USA > Indiana > Hancock County > History of Hancock county, Indiana; its people, industries and institutions > Part 101
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near Mt. Comfort: Mrs. Mabel Foster, of Greenfield: Mrs. Nellie Shelby. who resides in Indianapolis: Guy, who was born in December 27, 1880. and who died on November 4. 1885. and Clarence, who was born on April 30. 1885. and who died on January 5. 1916.
Mr. Willett has been a member and steward of the Sugar Creek Meth- odist Episcopal church for eighteen years. He has also been trustee of that church since 1892. He was also superintendent of the Sunday school there for a number of years. He is a Mason. He has been through the chairs of the Knights of Pythias. He holds the rank of captain on the staff of Colonel Shellhouse in the Knights of Pythias lodge and has been a trustee of that lodge for six years. Mr. Willett is a Republican in politics.
JOHN F. KIRKHOFF.
John F. Kirkhoff, one of the prominent and successful farmers of Han- cock county, was born in New Palestine on March 29. 1854. and was the son of Anthony and Annie M. ( Fink ) Kirkhoff, the former of whom was a native of Germany, where he was born in 1812 and died in New Palestine in 1882. Anthony Kirkhoff came to America at the age of twenty-one and for a time worked at railroad construction between Baltimore and Washington. Here he earned enough money to bring him on further west. In 1833 he came to Vincennes, where he worked at his trade as a tailor for a year, after which he came to New Palestine, where he established a tailoring business, in which he continued the greater part of his life. His savings in the business was in- vested in land and he bought and sold many tracts, owning at the time of his death one hundred and sixty acres on which the south part of New Palestine is now situated. He also owned eighty acres one mile east of the town and eighty acres located in Sugar Creek and Brandywine townships.
In 1840 Anthony Kirkhoff was married to Annie Fink, who was born in Germany on November 11. 1824, and died at New Palestine on September 4. 1802. She was the daughter of Henry Fink and wife, both of whom were natives of Germany. They came to America in 1834 on a sailing vessel and after landing at Baltimore they came to Hancock county in a one-horse wagon. They first located one mile east of New Palestine, where they converted a log stable into a house, where they resided for some time. Mr. Fink later entered one hundred and sixty acres of land three miles west of New Palestine. where he erected a one-room log cabin and a stable. Here the family experi-
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enced all the hardships of pioneer life. Their nearest market was seven miles away, where they walked and traded butter and eggs for groceries and other household necessities. Indianapolis was then a struggling town of three or four thousand. At the age of fourteen, Anna Fink went to work in Indian- aux lis, having walked the entire distance of thirteen miles through the dense woods. She was one of five children, all of whom were required to assist in the support of the family. At the age of sixteen she was married to Anthony Kirkhoff, after which they began housekeeping in New Palestine, where they resided the remainder of their lives. To this union were born the following children: Mary. Henry, Charles, Christian. . Anna, deceased; John F., Ma- tilda and three who died in infancy. All are now deceased except John F. The mother, Annie Kirkhoff, died on September 4. 1892. AAnthony Kirk- hoff and wife were active members of the German Methodist church, Mr Kirkhoff acting for many years as one of the trustees of the society.
John F. Kirkhoff was born in the house just two doors east of where he now resides. His present residence was built by his father and has the distinction of being on his farm and yet in the center of the town. Here he owns one hundred acres of land. but for the past ten years has been living a retired life.
At the age of twenty-one years, John F. Kirkhoff was united in marriage on November 18, 1875, to Jane F. Van Sickle, a native of Marion county. having been born in 1855 and was the daughter of John C. and Caroline Van Sickle, both of whom were natives of Marion county. After his marriage. Mr. Kirkhoff and wife took up their residence one mile east of New Pales- tine, on eighty acres of his father's farm. Here they lived until the death of Mrs. Kirkhoff on May 16, 1881. To Mr. and Mrs. Kirkhoff were born one child. Nellie G., who died after her marriage to George Ruschaupt, of Shelly county. Mr. Kirkhoff, after the death of his wife, returned to the oldl home- stead of lus parents, where he has since lived. For four years he clerked in the store of Van Sickle & Nichols and then for four years he was manager of a creamery, after which he was in charge of his mother's farm. On No- vember 21. 1802. Mr. Kirkhoff was married to Malinda .A. Wessling who was born in Marion county on September 15, 1800, being the daughter of Henry and Catherine ( Meier) Wessling, the former of whom was a native of Germany and the latter of German descent. Mr. and Mrs. Wessling were the parents of the following children : Malinda. Louis, deceased : Mary, Katie. deceased, and Albert.
