USA > Indiana > Franklin County > History of Franklin County, Indiana : her people, industries and institutions > Part 84
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died November 12, 1880; Philomena, born December 18, 1879, is living with her father; Anna, born February 26, 1881, died December 9, 1902; Frank, born March 29, 1883, died August 17, 1883; Henry, born March 25, 1882, died August 4, 1882; Caroline, born March 19, 1884, is living in Cincinnati ; Katharine, born July 28, 1885, is also living in Cincinnati; Jos- eph, born November 25, 1887, died July 12, 1888; Marie, born July 13, 1889, died August 29, 1889.
Mr. Laage gained his present position of influence and respect only by persistent effort and commendable thrift and industry, and by careful man- agement and the application of progressive methods of farm cultivation He is neighborly and companionable in his manner, outspoken in conversa- tion and stragihtforward in all his dealings. Such men as he are well worthy of emulation.
JOHN ROEMER.
Like a beacon-light at sea or an oasis in the desert, America has always held the promise of good things to come to those who would journey to her shores and compete for her hidden treasures. Many come to America but do not court her graces. To some who come, it is a land of "milk and honey" to be gotten for the asking. This is the class that eventually becomes dis- satisfied. But to the hardy immigrants, whose opportunities at home were insufficient to fulfill their ambitions; to the honest, ambitious immigrant. ready to do his share of hard work, America has indeed been a land over- flowing with "milk and honey." From Germany came a great many of the latter class, hardy sons of the Fatherland, willing to work for everything they received. Of the Germans, we have many in Franklin county, not the least noted of whom is John Roemer, a widely known farmer and stock-raiser.
John Roemer was born in Germany, May 18, 1855. His parents were Henry and Martha (Becht) Roemer, both natives of Germany also. The paternal grandparents of John Roemer were John and Katherine Roemer of Germany, who died in their native country. The maternal grandparents of John Roemer came to this country, and located in Peppertown, where they lived until their death.
Henry Roemer, father of John Roemer, came to this country in 1868 and located in Peppertown, Franklin county, Indiana. In his native country he had served in the army for six years. He had served as treasurer of his native village for a number of years, which was a position of trust and im-
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portance. After coming to this county, he engaged in farming near Pepper- town, and at his death he was the owner of eighty acres of splendid farm land. In his native country he had been a trustee of the Lutheran church and was a devout member of that church in this county. His children were Katherine, Elizabeth (deceased), Justice (deceased), John and Alice.
John .Roemer was educated in Germany, and came to Franklin county, Indiana, accompanying his father and family. He was a hard-working and industrious lad. He soon accumulated enough money to give him a start in life and as his parents had reached an advanced age, he bought the home place and sustained his parents until their death. In 1892, at the request of a number of influential citizens of this county he agreed to be a candidate for sheriff. He was elected to this office by a splendid majority, serving four years in this office, having been elected for two consecutive terms of two years each. He then purchased the farm of one hundred and forty-seven acres in Brookville township, where he still resides, in the meantime having sold the old home place. He has developed his present property into a splendid farm and has improved it extensively. When he purchased this farm it was in a very poor condition, and it re- flects the greatest credit on his resourcefulness and industry to say that he now has one of the best farms in the county. He specializes in horses and hogs and raises a splendid breed of Jersey cattle.
In 1879 John Roemer was married to Katherine Reifel of Peppertown, who was a daughter of Michael and Wilhelmina (Deobling) Reifel, the former a native of Germany and his wife a native of Franklin county. Katherine Reifel was one of nine children born to Michael and Wilhelmina Reifel as follow: William, Margaret, Elizabeth, Katherine, Louisa, Wilhel- mina, Emma, Mary and Louis.
The paternal grandparents of Mrs. John Roemer were Henry and Margaret (Dietrich) Reifel, both natives of Germany who came to Amer- ica and joined their son Michael, who had located in Peppertown, Franklin county, Indiana. The maternal grandparents of Mrs. John Roemer were named Doebling, and were natives of Germany, who came to Franklin coun- ty and settled on a farm on Blue creek. Michael Reifel, father of Mrs. John Roemer came to this country when he was twenty years of age. He located at Peppertown and met and married his wife at that place, afterwards en- gaging in farming. The Reifel and Doebling families were prominent in the German-Lutheran church of which Michael Reifel was trustee. Both families were of the thrifty type of Germans whose influence has been of lasting benefit to the community.
