USA > Indiana > Franklin County > History of Franklin County, Indiana : her people, industries and institutions > Part 68
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701
FRANKLIN COUNTY, INDIANA.
located on a farm along Blue creek in Brookville township, Franklin county, Indiana, where they spent the remainder of their days.
The maternal grandparents of Mr. Fries were Frederick and Eliza (Kingley) Geis, natives of Germany and New Jersey, respectively. Fred- erick Geis was a shoemaker by trade and came to America when a young man and located in Pennsylvania, where he married. He and his young bride came to Indiana and located in Ripley county near Batesville. They lived on a farm, and in addition to managing the farm he conducted a shoe shop. At that time all shoes were made by hand, and he had all the work he could do. He served as justice of the peace for many years and was a man of influence in his community, living to the ripe old age of eighty, his wife living to be eighty-six.
Michael Fries, the father of William A., was nine years of age when his parents came to this country in 1837. Consequently he received most of his education in Franklin county, and early in life learned to know what it meant to endure the hardships of pioneer life. He learned the cooper's trade before reaching his majority, and after his marriage moved to Brook- ville, in 1871, and followed his trade there until his death. He furnished all of the barrels for the Coleman and Teppan Distillery Company as long as that company was in existence. He served as township assessor for twelve years, being elected on the Democratic ticket. He and his family were all members of the Catholic church. Michael Fries and wife were the parents of thirteen children, six of whom grew to maturity, of which one, Anna, is now deceased. Jennie married Henry Shook, a paper maker of Brookville. The other children are Fannie, Dora, Carrie and William A.
The education of William A. Fries was all received in the Brookville schools. He attended the public schools, as well as the Catholic parochial school. Before reaching his majority he began to work in the Brookville Furniture Factory and worked there from 1887 to 1896 in the woodwork-' ing-machine room. In 1898 he opened a buffet in Brookville and conducted it until June, 1914, when he sold out. At that time he bought the National Theater on Main street and is now successfully managing it. He also has the agency for an old line fire insurance company and has been successful in building up a good business considering the short time he has been con- nected with this line of activity.
Mr. Fries was married May 25, 1898, to Elizabeth Schaaf, who was born in Brookville and is the daughter of August and Mary Schaaf, the for- mer of whom is deceased, Mrs. Schaaf still living in Brookville. Mr. Fries and wife are the parents of two children, Elmer, born in May, 1899, and Helen, born in June, 1900.
702
FRANKLIN COUNTY, INDIANA.
Mr. Fries is a Republican and has always taken an intelligent interest in political affairs. For fourteen years he has been a member of the Brook- ville fire department, of which he is now assistant chief. He and his family are members of the St. Michael's Catholic church at Brookville and he holds membership in the Catholic Knights of America and St. Peter's Benevolent Society. He is a member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles and the Benevo- lent and Protective Order of Elks, being one of the trustees of the local lodge of Eagles.
GEORGE W. GANT.
It would be very interesting to trace the history of the earliest pioneer of Franklin county. Before this county was organized in the spring of 18II there were many white settlers located up and down the Whitewater valley. The opposition to slavery was responsible for the location in this section of many of the white settlers, this opposition bringing to eastern Indiana from the Carolinas large numbers of those who desired to get away from the influence of the hated institution. The Gant family, worthily rep- resented in this section by George W. Gant, came from South Carolina in 1808 or 1809 and located in Franklin county, in Whitewater township. As a matter of fact, there was no Franklin county, much less Whitewater town- ship, at that time. Consequently the Gant family have been residents of Franklin county during the whole period of its organization as a county and of the state of Indiana during its whole existence as a state. The family have been farmers and stock raisers. Few farmers and stock raisers in the county have had more success than George W. Gant, his fine farm of more than six hundred acres speaking well for his ability as a tiller of the soil.
George W. Gant, the son of William and Lydia (Amack) Gant, was born in Salt Creek township, Franklin county, Indiana, June 6, 1856. His father was born near Cedar Grove in this county January 15, 1830, and died September 14, 1898. His mother was born in Salt Creek township, in this county, April 19, 1833, and died February 29, 1864. His parents reared a family of six children: Eliza, born June 20, 1853, died August 6, 1880; Francis, born October 3, 1854, is a blacksmith at Mount Carmel, Indiana; William, born February 27, 1859, died March 2, 1888; George W., of Brookville, and Chesterfield and Annie, twins, born June 20, 1861, the for- mer of whom is deceased and the latter of whom is the wife of James Kal- fey. of Newcastle, Indiana.