John F. and Malmda A. Kirkhoff were the parents of two children : Ruth and Henry, Both of whom are at home. Mrs. Kirkhoff died on Vi-
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vember 3. 1908. Mr. Kirkhoff and his wife were active members of the Evangelical church, of the Synod of North America. Mr. Kirkhoff was for a number of years the secretary of the board of trustees of the society.
Politically, Mr. Kirkhoff is a Republican, and has served as township assessor for five years: trustee of New Palestine for nine years and clerk of the town for four years, all of which positions he filled with honor to him- self and the community.
W. H. TRENTLEMAN.
W. Il. Trentleman, of New Palestine. Indiana, was born on November 1. 1856, in Indianapolis, Indiana. He was a son of Henry and Sophia ( Pope ) Trentleman. Henry Trentleman was born in 1826 in Germany. He came 10 America in 1844, at the age of eighteen years and located at Indianapolis. He worked during the summer at brick-moulding and in the winter he worked at the Ferguson slaughter house. In later years he became a well digger and in his declining years he followed various occupations. . As a boy he had learned the tailor's trade, but he did not work at this after he came to America. A few years after he came to Indianapolis he married Sophia Pope. She was also born in Germany. She was the daughter of Christian Pope, who was born in Germany, as was also his wife. They immigrated to America when Sophia was but a small child. Mrs. Trentleman lived only a few years after her marriage and died in the spring of 1862, when W. H. Trentleman, sub- ject of this sketch, was but six years of age. Henry and Sophia Trentleman were the parents of the following children : William H .. Mary, who is the wife of J. B. Sage, of Indianapolis, and a baby who died in infancy. About two years after the death of his first wife. Henry Trentleman was married to Christina Heisler, also a native of Germany. She was the daughter of Jacob Heisler, of Indianapolis. To this second marriage were born the fol- lowing children : Emma, Ella and Christina, who are all living.
W. H. Trentleman spent his childhood in Indianapolis and after his mother's death he went to live with his uncle, Fred Rosener. At the age of thirteen he began to shift for himself and for a few years he worked on the farm. in Sugar Creek township. Then, at the age of twenty-one. he took up the trade of a blacksmith in the shops of A. G. Smith, at New Palestine, and here he worked for six years. For a time following this he worked in various shops in Indianapolis and other towns. In 1882, with John Huber, he bought out the shop of his former employer. A. G. Smith, and in partnership they
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conducted the business for five years. At the end of five years Mr. Trentle- man took up the work of house painting and for two years followed this trade. He then again went into the blacksmithing business and worked in the shop of Faut Brothers, in New Palestine. He held this position for twelve years In 18go he started a shop of his own, which he operated for fifteen years until March, 1914, when he bought the general blacksmith and repair shops of Charles 11. Faut, which business he is still conducting. This is the largest shop and building in New Palestine. In addition to the shop there is an implement room, paint shop, printing office and postoffice in the same building. Mr. Trentleman operates his machinery by power and does a general blacksmithing and repair business.
At the age of twenty-eight. on November 6, 1884. W. H. Frentleman was married to Christina Mickle. She was born in New Palestine on No- vember 7. 1858. She was the daughter of Henry and Adeline Mickle, who were both natives of Germany. She was one of eight children, only three of whom survive: Mary, Henry and Christina. On March 12, 1908, Mrs. Trentleman died.
Mr. Trentleman is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and is a steward of this church. He is also a member of the New Palestine Lodge, Knights of Pythias. He is a Democrat in politics and was for four years a member of the town board. He is one of New Palestine's best known and best respected citizens. He has been a resident of the county for practically all of fifty-three years and an immediate resident of New Palestine for over thirty years. He is a citizen of strong and sterling character and has num- bers of friends.
