History of Franklin County, Indiana : her people, industries and institutions, Part 64

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 64

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M. Dudley Planing Mill and was made manager of the mill. He remained with the planing mill for six years, and then engaged in the general con- tracting business, putting up several fine residences in Brookville. In 1910 he started the Brookville Novelty Works, and has gradually built up his present plant until he is now doing a large business. He makes sash and doors, automobile bodies and all sorts of wood novelties.

Mr. Cooksey was married November 16, 1892, to Sarah Robinson. She was born in Brookville, Indiana, and is the daughter of Asa and Frances Robinson. Mr. Cooksey and his wife have three children: Hazel, born in 1896; John Wesley, born in 1899; and Harold, born in 1901.

The Democratic party receives the hearty support of Mr. Cooksey, but, owing to his extensive interests, he has never taken an active part in the affairs of his party. Fraternally, he belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Improved Order of Red Men. Mr. Cooksey is a wide awake and progressive citizen, and well deserves the success which has come to him as a result of his own individual efforts.

FURMAN W. HATHAWAY.

For the past thirty years Furman W. Hathaway has been connected with the business interests of Brookville, Indiana. He learned the cigar- maker's trade when a young man and, in the fall of 1885 came to Brook- ville from Rising Sun, in which place he was born and reared, and estab- lished a cigar factory, which he has continued to the present time.

F. W. Hathaway, the son of Shadrick and Ann (Wiswold) Hath- away, was born at Rising Sun, Indiana, September 15, 1855. His parents reared a family of three children: William H., a patternmaker, living in Aurora, Indiana; Mrs. Elizabeth C. Price, a widow, now residing in Brook- ville, and F. W., the youngest of the family.

Shadrick Hathaway, the father of F. W. Hathaway, was born in New Bedford, Massachusetts in 1794, and died in 1886. His wife, Ann Wis- wold was born in Boston, Massachusetts, in April, 1817, and died in August, 1908. Shadrick Hathaway served an apprenticeship as a shoemaker in New Bedford, Massachusetts, and, in 1815, located in Rising Sun, Indi- ana. He started a small shoe shop, and through hard work it grew in size until he had the largest shoe business in southern Indiana. He be- came a general merchant, and was one of the wealthiest men in Indiana for many years. At one time he was worth at least $200,000, and had many

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business ventures. He had a branch store in Vevay, in addition to his main store in Rising Sun. He employed thirty women and several men in a large tailoring establishment, which he conducted and owned. There were no banks in Rising Sun at that time, and he did all of the local banking at his store. During the depression following the Civil War he failed in business, on account of placing to much confidence in some of his friends. He then went back to shoemaking, although he had not made a pair of shoes for thirty years. He was not discouraged at the loss of his large fortune, but went back to the simple life, and worked with all of his former vigor at the making of shoes. When he was ninety-two years of age he measured and made a pair of fine shoes for his son Furman W.

The paternal grandparents of F. W. Hathaway lived all of their days in Massachusetts. His maternal grandparents, William Wiswold and wife were born in Boston, Massachusetts, and lived there until they be- came advanced in years. They then came west and located in Rising Sun, Indiana, to make their home with Shadrick Hathaway and wife. The Wiswold family were sailors, sailing from Massachusetts ports. Mr. Hatha- way had an uncle on his mother's side who was a sea captain. The paternal grandfather of F. W. Hathaway had a tannery at New Bedford, Massa- chusetts, but most of his sons were sailors and whalers. Shadrick Hathaway had a brother, John, who lived at New Bedford, Massachusetts, and when Shadrick was ninety-two years of age he went to New Bedford to visit his brother, John, who was then ninety-four years of age. At that time both of the brothers were hale and hearty and able to do a good day's work. Grandfather Hathaway died at the age of fifty-three, as a result of an accident. He was a very strong man, and was said to be the strongest man in the community where he resided.

F. W. Hathaway was the youngest son of his father's second mar- riage. His father had three children by a former marriage, one of whom, Elmira W., lives in Cincinnati. He attended the schools of Rising Sun, Indiana, and as a young man, learned the cigarmaker's trade. He came to Brookville on October 5, 1855, and started a cigar manufacturing plant in a small way. He has gradually built up the business and now employs from twelve to fifteen people in the manufacture of cigars. He makes a dozen different brands, all of which are widely sold over this section of the United States.