703
FRANKLIN COUNTY, INDIANA.
William Gant, the father of George W., was the son of George Gant, a native of South Carolina, who was one of the early settlers in Franklin ยท county, arriving here about 1809. The Gants are loyal members of the Baptist church, Grandfather Gant and his wife walking ten miles to attend the services in the famous Little Cedar Baptist church. William Gant grew to maturity in Ray township and after his marriage bought a farm in Meta- mora township and lived there the remainder of his days. William Gant was married three times. After the death of his first wife he married Emily George, and she died ten years later, leaving no children. His third mar- riage was to Sarah McCuen, and to this union was born one daughter, Mrs. Catherine Holmes, of Connersville, Indiana.
George W. Gant was educated in the public schools of Metamora town- ship. He remained at home until he was twenty-four years of age and then began to work for himself by renting a farm. He later bought his father's home place of two hundred and ninety-seven acres and farmed it success- fully until 1905. In that year he bought six hundred and four acres in Springfield and Whitewater townships and makes this his home during the summer. In 1912 he bought a home on Ninth street in Brookville, where he lives during the winter. Mr. Gant keeps full-blooded Percheron horses and Wilkes trotting horses. He did own Hal Comet, a pacer with a record of 2 :1714, and Major Bedford, a trotter with a record of 2:0914. He has always been interested in the breeding of fine horses and at all times has a number of fine trotters and pacers on his farm. He is also an extensive breeder of full-blooded Shorthorn and Jersey cattle. He buys mules and cattle to feed on his farm and annually sells several carloads of stock.
Mr. Gant was married December 7, 1881, to Margaret Gant, who was born in Whitewater township, a daughter of William and Elizabeth Gant. Her father died in 1903, her mother having passed away May 1, 1880. Wil- liam Gant was a large landowner in this county. Mr. and Mrs. Gant are the parents of two children: Leon H., born in 1882, died in 1886, and Blanche, born November 23, 1906.
Mr. Gant is a Democrat, but has never been lured away from the farm to engage in the activities of political life. He has preferred to devote all of his time and attention to his stock raising interests and leave the political game for others who are more inclined to such form of activity. He is a man of genial personality and is one of the best known citizens of the county, a worthy representative of one of the very earliest families of Franklin county, in whose behalf it seems fitting that a review of this fam- ily history be recorded in this volume for the consideration and information of future generations.
704
FRANKLIN COUNTY, INDIANA.
HARRISON WATKINS.
When one studies the history of Franklin county and of its inhabitants, one is taken back in retrospect to the birthplace of those who first came into the borders of this county. New Jersey was one of the states from which came a large number of the early settlers of this section of Indiana. It was from this state that Jonathan Watkins, father of Harrison Watkins, of Whitewater township, emigrated. For many generations the Watkins family had been prominently identified with various activities in New Jersey and the native force with which they conducted their affairs there has been transmitted to the Indiana line of their descendants, Harrison Watkins long having been known as one of the most progressive farmers and most popular residents of this county.
Harrison Watkins was born in Whitewater township, Franklin county, on November 1, 1840. His parents were Jonathan and Phoebe (Bruen) Wat- kins, and he was one of six children born to this union, of whom he now is the sole survivor. Susan was born in 1817, and married Jackson Schultz; Eliza, born August 5, 1821, married Isaac Garner ; Henrietta, born September I, 1827, married James Skiles; Mary, born June 14, 1830, married Oscar Whipple ; Cyrus, born October 1, 1834, married Eliza A. Stone.
Jonathan Watkins, father of Harrison Watkins, was born in New Jer- sey, September 30, 1790. His parents were Jonathan and Susan (Larison Watkins) of New Jersey. His mother, Susan (Larison) Watkins, was born January 20, 1766, and his father was born about the same year. The elder Jonathan Watkins was a prominent farmer in New Jersey, and operated a saw mill on the Little Miamia in connection with his farm, New Jersey at that time having great timber resources. To Jonathan and Susan (Larison) Watkins were born eleven children: John L, born 1789; William, April 17, 1792; Isaac, April 16, 1794; Elizabeth and Joseph, November 30, 1796, twins ; Sarah, February 10, 1798; Sussanah, October 2, 1799; George, June 6, 1801; Frank, November 15, 1803; Robert, July 6, 1805, and Jonathan (father of Harrison Watkins), September 30, 1790. The grandparents of Jonathan Watkins were Joseph and Elizabeth (Spinning) Watkins, well known in New Jersey, where the elder Watkins was prominent in Colonial affairs. They had three sons, Jeremiah, James and Jonathan.
