History of Gibson County, Indiana : her people, industries and institutions, Part 60

Author: Stormont, Gil R
Publication date: 1914
Publisher: Indianapolis : B.F.Bowen
Number of Pages: 1284

USA > Indiana > Gibson County > History of Gibson County, Indiana : her people, industries and institutions > Part 60

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

On March 15, 1866, Mr. Lowe was united in matrimony to Betsy J. Pritchett, who was born two miles east of Owensville, the daughter of John and Mary Pritchett, who were pioneers in this county. They engaged in farming all their lives and are both now deceased.

To Mr. and Mrs. Lowe have been born the following children: Alvis, who is a motorman in Evansville, Indiana, married Nellie Schull; Ezra, an undertaker at Evansville, married Sadie Walters; Anna May is the wife of W. E. Stillwell, an attorney at Evansville, Indiana; John E. is the owner of a cigar store in Denver, Colorado, and married Marjorie Younger; Ada Cath- erine is the wife of John W. Brownlee, of Munfordsville, Kentucky.

Mr. Lowe is a member of Archer Post No. 28, Grand Army of the Re- public, at Princeton, and is also a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Fraternally. he belongs to the Masonic fraternity, up to the Knight Tempiar degree, being also affiliated with the Order of the Eastern Star, while he is a charter member of the Tribe of Ben-Hur.

W. J. RITTERSKAMP.

In his special line of effort probably no man in southern Indiana has achieved a more pronounced success nor a larger record than William J. Ritterskamp, who is not only a market gardener of large importance, but is also a noted florist. Starting in a modest way, he has so conducted his affairs as to enjoy a steady and healthy growth through the years, until now the interests with which he is identified are numbered among the most im- portant enterprises in Gibson county. Because of the eminent success which he has achieved, Mr. Ritterskamp has gained a reputation which extends far beyond the borders of his own locality. His life has been one of untiring activity, and lias been crowned with the degree of success attained by those

612

GIBSON COUNTY, INDIANA.

only who devote themselves indefatigably to the work before them. He is of the high class of business men, and none more than he deserves a fitting recognition among the men whose genius and ability have achieved results that are most enviable and commendable, and because of his splendid record and his high personal qualities, he is eminently deserving of representation in the annals of this county.

William J. Ritterskamp was born in 1867 at Freelandville, Knox county, Indiana, and is the son of William and Louise (Heithecker ) Ritters- kamp, both of whom were natives of Germany, the father born near Ebber- feldt and the mother at Minder. In 1844 William Ritterskamp came with his parents, John and Louisa (Kircher) Ritterskamp, from their native country to America, locating at once in Knox county, Indiana. Here the parents first obtained a farm and later went into the merchandise business, in which they were successful. Both died in that county. They were the parents of eight children, namely: Henrietta, who became the wife of Henry Stahl- schodt, of Evansville, Indiana; Bertha, the wife of Fred Nothing, of River- side, California; Julia, the wife of Daniel W. Becker, of Evansville, Indiana; Louisa, the wife of Samuel H. Kixmiller, of Freelandville, Indiana; Alvina, the wife of William S. Pielmeier, of Chelsea, Michigan; Martha, the wife of H. E. Schroeder, of Freelandville, Indiana; John E., a retired farmer of Freelandville, and William, father of the subject of this sketch. William . Ritterskamp received his education in the common schools, and upon attain- ing mature years became connected in the mercantile business with William Rahn at Evansville, Indiana. Several years later he joined the firm of McCord & Company at Vincennes, this state, and then engaged in the mer- cantile business at Freelandville, where he was engaged for thirty-three years. He is now retired from active business pursuits and is living at Princeton. His wife died in 1872, and subsequently he married Wilhimenia Heinz, of Germany. To his first marriage were born the following children : William John, the immediate subject of this sketch; Julius H., who died in Colorado in 1912, was a merchant and saw-mill man in Knox county, but went to Colorado in 1908, and engaged in the shoe business in Colorado Springs. Eventually he sold out and, buying a tract of land at Alamosa, Colorado, engaged in dry farming. He married Christina Volle, and to them were born six children, namely: Lena, Walter, Oscar, Paul, Helen and Laura. This family now lives at Freelandville, Indiana. Emma Ritterskamp died in infancy. Laura became the wife of H. S. Pielmeier, a merchant at Freelandville. and they have two children, Helwig and Irene. Louise mar-

613

GIBSON COUNTY, INDIANA.

ried Roscoe Hill, professor in the high school at Colorado Springs, Colorado. They have two children, Max and Louisa. Helen is the wife of Theodore Osborne, of Oaktown, Indiana. Julia is the wife of Albert A. Faller, a merchant at Bicknell, Indiana, and they have two children, Joseph and Louisa. Godfried, who graduated from the Indiana State University, taught German in the Vincennes high school, and is now connected with the Tribune at Chi- cago. Gertrude is at home. William Ritterskamp is a stanch supporter of the Democratic party, and while a resident of Knox county served as township trustee. Religiously, he is a member of the Evangelical church.

