History of Franklin County, Indiana : her people, industries and institutions, Part 70

Author: Reifel, August J
Publication date: 1915
Publisher: Indianapolis, Ind. : B.F. Bowen
Number of Pages: 1648

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ELIZABETH APPLEGATE.

To the student of nomenclature the name of each person has a certain significance. Some names instantly are recognized as a portion of the Amer- ican heritage for many generations. Among these is that of the Applegates, who came to this country before the Pilgrim Fathers landed. Applegate is one of the oldest names in American history, and many members of that family have been prominent in the affairs of this nation, both in military and civic affairs. One of the descendants of the early Applegate family is Miss Elizabeth Applegate, of Springfield township, one of the most influential and highly respected women of Franklin county.

Elizabeth Applegate was born in Scipio, Indiana, daughter of John An- derson and Mary (Wilson) Applegate. Her father was a native of Ohio and her mother was the daughter of Joseph and Temperance Wilson, who came from New Jersey when Miss Applegate's mother was twelve years of age. Elizabeth Applegate is one of two children born to her parents, her brother, Joseph Edgar, dying January 18, 1880, unmarried. John Anderson Apple- gate was quite active in public work during his life in Franklin county and took an active part in the "Grange."

John Anderson Applegate, father of Elizabeth Applegate, was born at Preble county. Ohio, the son of William and Ruth (Brown) Applegate. He was one of the children born to his father's first union, as follows: John, William, Parry, Milton, Rufus, Alice, Sarah Jane and Lavina, the latter two living at Laurel, Indiana. John Applegate was educated in the common schools. He was a deep student and while the opportunities for acquiring an education were not so great then as now, by hard study he equipped him- self as a teacher and taught school for twelve years.

At the time of his death, John A. Applegate owned 216 acres of fine land. He died September 8, 1898. He belonged to the Presbyterian church,

MR. AND MRS. JOHN A. APPLEGATE.

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of which he was an elder. His wife died April 13, 1881. They lived at Mt. Carmel during their entire residence in this community and were highly re- garded throughout this whole section. Mr. Applegate was ever ready to give the benefit of his experience to the neighborhood and had served the township as trustee very acceptably.

William Applegate, the grandfather of Elizabeth Applegate, was born in Preble county, Ohio. His antecedents, no doubt, came from England as this name is quite common in England and all genealogical records trace the Applegates to that country. William Applegate took part in the War of 1812. He was twice married, his first wife being the grandmother of Eliza- beth Applegate. By his second marriage, his second wife being Dorcas Rose- brough, William Applegate had five children, James, Richard, Newton, Mary and Rebecca.

Elizabeth Applegate takes an active part in the social affairs of this com- munity and is a deep student. She inherited the homestead, consisting of two hundred and sixteen acres, besides which she also owns property at Mt. Carmel. Miss Applegate is a member of the Holly club and worships at the Presbyterian church, of which she has been a member for forty-eight years.

JOHN PETER REIBOLDT.

One of the well remembered men of a past generation in Franklin county is John Peter Reiboldt, who was a life-long farmer and stock raiser, and who, just at the time when he was ready to enjoy life to the fullest, was taken away, leaving his widow with four children. He was a man of many admirable traits and had lived such a life in this county as to endear him to a large circle of friends and acquaintances, his memory being warmly cher- ished in the neighborhood in which for many years he was so influential a factor.

John Peter Reiboldt, the son of John Jacob and Catherine (Mettel) Reiboldt, was born near Brookville October 24, 1850, and died at Laurel, Indiana, May 24, 1902. His parents were both natives of Germany, and reared a family of three children, John Peter, John Jacob and Margaret. John Jacob is the only one of these children now living, Margaret having died August 2, 1909. The Reiboldt family history is given in detail in the sketch of John Jacob Reiboldt, presented elsewhere in this volume.

John P. Reiboldt was nine years of age when his father died, and his (46)

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mother later married Peter Reiboldt, a brother of her first husband. In 1864 the family moved to Brookville, and in 1866 to Laurel, and there John P. Reiboldt resided until his death. As a lad he worked on the farm and spent practically his whole life in agricultural pursuits. After his marriage he bought one hundred and eighty acres of land in Laurel township, later in- creasing this to two hundred acres. His farm lay two miles west of Laurel, Indiana, although he always made his home after his marriage in the town of Laurel. He just had his farm paid for and was ready to settle down to a life of comparative ease when he was stricken with typhoid fever and died. His son, Jacob, is now managing the old home farm.