Jonathan Watkins, Jr., spent the earlier days of his life in New Jersey, where he was apprenticed to a wagon maker, which trade he followed for some time in New Jersey, also at various times working on a farm. He de- termined to settle in the west and eventually migrated to Ohio early in the
MR. AND MRS HARRISON WATKINS.
705
FRANKLIN COUNTY, INDIANA.
first decade of the last century and lived in communities where his mother and uncle had settled in 1800. During this period Jonathan Watkins enjoyed the close acquaintance of Gen. William Henry Harrison, between whom and himself there existed a warm friendship. In 1835 he came to this county and bought one hundred and eight acres in Whitewater township, the same tract that now is in possession of his son, Harrison Watkins. In 1815, he married Phoebe Bruen, daughter of Jobes Bruen, also a native of New Jersey. Jonathan Watkins and wife were members of the United Brethren church and were held in great esteem by all who knew them, being active in all the good works of the day and the community.
The maternal grandparents of Harrison Watkins were Jobes and Abigail (Spinning) Bruen. Jobes Bruen came from a distinguished New Jersey fam- ily, and was himself a prominent citizen and soldier of that state. He was born July 24, 1750, in Newark, New Jersey. His father was David Bruen, who served as a lieutenant in the Continental army. David Bruen was born in New Jersey in 1715 and lived to be more than eighty years of age. He was married to Phoebe Wood, who was of a well-known New Jersey family. Jobes Bruen left New Jersey and came to College Hill, Ohio, about the year 1800. He was one of the very first settlers in that part of the state. At this time there was but one house erected where Cincinnati, Ohio, now stands. Jobes Bruen exerted great influence in the early affairs of his adopted state and was rated as a man of splendid executive ability.
Harrison Watkins received his early education in the common schools of this county. He has lived practically his entire life on the same farm. He has twice married, the first time, August II, 1864, to Hannah E. Stone, and by this union had two children, George and Eudora. George lives in Whitewater township. Eudora married Leonard Bogart and lives in Dear- born county and has four children, Clara, Crystal, Omer and Edna. Mr. Watkins married the second time, January 1, 1874, his second wife being Alice Hargrave, a daughter of Seth Hargrave, of Carmi, Illinois, a member of a pioneer family of that section of Illinois, the Hargraves having been the founders of the town of Carmi. The grandfather of Mrs. Watkins was a general in the War of 1812. To the union of Harrison and Alice (Har- graves) Watkins there were born three children, Anna (deceased), Clara and Phoebe. Anna married William Case and resided in New Trenton, where she died, leaving three children, Howard, Harrison and Helen. Clara married Walter Warrender and lives in Dearborn county, Indiana. They have one child, Wilburn. Phoebe, the youngest child of Mr. and Mrs. Wat- kins, is single and remains at home.
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706
FRANKLIN COUNTY, INDIANA.
New Jersey has furnished many good citizens to Franklin county, In- diana, and not the least of these was Jonathan Watkins, whose son, Har- rison Watkins, of Whitewater township, is a successful farmer and good citizen. He and his family are well-known throughout the county and are held in the highest regard by all who know them.
JOHN WEBER.
The United States is the most cosmopolitan nation of the earth. Her citizens are drawn from every country and every clime, but no nation has furnished better or more substantial citizens for this country than has Ger- many. The ancestors of John Weber, an enterprising business man of Brookville, were born and reared in Germany and he has inherited those characteristics that make the German-American citizens successful in any occupation in which they choose to engage. Although Mr. Weber has been a resident of Brookville but a short time, he has already become identified with the life of the community. He has established an industry here which is increasing in importance year after year and which, under his successful management, has become one of the leading industries of the city.