W. C. VAN LAANINGHAM.
W. C. Van Laningham was born in Broad Ripple, Indiana, February 24. 1860, the son of Cicero and Elizabeth ( Mock ) Van Laningham. Cicero Van Laningham was horn near Indianapolis in 1837 and was twice married, the subject of this sketch being a son by the first wife. Elizabeth ( Mock ) Van Laningham was born near Germantown, Indiana. Cicero Van Laningham was the son of Sylvester Van Laningham, who was born in Kentucky, and who married Catherine Nutt. They were the parents of the following chil- dren: David. Cicero, William and Martin. Sylvester Van Langham was a farmer of Marion county, Indiana, and owned a tract of one hundred and sixty aeres. He was a member of the Christian church and was a man who
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HANCOCK COUNTY, INDIANA.
was unusually interested in local affairs. Cicero Van Laningham was a farmer in Marion county until he went into the mercantile business and conducted a general store, which he later sold, and went into the lumber business in both Fortville and Noblesville. He died in 1899. He belonged to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and was a Mason. He was always interested in local affairs. Ile was the father of the following children: W. C., who is the subject of this sketch, and Dora, now deceased, who married Albert McBride, of Noblesville. Indiana. The second wife of Cicero Van Laningham was Harriet Trittipo, who is now deceased. There were no children born to this union. Elizabeth ( Mock) Van Laningham, the mother of the subject of this sketch. died in 1864.
W. C. Van Laningham was educated in the common schools. He was married on March 4. 1884. to Alice Cory, who is the daughter of Jackson and Sarah Cory, of Marion county. To this union the following children were born: Alonzo, now at Terre Haute, and who married Cozie George: Lola. Cora L .. of Fortville, Indiana, who married Kenneth Waite, and who is the mother of one chikl. Keith; Forest and Quitman. The second wife of the subject of this sketch was Mary Wiseman. No children were born to this marriage. She belongs to the Christian church. W. C. Van Laningham is a Mason and a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He has been in the lumber business at Fortville. Indiana, since 1893. He was elected to the office of township trustee, and took his office on January 1. 1915.
HORACE E. WILSON.
Horace E. Wilson, clerk of the Hancock circuit court, and one of the best-known men in Hancock county, was born in Greenfield and has lived there practically all his life. He was born on January 14, 1876. son of James W. and Martha W. (Johnson) Wilson, the former a native of Indiana and the latter of Kentucky.
James W. Wilson was born on a pioneer farm near Greensburg. m De- catur county. this state. October 19. 1846, and was but a boy when his father. Ilenry B. Wilson, moved with his family to Hancock county and settled on a tarm in Green township, where he made his home until he resigned from the active lalors of the farm and moved to Greenfieldl, where he died on July 28. 1913. he then being past eighty-nine years of age, his birth having occurred on June 13, 1824. Henry B. Wilson was an active member of the Bradley
HORACE E. WILSON
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BIOGRAPHICAL.
Methodist Episcopal church and was a member of the offcial board of the same. He was a Mason and took an active interest in Masonic affairs. James 1. Wilson was reared on the home farm in Green township and when a young man took employment in New Brothers' store at Greenfield, later going into C. M. Jackson's store and thence to the J. Ward Walker Company store. where he remained the rest of his life, his death occurring on October 25. ISor. at the age of forty-six years. He was a Democrat and had served as justice of the peace. He was a Royal Arch Mason and a member of the Bradley Methodist Episcopal church. His widow is still living at fireenfield. Martha W. Johnson was born in Boone county, Kentucky, March 12, 1850. and was but a childl when her parents came to Indiana and located in Han- cock county, settling on a farm in Green township, later moving to Green- field, where she was living at the time of her marriage to Mr. Wilson on October 27, 1870. To that union four children were born, the ellest of whom died in infancy, the others being Edwin P., manager of the J. Ward Walker Company store at Greenfield; Horace E., the subject of this biographical sketch, and Gilbert K., of Oak Park, Illinois.
Horace E. Wilson was reared in Greenfield and received his education in the city's schools, after which he became employed in the Blacksmith shop of Everson & Cooper and for five or six years was engaged there. Ile then became a clerk in the J. Ward Walker Company store and was thus engaged in that establishment for five years, at the end of which time he went to Chicago, where for more than a year he was employed as shipping clerk for the Gifford & Mabe Company. In tooz he returned to Greenfield and for four years thereafter was employed with the Greenfield Novelty Works Company, after which he returned to his former place in the Walker store and was there until he entered upon the duties of the office of county clerk on January 1. 1915, having been elected to that office on the Democratic ticket the previous November, by one of the largest pluralities ever returned for a candidate on that ticket in an election in this county. receiving nearly twice as many votes as both the other candidates for the office.
