USA > Indiana > Franklin County > History of Franklin County, Indiana : her people, industries and institutions > Part 88
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Michael Kremp was reared and educated in the schools of Cincinnati, Ohio. He was a youth of sixteen when he came with his mother to Frank- lin county, and located in Highland township. After his marriage, he farmed for four years in Highland township, and then bought his present farm of eighty acres in Brookville township. As a farmer and stock raiser he ranks
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high among the agriculturists of his community, being a man of progressive ideas along all lines.
Mr. Kremp was married in 1889 to Licette Hertel, a native of this county and a daughter of Michael Hertel. Mr. and Mrs. Kremp are the parents of six children, all of whom are living: George, Katherine, Eliza- beth, Walter, Martha and Ralph. The mother of these children died Sep- tember 5, 1910.
Mr. Kremp is a Republican in politics, but has preferred to devote his time and attention to his agricultural interests rather than to take an active part in political affairs. He has never sought public office, although his in- fluence is always cast in behalf of the candidates of his party. He and his family are members of the Lutheran church, and to its support he has always been a generous contributor.
JACOB H. BOSSERT.
One of the best remembered men of the past generation of Franklin county, Indiana, is Jacob H. Bossert, who has been translated from the life militant to the life triumphant. His whole life was spent in Franklin county with the exception of the time he spent in the service of the Union during the Civil War. His life work was farming and in this time-honored occupation he was very successful, as was proved by the well-improved farm he left at his death. He always took an active part in the civic life of his community and held several official positions with entire satisfaction to his fellow citizens.
Jacob H. Bossert was born in Franklin county, Indiana, December 28, 1848, and died March 29, 1910, at his home in Brookville township. He was the son of Peter and Sophia (Beckman) Bossert, both of whom were born in Germany. His parents reared a family of five children, Jacob, Mary, Abra- ham, Margaret and Peter. Of these children, Jacob and Margaret are de- ceased.
The paternal grandparents of Jacob H. Bossert were Abraham Bossert and wife, natives of Germany and early settlers in Franklin county, who ar- rived here about 1832. The maternal grandparents of Jacob H. Bossert were Herman and Christina (Polman) Beckman, both born in Holland and mar- ried in that country. They were also early settlers of Franklin county, In- diana, where he died shortly after arrival. His widow lived to be ninety-two years of age.
JACOB H. BOSSERT.
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Jacob H. Bossert was educated in the district schools and when only sixteen years of age joined the navy and served during the latter part of the Civil War. He was mustered out of the naval service at the close of the war and returned to peaceful pursuits in his home county. From that time until his death he was engaged in general farming and stock raising, and accu- mulated a fine farm of one hundred and seventy-two acres, on which he placed many extensive improvements.
Mr. Bossert was married January 27, 1876, to Lavina Armstrong, who was born at Metamora, Indiana, March 30, 1851, the daughter of John C. and Hannah (Case) Armstrong. Mr. and Mrs. Bossert reared a family of three children: Clement L., a farmer of Brookville township; Earl C., of Brookville, and Gertrude, who is now making her home with her mother. The father of Mrs. Bossert was born in Metamora township, while her mother was a native of Brookville. John C. Armstrong, the father of Mrs. Bossert, was the son of Henry Armstrong, a native of Pennsylvania and a pioneer settler of Franklin county, where he entered one hundred and sixty acres in 1837. Henry Armstrong married Elizabeth Clayton.
Mr. Bossert was a stanch member of the Democratic party and always took a prominent part in its activities, particularly in local affairs. He was commissioner of Franklin county from 1900 to 1906, and during his tenure was interested in everything that promised to be of general benefit to the county. He was an active worker in the Lutheran church and a liberal sup- porter of its various activities, and also was an active, working member of the Masonic order, being a member of the blue lodge at Brookville. Mr. Bos- sert stood high in the esteem of his fellowmen and his whole life has been lived in such a way as to exert a wide influence in his community. He left a name which is honored by his children and cherished by those who knew him best.
JOHN P. STUDT.