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To Mr. and Mrs. John Roemer have been born four children, Minnie, William (deceased), August (deceased) and Howard. The family are prominent socially and are devout members of the Lutheran church.
John Roemer has an extensive acquaintance and enjoys the distinction of being one of the most successful cattle-raisers in the state. His Duroc hogs, Percheron horses and Jersey cattle are rated among the best produced in the state.
HENRY G. HEEB.
There have been many families of a single generation in Franklin coun- ty, Indiana, who have been of the greatest importance in the affairs of the county, but it is those families who have lived here during succeeding gener- ations who have been most conspicuous in the life of this community. Among the several branches of the Heeb family who have lived here a great many years, none have achieved more prominence than Henry G. Heeb of High- land township.
Henry G. Heeb was born in Blooming Grove township, Franklin coun- ty, Indiana, June 15, 1862, a son of Nicholas and Mary (Reifel) Heeb, both of whom came from Germany.
The paternal grandparents of Henry G. Heeb were Henry and Anna (Friday) Heeb, who were born in the village of Darmstadt, in Germany. They migrated to this country and eventually located in Cincinnati, Ohio, to which place a great number of German settlers had preceded them. They remained at this place a short time and then came to Franklin county. They bought eighty acres of land in Blooming Grove township, later buying one hundred and twenty acres additional. At that time there was a primi- tive log house standing on the place, which they occupied for a short time. They set to work with a will and soon developed a splendid farm, which still remains in the possession of their descendants.
The maternal grandparents of Henry G. Heeb were named Doebling, and were natives of Germany, who came to Franklin county and settled on a farm on Blue Creek. They lived at this place the remainder of their lives.
Nicholas Heeb, father of Henry G. Heeb, came to America with his parents, when he was four years of age. His early life was spent assisting on the paternal farm. He married Mary Reifel, who had come from Ger- many with her parents and settled in Franklin county. After his marriage he acquired a tract of land. which is now included in the farm owned by his
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son, Henry G. Heeb. He moved to the farm on Blue Creek when Henry Heeb, his son, was but four years of age. This farm embraced one hundred and twenty acres, part of which was improved. Mr. Heeb cleared that part which was timbered and made other extensive improvements. He later purchased the land that is now known as the Frank Kimball farm, making a total of one hundred and sixty acres in his possession at one time. He re- mained on his farm for about fifteen years, later moving to Indianapolis, Indiana, where he and his wife still live. To Nicholas Heeb and wife were born the following children, Henry G., Louisa, Nora, Mary, Elizabeth, Rosa, Katherine, Minnie, Lillian and Ida. Mr. Heeb and family were members of the Lutheran church in which they were very active. During his resi- dence in this community, Mr. Heeb was highly respected for his industry and his many social accomplishments.
Henry G. Heeb was educated in Highland township, and began his ac- tive life helping his father on the farm. In 1899 he bought the paternal farm and lived there until 1913, having lived on the old homestead since he was four years of age. In 1913 he purchased one hundred and eighty acres, which was the homestead of his grandfather. He made many im- provements on this place and has what one would call a splendid farm.
In 1888 Mr. Heeb was married to Fredericka Magdelina Minckler, who was born in Franklin county and was a daughter of Henry and Mary (Boyer) Minckler, both of whom were natives of Germany.
The maternal grandparents of Mrs. Henry Heeb were Philip and Bar- bara Boyer of Germany who came to America in 1842. They located in Franklin county, Indiana, just south of Brookville where William Bender now lives. They cleared the land and established a home where they re- mained the balance of their lives. At the time of their arrival in this county their daughter Mary who became the mother of Mrs. Heeb, was 1 but fourteen years of age.
Henry Minckler, father of Mrs. Henry G. Heeb, served the regulation period in the German army and after he had completed his service, he came to this country, at that time being twenty-one years of age. Previous to his military service, he had learned glass cutting in his native land, work- ing at this trade in the village of Heidenheim-Wurtemburg, where he was born. He arrived in this country February 18, 1824, and located in Cin- cinnati, Ohio. On July 14, 1854, he was married to Maria Wendelina Boyer, who died May 18. 1884. To them were born five children, Henry (deceased ) ; Phillip, now of Seattle, Washington: Rosa, who died January .5, 1882: Fredericka, now Mrs. Henry G. Heeb; and Charles A., of Brook- ville, Indiana. After the death of his first wife, Mr. Minckler married a
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second time, on this occasion to Louisa Hutchinson, to whom he was mar- ried March 20, 1899, and whom he pre-deceased.