William J. Ritterskamp received a good common school education and later was a student at Elmhurst College. After completing his education he became identified with his father in the mercantile business until 1891, when he took up farming on reclaimed marsh land near Freelandville, which en- gaged his attention until 1897, when he came to Princeton and there engaged in the business of raising flowers. The story of the inception, rise and de- velopment of the business thus started by Mr. Ritterskamp reads more like romance than history. It is the story of a persistent fight against innumer- able obstacles, which would have daunted one of less sterling metal, and de- serves the splendid success which has crowned his efforts. Upon coming to Princeton, Mr. Ritterskamp built a greenhouse, which he kept up with the help of one man a part of the time. His first effort was successful, and he added to the original plant from time to time, including the Shannon green- houses, the glass structures from the Martin Meyer gardens and smaller plants around Princeton, but the period of most rapid growth of the green- houses dates from about seven years ago, when Mr. Ritterskamp bought sev- eral hundred hot-bed sites from discouraged Patoka cantaloupe growers, which he erected into cold houses at his gardens. A year later he trans- formed them into hot houses, steam-heated, and from that time on his suc- cess was assured. In 1909 the business was incorporated under the name of the Princeton Gardens, all of the stock being owned by Mr. Ritterskamp and members of his family, and today the Princeton Gardens, or, as commonly known, the Ritterskamp Gardens, are one of the most important industries in this locality. During the busy season more than one hundred people are regularly employed and at other times the average number of employes is about fifty, many of whom are expert and competent horticulturists and floriculturists. Today the plant embraces about forty thousand square feet of glass, thirteen hot houses and six hundred square feet of hot beds, heated mostly by hot water and steam. Two years ago new, modern structures

614

GIBSON COUNTY, INDIANA.

with concrete walls, steel gutters and steel truss construction were erected for the culture of roses, and to give more room for the better development of carnation growing, and for this plant a modern steam boiler was installed. Three years ago Mr. Ritterskamp bought a tract of muck land and sand land, located about five miles southwest of Princeton and known as the Pittman farm. He at once put ten acres out to celery, which, however, was not a suc- cess the first year, though by subsequent efforts and the expenditure of money for drainage, fertilizers and other manipulations, he has proven that celery, onions, potatoes, cabbage and head lettuce can be successfully grown here. At present the trucking area, fruits, vegetables and plants, covers about one hundred and forty acres, much of the land producing two crops, and, in some instances, three crops. Many car-loads of bunch vegetables are sent to the Chicago market, and the gardens are widely known throughout the Middle West for quality of the products.

Mr. Ritterskamp has long been regarded as one of the foremost men of the country in various branches of gardening, and his services are in constant demand for instructive addresses before bodies of this character. In 1907 Mr. Ritterskamp, with eight others, signed a paper asking for a mass convention of vegetable growers and gardeners, for the purpose of forming an associa- tion, the result being that in October, of that year, at Cleveland, Ohio, the Greenhouse Vegetable Growers' and Market Gardeners' Association of Amer- ica was organized. It has been a very successful association, starting with sixty-nine members and growing to the present membership of over four hun- dred. From the time of its organization, Mr. Ritterskamp was a member of the executive board, and in October, 1913, at the convention of the association held at Toledo, Ohio, he was elected president and is now serving in that capacity. The honor which came to Mr. Ritterskamp was a pleasant surprise, as he was not a candidate and had no intimation that he was to be made the head of this international organization. However, it was the desire of the convention that a man be named who not only knew the theoretical side of gardening, but who knew virtually every phase of it from the standpoint of practical experience From his addresses and statements of practical expe- riences made at various gatherings over the country, his fellow members of his association decided that he was the man they wanted for the place, and he accepted the honor.