John Weber, the sole owner and proprietor of the Scenic Valley Ice De- livery Company, was born December 20, 1873, at Newport, Kentucky. His parents, both of whom were born in Germany, came to America before their marriage and located in Newport, Kentucky. His father was born in 1825 and his mother in 1837. After coming to America, Henry Weber and Eliza- beth Veith were married in Newport, Kentucky, and lived there the remainder of their days. Henry Weber became a lumber dealer and built up a com- fortable fortune in this line of business. He was a wholesaler and retailer and had a number of lumber yards in Kentucky along the Ohio river. He also did contracting in connection with his lumber business. Henry Weber and wife reared a family of seven children: Henry, a retired lumber dealer of Newport, Kentucky: Elizabeth, the wife of George Weisenbaum, a farmer of Butler county, Ohio: Jacob, who died at the age of twenty-two; Louise, who died at the age of eighteen; John, of Brookville, Indiana; Catharine, single, of Newport, Kentucky; and George, a farmer of Butler county, Ohio.
John Weber was reared in Newport, Kentucky, and received his educa- tion in the schools of that city. His father died when he was twelve years of age and when he was fifteen he left school and began working for himself.
707
FRANKLIN COUNTY, INDIANA.
In 1898 he began buying ice and retailing it in Newport, continuing in this business until 1912. In that year he came to Brookville where he engaged in the same line of activity and in March, 1913, he bought the old canning factory building in this city and remodeled the same for the erection of an artificial ice plant. He now has a modern plant for the manufacture of ice and ice cream, opening the factory for business on July 18, 1913. The ice plant has a daily capacity of twelve and one-half tons of ice, in connection with which there is manufactured a superior grade of ice cream and all kinds of frozen dainties to please the most fastidious taste. Mr. Weber has built up a large trade in Brookville and throughout the county and has the satis- faction of knowing that his business is increasing year after year.
Mr. Weber was married in 1902 to Edith Augusta Povelite, who was born in Bellevue, Kentucky, the daughter of Fred and Emma Povelite, the former of whom is still living. Mr. Weber and his wife are the parents of four children : John, born in 1906; Edith, born in 1908; Helen, born Decem- ber 8, 1910; and Evelyn, born March, 1913.
Mr. Weber is a Republican but has not been in the county long enough to take an active part in political affairs. However, he is a believer in good government and gives his hearty support to such measures as he believes will advance the best interests of county, state and nation. His fraternal relations are with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Knights of Pythias. Although he has been a resident of the county but a short time, he already has built up a large circle of friends and acquaintances in Brook- ville and throughout the county. His record as a clean and respectable citizen is such as to merit the high esteem in which he is held by those who have been associated with him.
RIEDMAN BROTHERS.
The Riedman family are of German ancestry, the grandparents of the Riedman brothers on both sides having been born in Germany. The sons of John H. Riedman, Albert, Harry and Joseph, have been in the cement- block manufacturing business in Brookville for the past ten years, and have built up a large business in the city and throughout the county. They are young men and the success which has come to them thus far indicates that they will in the future be among the successful and substantial men of af- fairs in Brookville.
708
FRANKLIN COUNTY, INDIANA.
Albert, Harry and Joseph Riedman are the sons of John H. and Anna (Knecht) Riedman and were born in Franklin county, Indiana, Albert be- ing born November 13, 1883; Harry, November 5, 1886, and Joseph, June 20, 1889. The brothers have twin sisters, Anna, the wife of Frank Mc- Clellan, a paper maker of Brookville, and Minnie, the wife of Joseph Fies, of Connersville, Indiana.
John H. Riedman, the father of the brothers, was born February 14, 1850, in Bavaria, Germany. He died at his home in Brookville, Indiana, December 28, 1908. His wife, Anna Knecht, was born in Highland town- ship, Franklin county, Indiana, December 28, 1860, and died in Brookville in 1892. John H. Riedman was six years of age when he came to this country with his parents and settled in Dearborn county, Indiana. After his marriage he moved to Franklin county and bought a farm on Blue creek. He followed the trade of a butcher for about eleven years and then moved into Brookville to educate his children. He established a butcher shop in Brookville and for twenty years was successfully engaged in this line of business. About 1905 he and his three sons became interested in the manufacture of cement blocks and other kinds of cement work, and he continued in this business until his death.