Mr. Hathaway was married September 17, 1879 to Emma Cole. She was born at Aurora, Indiana, and is a daughter of Eleazer and Eunice Cole. Her father is deceased, but her mother is still living. Her father was a farmer near Aurora.

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Mr. Hathaway is a stanch Republican, but has never taken an active part in political affairs. He is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons at Brookville, and is a member of both the Blue lodge and the Chapter. He also holds his membership in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Encampment. Mr. Hathaway is an enterprising business man and, during the thirty years he has been identified with the life of Brookville, he has always stood for the best interests of the town.

HUGO TETTENBORN.

If there is any young man in Brookville, Indiana, who is deserving of the success which has come to him, he is Hugo Tettenborn, the proprie- tor of a flourishing restaurant and confectionery store in this city. Born in Germany, he came to this country with his parents when he was two years of age, and as a result of their separation the same year, he was placed in an orphans' home in Cincinnati. When three years of age he was adopted by a family, and lived with them until he was fourteen years old. He then went to live with another family, and remained with them until he was eighteen. At that time he enlisted for service in the United States regular army and saw service during the Spanish-American war in Cuba, Porto Rico and the Phillippines. Since that time he has been living in Brookville, and since 1908 he has been engaged in his present business.

Hugo Tettenborn, the son of Louis and Johanna (Tettenborn) Betz, was born in the town of Swartzenburg in the province of Thuringia, Ger- many, March 16, 1880. His parents were both born in the same place. His father died there in 1888, while his mother is still living in Germany. His parents were married in their native land, and when Hugo was about two years of age, they came to the United States and located in Cincin- nati. Within a short time his parents separated, and the children were placed in an orphans' home in Cincinnati. The mother returned to Ger- many, where she procured a divorce, and there married a Mr. Kohlmann, with whom she is yet happily living at Vebra, in Sunderhausen, Germany. She has one son, Emil, by her second marriage.

Hugo Tettenborn has one brother and one sister, Josie and Arthur liv- ing. Another sister, Rose, died at the age of seven. Josie was adopted by John Martin, and lives with her foster parents near Brookville, Indiana. Arthur retained his father's name of Betz, and now lives at Weimer, Ger- many, where he is a telegraph operator in the employ of the German govern-

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ment. Hugo took his mother's name, Tettenborn, and has always been known by that name.

When Hugo Tettenborn was three years old he became a member of the family of John M. Neaman, of Rising Sun, Indiana. They gave him a good home, and he remained with them until he was fourteen years old. At that time Mrs. Neaman died, and he went to live with John Martin, who had taken his sister, Josie, into his home. He remained with the Mar- tin family until the spring of 1898, when he enlisted in Company A, Eleventh Regiment, United States regular infantry, and served in the regular army for three years and a half. He was in Cuba, Porto Rico, and fought two years in the Phillipines. After his discharge he returned to Brookville, Indiana, where he worked at various occupations until 1908. In Septem- ber of that year he bought out the confectionery store of William Winans in this city, and has since added a restaurant to the store. He now has a modern store building on Main street, and has the most up-to-date con- fectionery store and restaurant in Brookville. He is an energetic and popular young man and enjoys a fine trade.

Mr. Tettenborn was married November 18, 1908 to Mamie Margaret Dudley. She was born in Franklin county, and is a daughter of Joseph F. and Margaret Katherine Dudley. Her mother is deceased and her father is still living in Brookville. Mr. Dudley was the sheriff of Franklin county for two terms, and a man of influence in the county. Mr. and Mrs. Tettenborn are the parents of two daughters: Edna Ruth, born October 25, 1910, and Margaret Katherine, born June 30, 1914.

Mr. Tettenborn is a Democrat in politics, but has never been active in the councils of his party. He and his wife are members of the St. Michael's church at Brookville, and he holds membership in the Knights of Columbus.

HERMAN WALTHER.

One of the most prosperous firms of Brookville, Indiana, is the firm of G. and H. Walther, who conduct a general sales and feed stable in this city, and also buy and ship live stock of all kinds. They own a stock farm near Brookville, which is largely devoted to the feeding of cattle and sheep for the market. Herman Walther was born and reared in Butler county, Ohio, but has made Brookville his home since 1899. He has been active in the civic life of his community, and has the distinction of having been the first Republican ever elected to an office in Franklin county.