On October 20, 1907. Horace E. Wilson was united in marriage to Mar- garet (. Tobin, a clerk in the J. Ward Walker Company store at fireenfield. who was born in Hamilton county, this state. December 1. 1874. daughter of Patrick and Margaret ( Breen ) Tobin, both natives of Ireland, who came to this country in the days of their youth and later met at Dayton, Ohio, where they were married and where they made their home for some time, later coming to Indiana and settling on a farm in Hamilton county, where they are still living. Mr. Wilson is a member of the Bradley Methodist Episcopal
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church and takes an earnest part in the various social and cultural activities of his home town. Mrs. Wilson is a member of St. Michael's Catholic church. Mr. Wilson is a Royal Arch Mason and a Knight Templar, as well as noble of the Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, and for years has served as secretary of the Greenfield lodge of Masons and of the chapter of that order. He is also a member of the local lodge of the Knights of Pythias, of the Improved Order of Red Men and of the Hay- makers and takes a warm interest in the affairs of all these organizations.
ALBERT H. GEISEL.
Albert H. Geisel was born in Julietta, Marion county. Indiana, on October 4. 1871, the son of Conrad and Katherine ( Weber) Geisel. Conrad Geisel was born in Hesse, Darmstadt. in April. 1841. and died on December 29. 1900. He was a son of Conrad Geisel. Sr., who was also born in Hesse. Darmstadt, and who immigrated with his family to America in 1841 on a sailing vessel. He landed at Baltimore and came by rail and canal and the Ohio river to Pittsburgh and from there on the Ohio river to Cincinnati and from Cincinnati he came by wagon to Hancock county.
Conrad Geisel, entered a forty-acre tract of land two and one-half miles southwest of New Palestine. For this land he paid one dollar and twenty-five cents per acre. On this tract he built a four-room log house and cleared a portion of the ground and began his life work in a vast wilderness. He passed through and endured all the hardships of a pioneer life. It is related that when the old Jefferson, Madison & Indianapolis railroad was being built he walked to near Indianapolis on every Monday morning and worked all week on the construction of this railroad and returned on Saturday night to his farm. This work continued for four months and at the expiration of this time he was defrauded out of the wages due him. He continued to live on his homestead and gradually cleared up his land and brought it under cultiva- tion and it was here that he spent his declining years with the exception of the last two which were spent with his ekdlest son on the adjoining farm.
Conrad Geisel, Jr., who was the father of the subject of this sketch. was one of eight children, five boys and three girls. He was only eight months old when his parents brought him to America. He spent his childhood on the homestead of his father and here grew to manhood. . At the age of twenty-one years he went to Indianapolis and learned the trade of blacksmith. About
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this time he was married to Catherine Weber, who was born in Germany, in 1848. Her parents were from Hesse, Darmstadt. Germany, and came to America in 1850 and settled in Sugar Creek township. Hancock county. Here they bought a tract of eighty acres just south of the old Geisel farm on which they remained until the death of Mr. Weber, which occurred about 1855. Mr. Weber's widow remained on the place a few years and then lived with her children. She died at the home of her daughter, Emma Church, at War- erly, Illinois. After his marriage. Conrad Geisel, Jr., moved onto the old Delaney farm where he lived for two years. He then moved to the old King farm and after a year's stay there he went back to Indianapolis where he followed his trade for a number of years. Then he went to Pleasant View and remained four years and from there to Julietta where he conducted a black- smith shop for several years and afterward moved back to the home farm and finally built a shop at New Palestine where for the next thirty years he con- ducted his blacksmith business. In December, 1910, he died. His wife still survives and resides at the old family residence in New Palestine. The following children were born to them: Anna. deceased; Bertha. John, who is deceased : Albert H., who is the subject of this sketch, and Luther C., of North Yakima, Washington.
Albert H. Geisel, the subject of this sketch, was born in Julietta and when seven years of age came to New Palestine with his parents. Here he attended the public schools and after finishing school he took a position at the Spot Cash store in Greenfield where he remained for eight months. His next posi- tion was with the John Stephens Dry Goods Company of Indianapolis, where he remained for one year. lle then came to New Palestine and engaged in the implement business. He remained in this business for two years and then bought the remaining stock of the Short & Ashcraft Store and then conducted a general mercantile business. He remained at that location for five years and then remodeled the shop of his father and moved his stock of goods to its present location in 1898 and has remained there since that time. Mr. Geisel was married at the age of twenty-two to Anna Kissel, who was born in Hancock county, Sugar Creek township. in February. 1876. She was the daughter of Peter and Malinda Kissel, the former now residing at Louisville. Kentucky. The latter died when Anna was but six years of age.