Aside from his floriculture and horticulture, Mr. Ritterskamp has turned his attention to other lines of effort and four years ago purchased the fruit in more than three hundred acres of orchards, in the handling of which he

615

GIBSON COUNTY, INDIANA.

realized a substantial profit. Mr. Ritterskamp generously refuses to take more than his share of the credit of the building up of this big business, say- ing that the credit belongs to all the members of his family, who have been tireless and unceasing in their efforts toward the building up of the enter- prise. Among others who have been faithful and efficient assistants of Mr. Ritterskamp mention should be made of James T. Harman, of Perry county, this state, who has been with Mr. Ritterskamp for nine years, A. A. Smith, of Springfield, Illinois, Ed. Weisgarber, who has special charge of the Lotus Celery Gardens, west of Princeton.

In 1889 William Ritterskamp was married to Louisa A. Pielimeier. of Freelandville, Indiana, the daughter of William and Fredericka Pieli- meier, both of whom were natives of Germany, and early settlers at Vin- cennes, Indiana. Later they took up farming, which they followed for many years, but the father is now retired and is living at Freelandville, Indiana. To Mr. and Mrs. Ritterskamp have been born the following children: Gil- bert, who married Charlotte Rosenbaum, of near Peoria, Illinois. After completing his common school education, he entered Purdue University, where he pursued the horticultural course, and also took a business course at Evansville, Indiana. He is closely associated with his father in his business. Edna is at home with her parents.

Fraternally, Mr. Ritterskamp is an appreciative member of the Free and Accepted Masons, belonging to the blue lodge at Princeton, while religiously he is a member of the First Presbyterian church. A man of high moral character and impeachable integrity, persistent industry and excellent judg- ment, he has stood for the best things, and throughout the community he occupies an enviable position in the esteem of his fellow men.

DAVID ARCHER.

The biographies of enterprising men, especially of good men, are in- structive as guides and incentives to others. The examples they furnish of patient purpose and steadfast integrity strongly illustrate what is in the power of each to accomplish. Some men belong to no exclusive class in life, apparently insurmountable obstacles have in many instances awakened their dormant faculties and served as a stimulus to carry them to ultimate suc- cess, if not renown. The instances of success in the face of adverse fate would seem almost to justify the conclusion that self-reliance, with a half

616

GIBSON COUNTY, INDIANA.

chance, can accomplish any object. The life of David Archer, long a well- known and successful business man of Princeton and now gone to his reward, is an example in point, for, by his individual efforts and close adherence to duty, he overcame the obstacles encountered on the highway of life and at the same time won a reputation for right living among his fellow men.

David Archer was born in 1816, the son of Thomas and Mary (Mc- Calla) Archer, on the old Archer place, north of Princeton, Gibson county, Indiana, and died February 20, 1894, in the city of Princeton, that county.

Thomas Archer, the subject's father, a native of South Carolina, early in life located on a farm in Patoka township, two miles north of Princeton, Gibson county. He obtained one hundred and sixty acres of land, which he cleared and made a home, where he spent most of his days, engaged in gen- eral farming and stock raising. In later life he sold his farm and bought six acres north of Princeton, but his death occurred on the old home place. The early ancestral history of the Archer family is referred to more fully in another portion of this work in the biography of Samuel Hugh Archer, to which the reader is referred.

David Archer received his early education in the common schools of the district and as a young man was engaged in business with his brother, Samuel M., of Princeton, later being associated in the clothing business for several years with A. E. Crow and having a number of other commercial interests. In 1847 he purchased the property at the corner of Broadway and South Gibson street in Princeton and erected a residence, later acquiring the prop- erty at No. 317 East Broadway, where he and his sister lived.

Mr. Archer married Martha McCalla, who was born in 1823 and died February 20, 1894, Mr. Archer passing to his reward June 2, 1883. Martha McCalla was born in the Chester district of South Carolina, the daughter of Thomas and Sarah Wayne (Gardner) McCalla. David McCalla, a brother of the subject's wife, married Elizabeth Harbison.

Thomas McCalla, the grandfather of Mrs. Archer, was a soldier in the Revolutionary war, being a member of the Pennsylvania troops in that strug- gle, he afterward being pensioned by the government for his services.

To the subject and wife were born three children, namely: Beza was born in Princeton, Gibson county, Indiana, January 26, 1849, where he now resides and has business interests; Mary Elizabeth was born in Gibson county and has always lived at home, now residing with her brother Beza; Isabella died in 1863. All of the subject's children received a good education in the schools of Princeton. Beza is a member of the Sons of the American Revolution.

617

GIBSON COUNTY, INDIANA.

ROBERT MILTON MUNFORD.