Mr. Minckler was a veteran of the Civil War. He enlisted in Com- pany E, 35th Indiana regiment and served until the close of the war. He was prominent as a member of Hackelman post No. 64, Grand Army of the Republic. In the latter years of his life, he suffered from neuralgia of the face, contracted during his service in the war. He was a splendid citizen, loyal and honest to his country, his friends and to himself.
To Mr. and Mrs. Henry G. Heeb have been born the following chil- dren: Nettie, born April 6, 1889. now Mrs. Henry Gesell, and living in Springfield township in this county ; Henry, born June 25, 1891, who remains at home. Mr. Heeb and family have always been prominent members of the Lutheran church at Brookville.
Henry G. Heeb is a public-spirited man. He is a Republican in poli- tics and has served as supervisor of Highland township. The Heeb family, in its several branches, have been prominent in the affairs of this county and none has contributed more to the general welfare of the community than Henry G. Heeb.
L. D. ROBERTS.
The tiller of the soil in these days of comfort and convenience are very apt to take for granted the fine civilization, well-appointed farms, and labor- saving implements with which they are surrounded. So that they may be properly grateful to the men who performed untold labors and faced in- credible hardships, it is well to recall these things to the minds of the men who are the descendants of those undaunted pioneers.
Of a family that has witnessed the development of Franklin county for three generations is L. D. Roberts, who was born in Blooming Grove town- ship. October 27, 1881, the son of C. Keely and Clara (Snider) Roberts, the birthplace of the former being the same as that of L. D. Roberts, that of the latter being Fairfield township. Lurton D. Roberts is one of a family of three children, the other two, Ray and Bertha, being twins.
The paternal grandparents of C. Keely Roberts, William and Henrietta Roberts, lived and died in Indiana, while the maternal grandparents, George and Katherine (Van Treece) Rudcil, were Whitewater township pioneers, as they entered land in 1805, put up a cabin, and began to clear off the timber. George Rudcil was of German descent while his wife was born
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in Pennsylvania. They spent their lives on the land which they entered, rearing a family of ten children.
Clinton Roberts, the son of William Roberts, came to Blooming Grove township on June 21, 1844, later making his home in Metamora until his marriage to Lucinda Rudcil in 1848. Residing two years in Metamora after marriage, they then moved onto a farm in Brookville township, where they lived for seven years, then they removed to a hundred-acre farm in Blooming Grove pike. Living on this place for ten months, they again moved onto a place a short distance farther north, where they lived until 1880, later removing to Brookville and again back to the farm, where Clin- ton Roberts died in 1889.
Clinton Roberts and his wife were the parents of four children, Kath- arine, George, May and C. Keely; the last of whom was born in Blooming Grove township on December 31, 1858, and was educated in the Hickory Grove School and early took up farm work on the home place, where he lived until 1904, when he moved to his present location in Blooming Grove township, where he does general farming. C. Keely, on August 5, 1879, married Clara Snider, the daughter of Valentine and Katharine Snider.
Fraternally, C. Keely Roberts is a member of the Knights of Pythias and of the Improved Order of Red Men, while his political support is given to the Republican party, on whose ticket he was elected township trustee. C. Keely Roberts is an active member of the Methodist church.
Having obtained the education offered by the local schools, L. D. Rob- erts, at the age of twenty-two, followed his natural bent and took up the cultivation of the soil, working on the place which he now occupies, and which contains eighty acres, while another tract owned by him, in Brookville township, contains seventy-five acres. Although Mr. Roberts raises varied crops, he rather specializes in stock, and for that purpose has erected a commodious silo.
On October 28, 1903, Mr. Roberts married Blanche McDonald, the daughter of John and Elmira (James) McDonald, both natives of Franklin county. Four children have been born to Mr. Roberts and wife, Donald, Ruth, Ruby (deceased), and Grace (deceased). Mrs. Roberts is one of a family of three children : Alva, Blanche, and James Ray.
Mrs. Roberts' paternal grandfather, Ambrose McDonald, an early set- tler in Springfield township, was killed while serving as a Union soldier in the Civil War. The maternal grandparents, William and Eliza (Seal) James, were rural residents of Brookville township. Mrs. Roberts' father cultivated farms in Brookville and Blooming Grove townships, and died in 1889.