No profession has made greater advancement during the last half cen- tury than has the agricultural profession and practically all of the disad- vantages which surrounded the pioneer farmer have been elminated as a result of the multitude of modern inventions which are to lighten the farm- er's labors. It takes less labor now to operate a farm of fifty acres than it did to manage a farm of ten acres fifty years ago. Inventions are coming into use every year which are helping the farmer to increase his sphere of
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usefulness. Indiana is recognized as one of the best farming states in the Union and no county in the state has more progressive farmers than Franklin county. Among the hundreds of farmers who have made this county famous as an agricultural section may be mentioned John P. Studt, who is now farming in Brookville township.
John P. Studt, the son of Philip and Dorothy (Gross) Studt, was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, April 14, 1857. His parents were both born in Ger- - many, his father in 1828 and his mother seven years later. They reared a family of eleven children, John P., Peter, Caroline, Katie, Henry, Lizzie, Philip, Sadie, Anna, Jacob and Michael. Of these children, Peter, Katie, Henry, Jacob and Michael are deceased.
Philip Studt, the father of John P., came to America from his native country before his marriage and first located in Cleveland, Ohio. Later he went to Columbus, Ohio, and after remaining there a short time, returned to his home in Germany. In a short time he again came to the United States and upon his return settled in Cincinnati, Ohio. He came to Franklin county about 1855 but remained only a short time, returning to Cincinnati and re- maining in that city until 1863. He then returned to Franklin county and permanently located in Highland township, where he farmed until his death, in 1884. His widow survived him until 1905. In politics, Philip Studt was a Republican, while the German Protestant church received his hearty sup- port.
John P. Studt was about six years old when his parents located in Franklin county and, consequently, received all of his education in the schools of the county. As a youth he helped his father with the work on the farm in the summer season and attended the schools in the winter. He started in at the foot of the ladder and by his own good management and ceaseless industry has accumulated a farm of eighty acres, on which he has placed all of the improvements now on the farm.
Mr. Studt was married in 1885 to Rosa Klemme and to this union have been born seven children, Charles, Joseph, Mary, Edward, William, Tillie and John. All of these children are still living with the exception of Charles.
Mrs. Studt was born in Highland township January 6, 1864. She was the daughter of Charles and Barbara (Heep) Klemme. Her parents were both born in Germany and came with their respective parents to Franklin county early in its history. They are now both deceased.
Mr. Studt is a Republican in politics, but is not active in political mat- ters. He and his family are members of the German Protestant church and generous contributors to its support.
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JACOB YOUNG.
One of the prominent citizens of Franklin county who has taken a prominent part in the civic life of the community is Jacob Young, whose whole life has been spent within the limits of the county. He has devoted most of his active career to farming, although he served for about four years as superintendent of the county infirmary. Mr. Young belongs to that class of progressive farmers who are striving to place Indiana high in the rank of agricultural states in the Union. More attention is being given to agriculture today than ever before and hundreds of schools throughout the state are now giving courses in agriculture. Purdue University has one of the best agriculture schools in the United States and hundreds of our farmers are being benefited by the work given there.
Jacob Young, the son of Philip and Margaret (Smith) Young, was born in Brookville township, June 5, 1869. His father was born in Berlin, Germany, in 1844, and his mother in Ripley county, Indiana, in 1845. Ten children were born to Philip Young and wife, Louis, Henry, Carrie, Jacob, Margaret, Philip, John, Louisa, Kate and William. Of these children, John, Henry, Louisa and Kate are deceased.
Philip Young came to America with his parents, Philip Young, Sr., and wife, about 1852. The family located in Indiana and settled in Franklin county, in Brookville township. Philip Young, Jr., farmed in Brookville township until his death, in 1901, his wife dying the same year, their deaths coming just six weeks apart. He was a farmer and was also in the mer- cantile business for a time. Politically, he gave his support to the Demo- cratic party, while the Lutheran church claimed his religious activities. The maternal grandparents of Jacob Young were Louis and Margaret Smith, natives of Germany and early settlers in Ripley county, Indiana. where they both died.
Jacob Young was educated in the public schools of Brookville town- ship. Since reaching manhood he has engaged in general farming and stock raising and also has operated a threshing outfit in season, profiting not a little by this latter enterprise. He now owns one hundred acres of good land in Brookville township, as well as valuable property in Florida.
Mr. Young was married November 12, 1902, to Ann Petersen, who was born in Brookville township, August 3, 1878, the daughter of William H. and Christina (Horstman) Peterson, a sketch of whose history is given elsewhere in this volume.