FRANKLIN COUNTY, INDIANA.

Herman Walther, the son of John and Emma (Howser) Walther was born in Morgan township, Butler county, Ohio, October 28, 1875. His father was born in Hesse, Germany, near Darmstadt on May 3, 1834, and is still living in Butler county, Ohio. His mother was born in Zurich, Switzerland, February 12, 1845, and died in Butler county, Ohio, Febru- ary 2, 1912. These parents reared a family of eight children, who are, George, who is a partner with his brother, Herman in Brookville; John, a farmer of Butler county, Ohio; Frederick, a merchant at Shandon, Ohio; Lyda, who is still living with her father; Herman, of Brookville; Marshall, a farmer of Morgan township, Butler county, Ohio; Charles, a retail meat merchant of Hamilton, Ohio, and Ann, who is living with her father.

John Walther, the father of Herman, was reared in Germany and learned the butcher's trade as a boy. In 1855 he came to the United States, the ocean trip consuming seventy-eight days. He landed at New York City and at once went west and located in Cincinnati, but remained there only a short time. He then went to Butler county, Ohio, and bought a farm in Ross township, where he lived until 1878. In that year he bought a large farm in Morgan township in the same county, and still makes his home there. During his earlier days he bought stock and also conducted a butcher business. He retired from active business some time ago.

The paternal grandparents of Herman Walther were lifelong farmers in Germany. They were members of the Lutheran church and lived to an advanced age, the grandfather having been eighty-six and his wife more than eighty-eight years of age at the time of their passing away. The maternal grandparents of Herman Walther were born in Switzerland and came to the United States in 1848. They located in Hamilton county, Ohio, and lived there the remainder of their days. They were members of the Catholic church.

Herman Walther was educated in the public schools of Morgan town- ship, Butler county, Ohio, and worked on his father's farm during the summer vacations until he was twenty years of age. He then worked one year for his brother, George as a stock buyer, and in 1899, he and his brother, George, came to Brookville and formed a partnership under the firm name of G. and H. Walther. They have a large sales and feed stable on South Main street, where they have built up a large business. They buy and sell all kinds of live stock throughout this section of the state. They buy especially stock to feed for the market, and in order to increase their business, they bought a farm east of Brookville a few years ago, on which they fatten several carloads of cattle and sheep each year.

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Mr. Walther was married October 4, 1899 to Sarah Tracy, who was born in Butler county, Ohio, and is a daughter of Thomas and Adeline Tracy. Her father, who was a farmer, died when Mrs. Walther was only five years of age. Mr. and Mrs. Walther are the parents of two children, both of whom are deceased, and who were Talton, who was born May 30, 1901, and was accidentally killed on the turntable in Brookville, February 17, 19II, and Mildred, who was born in January, 1903, and died September 12, 1904.

Mr. Walther has taken an active part in Republican politics since mov- ing to this county, and has been one of his party's leaders in local affairs. In 1911 he was elected commissioner of Franklin county, having been the first Republican ever elected to a county office. The county has always been overwhelmingly Democratic, and the fact that Mr. Walther was elected on the Republican ticket shows the high esteem in which he is held through- out the county. His fraternal relations are with the Benevolent and Pro- tective Order of Elks.

HERMAN TRICHLER.

One of the most successful business men of Brookville, Indiana is Her- man Trichler, who retired from an active business career in 1912. He was born in this county nearly seventy years ago, and has spent most of his active career in Brookville. For several years he was a traveling salesman for a wholesale clothing house in Cincinnati and, with the exception oi that, he has been engaged in business, either as a clerk or for himself, since he was thirteen years of age. He has been active in the civic life in this community, and has held various political offices with satisfaction to all concerned.

Herman Trichler, the son of Joseph and Barbara (Petri) Trichler was born in Blooming Grove township, Franklin county, Indiana, December 18, 1846. His father was born in Wiesbaden, Germany, and died in this county in 1852, while his mother was born in the same place in 1816, and died in this county in 1886.

Joseph Trichler was reared in Germany and became a general mer- chant in his native town of Wiesbaden. In 1837 he disposed of his inter- ests in that city and came to the United States and located in Cincinnati, Ohio, where he remained for six months. He then came to Franklin county and bought a farm in Blooming Grove township, where he lived until his death. After his death his widow married William Minson, and to her

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second union were born two daughters, Mrs. W. D. Moore, deceased, for- merly of Brookville and Mrs. Elnora Powers.

