother, Charles, opened the stone quarry near Laurel and, three years later, Harry bought his brother's interest in the quarry and, for the past twenty-five years, has operated the quarry alone. He now employs twenty-five men when he has the quarry running at full blast.

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Mr. Manley was married October 24, 1883, to Alice Weir. She was born in Laurel, Indiana, and is a daughter of Isaac and Sarah (Reese) Weir. Her father was born in Laurel township, Franklin county, Indiana, where he died February 5, 1908, at the age of seventy-nine. Her mother died February 15, 1873, at the age of forty-one.

Isaac Weir was the son of James and Susan (Harrell) Weir and was born at Gilford, North Carolina. When a young man he drove by wagon to Cincinnati and later located near Lawrenceburg, Indiana, in a small village called Gilford, being named after the old town of that name in North Caro- lina. The father of Isaac Weir fought in the War of 1812. He was offered forty acres of land in Mill creek valley, now a part of Cincinnati, to go as a substitute for another man, but refused and volunteered himself. The par- ents of Isaac Weir were early settlers in Franklin county. Isaac was mar- ried at the age of twenty-one and became a carriage-maker. He was for some years a pattern-maker in James O'Hair's foundry at Laurel, and later established a carriage and wagon making shop of his own. Still later in life he conducted a general machine shop and a saw-mill. He was a natural mechanic and could make anything out of wood or iron. He made fancy furniture for the wealthy people of the county. He has the honor of draft- ing and building the first threshing machine ever built in Franklin county, and for many years afterward built threshing machines in his foundry. He made and sold wagons, and received one hundred dollars for each wagon that he sent out of his factory. His son, Charles, learned the trade under him and continued a general woodworking and cabinet-making business.

Mr. and Mrs. Manley are the parents of four children : Ralph Sheldon, Nellie Elizabeth, Ernest Weir and Anna Louise. Ralph Sheldon was born October 29, 1884, and is now a foreman of the Evansville Veneer Works. He married Amelia Schlect and has two sons, Raymond and Charles. Nellie E., who was born October 13, 1886, married H. C. Ingels, the owner of the Solar Gas Light Supply Company, of Cincinnati, Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Ingalls have one daughter, Louise. Ernest Weir, born January 26, 1890, is now a postal clerk on the Big Four railroad. Anna Louise, born June 14, 1893, is a teacher in the public schools of Rush county.

Mr. Manley is an active worker in the Republican party and has served on the school board of his town for many years. His wife is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Fraternally, Mr. Manley is a member of the Knights of Pythias, and has been secretary of the Laurel lodge for twenty-five years.

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EDWIN HEAP.

England often has been referred to as the "mother country" of America and it is literally true that the first permanent white settlers of the North American continent were of English birth. The influence of these early set- tlers has been of lasting importance, many of our present and most impor- tant institutions being offshoots of those that had existed in England for many centuries, and which were transplanted to this country by the early English settlers. Among those who came to this country from England more than half a century ago was John Heap, father of Edwin Heap, a substantial and well-known citizen of Whitewater township, who has lived in this county almost his entire life.

Edwin Heap was born on the farm he now owns July 18, 1863, son of John and Jane (Ashton) Heap. His father was a native of England and his mother was of English parentage, her father having been an eminent physician in England before coming to this country.

John Heap, father of Edwin Heap, was born in England and came to this country when quite young, settling in Whitewater township, this county, where he purchased one hundred and seventy-two acres, now owned by Edwin Heap. On February 22, 1842, John Heap was united in marriage with Jane Ashton, a daughter of Dr. William Ashton, who before coming to this country had practiced medicine near Manchester, England.

Upon coming to America Dr. William Ashton located in Cincinnati, Ohio, where he practiced his profession for some time, enjoying considerable practice. In addition to his professional activities he also engaged in the manufacturing business, being an extensive manufacturer of window blinds and oil cloth. He later moved to Indiana, coming to Franklin county, where he bought a farm in Whitewater township, on which he spent the remainder of his life. Dr. Ashton came from a notable family of England, where his father, John Ashton, was a man of considerable prominence. During his residence to this county, Dr. Ashton enjoyed a wide circle of friends by whom he was well regarded.