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The teachings of the Methodist church are observed by Mr. Roberts, and he is counted on to lend his support to any movement that contributes to the public welfare. A quiet, self-effacing man, credit is nevertheless due Mr. Roberts for the sterling virtues which are blended in his character, and he is not unmindful of his duties to the public, as he has served very faith- fully as road supervisor. Mr. Roberts' career makes it a pleasure to record in this history.
JACOB J. SCHUCK.
Germany has placed this country in her debt to such an extent that we should never be able to repay her should we endeavor to do so, for we have levied from her not goods or gold but men of rare strength and character. The service rendered the United States by her German-American citizens in the Civil War alone is of incalculable value. Franklin county has profited largely by the influence of those persons of Teutonic extraction who have set- tled here from the very earliest days of the country's settlement. Not the least worthy among these citizens of German descent is Jacob J. Schuck, who was born in South Gate, Indiana, on September 14, 1864, the son of Jacob and Caroline (Neuman) Schuck, and was one of eleven children, namely: Cas- per, Caroline, Jacob J., Johannah, Joseph, Charles, Henry, Benjamin, John, Elizabeth and Anna.
Jacob Schuck, Sr., was born in Germany, April 26, 1832, the son of Theodore and Elizabeth (Kraut) Schuck, who came to America in 1845, bringing Jacob with them, and settled near South Gate. Ten days after their arrival at South Gate, Elizabeth Schuck, the wife and mother, died. Some time after her death, Theodore Schuck bought eighty acres of land which became the Schuck homestead, and which Mrs. Jacob Schuck now owns. Theodore Schuck died in South Gate.
Jacob Schuck obtained his education in Germany and America as well, and upon reaching manhood's estate, established a combination saloon and general store at South Gate, in the building which George Wilhelm now uses as a residence. Later Jacob built the brick building, on the corner opposite the original site, in which his widow now lives. To this building the business was transferred and carried on until his death in 1892, after which his widow conducted the business for five years, when it was in turn conducted by a son Joseph until 1906, in which year the business was moved to Highland Center, where it is still conducted. After the removal of the business to Highland Center, Mrs. Schuck rented the rooms used as
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the saloon successively to Boell Brothers, Jacob Gilman and Frank Stenger. Since 1911 the place has been used as a residence by Mrs. Jacob Schuck and her son Charles and his family.
Jacob Schuck bought the eighty acres on which his father located and also purchased forty acres near South Gate. Both these tracts, as well as the three acres on which the old store building stands, are owned by Mrs. Schuck.
In 1860 Jacob Schuck married Caroline Neuman, the daughter of Mi- chael and Mary Josephine (Schneider) Neuman, both of whom were born, reared, and married in Germany, coming to America with a three-months' old child, which later became the mother of George M. Wilhelm, a sketch of whose family history is contained elsewhere in this volume. The father of Mary Josephine (Schneider) Neuman was John Schneider, who came to America and located on a dairy near Cincinnati, which he maintained for two years, then removed to a farm on Wolf creek, Franklin county.
A practical common-school education having been obtained by Jacob J. Schuck, as a young man he engaged in a mercantile business at Sharptown, Indiana, in the year 1891, and conducted this establishment for two years. Moving to South Gate, Mr. Schuck purchased what was known as the Frank Benz property, which had been used as a meat market and formerly as a store by Theodore Schuck, Mr. Schuck's uncle. Mr. Schuck still maintains a share in this property.
In 1901 Mr. Schuck bought two tracts of land, the first being the old Jacob Schuck farm, which contained fifty-five acres, and which was bought from John P. Schuck. The Jacob Schuck whose name still clings to the farm was a pioneer in Franklin county and a grand-uncle of the man who bought the place in 1901. Mr. Schuck's second purchase in the same year contained thirty' acres and was bought of John P. Schuck, a son of the grand-uncle mentioned immediately above. Mr. Schuck bought one hun- dred sixty-three and one-half acres in Springfield township in March, 1906, which he sold in May, 1912. The fifty-five acres bought in 1901 has been sold, but the thirty acre tract has been retained.