When Herman Trichler was fifteen years of age he came to Brook- ville and became employed in the general merchandise store of Herman Linck, where he remained for seven years. There he learned all those habits of thrift, energy and general management of mercantile affairs which stood him in good stead in later life. When he was twenty-two years of age he formed a partnership with Frank Scobie under the firm name of Trichler & Scobie. A year and a half later Mr. Trichler sold out his in- terest to Elbert Shirk and started a shoe store in Brookville. He built a building of his own and operated the store successfully for five years. He then disposed of this store and for the next twelve years traveled for a wholesale clothing house with headquarters in Cincinnati. He later left the employ of that company and traveled for six years for another company. He then bought a grocery store in Brookville, which had failed in business, put it on a paying basis and successfully managed it during the next five years. In 1890 he built a fine business block on the southwest corner of Seventh and Main streets, in Brookville, which he still owns. In 1903 he went into the clothing business in his own building and continued in busi- ness until 1912, when he disposed of his interests and retired from active participation in merchandising. He has carried forward to successful com- pletion every venture into which he has entered, and today is one of the substantial business men of the city.

Mr. Trichler was married May 20, 1869 to Mary T. Shepperd. She was born in Brookville, and is a daughter of Samuel and Martha Shepperd, deceased. Her father was for many years a merchant tailor in Brookville. Mr. and Mrs. Trichler are the parents of two children: Harry L., who died in infancy, and Mary R., the wife of Royden P. Abeling, of Shelbyville, Indiana. Mr. Trichler joined his son-in-law in business in Shelbyville under the firm name of Trichler-Abeling Company.

Mr. Trichler has always taken an active part in Democratic politics, and was the county chairman of the Democratic central committee in 1908. He has been a frequent delegate to county and state Democratic conventions and, in 1892, was a delegate to the Democratic national convention. In 1914 Governor Ralston appointed him representative of the Sixth Congres- sional district on the Flood Commission. He served on the town council of Brookville for two terms, and was president of the school board for a number of years. He is one of the oldest Masons in the county, having been a member of the lodge since 1868, and for seventeen years he was

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treasurer of the lodge in Brookville. The family are all members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Trichler and his wife spend the winters in St. Petersburg, Florida, where they own a home. They return to Brook- ville about the first of May each spring, and spend the summer months in this city.

HENRY W. GRIMME.

Franklin county, Indiana, is fortunate in having a large number of citizens of German origin or descent. Without exception the citizens of German birth of this county have made a success in whatever line of ac- tivity they have engaged, and the career of Henry W. Grimme furnishes no departure from this rule. Coming to this county when he was four years of age, at the close of the Civil War, he has since made his home here. Most of his active career has been spent in farming, although since the fall of 1912 he has been the owner and manager of the Brookville flour mill.

Henry W. Grimme, the son of Fred and Hanna (Kohrs) Grimme, was born in Hanover, Germany, near the town of Am-Ouster, Hanover, May 10, 1861. His parents reared a family of six children : Henry W., who is the eldest of the family; Wenia, who died at the age of three; Amy, the wife of Louis Brock, a farmer; Amelia, the wife of Cuna Brock, a farmer; Minnie, the wife of William Kuhn, and Mary, the wife of John Wagner, living in Texas.

Fred Grimme, the father of Henry W., was born in Hanover, Ger- many in 1829, and died in this county in 1901. His wife was born near the same place March 28, 1841, and died in Franklin county, May 22, 1907. Fred Grimme learned the shoemaker's trade in Germany, and served three years in the German army. In 1865 he and his mother, his father hav- ing previously died, came to the United States and settled on Blue creek, Highland township, Franklin county, Indiana. There he bought forty acres of land and farmed during the remainder of his life. The family all helped on the farm and, with true German thrift and industry, they prospered to such a degree that when Mr. Grimme died, in 1901, he had a well im- proved farm of one hundred and ninety-eight acres. The maternal grand- parents of Henry W. Grimme lived all of their days in Germany, his grand- father having been a wagonmaker by trade.

