USA > Indiana > Franklin County > History of Franklin County, Indiana : her people, industries and institutions > Part 69
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The maternal grandparents of Doctor Gant were William Hunter and wife, the former of whom was born in Pennsylvania and when a young man came west and settled in Dearborn county, Indiana. In 1859 he moved to Oak Forest, Franklin county, where he lived the life of a farmer until his death, April 1, 1914, at the age of eighty-four. He was a man of strong character and clean and wholesome life, a powerful influence for good in the community in which he so long resided. Despite the fact that most of the pioneers were users of intoxicants, he never touched liquor in any form, and no man ever heard him give expression to an oath. He was a loyal and active worker in the United Brethren church, the memory of whose good deeds will live long.
Doctor Gant was reared on his father's farm and received his first ele- mentary education at the "Possum Hollow" district school near his home. He was nine years of age when his parents moved to Ohio, where he com- pleted his early education. He then became a student at Ohio Wesleyan University and was graduated from that excellent institution with the class of 1907. He immediately entered the Cincinnati Veterinary College, where he took the complete three years' course, being graduated in the spring of 1910. He at once located in Brookville for the practice of his profession and during the five years he has lived in the county seat he has built up a large and lucrative practice throughout the county.
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Doctor Gant was married November 5, 1909, to Mearl Alice Fisher, who was born in Butler county, Ohio, a daughter of Christian and Elizabeth (Lewis) Fisher, both of whom are still living, Mr. Fisher operating a large farm in Hamilton county, Ohio. Doctor Gant and his wife have one daugh- ter, Rellen Ellinor, born February 4, 1913, and are highly regarded among the members of the younger social set of Franklin county's county seat.
CHARLES J. FRIES.
The Fries family came to Franklin county, Indiana, in 1837, and was one of the pioneer families of this county. Charles J. Fries has spent his whole life in Brookville, and since he was twenty years of age has been engaged in the hardware business in the city of his birth. His father was interested in the hardware business in Brookville from 1879 until his death in 1909, and Charles J. now has his father's interest in the firm of Fries & Geis. He is an active man in this community and takes a prominent part in all movements having to do with the general public welfare.
Charles J. Fries, the son of Joseph A. and Mary (Kuehn) Fries, was born in Brookville, Indiana, November 5, 1877. His parents reared a family of six children: John, Margaret, Anna, Kate, Charles J. and Aneti.
Joseph A. Fries, the father of Charles J., was born in Ashaffenburg in Bavaria, Germany, March 19, 1831, a son of Michael and Barbara Fries. In 1837 he came to America with his parents and located in Blue Creek town- ship, Franklin county, Indiana. He remained on the farm until he was twenty-one years of age, and then for three years worked in the brickyard of William Rick. He worked in the brickyard during the summer season and drove a team in the winter time. In 1857 he began to follow the coop- er's trade and worked at this in Cincinnati and Franklin county until 1868. In that year he bought the grist mill owned by Daniel Ferrar and was con- nected with it for nearly forty years. In 1879 he purchased the hardware store of P. Senefeld and managed it in connection with his other business. He also conducted a large cooper shop in Brookville for many years. Joseph A. Fries was married February 11, 1860, to Mary Kuehn, a daughter of John Kuehn, of Franklin county.
Charles J. Fries received all of his education in Brookville. He at- tended the public schools as well as the parochial school of the city, and when eighteen years of age began working in the Brookville flour mill. A
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few years later he started to work in the hardware store of his father, and is still active manager of the firm of Fries & Geis.
Mr. Fries was married October 19, 1905, to Elizabeth Hollis, who was born near Braysville, Indiana, a daughter of Joseph and Mary Hollis, both of whom are now living in Brookville, her father being the custodian of St. Michael's church. Mr. and Mrs. Fries have two children: Clarence, born September 1, 1907, and Margaret, born in March, 1910.
Mr. Fries and his family are members of the Catholic church of Brook- ville and are interested in all that pertains to its welfare. He is a member of the Knights of Columbus and St. Peter's Benevolent Society, and also holds membership in the Improved Order of Red Men. Though Mr. Fries is one of the younger business men of Brookville, his career has been such as to reflect credit upon himself and to give him high rank in the estima- tion of those around him.
WILLIAM MOUNT BANES.
