USA > Indiana > Franklin County > History of Franklin County, Indiana : her people, industries and institutions > Part 60
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The grandfather of G. Wallace Hyde was Dr. Thomas Hyde, a native of England, and an early settler in Franklin county, Indiana. He was edu- cated as a physician in his native land and practiced for a short time before coming to America. He became one of the pioneer physicians of Franklin county and for many years was an influential and useful citizen of the com- munity where he resided. He lived to be honored by a wide circle of friends and acquaintances, to whom he had ministered during his active life. His
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wife, Esther Hall, as has been mentioned, was one of the first children born in Whitewater township, and she lived to be eighty-five years of age. The maternal grandparents of Mr. Hyde were Robert Hampson and wife, both of whom were born in England. The Hampson family came to the United States and located in this county, where the grandfather was accidentally killed when about thirty years of age. The widow never remarried.
Thomas F. Hyde was reared on his father's farm in Whitewater town- ship and received such education as was afforded by the district schools of his boyhood days. He began farming after his marriage, and had the honor of operating the first threshing machine ever used in Franklin county. It would be interesting to see this threshing machine today, as it was operated by horse power. He continued to operate his machine until a few years be- fore his death in Springfield township, where he had acquired a very com- fortable farm.
G. Wallace Hyde received his elementary education in the district schools of Springfield township. Early in life he decided to enter the teaching pro- fession and, with this idea in view, he became a student in Valparaiso Uni- versity at Valparaiso, Indiana. Later he entered the State Normal school at Terre Haute, in order to qualify himself better for his chosen life work. He taught while yet attending school and spent, altogether, ten years in the district schools of Springfield township. In 1908 an opportunity presented itself for him to engage in the insurance business in Brookville. He became the agent for the Mutual Life Insurance Company of New York, and for the past seven years has been in the employ of this company. During this time he has built up a very comfortable business, which extends throughout the county.
Mr. Hyde was married June 20, 1904, to Lula Roberts. She died Jan- uary 6, 1906, leaving one daughter, born May 5, 1905. Mr. Hyde was mar- ried a second time, August 1, 1907, to Louise A. Reifel, and to this second union have been born three children: Bessie M., born August 22, 1908; Neil W., born February 4, 1910, and Vera Louise, born December 21, 1914. Mrs. Hyde is a daughter of Conrad Reifel, a prominent farmer of Salt Creek township, where she was born and lived until her marriage.
Mr. Hyde is a Democrat in politics, but has never cared to take an active part in political affairs. His fraternal relations are with the Free and Ac- cepted Masons and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Mr. Hyde is rightfully regarded as being one of the representative men of his community and, as both a teacher and a business man, he has measured up to a high standard of American citizenship.
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LOUIS FEDERMANN.
A prominent business man of Brookville, Indiana, is Louis Federmann, who was born here and has, so far, spent his life in the town of his birth. His parents were both born in Germany, and Mr. Federmann has inherited those sterling characteristics which have made the people of German birth such valuable assets to the various communities in this country where they have settled. Mr. Federmann taught school for a few years, when a young man and, when only twenty-five years of age, was elected recorder of Frank- lin county. For many years he has been engaged in the general merchandise business in Brookville under the firm name of Bossert & Federmann. He is also vice-president and an active officer of the Franklin County National Bank and has been very successful in all of his business ventures.
Louis Federmann, the son of Louis and Catherine (Amos) Federmann, was born in Brookville, Indiana, January 7, 1859. His parents were both born in Bavaria, Germany, his father's birth occurring August II, 1821, and his mother's on August 10, 1827. His father died in Brookville, June 26, 1895, and his mother died in the same place August 3, 1884.
Louis Federmann, Sr., was educated in Germany and worked in the woolen business at Strassburg. In 1846 he and his young wife came to America and located in Brookville, Indiana. In 1847 he went with the army to Mexico and was in that country during the whole period of the Mexican War, although not as an enlisted soldier. He remained in Mexico until 1852, when he returned to Brookville and engaged in the grocery business for many years. He finally retired from active business life and spent the remainder of his days in the town where he had made a successful career. Nine children were born to Louis Federmann, Sr., and wife.