Henry W. Grimme, as has been mentioned, was only four years of age when his parents moved to this county. He was given such education as

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was afforded by the district schools of his immediate neighborhood, and re- mained on the home farm until his marriage. He then rented his father's farm for seven years, and for four years also rented another farm. He and his wife were thrifty, and saved their money with the intention of securing a farm of their own. They eventually bought a farm in Green township, Wayne county, Indiana, on which they lived for three years. After selling that farm, they bought another tract of land in the north- western part of Brookville township, in Franklin county, but only lived on it six months. In 1903 Mr. Grimme bought one hundred and thirty- six acres one mile south of Brookville, and has made his home on this farm ever since. On October 21, 1912, he bought of the John Kimble heirs their flour mill in Brookville, and Mr. Grimme has had the active management of the mill since that time. He manufactures three grades of flour and makes all kinds of ground feed, carrying on a general milling and feed business.

Mr. Grimme was married December 26, 1888 to Catherine Becky. She was born in Pepperton, Salt Creek township, Franklin county, Indiana, and is a daughter of William and Anna Becky,, both of whom are deceased. Her parents were born in Germany and were early settlers in Franklin county, Indiana. Mr. and Mrs. Grimme are the parents of three sons : Harvey, born November 30, 1891; Alvin, born December 22, 1894; and Raymond, born December 28, 1907. The two older sons are working in their father's flour mill in Brookville.

Mr. Grimme is a Republican, as was his father, but he has not taken an active part in political matters. His extensive farming and milling in- terests have been such that they have claimed all of his time and atten- tion. His family are all loyal members of the Lutheran church, and give it their hearty support at all times. Mr. Grimme is a fine type of the Ger- man-American citizen, and his life in this county has been such as to com- mend him to everyone with whom he has been associated.

WILLIAM OTTO.

William Otto has been a resident of Brookville, Indiana since 1903, in which year he arrived in the city as foreman of the woodworking ma- chine room in the A. M. Tucker Furniture Company. He is now superin- tendent of and a stockholder in the Brookville Furniture Company.

William Otto, the son of Carl Ludwig and Margaret Elizabeth (Reich)

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Otto, was born in Louisville, Kentucky, October 14, 1874. His father was born in Saxony, Germany, March 8, 1835, and died February 12, 1899, at his home in Louisville, Kentucky. His mother was born in Wurtemburg, Germany, January 5, 1838, and died December 17, 1897. Carl L. Otto and wife were the parents of six children : Charles L., who was born April 21, 1859, is a stock salesman and lives in Louisville, Kentucky; Amelia, born in the fall of 1864, died in September, 1870; Anna Louise, born March 2, 1867, died February 25, 1892; Herman, born in 1871, died in 1874; George, born in 1873, died in the same year, and William, who was the youngest of the family. Herman and George died with the smallpox three weeks apart.

Carl Ludwig Otto, the father of William, was a brassworker in Ger- many and before his marriage came to the United States and located in Boston, Massachusetts, and his future wife later came to America and settled in Northampton, Massachusetts, where she worked in a box factory. After their marriage, which took place in Massachusetts in 1857, Carl Lud- wig Otto and his young wife came to Indiana and settled in Jackson county, where they bought a farm, going heavily in debt for it. One day while they were at church, their house caught fire and they lost everything. At the opening of the Civil War Carl L. Otto enlisted in an Indiana regiment and served a year and a half at the front. He had one finger shot off, but otherwise escaped uninjured, and was honorably discharged from the service at the close of the war. After returning to his farm in Jackson county, Carl L. Otto moved with his family to Louisville, Kentucky, and there re- ceived employment as seal clerk in the freight department of the Jefferson- ville, Madison & Indianapolis Railroad, working for that company until his death in 1899. The paternal grandparents of William Otto lived all of their days in Germany. His maternal grandparents were born in Ger- many and his grandfather Reich died on the voyage to this country.

William Otto attended the public schools of Louisville, Kentucky, until he was twelve years of age, and then started out to work for himself. His first postion was in a tobacco factory, where he pasted labels on plug tobacco. Later he worked in the C. C. Lingle box factory for four years, and here he secured his first knowledge of woodworking. He then worked for the Louisville Coffin Company, remaining with this company for ten years. He was a steady workman and gradually arose from one position to another until he was foreman of the machine room for the last three years he was with the company. In 1899 he went to' Covington, Kentucky, and worked for the Phoenix Company in their woodworking room. After

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History of Franklin County, Indiana : her people, industries and institutions, Part 64

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