The Banes family is one of the old pioneer families of Franklin county. For several generations the family lived in Pennsylvania, in Bucks county, and in that state the father of William Mount Banes was born. Mr. Banes has devoted his life in this county to general farming and stock raising and has always been a resident of Metamora township. He is one of the largest land owners of the county and his fine estate of more than one thousand acres is a glowing tribute to his success as a farmer, stock raiser and busi- ness man.
William Mount Banes, the son of Jonathan and Maria (Mount) Banes, was born June 5, 1843, on the farm where he is now living in Metamora township. His parents had two children, William Mount and Mary, the latter of whom, born in 1846, married E. W. High and died September 12, 1890.
Jonathan Banes, the father of William Mount, was born February 12, 1817, and was the son of Jonathan and Anna (Gillingham) Banes, the for- mer being born about 1778. Anna Gillingham was the daughter of John Gillingham, a member of an old family in the Keystone state.
The great-grandfather of William Mount Banes on his father's side also bore the Christian name of Jonathan. He died in 1833 at the age of ninety years. After the death of his wife, Ann, Jonathan Banes, the second of the name, came to Indiana and passed his declining years at the home of his daughter, Mrs. High, his death occurring at her home in 1862.
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Jonathan Banes, the father of William Mount, was reared in his fath- er's home in Pennsylvania, and when sixteen years of age was apprenticed to a carpenter in Montgomery county, Pennsylvania. He worked for a time in Philadelphia, and in 1837 came to Brookville in order to get work on the Whitewater canal, which was then being constructed through Franklin coun- ty, and he had no difficulty in getting steady employment as a carpenter in the building of locks. Within a short time he was made superintendent of the building of the woodwork of the dam at Brookville and also had charge of the construction of several locks and dams along the canal. In 1839 he took the contract for the construction of the locks and an aqueduct at Meta- mora, but work was suspended that fall on account of the lack of funds. The following spring Jonathan Banes received payment in part for his work and invested the amount in horses, which he drove through to Pennsylvania and sold. In the fall of 1840 he returned to Franklin county and engaged in the mercantile business in Brookville. He remained there until the spring of 1845, and then moved to Metamora, where he erected a cotton factory. In the meantime he engaged in the mercantile business with his brother Jenks and Calvin Jones in Metamora. Jonathan Banes died April 13, 1906, and his wife passed away July 14, 1911, one hundred years from the time Grandfather Mount settled in Franklin county.
William Mount Banes was reared on his father's farm in Metamora township, and from his earliest boyhood has devoted himself to general farming and stock raising. He has a beautiful home in Metamora town- ship, where he has surrounded himself with all the comforts and conven- iences of modern life.
Mr. Banes has been twice married. He was first married April 6, 1871, to Nancy Tague, a daughter of Thomas Tague, an early settler of Metamora township. Both of the parents of Mrs. Tague died in 1871, and she died in 1881 in her thirty-sixth year. Mr. Banes was married a second time, Sep- tember 29, 1886. to Annie Olivia Clouds, a daughter of Rev. George C. and Mary A. Clouds, the former of whom was born in Philadelphia and the latter in Cincinnati. Mrs. Banes was born in Cincinnati September 29, 1863, and has two brothers living. Alfred C. and George C., both of Indianapolis. Her father was a minister of the Methodist Episcopal church of Greens- burg, Indiana, who died June 14, 1908.
Mr. Banes was the father of three children by his first marriage: Cora. who is still at home, a graduate of the Oxford (Ohio) College for Women : Balinda, also a graduate of Oxford College, and Leroy, who was graduated from Purdue University and is now manager of his father's large farm. He married Bertha Gant and has one son, Leroy Mount, born June 19, 1911.
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Mr. Banes has one daughter by his second wife, Mary, who was graduated - from DePauw University in 1913, after which she completed a librarian's course in the Carnegie Institute in Pittsburgh in August, 1914, and is now employed in the Children's Library in St. Louis, Missouri.
Mr. Banes has many interesting heirlooms, which were brought from Pennsylvania by his parents, among which are two very valuable four-poster beds, the posts of one being about seven feet in height. They also have many pieces of china, glass and earthenware handed down for generations in the family.
WILLIAM W. PIPPIN.