John P. Reiboldt was married September 28, 1880, to Bena Feikert, three hundred people attending the wedding. Mrs. Reiboldt was born April 30, 1860, in Laurel township, and is a daughter of John and Margaret (Het- zel) Feikert. To the union of John Peter and Bena (Feikert) Reiboldt four children were born: Mary, the wife of Henry Rusterholtz, a farmer of Laurel township; Jacob, who married Lena Moster, and is now managing the old homestead; John P., Jr., who died at the age of two years and three days, and Clara, the wife of Harry Wilson, a merchant of Laurel.

John Feikert, the father of Mrs. Reiboldt, was born in Hessen, Ham- burg. Germany, and his wife in Wurtemberg, Germany. Margaret Hetzel came to America with her sister Anna, who died of cholera on the voyage to this country. She died in Margaret's arms, and yet Margaret did not contract the disease. Margaret later came to Brookville and married. John Feikert came to Brookville in 1856 and worked on a farm near the city. After his marriage he bought a farm of fifty acres in Laurel township and lived on this until late in life, when he retired from the farm and moved to Laurel, where his death occurred. His widow is still living in Laurel, where she is honored and respected by all. At the time of his death John Feikert was the owner of three hundred acres of well improved farming land. Mr. and Mrs. Feikert were the parents of four children: Mary, who died at the age of fifteen months ; Emma, who died at the age of seven years; Bena, the widow of Mr. Reiboldt, and Anna, the wife of Oliver Wier, who is now managing the old Feikert homestead.

Mr. Reiboldt was a member of the Lutheran Evangelical church and had been a faithful and consistent member of this denomination since his childhood days. Fraternally, he was a member of the Knights of Pythias. His personal relations with his fellow men were ever mutually pleasant and agreeable, and he was highly regarded by all as a straightforward man in every respect, his death being the occasion of sincere mourning through- out the entire neighborhood.

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MILTON CURRY.

The Curry family drove into Franklin county, Indiana, in 1812, and located in what is now known as Metamora township. As a matter of fact, when the pioneer Currys came to Indiana, Franklin county had not yet been organized and this family is one of the few which has the honor of being identified with the history of the county during the whole period of its or- ganization. Milton Curry, one of the oldest surviving pioneers of the county, has engaged in general farming and stock raising all of his life. He is now retired from active work and is spending his declining years in Metamora, surrounded by the comforts and conveniences of modern life and honored and respected throughout the whole region.

Milton Curry, the son of John S. and Lucy (Williams) Curry, was born July 24, 1839, on the old homestead in Laurel township, Franklin county, Indiana. His parents had nine children : Ralph, Mrs. Martha Jane Ferris, Mrs. Elsie L. Masters, Milton, Thomas, William, John S., Jr., Mrs. Mary Elizabeth Stant, and one who died in infancy. Of these children, Thomas, William, John S., Jr., and Mary Elizabeth are deceased.

John S. Curry, the father of Milton, was born in Virginia and moved with his parents to Kentucky in 1810, to Miami, Ohio, in 1811, and to Franklin county, Indiana, in 1812. At that time the War of 1812 was in progress and the members of this pioneer family were in constant dread of being attacked by the Indians. They and the neighboring settlers joined to- gether and erected a blockhouse for the protection of their families in case the Indians should make a foray in that section of the state. One of these rude blockhouses was built near the present home of Ralph Curry, but, for- tunately, it was never needed. The Indians of this part of the state proved to be friendly and peaceful toward the white men throughout the War of 1812. John S. Curry had two brothers, James, a wealthy merchant of Cin- cinnati, and Thomas, who lived all of his days in Fayette county, Indiana. In addition, John S. Curry had several sisters, whose history is not recorded. John S. Curry became the owner of about three hundred and seventy-five acres of fine land and prospered in all of his undertakings. He lived to be ninety-six and one-half years of age, while his wife lived to the advanced age of eighty-four, both being regarded as among the most useful and influ- ential members of the community, in the social and economic affairs of which they took such earnest parts.