Albert H. Geisel conducts an up-to-date store and handles general mer- chandise and in addition does an extensive coal business. Mr. Geisel is a member of the Methodist church and his wife is also a member of this church. He is a member of the following lodges: New Palestine Lodge No. 10| Free and Accepted Masons; New Palestine Lodge No. 215. Knights of Pythias:
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New Palestine Lodge of Red Men: New Palestine Lodge of Modern Wood- men of America : New Palestine Lodge No. 844. Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Mr. Geisel has been practically a life-long resident of Hancock county. He is a Democrat in politics and is one of New Palestine's leading merchants and citizens. He is a man of strong character and a reputation of merit. He is the father of one child. Wilhelmina, who is at home.
JOHN HUBER.
John Huber was born in Berkshire, Massachusetts. February 9. 1861. the son of John and . Agatha ( Herb ) Huber. John Huber. Sr., was born in Witten- berg. Germany, in 1825, and died in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. in 1874. at the age of forty-nine years. John Huber. Sr., spent his early life in Germany and there received his education. He was married while yet in Germany to Agatha Herb, who was also born in Wittenberg in 1832. She preceded her husband in death by only one week, having died in 1874 at the age of forty-two. They were the parents of five children. the eldest of whom. Mary, was born in Germany and is now the wife of Adam Mahley, of Shelby county. The other children were: John. Jr., the subject of this sketch : Balbina, who is now deceased and who was the wife of Fred Miller, of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania : Ellen, who is now deceased and who was the wife of Christian Anner, of Buf- falo, New York, and Josephine, who is now Mother Superior of the Franciscan Sisters of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
John Huber, after the death of his parents, moved to Shelby county. Indiana, to the home of his eldest sister. Mrs. Adam Mahley. He received his early education in the public schools at LaSalle and Rock Island, Illinois, and at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. On moving to Shelby county he made his home with his sister and brother-in-law. for whom he worked until he was eighteen years of age. lle then started out for himself. His first work was on a farm and for this work he received fifty cents a day. He continued to follow farm work for a year or two until on February 7. 1881, he entered the employ of Conrad Geisel and learned the trade of blacksmithing. In this connection he remained until September. 1883. He then bought the shop of A. G. Smith and started in business for himself. He has conducted this business success- fully for thirty-three years. In 1885 he moved his shop to its present location. Ile did an extensive business in agricultural implements for twenty years.
John Huber was married on October 4. 1885. to Nancy Gates, who was
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born on December 9, 1862, in Sugar Creek township, Hancock county. She was the daughter of Henry and Nancy ( Ball ) Gates. Henry Gates was born on April 15. 1824. in Pennsylvania and died at Greenfield!, Indiana, on March 4, 1909, at the age of eighty-five years. He was brought to Rush county as a child and was married to Nancy Ball on October 22, 1846. She was born in Rush county, Indiana, and after their marriage moved to Hancock county. They settled a mile and a half east of New Palestine and on December 14, 1862, Mrs. Gates died. At this time some friends of Henry Gates, Anthony Kirkhoff and wife, who had just lost an infant, took Nancy to raise. This association soon ripened into a labor of love and from that time until her marriage she remained with Mr. and Mrs. Kirkhoff. To this first marriage of Henry Gates were born the following children: Mary Jane, Nettie, Hen- rietta and Nancy, who is the wife of the subject of this sketch. Henry Gates. who was born in Pennsylvania, was the son of John Gates, who was also born in Pennsylvania, in 1793. John Gates served in the War of 1812 and he was the son of John Gates, Sr., who was born in Germany and who served in the Revolutionary War. John Gates, Jr., after the War of 1812 moved to the Shenandoah valley of Virginia and from there to Chillicothe, Ohio, where he was married. Henry Gates was born in Chillicothe, Ohio. April 14, 1824. In eighteen months he was brought to Rush county, Indiana. There Henry Gates grew to manhood. After his first wife's death he was married a few years later, on March 1, 1865. to Mary Ann Lewis and to this union was born one child who died in infancy. Henry Gates was pre-eminently a farmer by occupation although he was a successful merchant and miller. He built the first grist-mill to be erected at New Palestine, this was in 1851. He was one of the charter members of the Methodist Episcopal church at New Palestine and took part in the incorporation of the town of New Palestine. He was a man of high ideals and was an extremely useful citizen.
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