Representatives of the Pippin family have been residents of Franklin county, Indiana, since 1836. Mr. Pippin was born in Brookville nearly half a century ago and for the past twenty-five years has operated a bakery and lunch room in this city. In addition to his business interests in the county seat, Mr. Pippin also owns a fine farm in Brookville township, to which he gives his personal supervision. By well directed energy and good manage- ment he has made a success in life, and for this reason stands high in the estimation of those who know him.
William W. Pippin, the son of Joseph and Juliet (White) Pippin, was born in Brookville, Indiana, August 27, 1867. His father was born in Maryland in 1824 and died in Franklin county in 1900. His mother was born in Fairfield township, Franklin county, and died in 1873.
William Pippin's father came to Franklin county, Indiana, in 1836, with his mother, his father having died in Maryland. Upon coming to this county his mother located with her children in Blooming Grove township, where she spent the remainder of her life. Joseph Pippin grew to manhood and became a farmer, following this occupation all of his life. He served two years during the Civil War as a member of Company G, Sixty-eighth Regi- ment Indiana Volunteer Infantry. He was a Republican, to the affairs of which party he ever gave his intelligent interest. His hearty support was given to the Methodist church, in the local beneficences of which he ever took a deep interest. To the first marriage of Joseph Pippin were born two children: Elmira, who married Burnett McCombs, of. Hartford City, In- diana, and George of Connersville, Indiana, and to the second marriage three children were born: William W., of Brookville; Mary, of Dayton, Ohio, and Susan, who died in 1912.
William W. Pippin was educated in the district schools of Blooming
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Grove township. He was only six years of age when his mother died, after which he made his home, until he was grown, with his relatives in this coun- ty. When eighteen years of age he began to learn the baker's trade in Hart- ford City, Indiana, under Mr. Mootz, with whom he worked until he had thoroughly learned the trade. In 1890, when he was twenty-three years of age, he returned to his native town and engaged in the bakery and lunch room business in partnership with W. B. Cooley, a former employer, under the firm name of -Pippin & Cooley. A year later Mr. Pippin bought out his partner's interests, and has since successfully continued in the business alone. In 1914 he erected a fine two-story brick store building, where he is now located. He carries on a general bakery business, in connection with which he maintains a well appointed lunch room. He has a fine farm in Brook- ville township, where he has a well equipped dairy and a fine herd of Jersey cattle.
Mr. Pippin was married, February 12, 1891, to Cora C. Miller, who was born in Brookville, a daughter of Aaron and Margaret Miller, both of whom are deceased. Her father was a contractor and a prominent citizen of Brookville for many years. Mr. and Mrs. Pippin have one daughter, Dorothy, born March 19, 1895, who is now a student in Western University at Oxford, Ohio.
The Republican party receives the hearty support of Mr. Pippin, but business interests have prevented him from taking an active part in political affairs. Fraternally, he is a member of the Knights of Pythias, in the affairs of which popular ritualistic order he takes a warm interest.
ALBERT GOYERT.
One of the younger business men of Brookville, Indiana, is Albert Goyert, who has been identified with the commercial interests of this city for the past ten years. His father was a business man for many years in Bates- ville, Indiana, and is still an important factor in the commercial life of that place. Consequently, Albert Goyert was early initiated in the mysteries of merchandising, and has been engaged in one way or another in mercantile affairs since his early manhood. He is now in the grocery business in Brookville under the firm name of Goyert & Biltz, a firm which enjoys a large trade in Brookville and throughout the surrounding community.
Albert Goyert, the son of Henry and Rosa (Hackman) Goyert, was born near Batesville, Indiana, August 25, 1879. His father was born in
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Cincinnati, Ohio, July 19, 1856, and his mother near Batesville, Indiana, November 10, 1855, and both of them are still living. His parents reared a family of eight children: Albert, of Brookville; Alma, who is still at home; Cora, deceased; Oscar, a dentist at Indianapolis; Henry, a profes- sional chauffeur, and three, Gilbert, Flora and Esther, who are still with their parents. Henry Goyert, the father of Albert, was nine years of age when his parents moved from Cincinnati to a farm in Ripley county, In- diana. He was reared on the farm and later engaged with his father in the grocery business at Crossroads, Indiana. After his father's death he took over the business himself and has been conducting a store at the same place for the past thirty-eight years, although he has turned the management of his store over to other members of the family. He is vice-president of the Batesville bank and has various other interests in the vicinity. He and his family are all active workers in the German Lutheran church. Henry Goy- ert is a man of magnificent physique, over six feet in height and weighs over two hundred pounds. As a result of total abstinence from the use of liquor and tobacco in any form, he is in fine health, and bids fair to live for many years to come.