John Heap and his wife Jane (Ashton) Heap occupied the farm which Mr. Heap had purchased previous to his marriage. He engaged in general agricultural pursuits and met with splendid success. He also was a stone mason, bricklayer and plasterer of exceptional ability. Mr. and Mrs. Heap's lives in this community were marked by that quite repose that comes from a life of fruitful endeavor. Mr. Heap died in 1880, at the age of seventy,

Eng. by E. G. Wilhams & Bre NY.

Edwin Heap

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survived by his wife and two sons, John and Edwin, the former of whom died January 7, 1915. His wife died January 31, 1899.

Edwin Heap secured his schooling in the common schools of Franklin county. He was reared on his father's farm, spending his school vacations in the usual manner of the farmer's son, assisting in work on the farm and acquiring the bodily vigor and discipline that have since proved of such value to him. Mr. Heap was married twice, his first wife being Indiana Hancock, a daughter of Green Hill Hancock, by which union there was one child, Harold, born May 6, 1884, who married Clara Bogart. Mr. Heap's first wife died July 2, 1891, and on November 30, 1893, he married, secondly. Ida M. Wynn, daughter of Rubin and Lavina (Renier) Wynn, of Butler county, Ohio, who was one of two children, the other being Clara H. Wynn.

Edwin Heap is now the only member of his father's family living, his brothers, Thomas, John and William and his sister Ella having died some time ago. Edwin Heap is admired for his many splendid qualities, not the least of which is his untiring industry. Besides his extensive farming in- terests, he is a stockholder and vice president of the First National Bank, at Okeana, Ohio, and is also a stockholder of the Harrison National Bank of Harrison, Ohio. He has well-grounded ideas on all popular questions and is vitally interested in all movements which have for their object the advance- ment of the public welfare along all lines, civic, moral or social. By industry and close application to the duties which confronted him, Mr. Heap has won an enviable place for himself in the community in which he has spent his whole life and both he and Mrs. Heap are held in the highest regard by all their wide circle of friends and acquaintances in this and adjoining counties.

ELLSWORTH MARTINDALE.

A large number of the early settlers in Franklin county, Indiana, came from Pennsylvania, and at the completion of the Whitewater canal through the county, in the thirties, there was a great influx of new settlers. Among the families who settled in the county during the thirties was the Martin- dale family, the grandfather of Ellsworth Martindale arriving in Brook- ville in the summer of 1838. A year or two later Grandfather Martindale located in Metamora, in this county, and in that village Ellsworth Martin- dale was born during the opening year of the Civil War. After reaching

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maturity Mr. Martindale engaged in the butcher business in his native village, and continued in that line of activity until 1911, when he opened a general merchandise store, in company with a partner, now having the best equipped store in Metamora.

Ellsworth Martindale, the son of Amos and Mary Ann (Parvis) Mar- tindale, was born in Metamora, Indiana, August 27, 1861. His father was born in Bucks county, Pennsylvania, January 16, 1826, and died at Meta- mora, Indiana, March 20, 1909. His mother was born in Maryland, April 24, 1832, and died in Metamora, Indiana, June 4, 1889. Amos Martin- dale and wife were the parents of twelve children: Lucy, who conducts a confectionery store in Metamora ; Eva, deceased; Julia, the widow of James Alley, of Indianapolis ; Emma, deceased; Isabelle, the wife of Harry Day, a real estate man, of Denver, Colorado; Ellsworth, of Metamora; Thomas, wha works for his brother, Ellsworth, in the store; Harry, a machinist, of Connersville, Indiana; Chester, an employe of the McFarland Automobile Company at Connersville, Indiana; Charles, who is in the confectionery business with his sister, Lucy, in Metamora; and two, Jenks and Bertie, who died in infancy.