It will always be a mark of distinction to have served in the Federal army during the great Civil war between the states. The old soldier will receive attention no matter where he goes if he will but make himself known, particularly if he puts on his old faded uniform. And when he passes away, which the last of them must do within a few years, most of them having already lived out their allotted three score and ten, according to the Psalmist, friends will pay him suitable eulogy for the sacrifices he made fifty years ago on the field or in the no-less-dreaded prison or hospital. And ever afterward his descendants will revere his memory and take pride in recounting his services for his country in its hour of peril.

Robert Milton Munford was born two miles northwest of Princeton, Gibson county, Indiana, on September 21, 1832. the son of John and Mary Nixon (Archer) Munford, the former born in 1796, and the latter in 1800. They were natives of the Chester district, in South Carolina. John Munford was a son of James Munford, also of Chester district, who was descended from good old Scotch-Irish stock. John Munford came to Gibson county, Indiana, about 1815, a single man, and here obtained. first, a sixty-acre tract of government land, and later another tract of one hundred acres, two miles northwest of Princeton. It was all wild land, covered with a dense growth of timber, and to the clearing of this land and the creation of a farm he gave his remaining years, being successful in his enterprise and gaining the esteem and confidence of the community. His death occurred there on October 26, 1862. He was survived many years by his widow, who died in 1884. In addition to farming Mr. Munford was also an expert carpenter and was fre- quently called upon to do work of this kind for his neighbors. He was a Whig in his political views, but upon the organization of the Republican party he became allied with that organization. He was at one time a member of the Reform Presbyterian church, and later became a member of the United Presbyterian church. He and his wife were the parents of nine children. namely : James Riley, a farmer, married Ella Little, and both are deceased. Thomas Harvey, deceased, married Louise Embree. William Archer, now deceased, who was a farmer and trustee of Patoka township, and lived his later years in Princeton. Jane was the wife of John Mauck, and both are now deceased. Mary, who never married, died in 1905. Robert Milton is the immediate subject of this sketch. Samnel E., who was educated in the home schools, studied medicine, graduated from the Medical College of

618

GIBSON COUNTY, INDIANA.

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1861, came to Gibson county and here enlisted for three months' service, but did not go to the field. He then enlisted as a private in Company H, Seventeenth Regiment Indiana Volunteer Infantry, but was appointed hospital steward, and later assistant surgeon and still later surgeon of the regiment. Eventually he became medical director of the divi- sion of which his regiment was a part, and served in this capacity until the close of the war. After the war he returned to Princeton and took up the active practice of medicine, in which he was eminently successful. He died in 1893. He married Mima Stoneberger, who still resides in Princeton. Doctor Munford was prominent in many ways in his community and he was loved by all who knew him. Alexander McLeod, the youngest child born to John and Mary Munford, was a member of Company A, Eightieth Regi- ment Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and was wounded in 1864 at the battle of Resaca, dying in Louisville.

Robert M. Munford had but little opportunity to attend school, such education as he had being obtained in the old log school, near liis home. He remained with his parents until his marriage in 1856, when he took up farm- ing operations on his own account, following this line of effort until 1861, when he enlisted as a private in Company D, Fifty-eighth Regiment Indiana Volunteer Infantry, in Princeton, this regiment being assigned to the Army of the Cumberland. However, on account of his father's death and the fact that four of the sons were in the army, he came home in February, 1863, to take care of the home. Enlisting as private, he had been promoted to the position of hospital steward, in which he rendered efficient service. After his return from the war he located on the old homestead, where he resided continuously until the winter of 1899, when he relinquished active labor and removed to Princeton, where he has since resided. He still owns eighty acres of the old homestead, in the operation of which he has been very successful during his active years.

In 1856 Mr. Munford married Nancy J. Finney, a native of Gibson county, Indiana, the daughter of John K. and Lourena Finney. Their par- ents were natives of South Carolina, coming to Gibson county in the early days, locating in Patoka township. Mr. Finney was a railroad contractor and farmer, and was very successful in his affairs. He and his wife both died in this county. Mrs. Munford died on February 2, 1902, without issue.

Politically, Mr. Munford has always given ardent support to the Re- publican party, and has taken an intelligent interest in all local affairs, es- pecially such as promise to be of material benefit to the community and his

619

GIBSON COUNTY, INDIANA.

fellow citizens. Fraternally, he has been a member of Archer Post No. 28, Grand Army of the Republic, at Princeton, Indiana, for many years, and from the age of eighteen years has been an earnest and active member of the United Presbyterian church. He is a man of sterling qualities of char- acter, even tempered, and scrupulously honest in all the relations of life, hospitable and charitable, and thus he has gained the approval and high esteem of all his fellow citizens because of his upright life.