The paternal grandparents of Albert Goyert were John H. and Lucetta Goyert, natives of Germany. They came to Cincinnati, Ohio, after their marriage and Grandfather Goyert bought and shipped horses from that city to Europe for several years. He later engaged in the hotel business and was the owner and proprietor of a hotel for a few years before he moved to Ripley county. Indiana, in 1865. After coming to Indiana he bought a farm and also opened a grocery store at Crossroads, following this dual line of activity until his death.
The maternal grandparents of Albert Goyert were. Herman and Mary (Haney) Hackman, natives of Germany, who settled in Cincinnati, Ohio, after their marriage in their native country. Grandfather Hackman was a tailor by trade, and after locating in Cincinnati operated a dry goods store until about 1861. He then moved to Ripley county, Indiana, and bought a farm across the road from what was later the John H. Goyert farm. Her- man Hackman gave valiant service to his adopted country, in behalf of the cause of the Union, during the Civil War, and died in 1866. His widow lived until October, 1914, being ninety-four years of age at the time of her death.
Albert Goyert was educated in the public schools of Batesville, Indiana, and later worked in Terre Haute for one year. His father established him in the commission business in Greensburg, Indiana, and he remained in that
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city for five years as manager of a commission store. In 1905 Mr. Goyert came to Brookville and bought a commission house, which he operated for three years. In 1910 he formed a partnership with Mr. Burdick and en- gaged in the grocery business with him for one year in the same city. Later R. Hubbard bought out the interests of Mr. Burdick and the firm name was changed to Hubbard & Goyert. In 1914 Mr. Goyert sold his interest in this store to Mr. Herbert, and then formed a partnership with Andrew J. Biltz, under the firm name of Goyert & Biltz, buying a grocery stock and starting a store in the Bossert block on Main street. This firm has rapidly increased its stock in order to keep pace with its growing trade and now has one of the best groceries in the city.
Mr. Goyert was married February 12, 1908, to Anita B. Fries, who was born in Brookville, a daughter of Joseph A. and Mary Fries, whose history is given elsewhere in this volume. Mr. and Mrs. Goyert have no children.
Mr. Govert is a member of the Knights of Pythias. the Fraternal Order of Eagles and the Modern Woodmen of America. He is a young man with an abundance of energy and enthusiasm and promises to become one of the leaders in the commercial life of his city.
CHRISTIAN HARING THORPE.
Members of the Thorpe family have been residents of Franklin county, Indiana, since 1858, when the parents of Christian H. Thorpe moved here from Pennsylvania. Mr. Thorpe was a blacksmith during his earlier career, but since 1878 he has been in the undertaking business in Metamora, Indiana. In connection with his undertaking establishment he has a general hardware and implement store and has built up a business which extends throughout the community where he has made his home for many years.
Christian H. Thorpe, the son of Theodore and Sarah (Haring) Thorpe, was born in Bedford, Bedford county, Pennsylvania, March 21, 1846. His father was born in New Jersey, near Princeton, April, 1882. and died May 23, 1904. His mother was born in Bedford county, Pennsylvania, in 1821, and died February 14, 1881. Theodore N. Thorpe and wife were the par- ents of nine children : William W., a retired blacksmith now living in Muncie. Indiana: Christian H., of Metamora: Ephraim R., who died in 1909; James M., a blacksmith at Metamora; Scott Samuel, who died in Rush county in 1902; Wright R., a blacksmith at Moscow, Indiana; James
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S., a blacksmith at Metamora; and two daughters, Sarah R. and Celia, who died in infancy. It is notable that all of the sons have been blacksmiths, as was their father before them.
It was the discovery of gold in California which finally led to the set- tlement of the Thorpe family in Franklin county, and thereby hangs an in- teresting tale. In 1849 Theodore Thorpe started with his whole family for California, but got only as far as Cedar Grove, Franklin county, Indiana. Being attracted by the location there, they stopped for a short time in this county, but finally decided to return to Pennsylvania. However, they did not forget their pleasant surroundings in this state, and in 1858 they re- turned to this county and made it their home. In 1880 Theodore Thorpe sold his blacksmith shop to his son Christian and located at Palestine, In- diana. After his wife's death he moved to Metamora, where he spent the remainder of his life, his death occurring in 1904.