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Mr. Young has been an active worker in the ranks of the Democratic party for many years. He was superintendent of the county infirmary for three years and eight months and resigned the superintendency in order to go to Florida. He was candidate for sheriff two years ago, but failed of elec- tion, going down to defeat with the rest of his ticket. Mr. Young is enter- prising in everything that he does and his well improved farm stands as a tribute to his good management and industry. He is highly regarded by all who know him and in every respect measures up to a high standard of American citizenship. He is a member of the fraternal Order of Eagles, in the affairs of which he takes much interest.
ANDREW J. EVANS.
It is the farmer who makes it possible for men in any other occupation to live. Farming was the original occupation of man and it is the only voca- tion which could exist independently of all others. The products of the farm have made our railroads what they are today; the great bulk of manufactur- ing is made necessary because of the farmer's needs. He holds not only the purse strings of the nations, but even the very life of the people themselves, and for this reason the farmer really has the most important occupation of all. Brookville township, Franklin county, Indiana, possesses some fine farm- ing land and some excellent farmers, and among the progressive tillers of the soil properly may be mentioned here Andrew Evans, who has been identi- fied with the agricultural life of his community for many years.
Andrew J. Evans, the son of Louis G. Evans, was born January 27, 1858, in Brookville. He was reared on the farm and educated in the district schools of his home neighborhood. As a youth he worked on the farm during his summer vacations and in this way gained a sufficient knowledge of the general principles of agriculture to enable him to manage a farm of his own after reaching his majority. He now has one hundred and thirteen acres of land in Brookville township, on which he carries on a diversified system of farming and stock raising.
Mr. Evans was married in 1897 to Catherine Herold, who was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, November 22, 1863, a daughter of Michael and Cather- ine (Ingoldsby) Herold. Her father was born at Carrollton, Ohio, in 1825, and her mother in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1831.
Michael Herold and his wife were married in Steubenville, Ohio, and
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later settled in Cincinnati, where he died in 1896. His widow then came to Franklin county and lived with her daughter, Mrs. Evans, until her death, in 1907. The father of Mrs. Evans had charge of a business college in Cin- cinnati for many years and later conducted a book store in that city. There were four children born to Mr. and Mrs. Herold, Victor, Alfred, Catherine and Elizabeth.
Mr. Evans gives his undivided support to the Democratic party, but confines his activities along political lines to the casting of his ballot for the candidates of his party. Hs is a man of persistent energy and excellent judgment and occupies an enviable position among his fellow-men. While naturally and very properly advancing his individual interests, he has never lost sight of his obligations to the community in general and during his entire mature life he has held a high place in the confidence and esteem of all who know him, he and Mrs. Evans being regarded as among the leaders in all good works in the community in which they reside.
WILLIAM MERGENTHAL.
A sterling pioneer of Franklin county, Indiana, who has passed the al- lotted age of three score and ten is William Mergenthal, a life-long farmer of the county and a resident of Brookville township since 1879. He served for seventeen and one-half months in behalf of the Union cause in the Civil War and made an honorable record in that terrible struggle. After return- ing from the war he settled down to agricultural pursuits and for the past half century has been thus engaged. Not only has he managed his own private affairs in a satisfactory manner, but also has taken an intelligent part in the life of his community. Thus he has fulfilled the highest duties of a good citizen and for this reason the following brief epitome of his interesting career means inclusion here among those of the representative men of his county.
William Mergenthal, the son of Michael and Louisa (Prifogle) Mer- genthal, was born in Franklin county, Indiana, February 15, 1844. His father was born in Germany in 1803 and his mother in Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, in 1813. Six children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Michael Mergenthal, Mary, John, Catherine, William, Michael and Peter. All of these children are now deceased with the exception of William and Peter.
Michael Mergenthal was reared in Germany and came to America when a young man. He located in Franklin county in the thirties and married
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Louisa Prifogle after coming to this county. She was the daughter of Peter Prifogle, a native of Germany, who came to America when he was eighteen years old. Mr. Prifogle located in Pennsylvania and later became one of the early settlers of Franklin county. He died at the age of ninety-six. Mich- ael Mergenthal was a merchant at Lawrenceville, Indiana, and later at Blue Creek, in Franklin county. The latter part of his life was spent in general farming and stock raising, in which he was very successful. He was a Democrat in politics and a Catholic in religious belief. His wife was a mem- ber of the Lutheran church. Michael Mergenthal died in 1879 and his widow survived him ten years.