Louis Federmann, Jr., was reared and educated in Brookville. He taught school in Franklin county before reaching his majority, and, for a few years, followed this profession with success. An indication of his popularity and recognized ability is shown by the fact that he was elected recorder of the county, on the Democratic ticket, in 1884, when he was only twenty-five years of age. His services were so satisfactory that he was re-elected in 1888, and served eight years in the office. In 1892 he became deputy col- lector at the United States Revenue office in Lawrenceburg, Indiana, under Capt. W. H. Bracken, and remained in this position for four years. He then returned to Brookville and engaged in the general merchandise business in partnership with A. Bossert. He is now regarded as one of the substan- tial business men of the town.
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Mr. Federmann was married September 17, 1885, to Laura L. Elling- ton. She was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, and is a daughter of William H. and Anna Ellington, both of whom are deceased, and to this union have been born four children : Annella, who is still living at home; William L., a gradu- ate of Wabash College, and now a druggist in Kansas City, Missouri ; Charles R., a student of the University of Illinois, and Richard L., who is still a student in the public schools of Brookville.
Mr. Federmann has been an active worker in the Democratic party of Franklin county for many years. He was president of the county council when the court house was rebuilt, and has been a member of the board of trustees of the Carnegie free library since its organization. The family are all active workers in the Presbyterian church. Mr. Federmann is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons and the Knights of Pythias. When the Franklin County National Bank was organized, in 1901, he was elected vice- president, and still retains this position. In all respects Mr. Federmann has been one of the leading citizens of his county, and for more than thirty years he has been an active participant in every phase of his county's growth and development.
PETER SCHAF.
If one were to write the history of Franklin county, Indiana, and omit telling about the Valley House, that famous hostelry at Brookville, it would be like paying a visit to Brookville and failing to eat one of those rare meals served at this renowned tavern. Perhaps the Valley House will be best known as the hotel that was operated for so many years by the late Peter Schaf, of Brookville, one of Indiana's famous bonifaces, whose greeting lin- gered long in the memory of the traveler who had the good fortune to be- come a guest of the Valley House.
Peter Schaf was born on the border of Alsace-Lorraine, near Strassburg, now a German province, but at that time a part of France. He was born in the village of Schorbach about 1826 and died July 31, 1893. He was a son of Nicholas and Marie (Haller) Schaf, both natives of Alsace-Lor- raine, and both of whom came to this country. Peter Schaf was one of five children born to them, three daughters and two sons. Of these, but two are now living, Mrs. Elizabeth Lux, wife of a wealthy farmer residing in Shelby county, Indiana, and a brother, Nicholas, who also lives in Shelby county.
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PETER SCHAF. MRS. SUSANNA (SCHAF) SENEFELD.
MICHAEL P. SENEFELD.
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Nicholas Schaf, father of Peter Schaf, was born July 21, 1797, and his wife, Marie (Haller) Schaf, was born February 14, 1801. About 1840, they came to this country, accompanied by their children and settled in Dearborn county, Indiana, where they resided until the elder Schaf's death, after which time Mrs. Schaf made her home with a daughter in Madison, Indiana, where she died several years later.
Peter Schaf was a small lad when his parents came to this country, but he was ambitious, full of native energy and industry, and at the early age of fourteen began working on the steamboats that plied on the Ohio and Mississippi rivers. He started his career as cabin boy, afterwards becoming second cook and later first cook on various boats. He was married in 1853 to Catherine Scholl, the ceremony taking place in Cincinnati, Ohio, at St. Mary's Catholic church, the Reverend Father Hammer officiating. Cath- erine Scholl was a native of Bavaria, having been born at Deidesheim in 1824. She lived to be seventy-three years of age. When she was a small girl, she lost her parents and at the age of nineteen emigrated to this country, locating in Cincinnati with her brother, Adam Scholl. Here she met Mr. Schaf, to whom later she was married.
Mr. and Mrs. Schaf resided in Cincinnati for some time, and then they moved to Franklin county, Indiana, where they located on a farm of one hundred and twenty acres in Butler township. In 1871 he sold this farm, moved to Brookville, where he bought the "Valley House," at that time one of the largest hotels in south Indiana. This hotel had a splendid reputa- tion for its hospitality and was the favorite stopping place for travelers in this part of the state, but it had never enjoyed the fame that it afterward attained under the ownership of Peter Schaf. He was a jovial man and soon became noted as one of Indiana's most popular hotel keepers. Many travelers in this part of Indiana were wont to go out of their way in order that they might spend a pleasant day or two enjoying the hospitalities of Peter Schaf. In 1886 Mr. Schaf sold the Valley House to his two sons-in- law, Michael P. Senefeld and W., A. Koehler, after which Mr. Schaf built a house in Brookville, to which he retired and where he spent the remainder of his life. Mr. Schaf was a very active man physically, and had a jovial countenance that made him many friends. He was a member of St. Michael's Catholic church, in which he was active during his entire life, and was one of the founders of St. Peter's Benevolent Society in connection with the above church. He was prominent in the councils of the Democratic
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party and was honored by his party by being elected joint representative from Franklin, Fayette and Union counties to the state legislature.