The paternal grandparents of Christian H. Thorpe lived all of their days in New Jersey. His grandfather Thorpe died early in life and his widow later married Wright Rittenhouse and moved to Harrison, Ohio. The maternal grandparents of Christian H. Thorpe were Christian Haring and wife, natives of Germany. Mr. Haring was a cooper by trade and lived the remainder of his days in Bedford county, Pennsylvania, after coming to America. They reared a large family of children and one of their sons, Washington, fought in the Mexican War.
Christian H. Thorpe was twelve years of age when his parents perma- nently located in Franklin county, Indiana. Christian went to work in his father's shop. When he first tried to weld a piece of iron he was so short in stature that he had to stand on a block in order to be high enough to strike the top of the anvil with his hammer. He and every one of his six brothers learned the blacksmith's trade in their father's shop and all of them became expert smiths and made good livings in this occupation. After the family moved to Metamora Christian continued to work in his father's shop, though by that time he had passed his majority. His father finally took him in as a partner and they continued together until 1880, when Christian bought his father out. In 1882 he took in his brother, James M., as a partner and two years later turned the shop over to the latter and opened a general hardware and implement store in Metamora, with which he is still connected. Some years later he took in Nick ·Williams as a part- ner in the undertaking business, and the firm has built up a large business in Metamora and the surrounding community. In 1878 the firm of Thorpe & Williams opened an undertaking establishment and have since conducted this line of activity in connection with their hardware business.
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Mr. Thorpe was married in April, 1874, to Sophia Tracy, who was born at Morristown, Indiana, a daughter of Isaac Tracy, former merchant and justice of the peace of Metamora, Indiana. Mr. and Mrs. Thorpe are the parents of three children: Irwin, a clerk at the Spencer House, Indian- apolis, Indiana; Nellie, the wife of Hibler Sterritt, the station agent at Shelbyville; and Mary, the wife of Charles Williams.
Mr. Thorpe has been a lifelong Democrat, but has never taken an ac- tive part in political affairs. He has been a member of the Independent Or- der of Odd Fellows since 1871, and also holds membership in the Knights of Pythias and the Improved Order of Red Men. He and his family are loyal members of the Christian church, Mr. Thorpe being an elder of the local congregation.
CHARLES H. REIBOLDT.
Charles H. Reiboldt has spent his whole life in Laurel and Brookville, Indiana. He was in a tailor shop in Brookville for ten years and the re- mainder of his career has been spent in the town of his birth. Since 1909 he has been engaged in the produce business with good success. He also has been interested in the writing of life and fire insurance.
Charles H. Reiboldt, the son of Peter Reiboldt, was born at Laurel, Indiana, November 6, 1871. His father was born in Saxony, Germany, in 1834, and died in 1875.
Charles H. Reiboldt was educated in the public schools of Laurel and when fifteen years of age left school to learn the tailor's trade under Fred Batt in Laurel. He worked with Mr. Batt for five years and in that time became an experienced tailor. He then started a shop of his own in Brook- ville and was in the merchant-tailoring business in the county seat for ten years. In 1895 he returned to Laurel as a salesman in the store with his brother, William Edward. In 1909 he went into business for himself, buy- ing and shipping poultry and produce of all kinds, and has built up a flour- ishing trade, which extends throughout this and adjoining counties.
Mr. Reiboldt was married in August, 1909, to Laura Fritz, who was born in Brookville township, a daughter of Jacob and Mary Fritz. Her father is deceased, while her mother is still living. Mr. and Mrs. Reiboldt are the parents of three children: Stewart Wilson, born May 7, 1911 ; Catherine Edna, born June 4, 1912, and Mary Elizabeth, born December 28, 1913.
Mr. Reiboldt is a stanch Republican and has always taken an intelli-
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gent interest in political affairs. He was appointed justice of the peace Sep- tember 4, 1913, to fill a vacancy, and is still filling this position. He has served as town clerk of Laurel for three terms. The family are loyal mem- bers of the Lutheran church and render it their hearty support at all times. Fraternally, Mr. Reiboldt is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons, holding membership in the Blue Lodge at Laurel, the Council, Chapter and Commandery at Connersville and the Consistory and Mystic Shrine at In- dianapolis.
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