Milton Curry was reared on the old Curry homestead, and with the exception of the time he spent in the service of the Union during the Civil

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War and three years spent in Clinton county, he has lived in Laurel town- ship, where he was born. Mr. Curry enlisted on August 2,, 1862, in Com- pany C, Sixty-eighth Regiment, Indiana Volunteer Infantry. His captain was William Smith, who was later succeeded by Richard L. Leesons, now a wealthy citizen of Elwood, Indiana. With this regiment Mr. Curry served in Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama and participated in many of the bloodiest engagements of the Civil War. He was captured at one time by the Confederates, but was soon paroled and was returned to Indianapolis after he had been exchanged. Later he resumed his post of duty and was actively engaged until the close of the war. Among the severest engage- ments in which he participated were the battles of Chickamauga, Missionary Ridge and all of those fought in the eastern part of Tennessee. His record as a soldier is one of which he justly may be proud. He never shirked his duty and was never in the hospital, except for a period of three days, when he was ordered there by his superior officer. However, at the end of the third day he escaped from the hospital, rejoined his regiment and seemed none the worse for the experience. He was the color bearer of his regi- ment for a time and won a distinguished name for bravery and faithfulness in the discharge of every duty which was intrusted to him. He was hon- orably discharged from the service June 14, 1865. In 1912 Mr. Curry par- ticipated in the battleflag presentation ceremonies at the State House in Indianapolis, in which he represented his regiment as color bearer. He pre- sented Governor Ralston, on behalf of the state, with the battle-stained flag of his regiment, and it is now preserved, with the battleflags of other Indiana regiments, in the State House. He is a member of the General Hackelman Post, Grand Army of the Republic, at Metamora. Fraternally, he is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons, in the local affairs of which he long has taken a warm interest.

Mr. Curry was married December 3, 1858, to Ellen Brooks, the daugh- ter of Daniel Brooks, to which union ten children have been born, all of whom are still living: Nelson T., living on the old homestead; Milton O., of Newcastle, Indiana; Ulysses Grant, the owner of four hundred acres in Laurel township; Grace Belle, the wife of B. Ferris, a farmer of Laurel township; Mary E., the wife of Charles C. Peterman; Daniel, a farmer of Laurel township; Lucy, the wife of Lawrence Ensweller, a farmer of Salt Creek township; and Lawrence, John and Thomas, all farmers of Laurel township.

Mr. Curry settled down to the life of a farmer after the Civil War. In 1880 he bought one hundred and sixty acres, the north end of the old home- stead and lived on this until March, 1912. He then retired from active

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work, moved to Metamora and rented his farm to one of his sons. For many years he operated a sawmill on his farm and did a large amount of cross-cut sawing. He has been a lifelong Republican, having cast his first vote for Abraham Lincoln. In 1914 he was elected justice of the peace on the Republican ticket. He and his wife are active workers in the Methodist Episcopal church, in the local congregation of which Mr. Curry is a steward and a class leader. Such, in brief, is the history of Milton Curry, than whom there is no more patriotic and devoted citizen of the commonwealth. He has lived a long and useful life and his record is clean and aboveboard in every particular. Therefore it seems eminently fitting that this brief and modest sketch of his useful career be preserved in the annals of his county's history, a becoming example for the emulation of future genera- tions.

JUDSON C. GORDON.

The Gordon family has been an important factor in Franklin county since the year before its organization in 1813. Judson C. Gordon, as well as his father, was born in this county, and the son has followed in the footsteps of his father in general farming and stock raising. Mr. Gordon has been farming three hundred and seventy-five acres in Metamora township for several years, and is one of the most prominent stock feeders in the county, his herd of cattle and hogs ranking among the best in this section of the state.

Judson C. Gordon, the son of Mahlon C. and Rebecca (McWhorter) Gordon, was born January 19, 1864, at Metamora, Indiana. His father was born in the same township February 10, 1826, and died in February, 1904. His mother was also born in the same township, December 25, 1826, and died April 26, 1914. His parents reared a family of five children : Alice, the widow of Thomas Cauthar ; Frank, of Metamora township; Adrian B., a farmer of Brookville township; Judson C., of Metamora township; and Bertha, who married Doctor Cupp, of Metamora.

Mahlon C. Gordon, the father of Judson C., was reared on the old Gordon homestead, and after reaching his majority he and his brother Mil- ton built the first flour mill in Metamora. The mill is still standing, al- though it is not in use. In 1850 Mr. Gordon built a large flour mill and woolen mill at Millvale, below Metamora, and operated both mills with suc- cess for several years. They were both water-power mills and were fed from the Whitewater canal. As a young man, Mahlon C. Gordon ran a canal boat on the Whitewater canal. He and his brother Milton conducted a gen-

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eral store at Metamora for many years. In politics he was a stanch Re- publican and in religion an earnest Methodist. He bought a large farm from his father-in-law, and at his death owned three hundred and seventy-five acres of excellent land, the same being managed by his son, Judson C., at present.