The paternal grandparents of the Riedman brothers were born in Ba- varia, Germany, and came to America in 1856. They located at St. Leon, Dearborn county, Indiana, where their grandfather engaged in farming and butchering for a livelihood. Their grandfather Riedman died at the age of seventy-one while living in Rush county, Indiana, at the home of one of his daughters. The maternal grandparents of the three brothers were Francis and Margaret Knecht, both of whom were born in Germany. Their grand- father Knecht was born September 2, 1823, and' his wife was born in 1833. He died June 1, 1913, and his wife is still living. The Knechts were early settlers in Highland township and founded the town of Knecht, Indiana, now known as Highland Center. Grandfather Knecht was one of the lead- ing Democrats of that section and was justice of the peace for many years, his magisterial judgments usually being regarded as final in the settlement of such local disputes as might arise requiring adjudication of the courts.
The Riedman brothers, Albert, Harry and Joseph, received most of their education in the schools of Brookville. Since 1905 they have been engaged in the cement business, and do a large amount of contracting throughout the county. They make anything in the way of cement bridges, sewers, walks, foundations or buildings, and the quality of their work is such that they have all they can do. They make their own cement blocks,
709
FRANKLIN COUNTY, INDIANA.
crush their own stone, and have lately branched out as road contractors. In 1910 the brothers built a fine cement-block bungalow in Brookville on Sixth street, where they are now living, none of the brothers being yet mar- ried.
The Riedman family are members of St. Michael's Catholic church and the brothers are members of the Knights of Columbus. In politics they give their hearty support to the Democratic party, but have never given more active concern to political affairs than to cast their votes for such men and measures as most closely appealed to their sense of right, being too busied about their own growing business affairs to give much personal attention to the campaigns of their party in the county and state.
ROLLIN L. GANT, D. V. S.
The profession of veterinary surgery has made remarkable progress within the last quarter of a century, in which time by proper degrees it has reached the dignity of a science. There are many excellent veterinary col- leges throughout the United States today, and a graduate of one of these schools is always sure of making a very comfortable living wherever he chooses to settle. One of the leading practitioners in the humane art of the cure and relief of animal diseases in Franklin county, Indiana, is Dr. Rollin L. Gant, a native of the county and a veterinary surgeon with five years' experience.
Dr. Rollin L. Gant, the son of George E. and Jennie Alma (Hunter) Gant, was born on Deer creek, Brookville township, Franklin county, In- diana, April 27, 1884. His parents, both of whom are still living, are na- tives of this state, his father's birth having occurred May 29, 1842, in Franklin county, and his mother's in Dearborn county, in 1857. George E. Gant was reared in this county and spent all of his active life as a farmer in different parts of the county. He is now retired from the active duties of life and makes his home at Miami, Ohio. He is a Democrat in politics, and he and his wife are both members of the Methodist Episcopal church. George E. and Jennie Alma (Hunter) Gant are the parents of three chil- dren: Harry Everett, now living in Baltimore, Ohio; Dr. Rollin L., of Brookville, and Charles Affestus, who is now attending school in Cincinnati.
The paternal grandparents of Doctor Gant were William and Amanda Gant. Grandfather Gant was born in England, coming to this country when young with his parents. He was known as "Red Bill" Gant, on ac-
710
FRANKLIN COUNTY, INDIANA.
count of his red hair and for the purpose of distinguishing him from several other William Gants then residing in the county. Two other men of the same name were known, respectively, as "Blue Bill" and "Black Bill" Gant, on account of certain pigmental characteristics. William Gant owned a farm on Pipe creek in this county, where he reared a family of twelve chil- dren, all of whom had curly red hair. He purchased, later in life, what is now known as the Boundary Hill farm, of three hundred and fifty acres, just north of Brookville, and was very successful as a farmer at that place. How- ever, the "milk sickness," a disease which has never been satisfactorily ex- plained, came along and very nearly destroyed everything he had. In fact, he lost three of his children, all of his horses, cattle and hogs. As a result of this disastrous experience he sold his farm at a great sacrifice and left it as soon as posible, under the belief that the ground was infected with the terrible disease. It is interesting to note that the malady never afterward appeared on that farm, and if he had kept it he would have become wealthy. Grandfather Gant was a very industrious, hard working man, but apparently was pursued by disaster, as three times during his life he accumulated what was then considered a fortune, and as many times lost all.
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