William Mergenthal was reared in this county, at Blue Creek, at which place his father conducted a general store. Later he lived on a farm and here learned those habits of industry and thrift which characterized his later career. He received such education as was afforded by the subscription schools of his boyhood days, and when eighteen years of age volunteered his services in behalf of his country. In September, 1862, he enlisted in Com- pany M, First Regiment Indiana Cavalry. After nine months' service in this regiment he received his discharge and was then drafted as a member of Company B, Twenty-second Regiment Indiana Volunteer Infantry, in which regiment he served until the close of the war. He was in many of the hard-fought battles and skirmishes of that terrible struggle, but was for- tunate to escape without being injured or having his health impaired.
After the close of the war Mr. Mergenthal returned to peaceful pursuits and settled down on a farm in Highland township. He continued farming in this township until 1889, when he moved into Brookville township, where he has since resided. For the past ten years he has been living one mile north of Brookville.
Mr. Mergenthal's first matrimonial union was with Margaret Franz- man, to. which union nine children were born, Mary, William, Kate, George, John, Emma, Charles, Clara and Frank, all of whom are living with the ex- ception of William. The mother of these children died November 29, 1887.
Mr. Mergenthal was married, secondly, November 3, 1892, to Mrs. Louisa (-Winkleman) Henke, the widow of Henry Henke, who was born in Germany May 9, 1853, and came to America in 1871, locating in Cin- cinnati, Ohio. To the second marriage of Mr. Mergenthal were born two children, Richard, born in 1893, and now a farmer of this county, and Ed- ward, born January 14, 1896, died April 26, 1900. The mother of these two children died October 7, 1914.
In politics, Mr. Mergenthal always has been allied with the Democratic
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party, and while taking an intelligent interest in its welfare, has never been a candidate for public office. He has been a life-long member of the Luth- eran church. Thus it may be seen from this brief biography that Mr. Mer- genthal has played well his part in the life of his county and it seems fitting that this review be preserved in the annals of his county's history.
FRANK WINTERING.
One of the youngest farmers of Brookville township, Franklin county, Indiana, is Frank Wintering, who bought a farm one mile south of Brook- ville in 1914. Previous to that time he had manufactured cigars in Brook- ville for a few years and has also traveled for the International Harvester Company for a time. Since locating on the farm, he has demonstrated that he has those qualities which go to make the successful tillers of the soil, and his many friends feel that he is sure to be successful in his new vocation, a success that ought to go far toward giving additional impetus to the already far-advanced "back-to-the-soil" movement.
Frank Wintering, the son of Frank and Agnes (Fischer) Wintering, was born at Laurel, Franklin county, Indiana, March 30, 1882. His father was born in Germany in 1837 and his mother at Oldenburg, Franklin county, Indiana, in 1844. Frank Wintering, Sr., and wife were the parents of three children, Crescentia, deceased, who was the wife of Pius Selm; Edward, who died in infancy ; and Frank, with whom this narrative deals.
Frank Wintering, Sr., was reared in Germany and when a young man came to America and first located in New York. Later he went to Cincin- nati and was in that city when the Civil War opened. He enlisted in an Ohio regiment and served at the front for more than three years, part of which time he was a cook on a boat on the Mississippi river. He was a blacksmith by trade and for twenty-seven years conducted a shop at Laurel. He mar- ried Agnes Fischer, who was the daughter of Herman and Marie (Bolke) Fischer, both natives of Germany and early settlers in Wayne county, In- diana. Later the Fischer family located in Franklin county and here they died.
Frank Wintering was educated in the public schools of Laurel and before reaching his majority had learned the cigar-maker's trade. He then went to Brookville and worked in a cigar factory in the county seat for a time, after which he traveled for the International Harvester Company for
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one year. In 1914 he bought the Bohlander farm of thirty-three acres south of Brookville and is now engaged in general farming and stock raising.