The paternal great-grandparents of Judson C. Gordon were William and Mary (Duedworth) Gordon. She was born in England, near Liver- pool, September 4, 1731, and died September 12, 1822, at the age of ninety- one years and eight days. She came to the United States at an early age and settled in Virginia on the Potomac river, about thirty miles above Wash- ington, D. C. She was in middle life when she became the wife of William Gordon. Six children were born to the paternal great-grandparents of Jud- son C. Gordon: William, Jr., the grandfather of Judson C .; Sarah, the twin of William and the wife of a Mr. Bird, of Kentucky; Alice, who died in Indiana; Nancy and Polly, who died in Kentucky; and Elizabeth. Great- grandfather William Gordon died a few months before the birth of the twins, William and Sarah. The widow then sold her farm in Virginia and moved to Kentucky in 1796. It took the little family five months to make the trip, being detained three months at different places on account of in- clement weather and ice in the river.

The paternal grandparents of Judson C. Gordon were William and Elizabeth (Kelly) Gordon. William Gordon was born August II, 1779, and died September 9, 1860. He was seventeen years old when his mother located in Kentucky. When twenty-four years of age he married Elizabeth Kelly and immediately removed to Ohio, where he remained for one year on the present site of the village of Cleves. In 1812 William Gordon, the grandfather of Judson C., came to Franklin county, Indiana, and bought several hundred acres in Metamora township along Duck creek. The next spring he brought his wife and settled on the farm and lived there the re- mainder of his days.

The maternal great-grandparents of Judson C. Gordon were Thomas Kelly and wife, the former of whom was born near London, England, and came to America when he was twenty-one years of age as a soldier under Cornwallis. However, he conceived an aversion to fighting against the colonists and one night he deserted in company with another man and es- caped into the interior of Virginia. Three years later he married and he and his wife reared a family of four daughters, Mary, Elizabeth, Nancy and Margaret.

The second daughter, Elizabeth, was born May 10, 1786, and died Au- gust 28. 1862. She came to Kentucky in 1802 and was only seventeen

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years of age when she married William Gordon. They reared a family of thirteen children, all of whom are deceased: Orville, a farmer of Metamora township; Julian, who died in infancy; Selina, who became the wife of Har- vey Blacklidge, a farmer and merchant of Metamora; Eliza, the wife of Morin Pumphrey, of Connersville, Indiana; Eveline, the wife of Moses Bowman, of Shelbyville, Indiana; Milton, a merchant of Metamora; Wil- liam and Leonidas, who died in. young manhood in Shelbyville; Isabella, the wife of Anderson Moore, a farmer living near Everton, Indiana; Angelina, the wife of Samuel Masters, of Laurel township; Mahlon C., the father of Judson C. Gordon, with whom this narrative particularly deals; Melvin and Chilon, both farmers of Metamora township. It is interesting to note that the first meeting of the Methodist people in Franklin county was held at the home of William Gordon, Sr., and the first schoolhouse in Metamora township was on the Gordon farm.

Judson C. Gordon was educated in the public schools of Metamora and remained on the homestead until his father's death. He then inherited the homestead in trust for fifteen years following his father's death. He makes a specialty of Aberdeen-Angus cattle and Duroc-Jersey hogs. He keeps a herd of sixty-five cattle, all of which are registered, and sells largely for breeding purposes. His Duroc-Jersey hogs are full-blooded and registered. He now farms the three hundred and seventy-five acres of the old home place, and is rightly ranked among the best farmers and stock raisers of the county.

Mr. Gordon has never married. In politics he gives his stanch sup- port to the Republican party, but has always preferred to devote himself to his agricultural interests rather than engage in political affairs. Fraternally, he is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.

ELMER A. SCHULTZE.

Franklin county has drawn many of its best citizens from Ohio. Many of these left their native state for the purpose of enlarging their oppor- tunities, being attracted by the promises of rich reward held out in this county to any one who would prove deserving. Of those residents of Franklin county who were born in Ohio and who have achieved prominence in this, their adopted county, few are better known than Elmer Schultze, who lives in Laurel.