CALVIN R. HOWE.

The man whose life now comes before the reader for review is too well and widely known and universally loved and respected for the biographer to attempt to add anything to the well-known story of his long and interesting life. Calvin R. Howe enjoys the unique distinction of being the oldest male white child born in Gibson county, Indiana, having first seen the light of day October 25, 1827, at a time when the broad acres of this fertile county were for the most part virgin timber and soil, the settlements small and far between and the beautiful homes, cities and well cultivated farms of today not even a wild dream in the minds of its earliest pioneers. The father of Calvin R. Howe was Willis Howe, born in Boone county, near Pinhook, Cov- ington, Kentucky, and he in turn was the son of Robert and Elizabeth (Mc- Combs) Howe. Robert Howe, with his wife, eight sons and two daughters, came to Gibson county, Indiana, in 1819 and settled in White River town- ship. He obtained a tract of wild land, which he cleared and there they made their home for a number of years. He was always engaged in farming. In later life he moved to Lawrence county, Illinois, and there he died. His wife died in Knox county. The names of their children follow: James, William, John, Willis (subject's father), Benjamin, Sanford, Samuel, Jackson, Lucin- da, Jane and Mary.

The opportunities for the education of the young were very meager during the youth of Willis Howe and he received only a very limited edu- cation. He early was apprenticed to the blacksmith trade in Princeton and later bought the business of William Ralston and continued to operate that shop until his death in 1886, at the age of eighty-three years. He was quite skilled in his trade and an expert workman on edged tools. His reputation brought him business from Posey, Pike and Gibson counties and he prospered financially. He was one of the few men in this locality in his day who had

620

GIBSON COUNTY, INDIANA.

money to loan and was well known and highly respected all over the county. He took an active interest in politics and was elected county treasurer about the year 1834; he was also justice of the peace for many years. He was a member of the old Whig party and when the Republican party came into existence he gave it his support. Two of his brothers, Benjamin and Samuel, were tanners by trade, Sanford and Jackson were blacksmiths and the rest of the boys were farmers. Willis Howe took as his wife Mary Minnis, who was born in South Carolina, a daughter of Calvin and Mary Minnis. Her parents were born in Ireland, emigrated to America and settled in South Carolina, coming to Indiana in 1811. They reached their destination the day of the battle of Tippecanoe and in three weeks he was compelled to join the militia to go to the relief of Fort Harrison, but he only got as far as Vincennes, where he remained three weeks. His family, alone and doubtless suffering greatly through his absence, lived in their wagon until his return. During his absence they saw only one white man. Mr. Minnis settled in Gibson county near Stormont Hill and later lived one and one-half miles northwest of Princeton, where he continued farming. He and his wife died in Princeton between the years 1850 and 1860. They had only twin daughters, Mary, the subject's mother, and Jane, who became the wife of John W. Wood, and both are deceased. Willis Howe was a faithful member of the Methodist church and his wife of the Reformed Presbyterian. She died in 1879, at the age of seventy-three years.

Calvin R. Howe received his early instruction in the subscription schools of the day. At the age of twelve years he was studying Latin and was receiving instruction in Greek at the age of seventeen. He entered his father's blacksmith shop with the intention of mastering the trade and re- mained with him until his twenty-first year. At the age of twenty-two he went to Owensville, Indiana, where, in partnership with Timothy Techinor, he opened up a blacksmith shop. This partnership continued for two years, at which time they sold out and the subject and his father handled dry goods for two years. In 1856 Mr. Howe decided to settle down to farming and located one and one-half miles south of Princeton, where he continued for ten years, when he went to Salina county, Kansas, in 1866. However, he remained there only a few months and returned to Gibson county, locating one mile west of Princeton, where he remained for twenty-seven years, and for the past twenty years he has made his home in Princeton, practically retired from active life. He still owns ninety-seven acres of valuable land in section 12, Patoka township.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Gibson County, Indiana : her people, industries and institutions, Part 60

Author: Stormont, Gil R Publication date: 1914 Publisher: Indianapolis : B.F.Bowen Number of Pages: 1284

Author: Stormont, Gil R
Publication date: 1914
Publisher: Indianapolis : B.F.Bowen
Number of Pages: 1284