Mr. Schuck married Otillia Stenger in 1891. She is the daughter of Adam and Mary (Wilman) Stenger, of whose family an account may be found elsewhere in this work. To Mr. Schuck and his wife have been born the following children: Leo E., Alma E., Edna, Oscar, Ralph, Carl Jacob. Leo E. has taught the South Gate school three terms and is now attending Wabash College.
Mr. Schuck, as was his father, is actively engaged in promoting all movements having to do with the betterment of the public welfare. Mr.
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Schuck's father was an active Democrat and was township trustee for a number of years. Mr. Schuck gives his support in religious matters to St. Joseph's Catholic church at St. Leon, of which he is a devout member. A progressive business man, Mr. Schuck combines business ability with upright dealing, and the trust reposed in him is but the logical result of his adherence to high principles.
JOSEPH A. FRIES.
It requires no small amount of courage for a young man to leave his native land and enter life anew in a strange land where customs, manners and language are different. Yet it is due to the courage of a multitude of young men who have come here from foreign lands that this country made such wonderful progress during the last century. One of the men who came to this country during the last century and who left his impress upon the community where he lived was Joseph A. Fries.
Joseph A. Fries was born March 19, 1831, near Ashaffenburg, in Ba- varia, Germany, a son of Michael and Barbara (Weiskopf) Fries. He came to this country in 1837 with his parents and settled on Blue creek, Franklin county, Indiana. His schooling was limited to six months and he remained with his parents until he was twenty-one years of age, after which for three years he worked in the brickyard of William Rick, doing teaming work in the winter.
In 1857 Mr. Fries began working at the cooper trade, working alternate- ly in Cincinnati and in Franklin county, Indiana, until 1868, in which year he bought out the grist mill owned by Daniel Ferrar, which he operated for many years. In 1879 he bought the hardware store of P. Senefeld, at Brookville, and while operating the same also conducted a large cooperage shop. He continued in the hardware business for many years. Prospering in his business ventures, Mr. Fries branched out into other lines, and at the time of his death was actively interested in several concerns in Brookville. He was one of the organizers of the National Brookville Bank and was elected first president of that sound financial institution, a position which he held at the time of his death. Politically, Mr. Fries was a Democrat and ever took an active part in the deliberations of that party in this county. For a time he was a member of the common council of the city of Brookville and his public service in that connection was performed with an eye single to the good of the community as a whole. He was an ardent member of the Catho- lic church, as are all the members of his family, and was one of the most
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JOSEPH A. FRIES.
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generous contributors to the various causes indorsed by his parish. He also was one of the most honored members of St. Michael's Society, a benevolent confraternity of the church.
Mr. Fries was married January 11, 1860, to Mary Kuehn, the daughter of John Kuehn, who is mentioned elsewhere in this volume in the sketch of Francis Kuehn. To Mr. and Mrs. Fries six children were born: John, Mag- gie, Anna, Kate, Charles and Enida (Mrs. Albert H. Goyert).
Mr. Fries died June 29, 1909, and his widow now resides in Brook- ville on South Main street, in one of the largest and most beautiful brick residences in the city.
Starting without money and with little education, Mr. Fries was very successful. Never under any circumstances did he lose his courage, but by continuous hard work, economical habits and excellent executive ability placed himself in the position of enviable prominence he occupied among the citizens of Brookville at the time of his death. The history of the life of such a man as Joseph A. Fries is an abiding inspiration to the present generation of young men. Such lives do not go out -- they go on.
THEODORE B. SCHUCK.
Devotion to an ideal is often the force which leads men on to fortune. Idealists are of two classes, those who are dreamers, to whom it is an impossibility to follow an ideal to a successful end; and on the other hand there are those who take for their ideal in life a practical, workable con- ception of what they would achieve and with unswerving zeal and tireless energy, follow this ideal to its successful realization. It was the pursuit of such an ideal that placed Theodore B. Schuck in his present position of ac- tive influence in politics and gained for him an enviable record as a stock raiser.
Theodore B. Schuck was born on the old family homestead in Highland township, Franklin county, Indiana. April 10, 1854, the son of Wendel and Henrietta (Sachs) Schuck, both of whom were born in Medard, Germany. The grandparents of Theodore B. Schuck on both sides were natives of Ger- many. Mr. Schuck's parents were married in Germany and then, influ- enced by a earnest desire to better their condition, came to America in the year 1846, locating on a farm just east of where Mr. Schuck now resides. This farm comprised forty acres of virgin wilderness, which Wendel Schuck
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