To Peter and Catherine (Scholl) Schaf were born ten children : August, .Anna, Nicholas, Barbara, Frank, Joseph, Mary, Lena, Regina and Susanna Josephine. August married Mary Schneider, a native of Brookville, and to them were born two daughters, Elizabeth and Clara, the former of whom is the wife of William A. Fries, the latter living at home with her mother. August Schaf lived in Brookville from his early childhood to the time of his death in 1879; Anna Schaf married Herman Schwegman and died in 1899 in Arkansas; Nicholas Schaf is a noted chef in California. He married Mary McCormick, of Cincinnati, and she died, leaving one daughter, Caddie. Barbara Schaf married Joseph Schneider (deceased) and lives in In- dianapolis. She is the mother of nine children. Frank Schaf lives in Chi- cago, Illinois. He married Anna Kolhoff, of Brookville, and they have one daughter, Agnes. Joseph Schaf is the president of the Columbia Club at Indianapolis, the home of Indiana's Republicanism. He is a prominent manufacturer of Indianapolis, the president of the American Brewing Com- pany of Indianapolis, a stockholder and director of the Fletcher American National Bank, a director of the Claypool Hotel Company and is also inter- ested in several other important industries of Indianapolis. He also has ex- tensive interests in Chicago, Illinois. He married Miss Josephine Maus, of Indianapolis, where they make their home. They are the parents of one daughter, Alice, and a son, Charley. Mary Schaf married W. A. Koehler and died February 22, 1904, leaving four children, Regina (deceased), a nun of the order of St. Francis ; William, a resident of Baltimore; Raymond and Clement. Lena Schaf, who finished her education at the academy at Olden- burg, Franklin county, Indiana, married William Van Wyck, a prominent business man of Geneva, Switzerland. Regina Schaf died at the age of eleven. Susanna Josephine Schaf, widow of the late Michael P. Senefeld, is the present owner of the Valley House at Brookville.
Susanna Josephine Schaf. the tenth child of Peter and Catherine (Scholl) Schaf, was born in Butler township, Franklin county, Indiana, December 22, 1863. She was educated in the St. Mary's parochial schools in Brookville, having come to Brookville in 1871, and was reared in the Valley House, of which her father was the famous proprietor for many years. On May 18, 1886, she was married to Michael P. Senefeld, a native of Franklin county, Indiana.
Michael P. Senefeld was born at Oak Forest, Franklin county, June 9. 1860, son of John and Eva Senefeld, both natives of Germany. His parents
FRANKLIN COUNTY, INDIANA. 627
came to this country and located in Butler township, Franklin county. His father was a cooper by trade, which occupation he had followed in the old country. In 1865 the elder Senefeld moved his family to Brookville, In- diana, and established a cooper shop, which he operated for many years. Michael P. Senefeld was one of seven children of John and Eva Senefeld, the others being the Reverend Father Senefeld, of New Albany; Peter, who lives in Indianapolis; Charles, who lives in Brookville, and four sisters, Mrs. Joseph Reeder, of Connersville, Indiana; Mrs. Mary Peters, of Brookville, Indiana, and Barbara and Eva, who keep house for their brother, the Rev- erend Father Senefeld, of New Albany. The parents of these children were devout attendants at St. Michael's Catholic church at Brookville.