Amos Martindale, the father of these twelve children, came with his parents from Bucks county, Pennsylvania, to Franklin county, Indiana, in 1838, being twelve years of age at the time the family located in this county. He grew to maturity at Metamora and, after his marriage in 1849, farmed in Metamora township until 1857. He then moved to the village of Meta- mora in order to give his children an opportunity for an education. He built a tannery near the canal, in the village, and operated it until 1870. He then purchased the Metamora tavern and was proprietor of it until 1895. At the same time he owned and managed a butcher shop and a livery barn in Metamora. He was a stanch Republican until the last eight years of his life. He served as trustee of Metamora township for two terms and was a man of influence in all of the civic affairs of his community, and was fre- quently called on by his neighbors to settle estates. He was a self-educated man. He and his family were members of the Christian church.

The paternal grandparents of Ellsworth Martindale were Abner V. and Eliza (Butcher) Martindale, both of whom were probably born in Bucks county, Pennsylvania, of German parentage. Abner Martindale was a stone mason by trade, and, after coming to Franklin county in 1838, followed his trade in this county, although he also owned and operated a farm. Grand- father Martindale was twice married. His first wife, Eliza Butcher, died, leaving him with four children; Rachel, the wife of Levi Sherwood, de-

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ceased; Amos, the father of Ellsworth; Angeline, deceased, the wife of Doctor McGuire; Martha, the widow of Richard Sherwood, now living in Metamora, where she has lived most of her life. The second wife of grand- father Martindale was Anna Dubre, whom he married while still living in Pennsylvania. To his second marriage were born three children: Laura, the widow of William Gordon, and now a resident of Rushville, Indiana; Kate, deceased, and Harrison, deceased, who was a resident of Wabash, Indiana.

The maternal grandparents of Ellsworth Martindale were William and Matilda Parvis. They were born, reared and married in Maryland, and grandfather Parvis died in that state. Later, grandmother Parvis, with her children, came on foot from Maryland to Franklin county, Indiana. They had a covered wagon full of goods, but grandmother Parvis walked prac- tically all of the way and carried a baby in her arms. They arrived in this county about 1842 and first located in Brookville, later moving to Cedar Grove. A few years later she permanently settled in Metamora, where she lived the rest of her life. After coming to this county she married Thomas Raymond and had three children by her second marriage.

Ellsworth Martindale was reared in Metamora and learned the butcher business in his father's shop. After his marriage, in 1885, he rented a farm near the village and continued farming until 1900. He then opened a meat shop in Metamora and continued in the retail meat business until 1911. In that year he formed a partnership with Mr. Jenks and bought out the general merchandise store of A. Blacklidge. The firm of Martindale & Jenks have now the most complete and best equipped store in Metamora. They carry a complete line of dry goods, groceries, shoes, readymade clothing and hard- ware, and have built up a business which extends throughout this section of the county.

Mr. Martindale was married November 2, 1885, to Belinda Young. She was born in Metamora township, and is a daughter of James and Sarah Young. Her father is deceased, but her mother is still living. To Mr. and Mrs. Martindale was born one child, Arnold, who died at the age of sixteen years.

Mr. Martindale is a stanch Republican and has always taken an intelli- gent and active interest in the welfare of his party. He was elected trustee of his township in 1908, and concluded six years' service in this office in 1914. He and his wife are members of the Christian church and contribute generously to its support.

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JOHN JACOB REIBOLDT.

German families have long played an active part in the important affairs of Franklin county. Many of these German families have lived in this county for many years, some being natives of the county, while the members of other families were born in Germany. It is a feature of the German people to retain their native characteristics, no matter where they may be living. The German cherishes the fine traditions of the fatherland and holds to what is best in German life without, in the least, detracting from his allegiance to his adopted country. Among the many prominent German- Americans living in this county is John Jacob Reiboldt, of Laurel.

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History of Franklin County, Indiana : her people, industries and institutions, Part 58

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