Mr. Wintering was married to Elizabeth Mangold, a native of Dear- born county, daughter of Louis and Barbara (Selm) Mangold, and to this union have been born five children, all of whom are still living, Rosella, Theodore, Herman, Viola and Alena. Mrs. Wintering's parents now are living in the state of Washington, where they are successfully engaged in fruit raising. Both Mr. and Mrs. Mangold are natives of Dearborn county, Indiana, the former being fifty-seven years of age and the latter fifty-two. Mr. and Mrs. Mangold are the parents of twelve children, Clara, Frank, Mary and Elizabeth (twins), Helen, John, Anna. Rose, Jacob, Urban, Paul and Oliva.
Mr. Wintering gives his support to the Democratic party, but thus far has never taken an active part in political matters. He and his family are members of the Catholic church of Brookville, and give it their loyal sup- port at all times. Mr. Wintering is one of the youngest farmers of the township and is just now entering upon a long career of usefulness. The record which he has made thus far indicates that he will eventually become one of the substantial men of the township.
WILLIAM MUIR.
Among the many settlers who early came to Indiana and later settled in this county was the grandfather of William Muir, of Springfield township. His grandfather came to Indiana at a very early date and located at Ripley county, where the Muir family engaged in farming for a number of years. William Muir afterwards settled in Franklin county.
William Muir was born January 8, 1860, in Ripley county, Indiana. His father was Joseph Muir, also born in Ripley county. His mother was a daughter of John Mullin, a prominent farmer of Ripley county. William Muir was one of six children, the others being Mary, John, Hiram, Harvey and Sarah. William Muir's mother died in 1861. His father afterwards re- married, this time marrying Elizabeth Jobe, of Mount Carmel, Indiana, and to them were born four children, as follows: Alexander, Samuel, Anna Belle and Joseph Tilden. Of the children of Joseph Muir, Mary married Joseph Huntington and lives in Benton county, Indiana. John married Marguerite Buckingham and lives at Ripley county, Indiana. His first wife
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died and he was re-married to Rose Rossey. Hiram is deceased. Harvey is married and lives at More, Oklahoma. Sarah married Thomas Bucking- ham and lives in Ripley county, Indiana. Alexander married Dora Cap- linger and resides near Osgood, Indiana. Samuel married Lena Wagoner and lives near Osgood, Indiana. Anna Belle married John Hinkle and lives in Oklahoma City. Joseph is married and also lives in Oklahoma City.
Joseph Muir, father of William Muir, went to school in Ripley county and lived there until young manhood. He left Ripley county and went to Oklahoma in 1887. He owned eighty-three acres in Ripley county, which he sold and purchased one hundred and sixty acres in Oklahoma. Joseph Muir was a man of energy and took a very active part in the affairs of this com- munity. He is a veteran of the Civil War, having served with the Sixty- eighth Regiment, Indiana Volunteer Infantry, where he was assigned as a wagon-master, which he followed for three years in some of the most vig- orous campaigns of the war. He was twice made a prisoner and was re- leased once and during his second imprisonment he escaped. His record in the war was a most excellent one and he was commended on several occa- sions for his bravery. His fraternal affiliations were with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. In politics he was an ardent Democrat and firmly be- lieved in the principles of that party. His father, Hiram Muir, born in Scot- land, was one of the first settlers of Ripley county, Indiana, where he re- mained until he died.
William Muir was educated in the district schools of Ripley county, but his education was somewhat meager, as his help was needed on the farm and educational facilities were not so plentiful in those days as they are at present. From the time he was fourteen years of age until he was twenty- one he worked for his father, helping him manage the farm. He engaged in the log-hauling business for quite a while, in addition to his labors on the farm. This training was most vigorous and inured him to all kinds of hard- ships, which have served him very well in the battle of life. He was married May 13, 1890, to Minnie Minor, the daughter of Daniel Minor and Sarah (Little) Minor. Mr. Muir first settled in Palestine and lived there thirteen years. He also engaged in the store and general supply business, later selling this to J. R. Bright & Company. Eleven years ago he bought the place on which he now lives, consisting of one hundred and four acres, which he devotes to general farming. He is very progressive in his farm methods and believes in the best covering possible for his stock. He remodeled all of the barns and also built a new house. Mr. and Mrs. Muir have three children, all of whom are still single and reside at home. They are Joseph, Mae and
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