Michael Senefeld at thirteen years of age was apprenticed to a printer, learning "the art preservative of all arts" on the Brookville Democrat. He followed this trade until 1886, when, with his brother-in-law, W. A. Koehler, he bought the Valley House from their father-in-law, Peter Schaf, and faith- fully maintained the splendid reputation achieved by their predecessor in the operation of this celebrated hotel. In 1907 Mr. Senefeld purchased the interest of his partner and continued as the sole owner of the Valley House until his death, which occurred September 26, 1913. Since that time Mrs. Susanna J. (Schaf) Senefeld has continued the operation of the Valley House. Having been reared in this hotel as the daughter of the famous owner, Peter Schaf, Mrs. Senefeld naturally adapted herself to the activities of management and has failed in nothing to keep the house up to its splendid reputations. She takes a great deal of pride in the cuisine and service of her hotel, and it has been said with a great deal of truth that she serves one of the best, if not the very best, meals in southern Indiana. Mrs. Sene- feld would rather be complimented on the excellence of the accommodations of her hotel than to increase the revenue of it. Travelers who make Brook- ville never weary of praising Mrs. Senefeld and the hospitality accorded them.
To Mr. and Mrs. Senefeld were born four children. David T., born June 30, 1888, finished his education at St. Joseph's College at Rensselaer, In- diana, and is now at home assisting in the management of the hotel; Stanley A., born November 17, 1891, also assists his mother; Clarence M., born October 30, 1893, was graduated from Brookville high school, spent one year in the engineering course of Purdue University and is now living at home, also assisting in the management of the Valley House. Arnold John, born September 6, 1899, is now attending school at St. Mary's College in Dayton, Ohio.
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Mrs. Senefeld is interested in all local affairs of public importance, in- cluding the public library and schools. Mrs. Senefeld and family are devout worshippers in St. Michael's Catholic church at Brookville. They are a very interesting and highly esteemed family and are truly capable of maintaining the high standard of excellence and hospitality that marked the ownership of the Valley House under the well-remembered Peter Schaf.
FRANK J. GEIS.
Many Germans settled in Franklin county, Indiana, before the Civil War and, among them, the Geis family occupies a prominent place. The parents of Frank J. Geis. the present treasurer of Franklin county, were both born in Germany, his father coming to this country when he was a small boy. Mr. Geis has been in the hardware business for many years in Brookville, and is still the owner of a hardware store in the county seat. He has taken a prominent part in Democratic politics for many years and has served as treasurer of the county since 1913, having been elected in the fall of 1912, and again in the fall of 1914. He is administering the duties of this office in a manner which reflects credit upon himself.
Frank J. Geis, the son of Michael and Mary (Fassoot) Geis, was born at St. Peters, Highland township, Franklin county, Indiana, on June 3, 1867. His father was born at Grosswahlstadt, Germany, about 1828, and died in Franklin county in 1882. His mother was born at Maurau in Alsace-Lor- raine in 1834, and is still living, making her home in Franklin county, where she has resided many years.
Michael Geis came to America with his parents, when a youth, and located at St. Peters in Franklin county, Indiana. He received part of his education in his native country and completed it in this county. He learned the trade of a harness maker in Cincinnati while yet a young man and later located in Franklin county, at St. Peters, where he established a general store, while at the same time he conducted a harness shop. He managed the general store for twenty years, and during most of that time was actively engaged in the making of harness. Later he moved to Brookville and con- ducted a grocery store in the county seat until his death, in 1882. He was twice married, his first wife having been Anna Fassoot, a sister of his second wife, the mother of Frank J. There were two children by the first marriage, Mary and Anna, both of whom died in childhood. To the second union
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were born five children: Charles, who died in 1911; Josephine, the widow of John Fries, and now the manager of a dry goods store in Brookville; Aloysius, a produce merchant of Columbus, Ohio; Frank J., of Brookville; and Flara, who married Clint Grist and lives in Brookville, Indiana.
Frank J. Geis was only six months old when his parents moved to Brook- ville and here he has made his home since that time. He received his educa- tion in St. Michael's parochial school and then attended St. Meinard's Col- lege in Spencer county, Indiana for two years. After working in the office of a distilling company for two years, he began to work in the hardware store of Joseph A. Fries in Brookville and was later taken in as a partner, the firm becoming Fries & Geis. The business is still conducted under this name, although Mr. Fries died in 1896. Mr. Geis remained in active charge of his store until he was elected to the office of county treasurer in the fall of 1912.
Mr. Geis was married October 18, 1892, to Anna Haman. She was born in Brookville and is the daughter of Mathias and Catherine (Schlitz) Haman. Her parents were both natives of Germany and, on coming to this country, located in Sheridan, Ohio, later moving to Brookville. Her father, who is now deceased, was a butcher by trade. Her mother is still living, at the age of eighty-five. Mr. and Mrs. Geis are the parents of five children : Bertha, born in 1893; Cecelia, born in 1895; Herbert, born 1897; Anthony, born in 1899; and Agnes, born February 19, 1908.