Elmer A. Schultze was born in Oxford, Ohio, July 8, 1866, the son of

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William Henry and Sarah (Applegate) Schultze, both of whom were natives of Franklin county, Indiana, William Schultze having been born in Bath township in May, 1834, and his wife born in Springfield township February 29, 1828. Elmer Schultze was one of two children born to this union, Jose- phine, the other child dying when she was fourteen years of age.

William Schultze, father of Elmer A. Schultze was a son of Henry N. and Elizabeth (Nevins) Schultze, both of whom were natives of Rockbridge county, Virginia. William Schultze was reared in this county and having inherited his father's farm. He later added more land to this, increasing his holdings to two hundred and eighty acres. He remained on this place until after the close of the Civil War, when he went to Cincinnati, Ohio. Here he engaged in the live stock industry, establishing a commission agency under the firm name of Allen, Schultze and Scott, which built and operated a stock- yards in connections with its business. Mr. Schultze later sold his interest in this firm and moved to Liberty, Union county, Indiana, where he spent the rest of his life. Both he and his wife were devout members of the Presbyterian church, in the various beneficences of which they always took an active part and were properly regarded as among the most influential peo- ple in the community.

The paternal grandparents of Elmer A. Schultze were Henry and Eliza- beth (Nevius) Schultze, who were married in Virginia, their native state, and left that state about 1817, coming to Franklin county, Indiana, arriving here in 1818 and locating at Bath township. They made the entire trip in a covered wagon which was the approved means of travel in those days. They purchased eighty acres in this county, paying three hundred and fifty dollars for this tract of land. They later bought eighty acres additional and on this farm spent the remainder of their lives. Henry Schultze was a soldier in the Mexican War, serving as second lieutenant in an Indiana company. The Schultzes originally were seceders, but subsequently re-joined the Presby- terian church. They were very strict attendants of this church and promin- ent in all its works, their influence ever being strongly marked for good in that region.

The maternal grandparents of Elmer A. Schultze were William Taylor and Ruth (Brown) Applegate. William Taylor. Applegate was born in Tennessee and his parents were natives of New Jersey. His wife was born in Ohio and her parents also came from New Jersey. William Taylor Apple- gate left Tennessee in his early youth and came to Ohio, where he was mar- ried. He later came to Franklin county, Indiana, and located in Bath town- ship, arriving here in 1820 and here he spent the rest of his life. He ac-

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quired two hundred and forty acres in this county which he brought to an excellent state of cultivation. Mr. and Mrs. Applegate were Scotch Presby- terians of the old type, very strict in their observance of all the tenets of this faith and at all times devout in the practice of their religion, the impress of their influence still being felt throughout that part of the county.

As a boy, Elmer A. Schultze attended the private school of Doctor Bishop at Oxford, Ohio. This was his preparatory course, after which he entered Hanover College, from which fine old institution of learning he was graduated, securing both his Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science de- grees. He joined the Gamma Deltas in college, in the affairs of which ex- cellent fraternity he ever since has taken the greatest interest. After his graduation in 1882 Mr. Schultze became a teacher of science in the college at Carthage, Missouri, holding this chair for two years. He then took a post- graduate course at Hanover and later, during the years 1895 and 1896, held the chair of science in the college, receiving his Master of Arts degree during that time. He then became principal of the high school at Noblesville, Indi- ana, filling this position for one and one-half years. He then became head of the science department of the Fort Wayne high school and held that posi- tion for four years. After this he entered the employment of D. Appleton & Company of Chicago, school-book publishers, and continued in that posi- tion for six years. After leaving the Appleton company, he entered the employ of Eaton & Company of Chicago, serving as editor for them. In 1908 he came to Laurel, Indiana, and has lived at that place ever since. He became one-third owner and manager of "Laurel Farm," a tract of land comprising seven hundred and fifty acres in Laurel township, a tract de- signed for a fruit and dairy farm, two hundred and fifty acres of which was set out in apple trees, which bore their first fruit in 1914. This enterprise has opened up great possibilities for the hilly land of Franklin county, this successful venture having been largely an experiment to start with, an effort on the part of the promoters to utilize land that is unsuitable for grain culti- vation. Laurel Farm is operated along the most modern lines and an ex- tensive dairy department will be installed in the near future. Mr. Schultze has proved a very capable manager of this property and to him is due a large share of the credit for its success.

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History of Franklin County, Indiana : her people, industries and institutions, Part 70

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