The family are all loyal members of the St. Michael's Catholic church of Brookville. Mr. Geis is a member of the Knights of Columbus, the St. Peters Benevolent Society and Improved Order of Red Men. He is a mem- ber of the board of trustees of the Carnegie library at Brookville, and is interested in all educational and religious measures which he feels will benefit his community. He has been a life-long Democrat and has been one of the leaders of his party. He has served as precinct committeeman, and was treasurer of the county Democratic executive committee for four years. He was a member of the town council of Brookville for eight years, taking an active part in all of the improvements which were suggested for the town during his term of office. A proof of his popularity and recognized ability is shown in the fact that his party nominated him for the office of county treasurer in 1912 and subsequently elected him for this important office in the fall of the same year. He gave such excellent satisfaction during his first term that he was re-elected in the fall of 1914, and is now filling the office to the uniform satisfaction of all of the citizens of the county.
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CHARLES G. REIFEL.
The members of the Reifel family have been honored residents of Franklin county, Indiana, since 1859, when the parents of Charles G. Reifel located in the county. Mr. Reifel began teaching school before reaching his majority, and, before assuming the office of county auditor in 1912, taught twenty-seven years in one township. A service of such length is sufficient indication that Mr. Reifel was a successful teacher, and the thousands of pupils who have gone to school to him will heartily attest to his efficiency as an instructor of youth. There is no higher profession than that of the public school teacher, and he who molds the youth of this country during their plastic years is doing that great work which once caused a great educator to say: "The common schools, the hope of our country."
Charles G. Reifel, the son of Conrad and Louisa (Koerner) Reifel, was born in Peppertown, Salt Creek township, Franklin county, Indiana, April 24, 1865. His parents were born in Germany, and came to America in 1859. Ten children were born to Conrad Reifel and wife: Charles G., of Brook- ville : Emma, the wife of John Becky, of Cincinnati, Ohio; Caroline, who is living on the old home place at Peppertown: William J., of Cleveland, Ohio; August J., superintendent of the Brookville schools; Louis H., of Fowler, Indiana; Herman T., living in Minnesota; Louise, the wife of G. W. Hyde, of Brookville; and two who died in infancy.
Charles G. Reifel received his elementary training in the schools at Peppertown, and later was a student in the normal school at Laurel, Indi- ana. While still a mere youth he began teaching, and for more than a quarter of a century followed this profession in Butler township, in this county. He interspersed his teaching with several terms at the State Normal school at Terre Haute, Indiana, attending this excellent school in order to prepare himself the better for his work. During the latter part of his teach- ing career Mr. Reifel was superintendent of schools at St. Mary's, in this county.
Mr. Reifel was married October 24, 1888, to Elizabeth Strasburger, who was born in Butler township, and is a daughter of Conrad and Catherine Strasburger. Mrs. Reifel's father, who is now deceased, was a substantial farmer of Butler township, and was commissioner in Franklin county for six years. The mother of Mrs. Reifel is still living. There have been eleven children born to Mr. and Mrs. Reifel, all of whom are still living. They are Matilda, Mary, Carrie, Dora, Harry, Emma, William, Frances, Lambert and Clarissa and Elizabeth, twins. All of these children are still single and three
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of the daughters, Mary, Carrie and Dora, are teachers in the public schools. Mr. Reifel has always taken an active part in Democratic politics, and was formerly secretary of the township organization in Butler township. In 1910 he was elected auditor of Franklin county and took his office January I, 1912. In 1914 he was renominated and again elected, which means that he will hold the office until 1920. In the administration of the duties connected with this office he has given his fellow citizens conscientious and efficient service, a fact which they recognized by re-electing him after the expiration of his first term. The family are all loyal members of the St. Michael's Catholic church of Brookville. Fraternally, Mr. Reifel is a member of the Knights of Columbus, the Knights of America, the Fraternal Order of Eagles and the Improved Order of Red Men. In 1911 Mr. Reifel moved with his family to Brookville, and now lives at the site of the old home where Gen. Lew Wallace was born. He calls his home "Fort Wallace," and adds, in his whimsical way, the "fort is full of Reifels (rifles)."
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